FRYE, Robert I, of Shoreham, Suss.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421, ed. J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe., 1993
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Jan. 1397

Family and Education

Offices Held

Biography

The Fryes of Shoreham were shipowners and merchants. Richard, perhaps Robert’s brother, owned the Welfare, while Robert himself occasionally imported wine into Southampton on his own ship, the Bartholomew of Shoreham. In 1394 another vessel of Robert’s, the Elene, of 70 tons, was hired by John Spencer* for the transport of men and supplies to Ireland in the expedition mounted by Richard II. Frye was given an advance of 40s. for the wages of himself, his constable and II sailors, but while the Elene was under way a storm drove her into Plymouth, where the King’s officers arrested her for the carriage of troops to Gascony. Subsequently, Frye was summoned to the Exchequer to answer for the sum he had received, and had to procure a writ of privy seal (dated May 1400) excusing him from repayment. Meanwhile, in January 1397 he had served on a jury at Old Shoreham for the inquisition post mortem on Thomas Buckingham, senior. He was to act likewise at New Shoreham in April 1401, before royal commissioners making inquiries about assaults on the tenants of the prince of Wales.

E122/33/13, 25, 138/11; E368/172 Easter rot. 20; C136/91/7; C145/279/12.

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Authors: A. P.M. Wright / L. S. Woodger

Notes