160 LANDOWNERS IN CORNWALL, 1165. 



in a grave case of assault and trespass, and was, I think, the 

 same who underwent the peine forte et dure. The Iter Rolls 

 contain entries regarding two others who had committed various 

 oflences. A note in the margin of the Roll states that he who 

 suffered the peine forte et dure, died in prison. His death may 

 well be concluded from the severe nature of the punishment." 



This Sir Ralph was great grandson of Alan Bloyou of this 

 record, and must have been about 60 years of age in 1302, as 

 his father Alan married the daughter of Sir Henry Brodrugan, 

 30th April, 1241. 



The 'strong and hard pain' which is denoted by the words 

 " peine forte et dure,"''' was a species of torture, used by the English 

 law, to compel persons to plead, when charged judicially with 

 crimes less than treason, but amounting to felony. According 

 to the best authorities, it is not until the reign of Edward I that 

 the first traces of it appear in the history of English law, when 

 the punishment consisted merely of severe imprisonment, with 

 a diet barely sufficient to prevent starvation, until the offender 

 repented of his contumacy and consented to put himself upon 

 his trial. Eleta, writing about 1285, describes the punishment 

 to be, that ' the party shall be cast into prison and lie upon the 

 bare ground, clothed with a single garment and barefooted ; 

 that he shall have for his food only three morsels of barley-bread 

 in two days; that he shall not drink every day, but that on the 

 day when he shall have no food, water shall be given him to 

 drink.' 



8. Richard, son of Aloredus, holds one Knight's fee. 



In the Exchequer Domesday, Alvredus held of the Earl 

 Hiltone (Hilton in Marham church) ; Tirleebere (Thurlibeer, in 

 Launcells) ; Brecilsbeorge ; Landseo ; Orcet, in Kilkhampton ; 

 Borge ; and Roscaret, (Roscarrock, in St. Endellion). 



In the Exeter Domesday before 1083, Roscaret and eight 

 other manors were held under the Earl of Nigel ; Roscaret and 

 six other manors were at the same time held by Alvred. Nigel's 

 Roscaret was of the value of 15/- Alvred's Roscaret, formerly 

 10/- then worth only 2/-. Both these manors in the Confessor's 

 time were held by Alwin, At an early date, the manor of 



