Death in the Kitchens 1549

Because it appears by the record of James Fletcher and John Rust, coroners in Cambridgeshire and within the liberty of the town of Cambridge, upon view of the body of William Stokedall, late of Cambridge, “cooke,” that on 5 July 2 Edward VI.[1548], about 5 p.m., the said Stokdale and William Lammas of Cambridge, “cooke,” were in the kitchen of Queen’s College there preparing supper for their masters and because Lammas found fault with Stokdale for not doing his duty the latter assaulted him with “a basting styke,” and when he had fled and the kitchen wall prevented his fleeing further, and Stokdale drew blood upon him and would kill him, he in self defence, with a stick worth 1d., struck Stokdale on the left side of the head a mortal wound an inch wide of which the said Stokdale died on 7 July following; and Lammas has now surrendered to the Marshalsea prison as Richard Lyster, knight, Chief justice of King’s Bench has certified:

Pardon to the said William Lammas for the said death.

[Calendar of Patent Rolls, 3 Edward VI.[1549]—Part II, Roll 816, m. 34, January 30]