Ralph Sandwich

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Sir Ralph Sandwich (1235–1308) (also known as Rauf de Sanduiz, Ralph de Sandwich and Ralph of Sandwich), of Dene (in Margate), Ham, and Ripple, Kent, Winchfield, Hampshire, etc., was an English administrator and justice. He was Steward of the King's Demesne, Constable of Canterbury (1278), and

Royal Warden (Lord Mayor) of London (1286, 1288–1293).[1]

Biography

He was the son of Simon of Sandwich, the brother of clergyman

Master of the Great Wardrobe. On 7 May he was made Keeper of the Great Seal, although without the governmental position which accompanied it. He was only allowed to use it for routine writs, otherwise the presence of Peter de Montfort
and two others was required.

On 4 August 1265, Sandwich was captured at the

Constable of Dover Castle, and in 1274 was summoned to attend the coronation of Edward I. In November 1275 he was one of three men appointed as a Steward of the King's Demesne, with his responsibilities being the counties of the south and west. The post, which involved large amounts of travel, handling of huge sums of money (over £7000 between 1277 and 1279) and the supervision of large building works at Devizes, Banstead, and Odiham
, completely exhausted one of his colleagues.

He also acted as Keeper of the

Mayor of London, and presided over the city's Court of Hustings. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1289 after the previous holder, Sir Thomas Weyland, became a fugitive 'until the king makes further provision', and stepped down in 1290 after a replacement was found. Between 1286 and 1307 he sat every year as a justice at the original Old Bailey, and sat as a justice at the trial of William Wallace at Westminster Hall in 1305.[2]

He attended Edward II's coronation in February 1308, and on 24 March turned the custody of the Tower of London over to John Cromwell. He died before 20 August and was buried in Greyfriars Church. In 1309 Henry de Eynesford, Nicholas de Sandwich, Thomas de Boynton, and William de Berton, clerk, executors of the will of Ralph de Sandwich, deceased were summoned to answer William de Carleton, Baron of the Exchequer, and his associates, executors of the will of William, Bishop of Norwich, deceased regarding a debt of £40.[3] By an unknown first wife, he appears to have had a daughter, Desirée (or Desiderata) (living 1330–1), wife of Geoffrey de Lucy, Knt. He married (2nd) Maud, widow of Thomas de Belhouse, who survived him.

References

  1. ^ Mayors and Lord Mayors of the City of London from 1189 Archived 14 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, www.cityoflondon.gov.uk, accessed 25 September 2011.
  2. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/24646. Retrieved 8 September 2008. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  3. ^ Exchequer of Plea Rolls, 33, image 27f (available at AALT website).
Court offices
Preceded by
Henry of Ghent
Master of the Great Wardrobe

1265–1265 		Succeeded by
Nicholas of Lewknor
Political offices
Preceded by Keeper of the Great Seal
1265–1265 		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
1289–1290 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Ralph de Dacre
 Constable of the Tower
1285–1308 		Succeeded by
John de Cromwell, 1st Baron Cromwell
Civic offices
Preceded by
Mayor of London

1285–1293 		Succeeded by
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