Robert de Malberthorp

Sir Robert de Malberthorp (d. 1331/1332) was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench in 1329. He was the son and heir of Sir William of Malberthorpe, lord of the manor of [[Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire], which was located on the site of the present Mablethorpe Hall.

Sir Robert Malberthorp was a serjeant at the common bench by 1299. In 1311 he was working for the city of London, and in 1313-14 he was employed as serjeant by Thomas of Lancaster. On 1 August 1320 he was appointed justice of the king's bench. He worked on several legal commissions in this period, many in his native Lincolnshire and surrounding counties. One commission in particular was designed to help the Despensers gain the lordship of Gower against John Mowbray and his allies.

It was Malberthorp who, in the king's name, passed a judgement of death over the rebellious Thomas of Lancaster, after Lancaster's defeat at the Battle of Boroughbridge. For this Malberthorp would need a pardon after the fall of Edward II. Yet he remained in favour at court under the new regime of Roger Mortimer, and later under the personal government of Edward III. In February 1329 he was involved in sessions against rebels led by Thomas' brother, Henry of Lancaster.

The pinnacle of Malberthorp's career came on 1 May 1329, when he was made chief justice of the king's bench. He only held this position until 28 October, when he was appointed Lord Chief justice of common pleas, and remained in that position until he tragically died of his wounds after fighting an duel against Robert de Mohaut at Earls Bridge on the outskirts of Mablethorpe Lincolnshire. Both men died of their wounds. Robert de Mablethorpe was buried at Saint Mary's Parish Church in Mablethorpe (There is an effigy of Sir Robert in the chancel of the church, the head of the figure rests on a pillow upheld by angels, and beneath the feet are two dragons engaged in fierce combat. The tail of the one impaled by the spur of the knight, while the foot resting on the back of the other)

Robert de Mohaut was buried at All Saints Church in Maltby Le Marsh Lincolnshire(He buried in the chancel, his tomb is the one that has the effigy of an cross legged knight wearing chain mail and surcoat. At his head are 2 angels by the pillow and at his feet 2 lions biting each other).

The De Malberthorp's and the De Mohaut's were two of Mablethorpes most noblest family's however these two family's had an feud which lasted for 96 years after their ancestors had quarrelled who would present the next rectors of Saint Mary's and Saint Peter's Parish Churches. The feud started when Roger de Montalt and Thomas son of Endo de Malberthorp in the year of 1233, had quarrelled about the right of presenting the Rector of St Mary’s and an decision was made that Thomas should present the Rector who was Richard de Wyverton.

The feud came to an conclusion when on the 26th December 1329, Robert de Montalt had met Robert de Malberthorp on the bridge(two miles from the west of Mablethorpe), Robert De Montalt had accused Robert De Malberthorp of cowardice in battle and told him to get out of his way, Robert De Malberthorp resented the unjust rumour and refused to move, Robert De Montalt began to have doubts, but he did not dare to withdraw the charge as if he did, his five week bride would think him afraid.

The duel would settle the matter and whoever survived the duel would gain "satisfaction, “by restoring one's honour by demonstrating a willingness to risk one's life for it. The De Montalt’s stood on the side of earls bridge towards Maltby le Marsh and the Malberthorp's stood on the side nearest to Mablethorpe. The two Earls duelled in ghastly determination and both men understood of which in open conflict, one of the Earl’s had to kill the other one and that one of them would not be crossing the bridge alive.

Records state that both Earl’s attacked at each other like lions with so much energy that they were evenly matched and experienced in weapons and the harsh cry of swords against armour and they fought for hours but at last a sword stroke from each took its toll at the same time and the two knights fell dead together.

Robert’s de Montalt’s nephew Robert de Morley inherited his uncles lands. Robert De Malberthorp's daughter Elizabeth who was married Thomas Fitzwilliam of Sprotbrough (Doncaster,Yorkshire)inherited her father's Manor and lands in Mablethorpe. The Fitzwilliam family lived at Mablethorpe for an total of 290 years.

References

• S. Bothwell,Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online edn, Oxford University Press, May 2006 accessed 11 Jan 2008