Grisel, Blanchard and Morel were horses in the Lady’s stables, but household accounts show that she did own exotic birds as well – perhaps parakeets or parrots – and there are entries made for the purchase of almonds for them.
Stephen Bonde was another member of the Lady’s retinue. He was accused of murder, but she seems to have secured his acquittal, even though it appears that he was guilty. Simon Freburn and his sons were also criminals, notorious as robbers and thieves.
Another scandalous crime was committed in the 1380s by Sir Thomas Nuport, who with Thomas Marishal, John Mull and several others broke the sanctuary of the church and assaulted one John de Quintone. It seems that Quintone stole some of Nuport’s property, then fled to the church for sanctuary. Nuport and his friends dragged him out and cut off his ears. Afterwards, under threat of excommunication, the culprits were obliged to walk barefoot through the town and beg forgiveness.
Records tell of other people who lived in Clare at this time. They include Nicholas de Lydgate, who was vicar of Sts Peter and Paul from 1350 until 1361. There was a bailiff named William Paycock, and other local worthies were Hugh de Godeston, Robert Skynere and John Grym, barber of Rutten Row.
The innovative fan vaulting in the cloisters at Gloucester Abbey (now Gloucester Cathedral) is attributed to Thomas de Cambrug (or Thomas of Cambridge), who installed it between 1351 and 1364. When he had finished, he went to Hereford Cathedral, where he built the chapter house. He never worked in Clare, although the parish church was rebuilt in the fourteenth century. A mason named Roger is mentioned in the Lady’s will.
And finally, Ralph de Langelee was Master of Michaelhouse until 1361, after which Michael de Causton appears in the records.