RODY, Nicholas

More may be added to the earlier biography. The Commons 1386-1421, iv. 226.

As befitting an MP returned on at least nine occasions, Rody was one of the most influential men in his constituency. His influence was, at least in part, a product of his personal relationship with successive lords of his borough, Richard Beauchamp, Henry Beauchamp, and Richard Neville. His association with the first was particularly close, and it may not be coincidental that all his returns came during Richard Beauchamp’s tenure as earl of Warwick. He was also close to the earl’s second wife, Isabel Despenser, whom he served as master of the household in 1431-2, a period when the earl kept his own household at Rouen. M.A. Hicks, Warwick, 33. Such connexions gave him an influence beyond that of a mere townsman. In a Chancery petition of about 1444 Thomas Horton complained of a campaign of intimidation conducted by Rody, as escheator in 1442-3, against his tenants at Ratcliffe Culey in Leicestershire. In the conventional language of such petitions he complained of Rody’s ‘grete lordship and power’ in the county. C1/15/137.

There were few aspects of the borough’s affairs in which Rody was not involved. In addition to his activities cited in the earlier biography, at a session of gaol delivery at Warwick in February 1424 he stood pledge for the prosecution of an appeal of felonious theft sued by Roger Wootton I*, with whom he sat for the borough in five Parliaments. Three years later, at the gaol delivery held in July 1427, he was involved in a matter of more personal concern, standing pledge for the prosecution of an appeal sued by Isabel, widow of his kinsman, William Rody, who had been murdered by one of his own servants. In 1436 he was nominated as a feoffee by his kinsman John Brome II*, a townsman even more important than himself. JUST3/68/2, m. 7; 8, m. 3; 9, m. 2; Ferrers mss, DR3/455.

Rody’s will reveals a close relationship with another burgess, John Poers*, who, among other bequests, was to have black cloth to make a gown for Rody’s month’s day. It also shows a strong concern for the welfare of his servants. To one he left £5, partly as compensation for ‘his grete hurt and lettyng of his scole’ arising from seven years in his service. He sought to make amends for the wrongs committed by another of his men, who had wounded a local weaver with a sword. The injured man was to have 6s. to buy a gown. Interestingly, Rody owned a coverlet decorated with the Berkeley arms of the first wife of his old master, Richard Beauchamp. This he left to a particularly favoured female servant, who had been with him for 16 years. E40/4653.