Tax collector, Northants. Mar. 1381.
Commr. to suppress the rebels of 1381, Northants. Dec. 1381, Mar., Dec. 1382; of inquiry Jan. 1384 (claims to the keepership of Whittlewood forest), Dec. 1392 (repairs to the highway between Towcester and Silverstone); to make arrests Feb. 1386, May, Aug. 1408; of array Mar. 1392, Sept. 1403; kiddles bef. Sept. 1399; to proclaim the King’s intention of ruling justly May 1402.
Sheriff, Northants. 1 Dec. 1388 – 15 Nov. 1389, 24 Sept. – 5 Nov. 1403, 15 Nov. 1408 – 4 Nov. 1409, 3 Nov. 1412–6 Nov. 1413.
J.p. Northants. 12 Nov. 1397 – 18 Feb. 1412.
Escheator, Northants. 9 Nov. 1406–30 Nov. 1407.
Verderer of the forest of Whittlewood, Northants. to 28 May 1413.
The apparent longevity of this Member (who did not enter Parliament until the age of 69, and last served as sheriff when he was 78) is certainly remarkable. The possibility that we are dealing with two men of the same name, one of whom was born in 1335/6 and was the father or elder kinsman of the MP who died in 1420, cannot be entirely dismissed; but any such evidence remains wanting. We are told that by 1413 Parles had ‘become blind and too aged’ to exercise his duties as verderer of Whittlewood (CCR, 1413-19, p. 12), an item of information which naturally casts doubt on his ability to undertake the far more demanding role of sheriff.
PARLES, Ralph (1335/6-1420)