The following excerpts are taken from Sir Thomas Billing 1410-81 of Gray's Inn and Northamptonshire, chief justice in England under Edward IV...
Throughout his adult life the political climate was dominated by the so-called "War of the Roses", c. 1455-c.1485.... It was a time of petty squabbles by the Lords and their retainers.... The disorder filtered down to a struggle between landlords, their estates and marriage settlements. To a competent, clever and ambitious lawyer like Thomas Billing it was however a matter of great concern and must have dominated his thoughts daily year upon year. A false move could not only have meant the termination of his legal career but also the obliteration of his earthly life.... That he survived quite unscathed must at least say something.
... On being made Serjeant-at-Law in 1453, and resigning the recordship of the City of London, he had already attracted the attention of the "noble and good" as a man both "able to in the law" and "learned in the law." A former member of parliament for Northamptonshire and the City, and a friend of many in high places, Billing must have believed that from now on all his hard work, years of study and the cultivation of friends would pay dividends, and so it was to be....
Despite what has already been written by others, we have found no evidence that Billing in his official capacity did anything other than that which was correct in every particular. He was however, with or without others, involved in many a private legal battle. From the evidence of the 15th century the gentry did little except try to increase their personal fortunes and estates by marriage settlements; they even went so far as to occupy their neighbours' lands with armed men on some trumped-up charge of a claim in law. Not only was Billing sought after for his legal opinions and advice he frequently dabbled himself in these dubious acquisitions on his own account and was sometimes found out later. However, such suits never brought him any rebuke from the king indicating either his excellent relationship with him, or that such behaviour was taken as perfectly normal....
[A number of historians indicate that] a John Billing, probably the father of the judge, was one of the feoffees of Sir William Porter, knight, and presented to the rectory of Collyweston in Nov 1430....
Note other sources strongly favour a Thomas Billing, most likely brother of John above…
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