Tomas de Courcy is a graduate from Oxford who is now employed as a tutor for Charles Blount’s children in This Year of our Lord 1535 in Apethorpe Northamptonshire, England.

History

The deCourcy Estate

The de Courcy Estate is in South Eastern Norfolk between Norwich and Yarmouth, a short ride from the River Yare.

Tomas’ Grandfather towards the end of his days saw the demand for serfs as the population fell due to plague. In an attempt to keep his serfs, and perhaps increase the number of workers, he began signing copyhold agreements with his serfs. It gave the serfs a section of land and the right to run their sheep on the de Courcy land in exchange for a day of service every week and the first portion of their wool, or the equivalent in money. It also allowed the serfs to pass the land they rented down to their family for the next three generations. This allowed the de Courcy family to thrive in a time where other lords were loosing their serfs rapidly and having to sell land in an attempt to continue in the same lifestyle as before. The de Courcys allowed their serfs to sell their wool with them through the same merchants, thus allowing them all to receive the same prices as the de Courcys. This allowed the de Courcys to expand their holdings and by signing exclusive agreements with a single family of merchants led to their becoming very wealthy.

This was not well taken by the neighboring lords, and by the time Tomas was born his family was considered to be no better than merchants by most other noble families. The family doesn’t seem to mind much, as the bad feelings are held mostly by the envious whose families squandered their land.

Family

Tomas has three older brothers, and both his parents still live. His father manages the estate with a wise hand, and his mother manages the household. His brothers all took different paths. The eldest is inheriting the manor and works with Tomas’ father, learning how to run the land. The second is a lawyer in London, having studied at Oxford. And the third married into a wealthy merchant’s family (the same family with which Tomas’ Grandfather made the agreement) and is learning the tricks of the wool trade.

Early Life

Tomas’ early life was taken up mostly with lessons and learning about the local trades: sheep and wool. He discovered a passion for his lessons young, and could often be found with his nose in a book of some form or another. Having little interest in trade, and no interest in sheep he decided to follow his brother in education.

Oxford and Apethorpe

After beginning his education and being accepted into one of the colleges Tomas decided that he would make his living by the scholarly arts. After having his Artium Baccalaureus conferred, and becoming a Licentiate the following year, Tomas was hired on by Charles Blount, Baron Mountjoy as a tutor for his children. He now resides in Apethorpe Northamptonshire, and frequently travels to London with Charles as a secretary.

Kayleigh de Leis

Kayleigh is the daughter of an Irish merchant with whom the de Courcys have business with. Her father owns a shipping company which brings their wool to other countries. After meeting and falling in love with her Tomas was set a martial task by her before she would consent to marrying him. With the aid of two of his friends, Don Pierce O’Brien and Lord Sebastian de Sandoval, he won her challenge and she consented to the engagement. They plan to be married within the year.