In 1391 Dec 19, Johannes le Rous de Raggeley (John Rous; John le Roos) was granted, by Richard II, (In year 15 of his reign) a Royal Pardon licence to crenellate Stanley Poundelarge (Stanley Pontlarge)

"Licence for the king's liege John le Rous, of Raggeley, to crenellate his manor of Stanley Poundelarge, co. Gloucester, and pardon to him for crenellating part of the manor without licence, and of whatever pertains to the king therefor.
Johannes le Rous de Raggeley Ex, &c., perdonavimus ei transgressionem quam fecit kernellando parcellam manerii praedicti absque licentis nostra, ..."

Granted at Westminster, by privy seal.

Johannes le Rous de Raggeley issued a pardon, in c.1391, for crennellating his house in 'Stanley Poundelarge' without licence. At the same time he was granted licence to crenellate the house.
This is the same John Rous who was pardoned for crenellating his house at Ragley in 1381. Quite what is happening here is unclear. Does he have an enemy who is reporting him for the technical offence of crenellating without licence and then the authorities are issuing a pardon for form sake? Has he twice made an application only after he finished the work?

Original source is

• Calendar of Patent Rolls (1392-96) p46

(In fact, the original source given is usually a transcription/translation of what are precious medieval documents not readily availably. It should be noted that these transcription/translations often date to the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries and that unwitting bias of transcribers may affect the translation. Care should also be taken to avoid giving modern meaning to the medieval use of certain stock words and terms.)

Significant later source are;

• Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p212
  Coulson, C., 1994, 'Freedom to Crenellate by Licence - An Historiographical Revision' Nottingham Medieval Studies Vol38 p92n17
  Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p262, 420

John Rous of Ragley (d. 1396)

Identifying this John Rous is difficult because of the prominence of his late C15 name sake - the antiquarian and priest.
In 1370 John Rous of Ragley exchanged with the abbey [of Evesham] lands in Ombersley, Worcs., for land and rent in Ragley and Kingley. In Dec. 1381 he received a pardon for crenellating a house above the gate of his manor of Ragley without licence, and was given leave to crenellate the remainder of the manor. John Rous died before the close of 1396, followed shortly after by his eldest son John. (VCH)
There are several branches of the Rous family all minor knights.

More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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