Expert: Mark Smith - 7/8/2011

Question
According to Sir Benard Burke, Sir Gerard De Rodes was sent as an ambassador 29 March, 9th year of King John.

Are there records from King John's reign that would tell us why King John sent this person as an ambassador and to where he was sent, and how can I access those records?

Thank you for your time and answer!

Answer
Hello Jerry.
I can find plenty of references to Sir Gerard de Rodes, but none of them give any more information than what you've already told me. This is only a guess, but March 1208 (the ninth year of King John's reign) was a momentous month. On 24 March the Pope placed England under an Interdict, in effect the clergy were ordered out on strike, after King John refused to accept the Pope's choice of Archbishop of Canterbury. King John sent out envoys to rally support for his cause, perhaps Sir Gerard was one such envoy ?
Mark