Folio 173.
Custod' Isabell' fil' Will'i Leche.
1 March, 21 Edward IV. [A.D. 1481-2], came Thomas Hiot,
John Lokton, John Benet, and Percyvall Wodehous, drapers,
and entered into bond in the sum of £20 for payment into the
Chamber by the said Thomas of a like sum to the use of
Isabella, daughter of William Leche, when she comes of age
or marries, the said money having been bequeathed to her by
Thomas Hoye, late "joynour".
Custod' Alicie fil' Will'i Leche.
The same day came John Chalk, goldsmith, William Chalk,
"peauterer," Robert Panteley, goldsmith, and Thomas Awty,
cordwainer, and entered into bond in the sum of £20 for payment into the Chamber by the said John Chalk of a like sum to
the use of Alice, daughter of William Leche, when she comes
of age or marries, the said money having been bequeathed by
the above Thomas Hoye.
Folio 173 b.
P'sentacio Laurenc' Botiller Capell'i ad se'dam cantar' trium cantar' in Eccl'ia Cathedral' Sc'i Pauli London'.
Letter from William "Haryot," Knt. and Mayor, to the Dean
and Chapter of St. Paul's, presenting Laurence Botiller for
admission to the second of the three chantries founded in the
said church for the souls of Sir John Pulteney, Knt., and Sirs
William Milford and John Plesseys, former Archdeacons of
Colchester. Dated 7 March, [A.D. 1481-2].
Custod' bueror' Tho'e Santone draper.
11 March, 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1481-2], came Alianora
Santone, widow, Roger Barlowe, tailor, Stephen Smyth, haberdasher, and Robert Gawdeby, draper, and entered into bond
in the sum of £200 for payment into the Chamber by the said
Alianora of a like sum to the use of Robert and William,
sons of Thomas Santone, late draper, when they come of
age.
Folio 174.
Q'd nemo cligatur in svient' Maioris ad clavam nisi prius extit'it s'viens vic' etc.
16 April, 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], ordinance by the Mayor
and Aldermen that in future no one should be elected or
admitted Serjeant-at-Mace to the Mayor for the time being
unless he has previously served as Serjeant-at-Mace with one
of the Sheriffs.
Afterwards it was ordained by Edmund Shaa, the Mayor
[A.D. 1482-3], and the Aldermen that no one should be elected
Serjeant-at-Mace to a Mayor unless he had been two consecutive years as Serjeant-at-Mace with one of the Sheriffs.
Ordinacio Barbitonsor' etc.
16 April, 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], came good men of the
Art or Mistery of Barbers of the City into the Court of the
lord the King in the Chamber of the Guildhall, before William
Haryot, Knt. and Mayor, and the Aldermen, and prayed that
certain articles might be approved. (fn. 1)
Petition granted.
Folio 174 b.
Exon'acio Joh'is Greves ab assis'.
23 May, 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], John Greves, leatherseller, discharged by the Mayor and Aldermen from serving
on juries, &c., owing to his infirmities.
Exon'acio Johannis Awndernesse ab assis' etc.
25 May, 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], John Awndernesse,
skinner, similarly discharged for like cause.
Folio 175.
Custod' Ed mundi Ed ward fil' Will'i Ed ward Aldr'i.
10 June, 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], came William Horn,
Richard Chawry, Aldermen, Thomas Breteyn, "irmonger," and
William Graunt, salter, and entered into bond in the sum of
450 marks for payment into the Chamber by the said William
Horn of a like sum to the use of Edmund, son of William
Edward, late Alderman, when he comes of age.
Br'e et Re turn' declarens consuetudinem etc pro teri et ten' legat' ad manum mortuam vel alio modo etc.
Writ to the Mayor and Aldermen touching a plea at Westminster between John Penford, plaintiff, and Richard Sparowe,
defendant, for unlawful entry into certain messuages contrary
to the statute 5 Richard II. [cap. viii.], and commanding the
said Mayor and Aldermen to make a return as to whether, by
the custom of the City, a freeman can devise lands and tenements within the City in mortmain or otherwise, as well by his
written testament as by his last will made without writing,
whether it be reduced to writing after the death of the devisor
and proved, like a nuncupative testament, by ecclesiastical law
or not Witness W[illiam] "Huse" (fn. 2) at Westminster, 8 May,
22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482].
Folio 175 b.
Return' br'is predict'.
Return made to the above writ by Humphrey Starky the
Recorder oretenus, according to the custom of the City, to the
following effect :—
By the custom of the City every freeman can, and could,
devise lands and tenements within the City in mortmain (fn. 3) or
otherwise, as well by written testament as by his last will without writing, whether such a will be reduced to writing after the
decease of the devisor, and be proved by ecclesiastical law like
a nuncupative testament, or not reduced to writing and not
proved by ecclesiastical law like a nuncupative testament. (fn. 4)
Consuetud' sup' attach'm forincec' reci tat' per br'e.
Writ to the Mayor and Aldermen reciting that a plea had
been moved in the King's Court at Westminster between
Roger Bourghchier, mercer, plaintiff, and John Colyns, mercer,
defendant, for the recovery of a debt of £100, and that a
question had arisen whether there existed in the City an
immemorial custom to the effect that if any plaint of debt be
levied or affirmed by any one in the Court of the lord the King,
before the Mayor and Aldermen of the City for the time
being, in the Chamber of the Guildhall, so that precept be
issued to a Serjeant-at-mace of the Mayor and officer of that
Court to summon the defendant to appear before the Mayor
and Aldermen at the next Court to answer the plaintiff in the
said plaint, and the said Serjeant testifies by word of mouth at
the next Court that the defendant had nothing in the City
whereby he could be summoned, and then the defendant makes
default, that thereupon the said Mayor and Aldermen being
informed that some other person for some reason was indebted
to the defendant to the extent of the sum specified in the plaint
or parcel thereof, precept issues to the Serjeant to attach such
sum in the hands of the other person, and if the defendant,
being summoned to appear at the next Court and three other
Courts, makes default, whilst the plaintiff always appears; that
at the last of the said four Courts the said Serjeant summons
the person in whose hands the money lies to appear at a
further Court to show cause why the money should not be
delivered to the plaintiff, and that delivery eventually takes
place. (fn. 5) The Mayor and Aldermen are enjoined to make a return
by the mouth of the Recorder, certifying the King as to the
existence of such a custom. Witness T[homas] Bryan (fn. 6) at
Westminster, 13 June, 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482].
Folios 176-6b.
Return' br'is p'dict' et cons' p'dict' declarat'.
Return made to the above certifying the custom as above
recited.
Folio 177.
Carta Tinctorum.
Writ of Privy Seal, by authority of Parliament, granting
licence to Thomas Danyell, John Belde, John Lewesson,
Henry Reynold, Thomas Rede, Thomas Grene, Thomas
Warfeld, William Michell, William Hoode, Nicholas Sewall,
William Body, Robert Bromptone, and Stephen Ingram,
freemen of the Mistery of Dyers of the City, to found and
establish a perpetual Fraternity or Guild (fn. 7) with two Wardens and
a Commonalty of freemen of the Mistery residing within the
City, and with the brethren and sisters of freemen of the same
Mistery and others who desire to join the said Fraternity or
Guild; and the said Wardens and Commonalty to be one body
and Commonalty incorporate in fact and name, capable of
acquiring lands, rents, &c., having a common seal, &c.
Witnesses, Thomas [Bourchier], Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury; R[obert Stillington], Bishop of Bath and Wells and
Chancellor; Thomas [Scott alias Rotherham], Bishop of Lincoln
and Keeper of the Privy Seall; George, Duke of Clarence;
Richard, Duke of Gloucester; Henry Essex, Treasurer of
England; John Wiltes', the Chief Butler; Thomas Stanley de
Staneley, Steward of the King's Household; William Hastynges
de Hastynges, the King's Chamberlain, &c. Dated at Westminster, 2 December, 12 Edward IV. [A.D. 1472].
Folio 177b-178.
Ordinacio Tinctor'..
9 July, 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], came the Wardens and
good men of the Art of Dyers of the City before the Mayor
and Aldermen, and prayed that certain articles for the
regulation of the Craft might be approved.
Among the articles are the following :—
That if any freeman of the Craft leave the City and teach
his craft to strangers and then return, he shall be reputed as
a "foreyn" and as no freeman, until he agree with the Fellowship of the Craft and buy his freedom through the Chamber
of the City.
That the ordinance touching buying and "departing" of
woad and receiving of servants recorded in Letter-Book K,
fo. cxxxiii[b], temp. John Brokley, Mayor, be strictly observed.
Petition granted.
Folio 178.
Custod' pueror' Thome Clifford.
30 July, 22 Edward IV. [A D. 1482], came Thomas Clifford,
scrivener, William Sandes, grocer, John Wylkynson and Walter
Clifford, scriveners, and entered into bond in the sum of
£11 3s. 4d. for payment into the Chamber by the said Thomas
Clifford of a like sum to the use of John, Richard, Edward,
William, and Idonea, children of the said Thomas Clifford, when
they come of age or marry, the said money having been
bequeathed to them by John Sutton, late mercer.
Folio 178 b.
Exon'acio Joh'is Eltryngham ab assis'.
3 July, 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], John Eltryngham,
"sadler," discharged by the Mayor and Aldermen from
serving on juries, &c., owing to his infirmities.
Exon'acio Thome Fraunceys Cowper ab assis' etc.
28 Sept., 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], Thomas Fraunceys,
"cowper," similarly discharged for like cause.
Eleccio Vicecom'.
Saturday the Feast of St. Matthew [21 Sept.], 22 Edward IV.
[A.D. 1482], in the presence of William "Hariot," Knt., Mayor,
Humphrey Starky the Recorder, Robert Basset, Richard
Gardyner, John Broun, William Stokker, Knt., Edmund Shaa,
Thomas Hille, Richard Rawson, John Warde, John Fissher,
Thomas "Norlong," (fn. 8) Richard Nailer, John Mathewe, Robert
Tate, and Richard Chawry, Aldermen, and very many Commoners summoned to the Guildhall for the election of Sheriffs—William White, draper, was elected one of the Sheriffs of
London and Middlesex by the Mayor, and John Mathewe,
mercer, was elected the other Sheriff by the Commonalty.
The same day Milo Adys, goldsmith, was elected Chamberlain of the City for the year ensuing; William Galle, tailor, and
Humphrey Bumpstede, mercer, were elected Wardens of the
City's Bridge; Hugh Brice, Richard Rawson, Aldermen,
William Martyn, skinner, William Spark, draper, John Materdale, "taillour," and Nicholas Alwyn, mercer, Commoners, were
elected Auditors of the accounts of the Chamberlain and
Wardens in arrear.
Afterwards, viz., on the eve of St. Michael [29 Sept.], the
said Sheriffs were sworn at the Guildhall, and on the morrow
of the said Feast were presented, admitted, &c., before the
Barons of the Exchequer.
Folio 179.
Q'd subvic' Midd' expendat x marc' per annum etc.
Tuesday, 24 Sept., 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], ordinance by
the Common Council that in future every Under-Sheriff of
Middlesex appointed by the Sheriffs of London shall reside
continually within the City or county of Middlesex, and hold
property in fee within the said City or county of the annual
value of 10 marks; and if no one can be found having these
qualifications to serve the office of Under-Sheriff of Middlesex,
then the Sheriffs of London for the time being shall retain the
office in their own hands and execute the duties of the same. (fn. 9)
Folio 179-180.
Ordinacio contra falsitatem et decepc' pann' lan'.
The same day, a petition made to the Common Council by
the Wardens and whole fellowships of the Misteries of Drapers
and Taillours reminding the Council of "the grete untrueth
falshode and deceite in late daies begonne and nowe daily
used in the makyng fullyng drawyng or settyng of lengeth
in the Teyntours Sheryng & powderyng wt Flokkes of
wollen cloth in biyng and sellyng of the same aswell wtin
this Citee or elswhere wtin the reame of England, the
makers of the which clothes in thise daies for the more
partie make theym full unperfite both in lengeth and
in brede contrary to the goode and holesome Statutes of
this lond thereof made, and so afterward when ther be bought,
being so unperfite many of theym often tymes be shorn
and not fully wette before and some of theym after ther be
fully wet and shorn than ther be teyntred and drawen in
lengeth, which afterward when ther Receive wete of verrey force
must shrynk and beside this where some tyme the Shermen
have hurte mennys clothes in their werkmanship as in sheryng
to lowe and to nygh the threde than ther powdre theym wt
Flokkes and thus by thise meanes been the clothes made
wrought and handled to the grete hurt and deceite aswell of
the King's true liege people as also of all straungiers which here
and in oþere londes and contreis usen to bye of the same unto
the grete Rebuke and dishonour of all this Realme and also to
the full grevous disclaundre of yor saide suppliauntes"—they
prayed therefore that certain articles for remedying such abuses
might be approved.
They were to the effect (inter alia): That no woollen cloth
shall in future be shorn, except "cancellyng," (fn. 10) unless it be
previously wetted.
That no one dwelling within the City, free or foreign, give
cloth to be "teyntered" or shorn to any one out of the
franchise of the City.
That all cloth brought to the City for sale shall be sent to
Blackwell Hall, and not be harboured elswhere.
That no freeman have or keep any "Teyntour" in his own
place or elsewhere, under penalty of £20; that all such "Teyntours" as then existed in such places be removed by Thursday,
night at the latest; and that no "Teyntour" be made unless,
ordained at the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen.
That no cloth "roughed and shorn" within the realm be sold
unless the seller deliver it wet and measured by the yard, and
the buyer buy it "at wetyng and meatyng," and not otherwise.
That the Masters and Wardens of the Misteries of Drapers,
Taillours, Shermen, and Fullers be granted authority to search
for faults in their respective Fellowships, and present such
faults as they may find to the Chamberlain for the time being.
Petition granted.
Folio 180.
Eleccio Maioris.
Sunday the Feast of Translation of St. Edward [13 Oct.],
22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], in the presence of William
Haryot, Knt., Mayor, Humphrey Starky the Recorder
William Taillour, Knt., Robert Drope, Robert Basset, Richard
Gardyner, John Broun, Robert Billesdone, William Stokker, Knt.,
Edmund Shaa, Thomas Hille, Hugh Brice, John Warde, Richard
Rawson, John Stokker, Robert Tate, William Horn, John
Fissher, Richard Chawry, Thomas "Norlong," John Mathewe,
and William White, Aldermen, and an immense Commonalty
summoned to the Guildhall for the election of a Mayor for the
year ensuing—Edmund Shaa was elected.
Afterwards, viz., on the Feast of SS. Simon and Jude [28
Oct.], the said Mayor was sworn at the Guildhall, and on the
morrow was presented, admitted, &c., before the Barons of the
Exchequer.
Folio 180 b.
Exon'acio Joh'is Snothal' Kent skynner ab assis' etc.
21 Oct., 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], John Snoth, alias Kent,
skinner, discharged by William Haryot, Knt., Mayor, and the
Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to increasing old age.
Ordinance by the Common Council, Tuesday, 22 Oct.,
22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], that thenceforth no freeman of the
City sell any woollen cloth by retail or otherwise, except by
one yard and one inch to the yard, without fraud, &c.
Also that no freeman occupy any tenters for planing woollen
cloth (pro panno lan' equand') (fn. 11) without the liberty of the City,
and that all tenters within the liberty should be destroyed
after Christmas next except ten, five of which should be at
Fullers' Hall and five at Leadenhall, and that such tenters
should be under the management of discreet men chosen by
the Mayor and Aldermen.
Also that every freeman have liberty until Christmas next,
and no longer, to plane his cloth, notwithstanding an Act
formerly made thereon, so that the said cloths be sealed with
the seal assigned therefor. (fn. 12)
Exon'acio Will mi Olyver Tail lour ab assis' etc.
23 Oct., 22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], William Olyver, tailor,
discharged by the Mayor and Aldermen from serving on
juries, &c., owing to his infirmities.
Exon'acio Laurencii Stokale sadler ab assis' etc.
28 Oct., the same year, Laurence Stokale, saddler, similarly
discharged for like cause.
De offic' co'is Paccator'.
Sunday the Feast of Translation of St. Edward [13 Oct.],
22 Edward IV. [A.D. 1482], ordinance by William "Heriot,"
the Mayor, and the Aldermen that Robert Fitzherbert, the
Common Packer, thenceforth take for his labour for the
package of every hundred calf-fells (he finding the cords for
such packing) the sum of 8 pence. (fn. 13)