ROLL A4
Membr. 1
5 Nov. 1337
A Congregation of Mayor and Aldermen on Wednesday
after the Feast of All Saints [1 Nov.] A
o 11 Edw. III
[1337]
Ordinance (fn. 1) for the brewers and brewsters relating to the
price of ale. (L)
8 Nov. 1337
Pleas held before Henry Dercy, Mayor, Nicholas Crane
and Walter Neel, Sheriffs, on Saturday after the above
Feast
Geoffrey Pecok was charged at the prosecution of the
Commonalty and of Thomas le Porter with forestalling cattle
by meeting cattle-merchants and buying their cattle before
they reached the City, whereby he enhanced prices by a
quarter or a third. He denied the charge and was mainprised
by John de Neuport, "Bokbindere," Geoffrey Fairher and
John de Lincoln to hear the verdict of a jury. But before the
verdict was given, he admitted his offence, and threw himself
on the mercy of the Mayor and Sheriffs, who fined him half
a mark. (L)
William de Preston, Hugh le Blount and John de Grenewyche were attached to answer the King and William de
Iford, the Common Serjeant, who prosecuted for the King
and the Commonalty, on a charge of selling foreigners' goods
as their own, viz. bales of ginger, pepper and other kinds of
avoirdupois (fn. 2) , whereby the King lost his custom and the
citizens their trade. They put themselves on the verdict of a
jury. (L)
17 Nov. 1337
Note that in full Husting of Pleas of Land on Monday
after the Feast of St Martin [11 Nov.] Ao 11 Edw. III [1337],
complaint was made by inhabitants of the City in the neighbourhood of the Conduit, that citizens were hindered from
drawing water, because brewers were constantly removing
water in vessels called "tynes" for trade purposes. Precept
was given to John atte Barnet and William le Peautrer,
keepers of the Conduit, to confiscate such vessels in future. (L)
Membr. 1b
22 Nov. 1337
Pleas held before the Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffs on
Saturday before the Feast of S
t
Katherine [25 Nov.]
A
o 11 Edw. III [1337]
Richard de Gaunt, late Keeper of the Conduit with Thomas
le Peautrer deceased, was charged, on the prosecution of
William de Iford, with embezzling lead and money, the
property of the Conduit, to the value of £10. A jury found
him guilty of retaining property of the Conduit value 10
marks. On the Wednesday following he brought to the
Guildhall the lead in his custody, which after being valued
at 49s 7d was handed over to the new keepers, together with
the sum of 60s, the balance of money in hand. The sum of
23s 10d was allowed to him on consideration of his own
moneys expended on the Conduit. (L)
29 Nov. 1337
Pleas held before the Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffs on
Saturday after the above Feast
John Walkelyn and Robert Boydyn, butchers, were convicted of forestalling meat, on a verdict of a jury that they
bought forty-five pigs from John atte Crouche of Eyton on
his way to the City. They were committed to prison until
they paid a fine. (L)
Writ to the Mayor and Sheriffs, commanding them to see
that those, whose duty it was, should forthwith repair and
make good Fleet Bridge and its approaches. Dated at
Thame, 8 Nov. Ao 11 Edw. III [1337].
Whereupon an inquest was held to discover whose duty it
was to keep the Bridge in repair. The jury found that the
duty belonged to the Warden of Fleet Prison for the time
being, who had certain rents in the City and suburbs for the
purpose. (L)
Four white-bakers and two tourte-bakers from each side
of Walbrook were elected to keep the Assize of white and
tourte bread. (L)
17 Dec. 1337
Pleas held before the Mayor and Aldermen on Wednesday after the Feast of S
t
Lucia Virgin [13 Dec.]
Membr. 2
John Puddyng, John le Keu, John Tancard, John Beneyt,
Robert de Portesmuthe, and Peter Taborer were charged
with forestalling oysters, by entering boats and buying the
oysters before the recognized hours of sale, and with keeping
the unsold oysters, till they were stinking and putrid, and
then mixing them with fresh oysters. A jury, found them
not guilty.
Laurence Albyn, John Lombard, William Monamy and
Thomas atte Grene were acquitted of a like charge. (L)
12 Dec. 1337.
Pleas held before the Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffs on
Friday before the above Feast
John de Writele was charged by John de Bokelond, who
prosecuted by his guardian Henry de Trentham, with having
taken away from him (fn. 3) a book written in English, called
"Legends of the Saints," in the parish of All Hallows,
Honilane, of the value of 40s, against the peace and to his
damage 100s. He was found guilty by a jury—which valued
the book at 30s and assessed damages at 6s 8d—and committed to prison until he paid the above sums and a fine to
the King. The money was paid at the Husting of Common
Pleas on Monday after the Feast of St Hilary and he was
liberated. (L)
John de Thame, barber, of Friday Street was attached
to answer John, son of Richard de Ichil, on a charge of having
assaulted the latter in the Church of St Matthew, Friday
Street, to his damage 100s. A jury was summoned and the
defendant was mainprised to hear the verdict. He was subsequently acquitted, because the plaintiff withdrew from his
charge, and the latter was fined. (L)
Membr. 2b
3 Jan. 1338
On Saturday after the Feast of the Circumcision [1 Jan.]
Ao 11 Edw. III [1337-8], Simon le Keu and Robert de
Codhain were presented to the Mayor by the men of the
mistery of Weavers to be their bailiffs, and were sworn to
that office. (L)
6 Jan. 1338
The King's Writ to the Mayor, Sheriffs and collectors of
the customs, commanding them to take security from
Antony Bache, merchant of Lombardy, that he would not
send a consignment of 130 sacks of wool from Southampton
and 120 sacks of wool from London to Flanders or any other
country hostile to the King, but only to Lombardy (fn. 4) . The
ordinary custom is to be taken, together with the additional
tax of 20s a sack granted by the merchants at Northampton,
but the further charge of 20s a sack, as a loan to the King, is
not to be exacted in this case. Dated at the Tower of London,
6 Jan. Ao 11 Edw. III [1337-8]. (L)
Note that the above-mentioned Antony entered into
security as required.
31 Dec. 1337
Inquest held before the Mayor and Sheriffs on Wednesday
before the Feast of the Circumcision [1 Jan.] Ao 11 Edw. III
[1337] as to the assaults committed about midnight the preceding day on the mariners of the ships called "le Galeys"
in the parish of St Dunstan in Tower Ward. The jury found
that Thomas de la Folye, Henry de Braye, Thomas de Braye,
John Strogoyle, porter, John Dorree, Nicholas de Braye,
Robert Alspa, Adam de la Marche, John le Skynnere, William
le Cobelere called "le Malemakere (fn. 5) ," and John le Barbour
had assaulted Antoninus de la Castayn, Gudiarus Godyare,
Cros Danevyl, Thomas Nasel, Antoninus de la Caste, Gillelmus Venire, Roger de Mars, Manaldus Faraon, John
Drapreyns, Andrew Rokelet, Antoninus de Nacyn, Eularius
Dambros, Aubretynus Ouraz and Philip de Donele. Two of
the persons indicted were captured and committed to Newgate, being subsequently released on mainprise. (L)
Membr. 3
10 Jan. 1338
Note that on Saturday after the Epiphany [6 Jan.] Ao 11
Edw. III [1337-8] a verbal order was issued from the King's
Council (fn. 6) , then sitting at Whitefriars, to the Mayor and
Sheriffs, directing them to arrest the goods belonging to
certain Spanish merchants, which had been taken at sea and
carried into the City and suburbs. They were to safeguard
these goods on behalf of the Spanish merchants until further
orders.
Accordingly the Mayor and Sheriffs, with Peter Cisers,
attorney of the Spanish merchants, and on the information
of Peter Lopiz, broker, proceeded to the house of Arnald
Garcy, who said he had attached 29 bales of cloth at Sandwich on board the ship "La Naude" by the King's orders,
and on instructions from Sir John de Molyns had delivered
them up to William de Northwell, the King's clerk.
At the house of John Roberd, shearman, they found 4
pieces of cloth, whereof 3 were of ray (fn. 7) and 1 coloured,
which he declared had been given to him by William de
Northwell to shear. He was ordered to keep the cloth until
further orders.
At the house of Laurence Dardage of Bayonne, rented
from John de Oxford in the Vintry, they found 27 bundles
of cloth, but these were not interfered with, as being the
property of the said Laurence imported from Bayonne on
board "La Naude."
On Tuesday before the Feast of St Hilary [13 Jan.] they
seized 87 cloths (fn. 8) from Robert de Eynesham, skinner, at the
suit of Peter Cesairs and Benedict Ferandes, which had been
taken at sea on the ship "La Careccer (fn. 9) ," and these cloths
were delivered to the above Peter and Benedict in obedience
to the King's writ. (L)
Cedula recto
3 Feb. 1338
Peter Cisers, attorney of the merchants of Aragon and
Majorca, John de Casteyne, attorney of the merchants of the
city of Piacenza, and John Veel, attorney for the merchants
of Spain, proved that 11 cloths arrested in the possession of
Hugh le Marberer belonged to the above merchants. Tuesday
the morrow of the Purification B.M. [2 Feb.] Ao 12 Edw. III
[1337-8]. (L)
6 Feb. 1338
On Friday after the above Feast, Albert Ferre of Barcelona
in Aragon, John Moles "de Maiorisis" in the kingdom of
Majorca and William de Mountagu of Barcelona gave evidence on oath before the Mayor and Sheriffs that Peter
Sesaires was a merchant of Aragon and Benedict Ferandes
a merchant of Spain, and that both were robbed at sea of 87
cloths afterwards found and arrested in the hands of divers
persons in the City.
dorso
Hugh le Marberer swore that he bought from Peter Lopiz
11 ray cloths at 2 marks the cloth; Robert de Aynesham
swore that he lent Peter Lopiz £70 on security of 87 cloths;
John Pecche swore that his partner, Thomas de Holbeche,
bought from Simon de Pulham a piece of "morre (fn. 10) " cloth
of 30 ells for 28s 4d; John le Keu, hosier, swore that he
bought from John atte Grene dwelling at the Leadenhall
2 cloths of bluet (fn. 11) , a cloth of ray, 2 half-cloths of ray and a
cloth of "morre" at £8; Thomas de Cornwall, tailor, who
bought 20 cloths, claims nothing because the cloths were in
the ship "La Naude"; John de Berkyng and John de Houle,
partners, bought from Thomas de Ware a cloth of bluet for
22s; John le Keu, hosier, bought from Thomas de Ware
half a cloth of ray for 14s 6d.
In the house of Gilbert Payn four cloths were seen. (L)
Membr. 3 (contd)
28 March 1338
Writ to the Mayor enjoining him to levy on the goods of
certain merchants of Lucca a sum of 2000 marks, which they,
together with James Busdrak, had promised to lend the King
at the time when they were taken and detained in the Tower.
Dated at Newcastle-on-Tyne, 28 March Ao 12 Edw. III
[1338]. (L)
Return to the effect that the Mayor had been to the houses
of the merchants and had found nothing therein on which
the money could be levied, except robes and beds, 51 pieces
of tin and 10 bales and pack-loads (summagia) of worsted
serge, and that Torre Oddy and Nicholas Guylliam, citizens
of London, claimed the tin as their own property. (L)
5 June 1352
Certificate under the Mayoralty Seal that in the City Rolls
of the 11th year of Edw. III there was an entry to the effect
that on 14 Jan. Ao 11 Edw. III [1337-8] Peter Sauches,
Martin Fermandes, Martin de Rete, John Dayale and Melaudus de Castre, Spanish merchants, appeared before the
Mayor, Sheriffs and others, in accordance with a writ of 8
Jan. directed to Nicholas Pyk, and proved that certain goods
received by the said Nicholas for the King's use were the
property of themselves and other Spanish merchants, viz.
1054 rods of long iron, 42 pieces of pointed (punctuati) iron,
60 pieces of iron plate, 4 bales of cat and fox skins, 2 bales
of thread, 4 bales of cummin, 5 bales of cordwain of which
3 were spoilt, and 18 bales of pork-fat, received from John
Loveryk, master of the King's ship "le Esmon de la Tour"
by indenture; 1 cask and 3 bales of pork-fat, 1 pipe of
"seym (fn. 12) ," 5 pipes of olive oil of "Civile (fn. 13) ," each deficient
three inches depth, 8 bales of cummin, of which one was
spoilt, 2 bales of Spanish wool, 3 pieces of tin, 786 bars of
iron at 100 for the hundred (centena) (fn. 14) , 62 pieces of cut
(picati) (fn. 15) iron at 120 for the hundred, 52 pieces of iron plate
and 220 pieces of welded (juncti ferri) iron in gobbets at 100
for the hundred, received from William Loveryk, master of
the King's ship "la Trinitee de la Tour" by indenture; and
500 bars of long iron received from Geoffrey Pany, master
of the ship "la James" of Sarre. Dated 5 June Ao 26 Edw.
III [1353] (fn. 16) . (L)
Cedula, sewn to the membrane, containing the above list
of goods.
Membr. 3b
16 Dec. 1337
Writ to Henry Darcy, Mayor and King's Escheator, commanding him to hold an Inquisition ad quod Dampnum respecting certain lands and tenements in the City which John
de Pulteneye wished to devise to his chapel of Corpus Christi
lately erected (fn. 17) ; viz. a messuage in the parish of All Hallows
on the Cellar purchased of John Swanlond; a messuage in
the parish of St Martin Orgar purchased of Stephen de
Abyndon; a messuage in the parish of St Laurence, "Candelwykestrete," purchased of John de Aulton and Katherine his
wife; a rent of 10s in Fleet Street in the parish of St Bride's
purchased of Isabel, relict of Matthew de Arras; a rent of
2s 8d in the parish of St Margaret, "Breggestrete," purchased
of the executors of Stephen de Abyndon; a rent of 5s 10d
in the parish of St Nicholas "Hakon"; another rent of 5s 10d
in the same parish, and a rent of 2s in the parish of St Faith
purchased from the same; a messuage in the parish of St
Michael Paternoster purchased of William de Langeford; a
messuage in the parish of St Vedast; and a messuage and
shop in the parish of St Christopher, Broad Street Ward,
purchased of Richard de Gloucestre; a messuage called "le
Briggehous" in the parish of St Botolph without Bishopsgate, purchased of Peter de Hackney; a rent of 8s issuing
out of William Pekok's tenement in "Redecrouchestrete"
without Cripplegate; and a rent of 17s issuing out of Henry
de Cufford's tenement at Broken Wharf. These properties
John de Pulteneye desired to assign to the Master and
Chaplains of the Chapel of Corpus Christi for the souls of
himself and his wife Margaret, their ancestors and heirs.
Dated 16 Dec. Ao 11 Edw. III [1337]. (L)
15 Jan. 1338
Inquisition ad quod Dampnum held by the Mayor pursuant
to the above writ. The jurors find that the above properties
are charged with certain quitrents to the Prior of St Mary
Southwark, Edmund de Flete, the Hospital of St Giles,
Margaret de Wyrhal a nun of Clerkenwell, the nuns of
Haliwell, a chaplain in the church of St Nicholas Shambles,
the Prioress of Haliwell and the Bishop of London. Dated
Thursday after the Feast of St Hilary [13 Jan.] Ao 11 Edw.
III [1337-8]. (L)
No date
Letter from the Mayor and Aldermen to Adam le Keu,
Richard le Keu, John Gerney, junior, John Page, junior, and
John Strongale, bailiffs of Gravesend, complaining that they
had not restored to John de Martyncroft, citizen of London,
£12 1s 10d, and two pairs of knives, which they arrested on
the person of his apprentice, Richard de Say, though they
had several times been requested to make restitution. (F)
Membr. 4
13 Nov. 1342
A Congregation of Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs and a
great number of Commoners on Wednesday after the
Feast of S
t
Martin [11 Nov.] A
o 16 Edw. III [1342]
A writ under the Privy Seal was read, dated at Sandwyz,
13 Oct., in the sixteenth year of Edward's reign as King of
England, and his third year as King of France [1342], bidding
the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty to allow the merchants of Almaine to enjoy their ancient franchise to sell
wine and other merchandise. (F)
Petition of the merchants of the Hanse of Almaine to the
same, pointing out that they were charged with the repair
and defence of Bishopsgate, that they paid an annual sum
to the Sheriff, had their judge who was Alderman of the City
of London (lour juge qest Alderman de la dite Cite de Loundres),
and they ought not to be treated as strangers but as resiants
and denizens (privez), and praying that they might be allowed
to sell their wine wholesale and retail as of old time accustomed, and according to the terms of a composition (fn. 18) formerly
made between them and the City. (F)
The matter was adjourned till Friday because the Mayor
etc. wished to examine the terms of the composition. On
that day the merchants attended and being asked if they had
any special proof of being allowed to sell wine by retail,
could not produce any; and inasmuch as no such permission
appeared in the composition aforesaid, they were forbidden
in future to sell their wine otherwise than wholesale. (L)
Names of the merchants who presented the petition:
Bartholomew de Lon, Bertram de Wypperford, Tydemann
Lymbergh, John de Wolde, Henry de Braken, Richard
Sutherlond, Engelbert de Colon, Gerard de Ecof, John
Couken, Rudeker Lymbergh, Sifrid Mayembergh and others.
Precept to the Sheriffs, John Lovekyn and Richard de
Keslyngbury, to visit taverns and to order the taverners, ex
parte regis, not to sell the gallon of Gascony wine dearer
than 3d, and the gallon of "Renys" dearer than 6d, and that
the said wines should be kept in different cellars, where
purchasers should have view of the wines they bought. (L)
Membr. 4b
2 Dec. 1342
Questions sent by the Mayor and burgesses of Oxford
touching points of procedure, and the answers made
thereto by the City of London on Monday after the
Feast of S
t
Katherine [25 Nov.] A
o 16 Edw. III [1342]
Q. What course ought to be taken with those who, being
free of the City, prosecute freemen or residents in other
courts than before the Mayor and Sheriffs, to the prejudice
of the City's liberties ?
A. They ought to be attached to appear before the Mayor
on a certain day for arraignment and if convicted, deprived
of the freedom, and not be allowed to recover the same
except under heavy payment.
Q. What course ought to be taken with a man who resists
or makes a rescue from an officer engaged in levying a
distress upon him?
A. He ought to be attached to appear before the Mayor,
and if convicted, be committed to prison, to be released only
on fine at the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen.
Q. What ought to be done with a tenant who resists his
landlord when levying a distress for arrears of rent, more
particularly where the tenant is a tenant-at-will?
A. The Mayor and Sheriffs should send an officer to
preserve the peace at the time of making a distraint, and if
resistance be offered in the presence of the officer, the
offender should be attached and arraigned before the Mayor,
and if convicted, be committed to prison, not to be released
until he has paid the damages adjudged to the plaintiff, and
a fine to the King. (L)
Membr. 5
26 June 1342
A Congregation of Mayor and Aldermen on Wednesday
after the Nativity of S
t
John the Baptist [24 June]
A
o 16 Edw. III [1342]
Wardens were sworn to see that the ordinances (fn. 20) with regard to the fulling and dyeing of cloth were observed. Afterwards, on Thursday after the Feast of St Bartholomew [24
Aug.] Ao 17 Edw. III [1343], Gilbert le Pipere was chosen
by the mistery of Dyers to act as a broker of woad. (L)
1 Aug. I342
A Congregation of Mayor, Aldermen and an immense
Commonalty on Thursday the Feast of S
t
Peter ad
Vincula [1 Aug.] A
o 16 Edw. III [1342]
It was agreed to send a wedding-present of ten tuns of
wine and ten pieces of wax to the Tower on behalf of the
citizens for the marriage of Lionel (fn. 21) , the King's son, on the
Feast of the Assumption [15 Aug.]. The Mayor, Simon
Fraunceys, advanced the money. (L)
Ordinance (fn. 22) against mixing bad wine with good, and for
allowing customers to enter cellars to see their wine drawn. (L)
27 Aug. 1342
A Congregation of Mayor, Aldermen and an immense
Commonalty on Tuesday after the Feast of S
t
Bartholomew [24 Aug.] the above year
Proclamation for keeping the King's Peace in the City:
The carrying of arms in the City except by the officers of the
King and the City is forbidden, and innkeepers shall warn
their guests of this on their arrival. Any one raising a disturbance close to the doors and windows of houses and shops
or resisting arrest shall be taken before the Mayor, Aldermen
and Sheriffs and have judgment of life and limb. No one
shall be a maintainer of persons of evil character or conspirators, under pain of forfeiture. Keepers of taverns, to
which evil characters usually resort, shall not keep their
doors open after curfew sounded at St Martin-le-Grand,
under pain of imprisonment. Taverners shall not mix bad
wine with good etc. ut supra. (F)
Membr. 5b
3 Sept. 1342
A Congregation of the Mayor, Aldermen and an immense
Commonalty was held on Tuesday after the Feast of the
Decollation of St John the Baptist [29 Aug.] to consider an
affray which had taken place the preceding day in Friday
Street with some of the retinue of the Earl of Derby (fn. 23) , in
which Gilbert de Stayndrop, goldsmith, had been seriously
wounded. The Mayor and several of the Aldermen and
commoners had waited upon the Earl immediately after
wards at his Inn, where he demanded amends from them,
and swore that neither he, his knights, squires, nor contingent
would cross the Thames for the war abroad until he had
received satisfaction. He demanded further that the City
should send messengers next day to Haringeye, and threatened
that if this were not done, he would visit his enmity upon all
citizens of London wherever he found them. Though the
Congregation was of opinion that the Earl had no cause of
complaint, they considered that his absence from the war
abroad would be a calamity to the King and country, and
moreover that their only choice lay between offering him a
gift and incurring his lasting displeasure. Accordingly
several aldermen and commoners were chosen to go to the
Earl next day to placate him. On their arrival, they begged
the Earl not to hold the City blameworthy because some of
his retinue had been assaulted by unknown persons, and
then with a cheerful demeanour (vultu hillari) they offered
him as a gift one thousand casks of wine. The Earl, highly
delighted (letus et jocundus), accepted the gift and insisted on
their dining with him, though they begged to be excused.
After dinner he announced that he would meet the Mayor,
Aldermen and Commonalty at Clerkenwell that evening to
talk with them. This he did, and after thanking them and
releasing them from their gift, he immediately started for
the Continent escorted by the citizens. (L)
Membr. 6
18 Dec. 1343
A Congregation of Mayor and Aldermen on Thursday
after the Feast of S
t
Lucia Virgin [13 Dec.] A
o 17
Edw. III [1343]
Robert de St John, skinner, was attached to answer a
charge of having taken back by force a fur-robe out of the
hands of Walter Lumbard, the Mayor's Serjeant, who had
seized it by way of distress for arrears due to a loan of £5000
made to the King. The defendant pleaded that the fur belonged to a woman of the Queen's household, and that he
had offered another article in its place as a distress. He was
convicted on this confession and committed to prison, but
was afterwards released on mainprise. (L)
Richard de Farnberghwe, brother of William de Farnberghwe, armourer, was attached on a similar charge and
convicted, being subsequently released from prison on mainprise. (L)
19 Dec. 1343
On Friday before the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle [21
Dec.] Ao 17 Edw. III [1343] a bill was sent to each Alderman
enjoining him to make careful inquiry of all the Articles of
the Wardmoot, and to see that no hostiller or lodging-house
keeper remained in the Ward who was not of good fame, and
that all hostillers were under surety not to receive evildoers.
All suspicious characters arriving in hostelries were to be
reported to the officers of the City. All guests in hostelries
were to be warned against going armed in the City. The
Aldermen were to see that the streets were properly kept
and that rubbish and dung were removed, under pain of
imprisonment for the serjeants of the wards. A report was
to be made, after inquiry in the Wardmoot, as to whether
the proposed enclosing of St Paul's was to the prejudice of
any in the City. The names of all persons indicted of felony
or other trespass were to be certified under the seals of twelve
Ward jurors. (F)
2 Dec. 1343
A Congregation of Mayor, Aldermen and an immense
Commonalty on Tuesday after the Feast of S
t
Andrew
[30 Nov.] A
o 17 Edw. III [1343]
It was agreed that 80 marks, due from the City for Queen's
Gold (fn. 24) , should be charged on the moneys in the hands of the
collectors, who were engaged in collecting 5s in the £ towards
the £5000 lent to the King. (L)
Judgment was given in favour of Henry Darcy and Margery
his wife against John Rokel in a plea de execucione testamenti
(fn. 25) . (L)
Membr. 6b
12 Feb. 1344
Memorandum that on Thursday after the octave of the
Purification B.M. [2 Feb.] Ao 18 Edw. III [1343-4], Richard
de Basyngstoke, goldsmith, who had bought from Thomas
de Porkele a messuage with a quay abutting on Bretask Lane,
came before the Mayor and Aldermen and asked that certain
posts standing on Commonalty land and supporting the
building should be allowed to remain, on the understanding
that he gave the City an equal portion of land close to London
Bridge in compensation. The site was visited by the Mayor,
Aldermen and a body of good men of the Ward of Dowgate,
and the exchange was sanctioned. (L)
2 June 1344
A Congregation of Mayor and Aldermen on Wednesday
before the Feast of Corpus Christi [3 June] A
o 18
Edw. III [1344]
Giles Raven was summoned to answer a charge of having
refused to pay 6d a cask, wine dues, to William de Spaldyng,
wine-broker, who had arranged the sale of 20 casks of his
wine to John Osekyn in Vintry. Judgment was given for the
broker. (L)
24 April 1344
On Saturday after the Feast of St Alphege [19 April] Ao
18 Edw. III [1344], Nicholas de Bokhirst brought a bill of
complaint to the Mayor setting forth that he had been a
juror in the recent inquest, held before the Mayor at St
Martin's on behalf of the King, and that Andrew Turk and
others had threatened to kill him with a dagger, if he dared
to indict any one, in consequence of which the jury was
intimidated. Both parties put themselves on their country.
The jury found a verdict for the defendant, who nevertheless
entered into security to keep the peace. (F and L)
Membr. 7
30 Nov. 1344
Pleas held before John Hamond, Mayor, and Geoffrey
de Wychingham, one of the Sheriffs, on Tuesday after
the Feast of S
t
Katherine Virgin [25 Nov.] A
o 18 Edw.
III [1344]
William Simond, "bocher," was attached to answer a
charge of having driven away and slaughtered a pregnant
sow belonging to Idonea le Hukestere. A jury found him
guilty. He was committed to prison until he paid the plaintiff
7s, and a fine to the King. (L)
William Lemman was also committed to prison for driving
away and slaughtering a white pig, value 3s, belonging to
Robert de Derkeshale. (L)
7 Jan. 1345
A Congregation of Mayor and Aldermen in the Chamber of the Guildhall on Friday the morrow of the
Epiphany [6 Jan] A
o 18 Edw. III [1344-5]
Mention was made by John Hamond, the Mayor, of the
dispute between Henry Darcy and John Rokel, aldermen, in
which the said Henry and his wife Margery, who had sued
out a writ for the execution of the will of Stephen Abyndon (fn. 26) ,
had recovered a tenement against the said John by judgment
of court. The latter had obtained a writ of error ordering the
action to be reviewed before the King's Justices at St Martin's.
In view of the damage which might be done to the City's
liberties if the action came to a hearing, the parties were
persuaded to put themselves on the arbitration of eight
aldermen, four chosen by either party. Afterwards on Friday
after the octave of Easter the arbitrators announced to a
Congregation of Mayor, Aldermen and Commoners in the
Guildhall that the above John Rokel refused to abide by their
award. Thereupon the two Sheriffs and a deputation of
aldermen and commoners were sent to him, warning him at
his peril not to pursue his writ of error, which was in prejudice of the City's liberties. (L)
Membr. 7b
18 Nov. 1344
Pleas held before the Mayor and Sheriffs on Thursday
before the Feast of S
t
Katherine [25 Nov.] A
o 18
Edw. III [1344]
William de Bury, "bourcer," Robert le Red, John de
Borham, junior, Robert Neel and William de Godemondchestre, bursers (fn. 27) , were attached to answer a charge of having
taken away certain purses garnished with silk and pearls from
Maud de Pykenham in Cheap opposite Soper Lane on
Christmas Eve, Ao 12 Edw. III [1338]. A jury found William
de Bury guilty and assessed the damages at 5s, and the rest
not guilty. The said William was committed to prison till he
should pay the plaintiff the sum named, and a fine to the
King. (L)
The same day Joan la Caller and Joan Counseil recovered
10s and 5s respectively in similar actions against him. (L)
22 Nov. 1344
Memorandum that a bill was delivered to the Mayor by
Robert de Storteford on Monday before the above Feast,
complaining that William de Borham, Robert Neel, Robert
le Rede and John de Borham, "bourcers," had bound him
by an oath (fn. 28) against his will to observe their ordinance and to
sell his goods, purses and lainers (leyners) (fn. 29) at a certain price,
which was fixed so high that he could get no sale; and when
they found him at the bottom of Soper Lane selling his goods
at a less price, they summoned him to a Court Christian in
the Church of St Bennet Fynk, and kept him in a plea there
from day to day, so that he lost business to the extent of
100s. The defendants pleaded not guilty. A jury gave a
verdict that the defendants had bound the plaintiff by an
oath not to sell the dozen of sheepskin lainers (ligolarum) for
less than 2½d, the usual price being 1½d, and the dozen of
lainers of roe-leather (de rou) for 9d, 8d or 7d, the usual
price being 5d or 5½d, and that they had cited him as alleged,
to his damage 13s 4d. As regards the administration of an
oath to the plaintiff, contrary to the ordinances of the City,
judgment was deferred. (F and L)
Membr. 8
10 April 1344
Note, in reference to a writ, that on Saturday after Easter
[4 April] Ao 18 Edw. III [1344] Thomas atte Wych and
Thomas atte Leye loaded 82 quarters of corn on board a ship
called "le Skynkeweyn" of Hulst in Flanders, of which
Iderus FitzBernard was master, to be carried to Sluys
(Lesclus) in Flanders, and promised before the Mayor and
Sheriffs to bring back a certificate of its discharge there. (L)
On Wednesday 14 April Roger Berners of London loaded
in a ship called "la Gondeselles" of Sluys, of which John
Palmer was master, [breaks off]. (L)
5 May 1344
On Wednesday (fn. 30) the morrow of the Invention of the Holy
Cross [3 May] Richard Walran, Godfrey atte Swan, William
atte Hurst, Walter le Barber, Robert le Bedel of Lime Street
and Richard le Bedel of Alegate were sworn to superintend
the repair of the pavement within Aldgate. (L)
8 May 1344
Inquest taken before the Mayor and others on Saturday
after the above Feast as to whether malt ought to be sold at
Gracechurch and on the pavement of the Friars Minors (fn. 31) by
the quarter of eight bushels or nine bushels, and also touching
forestallers. The jury found that, except for the last four
years, a quarter of malt had always contained nine and not
eight bushels; they also named certain persons as forestallers
and guilty of selling grain by samples (per exempla), making
a market in their houses and measuring by their own measures,
allowing foreigners to sell in their houses, and going down
to Billingsgate and Queenhithe to find out when grain was
scarce, and then conspiring together to raise prices; they
further found that the beadles and their servants and the
scavengers were guilty of taking a certain quantity of grain
from each sack and pocket (fn. 32) in the market, contrary to the
custom of the City. (L)
21 June 1344
Inquest taken before the Mayor and Sheriffs on Monday
before the Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist [24
June] as to the cause of an affray which took place on Friday
after the Feast of St Barnabas [11 June] about curfew in
Queenhithe Ward, in which affray Master John de Brynkele
and his servant were beaten and wounded. The jury found
Simon Page, Richard de Abyndon, "longe Watte" and John
le Taillour guilty. (L)
3 July 1344
On Saturday after the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul [29
June], John de Flaunden, John Myles and William de Bolyngbrok were appointed assessors of rents and tenements between
Holborn Bridge and Smithfield for the repair of the pavements. (L)
Membr. 8b
14 July 1344
Inquest taken before the Mayor and Sheriffs on Wednesday after the Feast of the Translation of St Thomas [7 July]
as to the cause of an affray which had taken place on the
previous Monday in which Sir Robert de Bilkemore, knight,
and Robert his son, and some of his servants were beaten
and wounded. The jury found that Thomas de la Ryver and
Robert Seymor, esquires, and other unknown persons of
their company were guilty. (L)
31 Aug. 1344
Inquest taken before the Mayor and Sheriffs on Tuesday
after the Feast of St Bartholomew [24 Aug.] as to the cause
of a disturbance in the parish of St Martin Oteswych on
Monday the week before, in which Bartholomew le Renter,
brewer, was beaten and wounded. The jury found that
Robert de Tatenhale, armourer, Hugh, William and Roger
his brothers, and Richard Henaud, "lorymer," broke into
his house by night and assaulted him, leaving him half dead,
and that these persons were common evildoers. (L)
Membr. 9
10 July 1343
A Congregation of Mayor and Aldermen on Thursday
after the Feast of the Translation of S
t
Thomas the
Martyr [7 July] A
o 17 Edw. III [1343]
John de Glaston, clerk, brings a plaint of Intrusion against
William, son of Peter de Huntyngdon, Roger Cros, William
de Lyncoln and John le Northern, touching his free tenement in the parish of St Giles without Cripplegate. (L)
15 July 1343
A Congregation of Mayor and Aldermen on Tuesday
before the Feast of S
t
Margaret [20 July]
Similar plaint by Richard de Rothynge against John de
Cressyngham and Alice his wife, Gilbert atte Lee, joiner,
and Philip de Shobyndene, touching his free tenement in the
parish of St James Garlickhithe. (L)
18 July 1343
A Congregation of Mayor and Aldermen on Friday
before the above Feast
Simon de Warfeld, "dieghere," was attached to answer a
charge of throwing stinking trade-refuse into the street near
"Fanchirche," notwithstanding frequent warnings, and also
of calling John Causton, Alderman, opprobrious names
(shredulum falsumque), to the said alderman's damage £100.
The defendant pleaded guilty and was committed to prison,
but was afterwards released on mainprise for his appearance
to hear judgment. (L)
In the same congregation William atte Noke, John Froyl,
Roger de Wodhull and William Cherich, chandlers and waxcandle makers (cirgiarii), were sworn to make a scrutiny and
prevent men of their trade from mixing fat with the wax in
wax-candles and torches, and to bring offenders before the
Mayor and Aldermen. (L)
21 July 1343
On Monday before the Feast of St James the Apostle [25
July] Ao 17 Edw. III [1343] the Common Serjeant, William
de Iford, acting on behalf of John le Botoner, an orphan,
delivered to the Mayor and Aldermen a bill (F) claiming an
estate tail in a brewery devised to the orphan by his father
in Bassishaw. The boy's mother, Joan, had married a second
husband, Roger Buntyng, and now claimed that the estate
was in fee simple and that her first husband had devised to
her the brewery for life, with remainder to the orphan. She
pleaded that originally the brewery belonged with other
tenements to a certain William le Callere, and descended to
his three daughters as co-heiresses, and that by a subsequent
arrangement the estate had been divided, the brewhouse
coming to his daughter Lucy, who had married the orphan's
grandfather, Laurence le Botoner; After the latter's death
his son John, who was her first husband and the orphan's
father, had the brewhouse in fee simple and was entitled to
devise it to her for life. This the Common Serjeant denied,
on the ground that the brewhouse was an estate in tail.
Judgment was deferred. (L)
30 July 1343
A Congregation of Mayor and Aldermen on Wednesday before the Feast of S
t
Peter ad Vincula [1 Aug.]
A
o 17 Edw. III [1343]
Richard de Arderne, saddler, brings a plaint of Intrusion
against Henry Myre, saddler, and Robert Chaumpayne,
saddler, touching his free tenement in the parish of St Vedast.
5 Aug. 1343
A Congregation of Mayor and Aldermen on Tuesday
after the above Feast
John de Glaston, clerk, brings a plaint of Intrusion against
William de Huntyngdon, Simon Daubeney and Emma his
wife, Roger Cros, William de Lincoln and John de Derlyngton, clerk, touching his free tenement in the parish of St Giles
without Cripplegate, and appoints William de Meinby his
attorney.
Membr. 9b
10 Aug. 1343
Proclamation for keeping the King's peace published
throughout the City on Sunday after the above Feast, by
resolution of the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty.
None to wander through the City after curfew, except
citizens of good fame or their servants bearing a light and
for a good reason.
Taverners to close their doors at curfew, and not to mix
corrupt wine with good.
None to go armed in the City except the servants of great
lords, carrying their lords' swords in their presence, the
King's and Queen's serjeants-at-arms and the officers of the
City.
Taverners to warn their guests to leave their arms in their
inns before going into the streets.
Taverners not to receive strangers for more than a day
and a night unless they are willing to vouch for them.
All men in the King's peace have power to arrest felons
and evildoers in the absence of the City officers.
No citizen to harbour or assist outlawed persons and men
indicted of felony, who are accustomed to flock to the City.
Sturdy vagrants are ordered to undertake work with
citizens at a daily wage of 3d.
All men of the misteries, as well as victuallers, journeymen,
labourers and servants, shall work as they used to do before
the pestilence (fn. 33) , under pain of imprisonment and fine. (F)