ROLL A 18
Membr. 1
Names of the beadles, underbeadles and constables of the
several Wards sworn to cleanse the streets Ao 46 Edw. III
[1372].
Membr 1 b
8 Nov. 1372
Memorandum that the above-mentioned beadles, constables and rakyers who were sworn on Monday before the
Feast of St Martin [11 Nov.] were given authority, whenever
they found ordure within or in front of houses, to distrain the
occupants for a fine of 2s, and when such filth was deposited
in front of the houses of others, a fine of 4s, half to go to
themselves in recompense for their trouble and half to be
accounted for in the Chamber. In like manner they were
granted half of the fines imposed for leaving casks, carts,
rubbish or other nuisances in the streets.
Membr. 2
5 Sept. 1373
Thomas Leuesham, pelter, was committed to prison for
drawing and brandishing his knife and using opprobrious
words to Walter Forster, Alderman, upon Cornhill. On
9 Sept. he was mainprised by Thomas Irland and Thomas
Pykenham to bring him up de die in diem.
18 July 1373
William Burdeyn, goldsmith, brought a bill of complaint
against Thomas Bermyngham, cordwainer, for damage done
to the fixtures in his house in the parish of St Michael atte
Corne, and also for leaving 20 cartloads of dung there at the
end of his tenancy. [French]
Both parties appeared on summons and agreed to submit
themselves to the report of the Masters of the Carpenters and
Masons sworn for the Assize of Building. The latter delivered
a certificate (French) to the effect that in the presence of
Henry Yevele, William Fraunceys, Richard Godchild,
William Twyford and John Simond, acting as arbitrators,
they had inspected the premises and found two leaden vessels
standing on a stone furnace of which the curbs (courbes) had
been removed, also a tappetrogh of lead and a maltbynne demolished, two ovenemouthes taken away, and that two lattices
fixed with nails to the timber of the house had been removed.
Judgment was given that the damage should be made good.
Membr. 2 b
22 Sept. 1373
William Preston brought a writ of protection, dated at
Westminster 16 Sept., issued to him on his going abroad to
the castle of Hammes (fn. 1) for provisioning the same.
...Oct. 1373
Information having been given to the Mayor and Aldermen
that a quarrel had arisen between the Fishmongers, Mercers
and Goldsmiths (fn. 2) , resulting in assemblies against the peace,
the good men of the said misteries were summoned and made
to stand surety for each other.
A list of the said good men of the three misteries, followed
by the names of 13 Saddlers (many names illegible).
Membr. 3
20 Jan. 1373
Zenobius Martyn, who had been indicted in Langbourne
Ward as a common bawd and associate of prostitutes, admitted his offence and put himself on the mercy of the court.
He also admitted that, though he was not a freeman of the
City, he kept a lodging-house for aliens and had acted as a
broker against the ordinances of the City (fn. 3) , and that he had
admitted to his house men of ill-fame, evildoers, thieves and
prostitutes. He was committed to prison until etc.
9 Feb. 1373
John van Vinia was charged with having sold wine retail,
though he was not a freeman of the City, and further with
having sold wine secretly, without any sign hung from his
tavern, at a price of 14d the gallon of Rhine wine, whereas the
ordinance forbade a higher price than 12d (fn. 4) . He was committed to prison. Subsequently his servant Henry Rothe was
alleged to have drawn wine from a cask which the masters of
the Vintners had marked on suspicion of unsoundness.
The same day Mork Lumbard, Lodewic Lumbard, John
Heyward, servant of Torold Gascoigne, Petirkin. Taverner,
Master Paul, John Botiller and John Palyn were fined for
similar offences, including that of selling Clarre at 20d the
gallon (fn. 5) .
19 Feb. 1373
John Blakthorn, lethirdighere, was committed to prison for
refusing to obey the rulers of his mistery, and for opprobrious
words spoken to the Recorder.
Membr. 3 b
Adam de Kent, pelter, William Warewyk, pelter, John
Stynyngton, tailor, John Harewode, tailor, John de Soham,
tailor, Edmund de Yernmouth, tailor, Thomas de Kirton,
tailor, and Clement de Kirton, tailor, were attached to answer
a charge that they and others with force and arms, to wit,
swords and knives, made an assembly, under colour of
playing with a football, in order to assault others, occasion
disputes, and perpetrate other evil deeds against the peace in
Sopers Lane, Cheap and Cordwainer Street. The said Adam
and Thomas pleaded not guilty and put themselves on the
country. The others said that they had played football but
done no harm. The said Adam was mainprised for his appearance, while the rest were committed to prison.
Membr 4.
7 March. 1373
Pleas held before the Mayor and Aldermen on Monday
the Feast of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas [7 March]
A
o 47 Edw. III [1372-3]
William Strokelady, fishmonger, and Matilda his wife were
summoned to answer Friar Alexander de Kilmeston, Prior
of New Place (fn. 6) near Guildford co. Surrey, who complained
that he had demised to the said Matilda, when she was sole,
under the name of Matilda, wife of the late William Spark, a
shop and warehouse in the parish of St Mary atte Bowe for
life at an annual rent of £7 8s, under condition that she should
execute all repairs. She had, however, allowed a party wall
between the shop and warehouse to become ruinous, so that
the buildings were likely to fall and bring down with them
adjacent buildings.
The defendants pleaded that the wall was already ruinous
at the time of the lease and the only way in which it could be
repaired was from the premises of other persons, into which
they had no right of entry. The Prior denied these statements
and declared that repairs could be competently executed from
the defendant's own premises. After two adjournments for
consultation the Court finally gave judgment for the Prior
that he should recover his covenant against the defendants
with 100s damages.
Membr 4 b ...
April 1373
Richard Somenour of Stebenheth, collector of the Fifteenth
in the county of Middlesex, was summoned to answer the
Commonalty at the suit of John de Wentbrigge for having
levied a distress on the goods and chattels of a citizen dwelling
within the liberty of the City, to the prejudice of the liberties
of the City. The defendant admitted the offence and was
fined £10.
29 April 1373
William Keyngham of Worcester was summoned before
the Mayor and Aldermen and informed that John de Mitford,
who possessed letters patent under the Mayoralty seal
testifying that he was a citizen of London and therefore free
of all tolls and customs, had been mulcted of 5s 8d by the
bailiffs of Worcester under pretext of a custom or toll. The
said William was ordered to warn the bailiffs that they must
restore this money under penalty of withernam
(fn. 7) .
Membr. 5
28 April 1373
The Chandlers and Butchers of London appeared on
summons and received an order that the tallowchandlers
should not sell the pound of candles dearer than 2d, and that
the butchers should not charge more than 18s for the wey of
roughtalew, and more than 22s for the wey of moltetalew.
5 May 1373
John Pycard, horner, was mainprised by John Asshewell
and Henry Pountfreit, skinner, to come up for judgment before the Mayor and Aldermen, for having made a plaint to the
King (fn. 8) against John de Chichestre, Alderman of Farringdon
Ward, who had fined him 12d for disobeying a summons
relating to the assessment of one-third of the tallage of a
Fifteenth, alleging that the said John had caused certain good
men of his Ward to be unjustly imprisoned.
6 May 1373
John Stodele, tailor, was charged with having insulted and
vilified Thomas de Same, collector of the above tax in Langbourne Ward. He pleaded not guilty and put himself on the
evidence of Robert Honyford and others, who, on being
separately examined, confirmed the plaintiff's allegations. The
said John was sent to prison for eight days, after which he was
released on mainprise for his good behaviour.
Membr. 5 b
19 May 1373
John Botiller, hostiller, on behalf of himself and his partner
Matthew Johan, paid in court to Peter Mark the sum of £100
on account of a certain exchange made at Bruges by William
Agland, servant of Roger Morton of York, with Reyner
Domenyk of Florence. It was agreed that the money should
be repaid if the letter from the said William, presented by
Peter Mark, should prove to be false.
Writ of protection in favour of Richard Pulter on his going
oversea on the King's service in the company of Sir Richard
Northland, knight. Dated at Westminster, 10 May Ao 47
Edw. III [1373].
Membr. 6 ...
May 1373
Inventory of the goods of Thomas Mockyng, late citizen
and fishmonger, viz:
In the chamber: A new bed and a tapestry (unum tapit') (fn. 9) ,
price 42s; another bed with a tapestry, 6s 8d; 3 quiltes and one
matras, 8s; 3 rugs (chalones), one framework (supellex), one
tester, one blanket, 8s; 5 feather beds, 2 pillows (cervical'),
18s; 4 pairs of sheets, 17s; 5 mongers
(fn. 10) , 2s; panels round the
bed (tabule circa lectum), 3s; 2 curtains (rydelli) 3s; 2 chests,
2 counters (computoria), 10s; a silver girdle, 20s; 2 pairs of
amber paternosters, 6s.
In the hall: 3 dorsers, 3 bankers, 6 cushions, £4 15s 8d;
3 old bankers and 5 cushions, 3s 4d; one board (tabula),
2 trestles and 5 stools, 8s; 3 chequer-boards (scaccar'), 2s;
one ferplace of iron, one pair of tonges, 31s 3d; 5 basins
whereof one is round, 7 wash-bowls (lavatoria), whereof one
is a hanging-bowl; 4 candelabra weighing ½ cwt 15 lbs at 2d
the lb, 16s 3d.
In the storehouse (dispensa): 7 cloths (mappe), 6 handtowels (manutergia) and 4 napkins (manapia), 24s; one
aumbry
(fn. 11) and 4 fates
(fn. 12) , 4s; 5 barrels, 2s; one gallon-jug, 5 pottle
jugs and 2 quart-jugs, all of pewter, weighing 35 lb at 2d a lb,
7s 3d; 3 chargers, 12 platerell'
(fn. 13) , 12 plates, 12 salt-cellars, all
of pewter, weighing ½ cwt 17 lbs at 2½d the lb, 13s 11d; one
broken silver cup called a "biker," another silver-gilt cup
with a silver foot and 4 other silver cups without feet, 24 silver
spoons, weighing by goldsmith's weight, £8 5s, at 25s the
goldsmiths £, £10 6s 3d; 3 nuts (nuces) with silver feet, 40s;
4 broken cups of mazer and one broken cup of werr'
(fn. 14) , 15s;
2 cups of mazer and one of werr', 46s 8d.
In the parlour (interlocutorium): one dorser and one
banker, 10s; one board (tabula) and one counter, 5s; one
board (tabula) for cups called a "cupbord," 4s.
In the chamber next to the parlour: One aumbry and
3 chairs, 4s; In The Workmen's Room (camera serviencium):
one chest and one board, 2s; in the solar above the same called
the "prentiseschaumbre," 2 boards, 12d; 4 forms (forme), 3s.
In the kitchen: 2 mortars, 2s; 2 fates, 7s; one watertankard,
2s; 5 tubbes, 12d; one sieve called "hersive," (fn. 15) 4d; one board
for a form, 8d; 2 large spits and 3 small spits, 2 tripods,
2 gridirons (craticula), one frying-pan (patella frixoria), one
grom
(fn. 16) , one ferpanne
(fn. 17) and four iron rods (virge) for curtains,
weighing in all 220 lbs at 1½d the lb, 27s 6d; 5 pitchers (urcieli),
7 pots (olle), 7 pans, 2 caldrons (cacabi) called "caudrons" all
of brass, weighing 2 cwt 3 qrs 10 lbs at 2d the lb, 47s 6d.
Good and desperate debts: £375 18s.
Sum total: £614 14s 3d.
Membr. 7
Ward Presentments, by the oaths of the twelve jurors
Langebourne. Roger de Ware, cook, who was presented as
a common nightwalker, confessed his offence and put himself
on the mercy of the Court.
Portsokene. The jurors presented that the common lane
leading to le pettes was obstructed because John atte Watre
and others and their servants cast dung there, and the carters
of London daily brought dung from divers places in the City
and unloaded it in the Ward, against ancient custom and to
the oppression of the whole Ward; also that the new bridge
constructed by the King between the Tower and the Hospital
of St Katherine had been enclosed, so that citizens could only
pass on paying toll to the Janitor of the Tower, and that the
Master of the said Hospital exacted wharfage from the citizens
of London, against ancient custom and the liberties of the
City, and in oppression of the citizens.
Algate. The jurors presented that the lane between the
.... of Holy Trinity and the Abbot of Bury was obstructed
by dung and filth, and that the highway between le Crowcherch
(fn. 18) and the....of Geoffrey Puppe was so stopped up
that it was impossible to walk or ride through it; also that between the Rents of St Katherine and the Rents of John Berton
the highway was likewise obstructed with filth; further that
the highway leading to the church of St Mary atte Nax was
blocked with timber belonging to Robert King and Thomas
de Mockyng, fishmonger.
Queenhithe. The jurors presented nuisances connected with
the church of St Olof (fn. 19) and Cordwainer Street, further that a
stone wall next to the churchyard of St Nicholas Coldabbey
ought to be lowered to the lawful height and that the....
enclosing the churchyard ought to be taken away, that a
stulpe
(fn. 20) was in the way of carters and ought to be removed,
that a paling and a house on the Salt Wharf (fn. 21) ought to be removed because they encroached on public easements, that
the common bridge between the Salt Wharf and the tenement
of the Abbot....had been shortened by three feet to the
prejudice of the citizens, that the lane between the tenements
of the Abbot of Tourhull (fn. 22) and of the Abbot of Lesyns (fn. 23) , in the
occupation of Robert Parys, was closed by a gate at the entrance, and a house had been built by the said Robert at the
inner end of the lane, that a certain common lane called
"Rattesalie" was blocked with cart wheels and timbers supporting a wall, and also that a certain John Dudlee, boter, and
others were quarrelsome and were continually causing disputes and disturbances (tremores) in the Ward.
Castle Baynard Ward. The jurors presented that the highway from the church of St Mary Magdalene at the end of
Oldefisshstrete was obstructed, that Dolitellane was likewise
stopped up with dung, that the gutter which used to have its
course through the middle of Oldechaunge through Oldefisshstrete had been diverted into Cartereslane, that the gutter
which used to go from Eldedeneslane through Bowiersrowe
had been diverted by the Gate of St Paul's to the Watergate
of Castle Baynard, so that the brewers and others could not
carry on their work owing to the stench and filth, that
William de Cloyne's gutter in Sarmoneruslane (fn. 24) was a nuisance,
and that other lanes [illegible] were choked with refuse.
Membr. 7 b
23 May 1373
Letters under the Mayoralty Seal certifying particulars of
a fraud committed on Philip Nery, merchant of Florence, in
respect of certain merchandise consigned to him by Nicholas
Donat of Sienna, pepperer of London. It was alleged that on
the latter's death, his attorney Nicholas Amanate had changed
the marks on certain bales freighted at Sluys so as to give the
impression that they were being consigned by Phili Nery to
Nicholas Donat, instead of the reverse, and consequently
these bales had been arrested by the Sheriffs on the instructions of Lodewic Fraunceys, executor of Nicholas Donat, as
being the property of the testator. The dispute between the
said Philip and the said Lodewic had been submitted to the
arbitration of John Bernes and Adam Stable, Aldermen, and
Nicholas Russell and James Jacobyn, merchants of Florence,
and by the intervention of the Mayor an agreement had been
arrived at whereby the said Philip was to have the bales on
payment of a certain sum in Flemish scudos. The above particulars are certified to assist the said Philip in legal proceedings against Nicholas Amanate.
Membr. 8
2 May 1373
Particulars of goods in the house of Emma Hatfeld, delivered to Matthew Langrich, fishmonger, and Margaret,
daughter of William Hatfeld, chandler, on Monday after
the Feast of SS. Philip and James [1 May] Ao 47 Edw. III
[1373]: Money in the shop, 12s; divers debts, £11 7s 9d;
a barrel of Seville oil (oitte de Civile), 30s; one barrel of seym
(fn. 25) ,
25s; a tub of Seville oil, 18s; 12 gallons of pichsmult
(fn. 26) , 9s;
8 stones and 5 lbs of flathegrece
(fn. 27) , 7s; 94 lbs of candles, 13s 4d;
2 pots with white grease, 3s; 7 pieces of cord, 10½d; 2 dozen
and 10 halters (chevestres), 17d; 5 pieces of bastilcordes
(fn. 28) , 20d;
17 panniers, 18d; ½ cwt 14 lbs of rosyn, 3s 4d; 20 lbs of seu
(fn. 29) ,
2s 6d; one piece of saccloth, 6s; 2½ bushels of salt, 22d; packthread (pacfill) and whippecorde, 8d; 6 auncers with 4 bolies,
5s; one perche
(fn. 30) of iron, 3s 4d; one lantern, 12d; 2 pieces of
Sandwich cord, 10d; onetun and other vessels, 13s 4d; 4 barrels
of thick seym, £4.; one barrel saltsmult
(fn. 31) ,35s; one barrel of mixed
(medle) seym, 33s 4d; one tubbe of refus, 23s 4d; one tub of
black seym, 13s 4d; pichsmult, 5s; 231 lbs of candles, 42s;
33 lbs of green candles, 5s 6d; 6 empty tuns, 24s; 5 chests,
5s; code
(fn. 32) and rosyn, 6s 8d; one grynstone, 12d; one iron beam
with the weights, 23s 4d; 6 empty tuns, 13s 4d; 36 empty
barrels, 9s; one empty tun, 8d; 11 bushels of salt of Berflet (fn. 33) ,
8s 3d; 2½ qrs of coarse salt, 11s 8d; 16½ stones of flotts
(fn. 34) ,
8s 3d; 7½ stones of green sue, 7s 10½d; 12 lbs of cotton (coton),
10s.
Item 3 dorsers with cushions, costers and bankers, £6 6s 8d;
3 folding tables (tables pliants) and 4 plain tables with
trestles, 20s; 7 stoles, 14d; one target and one launce, 2s; two
ladders (escheles), 12d; bacyns and ewers, 30s.
Item divers pieces of cloth (listres) with curtains and testers
and other things belonging to a chamber, and also a seynte
(fn. 35) ,
£12 5s 2d; silver vessels, £7 15d; a nut (nois) fitted with a
covercle of silver, 30s; a silver foot for a mazer cup, 8s 6d.
Item 10 hanaps
(fn. 36) of mazer, £4 9s; table-knives, 4s; napery,
20s; a candelabrum of latten, 18s.
Item divers brass pots, £4 12s; divers pails, 18s 6d; pewter
vessels, 43s 6¾d; divers things of iron, 33s; divers things belonging to the hostiel, 40s.
Sum total £86 9s 5¼d.
Note that the above Matthew Langrich paid a fine of 60s
because he married the said Margaret without permission of
the Court.
Membr. 9
2 July 1373
Note that certain goods seized by the collectors of Broad
Street Ward from Walter Southous, Venturus Alisaundre,
Cecilia Fynamour and Simon Legge, to wit, silver spoons,
mazer cups and a brass pan, were valued, and notice was given
that they would be sold unless they were redeemed within
eight days.
Membr. 9 b ...
Aug. 1373
...Aug. Ao 47 Edw. III [1373] John Wyghale, brewer,
and John Wyther were committed to prison for taking excessive wages from Thomas Godsire against the ordinance,
i.e. 3s 8d and 2s respectively. Afterwards on Tuesday the eve
of St Lawrence they were liberated on paying those sums
as a fine.
5 Aug. 1373
Writ of protection in favour of Thomas Serland, Lombard.
Dated at Wodestok, 5 Aug. Ao 47 Edw. III [1373].
Similar writ of the same date in favour of Bartholomew de
Bosane, Lombard.
13 Aug. 1373
Power of Attorney from Philip Nery of Florence to William
Eynesham and Bartholomew Gerardy of Florence.
Membr. 10
27 June 1373
Writ of certiorari demanding the record and process of an
action pending in the Husting between John Everard and
Margaret, relict of John de la Touke. Dated at Westminster,
27 June Ao 47 Edw. III [1373].
Return giving the proceedings in the above action up to
date, as entered in the Husting Roll (No. xciv) among the
Pleas of Land of Monday before the Feast of St Barnabas the
Apostle [11 June] Ao 46 Edw. III [1372].
[The Husting Roll contains the whole action, which was
begun by a writ of Right Patent dated 16 Jan. Ao 43 Edw. III
[1369-70]. After the usual series of summonses and essoins
the plaintiff, John Everard, on Monday after the Feast of the
Translation of St Edward King [13 Oct.] Ao 44 Edw. III
[1370] by Gilbert de Meldebourne, his attorney, demanded a
messuage and 40s annual rent, formerly belonging to a certain
Sarra Amys. On her dying without issue the property had
fallen in (resortebatur) to a certain William, maternal uncle
of her father John, of which William the plaintiff was son and
heir. The defendant Margaret by her attorney Robert de
Watlyngton pleaded that she held the messuage and rent for
life by letters patent granted to her late husband, the reversion
belonging to the King. She demanded the King's aid. Thereupon the plaintiff was directed to sue against the King.
Subsequently the plaintiff produced a writ of procedendo,
dated 26 April Ao 46 Edw. III [1372] setting forth that
Margaret had been summoned before the King in Chancery
to show cause etc., and by her attorney Hugh de Gaudeby had
given no reason why the action should not proceed, wherefore
the Court was ordered to continue the action but not to give
judgment before consulting the King. In further proceedings
the defendant produced a copy of a grant by the King of the
reversion of the above property, which was situated in the
Riole (fn. 37) , to Robert de Corby, the deed mentioning that the
King had previously granted it for life to John de la Touke,
butler of the late Queen Isabella, and Margaret his wife. This
document was dated 20 Jan. Ao 38 Edw. III [1364-5]. She
said further that Robert de Corby was dead and that the
reversion descended to his son Robert, whom she vouched
to warranty. As regards the 40s annual rent, she said that as
a result of an inquest held before John Pecche, then Mayor
and Escheator, on the death of Sarra Amys, the rent had
escheated to the King, as she was prepared to verify by a jury.
The plaintiff prayed judgment as to whether she ought to
be allowed to call to warranty, since she had already invoked
the aid of the King. A warranty, he pleaded, would not
establish the King's title but merely depended on it. The
defendant pleaded that she had a right to call to warranty in
order to exonerate the King, even though she had previously
invoked the King's aid. The case was adjourned for consultation on this point. As regards the 40s rent both parties
were agreed to submit the matter to a jury.
Membr. 10 b
Subsequently Robert Corby appeared and prayed to be
admitted to defend his right in the reversion, on the ground
that the defendant Margaret had only a life interest, and was
pleading fictitiously (ficte) in order to lose the aforesaid
messuage, to the disinheriting of the applicant. Thereupon
the parties were asked to show cause why the intervener
should not defend his right, and offered no objection. He was
accordingly admitted, and demanded the aid of the King. The
Court ordered the plaintiff again to sue against the King.
Process was continued until Monday after the Feast of St
Hilary [13 Jan.] Ao 46 Edw. III [1372-3], when, as regards
the annual rent of 40s, a jury found that the plaintiff was the
heir of the above-mentioned Sarra Amys. Judgment was
respited till the King's writ of procedendo should be received.
Finally on Monday after the Feast of St Hilary [13 Jan.]
Ao 49 Edw. III [1375-6] a writ of procedendo was received to
the effect that as the defendant Margaret, the King's Serjeants
and his Attorney, Michael Skillyng, had offered no objection,
the Husting should proceed to judgment as regards the 40s
rent, but as regards the messuage no plea should be held
without consulting the King. Judgment was thereupon given
for the plaintiff for the rent.]
16 Feb. 1373
Letters Patent (fn. 38) directed to Francis de Mari, captain and
leader of the Genoese crossbowmen (balistariorum) in the
King's service. As the King had been given to understand
that dangerous dissensions had arisen among the said crossbowmen, he grants to the above Francis full power to settle
all disputes, to exercise due authority over the men, and to
imprison or otherwise punish any of them found guilty of
creating dissension or resisting his authority. At the same
time precept is given to all sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, officers
and other lieges within and outside all liberties to assist him
in so doing whenever required. Dated at Westminster,
16 Feb. Ao 47 Edw. III [1373-4].
Memorandum that John Maykin, shipman, and Robert
Pountfreyt, cornmonger, acknowledged in Court that £20 had
been deposited in their hands by Gerbert Frese as representing the sixth part of his ship, which sixth part belonged
to a certain Lodowyc Vandelak. It had been agreed that if a
certain William Warde and Henry Baret, who had an action
of account pending against the said Lodowyc, should succeed
in their action, then the £20 should be paid to them; otherwise the money should be returned to Gerbert Frese. By
consent of the latter, a sum of £4 freightage earned by the
sixth part was paid over to the plaintiffs, under security to
answer for the same if they failed in their action.