ROLL A 39
Rolls of Memoranda and Pleas of the time of William
Askham, mayor, A
o 5 Henry IV [1403-4]
Membr. 1
2 May 1404
Writ of certiorari demanding that the tenor of the ordinances
made between the Cordwainers and Cobblers of the city be
sent before the king in his council. Dated at Westminster
2 May 1404.
Return giving the ordinances of 2 Dec. 1375 [set out in
H. T. Riley's Memorials, pp. 391-2], 23 Jan. 1376 [R. R.
Sharpe, Cal. of Letter Book H, p. 20] and 14 Aug. 1395
[set out in Memorials, pp. 539-41].
Membr. 1 b
10 June 1404
Quitclaim by Agnes Benyngton to John Devenyssh of all
her interest in the "Bole" tavern in West Cheap in the parish
of All Hallows, Honeylane, a shop with two solars above next
to the tavern and two tenements next to the church. Dated
8 June 1404.
Bond of John Devenyssh, whereby he conveyed his title
to the above properties and the rents issuing from the same,
to John Bullok and Roger Hunte, on condition that if he
came to an agreement with William Sacom as to certain
debts before 15 Aug., he should re-enter into possession. The
bond mentions that he had acquired his title from Nicholas
Benyngton, and that he had subsequently let the one tenement to Alexander Davy, grocer, and the other to Thomas
Bacheler, draper, and Joan his wife, and the shop to Alexander
Goodyng. Dated 9 June 1404.
7 Oct. 1404
Grant by Arnald Guilliam of Sedse, citizen and vintner, to
Philip Bangor, draper, and John Brid, vintner, of four pieces
of silver with silver covercles and all other his goods, jewels
and chattels. Dated 27 Sept. 1404.
Membr. 2
9 Nov. 1403
Writ of error, dated at Westminster 9 Nov. 1403, ordering
that the record and process of an action begun in the Sheriffs'
Court before Richard Merlowe, sheriff, between Thomas
Aleyn, mercer, plaintiff, and Joan, widow and executrix of
Bartholomew de Bosano, mercer, Peter Burton, clerk, and
William Sowthows, her co-executors, defendants, and subsequently removed into the Chamber of the Guildhall before
John Walcote, late Mayor, and the Aldermen, which action was
for the recovery of £200 from the executors, be rendered at the
church of St Martin le Grand before William Gascoigne, John
Markham, William Haukeford and William Brenchesley, the
king's justices assigned to examine the same and to correct
the errors therein, if any, and to do justice in the matter.
12 Nov. 1403
Precept of the above-named justices to the same effect,
but describing the defendant Joan as widow of Bartholomew
de "Basano," and fixing a day, 28 Nov., for the production
of the record and process.
Membr. 2 b
Return of William Askham, Mayor, and the Aldermen to
the above writ, claiming the city's privilege of rendering the
record and process oretenus by the recorder after a respite of
forty days.
Membr. 4
11 Feb. 1404
Precept of the justices at St Martin le Grand reciting that
when the Mayor and Aldermen on 25 Jan. had produced,
oretenus by the recorder, the record and process of the action
between Thomas Aleyn, mercer, and Joan, widow of Bartholomew de Basano, and Peter Burton and William Sowthows,
her co-executors, the executors had complained of several
omissions in the recorder's statement, as follows:
They had claimed judgment because the name mentioned
in the bond, on which the money was claimed, was written
as "Basano," whereas it was "Bosano" in the plaint, and
the court had not allowed their exception.
Item, William Vaux, attorney of the defendant Joan, had
stated that Bartholomew de Bosano, coming from Scotland
in the king's company, had fallen sick at Newark and made
his will, appointing as his executors Joan his wife, John
Duffeld, John Corne and John Bilte, who administered his
goods and chattels after his death, and as these persons were
not named in the plaint, he demanded judgment, whereupon
the plaintiff had denied that John Duffeld and the others
were executors and had challenged the defendant, in accordance with the custom of the city, to an oath that her
pleading was true, to which William Vaux had replied that
the defendant Joan was not bound to answer as regards the
alleged custom, but that he, as her attorney, would take the
oath, and the court, not allowing his exceptions, had ordered
him to continue pleading.
Item, the plaint was levied against the said Joan and her
co-executors in common, and as the co-executors did not
appear, she prayed judgment whether she need answer without them, and the court had not allowed her exception and
had ordered her to answer further.
Item, though the plaintiff made his declaration against the
defendant Joan only, in the absence of her co-executors, on
the supposition that this action was sufficient, nevertheless
he prosecuted process of capias against the co-executors to
answer together with her, thus waiving and renouncing the
advantage conferred on him by statute (fn. 1) , whereupon she
prayed judgment whether the court wished to call on her to
answer before the appearance of her co-executors, and notwithstanding this exception, the court ordered her to answer
further.
Item, when her co-executor William Sowthows appeared
by his attorneys Richard Legge and William Rokesburgh,
and pleaded that the testator, falling sick at Newark, appointed him, together with John Duffeld, John Corne, John
Bilte and John Taillour as executors, and the names of these
executors were not named in the plaint, whereof he prayed
judgment, notwithstanding this exception the court ordered
him to answer further.
Item, during the process divers precepts were issued and
there were continuations of the action by putting the jury
in respite, and judgment was deferred that the court might
consult.
Item, judgment having been rendered for Thomas Aleyn,
the plaintiff, execution of the judgment was made against the
defendant Joan.
Since it was complained that none of the above matters
appeared in the record as produced oretenus by the recorder,
the Mayor and Aldermen are ordered to produce the omissions, if any, and the original plaint before the justices at
St Martin le Grand on 16 Feb. 1404. Dated at St Martin
le Grand 11 Feb. 1404.
Membr. 4 b
Return that the precept arrived too late for answer.
16 Feb. 1404
Further precept to the same effect, demanding the omissions and original plaint on 21 Feb. Dated at St Martin le
Grand 16 Feb. 1404.
Membr. 2 b
Return that the recorder had already explained that there
was no such action as "Aleyn versus Basano," and so there
could be no omissions or original plaint, but that there was
an original bill on the sheriffs' roll in "Aleyn versus Bosano,"
as was recorded by the recorder on 25 Jan. 1404.
Membr. 3
21 Feb. 1404
Further precept of the justices, demanding the omissions
and original plaint in "Aleyn versus Basano" to be produced
on 24 April 1404. Dated at St Martin le Grand 21 Feb. 1404.
Membr. 7–7 b
27 Jan. 1405
Further precept of the justices, demanding etc. on 3 Feb.
1405. Dated at St Martin le Grand 27 Jan. 1405.
Return that there was no such plea, but that there was one
in the name of "Bosano."
Membr. 6–6 b
3 Feb. 1405
Further precept of the justices, reciting previous precepts
and returns. Although the Mayor and Aldermen had returned
that there was no such plea as "Aleyn against Basano," the
executors maintained that in the sheriffs' roll the name appeared clearly as "Basano" and that in the plaint there enrolled
there was also a spelling "civitaes." Accordingly the justices
demand the original plaint to be produced on 10 Feb. 1405.
Return that the precept arrived too late for answer.
Membr. 2
12 Nov. 1403
Writ to the mayor and sheriffs notifying that by ancient
custom the men and tenants of the honour of Walyngford
were quit of toll throughout England, and demanding that
this exemption be allowed to them in London, or that cause
be shown to the contrary. Dated at Westminster 12 Nov. 1403.
14 Nov. 1403
Similar writ in. stronger terms.
Return of William Askham, mayor, Thomas Polle and
Thomas Fauconer, sheriffs, that they and their fellow-citizens
and their predecessors held London and Middlesex to farm
with divers liberties and free customs, tolls, passages and
lastages, by an annual payment to the Exchequer, that the
sheriffs had always taken custom from the men of Walyngford
as from other men, in aid of the aforesaid farm, which
liberties had been confirmed by statutes and charters of the
king and his progenitors, wherefore they could not and ought
not to exonerate the men of Walyngford from payment of
the same.
Membr. 5
12 April 1404
Writ demanding that all sheriffs of London since 24 June
1396 appear before the barons of the Exchequer on 9 May
to show by what title they claimed certain dues from boats
bringing rushes, which dues a certain John Clerk of London
had lately taken to farm from the king, and that the mayor
bring the names of the sheriffs. Witness J. Cokayn at Westminster, 12 April 1404, by the roll of memoranda XI of
Hilary term, and the writ is returnable in three weeks of
Easter (20 April).
Return as follows:
Ao 20 Ric. II, Roger Elys and William Shiryngham, both
dead.
Ao 21 Ric. II, Thomas Welford, attached for his appearance
by John Roo and Robert Dryffeld. William Parker, dead.
Ao 22 Ric. II, William Askham, att. by William Gay and
Nicholas Bridport. John Wodecok, att. by William Neuport
and Ralph Bray.
Ao 23 Ric. II, John Warner, att. by Edmund Bys and
Edmund atte Perye. John Wade, att. by James Symmes and
William Kyngeston.
Ao 1 Henry IV, William Walderne, att. by John Blosse and
Henry Broun. William Hyde, dead.
Ao 2 Henry IV, John Wakelee, att. by John Donne and
Thomas Hert. William Evote, dead.
Ao 3 Henry IV, William Fremelyngham, att. by Henry
Hoddon and Philip Bray. William Venour, att. by Nicholas
Godeman and Ralph Bate.
Ao 4 Henry IV, Robert Chichelee, att. by Thomas Stable
and Richard Kyng. Richard Merlawe, att. by Simon Bale
and John Gode.
Ao 5 Henry IV, Thomas Polle, att. by William Norton and
Henry Horton. Thomas Fauconer, att. by Henry Gedenham
and Stephen Bridlepe.
Membr. 5 b
8 Oct. 1404
Lease from John Chaumbre, knight, of Lyllyngstonlovell (fn. 2)
co. Oxon, and Joan his wife, daughter and heiress of William
Glendale, late citizen of London, to William Langford,
armourer, for seven years of two shops in Friday Street on the
south side of the inn called "le Fesaunt on the hope."
Lease to the same of a shop, south of the above, in the
occupation of William Porter, saddler.
9 Oct. 1404
Quitclaim of John Marchall, tailor, to John Chambre,
knight, and Roger his son, of all claims on a statute staple
of Westminster for the sum of £200.
Membr. 7
12 Oct. 1404
Acquittance from John Chambre, knight, to Thomas Stone,
hostiller, and Joan his wife, for £40 rent for an inn called
"le lyon on the hoope" in Friday Street and a small shop by
the north door of the inn.
Membr. 8
22 Nov. 1404
Letters patent constituting John Hende, mayor, William
Gascoigne, William Thirnyng, John Cokayn, William Rikhill,
Hugh Huls and Thomas Thornburgh, any six, five, four,
three or two of them, of whom the mayor should be one,
justices of Gaol Delivery of Newgate. Dated at Westminster
22 Nov. 1404.
20 Jan. 1405
Writ demanding that John Seint Germayn, Walter Gawtron
and Thomas Craft, citizens of London, be arrested and
brought before the king and his council on Friday next,
there to answer etc.
Return that the above-named persons had been arrested.
9 Feb. 1405
Elisabeth Golafre, prioress of the house of the Blessed
Mary Magdalene at Ankerwyk-on-Thames co. Bucks., brings
a plaint of intrusion against Robert Comberton (fn. 3) , James
Northampton and Henry Somer touching her free tenement
in the parish of All Hallows at Hay, London.
Membr. 8 b
6 July 1405
John Chaumberleyn and Thomas Notecroft, perpetual
chaplains of the chantry in the church of St Michael Paternosterchirche in the Ryole, bring a plaint of intrusion against
Richard Broun, John Hovell and William Arnold, bakers,
touching their free tenement in the same parish.
Membr. 9
20 Oct. 1405
Bond of Roger Batt, skinner, to John Proffyt, chamberlain,
for his good behaviour towards the masters and mistery of
Skinners, under penalty of £20, to be applied as to one half
to the use of the city and the other half to the charitable
purposes of the mistery, if he were convicted by testimony
of eight good men of the mistery.
26 0ct. 1405
The Mayor and Commonalty of the city of London demand an Assize of Nuisance against John Shadeworth and
John Wodecok, mercers, William Cressewyk and John Wakefeld, touching their free tenement in the parish of St Michael
Bassyngeshawe.
Membr. 9 b
4 July 1405
Richard Forster, Walter Pope and Guy Lawrence, citizens
of London, entered into a bond of £40 that neither the prior
nor convent of Merton, nor anyone in their name, would from
henceforth place in the Thames any branches or rods called
"ryses
(fn. 4) " for the destruction of fish or hindrance of shouts
(fn. 5) ,
barges, boats or other vessels between the prior's weir and
the meadow opposite in the county of Surrey. Thereupon
a shout, a long boat and a net belonging to the prior, which
had been taken by Alexander Boner, serjeant of the city and
supervisor of the Thames, were handed back.
Afterwards on 20 July 1407, as it was found by the Mayor
and Aldermen on their view of the Thames (fn. 6) that the prior
and his deputies had placed rises in the water contrary to
the above bond, John Brokford, serjeant of the Chamber, was
ordered to summon the above-mentioned Richard, Walter
and Guy to hear judgment on 28 July. As they could not
deny the record, it was considered that John Profyt, chamberlain, levy the sum of £40 from their lands, tenements, goods
and chattels. Afterwards, for divers reasons moving the
Mayor and Aldermen, the said £40 was condoned for £10,
which was paid, and thereupon the bond was cancelled.
Membr. 10
1 Sept. 1405
John Chapman, son of Hamon Chapman of Ash co. Kent,
brought a bill complaining that Thomas Clyfton, vintner, to
whom he had been apprenticed for eleven years, had given
him no instruction during the first five years of his term, and
had then beaten and wounded and driven him from his
service, to his damage £40.
The master, being summoned, made four defaults, wherefore on 28 Sept. it was considered that the plaintiff be
exonerated from his apprenticeship and be quit thereof.
Membr. 11
Seven rolls and one scrowell
(fn. 7) of memoranda and pleas of
the time of John Wodecok, mayor, Ao 7 Henry IV.
Memorandum that Robert Domenyk, mercer, and William
Norton, draper, having been appointed as arbitrators between
Roger Moordon, skinner, and John Tettysbury, skinner,
brought in their award as follows:
Whereas John Tettysbury had entered into a bond of £80
to Robert Markele, skinner, that he would pay the sum of
£40, which had been left as a legacy by John Leycestre (fn. 8) to
John Tettysbury's daughters Joan and Joan, it was awarded
that Roger Moordon should pay this amount on his behalf,
and that Roger Moordon should also pay him the sum of
£20 due for divers debts. As a help towards these payments,
Roger Moordon was to receive certain rents from John
Tettysbury's tenements in Thames Street. [French]
19 May 1406
Writ of certiorari. Whereas John Rede, weaver, had recently
sued Thomas Polle and Thomas Fauconer, late sheriffs of
London, on a writ of the Exchequer, for having under colour
of their office on 13 May 1405 arrested, imprisoned and
detained him until he entered into a bond of 100 marks for
his delivery, and for having taken and carried away 3 cloths
of blanket, 2 pieces of silver with a silver covercle, 3 mazers
harnessed with silver and one dozen silver spoons, value
£100, belonging to him, as he alleged, and whereas the present
sheriffs of London, at the suit of the late sheriffs, had recently
arrested the said John, and a writ of corpus cum causa had
been sent to the sheriffs, who had returned that the said
John Rede had been taken and committed to prison for
certain causes pending before the mayor, the mayor is ordered
to certify the cause of the taking, arresting and committing
to prison of the said John before the barons of the Exchequer
at Westminster on 21 May 1406. Witness J. Cokayn at Westminster, 19 May 1406.
Membr. 11 b
25 May 1406
Further writ, dated 25 May 1406.
Return of the mayor that John Rede had been committed
to prison on 8 May 1406 as a punishment for opprobrious,
unseemly and rebellious words openly spoken to himself and
the aldermen, to the great scandal of the Mayoralty Court
of the city (curie Maioratus Civitatis), in order that others
henceforth might be deterred from speaking the like words.
Membr. 12
17 Nov. 1405
Writ to the mayor and sheriffs, that among other liberties
and quittances granted to the citizens of Winchester by the
king's predecessors and confirmed by himself, it was granted
that they should have all the liberties and customs which
they had in the time of King Henry I (fn. 9) , their purchases (acata)
and pledges (vadia), and that they should be quit of toll,
lastage, stallage, pontage (fn. 10) , passage, chiminage, murage,
pavage, cayage and picage (fn. 11) and all other customs, wherefore
the mayor and sheriffs are commanded not to hinder or
oppress the said citizens against the tenor of the said charters.
Dated at Westminster 17 Nov. 1405.
27 Sept. 1406
Writ of protection in favour of Thomas Brige, alias
Thomas Parker, of Eltham, who was then in Ireland in the
company of the king's son, Thomas Lancastre (fn. 12) , steward of
England and the king's lieutenant in Ireland. Dated at
Westminster 27 Sept. 1406.
Membr. 12 b
26 Feb. 1406
Bond of Thomas Meygneld, grocer, to John Sadler, vintner,
in £40, that Hankyn van Hannard, whom the said John had
brought before the Mayor and Aldermen as a native of
Flanders and an adherent of the king's enemies, would
produce authentic letters under seal to prove that he was
born in Holland and was not an adherent of the king's
enemies.
21 June 1406
Thomas de Nevyll, lord of Fournyvall, brings a plaint of
intrusion against Thomasine, widow of William de Fournyvall, knight, touching his free tenement in the parish of
St Andrew, Holborn (fn. 13) .
Membr. 13
10 Nov. 1405
Writ to the sheriffs that, whereas by charters lately confirmed by the king the burgesses of Colchester were free of
all toll, lastage, passage, pontage and customs, and had the
right of taking as much from the burgesses of any town as
in that town had been taken from the burgesses of Colchester,
and further were free of murage, picage and pavage, the
said sheriffs are ordered to allow the said burgesses to enjoy
their liberties. Dated at Westminster 10 Nov. 1405.
Return of the sheriffs that they were unable to exonerate
the burgesses of Colchester from payment of toll, lastage and
passage, since the money thus obtained was a part of the
feefarm, payable at the Exchequer, for London and Middlesex,
as granted by statutes and charters and confirmed by the
present king.
Membr. 13 b
1 Jan. 1406
Writ to the sheriffs that, although parliament had been
summoned to Coventry on 15 Feb. for certain arduous and
urgent business touching the realm and the church, nevertheless, since the king had assigned his son the prince of
Wales to make war against and punish the rebels in Wales
and believed that victory would be the more certain if the
lords, nobles, magnates and commonalty of the realm were
nearer to the prince and his forces, he had, by the advice
of his council, ordained that parliament should be held at
Gloucester, wherefore the sheriffs were bidden to cause four
of the more discreet and sufficient citizens to be chosen to
attend at the place and time named, having sufficient power
on behalf of themselves and the commonalty of the city to
do and consent to those things which should be ordained of
the common counsel of the realm (fn. 14) , but the king did not wish
that the sheriffs or any other sheriffs of the realm should be
chosen. Dated at Westminster 1 Jan. 1406.
Membr. 14
10 May 1406
Whereas Roger Batte, skinner, had entered into a recognisance to the chamberlain in £20 on 20 Oct. 1405 for his
good behaviour towards the masters and mistery of Skinners,
and to observe the laws, customs and liberties of the city,
the masters and wardens on 10 May 1406 came before the
Mayor and Aldermen complaining that the said Roger was
daily working to their detriment, against the form of his
recognisance. The said Roger, who was present, denied
having committed any trespass. Thereupon the parties put
themselves on the judgment of the Mayor and Aldermen,
who on 18 May, having examined both parties, awarded that
Roger Batte humbly submit himself to the masters, wardens
and good men of the mistery and crave pardon for his
offences, and that the said masters, wardens and good men
should then pardon him. This having been done, the bond
was quashed and the said Roger entered into another recognisance to the chamberlain in £20 to the same effect.
Membr. 14 b
11 July 1406
William Louthe, Thomas Polle, Thomas Exton, John
Blakeden, William Grantham, George Cressy, Richard Barton,
William Fitzhugh, Salamon Oxney, John Palyng, John
Frenssh, John Osborne, John Standelf, Peter Thorold, John
Lenham, John Lagage, Thomas Lamport, John Emond,
William Adye, John Halle, Robert Halle, William Randolf,
Richard George and Robert Broun, goldsmiths, and many
others of the same mistery keeping inns in the city, whose
names are preserved in a register (papiro) in the court, came
before the Mayor and Aldermen in the Chamber and entered
into recognisances in £200 to the chamberlain, for the good
behaviour of themselves and their servants towards he king
and people and all officers and servants of the city.
Membr. 15
18 Feb. 1406
Memorandum that whereas a writ had been issued from
the Exchequer to the sheriffs ordering them to distrain
Thomas Polle and Thomas Fauconer, late sheriffs, to appear
in the Exchequer to answer John Rede, weaver, for having
taken and imprisoned him until he entered into a recognisance
of 100 marks for his release and for having taken and carried
away his goods to the value of £100, the Mayor and Aldermen
summoned the parties on 18 Feb. 1406 and questioned them
separately as to whether they would accept their arbitration
on all disputes between them, and both parties consented
to do so. Thereupon John Rede agreed to withdraw his writ
in the Exchequer and not to prosecute it on the Thursday
following. The late sheriffs were ordered to bring in the
bond, and both parties entered into recognisances to accept
the award. On 2 March Cecilia, widow of William Denton,
appeared in court and also agreed to accept the award in so
far as it concerned herself.
Afterwards on 8 May the Mayor and Aldermen, having
fully considered the trespasses committed by both parties,
gave as their award that John Rede, for certain trespasses
against Thomas Polle and Thomas Fauconer, should pay
them the sum of £20, and that the latter, for their trespasses
against John Rede, should pay him the sum of £4 or goods
and chattels to the same value, and that the obligation for
100 marks should be cancelled, further that John Rede should
not prosecute his suit in the Exchequer on 9 May, and that
out of the goods which the above-mentioned Cecilia had
intrusted to him for her keep he should provide for her in
the same manner as he had done before the dispute between
himself and the sheriffs, or account to her by due process
of law (fn. 15) .
8 March 1406
John Talbot and Maud his wife bring a plaint of intrusion
against John Penros touching their free tenement in the
parish of St Andrew Holborne (fn. 16) .
Membr. 16
9 July 1406
John Osbarne, in the presence of John Wodecok, mayor,
John Preston, recorder, Hugh Waterton, knight, and Richard
Whityngton and Drew Barantyn, aldermen, in the parish of
St Mary Magdalene, Castle Baynard Ward, took an oath that
all the statements in a sealed document, which he prayed
might be entered of record in the Chamber of the Guildhall,
were true, as follows:
"I John Osbarne knowleche here by for yow and fully
bere wytnesse as I will answere a fore God and man on all
manere perill that may befalle to body or to sowle, that y
the same John Osbarne in the age of syxtene wynter beyng
wt my fader John Osbarne that tyme Conestable of the Castell
of Dunsterre and Styward of the same lordship and beyng
a chyld at scole seyghe and herde and was ther present whan
Sire John the lord Mohun enfeffed William Fordeham and
Maude of Burton of the same castell and lordship of Dunsterre
and other maners lygyng thertoo in fee symple and here
upon was a livere of seysyn y made to the same William and
Maude by Robert Parnecote and William Howthorpe by
vertue of a lettre of atturne then opynly i redde at: which
tyme the same lord Mohun was att Tychefeld (fn. 17) and any lady
his wyf atte Beneham (fn. 18) a towne of the Abbotes of Clyve (fn. 19)
and att the same tyme of lyveree ther were twey children in
the same Castell and weren bore oute and broght to Beneham a forsayd to her moder that was the Contesse of Salesbury that now is and here suster that Meneresse afair that (fn. 20)
and within a fourtenyght or thre wekes after that, the forsayd
William and Maude comen in propre persone to Dunsterre
and made a dede of feffement to the same lord Mohun and
Johane his wyf and to the heirs of here twey bodies frely
bygetyn, and delivered hem fully seysyn afore all men of
the forsaid castell, lordship and maneres att which tyme all
men that there were were glad that the children should be
enherited. And that all this is sothe I will do to sothe upon
what book or relik that ye will do come afor me and also
sette herto my sele of myn armes. In witnessyng of verray
trowthe and in more opyn prove herto i have sett my sele
a forsayd. I wryten att London in the parissh a forsayde
the ix day of Juylle the yeer of the regnyng of kyng harry
the fourthe after the conquest sevenethe."
10 July 1406
Walter Gregory appeared before the mayor, recorder and
aldermen and prayed that the following words, which he
swore to be true, might be entered of record in the Chamber.
"I Wautier Gregorye Vicaer of the Chirche of . . .knowleche and fully bere witnes here a fore yow as I will answere
afor god and man on perill of my soule that Sir John Mohun
lord of Dunster went to the kyng for to over see with hym,
and at that tyme hym dred of his home comyng a yene and
therfor he pursuyed to the kyng to have licence to aliene his
londes to certein persones that is to sey to William Fordham,
clerk, and to Maude of Burton a woman soule for the grete
trist and affeccioun that he hadde to hem byfor eny other
by cause that William was his mayster and Maude was
maistresse to my lady his wyf by assignement of Sir Bartholomew Borewessh (fn. 21) here fader that tyme that they were wedded,
and the kyng graunted it, and after that the same lord made
a dede of feffement in fee symple to the same William and
Maude of the castell and Burghe of Dunsterre, and of the
maneres of Carampton (fn. 22) , Mynehevede (fn. 23) and Culvetone (fn. 24) , and
ther upon was a lettre of attourne y made to Robert Parnecote
and to William Howthorpe by the same lord to delivere hem
seisine in his name of the forsaid castell, Burghe and maners,
and by vertue of that lettre they delivered the forsaid William
Fordham and Maude seysyne acordyng to the forseyd dede,
and att that tyme the same lord was att Tychefeld and long
tyme after for the kyng abood ther in Contrey a grete whyle
abydyng passage, and my lady Mohun his wyf remuede to
Beneham a manere of þe Abbotes of Clyve and soiourned
there and here children with here in the mene tyme that the
forsayd William Fordham and Maude were in possessioun
and duryng here possessioun they helde courtes and token
attournementes of all the tenauntz, and with in thre wekes
or a monethe after that the forsaid lord Mohun and my lady
his wyf comyn to Dunsterre and ther the forsaid William
Fordham and Maude of Burton made a dede of feffement
to the same lord and to Jone his wyf and to the heirs of
her twey bodies frely begetyn of the forsaid castell, burghe
and maners and therupon the forseyd William Foordham
and Maude delivered hem fully seysyn in propre persone
acordyng therto afor all men, and by vertue therof the forsayd
lord continued possessioun to hys endyngday, and att the
same tyme I was of the age of xviii wynter and beyng ther att
scole and fye (fn. 25) and was present ther whan the forseid feffementz weren made, and that y wole do to sothe as a preste
ought to do in what manere that eny man will ordeigne me
to done. In witnesse of which thing I the forseid Watier
have sette to my sele the x day of Juylle the yeer of the regnyng
of kyng herry the fourth after the conquest sevenethe."
Membr. 16 b
28 July 1406
Covenant whereby, in consideration of the cancelling of
a bond for £8, Thomas Depham, saddler, and Agnes Vyntener
his wife, formerly servant of Sir Robert Turk, knight, conveyed to Thomas Knolles, grocer, the right of collecting for
four years a quitrent of 40s from a tenement called " The
Peynted taverne
(fn. 26) " in the occupation of John Cosyn which
quitrent the said Agnes had received for the term of her life
by grant of John de Scardeburgh, rector of Orewsll (fn. 27) co.
Cambs, Richard Jepe, rector of All Hallows Honeylane,
Bartholomew Seman, goldbetere, and Thomas Burwell.
Membr. 17
13 Aug. 1406
Precept from John Wodecok, mayor, to the sheriff of
Middlesex, dated at London 13 Aug. 1406. He refers to the
statute of Westminster II (fn. 28) , which enacted that salmor should
not be taken or destroyed by engines or nets in millponds
from mid April till 24 June, to the statute of 13 Ric. II (fn. 29) ,
which confirmed the above and enacted that salmon should
not be so taken in millponds or elsewhere and that no fisherman or garthman
(fn. 30) or other should place in the Thames,
Humber, Ouse, Trent or elsewhere during that period any
nets called "stalkers
(fn. 31) " or other engines, by which the frye or
brode of salmon, lampreys or other fish should be taken, and
that there should be chosen and sworn good and sufficient
conservators of the statute in accordance with the earlier
statute, and to the statute of 17 Ric. II (fn. 32) , which enacted that
the justices of the peace should be conservators in their own
counties, to ensure that weirs should not be too strait for the
destruction of fry but of a reasonable wideness, to punish
offenders, to appoint good and sufficient subconservators and
to hold inquiries both de officio and on the information of
their subconservators, and which also enacted that, whereas
the king's predecessors had granted to the citizens of London
the right of removing kydels
(fn. 33) in Thames and Medway and
of having the punishments pertaining to the king, the mayor
or warden of London for the time being should have the
conservation of the statutes and the same duties as were given
to justices of the peace, from Stanes Bridge to London, and
from thence in the same water and in the water of Medway
as far as it was granted to the said citizens. Accordingly the
sheriff of Middlesex is ordered on the king's behalf to summon twenty-four good and lawful men to come before the
mayor at Stanes on 19 Aug. 1406, in order that he might
inquire as to the nets and other engines by which the fry of
salmon, lampreys and other fish were destroyed, and to appear
in person with the names of the jurors.
Membr. 17 b
Similar precept to the sheriff of Surrey.
Membr. 18
16 Aug.1406
Similar precept to the sheriff of Essex for a jury at Stratford
Langthorne (fn. 34) on 26 Aug. 1406, with return by the sheriff that
the precept arrived too late to be obeyed, and note that a
further precept was issued for 18 Sept. 1406.
Membr. 18 b
27 Aug. 1406
Similar precept to the sheriff of Kent for a jury at Grenewych (fn. 35) on 17 Sept. 1406.
Membr. 19
8 Nov. 1406
Commission for Gaol Delivery of Newgate to Richard
Whityngton, mayor, William Gascoigne, William Thirnyng,
John Cokayn, William Rykhill, William Haukeford and John
Preston, of whom six, five, four, three or two, of whom the
mayor should be one, were to serve. Dated at Westminster
8 Nov. 1406.
10 Nov. 1406
Lease from Robert Denny, knight, to Roger Hiller, joiner,
and John Aldelond, plumber, of his tenements in the parish
of St James Garlekhithe, bounded on the east by Kyronelane (fn. 36) ,
on the west by a tenement belonging to the church, on the
north by the church and on the south by the highway, for
a term of 10 years at an annual rent of a red rose for five years,
and of £6 for five years, the lessees to keep the pavement in
repair. A bond of £30 to be cancelled if the lessees enjoy
undisturbed possession.
Membr. 19 b
8 Oct. 1406
Covenant whereby Robert Broun, skinner, in consideration of a debt of £21, conveyed to William Framelyngham,
skinner, the rents accruing from a plot of ground in Thames
Street by Sprotteskey (fn. 37) in the parish of St Dunstan by the
Tower, which he had recently let to John Hyde alias Scut
for two years at an annual rent of £4, occupation to take
place after two years and to continue till the debt was paid.
Dated 31 July 1406.
7 Feb. 1407
Bond of Robert Lynford and Edmund Hamelyn, skinners,
to Robert Gare of York to bring authentic proof that 3½ lasts
of herrings arrested in the ship of James Snycope by the
bailiff of Billingsgate as the goods of John Persay, merchant
of York, John Sparow of Lund on the Wald (fn. 38) , William
Rumlay, merchant of York, and John Persay, son of Robert
Persay of Helmsley, at the suit of the said Robert Gare for a
debt of £32 13s 4d, were the goods of John Helmesley of
York at the time of the arrest.
Membr. 20
7 March 1407
Robert Weller, son of Peter Weller, tailor, exonerated from
his apprenticeship to John Godewyn, salter, who had left
the city.
13 April 1407
Alexander Bryan came before the Mayor and Aldermen
and complained that the previous year he had entrusted a
quantity of soap to a certain Alexander Reve to be sold in
Bordeaux or exchanged for other goods, and that the said
Alexander had traded it for one pipe and two hogsheads
(pro duabus
(fn. 39)
capitibus porcorum) of Gascon wine, and that
subsequently a certain Alan Roys, mercer, levied a plaint
of account against him in the compter of Nicholas Wotton,
sheriff, which plaint was removed before the Mayor and
Aldermen in the Chamber of the Guildhall, in which he
alleged that this wine had been sent to the complainant by
Alexander Reve, in order that he might pay part of a debt
of £7 owed by the latter to himself. The Mayor and Aldermen, having inspected a letter sent by Alexander Reve to
the complainant and another letter sent by the same to Alan
Roys, together with other evidences put in by the parties,
adjudged that the wine belonged to Alexander Bryan and
that Alan Roys take nothing by his plaint.
Membr. 21
16 June 1407
Philip de Albertis, merchant of Florence, brought a bill
before the Mayor and Aldermen demanding from John
Megre, merchant (fn. 40) , 139 cwt. 60 lbs. of tin of the value of
£150, unjustly detained by him. This tin he claimed to have
bought in the parish of St Nicholas Acon from William
Venour for £125 11s 8d, who in turn had bought it from the
said John Megre, giving him a bond of £150 for payment,
a certain Marcus Marcat acting as broker in both sales. The
said John Megre had agreed to deliver the tin to him but
had afterwards refused to do so, to the plaintiff's damage
£200.
After three defaults the defendant appeared on 27 June
and appointed John Hethyngham his attorney to answer the
plaintiff. Next day, by his attorney, he protested that he
did not acknowledge that the tin was of the value named,
and pleaded, as his plea, that the plaintiff ought not to have
an action against him, because the purchase by William
Venour took place in the parish of St Mary Wolnoth and
the said William Venour undertook to find other sufficient
persons to enter into bonds with him for the payment of
£150, after which the tin was to be delivered, but had failed
to do so. He prayed that the matter be inquired into by a
jury, of whom one half should be of the plaintiff's language,
namely Florentines. The plaintiff pleaded that the facts were
as set forth in his bill and likewise prayed a jury.
Precept was issued to summon a jury of the parishes of
St Nicholas Acon and St Mary Wolnoth, which came and
found a verdict for the plaintiff with 100s damages. Being
asked by the plaintiff how much was due for his own expenses
and how much for damages owing to detinue of the tin, the
jury answered 50s for the one and 50s for the other. As it
seemed to the court that too little was allowed for expenses,
judgment was given that the plaintiff recover the tin, if
possible, together with the aforesaid damages and another
100s for his expenses, or otherwise the price of the tin together
with damages as aforesaid.
Membr. 22
23 July 1407
Writ that whereas the king by letters patent had lately
granted to the abbess and minoresses without London (fn. 41) that
no justice, mayor, sheriff, bailiff, coroner, escheator, serjeant,
constable, beadle or other officer should exercise any jurisdiction, such as summons, distress or arrest, within the close
or precinct of the abbey aforesaid, except only in treason and
felonies touching the crown, the mayor and sheriffs of London
are commanded to permit the abbess and sisters to enjoy
this liberty, and if they have exercised such jurisdiction, to
make amends or show cause to the contrary. Dated at
Westminster 23 July 1407.
Return of Richard Whityngton, mayor, Geoffrey Brook and
Nicholas Wotton, sheriffs, that they have not exercised any
such jurisdiction.
19 Oct. 1407
Acquittance by Simon Mosse, chaplain, co. Norfolk, to
Philip de Albertis, of the society of the Albertines, merchants
of Florence, for the sum of 40 marks borrowed by the said
Philip and now repaid. He records that the said Philip, when
borrowing the money, had given him a note (cedula) thereof
and that he had lost it.
17 Oct. 1407
Precept was given to Otho Brys, one of the mayor's
serjeants, to bring before the Mayor and Aldermen a plaint
pending in the Sheriffs' Court between John Niandeser,
esquire, plaintiff, and John West, defendant. The serjeant
brought the plaint, together with the plaintiff's declaration,
in which he complained that the defendant had entered his
house in the parish of St Andrew Holborn vi et armis on
1 Aug. 1406, and had looked everywhere through the house,
seeking for the plaintiff in order to kill him, against the king's
peace and to his damage £100.
Afterwards on 20 Oct. the defendant appeared before the
Mayor and Aldermen prepared to answer the plaintiff, but
the latter made default. It was considered that the defendant
go thence without a day.
13 May 1407
Membr. 22b
Philip de Albertis came before the Mayor and Aldermen
in the Inner Chamber of the Guildhall, according to the law
merchant and custom of the city, and complained that whereas
William Venour, merchant, bought from John Megre, merchant, 139½ cwt. 4 lbs. of tin, at 112 lbs. to the cwt., by Mark
Marcat, broker, for the sum of £150, giving a bond for the
money, and at the same time instructed the said John Megre
to deliver the tin either to Mark Marcat or to some person
nominated by him, and whereas the complainant bought the
tin from William Venour for £125 11s 8d money paid down,
the said John Megre refused to deliver the tin.
Thereupon, by virtue of this complaint (queremonia), the
Mayor and Aldermen, according to the law merchant and the
custom of the city, summoned John Megre before them and
questioned him on oath. He admitted the facts and the nondelivery. Accordingly, after consultation, it was considered
that the complainant recover the tin and that John Megre
deliver it under penalty of the merchandise. (fn. 42)