V. Friar Eryk de Vedica. C. 1477.
This document from Early Chancery Proceedings 66/397 must,
from the fact that the Chancellor was Bishop of Lincoln, be
assigned to 1475–1480 (Thomas Rotherham), or 1483–1485
(John Russell). For the reasons stated on p. 72 above the former
period is the more likely.
To the right reverent ffader in God the Bysshop of
Lincoln, Chaunceler of Englande.
Shewen to youre gode and gracioux lordship youre pore
and Contynuell Oratours, James Walle, Warden of the
hows of the Grayfrerys of London, and Eryk de Vedica,
ffrere Menour, and obediencer of the same James, whiche
Eryk hath sufficiaunt and lawfull auctorite to occupie
and exercise the Crafte of Phisik: That where but
late one Alice, the wife of one William Stede of London,
vynter, a woman of grete age and havyng a grete
disease and sikenes of swellyng in her body and also
soo grete a disease in her lymmes that a grete parte
of the fflessh of her legges was rotyn awey, sent unto
the saide Eryk besechyng hym that he wolde come to
see her and take her into his cure: And howe be it
that whan he had sene her and understode her grete
age and jubertous sikenes and soo lying more likly for
to die than for to leve, he durst not nor wolde not by his
gode wille have medeled with her, yit at her piteous desire
and grete instaunce of suche her ffrendes as were a abowte
her at that tyme he toke upon hym to doo his parte for
to ease her as for that disease that was in her body as
far as he cowde by his Crafte of Phisik, and avised her
to take unto her a surgeon as for that disease that she
hadde in her lymmes. And whan he had wayted upon
her dayly by the space of v wekes and more mynystryng
unto her gode and holsom medycynes and had soo doon
his parte unto her that she thowght her self wele amended
in her body, she cowde hym grete thancke and gave hym
xx s. for his labour: ffor the takyng of whiche money the
said William entendyng of pure malice for to trouble youre
saide suppliauntes hath commensed an accion of trespas
ayenst them before one of the Shrevis of London, supposing by his declaracion that they shulde have wrongfully
taken awey from hym xxiij s. iiij d. to his dammage of
x marcs, ayens all right and gode conscience. And yit
by as moche as they can not preve that the said William
commaunded or licenced his saide wife for to geve the
saide money to the saide Erik, the same Erik is withoute
remedy at the comen lawe, whiche supposeth every
receyvyng of the husbondes goodys or money by the
handes of his wife withoute his licence or commaundement to be a wrongfull taking awey from hym of the
same. Wherfor your saide suppliauntes mekely beseche
your gode and gracious lordship tendrely to considre the
premysses and therupon to graunte unto them a writ of
Certiorari directed to the Shrives of London commaundyng
them to brynge the saide accion and causes therof before
the King into his Chauncery at a certeyn day by your
saide gode and gracious lordship to be lymytted, there to
be examyned, jugged and demed according to verray
right and conscience, and they shall be youre bedemen
for evermore and pray to God for the gode state and
prosperous contynuaunce and encrece of your saide gode
and gracious lordship.
Endorsed:
Coram domino Rege in cancellaria sua in Octabis
sancti Hillarii proxime futuri.