Privilege of Sanctuary in the City.
26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 94. (Latin.)
On Thursday next before the Feast of St. Dunstan [19 May], it
was ordered by the Aldermen, that no thief, murderer, or other
person, taking refuge in the churches, should from thenceforth be
watched, so long as they should remain within the same.
Mandate for the preservation of the peace within the City.
26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 94. (Latin.)
Henry le Galeys, Mayor of the City of London, presented a
writ of our Lord the King, in these words:—
"Edward by the grace of God, etc., to the Mayor and Sheriffs
of London, greeting. Forasmuch as we have heard that the
bakers, and brewsters, and millers, in the city aforesaid, do
frequently misconduct themselves in their trades, and that mis
doers by night going about the city aforesaid with swords and
bucklers, and other arms, as well at the procuration of others
as of their own malice, do beat and maltreat other persons, and
are wont to perpetrate many other offences and enormities, to
no small damage and grievance of our faithful subjects:—We,
of our counsel, wishing to apply a fitting remedy to all the
premises, and to strike both them and others with fear of so
offending, do command you, and strictly enjoin, that you will
so chastise such bakers, brewsters, and misdoers, with corporal
punishments, and so visit the other offences, at your discretion,
that they may excite in others in like case a fear of so offending. And that all corn to be ground at mills within the city
aforesaid, and without, shall be weighed by the millers, and that
such millers shall answer in like weight in the flour coming
therefrom. And the matters aforesaid, and all other things
which unto the office of the Mayoralty of the same city, and to
the preservation there of our peace, do pertain, you are to cause
to be inviolably observed. Witness myself, at York, the 28th
day of May, in the 26th year of our reign."
Letter from the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, with news of the
defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Falkirk, 22nd July.
26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book C. fol. xxiii. (Norman French.)
On Saturday the Feast of St. Peter's Chains [1 August], there came
a messenger from Sir Walter de Langetone, Bishop of Coventre
and Lychefeld, and Treasurer to our Lord the King of England,
bringing a letter from the said Bishop to the Mayor, and Aldermen, and Barons, (fn. 1) of London, in these words.—
"To his dear friends, the Mayor and the Barons of London,
Walter, by the grace of God, Bishop of Chester, (fn. 2) greeting and
true friendship. Because we well know that you willingly will
hear good tidings of our Lord the King and of his affairs in
Scotland, we give you to understand that on the Monday next
before the Feast of Saint James (fn. 3) [25 July], there came tidings
unto our Lord the King where he was staying, six leagues
beyond Edeneburg, that the Scots were approaching directly
towards him. As soon as he heard this, he moved with his
host towards the parts where the Scots were; and on the
morrow the King arrived in good time, and found his enemies
prepared to give battle. And so they engaged, and, by the
grace of God, his enemies were soon discomfited, and fled; but
nevertheless, there were slain of the enemy in the day's fight
200 men-at-arms, and 20,000 of their foot-soldiers; wherefore
we do hope that affairs yonder will go well from henceforth, by
the aid of our Lord. Unto God [we commend you]. Written
at Acun, on Sunday after the Feast of St. James, in the 26th
year of our Lord, the King Edward."
And to the said messenger was given by the hands of the
Chamberlain the sum of 26 shillings by order of the said Mayor,
John le Blunt, and of John de Canterbury, Thomas Romeyn,
Nicholas de Farndone, Nicholas Pyckot, William de Betoine, and
John de Donestaple, the then Chamberlain, Aldermen.
Terms of reconciliation of two Master Masons.
26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book C. fol. xxiii. (Latin.)
On Monday the morrow of St. Laurence [10 August], in the
26th year of the reign of King Edward, there came before Henry
le Galeys, Mayor, Thomas Romeyn, William de Leyre, Geoffrey
de Nortone, Walter de Feyingefeud, (fn. 4) and certain other Aldermen,
Master Simon de Pabingham and Master Richard de Wetham,
masons; who were then reconciled as to certain abusive words
which had before passed between them.
And the agreement was to this effect;—that the said Simon and
Richard did grant, each for himself, that if either of them should
be able to give information against the other that he had by the
same abusive words, or in deed, committed trespass against the
other; and such person should, upon the faith of two trustworthy
witnesses, be found guilty thereof, he should give 100 shillings
towards the fabric of London Bridge; and they further agreed
that in case such person should not do so, the Chamberlain should
cause the same amount to be levied, etc.
Bread deficient in weight, taken in West Chepe.
26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 85. (Latin.)
Be it remembered, that on Wednesday next after the Feast of
St. Laurence [10 August], in the 26th year of the reign of King
Edward, Juliana la Pestour of Neutone, (fn. 5) brought a cart laden
with six shillings' worth of bread into West Chepe: of which bread,
that which was light bread was wanting in weight, according to
the assize of the halfpenny loaf, to the amount of 25 shillings. (fn. 6)
And of the said six shillings' worth, three shillings' worth was
brown bread; which brown bread was of the right assize. It was
therefore adjudged, that the same should be delivered to the
aforesaid Juliana, by Henry le Galeys, Mayor of London, Thomas
Romeyn, and other Aldermen. And the other three shillings'
worth, by award of the said Mayor and Aldermen, was ordered to
be given to the prisoners in Neugate.
Sale of reeds near the lands of the Bishop of Bedlem.
26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 34. (Latin.)
Be it remembered, that William Poyntel, dwelling without Bysopisgate, came on the Friday next before the Feast of the
Exaltation of the Holy Cross [14 September] in the 26th year,
before John le Blunt, Geoffrey de Nortone, and William de Leyre,
holding the place of the Mayor, who then was in the parts of
Scotland, and bought of them for six shillings the reeds which were
growing upon that part of the meadow-land which remained over
and above the tenement of the Bishop of Bedlem, (fn. 7) when brother
Thomas, the attorney of the said Bishop, was again put in seisin
of the tenement aforesaid. On the understanding, however, that
the said William shall only have the reeds that are now growing
on the place aforesaid, and that he shall not meddle with the water
or the grass thereof.
And afterwards, on the Thursday after the Octave of St. Hilary
[13 January] in the 27th year, he paid the six shillings aforesaid.
Importation of knives of foreign make.
26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 35. (Latin.)
Be it remembered, that on Wednesday next after the Feast of
St. Matthew the Apostle [21 September], Hugh of Lemeryc (fn. 8)
in Ireland was attached for selling one hundred and a half of
knives, as being foreign knives. And the said Hugh came before
Geoffrey de Nortone and his fellows, then holding the place of the
Mayor, and acknowledged that the usage as to the same was
unknown to him: and because it was found by lawful men of that
trade that it had so befallen him, the knives were ordered to be
given back to him; and he made oath that in future etc.
Goods forfeited for violating the custom of the City.
26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 36. (Latin.)
Be it remembered, that Walter of Calle, near Brestolle, came on
the Saturday next before the Feast of the Apostles Simon and
Jude [28 October], in the 26th year, before Geoffrey de Nortone
and the Chamberlains, and acknowledged that he was altogether
ignorant of the usage of the City; and he had been attached by
the taking of one spontoon, (fn. 9) one bacinet (fn. 10) for a man's head, one
costret, (fn. 11) and four small circlets, (fn. 12) which pledges were given back
to him, by reason of his ignorance, upon condition that the same
should not happen to him in future, on pain of forfeiture of all his
goods, if etc., and the understanding that he should place himself
in the franchise of the City.
Sureties found by Laurence Ducket.
26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 36. (Latin.)
Laurence Ducket (fn. 13) came on the Friday next after the Feast of
St. Martin [11 November] before the Chamberlains, and acknowledged that he is bound to the Prioress and Convent of Cestrehunte in six marks, to be paid to the same, or to their attorney;
two marks at the Feast of our Lord's Nativity, in the 27th year
of the reign of King Edward, and two marks at the Feast of
the Purification of St. Mary [2 February] next ensuing, and two
marks at the Feast of Easter. And if he shall not do so, he
grants etc. And Laurence found as his sureties to be present at
the next Court of Pleas of Land, Thomas Juvenal and Reginald
de Hundele.