An unlawful kidel, or net, ordered to be burnt.
6 Edward II. A.D. 1313. Letter-Book A. fol. xci. (Latin.)
Be it remembered, that a certain kidel belonging to the Abbot of
Lesnes, (fn. 1) found in the course of the banks of the Thames, opposite
to the Abbey of Lesnes, was brought before the Mayor, John de
Gisorz, and William de Leire, John de Wyndesore, and Stephen
de Abyndone, Aldermen, on the Thursday next after the Feast of
St. Mark the Evangelist [25 April], in the sixth year of the reign
of King Edward, son of King Edward, in the Guildhall of London,
and adjudged [to be burnt]; because it was found, upon the oath
of John de Mockinge, Henry Lombard, Laurence Aubyn, Oliver
Brounyng, John de Garton, William Scot, John Fresfisshe, Robert
de Mockyng, Richard Swote, Geoffrey Scot the Younger, and Alex
ander Pike, fishmongers, that the said net, which is called a "kidel,"
is too narrow [in the meshes], and insufficient for fishing, to the
undoing of the banks of the said river, and to the loss of the whole
city, and of the people resorting thereto.
And they say moreover, that in the Great Charter of the Liberties of the people of England it is contained, that all kidels and
such embankment (fn. 2) as aforesaid shall be removed.
And it was therefore awarded, that the said kidel should be burnt
in the street of Chepe.
Charge of selling French bread of light weight.
6 Edward II. A.D. 1313. Letter-Book D. fol. clxxx. (Latin.)
On the Wednesday next before the Feast of St. Dunstan [19 May]
in the 6th year of the reign of King Edward, son of King Edward,
the loaf of French bread of John de Bledelow was found to weigh
29s. 2d.; (fn. 3) and it was said that such loaf ought to weigh the same
as the halfpenny loaf of wastel bread, (fn. 4) whereas the said loaf was less
in weight than the wastel loaf by 12s. 10d.
And the same John appeared, and said that he did not make that
loaf for sale, nor had he been accustomed to do so: for he said
that he served divers merchants of Lombardy and other foreign
countries, and made that bread of their own wheat, etc.; and as to
this, he put himself upon the country. Therefore a jury was summoned from the venue of Austin Friars, on the Saturday etc. And
the same John was mainprised by Chuccone the Lombard, and
William Reynere, then to be here etc. (fn. 5)