1253-4
A.D. 1253. Sheriffs.: Richard Pikard,; John de Norhampton,
In this year, on a Friday, after dinner, it being the tenth day of
October, the water of Thames rose to a greater height than ever it had
done in our times. In the same year, Nicholas Bat was made Mayor, and
on the morrow was presented to the Barons of the Exchequer at Westminster, and sworn and admitted, in manner granted to the citizens by
Charter of his lordship the King, of which mention has been made above
in this record. In this year, about the Feast of Saint Michael, it was
enacted by the whole community, that the bailiwick of Bridge Street and
of Queen-Hythe, which previously they used to let to ferm, should be
held by the Sheriffs, whoever they might be, they paying therefor fifty
pounds yearly to his lordship the King, and sixty shillings to the Hospital
of Saint Giles, and to the commons of the City twenty-seven pounds.
In this year, it was enacted by the community, that no one of the
franchise of the City should in future pay (fn. 1) scavage for his beasts sold on
the field of (fn. 2) Smethefeld, as before they had been wont. In this
year, about the season of Lent the Sheriffs of Middlesex, by
precept of his lordship the King, caused all the wears to be destroyed that
stood in the Thames towards the West; and at this time, many nets which
were (fn. 3) injurious, were burnt in Westchep. Afterwards, and before Pentecost, the Sheriffs of London, seeing that the water of Thames pertains
unto London, by precept of his lordship the King destroyed all the other
wears from London to the sea. In the same year, on the 29th day of May,
her ladyship the Queen put to sea, to cross over to her lord the King,
in Gascoigne; and her son Edward with her, to espouse the sister of
the King of Spain.