Folios lxxi - lxxx: Aug 1408 -

Calendar of Letter-Books of the City of London: I, 1400-1422. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1909.

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'Folios lxxi - lxxx: Aug 1408 - ', in Calendar of Letter-Books of the City of London: I, 1400-1422, (London, 1909) pp. 67-74. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-letter-books/voli/pp67-74 [accessed 26 March 2024]

In this section

Folio lxxi.

16 Aug., 9 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], complaint made before the Mayor and Aldermen, by Masters and others of the mistery of Cutlers, of the injury inflicted on them by defective work on the part of Sheathers. Thereupon it was agreed that in future a joint scrutiny of sheaths should from time to time be made by two Masters of the Cutlers and two of the Sheathers. (fn. 1)

Al' ordinac' int' Cultellar' et Bladsmythes pro scrutinio fac'.

13 Oct., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], came the Masters and other good men of the mistery of Cutlers, before the Mayor and Aldermen, and complained of bad workmanship by the Bladesmythes. Thereupon it was agreed that in future a joint scrutiny of blades should from time to time be made by two Masters of the Cutlers and two of the Bladesmythes.

Folio lxxi b.

Ordinacio int' Cultellar' et Fabros Blade smythes voc'.

12 Oct., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], came the Masters and good men of the misteries of Cutlers and Bladesmythes before the Mayor and Aldermen, and complained of knives and blades marked with marks resembling the marks of "bladesmythes"who are free of the City being sold to Cutlers and others of the said City by foreign folk from divers parts of England. They prayed therefore an ordinance forbidding any one of the mistery of Cutlers to buy such knives and blades, and, further, forbidding "bladesmythes" to enhance the price of blades without the joint assent of the Masters of the Cutlers and the"Bladesmythes." Their prayer granted. (fn. 2)

Folio lxxii.

Custod' pueror' Joh'is Drew nup' civis et Groccri London'.

2 July, 9 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], the guardianship of William and Margaret, the surviving children of John Drewe, grocer (Johanna and Albreda, other children of the same, being dead), committed by William Staundone, the Mayor, and John Proffyt, the Chamberlain, to Robert Leghe, William Pycard, William Symmes, and John Sudbury, grocers and executors of the said John Drewe. Sureties, viz., Robert Chichele, John Oxney, and William Sevenok, grocers, Salamon Oxney, goldsmith, Ralph Lobenham, William Crowmer, and John Lobenham, drapers.

Folio lxxii b.

Recog n' Joh'is Oxney et al' fact' super custodia predicta.

Afterwards, viz., on the 17th Oct., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], the above John Oxney, Salamon Oxney, Ralph Lobenham, and John Lobenham, to whom the guardianship of the above orphans had been committed by the Mayor and Aldermen with the assent of the above executors, entered into bond for the performance of their duties.

Exon'acio Joh'is [sic] Knyghtley pipcrar'.

26 Oct., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], Philip [sic], son of Robert Knyghtleye of Bristol, pepperer, discharged by William Staundone, the Mayor, and the Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to increasing old age.

Folio lxxiii.

Exon'acio Henr' Poule civis et pelli par.

The same day, Henry Poule, skinner, similarly discharged for like cause.

Articuli mis tor' de Blade smythes.

26 Oct., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], ordinances submitted to the Mayor and Aldermen by the Masters and good men of the mistery of Bladesmythes, and approved. (fn. 3)

Concess' offic' custod' mesur' ostrear' apitd Quenehith.

30 Oct, 9 Henry IV. [A.D. 1407], at the special request of John Cokayn, Chief Baron of the lord the King at Westminster, the office of Keeper of oyster-measures at "Quenhithe" granted to John Clerk de Quenhithe, to hold the same during good behaviour.

Eleccio Vicecom' London'.

Friday the Feast of St. Matthew [21 Sept], 9 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], in the presence of William Staundone, the Mayor, John Prestone, the Recorder, Henry Haltone and Henry Pountfreyt, the Sheriffs, Thomas Knolles, William Crowmer, Thomas Polle, John Warner, Stephen Speleman, William Louthe, Thomas Fauconer, William Chichele, and John Penne, Aldermen, and very many Commoners summoned for the election of Sheriffs to the Guildhall—Thomas Duke, Commoner, was elected one of the Sheriffs by the Mayor, and William Nortone, Alderman, was elected the other Sheriff for the year ensuing by the Commonalty.

Afterwards, viz., on Friday the eve of St.Michael [29 Sept], the said Sheriffs were sworn at the Guildhall, and on the following Monday were presented and accepted before the Barons of the Exchequer.

Folio lxxiv.

Petitions made by the Commons to the King in the Parliament held at Gloucester, the 20th Oct, 9 Henry IV. [A.D. 1407].

* * *

Libertas civi tat' London' qd nullus extraneus vendat vel emat abalio exaneo mercatore infra eandem civitatem etc renovata etc et statutum in contrar fac tum revocal' etc.

Also pray the Commons to the effect that whereas by ancient charter, and the authority of Parliament granted to the Mayor and citizens of London, no foreign merchant, not free of the City, could sell to, or buy from, another foreign merchant in the City, without forfeiture of his merchandise, and whereas the citizens had enjoyed this privilege until it was destroyed by a Statute passed in the last Parliament at Westminster (fn. 4) —may the King be pleased to revoke the said Statute.

The King wills that the citizens of London enjoy the same liberties touching this matter as they enjoyed before the Statute. (fn. 5)

[Folios lxxiv b blank].

Folio lxxx.

Eleccio Drugonis Barantyn Maioris.

Saturday, the Feast of St.Edward [13 Oct.], 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], after mass in the Guildhall Chapel, in the presence of William Staundone, the Mayor, John Prestone, the Recorder, Sir William Harwdone, the Prior of Holy Trinity, Richard Whityngtone, Drew Barantyn, Thomas Knolles, William Askham, Robert Chichely, John Warner, William Waldern, Thomas Fauconer, William Crowmer, Nicholas Wottone, Stephen Speleman, William Louthe, Thomas Polle, Henry Bartone, Henry Haltone, Henry Pountfreyt, William Chichely, and John Penne, Aldermen, William Norton and Thomas Duke, Sheriffs, and an immense Commonalty summoned for the election of a Mayor for the year ensuing—Drew Barantyn was elected.

Afterwards, viz., on the Feast of SS. Simon and Jude [28 Oct.], he was sworn, &c., and on the morrow was presented, admitted, and sworn before the Barons of the Exchequer.

Composicio int' Maiorem Aldr'os et co'itatem civitat' London' et cives civitat' Wyntonien'.

5 Nov., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], came Mark Leffeyre, the Mayor, William Wode, the Recorder, and William Archier, one of the Bailiffs of the City of Winchester, on behalf of themselves and the Commonalty of the Guild Merchant of the said City, before Drew Barantyn, the Mayor, and the Aldermen of the City of London, and complained that Sheriffs' officers had distrained the goods of freemen of the said Guild for a custom of 2s. on every cartload of goods purchased in the said City, and for scavage (scavinga), contrary to the composition made between the Cities of London and Winchester anno 32 Edward I. as recorded in Letter-Book C, fo. lxxxi [b], (fn. 6) and they prayed that citizens of Winchester might in future be exempt from such payment in accordance with the composition aforesaid.

Thereupon the said Mayor and Aldermen, after examining the composition, decreed that restitution should be made of what had been taken in contravention of the same, and that no distress should in future be made unless evidence were forthcoming that such custom should be paid.

Exoneracio Thome Hool civis et horner' London'.

2 Nov., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], Thomas "Hoke, " horner, discharged by Drew Barantyn, the Mayor, and the Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to increasing old age.

Consi'les bille misse fuerunt cuilib't Aldermanno.

Precept to the Aldermen to hold their several Wardmotes and make returns of such matters as they are unable to remedy to the General Court to be held on Monday after the Feast of Epiphany [6 Jan.], and, further, that they keep an armed watch at Christmas, that the streets be properly lighted, and that they cause half a fifteenth to be levied in their Wards, and bring in the money to the Guildhall by the 20th Jan. next. Dated 11 Dec., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408].

Folio lxxvi.

Ordinacio int' Pannar' et Tonores London.

10 Dec., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408], a settlement made between men of the mistery of Drapers and men of the mistery of Shearmen by arbitration of Drew Barantyn, the Mayor, and the Aldermen, touching the price to be paid for shearing various kinds of cloth. (fn. 7)

Folio lxxvi b.

Proclamacio factA Die Mercur' vicesimo septimo die Febr' anno Henr' quartc decimo [sic].

27 Feb., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408–9], a proclamation forbidding the sale by retail of watered fish [pessoun eawee] called in English "Wokedfyssh, " white salted herring and red herring watered [eawez] except in Briggestrete, Oldefisshestrete and "lez estokkes." Thames and freshwater fish to be sold in Chepe and Cornhill "Birlisters" (fn. 8) are not to confine themselves to certain streets, but are to pass through every street and lane, without standing or remaining in any one place except when in the act of selling their fish.

Item proclamacio de vino.

A proclamation forbidding the sale of malvezie, romeneye, or bastard wine, for more than 12 pence a gallon, or wine of Gascony; or Rochelle, red or white, for more than 6 pence; or Oseye (fn. 9) for more than 8 pence.

Folio lxxvii.

Exon'acio Ric'i Beauchamp civis et plummer London'.

16 April, 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1409], Richard Beauchamp, plumber, discharged by Drew Barantyn, the Mayor, and the Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to his being so much occupied with the custody of the City conduit.

Consimiles belle misse fuerunt cuilib't Aldr'o.

Precept under the Mayoralty seal to the Aldermen to cause four or six men to be elected in their several Wards for a Common Council according to ancient usage, (fn. 10) and to return their names to the Guildhall by Wednesday next. Those elected are to appear at the Guildhall as aforesaid under penalty of each defaulter paying 2s to the Chamber. (fn. 11) Dated 23 March, 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408–9].

Indenture of agreement made between the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City and the Warden and Minor Canons of St. Paul's touching easements for carrying off rain-water, &c., over certain houses near Paternosterrowe belonging to London Bridge. Dated 12 Jan., A.D. 1408.s.

Hokkyng deferduz.

Proclamation forbidding "hokkyng" on "hokkedayes" and the levying of money for the games called "foteball" and "cokthresshyng" on occasion of marriages. [No date.] (fn. 12)

Folio lxxviii.

Exon'ac' Steph'i Pettele civis et pouchemaker.

4 June, 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1409], Stephen Pettele, pouchemaker, discharged by Drew Barantyn, the Mayor, and Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to increasing old age.

Br'e de vinis rub' et albis gaugeandis.

Writ to the Mayor and Sheriffs to make proclamation of the following statutes relating to the gauging of wines, viz.: —

Stat. 27 Edward III., cap. viii.

Stat. 31 Edward III., cap. vi.

Stat. of Northampton, 4 Richard II., cap. 1. and to see that they are duly observed. Witness J[ohn] Cokayn at Westminster, 24 April, 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1409].

Consimiles bille misse fuer' cuilib't Aldermanno.

Precept to the Aldermen to keep an armed watch in their several Wards during the nights and eves of the Feasts of St.John Bapt. [24 June] and SS. Peter and Paul [29 June], &c. Dated 17 June, 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1409].

Folio lxxviii b.

Proclam' q'd nullus eat armat' nec cum glad' cinctus except' etc.

Writs to the Mayor and Sheriffs to make proclamation forbidding any one to go armed about the City except knights and esquires, who may have one sword and no more carried behind them. Witness the King at Westminster, 30 Jan., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408–9].

Item proclamac' fact' pro hospit' etc.

Also proclamation made for hostelers to warn their hosts at their first coming of the above order.

Proclam' gen'al' perdon ac' Reg'.

Writ to the Sheriffs to make proclamation of a general pardon granted by the King to all his subjects for offences committed before the Feast of Conversion of St.Paul [25 Jan.] last past, except Robert Longe of the King's Bench. Witness the King at Westminster, 31 Jan, 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408–9].

Br'e sup' statuto de forti ingressu non faciend' etc.

Writ to the Mayor and Sheriffs touching an attack made by a rabble on the property of Walter Welyngton and John his son. [Record incomplete.]

Folio lxxix-lxxx.

De treugis int' Angl' et Flandr'.

Letters patent appointing ambassadors for the prolongation of a truce between England on the one part and France and Flanders on the other part, for a term of three years from the 15th June next ensuing. Dated at Westminster, 11 June, A.D. 1408. The terms of the truce, guaranteeing (inter alia) safe passage for ships between the ports of the several countries, set out. (fn. 13)

Folio lxxx.

Proclamacio fact' tercio die Septembr' anno Henrici quarti decimo.

3 Sept., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1409], proclamation forbidding inhabitants of the City and liberties to sell clothing, victuals, or other merchandise to arbalesters (balistriers), or seamen of the galleys that had lately arrived in the Port of London, except for ready money, on pain of losing their right of recovery at law, so that the said galleys may not be delayed in returning home. (fn. 14)

Folio lxxx b.

De proclama cione treuga rum.

Writ of Privy Seal to the Sheriffs to make proclamation for those who had suffered from the action of France, contrary to the terms of the recent truce, to communicate with Thomas Beaufort, the Admiral, before he sailed for Calais. Dated at Westminster, 7 Sept, 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1409].

L'ra d'ni Regis de privato sigillo pro discenc'oe int allutarios et Cobelers.

Letter of Privy Seal to the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, enclosing a petition to the King by men of the Mistery of Cordewaners touching a disagreement between them and the Cobelers of the City. They are directed to inquire into the matter, and bring about peace between the parties, accordingto the custom of the City, otherwise the King himself may haveto intervene. Dated at Westminster, 21 Jan., 10 Henry IV. [A.D. 1408–9].

Footnotes

  • 1. 'Memorials, ' pp. 567-8.
  • 2. 'Memorials, ' pp. 568-9.
  • 3. 'Memorials, ' pp. 569-70.
  • 4. Vide supra, p. 54n.
  • 5. Petition and reply set out in 'Rot. Parl., ' iii. 613.
  • 6. 'Cal. Letter-Book C, ' p. 133; 'Cal. Letter-Book F, ' p. 36.
  • 7. Among these are mentioned cloths rayed and coloured for liveries of lords, "courseclothes" or "courche clothes, " "motlees, " cloths from Essex, Oxfordshire, and Ludlow, and cloths called "streytes" Referenceis made to the prices prescribed temp. Walter Turk, Mayor, in Letter-Book F, fo clxxxii (fo. clxxxi b). See 'Memorials, ' p. 256.
  • 8. Hucksters or retailers of victuals. See 'Cal. Letter-Book G, ' p 123n., 'Cal. Letter-Book H, ' pp. 243-4.
  • 9. Believed by some authorities to be an Alsatian wine. See 'Cal. Letter-Book H, ' p 210; Archœol., vol. xx p. 37n. Others believe it to have been a Peninsular wine, probably from Portugal. Simon, 'Hist. of the Wine Trade in England, ' 1 287-8.
  • 10. See ordinance of 1384 'Cal. Letter-Book H, ' pp. 227-8.
  • 11. The fine imposed in 1384 was 40 pence. 'Cal. Letter-Book H, ' p. 240.
  • 12. 'Memorials, ' p. 571. Cf. pr clamation recorded supra, p. 48, and printed in 'Memorials, ' pp. 561-2.
  • 13. Rymer, 'Fœdera, ' viii. 532-3; cf. Wylie, 'Hist. of England under Henry the Fourth, ' ii. 106-8, iii. 99.
  • 14. 'Memorials, ' p. 574.