Folios 291-300: Oct 1456 -

Folio 291.

Monday, 4 Oct., 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1456], Ivo Machon' alias Yon' Machon' appointed a valet to the Water-bailiff of the Thames by William "Marwe," the Mayor, Stephen Broun, John Hathirley, Simon Eyre, William Gregory, Geoffrey Feldyng, John Norman, Stephen Forster, Thomas Scot, William Hulyn, Richard Alley, Christopher Warter, John Walden, Richard Lee, and John Middelton, Aldermen, in the Inner Chamber of the City; he to receive yearly the fee and clothing that Thomas Bedford, late valet, received.

Folio 291 b.

Eleccio Vic'.

The Feast of St. Matthew [21 Sept.], 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1456], in the presence of William "Marwe," Mayor, Thomas Ursewyk, Recorder, Henry Frowik, John Olney, William Gregory, Geoffrey Feldyng, John Norman, Thomas Scotte, William Abraham, William Cantelowe, William Hulyn, Richard Alley, Richard Lee, John Walden, Simon Eyre, John Athirle, Stephen Forster, William Horn, Matthew Philip, and John Middelton, Aldermen, and very many Commoners summoned to the Guildhall for the election of Sheriffs for the ensuing year, John "Stiward" was elected one of the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex by the Mayor, and Ralph Verney was elected the other Sheriff by the Commonalty.

The same day Thomas Cook, senior, and Thomas Davy were elected Wardens of London Bridge; Matthew Philip and Richard Alley, Aldermen, John Lok, Richard Nedeham, Robert Drope, and William Norburgh, Commoners, were elected Auditors of the accounts of the Chamberlain (fn. 1) and Wardens in arrear.

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

Eleccio Maioris.

The Feast of the Translation of St. Edward [13 Oct.], 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1456], in the presence of William Marwe, Mayor, Thomas Ursewik, Recorder, the Prior of Christchurch, Henry Frowyk, Stephen Broun, John Athirle, Simon Eyre, John Olney, William Gregory, Geoffrey Feldyng, John Norman, Stephen Forster, Thomas Canyng', Thomas Scot, William Hulyn, Matthew Philip, Christopher Warter, Richard Alley, Richard Lee, and John Walden, Aldermen, John "Steward" and Ralph Verney, the Sheriffs, and an immense Commonalty summoned to the Guildhall for the election of a Mayor for the ensuing year, Thomas Canyng' was elected.

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

22 Oct., 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1456], John Godyn, grocer, discharged by William Marowe, Mayor, and the Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., being over seventy years of age, pursuant to the King's writ on his behalf.

...... 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1456], John Pembertone, vintner, discharged by Thomas Canyng', Mayor, and the Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to his infirmities.

Folio 292.

L'ra direct' d'no Regi per Maiorem et Aldr'os.

Letter from the Mayor and Aldermen of the City and Chamber of London to the King touching the capture of Sandwich by a French force, (fn. 2) and offering to fit out divers ships then lying in the Thames with 2,000 men or thereabouts to assist in repelling the enemy. They send Alderman Thomas Cook to the King for instructions. Dated 3 Sept. [A.D. 1457]. (fn. 3)

Respons' l're predicte.

The King's reply to the above. Dated at Northamptone, 5 Sept. [A.D. 1457].

L'ra d'no Cancellar' Anglie per Maiorem et Aldr'os direct'.

Letter from the Mayor and Aldermen to [William Waynflete] the Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England, by the hand of Roger Tonge, (fn. 4) the Common Clerk of the City, similar in effect to the letter sent to the King touching the attack on Sandwich. Dated 3 Sept. [A.D. 1457].

Folio 292 b.

Respons' l're p'dc'e.

Reply to the above. Dated at Waltham, 5 Sept. [A.D. 1457]. (fn. 5)

[There is no folio 293.]

Folio 294.

Writ to the Sheriffs for distraint of knighthood. (fn. 6) Witness the King at Westminster, 27 April, 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457].

Return made to the above by Ralph Verney and John Steward, Sheriffs. [No date.]

P'sentacio ad unam cant' v cantar' in capella bt [sic].

Letter from Thomas "Canynges," the Mayor, and Thomas "Thorndon," the Chamberlain, to Thomas Kempe, Bishop of London, presenting Master John Mordey to one of the five chantries founded by Adam Fraunceys and Henry Frowyk in the chapel of the B. V. Mary near the Guildhall, vacant by the death of John Newenham. Dated 24 April, A.D. 1457.

Admissio Laurencii Moyne in unum trium servientum ad clavam M'.

Friday, 17 Feb., 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1456-7], in the Court of lord the King in the Chamber of the Guildhall, there being present Thomas Canyng', the Mayor, John Hathirle, William Gregory, Geoffrey Feldyng, John Norman, William Marwe, Thomas Scot, William Cantelowe, Richard Alley, Geoffrey Boleyn, William Hulyn, Richard Lee, Christopher Warter, John Middeltone, John Felde, and Ralph Josselyn, Aldermen, it was unanimously agreed that Laurence Moyne should be one of the three permanent Serjeants-at-mace attached to the Mayor, he receiving the usual yearly fee and other profits.

Folio 294 b.

Presentacio M'ri Johannis Mordey ad unam cantariam v cantariar' Guyhalde.

Another letter from the Mayor and Chamberlain to the Bishop of London touching the admittance of John Mordey to the vacant chantry in the Guildhall chapel. Dated 26 April, A.D. 1457.

12 June, 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457], Walter Drope, "bocher," discharged by Thomas Canyng', Mayor, and the Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to increasing old age.

The same day came William Rotheley, goldsmith, and asked permission of the lord the Mayor (a domino Maiore) to prosecute John Johnson, senior, butcher, outside the City, inasmuch as the said John had prosecuted the said William in divers courts outside the City without the Mayor's permission, contrary to his oath and the franchises of the City, and had not appeared nor withdrawn his prosecution at the Mayor's bidding. Permission granted.

12 July, 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457], Richard Messinger, goldsmith, discharged by Thomas Canyng', Mayor, and the Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to his infirmities.

17 Sept., 36 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457], William Blakman, "talloughchaundeller," similarly discharged for like cause.

...... John "Grodyng," taverner (pandoxator), similarly discharged for like cause. (fn. 7)

Folio 295.

20 July, 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457], William Rote, saddler, similarly discharged for like cause.

The same day John Maldone, grocer, similarly discharged for like cause.

Letters patent presented to Thomas Canyng', the Mayor, and the Aldermen on behalf of the Provost and Scholars of the royal college of the Blessed Mary and St. Nicholas at Cambridge, (fn. 8) touching immunity from divers tolls, &c., granted with the assent of the Parliament which commenced to sit at Westminster on the 25th Feb., 23 Henry VI. [A.D. 1444-5], to the Provost and Scholars of the said College and their successors. (fn. 9) Whereupon came Hugh Fern' and Roger Alright, "husbondmen," tenants of the said Provost and Scholars in their manor of Rislepe, co. Middlesex, and complained to the said Mayor and Aldermen that John Steward and Ralph Verney, the Sheriffs, had unlawfully demanded toll of them, and prayed that it might be restored, and that thenceforth the said Provost and Scholars and their tenants might be held quit of toll. Thereupon restitution was ordered by the Mayor and Aldermen, and toll not to be taken in future.

7 Sept., 36 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457], Thomas Welles, draper, discharged by Thomas Canyng', Mayor, and the Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to increasing old age.

Folio 295 b.

10 Sept., the same year, John "Godyng," taverner, similarly discharged for like cause. (fn. 10)

6 Oct., 36 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457], came German Lynce, goldsmith, into the Court of the lord the King in the Chamber of the Guildhall, before Thomas Canyng', Mayor, and the Aldermen, and presented certain letters patent of safe conduct under the Great Seal sealed with white wax, exempting him from serving divers offices, and dated at Westminster, 6 July, 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457].

Folio 296.

Presentacio ad cantar' in capella juxta guyhald' pro at'a Rog'i de Depeham.

Letter from Thomas Canyng', the Mayor, and Thomas Ursewik, the Recorder, to Thomas [Kempe], Bishop of London, presenting Sir John Sylam, a chaplain of the diocese of Lincoln, for admission to the chantry founded by Roger de Depeham in the Chapel of the Blessed Mary near the Guildhall, then vacant. [No date.]

"Examynac'ons taken and hadde the Friday next after the Feast of Corpus Christi [9 June] the xxxv th yeer of &e reign of King Henri the vi th [A.D. 1457] and diverse tymes sithen before Thomas Canyng' Mair and thaldermen of &e Citee of London of the persones heraft' folowing of and upon certeyn confederacies & compassamentz purposed and ymagined to have be commytted and doon the same daye within the saide Citee contrary to &e Kinges peas ageyns &e marchantz estraungiers if it ne had &e sonner be resisted and lette." (fn. 11)

"First John Bailly s'vaunt of Henry Warer Sherman examyned confesseth and seith &^t in &e said Fest of Corpus Christi Thomas Graunte departed and gone and Thomas Thurston s'vauntz of Rauf Marche m'cer & William Robynson s'vaunt of William Leytone poyntmaker with o&ere malefaitours and troublers of &e Kinges peas were confedered and enterallied to gidre in the Toure of &e Ryall (fn. 12) of London to have sleyne & murdred Galiot Scot and o&ere merchantz estraungers the said Friday aboute xj of &e clok in Lumbardstrete & o&ere stretes of London Wheruppon &e saide malefaitours contynuyng their saide malicieux purpose in the said Fest of Corpus Christi lest their Counceill shuld have ben understand & knowen afterward departed oute of &e saide Citee and came to Hoggesdon (fn. 13) Where they and o&ere assembled in greater noumbre were confedered and sworn to gidre upon the crosse of a grote (fn. 14) everiche of theym to lyve and dye with o&ere in executyng of their wiked ententz abovesaid seying then among themself they douted not but when they shuld begynne &e saide fete they shuld mowe have help ynough of &e people Inasmuche as myche people thenne hated dedely &e saide marchantz estraungiers as they seyden For they bothe were fals extorcioners comon lechours and avoutrers Wherfore they thought it a goode dede to sle and murdre them &c And also &^e said John Bailly confesseth and knowlicheth that he was first excited and moeved & abbetted to assent and be sworn unto &e saide confederacye in maner & forme aboveseid purposed to have be doon by &e forsaid Thomas Graunte and William Robynson.

"Item it is notoirely knowen &at the said Thomas Graunte purposyng to have made a commocion among &e people on Wendisday then next suyng came oute of the selde called the Croune in Chepe with his armes full of staffz and them cast adowne in Chepe seying then openly Go we hens for ther is an Englisshman sleyn by the lombardes in lumbardstrete And &^e same Thomas Graunte was fortwith restraynt of his malicieux purpos by Hugh Wyche mercer and other

Folio 296 b.

"Item it ys founde by &e persones folowing herafter &at the said Thomas Graunte Thomas Thurstone & William Robynson were &e chief & principall moevers procurers & abetters of all o&er unto &e confederacy aforsaid

Thurstone.

"Item &e said Thomas Thurstone examyned confesseth and seith &at he was assented & sworn unto the confederacie aforsaid Also he seith &^t he was first excited and stired by &e said Thomas Graunte so to be assented & sworn Also he seith &^t atte castying oute of &e said staves in Chepe by his seid felow Thomas Graunte his forsaid maister Rauf Marche thenne was in his house atte gote (fn. 15)

Bek.

"Item Thomas Bek ano&er servaunt of &e said Rauf Marche confesseth and seith &^t atte tyme of &^e castyng oute of &e saide staves in Chepe his saide maister was in his hous atte gote & &^t &e same Thomas was neither consented ne sworn unto &e saide confederacye

Clement.

"Item Thomas Clement sherman servaunt of &e forsaid 'Herry' Warer examyned confesseth & knowlicheth &at he privee assented & sworn with o&ere unto &e saide confederacye purposed & ymagined to have ben executed and done in maner & forme aforsaid but he seith &at specialy he entended to have &e saide Galioth Scot for holdyng &e wife of &e same Thomas in avoutry unto his perpetual shame Also he seith and confesseth &at he was first &'to stirred & abetted by &e forsaid John Bailly his felowe

Ro. Taillour.

"Item 'Robert' Taillour servaunt of Robert Gregory, mercer, examyned confesseth & knowlicheth &^t he was assented & with o&er enterallied unto &e saide confederacy in maner and forme aforsaid but he seith &at he was never therto sworn Also he seith &^t he was excited & abetted unto &e same confederacy by &e forsaid Thomas Clement

Skelton.

"Item Edward Skelton servaunt of John Marchall, mercer, John Box, servaunt of William Growman, mercer, & Thomas Rouley, servaunt of John Rouley, mercer, severaly examyned confessen & knowlichen &at in &e said Fest of Corpus Christi they were present with o&ere in &e forsaid Toure of &e Royall but they seyn &at they were never assented ne sworn unto &e said confederacye and &e said Edward Skelton seith &at as sone as he sawe &e forsaid 'Richard' Taillour &ere pleying atte swerd with &e forsaid Rouley he departed fro thens and wold not tary In asmuche as aforetyme his seid maister had forbod hym &e felisship of &e said 'Richard' Taillour

Middeltone.

"Item John Middelton servaunt of Nicholas Taillour examyned confesseth & knowlicheth &^t he was assented enterallied and sworn with o&ere unto &e saide confederacye in maner & forme aforsaid and seid &at he was not aferd to sey &e trouthe For their purpose & ententz was to have slayne &e said marchantes estraungers & suche as wold have come & supported &e same marchantes Also he seith &^t he was &erto first stired and abetted by &e forsaid William Robynson Also he seith &^t &e said Richard Taillour was thries sworn unto &e saide confederacy

Rikson.

"Item Richard Rikson also servaunt of þe said Nicholas Taillour examyned confesseth and knowlicheth þat he was with þe said John Middelton and oþere at Hoggesdon And there with them was confedered & assented to sle þe said Galioth Scot and oþere Lumbardes Also he seith he was not there sworn unto them but he sawe þe said Thomas Graunt Thomas Thurston & oþere there sworn Also he seith þat þe said Thomas Graunt First sterid and abetted hym to assent unto þe said confederacy

Harriesson.

"Item Robert Harryesson also servant to þe said Nicholas Taillour examyned confesseth and knowlicheth þ^t he knew þe purpose and entent of þe said malefaitours but he was not at Hoggesdon ne never to them sworn

Robynson.

"Item þe forsaid William Robynson examyned confesseth and knowlicheth þ^t he was at Hoggesdon with oþere and there was assented and enterallied with them to their confederacy in maner & forme aforsaid & graunted to go with them upon the Lumbardes and seith þ^t he was þerto first stered & abetted by þe forsaid Thomas Graunte Also he seith þat þe said Friday by þe morow þe said Thomas Graunte came unto him with an hevy chere (fn. 16) and seid Allas we have a shrewde turn for nowe is our purpos broken & retted by þe Mair & Shirrefz and I wote not howe it come oute ne by whom

Randes.

"Item Thomas Randes gurdeler examyned deposeth and knowlicheth þ^t he was stired and moeved to assent unto þe saide confederacye in maner & form aforsaid to have be doon & executed and came unto Hoggesdon with John Cottone wyredrawer & anoþer whom he knew not And also he seith þ^t he was never sworn unto þe said malefaitours like as oþere were but refused so to be And also he seith þ^t he taried not at Hoggesdon but from thens departed with þe said Cottone And also he seith þ^t þe forsaid Richard Taillour stired & desired hym to come to Hoggesdon

John' Cottone.

"Item it is founde by examynac'on þ^t þ^e same John Cotton taught diverse of þ^e said malefaitours to pley atte swerd in þ^e said Tour atte Ryall where þ^e said confederacy was first taken & þ^e same Cottone examyned knowlicheth þ^t he was present at Hoggesdon with þ^e said malefaitours but he seid þ^t he never knewe of their saide malicieux purpose ne never was sworn ne assented therunto and sothe it is þ^t he is not accused by any of þ^e said riottous persones of þ^t he shuld have be privee or assented unto their saide confederacye Except onely of his said beyng with them at Hoggesdon etyng & drinking And þ^e same Cottone seith þ^t þ^e said Thomas Randes departed not with hym from Hoggesdon but abode there with þe saide malefaitours Also he seith þat Richard Mapy servaunt of William Denton mercer whiche Richard is departed & gone first stired him to come to Hoggesdon for his disportes

Folio 297.

Mapy et al.

"Item it is founde by examynac'on of þ^e forsaid John Middelton William Robynson Richard Taillour and oþere þat Richard Mapy aforsaid, William Brembille, servaunt of John Grove gurdeler, John Worsley, taillour, John Stowe, servaunt of William Heron' haberdassher, Thomas Dabelle servaunt of John Worshop', draper, John Rychemond, poyntemaker, & Robert Colman, capper, with oþere whiche ben departed and gone were assented enterallied & sworn to gider with þ^e forsaid malefactours at Hoggesdon unto þe saide confederacye in maner & forme aforsaid to have ben executed & doon

Nele.

"Item it is founde by examynac'on þat John Nele lethersiller the saide Friday by þe morow when þe Mair Aldermen & Shiereefz accompanyed them to kepe þe Kinges peas & to resist & appresse the saide malefactours in their wiked purpose & ententz aforsaid openly seide in presence of diverse officers openly in þe Guyldehall þat he wolde þe saide Mair Aldermen Shierrefz and all oþere officers þe same day had ben at York Wherby it was conceyved & understand unto þe said Mair & Aldermen þ^t þe said John Nele rather was disposed to þe comfort supportac'on & favour of þe said riottous persones in their wiked ententz aforsaid then to thessistens of þe said officers in keping of the saide peas Wherfore þe same John was commytted to Ward

Rauf Marche.

"Item by asmuche as it was found by examynac'on before this that atte tyme of þe ryot made in þe said Citee þe yere last passed (fn. 17) þ^e saide Thomas Graunte & Thomas Thurston servauntz of þe said Rauf Marche were present with mysdoers with staves in their handes as wele in resistence then made ayenst þe Mair þe rescusse made ayenst þe Shierrefz as atte Ryot then made upon þe Lombardes And þe said Rauf them toke to baill upon a grete somme and þ'uppon hadde comaundement bothe sp'ially & gen'ally at sondry tymes to see unto þe sadde reule & goode governaunce of his saide servauntz The whiche servauntz as before is reherced ben wele understand the first and principall begynners of þe said untrue confederacy and riot of new purposed to have be commytted and done And þe said Thomas Graunt þe same persones þ^t so cast oute þe said staves in Chepe and is wele supposed þ^t þ^e said Rauf more effectuelly myght have put hym in devoir to oversee the good reule & sadde demeanyng of his said servauntz. Therfore þe said Rauf was commytted to warde &c And nowe is lette to baille by considerac'on of þe Court to thentent þ^t he therby þe more diligently may put hym in playne devoir for his acquitaille to tharrestyng & bringyng yn of þe said Thomas Graunte his servant."

5 March, 5 Edward IV. [A.D. 1464-5], came John Brokford, alias Wakeley, draper, into the Court of the lord the King in the Chamber of the Guildhall, before Ralph Josselyn, the Mayor, and the Aldermen, and acknowledged himself bound to Robert Colwyche, the Chamberlain, in the sum of £1,400.

Fos. 297-297 b.

The above bond to be void provided that the above John Brokford or George Ireland, who married Margaret, the widow of Thomas Hawkyn, and Thomas Bernewey, drapers, and John Kendale, "peautrer," or any one of them, pay or cause to be paid into Court the sum of £500 to the use of Thomas and Richard respectively, sons of the said Thomas Hawkyn, as soon as they come of age, and £200 to the use of Elizabeth and Johanna, daughters of the same, as soon as they come of age or marry.

Folio 298.

Eleccio Vicecomitum.

The Feast of St. Matthew [21 Sept.], 36 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457], in the presence of Thomas Canyng', the Mayor, Thomas Ursewik, the Recorder, Stephen Broun, John Olney, William Gregory, Geoffrey Feldyng, William Marwe, Stephen Forster, Thomas Scot, William Cantlowe, Geoffrey Boleyn, Richard Lee, William Hulyn, Christopher Warter, Richard Alley, Matthew Philip, John Walden, John Middelton, Aldermen, and very many Commoners summoned to the Guildhall for the election of Sheriffs for the ensuing year, William Edward was elected one of the Sheriffs for London and Middlesex by the Mayor, and Thomas Reyner was elected the other Sheriff by the Commonalty.

[The election of the Chamberlain not recorded.]

Thomas Davy and Peter Alfold were elected Wardens of London Bridge; Richard Alley, John Walden, Aldermen, Robert Drope, William Narburgh, William Porter, and John Bernewell, Commoners, elected Auditors of the accounts in arrear of the Chamberlain and Wardens.

Afterwards, viz., on the eve of St. Michael [29 Sept.], the said Sheriffs were sworn in the Guildhall, and on the morrow of the said Feast were presented, admitted, and accepted, &c., before the Barons of the Exchequer.

Eleccio Maioris.

The Feast of the Translation of St. Edward [13 Oct.], 36 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457], in the presence of Thomas Canyng', the Mayor, Thomas Ursewyk, the Recorder, the Prior of Christchurch, Stephen Broun, John Atherle, John Olney, William Gregory, Geoffrey Feldyng, John Norman, Stephen Forster, William Marwe, Thomas Scot, William Cantelowe, William Hulyn, Matthew Philip, Richard Alley, Geoffrey Boleyn, Richard Lee, John Middeltone, John Feld, Thomas Cooke, and Ralph Josselyn, Aldermen, William Edward and Thomas Reyner, the Sheriffs, and an immense Commonalty summoned to the Guildhall for the election of a Mayor for the year ensuing, Geoffrey Boleyn was elected.

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

Folio 298 b-299.

Inspeximus of ordinances made in the Star Chamber on the 5th Feb., 35 Henry VI. [A.D. 1456-7], to be observed in the sanctuary of the free chapel of St. Martin within the City. Witness the King at Westminster, 24 Nov., 36 Henry VI. [A.D. 1457]. (fn. 18)

[Fos. 299 b-300 b blank.]