Folios clxxi - clxxx: Nov 1326 -

Folio clxxi.

Breve Reg' de Maioratu London' restituto.

Writ to the Aldermen, Sheriffs, and the whole of the Commonalty of the City, announcing the restitution of the Mayoralty, which had been taken into the King's hand when the Justices in Eyre last sat at the Tower, and bidding them elect a Mayor (fn. 1) within eight days from the receipt of this writ. Witness Edward, the King's first-born son, guardian of the realm, at Hereford, 6 Nov., 20 [Edward II., A.D. 1326].

The above writ enrolled at the Exchequer in Memoranda anno 20 Edward II., Michaelmas term.

L're Regis patentes ad innovand' p'dc' m br'e de Maioratu.

Letters patent ratifying the contents of the above writs. Witness the King himself, at Kenylworth, 5 Dec., 20 Edward II. [A.D. 1326]. (fn. 2)

Folio clxxi b.

Monday after the Feast of St. Lucia [13 Dec.], 20 Edward II. [A.D. 1326], ordinance made by the Mayor, Sheriffs, Aldermen, merchants, and others of the City that all foreigners who had obtained the freedom of the City should be removed from the said freedom, except merchants of Amias, Corbie, and Neele, (fn. 3) and that thenceforth no foreigner should be admitted to the freedom except in the Husting with the consent of the Commonalty, and on the security of six reputable men of his trade. (fn. 4)

Be it remembered that Sir Edward, the King's son and guardian of the realm, with the assent of his father, given at Kenelworth, held his Parliament at Westminster on the morrow of St. Hillary [13 Jan.], anno 20 Edward II. [A.D. 1326-7]. (fn. 5) And what was transacted in the said Parliament will be found in the great book of charters and liberties of the City aforesaid, (fn. 6) &c.

De meremio et plumbo concessis capelle Gildaule.

Be it remembered that at Christmas, anno 20 Edward II. [A.D. 1326], came Sir John de Stratford, Bishop of Wyncestre, and Thomas de Wake, lord of Lidel, to the Guildhall on certain business touching the lord the King, and among other things they said that the work of repairing the chapel adjoining the Guildhall had ceased, and they inquired the cause. Thereupon they were told by Richard de Betoigne, the Mayor, that with their assistance and that of other great men of the land the work would, by God's grace, be completed. Whereupon the said Thomas de Wake granted sufficient timber for the work of the chapel, and the said Sir John de Stratford granted sufficient lead for covering the same. (fn. 7)

Folio clxxii.

Custodia Joh'is et Steph'i filior' Joh'is atte More, Bourser.

Wednesday before the Feast of St. Ambrose [4 April], 1 Edward III. [A.D. 1327], the guardianship of John, son of John atte More, "Bourser," aged eight years, and of Stephen, another son, aged two years, committed by Richard de Betoigne, the Mayor, and the Aldermen [not named], to Peter Staci, "ismonggere," and "Alesia" his wife, relict of the above John atte More. Sureties, viz., Edmund Lambyn and Robert Baudri.

Afterwards, viz., on Saturday before the Feast of SS. Philip and James [1 May], 20 Edward III. [A.D. 1346], came John, son of John atte More, before William de Briklesworth, Alderman, and Thomas de Maryns, the Chamberlain, and acknowledged satisfaction, and asked on behalf of himself and Stephen, his aforesaid brother, now deceased, that the sureties might be released and the guardianship cancelled.

Acquietanc' facta Roberto le Callere per Joh'm le Wariner de Wyndcaultone.

ijs. vjd.

Deed of acquittance by John le Wariner de Wyndcaultone, (fn. 8) late apprentice to Robert le Callere, mercer, to his former master, and covenant to keep him harmless as to everything done by his late apprentice in term of service. Witnesses, John de Bray the elder, Henry Wymond, William de Braie the elder, woolmongers (laners), Henry Sterre, Walter Nel, John Amys, clerk, and others [not named]. Dated 9 March, 1 Edward III. [A.D. 1326-7].

Tuesday before Christmas, anno 1 Edward III. [A.D. 1327], came John de Cotoun, Alderman, and paid Richard de Reynham the sum of 10 marks in the presence of Hamo de Chiggewelle, the Mayor, and Gregory de Nortone, Alderman, which sum was due under a recognizance in the Husting, and the said John is quit.

Folio clxxii b.

The Account of Andrew Horn, the Chamberlain of the Guildhall, touching receipts from the Feast of the Purification B. M. [2 Feb.], 19 Edward II. [A.D. 1325-6], to the Feast of St. Luke [18 Oct.], 2 Edward III. [A.D. 1328], viz., for two years and twenty-seven weeks less one day, rendered before Hamo de Chigwelle, Reginald de Conduit, Stephen de Abyndone, and William de Elsynge, auditors appointed by the Mayor and Commonalty, Monday after the Feast of St. Luke [18 Oct.], anno 2 Edward III., by Sir William Horn, Philip the Notary, and John atte Vyne, executors of the aforesaid Andrew. (fn. 9)

Recept'.

The receipts comprise sums of money for redemptions of the freedom, for entrances and exits of apprentices, recognizances of debts, money received from Richard de Betoyne, the Mayor, and John de Croydon to meet the expense of obtaining new franchises in Parliament, and money received for making a present to Dame Philippa, the new Queen of England, &c. Total, £282 12s. 3d.

Expens'.

The expenditure comprises sums of money paid to Robert de Swalclive, the Recorder, and other officials of the City, and to citizens attending Parliament at York, money expended on victuals, gifts, &c. Total, £291 11s. 4½d.

Deed of acquittance under the Common Seal to the above executors, they having delivered to Henry de Seccheford, the new Chamberlain, all things appertaining to the Chamber that had been in the custody of Andrew Horn. Dated Monday the eve of the Assumption [15 Aug.], 3 Edward III. [A.D. 1329].

Folios clxxiii - clxxiii b.

Account of Andrew Horn, late Chamberlain, deceased, touching rents and tenements of Walter, son of the late Richard Cook, for eight years from Michaelmas, 14 Edward II. [A.D. 1320], to Michaelmas, 2 Edward III. [A.D. 1328], rendered on Wednesday after the Epiphany [6 Jan.], 2 Edward III. [A.D. 1328-9], before Hamo de Chigwelle, Reginald de Conduit, John de Prestone, and Richard de Hakeneye, Aldermen, and Henry de Seccheford, Alderman and Chamberlain, auditors appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen.

Recept'.

Receipts for the said term £38 8s.

Expensis.

The expenditure comprises sums of money spent on repairing a fountain, and furniture of a brewhouse in the parish of Stanyngcherche, on making a new cesspool (cloaca), as well as contributions to an aid for the King, and money spent on feeding and clothing the said Walter. Total, £38 4s. 3¼d.

Folios clxxiv - clxxv.

Pleas before the lord the King at Westminster, Michaelmas Term, 2 Edward III. [A.D. 1328]. (fn. 10)

Precept to the Sheriffs as before (fn. 11) to summon twenty-four lawful knights of the venue of London to inquire into the manner in which an inquest had been taken at St. Martin's le Grand as to a trespass against Richard le Chaucer and Mary his wife by Geoffrey Stace, Agnes, late wife of Walter de Westhalle, Thomas Stace, and Laurence "Geffreyesman' (fn. 12) Stace, and whether perjury had been committed or not. (fn. 13)

Return made by Simon Fraunceys and Henry de Combemartyn, the Sheriffs, to the effect that no attaint ought to be taken on citizens as to any matter arising within the City, therefore they could not execute the writ without prejudice to the City's liberties and customs.

Writ to Geoffrey le Scrope and his fellow-justices to allow the citizens to enjoy their liberties and free customs, which the King had recently confirmed. Dated at New Sarum, 28 Oct., 2 Edward III. [A.D. 1328].

Pursuant to the above writ precept was issued to the Sheriffs for the Mayor and citizens to appear before the King on a certain day to prove their liberties and customs in such a case. They fail to appear. Another day given. The Mayor and citizens appear by Gregory de Nortone, the Recorder, and ask to be allowed the usual quarantine or respite of forty days to enable them to be advised as to the record to be made. The request granted, and a day given, when, the matter being fully argued, judgment is given against the aforesaid Geoffrey.

And because the said Geoffrey was convicted on a certain writ of trespass brought by the aforesaid Richard and Mary, as appears in Hilary Term, anno 19 Edward II., Roll xiii., the said Geoffrey is committed to the Marshal quousque, etc.

Folio clxxv b.

Monday after the Feast of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr [7 July], 3 Edward III. [A.D. 1329], Sir Robert de Langetone, clerk of the Wardrobe of Dame Isabella, Queen of England, mother of the present King, came before the Mayor and Aldermen, and brought letters patent from the King addressed to the Mayor and Commonalty, bidding them pay to his said mother the sum of £11, being the amount due from the City for the bailiwick of Suthwerk, which he had assigned to her on 1 February, the first year of his reign [A.D. 1326-7]. Dated at Reygate, 5 July, 3 Edward III. [A.D. 1329].

The said Sir Robert also produced a letter from the said lady the Queen under the Seal of the Exchequer addressed to the Mayor and Commonalty, fermers of the bailiwick of Suthwerk, bidding them pay the sum of £10 to Robert de Langetone, clerk of her great Wardrobe, out of the aforesaid ferm, receiving in exchange a tally of the Exchequer, also produced. Dated 1 July, 3 Edward III. [A.D. 1329].

Breve Regis pro pane, vino, cervis' et aliis victualibus.

Writ to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs, commending them for having set an assize of bread, beer, and wine, now that a time of plenty had succeeded to a time of scarcity, and bidding them see that such assize is duly observed, and that all kinds of victuals are sold at a reasonable price. Dated at Clypstone, 31 July, 5 Edward III. [A.D. 1331].

[Folio clxxvi blank.]

Folios clxxvi b - clxxviii.

Agreement made between the men of the mistery of the Saddlers of London on the one part, and men of the mistery of Fusters (Fustarii (fn. 14) ) and Lorimers of copper and iron of the same City on the other, on Tuesday next after the Feast of Ascension [21 May], A.D. 1327, anno 1 Edward III. (fn. 15)

Folio clxxviii.

ijs. vjd.

Acquittance by Thomas, son of Robert Lovet, to Thomas de Blakeneye, draper, for £34 due under a recognizance in the Exchequer. Dated Saturday after the Feast of the Annunciation B. M. [25 March], 2 Edward III. [A.D. 1328].

Folios clxxviii b - clxxix.

Carta mercator' de Almann'.

Tuesday after the Feast of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr [7 July] came merchants of the Hanse of Almaine, viz., Wynandus de Isplingrode, Cristian de Cologne, Lodewyk de Cologne, Renykin de Cologne, Arnald de Bevere [and] Wolfrid Wyse, before Hamo de Chigwelle, locum tenens of Richard de Beton', the Mayor, and produced a certain charter granted to them by Edward III. in the first year of his reign, and asked that it might be enrolled.

[Here follows a copy of an Inspeximus Charter, dated at Westminster, 14 March, 1 Edward III. [A.D. 1326-7], which inspects and confirms a charter dated at Wyndesore, 7 Dec., 11 Edward II. [A.D. 1317], which latter confirms and amplifies the privileges granted to the Hanse merchants by Edward I. and Henry III. (fn. 16) ]

Folio clxxix b.

Custos Conduct'.

Saturday after the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula [1 Aug.], 1 Edward III. [A.D. 1327], Henry de Ware, "isemonger,' elected by good men of the vicinity of the Conduit, was admitted and sworn Warden of the Conduit in the presence of Richard de Beton', the Mayor, and the Aldermen, to faithfully collect the money left to or acquired by the Conduit, duly expend the same in maintenance of the Conduit, and render an account thereof when required. Sureties for the said Henry, viz., Salomon le Coffrer, William de Gartone, John de Eneffeld, "chaundeler," Richard de Staundone, Bartholomew le Coteler, and John Albon, "peleter."

Comp' Henr' de Ware.

Afterwards, viz., on Tuesday after the Purification B. M. [2 Feb.], 4 Edward III. [A.D. 1329-30], the account of the above Henry de Ware having been audited before Thomas de Leyre and Henry de Secheford, Aldermen, the said Henry was in arrears to the amount of 36s. 3d., which was forgiven him by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty by reason of the great pains he had taken in the custody of the Conduit.

Folios clxxix b - clxxx.

Saturday before the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula [1 Aug.], 1 Edward III. [A.D. 1327], came good men, hostellers and haymongers of London, to the Guildhall, and in the presence of Richard de Beton', the Mayor, Nicholas de Farndone, Hamo de Chigwelle, Hamo Godchep, Anketyn de Gysors, Richard de Hakeneye, John Poyntel, Thomas de Leyre, John de Caustone, Hugh de Gartone, and John Prior, Aldermen, Roger Chauntecler and Richard de Rothynge, Sheriffs, and a great number of commoners from divers Wards summoned to be there present, proffered a petition against foreigners bringing hay to divers of the City and harbouring what they cannot sell in houses, gardens, and other places as if they were freemen. They further complain that whereas by the custom of the City hay brought by foreigners by land in carts ought to be sold by the entire cart-load or by truss, and before noon, under pain of forfeiture, foreigners arrive with carts loaded with dozens of small bottles (boteles) coated with powder and other dirt (mauveste) and sell it by retail, by halfpennyworths and farthings (per maillees et ferthenges), at any hour they please, to the prejudice of the people and contrary to the franchise of the City. For these things they pray a remedy, otherwise the foreigner and stranger would fare better than the denizen and freeman, inasmuch as the former have not to bear the burdens of aids like the latter. Thereupon it was ordained that hay belonging to strangers, and coming to the City by land or water, should not thenceforth be sold by bottles (per botellos), but only wholesale, by the boatload, half boat-load, or quarter boat-load, and by cart-loads and horse-packs (fesses equorum), and packs as carried by men and women on their heads; and further, that strangers bringing hay by water shall not warehouse it nor land it before it be sold, under penalty of forfeiture, &c. And for the due observance of the above on land there were appointed the following, viz., John de Petewardyn, Walter de Lyndewode, Thomas Sencler, and by water, John le Long, Walter Overhee, and Dyonesius le Otemonger. (fn. 17)

Folio clxxx b.

Letters patent of Richard de Bettoyne, the Mayor, the Aldermen, and the Commonalty, under the Common Seal, notifying that Richard de Rothynge, the Sheriff, from whose custody Master Robert de Haselshawe, Provost of Welles, had escaped without paying to the Commonalty the sum of £100 as covenanted, had paid the money, and that the said Provost was free to come and live in the City under certain conditions. Dated 18 Sept., 1 Edward III. [A.D. 1327]. (fn. 18)

Nota quod scaccarium et banc' R' morantur apud Westm' ad rogatum Ma^ris London'.

Be it remembered that of the aforesaid sum of £100 John de Gysors, Reginald de Conduit, John Hauteyn, and others-who were elected by the Commonalty to go to the late King at Kenelworth, when Sir William Trussel for himself and the commons of the realm renounced allegiance to the King and withdrew himself from the government of the realm (fn. 19) about the Feast of Hillary-had for their expenses £50. Afterwards, viz., in the month of August, 1 Edward III. [A.D. 1327], when Sir Richard de Betton', the Mayor, went to the King at Nottingham to desire that the Exchequer and the Bench might remain at Westminster, he had £20 for his expenses; and Robert de Kelseye, elected by the Commonalty to go to Lincoln with Benedict de Fulsham to attend the King's Council (fn. 20) on the morrow of the Exaltation of H. Cross [14 Sept.], had £10 for his expenses, the said Benedict paying his own expenses. And Anketin de Gisors and John de Caustone, Aldermen, and Thomas de Chigwell, commoner, who afterwards went to Lincoln to the King's Council, had £20 for their expenses. (fn. 20)

Wednesday before the Feast of St. Michael [29 Sept.], 1 Edward III. [A.D. 1327], came Payn le Purser, Robert de Flete, Robert de Borham, William Gander, and many others of the mistery of Pursers, before Hamo de Chigwelle, the locum tenens of Richard de Beton', the Mayor, and produced braels (fn. 20) [and] purses falsely made and lined within with flocks (pilis) and other base material, contrary to the ordinance lately made in the Husting for Pleas of Land on Monday after the Feast of SS. Philip and James [1 May], 1 Edward III. [A.D. 1327]. The said braels and purses being found on inspection to be falsely made, orders were given for them to be burnt, and they were burnt at the Cross in Chepe. (fn. 20)