Folio cxli.
Reply of the Mayor and Aldermen to the above to the effect
that the Commonalty must state their wishes (lour entente)
more explicitly. Accordingly, on Saturday after the Feast of
St. Nicholas [6 Dec.], they proffered their declaration to the
said Mayor and Aldermen, as recorded on the second folio
following, to which declaration the Mayor and Aldermen made
a reply on the following Thursday, as recorded on the third
folio following.
Folio cxli b.
Pleas held before Adam de Bury, the Mayor, and Aldermen,
and an immense Commonalty, in the Guildhall, on Tuesday the
morrow of St. Martin [11 Nov.], 38 Edward III. [A.D. 1364],
when John Ryghtwys and John Penrose, taverners, were
attached to answer a charge of having sold unwholesome wine.
The surveyors of the sale of wine in the City, viz., Geoffrey
de Newtone, Robert de la More, Henry de Boseworth, and
Thomas Cornwaleys, claimed to have cognizance of the matter,
and they found John Ryghtwys not guilty, but John Penrose
guilty. The latter was accordingly condemned to drink a
draught of his own wine, the remainder to be poured on his
head, and he was to forswear the calling of vintner unless he
obtained the King's favour.
Folio cxlii.
Afterwards, viz., on Monday after the Feast of St. Matthias
[24 Feb.], 43 Edward III. [A.D. 1368-9], came the above John
Penrose in full Husting, before Simon de Mordone, the Mayor,
the Aldermen, and John de Cauntebrigge, the Chamberlain,
and asked to be admitted to his trade, &c. And he was
admitted and sworn, &c.
Folio cxlii b-cxliii.
Declaracio intencionis co' itatis civitatis London' de quibusdam articulis Maiori et Aldr' is pro co' i proficuo prius demon stratis.
Declaration of the wishes (entente) of the Commons touching
those to be received into the franchises of the City, to the effect
that whereas there were only three ways whereby the said
franchises could be obtained, viz., by birth, apprenticeship, or
by presentment of some mistery before the Mayor, Aldermen,
and Chamberlain, sufficient satisfaction being made to the
Chamber at discretion, those who obtain the franchise by birth
ought not to pay fine or other service according to ancient
custom, except that when they become of full age they ought
to take the same oath as other freemen, for many of them
think they are not bound to maintain the franchises because
they have not been sworn. (fn. 1)
De apprenticiis admittend' in lib' tatem postea correcta fuit illa ordinacio post fol ciiij xx iij.
Also as touching apprentices, the Commons think it reasonable that they should not be received, except with the testimony
of their masters that they had faithfully served in their misteries
seven years at least.
Also it seems right that every one who is enfranchised ought
to buy and sell wholesale, within the City and without, any
manner of merchandise on which he can make a profit; but he
may keep a shop and sell by retail only those goods that belong
to his own particular mistery, which he ought to support whenever necessary. This they believe to have been the intention
of their ancestors of old; but these ancient usages had been
allowed to lapse, whereby the good misteries which used to
maintain the City are likely to be hopelessly destroyed unless
speedy steps be taken to guard against it.
Quod nullus admittatur in libertatem civitatis per redempcionem nisi solvat lxs ad minus.
Also it seems to the Commons advisable that at least one day
in each month should be set aside for hearing and determining
the affairs of the Commons, when the Aldermen and rulers of
each mistery should meet for the purpose. These days, which
might reasonably be called "Gildedaies" to distinguish them
from others, should be fixed, and on these days alone they
think that persons should be admitted to the freedom, after
serving in the same mistery for at least seven years, and on
payment of 60s. or more at the discretion of those present on
the day. For it were better that those unable to pay this sum
should continue to serve others, either as apprentices or as
hired servants, than that the number of masters should be
unduly increased.
Also the Commons make it known that they suggest these
articles for God's glory and for the general profit of the City,
and in order to restore the good old franchises and usages in
their ancient force and perfection; but in this they are hindered
by the excessive privileges accorded by the King to foreigners,
who are the source of all the evils that have occurred to the City.
Folio cxliii b.
Ceste declaracion est accepte ratefie et par Audermans pur co' e profit conferme.
The above declaration having been seen and fully examined
before the Mayor and Aldermen in the presence of the Commonalty, it was decreed that all the articles therein contained
should be observed and used in future, viz., that the first article,
touching those who obtain the freedom by birth, be accepted as
it stood; that the second article, touching the enfranchisement
of apprentices, be accepted, so that whenever a master comes
to enfranchise his apprentice the Mayor shall summon the rulers
and governors of his mistery to appear on a certain day before
him and the Aldermen and the Chamberlain, and if they come
not, then it shall be lawful for the Mayor, Aldermen, and Chamberlain to enfranchise him, and if they come and know no cause
why he should not be enfranchised, let the apprentice himself
be asked if he is willing, and if they know nothing against it,
let them receive him into the franchise on the testimony of his
master as of old accustomed; and as touching those who ought
in other manner to be admitted, it is decreed that in future no
one ought to be admitted otherwise than as contained in the
article on the point, saving only that the Mayor and Aldermen
do not assent to the suggestion that the "Geldedayes" should
be fixed, but think that they should be at the discretion of the
Mayor; but as to the other articles, touching the holding of
shops and dealing by wholesale and retail, they think it better
to postpone consideration.
[Folios cxliv-cxlv blank.]
Folio cxlv b.
Custodia Dionis' fil' Joh' is Hatfeld Candelar'.
Claveryngg'.
Be it remembered that in the quinzaine of St. Martin [11 Nov.],
38 Edward III. [A.D. 1364], Richard de Claverynge, draper,
showed to Adam de Bury, the Mayor, and John de Cauntebrigge, the Chamberlain, that John de Hatfeld, late chandler,
left by will certain goods and chattels to Dionisia his daughter; (fn. 2)
that he had himself married the said Dionisia, and was ready
to give security for the said goods and chattels pursuant to the
terms of the said will; and he asked that Robert Kyng, one of
the executors of John de Hatfeld, who had possession of the
goods, might be summoned. The said Robert, appearing in
Court, declared that the goods had been left to the said Dionisia
on her attaining the age of sixteen years, with remainder over
in case of her dying before reaching that age, and that she was
now under sixteen years by a year and a half, and he brought
the goods into court, which were thereupon delivered by the
Mayor and Chamberlain to the said Richard to safeguard until
the said Dionisia was sixteen years old Surety for the said
Richard, viz., Ralph de Cantebrigge.
Afterwards, viz., on the 1st March, 41 Edward III. [A.D. 1366-1367], came the above Richard before John Lovekyn, the
Mayor, the Aldermen, and the Chamberlain, and said that he
had married the above Dionisia, who was now more than sixteen years of age, and asked that he and his surety might be
discharged.
Folio cxlvi.
Commissio pro deliberacione Gaole de Neugate.
Letters patent nominating Henry Grene, Robert de Thorpe,
Adam de Bury, the Mayor, John Knyvet, and Thomas de
Ludelowe, or any four, three, or two (whereof the Mayor is to
be one), to be commissioners for gaol-delivery of Neugate.
Witness the King at Westminster, 10 Dec., 38 Edward III.
[A.D. 1364].
Obligacio Will' i le Mayr et alior'.
Bond by Margaret, relict of Cristian de la Bonegarde, weaver,
late of Bruges, and William St. Thomas, kinsman of the said
Cristian, in the sum of £40, English coinage, in favour of
William le Mayr, Danyel le Hert, Michael Momart, Matthew
de Wale, Gosewyn van Denocker, Nicholas Plomer, and John
Meryn, the same to be paid on the Feast of St. Barnabas next
[11 June]. Witnesses, Geoffrey de Dittone, Richard Barber,
John Kempe, "Levyn" (?) de Cray, William Canell, and others
[not named]. Dated at London, 29 May, A.D. 1364.
Folio cxlvi b.
Br' e q' d nullus transeat ultra mare sine lic' Regis periculo quod incumbet.
Writ to the Sheriffs to make proclamation for the due
observance of the ordinance forbidding any one to carry money
out of the kingdom, except merchants who required the same
for their business, or to carry any Bull or other instrument
prejudicial to the King to or from the Court of Rome. Dated
at Westminster, 12 Dec., 38 Edward III. [A.D. 1364].
Folio cxlvii.
Br' e d' ni R' pro Parliamento.
Writ to the Sheriffs for the election of four: citizens to attend
a Parliament to be held at Westminster in the octave of
St. Hillary [13 Jan.]. (fn. 3) Witness the King at Westminster,
4 Dec., 38 Edward III. [A.D. 1364].
L' ra de privato sigillo pro eodem parliamento.
Writ of Privy Seal to the Mayor and Sheriffs desiring that
Adam Fraunceis and John Lovekyn may be elected to attend
the above Parliament. Dated at Westminster, 14 Dec., 38 Edward III. [A.D. 1364].
Notification in reply by John de Mitford and Simon de Mordone, Sheriffs, to the effect that Adam Fraunceys, John Lovekyn,
Simon de Benyngtone, and Richard de Prestone had been
elected to attend.
Folio cxlvii b.
Writ of Privy Seal to the Sheriffs that they charge hostelers
not to take in any stranger unless they be ready to answer for
the conduct of those they harbour for the preservation of the
peace. Dated at the Castle of Wyndesore, 20 Dec., 38 Edward III. [A.D. 1364].
Ordinacio pro vinis.
Petition of Vintners [to the Mayor and Aldermen] that the
four surveyors of wines sold in the City may be upheld in the
performance of their duties, and that offenders may receive
due punishment.
Folio cxlviii.
Quiet' clam' Joh' is Aspelond per Joh' m Pecche.
A general release by John Pecche, draper, to John "Aspelond" de Wymyngtone, his late apprentice. Witnesses, Adam
de Bury, Adam Fraunceys, and Thomas de Lodelowe. Dated
13 Dec., 38 Edward III. [A.D. 1364].
Pecche.
Afterwards, viz., on the 13th March, 38 Edward III.
[A.D. 1364-5], came the above John "Aspelon" before Adam
Fraunceys and Thomas de Lodelowe, the Recorder, and
declared himself ready to restore any goods and chattels that
the above John Pecche could prove he had taken away, and
bound himself to give the names of any servants of the said
John Pecche who may have removed the goods of their master.
Folio cxlviii b.
John de Allesford, of the county of Southampton, (fn. 4) attached
the 8th Jan., 38 Edward III. [A.D. 1364-5], and condemned to
the pillory for pretending to be a summoner of the King and
the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Folio cxlix.
Articuli Plumbarior'.
Ordinances of the Plumbers. (fn. 5)
24th Jan., 38 Edward III. [A.D. 1364-5], Richard atte Dyche
and Thomas Beauchamp elected to survey and examine the
mistery of Plumbers, and see that it be well governed and
present misdoers to the Mayor and Aldermen without concealment.
Folio cxlix b.
Processus pro quadam cantar' pro anima Hamonis Box in eccl' ia de Cornhulle.
At the Husting for Pleas of Land held on Monday after the
Feast of St. Andrew [30 Nov.], 38 Edward III. [A.D. 1364],
William Prestmede, the chantry priest of Hamo Box in the
Church of St. Michael on Cornhulle, brought a plaint of
intrusion against William Fourneux and others [not named],
touching 5 marks rent in the parish of St. Michael aforesaid.
Thereupon William Fourneux appeared before the Sheriffs and
Coroner on the following Saturday, and said that he was tenant
of the messuage out of which the said rent arose, which he
held conjointly with Margaret his wife by gift of Richard
Savage, Rector of the Church of St. Michael aforesaid, and of
William de Cotenham, clerk, made under the name of William
Spencer, "pessoner," and Margaret his wife, and that the aforesaid Margaret was not named in the bill, and he produced the
deed of gift. And forasmuch as the said chaplain could not
deny the deed, he was adjudged to take nothing by his bill, &c.
Afterwards, in the Husting for Common Pleas held on
Monday after the Feast of the Conception B. M. [8 Dec.], the
same year, the said chaplain brought a bill of intrusion touching
a free tenement in the above parish against the above William Spencer, Margaret his wife, Peter Vyvyan and Margery
his wife, John Blokle, and William Spark, who declared
before the Mayor and Aldermen in the Chamber of the
Guildhall that they were maliciously impleaded, inasmuch as
the said chaplain was seised of the aforesaid rents at will.
Thereupon, the parties being examined, the chaplain declared
that he had been disseised of the rent, and demanded arrears
due since the decease of Richard Godewyn, chaplain, his
predecessor, to the amount of 7½ marks, and damages. The
defendants being unable to deny that the annual rent of 5 marks
was due, it was agreed that the chaplain should have the rent
and damages taxed at 2 marks, and that all arrears should be
expended for the good of the soul of Hamo Box, a recognizance being entered into to carry the same into effect.
Folio cl.
Afterwards, viz., on Thursday after the octave of St. Michael
[29 Sept.], 40 Edward III. [A.D. 1366], all the parties aforesaid came before John Lovekyn, the Mayor, the Aldermen,
and Chamberlain, and asked that the above recognizance
might be annulled, as all the conditions had been carried out.
Ordinance by the Mayor and Aldermen that in future there
should be elected two drapers, two fullers, and two weavers
to survey their several misteries and present misdoers to the
Mayor for punishment.
Elected pursuant to the above, viz. :—
Drapers—Hervey de Beche and Adam Carlelle.
Fullers—William Stoket and William Berkhamsted.
Weavers—John Gyle and Richard Halstede.
Folio cl b.
Custodia Simonis fil' Thome Leggy.
22 March, 39 Edward III. [A.D. 1364-5], the guardianship of
Simon, son of Thomas Leggy, (fn. 6) late skinner, aged thirteen
years, committed by Adam de Bury, the Mayor, the Aldermen,
and John de Cauntebrigge, the Chamberlain, to Adam Fraunceys. Sureties, viz., John Lovekyn, senior, and James Andrew,
draper, Aldermen.
Billa missa in parliamento per communi tatem.
Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty to the
King and Council for restitution of the City's franchises, (fn. 7) the
loss of which had driven many to leave the City and take up
their quarters at Westminster, St. Martin le Grand, and elsewhere. [No date].