Folio cclii.

Letters patent under the Great Seal permitting John de Chichestre, the Mayor, Adam Fraunceys, William Walworth, and John Pyel, Aldermen, John de Cauntebrigge, the Chamberlain, and Hugh Holbeche, John Philipot, John Organ, and the rest of the citizens to take certain custom and subsidy on wool, woolfells, and leather, in the Port of London, in satisfaction of the sum of £5,000 advanced to the King. Dated at Westminster, 16 June, 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370].

Folio cclii b.

Assignacio dotis Elizabethe que fuit ux' Thome de Grantham.

Thursday before the Feast of St. George [23 April], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], came Elizabeth, late wife of Thomas de Grantham, into the Chamber of the Guildhall, before John de Chichestre, the Mayor, and the Aldermen, and demanded her dower of the freehold of her late husband. Thereupon Elizabeth her daughter, an orphan in the custody of the City, did assign to her mother, with the assent of the said Mayor and Aldermen, certain tenements by way of dower.

Among the tenements so assigned were tenements held by "Dyne" Savoche, John Warde, Thomas Thorney, and Edmund Cordewaner in the parish of St. Antolin, and a tenement held by Margaret Spencer in the parish of St. Pancras in Sopereslane.

Folio ccliii.

And be it known that the same day the aforesaid Elizabeth, daughter of the aforesaid Thomas, was given in marriage by the said Mayor and Aldermen, with the assent of her mother, to William Porneys (Porveys ?), who afterwards married her.

Ordinacio de vigil' fac'.

Monday after the Feast of St. Laurence [10 Aug.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], an ordinance for a daily watch to be kept by certain livery companies between the Tower and Byllyngesgate, with forty armed men and sixty archers in defence of the City, the enemy's fleet being reported to be lying off "le Forelond de Tenet." (fn. 1)

Folio ccliii b.

Friday after the Feast of St. James [25 July], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], Roger Swyntone, "fullere," condemned to the pillory for cutting off the purse of a certain woman, a stranger, at "le Stokkes." (fn. 2)

Preceptum factum ad rep' - and unum kayum Joh' is fil' Joh' is Castiloun orphani.

Monday after the Feast of St. Laurence [10 Aug.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], came John Maykyn, "shypman," before John de Chichestre, the Mayor, and the Aldermen, and complained of the ruinous state of a certain wharf in the parish of St. Dunstan, in Tower Ward, which he held during the minority of John, son of John Castyloun, an orphan, paying rent therefor to Henry Dymnel and John Broun de Horewode, serjeant, as appears supra, fo. ccxi. [b], and prayed that the said Henry and John might be compelled to repair the wharf out of rents received. A day given, and after due consideration a precept is issued for the said Henry and John to repair the wharf in manner prescribed.

Folio ccliv.

Eleccio Will' i Waleworth et Rob' ti "Caytone" in vic'.

Saturday the Feast of St. Matthew [21 Sept.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], William Walworth and Robert "Caytone" elected Sheriffs, and on the eve of St. Michael admitted before the Barons of the Exchequer. (fn. 3)

Eleccio Joh' is Watlyngtone in co' em proclamatorem civitatis.

The same day, John de Watlyngtone elected Common Crier of the City, and afterwards admitted and sworn.

Admissio Thom' Depham in servientem Camere.

Tuesday after the Feast of St. Michael [29 Sept.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], Thomas de Depham admitted Serjeant of the Chamber by John de Chichestre, the Mayor, and William de Haldene and Richard de Croydone, Aldermen, and sworn, &c.

Peticio co' itatis telar' Flemyng' et ordinacio super hoc facta.

Saturday the Feast of St. Matthew [21 Sept.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], petition of Flemish weavers to the Mayor and Aldermen that they and the weavers of Brabant may hold their meetings for hiring servants apart, the one in the churchyard of St. Laurence Pountenay and the other in the churchyard of St. Mary Somerset as heretofore, &c. (fn. 4)

Folio ccliv b.

Proclamacio ne qui int' sit eleccioni Maior' seu vic' nisi ad hoc sum' etc.

Writ of Privy Seal to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City for proclamation to be made forbidding any one to take part in the election of Mayor and Sheriffs unless he be of the better class of citizens and be especially summoned. Dated at the King's manor of Shene, 9 Oct., 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370]. (fn. 5)

Proclamation made accordingly on Saturday the eve of the Translation of St. Edward [13 Oct.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370].

Folio cclv.

Proclamacio de bladis in grangiis et tassis exist' in grosso nec aliis antequam ad mercata et ferias venerint non imbraci- and' emend' vel forstalland' etc.

Writ to the Sheriffs to make proclamation against buying up corn lying in barns and heaps (in grangiis et tassis) (fn. 6) by wholesale and forestalling it on its way to market, to the prejudice of the inhabitants of the City, under penalty of forfeiture and imprisonment. Witness the King at Westminster, 8 Oct., 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370].

Proclamation made accordingly, Wednesday after the Feast of Translation of St. Edward [13 Oct.].

Acquietanc' de v mill' li' per Joh' em Chichestre et alios etc.

Acquittance by John Chichestre, Adam Fraunceys, William Walworth, and John Piel, Aldermen, and John Cantebrigge, Hugh Holbeche, John Philippot, and John Organ, receivers of custom on wool, &c., to John Bernes and Robert de la More, the King's Customers, for the sum of £5,000, in repayment of a loan to the King. Dated in the Port of London, 1 Jan., 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370-71].

Folio cclv b.

CartaEdwardi Sende smythe per Maiorem et Aldr'os et co' itatem etc.

Grant by John de Chichestre, the Mayor, the Aldermen, and the Commonalty to Edward Sende, "smythe," his heirs and assigns, of a parcel of vacant land near Holbourne Bridge, the grantee paying to the Chamber yearly the sum of 8 pence. Dated in the Chamber of the Guildhall, Tuesday after the Feast of St. Hillary [13 Jan.], 43 Edward III. [A.D. 1369-70].

Indentura int' Maiorem Alder' os et co' itatem et Abb' issam et Minorissas ordinis Sancte Clare extra Algate.

Grant by the same to the Abbess and Minoresses of the Order of St. Clare without Algate (fn. 7) of an easement of a subterranean watercourse from the Abbey to the foss near the City wall; the same to be made at the grantees' expense and without disturbance of traffic. Dated at the Guildhall, 20 Oct., 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370].

Folio cclvi.

Br' e pro civib' Dubl' n.

Writ to the Mayor and Sheriffs forbidding them to take toll from citizens of Dublin. Witness the King at Westminster, 20 June, 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370].

Acquietanc' exec' Henr' Grene per Will' m la Zouche filz.

Nil sol' quia tang' Joh' em Pyel.

Acquittance by William la Zouche, the son, to the executors of Henry Grene for 100 marks, in return for which the said William surrenders everything given to him by the said Henry except a hanap of gold and another of silver. Dated at Westminster, Monday after the Translation of St. Thomas [7 July], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370].

The above acquittance acknowledged before John de Chichestre, the Mayor, and Aldermen, &c., 11 July.

Folio cclvi b.

Received by John de Cauntebrigge, the Chamberlain of the Guildhall, for writings and indentures enrolled in this book for one year from Michaelmas, 43 Edward III. [A.D. 1369], the sum of 10s.

Wednesday after the octave of St. Michael [29 Sept.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], James Andreu and William Walworth, Aldermen, and William Essex, John Fyfhide, Adam Carlille, spicer, and Geoffrey Neutone, Commoners, elected to hear and determine plaints against usurers pursuant to the ordinance formerly made, loco John Lovekyn, John Hiltoft, John Worsted, and Thomas Athelby, deceased.

Eleccio Joh' is Bernes Maior'.

Sunday the Feast of the Translation of St. Edward [13 Oct.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], John Bernes elected Mayor in the presence of John de Chichestre, the Mayor, William Haldene, the Recorder, Adam Fraunceys, John Stodeye, Stephen Cavendisshe, Simon de Mordone, William de Welde, John Lytle, Walter Forster, Bartholomew Frestlynge, John Bernes, John de St. Alban, Richard Croydone, John Mitford, John Warde, John Tornegold, John Pyel, William Walworth, and John Aubrey, Aldermen, and an immense Commonalty, which had been summoned for the purpose.

Mag' ri tapic' jur' ad reguland' mister' suum:

Friday the Feast of St. Luke [18 Oct.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], Giles Kelsey, Thomas Clerc, John atte Dyche, and Henry Clerc, "Tapicers," sworn to rule the mistery and present defects to the Mayor for the time being, &c.

Folio cclvii.

Ordinaciones tapuer'.

Thursday after the Feast of St. Luke [18 Oct.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], came good men of the mistery of Tapicers and delivered to John de Chichestre, the Mayor, and the Aldermen, certain articles for the regulation of their mistery, for approval and enrolment, to the following effect, viz. :—

(1) That no one of the mistery shall work any English wool over Spanish thread (filasse), but English wool over English wool, and Spanish thread over Spanish thread, except such work as was enrolled in the Chamber of the Guildhall when John Pountenay was Mayor, (fn. 8) and that such work be approved by the Masters and Wardens for the time being; and further that every work found defective be cut up, and the thread delivered to the owner, whilst the workman shall lose his work and pay fine to the Chamber.

(2) That four Wardens be elected each year and be presented to the Mayor and Recorder within the octave of St. Michael, under penalty of a fine.

(3) That any one of the mistery taking an apprentice shall maintain him suitably and teach him the mistery, under penalty of a fine.

Folio cclvii b.

Indentura int' Maiorem Alder' os et co' itatem London' et Rob' m fil' joh' is de Pountfreyt senioris et Alic ux' em ejus etc.

Lease by John de Chichestre, the Mayor, the Aldermen, and Commonalty, to Robert, son of John de Pountfreyt, senior, "cornmonger," and Alice, wife of the said Robert, of St. Botolph Wharf for their several lives and to their executors for one year after their decease, at a rent of £20. Dated Monday before the Feast of St. Barnabas [11 June], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370].

Mag' ri vinetar' jur'.

Monday after the Feast of All Saints [1 Nov.], 44 Edward III. A.D. 1370], Walter Doget, William More, Richard Blake, and William Stokesby elected masters of the mistery of Vintners and sworn.

Folio cclviii.

Commissio pro delib' acione gaole de Neugate.

Letters patent appointing John Knyvet, Robert de Thorpe, Thomas de Lodelowe, Thomas de Ingelby, John de Bernes, the Mayor, and William de Haldene, or any five, four, three, or two of them (the Mayor being one), to be justices for gaol-delivery of Neugate. Witness the King at Westminster, 1 Nov., 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370].

£xxvii xvs. lib' at' Cam' ar' custodiend' ad opus Thom' fil' Thom' de Hyngestone.

Friday after the Feast of All Saints [1 Nov.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], came Walter [Fairford], Rector of the church of St. Leonard in St. Vedast Lane, and Robert Fraunceys, executors of Thomas de Hyngestone, late goldsmith, and delivered to John de Cauntebrigge, the Chamberlain, the sum of £27 15s., being part of the sum of £30 bequeathed by the said Thomas de Hyngestone to Thomas his son; to keep in trust for the said son, an apprentice of John Norwych, during his minority.

Delib' acio denar' per Cam' ar'.

Afterwards, viz., on the 6th July, 47 Edward III. [A.D. 1373], came the above Thomas, son of Thomas de Hyngestone, before John Pyel, the Mayor, William Haldene, the Recorder, John Wrothe, James Andreu, and Walter Forster, Aldermen, and claimed his property as being of full age, and it was delivered to him.

Folio cclviii b.

Combust' fals' mensur'.

Saturday after the Feast of St. Leonard [6 Nov.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], Cristina atte Felde, John Ive, Isabella Keue (fn. 9) (?), Elena Lokyer, Cecilia Holmes, Johanna Wyrcestre, Johanna Hervyst (fn. 10) (?), Johanna Havel (fn. 11) (?), Agnes Gyngyvere, Alice Hurle, and Agnes Damas, "huksters" at the Stone Cross in Chepe, attached for using false measures called "chopyns." The measures ordered to be burnt. (fn. 12)

Combust' bussell'.

A false bushel belonging to Margery, wife of Roger Bernard, burnt by order of the Mayor and Aldermen.

Pouchemaker'.

Friday after the Feast of St. Martin [11 Nov.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], John Lake and John Leye, masters of the "Pouchemakeres," elected and sworn to govern the craft (officium), &c.

Magr' Tellar' Angl'.

Thursday after the Feast of St. Edmund the King [20 Nov.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], John Gyle and John atte Hache, masters of the Weavers of England, elected and sworn to govern the craft, &c.

Ballivi Flandr'.

Saturday the Feast of St. Clement the Pope [23 Nov.], 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], Gerard van Brugge and William van Dayser, Bailiffs of the Weavers of Flanders, elected and sworn, &c.

Ballivi Brabanc'.

The same day William Wyolet and Reginald Raloos, Bailiffs of the Weavers of Brabant, elected and sworn, &c.

Br'e pro Walt' o Bachilere ne ponatur in assisis etc.

Writ to the Mayor and Sheriffs bidding them not to put Walter Bachilere, "drapere," on any assize, jury, &c., if he be over seventy years of age, pursuant to the ordinance thereon. Witness the King at Westminster, 13 Nov., 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370].

Folio cclix.

Custodia Thome fil' Ed' i Deynes.

27 Nov., 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], the guardianship of Thomas, son of Edmund Deynes, (fn. 13) committed by John de Bernes, the Mayor, and John de Cauntebrigge, the Chamberlain, to Hugh Richard. Sureties, viz., Simon, son of John de Worstede, mercer, and Elias de Thorpe, "skynnere."

Custodia Ric' i et Joh'ne fil' Steph' i atte Pye.

5 Dec., 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], the guardianship of Richard, son of Stephen atte Pye, and Johanna, daughter of the said Stephen, together with the property bequeathed to them and to Alice their sister, now deceased, by their said father, committed by the same to Richard de Bernes. Sureties, viz., Robert Rus (?), "brasiere," and Robert Ridere, "brasiere."

Folio cclix b-cclx.

A proclamation made the 4th Dec., 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370], temp. John de Bernes, Mayor, to the effect (inter alia), viz. (fn. 14) :—

That any one striking another with the hand shall be fined half a mark; any one drawing a knife, half a mark; and any one drawing blood, 20s.

That no one wander in the City after curfew sounded at the churches of St. Mary atte Bowe, Berkyngchirche in Tower Ward, St. Bride and St. Giles without Crepulgate, unless he be of good repute and carry a light, on pain of imprisonment until he find surety for good behaviour.

That no taverner or brewer keep open house after curfew sounded at the above churches, and that curfew be not sounded at any other church later than at the above churches.

That every hosteler warn his guests to keep reasonable time so that they may not be prejudiced by the above ordinance.

That no privy assemblies be held, and that rioters be imprisoned.

That men of estate, whether Aldermen or Commoners, have power to arrest misdoers, and to commit them to the Compters, in the absence of the City officials.

That the streets be kept clean.

That no one go to "la Pole" (fn. 15) or elsewhere, by land or water, in order to forestall victuals.

That no one sell ale except by sealed measure, and at the regulation price, &c.

That no one harbour another for more than one night unless he make himself responsible.

That no poulterer, being a de nizen, stand at "Carfukes," of Ledenhalle, within a house or without, with rabbits, &c., for sale, but stand and expose the same for sale along the wall towards the west of the church of St. Michael on Cornhulle.

That foreign poulterers entering the City by Neugate and Aldrichesgate sell their poultry on the pavement near the fountain before the Friars Minors, and poulterers who are denizens stand before the church of St. Nicholas, "Fleshameles," and meddle not with the foreigners.

That no poulterers being denizens, by themselves or their wives or any one else, go to buy poultry from foreigners before the hour of Prime, &c. (fn. 16)

That no one sell poultry beyond the regulation price.

That no one sell corn or malt otherwise than in open market, and not by sample, &c. (fn. 17)

That no one carry corn or malt out of the City, nor export any manner of wine from London without special leave of the Mayor. (fn. 18)

That bad wine be condemned without favour being shown to any.

That new wine placed in cellars with old wine shall not be sold before the old wine has been removed to some other place.

That white wine of Gascony, Rochel, Spain, or any other country, shall not be put in cellars where Rhenish wine lies, and no wine shall be sold in taverns except in measures sealed with the seal of the Alderman of the Ward, &c.

It is further forbidden that any Mayor, Sheriff, Alderman, or their clerks, serjeants, beadles or valets of serjeants, or officer of Neugate henceforth brew, by themselves or by others, for sale, or keep an oven or follow any mercantile pursuit that is thought degrading; nor shall they be regrators or "hucsterres" of any kind of victuals, and he who refuses to swear to this let him be put out of office.

Folio cclx b.

Br' e de scrutinio faciend' ad bullas instrumenta et alia prejudicialia Regi vel subditis suis aut regno arestand' etc.

Writ to the Mayor and Sheriffs that they make careful search in the part of London and other places within their bailiwick for any Bulls or other instruments that may have been imported prejudicial to the King or his subjects. Witness the King at Westminster, 12 Dec., 44 Edward III. [A.D. 1370]. (fn. 19)

Footnotes