Folio ccxxi.
Exon'acio Ric'i Stowell civis et Wodemongere Civitat' London'.
18 Nov., 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418], Richard Stowell, "wodemongere," discharged by William Sevenok, the Mayor, and
the Aldermen from serving on juries, &c., owing to increasing
old age.
Consi'lis billa missa fuit cuilibet Aldermanno etc.
Precept to the several Aldermen to hold their Wardmotes
and make returns to the Mayor's General Court, to be held on
Monday after the Feast of Epiphany [6 Jan.]; to take the usual
steps for lighting the streets and preventing fire, and to elect
Ward officers, &c. Dated 12 Dec. [A.D. 1418].
Consi'is billa missa fuit cuilibet Aldermanno.
Precept to the several Aldermen to levy a sum in their Wards
amounting to a fifteenth, and to bring the money to the Guildhall by the 22nd January. Dated 5th Jan. [A.D. 1418-19].
Exon'acio Ric'i Mancivis et Glasier London'.
23 Jan., 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418-19], Richard Man, "glasier,"
discharged by William Sevenok, the Mayor, and the Aldermen
from serving on juries, &c., owing to increasing old age.
Folio ccxxi b.
Masters of Misteries sworn.
Tapicers : William Bullok, Thomas Besowthe, John Piryell,
and John Flesshe sworn 4 Oct., 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418], to well
and faithfully govern the said mistery and present any defects
they may find to the Mayor and Aldermen or to the Chamberlain of the City for the time being.
Shethers : John Audery, William Squyer similarly sworn the
same day.
Hurers : John Batte, John Randolf, Richard Flete similarly
sworn 5 Oct.
Coupers : John Trendeler, John Longe similarly sworn the
same day.
Wodemongers : John Talworth, John Refhawe similarly sworn
13 Oct.
Scriveners : John Tanner, Philip Vigerus similarly sworn
17 Oct.
Flecchers : John Turnour, John Loweyn similarly sworn
18 Oct.
Armurers : Walter Witle, William Thede similarly sworn
28 Oct.
Smiths (Fabri) : Laurence Harlewyn, Geoffrey Banham, John
Maithall similarly sworn 3 Nov.
Pynners : Thomas Undirwode, Laurence Prowde, John Dowe
similarly sworn 7 Nov.
Powchemakers and Galochemakers : Philip Estcote, William
Wynnant, Robert Lynforde similarly sworn 7 Nov.
English Weavers : William Michell, Richard Potkyn similarly
sworn 21 Nov.
Foreign Weavers : Giles de Barlare, Peter van Gloude similarly
sworn 21 Nov.
"Fullurs" :John Venne, Laurence Carpenter similarly sworn
9 Dec.
Cooks and Pastelers : John Hardy, William Orkesle, John
Wottone, Robert Fynche similarly sworn 19 Dec.
Masons (Lathami) : Edmund Werlowe, John Crokston
similarly sworn 21 June, 7 Henry V. [A.D. 1419].
Lethersellers : Peter Rowte, John Sunneman similarly sworn
3 June.
Joynours : John Dero, William Godfrey similarly sworn
4 July.
Salters : William Edward, John Myles similarly sworn
20 Sept.
Folio ccxxii.
Comissio produab' decimis et duab' quintisdecimis integr' concess' d'no R' etc.
Letters patent appointing John Michell, fishmonger, Ralph
Bartone, skinner, Richard Eltone, draper, and Simon Sewale,
"sadeller," to be Commissioners for levying in the City the
subsidy granted by the last Parliament for the defence of the
realm. Witness John, Duke of Bedford, Warden of England,
at Westminster, 18 Dec., 5 Henry V. [A.D. 1417].
Exon'acio Thome Ferrour civis et Cissor' London'.
28 Jan., 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418-19], Thomas Ferrour, tailor,
discharged from serving on juries, &c., owing to increasing old
age.
Folio ccxxii b.
Judicium Thome Taillour.
Proceedings in the Court of the lord the King, held before
the Mayor and Aldermen at the Guildhall, on the —, (fn. 1) after
the Feast of St. Leonard [6 Nov.], 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418],
against Thomas Taillour, "hurer," for fulling caps at a mill
contrary to the ordinance recorded in Letter - Book H,
fo. xlix [b]. (fn. 2)
L'ra Ep'i Wynton'.
Letter from Henry [Beaufort], Bishop of Winchester, to the
Mayor and Aldermen, informing them of his visit to the Pope,
and that he was now hastening home. Dated at "Rempton,"
2 Dec. [A.D. 1418]. (fn. 3)
French.
Responc'o ejusdem.
Reply to the above under the Mayoralty seal. Dated
15 Jan. [A.D. 1418-19]. French.
Folio ccxxiii.
Judi'um pillor' Nich'i Keteringham pro falsis obligacionib' controfactis.
Nichol Wighe, alias Nicholas Ketringham, alias John
Segrave, alias Nicholl Pecche, convicted of forgery, and ordered
to stand on the pillory, &c. (fn. 4)
English.
Proclamacio.
Proclamation at Christmas forbidding night-walking, "mommyng," plays, and interludes, the wearing of false beards and
masks, and ordering the hanging out of lanterns, &c. (fn. 5)
English.
31 Aug., 7 Henry V. [A.D. 1419], Roger Rooke, John
Dalton, and John Blakye sworn Masters of the Barbers;
Richard Welles and Simon Roolf sworn Masters of the
Surgeons.
Folio ccxxiii b.
Letter from the Mayor and Aldermen to Richard [Clifford],
Bishop of London, graciously acknowledging his letter sent to
them from abroad. (fn. 6) [No date.]
Custodia pueror' Thome Boold nup' civis et Cirotecar' London'.
20 Feb., 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418-19], the guardianship of
Robert, Elizabeth, and Thomas, children of Thomas Boold,
late glover, together with their patrimony, committed by
William Sevenok, the Mayor, the Aldermen, and John Hille,
the Chamberlain, to Robert Hulle, grocer, who married
Johanna, the orphans' mother. Sureties, viz., John Bakere,
"peautrer," Robert Whaplode, senior, "hostiller," and
Thomas Jolyf, "armurer."
Exon'acio Joh'is Coventre de London' "Cobellere'.
6 March, 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418-19], John Coventre,
"cobeller," who had accompanied Henry [Beaufort], Bishop of
Winchester, to the Holy Land, and had returned broken down
in health, discharged at the Bishop's request, by William
Sevenok, the Mayor, and Aldermen, from serving on juries, &c.
Folio ccxxiv.
Exoneracio Jacobi Quarrer civis et Peautrer London.
3 Feb., 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418-19], James Quarrer,
"peautrer," discharged by William Sevenok, the Mayor, and
the Aldermen from serving on juries, owing to increasing old
age.
Ammocio Will'i Enderby ab officio subvicecomitat'.
Thursday after the Feast of Epiphany [6 Jan.], 6 Henry V.
[A.D. 1418-19], William Enderby, Under-Sheriff to Ralph
Bartone, Alderman and one of the Sheriffs, charged before
William Sevenok, the Mayor, John Bartone, senior, the Recorder,
Thomas Knolles, Richard Merlawe, Robert Chichele, William
Walderne, William Crowmere, Nicholas Wottone, Henry
Bartone, William Nortone, William Cauntbrigge, John Reynewelle, Thomas Aleyn, and John Michell, Aldermen, in the
Chamber of the Guildhall, with the following offences,
viz.:—
(1) That by virtue of a certain writ of statute of the late King
Edward forbidding any to leave the realm, &c., he maliciously
arrested William Neubery, Steward of the Abbess and sisters
Minoresses of the Order of St. Clare without Aldgate, and kept
him in the Compter until he found surety in £4,000 for his not
leaving the kingdom.
(2) That after he had found the above surety and been
released, the said Under-Sheriff brought a plaint against him
in the King's name, and unjustly detained him in prison for a
night and more until he found surety in £100 to answer if a
prosecutor should appear on the King's behalf, but no one
appeared.
(3) That he refused to give judgment in a plaint between
Henry Aleyn, skinner, and William Adys, goldsmith, and also
in a plaint between Walter Meltone and John Batte, "masons,"
until he had received a sum of money, and made the said
Walter enter into a bond for a debt due by the aforesaid
William Enderby to William Rendre, "peautrer."
(4) That, whereas the light of judges should shine before
men, that they may see their good works, (fn. 7) the said UnderSheriff forcibly entered the house of William Haltone, draper,
in the parish of St. Botolph without Aldgate, at one o'clock of
the morning of the 27th day of November last, on the pretext
of searching for robbers, and on the morrow caused him to be
arrested for having raised a hue, and would not release him
without payment.
Thereupon the said Under-Sheriff confessed that the writ
against William Neubery was his own malicious doing, but the
plaint brought against him was brought by order of the Duke
of Bedford. The other charges he did not answer or deny.
Judgment was therefore given for his removal from office.
Folio ccxxiv b.
Custod' Edmundi filii Will'i de Ware nup' civis et Wodemongere London'.
11 Feb., 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418-19], the guardianship of
Edmund, son of William de Ware, late "wodemonger," together
with his patrimony, committed by William Sevenok, the Mayor,
the Aldermen, and John Hille, the Chamberlain, to William
Boteler, "irmonger," who married the orphan's mother.
Sureties, viz., Nicholas James and Henry Martyn, fishmongers
and John Guy, "irmonger."
Afterwards, viz., on the 8th Jan., 3 Henry VI. [A.D. 1424-5],
came the above William Boteler and paid into court the
orphan's patrimony, of which he acknowledged satisfaction.
Hokkyng defenduz.
Proclamation forbidding "hokkyng" on Monday and Tuesday (fn. 8)
next, called "les hokkedaies."
Folio ccxxv.
Exoneracio Ric'i Whiting tone dec et viginti li p'tn' pu'is Will'i Wynter nuper civis et Brewer London'.
19 Feb., 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418-19], came Richard Whitingtone, mercer, and delivered to John Hille, the Chamberlain, a
sum of money belonging to the children of William Wynter,
late brewer, for which sum the said Richard stood bound on
behalf of Thomas Podmore, "irmongere," who had been
appointed guardian to the said children.
Proclamacio v' abrocat'.
For as moche as here be fore the Cite of London hatht had ant yet
is lykly to have but it be the sonner remedies gret Mischiefs sclaundres
and harmes thorugh the gret disceyt and falsnesse of Brokours which
for drede of god ne shame of þe world cesen nat but chaym (?) fro
day to day peyne and afforcen under colour of Brocage to manteigne
þe orrible vices of usure and fals chevisauns be which vices is nat oonly
this Cite sclaundred but many wor þi men utterluy distroyed and
þe good fourme and cours of Merchaundise poynt to be perisshed for
ever as god for bede Ther for þe Mair and Aldermen with thassent
of þe comunes of this Cite to þe worship of god principalliche for
amendement and relevacion of the people and in eschuyng alle þe
mischiefs sclaundres harmes and falsnesses abovesayd have ordeined
and stablisshed and by this crye þer of done make notice to alle maner
men þat no maner persone fre ne forein be so hardy betuene þis and
Micchelmasse þat next cometh to make medle or consent in any wyse
prive or appert with any maner of brocage with inne þis Cite up
peyne of imprisonement of ther bodyes tuelfmoneth and a day and
makyng fyn to þe Chaumber after discrecioun of the Mair and
Aldermen what þat ever he be þat may be founde or atteint in any
wyse in þe contraire And morover þe forsaid Mair Aldremen &
communs han ordeigned and stablisshed and by this proclamacioun
laten almen to wete that what maner man can aspie any maner persoune make medle or consent in any wyse with any maner of brocage
with inne þis Cite ayeins þe ordeignaunce abovesayd lat hym make
relacioun þer of to the Mair or þe Chaumberleyn of þis Citee and he
shal have þe fourthe part of þe fyn þat þe trespasour on this behalve
shal make.
Br'e Domini R' direct' Maiori London' et aliis Justic' suis pro deliberacione Prisonum existenc' in Gaola de Neugate.
Letters patent appointing William Sevenok, the Mayor,
William Hankeford, Richard Nortone, William Lasyngby,
Robert Tirwhit, Robert Hulle, John Cokayn, Roger Hortone,
William Lodyngtone, William Cheyne, John Prestone, and
John Bartone, senior, or any eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six,
five, four, three, or two (the Mayor being one), to be justices for
gaol-delivery of Neugate. Witness John, Duke of Bedford, at
Westminster, Warden of England, 1 Dec., 6 Henry V. [A.D.
1418].
Folio ccxxv b.
Custodia Ric'i filii Will'i Wynter nup' civis et Brewer London'.
20 Feb., 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418-19], the guardianship of
Richard, son of William Wynter, late brewer, together with
his patrimony, committed by William Sevenok, the Mayor, the
Aldermen, and John Hille, the Chamberlain, to Thomas atte
Wode, "cappere." Sureties, viz., Guy Terry, baker, and John
Bartelot, "netter."
Afterwards, viz., on the 25th Sept., 9 Henry V. [A.D. 1421],
came the above Thomas atte Wode, one of the executors of
the above William Wynter, and brought into court a sum of
money (the said orphan having died under age), which money
was, at his request, redelivered to him to dispose of according
to the will of the aforesaid William Wynter.
Custodia Matild' filie Will'i Wynter p'dict una cum £xx.
23 Feb., 6 Henry V. [A.D. 1418-19], the guardianship of
Matilda, daughter of the above William Wynter, together
with her patrimony, committed to William Suttone, barber.
Sureties, viz., John Sadeller, vintner, and William Rendre,
"barbour."
Custodia Edwardi filii dicti Will'i Wynter.
The same day, the guardianship of Edward, son of the above
William Wynter, together with his patrimony, committed to
John Wodeward de Bokelond, co. Herts. Sureties, viz., John
Boteller, junior, mercer, and William Picard, grocer.
Folio ccxxvi.
Afterwards the said Edward died under age, and Thomas
atte Wode and William atte Welle, executors of the above
William, came on the 2nd Feb., 9 Henry V. [A.D. 1421-2], and
acknowledged that they had received the orphan's patrimony
from the said John Wodeward.
Custodia Agnetis filie dicti Will'i Wynter.
The same day (23 Feb., 1418-19) the guardianship of
Agnes, another daughter of the above William Wynter,
together with her patrimony, committed to William Gyles,
grocer. Sureties, viz., Alan Brette, brewer, and Richard
Welham, "coteller."
Afterwards the said orphan died under age, and on the
2nd Feb., 9 Henry V. [A.D. 1421-2], came the above executors
and acknowledged satisfaction for her patrimony.
Custodia Joh'is filii dicti Will'i Wynter.
The same day (23 Feb., 1418-19) the guardianship of
John, another son of the above William Wynter, together
with his patrimony, committed to William atte Welle.
Sureties, viz., Roger Stoktone, brewer, and John Atherlee,
"iremongere."
Afterwards the said orphan died under age, and on
the 2nd Feb., 9 Henry V. [A.D. 1421-2], came the above
executors and acknowledged satisfaction for the orphan's
patrimony.
Folio ccxxvi b.
Custodia Isabelle filie Will'i Wynter.
The same day (23 Feb., 1418-19) the guardianship of
Isabella, another daughter of the above William Wynter,
together with her patrimony, committed to Thomas atte Wode,
"capper." Sureties, viz., Guy Terry, baker, and John Bartelot,
"nettere."
Afterwards, viz., on the 25th Sept., 9 Henry V. [A.D. 1421],
came the above Thomas atte Wode, one of the executors of
the above William Wynter, and brought into court the orphan's
patrimony (she having died under age), and asked that it might
be redelivered to him to dispose of according to the testator's.
will His request granted.
Exon'acio Hermanni Stokfissh Cissoris.
28 March, 7 Henry V. [A.D. 1419], Herman Stokfissh, tailor,
discharged by William Sevenok, the Mayor, and the Aldermen
from serving on juries, &c., owing to increasing old age.
Exon'acio Ric'i Mayn.
8 May, 7 Henry V. [A.D. 1419], Richard Mayn, "gurdeler,"
similarly discharged for like cause.
Exon'acio Joh'is Hossey.
11 May, 7 Henry V. [A.D. 1419], John Hossey, "ropmaker,"
similarly discharged for like cause.
Judicium pillor' pro falsis saccis carbonum.
For as myche as John Umberghe de Shenfeld in Essex colier
þt
here stant is openly convict by his confessioun made afor þe
Meir
& Aldremen þt
in disceyt of þe
co'e peple ha þ sold coles þs
same year
more þan a xii tymes by eche of þes vii sakkes þt
lyen here byside for
sakkis of viii busshels of ful mesure wher in trou þe
conteyne but
v, vi, or vii busshels at moost þ' for in ensample þt
al o þ' shold be ware
in tyme comyng of suche falsnes and disceyt The Meir and Aldirmen
han awardid hym to stonde here on þe pilory & his sakkes to be brent
undur hym.
Folio ccxxvii.
Proclama cioun of Romeney & þordinaunce therof.
Proclamation forbidding the counterfeiting of Romeney or
any other wine, under penalty of the pillory. (fn. 9) Any informer
to have a third part of forfeiture for his pains. English.
The jewisse of þe pillory for Will' Horold for fals Romeney.
William Horold, "Couper," of Hamptone, condemned to the
pillory for counterfeiting Romeney and using gum and resin
(rasene) on his casks for purpose of adulteration, contrary to the
ordinance. (fn. 10)
English.
Folio ccxxvii b.
Br'e d'ni Regis pro diversis summis auri mutuat' de vadiis ejusdem.
Letters patent assigning to the several citizens who had
advanced divers sums of money to the King by indenture dated
21 June (vicesimo primo die Junii), 1417 (for repayment of which
a Spanish sword enriched with gold and jewels had been pledged
with them), (fn. 11) the custom on wool, woolfells, &c., in the Port of
London as security in place of the sword, which had been voluntarily surrendered to the King. Witness John, Duke of Bedford,
Warden of England, at Westminster, 19 May, 7 Henry V.
[A.D. 1419].
Folio ccxxviii.
Diffaisance de la prisone de Ludgate et de lez prison's dedeins.
1 June, 7 Henry V. [A.D. 1419], ordinance for closing the
prison of Ludgate, hitherto used for the confinement of freemen
debtors of the City and others convicted of light offences, (fn. 12) and
for the transfer of prisoners to Newgate. (fn. 13)
Br'e de treugis proclamandis.
Writ to the Sheriffs to make proclamation that the truce
concluded between the King and the Duke of Brittany, to last
until six weeks after the Feast of All Saints [1 Nov.], on the
same terms as that made at Alençon on the 16th Nov. [1417],
to continue till the following Michaelmas, (fn. 14) had been extended
Witness J[ohn], Duke of Bedford, &c., 8 Feb., 6 Henry V.
[A.D. 1418-19].
Proclamacio ne quis aliquod blad' ex a regnum traduc'.
Writ to the Sheriffs to make proclamation forbidding the
exportation of corn without special licence. Witness J[ohn],
Duke of Bedford, at Westminster, 9 Feb., 6 Henry V.
[A.D. 1418-19].
Judicium pillor' pro fals' saccis carbon'.
Walter Colyer of Chesthunt condemned to the pillory for
selling coal in sacks deficient in holding capacity. [No date.]
Folio ccxxviii b.
Masters of Misteries sworn.
Cordwaners : Andrew Brownyng, John Neuman, William
Wesenham, Walter Ledbury sworn 18 July, 7 Henry V.
[A.D. 1419].
Shermen : John Brit, William Pope, John Briggeham, Matthew
Stigan sworn the same day.
Haberdasshers : John Badby, James Bowyer, William Wodeward, John Shapman sworn 17 Aug., the same year.
Armurers : Thomas Robelard, William Thurstone sworn
11 Oct., the same year.
Dyers : Richard Danyel, William Neubolt, Reginald Andrew,
John Bedenhale sworn the same day.
Admissio Simonis Evr in misteram Pannarior'.
4 April, 7 Henry V. [A.D. 1419], came Simon Eyr, who had
formerly put himself as apprentice to Peter Smart, before
William Sevenok, the Mayor, the Aldermen, and John Hille,
the Chamberlain, and complained that whereas he had served
his term in the hope and expectation of becoming a freeman
of the City through the mistery of Drapers, he had recently
discovered that his master was free of the mistery of Upholders
and not the Drapers, and prayed that he might not be prejudiced by his master's negligence, but might be admitted to
the freedom of the mistery of Drapers. His prayer granted.
Folio ccxxix-ccxxxi.
Processus et recordum int' cives London' et Universi tatem Cante brigg' de feria de Steres bridge.
Petition presented to the King's Council by the Chancellor
and Scholars of the University of Cambridge, to the effect
that whereas in the Parliament held at Westminster, anno
5 Richard II. [A.D. 1381], it was decreed that the Chancellor
of the said University for the time being should keep the
assize of measures and weights, punish offenders, &c., in
Cambridge and its suburbs, rendering therefor to the King
£10 a year for ever, (fn. 15) and whereas, time out of mind,
the Chancellor for the time being had always exercised
the privilege of committing to prison any one found assaulting a scholar until he gave surety for keeping the peace
—the said Chancellor, at the last Fair held at Steresbrigge (fn. 16) in
the suburbs of the city, went to John Aylesham and Thomas
Catworth, (fn. 17) grocers of London, who were selling spicery and
other merchandise there by weight, and commanded them
severally to bring their weights before him to be examined,
which they refused to do, but continued to sell their merchandise
by weights which had not been assayed, whereby the said
merchandise had become forfeited. After the Fair was over,
an attempt was made by Thomas Crosse and John Mannyng,
scholars of the University, to seize the merchandise that had
not been sold, but they were forcibly prevented. Thereupon the
said Chancellor caused the said John Aylesham and Thomas
Catworth to be arrested and committed to the custody of the
Sheriff of Cambridgeshire until they should find surety for
keeping the peace, and give satisfaction to the said Thomas
Crosse (fn. 18) and John Mannyng; but the said prisoners were
released, notwithstanding such prisoners are never replevishable. The petitioners therefore pray the Council that the said
prisoners may be restored to ward and the privileges of the
petitioners maintained.
The said John Aylesham and Thomas Catworth came in
person and declared that no charter conferred upon the Chancellor and Scholars of the University of Cambridge the right
to arrest and commit to prison a layman for assaulting a clerk
of the University, or for the Sheriffs of Cambridge or Warden
of the Castle there, or the Mayor and Bailiffs of the said vill for
the time being, at the bidding of the Chancellor, to take and
keep in custody such misdoers without replevin by royal writ
or without, &c. They further say that they are citizens of
London, and that such citizens from time immemorial had
enjoyed the right by charter of appointing their own Wardens
to hold pleas at all Fairs in England, except pleas of the Crown,
and of surveying weights and measures and punishing offenders
at such Fairs, without the intervention of anybody else. (fn. 19) These
and other privileges the citizens had enjoyed by virtue of divers
charters from the time of King John down to the fifth year of
the reign of Richard II., when the Chancellor of the University
claims to have obtained the right of assaying and surveying
weights and measures by virtue of a grant made with the
sanction of a Parliament which also confirmed the City's liberties
and customs, the same liberties and customs being afterwards
confirmed by charters granted by the King's father as well as
by the King himself, which the said John Aylesham and
Thomas Catworth produced before the Council. They further
say that before the alleged trespass and before the last Fair
the Mayor and Aldermen had appointed fellow-citizens to be
Wardens at Steresbrigge Fair to assay weights and measures,
&c., and that they themselves had been so appointed at the
Fair when the alleged trespass occurred, and had explained
their position at the time to the Chancellor. They further say
that the charter of Richard II. which the Chancellor and
Scholars produced in Court was granted by the King with the
assent of his lords, (fn. 20) and not by the authority of the Parliament
anno 5 Richard II., nor was it enrolled in the Rolls of that
Parliament. The charter, moreover, declared that the Chancellor and his successors or their deputies should have the assay
and supervision of weights and measures, &c., within the said
town and suburbs in the same manner as the Mayor, Bailiffs,
Aldermen, and Burgesses of the town of Cambridge exercised
the same before the charter, and the said John Aylesham and
Thomas Catworth say that the said Mayor, &c., never before
the charter exercised the aforesaid duties towards citizens of
London attending the Fair.
Thereupon the Chancellor and Scholars made protest, and
declared that Henry III. had issued letters patent, dated at
Westminster, 22 Feb., anno 52 [A.D. 1267-8], to the effect that
if any layman inflicted a grievous injury upon a clerk he should
be imprisoned until he had given satisfaction; that Edward III.
had issued letters to the Mayor and Bailiffs of the town of Cambridge forbidding them to release any prisoner committed by
the Chancellor or his deputy pursuant to any writ; that
Richard II., in the 5th year of his reign, had granted the
privileges which the Chancellor and Scholars claimed with the
assent of Parliament, they paying yearly the sum of £10 into
the Exchequer; and that by virtue of these grants the Chancellor of the University or his deputy had always exercised
these privileges, except at the last Sterisbrigge Fair, in the
same manner as the Mayor, Bailiffs, &c., of the town had
exercised them before the year 5 Richard II., &c. These and
other matters the said Chancellor and Scholars were prepared to prove in such manner as the King's Council might
think fit.
Folio ccxxxi b.
Commissio Vic' Cantebr' pro feria de Steresbrigge.
Letters patent appointing William Asenhull, Knt., the Sheriff
of Cambridge, to undertake the duties at Steresbrigge Fair
claimed by the above parties until the matter has been decided.
Witness the Warden at Westminster, 13 July, 7 Henry V.
[A.D. 1419].
And note that the citizens of London little frequented the
said Fair of Steresbrigge lest any hindrance should occur to
them by virtue of the above letters, contrary to the liberties
they had enjoyed time out of mind, as alleged in the plea of
the said citizens.