Theft of silver dishes belonging to Baroncin. (fn. 1)
17 Edward I. A.D. 1289. Letter-Book A. fol. 1. (Latin.)
On Friday the Feast of St. George [23 April], in the 17th year of
King Edward, Walter Bacun, who alleged that he was a chaplain, (fn. 2) fled to the Church of St. Paul in London; on which day
came there William le Mazeliner, Coroner of our Lord the King
in London, together with John le Breton, then Warden (fn. 3) of the
City of London, Baroncin, John de Banquelle, and other trustworthy persons. And the said Coroner, in presence of the persons
aforesaid, demanded of Walter for what reason he so kept himself
in the church; whereupon he acknowledged that he was a thief, and
had stolen sixteen silver dishes that belonged to Sir Baroncin; and
upon acknowledgment so made, the said dishes were delivered by
the Coroner before-mentioned to William de Betoyne, then Sheriff
of the said City, to be kept by him under seal of Sir Baroncin.
And on the Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Mark the
Evangelist [25 April], the said dishes, by command of our Lord
the King, were opened out in the Guildhall, and delivered by the
said Sheriff to the Coroner before-named; whereupon, the said
William le Mazeliner, the Coroner, delivered the aforesaid sixteen
dishes to the said Baroncin, in presence of the said Warden, John
de Banquelle, and other trustworthy persons there present. (fn. 4)
Footnotes
| 1 |
A wealthy merchant of Lucca,
whose name frequently occurs as a moneylender on usury, in those days. Edward
II., when Prince of Wales, borrowed
money of him. See Dr. Doran's Princes
of Wales, p. 84. |
| 2 |
A parish-priest, or a curate. |
| 3 |
Appointed by Edward I., for certain
offences by the authorities committed, in
place of a Mayor. |
| 4 |
The prisoner himself would either
obtain Benefit of Clergy, or, having escaped to sanctuary, be allowed to abjure
the realm. |