Memorials: 1303

Memorials of London and London Life in the 13th, 14th and 15th Centuries. Originally published by Longmans, Green, London, 1868.

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'Memorials: 1303', in Memorials of London and London Life in the 13th, 14th and 15th Centuries, (London, 1868) pp. 47-50. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/memorials-london-life/pp47-50 [accessed 24 March 2024]

In this section

Inventories of pledges sold for arrears on the King's tallage.

31 Edward I. A.D. 1303. Letter-Book C. fol. lxxi. (Latin.)

On Monday next after the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr [7 July] in the 30th year of the reign of King Edward, by John le Blund, Mayor, and the Aldermen of London, precept was given to Nicholas Pycot, Chamberlain of the Guildhall of London, that he should cause to be sold all pledges for any debt whatsoever, then in his custody: which pledges, as below written, were appraised on the Monday aforesaid, upon the oath of John le Mazerer and Ralph de Honilane, goldsmiths, Adam de Muhant and Stephen de Hakeneye, phelipers, (fn. 1) John le Bonde and Robert de Welleford, drapers, Aubin de Caustone and Simon Mee, haberdashers, Thomas de Bykenore, Richard de Wymbihs, (fn. 2) Robert Lorchon, and Geoffrey le Porter, potters, and Alexander Le Coffrer, sworn, touching the Holy Gospels. (fn. 3) And on the Friday next ensuing, public cry was made throughout the whole of the City of London, that all who had pledges in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the city aforesaid for any debt whatsoever, should by payment redeem the same within two days next ensuing, or they would be sold.

And because the debtors aforesaid did not redeem their said pledges, precept was again given to the said Nicholas Pycot, the Chamberlain, on the Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Edmund the King [20 November], in the beginning of the 31st year of the reign of King Edward, by John le Blund, Mayor of London, Geoffrey de Nortone, Thomas Romeyn, William de Leyre, and other Aldermen, and a great part of the commonalty, that they should cause the pledges appraised by the said jurors, as below stated, to be sold, the proceeds to go towards expediting the most urgent business of the said city; that is to say.—

One brass pot, weighing 18 lb., value 2s. 6d., and another brass pot, weighing 13 lb., value 21d., and one kettle, value 14d., the total whereof amounts to 5s. 5d.; taken from Alan de Bedeford, baker, for 6 shillings which he owes of arrears on the tallage of 12 pence in the pound made in the 27th year of King Edward: which pledges the same Nicholas Pycot received by indenture from John de Dunstaple, late Chamberlain of the Guildhall of London.

Also, one brass pot, weighing 14 lb., value 21d., taken from Letice de Uggele for 32 pence which she owes on the tallage of 12 pence in the pound made in the 27th year of the reign of the King aforesaid. Also, one posnet, (fn. 4) and one washing-vessel, (fn. 5) weighing 12 lb., and one brass pot without a bail, (fn. 6) weighing 15 lb., value 4s.; taken from Henry le Bole, for arrears which he owes on the tallage of 6 pence in the pound: which pledges the same Nicholas received from the before-named John de Dunstaple by indenture.

Also, one red mantle, value 18d., taken from Robert de Totenham, for 2 shillings which he owes on the tallage of 2000 marks. Also, one woman's surcoat of medley, (fn. 7) value 12d., taken from Matilda de Borham, of the Ward of Crepelgate, for 7s. 6d., which she owes of arrears on the tallage of 2000 marks; which mantle and surcoat the same Nicholas Pycot received by indenture of John de Dunstaple aforesaid.

Also, one brass posnet, weighing 6 lb., value 10½d., 2d., taken from Robert Matefrey, for 5 shillings which he owes of arrears on the tallage of 2000 marks.

Also, one arbalest, (fn. 8) value 9d., taken from John le Byndere, for 9 pence which he owes of arrears on the tallage of 2000 marks. Also, one pair of cloth shears, value, taken from Robert (fn. 9) Lemman, for 18 pence which he owes of arrears on the tallage of 2000 marks: which arbalest and shears the same Nicholas Pycot received of the aforesaid John de Dunstaple by indenture. Also, two coffers, value, taken from Robert de Balesham, (fn. 9) coffrer, for 16 pence which he owes of arrears on the tallage of 12 pence in the pound; and which the same Nicholas Pycot received from John de Dunstaple by indenture.

Also, three washing-vessels, weighing 12 lb., one pot, one posnet, one washing-vessel, and one brass plate, (fn. 10) weighing 36 lb., value 7s.; and two basins, value 16d., and nine silver spoons, value 9s.; the total of which amounts to 17s. 4d.; taken from Roger de Rokesle, for twenty shillings which he owes of arrears on the tallage of 6 pence in the pound: which spoons the same Nicholas Pycot received by the hands of Paul le Botiller, together with one mantle of bluet, (fn. 11) with fur of bisshes, (fn. 12) now rotten, and of no value.

Also, one silver cup, value 12s. 6d., taken from Robert de Rokesle, for twenty shillings which he owes of arrears on the tallage of 2000 marks. Also, 50 pieces of iron of Pont Audemer, (fn. 13) and one pair of iron skids, (fn. 14) value 6s. 6d.; taken from William de Euere of the Ward of Langeburne, for 7s. 6d. which he owes of arrears on the tallage of 2000 marks.

Also, one basin, value 21d., taken from Peter Berneval of Portesokne for three shillings, which he owes of arrears on the tallage of 2000 marks. Also, one pot, and one posnet, and one small brass plate, weighing 40lb., value 5s.; taken from Edmund Trentemars of Portesokne, for 7s. 6d. which he owes of arrears on the tallage of 2000 marks. Also, one small kettle (fn. 15) without a bail, value 6d., and one small washing-vessel without a bail, value 9d., and one small basin, without a bail, value 4d.

Also, one silver cup, value 12s., taken from Adam Goce of Tower Ward, for 6s. 8d. which he owes of arrears on the tallage of one fifteenth; and restored to him, 5s. 4d.

Also, three silver cups, value 14s., taken from William de Leycestre, of the Ward of Walebrok, for 14s. 4d. which he owes of arrears of the one fifteenth granted to our Lord King Edward, in the 29th year of his reign.

Also, one surcoat of medley, furred with lambskin, value 2s., taken from Gilbert le Hagemakere of Langeburne Ward, for two shillings which he owes of arrears of the 15th aforesaid.

Also, 12 silver spoons, value 12s., and one plate and one brass posnet, weighing 14lb., value 2s. 6d.; being taken from John de Bumstede of Chepe Ward, in part payment of 20 marks which he owes of arrears of the fifteenth aforesaid.

And it was ordered that he, as well as the aforesaid debtors, should be distrained for the remainder of their debts.

Also, one fan, (fn. 16) value, taken from Henry Gyleberd (fn. 17) of the Ward of Basseshawe, for 2s. 8d. which he owes of arrears of the fifteenth.

Also, one surcoat of green medley, furred with lambskin, value 4s. 6d., taken from Richard de Rohingham, for six shillings which he owes by way of fine for his easement of one tourelle (fn. 18) on London Wall, near Mogwellestrete. (fn. 19)

Valuation of household goods, taken for debt.

31 Edward I. A.D. 1303. Letter-Book B. fol. 57. (fn. 20) (Latin.)',

Pledges of Arnold Marage, taken for the sum of 4l. 3s. 4d., which he owes unto Ranulph de Lue, by his recognizance in the paper; namely, one surcoat of green, furred with stranling, (fn. 21) value 12 shillings; one old garb, (fn. 22) value 3 shillings; one old sword, value 12 pence; one mattress, (fn. 23) value 9 pence; one blanket, value 3s. 6d.; one towel, value 6 pence; one bolster and three pillows, value 6 pence; three old linen sheets, value 9 pence; two camises, (fn. 24) value 10 pence; one painted forcer, (fn. 25) value 8d.; one old basin, value 4 pence. Total, (fn. 26) 21s. 1d.

Footnotes

  • 1. Or "fripperers," dealers in secondhand clothes and furniture.
  • 2. So in the MS., for "Wymbish."
  • 3. Sacrosanctis; this may possibly mean "holy relics."
  • 4. A small skillet, basin, or porringer.
  • 5. lotorium.
  • 6. Or semicircular handle.
  • 7. A cloth made of mixed materials.
  • 8. Or crossbow.
  • 9. Omitted in the MS.
  • 10. patella.
  • 11. Blue cloth.
  • 12. A fur made from the skin of the hind, or female deer.
  • 13. In Normandy: now famous for its tanneries.
  • 14. gropi. Properly, the iron grooves, or hooks, at the end of a skid, for stopping a cart.
  • 15. It is not stated from whom these articles were taken.
  • 16. fiabellum; probably the fan used for blowing away chaff.
  • 17. Omitted.
  • 18. Or small tower, or turret, built against the wall.
  • 19. The "Monkwell Street" of the present day.
  • 20. On a slip attached.
  • 21. The fur of the squirrel, taken between Michaelmas and winter.
  • 22. carda: a dress, of some light kind of cloth, the nature of which seems to be now unknown.
  • 23. materaz.
  • 24. A camise was a light, loose dress; but possibly, shirts may be here meant.
  • 25. A coffer, or box.
  • 26. This total is incorrect.