Transfer and valuation of pledges, taken for arrears of tallage.
7 Edward II. A.D. 1314. Letter-Book E. fol. xviii. (Latin.)
"Indenture made between John Dode, Chamberlain of the Guildhall of London, delivering, and Laurence Aldyn and Juliana de
Knaptone, his wife, receiving, the pledges of divers persons of
the City, taken for arrears of divers tallages, and not redeemed;
and which to the said Laurence and Juliana have been delivered
in part payment of 25 marks which the whole commonalty owes
to them, as seen in the Book of Writs and Memoranda. Which
same pledges, as underwritten, were delivered to them on the
Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Botolph [17 June], in the
7th year of the reign of King Edward, son of King Edward, by
precept of Nicholas de Farndone, Mayor, John de Gysorz, John
de Wengrave, and other Aldermen. And be it known that the said
pledges are delivered to the aforesaid Laurence and Juliana, on
the understanding that they are to retain them for a fortnight
next ensuing from the Tuesday above-mentioned; and if any
person shall wish to redeem his pledges, they are to deliver them
up for the price at which they are now assessed as transferred to
them, to await the expiration of the said fortnight."
In Douuegate.—From Katherine de Lincoln, one basin with one
washing-vessel, (fn. 1) value 4s. From Thomas de Boys, tenant of Reynald de Thunderle, one piece of striped cloth, (fn. 2) value 9s. Also, from
the same Thomas, one kettle, value 12d.
Cordewanerstrete.—From Hamon Godchep, one blanket of Winchester material, value 2s.
Bradestrate.—From Thomas Brangwayn, one pair of plates, (fn. 3)
value 2s. 3d.
Bisshopisgate.—From William Poyntel, one old furred mantle
of scarlet, 6d.
Chepe.—From Chuccone the Lombard, one brass mortar, value
2s. 3d. From Richard de Chigewelle cutler, three knives with
ivory handles, and one knife with a handle of red stone, value 18d.
From Salomon le Coffrer, two black budgets, (fn. 4) bound with iron,
value 4s. 2d.
Candilwykstrete.—From Peter de Hatfeld, one coat of green
cloth, value 2s. 4d. From Peter Coxi, one washing-vessel, (fn. 5) value
12d.
Langburne.—From John le Heaumer, one woman's surcoat,
furred, value 3s.
Bridge.—From William de Welde, one small basin, and two
brass plates, value in all, 2s. 6d. From Geoffrey de Conduit, three
brass pots weighing 68 lb., value 11s. 4d. From the same, two
brass plates, value 5s. 4d. From the same, one large brass plate
with feet, weighing 64lb., value 13s. 4d.
Billinggesgate.—From Gilbert Lamb, one brass posnet, one
kettle, one aundiron of iron, (fn. 6) and one kettle and one posnet, value
in all, 5s. 9d.
Walbroke.—From John Goyes, one pan, (fn. 7) value 12d., and one
plate, value 7d. From John Cotoun, one coverlet of grey-work, (fn. 8)
value 40s.
Cordewanerstrete.—From Hugh de Gartone, one piece of worchestede, (fn. 9) value 4s. From Richard de Horsham, one serge (fn. 10) of green
worchestede, value 5s.
Farndone.—From Thomas de Shoreham, saddler, one blanket,
value 18d., and two embroidered saddle-bows, value 12d.
Bredstrate.—From Henry de Gildeford, one silver cup, in weight
and value 11s. 3d. From John de Castelacre, one cup of mazer,
value 40d.
Vintry.—From John de Notingham, one cup of mazer, value 2s.
From William de Chesthonte, one brass pot weighing 10lb., value
20d.
Queenhithe.—From William de Wautham, one posnet, value
12d.
Cornhulle.—From Andrew de Stibenhuthe, (fn. 11) one tabard of bluet, (fn. 12)
value 20d.
Bisshopisgate.—From Cristiana la Glasne, one brass plate, value
10d. From Peter le Gardiner, one plate and one small plate,
value 6d.
Lymstrate.—From John de Hadham, one great plate of copper,
value 4d.
Walbrok.—From Thomas Prat, one pair of shears, value 12d.
Delivery of a chest by Lady Cecily, widow of Sir John de Bacquelle,
to Lady Johanna, widow of Sir Thomas de Lodelawe.
8 Edward II. A.D. 1314. Letter-Book E. fol. xxii. (Latin.)
Be it remembered, that on the Saturday next after the Feast of the
Assumption [15 August], in the eighth year etc., came the Lady
Johanna, the relict and executrix of Sir Thomas de Lodelawe,
knight, before Nicholas de Farndone, the then Mayor, and the
Aldermen, and acknowledged that she had received and had, by
delivery from the Lady Cecily, who was the wife of the late Sir
John de Bacquelle, knight, and citizen of London, and Thomas,
son of the said John, a certain chest, bound with iron, with all
the goods in the same chest contained; such chest having been formerly delivered by the said Sir Thomas de Lodelawe, to be kept
as a deposit in the house aforesaid, with two locks securely and
strongly closed; all suspicion of breaking the same, or of fraud,
being removed. And the keys of these locks were always kept in
his own possession by the said Sir Thomas de Lodelawe, to the
day of his death: and after his death, the Lady Johanna aforesaid
found them lying close at hand among the keys of the coffers of
the said Sir Thomas; wherefore she acquitted the said Lady Cecily,
and Thomas, son of Sir John, as to the same chest and all in it
contained.
And the same Lady Johanna gave the said chest to Thomas
before-mentioned, to do therewith as he might think fit.
Writ and Letters Patent in favour of the Friars Preachers of
London.
8 Edward II. A.D. 1314. Letter-Book E. fol. xxv. (Norman French and Latin.)
"Edward, (fn. 13) by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine, to the Mayor and to the Sheriffs
of London, greeting. Forasmuch as we have an especial affection (fn. 14) for the Order of our dearly-beloved in God, the Friars
Preachers; by reason whereof we do especially and heartily desire the honour and the well-being of the same Order; and
whereas we have heard that great despite and slander has been
committed against the said Order by some fools of that Order,
who have apostatized therefrom, exciting, to the utmost of their
power, slander and vilification of the said Order, against God
and against right; at the which we are much annoyed:— We do
command you, by letters under our Great Seal, that you cause
the said apostates, if they may be found anywhere in our said
city, to be attached and delivered to the Prior of the Convent
of the said Friars, or to his substitute, in London, in order to
chastise and punish such persons, according to the rule of their
Order, and according to the measure of their offence: [and] we
do further command, that of our said mandate you cause speedy
and so good execution to be made as you may, according to the
purport of the same our mandate; that so it may tend to the exaltation of the Order aforesaid. And let this in no manner be
omitted. Given under our Privy Seal, at York, the 22nd day of
September, in the 8th year of our reign."
"Edward, (fn. 15) by the grace of God, King of England, etc., to the
Mayor and Sheriffs of London, greeting. Whereas from trustworthy relation we have heard that certain Friars of the Order
of Preachers, who have made profession in that Order, despising
such their profession, and throwing away the religious garb, are
wandering and running to and fro, arrayed in secular habit, in
the city aforesaid; and that certain others, still wearing the [religious] garb aforesaid, but deserting their due obedience, are
dwelling in the same city without the close of the same Friars, (fn. 16)
and do not fear to take part in various matters that are not beseeming to them, to the peril of their souls, the scandal of the
said Order, and the injury of ecclesiastical propriety:—We, for
the especial affection which for the said Order we do entertain,
and have long entertained, wishing to restrain the malevolence of
such insolent persons, and to provide for the repose and honour
of the Friars of the said Order, so far as in good manner we may,
do command you, that all vagabond Friars of the said Order
found within the city aforesaid, so often as and when in future
you shall be requested by the Prior of the same Order in the
city aforesaid, or other the Friars by him thereunto deputed, you
will cause to be arrested without delay, and to the house of the
same Friars securely to be conducted, unto the brethren of the
same house there to be delivered, by them, according to the discipline of their Order, to be chastised. And forasmuch as we
have understood that the apostates aforesaid, contriving to the
utmost of their power how to palliate the heinousness of their
errors, and by false suggestions to vilify the Order aforesaid, have
published defamatory writings, and have caused the same in
public places within the city aforesaid to be read and recited, and
have left copies of the same in those places fixed upon the walls,
that so they might the more widely defame the same Order, and
withhold the devotion of the faithful from the same; and still
from day to day do not desist to do the like, and even worse,
against the same Order; as also, that many men are assisting the
same apostates in the premises, giving them aid and favour
therein:—We do command you, strongly enjoining, that on out
behalf you will cause in the city aforesaid strict prohibition to be
made that any person shall, on pain of heavy forfeiture to us
write any such manner of writings containing defamation of the
said Order, or publish the same, or give aid to those writing or
publishing the same, either secretly or openly; or shall presume
to inflict loss, injury, or grievance, upon the Friars of the said
Order, whom we have taken under our own especial protection
and defence. And if you shall find any persons transgressors of
such our prohibition, you are to cause them in such manner to
be punished, that through their example others may be duly restrained from the commission of such offences. Witness myself,
at York, this 18th day of September, in the 8th year of our reign."
In virtue of the aforesaid writ and of the letters patent, publication was made in the Church of St. Paul, by precept of Sir Nicholas
de Farndone, Mayor, Stephen de Abyndone and Hamon de Chigewelle, Sheriffs, John de Wengrave, William Trente, and other
Aldermen, on the Friday next after the Feast of St. Michael [29
September] in the year aforesaid, in presence of certain Canons and
ministers of the same church, and of many persons then writing (fn. 17)
there, by Hugh de Waltham, Clerk of the City, and Philip de
Merdele.
Injunctions by King Edward II. as to the ransom of Thomas de Wight,
Wight a prisoner.
8 Edward II. A.D. 1314. Letter-Book E. fol. xxvi. (Norman French.)
Our Lord the King sent his writ to the Mayor and Sheriffs of
London, in these words.—
"Edward, by the grace of God, King of England etc., to the
Mayor and to the Sheriffs of London, greeting. Forasmuch as
we have heard for certain that our dear serjeant Thomas de
Wight, who is taken and detained by our enemies of Scotland, is
in full life, and is put to a certain ransom; we do command and
charge you that the debt which Robert de Wight owes unto the
said Thomas,—according as the same Robert shall acknowledge
the same before you,—you will cause to be levied without delay
from the goods of the same Robert, and delivered by indenture
to the bearer hereof, in aid of the said ransom: and further, you
are to cause the said Robert to appear before us, upon our coming to London, to make answer unto us as to the goods of ours
which were in the keeping of the said Thomas, and which he has
made away with, as we have heard. And this in no manner you
are to omit. Given under our Privy Seal, at Spaldyng, the 24th
day of October, in the 8th year of our reign."
This writ remains in the hands of Stephen de Abyndone, Sheriff.
Requisition for the supply of Arbalesters and arms at Berwick upon
Tweed.
8 Edward II. A.D. 1314. Letter-Book D. fol. clxv. (Latin.)
Be it remembered, that our Lord the King sent a certain writ of
his, as to choosing arbalesters for defence of the town of Berwick
and as to buying armour for their use; as also, for payment of their
wages: as to which, allowance was to be made to the said Mayor
and citizens on repayment of a sum of 400 pounds lent to our
Lord the King. Of which writ the tenor is as follows.—
"Edward, by the grace of God etc., to the Mayor and Sheriff
of London, greeting. Whereas for the defence of our town of
Berwick upon Tweed we have need just now of arbalesters, men
powerful for defence, we do command you, and strictly enjoin
that in our city aforesaid you will cause to be chosen 300 arbalesters, men powerful for defence, if so many you can find, and if
so many you cannot find, then as many as you may find; and
that you cause each one of them to be provided with haketons,
bacinets, colerettes, (fn. 18) arbalests, and quarels, (fn. 19) at our charges; and
cause carriage to be found for the arms of the men aforesaid to
the said town of Berwick, that so they may be ready and prepared with such arms on the Feast of St. Nicholas [6 December
next ensuing, at the very latest, to set out herefrom, at our own
charges, for the town of Berwick aforesaid, there in defence of
that town to abide. And as to the number of the said arbalesters, and the cost of the said arms, and the carriage thereof
you are by your letters distinctly and openly to inform us: for
as to the same, by the Treasurer and Chamberlain of our Exchequer we will cause you to be satisfied, without delay. Witness myself, at Northampton, the 21st day of November, in the
eighth year of our reign."
Also, another writ as to the same.—
"Edward, etc., to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London, greeting
Whereas [after reciting verbatim the preceding Writ],—you by
your letters would distinctly and openly inform us. And where
you have now signified unto us that, by virtue of our mandate
aforesaid, you have caused 120 men to be chosen for arbalester
in the city aforesaid, and each of such men to be provided with
haketons, bacinets, colerettes, arbalests, and quarels; and that
the said arms, and the carriage thereof, amount to 178l. 3s. 4d;
we do command you, that you deliver unto John de Luka, whom
we have appointed to escort the said arbalesters and their arms
to the town of Berwick aforesaid, the same arbalesters, together
with their arms, by indenture thereon between you and the said
John to be made. And this you are in no way to omit. Witness
myself, at Berkhampstede, the 4th day of December, in the
eighth year of our reign."
By reason of which writ, and by precept of Sir John de Sandale,
Chancellor, and Walter de Norwich, the King's Treasurer, there
were delivered to the aforesaid John de Luka as well the equipment as the wages of the arbalesters aforesaid, by indenture made
thereon.
[The Indenture is added in fol. clxv. b. containing the prices
of the various articles supplied, the rate of wages of the arbalesters,
and the names of the 120 men so sent. It is a very lengthy document, and from it we gain the following particulars.—The price
of each haketon was 6s. 9¼d.; of each bacinet, with colerette of
iron, 5s. 1d.; of each arbalest, 3s. 5d.; of each baldric, (fn. 20) 12d.; of
each quiver, 3d.; of the quarels, 20s. per thousand. The wages of
the men were 4d. per day, and of the vintainers, or commanders of
twenty, 6d. Sarplars (fn. 21) and tuns were used for packing the arms;
three carts with four horses each, and two carters to each cart, were
seventeen days in carrying them to Berwick; the expenses of each
cart, with its two carters and horses, being 2s. 2d. per day.]
Lease of a Tourelle on London Wall, near Bisshopesgate.
8 Edward II. A.D. 1314. Letter-Book E. fol. xxvii. (Latin.)
Be it remembered, that on the Monday next before the Feast of
our Lord's Nativity [25 December], in the 8th year of the reign of
Edward, son of King Edward, a certain tourelle (fn. 22) on London Wall
near Bisshopesgate was granted to Sir John de Elyngham, Chaplain,
for him to inhabit the same, by John de Gisorz, Mayor, John de
Wengrave, and other Aldermen, for charity's sake, and at the instance of Sir Walter de Norwich: on condition that he should
maintain the said tourelle, and keep it protected against wind and
rain: and this, so long as it should please the Mayor and citizens,
and the said John de Elyngham should properly behave himself.
And he found one surety, namely, Richard de Dorkyng.
Removal of an Elm near Bisshopesgate, and purchase of a cord for a
Ward-book with the proceeds of the sale thereof.
8 Edward II. A.D. 1314. Letter-Book E. fol. xxvii. (Latin.)
Be it remembered, that the same day and year came the good men
of the Ward of Bradestrete, (fn. 23) and asked that a certain tree, called
an "elm," growing by London Wall near Bisshopesgate, and
which, by reason of its old age and its dryness, was threatening the
shops of Roger Poyntel, which were opposite to the tree, [might be
sold]; that so from the sale thereof they might be aided in buying
a great cord for the said Ward, to be used for a certain hook called
the "Wardehoke," (fn. 24) seeing that the Ward was in want of such cord.
And the same, by favour of the Mayor and Aldermen, was granted
to them forthwith.