1258-9
A.D. 1258. Sheriffs.: John Addrien, Draper,; Robert de (fn. 1) Corenhelle, again,
This year, John de Gizors was chosen Mayor, and that too, even in
his absence. This year, after a Parliament held by the Barons at Westminster, Hugh Bygot, the Justiciar, went to Saint Saviour's, and,
having Roger de Turkelby for his associate, held there all the Pleas
which pertain unto the Justiciars Itinerant in the County of (fn. 2) Suraye;
and not only did he there amerce several (fn. 3) bailiffs and others
who had been convicted of offences committed against those
subject to them, but he caused them to be imprisoned, clerks as well as
laymen. And yet he ransomed one person for twenty marks, and
certain others for forty marks, and more; while several others, for but
trifling reasons, he immoderately aggrieved.
In these pleas the men of (fn. 4) Suwerc and others of the County of
Suraye made complaint against the Sheriffs and citizens of London,
that they unjustly took custom without the Stone Gate on the Bridge,
seeing that they ought to possess no such rights beyond the Drawbridge
Gate. The citizens, coming with their Sheriffs who had been summoned
by the Justiciars, appeared at Saint Saviour's before the Justiciars, and,
bringing with them their Charters, said that they were not bound to
plead there, nor would they plead without the walls of the City; but
without formal plea, they were willing to acknowledge that it was quite
lawful for the Sheriffs of London to take custom without the gate aforesaid, and that too, even as far as the (fn. 5) staples placed there, seeing that the
whole water of Thames pertains unto the City, and always did pertain
thereto; and that too, sea-ward as far as the (fn. 6) New Wear. At length, after
much altercation had taken place between the Justiciars and the citizens,
the Justiciars caused inquisition to be made, on the oath of twelve
knights of Sureye—and this, although the citizens had not put themselves
on such inquisition—whether the Sheriffs of London had taken any
custom beyond their limits. Who said, upon oath, that the Sheriffs
aforesaid might rightfully take custom there, for that as far the staples
before-mentioned, the whole pertains unto the City, and no one has any
right upon the Thames, as far as the New Wear, save and except the
citizens of London.
After this, the Justiciar before-mentioned, having as his associate
Roger before-named, came to the Guildhall of London, and there held
Pleas, from day to day, as to all those who wished to make plaint; and
at once, without either making reasonable summons or admitting any
(fn. 7) essoin, determined the same, observing no due procedure of justice;
and that too against the laws of the City, as also against the laws and
customs of every freeman of the English realm. This however the
citizens persistently challenged, saying that no one except the Sheriffs
of London ought to hold pleadings, in the City as to trespasses there
committed; but to no purpose. Still however, the citizens had judgment done upon all persons abiding in the City, who had been
convicted, or had been cast in making a false charge. At the
same time also, the Justiciar summoned before himself and before the
Earl of Gloucester all the bakers of the City who could be found, together with their loaves; and so, by some few citizens summoned before
them, judgment was given in reference to their bread; those whose
bread did not weigh according to the assay of the City, not being placed
in the pillory, as they used to be, but, at the will of the Justiciar and
Earl aforesaid, exalted in the (fn. 8) tumbrel, against the ancient usage of the
City and of all the realm.
This year, on the Octaves of the Innocents [28 December] when the
assize of wine and ale was proclaimed in the City, the City crier proclaimed the assize as well without the Stone Gate situate on London
Bridge as elsewhere in the suburbs of the City.
In this year, Sir Richard, King of Almaine, brother of his lordship
the King, together with his Queen and children, passing through the
midst of France, crossed over and landed at Dover, and on the Vigil of
the Purification of the Blessed Mary [2 February] came to London, the
City being excellently hung and arrayed.
This year, on the Monday before the Feast of Saint Gregory [12
March], provision was made among the judgments at Guildhall, that,
when a person brings the testament of any one deceased, in order to
prove the same in the Hustings, even though any person may claim a
right in a tenement by such testament devised, notwithstanding such
claim, probate shall immediately be taken thereof, the right however of
every one being reserved. For that such probate ratifies nothing, save
only the fact that it is the last will of the deceased. Consequently, notwithstanding such probate, every one who has a right in the tenement
devised by such testament, through any other person than the testator,
may demand the same, by Writ of Right, or Writ in the nature of a
Writ of Entry, or in the nature of Writ of Mort d'Ancestor other than
the testator, or by Plaint of Intrusion; provided always however, that
such plaints as are made without writ, be made within the term by the
usual customs of the City provided.
This year, a provision and statute was made, that all Pleas of debt as
to the citizens of London should be held before the Sheriffs only. In the
same year, before Easter, was begun the (fn. 9) New Work at the
Church of Saint Paul; also, Fulk Basset, Bishop of London,
died just before Pentecost.