Folios 71 - 80: Aug 1470 -

Calendar of Letter-Books of the City of London: L, Edward IV-Henry VII. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1912.

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'Folios 71 - 80: Aug 1470 - ', in Calendar of Letter-Books of the City of London: L, Edward IV-Henry VII, (London, 1912) pp. 91-100. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-letter-books/voll/pp91-100 [accessed 25 March 2024]

In this section

Folio 71.

Custod' pu'or Ric'i Payne orph' Civitat'.

29 Aug., 10 Edward IV. [A.D. 1470], came Richard Langton, Robert Fitz Herbert, Robert Godewyn, and Henry Skelton, drapers, and entered into bond in the sum of £200 for payment into the Chamber by the said Richard Langton of certain sums of money to the use of Thomas, son of Richard Payne, late draper, on his coming of age, and of Margaret, daughter of the said Richard, on her coming of age or marriage.

Folio 71 b.

Eleccio Vicec'.

Friday the Feast of St. Matthew [21 Sept.], 10 Edward IV. [A.D. 1470], in the presence of Richard Lee, the Mayor, Matthew Philippe, Ralph Josselyn, Ralph Verney, John Yong, William Taillour, George Irlond, Robert Basset, John Stoktone, Bartholomew James, John Tate, John Bromer, John Crosseby, John Warde, William Heriot, John Croke, and William Stokker, Aldermen, Robert Drope and Richard Gardyner, the Sheriffs, and very many Commoners summoned to the Guildhall for the election of Sheriffs—John Crosseby, grocer, was elected one of the Sheriffs for London and Middlesex by the Mayor, and John Warde, mercer, was elected the other Sheriff by the Commonalty.

The same day Robert Colwich, tailor, was elected Chamberlain; Edward Stone, "irmonger," and Peter Calcot, draper, were elected Wardens of London Bridge; and Robert Basset and John Tate, Aldermen, and William Philip, goldsmith, William Hole, skinner, Philip Harpedene, grocer, and John Stokker, draper, Commoners, were elected Auditors of the accounts of the Chamber and of the Wardens of London Bridge in arrear.

Afterwards, viz., on the eve of St. Michael [29 Sept.], the said Sheriffs were sworn at the Guildhall, and on the morrow of the said Feast were presented, admitted, &c., before the Barons of the Exchequer.

De lege non vadiand' sup' attachiamento.

21 Sept., 10 Edward IV. [A.D. 1470], a declaration made by the Mayor and Aldermen, sitting in the Court of the lord the King in the inner Chamber of the Guildhall, for transacting the business of the City, (fn. 1) that, by the ancient custom of the City, when any one prosecutes an action for debt against another in any Court of the lord the King within the City, and the defendant be attached by money in the hands of another, and that other person appears and defends his law in bar of execution of the money so attached, and the plaintiff produces evidence in writing under the hand of him in whose hands the money is attached that the money was a debt, the defendant shall be barred from waging his law, &c.

Folio 72.

Eleccio Maioris.

Saturday the Feast of Translation of St. Edward [13 Oct.], 10 Edward IV. [A.D. 1470], (fn. 2) in the presence of Richard Lee, the Mayor, the Prior of Christchurch, Matthew Philippe, Ralph Josselyn, Ralph Verney, John Yong, William Taillour, George Irland, Robert Basset, William Hamptone, John Stoktone, John Tate, William Edward, Bartholomew James, John Croke, William Heriot, William Stokker, John Crosseby, John Warde, Robert Drope, Richard Gardyner, John Broun, John Bromer, and Thomas Stalbroke, Aldermen, and an immense Commonalty summoned to the Guildhall for the election of a Mayor—John Stoktone was elected Mayor for the ensuing year.

Afterwards, viz., on the Feast of SS. Simon and Jude [28 Oct.], he was sworn at the Guildhall, and on the morrow was presented, admitted, &c., before the Barons of the Exchequer.

Custodia Johanne filie Joh'is Rey mund orph' Civitat'.

28 Oct., 10 Edward IV. [A.D. 1470], came Thomas Creket, John Whitebrede, Richard Marchall, fishmongers, and John Thomson, "bruer," before John Stoktone, the Mayor, and the Aldermen, and entered into bond in the sum of £20 for the payment into the Chamber by the said Thomas Creket of a like sum to the use of Johanna, daughter of John Reymund, late "netmaker," on her coming of age or marriage.

Folio 72 b.

Custod' Alicie filie Joh'is Barkby or phan' Civitat'.

15 Nov., 10 Edward IV. [A.D. 1470], came Margaret Barkby, widow, John Dagvile, "surgion," John Barkby, "gentilman," and William Stephyns, baker, and entered into bond in the sum of 100 marks for the delivery into the Chamber by the said Margaret of the sum of £10 and certain chattels to the use of Alice, daughter of John Barkby, late baker, on her coming of age or marriage.

Folio 73.

Custod' Joh'is filii Joh'is Polyll orph' Civitatis.

17 Dec., 10 Edward IV. [A.D. 1470], came John Sturmyn, Richard Syffe, William Fyncham, and John Castell, and entered into bond in the sum of 100 marks for the payment into the Chamber by the said John Sturmyn of a like sum to the use of John, son of John Polyll, late haberdasher, on his coming of age.

Custod' pueror' Will'i Codnam orphan' Civitatis.

30 May, 10 [sic] Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Agnes Codnam, widow, John Dey,.... John Bremonger, draper, and John Martyn, "wodemonger," and entered into bond in the sum of 40 marks for the payment into the Chamber by the said Agnes of a like sum to the use of William, Isabella, Alice, and Johanna, children of William Codnam, late tallow-chandler, on their coming of age or marriage.

Folio 73 b.

Custod' pueror' Joh'is Heyward orphan' Civitatis.

15 June, 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Agnes Heyward, widow, Robert Billesdon, haberdasher, William Alburgh, mercer, and John Benyngton, grocer, and entered into bond in the sum of £250 for the payment into the Chamber by the said Agnes of £125 to the use of Elizabeth and Thomas, children of John Heyward, when they come of age or marry.

Folio 74.

Custod' Will'i filii Will'i Codnam orphan' Civitatis.

5 July, 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Henry Vaveser, "brasier," Nicholas Vaveser, "brasier," John Seint John, "sadiller," and William Remyngton, baker, and entered into bond in the sum of 20 marks for the payment into the Chamber by the above Henry of the sum of 10 marks to the use of William and Isabella, children of William Codnam, late "talughchaundiller," when they come of age or marry.

Folio 74 b.

Custod' Alicie filie Will'i Codnam orph' Civitatis.

5 July, 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Robert Lully, William Corbet, Thomas Crull, and William Milne, "irmongers," and entered into bond in the sum of 10 marks for the payment into the Chamber by the above Robert of a like sum to the use of Alice, daughter of William Codnam, late tallowchandler, on her coming of age or marriage.

Custod' Johanne filie Will'i Codnam orphan' Civitatis.

3 July, 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came John Hole, "gentilman," John Norrys, "skynner," James Symond and Robert Gilmyn, "taillours," and entered into bond in the sum of 10 marks for the payment into the Chamber by the above John Hole of a like sum to the use of Johanna, another daughter of the above William Codnam, on her coming of age or marriage.

Custod' pueror' Thome Baker orphan' Civitatis.

12 July, 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came William Persone, junior, William Persone, senior, Thomas Walcotte and Thomas Brounflete, "taillours," and entered into bond in the sum of 25 marks for payment into the Chamber by the above William Persone, junior, of the sum of £10 to the use of Thomas, son of Thomas Baker, and 10 marks to the use of Agnes, daughter of the same, when they come of age or marry.

Folio 75.

Custod' pueror' Thome Burgeys orphan' Civitatis.

The same day came William Gall, John Stodard, John Philip, "taillours," and Thomas Sutton, "talughchaundiller," and entered into bond in the sum of £100 for payment into the Chamber by the above William of a like sum to the use of John, Johanna, Hugh, Alice, and Elizabeth, children of Thomas Burgeys, late tailor, when they come of age or marry.

Folio 75 b.

Ordinacio pro mensur atorib' blador'.

19 January, 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471-2], ordinance by John Stoktone, the Mayor, Thomas Cooke, (fn. 3) Matthew Philip, Ralph Josselyn, John Yong, Ralph Verney, William Taillour, George Irland, Robert Basset, William Hamptone, Bartholomew James, William Edward, William Stokker, William Heriot, John Ward, John Broun, John Crosseby, Richard Gardyner, and John Bromer, Aldermen, that corn - meters within the liberty of the City shall pay the Bailiff of Billingesgate, according to ancient custom and the ordinance recorded in Letter-Book G, fo. lxxxviii [b], for every two quarters of corn measured one farthing; and that the Bailiff of Billingesgate shall pay the measurers for measuring 10 pence in 20s. This ordinance to apply to the measuring of corn belonging both to natives and foreigners.

Custod' pueror' Odowyny a Meredeth orphan' Civitatis.

13 July, 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came John Ganne alias Bourne, Robert Slewrith, William More, Henry Wright, "sadillers," and John Wade, "taillour," before the Mayor and Aldermen, and entered into bond in the sum of £6 for the payment into the Chamber by the said John Ganne of a like sum to the use of Thomas, Margaret, and Agnes, children of Odowin a Meredeth, late "sadiller," when they come of age or marry.

Folio 76.

Custod' Joh'is Champney filii Rog'i Champney.

30 Aug., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Thomas Champeney, Thomas Sewall, "talughchaundillers," and John Catell, "vynter," before the Mayor and Aldermen, and entered into bond in the sum of 100 marks for the payment into the Chamber by the said Thomas Champeney of a like sum to the use of John, son of Roger Champeney, when he attains the age of 26 years.

Custod' Will'i fil' Joh'is Jenken al' Warrewyk.

4 Sept., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Juliana Caster, widow, John Bele and Henry Sewall, "gentilmen," and Thomas Aleyn, skinner, before the Mayor and Aldermen, and entered into bond in the sum of 40 marks for the delivery into the Chamber by the said Juliana of the sum of £20 19s. ¼d., or certain goods and chattels valued at that sum, to the use of William, son of John Jenkyn alias Warrewyk, on his coming of age.

Custod' pueror' Ric'i Phippes orphan' Civitatis.

4 Oct., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Edmund Newman William Overey, Thomas Pierson, and John Doo, "stokfisshmongers," before the Mayor and Aldermen, and entered into bond in the sum of £400 for the delivery into the Chamber by the said Edmund of the sum of £300, and certain goods and chattels, to the use of Margaret, Alice, and Johanna, daughters of Richard Phippes, late fishmonger, when they arrive at the age of 20 years or marry.

Folio 76 b.

Custod' Joh'is filii Joh'is Lambe orph' Civitatis.

30 Nov., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Emma Lambe widow, William Cardemaker, grocer, Thomas Unton, draper, and Richard Hadlegh, grocer, before the Mayor and Aldermen, and entered into bond in the sum of £80 for the payment by the said Emma into the Chamber of a like sum to the use of John, son of John Lambe, late grocer, on his coming of age.

Folio 77.

Custod' Joh'is filii Joh'is Treguran orphan' Civitatis.

25 Oct., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Johanna Treguran, widow, John Dunne, senior, mercer, Thomas Gay, junior, "taillour," and John Ryvers, "skynner," and entered into bond in the sum of £80 for the payment into the Chamber by the said Johanna of a like sum to the use of John, son of John Treguran, late vintner, on his coming of age.

Folio 77 b.

Custodia pueror' Joh'is Beaufier.

8 Nov., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Richard Adlyngton, Richard Wright, fishmongers, John Taillour, glover, and Thomas Stacy, fuller, and entered into bond in the sum of £20 for payment into the Chamber by the above Richard Adlyngton of a like sum to the use of Alionora and Alice, daughters of John Beaufrer, when they come of age or marry.

Eleccio Vicecomitum.

Saturday the Feast of St. Matthew [21 Sept.], 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], in the presence of John Stokton, the Mayor, Richard Lee, Matthew Philippe, John Yong, William Taillour, George Irland, Robert Basset, William Hamptone, William Edward, Bartholomew James, William Stokker, William Haryot, John Tate, Richard Gardyner, Robert Drope, Thomas Stalbroke, John Broun, Robert Billesdon, John Bromer, John Crosseby, and John Warde, Aldermen, (fn. 4) and very many Commoners summoned to the Guildhall for the election of Sheriffs—John Shelley, mercer, was elected one of the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex by the Mayor, and John Aleyn, goldsmith, was elected the other Sheriff by the Commonalty.

Folio 78.

The same day Robert Colwiche, tailor, was elected Chamberlain for the year ensuing; Peter Calcot, draper, and Edward Stone, "irmonger," were elected Wardens of London Bridge; Robert Basset and Humphrey "Haifford," Aldermen, Philip Harpdene, grocer, John Stokker, draper, Thomas Warner, "sadiller,' and William Galle, "tailour," Commoners, were elected Auditors of the accounts of the Chamber and of the Wardens of London Bridge in arrear.

Afterwards, viz., on the eve of the Feast of St. Michael [29 Sept.], the said Sheriffs were sworn at the Guildhall, and on the morrow of the said Feast were presented, admitted, &c., before the Barons of the Exchequer.

L'ra directa Co'itati per Thomam Faucomberge Capitan' Kanc'.

Letter from Thomas Faucomberge, (fn. 5) captain and leader of King Henry's people in Kent, to the Commonalty of the City, desiring to be allowed to pass with his force through the City in order to seek out and oppose the usurper of the throne. He assures the citizens that they had been misinformed as to his purpose to despoil the City, and notifies them that he had desired the Mayor and Aldermen to let him have an answer at Blackheath by 9 o'clock on Friday. Dated at Sittingbourn [Wednesday], 8 May [A.D. 1471]. (fn. 6)

Folio 78-78 b.

Responsio ejusdem l're.

Reply of the Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, Common Council, Masters, Wardens of Crafts, and Constables of the City to the above letter, acknowledging its receipt, and setting forth that King Edward, their sovereign lord, on leaving the City after his victory at Barnet on Easter Day last [14 April], had charged them to keep the City on his behalf and to suffer no disturbance therein. On that account they dared not admit him, for experience had taught them that his followers would soon get beyond control. As for a statement he had caused to be published, that he had been appointed Captain of the Navy of England, &c., by the late King Henry, at the recommendation of the Earl of Warwick, whom he evidently supposed to be still alive, they assured him that the Earl was dead, and that his corpse, as well as that of his brother the Marquis Montagu, had been exposed to view for two days in St. Paul's. The writers proceed to give him the names of divers nobles and others who had fallen in battle at Tewkesbury on Saturday, the 4th May, and other particulars which they had learnt from letters under the King's own hand as well as from eyewitnesses who had been specially dispatched for the purpose of reporting on the state of the field to the civic authorities. In conclusion, they exhort him to do as they had done, and to acknowledge Edward IV. as the rightful king. If he would do this, they would stand by him, and would even plead for royal favour on his behalf; but as to letting him and his host pass through the City, that was out of the question. Dated at the Guildhall, 9 May [A.D. 1471].

Folio 79.

De insultu Kanc' apud Algate et Bisshopesgate.

Be it remembered that the Mayor and Aldermen, with the assent of the Common Council, fortified the bank of the water of the Thames between Castle Baynard and the Tower against a large fleet which had appeared near the Tower; and further, that on Sunday, the 12th May, an attack was made upon London Bridge and the new gate there by Kentish seamen and other rebels, who had set fire to divers houses called "berehouses" near the Hospital of St. Katherine; that the attack on London Bridge was renewed on the following Tuesday, when thirteen tenements were fired, and that a force of rebels, 5,000 strong, assailed the gates of Aldgate and Bishopsgate, but were repelled at great loss, and many of them drowned whilst attempting to get on board their boats at Blackwall; and lastly, that on the eve of the Ascension (16 May) King Edward came to the City with a large force and conferred the honour of Knighthood upon John Stokton, the Mayor, Richard Lee, Matthew Philip, Ralph Verney, John Yong, William Taillour, George Irland, William Hampton, Bartholomew James, Thomas Stalbroke, and William Stokker, Aldermen, as well as upon Thomas Ursewyk the Recorder. (fn. 7)

Eleccio Maioris.

Sunday the Feast of the Translation of St. Edward [13 Oct.], 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], in the presence of John Stokton, the Mayor, the Prior of Christchurch, Richard Lee, Matthew Philip, Ralph Josselyn, John Yong, William Taillour, Robert Basset, George Irland, William Hampton, John Tate, William Edward, Humphrey Hayfford, Bartholomew James, John Bromer, John Crosseby, John Warde, Richard Gardyner, Robert Drope, John Broun, William Stokker, Robert Billesdon, Aldermen, John Shelley and John Aleyn, Sheriffs, and an immense Commonalty summoned to the Guildhall for the election of a Mayor for the year ensuing—William Edward was elected.

Afterwards, viz., on the Feast of SS. Simon and Jude [28 Oct.], he was sworn at the Guildhall, and on the morrow was presented, admitted, &c., before the Barons of the Exchequer.

Custodia pueror' Will'i Alhede draper orphan' Civitatis.

8 Nov., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came William Bakon, haberdasher, Simon Turnour... John a Massam, salter, and Michael Harrys, draper, before the Mayor and Aldermen, and entered into bond in the sum of 40 marks for the delivery into the Chamber of a like sum and three silver bowls to the use of John, Thomas, and Robert, sons of William Alhede, late draper, when they come of age or marry.

Folio 79 b.

Custod' pueror' Simonis Dawdeley orphan' Civitatis.

12 Nov., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Henry Bumstede, Ralph Kempe, William Pratte, and Thomas Fabian, mercers, before the Mayor and Aldermen, and entered into bond in the sum of £75 for the delivery into the Chamber by the said Henry Bumstede of a like sum to the use of John, Anne, and Katherine, children of Simon Dawdeley, late mercer, when they come of age or marry.

Folio 80.

Custod' pueror' Edmundi Donabat orph' Civit'.

22 Nov., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came Nicholas Muston, "taillour," John Alburgh, Richard Shiffe, and William Purchace, mercers, and entered into bond in the sum of 40 marks for the payment into the Chamber of a like sum by the said Nicholas to the use of Alice, dshter of Edmund Donabate, late fruiterer, on her coming of age or marriage.

Custod' Ric'i Drope fil' Walter' Drope orphan' Civitatis.

22 Nov., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471], came John Eryk, "upholder," Thomas Lewte, "gentilman," William Hulot, "bocher," and Thomas Goldeherst, "skynner," and entered into bond in the sum of £40 for the delivery into the Chamber of divers sums of money and chattels by the above John to the use of Richard, son of Walter Drope, late butcher, on his coming of age.

Folio 80 b.

Judicium Roberti Richard' pro quadam falsitate.

Writ of certiorari to the Mayor and Sheriffs touching the imprisonment of Robert Richardes, late mercer. Dated at Westminster, 28 Jan., 11 Edward IV. [A.D. 1471-2].

Return made to the above writ by William Edward, the Mayor, and John Aleyn and John Shelley, the Sheriffs, to the effect that the above Robert had been committed to prison for having forcibly and fraudulently extorted 70 old gold nobles from Alice Kyng and Elena Ryder of Suthwerk.

Footnotes

  • 1. Here again (cf. supra, p. 89) the Court of Aldermen appears as the "Court of the lord the King." Attention has already been drawn (supra, p. 24 n.) to the fact that in a similar declaration of the custom prevailing in actions for debt recorded in 1439 (see 'Cal. Letter- Book K,' pp. 228-9), a doubt was expressed in the Calendar as to the Court referred to being the Court of Aldermen; but inasmuch as the Mayor and Aldermen are recorded on both occasions as sitting for the purpose of transacting the business of the City, and in the inner, and not the outer Chamber of the Guildhall, they were clearly sitting as a Court of Aldermen.
  • 2. The Letter-Book ignores the fact that Henry VI. had been restored to the throne and that Edward was a fugitive. His flight had been pro claimed in the City on the 1st October, and the record of what subsequently took place in the City must be looked for in the City's Journal of that time (Journal 7, fos. 223 b-225). See also Sharpe's 'London and the Kingdom,' i. 311-12. The Journal, moreover, recognizes the regnal year 49 Henry VI. (fos. 227 b, 228 b-229, 230-2 b).
  • 3. See note supra, p. 76.
  • 4. The scribe has written Vicecomitum, a title applicable only to the last two named, viz., Crosseby and Warde, who were Sheriffs is well as Aldermen.
  • 5. Generally known as the "bas tard" Falconbridge, being a natural son of William Nevill, first Lord Falconbridge (or Fauconberg) and Earl of Kent, the earldom becoming extinct on his decease in 1463.
  • 6. This letter, together with the reply of the Mayor and Aldermen, is set out in full in Sharpe's 'London and the Kingdom' (iii. 387-91).
  • 7. A translation of the record of these proceedings by the Kentish rebels is set out in 'London and the Kingdom' (iii. 391-2).