Memorials: 1338

Payments made to the men sent by the City to aid the King in his war with France.

12 Edward III. A.D. 1338. Letter-Book F. fol. xviii. (Latin.)

Paid to the 40 men-at-arms (fn. 1) for their arms and wages, 60l. Paid to the 60 archers, for their wages, bows and arrows, and other necessaries, 30l. Paid to the men-at-arms and the archers aforesaid, as a courtesy, by order of the Mayor and Aldermen, 10l. Paid to William Hauteyn, the centenar, and to William Maleseurs, for their trouble in selecting the said 100 men, by precept of the Mayor and Aldermen, 40s. For the purchase of 346½ ells of red and green cloth, for gowns, 22l. 19s. 9d. For buying 70 ells of blanket for their hoods, 4l. 7s. 6d. For making such gowns and hoods, 100s. Paid to Nicholas de Abyndone, serjeant, for escorting the said men to our Lord the King at Ipswich, 4 marks. For buying a standard, flag, and trumpet, and for the carriage of arms, 11s. Total, 137l. 11s. 7d.

Royal mandate for fortifying the City against an expected attack by the French.

12 Edward III. A.D. 1338. Letter-Book F. fol. xix. (Latin.)

"Edward, by the grace of God, etc. to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs, of London, greeting. Forasmuch as our enemies, collected in galleys, in no small multitude, have in hostile manner entered our kingdom in divers parts, and purpose shortly to invade our city aforesaid, if they can, there to perpetrate such evil and wickedness as they may; we, desiring to provide for the safety and defence of the city aforesaid against such hostile attacks, do command you, strictly enjoining, that with all the speed that you may, you cause the City to be closed, and fortified against such hostile attacks towards the water, with stone or with board, and that you cause piles to be driven across the water of Thames, for the defence of the city aforesaid, in such manner as you shall see to be expedient; and all men who hold rents in the city aforesaid, as well religious as others, of whatsoever estate they be, you are to compel to make such defence, by distress and other such ways and means as you shall deem most expedient, sparing no one in this behalf: to the end that such defence may be expedited in such manner as it most speedily may. Witness, Edward, Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester, our most dear son, Guardian of England, at Kenyngtone, the 23rd day of October, in the 12th year of our reign."

Royal Letter in behalf of Robert Flambard, mace-bearer of the City.

12 Edward III. A.D. 1338. Letter-Book F. fol. xx. (Norman French.)

At a congregation of Henry Darci, Mayor, the Aldermen, and a great number of the Commonalty, holden on Monday, the Feast of All Souls [2 November], in the 12th year of the reign of King Edward the Third, Robert Flambard presented letters from our Lord the King, as follows.—

"Edward, by the grace of God, King of England etc., to the Mayor, Sheriffs, and Aldermen of our city of London, greeting. Whereas we have heard that there was lately granted by you unto our dear vadlet, Robert Flambard, our serjeant-at-arms, the office of mace-bearer in our said city, for the term of his life, he receiving as others have received heretofore, who held the same office; we do beg you in especial, that by reason that the said Robert is now staying with us, nothing may be taken from him as touching his said office; but that as to the same office, and all other matters which concern him as regards yourselves, you will be to him most gracious and most assisting, by reason of the good stead which he holds as towards us, and the good service that we do witness in him. Given under our Privy Seal, at Antwerp, the 18th day of October, in the 12th year of our reign."

Indenture as to a sale of Jewels, and Inventory thereof.

12 Edward III. A.D. 1338. Letter-Book F. fol. xxxii. (Latin.)

To all those who this letter shall see or hear, Walter Adryan, pepperer, of London, greeting in God. Know ye, that I have sold and granted unto Margery Randolf, of the same city, jewels and other things below written, that is to say—; a circlet, a hanap of silver with a foot, a fermail of gold, (fn. 2) a girdle of silver, 12 silver spoons, a nut on a foot, (fn. 3) and silver covercle, a silver cup and covercle, a hanap of mazer, (fn. 4) with an impression of St. Thomas (fn. 5) of Lancaster thereon, and with a covercle, a hanap of mazer with an impression of a head, 2 chaplets of pearls and of prayerbeads, (fn. 6) a table-cloth (fn. 7) of 5½ ells, and 4 linen sheets; all for 10 marks sterling, which the said Margery has paid me in the City of London beforehand, for all such jewels and the other things before named, etc. Given at London, on Wednesday, the Feast of St. Katherine the Virgin [25 November], in the 12th year of the reign of our Lord King Edward, after the Conquest the Third."