Memorials: 1369

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: 1369', in Memorials of London and London Life in the 13th, 14th and 15th Centuries, (London, 1868) pp. 337-341. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/memorials-london-life/pp337-341 [accessed 19 April 2024]

In this section

Delivery of a copper-gilt cup, by the Chamberlain.

43 Edward III. A.D. 1369. Letter-Book G. fol. ccxix. (Latin.)

Be it remembered, that on the first day of February in the 43rd year etc., John de Cauntebrigge, Chamberlain, by precept of Simon de Mordone, Mayor, and the Aldermen, delivered unto Simon Posse, dighere, (fn. 1) a cup with a covercle, of copper gilt; and the said Simon found sureties, namely, Walter Flynt, and Victor de Male, dighere, that he would redeliver the said cup to the Chamberlain, if claimed, where and when he might be required thereto.

Master Surgeons of the City admitted and sworn.

43 Edward III. A.D. 1369. Letter-Book G. fol. ccxix. (Latin.)

On Monday next after the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary [2 February], in the 43rd year etc., Master John Dunheued, Master John Hyndstoke, and Nicholas Kyldesby, surgeons, were admitted in full Husting, before Simon de Mordone, [Mayor], and the Aldermen, and sworn, as Master Surgeons of the City of London, that they would well and faithfully serve the people, in undertaking their cures, would take reasonably from them, etc., (fn. 2) would faithfully follow their calling, and would present to the said Mayor and Aldermen the defaults of others undertaking cures, so often as should be necessary; and that they would be ready, at all times when they should be warned, to attend the maimed or wounded, and other persons etc.; (fn. 2) and would give truthful information to the officers of the city aforesaid, as to such maimed, wounded, and others, whether they be in peril of death or not, etc. (fn. 2) And also, faithfully to do all other things touching their calling.

Punishment of the Pillory, for selling rings of latten for gold and silver.

43 Edward III. A.D. 1369. Letter-Book G. fol. ccxix. (Latin.)

On Tuesday next after the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary [2 February], in the 43rd year etc., John William, of Wantynge, (fn. 3) who had been before taken and committed to prison for having sold to divers persons rings and fermails of latten, made to resemble rings and fermails of coloured gold and of silver, as being made of real gold and silver, in deceit, and to the grievous loss, of the common people etc.; and after that, had made oath before the Mayor and Aldermen that in future he would not commit such deceit or any other falsity against the people; and had been released from prison; was brought before Simon de Mordone, Mayor, William de Haldene, the Recorder, Stephen Cavendisshe, and other Aldermen, by Adam de Wymundham, one of the Sheriffs of the city aforesaid,—on the said Tuesday—with many rings and fermails coloured to resemble gold and silver in manner aforesaid, in order to deceive the people with the same.

And the said John William did not deny the charge. Therefore it was adjudged by the Mayor and Aldermen, that the said John William should have the punishment of the pillory; to stand for one hour thereon, with the rings and fermails aforesaid hung from his neck. And afterwards, he was to be committed to prison, etc.

Extract from the Will of Robert Jober, citizen of London.

43 Edward III. A.D. 1369. Letter-Book G. fol. ccxxiii. (Latin.)

Robert Jober, (fn. 4) by his will, left to Edmund and Henry, his sons, a rental of 25s. 10¾d., from a certain tenement in Martlane, in London; as also, one cup with a silver covercle, value 24s.; six silver spoons, value 9s. 11d.; one mazer cup, value 6s.; one basin, with a lavatory, value 9s.; two brass pots, value 10s.; two brass plates, value 3s.; one feather bed, value 16s.; one coverlyt, one tester, and one hutch, (fn. 5) value 14s.

Proclamation that laystalls shall not be placed near the City Wall, adjoining the Tower.

43 Edward III. A.D. 1369. Letter-Book G. fol. ccxxiv. (Latin.)

Be it remembered, that a certain writ of our Lord the King was directed to the Mayor, Sheriffs, and Aldermen, of London, to the effect that all dung and laystalls in places near to the wall of the same city, adjacent to the Tower of London, should be removed without delay. And that in every place in the city aforesaid, where they should deem it expedient, they should cause public proclamation to be made, and it on the King's behalf strictly to be forbidden, that any person should, on pain of grievous forfeiture to the King, in future place any dung or laystalls in the places aforesaid, or cause the same to be there placed.

Meters of sea-coal appointed.

43 Edward III. A.D. 1369. Letter-Book G. fol. ccxxx. (Latin.)

On the 11th day of July in the 43rd year etc., John Wirhale, Roger Cooke, Henry Cornewaille, and Geoffrey Prudhomme, were chosen to hold the office of Meters of sea-coal coming into the City of London; and sworn that they would well and trustily make measure of coals so coming thither, taking for their trouble as from of old they were wont etc. And they gave sureties that they would well and trustily do all things which unto the said office pertain.

Evechepynges upon Cornhulle forbidden.

43 Edward III. A.D. 1369. Letter-Book G. fol. ccxxx. (Norman French.)

"Whereas many perils and great mischiefs have happened oftentimes heretofore, by reason of the Evynchepynge (fn. 6) which is held so late in the night upon Cornhulle, seeing that old clothes that have been dubbed have been often sold there for new clothes, in great deceit, and to the loss, of the common people; and that divers things, stolen in divers places, are there privily sold, to the great scandal and damage of the City; and many brawls and disputes have oftentimes there arisen, against the peace, and in great affray, of the said city:—we do therefore command, on behalf of our Lord the King, that no man or woman shall be so daring as to carry clothes or any other things to sell upon Cornhulle, after the bell has been rung that hangs upon the Tun at Cornhulle;—the which bell shall be rung at sunset;—on pain of forfeiture, in loss of all clothes and other things carried thither for sale after the time aforesaid, to the use of the Chamber of the Guildhall."

Royal order for the removal of Bochers brigge, and the prevention of the slaughtering of beasts at St. Nicholas Shambles.

43 Edward III. A.D. 1369. Letter-Book G. fol. ccxxxiii. (Latin.)

"Edward, by the grace of God etc., to the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Sheriffs of London, greeting. Whereas of late, upon the grievous complaint of divers prelates, nobles, and other persons of the city aforesaid, having houses and buildings in the streets, lanes, and other places, between the Shambles of the Butchers of St. Nicholas, near to the mansion of the Friars Minors of London, and the banks of the water of Thames near to Baynardescastelle, in the same city, by their petition before us and our Council in our last Parliament, holden at Westminster, shown; we had heard that by reason of the slaughtering of beasts in the said shambles, and the carrying of the entrails and offal of the said beasts through the streets, lanes, and places aforesaid, to the said banks of the river, at the place called 'Bochersbrigge,' (fn. 7) where the same entrails and offal are thrown into the water aforesaid, and the dropping of the blood of such beasts between the said shambles and the waterside aforesaid, the same running along the midst of the said streets and lanes, grievous corruption and filth have been generated, as well in the water, as in the streets, lanes, and places aforesaid, and the parts adjacent, in the said city; so that no one, by reason of such corruption and filth, could hardly venture to abide in his house there: and we, considering the damages, grievances, and evils, which, from carrying the entrails and offal of the beasts so in the said shambles slaughtered to the water aforesaid, by reason of the corruption, and grievous stenches, and abominable sights, have arisen, had determined, with the assent of all our Parliament aforesaid, that the said bridge should, before the Feast of St. Peter's Chains [1 August] last past, be pulled down and wholly removed; it being our desire that such slaughtering of beasts should be done without the city aforesaid, in such place as it might best be done in, and with the least of nuisance; and did accordingly give you our commands, that before the Feast aforesaid you would cause some more fitting place without the said city, where such slaughtering might to the least nuisance and grievance of the city aforesaid be done, to be ordained, and the said bridge in the meantime to be wholly removed; of the which you have not hitherto cared to do aught, in manifest contempt of ourselves, and of our command aforesaid unto you directed thereupon, and to the no small damage and grievance of the same prelates, nobles, and people of the city aforesaid, at the which we are greatly moved:—We do therefore again command you, the most distinctly that we may, and do enjoin, that you will cause some certain place without the said city to be ordained, where the slaughtering of such beasts, to the least nuisance and grievance of the commonalty of the city aforesaid, may be done, by the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary [15 August] next ensuing, and the bridge aforesaid in the meantime to be pulled down, and wholly removed; or else will signify unto us the cause why you have not obeyed our command aforesaid, to you heretofore directed thereupon. And this, on pain of paying one hundred pounds, in no manner omit. Witness myself, at Westminster, the 8th day of August, (fn. 8) in the 43rd year of our reign in England, and in France the 30th."

Petition of the Fullers, that those who buy cloths with patent defects, shall do so at their own peril.

43 Edward III. A.D. 1369. Letter-Book G. fol. ccxl. (Norman French and Latin.)

"To the honourable men, (fn. 9) and wise, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, pray William Stoket, Nicholas Mortone, and William Bedelle, fullers, as well for themselves as for others of their trade, that, whereas they are often hard-worked to appear at the Guildhall before you, to make examination of cloths, when any one complains that there is default in the same; of the which cloths, some are dyed, and some not; and upon the which examination they are much busied, and cannot attend to their trade as they ought to do, whereby they are greatly damnified;—it will please your good Lordships to ordain that whensoever any one shall buy any cloth, having seen such cloth himself, in case there shall be found any default in that cloth, full agreement having been made with the seller of the same, in such case he shall take the cloth at his own risk; so that no other examination be made afterwards as to such cloth, on any complaint made against the seller thereof."

Be it remembered, (fn. 10) that it was agreed by the Mayor and Aldermen, that in future it should be done according to the form in the above petition contained etc., on the Saturday next before the Feast of Our Lord's Nativity [25 December], in the 43rd year of the reign of King Edward the Third.

Footnotes

  • 1. Dyer.
  • 2. So abbreviated in the original.
  • 3. Wantage.
  • 4. Extract from an orphanage case, of considerable length, but of no interest.
  • 5. Or box.
  • 6. Or Evening Market; see p. 33 ante.
  • 7. Butchers' Bridge: no doubt, a jetty thrown out into the river, for the purpose.
  • 8. A similar mandate had been sent on the 8th of June previous; fol. ccxxvii. Neither of them seems to have been obeyed; see page 356 post.
  • 9. In French.
  • 10. In Latin.