Chronicles of the Mayors and Sheriffs: 1248-9

1248-9

A.D. 1248. Sheriffs.: Nicholas Fitz-Jocey,; Geoffrey de Wyncestre,

In this year the citizens of London, at the request of his lordship the King, not compelled, and yet as though compelled, took their wares to the Fair of Westminster, on Saint Edward's Day [16 March]; and also, the citizens of many cities of England, by precept of his lordship the King, repaired thither with their wares; all of whom made a stay at that fair of full fifteen days, all the shops and (fn. 1) selds of the merchants of London in the meantime being closed.

And on the morrow of St. Edward, the Mayor and citizens appeared at Westminster, to make answer as to the judgment before-mentioned, that had been given against the aforesaid Margery Vyel, and so from day to day until the fourth day; upon which last day, his lordship the King requested them to permit the Abbot of Westminster to enjoy the franchises which the King had granted him in Middlesex, in exchange for other liberties which the citizens might of right demand. To which the citizens made answer, that they could do nothing as to such matter without the consent of the whole community. The King, however, on learning this, as though moved to anger, made them appear before him, and, after much altercation had passed as to the said judgment, (Henry de la Mare, a kinsman of the before-named Margery Vyel, constantly making allegations against the citizens), counsel being at last held before his lordship the King between the Bishops and Barons, the Mayor and citizens were acquitted and took their departure. In the same year, Michael Tovy was again made Mayor.

It should be observed, that when Simon Fitz-Mary, for his offence, had delivered his Aldermanry into the hands of the City, as above noticed, by assent of the whole community the Mayor returned him his Aldermanry, upon condition of his conceding that if at any future time he should again contravene the franchises of the City, the Mayor might, without plea or gainsaying, take back his Aldermanry into, the hands of the City, and wholly remove him therefrom. Wherefore, in this year, because the said Symon had manifestly sided with Margery Vyel in the complaint which she had made to his lordship the King as to the judgment given by the citizens—as to which, as is already written, she herself was cast—as also, for many other evil and detestable actions of which he had secretly been guilty against the City, the Mayor took his Aldermanry into his own hands, and wholly removed him therefrom; and the men of that Ward, receiving liberty to elect on the Monday before Mid-Lent chose Alexander le (fn. 2) Ferrun, and that too in his absence; but he, afterwards appearing at the Hustings, was on the Monday following admitted Alderman.

In the same year, upon the Feast of Saint Matthew [21 September] there came news to London, that the King of France, who had sailed with a great army of Christians against the Saracens, had taken (fn. 3) Damiete, the most strongly fortified city in Egypt, on the preceding Octaves of the Holy Trinity.