Memorials: 1342

False blankets ordered to be burnt on Cornhulle.

15 Edward III. A.D. 1342. Letter-Book F. fol. lv. (Latin.)

BE it remembered, that on Monday, the morrow of St. Hilary [13 January], in the 15th year of the reign of King Edward, after the Conquest the Third, John de Bromholme, Richard Frere, tapicers, (fn. 1) and other reputable men of the same trade, brought here before John de Oxenford, Mayor, the Sheriffs, and the Aldermen, ten false blankets that had been vamped in foreign parts with the hair of oxen and cows, and brought from those parts by Robert de Boys to the City for sale.

Which blankets having been viewed, and by the men of the said trade found to be false, it was awarded by the said Mayor, Sheriffs, and Aldermen, that the same should be burnt beneath the pillory on Cornhulle: and they were so burnt on the same day.

Death of John de Oxenford, Mayor, and election of Simon Fraunceys, on the same day.

16 Edward III. A.D. 1342. Letter-Book F. fol. lxii. (Latin.)

BE it remembered, that on Tuesday, the morrow of St. Botolph the Abbot [17 June], in the 16th year of the reign of King Edward the Third, etc., John de Oxenford, Mayor of London, died at the hour of Parish Mass; and his death being announced to Roger de Depham, Alderman and Recorder, the same Roger immediately, on behalf of our Lord the King, and of the Commonalty, gave orders to Richard de Berkyng and John de la Rokele, Sheriffs of the said city, that they should immediately, all other things set aside, by their serjeants summon all the Aldermen and the more wealthy and more reputable commoners of the City, in the said City then being, to appear on the same day, at the third hour (fn. 2) at the latest, in the Guildhall of London; there to elect a Mayor in the place of the said John, who had gone the way of all flesh.

And on the same day, the Aldermen and the more reputable commoners chose Simon Fraunceys, Alderman, to be Mayor, who was immediately sworn, as the usage is. And on the Wednesday following, they presented the said Simon, by them according to the custom of the City chosen to be Mayor, to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer at Westminster, at the Exchequer there; where by the same Treasurer and Barons, without any objection or controversy, he was honourably admitted, and sworn to do those things which unto the office of the Mayoralty pertain.

Ordinance made as to the sale of wines within the City.

16 Edward III. A.D. 1342. Letter-Book F. fol. lxiii. (Latin.)

At a congregation of the Mayor, Aldermen, and an immense number of the Commonalty, on Monday, the Feast of St. Peter's Chains [1 August] in the 16th year of the reign of King Edward the Third, etc., there being present, Simon Fraunceys, the Mayor, John de Grantham, and other Aldermen, and the Sheriffs, it was ordained (fn. 3) and agreed, that no taverner should mix putrid and corrupt wine with wine that is good and pure, or should forbid that, when any company is drinking wine in his tavern, one of them, for himself and the rest of the company, shall enter the cellar where the tuns or pipes are then lying, and see that the measures or vessels into which the wine is poured, are quite empty and clean within; and in like manner, from what tun or what pipe the wine is so drawn. And if any taverner should refuse to do this, he was to incur punishment, at the discretion of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs, upon him to be inflicted.

And be it known, that all the vintners underwritten were present, and to the same ordinance consenting;—namely, Thomas Gisors, Nicholas Ponge, John Hablond, John Blaunche, John Fynche, John Chaucer, — Blakecolle, Robert de Hanwode, Henry Fannere, John de Stodeye, Walter atte Goote, John de Coggeshale, John Fychet, John Beauflour, and John de Cliftone, vintners.