Memorials: 1343

Lease made to the Butchers of St. Nicholas Shambles, on annual payment of a boar's head.

17 Edward III. A.D. 1343. Letter-Book F. fol. lxvii. (Latin.)

BE it remembered, that at the Husting of Common Pleas, holden on the Monday next before the Feast of St. Gregory the Pope, (fn. 1) in the 17th year of the reign of King Edward, after the Conquest the Third, Simon Fraunceys, Mayor, the Aldermen, and the Commonalty, of the City of London, for the decency and cleanliness of the same city, granted upon lease to the butchers in the Parish of St. Nicholas Shambles, in London, a piece of land in the lane called "Secollane," near to the water of Flete, for the purpose of there in such water cleansing the entrails of beasts. And upon such piece of land, the butchers aforesaid were to repair a certain quay at their own charges, and to keep the same in repair; they paying yearly to the Mayor of London for the time being, at the Feast of our Lord's Nativity, one boar's head.

Inquisition as to the use of unlawful Nets.

17 Edward III. A.D. 1343. Letter-Book F. fol. lxxi. (Latin.)

At a congregation of the Mayor and Aldermen, on the Wednesday next after the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary [15 August], in the 17th year of the reign of King Edward, after the Conquest the Third, William de Clopham, Richard de Kent, John Burdeux, Richard de Kay, Thomas de Grene, and Laurence de Lambethe, fishermen of London, brought to the Guildhall eight nets, by them found in the water of Thames, on the West side of London Bridge, upon the men whose names are under-written; namely, on Alan atte Were of Chesewyke one net, on William atte Stile two nets, on John atte Stronde (fn. 2) one net, on John Doddynge of Chesewyke one net, on John Morice of Petersham one net, on John Poleyn of Fulham one net, and on William Mede of Chesewyk one net; alleging the same nets to be false, to the destruction of the advantages of the water of Thames, as regards the fish of the same water, and to the loss of all people, as well those of the same city, as others dwelling far and near; seeing that the masks (fn. 3) of the same nets, according to the custom of the City, ought to be 2 inches wide at least, whereas small fishes, of the size and thickness of one inch, could not pass through the meshes of the nets so taken.

And the said fishermen asked that, after inspecting the Memoranda (fn. 4) in the Chamber of the Guildhall of London, as to of what size the meshes of the nets now taken ought to be, there should be done with the same whatever, according to the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen, ought to be done. And the Memoranda in the Chamber of the said Guildhall, namely folio xci of the Lesser Black Book, (fn. 5) having been examined, as to the size which the meshes of the nets so taken ought to be, it was found by the same, that the nets now taken ought to be in the mesh 2 inches in width. Therefore precept was given to the serjeant of the Chamber, to summon hither on the Saturday following the more discreet fishmongers of the City, who had knowledge as to nets; and after they had viewed the same nets, and the size of the meshes thereof, if any should be found good, the same were to be delivered to their owners, and if any should be bad and false, and wanting in the dimension of 2 inches, they should, according to the custom of the City, be burnt.

Upon which Saturday, there came Adam de Kyngestone, Richard atte Gate, and six other fishmongers; and being sworn to survey, examine, and measure, the meshes of the nets aforesaid, they say upon their oath, that the meshes of the same ought to be measured across from one knot to the next knot, as here set forth; (fn. 6) and that the net of the aforesaid Adam atte Were is false, one net of William atte Stile is good, and his other net is false, one net of John atte Stronde, and one net of John Moriz of Petersham, are false, one net of John Doddynge, one net of John Poleyn, and one net of William Mede, are good.

Therefore it was adjudged that the four good nets should be given back to their owners, and the said four false nets should be burnt.