Memorials: 1298

Privilege of Sanctuary in the City.

26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 94. (Latin.)

On Thursday next before the Feast of St. Dunstan [19 May], it was ordered by the Aldermen, that no thief, murderer, or other person, taking refuge in the churches, should from thenceforth be watched, so long as they should remain within the same.

Mandate for the preservation of the peace within the City.

26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 94. (Latin.)

Henry le Galeys, Mayor of the City of London, presented a writ of our Lord the King, in these words:—

"Edward by the grace of God, etc., to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London, greeting. Forasmuch as we have heard that the bakers, and brewsters, and millers, in the city aforesaid, do frequently misconduct themselves in their trades, and that mis doers by night going about the city aforesaid with swords and bucklers, and other arms, as well at the procuration of others as of their own malice, do beat and maltreat other persons, and are wont to perpetrate many other offences and enormities, to no small damage and grievance of our faithful subjects:—We, of our counsel, wishing to apply a fitting remedy to all the premises, and to strike both them and others with fear of so offending, do command you, and strictly enjoin, that you will so chastise such bakers, brewsters, and misdoers, with corporal punishments, and so visit the other offences, at your discretion, that they may excite in others in like case a fear of so offending. And that all corn to be ground at mills within the city aforesaid, and without, shall be weighed by the millers, and that such millers shall answer in like weight in the flour coming therefrom. And the matters aforesaid, and all other things which unto the office of the Mayoralty of the same city, and to the preservation there of our peace, do pertain, you are to cause to be inviolably observed. Witness myself, at York, the 28th day of May, in the 26th year of our reign."

Letter from the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, with news of the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Falkirk, 22nd July.

26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book C. fol. xxiii. (Norman French.)

On Saturday the Feast of St. Peter's Chains [1 August], there came a messenger from Sir Walter de Langetone, Bishop of Coventre and Lychefeld, and Treasurer to our Lord the King of England, bringing a letter from the said Bishop to the Mayor, and Aldermen, and Barons, (fn. 1) of London, in these words.—

"To his dear friends, the Mayor and the Barons of London, Walter, by the grace of God, Bishop of Chester, (fn. 2) greeting and true friendship. Because we well know that you willingly will hear good tidings of our Lord the King and of his affairs in Scotland, we give you to understand that on the Monday next before the Feast of Saint James (fn. 3) [25 July], there came tidings unto our Lord the King where he was staying, six leagues beyond Edeneburg, that the Scots were approaching directly towards him. As soon as he heard this, he moved with his host towards the parts where the Scots were; and on the morrow the King arrived in good time, and found his enemies prepared to give battle. And so they engaged, and, by the grace of God, his enemies were soon discomfited, and fled; but nevertheless, there were slain of the enemy in the day's fight 200 men-at-arms, and 20,000 of their foot-soldiers; wherefore we do hope that affairs yonder will go well from henceforth, by the aid of our Lord. Unto God [we commend you]. Written at Acun, on Sunday after the Feast of St. James, in the 26th year of our Lord, the King Edward."

And to the said messenger was given by the hands of the Chamberlain the sum of 26 shillings by order of the said Mayor, John le Blunt, and of John de Canterbury, Thomas Romeyn, Nicholas de Farndone, Nicholas Pyckot, William de Betoine, and John de Donestaple, the then Chamberlain, Aldermen.

Terms of reconciliation of two Master Masons.

26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book C. fol. xxiii. (Latin.)

On Monday the morrow of St. Laurence [10 August], in the 26th year of the reign of King Edward, there came before Henry le Galeys, Mayor, Thomas Romeyn, William de Leyre, Geoffrey de Nortone, Walter de Feyingefeud, (fn. 4) and certain other Aldermen, Master Simon de Pabingham and Master Richard de Wetham, masons; who were then reconciled as to certain abusive words which had before passed between them.

And the agreement was to this effect;—that the said Simon and Richard did grant, each for himself, that if either of them should be able to give information against the other that he had by the same abusive words, or in deed, committed trespass against the other; and such person should, upon the faith of two trustworthy witnesses, be found guilty thereof, he should give 100 shillings towards the fabric of London Bridge; and they further agreed that in case such person should not do so, the Chamberlain should cause the same amount to be levied, etc.

Bread deficient in weight, taken in West Chepe.

26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 85. (Latin.)

Be it remembered, that on Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Laurence [10 August], in the 26th year of the reign of King Edward, Juliana la Pestour of Neutone, (fn. 5) brought a cart laden with six shillings' worth of bread into West Chepe: of which bread, that which was light bread was wanting in weight, according to the assize of the halfpenny loaf, to the amount of 25 shillings. (fn. 6) And of the said six shillings' worth, three shillings' worth was brown bread; which brown bread was of the right assize. It was therefore adjudged, that the same should be delivered to the aforesaid Juliana, by Henry le Galeys, Mayor of London, Thomas Romeyn, and other Aldermen. And the other three shillings' worth, by award of the said Mayor and Aldermen, was ordered to be given to the prisoners in Neugate.

Sale of reeds near the lands of the Bishop of Bedlem.

26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 34. (Latin.)

Be it remembered, that William Poyntel, dwelling without Bysopisgate, came on the Friday next before the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross [14 September] in the 26th year, before John le Blunt, Geoffrey de Nortone, and William de Leyre, holding the place of the Mayor, who then was in the parts of Scotland, and bought of them for six shillings the reeds which were growing upon that part of the meadow-land which remained over and above the tenement of the Bishop of Bedlem, (fn. 7) when brother Thomas, the attorney of the said Bishop, was again put in seisin of the tenement aforesaid. On the understanding, however, that the said William shall only have the reeds that are now growing on the place aforesaid, and that he shall not meddle with the water or the grass thereof.

And afterwards, on the Thursday after the Octave of St. Hilary [13 January] in the 27th year, he paid the six shillings aforesaid.

Importation of knives of foreign make.

26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 35. (Latin.)

Be it remembered, that on Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle [21 September], Hugh of Lemeryc (fn. 8) in Ireland was attached for selling one hundred and a half of knives, as being foreign knives. And the said Hugh came before Geoffrey de Nortone and his fellows, then holding the place of the Mayor, and acknowledged that the usage as to the same was unknown to him: and because it was found by lawful men of that trade that it had so befallen him, the knives were ordered to be given back to him; and he made oath that in future etc.

Goods forfeited for violating the custom of the City.

26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 36. (Latin.)

Be it remembered, that Walter of Calle, near Brestolle, came on the Saturday next before the Feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude [28 October], in the 26th year, before Geoffrey de Nortone and the Chamberlains, and acknowledged that he was altogether ignorant of the usage of the City; and he had been attached by the taking of one spontoon, (fn. 9) one bacinet (fn. 10) for a man's head, one costret, (fn. 11) and four small circlets, (fn. 12) which pledges were given back to him, by reason of his ignorance, upon condition that the same should not happen to him in future, on pain of forfeiture of all his goods, if etc., and the understanding that he should place himself in the franchise of the City.

Sureties found by Laurence Ducket.

26 Edward I. A.D. 1298. Letter-Book B. fol. 36. (Latin.)

Laurence Ducket (fn. 13) came on the Friday next after the Feast of St. Martin [11 November] before the Chamberlains, and acknowledged that he is bound to the Prioress and Convent of Cestrehunte in six marks, to be paid to the same, or to their attorney; two marks at the Feast of our Lord's Nativity, in the 27th year of the reign of King Edward, and two marks at the Feast of the Purification of St. Mary [2 February] next ensuing, and two marks at the Feast of Easter. And if he shall not do so, he grants etc. And Laurence found as his sureties to be present at the next Court of Pleas of Land, Thomas Juvenal and Reginald de Hundele.