Memorials: 1300

Injunctions to the Bedels of the Wards, as to the passing of crocards and pollards.

28 Edward I. A.D. 1300. Letter-Book C. fol. xl. (Latin.)

Be it remembered, that on Sunday next before the Feast of the Purification of St. Mary [2 February] in the 28th year of the reign of King Edward, all the Bedels of the various Wards were summoned before the Mayor and Aldermen, to receive and do that which by the said Mayor and Aldermen should be enjoined; namely, that each one of them should carry his staff in his own Ward, and be present at every case of complaint as to receiving or refusing two crocards (fn. 1) or pollards (fn. 1) for one penny sterling; so that if any person should refuse to receive two pollards as such for any amount of a commodity, then the said Bedels should attach the person so selling, together with the thing sold, and take him, with the suit of the buyer, (fn. 2) to the Sheriff's house; that so the Sheriff might be seised (fn. 3) of the persons so attached. And faithfully to do all and singular the things aforesaid the said Bedels made oath before the said Mayor and Aldermen.

Inquisition as to the liability to maintain two bridges in the Ward of Broad Street; and to find the hinges of Bishopsgate.

28 Edward I. A.D. 1300. Letter-Book C. fol. xlvii. (Latin.)

Inquisition taken before Elias Russel, the then Mayor of London, and the Aldermen there present, on Friday the morrow of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr [7 July] in the 28th year of the reign of King Edward, son of King Henry, as to the making of a certain bridge (fn. 4) now broken, near London Wall, in the Ward of Bradestrate, (fn. 5) by Henry Hauteyn of the Ward of Bassieshawe, Adam Manyman of the Ward of Colemanstrete, John Verin of the Ward of Bisshoppisgate, and John de Hertford of the Ward of Bradestrate, and other persons empanelled of the said Wards.—

Who say upon their oath, that so often as it may happen that the said bridge shall be broken, the Prior of the Holy Trinity is bound to make it at his own cost; and he has so done time out of mind, because by his charters he has common way there. They say also that the Prior of the New Hospital without Bisshoppesgate ought to make one half of another bridge, near to the former bridge, and the men who are nearest neighbours to that bridge, the other half. And precept was given to the Sheriffs, that they should distrain the aforesaid Priors and the neighbouring persons to rebuild the said bridges, and to keep them in good repair.

They say also, that the Bishop of London is bound to make the hinges of Bysoppesgate; seeing that from every cart laden with wood, he has one stick, as it enters the said Gate. Therefore, directions were given to the Sheriffs, etc.

Inquisition as to the liability to repair the covering over the Watercourse of Walebroc.

28 Edward I. A.D. 1300. Letter-Book C. fol. xlviii. (Latin.)

Inquisition taken before the Mayor of London, on Wednesday the morrow of the Translation of Saint Benedict [11 July] in the 28th year, as to what persons are bound to repair the covering over the water-course of Walebroc, over against the wall of the chancel of the Church of St. Stephen Walebroc.

Whereon the jurors empanelled say upon their oath, that the parishioners of the Church of Saint Stephen are bound of right to repair the said covering over the water-course of Walebroc. Therefore directions were given to the Sheriffs to distrain the said parishioners to do the building aforesaid.