Preface

PREFACE

The London Record Society is once more indebted to the Corporation of London for permission to publish a record in its custody. The roll here printed contains the fullest surviving record of the crown pleas for the City of London held before the itinerant justices at the Tower in 1244, together with the record of a special session in 1246 concerning purprestures.

Before the Second World War, Dr. Chew transcribed the document for the Corporation and it is upon her transcript that the present edition is largely based. Dr. Chew is also responsible for the translation which she made specially for this volume. Professor Weinbaum has written the introduction, devised the critical apparatus, and prepared the whole work for the press. The American Council of Learned Societies made a grant which enabled Professor Weinbaum to work in London. Mr. C. A. F. Meekings has been kind enough to comment upon the introduction and to write part of the section dealing with the eyre's financial issues. Professor C. N. L. Brooke read the whole typescript and made a number of valuable suggestions. Both editors have also asked me to thank Professor C. R. Cheney, Miss Joan Gibbs and Miss Rachel Doble who, in various ways, assisted in the preparation of this edition.

William Kellaway