Roll A 26: 1382-83

ROLL A 26

Further, of the time of John Norhampton, mayor

Membr. 1

31 May 1383

Thomas Depham of co. Norfolk was committed to prison for saying that the news of the war (fn. 1) which the lord bishop of Norwich began in Flanders and other previous news from those parts were false.

Membr. 1 b

6 Dec. 1382

John Filiol, fishmonger, who had been committed to prison for opprobrious words against the mayor, as recorded in Letter Book H, fo. 157 (fn. 2), was set free at the instance of his friends, by mainprise of William Naffertone, John Norwych, John Southam and John Enemeth for his good behaviour towards the officers of the city under penalty of £100.

12 June 1383

William Sherere was mainprised for his good behaviour by John Charney and Richard Serle and sworn to set out immediately to join the bishop of Norwich in Flanders.

25 June 1383

John Hood, armourer, was mainprised to appear before the Mayor and Aldermen when summoned, and further sworn not to sell any bassynet (fn. 3) of Flanders as of London manufacture nor to place the mark of any London man upon any such basinet or any other armour of the same country.

The same day Thomas Hogecote was sworn to be obedient to the surveyors of the mistery of Armourers.

30 June 1383

Richard Leukenore, corsour (fn. 4), was mainprised to keep the peace and not to use shameful, indecent or evil words to any stranger or freeman whereby the city of London might be defamed.

Membr. 2

20 Nov. 1382

Quitclaim from Augustine Damasce, merchant of Lucca, executor of Master Laurence de Nigris, to Bartholomew de Bosano, merchant of Lucca.

14 Nov. 1382

Nigel Taillour of Holbourne produced before the Mayor and Aldermen a bill of complaint addressed to the King of Castile and Lyons (fn. 5), duke of Lancaster, to the effect that Roger Gailer of Holbourne, at the time of the rising, was a leader of the rioters and rode with a great rabble to the Savoy and S^t John's (fn. 6), for which he had purchased a charter of pardon, and nevertheless he and his wife said openly to their neighbours that they would willingly spend £100 of the money he had gained at the Savoy and S^t John's in order to be revenged on their poor and loyal neighbours. [French]

Thereupon an inquest was summoned from the neighbourhood to make inquiry. The jurors, being sworn, said that the above-mentioned Roger Gailer was not one of the principal captains at the time of the rising, nor did he ride with the mob to the Savoy, as alleged, but he rode with other evildoers to the house of S^t John at Clerkenwell and there feloniously stole certain goods, viz. a book called "a missal" and a small side of bacon, of the value of 100s, and also certain bulls sealed with lead, all of which he afterwards restored to the officials of the house.

5 Dec. 1382

Memorandum that on 22 Dec. 1380 Guy de Port, Lombard, brought a bill demanding from William Gappe, William Ode and Custaunce Beamond, executors of Thomas Beamond, the sum of £11 for two cloths of silk engreyn (fn. 7) supplied by him to the said Thomas on 30 Oct. 1376. After the latter's death in Lombardy, the executors had declared that during his lifetime he had paid the amount to a merchant in Lombardy for the complainant and offered to bring proof of the fact, meanwhile depositing £11 in court. As they had failed to bring proof, he prayed that the money be delivered to him.

Though the defendants, on being summoned, had made four defaults, the money still remained in court (fn. 8). Accordingly on 5 Dec. 1382 it was delivered to the plaintiff under security to answer therefor if the defendants should submit themselves to justice within a year and a day.

13 Dec. 1382

Nicholas Darel, hostiller, was summoned to answer Tidemann Wauschede for a debt of £22 10s, the balance due on the purchase of two hogsheads of steel in 1377, the price being £28 10s, of which the defendant had paid, £6 on account at the time of sale.

The defendant pleaded that the only debt he owed was one of £22 10s due on a bond, and he was willing to make his law that he owed no other debt (fn. 9), and as the plaintiff had not produced any bond for the £22 10s, he prayed judgment as to whether any action lay against him. The plaintiff then acknowledged that there was no other debt than the, £22 10s, but as the bond was lost he could not produce it. If the defendant would pay this debt, he would give him a general acquittance or enter into any security the court might require that he would not sue the defendant on the bond, if he found it. He prayed that the defendant answer further. The latter said he did not wish to make any further answer. Accordingly, in default of an answer, it was considered that the said Tidemann recover the said £22 10s, that the defendant be committed to prison and that the plaintiff give him an acquittance on his leaving prison or paying the debt. Afterwards on 13 May 1384 the plaintiff came into court and asked that the defendant be released from prison since they had come to an agreement.

Membr. 2 b

15 Dec. 1382

Hugh de Ware, fishmonger, was attached to answer Robert Aleyn, knight, in a plea of trespass, wherein the latter complained that at Michaelmas 1361 he leased to a certain John Blake, cornmonger, a messuage, shop, cellar and ten solars in Thames Street by Billingsgate for 10 years at 17 marks annual rent and afterwards assigned this rent to Ralph de Mordon, who in turn assigned it to the above Hugh, which assignment the plaintiff ratified, further granting to him to hold the premises for two further years after the expiration of the lease, and nevertheless the defendant forcibly retained the premises for another year still, to the plaintiff's damage 20 marks.

The defendant pleaded that a certain John Bethewode, tymbermonger and citizen, had sued the plaintiff for a debt of £36 before the justices of the Bench at Westminster in Michaelmas term 1378, as the result of which the plaintiff had been put in exigent and outlawed, and that therefore the present action, being a personal action and originating from a time long before the outlawry, was extinguished.

To this the plaintiff replied that the king by a charter, which he produced, had pardoned him the outlawry, that he had made suit by scire facias against the aforesaid party according to the form of the statute (fn. 10) upon which his pardon was allowed to him, and that inasmuch as the defendant did not deny his allegations he prayed judgment and damages.

Process being continued, the parties appeared on 12 Feb. 1383, when it was considered that the plaintiff take nothing by his bill, but be in mercy, and that the defendant go quit thereof.

Afterwards on 25 Feb. the king by a writ of certiorari ordered that the tenor of the record and process be returned to Chancery, which was done.

13 Dec. 1382

Writ of protection in favour of John Gemel, esquire, then about to cross the sea in the company of Betrucat de Lebret in the king's service.

Membr. 3

29 Jan. 1383

Memorandum that the king sent to the mayor a letter sealed with his signet charging him to arrest Ogolyne Gerard, Lombard (fn. 11), and to deliver him to Sir Thomas Morrieux, constable of the Tower, to await the king's pleasure. The prisoner's goods and chattels, with all his papers and letters found in his lodging, were to be delivered under the mayor's seal to the king's continuel conseil in London. Given under the signet at the manor of Sheen, 29 Jan. 1383. [French]

After the above orders had been carried out the king sent a writ to the effect that since Hugh (sic) Gerard was prepared to answer any charge, and Peter Marke, Nicholas Luke, Galadine de Reest, Angel Cristofre, Bernard George and Thomas Lyppe had entered into security in Chancery to produce him when required and to account for his goods under a penalty of 1000 marks above their value, the king ordered that the said Hugh and his goods be delivered from arrest and prison. Dated at Westminster 13 Feb. 1383.

26 Feb. 1383

Writ of protection in favour of John Cristian of Salisbury, then about to cross to foreign parts in the company of Henry, bishop of Norwich.

19 March 1383

William Spaldyng, tailor, was brought before the Mayor and Aldermen in the Chamber of the Guildhall for speaking evil and shameful words against Robert Croule, tawyer, whence discord might have arisen between the two misteries of Tailors and Tawyers. He put himself on the mercy of the Mayor and Aldermen and was sentenced to prison for forty days. Afterwards on the same day, at the request of the aldermen and of the good men of the mistery of Tawyers, he was set free, being bound over to keep the peace under penalty of 100 marks payable to the chamberlain if he were again convicted.

Membr. 3 b

2 March 1383

Writ of corpus cum causa to the mayor ordering him to send Peter Gracyan, Lombard, then a prisoner in Newgate, before the council at Westminster on the Wednesday following with the cause of his taking and detaining.

Return that on 19 Aug. 1382 the said Peter, in a plea of account between himself and Luke Bragadyn, merchant of Venice, was adjudged to prison until he had made satisfaction for a debt of £383 8s and other goods. Also on 15 Dec. following the said Peter had undertaken to pay, on behalf of the said Luke, the sum of £1250 to Nicholas Brembre, knight, in case the said Luke, who was then in prison, failed to pay that amount. Since the said Peter had failed to make either of these payments, he was detained in prison, in accordance with the custom of the oity and the law merchant. While obeying the king's command, the mayor prays that the prisoner may be returned to custody according to custom.

25 April 1383

William Thornhill, armourer, was committed to prison for selling wine in Fleet Street at 8d the gallon, instead of 6d, as laid down in the statute (fn. 12). Two days later he was bound over to obey the statute and to indemnify the mayor and other officials of the city against the king and the city.

The same day William atte Sele, baker of tourte-bread (fn. 13), was bound over to make his bread of the correct weight, under penalty of £40.

Membr. 4

9 June 1383

Letter of attorney from Jerome Arigi of Boloigne le Crasse (Bologna) to Saint de Bartilmeu de Saint (fn. 14) of Bologna to receive and sue for debts due to him and to transact business on his behalf.

Similar letter from Thomasin Lippy, merchant of Bologna.

7 May 1383

An inquest of office before John Norhampton, mayor, and William Cheyne, recorder, to inquire whether a messuage in the parish of S^t Martin Ludgate, late belonging to Thomas atte Crouche, was entailed so as to descend to Roger, son of William, son of the said Thomas, or could be alienated by the said William—by oath of twelve jurors and two informers, William Norton and John Willughby. A verdict was given that Thomas atte Crouche had been seised of the messuage in his demesne as of fee and right and had granted it by charter to Thomas Lemynstre, parson of the aforesaid church, and Henry Aldryngton, their heirs and assigns, which Thomas and Henry had thereupon reconveyed it by feoffment to Thomas atte Grouche and Agatha his wife for the term of their lives with remainder to William, his heirs and assigns, and that on the death of the said Agatha, William had sold the reversion (sic) to a certain Richard Pulle, to whom Thomas atte Crouche had attorned, and who now, after the deaths of Thomas and William, occupied and held the messuage in his own right as he was well entitled to do; and further, that the said messuage was not entailed.

17 June 1383

Grant from William Bartelot, son and one of the heirs of Thomas Bartelot, to Thomas Elys of Sandwich in fee simple of lands etc. in Kent and the Isle of Thanet, and letter of attorney to Thomas Rollyng, chaplain, of Sandwich, to deliver seisin.

Membr. 5

12 May 1383

Memorandum that Robert Kydenot had recently sued Richard Horewode, mercer, for a debt of £4 due in part payment of a larger sum owed to himself and a certain Robert Colyn, and that in the course of the proceedings a certain Henry Permay came and said that the above claim was in respect of a quantity of linen cloth sold, and since Robert Colyn was indebted to himself in a far larger sum he prayed that the money paid by Richard Horewode should be retained and paid over to himself. As the money had been lying for a long time in the Sheriffs' Court without any discussion or judgment, the said Robert Kydenot prayed the mayor to summon the action into the Chamber of the Guildhall and there deal with it according to the law merchant.

Accordingly the mayor gave the parties a day on 12 May 1383, when Richard Horewode gave evidence on oath as to purchasing the linen, but said he did not know whether it belonged to Robert Kydenot or Robert Colyn. Thereupon Robert Kydenot asked for and obtained fifteen days adjournment in order that Robert Colyn, who was in Calais, might be examined in the presence of the mayor of the Staple of Calais or his lieutenant and constables. After that interval he produced in court a certificate [French] dated 14 April 1383 from the lieutenant and constables of Calais, to the effect that Robert Colyn had appeared before them and had informed them that the linen belonged to himself alone and that he had assigned the money due for it to Robert Kydenot because he was indebted to him in a larger sum of money, and that he owed nothing to Henry Permay.

This document having been read by the court, it was considered that the £4 should be delivered to Robert Kydenot under security that, if the said Henry Permay or Robert Colyn should appear within a year and a day and prove reasonably that it belonged to them or either of them, the said Robert should repay it.

24 July 1383

In an action by Joan, wife and attorney of John Olney, woolmonger, against Richard Scotard for a debt of £17, the latter's attorney, John Merssh, produced a writ of protection dated 13 July in favour of the above Richard, who was then about to cross the sea with Thomas Fychet to join the company of Henry, bishop of Norwich. By which writ the said action remains without a day.

Membr. 5 b

2 July 1383

Letter of attorney from Cosmas de Aurea, merchant of Genoa, to John de Carlo, merchant of Genoa, to receive all sums due to him, both from his debtors and by way of exchange, and to transmit them to Genoa, and further to charge him with the payment of sums received on exchange, but this power of attorney was not to extend to binding the said Cosmas by obligations or making further payments than as expressed above.

Membr. 6

24 July 1383

William Brikles, pepperer, executor of the will of Sabina Yerdele (fn. 15), brought a bill of complaint before the Mayor and Aldermen showing that the said Sabina six years before her death had set apart and specified in her will a sum of £100 for the support of a chaplain to celebrate divine service in the church of All Hallows the Great for her wellbeing in life and for her soul after death, the said chaplain to receive an annual salary of 10 marks. She had appointed Walter Lyndon as chaplain and had placed the money in the hands of Robert Corn on account of the trust and affection she felt for him. The said Robert had paid the chaplain £40 for the six years before her death and 33s 4d for the first quarter of the year afterwards. But though the chaplain had celebrated for three further years, the said Robert would neither pay him the £20 thus due nor appoint another chaplain.

The said Robert appeared on summons on 27 July and said that Sabina at the time of her death had acquitted him of all that remained of the £100, i.e. £60, and that he had paid 33s 4d more to the chaplain of his own free will, and that therefore he need not answer further, nor pay more to the chaplain, nor appoint another one. The plaintiff answered that so far as his own knowledge went Sabina had never acquitted him. Thereupon the defendant offered to pay the £20 in arrears of the chaplain's salary, if the plaintiff together with two other good men would swear that he had no knowledge that Sabina had remitted the £60 (fn. 16). The plaintiff accepted this offer and produced four men, viz. Roger Carneford, Henry Baret, John Romeseye and William Campyon, who, after he had taken the oath, swore that his oath, so far as they knew, was a true one.

Accordingly it was considered that the defendant pay the £20 in arrears to the chaplain, and as the latter had received no notice about seeking other work, that the defendant pay him 10 marks for the coming year. And since the will produced in court showed that the testator wished the defendant to be exonerated from finding a chaplain if he fell into poverty through misfortune or any other cause, the question of continuing the chaplain's services was respited until the court should have information as to the defendant's means. The defendant then paid £20 arrears of salary and afterwards on 30 Nov. the instalment of the present year's salary due at Michaelmas.

21 Aug. 1383

Richard, Fodringay and John Godard, esquires, exhibited to the Mayor and Aldermen an indenture and an obligation. They prayed that, although no payment had been made to them at the date specified in these documents, the Mayor and Aldermen would bear witness, if necessary, that they were willing to fulfil their own undertakings in the matter:

Covenant reciting that John Northebury, Richard Foudringay and John Godard had bought a barge of Bristol, with all its goods and gear, which had belonged to John Poculchurch, Thomas Martyn, Geoffrey Martin, William Stephens, John Bradewey and Ralph Welles, burgesses of Bristol, and John Weneton, citizen of London, from Pascual Miglice, John de Lano and other Spaniards, John Pulmic and several other Bretons and Frenchmen, enemies of the king of England. They now agree to sell the barge again to John Poculchurch and his companions for £800 payable on 15 Aug. in the house of Robert Boxeford in Cheap. The said Poculchurch and his companions agree to purchase the barge; and if they fail to pay the above amount, a bond of £183 6s 8d shall remain of full force and effect and the barge shall remain with the said John, Richard and John to do with as they will. But if they shall pay the said sum of £800, the bond shall be of no effect and the barge shall come into their possession. For their part the said John, Richard and John promise to deliver the barge as soon as a message shall arrive at Brest that the money has been paid. Dated 2 June 1383. [French]

Obligation from John Pokelcherche and his companions to Janekyn Northbury, Richard Foudringey and John Godard to pay £366 13s 4d (fn. 17) at the above date and place by reason of a pure and loyal loan made to them by the said Janekyn, Richard and John, in deliverance of their bodies from the hands and prison of Pascoual Miglice, Johan de Lano and other Spaniards and Frenchmen their enemies. Dated 1 June 1383. [French]

Membr. 6 b

24 Sept. 1383

Nicholas Stoke of co. Southampton, who had been detained in prison for a year on a charge of violent behaviour and for having threatened to burn divers houses, and who had nearly died there, was liberated with the consent of the sheriff, on taking an oath for his good behaviour.

Membr. 7

10 Nov. 1383

Writ of habeas corpus directed to the sheriffs and coroner (fn. 18) of London. Whereas of late the king had ordered them to send under their seals to Chancery the tenor of an appeal which Leticia, widow of John Cryel, knight, had made before them without writ against Richard Boydon, late servant of John Cornewaille, knight, for robbery and breach of the peace, which order they had obeyed, and whereas the king had caused the tenor of the appeal to conic before him (coram nobis) (fn. 19) for the due execution of the appeal, and because it is expedient and necessary that the court should be informed as to that appeal with all its circumstances before proceeding to execution thereof, accordingly the sheriffs and coroner are ordered to send the appeal with all matters relating thereto under their seals before the king at Westminster on 16 Nov., and further the sheriffs are ordered to have the body of the said Richard, then detained in Newgate, before the king on the above day, and to warn the said Leticia to sue her appeal against him. Witness R. Tresilian at Westminster 10 Nov. 1383.

Membr. 7 b

25 Oct. 1383

James le Brauwere, attorney of James le Grave of Bruges, having sued Richard Ayllesbury of London for the sum of £21 4s 6d gros of Flanders, being the balance due of a sum of £45 12s 5d gros turnois of Flanders of which £26 7s 5d sterling had been paid (fn. 20), obtained judgment. On 3 Dec. 1383 he prayed that execution of the judgment cease, as he had come to an agreement with the debtor.

2 Oct. 1383

Philip Fretheby brought a bill of complaint against Andrew Sewardby, tailor, as follows: Whereas the said Andrew, had in his charge the sum of £12 belonging to the plaintiff and conceived a plot to compass the death of the plaintiff in order to possess that money, he requested him on 8 March to take with him the defendant's servant, Walter, and show him the way to Bridlington in the county of York and promised him 6s 8d for so doing, of which he paid him 3s 4d, and on the same day he procured and hired the said Walter to kill the plaintiff on the way. When the plaintiff and the servant reached a valley five leagues from Lincoln, the said servant drew his baselard and struck the plaintiff suddenly and then beat and illtreated him and left him for dead, to the damage of the plaintiff £100; wherefore he prayed redress and asked the Mayor and Aldermen to note the fact that the defendant told friends of the plaintiff that he had. paid the money to the plaintiff, who had been robbed and killed by thieves on the way.[French]

John Botkisham, the serjeant of the Chamber, was ordered to summon the parties for 6 Oct. On that day the defendant produced a quitclaim of all actions, real and personal, made to him by Simon Swan and the plaintiff, which was dated 20 Aug., subsequent to the trespass alleged in the bill. The plaintiff acknowledged the quitclaim. Therefore it was considered that he take nothing by his bill, but be in mercy, and that the said Andrew go thereof without a day. And because the plaintiff prosecuted contrary to his own deed, it was considered that he be committed to prison and pay a fine at the mayor's discretion. Afterwards on 1 Feb. 1384 he was released on payment of a fine of 40d.

Membr. 8

21 July 1383

Robert Aleyn, knight, was summoned on a bill exhibited to the Mayor and Aldermen to answer William, prior of the hospital of the Blessed Mary without Bishopsgate, in a plea of debt. Gilbert Meldebourne, the plaintiff's attorney, declared the amount as £19, i.e. £15 (fn. 21) for bread, beer, meat, fish and other victuals bought by Matilda, the defendant's wife, for herself and her two servants when she was in the hospital, to wit, 18s thereof for two loaves, two gallons of beer and two dishes of cookery every day from 11 July to 22 Aug. 1378, in the time of John Lyndeseye then prior; 66s 8d which she borrowed from the prior through Robert Salisbury, canon of the hospital, on 20 July 1376; £8 6s 8d for other victuals supplied to her for 50 weeks from 22 Aug. 1378 at 40d a week in the time of Robert Salisbury, who was sub-prior during the vacancy; £7 for other victuals during the time of the present prior from 5 Aug. 1379 for 42 weeks at 40d a week; and 6s 8d borrowed from the prior on 15 June 1381 through Thomas Tomme, chaplain; all of which sums the defendant refused to pay, to the plaintiff's damage £20.

The defendant denied the debt, excepting the loan of £3 6s 8d, and put himself on the country. As regards the loan he said that his wife gave as security a locked and sealed forcer containing goods of the same value, which forcer still remained in the prior's hands. Thereupon the prior's attorney was ordered to bring the forcer to court on 28 July.

Process was continued till 8 Oct., when the attorney brought into court one large and six small buttons, made of silver pennies, together with the forcer. In the absence of the said Matilda, who had the key, the forcer was opened and found to contain nothing of any value. It was sealed again with the seal of John Charneye, coroner of London, and returned to the prior. The defendant's attorney then produced a writ of protection in favour of the defendant, running from 29 Aug. for one year, and prayed that the action might be adjourned without a day. The court allowed the protection as regards the two debts for money borrowed. But, since by the custom of the city a protection was not valid in a plea concerning victuals, a jury was chosen, tried and sworn. They found for the plaintiff as regards the claim for £15 6s 8d and taxed the damages at 10 marks. Therefore it was considered that the plaintiff recover these sums.

Afterwards on 29 Oct. the prior came into court before Nicholas Brembre, Mayor, and the Aldermen, with a writ of the king annulling the protection, and prayed that the defendant might be summoned to answer for the loans. The latter made four defaults, whereupon it was considered that the said £3 13s 4d should be arrested and remain in the prior's hands and be allowed to him as a deduction from a larger sum of money which Robert Aleyn had recovered against him in an Assize of Freshforce heard before the sheriffs, unless the defendant appeared within a year and a day.