Roll A 18: 1372-73

ROLL A 18

Membr. 1

Names of the beadles, underbeadles and constables of the several Wards sworn to cleanse the streets A^o 46 Edw. III [1372].

Membr 1 b

8 Nov. 1372

Memorandum that the above-mentioned beadles, constables and rakyers who were sworn on Monday before the Feast of S^t Martin [11 Nov.] were given authority, whenever they found ordure within or in front of houses, to distrain the occupants for a fine of 2s, and when such filth was deposited in front of the houses of others, a fine of 4s, half to go to themselves in recompense for their trouble and half to be accounted for in the Chamber. In like manner they were granted half of the fines imposed for leaving casks, carts, rubbish or other nuisances in the streets.

Membr. 2

5 Sept. 1373

Thomas Leuesham, pelter, was committed to prison for drawing and brandishing his knife and using opprobrious words to Walter Forster, Alderman, upon Cornhill. On 9 Sept. he was mainprised by Thomas Irland and Thomas Pykenham to bring him up de die in diem.

18 July 1373

William Burdeyn, goldsmith, brought a bill of complaint against Thomas Bermyngham, cordwainer, for damage done to the fixtures in his house in the parish of S^t Michael atte Corne, and also for leaving 20 cartloads of dung there at the end of his tenancy. [French]

Both parties appeared on summons and agreed to submit themselves to the report of the Masters of the Carpenters and Masons sworn for the Assize of Building. The latter delivered a certificate (French) to the effect that in the presence of Henry Yevele, William Fraunceys, Richard Godchild, William Twyford and John Simond, acting as arbitrators, they had inspected the premises and found two leaden vessels standing on a stone furnace of which the curbs (courbes) had been removed, also a tappetrogh of lead and a maltbynne demolished, two ovenemouthes taken away, and that two lattices fixed with nails to the timber of the house had been removed. Judgment was given that the damage should be made good.

Membr. 2 b

22 Sept. 1373

William Preston brought a writ of protection, dated at Westminster 16 Sept., issued to him on his going abroad to the castle of Hammes (fn. 1) for provisioning the same.

...Oct. 1373

Information having been given to the Mayor and Aldermen that a quarrel had arisen between the Fishmongers, Mercers and Goldsmiths (fn. 2), resulting in assemblies against the peace, the good men of the said misteries were summoned and made to stand surety for each other.

A list of the said good men of the three misteries, followed by the names of 13 Saddlers (many names illegible).

Membr. 3

20 Jan. 1373

Zenobius Martyn, who had been indicted in Langbourne Ward as a common bawd and associate of prostitutes, admitted his offence and put himself on the mercy of the court. He also admitted that, though he was not a freeman of the City, he kept a lodging-house for aliens and had acted as a broker against the ordinances of the City (fn. 3), and that he had admitted to his house men of ill-fame, evildoers, thieves and prostitutes. He was committed to prison until etc.

9 Feb. 1373

John van Vinia was charged with having sold wine retail, though he was not a freeman of the City, and further with having sold wine secretly, without any sign hung from his tavern, at a price of 14d the gallon of Rhine wine, whereas the ordinance forbade a higher price than 12d (fn. 4). He was committed to prison. Subsequently his servant Henry Rothe was alleged to have drawn wine from a cask which the masters of the Vintners had marked on suspicion of unsoundness.

The same day Mork Lumbard, Lodewic Lumbard, John Heyward, servant of Torold Gascoigne, Petirkin. Taverner, Master Paul, John Botiller and John Palyn were fined for similar offences, including that of selling Clarre at 20d the gallon (fn. 5).

19 Feb. 1373

John Blakthorn, lethirdighere, was committed to prison for refusing to obey the rulers of his mistery, and for opprobrious words spoken to the Recorder.

Membr. 3 b

Adam de Kent, pelter, William Warewyk, pelter, John Stynyngton, tailor, John Harewode, tailor, John de Soham, tailor, Edmund de Yernmouth, tailor, Thomas de Kirton, tailor, and Clement de Kirton, tailor, were attached to answer a charge that they and others with force and arms, to wit, swords and knives, made an assembly, under colour of playing with a football, in order to assault others, occasion disputes, and perpetrate other evil deeds against the peace in Sopers Lane, Cheap and Cordwainer Street. The said Adam and Thomas pleaded not guilty and put themselves on the country. The others said that they had played football but done no harm. The said Adam was mainprised for his appearance, while the rest were committed to prison.

Membr 4.

7 March. 1373

Pleas held before the Mayor and Aldermen on Monday the Feast of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas [7 March] A ^o 47 Edw. III [1372-3]

William Strokelady, fishmonger, and Matilda his wife were summoned to answer Friar Alexander de Kilmeston, Prior of New Place (fn. 6) near Guildford co. Surrey, who complained that he had demised to the said Matilda, when she was sole, under the name of Matilda, wife of the late William Spark, a shop and warehouse in the parish of S^t Mary atte Bowe for life at an annual rent of £7 8s, under condition that she should execute all repairs. She had, however, allowed a party wall between the shop and warehouse to become ruinous, so that the buildings were likely to fall and bring down with them adjacent buildings.

The defendants pleaded that the wall was already ruinous at the time of the lease and the only way in which it could be repaired was from the premises of other persons, into which they had no right of entry. The Prior denied these statements and declared that repairs could be competently executed from the defendant's own premises. After two adjournments for consultation the Court finally gave judgment for the Prior that he should recover his covenant against the defendants with 100s damages.

Membr 4 b ...

April 1373

Richard Somenour of Stebenheth, collector of the Fifteenth in the county of Middlesex, was summoned to answer the Commonalty at the suit of John de Wentbrigge for having levied a distress on the goods and chattels of a citizen dwelling within the liberty of the City, to the prejudice of the liberties of the City. The defendant admitted the offence and was fined £10.

29 April 1373

William Keyngham of Worcester was summoned before the Mayor and Aldermen and informed that John de Mitford, who possessed letters patent under the Mayoralty seal testifying that he was a citizen of London and therefore free of all tolls and customs, had been mulcted of 5s 8d by the bailiffs of Worcester under pretext of a custom or toll. The said William was ordered to warn the bailiffs that they must restore this money under penalty of withernam (fn. 7).

Membr. 5

28 April 1373

The Chandlers and Butchers of London appeared on summons and received an order that the tallowchandlers should not sell the pound of candles dearer than 2d, and that the butchers should not charge more than 18s for the wey of roughtalew, and more than 22s for the wey of moltetalew.

5 May 1373

John Pycard, horner, was mainprised by John Asshewell and Henry Pountfreit, skinner, to come up for judgment before the Mayor and Aldermen, for having made a plaint to the King (fn. 8) against John de Chichestre, Alderman of Farringdon Ward, who had fined him 12d for disobeying a summons relating to the assessment of one-third of the tallage of a Fifteenth, alleging that the said John had caused certain good men of his Ward to be unjustly imprisoned.

6 May 1373

John Stodele, tailor, was charged with having insulted and vilified Thomas de Same, collector of the above tax in Langbourne Ward. He pleaded not guilty and put himself on the evidence of Robert Honyford and others, who, on being separately examined, confirmed the plaintiff's allegations. The said John was sent to prison for eight days, after which he was released on mainprise for his good behaviour.

Membr. 5 b

19 May 1373

John Botiller, hostiller, on behalf of himself and his partner Matthew Johan, paid in court to Peter Mark the sum of £100 on account of a certain exchange made at Bruges by William Agland, servant of Roger Morton of York, with Reyner Domenyk of Florence. It was agreed that the money should be repaid if the letter from the said William, presented by Peter Mark, should prove to be false.

Writ of protection in favour of Richard Pulter on his going oversea on the King's service in the company of Sir Richard Northland, knight. Dated at Westminster, 10 May A^o 47 Edw. III [1373].

Membr. 6 ...

May 1373

Inventory of the goods of Thomas Mockyng, late citizen and fishmonger, viz:

In the chamber: A new bed and a tapestry (unum tapit') (fn. 9), price 42s; another bed with a tapestry, 6s 8d; 3 quiltes and one matras, 8s; 3 rugs (chalones), one framework (supellex), one tester, one blanket, 8s; 5 feather beds, 2 pillows (cervical'), 18s; 4 pairs of sheets, 17s; 5 mongers (fn. 10), 2s; panels round the bed (tabule circa lectum), 3s; 2 curtains (rydelli) 3s; 2 chests, 2 counters (computoria), 10s; a silver girdle, 20s; 2 pairs of amber paternosters, 6s.

In the hall: 3 dorsers, 3 bankers, 6 cushions, £4 15s 8d; 3 old bankers and 5 cushions, 3s 4d; one board (tabula), 2 trestles and 5 stools, 8s; 3 chequer-boards (scaccar'), 2s; one ferplace of iron, one pair of tonges, 31s 3d; 5 basins whereof one is round, 7 wash-bowls (lavatoria), whereof one is a hanging-bowl; 4 candelabra weighing ½ cwt 15 lbs at 2d the lb, 16s 3d.

In the storehouse (dispensa): 7 cloths (mappe), 6 handtowels (manutergia) and 4 napkins (manapia), 24s; one aumbry (fn. 11) and 4 fates (fn. 12), 4s; 5 barrels, 2s; one gallon-jug, 5 pottle jugs and 2 quart-jugs, all of pewter, weighing 35 lb at 2d a lb, 7s 3d; 3 chargers, 12 platerell' (fn. 13), 12 plates, 12 salt-cellars, all of pewter, weighing ½ cwt 17 lbs at 2½d the lb, 13s 11d; one broken silver cup called a "biker," another silver-gilt cup with a silver foot and 4 other silver cups without feet, 24 silver spoons, weighing by goldsmith's weight, £8 5s, at 25s the goldsmiths £, £10 6s 3d; 3 nuts (nuces) with silver feet, 40s; 4 broken cups of mazer and one broken cup of werr' (fn. 14), 15s; 2 cups of mazer and one of werr', 46s 8d.

In the parlour (interlocutorium): one dorser and one banker, 10s; one board (tabula) and one counter, 5s; one board (tabula) for cups called a "cupbord," 4s.

In the chamber next to the parlour: One aumbry and 3 chairs, 4s; In The Workmen's Room (camera serviencium): one chest and one board, 2s; in the solar above the same called the "prentiseschaumbre," 2 boards, 12d; 4 forms (forme), 3s.

In the kitchen: 2 mortars, 2s; 2 fates, 7s; one watertankard, 2s; 5 tubbes, 12d; one sieve called "hersive," (fn. 15) 4d; one board for a form, 8d; 2 large spits and 3 small spits, 2 tripods, 2 gridirons (craticula), one frying-pan (patella frixoria), one grom (fn. 16), one ferpanne (fn. 17) and four iron rods (virge) for curtains, weighing in all 220 lbs at 1½d the lb, 27s 6d; 5 pitchers (urcieli), 7 pots (olle), 7 pans, 2 caldrons (cacabi) called "caudrons" all of brass, weighing 2 cwt 3 qrs 10 lbs at 2d the lb, 47s 6d.

Good and desperate debts: £375 18s.

Sum total: £614 14s 3d.

Membr. 7

Ward Presentments, by the oaths of the twelve jurors

Langebourne. Roger de Ware, cook, who was presented as a common nightwalker, confessed his offence and put himself on the mercy of the Court.

Portsokene. The jurors presented that the common lane leading to le pettes was obstructed because John atte Watre and others and their servants cast dung there, and the carters of London daily brought dung from divers places in the City and unloaded it in the Ward, against ancient custom and to the oppression of the whole Ward; also that the new bridge constructed by the King between the Tower and the Hospital of S^t Katherine had been enclosed, so that citizens could only pass on paying toll to the Janitor of the Tower, and that the Master of the said Hospital exacted wharfage from the citizens of London, against ancient custom and the liberties of the City, and in oppression of the citizens.

Algate. The jurors presented that the lane between the .... of Holy Trinity and the Abbot of Bury was obstructed by dung and filth, and that the highway between le Crowcherch (fn. 18) and the....of Geoffrey Puppe was so stopped up that it was impossible to walk or ride through it; also that between the Rents of S^t Katherine and the Rents of John Berton the highway was likewise obstructed with filth; further that the highway leading to the church of S^t Mary atte Nax was blocked with timber belonging to Robert King and Thomas de Mockyng, fishmonger.

Queenhithe. The jurors presented nuisances connected with the church of S^t Olof (fn. 19) and Cordwainer Street, further that a stone wall next to the churchyard of S^t Nicholas Coldabbey ought to be lowered to the lawful height and that the.... enclosing the churchyard ought to be taken away, that a stulpe (fn. 20) was in the way of carters and ought to be removed, that a paling and a house on the Salt Wharf (fn. 21) ought to be removed because they encroached on public easements, that the common bridge between the Salt Wharf and the tenement of the Abbot....had been shortened by three feet to the prejudice of the citizens, that the lane between the tenements of the Abbot of Tourhull (fn. 22) and of the Abbot of Lesyns (fn. 23), in the occupation of Robert Parys, was closed by a gate at the entrance, and a house had been built by the said Robert at the inner end of the lane, that a certain common lane called "Rattesalie" was blocked with cart wheels and timbers supporting a wall, and also that a certain John Dudlee, boter, and others were quarrelsome and were continually causing disputes and disturbances (tremores) in the Ward.

Castle Baynard Ward. The jurors presented that the highway from the church of S^t Mary Magdalene at the end of Oldefisshstrete was obstructed, that Dolitellane was likewise stopped up with dung, that the gutter which used to have its course through the middle of Oldechaunge through Oldefisshstrete had been diverted into Cartereslane, that the gutter which used to go from Eldedeneslane through Bowiersrowe had been diverted by the Gate of S^t Paul's to the Watergate of Castle Baynard, so that the brewers and others could not carry on their work owing to the stench and filth, that William de Cloyne's gutter in Sarmoneruslane (fn. 24) was a nuisance, and that other lanes [illegible] were choked with refuse.

Membr. 7 b

23 May 1373

Letters under the Mayoralty Seal certifying particulars of a fraud committed on Philip Nery, merchant of Florence, in respect of certain merchandise consigned to him by Nicholas Donat of Sienna, pepperer of London. It was alleged that on the latter's death, his attorney Nicholas Amanate had changed the marks on certain bales freighted at Sluys so as to give the impression that they were being consigned by Phili Nery to Nicholas Donat, instead of the reverse, and consequently these bales had been arrested by the Sheriffs on the instructions of Lodewic Fraunceys, executor of Nicholas Donat, as being the property of the testator. The dispute between the said Philip and the said Lodewic had been submitted to the arbitration of John Bernes and Adam Stable, Aldermen, and Nicholas Russell and James Jacobyn, merchants of Florence, and by the intervention of the Mayor an agreement had been arrived at whereby the said Philip was to have the bales on payment of a certain sum in Flemish scudos. The above particulars are certified to assist the said Philip in legal proceedings against Nicholas Amanate.

Membr. 8

2 May 1373

Particulars of goods in the house of Emma Hatfeld, delivered to Matthew Langrich, fishmonger, and Margaret, daughter of William Hatfeld, chandler, on Monday after the Feast of SS. Philip and James [1 May] A^o 47 Edw. III [1373]: Money in the shop, 12s; divers debts, £11 7s 9d; a barrel of Seville oil (oitte de Civile), 30s; one barrel of seym (fn. 25), 25s; a tub of Seville oil, 18s; 12 gallons of pichsmult (fn. 26), 9s; 8 stones and 5 lbs of flathegrece (fn. 27), 7s; 94 lbs of candles, 13s 4d; 2 pots with white grease, 3s; 7 pieces of cord, 10½d; 2 dozen and 10 halters (chevestres), 17d; 5 pieces of bastilcordes (fn. 28), 20d; 17 panniers, 18d; ½ cwt 14 lbs of rosyn, 3s 4d; 20 lbs of seu (fn. 29), 2s 6d; one piece of saccloth, 6s; 2½ bushels of salt, 22d; packthread (pacfill) and whippecorde, 8d; 6 auncers with 4 bolies, 5s; one perche (fn. 30) of iron, 3s 4d; one lantern, 12d; 2 pieces of Sandwich cord, 10d; onetun and other vessels, 13s 4d; 4 barrels of thick seym, £4.; one barrel saltsmult (fn. 31),35s; one barrel of mixed (medle) seym, 33s 4d; one tubbe of refus, 23s 4d; one tub of black seym, 13s 4d; pichsmult, 5s; 231 lbs of candles, 42s; 33 lbs of green candles, 5s 6d; 6 empty tuns, 24s; 5 chests, 5s; code (fn. 32) and rosyn, 6s 8d; one grynstone, 12d; one iron beam with the weights, 23s 4d; 6 empty tuns, 13s 4d; 36 empty barrels, 9s; one empty tun, 8d; 11 bushels of salt of Berflet (fn. 33), 8s 3d; 2½ qrs of coarse salt, 11s 8d; 16½ stones of flotts (fn. 34), 8s 3d; 7½ stones of green sue, 7s 10½d; 12 lbs of cotton (coton), 10s.

Item 3 dorsers with cushions, costers and bankers, £6 6s 8d; 3 folding tables (tables pliants) and 4 plain tables with trestles, 20s; 7 stoles, 14d; one target and one launce, 2s; two ladders (escheles), 12d; bacyns and ewers, 30s.

Item divers pieces of cloth (listres) with curtains and testers and other things belonging to a chamber, and also a seynte (fn. 35), £12 5s 2d; silver vessels, £7 15d; a nut (nois) fitted with a covercle of silver, 30s; a silver foot for a mazer cup, 8s 6d.

Item 10 hanaps (fn. 36) of mazer, £4 9s; table-knives, 4s; napery, 20s; a candelabrum of latten, 18s.

Item divers brass pots, £4 12s; divers pails, 18s 6d; pewter vessels, 43s 6¾d; divers things of iron, 33s; divers things belonging to the hostiel, 40s.

Sum total £86 9s 5¼d.

Note that the above Matthew Langrich paid a fine of 60s because he married the said Margaret without permission of the Court.

Membr. 9

2 July 1373

Note that certain goods seized by the collectors of Broad Street Ward from Walter Southous, Venturus Alisaundre, Cecilia Fynamour and Simon Legge, to wit, silver spoons, mazer cups and a brass pan, were valued, and notice was given that they would be sold unless they were redeemed within eight days.

Membr. 9 b ...

Aug. 1373

...Aug. A^o 47 Edw. III [1373] John Wyghale, brewer, and John Wyther were committed to prison for taking excessive wages from Thomas Godsire against the ordinance, i.e. 3s 8d and 2s respectively. Afterwards on Tuesday the eve of S^t Lawrence they were liberated on paying those sums as a fine.

5 Aug. 1373

Writ of protection in favour of Thomas Serland, Lombard. Dated at Wodestok, 5 Aug. A^o 47 Edw. III [1373].

Similar writ of the same date in favour of Bartholomew de Bosane, Lombard.

13 Aug. 1373

Power of Attorney from Philip Nery of Florence to William Eynesham and Bartholomew Gerardy of Florence.

Membr. 10

27 June 1373

Writ of certiorari demanding the record and process of an action pending in the Husting between John Everard and Margaret, relict of John de la Touke. Dated at Westminster, 27 June A^o 47 Edw. III [1373].

Return giving the proceedings in the above action up to date, as entered in the Husting Roll (No. xciv) among the Pleas of Land of Monday before the Feast of S^t Barnabas the Apostle [11 June] A^o 46 Edw. III [1372].

[The Husting Roll contains the whole action, which was begun by a writ of Right Patent dated 16 Jan. A^o 43 Edw. III [1369-70]. After the usual series of summonses and essoins the plaintiff, John Everard, on Monday after the Feast of the Translation of S^t Edward King [13 Oct.] A^o 44 Edw. III [1370] by Gilbert de Meldebourne, his attorney, demanded a messuage and 40s annual rent, formerly belonging to a certain Sarra Amys. On her dying without issue the property had fallen in (resortebatur) to a certain William, maternal uncle of her father John, of which William the plaintiff was son and heir. The defendant Margaret by her attorney Robert de Watlyngton pleaded that she held the messuage and rent for life by letters patent granted to her late husband, the reversion belonging to the King. She demanded the King's aid. Thereupon the plaintiff was directed to sue against the King. Subsequently the plaintiff produced a writ of procedendo, dated 26 April A^o 46 Edw. III [1372] setting forth that Margaret had been summoned before the King in Chancery to show cause etc., and by her attorney Hugh de Gaudeby had given no reason why the action should not proceed, wherefore the Court was ordered to continue the action but not to give judgment before consulting the King. In further proceedings the defendant produced a copy of a grant by the King of the reversion of the above property, which was situated in the Riole (fn. 37), to Robert de Corby, the deed mentioning that the King had previously granted it for life to John de la Touke, butler of the late Queen Isabella, and Margaret his wife. This document was dated 20 Jan. A^o 38 Edw. III [1364-5]. She said further that Robert de Corby was dead and that the reversion descended to his son Robert, whom she vouched to warranty. As regards the 40s annual rent, she said that as a result of an inquest held before John Pecche, then Mayor and Escheator, on the death of Sarra Amys, the rent had escheated to the King, as she was prepared to verify by a jury.

The plaintiff prayed judgment as to whether she ought to be allowed to call to warranty, since she had already invoked the aid of the King. A warranty, he pleaded, would not establish the King's title but merely depended on it. The defendant pleaded that she had a right to call to warranty in order to exonerate the King, even though she had previously invoked the King's aid. The case was adjourned for consultation on this point. As regards the 40s rent both parties were agreed to submit the matter to a jury.

Membr. 10 b

Subsequently Robert Corby appeared and prayed to be admitted to defend his right in the reversion, on the ground that the defendant Margaret had only a life interest, and was pleading fictitiously (ficte) in order to lose the aforesaid messuage, to the disinheriting of the applicant. Thereupon the parties were asked to show cause why the intervener should not defend his right, and offered no objection. He was accordingly admitted, and demanded the aid of the King. The Court ordered the plaintiff again to sue against the King. Process was continued until Monday after the Feast of S^t Hilary [13 Jan.] A^o 46 Edw. III [1372-3], when, as regards the annual rent of 40s, a jury found that the plaintiff was the heir of the above-mentioned Sarra Amys. Judgment was respited till the King's writ of procedendo should be received.

Finally on Monday after the Feast of S^t Hilary [13 Jan.] A^o 49 Edw. III [1375-6] a writ of procedendo was received to the effect that as the defendant Margaret, the King's Serjeants and his Attorney, Michael Skillyng, had offered no objection, the Husting should proceed to judgment as regards the 40s rent, but as regards the messuage no plea should be held without consulting the King. Judgment was thereupon given for the plaintiff for the rent.]

16 Feb. 1373

Letters Patent (fn. 38) directed to Francis de Mari, captain and leader of the Genoese crossbowmen (balistariorum) in the King's service. As the King had been given to understand that dangerous dissensions had arisen among the said crossbowmen, he grants to the above Francis full power to settle all disputes, to exercise due authority over the men, and to imprison or otherwise punish any of them found guilty of creating dissension or resisting his authority. At the same time precept is given to all sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, officers and other lieges within and outside all liberties to assist him in so doing whenever required. Dated at Westminster, 16 Feb. A^o 47 Edw. III [1373-4].

Memorandum that John Maykin, shipman, and Robert Pountfreyt, cornmonger, acknowledged in Court that £20 had been deposited in their hands by Gerbert Frese as representing the sixth part of his ship, which sixth part belonged to a certain Lodowyc Vandelak. It had been agreed that if a certain William Warde and Henry Baret, who had an action of account pending against the said Lodowyc, should succeed in their action, then the £20 should be paid to them; otherwise the money should be returned to Gerbert Frese. By consent of the latter, a sum of £4 freightage earned by the sixth part was paid over to the plaintiffs, under security to answer for the same if they failed in their action.