Roll A 13: 1367-68

ROLL A 13

Membr. 1

Pleas held in the Chamber of the Guildhall before James Andreu, Mayor, and the Aldermen, A ^o 41 Edw. III [1367-8]

20 Dec. 1367

William Underwode, William Webbe, Nicholas Longe and John Wyot, masters of the Butchers at the Stocks, were sworn to regulate the mistery of Butchers and present defects therein.

John atte Wyre and John Pyk, weavers of Brabant, and John van Wettre and Paul Stolpard, weavers of Flanders, were elected bailiffs of the Weavers by the Mayor and Aldermen, and sworn to regulate their mistery and report any weavers found obstructing them in their duties.

22 Nov. 1367

Friar John Woderove, Warden of the House of Derteford (fn. 1), recently founded by the King, presented a bill by his attorney, Friar Walter Durant, complaining that he had lent to John Chynle, mercer, and his partner Ralph Knyghton the sum of £55 belonging to the House, to be repaid last Michaelmas. The borrowers had traded and profited with the money, which they now refused to pay. He prayed that the said Ralph be summoned to answer. [French]

The defendant appeared on summons and denied that he was a partner either at the time of the loan or afterwards. Thereupon with the consent of the plaintiff's attorney he made his law to that effect with his single hand (cum sola manu propria). Judgment that the plaintiff take nothing by his bill and be in mercy and that the said Ralph go quit.

Membr. 1 b

9 Dec. 1367

An inquest was taken before the Mayor as to evildoers and disturbers of the peace, through whom discord, dissension and breaches of the peace arose in the City, by oath of Richard Savage, Thomas Hornere, John Mymmes, William Koc, William Kyriel, Adam Underwode, Thomas Welde, John Gromet, John Sexi, Roger Alisaundre, John Bodesham and John Lyncoln. The jurors said that on Sunday before the Feast of S^t Andrew [30 Nov.] in the parish of S^t Sepulchre without Newgate, John Depham, ironmonger, and Simon Macchyng, hosteler, by malicious and contumelious words assaulted and disparaged John atte Felde, John Rogier and William Debelyn, saying that they were false procurers and conspirators in a false inquest taken before the Mayor as King's Escheator (fn. 2) concerning the tenements of the late Thomas de Berden. The said John and Simon had also declared that, owing to the conspiracy of the said John, John and William, John Depham had wrongfully lost the above tenements. Further the said John had threatened them and had followed them from the churchyard to the highroad with the intention of killing them, causing a great affray and disturbance of the King's peace.

On Tuesday after the Epiphany, the said John Depham and Simon Macchyng were attached to answer the King, on behalf of whom John Asshwell prosecuted, as regards the above indictment. Both pleaded not guilty and put themselves on their country. Next day a jury found them not guilty and they were acquitted.

Membr. 2

9 Nov. 1367

Mayoral precept issued to William Bathe, John de Idyngham, Simon atte Nax, William Sallowe, William Persshore, William Debelyn and Adam atte Water, who were sworn this day as wardens of Fleet Bridge, ordering them to undertake the cleansing of all streets, lanes and the bank (rive) of the Fleet, in Fleet Street, and to levy the required moneys from all the householders, according to their estate, between the Porch of S^t Paul's and le Templebarre. If the wardens found anyone casting rubbish, gravel or dung out of their doors into the said streets, lanes and Fleet, they were to levy from each offender the sum of 2s to the use of the Chamber, for which the present precept should be their warrant. Written at Guildhall, 9 Nov. [French]

Henry Bosworth, Thomas Cornwaleys, Thomas Gysors, Robert de la More, Henry Herbury and John Clyvelee were elected and sworn before the Mayor and Aldermen to regulate the mistery of Vintners and to enforce the proper sale of wine, both Rhine (de Renya) and Gascony, without deception. Only sound and incorrupt wine was to be sold, and there was to be no mixing of wines in the City. All defects in the trade were to be reported to the Mayor and Aldermen.

16 Nov. 1367

Adam Stable, William Essex, James Jacomyn and Paul Penyk were chosen arbitrators between Robert Northwold and James Beal, Lombard, and the Mayor and Recorder as umpires (inpares).

Membr. 2 b

29 Nov. 1367

John Gyle and Richard Halsted, weavers, Richard Dorsete and William Castel, being sworn to examine defects in a white cloth made by Richard Webbe, found that Roger Mordon, skinner, had incurred damage of 40d owing to bad weaving by the said Richard. Judgment for that amount.

10 Nov. 1367

Richard Wasshelyn, apprentice of John Hatfeld, grocer, brought a bill of complaint against his master, alleging that, though he had served faithfully for about ten years, the said John, without any reasonable cause and in order to damage him, had turned him out at the Feast of the Nativity B.M. [8 Sept.], his term being incomplete, and would neither allow him to serve his full term, nor make a reasonable arrangement for terminating the apprenticeship, although the complainant, on his master's demand, had brought his friends from Lincolnshire at considerable expense to them for the purpose of such an arrangement. Accordingly he prayed that he might either serve his full term or be exonerated from his apprenticeship in a proper manner, and further that he might be admitted to the freedom, and his pledges be discharged, in view of the fact that his apprenticeship would have been completed at Christmas. [French]

The master appeared on summons and by his attorney, Gilbert Melchebourne, declared that he had no claim on the apprentice and no desire to keep him, but as regards making him free of the City according to the custom, he pleaded that he was not bound to do so, because of the apprentice's misconduct, which had damaged him to the extent of 1000 marks.

The apprentice, while not admitting any offences against his indentures, asked, on the ground that his master made no claim to him, that his sureties should be discharged and that he should be admitted to the freedom. The Court, after an adjournment for consultation, eventually released the apprentice from his indentures and discharged his sureties, and also exonerated the master from making him a freeman of the City. The master was in mercy.

Membr. 3

29 Jan. 1368

An inquest was taken before the Mayor as to evildoers and disturbers of the peace guilty of divers trespasses and other evil deeds in the Ward of Aldgate, by oath of Richard atte Seler and fifteen others, who said that on the preceding Thursday Richard de Daventry, then servant of the Sheriff's serjeant, broke through a window into the house of John Myte and afterwards broke open a locked door and took away a horse belonging to John de Brampton, a pound of pepper, value 15d, and two pounds of cotoun, value 2s.

1 Feb. 1368

An inquest was taken before the Mayor as to the cause of an affray in Cheap Ward, by oath of Robert Chesterfeld and eleven others, who said that on the preceding Sunday Robert de Salesbury, the beadle, and the constables of the Ward were keeping watch, when about midnight Henry Plater, saddler, William Braunceby, saddler, John Saunfayt and William, servant of William Hardyng, saddler, came into Cheap with long knives and without lights, contrary to the law, and on their attempting to arrest them, the said Henry drew a long knife and wounded the beadle and constables, who nevertheless arrested him and lodged him in the Sheriff's house, while the rest took flight. The jury further found that the beadle was doing his duty and that if the said Henry came by any harm, it was his own fault. The prisoner was released on mainprise of William Pykerel, and precept was issued to the Sheriff to attach the other offenders by their bodies and commit them to prison until etc.

1 March 1368

John, son of Edmund Faukes of Bandon, brought a bill of complaint to the effect that he had served as apprentice to Roger de Reygate, joiner, for five years come Easter (vigne la feste de Pasqy), during which time his master had not enrolled him, taught him his trade or found him in clothing and necessaries, but had fled as a debtor to S^t Martin le Grand, for which reasons the said John prayed to be discharged from further service. [French]

The master, on being summoned, made default. The Court thereupon adjudged that the apprentice should be free to seek instruction elsewhere, without claim of the said Roger or his executors, and that the indentures should be cancelled.

Membr 3 b

24 April 1368

Richard de Penbrugge, knight, demands an assize of nuisance (fn. 3) against William la Zouche of Haryngworth, as to his free tenement in the parish of S^t Andrew, Cornhill.

8 May 1368

Peter Daudele Ondelye, Simon Cokerel, Baldwyn Marchant and John Tyto, good men of Amiens, undertook in full court to pay 50 marks to James Andreu, Mayor, on the Feast of Corpus Christi [8 June].

Petition of Joyncyn Gascogne and Nicholas Sardouche, merchants of Lucca, that Canalke Passe, merchant of Lucca, attorney of Bartholomew Spefham, may be summoned to court to acknowledge receipt of 300 old crowns (escuz veilles), the residue of a sum of 1100 old crowns, for which the said Canalke had sued them about the Feast of the Nativity of S^t John the Baptist last past, and which they had now paid. They pray that the acknowledgment may be entered on the Records and a copy be delivered to them. [French]

Afterwards on 30 June the said Canalke came and acknowledged receipt.

Membr. 4

20 June 1368

William Gyffard, William Crounthorp and Ralph de Shakeden, of the mistery of Skinners, were mainprised by Thomas de Irland, skinner, Nicholas de Exton, skinner, John Aston, fishmonger, and Edmund de zernemuth, tailor, for their good behaviour towards the King and his people, and that they would not form congregations, unions (alligaciones) and covins in taverns or other places, whereby the King's peace might be hindered, and that they would be ready to stand their trial whenever summoned by the Mayor and Sheriffs and their officers. Bartholomew Myne, spicer, entered into a separate mainprise for the above William Gyifard.

Robert Godrych, John de Romeseye and William Payn of the mistery of Skinners were similarly mainprised by Nicholas Bosebury, cordwainer, John Keleshull, carpenter, Adam le Chaundeler, Peter de Mildenhale, skinner, John Conynton, brewer, and John Lyt, brewer.

3 July 1368

William Wyng, cook, was committed to Newgate for selling three pullets at the excessive price of 15d, contrary to the statute of the City (fn. 4), and also for threatening Thomas Neel, taverner. Three days later he was released on mainprise of Thomas Felmyle, taverner, to keep the peace and not to sell his victuals at too high a price.

8 July 1368

William Ludryngton, tailor, and John Oliver were brought before the Mayor and Aldermen for playing at dice and merels (ad mirella) (fn. 5) and other fraudulent games. The said William and John forswore such games in future and informed the Court that William atte Wode and Cok atte Wode of Greenwich were hasardours (fn. 6) like themselves and had been associated with them in deceiving the people. Order was given to arrest them.

The same day Thomas Andreu, draper, acknowledged himself bound to William Lameleye, skinner, in £23 17s, to Robert Clerk, butcher, in 190s and to Gilbert Mokkyng in 44s, which he promised to pay as soon as he received the sum of £54 10s 5d due. on a tally given to him by Sir John de Cobham, son of the Countess Marshal (fn. 7). This tally related to an assignment for that sum made by the King in favour of Sir John upon the custom-collectors of the town of S^t Botolph's (Boston, co. Lines.). In order to give greater security to William Lameleye and the others, James Andreu entered into mainprise for Thomas Andreu that he would fulfil the conditions.

Membr. 4 b

17 April 1368

John Fisshe, dighere, brought a bill of complaint alleging that John Haliwell, his journeyman, on Sunday after the Feast of All Saints [1 Nov.] 1365, ran off with his (the plaintiff's) wife Elizabeth, taking with him cloth, linen, wool and other goods and chattels to the value of £200. [French]

Both parties having been summoned, the defendant appeared next day and confessed that he had lain with Elizabeth, the complainant's wife, but pleaded not guilty as to taking away his goods, and thereon he put himself on the country. He was committed to prison for lack of mainprise. On 20 April a jury of Richard Yonge and others found a verdict for the plaintiff with 40 marks damages. Judgment accordingly, and the defendant was committed to prison until etc.

21 Oct. 1368

Thomas Blankowe and Alice Breton, who had been sued by Emma Saltere in a plea of debt of 52s, made four defaults, whereupon the plaintiff prayed that the foreign attachment made upon them might be valued and delivered to her under security according to the custom of the City. The goods were valued by oath of Simon Maching, John Gildeford and John Duston as follows: a coat (tunica) of bluet (fn. 8) furred, 8s; an old materaz, 16d; a coverlet with a tester of blue, 5s; a pair of sheets, 2s; a pair of old sheets, 6d; 2 tuaills (fn. 9) and 2 naperouns (fn. 10), 12d; a pair of hose and a pair of old shoes, 8d; a faldyng (fn. 11), 12d; an unlined (non dupplicata) cloak with two women's hoods, 2s; a pelewe, 4d; 2 cichar' (fn. 12), 12d; a bowl, a tankard and a lynset (fn. 13), 6d; a banner of carde (fn. 14), 6d; a male (fn. 15) with divers small objects necessary for women's occupations valued together, 6d; a chest, 2s; a canvas, 8d; a coverlet, 2s; a tester, 4d; 1 quylte devel (fn. 16), 8d; a forcer with 2 keverchefs and other pynchers (fn. 17) and 3 cordouns (fn. 18) for a woman's head together with other small instruments belonging to women and one pair of tablets, valued altogether at 2s; a large old tablet (tabula), 6d; total 32s 6d. The above goods were delivered to the plaintiff under pledge of John Squier and Walter atte Ravene to answer therefor if the debtors appeared to plead within a year and a day.

Membr. 5

5 Oct. 1368

John Blockele came into the Chamber and delivered to John Prentiz, cutler, and Gilbert de Meldebourne, attorney of John, son of John de Bristowe, the will of the said John de Bristowe, together with a writing obligatory of £20 made by John de Derby, clerk, to John de Bristowe, clerk, an indenture of defeasance of the same, and a writing obligatory of 10 marks made by Thomas Cassy, Thomas de Stoke and others to John de Kirketon.

Membr. 6

14 Aug. 1368

Thomas Kynebell, rector of S^t Martin Pomeroy, came before the Mayor and Aldermen and asked to be admitted to prove as his own certain goods and chattels which had been attached as being the property of Margery, late wife and administratrix of Geoffrey de Dytton, at the suit of John Manner, attorney of John Croys of Amiens, for a debt of £40. The goods were as follows:

In The Hall: 2 dosers, 4 costers, 6 banquers, 3 douseyns quyssyns (fn. 19), 2 tables, one countour, 2 forms, one skren with a cupboard, one basin, one lavour, one schekker, 12 chairs, one large gaioll with birds, 2 chaundelers pendaunz, one chaundeler esteant, 3 tristells, one iron bar standing behind the fire, one pair of tongs, 2 furches.

In The Chamber: 20 coverlytes, 2 testers, 2 pairs of curteyns, 19 pairs of sheets (lyntheux), 15 feather-beds with the travesyns, 11 oralers, 22 closours of linen for beds, 3 large huches, 5 small huches, one long chayer, 2 countours, 2 aundirnes for the chimney, one standing chandelier, 50 dressed rabbit-skins, 2 pairs of trestles, 2 basins, 4 lavours, 2 complete robes, 2 cotes with the chaperons.

In The Pantry: 4 bordclothes, 4 towaills, 6 savenaps, 4 salers, 2 pieces of silver, 5 mazers whole and broken, 6 chandeliers of laton, 10 pewter pottle-pots, 4 pewter quartpots and one pint (pot), 2 gistes, 2 almaries, one small aunser, one pair of irons for waffres, one sarce, one pair of leather quart-bottles.

In The Parlour: one doser, 3 banquers, one huche, one knife for trenchours.

In The Kitchen: six brass (erresme) pots, one posnet, 4 large payelz and one small, 4 caudrouns, 3 brandirens, 2 gridils, 3 iron gromes, one iron frying-pan, 2 iron slyce, one fleschoke, one scomour, one iron ladel, one large iron broche rounde and 3 small, 2 large knives for the cosyne, 3 morteres de marbil, 2 wooden pestels, one myrour, 2 iron hokes, 2 coloundours of latoun, one large hache, 2 stones of mustard, two long iron pails, 2 tables for the dressour, one portion of fowaill, 6 fother of carbouns, one vache, one pewter pot for vyneker, 5 large fatez, 4 kymlyns, 3 tubs, one cuve, 2 troghes, one fan, one quarter of malt, one bultyngton, 4 barrels for verjouce, 6 sacks for wheat, six barrels for ale, 3 barrels of white salt, one quarter of large salt in a piece, one portion of glas, 3 tuns of noys, 5 pipes descors de noys, 10 aumes of Rhine wine in 3 pipes.

The said Thomas Kynebell declared that all the above chattels were his own before, at the time of, and after the said arrest, and that no other person had any property in them to the value of 4d, and that if they were lost, the loss would fall upon himself alone, and his present claim was not by any colour of fraud (aliquo colore fraudis) or collusion to exclude any one from his action, but merely to prove that the goods were his own. He was admitted to probate, after which the Court awarded him delivery of the goods.

26 July 1368

An inquest of office was taken before the Mayor and Aldermen to discover what persons were in the habit of throwing the offal of beasts, and other filthy and putrid matter from the slaughtering of beasts, into the Thames at the bridges and other places contiguous to the river, and likewise of carrying such offal through the lanes and streets to the aforesaid river, whereby the water was rendered corrupt and generated fetid smells, becoming an abominable sight and nuisance to all dwelling near or crossing the river; further, as to whether the practice of slaughtering beasts within the City, as then carried on, was a nuisance to the commonalty of the City or not. A jury of Stephen Verder, Richard Freman, John Abbot, Richard Botiller, William Austyn, Stephen Standard, John de Shene, Geoffrey Sutton, William Wotton, Richard Marchaunt, Richard Taillour and Robert at Welle of Castle Baynard Ward found that the butchers of St Nicholas Shambles and their servants were in the habit of carrying the said offal and filth to the bridge called "Bochersbregge" near Castle Baynard and there casting it into the Thames, making the water foul, that in its passage through the streets some of the offal fell from the vessels in which it was carried, and that the blood of the animals slaughtered in the Shambles aforesaid found its way down the streets and lanes to the Thames, making a foul corruption and abominable sight and nuisance to all dwelling near or using those streets and lanes. They said further that it would be more proper and decent that the butchers should slaughter their cattle outside the City.

Similar inquests were held and verdicts given by jurors of the Wards of Farringdon Without, Vintry and Queenhithe.

Membr. 6 b

3 July 1368

A Congregation of the Mayor and Aldermen in the Chamber of the Guildhall on Monday after the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul [29 June]

On which day the King sent his writ under the Great Seal enjoining upon the Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffs to take into consideration and find a remedy for the complaints contained in a petition against the butchers of the City, which certain magnates and others of the commonalty of the City had sent to him. Witness the King at Westminster, 24 June A^o 42 Edw. III [1368].

Enclosure: Petition from the Bishop of London, the Earls of Warwick (fn. 20) and Salisbury, Mary de S^t Pol, Countess of Pembroke (fn. 21), and other dwellers in the lane called "Oldedeneslane (fn. 22)," complaining that the butchers between S^t Martin's Church and the Friars Minors, who used to slaughter their cattle and leave their offal and refuse outside the City, had recently taken to slaughtering their cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry within the City, carrying the offal and offensive refuse by day and night through Oldedeneslane and by the King's Wardrobe to a small plot by the Thames close to the Friars Preachers, to the grievous corruption of the water and to the great damage and annoyance of the petitioners, and against ancient custom, wherefore the petitioners pray that the Mayor and Sheriffs may be ordered to examine the matter diligently and find a suitable remedy. [French]

1 July 1368

Further letter under the Privy Seal, ordering the Mayor etc. to provide such a remedy as would relieve the petitioners and preserve the good name of the City. Dated at Westminster, 1 July.

26 July 1368

Inquests taken pursuant to the above writs and petition (see above, p. 93).

28 Aug. 1368

A portas (fn. 23), valued at 2 marks by oath of Robert Baroun, scrivener, and William Rydale, which had been attached in an action of debt brought by William de Rothewell, chaplain, against Hugh Marlebergh, parson of Silverton, was delivered to the plaintiff under pledge of William Barker and John Norwych, tailor, to answer therefor if etc.