Chronicles of the Mayors and Sheriffs: 1188-1239

CHRONICLES OF THE MAYORS AND SHERIFFS OF LONDON.

Sheriffs.: Henry de (fn. 1) Corenhell,; Richard Fitz-Reyner,

These were the first Sheriffs of London, being so appointed at the Feast of Saint Michael, in the year of Grace 1188, the first year of the reign of King Richard; and in the same year, the Jews were destroyed throughout (fn. 2) England. In the same year, Henry Fitz-Eylwin of (fn. 3) Londeneetane was made Mayor of London; who was the first Mayor of the City, and continued to be such Mayor to the end of his life, that is to say, for nearly five and twenty years. And in the same year, that King, and Philip King of France, set out for Jerusalem, and a countless multitude of (fn. 4) Crusaders with them.

A.D. 1189. Sheriffs: John Herlisun,; Roger le Duc,

A.D. 1190. Sheriffs.: William de Haverille,; John Bokointe,

A.D. 1191. Sheriffs.: Nicholas Duket,; Peter Nevelun,

In this year, the same King was made captive in (fn. 5) Almaine, while returning from the Holy Land, and was ransomed for one hundred thousand marks of silver.

A.D. 1192. Sheriffs.: Roger le Duc,; Roger Fitz-Alan,

In this year, the same King was liberated, and on the third of the Ides [13] of March landed at (fn. 6) Sandwys; and on the fourth day of the week after, arrived at London with a great array.

A.D. 1193. Sheriffs.: William Fitz-Yzabel,; William Fitz-Athulf,

A.D. 1194. Sheriffs.: Robert Besaunt,; Jukel Alderman,

In this year, William (fn. 7) with the Beard, was drawn and hanged, on the eighth of the Ides [6] of April.

A.D. 1195. Sheriffs.: Godard de Antioch,; Robert Fitz-Duraunt,

A.D. 1196. Sheriffs.: Robert Blund,; Nicholas Duket,

A.D. 1197. Sheriffs.: Constantine (fn. 8) Fitz-Athelhulf,; Robert Le Bel,

A.D. 1198. Sheriffs.: Arnulf Fitz-Athulf,; Richard Fitz-Barthelmeu,

In this year the King before-named was wounded in the left shoulder by an arrow from an (fn. 9) arbalest; and died on the eighth of the Ides [6] of April. In the same year, King John was crowned on Our Lord's Ascension.

A.D. 1199. Sheriffs.: Roger de Desert,; Jacob Alderman,

A.D. 1200. Sheriffs.: Symon de (fn. 10) Aldermanebyri,; William Fitz-Aliz,

In this year were chosen five and twenty of the more discreet men of the City, and sworn to take counsel on behalf of the City, together with the Mayor.

A.D. 1201. Sheriffs.: Norman Blund,; John de Kaye,

A.D. 1202. Sheriffs.: Walter Brun,; William Chamberleyn,

A.D. 1203. Sheriffs.: Thomas de Haverille,; Hamo Brond,

A.D. 1204. Sheriffs.: John Walraven,; Robert de Wincestre,

In this year there were Pleas of the Crown at the Tower of London.

A.D. 1205. Sheriffs.: John Heliland,; Eadmund de la Hale,

A.D. 1206. Sheriffs.: Serlo le Mercer,; Henry de (fn. 11) Saint Auban,

A.D. 1207. Sheriffs.: Robert de Wincestre,; William Hardel,

In this year there was an interdict laid on the whole of England, on the ninth of the Calends [23] of April; which lasted six years, fourteen weeks, and three days,

A.D. 1208. Sheriffs.: Thomas Fitz-Neal,; Peter le Duc,

In this year the whole of England did homage to King John at (fn. 12) Merleberge.

A.D. 1209. Sheriffs.: Peter le Juvene,; William Wite,

A.D. 1210. Sheriffs.: Stephen le Gros,; Adam de Wyteby,

In this year a certain Angevin was burnt to death at London.

A.D. 1211. Sheriffs.: Joce Fitz-Peter,; John Garlaund,

In this year was the Great Fire of (fn. 13) Suthwerk; and it burned the Church of Saint Mary, as also the Bridge, with the Chapel there, and the greatest part of the City.

A.D. 1212. Sheriffs.: Constantine le Juvene,; Ralph Helyland,

In this year died Henry Fitz-Eylwyne, the first Mayor of London, and Roger Fitz-Alan succeeded him.

A.D. 1213. Sheriffs.: Martin Fitz-Aliz,; Peter Bath,

In this year died Geoffrey Fitz-Peter, Justiciar of the King of England, at the Tower of London.

A.D. 1214. Sheriffs.: Salomon de Basinges,; Hugh de Basinges,

In this year, Serlo le Mercer was made Mayor; and the Barons of England entered London against King John on the Feast of Gordianus and Ephimachus (fn. 14) [10 May].

A.D. 1215. Sheriffs.: Andrew Nevelun,; John Travers,

In this year landed Louis, son of Philip, King of France, whom the Barons of England invited to their aid against the before-named King John; which Louis laid siege to the Castle of (fn. 15) Dowre. In the same year, William Hardel was made Mayor of London.

A.D. 1216. Sheriffs.: Benedict le (fn. 16) Seynter,; William Blund,

In this year, Jacob Alderman was made Mayor, and so continued from Easter until the Feast of the Holy Trinity; but being then condemned to lose the Mayoralty, on the same day Salomon de Basinges was made Mayor. In the same year also died King John, and Henry, his son, was crowned at Gloucester; for by reason of the war still continuing between himself and the aforesaid Louis and the Barons of England, he could not come to London and there be crowned.

A.D. 1217. Sheriffs.: Ralph Helylaunde,; Thomas Bukerel,

In this year Louis departed from England, peace being made between the aforesaid King Henry and the same Louis and the Barons of England; and Serlo le Mercer was again made Mayor of London, and so continued for five years.

A.D. 1218. Sheriffs.: Joce le (fn. 17) Pesur,; John Vyel,

A.D. 1219. Sheriffs.: John Vyel, again,; Richard de Wymbeldon,

This year, on the day of (fn. 18) Pentecost, the same King Henry was crowned at Westminster, Hugh de Burgh being Justiciar of all England; and the blessed Thomas the Martyr was afterwards translated on the morrow of the (fn. 19) Octaves of the Apostles Peter and Paul. [29 June.]

A.D. 1220. Sheriffs.: Richard Rynger,; Joce le Juvene,

In this year there were Pleas of the Crown at the Tower.

A.D. 1221. Sheriffs.: Richard Renger, again,; Thomas Laumbert,

In this year, (fn. 20) Constantine Fitz-Athulf was hanged, and that without judgment.

A.D. 1222. Sheriffs.: Thomas Laumbert, again,; William Joyner,

In this year, Richard Renger was made Mayor of London, and so continued for five years.

A.D. 1223. Sheriffs.: John Travers, again,; Andrew Bukerel,

A.D. 1224. Sheriffs.: Andrew Bukerel, again,; John Travers, again,

A.D. 1225. Sheriffs.: Martin Fitz-William,; Roger le Duc,

A.D. 1226. Sheriffs.: Martin Fitz-William, again,; Roger le Due, again,

In this year, Pleas of the Crown were held at the Tower, and John Herlisun failed in (fn. 21) making his law, which he waged for the death of Lambert de Legis; to whom the King granted life and limb at the instance of the prayers of the women of the City; and he became an Hospitaller of the (fn. 22) Hospital of Jerusalem.

A.D. 1227. Sheriffs.: Henry de Cokham,; Stephen Bukerel,

In this year, Roger le Due was made Mayor of London, and so continued four years.

A.D. 1228. Sheriffs.: Stephen Bukerel, again,; Henry de Cokham, again,

A.D. 1229. Sheriffs.: Walter de Wincestre,; Robert Fitz-John,

At the withdrawal of these from their bailiwick at the Feast of Saint Michael, all the Aldermen and principal men of the City made oath, with the assent of all the citizens, that at no time would they allow any Sheriff to be admitted to the Sheriffwick for two consecutive years, as before they had been admitted.

A.D. 1230. Sheriffs.: John de Wouborne,; Richard Fitz-Walter,

A.D. 1231. Sheriffs.: Walter le Bufle,; Michael de Saint Heleyne,

In this year, Andrew Bukerel was made Mayor of London, on the Feast of Symon and Jude, [28 October,] and so continued for seven years.

A.D. 1232. Sheriffs.: Henry de Edelmeton,; Gerard Bat,

In this year, the before-named Hubert de Burgh, the Justiciar, was persecuted with the greatest of persecution; so much so, that command was given to the Mayor and Sheriffs, by letters of his lordship the King, that he should be captured, wheresoever he should be found. After this, taking to flight, he betook himself to a certain chapel at Brentwood, ( (fn. 23) in Brandwodde); from which place he was dragged by force, and was afterwards replaced there by Roger, Bishop of London. But after a short time, he surrendered himself to the mercy of his lordship the King, and was taken to the Tower of London; and after that, to the Castle of Devizes, from which Castle he made his escape, and betook himself to a certain church for safety; from this however he was ejected by Richard Marshal, the then Earl of (fn. 24) Penbrok, between whom and his lordship the King there had arisen a great dissension. After the death of this Richard, the same Hubert, together with Gilbert, brottier of the aforesaid Richard, and the other Barons who before had been against the King, was admitted to the peace of his lordship the King, at Gloucester. The same year, on the Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary [15 August] the citizens of London mustered in arms at the Mile Ende, and well arrayed in the London (fn. 25) Chepe.

A.D. 1233. Sheriffs.: Roger Blund,; Symon Fitz-Mary,

This Symon, in the first term of his Shrievalty, so sadly wasted the property that formed the issues of the Sheriffwick, that he was not allowed to receive them any longer; and by the Mayor and citizens, care was entrusted to the clerks of the Sheriffwick of collecting the same, and safely disposing thereof in acquittance of the (fn. 26) ferm of his lordship the King.

A.D. 1234. Sheriffs.: Ralph Eswy, Mercer,; John Norman,

A.D. 1235. Sheriffs.: Gerard Bat, again,; Robert Hardel,

In this year, (fn. 27) Alianora, daughter of the Count of Provence, came into England, and was there crowned Queen.

A.D. 1236. Sheriffs.: Henry de Cokham, again,; Jordan de Coventre,

These seized all the sailors found in the (fn. 28) kidels standing in the Thames, and brought them, with their nets, to London, and imprisoned them in Neuwegate; who were all amerced before his lordship the King at Keningtone; which amercement by judgment remained unto the Sheriffs of London : and then were their nets burnt in London.

A.D. 1237. Sheriffs.: John de (fn. 29) Tulesan,; Gervaise Chamberleyn,

In this year died Andrew Bukerel, and Richard Renger was made Mayor.

A.D. 1238. Sheriffs.: John de Wilehale,; John de Koudres,

In this year died the aforesaid Richard Renger, the Mayor, and William Joynier was made Mayor.

A.D. 1239. Sheriffs.: Ralph Eswy, Mercer, again,; Reginald de Bungeye,

These being elected before the Feast of St. Michael, there arose a dissension in the City, because Symon Fitz-Mary had obtained the King's letters, to the effect that they should admit him to the Shrievalty. But certain of the principal men, with their Mayor, William Joynier, would not consent thereto; but said that he had obtained this in contravention of their liberties. And because the said Symon was not then admitted to be Sheriff, his lordship the King was moved to anger thereat; wherefore the citizens repaired to the royal Court, to conciliate the King's favour, but could not do so; so that they were without a Mayor until the Feast of Saint Hilary [13 January]; when Gerard Bat was admitted [to the Mayoralty], and continued to be Mayor until the Feast of Symon and Jude [28 October].