Memorials: 1322

Regulations made by the Armourers of London.

15 Edward 11. A.D. 1322. Letter-Book E. fol. cxxxiii. (Norman French.)

Be it remembered, that at the Husting of Common Pleas holden on Monday the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul [25 January], in the 15th year of the reign of our Lord King Edward, son of King Edward, in presence of Hamon de Chigewelle, the then Mayor, Nicholas de Farndone, Robert de Swalclyve, and other Aldermen, and Richard Costantyn and Richard de Hakeneye, Sheriffs, by assent of Hugh de Aungeye, William de Segrave, Roger Savage, Thomas de Copham, William de Lanshulle, Richard de Kent, Gilot le Heauberger, Hugh le Heaumer, Master Richard le Heaumer, Simon le Heaumer, Robert de Skeltone, John Tany, Henry Horpol, Elias de Wodeberghe, William le Heaumer, Oliver le Heaumer, William de Staunford, John de Wyght, Richard de Seyntis, William de Lyndeseie, John de Kestevene, Robert le Proude, Robert Seymer, Reynold le Heauberger, Roger le Salte, Roger de Blakenhale, and Geffray, (fn. 1) armourers, it was ordained for the common profit, and assented to, that from thenceforth arms made in the City for sale should be good and befitting, according to the form which follows; that is to say:—

That a haketon (fn. 2) and a gambeson (fn. 3) covered with sendale, (fn. 4) or with cloth of silk, (fn. 5) shall be stuffed with new cotton cloth, and with cadaz, (fn. 6) and with old sendales, and in no other manner. And that white haketons shall be stuffed with old woven cloth, and with cotton, and made of new woven cloth within and without.

Also, seeing that as well lord as man have found theirs to be old bacinets, battered and vamped-up, but recently covered by persons who know nothing of the trade; such bacinets being then put away in some secret place, and carried into the country, away from the City, to sell; and that in the City of such men no cognizance can be taken, whether the same be good or bad; a thing from which great peril might ensue to the King and to his people, and disgraceful scandal to the armourers aforesaid, and to all the City; it is ordained and assented to, that no smith, or other man who makes the irons for bacinets, shall from henceforth himself cause any bacinet to be covered for sale; but he is to sell the same out of his hands entirely, and not fitted up, in manner as used to be done here tofore; and the bacinets so sold are to remain so uncompleted, until they have been viewed by the four persons who shall have been sworn thereto, or by two of them, as to whether they are proper to be fitted up or not.

And if there shall be found in any house, whether it be of an armourer or elsewhere, whosesoever house it may be, armour on sale of any kind whatsoever, which is not of proper quality, or other than has been ordained, such armour shall be immediately taken and brought before the Mayor and Aldermen, and by them adjudged upon as being good or bad, at their discretion.

And this matter well and lawfully to observe and supervise, Roger Savage, William le Toneler, Master Richard le Heaumer, and John Tany, are sworn; and where the four cannot attend, any two of them are to do what pertains thereto.

Lease of the Moor of Haliwelle and Vynesbery for seven years, at four marks yearly.

15 Edward II. A.D. 1322. Letter-Book E. fol. cxxxvi. (Latin.)

At the Husting of Common Pleas holden on the Monday next before the Feast of Saint Gregory the Pope [12 March], in the 15th year of King Edward, son of King Edward, the Moor of (fn. 7) Haliwelle and Vynesbery, belonging to the Chamber of the Guildhall, was let, by assent of Hamon de Chigewelle, Mayor, and the Aldermen, to one Robert le Joignour, and one Walter le Fannere; to hold from the Feast of Easter in the 15th year of the King aforesaid to the end of seven years then next ensuing, they paying for the same four marks yearly to the Chamber of the Guildhall aforesaid, at the four principal terms of the year, that is to say, one mark at each term.

For making good and faithful payment whereof at the said terms to the Chamber aforesaid, the said Robert and Walter found sureties; namely, Bernard le Carpenter and Thomas le Gardynere, dwelling without Bisshopesgate; who bound themselves, and each of them, for payment of the whole, and all their moveables to distress by any serjeant or other person on behalf of the Chamber, if, at the end of one month after each term elapsed, the rent, as before stated, should remain unpaid: or else, by the Chamberlain of the Chamber for the time being they shall be ejected, and as to the whole rent pertaining to the said seven years, they shall pay the same in full.

Punishment of John Waldeshef, a sworn Serjeant of the City, for sowing discord therein.

16 Edward II. A.D. 1322. Letter-Book E. fol. xxi. (Latin.)

Be it remembered, that on the Wednesday next before the Feast of St. Laurence [10 August], in the 16th year of the reign of King Edward, son of King Edward, Hamon de Chiggewelle, the Mayor, and the Aldermen, were informed by many persons in the City, that John Waldeshef, sworn Serjeant of the City, had promulgated certain things by way of impediment to the aid granted by the commonalty to our Lord the King as a subsidy for his war in Scotland; and that he maintained false charges in the City, and spread abroad so much of discord among the good men of the City, that unless he should be entirely removed from the counsel of the City, no small strife and contumely would make its appearance in the said city, among great as well as small, and the undoing of the City itself would in a short time ensue. They therefore entreated the same Mayor that, for the Saturday then next ensuing, he would be pleased to summon twelve of the most approved and best men of the (fn. 8) same Wards, and attach the said John by that day, to make answer as to the said matter, as well to the Commonalty as to our Lord the King.

Upon which day, Hamon de Chiggewelle, the Mayor aforesaid, Nicholas de Farndone, Richard de Gloucestre, and others of the Aldermen, and Richard Costantyn, Alderman, and Richard de Hakeneie, the Sheriffs, and a very great number of the commonalty, met together at the Guildhall; and the said John, who had been attached by Thomas de Kent, serjeant, to make answer on the matters aforesaid, did not appear, but fled privily from the City. Wherefore, counsel being taken thereon, and respect being had to what had been testified by the whole commonalty—that the same John, as before-mentioned, had offended against our Lord the King and the said commonalty, contrary to his oath, more especially in that he had given advice to the collectors of the 2000 marks that had been granted to our Lord the King, not to raise the moneys aforesaid; and that peril threatened the City, by reason of the discord sown by him among great as well as small,—it was adjudged by the said Mayor and Aldermen, with the assent of all the commonalty, that the said John should lose the freedom of the City, which had been previously granted to him, as well as the fee of 100 shillings which by the hands of the Chamberlain he had received from the commonalty; and that from the counsel of the City he should be entirely removed, and, as to pleading for any one in the City, for the future he should remain silenced.