Memorials: 1367

Punishment of the Pillory, for forging a Deed of Entail.

41 Edward III. A.D. 1367. Letter-Book G. fol. clxxxix. (Latin.)

At a Husting of Pleas of Land, holden in London on the Monday next after the Feast of St. Benedict the Abbot [21 March], in the 41st year etc., Robert de Edenesore, skryveyn, (fn. 1) was attached to make answer, as well to our Lord the King as to John de Wentbrygge, Common Serjeant of the City of London, etc., as to divers falsities and deceits by him, Robert, committed in the city aforesaid. And as to the which, the said John, for our Lord the King and for the Commonalty, says that the same Robert made two false deeds, touching the lands, tenements, and rents, which formerly belonged to John Flaundene, hosyer; of which deeds, the first is in the following words.—

"Know all persons, present and to come, that I, John de Flaundene, hosyer, have given and granted, and by this my present deed confirmed, unto Sir Michael, (fn. 2) Vicar of St. Sepulchre without Neugate, in London, all my tenements, together with the shops, sollars, and all their appurtenances, which I now have in Hosyer Lane and Holbourne, in the Parish aforesaid, and also, in Cordewanerestrete, in the Parish of St. Mary le Bow, in London; to have and to hold all the tenements aforesaid, together with the shops, sollars, cellars, and all their appurtenances, to the aforesaid Michael, his heirs and assigns, free, quit, wholly, well, and peaceably, of the chief lords of the fee thereof, by the services due for the same, and of right accustomed, for ever. And I, the aforesaid John, and my heirs, will warrant all the tenements aforesaid, together with the shops, sollars, and other their appurtenances, to the aforesaid Michael, his heirs and assigns, against all persons for ever. In witness whereof, to this present deed I have set my seal. These being witnesses hereto, Sir Walter de Chesthunte, Knight, Richard Ussher, Richard Ledrede, John de Enefelde, John Bokbyndere the Elder, Roger Chepstede, and others. Given at London, on the Monday next after the Feast of St. Gregory the Pope [12 March], in the 13th year of the reign of King Edward the Third."

Also, a second deed follows, in these words.—

"Know all persons, present and to come, that I, Michael, Vicar of the Church of St. Sepulchre without Neugate, in London, have given, granted, and by this my present deed confirmed, unto John de Flaundene, hosyere, and Margery, his wife, all those tenements, together with the shops, sollars, and all their appurtenances, which I have lately had of the gift and feoffment of the aforesaid John, in Hosyer Lane and Holbourne, in the Parish aforesaid, and also, in Cordewanerestrete, in the Parish of St. Mary le Bow, in London; to have and to hold all the tenements aforesaid, together with the shops, sollars, and other their appurtenances, to the aforesaid John, and Margery, his wife, and the heirs of their bodies lawfully begotten, free, quit, wholly, well, and peaceably, of the chief lords of the fee thereof, by the services due for the same, and of right accustomed, for ever. And if it shall happen that the aforesaid John, and Margery, his wife, shall die without heirs of their bodies lawfully begotten, then my will is, that all the tenements aforesaid, together with the shops, sollars, and other their appurtenances, shall wholly revert to the "right heirs of the same John de Flaundene, and so remain, for ever. In witness whereof, to this present deed I have set my seal. These being witnesses hereto, Sir Walter de Chesthunte, Knight, Richard Ussher, Richard Ledrede, John Bocbyndere the Elder, John de Enefeld, Roger Chepstede, and many others. Given at London, on the Thursday next after the Feast of the Annunciation of St. Mary [25 March], in the 13th year of the reign of King Edward, son of King Edward."—

The which deeds the aforesaid Robert made, to the disherison of those holding the tenements aforesaid, and to the great scandal of the Commonalty of the city aforesaid etc.; and he asks that the said Robert may be diligently examined as to the matters aforesaid.

And hereupon, the said Robert was examined in full Husting by the Mayor and Aldermen aforesaid, upon his oath, as to whether he had made the deeds before recited, and at what time etc. Whereupon, he acknowledged that he did make the deeds aforesaid, after a certain original which had been delivered to him by the hands of Richard Curteys,bocher, (fn. 3) and that, by the procuring, assent, and counsel, of the same Richard, he made the same deeds, in Fletstret, in London, in the 39th year etc.

And because that the same Robert made the deeds aforesaid, the date of which is supposititious, in the 39th year etc. to the disherison of all those holding the tenements aforesaid, and to the great scandal, and in deceit of etc.; it was therefore adjudged, that the same Robert, for his forgery so committed, should have the punishment of the pillory, to stand thereon for two hours of the day, with the said deeds hung by a string from his neck. And precept was given to the Sheriffs to do execution of such judgment, and to have proclamation made of the reason for such punishment to the people standing around. And after such punishment, he was to return to prison etc. until etc. And precept was given to the Sheriffs to take the aforesaid Richard Curteys.

Afterwards, on the Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Benedict the Abbot [21 March] in the 41st year aforesaid, the same Robert was brought before the Mayor and Aldermen, and sworn that in future he would never be consenting to any such forgery, or incline thereto. But that if he should know of any persons committing such forgeries or deceits within the liberty of the City, he would present their names to the Mayor and Aldermen for the time being. And he was then set at liberty etc. And the deeds aforesaid were delivered to John de Cauntebrigge, the Chamberlain, to take charge thereof. (fn. 4)