Memorials: 1374

Judgment given as to tapestry made of false work.

48 Edward III. A.D. 1374. Letter-Book G. fol. cccxv. (Latin.)

On Monday next after the Feast of St. Valentine [14 February], in the 48th year etc., Henry Clerke, John Dyke, William Tanner, and Thomas Lucy, tapicers, and Masters of the trade of Tapicers, in London, caused to be brought here a coster (fn. 1) of tapestry, wrought upon the loom after the manner of work of Arras, and made of false work, by Katherine Duchewoman, in her house at Fynkeslane, (fn. 2) being 4 yards in length, and 7 quarters in breadth; seeing that she had made it of linen thread beneath, but covered with wool above, in deceit of the people, and against the Ordinance of the trade aforesaid; and they asked that the coster might be adjudged to be false, and for that reason burnt, according to the form of the Articles of their trade, as here in the Chamber enrolled etc.

And whereas the said Katherine was warned to be here on the morrow, to shew if she had aught to say why the same coster should not be burnt, for the reason aforesaid, she did not afterwards appear etc.

Therefore, after due examination thereof by the Masters aforesaid, and other reputable men of the same trade, by assent of the Mayor, Recorder, and certain of the Aldermen, it was ordered that the said coster, as being false work, should be burnt, according to the form of the Articles of the trade of Tapicers aforesaid.

And be it known, that it was agreed, by assent of the Masters and other reputable men of that trade, that execution of the judgment aforesaid should not be done on this occasion, for certain reasons, (fn. 3) etc.

Royal order to stay proceedings against the Prior of St. John of Jerusalem, as to access to the Thames through the Temple.

48 Edward III. A.D. 1374. Letter-Book G. fol. cccxvi. (Latin.)

(fn. 4) "Edward, by the grace of God, etc., to the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of London, greeting. Whereas you, (fn. 5) as we have heard, upon the plaint of Ralph Strode, Common Serjeant of the city aforesaid, representing unto you that there is a certain road leading from the highway of Fletestrete to the water of Thames, by which the commons of the said city, time out of mind, ought, and have been wont, to have ingress through a certain gate, called 'Templegate', to Tempelbrygge, (fn. 6) situate upon the water aforesaid, for carriage to and fro of their victuals and wares, with carts, horses, and in other ways, at their pleasure, in time past, from sunrise to sunset; and in like manner throughout the night, for the purpose of carrying such necessaries, at the request of any freeman of the city aforesaid, carriage by cart only excepted; and that divers men of the said commonalty, under pretext of closing the gate aforesaid, have been prevented at divers times from carrying their victuals, wares, and other their necessaries, along that road, by Robert de Hales, (fn. 7) Prior of the Hospital of St.John of Jerusalem in England, and John Almayn, one of his brethren;—have caused the Prior and John aforesaid to be summoned before you, to make answer as to the premises:—We, deeming it not to be consonant with reason that this matter, seeing that it concerns you and the commonalty aforesaid, should be discussed before you, inasmuch as a party ought not to be judge in his own cause; and taking into consideration that if the bridge aforesaid, which has been intended for the advantage and easement of the nobles and others coming to our Parliaments (fn. 8) and Councils, and wishing to reach their barges and boats there, should be broken by the laying of stone and timber thereon, it would be greatly to the prejudice of such persons; and desiring, for the reasons aforesaid, that this matter shall be discussed and determined before our Council, where justice therein unto you as well as to the Prior aforesaid may speedily be done; do command you, that you appear before our said Council at Westminster, on that day month after Easter Day next to come, which day we have also given unto the Prior aforesaid, then and there to inform our said Council as to your right in this behalf; and further, to do and receive whatever by such our Council shall happen to be ordained, the process commenced thereon against them, the same Prior and John, being in the meantime superseded. And if there shall be any reason why this ought not to be done, then you are distinctly and openly, under your Seals, to inform us as to the cause thereof, in our Chancery, without delay, returning unto us this writ. Witness myself, at Westminster, the 10th day of March, in the 48th year of our reign in England, and in France the 35th."

Lease to Geoffrey (fn. 9) Chaucer of the dwelling-house at Algate.

48 Edward III. A.D. 1374. Letter-Book G. fol. cccxxi. (Latin.)

"To all persons to whom this present writing indented shall come, Adam de Bury, Mayor, the Aldermen, and the Commonalty of the City of London, greeting. Know ye that we, with unanimous will and assent, have granted and released by these presents unto Geoffrey Chaucer the whole of the dwelling-house above the Gate of Algate, with the rooms built over, and a certain cellar beneath, the same gate, on the South side of that gate, and the appurtenances thereof; to have and to hold the whole of the house aforesaid, with the rooms so built over, and the said cellar, and the appurtenances thereof, unto the aforesaid Geoffrey, for the whole life of him, the same Geoffrey. And the said Geoffrey shall maintain and repair the whole of the house aforesaid, and the rooms thereof, so often as shall be requisite, in all things necessary thereto, competently and sufficiently, at the expense of the same Geoffrey, throughout the whole life of him, the same Geoffrey. And it shall be lawful for the Chamberlain of the Guildhall of London, for the time being, so often as he shall see fit, to enter the house and rooms aforesaid, with their appurtenances, to see that the same are well and competently, and sufficiently, maintained and repaired, as aforesaid. And if the said Geoffrey shall not have maintained or repaired the aforesaid house and rooms competently and sufficiently, as is before stated, within forty days after the time when by the same Chamberlain he shall have been required so to do, it shall be lawful for the said Chamberlain wholly to oust the before-named Geoffrey therefrom, and to re-seise and resume the same house, rooms, and cellar, with their appurtenances, into the hand of the City, to the use of the Commonalty aforesaid; and to hold the same in their former state to the use of the same Commonalty, without any gainsaying whatsoever thereof. And it shall not be lawful for the said Geoffrey to let the house, rooms, and cellar, aforesaid, or any part thereof, or his interest therein, to any person whatsoever. And we, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty aforesaid, will not cause any gaol to be made thereof, for the safekeeping of prisoners therein, during the life of the said Geoffrey; but we and our successors will warrant the same house, rooms, and cellar, with their appurtenances, unto the before-named Geoffrey, for the whole life of him, the same Geoffrey, in form aforesaid: this however excepted, that in time of defence of the city aforesaid, so often as it shall be necessary, it shall be lawful for us and our successors to enter the said house and rooms, and to order and dispose of the same, for such time, and in such manner, as shall then seem to us to be most expedient. And after the decease of the same Geoffrey, the house, rooms, and cellar aforesaid, with their appurtenances, shall wholly revert unto us and our successors. In witness whereof, as well the Common Seal of the City aforesaid as the seal of the said Geoffrey, have been to these present indentures interchangeably appended. Given in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the city aforesaid, the 10th day of May, in the 48th year of the reign of King Edward, after the Conquest the Third."

Account of a Guardian, as to moneys expended upon his Ward.

48 Edward III. A.D. 1374. Letter-Book G. fol. cccxvii. (Latin.)

Account of Robert de Brynkeleye, mercer, of London, rendered on the 13th day of July, in the 48th year etc., before Bartholomew Frestlyng, Alderman, and John Bernes and John Hadle, (fn. 10) Commoners, auditors assigned to audit the account of the same Robert, as to 300 pounds belonging to Thomas, son and heir of Hugh atte Boure, late citizen and mercer of London, and delivered to the same Robert, to trade there with the same, for the advantage and profit of the said Thomas.—

The same Robert charges himself with the 300 pounds so received; and with the increase, by way of profit arising therefrom for the whole time of this account, namely, 13 years; 4 shillings being paid yearly for the use of everypound, according to the custom of the City; which profit amounts to 780l. Total sum received, with the profit thereof, —1080l.

Of which sum, the same Robert asks that he may be allowed 2 shillings in the pound upon the said 300l., for his trouble, according to the custom of the City, [yearly] throughout the same time,—390l.

Also, —for the board of the said Thomas, during the said 13 years; 2 shillings per week being paid by the same Robert while he was at the Schools at Oxford, for his board there, and the same throughout the said time, making 104 shillings yearly, and in the whole—67l. 12s.

Also,—for the clothes, linen and woollen, and shoes, of the same Thomas for the said 13 years, at 40 shillings yearly, expended by the said Robert—26l.

Also,—for the teaching of the same Thomas for ten years out of the said thirteen, at 2 marks yearly, by the same Robert paid, making 20 marks.

Also,—for sundry expenses, namely, his riding at Oxford and elsewhere, and for moneys laid out upon a master for the said Thomas, at the rate of 20 shillings yearly, making in the whole 13l.

Sum total thereof—509l. 18s. 8d.

Lease of the Moor for seven years, with provision for cleansing the Watercourse of Wallebrok.

48 Edward III. A.D. 1374. Letter-Book G. fol. cccxviii. (Latin.)

"This indenture witnesseth, that a lease of the Moor, (fn. 11) together with charge of the Watercourse of Wallebrok, was made by Adam de Bury, Mayor, the Aldermen, and John de Cantebrigge, Chamberlain of the Guildhall of London, unto Thomas atte Ram, brewer, on Wednesday the morrow of St. James the Apostle [25 July] in the 48th year etc.; to hold the same from the said Wednesday for seven years then next ensuing, without paying any rent therefor; upon the understanding that the same Thomas shall keep the said moor well and properly, and shall have the Watercourse of Walbrok cleansed for the whole of the term aforesaid; and shall have the same cleared of dung and other filth thrown or deposited therein, or that may be there placed, during the term aforesaid; he taking for every latrine built upon the said watercourse 12 pence yearly, during such term, for his trouble, as from of old has been wont to be paid. And if in so cleansing it, as aforesaid, he shall find aught therein, he shall have for his own all that he shall so find in the dung and filth thereof. And the said Mayor, Aldermen, Chamberlain, and their successors, do agree that by these presents they will warrant the tenement aforesaid unto the said Thomas, in form aforesaid. In witness whereof, to one part of this indenture the Seal has been set of the Mayoralty of the City, and to the other part the said Thomas has set his seal. Given in the Chamber of the Guildhall of London, the day and year above-written."

Freight paid on wines given to the City for the services of its Barge.

48 Edward III. A.D. 1374. Letter-Book G. fol. cccxxiv. (Latin.)

Be it remembered, that whereas John de Cantebrigge, late Chamberlain of the Guildhall of London, on resigning his office, delivered by indenture to William Eynesham, Chamberlain of the Guildhall aforesaid, forty-one tuns of wine, and one pipe and a half, of the wines that had been lately sent from Sandwich to London by Robert Cavendisshe and Thomas Langetone, in a certain craier, (fn. 12) on behalf of the city aforesaid, because that the barge of the city, called "The Poule," (fn. 13) had been present at the capture of the cogges (fn. 14) of Campe; to keep the same to the use of the Chamber of the Guildhall aforesaid: and afterwards, because that it was shown to the Mayor and Aldermen by the said William Eynesham, the Chamberlain, that the same wines had become so weak and changing in colour, that they would be quite worthless, unless they were speedily sold; command was therefore given to the said Chamberlain to sell the same, the best way he might, for the benefit of the Chamber aforesaid.

And after this, William Colle and Hermann Yungelyn, of Campe, (fn. 15) brought here a certain writ of our Lord the King, as to making payment for the freight of the said wines, in these words.—

"Edward, by the grace of God, etc., to his well-beloved William Walworthe, Mayor of his City of London, greeting. William Colle and Hermann Yungelyn, of Campe, have entreated us that, whereas the freight is owing to them for divers tuns of wine brought by us in a certain ship, called 'The Marie Knyghte,' to the City of London, we would be pleased to order them to be satisfied for the same. We, granting the prayer aforesaid, do command you that whatever is owing to them for the freight of the wines aforesaid, so brought to the said city, you will cause them to have and receive the same without delay. Witness myself, at Westminster, the 24th day of November, in the 48th year of our reign in England, and in France the 35th."

To which William and Hermann there had before been paid by the said John de Cantebrigge, the then Chamberlain, 20 pounds, in the time of Adam de Bury, Mayor. And afterwards, by reason of the writ aforesaid, 22 pounds were paid by the said William, the Chamberlain, in the time of William Walworthe, Mayor, to the said William and Hermann, for the freight of the wines aforesaid, and all other things whatsoever by the City to the said William and Hermann owing: as to which they gave a certain acquittance, (fn. 16) in the custody of the said William, the Chamberlain, now being. Of which wines the only residue now left were forty of the tuns abovementioned; which were afterwards sold, by assent of the Mayor and Aldermen, to Paul Lumbard for 40 pounds, on condition that he should not sell the same wines within the City in any tavern, by retail, but at his peril etc.