Memorials: 1304

Letter of Walter, Bishop of Chester, Treasurer, to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London; and Answer thereto.

32 Edward I. A.D. 1304. Letter-Book C. fol. lxxx. (Norman French.)

"Walter, by the grace of God, Bishop of Chester, (fn. 1) Treasurer to our Lord the King, to the Mayor and the Sheriffs of London, greeting. We do command you, on the King's behalf, that you have before us at the Exchequer, at York, on the morrow of St. Michael, the body of Roger de Lincoln, (fn. 2) who is in the prison of Neugate for a trespass committed against Hugh Pourte, Sheriff of London, of which he was before you attainted, and for such reason by you to the said prison committed; in order that he may make fine to our Lord the King for the said trespass; and have also there the record and the process of the plea of the same trespass, and this writ. Written at La Grave, the 15th day of September."

And it was sealed with the Bishop's Privy Seal, and now remains in the Chamber. Answer thereto.—

"To the very noble father in God, Sir Walter, by the grace of God, Bishop of Chester, [Treasurer of] our Lord the King, his servants, if so it please him, John le Blund, Mayor, and the good folks of the City of London, greeting, and the utmost of honour and of reverence. Whereas you have lately ordered us, by your letters, to have before you at the Exchequer, at York, on the morrow of St. Michael, the body of Roger de Lincoln, with the record and the process, to make his fine unto our Lord the King for a trespass committed against Hugh Pourte, Sheriff of London, in the same city; the which thing would be against the well-being of the said city, and against our franchise, as to us it appears. Wherefore we do pray you, dear Sir, that you will forbear as to the same until your next coming to the said city, and that we may then treat with you in such manner that there may be no blemish cast on our franchise; and that what it shall please you to do in this matter you will, if you please, by your letter send us word; and that you will hold us excused, because that he is not now brought before you. And the record and the process of the plea we cannot have before you; for we ought to make no record, save at St. Martin's le Grand, as you well know. Greeting— may sweet Jesus preserve you, body and soul, and all that unto you pertains."

Acknowledgment as to a wall belonging to Sir John de Banquelle.

32 Edward I. A.D. 1304. Letter-Book C. fol. lxxv. (Latin.)

On Monday the Eve of St. Michael [29 September] in the 32nd year of the reign of King Edward, Roger le Viroler was summoned to answer Sir John de Banquelle, knight, for that the same Roger had broken down a stone wall belonging to the same Sir John; (which wall extended along between the tenements (fn. 3) of Sir John and the aforesaid Roger, towards the Guildhall (fn. 4) of London) while the same Sir John was in the parts beyond sea, in the service of our Lord Edward, the illustrious King of England, and Sir Edward, Prince of Wales, son of the same our Lord the King, defended and covered by the protection of our Lord the King; in contempt of the same our Lord the King, and of his protection, and to the loss and disherison of the same Sir John.

And Roger appeared before the Mayor and Aldermen, on the Monday above-mentioned, and said that he had understood the said wall to be his own, according to what his feoffor, Henry le Waleys, gave him to understand. And he acknowledged the ownership of the said wall to be wholly belonging to him the said Sir John de Banquelle, and that he had no right in the same, or claimed to have. And for his trespass in breaking down the said wall, he pledged himself to the said Sir John, to make him competent amends; and he put himself upon the grace of the same Sir John, and the consideration of the said Mayor and Aldermen.

Quitclaim by Thomasin Guydichon to Aleyse Darcy, of all interest in an embroidered cloth in her possession.

32 Edward I. A.D. 1304. Letter-Book C. fol. cxxiii. (Norman French.)

On Wednesday the Feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude [28 October] in the 32nd year of the reign of King Edward, came Thomasin Guydechoun, of Luka, (fn. 5) before John le Blound, the then Mayor of London, William de Leyre, and other Aldermen, and acknowledged the following writing to be his deed.—

"To all those who this letter shall see and hear, Thomasin Guydichon of Luka, greeting in God. Whereas I had in time past granted, released, and quitclaimed unto Aleyse Darcy, (fn. 6) who was the daughter of Messire Thomas Darcy, all my share, and all the right and claim that I ever had, or could have, in one piece of cloth, embroidered with divers works in gold and silk, which she is now preparing, eight ells in length, and six ells in breadth, for ever; in consideration of 300 marks sterling which I lately received for the aforesaid Aleyse from Messire Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, and Sir John de Sandale, clerk, for another embroidered cloth which the said Aleyse and myself sold to the Earl of Lincoln aforesaid,— as by a letter of quitclaim, sealed with my seal, the which was made at London, on the Monday next after Christmas Day in the year of Grace 1302, more fully appears;— be it known unto all of you that I, the aforesaid Thomasin, do will and do grant, for myself, for my heirs, and for my executors, that the said release and quitclaim shall be firm, stable, and in all points fulfilled, according to the force and the virtue of the said letter of quitclaim. And thereupon, I do further release and quitclaim unto the aforesaid Aleyse, by the present letter, all the action, and the right and claim, which I ever had, or in any manner ought to have, in the cloth of gold aforesaid; in such manner that neither I, the aforesaid Thomasin, my heirs, nor my executors, nor any other man, by us, for us, or in our name, may or can, from this day forth, claim, challenge, or demand, at any time whatsoever, any right or claim whatsoever against the aforesaid Aleyse, against her heirs, or her executors, by reason of the said embroidered cloth which she is now preparing. In witness of which thing I have to this letter set my seal. Given at London, etc. Of this are witnesses, Salamon le Cotiller, William de Lanfare, etc."

Also, be it known, that Sir Robert Fitz-Walter (fn. 7) was present at the time of the acknowledgment aforesaid.

Surety exacted for cursing.

32 Edward I. A.D. 1304. Letter-Book C. fol. Ixxx. (Latin.)

Robert de Corvedale, clerk, came on Saturday the Eve of All Hallows [1 November], in the 32nd year of the reign of King Edward, before Sir John le Blound, Mayor, and Sir John de Wangrave, and other Aldermen, and gave surety to the said Mayor and Aldermen, because he had cursed Robert de Suttone, Serjeant, in their presence. And the Mayor and Aldermen aforesaid pardoned him for the said trespass this once. And the said Robert bound himself to give 40 shillings to the work at London Bridge, in case he should be found in future to offend against the said Mayor and Aldermen.

Letter of the Bishop of Chester, as to the Imprisonment of the Lady de Leukenore.

32 Edward I. A.D. 1304. Letter-Book C. fol. lxxxiv. (Norman French.)

"To his dear friend, the Mayor of London, Walter, by the grace of God, Bishop of Chester, (fn. 8) greeting and dear friendship. We do pray you that you will diligently make inquisition as to the imprisonment of the Lady de Leukenore, according to what William Waldeshefe, bearer of [these] letters, will more fully tell you by word of mouth; for this business we have very much at heart. May God have you in his keeping. Written at York, on the Eve of All Hallows [1 November]."

And the said letter reached the Mayor on the Octave (fn. 9) of All Hallows, in the 32nd year of the reign of King Edward.

Inquisition as to persons rioting and committing assault by night.

32 Edward I. A.D. 1304. Letter-Book C. fol. lxxxiv. (Latin.)

On Saturday the Eve of All Hallows [1 November] in the 32nd year of the reign of King Edward, by John le Blound, Mayor of London, John de Lincoln, Sheriff of London, John de Wangrave, and other Aldermen, inquisition was held as to those who disturbed the peace of our Lord the King, made assault in the Chepe of London, to the terror of the people and the scandal of the City, and for the purpose of doing evil wandered about at night, Stephen le Naylere, John le Disshere, and fifteen others, being jurors.

Who, being sworn, said upon their oath, that John, son of Roger de Redingges, Robert de la Marche tailor, Hugh de la Marche tailor, William, servant of Roger de Redingges, John le Bole tailor, William de Pasham tailor, Philip the tailor, servant of William de Kent, John le Bole cordwainer, and Roger, the brother of William de Siningham, cordwainer, were fighting among themselves, committing assault, and disturbing the peace of our Lord the King. Therefore, it was adjudged that they should go to prison; and precept was given to the Sheriff, to take them, and keep them safe in prison, until he should have had other commands thereon.

And in like manner, John Blome, clerk of the Church of St. Peter, in Wodestrete, (fn. 10) was indicted upon the oath of Ranulph Balle and other jurors, as appears in the panel, for that he made assault, together with certain of the persons aforesaid, with swords and other arms, on the Friday next before the Feast of All Hallows, in the year aforesaid, disturbing the peace of our Lord the King. Therefore commands were given to the Sheriffs to take his body, as above. (fn. 11)

Bond as to due delivery of a sealed box.

33 Edward I. A.D. 1304. Letter-Book C. fol. lxxxiii. (Latin.)

John de Sellingge, apothecary, came before John le Blund, Mayor of London, Thomas Romeyn, William de Leyre, Richard de Gloucestre, Thomas Sely, Simon de Paris, and Nicholas Pycot, Aldermen, and William de Coumbemartyn and John de Burreforthe, (fn. 12) Sheriffs, on Tuesday the morrow of St. Katherine the Virgin [25 November], in the beginning of the 33rd year of the reign of King Edward; and acknowledged that he had received, in the name of Master Peter de Paris, apothecary to our Lady the Queen of England, (fn. 13) whose attorney he is, one box, sealed with the common seal of the town of Yarmouth, (fn. 14) and the seal of Master Peter himself: which box, so sealed, had been delivered into the hands of John le Bevere, as being an equal hand and a common friend, by him to be kept until the Octave of St. Martin [11 November] last past, to be delivered to the commonalty of Yarmouth, if they should then have paid to the said Master Peter, or his attorney aforesaid, 60 marks sterling; and in case they should not have so paid, then to deliver the said box, so sealed, to the said Master Peter, or his attorney aforesaid.

And because the said commonalty did not pay the said 60 marks as aforesaid, the said John le Bevere delivered the said box, so sealed, to the aforesaid John de Sellingge, attorney of the said Peter, on the day above-mentioned. And the said John de Sellingge bound himself, his heirs and executors, to keep the said John le Bevere, his heirs and executors, indemnified as to delivery of the box aforesaid.