Memorials: 1334

Collection of 1200 marks, for sending one hundred horsemen and as many foot—soldiers into Scotland.

8 Edward III. A.D. 1334. Letter-Book E. fol. 2*. (fn. 1) (Latin and Norman French.)

(fn. 2) Be it remembered, that on the Monday next after the Feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude [28 October], in the 8th year of the reign of King Edward, after the Conquest the Third, there met together in the Guildhall of London, Reynald de Conduit, the Mayor, the Aldermen, the Sheriffs, and a great multitude of citizens of the same city; where it was agreed that 1000 marks should be raised for finding men-at-arms, to aid our Lord the King in his approaching war with Scotland, and that those moneys should be raised according to the form and manner of the last fifteenth granted unto the King: and hereupon, bills were sent to each of the Aldermen of the City aforesaid, in form as follows:—

(fn. 3) "Cause to assemble the good folks of your Ward, and that they choose two, three, or four, of themselves, to assess and levy in the said Ward 100—for the men-at-arms (fn. 4) who are to go to our Lord the King, in aid of his war against Scotland; that so they may have the same moneys at the Guildhall, on Saturday the morrow of St. Martin [11 November], at the latest; on pain of losing as much as they may forfeit unto our Lord the King, and to the City; in such manner that the poor may not be aggrieved thereby."

(fn. 5) Afterwards, on the Tuesday next ensuing after the Feast of St. Martin, in the year aforesaid, the said Mayor caused the Aldermen to be convened there, and the more powerful and better citizens of the same city: to which meeting came John de Pulteneye, John de Grantham, John de Frestone, Gregory de Nortone, Henry Darcy, William de Caustone, Henry de Combemartyn, John de Oxenford, Richard de Rothinge, John de Kyngestone, Anketin de Gisorz, Andrew Aubry, and Richard le Lacer, Aldermen, and an immense multitude of citizens; where, for the honour of the city aforesaid, it was ordered that 100 men-at-arms, horsemen, and as many foot, should be sent to our Lord the King, in aid of his war aforesaid; and that an increase of the assessment of the said 1000 marks should be made proportionably throughout the Wards, to the extent of 200 marks, for the pay and expenses of Edmund Flambard, the leader of the same men, and for gowns, lances, and standards, and for the wage of a minstrel, as set forth below. (fn. 6) Of which increase Ralph de Uptone and Richard de Berkinge were chosen as receivers, and Richard le Lacer, Simon Fraunceis, and Thomas de Chetyndone, receivers of the 1000 marks beforementioned. Who accordingly received the said moneys, and delivered the same, as set forth in the rolls of their receipts.

And further, inquisition was made by the Mayor how and in what manner the rebels and opponents of the said assessment ought to be punished and distrained: to which the Aldermen and Commonalty aforesaid made answer, by distresses, sequestrations, and all other means of coercion whatsoever, seeing that the business stood in need of such great haste. After this, the men were selected by Edmund Flambard, Simon de Stapelford, and John Amys; and then they were again chosen and surveyed by the Mayor and Aldermen: whereupon, each man-at-arms received ten marks and his gowns,—the same being for himself and his groom, (fn. 7) —and his horse, for going to the King and returning, and staying 40 days after coming to him: and the men were put on the rolls of the Constable of the King.

[This entry is followed by the names of the 100 men-at-arms, or horsemen, and 100 foot-soldiers, so chosen, with the names of those who were sureties for the due fulfilment of their engagement. Among them, we find the names of "John Go in the Wynd" and "John de Maundeville," (fn. 8) serving as foot-soldiers.]

And be it known, that all the persons whose names are beforewritten were sworn in manner as follows.—

(fn. 9) You shall swear that well and loyally you will serve our Lord the King, and the City of London, in this expedition to Scotland; and will be obedient and attentive to your leaders and governors, and will take nought of any one against their will; and for that which you shall buy you shall readily pay; and you shall loyally remain with our Lord [the King] for 40 days after you shall have come to him, and been entered on the roll of the Constable, at the wage which you have received from the said city; and that you shall not withdraw yourself, or absent yourself, without warning and leave from your said leaders and governors; so help you God, etc."

[The accounts of the receivers of the 1200 marks above-mentioned are given in folio 1^* of the same volume (in Latin). The only items of any interest are the following:—

"To Reynald atte More, in part payment of a present sent to the Earl of Chester (fn. 10) and other children of the King, at the Feast of the Nativity in the same year, (fn. 11) 7l. To 99 armed horsemen, 10 marks each. To a certain minstrel who rode with them, 100s. For 14 pieces of cloth bought for the gowns of the said men, 32l. 13s. 4d. For shearing the same cloth, 16s. 3d. For green hoods bought, (fn. 12) 115s. For making such hoods, 22s. For 8 pieces of cloth of Candelwykestrete, (fn. 13) with the shearing thereof, for gowns of one hundred foot-soldiers, 16l. 8d. To John de Cologne, for making the said gowns, 11l. 15s. 8d. For 107 pennons and 6 standards, 4l. 5s. For lances for the same,—And to a certain man, (fn. 14) called 'Quadewille,' who went into Normandy and Brabant, to espy as to the rumours that prevailed in those parts, 40s. To a certain man, who went to Dunstaple with letters of the City, and for wine given to the tailors, 14s. 2d. Given as a courtesy (fn. 15) to the hundred foot-soldiers, by assent of the Aldermen, 10l. For a present made to our Lord the Earl of Chester, and the other children of the King, who were at the Tower, 14l."

From certain moneys received by Reynald atte More, vadlet of the Mayor, out of 500 marks collected for the hobelers, or horsemen, and delivered to him by Thomas de Maryns, the Chamberlain, and from sums collected at the City Gates, he paid—"to John Kyght, William Tithynglombe, and Robert de Bedeford, for a certain present given, by assent of the City, to our Lord the Earl of Chester, and the other children of the King, who were at the Tower, 11l. Also, for one cup, bought of John de Toppesfeld for the wife of Sir William de St. Omer, mistress of the said children, to match the glass, (fn. 16) 20s. 6d. To the pages of the said mistress, 20s. To divers vadlets of the household of the said Earl, 20s. For a present sent to our Lord the Count of Julers, by assent of John de Pulteneie and the Aldermen, 6l. 6d. For a present sent to our Lord the Count of Namurs, 4l. 16s. 2d. For the repair of houses near Alegate, 109s. Paid, by precept of the Mayor, to divers messengers and minstrels of the King and Queen, 100s."]

Punishment of William de Mordone for breach of sequestration, and for rebellious conduct against the authorities.

8 Edward III. A.D. 1334. Letter-Book E. fol. ccxliv. (Latin.)

Pleas holden before Reynald de Conduit, Mayor of the City of London, John de Pulteneye, John de Grantham, Gregory de Nortone, Andrew Aubry, John de Caustone, Richard le Lacer, Ralph de Uptone, and Henry de Seccheford, Aldermen, and John de Hynxtone, Sheriff, on the Monday next after the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle [30 November], in the 8th year of the reign of King Edward, after the Conquest the Third.—

William de Mordone, stockfishmonger, was attached to make answer to our Lord the King as to contempt etc.; and as to which John de Ry, serjeant of Walter Turk, one of the Sheriffs, who, with him, prosecutes for the King, on the Sunday last past, was sent to the house of the same William, in Bridge Ward in London, together with Walter de Mordone and other collectors of the moneys granted for finding men-at-arms to go to Scotland in aid of our Lord the King, by the said Mayor and Aldermen, for levying one mark, upon him, the same William, by the said collectors and by the commonalty upon him assessed: whereupon, he, the same William, refused to pay such moneys. Wherefore, the same John atte Ry, serjeant of our Lord the King, as aforesaid, sequestrated the goods of the same William in his shop there being, as the usage is, and shut the doors and windows of the shop; and, according to the custom of the City, in like manner sequestrated them under his seal; whereupon, the said William forthwith by violence opened his shop, and broke the said sequestration, and exposed for sale the goods so sequestrated, and removed the same: to the disparagement of the estate of our Lord the King, and of the City; and in contempt of our Lord the King, to the amount of 100 marks. And this the said serjeant offers to verify for our Lord the King, etc.

And the said William came, and he could not deny the matters aforesaid. Therefore it was awarded that he should go to prison etc., until he should have made fine to our Lord the King for such contempt, as the usage is. And immediately hereupon, the said Mayor, and Aldermen, and Sheriffs, were given to understand that the said William de Mordone, on the Saturday next after the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, in the same year, in the Ward aforesaid, said before many trustworthy persons of the City, that instead of paying the said assessment, so made for the estate of our Lord the King and of the City, he was sure of a hundred men, forty of whom were ready to drag the greatest and wealthiest men of the City out of their houses, and behead them without the Gates thereof.

As to which the same William, being there questioned how he would acquit himself, said that he was not guilty thereof, and put himself upon the country as to the same etc. Therefore the country (fn. 17) of the venue (fn. 18) of the Bridge was ordered to be summoned against Tuesday etc.; and in the meantime, the said William was to be committed to prison. Upon which day came the said William, and the jury likewise, by Adam Lucas and the others in the panel named. And thereupon, the said William de Mordone acknowledged that he had said the things before stated as imputed to him, and put himself upon the favour of the Mayor and Aldermen, etc. Therefore it was adjudged that he should go to prison.

Afterwards, on the Saturday following, the said William made fine of 100 shillings for the breach of sequestration aforesaid; upon the surety of Robert Swote and Adam Lucas. And he was deli vered upon bail to Robert Swote and Adam Lucas. John de Mockynge, and nine others, to have him at the next Husting, and from Husting to Husting, to hear judgment upon him etc. And the said Robert Swote and others were sureties for the aforesaid William de Mordone, each of them, body for body, that he would well and peaceably behave himself towards the officers of the City, and all other persons whatsoever.

Proclamation made for the safe-keeping of the City.

8 Edward III. A.D. 1334. Letter-Book E. fol. 2^*. (fn. 19) (Norman French.)

In the time of Reynald de Conduit, Mayor of London.—This proclamation was made on the Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Lucy the Virgin [13 December], in the 8th year of the reign of King Edward, after the Conquest the Third.—

"Forasmuch as our Lord the King, whom may God save and preserve, is now engaged in his war against his enemies in Scotland, and every man ought to be most tender of keeping and maintaining his peace;—it is ordained and granted by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty, of the City of London, for maintaining the peace between all manner of folks in the said city, that no person, denizen or stranger, other than officers of the City, and those who have to keep the peace, shall go armed, or shall carry arms, by night or by day, within the franchise of the said city, on pain of imprisonment, and of losing the arms.

Also, it is agreed that whosoever shall draw sword, or knife, or other arm, in affray of the people, shall be forthwith attached, and shall have imprisonment, without being left to find surety, according to the discretion of the Mayor and of the Aldermen of the City.

"Also, we do forbid, on behalf of our Lord the King, and on behalf of the Mayor, the Aldermen, and the Commonalty of the City of London, that for any offence that shall or may be committed in time to come, as between any and singular persons, the people of the trades to which such offenders belong, shall make alliance or understanding as among them, to support or to embolden such offenders; or that any man of the said trades shall seek vengeance against another, under colour of such offence. But if they shall be able to make good accord between the parties, let them make it; and if not, let them bring the parties before the officers of the City; and before them let them have their recovery, according as law and right demand.

"Also, it is ordained and assented to, that no person shall be so daring, on pain of imprisonment, as to go wandering about the City, after the hour of curfew rung out at St. Martin's le Grand; unless it be some man of the City of good repute, or his servant; and that, for reasonable cause, and with light.

"And whereas misdoers, going about by night, commonly have their resort more in taverns than elsewhere, and there seek refuge and watch their time for evil-doing; it is forbidden that any taverner or brewer shall keep the door of his tavern open after the hour of curfew aforesaid, on the pain as to the same ordained; that is to say, the first time, on pain of being amerced in 40 pence; the second time, half a mark; the third time, 10 shillings; the fourth time, 20 shillings; and the fifth time, he is to forswear the trade.

" Also, we do forbid, on the same pain of imprisonment, that any man shall go about at this Feast of Christmas with companions disguised with false faces, (fn. 20) or in any other manner, to the houses of the good folks of the City, for playing at dice there; but let each one keep himself quiet and at his ease within his own house."