and the boatmen at night, one penny each.
(_b_) Henry le Galeys, Mayor of the City of London, presented a writ
of our Lord the King, in these words:—
Edward by the grace of God, etc., to the Mayor and Sheriffs of
London, greeting. Forasmuch as we have heard that the bakers, and
brewsters, and millers, in the city aforesaid, do frequently
misconduct themselves in their trades, and that misdoers by night
going about the city aforesaid with swords and bucklers, and other
arms, as well at the procuration of others as of their own malice,
do beat and maltreat other persons, and are wont to perpetrate many
other offences and enormities, to no small damage and grievance of
our faithful subjects: We, of our counsel, wishing to apply a
fitting remedy to all the premises, and to strike both them and
others with fear of so offending, do command you, and strictly
enjoin, that you will so chastise such bakers, brewsters, and
misdoers, with corporal punishments, and so visit the other
offences, at your discretion, that they may excite in others in like
case a fear of so offending. And that all corn to be ground at mills
within the city aforesaid, and without, shall be weighed by the
millers, and that such millers shall answer in like weight in the
flour coming therefrom. And the matters aforesaid, and all other
things which unto the office of the Mayoralty of the same city, and
to the preservation there of our peace, do pertain, you are to cause
to be inviolably observed. Witness myself, at York, the 28th day of
May, in the 26th year of our reign.
THE CITIZENS AND EDWARD II. (1311).
The attitude of the City towards the Sovereign was invariably determined
by the respect which the latter paid to the liberties and privileges of
the citizens, who were generally disposed to be loyal enough if they
were treated with proper consideration. The change from the powerful and
competent rule of Edward I. to the feeble government of his son produced
its inevitable effect on London as well as on the kingdom; but the
letter quoted below shows that the citizens were prepared to support the
King during the early years of his reign. Later, however, his arbitrary
measures and foolish actions led to a complete revulsion of feeling,
which expressed itself in actual revolt.
=Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, p. 84.
To the most noble Prince, and their very dear liege lord, our Lord
the King of England, his lieges, Richer de Refham, Mayor of his city
of London, and the commonalty of the same city, all manner of
reverence, service, and honour, as unto their liege lord. Whereas,
Sire, we have heard good news of you, Sire, and of your successful
prosecution of your war in Scotland, God be thanked; we do send you,
by the bearers of these letters, one thousand marks, in aid and in
prosecution of your war; and we do pray you, as being our most dear
lord, that you will be pleased to accept the same; and that, if
aught shall please you as regards your said city, you will signify
your will unto us, as being your liege men. Our Lord have you in his
keeping, body and soul; and may he give you a good life, and long.
CONSTITUTIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE CITY (1319).
These articles were drawn up by the citizens and submitted to Edward II.
for his approval, which he duly gave in exchange for £1,000. It is clear
that there had been dissensions in the city; the officials had been
endeavouring to obtain favour at Court, and in doing so they had acted,
as the citizens alleged, against their interests. The mayor, when it
suited the interests of the City magistrates, was re-elected at
pleasure; the citizens were taxed in an oppressive manner while the
magistrates are stated to have lowered their own assessments. The
citizens were unable to obtain satisfactory redress from the King's
judges, and proposed these new constitutions, which were accepted by the
King and afterwards incorporated into the charter of Richard II. It is
to be noted that henceforth the only way to the civic franchise was by
becoming a member of the civic gilds.
Edward, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland, and
duke of Aquitaine, to all to whom the present letters shall have
come, greeting.
Know ye, that whereas our beloved and faithful the mayor and
aldermen, and the other citizens of our city of London, had lately
ordained and appointed among themselves, for the bettering of the
same city, and for the common benefit of such as dwell in that city,
and resort to the same, certain things to be in the same city
perpetually observed, and had instantly besought us that we would
take care to accept and confirm the same.
We having seen certain letters, patentwise, signed with the common
seal of that city, and the seal of the office of the mayoralty of
that city, upon the premises, and to us exhibited, have caused
certain articles to be chosen out of the foresaid letters, and
caused them in some things to be corrected, as they are underneath
inserted, viz.
1. That the mayor and sheriffs of the same city be elected by the
citizens of the said city, according to the tenor of the charters of
our progenitors, heretofore kings of England, made to them thereby,
and not otherwise.
2. That the mayor remain only one year together in his mayoralty.
3. That sheriffs have but two clerks and two serjeants; and that
they take such for whom they will answer.
4. That the mayor have no other office belonging to the city, but
the office of mayoralty; nor draw to himself the sheriff's plea in
the chamber of London, nor hold other pleas than those the mayor,
according to ancient custom, ought to hold.
5. That the aldermen be removed from year to year, on the day of St.
Gregory the Pope, and not re-elected; and others chosen by the same
wards....
7. That no stranger be admitted into the freedom of the city in the
husting; and that no inhabitant, and especially English merchant, of
any mistery or trade, be admitted into the freedom of the city,
unless by surety of six honest and sufficient men of the mistery or
trade that he shall be of, who is so to be admitted into the
freedom; which six men may undertake for him, of keeping the city
indemnified in that behalf. And that the same form of surety be
observed of strangers to be admitted into the freedom in the
husting, if they be of any certain mistery or trade. And if they are
not of some certain mistery, then that they be not admitted into the
freedom without the assent of the commonalty. And that they who have
been taken into the freedom of the city (since we undertook the
government of the realm) contrary to the forms prescribed, and they
who have gone contrary to their oath in this behalf, or contrary to
the state of the city, and are thereof lawfully convicted, lose the
freedom of the said city.
Saving always, that concerning apprentices the ancient manner and
form of the said city be observed.
8. That each year in the same city, as often as need shall be,
inquiry be made, if any of the freedom of the same city exercise
merchandises in the city, of the goods of others not of the same
freedom, by calling those goods their own, contrary to their oath,
and contrary to the freedom of the said city; and they that are
lawfully convicted thereof to lose the freedom of the said city....
12. That weights and scales of merchandises to be weighed between
merchants and merchants, the issues coming of which belong to the
commonalty of the said city, remain in the custody of honest and
sufficient men of the same city, expert in that office, and as yet
to be chosen by the commonalty, to be kept at the will of the same
commonalty; and that they be by no means committed to others than
those so to be chosen....
14. Merchants who are not of the freedom of the city, not to sell,
by retail, wines or other wares, within the city or suburbs....
16. That the common harbourers in the city and suburbs, although
they are not of the freedom of the same, be partakers of the
contingent burdens for maintaining the said city, according to the
state of it, as long as they shall be so common harbourers, as other
like dwellers in the city and suburbs shall partake, on account of
those dwellings. Saving always, that the merchants of Gascony, and
other foreigners, may, one with another, inhabit and be harboured in
the said city, as hitherto they have accustomed to do.
17. That the keeping the bridge of the said city, and the rents and
profits belonging to that bridge, be committed to be kept to two
honest and sufficient men of the city, other than the aldermen, to
be chosen to this by the commonalty, at the will of the said
commonalty, and not to others, and who may answer thereupon to the
said commonalty....
20. That the goods of the aldermen, in aids, tallages, and other
contributions, concerning the said city, be taxed by the men of the
wards in which those aldermen abide, as the goods of other citizens,
by the said wards.
Which articles, as they are above expressed, and the matters
contained in the same, we accept, approve and ratify; and we yield
and grant them, for us and our heirs, as much as in us is, to the
aforesaid citizens, their heirs and successors, in the aforesaid
city and suburbs, for the common profit of those that inhabit
therein, and resort thither, to obtain the same, and to be observed
perpetually.
Moreover, we, willing to show ampler grace to the mayor, aldermen
and citizens, at their request have granted to them, for us and our
heirs, that the mayor, aldermen, citizens and commonalty of the
commoners of the city, and their heirs and successors, for the
necessities and profits of the same city, may, among themselves of
their common assent assess tallages upon their own goods within that
city, as well upon the rents as other things; and as well upon the
misteries as any other way, as they shall see expedient, and levy
them, without incurring the danger of us or our heirs, or our
ministers whomsoever. And that the money coming from such tallages
remain in the custody of four honest and lawful men of the said
city, to be chosen to this by the commonalty, and be laid out, of
their custody, for the necessities and profits of the said city, and
not otherwise. In witness whereof, etc.
Witness the King, at York, the eighth day of June,
in the twelfth year of our reign.
A REVOLT AGAINST EDWARD II (1326).
Although the citizens were at first sufficiently well disposed towards
Edward II., his misgovernment led ultimately to grave dissatisfaction,
which expressed itself in riots and revolt. The King was induced by his
worthless advisers to make claims and attacks upon the rights of the
citizens. He was always in want of money, and believed, like many other
Kings, that the wealth of the City was inexhaustible. In 1321 he
deprived the citizens of their cherished right of electing their own
Mayor, and from that time the condition of the City was perfectly
wretched until the close of his reign. There was no proper authority at
all; the King deposed one Mayor and set up another; the city generally
supported Queen Isabella, and received her and Mortimer with enthusiasm.
All who were thought to favour the King were in danger, and the attitude
of the City was to a considerable extent responsible for the unhappy
King's deposition.
=Source.=—Aungier, _French Chronicle_, edited by Riley, p. 262.
At this time, at Saint Michael, Lady Isabele, the Queen, and Sir
Edward, her son, sent their letters to the commons of London, to the
effect that they should assist in destroying the enemies of the
land; but received no answer in return, as to their wishes thereon,
through fear of the King. Wherefore a letter was sent to London by
the Queen and her son, and was fixed at daybreak upon the Cross in
Chepe, and a copy of the letter on the windows elsewhere, upon
Thursday, that is to say, the Feast of Saint Denis [October 9], to
the effect that the commons should be aiding with all their power in
destroying the enemies of the land, and Hugh le Despencer in
especial, for the common profit of all the realm; and that the
commons should send them information as to their wishes thereon.
Wherefore the Commonalty proceeded to wait upon the Mayor and other
great men of the City, at the Black Friars Preachers in London, upon
the Wednesday before the Feast of Saint Luke [October 18] which then
fell on a Saturday; so much so, that the Mayor, crying mercy with
clasped hands, went to the Guildhall and granted the commons their
demand, and cry was accordingly made in Chepe, that the enemies to
the King, and the Queen, and their son, should all quit the City
upon such peril as might ensue. It happened also on the same day, at
the hour of noon, that some persons had recourse to arms, and seized
one John le Marchal, a burgess of the City, in his own house near
Wallbrook, who was held as an enemy to the City and a spy of Sir
Hugh le Despencer; and he was brought into Chepe, and there
despoiled and beheaded.
A PROCLAMATION OF EDWARD III. (1329).
The frequent proclamations for the preservation of peace and order in
the City seem to show that some difficulty was experienced in this
direction; it is, at any rate, interesting to note that the authority of
the King is invoked to assist in the discipline and control of lawless
inhabitants. The restriction as to the bearing of arms is very
significant, and the instructions regarding night-walkers and
tavern-keepers, which continually recur in similar documents, show
whence arose the greatest dangers to life and property.
=Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, p. 172.
This proclamation was ordered by the Mayor and Aldermen, on Saturday
the morrow of St. Dunstan [May 19], in the 3rd year of the reign of
King Edward the Third; and on the Sunday following throughout the
City proclaimed; our said Lord the King being about to cross over to
the parts of France on the Friday next ensuing, there to do his
homage; and to the end that, while the King was there, his peace
might be the more strictly observed.—
We do command, on behalf of our Lord the King, that his peace shall
be preserved and kept between both denizens and strangers,
throughout all the franchise of this city.
Also,—that no person, native or stranger, shall go armed in
the same city, or shall carry arms by night or by day, on pain
of imprisonment, and of losing his arms; save only, the
serjeants-at-arms of our Lord the King, and of my Lady the
Queen, and the vadlets of the Earls and Barons; that is to
say, for every Earl or Baron one vadlet, carrying the sword of
his lord in his presence; and save also, the officers of the
City, and those who shall be summoned unto them, for keeping
and maintaining the peace of the City.
We do also forbid, on behalf of our said Lord the King, that anyone
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 that no one shall hold covin or congregation, to make persons
pay fine, by imputing to them that they have committed against them
divers grievances or offences: but let those who feel themselves
aggrieved, shew their grievances unto the officers of the City, and
they will do them speedy right, according as the law demands. And
that no one of the City, of whatsoever condition he be, shall go out
of this city, to maintain parties, such as taking seisins, or
holding days of love, or making other congregations, within the City
or without, in disturbance of the peace of our Lord the King, or in
affray of the people, and to the scandal of the City. And if any
person, of whatsoever condition or estate he be, shall from
henceforth be found guilty thereof, let him be taken and put in the
Prison of Newgate; and let him remain for a year and a day, without
being reprieved; and if he be free of the City, let him for ever
lose his freedom.
And whereas misdoers, going about by night, have their resort more
in taverns than elsewhere, and there seek refuge, and watch their
time for misdoing; we do forbid that any taverner or brewer 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 the sum of 40d.; the second time, half a
mark; the third time, 10s.; the fourth time, 20s.; the fifth time,
let him forswear the trade for ever.
THE ARTICLES OF THE HEAUMERS AND OF
THE HATTERS (1347).
The organisation of industries is a most important and interesting
feature of medieval London history, and during the fourteenth century
the craft gilds played a prominent part in the life of the City. The
story of the development of the various gilds, fraternities, and
misteries, and their connection with the later Livery Companies, has
been the subject of considerable research, and it seems probable that
the origin of most of the City Companies of to-day can be connected with
the medieval organisations. These articles will be found to be
noteworthy chiefly for the information they give regarding the craft
organisations of the time; it is clear that it was considered to be of
the highest importance that the work should be of good quality, and
great care is taken that workmen shall be as skilful as possible in
their trades. The interference of strangers is, as usual, resented, and
every effort is made to strengthen and encourage the native crafts.
=Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, pp. 237, 239.
The points of the Articles touching the trade of helmetry, accepted
by Geoffrey de Wychingham, Mayor, and the Aldermen, at the suit and
request of the folks of the said trade.—
In the first place, that no one of the said trade shall follow, or
keep seld of, the trade aforesaid within the franchise of the City
of London, until he shall have properly bought his freedom,
according to the usage of the said city; on pain of losing his
wares.
Also,—forasmuch as heretofore some persons coming in, who are
strangers, have intermeddled, and still do intermeddle, in the
making of helmetry, whereas they do not know their trade; by reason
whereof, many great men and others of the realm have been slain
through their default, to the great scandal of the said trade; it is
ordained that no person shall from henceforth intermeddle with, or
work at, helmetry, if he be not proved to be a good, proper, and
sufficient workman, by the Wardens of the said trade, on pain of
forfeiture to the use of the Chamber.
Also,—that three, or four, if need be, of the best workmen of the
said trade shall be chosen and sworn to rule the trade well and
properly, as is befitting; for the security and safety of the great
men and others of the realm, and for the honour and profit of the
said city, and of the workers in the said trade.
Also,—that no apprentice shall be received by any master of the said
trade for a less term than seven years; and that, without collusion
or fraud; on pain of paying to the said Chamber 100 shillings.
Also,—that no one of the said trade, or other person of the
franchise, shall set any stranger to work, who is of the said trade,
if he be not a proper and lawful person, and one for whom his master
will answer as to his good behaviour; on pain of paying to the said
Chamber 20 shillings.
Also,—that no one of the said trade shall receive or set to work the
apprentice or serving-man of another, until the term of his master
shall have been fully ended; on pain of paying to the said Chamber
20 shillings.
The points of the Articles touching the trade of Hat-makers,
accepted by Thomas Leggy, Mayor, and the Aldermen of the City of
London, at the suit, and at the request, of the folks of the said
trade.
In the first place,—that six men of the most lawful and most
befitting of the said trade shall be assigned and sworn to rule and
watch the trade, in such manner as other trades of the said city are
ruled and watched by their Wardens.
Also,—that no one shall make or sell any manner of hats within the
franchise of the city aforesaid, if he be not free of the same city;
on pain of forfeiting to the Chamber the hats which he shall have
made and offered for sale.
Also,—that no one shall be made apprentice in the said trade for a
less term than seven years, and that, without fraud or collusion.
And he who shall receive any apprentice in any other manner, shall
lose his freedom, until he shall have bought it back again.
Also,—that no one of the said trade shall take any apprentice, if he
be not himself a freeman of the said city.
Also,—that the Wardens of the said trade shall make their searches
for all manner of hats that are for sale within the said franchise,
so often as need shall be. And that the aforesaid Wardens shall have
power to take all manner of hats that they shall find defective and
not befitting, and to bring them before the Mayor and Aldermen of
London, that so the defaults which shall be found may be punished by
their award.
Also,—whereas some workmen in the said trade have made hats that are
not befitting, in deceit of the common people, from which great
scandal, shame, and loss have often arisen to the good folks of the
said trade, they pray that no workman in the said trade shall do any
work by night touching the same, but only in clear daylight; that
so, the aforesaid Wardens may openly inspect their work. And he who
shall do otherwise, and shall be convicted thereof before the Mayor
and Aldermen, shall pay to the Chamber of the Guildhall, the first
time 40d., the second time half a mark, and the third time he shall
lose his freedom.
REGULATIONS CONCERNING WAGES AND
PRICES (1350).
The Black Death, which broke out in England in 1348, was a terrible
calamity, and it is estimated that at least half of the population of
the country perished by the pestilence, including a large proportion of
the inhabitants of London. The churchyards were speedily filled, and
additional pieces of land were given by the Bishop of London and other
persons for the burial of the victims of this fearful plague. The most
important result of the pestilence was the dearth of labour which was
immediately caused, and the consequent rise in wages was a source of
considerable trouble to the legislature and to all employers of labour.
Parliament passed the Statutes of Labourers, which were intended to fix
the wages of workpeople at the rates which had been customary before the
plague, and in London an attempt was made towards the same object by
this Proclamation, in which wages are laid down "to be observed for
ever." It seems strange that in a commercial city like London it should
be considered possible to regulate wages and prices by an arbitrary
enactment of this kind, and it does not appear that the ordinance was
obeyed. There is little doubt that it was generally ignored, and the
craftsmen continued to make the most of the situation, just as the
agricultural labourers and craftsmen in the country were able, on the
whole, to set at defiance the Statutes of Labourers.
=Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, p. 253.
To amend and redress the damages and grievances which the good folks
of the City, rich and poor, have suffered and received within the
past year, by reason of masons, carpenters, plasterers, tilers, and
all manner of labourers, who take immeasurably more than they have
been wont to take, by assent of Walter Turk, Mayor, the Aldermen,
and all the Commonalty of the City, the points under-written are
ordained, to be held and firmly observed for ever; that is to say.—
In the first place,—that the masons, between the Feasts of Easter
and St. Michael [September 29], shall take no more by the
working-day than 6d., without victuals or drink; and from the Feast
of St. Michael to Easter, for the working-day, 5d. And upon
Feast-days, when they do not work, they shall take nothing. And for
the making or mending of their implements they shall take nothing.
Also,—that the carpenters shall take, for the same time, in the same
manner.
Also,—that the plasterers shall take the same as the masons and
carpenters take.
Also,—that the tilers shall take for the working-day, from the Feast
of Easter to St. Michael 5½d., and from the Feast of St. Michael to
Easter 4½d.
Also,—that the labourers shall take in the first half year 3½d., and
in the other half 3d.