of England, a wise man, but loving the king’s commodity more than the
wealth of the whole realm, and common people (saith mine author[76])
caused a new coin, called a groat, and a half-groat, to be coined and
stamped, the groat to be taken for four pence, and the half-groat for
two pence, not containing in weight according to the pence called
easterlings, but much less, to wit, by five shillings in the pound; by
reason whereof, victuals and merchandises became the dearer through the
whole realm. About the same time also, the old coin of gold was changed
into a new; but the old florin or noble, then so called, was worth much
above the taxed rate of the new, and therefore the merchants engrossed
up the old, and conveyed them out of the realm, to the great loss of the
kingdom. Wherefore a remedy was provided by changing of the stamp.
In the year 1411, King Henry IV. caused a new coin of nobles to be made,
of less value than the old by four pence in the noble, so that fifty
nobles should be a pound troy weight.
In the year 1421 was granted to Henry V. a fifteenth, to be paid at
Candlemas and at Martinmas, of such money as was then current, gold or
silver, not overmuch clipped or washed; to wit, that if the noble were
worth five shillings and eight pence, then the king should take it for
a full noble of six shillings and eight pence, and if it were less of
value than five shillings and eight pence, then the person paying that
gold to make it good to the value of five shillings and eight pence,
the king always receiving it for a whole noble of six shillings and
eight pence. And if the noble so paid be better than five shillings and
eight pence, the king to pay again the surplusage that it was better
than five shillings and eight pence. Also this year was such scarcity of
white money, that though a noble were so good of gold and weight as six
shillings and eight pence, men might get no white money for them.
In the year 1465, King Edward IV. caused a new coin both of gold and
silver to be made, whereby he gained much; for he made of an old noble
a royal, which he commanded to go for ten shillings. Nevertheless,
to the same royal was put eight pence of alloy, and so weighed the
more, being smitten with a new stamp, to wit, a rose. He likewise made
half-angels of five shillings, and farthings of two shillings and six
pence, angelets of six shillings and eight pence, and half-angels of
three shillings and four pence. He made silver money of three pence, a
groat, and so of other coins after that rate, to the great harm of the
commons. W. Lord Hastings, the king’s chamberlain, being master of the
king’s mints, undertook to make the monies under form following, to
wit,--of gold, a piece of eight shillings and four pence sterling, which
should be called a noble of gold, of the which there should be fifty
such pieces in the pound weight of the Tower; another piece of gold of
four shillings and two pence sterling, and to be of them an hundred such
pieces in the pound; and a third piece of gold, of two shillings and one
penny sterling, two hundred such pieces in the pound; every pound weight
of the Tower to be worth twenty pounds, sixteen shillings, and eight
pence, the which should be twenty-three carats, three grains and a half
fine, etc., and for silver thirty-seven shillings and six pence; the
piece of four pence to be one hundred and twelve groats and two pence in
the pound weight.
In the year 1504, King Henry VII. appointed a new coin, to wit, a groat,
and half-groat, which bare but half faces; the same time also was coined
a groat, which was in value twelve pence, but of those but a few, after
the rate of forty pence the ounce.
In the year 1526, the 18th of Henry VIII., the angel noble being
then the sixth part of an ounce troy, so that six angels were just
an ounce, which was forty shillings sterling, and the angel was also
worth two ounces of silver, so that six angels were worth twelve ounces
of silver, which was forty shillings. A proclamation was made on the
sixth of September, that the angel should go for seven shillings and
four pence, the royal for eleven shillings, and the crown for four
shillings and four-pence. And on the fifth of November following, again
by proclamation, the angel was enhanced to seven shillings and sixpence,
and so every ounce of gold to be forty-five shillings, and the ounce of
silver at three shillings and nine pence in value.
In the year 1544, the 35th of Henry VIII., on the 16th of May,
proclamation was made for the enhancing of gold to forty-eight
shillings, and silver to four shillings the ounce. Also the king caused
to be coined base moneys, to wit, pieces of twelve pence, six pence,
four pence, two pence, and a penny, in weight as the late sterling, in
show good silver, but inwardly copper. These pieces had whole, or broad
faces, and continued current after that rate till the 5th of Edward
VI., when they were on the 9th of July called down, the shilling to
nine pence, the groat to three pence, etc., and on the 17th of August
from nine pence to six pence, etc. And on the 30th of October was
published new coins of silver and gold to be made, a piece of silver
five shillings sterling, a piece of two shillings and five pence, of
twelve pence, of six pence, a penny with a double rose, half-penny a
single rose, and a farthing with a portclose. Coins of fine gold: a
whole sovereign of thirty shillings, an angel of ten shillings, an
angelet of five shillings. Of crown gold: a sovereign twenty shillings,
half-sovereign ten shillings, five shillings, two shillings and six
pence, and base moneys to pass as before, which continued till the 2nd
of Queen Elizabeth, then called to a lower rate, taken to the mint,
and refined, the silver whereof being coined with a new stamp of her
majesty, the dross was carried to foul highways, to heighten them. This
base money, for the time, caused the old sterling moneys to be hoarded
up, so that I have seen twenty-one shillings current given for one old
angel to gild withal. Also rents of lands and tenements, with prices of
victuals, were raised far beyond the former rates, hardly since to be
brought down. Thus much for base moneys coined and current in England
have I known. But for leather moneys, as many people have fondly talked,
I find no such matter. I read,[77] that King John of France, being taken
prisoner by Edward the Black Prince at the battle of Poictiers, paid
a ransom of three millions of florences, whereby he brought the realm
into such poverty, that many years after they used leather money, with a
little stud or nail of silver in the middle thereof. Thus much for mint
and coinage, by occasion of this Tower (under correction of others more
skilful) may suffice. And now to other accidents there.
In the year 1360, the peace between England and France being confirmed,
King Edward came over into England, and straight to the Tower, to see
the French king then prisoner there, whose ransom he assessed at three
millions of florences, and so delivered him from prison, and brought him
with honour to the sea.
In the year 1381, the rebels of Kent drew out of the Tower (where the
king was then lodged) Simon Sudberie, archbishop of Canterbury, lord
chancellor, Robert Hales, prior of St. John’s, and treasurer of England,
William Appleton, friar, the king’s confessor, and John Legg, a sergeant
of the king’s, and beheaded them on the Tower hill, etc.
In the year 1387, King Richard held his feast of Christmas in the Tower.
And in the year 1399, the same king was sent prisoner to the Tower.
In the year 1414, Sir John Oldcastell brake out of the Tower. And the
same year, a parliament being holden at Leycester, a porter of the Tower
was drawn, hanged, and headed, whose head was sent up, and set over the
Tower gate, for consenting to one Whitlooke, that brake out of the Tower.
In the year 1419, Friar Randulph was sent to the Tower, and was there
slain by the parson of St. Peter’s in the Tower.
In the year 1428, there came to London, a lewd fellow, feigning himself
to be sent from the Emperor to the young King Henry VI., calling himself
Baron of Blakamoore, and that he should be the principal physician
in this kingdom; but his subtlety being known, he was apprehended,
condemned, drawn, hanged, headed, and quartered, his head set on the
Tower of London, and his quarters on four gates of the city.
In the year 1458, in Whitsun week, the Duke of Somerset, with Anthonie
Rivers, and other four, kept jousts before the queen in the Tower of
London, against three esquires of the queen’s, and others.
In the year 1465, King Henry VI. was brought prisoner to the Tower,
where he remained long.
In the year 1470, the Tower was yielded to Sir Richard Lee, mayor of
London, and his brethren the aldermen, who forthwith entered the same,
delivered King Henry of his imprisonment, and lodged him in the king’s
lodging there; but the next year he was again sent thither prisoner, and
there murdered.
In the year 1478, George Duke of Clarence was drowned with malmsey in
the Tower; and within five years after King Edward V., with his brother,
were said to be murdered there.
In the year 1485, John Earl of Oxford was made constable of the Tower,
and had custody of the lions granted him.[78]
In the year 1501, in the month of May, was a royal tourney of lords and
knights in the Tower of London before the king.
In the year 1502, Queen Elizabeth, wife to Henry VII., died of
childbirth in the Tower.
In the year 1512, the chapel in the high White Tower was burnt. In the
year 1536 Queen Anne Bullein was beheaded in the Tower. 1541, Lady
Katherine Howard, wife to King Henry VIII., was also beheaded there.
In the year 1546, the 27th of April, being Tuesday in Easter week,
William Foxley, potmaker for the Mint in the Tower of London, fell
asleep, and so continued sleeping, and could not be wakened with
pricking, cramping, or otherwise, burning whatsoever, until the first
day of the term, which was full fourteen days and fifteen nights, or
more, for that Easter term beginneth not before seventeen days after
Easter. The cause of his thus sleeping could not be known, though the
same was diligently searched after by the king’s physicians, and other
learned men; yea, the king himself examining the said William Foxley,
who was in all points found at his awakening to be as if he had slept
but one night. And he lived more than forty years after in the said
Tower, to wit, until the year of Christ 1587, and then deceased on
Wednesday in Easter week.
Thus much for these accidents: and now to conclude thereof in summary.
This Tower is a citadel to defend or command the city; a royal palace
for assemblies or treaties; a prison of state for the most dangerous
offenders; the only place of coinage for all England at this time; the
armoury for warlike provision; the treasury of the ornaments and jewels
of the crown; and general conserver of the most records of the king’s
courts of justice at Westminster.
TOWER ON LONDON BRIDGE
The next tower on the river of Thames is on London bridge, at the north
end of the drawbridge. This tower was newly begun to be built in the
year 1426. John Reynwell, mayor of London, laid one of the first corner
stones in the foundation of this work, the other three were laid by
the sheriffs and bridge masters; upon every of these four stones was
engraven in fair roman letters the name of “Ihesus.” And these stones I
have seen laid in the bridge storehouse since they were taken up, when
that tower was of late newly made of timber. This gate and tower was at
the first strongly built up of stone, and so continued until the year
1577, in the month of April, when the same stone arched gate and tower
being decayed, was begun to be taken down, and then were the heads of
the traitors removed thence, and set on the tower over the gate at the
bridge-foot towards Southwark. This said tower being taken down, a new
foundation was drawn, and Sir John Langley, lord mayor, laid the first
stone in the presence of the sheriffs and bridge masters, on the 28th of
August; and in the month of September, in the year 1579, the same tower
was finished--a beautiful and chargeable piece of work, all above the
bridge being of timber.
TOWER ON THE SOUTH OF LONDON BRIDGE
Another tower there is on London bridge, to wit, over the gate at the
south end of the same bridge towards Southwark. This gate, with the
tower thereupon, and two arches of the bridge, fell down, and no man
perished by the fall thereof, in the year 1436;[79] towards the new
building whereof divers charitable citizens gave large sums of money;
which gate, being then again newly built, was, with seventeen houses
more on the bridge, in the year 1471, burnt by the mariners and sailors
of Kent, Bastard Fauconbridge being their captain.
BAYNARD’S CASTLE
In the west of this city (saith Fitzstephen) are two most strong
castles, etc. Also Gervasius Tilbury,[80] in the reign of Henry II.,
writing of these castles, hath to this effect:--“Two castels,” saith
he, “are built with walles and rampires, whereof one is, in right of
possession, Baynardes; the other the Barons of Mountfichet.” The first
of these castles, banking on the river Thames, was called Baynard’s
Castle, of Baynard a nobleman, that came in with the Conqueror, and
then built it, and deceased in the reign of William Rufus; after whose
decease Geffrey Baynard succeeded, and then William Baynard, in the
year 1111, who by forfeiture for felony, lost his barony of Little
Dunmow, and King Henry gave it wholly to Robert, the son of Richard,
the son of Gilbard of Clare, and to his heirs, together with the honour
of Baynard’s Castle. This Robert married Maude de Sent Licio, lady
of Bradham, and deceased 1134; was buried at St. Needes by Gilbert of
Clare, his father. Walter his son succeeded him; he took to wife Matilde
de Bocham, and after her decease, Matilde, the daughter and co-heir
of Richard de Lucy, on whom he begat Robert and other: he deceased in
the year 1198, and was buried at Dunmow; after whom succeeded Robert
Fitzwater, a valiant knight.
About the year 1213 there arose a great discord between King John
and his barons, because Matilda, surnamed the Fair, daughter to the
said Robert Fitzwater, whom the king unlawfully loved, but could not
obtain her, nor her father would consent thereunto, whereupon, and for
other like causes, ensued war through the whole realm. The barons were
received into London, where they greatly endamaged the king; but in the
end the king did not only therefore banish the said Fitzwater, amongst
other, out of the realm, but also caused his castle called Baynard, and
other his houses, to be spoiled; which thing being done, a messenger
being sent unto Matilda the Fair about the king’s suit, whereunto she
would not consent, she was poisoned;[81] Robert Fitzwater, and other,
being then passed into France, and some into Scotland, etc.[82]
It happened in the year 1214, King John being then in France with a
great army, that a truce was taken betwixt the two kings of England
and France for the term of five years; and a river, or arm of the sea,
being then between either host, there was a knight in the English host,
that cried to them of the other side, willing some one of their knights
to come and joust a course or twain with him; whereupon, without stay,
Robert Fitzwater, being on the French part, made himself ready, ferried
over, and got on horseback, without any man to help him, and showed
himself ready to the face of his challenger, whom at the first course
he struck so hard with his great spear, that horse and man fell to
the ground; and when his spear was broken he went back to the King of
France; which when the king had seen, “By God’s tooth,” quoth he (after
his usual oath), “he were a king indeed that had such a knight.” The
friends of Robert, hearing these words, kneeled down, and said:--“O
king, he is your knight; it is Robert Fitzwater.” And thereupon, the
next day he was sent for, and restored to the king’s favour; by which
means peace was concluded, and he received his livings, and had license
to repair his castle of Baynard, and other castles.
The year 1216, the 1st of Henry III., the castle of Hartford being
delivered to Lewis the French prince, and the barons of England, Robert
Fitzwater requiring to have the same, because the keeping thereof did
by ancient right and title pertain to him, was answered by Lewis, “that
Englishmen were not worthy to have such holds in keeping, because they
did betray their own lord,” etc. This Robert deceased in the year 1234,
and was buried at Dunmow, and Walter his son that succeeded him. 1258,
his barony of Baynard, was in the ward of King Henry, in the nonage
of Robert Fitzwater. This Robert took to his second wife, Ælianor,
daughter and heir to the Earl of Ferrars, in the year 1289; and in
the year 1303, on the 12th of March, before John Blondon, mayor of
London, he acknowledged his service to the same city, and sware upon
the Evangelists, that he would be true to the liberties thereof, and
maintain the same to his power, and the counsel of the same to keep, etc.
THE RIGHTS THAT BELONGED TO ROBERT FITZWALTER CHASTALIAN OF LONDON, LORD
OF WODEHAM, WERE THESE:--
The said Robert, and his heirs, ought to be, and are chief bannerers
of London, in fee of the chastilarie, which he and his ancestors had
by Castle Baynard, in the said city. In time of war the said Robert,
and his heirs, ought to serve the city in manner as followeth: that is,
The said Robert ought to come, he being the twentieth man of arms on
horseback, covered with cloth, or armour, unto the great west door of
St. Paul, with his banner displayed before him of his arms; and when he
is come to the said door, mounted and apparelled, as before is said, the
mayor with his aldermen and sheriffs armed in their arms, shall come out
of the said church of St. Paul, unto the said door, with a banner in his
hand, all on foot, which banner shall be gules, with the image of St.
Paul, gold, the face, hands, feet, and sword, of silver; and as soon as
the said Robert shall see the mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs, come on
foot out of the church, armed with such a banner, he shall alight from
his horse, and salute the mayor, and say to him,--“Sir mayor, I am come
to do my service, which I owe to the city.” And the mayor and aldermen
shall answer,--“We give to you, as our bannerer of fee in this city,
this banner of this city to bear, and govern to the honour and profit
of the city to our power.” And the said Robert and his heirs shall
receive the banner in his hands, and shall go on foot out of the gate
with the banner in his hands; and the mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs,
shall follow to the door, and shall bring a horse to the said Robert
worth twenty pounds, which horse shall be saddled with a saddle of the
arms of the said Robert, and shall be covered with sandals of the said
arms. Also they shall present to him twenty pounds sterling money, and
deliver it to the chamberlain of the said Robert for his expenses that
day. Then the said Robert shall mount upon the horse which the mayor
presented to him, with the banner in his hand, and as soon as he is up,
he shall say to the mayor, that he cause a marshal to be chosen for the
host, one of the city; which marshal being chosen, the said Robert shall
command the mayor and burgesses of the city to warn the commoners to
assemble together, and they shall all go under the banner of St. Paul,
and the said Robert shall bear it himself unto Aldgate, and there the
said Robert and mayor shall deliver the said banner of St. Paul from
thence, to whom they shall assent or think good. And if they must make
any issue forth of the city, then the said Robert ought to choose two
forth of every ward, the most sage personages, to foresee to the safe
keeping of the city after they be gone forth. And this counsel shall be
taken in the priory of the Trinity near unto Aldgate. And before every
town or castle which the host of London besiege, if the siege continue a
whole year, the said Robert shall have for every siege of the commonalty
of London an hundred shillings for his travail, and no more. These
be the rights that the said Robert hath in the time of war.--Rights
belonging to Robert Fitzwalter, and to his heirs in the city of London,
in the time of peace, are these: that is to say, the said Robert hath
a soken or ward in the city, that is, a wall of the canonry of St.
Paul, as a man goeth down the street before the brewhouse of St. Paul
unto the Thames, and so to the side of the mill, which is in the water
that cometh down from the Fleet bridge, and goeth so by London walls,
betwixt the Friers preachers and Ludgate, and so returneth back by the
house of the said Friars unto the said wall of the said canonry of St.
Paul, that is, all the parish of St. Andrew, which is in the gift of his
ancestors by the said seigniority. And so the said Robert hath appendant
unto the said soken all these things under-written,--that he ought to
have a soke man, and to place what sokeman he will, so he be of the
sokemanry, or the same ward; and if any of the sokemanry be impleaded in
the Guildhall, of any thing that toucheth not the body of the mayor that
for the time is, or that toucheth the body of no sheriff, it is not
lawful for the sokeman of the sokemanry of the said Robert Fitzwalter
to demand a court of the said Robert, and the mayor, and his citizens
of London, ought to grant him to have a court, and in his court he
ought to bring his judgments, as it is assented and agreed upon in this
Guildhall, that shall be given them. If any, therefore, be taken in his
sokenly, he ought to have his stocks and imprisonment in his soken; and
he shall be brought from thence to the Guildhall before the mayor, and
there they shall provide him his judgment that ought to be given of him;
but his judgment shall not be published till he come into the court of
the said Robert, and in his liberty. And the judgment shall be such,
that if he have deserved death by treason, he to be tied to a post in
the Thames at a good wharf where boats are fastened, two ebbings and
two flowings of the water. And if he be condemned for a common thief,
he ought to be led to the Elms, and there suffer his judgment as other
thieves. And so the said Robert and his heirs hath honour that he
holdeth a great franchise within the city, that the mayor of the city
and citizens are bound to do him of right, that is to say, that when the
mayor will hold a great council, he ought to call the said Robert, and
his heirs, to be with him in council of the city, and the said Robert
ought to be sworn to be of council with the city against all people,
saving the king and his heirs. And when the said Robert cometh to the
hustings in the Guildhall of the city, the mayor, or his lieutenant,
ought to rise against him, and set him down near unto him; and so long
as he is in the Guildhall, all the judgment ought to be given by his
mouth, according to the record of the recorders of the said Guildhall;
and so many waifes as come so long as he is there, he ought to give
them to the bailiffs of the town, or to whom he will, by the counsel of
the mayor of the city. These be the franchises that belonged to Robert
Fitzwalter in London, in time of peace; which for the antiquity thereof
I have noted out of an old record.