XXIII. A Petition of the Citizens of Winchester, anno 1450, to King Henry VI. concerning the ruinous State of their City, &c. Ex Rot. Turr. London

Extract

Besechess fulle humblie your humble trew leige men, the maire, balifs, and comonalitie of your pouere citee of Wynchestre; that, whereas they have ben charged to bere the fee ferme of your said citee, whiche draweth yerlyee to the somme of an cxii marc; and bere also to the maister of the Hospitalle of Marie Maudelene beside Wynchestre lx s. also when the xv penny or taxe is graunted to your highnesse, it draweth to the somme of li l.. x s. iv d. withyne the said citee; the whiche, whenne it is levable, sum oon man in the said citee is sette unto iiii marc, and sum v marc, because your said citee is desolate of peple; also expens of Burges of the said citee comyng to your parlements, draweth to iiii s. by the daye; for the which said fee ferme so to be paid, your bailiffs have little or nought of certigntee to arayse it of, but oonly of casualtees, and yerelie lesen in payment of the said fee ferme xl l. or more; for which causes above said, and also for the grete charges and dayelie costes the which your said pouere citee berethe, abowte the enclosyng and meerage of your said citee, it is become right desolate, in so much as many notable parsons ben withdrawen out of the said citee for the causes above said.