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Croniques (de) London depuis l'an 44 Hen. III. jusqu'à l'an 17 Edw. III

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2010

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The french Chronicle of London
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Camden Old Series , Volume 28: Croniques de London, depuis l'an 44 Hen. III. jusqu' à l'an 17 Edw. III. , June 1844 , pp. 1 - 93
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Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1844

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References

page 1 note * Arms: Quarterly ermines and ermine, a fesse counterchanged. MS. Harl. 1049, f. 24.

page 1 note † Arms: Sable, a fesse arg. between three crescents argent. MS. Harl. 1049, f. 24.

page 1 note ‡ This quarrel is thus noticed in MS. Cott. Vitellius, A. xvi. f. 7b. “The kyng and the quene and other barons and lordes went ovyr the see into Fraunce, and there thei dwelled half a yere and more with grete honoure and love, so that he hadde no will homeward, but the lordes and comons of England treded so fayre and saide but yf he wold come home they wold chese them a newe kyng, for there was grete discorde bytwene Sir Edward the kynges sone and sir Richard Erie of Gloucestre, so that alle Englond was moeved unto werre, and so the kyng byfore Whitsontyde come into Englonde, and so to London, and he lay in the bisshoppys palice of London unto the time that it was peace throughe Englonde.” See also Maitland's Hist, of London, i. 93. Lingard, iii. 127.

page 1 note § He was alderman of the ward of Aldgate. Arms: Gu. two lions rampant guardant with one head or, crowned az. tails coward. MS. Harl. 1049, f. 24.

page 2 note * He served the office of mayor from 1262 to 1265 inclusive, and again in 1269. Arms: Azure, five eagles displayed argent, two, two and one, a canton ermine. MS. Harl. 1049, f. 25.

page 2 note † The Provisions of Oxford, as they were called, extorted from Henry the Third by Simon de Montfort, led to a civil war which had almost subverted the government, and actually proved the ruin of many noble families. (Carte, ii. 252). In London the aldermen and some of the principal citizens were devoted to the king, but the mayor and the populace openly declared for the barons. The mayor, Thomas fitz Thomas, who had been intruded into that office, was charged that he did all his doings by means of the people calling themselves the “communia” of the city, the aldermen, &c. being little or not at all consulted, and treated as if they did not exist. Upon his re-election in the following year, it was again asserted to have been done by the same authority. (Liber de Antiquis Legibus, f. 77). This Fitz Thomas being a partisan of the Earl of Leicester, a convention for their mutual security had been signed by that officer and the commonalty of the city on the one part, and the earls of Leicester, Gloucester, and Derby, Hugh le Despenser, the grand justiciary, and twelve barons on the other. In the different wardmotes, every male inhabitant above twelve years of age was sworn a member of the association; a constable and marshal of the city were appointed, and orders were given, that, at the sound of the great bell at St. Paul's, all should assemble in arms, and obey the authority of their officers. Lingard, iii. 134.

page 2 note ‡ Peter de Egeblaunch, or Egueblank, a Frenchman, elected 24 Aug. 1240. He was drawn out of his cathedral by Thomas Turbervill and others, and sent to the castle of Erdesley. His treasure was spoiled, and his canons imprisoned. “Thus,” says Stowe (Annales, p. 192), “were Frenchmen served through the lande where they might be found by them that were on the barons’ part.” He died 27 Nov. 1268.

page 2 note § This event is thus recorded in the Liber de Antiquis Legibus, f. 73 b. (MS. Harl. 690). “Anno eodem (1262) septimo die Februar. combust, sunt proprio igne suo parva aula domini regis apud Westmon. camera et capella et recept. et aliæ plures domus offic.”

page 3 note * This incident, marking the coarse manners of the age, and queen Eleanor's unpopularity, occurred according to Lingard on the 14th June. The queen it appears had embarked from the Tower to effect her passage by water to Westminster. The Londoners, however, assailed her when the barge approached the bridge with every mark of foul indignity and hatred; the rudest curses, the most opprobrious accusations were shouted at her, while mud, broken eggs, and stones, were thrown down with so much violence as to compel a retreat to the Tower. (Chron. Wikes, p. 57.) The story of Rosamond, which follows, appears to be an abridgement of some romance or legend, and the writer of the Chronicle has erroneously supposed it had reference to Henry the Third instead of Henry the Second.

page 5 note * According to Fabyan and Maitland, this barbarous massacre took place on the plea, real or pretended, that one of that persecuted race had endeavoured to extort more than legal interest (twopence a week for twenty shillings) from a Christian; upwards of five hundred Jews were cruelly put to death by the populaee, and their houses and synagogues, which Henry had permitted them to build in the beginning of his reign, were destroyed. The following account of this transaction is from the Liber de Antiquis Legibus, f. 83:—“Postea in septimana ante Ramos Palmarum destructum est Judaismum in London et omnia bona ipsorum asportata, et quotquot Judæi fuerunt inventi, nudi dispoliati, et postea de nocte catervatim trucidati, scilicet, numero plusquam quingenti, et qui remanserunt salvati fuerunt per justic. et majorem qui ante oceisionem missi fuerunt apud Turrim, et tunc area cyrographor. missa fuit apud Turrim ad salvandam; tune et antea multi denarii Ytallicorum et Caurcinium qui fuerunt depositi in custodia in prioratibus et abbathiis circa London, extracti sunt, et ad London deportati.”

page 5 note † Stowe (Annales, f. 194, ed. Howes) observes, “About that time a great part of Westcheape in London was brent by treason.”

page 6 note * The battle of Lewes, gained by Simon de Montfort against the royalists on the 14th of May, 1264, interested the Londoners, more than three thousand of whom, who sided with Leicester, are said to have been slain in the field.

page 6 note † In 1264 (48 Henry III.), says Stowe (Annales, f. 195, ed. Howes), “About the 20 of June a notable blazing starre appeared, such a one as had not beene seene in that age, which rising from the east with great brightnesse unto the midst of the hemisphere drew his streame; it continued till after Michaelmas.”

page 6 note ‡ The Baronial party in London, under the direction of two citizens, Thomas de Punelesdon and Stephen Buckerell, destroyed the property of all opposed to them, not exempting even the private dwellings of the king and his brother. They wantonly burnt the country house of the latter in Isleworth, near the Thames, levelled his fences, uprooted his orchards, and cut through the head of a large fish-pond lately made at a vast expense. (Chron. Wikes, p. 59.) They also burnt another of his houses near Westminster, For thisoutrage, when the king had suppressed the rebellion of the barons, he obliged the citizens to pay a fine of 1000 marks to the Earl of Cornwall as a compensation.

page 6 note § He was one of the aldermen proprietors of the wards, which were named from them as their owners. This right of proprietary of the alderman to his soke or ward in London, if it were ever more than partial, was certainly of short duration, as we find it wrested from them in the succeeding reign of Edw. II. It probably arose with the introduction of the feudal system, and expired with the grant of those exemptions from it secured to the citizens by their early charters, the establishment of a community, and the election of their own magistrates. That these sokes did actually belong to the aldermen or barons as heritable property, is too clear to admit of a doubt. (See Norton's Commentaries on the Hist, of London, p. 122. Madox's Firma Burgi, p. 14. Strype's Stowe's Survey, p. 124. Hundred Rolls 1 Edw. I. vol. i. pp. 210, 211, 424–427. See also hereafter a note on Nicholas de Faringdon or Farndon.) Piers Aunger bore for his arms Erm. on a chief az. three lozenges or. (MS. Harl. 1049. f. 25.)

page 6 note || Mr. Halliwell, in his preface to Rishanger's Chronicle, p. xxxiv, printed for the Camden Society, has collected several extracts, taken from inedited MSS. relative to the tremendous hurricanes and storms which took place throughout England on the eve of the battle of Evesham.

page 7 note * It appears that Simon de Montfort the younger, and his knights, on the night of the 1st August, slept out of the castle of Kenilworth for the sake of bathing in the morning, whereby to make them more alert in battle. Edward, upon being informed of this circumstance by a spy, surprised them in their beds about sunrise; twelve bannerets, with all their followers, were made prisoners, and their horses and treasures repaid the industry of the captors. Simon alone with his pages escaped naked into the castle. (See Chron. Thomæ Wikes, p. 69. Chron. de Mailros, 230, 231.)

page 7 note † For an account of the battle of Evesham and death of Simon de Montfort, together with the miracles ascribed to him after his death, see Rishanger's Chronicle (ut supra), Tindal's Hist, of Evesham, pp. 305 et seq. and Lee's Hist, of Lewes, &c. pp. 165, 166.) The Cottonian MS. Nero, D. II. by a Rochester monk, contains at the bottom of p. 176 a rude drawing of the mutilation of the Earl of Leicester's body, and represents the justiciary le Despenser lying near him.

page 7 note ‡ Gregory de Rokeslé and Simon de Hadestock were the two sheriffs elected by the citizens, but on their being presented to the barons of the Exchequer they refused to swear them into office. (Liber de Antiq. Legibus, f. 96.) Simon de Hadestock was alderman of Queenhithe Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204 b).

page 7 note § These and Thomas fitz Thomas the mayor being considered the ringleaders in the late rebellion, the king gave all their lands, &c. to his son Edward, by whose commands they were closely confined in prison, until they paid what was demanded for their ransom. (Pat. 49 Hen. III. m. 5.)

page 8 note * William fitz Richard it appears was elected by the aldermen and chief citizens against the will of the “minutus populus,” who insisted on having no other mayor than Thomas fitz Thomas, at that time with others a prisoner in Windsor Castle, whom also they insisted on having released. This reaching the king's ears, he immediately sent Sir Roger Leyburne with a number of knights and retainers, and above twenty of the citizens who had declared for Fitz Thomas were taken and put in prison, thus confirming the election of Fitz Richard. (Liber de Antiq. Legibus. f. 103.)

page 8 note † From the various fortunes of the barons’ wars the citizens derived very little advantage. On the final restoration of the king's power in 1265 they underwent a series of misfortunes and indignities, compared with which their former grievances were light and easy. The city lost its liberties—its posts and chains (the tokens of its freedom) were taken away, and, as already observed, Thomas fitz Thomas, the mayor, and chief citizens imprisoned, and left to the mercy of the king. The houses of the principal citizens concerned in the barons’ insurrections were pillaged and given away, with all their lands and goods that they were possessed of in any part of the kingdom. The king made the constable of the Tower, sir Hugh fitz Otho, custoa of the city, under the appellation of seneschal, who constituted under him as bailiffs John Adrian and Walter Hervy in the place of sheriffs. Sir Hugh fitz Otho was soon after displaced, when sir John de la Linde, knight, and John Waleraven or Walerand, clerk, were appointed under the same title. As an atonement for past offences, the king finally demanded sixty thousand marks, an immense sum at that period, although he consented afterwards to take twenty thousand. The city at length recovered its privileges, though four years elapsed before all its rights were completely restored. (Liber de Antiq. Legibus, f. 96, et seq.)

page 8 note ‡ He was custos to Henry de Sandwich, bishop of London, lord chancellor and lord treasurer. (Liber de Antiq. Legibus, f. 120; MS. Add. 5444. f. 79.)

page 9 note * While the king was employed in reducing a party of the late faction who had fortified themselves in the Isle of Ely, the city of London, as well as the whole kingdom, were once more thrown into confusion by the Earl of Gloucester, who, raising an army on the borders of Wales, and marching to London, was received by the citizens, many of whom, says Fabyan, “as men without drede of God or of theyr kynge,” were ready again to join the standard of rebellion. Having got possession of the city, all the citizens who sided with the king were seized and imprisoned, and their goods confiscated. The magistrates were degraded, and Robert de Linton and Roger Marshall were made bailiffs; Sir Richard de Culworth being appointed high bailiff of the city by the Earl of Gloucester. All those who had been outlawed on account of the late rebellion returned, and were graciously received, and those who were imprisoned for the same were set free. This rebellion, however, being suppressed, the king by his precept reinstated John Adrian and Lucas de Batencourt in their office of bailiffs, as also all those aldermen who had been displaced from their wards; and shortly after Sir Alan la Zouche was made constable of the Tower and custos of tha city by the king at St. Paul's Cross before all the people. (Liber de Antiquis Legibus, f. 107–111. Pat. 51 Hen. III. m. 15. MS. Addit. 5444, f. 81.)

page 9 note † Sir Thomas de Eppegrave, constable of the Tower, succeeded Sir Alan la Zeuehe as custos of the city; Walter Hervey and William Durham at the same time being appointed bailiffs by the king's precept. Sir Stephen de Eddeworthe next occurs as custos. (Liberr de Antiq. Legibus, f. 116b, 120. Rot. Pat. 52 Hen. III. m. 21.)

page 10 note * He was again appointed by Prince Edward, to whom the government of the city, with all its revenues, had been given by his father. (Liber de Antiq. Leg. f. 122.)

page 10 note † The very small ward of Bassishaw, consisting only of one street, called Basinghall Street, derives its name from Basings Haugh, or Hall, the mansion house of the renowned and ancient family of the Basings, several of whom were sheriffs of London at different periods, from the time of King John to the reign of Edw. II. In 36 Edw. III. Basing's Hall was the dwelling of Thomas Bakewell: in the next reign (20 Ric. II.) it was purchased by the city under the appellation of Bakewell Hall, afterwards corrupted to Blackwell Hall. According to MS. Harl. 1049, f. 25b, the arms of the Basings were, “Or, five eagles displayed sa. two, two and one, a canton erm.” Stowe (Survey, book iii. p. 65, ed. 1720), however, says that their arms were “A gyronne of twelve points gold and azure,” and which were “abundantlie placed in sundry parts of that house, even in the stone work, but more especially on the walls of the Hall, which carried a continual painting of them on every side so close together as one eseocheon could be placed by another, which I myself have often seen and noted before the old building was taken down.” Thomas de Basing, mentioned in the text, appears to have been a man of great wealth, as we read “that the citizens paying a fine to King Henry of 20,000 marks, the citizens taxed this their fellow-citizen above his proportion. Whereupon Edward I.in the second year of his reign, commanded Walter de Merton, his chancellor, and others his justices, to moderate the talliages assessed upon him.” (Ib. p. 66.) He was also alderman of Candlewick Ward. (MS. Lansd. 658, f. 205.)

page 10 note ‡ Arms: Erm. on a fesse gules three cronals or. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 24.)

page 10 note § The citizens about this time having gained the esteem and affection of Prince Edward, he became their advocate with the king, that all their rights and privileges might be restored to them; which being granted, the citizens, in consideration thereof, instead of £315 annually paid for the city farm, agreed to pay for the same the sum of £400 per annum. John Adrian was accordingly chosen mayor, and Philip Taylour (alderman of Bishopsgate ward. MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205) and Walter Porter sheriffs, who were presented by Sir Hugh Fitz Otho, the late custos of the city, to the king at Westminster, when they were admitted and sworn, and a few days after received all their charters from the king. In gratitude for which the citizens, moreover, presented the king with 100 marks sterling, and to Prince Edward, who had assumed the cross, 500 marks towards the expenses of his journey to the Holy Land. (Liber de Antiquis Legibus, f. 134 et seq.) Shortly after the mayor and citizens presented for sheriffs Gregory de Rokesley and Henry le Waleis, who were admitted on condition of their answering to the king for £315 the old farm, and the citizens for £85 of new increment. (Madox, Hist. Exch. ii. 96.) John Adrian, above-mentioned, according to Stowe, was a member of the Vintners' Company, and alderman of Walbrook Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.) (The Liber de Antiq. Legibus, f. 134b, and MS. Add. 5444, f. 84, however term him, “draper.”) Arms: Gu. four escallops in cross or. (MS. Harl. 472, f. 50.)

page 11 note * According to MS. Add. 5444, f. 85, it appears that many persons were killed through this occurrence, “Eodem anno campanile lapideum beatæ Mariæ de arcubus in Foro London cecidit super magnam domum juxta ecclesiam, et oppressit quosdam viros ac mulieres.”

page 11 note † The Chronicle of London (MS. Harl. 565), edited by Sir H. Nicolas, gives the names of Robert Milborne and Peter Cosyn as sheriffs, and then states that “these two scherreves were convict before the barons of Escheker, in the fest of Seynt Andrew; forasmoche as they token mede of the bakers of London, and wolde not leten them be corrected and justified: wherefore they were deposyd of there offices, and in there stedes were sent John Bedlé (Stowe names him Wodeley) and Richard Parys.” See also Liber de Antiq. Leg. f. 166. Robert Milborne was alderman of Aldersgate Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 11 note ‡ A similar transaction to that which took place in 1262–3 also occurred during this year (1272), 57 Hen. III. The aldermanni et discretiores civitatis elected Philip le Taylor as mayor against the wishes or will of the “vulgus,” who set up Walter Hervey, an alderman, as their candidate, and forced him into the chair. The aldermen and the discreet men of their party appealed to the king and council, praying protection against the “populus” calling themselves the communia of the city. During these discussions the “populus,” who filled Westminster Hall, continued there crying out with great tumult, that they were the true “communia” of the city, and that the election pertained to them, in which assertion they were contradicted with equal vehemence by the aldermen, who maintained that they were the heads, and the populus only the members. During this dissension the mayor was removed, and Henry de Frowick appointed custos of the city. A compromise was, however, effected through the intervention of Walter de Merton, and other members of the king's council, by proposing a new election at St. Paul's Cross, when, with the assent of the aldermen, Hervey was continued in office for the year, after he had promised upon oath that he would not oppress or molest any person who had opposed his election. (Liber de Antiquis Legibus, f. 154b et seq.) The arms of Harby, or Harvy, were, Argent, two bars wavy sable, on a chief of the second three crosses pattée fitchée or. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 26b.)

page 12 note * These two sheriffs also occur among the list of aldermen proprietors. (See Hundred Rolls, 1 Edw. I.) Walter Poter or Porter, according to Stowe, built the Chapter House in the church of the Grey Friars, now Christ Church.

page 12 note † During this year it appears that the mayor, Henry Wallis, went abroad, probably on the king's business, as we find that the citizens were commanded by the king to elect two discreet persons to govern the city during his absence. (Rot. Claus. 2 Edw. I. m. 7.) According to Stowe, he “built the Tun upon Cornhill, to be a prison for night walkers, and a market-house, called the Stocks, both for fish and flesh, standing in the midst of the city. He also built divers houses on the west and north side of Paules Church-yard; the profits of all which buildings are to the maintenance of London Bridge.” He also built the body of the church of the Grey Friars, now Christ Church. During his mayoralty in 1285 was commenced the first cistern of lead, castellated with stone, in the city of London, and called the Great Conduit in West Cheap. (Stowe's Survey.) He was alderman of Cordwainers' Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b) He died the 29th June, 1302 (30 Edw. I.), and was buried 3 non. Julii (5 July) “in capella beatse Marise apud sorores de ordine fratrum minorum extra Alegate.” (MS. Addit. 5444. f. 130 b.) Arms of Wallis: Barry of twelve argent and azure, a bend gules. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 26.)

page 12 note ‡ Alderman of Vintry Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.) Arms: Sable, a fesse between three crescents argent. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 26.)

page 12 note § Alderman of Langbourn Ward, and coroner for the city from the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, 13 Edw. I., to the feast of St. Pancras in the following year, when it appears he died. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205, 206.)

page 13 note * “This man” (Walter Hervey) says Carte (ii. 175 n.) “set up for a demagogue and patron of the poorer citizens, giving out that he would save them all from tallages, exactions, and tolls during his mayoralty, and acquit them from all their debts, and all arrears in the rolls of the chamberlain. The last part of this promise related to the great fine or tallage, paid for ransom of the city after Montfort's rebellion; in which, some persons being rated beyond their estates and abilities, as appeared by inquests of the neighbourhood, the king had by his writ, issued with the universal consent of the city, ordered them to be relieved. A list of the persons being enrolled in the chamberlain's office, Walter, resolving to proceed contrary to this enrollment, and to extort great sums of money from the citizens who had been thus relieved, promised them all to the people. He acted accordingly when he got to be mayor, proceeding in an arbitrary and corrupt manner; taking bribes from the bakers, allowing them to make their bread a third part too light; and suffering no pleas for lands in the hustings, because he was himself sued for a tenement by Isabel Buckerel. He granted charters, with privileges in the nature of monopolies, to abundance of tradesmen that were his favourites, to the great detriment of the rest of the citizens, and even of the trade of the kingdom, putting half of the city seal to them without the consent of the aldermen and common council, and endeavoured by spiriting up all the grantees, and raising a mob, to maintain those illegal charters; which, being afterwards read on the hustings, were unanimously condemned, as prejudicial to the city, declared null, and all persons allowed to carry on their trades and business as before. For these and other corrupt practices, particularly the taking bribes from people to stand by them, right or wrong, in their causes, levying money among his partisans, applying it to his own uses, and neglecting the rights of the city in several instances, he.was prosecuted after the year of his mayoralty expired, found guilty, judicially deprived of his office of alderman, and removed from the council of the city.” See also Liber de Antiq. Leg. f. 155, 168 et seq.

page 13 note † He was a member of the Grocers' Company, then called Pepperers (Gilda de Pipariorum), and custos of the city for part of the year 1272. (Liber de Antiquis Legibus, f. 157 b). His name occurs among the list of aldermen proprietors. (Hund. Rolls, 1 Ed. I.) According to MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205, he was alderman of Cripplegate Ward. He was also one of the three citizens who founded (1299) the chapel or college of our Lady Mary Magdalen, and of All Saints by the Guildhall, called London College. Peter Fanelore and Adam Frauncis, mercer, mayor in 1532, were the others. Arms: Azure, on a chevron between three leopard's heads or, a mullet gules. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 26b.)

page 14 note * “Eodem anno prisona de Neugate fuit fracta, et 19 carcerati evaserunt.” MS. Add. 5444, f. 89.

page 14 note † Alderman of Bridge Ward, and coroner for the city from the 7th to the 9th of Edw. I. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b, 206.)

page 14 note ‡ Alderman of Bassishaw Ward. (Ibid. f. 204b.)

page 14 note § Alderman of Bread Street Ward. (Ibid. f. 205, where he is called “Robert.”)

page 14 note || He bore the same arms as his father. See p. 11 antea.

page 14 note ¶ This name should be Lengleys, or Langley. (See MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204, and Stowe.)

page 14 note ** Archdeacon of Durham. Elected Bishop of Durham 9th July 1283; ob. 3 March, 1311. A memoir of this distinguished prelate may be found in Sir Harris Nicolas's “Siege of Carlaverock,” p. 288.

page 15 note * Llewelyn prince of Wales had been betrothed to Eleanor, daughter of his friend Simon de Montfort, before the battle of Evesham. In order that the marriage might be solemnized, the widowed countess of Leicester sent her into Wales under the escort of her brother, Aimery de Montfort; but on her passage, near Bristol, the ship which carried her was captured, and, on their being taken before Edward, Aimery was committed to sure custody, and Eleanor retained at his court as his ward. In the negociation which subsequently took place between the king and Llewelyn the fine of 50,000l. was remitted, and the marriage consented to by Edward.

page 15 note † William le Mazener, or Mazerer, was alderman of Aldersgate Ward and coroner for the city from the feast of St. Pancras, 14 Edw. I. to 18 Edw. I. (MS. Lansd. 558, f 204b, 206.)

page 15 note ‡ Alderman of Candlewick Ward. (Ibid. f. 205.) See p. 10 note 2.

page 15 note § Stephen de Berksteed. Appointed 20 June, 1261. ob. 21 Oct. 1287.

page 15 note || Edmund, second son of Henry III. Earl of Chester and Leicester, created Earl of Lancaster 30 June, 1267; Steward of England; ob. 1295.

page 16 note * During the reign of Edward I. the Jews were not only fined, taxed, imprisoned, and compelled to live in particular districts, as formerly, but the slightest defalcation in the payment of talliage, which was now levied on children as well as their parents, was punished by banishment. In such cases, the defaulter was compelled to appear at Dover before the expiration of three days, prepared for his migration. In 3 Edw. I. the statute de Judaismo was passed, which, though it abolished usury, placed the Jews on a more comfortable and secure footing than they had been in the reign of Edward's ancestors. It was not long, however, before the wrath of the king fell upon this devoted people, either through their own folly or the false accusations of their enemies. A general suspicion falling upon them that they were guilty of adulterating and clipping the coin, every Jew was seized upon in one day, viz. 17th Nov. 1279; and after full conviction, two hundred and eighty of them, both men and women, together with three Christians, received sentence of death at London, and were executed without mercy: besides great numbers in other parts. (Matt. Westm. p. 409.) Many more were retained in prison, and the records of that year abound with instances of the king's selling and granting their houses and lands, forfeited upon that occasion. This was but a prelude to their final banishment in 1290. The king seized upon all the real estates of the Jews in the kingdom, and banished the whole community for ever. (Rot. Claus. 18 Edw. I. m. 6. Pat. 18 Edw. I. m. 12, 14.) The Chronicle of London (MS. Arund. No. 19, f. 12 b in Coll. Arm.) says, “At the feast of St. Martin there were Jewis areest for treson and othere certeyn goldsmythis, and upon the Monday next after the Epiphanie thre cristin men of Ynglond and cc and iiijxx and iij (sic) Jewis were drawe and an hongid.”

page 16 note † This took place on the occasion of the three sons (Edmund, William, and Geoffrey) of Roger de Mortimer being knighted by Edw. I. Roger de Mortimer, who had contributed so greatly to the final triumph of the crown, and who was eminent among his contemporaries for his splendour and magnificence, set out from London to Kenilworth with 100 knights well armed, and as many ladies going before, singing joyful songs. On their arrival at Kenilworth he held a great tournament and a “round table,” entertaining them sumptuously for three days at his own expense; and, having himself gained the prize of a lion of gold, on the fourth day he carried all his guests to Warwick. It was at these jousts that Maurice eldest son of Maurice second lord Berkeley was killed. (Wright's Hist, of Ludlow, pp. 216, 217. Smythe's Lives of the Berkeleys, p. 103.)

page 17 note * Boston, in Lincolnshire. This fire, which took place the 3 calend of August (30 July), destroyed the greater part of the town. “Eodem anno villa Sancti Botulphi fuit combusta.” (MS. Addit. 5444. f. 92.)

page 17 note † Alderman of Walbrook Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 17 note ‡ John de Chishull, dean of St. Paul's, was elected bishop of London 7th Dec. 1273. He was also lord chancellor, and lord treasurer, and died 8th Feb. 1280.

page 17 note § He was a member of the Goldsmiths' Company and alderman of Farringdon Ward, extra et infra, which he purchased in 1279 of Ralph le Fevre, or Flael, and from him it took the name it still retains. It was held by the tenure of presenting a clove, or slip of gilliflowers, at the feast of Easter for all secular services and customs. (Strype's Stowe's Survey, p. 124. Madox, Firma Burgi, p. 14.) This aldermanry descended from William Farindon to his son Nicholas (of whom hereafter) and his heirs, and continued under the government of William Farindon the father, and Nicholas the son, for the space of eightytwo years. In 1393, during the mayoralty of Sir John Hadley, Farringdon Ward was divided into two, within and without, and by Parliament ordered to have two aldermen (Liber Dunthorn, f. 406.) Arms: Or, on a fesse gules, between ten cross-crosslets fitchée sa. three lion's heads erased or. (MS. Harl. 472, f. 34b.) The Harl. MS. 1049, f. 27b gives only eight cross-crosslets.

page 17 note || Alderman of Langbourn Ward, and coroner for the city from the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist (18 Oct.) 13 Edw. I. to the feast of St. Pancras in the following year. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205, 206.)

page 18 note * Stowe, in his “Annales,” edited by Edmund Howes, London, 1631, fol. p. 201, tells us, though without mentioning his authority, that “from this Christmas till the purification of our Lady, there was such a frost and snow as no man living could remember the like; wherethrough five arches of London Bridge, and all Rochester Bridge, were borne downe, and carried away with the streame; and the like hapned to many bridges in England, And not long after men passed over the Thames between Westminster and Lambeth, and likewise over the river of Medway, betweene Stroude and Rochester, dry shod. Fishes in ponds, and birds in woods, died for want of food.” (See also MS. Addit. 5444, f. 93.)

page 18 note † Alderman of Bread Street Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205, where he is called “Anketinus.”) According to MS. Addit. 5444, f. 94b, it appears that Stephen de Cornhill was elected sheriff, but at the request of the king and queen he was removed, and Anketinus de Bettevile appointed in his stead.

page 18 note ‡ He was killed at a battle near Builth. His head was afterwards cut off, and forwarded to Edward at Rhuddlan, who ordered it to be sent to London. The citizens met the messenger who brought it, and conducted him into the city with drums and trumpets, and proceeded in grand cavalcade through Cheapside, with the head fixed upon a lance, with a chaplet or circle of silver, to verify or ridicule the prediction of Merlin, who told the prince that his head should one day pass through Cheapside adorned with a silver coronet. It was then fixed for the remainder of the day upon the pillory, and afterwards upon the Tower of London, crowned with a wreath of ivy.

page 18 note § He was removed from the office of sheriff for being implicated in the murder of Laurence Ducket. (MS. Add. 5444, f. 96.) See next page, note *.

page 18 note || A parliament was summoned at Shrewsbury for the trial of this unfortunate prince, who was condemned to undergo the cruel and revolting punishment which continued for ages afterwards to be inflicted for the crime of high treason.

page 19 note * According to Stowe (Collections MS. Harl. 538, f. 13.), “Laurence Ducket, a citizen of London, havinge wounded another citizen, named Ralphe Cropin, in West Cheape, fled in to the churche of St. Mary Bow. In to the which churche entered in the night tyme certeyne evell persons, and slewe the sayd Lawrence lienge in the steple. Which mourdar beinge bewrayed, divers persons were therefore executed, the rest were sent to the Tower of London, from whence they escaped afterwards for money.” Maitland says, “They hanged him in one of the windows, in such a manner as even to deceive the coroner's jury; who, having sat upon the body, brought in their verdict self-murder; whereby Ducket's corpse was drawn from thence by the feet, and buried in a ditch without the city. But a boy, who lay with him that night, and during that barbarous action concealed himself, having ventured to give information against the murderers, many persons were apprehended; sixteen were hanged, and a woman (Alice atte Bowe, mistress to Ralph Crepyn, clerk, M.S. Addit. 5444, f. 95.), the chief contriver of the said murder, was burnt alive.” Stowe adds, that several rich persons implicated were hanged by the purse, after long imprisonment. Upon this occasion the church was placed under an interdict, and the doors and windows filled with thorns, until the stain of murder was effaced by purification. At the same time reparation was made to Ducket's remains, which were honestly deposited in the churchyard.

page 19 note † Alderman of Bishopsgate Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205.)

page 19 note ‡ He was alderman of Lime Street Ward, (Ibid.) and bore the same arms as Gregory Rokesley, viz. Argent, a fesse gules between six lions rampant argent. (MS. Harl. 1049, f.28b.)

page 19 note § The cause of his deposition was this. Having been summoned with the aldermen and citizens before the justices in eyre at the Tower, to give an account how the king's peace had been kept in the city, and conceiving that he was not bound to go out of the city upon such inquest, he refused to appear except as a private citizen, under no magisterial responsibility; and thereupon, before he entered the Tower, personally disrobed himself of his mayor's dress in the neighbouring church of All Hallows Barking, at the same time delivering the city seal (the mayor then carried the city common seal) and the ensigns of mayoralty into the hands of Sir Stephen Aswey, alderman of Cheap Ward. The king upon hearing of this bold conduct was so incensed that he immediately seized the liberties of the city, heavily fined the mayor, but which, however, was soon after remitted, and appointed Sir Ralph de Sandwich, knight, as custos, who held the authority of the mayor for no less a period than twelve years. (Liber Home, Lib. P. ad fin. MS. Addit. No. 5444, f. 97 et seq. Rot. Parl. i. 326.)

Sir Gregory de Rokesley was an eminent member of the Goldsmiths' Company, chief assay master of all the king's mints throughout England, keeper of the king's exchange at London, one of the king's butlers (Devon's Issue Roll, p. 92), alderman of the ward of Dowgate, sheriff in 1271, and mayor (together with the office of chamberlain) for seven years, from 1275 until 1282, and again in 1285, when he was deposed as above stated. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 206.)

From the little that is found of him in records he appears to have been of foreign extraction, and to have chiefly dealt in wool (see Hund. Rolls, i. 403, et seq,) which business he carried on with his trade of a goldsmith, and was evidently, from the offices of trust held by him under the crown, and different grants made to him, a favourite of Edw. I. In 1282, Gregory de Rokesley with other citizens lent 6,000 marks to the king, (Parl. Writs, i. 387) and in the following year was appointed assessor and collector in the city of London of the thirtieth granted by the counties south of Trent in the convocation at Northampton. (Ibid. 10, 13.) In 1290 he lent the king upon his letter £1,000, to be repaid from moneys arising from the issues of the Exchange, of which sum £300 was left unpaid in 1308, as in that year his heirs petitioned the king for repayment, and which, after examination of the process and inspection of the king's letter, was ordered to be made, (Rot. Parl. i. 275.) He resided in Milk Street, “in a house belonging to the Priory of Lewes in Sussex, whereof he was tenant at will, paying 20s. by the year, without bounden to reparations or other charge.” (Strype's Stowe's Survey, i. 74.) Sir Gregory himself, as well as his kindred, were great landholders, particularly in Kent. Foots Cray, Lullystone, Hutcham, and many other manors, are mentioned as the property of Gregory. (Herbert's Livery Companies, ii. 200.) He died the 12 July (4 idus Julii) 1292 (MS. Add. 5444, f. 102) and was buried in the Grey Friars (now Christ Church), “ad capud dominæ Margaretæ Merchall in medio chori” (Collect, Topog. et Geneal. v. 277), to which church he was a great benefactor, rebuilding and furnishing the chambers and dormitory at his own expense. (Strype's Stowe's Survey, ii. 129.) A perpetual chantry, for the souls of Gregory de Rokesley and Amicia his wife, was founded in the church of St. Mary Woolnoth, London. (Newcourt's Repert, i, 461.) Arms: Azure, a fesse gules between six lions rampant argent. (MS. Harl. 472, f, 23.) For an account of this family see Hasted's Kent, i. 150.

page 20 note * He was appointed custos by patent dated at Westminster 1 July. (Pat. 13 Edw. I, m. 11. See also MS. Lansd. 558, f. 203.) Arms: Gules, a fleur-de-lis or, and chief indented azure. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 28b.)

page 20 note † Alderman of Vintry Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 21 note * According to Matthew of Westminster (p. 412), Philip IV. King of France, shortly after his father's death, sent ambassadors to King Edward, beseeching him to come over to assume the office of mediator between himself (Philip) and the kings of Arragon and Spain. Edward complied with his desire, and on the viii calends of July (25th July) passed the sea, attended by many bishops, earls, and barons, and was received honourably by the king and nobles of France, and conducted to St. Germain's, where he staid some time, and demanded the lands which his grandfather King John had lost, and also obtained ten thousand pounds sterling of the King of France, to be yearly paid at the Tower of London, together with some arrears for Normandy. See also Rymer's Fœdera for the tedious negociation on these subjects.

page 21 note † Member of the Fishmongers' Company (MS. Add. 5444, f. 98b), and alderman of Billingsgate Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 21 note ‡ Member of the Mercers' Company (MS. Add. 5444, f. 98b), and alderman of Coleman Street Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 21 note § The Jews incurred the king's displeasure, probably by their objection to the payment of a tallage; in consequence of which, on the morrow of St. Philip and St. James (2 May), the whole race, without exception of age or sex, were by the king's precept thrown into prison, where they remained until they had appeased the royal indignation by the payment of twelve thousand pounds. (Chron. Thomæ Wikes, p. 114.)

page 21 note || Alderman of Aldgate Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205.)

page 21 note ¶ Alderman of Bread Street Ward. (Ibid.)

page 21 note ** Rot. Pat. 17 Edw. I. m. 13. See also MS. Add. 5444, f. 100, and MS. Lansd. 558. f. 203b. Arms: Azure, two chevrons or, in chief as many mullets argent. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 29.)

page 21 note †† Alderman of Queenhithe Ward (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b), and Chamberlain of the city (MS. Add. 5444, f. 98b).

page 21 note ‡‡ Alderman of Tower Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 22 note * Alderman of Bread Street “Ward. (Ibid. f. 205.)

page 22 note † Joan, second daughter of Edward the First, surnamed of Acres, in the Holy Land, from her birth in that city, born 1272; married, 1st. Gilbert de Clare, seventh earl of Gloucester and Hertford; and, 2ndly. Ralph de Monthermer, without her father's consent, and had issue by both. (See Nicolas's Siege of Caerlaverock.)

page 22 note ‡ She was the third daughter of Edw. I. and married to John duke of Brabant.

page 22 note § They were ordered to quit the kingdom for ever before a certain day, under the penalty of death; but were allowed to carry away with them their money and chattels. (Rot. Claus. 18 Edw. I. m. 6. Pat. 18 Edw. I. m. 14.) See p. 16, n. 1.

page 22 note || See Appendix I.

page 22 note ¶ Alderman of Baynard Castle Ward, (MS. Lansd. 558. f. 204b,) and a member of the Grocers' Company, then styled “Pepperers.” (Herbert's Livery Companies.)

page 22 note ** She died of a lingering disease, a slow fever, at a place called Hardby in Lincolnshire, on the evening of the 28th of Nov. 1290. The corpse was opened and embalmed. The heart was reserved to be deposited, probably at her own desire, in the church of the Friars Preachers of London. What else was removed was interred in the chapel of the Blessed Virgin in Lincoln Cathedral. (See Liberate Roll, 19 Edw. I.) The place selected to receive the body was the newly-erected chapel at the east end of the church of the Abbey of Westminster, which had been erected by Henry III. in honour of Edward the Confessor. The entombment took place on the 17th Dec. and the king was quite profuse in his gifts to the monks to secure in this church a splendid and perpetual commemoration. (See Prynne's Edward the First, p. 458.) Engravings of the three crosses, which alone remain of the twelve that were erected by the king in memory of his queen, have been published by the Society of Antiquaries, in the third volume of the Vetusta Monumenta. See also Archæol. vol. xxix. p. 167, for a very interesting paper “On the Death of Eleanor of Castile, consort of King Edward the First, and the Honours paid to her Memory,” communicated to the Society of Antiquaries by the Rev. Joseph Hunter, F.S.A.

page 23 note * Eleanor of Provence, who died at an advanced age in the month of June 1291. She directed that her body should be buried in her convent at Ambresbury, but that her heart should be deposited in the church of the Friars Minors at London. A peculiar disposition of the heart, Mr. Hunter observes, was not at all an unusual circumstance in those times. Archæol. xxix. p. 186.

page 23 note † Alderman of Bassishaw Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 23 note ‡ Alderman of Bishopsgate Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205.)

page 23 note § For an account of this quarrel see Walsingham, 60, 479.

page 23 note || Arms: Gules, paly of three vaire, argent, and azure, on a chief or a lion passant sable. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 30.)

page 24 note * The Annals of Bermondsey (MS. Harl. 231, f. 46) thus records this event: “Hoc anno gurges aquarum Thamisiae transcendit consuetos limites [xviij die Octohris et tuno accidit magna brecca apud Retherhith] et planieiem de Bermundeseye et precinctum de Tothill debriavit.”

page 24 note † Alderman of Walbrook Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 24 note ‡ Gilbert de Clare, seventh earl of Gloucester and Hertford, one of the most powerful families on the English side of the border, fought at Evesham on the royal side, although he had fought at Lewes for Simon de Montfort. He was high in favour with Edw. I. whose daughter he married (see p. 22 antea). In 1287 he had the command of the army which invaded South Wales. He died in 1295, and was succeeded by his son Gilbert, who was slain in 1313 at the disastrous battle of Bannockburn, when the earldom of Gloucester became extinct.

page 24 note § The plans of this traitor, and their failure, are well told in a series of interesting contemporaneous documents printed in the Appendix (II) to which the reader is referred.

page 24 note || Sir Patrick de Graham, a valiant knight, and “noble amongst the noblest,” disdained to ask for quarter, and was slain in circumstances which extorted the praise of the enemy. See Tytler's Hist, of Scotland, vol. i. pp. 114—116.

page 25 note * Alderman of Bridge Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 25 note † During this year the king restored the city liberties, which he had retained in his hands since the deposition of Gregory de Rokesley in 1285, not however without the payment of a large fine for the concession. (Liber Niger, f. 24. Pat. 26 Edw. I. m. 20.)

page 25 note ‡ The MS. Bibl. Egerton, No. 650, f. 45, gives the following account of this transaction, “And in the same tyme come the Scottes agayne into Englond, and dystroyed Northumbarlond and brent and robbet it, and kylled bothe man and womon, and chyldryn that lay in cradylles, and brent also holy chyrche. And dystroyed crystendom, and toke and bare away Englysshe mens goodys, as thai had been saryzins and paynymes. And all the world spake of the wykkednesse that thai diddyn throghe crystendome.” In consequence of this trespass the whole kingdom of Scotland was placed under an interdict.

page 25 note § John Earl Warren was appointed governor of Scotland by Edward the First. (Pat. 25 Edw. I. m. 2 and 22. Rot. Scotiæ, i. 27.) See Sir H. Nicolas's Siege of Carlaverock, pp. 130–136, for a memoir of this nobleman.

page 25 note || Sir Henry Percy, nephew of Earl Warren, was made keeper of the county of Galloway, and the sheriffdom of Ayr. (Rot. Scotiæ, i. 31. Tytler's Hist, of Scotland, i. 123.) See Sir H. Nicolas's Siege of Carlaverock, p. 136—141, for a memoir of this nobleman.

page 25 note ¶ Sir William le Latimer was a firm adherent of Henry the Third, and held at different times several offices of trust. He suffered considerable losses in the barons' wars. He afterwards appears to have accompanied Prince Edward to the Holy Land, and was at the siege of Carlaverock in 1300. He died in 1305, at a very advanced age. Knighton calls him miles strenuissimus. See a memoir of this distinguished knight in Sir H. Nieolas's Siege of Carlaverock, p. 253.

page 26 note * He was a proud and violent churchman, who preferred the cuirass to the cassock. In 1296 he was made Treasurer of Scotland. (Pat. 25 Edw. I. m. 23. Rot. Scotiæ, i. 29.) Prynne in the volume of his Papal Usurpations from John to King Edward I. calls him a canon of St. Paul's, and gives the names of several churches of which he was parson, adding, in the margin, “an insatiable pluralist.” Hemingford (p. 130) also calls him a prebendary of many churches. He fell, whilst leading the van of the English army against Wallace in the battle of Stirling, Sept. 11, 1297. The indignities with which the Scots treated the body of Cressingham are borne testimony to by numerous historians. His dead body, says Hemingford, was mangled, the skin torn from the limbs, and in savage triumph cut into small pieces, to be preserved, not as relics, but for spite. Other writers state that they made saddles and girths of his skin. Wallace himself, according to the Lanercost Chronicle, is said to have had a sword-belt made of it. See Archæologia, xxv. p. 607, for an engraving from a small circular seal of Hugh de Cressingham, appendant to an instrument preserved in the library of the Society of Advocates at Edinburgh. In the area a swan is represented standing in front of a tree, in the attitude of preparing to attack some other animal. The inscription round reads: S. HUGONIS FILII WILLELMI DE CRESSINGHAM. NO notice of any of Cressingham's family occurs, unless it may be in the Scala Chronicon, in which he is said to be of low origin.

page 26 note † Alderman of Bassishaw Ward according to MS. Addit. 5444, f. 104, but of Dowgate Ward according to MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205, and mayor in 1310. Arms: Ermine, on a fesse gules three lions gambs couped argent. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 30b.)

page 26 note ‡ Alderman of Aldgate Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205.)

page 26 note § He was elected mayor on the feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, and sworn and received of the constable of the Tower (Sir Ralph de Sandwich) by the king's writ, &e. “extra portam forinsec. dictæ Turris.” (Lib. c. f. 36, inter Record. Civit. Lond.) Elias Russel was alderman of Coleman Street Ward (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.), and the first lord mayor sworn at the Tower. Arms: Gules, on a fesse ermine, between three swans argent, as many mullets sable. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 30b.)

page 26 note || Alderman of Langbourn Ward. Arms: Cheky or and azure, a lion rampant gules. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 30b.)

page 27 note * The MS. Bibl. Egerton, No. 650, f. 39, gives the following account of this battle and of the death of Sir Bryan de Jaye. “And on Saynt Marye Mawleyne daye the kyng come to Foukyrk and yaf batayle to the Scottes, and at that batayle were kyllede of the Scottes. xxxiij. thousande, and of Englyshemen. xxviij. persones and no mo, of the wheche was a worthy knyght slayne that was an hospitalere that men called ffrere Bryan Jay, for when Wylliam Waleis flew from the batayle that same frere Brian Jaye pursued freshly and hys hors start and ran into a myre and marrasse up on to the body, and Wylliam Waleis turned agayne, and kylled the forsaid Bryan Jaye. And that was moche harme.” Tytler (Hist, of Scotland, vol. i. p. 167.) states, that nearly 15000 Scotchmen were left dead upon the field. On the English side only two men of note fell; one of them was Sir Bryan de Jaye, preceptor of the Scottish Templars, who, when pressing before his men, in the ardour of the pursuit, was entangled in a moss in Calendar Wood, and slain by some of the Scottish fugitives. The other was a companion of the same order, and of high rank. His name according to Carrick (Life of Wallace, vol. ii. p. 38.) was John de Sautre, “Maister de la Chiralerie de Temple en Ecosse.” MS. Cott. Domit. A. III. f. 36 b, and Matthew of Westminster, p. 431, state that Bryan de Jaye was preceptor of the Knights Templars in England; but it is certain from the Rotuli Scotiæ 29, Edw. I. m. 12, 11., that he was preceptor of that order in Scotland. We there find “Brianus de Jaye, Preceptor Militiæ Templi in Scotia.” Trivet, p. 313, says, these two religious knights were slain at the commencement of the battle.

page 28 note * See “The Wallace Papers,” published by the Maitland Club, p. 166, for a list of English nobility at the siege of the Castle of Stirling, printed from the contemporary document (32 Edw. I.) in Sir Francis Palgrave's Documents and Records illustrative of the History of Scotland, vol. i. p. 274. For an account of the siege, see Tytler's Hist, of Scotland, vol. i. p. 205, et seq. The surrender of Stirling completed the reduction of Scotland.

page 28 note † Alderman of Cordwainers' Street Ward. (MS. Bibl. Hargrave, 142, f. 59.)

page 28 note ‡ Roger Bigod, VI.—5 Earl of Norfolk and Earl Marshal, ob. 1307.

page 28 note § Humphrey de Bohun XI.—4 Earl of Hereford and Earl of Essex. Lord High Constable, ob. 1321. See a memoir of this nobleman in Sir H. Nicolas's Siege of Carlaverock, p. 119–122.

page 29 note * The “Ordinatio de Trailbaston” is extant on the Parliament Roll. (Rot. Parl. i. 178.) The commission pursues the term of the ordinance. Lord Coke (4 Inst. 34) says they were called justices of Trailbaston, because they proceeded as speedily as one might draw or trail a staff; and others have supposed that they obtained their title from their staves of office. It is obvious, however, that the name was originally applied either to the offender or to the offence, as the commission is docketed “De transgressionibus nominatis Trailbaston audiendis et tenninandis.” The offenders are described as murderers, robbers, and incendiaries, wandering from place to place, and lurking in woods and parks. (Rot. Pat. 33. Edw. I. p. 1. m. 8d. MS. Addit. 5444. f. 135.) Perhaps, says Lingard, they were generally armed with clubs; whence the offence might be called an act of trailbaston. See Wright's Political Songs, p. 231, (Camden publication,) for “The Outlaws' Song of Traillebaston,” and the note p. 383.

page 29 note † Symon Parys, Alderman of Cheap Ward (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.) and Hugh Pourte, Alderman of Bridge Ward (Ibid.) were chosen sheriffs, admitted, and sworn, &c. on the Vigil of St. Michael, 30. Edw. I. (Liber C. f. 70. in Archiv. Civit. Lond.) Hugh Pourt and Margaret his wife founded a perpetual chantry in the church of St. Magnus, London Bridge. (Newcourt's Repert. vol. i. p. 396). In 1317 (Apr. 15.) Hugh de Waltham, and William Lambyn, executors of Hugh Porte, obtained licence from Edw. II. to grant the dean and chapter of St. Paul's a rent of 28s. in London, for the maintenance of a lamp to burn perpetually before the altar of the Virgin Mary. (Malcolm, Londin. Redivivum, vol. iii. p. 36.) Arms, Az. two dolphins endorsed or, between seven cross-crosslets or (another fitchée) or, on a chief gu. three leopard's faces of the third. (MS. Harl. 472, f. 55; and 1049, f. 31.) See remarks on the Arms formed on those of the Companies of Fishmongers and Goldsmiths, by Mr. J. G. Nichols, in Arehæologia, vol. xxx. The arms of Symon Parys were, Gu. three unicorn's heads erased or. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 31.)

page 29 note ‡ In the year 1303 the king's treasury, which was then within the precincts of the abbey at Westminster, (Dart says, “in the cloisters,”) was robbed of jewellery to a very large amount; but a part of the stolen valuables were afterwards recovered. On the 6th June an order was issued by the king, who was then in Scotland, to Ralph de Sandwich and others, to make inquisition concerning this depredation (Rot. Pat. 31 Edw. I. m. 14 d.); and about a fortnight afterwards, John de Drokenesford, keeper of the king's wardrobe, accompanied by those appointed to make the inquiry, entered the treasury, and found the chests and coffers broken open, and much of the treasure gone. On the 10th Oct. another order was issued by the king, to Sir Roger Brabazon, Sir William de Bereford and others, to make further inquiry; in consequence of which Walter Wenlock, Abbot of Westminster, with eighty of his monks, were committed to the tower, on the charge of stealing property to the value of, £100,000. (Rot. Pat. 31 Edw. I. m. 12 d. and m. 9 d.) Twelve of them were kept two years in prison without trial: but at length, on Lady day, 1305, the king, who had come to the church at Westminster to return thanks for his victory over the Scots, gave orders for their discharge; but Walsingham observes, the persons so directed to discharge them detained them eight days longer out of pure malice.

page 30 note * Alderman of Tower Ward. (MS. Lansd. 588, f 204b.) In 1 Edw. II. he was elected member for the city to serve in the Parliament at Northampton. (Liber C f. 92b.)

page 30 note † Sir William de Bereford was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. He died in 1327. (Esch. 20 Edw. II. n. 45.)

page 30 note ‡ Alderman of Bassishaw Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 30 note § Alderman of Coleman Street Ward. (Ibid.)

page 30 note || William Wallace, or Walays, was the second son of Sir Malcolm Wallace of Ellerslie, near Paisley, a simple knight, whose family was ancient, but neither rich nor noble. After escaping from the hands of his enemies for some time, he at last fell a victim to the confidence which he reposed in a friend and countryman, and was betrayed by Sir John Menteth, a Scottish baron of high rank, and governor of Dunbarton. On the night of the 5th August, 1305, strongly fettered, and guarded by a powerful escort, under the command of Robert de Clifford, and Aymer de Valence, he was hurried to the south, by the line of road least exposed to the chance of a rescue. (Carrick's Life of Wallace, ii. 155.) From a document recently discovered in the Chapter House at Westminster, printed in Sir F. Palgrave's Documents and Records illustrative of the History of Scotland, vol. i. p. 295, we learn the high amount of the rewards given to the traitors. Forty marks, equal to thirty pounds, were given to one person, who had watched Wallace; sixty marks (forty pounds) were given to others who had been employed in the same mission; a like sum was divided among those who had been present at his capture; and land to the value of one hundred pounds was assigned to Sir John Menteth. So anxious was Edward to wreak his vengeance upon the head of Wallace, that no sooner had he obtained possession of his captive, than he appears to have made preparation for his execution. He arrived in London, attended, as might have been expected, by a great multitude of spectators, upon Sunday, 22 August, 1305, and was lodged in the house of William de Leyre, a citizen, in the parish of All Saints, Fenehurch Street. On the morrow, being the eve of St. Bartholomew (August 23), he was conducted on horseback to Westminster Hall, Sir John de Segrave, and Sir Geoffrey de Segrave, the mayor, sheriffs, and aldermen of London, many both on horseback and on foot, accompanying him. (MS. Addit. 5444, f. 138b.) Sentence of death having been pronounced against him, he was then dragged at the tails of horses through the streets, to the foot of a high gallows, placed at the Elms in Smithfleld. After being hanged, but not to death, he was cut down yet breathing, his bowels taken out, and burnt before his face. His head was then struck off, and his body divided into four quarters. His head was placed on a pole on London Bridge, his right arm above the bridge at Newcastle, his left arm was sent to Berwick, his right foot and limb to Perth, and his left quarter to Aberdeen. (Tytler's Hist, of Scotland, vol. i. p. 214.) The documents connected with the trial and execution of Wallace may be found amongst “The Wallace Papers,” pp. 181–193, published by the Maitland Club. Carrick in his “Life of Wallace, vol. ii. p. 157, states that Geoffrey de Hartlepool, recorder of London, rode on one side of Wallace during his progress from Fenehurch Street to Westminster Hall. This circumstance is here noticed, because the first mention that is made of a recorder of London is in this reign, the above Geoffrey de Hartlepool, alderman of Candlewick Ward, (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205.) being (A.D. 1304) the first who was appointed to that high office, which has been continued ever since.

page 31 note * Alderman of Queenhithe Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 31 note † On this occasion the city paid £2,000 to the king. (Madox's Hist. Excheq.) John le Blount, mentioned as receiving the honour of knighthood, was alderman of Cheap Ward, (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205b,) and during this year accompanied the king's son to the wars, in consequence of which the king by his writ commanded the citizens to elect four fit persons to officiate for the mayoralty during his absence. (Liber C. f. 84.)

page 32 note * Frisel was the original form of the name of Fraser, and is the way in which it is spelt in all the English documents. He was the eldest son of Simon Fraser, the ancestor of the baronial houses of Saltoun and Lovat; and a faithful adherent of Sir Willam Wallace. His death was as ignominious as his valour and his patriotism had been great. He was carried to London heavily ironed, with his legs tied under his horse's belly, and, as he passed through the city, a garland of periwinkle was in mockery placed upon his head. He was afterwards hanged, cut down when still living, and beheaded; his bowels were then torn out and burnt, and his head fixed beside that of Wallace upon London Bridge. These were the first instances of this kind of degradation to which the bridge was appropriated, though in after ages such scenes became frequent. The trunk was hung in chains, and strictly guarded, lest his friends should remove it. He was executed in the 49th year of his age. For a memoir of this distinguished personage see Sir Harris Nicolas's Siege of Carlaverock, p. 216. A song composed on the execution of Sir Simon Fraser may be found in Wright's Political Songs, p. 212.

page 32 note † There was only one knight that suffered death on the same day, viz.: Sir Herbert de Morham, a Scottish knight, of French extraction, who had been imprisoned and forfeited his estates in 1297, and liberated under the promise of serving Edward in his Flemish war. His squire Thomas de Boys also suffered with him. (Tytler's Scotland, i. 250.)

page 32 note ‡ Robert Wisheart, archdeacon of St. Andrew's, elected bishop of Glasgow in 1272.

page 32 note § William Lamberton, chancellor of the diocese of Glasgow, elected bishop of St. Andrew's in 1298. He built the bishop's palace at St. Andrew's, and finished the cathedral.

page 33 note * Alderman of Candlewick Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b), where he is called “Simon.”

page 33 note † Alderman of Bridge Ward. (Ibid.)

page 33 note ‡ John 10th Earl of Athol was one of the chief associates of Bruce in his arduous attempt to restore the liberties of Scotland, and assisted at his coronation at Scone, 27 March, 1306. On the discomfiture of Bruce the same year the Earl of Athol, endeavouring to escape by sea, was discovered, and conducted to London. Notwithstanding he was allied in blood, through his mother, to the English monarch, such was the animosity of Edward against those who had supported Bruce that Athol was condemned to death in Westminster Hall, 7 Nov. 1306, and executed the same day, on a gallows thirty feet higher than ordinary, in consequence of his royal descent. He was let down before he was dead, his head cut off, and fixed on London Bridge, and his body burnt to ashes. (Douglas's Peerage of Scotland, vol. i. p. 133. Edit. Wood.)

page 34 note * On the 30th Dec. Nicolas Picot, Alderman of Coleman Street Ward, (M.S. Lansd. 558, fol. 204b), and Nigell Drury, Alderman of Billingsgate Ward (Ibid.), sheriffs of London, received £40 to provide beer for the King's Coronation. (Devon's Issue Roll, p. 121.)

page 34 note † This fatal occurrence is stated by the monks of Westminster to have been a judgment in their favour, in consequence of Sir John Bakwell having been a great enemy to their church through some law differences between him and the convent. He was pressed to death by the crowd “without the happiness of the last viaticum.” (Dart's Westm. Abbey, ii. xxvij.) The arms of Sir John Bakwell were: Palee de argent, e de azure, od le chef de goules a un lupard de or. See Roll of Arms temp. Edw. II. edited by Sir Harris Nicolas, from a contemporary MS.

page 34 note ‡ He was a member of the Goldsmiths' Company, and the son of William Farindon, Alderman of Farringdon Ward, within and without, and sheriff in 1281. (See antea, p. 17.) He served the office of mayor four times, viz. in 1308, 1313, 1320, and 1323, in which last year the office of mayoralty being in the king's hands for certain causes, the king by his writ committed it to Nicholas Farindon, during pleasure, and commanded the aldermen &c. to be obedient to him as mayor. In 1314 he was member for the city, and also in 1340. He first occurs as warden of the Goldsmiths' Company in 1339, and for the last time in 1352. In 1361 he built the east arch or gate which entered the south churchyard of St. Paul's. He lived to a great age, as he witnessed several deeds in the year 1363. The time of his death is not known, but he was buried in the church of St. Peter le Chepe, in which church he founded a chantry of the yearly value of £5 6s. 8d. and also gave 4s. out of his lands in the same parish towards the maintenance of a light, to be perpetually burning before our Lady there. Arms: Or, on a fesse gu. between ten cross-crosslets fitchée sa. three lion's heads erased or. (MS. Harl. 472, f. 34b.)

page 34 note § He is said by Stowe to have been one of the founders of the priory of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate Street. William Basinge, dean of St. Paul's, was the first founder.

page 35 note * Alderman of Cordwainer Street Ward (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204 b), and served the office of sheriff in 19 Edw. I. Stowe says, “he was a great benefactor to the church of St. Thomas the Apostle, and had a chantry there 1319.” Will dated London “in domo sua paroch. de Aldemarie church die Jovis in festo sanctæ Thomæ Apostoli.” A. D. 1312. (Regist. Reynolds, f. 260b. in Bibl. Lambeth.) Arms: Arg. on a fesse gules three crosses pattée or. (MS. Harl. 1049. f. 29 b.)

page 35 note † Alderman of Farringdon Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204 b.)

page 35 note ‡ MS. Addit. No. 5444, f. 153 b, states his name to be “Jacobus Films Fuleonis de Sanoto Edmundo.”

page 35 note § The following account of this severe frost is extracted from the MS. last quoted, f. 154. “Eodem anno, in festo natalis Domini, tanta frigiditas et gelu fuerat massata et congregata in Thamisia et ubique, quod pauperes, præ nimio frigore, oprimabantur, et quod panis in stramine vel alio velamine eoopertus, fuerat congelatus, quod non potuit comedi, nisi fuerit calefactus; et quod tanta fuit massa crustium glaciorum in Thamisia, quod homines iter suum arripuerunt de Quenhethe in Suthwork, et de Westm. usque London: et sic per multum tempus duravit, quod populus duxit choream per medium ejus, juxta ignem quemdam ibidem factam, et luctaverunt, et leporem cum canibus ceperunt in medio Thamis., ponte London, in magno periculo et dampno permanente; sed et pons Roffensis et aliæ pontes in cursu aquarum stantes omnino corruerunt.”

page 35 note || Alderman of Dowgate Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558. f. 204 b). Through his falsely imprisoning William de Hakford, mercer, which led to a commotion in the city, he was deposed from his office of mayor, and afterwards from his aldermanship. (MS. Addit. 5444. f. 170.)

35 note ¶ Alderman of Cordwainer Street Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204 b.)

page 35 note ** Piers de Blakeneye dying within the year, John de Grrauntebrugge was chosen in his place. (MS. Addit. 5444. f. 169b.)

page 36 note * Sir John Gisors, knt. one of the Pepperers' (now the Grocers') Company, was seven times mayor, alderman of Vintry Ward, and coroner for the city, from 10 to 13 Edw. I. (MS. Lansd. 558. f. 204, 206.) The family is said to be of Italian origin—the Gisorio; but the name is decidedly Norman, Gisors being the name of a town in Normandy. In 1311 he was made constable of the Tower. (Claus. 1 Edw. III. p. 1. m. 23). In 1314 he was nominated, with William de Leire, by the mayor and aldermen, &c. to attend the Parliament at York, for which he received twenty marks for his expenses, and William de Leire fifteen marks. (Liber E. p. 20, inter Archiv. Civit. Lond.) During his mayoralty, in 1315, he, with Nicholas de Farendon, John de Wengrave, Robert de Keleseye, and other aldermen, appeared before the king at Westminster, and on their bended knees asked pardon for an outrage committed by the citizens in demolishing the eastern rampart opposite to the outward gate of the tower. The king, in consideration of 600 marks which the citizens promised to give him, and on condition that the rampart should be repaired at their expense, with all possible dispatch, and that the malefactors should be punished, pardoned them the whole trespass. (Claus. 9 Edw. II. m. 25 d.) The time of his death is not known, but he was buried in the chapel of St. Mary, in the Grey Friars, “ad dexterum cornu altaris sub prima parte fenestrae sub lapide elevato.” (Collect. Topog. et Geneal. v. 282.) His arms were: Az. billettée, a lion rampant or. (MS. Harl. 472. f. 20.) There were two of this name who served the office of mayor, the first in 1245, and the second in 1312, 1313, and 1315. Stowe says the latter was buried, with others of this very distinguished family, in the church of St. Martin in the Vintry. (See MS. Harl. 1349. f. 3 b.) Gisors' Hall, now called Gerrard's Hall, was in the possession of this family for several years. (Maitland, ii. 825.)

page 36 note † Richard de Welleford dying within the year, Adam Lotekyn or Lucekyn, his executor, was elected in his place. (Liber D. f. 3a. inter Archiv. Civit. London. MS. Addit. 5444, f. 221.)

page 36 note ‡ Guy de Beauchamp XI.—9 Earl of Warwick, ob. 1315.

page 37 note * A memoir of this personage may be found in Sir Harris Nicolas's Siege of Carlaverock, p. 356.

page 37 note † Alderman of Bridge Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204 b.)

page 37 note ‡ Alderman of Coleman Street Ward (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204 b), where he is called “Garton.” He was probably a member of the Grocers' Company, as MS. Addit. 5444. f. 221 b, calls him “Hugo de Garton, spicer.”

page 37 note § He was a member of the Goldsmiths' Company. (MS. ut supra.)

page 37 note || Gilbert de Clare, X.—8 Earl of Gloucester.

page 38 note * Aymer de Valence, X.—2 Earl of Pembroke, ob. 1323. A memoir of this celebrated earl may be found in Sir Harris Nicolas's Siege of Carlaverock, p. 145.

page 38 note † He was Chancellor of St. Paul's Cathedral in 1309; and again in 1319. (Dugdale's St. Paul's, pp. 232, 271. Edit. Ellis.)

page 38 note ‡ The reliques of saints it appears were anciently kept in the Cross, probably to preserve the church from all danger of tempests. (Dugdale's St. Paul's, pp. 11, 337. Edit. Ellis.)

page 39 note * Alderman of Dowgate Ward and chamberlain for the city. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205, 206 b.) He was also a member of the Drapers' Company; and during his mayoralty was appointed to the office of butler to the king, which has continued ever since. (MS. Add. 5444, f. 223, 227 b.) The last person who served this office was the Right Hon. John Thomas Thorpe, at the coronation of Geo. IV. on the 19 July 1821. His office was to serve the king after dinner with wine in a gold cup, which cup, with the cover belonging to it, and the layer of gold, he retained for his own use as his fee and reward. Arms: Argent, on a bend gules three eaglets displayed or. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 33 b.)

page 39 note † Member of the Vintners' Company. (MS. Add. 5444, f. 227 b.)

page 39 note ‡ Member of the Mercers' Company, (Ibid.), and alderman of Bread Street Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205.)

page 39 note § Between the years 1314 and 1317, the city, in common with the rest of the kingdom, suffered greatly from a scarcity of provisions, which eventually produced a complete famine, although different statutes were made by the king to limit the consumption, and restrain the prices of corn, meat, &c. “There followed this famine,” says Stowe (Annales, 218. Edit. Howes), “a grievous mortalitie of people, so that the quicke might vnneath burie the dead. The beastes and cattell also, by the corrupt grasse whereof they fed, dyed, whereby it came to passe that the eating of flesh was suspected of all men, for flesh of beastes not corrupted was hard to finde. Horse-flesh was counted great delicates: the poore stole fatte dogges to eate: some (as it was sayde) compelled through famine, in hidde places, did eate the flesh of their owne children, and some stole others, which they devoured. Theeves that were in prisons did plucke in peeces those that were newly brought amongst them, and greedily devoured them halfe alive.” See also MS. Cott. Faustina, A. VIII. f. 174b, for certain petitions of the clergy to the archbishop of Canterbury relative to this dreadful famine.

page 39 note || At the time of his election he was “Recordator Gildaulæ, et subcoronator.” (MS. Add. 5444, f. 230b.) He was also alderman of Cheap Ward and coroner for the City. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b, 206b.)

page 39 note ¶ Alderman of Bread Street Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205.)

page 40 note * MS. Cott. Faustina, A. VIIJ. f. 175 b thus records this dreadful inundation, &c.— “Memorandum quod die Translationis Sancti Martini (4 July) in sero et per totam noctem sequentem vise fuerunt tante coruseationes et audita tanta tonitrua quanta longe ante fuerant inaudita, anno videlicet domini Mo.CCC. septimo deoimo. Fuit etiam in ipsa nocte tanta pluvia quod per inundationem aquarum subito provenientium multi pontes, domus quamplurima, cum hominibus et pueris, ac etiam molendina in multis locis sunt submersa. Ista acciderunt London: tamen pluvia fuit particularis et non universalis.”

Malcolm (Lond. Rediv. i. 376) says, “The little River Fleet, whose waters were swelled by Turnmill and Oldbourn brooks, flowed in a valley, which may be very readily traced from the Thames to Battle Bridge ” (now called King's Cross,) “near the Small Pox Hospital.” Everything but the names of Oldbourne (Holborn) and TurnmiU are lost to us; and the Fleet exists only under a sewer; Fleet River, says Stowe, was called in the foundation charter of St. Martin's-le-Grand College, by the Conqueror, the River of Wells. See also Knight's London, p. 225, where may be found an engraving of the Fleet Ditch, 1749.

page 40 note † Alderman of Bishopsgate Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 205.) Arms: Argent, a dancette gules, in chief three leopard's heads sable. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 34.)

page 40 note ‡ He was a member of the Grocers' Company (pepperer), six times mayor of London during the reign of Edward II. namely, in the years 1319, 1321, 1322, 1324, 1325, and finally in 1327. He was also alderman of Queenhithe Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204 b.) The periods at which he presided over the city, as its chief magistrate, were stormy and tumultuous, but he appears by his activity and decision to have effectually maintained order and tranquillity, and thereby secured to himself the approbation of his fellow-citizens.He died in 1328, and was buried, according to Stowe, in St. Paul's Cathedral, “in the north-west walk, against the choir.” MS. Add. 5444, f. 223, however, calls him “Piscenarius,” a member of the Fishmongers' Company.

page 41 note * Member of the Drapers' Company. Arms: Or, on a chief sable three crescents or. (MS. Harl. 1094, f. 34.) He was elected mayor in 7 Edw. III.

page 41 note † Probably a near relative of Stephen de Abingdon above-mentioned, his arms being the same. (MS. ut supra.) He was alderman of Tower Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204 b.)

page 41 note ‡ This name should be Hervy de Stanton. He was the founder of Michael House at Cambridge, since embodied in Trinity College. His family name was Aungier, or Aunger, and he is said to have been a native of Suffolk. He was rector of East Dereham and North Creake, in Norfolk, a canon of York and Wells, and chancellor of the exchequer to Edward II. He was also a benefactor to the Hospital of St. Nicholas at Bury St. Edmund's. He died at York in 1337. (See Wright's Memorials of Cambridge.)

page 41 note § In consequence of certain quarrels having ensued between the mayor and aldermen and the commonalty of the city, and several of the officers and magistrates charged with various misdemeanours and acts of corruption, the mayoralty of the city was seized into the hands of the crown, and sir Robert de Kendal was appointed custos; but the king soon afterwards restored their liberties, and Hamond Chigwell was chosen mayor. (Rot. Pat. 14 Edw. II. pt. 2, m. 22.)

page 42 note * See Rot. Pat. 15 Edw. II. p. 1, m. 11.

page 42 note † Alderman of Bassishaw Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204 b.)

page 42 note ‡ He was buried in the church of St. Mary-at-Hill. Stowe states that the body of Alice his wife was found remarkably preserved after being buried 170 years.

page 42 note § The siege of the Castle of Leeds, in Kent, was occasioned by the following circumstance:—The king having gone to Canterbury with the queen to perform their devotions at the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket, the latter in returning towards London desired a night's lodging at the castle, which belonged to Lord Badlesmere, but in his absence she was not only denied admittance, but some of her servants were killed as they presented themselves at the gate. So general was the indignation excited by this affront, that the king found no difficulty in raising an army and reducing the castle; after which he hanged the governor (Sir Thomas Culpeper), and sent Margaret, the wife of Lord Badlesmere, and Giles his son and heir, prisoners to the Tower of London. On this occasion the citizens of London assisted the king by raising a body of foot soldiers, who also served in other parts of the kingdom. The services then performed by the citizens are recited in the second charter of Edward II., wherein he grants that such service shall not be drawn into a precedent for the future. As this charter, though it does not confer any franchise, is an acknowledgment of the prescriptive exemption that the citizens should not go to war out of the city, it has been treated as a document of great importance. And the right or claim of the freemen of London to be exempted from imprisonment is considered as being founded upon such prescriptive exemption. But the supply of soldiers is now systematically provided for by the Mutiny Acts.

page 43 note * Bartholomew Lord Burghersh was one of the barons who had joined with Thomas Earl of Lancaster and others in opposition to the two Spencers. After the defeat of the barons at Boroughbridge, he fled with Lord Badlesmere to Leeds Castle, where they were besieged, and taken prisoners, and he was sent to the Tower. The arrival of the queen procured him his enlargement. Lord Burghersh was generally in active service. He was constable of Dover Castle, admiral of the seas to the westward, chamberlain to the king's household, constable of the Tower, and warden of all the king's forests south of Trent.

page 44 note * See a memoir of this baron in Sir Harris Nicolas's Siege of Carlaverock, p. 348.

page 44 note † See MS. Harl. No. 88, f. 154 et seq. for the record and process of the sentence passed upon Sir Roger Damory and others. See also Parl. Writs, pt. ii. p. 261, et seq.

page 45 note * See MS. Harl. No. 88, f. 160, for the record and process of the judgment passed upon Andrew de Harcla, Earl of Carlisle. He was attainted of high treason for allying himself, both by oath and writing, to maintain Robert Bruce as king of Scotland. For which treason he was adjudged to be drawn, hanged, and beheaded, his heart and entrails torn out, burnt to ashes, and the ashes cast to the winds, his carcase to be cut into four quarters, one to be hanged at the top of the tower of Carlisle, another at the top of the tower of Newcastle, the third on the bridge at York, the fourth at Shrewsbury; and his head to be spiked on London Bridge. All which was executed accordingly.

page 46 note * A copy of this table is printed amongst the notes to the Chronicle of London (MS. Harl. 565, f. 2.), edited by Sir Harris Nicolas. For an account of the miracles imputed to Thomas Earl of Lancaster after his death see MS. Bibl. Egerton, No. 650, f. 51 et seq. and Brady, ii. 136. A memoir of this earl may be found in Sir Harris Nicolas's Siege of Carlaverock, p. 265.

page 47 note * He owed his escape to the imprudence of Sir Stephen Segrave, the constable, and other officers of the Tower, whom Mortimer invited to a banquet and made intoxicated: for which Segrave was removed from his office and imprisoned, and Walter Stapledon, bishop of Exeter, appointed in his room. (Rot. Claus. 17 Edw. II. m. 39.)

page 47 note † Rot. Pat. 16 Edw. II. p. 2. m. 23.

page 47 note ‡ Arms: Gules, a lion rampant argent, between three crescents or. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 35.)

page 47 note § By writ, dated 29 Nov. 17 Edw. II. See Rot. Pat. 17 Edw. II. p. 1, m. 10.

page 48 note * Member of the Mercers' Company and alderman of Cordwainers' Street Ward. (MS.Bibl. Hargrave, 142, f. 59.)

page 48 note † David de Strabolgie, 11th earl of Athol, high constable of Scotland.

page 49 note * Alderman of Walbrook Ward. (MS. Lansd. 558, f. 204b.)

page 49 note † Roger le Belers was barbarously murdered in a valley near Reresby, being then very old, and one of the justices itinerant, by Eustace de Folvile, and two of his brothers, whom he had threatened. He is charged with being oppressive and rapacious, and having got estates from other foundations for his own chantry founded by him at Kirkby Belers for secular priests. (Nichols's Leicestershire, vol. iii. pt. 1, p. 21, and note.)

page 50 note * William de Ayreminne, Heyremin, Ermine, or Armine, was in so great esteem with Edward II. that he loaded him with preferments. He was made chancellor of England, and afterwards treasurer, at the request of the Queen Isabel, whom he had long privately assisted in her wicked contrivances against her husband. He was appointed bishop of Norwich, July 19,1325. He died at his house at Charing by London, on Wednesday, March 27, 1336, and was buried in Norwich cathedral before the high altar.

page 50 note † This fire, which took place on St. Barnabas Day (11 June), was caused through the negligence of the plumber, who was then mending the leads. The church, cloisters, and adjoining houses were burnt to the ground. (Nichols's Leicestershire, vol. ii. pt. i. p. 153.)

page 51 note * Queen Isabella arrived at Harwich on the 24th September, 1326, where she was instantly joined by a large body of malecontents, notwithstanding the king's proclamation commanding all men to be ready to resist their landing. (Walsing. p. 123; Fœdera, vol. ii. pt. 1, p. 643, et seq. N. E.)

page 51 note † Stowe says he new built the church of St. James at Garlick Hithe, where he was buried. Arms: Per fesse gules and azure, a lion rampant azure, over all a bend or. (MSS. Harl. 472, f. 55; 1049, f. 35b.)

page 52 note * On the king's departure from London, where he had unsuccessfully applied for a levy to take the field in his service, he retired westward towards Bristol, with the intent of taking refuge in Ireland. This circumstance left the populace at liberty; and a number of mechanics of all kinds gathering together, took arms, seized the mayor, threatened to kill him if he would not swear to authorise and observe what they should require; and bound themselves by an association to put all to death, of whatsoever rank or condition they were, that should either oppose the queen or intrench on their liberties. Under pretence of this association they seized, Oct. 15, John Marshal, a citizen of London, who had a post under the younger Despencer, cut off his head, plundered his goods, and then went to the bishop of Exeter's house, which they rifled, carrying off his plate, furniture, and other valuable effects. The bishop (whom the king had left guardian of the city) happened to be coming from his country house to town, and, being told of the tumult, summoned the mayor to surrender him the keys of the gates for his assurance. The mayor (Hamond de Chigwell) and the populace, incensed with the imperiousness and injustice of this demand, seized the bishop, and, without any respect to his place or dignity, threw him from his horse, dragged him to the great cross in Cheapside, and there beheaded him, together with sir Richard Stapledon his brother, William Walle, his nephew, and John de Padington, one of his gentlemen. The next day they killed the bishop's treasurer at Haliwell. “Memorandum quod idus Octobris, anno domini Mo.CCCmo. vicesimo sexto decollatus fuit dominus Walterus de Stapelton Episcopus Exon. in medio foro Civitatis London per communitatem ejusdem civitatis. Eodem die decollati fuerunt Johannes Marescallus civis ejusdem civitatis et duo armigeri prædicti episcopi. Et in crastino interfectus fuit thesaurarius prædicti episcopi apud Haliwelle extra muros.” (MS. Cott. Faustina, A. VIII. f. 163.) Godwin informs us that they buried the bishop in a heap of sand at the back of his house, without Temple Bar. Walsingham says, they threw his body into the river; but the former account seems most consistent with popular malevolence and contempt. The mayor's devotion to the party of the queen was displayed by this act, which even the unbridled licence of the times cannot justify. He was graciously received by the queen, who thanked him “for his late bloody act, which was styled an excellent piece of justice.” According to Walsingham, the reason for this animosity of the Londoners against the bishop was, that through his advice the king had fixed the courts of justices itinerant in the city of London, whereby criminals rarely escaped punishment. The queen and her son, when he came to the throne, appearing to regret this barbarous outrage, about six months afterwards caused the bishop's body to be removed to Exeter cathedral, where it was interred (with that of his brother) with due solemnity on the north side of the high altar. Nor was this the only reparation they were desirous of making for such an enormous offence. They instituted an inquiry into the circumstances of the murder, though after a lapse of three years, in consequence of which all those who were in any way concerned in it were condemned and executed.

page 53 note * The corporation of London holds a great portion of the manor of Finsbury, Fensbury, or Vynesbury, which abuts in part upon the city boundary, by virtue of a lease, dated 22 May 1315, from Robert de Baldok, prebendary of Haliwell and Finsbury, in the cathedral church of St. Paul, at an annual rent of 20s. The lease, which has been renewed from time to time, will expire in the year 1867; and the corporation have thus held the manor since 1315, or some still earlier period. The corporation appoints the stewards and other officers of the manorial courts; but the manor is not within the jurisdiction of the city. The Finsbury court leet and court baron are holden in the month of October in every year before the senior common pleader, to whose office the stewardship of the manor of Finsbury is incident, Municipal Corporation Report, London and Southwark, pp. 3, 136 and Maitland's London, vol. ii. 1369.

page 55 note * From the time of the bishop of Exeter's murder the city was in that excited state that the aldermen and principal citizens dared not oppose the proceedings of the mob, for fear of having their houses broken open, and their goods carried off by night; which was become an ordinary practice. No place, however sacred, was secure against their fury. They surprised the governor of the Tower, sir John Weston, set all the prisoners at liberty, and kept possession of that fortress in the name of Prince John of Eltham. “Et ipso die dominus Johannes de Weston, constabularius turris London, reddidit majori et civibus London, dominum Johannem de Eltham filium domini regis juniorem et alios incarceratos scilicet filios domini Rogeri de Mortuo Mari, dominum Mauricium de Berkle et fratrem ejus, dominum Bartholomeum de Burwersshe, dominum Johannem de la Beche et filium domini Bartholomei de Badelesmere, qni omnes juraverunt fidelitatem communitati civitatis London.” (MS. Cott. Faustina, A. VIII. f. 163.) John de Charleton, and many others, had their houses pillaged, and infinite mischiefs were done, not only within the city but in the neighbourhood. The officials and commissaries of the ecclesiastical courts were so terrified that they dared not hold a consistory for a year together; nor the mayor or sheriffs offer to hold their hustings and courts, or hear causes, during that time; an obstruction to justice never known before.

page 55 note † The mayor (Hamond de Chigwell) was removed by command of the queen, and Richard de Betoyne and John de Gisors appointed guardians of the city, the former whereof was the next day (Nov. 16) sworn into the mayoralty at Westminster. Richard de Betoyne was a member of the Goldsmiths' Company, and M.P. for the city 1327–8. He was buried in the Grey Friars, Newgate Street, now Christ Church. Arms: Gules, a saltire between four fleurs-de-lis or. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 35b.)

page 56 note * Edmund Fitz-Alan, XI.—8 earl of Arundel. He was seized in Shropshire, with two other gentlemen named Daniel and Micheldene, and though chargeable of no crime, besides that of not deserting the king to join the rebels, the three were beheaded at Hereford, to gratify says Walsingham, the vindictive feelings of Mortimer, who hated them, especially the earl, whose estate at Clun he wanted.

page 56 note † A wealthy merchant, concerned in the farming or collecting of the duty of two shillings a tun on wine, which in those days was thought a grievous burden, though laid only on foreign merchants, by their consent, and in lieu of privileges. He was dragged barefoot out of the city to No Man's Land (a piece of ground containing three acres, lying without the walls on the north part of the city between the land of the abbot of Westminster and the prior of St. John of Jerusalem,) and there beheaded by the populace. Carte calls him “Anthony d'Espagne.”

page 56 note ‡ He was hanged (Nov. 24) on a gibbet fifty feet high, and his head sent as an agreeable present to the citizens of London, who fixed it with great triumph upon London Bridge. His quarters were sent to other places. (Walsing. p. 125.)

page 56 note § He was one of the king's household, and executed for speaking too freely of the queen's conduct. (Chronicle of Thomas Rudborne, Monk of Winchester, MS. Harl. 156 f. 188b; Walsing. p. 126.)

page 57 note * Robert de Baldock, chancellor, to whom most of the miseries of the kingdom were imputed, having been brought from Hereford to London, and imprisoned in the bishop of Hereford's house, near Old Fish Street Hill, was taken thence by the mob, and dragged to Newgate, as a place of more security; but the unmerciful treatment he met with on the way caused his death there in a few days in great torment. (Walsing. p. 126.) He was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral, May 2, 1327.

page 57 note † By the force of bribes and the assistance of the Welsh, the King was taken, Nov. 16, with Robert de Baldok and Simon de Reding abovementioned, in or near the castle of Llantressan, and was soon after removed to Ledbury, and from thence, before the middle of December, to the castle of Kenilworth, where he remained all the winter in the custody of the Earl of Lancaster.

page 57 note ‡ Walter Reynolds, translated from Winchester 1 Oct. 1313, lord chancellor and lord treasurer; ob. 16 Nov. 1327.

page 58 note * Henry Earl of Lancaster, on account of the great humanity with which he treated his royal prisoner, having been suspected either of pitying his misfortunes, or of favouring the schemes formed for procuring his liberty, the Queen and Mortimer took the King out of his custody, and sent him to Berkeley Castle (which was destined to be his last resting place), under the care of sir Thomas de Berkeley, John de Maltravers, and sir Thomas de Gournay. The Dominicans all over England were very zealous in the King's cause; and Thomas Dunhed, one of that order, and an eloquent preacher, had conspired with many of them to restore him to liberty. Whether his late commission to the Pope (to whom he had been sent by Edward to solicit a divorce from Isabel), and the general disaffection of hia order, rendered him suspected by the Queen, or whether, trusting to the inclinations of the people, who every where lamented the King's fate, he had actually raised (as is said) a body of men for his service, he was seized and imprisoned in Pontefraet Castle; where, inciting the other prisoners to make their escape, he was killed, with most of them, in the, attempt. (Carte, ii. 384.)

page 58 note † The murder of the unfortunate Edward was perpetrated on the night of the 21st of September 1327 with circumstances of the greatest horror. De la Moor, the faithful servant of Edward II. says that “Many a one woke and prayed to God for the harmless soul which was passing that night in torture.” His body was interred without funeral pomp in Gloucester Abbey.

page 59 note * The Londoners had been so very serviceable in contributing to the late revolution, that it was thought necessary not only to pardon them for all the robberies, &c. committed since the day of the queen's landing, but also to confirm their ancient liberties, and gratify them with new privileges. (Rot. Cart. 1 Edw. III. m. 5.) The Chronicle of London, preserved in the College of Arms (MS. Arund. No. 19, f. 14b), recites, that on the “vi day of Marche the kynge confermede the libertes and the fraunchises of Lundun. And he grauntede that the meir of Lundun shall be oon of the justicia of Newgate. Also he grauntide that the scherifhoodis schulde go to ferme for thre hundred pound bi yeer, as it was in olde tyme. And also the kynge grauntide that the citezeins of Lundun schulde not be chargid with no man that fledde to holy chirche, neithere thei shulde not be constreyned to go out of the citee of Lundun to no werre but if thei wolde hem self. Also the kyng grauntide the same tyme that the libertees and fraunchises of the citee schulde not after that tyme for no cause be taken awey in to the kyugis hond. Also that same tyme Southewerke was longinge to the schirivis of London for to have to ferine.”

page 60 note * Stanhope Park, in the bishopric of Durham.

page 60 note † Barnes, in his History of Edward III, (p. 14), says, “It is said by a diligent historian (Knighton, p. 2552) of those very days, who had seen and known, and heard King Edward discourse, that Douglas came into the camp by stealth, aiming to find out the king's pavilion, and that being descried by some of the watch, he said always in English, as if he had been one of the rounds,' No Ward ? Ha! St. George,' And so, not being questioned, he came at last to the tent royal, where he slew the king's chamberlain, and after that a stout loyal soul, his chaplain, who ran toward the king to wake him, but was slain in the endeavour, as he also interposed his own body to prevent the blow aimed at the king.” At p, 16 he states “that Earl Douglas performed that bold action by night in the English camp, by the connivance and underhand assistance of certain in the king's army, of whom Mortimer ought to be accounted chief.”

page 60 note ‡ For an account of this affray and the cause, see Froissart, vol. i. p. 28. Leland (Collectanea, vol. i, pt. 2, p, 307), however, gives a different account.

page 61 note * Philippa, youngest daughter of William III. Count of Hainault, Holland, and Zealand, and lord of Friesland, was married at Valenciennes by procuration. She arrived in London December 23, 1327, escorted by her uncle John of Hainault, with a very honourable train of attendants. A solemn procession of the clergy introduced her into the city, where she was met by the mayor and aldermen in their robes of dignity, who presented her with a service of plate of the value of three hundred pounds, as a marriage gift. Although London was in an uproarious state of rejoicing at her arrival, she set out immediately for York to meet the king, where her nuptials with Edward were solemnized with great pomp on Sunday, January 24, 1328; but she was not crowned until February 18, 1330.

page 61 note † She was so called from being born in the Tower of London; like as John her brother acquired the cognomen of Eltham, from having had that favourite spot for his birth-place. She was afterwards (in derision) called Joan Makepeace, from having been married by Queen Isabella and Mortimer to David Prince of Scotland, when they were both children, as the cement of an inglorious treaty with that country in 1328. She died without issue in 1357. (See Barnes's Hist, of Edw. III. p. 30.)

page 62 note * He was restored to the dignity of high steward of England; and charged particularly with the care or guardianship of the young king's person.

page 62 note † Simon Mepham. Elected 11 Dee. 1327; ob. 12 Oct. 1333.

page 62 note ‡ Sir John de Grantham, pepperer. Arms: Ermine, a griffin segreant gules. (MSS. Harl. 472, f. 18 and 109, f. 34.)

page 62 note § Arms: Gules, a lion rampant cheeky, azure and or. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 36.)

page 62 note || About the feast of S. Mathy, there was very solemne justing of all the stout earles, barons, and nobles at London in Cheape, betwixt the great crosse and the great conduite nigh Soper lane, which lasted three dayes, where the queene Philippe, with many ladies, fell from a stage, notwithstanding they were not hurt at all: wherefore the queene tooke great care to save the carpenters from punishment, and through her prayer (which shee made on her knees) shee pacified the King and Councell, whereby shee purchased great love of the people.” (Stowe's Annales, p. 230.) Further particulars of this tournament may be seen in Barnes's Hist, of Edward III. p. 38.

page 62 note ¶ He appears to have been a draper, as on the Issue Roll of the Exchequer, dated 18th May, 10 Edw. II. we find the following entry: “£13 9 1½ paid to Simon de Swanelound, merchant, by his own hand, in satisfaction of £115 3 4, due to the same Simon for cloth purchased from him, and by him delivered to the Lord the King into his wardrobe, to make mantles for the King's knights, and tunics for his valets, going with him to Scotland; by command of the said Lord the King, under his privy seal, directed to the Treasurer, remaining amongst other Writs of Mandamus of Michaelmas term last past.” (Devon's Issue Roll, p. 133.) Arms: Gules, three swans argent. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 36, where he is called “Richard.”)

page 63 note † Richard Lacer or Lancer, mercer. In 12 Edw. III. when the city advanced the king, £20,000 for the support of his war in France, he lent him 200 marks. (Fabyan.) He served the office of mayor in 1345.

page 63 note ‡ He was beheaded Mar. 21, 1330, and his estates given to Mortimer's youngest son Geoffrey.

page 64 note * In the parliament holden this year at Westminster, on the Monday next after the feast of St. Katharine the Virgin, judgment was passed on Roger Mortimer, Karl of March, “et autre de sa covyne,” namely, Simon de Bereford, John Maltravers, Bogo de Bayous, John Deveroil, Thomas de Gournay, and William de Ocle. Mortimer and Bereford were in custody, and both adjudged to death. The former was executed on Nov. 29, 4 Edw. III. (1330). He was condemned “to be drawn and hanged as a traitor and enemy of the king and kingdom.” His body, after hanging for two days and two nights by the king's special command, through his favour, was granted to the Friars Minors, or Grey Friars, in London, who buried him in their church, now called Christ Church; whence, many years afterwards, it was translated to Wigmore. Mortimer was the first person executed at Tyburn, which was then known by the name of the Elms. Bereford, who was an accomplice of Mortimer in all his treasons, was also executed at the elms at Tyburn on the Monday next after the feast of Thomas the Apostle following. Only Gournay and Ocle are expressly charged with the murder of the late king. The rest were also adjudged to death; but, not being in custody, rewards were offered for their apprehension. When Sir Thomas de Berkeley was called upon in the same Parliament to answer touching the death of the deposed king, in whose custody he was at the time of his death, he defended himself from the charge of any participation in the murder, alleging, that at the time of the king's death he was so extremely ill at Bradley, that his life was despaired of; but he admitted that he placed as keepers of the king, and as ministers under him, the two persons, namely, Thomas de Gournay and William de Ocle, who had been adjudged to be guilty of the murder of the king. Berkeley was honourably acquitted of being accessary to his murder, but as his servants were guilty he was committed to the custody of Ralph de Neville, the steward of the household, to answer for their fidelity in the next parliament. (Rot. Parl. vol. ii. p. 57.) See Archæol. vol. xxvii. p. 274, for a paper entitled, “On the Measures taken for the apprehension of Sir Thomas de Gournay, one of the murderers of King Edward the Second, and on their final issue,” by the Rev. Joseph Hunter, F.S.A.

page 64 note † The name of this worthy knight is variously written; Nichols, Clutterbuck, and most of our historians have given the preference to “Poultney.” He was the son of Adam de Poultney, by his wife Maud de Napton, and was born at the ancient village of Poutenei or Pultonheith, within the parish of Misterton, in Leicestershire. (Nichols's Leicestershire, vol. iv. p. 316.) He was a person of very great account in his time; much in favour with King Edward III. and is taken notice of by our historians for his piety, wisdom, large possessions, and magnificent way of living. His ardour in commercial pursuits met with a suitable reward in the approbation of his fellow citizens, and in the favour of his prince, to which he recommended himself, not only by the wealth he acquired, but by a talent for business beyond the particular branch in which he was engaged, and the real merit by which he added dignity to riches, and invested an English merchant with a claim to greatness. The particular branch of business to which he applied his talents was probably that of a draper, an occupation which heretofore was very considerable, in consequence of the great quantities of woollen cloth which were exported to the continent. He is denominated a member of the Drapers' Company; and, to the honour of that body, discharged the high office of mayor no less than four times in the reign of Edw. III. although he never served the office of sheriff. Notwithstanding the indefatigable Collins could not meet with any particulars of him as matter of record until 4 Edw. III. his connexion with the court must have commenced before that time, as he then received from the king payment of a debt of some standing. “Rex persolvit Johanni de Pultney, civi London., £400, ei debit, per Edmundum nuper comitem Kancie.” (Pat. 4 Edw. III. pt. 2, m. 12.) The calendars to the patent and close rolls contain many references to him. In 1331 the king directed his writ to him as mayor of London, and his escheator, to repair the Temple Bridge for the passage of the clerks in Chancery, and other officers passing to Westminster; to provide that the gates be set open from sun-rising to sun-set; and to pay the costs ensuing thereupon out of the issues of the lands and rents of the Temple under his care. (Rot. Claus. 4 Edw. III. m. 7, from Fœdera, vol. ii. p. 805.) In the same year the king drew the attention of Sir John de Poultney to the state of the chantries in the city of London, which it appears were in many instances robbed of the funds destined to their support. (Rot. Claus. 5 Edw. III. p. 1, m. 14, d.) And it is not improbable that the abuses which came before him on this occasion in his official character, first suggested to him the idea of becoming the restorer and amplifier of one of those ancient foundations. In 1332 the king at his request wrote to the pope from Woodstock, that his faithful John de Poultney, for expiation of his sins, had erected and dedicated a chantry chapel in honour of the Holy Cross, adjoining to the church of St. Laurence in Candlewick-street, for seven priests to perform divine service there; and desired his holiness to sanction the appropriation of the said church by the abbot and convent of Westminster, to the uses of the chantry priests. (Rot. Rom. 6 Edw. III. m. 4, from Fœdera, vol. ii. p. 841.) Nor were these the only occasions on which he bore a part in ecclesiastical matters. For the king, wishing shortly after to prohibit the archbishop of Canterbury, and clergy of his province, from intermeddling with some topics, the agitation of which he conceived might be prejudicial to his crown, directed them to learn his royal pleasure from two of his trusty servants, viz. John de Pulteney, mayor of the city of London, and John Peeche. (Rot. Claus. 6 Edw. III. m. 15d.) In 1334, the king having deputed Master Simon de Stanes, Robert de Killeseye, Reginald du Conduit, and John de Causton, citizens, to inquire into the damages done by sea between his subjects and those of Flanders, so far confided in the abilities of John de Poultney, that he authorised him to commission any or either of them to go to Bruges on that account (Rot. Claus. 8 Edw. III. m. 36d.); and in the following year, several ships and armed men assembling together in order to commit hostilities, the king, confiding in the loyalty and vigilance of John de Poultney and Reginald du Conduit, commissioned them to take such forces as he had ordered to be assembled and armed within the city, in order to oppose them. (Rot. Scot. 9 Edw. III. m. 20.) In 11 Edw. III. on occasion of Edward, Prince of Wales (commonly called the Black Prince), being created Duke of Cornwall, he received the honour of knighthood, together with Sir Edward Montague, brother to the Earl of Salisbury, and others of quality, twenty in number. (Barnes' Hist, of Edw. III. pp. 112, 113.) His residence was at Cold Herberghe, near Dowgate, a magnificent house which he had built in the parish of All Hallows the Less, in Thames Street, and which from his occupancy, in the style of the times, long retained the name of Poultney's Inn. This mansion, after his death, passing through various hands, came at last to the crown; and in 1485 was granted by Richard III. to the College of Heralds, who had then lately received their charter from him; but Henry VII. willing to annul every public act of his predecessor, gave it to the then Earl of Shrewsbury. It was pulled down by Earl Gilbert about the year 1600. (Lodge, i. 9. Pennant's London, p. 305.) Besides his foundation of Corpus Christi College in the parish of St. Laurence Pountney, Sir John de Poultney founded the White Friars in Coventry, where his arms, cut in stone, were extant over the gates in Leland's time. (Itin. vol. iv. p. 190.) Dugdale states that he founded the White Friars in 16 Edw. III. He likewise built the church of All Hallows the Less in Thames Street (Stowe's Survey, edit. 1633, p. 252); and having obtained the perpetual patronage of the church of Napton in Warwickshire in 22 Edw. III. he procured, the same year, the king's licence to bestow it on his collegiate church of St. Laurence. (Dugdale's Warw. p. 224.) His benefactions were, in the spirit of the age in which he lived, for specific purposes. Among other good deeds, he bequeathed 53s. 4d. annually to the prisoners in Newgate; and £10 a year to St. Giles's Hospital by Holborn for ever. For the performance of these acts of piety he bequeathed lands and rents, lying within the city of London, to the wardens and chaplains of his college, charging them with the payments thereof; and it is truly painful to record that in less than a century after his decease it became necessary to apply to the king in parliament for powers to distrain on the property he bequeathed in order to secure the payment of these sums. (See Cotton's Abridgment of Records, pp. 599, 622, 623). Dugdale (Hist, of St. Paul's, p. 23) says, that the wardens and chaplains of the college of St. Laurence Pountney, in Candlewick Street, demised, by indenture, certain lands and tenements lying within the city of London to the dean and canons of the cathedral for the accomplishment of Sir John Poultney's will. He married Margaret, daughter and heir of John de St. John of Lageham, by whom he had issue one son, Sir William Poultney, Knt. born 1341; died January 20, 1366–7, s. p, By the inquisition taken after his death it appears that he died the Monday after Trinity Sunday, 23 Edw. III. and that William de Poultney was his son and heir, and of the age of eight years. (Escaet. 23 Edw. III. n. 45, and 25 Edw. III. n. 43.) His last will, proved in the Hustings Court of London, bears date 14 Nov. 23 Edw. III, a. d. 1349, whereby he ordered his body to be buried within the church of St. Laurence. The real place of his interment is, however, involved in doubt. It has been supposed, probably on the authority of one of the Cotton MSS. (Vesp. D. XVII. f. 76), that he was buried in the church of the Carmelites, founded by him in Coventry. But Stowe directs us to St. Paul's as the place of his burial. His words are, “Sir John Poultney, draper, four times mayor, in 1337 builded a fair chapel in St. Paul's church, wherein he was buried.” (Survay, b. i. p. 260.) The following entry in the College of Arms seems to settle the dispute respecting the place of his burial in favour of Stowe: “Johannes de Poulteney, miles, quater major Londinensis, ob. 1349. Sepultus in ecclesia Pauli, London.” On the nones of April (3rd), 1350, the archbishop of Canterbury cited the executors of Sir John de Poultney to prove his will. (MS. Reg. Islip, fol. 18, in Bibl. Lambeth.) He bore for his arms: Argent, a fesse dancette gules, in chief three leopard's faces sable. The heir general and representative of Sir John Poultney is the right hon. John, Baron Crewe, of Crewe, in the county palatine of Chester, he being the lineal descendant and heir of Jane, daughter of Sir John Poultney, who married Sir Clipsby Crewe, the issue from the other daughters of Sir John having failed. Pedigrees of the family of Sir John Poultney, Knt. will be found in Nichols's Leicestershire, Ormerod's Cheshire, and the most complete in the History of the Parish of St. Laurence Pountney, by the Rev. H. B. Wilson, B.D.

page 65 note * He was a member of the Fishmongers' Company. Arms: A chevron between two leopard's heads and a garb in base, on a chief a fish. See Archseol. vol. xxx.

page 65 note † In 12 Edw. III. when the king borrowed £20,000 of the city towards carrying on the French wars, he contributed the sum of £100. (Fabyan.)

page 67 note * Arms: Per pale or and gules, on a chevron azure, between three trefoils counterchanged, a pike argent. (MS. Harl. 1094, f. 36b.)

page 68 note * Reginald du Conduit (de Conductu), or Reignold at Conduit as Herbert calls him, was M.P. for the city in 1322 and 1327, and a member of the Vintners' Company. During the two years of his mayoralty he expended great sums for the honour of the city, to the involving his estate, and prejudice of his family, owing to the cessation of certain perquisites, which former mayors used to receive of foreign merchants resorting hither with the merchandise of their respective countries; which advantages were lost by the frequent wars with Scotland and France; in consideration whereof the king granted the said Reignold an annuity of £21 per annum, arising from divers messuages and shops belonging to the crown in the city. (Maitland.) Arms: Gules, three pitchers azure. (MS. Harl. 472, f. 50.) The Harl. MS. 1049, f. 37, gives the name of Nicholas Wootton as being mayor in 1335, and that he bore for his arms: Argent, a saltire engrailed sable.

page 68 note † Member of the Fishmongers' Company, and mayor in 1350. In 12 Edw. III. when the king borrowed £20,000 of the city to carry on his French wars, he contributed 2 00 marks. He resided in Old Fish Market, died in 1352, and was buried in the church of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey. Stowe gives the following epitaph taken from his monument by Sir Henry St. George, Garter, together with his coat of arms:—

“Hie jacet humatus Walterus Turk vocitatus,

Audax, formosus, pulcher, cives animosus,

Pauperibus fomes, piscenarius, vice-comes,

Post aldermannus, qui multos prefuit annos,

Maior ……… tarum fuit Londoniarum.

Anno milleno trecento tempore pleno

Exiit omnimodo,

quinquagesimoque secundo,

Octobria requiem tricesimoque diem.”

On the dexter side is the coat: Gules, a chevron between three leopard's heads or, on a chief of a second a griffin passant azure. See also MS. Lansd. 874, f. 8, and MSS. Harl. 472, f. 36b, and 1464, f. 31. Another coat is also assigned to Turke: Argent, on a bend azure, between two lions rampant gules, three bezants. (MS. Harl. 4199, f. 33b.)

page 69 note * Member of the Fishmongers' Company. Arms: Gules on a fesse sable three herons each holding a fish in his mouth argent. (MSS. Harl. 1049, f. 37, and 4199. f. 33 b.)

page 69 note † The MS. last quoted and Stowe (Survey, b. v. p. 110) give the names of John Clarke and William Curtis as sheriffs. In this year the king granted “that the serjauntis of the meir and of the schirevis shulde bere bifore hem macis of silver and over gilde with the kyng is arms in that oon ende, and the armes of Lundun in that other end.” (MS. Arund. No. 19, f. 15b. in Coll. Arm.) There is a record of a petition to the king in Parliament from Nottingham, in Cotton's Abridgement, 8 Edw. III. that no city Serjeants, or any but king's Serjeants, should bear maces of other metal than of copper, which is granted, with an exception in favour of Lundon. This grant therefore was a most distinguishing mark of honour conferred on the city. William de Brikelesworth, mentioned as being sheriff this year, contributed the sum of 100l. when the king borrowed 20,000l. from the city for the purpose of carrying on his French wars in the twelfth year of his reign. (Fabyan.)

page 69 note ‡ Member of the Drapers' Company (MS. Harl. 1349, f. 5b.) In 13 Edw. III. he presented a petition to the king stating that he and his predecessors, mayors of London, had been accustomed to receive fifty marks yearly from the foreign merchants resorting hither, towards the support of his mayoralty; but which by occasion of the king's wars in France were now lost. In consideration of which the king by his writ, dated at Kennington, 6 March, commanded the sheriffs of London to pay the said fifty marks from the issues of the farm and bailiwick of the city. (Rot. Claus. 13 Edw. III. p. 1, m. 36, and p. 3, m. 26.) Arms: an eagle displayed ……… in chief the letters I. O. M. I. S. (the reading of which Stowe thinks is “Jesus Opt. Max. Jesus Salvator). (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 35b) There is also another coat—“ex sigillo ejusdem Henrici per nomen Henrici Darcy civis et pannarii London.“—Ermine, on a chief three crescents. (MS. Harl. 1349, f. 5b.)

page 69 note § Bladesmith, a very wealthy man, died in 1352, and was buried in St. James, Garliche Hithe. He left lands to the repairing of the high ways about London, betwixt Newgate and Wicombe, Aldgate and Chelmsford, Bishopsgate and Ware, Southwark and Rochester, &c. (Stowe's Survey.)

page 69 note || Arms: Gules, on a fesse between three crosses pattée fitchée or, a crane azure, endorsed by two annulets of the last. (MS. Harl. 1049, f. 37b.)

page 70 note * According to Holinshed (vol. i. p. 354.) “The king held his christmasse at Gildford, and within the octaves of the same feast he tooke his journie towards Scotland, or rather (as other have) he sent thither the earles of Salisburie, Glocester, Derbie, and Anegos, with three barons, the lords Percie, Nevill, and Stafford, the which with twentie thousand men besieged the castell of Dunbar. This siege began even in the beginning of the twelfth yeare of King Edward's reigne, and continued for the space of nineteene weeks, with small gaine and lesse honour to the Englishmen, in so much that the same brake up under colour of a truce, when there was no hope of winning the place, and that the noble men that laie there at siege hasted to make an end, that they might attend the king in his journie over into Brabant.”

page 70 note † John Stratford. Translated from Winchester, 3 Nov. 1333; Lord Chancellor; ob. 23 Aug. 1348.

page 70 note ‡ Richard Aungerville, alias de Bury, dean of Wells, lord privy seal, lord chancellor, and lord treasurer. Appointed 7 Dee. 1333; ob. April 1345, æt. 58.

page 70 note § Sir Geoffrey Scrope, knight banneret, second son of Sir William Scrope of Bolton, purchased the manor of Masham,. in co. York, early in the reign of Edw. III. and founded the family of Scrope of Masham. He was appointed serjeant-at-law 9 Edw. II. 1315; justice of the Common Pleas 27 Sept. 17 Edw. II. 1323; and on the 21st of March in the following was nominated chief justice of the King's Bench, and again in 2 Edw. III. 1328. He served in the wars of France and Scotland. Died 14 Edw. III. 1340; buried in the church of the Priory of Coverham, co. York. Arms: Azure, a bend or, differenced by a label argent. See a memoir of this distinguished personage, as also a pedigree of the family of Scrope of Masham, in the “Scrope and Grosvenor Controversy,” vol. ii. p. 59, et seq. edited by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas.

page 70 note || William baron Clinton (brother of John II. sixth baron Clinton); created Earl of Huntingdon 16 March, 1337; ob. 1354, s. p. when his honours became extinct.

page 71 note * Cadsand, an insulated tract in Flanders, lying between Sluys and Flushing. The town was taken and pillaged by the English on Sunday, Nov. 9, 1337; and when every thing was put on board the vessels, with the prisoners, it was burnt. (Froissart.)

page 72 note * It was on this occasion that the inscription on the great seal was altered, the title of duke of Aquitaine being left out, as immerged in the greater title of King of France; and that Edward first used the motto of Dieu et mon droit, to intimate his right in that kingdom. (Sandford's Greneal. Hist. pp. 157—160.) Edward continued to use the title of King of France until he formally renounced all pretension to the crown of that kingdom by the treaty of Bretigny, on the 8th of May, 1360. (Nicolas's Chronology of History.)

page 72 note † John Duke of Brabant. He obtained from Edward a grant of £1500 sterling a year.

page 72 note ‡ William Earl of Hainault, whose youngest daughter Philippa Edward married.

page 72 note § William 5th Marquess of Juliers; advanced to the title of Earl of Cambridge 7 May, 1340 by Edward III. whose niece Mary, daughter of Raynald, second Duke of Gueldres, by Alianor, sister of that monarch, he had married. He subsequently surrendered this earldom into the king's hands.

page 72 note || Raynald second Earl of Gueldres, who married Alianor above-mentioned.

page 73 note * According to Froissart, the two earls were made prisoners by the French in the neighbourhood of Lisle, and kept in the market-place there, and afterwards sent to the King of France, who promised that those of Lisle should be well rewarded for the good service they had done him. They were afterwards exchanged for two prisoners of rank taken by the English, viz. the Earl of Salisbury for the Earl of Moray, who was sent to David King of Scotland, and Robert de Ufford, Earl of Suffolk, for Charles de Montmorency. Dugdale however observes, “This is a mistake; it was not the Earl of Suffolk who was made prisoner, but his son, Robert de Ufford le fitz, as he was called.” It appears that the French would not release the Earl of Salisbury unless he made oath never to bear arms in France; and Edward consented to this extraordinary condition, 20th May, 1342. (Annals of Scotland, ii, 210.)

page 74 note * The king arrived at Harwich on Monday, the 21st February, and issued writs the same day for a parliament to meet on Wednesday, March 29, at Westminster. See Carte, ii. 435.

page 74 note † There was scarcely a war with France, from the thirteenth to the seventeenth century, in which some attempts at invasion were not made. The British coast was much annoyed by the enemy; Southampton was sacked, plundered, and the inhabitants put to death; and the islands of Guernsey and Jersey shared a similar fate. Edward met with some difficulty in negociating with his allies to aid his pretensions by joining in the expedition against France, and during these conferences the French continued their depredations. These islands were but ill provided to defend themselves against so formidable a force as was now employed against them, and were both taken, after a brave resistance. Guernsey remained some time in their hands, till a fleet sent from England with recruits for the king, under the command of Reynold de Cobham and Jeffrey de Harcourt, recaptured the island. It appears that Castle Cornet (probably the castle above alluded to) in this island was taken by one Mauraus, a Frenchman, and held, as some say, for three years; the fact of its reduction is upon record in the Exchequer, anno 12 Edw. III. August 29, 1338. “Memorandum. Quod in festa Nativitatis Beatæ Mariæ, captum fuit Castrum Cornet cum Insula de Geners. Serk, et Aulneray, per Gallos, et in potestate Regis Franciæ.” See Berry's Hist, of Guernsey, p. 84. It was at this time, and in the attack of Ville d'Eu, that cannon was first used by the English. (Carte, ii. 433.)

page 75 note * He was of the Pepperers' Company, served the office of sheriff in 1331, was mayor in 1339, 1340, and 1351, and one of the burgesses for the city in the parliament held in 1337. He was very wealthy, as we find that in 12 Edw. III. when the king borrowed. £20,000 of the citizens for his expedition into France he lent him £800. (Strype's Stowe's Survey, p. 281.) He appears to have enjoyed, to an extraordinary degree, the confidence of his sovereign, and the esteem of his fellow-citizens; the former he no doubt obtained in consequence of the zeal and firmness, which he displayed in the preservation of the peace and good order of the city during the three years that he was its chief magistrate. The king, having resolved to go abroad in 1339, granted a commission to the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of London for the conservation of the peace in the city during his absence, and invested them with power to cause due and speedy punishment to be done upon any malefactors and disturbers of the peace in the said city. Soon after the king's departure, a contest arose between the companies of the Skinners and Fishmongers, which terminated in a bloody skirmish in the streets. The mayor with his officers hastened to the place of riot and apprehended several of the disturbers of the peace, as required by his office and duty; but Thomas Haunsard and John le Brewere, with some of their accomplices, resisted the power of the magistrates, and not only rescued the malefactors, but Thomas, with a drawn sword, violently assaulted Andrew Aubrey, the mayor, and endeavoured to overthrow him; and, in the meanwhile, the said John grievously wounded one of the city officers. They were, after a struggle, secured, and conveyed without delay to the Guildhall, where they were indicted and tried before the mayor and aldermen: having severally pleaded guilty, they were condemned to die, and being forthwith conveyed to West Chepe or Cheapside were there beheaded. This severity of the mayor was so well timed for the preservation of peace within the city, and for preventing the riots and outrages so frequent in those days, that it gave great satisfaction to the king, who, by his writ dated 4th June, 15 Edw. III. at the Tower, not only pardoned the mayor for beheading the above parties, put also approved and confirmed the same. (MS. Hargrave, No. 153, f. 1.) Aubrey appears also to have been very popular with the foreign merchants established in the city, for they raised among themselves a contribution amounting to fifty marks, which they gave towards the support of his mayoralty. (Heath's Account of the Grocers' Company, p. 176.) Arms: Or, a saltire azure between four griffin's heads erased gules. (MSS. Harl. 472, f. 19; 1049, f. 38.)

page 77 note * The navy, at this period, consisted of ships, galleys, barges, batelli or boats, snakœ or cutters, and cogee or cogs. See the Observations prefixed to the Liber Quotidianus Contrarotulatoris Crarderobse Anno Regni Regis Edwardi Primi vicesimo octavo, p. liv.

page 77 note * This naval engagement between Edward and the French king, near Sluys in Flanders, took place on the eve of St. John the Baptist. It was the greatest naval victory that Edward gained over the French, 30,000 of whom it is said perished. For an authentic detail of that memorable event see the Chronicle of London, p. 198, for a letter from Edward III. to Edward the Black Prince, extracted from the city archives, Liber F. 1839. This document, Sir H. Nicholas observes, supplies some important facts in the history of the times, whilst its entry among the records of the city of London tends to establish that the mayor of the city was accustomed at that early period to receive an official account of every public transaction.

page 78 note * Robert d'Artois, Count of Beaumont le Roger, was a prince of the blood-royal of France, descended from Louis VIII. and son of Philip d'Artois, the eldest son of Robert II. count of Artois. In consequence of a suit regarding the county and peerage of Artois, which he claimed as heir to his father, and which he thought of obtaining through means of forged writings, but was discovered, Philip of France, his brother-in-law, sent him from court in disgrace. After taking refuge at various courts, he was forced to fly, disguised as a merchant, into England, where he was very kindly received by Edward, who appointed him one of his counsellors, assigned him lodgings in several castles, and also granted him an annuity of 1200 marks. (Carte, ii. 423, 426.)

page 78 note † See a biographical notice of this distinguished personage in Beltz, “Memorials of the Garter,” pp. 110–122.

page 78 note ‡ He was a brewer of Ghent, and a great popular leader in the early part of the 14th century. During the war which broke out between Philip of Valois and Edward III. the burghers of Ghent, a Flemish town that had revolted in favour of the latter king, put down the authority of Louis, then Count of Flanders, and elected Arteveldt for their leader. After ruling Flanders for seven years, he was killed in a tumult which broke out at Ghent between the various trades, in July 1344. (See Froissart, vol. ii. p. 281, et soq.)

page 80 note * Created Earl of Derby 16 March, 1337, vitâ patris; succeeded his father as Earl of Lancaster 1345; was created Earl of Lincoln 1349, and Duke of Lancaster 1351. K. G. Ob. s. p. m. 1361.

page 81 note * Jane Countess dowager of Hainault, sister to Philip King of France, and mother to Philippa Queen of England. It was through her means chiefly that a truce was agreed upon, to endure for a year, between the kings of England and France, and also between them that were in Scotland, Gascoigne, and Poictou. “Hereupon,” says Holinshed, “was the siege raised from Tournie, after it had continued there the space of ten weekes and foure daies. They within stood in great danger for lacke of vittels to have beene constreined to the surrendring of the towne, if this truce had not beene concluded, which caused the French king the sooner to agree, in like case as the lacke of monie caused the King of England to take his truce, which otherwise (as was thought) he would not have doone.“

page 82 note * Stowe says his name was “Moris or Maris.”

page 84 note * Edward, after spending some months in fruitless operations before Tournay, retired in sullen discontent. By the most urgent messages he required money from England, but the exchequer was unable to satisfy his wants, and, haying no means of discharging the arrears of his allies, was compelled to borrow of usurers at exorbitant interest. (Rym. v. 226.) Some of the courtiers improved the opportunity to instil into his mind suspicions of the fidelity of his ministers; and suddenly, without any previous notice, leaving the Earl of Derby and other noblemen in pledge with his creditors, he stole away privately for Zealand, where he found a ship that carried him to England. He landed unexpectedly at the Tower about midnight on the 30th November (Fœd. vol. ii. pt. ii. p. 1141), accompanied by the Earl of Northampton, Lord John Darcy, Sir Walter Manny, and other great men, with two chaplains, that were his secretaries, Sir William de Killesby, and Sir Philip Weston; and, finding that fortress but badly guarded, he imprisoned the constable (Sir Nicholas de la Beche) and other officers, and treated them with exemplary rigour. (Ypodigma Neustrise, p. 513. Holinshed.)

page 86 note * On the following morning after his arrival at the Tower, the king sent for Robert Stratford, bishop of Chichester, lord chancellor, for Roger de Northburgh, bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, lord treasurer, and for such of the judges as were in London. The lord chancellor and the lord treasurer he forthwith discharged of their offices, threatening to send them into Flanders, there to remain as pledges for money that he there owed, or, if they refused to go there, then to keep them prisoners in the Tower. But when the bishop of Chichester declared to him the canon established against such as imprisoned bishops he suffered them to depart; but the judges, viz. Sir John de Stonore, Sir Richard de Willoughby, Sir William de Shareshull, also Sir John de Poultney and Sir William de la Pole, merchants; and the chief clerks of the chancery, John de Saint Paul, Michael de Wath, Henry de Stratford, and Robert de Chikewell; and of the exchequer, Sir John de Thorp, and many others, were committed to divers prisons; but yet, because they were committed but only upon commandment, they were released shortly after. The chancellor delivered up the great seal on the 1st December; and on the 14th of the same month the king delivered it to Sir Robert Bourgchier, whom he made chancellor (Fœdera, vol. ii. pt. ii. pp. 1141, 1142.); and Sir Richard de Sadington, lord treasurer; all the sheriffs of shires and other officers were removed, and others put in their places. A commission for inquiring into the defaults of collectors and other officers employed in the collection of the revenue was likewise issued to certain justices, who proceeded therein with so much strictness that few or none escaped unpunished. (Fœd. vol. ii. pt. ii. pp. 1141, 1142. Holinshed, vol. ii. p. 360.) The king also took a resolution that thenceforth no clergyman should enjoy the high offices of chancellor or treasurer of England.

page 88 note * The Church of the Friars Minors or Grey Friars (now Christ's Church, in Newgate Street), was completed in the year 1327, and dedicated to St. Francis, having been twentyone years in building. It was three hundred feet in length, eighty-nine in breadth, and seventy-four in height. Shortly after its completion, the great western window, having been destroyed in a tempestuous gale of wind, was restored at the expense of Edward III. for the repose of the soul of the Queen Mother (Isabel), who had recently been buried in the choir. (Trollope's Hist, of Christ's Hospital, p. 10.)

page 89 note * See note at p. 29, antea.

page 91 note * Member of the Vintners' Company. In 1 Edw. III. he gave to the Priory of the Holy Trinity in London two tofts of land, one mill, fifty acres of land, two acres of wood, with appurtenances in Kentish Town, in value 20s. 3d. by year. He was buried in the parish church of St. James, Garlick Hithe. (Stowe.)

page 92 note * Simon Francis was a wealthy citizen and mercer of London. He served in Parliament for the city in 12 Edw. III. and was so rich that in 1339, when the king borrowed £20,000 towards carrying on his French wars, he lent him £800. (Fabyan.) He resided at the lower end of the Old Jewry. He died in 1358, and by inquisition was found to have died seized of the manors of Northall, Blanchapelton or Whiteehapel, Fulham, and Harrow, with other lands in Acton, Finchley, Stanmore, Ruislip, &c., besides other manors in Essex and Kent. (Inq. p. m. 32 Edw. III. n. 33.) His arras were: Gules, a saltire between four cross-erosslets or (MS. Harl. 472, f. 10), which remained in the church windows of St. Olave's in the Jewry, St. Stephen's in Coleman Street, and St. Katharine's by the Tower 250 years after, viz. to 1605. (MSS. Harl. 1349, f. 6; 1464, f. 8. Stowe's Survey, b. v. p. 175).

page 93 note * John Lovekyn, or Lofken, alderman of Bridge Ward, a man of great wealth and distinction in the annals of London; was a member of the Fishmongers' Company and M.P. for the city in 1347–8 and 1365. He was sheriff of London in 1343–4, and lord mayor in 1348–9, 1358–9, 1365–6, 1366–7. He contributed the sum of £200 when Edward III. borrowed £20,000 of the city for his French expedition in the 12th year of his reign. In 1367 he built the hospital called Magdalen's, at Kingston-upon-Thames, which he well endowed, giving thereunto nine tenements, ten shops, one mill, 125 acres of land, ten acres of meadow, 120 acres of pasture, &c. He also rebuilt the parish church of St. Michael in Crooked Lane on a more enlarged scale than the former building, having obtained for that purpose a grant of some ground contiguous to the site. He died the 4th August, 1368, and was buried in the choir of the church last mentioned, under a fair tomb, with the effigies of him and his wife in alabaster. This tomb was afterwards removed, and a flat stone of grey marble, garnished with plates of brass, laid on him. (Weever.) His will is printed in Herbert's Account of the Livery Companies, vol. ii. p. 56. Arms: Gules, on a chevron azure three escallops sable between as many eagles rising or. (MS. Harl. 472, f. 30b.) Sir William Walworth was apprenticed to this John Lovekyn.

page 93 note † In 12 Edw. III. when the king borrowed £20,000 of the citizens towards carrying on his French wars he contributed the sum of £200. (Fabyan.)

page 93 note ‡ Edward the Black Prince. When only three years of age, the king by charter dated 18th May, 1333, granted him the earldom of Chester (Rot. Cart. 7 Edw. III. m. 4. Pat. 7 Edw. III. pt. 1, m. 13); and on March 17, 1337, upon the death of John of Eltham earl of Cornwall, the dukedom of Cornwall, investing him by the sword only, which was the first precedent for the creation of the title of duke with us in England. (Rot. Cart. 11 Edw. III. n. 55.) He was afterwards, on May 12, 1343, created prince of Wales, and invested with a coronet, a gold ring, and a silver rod. (Rot. Cart. 17 Edw. III. m. 24. n. 27.)

page 98 note * This appears to have been the grand object of Turberville's expedition to England. In a document in the Tower, relative to the transactions between England and France which occurred at this period, is the following passage:

“Item, dominus Thomas de Torbeville pro simili confœderatione ineunda inter Galileos et Wallenses et alios. …… a carcere regis Franciæ erat liberatus, et ad partes Angliæ et Walliæ transmissus, et in partibus Kantiæ in proditione sua deprehensus, et Londoniis suspensus; et literæ proditionis prædictæ inveniri possunt in Thesauro domini nostri regis in Turri Londoniis inter literas executorias ordinationis tendentis ad finem destructionis et exhaeredationis nationis Anglicanæ.”

page 100 note * This poem is preserved in the Cottonian MS. Caligula A. XVIII.; and, as it is written in the same hand as the poem on the Siege of Carlaverock which follows it in that volume, and which is the only contemporary copy known to be in existence, Sir Harris Nicolas considered it highly probable that it was composed by the same person. (Chronicle of London, p. 195.)