VIII. Town Life in Colchester, London, Sandwich & Coventry
116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130
Stadt luft macht frei, declares the adage: "Town air makes one free." The notion of the comparative freedom of towns in the Middle Ages is both upheld and refuted by the charters in this case. For while the relative anonymity of an urban area, its changing landscape, and its good-natured promotion of ambition and industry could well prove the making of a man, the city--like the landlord--also had its own code of justice, its own courts, its own ways of remembering and documenting the deeds of its citizenry. We focus here on four representative towns: Colchester, a seaside borough in Essex with a developed shipping trade; London, which by the fourteenth century had largely developed the neighborhoods, characteristics, and governmental importance which distinguish it today; Sandwich, a growing fishing town on the English Channel with close ties to London and the Continent; and Coventry, by far the best-documented city in our collection and a very good example of urban life in the English Midlands.
116.
1254 November 22
Indenture of agreement
Colchester, Essex
Memorandum of an agreement made between the abbot and convent of St. John's, Colchester, of the one part, and Ralph son of the priest and Simon le Eskermisur, bailiffs of Colchester, and the burgesses (representatives named), of the other part, whereby Ralph, Simon, and the other named citizens have for themselves and for the commerce of Colchester granted to the abbot and convent and their successors that they may have free warren24 in their lands of "West Dunilaund." They have granted also that the abbot and convent shall be quit of toll and all other customs: only if their men (i.e. lay brethren) engage in trade shall they be required to "do what is just" and pay the toll. Provision is also made for them to enclose as much as they will for a park in "Grenstede." In return for which, the abbot and convent grant that the burgesses may hunt the hare, fox, and cat in the warren of West Dunilaunde, saving to the abbot and convent their park in Grenstede. It is added that if the dogs of the burgesses hunting the hare enter into the warren of the abbot and catch hare in the warren, provided that they draw off their dogs in due course they shall not be hindered. But if the men or dogs of either party do damage in the corn or any other damage, amendment shall be made to the injured party by a view of four men to be chosen from both sides. If the party that did the damage refuse to make amends, he shall not hunt until he do so.
This is a wonderful example of the tensions that often developed between town interests and Church interests, which in this instance seem to be on an entirely secular plane.
Seals of five of the burgesses (this is the abbey's copy of the chirograph)
117.
1341 October 1
Indenture of agreement
Colchester, Essex
Indenture witnessing an agreement made between Sir John de Sutton of Wivenhoe, knight, of the one part, and John de Fordham and William Buk, bailiffs of Colchester, and the commonalty of the same town, of the other part, in settlement of certain suits and disputes between them concerning lands near the harbor at Colchester. Whereby the said Sir John grants that the bailiffs and commonalty may henceforth have their part there for themselves and all other sailors and merchants, and may put in, load and unload, and build and repair ships in a place called "le Sole," saving to the said John and his heirs the feeding and herbage in the said place for all manner of beasts at all times of the year. What may have been a long-standing but informal matter of dispute between the local lord and the burgesses of Colchester is finally settled in a more formal fashion, with the men of Colchester being granted the right to use a strip of beach; in return, Sir John reinforces his claim to the land and no doubt gleans considerable profit from the use of his land.
Seal of the borough of Colchester (broken); for the seal of Sir John de Sutton see No. 39.
118.
1408 May 10
Grant
Colchester, Essex
Grant by John Lenew, William Priour, and John Taselere, weaver, to Godfrey Dalaver and Thomas Noblett of a tenement in Northstret' in the suburbs of the vill of Colchester, which they had of the feoffment of John Beste, clerk, and which was formerly of Alice wife of Richard Drury, afterwards of Semann Clerk and John Balle of the gift and feoffment of the said Alice; to hold according to the liberty and custom of the borough of Colchester. Witnessed in the first instance by Thomas Fraunceys and John Pod, then bailiffs of Colchester.
Town properties changed hands rather more rapidly than lands in the country, but they were still subject to certain constraints: the phrase "liberty and custom" of the town masks an established set of obligations and restrictions, which would no doubt be enforced by the bailiffs of the city, whose presence at the writing of the charter was probably required by law.
Seals of the grantors: the third, that of John Taselere, bears the device of a weaver's shuttle.
119.
1345 July 9
Quitclaim
London
Quitclaim by Robert Swote, citizen and Wshmonger (piscenarius), to John Lovelyn, citizen and "stokfisshmonger" of the same, and Mabel his wife, of all his right in that tenement with buildings on it which John and Mabel have of his gift. The tenement lies in Billyngesgate, in Thamystrete, in the parish of St. Mary-at-Hill, bounded by a lane called "Rope Lane" on the west side. John Hamond, then mayor of the city of London; Thomas Leggy and Geoffrey de Wychyngham, then sheriffs of the city; John de Causton, then alderman of that ward. Witnessed by Robert de Hakeneye, Richard de Lambethe, and Robert le Ropere. The system of municipal checks and balances was more complex in the sprawling city of London and its suburbs, as is plain from the dating clause which recites the names of the city office-holders. The importance of various London districts is underlined by the surnames given in the witness-list: Robert from Hackney in what is now North London, Richard of Lambeth across the River Thames, and Robert le Ropere, possibly an habitué of Roperestrete. Thamystrete ran the entire length of the city of London in the Middle Ages, following the course of the river Thames and that of the late third-century Roman wall. It bore various "localized" names, including "Fisshmongeresrowe" between Billingsgate and London Bridge (see map).25
Seal of arms bearing the legend: SIGILLV' ROBT SWOTE
120.
1457 August 28
Letters of attorney
London
Letters of attorney of Thomas Canynges, John Yonge, John Stodeley, and John Hole appointing Thomas Petwyn and Richard Jeny their attorneys to deliver seisin of a tenement with a garden adjacent in Mugwelstrete (corruption of "Monkswell") in the parish of St. Olav's Silver Street, London, within the ward of Frayndon (Farringdon) and bounded by land of the hospital of Blessed Mary without Bysshopesgate and the empty piece of land belonging to the Guild of Goldsmiths to the east and north, and the garden of the abbot and convent of Gerondon26 to the west. The precision with which fixed boundaries are given in the London charters allows the modern reader to make a rough geographical placement (see map).
Seals of the grantors.
121.
1408 February 20
Grant
Sandwich, Kent
Grant by William Basket, citizen and skinner (pelliparius) of London to Alice Ryver, daughter of John Ryver of Sandwich, of a cottage formerly belonging to William Basket, taverner of Sandwich, in the lane called Peyntourslane in the parish of St. Mary, Sandwich. Witnessed in the first instance by Richard Benge, then mayor of Sandwich, and finally by James Scrivener, clerk. It appears from the deeds drawn up in Sandwich that the town employed a clerk from at least the late fourteenth century. Note that this charter was at some point in its history folded into thirds and punched through with an awl or other sharp instrument. Perhaps to provide for a string or leather thong on which to hang it?
Seal of William Basket bearing the device: a basket whose weave forms the letter W, and a cross.
122.
1470 March 30
Quitclaim
Sandwich, Kent
Quitclaim by John Grene to Thomas Boteler and Alice his wife of his right in a tenement in the parish of Blessed Mary the Virgin in Sandwich by the "Pylory Gate," bounded by the king's highway to the south and the seashore to the North. Witnessed by John Cole, then mayor of Sandwich, William Fenell, William Kenet, and John Aldy, "jurists," and Walter Payntor, "clerk of the commune." The signature of the clerk also appears on the document. The parish here is not the same as the St. Mary's given above, being on the outskirts of town near the gallows. It is still called St. Mary-by-the-Pillory-Gate.
Seal bearing the device: a compass
123.
1510 August 26
Quitclaim
Sandwich, Kent
Quitclaim by Stephen Foster of Sandwich and Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heir of Richard Vertjuce, citizen and "stokfisshmonger" of London, deceased, to John Langley, esquire, of all their right in a messuage in the parish of St. Mary's, between the king's highway to the east and a certain lane called Sandwich Lane to the west. The late Richard Vertjuce undoubtedly made his fortune supplying the bountiful harvests of the Sandwich sea-coast to London Wsh-mongers, who appear to have been a very numerous group.
124.
1349 August 29
Lease
Coventry, Warwickshire
Indenture of a lease by John de Langeleye and Alice, late the wife of Thomas de Colleshull, to John de Deneford for the term of his life of a messuage with store-houses (cellarii), a tavern (taberna), and cottages adjacent in the Little Park street of Coventry (see map) between two "shoppas" and a bakery. Rent: £4.13.4. Witnessed by Nicholas, then mayor of Coventry, and by Richard Frobern and William de Happesford, bailiffs of the town. Note the modern stamp of the civitas Coventriæ at the top of the document. At some point, probably during the nineteenth century, most of the documents in this collection relating to properties in Coventry seem to have found their way into a municipal archive (see also No. 127). How and why they were later put back into circulation is something of a mystery.
Sealsof the grantor and his wife, the one bearing arms with the legend: SIGILL'IOHANNIS DE LANGELE; the second bearing a device (a bore?) and the legend: S'ALISSIAE
125.
1358 July 20
Grant
Coventry, Warwickshire
Indenture of a grant by Alice who was the wife of John Crumpe, in her widowhood, to Thomas Parkere of Coventry, of a messuage in Coventry, lying in "le Coulone" between the tenement of John Doner on one side of the road and the tenement belonging to the chapel of Coppeston, and extending along the aforesaid lane to the land of Richard Conere next "le Rede Dyche" (see map). Witnessed by William Boting, then mayor of Coventry, and Thomas de Shepeye and Henry Alcok, then bailiffs.27
Armorial seal of (the late) John Crumpe
126.
1359 August 14
Grant
Coventry, Warwickshire
This near-contemporary charter is very similar to No. 125 and was undoubtedly drawn up by the same scribe, probably employed by the city in the capacity of town clerk. It records a grant by John Spenser of Wolvey to Richard Belers of Coventry, merchant, of a messuage with toft in Coventry, lying in Gosford Street "without the bridges" (extra pontes, or elsewhere extra portam), next to a tenement of the gild of the Blessed Mary of Coventry, bounded by the tenements of John de Arthyngworth, John le Marescal, and Roger Fosdyk, and by boundary-markers (metæ) already placed there (see map). Like Alice's grant above, this one stipulates that services are due to the chief lords of the fee but has as principal witnesses the mayor and bailiVs of the city, who appear to have served only one-year terms (they are Henry Clerk, Sewall de Bulkynton, and Robert de Whatton). Note that the grantor of the messuage describes himself as being from Wolvey, which is just a few miles north of Coventry on what is still called Gosford Street (now the A46 to Hinckley).
Seal of arms with the legend: SIGILLVM.RIC.... VERVILE [?] It was not uncommon for a charter to be sealed by one of the witnesses or bystanders if the grantor did not possess a seal of his own.
127.
1410 October 8
Grant
Coventry, Warwickshire
Grant by John Cokkes of Lilbourne, Richard Toft, vicar of the church of Newbold-on-Avon, and Richard Stoke, rector of the church of Shawell, to Thomas de Meryngton and Margerie his wife of a messuage situated in Much Park Street (in vico parci maioris), between the King's highway on one side (= Earl Street?) and the ditch called "Rededych" on the other (see map); which they had of the gift and feoffment of the aforesaid Thomas. As in No. 125 the ditch appears as an important landmark.28 Witnessed by the mayor of Coventry, William Belgrave; the bailiffs, Nicholas Dodenhale and Peter de Weston and, in the last instance by John Ofchirch, clerk.
Seals of the grantors
128.
1412 October 3
Receipt
Coventry, Warwickshire
Acknowledgement by Brother Thomas Ferreby, monk and treasurer (thesaurius) of the cathedral and monastic church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Coventry of the receipt, on behalf of the prior and convent of the said church, of the sum of £10 from the hands of William Belgrave, Master of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, Coventry. This sum is described as the amount due for the previous year, on account of an annuity owed to the said prior and convent by the vill of Covintr'. "In testimony of this matter I here set the seal which I use in this office."
Vesica-shaped seal (broken) of the prior and convent of St. Mary's, Coventry
129.
1474 September 12
Judgment in arbitration
Coventry
Letters of Robert Atterton, late mayor of the city of Coventry, Henry Boteler, recorder of the same city, William Stafford, Master of the Trinity Guild, and eleven other dignitaries of the city, testifying as to the terms of the award made by George Burneby, John Hathewyk, Thomas Cotes, and Robert Otur', arbitrators in a dispute between the mayor and commonalty of Coventry, party of the first part, and William Briscowe, party of the second part; concerning a piece of land beside the new gate of Coventry, between the skinners' butts and the water of Sherbourne and common of pasture (see map). The piece of land in question was claimed by the said William Briscowe in an action of trespass sued by him against the said mayor and commonalty, for entering into the said piece of land. In which action the said arbitrators empaneled made their award that the said William should utterly lose his aforesaid action, since the land was unlawfully enclosed by his father before him. Furthermore, they will recommend that certain actions brought by the said William against John Wilgrice in the court of the King's Bench should be judged in the same manner, and to this effect they will send a report of the arbitration under seal to London. Normally cases involving property within the town walls would be heard in the mayor's court (see No. 56), but since the mayor and city itself are the defendants in the case, a separate and presumably impartial panel was appointed. Here we have a charter which is rather more impressive in itself than the land whose use it awards: a piece of common land near the river where the skinner's vats were located cannot have been too savory a place.
Seals of the witnesses to the award, six of which survive
130.
1550 January 21
Bargain and Sale
Coventry, Warwicks.
This deed illustrates the changes that came about in the distribution of lands after Henry VIII's initial dissolution of the monasteries, 1536-1540.29 Clement Throkmerton of Claverdon, esquire, in consideration of a certain sum of money, hereby bargains and sells to a consortium of seven merchants (four drapers, two mercers, and one goldsmith) the mansion or guild hall of Corpus Christi in the parish of the Holy Trinity, Coventry. He describes the property as situated in the West Orchard within the city which also belonged to the said Guild, all of which property he purchased of William Myldmay of Chelmsford, gentleman, and Thomas Mundes of Springfield in Essex, husbandman, by deed dated 25 June, 4 Edward VI (1550). The charter goes on to explain that Myldmay and Mundes obtained the premises by a "grant" of the lord King, whose Majesty acquired the holding through an Act of Parliament (1 Edward VI) for the dissolution of colleges, chantries, guilds, and fraternities. As a result of these royal measures, land speculators, merchants, and middlemen at all levels were busily lining their pockets--and thus ensuring a steady flow of revenue for the Crown. The guild figures in Nos. 128 and 129 as an important landholder and corporation in Coventry, and the dispersal of its members and liquidation of its capital must have caused great upheaval.
Signature and seal of Clement Throkmerton