London and the Kingdom - Volume 1: A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.Sharpe, Reginald R. (Reginald Robinson)
History
London and the Kingdom - Volume 1: A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.
Sharpe, Reginald R. (Reginald Robinson)
London (England) -- History
After Easter the sittings of the justiciars were resumed. A great change,
however, had come over them during the recess. They no longer behaved
"like lions eager for their prey; on the contrary, they had become very
lambs."(386) The reason for this sudden change, we are told, was the
insurrection in Wales, under the Earl of Hereford, the king’s
brother-in-law.
(M235)
The chief questions discussed before the justices were the right of the
weavers of London to hold their guild, and the right of the fishmongers of
Fish-wharf to sell their fish at their wharf by retail instead of on their
vessels or at the city markets. The claim of the fishmongers was opposed
by Andrew Horn, himself a fishmonger by trade, as well as an eminent
lawyer, who acted on this occasion as leading counsel for the City.
(M236)
When Whitsuntide was approaching, an indictment was brought by the city
wards against their old enemy John de Crombwelle, the Constable of the
Tower. He had already made himself obnoxious to the citizens by attempting
to enclose a portion of the city’s lands;(387) and now he was accused of
seizing a small vessel laden with tiles, and converting the same to his
own use, and further, with taking bribes for allowing unauthorised
"kidels" to remain in the Thames. The judges, having heard what he had to
say in defence, postponed the further hearing until after Trinity Sunday
(14th June). In the meantime, the citizens had the gratification of seeing
the constable removed from office, for allowing the Tower to fall into
such a dilapidated state, that the rain came in upon the queen’s bed,
while giving birth to a daughter, afterwards known as Joanna of the
Tower,(388) and destined to become the wife of David the Second, King of
Scotland.
(M237)
On the judges resuming their sittings after Trinity Sunday, they sat no
longer in the Great Hall or the Lesser Hall, "as well by reason of the
queen being in childbed there, as already mentioned, as of the fortifying
of the Tower, through fear of the Earl of Hereford and his accomplices,
who were in insurrection on every side." Temporary buildings had to be
found for them. A fortnight later there were signs of the Iter being
brought to an abrupt termination, the citizens having represented that
they could not possibly keep proper watch and ward owing to disturbances
consequent to the holding of the Iter;(389) and within a week, viz., on
4th July, it was actually closed.
(M238)
It was the bursting of the storm which had long been gathering against the
king’s new favourites, the Despensers, father and son, that caused the
sudden termination of the Iter, and it was the fear lest he should lose
the support of the city against Lancaster and his allies that caused the
king quickly to restore to the citizens their Mayor. Hamo de Chigwell took
the place of the deposed Farndon.(390)
(M239)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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