Mediæval London, Volume 1: Historical & SocialBesant, Walter
History
Mediæval London, Volume 1: Historical & Social
Besant, Walter
London (England) -- History -- To 1500; London (England) -- Social life and customs -- To 1500
16. Sellers of fish not to throw their water into the streets but to
carry it to the Thames.
17. Schools for fencing and buckler play not to be kept within the
City.
18. Foreign butchers (_i.e._ butchers who have not the freedom of
the City) to bring into the City the hides and pelts of the oxen
and sheep: to be allowed to sell their meat until high noon (Riley
interprets this to mean from one to three o’clock).
19. All the lanes leading from Thames Street to the river to be kept
clear so that persons on horseback may ride up and down.
20. No tavern to be kept open after curfew.
21. Boatmen to have their boats moored by sunset.
22. Woolfels to be sold in open market.
23. Regulations as to the making of furs.
24. Merchants bringing goods to the City to be allowed to proceed
without molestation.
25. Labourers, _i.e._ carpenters, masons, plasterers, tilers, etc.,
are to be paid according to the orders of the Mayor and Aldermen.
26. Fishmongers not to buy fish before the hour of Prime.
No market was to be held on London Bridge, especially by Fripperers, or
dealers in old clothes. No market was to be made in Southwark.
Barbers were not to expose blood in their windows, but were ordered to
throw it into the river. They were also forbidden to carry on their
trade on Sundays. Bowyers were forbidden to send bows for sale to
Cornhill or to any other place in the City. What does this mean?
Goldsmiths were to have a private mark on every piece. Smiths were
to have their private mark on every sword or knife. Hostelers were
those who lodged and fed the servants and horses of their guests.
Herbergeours gave them lodging only. Strangers were not lodged in
taverns. Strangers and foreigners were not, as a rule, permitted to
let lodgings. A stranger could only be admitted for a day and a night.
After that, the hosteler had to be responsible for any offences a guest
might commit. Hostelers were forbidden to sell food and drink to any
but their guests. They were not allowed to brew or to make bread.
The “articles” of the ward motes overlapped in some particulars the
Trade Regulations. I take a few clauses. Strangers could only be
received for a night and a day unless the host became responsible for
them. No open fireplace was to be placed near partitions, or boards,
or in any upper room. All persons were to give their assistance to the
Officers of the Ward in arresting disorderly or rebellious persons.
Residents in great houses to keep a ladder or two for the use of their
neighbours. From Whit Sunday to St. Bartholomew’s a barrel full of
water to be kept before every house. The roof of every house to be of
tile, stone, or lead. Crooks and cords to be provided to pull down
houses in case of fire. No refuse to be thrown into the street. No pigs
or cows allowed within the houses. Stalls not to be more than 2½
feet in width before the house. Pent-houses to be so high that persons
can ride and walk below them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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