Mediæval London, Volume 2: EcclesiasticalBesant, Walter
History
Mediæval London, Volume 2: Ecclesiastical
Besant, Walter
London (England) -- History -- To 1500; London (England) -- Social life and customs -- To 1500
And further, the men before named should show unto his lordship the
King, and unto his Council and his Justiciars, that, on behalf of
his lordship the King, they ought to forbid any person to presume
to keep ward at the doors or gates unless he be one of their own
fellow-citizens, and by them thereunto appointed. Nor should any
marshal or crier appear among their fellow-citizens unless he be one
of their number, and acting by desire of the said citizens. For, in
accordance with the liberties of the City, they ought, and of usage
are wont, to have no porter, usher, marshal, or crier, except of their
own number, and such persons as they shall think fit. All the gates
and doors are to be kept open to the Barons and to all the citizens,
so long as the Pleas of the Crown are being holden, to the end, that
they may have free ingress and egress. For so it ought, and of usage is
wont, to be.
After this, three men, discreet and moderate, should be chosen; one of
them is to present unto his lordship the King, and unto his Council and
Justiciars, in due order, such haps and mishaps concerning the Crown
of his lordship the King as have occurred within the City, from the
time when the pleas were last holden down to the present time: while
the other two men are to remain standing by the said presenter, the one
namely on his right hand and the other on his left. And if it should
so happen that while thus making the presentment he becomes fatigued,
one of these is to continue such presentment. And if by any chance he
should commit an error in making the presentment, he must in a low
voice be corrected by the two who are standing by, it being understood
that no other person shall in any way presume to disturb or to correct
such presenter, but only the two who are standing by him, in manner
already mentioned. No tumult, no murmur, no strife, no debate with one
another, is to be going on among the people while such presentments are
being made; but all persons are to keep themselves quiet and without
litigation, as they would preserve the honour and the liberties of the
City, and to the end that the presenter may be heard by all and duly
understood in peace.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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