Source Book of London History, from the earliest times to 1800
History
Source Book of London History, from the earliest times to 1800
London (England) -- History
This year, John de Gizors was chosen Mayor, and that too, even in
his absence. This year, after a Parliament held by the Barons at
Westminster, Hugh Bygot, the Justiciar, went to Saint Saviour's, and
having Roger de Turkelby for his associate, held there all the Pleas
which pertain unto the Justiciars Itinerant in the County of Surrey;
and not only did he there amerce several bailiffs and others who had
been convicted of offences committed against those subject to them,
but he caused them to be imprisoned, clerks as well as laymen. And
yet he ransomed one person for twenty marks, and certain others for
forty marks, and more; while several others, for but trifling
reasons, he immoderately aggrieved.
In these pleas the men of Southwark and others of the County of
Surrey made complaint against the Sheriffs and citizens of London,
that they unjustly took custom without the Stone Gate on the Bridge,
seeing that they ought to possess no such rights beyond the
Drawbridge Gate. The citizens, coming with their Sheriffs who had
been summoned by the Justiciars, appeared at Saint Saviour's, before
the Justiciars, and bringing with them their Charters, said that
they were not bound to plead there, nor would they plead without the
walls of the City; but without formal plea, they were willing to
acknowledge that it was quite lawful for the Sheriffs of London to
take custom without the gate aforesaid, and that too, even as far as
the staples placed there, seeing that the whole water of Thames
pertains unto the City, and always did pertain thereto; and that
too, sea-ward as far as the New Weir. At length, after much
altercation had taken place between the Justiciars and the citizens,
the Justiciars caused inquisition to be made, on the oath of twelve
knights of Surrey—and this, although the citizens had not put
themselves on such inquisition—whether the Sheriffs of London had
taken any custom beyond their limits. Who said, upon oath, that the
Sheriffs aforesaid might rightfully take custom there, for that as
far the staples before-mentioned, the whole pertains unto the City,
and no one has any right upon the Thames, as far as the New Weir,
save and except the citizens of London.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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