Great Britain -- History -- Lancaster and York, 1399-1485 -- Sources
_Concerning our courts_, we use to keep them on a Tuesday, from the
fifteenth day until fifteen days; unto which courts all citizens of
our Lord the King ought to come, and chiefly all those which hold any
tenement of our Lord the King; and especially to the two first courts
holden after the feasts of Michaelmas and Easter, at which two courts
the assize of bread and beer shall be ordained, and keepers to keep the
same assize; and unto the said courts and other courts [shall come] all
others who complain of any trespasses committed, or any other thing
touching the state of the city or themselves, and they ought to speak
the truth upon their own peril, not bringing with them any stranger ...
because we do not use that strangers shall come and implead amongst us,
and know the secrets of the courts, for divers dangers that thereby may
ensue....
_Night-Walkers._--And it shall be commanded ... that, among other
things, it shall be proclaimed that no vagabond or night-walker be
within our city, nor in the suburbs, after the ringing of our common
bell; and if anyone be taken after the ringing of the bell, let him
be brought unto the gaol of our Lord the King, and there he shall
stay until the morrow.... Concerning our bell, we use to have it in
a public place, where our chief bailiff may come, as well by day as
by night, to give warning to all men living within the said city and
suburbs. And we do not say that it ought to ring unless it be for some
terrible fire burning any row of houses within the said city, or for
any common contention whereby the city might be terribly moved, or for
any enemies drawing near unto the city, or if the city be besieged,
or any sedition shall be between any, and notice thereof given by any
unto our chief bailiff.... Also we use that if any one of our citizens
hath any tenements situate in the High Street of the city, or having
over part of the pavement, and it be ruinous, so that danger may happen
to us or to our children, or to others going along the city; and
especially if the Lord our King, or any of his, should happen to pass
along that street ... in such case our chief bailiff shall cause them to
be warned that have such tenements, that they amend them in more safer
manner within three days; and unless they do so, let three days more be
given them, in the behalf of our Lord the King and the commonalty; and
unless it be then done, our chief bailiff, taking with him the power
of the city, if it be needful, shall go to such a tenement, and in his
presence let it be thrown down at the costs of him to whom the tenement
belongeth, or if needful, at the costs of the commonalty;...
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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