A chronicle of London, from 1089 to 1483; written in the fifteenth century, and for the first time printed from mss. in the British museum: to which are added numerous contemporary illustrations, consisting of royal letters, poems, and other articles descriptive of public events, or of the manners and customs of the metropolis.

NOMINA MAIOR' ET VICECOMITU' LONDON' TEMPORE REGIS RIC'I S'C'DI, QUI CORONATUS FUIT APUD WESTM' xvij KAL' AUGUSTI, ANNO D'NI MILL'MO CCC^mo lxxvij^o, ANNO ETATIS SUE xj^o, DURANTE T'M'IO ET ANNO MAIORATUS NICHOLAI BREMBRE ET VICECOM' SUP' D'CO ANNO PRIMO.

John Philpot, wolman, m'. John Boseham. Th' Cornwayle.

A^o. s'c'do.

In this yere of oure lord a m^lccc^mo lxxviij, in the morwe after seynt Laurence day, was Robert Hawle sclayn in the chirche of Westm' be S^r. Aleyn Boxley, S^r. Rauf Fereres and Markle, whiche was sithen a sergeaunt of armes. Also the same yere was ordeyned that every persone undirgrowe schulde pay iiij d. to the kyng; and this cause was most cause of the rysyng after, for in Kent they began to serche first maydens and othere.

John Hadley, groc', m'. John Heyleston. Will' Baret.

A^o. t'cio.

This yere the parlement was at Northt'; and there was Kirkeby drawe and hanged for the deth of a marchaunt of Jene, and a whit frere was punysshed for wordes that they hadde seyde be the duke of Lancastre. And in this yere were galeys in Thamyse, and brende Gravesende and Tilbury; for which cause S^r. Rauf Ferrers was apeched. And in this yere was the bataill betwen S^r. John of Audeslay knyght, and Thomas Kat'ynge esquyer.

Will Walworth, m'. fysshmong'. Walt' Coket. Will' Knyghtcote.

A^o. iiij^to.

This yere was the rysyng of the co'es of Essex and of Kent, [The rysyng of the co'es of Essex and Kent.] for a talaye ordeyned that every man and woman betwen the age of lx and xvj yere schulde paye to the kyng xij d.; the whiche comones brenden the chirche and the houses of seynt Jones at Clerkenwelle, and at the Tour hill they beheded maistre Simond Sudbury, than erchebysshop of Caunterbury and chaun∣celler of Engelond; and frere Robert Hales priour of seynt Jones hous, thanne tresorer of Engelond; and frere William Appulton a grey frere, because he was phisicion to the duke of Lancastre, and Roger Leche sergeaunt of armes; and Richard Lyons was beheded at the standard in Chepe; and Richard Somere was beheded at the Milende; and Legat of Holbourn was beheded at Goterlane ende in Chepe; and manye quest∣mongers, jorours, men of lawe, Flemynges, and othere aliens as they comen to honde they were beheded in diverses places. And thise said arrysers brenden the dukes place of Lancastre called Saveye, and wolde fayn an had the duke of Lancastre, but as [They brende Saveye.] grace was he myghte not be founden: and this was don on Corpus Cristi day, thanne beynge on the xj day of Juyn the yere of oure lord a m^l ccclxxxj. And on the morwe after, that is to saye Fryday, and thanne on the Satirday after Corpus Cristi day, the kyng anon after rood into Smythfeld, and William Walworth thanne beynge maire of London, S^r. Robert Knolles and also aldermen and othere citezeins of London with hym: and there they metten with Jake Strawe ledere of the uprysers. And this Jake Strawe spak to the kyng heded as it

hadde be to his felawe: and John Blyton that bar the maires swerd of London bad hym don of his hode while he spak to the kyng; wherfore Jake Strawe wax an angred, and mynte to caste his daggere to Blyton. And thanne William Walworth, maire of London, drewe his baselard and smot Jake Strawe on the hed: and with that, Rauf Standyssh, that bar the kynges swerd, roof Jake Strawe thorugh the body with a swerd; and [Jake Strawe was sclayn.] there he fyll doun ded. And anon his hede was smeten of and sett on a pole. And there the kyng made knyghtes, that is to seye, William Walworth maire of London, Rauf Standyssh, Robert Launde, Nicholl Brembre, Nicholl Twyford, and John Philpot. And anoon they wenten into seynt Jones feld, and there they founden alle the arrysers. And anon they were besett aboughte with the peple of London, so that they might non of them escape away: and thanne the kyng dede crye that no man schulde don them bodyly harme; and they were fayne to escape awey with there lyfves, and left there wepenys behynde them. Nevertheles afterward manye of them weren arrested, and be the lawe don to the deth in diverses schires of Englond, some drawen and hanged, and some hanged, and some beheded.

John Northampton, draper, maior. John Hende, drap'. John Roote.

A^o. v^o.

This yere kyng Richard wedded quene Anne the emperours [Kyng Richard wedded the emperours dought' of Almayne, Anne. T're mot'.] doughter of Almaygne, that was a gracious layd. And in this yere of oure lord a m^l ccclxxxij, in the xxj day of May upon Wednesday anon after noon, was a gret erthequake in En∣gelond.

Id'm maior. Adam Bamme, goldsmyth. John Cely.

A^o. vj^to.

This yere sire Herry Spenser bysshop of Norwich seyled into [The bysshop of Norwych wente into Flaundres.] Flaundres with a croceryd to werre on the Flemynges. In that vyage wente S^r. William Elmham, S^r. William Faryndon, S^r. Thomas Trevet, and othere; and on seynt Urbanes day the pope, there were sclayn besyde Dunkirke xj m^l and v hundred Fle∣mynges. Also in this yere fill debate in London betwen John Northampton, William Essex, John Moore, and Richard Nor∣bury on that on partye, and the fysshmongers on the othere partye.

Nicholl Brembre, m'. drap'. John Moore, m'c'. Simon Wynchecombe.

A^o. vij^mo.

In this yere John Northampton, John More and Richard Norbury were dampned into the tour of London, to be drawe and honged for certeyn congregacion mad ayeyns the pees in the citee of London. And in this yere S^r. Nicholl Brembre was chosene maire of London be stronge hand of certeyne craftes of London.

Id'm maior. Nicholl Exton. John Frossh', m'c'.

Anno viij^o.

In this yere were called ayeyne to there ansuere John North∣ampton, John More, and Richard Norbury in the tour of Lon∣don, before S^r. Robert Tresylyan justice, and before S^r. John Deverose thanne styward of the kynges houshold, and before S^r. Nicholl Brembre thanne maire of London. In this yere the

kyng at parlement be assent of the comounes made S^r. Edmond [S^r. Edmunde Langeley erle of Cam∣brygge made duke of Yorke.] Langeley, thanne erle of Caumbregge, duke of Yorke; Sire Thomas Wodestoke, thanne erle of Notyngham, duke of Glou∣cestre; S^r. Robert le Veer, thanne erle of Oxenford, duke of Irlond; and sitthe he made hym marqwys of Develyn, and yaf hym alle the comodites of Irlond, terme of hys lyf, to mayntene the werres of Irlond: also S^r. Mighell of Pole was mad erle of [S^r. Mychel Pole was made erle of Suff'.] Suffolke, and S^r. John Urmonde was mad erle of Urmond. In this yere kyng Richard, the duke of Lancastre, with a grete powere redyn into the north, and distroied into the Scottes see. And in this yere was the bataille in the palys at Westm', betwen [A gret bataill in the palys of Westm'.] Martigo Novyle of Naverne apeler, and John Walssh defender; the whiche Martigo apeled the said John that he schulde have p'posyd and sold the castell of Chirburgh: the whiche John there hadde the victorye and was mad knyght, and the said Martigo was drawen and hanged. Also in this yere S^r. Nicholl Brembre was chosen maire ayeyne, be the said craftes and be men of the contre at Harowe and the contre there aboughte, and not be fre eleccion of the citee of London as it owith to be: and the oolde halle was stuffed with men of armes overe even, be ordinaunce and assente of S^r. Nicholl Brembre for to chese hym maire on the morwe; and so he was.

Id'm maior. John Oghgon. John Chircheman.

A^o. ix^o.

In this yere was a gret rydynge fro the tour of London to [Lordes ledde ladies be the bridell.] Westm'; and evere a lord ledde a ladyes bridell. And on the morwe began the justes in Smythefeld, whiche lasted too dayes.

There bar hym well S^r. Herry of Derby, the dukes sone of Lancastre, that othere was the lord Beaumond, the thridde S^r. Simond of Beuerley, the ferthe S^r. Piers Courteneye [[See note Q.]] .

Nicholl Exton, maior, fysshmong'. Will' More, vynt'. Will' Staundon, groc'.

A^o. x^mo.

This yere the erle of Arundell admirall of Engelond faught [A bataill on the see betwen the erle of Arundell and the Flemynges.] on the see with the Flemynges, upon oure lady day in lenten, and scomfyted them, and tok manye schippes lade with Rochell wyn; among whiche schippes was oo schipp called Mewes Colman [["Mons^r Colman" in the Cotton MS.]] , and that schipp was the admyrall of Flaundres, the whiche was taken and manye othere prisoners. The some of schippes grete and smale, at that tyme take, were lxxxvj schippes, in whiche were accompted xvij^m tounes of wyne. Also the duke of Lancastre in this yere, with his duchesse dame Constance, sayled over the see into Spayne with a gret peple, to clayme his wyfves right: and he tok with hym John Northt', for doughte elles he myghte have be sclayn whiles he hadde ben oughte of the reaume.

Id'm maior. Will' Venor, groc'. Hugo Fastolf.

Anno xj^mo.

In this yere was the rysyng of lordes of Engelond; that is [The rysyng of the lordes.] for to seye, S^r. Thomas of Wodstok duke of Gloucestre, S^r. Herry erle of Derby, S^r. Richard erle of Arundell, S^r Thomas erle of Warrewyk, Moubray the erle marchall, and S^r. Thomas the erle of Notyngham, ayens othere certeyn lordes, that is to

weten, S^r. Robert de Veer erle of Oxenford, that was mad markys of Develyn and after duke of Irlond, whiche fledde into Loveyne in Braban, and there he deyde; Sire Mich' of Pole erle of Suffolk, whiche also fledde to the same place, and there deyde; Sire Alexander Nevyll erchebysshop of York, the whiche fledde to Scotlond, and there deyde; Robert Tresilian the kynges justice and Nicholl Brembre knyght were drawe to Tyborne and hanged. Also the same tyme Sire Johan Beau∣champ, S^r. James Berners, and Sire Simond of Beuerle, knyghtes, were beheded at the Tour hill; but S^r. John of Salis∣bury [Diverses knyghtes were hanged, and diverses justices were exiled for everemore.] was drawen and hanged; and also Robert Bealknap, John Holt, Robert Cary, William Burgh, Robert Fulthorp, and John Lokton, justices, weren exiled into Irlond, there for to dwelle alle there lyf tyme.

Nicholl Twyford, gold∣smyth, maior. Adam Karlyll [["Cache∣hill" in the Cotton MS.]] , groc'. Th' Austyn, m'c'.

A^o. xij^o.

This yere, in the moneth of May, weren the justes in Smyth∣feld [Justes in Smythfeld betwen the erle of Not' and the erle of More and othere.] betwen the erle of Notyngham and the erle of More, Scott.; also betwen the lord Welles and S^r. David Lyndesey, Scott.; also betwen there Nicholl Bemenere and John Bron, Scott.

William Venor, groc', m'. John Loveye. John Walcote, drap'.

A^o. xiij^mo.

In this yere were justes betwen S^r. Piers Courtenay and S^r. William Danyell, Scott. And in this yere John Nor∣thampton cam home and posseded his goodes.

Adam Bam, gold∣smyth, m'. Th' Vyvent. John Fraunceys, goldsmyth.

Anno xiiij^mo.

This yere was scarcete of corn. Neverthelees the seide meire, [A gret scarcete of corn.] be good counseill, sente his men over the see with gold into divers contres and broughte home corn, so that the prys was well amendyd [[See note R.]] .

John Hende, drap', m'. John Schadworth, m'c'. Herry Vaun'e, drap'.

A^o. xv^o.

whiche John Hende occupied the office of the meire into the morwe after the natyvyte of seynt John baptist, the whiche was put down be the kyng and his counseill at Notyngham, and ordeyned S^r. Edward Dalyngregy, knyght, kepere of the [Edward Da∣lyngreg' and Baldewyn Radyngton were mad kepers of the citee of London.] citee; and on the xxij day of Juyll the said Edward was dis∣charged of his office, and S^r. Bawdewyn Radyngton at Wyn∣desore was mad kepere of the citee of London, and so stod in office into the feste of seynt Symond and Jude; at whiche day, be leve of the kyng, they chosen officers in the Yelde halle of London for the yere folwyng as it folwith. And in this yere the courtes were remeved, and withdrawe fro London to York [The re∣mevyng of the court to Yorke.] fro the feste of the nativite of seynt John baptist unto Criste∣masse folwynge; and all this disese above seyd was for this cause. In this yere Thomas Arundell erchebysshop of York was thanne chaunceler of Engelond, and Waltham bysshop of Salesbury was thanne tresorer of Engelond; the serwauntes of whiche tresorer arrered a grete debate in Fletestrete ayens men of the towne for an hors loof, for whiche the tresorer pleyned [For an hors loof.]

upon the citee to the kyng, and wykkedly enformed the kyng; thorugh whiche enformacion and procurment of the chaunceler, the kyng sesed the fraunchise and the liberte of London into hys hond: and the kyng hadde of London x m^l lib' or he wolde be plesyd.

Will'm Staundon, groc', maior. Gilb't Maunfeld. Th' Newenton.

A^o. xvj^mo.

In this yere was the pley of seynt Katerine [[See note S.]] .

John Hadley, groc', m'. Ric' Whityngton, m'c'. Grugo Barentyn, goldsmyth.

A^o. xvij^mo.

In this yere, that is to seye in the xij day of Juyn the yere [Anna reg'^na Angl' obiit.] of oure lord a m^lccclxxxxiiij, the goode lady quene deyde at Shene, and lith entered worthyly at Westm'.

John Frossh, m'c', m'. Th' Knolles, groc'. Will' Brampton, fyssh∣mongre, with the longe berd.

A^o. xviij^o.

In this yere kyng Richard wente first into Irlond [[See note T.]] .

Will's More, vynt', m'. Rog' Elys. Will' Scheryngham.

A^o. xix^o.

In this yere, aboughte the feste of Al Halwen, Isabell the [Kyng Richard wedded the kynges doughtre of Fraunce, Isabell.] kynges doughter of Fraunce was spoused to kyng Richard at Caleys, whiche afterward, on the viij day of Januer, was crowned quene at Westm'; at whos comynge to London the

priour of Typtre in Essex, with othere viij persones, upon Lon∣don bregge in the gret prees weren crowsed to the deth.

Adam Bamme, gold∣smyth, m'. Th' Welford, drap'. Will' Parkere, m'c'.

A^o. xx^mo.

The whiche Adam Bamme deyde the vj day of Juyn; and Richard Whityngton occupyed the office of the mairalte the remenaunt of the yere be patent of the kyng; and thanne after, on seynt Edwardes day, he was chose maire for the yere fol∣wynge. Also in this yere the xxj day of Juyll, the regne of the kyng xxj^ti yere begynnynge, S^r. Thomas of Wodestoke duke of Gloucestre was arested at Paske [["Plass'he" in the Cotton MS.]] ; and S^r. Richard erle of Arundell, and S^r. Thomas erle of Warrewyk, the lord Cobham, and S^r. John Cheyne weren also arested. And in the monthe of Septembre nest folwynge the kyng helde hys parlement at Westm', at whiche parlement Edward erle of Roteland was made duke of Awmarle, Herry erle of Derby was mad duke [The makynge of lordes.] of Hereford, Thomas earl Marchall was mad duke of Norfolk, S^r. John erle of Huntyngdon was mad duke of Excetre, the erle of Kent was mad duke of Surry, the erle of Somerset was mad marquys of Dorset, S^r. Thomas Percy was mad erle of Wor∣cestre, the lord Spenser was made lord [["Earl" in the Cotton MS.]] of Gloucestre, the lord Nevyle was mad erle of Westmerland. Also the par∣lement was enyourned to Schrovesbury into the xv day of seynt Hillar. And in the forsaid parlement was mad a gret hale in the paleys of Westm', in whiche Richard the erle of [The erle of Arundell was con∣dempned.] Arundell was dampned to the deth, and he was beheded at the Tour hill [[See note U.]] .

Richard Whytyngton, m'c', m'. Will' Askham, fysshmong'. John Wodecok, m'c'.

A^o. xxj^mo.

In this monthe of Feverer was the parlement at Schrovesbury, at whiche parlement was ordeyned the deth of the duke of Glou∣cestre the kynges uncle, whiche was foule mordred at Caleys, in [The mor∣dryng of the duke of Glouc' at Caleys.] the prynces inne, with two towayles made in snare wyse, and put aboughte his nekke; and so was that worthy knyght strangled to the deth. Also the lord Cobham was jugged to perpetuel prison: and forasmoche as the erle of Derby thanne mad duke of Here∣ford was of counseill and assent of the deth of lordes and knyghtes don to dethe in the xj yere of the kyng, he was also exiled. Also in this yere schulde a ben a bataile at Coventre [There schulde a ben a bataill at Coventre betuen the duk of Hereford and the duk of Norf', and anon in the same place they were exiled.] betwen the duke of Hereford and the duke of Norfolke, withinne lystes: and whanne they were assembled in the place, the kyng toke up there quarell into his hand: and anoon in the same place they were bothe exiled; that is to seye, the duke of Hereford for x yere, and Thomas duke of Norfolk for an hundred yere, whiche debate was for wordes of treson whiche schulde have ben spokyn be these too lordes of the kyng. Also in this yere Thomas Arundell erchebysshop of Caunterbury was also exiled [Thomas Arundell erche∣bisshop of Caunterbury was exiled. Rog' Walden made erche∣bysshop.] and translated to another bysshoperiche, and S^r. Roger Walden was made erchebysshop of Caunterbury; and thanne the kyng thorugh wykked counseill disherited the heirs of the lordes that were put to dethe, as it is above seyd, and dampned to perpetual prison. And he sente to Rome, to have the statutes and the ordinaunces mad in the parlement begonnen at Westm' and ended at Schrovesbury, confermed of the pope; the whiche was doun and graunted be the pope and be hym confermed, which

confirmacion was proclamed at the crosse in Powles and at seynt Marie Spitele in Estre woke before alle the peple. Also the kyng thorugh his counseill hadde the citee of London and [The kyng hadde the citee of London and othere schires in grete hate.] othere diverses shires of Engelond in grete hate and grete in∣dignacion, and lete enditen them as for rebelles: and he toke to hym Chestreschire men whiche were most famulier with hym, wherfore the citizeins of London and the peple of the said schires so endited as before is seid, were full hevy and sorwefull; and thanne the citizeins of London for plesaunce of the kyng thorugh counseill and helpe of Roger Walden the erchebysshop of Caunterbury, and of Braybroke, &c [[See note X.]] . Moreover in this yere, for alle that, Chestreschire men maden a grete fray in Fryday strete on a nyght in there innes; the whiche weren well beten and hurte with arowes and brought thanne to the countor. Also this yere, be selyng of blank chartres [[See note Y.]] , the citee of London [Blank chartres were seled, &c. whiche coste London a m^lli'.] paied to the kyng a m^lli', and othere schires as they myghte beren.

Drugo Barentyn, goldsmyth, m'. John Wade. John Warv'.

Anno xxij^do.

Ye schull wete that Thomas the son and heyre of Richard the erle of Arundell, whiche Thomas after the deth of his fadir was duellynge in houshold with S^r. John Holand duke of Excetre, and holden at no reputacion but alwey in gret repref and dispite, in moche disese and sorwe of herte, thorugh helpe of William Scot mercer of London privyly in a gromys clothynge, sailed over the see and cam to his uncle the erchebysshop of Caunter∣bury, that tyme beynge at Coloigne. Ferthermore in this yere

deyde the duke of Lancastre, and lith entered at seynt Poules at [Obiit Joh'es duk Lan∣castr'.] London. Also in this yere after Estren, in the lattere ende of the yere of the conquest of kyng Richard, the same kyng Richard sailed the secounde tyme into Irlond; and he hadde [Kyng Richard seyled the seconde tyme into Irlond.] with hym amonges othere Herry the eldeste sone of the duke of Hereford, whom he made knyght [["whiche was kyng after his fa'ir Henry of Derby" in the Cotton MS.]] in Irlond; and the saide kyng Richard was there too monthes and sumwhat more. And in the mene tyme cam in Herry duke of Hereford, for his fadir the duke of Lancastre was ded, for whiche he cam to cleyme his heritage, and broughte with hym Thomas of Arundell the erche∣bysshop [The duke of Hereford with othere lordes exiled landed at Ravenspore in York∣schire.] of Caunterbury whiche was exiled; and also he broughte with hym hys sone Thomas, and also Thomas the erles son of Arundell to cleyme his herytage; and they landed in the north contre, at a place that is clepyd Ravenspore besyde Bedlyngton. And anon as they were landed there comen to hym hastyly the erle of Northumberlond and S^r. Herry his sone, and the erle of Westmerland, Robert of Watton, and manye othere lordes and gentiles of the north contre. And thanne the seid duke of Hereford with alle tho above seid reden to Chestre with gret strenkthe. And anon as the kyng herde telle that duke Herry was come, he hied hym out of Irlond into Engelond, in hope to be strong ayens hys enemys: and as sone as the peple of the kynges herde telle that the duke was landed, alle the kynges meyne into lytell turned ayens the kyng, and [The kynges mene turned ayens hym.] wenten ayeyns his adversaryes, that seynge the kyng withdrowe hym to the castell of Flynt. And the duke with his lordes and gentiles comen to the castell of Bristoll, and there they token S^r. William Scrop thanne erle of Wyltshire and tresorer of

Engelond, S^r. Herry Grene, S^r. John Busshy, and Perkyn of Lee: and on the xxx^ti day of Juyll they were beheded as for traytours. And whanne they hadde so don they reden ayeyne to Chestre, and thider to them cam kyng Richard in pees. And thanne the kyng and the duke and the othere seid lordes reden in fere to Londonward: and in the firste day of Septembre they comen to London everych on: and in the morwe suynge kyng Richard was put into the tour of London tyl tyme that the parlement, whiche began at Westm' on seynt Jeromys day the laste day of Septembre [["xxiij of September" in the Cotton MS.]] ; whiche day, in the tour of London, kyng Richard resigned his dignyte in this yere of his regne xxiij; and duke Herry was be generall accorded in par∣lement [Kyng Richard was put into the tour of London, and anon after he resigned his dignyte.] chosyn kyng, his regne thanne begynnynge, and sithen crowned. Thanne was S^r. John Slake at Westm', dene of the kynges chapell, arested and put in prison in Ludgate, and othere certeyn monkes of Westm'. Also S^r. William Bagot, knyght, was arested besyde Develyn in Irlond, and brought to London.