| Description | Edward Thompson, tailor, and William Smalshaw, slater, were chosen two of Vernon's almsemen in succession to Edward Halwood and Ralph H[IND?], deceased.
(ZA/B/2/103v). Upon the petition of Anne Newport, widow, the City's tenant of Duntsforde meadow lying near Stamford Bridge, it was agreed that she should hold this meadow for seven years from the following February 2nd at the ancient yearly rent of £5: 10s.
John Poole, haberdasher, and William Kinge, butcher, elected Councilmen in the places of George Starkey and Henry Bennett, deceased.
Differences had arisen between the Leavelookers and some strangers who resorted to the Common Hall to sell wool on market days, and so it was ordered that such strangers who brought wool to the Hall on market days and sold it to freemen should not pay custom; but if they sold it to foreigners the Leavelookers should demand their due custom.
The Leavelookers asked whether they should send wine on the four usual days in the year to those Aldermen and others who were formerly of the Assembly but were now dismissed from their places. It was resolved that wines must be sent to them and to the widows of those who had usually received wine from the Leavelookers.
Robert Mowson was confirmed in the place of City Crier; he was to receive the usual fees, stallages and profits, and to pay rent for prise fuel.
Mrs. Sara Bennett, widow, complained that she received great prejudice in her calling by the Linnen cloth market kept before her door and petitioned that it might be removed. (ZA/B/2/104). It was ordered, therefore, that the market should be moved into the row on the other side of the street from Captain Thomas Mainweringe's house downwards.
Robert Fletcher, merchant, held a lease for his life from the City of one shop with a chamber over it adjoining the Eastgate and of two little towers under the gate. The shop and chamber had been demolished and he undertook to build a substantial building upon this waste ground if the Assembly would grant him the ground and the towers in fee farm. He was granted the premises for 40s fine and 20s yearly rent.
The four Sergeants at Mace had neglected to present summons upon freemen in the Sheriff's Court, for remedy of which it was ordered that if they neglected to present summons of their actions at the next Court after entrance, then the four Sheriff's officers should have liberty to present such summons.
The Company of Mercers and Ironmongers complained that the Company of Linendrapers, who should be confined to the sale of "huswifes cloath, Normandy canvas, Lockeram and Dowlace", had encroached upon their trades by selling many other commodities, contrary to the laws of the land, the customs of the City and Assembly Orders of 6 Ed.VI, 1613 and 1634. (ZA/B/2/104v). The Assembly were sensible of their obligation "to keepe every trade within its proper bounds", and they had special regard to the rights of the Mercers and Ironmongers since the City's general commerce with abroad was principally in these trades. Penalties incurred for the breach of the said orders were to be exacted; and persons not free of the Company of Mercers and Ironmongers were forbidden, after the following ten days, to sell in the City any silk, silk buttons, silk lace, silk points, silk ribbons, thread buttons, hair buttons, silk thread, fustians, sackcloth, feather-bed ticks, cambric, lawn, Scotchcloth, says, holland, calico, buckrams, soap, starch or other wares belonging to the trades of mercers and ironmongers, upon pain of forfeiture of 40s for each offence.
(ZA/B/2/105). In consideration of the great care and pains which Randle Holmes, late one of the Aldermen and Justices of the Peace of the City, had taken and was in future to take in putting in order the many ancient records in the Treasury, which were in a very disorderly condition, the Treasurers were to pay him £10.
The Treasurers were also ordered to view Piggelane and to report to the Mayor and Justices whether it might be improved. |