Edmund used to have the dung found in the four high roads and not elsewhere in the lanes; in the time of Thomas, by force and might they collected and took the dung in all the lanes, against the will of the burgesses.
Further, in the time of Edmund, from payers of toll the farmers used to take nothing by way of a double toll, and that by view of any of the jurors of the same town; in the time of Thomas the farmers took from payers of toll the heaviest ransoms at their will, exceeding the value of the thing whereon the toll was so paid, and often more than the true value.
Further, in the time of Edmund, the porters of the castle of the town of Leicester meddled not in the town of Leicester with the making of any attachments, except with a bailiff of the same town; in the time of Thomas, by force and might they made attachments and other executions without any bailiff of the town, and wrought great wrongs in the said town, whereby the burgesses suffered great grievances.
In the time of Edmund, if any burgess were impleaded in the court of the castle, the mayor and bailiffs of the same town used to claim their court and freely have it at the Portmanmoot; in the time of Thomas the farmers refused to admit their claims or to grant their court, but compelled burgesses to answer there by various and heavy distraints.
Further, in the time of Edmund, buyers of wool used to hire carts to carry their wool at their will; in the time of Thomas they were compelled to give to the farmers 1d. on each sack and could hire carts only at the will of the said farmers.
Further, in the time of Edmund, the foresters of "le Fruth" used not to make attachments in the town of Leicester nor meddle there for any trespasses of dry wood committed; in the time of Thomas, by extortion, force and might, they made attachments both upon those who bought at their doors from poor women carrying dry sticks on their heads, and upon others, and caused the buyers to be amerced at the court of "le Hethilegh."
In the time of Edmund, the brewers of the same town used to be amerced once a year according to the measure of their guilt and at the rate of 6d. or 12d. at most; in the time of Thomas, the farmers levied from the same by extortions and heavy ransoms at their will from one half a mark and from another 10s., which they call farms of "Cannemol."
Further, in the time of Edmund, the weavers of the same town used to give nothing to any man for exercising their trade; in the time of Thomas the said farmers took by extortion from every weaver 40d. for permission to work in broad cloth.
Further, in the time of Edmund the vendors of salt herrings and fish could sell such their merchandise by themselves and their servants (servos) with their own hands, giving nothing of their own except toll; in the time of Thomas they were not permitted to sell their merchandise, but the ministers of the farmers deputed hereto sold the same and took great sums of money by extortion.
Further, in the time of Edmund, retailers of cloth selling in their windows used not to be amerced except by view of jurors of the same town and once a year at 12d.; in the time of Thomas they were compelled by heavy extortions to make fines at his will.
In witness whereof the jurors have set their seals to this inquisition.
[182] June 11.
[183] The necessities of Earl Thomas, leader of the opposition to Edward II., had evidently reacted upon his tenants.
[184] And 23 others named.
[185] The lord's lessees, responsible for the farm of the town.
13. Grant of Pavage To the Lord of a Town [Patent Roll, 2 Edward III, p. 1, m. 5], 1328.
The King to the venerable father in Christ H. by the same grace bishop of Lincoln, greeting. Know ye that we have granted to you, in aid of paving your town of Newark, that from the day of the making of these presents to the end of three years completed next following you take in the same town, by those whom you shall think fit to depute hereto and for whom you will be answerable, the underwritten customs on things for sale coming to the same town, to wit, on each quarter of corn for sale ¼d., on each horse and mare for sale ½d., on each hide of horse and mare, ox and cow, fresh, salted and tanned, for sale,¼d., on each cart carrying meat, salted or fresh, for sale, 1½d., on 5 bacons for sale ½d., on each salmon, fresh or salt, for sale,¼d., on each 100 mackerel for sale ½d., on each lamprey for sale ½d., on 10 sheep, goats or swine for sale 1d., on 10 fleeces for sale ½d., on each 100 woolfells of sheep, goats, stags, hinds, bucks and does for sale 1d., on each 100 fells of lambs, kids, hares, rabbits, foxes, cats and squirrels ½d., on each cart-load of sea-fish for sale 2d., on each horse-load of sea-fish for sale ½d., on each truss of cloths brought by cart 3d., on each horse-load of cloth for sale or other diverse and minute things for sale coming to the same town ½d., on each cart-load of iron for sale 1d., on each 100 of steel for sale ¼d., on each cart-load of tin for sale ½d., on each quarter of woad 2d., on each tun of wine for sale 2d., on each sack of wool for sale 2d., on each horse-load of wool 1d., on each horse-load of apples, pears or nuts for sale ¼d., on each 100 of linen web and canvas for sale ½d., on each 100 of linen for sale ¼d., on each new cart for sale ¼d., on each cart laden with timber for sale ½d., on each 1000 laths 1½d., on each 100 stockfish and Aberdeen fish ½d., on each cart laden with hay or grass for sale ¼d., on each cart carrying rushes for sale 1d., on each cart-load of heath for sale ½d., on each truss of chalons[186] for sale ½d., on each horse-load of glass (verro) ½d., on each horse-load of garlic for sale ½d., on each 1000 herrings for sale ¼d., on each 100 boards for sale 1d., on each cart-load of faggots for sale ¼d., on each quarter of salt for sale ¼d., on each dozen horse-loads of coals for sale ½d., on each cart-load of coals for sale ½d., on each cart-load of brushwood for sale ½d., on each horse-load of brushwood for sale by the week ¼d., on each 1000 nails for house gables (ad cumilum domus) for sale ¼d., on each 100 horse shoes for horses and clout-nails for carts ½d., on 2000 of all manner of nails for sale except nails for carts and house gables ¼d., on each truss of every kind of ware for sale coming to the same town and exceeding the value of 2s.,¼d. And therefore we command you that you take the customs aforesaid until the end of the said three years in the form aforesaid, and that after the term of the said three years be complete the said customs wholly cease and be annulled. In witness whereof, etc., to endure for the aforesaid three years. Witness the King at Northampton, 8 May.
By the King himself.
[186] Coverlets made at Chalons-sur-Marne.
14. Misappropriation of the Tolls Levied for Pavage [Fine Roll, 10 Edward III, m. 22], 1336.
The King to his beloved and faithful John de Mounteny, Nicholas de Beaulu, Robert Scuffyn, and William de Merston, greeting. Know ye that whereas on the 8th day of May in the second year of our reign by our letters patent we granted unto the venerable father Henry, bishop of Lincoln, that he should have in the town of Newark pavage for the term of three years next following, and afterwards, wishing to do further grace to the same bishop in this behalf, we granted unto him that from the end of the term aforesaid he should take in the town aforesaid such pavage until the end of four years then next following, the collection of which pavage amounts to no small sum, as it is said; and we have received a petition shown before us and our council, containing
