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1

XXXI.

2

THE MAYOR'S ARTICLES OF COMPLAINT AGAINST THE BISHOP,
3DEAN, AND CHAPTER.

4

ARTICLE I.

5
6    For the furst article of theire grevous compleyntis the saide
7Maier and Cominalte seyn that there as where the tenantis and
8inhabitants of the saide Bysshop with ynne the sayde Cite and
9suburb of the same ben cessable and chargable, have be cessed and
10charged, and of right oughte to be and yet ben w^t the citeseyns
11and inhabitantis of the same Cite, and hath ben used levy therof to be
12made by the Mayer and such as he hath assigned and deputed
13therto yn alle maner dymes citeseyn spendyng and the fe ferme yf
14nede be, and alle other taxacions talliages and chargis as well to the

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15kyng oure soverayn lorde graunted and so hath be yn the tymes of
16his noble progenitours as of alle other contribucions and chargis
17w^t yn the saide cite and as parcell of the same. And nowe the
18laste specially assessying and payment of half a dyme, whiche was
19assessed and payd yn maner and fourme as by long tyme favorabilly
20hath be done: but the forsayde Mayer and Comminalte moste grevously
21compleyne of ij tymes next there be fore of cessyng and paynge of
22dymes, one yn the tyme of John Coteler beynge Mayer and another
23tyme William Upton beynge Mayer; at whiche both tymes the
24tenantis of the seide Bisshop w^t other were warned to come to the
25Gildehalle, as by longe tyme hath be done, to assessynge of the
26sayde dymes. And as tochyng the sayd Bysshoppys tenantis they
27come noght, ne no wyse wolde come to assesse ne paye with the
28sayde cite atte the ij tymes aboveseid, but by one M^r Henry
29Webber wrongefully of mere malice and yvell wyll and by commaundement
30of the saide Bisshop manassynge the sayde tenantys
31as well as yn other charges yf they deede the contrary to putte
32ham oute of theire tenuris, and so they durste not come sette ne
33paye as they hade be woned to done.
34
35

ARTICLE II.

36
37    More over the sayde Mayer and Citeseyns seyn that by commaundement
38of the sayde Bysshop and speciall rule of the sayde
39Master Harry, assessyng and levy was made amonge the sayde
40Bysshoppis tenantis of ij dymes as a cite or a burgh by hym self,
41and so was hit never, consideryng that dymes beth graunted but of
42citees and burghis, and the money so assessed and made levy kepte
43and yet kepeth to the use of the said Bishop to grete hyndryng
44and anyntysement of the same cite, upon the whiche the sayde
45Mayer and Citeseyns made sute to the sayde Byshoppis counseill
46and most specially to the sayd Maister Harry yn the moste gode
47and yesly wyse that they cowde, praying hym of his gode frendship

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48to helpe to refourme this wronge abovesayde. The sayde Mayster
49Harry right shortely weywardly and angerly answered seyyng
50that the sayde Mayer and Citeseyns shold right noght have a do
51w^t the sayde Bysshoppis tenantis w^t yn the cite and suburb of the
52same, ne the sayde tenantis w^t the sayde Mayer and Citeseyns, but
53only be ceparat and distyncte awey fro the sayde cite, seyyng
54furthermore that we sholde have nywe tidynges yn shorte tyme,
55menyng as we conceyved sithen a nywe charter that the sayde
56Bysshop hath purchased sithenys. Nertheles by speciall prayer of
57the saide Mayer and Citeseyns menyng for the beste hit was prayed
58and graunte for a trayne that these maters sholde be put upon the
59sayde Bysshoppys counseyll and the counseyll of the saide cite, and
60so hit honged yn trety by longe tyme; under which entrety the nywe
61forsayde charter was purchased to grete hurte and hyndryng to the
62sayde Mayer and Citeseyns; we praying you oure lorde Chaunceller
63most specially and you oure lordis to considre alle the
64wronges comprehended yn thys article, consyderyng that the seide
65wronge of nonpayement of the seide dymes ys alle the grounde
66cause and begynnyng of all the grete debate that hongeth now by
67twene the seide Bysshop Dean and Chapyter and the seide Mayer
68and Cyteseyns; for by fore the tyme of begynnyng sturyng and
69movyng of the said Bysshoppes officers and specially of the seide
70Meystre Harry of thees forseide maters, he was the most goode and
71blessyd Lorde and Bysshopp best wylled and set and most good doo
72and lyke to have done that ever we had there, and so we trust to
73Godde with youre goode lordshippes woll be yet.
74

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75

ARTICLE III.

76
77    Item the seyde Meyer Baillifs and Comminalte compleyne ham
78and seyn that where they and theyer predecessoures be seasyd
79of tyme that no mynde ys of a leete as hyt ys above seide, one
80John Barton felon that feloniously hadde robbyd the churche
81of Morchard of a chalys and other goodes to the valew of xx li.
82an a hors at Evyll yn S ..... atte pris of v. marke, the whiche
83goodes and catell the seide John brought yn to a tenement of the
84seide Bysshop yn Exceter where the seide Meyer by hys offycers
85wolde have arestyd the seyde John and seised the said godes but
86they were let by one John Toylerd and other of the seide Bysshoppys
87offycers and by hys commaundement as hit is supposed; wher upon
88the seide John Berton by the said John Tylard and officers was
89conveyed away and toke the Cathedrall Churche of Seynt Peter
90of Excetre, whiche churche ys and ever hath be with ynne the
91lybertees ffranchees jurisdiccions and power of the seide cyte;
92whither the coroners of the seide cyte come to take the knowleche
93of the said John Berton ys felonyes abovesaid as ever hath be usyd
94to done there as well as of abjuracions and to corowne prisoners ded
95yn the Bysshop ys prisonn. And when the seide coroners cam to
96take the confessyon above seide they were let by strenthe of one
97S^r John John and Pyers Carter and many other mynesters and
98clerkes of the seide churche by commaundement of the seide
99Bysshop Dean and Chapiter so that they myght nought doo theyre
100offyce there atte that tyme. And so the seide John Berton by
101them was brought yn to a hous ycallyd the Bakehous and so conveyhid
102and brought hym oute of towne. Also wher the saide
103coroners diverse tymes cam to the Bysshop ys palyce to have
104coroned diverse prisoners beyng ther yn the seide Bishop ys prison
105ded and yn especiall one William Wey; atte whiche tymes by one

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106Wauter Herte and other as servauntez of the seyde Bysshop and
107by hys commaundement they were let to do theyre offyce there,
108and the seide prisoners so ded buryed uncoroned. And as touchyng
109the seide goodes and cattall wayff y-left yn the seid Bysshop ys
110tenement, ther was kept with stronge hande by the seide John
111Toylerd and other of the seide Bysshopp ys offycers and so wrongfully
112to the use of the saide Bysshop as hit is supposed kepyth hyt
113to grete hurte and hynderyng of oure soveraigne lorde the Kyng and
114the seide Meyer and Comminalte.
115
116

ARTICLE IV.

117
118    Item the seide Meyer Baillifs and Comminalte compleyne ham
119that wher by the graunte of Kyng Edward the ferst one of the
120progenitours of oure soveraigne lorde the Kyng that now ys and by
121graunte of the seide Meyer and cytiseyns of the seide cyte of Exceter
122the seide Bysshop Dean and Chapiter that tyme beyng hadde lycence
123to enclose the cimitary ther as hit more pleynly apperyth yn a composicion
124ther of made. Afore whiche grauntez the Meyer and
125Cyteseyns hadde and yet ought to have a strete y-called Fyssh strete
126whiche lyyth with ynne that they calle the prosyncte of the cloos of
127Seynt Peter of Exceter and with oute the seide cimitery; yn whiche
128strete of tyme that no mynde ys the ffysh market of the seide Meyer
129and Comminalte was woned to be holde; the whiche strete streccheth
130fro a yeate callyd Seynt Martyn ys yeate dyrectly un to the towne
131walles to a grete defensable towre ther; yn the whiche strete the
132said Maire and cyteseyns by the seide Dean and Chapiter buth let
133to holde theire marketes now as we have be woned to doo; yn whiche
134way, as well as yn other places with ynne the seide cloos and cimitery,
135they have made diverse purprestours as steyrez and gardyns and
136yncroched londe contrary to the composycyon above seide; and yn
137especiall the ende of the seide Fyssh strete enchroched all the hole
138wey thurt over for a court place to the mancion of the Archideacon

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139of Cornewaill as hyt apperyth openly; so that the seide Meyer and
140cyteseyns may nought have theyre way as theym ought to have to
141the towne wallys and y^e Towre forseide. And also yn the cyte
142they have made a purpresture yn the Hye strete of the seide Cyte v.
143stalys of lx. fote long and more and iij. feete yn brede yn the for
144part of a new tenement above Seynt Stephyn ys churche of Exceter
145wher was never no stale but a stony walle of the leynthe above seide.
146And another purpresture made by the commaundement of the seide
147Bysshop as hit is supposed yn Bolehil strete yn a place y-called the
148Bysshop ys rent yn the fore part of whiche rent ys a long stony wall
149of cc. fote of lenketh and moche more, yn the whiche walle buth diverse
150shoppez wyndowes of olde tyme hadde, the leves ther of goyng ynward,
151and none other ne never were, yn to now late the seide Bysshop hath
152set oute of purpos a grete bulk stale, a purpresture. The whiche
153purpresture with all purprestures above seide standen and been set
154upon the grounde of the seide Meyer and citezeins without lycence
155of theym asked or hadde to the hurte and disheritson of the seide
156Meyer and Cyteseyns abovesaid.
157
158

ARTICLE V.

159
160    Item the seyde Meyer and Comminalte compleynyth that wher
161the Dean and Chapiter of the Cathedrall Churche of Seynt Peter

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162of Exceter have a cloyster joynaunt to the seide Cathedrall Churche
163with ynne the square of whiche cloister ys a voide place y-called
164"the Praiell," yn the whiche ys comyn sepulture whenne the
165cymytere standith pollute; thrugh whiche cloyster was a comyn
166waye for the sayd Maier and Comminalte yn to the said Cathedrall
167Chirche and the said cloyster a place of praier and devocyon to praie
168for alle the sawlys was bonys lieth yn the said cloister and prayell
169atte tyme of dyvyne servyce doyng in the saide cathedrall churche;
170but now right late the saide Deane and Chapitere the dorys of the
171saide cloister have stoppid and closid contrarie to the gode usagis of
172all holy churche, the kynges lawe and the use afore tyme hadde
173and ayenst al good pollecye.
174
175

ARTICLE VI.

176
177    Also the said Maier and Comminalte compleyneth whare late
178was sette yn the cymytere of the Cathedrall Churche of Seynt
179Peter of Excetre a grete drie fryth almoste evyn junant to the bak
180side of the costlewe billyng and yn the cheiff place of the citee of
181Excetre therto enclose and enclosed a gret parcell of tymber, the
182whiche fright atte the stroke of ix. atte clocke yn the shortestez
183tyme of eere yn the nyght, alle the close yeatis beyng faste yshet,
184as hit aught to be by a composicion ij. owris before, by on of the
185mynysteris of the said Cathedrall Churche was sette afire, and began
186to brenne, and yf hit hadde had his course lyke to have sette a fyre

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187and brende the cheif and grete parte of the citee. And yet hit was
188said by the said mynyster and other minystres of the said Cathedrall
189Churche to noyse and disslaundre the said citee that hit was sette
190afire by men of the same citee to brenne the said Cathedrall Churche.
191And hit provith noght so by shutyng of the sayd cloys yaetis. And
192by that the said Cathedrall Churche stant a buc shote fro and
193more.
194
195

ARTICLE VII.

196
197    Also the said Maier and Comminalte compleyneth that where
198the said Bysshop ys seysed of a gardyn lyyng to his paleys
199and the said Dean and Chapitere of iij. other gardynes, of the
200whiche said iij. gardynes of the said Dean and Chapitere on lyeth
201to the mancyon of the Archdekne of Cornewayle and a nother
202lyeth to the mancyon of the Chaunceler of Excetre and the thirdde
203lyeth to the mansion of the Archdeacon of Excetre; the whiche
204iiij gardynes lyeth fro a lane y-called the Freren lane junant a long
205by the Towne Wallys almoste to the Sowthe gate of the same
206citee. Atte two endys of whiche gardynes and by twyne every
207gardyn so ayunant apon the Towne Wallys ys a walle thurte and
208buttyng a yenst the Towne Walle and a posterne yeate therynne,
209the whiche wallys and posternys by the Maier and Comminalte
210by force of a composicion and as the composicion woll, have be
211made and ofte tymes repaired and amended, and ij lokkys and keies
212yn and to every yeate, one kaye of every yeate remaynyng to the
213said Maier and Comminalte and a nother to the Bysshop and so to
214every of the personys ecclesiasticeris forsaid to this entent that the
215said yeate sholde noght be sette opyn but atte the Maier ys will
216ouns yn a eere a yenste the comyng of the Maier to over se yf
217eny nede be to repaire the towne wallys. And yf eny nede be to
218repaire, to stande opyn duryng the tyme of repeiryng as yn the
219said composicion more openly and pleynly aperith. With owte
220the procyncte of the said Bisshop ys garden and yn the said wall

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221there is the moste costelew defence and moste stately towre of alle
222the City, of the saide Maier and Comminalte well heled with led and
223housed for a right gode mansion to be ther yn. The whiche towre
224late was repayred to the coste of the saide Mayer and Comminalte
225of xx li. and more and right a stronge dore w^t lokke and keye made
226therto and fast yshitte to this entent ther to bryng yn stuf for the
227werre and defence of the cite and other thyng more of the saide
228cite ther to be kept stronge saf and sure. The which dore of the
229towre w^t the other v. postern doris, the whiche v. dorys buth comprehended
230yn the saide composicion, ofte tymes have be repayred
231and amended to the grete coste of the seyde Mayer and Comminalte,
232and as ofte as ever they have be repaired ever anon they have be
233right spytefully broke up by the Bisshop and Dean and Chapitre
234aforesaid, and the dore of the said towre at all tyme and yet is so
235stondynge open and fakettes hors and dong and myche other ungodely
236thyng by commaundement of the said Bisshop broghte
237theryn; bycause of þe whiche the said towre is likely to be destroyed
238and fall a down to grete hyndryng of the said cite yn repaire yf
239hit falle of m^l~l~i. and the said v. postern doris so broke up, oo suche
240lok and keye as they woll is sette yn every dore to theire pleisaunce
241disporte and yese to go yn and oute when ever they will contrary
242to the saide composicion. By the whiche yeatis full ungodely
243cariage as suspecious men and wymmen have be ladde yn and oute,
244and divers men that sholde have be arest conveyed awey by that
245wey to right grete hurte hyndryng harmys and damage to the
246saide Cite.
247
248

ARTICLE VIII.

249
250    Item the Mayer and Comminalte compleyneth as tochyng the
251Freren lane abovesaide, the whiche is a longe lane lyyng a longe

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252by and yn the bakside joynant to divers mansions of divers chanons
253of the clos longyng to the said Dean and Chapitre; the whiche lane
254is ceverall grounde of the saide Mayer and Comminalte and parcell
255of theire fe ferme and wey to the towne wallis for the repair of tham;
256yn to whiche lane oghte no dore ne yeate open be w^t oute licence of
257the Maier and Comminalte; the said Dean and Chapitre in the
258wallis of the saide mansions yn to the saide lane have made divers
259doris w^t owte licence of the said Maier and Comminalte, by the
260whiche doris by the said Chanons dwellyng yn hethe said mansions by
261commaundement of þ^e said Dean and Chapitre is caryed oute so
262moche erthe robill and donge and other fylthis of theire places that
263the sayde wey ys dytte, that no man ther yn may well ride ne go
264ne lede cariage to the wallis, to grete hurte and hyndryng to the
265saide Mayer and Comminalte: and also yn the saide lane was a grete
266comyn gutto^r lyyng deepe underneth a long thurgh the lane almost
267to the lane ende and then turned thurte westward thurghe the
268mansion of the Archidiacon of Cornewaill to theire grete comyn
269gutto^r liyng yn þ^e saide Fissh strete havyng issu thurghe the towne
270wallis; the whiche gutto^r lyyng thurgh the saide lane ordeyned
271for to defende reyne water and other of Strike stret and of many other
272divers placis and mansions grete part of the said cite; the whiche
273gutto^r goyng thurgh the Archidiacon of Cornewayll is mansion as
274hit is abovesaide first by one Maister John Gorewyll Maister John
275Waryn M^r William Filham S^r Richard Kelyer and other som tyme
276chanons of þ^e said churche there dwellyng by commaundement of
277the Dean and Chapitre the saide gutto^r hath be broke and for ditte
278and the stonys therof by tham take and bore away so that the reyne
279water and other of Strike strete and other places abovesaid may noo
280have his course as hit hath be wont to have to grete hurte and noysaunce
281etc.