Cases Presented to the London Sheriffs' Court

The purpose of this page is to reconstruct the lost archives of the London sheriffs. It is based on the idea formulated in my research note Picking up the Pieces: Cases Presented to the London Sheriffs' Courts between Michaelmas 1461 and Michaelmas 1462" in Journal of Legal History 29, 2008, pp. 99-145 (Susanne Brand, formerly Jenks)

PROCEDURE

• 1399: no mainprise needs to be taken from someone imprisoned by London sheriffs (account case), claim to be custom in London [1]
• 1389: custom of London regarding two sheriffs and two counters, one for debtors and the other for personal contract violators [2]
• 1389: writ of error in judgment before Guildhall returnable in Hustings; prisoners entitled to be released on providing sufficient surety; claim to be London custom [3] [4]
• 1391: if a defendant has two suits brought against her, one in each counter (trespass/account), and is released without sufficient mainprise by the sheriff in whose counter she is held (for trespass). The plaintiff who is harmed (in account suit before the other sheriff) can sue the first sheriff for damages. Claimed to be custom in London [5]

GENERAL

• 1308: £6 12s 5d spend by Nigel Druri and Nicholas Pycot to repair Newgate Prison [6]

Cases before Stephen de Abyndon and Hamo de Chigwell, 1314

*Roger de Wadenho [7]

 - sued by William atte Weye for trespass, £30 in damages awarded to William, was imprisoned according to London custom (but Roger claims error in process later)

Cases before Simon Abyngdon and John Preston, 1319

* William de Westwode (counter of Simon Abyngdon) [8]

 - detained in Newgate for £100 in damages awarded to Hamo le Barber of London as damages for trespass of which he was convicted by jury

Cases before Adam Salisbury and John of Oxenford, 1323

* Geoffrey le Cornmonger and Richard de Kent (counter of Adam Salisbury) [9]

 - captured on Sunday, 6 Nov. 1323 and imprisoned in Newgate for trespass and later convicted by jury at suit of Thomas Dode (damages 100s), Ralph de Roching (damaged 20s), Benedict Clement (damages £100), William de Shireburn, tavener (damages 10 mark), John de Welles, pulter (damages 20s) and John le Marshal (damages £100)

Cases before Benet of Fulham and John Causton, 1324

*William Nichole of Selseye [10]

  - detained in Newgate prison for being found in arrears by auditors in 8 marks to Walter de Pappeworth, in 100s to Geoffrey le Botiller, in £4 to Robert de Hamme and in £10 to Richard de Farnham. Arrears not paid yet. 

Cases before Thomas Austyn and Adam Karlille, 1388-1389

• servants of Thomas Austyn: John Quynce and John Forster [11]; John Geyton [12]

*Geoffrey Asshewell (Counter of Thomas Austyn) [13] [14]

 - detained in Newgate for debt of £4 2s which Thomas Neuchapman (alias Thomas Dryver) recovers
 - detained for debt of 35s which William Ingrith of Melreth recovered
 - detained for debt of £3 3s 4d which John Smyth of Bedford recovered
 - detained for debt of 25s which Thomas Hedon recovered
 - detained at the suit of Thomas Hedon for a debt of 46s 8d
 - detained for 10s 4d which John Whyte, mercer, recovered

*Thomas Botild, citizen and fishmonger of London (Counter of Thomas Austyn)[15] [16]

 - detained in Austyn's counter in Woodstreet in Cripplegate Ward (counter for debtors) in a suit for a debt of £60 brought by Richard Blommil, citizen and stockfishmonger of London on 19 August 1389, arrested by John Geyton on Austyn's order on 27 August 1389 and kept imprisoned until 31 August 1389; writ of statute merchant dated 16 August 1389 for his arrest cited 

*William Malverne (Counter of Thomas Austyn) [17] [18]

  - detained in Newgate on 13 Sept. 1389 in suit brought by Richard Brendewode, draper of account, stayed until per habeas corpus sent to Exchequer to respond king on 6 Oct.; still in Newgate
    until his release on 5 Dec. 1396
  - detained in Newgate in suit brought by John Frankleyn, draper, for contempt and trespass. Claims to be servant of John Frankleyn

*Garsia Arnald and John de Mabernet, citizens and vintners of Bayonne in Aquitaine (before Adam Karlille and Nicholas Twyford major in Guildhall) [19] [20]

  - recovered 1602 Francos (worth 40d per franco) by judgment against Dominicum Cortz, merchant and citizen of Valencia on 8 April 1389 in Guildhall; Adam Karlille received writ of error on 13 May 1389 in his counter (Poultry) and subsequently let Dominicum out of Newgate prison who then defaults. Karlille now being sued by Garsia and John.

Cases before John Walcot and John Loveye, 1389-1390

*Richard Frampton of Lincolnshire (Counter of John Loveye) [21]

 - detained in Newgate for debt of 32s 4d which John Eston and Simon Stratford, citizens and drapers of London recovered  

Cases before Thomas Vyncent and John Fraunceys,1390-1391

• Richard Fouche and Stephen Wastell, servants of Thomas Vyncent [22]
• John North, clerk of Thomas Vyncent:[23]
• John Bealgraunt, clerk of the counter of John Fraunceys; [24]
• counter of Thomas Vyncent: St Mildred in Cheap Ward [25]
• counter of John Fraunceys: Woodstreet [26]

*John Noner, parson of Woldingham (Surrey) (counter of Thomas Vyncent)[27]

  - detained in Newgate for debt of 32s 8d which Thomas Grey of Stratford, baker, recovered
  - detained for 25s 8d which John Hillyng, mason, recovered
  - at a suit of covenant brought by William Lincoln, merchant
  - at the suit of Richard Rede, rector of St Mary Stanynglane London for debt of 16 marks
  - at the suit of Alice, widow of John Peke, for debt of 13s
  - at the suit of Thomas Chipenham and Hugh de Tilyngton of Hereford for debt of 16 marks

*Alice de Sutton (counter of Thomas Vyncent)[28]

   - John Routhe affirmed his account suit on  Thursday, 1 December 1390

*John Sewale (counter of John Fraunceys)[29]

  - detained in Newgate at the suit of John Widdon, citizen and stockfishmonger of London for debt of £3 6s 8d

*Richard Frompton (counter of John Fraunceys) [30]

  - detained in Newgate for not presenting mainpernors to hear the verdict in the suit brought by John Staunton, brewer, for debt of 64s 9d 
  - at the suit of Robert Eland, tailor, for debt of 4s 4d
  - at the suit of Robert Scarcliffe, clerk, for debt of 10 mark
  - at the suit of John Dymmok, tailor, for a debt of 33s 4d]
  - at the suit of John Page, skinner, for a debt of 4s

*Alice de Sutton (counter of John Fraunceys)[31]

   - John Routhe affirmed his trespass suit on Saturday, 26 November 1390

Cases before John Shadworth and Henry Vauner, 1391-1392

*Thomas Halton of Lincoln, bocher (counter of Henry Vauner) [32]

  - detained in Newgate at the suit of Richard Aleyn, drover, for trespass

*John Haukyn of Banbury, Oxfordshire (counter of Henry Vauner) [33]

   - commissioned to prison for £32 8s 4d in damages adjudicated to John Eston, tiler, in a trespass suit

*John, son of Thomas Webbe, alias Sudbury (counter of Henry Vauner)[34]

   - detained in Newgate for 7s which Thomas Gate, fishmonger recovered in debt suit
   - detained in Newgate for £4 20d which Alice Doget, widow of Walter Doget recovered in debt suit
   - detained in Newgate for 28s 4d which Hugh atte Welle of Sandwich recovered in debt suit
   - detained in Newgate for 21s 8d which William Bradstrete, sadler, recovered in debt suit
   - detained in Newgate for 15s 4d which Robert Pygeon, draper, recovered in debt suit
   - detained in Newgate for 24s 4d which Robert Staverton, draper, recovered in debt suit
   - detained in Newgate for 7s which John Maiser, spicer, recovered in debt suit
   - detained in Newgate for 41s 8d which John Ragenhill, fishmonger, recovered in debt suit
   - detained in Newgate for 15s which Geoffrey Toly, tailor, recovered in debt suit
   - detained in Newgate for £4 11s which John Lynge, mercer, recovered in debt suit
   - at the suit of Maud Broune for detention of chattle worth 4 marks
   - at the suit of Robert Hornecastell, tailor, in debt of 6s 8d

Cases before Thomas Newenton and Gilbert Maghfield, 1392-1393

*Walter Aumeney, rector of Stokton Magna, Huntingdonshire (counter of Thomas Newenton) [35]

   - detained in Newgate at the suit of Robert Whitby, clerk, for a debt of £20
   - detained in Newgate at the suit of Robert Sherwynd, mercer, for a debt of £20
   - detained in Newgate at the suit of John Elnet for a debt of £40
   - detained in Newgate at the suit of Thomas Tutbury, clerk for a debt of £40 and for account (£120)
   - detained in Newgate at the suit of David Mort, clerk, for a debt of 54s

*Walter Aumeney, rector of Stokton Magna, Huntingdonshire (counter of Gilbert Maghfield) [36]

   - detained in Newgate at the suit of John Clerk for a debt of 20 marks

Cases before Thomas Knoles and William Brampton, 1394-1395

*Thomas Aldon, esquire, Kent (counter of Thomas Knoles) [37]

   - John Reynold, citizen and skinner of London affirmed his debt suit for £31 15s on 22 February 1395. He was arrested by John Dyve, servant of Thomas Knoles, and Philip Martyn, servant of John Dyve in St Botolph without Bishopsgate on 22 Febr. and handed over to Thomas Knoles at this house in the parish of St Anthony (St. Antholinh) in Cordwainerstreet Ward where Thomas Knoles is accused to have let Thomas Aldon go free

Cases before John Wade and John Warner, 1398-1399

*Edmund Alderforde, parson of Haddestoke (Counter of John Wade)[38]

 - detained in Newgate for debt of 11s 8d which Richard Haarvor, skinner, recovered
 - detained for debt of 17s 6d which John Kyng, timbermonger, recovered
 - detained for 5 mark 6s 8d which Walter Gautro, webber of London, recovered 
 - detained for 44s ob which Gilbert Blombyll recovered 
 - detained for 30s which he owes John, abbot of St Saviour Bermondseye
 - detained for 10s which he owes Nicholas Osberne, bocher
 - detained at the suit of John Hende draper, for a debt of 5 mark which has reached the jury stage
 - detained at the suit of John Groos, baker, for a debt of 40s  
 - detained at the suit of John Clyderhowe, clerk, for a debt of £10
 - detained at the suit of John Cooker, brewer, for a debt of 60s
 - detained at the suit of John Martyn, tawyer, for a debt of 6 mark
 - detained at the suit of William Saughill, maltman, for a debt of 70s
 - detained at the suit of Thomas Rede, brewer, for a debt of 18s

*Edmund Alderforde, parson of Haddestoke (Counter of John Warner)

 - detained at the suit of Thomas Wovlerton, clerk, of account for receiving 8 mark
 - detained at the suit of Ralph Wolverton, esquire, for a debt of £40
 - detained at the suit of John Hardewyk, Essex, for a debt of 10 mark
 - detained on the basis of a habeas corpus cum causa writ to respond Thomas Wolverton, chaplain, Ralph Wolverton and Gilbert Dungeley for a debt for £40

* John Dureme vs Reymonet de Gascon (Counter of John Warner in Wood Street in Cripplegate Ward) by writ on account of £38 on Wednesday 9 July 1399 [39]

  - detained in counter of John Wade in le Pulterie (poultry) in Cheap Ward in the parish of St Mildred until 10 July 1399, released without mainprise taken or other security or attorney named; John Beaugrount and John Sayer, clerks of John Wade; John Mason, servant of John Warner. Later appeared by Robert Neuton, his attorney, on 16 July 1399 in Guildhall; claimes that no pledges of prosecution were found, wants case dismissed (which seems to have happened).

*William Blundell (Counter of John Wade)[40]

 - detained in Newgate by royal writ (William Blundell and Agnes, his wife to respond John Ellesdon and Amica, his wife in a plea of debt for £6)
 - detained for £6 6s 8d which John Brian, son, heir and executor of the John Bryan, citizen and fishmonger(?) of London, recovered in a plea of debt
 - detained at the suit of John Tetisbury, citizen and skinner of London, for a debt by bond of £33 4s 

*John Sutton of Gloucestershire, chaplain (Counter of John Wade) [41]

 - detained in Newgate for a debt of £4 3s 4d which Robert de Wynynton, clerk, and Robert Kelsey, tanner of London, recovered
 - detained for a debt of 12s which Henry Herry of Heddergrove in Kent recovered

*John Sutton of Gloucestershire, chaplain (Counter of John Warner) [42]

 - detained in a suit of John Queldyk, tailor, for a debt of 102 6d

Cases before John Wakele and William Enot, 1400

*John Hasard, medicus of Henley-on-Themse (counter of John Wakele) [43]

  - detained in Newgate for trespass at the suit of John Cifton
  - detained in Newgate for certain causes still pending before John Fraunceys, maior

*John Sadeler, dier (John Dier) (counter not specified, may not be in sheriff's court)[44]

  - captured in London at the suit of William Cost and others and imprisoned in a royal prison (not named)

Cases before Thomas Fauconer and Thomas Poll, 1403-1404

*Richard Kilkenny of Yorkshire, esquire (Counter of Thomas Fauconer, St Mildred in the Pultre in Cheap Ward) [45]

   - suit for £6 brought by Thomas Glyvyan, affirmed on 20 Jan. 1404, then transferred ad unam forinsecam curiam dicti domini regis tentam before the sheriff in the Guildhall on 22
     Jan. 1404, found liable and Thomas asked that Richard be kept in prison until he paid his debt 

*John Est, brewer (counter of Thomas Fauconer) [46]

   - his servant John Danyell came to Thomas Fauconer with the suggestion that John Est, brewer, was assaulting his master John Werde, butcher, in his house and that he had killed someone (not named). William Rendre, a servant of Thomas Fauconer, and Wiliam Stapele of familio suo went to the house to arrest John who fled (his escape route is described) before he was arrested and brought to the counter of William Staple but while imprisoned John Est was injured by John Danyell and died 14 days later