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William Lyghtfote (Lightfoot), merchant. Lyghtfote (Lightfoot) William Commons. merchant...

Catalogue reference: SC 8/121/6015

What’s it about?

This record is about the William Lyghtfote (Lightfoot), merchant. Lyghtfote (Lightfoot) William Commons. merchant... dating from [1453] in the series Special Collections: Ancient Petitions. It is held at The National Archives, Kew.

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Full description and record details

Reference
SC 8/121/6015
Date
[1453]
Description
Petitioners
William Lyghtfote (Lightfoot), merchant.
Name(s)
Lyghtfote (Lightfoot), William
Addressees
Commons.
Occupation
merchant
Nature of request
Lyghtfote requests action against various individuals involved in the seizure of a ship and the theft of his goods. He had hired a Breton ship to transport his merchandise to England, but this ship was attacked at sea and taken to Fowey, where the cargo was stolen and distributed amongst the attackers. He has failed to get justice at common law, since the perpetrators have no fear of the law, and therefore asks that the sheriff of Cornwall be ordered to summon them before the Chancellor of England to hear his case, in pursuance of a statute of Edward III allowing him recovery of goods stolen at sea.
Nature of endorsement
[on face] Let it be sent to the Lords.[on dorse] King. Let it be as desired.
Places mentioned
St Malo, Brittany, [France]
Fowey, Cornwall.
People mentioned
Edward III, King of England
John Harle, ship's master
Richard Nottes
Michael de la Mote
Thomas Burgat
Henry Snaylam
Walter Pole
Richard Baudewyn
Philip Bocher (Butcher)
Richard Nottes
John Hore
Haukyn Derce, ship's master
Edmund Kendal, clerk
Thomas Burgat
John Cornew
John Broun (Brown), goldsmith
Laurence Berman
Chancellor of England
sheriff of Cornwall.
Note
Although nominally prompted by a complaint from a different individual (presumably the ship was carrying the goods of more than one merchant), this is clearly the incident for which a commission of enquiry was ordered on 16 June 1453 (CPR 1452-61, p.119).
Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Former department reference
Parliamentary Petition 5014
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Language
English
Closure status
Open Document, Open Description
Publication note(s)
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Hen VI, vol. VI, 1452-1461, (Public Record Office, 1911), p.119 (commission to the sheriff of Cornwall and others to enquire into this incident, on complaint of John Valanson of Brittany, merchant)
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C9208181/

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Series information

SC 8

Special Collections: Ancient Petitions

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William Lyghtfote (Lightfoot), merchant. Lyghtfote (Lightfoot) William Commons. merchant...

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