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Mayor and citizens of Winchester. Council. The Mayor and citizens of Winchester request...

Catalogue reference: SC 8/147/7310

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This record is about the Mayor and citizens of Winchester. Council. The Mayor and citizens of Winchester request... dating from [? c. 1371] 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 8/147/7310
Date
[? c. 1371]
Description
Petitioners
Mayor and citizens of Winchester.
Addressees
Council.
Nature of request
The Mayor and citizens of Winchester request an oyer et terminer on various complaints which they make against the inhabitants of the soke of Winchester, in the franchise of the Bishops of Winchester, and against the Bishops and their people:1) They state that forestallers and regraters are operating in the soke of Winchester, although by custom there should be no market for seven leagues around.2) Various crafts are also being practised in the soke of Winchester, which should not be practised for seven leagues around the city.3) The Bishop and others in the city are refusing to pay pesage as they should.4) The tenants of the soke are preventing the citizens from cultivating their lands outside the walls.5) In the present King's reign, the Bishops of Winchester, who have been very powerful and have included Chancellors and other officers of the King, have increased their share of the fair of St Giles, and their ministers oppress the people in many ways.6) Their traditional privileges in the Bishop's court during the fair have been eroded, until they now have no more privileges than strangers.7) The Mayor is now constrained to make suit to this court, and to have an attorney there, to the great weakening of their franchise, and the ministers of this court practise great extortions on the people.
Nature of endorsement
This petition was duplicated and sent before the King to be determined there.
Places mentioned
Winchester, [Hampshire]
Soke of Winchester, [Hampshire].
Note
No date given. The mention of Bishops of Winchester filling the role of Chancellor in the present reign might be a reference to William Edington (Chancellor 1356-1363) and William Wykeham (Chancellor 1367-1371): a date of around 1371 would seem to tally with the hand.
Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Language
French
Closure status
Open Document, Open Description
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C9209494/

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Series information

SC 8

Special Collections: Ancient Petitions

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This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

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Within the series: SC 8

Special Collections: Ancient Petitions

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Within the piece: SC 8/147

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Mayor and citizens of Winchester. Council. The Mayor and citizens of Winchester request...

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