Talk:List of sheriffs of London/A survey of London (John Stow, 1842 (orig 1603))

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These governors of old time (saith Robert Fabian), with the laws and customs then used within this city, were registered in a book called the Dooms' day, written in the Saxon tongue ; but of later days, when the said laws and customs were changed, and for that also the said book was of a small hand, sore defaced, and hard to be read or understood, it was less set by, so that it was embezzled and lost. Thus far Fabian.

Notwithstanding, I have found, by search of divers old registers and other records abroad, namely, in a book sometime appertaining to the monastery of St. Alban's, of the portgraves, and other governors of this city, as followeth :

First, that in the reign of King Edward, the last before the Conquest, Wolfegare was portgrave, as may appear by the charter of the same king, in these words: "Edward, king, greeteth Alfward, bishop, and Wolfegare, my portgrave, and all the burgesses in London." And afterward that, in another charter, "King Edward greeteth William, bishop, and Sweetman, my portgrave." And after, that in another charter to the abbey of Chertsey, to William, bishop, and Leofstane and AJsy, portgraves. In the reign of William the Conqueror, William, bishop of London, procured of the said Conqueror his charter of liberties, to the same William, bishop, and Godfrey, portgrave, in Saxon tongue, and corrected in English thus:

"William, king, greet William, bishop, and Godfrey, portgrave, and all the burgeses within London, French and English. And I graunt that they be all their law worth, that they were in Edward's dayes the king. And I will that each child bee his father's heire. And I will not suffer that any man do you wrong, and God you keepe." And then in the reign of the said Conqueror and of William Rufus, Godfrey de Magnavile was portgrave (or sheriffi) as may appear their charters, and Richard de Parwas provost.

In the reign of King Henry I., Hugh Buche was portgrave, and Leofstanus, goldsmith, provost, buried at Bermondsey.

After them Aubrey de Vere was portgrave, and Robert Bar Querel provost. This Aubrey de Vere was slain in the reign of King Stephen. It is to be noted, also, that King Henry I. granted to the citizens of London the shrivewick thereof, and of Middlesex, as in another place is showed.

In the reign of King Stephen, Gilbert Becket was portgrave, and Andrew Buchevet provost.

Alter him, Godfrey Magnavile, the son of William, the son of Godfrey Magnavile, by the gift of Maude, the empress, was portgrave, or sheriff of London and Middlesex, for the yearly farm of three hundred pounds, as appeareth by the charter.

In the time of King Henry II., Peter Fitzwalter was portgrave ; after him John Fitznigel was portgrave ; after him Emulfus Buchel became portgrave ; and after him William Fitz Isabel. These portgraves are also in divers records called vicecounties, vicounties, or sheriffs,

as being under an earl ; for that they then, as since, used that ofiice as the sheriffs of London do till this day. Some authors do call them domesmen, aldermen, or judges of the king's court.

William Fitz Stephen, noting the estate of this city, and government thereof in his time, under the reign of King Stephen and of Henry II., hath these words :

"This city (saith he), even as Home, is divided into wards ; it hath yearly sheriffs instead of con- suls ; it haUi the dignity of senators and aldermen ; it hath under officers, and, according to the quality of laws, it hath several courts and general assemblies upon appointed days."

Thus much for the antiquity of sheriffs, and also of aldermen, in several wards of this city, may suffice. And now for the name of bailiffs, and after that of mayors, as followeth :

In the first year of King Richard I., the citizens of London obtained to be governed by two bailiffs, which bailiffs are in divers ancient deeds called sheriffs, according to the speech of the law, which called the shire Balliva, for that they, like as the portgraves, used the same office of shrivewicke, for the which the city paid to fee farm three hundred pounds yearly as before, since the reign of Henry I., which aJso is yet paid by the city into the Exchequer until this day.

They also obtained to have a mavor, to be their principal governor and lieutenant of the city, as of the king's chamber.

1180. The names of the first bailiffs, or officers, entering into their office at the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, in the year of Christ 1189, were named Henry Comhill and Richard Reynere, bailiffs or sheriffs.

Their first mayor was Henry Fitz Alwin Fitz Liefstane, goldsmith, appointed by the said king, and continued mayor nom the 1st of Richard I. until the 15th of King John, which was twenty-four years and more.


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