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English Wayfaring Life in the Middle Ages (XIVth Century) cover

English Wayfaring Life in the Middle Ages (XIVth Century)

Chapter 34: VI (p. 112) THE RECURRENCE OF LEET-DAYS AND VISITS OF JUSTICES
By J. J. Jusserand
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About This Book

A scholarly survey reconstructs the nomadic and itinerant aspects of fourteenth-century English life by foregrounding petitions, year-books, statutes, and other archival records rather than relying solely on literary accounts. It traces routes of travelers, the institutions and informal customs that regulated movement, and the economic, legal, and social encounters that punctuated journeys, from markets and fairs to inns and courts. Close readings of documentary evidence illuminate dangers, hospitality practices, and administrative responses, while pen-and-ink sketches and examples illustrate daily patterns and the methodological case for archival reconstruction.

VI (p. 112) THE RECURRENCE OF LEET-DAYS AND VISITS OF JUSTICES

The Commons petition as follows the Good Parliament of 1376: “Item où de ancien temps ad esté custume qe les presentours dussent presenter les articles du lete et de vewe de frank plegg tan soulement deux foitz par an, . . . les baillifs avaunt ditz fount les povres gentz et les husbandes de pais, qeux dussent travailer en leur labours et husbandriez et pur le commune profit, venir de trois semaignes en trois à lour wapentachez et hundredez, par colour de presentement avoir, et rettent leur labours et leur husbanderiez au terre, sinoun q’ils leur veullent doner tiels ransons et fyns q’ils ne purront sustener ne endurer. . . .

“Resp. Il y ad estatutz suffisamment.”

“Rolls of Parliament,” 50 Ed. III, vol. ii. p. 357.

Again, the Commons having pointed out that the visits of the {432} justices in eyre are a very great cause of trouble and expense to the people in time of war, the king suppresses the visits of those magistrates while the war lasts, except when any “horrible” case may occur.

“Item priont les communes au roi leur seigneur q’il ne grante en nulle partie de roialme eire ne trailbaston durante la guerre, par queux les communes purront estre troblez ne empoveres, fors qe en horible cas.

“Resp. Le roi le voet.”

“Rolls of Parliament,” vol. ii. p. 305, 45 Ed. III, 1371.