1. A Protest at Coventry against a Gild's Exclusiveness [Coventry Leet Book, Vol. II, pp. 566-7], 1495.
1495. Mem.: that within vii days after Lammas there was a bill set upon the north church door in St. Michael's Church by some evil disposed person unknown, the tenor whereof hereafter ensueth:—
Be it known and understand
This city should be free and now is bond.
Dame Good Eve made it free,
And now there be customs for wool and drapery.
Also it is made that no prentice shall be
But xiii pennies pay shall he.
That act did Robert Green,[269]
Wherefore he had many a curse, I ween.
[269] Robert Green was chosen Mayor of Coventry in 1494.
2. A Complaint from Coventry as to Inter-municipal Tariffs [Coventry Leet Book, Part I, p. 592], 1498.
Oct. 18th, 1498 ... And on the morrow the Mayor presented a bill to the said Prince desiring by the same that he would please to desire the prior of Coventry to pay at his desire the murage money which he had withdrawn the space of 20 years, and also showed his Grace by the same bill how the citizens of Coventry were troubled by their merchandizes in Bristol, Gloucester, and Worcester, and compelled to pay toll and other customs contrary to their liberties. Upon which bill letters went out to Bristol, Gloucester, and Worcester, desiring by the same that the said citizens of Coventry might pass free without any custom paying after their liberty, or else they appear in London crastino St. Martini then next following.
3. The Municipal Regulation of Wages at Norwich [Tingey. Selected Records of Norwich, II, p. 110], 1518.
Sept. 21st, 1518. It is agreed that from henceforth no artificer shall employ apprentice working by the day, viz., carpenters, masons, tilers, reeders, by taking for the wage of such an apprentice more than one penny a day until he has been appointed to better wages or salary by the headman of that craft in the presence of the Mayor for the time being. And if any one shall do contrary, he shall forfeit 12d., to be levied from the goods of the master of that apprentice.
4. The Municipal Regulation of Markets at Coventry [Coventry Leet Book, Part III, pp. 674-5], 1520.