1338-09-21, Kennington

To the sheriffs of London. Order to deliver to John Bercard and Alexander Gydetti, merchants of Florence, 160 florins and John's seal now in the sheriff's custody, without delay, as the sheriffs and coroners / of the city returned that on Thursday before St. Edmund last, John de Shirburn, coroner there and Hugh le Marberer, one of the sheriffs there, being informed that John le Brewere lay dead, wrongfully, on , t the bank of the river Flete in the parish of St. Bride in the suburb of the city, they went there and took inquisition thereon, by which it was found that on the preceding Tuesday the said merchants went . -Parrt III. 571 through the city from sunrise to the third hour, seeking to arrest John and 4 other thieves whose names are unknown for a robbery committed upon them on that day in the highway between the towns of Romford and Brendwode, co. Essex, of florins and all their other goods, and that John seeing that the merchants were seeking him and his fellows with the ministers of the city in the parish of St. Nicholas at the shambles (macellas) of London, took to flight to the quay of St. Paul's and the river Thames, and intending to escape by the river upon the quays to the Flete bridge, plunged into the water and was drowned under the quays by the rising tide, and upon him were found 160 florins at 4s. a florin, plundered from the merchants and John Bercard s seal on which his sign and name were cut, and these remain in Hugh's custody, and the merchants have besought the king to order the florins and seal to be delivered to them. By C.