1277-09-20, Chester

The like to Elias de Bekingham, touching the following assise. Adam de Stratton, king's clerk, has shown that whereas a bakehouse in the city of London, in the parish of St. Mary Wenlok, which William de Stanstede and Alice Wolf his wife hold of him ata rent of 24s., was erected for 60 years and more before Henry le Waleys acquired any tenement contiguous thereto; and whereas the said bakehouse has hitherto stood without contradiction, the said Henry has sued an assise, according to the custom of the city in the hustings, between himself and the said William and Alice in the absence of Adam, without whose presence the matter could not take effect ; but the said Adam cannot attend to his defence by reason of being engaged on the king's affairs. The king therefore wills that the said assise be taken in his absence, and commands the mayor and sheriff to surcease the taking of it until the next coming of Elias to the city, who is to come as soon as possible and determine the matter in association with the said mayor and sheriffs.