BILLYNGTON, William

Billyngton, a mercer, purchased the freedom of Canterbury in December 1415, paying 15s. 4d. for the privilege. At Michaelmas 1421 he was elected as one of the 12 jurats and embarked on a long and busy career in civic government, first being employed about the city’s business in London the following year.2 Ibid. f. 159. At times he combined his business interests with his civic duties: for example, in 1428 he delivered Canterbury’s livery to its attorney in the court of common pleas, John Fortescue*.3 Ibid. f. 190. In 1435-6 he was paid 20s. for riding to London three times on the city’s business; while two years later, along with John Lynde* and William Bonnington*, he was involved in the conduct of the citizens’ litigation with the abbot of St. Augustine’s over the manor of Langport, advancing a loan of 20s. to help towards the expenses of the case.4 Ibid. ff. 236v, 250. Meanwhile, in 1432 he had been elected to serve as one of the burgesses in the Parliament summoned to meet at Westminster on 12 May. Both he and his fellow MP, Richard Prat I*, received wages for 72 days, covering the 68 days the session lasted and four days spent travelling.5 Ibid. f. 218v.

Not all of Billyngton’s activities were so reputable. In February 1426, during his first term as bailiff, he and his colleague, Richard Cutler, had led a mob of armed citizens into the cathedral during mass in an attempt to capture a foreign goldsmith, indicted for theft, who had sought sanctuary after escaping from the city gaol. The thief hid in the already constructed tomb of Archbishop Chichele, from whence he was dragged into the nave by Billyngton and the mob. Only the resistance of the archbishop’s commissary and some of the monks forced them to release their prisoner and retire, although they threatened to indict the prior of Christ Church and others in the King’s court. The riot was reported to Chichele, who ordered an inquiry which resulted in the bailiffs being compelled to do a public penance for violating the cathedral.6 Literae Cantuarienses ed. Sheppard, iii. 146-8. An even more serious charge was brought against Billyngton in Michaelmas term 1427: a man from Huntingdonshire, turning King’s approver, appealed him of treason, claiming that in July 1426 at his house in Canterbury he had asserted that the realm would be better served if the King and his uncles were put to death. However, the justices clearly doubted the charge, for on his appearance in the King’s bench Billyngton was committed to the custody of John Sheldwich* and John Pirie* of Canterbury, and a few months later found not guilty.7 KB27/666, rex rot. 39d. Even so, three cases brought against Billyngton as bailiff further suggest that his honesty and probity were not always beyond question. He and his fellow bailiff of 1428-9, William Rose*, were later accused of allowing Sheldwich falsely to obtain £10 as a mainprise for a prisoner held in the city’s gaol.8 C1/9/412. In 1439, again with his fellow bailiff, William Atwode, he allegedly held a clerk prisoner on a false charge, only agreeing to release him on the payment of a fine of 6s. 8d. More seriously, on 15 Sept. that year the same two bailiffs were accused of extortion before royal commissioners led by Geoffrey Lowther* and William Haute*: they had prevented one man from selling victuals, illegally seized meat belonging to another and extorted 3d. or 4d. every Tuesday from each of the city’s fishmongers. These allegations came to the attention of the barons of the Exchequer and Billyngton and Atwode each paid a fine of 20s. in Easter term 1441.9 E13/141, rot. 9; E159/216, recorda Easter rot. 25; 217, fines Easter.

Billyngton was re-elected as bailiff for a final time at Michaelmas 1444 but fell ill soon afterwards. On 29 Dec. he died, his place as bailiff being taken by William Chilton* a few days later.10 Chron. John Stone ed. Searle, 36; chamberlains’ accts. FA 1, f. 302. He had made his will on 21 Nov., naming as his executors a fellow jurat, Simon Morle, and William Bygge, a freeman who would later serve as jurat, chamberlain and mayor, while William Benet* was appointed overseer. Billyngton asked to be buried in his parish church of All Saints to which he left ten marks for the purchase of a breviary and £10 towards new bells. Like many other prominent citizens, he also left sums of money to the various religious houses in the city, in his case including £10 towards ‘le dortour’ of the Greyfriars. Household stuff from his hall and chamber, along with several pieces of jewelry and £20 in cash, were left to his widow, although he asked his executors to sell the remainder of his goods and distribute the proceeds among the poor. Besides property in All Saints’ parish, the will also mentioned a tenement called ‘Le Swan’ in St. Mary’s Bredman and holdings elsewhere in Kent at Sandwich and Tennington. Billyngton instructed his feoffees to deliver his property in Canterbury to his widow within a year and day of his death, while that in Tennington was to go to Thomas Langnase, possibly his servant. After his widow’s death his lands in Canterbury and elsewhere were to be sold for the benefit of the souls of Billyngton and members of his family. Probate was granted on 13 Jan. 1445.11 Lambeth Palace Lib., Reg. Stafford, f. 125. In July that year Morle and Bygge sought permission before the bailiffs of Canterbury to sell the remainder of Billyngton’s possessions in Canterbury and elsewhere and distribute the proceeds to the city’s poor in accordance with his testamentary provisions.12 Canterbury city recs., burghmote reg. 1298-1503, CCA-CC-O/A/1, f. 45.