On 23 March 1366, Thomas Bunny brought a bill to the following effect: In June 1362 he had bound himself by an indenture to serve a certain Thomas Rose, sheathmaker, for four years. During this term his master sold his estate in the complainant to one Joan Hunt, who kept stews [brothels] on the far side of London Bridge. This woman set the complainant to all manner of grievous work, such as carrying water in tubs, and while thus employed he fell down and received a permanent injury. Further, she incited a certain Bernard, who was then her lover, to beat and ill-treat him, and when Thomas fell sick from ill-usage she turned him out of the establishment to his great damage. Later, when he was able to work a little, his mistress wanted him to return and carry out his covenant, but she was unwilling to make amends herself. He prayed a remedy. [French]
The said Joan having been summoned and being unable to deny the truth of the bill, the Court adjudged that the complainant should be exonerated from his service and that neither Joan nor her executors should have any further claim on him.
Calendar of London Plea and Memoranda Rolls 1364-1381, p. 54
