Petition from William Bell accusing Simon Whixley and others of false accusation, imprisonment and taking of bonds
The petitioner complains that Whixley, Agland, Pomifreit, Golding, Cotingham, and the most part of the commons of the city of York, after the rising of the commons of Kent and Essex, accused the petitioner that he was assistant to John de Guisborough in the prosecution made to the king of various insults made to them in the time that he was mayor of the city. By colour of this and without cause or due process of the law, they imprisoned the petitioner on Thursday 20th June 1381 until 29th June, along with other worthy men of the city, until they agreed to pay great sums of money, and forced them to make bonds of statute merchant against their will. He asks that these bonds be cancelled, and that he be able to return to the city without fearing for his life.
