He alleged that the defendant had taken
down the door post of the tavern and also of the shop, the boarded
door of a partition of the tavern, a seat in the tavern, a
plastered partition wall, the stone flooring in the chamber, the
hearth of the kitchen, and the mantelpiece above it, a partition
in the kitchen, two doors and other partitions, of a total value
of 21s. four pounds, 1s. 8d., and to his damage, 400s. [20
pounds]. The defendant denied the trespass and put himself on the
country. Afterwards a jury [panel]... found the defendant guilty
of the aforesaid trespass to the plaintiff's damage, 40d. Judgment
was given for that amount and a fine of 1s. to the King, which the
defendant paid immediately in court."
The innkeeper's duty to safeguard the person and property of his
lodgers was applied in this case:
"John Trentedeus of Southwark was summoned to answer William
Latymer touching a plea why, whereas according to the law and
custom of the realm of England, innkeepers who keep a common inn
are bound to keep safely by day and by night without reduction or
loss men who are passing through the parts where such inns are and
lodging their goods within those inns, so that, by default of the
innkeepers or their servants, no damage should in any way happen
to such their guests ...
On Monday after the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary
in the fourth year of the now King by default of the said John,
certain malefactors took and carried away two small portable
chests with 533s.
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