Bristol Town Duties. A collection
of
original and interesting
documents.
Origin of the Grant of the Town of
Bristol.
On consulting our early Historians we find, that for the most
part English Towns were originally Royal demesnes, wherein,
although the Barons, Earls, and other great men were allowed
to appropriate a certain description of lands and tenements for
the use of their vassals, yet that the major part of the inhabitants of towns and villages, held immediately under the King,
paid all tolls, quit rents, and heriots to his Officer, and were
under the government of a Reeve or Bailiff. Whatever has
been written concerning Bristol before the reign of William the
Conqueror, it is authentically recorded, that in his time, it
was as absolute a Royal demesne as any town in England, and
it so continued during the King's life, who dying in 1087, his
son William, surnamed Rufus, succeeded him, who confirmed
the honor of Gloucester on Robert Fitz Hamon, son of Hamon,
Lord of Corboile, in Normandy, as a reward for the many
services he had rendered his late father, as will be seen in the
following style in the Charters, which were granted him, viz.:—
'Sir Robert Fitz Hamon, by the Grace of God, Prince of
Glamorgan, Earl of Corboile, Baron of Thorigny and Granville, Lord of Gloucester, Bristol, Tewksbury, and Cardiff,
Conqueror of Wales, near kinsman of the King, and General
of his Highness's Army in France.' Some time after this,
Robert Fitz Hamon married Sybilla, by whom he had four
daughters, which continues his history until the retaking of
Falaize, in Normandy, when he received a wound in the head,
of which he died in March, 1107. After this event it appears,
the King was unwilling that so great an estate, as the Honor of
Gloucester, should be divided amongst daughters, and that accordingly, he gave Mabile, the eldest of them, to wife to his
natural son Robert, and afterwards created him first Consul and
Earl of Gloucester. It was this Prince who rebuilt Bristol
Castle, and gave every tenth stone towards the building of a
Chapel to the Virgin Mary, in the Priory of St. James's, which
he had founded. He died in October, 1147, and was buried in
the Choir of St. James's Priory; he left four sons and one
daughter; the eldest son, William, succeeded him in the honor
of Gloucester, and married Hawise, daughter of the Earl of
Leicester, and founded the Abbey of Keynsham, and was
buried there in 1183, leaving three daughters; upon which
King Richard bestowed Avisa, the youngest of them, and with
her the Earldom of Gloucester, and Lordship of Tewksbury,
&c. on his brother, John, Earl of Moreton, afterwards King of
England. Soon after the accession of John to the Crown,
having no issue, he divorced himself from Avisa, and in 1213,
he gave her in marriage to Geoffry de Mandeville, Earl of
Essex, while he retained the Town of Bristol and the Gloucester Estate in his own hands, which, upon his decease, were
taken possession of by his son, Henry 3.
In 1227, the 11th of Henry 3, the Men of Bristol are recorded to have paid a fine of £245. a-year, for the Farm of the
Town of Bristol, for the term of eight years; during the
existence of which, the following curious circumstance is
recorded, viz—that in the year 1230, the Bailiffs were served
with the King's mandate, directing them to allow to his relation, Eleanor, out of the rent of the Farm of the Town, one
robe of scarlet and a garment of pale silk, &c.
In the next century, the Farm of the Town was demised successively to different persons, viz.—26th Henry 3, for twenty
years, to his men of Bristol; 18th Edward 2, to Hugh le Despencer, at a rent of £210. per annum; 4th Edward 3, at a
rent of £240. per annum; 7th Edward 3, for ten years, at £150.
per annum; 45th and 47th Edward 3, to Walter de Derby;
1st Richard 2, to John Woodrow, for two years; and in the
18th year of the same King it was demised for twelve years, at
£100. per annum. After which, Henry 4, on his marriage with
Johanna, in June, in the 4th year of his reign, settled upon her,
amongst other things, the £100. payable for the Farm, and
£20. for the rent of the Flesh Shambles, which the following
documents will explain.
Amongst the Records of the Court of Chancery, preserved in
the Tower of London, to wit, on the Patent Roll for the
4th year of the reign of King Henry IV, part 2, membrane
1. is contained thus:—
The King, to all to whom, &c. greeting. Know ye, that,
whereas, on account of the very great love and sincere affection
which we have and bear towards the person of our dear consort,
Johanna, Queen of England, of our special grace, lately we have
granted to our same consort, ten thousand marks, to be received annually at our Exchequer, for the whole of her life,
at the Terms of Easter and Saint Michael, by equal portions,
or until the time that we shall have provided for our said
consort out of lands, tenements, rents, or other possessions,
to the value aforesaid per annum, to hold for the term of her
life, in the name of dower, or dowry, or otherwise. Of our
especial grace we have granted to our same consort, certain
castles, manors, lands, tenements, customs, farms, towns, and
other places, and possessions to a certain value, in part satisfaction and abatement of the ten thousand marks aforesaid,
to hold in part of her dower, or dowry aforesaid, as in our
letters patent thereof made more fully, is contained. We,
because that we have been informed, that our letters aforesaid,
as to the grant of the castles, manors, lands, tenements, and
other places and possessions aforesaid, for that by the common
law of our kingdom of England, and by the rolls, memoranda,
records, and evidences remaining in our Exchequer, being of
little worth and of none effect, they were not able in the same
Exchequer to make allowance, and a great part of the same
they have not granted to our same consort. Of our special
grace, at the request of our said consort, and because that she
hath restored unto our Chancery, to be cancelled, our said
letters, as to the castles, manors, and other places, matters,
and possessions aforesaid, we have granted to our said consort,
fifty pounds, seventeen shillings and six-pence per annum of
the farm of the town of Ipswich; the hundreds of Bosmere
and Claydon, in the county of Suffolk, after the value of £20.
per annum; the customs of whatsoever goods (fn. 1) and merchandises
brought into our kingdom of England, and taken out from the
same kingdom, (wool, leather, and wool fells only excepted) to
us due, or in any way to us and our heirs hereafter belonging or
appertaining in the port of the town of Great Yarmouth: and
in all ports and places from thence unto Blakeney, (fn. 2) and from
that place on one part, and unto Tilbury on the other part,
to have, collect, and receive, by herself and her deputies, to
the value of two hundred pounds per annum, which lately
were in the hands of George Felbryg, Knight; the Castle of
Bristol, with all those lands and tenements, and the flesh-shambles which belonged to Anne, late Queen of England, in the town
of Bristol, after the value of £20. per annum; the Farm of
£100. per annum of the town of Bristol, with the houses, shops,
cottages, stalls, tofts, gardens, mills, pools, tyne of the Castle,
rents, landgable tolls, pleas of courts, fairs, markets, and all
other jurisdictions, customs, and appurtenants of the town
aforesaid, and suburbs of the same, which the Mayor and Commonalty of the same town were bound to render annually to
us and our heirs for the same town, which town Lord Richard,
the 2nd after the Conquest, late King of England, on the 18th
day of February, in the 18th year of his reign, committed or
granted, by his letters patent, to the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty, to have and to hold, to them and their successors,
from the Feast of Saint Michael, then last past, unto the end
of twelve years, then next following, and fully to be completed;
rendering, therefore, annually to the aforesaid late King, one
hundred pounds, at the Terms of Easter and Saint Michael,
by equal portions, and the reversion of the same town, when it
should happen, and with all the shops, cottages, stalls, tofts,
gardens, mills, pools, tyne of the castle, rents, landgable tolls,
pleas of courts, fairs, and markets, and all other jurisdictions,
customs and appurtenants of the town aforesaid, and suburbs
of the same, with the appurtenants after the aforesaid term.
Among the Records in the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer's
Office, in the Exchequer, in the 13th year of the reign of
King Henry 6th, Roll 6th, there is as follows:—
Whereas, Lord Henry the 4th, late King of England, by
his letters patent, here enrolled in the Exchequer of records,
dated the 4th day of June, in the 4th year of his reign, amongst
other things, in his letters patent contained, granted to Joan,
Queen of England, his consort, during her life, the castle and
town of Bristol, with divers tenements, the flesh-shambles, in
the same town, which were extended per annum at one hundred
and twenty pounds, to have and to hold, to his same consort, in
part of her dower, or dowry, at the value aforesaid. And afterwards the same late King, by a certain other his Charter here
enrolled in the Exchequer of record, dated the 26th day of June,
in the said 4th year, amongst other things, in the same Charter
contained, granted for himself, and his heirs, to the aforesaid
Johanna, Queen of England, his consort, that she should have
for the whole term of her life, in all and singular, the castles,
lordships and manors, towns, lands, and tenements; also in all
other places, to her, by the same late King, assigned, in dower,
or otherwise, for the term of her life. The same Queen afterwards, by licence of the aforesaid late King Henry, by a
certain indenture, dated the 20th day of November, in the 10th
year of the reign of the aforesaid late King Henry, which the
same late King Henry confirmed by his Charter; amongst other
things in the same indenture contained, granted to John Fyssher,
then Mayor, and to the Commonalty of the said town of Bristol, and to their successors, during the life of her, the Queen, to
be delivered to the bailiffs and officers of the same Mayor and
Commonalty, and their successors, for the whole life of the
aforesaid Queen, by the hands of the Sheriff of the county and
town of Bristol, and their successors, Sheriffs of the same, for
the time being, which same grants the present Lord, the King,
by his letters patent, dated the 12th day of January, in the 1st
year of his reign, hath granted and confirmed to the aforesaid
Mayor and Commonalty of the said town of Bristol, and their
successors, to hold in the form aforesaid.'
On the death of Queen Johanna, in the beginning of July,
1437, at Havering, in Essex, the Farm of the Town of Bristol
reverted to the King; and Clement Bagot, Mayor and Escheator,
rendered, in consequence, at the Exchequer, an Account of
the Receipts of the Town, which plainly shows what the
Revenues consisted of.
Among the Records in the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer's
Office, in the Exchequer, there is found as follows:—
Bristol,: Rental of the Stalls of the Lord the King in the
town of Bristol, made in the time of Clement
Bagot, Mayor, Thomas Hore, and Thomas Balle, Bailiffs
of the town of Bristol (to wit) from the Feast of Saint
Michael the Archangel, in the 16th year of the reign of
King Henry VI, after the Conquest of England to the
same feast in the then next following year, for the whole
year:—
|
| "The First Range. |
| | s. | d. |
| Of John Toppe, for one stall there | | 10 | 0 |
| Of Richard Priour, for one stall there | | 8 | 0 |
| Of another stall there | | 6 | 0 |
| Of John Newman and John Hoby, for two stalls for
selling fish | | 6 | 8 |
| The Second Range. |
| Of the same John Newman and John Hobe, for two
other stalls for selling fish | | 6 | 8 |
| For another stall there | | 4 | 0 |
| Of Dionisius Bowcher, for one stall | | 5 | 0 |
| Of John Bertram, for one stall | | 8 | 0 |
| The Third Range. |
| Of Walter Southmede, for one stall | | 24 | 0 |
| Of John Badren, for one stall | | 16 | 0 |
| Of Richard Lucas, for one stall | | 12 | 0 |
| Of William Burye, for one stall | | 10 | 0 |
| For another stall, vacant for the whole year | | 0 | 0 |
| Fourth Range. |
| Of Richard Walshe, for one stall | | 7 | 0 |
| Of Simone Canyngs, for one stall | | 10 | 0 |
| Of Thomas Southmede, for one stall | | 10 | 0 |
| Of William Pascowe, for one stall | | 16 | 0 |
| Of Nicholas Nete, for one stall | | 16 | 0 |
| Fifth Range. |
| Of John Bedelle, for one stall | | 20 | 0 |
| Of Richard Belle, for one cellar under aforesaid,
and for one stall | | 16 | 0 |
| Of Walter Baker, for one stall | | 5 | 0 |
| Of John Coke, for one stall | | 5 | 0 |
| Of William Russell, for one stall | | 10 | 0 |
| Sixth Range. |
| Of Robert Hure, for one stall | | 5 | 0 |
| Of Thomas Singleday, for one stall | | 12 | 0 |
| Of John Goldesmyth, for one stall, which he held for
the two terms of the year aforesaid | | 5 | 0 |
| Of John Kere, for one stall | | 13 | 4 |
| Of Walter Kere, for one stall | | 13 | 4 |
| Sum total | £14 | 0 | 0 |
Bristol,: Rents of the Lord the King of the town of Bristol,
annually levied in the same town, called Landgable, in the time of Clement Bagot, Mayor of the said
Town of Bristol (to wit) from the Feast of St. Michael
the Archangel, from the 16th year of the reign of King
Henry 6th, to the same feast next following:—
|
| | s. | d. |
| Of Henry Scryven, for John Dene and Thomas Ailleward, for a certain old tenement in the Market,
which John Coton lately held | | 2 | 0 |
| Of Christian Haill, for William Drewe, for a certain
tenement which John Dyos lately held | | 3 | 0 |
| For the tenement of the Vicar of Saint Augustine's,
towards Frome | | 0 | 6 |
| Of Richard White, iremonger, for the tenement
Cokbell, which John Droys lately held | | 9 | 0 |
| Of William de Romseye, for William Atte Tolseld, for
a certain garden which John Erley lately held | | 0 | 12 |
| Of John Hobbys, for the King's garden, upon Michael's
Mount, which belonged to Christian Clerke, which
Thomas Seysell held | | 16 | 0 |
| Of Michael Dame, for a tenement and garden, which
formerly belonged to Peter the Goldsmith, which
John Gosselyn now holds in the market | | 13 | 4 |
| Of Robert Cadbury, for a tenement formerly belonging to Peter Myperty, in Wynche-street, which Lewis
Brewer now holds | | 5 | 0 |
| Of Richard Suller, for a tenement of a certain Matilda Saleier, near Frome-bridge, which Thomas
Lombaid now holds | | 12 | 0 |
| Of Joyce Reyny, for the burial ground of the Jews,
near Mount Saint Brandon, which William Cromale Coke now holds | | 2 | 0 |
| Of Alicia, the daughter of John Toller, for a certain
house and chamber near Little Lafford, which
John Fynch lately held | | 5 | 0 |
| Of Reginald Knap, for a certain garden in Horsstreete, per annum | | 2 | 0 |
| Of William Pownham, for a waste place there | | 0 | 12 |
| Of John Haill, for a certain tenement in Marsschstreete, which the Master of the Fraternity of St.
John the Baptiste now holds | | 10 | 0 |
| For the tenement of Robert de Berkeley, in Brodemede, which John Cokkes holds | | 0 | 6 |
| Of Joan Brydporte, for the corner near the High Cross,
which John Frampton, Knight, now holds | | 5 | 0 |
| Of the tenement of John Cleveden, which Henry
Aleyn holds | | 13 | 4 |
| For the tenement of Gilbert Fraunceys, for Robert
Bradeney, which Nicholas Excestre lately held | | 0 | 6 |
| Of Richard Dene and his heirs, for one tenement in
Fish-streete, which John Joye lately held | | 6 | 8 |
| For one garden, opposite the Watering-place, which
John Rederys lately held | | 2 | 0 |
| For one garden, opposite the Mendicant Brethren,
which John Bagpath now holds | | 0 | 2 |
| Of one tenement in Wynche-street, which William
Herberd holds | | 7 | 2 |
| Sum | £6 | 0 | 0 |
Landgable of the Lord the King, within the walls of
the town of Bristol, for Trinity ward, annually
levied
|
| For the tenement of Richard Tylly, for William Atte
Lane, which John Frampton, Knight, holds | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Isabella de Barry, which the aforesaid John now holds | 3 | 0¾ |
| For the tenement of Roger Cantok, called Oxenfordesyme, which John Coke holds | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Roger, which John Budde
holds | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of the Abbot of St. Augustine's, which
David Segodyn now holds | 0 | 7½ |
| For the tenement of John Pollard, for Thomas Mountsorell, which Edmund Beirden lately held | 0 | 15 |
| For the tenement of the late Walter Wynter, which
Henry Maye holds | 0 | 11 |
| For the tenement of Peter Bowyer, which Geffrey
Draper holds | 0 | 3¾ |
| Of Walter Harvy, for John Adryan, which the Master of St. John's holds | 0 | 15 |
| For the tenement of Nicholas Excestre, which William Oundy, tailor, holds | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the tenement of the same Nicholas, which Thomas
Markes holds | 0 | 7½ |
| For the tenement of the same Nicholas, for Thomas
Kenfeke, which Alan Wryngton lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the tenement of the Abbot of Malmesbury, which
Parkhous holds | 0 | 7½ |
| Of Bernard Atte Welde, for Walter Frampton, which
Mark Williams now holds | 0 | 3¾ |
| Of the same Bernard, for Geoffrey Compe, which
Richard Assch lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| Of Richard Page, for Peter Oriall, which Thomas
Baker lately held, in St. John's-street | 0 | 7½ |
| For the tenement of Walter Hervy, for Philip Tyverton, which William Fauconer now holds | 0 | 13½ |
| Of the tenement of Roger Cantok, for Thomas Castelman, which John Godeman, barbour, now holds | 0 | 0¾ |
| For the tenement of the same Roger, which John
Denys now holds | 0 | 2¾ |
| For the tenement of John Weston, for the Prioress
of Barogh, which Roger Coubet now holds | 0 | 7½ |
| For the tenement of Thomas Fyssch, which John Bullok now holds | 0 | 15 |
| For the tenement of John Weston, which John
Philipes, brewer, now holds | 0 | 7½ |
| For the tenement of the Prior of Saint James, for
James Cokkes, which Thomas Ball now holds | 0 | 15 |
| Sum | 14 | 3½ |
Division of the Blessed Mary of the Market-place:—
|
| s. | d. |
| For a tenement of the Abbot of Saint Augustine's,
which John Gosselyn now holds | 0 | 4 |
| For a tenement of the same Abbot, which Roger Merston now holds | 0 | 4¾ |
| For a tenement of the same Abbot, which John Heddon lately held | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Abbot, which the aforesaid John, lately held in Wynch-street | 0 | 7 |
| For a tenement of the same Abbot, which Laurence
Coteler now holds | 0 | 7½ |
| For the tenement of John Stephenys, of Gloucester,
which Thomas Ricard, smith, now holds | 0 | 7½ |
| For the tenement of Ade Beauston, which Robert
Herberd now holds | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Thomas Tenbaud, which John
Marschfeld, the bruere, holds | 0 | 11¼ |
| For a tenement of Simone de Ely, which the same
John holds | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of the Abbot of St. Augustine's, for
John Legrave, which Geoffry Held now holds | 0 | 15 |
| For the tenement of the same Abbot, which John —
now holds | 0 | 3¾ |
| For of the sister of Dionisius Lanford | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the tenement of Richard Horncastell, which John
Monke holds, in High-street | 0 | 7½ |
| For the tenement of John Kerdyf, for Alicia Monster,
now there is one garden, which William Frome
lately held | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Thomas London, of Excestre, which
William Fryscton lately held of Thomas Brak | 0 | 7½ |
| Of Richard Welle, for Henry Adryan, which James
Cokke held | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of John Tyke, for Thomas Cordaner | 0 | 7½ |
| Of the Abbot of St. Augustine's, which Thomas Chandeler held | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Richard Calne, for John Legrave,
which John Nabbe holds | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of John Trumbell, for John Porteshede | 0 | 1 |
| For a tenement of John Atte Welle, for Simon Adryan, which Bernard Brewer lately held | 0 | 0½ |
| For a tenement of Robert Tavenor, for Adam Bucton,
which Thomas Castelman, brewer, now holds | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of William Coke, which Simon Olyver
lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the tenement of Richard Welle, for Henry Caume,
which Elizabeth Vyell lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the tenement of William Coke, for the tenement
of John Monachie, which Reginald Tavener lately
held | 0 | 7½ |
| For the tenement of Richard Calne, for William
Cordvaner, which John Gower now holds | 0 | 3¾ |
| Sum | 14 | 2½ |
Landgable of the Division of All-Saints:—
|
| s. | d. |
| For a tenement of the Master of St. Laurence, which
John Asshton lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the tenement of John Horncastell, which John
Tornor, mason, held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the tenement of a certain Margarete Cantak, which
Mabillia Bond held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Simon de Ely, which Henry Tyler,
bruer, lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the tenement of Ely Pye, for Walter Haill, which
Thomas Williams lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the tenement of Robert Dapperly, for Henry
Calne, which Nicholas Febyan held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the tenement of the Prior of St. James, which
Philip Excestre holds | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Richard Tylly, which Edward
Goldsmyth holds | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Richard, which Walter
Gylas lately held | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Richard, which Thomas
Crosseman lately held | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Edward Frensch and Richard Tylly,
for Thomas Kenseke, which William Frome
lately held | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of William de la More, for John
Fable, which Philip Goulde holds | 0 | 11½ |
| For a tenement of Richard Tylly, which Walter
Gylas lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of William Hasfeld, for Adam Wynton,
which the aforesaid Walter held | 0 | 3¾ |
| Of John Cleve, for Adam de Wynton, which the aforesaid Walter held | 0 | 3½ |
| For a tenement of the same John, for Peter Martre,
which the aforesaid Walter held | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Walter Wyght, for Agness Haill,
lately held | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Cecilie Clerke there | 0 | 7¾ |
| For a tenement of Robert Smyth, which Simon Canynges lately held | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of William Daxe, which John Somervyle lately held | 0 | 7½ |
| Of Philip Swayne, for Simon de Beryton, which Thomas Clerke lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Robert Passer, for Geoffrey Stele,
which Auketyll Moyne lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of the same Robert, for the same
Geoffrey | 0 | 3¾ |
| For the Chantry of Richard Spicer, for four messuages
and three shops, upon the back Abbone, which the
Chaplains of the same Chantry hold | 0 | 12 |
| For a tenement of Thomas Updiche, which John
Castel lately held | 0 | 12 |
| For a tenement of Richard Wodehull, which Henry
Roper lately held | 0 | 7 |
| For a tenement of John Romney, which Thomas
Roper lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Hugh Payn, for Peter Martre, which
John Clowde lately held | 0 | 7½ |
| Far a tenement in the Corner, which William Chestre
now holds | 0 | 1½ |
| Sum | 15 | 4 |
Landgable of the Division of St. Anthony:—
|
| Of the Prior of Bradley, for two shops near the church
of St. Andrew, which Nicholas Taillour now holds | 0 | 2½ |
| Of a tenement of John Haule, for Johanna Lydeard,
which John Marle holds | 0 | 12½ |
| For a tenement of the said John, for the said Johanna,
which Hugh Hunte holds | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of John Dount, for Walter Pollard,
which William Atte Reven lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Thomas Russell, for Robert Bawdeney, which John Sheipard lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Alexander Boufaunt, for Robert
Bawdeney | 0 | 3¾ |
| Of Gervais Kruy, for John Snowe, which John Barstoke held | 0 | 3¾ |
| Of Henry Longe, for William Wylde, which William
Cary lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of the Church of St. Werburge, which
Walter Milton lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Richard Edmund, for William
Kerdyf, which John Excestre holds | 0 | 3½ |
| For a tenement of the same Richard, for the same
William | 0 | 2 |
| For a tenement of the same Richard, for the said
William | 0 | 2 |
| For a tenement of Stephen Monstephen, for Richard
Joevene, which John Fulbrooke lately held, opposite the Church of St. Laurence | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Wyburgh, for Simone Portour, which
Hugh Hunte lately held in Smal-streete | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of John Godeman, for John Lydeard,
which Walter Saymour held | 0 | 3½ |
| For a tenement of the same John, for the said Johanna | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Roger Beausflour, for the said
Johanna, which John Canynges held | 0 | 11¼ |
| For a tenement of Thomas Grave, which Stephen Beke
lately held | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of Philip Wodeward, which Henry
Spelly held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Thomas Romeney, which Richard
Puryton held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of John Atte Leler, for Gilbert
Spicer, which Walter Frampton lately held | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of Hugh Turtle, in Brod streete, which
Edmund Arthur lately held | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of Peter Fraunceys, in Brod streete,
which lately Thomas Erle held | 0 | 5 |
| For a tenement of the same Peter, for the same Isabella, which Robert Meade held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of the same Peter, for the said Isabella,
which John Langton held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of the same Peter, for the said Isabella,
which John Brugwater lately held | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of John de Romney, for Joan Lydeard | 0 | 5 |
| For a tenement of Roger Tornor, for Roger Cantok,
which John Fowen, held | 0 | 3¾ |
| Sum | 14 | 8½ |
Landgable of the Lord the King without the walls of the town
of Bristol:—
|
| For a tenement of the Abbot of St. Augustine's, which
William Selewode holds | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of William Portour, formerly of
William de Cordarye | | 0 | 10 |
| For a tenement of John London, which William Pomfret lately held | | 0 | 20 |
| For the tenement of Hugh Langbrugge, which the
Chantry of Edward le Frenche now holds | | 0 | 10 |
| For the tenement of Michael Whittawer, for Walter
Hoker | | 0 | 10 |
| For the tenement of John Warre, tannator, in Brod
meade | | 0 | 10 |
| For the tenement of the said John, for a debt to Walter | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same John, for Geoffrey Stoke | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Henry Shipman, which John Devenyssh held | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of the Abbot of Saint Augustine's,
which Thomas Botener held | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of Walter Polleville, which John Vyell
holds | | 0 | 6½ |
| For a tenement of William Whyte, which John Cleve
lately held | | 0 | 18 |
| For a tenement of Thomas Roper, which Hugh Carleton lately held, now it is a great garden | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of Edithe Swetyng, which the Prioress
of Brogh holds | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of Richard Tylly, which Edmund Arthur held | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of St. John's in le Redelond | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of William Gylmyn, Clerk, which the
Abbot of Moreton holds | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of Roger Dapperly, which the Prior
of the Kalendaries holds | | 0 | 7 |
| For a tenement of William de Stapilton, which the
Prioress of Brogh holds | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of William Haill, which John Vyell
holds | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of Walter Midcorne, which the Procurators of the Church of the Holy Trinity holds | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the Prior of St. James | | 0 | 3¾ |
| Of Roger Wylde, for a tenement of the Blessed Mary
Magdalene, which John Combe held | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of William Taillor, which Hugh Carleton holds, in Irichmede | | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Geoffrey Fraunceys, for Alan Wryngton, now William More holds | | 0 | 15½ |
| For a tenement of Nicholas Roulgh, which Hugh
Carleton holds | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of Thomas Updiche, which the Mendicant Brethren hold | | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of the same Thomas, for the same
Brethren | | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of the same Thomas, for the same
Brethren | | 0 | 0¾ |
| For a tenement of the same Thomas, for the said
Brethren | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Thomas, for the same
Brethren | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Thomas, for the same
Brethren | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Thomas, for the same
Brethren | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Thomas, for the same
Brethren | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Thomas, for the same
Brethren | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the Master of St. Laurence, which
Nicholas Netherbury lately held | | 0 | 3¾ |
| For a tenement of Richard Calne, which John Caudeny lately held | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Stephen Vye, which the Procurators of the Chapel upon the Bridge Abbone held | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Philip Kerwent, which Thomas
Wellyngton now holds | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Thomas Dygell, which John Clyve
held | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Thomas, for the said John | | 0 | 5 |
| For a tenement of the same Thomas, for the said John | | 0 | 2½ |
| For a tenement of the Abbot of Saint Augustine's,
which Thomas Boteler now holds | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of Henry Shipman, which William
Worcestre, senior held | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Henry, for Robert Snake | | 0 | 7 |
| For a tenement of the same Henry, for the same
Robert | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of John Daxbrigge, which Yevan Fluyt
holds | | 0 | 15 |
| For a tenement of Roger Turtle, which William Warmystre held | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Roger, for the same
William | | 0 | 7½ |
| For a tenement of the same Roger, for John Aillward | | 0 | 15 |
| Sum | | 41 | 6 |
| Sum total | £11 | 0 | 0½ |
Bristol.: Customs arising from divers merchandizes, being
in ships and boats at Bristol, in the time of Clement Bagot, Mayor and Escheator there, from the Feast
of Saint Michael the Archangel, of the 16th year of
King Henry the 6th, unto the same feast next following:
A boat called the James, of Padestow, Ralph Coke, master;
John Thomas hath in the same 13 pieces of tin.—Customs, 4s. 4d.
Free A ship called the Trinity, of Waterford, Nicholas Deveros,
master; Walter Grant hath 300 lamb skins, 100 goat skins, 100
sheep skins, 3 dozen of cloths.; John Rodeth, of Kilkenny, 22
hundred of linen cloths, 200 lamb skins, 100 goat skins.—
Customs, 5s. 10½d,
Free A ship called the Mary, of Bristol, Thomas Hawley, master,
for going out; Nicholas Skeret, of Galway, 21 dozen and a
half of cloths; also 22 dozen.—Customs 21½d.
A boat called the Mary Boat, of Kinsale, John Gough,
master; John Water hath in the same 6 barrels of herrings;
James Barrell 200 hake in the same.—Customs, 2s. 4d.
A ship called the Saint Mary Boat, of Kinsale, John Gough,
master, for going out; John Water hath in the same 6 dozen
of cloth.—Customs, 3d.
A ship called the Mary, of Mulford, John Dattes, master;
William Chapman hath 10 barrels of salt.—Customs, 2½d.
A boat called the Mary boat, of Kinsale, Richard Russell,
master; Nicholas Mayowe, 12 barrels of herrings, 400 hake,
half a hundred of fish called Myldell, 1 hogshead of salmon.—
Customs, 2s. 9½d.
A ship called the Mary, of Russh, John Maddoc, Master, and
hath one hundred and a half of linen cloths.—Customs, 1½d.
A boat called the James, of Saint Ive, Thomas Rafe, master;
John Adam, 3 cloths of frize, 100 sheep skins.—Customs, 5d.
A boat called the Mary, of Carmarthen, John Jones, master;
David Walter, 7 cloths of frize.—Customs, 7d.
A ship called the Mary, of Bayon, Myngenon Mounson, master, and hath 2 ton of iron and 5 ton of wine.—Customs, 5s.
A ship called the Mary, of Kinsale, Richard Russell, master,
for going out; Nicholas Mayodes, of Kinsale, 20 dozen of
cloths, 1 pipe of honey, 1 pipe of meath; Nicholas Talour, 3
dozen of cloth.—Customs, 14½d.
A boat called the Dewsare, of Milford, Walter Cyria, master,
and hath 8 barrels of herrings.—Customs, 3s.
Nothing A ship called the James, of Rephulle, John Perys, master.
Free Nothing A ship called the George, of Tynby, John Edeeyn, master;
John Brokede, of Bridgenorth, 6 barrels of herrings, 6 barrels of hides.
Nothing A boat called the Mary Boat, of Kensale, David Devynish,
master;
Free Nicholas Devenysh, 2 barrels of herrings, 800 hake, 1 hogshead
of oil, half a hundred of fish—
Free John Atte Dede, 2 barrels of herrings, 500 hake, half a
hundred fish—
Free John Streynsam, 400 hake, 100 fish—
Free: Also Nicholas Devonysh, 500 hake—
Nicholas Mayowe, of Kinsale, 16 barrels of herrings, 1 hogshead of sayme, 200 and half of sheep skins, 200 of lamb skins, 3
dickers of leather of deer, 500 hake, 1 weigh of onions.—Customs, 9s.
A boat called the Mary Boat, of Kinsale, Luke Yard, master; John AtteWoode, 5 barrels of herrings; Nicholas Mayowe,
10 barrels of herrings; John Caron, 15 barrels, 200 sheep skins,
one weigh and a half of onions, one quarter of hake.—Customs, 7s. 8d.
Free: A ship called the Catherine, of Tynby, Thomas Taylor,
master; John Stowe, of Berkeley, 12 barrels of salt.—Customs, 3d.
A ship called the Edmond, of Blakeney, Thomas Shether,
master; and hath in the same 12 last and a half of fish, 4 barrels of sayme; William de Droghedd, 100 of calabars.—Customs, 31s. 2½d.
A ship called the George, of Younghull, John Ketyng, master; James Nash, of Calan, 4 pipe of salmon, 800 sheep skins,
1,100 lamb skins, 900 of goats', 300 of hares,' 2 dickers of deer
skins, half a pipe of salmon; Richard Walse, 1,200 sheep
skins. 100 lamb skins, 700 goat skins, 100 of Hares'; Philip
Nongle, 200 sheep skins, 400 lamb skins, 200 goat skins, three
dickers of leather; 100 hake; Thomas Strody, 1,300 sheep
skins, 600 lamb skins, 400 goat skins, 100 of hares', half a hundred of fowyns, 400 of linen cloth, 9 stone of floxes; Thomas
Knynob, 4½ pipe of salmon, 300 sheep skins, 100½ of lamb
skins, 600 of goats, 6 stone of floxes, 1 kyp of hare skins;
Walter Hygon, 300 sheep skins, 500 of lambs, 200 goat skins,
100 of hares', half of — and squirrils—
di Cs.: John Gregory, 30 hundred of linen cloths, 800 skins, 800 goat
skins, 400 sheep skins, 2 pipe of salmon.—Customs, 17s. 6½d.
A boat called the Katherine, of Mynhedd, John White, master.
and hath 6 barrels of herrings.—Customs, 12d.
A ship called the Mary, of Russh, Mychell Byrford, master,
and John Festam, 3 last and half of herrings, 3 horses, 500 of fish,
2 dickers of hides, 100 stock fish.—Customs, 5s. 5d.
A boat, called the Mary, of Kinsale, David de Devenysh,
master, for going out, and hath 15 cwt. of iron; Nicholas
Mayowe, half a pack of cloth, 1 hogshead of Meath.—Customs, 20¾d.
A ship called the Mary, of Kinsale, Luke Yard, master; for
going out; John Caron, 18 dozen of cloths, 1 pipe of honey,
half a hundred of alom.—Customs, 11d.
A boat called the Katherine, of Kinsale, James Perrot, master; William Croke, 35 barrels of herrings, 100½ hake, one
weigh of fish; Nicholas Mayowe, 7 barrels of herrings; Richard Fleming. 1 pipe of honey.—Customs, 7s. 10d.
di Cs.: A ship called the Catherine, of Durbarsilond, John Cotterel,
master; John Archer, 522 sheep skins, 700 lamb skins, 700 goat
skins, 100 lamb skins, half a hundred of goat skins, 700 rabbit
skins, 200 and a half hare skins, 3 dozen of foxes and fowyns
skins, 300 and a half of squirrels 20lb. of wax, half a hundred of scrof, 13 hundred of linen cloth, 3 dickers of deer
skins, 5 weigh and a half of tallow, 201 quarters of sheep skins,
half a hundred of black lamb skins, half of goats, half a hundred of hare skins, 3,000 of linen cloths, 400 of sheep skins, 200
and a half of black lamb skins, and half a hundred of goats, 100
of hare skins, half a hundred of squirrels and foxes.
di Cs.: Thomas Mounstie, of Kilkenny, 3 pipe of salmon, 1,600 sheep
skins, 6 dickers of deer skins, 3,000 of linen cloths.—Customs, 9s. 2½d.
A ship called the Leonard, of Limerick, Morrice Adonnell,
master; Simon Taylor, 500 of linen cloths; David Brown, of
Kilkenny—.—.—Customs, 5d.—
David Brown, of Kilkenny, 300 sheep skins, 4 weigh of tallow,
30lbs. of wax, 1 pipe of salmon.—Customs, 6¾d.
A ship called the Peter, of Holme de Insula Humana, John
Perys, master, and hath a last of herrings in a barrel; 1 pipe 1
mease and a half of red herrings; Mac Alwyn, 4 lasts of herrings,
in barrels, 7 mease and a half of herrings; Peter Mark, 2 lasts
of herrings, 1 bot of salmon, 5 meis of red herrings; Manus
Leving, 1 barrel of herrings; Thomas de Leather-lond, half a
last of herrings, and 1 meis of red herrings; Patrick Macuser, 2
meis of red herrings; Daniel —, 1 meis of herrings.—
Customs, 15s. 11¾d.
A boat called the Mary, of Youghell, William Heynes, master; Nicholas Devynish, 1 pipe of salmon, 100; Richard
Hatty, 8 pipe of salmon and a half, 500 sheep skins, 800 lamb
skins of goats, 100 goat skins, 100 sheep skins, 300 sheep skins,
300 lamb skins; Thomas Fleming, 2 pipes of salmon, 800 hake,
400 barrels of herrings, half a hundred of fish; Richard Evat,
2 pipe of salmon, 600 sheep skins, 200 lamb skins, 100 goat
skins.—Customs, 11s. 2½d.
A ship called the Mary, of Russh, for going out; John Festam hath 2 ton of iron; the master hath 1 pipe of iron, 1 hundred of pitch.—Customs, 4s. 3d.
A boat called the Mary of Younghall, William —, master, for going out; John Dealth, 33 dozen of cloths; Thomas
Fleming, 21 dozen of cloths, 1 pipe of iron; Theobald Christopher, 15 dozen of cloths, 4 gross of cutlery; Richard Evans,
1 pipe of iron, 5 cloths, 1 gross of cutlery.—Customs, 5s. 1d.
di Cs.: A ship called the Catherine, of Durbeslond, John Coteral,
master; John —, 1 ton of iron; John Archer, 3 ton of
iron.—Customs, 4s. 2d.
A boat called the Trinity, of Mount Michael, William
Power, master, and hath 200 haddock; Edy Caron, 300 and a
half of hake and haddock.
di Cs.: A ship called the George, of Waterford, Thomas Martell,
Master; Foco Comerford, 2 pipe of salmon; Thomas Maunt,
2,000 sheep skins, 100 of linen cloths, 5 dickers of leather, 100
hare skins, 500 sheep skins, 200 lamb skins, 500 rabbit skins—
John Roche, of Kylkenny, 1,500 of linen cloth, 100 and a half
of sheep skins, 200 of squirrels, and 200 of rabbit skins, half
a hundred of hare skins, 40 lbs. of wax; Thomas Mount, for
going out, 2 ton of iron, 20 dozen of cloths; 1,000 of —;
Foco Comerford, 1 pipe of iron, 5 dozen of Cloths.—Customs,
11s. 6¼d.
Free: A ship, called the Mary, of Waterford, Morrice Loran,
Master; Thomas Craven, 700 sheep skins, 500 of linen cloths;
Thomas Shalwey, 400 hake, 1 weigh of fish.—Customs, 2s. 1d.
A ship called the Cawe, of Pretraron, in Ireland, William
Bryan, Master, and hath —, 2 last of herrings, (Corf)
400 haddock, 300 fish, half a hundred of rabbit skins,—
5 cwt. of iron.—Customs, 3s. 2½d.
A ship called the Bride, of Mala Hede, John Brille, Master,
and hath 12 and a half meise of red herrings, 5 barrels of herrings, 200 haddok, and a quarter of fish; John Down, 30 barrels of herrings, 3 and a half last of red herrings, 2 pipes of
salmon, 1 barrel of haddok.—Customs, 10½d.
A ship called the Mary, of Russh, John Maddok, Master,
and hath one mease of herrings, one weigh of fish; 4 dickers
and a half of leather; Edward Maddok, 1 barrel of Herrings,
half a weigh of fish; John Comyn, 2 mease herrings; Richard
Peryn, 5 mease of herrings, 5 barrel of haddok, 1 weigh of
fish.—Customs, 3s.
A ship called the James, of Russh, John Guyllok, Master;
Thomas Taylor, 1,100 stock fish, 5 barrels of flower, 1 barrel
of grapes; John Maddox, 3 mease of herrings.—Customs, 3½d.
Free: A ship called the Mary, of Bristol, Thomas Hawley, Master;
Morrice de Hae, 2,200 pollok, and 1 last of red herrings; Hardnoyll, 1 barrel and a half of herrings, 2 barrels of eels, 1 barrel and a half of red herrings, 100 hake, and 100 pollok;
Dionicues Carrynler, 2 barrels of eels, 1 barrel of herrings;
half hundred of hake, 200 eels; Thomas Glover, 3 barrels of
herrings and eels; John Gower, 100 skins, one quarter of lamb
skins, 100 and a half of hake.—Customs, 5s. 1d.
Free: A ship called the Catherine, of Bristol, James Dent, Master;
John White, of Berkley, 2 casks of wine.—Customs, 8d.
Free: A ship called the Nicholas, of Tours, Henry Haydon, Master;
John Hogges, 1 pipe of iron—
Free: Edward Thorneton, 2 ton of iron; Richard Berkeley, 1 ton of
iron.—Customs, 2s. 6d.
A ship called the John, of Bayon, Peter de Mondat, Master,
and hath 1 pipe of rosin, and 100 of frankincence.—Customs, 11d.
Free: A ship called the Trinity, of Bre, Thomas Adams, Master;
Wiliiam, of the town of Gascony, 4 casks wine.—Customs, 16d.
A ship called the Katherine, of Howe, in Ireland, Thomas
Gwyn, Master; Thomas Gwyn, 900 hides.—Customs, 9d.
A ship called the Saint John, of Bayon, Janycott of Gawes,
Master, and hath 1 cask of Rosin.—Customs, 20d.
A ship called the Saint John, of Bayon, Myngenon de Rates,
Master, and hath 1 pipe of rosin.—Customs, 10d.
Free: A ship called the Trinity, of Waterford, Nicholas Deverox,
Master, for going out, and hath 5 cloths, 2 dozen cardes—
di Cs.: John Roche, of Kyll, 1 ton of iron, 5 clothes.—Customs, 18½d.
A ship called the Mary, of Corke, William Cogan, Master,
for going out, Simon Taylour, 8 dozen of cloth.—Customs, 4d.
A ship called the Patrick, of Howe, Thomas Gwyn, Master.
for going out; Philip Wyok, 1 ton of iron.—Customs, 20d.
A ship called the Nicholas, of Mynhede, William Jones,
Master; and hath 1,200 of fish.—Customs, 3s.
Free: A ship called the Mary, of Corke, John Lucas, Master;
William Tobyn, 3 pipe of salmon, 2 butts of Herrings, 500
sheep skins, 600 lamb skins, 500 hake, 2 weigh of fish, 100
hake, 200 goat skins, 1 dicker of deer leather.—Customs, 3s. 5d.
A ship called the Katherine, of the Naunt, Walter Odewyn,
master, and hath 19 barrels of sayme, 1,100 hake, 1 weigh of
fish, half a mease of haddok.—Customs, 3s. 4½d.
A boat called the Solur, of Saint Ive, John Harris, master,
and hath 18 barrels 2 kilderkins of sayme, 700 and a half of
hake, half a hundred of fish, 3 mease and a half of haddok.—
Customs, 4½d.
A boat called the Goodyear, of Combe, Richard Ber, master, and hath 1500 of fish.—Customs, 3s. 9d.
Free: A boat called the barge of St. John, Fonso Doming, master;
William Lyttlebury, 800 of tin.—Customs, 18d.
A boat called the Rapps of St. Ive, Henry Anger, master,
and hath 28 barrels of sayme.—Customs, 4s. 10d.
A boat called the Je de Port Je, Stephen Ray, master, and
hath half a hundred of fish, 800 hake, half a mease and 1 apell,
48 barrels of sayme, 2 dozen of linen cloths; William Tobyn,
100 yards of Irish frize cloth.—Customs, 9s. 2d.
A ship called the Mary, of Padstow, Ralf Valenty, master,
and hath 1,200 of fish; Will Tobyn, for going out, 5 dozen of
cloth.—Customs, 3s. 2½d.
Free: A ship called the Cog John de Hermerdyn, William Fisher,
master; Lewis Darry, 700 sheep skins, 1 dozen of goat skins,
half a dozen of frize cloth.—Customs, 14½d.
A boat called Myhill, of Saint Ive, Stephen Symon, master,
and hath 12 barrels 2 kilderkins of sayme.—Customs, 2d. 1d.
Free: A ship called the Nicholas, of Barstaple, John Gubbe,
master; Thomas Passewar, 1 pipe of wine, 200 and a half of
wax.—Customs, 4½d.
Free: A ship called the George, of Bristol, William Strode, master, and hath 2 casks of salt; William Langton. 2 casks of salt;
Hendy Day, 3 pipes of salt; Patrick Stokes, 1 cask of salt;
also another Patrick, 1 cask of salt; John Umfray, 1 pipe of
salt; Gerrard Roche, 1 cask of salt; John Smyth, 1 pipe of salt.
—Customs, 2s. 8½d.
Free: A ship called the Christopher, of Bre, John Don, master;
Walter, 1 cask of fruit; Thomas Hoper, 1 pipe of fruit; Edward Benley, 1 pipe of fruit; William Best, 1 pipe of fruit,
also a certain person of Portugal, 3 casks of fruit; Germanus,
12 pieces of fruit,—Customs, 11¾d.
Free: A ship called the Gracedieu, of Bristol, John Woodrof, master; John Flour, 1 pipe of salt; William Carpenter, 1 cask of
salt; John Letterborne, 1 cask of salt; John Brag, 1 cask of
salt.—Customs, 8¾d.
Free di Cs.: A boat called the Coggan, of Bristol, John White, master;
John Shirlock, 2 casks of wine, of Kilkenny; also, for portage
of sailors, 5 casks of salt.—Customs, 16½d.
A ship called the James Durbaryslond, William Rochford,
master; John Deardi, 6 dickers of leather, 6 pipe of salmon,
200 of fish, 100 Rapell, 200 hake, 300 sheep skins, 400 lamb
skins, 100 hare skins, 600 calf skins, 200 rabbit skins; Henry
Deadthe, 12 sheep skins, 400 lamb skins, 100 rabbit skins, half
a hundred of hare skins; John Rule, of Kylkenny, 400 sheep
skins.—Customs, 12s. 4d.
Free: A ship called the Trinity, of Waterford, Morrice Duoden,
master, and hath 200 fish.—Customs, 9d.
A ship called the Catherine, of Kukvergus, in Ireland, William Lodeles, master; Elyas Warde, 14 dickers of leather;
Thomas Warde, 1 dicker of leather, 2 pipes of salmon, 100 of
linen cloths, 6 bacon hogs, a weigh of fish.—Customs, 7s.
A boat called the Trinity, of Milford, John Brude, master,
and hath 400 fish, and hath, for going out, 600 weight of iron.
—Customs, 18d.
A ship called the Katherine, of Knokvergus, for going out,
William Ladelas, master, for going out; Elias Warde, 1 cask
of iron, and pipe of iron, 2 casks of salt; Thomas Ward, 1 cask
of salt for going out.—Customs, 3s. 4d.
A boat called the Michael, of Fowey, Richard Legal, master,
and hath 600 fish.—Customs, 21d.
A boat called the Mary, of Wyford, Boland, master, and
hath 600 fish, 20 stone of tallow, 300 rabbit skins, two dickers
of leather.—Customs, 2s. 5½d.
A boat called the George, of Combe, Walter Hoper, master,
and hath 400 fish.—Customs, 3s. 6d.
A boat called the Idmes, of Combe, Thomas Dunsell, master,
and hath 1,400.—Customs, 4s. 6d.
A boat called the Michell, of Fowey, William de Badewyn,
master, and hath 600 of fish.—Customs. 18d.
A boat called the Mary Boat, of Fowey, Nicholas Gayne,
master, and hath 600 of fish.—Cnstoms, 18d.
A boat called the Mary Boat, of Kensale, Richard Russell,
master, and hath 200 of fish; John Boteler, 400 of fish.—Customs, 18d.
A boat called the Mary, of Padstow, John Hyklys, master,
and hath 400 and a half of fish.—Customs, 10½d.
A boat called the Mary, of Kensale, David Kerry, master, and
hath 100 and a half of fish; Thomas Guy, 4 weigh of fish;
John Boteler, 800 of fish, 200 hake, 1 barrel of herrings; Morrice White, 300 fish; John Caron, 200 fish; and the aforesaid
Master hath, for going out, 5 cloths, 1 pipe of Methe; William
a Conewell, 3 dozen cloths.—Customs, 4s. 11½d.
Free: A ship called the Mary, of Bristol, Stephen Miles, master;
William Okeborne, 2 hogsheads of herrings; John Boteler, of
Kinsale, 200 of fish.—Customs, 14d.
Free: A ship called the Mihell, of Tynby, Philip Coffin, master;
Gonsolvo Martins, 3 cask of fruit; Bartholomew Dukesman, 3
pieces of fruit; Court Duchesman, four pieces of fruit.—
Customs, 6¾d.
Free: A boat called the Mary, of Cork, John Lucas, master, for
going out; Alan Fox, 9 dozen of cloth; William, Tobyn, 12
dozen of cloth, 1 pipe of iron; 1 dozen of cardys, 2 gross of
cutlery.—Customs, 21d.
A boat called the Gabriel, of Padstow, Ralph Coke, master,
and hath 16 pieces of tin, by weight 32cwt.; John Thomas
Brasier, 3 seyms.—Customs, 3s.
A boat called the Mary, of Younghull, Robert German, master, and hath 300 sheep skins, 300 lamb skins, 100 goat skins;
John Walshe, 1,200 sheep skins, 200 calf skins; Alan Fox, 100
sheep skins, 100 hare skins; Philip Nash, 600 lamb skins, 100
sheep skins, 100 goat skins.—Customs, 4s. 1d.
A boat called the Michell, of Younghill, Robert Pembroke,
master, and hath 700 of fish; John Walsh, for going out, 1
pack of cloth.—Customs, 2s. 7d.
A boat called the Mary, of Waterford, John Nones, Master;
Peter Caron, 600 caran, 600 rogan; Nicholas Busher, 200 and
1 quarter of sheep skins, 300 lamb skins, 100 hare skins; John
Yongle, 100 sheep skins, 500 lamb skins, 400 goat skins; also
3 quarters of goat skins; also 1 quarter of fox skins, 4 deer
skins.—Customs, 2s. 3d,
A boat called the Mary, of Saint Brede, William Polet,
Master, and hath 100 and a half of fish.—Customs, 4½d.
A boat called the Margaret, of Seynt Bride, Thos. Williams,
Master, and hath 400 of fish, 1 barrel of herrings.—Customs, 11d.
A boat called the James, of Durbarsilond, William Rochford, Master, for going out; John Warde, hath 1 pack of cloth.
—Customs, 10d.
A boat called the Mary, of Kensale, Richard Russel, Master,
for going out, and hath 2 pipes of honey; John Boteler, 1 cask
of wine: David Coursey, 2 dozen of cloths.—Customs, 10d.
A boat called the Mary, of Waterford, John Norris, Master,
for going out; Laurence Arnold, 5 cloths; Thomas Mounster.
of Kilkenny, 6 gross of cutlery, 6 gross of points, 400 glasses,
100 tubes of ash wood, 1 dozen cardys.—Cnstoms, 7½d.
A ship called the George, of Tynby, Thomas Harrys, Master;
a certain Foreigner hath 1,000 lamb skins.—Customs, 10d.
Free: A boat called the Catherine, of Bristol, John Baker, Master;
John Church, 1 pipe of salmon, 600 pollok, 100 hake, 200 sheep
skins, 100 lamb skins, half a hundred rabbit skins, half a dicker
of deer skins, half a hundred of goat skins.—Customs, 17½d.
A ship called the Sous Sprus, of Bayon, Bercasan de Surwete,
Master, and hath 2 casks, 1 pipe, 1 hogshead of wine; Mynge
de Troy, 5 casks of wine; Myngenon de les Speron. 1 cask wine;
Robert Grymstead, 2 pipe of Gayd Ewelverton de Voy; for
going out, 12 cloths; also 30 pieces of kersye, in the name of
10 cloths.—Customs, 5s. 9d.
A ship called the Mary of Bayon, Myngenon de Morser,
Master; Robert Grimstead, 2 pipe of honey.—Customs, 4d.
A ship called the Trinity of Weyford, John Roche, Master,
for going out; Thomas Mounster, of Kyll, 20 cwt. of allom,
700 of —, 1 pipe of wine.—Customs, 14½d.
A boat called the Katherine, of Minehead, John White,
Master, and hath—.—Customs, 18d.
A boat called the Katherine, of Minehead, John Symonds,
Master. and hath 600 of fish.—Customs, 18d.
A ship called the Trinity, of Monieles, John Wilookye,
Master; Thomas Wyseman, of Langlanan, 1 fardell of cloth.
—Customs, 2d.
A boat called the Trinity, of Saint Ive, Henry Perrow,
Master, and hath 400 and a half of fish, 1 mease of rapell, 1
barrel of Sayne, 100 hake.—Customs, 19d.
A boat called the George, of Combe, Walter Hope, Master,
and hath 400 and a half of fish, 100 hake.—Customs, 14½d.
A boat called the Godeye, of Combe, Richard Ber, Master,
and hath 500 of fish, 300 hake.—Customs, 18d.
Free: A boat called the George, of Tynby, John Owyn, Master;
Geoffry Newport, 2 fardell of cloth.—Customs, 8d.
A ship called the Cogganne, of Bristol, John —, Master;
Thomas Kylley, 2 casks of salt, 1 cask 1 pipe of wine; also the
Mariners for portage of a certain ship, 18 casks of salt.—
Customs, 4s. 9½d.
A boat called the Carnabie, of Saint Bride, William Haynes,
Master, and hath 25 mease of herrings.—Customs, 13½d.
Free: A ship called the George, of Bristol, William Srode, Master;
William Patrick, 2 casks of salt; John Greffych, 1 cask a pipe
of salt; Richard —, a cask 1 pipe of salt; Nicholas Mary,
1 cask of salt; Patrick While, 1 cask 1 pipe of salt; Hankyn
Harris, 1 cask 1 pipe of salt; William Langton, 4 casks of salt;
John Smyth, 1 pipe of salt; Thomas Hayne, 1 hogshead of salt.
—Customs, 2s. 10¼d.
Free: A ship called the Grace Dieu, of Bristol, John Wooderuffe,
Master; John Clerk, 1 cask 1 pipe of salt; Hugh de Harlyon,
1 cask 1 pipe of salt; Hehry Cole 1 cask 1 pipe of salt; Thomas
Apprice, 3 pipes of salt; German Verray, 3 pipes of salt; John
Leatherborne, 1 cask of salt.—Customs, 21¼d.
A boat called the John, of Combe, John Roberdeas, and hath
30 mease of herrings, the same hath 3 barrels of herrings.—
Customs, 19d.
A boat called the Mary boat, of Kensale, Richard Long,
master, and hath 100 hake, 200 fish; Thomas Rogers, 900 salt
fish, 600 dry fish, 2,000 hake, 100 sheep skins, 100 rabbit skins,
half a hundred of hare skins, 200 of black lamb skins.—Customs, 6s. 6½d.
Free: A ship called the Julian, of Bristol, John Stemp, master;
John Chepstow, 1 cask of salt; William Gascoigne, 1 cask 1
pipe of salt; Stephen Boby, 1 cask of salt; James Stode, 1
cask of salt.—Customs, 18d.
Free: A ship called the James, of Tynby, John Kyste, master;
Galfry Newport, 2 packs of cloth.—Customs, 8d.
A boat called the Trinity, of Dale, John Freeman, master,
and hath 1 last and a half and 4 mease of herrings.—Customs, 17d.
A boat called the Welfare, of Minehead, William Wode,
master, and hath 30 mease of herrings, 2 barrels of herrings;
John Bowle, 4 barrels of herrings.—Customs, 2s. 3d.
A boat called the Peter, of Dale, Peter Curet, master, and
hath 1 last and a half of herrings, 3 barrels 1 kilderkin of salt,
for going out.—Customs, 16d.
A boat called the Mary Boat, of Kinsale, Richard Long,
master, for going out; Thomas Rogers, 12 dozen of cloth, 1
hundred of allom.—Customs, 7d.
Free: A boat called the Mary, of Tenby, Thomas Taylor, master;
a certain person of Newport, 1 fardel of skins; also a certain
foreigner, 1 hogshead of oil.—Customs, 2d.
Free: A boat called the Mary, of Bristol, William Cleve, master,
and hath 1 pipe and a half of salmon, half a hundred of cardys.
Customs, 3½d.
Free: A ship called the Mary, of Bristol, Thomas Hawley; Mr.
William Davie, 1 pipe of salmon; Philip Austyn, 1 pipe of
salmon; Thomas Collins, 2 hundred of linen thread, 200 of
linen cloths, 1 dicker of deer leather, half a hundred of lamb
skins.—Customs, 13½d.
A boat called the Mary, of Milford, John Wallys, master,
and hath 300 bushels of herrings.—Customs, 6d.
Free: A boat called the Mary, of Bristol, William Selby, Master;
Nicholas Gyrdok, 1 barrel of herrings; Nieholas Majod, one
kilderkin.—Customs, 3d.
A boat called the Trinity, of Saint Ive, George Robaid,
Master, and hath 600 of fish; Robert Martin, 200 stockfish.—
Customs, 2s.
Free: A boat called the Nicholas, of Tower, Stephen Miles, Master;
John Stone, of Berkeley, 1 ton of iron, 6 hundred of pitch and
rosin, 1 pipe gayde.—Customs, 2s. 6d.
A ship called the Nicholas, of Barstable, John Gubbe,
Master; Thomos Passeward, 2 pipe gayde.—Customs, 8d.
A boat called the James, of Tintern; Thomas Taylor, of
Letherpole, 3 last and a half of stockfish.—Customs, 8s. 9d.
Free: A ship called the Mary of Kinsale, Richard Russell, Master,
and hath 900 hake, 4 barrels of herrings; John Boteley, 1,200
of dried hake, 500 of salt hake, 1 last in a barrel of herrings;
Morrice White, 43 barrels of herrings, 1,400 hake, 200 of fish;
also, John Cowler, for going out, 7 dozen of cloths.—Customs,
9s. 9d.
A boat called the Catherine, of Bristol, Peter Gegge, Master;
William Terry, 900 and a half of stockfish, and John Somer,
200 of stockfish; German Irish, 200 of stockfish.—Customs,
3s. 4½d.
A ship called the Rose, of Bristol, Thomas Nichol, Master;
Thomas Borton Sadyer, 200 stockfish—Customs, 6d.
A ship called the George, of Younghall, John Kyllyng,
Master, for going out; Thomas Mounster, of Kilkenny, 50
dozen of cloth, 1 ton of iron; John de Kilkenny, 32 dozen
of cloth; David Brown, of the same, 21 dozen of cloth, and
half a dozen of cardyes; James Nash, of Calan, 50 dozen of
cloths, 1 dozen of cardys; Thomas Suney, 15 dozen of cloths,
2 dozen of cardys, 100 of pitch; Philip Noryle, 8 dozen of
cloths, 2 gross of cutlery; Richard Walsh, 20 dozen of cloths,
1 dozen of cardys, 200 of allom.—Customs, 9s. 6½d.
A boat called the Trinity, of Milford, John Chapman,
Master, and hath 1 last and a half of Corf herrings.—Customs,
11d.
|
| Amount | £21 | 16 | 10 |
| Also of all other Merchandizes entering in and
going out through the Gates of the Town aforesaid,
for the year aforesaid, &c.—Customs | 8 | 17 | 10 |
| Sum Total | £30 | 14 | 8 |
| Also from fines and amercements happening in a
certain Court there, called the Tolsey Court, for
the whole yeaar aforesaid | £15 | 6 | 8 |
| Also for the Mills of the Lord the King, in the
same Town (to wit.) from the Feast of Saint Michael
the Archangel of the said 16th year, unto the Feast
of Easter then next following | £9 | 14 | 0 |
Indorsed.—These five Rolls were delivered here by the
within named, Thomas Hore and Thomas Ball, by their own
hands, on the 1st day of February, in the 17th year of King
Henry the 6th, for the benefit of the King, &c.
The Return sets forth a rent roll of the flesh-shambles, stalls and
landgable, states the profits of the mill, and the fines, &c. in the
Tolzey Court, at so much money, and under a distinct head,
intitled "the customs arising from divers merchandizes, being
in ships and boats at Bristol, from Michaelmas, in the 16th year
of King Henry 6th, to Michaelmas following," it enumerates
about 220 ships and boats, with masters' names and particulars
of cargoes, carrying out a certain sum, as the custom in respect
of each cargo. In about twenty instances, the words ad exitum
occur in this enumeration, in various relative positions to the
other words of the sentence. The Corporation and their legal
advisers contend, that these words are to be interpreted "for
exportation," applying them to the goods which composed the
enumerated cargoes. Now these conjectures (for after all, they
are nothing more) are liable to several objections, of which one
alone is almost conclusive, viz. the utter inconsistency which,
if the proposed reading be adopted, will prevail between the
first part of the document, setting forth in general, but very
express terms, the nature of the toll; and the latter part, supplying, the details of collection. Besides this, the great improbability will remain, that out of two hundred and twenty
cargoes in a whole year, only twenty-two cargoes and parts of
cargoes were exported from Bristol; that in a quarter of
another year, (fn. 3) two packages only were exported; and that the
same ship should at one and the same time, contain goods for
importation and exportation. And last, though not least, the
question will occur, how came it, if the cargoes thus distinquished were for exportation, and the due was collected indifferently on exports and imports, that the note of distinction
was ever used, since it could give no information at all relative
to the subject matter of the return, which was merely the
amount of a custom collected at a certain, and (at that time)
well understood rate?
Is it not, then, the duty of the inquirer, who finds such numerous difficulties in the way of the proposed interpretations,
to ascertain whether the words will not bear some other construction, and to adopt it, even without positive evidence in its
favor, if it shall be found to violate fewer probabilities than
those for which it is substituted? The sense in which it is
conceived that the words ad exitum ought to be understood, is
this—"for the purpose or with the intent of being sent out"—
applying them, of course, to the goods, and not to the vessels
enumerated. And the occasion of their use is to be found in
the facts, first, that the Town Duty was a custom upon goods
coming to the town for sale; and second, that at the time the
return was made, a duty was payable at the gates of the city,
on all goods which passed through them, being of the nature of
the toll which was then taken in every walled town in England,
under the name of Toll thorough. For is it not reasonable to
suppose, that when goods were imported, either with the intention of being exported again, or of being carried inland, the
customary toll upon goods coming for sale would be remitted?
And upon this supposition the motive for distinguishing such
goods by the note "ad exilum," which could not upon the other
hypothesis be perceived, is obvious enough. The Mayor rendered a full accont of all the imports, and of the custom which
in the first instance was charged upon them; but in order that
the deduction, from the gross amount, which no doubt made,
might be understood and allowed, he particularized all the instances in which, either because the goods were imported,
merely to be exported again, and, therefore, were not subject
to a duty on goods coming for sale, (an encouragement to navigation,) or because they were destined for inland consumption,
and would, therefore, be liable to the toll at the town gates,
(which, if the import toll were also exacted, would have been a
most onerous imposition), the custom was to be considered as
not having been received. The only possible objection to this
reasoning is, that if what has been suggested were the fact, the
easier and more likely plan would have been, to omit, altogether, the mention of the goods thus exempted. Fortunately,
the reply is at hand, without straining conjecture for the sake
of establishing a favorite hypothesis. In the same return of
customs, there are several instances of cargoes imported by
burgesses of towns, which are free of Town dues, even according
to the admission of the Corporation themselves. On these, the
amount of custom is as regularly carried out, as in other cases;
but the note, "lib.' (free) in the margin, makes it unquestionble, that the exemption from custom was not forgotten, although,
for some reason or other, the customs were uniformly stated.
The Escheator having delivered the Return, before he paid
his Balance, it was the practice of the Exchquer to make out
a document, in which the different Profits of the Town were
specified; it was called a State and View of the Account, in
which not a syllable about a Toll or Custom on Exports is to
be found, but a description, which, if words have any meaning,
excludes, by its particularity, the very idea of such a toll: the
words are—and that the issues and profits of the same town
consist in divers parcels (that is to say) a certain custom there,
called toll, belonging to the town aforesaid, arising from divers
merchandizes, and other goods whatsoever, for sale, coming lo
the aforesaid town, as well by land as by water.
Among the Records in the Lord Treasurers Remembrancers
Office in the Exchequer (to wit.) among the States and
Views of Accounts of Easter Term, in the 17th year of
the reign of King Henry 6th, Roll 15, there is found as
follows, (that is to say)—
Bristol: In the account audited of Clement Bagot, late
Mayor and Escheator of the King, in the town of
Bristol, and suburbs and precincts of the same, by Charter of
Lord King Edward 3rd, of liberties granted to the Burgesses
and Commonalty of the same town, to wit, for the issues of the
same King's Escheator there, from the Feast of Saint Michael,
in the 16th year of the present King, unto the Feast of Saint
Michael then next following; from which Feast of Saint Michael, in the 17th year, Hugh Wythyford, now Mayor and the
King's Escheator there, is accountable; he oweth £116. 8s. 5d.
and allowance and discharge is made in the Great Roll, for the
16th year of the present King; for Bristol he oweth —
of which, he seeks to be discharged of 26s. 8d. with which he
is charged by the Auditor in his account aforesaid, for the
custody of one tenement, with the appurtenances, in the suburbs
of Bristol, which belonged to Henry Buxton, of Bristol; which
tenement came to the hands of Ann, late Queen of England, as
her Escheat; and of a place in Saint Mary's-street, of the same
town, opposite the church of the Blessed Peter, between the
street which leads towards Wynchester, called Winchesterstreet, and extends itself to the house of William Poynty, late
lessee, of Simon Oliver, of Bristol.—to hold from the Feast of
Easter, in the 19th year of the reign of King Richard the 2nd,
for the term of 60 years next following, and fully to be completed, rendering to the King, for farm annually, to wit,—for
the tenement aforesaid, 20s., and for the aforesaid place, 6s. 8d.
by equal portions, at the Exchequer, at the terms of Saint
Michael and Easter, for which the aforesaid Simon Oliver hath
answered thereof to the Lord the King, as is contained in the
Great Roll, for the 15th year of this King, for Bristol. And
by view of these premises by the Barons, and deliberation
thereon had between them, it is considered that the aforesaid
late Mayor and Escheator should be discharged and acquitted,
by pretext of these premises, from the aforesaid 26s. 8d. of which,
as aforesaid, he is charged, for the issues of the tenement, and
place aforesaid, with the appurtenances, as is contained in the
roll of particulars of the account aforesaid to the King. And
the aforesaid Mayor and Escheator sought, in like manner, to
be discharged from 53s. 4d. for which, in like manner, he is
charged by the Auditor in his account aforesaid, for the issues
of one messuage and of one shop, with the appurtenances, in
Worship-street, within the town of Bristol, which John Whytyng lately held in the same town, and which being in the hands
of the King, for certain causes, lately, was committed to Agnes
Pickworth, to farm,—to have from the Feast of Easter, in the
1st year of King Henry 4th, so long as it should happen that
the said messuage and shop should remain in the King's hands,
rendering therefore, annually, to the King, 53s. 4d. at the Exchequer, by equal portions, at the terms of Saint Michael and
Easter, for which the aforesaid Agnes Pickworth, therefore, hath
answered to the Lord the King, as is contained in the Great
Roll, of the 15th year of this King, for Bristol. And these
premises being viewed by the Barons, and deliberation thereon
had between them, it is considered that the aforesaid late Mayor
and Escheator should be discharged and acquitted, by pretext
of these premises, from the aforesaid 53s. 4d. for which, as
aforesaid, he is charged, for the issues of the messuage and shop
aforesaid, with the apurtenances, as is contained in the rolls of
particulars of the account of the said late Escheator to the
King. And the said late Mayor and Escheator sought likewise
to be discharged from £29. 18s. 8d. upon him charged, in his
account aforesaid, by his Auditor aforesaid, that he should
answer for £120. per annum, above £91. 15s. 4d. for which he
willingly answers, as well for the value of all those lands and
tenements, and the flesh shambles, which belonged to Ann, late
Queen of England, in the town of Bristol, as for the late farm
of £100. per annum, for the same town, with the houses, shops,
cottages, stalls, tofts, gardens, pools, tine of the castle, rents, landgable, tolls, pleas of courts, fairs, markets, and all other jurisdictions, customs, and appurtenances of the town aforesaid, and
suburbs of the same, which same town aforesaid were bound to
render the said farm of £100. annually, in the form aforesaid,
to the aforesaid late King. And that the issues and profits as
well of the said town (whereof the said farm of £100. then consisted), as the issues and profits of the said lands and tenements,
called the flesh-shambles, which at that time extended at £20.
per annum, and which the aforesaid, Joanna, late Queen of
England, held for term of her life, in the form aforesaid, for
the value of the said £120. per annum, by the death of the same
late Queen, came to the hands of the present Lord the King,
and as yet remain in his hands in approvement. And that the
issnes and profits of the same town consist in divers parcets, (that
is to say) in divers lands and tenements in the town and suburbs
aforesaid, which is called the flesh shambles, a certain water mill,
rents of assize there called landgable, and local rents issuing out
of divers houses, shops, stalls, tofts, and gardens, paid annually
by the hands of the free tenants there, at the Feast of Saint Peter,
which is called ad vincula, a certain custom there, called toll,
belonging to the town aforesaid, arising from divers merchandizes, and other goods whatsoever, for sale, coming to the
aforesaid town, as well by land as by water, and perquisites
of a certain Tolzey Court belonging to the same town, and
from the time whereof the memory of man doth not exist,
hath been holden in every week throughout the year, as often
as it should be necessary, and which severally are extended at £72. per annum, as is contained in a certain Inquisition
and extent thereof, taken before Richard Foster, late Mayor
and Escheator there, in the year next preceding, by virtue of
his office, and remaining here. in the Exchequer, in a bag of the
particulars of the same late Mayor and Escheator for the same
year; at which same £72. the lands, tenements, rents, customs,
and courts aforesaid, were extended per annum, as is premised,
and at £18. 16s. which the aforesaid lands and tenements, rents,
customs, and courts are worth per annum beyond the extent
aforesaid; for which same £72. at which the lands, tenements,
mills, rents, customs, and courts aforesaid, as is premised, were
extended per annum, the same late Mayor and Escheator answers for £63. 14s. as rated in his account aforesaid, for that
the aforesaid lands, tenements, mills, rents, customs, and courts,
are worth nothing per annum above the aforesaid —
and £18. 16s. of new improvement only; and that the said late
Mayor and Escheator ought not to be charged, or compelled to
answer, as he saith upon his oath to the said Lord the King, for
any other or more sums of money, or farms thereof, except for
£81. 15s. 4d. for which willingly he answers for the issues of the
town, and lands, tenements, mills, rents, customs, and courts
aforesaid, in his said account for the time aforesaid, all and
singular, which (statement) the same Clement, now accounting,
is ready to verify in any way soever: for which same £29. 18s. 8d.
no discharge hath been made to him at present. but by grace
of the court, it is granted to him, that he shall have thereof
respite unto the day of the Holy Trinity, in fifteen days, to
hear and determine what, &c.; at which day, the aforesaid
Clement Bagot, late Mayor and Escheator, came, by Henry
Champreys, his attorney, and, for the cause aforesaid, hath a
further day in the state, as now from the day of Saint Martin,
in fifteen days, to hear and determine which, &c.; at which
day, the aforesaid late Mayor and Escheator came, by his
said attorney, and, for the cause aforesaid, hath a further day
in the state, as now until from the day of Easter, in fifteen days,
to hear and determine which, and, in the mean time, he hath
respite for the sums aforesaid, &c. &c; at which day the
said late Mayor and Escheator came here, by his said attorney,
and for having a more full discharge from the £29. 18s. 8d.
aforesaid in these premises, took out here the Writ of the present Lord the King, under the privy seal, directed to the
Treasurer and Barons of this Exchequer, which is enrolled
amongst the memoranda of the 23rd year of the present
King, amongst the Writs directed to the Barons of Hillary
Term, Roll 2, the tenor of which writ follows in these words,
Henry, by the Grace of God, King of England and France,
and Lord of Ireland. To the Treasurer and Barons of our
Exchequer, greeting. For as much as we having consideration
that Richard Forster, late Mayor and our Escheator of our
town of Bristol, and precinct of the same, from the Feast of
Saint Michael the 15th year of our reign, unto the Feast of
Saint Michael, the 16th year of our reign; and Clement Bagot,
late Mayor and our Escheator in the said town, and suburbs of
the same, from the Feast of Saint Michael, in the 16th year of
our reign, unto the Feast of Saint Michael then next following;
and Hugh Whythyford, late Mayor and our Escheator of our
said town, suburbs and precincts of the same, from the Feast of
Saint Michael, the 17th year of our reign, unto the Feast
of Saint Michael then next following, have late, by several
accounts, accounted to us, in our Exchequer, of the issues,
profits, and revenues to be due, or perteyning by them, severally,
in anywise, of the issues of our Escheatry, by the said years and
times of, and in the said town, suburbs, and precincts, and that
upon the end of their said accounts, there is asked for us against
them, severally, divers sums of money, of the which sums they
have made several petitions to be thereof severally discharged,
as in divers records remaining in our said Exchequer, of the
part of the Remembrancer of our Treasurer, plainly it appeareth, as it is said: we will, therefore, and charge you, that ye
discharge and acquit against us, and our heirs, for evermore,
the said Richard Clement, and Hugh, their heirs, executors,
and terretenants, and every of them, of all sums and charges
specified and contained in these several petitions, made upon
their several accounts, and utterly to cease, of all processes and
demands made, served, or to be made, and served for us, and
our heirs, against the said Richard Clement, and Hugh, their
heirs, executors, and terretenants, or any of them, for any
— dette or charge asked for us, against them,
severally, or any of them, as Mayors and our Escheators of our
said town, suburbs, and precincts, for the said terms and years,
or executors or terretenants of any of them, any matter in the
said several accounts of the said Richard Clement, and Hugh,
or in the said several petitions contained, specified, or alledged;
or that the certainty or quantity of the said divers sums of
money, and for us, severally, demanded against the said Clement,
and Hugh, upon their several accounts herein is not expressed,
or any other thing or matter, whatsoever it be, notwithstanding.
Given under our Privy Seal, at our Castle of Windsor, the 7th
day of December, in the year of our reign 23rd. And, upon
this, the aforesaid Clement Bagot, sought to be discharged from
the said sum of £29. 18s. 8d. &c. And these premises being
viewed by the Barons, and due deliberation thereon had between
them, it is adjudged, that the aforesaid Clement Bagot, late
Mayor and Escheator, shall be discharged and acquitted, by
pretext of the said King's Writ of Privy Seal, and other the
premises, from the said £29. 18s. 8d. for which, as is aforesaid
he is charged, as is contained in the Roll of Particulars of his
account aforesaid, to the King.
This state of things continued, and the Town of Bristol was
held by the King until the 29th May, in the 17th year of his
reign, when the Town was granted to the Mayor and Commonalty, and their Successors. But before the copy of this Grant
is introduced, it may not be irrelevant to explain, that as early
as the year 1340, certain other Tolls had been granted to the
Burgesses of Bristol, on Ships and Merchandize coming to the
Town for Sale, in aid of repairing the Walls, Keys, and
Pavements of the Town. And in examining Inquisitions in
different reigns, we find the express object of the Crown to have
been the most rigid application of the money, so collected, to
the purposes of repairing the Walls of the Town, with its
Keys and Pavements.
Preserved among the Records of the Court of Chancery in
the Tower of London, to wit, on the fine Roll, for the
17th year of the reign of King Henry 6th, membrane 4 is
contained:—
The Town of Bristol committed to Farm.: The King, to all to whom, &c. greeting.
Know ye, that we have committed to our wellbeloved Hugh Wythyford, Mayor of our town of
Bristol, and to the commonalty of the same
town, and their successors, the same town with the suburbs of
the same, and with the gates, ditches, and stalls of the same
town and suburbs; also all those lands and tenements, rents and
services, and the flesh shambles which Johanna, late Queen of
England held for the term of her life, in the same town, by
grant of Lord Henry, late King of England, our grandfather,
formerly husband of the same late Queen, made for the same
term, and together with the houses, shops, cottages, sheds, tofts,
gardens, mills, pools, water courses running down to these mills,
rents, landgables and local tolls, pleas of courts, fairs and markets, and of whatsoever courts in the same town and suburbs,
with all fines, issues, redemptions and amercements, in the same,
forfeited, and adjudged to be forfeited, and all other jurisdic
tions and customs, and appurtenances of the town and suburbs
aforesaid, with the appurtenances, together with the reversions
of all lands tenements, rents, and services, within the precincts
of the same town, of whatsoever tenants, granted or committed
by us, or any of our progenitors, former Kings of England, or
by any other whomsoever, whereof the reversion at present belongs or appertains to us, together with the farms and rents
therein reserved (the Castle of the same town, and the ditch of
the same only excepted) nevertheless we grant by these presents
to the same Mayor and Commonalty, the water-course running
down into the aforesaid ditch towards the mill under the Castle,
as of old time it used to do, together with the banks of the
same water, for the space of four feet in width, towards the
same Castle, by all means reserved to the said Mayor and Commonalty,—to have and to hold, to him and his successors, from
the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel next happening, unto
the end of twenty years next following, and fully to be completed,—and moreover, we do grant to the same Mayor and
Commonalty that they shall have during the term aforesaid, all
fines, redemptions and amercements, as well of all men as of all
tenants, sole tenants, resident and not resident, in and out of
fees, lands and tenements, with their appurtenances, and of all
places within the precincts of the same town of Bristol and suburbs of the same, and county of Bristol (the said castle and
ditch excepted.) Also we have granted, all things which
could have belonged to us and our heirs, during the term
aforesaid, within the said town of Bristol, and precincts of the
same, for year, day, and waste forfeitures, and fines for murder, in whatsoever Courts of us, and of our heirs, of all men
and tenants, they or any of them, shall pay fines and amercements, or be amerced, as well before us and our heirs, as before
us and our heirs in our Chancery, and of our heirs also before
the Treasurer and Barons of us and of our heirs of the Exchequer, and before the Justices of us and of our heirs itinerant for
Common Pleas, and Pleas of the Forest, and also before the
Justices of us and of our heirs of the Bench, and of the Justices
of us and of our heirs for taking Assizes and delivering Gaols,
and also before the Justices of us and our heirs for hearing and
determining, and assigned to inquire into felonies, trespasses,
and misdemeanors, and before the Steward and Marshall, and
Coroner of the Household of us and of our heirs, and the Clerk
of the Market, and also before any other Justices and officers
of us and of our heirs whomsoever, or wheresoever it shall happen, such fines and redemptions ought to be amerced, or such
issues and fines for murders and forfeitures, of year, day, and
waste, shall happen to be adjudged and forfeited as fully and
wholly as we should have had them if we had kept the town,
county, suburbs, and fees, lands, tenements, and places aforesaid in our hands, so that the same Mayor and Commonalty of
the same town of Bristol and their successors, during the term
aforesaid, by the hands of the Sheriff of the county aforeaid, or
of his Bailiffs or Officers, shall be empowered to levy, gather,
and receive the fines, redemptions, and amercements aforesaid,
and the issues forfeited in the form aforesaid, and all things
which might belong to us, and our heirs for year, day, waste,
forfeitures, and murders of, and in the said town, country, suburbs and fees, lands, tenements, and places aforesaid, by estreat
of the Exchequer of us and of our heirs, to be delivered to the
Officers and Bailiffs of the same Maior and Commonalty, and
their successors, by the hands of the Sheriff of the county
of Bristol and their successors, being Sheriffs of the same county
for the time being in whose Bailiwicks the fees, lands, tenements, and places aforesaid are: these they shall be empowered
to levy, have and receive, from the lands, tenements, possessions,
goods and chattels of the same men and tenants, without let or
hindrance of us, or of our heirs, or the Bailiffs or Officers of us,
or of our heirs whatsoever. And that the same Mayor and
Commonalty, and their successors, during the term aforesaid,
likewise shall have in the town, county, suburbs, lands, tenements, fees and places aforesaid (the castle and ditch of the
same excepted) the chattels of felons and fugitives, of outlaws,
of persons condemned, and waifs, so that if any of the men and
tenants aforesaid, or any other person in the town, county,
suburbs, fees, and places aforesaid (except as before excepted)
ought to lose life or limb, or shall flee, and be unwilling to
stand judgment, or shall commit any crime for which they
ought to lose their chattels, wheresoever justice ought to be
done on them on that account, whether in the courts of us, or
our heirs, before us, and our heirs, or before our Justices and
Officers of us, or of our heirs whomsoever, before mentioned,
or in any other court, their chattels, which shall be found within the said town, county and suburbs, and precincts, shall belong to the same Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors,
during the term aforesaid. And it shall be lawful for the Officers of them, the Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors,
during the term aforesaid, without the let or hindrance of us,
or of our heirs, or of others our Bailiffs or Officers, or of our
heirs whatsoever, to put them, the Mayor and Commonalty,
and their successors, in seisin of those chattels, to keep the
same for the use and profit of the same Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors. And that the same Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors, shall hold the same town of
Bristol, with the suburbs of the same, the tenements, fees, and
places aforesaid whatsoever, within the precinct of the same
town, together with the fairs and markets, waters, banks, ways,
fishieries, commons, assarts, wastes, and purprestures. And
also, rents and returns of all assarts, wastes, and purprestures, as
well in the times of our progenitors, formerly Kings of England, as in our own time, in all places aforesaid, within the precinct of the same town as is now rented, and hereafter to be
rented, together with the fees for entering such assarts, wastes
and purprestures so rented, or to be rented; and with Court of
View of Frank-pledge, Hundred Court, Wreck (to wit) wreck
of the sea, and wrecks royal, waifs and strays, and royal fish,
happening within the said town and county, and jurisdiction of
the same, and with other customs, and all other things, to the
said town, county, suburbs and precincts, also lands, tenements, places, and fees aforesaid whatsoever, and wheresoever,
as if aforesaid belonging, or happening during the term aforesaid. And moreover, we have granted to the same Mayor and
Commonalty, and to their successors, that they shall have, during the term aforesaid, all fines, redemptions, issues, forfeited
amercements, forfeitures, and other profits whatsoever, in the
Iters of the forest, or by reason of the same Iters, as well for
trespasses of vert or venison, or for any other offences and
causes whatsoever, in any way arising or happening in the said
town of Bristol; also in all and singular places and fees within the
precincts of the same town, as is aforesaid, so that the same
Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors, during the term
aforesaid, shall have, by the hands of their Bailiffs and Officers,
the fines, redemptions, issues, forfeited amercements, forfeitures,
and other profits aforesaid, from those persons who shall be in
and of the town of Bristol, and suburbs of the same, the lands,
tenements, places, and fees aforesaid, within the precinct of the
town aforesaid (the castle and ditch of the same castle excepted)
by estreat of the Justices itinerant of the forest, and other the
Justices in Eyre, of us and our heirs, to be delivered to the same
Bailiffs and Officers of the same Mayor and Commonalty, and
their successors, during the term aforesaid, and shall have, levy,
and receive all fines, redemptions, issues forfeited, and amerceaments, forfeitures, and other profits aforesaid, of those persons
who shall be of and in the said town of Bristol, and the suburbs
of the same as is aforesaid; also the lands, tenements, places,
and fees aforesaid, within the precinct of the same town of
Bristol, and suburbs of the same, and that they may have, and
collect at the Exchequer, of us, and of our heirs, by the hands
of the Sheriffs and Bailiffs of the liberties in which they shall be
Bailiffs, as if we and our heirs should have received the same,
without let or hindrance of us or of our heirs, or of our Bailiffs
or Officers whatsoever, as if we had retained the same in our
hands. And moreover, we have granted that the same Mayor
and Commonalty, and their successors, shall have and hold, during the term aforesaid, the said town of Bristol, with the suburbs of the same; also the lands, tenements, places and fees
aforesaid (the said castle and ditch excepted) with all franchises and liberties whatsoever, belonging or appertaining to
the same, together with the fines, redemptions, issues, and
amerceaments, chattels of outlaws and fugitives, escheats, forfeittures, and deodands, which shall happen within the precincts of
the town, county, and suburbs aforesaid, and all places, as well
by land as by water, within the liberties and jurisdictions of the
same, with all other profits arising there, and also all profits and
emoluments, as well from punishment for false judgment given
in any court, as in any court within the precinct of the town
aforesaid, and suburbs of the same, annulled or to be annulled.
Also all other profits, treasure, trove, and emoluments, in whatsoever way they shall happen, as well from forests, parks, woods,
chaces, warrens, pools, vivaries, marshes, moors, mines, as from
all other things which can in any wise arise within the town
aforesaid, and county of the same, lands, tenements, places, and
fees aforesaid, as is aforesaid, any prerogative, privilege or
franchise notwithstanding, all escheats of lands and tenements,
hereafter happening, being wholly excepted. And that the
same Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors, during the
term aforesaid, shall have the privileges, liberties, and emoluments, or profits, rights, and advantages aforesaid, within the
precinct of the said town of Bristol, and all things whatsoever,
arising or belonging to the same, from all men, residing, and
not residing, sole tenants, and not sole tenants, from all things
arising within the said county, town and precincts, as fully, and
entirely as we should have had them, if we had retained the
same town in our hands,—Yielding, therefore, annually to us
and our heirs, at our Exchequer, from the said Feast of Saint
Michael, during the term of twenty years aforesaid, one hundred and two pounds fifteen shillings and sixpence, at the Feast
of Easter, and of Saint Michael the Archangel, by equal portions; and to the Abbot of Tewksbury, and his successors, for
the tithes of the town aforesaid, fourteen pounds and ten shillings; to the Prior of Saint James of Bristol, and his successors,
for the annual rent of the mill, sixty shillings; to the Constable
of the Castle of Bristol and his Officers, for the time being (to
wit) to the porter and watchman of the said castle, and to the
Forester of Kingswood, thirty and nine pounds, fourteen shillings, to be paid annually during the term aforesaid,
at the aforesaid two annual terms, by equal portions, for
all services and charges. And moreover, of our more abundant
grace, and in aid of repairing and amending, as well the walls of
the key, of the town aforesaid, as of the other walls and pavement
of the same town, We have granted to the aforesaid Mayor and
Commonalty, and their successors, that they, during the term aforesaid, may take of things for sale, coming to the town aforesaid, as
well by land as by water, by the hands of those whom, for this
purpose, they shall appoint, and for which they shall willingly
answer the customs underwritten (to wit:)
|
| For every merchant-vessel coming with merchandize
within the port there, every time the same shall
arrive there | 6d. |
| For every vessel laden with fish or herrings, arriving
there | 4 |
| For every merchant or fishing boat, laden with merchandize, fish, or herrings arriving there | 2 |
| For every quarter of corn and rye, for sale, | ¼ |
| For every two quarters of beans, peas, malt, oats, and
salt, for sale | ¼ |
| For every cask of wine, for sale | 2 |
| For every weigh of tallow, for sale | 1 |
| For every last of herrings for sale | 3 |
| For every hundred of fish, for sale | ½ |
| For every vessel laden with wood, brush-wood, or turf,
for sale | 2 |
| For every chaldron of sea-coals for sale | ¼ |
| For every horse-load of garlic or onions, for sale | ¼ |
| For every vessel laden with bark for sale | 1 |
| For every boat or barge, laden with firewood | ½ |
| For every ten stone of flax or hemp, for sale | ½ |
| For every horse load of iron, for sale | ¼ |
| For every fother of lead, for sale | 1 |
| For every cask of pitch and tar, for sale | ½ |
| For every cask of salt, for sale | 1d. |
| For every cask of ashes | ¼ |
| For every cask of coal, for sale | 1 |
| For every hundred weight of wax, for sale | 1 |
| For every hundred of wove cloth, for sale | 1 |
| For every hundred of spun linen and canvas, for sale | ½ |
| For every hundred weight of pepper, for sale | 1 |
| For every frael of figs and of raisins, for sale | ½ |
| For every hundred — for sale | 1 |
| For goods by weight (to wit) for a hundred weight | 1 |
| For every hundred of boards, for sale | ½ |
| For every mast, for sale | 1 |
| For every hundred of rafts and — for sale | 1 |
| For every bale of cordwaine and base, for sale | 1 |
| For every chaldron of earth, for sale | 1 |
| For every vessel laden with mill stones, for sale | 1 |
| For every horse or mare, ox or cow, for sale | ½ |
| For ten sheep, goats, and pigs, for sale | 1 |
| For every hundred weight of — for sale | 3 |
| For every hundred weight of tin and copper, for sale | 1 |
For whatever merchandize and things, for sale, here not specified, coming to the town aforesaid, for sale, as well by land
as by water (except wool, leather, and woolfells, one penny
per pound (value in money) and one halfpenny for ten shillings, and one farthing for five shillings.
In witness, &c. to continue during the time aforesaid. Witness, the King at Westminster, the 29th day of May.—By Writ
of Privy Seal.
Before seven years of the above Grant had expired, in the
24th year of Henry 6, another Patent was granted by the King
for 60 years; and in the first year of Edward the 4th, the King
granted his interest in the Town in fee, in these words:
Edward, by the Grace of God, King of England and France,
and Lord of Ireland, to all to whom these presents shall come
(sendeth) health. Know ye, that whereas Henry the 6th, late
King of England, on the 15th day of March, in the 24th year of
his reign, by his letters patent, committed and granted unto
Nicholas Hill, then the Mayor of the town of Bristol, and
to the Commonalty of the same town, with the gates, ditches,
and walls of the same town and suburbs, also all other the
lands, tenements, rents, and services, and the flesh-shambles,
which Johanna, late Queen of England, held for the term
of her natural life, in the same, from the grant of the Lord
Henry the 4th, likewise King of England, her late husband,
made to the same late Queen, for the same term, together with
the houses, shops, cottages, sheds, tofts, gardens, mills, pools,
watercourse running down to those mills, rents, landgables and
local tolls, pleas of courts, fairs, markets whatsoever, and courts,
in the same town and suburbs, with all fines, issues, redemptions,
and amercements, and all other jurisdictions, customary payments, and appurtenances, together with the reversion of all
lands, tenements, rents, and services within the precincts of the
said town, of all tenants for term of life or years, granted by the
same King Henry the 6th, or any of his progenitors, formerly
Kings of England, or by any other grant or grants, from whence
the reversion at that time pertained, or any ways belonged, to
the same late King, together with the ferms and rents received
therefrom, (the Castle of the same town, and the ditch of the
same, only excepted.) Nevertheless, he then granted to the
same Mayor and Commonalty, the water-course running down
in the aforesaid ditch toward the mill, under the Castle, as of
old time it used to do, together with the banks of the same
water, for the space of four feet in breadth, towards the said
Castle, all and singular the premises to be had, holden, and occupied, to them and their successors, until the end, and during
the term, of sixty years, next and immediately following after
the compleating and finishing of twenty years, specified in the
said letters; and (whereas) he further granted to the same, the
then Mayor and Commonalty, that they should have to themselves and their successors, immediately after the compleating
and finishing of the said twenty years, during the same term of
sixty years, certain liberties, franchises, commodities, and other
things, under a certain form specified in his aforesaid letters,
paying thence annually to the same late King Henry the 6th,
and his heirs, at his Exchequer, after the said twenty years past
and finished, during the aforesaid term of sixty years, £102.
15s. 6d. at the Feasts of Easter and of Saint Michael the Archangel, by equal portions; and to the Abbot of Tewkesbury, and
his successors, for the tithes of the town aforesaid, £14. 10s.;
to the Prior of Saint James of Bristol, and his successors, out of
the annual rent of the mill of the town, aforesaid, 60s.; to
the Constable of the Castle of Bristol, and to his officers, for
the time being, namely, to the porter and watchman of the said
Castle, and to the forester of Kingswood, £39. 14s. 6d. to be
paid during the said term of sixty years, at the two aforesaid
terms of the year, by equal portions, instead of all services and
burdens, as was more fully contained in those letters; and now
(whereas) our beloved, the now Mayor and Commonalty of our
said town of Bristol, have restored to us into our Chancery, the
said letters of the before-mentioned late King Henry the 6th, to
be cancelled: We, accepting that restitution, release, and, by
these presents, for ever acquit the same now Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors, of the form aforesaid, and of each
of the rents and burdens aforesaid, in ferm aforesaid, and we
remit, and by these presents release, for ever, the same ferm and
burdens, to the same now Mayor and Commonalty, and their
successors. And further, of our especial grace, and from our
certain knowledge and mere motion, we have granted and committed, and by virtue of these presents for ourselves and our
heirs, as far as lies in our power, we commit to the aforesaid
now Mayor and Commonalty, and to their successors, and to the
aforesaid burgesses, their heirs and successors, our said town of
Bristol, with the suburbs of the same, and with the gates, ditches
and walls of the same town and suburbs, and moreover, all and
all manner of lands, tenements, and services, and the fleshshambles pertaining or belonging to us, within the aforesaid
town and suburbs, the liberties, and precincts of the same, together with the houses, shops, cottages, cellars, tofts, gardens,
mills, pools, watercourse running down to that mill, rents, landgables, and local tolls, pleas of courts, fairs, markets whatsoever, and courts pertaining or in any ways belonging to us in the
same town, suburbs, liberties, and precincts, and with all manner
of fines, issues, redemptions, and amercements, forfeited and
adjudged, and to be forfeited and adjudged, in the same, and
with all other jurisdictions and customary payments and appurtenances of the town and suburbs aforesaid, with the appurtenances, together with the reversion of all lands, and tenements,
and services within the town, suburbs, liberties, and precincts
aforesaid, of all tenants for term of life or years, granted or
committed by us or any of our progenitors and late Kings of
England, or by any persons whatsoever, from whence the reversion at present anywise belongs or pertains to us, together with
the ferms and rents reserved from thence, the aforesaid Castle
and ditch of the same only being excepted. Nevertheless, the
watercourse in the said ditch, running down in the said ditch
towards the mill, below the Castle, as of old it used to do, with
the banks of the same water, for the space of four feet in breadth
towards the said Castle, which, by virtue of these presents we
grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors,
and to the said burgesses, their heirs and successors, being
wholly reserved to the same burgesses, their heirs and successors,
all and singular the premises to be had, holden, and occupied
by the said now Mayor and Commonalty, and by their successors, and by the said burgesses, their heirs and successors, from
the Feast of Saint Michael, last past, for ever. And further we
have granted, for ourselves and our heirs aforesaid, to the same
now Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors, and to the
said burgesses, their heirs and successors, that from the same
Feast of Saint Michael, for ever, they may have for themselves
and their successors, all fines, redemptions, and amercements,
and also all issues, forfeited and to be forfeited, as well of all
men as of all tenants, sole tenants and not sole tenants, residing
and not residing, in and out of fees, lands, and tenements, with
their appurtenances, and in and out of all places, being within
the precincts of the said town of Bristol, and suburbs of the
same, and county of Bristol, (the said Castle and ditch excepted)
and also (we have granted) all things which can belong to us
and our heirs, within the town, suburbs, liberties, county, and
precincts aforesaid, from year, day, and waste forfeiture, and
fine for murder, in whatsoever courts, of us and our heirs, it
shall happen, that all men and tenants, they or any of them,
shall pay fines and amercements, or be amerced, as well before
us and our heirs, as before us and our heirs in the Chancery, of
us and our heirs, and also before the Treasurer and Barons of
us and our heirs of the Exchequer, and before the Barons of
us and our heirs of the Exchequer, and before the Justices of
us and our heirs itinerant for Common Pleas, and Pleas of the
Forest, and also before the Justices of us and our heirs of the
Bench, and the Justices of us and our heirs for taking Assizes
and delivering Gaols, and also before the Justices of us and our
heirs assigned for hearing and determining, and for enquiring
into felonies and trespasses and misdemeanors, and before the
Steward and Marshall, and Coroner of the household of us and
our heirs, and the Clerk of the Market of the household of us
and our heirs, and also before any other Justices and Officers of
us and our heirs whatsoever, or (in whatever court it shall happen) that such issues, and fines for murder, for forfeiture, year,
day and waste, shall be adjudged aad forfeited, as fully and
entirely as we should have had them if we had kept the town,
county, suburbs, and fees, lands, tenements, and places aforesaid, in our own hands; so that the same now Mayor and Commonalty of the same our town of Bristol, and their successors,
and the aforesaid Burgesses, and their successors, from the
said Feast of Saint Michael last past, for ever, shall be empowered to levy, gather, and receive, by the hand of the Sheriff of
the county of Bristol, and of their Bailiffs, the fines, redemptions, and amercements aforesaid, and the issues forfeited, in
form aforesaid, and all things which might belong to us and
our said heirs, in form aforesaid, out of year, day, and waste
forfeiture, and fine for murder, from and in the said town,
county, suburbs, and fees, lands, tenements, and places aforesaid, by Estreat of the Exchequer, of us and our heirs, to be
delivered from thence to the Bailiffs and Officers of the same
Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors, and of the said
Burgesses, their heirs and successors, by the hands of the Sheriff
of Bristol and of his successors, Sheriffs of the same county for
the time being, in whose Bailiwicks the fees, lands, tenements,
and places aforesaid, are (these they shall be empowered to levy)
from the lands, tenements, possessions, goods, and chattels of
the same men and tenants, without let or hindrance, of us or
our heirs, or the Bailiffs or Officers of us or our heirs whatsoever. And that the same now Mayor and Commonalty, and
their successors, and the said Burgesses, their heirs and successors, from the Feast of Saint Michael last past, for ever, shall
have in the town, county, and suburbs, lands, tenements, fees,
and places aforesaid, (the castle and ditch of the same excepted)
the chattels of felons and fugitives, the chattels of felons de. se.
chattels of outlaws, of persons condemned, and waifs; so that
if any of the men and tenants aforesaid, or any other in the
town, county, and suburbs, fees, and places aforesaid, excepting those places before excepted, ought to lose life or limb, or
limb, or shall flee, and not choose to stand trial, or shall commit
any offence for which he, or they, ought to lose their chattels,
wheresoever justice ought to be done on them, on that account,
whether in the court of us and our heirs, before us and our
heirs, or before the Justices and Officers of us and our heirs
whatsoever, before mentioned, or in any other court, their
chattels which shall be found within the said town, county,
suburbs, liberties, and precincts, shall belong to the Mayor and
Commonalty, and their successors, and to the said Burgesses,
their heirs and successors, from the said Feast of Saint Michael
last past, for ever, (we have granted) that it shall be lawful for
the officers of them, the Mayor and Commonalty, and successors, without let or hindrance, of us or our heirs, or of any
other Bailiffs or Officers of us or our heirs whatsoever, to put
them, the Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors, and
the said Burgesses, their heirs and successors, in seisin of those
chattels, for the purpose of keeping them for the use and profit
of the same Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors, and
of them, the Burgesses, their heirs and successors. And (we
have granted) that the same now Mayor and Commonalty, and
their successors, and the said Burgesses, their heirs and successors, for ever, shall hold the said town of Bristol, with the
suburbs of the same, the lands, tenements, fees, and places
aforesaid whatsoever, within the liberties and precincts of the
same town, together with the fairs, and markets, waters, rivers,
ways, fisheries, commons, assarts, wastes, and purprestures, and
also the rents and returns of all assarts, wastes, and purprestures
in all places aforesaid, within the precincts of the same town,
as is aforesaid rented, and hereafter to be rented, as well in the
times of our progenitors, formerly Kings of England, as in our
own times, together with the fines for the entrance of such
assarts, and wastes, and purprestures, so rented, or to be rented,
and with the court of view of frank-pledge, hundred court
wreck, (viz.) wreck of the sea, and wrecks, royal, waife and
sraife, and royal fish arising, and which shall arise, or happen
within the said town, and the county and jurisdiction of the
same, and with the other customs, and all other things, which
of that sort soever, and whatsoever, as is before mentioned,
shall appertain, or shall belong, for ever, to the said town,
county, and suburbs and precincts, and also the lands, tenements, places, and fees, aforesaid. And further we have granted, and by these presents grant for us and our heirs, to the
same the now Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors,
that from the said festival of Saint Michael last past, they shall
have all fines, redemptions, issues, forfeited amercements, forfeitures, and other profits whatsoever, in the courts itinerant
of the forest, or by reason of the same courts itinerant, as well
for trespasses of vert and venison, as for any other offences and
causes whatever, proceeding or arising in the said town of Bristol, and also in all and singular, places and fees, within the
precincts of the same town, as is before mentioned, so that the
same now Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors, and
the said Burgesses, their heirs and successors, for ever, from
the same Feast of Saint Michael, shall be empowered to levy,
collect, and have by the hand of their Bailiffs and Officers, the
fines, redemptions, issues, forfeited amercements, forfeitures,
and other profits aforesaid, from those persons who shall be in
and of the town of Bristol, and suburbs of the the same, the
lands and tenements, places and fees, aforesaid, within the precincts of the said town, (the castle and ditch of the same castle
being exempted) by Estreat of the Justices in eyre of the forest,
and of the other Justices in eyre of us and our heirs, in their
circuits, to be delivered from them to the same Bailiffs and
Officers of the said Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors, and that they may have, and collect, at the Exchequer,
of us and our heirs, by the hand of the Sheriffs and Bailiffs of
the liberties in which they shall be bailiffs, all the fines redemptions, issues, forfeited, and amercements, forfeitures, and other
profits aforesaid, from those persons who shall be of and in the
said town of Bristol, and the suburbs of the same, (as is before
mentioned) and of and in the lands and tenements, places and
fees, aforesaid, within the precincts of the same town of Bris
tol, and the suburbs of the same, as we and our heirs should
have collected them, if they should have belonged to us and our
heirs, without let or hindrance, of us or our heirs, or of our
Bailifls or Officers whatsoever, if we had retained the said town,
county, and suburbs, and fees, lands, tenements, and places
aforesaid, in our hand. And further we have granted, for us
and our heirs, that the same Mayor and Commonalty, and their
successors, and the aforesaid Burgesses, their heirs and successors, for ever, may have, and hold the said town of Bristol,
with the suburbs of the same, and also the lands, tenements,
places, and fees, aforesaid, (the said castle and ditch excepted)
from the said Feast of Saint Michael, the Archangel, last past,
with the franchises and liberties howsoever belonging and pertaining to the same, together with the fines, redemptions, issues
amercements, the chattels of outlaws and fugitives, escheats,
forfeitures, and deodands, which shall arise, or shall happen,
within the precincts of the town, the county and suburbs aforesaid, and all places, as well by land, as by water, within the
liberties and jurisdiction of the same, together with all other
profits in the same places, arising, or which shall arise or happen, and also all profits and emoluments, as well from punishment for false judgment given, or to be given, in any court, as
for judgement annulled, or to be annulled, in any court within
the precincts of the said town, and suburbs of the same, and
moreover all other profits, treasure, trove, emoluments, (howsoever they may happen) as well from forests, parks, woods,
warrens, pools, wastes, places, marshes, moors, mines, as from
all other things which can in any way arise within the town
aforesaid, as was before mentioned, any prerogative, privilege,
or franchises, notwithstanding, (all escheats of land and tenements, hereafter happening, being wholly excepted); and that
the same now Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors,
for ever, shall have from the said Feast of Saint Michael last
past, the privileges, liberties, and emoluments or profits, rights
and commodities aforesaid, within the precincts of the said
town of Bristol, and all things whatsoever arising, or which
shall arise, or belonging to them, from all men residing, and
not residing, sole tenants, or not sole tenants, out of all things
arising, and which shall arise, within the said county, town,
and precincts, as fully and entirely as we should have had them,
if we had kept them in our own hand,—Yielding, therefore, to
us and our heirs, annually, at our Exchequer, from the aforesaid Feast of Saint Michael last past, £102. 15s. 6d., at the
Feast of Easter, and of Saint Michael, the Archangel, by
equal portions; and to the Abbot of Tewkesbury, and his successors, for the tithes of the town aforesaid, £14. 10s.; to the
Prior of Saint James, of Bristol, and to his successors, out of
the annual rent of the mill, Sixty Shillings; to the Constable
of the Castle of Bristol, and to his officers for the time being,
namely, to the porter and the watchman of the said castle, and
to the Forester of Kingswood, £39. 14s. 6d.; to be paid annually at the two aforesaid terms of the year, by equal portions,
for all services, exactions, burdens, and demands, (strictly commanding all persons that they do not counteract the premises in
any respect,) because express mention be not made in these
presents, of the true yearly value, or any other value, or of the
accuracy of the premises, or any one of them, or of other gifts
and grants heretofore made to the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty, or to their predecessors, by us, or any of our progenitors or predecessors, or any statute, act, ordinance, usage,
custom, or provision, made, ordained, used, or provided to the
contrary, or any thing, cause, or matter whatsoever, notwithstanding. In witness, whereof, we have caused these our letters
to be made patent. Witness, myself, at Westminster, the
twelfth day of February, in the first year of our reign."
Having thus traced the right of Ownership of the Town of
Bristol from a very early period, and explained the manner in
which it was Let to Farm from time to time, sometimes to
individuals and at other times to the Corporation; having also
given a full statement of the several Tolls which in those days
were collected: it must be evident to every reader, that the
Corporation are entitled to receive two distinct Tolls on goods,
the one called "Custom on all goods coming for sale, as well
by land as by water," and applicable to general purposes, and
the other called "Murage, Keyage, and Pavage" on Merchandize for sale, coming to the Town by water only, including
a Toll on Ships and Boats, to be solely applied to the repairs of
the Keys, Walls, and Pavements of the Town.