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1

1

2
3

STATUTUM PANIS ET SERUISIE

4

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5    If the baker lakke an vnce in the wyght of a
6ferthyng loff, he be amercyed at xx d. And if he lakke
7an vnce et dimidium , he to be amercyed at ii s. in alle
8maner of bred so lakkyng. And if he lakke past ii s.,
9he mote haue iugement to the pelory. This is the
10statute of our lord the King.
11
12

ASSYSE OF BRED

13
14    It is for to haue in mynde þat þe assyse of
15bedbredEdition: bed shall be taken after þe myddes prys of whete and
16neyther of the best ne of þe worst, and þat þe wyte
17schall not be chaunged but at vi d. incresynge of sale
18of a quarter of whete or disencresynge. And if the
19baxster be founde fauty in þe wyȝt of a ferthyng loof
20by ii s. vi d., or within þat defaut in wyȝt, he is
21amercyable in þat defaute. And if he passe, he is
22nouȝt amercyable but shall haue iugement of þe pilory
23and nouȝt ȝeuyn for gold ne syluer. Or if he haue be
24fondyn ii fauty in brekyn þe assyse, he mote haue

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25iugement withowte fyn for sesyng etc. And euery baxster
26mote haue his propre sygne on euery manere of his bred.
27And euery baxster in kepyng treuly þe assyse aforseyd,
28as it is provyd be þe baxster of our lord þe Kyng,
29may wynne in euery quarter of whete bakyng iii d. and
30the bran and iii loues þe price of iii d. to the fornage,
31and i d. ob. to iii seruantis heyre, and ob. to ii
32knauis hyre, and ob. to salt and bulter. And Breton
33seith þat if the baxster be ateynt of fals wyȝt of a
34ferthyng fonden in the wyȝt of ii s., in þat cas he
35is amercyable. And in euery faut that he is founde
36passynge a ferthyng wyȝt in þe wyȝt of ii s., he is
37noutȝ amercyable but mote haue iuyse etc.
38
39

ASSYSE OF ALE

40
41    It is to wete þat whan a quarter of whete is
42solde for iii s. or for xl d., and barly for xx d. or
43for ii s., and otys for xvi d., þan may well the
44breweres selle in citie and burgh ii galounys of good
45and conable ale to drynk for i d., and withowte citie or
46burgh, vplond iiii galounys for i d. And the assyse of
47ale ne sale shall noȝt be chaunged but in encresyng or

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48dysencresynge xii d. in a quarter of corn. And wyll ȝe
49wete in kepyng the assyse of ale aboueseyd alle costages
50and repryses of brewars acounted and alowed well and
51largely, þei may in a quarter of malt bruyng gete iiii d.
52and all the ȝyst, dreggys and draff as it is prouyd in
53the brewhous of our lord þe Kynge by alle the places of
54Ynglond in tyme of his antecessours. And þat þis
55assyse of our lord þe Kyng be generally by all Ynglond
56proclamyd, þe Kyng comaundyth.
57    And if þe brewster be comytted þat he halt
58noȝt this assyse, ffirst he mote be amercyed aftyr
59þe quantyte of þe trespase. If he trespase noȝt
60greuously and if he haue or wyll noȝt be iustyfyed,
61he mote haue the dome by an holl our of þe day in
62tyme of market most plener, þat is to wete þe baker
63on þe pylory, þe brewster on þe trubechet. And þat
64by þe centense ȝouen of þe Reuerent Ffadyr Stephyn,
65sumtyme Archebysshoppe of Caunterbury. Item, wyte ȝe
66þat þe brewster shall not encrese or dysencrese þe
67assyse of ale in xii d. hyeng or lowyng in the price
68of a quarter of malt but a ferthyng etc.

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69

8

70

AD FACIENDUM IUSIURANDUM AD INQUISITIONEM

71
72    "Ȝe scholn soth seyn of alle maner articules
73þat schal be put to ȝow here of þe Kyngis behalfe
74and trewe verdite make. And ȝe schall nothyng seyne
75for euyl wyll ne enmyte of no maner person, ne ȝe
76schul nothyng consele ne hyde for no frensheppe ne
77kynrede, but trewlyche seyn, and kepe trewly the Kyngis
78counsell and ȝour owen and ȝour felas. And þat ȝe
79schulln thus don, so God ȝow helpe and Holydom." Et
80osculantur librum.
81    De iuratoribus inter partes et partes: ponantur
82manus super librum, dicat senescallus: "Of (how many)
83articules ȝe schulne soth seyn þat here schall be put
84to ȝow bytwyxe partye and partye, that is for to seyn

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85Thomas atte Style and Symme Grubbe, weche ple schal
86be rehersyd aforn ȝow. TO PRESERVE THE SENSE, THE EDITOR WOULD OMIT THE FOLLOWING WORDS IN PARENTHESES (And ȝe schull for frensheppe
87ne for procurement ne mede on neyther partye) And
88ȝe schull nothyng seyn for euyl wyle ne nothyng fauore
89for frensheppe ne for mede. And ȝe schulne don so
90helpe ȝow God and Holydom."
91    Postea legatur placitum et in fine dicat
92sic: "And if he be detour to hym as he beryth hym on
93hande or in partye lesse or more, ȝif hym his dette
94and awarde for his dampniage. And ȝif he be nouth
95gylty, aqwyte hym."

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96

10

97

THE MANNER OF DOING HOMAGE AND FEALTY

98
99

HOMAGE

100
101    Whan a freman schall do his homage to his
102chef lord þat he halt of his chef tenement, he schal
103holden his handys togedyr betwyx his lordis handis,
104knelyng, he schall this seyn: "I become ȝour man fro
105þis day forward and feyth bere to ȝow for þat tenement
106þat I cleyme to helde of ȝow, sauyng the fewte
107wyche I owe to our lord the Kyng and oþer lordesheppes."
108
109

FFEWTE

110
111    Whan a freman schal do fewte to his lord, he

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112schal ley his ryght hand on the boke and seyn thus:
113"Here ȝe, my lord N., þat T. de C. schal be to ȝow
114trust and trewe and feyth bere to ȝow of þe tenement
115qwiche I cleyme holde of ȝow, and þat lawefully I
116schall do to ȝow at terme assigned the lawful seruices
117and customys, so God me helpe and Holydom."

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118

20

119

CHARGES TO PEACE OFFICERS

120
121

CHARGE TO THE CONSTABELIS

122
123    Ȝe schul first pryncypaly take hede þat þe
124pees be kepte in ȝour towne. And if ony man dystruble
125or breke þe pees, ȝe schall arest hym and brynge hym
126to þe Kyngis preson as wel be day as nyght; item,

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127alle nyght-walkerys withowte cause resonable and
128ryetous persones, and brynge hem to þe Kyngis preson.
129And alle comon tenys pleyeris, hasardoures, vacabundys,
130dyes pleyeris and tho persones þat vse suspecyous
131placis, take hem and bryng hem to þe Kyngis preson.
132And if ȝe be noȝt myghty to make þis areste, ȝe schall
133compleyn vnto ȝour cheff constabelys of ȝour hundred,
134or ellys to a iustyse of the pees, for to strenghte
135ȝow to take and bryng them to preson, alle suche rebellyouns.
136    Ȝe schall comaunde þo persones þat schall
137kepe watche in tyme of yeer to kepe ther oure before
138ȝow to reseyve ther charge be ix of þe clok at evyn
139at þe ferthest, vpon peyn ordeynyd vpon þe same. And
140of alle tho personys þat make defaute at þe our of
141ther watche, or kepe noȝt duly ther watche, or sende
142ony persone þat is not sufficiant ne able to watche or
143withowte sufficiant wepon, ȝe schall certyfye vp his
144name.
145
146

CHARGE TO THE WATCHE

147
148    Ȝe schal þis nyȝght folwyng, þat is to seyn
149from thys tyme vnto iii of the clok aftyr mydnyght, make

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150and kepe watche thrugh this towne withinne the boundys
151of ȝour watche. Alle hasardourys, ryetous persones and
152oþer persones suspecte founden in suspecyous placis,
153and alle oþer persones fowdyn walkyng in ȝour toun
154withowte causes resonable, ȝe schal hem take and ledyn
155them to your constablys, and they schall kepe them in
156prison. If ȝe seen ony candelyght or fyer-lyght, or
157fele ony smell of ony fyer, ȝe schal goodly withowte
158noysyng commaunde þe persones of þe place wher ony
159suche lygth or smel of fyer is, to ben war of þer lygth
160or þer fyer. And if ȝe sene or fyndyn ony fyer in ony
161place wiche were not lyche to ben quenchyd withowte
162gret helpe, ȝe schall breke vp ther doris and reyse
163the peple of ȝour toun and do ȝour parte to quenche
164þat fyer etc. And if ȝe make ony departyng of your
165felaschype, þan haue a wetcheword be assent, be þe weche
166ȝe schall know whan ȝe mete with ony persone, wheþer he
167be ony of ȝour watche or non. And whan ȝe walke
168togedyr or on sondry, ȝe schall make none noyse wherthurgh
169þe dwelleris withinne ȝour toun schuld ben
170dystrobled or lettyd of ther rest, or þe nyght-walkeris
171or þe ryetouris withinne ȝour toun may knowe of ȝour

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172comyng, and so for noyse-makyng skape awey to gret
173schame of þe wetche and of hem þat haue gouernauns
174þerof for the tyme. In þis wyse ȝe schall ȝow gouerne
175and wysely behaue ȝow, þat no harme in ȝour defaute be
176done withinne ȝour walke, as ȝe wyll answer and aquyte
177ȝourself and vs aȝens our souerayn lord þe Kyng, whom
178God save and kepe etc.
179
180

21

181

DIRECTIONS FOR BLOOD-LETTING

182
183    Ysodor seyth be auctoryte of Ypocras þat þer
184arn iii dayes þat no man owyth to be lete blood. Þat
185is for to seyn, the vii day of þe calende of Apryl,
186the fyrst day of August and the last day of Decembyr
187etc.
188    Her may a man knowyn in what monyth and what
189houre of þe day is best bledyng for dyuers complexiouns.
190In Marche, Apryl and May reynyth blood, and he arn hote
191and moyst. In the monyth of Iune, Iule and August
192reynyth red colour, and it arn notehoteEdition: note and drye. In
193the monyth of Septembyr, Octobyr and Nouembyr reynyth

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194blak colour, and it arn drye and colde. In þe monyth
195of Decembyr, Ianuar and Ffeuerȝer reynyth fleume, and
196he arn colde and moyste. Sanquine men and fleumatyk
197men owyn to bledyn abowtyn vndern, þat they ben fastyng,
198and coleryk men fro an our afor vndern tyl noonn.
199And a malecolyous man owyth to bledyn abowtyn noun.
200But noȝt aftyr mete, ne aftyr slepe, ne aftyr hatyng,
201for thanne arn þe humores medelyd þe goode with the
202wykke, and if he blede, than þe goode humores schuldyn
203goon owte as well as þe wyk.
204    It is to wetyn þat xxvii dayes ben beforn
205euery prime tyl the chaungyng of the mone. And þu
206þat wylt be letyn blood, take hed to þe nest prime and
207aftyrward begynne to counte in þe day of the chounge
208of the mone aftrn. Þat prime qwon many dayes ben into
209þe day, þu wylt be letyn blood. And sythyn, loke in
210what monyt it be, and in the space of that monyth goo
211alweys vpward tyl þu come euene aȝen the noumbyr of
212þe forseyd day. And loke be ony maner þat þu blede
213notȝ ne ony medesyn ȝeue to þat membyr wyche þat
214syngne gouernyth as long as it lestyth.

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215    Alle þe veynys of the hed schuldyn bledyn aftyr
216mete, owte take þe veyn vndyr the chyn. And all the
217veynys of the armys schuldyn bledyn afor mete fastyng.
218And alle þe veynys of the handis and thyes and feet, aftyr
219mete. The veyne in the front is good for gret hedwerk,
220and for the emygrayn, and for þe fallyng euyl, and for þe
221frentyk, and for the brayn þat is apeyred, and for þe
222lepre þat is newe come.
223    Her may men knowyn and sen that for fawte and
224neglygens of blood-latyng, men and women takyn dyuers
225sekenenes, þat is for to sayn, perlyows feuers, palseyes,
226sores, mychell bledyng at þe nose, sotheyn deth, pestelens,
227lepre and many moo sekenesses.
228    And of often blood-latyng but ȝyff a man
229nedyth, comyth ofte wekednesse and febyllnesse of complexion,
230and febylnesse of the stomak, and of the herte,
231of lever, and of the lounge, and of alle his body. But
232ȝyf blood-lat be vsyd whan nede is and tyme is, it
233amendyth the heryng, and kepyth wattery eyn, and purgyth
234the stomak, and doot awey gret hevynesse and
235norschyth the good blood, and dystroytȝ þe wykkyd
236blood, and lengyth þe lyff. And of onwys blood-lath

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237comyth many sekenesse, and oftentyme deyn men.
238    But wete þu well þat blood-lath kepyth mekyll
239in serteyn tymes of the yeer for certeyn complexion
240and lengyth þe lyff. Þat is for to seyn, in the ende
241of May is blood-lath good for hem thanthat han plenty of
242blood, and in the ende of August for plenty of coler,
243and in the ende of Nouembr for meche malecolye, and
244in the ende of Feuerȝer for mekyll flemme. But euer
245loke þat the dayes and the reulys of blood-latyng be
246kepte. And euer ȝyff nede be to letyn blood, do it,
247saue kepe þe rewlys and the dayes. But in a continuall
248agu, let no blood aftyr the iiii^te day and alle the
249dayes wythinne the fourte day.
250    He þat schuldyn letyn man or woman blood, hym
251must ben avysyd of iiii poyntes. Þat is for to seyn,
252þat tyme be good and able, and not to ouer-hote, ne
253to ouer-colde, ne not in the hundyn dayes, ne on other
254dayes þat arn forbeden.
255    The secunde poynte is custum. Ȝyf a man be
256custumable for to blede, or if an elde man haue a sekenesse
257þat hath nought vsyd to bledyn, and the sekenesse

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258may notȝ awey withowtyn blood-lath, it is dred to letyn
259hym blood for custum and febylnesse.
260    The thredde poynt is age. Þat is for to seyn,
261a chylde of xii yeer owyn not to blede, ne man fer in
262age.
263    The fourte poynte inis þis: if a man be stronge
264and of gret herte for to bleden, aftyr þat he may: a
265stronge man, inowe, a febyll man, but lytyll etc.
266
267

22

268

VARIOUS TAXES

269
270

(B)

271
272    The Rome-shotȝ gaderyd in Acle is iii s. ob.
273Therof is payed to the gadereris þat goyt to Rome ii s.
274viii d.

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275    The taske of Acle drawyth vii li., of the weche
276the lord of the maner of Acle payeth iii li., and the
277tounesheppe payeth iiii li. This don at Martylmesse
278the xiiii yeer of Kyng Edward the iiii^te, gaderyd be
279Thomas Gedycok and Iohn Clerk, counstabyll, Iohn Stotevyle,
280colecteur. The same tyme for the hundred. Item,
281anoþer taske payed the same yeer at Crowchemesse nest
282aftyr, gaderyd be William Hendy, Nicholas Ovy, colectour.

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283

25

284
285

LANDS OF THE MANOR OF ACLE

286
287

ACLE

288

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289    To the maner of Acle longith ccccxxxi acris
290and ii rodis fermelonde. Item, xl acris clepyd Rotwode,
291i acre clepyd Chekyr Acre, iii acris clepyd the
292Harrowe, besyde Ffarmanys Closse, containing vii acris.
293
294

26

295
296

CONCORDS

297
298    How many concordis ben in your gain? IX.
299Wheche ix? An enes on, a iii^de, a v^te, a vi^te, a viii^te,
300a x^te, a xii^te, a xiii^te and a xv^te. How many ben
301perfite and how many inperfite? V inperfite and iiii
302perfite. Wheche v ben inperfite? An enes on, a v^te,

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303an viii^te, a xii^te and a xv^te. And how many ben
304perfite? IIII. Wheche iiii? A iii^de, a vi^te, a x^te
305and a xiii^te.

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306

29

307
308

PROCEDURE FOR DIVINATION

309
310    Take on chyld of yonge age, þat is betwyxen
311vii and xiiii, and in the sonne set hym betwyxen þi
312leggis. And than knytte a red sylke thred abowte his
313ryght thombe iii, and scrape hys nayle wele and clene.
314And thanne wryte on the nayle þis lettrys with oyle de

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315olyue: O.N.E.L.I., and qwyll þu wrytis þes
316lettris, let þe chyld say hys Paternoster. And than
317say þis prayer: " Domine Ihesu Christe, Rex glorie,
318mitte nobis tres angelos ex parte tua, qui dicant
319nobis veritatem et non falsitatem de hiis omnibus
320de quibus nos interogabimus. " And sey þis prayer iii
321with good hert and devoute. And then þer schal aper
322iii aungels in þe chyldis nayle. And þen let the chyld
323sey thus after the, wheder þu wylt in Latyn or in
324Englys: " Domini angeli, ego precipio vobis per Dominum
325Patrem Omnipotentem, qui vos et nos ex nichilo creauit
326et per virginitatem Beate Marie et beati Iohannis
327Euangelyste, necnon et omnium virginum, et per virtutes
328omnium sanctorum nichilominus Dei, ut ostendatis
329nobis veritatem et non falsitatem de hiis omnibus de
330quibus nos interrogabimus. " And þen let þe chyld aske
331what þat he lyst, and þei schal schewe to hym.
332
333

30

334
335

RECEIPTS FOR INK, GLUE AND TEMPERING

336
337    Ffor to make blak ynke, take gallys, coporose
338and gumme of rabyk, of iche aleke mekyll be wyte. And
339make powder of þi gallys and of thy coporose, of eyther

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340be hemselff. And ley þi gumme in watir to stepe al a
341nyght. And on the morwen take þi gumme-water and þi
342pouuder of gallys, and put hem togeder, and sette hem
343ouer the fyer, and lete hem sethen þe space of þis
344psalme seying, " Miserere mei, Deus. " And than cast
345þi powder of coporose þerin, and steret well togeder,
346and þan take it don. And if þu wylt make inke for ony
347book of gret prys, take as mekell coporose as gumme and
348gallys. And to iii vncis take a quarte of reyn water,
349for þat is best þerfor. And þan it is good inke, sekerly.
350And stere it well euery day. Gumme, i quart,
351gall, i quart, coporose, i quart: iiii d.
352    Ffor to make reed ynkke, take vermelyon, and
353grynit with gleyer, and temperit. Ffor to make gleyer,
354take þe whyte of an egge, and brayet in a dissch with
355a sponge tyl it is as schort as ony water, and þan it
356is good gleyer to gryne and temperyn with vermelyon
357for reed inkke. If it burbelyt whan ȝe gryne it, take
358sape of ȝour eere, and grynit þerwith, and þat schal
359don away alle tho burbelys.
360    Ffor to make blew inkke, take byse and temperyt
361with gumme-water, and steryt well, and þan it is good
362blew inkke. Ffor to make gumme-water, take gumme of
363arabyk as moche as aboue, and put it in a sauser ful

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364of clene water a day or a nyght tyl it is turned alle
365to water. And þan it is good to temperyn with byse for
366blew hynk.
367    Ffor to make staunchsgreyn: recipe calcem et
368calcem viuam et farinam ana, et distempera cum albumine
369oui et lacte cum sit quasi spissa pastis, et sicta
370lente ad solem .
371    Ffor to make mowth glew for bokys, take þe
372sowdys of stok-fysshez, and sethe hem in worte be þe
373space of ii owrys. Þan take and drye hem, and whan they
374be drye, vse hem forth as bookbynderis don. In þe same
375maner þu mayst make it of soundys dryed of lyngis.
376    Ffor to temperyn ȝour colouris, take the
377water þat gloueris speccis ben sothen in. It is
378clepyd coode, þat is good to gryne and temperyn with
379ȝour colouris etc. Yelow, take okyr, and grynit with
380coode; a better yelow, take generall, and grynit.
381Grene, take blewe inde and generall, and gryne them
382togeder. For to peynt on tymber or vpon fferston,
383take vergres, and grynit and temperyt with oyle.
384Blak, take smethes coles and grynit. Reed, take red

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385led, and grynit; a better reed, take vermelyon, and
386grynit. Blew, take blew inde and grynit. Reed crymsyn,
387take synnaper and vermelyon, and grynit togeder. Grene
388inke to wryten with, take vergres and gryne it to
389pouder, then take vynegyr or ellys vergeows, and
390temperit togeder, and sterit well.

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391

32

392
393

CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

394
395

(A)

396
397    Iohn Reynys, Iohn Goodwyn, taylour, and Herry
398Brandon, chirchereves, dedyn maken the batylment of
399the stepyll, weche coste drow to the valow of xvi li.,
400anno Domini millesimo cccc^mo septuagesimo ii^do.
401
402

(B)

403
404    Iohn Hendy, Roberd Reynys and William Pey,
405chirchereves, bowte a vestement, holl sute of red

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406velvet, pouderyd with flouris of gold complet. Þat
407is to seyn, a cope, a chesepyll and ii tonekylls
408with aubis, amys, stolys and paralys longyng to þe
409same. þis was don þe Thurday nest aftyr Alle Seyntis.
410The price of the same vestement is xxiii li. Þis don
411anno Domini millesimo cccc^mo septuagesimo quarto .
412
413

33

414
415

RECEIPT OF THE FLOCK OF ACLE

416
417    Thomas Ponde, Iohn Tan and Symon Bakton of
418Yermothe delyuered the leddis flokke of Acle to þe
419baly: cclxi ewys, lvii wedyr hoggis, xxxiii wederis,
420xlii ewe-hoggis, cc lambys and vi rammys, and v s.
421in syluer to amend for þe catell. Þis don the Thursday
422nest aftyr Seynt Mathewe, anno Domini millesimo
423cccc^o septuagesimo iiii^to .

page 194

424

48

425
426

SUMMARY OF THE LINEAGE AND FAMILY OF ST. ANNE

427
428    In the olde lawe a man hyght Barpanter.
429Barpanter weddyd Asmarea, ther sone was clepyd Ioachym

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430(Nazareth).
431    Isakar weddyd Nasaphat, too dowterys þei had: Anna
432and Emeria.
433    Ioachym weddyd Anna (Bedlam born), ther dowter was
434Maria, mater Christi (Nazareth): prima
435    Aaron weddyd Emeria, ther dowter was Elizabeth, mater
436Iohannis Baptiste.
437    Ioseph weddyd Maria, ther Sone was Ihesu Crist.
438    Sakari weddyd Elizabeth, ther sone was Iohn Baptist.
439    Eliud, Eminen, filia, Beatus Geruasius Episcopus.
440    Cleophas weddyd Anna, ther dowter was clepyd Mari:
441Secunda .
442    Alphe weddyd that Mari, iiii sunnys they had: Simonem
443et Iudam, Iacobum Minorem et Ioseph Iustum .
444    Salome weddyd Anna, ther dowter was clepyd Mari:
445Tercia .
446    Zebede weddyd that Mari, too sunnys þei had: Iohannem
447Euangelistam, Iacobum Maiorem .
448    Sent Anna had iii husbondes and iii dowterys:
449i Maria mater Christi , ii Maria Cleophe , iii Maria Salome.

page 237

450

54

451
452

NOTES ON ST. PAUL'S, WESTMINSTER HALL AND WESTMINSTER ABBEY

453
454    Here is the lenght of the shaft of the cros on
455Poulys stepyll at London: From the booll to the egyll
456is xii fote, and the lenght of the cros at þe wedyrcok
457is vii fote, and the booll is over from syde to syde
458iii fote: Þat is iii yardys abowte.
459    Poulis Chirche is in lenght fro the west dore
460to the qweer dore vii^xx pacis and ii, and fro the qwer
461dore to the est ende is iiii^xx and x pacis. Summa of
462all the lenght fro the ton ende to the tothyr ende is
463xi^xx and xii pacis. Also, the cros ele fro the north
464dore to the south dore is vi^xx and x pacis.
465    Westmester Halle is in lenght v^xx pacis and
466xii^ve. Þerin inis the Kyngys Bench, the Chaunstry, the
467Comonplace, the Chekyr, the Kyngis Councell-chaumbyr,
468the Kyngis Chapell.
469    Westmester Chirche is of Seynt Petir. Behynde
470the hygh awter lyeth many kyngis and qwenys. And in
471the myddys of the chapell lyeth Seynt Edward the Kyng
472shryned. And ther ben many relykkys. And on the south
473syde besyde the hygh awter is the lely-pott, with vi

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474braunches rennyng fayre, clene water bothe nyght and
475day.
476    And in the gret belfer at Westmyster arn vi
477grete bellys. Also, in the gret belver at Poulys arn
478vii gret bellys.
479    Ffro Poulis to Westmester is a long myle and
480more.
481
482

55

483
484

A LONDON ADDRESS

485
486    At Sarzynnes Hed in Fflet Strete at London,
487ther is my lordes inne of Tyntarne. Ther dwellyth
488William Stone, skynner.

page 240

489

58

490
491

NOTES ON THE ZODIAC

492
493    Yemps lasted 3 synus: þo ben Sagittarius, Capricornius
494and Aquarius.
495    Ver lastyd oþer synus: þo ben Pisces, Aries and
496Taurus.
497    Estas lastyd oþer 3 synus: þo ben Gemini, Cancer and
498Leo.
499    Avtumnus lastyd oþer 3 synus: þo ben Virgo, Libra
500and Scorpio.
501    Yemps ( oritur ) gynnyth on Sent Clementis day in
502Nouembre.
503    Ver ( oritur ) gynnyth on Cathedra Sancti Petri in
504Ffebruare.
505    Estas gynnyth on Seynt Vrbans day in May, viii^o

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506kalendae Iunii .
507    Autumnus gynnyth on Seynt Simphorians day in Augus,
508xi^o kalendae Septembre .
509    Whoso be born in þe signe of Tauro, he schal haue
510moche grace in alle bestis and in alle other
511thyngis, saue in his wyff: sche xall be master.
512    Whoso be born in Aries, he schall be dredfull and
513þowȝ gracious.
514    Whoso be born in Gemini, he xal be pore and weyke, and
515leue in meche desese.
516    Cancer: he schall ben pore and weyke, and þowȝ gracious.
517    Leo: he schall be bold and a strong theff.
518    Virgo: he schall be wyse and letteryd, and he schall
519be blamed giltles.
520    Libra: he schall be a schrew in auant and a þeff, and
521dey in wykked ded.
522    Scorpio: he schall be a gret goer in the werd.
523    Sagittarius: he schall be hardy and a gret lechoure.
524    Capricornus: he schall be riche and loved.
525    Aquarius: he schall be rekeles and abill for to lese

page 242

526his men.
527    Pisces: he schall be gracius in alle maner werkys.

page 243

528

62

529
530

RELIGIOUS ENUMERATIONS

531
532

DECEM PRECEPTA

533
534    The ffirst is: Wurchep God aboue alle thyng.
535    The secunde is: Take not His name in idylnesse.
536    The iii^de is: Halwe treuly thy holyday.
537    The iiii^te is: Wurchep þi ffader and moder bodely
538and gostly.

page 244

539    The v^te is: Sle no man with thy toung.
540    The vii^te ys: Do no lechery owte of wedlak.
541    The viii^te is: Stele nothyng.
542    The ix^te is: Bere no fals wytnesse.
543    The x^te is: Þu schal not coveyte þi neybouris hows,
544his wyff ner his seruaunt etc. X Comaundementis.
545
546

SEPTEM MORTALIA PECCATA

547
548    Pryde, invye, wreth, coveytyse, glotony, lechery
549and slauth: these ben þe VII Dedly Synnys.
550
551

SEPTEM OPERA MISERICORDIE

552
553    Thow schalt: ffede þe hungery, ȝeuen hem drynk
554þat ben athorst, visite hym þat is seke, herbere hym
555that hat nede, clothe hem þat his naked, comfort hym
556þat is in preson, bery Crysten bodyes þat ben dede:
557these ben the VII Werkys of Mercy.
558
559

SEPTEM VIRTUTES PRINCIPALES

560
561    Ffides, spes, caritas, prudencia, iusticia, ffortitudo,
562temperancia.
563    Trewth, feyth, hope, charite, sleythe, rythfulnesse,
564strenghe, sobyrnesse: these ben the VII Vertuys.
565
566

SEPTEM SACRAMENTA ECCLESIE

567
568     Baptismus, confirmacio, penitencia, Eukaristia, extrema

page 245

569vnxcio, ordo, sponsalia.
570    Cristendom, confirmacion, shryfte and penaunce, housle,
571anoyntyng, holy order, spousyng: these ben þe VII
572Sacramentis of Holy Chyrch.

page 247

573

65

574
575

CHARM RECEIVED BY THE POPES

576
577    Seynt Gregori, Sent Syluester and Sent Leon,
578that were popys of Rome, reseyved þis writyng and
579sayd, "Hosoeuer bere þis writyng abowte hym, he thar
580not drede hym of non enmy ner sodeyn deth, ner fyer,
581ner watyr, ner poyson, ner preson, ner thonder, ner
582levyn, ner þe feuers, ner noon other wykkyd evyll.
583And he schal be loued of his souerayn. And if he be
584owte of hys wey, he schall sone fynde hys wey agayn."
585    And an angell toke þis writyng to Kyng Charlys
586in batayle and seyde, "Hosoeuer bere þis writyng
587abowte hym, he schal ouercome his enmyes withowten
588fayle. Also, a woman trauelyng of a chylde do rede
589þis writyng ouer hyr or put þis writyng abowte her,
590and sche schal sone be delyuered be þe grace of God
591withowte perell. And hosoeuer bere þis writyng abowte
592hym, he schall not pace owte of þis worlde in myscheue,
593but he schall haue þe sacramentis of Holy Chirche be
594þe grace of God. Ner he schal not be robbyd with non
595thevys be nyght ne be day, ne he schal not be ouercome
596with noon sprytys by the grace of God and the vertu
597of þese names."

page 255

598

74

599
600

NOTES ON ADAM

601
602    Adam lyued ix c yeer and xxx^ti, and had xxx^ti
603sones and xxx^ti doughters.
604    They dyed and were bothe beryed togedyr, Adam
605and Eue.
606
607

75

608
609

ROME

610
611    Ffrom the begynnyng of the world vnto the
612tyme that Rome was first made was iiii ml c xlix
613yeris. And fro that tyme that Rome was made into the
614Natiuite of Oure Lord Ihesu Christ, vii c l yeeris.

page 256

615    In the citie of Rome ben thus many chirches:
616cccc, in the whiche masse is dayly don. But there
617ben vii of the same priuileged above alle other,
618whiche gret holynes pardon, as is hereafter
619shewyd. The first is called Seynt Petyr Chirche
620thApostell. There he is relessyd of the vii parte
621of penaunce inioyned, grauntyd by Pope Alysander.
622The secunde auter is of Seynt Andrew.

page 260

623

81

624
625

A RECEIPT

626
627    Ȝe must take wurte, and barly, and comyn, and
628hony, and a lytyll curtesy of salte, and sethe them in
629a potte togedyr tyl the barly be brostyn. And sythen,
630caste it abowte in þe hows wheras dowys ben vsyng etc.
631

page 261

632

82

633
634

THIS IS THE COPY OF ÞE PRESENTACYON OF ÞE LORDYS
635OF VENYSSE SEND TO ÞE POPE ANNO CHRISTI 1464 .

636
637    Ffirst, iiii^xx gret bumbardis (a gonnys): eche of
638hem cast a ston of þe wyght of ix c pound, with
639powder and stuff.
640    Item, xiiii c gunnys: eche of hem cast a ston of 1 li.,
641with pouuder and stuff.
642    Item, xiiii c serpentis and smal gunnys, with powder
643and stuff.
644    Item, vii ml. payer of brigandyrs for hem þat haue
645non harnes.
646    Item, x shippis ladyn with bows and arows, and other
647artery and abilymentis of werre.
648    Item, vi ml. pykes and spadys for the ost.
649    Item, vi ml. cressettis for to haue ffyer be nyght
650for the ost.
651    Item, xii mattokkis and mayletis with oþer stuff to
652breke þe ground in hard, stony cuntres.
653    Item, cccc ml. bokettis and bowges of lether for to
654ffetche water to the ost in tyme of nede.
655    Item, viii ml. of empty pypys and tonnys, and other
656vessell to make with brygges to convey over cartys

page 262

657and waynes and oþer ordenaunce.
658    Item, vi ml. cartys for caryage for the ost in tyme
659of nede.
660    Item, cccc ml. hokys and cromes, hachettis and
661ledders of dyuers facyon.
662    Item, xii ml. ffottemen in harneys: the wagys arn payn.
663    Item, xxx ml. dokettis to pay for vetayle.
664    Item, vi ml. men well besayn in harnes, and her wagis
665payed.
666    Item, iiii^xx galeys, well appareld with men and abylymentis
667of werre, and ther wagis payed.
668    Item, a mylyon of gold to refreyssh with all Crysten
669pepull.

page 264

670

84

671
672

THE WOMAN RECLUSE AND THE WOUNDS OF JESUS

673
674    A woman solatarie and recluse coueytinge to
675knowe the nommbre of the woundes of Oure Lord Ihesu
676Crist oftyn preyd to God of speciall grace þat He
677wolde wouchesaffe to schewe her hem. And at the last,
678to her spak Oure Lord Ihesu Crist and seyde, "Sey
679euery day be an hooll yeer xv Paternoster and xv Aue
680Maria, and at the yeeris ende thow shalt han wurcheped
681euery wounde and fulfylled the noumbre of the same."
682    And also seyd Oure Lord Ihesu Crist, "Euery
683man that seyth these Paternoster, and these Auez, and
684these orisones folwyng euery daye be an hooll yeer, of
685his kynrede xv soules schull be delyuered owte of the
686peynes of purgatorie, and xv ryghtful men of his

page 265

687kynrede schull be kepte in good lyffe. And he that
688seyth these orisones after wretyn, ffirst, therfore, he
689schal haue grace and knowyng of perfeccion and bitter
690contricion of alle his olde synnes."
691    And also seyd Oure Lord Ihesu Crist, "He that
692seyth these orisones in the forme aforn seyd xv
693dayes before his deth, he schall se myn holy body and
694it receyve, and therby be delyuered fro euerelestynge
695hunger. And I schall ȝeue hym drynk of myn blood, that
696he schall neuere thriste. And I schall put before hym
697the sygne of myn victoryous Passion in defens and
698subsidie of alle his enmyes. And before his deth I
699schall come with myn dere moder and take his soule
700and lede it into euerelestyng ioye. And whan I haue it
701thedir brought, I schall ȝeue hym a drawtȝ of the chalys
702of myn godhed.
703    "And ȝif a man haue leyn in synne xx^ti yeer,
704and he wyl seyen these orisones, I wyl forȝeue hym
705alle his synnes, and kepe hym fro alle temptaciouns,
706and kepe his v wyttes, and hym fro sodeyn deth defende,
707and ouer that kepe hym fro euerelestynge peyne. And
708alle the synnes þat he hath don fro his childehod
709vnto this day I wyl forȝeue hym, and be my grace he
710schall be bettir than euer he was before. And whatsoeuer

page 266

711he aske rightfully of me or of myn moder, it schall
712not be denyed. And I schall kepe hym parfytely in
713vertu and in good lyffe conferme hym as he had euere
714aftyr myn wyle wrought and levyd. And ȝif he schulde
715deye tomorwe, his lyffe schall be lengthed. And
716as often as he seyth these orisones, he schall haue
717xl dayes of pardon. And he that techeth ony other men
718these orisones, his ioye schall neuere discrece, but
719dwelle withowten ende. And wherso he be that seyth
720hem, I am present, as Sent Poule precheth, and fro
721his enmyes I schall hym defende. Therfor, euery
722lettered man and woman rede iche day these orisones of
723my bytter Passion for his owen medecyne."
724    Besyde this woman dwelled an holy man to whom
725sche this reuelacion schewed, and he it schewed to
726an abbes. And sche it schewed to here susteres and
727badde hem seyn these orisones. And summe seyden hem
728with gret deuocion, and summe for they schulde not
729trespace receyved here commaundement, and summe not
730wilfully, but in parti constreyned fulfylled here
731commaundement. And after that, the same holy man on
732a day whanne he restyd hym, he was rauysched in a
733vision into a fayer felde. And therin was a delectable
734welle. And it semyd to hym as the welle were ful of

page 267

735precious stones. And at the same welle were the same
736susteres that seyden these orisouns. And summe of
737hem wesch with grete vertu, and summe lesse, and summe
738vnnethes touched a lytell drope, or they wessch
739after þe deuocion that they hadde in the seying of
740þe orisones. And this was schewed to the holy man.
741And he it schewed to the abbes, and sche þe same
742tolde to her susteres, that were therof wol gladde.
743And they that seyde these orisones nouȝt deuoutely
744beforn aftyrward amended hem and seyde hem better,
745with gretter deuocion and desyre.
746    Afterward on a nyghte this holy man herde a
747gret noyse and an hidows crye, as all that was in the
748wode hadde ouerthrowen and be rent vp be the rotes.
749And he went oute of his celle, and coniured on of the
750ffendys þat he had herde, and badde that he schuld
751telle hym what that noyse ment. To whom the fende
752seyde, "In this wode woneth an olde woman ful of many
753holy wordes and seyth an orison so plesyng to God of
754heuene wherthrowgh we taken ful oftyn gret harme.
755For with that orison sche getyth to God ful many
756soules þat were in oure power fast beforn. And it
757plesith so moch God Almyghty that it is graunted to
758hym that seyth these orisouns that ȝif he were in tyme

page 268

759of his levyng in the weye of euerlestyng dampnacion,
760Oure Lord God schulde chaunge euerlestyng peyne into
761the peyne of purgatorye. And ȝif he were in the state
762of the most peyne of purgatorye, Oure Lord schuld
763chaunge it into the peyne of this werlde and bryng
764his soule to heuene. It is tolde that this womannys
765name is Sent Bryde, the Quene of Swethe, þat ful many
766reuelaciouns and gret grace had of God."

page 289

767

92

768
769

FOUR CONTRACTS

770
771

(A)

772
773    Memorandum that vii day of Octobr, the day
774nest aftir Seynt Ffeyth the Virgynn, anno regni Regis
775Edwardi Quarti post Conquestum ix^o, Roberd Reynys of
776Acle, sengyl man, made a covenaunt with Cecilie Grene,
777wedowe, and bowte of her a tenement weche was sumtyme
778her husbondez, with x acr and iii rodis of arable
779lond ffree clepid Andrewlond, lying in dyuers pecis,
780iii rodis of medowe in a closse clepid a grove, with
781wode, watir and ffysshyng, as it lyeth at the Thete,
782a parte of the west, i rode of marsshe clepid an aldercarr
783with wode lyeth at the Thete, a parte of the est,
784i acr and ii rodis stardole in ii pecis lyeth in the
785parke, i acre of iuncare lyeth in the Market Fen, iii
786rodis in ii pecis clepid russhedolys lyeth in Halcote
787Merssh, with alle other comodyes and vayles that to
788the forseyd tenement longyn or perteynyn, with alle
789nessarys that ben rote-fast and nayle-fast.
790    Ffor the weche the seyd Roberd schall pay
791or do pay to the same Cecilie or to hyr assynes, xx

page 290

792li. and xx d., that is to sayn, iiii nobill and xx d.
793at the bargany makyng, and iiii nobill at Myghelmesse
794nest folwyng; that is, iiii marke and xx d. in the
795first yeer, and at Myghelmesse nest aftir that, iiii
796nobill, and so forth at euery Myghelmesse, iiii
797nobill, tyll the seid summe of xx li. and xx d. be
798full payed and contentyd.
799    And the same Cecilie and her atturnyes the
800forseyd tenement with alle londes, closes, groves,
801aldercarris, stardolys, ffendolys and russhedolys,
802and ffysshyng, to the forseyd Robert Reynys, to his
803eyris and assynes, aȝens alle maner men schall warantyn
804and defendyn.
805    This witnesseth: Syr Iohn Properchaunt, person
806of Acle, Syr Robert Bertram, prior of Weybrygg, Iohn
807Reynys, carpenter, Lowys Appryers, baly of Acle,
808Iohn Hendy, smyth, Thomas Grene, William Smyth of Hemlyngton,
809Iamus Reynys, and many other. Ȝoven the day
810and yeer beforn specyfied.
811
812

(B)

813
814    Memorandum that the secunde day of Novembr,

page 291

815the weche is clepid Sowlemesse day, Iohn Reynys and
816Emme, the wyff of Roberd Reynys, made a covenaunt
817with Cecilie Grene of Hemlyngton in the name of Roberd
818Reynys of Acle, and bowte of her a pencion weche the
819seid Cecilie Grene schuld an had terme of her lyve.
820That is to sayn, a chambyr withinne the dwellyng place
821of Roberd Reynys, i quarter wode and i cartefull of
822sedge, terme of hir lyve.
823    Ffor the weche seyd pencion the forseyd Roberd
824schall pay or do paye to the same Cecilie or to hyr
825assynes iiii nobill. That is to sayn, vi s. viii d.
826at the bargany makyng, and at euery Cristemesse
827folwyng, vi s. viii d., tyl the seyd iiii nobill be
828full payed and contentyd.
829    This witnessith Iohn Reynys, William Smyth,
830Thomas Grene and other. Ȝoven the day and yeer specifyed.
831And the same Roberd must kepe the yeer-day of
832William Grene and Herry, his sone, duryng the lyve of
833the same Cecilie, and aftyr hyr decesse no lenger.
834Þis drawith be yeer iiii d. Anno regni Regis Edwardi
835Quarti post Conquestum xii^o.
836    The last payment was anno regni Regis E.
837iiii^ti xvi^o .
838

page 292

839

(C)

840
841    Memorandum that the v^te day of Octobre on
842Seynt Ffeythez evyn, anno regni Regis E. iiii^ti post
843Conquestum xii^o, Roberd Reynys of Acle made a covenaunt
844with Iohn Hardyngham the elder of North Birlyngham,
845the sone of Thomas Hardyngham, and bowte of hym iii
846acris of Andrewlond ffree lying in the feld of Acle in
847dyuers pecys.
848    Ffor the weche londe the seyd Roberd schall
849pay or do paye to the same Iohn or to his assignes,
850v nobill and xl d. That is to sayn, at the bargany
851makyng, x s., and at Myghelmesse nest folwyng, xiii s.
852iiii d., and at Myghelmesse nest aftyr that, xiii s.
853iiii d. withowte ony delay. And the same Iohn Hardyngham,
854his eyris and assynes the forseyd iii acris londe
855to the forseyd Roberd Reynys, to his eyris and his
856assynes, aȝens alle maner men schall warantyn and
857defendyn.
858    This wytnessith: Syr Wylliam Hardyngham, person
859of Birlyngham, Peter Lowys Appryers, baly of Acle,
860Iohn Reynys, carpenter, Richard Neell the elder, Herry
861Brandon, Nicholas Hardy, William Hendy the elder,

page 293

862Iamus Reynys, William Streget, and other. Ȝouen the
863day and yeer beforn specyfyed.
864    The laste payment was anno regni Regis E.
865iiii^ti xv^o .
866
867

(D)

868
869    Memorandum that the ffirst day of May, anno
870regni Regis E. iiii^ti post Conquestum xvii^o, Roberd
871Reynys of Acle made a covenaunt with his ffader, Iohn
872Reynys, be his lyve, and bowte of hym his place in
873the market, with the gardeynys and clossez as it lyeth
874(conteynyth ii rodis), with i d. of rent be yeer
875takyng of Iohn Tynwhyte for the lane that goyth owte
876his place to Rekys Lane (conteynyth i yarde in brede),
877with xvii acris of arable lond in dyuers pecis
878clepyd Andrewelond ffre; also, another tenement clepyd
879Baronys, with the closse longyng therto as it lyeth in
880Kyrgate, item, ii rodes or marsshe clepyd a stardole,
881as it lyeth in the Marm, item, dimidium rode of marsshe
882clepyd a pytell, with wode, lyeth at Nethergate, with
883alle other comodyes and vayles that to the forseyd

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884place longyth or perteynyth, with alle nessarys that
885ben rote-fast and nayle-fast, lyke as Iohn Reynys
886held it ffor the weche seyd place: gardeynys, closez,
887londes, tenementis, pytell, marsshes and rentis.
888    The seyd Roberd schall paye or do pay xxxvi
889li. of lawfull mony of Ynglond for hym aftyr his
890deceesse, acordyng to his wyll, as it apperith in
891his testement how it schall be payed and disposyd
892for hym. (Of the weche seyd summe, the forseyd
893Roberd payed in the seyd first yeer at his dirige
894and berying, and at his terment day, and for provyng
895his testement and for a quetans, with other dyuers
896costis and paymentis as it apperit in wrytyng, x li.)
897Fferthermore, the forseyd Roberd must paye yeerly
898at the fest of Seynt Iohn Baptist iiii marke,
899tyll the seyd summe of xxxvi li. be full payed and
900contentyd, acordyng to his wyll.
901    This witnessyth: Iohn Hendy of Mowton, William
902Suffolk of Heygham, Iamus Reynys, Iohn Reynys
903the yonger, and other. Ȝoven the day and yeer beforn
904specifyed.
905

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906

93

907
908

THE NAILS OF CHRIST

909
910    Pope Innocent hath grauntyd to euery man þat
911beryth the lenght of the iii nayles of Oure Lord Ihesu
912Criste vpon hym and wurschyp them dayly with v Paternoster
913and v Aues and a Crede, he schal haue vii gyftis
914grauntyd hym: the first, he schal not deye on no sodeyn
915deth; the secunde, he schal not be slayn with swerd
916nor knyff; the iii^de, his enmyes schal not ouercome
917hym; the iiii^te, he schal haue sufficient goodis and
918honest levyng; the v^te, þat poyson nor fals witnesse
919schal greue hym; the vi^te, he schal not deye withowte
920the sacramentis of the Chirche; the vii^te, he schall
921be defendyd from alle wykkyd speritis, feuers, pestelens
922and alle evell thyngis.

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923

105

924
925

TAXES LEVIED FOR SUPPORT OF ARCHERS

926
927    Memorandum: the Parlement holden at Westmenstre
928the vi day of Octobr, anno regni Regis Edwardi Quarti
929xiii^o, than graunted to the Kyng xiii ml. men archerys
930for the terme of on yeer, euery of them takyng be the
931day vi d., queche summe amountith to an c ml.
932    To the exibicyon of þe whiche it was ordeynyd
933that euery temporall man schuld paye the x^th parte
934of on yerly valu of hys londys and tenementis, except
935lordis of the parlement. Whiche x part amountith to
936the summe in euery shyre, citie and burgh as partyclerly
937herafter ensuete:
938
939    Northumbirlond, Coumberlond, Westmorlond, Lancastr
940 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ml.
941the busshope of Dorham . . . . . . v c xix li. x d.

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942

106

943
944

PROGNOSTICATIONS ACCORDING TO THE DOMINICAL LETTER

945
946    A: Qwanne the Dominicall lettyr ffallyth vpon
947the A, than schall be a warme wynter and a peryyng
948somer, corne in the felde, but resonable frute in the
949same wyse, been in the same wyse also, pestelencez of
950ȝonge pepyll and deth of bestys, but most of neet, gret
951apklynge and fytyng of pelouris, and newe tydynggis of
952kynggis etc.
953    B: Whanne the Dominicall letter fallyth vpon
954the B, thanne schall be a warme bygynnynge of wynter,
955and rokys and thykke wedir in the bakke wynter, and a
956whete somere, dere greyin of corn in the felde, gret
957tempestis of levyn, gret plente of oyle, and muche
958hevynes amonge þe people, kynggis and ben xull dey
959grete batayle of people, and þer schall be many
960wedowes þat yeer etc.
961    C: Whanne the Dominicall letter fallyth vpon
962the C, thanne schall be a gret wynter and a stormyng
963somere, a drye hervest, resonable plente of corn and
964frute, but smale been, but ȝonge people schull dey,
965deth of swyne, tempestis of shippes in the see, and
966dere wynes that yeer etc.

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967    D: Whanne the Dominicall letter fallyth vpon
968the D, þan xal be a warme wynter, a good somer and a
969good hervest, and plente of corn and frute, but comon
970oyle, grete plente of ben, but comon, women with childe
971schull deye, gret losse of heyȝe, newe tydynggis of
972kynggis etc.
973    E: Whanne the Dominicall letter fallyth vpon
974the E, þan schal be a stowte wynter of wyndys, a good
975somere, a good hervest and plente of corn, a gret ȝer
976of frute, but they schall sone rotyn, derth of fleysshe,
977gret plente of been, deth of bestis, a good yeer aftyr,
978and peas among the pepyll, and gret flodys of freysshe
979watyris etc.
980    Ff: Whanne the Dominicall lettyr fallyth vpon
981the Ff, þan shall be a blakke wynter and also a scharppe
982colde, a drye somere, plente of oyle, gret sekenesse of
983eyne; be but comon deth of ȝonge people, gret werre in
984dyuers placys, and ertheqwawghe etc.
985    G: Whanne the Dominicall lettyr ffallyth vpon
986the G, than xal be a warme wynter and a dyuers somer,
987gret plente of corn, gret tempest of fyer of howsys,
988grete sekenesse of the axcesse, plente of ben, gret

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989fellyngges of tymber, deth of olde people, and gret
990plente of heyȝes.

page 315

991

109

992
993

WEYGHTIS AND MESURIS

994
995    Be the dyscression and ordenaunce of all the
996roialme of England, the lordys spirituall and temporall,
997of alle maner of weyghtis and mesures, that
998was made by the graynes of whete. Þat is to vnderstonde
999þat xxxii graynes of whete taken owte of the
1000myddys of the whete ere weyth a sterlyng, othirwyse
1001called a peny, and xx sterlyng makyth an vnce, and
1002xii vncez makith a pownde for syluer, gold, brede
1003and mesure. Weche weight makyth a pynt of whete,

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1004and ii pyntys makith i quarte, ii quartis makith a
1005potell, and ii potellys makith i galon, and viii
1006galons makith a busshell TO PRESERVE THE SENSE, THE EDITOR WOULD OMIT THE FOLLOWING WORDS IN PARENTHESES (and neyther hepe ner cantell) ;
1007and to be strekyn with a rased stryke, and
1008neyther hepe nor cantell etc.
1009    Also, the same tyme was ordeyned by the Kyng
1010and alle his lordys spirituall and temporall þat the
1011sayde xxxii graynes of whete taken owte of the myddys
1012of the ere makyth a sterlyng peny, and xx d. sterlyngis
1013makith an vnce of haburdepeyse, and xvi uncez
1014makith i pownde of haburdepeyse. And þis sayde
1015vnce and pownde to be devyded frome þe most part
1016vnto þe lest part to by and selle spyces by, and
1017alle oþer chaffare that perteynet vnto weyght; and
1018so, ii li., iiii li., viii li., and so forth to the
1019c. And at þis day the c is trewe aftyr v^xx for the c,
1020weche kepith, and mesure: 1 pownde the half c, xxv li.
1021þe quarteron, xii li. and an half the half quarteron,
1022weche was called of olde tyme beyng a stone of London,
1023vi li. and i quarteron is the half stone.
1024    And these ben the statutes as it aperith in

page 317

1025Magna Carta. And that is, o weyght and o mesure
1026thoroughowte England. Ffor an c aftyr þis wyth weyth
1027ii busshells of whete, the half c weyth i busshell
1028of whete, and the quarteron weyth half a busshell of
1029whete, and xii li. and dimidium weyth a pecke of
1030whete, and so forth, weyth for weyght vnto the seyd
1031sterlyng. All these weyghtis and mesures to be
1032ocupyed with trewe bem and trewe balaunce, and that
1033the tonge of the bem enclyne neyther vpon the ton
1034part nor vpon the tothyr part, but þat it kepe the
1035myddys of the beme.
1036
1037

METTIS

1038
1039    Also, it was ordeyned at the same tyme þat
1040iii barly cornys take owte of the myddys of the ere
1041makyth an inche, and xii inches makyth a ffote, and
1042iii fote makyth a yarde, and it to be sysed and sealed,
1043and thervpon to be merkyd a trewe half yard, quarter,
1044nayle and half nayle. The elne to be v quarteris
1045of the yard in lenghyth, and it to be sysed and sealed,
1046and that it be merkyd in iiii partys acordyng for an
1047elne. And owte of the seyd yard growyth a rodde

page 318

1048to mesur lond by, the weche rodde conteyneth in
1049lenghyth v yardys and an half, as it apperyth in
1050Magna Carta.
1051
1052

110

1053
1054

CLERICUS MERCATI

1055
1056    Iohn Becwyth, clerk of the market, satte at
1057Acle the Thursday aftyr Seynt Ambrose in the monyth
1058of Apryl, ther sysed busshellys aftir viii galonys,
1059and alle othyr mettys and mesuris, and alle maner
1060weyghtis acordyng to the Kynggis statutis. Þis don
1061the xv yeer of our souerayn lord, Kyng Edward the
1062iiii^te.
1063
1064

111

1065
1066

CHARGE TO THE MAYSTERIS OF EUERY CRAFT

1067
1068    Ȝe schull sweren that ȝe schal with
1069alle ȝoure myght and ȝoure pouer kepen pees, and reste,
1070and tranquillite withinne ȝoure crafte. And alle
1071maner good gouernaunce and ordenaunce within ȝow ȝe

page 319

1072schal holdene. And ȝe schal make good and trewe
1073serche in ȝoure craft duryng ȝoure terme. And also,
1074alle maner notabyl defautis that ȝe fynde in ȝoure
1075craft, wel and trewly ȝe schal presente them vp onto
1076þe mair. And that ȝe schal not suffren no man of
1077ȝoure craft to engrosen ne forstallyn no maner of
1078thyng that to ȝoure craft longith in hyndryng of the
1079comouns of the citie. And also, if ony man of ȝoure
1080craft take excessysly for his craft, ȝe schall treuly
1081presente hym to þe mayr, be hym to be redressyd, and
1082correctyd, and make fyn aftyr þe quantyte of the
1083trespas.
1084    And if ony maner man of ȝoure craft will
1085noght be serged ne gouerned by ȝow in all ryght and
1086reason, qwiles ȝo be maistres of ȝoure craft, ȝe schal
1087certifie hym vnto the mayr, and he schal be chastysed
1088as good ordenaunce of the citie wyll. And that ȝe
1089concele noght the defautes aforseyd, sparyng no man
1090for love, hathe ne drede, vpon peyne on greuous
1091ponyschement, be avys of the mayr and mo sufficient
1092men of the same craft. But that ȝe schuln so gouerne
1093ȝowre craft in all thyngis, that may be encrese,
1094profyte and wurshippe vnto alle the citie. And wel
1095and truly ȝe schul don alle that longith to maistres

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1096of ȝoure craft to doo, so helpe ȝow God at Holy Dome.
1097
1098

112

1099
1100

BENEVOLENCE OF WILLIAM CALTHORPE TO EDWARD IV

1101
1102    Beneuolens: I, William Calthorpe of the comity
1103of Norffolk, knyght, promytte and graunte to oure
1104souereign lord, Kyng Edward the iiii^th, towardis his
1105viage beyond the see the somme of iii^xx and xiii li.
1106of lawefull money of Inglond, to be payed to oure
1107seid souereign lord or to his assign the first
1108day of Ffeuerȝere xxxvi li. and x s., and the first
1109day of May xxxvi li. and x s. nex comyng. To the
1110whiche paiement truly to be made in the fourme aboueseid,
1111I bynde me and myn heires by this bylle sealed
1112with my seale, the xx^th day of Decembr the xiiii^th
1113ȝere or our seid souereign lordis reign.

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1114

116

1115
1116

WALSYNGHAM

1117
1118

(B)

1119
1120    A knyght clepyd Syr Raaff Boutetourt by
1121vyolens of his hors cam rydyng armed in at this
1122lytell posterne ȝate, vnhurt by miracle of Our
1123Blyssed Lady, the yeer of Our Lord ml. ccc^mo xiiii^o .
1124    The postern ȝate past not an elne hy and
1125iii quarteris in brede.
1126

page 323

1127

(C)

1128
1129    Gabriel gretyng Our Lady; in the myddes of
1130the tabyll at the avter stante Our Lady, on eche syde
1131of her stante an angell, Seynt Edward, Seynt Kateryne
1132on the ryght hande, Seynt Edmond, Seynt Margarete on
1133the left hande; alle clene gold.

page 327

1134

(D)

1135

OBLIGACIO: I TO I

1136
1137    Knowen to alle maner men me Roberd C. of
1138Norwiche in the comitye of Norffolk, barbour, to be
1139holden and be this my present obligacion bounden to
1140Richard N. of Yermothe, marchant, in xx li. xiii s.
1141iiii d. lawfull money of Englond to pay to þe seyd
1142Ric. N., or to his executouris, or to his certeyn
1143atturnyes, at þe ffest of the Purificacion of Oure
1144Lady the Vyrgyne next folwyng after this date present,
1145withowten ony delay other. Of that weche seyd payment
1146weell and treuly as it is aboven made, I bynde
1147me and myn executourys by this present. In wytnesse
1148of what thyng to this present myn seall haue putte.
1149Yoven the x day of the monyth of Marche, the yeer
1150and regne of Kyng Edward the iiii^te after Conquest
1151the vi^te.
1152
1153

(E)

1154

II TO I

1155
1156    Alle maner men schall aknowen vs Iohn M. of

page 328

1157Beclys in the comitye of Suffolk, carpenter, and
1158William S. of Mendham in the comitye of Norfolk,
1159yoman, to be holden and be this present obligacion
1160bounden to Raff Pye of Snetesham, ffuller, in xl li.
1161lawfull money of Englond, to be payed to the seyd
1162Raffe Pye, or to his executourys, or to his certeyn
1163atturnyes at þe ffest of Estern next folwyng after
1164þis date present, withowten ony other delay. Of
1165þat weche seyd payment weell and treuly as it is
1166aboven to be made, we bynden vs and eyther of vs be
1167oureself for the hole and in the payment, oure eyres
1168and executoures be this present. In wytnesse of what
1169thyng to þis present oure seales we han putte. Yoven
1170the fourte day of the monyth of Ffeueryer, the yeer
1171and regne of Kyng Edward the Fourte after Conquest
1172of Ynglond the viii^te.
1173
1174

(F)

page 329

1175    The condicion of this obligacyon is suche
1176that if wythinne bounden Thomas A. and Roberd N.
1177payen or elles don payen to withinne named Richard P.
1178and Symond R., to ther eyres or executours, or to
1179iche of ther sert atturnyes v marke at the festes
1180vnder forme folwyng: that is to seyn, at þe fest
1181withinne wretyn xiii s. iiii d., and at þe fest of
1182Estern than next folwyng xiii s. iiii d., and so from

page 330

1183yer into yer on after another than continuall folwyng,
1184iche yeer at þe seyd festis of Our Lord and Estern
1185xiii s. iiii d., till the seyd v marke so full be
1186payed, that than þe seyd wreten obligacion is to be
1187caste and for nought hadde. And if ony defaute be
1188in ony of the forseyd payment at ony of the festis
1189aboven seyd in parte or in all, ayens þe forme forseyd,
1190that than grauntyth and wullyth the forseyd
1191Thomas A. and Roberd N. be themself, eyres and ther
1192executours be þis present that þe forseyd wreten
1193obligacion in all his strengtht schall stonde and
1194vertu, and so executed.