cani Capelle predicte per ipsum factam revocavit, et ex parte ipsius Episcopi Cicest. inhibuit eisdem prebendariis, ne aliquis ipsorum coram prefato Episcopo Exon., Decano Capelle predicte, ad diem predictam comperet; et idem Radulphus coram predicto Episcopo Exon. Decano, &c., ad diem predictam comperere non curavit. Et quoad predictum Willielmum atte See dicunt, quod Episcopus Cicest. percipiens predictum Episcopum Exon. Decanum, &c. volentem ibidem visitare, misit ipsum Will. atte See cum literis ipsius Episcopi Cicest. ad predictum Episcopum Exon. venientem versus Boseham pro visitatione sua predicta facienda. Qui quidem Wills. die Mercurii in Vigilia Epiphanie anno supradicto, obveniendo ipso Episcopo Exon. juxta Hertyng, monuit ipsum Episcopum Exon., ex parte predicti Episcopi Cicest., et ei inhibuit, sub pena excommunicationis, ne apud Boseham accederet ad aliquam visitationem in capella predicta Chororum Prebendariorum, et Ministrorum faciendam. Et dicunt, quod predicti Willielmus et Radulphus jurisdictionem ordinariam in Capella predicta et in Choro Prebendariorum et ministrorum ejusdem in forma predicta, et non alio modo, contra hanc prohibitionem Regis, exercuerunt. Et quod compertum est per juratos istos, quod predicti Radulphus et Willielmus contra Domini Regis, &c. Et predictus Willielmus in hoc, quod predictum Episcopum Exon. Decanum, &c., ex parte predicti Episcopi Cicest. monuit et inhibuit, &c. "Postea a die Pasche in xv die anno Regni Regis nunc xvijo venerunt predicti Decanus et Capitulum per Thomam de Shaw attornatum suum, et similiter jurati, qui dicunt super sacramenta sua, quod Johannes Episcopus Cicest. misit quendam Willielmum atte See cum literis ipsius Episcopi ad Walterum Episcopum Exon. Decanum Capelle de Boseham, venientem versus Boseham, pro Capella predicta et Choro Prebendariorum et Ministrorum ejusdem visitanda. Qui quidem Willielmus die Mercurii in Vigilia Epiphanie Domini, anno Regis nunc xvijo obveniendo predicto Episcopo Exon. juxta Hertyng, monuit ipsum Episcopum Exon. Decanum, &c., et ex parte predicti Episcopi Cicest. ei inhibuit, sub pena excommunicationis, ne apud Boseham accederet ad Capellam predictam et Chorum Prebendariorum et Ministrorum ejusdem visitandam. Qui quidem Episcopus Exon. Decanus, &c., nihilominus ad predictam Capellam accessit, et ibidem die Veneris in crastino Epiphanie Domini, tunc proximo sequente visitavit. Et predictus Episcopus Cicest. apud Cicestriam existens, hoc percipiens, assumptis secum Decano et quibusdam canonicis Cicestrie, et predicto Willielmo atte See [blank in orig.] eodem die Veneris accesserunt ad quendam locum in Ecclesia Cathedrale Cicest. et ibidem, presentibus dictis Decano Cicest. et Willielmo atte See, et quibusdam aliis Canonicis Cicest. statim super ipsum Episcopum Exon. sententiam excommunicationis fulminavit. Quam quidem sententiam idem Decanus Ecclesie Cicest. in Ecclesiis Parochianis Civitatis Cicestrie, et in Ecclesiis de Fishbourne, Rombaldswyche et Sancti Pancratii ex Porta Civitatis predicte, que sunt in jurisdictione ejusdem Decani, ad Mandatum Episcopi Cicest. pronunciavit. Et dicunt, quod predicti Decanus et Capitulum Cicest. nullam jurisdictionem ordinariam in Capella predicta et Choro Prebendarum et Ministrorum ejusdem contra prohibitionem Regiam exercuerunt nisi tamen quod predictus Decanus dictam sententiam per Dominum Episcopum Cicest. in ipsum Episcopum Exon. Decanum Capelle predicte fulminatam ad mandatum ejusdem Episcopi Cicest. pronunciavit. Ideo," &c. A.D. 1323. NOTICES OF WINCHELSEA IN AND AFTER THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. BY WILLIAM DURRANT COOPER, F.S.A. THE meeting holden at Winchelsea in the summer of 1854, enabled me to call the attention of our members to some matters connected with this ancient town, which had been left unnoticed, or were but briefly referred to, in my History; and I am anxious to place several facts on record which have come to my knowledge since 1850. Among the Carlton House Ride MSS. has been found a copy of the charters and many interesting extracts from the town records made on March 17, 1560-1, entitled "A Certificate of Wm. Egglestone,' Mayor of the towne and porte of New Wynchelsey, and his brethrene, made by the comaundement of William Lord Marquess of Wynchester (Lord Treasurer of Inglande), and Richard Sackvyle, Knt. (Vice Treasurer), Sir Walter Mildmaye, Knt. (Chancellor of the Exchequer), and Gilbert Gerard (Attorney General of the Quene's Majesty), of all the writings yet found in the towne of New Wynchelsey that do concern and touche the title of the Manor of Iham, as by o liberties do declare the bounds thereof, to the Quene's Highness out of the Exchequer the 6th March, 3 Elizabeth, 1560." The original Inspeximus Charters of 15th June, 5 Henry IV, and 14th February, 8 Henry IV, were then in existence, and also the charter dated at Westminster, 5th June, 3 Henry IV, to wall and ditch the town; and copies are transmitted. And in the Cotton MSS. there exist many materials for a fuller history of the town, whilst it was yet flourishing in that part of the reign of Henry VI which preceded the last attack of the French. From this MS., as most worthy of extract, I give VIII. 1 He was M.P. for the town, 7 Edw. VI. 2 Julius, B. iv. 26 3 the following curious and very early list of the customs of the town, indicating a large amount of trade in wine, &c.: ORDINANCES OF THE TOWN AND HARBOUR, "Theis ben the ordynance made on Sunday, the xxv day of Aprill, and the yer of the in the hundred ther held. "Fyrst. That al manner strangers as well dynsyns (denizens) as fraunchysed (freemen) pay the malitote 5 of all manner merchaundyse after the ordynaunce of old tyme used and acustumed. "Of the old expenses.-Also, that the costes of wryttes and retourns of writts of sute of partye ben rered (raised) of hem that thay ben take for, yf thay be of operation in the franchise. "That no man breke no bolk without leve of Mayr-Also, yt all manner merchaundyse as well deynseins franchysed as nott franchysyd and strangers comyng and bryngyng merchandyse into ye havyn to sel ther merchaundice or yt will breke ther bulke; It is ordenyd and affermed by the Mayr, Bayliff, Jurats, and all the comonalte, that the maister of that schyp so comyng in com to the mayr and truly certefy be his othe he oweth to ye Kyng and to ye town how moche chafer or merchundyse is within his schip and whos they ben or perteyn to, and also ye commonalties clerke entre the mayster's name and the schip with al said parcels of the merchandise in yt conteynd after the quantite of the maister's knowlege, and that every maister of vessell thus comyng in by warned by his host, who so he be, to hold and kepe this ordynance up on payn of losyng to the eyde (aid) of the town xxs.; and to be rered of the schipp and merchaundise by the mayr. "That no man by no merchandise abov cs.-Also, that no manner man by no manner chafer or merchaundise within the fraunchise, or comyng in to the fraunchise or havyn, of soche chafer or merchaundise that the value of it excedith the sum of an cs. that all manner chafer so browght into the fraunchise by lond or be water to be sold excedyne the som above sayd be profered first 3 Julius, B. iv, fol. 24 b. 4 The hundred court seems to have been usually held on the Sunday during this reign, and prisoners to have been tried on that day. In his most valuable Abstract and Illustrations of the Roll of Bishop Swinfield, the Rev. John Webb shows, that at the close of the thirteenth century the observance of the Sabbath was by no means strict. It was on a Sunday that the bishop made his bow at court, and secular business was transacted. On a Sunday also the bishop's nephew and chancellor of Hertford, under the bishop's own roof, entered into a contract for borrowing money for the prelate's use. In the time of Henry VI however the clergy and prelates endeavoured to obtain a better observance of the Sabbath. Traffic, if not absolutely prevented, was kept within as strict limits as the necessities of the flock permitted. There were petitions by the clergy, and proclamations by bishops, against barbers keeping their shops (then, the great places of resort for gossips) open on Sunday (Wilk. vol. iii, pp. 352-368); and Holinshed and Grafton chronicle the failure of the attempt in the city of London to shut up victuallers' houses, and to prevent shoemakers and tailors from taking home to their customers on the Sunday the shoes and garments they had made during the week. 5 Town dues. By stat. 25 Edw. I, c. 7, it was interpreted to be a toll of 40s. for every sack of wool.-Cowel's Law Dict. 1727. to the mayr and commonalty to by, alway avysed that yf the mayr and the commonalty refuse that chafer or merchaundise, that then it shall be leful for every man to by at his owen lust. And every franchised man beyng at the bying part with the byer after his propertye yf he clayme parte, and with a straunge byer to have halfe yf he will chalange to. And that this ordynans be kept, the Mayr and Bayliff and Jurats, &c., have establyshed to be observed upon payn of xvs. to be rered by the mayr at every tyme of hym as that in soche wyse agayns this ordynans offendith. "That no stranger sel no gods to another stranger.—Also, that no stranger sel no gods to another stranger, yff any franchised man will clayme parte. it "It no stranger ley no wyn a land withoute leve.-Also, it is ordyned and affermed that all straungers that londen wyne within the fraunchyse, and schip agayn without the mayor's leve, that thay pay for every ton wyne schypped agayn or sold in the schip or on lond to straunger or fraunchised ijs., except it be sold to the hole commonalty in grete. "That no stranger sell no wyn without leve of the mayor.-Also, that no stranger sel no wyn so layd on land in parcell without knowleche and leve of the mayr and comons have refused the hole upon payn of xvs. to be rered of the byer and the seller in mone at every tyme so offendyng agaynst this ordynance by the mayr. That no strange merchand sell no wyn to another strange merchaunde.Also, that no strange merchant sell no wyn within the franchyse to no stranger upon payn of xls. of the seller, to be rered by the mayr withoute leve of the mayr. Also, that all manner of goods, as vitaylis or merchandyse, taken over the see or broughte into the franchyse and sold or howsed, and so as that gode is torned to merchaundise, the viteler therof schall pay malitote for that gode after the quantite as is of old tyme used. Also, it is ordyned by the mayr and commonalty, that the common weyghers, drowers, or porters of the town be charged by their othis duly and truly to certefye the mayor and the common clerke it to entre, in tyme of byndage and all other tymys of the yer, from whom, whether, and how moche wyne, oyl, hony, wax, or any other merchaundise tonned, pypyd, barelled, or bayled, that thay cary up, in payn of forfate their offyse, and eche of the porters to pay for that offense vjs. viijd., to be rered for defawte of certefying to the mayr. Also, that all manner chafer, merchaundise, and gods, what ever thay be, carried in the town and sold and retayled by honds, pay malitote as for soche gods of old tyme used. "Also, that all men fraunchysed and deynsyns holdyng opyn schoppe pay for his schopp after the quantyte of the schopp; and yf thay hold more than on, pay for as many as every holde opend and severally parted. Also, that every man of the town that byeth any corn oute of the town or in the town, and selleth it agayn within Inglond, schall pay of every some7 1d. 6 Thomas Grevt was town clerk in 1427 and till 23 Hen. VI (1444); at Easter 1445, Thomas Westynden of Hastings appears as his successor. Cotton, Julius, B. iv, p.72. 7 The seame, sum, or horseload, required by the Statute of Assize, temp. Edw. I, to be a weight of 100 lb., by which so many saleable articles were measured or weighed, says the Rev. John Webb (Roll of Richard de Swinfield, note, p. 116) was a rude contrivance suited to miserable roads, over which no wheels could make way, and has been always adopted in mountainous districts." I "Also, that no man forstall no vitayle comyng into the townward, upon payn of iijs. iiijd., and forfaytyng of the same vitaylis. "Also, that no schapman straunger stond in the town in no place but in the markett place, upon pain of iiis. iiijd., and that the ost of hym wharn hym of this ordynaunce, and that no schapman called hawkers be sofered no mor to go in the town to sell their schafer. "Also, that all manner schapmen and artificers that be no freeman pay double malitote, and that be countrollyng of men of the same craft. "Also, that no manner of straunger hold no schoppe or craft nor merchaundyse opyn in the town without leve of the mayr over a yer and a day, but he be made freman or make a fyne with the mayr, and also pay double malitote for his schafer or art that he used. "And that the mayr that is and for the tyme shall be governing se and ordayn that all gode and olde ordynaunces afor tyme made and now renewed be holden, kept, and susteyned, and that the payne afore singulerly specyfyed be rered of the brekers of the ordynaunces, and that the mayr acompte of them so arered, and that he do duly and opynly this execucion; and for the faute of leve of the same payn at his acomptz to be charged with the same payn and of hym to be rered. Also, it is ordeyned that every fyscher bote of Pycardy comyng into the fraunchys pay at his first comyng in, to the eyde of the town vs. of sterlyng, and at every season that iche of them make and come into the fraunchys, pay and delyver to the mayr of the town iij makerells, yf so many be in the bote, as our men done (have done) with them. "Also, that all manner straungers or fraunchysed sellyng belletts within the fraunchyse pay to the town of every M1 wode so sold within the fraunchyse or withoute, d. "Also, of all manner schafer, as wax, hony, frute, sope, oyle, or other schafer that is sold, pay of the pownde iiijd. of that part is notte stendid by the old malitote. Also, that no common woman dwelle in no strete of the town, but in the utmost parte of the town, upon payn of losy ng and paying every quarter to the town her tyme abydyng ther in vis. viijd., and xijd. quarterly to the serjeante, to rere it or pay it hymself after he hathe knowledge; and that no common woman be found walkyng in the town after coverfeus 8 upon payn of iijs.iiijd., and that sche wher (wear) no hode within the town, upon payn of losyng it. "Also, that no bochor ne other man throw no gore ne felth by syde the wallis, upon payn of iijs. iiijd. to be rered of hym that so offendith therein. "Also, that what man can prove or certefy the mayr of any man that casted any last or dong into the havyn, the prover therof shall have xijd., and he that doth it to pay the sayd xijd., and for that offence to pay to the town xxs. “Hæc constit. (Sunday) iij die Appl, Ao R. R. Henrici VI' xviijo (1440). Also, that no schyp ne vessell festen no rope on the common key, ne lay no(ne) above on lond to moor by, but he pay for every rope so layd on land may add, that the roads must have been bad indeed, and the horses very indifferent, when 100 lb. was a load, whilst at the present day the winner of every Derby, at three years old, and running at full speed, carries 119 lb. The seam or horseload, in Sussex, now means a measure or load of 8 bushels, which, of wheat, would weigh some 480 lb., or of oats 320 lb. 8 The curfew is still tolled at St. Clement's, Hastings. |