THE

SOMERS

COLLECTION OF TRACTS.

KING JOHN."

FROM THE COTTON LIBRARY.

Nero C. III. 28. Fol. 184, b.

Inventaria Catalorum tempore R. Johannis, ex quibus pretium et valor Bovis, Vacca, alia rumque rerum seculo illo cognosci potest.

DOMINUS de

CATALLA DE HAKELINTUN.

habet 4 boves, quilibet de 5s. et 2 bovetos 6s. 1 Vaccam 5s. 2 Bovetos 5 s. 2 Averes 8s. 1 Porcum 12d. 20 Quart frumenti, quolibet de 4s. 10 Quart de Fabis et pisis, quolibet de 2s.

16 Quart. de mistilione, quolibet de 2s. Summa 81. 17 s.

Henricus filius Herberti, 2 averes 5s. 1. Porcum 6d. 2 Porcellos 6d. Dimiæ quart. frumenti 2s. Dim. quart. de mistilione 10d. Summa 18s. 10d.

Humfridus Carpentarius habet 2 averes 6s. 1 Vaccam 4s. los 12d. Dim. quart. frumenti 2s. Summa 15s.

1 Juvencam 2s. 2 Vitu

Simon Loui, 1 vaccam 4s. 1 Bovet. 2s. 1 Averam 3s. Dim. quart. de fabis 12d.

Summa 10s.

Randulfus filius Edmonda, 1 averam 2s. & 6d. 1 Vaccam 4s. 2 Bovetos 3s. Sum

ma 9s. 6d.

Ricardus Nuille, 2 juvencas 5s. Galfridus Nuduit, 1 averam 2s. bet de 6d. 1 Buss. frumenti 12d.

1 Averam 2s. & 6d. Summa 7s. 6d.

2 Juvencos 5s. 1 Bovet 2s. & 6d. 16 Oves, quili

1 Bussellum de fabis 6d. Summa 19s.

Adam Sire, 1 averam 2s. 2d. 1 Vaccam 4s. 1 Juvencam 2s. Summa 8s. 2d. Rogerus Cuthelne, 1 averam 3s. 1 Bovem 4s. 1 Juvencam 3s. 1 Vitulum 12d.

1 quart. frumenti 3s. Summa 15s.

Will. Dredegol, 1 Bovem 4s. 1 Averam 3s. Summa 7s.

These tracts being few in number, it has not been judged necessary to divide them into classes according to their subjects.

Brigrid vidua, 1 averam 2s. & 6d. 1 Juvencam 2s. & 6d. Edid vidua, habet 1 bulloccum 2s. & 6d. 2 Juvencos 5s. ram 3s. 6 Oves quilibet de 6d. 3 Porcellos quilibet de 4d. Gilebertus Sutor, 1 Juvencum 3s. 2d. Summa 3s. 2d. Ricardus Lucterio, 1 Juvencam 3s. 2d, Summa 3s. 2d. Edwardus fil. Egrid. 3 Juvencas 5s. Summa 5s.

Summa 5s.

1 Vitulum 12d. 1 AveSumma 15s. & 3d.

Robertus Bond, 1 averam 3s. 1 Bovem 4s. 1 Vitulum 14d. Summa 8s. 2d. Gilebertus Capellanus, 1 averam 3s. 3d. 1 Vaccam 4s. 2 Juvencos 5s. 8 Oves qui

libet de 6d. Summa 16s. 3d.

Gene Pricke, 1 juvencam, et 1 vitulum 3s.

Catalla Domina Matildis de Hakelinton.

Habet 4 boves quilibet de 4s. 2 Bovetos 5s. 1 Vaccam 4s. 1 Juvencam 2s. 3d. 1 Vitulum 15d. 1 Averam 2s. 4 Porcos quilibet de 6d. 8 Porcellos quilibet de 3d. 2 Oves 12d. 4 Quart. frumenti quilibet de 4s. 2 Quart. de mistilione quilibet de 18d. 1 Quart. de fabis 2s. Summa 56s. 3d.

Simon de Lisurs, 1 Bovet 3s. 5 Oves quilibet de 6d. Summa 5s. 6d.

Randulfus filius Roberti, 1 Boyem 4s. 2d. ob. 1 Juvencam 2s. 1 Bovet 2s. 1 Vitulum 10d. 12 Oves quilibet de 6d. 2 Porcos quilibet de 6d. 4 Porcellos quilibet de Dim. quart. de mistilione 8d. Summa 16s. 10d. ob..

3d.

Radulfus filius Vill. 1 Averam 2s. 2 Porcos de 12d. 3 Porcellos quilibet de 3d. Summa 3s. 9d.

1 Juvencam 3s.

Summa 7s.

Ricardus filius Margeriæ, 1 Averam 4s. Will. Gardin, 1 Averam 3s. i Bovem 4s. 1 Vaccam 4s. 3 Bovetos quilibet de 3s. 2 Bovetos 3s. 2 Vitulos 12d. 2 Porcos 12d. 6 Porcellos quilibet de 3d. 6 Oves quilibet de 6d. 1 Quart. frumenti 4s. 1 Quart. de orgeo 2s. 1 Quart de fabis 2s. Sum

ma 37s. 6d.

Randulfus filius Hugenis, 1 vaccam 4s. 1 Bovet 3s. 1 Vitulum 12d. ob. frumenti 4s. 1 Quart. mistilione 16d. quilibet de 6d. Summa 19s. 4. ob.

1 Quart.

1 Quart. de fabis 2s. 1 Averam 2s.

4 Oves

1 Vi

Nigellus filius Ricardi, 1 bovem 4s. 1'Juvencam 3s. et alteram Juvencam 3s. tulum 6d. 8 Oves quilibet de 6d. Summa 14s. 6d. Gilebertus Cuttehare, 1 Averam 3s. 1 Bovet 3s. 2 Juvencas de 3s. 1 Vitulum 14d. Dim. quart. frumenti 2s. 1 Busselum de fabis 6d. 1 Bussellum de Orgeo 6d. Summa 13s. 2d.

Silvester fil. Nicolai, 1 Averam 2s. 3d. 1 Juvencam' 3s. 1 Vitulum 12d. Summa 6s. 3d.

Galfridus de Crusule, 1 Averam 3s. 1 Bovet 3s. 2 Juvencas 6s. 3d. 2 Vitulos 2s. 10 Oves quilibet de 6d. 1 Quart. de fabis 2s. Summa 21s. 3d. Sinion fil. Walteri habet, 1 Juvencam pretii 3s. tilionis pretii cujuslibet 18d. Summa 7s.

1 Bulloc. pretii 12d. 2 Quart. mis

EDWARD II.

FROM THE COTTON LIBRARY,

(Which was destroyed by the Fire there,)

Claudius D. II. 60. Fol. 149.

In the unfortunate reign of Edward II., scarcity was added to the evils of war abroad, and dissention at home. The Parliament, assembled at London, judged the following assize of provisions, to be the natural remedy for the first of these evils. Yet, notwithstanding, saith Stowe, " all things were sold dearer than before: no flesh could be hadde, capons and geese could not be found, eggs were hard to come bye, sheepe dyed of the rot, swine were out of the way; a quarter of wheat, beans, and pease, were sold for twentie shillings, a quarter of malt for a marke, a quarter of salt for thirtyfive shillings," &c. The reader may compare the prices in this assize, with the valuation of the cattle, &c. in the preceding document.

De Pretio Victualium, 8 E. II. A. D. 1315.

EDWARDUS Dei Gratia Rex Anglie dominus Hibernie et dux Aquitanie majori et vicecomitibus London salutem. Querelam archiepiscoporum, episcoporum, comitum, baronum, et aliorum de communitate regni nostri per petitionem suam coram nobis et consilio nostro exhibitam recepimus, continentem quod de bobus, vaccis, multonibus, porcis, aucis, gallinis, caponibus, pulcinis, columbellis, et ovis, magna et quasi intolerabilis est caristia hüs diebus in ipsorum et omnium aliorum infra idem regnum degentium dampnum non modicum et gravamen. Propter quod nobis cum instantia supplicarunt ut super hoc cararemus de congras remedio providere. Nos igitur supplicationi predicte pro communi utilitate populi dicti regni prout expediens visum fuerat annuentes ordinavimus de consilio et assensu prelatorum, comitum, baronum, et aliorum de consilio nostro existentium in ultimo parliamento nostro apud Westmonasterium habito quod melior bos vivas venalis crassus de grano non pastus vendatur de cetero pro 16s. et non ultra: et si de grano pastus fuerit et sit crassus pro 24s. ad plus tunc vendatur. Et quod melior vacea viva crassa pro 12s. Quodque porcus duorum annorum crassus pro 40d. Multo lanutus crassus pro 20d. Multo tonsus crassus pro 14d. Auca crassa in civitate nostra predicta pro 3d. Capo bonus et crassus pro 24d. Gallina crassa pro 14d. Duo puleini pro 1d. Tres columbelle pro 1d. et 20 ova pro 1d. de cetero vendantur. Et quod si aliquos vel aliquem qui hujesmodi res venales pro pretio ut premittitur ordinato vendere noluerint vel noluerit contigerit inveniri tunc predicte res venales nobis remaneant forisfacte. Et quia ordinationem predictam volumus ex nunc in civitate nostro predicta et suburbio ejusdem firmiter et inviolabiliter observari vobis precipimus firmiter injungentes quod in civitate nostra predicta et suburbio ejusdem ubi videritis expedire ordinationem predicta publice et destinate proclamari et ipsam in omnibus et singulis suis articulis sub forisfactura predicta per totam ballivam vestram de cetero faciatis inviolabiliter observari. Et hoc sicut indignationem nostram vitare et vos ipsos indempnes servare volucritis nullo modo omittatis. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium 14 die Martii anno regni nostri 8°.

7

The same Englished.

EDWARD, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine, to the mayor and sheriffs of London, greeting. We have received a complaint of the archbishops, bishops, earls, barons, and others of the commonalty of our kingdom, presented before us and our council; that there is now a great and intolerable dearth of oxen, cows, sheep, hogs, geese, hens, capons, chickens, pigeons, and eggs, to the no small damage and grievance of them and all others living within the said kingdom. Wherefore they have pressingly besought us, that we should take care to provide a fit remedy thereof. We therefore, for the common benefit of the people of the said kingdom, assenting to the foresaid supplication, as seemed meet, have ordained, by the advice and assent of the prelates, earls, barons, and others, being of our council, in our last parliament held at Westminster, that a good saleable fat live ox, not fed with grain, be henceforth sold for 16s. and no more; and if he have been fed with corn, and be fat, then he may be sold for 24s. at the most; and a good fat live cow for 12s. A fat hog of two years of age for 40d. A fat sheep with the wool for 20d. A fat sheep shorn for 14d. A fat goose in our city aforesaid for 3d. A good and fat capon for 24 d., a fat hen for 14 d., and two chickens for 14 d., and three pigeons for 1 d., and 20 eggs for 1d. And that if it happen that any person or persons be found that will not sell the said saleable goods at the settled price aforesaid, then let the foresaid saleable goods be forfeited to us. And forasmuch as we will that the foresaid ordinance be henceforth firmly and inviolably kept in our said city and the suburbs thereof, we strictly order and command. you, that you cause the foresaid ordinance to be proclaimed publicly and distinctly in our foresaid city and the suburbs thereof, where you shall think meet, and to be henceforth inviolably kept, in all and singular its articles, throughout your whole liberty, under the foresaid forfeiture; and by no means fail herein, as you are minded to avoid our indignation, and to save yourselves harmless. Witness ourself at Westminster, the 14th day of March, in the eighth year of our reign.

EDWARD III..

Cicely de Rydgeway, in the 31. Edward III. being indicted and condemned for killing her Husband, fasted forty days together in Arcta Prisona, without any Meat or Drink: For proof of this extraordinary Abstinence, the Copy of the following Record, lodged in the Tower of London, is a proof.

Ex Rot. de Anno Regni Regis Edwardi Tertii 31. Parte 1, Memb. 11.

REX omnibus ballivis et fidelibus suis, ad quos, &c. Salutem sciatis quod cum Cecilia quæ fuit uxor Johannis de Rygeway, nuper indictata de morte ipsius Johannis viri sui,

This extraordinary instance of abstinence is not altogether singular, as will appear by the following extract from Spottiswood's History of the Church of Scotland :

"With this I shall join another, not for any commendation of his learning, for he had none, nor for his good qualities, which were as few; but for strange and extraordinary things seen in him, which in the time ministred occasion of great talk and wondering to many. This man, named John Scot, having succumbed in a plea at law, and knowing himself unable to pay that wherein he was adjudged, took sanctuary in the abbey of Holyroodhouse, where, out of a deep displeasure, he abstained from all meat and drink the space of thirty or forty days together.