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In 1364 Nov 3, Maior et ballivide Coventre ac Thomas de Nassyngton, Willielms Wolf, et Willielmus de Corby were supposedly granted, by Edward III, (In year 38 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Coventre (Coventry)
Commission to the mayor and bailiffs of Coventre and Thomas de Nassyngton, William Wolf and William de Corby to assess and apportion on the merchants and inhabitants of the town and others commorant there a subsidy for the work of crenellating the town pursuant to a licence granted by the king. {Foedera} By K. (CPR)

Maior et ballivide Coventre ac Thomas de Nassyngton, Willielms Wolf, et Willielmus de Corby ... civitatem ... Coventre, Warr. (Turner and Parker)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by King.

Although this document has been considered by some as a licence to crenellate it is rejected as a licence.

Comments

Murage granted 1329 but work probably didn't start until 1364 and circuit was only finally completed in 1540. Thomas de Nassyngton, Willielms Wolf, et Willielmus de Corby are assigned to apportion the expense of walling and crenellating the town among the merchants and inhabitants. Parker referred to this as a licence to crenellate but appears to be a commission regarding the licence given the previous year.

Original source is;

(In fact, the original source given is usually a transcription/translation of what are precious medieval documents not readily availably. It should be noted that these transcription/translations often date to the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries and that unwitting bias of transcribers may affect the translation. Care should also be taken to avoid giving modern meaning to the medieval use of certain stock words and terms. Licentia is best translated as 'freedom to' not 'permission'.)

Significant later sources are;

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

Please do inform Gatehouse if you see any errors, can add information or can otherwise help to improve this resource. Please contact Gatehouse.

Record created by Philip Davis. This record last updated on Sunday, October 4, 2015.


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