The Gatehouse website record of a licence to crenellate for Buckingham Castle, Macclesfield granted on 1398 Aug 30

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In 1398 Aug 30, John de Macclesfield, clerk was granted, by Richard II (as Earl of Cheshire), (In year 22 of his rule) a Chester licence to crenellate mansion en v're ville de Macclesfeld (Buckingham Castle, Macclesfield)

July 1. 1398. Macclesfield–John de, clerk, petition of, to the King, for licence "de batailler et kerneller de pere et de caux ses chambres de novel comencees en sa place ou mansion en v're ville de Macclesfeld," and to hold the same so kernellated to himself and his heirs for ever; also for a grant of six oaks from the wood of Lyme for the same building. {21 & 22 Ric. II, m. 37d (3).}
Aug. 30. –, licence to (as above). {Ibid. (4).} (36th report DK)

Comments

The petition, dated July 1 was granted Aug 30. This licence is sometime confused with a licence of 1399 granted to the abbot of Chester (Who was Henry de Sutton)
Here the licence may well represent a long standing clerk using his position to ensure a family home and inheritance for his unorthodox family.

Original source is;

1875, Report of the Deputy Keeper Public Records Vol. 36 p. 312 online copy
_Chester Recognizance Roll_, 21 & 22 Ric. II, m. 37d (3) (4)

(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;

Davis, Philip, 2010-11, 'Crenellated town houses in Medieval England' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 24 p. 270-91
Maxfield, D.K., 1986, 'Pardoners and property: John Macclesfield, 1351-1422, builder of Macclesfield Castle' Cheshire Archaeological Society Journal Vol. 69
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 71n18
Ormerod, G., 1882 (2edn), History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol. 3 p. 747

John Macclesfield (1351-1422)

John Macclesfield (1351-1422). In 1398 John de Macclesfield was keeper of the Great Wardrobe. "Having been ordained a priest in 1378, he migrated to London two years later and became a clerk at the King's privy seal... Although a priest in holy orders, John de Macclesfield sired five sons by his consort, Katherine Kingsley." (Macclesfield's `Great Place´, Macclesfield Borough Council, 1998).

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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