Canterbury was given a grant of murage dated 12/10/1403.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
To the bailiffs of Canterbury for the time being. Strict order to put away excuse, negligence and delay, and with all speed to proceed to execute the king's commission concerning the walls, towers, gates and ditch of the city, unduly sparing or favouring no man, causing distresses by them or their deputies taken for default of payment of contributions, unless the owners shall pay within fifteen days, to be appraised and further dealt with as lawful shall be, summoning before them from time to time all collectors and receivers of such sums, compelling them to render account thereof, and certifying the king and council of the names of any whom they shall find contrary and rebellious, that the king may make provision for their punishment according to their deserts, knowing of a surety that, if they do not so, the king will lay to their charge any peril which may happen in time to come by their default; as the said walls, towers and gates are so broken and ruinous, and the ditch so filled up with trees and grass therein growing and dung and fifth which has long been cast therein that, if war should be moved between the king and his adversaries, great damage and peril to the city and the parts adjacent is to be feared, if speedy remedy be not applied; and to guard against the same, for defence of the city and suburbs and of the parts adjacent, the king appointed the bailiffs and their deputies to survey the walls etc. and cause the walls, towers and gates to be repaired, and the ditch to be scoured and cleared of such trees, grass and filth, and to remove, cast down and abate houses, walls, hedges, trees and other nuisances within the same and without which hindered such repair and scouring and the fortification and defence of the city, causing all men, foreigners and citizens their fellows, who have lands, rents and chattels in the city and suburbs and in 'Longporte,' and others who dwell there and live by their merchandise and crafts, and all others who have rents and property therein to be assessed according to their discretion and, if need be, compelled and distrained to contribute to such repair etc., every man according to his estate, possessions and means, and such distresses to be retained until full payment of the sums assessed, and to be for three years collected and levied, sparing no man, and the king's will was that if any men should flee thence without payment of the sums so assessed, having no goods there whereof the same may be levied, they should be compelled and distrained to pay by the constables and bailiffs of the places to which they fled, and those constables and bailiffs should when required levy such sums of them if need be, and send them to the bailiffs of Canterbury or their deputies, and that those deputies should from time to time be sworn to deal truly in the matter, as often as the bailiffs should think fit; and now by report of many the king has learned that the bailiffs and their deputies, considering not the damage and peril aforesaid nor what may tend to the security of the city and parts adjacent, and peradventure of the whole realm, are so remiss in execution of that commission, and some of those assessed to the said fortifications are so contrary and rebellious, that little progress has been yet made towards perfecting the work, in contempt of the king delaying the same to the peril of the city etc. and in the end of the realm, and the king's will is that the same be hastened.
Granted by Henry IV. (Regnal year 5). Granted at Westminster.
Primary Sources
Stamp, A.E. (ed), 1929,
Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry IV Vol. 2 p. 189-196
online copy
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 21/02/2009. Last updated on 30/04/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
