Limerick was given a grant of murage dated 26/3/1378.
This was in the form of:-
Surtax:- half of the coket for 5 years
Tax Remission:- half of the farm Starting 26/3/1378 running to 25/3/1383.
Wording
De muragio pro civitate Limerick.
Ricardus dei gracia Rex Angl & Franc' & Dominus Hibern Omnibus ad quos presentes litere pervenerint Salutem Supplicarunt nobus per peticionem suam Justic' & aliis de consilio nostro in terra nostra Hibern in parliamento nostro apud Tristeldermont die lune proximo post festum Cinerum proximo praeterito summonito & tento exhibitam Major & communitas Civitat' nostre lymer' ut cum eadem Civitas que cunctis ligeis nostris parcum earumdem adjacencium maximum juvamen prebet & succursum tam per Hibenicos quam per Anglicos inimicos & rebelles nostros eandem Civitatem pro viribus quod absit ardere devastare desolar' facere in dies subdole intentes & machinantes circumquaque sit vallata iidemque Major & Communitas tam graves labores & expensas excessivas circa salvacionem & defencionem ejusdem Civitatis nostre contra maliciam dictorum inimicorum nostrorum & jam diu continuo sustinuerunt ipsique per portus maris dicte Civitatis adjacentes cum mercandisis suis in bargiis & Batillis pro periculo capcionois & imprisonamenti corporum suorum per dictros inimicos nostras nisi vix tempore pacis transire aut alii mercatores cum mercandisis suis ad eandem civitatem venir' non audeant ex hac causa Ita quod iidem Major & Communitas Civitatem nostram contra maliciam insidias & jacula dictorum inimicorum nostrorum absque auxilio a nobus in fortificacionem & reparacionem murorum ejusdem Civitatis habendo diucius defendere nequeant ullo modo volumus pro salvacionoe fortificacionoe & defencionoe dicte Civitatis gratose providere Nos permissis consideratis volentes in manuten'ciam & salvacionem ejusdem Civitatis manus apponer' adjutrices dedimus & concessimus eisdem Majori & Communitati medietatem tam firme sue Civitatis nostre praedicte ad nos pertinenti{s} quam medietatem universarum & singularum peccunie summarum de custumis de Coketo nostro in eadem Civitate proveniencium ad nos qualibet cumque spectancium habend' a die confeccionis presencium usque ad finem quinque annorum proximo futur' plenar' completorum in reparacionem fortificacionem & emenddacionem murorum praedictorum Ita samper quod denar' de medietate dictarum firme & custumarum de Coketo praedicto circa reparacionem & emendacionem dictorum murorum & non alibi fidelicet expendantur volentes Insuper quod iidem Major & Communitas compotum in eadem Civitat' & non ad Scaccarium nostram Hibern de dicta medietate dictarum firme & custumarum de Coketo coram aliquo ministrorum nostrorum per nos ad hoc deputando reddant & quod de alia medietate firme sue Civitatis praedicte juxta ratam medietatatis alicujus firme sue ejusdem solvere consue'runt ac eciam de alia medietate dictarum custumarum de Coketo nobus ad idem scaccarium nostrum annuatim durantibus dictis quinque annis repondeant ut est justum Nolentes quod praefati Major & Communitas aut successores sui ratione recepcionis medietatis dictarum firme & custumarum de Coketo quam ipsi circa reparacionem dictorum murorum sic expendent durantibus dictis quinque annis per nos vel heredes nostros seu ministros nostros quoscumque futuris temporibus occasionentur molestentur in aliquo seu graventur In cujus rei testimon' has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes T' Jacobo le Botiller Comit' Dormond Justic' nostro Hibern apud Tristeldosmot xxvi die Marcii anno r' n' primo.
----
26 Mar. 1378 Castledermot
The mayor and commons of the K.'s city of Limerick have pleaded by their petition displayed to the Jcr and others of the K.'s council in Ire. in his parliament summoned and held at Castledermot on the next Monday after Ash Wednesday last that the city is the greatest aid and succour to all the K.'s lieges of neighbouring parts, and both Irish and English, enemies and rebels of the K. daily threaten and plot with force and by cunning to burn, waste and desolate it, which forbid. And although the city is fortified on all sides , yet the mayor and commons have sustained grave labours and excessive expenses upon its salvation and defence against the malice of the K.'s said enemies and continue to do so, and they dare not cross through the sea-gate of that city with their merchandise in barges and battels for peril of capture and imprisonment of their bodies by those enemies except in time of peace, and other merchants dare not come to that city with their merchandise for this reason. Consequently they are at present in such poverty and debility that they cannot in any way defend the city any longer against the malice and plots of those enemies without aid from the K. in fortifying and repairing the city walls. Considering the premises and wishing to extend his helping hand in maintenance and salvation of that city, GIFT and GRANT to the mayor and commons both of half of the farm of that city pertaining to the K., and also half of all and singular sums of money derived from the customs of the coket in the same, to have from the day of the making of these presents for a term of five years. Always provided that the moneys from the farm and customs are expended faithfully upon the repair and improvement of the walls, and not otherwise. The mayor and commons are to render an account in the same city before any of the K.'s ministers deputed by him to this, and not at the K.'s Ex. of Ire.; and they are to answer at the Ex. for the other half of the farm, reckoned at the customary rate paid for the past 40 years, and also other half of the customs of the Coket. Not wishing that the mayor or their successors shall be troubled by the K. or his heirs, or his ministers whatsoever in future times by reason of the receipt of those sums.
Attested: James Butler, e. Ormond, Jcr
Granted by Richard II. (Regnal year 1). Granted at Thistledermot. Granted by Jacobo le Botiller Comit' Dormond Justic' nostro Hibern.
Primary Sources
Commissioners on the Public Records of Ireland, 1889 (prepared 1829-30),
Chartae Privilegia et Immunitates, being transcripts of charters and privileges to cities, towns, abbeys and other bodies corporated, 18 Henry II. to 18 Richard II., 1171 to 1395 (Dublin; Irish Record Commission) p. 74 (Ref. E Rot. Mem. 5 Ric. II. m.21. d.)
A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters, c. 1244-1509, PR 1 Ric. II
View CIRCLE record
Secondary Sources
Thomas, A., 1992, The Walled Towns of Ireland Vol. 2 (Irish Academic Press) p. 142-153
1835, Reports from Commissioners: Municipal Corporations in Ireland Vol. 27 p. 391
Comments
until 1370 - after which grants become more or less continuous (CPI 71, 74, 88). They involve grants of a custom known as 'cocket' (Thomas)
Richard II. made a like grant of a moiety of the cocket custom, in the first year of his reign, (1378, ) to the mayor and commonalty for five years for the repair, fortification, and emendation of the walls of the city. (Rot. Mem 5 Ric. II. m.21.d.) (MCI)
The Tax remission may have been of more value than the coket customs although both together probably made for a considerable sum suggesting new building rather than repair. The mention of sea borne trade might suggest what was intended to be built was fortified quays and towers in the river, several of which are shown on a old map
http://wallsoflimerick.freehostia.com/images/map1820limerick.jpg
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 04/04/2009. Last updated on 04/06/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.