Waterford was given a grant of murage dated 15/3/1385.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
De custumis majori et communitati civitatis Waterford. ad terminum annorum concessis.
R' dilectis sibi majori & Ballivis ac Communitati Civitatis nostre Waterford' salutem Sciatis quod nos consideracione congrua pensantes grandes sumptus & expensas quos vos circa fortificacionem & manutenenciam Civitatis praedicte contra cotidianos incursus tam inimicorum & rebellium terra nostre Hibern quam aliorum inimicorum nostrorum alienigenorum qui eandem Civitatem pro viribus devastare & destruere nituntur quod absit indies apponere oportuit ut hujusmodi sumptus & expensas melius valeatis futuris temporibus supportare de gracia nostra speciali & in auxilium fortificacionis murorum & aliorum fortaliciorum ejusdem Civitatis concessimus vobus & licenciam dedimus pro nobus & heredibus nostris quantum in nobus est quod vos & posteri vestri per vosmet vel a vobus deputandos a data confeccionis praesencium usque ad finem viginti & quatuor annorum exnunc proximo sequen plenar' complend' capere exigere & levare possitis omnes consuetudines & custumas de universis & singlis rebus & mercandisis venalibus tam ad deictam Civiatem venientibus quam ex {eandem} exeunt' & in portu ejusdem Civitatis quam in aliis locis infra libertatem ejusdem quas ex concessione & licencia nostris & progenitorum nostorum quondam Regum Angl' virtute literarum patencium vobus inde confectarumprecipere & levare soliti & usi fueritis eisdem modo & forma quibus easdem consuetudines & custumas levastis & habuistis juxta formam vim & effectum earumdem literarum patentium & prout in eisdem plenius continetur absque aliquo compoto nobus vel heredibus nostris pro consuetudinibus & custumis praedictis per tempus praedictem reddend' Ita semper quod denar' inde provenientes super fortificacione & emendacione murorum & aliorum fortaliciorum ejusdem Civitatis & non alibi per tempus fideliter expendantur In cujus &c T' praefato locum ten' Apud Trym xv die marcii.
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15 Mar. 1386 Trim
Considering the great expenses that the mayor, bailiffs and commons of the city of Waterford must daily incur upon the fortification and maintenance of that city against constant attacks both by enemies and rebels of the K.'s land of Ire, and also the K.'s other alien enemies who strive to devastate and destroy the same city by force (which God forbid!), and so that they can better support those costs and expenses in the future, GRANT and LICENCE to the said mayor , of the K.'s special grace and in aid of the fortification of the walls and other fortifications of that city, that for 24 years from the date of these presents they may take, exact and levy all those customs from articles and merchandise for sale—both coming to that city and leaving it, and also in the port of the city and in other places within the liberty of the same— that they were accustomed to receive and levy by licence of the K. and his progenitors, former kings of Eng., granted by letters patent; to have in the manner and form contained in those letters patent, without rendering an account to the K. or his heirs for those customs for the specified time. Always such that the money derived from this is faithfully expended upon the fortification and improvement of the walls and other fortifications of that city, and not otherwise, for the same time.
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Rex concess' majori, ballivis ac communitati civit' Waterf' quod per 24 ans' exigere possint omnes consuetud' de reb' venal' in libertate ej' quis precipere soleb'. 15 Mar.
Granted by Richard II. (Regnal year 9). Granted at Trim. Granted by locum ten' .
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. 82 (Ref. E Rot. Pat. 19 Ric. II. p. i. m. 19. d.)
A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters, c. 1244-1509, PR 9 Ric. II
View CIRCLE recordTresham, Edward (ed), 1828,
Rotulorum patentium et clausorum cancellariae Hiberniae calendarium (Dublin; His Majesty's printers) p. 127 No. 244
Secondary Sources
1835,
Reports from Commissioners: Municipal Corporations in Ireland Vol. 28 p. 582
online copy
Comments
Richard II., in the ninth year of his reign, by charter bearing date the 15th March, (Rot. Pat. 9, Rich. II. p. 1. m. 19. d.) granted to the mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty of his city of Waterford, to the end of twenty-four years, all customs of all things saleable, as well coming to the said city as issuing from it, and in the port of the same city, and in other places within the liberty thereof, which they had been accustomed to levy by the grant and licence of him and former kings of England, by virtue of letters patent, so that the money thence accruing, should be for the same time faithfully expended on the fortification and emendation of the walls and other fortifications of the same city. (MCI)
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 08/04/2009. Last updated on 04/06/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
