The Gatehouse website record of a grant of murage for Leighlin granted 4/3/1311

Leighlin (Leghlin) was given a grant of murage dated 4/3/1311.

This was in the form of:-

Surtax:- for 5 years {changed from town wall to funding a garrison of a tower} Starting 4/3/1311 running to 3/3/1316.

Wording

De consuetudinibus in villa de Leghlin capiendis pro sustentatione hominum ad arma et hobelariorum.
Rex dilicto sibi Ade le Bretoun salutem Alias pro utilitate rei publice et ad resistend' malicie hibernicorum precibus de Leghlyn adherencium ad rogatum quorumdam magnatum terre nostre hibern et proborum hominim ville de Leghlyn concessimus eisdem hominibus muragium pro villa sua praedicta claudenda ac jam iidem hominies venerunt coram dilicto et fid' nostro { }he Wogan justic' nostro hibern die dominica proxima post festum sancti Valentini martir' ultimo praeterito apud cath' suppli{ }d' muragium illud quod eis taliter concessimus vellemus concedere vobis qui quandam turrim lapideam { } cepistis juxta villam praedictam inter eandem villam et praedictos hibernicos ad eandem Turrim perficiend' { } plene constructa et villa praedicta inde foret magis munita pro hibernicis praedictis ad magnum conmodum { }lle et patrie illius et maxime quia muragium praedictem ad tam pervam summan precunie se exten { } Tempus eis concessum quod villa praedicta inde claudi non posset et Turris illa leviori sumptu posset construi quam villa praedicta muro lapideo circuiri Et quia compertum est pre inquis' coram praedicto Justic' nostro captam quod est ad majus commodum tocius patrie praedicta per decem marcas per annum et similter ville praedicta per xl solid' per annum quod muragium praedictum vobis concedatur pro constructione turris praedicte quam pro villa praedicta claudend' si vos custibus vostris praeparis continue teneatis tres hominies ad arma et duos hobelarios ad defensionem ville et patire praedictarum prout coram eodem Justic' tenere et habere manucepistis Vobis concessimus quod pro costructione turris vostre praedicte et sustentacioe praedictorum hominum ad arma et hobelar' a die confec is preasencium per quinquennalum proximo sequen complete capiatis in villa praedicta consuetudines subscriptus videlicet
de quolibet crannoc' cujus cumque generis bladi brasei et salis venali unum obolum
de quolibet equo vel equa, bove vel vacca aut hobino venali unum obulum
de quolibet carcosio bovis vel vacce unum quadrantem
de quolibet correo bovis vel vacce equi vel Eque ffrisco salito aut tannato unum quadrantem
de quolibet molton' porco et bacone venali unum quadrantem
de qualibet benda ferrei unum obolum
de qualibet meisa allec' frisca vel salita unum quadrantem
de qualibet summa piscis maris integra unum obolum
de quolibet bovecco et juvenca venali unum quadrantem
de duabus ovibus vel capris venali 1 quadrantem
de tribus agnus 1 quadrantem
de duobus porcul' 1 quadrantem
de iiii porcell' 1 quadrantem
de iiii capriol' 1 quadrantem
de vi{ } 1 quadrantem
de quolibet equo cariant' busc' per septimanam 1 quadrantem
de qualibet carra carient bosc' per septimanam vel trabes ad vend' 1 quadrantem
de quolibet trokell cariant' busc' vel trabes per septimanas ad vend' 1 quadrantem
de centum bord' venal 1 obolum
de xx summagis virgarum venal 1 obolum
de duabus solid' maeremei venal 1 quadrantem
de qualibet carecta venal 1 quadrantem
de qualibet garba asseri 1 quadrantem
de quolibet sacco lane iiii denarios
de quolibet sacco lane transeunte per vill' praedictam per aquam vel per terram ad vend' duos denarios
de quolibet doleo vini solo transeunte per aquam vel ducto per terram 11 denarios
de qualibet petra lane et ffalinga venali 1 quadrantem
de quolibet milliar' clavorum 1 quadrantem
de qualibet carectata de corticis venali 1 quadrantem
de duabus summagis corticis cariat' per equos 1 quadrantem
de qualibet pecia panni lanei hibern continenti xii ulnas 1 obolum
D' qualibet pecia panni linei hibern continenti xii ulnas 1 quadrantem
de qualibet lagen' mellis venali 1 quadrantem
de trebus libri ceri 1 quadrantem
D' qualibet centena cere integerali venali vel transseunte per aquam vel per terram d vend' ut praedictam est 11 denarios
D' quolibet doleo vini vend' in vill' praedict quatuor denarium
D' quolibet doleo servisia vend' in eadem vill' 1 denarium
D' quolibet barello cervisia continente quadr' vel quanauaginta lagen' cervisia vend 1 obolum
D' quolibet batell' carcato vinis sale blado aut alio mercimonio transeunte per aquam de Barow juxta vill' praedictam ad aliquas pretes pro vinis ill' sale blado vel mercimonio vend' vi denarios
de duobus salmon' venali 1 quadrantem
de qualibet carecta carcata panno vel coreis transeunte per vill praedictam 1 denarium
de qualibet pisa cepi uncti butiri et casei venali 1 quadrantem
de qalibet centena ferrorum ad equos venali 1 denarium
de duabs solid'cujuscumque mercimonii quod non nominatur in litteris istis 1 quadrantem
D' singul' duabus lampred' vend' 111 quadrantur 1 quadrantem
Et ideo vobis mandus quod tam de Burgen' ville praedicte quam aliis capiatis in eadem villa consuetudines praedictas usque ad finem termini praedicti quo completo dicte consuetudines penitus cessent et deleantur
In cujus rei testm' etc. T' praefato Justic' nostro apud Waterford iiii die marcii anno r. n. quarto.
----
4 Mar. 1311 Waterford
To Adam le Breton.
The K. previously granted murage to the men of the town of Leighlin at their request and that of certain magnates of Ire. to enclose the town for the public good and to resist the malice of the neighbouring Irish. On the Sunday after St Valentine the men of Leighlin came before John Wogan, the Jcr, at Carlow, asking that the murage be granted to Adam who had begun a stone tower beside the town in order that he might complete it. The amount to be received from the murage was not enough to enclose the town but building the tower would cost less. It was found by inquisition taken by the Jcr that the town of Leighlin would benefit by 40s p.a. and the neighbourhood by 10m p.a. if the murage were granted to Adam and if he maintained 3 men-at-arms and 2 hobelars for the defence of the town as he undertook to do. GRANT to Adam for this purpose for five years from the present date of the following customs from merchandise coming for sale:
from each crannock of all kinds of corn, malt and salt, 1/2d;
from each horse, mare, ox or cow, 1/4d;
from each carcase of ox or cow, 1/4d;
from each hide of ox, cow, horse or mare, fresh, salted or tanned, 1/4d;
from each moltonus, porcus and baconus, 1/4d;
from each band of iron, 1/2d;
from each mease of herrings, fresh or salted, 1/4d;
from each load of sea fish, 1/2d;
from each bullock and heifer, 1/4d;
from 2 sheep or goats, 1/4d;
from 3 lambs, 1/4d;
from 2 piglets (porculi), 1/4d;
from 4 piglets (porcelli), 1/4d;
from 4 kids, 1/4d;
from , 1/4d;
from each horse carrying wood by the week, 1/4d;
from each cart carrying wood or beams by the week, 1/4d;
from each trokell carrying wood or beams by the week, 1/4d;
from each 100 boards, 1/2d;
from each 20 loads of rods, 1/2d;
from 2s. worth of timber, 1/4d;
from each cart, 1/4d;
from each sheaf of steel, 1/4d;
from each sack of wool, 4d;
from each sack of wool passing through the town, by water or by land, to be sold, 2d;
from each tun of wine passing through by water or by land, 2d;
from each stone of wool and falinga, 1/4d;
from each 1000 nails, 1/4d;
from each cartload of corticis, 1/2d;
from each two loads of corticis carried by horses, 1/4d;
from each piece of Irish woollen cloth containing 12 ells, 1/2d;
from each piece of Irish linen cloth containing 12 ells, 1/4d;
from each gallon of honey, 1/4d;
from three pounds of wax, 1/4d;
from each hundred of wax for sale or crossing by water or land to be sold, 2d;
from each tun of wine for sale in the said town, 4d;
from each tun of ale for sale in the said town, 1d;
from each barrel of ale containing 40 or 50 gallons, 1d;
from each boat laden with wine, salt, corn or other merchandise crossing by the water of the Barrow beside the said town to any other parts to sell the wine, salt, corn or merchandise there, 6d;
from every 2 salmons, 1/4d;
from each cart laden with cloth or hides passing through the said town, 1d;
from each pisa of tallow, grease, butter or cheese, 1/4d;
from each 100 horseshoes, 1d;
from every 2 solidates of all kinds of merchandise not specified in these letters, 1/4d;
from every 2 lampreys, d.
Attested: John Wogan, Jcr
----
Rex ad petic' hominim ville de Leghlyn, quib alias muragium conces at ad claudend' eadem villam minus sufficiens, nunc concessit Ade le Bretoun tas consuetud' per 5 an' pro constructione turris lapidee jux' eand' vill' ab ipso jan incepta. Waterf', 4 Mar.

Granted by Edward II. (Regnal year 4). Granted at Waterford. Granted by Justic' nostro.

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. 43 (ref. E Rot. Pat. 3, 4 Edw.II.m.7 d.)
A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters, c. 1244-1509, PR 4 Edw. II View CIRCLE record
Tresham, Edward (ed), 1828, Rotulorum patentium et clausorum cancellariae Hiberniae calendarium (Dublin; His Majesty's printers) p. 18 No. 132

Secondary Sources

Thomas, A., 1992, The Walled Towns of Ireland Vol. 2 (Irish Academic Press) p. 229-30

Comments

1310: for 5 years to 'Leighlin" (CPI 43)-this grant was made because the 'customs of the vill', already allowed 'for enclosing with a stone wall', were proved by inquiry to produce 'such a small sum of money', that it was decided it would be better to use them for financing a small garrison force, based at a stone tower. ... The more general interest lies, firstly, in the transferring of a murage grant from a stone town wall project to an alternative defence device, an existing tower. This is something which may be suspected of happening at other towns, especially those with castles, but without evidence of having had town walls beyond that provided by murage document-for example Croom. The second point of interest is the reason stated for abondoning a town wall project-the low financial return produced by a murage grant. This, again, may not have been uncommon, especially at small market towns, and may account for many such projects being aborted. (Thomas)
Murage granted not strictly for town walls but to fund the building of a tower (a private tower house?) and the expense of 5 soldiers (presumably their work included collecting the murage)

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