Dublin was given a grant of murage dated 5/11/1476.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
5 Nov. 1476 Dublin
INSPEXIMUS of statute made in parliament at Dublin on Friday after St Margaret the Virgin 15 Edw. IV before William , bp Meath, deputy of George, duke of Clarence; and adjourned to Drogheda and thence to Dublin on the Monday after SS Philip and James ; the record remaining in the chancery rolls, viz.: 'By letters patent dated 14 Feb. 34 Hen. VI, the late K. granted to four citizens of Dublin £6 p.a. from the fee-farm of the city for 40 years to be expended upon repairs of walls and gates; and by letters patent dated 24 June 4 Edw. IV, the present K. granted to four citizens of the same city 20m for 40 years from the fee-farm similarly to be expended on the walls and gates; and also the same K. by letters patent of 26 Aug. 4 Edw. IV granted to John Bennett and other citizens £30 p.a. for 12 years to be expended on gates on view of four citizens chosen by assembly of same. The mayor and citizens of Dublin plead that they have often been in danger in resisting the malice of the Irish enemies, and the commons are so much impoverished that they cannot purchase armour for the field, and that the mayor and commons have often resisted the insurrections and wars that have threatened the destruction of the land of Ire. Having considerd the premises, GRANT by the authority of parliament that the said £6 and £30 are to be received for 40 years after the end of the original term, to be expended on the same works, with the account to be audited by the mayor or four of his fellows annually.' EXEMPLIFICATION of this by the said deputy.
Attested: William Sherwood, bp Meath, deputy
Granted by Edward IV. (Regnal year 16). Granted at Dublin.
Primary Sources
Comments
I've taken this to be 40 years from the end of the first of these grants in 1456. This then implies that at least £36 p.a. was being spent on repairs of the walls. However, it may be these repairs include wages for watchmen or gate porters.
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 23/05/2012. Last updated on 04/06/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
