Leicester (Leycestre) was given a grant of murage dated 13/7/1316.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
Grant, for seven years, to the bailiffs and good men of the town of Leycestre at the request of Thomas, earl of Lancaster, the king's kinsman, of murage and pavage upon all wares brought for sale into the town.
Grant, for the same term, to the bailiffs and good men of the town of Lancaster of murage and pavage as above.
----
Murage. Leicester The King sends greeting to the bailiffs and the good men of the town of Leicester. Known that at the request of our favoured and faithful cousin Thomas, Earl of Lancaster we have granted you as help in enclosing and paving the said town from the date of the present grant to the end of the seventh year following the right to take a levy on items coming for sale into the said town, at the following rates;
that is to say for any quantity of corn for sale 1/4d;
for every horse mare bull or cow for sale 1/2d;
for every hide of horse mare bull or cow fresh salted or tanned 1/4d;
for every cart carrying salted or fresh meat 1 1/2d;
for five flitches of bacon 1/2d;
for each fresh or salted salmon 3/4d;
for ten sheep goats or pigs 1d;
for ten fleeces 1/2d;
for every hundred skins of sheep and goats 1/2d;
for every hundred skins of lambs hares rabbits foxes and squirrels 1/2d;
for every bundle of cloths 1/2d;
for each whole or part cloth 1/2d;
for every hundred linen woven canvas and Irish cloths, Galways and Worsteds 1d;
for each cask of wine 1 1/2d;
for each load of honey 1d;
for each cask of honey 3d;
for each sack of wool 2d;
for every bundle of cloths brought by cart 2d;
for each load of cloths or of other various items coming for sale into this town 1/2d.
For each cartload of iron 1d;
for each load of iron 1/2d;
for each cart load of lead 2d;
for each cartload of bark per week 1d;
for every quarter of wheat 2d;
for 2000 onions 1/4d;
for eight sheaves of garlic 1/4d;
for every thousand herrings 1/4d;
for every load of saltwater fish 1/2d;
for each cloth of serice with gold or samite diaper or brocade 1/2d;
for each cloth of serice or gold and stiffened silk 1/4d;
for every hundredweight of oats 1d;
for every hundred boards 1/2d;
for each quarter of salt 1/4d;
for each quarter of flour 1/2d;
for every piece of cheese or butter 1/2d;
for each cartload of firewood or coal per week 1/2d.
for every 1000 nails 1/4d.
for every hundred horseshoes and 'clouts' for carts 1 /2d;
for every quarter of bark 1/3d (sic);
for each bundle of any sort of merchandize coming for sale into this town and worth more than 2 shillings, 1/4d;
for every hundred iron bars 1/2d;
for each cauldron for boiling 1/2d;
for every hundred Aberdeens 1d;
for each lamprey for sale before Easter 1/4d;
for ten pecks of hemp 1/4d;
for ten jars of oil 1/2d;
for every millstone 1/2d;
and so we authorise You to levy the aforesaid rates for the term of seven years the said levies shall at once cease and be deleted. For which purpose etc. this document shaIl take effect for the aforesaid seven years.
Witness the King at Westminster 13th July. Signed by the King in person. (White)
Granted by Edward II. (Regnal year 10). Granted at Westminster.
Primary Sources
Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1898,
Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward II (1313-17) Vol. 2 p. 512
online copy
Secondary Sources
Coulson, Charles, 2009,
Murage Grants (Handwritten list and notes)
Coulson, Charles, 1995, 'Battlements and the Bourgeoisie: Municipal Status and the Apparatus of Urban Defence In Later-Medieval England' in Stephen Church (ed),
Medieval Knighthood Vol. 5 p. 123n18
White, Andrew, 1988, 'The Murage Grant to Lancaster, 1316'
Contrebis Vol. 14 p. 4-7
online copyTurner, H.L., 1971,
Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p. 119
Bateson, Mary, 1899,
Records of the Borough of Leicester (London) p. xxxvi-xxxvii
online copy
Comments
This walling of his comital towns is probably significant. Time of defiance of Edward II (Coulson).
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 13/01/2009. Last updated on 04/06/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
