Rye was given a grant of murage dated 18/1/1385.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
Appointment of Simon de Burle, constable of Dover castle and warden of the Cinque Ports, John de Cobham of Kent, John Devereux and Edward Dalyngrugg, on information of the imminent invasion of those ports by the French with a large army, to levy from the fishermen 3d. on every noble's worth (nobilata) of fish landed at Rye, Wynchelse, Hastynges, Promhell, Lyde, Pevenyse, Romene, Hethe, Folkyston, Dele, Walmere, Recolvere, Wytstaple, Sesaltre, Mergate in the isle of Tenet, Redlyngweld, Bourn, Codyng, Bolewarehethe, Iham, Odymere, Playden, Wyderyngg, Kodelowe, Lainsyngge, Kyngeston Pende, Shorham, Southwyll (sic), Kyngeston Long, Aldryngton, Howene, Wyke and Seford, expend the proceeds upon the defence of the ports and country adjacent, auditing the accounts of those whom they depute to collect the said amount, and take masons, carpenters and other labourers for fortifying Rye, with power to imprison the disobedient, and they are exempted from rendering account to the king in respect hereof. By K. & C.
Granted by Richard II. (Regnal year 8). Granted at Westminster. Granted by K. & C..
Primary Sources
Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1897,
Calendar of Patent Rolls Richard II (1381-85) Vol. 2 p. 588
online copy
Secondary Sources
Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p. 162
Comments
Part of widespread action to prepare for an expected French invasion and only part of the money raised would have gone to fortifications at Rye. A noble was a coin worth, at this time, mark (6s. 8d.) which makes this a comparatively high 3.75% levy. (cf. the 0.1% levy the burgesses imposed upon themselves in 1369)
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 28/01/2009. Last updated on 05/05/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
