Callan, co. Kilkenny was given a grant of murage dated 20/1/1396.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
20 Jan. 1396 Kilmainham
For the salvation and defence of the town of Callan, which lies among the K.'s Irish enemies and rebels, and for fortifications and repairs against their malice, GRANT to the sovereign, provosts and community of that town, by advice of the council, that for 24 years they may take and receive the following customs on all articles for sale coming to or going out of that town in order to build a wall and pavements, viz.:
from each pound of ginger, 1d;
from each pound of saffron, 2d;
from each pound of pepper, 1/4d;
from each pound of galyngale, 1d;
from each pound of cloves, 1d;
from each pound of grain of Paris , 1d;
from all other kinds of spices to the value of 12d, 1/4d;
from 100 pounds of wax, 6d;
from 100 pounds of Alleyn, 3d;
from each hide, tanned, fresh or salted, in ships arriving or leaving, 1/2d;
from each pound of cherries, 3d;
from each piece of legys, 4d;
from each piece of English cloth, 6d;
from 12 yards of English cloth, 3d;
from each piece of Irish cloth containing 12 yards, 1d;
from each piece of linen ;
from 12 measures of iron, 1d;
from 100 spits of Spanish iron, 4d;
from each fotmell of lead, 1/2d;
from 100 pounds of soroff, 1d;
from all kinds of avoirdupois worth 12d, 1/4d;
from 1000 spike-nails, 1d;
from each frail of batry , 8d;
from each gross of pots or bowls, 4d;
from each hundred-weight of batry , 4d;
from each gallon of wine, 6d;
from each pipe of wine, 3d;
from each crannock of ordinary malt, 1d;
from each crannock of first-grade malt, 2d;
from each crannock of grain, 2d;
from each sum of grain, 1/2d;
from each sum of butter, 1d;
from each last of butter, 1d;
from each stone of onions, 1/2d;
from each mease of herrings, 1;
from each crannock of salt, 1d;
from each crannock of barley, beans and peas, 1d;
from each crannock of oats and other grain, 1d;
from each stone of wool, 1d;
from each sack of wool, 4d;
from each hide, tanned, fresh or salted, 1/2d;
from any hides valued at 12d and other skins of sporlyng, 1d;
from 100 woolfells, 1d;
from 100 lamb-skins, 2d;
from other fells worth 12d, 1/4d;
from each horse worth 40s and more, 6d;
from each draught-horse, nag, cow or pig, 1d;
from each calf, 1/4d;
from each large pig, 1d;
from each small pig, 1/2d;
from each 100 rabbit-skins, 2d;
from 100 wolf-skins, 3d;
from each sum of fish, 1/2d;
from 100 dried fish, 2d;
from each salmon, 1/4d;
from 1000 eels or whiting, 1d;
from timber, carts and boards valued at 4s, 1d;
from each falcon or goshawk, 1d;
from each hawk or little hawk, 1/2d;
from each millstone, 1d;
from 2 grindstones, 1/4d;
from 12 crocis of coal, 1d;
from each stone of butter, onions and cheese, 1/2d;
from each gallon of honey, 8d;
from each pipe of salmon, 18d;
from each hundred weight of glass, 1d;
from each hundred-weight of shellfish or other slated, dried or hard fish, 1d;
from 2000 onions, 1/4d;
from 8 sheaves of garlic, 1/4d;
from 8 stone of canvas and linen, 1d;
from each new chest and each 1000 dishes or vessels of wood, 1/4d;
from 100 pounds of pitch or resin, 1/2d;
from 100 measures of slabs, 1/2d;
from all merchandise to the value of 6s 8d not already mentioned, 1/2d; and on merchandise to the value of 13s 4d not already mentioned, 1d;
ORDER to receive those customs until the end of the said term by themselves or by deputies. The money derived from these customs is to be spent on the repair of the walls and pavements, and not otherwise. And they are to render a faithful account each year before the bishop of Ossory and the seneschal or sheriff of Kilkenny, and not at the Ex. of Ire.
Attested: Roger Mortimer, e. March, Lt
Granted by Richard II. (Regnal year 19). Granted at Kilmainham.
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Thomas, A., 1992,
The Walled Towns of Ireland Vol. 2 (Irish Academic Press) p. 30-32
Morrin, J. (ed), 1861,
Calendar of the Patent and Close Rolls of Chancery in Ireland, of the Reigns of Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth: 1514-1575 Vol. 1 p. 523 (Some parts plagerised from Commissioners Report)
online copy1835,
Reports from Commissioners: Municipal Corporations in Ireland Vol. 28 p. 451
online copyGale, P., 1834,
An Inquiry into the Ancient Corporate System of Ireland (London) p. 120-1
online copy
Comments
This became a vested grant by default.
"This corporation claims and levies Tolls and Customs; and we send with this report a Tolls and Customs, schedule of them, furnished by the sovereign.
The Tolls and Customs at present claimed by the corporation are, with some variations, (consisting of reductions and omissions, all favourable to the public,) the same which have long been claimed and taken.
These variations were made about four or five years ago, and are specified in the schedule.
The tolls and customs are not confined to market days, but are charged on every day of the week, except Sunday.
It seems that they formerly produced a much larger sum than at present. The collector says he may have received £100 in one year since 1823; and about 20 years ago they produced from £120 to £160 a year.
The collection of them causes a great deal of disturbance in the town, and there is much opposition to them.
The schedule consists of two parts: the first headed, " A Schedule, Table, or List of the Tolls, Murage, or Customs and Duties, claimed, demanded, and taken, time immemorial, by the Sovereign, Burgesses, and Freemen of the town and liberties of Callan in the county of Kilkenny, for all Goods, Wares and Merchandises, bought or sold by foreigners, strangers, or other persons, bringing the same for sale to the said town or borough, for the purpose of being manufactured or consumed, and usually collected at the gates of said town and borough, or within the liberties thereof;" the second part is headed, " Customs of the Fairs."
With regard to the first part, so far as the claim rests upon a prescriptive right to murage, it seems inconsistent with the charters above mentioned granting this duty for a limited period; and even if such a grant still continued, we find no duty of murage performed by the corporation to warrant their collecting it; and, generally, the collection of these customs, which are not collected merely as market tolls on market days, seems contrary to the provisions of the statute of the 4 Ann, c. 8." (1835, Reports from Commissioners Vol. 28 p. 453)
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 05/02/2009. Last updated on 04/06/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
