So, the
next entry in a series of blogs on unusual scrolls is the ‘laundry list’
scroll. I’ve seen this done a few times
over 30 years, and can spice up a court with listing a multitude of actions
made by the Crown, as a true medieval court would have, with dispensation of
funds, appointment to offices, and so forth.
So using
the chancery portfolios of Scotland as a guide, here are some period entries in
the rolls of the court that were used as inspiration (these are not all used in
succession, I’ve just copied the ones that were used as inspiration), below.
Edward II. 16. 1307
Fiat for allocate to Nicholas Ferinbaud, late constable of Bristol castle and warden of the town and ' berton,' for 14L Os. 8ld. Expended in cutting oaks, carpenters' and others' wages, iron, lime, &c., to repair Michaelmasa house in the castle, and making a wooden ' cage ' bound with iron iu Term, said house for the straiter custody of Owen son of David ap Griffith a prisoner, shut therein at night, anno xxxiiif ; and lAl. 2s. 6^. for the sustenance of Thomas de Lillay a prisoner from Stirling castle from the vigil of St Bartholomew anno xxxiiij" till Michaelmas last past, viz., 3 years and 38 days at M. per diem. [Chancery Files, Bundle No. 138.]
…
Edward II. 69. 1307
[Petitions of the Abbot and Convent of Sweet Heart in Galloway to the K. and Council.]
(1) They pray that in redress for the damages done to them by the Welshmen when last at Dumfries, to the amount of 4:001., he would grant them the land called Little Eosseley in Englewood, containing 40 acres, or Braytwaythe, worth 5 marks yearly.
(2) For the burning of their granges and destruction of their goods, estimated at 5000^. and more, they ask the church of Wigeton, in the bishopric of Galloway, ' en propre oeps,'
(3) Also the value of 8i sacks of good teased wool taken for the late K.'s use by Hasculf de Cleseby and others, out of the grange of Holcoltram, where it had been stored for fear of the Scots in 1302.
(4) The K. is patron of their house founded by the Lady of Balliol, as owner of the lands forfeited by her son John de Balliol. The late K. gave Sir John de St John the Balliol lands in Galloway, [1308.] but not the advowsons of abbeys, and they beg the K. to command Sir John not to intromit with them, and to direct a protection in their favour to the sheriff of Dumfries.
Fiat for allocate to Nicholas Ferinbaud, late constable of Bristol castle and warden of the town and ' berton,' for 14L Os. 8ld. Expended in cutting oaks, carpenters' and others' wages, iron, lime, &c., to repair Michaelmasa house in the castle, and making a wooden ' cage ' bound with iron iu Term, said house for the straiter custody of Owen son of David ap Griffith a prisoner, shut therein at night, anno xxxiiif ; and lAl. 2s. 6^. for the sustenance of Thomas de Lillay a prisoner from Stirling castle from the vigil of St Bartholomew anno xxxiiij" till Michaelmas last past, viz., 3 years and 38 days at M. per diem. [Chancery Files, Bundle No. 138.]
…
Edward II. 69. 1307
[Petitions of the Abbot and Convent of Sweet Heart in Galloway to the K. and Council.]
(1) They pray that in redress for the damages done to them by the Welshmen when last at Dumfries, to the amount of 4:001., he would grant them the land called Little Eosseley in Englewood, containing 40 acres, or Braytwaythe, worth 5 marks yearly.
(2) For the burning of their granges and destruction of their goods, estimated at 5000^. and more, they ask the church of Wigeton, in the bishopric of Galloway, ' en propre oeps,'
(3) Also the value of 8i sacks of good teased wool taken for the late K.'s use by Hasculf de Cleseby and others, out of the grange of Holcoltram, where it had been stored for fear of the Scots in 1302.
(4) The K. is patron of their house founded by the Lady of Balliol, as owner of the lands forfeited by her son John de Balliol. The late K. gave Sir John de St John the Balliol lands in Galloway, [1308.] but not the advowsons of abbeys, and they beg the K. to command Sir John not to intromit with them, and to direct a protection in their favour to the sheriff of Dumfries.
…
Edward II. Aug. 5. 1307.
Letters patent by Huufrai de Bohun earl of Hereford and Essex and constable of England, and Elizabeth his 'Conpaigne,' appointing Monsire William Poucy or Sire Aundreu de Kynbauton their constable of Plesitz, as attorneys to receive seisin of the manors of Wrytele, Badewe, Hatfeud, and Brounesho, and all the other lands
Edwaed II. o£ Eobert de Brus in Essex, which the K. has givea them by charter. Append their seals. Done at Dumfries 5th August 1 Edw. II. 1307. [Duchy of Lancaster Charters, Box M. No. 7S.]
...
Edward II. 1308 March 10. 79.
Debt in the ' Camera Eegis ' at Berwick-on-Tweed to Henry Nasard, merchant, London, for a loan of equal amount for the K., to Gilbert Hawkyn and John Skot, burgesses of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Eichard of Wellesford, citizen and merchant, London, John of Hall, William of Orathorn and William of Spatone (?), burgesses of Berwick, for victuals, &c., bought from them for the K.'s garrisons, towns, and castles in Scotland in his 1st and 2nd years, as appears in the compotus of the executors of Sir Eustace de Codesbeche, late chamberlain of Scotland, 520Z. 12s. 4^d. Berwick, under the official seal of the Chamberlain of Scotland. [No seal.]
Debt in the ' Camera Eegis ' at Berwick-on-Tweed to Henry Nasard, merchant, London, for a loan of equal amount for the K., to Gilbert Hawkyn and John Skot, burgesses of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Eichard of Wellesford, citizen and merchant, London, John of Hall, William of Orathorn and William of Spatone (?), burgesses of Berwick, for victuals, &c., bought from them for the K.'s garrisons, towns, and castles in Scotland in his 1st and 2nd years, as appears in the compotus of the executors of Sir Eustace de Codesbeche, late chamberlain of Scotland, 520Z. 12s. 4^d. Berwick, under the official seal of the Chamberlain of Scotland. [No seal.]
Fun medieval
term that was included in the final scroll was seisin, which means ‘to take possession,
or seize’, which has Old French origins.
So
below is the scroll that was used based on the above period examples … it
ultimately names Godfrey as a companion of the Order of Thorbjorn’s Hammer, in
the same style as the period examples but invented whole cloth and couched in
the wording of a commission, and names people known to Godfrey for fun and
entertainment (the Warden of Glencaster is still mentioned, years later, as a
matter of fact).
Writ to
the Chancellor of the Exchequer from Steinnar and Lidr with orders issued at
their Court and Parliament on the 17th day of September to maintain the peace
and proper defense of the Barony Ben Dunfirth in the following matters --
specifically to draw 43 pounds 236 pence to allow for expenses of 8 men at arms
till a year from Michaelmass following, 377 days each drawing 2 pence per diem
also for 4 archers for same time each at 3 pence per diem.
Also the Crown commands for certain reasons to do nothing in the warrant to her, that the Seneschal of Ben Dunfirth to ensure the payment of 24 pence to Tarkatai Bahadur who incurred damages when sheep of Augusta Gamarelli did encroach upon his land.
Victuals and garrison to be sent by the Baron and Baroness Ben Dunfirth to the King's estate in Eoforwic before the feast of Michaelmass approaching to support his house and hold for sixty days, and to continue to guard his side of the water between the Rhydderich River and Dundurn Bay upon the Inland Seas.
Jocea Valente to be the Warden of Glencaster and guarantee the good behaviour of our people in its bounds as they ought, insamuch that she might have seisin.
Finally, the Crown grants Godfrey Archer title for his good service in the district and his commitment to the construction of bows and similar tools of war, acknowledging his good knowledge, bestowing a commission in the Order of the Crucible forthwith.
Letters of credence in the Crown's name to be issued and it is the Crown's pleasure to deliver them upon this day in the parliament of Ben Dunfirth, appending their seal -- ix.xvij.l, SLR.
(based on the Chancery Portfolios of Scotland, 1307-1308, from the Calendar of Documents Relating To Scotland, edited by Joseph Bain, Publ: HM Register House, Edinburgh 1887)
Also the Crown commands for certain reasons to do nothing in the warrant to her, that the Seneschal of Ben Dunfirth to ensure the payment of 24 pence to Tarkatai Bahadur who incurred damages when sheep of Augusta Gamarelli did encroach upon his land.
Victuals and garrison to be sent by the Baron and Baroness Ben Dunfirth to the King's estate in Eoforwic before the feast of Michaelmass approaching to support his house and hold for sixty days, and to continue to guard his side of the water between the Rhydderich River and Dundurn Bay upon the Inland Seas.
Jocea Valente to be the Warden of Glencaster and guarantee the good behaviour of our people in its bounds as they ought, insamuch that she might have seisin.
Finally, the Crown grants Godfrey Archer title for his good service in the district and his commitment to the construction of bows and similar tools of war, acknowledging his good knowledge, bestowing a commission in the Order of the Crucible forthwith.
Letters of credence in the Crown's name to be issued and it is the Crown's pleasure to deliver them upon this day in the parliament of Ben Dunfirth, appending their seal -- ix.xvij.l, SLR.
(based on the Chancery Portfolios of Scotland, 1307-1308, from the Calendar of Documents Relating To Scotland, edited by Joseph Bain, Publ: HM Register House, Edinburgh 1887)
Here’s a link to the Chancery Portfolios of Scotland from 1307 to 1308,
filled with great items in the rolls of the court of Edward II …
Anyone has questions about ‘laundry list’ scrolls, feel free to reach
out to me.
Cheerfully slaving for my feudal masters,
Brand, Barenwalde