Historical and Antiquarian Magazine.

TRAVELLING EXPENSES IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.

[Communicated by the Rev. Joseph Hunter, F.S.A. from the original Roll.]

THE ACCOMPTS OF PHILIP DE CASTRO OF THE DAILY EXPENSES OF A PERSON OF RANK IN THE REIGN OF KING EDWARD I. ON A JOURNEY FROM OXFORD TO CANTERBURY, AND DURING HIS SOJOURN IN LONDON, ABOUT A. D. 1289.

Comp. Phi Cast in expenc. v'us Londonia' anno xviime

THIS is the indorsement on a narrow roll consisting of three sheets of parchment stitched together. It is the steward's accompts during a journey taken by some distinguished person, whose name is not mentioned, from Oxford to London, and during his residence in the neighbourhood of Oxford and in London. An excursion was made to Canterbury while the party was in the metropolis.

The name of the steward is Philip de Castro; a name which occurs frequently in the Foedera temp. Edward I., but the Philip de Castro there spoken of was an Arragonese knight. Another Philip de Castro occurs in the Fœdera, 15 Edward III. when he was dean of the church of Nantz. The Philip de Castro whose accompts these are must have been a different person, though he was contemporary with them both.

The journey was performed in the months of February and March. The year is indicated only by the words "anno xviiio" in the indorsement. It appears to mean, anno xvii. r. Edward I. 1289.

The character is of that age; and the mention of Sir Philip Columbers as one of the household of Sir William Martin seems to fix it to a period not much before nor much later. Philip Co

lumbers was born in the 10th Edward I., and married a daughter of William Martin'. With this agrees what is said of Sir Nicholas de Bonvile, one of that name dying in the 23rd Edward I.; and, generally, what few notes of time the Roll contains agree with the date assigned to it.

This Roll was preserved, together with several charters of the family known as De Rupe, or De la Roche, the lords of Roche Castle, in the county of Pembroke. There is strong reason to suppose, that one of this family was the person whose travelling accompts are before us. Twice we have notice of persons being despatched into Wales. The only nobleman of the highest rank mentioned in them is the Earl of Pembroke, whose household is sumptuously entertained. A debt of Thomas de la Roche is paid; and in a charter of one of the De la Roches there is a John de Castro among the witnesses.

But, whoever was the person, these accompts present numerous points possessed of considerable interest, and throw light upon the mode of living among our ancestors, at a period concerning which we have very few similar memorials.

• Exenium, Exennium, rò Sapov tò πeμпóμevov évy, Hospitale. Ducange. The rectors of two neighbouring parishes presented the travellers with two gallons of wine each. We shall find that they had an exennium from another beneficed clerk.

4 There are two Bertons in the parts of Oxfordshire visited by them in the first week, Steeple-Berton, and Westcot-Berton.

5 The porpoise kept its place on our tables as late as the beginning of the 16th century. In the account of provisions bought for the feast when Archbishop Warham was enthroned this entry occurs, "De Sealis & Porposs. prec. in gross xxvis. viii d." Lel. Col. vi. 31. There were twelve porpoises and seals bought for the feast when Archbishop Neville was enthroned at York, 1465. ib. p. 2. At the dinner given by Sir John Neville, on the marriage of his daughter with Roger Rockley, there was a seal and a porpoise, each of which cost 13s. 4d.

In the accompts of provisions bought for Warham's feast referred to above, after the seals and porpoises, occur pisces marina, of which a great quantity was bought. This I suppose is what is meant here.

7 Or, perhaps, pike, as pike and roach are joined in the accompts of the next day.

in sause ob. q. in figis & racinis ii d. in focalibz v d. in lectu p'. ii. noctes ii d. in feno p' vii. equorũ viid. in iiii. bou3 avenaru xx d. in pomis ob.

Sma vis. viii d. q.

Itm die Sabbati p'xa ibid. in pane de stauro. s'visia iii d. vinu ii d. q. Itm in i. lag' vini apud Dadintñe iiii d. ob. in stocfeys ii d. in peykeys & rocheys & buturu iiii d. ob. in focalibz id. in le som' sadil iii d. in ferura equoru i d. ob. q. in ii. pariis soculariu Dño xii d. Itm lib'at' Joh'e Clerico iiii s. ix d. quod p'us recepi & p' computatum in alio rotulo. Eod. die ad cenam apud Dadint"e in pane ii d. ob. q. s'visia iiii d. in anguellis vi d. in stocfeys id. in focalibz ii d. candelis de stauro. in lectu id. in feno p' vii. equoru iiid. ob. in lit' ob. in avenis iii. bou' & di' xiiii d.

Sma x s. v d. ob. qt.

Itm die Dñica p'x" ibid. ad ientakilū id. Itm liberat' Johei Houscard viis. v'su' Walliam p' expus suis, & lib'at Cole le Tat eod. die iiii d. p' jocularibz. Itm apud Addirberi in pane equoru v'su' Will Janetote i d. in s'visia ob.

Sma viis. vid. ob.

Itm die Lune p'xa apud Dadintone de William' cote in pane ii d. s'visia ii d. in una galina iiid. in ovis id. in focalibz id. in candelis ob. in feno ii d. in lit' ob. in avenis ii. bous. p' iiii. eq's viii d.

Sm xx d.

Item, on the Saturday next after the same. Bread from the store. Beer 3d. Wine 24d. Item in one flaggon of wine

at Dadinton 44d. Stock-fish 2d. Pike, roach, and butter 44d. Fuel ld. A sumpter saddle 3 3d. Shoeing the horses 1d. 2 pairs of shoes for my Lord 12d. Item delivered to John the clerk 4s. 9d. which I had before received at and have reckoned in another roll. On the same day at supper at Dadinton. Bread 2ąd. Beer 4d. Eels 6d. Stock-fish 1d. Fuel 2d. Candles from the store. Bed 1d. Hay for seven horses 34d. Straw d. 34 bushels of oats 14d. 4

Sum, 10s. 5 d.

Item, on the Sunday next after the same, at breakfast ld. Item delivered to John Houscard 7s. for his expenses towards Wales. Delivered to Cole Le Tat on the same day 4d. for the players 5. Item at Adderbury in horse-bread for William Janitot 1d. In beer d.

Sum, 7s. 64d.

Item, on Monday next at Dadinton. Bread 2d. Beer 2d. A hen 3d. Eggs ld. Fuel ld. Candles d. Hay 2d. Straw d. 2 bushels of oats for 4 horses 8d.

Sum, 1s. 8d.

'Sausa is explained by Ducange, Condimentum. It is here, no doubt, the English word sause, in which, according to what is still common usage, vegetables are included. I have ventured to render it by the word vegetables, as, unless expressed by this word, none appear to have been bought; though the tables of our ancestors were undoubtedly supplied more from the animal than the vegetable kingdom.

2 Figs and raisins; Ficuum et Racennarum, are mentioned together in the patent respecting the pontage of London Bridge, 34 Edward I., published by Hearne, Liber Niger, I. 478.

3 Thus I venture to translate le som' sadil of the original, which is in a language strangely compounded of Latin, English, and French. The frequent mention of provisions produced de stauro, or from the stock, shows that the party carried with them a portion of the food which they consumed. See Ducange, voce Sagma, which, he says, is the same with Sommarius, which appears to be the word abbreviated before sadil.

4 The price of oats throughout these accompts, except in one instance, was 4d. the bushel. Oats were at the same price in 13 Edward II, as appears by the following entry in a bill of Sir Ralph de Beiston and others, of that year: "Item in di qurt cũ. ii. b'. & di aven empt' cuilz. bo. iiii d. iis. ii d."

5 See Ducange, voce Joculares. What particular species of amusement these persons afforded cannot now be ascertained, as the word appears to have been used to describe every species of persons whose business it was to promote hilarity, from the histrio to the scurra. It might perhaps be rendered minstrels.

Itm die Mart' p'xa ibid. ad ientakilū in pane i d. s'visia id. ob. q. coq'na iid. in pane equoru ob. in ferura q. paup'o q. Itm eod. die ad cenam apud Oxneford in pane iii d. s'visia iii. lag' iiii d. ob. vinū i. potel id. q. coq'na in carnibz g'ssis. iii d. ob. in i. capone fr' et ii. peyis v d. ob. in casio ob. in focalibz ii d. in lit' ii d. in candelis id. in uno lectu id. in feno p' iiii. equoru iii d. in avenis ii. bou' p' iiii. equorū x d.

Sma iii s. viii d.

Itm die M'curii p'xa ibid. in pane iiii d. ob. s'visia v. lag' viii d. ob. in iii. qart vini iii d. ob. q. in carnibz g'ossis vi d. in ii. galinis vid. ob. in sause ob. in g'euwel 2 ob. in focalibz iii d. q. in candelis ob. in uno lectu id. In feno p' iiii. equoru iiii d. in ii bous avenaru x d. in passagio v'sus Godistouwe ii d. in furfur' ob. Sma iiii s. iii d. ob.

Item, on Tuesday next after the same, at breakfast. Bread 1d. Beer 1d. Cooked meat 2d. Horse-bread d. Shoeing the horses 4d. To a poor person d. Item, on the same day, at supper, at Oxford. Bread 3d. Beer, 3 gallons 44d. Wine, 1 bottle 24d. Cookery, in shambles meat 34d. A capon and 2 54d. Cheese

d. Fuel 2d. Straw 2d. Candles Id. A bed 1d. Hay for 4 horses 3d. 2 bushels of oats for 4 horses 10d.

Sum, 3s. 8d.

Item, on Wednesday next following. Bread 44d. Beer, 5 gallons, 84d. 3 quarts of wine 33d. Shambles meat 6d. 2 hens 6d. Vegetables d. Groats d. Fuel 3d. Candles d. A bed 1d. Hay for 4 horses 4d. 2 bushels of oats 10d. The ferry to Godstowe 2d. 3 Bran &d.

Sum, 4s. 3 d.

Itm die Jovis p'xa ibid. ad p'andiū in pane ii d. ob. s'visia ii. lag' iii d.` vinu 1 d. q. coq'na iiii d. ob. q. in focalibz id. in ferura id. in socularibz Dño vid. in pliris vid. in ginger' counfeyt & blaunchepoudre xii d. & xii d. de debito Thome de Rupe. Sma iiii s. id. ob.

Item, on Thursday next following, at dinner. Bread 24d. 2 gallons of beer 3d. Wine 14d. Cooked meat 4 d. Fuel 1d. Shoeing the horses Id. Shoes for my Lord 6d. Ginger-comfeit, and blanchpowder, 12d. Of the debt of Thomas de la Roche 4 12d.

Sum, 4s. 14d.

1 Coquina, Cibaria cocta, Ducange, who illustrates the meaning from a manuscript containing the ancient usages of the Abbey of Fontanelle; "Capient panem et vinum et coquinam."

? I cannot find this word in any of the Lexicons. It is, when fully written, grewel; and the connexion in which it occurs in these accompts shows that it may be well taken for the grain of which gruel is prepared.

3 He went from Oxford to Godstowe by water; the word passagium being used throughout these accompts for a passage by water, which is, indeed, its proper meaning in the Latin of the middle ages. Blount explains it, "The hire that a man pays for being transported over sea, or over any river."

This is, probably, the Sir Thomas de la Roche, whose name is affixed to the barons' letter to Pope Boniface VIII. respecting the sovereignty of Scotland, A. D. 1301. In the Fodera are several summonses addressed to him to serve in the wars of Scotland, from 26 Edward I., 1298, to 10 Edward II., 1317. He resided at Roche Castle, on the right hand of the road from Haverford West to St. David's. From a small collection of charters of this family which accompanied the roll in its descent to its present owner, is one by which Sir Gilbert Walensis assigns to him a lease of the lordship of Dromarlyn and Denmeor from the abbot and convent of Castle Worrith, which had been granted for twenty years from the 18th Edward I. The consideration paid by De la Roche was 80 marks. By other charters, he took grants at Gilberithsford, Vadum Gilberti, from Adam Baret: and of a carucate at Pull, from Roger Mortimer, son of Sir Henry de Mortimer. Sir Thomas de la Roche was the father of Sir William de la Roche, who styled himself in his charters, "Willielmus de Rupe dominus de Rupe." Sir William founded a chapel at Pull Oliver, where the priest was to pray for the soul of his father and other relations.

Md. qd Ph'ls de Casto recepit de Dño xii s. viii d. die Mart. in vigilia Cathedre Sci Pet' apud Braynford, unde liberavit Dño xii d. eod. die.

Itm recepit de Dño x s. die Jovis in c'stino Cathedre Sci Pet' apud Londoniam.

Itm recepit de Dño xxx s. apud Londonia die Ven'is p'xa añ festu Sci David. & recepit de Dão x s. die Dñica in c'stino Sci Oswaldi apud Londoniam.

Memorandum, that Philip de Castro received of his Lord 12s. 8d., on Tuesday the vigil of St. Peter in Cathedra, (Feb. 22) at Brentford, out of which he delivered to his Lord 12d. on the same day.

Item, he received of his Lord 10s. on Thursday, the morrow of St. Peter, in Cathedra, (Feb. 22) at London.

Item, he received of his Lord 30 s. at London, on Friday next before the feast of St. David, (March 1) and received of his Lord 10s., on Sunday the morrow of St. Oswald, (Feb. 282) at London.

Itm die Dñica proxa ante festū Cathedram Sci Pet' apud Habingdone passagio v'sus Londoniam p' ix. equoru. vd. & apud Derchst'e ad noctem s'visia id. non plus q' fuimus ad cenam cũ Dño Rico Simoun. in candelis q. in feno p' viii. equorū ii d. in ii. bou'avenarŭ viii d. in lit' ob.

Sma xvid. ob. qa.

Item, on Sunday next before the feast of St. Peter in Cathedra, at Abingdon, for the fare towards London, for 9 horses 5d. And at Dorchester at night, beer Id. It was no more, because we were at supper with Sir Richard Simoun. Candles d. Hay for 8 horses 2d. 2 bushels of oats 8d. Straw 4d.

Sum, 16ąd.

At Archbishop Warham's entertainment, he was served with sugarplate at the end of dinner. Lel. Col. vi. 24. It was evidently a sweetmeat, and a very expensive one. The appearance of it in these accompts proves that sugar was not unknown in England in the 13th century.

⚫ I have inserted the days, which, according to the received calendars, are the days appropriated to these saints. But it will be found impossible to reconcile the marks of time in these accompts with those calendars.

VOL. I.-PART II.

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