Rochester Records

By Robert Willis Blencowe, Esq.

By the kind courtesy of the Mayor and Corporation of Rochester, in freely laying open their Records to our investigation, when we held our annual meeting in their ancient city, we are enabled to present our readers with transcripts of two very interesting and valuable documents, viz. the ancient Custumal of the city, temp. Edw. IV., and an account of the expenditure of the Corporation during two years' mayoralty of Richard Harlowe in 1578-9 and 1579-80, the earliest memorial of that nature among their Records.

Both these documents are full of indications of the position which Rochester occupied as the great thoroughfare between England and the continent, and the consequent necessity of stringent laws for facilitating and regulating the traffic.

In the latter of these records will be found many very curious entries, relating to the visits of grandees and high officials, when, in their passage through the city, they were received by the Corporation and treated with civic hospitality. Thus we have items for wine and apples and lambs, etc., as given to my Lord of Huntingdon, and my Lord Cheney, and my Lord Deputy of Ireland, at a costly price, considering the value of money in those days.

When Duke Casimir, son of the Elector Palatine, came to England, to try his chance with many others for the great matrimonial prize, the hand of Queen Elizabeth, he seems to have caused some trouble and no small expense to the loyal citizens of Rochester, as the entries relating to his reception and entertainment in these accounts bear ample testimony.

It will be seen, too, by this document, that the assizes were occasionally held at Rochester, and that it was clearly high time that the Court House there should be put in sufficient repair to receive the Judges, and for the trial of the prisoners. And there is a curious charge of 3s. for the erection of the gallows, that great engine of punishment, which in those days, called by some "the good old days," groaned under the weight of its wretched victims.

Some of the items in this account are of peculiar interest, as evidencing the troubled and anxious condition of public affairs in England, and the plots that were formed against the life of the great Protestant Queen; such as the entries of sums paid to pursuivants for bringing down proclamations against the dispersing of seditious books,—against the flying of rebels out of the realm,—those relating to parties prosecuted for speaking words against the Queen's majesty, etc.

The entry respecting the probate of Mr. Watts's Will, will be read with considerable interest by our friends at Rochester. The tradition is still current, that Queen Elizabeth, in one of her progresses, spent four or five days at the Crown Inn, Rochester, from whence she removed to Mr. Watts's house on Boley Hill; upon leaving which she gave it the name of "Satis," to intimate her perfect satisfaction with the reception he had given her. Without pausing to inquire into the authenticity of this tradition, we may well pass on to remind our Rochester readers that this Will, whose probate is here recorded, was that containing the well-known munificent bequest of alms-houses by Richard Watts, which still render nightly service to the houseless poor wayfarer. He died 10th September, 1579. His will was dated September 10th, and proved September 25th, in the same year.

The entry relating to the "Banckite given by Mr. More at his decease" seems to require a passing notice. It was a common practice in those days for a testator to direct by Will what hospitalities should be exercised at his own funeral. They were often upon a very large scale, and there was much drunken revelry. Ralph Guy, a yeoman of Yorkshire, in his Will dated 1550, directs that, for his funeral expenses, there shall be 7 sheep killed; xv3 was left for bread; vij3 for 4 gallons of ale; for 3 score gallons of beere, ivs; for spice and honey, ii3-iiija; for a quarter of wheat, viijs-vja; a dozen of capons, vjs; 4 pigs, x3; and viijs-iiijd was to be distributed at the church door. And another yeoman, Launcelot Gale, a few years later, directed that all his friends and neighbours who should offer within one day of his burial should have a dinner at his house, and that his body should remain unburied one day and one night, if God would permit it, to give time for them to be gathered together.

Another series of charges, viz. those relating to the expedition to London to answer Martin Coatis's suit before the Lord Chief Baron, suggest a lively picture for the imagination. We may well fancy the mayor and his brother aldermen mounted on their horses in the early morn, making their way to Gravesend; "their coats, gowns, and cloaks," as Harrison describes the attire of that day, "of brown, blue, or purple, with some pretty furniture of velvet or fur, or a doublet of old tawney, or black velvet, or other comely silk." They reach Gravesend in somewhat sorry plight from the miriness of the road, but the "ostiler" soon scrapes the mud from their begrimed boots, and enables them to repair on board the tilt boat in trimmed attire, suited to their dignity. Arrived in London, we may picture to ourselves the inn to which they would resort. The archway, the large courtyard, the galleries, one above the other, on which the chambers opened, and the horses stabled underneath; each chamber containing many beds, and each bed probably more than one occupant; and the common room, where they supped, crowded perhaps with guests of all degrees. One item there is, the payment to the servants of the Lord Chief Baron, indicative of a private visit to the judge, and of evil omen to Mr. Martin Coatis, as to the result of the suit with the Corporation of Rochester, which brought them up to London.

But it is time that we admit our readers to the inspection of the accounts themselves, transcribed verbatim from the originals, as follows:

A note of all suche somes of money as have bine disbursed by me Richard Harlowe, maior of the Cittie of Rochester, for the use of the saied Cittie, anno domini 1578, as followeth:

Item, pa to Christofer Androwes, for his paynes about the buttes vu

Imprimis, geven to my Lorde Strange MS players . vj8-viijd

Item, to a Pursuivant yfc broughte downe the proclamations for ye prises of wine iij3-iiijd

Item, spent upon the laste undershriffe, as touching matters for the Cittie ij3

Item, for Timber and Ironwoorke for the bere belonging to St. Nicholas Churche, and for the makeinge of the said bere and Iron bowlts . . . . vj8-viijd

Item, for xxviijte foote of Oken timber, for two Susters for the Stayers belonginge to the Towne Keaye and for a plancke for the foote vij3-vjd

Item, for iiij fitter loads of Chaulke for the filling of the towne keaye, at iiij8 y° loade . . . . . . xvj3

Item, for one litter loade of gravell for the paveinge of the same keaye v3

Item, payed to John Nicolles, for makeinge and mend- inge up of the Seller doore, where Mr. Sackeford's butter laye, and for a newe ride and naylles for the same ijs

Item, for makeinge cleane of the Seller and for Sande vja

Item, payed to vj men for bringinge up of iiij score and ode barrells of Butter iij8

Item, for a lincke y° same time iiija

Item, for wine and apples geven to my Lorde of Huntington, and my Lo : Cheney . . . . . . . ij3

Item, for wine and apples geven to my lorde deputie of Ireland iij3

Item, for ij lambes geven to the saied Lorde deputie xiij8

Item, for ij lambes geven to ducke Cassimere . . . ix3

Item, for one gallon of Sacke, and for v gallons of gascoyne wine geven to him xs-iiijd

Item, for appells geven to ye saied Ducke . . . . xijd

Item, for a horsse hier for one of Bowles Searvants to ryde to Gravesende to bringe woorde when ducke Cassimerus shulde come xijd

Item, for a horsshier for Wards mane to Grillinghame to geyte Oysters for ye ducke xijd

Item, payed for halfe a Boushell and one gallon of oysters geven to the saied Ducke Cassimerus . . viija

Item, for ij Lambes geven to my Lorde of Aburgavenney . . . . . . ix s

Item, for a horsse hier for Springfilde to carrye the saied Lambes my Lorde xijd

Item, for ij Lambes geven to Mr. Justice Southcote . viij3

Item, for fetching of the saied lambes at Di . . . s of Clife viijd

Item, pd for a hoshier for Edwarde Barker, to carrye those lambes to Gravesende viijd

Item, pa for apples and wine at the assembly of the Justices here at Rochester for the queenes majestes affayers yj3

Item, for wine, breed, and bere geven unto my Lorde Cheffe baron ij8

Item, for wine geven to Sr William Winter and Mr Houldestocke, at the same time y* they graunted there goodwill for the Saylles for the assice howse xxd

Item, for wine geven to Mr Coppinger uppon a oourte daye, when he dined at my howsse, viz. j pottell of Sacke, j gallon of gaskine wine, and halfe a pownde of sugar iijs-vjd

Charges bestowed wppon the aseehowse.

Imprimis, for lathes yjd

Item, for Prigge and Trashe ijs-ija

Item, pa to Thomas Sabine and his fellowe, for j dayes worke for to sawe rafters for the same howse . . ij3

Item, for v Bushells of Lyme ijs-jd

Item, payd to George Eidsdale and his mane for mending y° same howse xvjd

Item, for a boushell of heire iijd

Item, for dim hundred of ijs naylles xijd

Item, for dim hundred of yjd naylles iijd

Item, for iij dayes worke to John Nicholles . . . iijs

Item, pd to Bartholmewe Roffe for iij dayes labour there xvjd

Item, for a pece of ockeine timber to make the rafters xvjd

Item, for slyttinge of a pece of timber for the saiede rafters iijd

Item, to John Nicholles, for settmg up of the gallowes xijd

Item, for vj boundells of roushes xijd

Item, for j C of iiijd nayele iiijd

Item, for xxvj*' ijs nayls vjd

Item, for Shrimpes for ye Judges ijs-vja

Item, for j dosser of ffishe and for ye oarringe of it to ye Judges x3

Item, for ij Bousshelles of oysters xxd

Item, for ij gallons of gaskine wine and one pottell of Sacke . iiijs-iiijd

Item, payed for the fetchinge and caringe of the Sayles to the howse ijs-vjd

Item, payede to those y* helped to cover ye howse wUl the Sayles and to take theme downe for vitells at Stansales vj8-viija

Item, pd to William Eawhnge and Hughe Arudell for kepeing and layeinge of ye cousshings in the sice howse ij3

Item, payed to Nichollas White for ceartayne paynte- ing done by hime aboute the assice howse . . . xv3

Item, pa for dim C of Elme boarde for to boarde up the hole in the assichowse ijs-iiijd

Item, pd to Edward Barcker, for iiij C of Osterye ffaggotts at iiij3 the C, the wcl1 weare geven to poore of the parishe xvj3

Item, pd to Thomas Corke of Maydstone, pavior, for xiij Loods of Stones delivered at Mayedstone at the watterside there xvij8-ihja

Item, pa for the carraidge of y6 same stones from Maydstone by watter to the Towne Keaye . . . vhj3

Item, pfl for the certificate into the Ohauncery, for eateing of fleshe in the Lente season ij8

Item, pd to Thomas Efoule, masone, for ij dayes worke upon ye towne Keaye ijs-iiijd

Item, pd to Thomas Waller, for iij ringells (? cingells) and iij Thimbles of iorne, wayeing xlviijlb, at ijd of the pownde x3

Item, payed for a newe lande towe layeinge and for Timber ij3

Item, payed to Thomas Cooke yD Pavior for the Pa- veinge of 100 yards of paveing at the towne Keaye xx8-xa

Item, paied for one gooeinge up to London to put the certificate of the rate of Servant's wadges, and for his chardges ye same time v3

Item, payed to ye Poursivante for bringing the procla- macions for caringe of goiies and Longe Dudges ij3-vja

Item, payed to Johne Pendellton for his chardges to to the Courte at Eichemounte, w* letters to the counsell there, for certayne woords, the which one Eandalle Worsleye spake in Mr Edmunds howse againste the Queens Maigestie . . (ij8-vja) . . x8

Item, paied for a newe markite boussheH and for the bindinge of the same v3

Item, paiede for the Queens Maigesties ffee farme, due unto her at the feaste of S* Michaell tharchan- gell, anno domini , and in the xx yeare of her maigesties Eaigne xihju

Item, paiede to the Poursivante for the bringeinge downe of ye proclamacions for the prisces of wines ijB-vjd

Item, payed to a Poursivante for the bringeinge downe of ye proclamacions for concealed lands . . . . ij3-vja

Item, pa to the Poursivante for the bringeinge downe of y° proclamaciones for the ffree libertie of wines for to be brought into this Eealme ijB-vjd

Item, payed to a Poursivante for the bringeinge downe of the write and the Proclamacions for the gooeinge over of Woolles ij3-vja

A note of suche Vittells as was expended at the Admvrall Oowte holden at Bhiernas for the OitUe of Bochester, the xvjth daye of June, anno domini 1579, as hereafter followeth :

Item, payed for Beefe, boylled and rosted . . . . viijB-ixd

Item, payed for one lambe, backed and roasted . . . v8

Item, for Veale, backed and rostede iijs-vjd

Item, for Rabetts, backed xviija

Item, payed for Courrants and Prevens vjd

Item, for Pepper to backe this meate . . . . . . ixd

Item, payed for ijlb of Butter vja

Item, payed for fflower xijd

Item, for a gammon of Backecon ijB

Item, for v doss of Breade v8

Item, for one killderkine of beere, being halfe stronge and halfe smale . iij8

Item, pd of one Pine of smalebeere yjd

Item, payed for Wine ix8

Item, payed for Tinier & Saulte . ijd

Item, payed for Svegar . ij3

Item, geven to the mariners for there paynes in rowe- inge of us downe to the Nasse and up agayne, and for ower drinckeinge at or comeinge to lande . . yj8

Sma inde, xlix8-ijd

Item, payed for the dynner of the admirall courte holden by me, Richard Harlowe, major of the Cittie of Rochester, for the saied Cittie, at Hawckewoode. The xvjtu daye of October, anno 1578, as by the Eecordes of the sayed courte dothe apper vi8

Item, pd to the Pursivante for the bringinge downe of the proclamacions for appaerell, ssvardes, and longe rouffes ija-yja

Item, for a gallon of wine geven to Master Doctor Lewen at the probate of Mr Wattes his will of BollyhiU ij3

Item, payed to Mr Fraunces Hille, for his paynes in goeinge up to London aboute the saied will of Mr Watts xiij8-iiija

Item, payed the xxyjtu of November, a01579, ffor the affirers dynner for affireing of the Lawedaye holden the Michaellmas before iiij3

Item, payed for wine geven to my Lorde cheffe baron at his beinge at Rochester in the lente, comeinge frome his sircute hijs-viija

Item, payede to Eicharde Claye for wine geven to my Lorde chefe barone at his going from Oaunterburye to London ij3-vjd

Item, payede to the Exchetters bayelie, for bringeing of a parantarie daye for us to apper before the saied exchetor at Depforde . ij8-yja

Item, payed to Mr Wurdgers mane for writinge of y° coppie of Mr Watts wUl vs

Item, payed for the Banckite geven by Mr More at his decease, expended at y° Signe of the White Harte at Rochester, being more then y° saiede Mr Moore allowed vijs

Item, payed to a Poursivante for bringing downe of proclamacions againste the disspersinge of sedicius boks . ij3-vjd

Item, paiede to a Poursivante for the bringeinge downe of a proclamacion against the ffiyinge of Reabells out of the Eealme ij3-vjd

Monney layede owte by me, Bichairde Harlowe, major of ye Cittie of Bochester', for the use of the saied Oittie, anno domini 1580.

Item, payed for the Certificate of the Eeating of ffleshe made by the saied Maior in to the Chancery for ye Lente ij3

Item, payed to the Poursivante for the Bringeinge downe of the proclamacions for bredinge and increase of horsses ijs-vjd

Item, geven to James Harrison for the caring of ij Salmons to my LORDS COBHAME'S xija

Item, paiede to Pendellton for his chardges to my LORDE OE ABURGAVENNBY'S in Sussex ij9

Item, paiede to those men, the woh- caried the mariner to the assices, the wcb- mariner spake wordes agaynste the queen's ma4i ij9

Item, pa for ye ffeefarme of y° Cittie this yere . . . xiiiju

Mormey emended the iiij"1 of Januomii, anno domi/ivi 1579, at the gooeimg up of me, EICHARDE HARLOWE, maior, to London, and others of my Bretheren, to answer my Lord Ohefebarone and others wppon a sute made to the saiede Lorde Ohefe Baron by Martine Ooatis.

Item, ffor horshiers to Gravesende iiij9-viija

Item, geven to the poore of White ditche . . . . iiijd

Item, geven to the ostiler at Gravesend for makeinge cleane of or bouttes vjd

Item, for or Breakefaste there vs

Item, for a tilte boote up to London iiij8

Item, for awherie thoroughethe bridge to the blacke- friers iiija

Item, paied for or Supper y* nighte vij8-xd

Item, geven to my Lorde chefe barone his Butler and Portter iij8

Item, for or Brekefaste uppon Tewsdaye ija

Item, for or dynner the same daye vij8-iijd

Item, for ower beddes and other necessaries, and to to the maiedes of the Inne ijs-viijd

Item, for our bote hier to Gravesende iij8

Item, paied for Mr Maplesden his horse meate at Gravesend, and to the ostiler xijd

Item, for v horshiers for us to Rochester . . . . iijs-iiijd

Summa inde, xliiij8-xjd

A note of the expences of Vittels ye woh was expended at the Admirall Oourte holden at Shiernas the of June, a° domini 1580, by me, Bicharde Harlowe, maior of the cittie of Bochester, for ya saied Oittie.

Imprimis, paiede for j lambe, bought of William Wilkinsonne v3

Item, pd for dim Lambe, boughte in ye markit. . . xxd

Item, pd to William Wilkinsonne for xij stone of Beefe at xijd the stone, ye whiche was boylled and rosted xij3

Item, pa Walter Powlter for one Loyne, one Shoulder, and a breste of Veale ijs-vjd

Item, for ij Pigges xxd

Item, for Slower and boutter to backe y° lambe . . xijd

Item, for courrants, pepper, and prevenes . . . . viijd

Item, for mousterde, viniger, and saulte iiijd

Item, to Thomas the baker for v doss of breade . . . v3

Item, paied for xiij quartts of gaskine wine . . . . yj3-yjd

Item, paied to Barker for a bottell of Sacke of v quartts ij8-yjd

Item, paied for a gallon of Sacke fechte at Queenborowe ij8

Item, paied to the mariners wcl1 rowed in ij Pinsces downe to ye Nasse and up againe iiij8

Item, for a Samone, expended the same time at Shiernasse vjs

Item, paied to John Boutler for ij horse hiers to Can- terburye y° same time that my Lorde Cheffe baron sente for ceartyne Presoners to come before hime, in the behalfe of the Queens Magestie to Canterburie v3

Item, pd to Willcox the same time for the hier of ij horsses to Canterburie for those men v3

Item, payed for ij horse hiers to Birlinge for my selfe and Springefild ye same time y* my LORDE OE ABURGAVENNEY sente for me and certayne other Alldermen to come to . at wch time he . alleged y* he hade wronge for y4 he hade not the placeinge of the under stuarde of this Cyttie ije

Item, pd to Thoms Watters ye same time y* he carried Becher and another younge mane to the conssell at the counselle's Comaundmete x3

Item, geven to Ussher and his men for takeinge up of a Samon upon the stadells, the w* Samon was geven to my LORDE COBHAMB iij3-iiija

Item, pd to my LORDE COBHAM his keper when he broughte us halfe a boucke at the same time to be merie w* iij3-iiijd

Item, payed for the affirers dinner at the affiringe of the lawedaye iiij3

Item, payed for a Courte dinner the 4 Julye, 1580 . vj8-viijd

Sma, lxu-iij3-va

Then, in a different hand,

Item, payed to Mr Wallis and others, aboute the probate of Mr. Watts's will of Bullyhill xx8-xa

Item, more Mr. Harlowe askethe allowance for his dyett for ij yeres xviiju

Sum Totall, hjMjIUiij3-iija

Soe the hole expences and allowances is . . . iijxxxixIi-hijs-iijd

Whereof Mr HARLOWE hathe Px lxyju-ii8-vd

Soe there is dewe unto Mr Harlowe by the citie . . xiiju-j8-xa

More he askethe allowance for a dinner at the electinge of Mr HAULLE maior xij9-iijd

Soe his hole dewe to B. is xiiju-xiiij3-jd

More Mr HARLOWE askethe allowance for xxxu of leade, at j a the pownde iij8-ja ob.

So that now the hole dewe to M1' HARLOWE owinge is xiiju-xvij8-ija ob.