NOTE to pp. 81, 82, 84-98, 104-107.

The MS. from which these extracts were taken has been lost for several years. I worked from my own copy of a transcription made some time ago. When I first undertook to edit the MSS. of the Merchant Adventurers, I spent much time and energy on a futile search for the original. Assisted by Sir Henry Bemrose, I traced it to the library at Oakes-in-Norton. But in spite of a diligent search it could not be found. It was, however, discovered a few weeks ago; it had escaped detection because it had been returned to the library wrapped in brown paper, and the parcel not opened. Mr. and Mrs. Isherwood Bagshawe brought it to the Merchants' Hall, and most courteously have allowed me to collate my copy with the original.

In the following notes I draw attention to any points which seem to me to be of importance. Slight discrepancies in spelling I have left unnoticed. It is unfortunate that the MS. did not turn up before my volume was in print, but the differences between transcription and MS. are not serious.

The extract concerning William Cleveland on page 84 of the printed text has vacat written on the margin of the MS., and mccc on page 85, line 8, has been inserted by the transcriber. On page 86, line 3, the word and should be sied, and the paragraph beginning on line 7 is of an earlier date than the paragraph which it follows. In the next extract, page 86, lines 23, 24, the word quarters ought to be parts. Et dimidium is written et di, and would have been better unexpanded. On page 89 the word payne should be inserted before ordande in line 12. Opposite line 8, on page 90, pro fraternitate is inserted in the left margin; this clears up any doubt there might remain as to the duality of mistery and fraternity. Vacat appears opposite the ordinance beginning on page 91, line 7. On page 93, line 6, Holand should be inserted before and Seland. In the final line of the first ordinance on page 95, the word commit should read convict. On the following page, line 22, the word aplis, MS. aptis, should be printed apostolis. On page 97, line 33, j should be placed before amictu, which reads amictatui. On page 98, the second paragraph, the words the hall and alt should be deleted, and the substituted for v.

In the extract which chronicles the meeting of the mistery, on page 104, the fourth name should read Felnetby, and on page 105 the ordinances were not passed at the same meeting, but at one held later in the year 1503. The word hird should be proved. On page 107, line 9, the word pott ought, I think, to be holl, i.e. whole, unbroken, and the word then, three lines below, should be therein. In the next line the word offer should probably be ottere, i.e. utter, though this is not entirely clear. The word hall on line 23 should be half.

CORRIGENDA.

Page 3, lines 24, 25. For faciende, retornande, read faciendas,

11, line 21.

retornandas.

For Margarete read Margareta.

YORK MERCHANT ADVENTURERS.

De licencia faciendi quandam gildam in civitate Ebor'.

Rex, omnibus ad quos etc., salutem. Supplicarunt nobis dilecti nobis Johannes Freboys' de Ebor', Johannes Crome, Radulphus de Romundby, Ricardus de Thoresby, Robertus de Pathorn, Johannes de Claydon, Johannes Redheved, Willelmus de Tikhill, Johannes de Morby, Willelmus de Everyngham, Johannes de Selby, Gerardus de Brummeby, et Johannes Best de Ebor', ut eis licenciam, quod ipsi quandam fraternitatem inire, et unam gildam de se ipsis et aliis, tam viris quam mulieribus, qui de dicta fraternitate esse voluerint, in civitate nostra Ebor', in honore Domini nostri Jhesu Christi, et beatissime Marie virginis, perpetuo duraturi, de novo facere et ordinare; et unum de fratribus illis, qui magister illius gilde nuncupetur, et qui regimen gilde predicte, ac custodiam omnium terrarum, tenementorum, possessionum, bonorum et catallorum, que eidem gilde temporibus futuris adquiri, dari, et assignari, sive ad eam pertinere contigerit, habeat, et pro gilda illa ac omnibus terris, tenementis, possessionibus, bonis et catallis predictis placitare et implacitari possit et debeat, quolibet anno eligere et successive constituere; dictoque magistro, et fratribus, et sororibus ejusdem gilde, quod ipsi alios in fratres et sorores, cum sibi

Johannes Freboys; post p. 4. Johannes Crome, mercer, became a freeman of York, 1348. York Freemen, op. cit., p. 41. Radulphus de Romundby, mercer, 1341; ibid., p. 36. Ricardus de Thoresby, hosier, 1348; ibid., p. 41. Robertus de Pathorn, draper, freeman in 1349, chamberlain in 1359; ibid., pp. 42, 53. Johannes de Clayton, hosier, freeman in 1348, chamberlain in 1359; ibid., pp. 41, 54. Johannes Redheued does not appear in the roll of freemen until 1370; ibid., p. 68. Willelmus de Tikhill, first appears in the roll as chamberlain in 1376; ibid., p. 74. Johannes de Morby, potter, was chamberlain in 1333, another in 1357; ibid., pp. 28, 52. Willelmus de Everyngham, litister, free in 1342; ibid., p. 37. Johannes de Selby, a freeman of that name, a spicer, free in 1314, another, a verrour, in 1359; op. cit., pp. 13, 54. Gerardus de Brummeby, free in 1351, chamberlain in 1377 (?); ibid., pp. 47, 75. Johannes Best, tanner, free in 1325; ibid., p. 23.

A

placuerit, eligere et in fraternitatem suam assumere; terrasque et redditus cum pertinenciis, in civitate predicta, ad valorem decem librarum per annum, juxta verum valorem eorundem, que de nobis tenentur in burgagium, sibi et successoribus suis magistris, fratribus, et sororibus gilde predicte, imperpetuum habendas; ad inveniendum inde certos capellanos, divina singulis diebus, in ecclesia parochiali Sancte Crucis, Ebor', vel alibi infra civitatem predictam, pro animabus progenitorum nostrorum, quondam regum Anglie, salubri statu nostro, Philippe, regine Anglie, consortis nostre carissime, et Edwardi, principis Wallie, primogeniti nostri, ac aliorum liberorum nostrorum, necnon predictorum Johannis, Johannis, Radulphi, Ricardi, Roberti, Johannis, Johannis, Willelmi, Johannis, Willelmi, Johannis, Gerardi, et Johannis, ceterorumque fratrum et sororum, benefactorum gilde predicte, dum vixerimus, et pro anima nostra et animabus omnium aliorum supernominatorum, cum ab hac luce migraverimus, juxta ordinacionem magistri, fratrum, et sororum predictorum, imperpetuum celebraturos; necnon ad quedam alia pietatis opera sustentanda adquirere, et prefato magistro, quod ipse, temporibus oportunis, congregacionem de fratribus et sororibus suis antedictis, ad ordinandum pro statu et commodo dicte gilde, facere, et ibidem, de assensu eorundem fratrum et sororum, pro meliori regimine gilde illius, prout expedire viderit, ordinare possint; velimus concedere graciose.

Nos, ad pium et salubre propositum predictorum Johannis, Johannis, Radulphi, Ricardi, Roberti, Johannis, Johannis, Willelmi, Johannis, Willelmi et Johannis, Gerardi, et Johannis, in ea parte, consideracionem habentes ac volentes eo pretextu, necnon ut cum eis tanti operis participes effici valeamus, libencius et benignius supplicacioni sue annuere supradicte, de gracia nostra speciali, concessimus et licenciam dedimus, pro nobis et heredibus nostris, quantum in nobis est, eisdem Johanni, Johanni, Radulpho, Ricardo, Roberto, Johanni, Johanni, Willelmo, Johanni, Willelmo, Johanni, Gerardo, et Johanni, quod ipsi quandam fraternitatem inire, et unam gildam de se ipsis et aliis, tam viris quam mulieribus, qui de dicta fraternitate esse voluerint, in dicta civitate nostra Ebor',

THE GILD OF THE BLESSED MARY.

3

in honore Domini nostri Jhesu Christi, et beatissime Marie virginis, perpetuo duraturi, de novo facere et ordinare; et unum de fratribus illis, qui magister gilde illius nuncupetur, et qui regimen dicte gilde, ac custodiam omnium terrarum, et tenementorum, possessionum, bonorum et catallorum, que eidem gilde temporibus futuris adquiri, dari, et assignari, sive ad eam pertinere contigerit, habeat, et pro gilda illa ac omnibus terris et tenementis, possessionibus, bonis et catallis predictis, placitare et implacitari, possit et debeat, quolibet anno eligere et successive constituere; et tam prefatis magistro, fratribus, et sororibus, quod ipsi alios in fratres et sorores, cum sibi placuerit, eligere et in fraternitatem suam assumere; terrasque et redditus cum pertinenciis in civitate predicta, ad valentiam decem librarum per annum, juxta verum valorem eorundem, que de nobis tenentur in burgagium, sibi et successoribus suis magistris, fratribus, et sororibus gilde predicte imperpetuum habendos; ad inveniendum inde certos capellanos, divina in ecclesia predicta, in forma predicta, vel alibi infra civitatem predictam, imperpetuum celebraturos, necnon ad quedam alia pietatis opera sustentanda, statuto, de terris et tenementis ad manum mortuam non ponendis edito, seu eo quod terre et redditus predicti de nobis, ut permittitur, tenentur, non obstante; dum tamen per legales inquisiciones inde faciende, et in cancellariam nostram et heredum nostrorum rite retornande, compertum fuerit, quod id fieri poterit, absque dampno seu prejudicio nostri et alterius cujuscumque, adquirere; quam prefato magistro, quod ipse, temporibus oportunis, congregacionem de fratribus et sororibus suis antedictis, ad ordinandum pro statu et commodo dicte gilde, facere, et ibidem, de assensu eorundem fratrum et sororum, pro meliori regimine gilde illius prout expedire viderit, ordinare valeant, ut predictum est. Salvis semper nobis, et heredibus nostris, et aliis, serviciis de terris et redditibus predictis debitis et consuetis. In cujus etc. Teste rege, apud Westmonasterium xx die Marcii.

Per breve de privato sigillo.

P.R.O., Pat. R., 31 Ed. III, pt. 1, m. 18 (1357).1

1cf. P.R.O., Pat. R., 45 Ed. III, pt. 1, m. 31; 20 Ric. II, pt. 2, m. 21.