The corporation of Coventry: Miscellaneous documents

Miscellaneous documents

III.—Miscellaneous Documents, to wit, Grants, Leases, Agreements, Awards of Arbitrators, Wills, Bonds, &c. to the number of 6,265.

On taking my first view of the Coventry Muniments in February 1895, I found the multifarious writings of this most numerous group lying with the Charters and Letters Patent in such confusion that, for the performance of the laborious task of reducing the manuscripts to order at the charges of the Corporation, it was necessary for me to open and examine cursorily each document. And whilst I did this part of the work for which the Corporation had invited me to Coventry, I withdrew 232 writings, to each of which I attached a descriptive label, for the convenience of persons visiting the New Muniment Room of St. Mary's Hall, in which I had undertaken to place in due arrangement the entire collection. Some of these labelled writings were selected out of regard to the excellencies or peculiarities of their penmanship; but excepting these few, the 232 selected deeds consist of writings that illustrate the social conditions of their periods, or are remarkable for the names of persons or places, or afford particulars likely to interest antiquaries or historical enquirers.

At the same time I withdraw from the mass fifty-five Indentures of Apprenticeship, the earliest of them being a remarkable and curious Latin indenture of Richard the Second's time, and put them away in a single packet in a drawer of Miscellaneous Matters.

The other 5,953 deeds, being for the most part conveyances or leases, I put away in labelled packets, each containing ten deeds. How many of these are dateless deeds of the time of Henry III. and Edward I., and how many were dated and sealed in each reign from that of Edward the First to that of her present Majesty, may be learned from the following table:—

As this Report deals only with manuscripts now lying in the New Muniment Room, it says nothing of the Deeds of the seventeenth and two later centuries that are preserved in the Town Clerk's office.

Of the quality and historical value of the older Deeds, from the middle of the thirteenth century to the close of Charles the Second's time, readers may form a fairly correct estimate from the ensuing entries.

Land held by "The Knave."

Deed of sale and quitclaim by Vincent the son of Reginald Kempe to Robert the son of Roger de Cornlegh of a rent of twelve pence, which William Le Knave used to pay yearly to the said Vincent, from land which he held of the same Vincent. No date.

Grant of a Meadow in Spanne Field.

Grant for ever, by Adam Haldeyn to John le Lodelawe, of a yearly rent of four pence issuing from a shop in Coventre, and of a meadow in Spanne Field, at a yearly rent to the grantor and his heirs of a clove. No date.

N.B.—The place-name "Spanne" is variously spelt in the deeds temp. Henry III. and Edward I., e.g. Spon, Sponnd, Spound, Sponn, Spoon.

Grant of Land to John, Son of William the Painter, on his Marriage.

Gift for ever, at a yearly rent of a pair of gloves "de precio unius oboli," by Walter the son of Atherard the Painter of Coventre to John the son of William the Painter "in liberum maritagium cum Wymarkia filia Galfridi zonarii," of a piece of land in the street of Cheylismor in Coventre. No date.

"Upper Park Street" or "Upper Street on the Park."

Gift for ever of a messuage in Upper Park Street ("in superiori vico parci de Coventre") by Christiana de Milnehale in her virginity and lawful power to Geoffrey Le Luffe of Coventre. No date.

Gift to the Priory of Coventry.

Gift in almoigne for ever by Walter the son of Symon the clerk of Sowe to William the Prior of Coventre and the monks serving God there of a meadow within and without the fosse in the town of Sowe. No date.

The Meadow called "Enedemedwe."

Gift for ever of a meadow called "Enedemedewe" in Coventre by Robert Le Bussenville to John de Hwttele. No date.

A Marriage Portion in Sponne Street.

Gift, by way of a marriage portion, of a piece of land in Sponne Street in Coventre, to Matilda the daughter of Elias Le Waffrer and her affianced husband, Thomas the son of Thomas the mason of Coventre, and their issue, by William the Chaplain (son of Roger Le Waffrer of Coventre), uncle of the aforesaid Matilda. No date.

Quitclaim to Land in Coventre.

Deed of quitclaim, in respect to a piece of land in Coventre, by Matilda, formerly the wife of Henry Beket, in her pure widowhood, to John de Wytele, cook. No date.

Obligation of Symon Chatel to the Prior and Convent for View of Frankpledge.

Undertaking by Symon Chatel of Cundelin, that, in consideration of a grant of certain land in the town of Cundeline made to him and his heirs or assigns by Prior and Conventt of Coventre, at a yearly rent of forty silver pence, he and his heirs or assigns shall make two journeys in each year to the church of the Prior and Convent, for view of frankpledge. No date.

Grant in Frank-Almoigne to the Prior and Convent.

Grant in pure and perpetual almoigne by William Le Scot to the Lord William the Prior of Coventre and to the Convent of the same place and their successors, for the health of the grantor's soul and of the souls of his grandfather Robert Scot and his father Ralph Scot, of land in Aylwardesick near Whytemor and of lands and rents in Coventre. No date.

Quitclaim to a Messuage in Little Park Street.

Deed of quitclaim, in consideration of a payment of twenty shillings, by Roger de Burtigbury to Alexander the Vintner of Coventre, in respect to a messuage between "Littleparkstreth" on the one part and the land of Richard Le Coup on the other part. No date.

Grant of a Croft to the Vicar of St. Michael's.

Acknowledgment by Richard de Willowe, vicar of the church of St. Michael of Coventre, that he and his successors have received of the Prior and Convent of Coventre a grant in fee-farm in Kundeline for ever, at a yearly rent of two shillings. No date.

Gift of 7 Sellions of Land "in le Hokemilfeld."

Gift of seven sellions of land in Stoke "in le Hokemilfeld", and of a yearly rent of eleven pence issuing from a tenement and messuage in Coventre, by William Blaunchinal to Robert de Stokes and his heirs for ever. No date.

Proviso against giving certain Land to a Religious House.

Gift of a toft and an acre of arable land in the territory of Sponn, by Alice the daughter of William de Sponn to Symon de Lymeseye and his heirs, and to any to whom he may assign the same "preterquam domui religiose." No date.

Quitclaim of a Messuage and Land in Whitley.

Quitclaim, in consideration of a payment of half a mark, in respect to a messuage in Whitele and ten acres of arable land in the fields of Whitele, by Roger the son of Ormus to his brother Adam and the heirs of the same Adam. No date.

Park Street in Covintre.

Sale and quitclaim of certain land in Park Street in Covintre (sic) by William Blod to Richard de Bluke and his heirs and assigns for ever. No date.

While noticeable in Earl Ranulph's Charter, and in Henry the Second's Charter of Confirmation, to the burgesses of Covintre, this use of "i" in the spelling of the name of the borough appears also occasionally in the deeds temp. Henry III. and Edward I.

Yearly Rent of a Clove.

Gift in perpetual fee-farm by Robert de Lodelowe to Alexander the Vintner of Coventre and his heirs, at a yearly rent of a clove, of a meadow in Coventre near the mills called "the Altegeder Milnys." No date.

Deeds in the time of Henry III. and Edward I. often contain a stipulation for this nominal rent, the equivalent of the familiar "pepper-corn" rent in other parts of the country.

Sir Thomas Arderne, Knt., and Master Guy de Tyllebrok.

Gift by Sir Thomas Arderne, knt., "dominus de Rottel," of all his rents in Stoke, Radeford, Cundolinc, and Coventre, with all the homages and services thereto appertaining, to Master Guy de Tyllebrok and his heirs for ever. No date.

Coventre Cloth-Market.

Gift by Robert de Eton to his daughter Felicia, of a piece of land with a building upon it in the Market of Coventre, where cloth is sold. No date.

Gift in Frankalmoigne to the Priory.

Gift in perpetual almoigne of two shillings of yearly rent, issuing from lands in Cundeline and Crowenhull, by Richard the Burser of Coventre to the monks there serving God, and especially to their Refectorarius. No date.

Lady Agnes Hauberch of Schaldeforde.

Gift of lands and tenements, rents and reversions, &c. in the town and fields of Coventre, by Thomas de Leghtoun of Coventre to the Lady Agnes Hauberch of Schaldeforde. No date.

Gosford Street in "Covintre."

Gift of a piece of land in Gosford Street in Covintre, by Reginald de Catisby, burgess of Covintre, to his son Symon and his heirs. No date.

Thomas the Weaver of Coventre.

Gift of a piece of land with a building upon it in Sponne Street in Coventre, by Henry the son of Thomas the Weaver of Coventre to Beatrice the daughter of Adam de Kiderminster, the grantor's sister. No date.

Quitclaim to Land and Houses in Earl's Street.

Quitclaim in respect to certain land with houses upon it in Earl's Street in Coventre, by Margery the widow of Ralph le Turner of Gloucester to Henry the Baker and Adam Russel and their respective wives Agnes and Alice. No date.

A Stall in Coventre Market.

Gift of a stall with its appurtenances in the Market of Coventre, by Simon le Botmonger to Richard de Fonte, at yearly rents of a clove to the grantor and of nine silver pence to the High Altar of the Blessed Mary of Coventre. No date.

Margery Pake, Niece of Master Richard the Vintner.

Gift by the widow Margery Pake, formerly the wife of Pagan Pake of Coventre to her son William, his heirs and assigns, of certain tenements in Coventre, which descended to the said Margery by inheritance, on the death of her uncle Master Richard the Vintner. No date.

Peter de Blocksley's Gift to the Prior and Convent of Coventre.

Gift in perpetual almoigne, for the health of the grantor's soul and the welfare of the souls of his ancestors and heirs, of a messuage and divers lands and tenements in Sowe with all things appertaining unto them, by Peter de Blocksley, clerk, to God and the Church of the Blessed Mary of Coventre and to Henry the Prior of the said place, and the Monks serving God there. No date. Also, a duplicate of the same deed.

Another Gift by the same Grantor to the Prior and Convent.

Gift in pure almoigne, for the welfare of the grantor's soul and of the souls of his ancestors, of a messuage and piece of land outside the town of Coventre, and a piece of land in the moor of Wytemor, by Peter the son of Gilbert de Blockeley to God and the Blessed Mary of Coventre, and to Henry the Prior, and the Monks there serving God. No date.

Gift to Symon Pymme in Marriage Dowry.

Gift by William son of Hugh "Cocarius" of Coventre, of two shops in the Earl's Street towards Goseford to Symon Pymme upon his marriage with the grantor's sister Alice, a yearly rent of twelve silver pence being reserved to the grantor and his heiress. No date.

Alice Gardiner's Quitclaim to Dower in Land.

Quitclaim, made in her pure widowhood by Alice formerly the wife of Roger Gardiner of Coventre, to God and the Church of the Blessed Mary of Coventre, and to the Prior and Monks there serving God, in respect to her dower in lands in the territory of Harnhal formerly pertaining to her said husband, and also in respect to rents in Coventre which he sold to the said Prior and Monks. No date.

Marriage Portion in Land and Houses in Earl's Street.

Gift made by Richard le Brochere of Coventre of a piece of land with houses upon it in the Earl's Street, extending from the King's highway to the Castle Ditch ("extendit se a Via Regia usque ad fossatum quod vocatur le Casteldich"), and of a curtilage, to John de Rydewale on his marriage with the grantor's daughter Margery, to have and to hold to the same John and Margery, and their lawfully begotten heirs. No date.

Grant by Philip de Winchecumb to the Prior and Convent.

Grant in pure almoigne, for the welfare of the grantor's soul and of the souls of his wife and ancestors and successors, of a messuage at Spann ("ad Spannam") in Coventre, with its buildings, garden, dovehouse and curtilage, and of a croft above the garden called " Statherscroft," and of another croft called "Christescroft," extending from the aforementioned croft to "Dedebone," and of eight "seyliones " of arable land in the field of Spanne and of five other "seyliones" in the same field, and of an enclosed meadow in the same field, and of the meadow which the grantor bought of William Payn, with an annexed place which the grantor had of the Prior of Coventre, and of the oven which the grantor bought of Richard de Wygorn' in "Cheilesmor Lona," with its buildings, rents, and appurtenances, by Philip de Winchecumb to God and the church of the Blessed Mary of Coventre, and to William the Prior and the convent of the same place. No date.

Bailiffs of the Earl and the Prior.

41 Henry III. [1256–7].—Gift by William the son of Robert le Redeknave of Coventre to Richard the son of William the Weaver, of a piece of land with a house upon it in the Bishop's Street in Coventre, which land Hawisia, formerly the wife of Adam Le Redeknave, held of the grantor in the name of dower: the witnesses of the deed being Richard de Bokvill then bailiff "ex parte Comitis," William Lewin the bailiff "ex parte Prioris," John Lysner, Richard de Fonte, Roger the Miller, ['Molendarius,'] Alexander de Glovernia, John le Blund, John Yngeram, Hugh le Bretun clerk, and others.

Other deeds of the same period point to the fact that there were two bailiffs in Coventre temp. Henry III., one of whom acted for the Earl and was styled the Earl's bailiff, whilst the other acted in the Prior's interest and was designated the Prior's bailiff.

John Holoway, Miller.

25 Edward I. [1297].—Gift of a piece of land with its appurtenances in the Lesser Park Street in Coventre, by John Holoway the Miller to John le Wedon the Brewer: with seal.

Release of Eighty Sellions of Land.

25 Edward I. [1297].—Release and quitclaim, in respect to eighty "selliones" of land in Stokes in "le Hokenylefelt," by Isabel the widow of William Blanchynal of Stokes to Robert de Stokes and his wife Joan.

Joan Corvyn, Heiress of Philip of Barbedaveryl.

27 Edward I. [1299].—Grant for lives in survivorship by Joan formerly the wife of John Corvyn of Stokes to Robert de Stokes and his wife Joan, of divers rents and services issuing from tenements in Coventre, and also of liberties, commodities and easements which the grantor has, had, or was able to have, in Coventre, after the death of her ancestor, Philip of Barbedaveryl.

Land Adjoining "Gardiner's Croft."

28 Edward I. [1300].—Quitclaim by Margery the daughter of Robert Herbert of Coventre in her pure widowhood to John de Hales of Coventre, dyer, and his wife Margaret, in respect to a piece of land lying near the highway, leading from Coventre towards Harnhale "inter terram hospitalis Sancti Johannis de Coventre et terram Johannis le Gannter ex una parte et terram domini Prioris et Conventus de Coventre que vocatur Gardinerescroft."

William the Glass-Worker.

30 Edward I. [1302].—Gift of a piece of land in the Greater Park Street of Coventre, by William "le Glawrihte" to Hugh de Meryton.

Fields of Podycroft and Schocherefeld.

32 Edward I. [1304].—Gift of certain lands in the fields called Podycroft and Schocherefeld in Coventre, and three yearly rents issuing from as many tenements in Coventre, by Alice formerly the wife of Henry de Alecote, in her pure widowhood, to John de Langbene and Henry de Raynyrs of Coventre, merchants.

Quitclaim to the Prior and Convent.

1306.—Quitclaim by Alice, the widow of the late John de Chylton of Coventre, to Henry the Prior and the Convent of Coventre, in respect to any right or claim she may have by way of dower in a tenement called "Benfirlond."

Grant by Peter de Blockley to the Convent and Sacristan of Coventre.

35 Edward I. [1306–7].—Grant in perpetual almoigne of the grantor's third part of Wodenmilnebeye, with his meadow in Wykene, and his twelve denariates of yearly rent issuing from a virgate of land in the territory of Coventre towards Cunduline, by Peter de Blockels to Henry the Prior and the Convent of the Church of St. Mary of Coventre, and especially to the Sacristan of the said Church.

Benedict the Cutler of Coventre.

2 Edward II. [1308–9].—Quitclaim in respect to a yearly rent of twelve pence, issuing from a tenement in the Greater Park Street in Coventre, by Alice the daughter of Benedict "le Cotiler" of Coventre, formerly the wife of John de Todenham, to John de Ricon, &c.

Poultry Street towards the Gate of the Priory.

3 Edward II. [1309–10].—Quitclaim by John the son of John le Bolyngere to Peter Barun of Coventre, in respect to a messuage in Coventre, lying " in vico ubi pulteria venditur versus portam Prioratus."

Yearly Rent of a Rose.

7 Edward II. [1313–14].—Lease for lives in survivorship, by John de Wyteley of Radeford to Richard le Couper of Coventre, butcher, and his wife Alice, of a pasture called Enedmere in the territory of Radeford, at a yearly rent of a rose for sixteen years, and afterwards at a yearly rent of forty shillings.

Rose-rents are mentioned less often in Coventry Leases and grants than one would expect them to be in the deeds of a place so near Leicester, where they are so numerous.

Another Deed by William the Glass-Worker.

9 Edward II. [1315–16].—Gift of a messuage in the Greater Park Street of Coventre, by William "Le Glasrugthe" and Emma his wife to Roger de Bray and his wife Emma. [See below, 17 Edw II.].

Agreement touching a Rent and a Tenement.

10 Edward II. [1316–7].—Agreement between Robert de London of Coventre, chaplain, Roger Dayseye and his wife Matilda of the one part, and Walter de Norton of Coventre, cook, and his wife Amice, and Richard the first-born son of the same Walter, of the other part: whereby the said Robert, Roger and Matilda granted and conveyed for life in survivorship to the said Walter, Amice and Richard an annual rent of ten shillings and sixpence from a tenement in Cheilesmorlane in Coventre, and also a lease of the same tenement, from and after the death of Richard de Wygorn' chaplain, who holds the said tenement for his life.

Lease with no Rent for Eight Years.

10 Edward II. [1316–7].—Lease for life of a croft in Bobynhul, lying between the highway and the garden of the rector of the church of Bobynhul, by Richard Quocus (sic) of Bobynhul to John de Lyndeseye of Bobynhul, to hold free of rent for eight years, and afterwards at a yearly rental of forty shillings.

Lease for Life or for Ten Years.

10 Edward II. [1316–7].—Lease for life or for ten years, of a messuage in the Greater Park Street of Coventre, by Henry de Mariton to Dionisia, formerly the wife of Philip de Barsham of Coventre: with a proviso that, should the said Dionisia die within ten years, her heirs and assigns may hold the said messuage till the end of the said term of ten years.

Four "Seliones" and One "Forera" of Arable Land.

14 Edward II. [1320–1].—Gift of four " seliones " of arable land with one "forera" and a meadow, by Henry the son of the late Richard Anneys of Coundelin to John de Edynghal of Coventre, cook.

Roger de Bray of Coventre.

17 Edward II. [1323–4].—Gift of a messuage in the Greater Park Street of Coventre by Roger de Bray to William de Leycestre, both of Coventre.

Friars Lane and Cheilesmore Lane.

17 Edward II. [1323–4].—Gift of lands and tenements, rents and reversions in "le Frerelone in Coventre," lying between the King's highway leading to "Cheylesmor grene " on the one part, and the land that formerly belonged to Master Richard of the Hall on the other part, by Richard de St. James of Coventre to Adam le Sadelere of Coventre and his wife Alice.

Lease of Priory Waste-Land, long afterwards called "Bagot's Waste."

1 Edward III. [1327].—Lease for lives in survivorship of an acre of waste land in the fields of Sowe, at a yearly rent of twelve pence, by Henry the Prior and convent of the cathedral church of Coventre to Thomas Bagot, his wife Petronilla and their daughters Katherine and Elizabeth.

Long known by the surname of the grantees under this lease, this piece of land figures amongst the Church lands of Coventre even in post-reformation time under the designation of "Bagot's Waste."

Agreement for sustaining a Party-wall and making and repairing a Gutter.

3 Edward III. [1329].—Agreement between Isolda formerly the wife of William de Grantham, in her widowhood, of the one part, and Margery Tynal of Coventre, in her virginity, of the other part, they being owners and occupiers of adjoining tenements in the Lesser Park Street in Coventre (" tenementa . . . . annexa in Minori Vico parci Coventre"): by which the said Margery undertook for herself, her heirs and assigns, to sustain the party-wall dividing the two tenements for ever, and the said Isolda undertook for herself, her heirs and assigns, to put a sufficient gutter above the same wall and to cleanse and repair the same as occasion should require.

Grant by the Prior and Convent to two Chaplains in St. Mary's Church.

4 Edward III. [1330].—Grant of a piece of land in Sponne Street in Coventre, at a yearly rent of two shillings, by Henry de Leycestre, Prior of the cathedral church of the Blessed Mary of Coventre and the Convent of the same, to Peter de Ruyton and Rowland de Bredon, chaplains, about to celebrate divine services in the nave of the said church.

Lease for Sixteen Years or for Life.

5 Edward III. [1331].—Lease for sixteen years or for life at a yearly rent of forty shillings, of a tenement lying beyond the bridges of Gosford in Coventre by Alice, daughter of the late Margaret who was wife of Richard Le Northerne of Coventre, in her widowhood, to Ralph Byllyng of Coventre.

Grant of a Corrody to Richard le Spicer by his Son.

6 Edward III. [1332].—Agreement whereby Henry Le Spicer and his wife Mary grant to Richard Le Spicer, father of the said Henry, a yearly rent of fifty shillings issuing from a tenement in Smytheford Street in Coventre, and further grant to the same Richard for his life a sufficiency of meat and drink at his own table like that provided for the grantors, and a fit place for his bed in the same grantors' own tenement, and fit clothes for the same bed, and a robe of fit cloth to be received by him yearly at St. Andrew's Feast with fit fur for an over-tunic, and in every second year a winter coat with a cap and suitable fur at the Feast of St. Michael, and a summer over-tunic at the Feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross, and also a yearly livery of two pairs of linen clothes and four pairs of list shoes, and six pairs of shoes.

Grant of a Corrody for Life in the Priory of Coventre to Alice the Wife of Thomas de Radewey.

1335.—Agreement between Henry the Prior and the Convent of the cathedral church of Coventre of the one part, and Thomas de Radewey of Keresleye and his wife Alice, formerly the wife of Roger Locard, of the other part: whereby the said Thomas and Alice give to the said Prior and Convent certain lands &c., in the towns of Coventre, Coundeline and Radeford, and the said Prior and Convent grant in return to the said Alice for her life a corrody in their priory, viz., to receive daily "unum panem album qui vocatur Michs et unam lagenam cerevisie conventualis," &c., and also grant to her a place of abode in a cottage with a curtilage in St. Nicholas Street.

Lease by Robert de Stoke to his Mother.

9 Edward III. [1335].—Lease by Robert de Stoke to his mother for the term of her life of his manor of Stoke, and of his meadows, pastures, rents &c. in Stoke, Coventre, Sowe, Harenhal, Styvechal, Pinnele and Radeford.

Richard de Somerby, Rector of Berkeswell.

14 Edward III. [1340].—Gift of a messuage in Spanne-strete in Coventre, by William de Kendale of Coventre, sadelere, to dominus Richard de Somerby, rector of the church of Berkeswell.

Rent of a Rose.

14 Edward III. [1340].—Lease for life, at the yearly rent of a roseflower, of a tenement near Lodeloweslane in Coventre, by Jordan de Shepei and Henry de Dodenhale to Thomas de Merston of Coventre, baker.

Hugh the Son of Nicholas the Mason.

17 Edward III. [1343].—Quit claim, by Jordan de Shepye and Henry de Bodenhale of Coventre to Hugh the son of Nicholas le Masoun of Lemynton, in respect to twenty shillings of rent issuing from a messuage in the Frerelane in Coventre.

Conveyance to Thomas de Appach and William de Lalleford, Chaplains, and Another.

17 Edward III. [1343].—Gift, by Alice formerly the wife of Thomas in "le Hurne " in Coventre and by Thomas her son and by Emma the wife of the said Thomas, to Thomas de Appach and William de Lalleford, chaplains, and Philip del Pakes of Coventre, of a messuage with bakehouse in Spannestret in Coventre, and a wood in Whalburley near Coventre, with eight acres of arable land, and a place called Folewell in the territory of the same town, a croft near the highway leading to Alleysleye, three selions of arable land in Condulin, and an acre of meadow one half of which lies at Dodemanswell.

Agreement between Holders of adjacent Houses for making Gutters and repairing Walls.

19 Edward III. [1345].—Covenant between William Gatsys of the one part and Robert de Boresworth of Coventre, merchant, of the other part, whereby, in consideration of the said William's intention to rebuild his tenement and extend the same up to the tenement of the aforesaid Robert, the said Robert agrees that the said William may construct sufficient gutters for carrying off the water from the roofs of the adjoin ing tenements, and the aforesaid William agrees that so often as the walls and gutters between the tenements shall be broken or out of repair, to the injury of the said Robert's tenement, it shall be lawful for Robert and his heirs and assigns to enter the tenement of the said William Gatsys, into whosoever hands it may have come, and to distrain thereupon for the repair of the said walls and gutters.

Lease of a Messuage with Cellars in Earl's Street.

23 Edward III. [1349].—Lease for life, at a yearly rent of eight marks, of a messuage with cellars and a shop and other buildings with their curtilages and appurtenances in Earl's Street in Coventre, by John de Langleye and Alice, formerly the wife of Thomas de Colleshull, to John de Deneforde.

Grant of Land in Friars' Lane.

25 Edward III. [1351].—Gift in fee-farm of a piece of land in the lane of the Friars Minors of Coventre, at a yearly rent of two silver pence, by Nicholas Percy the Mayor and the bailiffs of Coventre to Sewall de Bulkynton of Coventre, William Luffe the elder, of Coventre, and Nicholas de Baddesley, chaplain, their heirs and assigns.

Lease by the Guild of the B. Mary in Coventre.

27 Edward III. [1353].—Lease for lives in survivorship, at a yearly rent of twenty-two shillings, of a messuage in the Greater Park Street in Coventre, by Walter le Whitwebbe of Coventre, Master of the Guild of the Blessed Mary of Coventre, with the assent of the said Guild, to Thomas Russel of Gretford, "packare" in Coventre, and his wife-Matilda, and their first-born son John.

Gift by Sir John de Brocheford to Richard Sherewynd.

27 Edward III. [1353].—Gift of a bridge with a water-course, which Robert the Miller formerly held, and of a piece of land at " le Boleford," and a curtilage at Woodende, by Sir John de Brocheford, knt., lord of Arleye, to Richard Sherewynd.

Another Lease by the Guild of the B. Mary.

30 Edward III. [1356].—Lease for lives in survivorship, at a yearly rent of twenty-six shillings and eight pence, of a messuage in the Greater Park Street of Coventre, by William Holme, Master of the Guild of the Blessed Mary of Coventre, with the consent of the said Guild, to William Alleyleye and his wife Amice.

Gift of a Grange and the Reversion of a Messuage, &c.

30 Edward III. [1356].—Gift of a grange in Gosford Street beyond the bridge towards Gosford Asshe and the reversion (on the death of Richard Belers of Coventre, merchant) of a messuage and four fields in Coventre, by Nicholas de Baddesleye, chaplain, and Richard de Shepye of Coventre, hosier, to Richard the son of Ralph Billyng and his wife Alice.

Grant by the Prior and Convent of the Cathedral Church to the Altar of the B. Virgin Mary.

1360.—Grant, made at the instance of John de Newby, clerk, and in consideration of his payment of thirty shillings, by the Prior and Convent of the cathedral church of Coventre, of a yearly rent of eight shillings and fourpence issuing from eight selions and four virgates of arable land, and of an adjoining meadow near the Frechbroke in the field of Coventre, to the altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the said church, where mass is sung daily for all the benefactors living and dead of the aforesaid grantors.

The Guild of the B. V. Mary and St. John the Baptist.

1362.—Lease to Geoffrey de Northefolke of Coventre, mercer, and his wife Joan, for their two lives in survivorship of a messuage in Coventre, at a yearly rent of four pounds of silver, by Henry Dilcok, Master of the Guild of the B. V. Mary and St. John Bapt. with the assent of the said Guild.

Grant of Rents of One Hundred Marks.

45 Edward III. [1371].—Gift of rents amounting to one hundred marks sterling, to be had yearly out of all the lands and tenements in the town of Coventre which the grantor had of the gift and feoffment of John de Thornton and Henry de Bisschopistone and William Walssheman, by Hugh de Brendesleye to William Walssman and his wife Beatrice.

Grant of a Messuage in Earl's Street.

46 Edward III. [1372].—Grant in perpetual fee-farm, at a yearly rent of four pounds in silver, of a messuage in Earl's Street in Coventre, by John de Papenham, John de Toftes, Ralph Palivere, John de Pounfret, Thomas de Bassyngton and William de Corby, of Coventre, merchants, to Robert de Canleye of Coventre.

Lease by the Guild of the B. V. Mary, St. John Bapt. and St. Catherine.

46 Edward III. [1372].—Lease for forty years, at a yearly rent of twenty shillings, of a messuage at Croschepyng of Coventre, by John de Toftes, Master of the Guild of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist and St. Catherine of Coventre, with the assent of the whole fraternity of the said Guild, to Edward Dedon of Coventre.

From this deed it appears that the three several Guilds of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist and St. Catherine had been united and reconstituted into a single " Fraternity or Guild," and that the above was the first and proper designation of the Guild, which was united with the Guild of the Holy Trinity in the 17th regnal year of Richard the Second, as noticed below under that date, for which a license was granted on June 30th in the year preceding.

Bond for a Lessee's Repair of Premises.

48 Edward III. [1374].—Repairing Lease for forty years of two granges with a house and ten cottages and a curtilage in Coventre, by John Botener and three others, merchants, to Robert de Berkindale of Coventre: with a separate bond from the said Robert de Berkindale in 20l. sterling, for the execution from time to time of all needful repairs, within twelve months of their becoming needful.

Grant by Richard de Torke of Coventre, Clerk.

50 Edward III [1376].—Gift of a messuage, with a house built upon it and a broad gate, in Palmerslane in Coventre, by Richard de Torke of Coventre, clerk, to John de Marton of Coventre, dyer.

Lease for Forty Years and for Life.

1 Richard II. [1377–8].—Lease for forty years and for life of a field in Coventre, near the church of St. Nicholas of Coventre, at a yearly rent of a rose-flower for forty years, and after the same term of years, at a yearly rent of three shillings and four pence, by Thomas Styward of Coventre to John Ingge of the same.

Conveyance of Lands formerly Henry Dodenhale's.

1 Richard II. [1377–8].—Grant by Nicholas Michel and Walter Whytewebbe, of Coventre, merchants, to Adam Botener and John Percy and eleven others, of all the lands and tenements, rents and reversions, meadows and pastures, &c., which the present grantors, in conjunction with Henry Clerk, Richard de Stoke and William de Bocheford, had by the gift and feoffment of Henry Dodenhale.

Noteworthy Indenture of Apprenticeship.

8 Richard II., September 15th [1384].—Indenture whereby Robert Wallis of Coventre bound himself to serve as an apprentice to John Thwening and Thomas Cawod of Coventre for six years, and in so binding himself promised, under the penalty of cancellation and forfeiture of the same indenture, that during the said six years he would commit neither "fornicacionem nec adulterium cum uxore, fillia (sic) nec nutrice nec ancilla dictorum magistrorum infra domum nec extra."

While this indenture is somewhat remarkable for being in Latin, it is more noteworthy for its limitations of the class of offences, which apprentices of later time could not commit with any persons or under any circumstances without rendering themselves liable to punishment by the forfeiture of their articles of apprenticeship. There is no reason to suppose that this indenture differs in this respect from agreements then usual at Coventre.

Licence to assign Messuages and Land to the Corpus Christi Guild.

16 Richard II. [1392].—Licence to John Skardeburgh, John Wedon, Richard Marshall, Adam Deyster and Nicholas Dudley to give nine messuages and six acres of land to the Master brethren and sisters of the Guild of the Precious Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Statute of Mortmain notwithstanding: the said Licence being granted by the Prior and Convent of the cathedral church of St. Mary of Coventre, of whom the said nine messuages and six acres of land are immediately held.

Grant in Pursuance of the Preceding License.

16 Richard II. [1392].—Conveyance, made by authority of Letters Patent dated by the King on 28th June of the said year, of twentynine messuages, eight acres of arable land, eighteen denariates of rent and one half of a messuage in Coventre, by John Scardeburgh and the four others named above to the Master brethren and sisters of the Guild of the precious Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, to hold the same for ever, for the finding a chaplain to celebrate divine services daily for the benefit of the said Master brethren and sisters, and for doing other works of piety.

Licence granted by the Dean of Lincoln for the Same.

16 Richard II. [1392].—Licence from Master John de Shepaye, Dean of Lincoln cathedral, to John de Skardburgh and the four others named above, to give for ever to the Master, brethren and sisters of the Guild of Corpus Christi of Coventre, a certain messuage in Coventre, which is held immediately of the said Dean, to aid the said Guild in finding a chaplain to celebrate divine services.

Enfeoffment of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, &c.

17 Richard II. [1393–4].—Enfeoffment of the lands, tenements, rents, services and reversions pertaining to the Master, brethren and sisters of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist and St. Catherine of Coventre.

This deed setting forth all the particulars of the property of the newly constituted Guild, covers several large skins of vellum. Unfortunately it has suffered so much from dirt and friction as to be in places illegible.

Discord between Sir William La Zouche, Lord of Haringworth, and John Stones, of the one Part, and Rowland Damet of the other Part.

6 Henry IV. [1404–5].—Award (in French) of Arbitrators— to wit, William Keresley and Thomas-atte-Chirche of Stoke—for the determination of discord and controversy between William La Zouche Lord of Haryngworth and John Stones of Eton, of the one part, and Rowland Damet, of Coventre, of the other part, respecting right and title in certain lands and tenements in Folkeshull, to wit, in three enclosed fields called Grendonfeld, Goldyfeld and Walkferlong, which the said John de Stones claims to have for life, the reversion being to the said Sir William and his heirs for ever, and of which the said Rowland and Margaret his wife claim one. The arbitrators direct that one part of the tripartite indenture which sets forth their award shall remain in the Treasury of the Guild of the Trinity in Coventre for ever.

In this instrument the Guild entrusted with the custody of one part of the indenture is briefly styled "the Guild of the Trinity," instead of being styled with its full title.

Long Lease of a Shop, &c., in Cross Street.

8 Henry IV. [1406–7].—Lease for a hundred years, at a yearly rent of twenty shillings of a shop with a chamber above it and with adjoining curtilages and garden, in the street of the Cross in Coventre, by the Guild of the Holy Trinity, the B. V. M. and St. John Bapt. to Robert Shepley of Coventre, merchant.

Quitclaim in which mention is made of a Pageant-House.

8 Henry IV. [1406–7].—Quitclaim (sealed) by John, the son and heir of Richard Clerke of Coventre, merchant, to William Attilburgh, Richard Southam the elder, John Wymondeswold, John Onley, John Preston and John Happesford, of all the right which he has, or after his father's death may have, in all the messuages, tenements, rents, reversions, &c., which formerly pertained to John Graupe in the Greater Park Street in Coventre, and in a grange with an adjoining garden, a cottage, two other cottages, one pageant-house ("uno Pagenthous") in Hull Street occupied by the Masters of "Whittawerescraft," two other cottages in the same street, a curtilage in the same street adjoining the land of Richard Bykenhull, a great field called Merryholt, another field called Chillenfeld, and another field called Wyndemilnfeld, in Coventre.

The pageant-house mentioned in this quitclaim was one of the houses in which certain of the companies of Coventre preserved the stages on wheels and the other theatrical properties which they used in the performances of the Coventry Mysteries. Many particulars of these plays and theatrical appliances and the Coventry pageanthouses, collected by the late James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, may be found in the Illustrative Notes to his Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare.

Grant of the Messuage called "Byttereslane" to the Guild of the Holy Trinity.

10 Henry IV. [1409].—Gift and Livery of a messuage called Byttereslane, lying in Smythforde Street in Coventre, by William Broke, parson of the church of Lodbrok, his son John Broke, and John Barbour of Bysshoppesychynton, to John Scardeburgh, Master of the Guild of the Holy Trinity of Coventre, and John de Preston and Robert Shippeley, brothers of the same Guild, and Margery Cookseye and Agnes the widow of Richard Clerk, sisters of the same Guild, for the aid and sustentacion of the guild; the grant and livery being made in accordance with Letters Patent of Licence of Henry IV. of February 16 an. 10, granted to the said William Broke, John Broke and John Barbour, for that purpose.

Lease of the "Bannepece" ry the Prior and Convent of Coventre.

1 Henry V. [1413–4].—Lease for life, at a yearly rent of ten pence of a field called Bannepece, lying near the church of St. Nicholas of Coventre, by Richard Crosseby, Prior of the cathedral church and the Convent of the same, to John Whiteley, chaplain, of Coventre.

Lease of Shops in Bailey Lane.

1417.—Lease for twenty years, at a yearly rent of thirty-six shillings, of two shops in Bailey Lane with chambers over them and two chambers under them, by the Guild of the Holy Trinity, the B. V. M. and St. John Bapt. to John Hornby, girdler.

Cottages to be rebuilt with Timber and Tiles.

4 Henry V. [1416–7].—Lease for twenty-four years of divers cottages in Bishop's Street, at a yearly rent of six shillings, granted by John Gothe the Master and the brethren and sisters of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, &c., to David Oswestre, carpenter, on condition that within two years the said David will rebuild the said cottages with fit timber and tiles.

Lease of the Tenter-Ground in Hill Street.

8 Henry V. [1420–1].—Lease for ten years, at a yearly rent of forty-six shillings and eight pence, of a croft and all the "tentoria" placed therein, and three small houses in Hulle Street, by John Prentys, chaplain, to William Owtred and John Owtred and their assigns; one condition of the lease being that the said tenants "sustentabunt omnia dicta tentoria videlicet in peciis meremii vocatis lates et clavis ferreis," and "omnia meremia dictis tentoriis incumbencia exhibebunt et invenient."

The largeness of the rent paid for this tenter-ground and its small houses and "tentoria" by tenants who were bound to do all the needful repairs at their own charges, may indicate both that the ground was extensive and that the local manufacture of cloth was a flourishing industry.

Lease granted by the Prior and Convent.

1 Henry VI. [1422–3].—Lease for lives in survivorship, at a yearly rent of fifty-three shillings and four pence, of a tenement in Attorhale in Sowe with meadows and pastures in Buydynge Haylyll and other appurtenances in Sowe and Wykyn, &c., by the Prior and convent of the church of the B. Mary of Coventre to Thomas Colyns and . . . his wife.

Provision for Celebration of an Anniversary in St. Michael's Church.

2 Henry VI. [1423–4].—Enfeoffment and lease for ever to the Mayor and Community of the City of Coventre of a messuage in Erlstrete, by William Babyngton, Chief Justice of the King's Common Bench, and William Botener of Withibroke, feoffee of Agnes Whittechirche, widow of William Whittechirche late a citizen of Coventre, on condition that the said Mayor and Community celebrate yearly the anniversary of the said William Whittechirche and of William Palmer and of the aforesaide Agnes Whittechirche, in the church of St. Michael, at a cost and in a manner set forth in the deed.

The House Called "the Drapery."

1425.—Lease for thirty years, at a yearly rent of eight shillings, of one half of a house called the Drapery, by the Master and brethren and sisters of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, &c., to William Cortenale, draper.

The Great Drapery of Coventre.

4 Henry VI. [1425–6].—Lease for thirty years, at a yearly rental of six shillings and eight pence, of one half-bay in the Great Drapery ("unam dimidiam bayam in Magna Draperia Coventre") by John Leder the Master and the brethren and sisters of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, &c. to John Willughby, draper.

John Alen, "Passonger."

10 Henry VI. [1431–2].—Lease for twenty years, at a yearly rent of five marks, of a messuage in Bayllylane in Coventre, by Laurence Cook the Master and the brethren and sisters of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, &c. to John Alen of Coventre, "passonger."

Lease for Ninety-nine Years to the Prior and Convent.

1437.—Lease for ninety-nine years, at a yearly rent of sixpence, of four "seliones" of land lying together in the field near Coventre called "le Hylmylfeld," by Robert Schypeley, Richard Beton and William Radeclyff, feoffees of the lands and tenements of John Schypeley, son of the aforesaid Robert Schypeley, to the Prior and Convent of the Cathedral Church of St. Mary.

A Tenement of the Abbot and Convent of Combe in Much Park Street.

32 Henry VI. [1453–4].—Lease for twelve years, at a yearly rent of fifty-three shillings and four pence, of a messuage situated "in quodam vico vocato Mustheparkstrete inter tenementum Abbatis et Conventus ecclesie beate Marie de Comba ex una parte, et terram Willelmi Betley ex alia parte," by Richard Boyes the Master and the brethren and sisters of the Guild of the Holy Trinity to Richard Nores, hosier.

The street, here called "Mustheparkstrete," is still called indifferently "Much Park Street" and "Greater Park Street," the former of these names being the one that appears on the walls of the street.

Selot's Chantry in Smythford Street.

33 Henry VI. [1454–5].—Gift of a messuage in Smythforde Street, lying between Seloteschauntery on the one part and the tenement of William Melody on the other part, by William Saunders, deyster, and his wife Agnes, to John Colchester, Robert Lawe, clerk, Simon Byrches and John Broun, lynendraper, and their heirs and assigns.

Provision for Celebration of an Obit in the Church of Chesterfield.

1471, January 2nd.—Indenture of an agreement between Richard Wood, Master of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, the B. V. M. St. J. Bapt. and St. Katherine, and Richard Braytoft and John Pynchebek brethren, and Agnes Boys and Agnes Fyssher sisters, of the same Guild, of the one part, and Rafe Calcrofte, Master, John Thomson and John Swerde brethren, and Alice Coke and Margery Carr sisters, of the Guild of St. Mary of Chesterfelde of the other part, for the yearly celebration of an obit in the church of Chesterfeld "for the soules of Master Thomas Chesterfeld, his fadir, his modyr and John Braunston," and for the souls of other deceased persons.

Inn Sign of "The Cardinal's Hat."

11 Edward IV. [1471–2].—Gift by Dame Isabella, late the wife of Walter Langley esq., of her inn in Coventre called "Cardinalis Hatt," near the inn called "Le Crown in placea vocata Brodeyatys," to her son John Langley.

Agreement to abide by an Award of Arbitrators.

12 Edward IV., May 21st [1472].—Indenture, sealed with the seal of the Mayor and community of Coventre, of an agreement whereby William Briscowe alias Bristowe of the one part, and the Mayor and community of the said city of the other part, agreed to "abyde the rule ordinaunce and jugement of John Cateby sergeaunt of the lawe and William Cumberford arbitratours indifferently chosen betwixt the said parties of and upon the title and possession of alle maner landes and comyn of pasture beyng in variaunce between them," and also agreed "that the said William Briscowe and one assigned for the seid Meir and cominalte shall ride to London at VIII^vas of Trinite next comyng to labur and desire the seid John Cateby and William Cumberford to take the labur of the premises upon them."

Unfortunately the parties to this indenture did not hold steadily to their purpose of determining by arbitration the controversy respecting their right and title in lands and common of pasture on Whitley Common. The arrangement having fallen through, the Corporation and the Squire of Whitley contended fiercely and bitterly with angry words and blows, public riot and costly litigation.

The official clerks, who in the 15th century copied records touching the owner of the estate usually styled Whitley Manor (albeit its alleged manorial quality was questioned and even denied by many persons), used to spell his surname in different ways, e.g., Briscowe, Briscoe, Bristowe, Bristoe.

Award of Arbitrators for ending the aforesaid Controversy.

13 Edward IV., July 3rd [1473].—Award of Arbitrators for determining the variance and controversy between the Mayor and community of Coventre of the one part and William Briscoe of Whitley of the other part, respecting right and title in certain lands in Whitley, running in these words: "This indenture made the thridde day of July the xiiith yer of King Edward the Fourth witnesseth that wher variaunce contravercie and debate was had moved and steryd betwene the Meir and cominalte of the Citee of Coventre on that on partie, and William Briscoe on that othir partie, for the right title and possession of certen land lying in Whittley bitwene the water of Shirborne and the Skynners buttes in lenght on that on partie and on the othir partie from the same Skynners buttes unto a meadowe callid Medowmore on the othir partie, and in brede bitwene the Kyngis park on the on partie and the highweye leying from Coventre toward London on that othir partie, and also for a parcelle of land bitwene Alderfordpece and Whittleycros parcelle of the same lond, and also for comyn of pasture which the said William Briscowe claimeth to have for his bestis in alle the feldis on both sides of the said wey from the seid lond called Buggyngfeld upon Wridesden or Stokefeld upon Wridesden and Skinners buttes unto the towne of Coventre, wherein the seid Meir and cominalte have used to have their comyn of pasture from the fest of Seynt Peter the Advincle (sic) called Lammas unto the fest of the Purificacion of our Lady: Wherupon John Fissher of Coventre, sherman, and John Emmottes of the same, capper, be bounden in an obligacion of an hundreth mark to the said William Briscowe for the said Meir and cominalte, upon condicion that the said Meir and cominalte shuld abide the arbitrement ordinaunce and dome of George Burneby esquier, John Hathewike, Thomas Cotes and Robert Otter arbitrours chosen indifferently bitwene the seid parties, and the seid William Briscowe was bounden in an nothir obligacion of an hundred mark to the seid John Fissher and John Emmottis upon the same condicion. Wherupon the said arbitrours the dey and yer aboveseid awarded ordeigned and demyd that aswell the seid William Briscowe as the seid Meir and cominalte shalbe nounsued in all such accions as either partie have ayenst othir in any of the Kyngis Courtis, and also the said William Briscowe shall relees and suertie of the peas ayed (?) ayenst John Wildenrise of Coventre, and also the seid arbitrours awarded ordeigned and demyd that the seid William Briscoe shall have and enjoy to hym his heirez and his assignez for evermore without any interupcion of the seid Meir and cominalte and their successours alle such lond lieing in Whittley from the water of Shirborne unto Buggyngfeld upon Wridesden in Whittley aboveseid, which hath byn enclosed bifor this tyme, and also the said William shall have to hym his heirez and assignez for evermore without any interupcion of the seid Meir and cominalte and their successours alle such lond in Whittley callid Buggyngfeld or Stokefeld upon Wrisdeden as is aboveseid, lieng betwene the seid lond enclosed and the seid Skynners buttes in lenght and in brede bitwene the said Kyngis park and the said highwey ledyng from Coventre toward London, with the forseid parcell of the same Buggyngfeld lyend from Whittlecros to Alderfordpece, savyng the right of alle othir parsones pretendyng eny title in eny parcelle of the same lond if eny right they have. And farthermore the seid arbitrours awarded ordeigned and demyd that the seid Meir and cominalte shall have only every yer comyn of pasture with their bestis from Lammas unto Candlemas in all the said lond if it be falowe or ellis unsowen, and if it be sowen as soone as the corne is caried away. And also the same arbitrours awarded ordeyned and demyd that the seid William Briscowe his heirs and his assignez shalbe comyn and entre comyn with the said Meir and cominalte and their successours for evirmore withoute eny interuption of the same Meir and cominalte and their successours as is aforeseid, in like wise and fourme in alle such lond and feldis as the seid Meir and cominaltie have comyn in bitwene the said Skynners buttes and Buggungfeld upon Wridesden aforeseid and the towne of Coventre on both sydes the seid highwey, aftir the rate of the seid lond lyeng bitwene the water of Shirborne aboveseid and the seid Skynners buttes and feld aforseid, and also aftir the rate of a felde callid Alderfordpece and after the rate of a parcel of loud lyeng from Alderfordpece to Whittleycros aboveseid. Also the said arbitrours awarded ordeigned and demyd that the said Meir and cominalte and everych of them shalbe quyte and discharged ayenst the said William Briscowe his heirez and his executours for alle maner of trespacez and offences doon by theym or eny of theym to the said William Briscowe for eny interesse or occupacion of eny of the said lond afor the date of this present writyng. In wittnes whereof to this partie of this Indenture remayning with the said William Briscowe the seid arbitrours have sette their sealis the day and yer aboveseid."

Attached to this writing on vellum is the above-mentioned Recognizance of John Fyssher and John Emottes, dated on 27th June, 18 Edward IV., whereby they acknowledge themselves to be bound to the said William Briscowe in the sum of one hundred marks sterling to be paid to him or his attorney in the quindene of St. John the Baptist next.

Together with this Indenture, there is also preserved in the Muniment Room, the counterpart "remaynyng with the said Meir."

An exemplification of this award, dated 18 Nov. 14 Edw. IV., is noted among the MSS. in Class IV., infra; and of a verdict of a jury on the dispute. Other records are also in Class VI., infra.

Lease granted by the Guild of the Holy Trinity, &c. to William Paynell, "Whittewer."

16 Edward IV. [1476–7].—Lease for twelve years, at a yearly rent of forty-six shillings and eight pence, of a messuage with a garden in Sponne Street, by Richard Braytoft the Master and the brethren and sisters of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, &c., to William Paynell, "whittewer."

Hall of St. Nicholas and Hospital of St. John the Baptist.

20 Edward IV. [1480–1].—Quitclaim and Confirmation, by Henry Grey, esquire, son of Edward Grey, late Lord de Ferrars de Groby, and by Henry Boteler, feoffee of William Burgeys, cousin and heir of Ralph Hunt, to Richard Colyns, in respect to a toft or piece of land in Coventre, lying as to length in Smythfordstreete, and as to its breadth between the tenement of the Guild of Corpus Christi and St. Nicholas and the tenement of the Hospital of St. John the Baptist, and extending from the same street to the Hall of the aforesaid Guild called St. Nicholas Hall.

The Guild-yard within Bayly Lane.

5 Henry VII., June 20th [1490].—Lease for twenty years, at a yearly rent of fifty-five shillings, of two tenements in Coventre, the one being in Baylylane, and the other in the "Gylyard" within Baylylane, by Henry Kebull, Master of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, &c., with the assent of the brethren and sisters of the said Guild, to William Haddon, mercer.

Lease of a Tenement in Erlesmyll Lane.

11 Henry VII. [1495–6].—Lease for twenty-one years, at a yearly rent of thirteen shillings and fourpence, of a tenement with appurtenances in Erlesmyll Lane, by Richard Colman, Master of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, &c., with the assent of the brethren and sisters of the said Guild, to Thomas Mooselle and Richard Booth, "sherman."

Award of Arbitrators between the Prior and Convent and the City of Coventre, in respect to Contributions to the Murage of the City.

14 Henry VII. [1498–9].—Award of Arbitrators—to wit, of William Bishop of Lincoln, and John Bishop of Coventre and Lichfield, "and other of the Counsell lerned of Arthur the first begoten sonne of King Henry VII^th, Prince of Wales . . . indifferently chosen and named between Richard, Priour of the Monastery of Saint Mary in the Citie of Coventre, and the Convent of the same place on the one partie, and Thomas Bonde, Maire, and Commoinaltie of the same Citie on the other partie"—for determining discord and variance respecting a yearly sum of 10l., which the said Mayor and community claimed of the said Prior and Convent for the murage of the city. The Arbitrators ordain that from the date of their award "the said Priour and Convent and their successors shall bere and pay ratably with the citesyns of the Citie to the forseid murage and making of the saide walles about the said citie unto such tyme as the same walles be fully made up and accomplished, that is to say yearly xli at the fest of All Sayntes, when the said citesens and all other having londes and tenementes within the same citie shall be proportionably charged after the rate of the quantite of their said londes and tenements to the same murage, provided always that, if any of the citizens or other personnes that have londes and tenementes within the same be hereafter rated and assessed to a lesse somme of money, then the Priour and Convent and their successours shalbe in like forme lesse rated."

Provision for such an Obit as was "Comenly usid for Men of Worshipe" in Coventre.

12 Henry VIII., October 6th [1520].—Indenture of an agreement between Thomas White, Master of the Guild of Corpus Christi and St. Nicholas and the brethren and sisters of the same Guild of the first part, and Letyse the widow and executrix of the testament of John Saunders late of Coventre, capper and alderman, and John Clerk, grocer, and Nicholas Heynes, capper, overseers of the same testament, of the second part, and John Bonde, mayor, and the community of the City of Coventre of the third part, and Thomas Waren the Master and the brethren and sisters of the Guild of the Holy Trinity, &c., of the fourth part: Whereby the said Master brethren and sisters of the aforesaid Guild of Corpus Christi covenant that they will "yerely for ever on the second day of the moneth of August cause an Obite to be kept in the parishe churche of St. Mighell in the said Cite for the soules of the said John Saunders and Letyse, Agues and Alice his wiffes, as is comenly usid for men of worshipe in the seid Cite, with dirige over nyghte and masse of the morowe with x preistes iii clerks and ii children, every prieste to have iiid., every clerke iid. and every child a peny."

Assignment of the Manor Place by Chellesmore Dame Elizabeth Swillyngton.

21 Henry VIII., March 6th [1530].—Assignment to Roger Wigston and Thomas Try, esquires, by Elizabeth Swillyngton, widow and executrix of the late Rauf Swillyngton esq., of all her interest in the Manor or Lordship of Chillesmore in the county of the city of Coventre, under Letters Patent dated on 7th June, 16 Henry VIII., whereby the said King granted for twenty-one years, at a yearly rental of 15l., the said Manor and Lordship (with exceptions and reservations) to Geffrey Whalley, prior of the monastery of Ulvescroft and to the convent of the same place, to the use of Rauf Swillyngton for twenty-one years beginning at Michaelmas next after the date of the said Letters Patent; it being stipulated in the said assignment that the said Elizabeth shall have and enjoy to herself and her assigns during all the said term "the Manor Place of Chellesmore with all mottes and waters on every side the said manor-place, and all buyldings and gardynes and litle groundes within the same mottes, and the grounde without the mote on the southe side of the said manor-place within the said park, that is to sey along the freers gardyns or orchard walle after the mote unto the Pynlok gate, as it hath of olde tyme bene dyched and severed, with hegebet from tyme to tyme to be taken within the said parke for the defence of the same grounde, and to enclose and kepe severall or otherwyse to use the same at the pleasure of the said Elizabeth during the said term, and also a litell close with all the grounde without the mote and est syde of the said manor place towards the citie, except only the course and recourse with cataill to the pynloke."

William Marler, Gentleman, Son and Heir of Richard Marler, Grocer.

28 Henry VIII., June 16th [1536].—Gift by William Marler of the city of Coventrie, gentleman, son and heir of Richard Marler of the same city, grocer, of all his messuages, lands and tenements &c. in Olde Fylonghley, co. Warwick, to William Holbache the elder of Fylonghley, yeoman, and Thomas Holbache the elder of Olde Filonghley, yeoman.

Mortgage of William Marler's Land and Tenements in Old Filonghley.

28 Henry VIII., November 26th [1536].—Sale by William Marler, of Coventre, gentleman, to William Holbach the elder and Thomas Holbach the elder, both of Filonghley co, Warwick, yeomen, of his messuage, lands and tenements &c. in Old Filonghley under condition that, if he should pay, or cause to be paid, to the said William and Thomas Holbache, or either of them, the sum of forty-six pounds at any time before the Feast of St. Michael in A.D. 1540, the said sale shall be void.

The Mote House in Coundon co. Warwick.

30 Henry VIII., May 31st [1538].—Lease for fourscore years, at a yearly rent of 17l. 13s. 4d. by Thomas Camswell the Prior of the monastery of our Lady of Coventre and the Convent of the same to Myghell Bolde, of the said city, yeoman, of a messuage with appurtenances in Coundon co. Warwick "called the Mothouse," with an orchard, a garden, a croft, a field, and divers closes and pieces of land, and also all the "tythes of woole and lambs with all rightes, dutyes, proffittes . . . . to them in the tythe and rights of the monasterie and of the churches of Herdwyke and Priores Marston in the countye of Warwick yerely growyng and renewyng and beyng with the parysshes of Herdwyke and Prioures Marston."

Agreement for regulating the Manufacture of Cromple Lyste and Ulterfyne Cloths.

10 Elizabeth, March 22nd [1568].—Indenture of an agreement, between Queen Elizabeth of the one part and the Mayor bailiffs and commoinaltie of Coventre of the other part: for placing under good government and conditions the manufacture of Cromple Lyste and Ulterfyne or Utterfyne cloths, recently introduced into Coventre from Armentiers in Flanders, and for regulating the trade in the same cloths with rules and penalties, in furtherance of the concessions made by Her Majesty to the people of Coventre by Letters Patent of the same date (as noticed above under the head of the Charters).

Lease of a Tower in the South Wall of the City of Coventre.

11 Elizabeth, October 10th [1569].—Deed of sale and assignment, whereby Sir Edward Saunders, of Weston-under-Wetherley, co. Warwick knt., one of the King's (sic) Serjeants-at-Law and Recorder of Coventre, assigned to Thomas Dudley of Coventre, gentleman, Edward Damport of the same city, pewterer, and four other persons of the same city, the remainder of a lease for eighty years of a Tower, standing in the south part of the wall of the said city, and also the remainder of a lease for ninety-six years of a close called Little Pudingerofte adjoining the same south wall, which leases were both granted to the said Sir Edward Saunders by the Mayor bailiffs and community of Coventre.

Grant of the Manor of Stoke &c. to the Mayor and Community, for the Relief of the Poor and the Maintenance of Bablake Hospital.

30 Elizabeth, March 10th [1588].—Agreement made between John Horne of Stoke in the county of the city of Coventrey, gentleman, and his son and heir-apparent Reginald Horne, of the one part, and the Mayor bailiffs and community of the city of Coventrey, of the other part, whereby, in consideration of a sum of 80l. paid to them, and for the relief of the poor of the said city, and for the repair and maintenance of a hospital called Bablake within the same city, the said John Horne and Reginald Horne granted and sold for ever all the lordship and manor of Stoke aforesaid, with all the messuages, rights, privileges and appurtenances of the same manor, to the aforesaid Mayor bailiffs and community: with an indented Schedule of "the Chiefe Rentes, parcel of the said Manor of Stoke" attached to the Indenture.

Establishment of a House of Correction in Coventre.

37 Elizabeth, August 13th [1595].—Deed of sale and conveyance, made in consideration of a payment of forty marks, by Barnabie Holbache of Younge Fillonghlie co. Warwick, yeoman, and William Holbache son of the said Barnabie, of the manor of Olde Fillonghlie co. Warwick, and the common and waste grounds called the Chapell Greene, and the stange or water-pond thereunto adjoining, and Newhaie Greene, and thirty acres upon Corely Moore &c., and divers chief rents, to the Mayor bailiffs and community of Coventre, to hold the same to them and their successors forever "to and for the provision sustentacion and maintenaunce of the House of Correction in the said citie of Coventre and for stocks and stoores to the uses and according to the Statutes of the Eighteenth and Five-and-Thirtieth yeres" of the Queen.

A Tenement lately a Pageant-House in Gosford Street.

44 Elizabeth, June 1st [1602].—Lease for sixty-one years, by Richard Butler, John Herringe, Michell Smithe and Ralfe Dunnington, Masters and wardens of the Company of Mercers of Coventre, of a messuage or tenement "lately being a pagent house" in Gosford "Street," to Richard Bankes, "yoman," his executors and assigns, at a yearly rent of twenty-seven shillings.

Tithes of "Bradokes Waste" of the Rectory of St. Michael.

3 James I., March 9th [1606].—Lease for twenty-one years, at a yearly rent of thirty-three shillings and four pence, by the Mayor bailiffs and commonalty of Coventre to Samuel . . . of Stoke, gentleman, of all "ther tithes of corn, hey and herbage, wood, wool, lambe and all other titheable thinges growynge renewynge and cominge in all those groundes as they be now severed called and knowne by the name of Bradokes Waste lying and beyng within the titheable places of the Rectorie of St. Michaell and Trinitie within the city of Coventre."

Agreement touching the Conduits.

9 Charles I., August 20th [1633].—Indenture of an agreement, between Bartholomew Bewley "of Coventrey plummer," of the one part, and the Mayor bailiffs and commonaltie of the said city, of the other part, opening thus, "Whereas long and of ancient times there hath beene amongst others two conduits in the said citie, whereof one is commonly called the Bull Conduit and the other is called Croscheaping Conduit, which conduits are or have beene usuallie served and fedd with water by a maine pipe of leade laid and placed from the spring or fountaine called Conduit Head lying and being in the countie of the said Citie unto the conduits aforesaid, from and betweene which two conduits there is and hath bene anciently a pipe of lead laid and placed in the ground for conveying and bringing of the said spring water from the one conduit to the other, and whereas by agreement made betweene the said parties the said Bartholomew Bewley did in August last undertake and promise at his owne charges to take up the said pipe of lead betweene the said conduit called the Bull Conduit and the other conduit in the same citie called the Croscheaping Conduit, and to cast and make such a sufficient and substantial new cast pipe of lead of as great large and full a proportion as well for boare and thickness and weight as should in every respect be answerable to one pece of cast pipe of leade then brought to remaine for a patterne in the Counsell House of the said city" &c. By the indenture, which sets forth in these terms the source from which the two principal conduits of the citie drew their chief supply of water, Bartholomew Bewley, besides undertaking to renew the pipe running between the same conduits, also undertook amongst other things, for a consideration and under conditions set forth in the indenture, to keep the conduits and public water-pipes of the said city in repair for thirty-one years.

The Lady Tower, formerly Part of the Town Wall lately demolished by Order of Charles the Second.

22 Charles II., February 8th [1670].—Indenture of an agreement, between the Mayor bailiffs and community of the city of Coventry of the one part and Sir John Hales of the same city, baronet, of the other part, whereby the said Mayor bailiffs and community granted to the said Sir John Hales all the stone of the Lady Tower, formerly part of the Town Wall of the said city without Newgate, "which wall by the King's commaund was lately demolished," and also granted to the same Sir John Hales, his heirs and assigns, for a term of ninety nine years, a parcel of ground lying and adjoining the same Town Wall without Newgate, and also the ground where such part of the Town Wall stood; the said grant of stone and lease of ground being made by the said Corporation in consideration of £5 paid to them by the said Sir John Hales by way of fine, and also in consideration of a yearly rent of five shillings to be paid by the same grantee his heirs and assigns to the said Mayor bailiffs and community, throughout the said term of ninetynine years. Attached to this Indenture is "A scheme of the demised premises."