Archaeological Journal/Volume 2/Original Documents (Part 1)

 

Original Documents.

 

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The following document, extracted from the accounts of the bursars of Merton, has been communicated by the Rev. E. Hobhouse. Numerous evidences of this nature are doubtless to be found not only in the repositories of collegiate or chapter muniments, but amongst neglected parochial accounts, which might repay the trouble of research. They supply authentic information regarding portions of the fabric, and original terms of art, which are highly useful as contributions to the vocabulary, hitherto very imperfect, of appropriate ancient appellations of various parts of buildings, or their accessory ornaments.

No remains exist of the rood-loft constructed according to this agreement. It may deserve notice, that Oxford, in the times of Henry VII., could not produce a joiner competent to the work, which appears to have been very advisedly undertaken, after the model of rood-lofts existing at Magdalene College and in the church of St. Mildred, in the Poultry, London. The frame-work, or coarser parts of the construction, appears to have been formed of English timber, but the more ornamented portions were fashioned with "wainscots, Estrichborde," as deals of oak imported from the Baltic are termed in other documents.

An Indenture of agreement between the Warden of Merton College, and John Fisher, citizen of London, for making a Roodloft within the Quire of the Church, A.D. 1486.

This endenture, made betwene Maister Richard Fitz James, Clerk, and Warden of Marton College in Oxford, and the Felisshipe of the same place, on that oon partie, And John Fissher, Citezen and Joynour of London, on that other partie, Witnesseth that the seid John the day of the makyng of these presentz hath covenantid and undertaken unto the seide Warden and Felisshipe wele sufficiently & werkmanly to make or do to be made a Rodeloft of Joynedwerk w^tin the Quere of Marton College aforeseid, in a place by them ther appoynted, of the seid John's owne Tymbre and bourde, in the maner and fourme folowing, and at his propre Costs and expensis of all maner of Cariages and workmanship perteynyng and belongyng to the foreseid Rodeloft, except Englysshe Tymbre, whiche the seid Warden and Felisship at theire propre costes and expenses shall do to be made redy squared to the handes of the seide John; Whiche Rodeloft the seid John shall make or do to be made, lyke unto the Rodeloft of Mawdelen College in Oxford, that is to wete, from the grounde upwarde to the lowest seylyng pece, xij fote, w^t speris^[1] and lynterns for ij awters. Also the seid John graunteth, and hym byndeth by this indenture, to make or do to be made in the seide Rodelofft ferre better dorys then ther be in Mawdelyn College aforeseid. And fro the lowest seilyng pece of the seid Rodelofft all the brist^[2] upwarde the seid John shall make or do to be made, lyke unto the Rodelofft in the parisshe Chirche of Seint Mildrede in the pultere of London, v ffote and đj' bothe in the west parte of the seide Rodelofft and in the Est parte therof, better then it is there. Also in the lowest Seyler the seid John shall make or do to be made a workmanly Trayle^[3] in the west parte therof. And also it is covenanted betwene the seid parties that the seid John shall make or do to be made certeyn ymages in clene Tymbre, for the space of xxx fote, and eche of them shalbe ij fote, long at the lest assise, suche Images as the seid Warden or his assignes shall name and assigne. ffor the whiche Rodelofft and werkes, in fourme aforseid, wele and werkemanly to be made and doon be the ffest of Seint Mighell tharcangell, that shalbe in the yere of oure lorde god m.cccclxxxvij. the seid warden and ffelisship shull well and truely content and pay or do pay to the seid John to his executors or assignes, xxvij li of lawfull money of England, in the maner and forme followyng, that is to sey in hand at sealyng of theise endentures v^li, wherof the seid John knowlechith hym wele and truely content and paid, in partie of payment of the seid xxvij^li. And the Residue of the seid xxvij^li it is covenanted and aggreed betwene the seid parties that the seid John shall resceyve of the seid Warden at soche daies as betwene them shalbe appoynted, and as the seid Warden shall se the forseid werkes goyng forwarde. Also the seid Warden and ffeliship shall fynde to the seide John and ij or iij of his servants mete and drynke necessary for them while they there werke upon the seid Rodelofft in Marton College aforeseid. And whereas the seid John Fyssher, John Byrche, Joynour, and Willm̃ Petite, wexchaundeler, citezeins of London, by their obligacion beryng date with this endenture, ben holden and stedfastly bounden unto the foreseid Warden and ffeliship in xl^li of goode and lawfull money of England, to bepaide as by the same obligacion therof made more pleynly apperith, neverthelesse the foreseid Warden and ffeliship for them and their successors woll and graunten by these presentes that if the seid John on his partie wele and truely hold performe and kepe all and singular covenants Aggrements and Appoyntements aforseid, whiche on his partie owithe to be held kept and performed, in maner and forme above rehersed, that than the foreseid obligacion be cancellid voide and of none effecte, and ells to stonde in his full strength and vertue. In witnesse wherof the parties aforeseid to theise endentures entrechaungeably have set their seales: yoven the xj^th day of August, in the ffirst yere of the Reigne of Kyng Henry the vij^th—[To this indenture is attached a Bond in the usual form, for the above-named sum of £40.]

1. A screen. "Spere or scuw. Scrineum, ventifuga." Prompt. Parv. Amongst the miscellaneous Records of the Queen's Remembrancer, 5 Ed. I. occur payments, "Steph. le Joinure pro j. spoere, ad opus Regine—pro j. spure in camera Cancellar'. ivs." See also Churchwardens' Acc., p. 118; Hist. of Hengrave, p. 42.
2. Breast, the front or face of the work. The beam which supports the front of a building is termed a breast-summer. (Gloss. of Archit.) The face of coal-workings is termed the breast.
3. Twining ornaments, termed by Lydgate "vinettes in casementes," frequently introduced as the cornice of screen-work. A goblet in the royal treasury, A.D. 1400, is described as "j. hanape ove le covercle ponsonez d'un traile dc Wodebynde." Kal. Exch. III. 350. See Cotgrave, v. Treille.