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 616 SHORT NOTICES October a remote shire to take part in common bench pleas in a time of increasing civil disturbance. But all Edward II's reign was not quite as troublous as Mr. Bolland makes it, and the number of Canterbury pilgrims in a year of jubilee was no fair index of the throng to St. Thomas's shrine in ordinary years. Equally welcome and sprightly is the digression on medieval travel and inns. And even more so is the important speech of Chief Justice Geoffrey Scrope in 1329, which throws a real new light on the trial of the judges in 1289-90, and throws back a story, only known hitherto from a document of Richard II's reign, to within time of living memory. It is possible, however, that Scrope, in his anxiety to prove his point, rather glossed over Hengham'e other possible convictions. Yet however much that may be, 8,000 marks was a wicked fine for such small offences, and may well be set down to the greed for money rather than to the zeal for righteousness of the ' English Justinian '. T. F. T. The second volume (1381-5) of the Calendar of Close Rolls of the reign of Richard II (London : Stationery Office, 1920) follows the first after an interval of six years. It contains perhaps a rather larger proportion of matter interesting to the general historian. After the Peasants' Revolt so many clerks fled in fear of impeachment that the collectors of the clerical subsidy in the archdeaconry of Essex had to ask for a special discharge for sums due from them (p. 17). Only broken light is thrown upon Richard's policy during these years. The evidence of the patent rolls that he first began to use the signet for public business in the summer of 1382 is confirmed. It was by a letter of the signet to the mayor of London that John of Northampton was arrested early in the following year (p. 369). A long series of precautions in view of expected French attacks are recorded. By August 1384 the king was in serious financial difficulties and ordered the treasurer to make a chevaunce of the large sums he needed for the defence of Calais and the Scottish marches, &c, ' though such chevaunce be to the king's hurt and loss ; as he is assured that by reason of his present lack of money a chevaunce must needs be made, and would not that the treasurer or any other of the council should hereafter be impeached or troubled for any such loss ' (p. 472). The chancellor (Michael de la Pole) was too much occupied with business of the realm to attend to private grievances (p. 475). In the field of administration, we have the keepers of the Great Seal (in August 1382) reproved for taking upon them to present to a living, and the Irish chancellor (in 1384) for holding parliament, laying imposts, and granting pardons without special authority of the king, or of Philip de Courtenay, his lieutenant in Ireland then absent (p. 500). Of less public importance is the interesting list of the prises and perquisites of the constables of the Tower, including any vessel driven from its moorings or otherwise not under control between Gravesend and London Bridge (p. 178). In consequence of 'the dearness of cloth, furring and lining' in 1382 the cost of the summer and winter liveries of the clerks of the chancery is put on record (p. 147). Entries on pp. 111-12 have led to the identification of the Essingham in Kent, where Justice Rickhill was awakened at midnight on 5 September 1397 for his mysterious journey to Calais, with Islingham in Frindsbury