Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 4.djvu/7

 n s. iv. JULY i, 1911.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

1

LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1911.

CONTENTS. No. 79.


 * Nf>rKS : Simon de Swanland and Edward II., 1-The

Burghal Hidage, 2 Cromwelliana, 3 -The King's Palace, Fordwich, 4 Aviation in 1811 The Taxi- Aero Serjeants' Inn Dinner in 1839, 5 The Farmer's Creed " Jacobite " = " Jacobin " Boleyn Family in Ireland, 6.

QUERIES : Dr. F. E. bankey : Dr. Woolley Mummy used as Paint " Backseat " " Bast " Henry VII. and Mabuse Skeat on Derivations St. Columband Stratton Accounts, 7 Bristol Board Guild of Clothiers Military Executions Authors Wanted Hugh Family Major Kunjamin Woodward, 8 Son and Mother Belly and the Body John Owen French Thunderstorm "Franklin days" Fire of London Ripon Forger, 9 Apophthegms for School Museum Dean Merivale on Perseverance lUddle Robert Blincoe Lord Falmouth's Charters St. Lngidio--Port Henderson, 10.

(REPLIES : Bishop Ken, 10 'The British Critic,' 11 Royal Jubilees Queen Victoria's Great - Grandmother " Envy, eldest-born of hell " " Orgeat," 12" Schicksal und eigene Schuld" "Souchy "- Mistress K. Ashley- Temple Organ, 13 ' Churches of Yorkshire ' ' Wee Wee German Lairdie,' 14 Authors Wanted Colour of Sheep Sir W. Ashton Murderous London Boatman St. Patrick : St. George, 16 Forbes of Skellater Milton B and G in Domesday" O. K." Peter the Great's Portrait Pigtails i n the British Army, 17 Swammerdam on Insects Royal Society Rarities Commonwealth Churches Blue Rod Buttyvant, 18.

NOTES ON BOOKS :' Records of the English Bible' The Cornhill.'

Booksellers' Catalogues. OBITUARY :-Rev. W. J. Loftie. Notices to Correspondents.

SIMON DE SWANLAND AND KING EDWARD II.

IN the Middlesex manor of Harefield lies a district known in the thirteenth century as Swanland, and in due course its lady, Margaret de Swanland, married John Newde- gate, lord of Harefield, a fact that accounts for the preservation of some highly inter- esting documents among the Harefield title-deeds.

Simon de Swanland, a successful merchant, draper, and citizen of London, flourished in the reigns of Edward I.-IIL, and would eem to have been an adherent of Edward II. throughout his career. It is to him Edward sends during his temporary success over his enemies, and it is to him that the royal treasure is entrusted in time of misfortune. It is so seldom that an opportunity occurs of finding the privy doings of early kings that I cannot keep thinking that these, o far as I am aware, unpublished documents

should have a general interest. I have added notes of other deeds which throw light upon the early formation of merchant companies.

1. The first of the series would perhaps be suitably described as letters of association of the merchant Simon with two other drapers, Ralph de Waleeote and Henry Darcy, in 1312.

2. The second is a letter from William de Melton, Archbishop of York, to Simon, requesting him to obtain certain articles for the King's Wardrobe.

3. The third may be described as a disso- lution of the company, with a statement o their respective gains, in 1318.

4. This is a statement of profit and loss between Simon and John de Swanland, 1319.

5. Lastly, there is an acquittance for the surrender of the royal goods placed in Simon's charge, 1327.

The following are abstracts of the docu- ments referred to :

1. Indenture of partnership between Simon de Swanland, Ralph de Walecote, and Henry Darcy, drapers, agreed upon at Christmas (" la feste de Noel"), 6 Edward II. (1312). Wherein they agree " a compaignez ensemble pour mar- chander de dras et dautres choses pour leur commun profit " to the end of three years follow- ing, Simon to find 400Z., Ralph 300Z., and Henry 62Z., binding themselves to risk " to us perieux de meer, de feu, de prise le Roy, et deRobberie," and to share the gains as follows. Henry de Melton (who joined as co-partner) and Henry " auront le tierce denier du gaign," and Simon and Ralph a similar share. Should any of the com- pany wish to retire, six months' warning is to be given, and he must share all the losses. Each party affixed his seal.

2. Letter from William, Archbishop of York, to his beloved Simon de Swanland, citizen of London, enjoining him to strict secrecy, " et que vous ne le monstrez a nul homme ne femme du mounde tant que nous avoins parle. Voillez saver que nous avoins certeius noveles de notre seigneur lege Edward de Karn(arvon) quil est en vie et en bone sainte de corps et en seur. . . .a sa volente demeign par quoi nous sumes plus joyous." The writer sends a draft for 200Z. of gold, and requests Simon to search out two " demi-draps " of divers colour, " bon drap et prouve vesture et bon pelur de menever par vi. garnientz et iij. chaperons de menever pour les chaperons et deux coverletes de divers colours de la plus large assiz ove les tapitz," two girdles and two pouches, 20 ells of linen cloth (" linge de lak"); and also to request his shoemaker to add " vi. peir de solers et ij. peir de botes," and to make a truss of them "en un fardel come les mercers menont lour mercerie." The writer will send a horse with a trusty brother, Sir William de Clyf,to carry them away. The bond is payable at Kawood eight days after the Feast of Purification next. He makes this request trusting that Simon will do all he asks for his honour and profit, and will also deliver to the bearer of the cloths a robe and 1 " forour,"