Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/205

 

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

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.