The Bishop of Winchester was a frequent recipient of presents from the College. Possibly the countenance and protection of so powerful a prelate as Henry Beaufort was of great service to the foundation of his munificent predecessor; and he seems to have felt an extraordinary degree of interest in its welfare, and to have befriended and supported it with all his influence. It is clear that he maintained the most friendly intercourse with the College, which was acknowledged by liberal presents. Charges very frequently occur for the purchase of dainties for the Bishop's table while he sojourned at Wolvesey. Fish, salted and fresh, meat, fowls, fruits, and preserves, all procured at a great expense by means of special messengers from the markets which were in best repute for any particular article;[1] while the most sedulous attention seems to have been given to ascertain what delicacies would be most acceptable to the Bishop. Occasionally his cook, John Rymayn, is consulted on this point, and he has a fee for his advice. On one occasion the Bishop is presented with hunting gear, the cost of which is found in the undated roll of t. Henry V. The items are as follows:—
In XII arcubus empt. apud London. mense Maio pro dño Epo' Wynton, et familia sua, ad dandum inter eosdem temp. venationis in diversis parcis suis comitatus Suthamptoniæ, xxiis viiid. In VI duodenis sagittarum pennis pavonum et aliarum volucrum pennatis, emptis eodem tempore pro dño Epo', xviiis iid. In VI duodenis capitum barbillatorum, emptorum pro dictis sagittis eodem tempore, viiis viiid. In uno Wardebras argenteo et deaurato, pendente duas uncias, unum quartron: una cum factura et deauratione ejusdem, xis vid. In uno lase serico viridis coloris cum uno knapp de goldwyr, iiiid. In XII huyres emptis ibidem ad dandum inter clericos suos ibidem eodem tempore, viiis vid. In cistis et coffyns empt. pro dictis donis emptis London. imponendis et cariandis de London' usque Wynton, xxiiid.
Mention occurs elsewhere of arrows feathered with peacock's plumage, probably esteemed as more choice than common feathers. John Palman, in 1436, bequeaths to his son "j. arcum optimum cum j. sheef arrowys de pecok." Wills and Invent. Surtees Soc. vol. 1, p. 87. Amongst the stores of Bp. Waynflete, at Farnham Castle, 1471, were "sagittæ magnæ barbatæ cum pennis pavonum." Lydgate mentions such arrows, Chron. of Troy, B. iii., C. 22. The green silk lace, with a knop of gold wire, was possibly the "arrow girdle," by which arrows were carried at the left side. The Bishop's silver-gilt "wardebras," the gardebras, or bracer, to protect the left arm, was of singularly costly material. Its form is well shown by a drawing in the Louterell Psalter, copied in Vetusta Monum. vol. vi., pl. 24. These items recall Chaucer's description of the Squire's "Yeman:"—
"A shefe of peacock arwes bright and kene,
Under his belt lie bare ful thriftily;
Upon his arme he bare a gaie bracer."
The prelate's clerici received some kind of cap as a gratification on this occasion. The term "huyre " is of uncommon occurrence. A Petition of the Commons, 22 Edw. IV., 1482, may be found in the Rolls of
- ↑ Ex. gr. salted lampreys, and salmon, were procured from Gloucester; perch and tench from Oxford; crabs from Salisbury. Horses for the use of the College were purchased at the fair of Amesbury.
