Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/31

14 HISTORY OP BISHOP AUCKLAND. Pitch and tar bought to repair the boat used in carrying branches and brushwood across the river from Birtley Park by a nearer way over five ridges belonging to Thomas Bokenfield, for the said warrand. A new bottom for the common oven of Aukland. 1426-7. Paid to Thomas Egliston for marking 18 of my Lord's oxen with the mark of St. Wilfrid, to the intent that they may escape a certain infirmity called the " moryn" [murrain], 9d. During the episcopacy of Cardinal Thomas Langley and Bishop Robert Neville there is but little in connection with our subject to record. Bishop Booth (1457-1476), is said to have built at his own expense the stone gateway of the college with the appurtenances. Of this building or its cost we have no account We find, however, from the rolls of his times, that Edward IV. appropriated the revenues of the See of Durham for three or four years, in consequence of Booth's adherence to Henry VI. The Bishop was, however, subsequently restored to favour. In con- firmation of this we find these items recorded : — 1467-1461. Roll of John Lound and John Sturgeon, the King's receivers. Paid to John Nevill, Earl of Northum- berland, warden of the East March against Scotland, in part of payment of £600 granted to him by our Lord the King, to be received of the hands of the Receiver-general of Durham, XI 02 5s. 2d. For the expenses of the soldiers within the Castle of Durham, for the safe custody of the castle and city, from the 16th December to 14th of July, together with X45 16s. for their wages^X106 3s. lOJd. Paid to William Thirkeld, Serjeant of the King, in money granted to him by the King by way of reward for his good services daily to the said King, by the hands of John Sturgeon, Receiver-general of Durham, by letters under the King's signet, dated 27th January, in the third year of his reign, £8. Paid to the Prior of Tynmouth for the expenses of the soldiers there, in full payment of 40 marks, by the King's letter, 113s. 4d. The following curious entries are highly illustrative of those early times, not only as showing the power and position of the Bishop, but also the status of his tenantry and vassals, who were then still subject to military service. They are here sent in a body, under the command of the Sheriff of Durham and the Bishop's Escheator, to Hartlepool, to take into custody Thomas Clifford and others in his suite, "rebels of our Lord the King." "Hert and Hertilpole" were estates of Lord John Clifford, who was attainted upon the accession of Edward IV. for having espoused the cause of Henry VL The Bishop took possession of the forfeited estates in right of the See, but was unable to establish his claim, as they were proved to form no part of the palatinate franchise : — ExFSifSES OF SoLDiEBS, (fec. — Paid to divers soldiers for their wages and expenses in keeping the town and port of Hertilpole on the 25th February, for my Lord's use after possession had been taken ; allowed here by my Lord's command, X65 13s. 4d. Paid to Nicholas Moreton on the 1st March, for the expenses of commissioners sitting at Sadbury on an inquisition touching Hert and Hertilpole, with servants' expenses at Hertilpole, XI 0. Sum £75 13s. 4d. 1471-2. Chancellor. Paid to John Athirton, Esq., Sheriff of Durham, and Henry Raddyffe, Esq., Escheator of Durham, for their expenses and those of my Lord's tenants and others riding to Hertilpole to take Thomas Clyfford and others in his suite, rebels of our Lord the King, by command of the Chancellor, and Bichard Chadkirke, derk, £7 12s. 4d. The next extracts seem to refer to a time when the Bishop was under the displeasure of the King, as they are included in the Chancellor's accounts, 1466-7. Chancellor. To William Burton, keeper of the garden at Aukland, at the rate of Id. per day, by my Lord's letters patent for term of life, . . . 1470. The cost of a house called " logh" (lodge), within the park of Aukland — walls of clay and stone. Cost and expenses of the " soudur" (soldiers). Expenses of six men at 'board with the wife of Robert Ynskip, by command of Sir Thomas Metham, Knt., Sir Thomas Merkynfeld, and other gentlemen, for the safe custody of aU mj Lord's goods, within the manor-house and without : — On Monday 6 men at supper : white bread 2d., ale 3d., beef and mutton 4d. On Tuesday at breakfast : white bread and ale 8d., beef and mutton 4d. At kipper the same day : bread and ale 6^d., beef and mutton 4d. Wednesday, at breakfast : white bread and ale 7|d., beef and mutton 5d. Horse meat 4d« Sum 4s. We append a few items to show a peculiar characteristic of those times, when the Bishops of Durham were not only shipowners but shipbuilders : — Cost of the Bishop's ship at Stockton. Felling timber in Oatished wood, 12d. Carriage of the wood to the l^^ne, Digitized by Google