le Despenser (who with his father was beheaded twenty years later), to Eleanor de Clare, daughter of the Princess Joan of Acre, Countess of Gloucester; and the Earl de Warenne to Joanna de Barr. The king's youngest daughter had been also recently married to Humphrey de Bohun, when the festivities at court, including ten casks of wine and 302 lbs. of wax on the wedding day had swelled the week's expenses to £335. 18s. 9d. (Carl. R. 734, W.N. 33º Edw. I.) On the present occasion there are also some details recorded.
"25th day of May, in money lent and disbursed in the presence of the king, at the nuptials celebrated in the king's chapel at Westminster, between John, Earl de Warenne, and the Lady Joanna daughter of the Count de Barr, xls."
A similar entry on May 26 records Despenser's marriage.
"Paid to divers minstrels, by command of the king, on the days of the nuptials of the Countess de Warenne and the Lady Le Despenser, as appears under the head of gifts, xxxviili iiiis."—EB. 983, Wardrobe Acc.
"For letting fly the king's girfalcon.—For letting fly the king's falcon called Berewyk,—another called Drokenesse,—another called Hereford, ou same day.
"To Thomas the coachmaker (le charrour), advanced on the making a chariot for the Earl de Warenne, June 28, lxs.
"To Walter de Bardeney, advanced on harness—making for the said earl,—on the same day, cs.
"To Walter de Bedewynde, to pay for a new carriage (pro una novo curru) for the use of the Countess de Warenne, by the order of the treasurer, by the hands of John Flambard, Emeric Frescobaldi, and Marchio Gerardi.
"July 4.—For three horses bought for a chariot for the use of the Countess de Warenne, grand-daughter of the king, by order of the Treasurer, xlli. lm.
"July 5.—To Sir Peter de Tolyngburn, by the hands of Edmund Suthese his valet, for cash paid by him for the expenses of the Counters of Hereford, the Countess de Warenne, and other ladies dwelling in their suite in the month of June this year (1306), by order of the treasurer."—1912 EB. 34º Edw. I.
What the quality of the music may have been we know not; but the sum of £37. 4s. given above to the minstrels, seems nearly on a scale fit for modem times, and far beyond what was usual at this period, as may be observed by some other examples:
"To John Symphonista, the elder and the younger, dwelling at Canterbury, and to 12 other minstrels, for performing their minstrelsy in the cathedral church before the king several times while he was there, xls.
"To Master Elias, the harper (citharista) at Lincoln, xxs."
