Ancient Bristol Documents. No. V. From the Records of St. Mary-le-Port. BY LIEUT.-COL. J. R. BRAMBLE, F.S.A., V.P. (Read November 12th, 1884.) THE HE oldest of the deeds belonging to the Parish of St. Mary-le-Port is a conveyance of a shop in St. Mary-le-Port Street from William Langbord to Walter Panes. It probably relates to a house on the south side of the street, now numbered 32, and in the occupation of Messrs. Butler. In subsequent deeds this house is spoken of as "before the Harts-hornes," evidently the former sign by which the house opposite was designated. The document in question is written on vellum, 7 inches wide by 5 inches deep, exclusive of of an inch turned up at the bottom, as is the usual custom to this day. The writing is admirable, firm, clear, and distinct. It is no doubt the finest specimen of writing in the whole collection of Charters, and proves that the writer, not improbably "John of the Temple, Clerk," must have been a most accomplished penman. The ink is scarcely faded, and shines in the sun like an enamel on the surface of the vellum. Below hangs, by the usual double strip of parchment, the half of a seal of dark green wax, which still bears the impression of the fingers which squeezed it into shape. The seal was evidently heraldic, the bearings have the appearance of a stag regardant, but the portion remaining is too small to be clearly identified. In the margin are the letters S. WILL. LAN. . . . . The date is about 1250, but cannot be given with certainty. As usual, in early deeds relating to property in a city, the VOL. I., PART III. (1887-8.) 1 witnesses are the Civic Officers, the Mayor and Præpositors, with others. The present witnesses are stated to be "Roger de Bercham, then Mayor of Bristoll, Robert de Kylmeynan and Roger de Cantoc, then Prepositors of the same city." In none of the existing Rolls of Mayors-they differ much in their earlier portions, which have evidently been compiled-do these names occur together. The name of Roger de Bercham appears in Ricart's Calendar as Mayor 1257, but the Prepositors are Hugo Mychell and William de Berwyck. In the list printed by Barrett the name does not appear in the list of Mayors, but as that of a Prepositor in 1267. Robert de Kilmeynan appears in Ricart's list as Prepositor in 1243, and as Mayor in 1256 and 1262. In Barrett's list as Prepositor in 1240 and Mayor in 1261. Roger Cantock appears in Ricart's list as Prepositor 1238, and in Barrett's list 1237, and (query whether the same man) 1260, and, under the altered name of Seneschal, 1271. Reginald de Panes and Thomas Haselden (or "de Hamelesden ") also appear in the same lists between 1247 and 1274. The difference of a year is readily intelligible, as the election took place at Michaelmas, and therefore up to the 1st March 25 following, four months, would have been in one year, and the remainder in the following year. Scient psentes & futuri quod Ego Willmus Langbord Filius & hes Henr Langbord quondam Burgens de Bristoll Dedi concessi & hac psenti carta mea confirmavi Walter de Panes totam illam seldam meam cu ptinentes In villa Bristoll In vico Ste Marie que pxima est selde Henr Langbord fratris mei. Habendam et tenendam totam illa pdtam seldam cu omibus ptinent suis sibi Walter de Panes & hedibs & assignatis suis de me et hedibs & assignatis meis. libe et quiete pacifice & integre. ad faciend inde totu libitu sun in omis inppetum. Reddendo inde annuatim michi & hdibs et assignatis meis. ipe Walte & hedes et assignat sui Unu par albaru Cyrotetarum de ptio unius oboli argenti ad Pascha p omibs surtiis exactionibs. queret et demandis ad dtam seldam ptinentibus. Et p hac mea donatione concessione & psentis carte mee confirmatone dedit michi pdtus Walto. Quadginta solidos estlingorum de futroim (?) Quare Ego dtus Willmus Langbord & hedes & assignati mei. pdcam seldam cu ptinentis suis. pdco Walto de Panes & hedibs & assignatis suis. conta TRANSLATION. [Know all (men) present and future that I William Langbord Son and heir of Henry Langbord formerly Burgess of Bristol have given conceded and by this my present deed have confirmed to Walter de Panes all that my shop with its appurtenances, in the town of Bristol, in the Street of St. Mary, which is nearest the shop of Henry Langbord my brother. All the said shop with its appurtenances to be had and holden to him, Walter de Panes and his heirs and assigns, of me and my heirs and assigns, freely and quietly, peaceably and entirely to do therein at his entire liberty in all things for ever. Yielding from thence yearly to me and my heirs and assigns, by Walter himself, and his heirs and assigns, a pair of white Gloves of the price of one silver penny at Easter for all services, exactions, claims and demands to the said shop appertaining. And for this my gift, concession and my present deed of confirmation, the said Walter gave to me twenty pounds sterling of . . for which I the said William Langbord, my heirs and assigns the said shop with its appurtenances to the said Walter de Panes and his heirs and assigns against all mortals for ever will warrant defend and acquit for the aforesaid services. And that my gift, concession, and my present deed of confirmation may for ever obtain strength of firmness (be firmly established) I have strengthened the present deed with the impression of (my) seal. These being the Witnesses, Roger de Bercham, then Mayor of Bristol, Robert de Kylmeynan and Roger de Cantoc, then Prepositors of the same town, Richard Fuaene, Reginald de Panes, Thomas Hazlleden, Walter Wyneman, Richard the Dyer, John of the Temple, Clerk, and others.] 1 Notes on Old Bristol Houses. BY THOMAS S. POPE, ARCHITECT. (Read January 27th, 1887.) As modern changes seem likely soon to obliterate nearly every vestige of the ancient domestic architecture of our city, I wish to bring before the notice of the Club some little known remains of old Bristol which still exist in some cellars in High street. I have made measured drawings of these remains, and have the pleasure of presenting copies for the Club Album. The chamber shown in my sketch No. 1 (Plate xviii., fig. 1), of the present cellar of No. 43, High street, was probably the shop or store of the medieval merchant or tradesman who inhabited the house, and was probably some few feet only below the level of the street, the level of which was altered when the present Bristol Bridge was built. There are still some shops remaining on the Continent very similar to this in arrangement. The sitting-room, or solar, was probably over the shop, and wainscotted with oak, the great Hall being behind; as was formerly the case in some of the old houses in Redcliff street, which had open roofs with the timbers exposed. Of these merchants' halls there are few remains, but some idea may be formed of their style and proportions from the "restored" specimen in Canynge's house, Redcliff street,1 now occupied by Messrs. Jefferies, and in the old house in Small street, now used as the Law Library. When the Club visited Salisbury, in September, 1886, we saw a still finer example in "the Hall of John Halle."3 The front of this old house in High street has some of the 2 'See Skelton's Antiquities of Bristol. Plate 48. Id. Pl. 13. 3 Illustrated and described in the Rev. E. Duke's Prolusiones Historica. |