Produced by Hampshire Archives & Local Studies education service
The Medieval Citizen
15th Century Issue (1400-1500)
ANDOVER EDITION
King Richard dies at Pontefract
Castle
The former King, who gave up his
throne to Henry Bolingbroke in 1399,
died a prisoner at Pontefract. He will be
particularly remembered by the citizens
of Andover for giving his royal
confirmation to charters originally
granted by King John in 1205. As is the
common custom in England royal
charters and grants by previous
monarchs are presented to the current
monarch for their approval. It is hoped
that future monarchs will do likewise.
A summary of the king’s letter follows:
Above: The royal letter of King Richard
granted at Westminster in 1391 to the
men of Andover can be seen with its
seal and cords.
Local news from the Patent Rolls
“Richard, by the grace of God King of
England and France and Lord of Ireland.
A commission has been sent to Thomas
To all to whom these present letters
Skelton, ‘chivaler’, William Payn and the
shall come greeting. We have inspected
Sherrif of Southampton to enquire who
a Charter of the Lord Henry of
robbed Nicholas Gwyn, prior of
illustrious memory formerly King of
Andover, of various goods.
England, in these words…Know ye that
George Eyne of Andover, ‘mercer’, has
we have granted, and by this our
been summoned for not appearing
Charter confirmed, to our men of
before the Justices of the Bench to
Andover our manor of Andover, with
answer a claim by Thomas Frogge of
the foreign hundred, to have and to
Salisbury, ‘draper’, regarding a debt of
hold of us and our heirs the aforesaid
manor of Andover well and
in peace, freely, quietly
Inside This Issue
and wholly.”
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King Richard dies
Local news from the Patent Rolls
New Assize of Bread released
Parish church accounts revealed
Andover priory passes to College
Content copyright Hampshire County Council. Images copyright Hampshire
County Council and Winchester College.
Andover Medieval Citizen – 15th Century issue
40 shillings.
William Ryche of Andover, ‘chapman’,
has been summoned for not appearing
to answer a claim by Robert Colwill,
citizen and mercer of London, regarding
a debt of £6. 2s. 7d.
The Sherrif of Southampton is ordered
to hold an election for a coroner instead
of William Payn of Andover, who is
insufficiently qualified.
New Assize of Bread Poster
A poster to be displayed at Andover
Market has been released. Based on
the Statute of Winchester, 1285, the
price of a loaf of bread remains fixed
but the weight of the loaf varies with
the price of corn. Weights are
expressed in money. For example, a
pennyweight.
The assize poster shows in the lefthand column symbols for the price of a
quarter of wheat from 1 shilling to £1.
In each of the next columns the cost of
each type of loaf such as farthing and
halfpenny loaves can be worked out.
This means that the baker, the town’s
officials and customers can see how
much a loaf of bread should cost.
A note at the foot of the poster states
that the baker can claim allowance for 2
journeymen and 2 pages, bran, yeast
and candles, as well as something for his
tydoge (watch-dog).
Above: a section of the Assize of
Bread.
Last Will & Testament of
Thomas Dolling of Andover,
1497
In his will, written of course in Latin,
Thomas Dolling has asked that his body
be buried in the churchyard of the
parish church of Andover. He left 4d to
the Cathedral Church of Saint Swithin
at Winchester, 4d to Andover church,
4d to the Gild of the Blessed Mary in
Andover church, and 4d for a candle to
burn before the High Cross in the
church.
He left his son John 20 sheep, his
daughter Alice 20 sheep plus one
quarter of his estate. The rest of his
goods and estate after his debts are
paid he left to his wife Isabella.
Isabella and Nicholas Dredge to be
executors of his will. For this Nicholas
should receive 15d.
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Andover Medieval Citizen – 15th Century issue
Repairs were made to the wedding door
Goods arriving at Andover on
and porch. The church clock and bell
carts, from Southampton
were also repaired at great cost.
Brokage Book
John Hardyng carting towards Andover
with one and a half centenae of garlic
for John Doket.
John Ber of Longstock carting to
Andover with one pipe-load of iron and
three barrels of white herrings for
John Locket.
Nicholas Gode carting to Andover with
15 cades of red herrings, two barrels of
white herrings and five pieces of fruit
for Richard Locket.
Richard Donster carting to Andover
with five sorts of fruit, five casks of
red herrings of Thomas Selfester
merchant of Winchester.
Robert Maynsak provided a pint of oil
and singing cakes and was paid 3d,
whilst Agnes Maynsak was paid 18d for
half a year’s washing of church
vestments and 5d for making an amyss
or cape lined with fur for use at Divine
Service.
William Clyfford, a bookbinder, was paid
5s 6d and a further 40 shillings for
repairing a Breviary, Processional,
Psalter and a Calendar.
Bell-ringers were paid 6d and 8d when
the King’s brother, the Duke of
Clarence was here with his wife and
daughter.
Parish church accounts for 1471
The churchwarden’s accounts kept by
Symond Herneman and William Plomer
for Easter and Midsummer 1471 are
available for parishioners to view. They
include items paid for the upkeep of the
parish church as well as regular
payments from parish funds.
The Paschal or Easter candle this year
weighed two pounds and was made by
Thomas Piper at a cost of seven
shillings. A small ‘morrowmasse’ or
sanctus bell was newly hung by John
Helyer and several windows were
repaired.
Above: the churchwardens account book
for Andover parish church. The original
cost of the book was 12d paid to
William Clyfford.
1 shilling and 4d was spent on washing
and shearing the church sheep which
keep the grass short in the churchyard.
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Andover Medieval Citizen – 15th Century issue
St Mary’s Priory, Andover
Passes to Winchester College
On September 1, 1413, prior Nicholas
Gwyn signed over the Priory of Andover
to the Warden and Scholars of
Winchester College for the sum of 52
marks per year for the rest of prior
Gwyn’s life. A handsome pension indeed.
St Mary’s Priory was one of the alien or
foreign priories endowed by William the
Conqueror, who gave the church of
Andover to the monks of St. Florence in
Anjou. Confirmation of this grant was
given by King Edward the second in
June 1315 following a dispute in the
local courts between Aluric, the reeve
of Andover, and the monks of St.
Florence. Part of this beautiful
document with its illuminated letter E
for Edward can be seen below, and is
now owned along with all of the priory’s
other ancient documents by the College.
More Resources Available
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life in Hampshire there are other
resources available from Hampshire
Archives & Local Studies website.
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hive-education/online-resources.htm
Above: photograph of a seal matrix
belonging to the Austin Friars, or
friars-hermits of the Convent of St
Augustine, Winchester. Made of
bronze, the matrix features two
figures: Virgin and Child, and a male
figure. Around the outside of the
matrix is the inscription: S[igillum]
P[ri]or[is] Ord[inis] Fr[atru]m
Herem[itorum] S[an]cti Augustini
Wynton.
Fragments of red and green coloured
wax can still be seen on the matrix
showing that it had been used to create
seals in the past.
© Winchester College
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