Customs of St Andrew’s Priory, Custumale Roffense, c.1235

Two medical recipes written down by a monk-scribe of St Andrew’s Priory, Rochester, are today part of the single bound volume known as Custumale Roffense (c. 1235), or the Rochester custumal. Transcription of Custumale Roffense 4r-5r by Jacob Scott (reviewed by Dr Christopher Monk). Translation and commentary by Dr Christopher Monk.

Two medical recipes written down by a monk-scribe of St Andrew’s Priory, Rochester, are today part of the single bound volume known as Custumale Roffense (c. 1235), or the Rochester custumal. Transcription of Custumale Roffense 4r-5r by Jacob Scott (reviewed by Dr Christopher Monk). Translation and commentary by Dr Christopher Monk. Clearly unrelated in subject matter to the custumal, which is a survey of tenants’ rents, services and customs, they were nevertheless deemed important enough to preserve. It is very likely that the monks of St Andrew’s Priory were prone to suffer from common health problems. This may partially explain why the following medical recipes for urinary and skin conditions were preserved by the monks and, at some point, bound with the custumal. Among the monks there would likely have been individuals who at some point had studied medical texts that were circulating in England at the time the recipes were penned. These monks would have been practiced in using herbs grown in the priory gardens (and possibly beyond) in order to treat the sick. They would have collaborated with the priory’s infirmary attendants, the duties of whom are outlined in a further section added to the custumal on the subject of the priory’s lay servants. The method of the first recipe for treating strangury and dysuria – painful urinary conditions – is self-evidently for male patients, which is of course what we would expect in a community of monks. The second recipe for ulceration and abrasions may have been relevant to the treatment of ‘leprosy’ – an umbrella term in medieval medicine that corresponds today to a number of diseases affecting the skin, but evidently also Hansen’s Disease, the preferred modern name for leprosy.¹ The significance of this is that the priory established the hospital of Saint Bartholomew in Chatham (on the outskirts of Rochester), at least as early as the 1120s, which according to one contemporaneous source was ‘built for lepers’.² Pertinently, symptoms of tuberculoid leprosy may include ulceration and fissured skin – cuts, sores and abrasions – which easily become infected.³ The two medical recipes are completed by a short invocation in a mix of Anglo-Norman French and Latin and an instruction to recite the Lord’s Prayer. It is likely that these would have been said whilst the treatments were being administered.

Transcription

4r

_Contra⁴ stranguriam et dysuriam. Accipe
radicem Raffani, et tere, et deinde decoquo-
que in uino albo et oderifero cum Radice vismalue⁵
usque ad tertiam partem liquoris decoque. In fine decoc-
tionis, appone furfur triticeum et fac emplastrum,
et circumliga uirilem uirgam, ita calidum quam
paciens pati possit. Istud emplastrum faciendum est
per triduum ad cubitum. Istud emplastrum per furfur suf-
ficienter inspissetur.

_Contra ulceracionem et excoriaconem. Accipe
tapsum barbastem quod gallice dicitur moleine⁶
et summitates rumminis⁷ salicet, Runce, et tanacetum
agreste, et consolidam maiorem, et centinodium.
Istis herbis optime decoctis in bersise; bibat paciens
mane et sero. Sed prius inungat paciens locum dolen-
tem oleo laurino. _Deus te feznerent oil e buche treis te destez-
nent pere e fiz e seinte espirit.⁸ In nomine pa-
tris et filij et spiriti sancti. Amen. Pater noster. Hoc-
ter dicendum est.

Translation

To counter strangury⁹ and dysuria.¹⁰ Take and grind a radish root, and then boil it in white spiced wine along with the root of marsh-mallow until you reduce the liquor to a third. Into the final decoction add wheat bran and make a poultice, and wrap around the virile rod,¹¹ as hot as the patient can endure. This poultice should be applied for three days at rest. The poultice may be sufficiently thickened by bran.

To counter ulceration and abrasions. Take tapsus barbastus, which in French is called mullein, and the tops of the bramble, namely blackberries, and wild tansy and comfrey and knotgrass. These herbs are best decocted in a barley malt liquor. The patient should drink this in the morning and evening; but first the patient should rub the painful spot with laurel oil.

God bless you and open your eye and mouth entirely [to the]¹² Father and Son and Holy Spirit.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. The Our Father must be said today.¹³

Footnotes

1 See Winston Black (ed.), Medicine and Healing in the Premodern West: A History in Documents (Peterborough, Ontario, Canada: Broadview Press, 2020) p. 201.

2 Though Gundulf, monk-bishop of Rochester (1077-1108), is traditionally seen as the founder of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, this is a fourteenth-century attribution. An early thirteenth-century register from Rochester priory (similar in content to and slightly earlier than Custumale Roffense), located now in the British Library (Vespasian MS A. XXII), attributes the building of the chapel associated with the hospital to Hugh of Trottiscliffe (’Hugo de Trotescliue’), a Rochester monk and later abbot of St Augustine, Canterbury (1126-1151). See Colin Flight, The Bishops and Monks of Rochester 1076-1214 (Maidstone: Kent Archaeological Society, 1997), p. 211; and Richard Sharpe, David X. Carpenter, and Hugh Doherty, ‘Chatham Hospital: Hospital of St Bartholomew; dependency of Rochester cathedral priory’, Charters of William II and Henry I Project, actswilliam2henry1.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/h1-chatham-hosp-2014-1.pdf.

3 Carole Rawcliffe, Leprosy in Medieval England (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2006), p. 2.

4 A scribe would have completed the medical texts by inserting large red initials (C, C, and D) into the spaces that have been left, but this was clearly forgotten.

5 ‘vismalue’, a corrupt medieval Latinisation of Anglo-Norman wimalve (variant of guimave), i.e. the marsh-mallow plant (Althaea officinalis); cf. Bismalva in Tony Hunt, Plant Names of Medieval England (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1989), p. 52.

6 The scribe has made an untidy correction to give what is probably meant to be ‘moleine’, i.e. Old French for ‘mullein’.

7 ‘rumminis’ appears to be an error. The intended meaning is ‘of the bramble’; see rhamnus in the online Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources [accessed 27 July 2023].

8 The transcription of the Anglo-Norman is not entirely satisfactory, due to the creases in the manuscript at this point.

9 Strangury is blockage or irritation at the base of the bladder resulting in very painful urination and a strong desire to urinate.

10 Dysuria is painful or difficult urination.

11 A euphemism for the penis.

12 Due in part to the transcription difficulties related to the creases in the manuscript, the translation of the Anglo-Norman to this point is somewhat unsatisfactory and at some stage may need amending.

13 The ‘Our Father’ (Latin, ‘Pater noster’), i.e. the Lord’s Prayer, or Paternoster.

Calendars for bloodletting 13th century A calendar for bloodletting. Transcription and translation of Custumale Roffense, folios 4r-5r by Jacob Scott.   Transcription (pending review) 4v   Similiter ultima dies exeunte decembre. Qui tres dies cum magne diligencia obseruanda sunt quia omnes ue-ne time plene sunt. Icarto qui in istis tribus diebus inadies. Aut terte infra quatuordeam [?]ietur. Et si auta’mandicauit hiis tribus diebus masculus aut[?] femina an’quadraginta dies morietur. Et si mascl’s ut[?] femina[?] nas-atur: mala sine dubio morte morietur. Item [?] aliitres dies ami noctibus suis in quibus femina numquamconcipitur. Et masculus siquis in hiis tribus diebus et no[?]tribus conceptus fuerit. Et natus corpus illius nunquamcorrumpetur usque indiem uidicii Uidilicet ultimus doesDecembris. Et duo primus January. Rari anut qui hoc scui’tet uerum est. Item sunt duo dies in unaqua que linanonecuiusque mensis in quibus quodamique in ceptum feurit: tarde aut [?] per [?] effectum. Id est in Januaricum luna est tertia aut quarta. In februario quinta etoctaua. In maio octaua et [?]. In iunio quinta et uicosima quarta. In ilio tertia et tertia decima. In augustdo octaua. Et tertia decima. In septembri quoque octaua [?]tercia de ami. In october: quinta et duo [?]ima. In nouem-bui quinta et nona. In decembri tercia et [?] decima.Hoc uerum est obseruet qui uult. Item sunt quinqui-ginta tres dies. Decem et ecto ante kalendas augustitriginta quinque post kalends inquibus perhibetus omnibus ho-minibus sanguinem minuere. Et pocionem accipere Me-dia etiam qui uel tenuem medendi. Habent sciennam.Hiis diebus solent et in se et in aliis hoc ipsum omninoeuttare. Nam eo intepore dicitur stella ista splade-re que non canis ut quidam putant. Set cana [?]nine. Id est ab illius temporis albadine uocatur. Cuis   5r   natura. Igneam et quasi ebullientem uim ha-bet. Set que ea tempestate calor solis et illius stellesimul adea duplicatus. Quod humana corpora me-dia in nocte sicut inper meridie sudant. Et tumentet in fanc[?]. Et sepe crepant Quoad si qualibet ocCa[?]e super hoc ledantur. Fuint ualde infirmo[?]a. morti quo propinqua. Hiis etiam diebus omniasenera serpentium que in mundo sunt et reput’[?]o uolant. Nos dies antiqui canitulares uotabant. Id est albos siue canos.   In nomine patris et dilli et spiritus sancti amen.                                                 Uers-le soleil leuant. Inut deii altanc sun liure [?]samein sancti [?] tent anglos iniuindrent scwant madame saciente marialen cuntra. Duos dist [?] dunt inens ueltristes. Dune [?] [?]tre size. Bele mere ducemere peruuance mere. Al dei in est le[?] al-qu[?] ine [?[ent. Nonate ueinos. Duas distele [?] fic. Maldte [?] le felim. Od tei I od[?]mei. Et od le seint espirit. Od le soleil et odlalune. Et od tute creaun .e. Maldit seit le felum.od noef mustiers. Et od noef altiers. Et od no-ef prestres curunes, Dubbe[?]. et a parreillescum ala messe chanteir. Aliur de noelapres ico ke deu fu ne maldit suit le delun.od tute la granele de mer. Et of tutesles gutes de sol. Maudit seit le felum. Od uisles seingnurs ki adurent uis et mis lasur lui ne seit chief ne da le sue ratine   5v   Ia dampne deu ne place kele felun ne uiue. Plater nosterIn honore patris et filii et spiritus sancti. Et Sancte Marie. Quantfud deu ne encrisme fu baine en trisme et in oile ke-sest mal ne uus doile. doile ne crotule . ne rande net aule.Pater noster Per singruim crucis. Tim debes tangereterram de manu tua.   Translation (pending review) Saint Bede said that there are three days in the month of February, that is, that day of February, the sixth of the Kalends of March, the 10th day of the Kalends of March, the 12th. In which you follow Marel's born fire taro eirs in corruption will remain until the day of the dicii. Again. Alistrel days are. In which there is no need for a person to be allowed to pass through blood on any occasion. or to take a potion. That is the last Monday in April. And on the first Monday in August. Similarly, the last day at the end of December. Those three days must be observed with great diligence, because they are all full of time. Icarto who in these three days in a day. Or a third will go below the quartet. And if a man or a woman begs during these three days, shall he die forty days? And if a man's nose be like a woman's, he will surely die an evil death. Again, the other three days I love with their nights in which a woman is never conceived. And if a male was conceived in these three days and no[?] three. And the body born of him will never be corrupted until the day of Uidilicet, the last day of December. And two on the first of January. It is rare to know that this is true. Also there are two days in each of the linanones of each month in which each one fires into the hilt: tar de or _ by _ effect. That is in January when the moon is the third or fourth. On the fifth and eighth of February. On the eighth of May and _. On the fifth of June and the fourth of June. In the thirteenth and thirteenth In August I give the eighth And the thirteenth. In September also the eighth _ third of the love. In October: the fifth and two bottoms. On the fifth and ninth of November On the third and tenth of December It is true that he will obey. Also there are fifty-three days. Ten and eight months before the Kalends of August, thirty-five after the Kalends, it was given to all men to reduce the blood. And to receive a potion, even those who have a thin remedy. They have knowledge. In these days they are accustomed both to themselves and to others. For it is said that the star shines at that temperature, which is not a dog, as some think. Set cana _ nine That is from that time it is called albadine. To whom nature. It has a fiery and as if boiling water. Let it be that in that storm the heat of the sun and of that star at the same time was doubled. That human bodies sweat in the middle of the night as well as in the middle of the day. And they swell and in _. And they crack the hedge. They were very weak. how close to death Even in these days all the old serpents that are in the world are flying. We wish the old days of the kennels. That is, white or grey. In the name of the Father and of the Lord and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Uersle soleil leuant. Inut the gods, at the height of their sun liure _ samein sancti _ tent the English ini ini indrent scwant madame saciente maria len cuntra Two dist _ dunt contained or sad. Dune _ size. Bele mere duke mere peruuance mere Al dei in is _ _ ine _. Don't forget the wines. Two dist ele _ fic. Maldte _ le felim. Od tei I od _. And od le seint espirit. Od le soleil et odla lune. And od tute creaun .e. He eats the cat. od noef mustiers And od noef altiers. And od no- ef presters curunes. and from the parreilles with winged harvest chanteir Another de noela pres ico ke deu fu ne cursed suit le delun. od tute la granele de mer And of the protection of the drops of the sun. He curses the cat. Od uis les seingnurs ki adurent uis et mis la sur lui ne seit chief ne da le sue ratine. Already damnne deu ne please kele felun ne iue. Our plate in honor of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And Saint Mary. Quant fud deu ne encrisme fu baine en trisme et in oile kesest mal ne uus doile. Doile do not crotule. don't run out of the hall. Our Father through every cross. Tim you must touch the ground with your hand. Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, c.1235, folio 27r by Jacob Scott with notes by Dr Christopher Monk. A list of the payments of Romescot, an annual contribution to the Roman see due from various southern English cathedrals. Of the fifteen cathedrals listed, Rochester has the second lowest annual payment of just 112 shillings (£5 and 12 shillings). The highest is £21 and 10 shillings for Norwich. In comparison, the Archbishop of Canterbury, listed first, owed a modest £7 and 17 shillings. Important historically. Romescot, better known as Peter’s Pence, was a ‘voluntary’ tax or levy against each household to the See of Rome. Practically, one presumes the householders paid their debt to their local church who in turn forwarded it to the cathedral churches, hence the cathedral’s are obliged to raise and pay the amounts listed in the Rochester custumal. Romescot originated in eight-century Anglo-Saxon England (Old English scot means ‘payment’). In 1031 King Cnut wrote a letter to the clergy outlining the levy as one penny on each hearth or household with an annual rental of 30 pence or more. In the 13th century, probably due to widespread avoidance of the payment, the revenue arising from the tax was stabilised at an annual sum of £20 1s. 9d for the whole of England. However, Pope Clement V (1305-1314) pressed to have the levy returned to the ancient basis of one penny per household – obviously more rewarding. The figures given in the Rochester custumal list suggest that these payments reflect the penny-per-household model.

Transcription

27r (select folio number to open facsimile)

_Romiscoth de Anglia;
Archiepiscopatus Canterberiensis: Vll· libras et XVII· solidos.
Eboracensis: XI· lib. et ·X· solidos.
Wintoniensis episcopatus: XVII· Libras.
Lincolniensis: XLII· Libras.
Northwicensis: XXI· libras et X· solidos.
Exoniensis: IX· libras et ·V· solidos.
Herfordensis: VI· libras.
Cestrensis: IX· lib. & ·V· solidos.
Roffensis: C· et ·XII· solidos.
Londoniensis: ·XVI· libras et ·X· solidos.
Salesberiensis: XVII libras.
Eliensis: C· solidos.
Cicestrensis: VIII· Libras.
Batoniensis: XI· libras et V· solidos.
Wigornensis: XI libras et V· solidos.
Dunolmensis pertinet ad Eboracensem Archiepiscopum.

Translation

Romescot of England:

Archbishop of Canterbury 7 pounds and 17 shillings.
York 11 pounds and 10 shillings.
Bishopric of Winchester 17 pounds.
Lincoln 40 pounds.
Norwich £11 and 10 shillings.
Exeter £11 and 5 shillings.
Hereford 6 pounds.
Chester: 9 pounds and 5 shillings.
Rochester 112 shillings.
London: 16 pounds and 10 shillings.
Salisbury: 17 pounds.
Ely: 100 shillings.
Chichester: 8 pounds.
Bath: 11 pounds and 5 shillings.
Worcester: 11 pounds and 5 shillings.
Durham pertains to the Archbishop of York.

Transcript of the Latin of Custumale Roffense, folios 27v-28r, with a translation, by Christopher Monk.

The text outlines the customary payments of wine – the best wine available – made to St Andrew’s Priory by the ‘keepers’ and tenants of its various manors.¹ This ensured a regular supply to the monastery. Wine was needed in the celebration of Mass, but it was probably also consumed as a beverage on certain occasions.

The wine custom was set up in 1228 when Richard de Derente (Darenth) was the prior; this was just a few years before the Custumale Roffense was written. The text states that it was established that the wine should be given on the anniversary of the ‘blessed memory’, or death, of Gundulf, bishop of Rochester (1077-1108), which was commemorated on the 10th March. However, the arrangement that follows seems to imply that a system of monthly payments was set up, each manor providing a quantity of wine according to custom and the size of the manor. Some tenants would supply wine for one month, some for two, and it may have been different again for others.

Transcription

27v (select folio number to open facsimile)

Anno gracie millesimo ccxxviij, statutum est
in capitulo de uoluntate R. prioris ibidem tunc
Presidentis, et de consensu tocius conuentus hoc ipsum an-
nuentis, ut omni anno in anniuersario felicis memorie
Gundulfi episcopi, detur uinum sub hac forma. Custodes
Maneriorum et firmarij, de quolibet mense reddent di-
midium sextarium uini optimi quod fuerit in ciui-
tate, hoc ordine. Videlicet qui duos menses facit;
det integrum sextarium, qui autem unum men-
sem; det dimidium sextarium uini Conuentui; et

28r

sic de ceteris
iuxta consuetudinem et quantitatem firmarium.
Preterea sacrista dabit integrum sextarium, et Camera-
rius similiter. Celararius uero dabit sextarium
ad seruitores.

Translation

In the year of grace 1228 it was established in chapter,² according to the will of R[ichard de Derente],³ the prior presiding there at that time, and with the consensus of the whole monastery with nodding assent, that each year on the anniversary of the blessed memory of Bishop Gundulf, wine would be given following this pattern:

Keepers of the manors and tenants will render, for each month, half a sester⁴ of the best wine that there is in the city, according to this arrangement, that is to say, whoever does two months should give a whole sester but whoever [does] one month, should give half a sester of wine to the monastery; and of the rest, according to the custom and number of the tenants.⁵ In addition, the sacristan will give a whole sester, and the chamberlain likewise.⁶ The cellarer will certainly give a sester to the servants [of God].⁷

Dr Christopher Monk Monk’s Modern Medieval Cuisine

Footnotes

1 Latin custos, ‘keeper’, probably meaning the local official responsible for the day-to-day running of a manor, which would indicate either a reeve – annually elected from amongst the tenants – or a bailiff, whose salary would have been paid by the monks; see Mark Bailey, The English Manor c.1200–c.1500 (Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 2002), pp. 241 and 245.

2 i.e. the chapter house of the priory.

3 Richard de Derente, prior of Rochester 1225-1239; see Henry Wharton, Anglia sacra, etc., part 1 (London: Richard Chiswel, 1691) p. 393, available online at Anglia sacra : Henry Wharton : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive [accessed 18 July 2023].

4 A sester of wine was generally 4 gallons; see sester in A Dictionary of Weights and Measures for the British Isles: The Middle Ages, A Dictionary of Weights and Measures for the British Isles: The Middle Ages ... - Ronald Edward Zupko - Google Books.

5 This appears to suggest that there was some leeway in the amount of wine each manor had to provide.

6 The sacristan was a senior monk in charge of the sacristy and so responsible for the care of sacred vessels and vestments. The chamberlain was the senior monk responsible for the provision and repair of the monks clothing, shoes and bedding. The offices of the sacristan and chamberlain both received their own rents directly from the manors and so the sacristan and chamberlain were to provide wine from those funds.

7 The cellarer was a senior monk responsible for the food supplies of the priory. He would receive the wine as it was brought to the priory court. This final sentence suggests that the cellarer would provide wine for the monks to be used in the refectory. In this context, servitors ‘servants’ signifies the monks, not the lay servants of the priory, who are dealt with separately in Custumale Roffense and are only allowed ale to drink. Rents for the sacrist c.1235 December 5, 2021 The sacristy was the office of the sacrist, responsible for vestments, vessels, and other items connected with worship. Haddenham is written in a later, fourteenth-century hand. 28v

Redditus de Hadenham pertinens ad sacrist.
De Johe le Bel,
De Marild de fraymio
De Ad hykeb
De henr’ fetice
De Walto trewechapman
De __ hardying
Iffi tenent de Bondelonde, et debent
terre rcdimi poftx mortem tenentium:
Et debent juvare ad colligendum fenum
et alia opera. facere fi placuerit sacriste, et
festam curie.

Termini solutionis predicti redditus et subse-
quentis sunt tres: videlicet, Ad vincula sancti
Petri: Ad festum sancti Michaelis: Et
dominica in ramis palmarum. Et in quolibet
termino folvetur tantum quantum hic est
notatum.
Memorandum quod particule illius redditus sic speciticate fuerint

29r
Redditus de Hadenham pertinens ad sacrist.

De Johanne filio Walteri
De Laurencio de Fraxino illid.
De Ada le Bel,
De Ricardo fillo Willelmi, II s.
De Johanne fillo Ricardi III s. VIII d.
De Ricardo le Bel de Coudintone,
De Hugone de Fraxino,
De Johanne lon,
De tenemento Ricardi le Efcriveyn.
Onnes suprascripti libere tenentes
et heredes corum releviabunt terras fuas
postmortem parentum fuorum. Item omnes
suprascripti in tres septimanis in tres
septimanas fi fibi placuerit.
Anno regni Regis Edwardi octavodecimo.

Redditus de Sacristia Ad festum Sancti Michaelis.
De altari Sancti Nicholai,                          X solidi
De Berchingechirche,                               XL denaria
De Pininden quam Johannes Parleben tenet,         XLII denaria
De domo tegulata de Dodingherne,           III solidi
De terra Gunnore quam Sanson faber et tenet. XII denaria
De quaunda acra terre retro cem de Eftgate, Robertus filius Thome,                                                                        VI denaria
De fabrici cum pertinenciis juxta Heredes Brutini fabri,                                                                                           VI denaria
De terra Grangie de Yfeld Heredes Thomelini,  IIII denaria
De terra Wecherild Sigari retro domum Radulfi Coitemanni,                                                                                   III denaria
De quandan terra retro terrarn R. Coitemanni Albreda de Huneberga,
                          II denaria
De terra Pagani coci heredes Hugonis sacriste,      XX denaria
De orientali parte de Eppelane. Adam Badevant,       XIIII denaria
De terra Walteri Lorimer Claricia quandiu vivit,  X denaria
De terra Olaf quam Robertus Hug tenet olim Aki,  X denaria
De terra Corbin heredes Roberti Coc,               VIII denaria
De terra Coc in Cheldega Ricardus Kenelmus,  IIII denaria
De eadem terra Coc Henricus Bingere,                   IIII denaria
De quadam terra retro terram W. Lorimer. Heredes Raphael,                                                                           III denaria
De terra Hachesis extra Estgate. Ricardus filius Brient,                                                                                            III denaria ob.
De terra Christiani. Eilnothus Jungman.                  IIII denaria
De terra Uniet Cruddeth. Rogerus mercator Cant.                                                                                        IIII denaria
                                                                      4 pence
De terra Elvine Burree. Heredes Baldewini.      VIII denaria
De terra Hamonis pistoris. Adam de cruce,        IIII denaria
De terra Kete alio nomine Huntaines land. Robertus de Estgate,                                                                       IIII denaria
Frendesberi:  De terra Saponarii. Sacrista Willelmus emit eam,                                                                                  IIII denaria
Borstalle: De terra Godwini presbiteri. Turstinus de Estgate,                                                                                  III denaria
De quadam terra de Prestefeld. Heredes Eustachii de Borstalle eskippam frumenti.
De terra Thome de Stanes in Meidestane. Heredes Guncelini,                                                                                  XII denaria
Pro muro cimeterii. Johannes Lorimer et Robertus faber,                                                                           II denaria
De eadem Willelmus Kebbel,                      I denaris
[Symbol] Summa XXXII solidi et IX denaria et ob.

30r

Lucas de Honcberrve d. de terra de Monekedone
ad altare beate Marie in novo opere. Item de eadem terra
VI denaria de Johanna Bledde ad idem altare.
Preposito domini Regis de feudis dis suprascriptis ad fes-
tum Sancti Michaelis, III sol. III d. ob.
Pro terra Radulfi clerici in Hedenham N. Roffen celerario,
Summa                              XVI solidi et VII denaria ob.

Ad festum Sancti Paulini. De ecclesia de Rethrefeld,                                                                                          I mare
Theloneum nundinarum Sancti Paulini,           V solidi

Ad festum Sancti Andree. De dono WImari patris Cecilie
de Scheapeie,                                           XII denaria
De Effe: Ad festum Sancti Thome Apostoli. Ex dono Thome Geri.
Hugo de bofco,
Summa XX sol. et IIII denaris.

Ad nativitatem Domini
De altari Sancti Nicholai,
De Berechingechireche,                            XL d.
De terra de Penindene,
De domo tegulata de Dodingherne,
Borstalle: De terra Gunnore,
Regis: De terra Pagani coci
De terra Saponarii,

30v          De Frendelberi: De terra Thome presbeteri de Wlewiche. Robertus de Gillingeham,
De terra Pagani textoris. Heredes Roberti textoris,
De eadem. Heredes Hamonis Pinel,
Frendesberi. De terra retro domum R. Coiteman,
Borstalle. De terra Goldwini presbeteri. Turtinus de Eastgate.
De Eppelane,
De terra Lorimer,
De terra Olaf,
De terra Corbin,
De terra Cot,
De eadem,
De terra retro terram Lorimer,
De terra Hachefisy IX d. ob.
De terra Christiani,
De terra Uniet Crudhop,
De terra Hamonis piftoris,
De terra Kete, hoc eft Huntainesland,
Frendesberi: De terra Wecherilde Sigari,
Pro muro cimiterii. Johannes Lorimer et Rogerus,
De eadem. Willelmus Kebbel,

In media Quadragesima. De terra grangie de Yfeld,
De fabrica juxta Eftgate cum pertinenciis,
Summa XXXI solidi et IX denaria et ob.

31r           Ad Pascha.
De altari Sancti Nicholai,
De Berchingecheriche,
De ecclesia de Rethrefeld,
De terra de Pinindene,
De domo tegulata de Dodingherne,
De terra Crudhop,
De terra Elamonis pistoris,
De terra Kcte, alio nominee Huntanesland,
De quadam terra de Preitefeld eskippam frumenti.
Pro muro cimiterii, Johannes Lorimer et Rogerus faber,
De eadem. Willelmus KebJil d.
Summa XL IIII sol. V d. ob.

31v          Isti debent colligere pratum de Sacriftia juxta Holfletc.
De terra Walteri Lorimer, unum hominem.
De terra Pagani textoris, duos homines.
De terra Kete. Robertus Vinitarius, unum hominem.
De terra Chriftiani, ünum hominem.
De terra Hakefis, II homines.
De terra Elvine Buree, I hominem.
De terra Corbin unum hominem.
De terra piftoris hominem.
De terra Sanere unum hominem.
De fabrica Radulfi, I hominem.
De terra Remmoli, unum hominem.
Et habebunt dimidium sextarium ad potum.

Ad Festum Sancti Johannis Baptiste.
De altari Sancti Nicholai,
De Berchingecherche, XL d.
De Cheleffeld: De Pinindene
De Cimiterui. De domo tegulata de Dodingherne,
De Borstalle: De terra Gunnore, XII d.
De Frendesberi. De terra Pagani coci, xx d.
De quodam prato juxta Holflete. Celerarius,
Reganii: De Croulane. Heredes Johannis filii Roce,
De Eppelane,
De terra Lorimer,
De terra Olaf,

32r           Regis: De terra Corbin,

De terra coc,
De eadem,
De terra retro terram Lorimer,
De terra Hachesis,
De terra Christiani,
De terra Crudhop Yungman,
De terra Hamonis pistoris,
De terra Kete hoc est Huntainesland,
De Borstalle: De terra Chriftiani retro crucem extra Estgate. Robertus filius Thome,
De Frendesberi. De terra Saponarii,

Ad festum Sancte Margarete. De ecclesia ejusdem virginis, dimid. marce

Summa XL S. et VII d. ob.

[Expenses]

Preposito Regis ad nativitatem Sancti Johannis Batiste
Pro terra Gunnore de eccl’,
Pro terra Christiani,
Pro fabrica cum pertinenciis juxta Eftgate,
Summa

Redditus solvendus Constabulario per Sacristam.
Quicumque fit Sacrista, dabit preposito regis singulis annis,

Ad festum Sancti Michaelis, II l. III d . 015.
Ad nativitatem Sancti Johannis Baptiste,
Si queritur a preposito, vel ab alio aliquo, de quibus terris, vel de quibus mafagiis reddantur hii redditus, respondebitur eis.
De terra Olaf, quam tenebat Aki.
De terra Walteri Lorimer, quam tenebat Diva.
De terra Kete, quam tenet Robertus de Eastgate.
De terra Corbin, quam tenet Sterling.
De terra Cot, quam tenet Ricardus Renelmuso
De terra Saponarii, quam tenet Walterus Piscator.
De furno Radulfi Uniet, quam tenet Alditha relifla Eudonis portarii.
De guadam terra in Croulane, quam tenebat Johannes filius Rocii.
De terra Alde, que recens jacet in bladi pro terra Eilas similiter.

Ecclesie pertinentes ad Sacristiam.

Altera Sancti Nicholai.
Ecclefia de Frendefberi.
Ecclefia de Berechingchireche.
Ecclefia de Retrefeld.
Ecclefia de Hedenham cum pertinencis.
Decime pertinentes ad Sacristiam.
Decima de Hedenham.
Decima de Cutintune.
Decima de Geddinges.
Decima de Eya Regis.
Decima de Aldeham.
Decima de Northflete, de domin:.cot erciatn garbam.
Decima de Yffeld.
Decima de Wenivalle.
Decima de Duna. De illa babebit ecclefia de Northflete
ad festum Sancti Michaelis pet manum poffldenciumd de
unaquaque acra vetere unam garbami

33r           De terra Gileberti de Yffeld filii Willelmi percipiemus terciam

garbam decimarum fuarum fcilicet ordei et
avene, ecclesia de Northfliete duas garbas, de
frumento vero habebimus duas garbas et
ecclefia de Northfliete duas. Sed de filigine et
de pifiis et fabis et viciis totam decimam per-
cipimus.
De terris corum. qui vocantur Brewes et de
terris Roberti nigri, et de terris Henrici de Grene,
et de terris Cofin, totam decimam percipimus quic-
quid in illis feminatum fuerit.
De dominico archiepifcopi quicquid in illo feminatum fu-
erit, et ubicumque percipimus terciam garbam
decimarum, excepta tena que di' citur We-
rcland, que quondam fuit carrucariorum, unde
nichil percipimus.
De terris domine Odeline de Wenivalte percipimus
totam decimam de filigine, de piiis, de fabis,
de viciis, ubicumque finto Ecclefia de Northflete perci-
pit omnes alias decimas ex integro, excepto
campo, qui dicitur campus Aluredi, unde nos
percipimus totUlU et ecclelfia de
orthflete nichil.
Idem de campo quo manet quidem
Hugo et foror fua. Idem de vorlande apdcrinem.

Redditus de Hedenham pertinens ad Sacristiam.
Sancti Petri ad vincula.
Matheus miles,
Waltet'us filius Radulfi,
Johannes de Burtune,
Ricardus filius Walteri,
Ricardus filius Everardi,
Johannes filius Presbiteri,
Robertus filius Adam,
Osbernus de Bailel,
Robertus filius decani,
Randulfus filius Seman,
Robertus Huseman,
Alewi,

Translation

Rent of Haddenham pertaining to the Sacrist
Of John son of Walter
Of Laurence of Fraxin illid.
Of Ada of Bel
Of Richard son of William, 2 shillings.
Of John son of Richard,
Of Richard of Bel of Couditone,
Of Hugo of Fraxin,
Of John lon,
Of the tenents of Richard of Efcriveyn.
All of the above names tenants
and heirs
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Kind Edward.
[Annotation:] 1296.

29v   Michaelmas

This records the rents due directly to the Sacrist. Expenses are also listed, specifically payments due to the king’s reeve and to the cleric Radulf at Haddenham. A pointing finger has been drawn in the right margin to mark out the expenses to the king’s reeve. Halfway down folio 30r, are payments due at the feasts of Saint Paul, Saint Andrew and Saint Thomas the Apostle. There are no headings for these latter three feast days. Important historically for Rochester priory.

Rent of the Sacrist at the festival of St Michael
The altar of Saint Nicholas                                     10 shillings
The Berchingechirche                                       40 pence
The Pinenden that Johannes Paleben holds   42 pence
The house tegulata of Dodingherne                       3 shillings
The land Gunnore and Sanson the smith hold 12 pence 
he workshop when pertaining to that near the heirs of Brutini’s workshop 
                                                     6 pence
The farmland of Yfeld the heir of Thomelini                 4 pence
The land of Wecherild Sigari behind the house of Radulfi Coitemanni                                                          3 pence
The quandan land behind the ground of R. Coitemanni Albreda of Huneberga,                                             2 pence
The land of Pagani the cook the heir of Hugo the sacrist                                                                                         20 pence
The eastern part of Eppelane. Adam Badevant,     14 pence
The land of Walter Lorimer where Claricia lives.     10 pence
The land of Olad that Robertus Hug holds once Aki                                                                                               10 pence
The land of Corbin the heir of Robert Coc.                7 pence
The land of Coc in Cheldegegate Richard Kenel       4 pence
The same land of Coc Henricus Bingere,               4 pence
The certain land behind the land of Walter Lorimer the heir of Raphael                                                         3 pence
The land of Hachesis outside of Eastgate. Richard son of Brient                                                                                  3 pence
The land of Christian. Eilnothus Jungman             4 pence
The land of Uniet Cruddeth. Roger merchant of Canterbury
The land of Elvine Burree. Heir of Baldewini.           7 pence
The land of Hamo the miller. Adam the cross.   4 pence
The land of Kete also known as Huntaines Land. Robert of Eastgate                                                                   4 pence
Frindsbury. The land of Sapon. Sacrist William purchases her,
Borstal. The land of Godwin the priest. Turstinus of Eastgate,                                                                            3 pence.
The certain land known as Priestfield. The heirs of Eustach of Borstal eskippam of grain.                                                   
The land of Tom of Staines in Maidstone. Heirs of Guncel,                                                                             12 pence.
For the wall of the cemetery. John Lorimer and Robertus the smith.           
                                                              The same from William Kebbel                            1 penny
Total 32 shillings and 9 pence and one half.
Lucas of Honeberne the land of Monkedone.
at the altar of the blessed Mary in the new choir. And the same land
6 pence of John Bledde at the same altar.
[Expenses – marked by a hand symbol]
The provost lord King of feudis push the above mentioned at the
festival of St Michael. 3 shillings, 3 pennies and one half.
The land of Radulf cleric in Haddengam north Rochester cellarer.
Total                                  16 shillings and 7 pence and a half.

Feast of St Paul
At the feast of Saint Paul The church of Rotherford,                                                                                         1 horse
Theloneum nundinarum Saint Paul,                         5 shillings
Feast of St Andrew
At the festival of Saint Andrew. The gift of William’s father Cecil
of Sheppey,                                                       12 pence
Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle
Of Effe: At the feast of Saint Tomas the Apostle. To be the previous doner Tom Geri.
Hugo of the wood.
Total 20 shillings and 4 pence.

30r

Christmas

At the nativity of the Lord
The altar of Saint Nicholas
The Berechingechireche,                                      40 shillings
The land of Penindene.
The tiling house of Dodingherne,
Borstal. The land of Gunnore,
The King: The land of Pagani the cook.
The land of Saponar,
Of Frindsbury: The land of Thomas the priest of Woolwich. Robert of Gillingham.
The land of Pagan the weaver. Heirs of Roberi textoris,
The same, The heirs of Hamo Pinel.
Frindsbury. The land behind the house of R. Coiteman,
Borstal. The land of Goldwin the priest. Turtinus of Eastgate.
The Eppelane,
The land of Lorimer,
The land of Olaf,
The land of Corbin,
The land of Cot,
The same,
The land begind the land of Lorimer,
The land of Hachefisy,
The land of Christiani,
The land of Uniet Crudhop,
The land of Hamo the baker.
The land of Kete, this is Huntainesland,
Frindsbury. The land of Wecherilde Sigari,
For the wall of the cemetery. John Lorimer and Roger,
The same. William Kebbel,

30v   Middle of Lent

In the middle of Lent. The farmland of Yfeld,
The workshop near Eastgate with pertinenciis,
Total 31 shillings and 9 pence and one half.

31r   Easter

At Easter
The Altar of St Nicholas
The Berching Church
The Church of Rethrefeld.
The land of Pinindene,
The tiling house of Doddingherne,
The land of Crudhop,
The land of Elamon the baker,
The land of Kete, also named Huntainesland,
The certain land of Priestfield on which is grown grain.
For the wall of the cemetery, John Lorimer and Roger the craftsmen
The same, William Kebull
That owe the meadow of the Sacristy near Holfletc..
The land of Walter Lorimer, one man,
The land of Pagani the weaver, two men,
The land of Kete, Robert Vinitar, one man.
The land of Christiani, one man.
The land of Hakesis, two men,
The land of Elvine Buree, one man,
The land of Corbin, one man,
The land of baker men,
The land of Sanere one man,
The workshop of Radulfi, one man.
The land of Remmoli, one man,
And hold half measure of drink.

Feast of Saint John the Baptist
At the festival of Saint John the Baptist.
The altar of Saint Nicholas,
The Berchingecherche
Of Cheleffeld, of Pinindene,
of Cimiterui. and the tiling house of Dodingherne,
Of Borstal, the land of Gunnore, 12 pence.
Of Frindsbury, the land of Pagani the cook, 20 pence.
Of the certain meadow next to Holflete. Celerarius,
Of Crow Lane, the heirs of John’s son Roce.
Of Eppelane,
The land of Lorimer,
The land of Olaf
The King: The land of Corbin
The land of the cook
The same,
The land behind the land of Lorimer,
The land of Hachesis.
The land of Christian,
The land of Crudhop Yungman,
The land of Hamo the baker,
The land of Kete also known as Huntainesland.
Of Borstal: The land of Christian behind
Of Frindsbury, the land of Saponarii,

32r   Feast of St Margaret

No heading but marked by a red symbol in the left margin. Following this is a list of: To the king’s reeve at the feast of Saint John the Baptist; and to several clerics.

At the feast of Saint Margaret. The church of the Virgin, dimid. marce
Total 40 shillings and 7 pence and one half.

At the command of the Lord at the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
For the land of Gunnore the church,
For the land of Christian,
For the building
Total

32v   Payments to the constable

Heading at the very top of the page in a later hand (not red ink). There follows, halfway down 32v, a record of the tithing payments due the Sacristy. The list continues to 33r. No heading either, but a red letter ‘D’ (‘Decime’) marks the beginning of the list of tithing payments.

The rent paid by the Constable to the Sacristy
Whomsoever becomes the Sacrist, pays that of the King each year,

At the Feast of Saint Michael,
At the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
The land of Olaf, the tenant of Aki.
The land of Walter Lorimer, the tenant of Diva.
The land of Kete, the tenant of Robert of Eastgate.
The land of Corbin, the tenant of Sterling.
The land of Cot, the tenant of Richard Renelmuso,
The land of Saponarii, the tenant of Walterus Piscator.
The bakery of Radulf Uniet, the tenant of Alditha relifla Eudonis portarii.
The certain land in Crow Lane, the tenant of John son of Roc.
The land of Alde, and recently lying in the grain and similarly for the land of Elias.

Church payments
Church payments to the Sacrist
Altar of Saint Nicholas,
Church of Frindsbury
Church of Berechingchireche.
Church of Retrefeld,
Church of Haddenham when pertained to.
Tithing payments
Tithing payments to the Sacrist
Tithing of Haddenham.
Tithing of Cutintune.
Tithing of Geddinges.
Tithing of King Eya.
Tithing of Aldeham.
Tithing of Northfleet, the home of cot erciatn garbam.
Tithing of Yffeld.
Tithing of Wenivalle.
Tithing of Dene,

33v   Haddenham at the feast of St Peter in chains
The Feast of St Peter in Chains (or, ‘St Peter’s Chains’) is celebrated on August 1st.

Rent of Haddenham pertaining to the Sacristy
Saint Peter in Chains
Matthew miles,
Walter son of Radulf,
John of Burtune,
Richard son of Walter
Richard son of Everard
John son of Presbiteri,
Robert son of Adam,
Osbern of Bailel,
Robert son of decani,
Randulf son of Seman,
Robert Huseman,
Alewi,

Moneys due at the Mandatum of the Poor c.1235 December 5, 2021

Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, c.1235, folio 36v by Dr Christopher Monk.

Moneys due at the time of the Mandatum of the poor, held on the Lord’s evening meal.

Transcription

36v (select folio number to open facsimile)

Ad mandatum pauperum. In cena Domini De terra Helie filii Hamonis Kenstani in Borstalle ex
dono Wallteri episcopi.

Letardus filius Ricardi Hikebilli,	xxv	denaria
Johannes clericus filius Goldwini,	xxv	denaria
Eilnoth et Willelmus filii Walteri,	xxv	denaria
Willelmus de la Dene,	vj	denaria
He[re]des Turberni,	ij	denaria
Celerarius,	v	solidi
Camerarius,	v	solidi

Summa xvi solidi et xi denaria

Translation

At the Mandatum of the Poor, on the Lord’s Evening Meal

From the land of Elias son of Hamo Kenstan in Borstall from the gift of bishop Walter.¹

Letard son of Richard Hikebill, 25 pennies

John the cleric, son of Goldwin, 25 pennies

Eilnoth and William, sons of Walter, 25 pennies

William de la Dene, 6 pennies

The heirs of Turber, 2 pennies

The cellarer, 5 shillings

The chamberlain, 5 shillings

Total: 16 shillings and 11 pennies

Footnotes

1 Walter, bishop of Rochester 1148–1182. Rents for the cellarer c.1235 December 5, 2021 Transcription 34r
Feast of Michaelmas
Expenses appear on 35r, to be paid to the king’s reeve; no heading but marked by a red symbol in the left margin.

34r [Transcription TBC]

35r
Feast of St Andrew
There follows towards the bottom of 35r a short list of rents due at the feast of St Andrew; also no heading, but marked by a red symbol in the left margin. The Feast of St Andrew is celebrated on November 30th.
[Transcription TBC]

Christmas
No heading but marked by a red symbol in the left margin.
  [Transcription TBC]

In media Quadragesima.
De terra Ricardi Palmarii in Strodes. Heredes Odonis mercatoris,
De eadem. hugo filius Eilwini Blundi,
De eadem. Walterus filius Pagani de terra Arclivc,
De eadem. Simon filius Gerardi,
De eadem. Editha et Randulfus Schakcrose,
De eadem. Geldewinus futor, Schakcrose,
De eadem. Beatrix filia Elvine filie Jeronimi,
De eadem. Adam clericus filius Alicie filie Gree,
De eadem. Dimidiam.
Robertus filius Willelmi de Ifelham, dimid. marco
De Anguillis de Frachenham, XXVII
Heredes Hikebilli pro terra Elie clerici in Boraalle, }lts.
De quadam terra in Snodilande,
Summa XXXIX solidi et ob.
 
Pro terra Palmarii in Rofa curie de Derente,
Pro terra Palmarii in Strodes curie de Frendesberi,
Pro terra Bolle curie de Frendesberi,
Pro terra Leceline in Rofa,
Pro terra Helie clerici in Borstalle curie de Borftalle,
Summa VII 111 d. 015.

…
Tithing payments
No heading, but marked by a symbol in the left margin.

Decime pertinentes ad Cellarium. In Estechents
Decima de Hamwoldex
Decima de Bilfintune. In Chent
Decima de Gillingeham.
Decima de Delce Hekonis.
Decima de Delce minori.

39v
Decima Eustachii de BornalW
Decima de Neffendene.
TBC

Ecciesie pertinentes ad Cellarium.
Ecclesia de Boxle.
Ecclesia de Nortune.
Ecclesia Sancte Margarete cum Capella de Neffendene.

Translation

[Translation TBA]

36r

Middle of Lent

The the middle of Lent,v The land of Richard Palmer in Strood. The heirs of Odon the merchant,
The same, Hugo son of Eilwin Blund,
The same, Walter son of Pagan of the land of Arclivc,
The same, Simon son of Gerard,
The same, Edith and Randulf
The same, Geldewinus futor, Schakcrose
The same, Beatrix son of Elvine son of Jeronim,v The same, Adam the priest the son of Alicie son of Gree,v The same, Dimidiam.
Robert son of William of Iselham, dimid. marco
The Anguillis of Frachenham,
The heirs of Hikebill for the land of Elie the prist in Borstalle, , }lts.
The certain land in Snodland,
Total

Expenses
No heading, though there is a space at the top of the page.

For the land of Palmar in Rochester curie of Darenth.
For the land of Palmer in Strood curie of Frindsbury,
For the land of Bolle curie of Frindsbury,
For the land of Laceline in Rochester,
For the land of Helie the priest in Borstal curie of Borstal.

Total

Tithing pertaining to the Cellarer. In East Kent
Tithing of Hamwoldex
Tithing of Bilfintune. In Kent
Tithing of Gillingham.
Tithing of Delce Hekonis.
Tithing of Little Delce
Tithing of
Tithing of Neffendene.

39v   Church payments

Names three churches which owe annual payments. No heading, but marked by a symbol in the left margin.
Church payments to the Cellarer
Church of Boxley
Church of Nortune.
Church of Saint Margaret with the Chapel of Neffendene,

Rents for the community c.1235 December 5, 2021 This commences the revenue for the monastic community as a whole, i.e. not allocated to particular offices. A pointing finger is drawn in the right margin, pointing to the entry for Frindsbury.   42r   Feast of Michaelmas Michaelmas, the Feast of St Michael the Archangel, celebrated on 29th September.  During the Middle Ages, it marked the end of the harvest. ‘One of the quarter days in England on which accounts were customarily settled.’ Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases.   Redditus de Communi. Ad festum Sancti Michaelis.
chethem:
De terra Helye clerici extra Willelmi de la Helle.
Borstalle:
De terra ejüfdetni n Eastgate. Adam Poteman,
De eadem. Heredes Gaufridi militis,
Frendesberi:
De terra Helye in Rofa. Robertus Melesop,
De terra Henrici Mabun' HeredesGaï1fFidi—militis,
De cellaria magistri Roberti. Heredes Petri de Ponte,

De una domo in Gumfrithelane,
De Haga retro, terram Henrici Mabun;
De terra Helye clerici: Heredes Luce de Hores,
De terra super calceam apildI North in Strodes. Henricus de Chobeham,
De eadem. Heredes Johannis filii Roce,
De eadem. Heredes Alani Pachin,
De eadem. Simon filius Elvine Marsdallus,
De eadem. heredes Danielis, 1
De eadem. Heredes Simonisl Juvenis Athelicia,
De eadem. Adam filius WIfat et Editha filia fratris fui,
De terra Ricardi Palmarii versus Estgate, XVIII
De terra Gunnore et de cimitefio. Godefridus cocus,
De eadem. Sanson faber,
De eadem. Reginaldus Duith, È.
De eadem. XVIIId .
De terra Simonis in Engate.
Heredes Roberti Ferchild,
De eadem. Adam Poteman,
De eadem filia Turoldi,v Hallinges. De terra Willelmi filii Ade in Hallinges. Rogerus de Langereche,
de Cheldegate,
De terra Breme in Eastgate,
De terra magistri Everardi. Cecilia,
De terra Ricardi de Bererfe in Strodes, xv d. ob.
De nova domo super calceam. Adam pelliparius,

42v

Com…[‘muni’ on next page]

Ad festum Sancti Paulini.
Heredes Johannis de Gren, g. VIII d.
Summa XXXV solidi et ob.

Borstalle. De nova domo supra terram Palmari versus Eastgate,

[Expenses]

Pro terra -Helie extra crucem de Eastgate, curie de Chetham,
Pro terra Ricardi de Et Gaufrido
Bererfe, corduanario,
Summa XIII d. ã.

Ad nativitatem Domini.
De terra 'Helie clerici extra crucem de Engate. Heredes Willelmi de Ia Helle.
De terra ejusdem in Eastgate. Adam Poteman,
De eadem. Heredes Gaufridi militis,
De terra Ricardi Palmarii• versus Estgate; XVIII
De terra Gunnore et cimeterio. Godefridus cocus,
De eadem. Sanfon faber, XXXdI . ob.
De eadem. Reinaldus Duith, 11 S.
De eadem.
De terra Helie in Rofa. Robertus Melesop,
De terra Henrici Mabun. Heredes Gaufridi militis,
De cellario magistri Roberti.
Heredes Petri de ponte,
De una domo in Gumfrithelane, 11
De terra Henrici clerici. Heredes Luce de Hores,
De terra fuper calceam in Strodes verfus North, Hen- rrt d, ob.
Ticus de Chobeham,
De eadem. Heredes Johannis filius Roce,
De eadem. Heredes Alani Pachin,
De eadem. Simon filius Elvine marscallus,
De eadem. Heredes Danielis,
De cadem. Heredes Simonis Juvenis Athelicia,
De eadem. Adam filius WIfiath et Editha filia fratris
fui,
De terra Simonis in Eftgate.
Heredes Roberti Feirchild,
De eadem. Adam Poteman,
De eadem, filia Turaldi,
De terra Breme in Effgate,
De terra magistri Everardi. I Cecilia, Sancti Andree. De terra Eustachii de Wldeham extra portam de Cheildegate, Hallinges. De terra Willelmi filii
Ade. Rogerus de Langereche,
De terra Ricardi de Bererfe in Strodes,
De nova domo fuper calceam.
Adam pelliparius, 111d .
Summa XXIXg . et x d. ob.

Borstalle. De nova domo super terram Palmari verfus Eastgate,

[Expenses]
Pro terra Helie extra crucem de Eastgate curie de Chetham,
Pro terra Ricardi de Et Gaufrido
Bererfe, corduanario. ob.
Summa XIII d.

Ad conversionem Sancti Pauli.
Frendesberi, Adam pelliparius ad quatuor terminos,

Ad Pascha.
Chetham. De terra Helie extra crucem de Eftgate. Heredes Willelmi de Ia Helle,
De terra ejusdem in Estgate. Adam Poteman,
De eadem. Heredes Gaufridi militis,
De terra Ricardi Palmarii versus Estgate,
De terra Gunnoré et cimeterio. Godefridus cocus,
De eadem. Sanfon faber, XXXId .o b.
De eadem. Reinaldus Duith, 11 S.
De eadem, XVIII
De terra Ilelie in Rofa. Robertus Melcfop,
De teria Ilenrici Mabun. fleredes Gaufridi militis,
De cellario magistri Roberti.
Heredes Petri dc Ponte,
De una domo in Gumfrithelane,
De terra Ilelie clerici. Heredes l.uce de Ilores,
De terra fuper calceam in Strodes versus North. Henricus de Chobeham,
De eadem. Heredes Johannis filii Roce,
De eadem. Heredes Alani Pachin,
De eadem. Simon filius Elvine Marfcallus,
De eadem. Hercdes Danielis,
De eadem. Heredes Simonis Juvenis Athelicia,
De eadem. Adam filius WIfiat et Editha filia fratris fui,
De nova domo fuper calceam.
Adam pelliparius,
De terra Ricardi de Berere in Strodes,
De terra Simonis in Eftgate.
Heredes Roberti Feirchild,
De eadem. Adam Poteman,
De eadem. Filia Turaldi,
De terra Breme in Eftgate,
De terra magistri Everardi. Cecilia,
De terra Eustachii de WIdeham extra portam de Cheldegate, Hallinges.
De terra Willelmi filii 'e Ade in Hallinges. Regerus de Langereche,
De nova domo fuper terram
Palmarii versus Estgate,
At Pentecost
Ad Pentecosten.
At Pentecost
Heredes Johannis de Green,
The heirs of John of Green,
Summa XL g. et VI
Total

[Expenses]
Pro terra Helie extra crucem de Eslgate curie de Chetham,
The land of Helie upon the crossing of Eastgate the curie of Chatham,
Pro terra Ricardi de Et Gaufrido
For the land of Richard and
Bererse, corduanario,
Summa XIII d.

Ad nativitatem Sancti Johannis Baptiste.
De terra Helie extra crucem de Eastgate. Heredes Willelmi de Ia Helle,
De Adam Poteman, eadem, Heredes Gaufridi militis,
De terra Ricardi Palmarii versus Eastgate,
De terra Gunnore et cimeterio. Godefridus cocus,
De eadem. Sanfon faber,
De eadem. Reginaldus Duith,
De eadem,
De terra Helie in Rofa. Robertus Melesop,
De terra Henrici Mabun. Heredes Gaufridi militis,
De cellario magistri Roberti. Hcredes Petri de ponte,
De una domo in Gumfrithelane,
De terra Helie clerici. Heredes Luce de Hores,
De terra fuper calceam in Strodes verfus North. Henricus de Chobeham,
De eadem. Heredes Johannis filii Roce,
De eadem. Heredes Alani Pachin,
De eadem. Simon filius Elvine. Marscallus,
De eadem. Heredes Danielis,
De eadem. Heredes Simonis Juvenis. Athelicia,
De eadem. Adam filius WIfiat et Editha filia fratris fui,
De tۖa Ricardne Bereffe,
De nova domo fuper calceam. Adam pelliparius,
De calcea. Idem Adam de terra Simonis,
De terra Simonis in Eftgate.
Heredes Roberti Feirchild,
De eadem. Adam Poteman,
De eadem. Filia Turaldi,
De terra Breme in Eftgate,
De terra magistri Everardi. Cecilia, Sancti Andree. De terra Euftachii de Wldeham extra portam de Cheildegate,
Hallinges. De terra Willelmi filii Ade in Hallinges. Rogerus de Langereche,
De nova domo super terram
Palmarii versus Estgate,

Ad festum Sancte Margarete.
Heredes Johannis de Green, VI s. vllld.
Summa XL S. et VIII d. ob.
Summa omnium VIIt, et 18, ob.

Item Redditus de novo.
De Cipham,
De Derente, xx ã.
De Helia mercatore
Et quicquid provenit de nova domo contra cimeterium.
Pro terra Helie extra crucem de Estgate. Curie de Chetham,
Pro terra Helia in Estgate celerario,
Pro terra Simonis in Curie de Delce,
Pro terra Ricardi Palmarii versus Estgate in media quadragesima
celerario,

Item pro terra Palmarii ad nativitatem
Sancte Marie celerario,
Pro terra Henrici Mabun, ad nativitatem Sancte Marie, ad Frendesberi,
Item pro terra Mabun in media quadragefima curie de Frendesberi,
Pro terra Ricardi de Et Gaufrido
Bererfe, corduanario,
Summa IX S. et ã.

Willelmus de Nortftede et ejus heredes debent VI a. de terra Thuredi.
Heredes Stephani de Nortaede de eadem terra debent
Heredes WillelmÜÑvers debent de eadem terra,
lodacus clericus et ejus heredes debent IX de terra Edwardi Hardecath.

Translation

Rent of the Community at the feast of Saint Michael

Chatham:
The land of Helye the priest extra William of
the Helle.
Borstal
The land ejüfdetn in Eastgate. Adam Poteman,
The same, the heirs of Gaufridi militis,
Frindsbury;

The land of Helye in Rochester. Robertus Melesop,
The land of Henry
The cellarer of Robert the Magistrate. The heirs of Peter of Ponte,
The one house in Gumfrithelane,
The Haga behind the land of Henry Mabun,
The land of Helye the priest, the heirs of Luke of Hores,
The land above calceam apildI North in Strood, Henry of Cobbham,
The same, the heirs of John son of Roc,
The same, the heirs of Alan Pachin,
The same, Simon son of Elvine Marsdallus,
The same, the heirs of Daniel,
The same, the heirs of Simon Juvenis Athelicia,
The same, Adam son of Wlfat and Edith son of the monk’s son,
The land of Richard Palmar opposite Eastgate,
The land of Gunnore and the cemetery, Godefri cocus,
The same, Sanson the craftsman,
The same, Reginald Duith,
The same,
The land of Simon in Engate,
The heirs of Robert Ferchild,
The same, Adam Poteman,
The same son of Turoldi,
Sancti Andree. De terra Eustachii de Wldeham extra portam xv d.
Halling. The land of William son of Ade in Halling, Roger of Langereche, Saint Andrew. The land of Eustach of Wouldham passed the well.
The land of Breme in Eastgate,
The land of
The land of Richard of Bererfe in Strood,
The new house over calceam. Adam pelliparius,

Feast of St Paul
No heading for either, but marked by symbols in the left margin. The Feast of the Conversion of St Paul is celebrated on 25th January. This is followed by a short list of expenses (at this feast time). Note: a red ink header runs across

Community

At the feast of Saint Paul
The heirs of John of Gren,
Total 35 shillings and one half.
Borstal. The new house on the land of Palmari opposite Eastgate.
For the land of Helie extra crucem of Eastgate, curie of Chatham,

For the land of Richard
Total 13 denaria.

Christmas

At the Nativity of the Lord
The land of Helie the priest at the crossing of Estgate. The heirs of William of the Helle.
The land also in Eastgate. Adam Poteman,
The same, the heirs of Geufrid the knight,
The land of Richard Palmar opposite Eastgate;
The land of Hunnore and the cemetery, Godefrid the cook,
The same, Sanson the craftsman,
The same, Reinaldus Duith
The same,
The land of Helie in Rochester, Robert Melesop,
The land of Henry Mabun. The heirs of Geufrid the knight,
The cellarer of the master Robert,
The heirs of Peter of Ponte,
The one house in Gumfrithelane,
The land of Henry the cleric. The heirs of Luke de Hores.
The land upon calceam in Strood opposite North, Hen- rrt d, ob.
Ticus of Cobbham,
The same, the heirs of John son of Roc,
The same, the heirs of Alan Pachin,
The same, Simon the son of Elvine marcallus,
The same, the heirs of Daniel,
The same, the heirs of Simon Juven Athelicia,
The same, Adam son of Wlfaith and Editha son of the monk fui,
The land of Simon in Eastgate,
The heirs of Robert Feirchild,
The same, Adam Poteman,
The same, son of Turaldi,
The land of Breme in Eastgate,
The land of magistri Everardi. I Cecilia, Saint Andrews. The land of Eucstachii de Wouldham upon the gate of Cheldegate, Halling. The Land of William son of Ade. Roger of Langereche,
The land of Richard of Bererfe in Strood,
The new house above calceam.
Adam pelliparius,

Total

Borstal. The new house above the land of Palmer opposite Eastgate.
The land of Helie next to the crossing of Eastgate curie of Chatham,
The land of Richard of the Gaufrido,
Bererfe, corduanario.

Total

Conversion of St Paul
No heading, but a large red ‘a’ marks it out.

At the Conversion of Saint Paul,
Frindsbury, Adam pelliparius at the lesser end,

43r   Easter

At Easter;
Total

43v

Nativity of St John the Baptist

At the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist,
The land of Helie outside the crossing of Eastgate. The heirs of William of the Helle,
Of Adam Poteman, the same, the heirs of Gaufrid the knight,
The land of Richard Palmar opposite Eastgate,
The land of Gunnore and the cemetery Godefricus the cook,
The same, Samson the craftman,
The same, Reginald Duith,
The same,
The same, Helie in Rochester, Robert Melesop.
The land of Henry Mabun. The heirs of Geufrid the knight,
The cellarer of the master Robert. The heirs of Peter of Ponte,
The one hoyse in Gumfrithelane,
The land of Helie the priest. The heirs of Luke of Hores,
The land above calceam in the Strood opposite North. Henry of Cobham.
The same. The heirs of John the son of Roc,
The same, the heirs of Alan Pachin,
The same, Simon son of Elvine. Marshall,
The same, the heirs of Daniel,
The same, the heirs of Simon Juvenis. Athelicia,
The same, Adam son of WIfiat and Editha the daughter of the monk,
The new house above calceam. Adam pelliparius,
The calcea, The same Adam of the land of Simon,
The land of Simon in Estgate,
The heirs of Rober Fairchild,
The same, Adam Poteman,
The same, the son of Turaldi,
The land of Breme in Eastgate,
The land of the master Everald. Cecil, Saint Andrews. The land of Eastach of Wouldham outside the gate of Cheldegate.
Halling The land of William son of Ade in Halling. Roger of Longereche,
Palmer outside Eastgate,

44r

Feast of Saint Margaret

No heading but marked by a symbol in the left margin.
At the festival of Saint Margaret
Heirs of John of Green, 6 solidi.
Total 15 shillings and 8 pence and one half.
Total of all:

New rents
And the same new rents,
Of Cipham.
Of Darenth,
Of Helia the merchant,
And everything produced by the new house facing the cemetery,

[Expenses]
For the land of Helie outside of Eastgate. The curie of Chatham.
For the land of Helia in the Eastgate cellar,
For the land of Simon the curie of Delce,
For the land of Richard Palmer opposite Eastgate in the middle of Lent celerario,
The same for the land of Palmar and the nativity
of Saint Mary,
For the land of Henry Mabun, at the Nativity of Saint Mary, and Frindsbury,
The same for the land of Mabun in the middle of Lent curie of Frindsbury.
For the land of Richard of the Gaufrid.
Bererfe, corduanario
Total
New rents continued

Rents for the prior c.1235 The prior would have had his own table to maintain for entertaining visitors. Transcription 45r

Feast of Michaelmas

Redditus prioris.
Ad festum Sancti Michaelis.
De Elham,
De Boywica,
De terra Thome presbiteri de Wlvecche,
De Chelesfeld, XXVII
 
Christmas
 
Ad natale Domini.
De Elham, V solidi 11 d.
De Boywica,
De terra Thome presbiteri de Wlvecche,
Ad Purificacionem Sancte Marie.
De Boywica, 11v
Ad Pascha.
De Elham,
De Boywica
De terra Thome Presbiteri de Wlvccche,

Ad nativitatem Sancti Johannis Baptiste.
De Elham,
De Boywica,
De terra Thome presbiteri de Wlvecche,
De terra Helie clerici. futnmam
Heredes luce de Hores, avene.
Summa LXVI s. et 1 d.

45r

Tithing

De decimis ejus.
Decima de Dominico de Chelesfeld.
Decima de Pole Ricard de Bererfc.
Decima de Bechenecurt in Chobeham.

Ad natale Domini,
De Elham, XVI gallinas

Ad festum Sancti Michaelis.
Pro Decima de dominico nortro de Helham,

Rent of the Prior
At the feast of Saint Michael
Of Elham
Of Boywica
The land of Thomas the priest of Wlvecche.
Of Chelesfeld,

At the nativity of the Lord
Of Elham, 5 shillings.
Of Boywica
The land of Thomas the priest of Wlvecche.

Purification of St Mary [Candlemas]

At the purification of Saint Mary.
Of Boywica

Easter
At Easter
Of Elham,
Of Boywica
The land of Thomas the priest of Wlvecche.
Nativity of St John the Baptist
At the nativity of Saint John the Baptist.
Of Elham,
Of Boywica
The land of Thomas the priest of Wlvecche.
The land of Helie the priest. futnmam
Total 46 solidi and I denaria.

The tithing ejus.
Tithing of the domain of Chelesfeld.
Tithing of the
Tithing of the

Christmas continued
At the nativity of the Lord
Of Elham, 16 gallons.

Feast of Michaelmas
No heading, but marked out by a symbol in the left margin.
At the festival of Saint Michael
For the tithing of the domain north of Helham.

Rents for the almoner c.1235 December 5, 2021 The almoner was responsible for distributing alms to the poor. Transcription 45r

Michaelmas

Redditus Elemosinarie. Ad festum Sancti Michaelis.
Helias mercator,
Radulfus Balchere,
Amphelisa,
Heredes Johannis Roce,
Rogerus de Longereche,
Rogerus Parevine,
Diering'
Simon de Wicham, 111 ob.
Economus hospitalis de Strodes, 1 d. ã.
Wlvardus Cornmangere,
Hamo Avinot, VII d. ã.
Item Hamo Avinor,
Johannes cementarius de Cobeham,
Gervasius de Ia Rede,
De terra que fuit Warini, VI d. Ob.
De Frendesberi,
Summa XI S. ã.

Willelmo et Radulfo de Wicham, 111

Ad natale Domini.
Helias mercator,
Radulfus Balchere,
Amphelisa,
Heredes Johannis filii Roce,
Rogerus de Langereche,
Rogerus Parvinc,
Diering,
Simon de Wicham,
Echonomus hofpitalis de Strodes,
Wlvardus Cornmangere,
Hamo Avinot,
Item Hamo Avinot,
Johannes cementarius de Chobeham,
De terra que fuit Warini, v1 d. ob.
De Frendesberi,
Summa x S. d.

Ad Pascha.
Helias mercator,
Radulfus Balchere,
Amphelisa,
Heredes Johannis Roce,
Rogerus de Langereche,
Rogerus Parevinc,
Diering,
Simon de Wicham,
Echonomus de Strodes,
Wlvardus Cornmangere,
Hamo Avinot,
Item Hamo Avinot,
Johannes cementarius de Cobeham,
De terra que fuit Warini,
Gervafius de la Rede,
David mercator unum agnum vel,
De Frendesberi,
De Ecclesia de Nortune,
Summa x x IX d. q.

Ad nativitatem Sancti Johannis Baptiste.
Helias mercator,
Radulfus Balchere,
Amphelisa,
Heredes Johannis Roce,
Rogerus de Langereche,
Rogerus Paverinc,
Diering,
Simon de Wicham, 111 ob.
Echonomus hospitalis de Strodes, 1 d.
Wlvardus Cornmangere,
Hamo Avinot, VII d. q.
Item Hamo Avinot, 111 q.
Johannes cementarius de Chobeham,
De terra Warini que fuit, v1 d. 06.
De Frendesberi,

Ad vincula Sancti
Summa xi111S. Id.

De ecclesia de Frendesberi
Episcopi XI kal. Julii,
Pro terra de Dodingherne Preposito Regis,

Ad festum Sancti Michaelis.
De tribüs domibus juxta hospitale. VIId . ob.
De una,
De alia domo, VII d.
De tercia domo.

Ad festum omnium Sanctorum
de ecclefia de Nortune,

Ad natale Domini.
De una domo, VII d. 06.
De alia, VII d.
De tercia.

Ad Pascha.
De una domo, VII d. Gb.
De alia,
De tercia.

Ad festum Sancti Johannis.
De una, d. 06.
De alia, VII d.
De tercia.
In vigilia natalis Domini. De 1 baconem. Frendesberi,
Summa xrlll x d.

Summa omnium LXXg . x d. excepta marca de ecclefia de Frendesberi.

Translation

Rent of the almoner at the Feast of Saint Michael,
Helias the merchant,
Radulfus Balchere
Amphelisa,
The heirs of John Roc,
Roger of Longereche,
Roger Parevine,
Diering'
Simon of Wicham
Economus the hospitaller of Strood,
Wlvard Cornmangere,
Hamo Avinot
Item Hamo Avinor,
John the mason of Cobham,
Gervase of the Rede,
The land of que fuit Warini,
Of Fridnsbury,
Total

William and Radulf of Wicham,

Christmas
At the Nativity of the Lord,
Helias the merchant,
Radulfus Balchere
Amphelisa,
The heirs of John son of Roc,
Roger of Langereche,
Roger Parvinc,
Diering
Simon of Wicham,
Echonomus the hospital of Strood,
Wlvardus Cornmangere,
Hamo Avinot
And again Hamo Avinot,
John the mason of Cobbham,
The land que suit Warin,
Of Frindsbury,

Total

Easter
At Easter
Helias the merchant,
Radulf Balchere,
Amphelisa,
Heirs of John Roc,
Roger of Langereche,
Roger Parevinc,
Diering,
Simon of Wicham,
Echonomus of Strood,
Wlvardus the grain seller,
Mamo Avinot,
The same Hamo Avinot,
John the mason of Cobbham,
The land of fuit Warini,
Gervase of the Rede,
David the merchant one agnum vel,

Of Frindsbury,
The Church at Norton,
Total,
Nativity of St John the Baptist

At the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist,
Helias the merchant,
Radulf Balchere,
Amphelisa,
Heirs of John Roc,
Roger of Langereche,
Rogerus Paverinc
Diering
Simon of Wicham
Echonomus the hospital in Strood,
Wivard the grain seller
Hamo Avinot
And again, Hamo Avinot
John the mason of Cobham
The land of Warin que fuit,
Of Frindsbury,

Feast of St Peter in Chains
No heading but marked by symbols in the left margin.
At the Feast of Saint Peter in Chains

Total

Frindsbury Church at the anniversary of Bishop John
No heading but marked by symbols in the left margin.

The Church of Frindsbury,
The Bishop 9th kal. July,

The land of Dodingherne in the command of the King.

Expense

Dodingherne may be the village Doddington.

47r
Michaelmas

At the Feast of Saint Michael
The three houses next to the hospital,
The first,
The second house,
The third house,
Feast of All Saints
At the Feast of All Saints
The Church of Norton.

Christmas
At the Nativity of the Lord
The one house,
The second,
The third,

Easter
At Easter,
The first house,
The second,
The third,

Feast of St John the Baptist
At the Feast of Saint John
The first,
The second,
The third,
Expenses
No heading, but marked by a symbol in the left margin. An entry concerning the payment of one bacon by the Church of Frindsbury at the vigil of Christmas (i.e. Christmas Eve mass).
On the vigil of the Nativity of the Lord. One bacon from Frindsbury. Total
Total of all

Provisions for the sick of Saint Bartholomew's Hospital c.1235

July 9, 2016
Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, c.1235, folio 47r-47v by Dr Christopher Monk.

The text lists the daily provision of leftovers, loaves and ale from the monastery’s refectory, enough for as many as there are sick in the hospital, as well as special provisions on holy days, such as a ham (instead of the usual cheese) at Christmas.

On the Feast of St Bartholomew, which of course was in celebration of the hospital’s own saint, the hospital received ‘every living thing which is offered [to the priory by the laity] except geese’. In fact, on this holy day, the almoner (one of the monks in the monastery) received on behalf of the hospital the entire offering from ‘vespers till vespers’, from evening to the next evening.

The text also delineates the amounts of grain to be given to the hospital, including 20 seams [160 bushels, or 1,280 gallons] of grain from the total owed the monastery by the church at Stoke on the feast day of St Michael.

It also states the wages for the hospital’s priest (2 shillings for each of the following: the feast day of St Michael, Christmas, Easter, the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist and the feast day of St Bartholomew), and ‘the wages of the servants who devote themselves to the sick’, namely 8 shillings annually.

Other special provisions enumerated include the food gifts ‘in respect of the land which lies opposite the monk’s hospital in Strood’, land which had been inherited by the priory ‘from the heirs of Gaufrid son of Wimarche and others’.

The foodstuff which the almoner received were: ‘one simnel loaf [made from the finest white flour], a fair amount of ale or a gallon of wine, and three of the best dishes which are presented to the brothers in the refectory; and on the days of Easter and Pentecost, if possible, a flaco [a flan].’

Transcription

47r (select folio number to open facsimile)

¶¹ Hec debentur infirmis fratribus de sancto Bartholo-
meo. Cotidie quot sunt infirmi, tot remanen-
tes de refectorio, et todidem bolle ceruisie,
cum releuio Refectorii, et semper sancta die xiij
panes de pondere panis quadrantis, medie-
tas frumenti², et medietas ordei. Seruientibus
eorum ij remanentes. Secunda die xi ostripa-
nes³. In uigilia Natalis Domini, unam pernam,
pro caseo ij solidos. In die sancti Bartholomei

47v

habebunt omne uiuum quod offer( )tur, preter a[n]cas⁴, et ad fes-
tum eorum duos solidos. Diuidunt in communi xx⁵ summas
de toto blado que debentur de ecclesia de Sto[c]hes⁶ ad
festum Sancti Michaelis.
C⁷ Stipendia sacerdotis. Ad festum Sancti Michaelis ij solidos. Ad
Natale ij solidos. Ad Pascha ij solidos. Ad Natiuitatem sancti
Johannis ij solidos. Ad festum sancti Bartholomei ij solidos.
C Clericus eius habet mandatum bis in ebdomada, et sab-
bato v ostripanes, et in cena domini⁸ mandatum.
C Stipendia seruientum⁹ qui infirmis deseruiunt viij solidos per annum.
C Elemosinarius habebit in festo sancti Bartholomei totam oblatio-
nem a vespera usque ad uesperas in die. Ad festum sancti Mi-
chaelis habet quatuor summas frumenti ad seminan-
dum de ecclesia de Stoches.
¶ Sartrinarii¹⁰ iii ostripanes cum companagio.
¶ Custos locutorii cotidie j remanentem, et j Galun¹¹ cerui-
sie, et matinellum,¹² et bis in ebdomada mandatum,
et ea die carebit remanente et ceruisia¹³
¶ Collector releuii ij remanentes¹⁴ et bollam ceruisie de re-
fectorio, et in sex principalibus festis mandatum, et de per-
na infirmorum unum ferculum in uigilia Natalis
domini. Et ad ipsum¹⁵ pertinet fodere et colere ortum
de Strodes.¹⁶
C Si frater aliquis infirmorum obierit, elemosinarius¹⁷ habet
primam missam. Et de oblatione faciet quod ei placue-
rit.
C Nollector releuij, et suportarius, et qui lauat uasa ele-
mosine, debent partiri releuium de seruitoribus.
CDecime, et ecclesie pertinentes ad elemosinariam.
Ecclesia de Kingesdune. Decima de Henherst,¹⁸ et de

48r

la Rede de Frendesberi.¹⁹ Willelmi de la Dene²⁰ de
Borstalle. ---------------------------------------------
¶ Elemosinarius debet pro terra que²¹ iacet ex oppo-
sito hospitalis monachorum in Strodes,²² heredibus
Gaufridi filij Wimarche,²³ et aliis, in sex princi-
palibus festiuitatibus, Simenellum unum, iustam
ceruisie uel Galonem uini, et tria fertula de-
primis que apponuntur²⁴ in refectorio fratribus,
et in die Pasce et Pentecostes, flachonem²⁵ si est.
De firma tocius anni habet elemosinarius
de blado seruientum xxviij summas, et tres
eskippas, et toluet. --------------------------
Quando furnatur cumba, habet Lv ostrepanes.
Quando iij minas xlij. ----------------------------
Habent etiam infirmi oblationem duorum al-
tarium, scilicet, sancti Jachobi,²⁶ et sancti Egidij,
et ideo debent cooperire alas ecclesie.

Translation

These things are due the infirm brothers of Saint Bartholomew:²⁷ from the leftovers of the refectory, sufficient daily for the number of patients; and the same with the amount of ale as with the leftovers of the refectory; and always on a holy day, 13 loaves of the weight of farthing loaves,²⁸ half wheat, half barley.²⁹ For their servants two leftover dishes. On a secondary/ordinary day, 11 oyster loaves.³⁰ On Christmas Eve,³¹ one ham; instead of cheese 2 shillings.³² On the [feast]day of Saint Bartholomew,³³ they will have everything living which is offered, except geese, ³⁴ and two shillings for their feast day/holiday. They share in common, from the total grain,³⁵ 20 seams,³⁶ which are due at Michaelmas³⁷ from the church at Stoke.

The wage of the priest: at Michaelmas, 2 shillings; at Christmas, 2 shillings; at Easter, 2 shillings; at the Nativity of St John,³⁸ 2 shillings; at the feast day of St Bartholomew, 2 shillings.

Its [i.e. the hospital’s] cleric has the Mandatum³⁹ twice a week, and on the Sabbath⁴⁰ 5 oyster loaves, and the Mandatum on the Lord’s Supper.⁴¹

The wages for servants who are devoted to the infirm are 8 shillings per year.⁴²

On the feast day of St Bartholomew, the almoner⁴³ will keep [for the hospital] the whole offering from the evening before to Vespers/evensong on the day. At Michaelmas he receives [on behalf of the hospital] from the church at Stoke four seams of wheat for sowing.⁴⁴

The tailors, three oyster loaves with relish.⁴⁵

The guard/warden,⁴⁶ daily 1 leftover dish, and 1 gallon of ale, and a light morning meal, and twice a week the Mandatum; and in the daytime he will be without a leftover dish and ale/and [on/at] that day/time will abstain from leftovers and ale.⁴⁷

The alms-collector, two leftover dishes and a bowl of ale from the refectory, and the Mandatum on the six principle feast days, and on Christmas Eve one dish of the patients’ ham. And it belongs to him to cultivate and take care of the garden at Strood.

If an infirm brother should die, the almoner holds the first mass. And from the offering will make that which is pleasing to him.⁴⁸

The alms-collector, and the assistant porter, and he who washes the alms vessels, they ought to distribute the servants’ relief.

Concerning tithing and appurtenances of the church to the almonry:

The church at Kingsdown;⁴⁹ tithing of Henhurst;⁵⁰ and of La Rede⁵¹ of Frindsbury⁵²; of William de la Dene of Borstal.

For the land which lies opposite the monks’ hospital in Strood, ⁵³ [given] by the heirs of Geoffrey son of Wymar, and others, the almoner must [have] on the six principal feast days, one simnel loaf, a fair amount of ale or a gallon of wine, and three of the best dishes which are presented to the brothers in the refectory; and on the days of Easter and Pentecost, if possible, a flan.

Concerning the total annual food-rent the almoner has of grain (wheat) of the servants: 28 seams, and three skeps,⁵⁴ and a tovet.⁵⁵

When baking a coomb⁵⁶ he/it has 55 oyster loaves.⁵⁷

When 3 minas⁵⁸ 42.

The patients also have the offerings of the two altars, namely of St James and St Giles, and therefore they must cover/clothe the aisles of the church.⁵⁹

Footnotes

1 ¶ pilcrow mark

2 fruti

3 Scďa ; ‘ostri’= ?of the oyster; = purple

4 qď ; ( )= erasure ; aucas

5 xx has superscription mark: square ‘a’?

6 Stothes ; ‘Stroches’ in Thorpe ; Stoke

7 capitulum mark ‘little head’

8 dñi ; ‘domina’ in Thorpe

9 s’uientũ ; ‘seruentium’ in Thorpe

10 ‘Tartrinarii’ in Thorpe

11 Anglo-Norman galun = gallon

12 light morning meal ; ‘matinell’ in Thorpe

13 ‘remanentem et cervisiam’ in Thorpe

14 remañ [n with super ‘s’]

15 ip

16 ‘Strodes’ in Thorpe ; Strood

17 elemosinarig

18 Kingsdown: near Deal? Henhurst, near Cobham or near Staplehurst

19 Frindsbury ; Rede (now Rede Court, Strood)

20 dene = ‘dean’, i.e. ‘wooded valley’

21 q with macron = que

22 ? Newark hospital in Strood, run by monks

23 Geoffrey son of Wymar

24 aonunt

25 ‘flathonem’ in Thorpe

26 ‘Jacobi’ in Thorpe ; St Giles

27 The implication is that alms and dues are given to provide for former brothers of the monastery. But were there other non-religious who benefitted from the hospital? If St Bartholomew’s was a house for lepers, that might explain why the brothers were separated from those in the infirmary of the monastic precinct, which was some ¾ mile away. In the inquest set up by Edward III in 1342 (post CR), it was noted that there were in St Bartholomew’s nine brethren and sisters and the prior who himself was a leper. This seems to be the basis for referring to St Bartholomew’s as a leper house or hospital/hospice: see Sethina Watson, ‘The origins of the English hospital’, Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Sixth Series, vol. 16 (2006), pp. 75–94, at p. 76: ‘Within a generation there were leper houses at […] Rochester’.

28 Latin, ‘panis quadrantis’, literally ‘of a quarter [penny] loaf’: a quarter of a penny being one farthing; bread at this time was sold as farthing, half-penny and penny loaves. Both farthing and penny loaves are referred to in the Assize of Bread (dated to 1193–99) copied into CR on f. 27v.

29 Made especially for the infirmary? The monks normally had the ‘finest’ wheat bread. The number, thirteen, perhaps signifies Christ and his disciples.

30 Suggestive of ordinary, everyday bread, suitable for eating cheap and readily available oysters. The number given, eleven, may possibly indicate that the hospital’s capacity was set at 11 patients; compare the nine brothers and sisters in 1342.

31 Literally, ‘on the vigil of the Lord’s birth’.

32 2 shillings to buy cheese; monetary substitute for the original cheese donation: what might this say about cheese as a commodity in the local Rochester community: cheese makers/sellers?

33 August 24th.

34 Latin ‘preter ancas’, ‘except geese’, preter (praeter) being used as a conjunction disjunctively, rather than to mean ‘in addition to, as well as, besides’.

35 Latin bladum, grain, esp. wheat.

36 160 bushels, or 1,280 gallons. Seam: ‘A [measurement of capacity] and w[eight] […]; grain, generally 8 striked or levelled bu[shels] […] of 8 gal[lons] each’, though with some variation: Ronald E. Zupko, A Dictionary of Weights and Measures for the British Isles: the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century (American Philosophical Society, 1985).

37 Literally, ‘the feast day of St Michael’. September 29th. Marking the ending and beginning of husbandman’s year, the end of the harvest, a time for accounts to be made up and settled.

38 John the Baptist. June 24th.

39 The Mandatum is the foot-washing ceremony practiced by Benedictines (and others) as an act of humility. See ‘Spread and Form of the Mandatum’, unamsanctamcatholicam.com. The context suggests that the monks took seriously their duty to show Christlike humility. It would have been the job of one of the monks to carry out this clerical foot-washing; this was in addition to any acts of the ‘Mandatum of the poor’). The procedure was to genuflect before the recipient, adoring the presence of Christ in him, followed by the actual washing and kissing of the feet and then drying them with a towel. After this the monk would bow his head and touch his forehead to the feet. In the case of the ‘Mandatum of the poor’, a chosen group of poor men would be led into the cloister of the monastery to receive the ceremony, in which they also were served beverages and given two pence each, after which the abbot concluded with a prayer. See Constitutions of Lanfranc.

40 Sunday.

41 On the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the day before Good Friday. See: unamsanctamcatholicam.com

42 This strongly suggests that the hospital was not run by monks, at least not initially, but paid servants. Interestingly, the amount of 8 shillings is 3 shillings more than for the infirmary attendant in the priory.

43 At St Andrew’s Priory.

44 In addition to the 20 seems above?

45 Perhaps this refers to the tailors’ workshop at the priory rather than one within the hospital, though the latter is possible. In the priory workshop, there was a master and two associate tailors/tanners. There is no mention of wages, so it might be that the daily bread and relish is their renumeration for work carried out for the hospital.

46 Latin, ‘Custos locutorii’, literally ‘guard of the speaker’?

47 The guard or warden works from the evening to the morning. He receives a meal and ale as food and drink during his night-time work and a light breakfast, but nothing during daylight hours as, presumably, he is not working,

48 The almoner will make a donation to St Bartholomew’s.

49 Meaning ‘King’s hill’. Which Kingsdown is being referred to is unclear: there is a Kingsdown on the Isle of Sheppey and also near Deal. There is also a West Kingsdown in the Sevenoaks district of Kent.

50 Probably near Cobham or near Staplehurst.

51 Quite a few quarrels over the manor of Frindsbury and its appendages including Rede: Wikipedia - Frindsbury: ‘Bishop Gilbert de Glanvil claimed Frindsbury back from the monks “as belonging to the maintenance of his table” in 1185. […] In 1[2]48 the manor was confirmed as being in the possession of the prior of Rochester, reconfirmed in 1295. In 1287 the manor, along with its appendages of Chattenden, Strood and Rede, were taxed at £24-6-8’. For more information, including the story of the monks of Rochester being clubbed at Frindsbury whilst on a procession to pray for rain, see: british-history.ac.uk.

52 Known later as Rede Court, in Strood.

53 The Hospital of the New Work of St Mary of Strood (‘Newark Hospital’; ‘Stroud Hospital’) was founded by Gilbert de Glanville, bishop of Rochester (1185–1214), in 1193: british-history.ac.uk; see also Sethina Watson, ‘The origins of the English hospital’, Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Sixth Series, vol. 16 (2006), pp. 75–94, at p. 91. Worth exploring a connection to the Knights Templar: land was granted to the Knights Templar by Henry II in 1960 [to the church/chapel of 1122?] Bibliography: Richard L. H. Coulson and L. M. Collins, A Chronology of Strood to 1899, Kent County Libraries (1982).

54 Skep: ‘A [measure of capacity] for grain and other dry products, varying in size from 1 or 2 bu[shels] […] to approximately 1 or 2 SEAMS’: Zupko, Dictionary. N.B. 1 bushel = 8 gallons (35.238 litres; 64 pints). Contrast: ‘Skep. Dry measure in the 13c equivalent to a half-bushel. There were eight skeps in a quarter, though the bushel was the unit most frequently used. The skep itself was orig. a basket which came to hold half a bushel.’ A Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases, ed. Christopher Corèdon and Ann Williams.

55 Tovet (spelling in ms: toluet): ‘A [measure of capacity] for grain, generally containing 2 p[ec]k[s] or 4 gal[lons] […] and equal to ½ bu[shel]. It arose as a local measure of Kent.’ Zupko, Dictionary. N.

56 Coomb (Latin spelling in ms: cumba): ‘A [measure of capacity] for grain containing 4 bu[shels] […] and equal to ½ SEAM’: Zupko, Dictionary.

57 If we take a coomb as 4 bushels, or 32 gallons, then each oyster loaf required 0.58 gallon of wheat to be made; this is equivalent to approx. 2. 55 litres. If we take the text about the second rank miller into account, then each measure of wheat produces 1.4 measures of flour; so 0.81 gallons, or 3.57 litres, of flour is used for each oyster loaf; if 1 litre of flour equals 4.23 US cups, or 529g, or 19 oz (1.19 lb), of flour, then each loaf required 1.89kg, or 4.25 lbs (roughly double the size of a supermarket loaf).

58 Mina: ‘A [measure of capacity] for dry products sometimes considered equal to 4½ bu[shels] […], but more commonly defined as a vessel containing 3 to 7 SKEPS’: Zupko, Dictionary. However, this definition doesn’t make sense with the figures in the text, which suggest 1 mina is about ¼ of a coomb, i.e. 1 bushel.

59 ‘aisles’: or ‘wings’, referring to where the saints’ shrines were located. The injunction is that these altars must be kept dressed at all times, to attract devotees and increase the offerings to be used for the hospital. Rents in remembrance of fathers and mothers c.1235 December 5, 2021 Unsure what ‘in remembrance of fathers and mothers’ specifically refers to, but possibly it relates to payments for the upkeep of memorial stones for deceased family members. The amounts are in pennies, so relatively small.   Redditus in commemoracione Patrum et Matrum
Osbernus de Stanham Adam et Gerardus,
Willelmus et Henricus,
Thomas Clericus,
ReliEta Muthbites
Heredes Wiburge,
Heredes Geroidi,
Gaufridus Nerthe,
Alexander Waleis,

48v

Sutflet
Pro terra de Radulfi puthe
de Sutflete et de Nicholao Carpentario
ad nativitatem beate Marie Elemosinarios VI solidi. IX denaria.
De Willelmo filio Perfone ad terminum beati Michaelis,
Item ad ipsum terminum de Waltero de Nortfole et de heredibus Hamonis de Nort-
Item ad festum Thome Apostoli, 06. Ad mediam quadragesimam,
Item ad Pentecosten de prediélo Waltero, VI __ ob.
Pro terra Radulfi Puche Waltero Puche,
Pro terra Radulfi ae Stanham Thomecerico.

Translation

Rent in remembrance of fathers and mothers
William and Henry
Thomas the priest
ReliEta Muthbites
Heirs of Wiburge,
Heirs of Geroidi,
Gaufridus Nerthe,
Alexander Waleis,
Southfleet:
For the land of Radulf puthe
of Southfleet and the Nicholas carpenter
at the Nativity of the Blessed Bary Elemosinarios
And the same at the Feast of Thomas the Apostle, ___ at the middle of Lent
And the same at Pentescost de prediélo Walter ____.
Expenses
No heading but marked out by a symbol in the left margin.

For the land of Radulf Puche and Waltero Puche,
For the land of Radulf ae Stanham Thomecerico.

Rents for altars c.1235

December 5, 2021 48v   St Katherine in the crypt at Michaelmas No heading but marked out by a large red ‘R’.

Transcription

Redditus altaris beate Katerine in criptis ad festum Sancti Michaelis.
De aquisicione R. D. Hecham. [Annotation]
De terra Roberti Clerici in Strodes
Inde ad eundem terminum heredibus predicti R.
Redditus altaris beate Marie Magdalene in vigilia ejusdem Virginis;
De aquisicione Theodorici.
De terra Ricardi Plumbarii in Suthgate Ricardus Cocus,
De terra filie Gile in Estgate Adam Poteman,
De terra Scothlandi de Offrelande in Stokes.
Redditus altaris beate Marie in media quadragesima.
Dono Anselliii de Berlesou [Annotation]
De Patrimonio Ansellim de Bethlescombe ___ XVIII denaria
De eadem ad nativitatem Sancte Marie, XVIII
De terra de Radete in media quadragesima Reinaldus cardinel VI denaria.
De eadem ad nativitatem Sancte Marie, VI denaria.
Dono Roberti del Ynai
De elemosina Roberti del Ynai ad yar. Sancte Marie V denaria ob.
Inde heredibus obolumium.
De terra Hervei
Dono H. Pre- in COponti, behaill ad festum Sancti Michaelis,. Inde heredibus 1 den. f De' quâdam terra. Aquiûcione nitune. in Wldeham que vocatur. Linde-{lede in die Sancti Eadmundi de àquificione H. de Dcnitune,Inde heredibus 11 den. 06.
De dono Radulfi de Stokes,
Ex dono Roberti filii Humfridi.
In annunciacione beate Marie AIbretha de
Huneberga;
Hugo Aurifaber de terra Roberti Gentil,
De eadem ad nativitatem Sancte Marie,
Willelmus Piir ex dono Roberti filii humfridi ad festum
Sancti Michaelis,
De eodem ad Natale domini,
De eodem ad Pascha,
Ex dono Robertus Humfridi [annotation]
De eodem ad nativitatem Sancti Johannis Baptiste.

Translation

Rent of the altar of the blessed Katherine in the crypt at the festival of Saint Michael.
The acquisition of R. D. Hecham.
The land of Robert the Cleric in Strood.
Then at the same time the aforementioned R.

The altar of the blessed Mary Magdelene on the day of the vigil of the same Virgin.
The acquisition of Theodorici.
The land of Richard Plumbar in Southgate Richard Cocus.
The land of Gile the daughter of Adam Poteman in Eastgate
The land Scothlandi of Offrelande in Stoke.

Rent of the altar of the blessed Mary in the middle of Lent.
The donor Ansellim de Berlesou
The patron Ansellim de Bethlescombe ____ 18 pence.
The same at the nativity of Saint Mary, 18
The land of Radete in the middle of Lent Reinald cardinel 6 pence.
The same at the nativity of Saint Mary, 6 pence.
The donor Roberti del Ynai
The land of Hervei
The donation of Radulf of Stoke.
The donation of Robert son of Humfrid.
On the Annunciation of Saint Mary AIbretha de
Huneberga;
Hugo Aurifaber the land of Robert Gentil,
The same at the Nativity of Saint Mary
Willelmus Piir the donated by Robert the so of Humfrid at the festival of
Saint Michael
The same at the Nativity of the Lord.
The same at Easter
Donated by Robert Humfrid
The same at the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.

Duties of the Brewers c.1235

December 1, 2021

Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, folio 54r by Dr Christopher Monk.

Transcription

By Jacob Scott (pending review).

54r (select folio number to open facsimile)

De braciatoribus quid agere debeant.
Magister braciator custodit clavem de bracino quousque
cervisia colatlir,. postea tradit eam Gerentario
vel Subcelerario. Ipse recipit totam sirmam que pertiliet
ad cervisiam faciendam, et curat et palpat Grodum
et brasium, utrum sit idoneum vel non antequam portetur
in granarium, et habet dicam contra celerarium, quotiens
fuerit braciatum in. mense. Capit etiam ebdoma-
dam suam in bracino sicut unus sociorum suorum. Sti-
pendia ejus V solidos. Item de uno tonello de cervisia
conventus habebit seces, celerarius de omnibus aliis. Secun-
darii habebunt secundam loturam de omnibus tonellis.
Debent etiam habere in communi unam bollam plenam de II
galonibus de nova cervisia ad bibendum. Stipendia istoram
duorum unusquisque IIII solidos. Debet magister cum hostiario cel-
larii portare cervisiam conventus de cellario in refecto-
rium et statim recedere.

Translation

Concerning the brewers, what they ought to do:

The master brewer guards the key of the brewery until the ale is filtered; afterwards, he delivers it¹ to the granary keeper or the sub-cellarer.

He himself receives the full food-rent² that pertains to ale-making, and looks at and strokes the groats³ and the malt, for what may be suitable or not, before it may be carried into the granary; and he has talk face-to-face with the cellarer as often as [the ale] may be brewed in the month. Also, he holds his Sabbath in the brewery just the same as one of his associates.

His wages: 5 shillings.

Also, the monastery will have/manage the dregs from one cask of ale, the cellarer from all the others.

The second-ranks [the brewer’s assistants] will manage the subsequent washing of all the casks.

They ought also to have in common one full bowl of 2 gallons of new ale for drinking.

The wages for these second-ranks is 4 shillings each.

The master ought, with the doorkeeper of the cellar, to carry the ale of the monastery from the cellar into the refectory and then return immediately.

Footnotes

1 He delivers it: the grammar allows for ‘it’ to mean either the key or the ale.

2 Food-rent: the payments of grain from the various farmed estates owned by the monastery.

3 Groats: hulled kernels of grain, here likely referring to barley.

Duties of the Cooks c.1235 December 1, 2021 Recording the responsibilities of the priory cooks. Translation of Custumale Roffense, folios by Dr Christopher Monk. Translation Concerning the cooks and the house which belongs to their office. The office of R. Fichet and Ernulf serves at supper.  The office of G. Toterel serves the patients and the little brothers in the infirmary.  The office of S. Calchepalie serves the guests, and watches over the kitchen door, and carries out the slaughter of sheep and pigs at the Feast of St Martin, and distributes the cooks’ fee.   The office of Fichet carves all the dishes, both meat and fish.  He himself [i.e. Fichet, the cook] makes the first or second dish and thereupon serves the monastery. He himself is witness to the buyer in order that all purchasing may be bought well and faithfully and later accounted for before the cellarer in the cellar.  His wage is 7 shillings.  Ernulf’s office is 5 shillings.  Toteterel’s office is 4 shillings.  Calchepalie’s office is 4 shillings. They have in common daily bread of a single monk and 2 and a half gallons of ale, but this from goodwill; and this was made by joint decision on account of the offenses which used to happen when they were eating at home, because there was no one who might respond to strangers arriving.  They will also have in the evening, after the reckoning of the dishes, a pot of ale in common to drink.  They also have, when the cellarer makes his larder, all necks of oxen and cows and all pieces from the knee to the foot, so that the sinews of the aforesaid pieces will remain attached. They have the heads for their skinning, and the cellarer keeps the tongues. They have at the same time, to be sure, all necks and tails of pigs, attached to a single joint from the backbone.  They have also all heads of fish except salmon, from which they have the tail.  For the offal of the prepared oxen, cows and pigs, the cooks will fetch their wives and the cellarer will supply them.  And if the cellarer wishes, when, instead of one pig, two or three sucklings are slaughtered for the court, the swineherd has a tale and neck from the cook, and for prepared offal they [i.e. the cooks] have charity, namely bread and ale, but by the goodwill of the cellarer.  They also get to take all the feathers of all the types of birds which come into the kitchen for eating. Supper: Latin ad cenam, meaning the principal communal meal of the day which was taken in the evening rather than at noon. Feast of St Martin: or St Martin’s Day, 11th November .  In England, the day of the annual butchering of animals for food. Makes his larder: prepares his meat for storage, by slaughtering, butchering and salting. Duties of the Steward c.1235 September 20, 2021 Translation Concerning the steward: what he ought to do. The steward must always be at the ready for all matters with the prior, or with the cellarer, or with any other person, or for those things which by himself alone are discharged outside the court.  He also must make presents for guests if such are being sent to persons who are being lodged in town. As long as he is at the house [i.e. at the monastery], he always has the allowance of a single monk, but when absent, he gets nothing.  He ought to carry a staff in hand and in the guest hall to arrange the seating at table.  His annual stipend is 10 shillings.  And whenever he rides with the prior or cellarer outside the gate for business of the house, he has a servant to discharge his duties, who serves the guests in the guest house and draws ale; and he [the steward] carries presents for guests with the agreement of the cellarer wherever he wishes to send them; and he will have daily from the cellar the bread of a squire/attendant and a bowl of ale and from the kitchen just the same as one in the guest house.  The steward also ought to have the bishop’s household under his charge. Duties of the Gatekeeper c.1235 December 1, 2021

Translation

Concerning the gatekeeper: what he ought to do: The gatekeeper has a deputy porter, arranged through the prior, who must never be absent while the master [i.e. the gatekeeper] takes news to the cellarer.  He only goes to the kitchen, the refectory, the infirmary, the prior’s chamber in order to take a message when guests have arrived, which it is fine to allow the deputy porter to do even when the master is absent.  He must always rest at night at the gate.  The stipend of the master is 10 shillings.  He also has control at the granary of the provender of all the horses, ahead of the carters and steers.  And therefore he has a horse as often as the prior or cellarer summon him to ride with them.  Likewise when the bishop performs the feasts at Rochester – at Easter, Christmas, the Passion of St Andrew and the rest – and when he holds a synod and makes ordinations, if he spends the night he [i.e. the gatekeeper] will take control to feed all the horses of the bishop and his guests.  He will also provide for his horse when riding, when he [i.e. the bishop] summons the knights of the bishopric – namely from the fief¹ of one knight of Heslingham and of Wicham, from the half-fief of Ade the butler, from the half-fief of Hugo de Stoke, from the quarter² of one knight at Brutinesland³ in Frindsbury, from the half-fief of Robert Biset and of the quarter of Robert’s grandson in Wouldham.  And each day he will receive bread of one monk and enough ale and one dish from the best being sent into the refectory, as it pleases the cellarer.  He also obtains an attendant for himself, who always rests with the deputy porter at the gate and carries the evening key to the cellarer’s bed after the signal – that is to say, after the hearth is put out – and in the morning, as is necessary, quickly or slowly, he collects it; and then they will have in common a full bowl of ale.

Footnotes

1 Fief: land granted by a superior lord in return for services, most often military.

2 quarter: a quarter-fief.

3 Brutinesland: unable to identify.

Duties of the Cellarer's Doorkeeper c.1235 December 1, 2021

Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, folios 55v-56r by Dr Christopher Monk.

The cellarer’s range formed the west range of the priory cloister and was were food, wine and other goods were stored in cool, sunken vaults. The duties of the cellarer’s doorkeeper were distinct from the gatekeeper servicing the wider priory, presumably because the stores required round-the-clock security.

Transcription

55v (select folio number to open facsimile)

De Hostiario cellarii. Hostiarius nunquam abesse debet propter extraneos. Hic
debet esserre pottos liberacionum de dolio post impleti-
onem. Stipendium ejus III solidos. Habebit cotidie pa-
nem armigeri et bollam cervisie et de coquina sicut
unus in hostelaria.

Translation

Concerning the cellarer’s doorkeeper:

The doorkeeper ought never to be absent on account of outsiders. He must carry the allowances from the tun¹ after filling it. His salary is 3 shillings. He will have daily the bread of a squire and a bowl of ale, and from the kitchen just the same as one in the guest-house.

Footnotes

1 Tun: a cask. The Latin word used in the passage is dolium which may also mean a large, wide-mouthed jar or a barrel. The text refers to the ‘pots of liberations’ taken from the tun. A liberatio is an allowance of food, drink, clothing or money given to servants. In this case, it is the ale that seems to be referred to.

Duties of the Granger c.1235
Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, folios 55v-56r by Dr Christopher Monk.

The granger was responsible for receiving fodder and distributing it along with bedding to the guest houses, for sowing barley and all the seed in Priestfield with the ploughman, watching the hay in the barn at night, and for dividing up the winnowed wheat with the granary keeper.

Transcription

55v (select folio number to open facsimile)

De Grangerio quid facere debeat. GRangiarius debet recipere totam auenam que
pertinet ad prebendam. Debet eciam distribuere fur-
ragium et prebendam equis hospitum. Ipse debet semi-
nare omne semen in Prestefeld. Et cum perseminaverit
ordeum habebit sportellam de qua seminavit plenam

56r

ordei. Similiter de frumento. Si nescit seminare, debet
interim dum carucarius seminat carucam tenere.
Habebit etiam corredium suum de cellario a prima
die falcationis prati, quousque fenum sit delatum in
curiam. Et a prima die qua incipiunt metere in Preste-
feld usque extrema garba de autumpno sit in horreo
recondita. Domuncula illa que de feno honusta est,
quamdiu noctibus circa senum vigilant, dum foris
est, Grangerii erit. Solebat enim olim ad accubi-
tum celerarii semper esse. Ipse eciam debet talliare
contra Gerentarium totum Bladum postquam ventila-
tum est, antequam introeat in granarium.

Translation

Concerning the granger, what he ought to do:

The granger must receive all the oat straw pertaining to fodder.

He must also distribute bedding and fodder to guests’ horses. He himself must sow all the seed in Priestfield.

And when he sows the barley he will have a small basket full of the barleycorn which he will sow; likewise with the wheat. If he does not know how to sow, he ought to hold the plough while the ploughman sows.

He will also have his allowance from the cellar from the first day of the mowing of the meadow until the hay is brought into court. And on the first day that they begin to reap in Priestfield until the last sheaves of autumn, he retires to the barn.

This, which is laden with hay, is the lodging of the granger for as long as they are watching the hay during the night, while it is outside.

He was indeed formerly used to always being at the table of the cellarer.

He himself must also, face to face with the granary-keeper, divide up all the grain after it is winnowed, before he goes to the granary.

Duties of the Infirmary Attendants

December 1, 2021

Translation

Concerning the infirmary attendant: what he ought to do: In the household of the infirmary: Humphrey Costard, William Blundus and Graffard.  When Graffard was rejected, Ethelstan son of Athelard advanced by means of simony through Bishop Ascelin.¹ At this time, there came a certain legate, Ymarus, bishop of Tusculum, who corrected many injuries inflicted upon the monks by the very same Ascelin.  Among other things, mention was made of how Graffard was expelled, contrary to the wishes of the monks, from his service to the infirm brothers.  Moreover, calling forth the bishop, the legate decreed, in obeying virtue, that he would remove the aforesaid Ethelstan.  And immediately in front of all those present Graffard was restored.  Moreover, the legate said to the bishop that for the sake of his crosier² he ought not to have done this.  After Graffard, the monks took William son of Freode of the brewery, and set William in place of Graffard; and in place of William they set in the brewery Eilred, brother of Jordon the sub-prior.  And it will be noted that at that time they were not, however, permitted to serve permanently.  After William Freode the monks took Robert Spicard from the laundry, at the request of the monk Osbern of Sheppey, in whose place in the laundry they put Hamo Pinel.  After Robert Spicard, Matthew Peccator succeeded.  After Mathew, William of Westerfield; after William, Robert Melcsop. He must always be busy serving in the house of the sick, and he will sleep there.  He will never stay outside at night unless by the permission of his master, and even then he must always be available, so that if something has pleased or displeased anyone of the sick brothers, he can, if there is no mention beforehand, make it known to the master of the infirmary.  He must serve all who live there from the kitchen, and he will have as daily sustenance one of the remaining loaves. Likewise, among the little ones he will serve in an orderly fashion, thus adeptly, that no one need ask for anything, and especially then he will guard the door against members of the laity entering, that no one may enter without the permission of his master. When someone of the sick needs service or help requiring two people to lead or carry, the cellarer shall find one servant and the chamberlain another. Note that one will always be from among the lads of the tanning house.  If someone has his last rites, he will have, from that time, nothing of food or drink unless he himself asks with words or signs upon recovering.  At this day or hour anyone serving the sick will have an allowance from the cellar and two candles from the sacristy for visiting the sick. But when he is close to the end and his body is stretched upon a haircloth, then he [the attendant] will remain next to the patient and carefully observe him until that one surrenders his spirit, and then immediately he will close the eyes of the deceased one and raise his chin.³  He will not wash anything of the deceased because he serves the healthy at mealtime.  He serves the monastery with water for washing their hands. If in winter it freezes, servants from the laundry will supply hot water and carry it to the refectory wash-basin.  When those from the world come to the monks, the attendant of the sick will have their boots and shoes.⁴  His wage is 5 shillings.

Footnotes

1 Ascelin (Anselm): Bishop of Rochester 1142-48.  In addition to the scandal outlined above, he was also sued by the monks of Canterbury for appropriating some of their manors for his own use. An agreement about this was reached in 1145 in the presence of Ymarus and Archbishop Theobald: Ascelin renounced his claims in exchange for 100 marks.  Everett U. Crosby, The King’s Bishops: The Politics of Patronage in England and Normandy, 1066–1216 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013), p. 148.

2 For the sake of his crosier: Latin, pro baculo suo.  The crosier, or staff, is in this context the symbol of the bishop’s office.

3 Raise his chin: i.e. close his mouth.

4 Will have their boots and shoes: probably meaning the infirmary attendant is responsible for cleaning the footwear of all visitors.

Duties of the Church Attendants c.1235 December 1, 2021 Concerning the church attendants: what they ought to do: It belongs to the master to regulate all things in the church, certainly that the curtains and covers, which are to be hung correctly, are arranged, and that the large and small candles are prepared well, and that the copes in the second choir, when feast days occur, are carried in an orderly manner.  He has nevertheless a man for himself who must with the second rank [attendant] strike and regulate the bells at processions, and the master will precede with a staff before the congregation to restrain the laity’s excess, that they may not advance impudently against him.  And this they ought to do in the church and in the cloister and wherever there is work. They will have a single key for opening and locking the doors.  Whoever is their weekly assigned monk will take it and after compline on the Sabbath will hand it over to the one who comes.  After compline they must lock the door of the nave of the church and carry the key to the sacristan’s bed.  During Lent, after vespers, and again in the morning after they have struck [the bells], they are to open up.  If the bell clappers have broken, they must be carried immediately to the workshop; and when they have been mended, immediately taken back, even if they break on the principal feast days.  Also they must always on the Sabbath clean in the choir under the benches whenever the congregation leaves.  They make oil-lamps and wash the lamps when it is necessary, and they light them.  On Sunday, for the exorcism, they place a basin with water and a salt-cellar with salt upon the pavement before the high altar.  After preaching of the main Mass on Sunday, they bring the salt-cellar with salt, which remains from the exorcism, into the refectory, and then they must empty the cloister of laymen.  In winter before the striking [of the bells] for assembly, they will place a light at the 4 corners of the cloister, for when it is the procession from the chapter into the refectory; and after compline they extinguish it.  Whoever is the assigned monk always has the fire for lighting, in the day for the masses, and at night for the matins.  However, at night, after the priest has walked around lighting the altars, he [the monk] must wait for the priest in the vestry until the vestments may be folded and stored by the sub-sacristan.  When it is the procession, at the cross in the nave of the church they should set before the crucifix a lighted taper, and at night a candle at the fonts.  Likewise, they light a lamp after songs at the lavatory/bath for those who are dressing.  They must sweep clean the pavement and put down rushes whenever necessary, and attend to the cloth hangings; and for the dressing of the altar, the hirelings, after matins, draw water for Mass.  On all the principal feasts from the Ascension of the Lord up to feast day of St Paulinus, and on the Translation of St Andrew (if it happens before the Ascension), the church and the chapter shall be strewn with rushes; on the lesser feast days, just the choir and the chapter.  Concerning hay, from the feast day of St Paulinus up to the Ascension of the Lord, they will also help with the hay harvest.  The wages of the master are 7 shillings.  Likewise, the wages of the second-rank are 7 shillings.  They have on the principal and on the lesser feast days an allowance from the cellar, namely the master one loaf and a fair measure of ale.  Also, during dinner, in the great tower they make three strikes of either the great bell or Bretun or Thalebot on the principal feast days, and they will have a fair measure of ale and one loaf and a dish from the kitchen, traditionally the same as for one who serves at dinner.  Also they have this in common with hirelings, who have 2 pennies for a bell-ringing procession.  Each of these hirelings has a halfpenny for the day and for the night.  They will help at the altar.  If the whole of the church has gathered, they have 2 pennies for drink; indeed for the undressing of the altar, 2 pennies.  After the octave of Pentecost, the curtains and skins and cushions are to be shaken out in the sunshine in the cloister, for which they have four pennies for drink.  On the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday they will have lamb.  Every day when the instruction is given in the chapter, they have a bowl full of ale from the cellar.  Likewise on Sunday after vespers they have a tankard full of ale from the cellar.  Whenever the bishop sings the main mass they have from the cellar the same as on the lesser feast days.  From the offering that comes forth on Good Friday, they have bread, eggs, herrings, onions, nuts, garlic, and from the sacristan a silver coin, and the finest piece of fruit.  When from the community a body of the deceased laity is received, according to whom the person is, it may be accepted; and, as it pleases the sacristan, bells in the great tower, many or few, may be struck.  If it is one of the nobility or a soldier, they will have a linen cloth and woollen tapestry which they will lie over the body, and candles which are placed around the body, and from the executors of the deceased any act of esteem by means of a trumpet call.  If he should have the hood, they will have nothing, and the sacristan will make the grave. If carried by horses, the sacristan will have the horses, and the attendants the bier.  From the offering, according to what has been great or small, they have one denarius or a halfpenny for drink, but this is from goodwill not from law.  When they finish making the wax candles or tallow candles and also the singular Easter candle, the sacristan feeds them – and when they make offerings.  On the six principal feast days, namely Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, the Assumption of Saint Mary, the feast days of Saint Andrew and of Saint Paulinus, they have in assistance for the curtaining of the altar and for the procession ringing 8 hired men, who have on Christmas Eve a half pint of ale, and likewise on the vigil of Saint Andrew.  Therefore, on feast days which are not celebrated splendidly, namely, the Translation of Saint Andrew, the Ascension of the Lord, the feast of Saint Ithamar, the Annunciation of Saint Mary (if it occurs during Easter), the Nativity of Saint Mary, and the feast of All Saints, they have 6 hired men who have 2 pennies for the vigil and the procession.  On Whitsun they will have nothing unless from goodwill.  On Palm Sunday and on the anniversaries of bishops Gundulf and Ernulf, they have from the cellar the same as for the lesser feast days.  If the king or a legate or the archbishop shall act as hosts or cross through the estate, the bells are rung on their arrival; and for our bishop, if he comes from overseas.  Ringing of the bells against the archbishop was undertaken at the time of Archbishop Baldwin.  In sacred festivities, in which altars are used, they must strew rushes before them and spread a carpet; if it is on Whitsun, the choir is to be curtained from the dossals only.  And it is noted that when the community has been clothed anew for prayers they [the attendants] must light three great candles upon the great candelabra, with which begins the Kyrie Elieson of the main mass; and on the principal feast days around the altar overhead, which Lanfranc calls the crown of the Lord.  For the monks who are regularly situated in church, they must light [candles] at other hours and especially those around the main altar.  Whoever calls and rings all the bells for the waking of the people at the two nights before Easter has a halfpenny for the day and night. These and many other things they must do without delay, whenever something is commanded of them.  Exorcism: a prayer of exorcism was said over the holy water and salt, blessing both and imbuing them with the power to protect from evil and evil spirits.   Cloth hangings: cloths/curtains hung to adorn the altar, lectern, etc.   The Ascension of the Lord: celebrated forty days after Easter Sunday. Feast Day of St Paulinus:  St Paulinus was bishop of Rochester from c.633-34 until his death at Rochester on 10th October 644. His feast day is 10th October, though it is recorded in a writ of Henry I, preserved in Textus Roffensis, that an annual two-day holiday was to be held in Rochester in honour of Paulinus starting on the day before the feast day, i.e. the 9th October. This writ also describes the church at Rochester as ‘of Saint Andrew the Apostle and of St Paulinus’ (‘sancti Andreę apostoli et sancti Paulini’), which explains why Custumale Roffense refers to the feast days of both saints as belonging to ‘the six principal feast days’ of Rochester church, alongside those of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and the Assumption of Mary. Translation of St Andrew: probably referring to a local festival celebrating the translation of relics of St Andrew to Rochester, and not to the main feast day of St Andrew on November 30th. Bretun, Thalebot: names of two of the three bells in the belfry.  In the manuscript, they have been crossed out with red ink. Octave: the seventh day after a festival. If he should have the hood: if the deceased one is a monk. Saint Ithamar: the first Saxon-born bishop in England, and thus the first Saxon bishop of Rochester described by Bede as ‘a man of Kent’; died between 655 and 664. Archbishop Baldwin: Archbishop of Canterbury, 1184-1190.  The event here described of ringing against the archbishop apparently refers to the sympathy of the monks of Rochester for their brethren at Christchurch Priory who were in dispute with Baldwin during the reign of Henry II, who had orchestrated the archbishop’s ascension to Canterbury.  Not only did the Benedictine monks of Christchurch disagree with the appointment of Baldwin, a Cistercian monk, but they resented his attempts to interfere with their monastic life. The dispute escalated after Baldwin deprived them of some of their estate revenue in an attempt to curb what he saw as their pampered monastic life at Christchurch.  At one stage of this long, drawn out dispute, the Christchurch brethren were imprisoned for eighteen months inside the priory, and the liturgy of the cathedral was suspended.  Eventually all the prominent ecclesiastical and monastic houses in Europe were forced into taking sides.  The monks of Rochester priory evidently sided with their fellow Benedictines.  In the end, the new king, Richard I, intervened and the estate revenues were returned to Christchurch. Carpet: Latin tapetum, probably referring to the carpet positioned before the altar, or it may indicate the cloth, made from silk or other expensive material, which was hung behind the altar. Dossals: referring to the fastenings from which a dossal (or ‘dorsal’) curtain is hung behind the altar. Kyrie Elieson: transliterated from Greek, meaning ‘Lord, have mercy’, the prayer sung at Mass by the clergy and the congregation in response. Duties of the tailors c.1235 December 1, 2021 Translation Concerning the tailors: what they ought to do: It is the responsibility of the master of the tailor’s workshop to measure all the new clothing of the monks, and, after measuring, to make sure they are properly cut for purpose.  He has the responsibility for the skins used for garments and with the help of his assistants constructs and supplies those things that are ready for distributing.  If, however, they need further help, the chamberlain will aid them with one man only, and everything useful for the skins that are to be prepared he will find.  He [the master tailor] will have bran from the bakery, three level minas per three bakings, as the fine flours of the monks fall from the bolting sieve. Thread, needles, scissors and shears the master must keep under his guard; and when necessary this responsibility is handed over to his associates.  His wage is 7 shillings.  He has in fact two associates.  Each one of them has a wage of 4 shillings. The master is worked the same as his associates.  It is his responsibility to sew the brothers’ names into their outer garments and into the hoods of the novices.  The aforementioned three ought to have a wooden log before the Nativity of the Lord, which is called by the English the Christmas fire. They must help at the hay harvest, and collect the tithes, if the chamberlain wishes or orders it, or otherwise carry out his command when the need arises.  When the novices are professing, they have the master’s old hoods which had been over their outer garments. If the chamberlain goes off to London or to Winton for the purpose of buying cloth, one of the aforementioned three servants will go with him, the one who better understands how to choose and buy white or black cloth.  Traditionally, this is usually done three times in the year, and the chamberlain, thereupon, will have from the granary three horses prepared, when he goes off and when he returns.  The sub-chamberlain will have to speak face to face with the chamberlain concerning purchases and expenses. Bran: evidently used for making laundry starch; measured by the mina, equivalent to 5 bushels (see note below on mina, seam).

Duties of the Launderers c.1235

Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, folios 59v-50r by Dr Christopher Monk.

A master and second-rank launderer worked with the chamberlain to keep the clothes of the monks clean and in good order, for sewing their names into their undershirts and underbreeches, for preparing soap for their shaving and bathing, and for the fire and summoning the blood-letter.

Transcription

59v (select folio number to open facsimile)

De Lavatoribus et quid facere debeant. IN domo lavendrie sunt duo ministri, unus magister
et alter secundarius. Ad magistrunt pertinet, quoticnscumque
manice staminarum fracte sunt, de camerario novas
accipere, et flaminis, corpus sufferre potest, debet fecun
darius plantare, et habebit vetustas manicas. Simi
liter videbit si stamine vel femoralia ponquam lota fuerint,
non possint cum honestate utentibus ea servire, antequam
tradantur camerario monistrare et ad lettos fratrum
cum subcamerario ponere. Stipendium istorum magissratres

60r

IIII solidi. secundario III solidi. Et quando fratras vadunt
balncare, debent habere presto omnia que ad hoc sunt
necessaria. Saponem ministrant fratribus ad rasturam.
Ad garcionem pertinet lixivam facere. Eius est focum
facere contra quod fratres minuere debent, et minutorem
summonere, ut paratus sit fratres minuere. Consuet eciam
magister nomina fratrum in staminis et in femoralibus.
Habent isti duo ad natale Christemesse brand sicut far
trinarii.

Translation

Concerning the launderers and what they ought to do:

In the laundry house there are two servants, one master and also a second rank servant. It belongs to the master whenever the sleeves of undershirts are torn, to receive new ones from the chamberlain if the body of an undershirt can be re-used, the second rank servant must store it, and he will have the old sleeves.

Likewise, he will check if undershirts and under-breeches, after they have been washed, cannot with honesty be made serviceable, before they are handed over to show to the chamberlain and put at the beds of the brothers by the sub-chamberlain. Their wages: to the master 4 shillings, to the second rank servant 3 shillings.

And when the brothers go to bathe, they ought to have ready everything for this which is necessary.

They supply soap for the brothers for shaving.

It belongs to the lad-servant to make the lye¹.

His role is to make the fire before which the brothers must be bled, and to summon the blood-letter, in order that he may be prepared to bleed the brothers.

The master also sews the names of the brothers in their undershirts and under-breeches.

These two have a Christmas fire for the Nativity, just like the tailors.

Footnotes

1 Lye: detergent/soap made from wood ash.

Common terms and wages for the servants c.1235

December 1, 2021

Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, folios 60r-60v by Dr Christopher Monk.

Transcription

60r (select folio number to open facsimile)

Quid habere debeant omnes servientes in commum. Omnes isti equaliter habent bladum, videlicet quolibet
mense unusquisque minam, id est mensuram que continent
dimidiam summam, et octavam partem summe, vel valens
in denariis. In quadragesima vero allecia vel anguillas,
videlicet magistro XXXI et secundario XXIII per omnem ebdo-
madam. Oblationem vero habent ad natale Domini et ad Pascha,
magister denarium, secundarius obit. Caseum habebunt ter in
anno ad unamquamque vicem duo pondera, et ita debent
distribui secundum quod sint magni vel parvi, scilicet magistro
unum caseum de majoribus et unum de mediocribus et
unum de minoribus. secundario duos de mediocribus.
Carnem habent omnes equaliter ad natale Domini vel unum
denarium, et in die martis ante Quadragesimam et ad Pascha.
De stipendiis eorum.
In pistrino duo magistri: primus habet in stipendiis VII solidos.
Secundarius V solidos. Unusquisque de aliis tribus IIII solidos.
In coquina eodem modo magister VII solidos. Secundarius V solidos.

60v

Unusquisque de aliis duobus IIII solidos.
In bracino primus V solidos. Unusquisque de aliis duobus IIII solidos.
Portarius X solidos.
Grangerius XL denaria.
Serviens de infirmaria V solidi.
Hostiarius cellarii III solidi.
Senescallus X solidi.
In ecclesia duo : primus VII solidi. Secundarius VII solidos.
In domo pelliparie: primus IIII solidos. Secundarius III solidos.

De Terminis Stipendiorum Terminus stipendiorum est ad Nathale Domini et ad
Pascha de omnibus ministeriis.
Summa stipendiorum VI L. IIII solidos. IIII denaria.

Translation

What ought all the servants to have in common?

All of them have equal grain, namely each one, every month, a mina – that is, the measure which comprises half a seam, and an eighth part of a seam¹ – or the equivalent in pennies. In Lent, indeed, herrings or eels, namely 31 to the master and 23 to the second-rank for each week. They have, indeed, a gift at Christmas and at Easter, the master a penny, the second-rank a halfpenny. They have cheese three times a year, to each one in turn two pounds, and they must distribute accordingly as they are great or small, namely to the master one from the mature cheeses, one from the medium and one from the young; to the second-rank two from the medium.

All have meat equally at Christmas or one penny, and on the Tuesday before Lent and at Easter.

Concerning their wages

In the bakery of two masters: the first has in wages 7 shillings; the second-rank, 5 shillings; each of the other three, 4 shillings.

In the kitchen the same way: master 7 shillings; second-rank, 5 shillings;

In the brewery: the first, 5 shillings; each of the other two, 4 shillings.

In the laundry: the first, 4 shillings; the second, 3 shillings.

Gatekeeper: 10 shillings.

Granger: 40 pennies.

Servants of the infirmary: 5 shillings.

Doorkeeper of the cellar: 3 shillings.

Steward: 10 shillings

The two in the church: the first, 7 shillings;

the second-rank, 7 shillings.

In the tannery²: the first, 7 shillings; each of the other two, 4 shillings.

each of the other two, 4 shillings.

The terms for wages:

The terms for the wages it is on the Nativity of the Lord and at

Easter for all of the offices.

Total wages £6, 4 shillings and 4 pence.

Footnotes

1 Mina, seam: a seam is equivalent to 8 levelled bushels (of 8 gallons each); therefore the Rochester mina equals 5 bushels or 40 gallons. As many weights were not standardised during the thirteenth century – e.g. the mina was sometimes and elsewhere considered equal to 4½ bushels – the amount stated in Custumale Roffense for the mina should be understood as specific to the local area or region at that time (Zupko 1985).

2 Tannery: evidently referring to the workshop of the aforementioned tailors. It would seem that both tannery duties and tailoring were carried out by the same servants.

Duties and succession of the millers c.1235

June 9, 2016 Detailing the duties and wages of the servants of the medieval priory of St Andrew at Rochester Cathedral. Translation of Custumale Roffense, folios 53r-60v, by Dr Christopher Monk. The requirements of the millers references a bakery, possibly once part of the long medieval building to the north of the Cathedral, now Minor Canon Row. This intriguing, if not slightly confusing, account seems to suggest that the miller, under-miller, the winnower and the winnower’s son (i.e. Eylaf, Galfrid, Robert Grente and Herbert Russell) came under scrutiny for large economic losses at the priory sometime during the time Gundulf was bishop (1077-1108).  The result was that all four men were expelled from the monastery.  However, Galfrid, the under-miller, regained his position, due (at least in part) to the fact that he was, or subsequently became, the husband of the sister of the cellarer who, of course, was one of the senior monks.  Once the ex-master miller Eylaf died, a certain Gilbert took over as master miller at the invitation of Ernulf the prior, who shouldn’t be confused with the Ernulf who became bishop of Rochester in 1014/15.  Bishop Walter, who was around several decades later (bishop 1148-82), appears to be the source for this information.

Translation

Concerning the office of the millers: here is what they ought to do: The master of the millers ought, in fact, to see and feel the wheat at the door of the granary.  And, if he is able or not to make for the monastery the best and finest bread, even by his mouth¹ he ought to accept or reject it.  He weighs the bread.²  Also he ought to reach agreement on all bread at the storeroom of the cellarer; and, after, he will have one monk’s loaf and at Easter time a flan.³  His wages: 7 shillings.  To him it belongs to mix and knead the dough of the monastery.
What the second rank [miller] ought to do: The second rank will measure all the wheat that pertains to the bread of the monastery, both in receiving and sending forth from the mill-house.  He himself ought also to measure the flour when it will be brought back from the mill-house, and to see whether he has 7 skeps of flour from five skeps of wheat.⁴  He will also measure, on receiving it and at the nod of the cellarer, all servants’ metecorn⁵ for the free servants.  And afterwards he will have one monk’s loaf and a gallon and a half of ale.  He will mill the wheat as often as is necessary, and he will have a horse for this office and a groom; which groom will likewise have a room in the guest-house and twelve pennies per year from his master, paid once at the command of the Lord’s Supper.⁶ His wages: 5 shillings.  To him it belongs to mix and knead the dough of the monastery one day and the master the next day [i.e. they alternate].  They will obtain the equipment for preparing the bread of the monastery, and they will manage the production of the bread of the monastery, the master one day, the second-rank the next.  They will make consecrated loaves and wafers, and on the same day they have a loaf and a gallon and a half of ale and a single dish of pottage from the kitchen.
What the other three millers ought to do: The other three millers: according to how their days fall, the first will heat the oven, the second will form the bread according to measure, the third will sit at the grindstone.  Their wages: one for each of them, 4 shillings. They will have in common one loaf and three gallons of ale.  It is noted that they ought not to eat there [in the bakery] nor have ale until luncheon.  They will carry wood and draw water.  They will bolt⁷ the flour and when they do the refining they will enter this room.  The guard of the granary, or anyone else appointed by the cellarer, will make firm the door over them until they have finished this.  The cellarer will obtain overalls.  They will have a small round loaf of the weight of one monk’s loaf⁸, and for carrying the bread to the cellarer, four guest loaves.  And it will be observed that the first loaf which is weighed is Christ’s.

Footnotes

1 i.e. he tastes the grain.

2 Keeping therefore to the rules of the Assize of Bread and Ale, i.e. the thirteenth-century law governing the price, weight and quality of bread and ale produced in towns and villages.

3 Flan: In Middle English, known as a flawn or a flathon (there are numerous variant spellings in English culinary collections of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries). The flan was essentially an open tart made with an egg and dairy custard filling. Versions containing cheese are recorded but more common are sweet milk/cream egg custards, usually sweetened with sugar. Dried and/or fresh fruits were sometimes added. During Lent, almond milk and a thickener, such as rice flour or wheat starch, were substitutes for milk, cream and eggs. Some surviving recipes include saffron and spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Since dairy foods and eggs were forbidden fare during Lent, a flan would have been a suitably delicious way of marking the end of abstinence.

4 Skep: a dry measurement.  Latin eskippa, from Old English sceppe and Old Norse skeppa, originally meaning a wicker or wooden basket.  In the 13th century, a skep was equivalent to a half-bushel.  A bushel equalled 8 gallons.  A Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases, ed. Christopher Corèdon with Ann Williams (D. S. Brewer, 2005).

5 Metecorn: from Old English metecorn meaning ‘corn-measure’, i.e. the allowance of corn for dependents.  A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, J. R. Clark Hall (4th ed. University of Toronto Press, 1960).

6 The command of the Lord’s Supper: meaning, most likely, that the groom’s wages were to be paid once a year on Maundy Thursday, the commemoration of Christ’s Last Supper.

7 Bolt: to further refine milled wheat that has already been sieved to remove the coarser particles of bran; this was done using a bolting cloth made from fine-meshed linen. The result would be fine white flour for making the monks’ loaves. See Peter Brears, Cooking and Dining in Medieval England, p. 115.

8 Small round loaf: tortellus, the word in the text, is a Latinised form of Anglo-Norman turtel, a small round and flat loaf made using unbolted flour. Compared to the monk’s loaf, the turtel was coarse, but it may have been more nutritious. Woolgar discusses the large variety of breads made at St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury, around the same time as Custumale Roffense; this included the largest loaf, ‘turta’, weighing 1.62 kg; the turtel was evidently the smaller version of this. Woolgar explains that the turta was ‘largely for servants’ and may be synonymous with the ‘treat’ loaf which ‘[a]ccording to the Assize of Bread and Ale of c.1256 was the lowest quality of wheat bread’. At the beginning of the fourteenth century, the servants’ loaves were made from barley. See C. M. Woolgar, The Culture of Food in England, 1200-1500, pp. 154-55; for definitions, see the online Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, tortilla; and the online Anglo-Norman Dictionary, turtel [accessed 28 March, 2022].

 

Transcription of the Latin of Custumale Roffense folio 66 along with a translation, by Dr Christopher Monk.

The list below provides the breakdown of the special customary payment – or xenium – made to the court of Rochester Priory on St Andrew’s Day (30th November). Payments came from the manorial estates held by the monastery and took the form of piglets, hens, geese, eggs, sturgeon, lampreys, as well as grain. The manors owing these food payments are listed as Frindsbury, Denton, Wouldham, Southfleet, Stoke, Haddenham and Darenth. All but Haddenham were (and still are) in Kent; Haddenham was (and is) in Buckinghamshire.

Transcription

66r (select folio number to open facsimile)

De exennio sancti Andree. Frendesberj. De frendesberia : v frecingas, et unum quarterium et quater
uiginti, et iiij gallinas, et xx et unam aucam, et
duo millia et centum ouorum. Inde episcopo quingenta oua, et
celerario quingenta oua, et residua in curiam, et
iij partem de sturgun et de lampridis, et sexaginta¹
fasciculos de furra. Denintune.² De denitune : unam frecingam et tria quarteria

66v

unius frecinge et xxiiij gallinas, uno anno et altero
xxv, et unam partem de sturgun, et de lampridis, et sex³
uiginti et tria oua. Wuldeham. De Wuldeham : tres frecingas et dimidiam et xl gallinas, et
duas partes de sturgun et de lampridis, et xl fasciculos de
furra, set hoc contra cartam Gundulfi episcopi. Et notandum quod
super manerium de Wuldeham constituti fuerunt olim de firma⁴
duo menses cum centum solidis, de suthflete. Suthflete De suthflete: tres frecingas et dimidiam et centum
gallinas et duas partes de sturgun et de lampridis.⁵ De stokes: duas frecingas et xxxvi gallinas et ix⁶
aucas et quingenta oua, residua in curiam et xii
summas auene, et unam partem de sturgun et de⁷
lampridis. Hadenham. De Hedenham⁸ : piscem ualentem xx sol’.⁹ Derente. De Derente¹⁰ : dimidium millenarium de lampridis.

Translation

Concerning the customary payment of Saint Andrew.¹¹ Frindsbury.

Concerning Frindsbury: 5 piglets¹² and six quarters [of wheat grain];¹³ and 4 hens, and 21 geese;¹⁴ and two thousand and one hundred eggs.¹⁵ Of these, to the bishop fifty eggs, and to the cellarer fifty eggs, and the remainder to the court [of the priory]; and three parts of sturgeon and of lampreys;¹⁶ and sixty bundles of spelt.¹⁷ – that is, for 1 month –¹⁸

Denton

Concerning Denton: one piglet and three quarters [of wheat grain], a single piglet;¹⁹ and 24 hens one year, and on the alternate [year] 25; and one part of sturgeon and of lamprey; and 123 eggs.²⁰

Wouldham

Concerning Wouldham: three piglets, and a half,²¹ and 40 hens, and two parts of sturgeon and of lampreys, – that is, for 1 month –²² and 40 bundles of spelt – but this is contrary to Bishop Gundulf’s charter.²³ And it should be noted that the above manor of Wouldham there were formerly established two months of rent with a hundred shillings from Southfleet.²⁴ – that is, for 2 months –²⁵

Southfleet

Concerning Southfleet: three piglets and one hundred and fifty hens and two parts of sturgeon and of lampreys. – that is, for 2 months –²⁶

Stoke

Concerning Stoke: two piglets and 36 hens and 9 gees and fifty eggs, the remainder to the court, and 12 seams of oats,²⁷ and one part of sturgeon and of lampreys.

Haddenham

Concerning Haddenham: fish, equivalent value of 20 shillings.²⁸

Darenth

Concerning Darenth: half a thousand of lampreys.

Footnotes

1 A note in the margin records ‘i.e. pro j mense.’

2 ‘Denintune’, an error for ‘Denitune’.

3 A note in the margin records ‘i.e. pro j mense’.

4 A note in the left margin records ‘i.e. pro ijbus mensibus’.

5 A note in the left margin records ‘i.e. pro ijbus mensibus’.

6 A note in the left margin records ‘Stokes. ’

7 A note in the left margin records ‘i.e. pro j mense’.

8 ‘Hedenham’, variant spelling of ‘Hadenham’.

9 The case ending of solidus is unclear so I have left it abbreviated.

10 The scribe made a mistake which he corrected: in the manuscript it reads ‘Derente’ with a superscript ‘de’ above.

11 The exenium (or xenium) of the text was the customary offering or payment brought to the priory on the feast day of Saint Andrew, i.e. the 30th November. According to Colin Flight, in his discussion of the priory’s fraudulent charter that was supposedly written by Bishop Gundulf (see note 23, below), this ‘gift’ (as Flight translates it) was the food, or cash in lieu, that was delivered to the incumbent bishop on St Andrew’s Day. Here though, in Custumale Roffense, the focus is on what the monks should receive, though the bishop is mentioned in a few entries. See Flight, The Bishops and Monks of Rochester 1076-1214 (Maidstone: Kent Archaeological Society, 1997), p. 109.

12 Or ‘suckling pigs’.

13 Literally ‘one quarter and a quarter of twenty’. Wheat is implied as the quarter was a unit of weight for grain. It equalled eight bushels; see ‘Quarter 3.’ in Christopher Corèdon with Ann Williams, A Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 2004).

14 Literally, ‘twenty and one geese’.

15 Most probably meaning hen’s eggs, though goose eggs or a mixture of both are possibilities.

16 We should probably understand the use of Latin pars ‘part’ to mean a set amount of the fish referred to, though the amount is not explicitly specified; however, see my comments below in note 12. In the charter of Bishop Gundulf, alluded to later in the Wouldham section, the manors of Wouldham, Frindsbury, Denton, Southfleet, Stoke and Lambeth are to provide a thousand lampreys each, which suggests we should not be thinking of small numbers of fish. Likewise, Darenth, the last manor of the present text, is required to pay 500 lampreys. Though fish were often salted to preserve them, lampreys and sturgeon, as with some other varieties of fish, may have been first stored and then transported live; see Richard C. Hoffmann, ‘A Brief history of aquatic resource use in medieval Europe’, Helgoland Marine Research 59, pp. 22-30 (2005), at p. 24; the article is available online here. The late-fourteenth-century cookery treatise of Richard II specifies that lampreys were to be killed ‘with vinegar or white wine and salt’ implying they arrived at the royal kitchen alive; see ‘Launpreys in galentyne’ (‘Lampreys in galentine sauce’), recipe 124, Fourme of Cury, Manchester, John Rylands Library, English MS 7, folio 63 (my own translation).

17 ‘bundles of spelt’. The word I’ve translated as ‘spelt’ is furra which the Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources states is a variant of farra, the plural of far, meaning ‘spelt or emmer wheat’: logeion.uchicago.edu/far [accessed 14 July 2023]. The Latin word for ‘bundle’ – fasciculus – is more often associated with sticks, that is, a faggot, used for fires: logeion.uchicago.edu/fasciculus [accessed 15 July 2023]. This, along with the fact that grain would ordinarily have been threshed and transported in quarter sacks, as is already implied in the text, makes me doubt somewhat that the meaning is spelt, but it is difficult to put forward an alternative for furra.

18 It seems the marginal notes ‘for 1 month’ and ‘for 2 months’ throughout this section relate to the quantities sufficient for either one or two months. Here, ‘for 1 month’ is next to the line referring to sturgeon and lampreys.

19 The scribe appears to have repeated himself regarding the piglet – understandable, since he had turned the page and probably lost his concentration.

20 Literally, ‘six twenty and three’.

21 Perhaps meaning a half unit (half of a quarter) of wheat grain.

22 The marginal note is next to the line concerning sturgeon and lampreys.

23 Gundulf’s charter states it was to be 60 bundles of spelt. I hope to write a piece on Gundulf’s charter in due course. Colin Flight observes that the monks forged a charter which purportedly made Bishop Gundulf grant favours to the monks, including their right to keep the whole exenium, or customary payment, should the bishop not be present on the feast day: Flight, Bishops and Monks of Rochester, p. 109.

24 The meaning of the Latin in this sentence is unclear to me; I have translated it quite literally. It is possibly saying that Wouldham had at one time made a monetary payment rather than a food rent. See the comment on commutation in note 22, below. The ‘de suthflete’, which I’ve translated as ‘from Southfleet’, may be a scribal mistake, anticipating the ‘De suthflete’, ‘Concerning Southfleet’ that follows, and therefore should be ignored.

25 The marginal note is placed alongside the line concerning the manor of Wouldham’s former rent.

26 The marginal note is next to the line about sturgeon and lampreys.

27 The seam (summa) was identical to the quarter for dry products; see the entry for seam in A Dictionary of Weights and Measures for the British Isles: The Middle Ages A Dictionary of Weights and Measures for the British Isles: The Middle Ages ... - Ronald Edward Zupko - Google Books.

28 Twenty shillings is probably what is known as the commutation or commuted value, where a monetary payment is made in lieu of produce (or services), in this case fish. There are other commutations for food payments in Custumale Roffense and it is possible that at the time of its writing, in the fourth decade of the thirteenth century, there was beginning a more general shift towards this form of payment, replacing food rents, though it is difficult to be certain. See Denis Stuart’s introduction on custumals in his Manorial Records (Chichester: Phillimore, 1992), p. 63.

Almsgiving in honour of Bishop Gundulf c.1235 October 20, 2021 Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, c.1235, folios 66v-67r by Jacob Scott.

This details the dues to be paid as alms to the poor on the anniversary of Gundulf.

Transcription

66v (select folio number to open facsimile)

De Gundulfo episcopo Roffensi. Elemosina in anniversario patris nostri Gundulfi episcopi
pauperibus distribuenda. Frendesberia XXVII denarios.
Denitune novem denarios.

67r

Suthflete oaodecim denarios.
WIdeham octodecim denarios.
Hedenham quatuor solidos.
Celerarius quadraginta denarios.
Sacrista quadraginta denarios.
Camerarius quadraginta denarios.

Translation

For Gundulf Bishop of Rochester:

Alms on the anniversary of Bishop Gundulf to be distributed to the poor.
Denton 11 shillings.
Southfleet 11 shillings.
Wouldham 8 shillings.
Haddenham 4 shillings.
The cellarer 40 shillings.
The sacrist 40 shillings.
The Chamberlain 40 shillings.

Almsgiving in honour of Bishop Ernulf c.1235 October 20, 2021 Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, c.1235, folio 67r by Jacob Scott.

This details the dues to be paid as alms to the poor on the anniversary of Ernulf. Ernulf (1115-1124) was the ruling bishop when Textus Roffensis was produced.

Transcription

67r (select folio number to open facsimile)

De Ernulfo Roffensi Episcopo. Elemosina in anniversario Ernulfi episcopi pauperibus distribuenda.
De ecclesia de Hedenham panem valentem XV solidos.
In Refectorio fratribus piscem vel aliquid aliud valenis
sexdecim solidos.

Translation

For Ernulf Bishop of Rochester:

Alms on the anniversary of Bishop Ernulf to be distributed to the poor.

The church of Haddenham, bread worth 15 shillings.

In the Refectory of the brothers, fish or some other valuing sixteen shillings.

Concerning salmon paid to the refectory c.1235

Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, c.1235, folio 67r by Jacob Scott. Salmon dues could be commuted as sturgeon or a payment in shillings, as detailed on the previous folio.

Transcription

66v (select folio number to open facsimile)

Mutatio Salmonum De Wldeham, de Suthfete, de Frendesberia, de
denitune de Stokes IIII salmones, si hii mu-
tati sunt in sturgun, scillingas in XXXII frustis. De Frendesberia et de Stokes XXX agnos ad pascha.
Hos habet episcopus contra cartam Gundulfi episcopi.

67r

De Salmonibus, qui expenduntur in Refectorio. IN Refectario octo salmones de pulcesoribus qui inve-
niri possunt, quos invenient custodes maneriorum,
scillingas. Hedenham duos salmones. Derente duos
salmonest Stokes duos salmones. Frendesberia
tres partes de uno salmone. Est denintone quartam
partem. Suthflete dimidiurn salmonem.
[W]ldeham dimidium salmonem.

Translation

Alternatives for salmon:

Concerning Wouldham, concerning Southfleet, concerning Frindsbury, concerning Denton, concerning Stoke: four salmon, alternatives in sturgeon, shillings, in 32 pieces.

Concerning Frindsbury and Stoke, 30 lambs at Easter. These are the bishops as per the charter of Bishop Gundulf.

Concerning salmon that are paid to the Refectory:

In the refectory eight salmon of the best looking which can be found by the custodians of the manor, or shillings. Haddenham two salmon. Darneth two salmon. Stoke two salmon. Frindsbury three parts of one salmon. And Denton a quarter part. Southfleet half a salmon. Wouldham half a salmon.

Almsgiving for deceased brothers c.1235

Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, c.1235, folios 67r-67v by Jacob Scott.

This details the almsgiving for deceased brethren at St Andrew’s priory.

Transcription

67r (select folio number to open facsimile)

De Fratribus defunctis Elemosina pro fratribus nostris de hac vita migrantibus.
Sacrista debet duodecim denarios.
Camerarius duodecim denarios.
Celerarius duodecim denarios.
Hedenham quatuor denarios.

67v

Frendesberia quatuor denarios.
Suthflete quatuor denarios.
Derente tres denarios.
Wldeham tres denarios.
Stokes tres denarios.
Denitune tres denarios.
De hiis quinque folidis emetur panis et per manus ele-
mosinarii et alterius de fratribus cui preceptum fuerit
distribuetur pauperibus. Ipso die quo corpus defuncti
sepulture traditur.

Translation

For deceased brethren:

The alms for our brothers that have passed away.
The sacrist should pay 12 shillings.
The chamberlain 12 shillings.
The cellarer 12 shillings.
Haddenham four shillings.
Frindsbury four shillings.
Southfleet four shillings.
Darenth three shillings.
Wouldham three shillings.
Stoke three shillings.
Denton three shillings.
Of those, five solidi to be buy bread by hand. Arms and alter of the brothers which keeps the commandment to distribute to the poor. That same day for the bodies of the dead to be buried traditionally.

Requiem masses for benefactors c.1235

Translation from Latin of Custumale Roffense, c.1235, folio 68r-68v by Dr Christopher Monk.

Transcription

68r (select folio number to open facsimile)

What is to be done for our benefactors on their anniversary days and how we ought to include them at Mass for the dead.

Anniversaria tria principalia similiter celebrantur, Gundulfi, Ernulfi, Lanfranci. Qua>rus Radulfi scilicet archiepiscopi, ubi cantor duobus sibi as[ci]tis {cf. ascire, to engage as assistant} chorum tenere debet, et tria signa maio[ra] cum ceteris.

The three principal anniversaries are celebrated alike, Gundulf’s, Ernulf’s and Lanfranc’s – a fourth less so, namely Archbishop Ralph’s – where the cantor must lead the choir with two responding to him;¹ and three greater [bell] signals,² as well as the others.³

Vii idus Januarii obiit Odo Baiecensis [Thorpe has ‘Baiocensis’] episcopus, cappa j myssa ad minus altare, ij, R/, ij, K/. Signum grossum unum cum ceteris in parua turri.

7th January,⁴ Odo bishop of Bayeux died.⁵ 1 cope;⁶ Mass at the lesser altar; 2 [?responses; or Requiescant in pace (May they rest in peace), also known as Requiem aeternam ] 2 Kyrie eleison. One great bell, as well as the others in the small tower.

23rd January,⁷ Bishop Anselm [Ascelin] died.⁸ 2 copes, 3 ?responses/RIPs, 3 ?Kyrie eleison. Two great bells [or the great bell twice]. Mass at the greater altar.⁹

2nd February,¹⁰ for William son of Anfrid,¹¹ the same as for Odo.

10th March,¹² Lord Bishop Gundulf,¹³ of affectionate memory, founder of our church, died.

15th March,¹⁴ Bishop Ernulf,¹⁵ of adored memory, died.

20th April,¹⁶ Prior Ralph.¹⁷ 1 cope, one candelabrum.

10th May,¹⁸ for Countess Goda,¹⁹ the same as for Odo.

28th May,²⁰ Lord Archbishop Lanfranc,²¹ of affectionate memory, died.

21st June,²² for Bishop John,²³ the same as for Anselm, 2 candelabra.²⁴

24th June,²⁵ for Bishop [Gilbert],²⁶ the same as for Anselm.

26th June,²⁷ for Hugo abbot of St Augustine’s,²⁸ the same as for Anselm.

17th May,²⁹ for William de Helles, the same as for Anselm.

8th July,³⁰ in commemoration of fathers and mothers, the same as for Anselm.

16th July,³¹ for Bishop Arnost,³² the same as for Prior Ralph.

26th July,³³ for Bishop Walter,³⁴ the same as for Anselm.

2nd August,³⁵ for King William,³⁶ the same as for Odo.

12th August,³⁷ for Offa,³⁸ the same as for Odo.

29th August,³⁹ for Bishop Waleran,⁴⁰ the same as for Anselm.

9th September,⁴¹ for King William.⁴²

6th October,⁴³ for John de Beseville, the same as for Odo.

14th October,⁴⁴ for Bishop Siward,⁴⁵ the same as for Odo.

20th October,⁴⁶ Lord Archbishop Ralph died.⁴⁷

23rd October,⁴⁸ for Prior Silvester,⁴⁹ the same as for Ralph.

25th October,⁵⁰ for King Stephen,⁵¹ the same as for Ralph.

27th October, ⁵² for Hanfrid and Amabel, ⁵³ the same as for Odo.

2nd December,⁵⁴ for King Henry,⁵⁵ 1 cope and 2 great [bell] signals.

19th December,⁵⁶ for Bishop Benedict, ⁵⁷ the same as for Anselm.

Et nota quod hic et in omnibus quando constant duo Kyrie elieson, Requiem aeternam, ii. diaconus et subdiaconus casulas habebunt et duo candelabra. Quando cantant ad maius altare non erunt plures collecte [Thorpe], nisi due.

And it should be noted that here, and in all things, when they establish/agree two Kyrie elieson, two Requiem aeternam, the deacon and subdeacon will have chasubles and two candelabra.

When they sing at the greater altar [high altar] there will be no more than two collections.⁵⁸

Footnotes

1 ‘responding’: or ‘engaged as assistants’, Latin ascitis, from ascire; see DMLBS, ascire: logeion.uchicago.edu [accessed 06.12.18]. This may be alluding to how, in the Mass, the cantor sings the ‘Responsorial Psalm’ and the congregation takes part by means of the response; see The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, 2011), p. 14: liturgyoffice.org.uk [accessed 06.12.18].

2 Probably meaning one of the named bells in the great tower of Rochester Cathedral was to be struck three times; this is suggested by a passage concerning the duties of the church attendants, recorded in Custumale Roffense (fol. 58r): ‘Also, in the great tower, during dinner on the principal feast days, they make three strikes of a great bell, either Bretun or Thalebot.’ Allusion to bells being rung for the dead is also recorded in this section of the manuscript (fol. 58r-v): ‘When from the community a body of the deceased laity is received, according to whom the person is, it may be accepted; and, as it pleases the sacristan, bells in the great tower, many or few, may be struck.’

3 ‘as well as the others’, probably indicating other bells in the smaller tower were rung too; see below.

4 Or ‘The 7th day before the ides of January’. Dates in this text use the Roman calendar – with its kalends (calends), nones, and ides – where days ‘before’ are counted inclusively; in other words, in this instance, the ides of January, i.e. 13th January, is the first of the seven days counting backwards, and thus we arrive at the 7th of January (not the 6th). For more on medieval English dating and calendars, see C. R. Cheney (ed.) and revised by Michael Jones, A Handbook of Dates for Students of British History: New Edition (Cambridge University Press, 2000); also the very useful website: medievalgenealogy.org.uk [accessed 05.12.18].

5 Bishop of Bayeux from 1049 until his death in 1097.

6 ‘It belongs to the master to regulate all things in the church, […] and that the copes in the second choir, when feast days occur, are carried in an orderly manner. He has nevertheless a man for himself who must with the second rank [attendant] strike and regulate the bells at processions’. From the same passage as above.

7 Or ‘The 10th day before the kalends of February’.

8 Or ‘Ancel’ (Latin Ancelus, abbreviated as Anceľ in the manuscript), probably a confusion of Anselm, the alternative name for this bishop of Rochester, who ruled from 1142 until his death in 1148. See ‘Ancel’ in DMNES. Handbook of British Chronology gives 24 January as his death.

9 The high altar.

10 Or ‘The 4th day before the nones of February’.

11 William of Allington (de Elintune), son of Sheriff Ansfrid (filius Ansfridi vicecomitis) is listed in Vespasian A. xxii; see Thorpe, Registrum Roffense, p.119; on Ansfrid of Allington, sheriff of Kent, see Martin Brett and Joseph A. Gribbin (eds), English Episcopal Acta 28: Canterbury 1070-1136 (Oxford University Press, 2004), pp. xlvi-xlvii.

12 Or ‘The 6th day before the ides of March’. Handbook of Chronology gives 7th March.

13 Bishop of Rochester from 1077 until his death in 1108.

14 Or ‘The ides of March’.

15 Bishop of Rochester from 1115 until his death in 1124.

16 Or ‘The 12th day before the kalends of May’.

17 Prior of Rochester; BHO gives ‘before 1107’, but this seems inaccurate as Gundulf was also prior during his bishopric, i.e. 1077-1108; see british-history.ac.uk [accessed 05.12.18]

18 Or ‘The 6th day before the ides of May’.

19 Goda, also known as Godgifu, died in 1055. Daughter of King Ethelred the Unready (r. 978-1013 and 1014-16) and his second wife Emma of Normandy (d. 1052); sister of King Edward the Confessor (r. 1042-66).

20 Or ‘The 5th day before the kalends of June’. Handbook gives death as 24th May.

21 Archbishop of Canterbury from 1070 until his death in 1089.

22 Or ‘The 11th day before the kalends of July’. BHO gives 20 June as his death, and 22nd as his commemoration.

23 Bishop of Rochester, from 1125 until his death in 1137.

24 The abbreviation ca. is used in the manuscript; Thorpe gives cappe ‘copes’ rather than ‘candelabra’.

25 Or ‘The 8th day before the kalends of July’.

26 The name has been erased from the manuscript. Bishop of Rochester from 1185 until his death in 1214.

27 Or ‘The 6th day before the kalends of July’.

28 Hugh of Trottiscliffe, former monk of Rochester, died 1151. BHO gives ‘the morrow of St. John Baptist’, i.e. 25th June as the date of his death: see british-history.ac.uk (accessed 05.12.18).

29 Or ‘The 16th day before the kalends of June’.

30 Or ‘The 8th day before the ides of July’.

31 Or ‘The 17th day before the kalends of August’.

32 Or ‘Ernost’; Ernust, correcting Ernulf, in the manuscript; the correction is rather clumsy. Bishop of Rochester, from 1075 until his death in 1076. Handbook of Chronology: 15 July 1076

33 Or ‘The 7th day before the kalends of August’.

34 Bishop of Rochester, from 1148 until his death in 1182.

35 Or ‘The 4th day before the nones of August’.

36 William II (‘Rufus’), r. 1087-1100.

37 Or ‘The 2nd day before the ides of August’.

38 Presumably King Offa of Mercia, r. 757-96. Check Handbook

39 Or ‘The 4th day before the kalends of September’.

40 Spelt Galeranno in the manuscript; Bishop of Rochester, from 1182 until his death in 1184.

41 Or ‘The 5th day before the ides of September’.

42 William I (‘the Conqueror’), r. 1066-1087.

43 Or ‘The 2nd day before the nones of October’.

44 Or ‘The 2nd day before the ides of October’. BHO gives 30th October as the commemoration date: british-history.ac.uk [accessed 05.12.18].

45 Bishop of Rochester, from 1058 until his death in 1075.

46 Or ‘The 13th day before the kalends of November’.

47 Ralph d’Escures, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1114 until his death in 1122, former Bishop of Rochester, 1108-14.

48 Or ‘The 10th day before the kalends of November’.

49 Prior of Rochester, from c. 1178 to c.1181; he probably died in office; see: british-history.ac.uk [accessed 06.12.18].

50 Or ‘The 8th day before the kalends of November’.

51 Stephen, reigned from 1135 to his death in 1154.

52 Or ‘The 6th day before the kalends of November’.

53 Or ‘Mabel’: Mabilia in the manuscript.

54 Or ‘The 4th day before the nones of December’.

55 Henry I, reigned from 1100 to his death in 1135; Henry died on 1st December.

56 Or ‘The 14th day before the kalends of January’.

57 Benedict of Sawston, Bishop of Rochester, from 1215 to his death in 1226. BHO gives the 18th December as the date of his death: british-history.ac.uk [accessed 06.12.18].

58 This appears to allude to the collection of alms during the Offertory Chant, the part of Mass which accompanies the procession of the bread and wine and their placement on the altar. See: liturgyoffice.org.uk, p. 17.