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In 1360 Nov 22, Richard Englys, king's yeoman (valletto) (Richard English) was granted, by Edward III, (In year 34 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Upholcombe (Great Holcombe)
Grant, of special grace, to Richard Englys, king's yeoman (valletto), and his heirs of free warren in all their demense lands belonging to their manor of Upholcombe; with further grant and gift of licence to the said Richard to fortify his said manor with a wall of stone and mortar and crenellate the same. By p.s. (CChR)

Granted at Westminster. Grant by privy seal.

Comments

See very similar grant of 1356, for Newenham to Richard Englissh, presumably the same person.

Original source is;

(In fact, the original source given is usually a transcription/translation of what are precious medieval documents not readily availably. It should be noted that these transcription/translations often date to the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries and that unwitting bias of transcribers may affect the translation. Care should also be taken to avoid giving modern meaning to the medieval use of certain stock words and terms. Licentia is best translated as 'freedom to' not 'permission'.)

Significant later sources are;

Richard English
The name Richard English is too common to make identification possible but the term 'king's yeoman' suggests royal service. The Calendar of Patent Rolls for 1348 records a 'Grant for life to the king's yeoman Richard Englissh of the office controller of the custom of wines, wools, hides and wool-fells, as well of the customs of 3d. on the pound and of cloths and other merchandise liable to custom, in the port of Bristol; he taking in the office the usual wages and having one part of the cocket seal in his custody.' (cocket was a custom house seal) In 1353 Richard Englissh and his wife, Alice, were granted the office of the gauging of wine in the town of Bristol. In 1354 he was a commissioner investigating smuggling in Bristol. In 1354 'Grant for life, for service to Queen Philippa, to Alice Englissh of an annuity of £10 at the exchequer.' These can all be safely assumed to be the same courtier. Custom positions, such as that given to Richard, seem to be given to merchants who, presumably, understood trade.

More information about licences to crenellate can be found here.

Please do inform Gatehouse if you see any errors, can add information or can otherwise help to improve this resource. Please contact Gatehouse.

Record created by Philip Davis. This record last updated on Sunday, October 4, 2015.


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