Exeter was given a grant of murage dated 9/6/1377.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
Commission to the mayor and bailiffs of Exeter, — as the king has learned that his enemies of France and others adherent to them purpose to invade the realm with no small number of men-at-arms and armed men and chiefly to attack the said city with all their forces, — to survey the walls thereof, compel by distraint all persons residing therein and having lands and goods there to contribute to their repair, take labourers within 10 leagues round the city for the improvement of the walls, put them to the works at the wages of the commonalty of the city, and arrest and commit to prison until further order all whom they shall find contrariant or rebellious. By C.
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June 9.
Commission to Th. bishop of Exeter, reciting that the king's enemies of France and their adherents with no small number of men-at-arms purpose to land in the realm and especially to attack the city of Exeter, and appointing him to compel by ecclesiastical censures and otherwise all clerks residing in the city and having tenements therein to contribute to the repair of the walls and dykes thereof, as they are bound to do. By C.
Granted by Edward III. (Regnal year 51). Granted at Westminster. Granted by C..
Primary Sources
Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1916,
Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1374-77) Vol. 16 p. 476, 502
online copy
Secondary Sources
Turner, H.L., 1971, Town Defences in England and Wales (London) p. 41, 195
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 30/01/2009. Last updated on 05/01/2013. First published online 5/01/2013.
