Fabric Roll of Rochester Castle
Fabric Roll of Rochester Castle
AMONG the documents deposited in the Public Record Office, there is a series of "Minister's Accounts" relating to the repairs of ROCHESTER CASTLE in the time of Edward III., one of which we here present to our readers. Although on the Pipe, and in other miscellaneous Rolls, we have general entries of repairs done to this fortress, yet they furnish us with very few particulars. The Roll before us is the earliest record with which we are at present acquainted, in which the details of repairs to this Castle are minutely given. They are thus headed:
"Particule Compoti JOHANNIS Priorus Roffensis, Capitalis Magistri operacionum Regis apud CASTRUM ROFFENSE. De receptis, misis, et expensis per ipsum factis in eisdem operacionibus, ab XI. die Junii, anno regni Regis EDWARDI TERCII post conquestum XLI (1367-8) usque XI diem Januarii proxime sequentem, anno XLII (1368-9), per visum et testificacionem WILLELMI DE BASYNG magistri hospitalis de STRODE, et GILBERTI GELDEWENE supervisoris et Contrarotulatoris operacionum predictorum in Castro predicto."
Then follows the detail of Receipts for which the Master of the Works charges himself, to the amount of £1203. 15s. 4d.; and he next proceeds to those of Expenditure. They are written in abbreviated Latin, which we render into English as follows:
Purchase of Stone.
Paid to Walter Byle, for 16 tons of Beer freestone, bought of him for the works of our Lord the King in Rochester Castle, at 10s. per ton,—£8.
To Walter Coteler, for 18 tons of Beer freestone, bought of him for the said works, at 9s. 6d. per ton,—£8. 11s.
To Walter Byle, for 21 tons of Beer freestone, bought of him for the said works, at 9s. per ton,—£9. 9s.
To Thomas Ryder, for 62 tons of Caen freestone, bought of him for the said works, at 9s. per ton,—£27. 18s.
To Henry de Yelree, for 13 tons of Stapelton freestone, bought of him for the said works, at 8s. per ton,—£5. 4s.
To Thomas Fitz John, for 82 tons of Stapelton freestone, bought of him for the said works, at 8s. per ton,—£32. 16s.
To Philip Prophet, for 44 tons of Reygate freestone, bought of him for the said works, at 6s. per ton,—£13. 4s.
To brother Robert Donyngton, for 195 tons of freestone from Farlegh, bought of him for the said works, at 8s. 4d. per ton,—£81. 10s.
To Ralph Crompe, for 6 large pieces of Stone from Bocton, bought of him for making lintels for the said works, at 3s. 4d. the piece,—20s.
To the said Ralph for one large piece of stone, called 'Nowel,' bought of him for the said works,—2s. 6d.
Fabric Roll of Rochester Castle
Purchase of Stone Continued
To the said Ralph and his partners, for 60 pieces of stone, called 'Nowel,' bought of them for the said works, at 2s. per piece,—£6.
To the same, for 391¾ feet of stone, called 'Crest,' bought of them for the said works, at 16d. per foot,—£26. 2s. 4d.
To the same, for 44¼ feet of stone, called 'Crest,' bought of them for the said works, at 12d; per foot,—44s. 4d.
To the same, for 47¾ feet of stone, called 'Crest,' bought of them for the said works, at 10d. per foot,—39s. 9½d.
To the same, for 40 feet of stone, called 'Lermer,' bought of them for the said works, at 12d. per foot,—40s.
To the same, for 27 feet of stone, called 'Spaces,' bought of them for the said works, at 10d. per foot,—22s. 6d.
To the same, for 408¾ feet of stone, called 'Spaces,' bought of them for the said works, at 8d. per foot,—£13. 12s. 6d.
To the same, for 290¼ feet of stone, called 'Tablement,' bought of them for the said works, at 6d. per foot,—£7. 5s. 1½d.
To the same, for 817¼ feet of stone, called 'Parpeincoins,' bought of them for the said works, at 5½d. per foot,—£18. 14s. 6½d.
To the same, for 1940 feet of stone, called 'Scuassheler,' bought of them for the said works, at 20s. per hundred,—£19. 8s.
To the same, for 44½ feet of stone, called 'Pace,' bought of them for the said works, at 20s. per hundred,—8s. 11¼d.
To the same, for 2220 feet of stone, called 'Squarassheler,' bought of them for the said works, at 16s. per hundred,—£17. 15s. 2¼d.
To the same, for 60 feet of stone, called 'Pament,' bought of them for the said works, at 8s. per hundred,—4s. 9½d.
To the same, for 529 feet of stone, called 'Urnel,' bought of them for the said works, at 6s. per hundred,—31s. 8½d.
To the same, for 1850½ tons of stone, called 'Rag,' from Maidstone, bought of them for the said works, at 40s. per hundred,—£87. 0s. 2¼d.
Smith's Work.
To Master Stephen, Smith of the Tower of London, for the ironwork of 14 windows of the said Castle, bought of him, weighing 5797 lbs., the 100 being computed at five score, at 2d. per lb.—£48. 6s. 2d.
To William Byce, for 2102 lbs. of iron, bought of him for the said works, at 6s. 4½d. per hundred, more in all, 8d.—£6. 14s. 3d.
To the said William, for 30 sheaves of steel, bought of him for the said works, at 8d. per sheaf,—20s.
To Mr. Stephen Smith, for an iron anvil, bought of him for the said works, weighing 221 lbs., the hundredweight being computed as above, at 2d. per lb.—36s. 10d.
To the same, for 12 'wrestlacches' of tinned iron, with their furniture, bought of him for the doors of the said Castle, at 5½d. a piece,—5s. 6d.
To the same, for 12 tinned iron rings, with their furniture, bought of him for the same, at 4d. a piece,—4s.
To the same, for one lock bought of him for the same,—2s.
To the same, for 12 locks bought of him for the doors of the said Castle, at 17d. a piece,—17s.
To Nicholas Lethenard, for 1 lock, bought of him for the same,—20d.
To the same, for 2 locks, bought of him for the same,—15d.
Fabric Roll of Rochester Castle
Smith's Work Continued
To Nicholas Lethenard, for 100 great iron nails, called "Spykyng," bought of him for the said works,—18d.
To the same, for 350 iron nails, bought of him for the said works, at 12d. per hundred,—3s. 6d.
To the same, for 300 great iron nails, bought of him for the said works, at 11d. per hundred,—2s. 9d.
To the same, for 3350 iron nails, bought of him for the same, at 7d. per hundred,—19s. 6½d.
To the same, for 7100 iron nails, bought of him for the said works, at 5d. per hundred,—29s. 7d.
To Henry de War, for 1000 tinned iron nails, bought of him for the doors of the said Castle,—8s.
To the same, for 2000 tinned iron nails, bought of him for the windows of the said Castle, at 4s. 9d. per 1000,—9s. 6d.
To Nicholas Lethenard, for 1000 iron nails, called 'Prig,' bought of him for the said works,—18d.
To the same, for 3500 iron nails, called 'Prig,' bought of him for the said works, at 15d. per thousand,—4s. 4½d.
Purchase of Timber.
To John Salot, for 41 pieces of oak timber, bought of him for the said works, at 2s. 4½d. the piece, more in the whole 1¼d,—£4. 18s. 4d.
To John Sandhell, for 18 pieces of oak timber, bought of him for the same, in gross,—53s. 4d.
To John Smyth, for 32 pieces of oak timber, bought of him for the same, at 19¼d. per piece,—51s. 4d.
To William Neweport, for 10 pieces of oak timber, bought of him for the same, in gross,—28s.
To William Sanskyn, for 10 pieces of oak timber, bought of him for the same, in gross,—24s.
To John Becheman, for 12 pieces of oak timber, bought of him for the same, in gross,—13s. 1d.
To John Heyton, for 6 pieces of oak timber, bought of him for the same, at 11d. per piece,—5s. 6d.
To John Clerk, for 5 sawn boards, called 'Rygol,' bought of him for making the masons' molds for the said works, at 16d. a piece,—6s. 8d.
To John Pomfreyt, for 400 'estrichbords,' called 'Wainscot,' bought of him for the doors, windows, and roofs for the said Castle, at 26s. per hundred,—104s.
To Richard de Euere, for 500 of the foresaid boards, bought of him for the same, at 22s. per hundred,—110s.
To Thomas Godet, for 40 oak boards, called 'Planchisbord,' bought of him for the foresaid works, at 6d. a piece,—20s.
To John Burgeys, for 28 poplar boards, bought of him for the same, in gross,—3s.
To Robert Couper, for 12 planks, called 'Shotbord,' bought of him for the same, at a halfpenny a piece,—6d.
To Thomas Hurre, for 800 laths, bought of him for the same, in gross,—16d.
To Thomas Warde and John Hamon, for 333 pieces of timber, called 'Scaffotlogg,' bought of them for the said works, at 1½d. a piece,—41s. 7½d.
To Nicholas Lente, for 112 hurdles, bought of him for the 'scaffolds,' at 1½d. each,—13s.
To the same, for 3600 withes, bought of him for the same, at 1½d. per 100,—4s. 6½d.
Purchase of Necessaries.
To Robert Graftone, for 2 large quires of royal paper, bought of him for inscribing the journal of the works of the said Castle,—2s.
To the same, for 6 quires of paper, bought of him for registering the letters, precepts, and other necessaries concerning the said Castle, at 8d. per quire,—4s.
To the same, for red wax for the same, bought for sealing the said letters and precepts,—8d.
To Master William Herland, for 4 little brass wheels, bought of him to put in the hoisting engines, for drawing up the stone and timber on to the aforesaid works, at 3s. 4d. a piece,—13s. 4d.
To Nicholas Lethenard, for 32 hand-barrows, bought of him for the said works, at 10d. a piece,—26s. 8d.
To Richard Stylle, for 128 'treyes,' bought of him, for carrying the mortar for the foresaid works, at 1½d. each,—16s.
To Nicholas Lethenard, for a wheel, bought of him for one barrow,—4d.
To John Heyton, for 100 'speldes,' bought of him for making the fire for melting the lead,—4s.
To the same, for 600 'bilets,' bought of him for the same, at 9d. per 100,—4s. 6d.
To Gilbert Geldewyne, for 2 casks, bought of him for carrying the lime from Frendesby to the said Castle, at 22d. a piece,—3s. 8d.
To John Skynner, for 53 cartloads of loam, bought of him for the floors and walls of the said Castle, in gross,—3s. 4d.
To Nicholas Lethenard, for 54 wooden beetles, bought of him for the said works, at 1d. each,—4s. 6d.
To Thomas Hankyn, for 16½ pounds of tin, bought of the same for tinning different instruments, at 4¼d. per lb.,—20s.
To John Plomer, for 120 pounds of tin for the leaden pipes, and making other joints in lead, bought of him at 3d. per lb.,—30s.
To Ramo Chaundeler, for 1 large broom, bought of him for the said works,—4d.
To the same, for 12 lbs. of pitch, bought of him, for the said works, in gross,—9½d.
To Richard Hanekyn, for 2½ lbs. of wax, bought of him, for making cement, at 7d. per lb.,—17½d.
To the same, for 9 lbs. of rosin, bought of him for the same, at 1½d. per lb.,—13½d.
To John Marchant, for an ox-hide, bought of him, curried, for covering a pair of bellows therewith, in gross,—8s. 6d.
To William Marchal, for a whetstone, bought of him, for sharpening the axes and other tools of the masons and carpenters,—6s. 8d.
To Robert Couper, for repairing and binding the wooden vessels of the said Castle, with wooden hoops for the same, bought of him at various times,—5s. 4d.
To the same, for one wooden well bucket for drawing water and 1 wooden 'bokett' for carrying water, bought of him for the said works, at 7d. each,—14d.
To John Tornor, for 2 bowls and 6 'ladels,' bought of the same for the said works, in gross,—8d.
To Roger atte Fewe, for 1 pair of wheels, bought of him for the 'Poukweyn,'—2s. 6d.
To the same, for repairing 3 pair of wheels, at Bokyngfold, viz. for making and fixing on new follies, for carrying timber to Newheth, for each pair, 2s.,—6s.
To William Sharnhale, for 3 trusses of hay, bought of him, for plastering the walls of the said Castle,—8d.
To Nicholas Lethenard, for one sieve, bought of him for sifting lime and sand,—4d.
Fabric Roll of Rochester Castle
Necessaries Continued
To John Lucas, for an iron anvil, hired from him for the said works,—3s. 4d.
To John Colyer, for 2 quarters of coals, bought of him for cementing the stones, at 8d. the quarter,—16d.
To Adam Bacher, for grease, bought of him for greasing 'le Fernis' and other necessaries of the said Castle, in gross,—8d.
To Walter Compton, for rushes, bought of him, to cover the new walls of the said Castle against the frost, in gross,—13s. 4d.
To John Roper, for 2 hempen cables, bought of him for drawing up stone, timber, and other necessaries on to the said Castle, 174 lbs., at 1½d. per lb.,—21s. 9d.
To the same, for 7 hempen ropes, bought of him for the same, for drawing water, weighing 188 lbs., at 1½d. per lb.,—23s. 6d.
To Robert Graftone, for 7 skins of parchment, bought of him, for inscribing the roll of accounts, at 4d. a piece,—2s. 4d.
Carriage and Carting
To William Adekyn, for the freight of 13½ tons of Stapelton freestone from London to the said Castle, at 12d. per ton,—18s. 6d.
To the said William and his fellows, for freight for carrying 44 tons of Reygate freestone, from Batricheseye to the said Castle, at 14d. per ton,—51s. 4d.
To Thomas Makerel and his fellows, for freight for carrying 195 tons of Farlegh stone from Wynchelsea to the said Castle, at 2s. per ton,—£19. 10s.
To Hugh Stace and his fellows, for freight for carrying 2289½ tons of Bocton and Maydestane stone from Maydestayne to the said Castle, at 5d. per ton,—£47. 13s. 11½d.
To John Walsh, for freight for carrying 33½ tons of block chalk from Frendesby to the said Castle, at 2½d. per ton,—5s. 7d.
To the same John, for freight for carrying 360 quarters of lime from Frendesby to the said Castle, at ½d. per quarter,—15s.
To John Beherst and his fellows, for the carriage of 66 large waggonloads of timber from the park of Bokyngfold to Neweheth, at 2s. 6d. the waggonload,—£8. 5s.
To the same, for the carriage of 48 waggonloads of timber from the aforesaid park to Neweheth, at 18d. per waggonload,—72s.
To the same, for the carriage of 40 cartloads of timber from the said park to Neweheth, at 12d. per cartload,—40s.
To John Becheman, for the carriage of 6 cartloads of timber from Stapelherst to Maydestane, at 8d. per cartload,—4s.
To John Halle and his fellows, for the carriage of timber at Neweheth, in ships, for the whole year, in gross,—23s. 4d.
To John Watte and his fellows, for the freight of 292 tons of timber from Maydestane and Neweheth to the said Castle, at 5d. per ton,—£6. 1s. 8d.
To Roger Sengle, for the freight of ten cartloads of lead from Westminster to the said Castle, at 12d. per cartload,—10s.
For the carriage of ironwork, iron, locks, nails, boards, and other necessaries, as well from London as from other places, to the said Castle, in gross,—39s. 6d.
In the carriage of 44 tons of Reygate stone at Batriccheseye, by ship, in gross,—4s.
In the carriage and carting of ten cartloads of lead at Westminster, by ship, in gross,—5s.
To Richard atte Vyne, for freight of the stone of the doors, windows, and chimneys, at the Gore, and for the carriage of 500 backstones from the wall there pulled down, from Upchurch to the said Castle, and for the carriage and cartage of the same; by ship, in gross,—15s.
Wages of Masons.
For the wages of Simon Hook, mason, being there and directing the masons' work of the said Castle, and working there 288 days within the aforesaid time, at 8d. per day,—£9. 12s.
For the wages of Richard Bal, Walter Gerard, Peter Payn, Thomas Conyngbrook, John Rook, Richard Rook, John Stone, and Bartholomew Wrek, 8 masons working on the said works, at 6d. per day each; for 252 working days within the time aforesaid,—£50. 8s.
For the wages of William Croydon, mason, working on the said works, at 6½d. per day, for 47 working days within the time aforesaid,—21s. 6½d.
For the wages of Gilbert atte Ford, Henry Payn, and John Rook, three masons working upon the said works, at 5d. per day each, for 183 working days within the aforesaid time,—£11. 8s. 9d.
Setters' Work, by the Piece.
To William Sharnhale, for a vault within the inner gate of the said Castle, to be set complete, according to a certain agreement, by task-work,—106s. 8d.
Wages of Setters.
For the wages of William Sharnhale, William Loder, Richard Baker, William Lamb, William Crompe, Haino Loder, Ramo Man, Richard Pathe, Ralph Loket, Henry Randulf, and William Hale, namely, 11 setters, setting the stones with mortar on the said works, at 6d. per day each, for 180 working days within the aforesaid time,—£49. 10s.
For the wages of Geoffrey Beneyt, John Beneyt, Robert Irland, Walter Vynet, and Walter Lexham, namely, 5 setters, working on the said works, at 5½d. per day each, for 172 working days within the aforesaid time,—£19. 14s. 2d.
For the wages of John Chipenham, William Walewer, Roger Curteys, and William Thornes, namely, 4 setters, working on the said works, at 5d. per day, for 175 working days within the aforesaid time,—£14. 11s. 8d.
For the wages of John Henill, a setter, working on the said work, at 4½d. per day, for 125 working days within the aforesaid time,—46s. 10½d.
For the wages of William Pathe, a setter, working on the said works, at 4d. per day, for 57 working days, within the aforesaid time,—19s.
For the wages of John Rykedon and Nicholas Pyk, 2 setters, working on the said works, at 3½d. per day each, for 172 working days, within the aforesaid time,—100s. 4d.
For the wages of William Lamb, a setter, working on the aforesaid works, at 3d. per day, for 97 working days, within the aforesaid time,—23s. 4d.
Carpenters' Work, by the Piece.
To Henry atte Wode, for felling 86 oak trees at Bokyngfold, by a certain agreement, at task-work, at 2½d. each,—6s. 6d.
To the same, for felling, lopping, and squaring 22 oak trees, at task-work, at 14d. each,—25s. 8d.
To the same, for making one new building in the inner gateway of the said Castle, in carpenters' work, with doors and windows pertaining to the same, according to a certain agreement at task-work,—£26. 13s. 4d.
Wages of Carpenters.
For the wages of Henry atte Wode, John Sharp, William Bereworth, Thomas Holberne, and William Lymyndenne, namely; 5 carpenters, working at carpenters' work of the said Castle, as well in the wood as in the said Castle, at 6d. per day each, for 109 working days, within the aforesaid time,—£13. 12s. 6d.
For the wages of John Bryd and John Burgeys, 2 carpenters working on the said works, at 5½d. per day each, for 62 working days, within the aforesaid time,—56s. 10d.
For the wages of Henry Twysdenn and John Stace, 2 carpenters, working at the said works, at 5d. per day each, within the aforesaid time,—54s. 6d.
For the wages of Robert Courthope, a carpenter, working at the said works, at 4½d. per day, for 47 working days, within the aforesaid time,—17s. 7½d.
For the wages of John Lymyndenn, a carpenter, working at the said works, at 3d. per day, for 83 working days, within the aforesaid time,—20s. 9d.
Wages of Smiths.
For the wages of Robert Pende, a smith, for making divers ironwork, as well for the doors and windows as for other works of the said Castle, namely, for rides, bands, cramps, bands, rings, bars, bolts, hooks, staples, large and small nails, irons for beetles and spades; in repairing, battering, and steeling axes and other masons' tools, at 6d. per day, for 261 working days, within the aforesaid time,—£6. 10s. 6d.
Wages of Plumbers.
For the wages of John Plomer, a plumber, working on the works of the said Castle, in melting, casting, and laying lead, and for repairing various necessaries, at 6d. per day, for 36½ working days, within the aforesaid time,—18s. 3d.
For the wages of Richard Plomer, a plumber, working on the said works, at 5d. per day, for 15 working days, within the aforesaid time,—6s. 3d.
For the wages of Peter Plomer, a plumber, working on the aforesaid works, at 4d. per day, for 21 days within the aforesaid time,—7s.
Fabric Roll of Rochester Castle
Wages of Plumbers Continued
For the wages of Robert Pende, a smith, for making divers ironwork, as well for the doors and windows as for other works of the said Castle, namely, for rides, bands, cramps, bands, rings, bars, bolts, hooks, staples, large and small nails, irons for beetles and spades; in repairing, battering, and steeling axes and other masons' tools, at 6d. per day, for 261 working days, within the aforesaid time,—£6. 10s. 6d.
Wages of Carters.
For the wages of Stephen Fynel, Nicholas atte Melle, Reginald Palmer, and James Baker, four carters, with their own carts, carrying stone, lime, chalk, mortar, sand, timber, loam, and other necessaries, from the water and other places to the said Castle and to the works thereof, at 10d. per day each, for 176 working days, within the aforesaid time,—£29. 6s. 8d.
For the wages of Thomas atte Pette, William Panton, John Maykyn, and Thomas Thedom, four carters, carrying necessary things to the said works in their own carts, at 8d. per day each, for 125½ working days, within the aforesaid time,—£16. 14s. 8d.
Task-Work of Labourers.
To John Emelyn and his fellows, for pulling down seven perches of the old wall of the said Castle, by task-work, at 3s. 4d. per perch,—30s. 4d.
Wages of Labourers.
For the wages of John Frensh, John Emelyn, John Shereday, and Robert Bratyl, four labourers, labouring and working on the said works, at 4d. per day each, for 203½ working days, within the aforesaid time,—£13. 11s. 4d.
For the wages of John Wylmynsherst and Richard Lande, two labourers, labouring and working on the said works, at 3½d. per day each, for 142½ working days, within the aforesaid time,—£4. 8s. 1½d.
For the wages of Walter Smyth, Andrew Randulf, William Lambe, Richard Pende, Roger Brown, Richard Baker, Robert Cappedehust, John Rundel, John atte Mer, John Clerk, Walter Proude, Richard Nase, Stephen Nichole, William atte Pette, William Spynner, Gregory Meller, Roger Stratford, Stephen Craye, John Kyng, William Trewelove, and Stephen atteMor, 21 labourers, labouring and working on the said works, at 3d. per day each, for 262 working days, within the aforesaid time,—£68. 15s. 6d.
For the wages of John Puttelady, Robert Westwode, Walter atte Herst, Adam Sokelyng, William Tut, John Westwode, John Osebarn, David Meller, John Colchester, John Silvester, John Tanner, Richard Dynot, Richard Man, John Poltre, John Aleyn, William Pope, and Robert (sic), 17 labourers, labouring and working on the said works, at 3d. per day each, for 236 working days, within the aforesaid time,—£50. 3s.
For the wages of Simon Maykyn, William Bek, John Boydyn, John Large, Thomas Booher, Hugh Baker, Robert Godard, Adam Rolf, Geoffrey Bradelee, Paul Betyl, and Thomas Wellys, eleven labourers, labouring and working on the said works, at 3d. per day each, for 132 working days within the aforesaid time,—£18. 8s.
For the wages of William Boleye, a labourer, labouring and working on the aforesaid works, at 2½d. per day, for 242 working days, within the aforesaid time,—50s. 5d.
For the wages of John Beneyt, a labourer, labouring and working on the said works, at 2d. per day, for 156½ working days, within the aforesaid time,—26s. 1d.
Wages of Purveyor.
For the wages of Richard Porter, Purveyor of the said Castle, assigned by commission of our Lord the King, to make divers purveyances, from the first day of February in the 42nd year of the reign of the said King Edward to the 11th day of January next following in the said year, for 345 days, the first day being reckoned, at 6d. per day,—£8. 12s. 6d.
On the Dorse of the Roll.
The same renders account of 193 pieces of stone of 'Caen Grese' and of Beer, worked and prepared for doors, windows, and other things belonging to the within-written works; 68½ feet of stone called 'Crest,' 36 feet of stone called 'Spaces,' 52 feet of stone called 'Parpeincoins,' 63 feet of stone called 'Asshelercoin,' 40 pieces of stone called 'Corbell,' 27 pieces of stone called 'Nowel,' 595 feet of stone called 'Assheler,' 324 feet of stone called 'Urnel,' 300 tons of stone called 'Rag,' one 'mouncell' of plaster of Paris;-and in the park of Bokyngfold, 105 large oak trees;-and at Neweheth, 3 large pieces of oak timber;-and in the within written Castle, 80 pieces of oak timber, 2 'fernys' nearly completed, 90 'standard' laths, 13 casks, 4 pieces of iron, 4 wedges, and 4 beetles for the same, 60 sheets of lead for roofing the said Castle, with necessary rolls of the same lead; 3 ladles and 2 pricks for melting the lead;-and in the within-written Castle, a large chest containing the record of the Master of the Works and the rolls of all the preceding accounts.
Among the items entered as necessaries on this roll, it will be noticed that many relate to matters of interest and curiosity, to which a mere list would give us no clue. For example, in the 'Purchase of Stone' we have various kinds enumerated with their prices; in the 'Smith's Work,' the nails, locks, and other things then in use. The purchase of timber also is of importance; for not only is the amount purchased given, but also the different places from which it was brought, as well as the various kinds of work for which it was used.
From this roll we learn that the timber used in the repairs of Rochester Castle was brought from the park at Bockyngfold, which at that time belonged to the Archdeacon of Canterbury; that 22 trees were cut in a single year for the repairs of the Castle; that the greater part of the timber was brought to the Castle by water; and that the sums paid for the timber, for the carriage, and for the wages of the workmen, form a large portion of the total expenditure.
We notice that the sum expended for stone, timber, and other materials was £1203. 15s. 4d.; that for labourers' wages it was £244. 5s. 9d.; and for carriage and carting, £215. 2s. 6d.; making together £1663. 3s. 7d. These amounts, large as they may seem, are considerably less than those which we now find necessary for similar works. We observe that the wages of the masons were only 6d. a day each, those of the carpenters the same, the labourers 3d. or 4d., and that of the Master of the Works 8d. a day. These were evidently the regular wages of that period, as we find the same rates prevailing throughout the other accounts of the same date. Taking into consideration the value of money at that time, we find that the wages then given were relatively much higher than those at present paid.
The entire roll, which has been thus briefly noticed, is an important and interesting document; it contains not only the receipts and expenditure, but also a mass of useful and curious information relating to the building operations carried on at that period; and it throws considerable light on the history of one of the most important fortresses in the kingdom.