Stratford-upon-Avon: Guild of the Holy Cross: Masters' and proctors' accounts

Description

Account of Thomas Clyfford and Richard Holy Proctors of the Guild of the Holy Cross, the Blessed Mary, and St. John [the Baptist], from the Morrow of the Feast of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr, 9 Henry VI., to the Morrow of the same Feast, 10 Henry VI The Account is rendered under the following headings-- Arrears Rents of Assize Receipts of moneys at the Feast. (70s 6d received from the Brethren and Sisters; and money received from the sale of skins of the sheep, c., killed for the Feast.) Delivery of moneys. (For salaries and rents.) Cost of the lamp with the light, and wine in the Chapel of the Guild. (Oil for the lamp; 81b. of tallow candles bought for the Chaplains to celebrate Divine service in the chapel in winter; 16lb. of wax bought for making the light for the beam of the Blessed Mary and St. John the Baptist in the Parish Church of Stratford, and the expense of making the light; bottles of wine at ¾d each bought for the Chaplains celebrating Divine service in the Chapel.) Divers expenses. (Expenses incurred "in domo compoti" at the audit of accounts between Hugh Salford, then Master, and Richard Payntour, Proctor of the Guild on the Morrow of the Feast of St. Valentine the Martyr, for bread, beer, oysters, herrings, stockfish, oil, and fresh fish, c.) Allowance of rents in decay and resolute (The rent of the House of St. Mary next "le Oldton" is excused because it is granted to Richard Payne, by the Council of the Guild, to dwell there for his whole life without paying rent; so too is 9d, the rent of a certain garden, because the tenant thereof bought a cart-load of thorns to make a hedge, therefore he has retained the said 9d, c.) Expenses of the Feast of the said Guild this year. (Payments for 7 quarters 1 bushel of malt for brewing the beer; 6d for "turnebroches"; for the meals of the cooks being there before the Feast, namely, one for three days and three for one day; 2s to the said Proctors for the pay for their horses riding into the country and collecting the geese, pullets, pigs, and sheep for four days, with other expenses; for 20d the pay of John de Officio, cook, 20d to Thomas Brydder, another cook, and 2s to Robert, the cook of Lady Jane de Rodesbroke; 3s for linen cloth given to the cooks and other servants at the Feast for "naprons," c.)