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

Description

Account of John Mayel [senior] and Geoffrey Webbe, Proctors of the Guild of ... from Christmas, 10 [Henry IV.], to the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary [10 Henry IV.] (for half-a-year) The Account is rendered under the following headings [Arrears.] Light-silver [No heading.] 86s 6d received from 133 Bretheren and Sisters present at the Feast this year, 8d for bread sold after the Feast; 54s 4d received by the hands of the Master for divers expenses [Stipends] of the Chaplains Rents resolute. (One of the items allowed is "2s from the tenement which John West inhabits, because it is granted to him for the love of God by the Master and Alderman.") Cost of the lamps and the lights Cost of the houses. (6d for the making of a "bold" at Drapery Hall, a payment for making a "deske" in the Chapel of the Blessed [Mary], 2d for making a table for the "deske," c.) Small necessaries. (1d for washing the vestments of the Altar of St. John; 2s 2d for linen cloth bought for John Sokadon and for Ellen Walleford; 2d paid to Henry Bedmon for making the graves of the same persons and for going about the town with the bell; 12d for "bokeram" for the "tunica" of the Holy Cross; 10d for making the said "toga;" 1d for thread bought for the same; 2d for washing the vestments of the altar of the Holy Cross; 1d for a "hope" and a "cowle;" 6d for washing "le napry" after the Feast; 6d for three new lamps; 2d paid to Henry Bedmon for ringing the bell in the town for the "interlocutio" of the Bretheren and Sisters; 2d for scouring the lamp before the Holy Cross, c) Expenses of the Master and [Aldermen]. (For bread, meat, c., bought for the "interlocutio" of the Aldermen and for the view of the Proctor's account) [Expenses of the Feast] (with sub-headings of Corn, Malt, Meats, Pigs, Geese, Pullets, c. Under the heading of "Geese" there are four items:--70 geese at 2d each, 11s 10d; 2 quarters 1 bushel of malt at 9d a bushel, "pro dictis aucis mecandis," 12s 9d; 1 bushel of corn, 9d; 4d for keeping the same geese for a week. Under the heading of "In Spices" there are payments for pepper, "fygus," "raysyns," "raysyns de courance," "almondis," "macys," "sanders," saffron, "crowes" (? cloves), 2lb. of "ryse" 4d, c. Under the heading of "Pay of the Servants" there are payments to 2 cooks, 3 servants, 2 women washing the dishes, 5 "turners," another woman, and 2 men carrying the meats ("portantibus fermam.") Under the heading of "Small necessaries" there are payments for 2 cartloads of wood for fuel, 4 quarters of charcoal, "rysshyn" for the hall, 9d for wine for the cook, 4d to a minstrel (minestrell'), 8d paid to Thomas Frecter for going about the country to buy calves for the Feast; 4d for a "candelcase" bought for the use of the Guild, c.)