A Source-Book of English Social History

by M. E. Monckton Jones

Upon the Friday morning, our King espied his enemies upon the sea, and said, “Because our Lord Jesus Christ was put to death on a Friday, we will not shed blood upon that day.”

The wind had then been in the East for the whole fortnight before the King put to sea, but by the grace of Him Who is Almighty, the wind shifted immediately to the West; so that, by the grace of God, the King and his fleet had both wind and weather to their mind. And so they sailed on until sunrise at break of day; when he saw his enemies so strongly equipped, that it was a most dreadful thing to behold; for the fleet of the ships of France was so strongly bound together with massive chains, castles, bretasches, and bars.

But notwithstanding this, Sir Edward, our King, said to all those who were around him in the fleet of England,—“Fair Lords and brethren of mine, be nothing dismayed, but be of good cheer, and he who for me shall begin the fight and shall combat with a right good heart, shall have the benison of God Almighty; and every one shall retain that which he shall gain.”

And so soon as our King had said this, all were of right eager heart to avenge him of his enemies. And then our mariners hauled their sails half mast high, and hauled up their anchors in manner as though they intended to fly; and when the fleet of France beheld this, they loosened themselves from their heavy chains to pursue us. And forthwith our ships turned back upon them, and the melee began, to the sound of trumpets, nakers, viols, tabors, and many other kinds of minstrelsy. And then did our King, with three hundred ships, vigorously assail the French with their five hundred great ships and galleys, and eagerly did our people exert great diligence to give battle to the French. Our archers and our arbalesters began to fire as densely as hail falls in winter, and our engineers hurled so steadily, that the French had not power to look or to hold up their heads. And in the meantime, while this assault lasted, our English people with a great force boarded their galleys and fought with the French hand to hand, and threw them out of their ships and galleys.

And always our King encouraged them to fight bravely with his enemies, he himself being in the cog called “Thomas of Winchelsea.” And at the hour of tierce there came to them a ship of London, which belonged to William Haunsard, and it did much good in the said battle. For the battle was so severe and so hardly contested, that the assault lasted from noon all day and all night, and the morrow until the hour of prime (six a.m.) and when the battle was discontinued, no Frenchman remained alive, save only Spaudefisshe, who took to flight with four and twenty ships and galleys.

FOURTEENTH CENTURY PRICES

(Stow I, p. 243)

HOUSEHOLD OF THOMAS, EARL OF LANCASTER

One whole year’s expenses. Seventh of Edward II

			£	s.	d.
Amounting to			7957	13	4½
To wit:
In the Pantry, Buttery and Kitchen			3405	-	-
For 184 Tons, one Pipe of Red or Claret Wine and one Ton of White Wine, bought for the House			104	17	6
For Grocery Ware			180	17	-
For six Barrels of Sturgeon			19	-	-
For 6800 Stockfishes, so called, and for dried Fishes of all sorts, as Lings, Haberdines and other			41	6	7
For 1714 Pound of Wax, with Vermilion and Turpentine to make Red Wax			314	7	4
For 2319 Pounds of Tallow Candles, for the Household, and 1870 of Lights for Paris Candles, called Perchers			31	14	3
Expenses on the Earl’s great Horses, and the Keeper’s Wages			186	4	3	ob.
Linnen Cloth for the Lord and his Chaplains, and for the Pantry			43	17	-
For 129 Doz. of Parchment, with Ink			4	8	3
Sum			£1230	17	7	ob.
Item:
For	2	Cloths of Scarlet for the Earl against Christmas.
1		Cloth of Russet for the Bishop of Anjou.
70		Cloths of Blue for the Knights (as they were then termed).
15		Cloths of Medley for the Lord’s Clerks.
28		Cloths for the Esquires.
15		Cloths for Officers.
19		Cloths for Grooms
5		Cloths for Archers.
4		Cloths for Minstrels and Carpenters, with the Sharing and Carriage for the Earl’s Liveries at Christmas	£460	1	3
Item:
For	7	Furs of variable Minever [or powdered Ermin]
7		Hoods of Purple
395		Furs of Budge, for the Liveries of Barons, Knights and Clerks
123		Furs of Lambs for Esquires, bought at Christmas	£147	17	8
Item:
65		Cloths Saffron Colour, for the Barons and Knights in summer.
12		Red Cloths mixt for Clerks
26		Cloths Ray for Esquires £ s. d.
1		Cloth Ray for Officers’ Coats in Summer and
4		Cloths Ray for carpets in the Hall	£345	13	8
Item:
100		Pieces of Green Silk for the Knights
14		Budge Furs for Surceats
13		Hoods of Budge for Clerks, and
75		Furs of Lambs for the Lord’s Liveries in summer, with Canvas and cords to truss them	£72	19	-
Item:
		Saddles for the Lord’s Liveries in summer	£51	6	8
Item:
		For one Saddle for the Earl of the Prince’s Arms	£2	-	-
Sum			£1079	18	3
Item:
		For Things bought whereof nothing can be read in my Note	£241	14	1	ob.
		For Horses lost in the Service of the Earl	£86	6	8
		Fees paid to Earls, Barons, Knights and Esquires	£628	15	6
		In Gifts to Knights of France, the Queen of England’s Nurses, to the Countess of Warren, Esquires, Minstrels, Messengers and Riders	£92	14	-
Item:
168		Yards of Russet Cloth, and 24 Coats for Poor Men, with Money given to the Poor on Maunday Thursday	£8	16	7
Item:
24		Silver Dishes, so many Sawcers, and so many Cups for the Buttery, one Pair of Paternosters, and one Silver Coffin, bought this Year	£103	5	6
		To divers Messengers about the Earl’s business	£34	19	8
		In the Earl’s Chamber	£5	-	-
		To divers Men for the Earl’s old debts	£88	16	-	ob.
Sum			£1207	7	11
		The Expenses of the Countess at Pickering for the Time of this Account, as in the Pantry, Buttery, Kitchen and other Places, concerning these offices	£285	13	4	ob.
		In Wine, Wax, Spices, Cleaths, Furs and other things for the Countess’s Wardrobe	£154	7	4	ob.
Sum			£439	8	6	q.
		Summa Totalis for the Whole Expences	£7957	13	4	ob.