Ministers' Accounts: 1516-1537

R.O. Ministers' Accounts. 21–22 Henry VIII. (1530). No. 163.

But the Cardiff Account is for 6–7 Henry VIII. 1516. Latin.

[Translation.]

Glamorgan and Morgannok

Which were of Jasper, late Duke of Bedford. Office of Receivor.

Account of Mathew Cradok, esquire, Receivor there.

Whereas our Lord the King that now is, Henry the Eighth, by his Letters Patent, given at Cardif, under the Great Seal of his Chancery there, on the first day of September in the first year of the reign of him the said King, by virtue of the Warrant of our said lord the King of the date aforesaid, to be made to the Chancellor there by such Letters Patent [&c., reciting the Receivor's appointment.]* * *

(He answers) for 58s. 9d. received from Robert ap Thomas Lloid, Prevost of Llantrissan. . . . . . .

And for 35l. 17s. 3½d. received from Philip Thomas and Thomas Lychefeld, Bailiffs of Cardif Burgh, of the issues of their office this year.

And for 6l. 12s. 3d. received from Morgan ap John David, Prevost of Whitchurche. . . . . . .

And for 29l. 6s. 4d. received from Henry Jones, the deputy of Robert Jones, knight, Prevost of Rothe. . . . . . .

And for 16l. 17s. 1½d. received from John Vachan, Prevost of Lyquyth. . . . . . .

And for 6l. 18s. 11d. received from Thomas Prowtyng, Prevost of Cogan. . . . . . .

And for 4l. 14s. 4½d. received from William Matewe, Prevost of Radure. . . . . . .

And for 66s. 5½d. received from Jeuan ap John, Prevost of Pentirth. . . . . . .

And for 66s. 8d. received from Lewis ap John Gwyn, Farmer of Gruffithmore. . . . . . .

And for 111l. 2s. 2½d. and half a farthing, as of a 6th part of 1000 marks for the whole committee of the County of Glamorgant and Morgant, and the members thereof, unto the now King Henry 8th granted in the name of a certain fine for divers trespasses, fines, penalties, forfeitures and other articles, in the Great Session at Cardif, on the tenth day of May in the seventh year of the aforesaid King, holden before the Reverend in Christ, Llyson, Abbot of the monastery of Neeth; David, Abbot of Morgan; Thomas Gamage; Edward Stradlynge; William Bawdryp, knights; Matthew Cradok; John Butler, esquires; and Nicholas Williams, learned in the Law, Justices Itinerant of our said lord the King, to be loosed and pardoned. * * *

He accounts in the fee of Charles Somerset, Chamberlain of our lord King Henry the Eighth, and Earl of Worcester; and of Henry Somerset, Lord Harbert, son and heir apparent of the said Earl of Worcester, jointly, Sheriff and Steward of Glamorgan, as also Constable of our said lord the King's Castles of Cardif, Cowbrige and Neeth, and also Steward of all those lands and tenements called "Malenfaunts lands"; unto them the said Charles and Henry granted by Letters Patent of our lord the now King; the tenour of which said Letters Patent followeth in these words: [Here follows the text of the grant.] . . . . . . in payment of such fees, to wit, for the time of this Account, as by the aforesaid offices of Sheriff of the County of Glamorgant and Morgant, and Steward of the members there, and Constable of the Castles of Cardif and Cowbrigge, at 100l. a year; as Richard Croft, knight, lately exercising those three offices, continually had and took for the same by the gift and grant of Jasper, late Duke of Bedford, then lord there, as by the Account of Richard Meuric, late Receivor of the said Duke in the said County. * * And in the fee of John Butler, esquire, whom the aforesaid Charles, Sheriff of the County of Glamorgant and Morgant, named, ordained and made to be Chancellor of our lord the King in the County aforesaid . . . . . . as Morgan Kedwelly, lately exercising that office, had and took by the grant of the aforesaid late Duke of Bedford. * * And in the fee of Charles, Earl of Worcester, Chancellor of the County aforesaid, by Letters Patent of the aforesaid now King unto him granted; the tenour of which said Letters Patent followeth in these words: [Here follows the text of the grant.] . . . . . . Namely, in full payment of such his fee, to wit, for the office of Chancellor at 20l. a year . . . . . . as the like fee was allowed unto Morgan Kedwelly by the grant of Jasper, late Duke of Bedford. * * And in the fee of Thomas Gamage, knight, whom the aforesaid Charles named, appointed and made to be Forester of our lord the King, of all his forests within the Lordship of Glamorgant and Morgant. * * And in the fee of the abovesaid Charles, Earl of Worcester, Chief Forester of the County of Glamorgant and Morgant and the members thereof, at 20l. a year, of the accustomed fee so unto him granted by Letters Patent of our lord the now King. * * And in the fee of Christopher Mathewe, esquire, Approver of our lord the now King, of all his manors, lands and tenements in the County aforesaid, at 100s. a year, of the wage and fee to the same office due and accustomed. * * And in the fee of Nicholas Williams, Approver of our lord the King . . . by reason of the exercise of that office, by the assent and consent of the aforesaid Christopher Mathewe. * * And in the fee of the said Nicholas Williams, Clerk of the Exchequer and Chancery of our lord the King within his Castle of Cardif, at 100s. a year . . as Ralph Bampton, lately exercising that office . . . had and took. * * And in the wage of Lewis ap Richart, Constable of the Castle of Kaerfilly, at 60s. 8d. a year . . . as the abovesaid Matthew Cradok, esquire, lately exercising that office . . . had and took. * * And in the wage of Robert Jones, knight, to whom the aforesaid Charles, Earl of Worcester, and Chamberlain of our said lord the now King, and Sheriff of the County aforesaid . . . granted the office of Gatekeeper of the Castle of Cardif within the County aforesaid, to have, fulfil and exercise that office unto the aforesaid Robert, by himself or by his sufficient deputy or deputies, during the life of him the said Robert, with the wage and fee of 3 pence a day, of the wage unto the said office due and accustomed, yearly to be taken by the hands of the Receivor there for the time being, at the feasts there usual, by equal portions, as William Pye, lately exercising that office in the time of the possession of the said late Duke of Bedford, every year took and had. * * And in wage of the said Robert Jones, knight, to whom the aforesaid lord the now King Henry the 8th, by his Letters Patent under his Great Seal of England, given at Canterbury on the second day of April in the second year of his reign, gave and granted the office of Constable of the Castle of Llantrissan, and Keeper of the Park of Clonne, and the office of Keeper of the Isle or Warren of Barry, and Prevost of Roth and Liquith, within the Lordship of Glamorgann and Morgannok in South Wales. * * And in wage of the said Robert, Prevost of Roth and Lyquyth, at 3d. a day, of the wage unto that office due and accustomed . . . as by the said Account of the 8th year of the late King Henry the Seventh. And in the fee of John Griffith, Clerk of the County and of the Court of the aforesaid County, at 100s. a year. * * And in the fee of John Turbervile, Coroner of our lord the King in the County of Glamorgant and Morgant, at 100s. a year. . . . as Ralph Bampton lately took and had. * * And in the fee of James ap Morgan, Bailiff of Kebor, at 5 marks a year . . . as Robert ap Meuric Vachan lately took and had. * * And in the fee of Nicholas Williams, Attorney of our lord the King in some of his Courts of record within the County and Lordship aforesaid, at 100s. a year . . . as Hugh Huntley lately took and had. And in the fee of Matthew Cradok, esquire, Receivor there, at 20l. a year; unto whom our lord the now King Henry 8th, by his Letters Patent given at Cardiff under the Great Seal of his Chancery there . . . granted the office of Receivor General of him the said King in the County aforesaid; as Richard Meuric, lately exercising that office, took and had. * * And in the fee of Thomas Roberts and John Peryent, continuing Auditors of our lord the King there . . . as Richard Lussher and John Gunter . . . lately had. * *

And in a reward to the Clerk of Accounts, for the writing and engrossing of the rolls of the Accounts of all and singular the Ministers and Receivors of this lordship, at 40s. a year.

* * *

And in parchment, red wax and ink, bought, used in the office of the Constable and Receivor. * * And in parchment, paper and ink, bought and used in the office of the Auditor. * * And in 6 yards of green woollen cloth bought for covering the tables of the Exchequers of the Receivor and Auditor . . . . 13s. 4d.. And in a white leather bag bought for putting our lord the King's money in, this year . . . . . . 12d. * * *

Expenses of felons hanged. And in expenses of Res Gough of Neeth, for 6 weeks and five days; of John Yonge of Rothe, for five weeks and 4 days; and of John Hoell David of Cardif, for 3 weeks and five days, being felons, imprisoned within the Castle of Cardif, under the custody of Owen Vayne, the deputy of Robert Jones, knight, Gatekeeper of the Castle there, hanged within the lordship aforesaid for their felonies; namely, for the diet of each of them 7d. a week, as in the like case was accustomed to be allowed for such felons so imprisoned and hanged, in the Accounts aforesaid, 9s. 4d.

* * *

Repairs. And in moneys by the said Accountant paid and laid out upon the tiling of the great hall and of other houses within the Castle of Cardif, done this year; namely, as in purchase of tiles, burnt lime, shingles, shingle-nails and other necessaries, with the wages of a tiler and a labourer; as by one bill of the parcels thereof made . . . . . . 115s. 1d.

[Next follows, on the same roll, an Account for the year 10–11 Henry VIII., 1519. It is very similar to the last; the chief variations are here given]:—

Glamorgan and Morgannok.

Parcel of the lands of Jasper, late Duke of Bedford.

[Hoell David, Prevost of Llantrissan.

Jeuan Llewelyn ap David Guilim, Farmer of Kaerfilly.

Thomas ap Jeuan ap Llewelyn, Prevost of Whitchurche.]

And for 38l. 8s. 11½d. received from John Lenard and William Cogan, Bailiffs of Cardif Burgh, of the issues of their offices this year, as by their Account for the same year upon this Account examined. And for 29l. 10s. 4d. received from Henry Jones, deputy of Robert Jones, knight, Prevost of Rothe. * * And for 15l. 15s. 1½d. received from John Vachan, Prevost of Lyquyth, of the issues of his office this year, beyond 26s. 4d. laid out on repairs of the sea-walls of the lord's grange there. * * And for 64s. 9½d. received from Philip Adam, Prevost of Pentirgh, of the issues of his office this year, beyond 3s. 8d. "comortha" happening there the year before. . . .

Repairs. And in moneys by the said Accountant paid and laid out upon repairs of divers houses, a stable and chambers within the Castle of Cardif this year; as in purchase of tiles, burnt lime, shingles, shingle-nails and other nails of divers "sourts," and ironwork, locks, with nails and other divers stuff bought and provided for the same; the carriage of sand and earth; and to the workmen, carpenter, tiler and labourers; as by one quire of paper of the parcels thereof made, on this Account shewn, and remaining in the possession of the Auditor.

And in expenses of Thomas ap Philip (8s. 9d.) for 15 weeks, and of Thomas ap Jankyn (5s. 3d.) for 9 weeks, being felons, imprisoned within the Castle of Cardif, under the custody of Owen Vayne, deputy of Robert Jones, knight, Gatekeeper of the Castle there within the lordship aforesaid, hanged for their felonies; namely, for diet of each of them at 7d. a week, as in similar cases it was the custom to allow for such felons so imprisoned and hanged, in former years, 14s.

R.O. Ministers' Accounts. 28–29 Hen. VIII. 1537. No. 139 Latin.

[Translation.]

The Accounts of all and singular the lordships, manors, lands and tenements and other possessions whatsoever, as well temporal as spiritual, formerly belonging or pertaining to monasteries or priories within the Bishopric of Landaff which have come into the hands of our Lord the King that now is, and being in his hands and annexed unto his Crown and of his heirs or successors of the Realm of England, in Augmentation of the Revenues of the said Crown of England, by virtue of a certain Act in his Parliament holden at Westminster upon prorogation on the 4th day of February in the 27th year of the reign of our said lord the King, thereof published and provided, as in the same Act is among other things contained; namely, from the feast of Saint Michael Archangel in the 28th year of the reign of the aforesaid King Henry 8, until the same feast of Saint Michael Archangel thence next ensuing in the 29th year of the aforesaid King; to wit, for one whole year.

The late Monastery of Margam.

The Account of Rice Maunxell, knight, farmer there, for the time aforesaid.

Arrears. Nothing; as appears at the foot of the Account of the year last past.

Grange de More.

And for 6l. 13s. 4d. rent of the grange aforesaid, with all its appurtenances, demised unto Lewis ap Richard by indenture the tenour whereof follows in these words: "Unto all Christ's faithful "to whom the present writing shall come, we John, Abbot of the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin of Margan and the Convent of that place, greeting. Know ye that we the aforesaid Abbot and Convent, by our unanimous assent and consent, have delivered and by this our present writing have to farm demised unto Lewis ap Richerd, esquire, our grange near the town of Kaerdiff, commonly called More Grange, with the appurtenances, as Roger Vaughan, knight, formerly had and held the said grange, and as it is situate and lies there by ancient metes and bounds: To have and to hold the aforesaid grange, with all and singular its appurtenances, unto the aforesaid Lewis ap Richerd, his executors and assigns, from the day of the making of these presents until the end and term of 90 years thence next ensuing and fully to be completed. Rendering therefor yearly unto the aforesaid Abbot and Convent, and to their successors, six pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence sterling, payable at the 2 terms of the year, to wit, at the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Assumption, by equal portions. Rendering also unto the Lord Bishop of Landaff 4s. of yearly rent. Provided always that we the aforesaid Abbot and Convent and our successors shall have of the grange aforesaid, yearly during the aforesaid term, 2 acres of hay by the view and delivery of the farmer there. And the aforesaid Lewis, his executors and assigns, will well and suitably repair and maintain and in good condition deliver up the aforesaid grange, in houses, sea-walls, weirs, ditches and fences, so often as shall be required or needed. . . . . . . Given in our Chapter-house of our Monastery aforesaid, on the twenty-third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and seventeen, and in the ninth year of the reign of King Henry 8."

Sum 6l. 13s. 4d.

Rents of assize, as well of tenants by indenture as by copy of Court roll and at will, within the Lordship of Kibword and Kaerdiff. And for 3s. 4d. rent of one tenement with the appurtenances, in the tenure of William ap Jenkyn Cole by copy of Court roll, to have unto him, his wife and their son, for the term of their life, it they shall so long live, according to the custom of the manor; rendering therefor as above, and an heriot when it shall fall due. . . . And for 40s. the rent of one grange situate within the franchise of Kaerdiff, and thirty acres of arable land and four acres of meadow lying in the marsh of Rothe, together with the common to the same belonging and their appurtenances, which Ieuan ap Thomas ap Griffith lately held and occupied; now demised unto Lawrence Williams by indenture sealed with the conventual seal, given on the feast of Saint Michael Archangel in the 17th year of the reign of King Henry 8. . . . And the aforesaid Lawrence, his executors and assigns, will well and suitably repair, uphold and maintain the aforesaid grange, and at their own proper charges and expences make it defensible against wind and rain, during the said term; and also will fence all the hedges of the said grange, and will uproot and destroy all briars and thorns growing in and about the meadows aforesaid. . . . And for 13s. 4d. rent of one burgage with the appurtenances situate and lying in the town of Kaerdiff, together with two acres of meadow adjoining to the same burgage; which two acres of meadow lie within the precincts of our own grange of Kaerdiff, as it lies there by metes and bounds anciently limited. And the said burgage lies in the West Street of the town aforesaid, between the lands of us the Abbot and Convent on the east, and the lands belonging to the bridge of Kaerdiff on the west, and the highway there on the north, and the lands of William Jason on the south; demised unto William Dankyn by indenture sealed with the seal of the Convent, dated the 18th day of August in the 12th year of the reign of King Henry 8. . . . . And for 10s. rent of one tenement of land with the appurtenances situate in the parish of Rothe, by a certain bridge called Pontlyn [Pontlyci ?], together with one acre of meadow adjoining to the same tenement in Rothes-more, in the hands of Morice ap Jenkyn ap Rice Lloid, by indenture as it is said. . . . And for 33s. 4d. rent of one tenement situate in Listillaponte, commonly called Mon' Pupit, and 14 acres of land called Rosiston', 4 acres of meadow in Rothesmore, and one close lying in Porte-mansmore in the fee of Kylboca [Kybbore], in the tenure of Jeuan ap Daniell, by an indenture which is not shewn, payable at the same terms. And for 8s. rent of half one burgage with a garden and other its appurtenances, lying in the town of Kaerdiff, in a street called Westrete, in the hands of Roger Bere by an indenture which is not shewn, payable at the terms aforesaid. And for 20s. rent of one tenement with the appurtenances, in the hands of Denys by indenture. . . . And for 10s. rent of one tenement in the hands of Hoell Vyghan at the will of the lord. . . . And for 6d. rent of one tenement in the hands of John Williams at the will of the lord. . . . And for 12d. rent of one tenement in the tenure of William Kewe at the will of the lord, payable at the same terms.

Sum 6l. 19s. 6d.

* * *

John Tur'bell as for so much money by him received of the rents and farms of divers tenants in Kybworthe and Kardiff and retained in his hands, so by his arrears this year 6l. 12s. 2d.

* * *

Note.—At this time and henceforward, a great deterioration is noticeable in these Accounts; the Latin is inaccurate, and Welsh place-names are more than ever corrupted by the copyist.