OF THE CONTENTS OF

THE RED B OOK OF THE IRI SH EXCHE&UER .

B& JAMES FREDERICK FER G S N . U O , ES&

From the Procee dings and Transa ctions of the Kilkenny and S outh~ Eastern Archae ologica l

S ocie J a nua r 1 8 1 8 5 4 . ty, y ,

TH E Red Book of the Irish Exchequer has been adverted to by several writers . Each has selected some portion of its contents to fi which his remarks have been con ned, but the entire record has i not h therto received that full description to which , from its nature and antiquity, it is undoubtedly well entitled . Sir John Davys ” refers to it in his Historical Relations . Patrick Darcy in his “ Argument delivered in 164 1 by the express order of the House ” ak . of Commons , m es mention of it also Parts of it have been long

i l . in since transcribed , and w l be found in the M S Trinity Col

l . 3 . 2 0 . lege, Dub in , entitled E Gorges Edmond Howard , in his an d R e ve nu e a l 1 Treatise of the Exchequer of Irel nd , Dub in , 7 7 6 ,

i . . 14 vol . , p , makes mention of it also , but merely states that the “ chief remembrancer has in his custody the Red Book of the Ex ” and adds di . 1 . . . 4 chequer, , in the Appen x , No , vol ii , p 7 , the oaths ffi i ofthe o cers and m nisters of the Court of Exchequer, and of some

t . 1820 . others , aken from the same book In the year Dr Henry

Joseph Monck Mason , in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca fac- dra wi demy, gave a simile of an ancient ng of the Court of Ex chequer which appears upon one of the leaves of the Red Book,

I r . accompanied by a short and , think , an inaccurate desc iption of it “ ” a Lynch , in his Feudal Dignities , refers to this book , and to m ny

r s . l E s of the ent ie appearing in it Wil iam Henry Black, q , has A

1 6 3 0 3 7 6 recently published amongst ” Institute of London , the old Calenda r ; and the writ casions transm i several entries many inte r e sti - wide spread publication .

lish Record Reports , an

and published from it . There can be little that the earliest entries in this book have not been period of time than during

I . It is probable that the

not of a later period . That a r & fi the Magna Ch rta Hibe nia of the rst year of Henry III . was th IS u n u e s therein recorded at e time that it was made , , I think, q tionable and n f a r , , theref ore , it is not goi g too to say, that the Red E he iie r Book of the i g q , as a national muniment , from its nature i and an tiquity, talics precedence of all other records l n Ireland . n i The a c ent pagination has been erased , and a more modern has paging been substituted by some rude and unskilful hand , ' whence it becomes somewhat difficult to say in what form this r e

cord originally stood . The binding of the book (as I have been informed by a gentleman whose opinion is of valu e ) is not ofan earlier ’ III . s no w date than George time, and consequently it is not pre 11 sented to us in its original form . The book is written partly 0

1 . vellum and partly on parchment , and consists of 7 9 pages As it requires more time and attention to decipher a large

n. portio of the handwriting of this manuscript , which is much de f h aced t rough time and careless guardianship , than I have as yet been

able to devote to it, I feel that justice is scarcely done to so valuable

a record by giving to it a hasty description , but as , each day that l passes , it is iable to many casualties , and as hitherto no attempt de scri has been made to elucidate its contents , the following short p r tion is now submitted, in the hope that at some futu e time the

entire book, or at least the greater part of it, may be published . I am inclined to think that the Red Book originally consisted ri of two separate parts , and I shall therefore now desc be it as if it

were divided into two distinct portions, namely, Parts I . and II .

l - PAR T I . Folios 6 Upon these folios are written an ancient o s Calendar, similar to that which has been published by the Ar ba o 1 a of . logic l Society Ireland As each folio consists of two pages ,

each month occupies a page , i . e . there are six folios , or twelve pages,

being one page for each of the twelve months . At the top of each

- k o f O M o f C C u l . 60 7 4 . The Boo bits and artyrology hrist h rch , Dub in, pp 3

of these pages , Latin lines have been written , descriptive ofunlucky d ays , and these lines will be found in a recent number of Notes ” and &ueries . Scattered here and there throughout the entire C a le ndar , there have been from time to time inserted memoranda of remarkable events & these have been transcribed by one who has done more to rescue valuable records from decay and obscurity than i perhaps any other in modern times , and whose antiquarian sk ll and E s ability are well known (William H . Black , q , of London) , who a has published them , as I have already mentioned , in one of the p pers of the Chronological Institute . At the foot of one of the pages of this Calendar , namely, the second page , which is devoted to the l month of February , the following Latin ines have been written

Post nonas Febr u ar ii n ov am Lu n am quere u ar tam f Inde q eriam proximo venere, Ibi f e st u m Cin er u m prudentes f ece r e

N u nqu am per hanc regulam tu di ssipiere .

r obable that It is p w the foregoing lines contain a rhythmical fi direction for the ndi ng of Ash Wednesday . The ancient Calendar to which I have adverted is followed by an the Canon of the Mass , and as it is a perfect as well as a very m cient copy, it is well worthy of the exa ination of those who take an interest in the early ecclesiastical rites and ceremonies . The a 4 9 Canon of the Mass occupies sixteen pages , namely , from p ge to 6 4 page . 64 This Canon of the Mass is followed on page by two lines, which cannot be deciphered by the writer of this paper at present, and these lines are followed by other Latin lines descriptive of the meaning attached to the forms of taking an oath upon the book libr um t o ( ) , having reference, as I presume , the Bible , and not to a the Red Book . As these lines have recently ppeared in Notes

a . and &ueries , I conceive it to be unnecess ry to repeat them here a h Upon the same page is given , in the Norman French , the o t ' ’ n s f taken by the members of the K g council , but so much de aced that it is scarcely possible to deci pher the greater part of it . Assuming that I a m co n e ct in the opinion I have formed , that the Red Book originally consisted of two distinct parts , I would sa - a y, that the above mentioned C lendar, and Canon of the Mass , ’ and also the above- mentioned o a th of the King s councillors , as ‘ s b f u of well as the oaths of sheriff , mayors , and aili fs , of the j dges

e c , an d the several courts , and of the tr asurer of the Ex hequer of fi a am the escheator , were also included in that rst p rt , and I also a ; fi inclined to think that. the Magna Ch rta Hibernia of the rst year o f a a the a l . Henry III . lso formed portion of origin book ' The seve ral oaths to which I have above a dverted tu e wri tten “ in t u Norman French , and a transcript in wha is sually called long 4

a u Latin, of the Magna Ch rta , will be fo nd in the Appendix to the ’ first volume of Leland s History of Ireland it is al so referred to in “ ” i a un a publ c tion called the Law Reporter , wherein a short acco t was many years past given by the write r of thi s paper of the points of diff erence existin g between this an d the great Charter of Kin g John for England . Various entries which appear in the Books of Orders of the Cour t of Exchequer show that the officers of the Crown in Ireland were sworn upon the Red Book, and the form in which the oaths were administered is manifest by the present appearance of many of f r its vellum leaves, which have been partly worn away by the e quent pressure of the lips of high officials ; so much so that many of li the memorabi a of the Calendar cannot now be deciphered . One of the entries to which I have above alluded, descriptive of the mode in ffi u in which the oath ofo ce was administered to a Lord Mayor ofD bl , has been read at one ofthe recent meetings of the Kilkenny Ar chaeo logical Society .

— A R T . fir P II As the st part consisted , as I conceive, of the - above mentioned records or documents , so does it , of necessity, fol of hi low, that the remaining records w ch the book is also now com i posed must have been added to it, and these add tions appear to me

to have been made from time to time , at various intervals , between

the reigns of Edward I . and Charles II . I shall now enumerate and fl i ‘ brie y describe these additional records, not tak ng them in their

d . or er as to dates, but as they follow each other in the book l — fi Page . The rst page does not contain anything more than n i th nl f mere scribbli g, amongst wh ch e o y per ect line appears to be

A ngl or u m regi scola scr ibit sola.

— r efle ct Page 2 . The second page contains seven Latin couplets ing in unmeasured terms upon the English nation (gens Anglo; 1n rum) , the sense whereof merely can be discovered , consequence of t heir having sustained much injury through carelessness or other ' the ar e o ccasmnm causes . Amongst other things y accused of g loss to ai h French property, and they cont n a statement t at God would sanc o l tify Whomsoever [would punish] them . It is somewhat ur ons that in the n ame William Black here appears the margin , and the name of Alison Aylmer is also here inserted The above lines are followed by a memorandum that nothi ng was answered (probably by the escheator) of the rents and issues of Wa s aile ston f the estates of Richard de St . Michael , at p , county P bl - m ff l e 1 Du in, because they were granted in fee far to Geo rey Bot i

r a . Thl S ler, and his wife , the daughter and hei of the said Rich rd record bears date in the September of the second year of Edward II . Imm ediately u nder it ar e these lines 5

Donec m are crit siccu m N u n u am h amicu m q pauper habc it . And then these verses

Tempore f e licn m ulti nominantu r amici o o r tu n e er iit s Dum p p nullu amicu s crit . The above are followed by a memorandum of the second year of Edward II . , that the village of Castlemore, in the county of

u sum £69 d . Cork , had acco nted for a of 8 , the arrears of m u w rage which had not been expended upon the alls (in opere posito) . Then follows a memorandum of the twenty-fourth year of Edward III ., that by letters patent from England it a ppears that no officers n be a or mi isters , the treasurer excepted, should dmitted to any ffi r u o ce in I eland nder English patents , unless found to be fit and idon e o s e t i able ( hab les) , by the justiciary, chancellor , treasurer , l and counci of Ireland .

The above is followed by a memorandum ofthe same date , that magnates of Englan d having lands in Ir eland should find men at arms . Then follows a memorandum of the forty-third year of Edward

. n a III , bei g a note of a Statute of that date, ch p . 8 , relating to the manner in which sheriffs and bailiffs of franchises should render their accounts .

This is followed by a note stating, that it appears by the memo - a . . 16 randa roll of the forty sixth ye r of Edward III , mem , that i an d i 3 4 d . W lliam his wife Johanna, owed the K ng £20 9 . — h S a s Page 3 . T is page commences with the t tute pa sed at

I I. Dublin in the eleventh year of Henry , whereby it was enacted f that sheri fs should be thenceforth elected by the people . Thi s no t u r inted Statute is to be fo nd amongst the p Acts of Ireland . Thi s Statute is follo wed by a memorandum whereby it appears - in i . l that Hilary Term , in the forty s xth year ofEdward III , Isabel a , J a i the widow of ohn Wogan , was ch rged with two marks , be ng the profits of certain sessions held before him as a justice of the peace of the county of Kildare ; by another memorandum of the same date , Ambr o se town relating to the fruits and emoluments of , due to the ’ King i n consequence of the o um er s absence ; by another entry to f b l the e fect , that it appears y the Memoranda Rol of the twentieth -d year of Richard II . that certain evil oers had carried away certain u an goods and chattels , value ten marks ; and by a f rther memor dum , stating that it appears by the rolls of the collectors of the n i customs of the city of Cork , that somethi g had been done , wh ch b i - i cannot e deciphered, w th some horse sk ns by a man named Shor lyn g The n r follow, upon the fou th page , the Acts or Ordinances made n o on in a Parliament at Westminster, and e r lled the Memoranda 6

fift i e . Roll of the h and s xth y ars of Edward III , consisting of eight clauses , the three last of which are much defaced . By an English writ or mandate which precedes these Acts , it appears that the jus ticiar y, chancellor, and treasurer were directed to cause them to be held and observed in Ireland towar ds the quieting and tranquilliz ing of the country . ff As the Red Book is now bound , the oaths of sheri s, mayors ,

ff . and baili s , ofjudges , of the treasurer and escheator , here follow

These , as I have already mentioned , formed , as I conceive , part of the Red Book as it stood originally, and are therefore included in

a . P rt I In the vacant spaces between two of these oaths , the fol lowing Latin verses and lines have been inserted

Ecce m odum mir u m f emin a que f ert breve Regis on tam en do i m con i m s N g v ru v ctu robore legi .

N ascer is e t m or er is u tr a u e , quod preterit inter q s r a m Crede u pe v cu u prete r amare D eum .

Pr oxim u s e xtr e m u s quibus intimu s adde su ppr em u s

I fim u dda r t r ibu atu r . E t declin a u r n s a tu duplex gradu s hiis [ t .]

These are followed , on the sixth page , by the degrees of com ” ” ” ” su parison of the words prope , extra, intra, supra, ” ” r em u s infimu s . p , infra, and — 8 . A t Page the commencement of this page , there is entered i i a writ or mandate tested at Westm nster by the King h mself, and

1 7 fi a . dated the th of December, in the rst ye r of Henry IV , which

R . recites the Act of Absentees passed in the third year of ichard II , and commands the Lord Lieutenant and the Chancellor and Trea surer of Ireland to cause the Act to be observed in all its arti cles . This wri t is followed by a memorandum that the Statute u of Absentees, pon which the following writ was founded, was

. hi entered in the White Book of the Exchequer The writ , w ch in hwc ver ba 2 8th is set forth , is dated at Drogheda, the of

June , in the fourth year of Richard II . , and bears the teste of

Edmund de Mortimer, Earl of March and Ulster, the then Lord Lieutenant & It recites very fully the Act which was passed at i Westminster in the then last Parl ament , and directs the Trea a surer and B rons of the Exchequer to search the rolls , writs , and memoranda of the Exchequer in their custody for the purpose of fi be obtaining more full information as to the lands , rents , of ces , n efice s &c. . , , of those who were absentees in the time of Edward III , and in the hands of that King by pretext of the ordinance made by Guildef or d him at , and also to inquire , by the oaths of good and

&c . n lawful men , what lands , , belongi g to absentees , have not been seized , on behalf of the Crown, in consequence of their not sending u people to occupy their places, and to return inquisitions there pon , so that two-thirds or one-third of the profits of their estates might i be appl ed towards their defence as the Ordinance directs . A me m orandum d n is a ded at the foot of this writ , stati g that the above mentioned patent and writ remain amongst the writs from England i n of the th rd year of Richard II . , bei g in the custody of the Chief

Re membrancer . Upon the ninth page there is an entry or enrolment ofthe Statute

i 2 7 Edw . . . passed at W estm nster ( III , chap entitled in the mar ” C u stu m a Hibern iae i gin the , direct ng the payment to the Crown u woolf els of customs pon wool , , lead , and so forth , and this Act is

. fi r concluded upon that page , but is much dis gu ed by the injudicious use of tincture of galls . Page 10 is devoted to part of a mandate or writ tested by the 1 th J Thomas de Burgh , Treasurer, and dated the 7 of anuary , in

. l the seventh year of Edward II , reciting a grant of the sma l customs , - called the three penny customs , made to Edward I . by foreign mer chants , and that the King had appointed two collectors to receive the sai d customs at the town of Ross ; and directing all persons to aid the collectors in such their duty . At the foot of this mandate there is a memorandum that the Statute above referred to is enrolled upon the Memoranda Roll of - the thirty fir st year of Edward I . Page 13 commences with the Grievance s which were laid before

. f r Edward III , on behal of the people of Ireland , by John A cher,

. Jer usalem the Prior of St John of . and Master Thomas Wogan , in ’ r the sixteenth year of that monarch s reign . This ve y interesting

d curious state paper occupies seven pages of the Red Book , but

. ii as they are to be found fully set forth in Rhymer, vol . ii , part . , ’ ” . 1 1 3 d l Pr nn e s p 9 (the last e ition) , as wel as in y Fourth Institute ,

35 n a an . p . , it is u necessary to dvert to them here at y greater length At the foot of page 20 there is an entry of the Statute passed at Westminster, on Monday next after the feast of Easter, in

- i fir st . the th rty year of Edward III , making the chancellor and a r a a tre su er, aided by the b rons of the Exchequer, judges of p

peal in cas es of error arising in that Co u rt . This is followed on

the same page by an entry of the Act passed at Westminster, on

Monday next after the feast of St . Mark the Evangelist , in the

- I . e s twenty eighth year of Edward , in relation to the duty of he ators c in cases oflivery , being the Statute for Escheators , which

is printed with the Statutes of the Realm (p . and is dated in

- the twenty ninth year of Edward I . — i a Page 2 1 . Th s p ge commences with a copy of a writ tested by 20th the King at Westminster, and dated the of February, in the - i fir st . forty year of Edward III , whereby the K ng states that , con siderin a al an d g the const nt fe ty of his prelates other magnates , and a a also of his people of Irel nd , and the losses they had sust ined by rea son of the wars for a long time ari sen in that land, whilst they 8

’ u had endeavo red to preserve the King s honour, and to defend the r m land against his I ish ene ies, thereby exposing themselves to various r i i pe ils and be ng des rous , as becometh the royal majesty, to increase their estate so that they might in futur e be more prompt in their services ; the King states that he has pardoned all their debts due 13 to him , and which had been incurred prior to the th of October, r - hi s n f in the thi ty sixth year of reign , excepti g , however, rom the fi all ff bene t of this grant treasurers , escheators , sheri s, and other ’ m inisters and farmers who had received money t o the King s use ’ o u t of the chattel property of the Crown s debtors . — Page 22 . Upon this page there is entered a memorandum that - 23r d by virtue of the above mentioned pardon , on the of Novem f - ber, in the orty ninth year of Edward III . , it was accorded by the Treasurer and Barons that a sign equi valent to the word p a r don should be placed upon the Pipe Rolls opposite to the names of the debtors thus exonerated by this grant . The same page is devoted also to a copy of the Statute of the thirteenth year of Richard II . , to restrain admirals and their depu i ties from holding the r courts within franchises, and restricting them to questions as to things done upon the sea . Another Statute of a fi t similar kind , passed the f eenth year of Richard II . , immediately

l b o f admiral s fi . f o lows , where y the power is also limited and de ned - Page 23 . Upon this page there is entered the Statute of the f . 10 ourteenth year of Richard II , chapter , relating to customers and comptrollers “ This Statute is followed by these lines , which in 16 2 7 E s were probably written the year , by Robert Kennedy, q , R m m the then Chief eme brancer, whose name is added to the

Illu m s s m nullu amat, qui e per m lam at da ihi c .

u i f con scien tiam & acit contra ,

e difica t sibi Jehemiam .

2 — n hi f Page 4 . O t s page the ollowin g lines have been written

s i n or an s f e docen do Luden g me de end ndo , u ssu si r aem o nitu s f er at Prelati j p arma, cu m s r e e r io [ Si] conj unct michi p muliere, Pe r cu ssi m s asi i i i clericu ine pena c b x st s.

Se den s s s n inflexibili s sta. ede i ta, J dex

e l ex ellis u e . Sint tibi luc rna, lux, , p q paterna The above lines are followed by the Latin verses which describe f the our causes why the cross should be adored , and which verses ’ - al . have ready appeared in one of Mr Prim s papers , on Way side in an i ae Crosses, printed the Tr sactions of the K lkenny Arch ological 9

The following three couplets are then given , but many of the words at present are scarcely decipherable &

e e s s e s Mane gr ca g n incipit, astra equent In e o u deu s e s m di lucis , J v spere ancta i Incho at m e dic su b tempore noct s.

o v i i u m &uicquid ce nt o r u m series f ecit d or . m Con tine t iste liber t am pau cor um f oho r u .

— Page 25 . This and part of the succeeding page are devoted to

i w . the Statutes or Ordinances of the th rd year of Ed ard II , passed

in . at Kilkenny (as is stated the Index) , consisting ofeleven chapters

By the last chapter of these Ordinances the Irish archbishops , bishops , and other prelates , were directed to cause them to be read and published in every cathedral church , and, amongst other things , to excommunicate all who should disobey them . At the foot ofthese O rdinances there is entered a certificate stating that by their au tho r rity the Archbishop of Cashel , Bishops of Osso y , Emly , Lismore , L e i hlin 12 the g , and other prelates , on the th of February , in great church of St . Canice , Kilkenny , in the presence of Richard , Earl of J u sticiar Ulster, ohn Wogan the J y, Richard de Clare , John Fitz R a e m Thomas , John de Barry, Maurice de p , and any other mag e xcom m u ni nates , and with their assent , pronounced a sentence of cation (which is also here set forth) , whereby the said prelates , by S on n the authority of God , of His , of the Holy Ghost , the Virgi n Mary , St . Michael , ofall A gels , Saints Peter and Paul , and all the n an athe apostles , martyrs , confessors , and virgi s , excommunicate , h matize , damn , and exclude from the rights of holy mother Churc all who violated or disturbed, or caused to be violated or disturbed , ’ n ai the Ki g s peace , or gave counsel or d to the disturbers and vio laters of the said peace . Thi s sentence is followed by an additional u sticiar piece of legislation , whereby the said J y and Council make d n f incom Or i ance relating to sheri fs , but the entry appears to be l ple te ; and thus ends the 26 th page . — Page 2 7 . The Statutes enacted in a Par liament held at Dublin

t . in Easter month , in the thir eenth year of Edward II , before i u sticiar ar e u t Roger de Mort mer, the then J y, set forth pon his and no the two succeeding pages . These Acts are t to be found in the

Upon an examination o f these Sta Book are no t printed . Mr . Hardiman tute s i the A o f f r m Re d k a w th printed cts the third has given , o the Boo , a tr n f o f e x mm i II . b e m fi f u o co un ca Edward , g the rst to be o nd script the sentence in the authoriz ed edition of the Statutes tion above referred Sta tute o f ” o f I I find K lk . 120 . P I reland , the variances to be so i enny , p rinted by the rish A ae great that it appears to be scarcely pos rch ological Society, in a volume ” t T i I a re a A . A sible that they the s me cts t enti led , racts relat ng to reland , present 1 am inclined to think tha t the vol . ii . ; probably the most interestin g S ta tute s entered in this part of the Re d o f the ir entire series . 10

authorized edition of the Irish Statutes , but are included in the ” List of public General Acts , not found in the printed edition , which was published by the Chancery Record Commissioners in the year 183 0 . — i Page 3 0 . Upon this page the follow ng Latin verses have been written n v s Or a s Li co coax Ra i corvi navar navis , Ad l ogicam perge m ortem non tunc eris.

Verte retro roma melius dur avit tua poma.

A ine st s scribitu r fi r is rbor silvi que octo gu ,

n dem tis m m v idebis. I de tribus p , vix una ille

E st u m o s n o cti die i u e verb sine p , qu d ervit q ,

o ter i s t un l cam f si v is. Si cum p , p acere tibi

e st de f u nct a u dicis e st m s u ncta Lex , quia J anu .

u s e st tent u m . Propter unguentum , j in carcere The foregoing verses are followed by the oath taken by collee

f r . tors o customs , set fo th in the Norman French — Page 3 1 . Upon this page has been entered the Statute passed at Dublin in the eleventh year of Henry IV ., called the Statute of

Labourers . It prohibits the exportation of husbandmen from Ire r ff land by ma iners without license ; and it also enacts, that sheri s i shall be chosen by the commons of counties . Th s Statute is no t al printed , but is included in the List of the unpublished Gener Acts to which I have already adverted . — Page 3 2 . A t the commencement of thi s page there is entered an Act which is called A good Statute for the people” Bone E statu t e le - pur people , It, as well as the above mentioned Sta t u te s t he , is written in Norman French, but , being much defaced, is scarcely decipherable . It seems , however, to give power to the ” treasurer and barons of the Exchequer to atter min ate debts due i 3 00 fi n d to the K ng which are less in amount than £ . I do not this t Act either amongst the printed Statutes , or inser ed in the List of those that are yet un published . A pen- and- ink sketch of the Court of Exchequer occupies the — i hi remainder of this page . A fac sim le of t s sketch accompanies this ’ - paper, taken from a copper plate in the writer s possession . A short ” description of it has been already published in Notes and &ueries . fi hi With respect to the several human gures appearing in t s sketch , it appears to me to be probable that the six persons who are placed at the top are officers of the Court ; that the thr ee figures to the left are judges ; that the three to the right are suitors ; and that a

ff . sheri is seated at the bottom To the right, at the top of the r sketch , is the c ier, who appears to be in the act of adjourning the dema n Court, by exclaiming, A y , a form of adjournment still 1 1

ffi - observed by the same o cer, who says , To morrow, God save the ” ffi &ueen , when the Court is about to rise . The o cer to the left hi s is probably the second remembrancer, who holds in hand a mem a i c u brane of parchment cont in ng the words , Pre eptum f it vice fi h com iti per breve huj u s scaccarij . The gure at is right hand ac t i i is perhaps the chief remembrancer . He is in the of exam n ng hi s his pen , and holds in hand a slip of parchment whereon are ° X M a written the words , Memorandum quod die r] , At his fi ght hand we perceive an officer who is in the act of writing upon ft a piece of parchment which is placed upon his le knee , while his

left foot rests upon the table . This person is probably the clerk of w w the Pipe , who is preparing a writ commencing ith the ords , ” ' fi H e m icu s dei gratia . The gure to the extreme left of the pic tur e holds in his hand a slip of parchment conta ining the words ” Exi m i i it breve v ice co t . This may be the marshal of the Ex fi chequer , and the of cer he is addressing is probably the usher . ffi With respect to the judges , it is di cult to determine whether they w r are all barons , or hether two of them are the treasu er and chan l ” ce lo r . f o rf e z ofthe Exchequer One of them says , Soient , and the ” “ Vo r i . other, y d re Madox tells us that accounts were to be ren

dered at the Exchequer upon oath . W hen the accountant had been ’ ’ de a e li com o te r e dde na o sworn fi p , he entered upon and went through ’ his account . In some records mention is made of the accountant s r e r de m e e m d m answe ing at the Exchequerp fi orp r v r u ictu . Whether ’ des ve r umd zctum this fi and was the same with an oath , or in what iff respect d erent from it , I am not prepared to determine ; but I am voir e dir e inclined to think it was rather a , or a declaration upon ”

i . their faith or alleg ance , than an oath This passage may explain

m e an in o f c a r dir e . the g the words , g Placed before the judges are the ” r o tuli s R e d Baga cum , the Book , and the counters which Madox says were sometimes used at the Exchequer in the way of computa ’ tion . And there is also placed upon the table a King s letter, or a ” r petition , commencing with the words , Ceo vous . Th ee suitors ” — ano are standing at the right of the picture one says , Oy de brie , as if l ther, who is extending his arm he were in the act of chal enging ” e some person or stat ment , exclaims Chalange , and the third says , ” fi Soit o u ghte . One of the most prominent gures in the sketch di ui fi'om his is a suitor, who may be easily sting shed the rest by the laced boot , ample sleeve , buttons upon his coat , and his sword ,

i b fi . ll wh ch , by the y, is placed at his ght side It wi be perceived that the hands of this person are placed in a somewhat striking posi

i . e . a a an d tion , the thumb of his left h nd is pl ced between the fore

middle finger of his right . And this may be explained by the fol ’ r a J a . i lowing ext ct from ohnson s Diction ry To fl y, in Span sh , hz a s da r n y , is to insult by putti g the thumb between the fore and

fi . sa middle nger From this Spanish custom we yet y in contempt , 12

r o u . f A fl y f o y A sheri f, who is seated at the bottom of the sketch , bearsupon his head the leathern cap which was placedupon that officer at the time that he was undergoing an examination in Court in rela , de scri tion to his accounts . Such is , I fear, but an imperfect p E tion of thi s sketch of the Court of xchequer, which , as Madox f fi u in orms us , was in the olden time tted p with a square chequer

-s board , and seats about it for the treasurer, barons, clerks, and mi ” i r s . n ste , and with a bar for those who plead and attend there Some lines which appear to have been written at the bottom of the sketch are altogether obliterated , but the Latin verses that have been written upon the three remaining sides may be still partly deciphered . Of some of these lines transcripts have been here al ready given , inasmuch as they a ppear upon other pages of this book , as, for instance , the lines commencing with the words ” “ ” “ “ - def un cta e dens Propter unguentum Lex est , and S sede ” ni ista, and the remai ng line is as follows

J u diciu m recti non m u ner e n e e prece fi ecti .

— A t Page 33 . the commencement of this page there is entered

4 th 1 a . a memorandum that on the of May, 7 Edw rd II , the King commanded the Chancellor of Ireland to cause to be pub lishe d and observed in Ireland the Statutes that had been lately

i & . t w ed ted at Lincoln and ork The wri thus referred to , hich is wit n e sse d 20th by the King himselfat Nottingham , on the ofNovember, hi s in haze ver ba in the seventeenth year of reign , is then set forth , and

the wr it is followed by the Statutes therein referred to . The Acts & passed at ork terminate at page 3 6 . The Act passed at Lincoln ” will be found amongst the printed Statutes of the Realm (9th

Edw . . . II , page Those of the twelfth year of Edward II , & passed at ork, are also to be found amongst the same printed 1 Statutes at page 7 7 . Upon the same page also is entered the Statute against Pr ote c

tions of the tenth year ofHenry IV ., followed by an Act ofthe sixth fir VVe st year of the same King, apparently con ming the Statute of m fi ff inster the rst , and to the e ect that , when application by peti

tion is made to the King for any fee or annuity, the petitioner shall the i state the value of thing he prays for, so that the K ng may t n o be deceived in his grants . 3 7 t The h page of the Red Book, as it now appears, was , as is a fi evident by the old pagin tion , which is still to be traced , the rst n page of some book, and this may have bee the commencement of l t he first part of the Re d Book to which I have already alluded .

1 From page 37 to page 64 are e u Canon o f the Mass which have been r d te e the ancient C alendar and the alr eady described .

13

— Page 65 . This page commences with a statement in law Latin of the sums received by the Register” of English money for the making and stamping of coin which is followed by a statement in

- the Norman French of the proper weights of pence , half pence,

a . and f rthings Then follows a letter, or probably part of a let w ter, ritten in the Norman French , whereby the writer (whose name is not given) informs the person to whom it is addressed t & (whose name also does not appear) tha he has sent to him by Lap , ” le the money changer ( changeur) of London , certain strong and ” l - weak pence , and also some ha f pence and farthings . The above b Sunda is followed y a memorandum , that on y (die Dominica) , the - 7 th I . of November, in the twenty second year of Edward , Master ’ W n dham . m u Wm de y , the Keeper ofthe King s Exchanges in Eng

of W. land , by the directions Bishop of Bath and Wells , the Trea

. E sen de ne surer , had sent to the Treasurer of Ireland , Lord W de , twenty-four pieces of coin to make money thereof (which are here b J Mhordich descri ed) by John the miner, Thomas Doul , and ohn of M oor ditch (the ) , of the Society of Moneyers in the London Ex change , to make such money ; and that in the presence of Roger de h k w l B h C e e le ar t w . . J . J lein y , of St Albans , no de la Donne , ohn C e Mhor dich hand , Adam of , William of Brehon , and Peter de Hardres, - J the said twenty four pieces of coin were delivered to the said ohn ,

Thomas , and John , under the sign (sub signo) of the said Keeper .

The preceding memoranda are followed by another, stating, that on Friday next before the feast of St . Patrick , in the thirtieth

I . l in [use ve r ba year of Edward , the petition which fol ows was de ’ i ri . J J l vered to F ar William of Ross, Prior of St ohn s of erusalem J and Deputy Chief ustice in the council chamber . Of this peti tion nothing more can be discovered than that the applicant is a n r i female named Johan a, and that she appea s to compla n of the ff baili s of Dublin . — T 6 Page 6 6 . here then follo ws on page 6 a small portion of a memorandum to the effect (as I presume) that the Statutes which are thereafter set forth in haze ver ba were transmitted from Eng land to the Lord Deputy J . Wogan . These Statutes relate to b Cr ocar ds no t the ase money called Pollards and , and are printed in the the authorized edition of Irish Statutes they are , however, to

n l 13 1 . be fou d amongst the printed Acts of the Rea m , at page The 15 it transmitting these Acts to Ireland is dated the th of May, - in the twenty seventh year of Edward I . — 6 Pages 6 7 and 6 8 . The above are followed on pages 7 and 6 8 f ff by the oath of the justiciary , the oath of sheri fs and baili s , and the oath of the j udges and these three oaths are in Norman

French . — Page 68 . To this page there is attached an original writ

J . 26th o f tested by the Treasurer of Ireland , de Rees , on the 14

I . October, in the eleventh year of Edward , and directed to the ff is b s sheri s of Dublin , wherein it stated , that y rea on of the urgent n ad d as necessity the Ki g h for money in Irelan , for the keeping of the King’ s peace and other arduous business specially relating r to that count y , the King had directed the treasurer and barons of the Exchequer at Dublin to collect all debts due to the King, d with the greatest diligence and despatch , notwithstan ing any ” att e rm inations made ; wherefore the treasurer commands the f all sheri f to levy , without delay, the debts that were then due to the Crown within his bailiwick , bringing into the Exchequer, day

f hi m . a ter day, the money paid to The endorsements upon the l f l ’ writ made by the chief serjeant, the bai i f of St . Sepu chre s , and the ff sheri , are not material , and it is therefore not necessary to do more than say that they appear . — 6 . Hibe r niae i Pages 9 to 73 The Magna Charta , to wh ch I have already adverted, is inserted (as the Red Book is now bound) between the oaths lastly above mentioned and the following memo r an dum hi is 3 , w ch entered on page 7

s f C Be it remembered , that the letter which came rom the Roman ourt f or the King s Bailiff s lest they might be excommunicated are [deposited] k ff in the gre at trun or co er in the Tower . And then follow these lines

e st sen em u v eniliter ss o co s m Res grata j e e j u , Gr acru s e st u ve n em m o r ibu n m j s esse se e .

In co n st an s s s in stabilis animu , oculu vagus, pes,

s s s s . Hec homini igna unt, de quo nulla boni pes

Gratia nulla perit nisi gratia grey (whyt) monachorum

Est e t semper e r it u nthou gh in fi n e lab o r u m .

r e ter itu m s r e se ns u e f m Tempus p , tempu p q uturu

Discr e tu s r eco lit f s i s r e sen s. , atuu nullum n i p

n i r or u m dev astant r e s Sunt tria g monachorum , e t e t o cul a su m ta f Renes venter, p , p requenter .

4 — n Pages 7 and 7 5 . The Articuli Cleri Hiber ias are entered a upon these p ges . A transcript of these , as well as of other parts b of the book, has een made by the writer, who conceives that these

Articuli Cleri , as well as the other unpublished portions of this

volume , are well worthy of publication . — Page 7 6 . There is entered upon this page a memorandum in la w W the Latin , commencing with the words , alter de Lacy gives i 4 000 i ” the Lord the K ng marks for hav ng his land in Ireland .

There is no date to this record . It is referred to by William Lynch , “ ” E s fi q , in his Feudal Dignities , and is also printed in the rst

R ts . 160 . volume of the Irish Record epor , p

16

D am n a e m concu iscis p r ru p , Cordi s e t incendia . Mar itatam si m s tu a a , s er n is def am as Pacem p te , Inc n dis e periculum . a e st Vidua h ec elata, F raude plena, delicata, i r idicu lu m Eri s c . Monialis hec si placet, m Semper petit, nunqua tacet, B u t adit navicula. Si bagu te f a cier is Mcx diff am er is per eam , fier e t u t f Lingnam acula .

— 120 . Page There is nothing but scribbling upon this page . Pages 1 2 1 to 127 - Upon these pages is entered a calcul ation table in the handwriting of the time of Charles I . or II . — Page 12 8 . This page commences with a transcript of what ap pears to be an Act of Parliament relating to the privileges claimed and enjoyed by the officers of the Exchequer . At the close of the i Act mention is made of the Great Counc l held at Dublin , on the fi Friday next before the feast of St . Luke , which was con rmed in the Parliament held at Drogheda on (Monday) next before the feast - of St . Mark the Evangelist , in the twenty eighth of Henry VI ., being the same year in which the said Great Council was held . The un ublishe d latter of these Statutes is inserted in the list of p Acts , ”

h B . m . N . S o e with , however, t is note of these are printed The above-mentioned enrolment is followed by a writ tested by

. ill T h 1 . nbe i 8 W T (W iam de y g ) , the Ch ef Baron , and dated the th ’ in i of March , but the year of the K g s reign is not given , relat ng to ’ a proceeding or action of trespass brought in the King s Bench, l ur a against one Richard Hi l , a minister of the Treas er, contr ry to v ffi n the pri ileges enjoyed by Exchequer o cers , and directi g such suit di to be presented in the Exchequer Cour t . This writ is rected to ’ the Justices of the King s Bench and as William de Tynbegh was r 14 14 14 1 Chief Baron between the yea s and 9 , this writ was, of course , written at that time . A paper copy of it is at present bound wi th the rest of the Red Book . — Page 133 . A t the commencement of thi s page there is entered ar - a a Statute, app ently of the date of the twenty eighth ye r of

. di find Henry VI , relating to ver cts given at inquests, but I do not it amongst the printed Statutes . i - Th s is followed by another copy of the above mentioned writ, tested by Chief Bar on Tynbegh . — Page 134 . Upon this page there is written some music in score

b . . and of ancient date, followed y a Latin hymn to St Nicholas 17

— 135 . i Page Upon this page there is also written a Lat n prayer , w e t commencing ith the words , Eterne Rex altissime redemptor ”

fideliu m . i i This is followed by eight l nes beg nning with the words , Ut queant laxis r e so n ar e fibris mira ge stor um famuli t u oru m solve ” n p ol uti . Then follo w two lines commenci g with Fuit homo ” m . n issus a Deo Eight Latin lines succeed the foregoi g , which is apparently a prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary ; and two lines very indistinctly written complete this page . I a m inclined to think that the music and prayers upon pages 13 4 and 135 have some connexion with an ancient custom that is n i still observed in the Court of Exchequer, namely, the si g ng of an anthem and the repeating of some prayers by one of the minis

h . ters , and by the choristers of C rist Church , once in every Term It would occupy too much space at present to give in detail a history of this singular custom ; it may , however, be stated , that whenever this ceremony was performed , an entry was made in one of the rule-books of the Co u rt to the eff ect that the chaun tor of Christ Church brought in to Court the viccars chor all s and perf ormed the ir e a t o n ccustomed service and homage due his Majestic , by si ging an

Antheme and saying certain collects and prayers , which being done they had warrant under the Barons hands directed to the Vice Thre asur e r for r e ce ive ing their e wonted fee of ten shillin gs ster ”

. in ling The music the Red Book is not formed , as at this day , of round dots , but of perpendicular dashes or strokes ; neither is it di vided by bars . The supposition that it was that which was sung by the choristers of Christ Chur ch at the time of the renderin g of their homage is in some degree strengthened by the line which is “ et inci i placed beneath it , namely, debet p a secundario Rememo r atori — that the second remembrancer (one of the principal cffi ' cle r zcus cers of the Court) , who was in all probability a or clerk, should commence the anthem (if such it be) ; and as the words “ ” Eterne Rex altissime are also placed beneath the music, it is not unlikely that the words of the prayer given below , which is evi de ntl o ur y addressed to Saviour, were those by which the music was accompanied . a l The hymn to St . Nichol s which fol ows it , and which was pro

w i r . V . bably ritten in the tin e of Hen y IV or , is as follows

So s itat i e r o s e rf u sio p dedit g olei p , N icho l au s n au fr a an t u m aff u it s g pre idio , R e le v av it de f u nctis d e fu nct u m a in binio , B a t iza t u r u p a ri viso j udeus judicio , m e r su m r e dditu r fili Vas in mari patri cum o . N icho lao co ncin a t Ergo laudes hec concio , N am o ssit ill u m r o s c qui corde p p pul ato vi io , r S OSpe S egr edie tu . 18

135 To this hymn succeeds , upon page , these lines

ss e t fideliu m m s s Eterne rex alti ime redemptor quo or oluta, D e e r itidatu r t r iu m hu s s s s de xter o s p p grati canden tribunal patri , e e celitu s hu m anit u Pot stas omnium collata est J shu que non erat s, Ut cel e stiu m t er estr iu m e t inf e r n o r u m trina rex machina condita, Fl ect at su bdita t r emu nt s A s genu j am vidente ngeli ver a, m o r taliu m cu l at u r at s Vice p caro p g caro regnat deu dei caro , s f u t u r u s s te Tu esto no trum gaudium qui es premium sit no tra in gloria,

cu nct a s s . G scan dis Per emper ecula loria tibi domine qui supra, et s t s s m s u Sidera cum patre ano o piritu in e piterna ec la.

— 13 6 . A Page Tabula Regum is entered upon this page . This ” Table has been printed in Notes and &ueries . 13 — Page 7 This page consists of four separate writs , probably of the reign of Edward IV . It is scarcely necessar y to describe these writs at present in detail . Pages 13 9 to 142 are either blank or contain but mere serib bling . Pages 143 to 14 6 appear to have originally formed a port ion of the old cover of the Red Book . They are supposed to be part of a very old treatise on the laws of motion . — Pages 14 7 an d 14 8 . Upon these pages the oath of allegiance

wri . is written , in the hand ting of the time of James I or Charles I . — Pages 149 and 15 0 . These pages are blank . Pages 15 1 to 17 7 — These pages contain the oaths of publi c ffi i 1i nte d l o cers and min sters , which are p in the second vo ume of ’ ” Howard s Revenue and Exchequer . ' — n Page 1 7 8 . This contains the ames of those who were the offi cers of the Exchequer in the year 162 6 . 1 — Page 7 9 . This, which is the last page , contains the oath of a 6th Commissioner of Appeals, and a memorandum , that on the 2 of 16 62 Sir Jam e s War e Sir Will iam J September, , , Ussher, ohn Povey , E s W bran ts m the q , and Peter y , Alder an , came before Lord ” Che ef e . , and severally took the said oath

The Annals or memora bilia which were written upon the Calen f dar of the Red Book are now much de aced, and as many of the h entries appear to have been eretofore transcribed , and are now t o

. E . . 3 2 . be found in one of the MSS of Trinity College, Dublin [ 0 3 pp . 04 copies have been thereof made , and are here printed .

caccar ii Hi er n iae Ex Rubro Libro S b . Memorandum quod Johannes Stanley miles j u r atu s f uit in offi cio lo ° cu m te ne ntis m ar chi oni s Du blin ensis H 18 Se temb r is in ibernia, die p anno regni regis Richar di II . I& ° Idem Johannes J u st iciar iu s Hiberniae applicu it 2 2 Octobris anno

e i h i m e a . r gni regis R c ar d II . in eade t rr 19

O m a s c mes . &c A .D . 142 4 . biit Ed und o Marchie, ,

A e s Edwar di fili I isu s f . Bon ill nno r gni regi j Edwardl I I . o cc uit J de ev A naldu m d Willi lm r e e e u m L ne t e t s. per Po r , de y alio

A Edwar di I . Can toke e isco u s nno regni regis I . obiit magiste r T p p Im elacen sis e t s cancellariu Hiberni c.

Die marti s quinto die Fe b r u ar ij anno regis Edwar di III . pos t conques s u i A i F f tum regni ngl c regni vero sui rancie primo , obiit rater Roge r u s Ou t lawe ho s italis e s s H b er nia e t , prior p Sancti Jch nni Jeru alem in y , s ohannis u sticiar i H ber n ie e t c s H tenen locum J Darcy J j y , can ellariu y be rnie. ° ° Die lun e 2 3 die Febr u ar ij anno regni regis Edwar di III . 4 0 venit

de Br sle assa iam m in ar u m f m 85 0 . Henricus y y pro in Hibernia aciendu , 1 ° ° Die lune 0 die Aprili s anno regni regi s Edwar di III . 2 0 l ecta f uit commissio Ro e r i b r n i E o de m domini g Darcy j u sticiar ir Hy e e . die lune

A . D . 14 1 co r o n at u s stm o naste r iu m . 3 Henricu s V . apud We

A . . 13 Richar du s A a licu it W e f . D 99 rex nglic II. pp apud at r ord A Edwa r di III co n u e st u m ° s nno regni regis . post q 5 venit Antoniu de u sticiar iu s e t ar i i Lucy j Thomas de Burgh the sau r u s Hyb er n e . Pr e co n izatu r s Theobaldu s e u sticiar iu s Hibe r n ie dominu de V rdun j ,

A . D . 13 18 . Die m er cu r ii in t r an slatio n e Sancti Edwar di anno regni regi s Edwar di 4 ° Willi l III . 3 dominus e m u s de Wrnde sor e l o cu m ten en s domini regi s in a licu it D u blin n Hibernia pp e si . A s ° s o s l o cu m te nens nno regni regi Henrici VI . 6 Johanne Sutt n mile H a licu it H ibernic pp in ibernia . s 2 ° J u n i d ar di 2 ° ec f Die j ovi 9 die j anno regni regi s E w III . 0 l ta uit mmis io Wal te r i d h i ii H i co s domini e Be r myng am J u st ciar ybe r n a . ~ ° s 10 u lii 4 ° i e s Die ve neri die J anno 0 regni Edwar d III . vac H nricu de r l a ssaiat o r m inar m n B ys ey u in Hybe r ia . A nno regni regi s E dwar di 30 ° confusi f u er u n t et occisi come s de A r toys e t Fr ancis C o r t r a Flandr er s s Fl andr . alii magnates j uxta y in . p ip o viz 6 e t 4 0 b an n e r e t i e t s comites alii ine numero. c li a n D i e s l Ju . Edw r di . s co u e stu m A j ovi .5 die j anno r . r III po t q nglic 18 ° e t F f commissio Radu l hi Uff u st icia r ii rancie quinto , lecta uit p de ord j e R Hybe r nie in Sc ccario egis . ° A d cim a m . He . Die martis 2 3 die ugu sti circa horam e anno r . r nrici V e a r r i u it s Le scr o de u tat u s s cundo , p S tephanu p chevalier p domini Thome Lancast r e se ne schalli A n lie fihi lo cu m t ene n tis H ber niae u nacu m de g regis , y ,

D u bline n s rs ca n ce lla r io H ber n ie C f . T . archiepiscopo y apud lontar Die lune de capita tu s f uit Mau r iciu s de Cau n te to n felo domini regi s in monte de Sle m ar gi per Willielm u m de Rupe e t f ratres suos exe u n te s in '

o hann is W u sticiar ii H ber nie e t l u r e s cu m cc . comitiva J ogan j y , p

A. D. 13 18 f u e r u nt disconf u si es e Per diem Sabbati , , omn Scoti int r D n dalke e t l e Fa her ed e t Edwar du s ls e de e t o g , Bruys , Johann s Soules alii m l m - cisi ohann em de B r m en ham procere s de Scotia qu a p u r i i o c per J y g , Milo n e m de Ve r do u n e t Hu gon em de Stapelton capitales duce s commun i s r lis e t e e t sic e r s n s et dextr am populi U ie Midi , p manu commu i populi Dei h t a r v itu t de liber at u r populu s Dei a precogitat e e t m ac in a se e.

e s A . D . 13 4 Richar du s . Memorandum quod in meridie diei ven ri , 9 , II r ex Anglic e t Fr au ncie post conqu e stu m applicu it terrae Hibernise apud 20

W f cu m exer citu inim ico s s s e t s H b r ater ord grandi , ad uo rebelle y e nie d b llandu m t asti andum &c intens e e e c g , .

es Wi or nie de u t atu s &c. a licu it Hou th Johannes com g p , pp apud anno ° Ed ar di 7 regis w IV. ° m di Octobr is 1 1 E dwar di D u bli n Deci o tertio e anno III . venit n e si h n u sticiar iu s H b e rni Johannes de C er leto j y e. Die j ovis dominus Thomas de Rukeby j u sticiar iu s Hyber nie pr e stitit

ffi io u sticiar ii Hib r ni . Edwar di I sacramentum de o c j e e anno r r . I I . pos t co n qu e st u m Anglie ° Johannes comes Sal opie applicu it apud Dalkey anno 25 regis He n rici VI . Die j ovis f uit David de Cau n teton su spen su s pro f elonia quam com d m s m . E war di . i it contra rege , anno r . r tertio ° ° 2 ovembr is Edwar di . 2 1 f Die lune 7 die N anno r. r . III lecta uit comm issio f r a tr is Johannis Larcher pr io r is hOSpit alis Sancti Johannis J e r u sale m in Hyber nia l o cu m ten entis Walter i de Ber myngham j u sticiar ii

Hibernic .

’ Memorandum quod die lune i n f esto Sancti Magni regi s e t m ar tir is — ° ° v i z . H . 1 K k 19 die Augu sti anno r r . enrici VII 9 e rat bellum de noc thoo in C on n acia latum per Ger aldu m com item Kyldar ie e t m aio r e m e t s D u blinensis e t D r o he de e t alior u m An licor u m e t F n allie cive g g Midie y g , A s e t t am en f u er u n t m in ter fe cti nullo nglico in bello illo le o, ibide ex parte ‘ M William Ricard Obr en e e t Oker ell 4000 de optim is capit an eu m gallo

lassor u m s m &c. s De c . g noru , lau ° m 2 D mb r is . Edwar di s Memorandu quod 0 die ece anno r . r III . po t con qu e stu m Anglic 23 ° lecta f uit commissio domini Thom e de Rokeby de o fficio u stici ar ii H b ern ie j y . A 1 2 o ccisu f m es Ber Memorandum quod . D . 3 9 s uit do inus Johann de m n ham c m s y g o e Louth .

F IN IS .