TRANSLATION
These are the customs belonging to [payment
of] the king's farm of
the town of Ipswich, to be levied there on various merchandize coming
into the town franchise for
sale, and on diverse items, namely those on which custom ought to be paid,
in the way described below, that is:
Customs of the quay
- For every tun or pipe of wine,
vinegar, cider, sour wine, and all other types of liquor brought into
the town franchise for sale, 2d. is to be taken for king's custom.
- For every tun or pipe of honey, oil, ointment, or similar type of
merchandize, 2d. If it is sold by the gallon, then 4d. is to be taken
for every 100 gallons; and for a smaller amount, less, depending on
the quantity.
- For every barrel of pitch or tar, 1d.
- For every tun of ale carried or taken out of the town towards the sea
or sea-coast for sale, 4d.; that is, if the tun is bought by container.
If the tun is bought by measure, then 4d. is payable for every 100 gallons.
- For every tun of woad, 2d.
- For every barrel of ashes, 2d.
- For every tun or pipe of verdigris,
[or]
copperas, or any other similar type of
merchandize, 3d.; if these are to be sold by the hundredweight, then 4d.
is to be levied per hundredweight.
- For every ton or pipe of teazel, 2d.;
for every "rundelete" or
"bastoun" of the same merchandize, a
halfpenny.
- For every truss or pack of cloth arriving at the quay tied with cords
4d. is to be levied. For every bundle that is not tied up, 2d. If the
truss, pack or bundle is untied and part of it is sold in town, then
custom is to be levied for those pieces according the specifications
for the cloth market.
- For every truss or pack of canvas tied with cords, 4d. For every
bundle not tied up, 2d. For canvas sold by the hundredweight, 4d. per
hundredweight.
- For cloths from Coggeshall, Maldon,
Colchester, Sudbury, and other
cloths bought in the countryside and brought into the town by merchants,
to export abroad via the quay – regardless of whether the cloths
are in a truss, pack or bundle, or whether tied up or not, or whether
in a tun or not – the king's custom is to be paid by the piece on
such cloths bought outside for export. That is, for every piece of
double-work, which people call "two men's sheet", 1d.; and for every
piece of lesser work, which people call "one man's sheet", a halfpenny.
But if these types of cloths, previously mentioned, are bought within
the town of Ipswich, the correct custom is determined according to
the market where the cloths are purchased; and if those cloths are put
into a tun for transporting abroad via the quay, 2d. per tun must be
paid for them towards the king's custom. Furthermore, for a truss or
pack tied with cords, 4d.; and for a bundle not tied up, 2d.
- For every last of wool belonging to
a single merchant, 8d.; for half a last, 4d. If there is less than that,
then 4d. for every sack or packet.
- For every last of millstones, 8d; for
half a last, 4d. If there is less than half a last, then 1d. to be
levied for each millstone.
- For every last of smaller millstones, 4d.; for half a last, 2d. If
there is less than half a last, then a halfpenny to be levied for every
couple.
- For every stone called a "Slipston",
a halfpenny; such stones are not assessed by the last.
- For every hundred freestones and
black stones called "ragston", 4d.
- For every piece of carved marble – such as coffins, lids, crosses,
fonts, and other stones of this type – a halfpenny; that is, from
the seller if he is subject to custom, and as much from the buyer if he
is a merchant.
- For every hundred mortars, 4d. If there are fewer, then 1d. per dozen
is to be levied.
- For every heap of plaster, a halfpenny.
- For every type of merchandize which arrives in bales, 4d. per bale is
to be levied. If this is merchandize to be sold and weighed by
the hundredweight – such as brasil,
alum, almonds, rice, and other such kinds
of merchandize – then 4d. is to be levied per hundredweight.
- For every frail of figs, raisins, and
all other items put into frails, a halfpenny per frail is to be levied.
- For every hundredweight of grain, 6s.8d.
- For every dozen cordwain (not in
bales), 4d.
- For every
thousand[weight]
of Spanish iron, 4d. if it is sold by the
thousand[weight]. For every
quintal sold by itself, 1d.
- For every hundredweight of wrought iron, 4d.
- For every hundredweight of Normandy iron, 4d.
- For every quantity of old iron, 2d.
- For every load of lead, 8d.; for
every pig, 1d.
- For every hundredweight of tin, brass, and copper, 4d.
- For every barrel of
steel,
2d. For every sheaf of steel sold by itself, a farthing from the buyer.
For every bundle of steel sold by itself, a halfpenny.
- Regarding osmond, the custom is to be
levied in the same way as for lead.
- For every piece of ore of brass,
latten or copper, a farthing is to be levied.
- Also, for every thousand white furs, 2s.; for half a thousand, 12d.
If there are fewer than half a thousand, then 4d. is to be levied for
every bundle.
- For every thousand squirrels' furs and
wheels [?], 12d.; for half
a thousand, 6d. If there are fewer than half a thousand, then 2d. is
to be levied for every bundle.
- For every hundred woolfells or skins being exported, whether in
sarpliers or not, 4d.
- For every hundred skins of lambs, badgers, rabbits, foxes, cats, and
other similar skins being exported, whether in a bale or not, 4d. If
these types of skins are sold by the hundred, at the quayside, or
elsewhere in town, then 4d. is to be levied per hundred.
- For every last of cow-hides and horse-hides, 8d.; for half a
last, 4d. If there is less than half
a last, then 4d. is to be levied for every
dicker; and if less than a dicker,
a halfpenny is to be levied for every hide.
- Also, for every last of red herring
sold together by the last, 4d. from the seller. If there is less than
a last, then a halfpenny is to be levied for every thousand.
- For every last of fresh or salt herring, 4d. from the seller (except
those that caught the fish themselves).
- For every hundred of any kind of hard fish, 2d.
- For every salmon, a halfpenny.
- For every quintal of whale[meat], 4d.
- Also, for every hundred[weight?] of
wax sold by weight, 4d. If they are in a frail tied with cords, 4d. is
to be taken per frail.
- For every wey of cheese, butter, and lard sold by itself, 4d. If
the butter is stored in bark, a halfpenny is to be levied per piece.
- For every wey of the same merchandize being exported, whether in
a tun or not, 4d.
- Also, for every hundred swords, bucklers, targets, and coats of mail,
4d. If there are fewer than that, quantity will determine the amount
to be levied from the seller and also from the buyer, if he is a merchant.
- No custom is to be levied on archil,
tiles [?], or weld.
- For every hundred boards of Ireland or Esthonia, which are called
eavings or wainscot, or from any other similar kind of board, 4d.
- For every hundred of the smaller boards that are called barrel staves
or shingles, 1d.
- For every hundred oars, troughs, bowls and other such merchandize
carved from timber, 4d.
- For every dozen hats, 1d.
- From every ship with bulwarks,
"bauns", and bales, 2d.
[as harbourage?].
- From every boat with rowlocks, 1d.
- From every boat with tholes,
a halfpenny.
- For each float of nets that are dried on dry ground, 4d.
[as strandage?].
- For every whole [carcass of] ham
being taken towards the sea-coast, a halfpenny. For the meat by itself,
a farthing.
- For every horse being exported, 4d.
- For every bale of woad, 4d. For every quarter of woad, measured by
the common measure of the town, a halfpenny (from the seller, that is).
- For every store of grain, onions, garlic, nuts, and other similar
types of merchandize, whether in
[ware?]houses or in ships, 4d. If
the merchants pay for their stores in the houses or the ships, and then
the goods are transported by boat to the ship, nothing is to be levied
on the boat. But if the ship is loaded outside the boundaries of
the town, and the merchants pay nothing for the storage in the ship,
then a halfpenny is to be levied for every boat transporting the said
goods to the ship.
- For every bunch or quantity of garlic or
cockles[?],
a halfpenny.
- For every thousand, or bunch of, onions sold by such parcels,
a farthing, both from the buyer (if he is a merchant) and from the seller.
- For coarse salt sold by hundredweight, 4d. per hundredweight. If sold
in lesser parcels, the levy (that is, from the seller) is to be determined
by the quantity.
- For every wey of white salt sold by itself, 1d.
- For every barrel of sturgeon, 2d.
- 2d. is due from every iron-shod cart loaded with wine, millstones,
packs, or other merchandize [coming to]
the quay or certain other places where customs relating to the quay should
be levied.
- From every unshod cart, 1d.
- For a horseload, a halfpenny.
- For a load carried by a man, a farthing.
- For a barrow-load, a farthing.
- From every iron-shod cart loaded with sea-coal, 1d.
- From every unshod cart loaded with the same merchandize, a halfpenny.
- Nothing is due for a horseload of coal or fuller's earth.
Customs of the cloth market
- For every coloured cloth from overseas, 4d.
- For every striped cloth, 2d.
- For coloured cloth from Beverley or Lincoln, and other similar cloths,
the same custom is to be levied as from cloths from overseas.
- For cloths from Coggeshall, Colchester, Maldon, Sudbury, and other
such English cloths of double-work, which people call "two men's sheet",
1d. is to be levied of each cloth sold by itself, that is
[only] from those who ought to pay
custom.
- For every piece of long cloth which people call "one man's sheet",
a halfpenny.
For every piece cut of the same which is longer than an
ell and which is sold for 6d. or more,
the same is to be taken as for the whole piece. If the piece is of
one ell or less and is sold for 1½d., a farthing is to be levied on
that piece.
- For every piece of linen cloth, whole or cut, which is sold for
2½d. or more, a farthing is to be levied.
- The same for canvas.
- For every bundle of cloth of double-work, which people call
"two men's sheet", transported by horse, unloaded, and displayed for sale,
2d.
- For every bundle of cloth which people call "one man's sheet",
transported by horse, unloaded, and displayed for sale, 1d.
- For every bundle of cloth of double-work or lesser work, transported
on the back of a man, half as much as for a horseload.
- From every cart coming into town loaded with similar kinds of cloth,
which is unloaded and put on sale, 4d. is to be levied.
- For linen cloth or canvas loaded on a cart, a horse, or a man's back,
the levy is to be half of the custom previously mentioned as being due
from linen.
- For every surcoat or tabard, mantle,
cape, or other kind of tailored cloth, sold by itself, a farthing.
- For every other merchandize sold, in this market or in a place
associated with this market, for 2½d. or more, a farthing is
to be levied for the king's custom.
Customs on hemp
- For hemp, of which the custom belongs to the cloth market, 1d. is
to be levied for every cartload, a halfpenny for every horseload,
a farthing for every load carried by a man. Of an amount sold for
2½d., a farthing is to be levied.
Customs of the fish market
- For every cart bringing fish or herring into the market for sale, 2d;
for a horseload, a halfpenny; for a man's load, a farthing; for
a barrow-load, a farthing.
- For every porpoise, 1d.
- For every salmon, a farthing.
- For every barrel of sturgeon or
whale[meat], the same custom as
is levied at the quay.
Customs of the wool market
- For every cartload of wool, woolfells, cow-hides or horse-hides, 2d.;
for a horseload, a halfpenny; for a man's load, a farthing. For
that which is sold for 2½d., a farthing is to be levied.
Customs of the cheese market
Concerning cheese, levy is to be made on cartloads, horseloads,
man's loads, barrowloads, and other small parcels, in the same way as
for the wool market. Custom is to be levied on these and other things
pertaining to this market according to quantity, as with other markets.
Let it be known that the custom on flax seed and hemp belongs to
the cheese market, along with the custom on earthenware pots. In
this market, [amount omitted] is
levied on every cartload of pots, a farthing on a man's load, and
a farthing on a barrowload.
Customs of the timber market
- For every cartload of tubs, troughs, bowls, cups, ladders, and
other such merchandize that is called woodwork, 2d. is to be levied.
For a horseload of the same merchandize, and of baskets,
vats[?], spades, and similar things
of this type, a halfpenny. For a man's load, a farthing.
- For every cartload of timber, boards,
laths, and rods, a halfpenny.
- For every cartload of hurdles and splints, a farthing. For every
cartload sold, a farthing from the seller.
- From every stall from which people sell cords
[of firewood], 3d. a year. Let it
be known that this stallage belongs to the timber market.
- For every pair of cartwheels, 1d.; that is, a halfpenny from
the seller and a halfpenny from the buyer.
Customs of the bread market
- From all of those bakers subject to customs who come frequently
to the market to sell their bread, three farthings is due for three
days in the week – that is, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. If
they bring their bread to market on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, but
stay away on the Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, they are nonetheless
to pay the full custom. If they come only one day a week, then only
a farthing is to be taken from them; for two days, a halfpenny; and
for three days, three farthings.
- For every market stall held by
a burgess, 6d. is payable annually, by even portions at Michaelmas
and Easter, for occupying common land. From every outsider for his
stall, 3d. annually at the same terms, and no more, and that is for
their weekly customs.
- Bakers subject to customs who sell bread from their own houses are
to be charged customs as applicable, or should make an
[advance] agreement for a specific
[sum] annually.
- For every carcass of beef, cow, bullock, or heifer purchased in
the town, a halfpenny is to be levied. If the beast is purchased
outside the town, then three farthings are to be levied on the carcass.
- For every scalded
[carcass of] pork or carcass of mutton
or veal, a farthing; that is, if the beast is purchased outside the town. If it is purchased in the town and no custom has been paid on the initial sale, then a halfpenny is to be levied on the scalding or carcass; but if the custom was paid, only a farthing is to be taken of the sale.
Customs of the livestock market
- For every horse sold, 1d. from the seller and 1d. from the buyer.
- For every bull, cow, bullock, or heifer of more than a year in age,
a halfpenny from the seller and a halfpenny from the buyer.
- For every pig, sheep, or calf (sucklings excluded), a farthing from
the seller and a farthing from the buyer.
These customs belong to the meat market.
Let it be known that customs of the quay
are to be levied from all merchandize that comes to the town by water
and is sold inland, [whether] put in
storage or not, as far as the lane extending from the watercourse of
Botflood, along the side of the road leading south as far as Colhill,
and from there on both sides of the street as far as the principal
residence once belonging to John Bolle, in front of
St. Stephen's cemetery; from there via the lane which extends from
the cemetery to Brook Street, and from the end of that lane southwards
on both sides of the street as far as the lane that leads beyond
the town ditch towards Abbotscroft. Customs are to be levied in those
places, along the lanes and roads mentioned as far down as the quay.
On all other merchandize, coming out of the countryside to be sold
in town, customs are to be levied according to the above-mentioned
markets in the town. That is: grain at the grain market; livestock
at the meat market; wool, fells, and hides at the wool market, with
other things pertaining to that same market. And so on, regarding
all other markets in the town, according to the merchandize –
each according to the appropriate market in which that merchandize
ought to be sold in the town, and as it has so been in the town from
ancient times.
And let it be known that all kinds of saleable merchandize which come
by land or by water to the town of Ipswich, or to a place belonging to
the town, before Michaelmas or on that
day before noon, regardless of whether the merchandize is to be taken
out of town again or not, are subject to customs applied to the year
past. Customs levied on that coming after the hour of noon on Michaelmas
belong to the year following. The same applies to all things pertaining
to the office of the chief bailiffs of the town at their changeover.
Regarding all types of merchandize arriving in town by water to be sold,
the masters of the ships are
to take oath as to the quantity and parcels of the goods, and on that
basis are the correct customs to be levied. If, because the merchants
are disbelieved, examination has to be made and it is found otherwise
[than the quantity declared],
the undeclared merchandize should be confiscated.
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