RECORDS

OF THE

BOROUGH OF NOTTINGHAM

BEING A SERIES OF EXTRACTS FROM THE

ARCHIVES OF THE CORPORATION OF NOTTINGHAM

VOL. II.

KING HENRY IV. TO KING RICHARD III.

1399-1485

PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CORPORATION OF NOTTINGHAM

LONDON: BERNARD QUARITCH, 15, PICCADILLY
NOTTINGHAM: THOMAS FORMAN & SONS

M DCCC LXXXIII,

M.Sm

PREFACE.

The welcome accorded to the first volume of this work by the literary world, and by the public in general, has induced the Corporation to proceed with a second. The Corporation were the more readily persuaded to continue the work by the consideration that most of the matter had been extracted from their archives during the search necessitated by the dispute with the Freemen of the Borough.

It is gratifying to notice that the importance of publishing the valuable records contained in the chests of our ancient boroughs is now more generally recognized. Notwithstanding the enormous diffusion of means of studying original historical matter that has distinguished this century, little attention has hitherto been paid to borough records. In this respect our German and French neighbours are far and away in front of us. They have long since recognized the value of town records and their use in elucidating the economic history of a nation. Although the English government have expended many thousands of pounds under the direction of the Record Commission, and in the publication of the Master of the Rolls' series of Chronicles and Memorials, and the invaluable Calendars of State Papers,

there are still many dark periods in our national and political
history that can only be illuminated by the aid of local
records. In the fore-front of these stand the records of our
ancient cities and boroughs. The Corporation of London
led the way by the publication, in 1868, of a valuable and
interesting volume under the able editorship of the late
Mr. Riley. Still, nothing has as yet been done in England
towards the systematic publication of town records. This
consideration partly moved the Town Council of Nottingham
to undertake the present work. The Council feel assured
that other Councils will ere long be led to examine their
unexplored treasures. They believe that a systematic and
careful scrutiny and publication of this class of records will
result in the discovery of facts, tending to the solution of
many problems in English history. The Reports of the
Royal Commission upon Historical MSS. have shown what
riches lie buried in unsuspected quarters.
No one can

possibly estimate the value of the matter hidden in the
records of the towns of this country, or the light their
publication would throw, not only upon the national and
economic history of the kingdom, but also upon the
scarcely less important subjects of manners and customs,
trades and occupations, and the philology of the English
tongue. In short, it may be affirmed that a complete con-
ception cannot be formed of the mode of life of the men
that made Old England, without the aid of the records of
our ancient cities and towns.

Acting upon suggestions of the reviewers of the first volume, the Council have authorised a more liberal supply of