IX. Accompts of the Manor of the Savoy, temp. Richard II.; Communicated by William Walton, Esq. F.S.A. in a Letter addressed to Henry Ellis, Esq. F.R.S., Sec.

Extract

In the course of my official researches I have met with two original Bailiff's Accompts for the Manor and Liberty of the Savoy, which may serve to illustrate the prices of materials and labour in the time of King Richard the Second. They are the Accompts of John Ekleston, then Bailiff of the Savoy, rendered to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, for two years, viz. from Lady-day, 16th Richard II. to the same term in the 17th year of that king, and for the following year. I am enabled, by the permission of Lord Holland, Chancellor of the Duchy, most readily granted, to lay these Accompts before the Society. I need not enlarge upon the well known fact of the destruction of the Palace of the Savoy by the rebels in what is called Wat Tyler's insurrection, with, as the Chronicles say, “all the princely furniture and stock therein” belonging to the unpopular Prince John of Gaunt, titular King of Castile, &c. The building of this house cost Henry Duke of Lancaster (father-in-law to John of Gaunt), 50,000 marks, and the restoration of it seems to have been in progress during the time of these accounts, particularly of a tower in the Savoy, called “Symeon Tower.” It does not precisely appear whether this Tower was a new erection, or only a reparation. I am inclined to think it was the latter, though the first Accompt is for the Costs and expenses within the said Manor, for one Tower called Symeon Tower, which are afterwards specified. There is no charge for the masonry or brickwork of the Tower: probably the walls only remained “post Rumorem,” as the Accompt quaintly terms the Insurrection. It seems the Tower contained a prison, whether of new or former erection.