HERMITS, FORDS, AND BRIDGE-CHAPELS. 63 



Londoners, "Green fleb," and by the men of Lancashire, 

 "milwen," — probably the mullet. " Congrorum " — designed for 

 the church." — (Du Cange "Gloss.") 



Or for any salted Eels, i"*. 



For ten boars or pigs, i**. 



For a centena of Aberdeen fish, l^., etc., etc." 

 (See under Swarkeston. ) 



Disputes must often have occurred l)etween the hermit and his 

 passengers with regard to the tolls : the pigs would certainly be a 

 difficult problem according to numbers, as money was then — 

 there being no halfpence and farthings ; and it was no doubt 

 owing to something of this kind that the hermit of St. 

 Mary's on one occasion found himself in trouble at Not- 

 tingham, a. d. 1467-8. "The tithingman of Middle Pavement 

 present that Robert Allen and William Thurkell, goldsmith, made 

 an assault upon the hermit of the bridge of the town of Derby : 

 fined 6''." — " Nottingham Borough Records," ii., 270. 



Three Pontages for St. Mary's Bridge may be found in the 

 Patent Rolls: 1"' Pat., 19 Edward IL, m. 26 — just quoted. 2'"' 

 Pat., 2 Edward III., m. 22, and i'"' Pat., 3 Edward IIL, m. 27. 

 As these pontages, however, are merely grants to the burgesses to 

 collect tolls at specified rates for limited periods, for the repairs 

 of the bridge, I have not copied them at length. 



SWARKESTON. 



The most famous bridge in Derbyshire is that of Swarkeston, 

 crossing the Trent in the vicinity of Stanton, in which parish the 

 greater part of the structure is situated. This bridge, with its 

 contiguous causeways, is said to be nearly a mile in length. Upon 

 it, and in the middle of the river, stood an ancient chauntry 

 chapel. 



A legend is current that this bridge was first erected at the sole 

 expense of two maiden sisters, who had the misfortune to lose 

 their lovers when attempting to ford the swollen waters of the 

 Trent together at that point, on an intended visit to their be- 

 trothed. It is said that the disconsolate ladies expended the 



