64 HERMITS, FORDS, AND BRIDGE-CHAPELS. 



whole of their fortunes on this large undertaking, and lived the 

 remainder of their days together in poverty. 



The earliest reference to this bridge that I have yet discovered 

 is in the Hundred Rolls. It is as follows : — " Inquisition held at 

 Derby on the Feast of S. Hilary, in the Church of S. James, 

 Anno 3 Edward I. (Oct. i, a.d. 1275). The jury reported that 

 the merchants of the soke of Melbourne passing over the bridge 

 of Swarkeston and other places within the limits of the liberty 

 (concerning receipt of passage money and toll of our lord the 

 king pertaining to his borough of Derby) are abvays accustomed 

 to withhold passage and toll on their own power and authority to 

 the prejudice of our lord the king and the Borough of Derby. 

 Three years have elapsed already since they have withheld the said 

 passage money and tolls, unjustly and without warrant." 



The Patent Rolls give three pontages for Swarkeston ; viz. : — 

 2"'' Pat., 18 Edward II., m. 31. ; 1=' Pat., 12 Edward III., m. 26. 

 This latter was granted to the men of Swarkeston for four years : 

 the collectors of the bridge tolls being Hugo del Calke, and John 

 the son of Adam. Given at Westminster, March ist, 1338. 

 The next will be found on the 3'''' Pat., 20 Edward III., and is 

 as follows : — ■ 



"Concerning the receiving of customs for the reparation of the 

 Bridge of Swarkeston." — " The King to his beloved bailiffs and 

 approved men of the town of Derby, saluting : Know ye that in 

 aid of the bridge of Swerkeston, which to a great extent is 

 ruinous and broken, and especially dangerous to men passing over, 

 and manifestly injurious to the neighbourhood. We grant for the 

 reparation, etc., unto you from the day of the date hereof, to 

 the end of three years next following, that ye may take by the 

 hands John the son of Adam de Melbourne, senior, and John 

 the son of Adam de Melbourne, junior, for the things crossing 

 by the bridge aforesaid, the following customs : — 



"For any load of grass, hay, brush, or brushwood (' brasia'), j^. 



" For any horse, mare, ox, or cow, ^'^. 



"For any cask (' dolium ') of wine, 2'*. For any pipe of wine, i*^. 



"For any skin of horse, mare, ox, or cow, fresh, salt, or tanned, ^"^ 



