MILLS AND MILLSTONES. 507 



price, the bargain is struck, the luck-penny is delivered, and 

 there are witnesses to the transaction d . After so unaccus- 

 tomed a debauch the bailiff returns next morning by the same 

 route to his farm and his duties. But he must journey again 

 to London in order to negotiate the terms at which his goods 

 shall be carried, and to pay for the millstones. On this occa- 

 sion more time is consumed; possibly in waiting for such a 

 vessel as would be able to carry these heavy articles, possibly 

 in another keen bargaining about the amount to be paid for 

 the service. No doubt other potations were deemed necessary 

 for the completion of these arrangements, but in dealing with 

 sailors and wharfingers less costly beverages sufficed, and no 

 special note was made of the consumption. This contract, 

 however, is settled at last, and the stones are laid on board, 

 payment being made for wharfage. Now comes the toll for 

 the city wall, and, free at last, the vessel works its way with the 

 tide up the great river, whose waters were as yet undefiled, 

 through the rich salmon fisheries of Westshene, between the 

 winding banks of the royal forest, and beneath the hill, not 

 yet crowned with the great palace which the young king 

 would hereafter delight to build. Then on to Maidenhead, 

 where a further murage was to be paid, due probably, as the 

 former was, to the City of London, whose jurisdiction over 

 the Thames extended at least thus far. And then they tra- 

 versed the fairest part of the river scenery, the horseshoe, 



d The bailiff, no doubt, gave a memorandum of his purchase. I have not found any 

 acknowledgments of debt in mercantile transactions, within the period discussed in 

 these volumes. But the following document, though upwards of a century later than 

 Oldman's purchase, represents, we may reasonably think, the form of such an obligation. 

 I have preserved the orthography and capitals. The word in brackets is cancelled in the 

 original. 



" Be it rememberyd that y Elys holcote Wardeyne of Merton College in Oxford owe 

 to Will Thommys Cytesyn and Stokkefyschmonger of londone for dyverse ffysche bowght 

 of the same Will xiii/z. vis. iind. [payabyll] to be payd at Wytsontyde next comynge 

 aftyr the date of the bylle In wytnefse whereof y have sett my seal to the present bylle 

 yevyn at londone on the feest of Seynt valentyn the yere of the Reyne of Kynge Herry 

 the vj th aftyr the conquest xxv th ." 



The acknowledgment also contains endorsements of receipts on account written by the 

 creditor or his agent. The original is in Holcot's handwriting. 



