14 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND. 



A.D. 1427 (complete). Account of brother William Metygham from 

 S. Michael to S. Gregory, 6th Henry VI., in the ist year of Prior William. 

 Receipts 



For herbs, " lekys " and " Porrettes," 45. for faggots ("fasciculis "), 

 Astill and " ozyerys " (= osiers), 8s. 2d. for the meadows from the 

 cellarer, 205. for the garden between the gates, I2d. sum of receipts, 

 335. 2d. 

 Expenses 



Arrears of preceding year, 68s. for mustard seed, 73. 4d. to the Almoner, 

 I2s. for milk in Advent and Quinquagesima, 45. 3d. for planting 

 garlic and beans and for weeding, 2s. to workmen hired at times, 

 I5d. in medicines of the gardener, 2s., in the presence of the Lord 

 Prior, and at St. Leonards and elsewhere, 35. 2d. in gifts to the 

 servants at Christmas, i8d. in the repair of the houses, utensils, 

 " schelvis," and boards bought, 55. 4d. in the boots of the gardener, 

 I2d. to Thomas the servant for stipend, 125. to John the servant, 

 95. for their tunics, los. 



Sum of expenses, 705. lod. 



Sum of all expenses with arrears, 6. i8s. lod. 



So the expenses exceed the receipts, 5. 53. Sd. 



A.D. 1484. Account of brother John Metham, from Michaelmas ist, 



Richard III., and Michaelmas 2nd, Richard III. Prior John Bonwell. 



Remainder of account of preceding year. 



Receipts, 33. 5fd. First from the Lord Prior for the parcel of the garden 

 annexed by the separation of the great "fosse" (ditch) [to] "le 

 ortjerd " of the same, i6d. For beans sold, for the straw of the same 

 for "eldyng" (=fuel), 6s. lod. Onions sold, i6d. Sum of receipts 

 with remainder, 4. 75. 



Expenses 



Tithes, and no more, because certain tenements are built on the soil of the 

 garden, in " Holmstrete." scholars, brother John Helgey and brother 

 William Gedney. Robert Cook for pottage made of peas and spices 

 for the convent, 6d. for "frixures" (=fritters~). for labour of 

 labourers in extracting the " mosse " from the cloister green, 6d. 

 for cleaning the great ditch that goes round the garden with the 

 small ditch which is next the " scaccarium " (= exchequer) of 

 the gardener, i8d. (several payments to labourers mentioned by 

 name.) for " gryffing," 4d. for digging and other things, lo^d. 

 pay to Thomas Mylys and Henry Cobyller, of the Parish of St. John 

 of Matermarket, for thrice mowing the garden and " bina " (= twice) 

 mowing the cloister, 33. For one " wyndowstal " for the orto cersor 

 (= cherry garden) for " flagello " (= flail), id. for labourers for in- 

 i gathering mustard seed with the threshing of the same, 7d. 

 Sum of expenses, 4. 75. 7^d. Receipts exceed the expenses, 2s 



Some items occur without variation every year, such as the 

 payments to the servants; and their tunics, boots and gloves. 



