674 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences , Arts , and Letters. 
Thomas atte Legh, a stockfishmonger, left 40 shillings to¬ 
wards the work; 1 John Rous, a fishmonger, left money in 
1381 for like purpose; 2 and likewise a London skinner in 1386. 3 
Three similar bequests were made in the first quarter of 
the fifteenth century. 4 The burden of the expense, however, 
was carried by Sir John Cobham (fellow J. P. of Chaucer) 
and Sir Robert Knolles—two famous knights of the four¬ 
teenth century—who rebuilt the bridge in 1388. 5 
The matter of wearing apparel is not without interest 
also. When but a comparatively few wills are preserved 
one should not expect many by obscure people. And such 
is actually the case. Even when the will is given it is likely 
to be brief or the trade of the testator omitted. 6 However, 
a sufficient number of interesting wills have come down to 
us which make pertinent some scattering observations. A 
very interesting will of a London tailor, 7 dated 1393, exists. 
John Dymmok, “tailour”, leaves among other things “a 
girdle of black silk harnessed with silver.” Also “a long 
gown of striped cloth.furred with bever, a silver girdle, a 
baselard harnessed with silver, a doublet with coat of mail, 
a palet with hood.” He likewise leaves several robes and 
another basilard with silver trimmings. He therefore 
owned two girdles and two basilards “harnessed with 
silver.” 8 A “clothpakker” (fuller) in 1418 leaves a 
“girdle garnished with silver and . . . baselard garnished 
with silver.” 9 In glancing through other wills one is im¬ 
pressed by the number of silver girdles, daggers, spoons, 
cups, etc., which tradespeople possessed,—even 6i bedes of 
haumbre.” 10 Chaucer’s people had knives (presumably the 
basilards, used for protection against robbers) capped, as 
the poet tells us, not with brass but with silver. The Reve 
from the “north contree” had a rusty sword, however,— 
another reason for his shyness. 
1 Cal. of Wills, etc., II. p. 154. 
2 Ibid., p. 225. 
'Ibid., p. 261. 
4 Ibid., pp. 392, 428, 433. The bridge was in need of repair a good deal 
of the time apparently. 
5 Die. Natl. Biog., XXXI. p. 285. Both men were natives of Kent. 
6 In many cases, through the aid of the Letter-Books, I have been able 
to identify the man’s business. 
7 Tailors had six representatives in the Common Council. 
8 Cal. Wills, Court of Hustings, II. pp. 303-4. 
8 Ibid., 414-5. 
Ibid., p. 233. Cf., in general, pp. 182, 199 f, 205, 207 f, 238, 240, 261 f, 
277, 299 f, etc. 
