What did a medieval government actually do on a daily basis? Thanks to the rich administrative records from the Middle Ages, we have detailed insights into the workings of royal bureaucracy and how money was spent. One valuable source of such information is the Close Rolls of England’s King John, which provide a glimpse into the decisions and orders that shaped his reign.
By 1204, or perhaps a little earlier, King John’s government (1199–1216) began documenting their Close Rolls—letters, orders, and instructions sealed with the royal “Close Seal.” These letters were called “close” because they were sealed shut (as opposed to open letters, which were public). Typically, these documents were sent to individuals or officials, addressing various aspects of governance, including land disputes, financial matters, and appointments.
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Here are some examples of these Close Rolls, translated by Samuel Bentley, which highlight a range of topics, from international diplomacy to the everyday expenses of the royal court. You’ll notice that many orders were issued to officials like William de Cornhill, his brother Reginald, or Robert de Veerpont—key figures in managing the bureaucracy. At the end of each entry, the location and date of the order are listed, showing where King John was when he made each decision. Medieval rulers were often on the move, governing while traveling across their kingdoms.
Order to the sheriff of Southampton to deliver to Thomas Esturmy, the King’s valet, a scarlet robe with a cloak of fine linen, and another robe of green or brown, and a saddle, and a pair of reins, and a cloak against rain, and a couch or bed, and a pair of linen sheets, because he had become a knight. Tested at Bristol, 17 July 1204.
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Mandate to Reginald de Cornhill to send five small casks of wine to Northampton on account of the barons and knights whom the King had summoned there, and two small casks of good wine to Windsor; and also to send him the Romance of the History of England. Windsor, 29 April 1205.
Order to the sheriff of York to respite William de Beaumont from the payment of ten marks which he owed to the Jews at York, and to free him from the interest of the debt as long as he should remain beyond sea with horses and arms in the King’s service. Northampton, 23 May 1205.
Order to the treasurer and chamberlain to pay 25s. to clerks of the King’s Chapel for singing Christus vincit before the King at Salisbury on the day of Pentecost. Salisbury, 28 May 1205.
Mandate to Geoffrey FitzPeter, that if Amicia, daughter of the Earl of Leicester, should withdraw out of England, he should immediately deliver to Saher de Quincy all the land of Winterburn and Stoke. Portsmouth, 7 June 1205.
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To the barons of the Exchequer, to allow W. de Cornhill what he had laid out in feeding three hundred friars at Farnham, by the King’s command, from Palm Sunday till a month after the feast of St. John Baptist. Portsmouth, 9 June 1205.
Order to the bailiff of Bere to purchase a handsome crucifix for the King’s Chapel there. Bere, 25 June 1205.
Order to William de Faleis to provide necessaries at Fairford for the three horses of Master R. Fuket, the King’s physician. Cricklade, 6 July 1205.
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Great Seal of King John – British Library Add. 4838,
The King to the King of Scotland, thanking him for the messengers he had sent respecting matters in treaty between them, which when they should meet might be brought to good effect: informing him that he had retained the messengers, because a council of bishops and barons would be held on the feast of St. Peter ad Vincula, and he expected an answer by R. constable of Chester and others whom he had sent to the King of Scotland, to the end that, having taken the advice of the council and heard the answer, he might hasten to the said King to fulfil what they treated upon. Expressing his satisfaction at the exception the King of Scotland had made as to retaining the land of Tundal, which had not been mentioned in the convention, and of which he had before been seised; and assuring him that he did all in good faith. Windsor, 24 July 1205.
Mandate to the constable of Northampton to retain Peter the Saracen, the maker of crossbows, and another with him, for the King’s service, and allow him 9d. a day. Freemantle, 26 July 1205.
Mandate to William de Cornhull to deliver to Bartholomew and Peter of the chamber 40 marks in pennies of full weight, for the King’s expenses, and to receive as many worn pennies from them as they should deliver to him, and cause them to be recoined, and to retain 40 marks and pay the balance into the King’s chamber. Mitcheldever, 30 July 1205.
The King informs the barons of the Exchequer that Nicholas de Stutevill had made fine of 10,000 marks for livery of his inheritance, namely all the lands of which William his brother died seised, and that the King had remitted 2100 marks which his brother had owed. Havering, 6 Aug. 1205.
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Order to the treasurer and chamberlain to pay Isabel, wife of Roger de Mortemar, 200 marks, which the King had lent her for the ransom of her husband. Bere, 18 August 1205.
Mandate to W. de Wrotham to pay Henry and Hugh de Hautvill nine marks for four gerfalcons which they had bought for the King. Bere, 20 Aug. 1205.
The King to his beloved Peter de Auxe and his companions, sailors of la Bascl’, thanking them for having taken a galley and those who had wrongfully attacked his people; and commanding them to deliver to John de Kemes the three men they had in custody and the galley with all its arms and stores, and the ship they had succoured, with everything found in it. Dorchester, 25 Aug. 1205.
Order to the sheriff of Somerset to find the King’s servant at Bere salt for curing the King’s venison. Dorchester, 25 Aug. 1205.
The King to the barons of the Exchequer, informing them that he had acquitted Baldeyn de Hodenet of 10 marks which he owed of the fine incurred by his wife Cecilia de Hedleg’ for marrying according to her own will, and for coming into possession of the manor of Brumleg’. Curry Mallet, 30 Aug. 1205.
Order to the sheriff of Southampton to give Hugh Crassus such seisin of his land as he had been deprived of because the King was angry with him. Curry Mallet, 30 Aug. 1205.
Order to take from Deulecres le Eveske the Jew, who had letters upon John Steph’ for 100 shillings with interest by bond,—one besant out of every pound, for the King’s use. Bristol, 9 Sept. 1205.
Mandate to the barons of the Exchequer to acquit Hugh de Asting’ and his sureties of the payment of 300 marks which he had engaged to pay the King if he had had to wife Albr’, who was the wife of John de Ingeham, because he had her not. Bristol, 9 Sept. 1205.
Mandate to the barons of the Exchequer to receive 250 marks a year from W. Briwere till he had fully paid 450 marks advanced to him by the King for the ransom of William his son, and his fine for the wardship of the land and heir of Robert de Dour. Lincoln, 4 October 1205.
Mandate to John Fitz Hugh to restore to the Abbot of Westminster the manor of Perforford, which was seized by the King’s command because the King’s palfreys were not properly taken care of. Coggeshall, 16 October 1205.
Order to the sheriff of Northampton to give possession to Kempe, the King’s balistarius, of land of the annual value of 50 shillings in the King’s escheats in Newcastle, which he had granted to him till he could provide for him in marriage. Hengham, 17 October 1205.
Mandate to Reginald de Cornhull to buy three skins of sables of William the Englishman of Rouen for the King’s use, if none better could be bought in England. Reading, 21 October 1205.
Order to W. the treasurer to pay William de St. Michael 9£. which he had laid out on the robe of brother Theodore le Ties, by the King’s command, when he was knighted. Windsor, 2 November 1205.
Order to the bailiffs of Sandwich to find a ship for William Alben’ to cross the sea on the King’s service, without cost. Windsor, 4 November 1205.
And mandate to Geoffrey Fitz Peter to give him money to spend on his journey. Freemantle, 5 November 1205.
Mandate to Robert de Veerpont to detain in safe custody, but out of irons, either Ronun, knight of Poitou, or Philip his companion knight, as a hostage, and to find him a horse and robes. Aulton, 22 April 1206.
Order to the barons of the Exchequer to account with Robert de London the King’s clerk for 24s., for gold of the weight of 36d. which he had laid out by the King’s command, namely for a girdle of gold, three rings of gold, and repairing the Queen’s mirror; and to account also with him for the workmanship of the same, 8s. 3½d.; for polishing a ruby and the workmanship of three rings, 4s.; for the workmanship of two basons for the King’s Chapel, 6s.; for a mark of gold to make a saltcellar for the King’s use, and for four caskets for four azure stones (lapis lazuli) 118s. 4d.; for the workmanship of the saltcellar and caskets, 5s. 6d.; for a silver saltcellar, gilt within and without, 29s. 6d.; for a silver box for an antidote to poison, and for repairing a silver mug, 8s. 8d.; for two casules (a priest’s vestment) and two albs for the Queen’s Chapel, 38s. 9d.; for three pieces of taffeta, and one and a half of fustian, and five pounds of silk or fine cotton, for three couches or beds for the King, and for the workmanship of the same, 49s. 8½d. Lambeth, 22 January 1208.
Mandate to Walter de Preston to convey the King’s treasure, namely 11,000 marks, to Marlborough and there deliver it to Hugh de Nevill, and not to quit the treasure till he had so delivered it. London, 21 February 1208.
Mandate to Richard de Chartay to detain in safe custody as a hostage Philip his nephew, the hostage of Reginald de Chartay his brother. Clarendon, 27 February 1208.
Acknowledgment of having received from the Abbot and Convent of Reading various books, namely The Old Testament, Hugh de St. Victor on the Sacraments, the Sentences of Peter Lombard, the Epistles of Augustine on the City of God, and on the third part of the Psalter, Valerian de Moribus, Origen’s Treatise on the Old Testament, and Candidus Arianus ad Marium. Aldingbourn, in Sussex, 29 March 1208.
Similar acknowledgment for the King’s copy of Pliny. Waverley, in Surrey, 4 April 1208.
Mandate to W. earl of Salisbury to permit the Bishop of Ely to come with his usual retinue, on or before the fourth day in Easter week, to discourse with the King as he had requested; and a similar order to Earl Alberic for the Bishop of London. Aldingbourn, 30 March 1208.
Order to the bailiff of Porchester to cause machines for flinging stones, called petrariae and mangonelli, to be made for the King’s service, and to let Drogo de Diep’ and his companions have iron and other things necessary for making them. Waltham, Hants, 2 April 1208.
Order to the bailiffs of the Port of Dover to find passage for the Abbot of Beaulieu with five horses and his men, who was going on an embassy from the King. Waverley, 4 April 1208.
Order to the barons of the Exchequer to account with Reginald de Cornhull for 49s. 10d. for gold for preparing the King’s banners and tunics for the armament, 20s. for inlaying the gold therein, 3s. for painting, and 8s. for sewing them. Guildford, 7 April 1208.
Mandate to Robert de Veerpont to put Hugh de Lascy, the hostage of Walter de Lascy, out of irons, but to detain him in safe custody. Sutton, Hants, 9 April 1208.
Order to the provost of Winchester to send for the King’s use a good chariot with all its furniture and four horses, to be at Northampton on the Tuesday after the close of Easter. Dated at Ludgershall, Wilts, 10 April 1208.
Order to Hugh de Nevill to proclaim through his county that no one, as he regards his person and property, should do any harm to or speak evil of religious men or clerks, and that if such a one should be laid hold of, he should be hung on the nearest oak. Marlborough, 11 April 1208.
Mandate to William Briwere to deliver to Andrew de Beauchamp and William Revel, who were going into Poitou to perform the King’s command, 2000 marks out of the treasury at Oxford. And order to the treasurer and chamberlains of the Exchequer to repay the said W. Briwere out of the first money that came into their hands, and to send other monies that should afterwards be received, to the treasury at Marlborough. Northampton, 15 April 1208.
To the barons of the Exchequer to allow Thomas de Ardint’, sheriff of Staffordshire, 16s. and 6 pence, which he had paid to 500 foot and 25 horse soldiers whom he had brought to the King’s army in Wales. Hereford, 27 April 1208.
To Robert de Veerpont, informing him that the King had given to Robert de Burgot’ the wardship of the land and heir of Walter de Calo, with the right of marrying him, and commanding him to give possession of the heir with his land and right of marriage, and to send the mother of the heir to the King. Lambeth, 8 May 1208.
Many of the the records found in the Close Rolls relate to the purchasing of wine:
Mandate to John la Warrand and his associates to sell the residue of the King’s wines in his custody for the King’s profit. Stoke, 7 June 1205.
Mandate to Peter de Stokes to deliver to Godfrey Vitulus two casks of tolerably good red wine, and one of good white, to be lodged in his castle of Say. Marlborough, 2 July 1205.
Order to Hugh de Nevill to send a good and strong carriage to Southampton to convey the King’s wine to various places, consisting of white wine and wine de Aluelo. Woodstock, 11 July 1205.
Mandate to Robert de Roppell to cause to be brought by water-carriage by day and night six small casks of wine to Bruges, three of which were for the King’s use and three for the household. Havering, 6 Aug. 1205.
Order to the barons of the Exchequer to allow in the account of the keepers of the King’s wines at Southampton, four casks of wine which they had delivered to the Earl of Salisbury, the King’s brother, as a gift from the King, and two casks given to the Archdeacon of Wells and the Abbess of St. Edward’s. Bristol, 8 Sept. 1205.
Mandate to R. de Cornhull to buy for the King’s use ten small casks of strong red wine and one of Auxerre for the King’s use, and to send them to Nottingham; and informing him that if they did not prove good he should be called to account for it. Southampton, 11 April 1206.
Order to William de Cornhull to buy for the King’s use twenty casks of good red wine that would keep, which was to be sent to Nottingham and Tickhill. Winchester, 26 Feb. 1208.
Mandate to the custodes of the Bishopric of Exeter to send to Poorstock three casks of wine of Anjou. Clarendon, 21 March 1208.
Order to the barons of the Exchequer to pay 5 marks 3s. 6½d. for two small casks of wine, and for the carriage of the same from Pagham to Waverley for the consumption of the King’s household for two days. Guildford, 6 April 1208.
These examples from the Close Rolls were translated by Samuel Bentley in Excerpta historica : or, Illustrations of English history – you can read it on Archive.org.
What did a medieval government actually do on a daily basis? Thanks to the rich administrative records from the Middle Ages, we have detailed insights into the workings of royal bureaucracy and how money was spent. One valuable source of such information is the Close Rolls of England’s King John, which provide a glimpse into the decisions and orders that shaped his reign.
By 1204, or perhaps a little earlier, King John’s government (1199–1216) began documenting their Close Rolls—letters, orders, and instructions sealed with the royal “Close Seal.” These letters were called “close” because they were sealed shut (as opposed to open letters, which were public). Typically, these documents were sent to individuals or officials, addressing various aspects of governance, including land disputes, financial matters, and appointments.
Here are some examples of these Close Rolls, translated by Samuel Bentley, which highlight a range of topics, from international diplomacy to the everyday expenses of the royal court. You’ll notice that many orders were issued to officials like William de Cornhill, his brother Reginald, or Robert de Veerpont—key figures in managing the bureaucracy. At the end of each entry, the location and date of the order are listed, showing where King John was when he made each decision. Medieval rulers were often on the move, governing while traveling across their kingdoms.
Order to the sheriff of Southampton to deliver to Thomas Esturmy, the King’s valet, a scarlet robe with a cloak of fine linen, and another robe of green or brown, and a saddle, and a pair of reins, and a cloak against rain, and a couch or bed, and a pair of linen sheets, because he had become a knight. Tested at Bristol, 17 July 1204.
Mandate to Reginald de Cornhill to send five small casks of wine to Northampton on account of the barons and knights whom the King had summoned there, and two small casks of good wine to Windsor; and also to send him the Romance of the History of England. Windsor, 29 April 1205.
Order to the sheriff of York to respite William de Beaumont from the payment of ten marks which he owed to the Jews at York, and to free him from the interest of the debt as long as he should remain beyond sea with horses and arms in the King’s service. Northampton, 23 May 1205.
Order to the treasurer and chamberlain to pay 25s. to clerks of the King’s Chapel for singing Christus vincit before the King at Salisbury on the day of Pentecost. Salisbury, 28 May 1205.
Mandate to Geoffrey FitzPeter, that if Amicia, daughter of the Earl of Leicester, should withdraw out of England, he should immediately deliver to Saher de Quincy all the land of Winterburn and Stoke. Portsmouth, 7 June 1205.
To the barons of the Exchequer, to allow W. de Cornhill what he had laid out in feeding three hundred friars at Farnham, by the King’s command, from Palm Sunday till a month after the feast of St. John Baptist. Portsmouth, 9 June 1205.
Order to the bailiff of Bere to purchase a handsome crucifix for the King’s Chapel there. Bere, 25 June 1205.
Order to William de Faleis to provide necessaries at Fairford for the three horses of Master R. Fuket, the King’s physician. Cricklade, 6 July 1205.
The King to the King of Scotland, thanking him for the messengers he had sent respecting matters in treaty between them, which when they should meet might be brought to good effect: informing him that he had retained the messengers, because a council of bishops and barons would be held on the feast of St. Peter ad Vincula, and he expected an answer by R. constable of Chester and others whom he had sent to the King of Scotland, to the end that, having taken the advice of the council and heard the answer, he might hasten to the said King to fulfil what they treated upon. Expressing his satisfaction at the exception the King of Scotland had made as to retaining the land of Tundal, which had not been mentioned in the convention, and of which he had before been seised; and assuring him that he did all in good faith. Windsor, 24 July 1205.
Mandate to the constable of Northampton to retain Peter the Saracen, the maker of crossbows, and another with him, for the King’s service, and allow him 9d. a day. Freemantle, 26 July 1205.
Mandate to William de Cornhull to deliver to Bartholomew and Peter of the chamber 40 marks in pennies of full weight, for the King’s expenses, and to receive as many worn pennies from them as they should deliver to him, and cause them to be recoined, and to retain 40 marks and pay the balance into the King’s chamber. Mitcheldever, 30 July 1205.
The King informs the barons of the Exchequer that Nicholas de Stutevill had made fine of 10,000 marks for livery of his inheritance, namely all the lands of which William his brother died seised, and that the King had remitted 2100 marks which his brother had owed. Havering, 6 Aug. 1205.
Order to the treasurer and chamberlain to pay Isabel, wife of Roger de Mortemar, 200 marks, which the King had lent her for the ransom of her husband. Bere, 18 August 1205.
Mandate to W. de Wrotham to pay Henry and Hugh de Hautvill nine marks for four gerfalcons which they had bought for the King. Bere, 20 Aug. 1205.
The King to his beloved Peter de Auxe and his companions, sailors of la Bascl’, thanking them for having taken a galley and those who had wrongfully attacked his people; and commanding them to deliver to John de Kemes the three men they had in custody and the galley with all its arms and stores, and the ship they had succoured, with everything found in it. Dorchester, 25 Aug. 1205.
Order to the sheriff of Somerset to find the King’s servant at Bere salt for curing the King’s venison. Dorchester, 25 Aug. 1205.
The King to the barons of the Exchequer, informing them that he had acquitted Baldeyn de Hodenet of 10 marks which he owed of the fine incurred by his wife Cecilia de Hedleg’ for marrying according to her own will, and for coming into possession of the manor of Brumleg’. Curry Mallet, 30 Aug. 1205.
Order to the sheriff of Southampton to give Hugh Crassus such seisin of his land as he had been deprived of because the King was angry with him. Curry Mallet, 30 Aug. 1205.
Order to take from Deulecres le Eveske the Jew, who had letters upon John Steph’ for 100 shillings with interest by bond,—one besant out of every pound, for the King’s use. Bristol, 9 Sept. 1205.
Mandate to the barons of the Exchequer to acquit Hugh de Asting’ and his sureties of the payment of 300 marks which he had engaged to pay the King if he had had to wife Albr’, who was the wife of John de Ingeham, because he had her not. Bristol, 9 Sept. 1205.
Mandate to the barons of the Exchequer to receive 250 marks a year from W. Briwere till he had fully paid 450 marks advanced to him by the King for the ransom of William his son, and his fine for the wardship of the land and heir of Robert de Dour. Lincoln, 4 October 1205.
Mandate to John Fitz Hugh to restore to the Abbot of Westminster the manor of Perforford, which was seized by the King’s command because the King’s palfreys were not properly taken care of. Coggeshall, 16 October 1205.
Order to the sheriff of Northampton to give possession to Kempe, the King’s balistarius, of land of the annual value of 50 shillings in the King’s escheats in Newcastle, which he had granted to him till he could provide for him in marriage. Hengham, 17 October 1205.
Mandate to Reginald de Cornhull to buy three skins of sables of William the Englishman of Rouen for the King’s use, if none better could be bought in England. Reading, 21 October 1205.
Order to W. the treasurer to pay William de St. Michael 9£. which he had laid out on the robe of brother Theodore le Ties, by the King’s command, when he was knighted. Windsor, 2 November 1205.
Order to the bailiffs of Sandwich to find a ship for William Alben’ to cross the sea on the King’s service, without cost. Windsor, 4 November 1205.
And mandate to Geoffrey Fitz Peter to give him money to spend on his journey. Freemantle, 5 November 1205.
Mandate to Robert de Veerpont to detain in safe custody, but out of irons, either Ronun, knight of Poitou, or Philip his companion knight, as a hostage, and to find him a horse and robes. Aulton, 22 April 1206.
Order to the barons of the Exchequer to account with Robert de London the King’s clerk for 24s., for gold of the weight of 36d. which he had laid out by the King’s command, namely for a girdle of gold, three rings of gold, and repairing the Queen’s mirror; and to account also with him for the workmanship of the same, 8s. 3½d.; for polishing a ruby and the workmanship of three rings, 4s.; for the workmanship of two basons for the King’s Chapel, 6s.; for a mark of gold to make a saltcellar for the King’s use, and for four caskets for four azure stones (lapis lazuli) 118s. 4d.; for the workmanship of the saltcellar and caskets, 5s. 6d.; for a silver saltcellar, gilt within and without, 29s. 6d.; for a silver box for an antidote to poison, and for repairing a silver mug, 8s. 8d.; for two casules (a priest’s vestment) and two albs for the Queen’s Chapel, 38s. 9d.; for three pieces of taffeta, and one and a half of fustian, and five pounds of silk or fine cotton, for three couches or beds for the King, and for the workmanship of the same, 49s. 8½d. Lambeth, 22 January 1208.
Mandate to Walter de Preston to convey the King’s treasure, namely 11,000 marks, to Marlborough and there deliver it to Hugh de Nevill, and not to quit the treasure till he had so delivered it. London, 21 February 1208.
Mandate to Richard de Chartay to detain in safe custody as a hostage Philip his nephew, the hostage of Reginald de Chartay his brother. Clarendon, 27 February 1208.
Acknowledgment of having received from the Abbot and Convent of Reading various books, namely The Old Testament, Hugh de St. Victor on the Sacraments, the Sentences of Peter Lombard, the Epistles of Augustine on the City of God, and on the third part of the Psalter, Valerian de Moribus, Origen’s Treatise on the Old Testament, and Candidus Arianus ad Marium. Aldingbourn, in Sussex, 29 March 1208.
Similar acknowledgment for the King’s copy of Pliny. Waverley, in Surrey, 4 April 1208.
Mandate to W. earl of Salisbury to permit the Bishop of Ely to come with his usual retinue, on or before the fourth day in Easter week, to discourse with the King as he had requested; and a similar order to Earl Alberic for the Bishop of London. Aldingbourn, 30 March 1208.
Order to the bailiff of Porchester to cause machines for flinging stones, called petrariae and mangonelli, to be made for the King’s service, and to let Drogo de Diep’ and his companions have iron and other things necessary for making them. Waltham, Hants, 2 April 1208.
Order to the bailiffs of the Port of Dover to find passage for the Abbot of Beaulieu with five horses and his men, who was going on an embassy from the King. Waverley, 4 April 1208.
Order to the barons of the Exchequer to account with Reginald de Cornhull for 49s. 10d. for gold for preparing the King’s banners and tunics for the armament, 20s. for inlaying the gold therein, 3s. for painting, and 8s. for sewing them. Guildford, 7 April 1208.
Mandate to Robert de Veerpont to put Hugh de Lascy, the hostage of Walter de Lascy, out of irons, but to detain him in safe custody. Sutton, Hants, 9 April 1208.
Order to the provost of Winchester to send for the King’s use a good chariot with all its furniture and four horses, to be at Northampton on the Tuesday after the close of Easter. Dated at Ludgershall, Wilts, 10 April 1208.
Order to Hugh de Nevill to proclaim through his county that no one, as he regards his person and property, should do any harm to or speak evil of religious men or clerks, and that if such a one should be laid hold of, he should be hung on the nearest oak. Marlborough, 11 April 1208.
Mandate to William Briwere to deliver to Andrew de Beauchamp and William Revel, who were going into Poitou to perform the King’s command, 2000 marks out of the treasury at Oxford. And order to the treasurer and chamberlains of the Exchequer to repay the said W. Briwere out of the first money that came into their hands, and to send other monies that should afterwards be received, to the treasury at Marlborough. Northampton, 15 April 1208.
To the barons of the Exchequer to allow Thomas de Ardint’, sheriff of Staffordshire, 16s. and 6 pence, which he had paid to 500 foot and 25 horse soldiers whom he had brought to the King’s army in Wales. Hereford, 27 April 1208.
To Robert de Veerpont, informing him that the King had given to Robert de Burgot’ the wardship of the land and heir of Walter de Calo, with the right of marrying him, and commanding him to give possession of the heir with his land and right of marriage, and to send the mother of the heir to the King. Lambeth, 8 May 1208.
Many of the the records found in the Close Rolls relate to the purchasing of wine:
Mandate to John la Warrand and his associates to sell the residue of the King’s wines in his custody for the King’s profit. Stoke, 7 June 1205.
Mandate to Peter de Stokes to deliver to Godfrey Vitulus two casks of tolerably good red wine, and one of good white, to be lodged in his castle of Say. Marlborough, 2 July 1205.
Order to Hugh de Nevill to send a good and strong carriage to Southampton to convey the King’s wine to various places, consisting of white wine and wine de Aluelo. Woodstock, 11 July 1205.
Mandate to Robert de Roppell to cause to be brought by water-carriage by day and night six small casks of wine to Bruges, three of which were for the King’s use and three for the household. Havering, 6 Aug. 1205.
Order to the barons of the Exchequer to allow in the account of the keepers of the King’s wines at Southampton, four casks of wine which they had delivered to the Earl of Salisbury, the King’s brother, as a gift from the King, and two casks given to the Archdeacon of Wells and the Abbess of St. Edward’s. Bristol, 8 Sept. 1205.
Mandate to R. de Cornhull to buy for the King’s use ten small casks of strong red wine and one of Auxerre for the King’s use, and to send them to Nottingham; and informing him that if they did not prove good he should be called to account for it. Southampton, 11 April 1206.
Order to William de Cornhull to buy for the King’s use twenty casks of good red wine that would keep, which was to be sent to Nottingham and Tickhill. Winchester, 26 Feb. 1208.
Mandate to the custodes of the Bishopric of Exeter to send to Poorstock three casks of wine of Anjou. Clarendon, 21 March 1208.
Order to the barons of the Exchequer to pay 5 marks 3s. 6½d. for two small casks of wine, and for the carriage of the same from Pagham to Waverley for the consumption of the King’s household for two days. Guildford, 6 April 1208.
These examples from the Close Rolls were translated by Samuel Bentley in Excerpta historica : or, Illustrations of English history – you can read it on Archive.org.
Many of the Close Rolls have been and edited – you can also find them on Archive.org.
Top Image: King John – British Library MS Cotton Vitellius A. XIII, fol. 5v
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