Add MS 37656

This manuscript contains the wardrobe account of Thomas of Brotherton (b. 1300, d. 1338), and Edmund of Woodstock (b. 1301, d. 1330), afterwards Earls of Norfolk and Kent. Princes Thomas and Edmund were the fifth and sixth sons of King Edward I (r. 1272-1307), and the oldest by his second marriage to Margaret of France (b. c. 1279, d. 1318).

The account was compiled by John de Claxton, keeper of the wardrobe of the princes. It records the expenses of their household between 13 February and 19 November 1305 [33 Edward I] (see f. 8r). The princes, aged four and three respectively at the beginning of the account, lived chiefly at Ludgershall, Wiltshire, under a governess (‘magistra’), Edelina de Venusse (see f. 2r).

The expenses correspond to the purchases for their wardrobe. They are divided into different categories, including alms, necessary purchases, expenses on messengers and gifts, shoes, robes, knight’s fees, purchases for the great wardrobe and payments to the household personnel. The wardrobe account lists purchases related to several women amongst the members of the princes’ household, including the governess, Lady Edelina de Venusse; Thomas’ nurse (‘nutrici’), Mabel of Raunds; Edmund’s nurse-maid (‘berceressa’), Perretta de Poissy; and female assistants, who were recipients of gifts, cloths, shoes and several other items.

The total sum of expenses for this period is divided into two groups. First, the expenses of the household, totalling £510 14s 2 ½d. Second, the expenses of the wardrobe, totaling £354 4s 7d. The pages containing the expenditure of the household at the beginning of the account are now lost, and only the wardrobe-related entries have survived. Folios 1r-5v, 6v, 7v-8r are crossed out, indicating that the accounts have been audited.

For another account produced by John de Claxton for Thomas and Edmund’s wardrobe dated 1311, see Add MS 32050.

Contents:

f. 1r: Expenses on almsgiving (‘elemosina’).

ff. 2r-3r: Necessary expenses (‘necessaria’).

f. 4r: Expenses on messengers (‘nuncii’).

f. 4v: Expenses on gifts, and expenses on shoes and clothes for the valets or grooms (‘dona’, ‘calciamenta’, ‘robe’).

f. 5r-v: Expenses on knight’s fees (‘feoda militium’).

f. 6r-v: Expenses on the great wardrobe.

f. 7v: Payments to other members of the household or ‘familia’.

f. 8r: Total expenditure in the household and wardrobe, and dates covered by the account.

ff. 1v, 3v, 7r, and 8v are blank.