^{page 8 note a} Black Roll.—This was a roll containing the Customs of the City of Exeter. It was considered of great authority and value, and on it the Mayors were sworn. It was lent to Sir William Cecil in the reign of Edward VI., and is stated by Izacke (Memorials of Exeter, p. 95) and by Oliver (History of Exeter, p. 309) never to have been returned. Is a paper dated 1 March, 1552–3, entitled “Remembrances for the Parliament,” occurs the following memorandum about it: “Item to speke to Mr. Cicell for the Blake rolle which Griffyn leyfft in his custody.” [Letters, &c. among the Archives of the Corporation, No. 31.] It was delivered to Grffin Amerideth 22 Dee. 1 Edw. VI. (Act Book, ii. p. 88), but it had found its way back to Exeter in the first year of James I., for there is in the Act Book of that year (vi. p. 59) an order “that the Blacke rolle shall be broght ” into the Council Chamber, and Mr. Chamberleyn shall write oute of the Haid roll into “some booke in the Chamber fitt for the sam, such speciall thynges therein contained ” as shall be necessary, and he to be allowed for his peynes therein.” Neither the copy nor the original can now be found.

^{page 8 note b} The original of this letter and part of the draft are extant; the words in brackets are filled in from the draft, called B. for the purpose of collation.

^{page 9 note a} dyner—written “mete” in B. and altered.

^{page 9 note b} seson—oeson, B.

^{page 9 note c} originally “mete” in B. and altered.

^{page 9 note d} by—omit B.

^{page 9 note e} of menys—omit B.

^{page 9 note f} as—and, B.

^{page 9 note g} shall—sholde, B.

^{page 10 note a} no—nother, B.

^{page 10 note b} is—and. B.

^{page 10 note c} sigh—segh. B.

^{page 10 note d} have—have hadde, B.

^{page 10 note e} habite—abvte, B.

^{page 11 note a} wold—wold so, B.

^{page 11 note b} thenne—þen, B.

^{page 11 note c} thoughte—þoughte, B. “th” is frequently “þ ” in B, and is not noted after this.

^{page 11 note d} conceve—conceved, B.

^{page 11 note e} Saturday, 28 Oct. 1447.

^{page 11 note f} and so, B.

^{page 11 note g} Sunday, 29 Oct. 1447.

^{page 11 note h} Monday, 30 Oct. 1447.

^{page 12 note a} justises—judgys, B.

^{page 12 note b} negh—right negh, B.

^{page 12 note c} conceved, B.

^{page 12 note d} articulis—to be laid apart, erased in B.

^{page 12 note e} “abode” erased, “stomped” inserted in B.

^{page 12 note f} with—put in place of “and” in B.

^{page 12 note g} merily—myryly, B.

^{page 12 note h} Vaspasianus—See the City's Articles, Part II.

^{page 12 note i} that—hit, B.

^{page 12 note k} prove, B.

^{page 12 note l} for to—for, B.

^{page 13 note a} Dyme—the “decima ” or king's tenth ?

^{page 13 note b} the—of the, B.

^{page 13 note c} as to before—inserted on a rider in B.

^{page 13 note d} Whereapoun to deme—inserted in a rider in B. but much decayed.

^{page 13 note e} tham—hain, B.

^{page 13 note f} seide—seide hym thoghte, B.

^{page 14 note a} gode—right gode, B.

^{page 14 note b} me—put in place of “us ” in B.

^{page 14 note c} the—þ^tþe, B.

^{page 14 note d} they—þ^tþey, B.

^{page 14 note e} moche and strongely—myche and strangely, B.

^{page 14 note f} above—And here apon we hadde dey to receyve oure articles þe morn and so departed, erased in B.

^{page 14 note g} belongeth—longeth, B.

^{page 15 note a} as y suppesed—not in B.

^{page 15 note b} The rest of B. is much decayed.

^{page 15 note c} the rather ende—not in B.

^{page 15 note d} B. ends here abruptly.

^{page 16 note a} 31 Oct. 1447.

^{page 16 note b} sholde—originally wolde altered to sholde.

^{page 17 note a} Nov. 2, 1447.

^{page 17 note b} yf yow, sic MS.—? yf yow like.