The Lay Subsidy of 1326

Transcribed by J. J. Muskett in The East Anglian

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The following is a very useful list of names from the 1326 lay subsidy imposed during the first year of the reign of Edward III. Many of the family names listed here are also in the earlier Hundred Rolls and in some of the 14th century documents held by Cambridge University Library.

This document was made at a time when hereditary surname adoption was being undertaken by common English families. Many people are just referred to as being 'son of...' (e.g. Alano fil Johis = Alan Johnson) or as being from a specific location (e.g. Margaret de Bekedale = Maragaret Beckdale). Other surnames reflect status or profession (Johe Piscator = John Fisher).

Note that most of the names have been translated into Latin even though the inhabitants of Swaffham Prior would have mostly spoken to one another in English. At this time Latin was used as the language of record; English record keeping did not commonly begin until the start of the Tudor age in the late 15th century.

This survey was taken in the years before the arrival of the black death, a calamity that destroyed a great many rural villages and, due to a shortage of manual labour, changed the balance of power between the feudal lords and their workers. The manorial court rolls held at Cambridge University Library reveal that the plague had a terrible effect on the village; one court session records that of the  .

Swafh'm P'our

Vicair de Beche                              xiij^s x^d       ob'

Johe ffabr     .                                  xij^d      ob'

Vicar Sci Ciricii                              iij^s v^d              qr'

Walto Thorouston                         ix^d

Henr Bercar                                    xxij^d     ob' qr

Joha vxe Elie .                                viij^d

Johe de Berchon                            xij^d

Rogo le Man .                                vij^d

Reginald Godefrey    .     .            ij^s ij^d      ob' qr

Margaret de Bekedale    .             ij^s iij^d      ob'

Robto ate Brigge                            ij^s ij^d   

Alicia  Baudewen    .    .                vij^s xj^d      ob'

Johe de Cheuele                            xij^d          qr

Amicia ad Poutem     .                  viij^s viij^d

Walto Tauro .                                 x^d

Galfro fit Auitie                             xj^d     ob'

Elia Lotisson .                                 xiij^d    ob'

Simon Bercar .                                ij^s

Kico Aleyn    .                                 viij^s xj^d     ob'

Johe de Brighm                              v^s iij^d

Johe Coyn    .                                  xv^d     ob' .

Basilia de Cheuele                        v^s vj^d           qr

Hugon Noreys .                             xviij^d

Galfro Bray   .                                ij^s iij^d            qr

Juliana fil Reymer                        x^d ob'

Johe ate Launde                            xxiij^d

Ad Tweyner  .                                xxij^d

Ad Taylour   .                                 xij^d     ob'

Rogo Thurston .                            xxj^d

Willo Sok    .                                  v^s ix^d            qr

Joho ate Brigge                             ix^d

Willo Goffeld .                              ij^s vij^d

Reginald Molend                         viij^d

Willo Euerard .                              viij^d

Rado Pour   .                                  xij^d

Maurico Carpetar                         ij^s v^d

Johe Brid     .                                 xxij^d    ob' q^r

Walto Gulneld                             xij^d

Johe Caplls    .                              ij^s iij^d            q^r

Bado Taylour .                             ij^s           ob' q^r

Agnet Coopator                           viij^d          q^r

Willo Tunherd                            iij^s ij^d            q^r

Johe fit Tuherd                           vj^d            q^r

Stepho Gardiner                         xij^d

Beattce de Reche                         v^s            ob' q^r

Elena Berthelote                          xij^d

Bartho le Reder                            viij^d           q^r

Alnen Sok    .                                xix^d

Luc fil Alicie .                               viij^d

Johe Piscator .                               viij^d

Johe fil Margar Sok                     vij^d

Rado Payn    .                                xj^d            q^r

Nicho fil Alicie                              vij^d    q^r

Johe fil Roge .                                xj^d

Eustac' de Swfhm                         xij^d

Alano fil Johis                               xij^d

Johe Higecok                                 vj^d

Sum - vj^li  vj^s iiij^d     ob' q^r

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