Robert Ricart Kalendar

The Smugglers' City
Department of History, University of Bristol

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Updated: 23-Sep-2009

Robert Ricart's Chronicle of Bristol, 1480-1508

Source: Transcribed by Evan Jones (2004)
Manuscript: Bristol Record Office, 04720
Note: A printed version of this chronicle, which contains most of the information contained in the extract below, can be found in: Lucy Toulmin Smith (ed.), The Maire of Bristowe is Kalendar by Robert Ricart, Town Clerk of Bristol 18 Edward IV (Camden New Series, Vol. V, 1872)

This page contains an extract from Bristol's official town chronicle - a document generally known as 'Ricart's Kalendar'. Bristol's town clerk, Robert Ricart, began this chronicle in 1479, having first recorded the town's history since 1217. He then went on to chronicle the important events of the town over the next three decades. The last entries in Ricart's handwriting were made in 1506, although he appears to have remained Town Clerk until at least 1508 (Toulmin Smith, 1872, p.iii). Later town officials then maintained the chronicle until 1898.

Since this chronicle was kept as a reference document for the civic authorities of Bristol, Ricart and his successors emphasised those matters they deemed to be of greatest importance to the life and governance of the town. From the point of view of the town clerks, the most important information to record was the names of the mayors, sheriffs and bailiffs who presided over Bristol during its civic year. This information was valuable because it would, in later years, facilitate the dating of official documents that might contain only the name or signature of one of the officers of the town. On the other hand, the chronicle was not merely an administrative document. Below each annual entry, a half page (c.10cm) was left blank for recording events of importance to the town (see photo). Other entries concern: major political events in the life of the nation (such as the birth of a prince), notable developments in the town (for instance the paving of Bristol's streets), and extraordinary happenings (such as a great storm or flood). In many years nothing was recorded. This might be because little of note happened that year. Or it might also be because, like bad diarists, the town clerks often simply forgot to update the chronicle.

The chief interest of the extract of Ricart's Kalendar given below is that it covers the period of Bristol's 'discovery voyages' of 1480-1508. The entries up to 1506 are in Ricart's own hand, indicating that they were made within a few years, or at most a decade or so, after the events took place. The chronicle includes detailed entries for the years in which John Cabot made his three voyages, during the summers of 1496, 1497 and 1498. Since the chronicle is dated according to Bristol's civic year, which ran from 15 September, the relevant entries are those for 1495, 1496 and 1497. What is significant about the entries for these years is that they make no mention of the discovery voyages.

What the absence of any reference to the Cabot voyages indicates is, of course, open to question. Nevertheless, it is inconceivable that Ricart would not have known about them. Cabot had a royal patent for the expeditions, Bristol had a population of just 10,000 people and Ricart himself was intimately connected to the town's political and mercantile elite. The men who financed, equipped and manned Cabot's expeditions would thus have been well known to Ricart. Indeed, it also seems likely that Ricart would at least have met John Cabot during the two or three years in which the Venetian navigator lived in Bristol. The absence of any reference to Cabot's voyages, or any of the other discovery voyages of this period, thus suggests that Bristol's official record keeper simply did not regard them to be of sufficient note to be worth recording.

That the Cabot voyages should not be mentioned in Bristol's official town chronicle may seem extraordinary, given that Cabot's 1497 expedition is regarded today as one of the great events of Bristol's history. These days, a statue of John Cabot stares over the entrance to Bristol's quays, while visitors to the City's Art Gallery and Museum are greeted by a large painting, which depicts the mayor and bishop, in full ceremonial regalia, sending Cabot off on his 1497 expedition. Yet, Ricart's chronicle suggests that the importance of the voyages was not recognised at the time they occurred.

The Chronicle

Photograph of Robert Ricart's Chronicle of Bristol: Entry for Civic Years,
15 September 1496 - 14 September 1498

Note: The years given in Ricart represent the year to 14 September of the listed year. So the year 1497, for example, covers the period, by the modern calendar, 15 September 1496 - 14 September 1497.

1480 Edward IIII, 20	Edmund Westcotte - Mayor John Powke - Sheriff John Greffith & John Weswall - Baliffs
1481 Edward IIII, 21	William Wodington - Mayor William Toket - Sheriff Robert Bannok & John Houndesley - Baliffs
1482 Edward IIII, 22	John Forster - Mayor John Pynke - Sheriff John Langforde & William Regent - Baliffs
1483 Edward IIII, 23	Robert Strange - Mayor John Estirfielde - Sheriff Thomas Spicer & Henry Dale - Baliffs This yere the viiith day of Aprile the king Edward the iiijth dyed at Westminster, and was buryed at Wyndsore the xixth day of the same moneth and on Sonday the vijth day of Jule then next ensewing Richard Duc of Gloucester, brother to the said king Edward, was made king & crowned at Westminster Rex Richardus tercius
1484 Richard III, 1 And this yere the two sonnes of King Edward were put to sylence in the towre of London	Henry Vaghan - Mayor John Stephens - Sheriff John Vaghan & William Gamicell - Baliffs This yere, the xvth day of Octobre, was the grettest flode & the grettist wynde at Bristowe & in the cuntrey there abouts that euer was seen, and grete hurt doon in merchaunts sellers in wode & salt. Shippes lost at Kyngrode the Anthony of Bristowe & a ship of Bilbowe set a lond at Holow bakkes. & other botes & cokkes lost. Saltmerssh drowned corne catell & houses borne awey with the see, And moche people drowned to the noumebre of CC & mo. And sone after Herry Duc of Buks was bihedded at Sarum.
1485 Richard III, 2	William Wikeham - Mayor John Wayne - Sheriff John Heminyng & William Spycer - Baliffs This yere Harry Erle of Richmount londed at Milford Haven in Wales, and sone after he mette with King Richard at Bosworth feld, and there gate the feld of King Richard the xxijth day of August, where the same King Richard was slayne. And sone after there was a sodeyn sikenes in all places of Englond, called the sweting syknes, wherof moche people dyed. Rex Henrieus septimus
1486 Henry VII, 1	Edmund Wescote - Mayor Rais Sherman - Sheriff Philip Ryngston & Hugh Jonys bruer - Baliffs This yere the saide Edmond Wescote, Maire, dyed within xv. daies after Mighelmas. And Herry Vaghan was elect into his rome. And this yere the King maryed Elizabeth the eldest doughtir of King Edward the iiijth.
1487 Henry VII, 2	William Wykham - Mayor John Snyg - Sheriff John Jay & Thomas ap Howell - Baliffs This yere the Quene was crowned. And a felde was made this yere ageinst the king by therle of Lyncoln, the Lord Louell & Martyn Swarte and they all wer slayne.
1488 Henry VII, 3	John Esterfeld - Mayor John Chestre - Sheriff Nicholas Brown & John Walshe - Baliffs This yere a grete ship called the Anthony of Bristowe was lost at Kingrode, in defaute of the Master of the same ship \ And this yer the prince Arthur was borne at Winchester.
1489 Henry VII, 4	John Penke - Mayor Clement Wilteshire - Sheriff John Howell & John Hurler - Baliffs This yere the Kyng sent an army of vij M men into Brytaign to socour the Duches of Britaign. Also this yere the king sent for the Maire Shiref & Baillifes to come to his grace to London. And they brought vp with them ij. men of Waterford bicause the Baillifs had taken them & imprisoned them for brynging of Irissh money to the town ./
1490 Henry VII, 5	Robert Strange - Mayor Thomas Spycer - Sheriff John Taillor & Robert Fortey - Baliffs This yere the Brigge vpon the Were was newe made.
1491 Henry VII, 6	John Stephens - Mayor William Regent - Sheriff Geore Monony & Richard Vaghan - Baliffs This yere dyuers stretes in Bristowe were new paved.That is to say Horsstrete, Knightsmyth strete Brode strete, Highe strete Redclif strete, Seynt Thomas strete, Temple strete, Towker strete, the Bak,Baft strete, Seynt Mary strete Lewens mede. And the High Crosse was peynted & gilt, which cost xx li. This yer the King was at Bristow wher he had a beniuolence of xviij C li [£1800]. Also this yere Mathew Jubbes purchaced a ground of the town in Seynt Nicholas strete for terme of [blank].
1492 Henry VII, 7	William Toket - Mayor Henry Dale - Sheriff John Fuyster & David Cogan - Baliffs This yere the King went to Calice with a grete armye ageynst Fraunce. But peace was made withoute Bataille
1493 Henry VII, 8	Clement Wilteshire - Mayor John Drewes - Sheriff John Popley & Roger Dawes - Baliffs This yere the saide Clement Wilteshire deyed and John Hawkes was elected to occupy oute his rome.
1494 Henry VII, 9	Henry Vaghan - Mayor Philp Ryngston - Sheriff John Reyner & Philip Grene - Baliffs
1495 Henry VII, 10	John Esterfeld - Mayor Mathew Jubbes - Sheriff William Estby & John Rowlond - Baliffs This yere Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlain was biheddid.
1496 Henry VII, 11 [A later note in a different hand summarises this entry.]	William Regent - Mayor Nicholas Broun - Sheriff David Leyson & John Johnes - Baliffs This yere the King & Qwene came to Bristowe with dyuers Lordes spiritual & temporall. And this yere the Duc of Bedford, the kinges uncle decessed at Thornbury on whois sowle god have mercy, & was buryed at Keynesham. And the saide Maire & his brethren met with the saide Duc in Kyngeswode with ij M men on horsbake, all in blake gownes, & so brought his body to Keynesham, for the which the saide Maire & his brethern had grete thankes of the King.
1497 Henry VII, 12	John Drewes - Mayor Hugh Johnes Brewer - Sheriff Thomas Vaghan & John Elyot - Baliffs This yere the Cornyshmen rebelled ageynst the King, and the lord Awdley arose with them. And the King met with them at Blak heth, & ther had Victory of his enemyes rebelles and the saide lorde Awdley was taken ther & behedded at [blank]]. The same lord when he was at Wells with the blak smyth callid Mighell Josef Capteyn of the Cornysh men, havyng with them xl M [40,000] men, sent to the Maire of Bristowe to ordeign loddgyng & vitaill for xx M [20,000]. But the Maire sent them worde that they shuld come no nere and if they wold come ner at their oune aduentur. And then the Maire mustred & made redy to withstond the said rebelles. And garnished the town walles with men harnessid & with gonnes, & brought shippes & botes aboute the mersshe garnisshed with men artillery& gonnes. And the said rebelles hereng of this chaunged theire purpose& toke another wey.
1498 Henry VII, 13	Henry Dale - Mayor Richard Vaghan - Sheriff William Lane & John Spencer - Baliffs
1499 Henry VII, 14	Philip Ryngstone - Mayor John Jay - Sheriff John Vaghan & Thomas Westcote - Baliffs
1500 Henry VII, 15	Nicholas Brown - Mayor Philip Grene - Sheriff Richard Hoby & Walter Rice - Baliffs
1501 Henry VII, 16	Richard Vaghan - Mayor Hugh Elyot & John Baten - Sheriff & Baliff
1502 Henry VII, 17	George Monoux - Mayor Thomas Snyg & Thomas Patnaunt - Sheriff & Baliff
1503 Henry VII, 18	Hugh Johnes - Mayor John Colas & John Caple - Sheriff & Baliff
1504 Henry VII, 19	Henry Dale - Mayor Richard Americk & William Godferd - Sheriff & Baliff
1505 Henry VII, 20	David Philips - Mayor William Jeffreys & Thomas Penson - Sheriff & Baliff
1506 Henry VII, 21	Roger Dawes - Mayor Thomas Elyot & John Harrys - Sheriff & Baliff This yere the said Thomas Elyot dyed & Thomas Smyth merchant was chosen in his rome of Sheref
1507 Henry VII, 22	Philip Ryngston - Mayor William Edwardes & John Welles - Sheriff & Baliff
1508 Henry VII, 23	John Vaghan - Mayor John Edwardes & Simon Gervys - Sheriff & Baliff

Further Reading:
Peter Pope, The Many Landfalls of John Cabot (Toronto, 1997)
J.A. Williamson, The Cabot Voyages and Bristol Discovery Under Henry VII (Hakluyt Society, Second Series, No. 120, CUP, 1962)

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