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In 1293 June 15, Hugo de Frene was granted, by Edward I, (In year 21 of his reign) a Royal licence to crenellate Mockes (Moccas Castle)

The wording of this licence is;

"Muro de petra et calce absque turri seu turella firmare et Kernellare, ita quod murus ille subtus kernellieram sit altitudinis decem pedum"

Granted at Westminster, by King.


King writes "It was to be 'absque turri seu turella' and less than ten feet high below the crenellations. Such a wall, on top of even a weak earthwork, would be a much more formidable obstacle than it sounds; nevertheless, the place can never have been strong." Coulson writes "Local sensitivity may be inferred at Moccas ... Licence was issued after seizure for unlicenced work at Easter 1293. The licence is of a type used e.g. by the counts of Champagne to avert provocative assertiveness... rare English instance of licensing being used to mollify friction."


Original source is

(In fact, the original source given is usually a transcription/translation of what are precious medieval documents not readily availably. It should be noted that these transcription/translations often date to the nineteenth or early twentieth centuries and that unwitting bias of transcribers may affect the translation. Care should also be taken to avoid giving modern meaning to the medieval use of certain stock words and terms.)


Significant later source are;


More details about licences to crenellate can be found here.

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This record last updated on Wednesday, December 6, 2006

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