jan 1, 1519 - scabell

Description:

A word found only in York where it was the bell rung on Foss Bridge to declare the fish-market open. 1519 <i>Also that the bell of Fossebregg called the Scaytbell shalbe rong at viij of the clok in the morning on the market dayes</i> (YRS106/68). Previously, it had been mentioned when restrictions were placed on ‘foreign’ traders: 1481 <i>Et eciam quod nullus piscenarius forensicus qui portat pisces marinos ad istam civitatem vendendos non vendit pisces suas nisi ad scabell’ omniam etc</i>, York (YHB230). The reference may be to skate meaning fish, especially since ‘skategeld’ was apparently a toll on fish coming into the city: 1483 <i>our said sovereyn lord ... grauntid ... releve of the said Cite in esyng of the tolls, murage, bucher penys and skaitgyld</i> (YRS98/82). The same word occurs in an undated fifteenth-century document for Malton: <i>for selling of ml heryng jd or ellys for selling of the same thay schall gyffe to the skattegyld iiijd</i> (SS85/60). However, few examples have been found and ‘scabellum’ had a number of meanings, including ‘an instrument played with the foot’: 1490 <i>De j scabello cum cordis jd</i>, York (SS53/56-7).

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