Middle English Dictionary Entry
scauāǧe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | scauāǧe n. Also scuage & skawage, skewage. |
| Etymology | AF scawage, schawage (cp. 16th-cent. NF escauwage) & AL scawagium; ult. English: cp. OE scēawian & ME sheuen v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A custom levied on goods displayed for sale within the precincts of London.
Associated quotations
- [ (1402) RParl.3.491b : La vient un Estephene Brunne, nadgairs fermer as certeines Viscontz du dite Citee de la Custume appelle Schawage, & demande des ditz Merchantz la dite Custume de Schawage de lour ditz Merchandises issint amesnez a la dite Citee de Londres par terre..la Custume appelle Scawage n'est contenuz en especial en la Chartre de Confirmation faite & grantez par n're S'r le Roy as Citeins de Londres. ]
- (1401) Close R.Hen.IV484 : [Writ of supersedeas..in respect of the plea hereinafter mentioned..moved by Stephen Brunne, late farmer, of John Organ and John Clincheman, then sheriffs of London of the custom called] scawage [within that city..by reason of forfeiture of the said custom].
- (1432-3) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)167 : [Letter of Privy Seal to the Mayor, &c., for the restoration of merchandise belonging to Italian merchants which had been seized for nonpayment of] scuage.
- (1444) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)303 : The Citezeins of oure Citee of London owe to have..a custume..callede Scawage of alle manere merchandises to oure said Citee brought by londe or by water.
- (1444) RParl.5.68a : The Merchauntz of Jeane..of long tyme have ben gretely troubled and vexed by the Citeseins of London, by colour of demaundyng of Skewage of the seid Merchauntz, of such Merchaundises as they bryng and hath brought from Suthampton to London by lande; whereof the seid Merchauntz pretendeth thereof to be quyte and discharged, aswele for that thei pay Skewage for the same Merchaundises atte Suthampton.
- (1454-5) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)367 : [Aquittance..to certain merchants of Janua for the sum of & £14 in part payment of a yearly sum of & £28 due to the City by merchants of Genoa for the custom on goods passing to the City from the port of Southampton, called] Scawage.