The contract binds several authorities on the one hand, and “Tho. Ampilforde, John Garette, and Robert Maunselle, masons,” on the other. It is stated in it “yat y^e foresaides Tho., John, and Rob., schalle make a brigge of stane oure (over) y^e water of Swalle atte Catrik be twix y^e old stane brigge and y^e new brigge of tree (of wood), quilke forsaid brigge, with y^e grace of God, salle be made sufficiant [and war]kmanly in mason craft accordand in substance to Barnacastelle brigge, aftir y^e ground and y^e watyr accordes, of twa pilers, twa land stathes (abutments), and thre arches.” The deed goes on to give a minute account of the way in which every part of the work must be performed, of the material that will be used, and of the time when the bridge must be entirely finished and open to circulation: “And y^e {57} saides John, Tho., and Rob., schalle this forsaid brigge sufficiantly in masoncraft make and fully perfurnist in all partiez and holy endyd be y^e Fest of Seint Michille y^e Arcangelle quilk y^t shalle fall in y^e yere of our Lorde Gode M^{le} ccccxxv.” It is understood besides that they will receive in payment, at certain fixed dates, “gounes,” and also sums of money, the total of which will be 260 marks sterling.[38] [Illustration 10. HUGH OF CLOPTON’S BRIDGE AT STRATFORD-ON-AVON. (_Fifteenth Century._)] The bridge built by the three masons, John, Thomas, and Robert, is still in existence, but it has undergone great and grievous alterations. We have already seen some examples of the means employed at this period to secure the maintenance of these valuable constructions, when that maintenance had to be ensured by something more than the charges incident to the ownership of the neighbouring lands (_trinoda necessitas_); we know that it was sometimes provided through “indulgences” promised to benefactors, sometimes by the action of gilds, or municipalities, sometimes also by the endowments with which one of the great would enrich the bridge founded by him. But without speaking of occasional gifts,[39] several other methods were employed with success, even with profit, such as the lawful levying of those tolls which Godfrey Pratt had arbitrarily imposed on his fellow citizens, or the collection of pious offerings made at the chapel of the bridge and to its warden. The right of toll was called _brudtholl_ (bridgetoll) or _pontagium_; the grantee, to whom the benefit went, bound himself in return to make all the necessary repairs. Sometimes the King accorded the right as a favour during a certain period, as appears, for example, from the {58} following petition, which is of the time of Edward I or Edward II: