Close Rolls, Richard II: November 1377-January 1378

Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: Volume 1, 1377-1381. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1914.

'Close Rolls, Richard II: November 1377-January 1378', in Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II: Volume 1, 1377-1381, (London, 1914) pp. 39-46. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-close-rolls/ric2/vol1/pp39-46 [accessed 19 April 2024]

November 1377-January 1378


	1378.

	Membrane 19.
Nov. 24. Westminster.	To Henry de Percy earl of Northumberland, one of the wardens of the marches of Scotland. Order to receive the goods and merchandise of Scotsmen lately brought in ships to Grymesby and Kyngeston upon Hull, to account with the king's clerk Richard de Ravenser for his expenses in bringing by the king's command John Mercer a Scotsman, his son and their servants from Grymesby to London before the council, and in their safe keeping while in his custody, and with Walter de Wele late mayor of Grymesby and all others for the cost of salvage and keeping those goods and maintenance of the merchants, seamen and others, and of the said goods and merchandise to pay them; as the king has appointed certain his lieges to deliver the same to the said earl or his deputies, also the merchants, seamen and others found in the said ships. By C. in parl.
Nov. 26. Westminster.	To Henry de Percy earl of Northumberland and his fellows the wardens of the marches of Scotland. Order, upon petition of Walter de Wele of Grymesby, to hear his plaint and do him full justice according to the law and custom of the marches; as he has shewn that a crayer of his laded with goods and merchandise to the value of 200l. was during time of truce between the king and the Scots taken at sea and plundered by men of Scotland, and his men therein slain, and that no redress has been made although it was at a march day adjudged, praying delivery as marque or reprise of goods and chattels to the value of that sum and his damages of merchandise of men and merchants of Scotland lately arrested at Grymesby and Kyngeston upon Hull. By C. in parl.
Nov. 26. Westminster.	To Robert de Crulle the king's clerk. Order to purvey and take to the king's use for his money four cables for a ship called the 'Gabrielle,' paying the owners at a day to be by him set, and to deliver the same to Thomas de Percy, upon condition that after this voyage the said Thomas shall be bound to give up those cables to the king, if they be not lost owing to the enemy or to accident. By C.
Nov. 12. Westminster.	To John Parker of Olney escheator in Cambridgeshire. Order to cause the warden of Mertonhalle Oxford and John de Babyngton to have seisin of a cottage and 3 acres of land in Gamelyngey held by John Martyn outlawed for felony; as the king has learned by inquisition taken by the escheator, that the premises were in the late king's hand a year and a day, that John Martyn held them of the said warden and John de Babyngton, and that John de Olney late escheator had the year and a day and the waste thereof.
Jan. 3. Westminster.	To the mayor and bailiffs and all the commonalty of Kyngeston upon Hull. Order upon their allegiance and under pain of forfeiture to deliver to the king's commissioners the goods and merchandise of merchants and men of Scotland brought thither in ships or there found, and the merchants, seamen and others found in such ships who are in their custody or the custody of any of that town for execution of the said commission, suffering no hurt to be done to those persons, any command of the king to the contrary and any excuse notwithstanding, knowing assuredly that if they obey not his commands herein the king will so deal with them as to be an example to others; as the king has appointed John Conestable of Halsham, John Seynt Quyntyn, Robert de Hilton, Thomas de Beverlay, and Walter de Leycestre and John de Orwell his serjeants at arms, five, four, three and two of them, to make inquisition by true men of Yorkshire concerning such goods and merchandise whatsoever, the description, owners, price or value thereof, to whose hands they are come and how, and who have had the same, the names and sufficiency of the merchants etc. found in those ships and the number of them, and if wool be therein found whether it was of the growth of England or Scotland, to seize the said goods and wool in whose hands soever found and safe keep the wool until further order, and to deliver all such goods and merchandise (wool excepted) and the said merchants, seamen and others to Henry de Percy earl of Northumberland one of the wardens of the marches of Scotland or to his deputies, making indentures to contain the particulars aforesaid that he may answer for men and goods, to arrest all found rebellious herein, and to do certain other things in their commission contained; and now the king is informed that many men of that town meeting in unlawful assemblies and confederate together are disobeying his said commands, with the strong hand detaining the said goods and men, refusing to deliver them to the king's commissioners, and threatening to slay those men if delivered out of their custody, which if it were done would tend to the hurt and scandal of the king and the whole realm.
	1377.
Nov. 6. Westminster.	To the justices of the Bench. Order, if judgments be rendered as hereinafter rehearsed, to proceed to execution thereof notwithstanding the allegation that Edward prince of Wales duke of Cornwall and earl of Cestre died seised of the manors in question, wherefore they were taken into the late king's hand; as Maud daughter of Thomas Charnels by her petition presented in this parliament has shewn that in the late king's court by divers writs of formedon she sued before Robert Bealknapp and his fellows justices of the Bench against John Marchall parson of Swepston for the manors of Aylmesthorp and Swepston co. Leycester and Beulton co. Warrewyk, and that although by default of defendant she recovered seisin thereof, the justices have deferred execution of those judgments for that the allegation aforesaid was made before them upon the finding of inquisitions taken before Walter Holt late escheator by a writ of diem clausit extremum disavowed in chancery, albeit the said prince had nought therein, neither seisin nor possession, and thereof took no profit, but John Charnels of Bedeworth, who after the date of the said writs intruded upon the premises, scheming with the said parson to hinder the plaintiff from execution, said that the prince was by him enfeoffed thereof. By pet. in parl.
Nov. 2. Westminster.	To the sheriff of Essex. Order to cause Joan who was wife of John de Hevenyngham to have seisin of a messuage and 13 acres of land in Little Totham held by John Sokelyng outlawed for felony; as the king has learned by inquisition, taken by the sheriff, that a messuage and 16 acres of land there, held by John Sokelyng, were in the late king's hand a year and a day, that he held the messuage and 13 acres of the said Joan, and the residue of the prior of Tippetre, and that Roger de Wolfreton late escheator had the year and a day and the waste thereof.
Nov. 28. Westminster.	To Thomas de Staunton escheator in Notynghamshire. Order to assign to Joan who was wife of Humphrey de Bohun earl of Hereford and Essex dower of the manor of Arnale; as lately at her suit, averring that her said husband when he espoused her and long after was thereof seised, and after demised the same to Nicholas de Tamworth knight for life with reversion to the earl and his heirs, the king ordered Hugh de Aunesley late escheator to make inquisition whether the earl was so seised or no, and if so how and for what time, what estate the said Nicholas had therein etc.; and by inquisition by him thereupon taken it is found that the earl was so seised for six years after he espoused the said Joan and demised the said manor as aforesaid, that the said Nicholas had no other estate therein, and that the manor is worth 16l. 18s. 1d. a year.
Nov. 12. Westminster.	To the mayor and sheriffs of London. Order, upon petition of Henry de Morton, whom the king lately commanded them to admit to the office of coroner in the city of London, first taking of him an oath to behave well so long as he should stand therein, by his appointment to admit Henry Shelford to that office in his room until the quinzaine of St. Martin next or until further order, first taking of him a like oath; as Henry de Morton has shewn the king that he must needs depart for a time to other parts of England. By C.
	Membrane 18.
Dec. 12. Westminster.	To the bailiffs of Milton co. Essex. Order if John Preterwell, who purposes to lade certain wool in ships or boats at Milton and bring it by the river Thames to the staple of Westminster, shall find security to bring the same thither and nowhere else, to make indentures of such security and the quantity of the wool, to take of him and of the masters and seamen of such ships and boats an oath that they shall so do, and shall there unlade the wool before going to sea, and to suffer him so to lade and take the same thither, sending one part of those indentures by a man in whom they trust to William Walleworth mayor of that staple, also this writ; as in the ordinance concerning staples of wool and woolfells within the realm it is contained that if any man shall have wool, hides, woolfells and lead in the country between the places where are the staples and the sea, and will lade the same thither by fresh waters or arms of the sea, such indentures shall be made between them and the bailiffs of towns where they shall so lade them, oath shall be made and security given as aforesaid, and at the owners' cost the bailiffs shall send one part of such indentures to the mayor of the staple.
	1378.
Jan. 9. Westminster.	Order to the sheriff of Norhampton to cause a coroner to be elected instead of Peter Skaldewell, who is dead.
	1377.
Nov. 18. Westminster.	To the sheriff of Norhampton. Order to cause as many verderers in the forest of Rokyngham to be elected as in times past used to be therein.
	1378.
Jan. 10. Westminster.	To Master Thomas de Karlell provost of the 'Quenehall' Oxford of the king's patronage, and to the scholars thereof. Order, if evidence of humility, amendment and virtue shall appear in certain fellows expelled from the college, according to the contents of the statutes under the seal of Robert de Eglesfeld clerk the founder, again to elect them fellows, to take of them oaths that they shall observe the statutes, and to admit them without difficulty or delay, and strict injunction to the provost and scholars and to all fellows hereafter admitted not to rehearse or renew the strife and discord touching the statutes which lately arose between them and the expelled fellows, or at all events the cause and origin thereof, nor to attempt the like hereafter; as the matter was ventilated first in the chancery of the late king and after of the king, and having heard either party the king caused the said statutes to come before him there, and confirmed the same by charter; and by the statutes power is reserved to the provost and the majority of the scholars again to admit fellows expelled, if notable signs of worthiness be in them. If any of them shall offend against this command, the king's will is that he be without remedy expelled from the college as breaker of his oath and disturber of the peace therein, and the king will be so wroth with him for his contempt that it shall be a terror to others; saving to the provost power to sue for and recover again the common seal and any charters, muniments and goods of the college aliened and eloigned by any man, and of doing aught else according to the statutes; and if while the said strife was pending any bonds, releases or other writings were made or sealed with the said seal to the prejudice or undue charge of the college, the king hereby decrees that they shall be void.
	Et erat patens.
Jan. 14. Westminster.	Order to the sheriff of Lincoln to cause a coroner to be elected. instead of William Apethorp of Staunford, who is dead.
Jan. 13. Westminster.	Order to the sheriff of [Southampton] to cause two verderers in the forest of la Bere to be elected instead of John Romyn and Simon Grevet, who are dead.
Jan. 17. Westminster.	To the sheriffs of London. Order to deliver to Digeo de Ware, executor of Joan Dachet late damsel of Alice Perers, by indenture containing the quantity, value and description thereof, all goods and chattels seized into the king's hand by forfeiture of the said Alice which the said executor may prove to have been of the said Joan.
Jan. 20. Westminster.	To the sheriff of Huntingdon. Order to cause as many verderers in the forests of Wauberge and Sapple to be elected as in times past used to be therein.
June 21. Westminster.	To the prioress of Ambresbire for the time being. Order year by year during the life time of Roger de Bello Campo warden of Devises castle to pay to the janitor thereof for the time being a rent of assarts of the forest of Chepenham, Peuesham and Melkesham amounting to 18l. 14s. yearly, when by her collected; as by letters patent the king has appointed that the same be so paid to the said janitor, and that he shall spend it upon the repair of the walls, towers and buildings of the castle and the enclosure of the park by oversight of the parson and mayor of la Devises. By bill of the treasurer.
Jan. 22. Westminster.	To the bailiffs of the city of Hereford. Order under pain of forfeiture on sight of these presents to levy of the more able citizens and pay before 1 March to John Philipot citizen of London 35l. whereat by their common assent that city is assessed towards building one small barge called a 'balinger'; as lately for defence of the realm the king by advice of the council took order for speedy building of such 'balingers' in great number of cities and towns, and among them ordered the mayor and citizens and the true men of Hereford at joint expense with the men of Shrouesbury to build one; and now by certain men of the said city and town coming newly before him and the council the king is informed that owing to scarcity of carpenters, timber and other things needful for the purpose in their parts, they have treated and agreed with John Philepot, and he has undertaken for 70l. to be paid before 1 March to build and finish the said 'balinger' before the day appointed. The king has commanded the bailiffs of Shrouesbury likewise to levy and pay the residue of the said sum.
	The like to the bailiffs of Shrouesbury to levy etc. 35l.
Jan. 30. Westminster.	To the mayor and bailiffs of Cantebrigge and the bailiffs of Huntyngdon. Order by distraint if need be and otherwise as they most speedily may to compel all men of those towns who have goods and chattels to the value of 10 marks or upwards to contribute rateably with them towards building one 'balingere,' so that it be built and made ready by 1 March next, and that men not having goods to that value be not compelled to contribute; as lately the king commanded them at the cost of the more able and richer men of those towns, to cause the said 'balingere' to be built, not charging the middling people therewith; and it seems to the king and council that the men specified may reasonably contribute to the same.
	Et erat patens.
	The like to the mayor and bailiffs of Notyngham and the bailiffs of Derby.
Feb. 5. Westminster.	To the mayor and bailiffs of Lincoln. Like order, mutatis mutandis, to levy of men of the city who have goods and chattels to the value of 40l.
	Et erat patens.
Feb. 6. Westminster.	The like to the bailiffs of the towns of Gloucester and Worcester, to levy of men having chattels to the value of 10 marks.
	Et erat patens.
Jan. 30. Westminster.	The like to the bailiffs of St. Edmund and the mayor and bailiffs of Thetford, to levy of men having chattels to the value of 10l.
	Et erat patens.
	Membrane 17.
Jan. 18. Westminster.	To Alan de Buxhull constable of the Tower of London, and to his lieutenant. Order to receive and keep in custody until further order for his delivery Matthew Sabarwik the king's prisoner, who shall be delivered to them by the king's clerk William de Eyrmyn treasurer of Calais. By C.
Jan. 5. Westminster.	To the sheriff of Suthampton. Whereas the king has learned that certain black money found under ground in that county is in the hands of Theobald de Gorges and elsewhere within the county, order to deliver to Henry de Burton the sum and quantity of 150lb. thereof of right weight, and of the residue to send before the council 1lb. of right weight before the Purification next. By bill of p.s.
	Membrane 16.
	1377.
Nov. 20. Westminster.	To the mayor and bailiffs of Lenne. Order, upon petition of Walter Cowebaker and Walter Fulker merchants of Holand addressed to the late king, by reason of their alleged damages and of letters of Duke Albert witnessing that their statement is true, to view those letters and letters under the common seal of the town of Midelburgh in Seland, and a copy of the petition which the king is sending herewith, and if thereby and by inquisition taken by seamen and other true men they shall find that the matter of the petition is true, first to take to the king's use the moneys due at Calais for the wool and woolfells hereinafter mentioned if they had been taken thither, and to deliver to the petitioners a ship of Caumfer, Collard Jacobsone master, and the seamen and gear thereof, if not yet delivered, and the wines, goods and merchandise therein arrested, suffering them and their sureties to be discharged, certifying in chancery all their action in the matter, and sending again this writ; as upon their petition, averring that lately in the port of Lenne they laded certain wool and woolfells in the said ship to take to Calais, first paying the customs thereupon due, that on the voyage thither they were by a tempest driven to the port of Flissyng in Seland, having for their safety and the safety of the ship first cast into the sea great part of the said wool, woolfells and other their goods as was witnessed by the said letters of the town of Midelburgh produced in chancery, that after they brought the ship again to Lenne laded with wines and divers other goods and merchandise, and it was there arrested by the then mayor and the collectors of customs for that contrary to the proclamation the said wool and fells were unladed elsewhere than at Calais, although they might not without the loss thereof have done otherwise, and although they many times offered to pay the duties due at Calais thereupon to the representative of the said mayor, then deceased, who refused to receive the same, the late king on 24 March last ordered the then mayor and the collectors to take of the petitioners security that they should appear before the king and council in the octaves of Michaelmas to answer for the said duties and for the value of the ship, wool and fells in case the same should be adjudged as forfeit to the king, and to dearrest and deliver to them the ship, wine and merchandise aforesaid, and meanwhile by oath of true men of the town to inform them of the said value and concerning the premises, and before that date certify in chancery the security taken, the said value, and all their action in the matter; and they did certify that not finding the said Walter Fulker they have taken of Walter Cowebaker security for which they will answer, and have caused the said ship, wool and fells to be appraised.
	1378.
Jan. 16. Westminster.	To the sheriffs of London. Order of the goods of Alice de Periers by them [seized] as forfeit into the king's hand to deliver the following by indenture to the king's clerk Alan de Stokes keeper of the great wardrobe, namely one bed of red 'camoka' powdered with flowers of bluet containing one coverlet, one tester with half celure and three red curtains of 'taffata' price 9l., one table of Pruys price 40s., one table of Pruys price 20s., one image of the Virgin in a tabernacle price 100s., one pair of tables of Pruys in a case price 3s. 4d., three coffers bound with iron price 60s., one great new 'huche' price 10s., and one flat table price 4s. By bill of p.s.
	Vacated, because otherwise below.
Jan. 13. Westminster.	To the sheriffs of London. Order to view a bill sent herewith, which has been presented to the king and council by John de Surrey knight and contains certain goods and furniture arrested with goods of Alice Perriers by virtue of the king's command to the sheriffs, and to restore the same to the said John or his attorney or to Thomas bishop of Exeter the treasurer with whom he is abiding at present. By C.
	Vacated, because otherwise below.
	Effects belonging to Sir John Suthray: (fn. 1) two coffers, one with four little 'toywayles,' price 16d.; one remnant of linen cloth price 4d.; 20 buttons with eagles price 10s., 20 with the letter S price 6s. 3d.; two 'basyns' gilt, one 'spicedissh,' one salt with the cover, one 'nouche,' one dozen dishes, and one 'almndissh' price 31s. 3d.; one 'gypser' price 2s.; one 'chapelet' with crowns of pearls price 4s.; two silver lanterns, one little 'forser,' 33 small hawks' hoods (velx petits), one 'coler' with letters, one silver 'coler' broken price 12s.; four gold buttons price 10s.; one pair of 'bedes' price 12d., two 'trussyngcofres' bound with silver price 13s. 4d.; one pair of gloves with 'daysyes' price 4d.; one coffer with 5 yards of 'damaske' ribbon price 30s. 4d.; 1 yard of ribbon price 16d.; 1 yard of narrow 'damaske' ribbon price 5s.; 51 gold 'bedes' price 7l. 4s.; one 'hedkerchif' of plain 'camaca' price 20s.; 5 yards of cypress ribbon price 9s. 2d.; 2½ yards of orfray price 10d.; one pair of sleeves (ananses) of 'samaka' price 12d.; one pair of 'bedes' ond one pair within price 6d.; three garters of the letter N, two 'colers' for two little dogs, half a dozen spoons (esquiels) price 20s.; one red 'primer' price 4s.; one other 'primer' covered with cloth of silver price 3s. 4d.; one other book price 5s.; two coffers price 2s.; one 'goune' of 'blewe' lined with 'crestygray' price 10s.; one 'rede cote' price 2s.; two 'sloppes' of 'red velvet' price 6s. 8d.; one 'kertel' of 'kamaka' price 4s.; one 'slop' of 'camaka' price 2s. French.
	Vacated.
Jan. 16. Westminster.	To the sheriffs of London. Order of the goods of Alice Perrers by them taken as forfeit into the king's hand to deliver the following to his clerk Alan de Stokes keeper of the great wardrobe, namely one tester with half celure in one piece of red baudekin and one coverlet of the same suit price 8l., three curtains of red 'taffata' price 20s., one folding table of Pruys with a cover price 40s., one folding table of Pruys price 20s., one image of the Virgin in a tabernacle price 100s., one pair of tables of Pruys in a case price 3s. 4d., one coffer bound with iron price 20s., two coffers bound with iron price 40s., one great coffer lined with linen cloth price 10s., and one long table with trestles price 4s. By bill of p.s.
	[Fœdera.]