Parliament Rolls of Medieval England. Originally published by Boydell, Woodbridge, 2005.
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'Richard II: January 1390', in Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, (Woodbridge, 2005) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/parliament-rolls-medieval/january-1390 [accessed 21 April 2024]
In this section
1390 January
Introduction January 1390
Westminster
17 January - 2 March
(C 65/49. RP , III.257-273. SR , II.61-75)
C 65/49 is a roll of twelve membranes, each approximately 330mm in width, sewn together in chancery style, and numbered in a later hand. The condition of the roll is good, though membranes 12, 10, 9, and 6 are stained with gallic acid. The text, written in the official script of several scribes, occupies the rectos of the membranes only; the dorses are blank apart from a later heading, 'Parliamentum de anno 13 o R. 2 di ', and later notes where the membranes are joined, 'Parl' 13 R. 2 pars unica'. The Arabic numerals, and the marginal notes, are of a later date. The roll appears to be complete.
Following the dissolution of the Cambridge parliament on 17 October 1388, the Appellant-led government retained power for a further six and a half months. On 3 May 1389, however, Richard II held a meeting of the council at Westminster at which he reminded the assembly that he was now in his twenty-second year, and should thus have 'free disposition of all the things that are legitimately his'. He dismissed the chief officers of state, appointed others in their place, and informed the councillors that he now intended to resume power into his own hands. His coup went unchallenged: according to the chronicler Henry Knighton, 'there was none who sought to oppose the king's will, but all praised God that He had provided them with so wise a king to watch over them in future'. (fn. foot3-257-int-1) Six weeks later, at the hamlet of Leulingham, between Calais and Boulogne, an Anglo-French truce was sealed for three years. Not only was this the longest period of truce agreed between England and France since the renewal of the war in 1369, it also turned out to mark the cessation of Anglo-French hostilities for the rest of Richard's reign. By the time that parliament met again in January 1390, therefore, the political situation had changed radically from that of 1388. Indeed, the personal exercise of power by the king, and the lack of open warfare with France, were in many ways to be the defining characteristics of the last decade of the reign.
The timing of the parliament was doubtless determined by the fact that the Cambridge parliament had renewed the wool subsidy and tunnage and poundage until 1 March 1390, following which the government would require a new grant in order to continue to receive these taxes. On 6 December 1389, therefore, writs were issued from Reading summoning the lords to be at Westminster on 17 January, and ordering the sheriffs to arrange for the election of members of the commons. The names of 239 of the commons are known: 74 knights and 165 burgesses. (fn. foot3-257-int-2) The names of the lords who were summoned were as follows:
Lords Spiritual (45): The archbishops of Canterbury and York; the bishops of London, Winchester, Ely, Norwich, Durham, Carlisle, Salisbury, Exeter, Hereford, Worcester, Lincoln, St David's, Bangor, Llandaff, St Asaph (Lawrence Child, who in fact died on 20 December 1389), Bath and Wells, and Coventry and Lichfield (the sees of Rochester and Chichester were technically vacant at the time; in fact, new incumbents had been provided to them, but they had not yet been consecrated); the abbots of St Albans, Ramsey, Peterborough, Battle, Croyland, St Benet of Hulme, St John's Colchester, Malmesbury, Winchcombe, Gloucester, Bury St Edmund's, Waltham St Cross, Thorney, St Mary's York, Abingdon, Shrewsbury, St Augustine's Canterbury (who had not been summoned in September 1388), Bardney, Hyde, Glastonbury, Reading, Selby, Westminster and Evesham; the prior of Coventry, and the prior of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
Lords Temporal (55): The dukes of Lancaster, York, and Gloucester; the earls of Kent, Huntingdon, Arundel, Warwick, Devon, Salisbury, Northumberland, Derby and Nottingham; Nicholas Audley of Heleigh, John Falvesle, Thomas Camoys, Guy Brian, John Clinton, Richard Talbot of Goodrich Castle, John de la Warre, Henry Lescrope of Masham, John Roos of Helmsley, Ralph Nevill of Raby, John Grey of Codnor, Henry Grey of Wilton, Reginald Grey of Ruthin, Henry Fitzhugh, Richard Lescrope of Bolton, John Devereux, Hugh Burnell, William la Zouche of Harringworth, Thomas Clifford, Ralph Cromwell, Ralph Lumley, William Thorpe, Ralph Greystoke, William Botreaux, John de Beaumont, Robert Harrington, Robert Willoughby, John Cobham, William Dacre, John Lestrange of Knockin, Thomas Nevill of Hallumshire, Richard Seymour, Ralph Basset of Drayton, Philip Darcy, Thomas Morley, John Bourchier, John Lovell, John de Montacute, John Charlton of Powys, Thomas Berkeley, John Welles, Philip Despenser, and Amaury de St Amand.
Only three of these temporal lords had not been summoned to the parliament of September 1388: the duke of Lancaster, who was still in Iberia at the time; Reginald Grey of Ruthin, who was succeeding his father (also called Reginald), who had died in July or August 1388; and Amaury de St Amand, who had first been summoned in 1382 but had for some reason been omitted in September 1388, perhaps because he was abroad.
To judge from the amount of space which chroniclers devoted to it, the parliament of January 1390 aroused considerable interest among contemporaries, although different chroniclers emphasised different aspects of the proceedings. The Westminster chronicler copied out the text of the Statute Roll of the parliament, commenting that it passed 'some harsh legislation'. In particular, he singled out the 'detestable' Statute of Provisors, which is certainly the most famous act of this parliament, although he also commented that the statute concerning pardons for homicide was 'rather severe'. Walsingham also noted that the Statute of Provisors was hateful to many English people, but seems to have taken more interest in the various debates and acts on the subject of law and order which were a feature of the parliament. Henry Knighton, on the other hand, while not providing an account of the parliament per se, commented that 'many believed' that the famine which struck England later in the year had been the result of the decision made in parliament that English merchants should not take wool or other goods out of England, but should deposit them at various places within the realm, where foreign merchants could come and purchase them by exchange. As a result, he declared, wool was in very low demand during the year, so that there was a shortage of bullion with which to buy food, even though the price of grain was not excessively high. The enactment of the January 1390 parliament to which he seems to be referring is Item 37, which stated that the wool staple should remain at Calais until 30 November, and that denizen merchants were not to export wool from any part of the realm, but that foreign merchants from friendly countries might, with royal licence, buy and sell wool within the kingdom, and, as long as they paid the appropriate duties, export it. (fn. foot3-257-int-3)
Despite Knighton's comments, it is clear that it was the questions of Provisors, and of law and order, which dominated the parliament. The fact that the Second Statute of Provisors, as it is commonly called, was enacted as early as 29 January, also helps to clarify the chronology of the parliament. It began on Monday 17 January with the opening speech, given as usual by the chancellor, William of Wykeham, bishop of Winchester, whom Richard had appointed to the office at the time of his reassertion of power the previous May. Wykeham, an experienced administrator who had first held the chancellorship as long ago as 1367, was doubtless reckoned by the king to be an elder statesman acceptable to all parties. His speech emphasised three points: the government's continuing need for money to defend the realm, despite the Anglo-French truce; the need to tackle the problem of lawlessness; and - the 'principal cause' of the summons, according to Wykeham - the fact that, although Richard had for a long time been 'of tender age', he had now 'come to such age, thanks be to God, that he possessed greater knowledge and discretion than ever before', and was thus even more eager to rule his kingdom in peace, justice and tranquillity. The message was clear: Richard's resumption of personal power was a fait accompli from which there would be no going back. And, to drive the point home, three days later, on Thursday 20 January, the chancellor, the treasurer, and all the royal councillors (with the exception of the keeper of the privy seal, Edmund Stafford) formally surrendered their offices in full parliament and begged the king that, if any person wished to make a complaint against them, he be given the chance to do so. The commons asked for a day to consider this, following which they declared on the Friday that, far from seeking to press any complaints, they wished rather to congratulate the king's ministers and councillors for the way in which they had conducted themselves while in office. And, when the lords replied in the same vein, the king solemnly restored the chancellor, treasurer and royal councillors to their posts, at the same time adding his uncles the dukes of Lancaster and Gloucester to the council. Yet, concluded Richard, although he had acted in this fashion on this occasion, he did not wish his actions to be taken as a precedent: as far as the future was concerned, he made it clear that he would appoint and remove his ministers and councillors as and when he wished.
Having thus spent the first week attempting to draw a line under the events of the previous few years, parliament could now turn to the first major item of business, the question of papal provisions. This was of course an issue which the commons had raised repeatedly during the fourteenth century, and which had already resulted in the First Statute of Provisors (1351) and in various other 'anti-papal' legislative acts. (fn. foot3-257-int-4) During the first decade of Richard II's reign, the government's standard reply to such petitions was that there were sufficient statutes already in place, but at the Cambridge parliament of September 1388, in response to yet another petition on the subject, the Appellant government enacted a statute to the effect that no person was to leave the realm in order to seek provision to a benefice within the realm unless he had the permission of the king; anyone who did so would lose both the king's protection and the benefice. This was prompted at least in part by the extensive series of episcopal translations - largely politically motivated, but sanctioned by Pope Urban VI - which had accompanied the Appellant coup of 1388. Unwisely, Urban VI reacted to this not only by reserving to himself the right to present to all vacant sees, but also by sending a collector to England with instructions to raise a papal tax. (fn. foot3-257-int-5)
Such a calculated and direct challenge to the statute of 1388 clearly infuriated the commons, and their petition to the parliament of January 1390 (Item 32) went much further in its proposed penalties than the existing statutes on the subject. Despite the earlier legislation, they declared, papal provisions were 'more common these days than they used to be', and they went on to request not only that the legislation be enforced, but that in future anyone who sought papal provision to an English benefice should be declared 'an enemy of our lord the king, a traitor, and a subverter of his laws', and should suffer both forfeiture and judgment of life and limb. Churchmen who sought provisions from the Curia were to be exiled in perpetuity, while laymen who abetted them should suffer the penalties for treason; any lord who advised or incited the king to repeal this statute was to suffer similar penalties - exile for a spiritual lord, judgment of felony for a temporal lord. Richard, however, was not prepared to go this far. The royal response, while accepting the basic point advocated by the petition - namely, that papal provisions to English benefices would not be tolerated - moderated the penalties for doing so. Anyone who accepted provision from Rome after 29 January (the date when the statute came into effect) would suffer perpetual banishment and forfeiture of their goods; a spiritual lord who sent to Rome in violation of the statute would forfeit the annual value of his temporalities, a temporal lord the annual value of his estates; lesser persons would lose the benefice in question and face imprisonment for a year.
Draconian as the Second Statute of Provisors was, the commons were not finished yet. A further petition sought the immediate expulsion of the papal tax-collector, on pain of arrest as 'an enemy of the king' (Item 43). Richard replied that he would consider this further. A request that the bearer of any sentence, summons or excommunication from the papacy should also be treated as a traitor (Item 44) was also rejected, although its principal terms were incorporated in the Statute of Provisors, with more moderate penalties. All this was too much for the lords spiritual, however, who formally protested, through the archbishops of Canterbury and York on behalf of the entire clergy, that any statutes passed in this parliament which restricted papal power or undermined ecclesiastical liberty would not receive their consent (Item 24). This proclamation was read out in full parliament, and, as the comments of Walsingham and the Westminster chronicler might suggest, this did not mark the end of the debate over papal provisions, which, as will be seen, continued to be a major issue in the parliaments of both the 1390s and the early years of Henry IV's reign.
It may be that in acceding to some of the commons' more radical demands in relation to papal provisions, Richard II was trying to win favour with the gentry. On the question of law and order, the other main issue of the January 1390 parliament, that is certainly the interpretation which has been placed on his actions. (fn. foot3-257-int-6) This too was a subject which had been raised in the parliament of September 1388, when, in response to the commons' request that all livery badges be abolished, because their distribution by lords emboldened the recipients to act like petty tyrants in their localities, the government agreed provisionally to restrict the wearing of such badges to those who were either retained for life by the lord in question, or who served in the lord's household on a relatively permanent basis. This agreement was to last until the next parliament, when the whole question would be reviewed. Thus, having been encouraged by the chancellor, in his opening address to the parliament of January 1390, to consider the problem of lawlessness, the commons soon returned to the attack on the question of badges. According to Walsingham, they began by again demanding the abolition of all livery badges. (fn. foot3-257-int-7) The relevant petition on the parliamentary roll (Item 27) does not state this, merely saying that the commons reminded the king of his promise to ordain a 'sufficient remedy' for the problems created by the lords' distribution of their badges. A further petition (Item 29) requested restrictions on the distribution of liveries of cloth (that is, robes rather than badges) by either lords or gilds and fraternities. To both of these the king replied that he would consult with his council. The result was the celebrated Ordinance on Livery and Maintenance issued by king and council in May 1390, two months after the dissolution of parliament. (fn. foot3-257-int-8) In broad outline, this perpetuated the provisional agreement of September 1388, although in a number of significant respects it was modified to make it more acceptable to the lords, who had shown themselves consistently opposed over the previous decade to the wholesale abolition of badges. 'In the light of these moves', Saul has commented, 'Richard's wooing of the commons looked less and less convincing'. (fn. foot3-257-int-9)
Nevertheless, while the commons remained in session, the king showed himself willing to make further concessions to them on the question of law and order. The most significant of these, noted by a number of chroniclers, (fn. foot3-257-int-10) followed a petition that in future no royal pardon be granted to any murderer, traitor, felon or rapist, for such pardons had been 'granted too readily in the past, to the great comfort of all malefactors' (Item 36). Any lord who even requested such a pardon in the future should pay a substantial fine to the king: £1000 for an archbishop or duke, £666 for an earl or bishop, £333 for an abbot, prior or banneret, and £133 (plus a year's imprisonment) for persons of lesser estate. Although Richard agreed to this restriction on his prerogative, it was with the important proviso that he wished to save his 'regality and liberty'.
Of the remaining legislative acts of the parliament, two in particular are worth mentioning. Firstly, a request from the commons that the Statutes of Labourers be confirmed and strictly enforced - including the much harsher additions to the laws enacted at the Cambridge parliament - was agreed, but with one important proviso: whereas the parliament of September 1388 had attempted to fix standard wage-rates for labourers and artisans throughout England, the significant fluctuations in prices since then had rendered such fixed rates impractical, and it was agreed instead that the Justices of the Peace should have the power to determine the wages to be paid in each county, on an annual basis (Item 38). Secondly, it was decided that in future no person who held land worth less than forty shillings a year should be permitted to keep any hunting dog or other 'device for capturing and destroying game' - for, it was alleged, it encouraged such lesser persons to go hunting on Sundays, when they ought to be in church, and sometimes provided them with excuses to congregate and devise 'plots and conspiracies against your majesty and laws' (Item 58). Whether this statute was in fact prompted by concern for souls, by the lingering fears of landholders in the aftermath of the 1381 revolt, or simply in an attempt to exclude the lower classes from 'the sport of gentlemen', is difficult to say, but it is an interesting example of the kind of social - not to say moral - legislation which parliament increasingly regarded as falling within its purview.
The chronology of the last five weeks of the parliament - from 29 January until 2 March - is almost entirely hidden from view. The only acts which can be securely dated to the month of February are the creation of the king's cousin, Edward, as earl of Rutland, on 25 February, and the appointments of John Holand, earl of Huntingdon, and Thomas Percy, as chamberlain and under-chamberlain respectively of the royal household, some time around 22 February. Rutland's appointment is noted on the roll (Item 23), and although those of Holand and Percy are not, the Westminster chronicler noted that they were made 'in the course of the parliament'. (fn. foot3-257-int-11) On 2 March, the last day, Rutland's creation as an earl was formally confirmed in parliament, and he was granted lands worth £566 a year to maintain his estate; on the same day John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, was also created duke of Aquitaine for life (Item 21). This was a significant move in the peace negotiations which Richard was conducting with the French, and raised issues which would prove in subsequent parliaments to be mightily controversial. As was customary, the last day also witnessed the grant of the subsidy. With a truce in operation, there was no request for direct taxation, but the wool subsidy was renewed until Christmas, at the rate of forty shillings per sack, as was tunnage, at three shillings per tun, and poundage, at sixpence per pound. According to the roll, the conditions attached to these grants were that they should be received and dispersed by a specially appointed treasurer of war, and should be spent only on the defence of the realm (Item 20). According to Walsingham, parliament agreed that a quarter of the wool subsidy (ten shillings), and a third of poundage (twopence) might be used by the king for his immediate needs, with the remainder going to the war-treasurer, (fn. foot3-257-int-12) but there is no mention of this on the roll. If this was indeed the case, however, it is an interesting example of the acceptance by the commons of the principle that taxation might be used for purposes other than defence - which, as will be seen, they were increasingly prepared to acknowledge during the later parliaments of the reign. Treasurers of war were duly appointed, though not until 8 May, following (presumably) discussion at the same council at which the wording of the Ordinance on Livery and Maintenance had been agreed (which, it is worth noting, may also have discussed the other statutes arising from this parliament, which were not formally issued until 15-16 May). (fn. foot3-257-int-13) Those appointed as war-treasurers were William Fulbourne, a royal clerk, John Hadley, citizen of London, John Waltham, bishop of Salisbury, and John Lord Cobham; they were acquitted in December 1390 for the sums they had received as treasurers and controllers of these taxes, and the records of the exchequer show that the taxes were indeed received separately from other exchequer income. (fn. foot3-257-int-14) Yet whatever the truth of Walsingham's statement, the fact that the commons had only been prepared to renew the wool subsidy for ten months ensured that it would not be long before Richard would be obliged to summon another parliament.
Text and translation
| [p. iii-257] | |
| [col. a] | |
| [memb. 12] | |
| ROTULUS PARLIAMENTI TENTI APUD WESTMONASTERIUM DIE LUNE PROXIMO POST FESTUM SANCTI HILLARII, ANNO REGNI REGIS RICARDI SECUNDI TERTIODECIMO. | THE ROLL OF THE PARLIAMENT HELD AT WESTMINSTER ON THE MONDAY NEXT AFTER THE FEAST OF ST HILARY, IN THE THIRTEENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND [17 January 1390]. |
| 1. Fait a remembrer qe lundy proschein apres le fest de Seint Hiller, q'estoit le < dis > et septisme jour de Janver, et le primer jour de cest parlement tenuz a Westm', l'an du regne nostre seignour le roi Richard second puis le conquest treszisme, l'onurable pier en Dieu William < de Wykeham, > evesqe de Wyncestre, chanceller d'Engleterre, par commandement du roy esteant present en parlement pronuncea et declara la cause del somons del dit parlement. Et dist qe la principale cause del dit somons estoit par enchesoun qe le roi avoit este grant temps de tendre age, et ore est de tielle age, Dieu merci, q'il est de greindre sen et discrecioun q'il n'estoit pardevant: et combien q'il ad este tout temps de bone volunte de governer son poeple en quiete, pees et tranquillite, droit, et justice, il est ore en greindre et meliour volunte et ferme purpos de governer son dit poeple et sa terre meutz, si meutz purra. Et voet qe sibien seinte esglise, come les seignours espiritels et temporels, et les communes, eient et enjoient lour libertees, franchises et privileges, si avant come ils les ont resonablement usez et enjoiez en temps de ses nobles progenitours rois d'Engleterre. Et outre declara, coment le roialme est environez de enemys, c'estassavoir de France, Espaign, et Guyen d'une part, et d'Escoce et Irland d'autre part; et qe l'en ne sciet unqore en certein, si les trieves qe sont prises maintenant parentre nostre seignour le roi et ses adversairs de France et Escoce, adurers del quinszisme jour d'Aust darrein passe, < solail levant, > tanq'al seszisme jour d'Aust qe serra l'an de grace mille trois centz quatre vintz et dousze, solail levant, soi tendront ou nemye. Et combien q'ils soi tendront unqore, y faut < ordeiner > pur la sauvegarde de la marche d'Escoce et de Caleys, Brest, et Chirburgh, et auxint pur la garde des terres d'Irland et de Guyen' en le meen temps; et qi serront messages pur la trete de pees, et de queux articles ils traiteront, et coment finalment accorderont. Et qe le roi ne poet en nulle manere porter les coustages et charges necessairs celle partie, come bien est conuz, sanz eide de ses seignours et communes: et par tant y faut conseiller et ordeiner coment et en quelle manere les ditz coustages et charges purront meutz estre pris et levez au meindre charge du poeple. Et enoutre disoit qe le roi voleit estre enforme par les communes, coment ses leyes de sa terre et l'estatutz sont gardez et executz, et sa pees garde toutz partz deinz le roialme; et si il y ad ascun destourbour d'icelles, et mesment de ceux q'emprenont et maintenent quereles et barettes en paiis, en destourbance de la ley et oppressioun du poeple, et coment tiels mals purront meutz estre redressez et amendez, et le roialme meutz governez en temps avenir. Et qe les ditz communes sont tenuz de droit et devant Dieu d'enformer le roi, et mettre tout lour peyne et diligence d'amender [col. b] tiels defautes a lour poair. Et en outre disoit qe le roy voet qe plein droit et justice soient faitz, sibien as poveres come as riches: et qe s'il y ad ascun cas ou querelle qe ne poet bonement estre redresse par la commune ley, le roy ad assigne certeins clers de sa chancellarie a receivre les peticions des compleignantz, et certeins seignours d'oier et respondre mesmes les peticions: des queux seignours et clers les nouns serront lieues overtement par le clerc de parlement. Et qe ceux qi voillent liverer ascuns tielx peticions, les baillent avant parentre cy et lundy proschein ensuant au soir. | 1. Be it remembered that on the Monday after the feast of St Hilary, which was 17 January, and the first day of this parliament held at Westminster, in the thirteenth year of the reign of our lord King Richard, the second since the conquest [1390], the honourable father in God William Wykeham, bishop of Winchester, chancellor of England, by order of the king being in the present parliament, announced and declared the reason for summoning the said parliament. And he said that the principal reason for the said summons was because the king had for a long time been of tender age, and had now come to such age, thanks be to God, that he possessed greater knowledge and discretion than ever before: and although he had always had the good will to govern his people in quiet, peace, and tranquillity, right and justice, he now had a greater and better intent and firm purpose to govern his said people and his land well, as best he could. And he willed that both holy church and the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons, should have and enjoy their liberties, franchises and privileges as they reasonably used and enjoyed them in the time of his noble progenitors the kings of England. And also he declared that the kingdom was surrounded by enemies, namely France, Spain and in Guyenne on the one hand, and Scotland and Ireland on the other; and that it could never be known for certain whether the truces which had now been made between our lord the king and his adversaries of France and Scotland, to last from sunrise on 15 August last [1389] until sunrise on 16 August, which would be in the year of grace 1392, would endure or not. And even if they should endure, it was necessary to ordain for keeping safe the marches of Scotland and Calais, Brest and Cherbourg, and also for keeping the lands of Ireland and Guyenne in the meantime; and who would be envoys for the treaty of peace, and on what articles they would negotiate, and how they would finally reach an agreement. And that the king can by no means bear the necessary costs and expenses in this matter, as is well known, without the aid of the lords and commons: and for that reason it was necessary to counsel and ordain how and in what manner the said costs and expenses might best be taken and levied with the least burden to the people. And further he said that the king wished to be informed by the commons how the laws of his land and the statutes were kept and executed, and his peace kept throughout the kingdom; and whether there were any disturbers of the same, and likewise of those who undertake and maintain quarrels and disputes in the counties, in disturbance of the law and to the oppression of the people, and how such evils might be best redressed and rectified, and the kingdom best governed in time to come. And that the said commons were bound by right and before God to inform the king and invest all their efforts and labour into amending [col. b] such faults as best they could. And further he said that the king willed that full right and justice be done to both rich and poor: and that lest there were any cause or dispute which could not be effectively redressed by the common law, the king had assigned certain clerks of his chancery to receive the petitions of the plaintiffs, and certain lords to hear and answer the same petitions: the names of which lords and clerks would be read out by the clerk of parliament. And that those who wished to submit any such petitions should submit them between now and next Monday evening [24 January 1390]. |
| 2. Receivours des peticions d'Engleterre, Irland, Gales, et Escoce: | 2. Receivers of petitions from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland: |
| 3. Receivours des peticions de Gascoign, et d'autres terres et paiis depar dela < la > mer, et des Isles: | 3. Receivers of petitions from Gascony, and from other lands and countries overseas, and from the Channel Islands: |
4. Et sont assignez triours des peticions d'Engleterre, Irland, Gales, et Escoce:
|
4. The following are assigned to be triers of petitions from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland:
|
| - toutz ensemble, ou sys des prelatz et seignours avantditz au meyns; appellez a eux chanceller, tresorer, seneschalle et chaumberleyn; et auxint les sergeantz le roi quant il busoignera. Et tiendront lour place en la chaumbre de chaumberleyn, pres de la chaumbre de peinte. | - to act all together, or at least six of the aforesaid prelates and lords; consulting with the chancellor, treasurer, steward and chamberlain, and also the king's serjeants when necessary. And they shall hold their session in the chamberlain's room, near the Painted Chamber. |
| [p. iii-258] | |
| [col. a] | |
| 5. Et sont assignez triours des peticions de Gascoign', et d'autres terres et paiis dela la meer, et des Isles, | 5. The following are assigned to be triers of petitions from Gascony and from other lands and countries overseas, and from the Channel Islands, |
| - toutz ensemble, ou sys des prelatz et seignours avantditz; appellez a eux chanceller, tresorer, seneschalle, chaumberleyn et les sergeantz le roi quant il busoignera. Et tendront lour place en la chaumbre marcolf. | - to act all together, or at least six of the aforesaid prelates and lords; consulting with the chancellor, treasurer, steward, chamberlain, and the king's serjeants when necessary. And they shall hold their session in the Marcolf Chamber. |
| Et ceux qi voillent liverer lour peticions les baillent avant parentre cy et lundy proschein au soir. | And those who wish to submit their petitions should deliver them between now and next Monday evening [24 January 1390]. |
| [memb. 11] | |
| < L'evesqe de Wincestre, chaunceler d'Engleterre. > | The bishop of Winchester, chancellor of England. |
| 6. Joefdy, le vint jour de Janver, et le quart jour de cest parlement, l'evesqe de Wyncestre, chanceller d'Engleterre, et l'evesqe de Seint David, tresorer d'Engleterre, et toutz les seignours del grant counseille du roi, horspris le clerc du prive seal, prierent a nostre seignour le roi d'avoir consideracioun a les grantz travailles et coustages q'ils avoient continuelment eus et suffertz el temps q'ils avoient occupiez les ditz offices, et eux descharger de mesmes les offices, et mettre autres bones et sufficeantz en lour lieux. Et surce le chanceller susrendy le grant seal, et le tresorer les cliefs del tresorie au roi; et le roi les resceut, et eux deschargea des ditz offices. Et deschargea auxint les seignours du conseille. Et quant ils furent deschargez, ils prierent overtement en parlement qe si ascun vorroit compleindre sur eux q'ils avoient riens mespris, ou autrement faitz q'ils ne deussent faire el temps q'ils avoient estez es ditz offices, q'il le dirroit et monstreroit au roy maintenant en parlement. Et surce les communes prierent jour d'avisement tanq'al lendemayn: et lendemayn, c'estassavoir vendredy ensuant, les ditz communes demandez et opposez par monseignour de Lancastre, par comandement du roi, de ceste chose, disoient pleinement q'ils avoient diligealment enquis et parlez entre eux de la dite matire, et q'ils ne savoient ne ne troverent nulle cause de compleindre sur eux, ne riens dire encontre eux; einz q'il lour sembla q'ils avoient tresbien faitz, et tresgrantz gre deserviz en lour ditz offices, et de ce les mercierent grantement en plein parlement. Et puis, toutz les prelatz et seignours du parlement demandez depar le roy de toutes les dites choses en manere semblable, disoient q'ils ne savoient qe bien; et q'ils avoient bien et duement faitz en lour ditz offices. Et maintenant apres nostre seignour le roi disoit overtement qe les ditz officers et conseillers avoient bien faitz en lour ditz offices, et les tenoit bons et loialx. | 6. On Thursday, 20 January [1390], the fourth day of this parliament, the bishop of Winchester, chancellor of England, and the bishop of St David's, treasurer of England, and all the lords of the great council of the king, except the clerk of the privy seal, prayed of our lord the king that he consider the great labours and expenses they had continually had and suffered while occupying the said offices, and discharge them of the same offices, and appoint others good and sufficient in their place. And thereupon the chancellor surrendered the great seal, and the treasurer surrendered the keys to the king's treasury; and the king received them and discharged them from the said offices. And he also discharged the lords of the council. And when they had been discharged, they prayed openly in parliament that if anyone wished to accuse them of having committed any offence, or of having acted otherwise than they ought while in office, he should speak and declare it now to the king in parliament. And thereupon the commons prayed for a day of debate until the morrow: and the next day, namely the following Friday [21 January 1390], the said commons, being asked and questioned by my lord of Lancaster, on the king's orders, upon that matter, said plainly that they had diligently examined and discussed the said matter amongst themselves, and that they neither knew of nor had found any reason for complaint against them; but that it seemed to them that they had done well, and deserved great praise in their said offices, and for that they thanked them well in full parliament. And then all the prelates and lords of parliament, similarly questioned on the king's behalf on all the said matters, said that they knew nothing but good, and that they had well and duly discharged their said offices. And soon after, our lord the king said openly that the said officers and councillors had acted well in their said offices, and he considered them good and loyal. |
| 7. Et rechargea le dit evesqe de Wyncestre del office de chanceller, et luy rebailla le grant seal; et le dit evesqe de Seint David del office de tresorer, et luy rebailla les cliefs du tresorie. Et reprist mesmes les conseillers a son conseille, ensemblement ove le duc de Lancastr' et le duc de Gloucestr'. Et enoutre, le roi fist protestacioun qe combien q'il avoit ses ditz officers et conseillers pur deschargez en parlement et rechargez en ycelle, il ne voleit qe ce serroit trait ne pris en ensample n'en consequence en temps avenir. Einz q'il voleit estre frank et a large de remuer et faire ses officers et conseillers toutdis a sa volunte, et quant luy plerra. Et puis le roy fist toutz les ditz officers et conseillers qe furent presentz jurrer en plein parlement, de bien et loialment faire et conseiller en les offices susditz. | 7. And he reappointed the said bishop of Winchester to the office of chancellor, and returned the great seal to him; and reappointed the said bishop of St David's to the office of treasurer, and returned to him the keys of the treasury. And he took back the same councillors to his council, together with the duke of Lancaster and the duke of Gloucester. And further, the king made protestation that although he had discharged and reappointed his said officers and councillors in parliament, he did not wish that it should be used or taken as an example or precedent in time to come. And that he wished always to be free and at liberty to remove and create his officers and councillors at his will, and whensoever he chose. And then the king made all the said officers and councillors who were present swear in full parliament to act and give counsel well and faithfully in the aforesaid offices. |
| [col. b] | |
| 8. Pur certeines enchesons monstrez en parlement, accordez est et assentuz qe nulle homme soit mys, n'en panelle, ne retourne en l'assise de novel disseisyne, quelle Wauter Park de Upton' Escudemor ad arrainie par brief du roi devant les justices d'assises el counte de Wiltes' vers Johanne prioresse de Derteford et autres, des tenementz en Orcheston' Seint George et Orcheston' Bevyll', n'en ascune enqueste aprendre sur un brief de trespas qe le dit Wauter, par noun de Wauter Park, ad pris devant les justices du commune bank envers Henry Grene, chivaler, et la dite prioresse, et autres, de diverses trespasses a luy par eux faitz, a Upton' Escudemor, s'il n'eit terres et tenementz a la value de quarrant lives par an au meyns. | 8. For certain reasons explained in parliament, it was agreed and assented that no one be empanelled nor returned in the assize of novel disseisin which Walter Park of Upton Scudamore has sued by king's writ before the justices of assize in Wiltshire against Joan prioress of Dartford and others, concerning tenements in Orcheston St George and Orcheston St Mary, nor in any inquest to be held on a writ of trespass which the said Walter, by the name of Walter Park, has taken before the justices of the common bench against Henry Green, knight, and the said prioress and others, concerning various offences committed against him by them at Upton Scudamore, if he did not have lands and tenements worth at least £40 a year. |
| < Rome. > | Rome. |
| 9. Mesqerdy, le vint et sisme jour de Janver, et le disme jour de cest parlement, Maistre Johan Mandour, clerc, fuist defenduz et chargez overtement en parlement q'il ne passereroit le meer, n'envoieroit vers la court de Rome, ne riens ferroit n'attempteroit illoeqes tochant l'arcedeaknes de Duresme, en prejudice du roi, ne de ses leyes et estatutz, n'en prejudice de celuy a qi le roi ad done mesme l'arcedeaknee, sur peril q'appent. | 9. On Wednesday, 26 January [1390], the tenth day of this parliament, Master John Mandour, clerk, was forbidden and prohibited openly in parliament from crossing the sea or sending to the court of Rome, or doing or attempting anything there touching the archdeaconry of Durham, to the prejudice of the king, his laws, and statutes, or to the prejudice of anyone to whom the king had given the same archdeaconry, on pain of the appointed penalty. |
| < Pour Adam Changeour. > | On behalf of Adam Changeour. |
| 10. Adam Changeour mist avant une peticioun en cest present parlement, en la forme q'ensuit: | 10. Adam Changeour put forward a petition in this parliament, in the following form: |
| Au tresnoble et tresgracious seignour nostre seignour le roi et as autres seignours de cest present parlement, monstre et supplie vostre humble Adam Changeour, coment entour sesze ans passez, dame Custance, nadgairs femme a monsire Robert Knolles, delivera a dit Adam deux mille livers en or Franceys, et en vyn feble, partie par la mayn du dite dame Custance, et partie par la main de monsire Johan Lakynheth', qe le dit Adam ent deust marchander, esteant la dite dame a la moite de tout gaigne et perde, par droit covenant entre eux fait. Et surce ele prist surete du dit Adam par deux estatutz marchantz contenantz la dite somme de deux mille livers, et ensy mesme la monoye fuist emploie en diverses marchandises: et dedeins l'an apres la receite, la dite dame prist du dit Adam quatrevintz et quatre livers de gaigne; par quoi ele assigna mesme la monoie de passer avant en marchandise. Et avient qe dedeinz deux ans ensuantz, mesme la monoie fust tout perduz en diverses marchandises et dettours, come le dit Adam monstra a la dite dame en une bille. Par quoy, depuis come ele demanda le dit argent du dit Adam, d'avoir la somme entier de deux mille livres, et le dit Adam alleggea les perdes, pur avoir rebatuz la moite come droit et covenant fuist; ele ne vorroit riens rebater, mes manacea le dit Adam de pursuir l'execucioun des ditz estatutz, en anientissement de luy, issint qe le dit Adam, en salvacioun de luy mesmes, et pur la bone promesse du dite dame q'il ne vorroit pluis qe son propre a la volunte du dite dame, enfeffa les ditz monsire Robert Knolles, et dame Custance, par chartre de fee simple de toutz ses possessions en Londres, et en le counte de Norff', a la value de deux centz marcz par an, a celle entente de lour faire sure de lour propre duite soulement. Par tant q'ele promist si surement au dit Adam de lever lour propre duite sanz plus. Des queux possessions susdites ils ont eu et pris le profit par le terme de tresze ans et plus: et auxi le dit Adam paia a la dite dame en partie du dit argent, en monoie seek sis centz livers en une parcelle, et certein estore reserve au dit Adam, qe fuist trove sur les possessions en Norff', a tant qe fuist preise a la somme de quatrevintz et oept livers. Issint q'ils ont pris et levez grande partie plus qe la somme de deux mille livers amonte, sanz riens rebatre del perde. | To the most noble and most gracious lord our lord the king and the other lords of this present parliament, your humble Adam Changeour shows and requests that whereas some sixteen years ago, the Lady Constance, late wife of Sir Robert Knowles, delivered to the said Adam £2,000 in French gold and in weak wine, part by the hand of the said Lady Constance, and part by the hand of Sir John Lakenheath, with which the said Adam was meant to trade, surrendering to the said lady half of all that was gained or lost, by a true covenant drawn up between them. And thereupon she took surety from the said Adam by two statutes merchant containing the said sum of £2,000, and thus the same money was spent on various commodities: and in the year after the receipt the said lady took from the said Adam £84 in profit; whereupon she turned the same money back into merchandise. And it so happened that in the following two years all that same money was lost in various transactions and to debtors, as the said Adam showed to the said lady in a bill. Whereupon she then asked the said Adam for the same money, all £2,000 of it, and the said Adam claimed a deduction of half the losses, as was fair and in agreement with the terms of the covenant; but she would not deduct anything, and threatened the said Adam with pursuing the execution of the said bonds, to his loss, so that the said Adam, for his own preservation, and for the good promise of the said lady that he would not wish to have more than his due at the will of the said lady, enfeoffed the said Sir Robert Knowles and Lady Constance, by charter of fee simple, with all his possessions in London and in Norfolk, to the value of two hundred marks a year, to the intent of securing them only what was due to them. Whereupon she firmly promised the said Adam to levy their own due and no more. From which possessions aforesaid they have had and taken the profit for thirteen years or more: and also the said Adam paid the said lady part of the said money, namely £600 in cash in one instalment, and a certain store reserved to the said Adam, founded on the possessions in Norfolk, which was valued at the sum of £88. So that they have taken and levied a great deal more than the sum of £2,000, without deducting anything for the loss. |
| Plese a vostre tresnoble et tresgraciouse seignourie avoir consideracioun de ceste matire, et apeller devant vostre tresnoble presence [p. iii-259][col. a] le dit Robert, et mettre vostre tresnoble aide, qe le dit Adam puisse avoir droit et restitucioun de ses dites possessions, entant q'ils sont serviz de lour entiere monoie et plus, solonc ley et bone conscience, pur Dieu, et en oevre de charite. (fn. iii-257-33b-1) | May it please your most noble and most gracious lordship to consider the matter, and summon the said Robert before your most noble presence, [p. iii-259][col. a] and give your most noble help, so that the said Adam may have right and restitution of his possessions, since they have yielded all the money owed and more, according to law and good conscience, for God and by way of charity. (fn. iii-257-33b-1) |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| La quelle peticioun fuist responduz et endossez en la forme q'ensuit: | Which petition was answered and endorsed in the following manner: |
| Soit brief mande, ove le tenour de ceste peticion dedeinz enclos, a monsire Robert Knolles, chivaler, d'estre devant le roi en cest present parlement < a Westm', > le vendredy proschein apres le fest de la Chandeleure proschein avenir, a y respondre sur les choses contenues en ceste peticioun. Et s'il ne purra pas bonement venir al dit jour, q'alors il envoie ascun attourne, eiant sufficeant poair desouz son seal a y respondre sur les choses susdites. Et surce brief fuist mande a dit monsire Robert, d'estre devant le roi en cest parlement a mesme le jour, solonc le purport du dit endossement. A quelle jour, les ditz parties appellez apparerent en parlement en lour propres persones, et oiez les resons et alleggeances d'une partie et d'autre, y sembla as seignours du parlement qe la dite peticioun n'estoit pas peticioun du parlement, einz qe la matire en ycelle compris deust estre discus par la commune ley. Et purce agarde fuist qe le dit Robert irroit ent sanz jour; et qe le dit Adam ne prendroit riens par sa suite, einz q'il sueroit par la commune ley, si luy sembleroit affaire. | Let a writ be sent, with the tenor of this petition enclosed therein, to Sir Robert Knowles, knight, to be before the king in this present parliament at Westminster on the Friday next after the feast of Candlemas next coming [4 February 1390], to answer there concerning the matters contained in this petition. And if he cannot well come on the said day, then he should send an attorney, having sufficient power under his seal to answer there on the aforesaid things. And thereupon, a writ was sent to the said Sir Robert, to appear before the king in this parliament on that same day, according to the purport of the said endorsement. On which day [4 February 1390], the said parties summoned appeared in parliament in person, and having heard the arguments and claims of both parties, it seemed to the lords of parliament that the said petition was not a petition of parliament, as the matter contained in the same ought to be discussed by the common law. And for this reason if was decided that the said Robert should go without a day; and that the said Adam should not take anything for his suit, but that he should sue by the common law, if he chose. |
| 11. Item, acordez est qe touchant ceux qe sont enditez, rettez, ou appellez de la mort Johan de Rouceby, clerk, nadgairs chanon en la esglise cathedral de Nichole, ou de presence, eide, mandement, abbet, assent, ou consent de mesme la mort, ou empeschez d'autre qeconqe cause touchant mesme la mort, ou de recet des ditz enditez, rettez, empesches, ou appellez, nully soit retourne, empanelle, ne mys en les enquestes qe ce prendront sur lour deliveraunce, sinoun q'il eit .xl. livere de terre et rente de frank fee, a meyns. | 11. Also, it was agreed that touching those who were convicted, arrested, or accused of the death of John Rouceby, clerk, late canon in the cathedral church of Lincoln, or of being present at, aiding, commanding, abetting, assenting or consenting to the same death, or who were impeached of anything else concerning the same death, or of sheltering those convicted, arrested, impeached or accused, that none be returned, empanelled or appointed as officers of inquests which might affect their delivery, unless they have at least £40 of land and rent of frank-fee. |
| < Pour l'evesqe de Nichole. > | For the bishop of Lincoln. |
| 12. Johan evesqe de Nicole, et le dean et chapitre del esglise de Nostre Dame de Nicole, mistrent avant une peticioun en cest parlement, en la forme q'ensuit: | 12. John bishop of Lincoln and the dean and chapter of the church of Our Lady of Lincoln submitted a petition in this parliament, in the following form: |
| A nostre tresredoute seignour le roi, et as tresnobles seignours en cest present parlement, supplient humblement son chapellein Johan evesqe de Nicole, et ses oratours le dean et chapitre del esglise de Nostre Dame de Nicole susdite, la quelle esglise est de la fundacioun nostre dit seignour le roi et de ses progenitours: qe come les ditz evesqe, dean et chapitre, et certeins prebenders de dit chapitre, ount severalment diverses terres et tenementz, rentz, et possessions, deinz la ville de Nicole susdite, come de droit des ditz eveschie, deaine et chapitre, et prebendes susditz, des queux terres, tenementz, rentz, et possessions les ditz evesqe, dean et chapitre, prebenders, et lour predecessours ount estez seisez, en manere come desus est dit, du temps dount memorie ne court tanqe ore tard q'ils sont de plusours de lour ditz terres, tenementz, rentz, et possessions oustez et disseisez, et as ascuns de lour tenementz grantz anusances faitz par plusours gentz de la dite ville de Nicole: et ce par la grant affiance et tuicioun queux ils ont de lour franchise, par cause qe les ditz tortz et injuries serront terminez deinz la dite ville, devant eux mesmes, et trie par enqueste de mesme la ville soulement. Et issi les gentz de dite ville, ascunes pur coveitise a tenir lour tenementz deschargez des rentz dues de droit al dite esglise, les arrerages de quelles rentz a ore aderere deinz la dite ville amountent cent livers et plus; ascuns pur meintenir et sustenir lours dites anusances par eux faites et levez; et ascuns pur continuer lour dites disseismes; sont entrealliez et asseurez [col. b] chescun de passer en enqueste pur autre, issint qe l'evesqe, dean et chapitre, et prebenders susditz sont outrement destitutz d'avoir droit et resoun deinz la dite ville, en les matires susditz. Et outre ceo, qe plus est, par la ou le dean et chapitre voillent par lour ministres avoir leve lour rentz de lour tenantz par destresse, come de tout temps ad este illoeqes use, si suent les gentz de la dite ville par pleint de trespas devers les ministres de la dite esglise, pur la destresse issint duement pris, et ascuns condempnent en cynk marcz, a cause de la dite destresse, par meyntenance de alliance, assurance et tuicions de lour franchise susditz. Et outre ce, les ditz condempnez sont constreintz de paier pur l'amerciment, atant come la moite de la somme en quelle ils sont condempnez amont, a les baillifs de Nicole susditz, par voie de extorsioun, a grant arerissement [memb. 10] des dean et chapitre susditz. Paront les evesqe, dean et chapitre, et prebenders susditz sont en point de perdre lour rentz et droitz outrement en la ville susdite, si due remede ne soit mys en cest cas. | To our most redoubtable lord the king and to the most noble lords in this present parliament, his chaplain John bishop of Lincoln, and his bedesmen the dean and chapter of the aforesaid church of Our Lady of Lincoln, which church is of the foundation of our said lord the king and his progenitors, humbly pray that whereas the said bishop, dean and chapter, and certain prebendaries of the said chapter, have severally divers lands and tenements, rents and possessions in the aforesaid town of Lincoln, as of the right of the said bishopric, deanery and chapter, and prebends aforesaid, of which lands, tenements, rents, and possessions the said bishop, dean and chapter, and prebendaries, and their predecessors have been seised, in the above manner, since time immemorial, until lately when they were ousted from and disseised of many of their said lands, tenements, rents, and possessions, and great damage inflicted on some of their tenements by many people of the said town of Lincoln: and that by the great confidence and protection they have in their franchise, because the said wrongs and injuries are determined within the said town before themselves, and tried by inquest of the same town alone. And so the people of the said town, some through a desire to hold their lands free of rent rightfully owed to the said church, the arrears of which rents now owed in the said town amount to £100 or more; some to maintain and sustain the said mischiefs committed and instigated by them; and some to continue their said disseisins; are in league and pledged [col. b] to show favour to each other in inquests, so that the aforesaid bishop, dean and chapter, and prebendaries are utterly denied right and reason within the said town in the aforesaid matters. And what is more, whereas the dean and chapter wish through their ministers to levy their rents from their tenants by distress, as has always been done there, the people of the said town sue by plaint of trespass against the ministers of the said church for the distress thus duly taken, and some they condemn in five marks, because of the said distress, by maintenance of the alliance, security and protections of their aforesaid franchise. Moreover, the said condemned are constrained to pay a fine of as much as half the sum for which they are condemned to the aforesaid bailiffs of Lincoln, by way of extortion, to the great injury [memb. 10] of the aforesaid dean and chapter. Whereupon the aforesaid bishop, dean and chapter, and prebendaries are likely to lose their rents and rights entirely in the aforesaid town, unless remedy be provided in the matter. |
| Qe plese a vostre tresexcellente, tresredoute et tresgraciouse seignourie, et as tresnobles seignours du parlement, al reverence de Dieu, et de Nostre Dame sa gloriouse Mere en quelle honour la dite esglise est fonde, ordenir qe en chescun maner de plee sibien real come personel, ou d'assise, moeve deinz la dite ville de Nicole, par brief ou par enditement de felonie, ou presentement du trespas, ou autre enditement ou presentement qeconqe faitz ou affaire par gentz de mesme la ville, dont les ditz evesqe, dean et chapitre, et prebenders, et lour successours, ou lour servantz, ou ascuns ministres de la dite esglise, soient parties au dit plee, enditement ou presentement en ascune manere, en commune ou en severalte, qe l'enqueste ou la jurre qe serra a prendre en le dit plee, l'assise, enditement, ou presentement, come desus est dit, soit fait de gentz foreins, et nient autrement: et outre ordenir qe par celle cause chescun maner de tiel plee, ou d'assise, ou enditement, ou presentement, come desuis est dit, en la dite ville a ore esteant, ou a estre en temps avenir, purra estre remwe en la court nostre dit seignour le roy, ou de ses heirs, pur faire et arraier l'enqueste, en manere come desuis est dit. Et outre faire droit as dites < parties, > nounobstant ascune chartre ou franchise grantez ou usez a contraire, pur Dieu, et en oevre de charite, et de ouster toutes les injuries avantdites, en sustenance de continuel divine service en vostre dite esglise, et pur la bone pees et tranquillite de voz ditz oratours en temps avenir. (fn. iii-257-40b-1) | May it please your most excellent, most redoubtable and most gracious lordship, and the most noble lords of parliament, for the reverence of God and of Our Lady his glorious mother in whose honour the said church was founded, to order that in each kind of plea, as well real and personal as of assize, moved in the said town of Lincoln, by writ or by indictment of felony, or presentment of trespass, or other indictment or presentment whatsoever made or to be made by the men of the same town, in which the said bishop, dean and chapter, and prebendaries, and their successors, or their servants, or any other ministers of the said church, be party to the said plea, indictment, or presentment in any way, in common or in severalty, that the inquest or the jury which shall hear the said plea, assize, indictment, or presentment, as is said above, shall be composed of strangers, and not otherwise: and also to ordain that for that reason every kind of such plea, or assize, or indictment, or presentment, as is said above, now or in future in the said town, be removed to the court of our said lord the king or his heirs, for the making and arraying of the inquest, in the manner proposed above. And further to do right to the said parties, notwithstanding any charter or franchise granted or used to the contrary, for God and by way of charity, and to oust all the aforesaid injuries, in sustenance of continual divine service in your said church, and for the good peace and tranquillity of all your said bedesmen in time to come. (fn. iii-257-40b-1) |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| La quelle peticioun fuist responduz et endossez en la forme q'ensuit: | Which petition was answered and endorsed in the following manner: |
| Soit brief mande, ove le tenour de ceste peticioun dedeinz enclos, as mair et baillifs de la [...] cite de Nicole, de estre devant le roi et son conseille a Westm' en cest present parlement marsdy proschein apres le fest de la Chandeleure proschein avenir, ove sufficeante instruccioun et informacioun de toute la matire en ceste peticioun compris; et ove sufficeante poair et auctorite desouz le commune seal de la dite cite pur y respondre pur eux et la communalte de la dite cite, sur toutes choses contenuz en la dite peticioun, et en outre, pur traiter et finalment accorder sur les choses avantditz. Et pur faire outre et receivre ce qe par le roi et son < dit > conseille serra ordeigne celle partie, sur peyne de deux centz livers. Et surce brief fuist mande as ditz mair et baillifs, d'estre devant le roi et son conseille en cest parlement a mesme le jour, solonc le purport du dit endossement. A quelle jour, les ditz mair et baillifs apparerent personelment en parlement, ove certeins autres citeins de mesme la cite, et retournerent lour brief. Mes a cause q'ils n'apporterent mye sufficeant garrant pur la communalte du dite cite, come ils avoient en comandement par mesme le brief, ils furent agardez et mys en un contempt. | Let a writ be sent, with the tenor of this petition enclosed therein, to the mayor and bailiffs of the city of Lincoln to appear before the king and his council at Westminster in this present parliament on the Tuesday after the feast of Candlemas next to come [8 February 1390], with sufficient instruction and information upon the whole matter contained in the petition; and with sufficient power and authority under the common seal of the said city to answer there on behalf of themselves and the community of the said city on all the matters contained in the said petition, and further to discuss and come to a final agreement on the aforesaid matters. And further to do and receive whatever shall be ordained in this matter by the king and his said council, on pain of £200. Whereupon a writ was sent to the said mayor and bailiffs instructing them to be before the king and his council in this parliament on that same day, according to the purport of the said endorsement. On which day [8 February 1390], the said mayor and bailiffs appeared in person in parliament, with certain other citizens of the same city, and returned their writ. But because they did not bring sufficient warrant from the community of the said city, as they had been ordered by the same writ, they were adjudged and held to be in contempt. |
| [p. iii-260] | |
| [col. a] | |
| 13. Et enoutre, pur diverses causes monstrez en parlement estoit ordeine et establi q'en assises jurres et toutes autres enquestes qe serront pris entre partie et partie devant les mair et baillifs de la dite cite qe pur le temps serront, si ascunes des parties soi pleint de faux serement fait par tielle assise jurre, ou enqueste, l'atteinte luy soit grante, et le record soit mande par brief en bank le roi, ou en le commune bank, et qe le viscont arraie la jurre de tiel atteinte des foreins du counte, sanz mander a la franchise de la dite cite: et qe les justices preignent mesme la jurre de mesmes les foreins, nientcontresteant ascune franchise grante au dite cite, ou autre usage au contraire. (fn. iii-257-45-1) | 13. And further, for various reasons explained in parliament it was ordered and decreed that in sworn assizes and all other inquests to be held between parties before the mayor and bailiffs of the said city then in office, if any of the parties complained of a false oath made by such sworn assize or inquest, an attaint should be granted him, and the record sent by writ in the king's bench, or in the common bench, and that the sheriff should assemble the jury of such attaint from amongst strangers of the same county, without notifying the franchise of the said city: and that the justices should take the same jury of the same strangers, notwithstanding any franchise granted to the said city, or any usage to the contrary. (fn. iii-257-45-1) |
| < Pour le chaunceler et escolers de Cantebrig'. > | For the chancellor and scholars of Cambridge. |
| 14. Le chaunceller et escolers del universite de Cantebr' mistrent avant une peticioun en cest parlement en la forme q'ensuit: | 14. The chancellor and scholars of the university of Cambridge submitted a petition in this parliament in the following form: |
| A nostre tresexcellent et tresgracious seignour le roi et as seignours de cest present parlement monstrent voz humbles et liges oratours, le chanceller et les escolers de vostre universite de la ville de Cantebrigg', qe par la ou ils ont a eux, lour successours, et a lour lieutenantz, a toutz jours, par voz lettres patentes de vostre grace especiale, entre autres franchises et libertees, la conissance de toutz maners de plees personels, sibien de dettes, accomptz, et toutz autres contractz et injuries, come de trespas encontre la pees, et mesprisions qeconqes deinz la dite ville faitz, ou nulle des mestres, escolers, servantz des escolers, ou commune ministre de la dite universite soit un des parties, soulement forspris maheym et felonie. Par colour de quelle forspris, le mair et la communalte de la dite ville, sibien d'auncien enemite et mal voloir come de novel, firent enditer vint et trois persones des vaillantz escolers del dite universite, lour malice de ce en vostre parlement nadgairs tenuz declare. Et come le dit enditement estoit quassez et dampnez, et ore le chanceller q'orest, et les procuratours, pur lour office fesant judicialment, et plusours autres escolers, firent enditer de trespas et felonie, et les volloient la avoir pris et emprisone le solempne fest de Pasqe Florie, qe eust este fait, si le chanceller hors de la dite ville privement ne soi eust retret; quelle chose purroit avoir este cause de grant commocioun sibien des escolers come des autres. Et auxi font enditer de jour en autre de felonie les ministres et les officers de la dite universite pur le meindre trespas qe poest estre, et ascun foitz pur trespas feyne par la ou nulle fuist fait, mes pur execucioun faite < appartenant > a lour office. Dont les ditz chanceller et les escolers sont issint troublez, inquietez et subduz, q'ils ne purront attendre a lour appris, mes lour covient de voider la dite universite, s'ils n'eient remede de vostre graciouse seignourie. | To our most excellent and most gracious lord the king and the lords of this present parliament, your humble and liege bedesmen the chancellor and scholars of your university of the town of Cambridge show that whereas they have for themselves, their successors and their lieutenants, forever, by your letters patent of your special grace, amongst other franchises and liberties, the cognizance of all types of personal pleas, as well debts, accounts and all other contracts and injuries, as of breach of the peace and offences of any kind committed within the said town, where any of the masters, scholars, servants of scholars, or common minister of the said university be one of the parties; excepting only mayhem and felony. By colour of which exception, the mayor and community of the said town, as well out of old enmity and ill-will as new, caused twenty-three of the worthy scholars of the said university to be indicted, their malice therein declared in your parliament previously held. And although the said indictment was quashed and annulled, yet they caused the present chancellor and the proctors, performing the judicial duties of their office, and many other scholars to be indicted of trespass and felony, and would have taken and imprisoned them on the solemn feast of Palm Sunday [11 April 1389], had not the chancellor secretly left the said town; which thing might have caused great commotion among both the scholars and others. Moreover, they cause the ministers and officers of the said university to be indicted of felony from one day to the next for the least possible offence, and sometimes for an offence feigned where none has been committed, except for some execution made pertaining to their office. By which the said chancellor and scholars are so troubled, disturbed, and cast down that they cannot attend to their learning, but wish to leave the said university if they do not obtain remedy from your gracious lordship. |
| Sur quoi supplient voz ditz oratours a vostre hautesse qe vous plese, considerant lour ditz meschiefs et evident anientissement, granter as ditz chanceller, escolers et a lour successours, qe a toutz les foitz qe ascun enditement, presentement, enqueste, inquisicioun, ou autre jurre enqueste de deliverance qeconqe, serra pris pardevant < les > justices qeconqes, eschetours qeconqes, coroners, ou autres baillifs, seneschalle de marchalcie et clerc del assaie, ou ministres et officers qeconqes de vous et de voz heirs, des ascunes trespas, felonies ou tresons, ou d'appelle de maheym, felonie, ou tresoun, hues et cries, ou autres mesfaitz qeconqes, faitz ou affairs, perpetrez ou a perpetrers, a les chanceller, escolers, et lour successours, servantz ou ministres de la dite universite, ou ascuns de eux par les leis, < ou a > leis, par les clercz, ou par ascun autre de la dite ville et les suburbes d'icelle; qe tiel enditement, inquisicioun jurre ou enqueste, soient prises par les gentz foreins, et nient par les gentz de la dite ville et les suburbes. Et qe le chanceller, escolers, et lour successours, servantz et ministres, ne soient empeschez, arestez, molestez, grevez, ne mys a respondre devant nulle juge, officer, [col. b] ne ministre susditz par ascuns enditementz ou presentment fait sur eux par gentz de mesme la ville, des ascuns des articles susditz, ou autre chose qeconqe par eux presentez. Et outre graunter as ditz chaunceller et escolers, qe eux, lour servantz ou ministres ne soient atteintz, convictz, ou condempnez, par nulle enqueste des jurrees des gentz de mesme la ville, en cas de tresoun, felonie, maheym, trespas, mesprisioun, conspiracie, ambidextrie, champartie, fauxete, et deceites, ou ascune manere de suite ou plee de partie, ou autre article qeconqe: einz qe en tout cas poient passer par gentz foreins, en salvacioun et relevacioun de clergie, pur Dieu, et en oevre de charite; qeconqe estatut et libertees, privileges, custumes, usez ou approvez au contraire nounobstantz. (fn. iii-257-48-1) | Wherefore your said bedesmen beg of your highness that it may please you, considering their said troubles and evident injury, to grant to the said chancellor, scholars, and their successors that every time any indictment, presentment, inquest, inquisition, or other sworn inquest of deliverance of any kind is held before justices whomsoever, escheators whomsoever, coroners or other bailiffs, steward of the marshalsea and clerk of the assay, or the ministers and officers whomsoever of you and your heirs, concerning any trespasses, felonies or treasons, or an appeal of mayhem, felony or treason, hues and cries, or other misdeeds whatsoever, committed or to be committed, perpetrated or to be perpetrated, by the chancellor, scholars, and their successors, servants or ministers of the said university, or any one of them, by laymen, or to laymen by clerks, or by any other of the said town and suburbs of the same; that such indictment, sworn inquisition or inquest shall be taken by strangers, and not by men of the said town and suburbs. And that the chancellor, scholars, and their successors, servants and ministers shall not be impeached, arrested, molested, aggrieved or brought to answer before any judge, officer [col. b] or minister aforesaid by any indictments or presentments made against them by men of the same town, upon any of the aforesaid articles or anything else whatsoever presented by them. And also to grant to the said chancellor and scholars, that they, their servants and ministers shall not be attainted, convicted or condemned by any inquest of juries of the men of the same town, in cases of treason, felony, mayhem, trespass, misprision, conspiracy, ambidextry, champerty, fraud and deceit, or any manner of suit or plea of party whatsoever: but that in every case they may be judged by strangers, to the salvation and relief of the clergy, for God and by way of charity; notwithstanding any statute and liberties, privileges or customs practised or approved to the contrary. (fn. iii-257-48-1) |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| La quelle peticion fuist responduz et endossez en la forme q'ensuit: | Which petition was answered and endorsed in the following manner: |
| Soit brief mande, ove le tenour de ceste peticioun dedeinz enclos, as mair et baillifs de Cantebrigg, d'estre devant le roi et son conseille a Westm' en cest present parlement samady proschein apres le fest de la Chandeleure proschein avenir, ove sufficeante instructioun et informacioun de toute la matire en ceste peticioun compris; et ove sufficeante poair et auctorite, desouz le commune seal de la dite ville, pur y respondre pur eux et la communalte de la dite ville sur toutes choses contenues en la dite peticioun. Et en outre, pur traiter et finalment accorder sur les choses avantdites, et pur faire outre et receivre ce qe par le roi et son dit conseille serra ordeine celle partie, sur peyne de cent livers. Et sur ce, brief fuist mande as ditz mair et baillifs, d'estre devant le roi et son conseille en cest parlement a mesme le jour, solonc le purport du dit endossement. A quelle jour les ditz mair et baillifs viendrent en parlement en propres persones, et retournerent lour brief; mes a cause q'ils n'apporterent mye sufficeant garrant pur la communalte du dite cite, come ils avoient en comandement par mesme le brief, ils furent agardez et mys en contempt. | Let a writ be sent, with the tenor of this petition enclosed, to the mayor and bailiffs of Cambridge, to be before the king and his council at Westminster in this present parliament on the Saturday after the feast of Candlemas next [5 February 1390], with sufficient instruction and information on all the matters contained in this petition; and with sufficient power and authority, under the common seal of the said town, to answer there on behalf of themselves and the community of the said town concerning all the things contained in the said petition. And further, to discuss and come to a final agreement on the aforesaid matters, and further do and receive whatever the king and his said council shall ordain in this matter, on pain of £100. Whereupon a writ was sent to the said mayor and bailiffs instructing them to appear before the king and his council in this parliament on the same day, according to the purport of the said endorsement. On which day [5 February 1390] the said mayor and bailiffs came to parliament in person and returned their writ; but because they did not bring sufficient warrant from the community of the said city, as they had been ordered to do by the same writ, they were adjudged and held to be in contempt. |
| < Pour Thomas Metham, chivaler. > | For Thomas Metham, knight. |
| 15. Thomas Metham, chivaler, bailla avant une peticioun en cest parlement en la forme q'ensuit: | 15. Thomas Metham, knight, submitted a petition in this parliament in the following form: |
| A son tresredoute seignour le roi, et as seignours de cest present parlement supplie Thomas de Metham, chivaler, qe come Elizabeth' qe fuist la femme Johan Fitz William, knyghte, de Arkeseye joust Doncastre, pursuist un appelle de la mort son baroun, l'an du regne nostre seignour le roi q'ore est noefisme, en le bank nostre dit seignour le roi, vers Roger Spark, that was Johan servant of Aske, Richard Huddeson' de Hemyngburgh', et Johan de Aske de Ousthorp'; en quelle appelle issint pursue les ditz Richard Huddeson', et Johan de Ask de Ousthorp', apparerent, et soi renderent a certein jour, et au devant les justices du dit bank q'adonqes furent, come pleinement appiert par record d'icelle. Et surce la dite Elizabeth', adonqes present en court, declara qe le dit Roger Spark, certein jour, an, et lieu, come piert par record du dit bank, occist felenousement le dit Johan Fitz William, knyght, son baroun, et qe le dit Richard Huddeson' fuist adonqes illoeqes present, abettant et aidant, a dite felonie faire. Et qe Johan de Ask de Ousthorp', apres mesme le jour, en autre lieu, et autre ville, recetta les ditz Roger Spark et Richard Huddeson', sachant eux avoir fait la felonie suisdite. Et outre ce, proces ent fait al suite la dite femme tanqe le dit Roger Spark fuist utlage. Et apres ele fuist nounsue en son dit apelle devers les ditz Johan de Ask de Ousthorp et Richard Huddeson'; par quoi eux furent areinez al suite nostre seignour le roi l'un et l'autre, en tiel manere demande de eux par les justices q'adonqes furent, coment ils soi voedrent acquiter de la mort Johan Fitz William susdit, la ou ils deussent par ley avoir este areignez de mesme la felonie qe la femme declara devers eux; c'estassavoir [p. iii-261][col. a] Richard, etc., de ce q'il fuist present et aidant, et Johan de Ask de ce q'il recetta les ditz felons autre temps, et en autre ville, qe l'occisioun ne fuist, solonc la dite declaracioun qe la femme fist devers eux, et nient de la mort qe fuist occis. Et issint fuist Johan de Aske areigne, et acquite del mort le dit Johan Fitz William, et nient del receite du dit Roger Spark et Richard, en la manere come la femme declara; et issint est Johan nient acquite del receite susdite. Et surce les justices ont enquis combien le dit Johan de Ask fuist endamage a cause del pursuite susdite: qe troverent a cynk centz marcz, et qe la femme ne fuist pas sufficeante de faire gree forsqe de vynt marcz. Et enquistrerent outre, al priere du dit Johan, qeux furent abettours al dit appell faire. Et fuist trove qe Thomas de Metham et Johan Frere furent abettours, et q'ils furent sufficeantz de paier le remenant de cynk centz marcz; c'estassavoir, Johan Frere quarrant marcz, et Thomas de Metham quatre centz et qarrant marcz; a cause de quelle le dit Thomas de Metham fuist a poie utlage. Par quoy il soi ad rendu en le bank du roi d'attendre la ley, issint demoert il en prisoun, en la gard del mareschalle illoeqes. | To his most redoubtable lord the king and the lords of this present parliament, Thomas Metham, knight, prays: whereas Elizabeth who was wife of John Fitzwilliam, knight, of Arksey near Doncaster, brought an appeal of the death of her husband, in the ninth year of the reign of our present lord the king [1385-6], in the bench of our said lord the king, against Roger Spark, servant of John Aske, Richard Huddeson of Hemingburgh, and John Aske of Ousthorpe; in which appeal thus pursued the said Richard Huddeson and John Aske of Ousthorpe appeared and surrendered themselves on a certain day, and before the then justices of the said bench, as appears fully in the record of the same. And thereupon the said Elizabeth, then present in court, declared that the said Roger Spark, on a certain day, in a certain year, and at a certain place, as is apparent from the record of the said bench, feloniously killed the said John Fitzwilliam, knight, her husband, and that the said Richard Huddeson was then present, abetting and aiding the committing of the said felony. And that John Aske of Ousthorpe, after the same day, in another place, and another town, received the said Roger Spark and Richard Huddeson, knowing them to have carried out the aforesaid felony. And further, process was made thereon at the suit of the said wife until the said Roger Spark was outlawed. And later she was nonsuited in her said appeal against the said John Aske of Ousethorpe and Richard Huddeson; wherefore they were both arraigned at the suit of our lord the king, in such wise that it was asked of them by the then justices, how they would acquit themselves of the death of the aforesaid John Fitzwilliam, whereas they ought by law to have been arraigned of the same felony which the wife declared against them; namely [p. iii-261][col. a] Richard, etc., in that he had been present and had given aid, and John Aske in that he had later received the said felons in another place where the murder had not occurred, according to the said declaration which the wife made against them, and not of the death which had occurred. And so John Aske was arraigned and acquitted of the death of the said John Fitzwilliam, and not of receiving the said Roger Spark and Richard, as the wife had declared; and so John was not acquitted of the aforesaid receiving. And thereupon the justices enquired into the damages suffered by the said John Aske because of the aforesaid pursuit: which they found amounted to five hundred marks, and that the woman did not possess sufficient means to pay compensation of more than twenty marks. And they also enquired, at the prayer of the said John, who were the abbettors of the said appeal. And it was found that Thomas Metham and John Frere were abettors, and that they had sufficient means with which to pay the rest of the five hundred marks; namely, John Frere forty marks, and Thomas Metham four hundred and forty marks; because of which the said Thomas Metham was about to be outlawed. Wherefore he surrendered himself in the king's bench to await the law, and so he remains in prison, in the keeping of the marshal there. |
| Sur quoi pleist a vostre hautesse de faire venir en cest present parlement devant vous le record et proces du dit apelle, pur redresser les ditz errours en ycelle, et en outre faire droit et resoun a dit Thomas de Metham, issint q'il poet estre comande as justices du bank le roi, et marchalcie d'ycelle, hors de cest present parlement, qe le dit Thomas de Metham poet estre delivere hors del dite prisone, et aler a large, de pursuir sa suite d'icell, tanqe soit discus par parlement, le quel il y ad errour en le dit record et proces, ou nemye: trovant cy devant vous autiel surete come vous semblera, d'attendre et parfornir vostre ordinance et agarde de parlement en toutz pointz, en la matire susdite, pur Dieu, et en oevre de charite. | In view of which may it please your highness to have the record and process of the said appeal brought before you in the present parliament, to redress the said errors in the same, and also to do right and reason to the said Thomas Metham, so that the justices of the king's bench, and the marshalsea thereof, after this parliament, be ordered to free the said Thomas Metham from the said prison, and allow him to go free, to pursue his suit therein, until it be discussed by parliament whether or not there be error in the said record and process: finding now before you such surety as you choose, to await and perform your ordinance and award of parliament in all respects, in the aforesaid matter, for God and by way of charity. |
| Et la dite peticioun lieu en parlement, comande fuist a monsire Wauter Clopton', chief justice < del > bank le roi, alors present en parlement, de porter meyntenant en parlement les record et proces dont la dite peticioun fait mencioun. Les quelles record et proces portez en parlement par le dit monsire Wautier, et overtement lieus, le dit Thomas assigna errour en ycelles, en ce qe Johan d'Aske fuist areigne apres declaracioun faite par la femme le mort. Issint demande fuist par les justices adonqes, coment le dit Johan d'Ask soi voilloit acquiter del mort celluy qe fuist tuez, nient fesant mencioun en ycell areignement del recette des ditz felons, en manere come la femme avoit declare devers le dit Johan d'Aske: et par tant les justices erreront. Et fist aussint protestacioun q'il voleit assigner celle errour, et autres errours, quant temps vendra, en les record et proces susditz. | And the said petition having been read in parliament, Sir Walter Clopton, chief justice of the king's bench, then present in parliament, was ordered at once to bring the record and process of which the said petition made mention to parliament. Which record and process having been brought to parliament by the said Sir Walter and read out, the said Thomas indicated the error in the same, that John Aske had been arraigned after the declaration made by the wife of the deceased. Therefore it was asked by the justices how the said John Aske wished to acquit himself of the death of him who had been killed, no mention being made in the same arraignment of the receiving of the said felons, in the manner alleged by the wife against the said John Aske: and by so much the justices had erred. And he also made protestation that he would advance that error, and other errors when the time should come, in the aforesaid record and process. |
| 16. Et surce agarde fuist qe le dit Thomas aueroit brief de scire facias, fonduz en son cas, retornable al proschein parlement, pur faire assavoir al dit Johan de Aske d'estre al dit proschein parlement, en qeconqe lieu il serroit tenuz deinz le roialme d'Engleterre, a oier les errours queux serront par le dit Thomas monstrez ou alleggez en les record et proces susditz: et affaire outre et receivre ce q'en le dit proschein parlement serra ajugge en la matire susdite. Et qe les ditz record et proces soient toutdis prestz en le dit proschein parlement par mesme la cause; et auxint qe le dit Thomas soit deliverez de la prisone de la marchalcie du dit bank le roi, en la quelle il est detenuz par celle enchesoun, par sufficeante meyinprise, tanqe le dit errour soit discus. Et surce Johan, evesqe de Nicole, Henry, evesqe de Norwyz, Johan, seignour de Neville, et monsire Johan Lovell, presentz en parlement, empristrent, sur peyne de cynk centz marcz appaiers al oeps le roy, de faire gre a dit Johan d'Ask des damages a luy ajuggez celle partie envers le dit Thomas, ou de restorer le corps du dit [col. b] Thomas a la dite prisone, en cas qe le juggement soit afferme. Et comande fuist al chanceller, de faire briefs necessairs au dit Thomas pur sa deliverance en la forme avantdite, ensemblement ove le dit brief de scire facias, encontre le dit proschein parlement. | 16. Whereupon, it was adjudged that the said Thomas should have a writ of scire facias, based on his case, returnable at the next parliament, to notify the said John Aske to be at the said next parliament, wheresoever it would be held in the kingdom of England, to hear the errors which would be revealed or alleged in the aforesaid record and process by the said Thomas: and further to do and receive whatever should be adjudged in the aforesaid matter in the said next parliament. And that the said record and process should be always available in the said next parliament in the same cause; and also that the said Thomas should be freed from the prison of the marshalsea of the said king's bench, in which he had been detained for that reason, by sufficient mainprise, until the said error should have been discussed. And thereupon, John, bishop of Lincoln, Henry, bishop of Norwich, John Lord Neville, and Sir John Lovell, present in parliament, undertook, on pain of five hundred marks paid to the use of the king, to compensate the said John Aske for the damages adjudged to him in this matter against the said Thomas, or to restore the body of the said [col. b] Thomas to the said prison if the judgment should be affirmed. And the chancellor was ordered to send the necessary writs to the said Thomas for his deliverance in the aforesaid form, together with the said writ of scire facias, in preparation for the said next parliament. |
| < Peticioun de John Frere. > | Petition of John Frere. |
| 17. Johan Frere bailla avant une peticioun en cest parlement, en la forme q'ensuit: | 17. John Frere submitted a petition in this parliament, in the following form: |
| 'A son tresredoute seignour le roi, et as seignours de cest present parlement supplie vostre povre lige Johan Frere qe come Elizabeth' qe fuist la femme Johan Fitz William, knyght de Arkesey joust Doncastre, pursuist un apelle de la mort son baroun, l'an du regne nostre tresredoute seignour le roi q'orest noefisme, en le bank nostre dit seignour le roi, vers Roger Spark, that was John servant of Aske, Richard Huddeson' de Hemyngburgh' et Johan de Ask de Ousthorp'; en quelle appelle issint pursue les ditz Richard Huddeson', et Johan de Ask de Ousthorp', apparerent, et soi renderent a certein jour et an, devant les justices du dit bank q'adonqes furent, come pleinement appiert par record d'icelle. Et surce la dite Elizabeth', adonqes present en court, declara qe le dit Roger Spark, certein jour, an et lieu, come appiert par record du dit bank, etc., occist felonousement le dit Johan Fitz William, knyght, son baroun, et qe le dit Richard Huddeson' fuist adonqes illoeqes present, abettant et aidant au dite felonie faire: et qe Johan de Ask de Ousthorp', apres mesme le jour, en autre lieu, et autre ville, recetta les ditz Roger Spark et Richard Huddeson', sachant eux avoir faitz la felonie suisdite: et outre ce, proces ent fait al suite la dite femme, tanqe le dit Roger Spark fuist utlage. Et apres ele fuist nounsuy en son dit apelle devers les ditz Johan de Ask de Ousthorp' et Richard Huddeson': par quoy ils furent areignez al suite nostre dit seignour le roy l'un et l'autre, en tiel manere demande de eux, par les justices q'adonqes furent, coment ils soi voedrent acquiter de la mort Johan Fitz William susdit, la ou ils deussent par ley avoir este areignez de mesme la felonie qe la femme declara devers eux; c'estassavoir Richard, etc., de ce q'il fuist present et aidant; et Johan de Ask de ce q'il recetta les ditz felons, autre temps, et en autre ville, qe l'occisioun ne fuist, solonc la dite declaracioun qe la dite femme fist devers eux, et nient de la mort qe fuist occis. Et issint fuist Johan de Ask areigne, et acquite de la mort le dit Johan Fitz William, knyght, et nient de la receite du dit Roger Spark, et Richard, en la manere come la femme declara; et issint est Johan nient acquite del receite suisdite. Et surce les justices ont enquis combien le dit Johan de Ask fuist endamage a cause de la pursuite susdite, qe troverent a cynk centz marcz: et qe la femme ne fuist pas sufficeante de faire gree forsqe de vynt marcz. Et enquistrerent outre, al priere du dit Johan, queux feurent abbettours al dit appelle faire; et fuist trove qe Thomas de Metham et Johan Frere furent abettours, et q'ils feurent sufficeantz de paier la remanant de cynk centz marcz; c'estassavoir Johan Frere qarrant marcz, et Thomas de Metham quatre centz et qarrant marcz: a cause de quelle le dit Johan Frere est a poy [...] utlage. Par quoy il soi ad rendu en le bank nostre dit seignour le roy, d'attendre la ley, issint demoert il en prisone en la garde de mareschalle illoeqes. | To his most redoubtable lord the king and to the lords of this present parliament prays your poor liege John Frere: whereas Elizabeth who was wife of John Fitzwilliam, knight of Arksey near Doncaster pursued an appeal on the death of her husband, in the ninth year of our redoubtable present lord the king [1385-6], in the bench of our said lord the king, against Roger Spark, who was John Aske's servant, Richard Huddeson of Hemingburgh and John Aske of Ousthorpe; in which appeal thus pursued the said Richard Huddeson and John Aske of Ousthorpe appeared and surrendered themselves on a certain day and year, before the justices of the said bench at the time, as plainly appears in the record of the same. And thereupon the said Elizabeth, then present in court, declared that the said Roger Spark, on a certain day, in a certain year and in a certain place, as appears in the record of the said bench, etc., feloniously slew the said John Fitzwilliam, knight, her husband, and that the said Richard Huddeson was then present, abetting and aiding the committing of the said felony: and that John Aske of Ousthorpe, after that day, in another place, and another town, sheltered the said Roger Spark and Richard Huddeson, knowing them to have committed the aforesaid felony: and further, process was made thereon at the suit of the said wife, so that the said Roger Spark was outlawed. And later she was nonsuited in her said appeal against the said John Aske of Ousthorpe and Richard Huddeson; wherefore they were both arraigned at the suit of our said lord the king, in such a way that it was asked of them, by the justices of the time, how they would acquit themselves of the death of the aforesaid John Fitzwilliam, whereas they ought by law to have been arraigned of the same felony which the wife declared against them; namely Richard, etc., in that he had been present and had lent assistance; and John Aske in that he received the said felons, at another time, and in another place, where the murder had not occurred, according to the said declaration which the said woman made against them, and not of the death of him slain. And thus was John Aske arraigned and acquitted of the death of the said John Fitzwilliam, knight, and not of sheltering the said Roger Spark and Richard, in the manner described by the wife; and therefore John was not acquitted of the aforesaid receiving. And thereupon the justices enquired into the damages suffered by the said John Aske because of the aforesaid pursuit: which they found amounted to five hundred marks, and that the woman did not possess sufficient means to pay compensation of more than twenty marks. And further they enquired, at the prayer of the said John, who were the abettors of the said appeal; and it was found that Thomas Metham and John Frere were abettors, and that they were able to pay the rest of the five hundred marks; namely, John Frere forty marks, and Thomas Metham four hundred and forty marks; wherefore the said John Frere was likely to be outlawed. As a result of which he surrendered himself in the bench of our said lord the king to await the law, and so he remains in prison in the keeping of the marshal there. |
| Sur quoy pleist il a vostre hautesse, de faire venir en cest present parlement devant vous le record et proces du dit appelle, pur redresser les ditz errours et autres en ycelle; et en outre, de faire droit et resoun a dit Johan Frere, issint q'il poet estre comande as justices de bank le roy, et marchalcie d'icelle, hors de cest present parlement, qe le dit Johan Frere poet estre delivere hors de prison, et aler a large de pursuir sa suite d'icelle, [memb. 9] tanqe soit discus par parlement, le quelle il y ad errour en le dit record et proces, ou nemye: trovant cy devant vous autiel suretee come vous semblera, [p. iii-262][col. a] d'atteindre et parfornir vostre ordinance et agarde de parlement en toutz pointz en la matire susdite, pur Dieu, et en oevre de charite. | Wherefore may it please your highness to cause the record and process of the said appeal to be brought before you in this present parliament, to redress the said errors and others in the same; and further, to do right and reason to the said John Frere, so that the justices of the king's bench and the marshalsea thereof, after this present parliament, be ordered to free the said John Frere from prison and allow him to go free to bring his suit therein, [memb. 9] until it be discussed by parliament whether or not there be error in the said record and process or not: finding now before you such surety as you think fit, [p. iii-262][col. a] to await and perform your ordinance and judgment of parliament in all respects in the aforesaid matter, for God and by way of charity. |
| Et la dite peticion lieu en parlement, comande fuist a monsire Wauter Clopton' chief justice del bank le roi, alors present en parlement, de porter meyntenant en parlement les record et proces dont la dite peticioun fait mencioun. Les quelles record et proces portez en parlement par le dit monsire Wautier, et overtement lieuz, le dit Johan assigna errour en ycelles, en ce qe Johan d'Ask fuist areigne apres declaracioun fait par la femme le mort. Issint demande fuist par les justices adonqes, coment le dit Johan d'Ask soi voleit aquiter del mort celuy qe fuist tuez, nient fesant mencioun en ycelle areignement del recette des ditz felons, en manere come la femme avoit declare devers le dit Johan d'Ask: et par tant les justices erreront. Et fist aussint protestacioun q'il voleit assigner celle errour, et autres, quant temps vendra, en les record et proces susditz. | And the said petition having been read in parliament, Sir Walter Clopton, chief justice of the king's bench, then present in parliament, was ordered to bring the record and process of which the said petition made mention to parliament at once. Which record and process being brought into parliament by the said Sir Walter, and read out, the said John indicated error in the same, in that John Aske had been arraigned after the declaration made by the wife of the deceased. Thus it was asked by the justices then how the said John Aske would acquit himself of the death of him who had been killed, no mention being made in the same arraignment of the sheltering of the said felons in the manner alleged by the wife against the said John Aske: and by so much the justices erred. And he also made protestation that he would indicate this error, and others, when the time should come, in the aforesaid record and process. |
| Et surce agarde fuist qe le dit Johan Frere aueroit brief de scire facias, fonduz en son cas, retornable al proschein parlement, pur faire assavoir al dit Johan d'Ask d'estre al dit proschein parlement, en qeconqe lieu il serroit tenuz deinz le roialme d'Engleterre, a oier les errours qeux serront par le dit Johan Frere monstrez ou alleggez en les record et proces susditz: et a faire outre et receivre ce q'en le dit proschein parlement serra ajugge en la matire susdite. Et qe les ditz record et proces soient < toudis > prestz en le dit proschein parlement par mesme la cause. Et qe le dit Johan Frere soit deliverez de la prisone de la marchalcie en dit bank le roy, en la quelle il est detenuz par celle enchesoun, par sufficeante meinprise, tanqe le dit errour soit discus. Et surce Johan, evesqe de Nicole, Henry, evesqe de Norwyz, Johan, seignour de Nevill et monsire Johan Lovell', presentz en parlement, empristrent, sur peyne de cynk centz marcz appaiers al oeps du roy, de faire gre au dit Johan d'Ask des damages a luy ajuggez celle partie envers le dit Johan Frere, ou de restorer le corps du dit Johan Frere a la dite prisone, en cas qe le juggement soit affermez. Et comande fuist al chanceller de faire briefs necessairs au dit Johan Frere pur sa deliverance, en la forme avantdite, ensemblement ove le dit brief de scire facias, encontre le dit proschein parlement. | Whereupon, it was decided that the said John Frere should have a writ of scire facias, based on his case, returnable at the next parliament, to notify the said John Aske to be at the said next parliament, wheresoever it might be held in the realm of England, to hear the errors which would be revealed or alleged to be in the aforesaid record and process by the said John Frere: and further to do and receive what would be adjudged on the aforesaid matter in the said next parliament. And that the said record and process should be available always in the said next parliament in that cause. And that the said John Frere should be freed from the prison of the marshalsea in the said king's bench, in which he was detained for this reason, by sufficient mainprise, until the said error had been discussed. Thereupon, John, bishop of Lincoln, Henry, bishop of Norwich, John Lord Neville and Sir John Lovell, present in parliament, undertook on pain of paying five hundred marks for the king's use to compensate the said John Aske for the damages adjudged to him in this matter against the said John Frere, or to return the body of the said John Frere to the said prison if the judgment should be affirmed. And the chancellor was ordered to issue the necessary writs to the said John Frere for his deliverance, in the aforesaid form, together with the said writ of scire facias, in preparation for the said next parliament. |
| < Certeynes summes de denyeres. > | Certain sums of money. |
| 18. Purce q'en le parlement tenuz a Westm' l'an du regne nostre seignour le roy unszisme, certeines sommes de deniers furent assignez severalment pur la sustenance de ceux qi furent justices, et banniz, et ore sont en Irland, (fn. iii-257-62-1) et ne fuist pas limite en certein de quelle chose les dites sommes serroient paiez, accordez est et assentuz en cest parlement qe les femmes, ou autres amys des ditz nadgairs justices issint demorantz en Irland, eient a ferme les terres et tenementz qe furent as ditz justices nient venduz, tanqe a la somme de ce q'est ensy ordeigne par le dit parlement pur la sustenance de mesmes les justices; nientcontresteant ascune patente faite as autres d'avoir a ferme les terres et tenementz suisditz. Et qe ceux q'aueront les ditz terres et tenementz < issint > a ferme, eient allouance en lour dite ferme de les sommes susdites. Et si les ditz terres et tenementz nient venduz ne sufficent point a tielx sommes, le roi voet q'il soit limite et assigne en certein par son conseille, coment, et en quelle manere, et ou, et en quell lieu, les ditz nadgairs justices, et chescun de eux, purront bien et prestment estre serviz et paiez de les sommes issint a eux assignez par le dit parlement, pur lour sustenance avantdite. | 18. Because in the parliament held at Westminster in the eleventh year of the reign of our lord the king [1388], certain sums of money were severally assigned for the sustenance of those who were justices, banished and now living in Ireland, (fn. iii-257-62-1) and because it was not precisely stated from what the said sums would be paid, it was agreed and assented in this parliament that the wives or other friends of the said former justices thus residing in Ireland should have at farm those lands and tenements of the said justices which had not been sold, up to the sum which was thus ordained by the said parliament for the sustenance of the same justices; notwithstanding any patent made to others to hold the aforesaid lands and tenements at farm. And that those who have the said lands and tenements thus at farm should have allowance in their said farm for the aforesaid sums. And if the said lands and tenements unsold should not suffice for such sums, the king wills that it be decided and firmly specified by his council how, and in what manner, and where, and in which place, the said former justices, and each of them, can well and readily be served and paid the sums thus assigned them by the said parliament for their aforesaid sustenance. |
| < Priours alyens. > | Alien priors. |
| 19. Purce qe les priours aliens soi sont grevousement compleintz a nostre seignour le roy en cest present parlement, [col. b] de ce qe lour mesons sont fonduz et establiz par les nobles progenitours nostre seignour le roy, et les auncestres d'autres seignours, pur divine service en lour esglises celebrer, et diverses almoignes, et autres charges faire, pur le salve estat nostre dit seignour le roy, et les autres seignours susditz, et pur les almes des ditz progenitours et auncestres, et lour bienfesours; les quelles divines services et almoignes sont grantment sustretz, et lour esglises et mesons par occupacioun des seculers destruitz et anientiz, pur tant qe les ditz priours ont este si sovent oustez et remuez, et enhaucez de lour fermes, a la suite des seculers, encontre la fondacioun et establissement avantditz a la volunte des ditz fondours: coment qe a temps qe lour possessions estoient seisez par cause de la guerre, feust ordeine et assentuz qe eux mesmes les deussent avoir pur la salve garde d'icels, et pur faire continuelment divine service, et autres almoignes et charges ent dues; et surce ont humblement suppliez a nostre dit seignour le roy, d'ent ordeigner due remede. Nostre dit seignour le roy, par advys et assent des prelatz et seignours temporels en cest parlement assemblez, ad ordeine et voet qe l'ordinance faite des ditz priours aliens et lour possessions, etc., l'an de son regne primer, soit fermement tenuz et gardez, ajouste a ycelle qe les priours aliens qe sont institutz et inductz par l'evesqe de lieu, ou par lour abbees exemptz, devant le scisme, ou conventuels, ou collegialx, ou q'ont title a terme de vie, eient et enjoient lour ditz priories a resonable ferme, sanz ent estre oustez: combien q'ascuns autres vorront plus doner pur ycelles. Et qe tielx priours aliens q'avoient patente du roy, et sont oustez a present, soient restitutz par agarde de cest parlement; nient contresteant ascune patente faite as autres de mesmes les priories au contraire. Et qe nulle priorie, office, ou ballie < alien, > q'ad ascune esglise, ou autre spiritualite, approprie ou annexe a ycelle, soit es mains des leis gentz, n'es mains de religiouses ou de clercs al oeps ou profit de lais gentz, einz tantsoulement es mains des honestes persones de seinte esglise, religiouses ou seculers, a resonable ferme, pur trover divine service, et faire les autres charges resonables et dues es ditz lieues, solonc la fundacioun d'icelles. | 19. Whereas the alien priors have grievously complained to our lord the king in this present parliament [col. b] that their houses were founded and established by the noble progenitors of our lord the king, and the ancestors of other lords, for divine service to be celebrated in their churches, and various alms given and other duties performed, for the safe estate of our said lord the king, and the other aforesaid lords, and for the souls of the said progenitors and ancestors, and their benefactors; which divine services and alms are greatly diminished, and their churches and houses ruined and destroyed through being occupied by seculars, whereby the said priors have often been ousted and removed and deprived of their farms at the suit of seculars, contrary to the aforesaid foundation and provision made at the will of the said founders: even though at the time when their possessions were seized because of the war, it was ordained and agreed that they themselves ought to have the keeping of them, and maintain divine service continually, and other alms and burdens incumbent thereon; therefore they have humbly requested of our lord the king that he ordain due remedy thereof. Our said lord the king, by the advice and assent of the prelates and lords temporal in this present parliament assembled, has ordained and wills that the ordinance made concerning the said alien priors and their possessions, etc., in the first year of his reign [1377], be firmly kept and maintained, adding to the same that those alien priors who were instituted and inducted by the bishop of the place, or by their exempt abbots, before the schism, or conventuals, or collegials, or those who hold the title for life, shall have and enjoy their said priories at a reasonable farm, without being ousted therefrom: even though others would give more for the same. And that those alien priors who have a patent of the king and are at present ousted be restored by award of this parliament; notwithstanding any patent made to others concerning the same priories to the contrary. And that no alien priory, office, or bailiwick which has any church or other spirituality appropriated or annexed to the same should be in lay hands, nor in the hands of religious or clerics for the use and profit of lay persons, but only in the hands of honest persons of the holy church, religious or secular, at a reasonable farm, to provide divine service, and other reasonable charges and duties in the said places, according to the foundation of the same. |
| < Subsydie. > | Subsidy. |
| 20. Meskerdy, le second jour de Marcz, les seignours et communes granterent a nostre seignour le roy en plein parlement, pur defense de roialme, les subsides desouzescriptz, a lever et prendre del primer jour de Marcz darrein passe tanq'al fest de Noel proschein avenir. C'estassavoir, de chescun sak de leyn passant hors du roialme, outre l'aunciene custume de dimy marc ent due, trent et trois souldz et quatre deniers de denizeins; et trent et sis souldz et oept deniers des aliens: et de chescun last des quirs passant hors du roialme, outre l'aunciene custume d'une marc ent due, cynk marcz de denizeins et cynk marcz et dimy des aliens: et de chescun deux centz et qarrant peaux lanuz passantz hors du roialme, outre l'aunciene custume de dimy marc ent due, trent et trois souldz et quatre deniers de denizeins; et trent et sys souldz et oept deniers des aliens. Et de chescun tonelle de vin entrant en mesme le roialme, ou issant hors d'icelle, trois souldz. Et de toutes autres maneres marchandises entrantz en mesme le roialme, ou issantz hors d'icelle, sys deniers, forspris leyns, quirs et peaux lanutz; et horspris auxint vitailles, vesture et hernoys qe serront amesnez a Berwyk, Rokesburgh, et Geddeworth, pur la garnisoun d'icelles. Purveuz toutesfoitz qe le dit subside de sys deniers del livere soit leve et coilliez en due manere, solonc ce qe costera a marchant a son primer achat, et en nulle autre manere. Et qe un tresorer soit ordeine en cest present parlement, pur garder les ditz subsides al oeps de guerres, et q'ils ne soient [p. iii-263][col. a] despenduz mes tantsoulement en la defense du roialme. Et qe y soit un contrerollour, de contreroller les ditz despenses, come ils voillent respondre a proschein parlement. | 20. On Wednesday 2 March [1390], the lords and commons in full parliament granted our lord the king, for the defence of the realm, the subsidies listed below, to be levied and taken from 1 March last [1390] until Christmas next to come [25 December 1390]. That is to say, on each sack of wool leaving the kingdom, in addition to the ancient custom of half a mark due thereon, thirty-three shillings and four pence from denizens; and thirty-six shillings and eight pence from aliens: and on each last of hides leaving the kingdom, in addition to the ancient custom of one mark due thereon, five marks from denizens and five and a half marks from aliens: and on every two hundred and forty woolfells leaving the kingdom, in addition to the ancient custom of half a mark due thereon, thirty-three shillings and four pence from denizens, and thirty-six shillings and eight pence from aliens. And on each tun of wine entering the same kingdom, or leaving the same, three shillings. And on all other types of merchandise entering the same kingdom, or leaving the same, six pence, except wool, hides and woolfells; and also except victuals, clothing, and equipment taken to Berwick, Roxburgh or Jedburgh for the garrisons of the same. Provided always that the said subsidy of six pence in the pound shall be levied and collected in the due manner, according to its price to the merchant on his first purchase, and in no other manner. And that a treasurer be ordained in this present parliament to keep the said subsidies for the uses of the wars, and they shall [p. iii-263][col. a] be spent solely on the defence of the realm, and on nothing else. And that there shall be a controller to audit the said expenses, as they shall answer at the next parliament. |
| < Johan, duke de Lanc' fait duc d'Aquitaigne. > | John, duke of Lancaster, made duke of Aquitaine. |
| 21. En ycest parlement, c'estassavoir le second jour de Marcz, nostre seignour le roy eiant due consideracioun a la noble et honourable persone de son trescher uncle Johan duc de Lancastr', et a ses excellentz et virtuouses faitz < et tresgrantz desertz pur certeines et notables causes rehercez par > comandement du roi, fist son dit uncle duc d'Acquitaign < en plein parlement, del assent de toutz l'estatz de parlement, et luy ent envesty par le mettre de la cappe a son chief, > et par la baille d'une verge d'or, a avoir < et tenir le dit duche < a son dit uncle > a terme de sa vie, solonc l'effect et purport de la chartre nostre dit seignour le roi > a luy ent faite et baille par la mayn de nostre dit seignour le roy. De quelle chartre le tenour ensuit: | 21. In this parliament, namely on 2 March [1390], our lord the king duly considering the noble and honourable person of his beloved uncle John duke of Lancaster, and his excellent and virtuous deeds and his very great deserts, for certain noteworthy reasons rehearsed upon the king's orders did made his said uncle duke of Aquitaine in full parliament, with the assent of all the estates of parliament, and invested him by placing the cap on his head, and by delivering a wand, for his said uncle to have and hold the said duchy for the term of his life, according to the tenor and purport of the charter of our said lord the king made thereon and delivered to him by our said lord the king's own hand. The tenor of which charter is as follows: |
| Ricardus, Dei gracia, rex Anglie et Francie et dominus Hibernie, carissimo patruo nostro Johanni duci Lancastr', salutem. Inter gloriosas reipublice curas et solicitudines varias regiis humeris incumbentes, firmat potissime regale solium effluens a justicia condigna premiacio meritorum; ibi namque continue virtus crescit et colitur, ubi a debito sibi premio non frustratur. Cum igitur honor sit virtutis premium, constat quod virtuosis et strenuis ex regali justicia debentur fasces honorum et premia dignitatum, que utique si dignis conferantur non debent simpliciter estimari dona seu exhibicio favorum, set pocius debita recompensacio meritorum. Quid enim in retroactis seculis, et felicium principum temporibus, rempublicam amplius prevexisse comperimus, quam quod pie regnantes virtuosos et strenuos sub se habebant < oneris > eis injuncti participes, quos postmodum juxta exigenciam meritorum extollenciis honorum et distribucionibus dignitatum successive fecerant ex debito regalis justicie gloriosos? Quia quod soli non poterant, provida virtuosorum hujusmodi provisione suplebant. Hiis igitur considirecacionibus [sic: read 'consideracionibus'] inducti, ad te precarissimum patruum nostrum mentis nostre aciem dirigentes, actusque tuos virtuosos, et preclara merita quibus te virtutum Dominus insignivit, in profunde discussionis libramine ponderantes, de assensu prelatorum, ducum, magnatum et aliorum procerum, et communitatis regni nostri Anglie, in instanti parliamento nostro apud Westm' convocato existencium, te predilectissimum patruum nostrum in ducem Aquit', cum titulo, stilo, ac nomine et honore eidem debitis, preficimus, ac inde presencialiter per apposicionem cappe tuo capiti, ac tradicionem virge auree investimus, in premium eximie virtutis tue, et < attinencie > predictarum, toto vite tue tempore possidenda. Et < ut > clare particulariter et in spem intelligere valeas, qualis erga te fuerit et sit nostre intentionis affectus, de assensu predicto donavimus et concessimus, et tenore presencium concedimus et donamus tibi ducatum predictum, necnon universa et singula civitates, castra, villas, loca, terras, comitatus, et provincias nostra infra eundem ducatum existentia; habenda et tenenda de nobis ut de rege Francie, et heredibus nostris ut Francie regibus, sub homagio ligeo, ad totam vitam tuam, una cum omnibus insulis eisdem adjacentibus, homagiis, ligeanciis, honoribus, obedienciis, vassallis, questalibus, feudis, retrofeudis, serviciis, cognicionibus, juribus, mero et mixto imperio, et cum jurisdictionibus altis, mediis, atque bassis, salvis gardiis, advocacionibus, et patronatibus ecclesiarum metropoliticarum cathedralium, tam secularum quam regularum, et aliorum beneficiorum ecclesiasticorum quorumcumque, ad nos premissorum occasione pertinencium sive spectancium, denariis, censibus, redditibus, proventibus, confiscacionibus, emolumentis, reversionibus et proficuis, regaliis, regalitatibus, franchesiis, libertatibus, privilegiis, immunitatibus, usibus et consuetudinibus, universisque juribus [col. a] et pertinenciis suis quibuscumque; adeo plene, integre et perfecte, sicut ea tenemus et habemus, tenuimus et habuimus, tenuerunt et habuerunt progenitorum nostrorum aliqui, ullis unquam temporibus retrolapsis, aliquibus concessionibus de quibuscumque officiis per nos < seu per > progenitores nostros ante hec tempora factis, quas tenore presencium omnino revocamus, cassamus et de facto adnullamus, non obstantibus. Salvis tamen nobis, ut Francie regi, et heredibus nostris ut Francie regibus, directo dominio, superioritate et resorto ducatus predicti et specialiter reservatis. | Richard, by grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to our beloved uncle John duke of Lancaster, greeting. Amidst the illustrious cares of the public weal and the many solicitudes which weigh upon the royal shoulders, the condign reward of merits is most sustaining to that regal power which flows from a worthy justice; for virtue continually grows and is nourished where due reward is not denied. Therefore, since honour is the reward of virtue, it follows that virtuous and strenuous men are owed abundant honours and rewards of dignities by royal justice, so that if rewards are worthily bestowed they ought not to be seen as mere gifts or the showing of favour, but rather as due recompense for merits. For what society have we seen to flourish more in past ages, and in times of happy princes, than that in which those piously ruling have under them virtuous and strenuous men with whom to share their burdens, and whom subsequently they glorify and extol according to their merits with honours and the distribution of dignities due from regal justice? And because they could not prevail alone, the means of virtuous men were supplemented by this kind of provision. Led therefore by these considerations to turn our thoughts towards you, our beloved uncle, and weighing in our mind your virtuous acts, and the outstanding merits with which the Lord distinguished your virtue, after deep discussion, with the assent of the prelates, dukes, magnates and other nobles, and the commons of our kingdom of England, being in our present parliament summoned to Westminster, we have created you our most beloved uncle duke of Aquitaine, with due title, style and name, and so now invest you by placing a cap on your head and presenting you with a golden wand, as a reward for your excellent virtue and aforesaid attainments, to be possessed for your whole life. And that you may particularly understand clearly and with hope the nature of our affectionate intent towards you, with the aforesaid assent we have given and granted, and by the tenor of the present we do give and grant, the aforesaid duchy to you, and also each and every one of our cities, castles, towns, places, lands, counties and provinces being in the same duchy; to have and to hold of us as king of France, and of our heirs as kings of France, by liege homage, for your whole life, with all the islands adjoining the same, homages, allegiances, honours, obediences, vassals, fiefs, sub-fiefs, services, cognizances, simple and mixed authority, and with jurisdictions high, medium, and low, Saving wardships, advowsons and the patronage of metropolitan cathedral churches, both secular and regular, and of other ecclesiastical benefices whatsoever pertaining or belonging to us by the aforesaid title, and money, customary payments, rents, proceeds, confiscations, emoluments, reversions and profits, regalia and regalities, franchises, liberties, privileges, immunities, uses and customs, and their universal rights [col. a] and appurtenances whatsoever; as fully, wholly and perfectly as we have and hold them, have had and held them, and as any of our progenitors had and held them at any time in the past, notwithstanding any grants of any offices whatsoever made by us or by our progenitors before this time, which by the tenor of the present we entirely revoke, cancel and annul de facto. Saving nevertheless and especially reserving to us, as king of France, and our heirs as kings of France, direct lordship, superiority and resort over the aforesaid duchy. |
| Nolumus eciam quod tu, aliquo tempore vite tue, castrum et dominium de Fronssac cuicumque persone dare, alienare vel transferre valeas, quovis modo: immo ea in manibus tuis, tanquam eidem ducatui annexa, omnino teneri volumus et reservari. Et ad honoris et nominis tui validius fulcimentum, hanc tibi auctoritatem et potestatem specialiter impartimur, monetam auream et argenteam, et aliam qualemcumque faciendi, cudendi et fabricandi, monetamque jam usitatam, seu alias quascumque imposterum per te cudendi, quotiens et quo modo tibi videbitur expediens mutandi, aliqua consuetudine in contrarium ibidem retroactis temporibus usitata non obstante: ac magistris et operariis earundem indulgencias et privilegia talibus dari solita largiendi. Et insuper amortizandi terras, loca et redditus, libere aut sub financia que ad manum mortuam dantur ad presens, dabuntur successuris temporibus, vel eciam relinquentur. Nobilitandi eciam personas ignobiles, senescallos, judices, capitaneos, consules, tabelliones, publicos procuratores, receptores, et quoscumque officiarios alios creandi, instituendi et ponendi in singulis locis ducatus predicti et quando opus erit, institutos et positos officiarios < antedictos > amovendi, et < loco > amotorum alios subrogandi. Bannitos et criminosos quoslibet provinciarum predictarum, presentes, preteritos et futuros, ad statum, famam, et patriam, ac bona eorum quelibet mobilia et immobilia restituendi et revocandi: et plenam pardonacionem et remissionem de commissis et committendis criminibus in provinciis antedictis, etiam si propter ea fuerint ultimo supplicio condempnati seu condempnandi, et fuerint de provinciis alienis, concedendi, dandi, et faciendi. Eisdem quibuscumque civitatibus, castris, villis et locis, ecclesiis, ecclesiasticisque personis, monasteriis, collegiis, universitatibus et personis singularibus cujuscumque condicionis existant, privilegia, immunitates, franchesias, libertates et indulgentias perpetuas ac temporales quaslibet largiendi, et etiam concedendi: privilegiis per progenitores nostros patrie et subditis Aquitanie conjunctim vel divisim, ne a corona Anglie separari, aut extra manum regiam poni valeant, concessis non obstantibus, que revocare per presentem concessionem non intendimus, set dumtaxat suspendere usque ad terminum vite tue, et post tui obitum in suo robore perpetuo duratura esse volumus. Ita semper, quod immediate post mortem tuam idem ducatus cum omnibus et singulis premissis ad nos et heredes nostros integre revertantur. Datum sub magni sigilli nostri testimonio, in palacio nostro Westm', secundo die Martii, anno Domini millesimo trescentesimo octogesimo nono, et regni nostri terciodecimo. | Moreover, we will that you should not, at any time in your life, be able to give, alienate, or transfer in any way the castle and lordship of Fronsac to anyone whomsoever: indeed, we will them held and retained entirely in your hands, as annexed to the same duchy. And for the greater reinforcement of your name and honour, we give you particular authority and power to fashion, stamp, and make gold and silver money, and any other kind, and to change money made by you and already in circulation, or other whatsoever hereinafter, as often and in whatsoever way shall seem best to you, notwithstanding any custom practised to the contrary in past times: and to extend to the masters and wrights of the same such indulgences and privileges as are customary. And also to amortize lands, places, and rents, freely or upon terms which are given in mortmain at present, or shall be given in future, or even are relinquished. And also to ennoble persons of low birth, appointing, instituting, and installing stewards, judges, captains, consuls, notaries, public proctors, receivers, and other officials of any kind in all places of the aforesaid duchy and as need may be, and removing the aforesaid instituted and appointed officials, and assigning their posts to others. And to restore and recall present, past and future exiles and criminals whomsoever from the aforesaid provinces, to status, repute, and country, and their goods, whether moveable or immovable: and to grant, give, and effect full pardon and remission of crimes committed and to be committed in the aforesaid provinces, even if on account thereof they were or shall be condemned to death or should be of other provinces. And also to bestow and grant privileges, immunities, franchises, liberties and indulgences, perpetual and temporary of any kind to the same cities, castles, towns, and places, churches, ecclesiastical persons, monasteries, colleges, corporations, and individuals of whatsoever condition: notwithstanding privileges granted by our progenitors to the land and subjects of Aquitaine jointly or severally, which are not to be separated from the crown of England, or be taken out of the king's hands, which we do not intend to revoke by the present concession, but only to suspend for the term of your life, and willing them to remain in force forever after your death. Provided always that immediately upon your death the same duchy with each and every one of the aforesaid shall revert to us and our heirs. Given in witness of our great seal, in our palace of Westminster, 2 March, AD 1389, in the thirteenth year of our reign. |
| [memb. 8] | |
| 22. Et puis apres mon dit seignour le duc d'Acquitaign' fist homage pur le dit duche a nostre dit seignour le roy come au roi de France, et mercia humblement nostre dit seignour le roy, de ceo q'il luy avoit fait si grant honour. Endisant outre, et protestant q'il n'estoit pas en son entent n'en son poair de porter les charges necessairs et incumbentz a le dit duche d'Acquitaigne durantz les trieves ou guerre sanz eide de nostre dit seignour le roi et de son roialme, mes q'il voleit de bon coer despendre del soen, ensemblement ove l'eide de nostre dit seignour le roy et de son roialme, en supportacioun de les ditz charges, en [p. iii-264][col. a] manere come purra estre accorde parentre le conseille nostre dit seignour le roy et luy. Et dist outre qe sitost come il purroit avoir le dit duche en peisible possessioun, il voleit volunters porter les ditz charges a son poair. Et surce nostre seignour le roi disoit q'il savoit bien qe mon dit seignour d'Acquitaign' ne purroit porter les ditz charges durantz les trieves ou guerre, come desuis, et purceo il voleit qe les ditz charges feussent portez en manere come purra estre accorde parentre son conseille et mon dit seignour d'Acquitaign'. Et les communes soi assenterent en mesme la manere. | 22. And then my said lord the duke of Aquitaine did homage for the said duchy to our said lord the king as to the king of France, and humbly thanked our said lord the king that he did him such great honour. He said also and protested that he neither intended nor could bear the charges necessary and incumbent upon the said duchy of Aquitaine during the truces or war without the aid of our said lord the king and his kingdom, but that he would with a good will use his own means, together with the aid of our said lord the king and his kingdom, in support of the said charges, in [p. iii-264][col. a] such manner as could be agreed between the council of our said lord the king and himself. And he said further that as soon as he could have the said duchy in peaceable possession, he would willingly bear the said charges to the best of his ability. And thereupon, our lord the king said that he well knew that messire the lord of Aquitaine could not support the said charges during the truces or war, as said above, and for that reason he willed that the said charges be borne in such manner as could be agreed between his council and my said lord of Aquitaine. And the commons likewise agreed thereto. |
| < Creation del Roteland. > | Creation of Rutland. |
| 23. Le susdit second jour de Marcz, nostre seignour le roi fist son cousyn Edward, eisnez fitz del duc d'Everwyk, count de Rotelond en plein parlement, del assent de parlement; a avoir et tenir au dit Edward durante la vie de son dit pier. Et enoutre granta au dit < count, > del assent susdit, terres, tenementz, possessions, et rentes, a la value de oept centz marcz par an, en sustenance et encres de son dit estat, durante la vie de son dit pier, a avoir et tenir solonc le tenour de la chartre nostre dit seignour le roy a luy ent fait et baille par la mayn de nostre dit seignour le roi. De quelle chartre la tenour ensuit: | 23. On the aforesaid 2 March [1390), our lord the king made his cousin Edward, only son of the duke of York, earl of Rutland, in full parliament, with the assent of parliament; to have and to hold to the said Edward during the life of his said father. And further, he granted to the said earl, with the aforesaid assent, lands, tenements, possessions and rents to the value of eight hundred marks a year, for the sustenance and enhancement of his said estate, during the life of his said father, to have and to hold according to the tenor of the charter of our said lord the king issued and presented to him by the hand of our said lord the king. The tenor of which charter follows: |
| Ricardus, Dei gracia, rex Anglie et Francie, et dominus Hibernie, archiepiscopis, episcopis, abbatibus, prioribus, ducibus, comitibus, baronibus, justiciariis, vicecomitibus, prepositis, ministris, et omnibus ballivis et fidelibus suis, salutem. Sciatis quod cum decus principum et sublimium consistat in multitudine subditorum, et eo magis regale attollatur solium, et regni regimen roboretur, quo plures sibi subsint nobiles status et eminencie celciores; nos considerantes probitatem strenuam, propinquitatem et geminatam morum et generis claritatem carissimi consanguinei nostri Edwardi, primogeniti carissimi patrui nostri Edmundi ducis Eborum, de assensu prelatorum, ducum et < aliorum > procerum, ac communitatis regni nostri Anglie in instanti parliamento nostro apud Westm' convocato existencium, prefatum Edwardum consanguineum nostrum in comitem de Rutlond', cum titulo, stilo, ac nomine et honore eidem debitis, tenore presencium preficimus et creamus, ac inde presentialiter investimus, et gladio cingimus, prout decet: habendum et tenendum titulum, stilum, ac nomen et honorem predicta eidem Edwardo, durante vita dicti ducis patris sui. Et ut idem comes, juxta tanti nominis et honoris excellenciam, decentius et honorificencius et melius valeat incumbencia ipsius onera supportare, de assensu predicto concessimus prefato comiti, durante vita dicti patris sui, terras, tenementa, possessiones et redditus ad valorem octingentarum marcarum per annum. Et ei ea consideracione castrum, villam, et dominium de Okeham in comitatu Rutlond, cum tota foresta de Rutlond et omnibus ballivis ejusdem foreste, necnon officium vicecomitatus comitatus predicti, cum omnibus suis pertinenciis, dedimus et concessimus, una cum omnibus maneriis, villis, hamelettis, terris, tenementis et redditibus, serviciis, feodis militum, eciam homagiis, fidelitatibus, wardis, maritagiis, releviis, escaetis, forestis, chaceis, parcis, boscis, warennis, moris, mariscis, piscariis, pratis, pasturis, et molendinis, serviciis tam libere tenencium quam nativorum, feriis, mercatis, franchesiis, libertatibus, reversionibus, commoditatibus, emolumentis, et aliis proficuis quibuscumque, necnon omnibus aliis que ad dicta castrum et villas, dominium et officium pertinent, seu pertinere debent, adeo plenarie, libere, et integre, sicut comes de Norhampton ultimo defunctus illa habuit in vita sua, in valorem tante summe per annum ad quantam castrum, villa, dominium, foresta, ballive, [col. b] officium, et alia predicta vere annuatim extenduntur, vel extendentur, in partem satisfactionis octingentarum marcarum annuarum quas eidem comiti, ut premittitur, assignavimus per presentes. Habendum et tenendum ad terminum vite prefati ducis patris sui, in auxilium et incrementum status dicti Edwardi comitalis honorabilius manutenendi et sustentandi. Si vero dicta castrum, villa, dominium, foresta, ballive, officium, et alia predicta, valorem dictarum octingentarum marcarum per annum non attingant, volumus et concedimus quod predictus comes residuum octingentarum marcarum ultra annuum valorem predictam habeat et percipiat singulis annis ad scaccarium nostrum, durante vita dicti patris sui, ad terminos Pasche et Sancti Michaelis per equales porciones, quousque pro hujusmodi residuo sibi in terris et tenementis vel redditu assignand' duxerimus commode providend'. Ita semper, quod immediate post obitum ipsius patrui nostri, castrum, villa, et dominium predicta, cum omnibus ballivis ejusdem foreste, necnon officium vicecomitatus predicti cum omnibus suis pertinenciis, una cum omnibus maneriis, villis, hamelettis, terris, tenementis, feodis militum; ac etiam homagiis, releviis, escaetis, wardis, maritagiis, reversionibus, chaceis, parcis, warennis, serviciis liberorum tenencium et nativorum, emolumentis, et aliis proficuis predictis, simul cum residuo predicto, nobis et heredibus nostris integre revertantur. Hiis testibus, venerabilibus patribus W. Cantuar' archiepiscopo tocius Anglie primate, Thoma Ebor' archiepiscopo Anglie primate; R. London', W. Wynton' cancellario nostro; W. Dunolm'; J. Meneven' thesaurario nostro, episcopis; Johanne Lancastr', Edmundo Ebor', Thoma Gloucestr', ducibus, avunculis nostris carissimis; Henrico Derb', Ricardo Arundell', Willielmo Sarum, Johanne Huntyngdon', camerario nostro, comitibus; Johanne Devereux, senescallo hospicii nostri; magistro Edmundo Stafford, custode privati sigilii nostri, et aliis. Datum per manum nostram apud Westm' .xxv. die Februarii, anno regni nostri quartodecimo. | Richard, by grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to his archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, dukes, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, reeves, ministers, and all his bailiffs and faithful men, greeting. Know that since the honour of princes and the exalted consists in the multitude of subjects, and that royal power is the more elevated, and the government of the kingdom strengthened, where many of its subjects are noblemen of high status and eminence; we, considering the strenuous probity and the evident kinship and closeness in breeding and descent of our beloved kinsman Edward, first born of our beloved uncle Edmund duke of York, with the assent of the prelates, dukes and other nobles, and the commons of our kingdom of England attending our present parliament summoned at Westminster, do appoint and create the aforementioned Edward, our kinsman, earl of Rutland, with the title, style, name and honour owing to the same, and therewith do personally invest him and dub him with the sword, in due form: the aforesaid title, style, name and honour to be had and held by the same Edward during the life of the said duke his uncle. And so that the same earl, in keeping with the excellence of such a name and honour, should be able the better, more worthily and more honourably to meet the incumbent burdens, with the aforesaid consent we have granted to the aforementioned earl, during the life of his said father, lands, tenements, possessions and rents to a value of eight hundred marks a year, and to that end have given and granted to him the castle, town, and lordship of Oakham in Rutland, with all the forest of Rutland and all the bailiwicks of the same forest, and also the office of sheriff of the aforesaid county, with all its appurtenances, together with all the manors, towns, hamlets, lands, tenements and rents, services, knights' fees, and also the homages, fealties, wardships, marriages, reliefs, escheats, forests, chases, parks, woods, warrens, moors, marshes, fisheries, meadows, pastures and mills, services both of free and unfree tenants, fairs, markets, franchises, liberties, reversions, commodities, emoluments, and other profits whatsoever, and also all other things which pertain or should pertain to the said castle and towns, lordship and office, as fully, freely, and entirely as the earl of Northampton lately deceased held them in his life, to the value of the sum each year to which the castle, town, lordship, forest, bailiwick, [col. b] office, and other aforesaid things actually amounted, or ought to amount, in part satisfaction of the eight hundred marks a year which we have assigned to the same earl by the present documents, as said above; to have and to hold for the term of the life of the aforementioned duke his father, to aid and improve the more honourable maintenance and sustenance of the comital status of the said Edward. If indeed the said castle, town, lordship, forests, bailiwick, office, and other premises should not amount to the aforesaid eight hundred marks a year, we will and grant that the aforesaid earl shall have and receive the rest of the eight hundred marks beyond the aforesaid annual amount each year at our treasury, during the life of his said father, at the terms of Easter and Michaelmas [29 September] in equal portions, until we can suitably provide for him with the rest by assigning him lands and tenements or rents. Provided always that immediately upon the death of him our uncle, the aforesaid castle, town, and lordship, with all bailiwicks of the same forest, and also the office of sheriff aforesaid with all its appurtenances, together with all manors, towns, hamlets, lands, tenements, knights' fees, and also the homages, reliefs, escheats, wardships, marriages, reversions, chases, parks, warrens, services of free and unfree tenants, emoluments, and other aforesaid profits, together with the aforesaid residue, shall fully revert to us and our heirs. Witnessed by the venerable fathers William archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England, Thomas archbishop of York, primate of England; Robert of London, William of Winchester, our chancellor; Walter of Durham; John of St David's, our treasurer, bishops; John of Lancaster, Edmund of York, Thomas of Gloucester, dukes, our beloved uncles; Henry of Derby, Richard of Arundel, William of Salisbury, John of Huntingdon, our chamberlain, earls; John Devereux, steward of our household; Master Edmund Stafford, keeper of our privy seal, and others. Given by our hand at Westminster, 25 February, in the fourteenth [thirteenth] year of our reign [1390]. |
| Et puis le dit count fist homage a nostre dit seignour le roy pur le dit counte, come affiert. | And then the said earl did homage to our said lord the king for the said county, as pledged. |
| 24. L'ercevesqe de Canterbirs et l'ercevesqe d'Everwyk firent une protestation en plein parlement, en la forme q'ensuit: | 24. The archbishop of Canterbury and the archbishop of York made protestation in full parliament, in the following form: |
| In Dei nomine, Amen. Nos Willelmus permissione divina Cantuar' archiepiscopus, totius Anglie primas, et apostolice sedis legatus, et nos Thomas eadem permissione Ebor' archiepiscopus, Anglie primas, et apostolice sedis legatus, protestamur publice et expresse pro nobis et suffraganeis nostris ac toto clero nostrarum Cantuar' et Ebor' provinciarum, quod nolumus nec intendimus alicui statuto in presenti parliamento nunc noviter edito, nec antiquo pretenso innovato, quatenus statuta hujusmodi, seu eorum aliquod, in restrictionem potestatis apostolice, aut in subversionem, enervacionem, seu derogacionem, ecclesiastice libertatis tendere dinoscuntur, quomodolibet consentire, set eisdem dissentire, reclamare et contradicere, ac dissentimus, reclamamus, et contradicimus in hiis scriptis, prout semper dissensimus, reclamavimus et contradiximus temporibus retroactis. Et petimus quod hii nostri dissensus, protestacio, reclamacio, et contradiccio per clericum parliamenti irrotulentur, in fidem et testimonium eorundem. (fn. iii-257-79a-1) | In the name of God, Amen. We, William, by divine permission archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England and legate of the apostolic see, and we, Thomas, by the same permission archbishop of York, primate of England and legate of the apostolic see, do protest publicly and expressly on behalf of ourselves and our suffragans and all our clergy of the provinces of Canterbury and York that we do neither will nor intend to consent in any way to statutes in the present parliament newly decreed, nor renewed on ancient pretexts, which can be seen to strive after any restriction of apostolic power, or the subversion, weakening, or derogation of ecclesiastical liberty, but do dispute, oppose and contradict the same, and we do dispute, oppose and contradict them in these writings, as we have always disputed, opposed and contradicted them in times past. And we request that this our dissent, protest, opposition and contradiction be enrolled by the clerk of parliament, in faith and witness of the same. (fn. iii-257-79a-1) |
| La quelle protestacion fuist lieu overtement par comandement du roy en plein parlement, et al instance et priere des ditz ercevesqes, et des autres prelatz y esteantz, est enroullez ycy en roulle de parlement par comandement de nostre seignour le roy. | Which protestation was read aloud on the king's orders in full parliament, and at the instance and prayer of the said archbishops and the other prelates being there, it was enrolled here in the roll of parliament on the orders of our lord the king. |
| [memb. 7] | |
| [p. iii-265] | |
| LES PETICIONS DES COMMUNES, ET LES RESPONS A YCELLES. | THE PETITIONS OF THE COMMONS, AND THE ANSWERS TO THE SAME. |
| [col. a] | |
| Plese a tresexcellent et tresredoute seignour le roy, en supportation de ses povres communes graciousement granter les peticions souzescriptz: | May it please the most excellent and most redoubtable lord the king, in support of his poor commons, to graciously grant the petitions written below: |
| [Abuse of protections.] | [Abuse of protections.] |
| 25. < Protestacioun. > Priont les communes qe come proteccions q'ont este devant ces hures legerement grantez as diverses persones, en grant oppression et fraude de poeple, come de user lour proteccioun et demurer en pees en lour paiis, qe nulle proteccioun soit vaillable a nully, sinoun a ceux qi demuront en soulde ove le roy, ou lour capitain en marches ou parties de guerre; et q'il soit es ditz marches ou parties deinz un mois apres la date du dite proteccioun, sur peyne de perdre benefice du dite proteccioun. Et < qe > si trove soit devant le jugge ou tielle proteccioun serra allegge qe celuy qe auera benefice du dite proteccioun demoerge en pais en fraude et prejudice de partie, et purra estre trove par quatre ou sys gentz de foy dignes, eit le juge poair d'enquerre et procedre en la cause jesqes a fyn, nientcontresteant la proteccioun avantdite. Sauvant toutdis qe ceux qe irront es messages du roy ou de roialme hors de roialme, eient proteccioun durant le temps q'ils serront es ditz messages hors du < dit > roialme. | 25. Protestation. The commons pray that whereas protections which in the past have been granted readily to various persons, to the great oppression and defrauding of the people, because they have used their protection and remained in peace in their lands, that no protection be available to any unless he be retained by the king or the captains in marches or parts of war; and that he be in the said marches or parts within one month of the date of the said protection, on pain of losing the benefit of the said protection. And if it be found before the judge where such a protection is claimed that he who has the benefit of the said protection remains at home, to the fraud and prejudice of the party, and it be found to be so by four or six law-worthy men, then the judge shall have the power to enquire and proceed in the cause to its end, notwithstanding the aforesaid protection. Always saving that those who act as messengers of the king and kingdom outside the kingdom shall have protection during the time when they are carrying the said messages out of the kingdom. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet qe nulle proteccioun ove clause de Profecturus ne soit allowe en nulle plee, dont la suite soit comence devant la date de tiel proteccioun, si ce ne soit en viage en quelle le roi mesmes passe, ou autre viage roial, ou es messages du roi pur busoignes du roialme; mes facent tielx empledez lour attournes pur respondre pur eux en tielx plees, ou demoergent mesmes s'ils voillent. Mes n'est pas l'entencioun de cest estatut mesqe proteccioun ove clause Quia moraturus soit allowe en toutz cas, come ad este fait devant ces hures. Et si ascun demoerge en pais sanz aler a son service pur quel il soit retenuz, outre temps covenable apres q'il eit ascune proteccioun, ou repeire de mesme le service, et le chanceller soit ent duement enformez, face repeller tielx proteccions, come ad este fait devant ces hures. (fn. iii-257-88-1) | The king wills that no protection with the clause Quia profecturus shall be allowed in any plea of which the suit is begun before the date of such a protection, if it be not on an expedition in which the king himself journeys, or another royal expedition, or the messages of the king for the business of the kingdom; but let those impleaded make their attorneys answer for them in such pleas, or remain themselves if they wish. But the intent of this statute is only that the protection with the clause Quia moratur should be allowed in each case, as it has been in the past. And if anyone remains in the country without performing the service for which he is retained longer than the appropriate time after which he has received a protection, or withdraws from the same service, and the chancellor is thus duly informed, let him repeal such a protection, as has been done before this time. (fn. iii-257-88-1) |
| [Courts of the constable and the marshal.] | [Courts of the constable and the marshal.] |
| 26. < Court de constable et marshall. > Item, touchant la court de conestable et mareschalle, a cause q'il ad acroche a luy sibien contractz, covenances, trespasses, dettes, detenues, et autres accions pledables par la commune ley de la terre, a grant prejudice du roy et ses courtz, et grantz grevances de poeple du roialme; qe plese au roi d'ordeiner qe la dite court n'eit conissance de nulle maner de contract fait deinz le roialme d'Engleterre qe poet estre trie par la commune ley, < sinoun tansoulement des armes, qe ne poet estre trie par la commune loi. > Et qe le conestable du chastelle de Dovorr', ne nulle autre ministre illoeqes, tiegne nulle plee forein du counte de Kent al port du chastelle de Dovorr', qe ne touche la garde du dit chastelle, come ad este ordeine par estatut en temps des progenitours le roy. Et qeconqe tiegne plee a contraire, soit tenuz a paier a nostre seignour le roy vint livers, et al partie d'icelle greve vint marcz. Et qe chescun qe soi sent greve eit franchement sa suite par brief le roi, sibien pur le roy come pur luy mesmes. | 26. The court of the constable and marshal. Also, touching the court of the constable and marshal, because it has usurped for itself as well contracts, covenants, trespasses, debts and detinues, as other actions pleadable by the common law of the land, to the great prejudice of the king and his courts, and the great harm of the people of the kingdom; that it please the king to ordain that the said court shall not have cognizance of any kind of contract made within the kingdom of England which may be tried by the common law, unless solely concerning arms, which cannot be tried by the common law. And that neither the constable of the castle of Dover, nor any other minister there, shall hold any plea foreign to Kent at the gate of the castle of Dover which does not concern the guard of the said castle, as has been ordained by statute in the time of the king's progenitors. And whoever holds a plea to the contrary shall be bound to pay our lord the king twenty pounds, and to the aggrieved party in the same twenty marks. And that anyone who feels himself aggrieved shall have his suit freely by the king's writ, both for the king and for himself. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Al conestable appartient d'avoir conissance des contractz touchantz fait d'armes et de guerre hors du [col. b] roialme, et auxint des choses qe touchent armes ou guerre deinz le roialme, queux ne poent estre terminez ne discus par la commune ley, oue autres usages et custumes a ycelles matires appurtenantz, queux autres conestables devant ore ont duement et resonablement usez < en lour temps: > ajoustant a ycelle qe chescun pleintif declare pleinement sa matire en sa peticioun, avant qe soit envoie pur ascun homme a respondre a ycelle. Et si ascun soi voet pleindre q'ascun plee soit comence devant le conestable et mareschalle qe purroit estre trie par la commune ley de la terre, eit celle pleintif brief du prive seal du roy sanz difficulte, direct as ditz conestable et mareschalle de surseer en celle plee tanq'il soit discus par le conseille du roy si celle matire doit de droit appartiegner a celle court, ou autrement estre triez par la commune ley du roialme, et q'ils surseent en le meen temps. (fn. iii-257-93-1) | It pertains to the constable to have cognizance of contracts touching deeds of arms and war outside the [col. b] kingdom, and also of things which concern arms or war within the kingdom which cannot be settled or considered by the common law, with other usages and customs pertaining to the same matters, which others constables have duly and reasonably practised before now in their time: adding to the same that every plaintiff shall plainly state his case in his petition before it is sent to anyone to answer to the same. And if anyone wishes to complain that any plea has been begun before the constable and marshal which might be tried by the common law of the land, let that plaintiff have a writ of privy seal from the king without difficulty, directing the said constable and marshal to cease in the plea until it shall have been discussed by the king's council whether this matter ought by right to pertain to that court, or otherwise be tried by the common law of the realm, and that they surcease in the meantime. (fn. iii-257-93-1) |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Touchant le conestable de Dovorr', purce q'il touche l'enheritance du roy, le roy voet envoier pur les ministres du dite court, pur enformer luy et son conseille coment il ad este use d'auncien temps: et surce ordeiner bon et covenable remede par advys de son dit conseill la ou y busoigne. Et si ascun soi sente greve en especial, sue au roi et son conseille, et il auera bon et hastif remede. | Concerning the constable of Dover, because it touches the king's inheritance, the king wishes to send for the ministers of the said court, to inform him and his council how things were done in ancient times, and thereupon to ordain a good and suitable remedy by the advice of his said council wherever there be need. And if anyone feels particularly aggrieved, let him sue to the king and his council, and he shall have a good and speedy remedy. |
| [Badges of livery.] | [Badges of livery.] |
| 27. < Signes. > Item, quant as signes des seignours donez as diverses gentz, < les > communes soy pleindront au darrein parlement tenuz a Cantebr' qe les portours des ditz signes firent grantz oppressions et extorsions al commune poeple importables: sur quelle les ditz communes prierent au roi, d'ent avoir sufficeant remede, et surce demorerent finalment en jugement du parlement, quelle jugement est unqore a rendre. Nientmeyns, le roy et les seignours du < parlement > ont ordeinez tiel remede, c'estassavoir, qe nulle, de quelle estat ou condicioun q'il soit, portera nulle signe de seignour, s'il ne soit demorez envers mesme le seignour a terme de sa vie sibien pur la pees come pur la guerre, et ce par endentures ensealez desouz lour sealx sanz fraude ou mal engyne. Et touchant valetz et archiers, qe nully parmy tout le roialme d'Engleterre portera null signe sur luy de seignour, s'il ne soit mesnal demurant ovesqe luy en son hostiel par tout l'an entier. Sauvant toutdis, si le ordinance susdite ne soit due remede, qe les ditz communes purront demorer en lour auncien demoere de juggement jesqes al proschein parlement. | 27. Badges. Also, as to badges of lords given to various people, the commons complained at the last parliament held at Cambridge that the wearers of the said badges inflicted great and unbearable oppressions and extortions on the common people: whereupon the said commons prayed to the king that they might have a sufficient remedy, and thus they awaited the final judgment of parliament, which judgment is still to be made. Nevertheless the king and the lords of parliament have ordained such a remedy, namely that no one, of whatever estate or condition he may be, shall wear any lord's badge unless he stays with the same lord for the term of his life, both in peace and war, and that by indentures sealed under their seals without fraud or ill intent. And concerning valets and archers, that throughout the whole realm of England none of them shall wear any lord's badge unless he be a menial dwelling with him in his household for a whole year. Saving always, if the aforesaid ordinance does not provide a suitable remedy, that the said commons may remain with their ancient stay of judgment until the next parliament. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi s'avisera par son conseille, et ordeinera tiel remede come luy semblera meutz pur ease et quiete de son poeple. | The king will consider it further with his council, and ordain such a remedy as shall seem best to him for the peace and quiet of his people. |
| [Serjeants-at-arms.] | [Serjeants-at-arms.] |
| 28. < Sergeaunts d'armes. > Item, quant as sergeantz d'armes, par la ou en temps de voz nobles progenitours soleient estre vint et quatre sergeantz d'armes, parnantz gages acustumez a lour offices, et ceux furent esluz de pluis sufficeantz gentz de noun et de loialte qe purroient estre trovez; et ore de novel acru il y ad si grant multitude de eux qe parnont nulle gages, qe par colour de lour offices font grantz extorsions et oppressions al poeple. | 28. Serjeants-at-arms. Also, as to serjeants-at-arms, whereas in the time of your noble progenitors there used to be twenty-four serjants-at-arms, taking customary wages for their offices, and they were chosen from amongst the most sufficient people of name and loyalty who could be found; yet now, through a recent increase there is such a great multitude of them who take no wages, that by colour of their offices they carry out great extortions and oppression of the people. |
| Dont plese au roy ordeiner q'ils ne soient forsqe vint et quatre parnantz lour gages acustumez, et si ascun de [p. iii-266][col. a] eux face ascune extorsioun encontre ceste ordinance, q'il perde son office, et face fyn et ranceoun a volunte du roy. Et qe null soit si hardy de prendre le dit office outre le dit nombre, sur peyne d'emprisonement d'un an, et apres faire fyn et ranceoun a la volunte du roy. Et qe pleine execution soit ent faite deinz un moys apres cest parlement proschein ensuant. | Wherefore may it please the king to ordain that there be no more than twenty-four taking their customary wages, and if any of [p. iii-266][col. a] them commits any extortion contrary to this ordinance, he shall lose his office and make fine and ransom at the king's will. And that none be so bold as to take the said office above the said number, on pain of imprisonment for one year, and afterwards to make fine and ransom at the king's will. And that full execution be made thereof within a month of this parliament. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet q'ils soient trestoutz deschargez, et qe de eux et d'autres soient reprises bones et sufficeantz persones tanq'al nombre de trent, sanz pluis desore enavant. Et enoutre, le roi defende q'ils ne soy mellent de riens qe ne touche lour office, et q'ils ne facent nulle extorsioun ne oppressioun al poeple, sur peyne de perdre lour office, et de faire fyn et ranceoun a la volunte du roy, et plein gre a la partie. (fn. iii-257-107-1) | The king wills that they all be discharged, and that from amongst them and others there be reappointed henceforth good and sufficient persons up to the number of thirty, and no more. And further, the king prohibits them from interfering in anything which does not touch their office, and from inflicting extortion or oppression upon the people, on pain of losing their office and making fine and ransom at the king's will, and full compensation to the party. (fn. iii-257-107-1) |
| [Suits of livery.] | [Suits of livery.] |
| 29. < Lyveries. > Item, quant as liverees des draps, les communes priont qe nulle seignour temporel ne espirituel, ne nulle autre de meindre estat de quelle condicioun q'il soit, donne livere a nully, sinoun a ses familiers de son hostelle, ses parentz et alliez, ses seneschalle, son conseille, ou a ses baillifs de lour manoirs. Et auxint, qe nulle livere soit done par colour de gilde, fraternite ne nulle autre associacioun, sibien des gentils et valetz, ne des communes, mes soient toutz mys ius deinz dimy moys proschein ensuant apres cest parlement. Et si ascun preigne livere encontre ceste ordinance, eit prisone d'un an sanz redempcioun: et outre ce, les ditz gildes et fraternitees perdent lour franchises, et ceux gildes et fraternitees qe n'ount poynt de franchise, sur peyne de perdre cent livers au roy. Et qe proclamacioun ent soit faite parmy toutz les burghes et villes deinz le roialme, et ce ove tout le hast qe purra bonement estre fait. Et qe nulle mestier doigne livere a nully encontre ceste ordinance, sur peyne de cent livers appaiers au roy. | 29. Liveries. Also, as to liveries of cloth, the commons pray that no lord temporal or spiritual, or any other of lesser estate, of whatever condition he may be, shall give a livery to anyone, unless to his familiars of his household, his kin and allies, his steward, his council, or his bailiffs on their manors. And also, that no livery be given by colour of gild, fraternity, nor any other association, as well of nobles and valets as of commons, but be altogether withdrawn within half a month of this parliament. And if anyone takes a livery contrary to this ordinance, let him be imprisoned for a year without redemption: and further, the said gilds and fraternities shall lose their franchise, and those gilds and fraternities which have no franchise shall forfeit a hundred pounds to the king. And that proclamation be made thereon throughout all the boroughs and towns in the kingdom, and that as soon as it can be done. And that no master give livery to anyone contrary to this ordinance, on pain of paying a hundred pounds to the king. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy s'avisera par son conseill, et ordeinera tielle remede come luy semblera meutz pur ease et quiete de son poeple. (fn. iii-257-112-1) | The king will consider it further with his council, and ordain such remedy as shall seem to him best for the ease and quiet of his people. (fn. iii-257-112-1) |
| [The chancellor anmd others not to make ordinances against the common law.] | [The chancellor and others not to make ordinances against the common law.] |
| 30. Item, priont les communes qe le chanceller, ne le conseille du roy, apres le parlement finy facent nulle ordinance encontre la commune ley, ne les aunciens custumes de la terre, et estatutz devant ces hures ordeinez, ou a ordeigner en cest present parlement: einz courge la commune ley a tout le poeple universel. Et qe nulle juggement renduz soit adnulle sanz due proces du ley. | 30. The chancellor. Also, the commons pray that neither the chancellor nor the king's council after the end of parliament shall make any ordinance contrary to the common law, nor to the ancient customs of the land and statutes ordained in the past or to be ordained in this parliament: but that the common law shall run for all people. And that no judgment rendered shall be annulled without due process of law. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Soit use come ad este use devant ces hures, issint qe la regalie du roi soit sauve. Et si ascun soi sente greve, monstre en especial, et droit luy serra fait. | Let it be done as it has been done in the past, so the regality of the king be saved. And if anyone feels aggrieved, let him show his cause and right will be done him. |
| [Farm of the shires.] | [Farm of the shires.] |
| 31. < Viscountes. > Item, monstrent les communes a lour trespuissant et tresgracious seignour le roi qe come ils eient suez a lour dit tresgracious seignour le roy par lour commune peticioun en son parlement tenuz a Cantebr', monstrantz illoeqes, coment diverses viscontz del roialme sont chargez sur lour accomptz en l'escheqer nostre dit seignour le roy, et auxint a lour profres en mesme l'escheqer, de trope grantz et outrageouses fermes, profitz, serjanties et aunciens incrementz de lour contees, come piert en la grant roulle en le dit escheqer, outre les sommes q'ils purront receivre ou prendre de ycelles au temps present en les avantditz countees, a grant anientissement et destruccioun de ses ditz communes: a quelle peticioun fuist responduz en le dit parlement qe le conseille nostre dit seignour le roy deussent avoir sufficeante poair de faire grace et pardoun a ceux qe lour sembleroit affaire par lour bone discrecioun. Et apres ce le roy voleit estre enforme de la cause de les ditz perdes en son proschein parlement, et ent ordeiner covenable [col. b] remede. | 31. Sheriffs. Also, the commons show to their most powerful and most gracious lord the king that whereas they sued to their said most gracious lord the king their common petition in his parliament held at Cambridge, explaining there that various sheriffs of the realm were charged on their accounts in the exchequer of our said lord the king, and also at their proffers in the same exchequer, with very great and outrageous farms, profits, serjeanties, and ancient increments of their counties, as appeared in the great roll in the said exchequer, over and above the sums which they could receive or take from the same at that time in the aforesaid counties, to the great injury and destruction of the said commons: to which petition it was answered in the said parliament that the council of our said lord the king ought to have sufficient power to do grace and pardon to those whom they choose at their good discretion. And after that the king would be informed of the reason for the said losses in his next parliament, and ordain a suitable [col. b] remedy thereon. |
| Qe plese a nostre dit trespuissant et tresgracious seignour le roy en cest parlement granter a ses ditz communes, sanz autre pursuite, qe les ditz viscontz des countees du dit roialme qe pur le temps serront soient deschargez en le dit escheqer sur lour accomptz et profres par lour serement, ou par averrement du paiis, de ce q'ils serront chargez en temps avenir, outre les fermes et autres profitz q'ils purront prendre resonablement: et qe les barons du dit escheqer eient poair, sanz brief ou autre mandement de nostre dit seignour le roy, a ent descharger les ditz viscontz, par lour serementz, ou par averrementz, de lour ditz outrageouses charges; et soient allowez pur lour travaille et coustages, eiant consideracioun, tresgracious seignour, qe diverses fermes, franchises, wapentakes, hundredes, rapes et offices, qe soleient d'auncien temps estre parcelle des ditz fermes et profitz des diverses countees del dit roialme, sont grantez par vous, et par voz nobles progenitours, as diverses seignours et autres du dit roialme. | May it please our said most powerful and gracious lord the king in this parliament to grant to the said commons, without further suit, that the said sheriffs of the counties of the said realm who shall then be in office be discharged in the said exchequer on their accounts and proffers by their oath, or by averment of their county, of that with which they will be charged in future, over and above the farms and other profits which they can reasonably take: and that the barons of the said exchequer shall have the power, without writ or other mandate of our said lord the king, to discharge the said sheriffs thereof, by their oaths, or by averment, of their said outrageous charges, and that they have allowance for their labour and expenses; considering, most gracious lord, that various farms, franchises, wapentakes, hundreds, rapes and offices which used in ancient times to be parcel of the said farms and profits of various counties of the said realm have been granted by you, and by your noble progenitors, to various lords and others of the said realm. |
| [memb. 6] | |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet q'il soit vieu et examine par son conseille, combien il et ses progenitours ont disseverez et donez hors del corps des countees. Et qe surce le dit conseille face allowance as ditz viscontz par lour bone discrecioun, par ensy q'ils ne lessent nulle baillie a ferme, mes q'ils les tiegnent en lour meyns propres, et levent les issues et profitz des dites baillies en manere come fuist fait en auncien temps, sanz extorsioun faire au poeple. (fn. iii-257-123-1) | The king wills that his council examine and enquire how he and his progenitors have detached and granted land out of the body of the counties. And that thereupon the said council shall make allowance for the said sheriffs at their good discretion, so that they shall not lease any bailiwick at farm, but hold them in their own hands, and levy the issues and profits of the said bailiwicks as it was done in ancient times, without subjecting the people to extortion. (fn. iii-257-123-1) |
| [Provisors.] | [Provisors.] |
| 32. < La court de Rome. > Item, prient les communes qe come en temps de diverses progenitours nostre seignour le roy, en salvacioun de son droit et sa dignite roiale, et les droitures de ses liges, et loys de son roialme, pur diverses intollerables meschiefs qe sont avenuz par provisions de la court de Rome, sibien < des erceveschees, > eveschees, abbeies, priories, deanees, arcedeakenies, parsonages, vicaries, prebendes, chapelles, offices, et autres benefices de seinte esglise, del avowerie ou patronage nostre seignour le roy et de ses auncestres, en ascune esglise cathedrale, collegiale, ou ascune autre esglise, chanterie, ou office annexe, de qeconqe avowerie ceo soit, tielx provisions sont defenduz: et sur certeines peynes en les estatutz et ordinances faitz, sibien en temps < de vostre tresnoble aiel Edward [III], > qe Dieux assoille, come en temps de Edward [I] son aiel, l'apport del tresor du dit roialme vers la court de Rome a cause de tielx provisions et novels reservations, come en les ditz estatutz est contenuz plus au plein. (fn. iii-257-125-1) Et noun obstantz les defens et peynes es ditz estatutz, ne les redde proces en ycelles contenuz, cestes jours pluis sovent curront tielx provisions et viegnent qe ne soleient devant les ditz peines ou processes es ditz estatutz limitez. | 32. The court of Rome. Also, the commons pray that whereas in the time of various progenitors of our lord the king, in salvation of his right and royal dignity and the rights of his lieges and the laws of his kingdom, because of various intolerable troubles which arose through provisions of the court of Rome, as well of archbishoprics, bishoprics, abbacies, priorates, deaneries, archdeaconries, parsonages, vicarages, prebends, chapels, offices, as other benefices of holy church, of the advowson and patronage of our lord the king and his ancestors, in any cathedral or collegiate church, or any other church, chantry, or annexed office, of whatsoever advowson it be, such provisions were forbidden: and on certain penalties specified in the said statutes and ordinances, both in the time of your most noble grandfather Edward [III], whom God absolve, and in the time of Edward [I] his grandfather, concerning the taking of wealth from the said kingdom to the court of Rome by such provisions and novel reservations, as appears more fully in the said statutes. (fn. iii-257-125-1) Yet notwithstanding the prohibition and penalties in the said statutes, nor the strict process contained in the same, such provisions are more common these days than they used to be before the said penalties or process specified in the said statutes. |
| Par quoy plese a nostre seignour le roy ordeiner et establer en cest present parlement qe chescun tiel provisour qe serra en temps avenir de ercevesche, eveschee, abbeies, priories, esglises, prebendes, vicaries, et autres benefices de seinte esglise, ou ascunes translacions par provisions d'erceveschees, eveschees, etc., ou novelle reservacioun des dignitees, benefices, ou offices qeconqes, encourge la peyne en les ditz estatutz contenuz, et par mesme le proces convict, sibien al suite nostre seignour le roy come al suite de chescuny autre qe pleindre soi voudra. Ajoustantz a mesmes les peines qe chescuny de tiel provisour, notoirment diffame, ou endite, ou convict en la forme en les ditz estatutz contenuz, soit ajugge come enemy nostre seignour le roy, traitour et subversour de ses leyes; et forface come traitour vers nostre seignour le roy, et eit juggement de vie et de membre. Et si ercevesqe, evesqe ou abbe de ce soient convictz, soient mys en exil perpetuel sanz estre reconseillez, et ses temporaltees seisez es mayns le roy tanqe un autre soit cree en ycelle par eleccioun du chapitre ou covent de mesme le lieu. Et si autre persone [p. iii-267][col. a] le face qe prelat, soit le dit juggement envers luy renduz et mys en execucioun: et soit tiel conviccioun ou atteindre envers luy par brief de premunicioun, come est ordeine et establi devant ces hures. Issint purveuz toutfoitz qe par nulle traite ou composicioun affaire parentre le seint pere le pape et nostre seignour le roy, qe riens soit fait a contraire, en prejudice de cest estatut affaire. Et si ascun seignour espirituel < ou temporell, > ou ascune persone qeconqe de quelle condicioun q'il soit, enforme, ensence, ou excite, le roi ou ses heirs d'anientiser, adnuller, ou repeller cest estatut affaire, et de ceo soit atteint par due proces du loy, qe le seignour espirituel eit la peyne susdite, et seignour temporel forface son heritage, et ses biens et chateux au roy a toutz jours. Et si ascune autre persone du roialme de ce soit atteint, soit fait de luy come de feloun. Et si ascun seignour espirituel ou temporel, ou autre persone d'estat qeconqe, envoie lettre a ascun chapitre, ou covent, ou autre chose face ou procure estre faite, en destourbance de frank election en ascune manere, encourge la darreine peyne susdite. Et le chanceller qe pur le temps serra, a quelle hure qe pleint a luy ou a conseille le roy soit fait d'ascunes des articles susditz, par ascune persone qe pleindre soy voudra, grantra briefs sur le cas, ou commissions affaire as covenables persones, d'oier et terminer les ditz articles, sur peyne de perdre son office, et james estre mys en office le roy, et perdre mille livres a lever al oeps le roy, si de ce soit atteint par due proces. Et executours, et subexecutours, notairs ou procuratours de tielx provisions, eient juggement de vie et de membre, et forfaiture des teres et tenementz, biens et chateux: et eit le seignour de fee le eschete de tielx forfaitures. Et fautours, abbettours, conseillours, meyntenours et aidours, encourgent la peyne en l'estatut en temps le roy Edward [III] aiel, etc. | Wherefore may it please our lord the king to ordain and decree in this present parliament that any such future provisor of archbishoprics, bishoprics, abbacies, priorates, churches, prebends, vicarages and other benefices of the holy churches, or any translations by provision of archbishoprics, bishoprics, etc., or novel reservation of dignities, benefices, or offices whatsoever shall incur the penalty contained in the said statutes, and by the same process be convicted, as well at the suit of our lord the king as of anyone who wishes to complain. Adding to the same the penalties that every such provisor, openly defamed, indicted or convicted in the form contained in the said statutes, shall be adjudged an enemy of our lord the king, a traitor and a subverter of his laws; and he shall forfeit as a traitor to our lord the king, and have judgment of life and limb. And if an archbishop, bishop or abbot be so convicted, that he be exiled forever without being reconciled, and his temporalities taken into the king's hands until another be appointed to the same by the election of the chapter or convent of the same place. And if a person other than [p. iii-267][col. a] prelate acts thus, that the said judgment shall be rendered against him and put into execution: and let such a conviction or attainder against him be by writ of praemunire, as ordained and decreed before this time. Provided always that nothing be done to the contrary by any treaty or composition to be made between the holy father the pope and our lord the king, to the prejudice of this statute to be made. And if any lord spiritual or temporal, or any other person of whatsoever condition he may be, advises, assents, or incites the king or his heirs to undo, annul or repeal this statute to be made, and is so convicted by due process of the law, that the lord spiritual shall suffer the aforesaid penalty, and the lord temporal shall forfeit his inheritance and his goods and chattels to the king forever. And if any person of the kingdom be thus convicted, that he be treated as a felon. And if any lord spiritual or temporal, or any person of whatever status, sends a letter to any chapter or convent, or does anything or causes anything to be done which disturbs free election in any way, that he shall incur the last penalty aforesaid. And the chancellor at the time, as soon as complaint is made to him or to the king's council concerning any of the aforesaid articles by any person wishing to complain, shall grant writs on the case, or commissions to be made to suitable persons, to hear and settle the said articles, on pain of losing his office, and never being appointed to a king's office, and losing a thousand pounds to be levied for the king's use, if he be so convicted by due process. And executors and sub-executors, notaries or proctors of such provisions, shall have judgment of life and limb, and forfeiture of lands and tenements, goods and chattels: and the lord shall have the fee for the escheat of such forfeitures. And supporters, abettors, councillors, maintainers and aiders, shall incur the penalty in the statute in the time of King Edward [III] the grandfather, etc. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet qe de toutz erceveschees, eveschees, et autres dignitees et benefices electives, et autres benefices de seinte esglise qeconqes, qe comencerent d'estre voides de fait le vint et noefisme jour de Janver, [...] l'an du regne nostre dit seignour le roy Richard treszisme, ou puis, ou qe soi voideront en temps avenir deinz le roialme d'Engleterre, le dit estatut fait l'an vint et quint (fn. iii-257-129-1) soit fermement tenuz pur toutz jours, et mys en due execucioun de temps en temps a toutz pointz. Et si ascun face ascune acceptacioun d'ascun benefice de seinte esglise a contraire de cest estatut, et ce duement prove, et soit depar dela, demoerge exile et banniz hors du roialme pur toutz jours, et ses terres et tenementz, biens et chateux forfaitz au roy; et s'il soit deinz le roialme, soit auxi exile et banny, come devant est dit, et encourge mesme la forfaiture, et preigne son chymyn issint q'il soit hors du roialme deinz sys symaignes proscheins apres tielx acceptacions. Et si ascun recette ascun tiel banny venant depar dela, ou esteant deinz le roialme apres les sys symaignes avantditz, conissant de ceo, soit auxint exile et banny, et encourge autiele forfaiture come devant est dit. Et qe lour procuratours, notairs, executours et < somenours, > eient la forfaiture et peyne susdites. Purveu nepurqant qe toutz yceux as queux nostre seint pier le pape, ou ses predecessours, ont purveu ascun arcevesche, evesche, ou autres dignitees ou benefices electives, ou autre benefice de seinte esglise del patronage de gentz de seinte esglise, a cause de voidance devant le dit vint et noefisme jour de Janver, et ent furent en corporel posessioun devant mesme le vint et noefisme jour, eient et enjoient lour ditz erceveschees, eveschees, dignitees et benefices, peisiblement pur lour vies, nient contresteantz les estatutz et ordinances avantditz. Et si le roy envoye, par lettre ou en autre manere, a la court de Rome al excitacioun d'ascune persone, ou si ascun autre envoie ou prie en mesme la court, paront < qe > le contraire de cest estatut soit fait touchant ascun [col. b] ercevesche, evesche, dignite, ou autre benefice de seinte esglise < deinz le roialme, si celui qe fait tielle excitacioun ou tielle priere soit prelat de seinte esglise, > paie au roy la value de ses temporaltees d'un an: et s'il soit seignour temporel, paie au roy la value de ses terres et possessions nient moebles d'un an: et s'il soit autre persone d'estat plus bas, paie au roy la value du benefice pur quelle tiel priere soit faite, et eit la prisone d'un an. Et est l'entencioun de cest estatut qe de toutz dignitees et benefices de seinte esglise, q'estoient voides de fait le < dit > vint et noefisme jour de Janver, queux sont donez, ou a queux soit purveuz par l'apostoille devant mesme le vint et noefisme jour, qe ceux as queux tiels douns ou provisions soient faitz, puissent franchement de tiels douns et provisions suer execucioun, sanz offense de cest estatut; purveu toutfoitz qe de nulle dignite ou benefice q'estoit plein le dit vint et noefisme jour de Janver, nulle, a cause d'ascun doun, collacioun, reservacioun, et provisioun, ou autre grace de l'appostoille qeconqe, nient execut devant le dit vint et noefisme jour, ne sue ent execucioun, sur les peynes contenuz en cest present estatut. (fn. iii-257-129-2) | The king wills that for all archbishoprics, bishoprics, and other dignities and elective benefices, and other benefices of holy church whatsoever which have fallen vacant from 29 January in the thirteenth year of the reign of our said lord King Richard [1390], or later, or which shall fall vacant in time to come in the said kingdom of England, the said statute made in the twenty-fifth year (fn. iii-257-129-1) shall be firmly upheld for ever, and duly executed from time to time in all respects. And if anyone accepts any benefice of holy church in defiance of this statute, and it be duly proved, and he be overseas, let him remain in exile and banished from the realm forever, and let his lands and tenements, goods and chattels be forfeit to the king; and if he be within the kingdom, let him also be exiled and banished, as said above, and incur the same forfeiture, and take his departure so that he leaves the kingdom within six weeks of such an acceptance. And if anyone receives any such exile going overseas, or knows him to be within the kingdom after the aforesaid six weeks, in full knowledge thereof, let him also be exiled and banished, and incur such forfeiture as is given above. And that their proctors, notaries, executors and summoners shall suffer the aforesaid forfeiture and penalty. Provided nevertheless that all those to whom our holy father the pope or his predecessors provided any archbishopric, bishopric or other dignities or elective benefices, or other benefice of holy church of the patronage of the people of holy church, because of vacancy before the said 29 January [1390], and who were in corporal possession thereof before the same twenty-ninth day, shall have and enjoy their said archbishoprics, bishoprics, dignities and benefices peaceably for the course of their lives, notwithstanding the aforesaid statutes and ordinances. And if the king should send by letter or in any other way to the court of Rome at the instigation of another person, or if someone sends to or makes a request in the same court, by which anything contrary to this statute is done touching any [col. b] archbishopric, bishopric, dignity or other benefice of holy church within the kingdom, if he who so instigates or makes such request be a prelate of holy church, let him pay the king the annual value of his temporalities: and if he be a lord temporal, let him pay the king the annual value of his lands and possessions immovable: and if he be of lower status, let him pay the king the value of the benefice for which such a request was made and be imprisoned for a year. And it is the intention of this statute concerning all dignities and benefices of holy church which were indeed vacant on the said 29 January [1390], which were given, or to which provision was made by the pope before the same twenty-ninth, that those to whom such gifts or provisions were made shall be free to sue for execution of such gifts and provisions without offence to this statute; provided always that no one sues for execution of any dignity or benefice which was occupied on the said 29 January [1390] because of any gift, collation, reservation and provision, or other apostolic grace whatsoever unexecuted before the said twenty-ninth day, upon pain of the penalties contained in this present statute. (fn. iii-257-129-2) |
| [Abuse of writ Quibusdam certis de causis.] | [Abuse of writ Quibusdam certis de causis.] |
| 33. < Briefs Quibusdam certis de causis. > Item, prient les communes qe al suite de partie, ne al suggestioun, nulle des liges du roy soit fait venir par brief Quibusdam certis de causis, ne par nulle autre tiel brief, devant le chanceller, ou le conseille le roy, de respondre d'ascune manere dont recoverer est done par < la commune > ley, s'il ne soit par brief de scire facias, la ou il est fonde par la commune ley, ou autrement par estatut, sur peyne a le chanceller de cent livers, a lever al oeps le roi; et le clerc qe escrivera le brief, de perdre son office en la chancellerie, sanz jammes estre restitutz a ascun office en la chancellerie suisdite. | 33. Writs Quibusdam certis de causis. Also, the commons pray that none of the king's lieges be made to appear by writ of Quibusdam certis de causis either at the suit of party, or by suggestion, or by any other such writ, before the chancellor or the king's council, to answer in any way where recovery is given by the common law, if it be not by writ of scire facias, where it is founded on the common law or otherwise by statute; upon pain of the chancellor paying a hundred pounds to be levied for the king's use, and the clerk who shall write the writ of losing his office in the chancery, without ever being restored to any office in the aforesaid chancery. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet sauver sa regalie, come ses progenitours ont faitz devant luy. | The king wills it saving his regality, as his progenitors have done before him. |
| [Verge of the courts of the steward and the marshal.] | [Verge of the courts of the steward and the marshal.] |
| 34. < Jurisdictioun de seneschalle et mareshalle. > Item, priont les communes qe toutz les ordinances faites en temps les progenitours nostre seignour le roy, touchant la jurisdiccioun de seneschalle et mareschalle del hostielle nostre seignour le roy, soient affermez et tenuz pur estatut en cest present parlement: et qe les ditz seneschalle et mareschalle ne trahent nulle homme des liges du roy encontre la forme des articles en les dites ordenances contenuz, sur peyne < de perdre lour > offices < a touz jours, > et perdre qarrant livers au roy, a lever al oeps du roy, et sanz pardon ent avoir, et vint livers a la partie qe soy sente greve. | 34. The jurisdiction of the steward and marshal. Also, the commons pray that all the ordinances made in the time of the progenitors of our lord the king touching the jurisdiction of the steward and marshal of the household of our lord the king be affirmed and upheld as a statute in this present parliament: and that the said steward and marshal shall not treat any of the king's lieges contrary to the form of the articles contained in the said ordinances, on pain of losing their offices forever and paying forty pounds to the king, to be levied for the king's use, and without receiving pardon thereof, and twenty pounds to the party which feels himself aggrieved. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet qe la court del seneschalle et mareschalle del hostelle du roi, ne la jurisdiccioun d'icelle, ne passe l'espace de dousze lewes, a counters entour le tenelle du roy. (fn. iii-257-139-1) | The king wills that neither the court of the steward and marshal of the king's household, nor the jurisdiction of the same, shall extend beyond twelve-miles distance from the king's lodging. (fn. iii-257-139-1) |
| [The clerk of the market: weights and measures.] | [The clerk of the market: weights and measures.] |
| 35. < Clerke du merkett. > Item, prie la commune, come le clerc del market del hostelle le roy prent es villes, marchees et aillours, sibien hors la verge come dedeinz, fyns, ranceons pur fauxes mesures, et nulle correccioun ne mette en eide del commune poeple, soit defenduz tielx fines pur fauxces mesures et pondures; mes soient les ditz mesures ars, et les pondures forfaitz, sanz redempcioun ou fyn affaire. Et les mesusantz, come hostellers, taverners, pistours, braceours, tapestours et autres qeconqes qe vendent par mesure ou pois, corporelment puniz. C'estassavoir, al primer foitz q'il serra convict, par dousze jours en prisoun; et al second foitz, par vynt et quatre jours; et a tierce foitz q'il fait defaut, soit envoie a la pillorie par trois jours marchees, si marche ou pillorie soit en mesme la ville: et sinoun, soit amesne al proscheine ville ou marche ou pillorie est, et chescun jour par une heure pur les ditz peynes [p. iii-268][col. a] avoir, sanz redempcioun avoir des dites peynes, et nientmeyns soit agarde a la prisoun, et reint a la volunte le roy. Et si le clerc du market, ou ses deputees, facent riens a contraire des ditz articles, encourge la peyne de vint livers; et dont celuy qe soi sente greve, ou ascune autre persone qe voudra suir devers le dit clerc ou ses deputees, de lour atteindre devant les justices de l'un bank ou de l'autre, ou les justices d'assises, auera la moite, et le roi l'autre moite. Et le dit clerc et ses deputees oustez de lour offices pur toutz jours. | 35. The clerk of the market. Also, the commons pray that - whereas the clerk of the market of the king's household takes fines and ransoms for false measures in towns, markets, and elsewhere both within and without the verge, with no remedy provided to help the common people - that such fines for false measures and weights be prohibited; but let the said measures be burnt, and the weights forfeited, without redemption or fine made. And that the abusers, such as inn-keepers, taverners, bakers, brewers, tapsters and others who sell by measure or weight be corporally punished. That is to say, on his first conviction, by twelve days in prison; and on the second occasion, by twenty-four days; and the third time he is at fault, that he be sent to the pillory for three market-days, if there be a market or pillory in the same town: and if not, that he be taken to the next town where there is a market or pillory, and to suffer the said penalties every day for one hour, [p. iii-268][col. a] without being relieved from the said penalties, and that nevertheless he be sent to prison, to remain there at the king's will. And if the clerk of the market, or his deputies, do anything contrary to the said articles, that they shall incur the penalty of twenty pounds; of which anyone who feels himself injured, or anyone who wishes to sue the said clerk or his deputies, to convict them before the justices of either bench or the justices of the assizes, shall have a half, and the king the other half. And that the said clerk and his deputies shall be ousted from their offices forever. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet qe le clerc del marche del hostelle nostre seignour le roy face bien et duement son office, et qe toutz fauxces mesures et pois soient ars solonc la forme del estatut, et qe le dit clerc ne preigne nulle commune fyn, mes qe chescune persone q'est trove en defaut tochant le dit office soit puniz solonc son desert. Et q'il ne chivache mes ove sis chivalx au pluis, et q'il ne demoerge en nulle ville n'autre lieu, plus qe la necessite de son fait demande. Et s'il face riens a contraire de cest estatut, et ent soit duement convict, paie au roy al primer foitz q'il serra issint convict cent souldz, et al second foitz dis livers, et al tierce foitz vynt livers. (fn. iii-257-144-1) | The king wills that the clerk of the market of the household of our lord the king shall well and duly perform his office, and that all false measures and weights shall be burned according to the form of the statute, and that the said clerk shall take no common fine, but that anyone found at fault touching the said office shall be punished according to his deserts. And that he shall not ride with more than six horses, and that he shall not stay in any town or other place longer than need be. And if he should do anything contrary to this statute and is duly convicted thereof, that he shall pay the king a hundred shillings the first time he is convicted, ten pounds on the second occasion, and twenty pounds on the third. (fn. iii-257-144-1) |
| [memb. 5] | |
| [Pardon for murders, etc.] | [Pardon for murders, etc.] |
| 36. < Charters de pardoun. > Item, touchant chartres de pardoun de murdre, tresoun et rape de femme, qe ount este trop legerement grauntez devant ces heures, a graunt confort de toutz malefesours, prient les communes, qe desore en avant nul chartre de pardon pur tresoun, murdre, ou rape de femme soit graunte a nully, al instaunce ou requeste de nulle persone. Et si nulle ercevesqe ou duc demaunde ascun tiel chartre de roy, ou face demaundre pur ascune persone present ou absent, paie a roy .m.li. Et chescun evesqe ou count qe ascun tiel chartre demaunde de roy, paie a roy .m. marcz; abbe, prior, baroun ou baneret, .d. c marcz; clerk, bacheler et chescun autre de meyndre estate, de quele estate ou condicioun q'il soit, qe ascun tiel chartre demaunde ou face demaundre du roy, paie a roy .cc. marcz, et eit prison d'un an. Et si ascun des estates susditz demaundent ou facent demaunder ascune chartre de felonie, ou mort de homme, et apres soit prove tresoun ou murdre, encourgent la peyne susdite, chescune solonqe son estate. Et qe nul pardoun soit fait as ascunes des persones avantditz de les ditz summes; et qe les autres de meyndre estate eient la prisone susdite sanz redempcioun. Et outre ceo, qe tiel chartre, si ascun y soit graunte, soit de nulle value; et celuy qe l'ad, encurge la peyne sur luy de commune ley, non obstant la dite chartre. Et soient chargez le chaumberleyn et souz-chamberleyn, le chamberleyn sur peyne de .m. marcz, l'outre sur peyne de .d. c marcz. Et en chescun bille endosse et enseale desouz le signet et envoye al gardeyn de prive seal soit mys le noun de celuy qe demaunde la chartre: et qe nul chartre passe le chaunceller sanz garrant de prive seal. Et qe chescun justice parmy le roialme en son paiis, devant qi ascun chartre de pardoun serra allegge, serche les rolles de enditement; et si trove soit en les ditz enditementz q'il est murdre, tresoun ou rapes de femme, soit la chartre tenuz pur nulle. | 36. Charters of pardon. Also, concerning charters of pardon of murder, treason and rape of women, which have been granted too readily in the past, to the great comfort of all malefactors, the commons pray that henceforth no charter of pardon for treason, murder, or rape of women shall be granted to anyone at the instance or request of anyone. And if any archbishop or duke asks for such a charter of the king, or causes it to be requested for any person present or absent, that he shall pay the king £1000. And that every bishop or earl who asks for such a charter of the king shall pay the king a thousand marks; abbot, prior, baron, or banneret, five hundred marks; clerk, gentleman, and every other of lesser estate, of whatsoever estate or condition he be, who asks for such a charter or causes it to be asked of the king, that he shall pay the king two hundred marks and be imprisoned for a year. And if any of the aforesaid estates ask or cause to be sought any charter of felony or murder, and it is afterwards proven treason or murder, let them incur the aforesaid penalty, each according to his estate. And that no pardon of the said sums shall be granted to any of the aforesaid persons; and that the others of lesser estate shall suffer the aforesaid imprisonment without redemption. And further, that such a charter, if any be granted, shall be invalid; and whosoever may have it shall incur the penalty of the common law, notwithstanding the said charter. And let the chamberlain and under-chamberlain be thus charged, the chamberlain on pain of a thousand marks, the other on pain of five hundred marks. And in every bill endorsed and sealed under the signet and sent to the keeper of the privy seal, let the name of whomsoever requested the charter be included: and that no charter shall pass the chancellor without warrant of privy seal. And that every justice throughout the realm before whom any charter or pardon may be claimed in his country shall search the rolls of indictment; and if it be found in the said indictments that it is murder, treason, or rape of women, let the charter be held at naught. |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet sauver sa liberte et regalie come ses progenitours ount faitz devant ses heures. Et enoutre ad graunte qe nulle chartre de pardoun desore soit alowe devant qeconqe justice pur murdre, mort d'omme occis par agait, assaut ou malice purpence, treson ou rape de femme, si mesme la murdre ou mort d'omme occis par agait, assaut, ou malice purpense, treson, ou rape de femme, ne soient especifiez en mesme la chartre. Et si chartre de mort d'omme soit alegge devant qeconqe justicez, en quele chartre ne soit especifie, [col. b] qe celuy de qi mort ascune tiel soit araigne, fuist mourdrez ou occis par agaite, assaut ou malice purpense, enquergerent les justices par bone enqueste de visne ou le mort fuist occis, s'il fuist mourdrez, ou occis par agaite, assaute ou malice purpense. Et s'ils trovent q'il fuist mourdrez, < ou > occis par agait, assaut ou malice purpense, soit la chartre disalowe, et soit fait entre solonc ceo qe la ley demaunde. Et si ascune prie a roy pur chartre de pardoun pur mourdre, mort d'omme occis par agaite, assaut ou malice purpense, tresoun ou rape de femme, si le chaumberleyn endosse < tiel bille, > ou face endosser, < mette > le noun de celuy qe pria pur tiel chartre sur mesme le bille, sur peyne de .m. marcz. < Si > le souz-chamberleyn endosse tiel bille, face semblement < sur peyne de > .d. c marcz. Et qe nul autre qe chamberleyn ou souz-chaumberleyn, endosse, ou face endosser, nule tiel bille, sur peyne de .m. marcz. Et qe tiel bille soit envoie et directe al gardeyn de prive seal, et qe nul garrant de prive seal soit fait pur tiel chartre avoir, sinoun qe le gardeyn de prive seal eit tiel bille endosse ou signe par le chamberleyn ou souz-chaumberleyn, come desus est dit. Et qe nul chartre de pardoun de tresoun < ne > d'autre felonie passe la chauncellarie sanz garrant de prive seal, forsqe en cas ou le chaunceller le puisse graunter de soun office, sanz ent parler au roy. Et si celuy a qi priere ascun chartre de pardon, pur mourdre, mort d'omme tue par agaite, assaut ou malice purpense, tresoun, ou rape de femme, soit graunte, soit ercevesque ou duc, paie a roy .m.li. Et s'il soit evesqe ou count, paie au roy .m. marcz; et s'il soit abbe, priour ou baneret, paie au roy .d. c marcz; et s'il soit clerc, bacheler ou autre de meyndre estate, de quele condicioun q'il soit, paie au roy .cc. marcz, et eit emprisonement d'un an. (fn. iii-257-149-1) | The king wishes to save his liberty and regality as his progenitors have done in the past. And further, he has granted that no charter of pardon shall be allowed henceforth before any justice for murder, homicide occasioned by ambush, assault, or malice aforethought, treason or rape of women, even if the same murder or the death of one slain by ambush, assault, or malice aforethought, treason or rape of women be not specified in the same charter. And if the charter of homicide is claimed before any justices, in which it is not specified [col. b] that he of whose murder such a person be accused was murdered or killed by ambush, assault or malice aforethought, let the justices inquire by good inquest in the neighbourhood where the man was slain whether he was murdered or killed by ambush, assault or malice aforethought. And if they find that he was murdered or slain by ambush, assault or malice aforethought, let the charter be disallowed, and let all be done as the law requires. And if anyone asks the king for a charter of pardon for murder, homicide occasioned by ambush, assault or malice aforethought, treason or rape of women, if the chamberlain endorses such a bill, or causes it to be endorsed, let him include the name of him who requested such a charter on the same bill, on pain of paying a thousand marks. If the under-chamberlain endorses such a bill, let him do likewise on pain of paying five hundred marks. And that none other than the chamberlain or under-chamberlain shall endorse or cause to be endorsed any such bill, on pain of paying five hundred marks. And that such a bill shall be sent and addressed to the keeper of the privy seal, and that no warrant of privy seal shall be made to have such a charter unless the keeper of the privy seal has such a bill endorsed or signed by the chamberlain or under-chamberlain, as is said above. And that no charter of pardon for treason or any other felony shall leave the chancery without warrant of privy seal, except in a case where the chancellor might grant it of his office, without speaking to the king thereof. And if anyone at whose request any charter of pardon for murder, homicide by ambush, assault or malice aforethought, treason or rape of women is granted, is an archbishop or duke, let him pay the king £1,000. And if he be a bishop or earl, let him pay the king a thousand marks; and if he be an abbot, prior or banneret, let him pay the king five hundred marks; and if he be a clerk, gentleman or another of lesser estate, of whatsoever condition he be, let him pay the king two hundred marks and be imprisoned for a year. (fn. iii-257-149-1) |
| [memb. 4] | |
| [The staple.] | [The staple.] |
| 37. < L'estaple. > Item, touchant l'estaple qe la dite estaple serra a Caleys tan q'al fest de Seint Michel proschein venant; et adonqes q'il soit en Engleterre as diverses lieux. C'estassavoir, < la > ou le roy et les seignours, par assent des dites communes, sembleront le melliour pur commune profit du roialme, sanz estre remue hors d'Engleterre, s'il ne sit par assent de parlement, sur peyne a limiter par le roy et les seignours par assent des communes. Et qe nulle denizein apres le dit fest de Seint Michel passera a nulle partie hors du roialme ove leynes, sur peine de forfaire les dites leynes. Et qe toutz maneres de gentz de l'amiste nostre seignour le roy, et qe ad licence de nostre seignour le roy, soit frank d'achatre et vendre leynes parmy le roialme; et les aliens les puissent carier hors du roialme, paiantz a nostre seignour le roy les duitees et devoirs. | 37. The staple. Also, concerning the staple, that the said staple be at Calais until Michaelmas next [29 September 1390]; and then that it be in England in various places. Namely, wheresoever the king and lords, by the assent of the said commons, shall think it best for the common profit of the realm, without it being taken out of England if it be not by the assent of parliament, on pain of a penalty to be determined by the king and lords with the assent of the commons. And that no denizen after the said Michaelmas [29 September 1390] shall leave from any part of the realm with wool, on pain of forfeiting the said wool. And that all manner of peoples in friendship with our lord the king, and who have the licence of our lord the king, shall be free to buy and sell wool throughout the kingdom; and that aliens may export it from the kingdom, paying our lord the king the duties and dues. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Pur certeines et honestes causes il est advys au roy et as seignours qe l'estaple demoerge a Caleys tanq'al fest de Seint Andreu proschein. | For certain and genuine reasons the king and the lords are advised that the staple should remain at Calais until the feast of St Andrew next [30 November 1390]. |
| [The statute of labourers.] | [The statute of labourers.] |
| 38. < Laborers, artificers. > Item, prient les communes qe l'estatutz et ordenances faitz en temps nostre seignour le roy q'ore est, come en temps de vostre aiel, qe Dieux assoille, des servantz, laborers, artificers et vitaillers; sibien l'estatutz et ordenances nadgairs faitz a Cantebr' pur les ditz servantz et laborers come en toutz autres pointz, (fn. iii-257-156-1) et toutz autres estatutz et ordenances nient repellez, soient fermement gardez et duement executz. | 38. Labourers, artificers. Also, the commons pray that the statutes and ordinances made in the time of our lord the present king, as in the time of your grandfather, whom God absolve, of servants, labourers, artificers and victuallers; as well the statutes and ordinances recently made at Cambridge for the said servants and labourers as in all other respects, (fn. iii-257-156-1) and all other statutes and ordinances unrepealed, be firmly kept and duly executed. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet qe les estatutz et ordenances faitz al parlement darrein tenuz a Cantebr', sibien des servantz, laborers, artificers, et vitaillers, come de toutes autres choses, horspris l'excepcioun en un < article > < paraval > touchant justices de la pees; et auxint toutz autres estatutz et ordenances faitz devant ces hures, et nient [p. iii-269][col. a] repellez, soient fermement gardez, et duement executz. Mes purce qe homme ne purra mye mettre en certein le pris des bledz et autres vitailles, le roi voet qe les justices de la pees en chescun counte, en lour sessions, tenuz entour le Pasqe et le Seint Michel, facent proclamacioun par lour discrecioun, solonc la chierete des vitailles, combien chescun masoun, carpenter, teguler et autres artificiers et overours, et auxint laborers par journees sibien en aust come en autre temps del an, solonc lour degre, prendra le jour, ove manger et boire, ou sanz manger et boire, entre les deux seisons suisditz: nient contresteantz les estatutz ent faitz devant ces hures. Et qe chescun obeie a tielx proclamacions de temps en temps, come a chose faite par estatut. Et endroit des vitaillers, le roy voet q'ils eient resonable gaigne solonc la discrecioun et limitacioun des ditz justices, et nient pluis, sur peyne d'estre grevousement puniz solonc la discrecioun des ditz justices, la ou peyne n'est pas limite en certein des ditz vitaillers devant ces hures, et qe viscontz, senescalx des seignours de franchises, mairs et baillifs, et toutz autres q'ont l'assise de payn et de cervoise a garder, et la correccioun d'icelle, ne preignent nulle amerciment ne fyn pur nulle defaut touchant la dite assise, pur quelle homme ou femme par la ley auera penance corporel, solonc ce q'est autrement ordeine par estatut: mes les ajuggent a mesme la penance corporelle come le defaut requert, et facent ent due execucioun. Et qe mairs, et baillifs et seneschalx des franchises, et toutz autres q'ont la garde et surveu des vitailles es citees, burghes, villes marchandes, et aillours ou vitailles sont venduz parmy le roialme, mettent l'estatut fait l'an vynt et tierce du regne le roy Edward aiel le roy q'orest, qe comence, 'Quia maxima pars populi;' tochant l'estat des vitaillers et hostillers, et autres vendours des vitailles, en due execucioun. (fn. iii-257-159-1) Et qe nulle hostiller face payn pur chivalx en son hostelle, n'aillours, mes facent des pestours, et soit l'assay ent fait, qe le pois soit resonable solonc le pris des bledz qe soit en marche. Et qe mesmes les hostillers vendent feyn et aveyns a resonable pris, issint q'ils ne preignent pur le busselle forsqe un maille outre le commune pris en marche. (fn. iii-257-159-2) | The king wills that the statutes and ordinances made at the parliament lately held at Cambridge, as well of servants, labourers, artificers and victuallers, as of all other things, excluding the exception in one article paravail touching justices of the peace, and also all other statutes and ordinances made before this time and not [p. iii-269][col. a] repealed, be firmly kept and duly executed. But because man cannot determine the price of corn and other victuals, the king wills that the justices of the peace in each county, in their sessions held around Easter and Michaelmas [29 September], shall proclaim at their discretion, according to the scarcity of victuals, how much each mason, carpenter, tiler and other artificers and workmen, and also labourers by the day both at harvest-time and other times of the year, according to their degree, should take each day, with food and drink or without food and drink, between the two aforesaid seasons: notwithstanding the statutes made thereon before this time. And that everyone shall obey such proclamations made from time to time as though they were made by statute. And as to victuallers, the king wills that they receive reasonable wages at the discretion and specification of the said justices and no more, on pain of being grievously punished at the discretion of the said justices where no penalty for the said victuallers has been appointed in the past, and that sheriffs, stewards of lords of franchises, mayors and bailiffs and all others who have the assize of bread and beer to keep, and the correction of the same, shall take no amercement or fine for any fault concerning the said assize, for which man or woman should suffer corporal punishment according to the law, as is otherwise ordained by statute: but that they sentence them to the corporal punishment required by the fault, and carry out due execution thereof. And that mayors, bailiffs and stewards of franchises, and all others who have the keeping and oversight of victuals in cities, boroughs, merchant towns, and other places where victuals are sold throughout the realm, duly execute the statute made in the twenty-third year of the reign of King Edward [III], grandfather of the present king, concerning the estate of victuallers and hostellers, and other sellers of victuals, which begins, Since a great number of the people. (fn. iii-257-159-1) And that no hosteller shall make bread for horses in his household or elsewhere, but the bakers shall make it, and let it be tested to see that the weight is reasonable in accordance with the price of grain in the market. And that the same hostellers shall sell hay and oats at a reasonable price, taking for a bushel no more than a farthing above the general price in the market. (fn. iii-257-159-2) |
| [Reversions suing tenants-by-courtesy.] | [Reversions suing tenants-by-courtesy.] |
| 39. < Tenante par la curtesey en dower. > Item, prient les communes qe come terre ou tenement soit demande par brief vers tenant < a terme de vie > par la curtesie en dower, ou devers tenant en la taille apres possibilite d'issue exteint, ou autre tenant apres qi mort la reversioun des ditz terres ou tenementz serroit a autre estrange; le tenant en tiel cas ad en poair de pleder et defendre la tenance, come de traverser l'accion le demandant, ou demurer en juggement, la ou il y ad garantie ou autre chose de luy barrer, en desheritance de ceux as queux la reversioun des ditz terres et tenementz serroit apres le decesse de tielx tenantz. | 39. Holding by the courtesy of dower. Also, the commons pray that whereas lands or tenements be sought by writ to tenants for the term of life by courtesy of dower, or against tenants holding in tail after the possibility of issue has gone, or a tenant after whose death the reversion of the said lands or tenements will be to a stranger; the tenant in such a case has power to plead and defend the tenancy and to traverse the action of the demandant, or demur in judgment, even though there is a warranty or other matter to bar him, to the disinheritance of those to whom the reversion of the said lands and tenements lies after the decease of such tenants. |
| Qe plese a vostre tresgraciouse seignourie ordeiner q'en tiel cas, celuy en la reversioun ou remeyndre, < ou celui en reversioun ou remeyndre > q'ad estat de tiel tenement a ferme, ou par susrendre pendant le brief, s'il viegne devant juggement renduz, puisse estre recieu de pleder novel matire encontre le demandant, trovant surete de respondre au dit demandant de la value de la terre issint demande, si la novelle matire purpose par luy soit trove encontre luy, ou autre due remede et resonable, qe poet estre profitable a toutz les communes du roialme en le cas avantdite. Et qe cest remede tiegne lieu auxibien en briefs queux sont ore pendantz, come en ceux queux serront purchacez en temps avenir. | May it please your most gracious lordship to ordain in such a case that he in the reversion or remainder, or he in the reversion or remainder who has estate of such tenement at farm, or by surrender pending the writ, if he appears before judgment rendered, may be received to plead new matter against the demandant, finding surety to answer to the said demandant to the value of the land thus demanded, if the new matter proposed by him should be found against him, or other due and reasonable remedy, which would be profitable to all the commons of the kingdom in the aforesaid case. And that that remedy shall be applicable also in writs which are now pending, as well as in those to be purchased in time to come. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Purce qe qant tenantz a terme de vie, tenantz en dower ou par la ley d'Engleterre, ou en la taille, apres possibilite d'issue exteint soient empledez, sont sovent de covyne de les demandantz, qe les tenementz demandez devers eux soient recoverez, et ne voillent [col. b] prier en aide, ne voucher au garrant ceux en reversioun, mes pledent en chief tiel plee paront ils scievent bien qe les tenementz serront perduz, en desheritance de ceux en reversioun; le roi voet qe si ascun tiel tenant soit empledez, et cely en reversioun viegne en court, et prie d'estre recieu a defendre son droit a jour qe le tenant plede al accioun, ou devant, soit recieu < a > pleder en chief al accioun sanz ascun delay prendre par voucher, aide, prier, nounage, ou autre delay qeconqe. Issint qe apres tiele receite il n'eit nulle maner delay, par proteccioun, essoin du service du roy, commune essoin, n'autre delay qeconqe; mes soit la busoigne hastie en tant come puisse estre par ley. Et qe jours de grace puissent estre donez par discrecioun des juges entre le demandant et celuy q'est recieu en tiel cas, sanz doner commune jour en ple de terre, si le demandant ne voille assentir, aufyn qe les demandantz ne soient trope delaiez, par cause qe les covient pleder ove deux adversairs. Et endroit des plees qe sont ore pendantz en tiel cas, soient ceux en reversioun receuz en manere come devant est dit, a proschein jour qe les parties ont en court, tout eient mesmes les parties pledez en chief devant ces hures; purveuz toutfoitz qe ceux en reversioun qe prient d'estre recieu come devant est dit, trovent surete des issues des tenementz demandez pur le temps qe mesmes les demandantz soient delaiez, apres le plee termine entre les demandantz et les tenantz, si jugement passe pur le demandant envers ceux en reversioun avantditz, sibien la ou la recete soit contreplede, come la ou ele soit grante. (fn. iii-257-165-1) | Because when tenants for the term of life, holding in dower or by the law of England, or in tail, after the possibility of issue has gone, are impleaded, often by collusion with the demandants, that the tenements sought against them shall be recovered, they [col. b] will not pray in aid, nor vouch to warrant those in reversion, but plead in chief such a plea by which they know well that the tenement will be lost, to the disinheritance of those in reversion; the king wills that if such a tenant be impleaded, and he who is in reversion comes to court and prays to be received to defend his right on the day on which the tenant pleads at the action, or before, he shall be received to plead in chief at the action without any delay made by vouching, aid, prayer, minority or other delay whatsoever. So that after such a reception he shall not suffer any manner of delay by protection, essoin of the king's service, common essoin, nor any other delay whatsoever; but let the business be conducted as swiftly as it can be by law. And that days of grace may be given at the discretion of the judges between the demandant and him who is received in such a cause, without giving a common day in plea of land, if the demandant will not assent, so that the demandants are not excessively delayed, because they will have to plead against two adversaries. And as for the pleas which are now pending in such a cause, let those in reversion be received in the above manner on the next day when the parties are in court, the same parties having pleaded in chief before this time; provided always that those in reversion who pray to be received, as said above, find surety for the issues of tenements demanded for the time when the said demandants were delayed, after the plea settled between the demandants and the tenants, if judgment is passed in favour of the demandant against those in reversion aforesaid, as well where the reception be counterpleaded as where it be granted. (fn. iii-257-165-1) |
| [Justices of the peace.] | [Justices of the peace.] |
| 40. < Justice de la pees. > Item, prient les communes qe les justices de la pees soient faitz de novel, de pluis sufficeantz chivalers, esquiers, et gentz de ley des countees, et qe les ditz justices et chescun de eux soient serementez devant le chanceller et conseille du roy, de duement et sanz favour garder et mettre en execucioun toutz les ordenances et estatutz suisditz. Et qe chescun artificer soit constreint par mesmes les justices q'il ne gaigne mesqe en dousze deniers un denier. Et qe les justices de la pees teignent lour sessions quatrefoitz en l'an au meyns; et ce parmy tout le roialme toutz a un foitz; parnantz les gages quatre soldz < le jour > le justice, et deux souldz le clerc, par les mayns le viscont, come il fuist establiz au darrein parlement tenuz a Cantebr', (fn. iii-257-167-1) et surce le < dit > viscont eit ent due allouance sur son accompt. | 40. Justices of the peace. Also, the commons pray that the justices of the peace be appointed anew from the most sufficient knights, esquires and laymen of the counties, and that the said justices and every one of them be sworn before the chancellor and king's council to guard and bring into effect duly and without favour all the ordinances and statutes aforesaid. And that every artificer be constrained by the said justices that he not seek an increase of more than one penny in twelve. And that the justices of the peace hold their sessions at least four times a year; and that throughout the whole kingdom, all at one time; taking as their wages four shillings a day for the justice and two shillings for the clerk from the hands of the sheriffs, as was decreed at the last parliament held at Cambridge, (fn. iii-257-167-1) and thereupon the said sheriff shall have due allowance thereof on his account. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet qe justices de la pees soient faitz de novelle en toutz les countees d'Engleterre, de les pluis sufficeantz chivalers, esquiers, et gentz du ley des ditz countees, nient contresteant l'estatut fait a Cantebr'. Et qe les ditz justices soient serementez, de duement et sanz favour garder et mettre en execucioun toutz les estatutz et ordenances touchantz lour offices. (fn. iii-257-170-1) | The king wills that justices of the peace be newly appointed in all the counties of England from amongst the most sufficient knights, esquires, and men of the law in the said counties, notwithstanding the statute made at Cambridge. And that the said justices be sworn to keep and put into effect all the statutes and ordinances touching their offices, duly and without favour. (fn. iii-257-170-1) |
| [Courts of admiralty.] | [Courts of admiralty.] |
| 41. < Admyrall. > Item, prient les communes: qe come les admiralx et lour deputees tiegnent lour sessions en diverses places deinz le roialme, sibien deinz franchise come dehors, acrochantz a eux pluis grant poair qe a lour office < n'appartient, en > prejudice de nostre seignour le roy, et la commune ley du roialme, et grant emblemissement de plusours diverses franchises, en destruccioun et empoverissement del commune poeple. | 41. The admiral. Also, the commons pray: whereas the admirals and their deputies hold their sessions in various places in the kingdom, both within franchise and without, accroaching to themselves much greater power than pertains to their office, to the prejudice of our lord the king and the common law of the kingdom, and the weakening of many and various franchises, to the destruction and impoverishment of the common people. |
| Qe plese ordeiner et establir lour poair en cest present parlement q'ils ne soi mellent n'empreignent sur eux conissances de nulles contracts, covenances, regrateries, ne d'autres choses qeconqes, les queux deivent et purront estre terminez devant autres jugges nostre seignour le roy, deinz les quatre miers d'Engleterre, deinz franchise et dehors; qe les justices de la pees eient poair d'enquerre de ceux qe riens font al contraire: et qe si ascuns des admiralx, ou lour deputees, soient de ce duement convictz, les admiralx [p. iii-270][col. a] de perdre lour office, et cynk centz marcz au roy, et lour deputees de perdre lour office, et cent marcz au roy. | May it please you to ordain and decree their power in this present parliament so that they neither interfere in nor take upon themselves cognizance of any contracts, covenants, regratings, nor other matters whatsoever which ought and could be settled before other judges of our lord the king within the four seas of England, within franchise and without; and that the justices of the peace shall have power to enquire into those who do anything to the contrary: and that if any of the admirals or their deputies be thus duly convicted, the admirals [p. iii-270][col. a] shall lose their office and five hundred marks to the king, and their deputies shall lose their office and a hundred marks to the king. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet qe les admiralx et lour deputees ne soi mellent desore enavant de nulle chose faite deinz le roialme; mes soulement de chose faite sur le meer, solonc ce q'ad este duement use en temps du noble roy Edward, aiel nostre seignour le roy q'orest. (fn. iii-257-176-1) | The king wills that the admirals and their deputies shall not interfere henceforth in anything done within the realm, but only in things done at sea, according to that which was duly practised in the time of the noble King Edward [III], grandfather of our lord the present king. (fn. iii-257-176-1) |
| [Weights and measures.] | [Weights and measures.] |
| 42. < Measure et pois. > Item, prient les communes: qe une mesure et un pois soit parmy tout le roialme d'Engleterre, come en la grant chartre, et autres ordenances et estatutz ent faitz est contenuz plus au plein; sur peine qe chescun qe soit convict q'il ad ou use autre mesure et pois, eit la prisoun de dimy an sanz redempcioun, et de faire gree au partie au double de sa perde. Forspris en le counte de Lancastre. Et qe nulle marchant achate ne vende leynes au pluis haut pois q'a qatorsze livers la pere, sur peine de paier le double a celuy qe soi sente greve, et de faire fyn et ranceoun au roy solonc la quantite du trespas. Et qe null, deinzein ou forein, ne face autre refuse de leynes, sinoun cod, gard et villeyn; et qe nulle marchant achate ses leynes par celles paroles Goodpakkyng, ou semblables, sur peyne, le brogour d'avoir emprisonement de dimy an, et le achatour de faire fyn au roy solonc la quantite du trespas. Et la partie qe si sente greve eit le double damages q'il ad suffert par la dite cause. | 42. Measures and weight. Also, the commons pray: that there shall be one measure and weight throughout the kingdom of England, as in the Great Charter and other ordinances and statutes made thereon; upon the penalty that anyone convicted of using another measure or weight shall be imprisoned for half a year without redemption, and compensate the party for double his loss; except in Lancashire. And that no merchant buy or sell wool at a greater weight than fourteen pounds to the stone, upon pain of paying double to him who feels himself injured, and of making fine and ransom to the king according to the scale of the offence. And that no one, denizen nor alien, make other refuse of wool, except bag, gard, or villain; and that no merchant shall buy of sell wool by these words, Good-packing, nor likewise, upon the penalty that the broker be imprisoned for half a year, and the buyer make fine to the king according to the scale of the offence. And the party who feels injured shall receive double the damages which he has suffered for the said reason. |
| [memb. 3] | |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet qe une mesure et un pois soit parmy tout le roialme d'Engleterre, come en la grande chartre, et autres ordenances et estatuz ent faitz est contenuz plus au plein. Et qe chescun qe soit convict q'il ad ou use autre mesure au pois, eit la prisone de dimy an, et face gre al partie del double de sa perde; forspris en le counte de Lancastre, a cause q'en le dit counte ad este de tout temps pluis grant mesure qe en ascune autre partie du roialme. Et qe nulle homme achate ne vende leyns a pluis haut pois qe a qatorsze livers le pere, sur peyne de paier le double a celuy qe < soi > sente greve et de faire fyn et raunceoun au roy solone la quantite du trespas. Et qe nulle, denzein ou forein, ne face autre refuse de leyns, sinoun cod, gard et vileyn. Et qe nulle marchant, n'autre homme, achate ses leyns par celles paroles Goodpakkyng, ne par autres paroles semblables: sur peyne, c'estassavoir le brogour d'avoir l'emprisonement de dimy an, et l'achatour de fyn au roy solonc la quantite du trespas. Et la partie qe soi sente greve eit la double des damages q'il ad suffert par la dite enchesoun. Et qe nully face coketter leyns forsqe en le noun celuy a qi les leyns sont, sur forfature d'icelles, sicome autrefoitz fuist ordeine par estatut. (fn. iii-257-181-1) | The king wills that one measure and one weight be used throughout the whole kingdom of England, as in the Great Charter and other ordinances and statutes made thereon. And that anyone who is convicted of using another measure or weight be imprisoned for half a year and compensate the party double his loss; except in Lancashire, because in the said county there has always been a larger measure than in any other part of the kingdom. And that no one shall buy or sell wool at a greater weight than fourteen pounds to the stone, upon pain of paying double to him who feels himself thus injured and of making fine and ransom to the king according to the scale of the offence. And that no one, denizen nor foreign, shall make other refuse of wool, except bag, gard, or villain. And that no merchant or other person shall buy his wool by the words, Good-packing, nor other such words: upon the following penalty, namely that the broker shall be imprisoned for half a year, and the buyer make fine to the king according to the scale of the offence. And the party who feels injured shall receive double the damages which he suffered for the said reason. And no one shall cause wool to be cocketed except in the name of him to whom it belongs, on pain of forfeiting the same, as was once ordained by statute. (fn. iii-257-181-1) |
| [Papal collectors.] | [Papal collectors.] |
| 43. < Collectour de pape. > Item, priont les communes qe touchant le collectour du pape: q'il poet avoir qarrant jours de garnissement, dedeinz queux jours il soit hors du roialme d'Engleterre, sur peyne d'estre pris come enemy du roy, et ranceoun. Et qe desore enavant nulle collectour soit demurant deinz le roialme d'Engleterre, s'il ne soit lige du roi. Et qe mesme cesty face nulle rien a contraire de l'estatut de provisours fait en cest present parlement, sur peine de vie et de membre sanz pardoun, considerant les meschiefs et damages qe les collectours estranges ont faitz dedeinz le roialme devant ces hures. | 43. The papal collector. Also, the commons pray concerning the papal collector: that he may have forty days' warning, within which time he should leave the kingdom of England, on pain of being taken as an enemy of the king and held to ransom. And that henceforth no collector shall dwell within the kingdom of England if he be not a liege of the king. And that the same person shall do nothing contrary to the statute of provisors made in this present parliament, on pain of life and limb without pardon, considering the troubles and damage which the foreign collectors have caused in the kingdom in the past. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy s'avisera. | The king will consider it further. |
| [Papal summons on provisions.] | [Papal summons on provisions.] |
| 44. < Seint pier le pape. > Item, prient les communes: qe si nostre seint pier le pape envoie en Engleterre sommon, sentence, ou escomengement, sur nulle persone de quelle condicioun q'il [col. b] soit, a cause de la mocioun, fesance, assent, ou execucioun de cest estatut de provisours; qe celuy qe porte ou face notificacioun, publicacion ou proclamacioun, en prive ou en apert, des ditz sentence, sommons ou escomengement, eit juggement come traitour du roy et de roialme, sanz ent avoir pardon en nulle manere. Et si ercevesqe, evesqe, ou autre qeconqe persone face a contraire de cest establissement, ercevesqe, evesqe, perdent lour temporaltes a toutz jours, et lour corps exilez sanz redempcioun: et toutes autres persones qeconqes eient juggement come traitours du roi et du roialme; et qe nulle liberte, privilege ou franchise de seinte esglise parmy le roialme sauve le corps de nulle tielle persone, einz soit pris hors, et eit juggement et execucioun come traitour du roi et de roialme. | 44. The holy father the pope. Also, the commons pray: that if our holy father the pope should send to England summons, sentence or excommunication on any person, of whatsoever condition he [col. b] be, by the instigation, performance, assent or execution of this statute of provisors; that whomsoever brings or makes notification, publication or proclamation, in private or in public, of the said sentence, summons or excommunication, shall be judged a traitor to the king and kingdom, without having pardon in any way. And if an archbishop, bishop, or any other person act contrary to this decree, the archbishop and bishop shall lose their temporalities forever, and they shall be exiled without redemption: and all other persons shall be judged traitors of the king and kingdom; and that no liberty, privilege, or franchise of holy church throughout the realm shall save the body of such a person, then taken without, and he shall have judgment and execution as a traitor to the king and kingdom. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet qe si ascun porte ou envoie deinz le roialme, ou la poair nostre seignour le roy, ascuns sommons, sentences ou escomengementz, envers ascun persone de quelle condicioun q'il soit; a cause de la mocioun, fesance, assent ou execucioun du dit estatut des provisours, soit il pris et arestuz, et mys en prisoun, et forface toutz ses terres et tenementz, biens, et chateux pur toutz jours, et outre encourge la peyne de vie et de membre. Et si ascun prelat face execucioun de tielx sommons, sentences ou escomengementz, qe ses temporaltees soient prises, et demoergent es mayns nostre dit seignour le roy tanqe due redresse et correccioun ent soit fait. Et si ascune persone de meindre estat qe prelat, de quele condicioun q'il soit, face tielle execucioun, soit pris, arestuz et mys en prisoun, et eit emprisonement, et face fyn et ranceoun solonc la discrecioun nostre dit seignour le roy. (fn. iii-257-191-1) | The king wills that if anyone brings or sends into the kingdom, or into the power of our lord the king, any summons, sentences, or excommunications against any person, of whatsoever condition he be; because of instigation, making, assent to or execution of the said statute of provisors, let him be taken and arrested and imprisoned, and forfeit all his lands and tenements, goods and chattels forever, and also incur the pain of life and limb. And if any prelate should execute such summons, sentences or excommunications, that his temporalities shall be taken, and remain in the hands of our said lord the king until due redress and correction be made. And if any person of lower degree than prelate, of whatsoever condition he be, makes such an execution, he shall be taken, arrested, and imprisoned, and make fine and ransom at the discretion of our said lord the king. (fn. iii-257-191-1) |
| [Pleas of land: maintenance.] | [Pleas of land: maintenance.] |
| 45. < Plee de terre. > Item, prient les communes: qe bien lise a chescun lige du roy de soi pleindre, de qeconqe persone qe ce soit de greindre estat ou meyndre, de toutes maneres de grevances de plee de terre, extorsions, oppressions, dettes, trespas, detenues, maintenances, et toutz autres mesfaitz qeconqes, sanz encourger la peine d'estatut fait a Gloucestr' l'an second le roy q'orest. (fn. iii-257-193-1) | 45. Plea of land. Also, the commons pray: that it may be lawful for every liege of the king to plead against anyone, be he of greater or lesser estate, concerning all manner of grievances of pleas of land, extortions, oppressions, debts, trespasses, detinues, maintenance, and all other misdeeds whatsoever, without incurring the penalty contained in the statute made at Gloucester in the second year of the present king. (fn. iii-257-193-1) |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet qe bien lise a chescuny de soi pleindre solonc la ley. (fn. iii-257-193-1) | The king wills that it be lawful for everyone to plead in accordance with the law. (fn. iii-257-196-1) |
| Plese a tresexcellent et tres redoute seignour le roy, en relievement et supportation de ses povres communes, granter les peticions souzescriptz: | May it please the most excellent and most redoubtable lord the king, in relief and support of his poor commons to grant the following petitions: |
| [Relief for the northern counties.] | [Relief for the northern counties.] |
| 46. < Povres liges de Northumberland et alibi. > Priont les communes: qe par la ou voz povres liges des countees de Northumbr', Cumbr' et Westmerl', sont sovent foitz ars et destruitz, sibien par gentz Franceys come Escotz, ensy q'ils sont grantment empoveriz, et plusours de eux outrement anientiz; paront grant noumbre de voz ditz liges sont voidez et departiz hors des ditz countees: < nepurqant voz > ditz liges sont distreintz par vertue des sommons de vostre escheqer, de paier a vous diverses sommes appellez fyns, issues, amercimentz, et arrerages de fermes, et auxint d'accompter a vous des quinszismes, et des biens et chateux, et des issues de terres et tenementz, seisez en voz mayns a cause des accomptz demandez sur eux en vostre dit escheqer, et les queux avant ces hures a vous sont forfaitz. | 46. Poor lieges of Northumberland and elsewhere. The commons pray: whereas your poor lieges of the counties of Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland are often burned and destroyed as well by the French as the Scots, so that they are greatly impoverished, and many entirely ruined; wherefore great numbers of your said lieges have departed and left the said counties; and yet your said lieges are distrained by virtue of summons from your exchequer to pay you various sums called fines, issues, amercements and arrears of farms, and also to account to you for fifteenths, and for goods, chattels, and the issues of the lands and tenements taken into your hands because of the accounts demanded on them in your said exchequer, which have been forfeited to you in the past. |
| Qe plese a vostre hautesse considerer les meschiefs avantditz, et de vostre tresgraciouse seignourie pardoner et relesser a voz ditz liges, et a chescun de eux, pur temps passe toutz tielx fyns, issues, amercimentz, arrerages des fermes, et les accomptz des quinszismes, et des biens et chateux, et issues des terres et tenementz avantditz, pur eux comforter, et de eux sustenir, et de enhabiter les countees suisditz. | May it please your highness to consider the aforesaid mischiefs, and may your most gracious lordship pardon and release to your said lieges, and to every one of them, for time past all such fines, issues, amercements, arrears of farms and the accounts of fifteenths, and of goods and chattels and the issues of the aforesaid lands and tenements, to comfort and sustain them, and repopulate the aforesaid counties. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy le voet de sa especiale grace. Et puis fuist accordez et assentuz par le conseill qe les dismes, sibien de la clergie come des citees et burghs, soient [p. iii-271][col. a] comprises en la pardoun, solonc l'entente de la peticioun, combien q'ils ne soient pas especifiez en ycelle. | The king wills it of his special grace. And then it was agreed and assented by the council that the tenths, as well of the clergy as of the cities and boroughs, be [p. iii-271][col. a] included in the pardon, according to the spirit of the petition, although they were not specified therein. |
| [Worsted cloths.] | [Worsted cloths.] |
| 47. < Worstedes. > Item, prient les povres marchantz et artificers des draps appellez worstedes el counte de Norff': qe come nostre seignour le roy, a son parlement tenuz a Westm', l'an de son regne primer, pur < certeines > causes et meschiefs monstrez par les ditz suppliantz en mesme le parlement, par ses lettres patentes granta as ditz suppliantz, q'ils puissent envoier et carier lour ditz draps a quelle part q'ils vorroient del amiste nostre seignour le roy, noun obstantz ascunes ordinances ou chartres faitz ou grantez a les burgeis de la ville de Caleys, ou a les marchantz de l'estaple de Caleys a contraire; come en les dites lettres est contenuz plus au plein. | 47. Worsteds. Also, the poor merchants and artificers of the cloths called worsteds in Norfolk pray: whereas our lord the king, at his parliament held at Westminster, in the first year of his reign, for certain reasons and troubles explained by the said supplicants in the same parliament, granted to the said supplicants by his letters patent that they might send and transport their said cloth to whatsoever parts were in the friendship of our lord the king, notwithstanding any ordinances or charters made or granted to the burgesses of the town of Calais or to the merchants of the staple of Calais to the contrary; as is contained more fully in the said letters. |
| Qe plese a nostre seignour le roy granter de novelle en cest present parlement, pur la greindre seurete et quiete des ditz suppliantz, et en supportacioun et relevement de lour estat, et en avantage du roy et de roialme, q'ils puissent envoier et carier les ditz draps a quelle part qe lour plerra, forspris as enemys du roy, solonc le purport de les lettres patentes susdites: nientcontresteantz ascunes chartres ou confirmacions faites ou grantez a ascuny, ou ascunes ordinances ou proclamacions ent faites, ou affaires a contraire; paiantz les subsides et custumes, et autres devoirs ent dues et accustumez. Considerantz qe autrement les ditz suppliantz serront destruitz et anientisez pur toutz jours. | May it please our lord the king to grant anew in this present parliament, for the greater security and quiet of the said supplicants, and in support and relief of their estate, and to the advantage of the king and kingdom, that they might send and transport the said cloths wheresoever they choose, except to the king's enemies, according to the purport of the aforesaid letter patent: notwithstanding any charters of confirmations made or granted to anyone, or any ordinances or proclamations made thereon, or to be made to the contrary; paying the subsidies and customs, and other usual duties owed. Considering that otherwise the said supplicants will be destroyed and ruined forever. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy le voet de sengle worstedes, nient contresteantz ascunes ordinances, inhibicions, ou mandementz faitz a contraire, ou ascunes franchises, libertees, privileges ou confirmacions par luy ou par son aiel grantez as burgeys de la ville de Caleys, ou as marchantz de l'estaple de Caleys, ou a ascun autre a contraire. | The king wills it for single worsteds, notwithstanding any ordinances, prohibitions or mandates made to the contrary, or any franchises, liberties, privileges or confirmations granted by him or his grandfather to the burgesses of the town of Calais, or to the merchants of the staple of Calais, or to any other, to the contrary. |
| [Shoemakers, cordwainers, amd tanners.] | [Shoemakers, cordwainers, amd tanners.] |
| 48. < Souters et cordewaners. > Item, prient les communes: purce qe plusours souters et cordewaners usent de tanner lour quirs, et les vendent faucement tannez, et ils font soulers et botes de tielx quirs par eux issint nient covenablement tannez, et les vendent si chiers come lour plest, a grant deceite de les povres communes, qe plese granter qe nulle souter ne cordewaner ne use le mestiere de tanner, ne tanner le mestiere de souter; et qe celuy qe face encontre ceste ordinance forface envers le roy toutz les quirs issint tannez et overez, et soit reint a la volunte du roy. Et ceux q'ont chartres ou patentes a contraire soient repellez et adnullez en cest present parlement. | 48. Shoemakers and cordwainers. Also, the commons pray: that because many shoemakers and cordwainers are in the habit of tanning their hides and selling them falsely tanned, and making shoes and boots of such hides thus unsuitably tanned by them, and selling them at whatsoever price they please, to the great deceit of the poor commons, that it may please you to grant that no shoemaker nor cordwainer practise the craft of the tanner, nor the tanner the craft of the shoemaker; and that whosoever acts against this ordinance shall forfeit to the king all the hides thus tanned and worked and be imprisoned at the king's will. And those who have charters or patents to the contrary shall have them repealed and annulled in this present parliament. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy le voet. (fn. iii-257-215-1) | The king wills it. (fn. iii-257-215-1) |
| [Dimensions of cloths.] | [Dimensions of cloths.] |
| 49. < Draps de ray. > Item, prie la commune: qe come il est ordeine par estatut qe toutz maners de draps de ray serront de certeine longure et laeure, et autres draps de colour d'autre longure et laeure, come y est pleinement contenuz en ycelle, et < ce > pur meschief des liverees des seignours; et y ad este une custume de faire certeins draps en diverses countees d'Engleterre appellez cogware, et kendale cloth, de laeure de trois quarters ou d'un aune, dont les uns sont del pris de qarrant deniers, et ascuns de cynk souldz, < queux sont > venduz a cogmen hors du roialme, et as povres gentz, come laborers et servantz du dit roialme, queux ne sont de poair d'achatre autres draps de greindre pris, et y est paie pur custume de chescun des ditz draps, de quelle pris q'ils soyt, trois deniers maille, dont la grant partie est fait de plus pire leyn q'est en tout le roialme, qe ne poet servir a nulles autres draps. | 49. Striped cloth. Also, the commons pray: whereas it was ordained by statute that all manner of striped cloth be of a certain length and width, and other coloured cloths of another length and width, as is plainly stated therein, and because of trouble over liveries of lords; yet there has been a custom of making certain cloths in various counties of England called cogware and kendal cloth of a width of three quarters or an ell, some of which are priced at forty pence, and some at five shillings, which are sold to cogmen outside the kingdom, and to poor men such as labourers and servants of the said realm who are not able to buy cloths of a greater price, and a custom is paid on each of the said cloths, of whatsoever price they be, of three pence halfpenny; and a large number of them are made of the worst wool in the entire kingdom, which cannot be used for any other cloths. |
| Qe plese ordeiner qe la dite commune puissent faire de ce enavant tielx < maner draps > de sy petit longure et laeure [col. b] come ils ont use avant ces hures: nient obstant ascun estatut fait a contraire. Entendantz qe l'overaigne de tielx maners draps est sustenance des povres et menuz gentz du roialme, et q'ils ne sachent faire nulles autres draps. | May it please you to ordain that the said commons may in future make such manner of cloths of as small a length and width [col. b] as they used in the past, notwithstanding any statute made to the contrary. Bearing in mind that the working of such kinds of cloth is the sustenance of the poor and lesser people of the kingdom, and that they do not know how to make any other cloths. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy voet qe bien lise a chescuny desore enavant de faire tielx maners draps de la longure et laeure come ad este use devant ces hures, nient contresteant ascun estatut fait a contraire. Purveuz toutzfoitz qe les fesours et les overeours de tielx draps ne les facent de melliour leyn q'ils ne soleient. Et outre, le roy voet et ad grante qe toutz tielx draps qe sont arestutz par force ou colour des ditz estatutz, ou ascunes d'icelles, soient desarestuz et deliverez. (fn. iii-257-221-1) | The king wills that it be lawful for anyone henceforth to make such manner of cloths of a length and width used in the past, notwithstanding any statute made to the contrary. Provided always that the makers and workers of such cloths do not make them with better wool than normal. Moreover, the king wills and has granted that all such cloths which are seized by force or colour of the said statutes, or any of the same, be released and returned. (fn. iii-257-221-1) |
| [Double recognizances in the exchequer to be void.] | [Double recognizances in the exchequer to be void.] |
| 50. < Reconissaunces. > Item, monstrent les ditz communes: qe diverses reconissances del double et autrement sont ore tard comencez et faitz en l'escheqer nostre seignour le roy, par cause de dettes et fermes touchantz nostre dit seignour le roy apaiers a certein jour. Et en cas qe si ascun issint oblige par la reconissance faille de paiement de deniers compris deinz mesme la reconissance a jour compris deinz ycelle, mesqe le reconissour paie apres la somme, unqore execucioun serra fait par sommons de pipe pur la ferme et le dette auxi par brief de fieri facias, et ensy en cas serra fait double, et en cas treble, execucioun sur ses biens et chateux, terres et tenementz, noun obstant le paiement. Et en cas qe le reconissour paie les deniers devant le jour assis, s'il aviegne qe le taille et foille soient perduz, ou en temps avenir poent estre ars par mesaventure, unqore execucioun serra fait pur nostre seignour le roy, noun obstant le paiement come desuis est declare, si ne soit par especial pardoun du roy, et nient autrement; et auxi le reconissour pur le retret du dite reconissance, en cas q'il paie pur chescune livere un denier pur le fee du clerc, en quel office il est fait grant anientissement et empoverissement des communes. | 50. Recognizances. Also, the commons show: that various recognizances in duplicate and otherwise have recently been begun and made in the exchequer of our lord the king, because of debts and farms touching our said lord the king to be paid on a certain day. And if anyone thus obliged by the recognizance fails to pay the sum contained in the same recognizance on the day given in the same, but pays it later, execution is still carried out by summons of the pipe for the farm and the debt also by writ of fieri facias, and so sometimes double and treble execution is done on the goods and chattels, lands and tenements, notwithstanding the payment. And if the recognizor pays the money before the day assigned, if it happens that the tally and counterfoil are lost, or are accidentally burnt later, execution is still carried out for our lord the king, notwithstanding the payment declared above, unless there be special pardon from the king, and not otherwise; and also, the recognizor, for the withdrawal of the said recognizance, pays for each pound a penny in fees to the clerk, which practice results in the great ruin and impoverishment of the commons. |
| Qe plese ordeiner en cest present parlement qe tielx reconissances qe sont faitz soient desormes tout outrement defaitz sanz pluis estre usez en le dit escheqer, et qe tielx reconissances ne soient pluis usez ne faitz en l'escheqer suisdit. | May it please you to ordain in the present parliament that such recognizances which are made be henceforth cancelled altogether without being further used in the said exchequer, and that such recognizances be neither used nor made in the aforesaid exchequer. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet qe nulle tielle reconissance, n'autre lien del double, soit fait ne pris en l'escheqer desore enavant. Et qe toutz tielx reconissances et autres liens qe sont faitz a present soient outrement cancellez et adnullez: purveu toutfoitz qe le roi eit sufficeant surete de sa duite en manere accustume. Et enoutre, le roi < ad > pardone quanqe a luy est encurru par force de tielx obligacions ou liens outre son cler dette. (fn. iii-257-227-1) | The king wills that no such recognizance or other bond in duplicate be made or taken in the exchequer henceforth. And that all such recognizances and bonds which are now made be entirely cancelled and annulled: provided always that the king have sufficient surety of his due in the customary manner. Furthermore, the king has pardoned whatever has been incurred towards him by force of such obligations or bonds over and above his clear debt. (fn. iii-257-227-1) |
| [memb. 2] | |
| [Gosport.] | [Gosport.] |
| 51. Item, prient les communes: qe come les povres hommes de la ville de Gosseford, et lour auncestres hommes du dite ville, au temps du conquest de la ville de Caleys eient achatez et purveuz cervoise et autres vitailles necessairs pur la garnisture de mesme la ville de Caleys, solonc le charge a eux fait sibien par les officers du tresnoble roy Edward aiel a nostre seignour le roy, qe Dieux assoille, come de nostre dit seignour le roi, et yceux cervoise et vitailles eient amesnez en lour niefs tanqe a la dite ville de Caleys: et combien q'ils et lour ditz auncestres eient paiez quatre deniers soulement, pur une certeine custume ou demande appelle 'ankerage' pur chescun tiel nief portant tielx cervoise et vitailles et amesnez au port du dite ville de Caleys, solonc l'aunciene custume y use, et unqore sont prestz de les paier, nientmeyns les ditz hommes sont ore de novelle distreintz et artez grevousement et noun duement par le baillif del ewe, et autres officers de Caleys, de paier sys deniers pur chescune tiel nief portant cervoise et [p. iii-272][col. a] autres vitailles a le port du dite ville de Caleys, et encontre l'aunciene custume suisdite. Par quoy ils prient de remede. | 51. Also, the commons pray: whereas the poor men of the town of Gosport, and their ancestors of the said town, at the time of the conquest of the town of Calais bought and purveyed beer and other victuals needed to provision the same town of Calais, in accordance with the charge imposed on them both by the officers of the most noble King Edward [III], grandfather of our lord the king, whom God absolve, and of our said lord the king; and they carried the beer and victuals in their ships to the said town of Calais: and although they and their said ancestors have paid only four pence for a certain custom or demand called anchorage for every such ship carrying such beer and victuals and sailing into the port of the said town of Calais, according to ancient custom and usage, and they are still prepared to pay it, nevertheless the said men are now newly distrained and forced grievously and unduly by the harbour master and other officers of Calais to pay six pence for each ship carrying beer and [p. iii-272][col. a] other victuals to the port of the said town of Calais, contrary to the ancient custom aforesaid. For which they seek a remedy. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Purce qe la matire est declare overtement en parlement, et semble qe la novell demande n'est pas resonable, le roi voet q'ils paient come ils ont paiez devant ces hures, et nient pluis. | Because the matter has been declared openly in parliament and it seems that the new demand is unreasonable, the king wills that they pay as much as they paid in the past and no more. |
| [Weights of wool.] | [Weights of wool.] |
| 52. < Measure et pois. > Item, prient les communes: qe les estatutz de mesure et de pois, et le punissement d'icelle, soient tenuz et gardez en toutz pointz: ajouste a ycelle qe en chescune ville soit ordeine un conestable, et qe un pois pur leynes accordant al standard soit ordeine pur demurer en la garde de chescuny conestable, pur poiser leynes en temps avenir apoisers. Et qe toutz leynes de conestablerie en temps avenir achaters, soient poisez par le dit pois, sanz les achater en gros, ou par le tissoun sanz pois, ou autre manere par autre covenant qe qatorsze livers al pere, et vint et sis peres al sak; sur peyne de forfaiture de la leyne issint vendu. Et qeconqe persone qe voet suer pur atteindre la dite forfaiture encontre ceste ordinance, eit la suite, et la moite du dite forfaiture. Et qe justices de la pees eient poair d'oier et terminer sibien al suite de partie come de roy, et de agarder exigent, apres la tierce capias, encontre les mesfesours susditz. | 52. Measure and weight. Also, the commons pray: that the statutes of measures and weights, and the punishment of the same, be upheld and kept in all respects: adding to the same that in every town a constable be appointed, and that a weight for wool according to the standard be decreed to remain in the keeping of each constable, to weigh wool in future. And that all wool of the constabulary to be bought in time to come be weighed by the said weight, without being bought in gross, or by the fleece without being weighed, or in any other way by other practice than fourteen pounds to the stone, and twenty-six stone to the sack; on pain of forfeiting the wool thus sold. And any who will sue to obtain the said forfeiture against this ordinance shall have the suit, and half the said forfeiture. And that justices of the peace shall have the power to hear and determine both at the suit of the party and of the king, and to award exigent after the third capias, against the aforesaid miscreants. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy le voet. Mes puis a cause q'il sembla noun resonable, accorde fuist par le conseille qe l'execucioun serroit mys en suspens pur greindre deliberacioun ent prendre. | The king wills it. But later, because it seemed unreasonable, it was agreed by the council that the execution would be suspended until there had been further discussion. |
| [Cloths to be opened for sale.] | [Cloths to be opened for sale.] |
| 53. Item, supplient les communes: qe come diverses pleyns draps sont overez en les countees de Somers', Dors', Bristoll et Glouc', tachez et enrollez ensemble, et mys a vendre; desqueux draps grantz parties dedeinz sont dirompez et debrusez, et desacordant de colour, n'en laeure n'en null manere sont accordantz as parties de mesmes les draps qe sont monstrez dehors; mes sont faucement overez de diverses leynes, a grantz deceite, perde et damage du poeple. Parissint qe les marchantz qe achatent les ditz draps, et les amesnent hors du roialme pur vendre as foreins, sont plusours foitz en point d'estre mort, et ascun foitz emprisonez, et mises a fyn et ranceoun par les ditz forreins, et lour ditz draps ars, ou forfaitz, a cause del grant deceite et fauxcine qe sont trovez en les ditz draps quant ils sont destachez et overtz, a grant esclandre du roialme. | 53. Also, the commons pray: whereas various plain cloths are made in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, Bristol and Gloucester, packed and rolled together, and put on sale; large parts of which cloths are flawed and torn, and their colour not matching, and neither in width nor in any way do they resemble the samples of the same cloth which are displayed on the outside; but they are fraudulently made of different wool, to the great deceit, loss and injury of the people. So that the merchants who buy the said cloths and take them out of the kingdom to sell to foreigners are often in danger of death, and sometimes of imprisonment, and being put to fine and ransom by the said foreigners, and their said cloths burned or forfeited, because of the great deceit and fraudulence which are revealed in the said cloths when they are undone and opened out, to the great shame of the kingdom. |
| Qe plese a nostre dit seignour le roy, et as ditz tressages seignours, eiantz consideracioun as choses avantdites, d'ordeiner qe nulle plein drap tache ne roulle soit mys a vendre deinz les ditz countees, mes q'ils soient overtz, issint qe les achatours les puissent veer et conustre, come il est use en le counte d'Essex. Et qe les overours, textours, et fullours mettent lour signes a chescun drape q'ils overent, sur certeine peyne. Et qe la dite ordinance comence de tenir lieu al fest de Seint Johan Baptiste proschein. Purveuz toutzfoitz q'apres ceo qe les marchantz ont achatez les ditz draps pur amesner hors du roialme, les puissent tacher et rouller a lour volunte. | May it please our said lord the king and the said most wise lords, bearing in mind the things aforesaid, to ordain that no plain cloth packed or rolled up be placed on sale in the said counties, but that they be open, so that the buyers can see and inspect them, as is the practice in Essex. And that the workers, weavers and fullers place their mark on every cloth they work, upon a certain penalty. And that the said ordinance shall come into effect at the feast of St John the Baptist next [24 June 1390]. Provided always that after the merchants have bought the said cloths to take out of the kingdom, they may pack and roll them at their will. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy le voet, sur peyne de forfaiture de mesmes les draps. (fn. iii-257-243-1) | The king wills it, on pain of forfeiture of the same cloths. (fn. iii-257-243-1) |
| [Bounds of the parts of Holland and Kesteven.] | [Bounds of the parts of Holland and Kesteven.] |
| 54. < Parties de Holand. > Item, prient les communes: qe come les metes et boundes qe sont deinz partiez de Holand et Kestevene en le counte de Nicole, c'estassavoir en le marreys < qe se extende parentre l'ewes de Weland et de Wythom, et dedeinz la dite ewe de Weland, sont sy surundez de > [col. b] wrec de ewe douce, qe les gentz d'une partie et de l'autre n'ont pas vrai conissance d'icelles: dont plusours altercacions et debates surdantz plusours foitz parentre les gentz d'une coste et d'autre, par cause qe en la dite pais severales commissions pur garder la pais, et severals coroners, ont este de tout temps, et nulle soi melle ove autre; issint qe plusours presentementz, sibien devant les justices de la pees come devant les coroners, ascuns ne sont pas executz, ou ascuns nient duement executz, a grant damage et prejudice sibien a nostre seignour le roy come a les gentz veisines de les parties avantdites. | 54. The parts of Holland. Also, the commons pray: whereas the metes and bounds which divide the parts of Holland and Kesteven in the county of Lincoln, namely in the marshland which extends between the waters of Welland and Withom, and within the said water of Welland, are so flooded by [col. b] fresh water that the people of neither part have a true knowledge of the same: wherefore many altercations and disputes often arise between the people of both sides, because in the said region there have always been separate commissions for keeping the peace, and separate coroners, and none of them interferes with the other; so that of many presentments, as well before the justices of the peace as before the coroners, some are not executed, or not duly executed, to the great damage and prejudice as well of our lord the king as of the neighbouring people of the aforesaid parts. |
| Par quoy vous plese granter commissioun de vostre chancellarie, direct as gentz sufficeantz de l'une pais et de l'autre, d'enquerre de les aunciens boundes et metes, et les surveere et renoveller: et eux issint surveuz et renovellez signer et merchier, sibien par les pales, fosses, et crois de pere, come en autre manere; par quelles les gentz du dite pais purront le meltz conustre les metes et boundes de les paiis avantdites. | Wherefore may it please you to grant a commission of your chancery, instructing worthy men of either region to enquire into the ancient bounds and metes, and survey and renew them: and sign and mark them having thus surveyed and renewed them, as well by stakes, ditches, and stone crosses as in other ways; whereby the people of the said country can better recognise the metes and bounds of the aforesaid lands. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy le voet. | The king wills it. |
| [Duties on kerseys.] | [Duties on kerseys.] |
| 55. < Merchandise de kerseis. > Item, prient les communes: qe la ou y ad une marchandise de kerseyes qe soleient toutefoitz devant ces hures franchement passer vers estranges parties par dela, come certeines autres marchandises, sont en mains de denizeins, et es mains des estraungers, pur paier trois deniers pur la livere pur custume, sanz pluis: la surveignent ore les ministres le roy, et demandent paiement pur la custume, c'estassavoir, atant pur trois kerseyes dont la piece ne vaut qe quatre souldz, come pur un drape entier. Sur ce les destreignent grefment par obligacions, tout soit ensy, qe toutdis devant soleient mesmes les kerseyes passer vers les parties dela, come devant est dit. Qe plese ordeiner qe nulle autre custume ne soit demande come des temps eisnez ad este accustumez. | 55. The trade in kerseys. Also, the commons pray: whereas the trade in kerseys, which used always to be exported freely to foreign parts, like certain other merchandise, is in the hands of denizens, and out of foreigners' hands, for the payment of three pence per pound as custom, and no more: but now the king's ministers come and demand payment for the custom, namely, as much for three kerseys, of which each is worth no more than four shillings, as for a whole cloth. Whereupon, they distrain grievously by bonds all those who have always exported the same kerseys to parts overseas, as said above. May it please you to ordain that no other custom be demanded than those customary in former times. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet soeffrer, et grante q'il soit fait come ad este fait d'auncien temps, tanqe a proschein parlement. Et en le meen temps, le roy voet estre avisez et enformez coment la chose se devera faire de resoun, et ent faire au dit proschein parlement ce qe resoun demande. | The king will allow it, and grants that it be done as it has been done since ancient times, until the next parliament. And meanwhile, the king will be advised and informed how the matter ought reasonably to be handled, and will act thereon at the said next parliament as reason demands. |
| [Depredations by the Welsh.] | [Depredations by the Welsh.] |
| 56. < Les communes de countes de Glouc', Wircestr' et alibi. > Item, monstrent ses poveres liges les communes des countees de Gloucestre, Wircestre, Hereford, et Salop, adjoignantz a Gales: coment gentz de Gales sovent foitz veignent hors de Gales deinz les ditz countees, et font diverses felonies et trespasses, et parnont sur voz ditz liges grantz destresses, et amesnent ovesqe eux en Gales, et les detiegnent sanz cause: et voz ditz liges n'osent eux defendre forciblement, ne prendre de eux autielle destresse pur offense de la ley. Et auxint ils font arester vox ditz liges passantz parmy Gales ove lour biens et marchandises, la ou ils n'ont trespassez envers eux, ne sont dettours a eux, ne plegges de dettours, a grant arierissement et empoverissement de voz ditz liges. | 56. The commons of the counties of Gloucester, Worcester and elsewhere. Also, the poor commons of the counties of Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford and Shropshire, adjoining Wales, show: that the people of Wales often come out of Wales and enter the said counties, and commit various felonies and trespasses, and visit great distress on your said lieges, and take them with them into Wales, and imprison them without cause: and your said lieges dare not defend themselves forcibly, nor take distress from them for an offence against the law. Moreover, they arrest your said lieges passing through Wales with their goods and merchandise, even though they have not offended against them, and are not debtors to them, nor pledges of debtors, to the great injury and impoverishment of your said lieges. |
| Dont ils priont qe toutz tielx pleyntifs ensy grevez et empoveriz par tielx malfesours purront venir en plein counte, et monstrer lour grevances as justices de la pees, viscont et coroners, ou a deux de eux q'al temps soient presentz. Et q'ils sur le dit pleint mandent lour lettres desouz lour sealx al seneschalle du pais en quelle les ditz malfesours se retornent, repairont, ou demorent apres le trespas et felonie faitz: luy certifiantz les grevances et damages a tiels pleintifs ent faitz; demandant et requerant le dit seneschalle q'il face arester et emprisoner tiels malfesours, et eux sanz deliverance en prisone detiegner tanqe plein gree soit fait as pleintifs de lour damages, grevances et empoverissementz par tielx [p. iii-273][col. a] malfesours en suffertz, come purroit estre tesmoigne par justices de la pees, viscont et coroners, desouz lour sealx, ensemblement ove lour coustages resonables par tielx malfesours a cause d'icelle ent suffertz. Et si le dit seneschalle ne voille faire remede en manere susdit, ou s'il soit negligent par quinsze jours apres q'il soit requis issint de faire execucioun de tielx mesfesours, come desuis est dit, q'adonqes le dit seneschalle soit tenuz a respondre au roi, et as parties issint grevez, solonc la forme de la ley d'Engleterre, en manere come le principal mesfesour. Entendant qe nulls tielx mesfesours issent de lour pais pur faire tielx grevances et riotes s'ils n'eient licence de lour seneschalle, ou de son lieutenant, pur penance q'ils porteront par lour propre ley en Gales. | Wherefore they pray that all such plaintiffs thus injured and impoverished by such malefactors may come to the full county court and show their grievances to the justices of the peace, sheriff and coroners, or to two of them present at the time. And that upon the said plaint they may send letters under their seals to the steward of the county to which the said malefactors have withdrawn, repaired, or in which they dwell after committing the offence and felony: notifying him of the grievances and injuries inflicted on such plaintiffs; requesting and requiring the said steward to arrest and imprison such malefactors, and keep them in prison without release until full compensation be made to the plaintiffs for their damages, injuries and impoverishments [p. iii-273][col. a] suffered through the actions of such malefactors, as may be attested by justices of the peace, sheriff and coroners under their seals, together with their reasonable expenses incurred thereby on account of such malefactors. And if the said steward will not grant remedy in the aforesaid manner, or if he is negligent fifteen days after he has been asked to act against such malefactors, as said above, that then the said steward will be obliged to answer to the king and to the parties thus injured according to the form of the law of England, in the manner of the principal malefactor. Bearing in mind that no such malefactors leave their county to carry out such grievances and riots unless they have the permission of their steward or his lieutenant, because of the penalty they would suffer according to their own law in Wales. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi ad charge son conseille de treter de ceste matire ove les seignours marchers, et d'ent ordeiner covenable remede. | The king has charged his council to discuss this matter with the marcher lords and ordain a suitable remedy thereon. |
| [Cocketing wool.] | [Cocketing wool.] |
| 57. < Leins, quirs, etc. > Item, priont les communes: qe come le roi Edward [III], aiel nostre seignour le roi q'orest, qe Dieux assoille, l'an de son regne quatorszisme, pur grosses busoignes q'il avoit entre meyns, pria as prelatz, countz, barons, et a toutz les communes, q'ils luy voillent granter aide de lour leynes, quirs, et peaux lanutz, et autres marchandises, a durer une piece. Sur quoi, par deliberacioun les ditz prelatz, countz, barons, et communes, luy granterent de chescun sak de leyn quarrant souldz; et de chescun trois centz peaux lanutz quarrant souldz; et de chescun last de quirs quarrant souldz; et de autres marchandises al afferant, qe passeront le meer, et a comencer al fest de Pasqe en l'an le dit aiel quatorszisme, et a durer tanq'al fest de Pentecoste proschein venant, et de celle fest tanq'al fest de Pentecoste proschein ensuant en un an. Et surce le dit aiel, par assent des prelatz, countz, barons et communes susditz, granta qe al dit fest de Pentecoste qe venoit un an, luy ne ses heirs demandroient ne soeffroient estre pris pluis de custume du sak de leyn forsqe un dimy marc tantsoulment; et sur les peaux et quirs l'aunciene custume. A quelle temps ordeine fuist qe nulle ferroit coketter leynes forsqe en le noun de celuy a qi les leynes serroient, sur forfaiture d'icelles, come en mesme l'ordinance pluis pleinement est contenuz. | 57. Wool, hides, etc. Also, the commons pray that whereas King Edward [III], grandfather of our lord the present king, whom God absolve, in the fourteenth year of his reign [1340], because of weighty matters which he had in hand, prayed of the prelates, earls, barons, and all the commons, that they would grant him an aid of their wool, hides, and woolfells, and other merchandise, to last for a while. Whereupon, after the deliberation of the said prelates, earls, barons, and commons they granted him forty shillings per sack of wool; and forty shillings on every three hundred woolfells; and forty shillings per last of hides; and proportionately on other merchandise which crossed the sea, to begin at Easter in the fourteenth year of the said grandfather [16 April 1340], and to last until the next Whitsun [4 June 1340], and from that feast until Whitsun one year later [27 May 1341]. And thereupon the said grandfather, by the assent of the aforesaid prelates, earls, barons, and commons, granted that at Whitsun in a year's time [27 May 1341], neither he nor his heirs would demand nor allow to be taken as custom on a sack of wool any more than half a mark alone; and on the woolfells and hides the ancient custom. At which time it was ordained that no one should cause wool to be cocketed except in the name of him to whom the wool belonged, on pain of forfeiting the same, as is contained more fully in the same ordinance. |
| Plese ordeiner en cest present parlement qe les paroles generals du dite ordinance, coketter le leyn, < soient > declarez par paroles especialx, purce qe les aliens paient pluis pur custume de sak qe ne font les denizeins. Et qe nulle par ycelle generale ordinance puis le dit an qatoriszisme tanqe a cest present jour, ne pur temps avenir, soit empesche, moleste, n'endamage. | May it please you to ordain in this present parliament that the general wording of the said ordinance, cocket the wool, be worded more specifically, because the aliens pay more as custom on the sack than the denizens. And that no one by this general ordinance from the said fourteenth year [1340] until this present day, nor in time to come, shall be impeached, harassed, or injured. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet qe chescun homme cokette ses leynes desouz son noun propre, sur la peyne contenuz en le dit estatut. | The king wills that every man cocket his wool under his own name, on pain of the penalty contained in the said statute. |
| [memb. 1] | |
| [Hunting forbidden to artisans and others.] | [Hunting forbidden to artisans and others.] |
| 58. < Artificers. > Item, prient les communes: qe come artificers et laborers, c'estassavoir, bochers, suours, taillours et autres garsons, tiegnent leverers et autres chiens, et a temps qe bones Cristiens es jours de festes sont as esglises oiantz lour divines services, vont enchaceantz en parks, conyers et garennes des seignours et autres, et les destruont outrement: et issint ils font lour assemblees a tielx temps pur faire lour entreparlance, covynes et conspiracies, pur faire insurrecciouns et desobeiance envers vostre mageste et leys, souz colour de tiele manere de chacer. | 58. Artificers. Also, the commons pray: whereas artificers and labourers, namely butchers, shoemakers, tailors, and other hands keep greyhounds and other dogs, and at times when good Christians on feast days are at church hearing divine service, they go hunting in parks, conygries and warrens of the lords and others, and destroy them entirely: and so they hold their assemblies at such times to discuss amongst themselves plots and conspiracies of rebellion and disobedience against your majesty and laws, under colour of such hunts. |
| Qe plese ordeiner en cest present parlement qe nulle maner artificer, ne laborer, ne null autre qe n'ad terres et tenementz al value [col. b] de qarrant souldz par an, ne nulle preste, ne clerc, s'il ne soit avance de dis livers, ne tiegne null leverer, n'autre chien, s'il ne soit lie ou trahe, feuste, ou q'il soit espelotte, sur peyne d'emprisonement par un an. Et qe chescun justice de pees eit poair d'enquerre et punir chescun contrevenant. | May it please you to ordain in this present parliament that no manner of artificer nor labourer, nor any other who does not have lands and tenements to the value [col. b] of forty shillings a year, nor any priest nor cleric if he have no more than ten pounds, keep any greyhound or other dog unless it is tied or led or hambled, on pain of imprisonment for a year. And that each justice of the peace shall have the power to enquire into and punish all contravenors. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roy le voet, ajouste a ycelle, leeces et furettes, haies, rees, harepipes, cordes et toutz autres engynes pur prendre ou destruire savagyne, leveres ou conylles, ou autre deduit des gentils. (fn. iii-257-272-1) | The king wills it, adding to the same female hounds and ferrets, rabbit-snares, nets, hare-pipes, ropes, and all other devices for capturing and destroying game, hares, or rabbits, or for any other sport of gentlemen. (fn. iii-257-272-1) |
| [Royal presentees not to oust incumbents without due process.] | [Royal presentees not to oust incumbents without due process.] |
| 59. < Benefice de seint esglise. > Item, prient les communes: qe come ordeine soit par estatut qe le roy presente ascun clerc a ascun benefice de seinte esglise qe soit occupie et plein, qe l'encumbent eit son respons al title le roy devant q'il soit ouste; et auxint qe le title le roi soit bien examine q'il soit vrai: et a quelle heure qe le title le roi soit trove nient sufficeant ou nient veritable par diligente examinacioun, qe le presentement en tiel cas soit repelle, come en les ordinances ent faites est contenuz pluis a plein; et nient contresteantz les dites ordinances. De queux l'entente est qe tielx incumbentz en tielx benefices ne soient oustez sanz respons final par brief a seute le roy, solonc la ley. Unqore ascuns presenteez du roi, par favour des ordinairs sont institutz et inducts en tiel benefice, sanz due proces, les parties nemye garniz, ne appellez; et ascuns foitz par enquestes meyns vrais favorablement pris; oustantz les ditz incumbentz, en enervacioun del dit estatut, en deceivant la court le roy: dont plusours tielx incumbentz oustez sont d'estre sanz remede, qar ils ne poient mye avoir brief de scire facias pur faire venir ceux qe sont entrez, come devant est dit, par title de roy, sanz especiale congie du roy, ou comandement du roy, en grant offense de Dieu, et encontre resoun et ley, purce qe tiel fait ne poet mye estre prerogative a nostre seignour le roi q'est derogatif al execucioun de droit et justice. | 59. Benefices of holy church. Also, the commons pray: whereas it was ordained by statute that if the king presented any cleric to any benefice of holy church which was occupied and filled, that the incumbent should have his answer of the king to the title before he was ousted; and also the king's title should be well examined to see whether it was just: and whenever the king's title was found to be insufficient or unjust by diligent examination, that the presentations in such a case should be repealed; as is contained more fully in the ordinances made thereon. The intention whereof was that such incumbents in such benefices should not be ousted without a final response by writ at the king's suit, in accordance with the law. Yet some presentees of the king, by the favour of ordinaries, are instituted and inducted to such benefices without due process, the parties neither warned nor summoned, and sometimes by biased inquests dishonestly held ousting the said incumbents, subverting the said statute, to the deceit of the king's court: wherefore many such ousted incumbents are without remedy, since they cannot without the king's special permission have a writ of scire facias to cause to come those who are entered, as said above, by title of the king, without the king's special permission, or order, to the great offence of God, and contrary to reason and law, because no such deed can be the prerogative of our lord the king which is derogatory to the execution of right and justice. |
| Plese granter et comander le chanceller, deliverer brief de scire facias a chescun de voz liges qe sont oustez de lour benefices ou possessions, par l'avantdit title du roy. < Et > qe desormes les chancellers qe serront soient tenuz a deliverer par auctorite de lour offices cell brief scire facias al seute des parties; et outre faire droit as parties, sanz pursuite a nostre seignour le roy, et sanz autre garrant de luy. | May it please you to grant and command the chancellor to send a writ of scire facias to each of your lieges who has been ousted from their benefices or possessions by the aforesaid title of the king. And that henceforth future chancellors shall be bound to deliver the writ of scire facias at the suit of the parties by authority of their office; and also to do right to the parties, without suit to our lord the king and without other warrant from him. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi voet qe le dit estatut soit fermement tenuz et gardez. Et enoutre voet et grante qe s'il presente a ascun benefice qe soit plein d'ascun incumbent qe le presente du roi ne soit receu par l'ordinair a tiel benefice, tanqe le roi eit recovere son presentement par proces du ley en sa court demesne. Et si ascun presente du roi soit autrement receu, et l'encumbent ouste sanz due proces, come desuis est dit, comence le dit incumbent sa suite deinz un an apres l'induccioun du presente du roy au pluis tard. Et enoutre le roy voet qe nulle ratificacioun grante pur l'incumbent apres qe le roy eit presentez et pris sa suite, soit allowe pendant le ple, ne apres le juggement renduz pur le roi, mes qe tiel juggement soit pleinement execut, come reson demande. (fn. iii-257-278-1) | The king wills that the said statute be firmly upheld and kept. And moreover he wills and grants that if he presents to any benefice which already has an incumbent, that the king's presentee shall not be received by the ordinary to such a benefice until the king has recovered his presentment by process of law in his own court. And if any presentee of the king be otherwise received, and the incumbent ousted without due process as said above, let the said incumbent commence his suit within a year of the induction of the king's presentee at the latest. Furthermore, the king wills that no ratification granted for the incumbent after the king has presented and taken his suit be allowed pending the plea, nor after the judgment passed for the king, but that such judgments be fully executed, as reason demands. (fn. iii-257-278-1) |
| 60. Et les dites peticions, et les respons d'icelles, lieues overtement par comandement du roy en plein parlement, le chanceller disoit as chivalers des countees, citeins des citees, et burgeys des burghs, q'ils pursueroient lour briefs pur lour gages, et q'ils les aueroient sanz delay. Et issint finy cest parlement le second jour de Marcz. | 60. And the said petitions and the answers to the same having been read aloud on the king's orders in full parliament, the chancellor said to knights of the shires, citizens of the cities and burgesses of the boroughs that they should pursue writs for their wages, and they would have them without delay. And so this parliament ended on 2 March [1390]. |
Appendix January 1390
17 January 1390
Westminster
1
Writs to keepers and searchers of ports not to permit any person to leave the realm for Rome or elsewhere until further notice, 'known merchants excepted'. By king and council. Dated 26 January 1390. (See Item 32)
Source : CCR 1388-92 , 112.
2
Order to the community of the town of Lincoln, for reasons laid before the king in parliament, not to make any riots or unlawful disturbances, especially against the bishop and chapter of Lincoln cathedral, on security of 20,000 marks. By the council. Dated 3 March 1390. (See Item 12)
Source : CCR 1388-92 , 123, 135, 164-5.
3
Order to collectors of customs in all ports to make proclamation, as has been agreed in parliament, that every man shall cocket his wool in his own name. By king and council in parliament. Dated 6 March 1390. (See Item 37)
Source : CCR 1388-92 , 165.
4
Writ to the sheriffs of London informing them that, by an ordinance of parliament, all serjeants-at-arms are to be discharged, and no more than thirty new ones are to be recruited from 'trusty and sufficient persons'. By king and council in parliament. Dated 6 March 1390.
Source : CCR 1388-92 , 165.
5
Licence to makers of worsted cloth in Norfolk, at the petition of the commons in parliament and with the assent of the council in parliament, permitting them to export single worsteds to any friendly country, notwithstanding the privileges granted to the merchants of the staple at Calais. By petition in parliament. Dated 12 May 1390. (See Item 47)
Source : CPR 1388-92 , 248.
6
Appointment of a commission, on petition in parliament, to settle a dispute which has arisen between the men of Kesteven and the men of Holland (Lincolnshire) because of the disappearance of ancient boundary-markers between them on account of inundations in the area between the river Welland and the river Witham. They are to erect stakes, dikes, stone crosses or other landmarks to replace those which have disappeared. By petition in parliament. Dated 1 March 1390.
Source : CPR 1388-92 , 219.
7
Remission to the men of the counties of Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland, following petitions to parliament from the commons of those counties, of fines, issues or arrears owed by them to the king, and promise to repay to them any such sums already levied; because of losses sustained through incursions by the Scots. By king and petition in parliament. Dated 1 March 1390. (See Item 46)
Source : CPR 1388-92 , 203-4.
8
Writ of supersedeas, following a petition to parliament from the abbot of Chertsey, to cease any process against the abbot for repair of the highway at Egham (Surrey) or of the bank of the Thames there. By petition in parliament. Dated 16 April 1390.
Source : CCR 1388-92 , 166.
9
Revocation, for reasons declared in parliament, of letters patent recently issued to William de Beauchamp, knight, granting him the custody of lands and tenements pertaining to John de Hastings, son of the earl of Pembroke, during his minority. By the king. Dated 4 February 1390.
Source : CPR 1388-92 , 180.
10
Power granted, with the assent of the lords in parliament, to the following to settle disputes between Englishmen and Prussians over vessels captured or arrested through letters of marque or by way of reprisal: The bishops of Durham, Hereford, and Bath and Wells; the earls of Huntingdon, Salisbury and Northumberland; Richard Rounhale and Robert Farringdon, clerks. By king and council. Dated 24 February 1390.
Source : CPR 1388-92 , 196.
11
Commission to Thomas Hore, serjeant-at-arms, for reasons explained to the council in parliament, to arrest various men for contempts, misprisions, trespasses and disobediences committed at Reading (Berkshire). By the council. Dated 28 January 1390.
Source : CPR 1388-92 , 213; see also CCR 1388-92 , 162.
12
Petition to the lords and commons from Michael de la Pole and Katherine his wife, claiming that they had been granted, in the last parliament held at Westminster (i.e. that of February 1388), lands worth one hundred pounds a year, to be taken in part from the manors of Blyborough and Harpswell (Lincs) and Grassthorpe (Notts). However, it had been found by various inquisitions that the lands in question were worth less than this, thus they petition for additional lands to be granted to them to make the value up to one hundred pounds.
Endorsed : 'The king wills that the petitioners should have lands to the value of one hundred pounds a year, in accordance with the grant formerly made in parliament'
Source : printed in full in RP , III.274; see also CCR 1385-9 , 376.
13
Petition to the commons from the 'poor friends' of Thomas Rushook, former bishop of Chichester, who is in exile for life at Cork in Ireland, and has been translated by the pope to a bishopric from which he draws no profit, that they beg the king to grant him for life a sum for his sustenance, to be received by his friends and attorneys in England.
Endorsed : 'The king of his special grace has granted to Thomas Rushook, former bishop of Chichester, forty pounds a year for his sustenance, to be taken from the exchequer in equal portions at the terms of Easter and Michaelmas'.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.274; see also CPR 1388-92 , 229.
14
Petition to the king from John Treffane, who, following the death of Bishop Lawrence, has been elected as bishop of St Asaph by the cathedral chapter, for assent to his election and for permission to travel to the Curia to pursue and present his election to the pope; also, if it turns out that the pope has already provided to the see, for permission to accept from him whatever the Holy Father might please to give the petitioner by way of recompense, provided that it is not an elective benefice.
Endorsed : 'The king wills it'.
Source : printed in full in RP , III.274.
15
Petition to the king and lords from William, archbishop of Canterbury, claiming that all his predecessors have enjoyed the right of collation to all benefices under the patronage of the bishop of St Asaph during times when the see was vacant. Recently, however, the king has presented various clerks to various benefices under the patronage of the said bishop, during the present vacancy. May it please the king, therefore, to repeal those grants, and to grant that in future the archbishop is not deprived of his right to such collations, but that he can enjoy the same liberties as his predecessors.
Endorsed : 'Let this petition be sent before the Great Council of the king, to be heard there both by the king's council and the party, so that justice is done. Furthermore, the king wills, of his special grace, that even if the aforesaid archbishop receives any person at the presentation or collation of the king to any benefice under the patronage of the bishop of St Asaph during a vacancy in the see, it shall not be prejudicial to the archbishop in time to come'.
Source : printed in full in RP , III.274-5.
16
Petition to the king from the commons claiming that various castles in various parts of England used to pertain and be attached to the office of sheriff, where the sheriff exercised his office and kept his gaol, but these have now been granted by the king to other people for life, so that the sheriffs have no place where they can exercise their office or guard their prisoners; may it please the king to restore these castles to the sheriffs' offices.
Endorsed : 'The king wills it'.
Source : printed in full in RP , III.275.
17
Petition to the king and council in parliament from the heirs, executors and land-tenants of Reynald de Eccles, former Justice of the Peace in Norfolk, that they have been distrained at the exchequer to surrender all the rolls, records and estreats concerning his office which the said Reynald held while alive; however, at the time of 'the Rumour', all these rolls, records and estreats were burned and stolen by 'the Rifflers', at the time when the said Reynald was feloniously slain by the same Rifflers; may the king therefore send a writ to the exchequer to cease such demands.
Endorsed : (i) 'Let the chancellor take good information to determine the truth of this claim, and send a writ to the treasurer and barons to cease the aforesaid demand and distraint'. (ii) 'By testimony of James de Billingford, Geoffrey Somerton and Paul de Middleton, and several others of the country'.
Source : printed in full in RP , III.275.
18
Petition to the king from the barons of Dover, that since an ordinance was made by Edward III at his parliament at York that no pilgrim should leave the realm except from Dover, so that it would be easier to search persons leaving the realm; may the king ordain that this ordinance be firmly enforced in future.
Endorsed : 'The king wills that all pilgrims and other persons, except well-known merchants, soldiers and men-at-arms, who wish to leave the kingdom by sea, should leave by the ports of Dover or Plymouth, and from nowhere else without special licence of the king himself. But those who wish to go to Ireland may leave from Liverpool, Chester, Bristol, or elsewhere as they please'.
Source : printed in full in RP , III.275.
19
Petition to the king and council from various tenants of the duke of Gloucester in Essex complaining that at the time of 'the Rumour' they were forced with threats by Thomas Hardyng to enter into various obligations to him amounting to eighty pounds, whereby he claimed damages greater than he had sustained, as has been shown by various inquests which have been returned to the Chancery. As a result of these obligations, Hardyng is still pursuing the petitioners to the extent that they are afraid to live in their own homes, for which they request a remedy.
Endorsed : Because the obligations entered into by the petitioners to Thomas Hardyng amount to more than the damages he sustained, and for other reasons explained in parliament, the king grants writs of supersedeas until the next parliament concerning these proceedings against the petitioners, and orders the chancellor to summon the parties before him and do justice to them.
Source : printed in full in RP , III.275.
20
Petition to the king and lords in parliament from the commons that lands which have been amortised since the twentieth year of King Edward I (1292-3), in the town of Oxford and elsewhere in the realm, should not be excluded from the assessment of tenths and fifteenths when such taxes are granted to the king.
No endorsement .
Source : printed in full in RP , III.275-6.
21
Petition to the king from John, bishop of Lincoln, whose predecessors were always lords of the town and hundred of Dorchester (Oxford), where their see was originally situated, that in the time of Edward, prince of Wales, the father of the present king, and John Gynwell, bishop of Lincoln (1347-62), the tenants of Warborough, supported by the prince's ministers, claimed common rights in certain lands of the said bishop called 'Overee', which is parcel of the town of Dorchester; moreover, the tenants of Warborough have now wrongly distrained the bishop's tenants to contribute to the tenths and fifteenths granted to the king. Despite an inquest on this matter which has been returned to the chancery, the bishop has been denied a remedy for this wrong, for which he now petitions.
No endorsement .
Source : printed in full in RP , III.276.
22
Petition to the king and council from the University of Oxford requesting that since the tenants living in properties in the town of Oxford which belong to the university are assessed for their contributions to tenths and fifteenths granted to the king, the masters and scholars of the university should not also be distrained or charged to make a contribution to the same tenths and fifteenths from the rents which they receive from those properties, as the collectors of the taxes have recently been doing.
No endorsement .
Source : printed in full in RP , III.276.
23
Petition to the king and council in parliament from alien priors asking that they be restored to their ancient foundations, from which they have been ousted on numerous occasions on account of the war, so that they may continue to perform the divine services for which their houses were founded.
Endorsed : The king wills that the ordinance on alien priories made in the first year of his reign be upheld and enforced; and in addition that alien priors instituted or inducted by a bishop or an exempt abbot before the outbreak of the Schism, or conventuals or collegials, or those who have title for term of life, should enjoy possession of their priories in return for a reasonable farm; and that alien priors who have patents from the king but are at present ousted should be restored by award of the present parliament, notwithstanding any patents granted to others; and that no alien priory which has any church or other spirituality appropriated or annexed to it should be in the hands of laymen, or held by religious to the use or profit of laymen, but they should only be in the hands of honest religious or secular persons of holy church, at a reasonable farm, so that divine services are performed there.
Source : printed in full in RP , III.276.