Edward III: July 1340

Parliament Rolls of Medieval England. Originally published by Boydell, Woodbridge, 2005.

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'Edward III: July 1340', in Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, (Woodbridge, 2005) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/parliament-rolls-medieval/july-1340 [accessed 20 April 2024]

In this section

1340 July

Introduction July 1340

Westminster

12 - 26 July

(C 65/8. RP , II.117-125)

The parliament of July 1340, the third to be held in that calendar year, is recorded in C 65/8, a single roll of 6 membranes, each approximately 260 mm. in width, sewn together in chancery style and/or glued. The condition of the roll is good, with the exception of a small gallic acid stain towards the top of membrane 1. The text, written in a small, clear chancery script, occupies the rectos of the membranes only. The dorses are blank, apart from a contemporary heading at the foot of membrane 6, 'Rotulus parliamenti de anno regni regis E tercii quartodecimo', and later notes, 'Parliam' 14 Ed3 pars scdm', where some of the membranes are joined. The single marginal heading is contemporary. Arabic numerals throughout the roll are later. The roll does not appear to be incomplete. The compilation of the roll may be ascribed to Thomas Drayton, who is named in it as clerk of this parliament (item 31) and fulfilled this function regularly between 1340 and 1346. (fn. f1340cint-1)

Having attended the major parliament of March-May 1340 and secured the grant of the ninth in return for a series of political and constitutional concessions, Edward III returned to the continent on 22 June. Two days later, on 24 June, he won the naval victory of Sluys, a symbolic and strategic success which seemingly vindicated his recent assumption of the French royal title while also restoring effective English control of the Channel and thus removing the imminent threat of French invasion. On 28 June the king wrote to all the bishops in the provinces of Canterbury and York requesting masses and prayers in thanksgiving for this victory: (fn. f1340cint-2) careful attempts were evidently being made to publicise and popularise the king's successes, not least because the assessment and collection of the ninth was proving a cumbersome and controversial process. (fn. f1340cint-3) The domestic council's realisation that the ninth would not resolve the king's financial difficulties had already led, on 30 May (only 20 days since the closure of the previous assembly), to issue of writs for a new parliament, due to convene at Westminster on 12 July. (fn. f1340cint-4) Since the basic arrangements for a regency administration had already been made on 27 and 29 May, (fn. f1340cint-5) it seems clear that the king did not intend to be present at this new parliament; and as events turned out, the king's determination to follow up the victory of Sluys and undertake the siege of Tournai made it impossible for him to return home, even had he wished to do so, for the July assembly. However, it is to be assumed that Edward was informed of the council's decision and approved it.

The parliament opened on 12 July under the theoretical presidency of the young Prince Edward; in practice, as appears clearly from the correspondence with the king written on the parliament roll and communicating its outcome, the direction of the assembly lay with the regency council under the leadership of John Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury (items 29, 30). (fn. f1340cint-6) Although the causes of summons were announced (by an unnamed source) on the opening day (items 1-2), delays in arrival caused an immediate adjournment to the following day (item 3), when a further statement was made about the purpose of the assembly (item 4). The commons were then charged to provide a solution to the king's continued need for aid, and to deliver their decision on the Saturday of the first week of the assembly, 15 July. When the lords and commons reconvened, the first matter to receive attention was the administration of the ninth (item 5). Problems had begun to emerge both in the collection and in the sale of the corn, wool and lambs assessed for this levy. It had become evident that organised efforts were being made to depress the prices charged for such goods by the agents of the ninth in order that the purchasers might re-sell them at market prices and make a profit. Faced with the need to maximise royal revenues, parliament proposed to eliminate this practice by requiring the commissioners of the ninth to sell at the highest prices possible, and if necessary to use the valuations of tithes payable to the relevant parish churches; portions of the goods collected were also to be sent to the lords and representatives of vills who would be required, in effect, to buy them at the prescribed prices. Although it remains unclear whether this proposal came from the council, the lords or the commons, it was to prove a serious misjudgment, provoking widespread resistance to forced sales and resulting in a disastrous shortfall: having expected to raise at least £80,000 from the first year of the ninth, the government had collected a mere £15,000 by the end of 1340. (fn. f1340cint-7)

If the chronology of the parliament roll is reliable, it was only after this decision with regard to the ninth on 15 July that there was read out in the assembly a privy seal letter sent by the king, addressed to the parliament and dated at Bruges on 9 July, formally announcing the victory at Sluys and putting forward in detail his case for further financial assistance (items 6-9): although the victory had been alluded to in the announcement on 13 July (item 4), this was the first formal statement of the matter, either occurring fortuitously with the timely arrival of the king's envoys, the earls of Arundel and Gloucester and Sir William Trussell, or perhaps carefully orchestrated by the domestic administration in order to have maximum effect on the fiscal deliberations of the assembly. The sense of chronology having broken down in the roll at this point, it remains unclear precisely on what day this announcement was made; what is known, however, from a subsequent memorandum issued by the council, is that a formal decision was not taken and the resulting grant was not made until 24 July (item 29), some seven working days after the formalities of 15 July. Although at least some of the business determined in the assembly concerning the administration of the ninth and the raising and provisioning of royal armies was perhaps conducted in the interim (items12-18), it is evident that some hard bargaining was necessary before an apparently successful outcome was achieved. The proposal for the new levy came from the lords, themselves 'advised' presumably by the council, and was forwarded for consideration by the commons (item 10). It was thereby agreed to offer the king a forced loan of 20,000 sacks of wool, repayable to the suppliers out of the revenue from the second year of the ninth and at the rates set by the schedule of wool prices agreed at Nottingham in 1337 (items 10-11, 19). (fn. f1340cint-8) As safeguards upon the levy, it was also agreed that other assignments on the second year of the ninth should be cancelled and that the profits arising from this levy should be used solely for the relief of the king's debts and the prosecution of his wars; it was also agreed to issue letters patent containing the conditions and terms of the grant which would be delivered to the knights of the shire for circulation in the localities (item 11; Appendix no. 1). Crucially, however, no proper arrangements were made by the government to assess and therefore guarantee the value of the wool seized under this levy; the result was that wool owners had no confidence in the scheme and were encouraged to conceal their stocks and resist seizures. Only a paltry 854 sacks were eventually collected, and it was late agreed, in a general admission of failure, that these should be applied towards the wool tax conceded by parliament in 1341. (fn. f1340cint-9) This, however, was unknown at the time, and the council was to write to the king on 30 July assuring him that ample supplies would soon be forthcoming (item 29). By this stage the assembly had already concluded: the writs de expensis for the knights, citizens and burgesses having been issued on 26 July, two days after the grant of the forced loan. (fn. f1340cint-10)

The later sections of the parliament roll for July 1340 include a number of memoranda relating to the subsequent administration of the forced loan of 20,000 sacks of wool. The roll states that 'upon the conclusion of the said parliament certain merchants came before the king's council' in order to set up the system for converting the levy into cash: small groups of merchants in various counties agreed to handle fixed amounts of wool and to advance money to the crown on the security of its sale (items 19-24). It having been agreed to apply the same procedures in all parts of the country, a large group of merchants was summoned, under writs dated 27 July, to a meeting with the council at London or Westminster on 21 August (item 25). (fn. f1340cint-11) It was on the basis of the agreement already made and to be expected from this assembly that the regency council sent news to the king on 13 August of the progress of the forced loan (item 30). As Dr Harriss has remarked, 'Their letter sought to impress the king with their devotion to his military plans and needs, and the energy and urgency of their attempts to raise money; they hinted, too, at the difficulties they had encountered from the Commons. There is no reason to doubt the sincerity and accuracy of the authors; but they probably realised that it was a desperate gamble to retain Edward's confidence and that the likelihood of anything like adequate supplies reaching the King was very remote.' (fn. f1340cint-12)

The final sections of the parliament roll for July 1340 are taken up with the record of a suit brought before parliament on the petition of Sir Geoffrey Staunton (item 31). (fn. f1340cint-13) The record is unusually detailed, and the legal technicalities of the case particularly tortuous; but the matter is of some general significance in demonstrating the judicial function of parliament at this stage of its evolution. (fn. f1340cint-14) There is no direct evidence on the parliament roll that common petitions were registered in this assembly or that arrangements were made for the receipt and hearing of private petitions; the paucity of other evidence relating to the outcome of private petitions entered there certainly suggests that, as in the parliaments of October 1339 and January 1340, the king's absence meant that little such business was entertained (Appendix nos. 2-4, and Introductions to parliaments of October 1339 and January-February 1340). It is interesting in this light that Staunton specifically cited the petition he had made on the same matter in the parliament of March-May 1340 and on which action had been taken by the council: it may be no coincidence that a case which had been stalled in process since the summer of 1339 was initially brought to the attention of parliament in the first assembly at which the king was actually present and available to deal with petitions. A decision had been given on that petition and communicated to the court of common pleas under a writ dated 22 May. Interestingly, Staunton had also managed to secure a writ of privy seal to the court, dated from Ipswich on 17 June, ordering that the instructions contained in the council's judgment be enforced: such interference by the privy seal in common law process was not strictly approved, but it seems to have caused no trouble in this case, presumably because the matter had already proceeded by the correct channels. The justices of common pleas, however, had failed to act upon the instructions provided by the council in parliament, and the summoning of a new parliament so soon after the last was to Staunton's benefit in allowing him to enter another petition protesting the lack of progress in the case. As a result, the petition was reviewed not, as might be expected, before a committee of triers or the council but 'in full parliament', where the clerk of the parliament, Thomas Drayton, was ordered 'by the prelates, earls, barons and others of the parliament' to instruct the court of common pleas to reach a conclusion unless they were prevented from doing so by the complications of the case, in which event they should bring to matter to parliament. They chose the latter course, appearing on 17 July before the 'chancellor, treasurer, justices of both benches, barons of the exchequer and other of the king's council', where a decision was reached and an instruction given to deliver judgment on the case. Although the second stage of the process therefore seems to have been conducted, as might be expected, by the council in camera , the fact that the 'prelates, earls, barons and others' heard and decided the first part of the business in this parliament helps to illustrate the role of the lords, functioning as a great council, in the determining of difficult cases, and thus, by extension, its emerging role as a high court of appeal. (fn. f1340cint-15)

Text and translation

[p. ii-117]
[col. a]
[memb. 1]
LES REMEMBRANCES DU PARLEMENT SOMONS A WESTMONSTIER, AU JOUR DE MESKERDY PROCHEIN APRES LA FEST DE LA TRANSLACION DE SEINT THOMAS LE MARTIR, L'AN DU REGNE NOSTRE SEIGNUR LE ROI EDWARD TIERZ APRES LA CONQUESTE D'ENGLETERRE QUATORZISME, ET DE FRANCE PRIMER. THE OFFICIAL ROLL OF THE PARLIAMENT SUMMONED AT WESTMINSTER ON THE WEDNESDAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE FEAST OF THE TRANSLATION OF SAINT THOMAS THE MARTYR IN THE FOURTEENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF OUR LORD KING EDWARD THE THIRD SINCE THE CONQUEST, AND THE FIRST OF FRANCE.
1. Fait a remembrer qe meisme le jour de mekerdy furent purposes et monstrees en la chaumbre Depeynte, en presence del duc de Cornewaill, gardeyn d'Engleterre, et des prelatz, countes, barons, justices, chivalers des countiez et autres de la commune illoeqes assembliez, les causes de somons de cest parlement, en ceste manere: 1. Let it be remembered that on the same Wednesday the reasons for the summons of this parliament were proposed and declared in the Painted Chamber, in the presence of the duke of Cornwall, keeper of England, and of the prelates, earls, barons, justices, knights of the shires and others of the commonalty assembled there, in this manner:
2. Primerement lour estoit dit coment nostre seignur le roi, avant son darreyn departir d'Engleterre, par la reson q'il entendy d'avoir affaire de ses enemys qe furent sur meer devant lui, et il ne poait savoir en certein ce qe avendroit a lui et as soens qe passeront devers ses ditz enemys en sa compaignie, si avoit il [...] de somondre ce parlement pur assembler les grauntz et autres des communes a meisme parlement, si q'ils feussent prest de treter et ordeyner sur les choses qe avendrount a li et as soens; et auxi de treter sur la garde de la pees de la terre; et de la marche d'Escoce, et de la meer. Et puis, pur prendre counseil et assent coment, et en quele manere, nostre sire le roi [...] et plus toust estre servy del subside qe lui est grantez par commune assent au darrein parlement, et de toller les duretees, difficultees, et empechementz, queux les assignez et les gentz du pais y mettent. Mes pur ceo qe les grantz et autres ne furent mye pleynement venuz, si fu le parlement ajournez tanqe al joedy prochein suant; et puis fu faite une generale proclamacion en la grante sale de Westmonstier, en la fourme qe s'ensuyt. [Opening of parliament.]
2. First, they were told how our lord the king, before his last departure from England, because he intended to fight with his enemies who were on the sea before him, and could not know for certain what would happen to him and to his men who crossed towards his said enemies in his company, had [...] to summon this parliament in order to assemble the great men and others of the commons at the same parliament, so that they would be ready to discuss and ordain the things which might happen to him and his men, and also to discuss the keeping of the peace of the land, of the Scottish march and of the sea. And then, to take council and instruction how, and in what manner, our lord the king [...] and be provided with all speed with the subsidy which was granted to him by common assent at the last parliament, and to remove the hardships, difficulties and obstructions which those assigned and the people of the country place upon the subsidy. But because the great men and others had not all arrived, the parliament was adjourned until the Thursday immediately following; and then a general proclamation was made in the great hall of Westminster, in the form that follows.
3. Pur ce qe avant ces heures as parlementz et consealx nostre seignur le roi debates, riotes et conteks ount este sours et mutz, par tant qe gentz se sount alez es lieux ou les parlementz et counsealx ount est somons et assembleez, armeez d'aketoun, de plates, d'espeis et de longs cotelx et des autres maneres d'armes; et par tiele cause les busoignes de nostre seignur le roi et de son roialme ount este empechiez, et les grauntz et autres qe y sont venuz par son comandement effreiez; nostre seignur le roi, voilliant purvoier de remede contre tielx malx, defende qe nule, sur peyne de forfaiture de quantq'il purra forfaire devers le roi, de quel estat ou condicion q'il soit, ne voise armez d'aketon, ne de plate, ne de haubergeon, ne a espeie, ne a long cotel, ne od autre arme suspecte, en la citee de Loundres, ne en les suburbees, ne en les autres lieux entre la dite cite et le paleys de Westmonstier, ne nule parte en les paleys, par terre ne par ewe, sur la peyne avauntdite; forspris les gentz nostre seignur le roi queux il voudra deputir, ou par son comandement ou comandement du gardeyn de [col. b] la terre, serrount deputez, pur la garde de la pees es ditz lieux; et auxint forspris les ministres le roi, solonc la fourme de l'estatut fait a Norhampton. Et n'est my l'entencion nostre seignur le roi ne du dit gardeyn qe chescun counte et baron puisse avoir sa espeie porte od lui ailliours qe en la presence le roi et du dit gardeyn ou place de counseil. Et auxint est defendu par nostre seignur le roi, et par le dit gardeyn et le counseil, sur peine d'enprisonement, qe nul enfaunt ne autre, ne jue en nul lieu du paleys de Westmonstier, durant le parlement qe y est somons, abares ne a autres jues nient covenables, come a oustier chaperons des gentz, ne a mettre mayne en eux, ne autre empechement faire, par quoi chescun ne puisse peissiblement suir ses busoignes. 3. Because before this time at parliaments and councils of our lord the king debates, riots and quarrels have been inevitable and numerous, because people have brought arms of acton and plate, swords and long knives and other kinds of arms to places where parliaments and council have been summoned and assembled; and because the business of our lord the king and of his realm has been impeded, and the great men and others who have come there by the king's command have been intimidated; our lord the king, wishing to provide remedy against such wrongs, forbids anyone, on penalty of forfeiture of as much as he can forfeit to the king, of whatever estate or condition he may be, to come armed with acton or plate, habergeon, sword, long knife, or with any other suspicious arms, into the city of London or the suburbs, or into other places between the said city and the palace of Westminster, or any part of the palace, by land or by water, on the aforesaid penalty; saving those of our lord the king's people whom he wishes to appoint, or who shall be appointed by his instruction or by the instruction of the keeper of [col. b] the realm, for keeping the peace in the said places; and also saving the king's officials according to the form of the statute made at Northampton. And it is not the intention of our lord the king or of his said keeper that any earl or baron should be prevented from carrying his sword with him anywhere other than in the presence of the king and of the said keeper, or the place of council. And also, it is forbidden on the part of our lord the king, the said keeper and the council, on penalty of imprisonment, that any child or other person shall play either at bars or at any other unsuitable games, such as removing people's hoods, or laying hands on them, in any part of the palace of Westminster during the parliament which is summoned there, nor cause any other trouble by which anyone may not peacefully pursue his business.
Et meisme la proclamacion fu faite en la cite de Loundres, meisme le jour. And the same proclamation was made in the city of London on the same day.
4. A quel joedy fu monstrez as ditz grantz et communes coment, apres la dite somons, Dieu par sa grace avoit done victorie a nostre seignur le roi de ses ditz enemys, a grant asseurance, repose et quiete de touz ses lieges suggiz. Et coment, pur parfournir sa emprise, il lui covendroit a force estre eidez ou perdre ses alliez. 4. On which Thursday the said great men and commons were told how, after the said summons, God by his grace had given victory to our lord the king against his said enemies, to the great security, repose and quiet of all his liege subjects. And how, to complete his undertaking, he needs of necessity to be aided or he will lose his allies.
< Et furent > les chivalers des countiez, cyteyns et burgeys qe furent venuz au parlement chargez par monsir le duk, et par le counseil, de eux avyser coment, et en quele manere, le roi purra < mieutz, > et au plus grant profit de lui et meyndre grevance de son poeple, estre servy de l'eide qe lui est grantez; et de doner lour respons samady prochein suant. And the knights of the shires, citizens and burgesses who had come to the parliament were charged by my lord the duke and by the council to advise them how, and in what manner, the king could best be provided with the aid which was granted to him, to his greatest profit and the least grievance of his people; and to give their answer on the Saturday immediately following.
5. A queu samady, apres grant trete et parlance eue entre les grantz et les ditz chivalers et autres des communes esteantz au dit parlement, si est acordez et assentuz par touz les grantz et communes qe vindrent en dit parlement qe les trois choses grantees a nostre seignur le roi en son darrein parlement, c'estassavoir les neofismes garbes, toisons et aigneux, soient venduz par les assignez a ceo faire, et par les surveours a ce deputez, solonc ce q'est contenuz en les commissiones ent faites; ensi q'ils passent la taxe si les choses valent plus ou al meyns au taxe. Et en cas qe par conspiracie ou fause covyne d'ascuns malveys barettours, ou seignurs des villes, ou par ascunes autres causes, les ditz assignez et surveours soient destourbez q'ils ne les purront vendre au profit du roi, adonques soient les dites trois choses bailliees as seignur des villes, et a ceux des villez, solonc le taxe < au meyns, ou outre s'ils vaillent plus, a la verroie value si les seignurs les voillent avoir; > et s'ils ne les voillent avoir, adonqes soient bailliez a quatre prodes hommes de chescune ville, as queux touz lour veysins serront tenuz de respoundre de ceo qe atient a eux pur les choses susdites, et les quatre outre au roi. Et soient les tresorer et barons certifiez de lour nouns; et si nulle vente soit faite, deinz le taxe soit tenuz pur nulle, et sur ceo soient ascuns grantz, od autres, assignez deprendre informacions par totes les bones voies [p. ii-118][col. a] q'ils purront, qi averont poair a charger chescun solonc ce q'il ad des dites trois choses, et nient autrement, et de veer qe le roi soit servy de ce qe lui est grantez. Et pur avoir plus grante informacion sur cestes choses, acorde est qe mon seignur le duc face ses lettres de prier a l'ercevesqe de Canterbirs, et a touz les evesqes de Engleterre, q'ils facent venir devant eux les persones pur savoir la value des esglises, et la value sue, q'il ent certifient les ditz assignez et surveours, issint q'ils puissent plus seurment aler sur cest busoigne. Et nient meyns facent meismes les assignez et surveours prendre et punir tieux conspiratours et destourbours solonc la fourme contenue en lour commissions. Et si les destourbours soient de tiel estat q'ils ne osent ou ne le poent faire, adonqes certifient la courte des nouns des destourbours, et par lour certificacions, ou par les certificacions des trois ou quatre prodes hommes et loialx qe ne soient pas suspecionous, ou par certificacion des viscountes faite en meisme la manere, soient mandez briefs de les prendre, et mettre en prisone, et salvement garder tanqe autrement soit ordeinez de lour punissement. [Administration of the ninth.]
5. On which Saturday, after great negotiation and discussion was had among the great men and the said knights and others of the commonalty being at the said parliament, it was agreed and assented by all the great men and commons who had come to the said parliament that the three things granted to our lord the king at his last parliament, that is to say, the ninth sheaf, fleece and lamb, shall be sold by those assigned to do this, and by the overseers appointed to this, as is contained in the commissions made thereon, so that they pass the tax whether the things are worth more or less than the assessment. And if, by the conspiracy or false tricks of any wicked troublemakers or lords of vills or for any other reason, the said persons assigned and overseers are disrupted so that they cannot sell to the king's profit, then the said three things shall be sent to the lords of the vills and to those of the vills, according to the lowest assessment, or more if they are worth more, and at the true value if the lords will have them; and if they will not have them, then they shall be sent to four worthy men of each vill, to whom all their neighbours will be bound to answer concerning that which belongs to them for the aforesaid things, and the four likewise to the king. And the treasurer and barons shall be informed of their names; and if any sale shall be made in the assessment, it shall be treated as null, and some great men shall be assigned thereon, with others, to take information in all the reasonable ways [p. ii-118][col. a] they can, who will have power to charge each man according to what he has of the said three things, and not otherwise, and to see that the king is provided with what he was granted. And in order to have greater information on these things, it is agreed that my lord the duke shall make his letters to the archbishop of Canterbury, and to all the bishops of England, to pray that they cause the parsons to come before them in order to discover the value of their churches and possessions, so that they may inform the said persons assigned and overseers thereon, who may then go more surely about this business. And nevertheless the same persons assigned and overseers shall arrest and punish any conspirators and disturbers according to the form contained in their commissions. And if the disturbers are of such estate that they dare not or are unable to act, then they shall inform the court of the names of the disturbers, and by their certification, or by the certification of three or four worthy and lawful men who are above suspicion, or by the certification of sheriffs made in the same manner, writs shall be issued to arrest them and put them in prison, and to have them in safekeeping until it is otherwise ordained concerning their punishment.
6. Et sur ceo vyndrent les countes d'Arundell, de Glouc', et Monsir William Trussel, od [[The following text has been deleted:
le]] lettres de credence souz le prive seal nostre sire le roi, directes as prelatz, countes, et autres grantz assemblez au dit parlement, fesauntes mencion de meisme la victorie, et de la grande necessite qe nostre sire le roi avoit, si q'il covendroit estre hastiement aidez, ou perdre ses amys et ses alliez; dount le tenour s'ensuyt.
[Letter from the king.]
6. And thereon came the earls of Arundel and Gloucester and Sir William Trussell with letters of credence under the privy seal of our lord the king directed to the prelates, earls and other great men assembled at the said parliament, mentioning the same victory and the great need which our lord the king has, so that he must be swiftly aided or he will lose his friends and allies; the tenor of which follows:
'Edward, par la grace de Dieu, roi d'Engleterre et de France et seignur d'Irlande, as ducs, ercevesqes, evesqes, contes, barons et autres qi serront assemblez a ceste nostre preschein parlement a Westm', saluz. Apres nostre venue en Engleterre, nostre parlement somouns et a jour acordez assemblez en lieu susdit, noz busoignes par decea et le grande necessite qe nous avions d'estre eidez pur le bon complisement d'ycelles, monstrez devant ceux qi y estoient, grantz et autres, nous les trovasmes de bone volente, quele ils nous monstrerent bonement, en le grant subside q'ils nous grantierent. Mes pur ceo qe tiel eide grantez ne poet mie al heure estre convertiz en deniers, et nous estoions liez, et autres grantz ovesqe nous, de returner devers Flaundres pur tenir nostre foie vers ceux as queux nous avions fiauncez en dit pays et aillours, a queu chose tenir nous estoions tout fitchez de tenir, et auxint les grantz de nostre counseil qe y estoient nous doneront pur counseil, qe nous le tenissions, nous preismes point de passer od certein noumbre des gentz d'armes a cele heure, et apres qe autres grantz deveroient venir al'autre flote q'estoit ordenez d'estre apparillez a la Seint Johan od touz les grantz et autres q'estoient ordenez adonqes venir. Et sicome nous estoiens sur nostre passage, grante partie de noz chivalx eskippez, nous vyndrent noveles, qe nostre enemy de Valoys si avoit arraiez un grant armee de navie q'estoit devant nous en l'eawe de Zwyne. Les noveles entenues et le perils qe purroient avenir, s'ils fuissent departiz pur damage a nostre roialme d'Engleterre ou aillours sur noz gentz, considerez, et auxint, le comfortz qe eust este a noz enemys, et meement a Escoce, si tiel poair lour feust avenuz, preismes point meintenant de les querre par ou nous les purroions trover, sicome conue chose est a ceux de nostre counseil qe estoient sur nostre departir d'Engleterre; et les trovasmes le jour de Seint Johan en dit port, et tiele grace nous monstra nostre seignur Jhesu Crist sur eux au dit jour qe la victorie nous demora, come nous quidons bien qe assez vous est signifiez par ceux qe y estoient. De quele grace nous leoms Dieux, et vous prioms touz de lui regratier. 'Edward, by the grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to the dukes, archbishops, bishops, earls, barons and others who will be assembled at this our next parliament at Westminster, greeting. After our arrival in England, our parliament was summoned and assembled in the aforesaid place on the day agreed, and our business over here and the great need that we have to be aided for the good accomplishment of the same was declared before those who were there, the great men and others, whom we found to be of good will, which they demonstrated properly in the great subsidy which they granted us. But because such granted aid could not at that time be converted into money, and we, and other great men with us, being bound to return to Flanders to keep our faith to those to whom we are pledged in the said country and elsewhere, which we were resolved to do and also counselled to do by the great men of our council who were there, we decided to cross with a certain number of men-at-arms at that time, and afterwards other great men should come with another fleet which was ordained to be equipped at Saint John with all the great men and others who were ordered to come then. And as we were making our passage, with a great part of our horses shipped, news came to us that our enemy of Valois had arrayed a great army of ships which was ahead of us in the water of Zwin. Having heard this news and considered the perils which could occur if they had gone on to damage our realm of England or our people elsewhere, and also the comforts which would come to our enemies, and especially to Scotland, if such power came to them, we then decided to seek them where we could find them, which thing was known to those of our council who were on our journey from England; and we found them on the day of Saint John in the said port, and our Lord Jesus Christ showed such favour to us against them on the said day that the victory remained with us, as we properly expect was made known to you by those who were there. For which favour we thank God, and pray you all will thank Him.
7. Apres le dit jour de Seint Johan, le pays de Flaundres et auxint autres grantz noz alliez vyndrent [col. b] a nous, et ont monstrez coment le dit nostre enemy estoit sur les marches prest d'entrer Flaundres, ou autre part sur noz alliez, ou il purroit plus damage a eux, et plus chacier de les retraire de nostre alliance. 7. After the said day of Saint John, the region of Flanders and also other great men allied to us came [col. b] to us and declared that our said enemy was on the marches ready to enter Flanders, or elsewhere upon our allies where he could most damage them and most force them to withdraw from our alliance.
8. Nous, considerantz la pursute de nostre droit, et de tenir nostre foi sovereinement, et deresister sa malice, par assent de noz ditz alliez de grantz esteantz entour nous de nostre roialme et du pais de Flaundres, avons pris point d'aler a terre, et adepartir nostre host une partie ovesqe nous vers Tourney, ou il y avera cent mill hommes de Flaundres armez, et Monsir Robert d'Artoys vers Seint Omer od cynquante mill, outre touz noz alliez, et lour poair. A quelle host governer et mesner il busoigne bien grande somme de deniers, outre les dettes qe nous covient necessairment paier avant nostre aler. Vous prions cherement, et a chescun de vous, qe primerement vous voilliez charger le droit qe nous avons apres le grant peril q'est avenir si nous ne soions brevement socourez de deniers, et des biens pur faire gree au dit pays et a noz alliez, et as soudiers qe ont este autre foitz retenuz devers nous, < et > qe se retrerront s'ils ne soient paiez. Et aussint si meismes noz alliez ne soient paiez, ils se dorrent en aventure a nostre enemy, et sa malice et le poair de eux vers lui recoillez, chargez qe nostre terre, nous, noz enfauntz, et touz les grantz et autres en point de perdicion. 8. Considering the pursuit of our right, and above all to keep our faith, and to resist his malice, by assent of our said allies and of the great men being among us from our realm and from the region of Flanders, we decided to land and divide our host, one part to go with us to Tournai where there will be 100,000 armed men of Flanders, and the other part to go with Sir Robert of Artois to Saint Omer with 50,000 men, in addition to all our allies and their armies. In order to maintain and lead this host a very great sum of money is needed, in addition to the debts which of necessity we need to pay before our departure. We dearly pray you, and each of you, that first you will accept the obligation which we have owing to the great peril which will come if we are not quickly aided with money and with goods for making satisfaction to the said region, to our allies and to the soldiers who have previously been retained for us, and who will withdraw if they are not paid. And also if our same allies are not paid they might give themselves to our enemy, and with his malice and their power gathered to him, note that our land, us, our children and all the great men and others would be on the point of ruin.
9. Et si nous soions hastiement eidez, nous esperons de lui trover a meschief, et nous a touz jours apres a nostre desur, qe vous voilliez ordener qe nous soions hastivement socourez des deniers, ou des biens, en manere de faire gre par la ou nous sumes tenuz et de retenir nostre poair, la somme qe nous busoigne brefment, et as queux paier, et as queux jours. Et plus pleinement nostre purpos prise vous scievent monstrer de bouche les countes de Arundell, Huntyngdon', et Glouc', et Monsir William Trussell, qe se ont bien loialment et noblement portez envers nous en ceste busoigne, et qe viegnent devers vous par cause de vous monstrer nostre estat, et noz busoignes. As queux, et chescun de eux, voillez doner pleine foi et credence de ce q'ils vous dirront depar nous. Done souz nostre prive seal, a Brugges, le .ix. jour de Juyl, l'an de nostre regne d'Engleterre quatorzisme, et de nostre regne de France primer.' 9. And since, if we are swiftly aided, we hope to cause him hardship and forever after be under our own authority, that you will ordain, so that we should be swiftly aided with money, or with goods, in order to make satisfaction where we are bound and to retain our power, the sum which we need swiftly, and to whom it shall be paid, and at what time. And the earls of Arundel, Huntingdon and Gloucester and Sir William Trussell, who have acted very loyally and nobly towards us in this business, and who came to you in order to declare our position and our business to you, can declare our purpose more fully. To whom, and to each of them, you will give full faith and credence concerning what they say to you on our behalf. Given under our privy seal at Bruges on 9 July in the fourteenth year of our reign of England, and the first of our reign of France.'
[memb. 2]
10. Les queles lettres leues et entendues, et la credence oye, fu avys a touz qe nostre seignur le roi, sur la grante necessite q'il avoit, ne purroit si hastivement estre eidez de la neofisme susdite come il lui covendroit, par les causes comprises es dites lettres et credence: par qoi les grantz sercherent totes les voies q'ils poaint au fyn qe le roi fu hastiement eidez. Et lour fu avys qe pur hastie chevance et covenable faire sur la grante necessite, il covendroit avoir un certein nombre des saks de leine; et sur ce parler as chivalers des countees, d'avoir lour assent coment homme les purra plus hastiement et plus prestement avoir; et de parler as marchandz de prendre les leynes a un certein pris bon et covenable, et defaire chevance sur les leines; et auxi de trover seurete as marchandz de tenir covenant a eux des choses qe lour serra promys, tiele dont ils se voudrent agreer; et nient meyns de parler as [...] grantz qi ount leines, d'aver les en eide dela dite chevance. Et sur ce les seignur souzescritz qi ore sont presentz au parlement premistrent d'aider de lour leynes; c'estassaver l'ercevesqe de Canterburs, l'evesqe de Loundres, l'evesqe de Cicestr', le counte d'Arundell', monsir le Wak, Monsir Rauf Basset de Drayton, Monsir Bertlemeu de Burghassh', Monsir Geffrai Lescrop', Monsir William Trussell, Monsir Johan de Stonore, Monsir Thomas de Berkele, Monsir Robert de Sadyngton, Monsir Robert de Scardeburgh, Monsir Robert Parvyng, Monsir William de la Pole, Maistre [p. ii-119][col. a] Johan de Hildesle, Monsir Johan de Hardershull, Monsir Nichol de la Beche, Monsir Johan Molyns et Maistre Nichol Haghmon. Sur quel parlance assentuz est et acordez qe le roi soit servy de vynt mill sacs de leyne, aprendre deinz le roialme d'Engleterre, pur le pris nadgairs assentuz a Notyngh'; et qe meismes les vynt mille sacs de leyne ensi grantiez a nostre seignur le roi soient liveretz as marchandz pur une mark meyns del pris acordez nadgairs a Notyng', solonc le sorte et le pris de chescun countie; issint qe les marchandz serront tenuz de paier de chescun sak .xl. s. pur la custume, et le pris de chescun sak a nostre seignur le roi es parties d'outre meer. Et est auxi acordez qe les ditz .xx. .m. saks ne soient assignez ne baillez a nully pur nulle cause quecumqe qe ce soit, eynz < soient > reservez al oeps le roi, et venduz as marchandz come desus est dit. Issint totefoiz qe touz les deniers ent surdantz veignent au roi, pur acquiter ent ses dettes et pur l'esploit de ses grosses busoignes. Et sur ce fu reportez en pleyn parlement l'assent et l'acord en la fourme qe s'ensuyt: [Prise of 20,000 sacks of wool.]
10. These letters having been read and understood, and the credence heard, all were advised that our lord the king, as regards his great need, cannot be aided with the aforesaid ninth as swiftly as he needs to be, for the reasons contained in the said letters and credence; wherefore the great men sought every way they could so that the king would be swiftly aided. And they were advised that, in order to make swift and suitable levy for the great necessity, they would need to have a certain number of sacks of wool; and to speak to the knights of the shires thereon in order to have their opinion as to how they could be had more swiftly and more readily; and to tell the merchants to take the wool at a certain good and suitable price, and to make loans on the wool; and also to find security for the merchants to stand as a contract with them on the things which are promised to them, as they will agree; and also to tell . . . the great men who have wool to have it in aid of the said levy. And thereon the aforesaid lords who were then present at the parliament promised to aid with their wool; that is to say, the archbishop of Canterbury, the bishop of London, the bishop of Chichester, the earl of Arundel, Lord Wake, Sir Ralph Basset of Drayton, Sir Bartholomew Burghersh, Sir Geoffrey Scrope, Sir William Trussell, Sir John Stonor, Sir Thomas Berkeley, Sir Robert Sadington, Sir Robert Scarborough, Sir Robert Parving, Sir William de la Pole, Master [p. ii-119][col. a] John Hildesley, Sir John Hardreshull, Sir Nicholas Beche, Sir John Molyns and Master Nicholas Haghmon. Upon which conversation it was agreed and accorded that the king shall be provided with 20,000 sacks of wool, to be taken in the realm of England for the price formerly agreed at Nottingham; and that the same 20,000 sacks of wool thus granted to our lord the king shall be delivered to the merchants for 1 mark less than the price agreed formerly at Nottingham, according to the quality and price in each county; so that the merchants will be held to pay 40s. from each sack for the custom, and the price of each sack to our lord the king in overseas parts. And it was also agreed that the said 20,000 sacks shall not be assigned or delivered to anyone for any reason whatsoever, but they shall be reserved to the king's use, and sold to the merchants as is aforesaid. So always that all the money arising therefrom shall come to the king, in order to acquit him of his debts and for the accomplishment of his important business. And thereon the agreement and accord were reported in full parliament in the form that follows:
11. Item, est assentuz par les ditz prelatz, countes, barons et autres susditz qe touz les sealx des grantz du roialme qe ne sont pas ore presentz soient auxibien mys a cel assent, come les seals de ceux qe sont presentz; et < qe > les ditz grantz qe sont absentz ent soient requis par le duk, et nient meyns soit meisme l'assent mys en fourme patente soutz le grant seal d'Engleterre, et liveretz as chivalers des counties, de reporter en lour pais. Et outre ce, soit mandez outre mier a nostre seignur le roi, et as grantz du roialme qe y sont, d'avoir ent lour assent et lour sealx, tant pur seurete des grantz qe ont liverez lour leynes, ou qe ont mys lour sealx. Et qe nostre seignur le roi par ses lettres patentes soutz son grant seal, ou soutz le petit, promette en bone foi as ditz prelatz, countes, barons, communes et autres qe tout le subside sourdant del secund an serra reservez en touz les counties d'Engleterre, pur faire gree a ceux des queux les leynes serront prises, et q'il ne soit convertiz en autre oeps tanqe gree soit fait a touz, et qe pur chose nule le dit subside del dit secound' an ne soit assignez aillurs, et qe touz les assignementz faitz ou a faire au contrair soient touz pur nuls. Et qe sur ce expres mandement se face au chaunceller et tresorer, qe si nul mandement lour viegne au contrair, q'il ne facent riens. Et sur ce soient les grantz requis par le duk, q'il eident au roi de lour leines en manere come les autres grantz esteantz au parlement ont fait, par cause de la necessite q'orest, et qe de ce q'il voudrent faire certefient le duk et le counseil sanz delai. 11. Also, it was agreed by the said prelates, earls, barons and aforesaid others that all the seals of the great men of the realm who were not then present should be put to this agreement, as well as the seals of those who were present; and that the said great men who were absent should be required to do so by the duke, and nevertheless the same agreement should be put in patent form under the great seal of England, and delivered to the knights of the shires to announce it in their regions. And further, it should be sent overseas to our lord the king and to the great men of the realm who are there, to have their agreement and their seals thereon, both for the security of the great men who have delivered their wool, and for those who have set their seals. And our lord the king, by his letters patent under his great or privy seal, should promise in good faith to the said prelates, earls, barons, commons and others that the whole subsidy arising in the second year will be reserved in all the counties of England for paying those from whom the wool will be taken, and that it shall not be converted to another use until payment has been made to everyone, and that the said subsidy of the said second year shall not be assigned elsewhere for any reason, and all the assignments made or to be made to the contrary shall be void. And express order thereon shall be made to the chancellor and treasurer, so that if any order comes to them to the contrary, they shall do nothing. And thereon the great men shall be asked by the duke to aid the king with their wool in the manner which the other great men being at the parliament have done, because of the present need, and that they will cause the duke and the council to be informed of this without delay.
Item, assentuz est par le counseil par de cea, qe des deniers dount les marchandz ont empris defaire chevance par dela, sont en la eleccion de nostre sire le roi et de ceux de son counseil par dela, ou le paiement se fra, c'estassaver as Flemyngges, ou as Almandz. [Purveyance of victuals.]
Also, it was agreed by the council over here, concerning the money which the merchants have undertaken to lend overseas, that it is the decision of our lord the king and of those of his council over there as to how the payment shall be made, that is to say, to the Flemings or to the Germans.
12. Item, acordez est qe les vitailles souzescriptz < soient > purveux pur nostre sire le roi od tout le hast qe homme purra pur refrescher la flote, c'estassaver: 12. Also, it was agreed that the victuals listed below should be purveyed for our lord the king with all possible haste to supply the fleet, that is to say:
Dont les deux parties soient purveuz a Sandwice, et la tierce partie a Southampton'. Two thirds of this shall be purveyed at Sandwich, and the third part at Southampton.
Et soit assignez pur la purveiance faire a Sandwice Ambros de Neuburgh', et pur la purveance faire a Suthampton Sire Johan de Wattenhull. And Ambrose Neuburgh shall be assigned for the purveyance to be made at Sandwich, and Sir John Wattenhull for the purveyance to be made at Southampton.
13. Soient assignez au botiller, outre les .mmmdccc.li. qe lui sont assignez sur l'eide es counties d'Essex et Oxon', .dxxi.li. < .xxij. d. > sur l'eide en meisme le countie de Oxenford, sur le primer an. 13. In addition to the £3,800 that was assigned to him from the aid in the counties of Essex and Oxfordshire, £521 22d. should be assigned to the butler from the aid in the same county of Oxfordshire, upon the first year.
[col. b]
Assentuz est par le counseil qe le roi d'Escoce eit trois centz livres sur la porcion demoraunt devers le roi de la biennale graunte a nostre seignur le roi en la diocise d'Everwyk sur les despens. Et soit mandez a l'evesqe de Duresme, a seignur de Percy et a Monsir Rauf de Nevill qe eue regard a ce qe le manoir de Hextildesham est assignez au dit roi d'Escoce en eide de sa sustenance durant la voidance de l'erceveschee d'Everwyk, et qe meisme cesti roi est ordeignez d'aler as parties de Cardoill' pur demorer sur la guerre od .xl. hommes d'armes, lui facent assigner ascun certein place en le countie de Cardoill, ou aillours en lieu covenable, pur sustenance de lui et des ditz gentz d'armes, issint qe le resceivour du lieu ent soit chargez. [The war against the Scots.]
It was agreed by the council that the king of Scotland should have £300 for his expenses from the portion remaining to the king from the biennial grant made to our lord the king in the diocese of York. And the bishop of Durham, Lord Percy and Sir Ralph Nevill, having considered that the manor of Hexham was assigned to the said king of Scotland in aid of his sustenance during the vacancy of the archbishopric of York and that this same king was ordered to go to the parts of Carlisle to await war with 40 men-at-arms, should be ordered to assign him a certain place in the county of Carlisle, or a suitable place elsewhere, for his sustenance and that of the said men-at-arms, so that the receiver of the place shall be charged thereon.
14. Item, il est acordez qe certeins gentz soient assignez de eslire gentz d'armes, hobelours, archiers, es counteez d'Everwyk, Notyngh' et Derby, et de les mesner au Noef Chastell sur Tyne, d'aler de illoeqes as parties de la marche d'Escoce as gages le roi, a demorer y, et chivaucher pur defens de la terre, selonc l'avisement et l'ordenance del counte d'Anegos, le seignur de Percy et de Monsir Rauf de Nevill, qe y sont assignez chevetayns pur le roi. (fn. ii-117-46-1) 14. Also, it was agreed that certain people should be assigned to select men-at arms, hobelers and archers in the counties of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and to bring them to Newcastle upon Tyne, to go from there to parts of the Scottish march at the king's wages, to remain there, and to ride for the defence of the land, according to the advice and order of the earl of Angus, Lord Percy and Sir Ralph Nevill, who are assigned to be captains there for the king. (fn. ii-117-46-1)
Item, acordez est qe mande soit as vendours et as coillours del subside pur touz les counteez d'Engleterre, qe de la demande q'ils font as persones de seinte esglise pur les neofismes garbe, tusoyn et aignel paier des choses dont ils paient la disme biennale, et dont ils soleint estre chargez entre ceux del clergie eintz ces hours, et deivent estre chargez de droit, sursecent del tut: et s'ils y eient mys nul empechement le facent relesser. Also, it was agreed that the sellers and collectors of the subsidy for all the counties of England should be ordered that the demand which they make of people of holy Church for the ninth sheaf, fleece and lamb to be paid from the things upon which they pay the biennial tenth, and for which they were usually charged among the clergy before this time, and rightly ought to be charged, should completely cease; and if they have put any impediment thereon, they should cause it to be released.
15. Item, pur la garde del Isle de Wyght, soit mande au viscont, q'il voise a la dite isle, et entre lui et le conestable de Karesbrok facent assembler les bones gentz del isle; et q'ils eslisent un gardein pur l'isle qe la purra garder tanqe le roi avera autrement ordeignez. 15. Also, for the safekeeping of the Isle of Wight, the sheriff shall be ordered to go to the said isle, and he and the constable of Carisbrooke shall cause the good people of the isle to assemble; and they shall choose a keeper for the isle who will be able to keep it until the king ordains otherwise.
Item, soient assignez Monsir Rauf de Nevill, Monsir William Basset, Monsir Robert Parvyng, Sire Thomas de Malghom, Sire Adam de Steyngrene, trois ou deux de eux, des queux Monsir Rauf, Monsir William, ou Monsir Robert soit un, d'enquere de la verroi value des temporaltez del erceveschee de la Trent. (fn. ii-117-52-1) [Temporalities of the archbishopric of York.]
Also, Sir Ralph Nevill, Sir William Basset, Sir Robert Parving, Sir Thomas Malghom, Sir Adam Steyngrene, three or two of them, of which Sir Ralph, Sir William or Sir Robert shall be one, shall be assigned to inquire into the true value of the temporalities of the archbishopric beyond the Trent. (fn. ii-117-52-1)
16. Item, pur les temporaltez de la dite erceveschee, en le countie de Glouc' et aillurs de cea Trent, Monsir Johan de Bures, Monsir Roger Hillary et William de Chiltenham, ou deux de eux, si qe Monsir Roger soit un. (fn. ii-117-54-1) 16. Also, for the temporalities of the said archbishopric in the country of Gloucestershire and elsewhere on this side of the Trent, Sir John Bures, Sir Roger Hillary and William Chiltenham, or two of them, provided that Sir Roger shall be one. (fn. ii-117-54-1)
Item, soit brief mande au viscont d'Everwyk de garant de liverer le corps le counte de Murref a l'evesqe de Duresme, le sire de Percy < et a > Monsir Rauf de Nevill, a faire outre de lui selonc ce qe le roi ad mande a eux par sa commission. Also, a writ shall be sent to the sheriff of Yorkshire of warrant to deliver the body of the earl of Moray to the bishop of Durham, Lord Percy and Sir Ralph Nevill, to do further with him according to what the king has ordered them by his commission.
17. Item, acordez est et assentuz qe les priours aliens, et autres qe ont lour maisons et possessions a ferme par commissions de nostre sire le roi, et qi paient lour ferme, soient quites del neofisme garbe, neosisme toyson, et neofisme aignel, tant come lour dites maisons et autres possessions demurreront en la mayn du roi. [Exemptions from the ninth.]
17. Also, it was agreed and assented that the alien priors and others who have their houses and possessions at farm by commissions of our lord the king, and who pay their farm, shall be quit of the ninth sheaf, the ninth fleece and the ninth lamb, as long as their said houses and other possessions remain in the king's hands.
Item, acordez est qe abbes et priours, et autres gentz de religion, qe paient lour dismes, et qi ne sont pas somons < de venir > au parlement, eient briefs de surseer de lever le neofisme de eux tanqe a la quinzeyne de Seint Michel proschein avenir. Also, it was agreed that abbots and priors and other people of religion who pay their tenths, and who are not summoned to come to parliament, shall have writs to surcease from levying the ninth from them until the quinzaine of Michaelmas next coming.
Item, qe les hospitalx qi sont founduz pur pours ou malades, et qi ne soleint estre taxez eynz ces houres, soient fait quites del neofisme. Also, the hospitals which were founded for the poor or sick, and which were not usually taxed before this time, shall be quit of the ninth.
[p. ii-120]
[col. a]
18. Item, soit mandez par brief a chescun viscont d'Engleterre, q'il facent venir devant le counseil a Loundres, le lundy preschein apres l'assumpcion de nostre Dame, de chescune citee et burgh de sa baillie, et del corps du countie, un noumbre < des marchandz > qe serra accordez de treter od le counseil le roi sur certeyns poyntz qe lour serront monstrez iloeqes ou a Westmonstier; et q'il ne lesse ce la sur peyne de perdre son office, et de prendre ses terres en la mayn le roi, par cause qe ceste busoigne touche si pres au roi et l'estat de son roialme. Et q'il certefie au jour des nouns de tielx marchandz. (fn. ii-117-64-1) [Summons of merchants.]
18. Also, every sheriff in England shall be ordered by writ to cause a number of merchants to come before the council at London on the Monday immediately following the Assumption of Our Lady, from each city and borough of his bailiwick and from the body of the county, who will agree to speak with the king's council about certain matters which will be declared to them there or at Westminster; and the sheriff shall not neglect to do this on penalty of losing his office, and of having his lands taken into the king's hands, since this business so closely concerns the king and the estate of his realm. And he shall certify the names of such merchants on the day. (fn. ii-117-64-1)
Item, soit mande par brief a touz viscontz d'Engleterre q'il facent crier et defendre parmy lour baillies, qe nul homme, marchand n'autre, de quele condicion q'il soit, vende ne achate leynes tanqe le roi soit servy des leynes qe lui sont grantiez; et qe nul face retrere ne muster ses leynes, sur peyne de forfaiture, et sur peyne de perdre meismes les leynes. Et auxint soient briefs mandez as custumers, coment le counseil ad entenduz, qe plusours leynes sont passez en divers lieux, et passent de jour en autre, sanz ce qe le roi est servy de sa custume qe a lui apartient; et qe le roi voet eschure tielx malx comande a eux q'il ne soeffrent nulles leynes passer sanz ce qe le roi soit duement servy de sa custume; et coment le roi ad assignez certeines gentz de faire la serche des tieles leynes, et qe les custumers ne les soeffrent mye passer tanqe le serche soit fait. [Writs concerning wool.]
Also, all the sheriffs in England shall be ordered by writ to cause it to be announced and forbidden that any man, merchant or other, of whatever condition he may be, sell or buy wool until the king is provided with the wool which was granted to him; and that no-one shall cause his wool to be withheld or water-logged on penalty of forfeiture and of losing the same wool. And writs shall also be sent to customs officers, that the council has understood that much wool was exported to various places, and is exported from day to day, without the king being provided with his custom which belongs to him; and in order that the king avoid such evil they are ordered to allow no wool to be exported before the king is duly provided with his custom; and that the king has assigned certain people to search for such wool, and that the customs officers shall not allow them to cross until the search has been made.
Item, soit brief fait as vendours et coillours del neofisme en le countie de Sutht', q'ils vendent la neofisme en l'Isle de Wyght come par aillours en le countie, solonc la fourme de la commission ent fait. Also, a writ shall be made to the sellers and collectors of the ninth in the county of Hampshire to sell the ninth in the Isle of Wight as elsewhere in the county, according to the form of the commission made thereon.
Item, soit brief fait pur touz ceux de l'Isle as ditz vendours de surseer de la levee del dit neofisme tanqe a la quinzeine de la Seint Michiel proschein avenir, ensi qe homme purra ordener endemettres ce qe ent doit estre fait. Also, a writ shall be made on behalf of all those of the isle to the said sellers to oversee the levy of the said ninth until the quinzaine of Michaelmas next coming, so that in the meantime it might be ordained as to what should be done in this matter.
Puis furent les choses parlees et tretees en dit parlement pleynement, ensemblement od lettres des grandz du counseil mandees a nostre seignur le roi outre meer, en la manere qe s'ensuyt: [Letter of the magnates to the king.]
Afterwards these things were talked over and discussed fully in the said parliament, together with letters of the great men of the council sent to our lord the king overseas, in the manner that follows:
[memb. 3]
19. 'Fait a remembrer qe en cest preschein parlement, avant la venue des countes d'Arundel et de Glouc', et Monsir William Trussell, des parties de dela, si fu diligeaument parlez et tretez coment la neofisme grantee a nostre sire le roi purroit plus hastiement estre levez qe ne fu ordenez devant, pur la graunte necessite qe nostre sire le roi avoit; et ala venue des ditz countes et Monsir William, si fu avant le departir du parlement, meismes les countes et Monsir William monstrerent sagement et avisement, selonc la credence q'ils avoient de nostre sire le roi, as prelatz, countes, barons, et autres de la commune de la terre, les outrageous meschiefs et chargeantes necessitees qe nostre dit sire le roi avoit es dites parties de dela, pur defaut de paiement faire des diverses grosses sommes, auxibien as communes des villes en les terres de Flaundres et Brabant, come as singuliers persones ses allies celes parties; et pluis grantes meschiefs et perils covendroit lui et les grantz ovesqe lui esteantz endurer, s'il ne feust le pluis hastiement eidez q'il ne purroit estre de la levee de la neofisme avantdite. Par qoi les avantditz prelatz, countes, barons et communes, considerees les choses susdites, graunteront a nostre dit sire le roi vynt mille saks de layne, a prendre proporcionelment en chescun countie d'Engleterre, en qi mayns qe les leynes feussent trovez, sanz nule delaie. Issint totefoitz qe gree feust faite a chescun de qi les leynes serront issint prises de les primers deniers sourdantz de la neofisme del secound an, si qe rien ent feust leve al oeps nostre dit sire le roi, ne paiez par assignement, n'autre manere, tanqe gree fu faite en la manere pur les dites leynes selonc le pris [col. b] autrefoitz ordenez a Notyngham; queles leynes granteront les prelatz, countes, barons et communes susditz en manere qe eles feussent convertiz et despendues forsqe pur l'esploit de sa guerre, et gree faire a ceux as queux il est ensi obligez, et pur salvacion et defens de son roialme, et nemy en autre manere. Et pur la levee des avantdites leynes < si sont > commissions et briefs faites en la manere qe affiert.' 19. 'Let it be remembered that in this current parliament, before the arrival of the earls of Arundel and Gloucester and Sir William Trussell from overseas, it was diligently talked over and discussed as to how the ninth granted to our lord the king could be levied more swiftly than was previously ordained, as a result of the great need of our lord the king; and upon the arrival of the said earls and Sir William, if it is before the conclusion of the parliament, the same earls and Sir William will declare wisely and carefully, according to the credence which they have from our lord the king, to the prelates, earls, barons and others of the commonalty of the land, the outrageous misfortunes and weighty necessities which our said lord the king has in the said overseas parts for default of payment of various amounts to the commonalty of the towns in the lands of Flanders and Brabant as well as to individual people who are his allies in those parts; and he and the great men who are with him will need to endure more great misfortune and perils if he is not more swiftly aided than he can be of the levy of the aforesaid ninth. Wherefore the aforesaid prelates, earls, barons and commons, having considered the aforesaid things, will grant to our said lord the king 20,000 sacks of wool, to be taken proportionally in each county of England, in whoever's hands the wool should be found, without any delay. So always that payment should be made to each person from whom the wool is thus taken and from the first money arising from the ninth of the second year, so that nothing should be levied to the use of our said lord the king, or paid by assignment or in other manner, until payment is made in that manner for the said wool according to the price [col. b] previously ordained at Nottingham; which wool the aforesaid prelates, earls, barons and commons will grant provided that it only be converted and expended for the accomplishment of his war, and for the payment to be made to those to whom he is thus obliged, and for the salvation and defence of his realm, and not in any other manner. And for the levy of the aforesaid wool, commissions and writs should be made in a trustworthy manner.'
Item, sur le departir du dit parlement vyndrent certeins marchantz devant le counseil du roi, et treterent od le dit counseil sur l'achate des leynes le roi, es ascunes counties; et est acordez entre le dit counseil et eux de la forme de cele achate en la manere qe s'ensuyt. [Agreement with the merchants.]
Also, upon the conclusion of the said parliament certain merchants came before the king's council, and discussed with the said council the purchase of the king's wool in certain counties; and the form of this purchase was agreed between the said council and the merchants in the manner that follows:
20. Acordez est et assentuz qe Henry Goldbeterre, Thomas Graa, William de Acastre et Johan de Lutryngton eient .md. saks de leyne bones et fiebles parmy le countie d'Everwyk, qe sont apporciones en meisme le countie. C'est assaver, le sak pur .iiij.li. et .x. s. apaier deynz les trois symeignes apres qe les leynes serront liveretz par vynt, trent ou quarant saks, ou pluis, et purront resonablement estre cariees au preschein port, en paiement d'or, solonc le pris qe l'or court par de la entre marchand et marchand; et outre ce as custumers ou les leynes passeront .xl. soldz pur chescun sak. Et sont les ditz marchandz tenuz a paier .mmm. mars a Brugges, a garderober ou a celui qe le roi vourra deputer, le primer jour de Septembre proschein avenir. Et averont allouwance de meismes les .mmm. mars, ensemblement od .m.li. queux lour furent assignez sur la custume d'Everwyk, dont ils sont oustez pur ascunes grosses busoignes touchantz le roi, en le paiement q'ils ferront pur les dites leynes. 20. It was agreed and assented that Henry Goldbeter, Thomas Graa, William Acastre and John Luterington should have 1,500 sacks of good and sound wool from the county of Yorkshire, assessed in the same county, that is to say, £4 10s. for each sack, to be paid within three weeks after the wool is delivered in quantities of twenty, thirty or forty sacks or more and can thus reasonably be carried to the nearest port, in payment of gold, according to the price at which gold runs overseas between merchant and merchant; and a further 40s. for each sack to the customs officers where the wool is exported. And on 1 September next coming the said merchants are bound to pay 3,000 marks at Bruges to the keeper of the wardrobe or to whoever the king will appoint to this. And they will have allowance of the said 3,000 marks, together with £1,000 assigned to them on the custom of York, from which they are removed for certain important business touching the king, in the payment which they will make for the said wool.
21. Item, en les counties Notyngham et Derby sont assignez et venduz a Hardelef de Barton', marchand de Kyngeston sur Hull, et a Thomas Tyrwhite, marchand de Beverle, .m. saks de leyne, qe y sont apporcionees, chescun sak par une mark meyns del pris nadgairs acordez a Notingham, c'estassaver, .d. saks en le dit countie de Notyngham, chescun sak pur sept mars et demy, et autres .d. saks en le dit countie de Derby, chescun sak pur sys mars et demy, apaier deynz les trois symeignes, come desus est dit; et outre ce as custumers .xl. soldz pur chescun sak. Et paieront a Brugges, as oytaves de la nativite de nostre Dame proschein avenir, a garderober, ou a celui qe le roi deputera, .d.li. Et averont allowance de meismes les .d.li. en le paiement q'il ferront pur meismes les leynes a eux liveres. 21. Also, in the counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire 1,000 sacks of wool are assigned and sold to Hardelef Barton, merchant of Kingston-upon-Hull, and to Thomas Tyrwhite, merchant of Beverley, each sack of which wool is assessed at 1 mark less than the price formerly agreed at Nottingham, that is to say, 500 sacks in the said county of Nottinghamshire, each sack at 7½ marks, and the other 500 sacks in the said county of Derbyshire, each sack at 6½ marks, to be paid within three weeks, as is aforesaid; and a further 40s to the customs officers for each sack. And at Bruges on the octave of the Nativity of Our Lady next coming they will pay £500 to the keeper of the wardrobe or to whoever the king will appoint to this. And they will have allowance of the same £500 in the payment which they will make for the same wool delivered to them.
22. Item, en les counties de Cumbr' et Westmerl' sont assignez et venduz a Thomas de Levesham, William de Mallerstange et William de Baynbrig, marchandz d'Everwyk, .cccc. saks de leyne, qe y sont apporciones, chescun sak pur une mark meyns del pris nadgairs acordez a Notyngham, c'estassaver, .cc. saks en le dit countie de Cumbr', chescun sak pur .iiij. mars, et autres .cc. saks en le dit countie de Westmerl', chescun sak pur .iiij. mars, apaier deynz les trois symeignes, come desus est dit; et outre ce as custumers .xl. soldz pur chescun sak. Et paient a Brugges, a la fest de Seint Michiel proschein avenir, a garderober, ou a celui qe le roi deputera, .c.li. et averont allowance come desus est dit. 22. Also, in the counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland 400 sacks of wool are assigned and sold to Thomas Levisham, William Mallerstange and William Bainbridge, merchants of York, which wool is assessed, each sack for 1 mark less than the price formerly agreed at Nottingham, that is to say, 200 sacks in the said county of Cumberland, each sack at 4 marks, and the other 200 sacks in the said county of Westmoreland, each sack at 4 marks, to be paid within three weeks, as is aforesaid; and a further 40s. to the customs officers for each sack. And at Bruges at the feast of Michaelmas next coming they shall pay £100 to the keeper of the wardrobe or whoever the king will appoint to this, and they will have allowance as aforesaid.
23. Item, en les counties de Leyc' et Rotel' sont assignez et venduz a Wautier le Prest, marchand de Melton Moubray, et a Hugh Cokheved, marchand de Barton sur Humbr', .dc. saks de leyne, qe y sont apporciones, chescun sak pur une mark meyns del pris [p. ii-121][col. a] nadgairs acordez a Notyngham, c'estassaver, en le dit countie de Leyc' .d. saks, le sak pur .viij. mars, et en le dit countie de Rotel' .c. saks, le sak pur .vi. mars et demy, apaier deynz les trois symeignes, come desus; et outre ce as custumers .xl. soldz pur chescun sak. Et paieront a Brugges le primer jour de Septembre, come desus est dit, .dc. mars. Et averont allowance de meismes les .dc. mars, ensemblement od .cc. mars dues au dit Wautier, et .iiij. .xx. .vij.li. dues au dit Hugh, pur deniers cheviz au roi a sa darreyn venue en Engleterre, en le paiement q'ils ferront pur les leynes susdites. 23. Also, in the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland 600 sacks of wool are assigned and sold to Walter Prest, merchant of Melton Mowbray, and to Hugh Cokheved, merchant of Barton upon Humber, which wool is assessed, each sack at 1 mark less than the price [p. ii-121][col. a] formerly agreed at Nottingham, that is to say, in the said county of Leicestershire 500 sacks, each sack at 8 marks, and in the said county of Rutland 100 sacks, each sack at 6½ marks, to be paid within three weeks, as is aforesaid; and a further 40s. to the customs officers for each sack. And at Bruges on 1 September, as is aforesaid, they will pay 600 marks. And they will have allowance of the same 600 marks, together with 200 marks due to the said Walter and £87 due to the said Hugh for money transferred to the king upon his last arrival in England, in the payment which they will make for the aforesaid wool.
24. Item, en les counties de Salop et Staff' sont assignez et venduz a Thomas Colle, Richard de Weston, Adam de la Home, et Johan Rotour, .dccc. saks de leyne, qe y sont apporcionees, chescun sak pur une mark meyns del pris nadgairs acordez a Noting': c'estassaver, el dit countie de Salop' .cccc. saks, le sak pur .ix. mars et demy; et en le dit countie de Staff' .cccc. saks, le sak pur .viij. mars; apaier deynz les trois symeignes, come desus: et outre ce as custumers .xl. s. pur chescun sak. Et paieront a Brugges le jour de Seint Michiel, ou devant s'ils purront, .m. mars, come desus. Et averont allowance de meismes les .m. mars, come desus est dit. 24. Also, in the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire 800 sacks of wool are assigned and sold to Thomas Colle, Richard Weston, Adam de la Home and John Rotour, which wool is assessed, each sack at 1 mark less than the price formerly agreed at Nottingham, that is to say, in the said county of Shropshire 400 sacks, each sack at 9½ marks, and in the said county of Staffordshire 400 sacks, each sack at 8 marks, to be paid in the three weeks, as aforesaid; and a further 40s. to the customs officers for each sack. And at Bruges on Michaelmas, or before if they can, they will pay 1,000 marks as aforesaid. And they will have allowance of the same 1,000 marks, as is aforesaid.
25. Item, purce qe adonqes ne estoient autres marchandz presentz qe voleynt bargaigner les leynes le roi es autres counties, par quele bargaigne nostre dit sire purra plus hastiement et plus profitablement pur lui estre eidez et cheviz en cest sa grant busoigne qe en nul autre manere qe le counseil savoit et purroit ordeigner, si feust acordez par le dit counseil, et comandez, qe briefs feussent hastiement faitz de faire venir certein noumbre des marchandz, auxibien des grandes villes come des corps des counties de chescun countie d'Engleterre, si q'ils feussent a Loundres le lundy preschein apres cest fest de l'assumcion nostre Dame, pur treter od le dit counseil sur l'achate de meismes les leynes le roi es autres counties, en la pluis profitable manere pur le roi qe le counseil purra a donqes ordeigner et avenir, et sur ascuns autres chevances faire si nules de eux purront avoir. A quel jour, l'ercevesqe, et ascuns autres evesques, et auxint countes, et barons, qe sont procheins a Loundres, sont mandez de y estre. Les queux briefs feurent hastiement faites et envoiez avant, solonc l'acord avandit. (fn. ii-117-88-1) 25. Also, since at that time there were other merchants present who wished to trade the king's wool in other counties, by which trade our said lord could so swiftly and profitably be aided and satisfied in this his great need that the council could not ordain in any other manner, the said council agreed and ordered that writs would be swiftly made to cause a certain number of merchants, from great towns as well as from the bodies of the shires from each county in England, to come to London on the Monday immediately following this feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, in order to negotiate with the said council upon the purchase of the same wool of the king in other counties, in the manner most profitable for the king that the council could ordain and decide, and on any other levies to be made if any of them could be had. On which day the archbishop and some other bishops and also the earls and barons who were near London were ordered to be there. These writs were swiftly made and sent out, according to the aforesaid agreement. (fn. ii-117-88-1)
26. Item, les marchandz de Bard et de Peruch' feurent faitz venir devant le counseil, de savoir de eux quel eide ils vourront faire en certein pur l'assignement qe feu ordenez pur eux; c'estassaver, de tote la neofisme en l'ercedeaknie de Nicole, et en les counties de Hereford, Salop', Staff', Warr', Leyc', et Hertford, pur le primer an. Les queux marchandz, apres plusours tretes et parlances eues ovesqes eux, granteront devant le dit counseil, de faire gree et paiementz as persones, et de les sommes souzescrites, devant la fest de la nativite de nostre Dame proschein avenir; c'estassaver, a Matheu Dast de .d. saks de leyne pris del sak un parmy autre .vi.li., dont la somme est .mmm. livers sanz la custume, et a les gentz de Lovaigne .d. .iiij. .xx. saks de divers pais, dont la somme du pris serra environ .mmmcccc. .iiij. .xx. li. sanz la custume, et as gentz de Malyns .vi. .m. li., et a Monsir Simond de Hales .x. .m. .d.li., et as Almandz .mdcccc.li., et a Monsir Hugh de Geneve .mmc. .iiij. .xx. .ix.li. .viij. s. .vi. d., et a Monsir Rauf de Hautevill .miij.li., et a Monsir Johan Deynard .dxxiij.li. .vi. s. .viij. d. La somme en tout .xxviij. .m. .d. .iiij. .xx. .xv.li .xv. s. .ij. d. Queux graunt et emprise des ditz paiementz faire avant le jour susdit les avanditz marchandz ont pleinement reconuz devant le counseil, et surce ont fait lour lettres patentes, la copie des queux est cosu a celle roule. 26. Also, the merchants of the Bardi and Peruzzi were made to come before the council to learn from them what assistance they would offer in return for the assignment which was ordained for them; that is to say, of the whole ninth in the archdeaconry of Lincoln and in the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Hertfordshire, for the first year. Which merchants, after much conversation and discussion was had among them, granted before the said council that they would make satisfaction and payment to the people and of the sums written below before the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady next coming, that is to say: to Matthew Dast 500 sacks of wool at the price of £6 for the sack, the total of which is £3,000 without the custom; to the people of Louvain 580 sacks from various regions, the total price of which will be around £3,480 without the custom; to the people of Malines £6,000; to Sir Simon Hales £10,500; to the Germans £1,900; to Sir Hugh Geneve £2,189 8s. 6d.; to Sir Ralph Hautevill £1,003; and to Sir John Deynard £523 6s. 8d. The sum total is £28,595 15s. 2d. The aforesaid merchants have clearly acknowledged before the council that this grant and undertaking of the said payments will be made before the aforesaid day, and they have made their letters patent thereon, the copy of which is attached to this roll.
[col. b]
Item, parlez est et tretez od le dit Matheu, pur deliverer les joiaux nostre dit seignur le roi, queux sont engagez devers lui et ses compaignons, en ceste manere, qe le ditz Matheu ad grauntez devant le counseil, q'il se tient as ditz marchandz de Bard et de Peruch' pur les ditz .d. saks de leyne, come leynes resceux de eux endescharge du roi. Et q'il fra coillier et carier cestes leynes as parties de dela a ses custages propres, mes a peril du roi sur mier, pur le pris de .mmm.li. come avant est dit; et paiera .xl. s. de custume pur chescun sak par decea. Et auxint il resceivera des leynes le roi par decea .mcc. saks du pris de Notyngh', selonc le sort des counties, une mark meyns au sak, dont il paiera la custume, come desus est dit. Et les fra coillier et carier a ses custages propres, mes le peril de mier sur le roi, en plein paiement de tote la dette pur les joiaux par bon acompt. Et ad le dit Matheu auxint grauntiez, d'aprester au roi hastiement es parties de dela .x. .m. floryns; et en partie de paiement de meismes les floryns si avera il cent saks des leynes le roi devant la mayne, de mesner en la manere susdit. Et pur le remenant de meismes cel paiement, soeffisante seurete ou assignement lui serra faite. Also, it was discussed and negotiated with the said Matthew, for the delivery of the jewels of our said lord the king which are pledged to him and his companions, in this manner, so that the said Matthew has agreed before the council that he shall be bound to the said merchants of the Bardi and Peruzzi for the said 500 sacks of wool as wool received from them in discharge of the king. And he shall cause this wool to be collected and carried overseas at his own expense, but at the king's liability on the sea, for the price of £3,000 as is aforesaid; and he will pay 40s. of the custom for each sack in this realm. And he will also receive 1,200 sacks of the king's wool, according to the quality in each county, at 1 mark less per sack than the price of Nottingham, for which he will pay the custom as is aforesaid. And he shall cause them to be collected and carried at his own expense, but at the king's liability on the sea, in full payment of the whole debt for the jewels by good account. And the said Matthew has also agreed to lend 10,000 florins swiftly to the king overseas; and in part of the payment of the same florins, he will have 100 sacks of the king's wool in advance to bring in the aforesaid manner. And sufficient security or assignment will be made to him for the remainder of this same payment.
27. Item, le counseil ad parlez et tretez od Monsir William de la Pole, si qe le dit Sire William ad grauntez de chevir a nostre dit seignur le roi de .mmm. mars es parties de dela, devant la fest de Seint Michel, apluis en hast q'il purra; si qe l'assignementz qe lui feurent faitz lui soient gardez et tenuz. Et s'il soit ouste de nul assignement, qe en lieu de cel il eit autre covenable. Et sont ordeignez pur lui ascuns autres assignementz, des leynes, d'autres choses, et ensement de la neofisme en le countie de Suff', quel feu primerement assignez a dit Matheu pur la dette des joiaux avantditz. Issint qe ent face chevir a nostre dit seignur de temps en temps, c'estassavoir des leynes en la manere qe autres marchandz ferront, et des autres choses a mieltz q'il purra. 27. Also, the council has spoken and negotiated with Sir William de la Pole, so that the said Sir William has agreed to lend our said lord the king 3,000 marks overseas, before the feast of Michaelmas, as quickly as he can, so that the assignments which were made to him shall be observed and upheld. And if he is denied any assignment, he shall have another suitable assignment in its place. And some other assignments are ordained for him, of wool, of other things and also of the ninth in the county of Suffolk, which was first assigned to the said Matthew for the debt of the aforesaid jewels. So that he shall thus make loans to our said lord from time to time, that is to say, of wool in the manner which other merchants will, and of other things to the best of his ability.
28. Item, pleise a nostre seignur le roi, et a son counseil par dela, aver regard a les choses qe sont faites a son profit par bon deliberacion de son counseil par de cea, et par grauntes seurete et promesses queux grantz et autres de son counseil y ont faite pur tenir les choses ensi ordenees, qe rien soit fait a l'encontre ne a defesance de ycelles. Qar plusours damages et meschiefs y sueroient si les covenantes ensi faites soient enfreyntes. 28. Also, may it please our lord the king and his council overseas to have regard for the things which were done to his profit by the good deliberation of his council in this realm; and by the great security and promises which the great men and others of his council have made there to uphold the things thus ordained, so that nothing is done to the contrary or to the prejudice of the same. For much damage and misfortune should follow if the agreements thus made were broken.
Item, sur la garde de la mier, et les purveances des niefs, et totes autres choses touchantes l'aler de la navie sur mier, et de ce qe touche les Isles de Gerresseye, et Gernereye, si est Monsir William Trussel pleinement enformez, pur certifier ent nostre seignur le roi, et les autres de son counseil par dela. Also, Sir William Trussell is fully informed about the safekeeping of the sea, the requisitioning of ships and all other matters touching the going of the fleet on the sea, and what concerns the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey, in order to inform our lord the king and the others of his council overseas thereon.
Item, fait a remembrer de l'assignement fait a Antoyn Bathe, pur la deliverance des joiaux le roi. Also, let it be remembered that an assignment was made to Anthony Bathe for the delivery of the king's jewels.
Item, de l'assignement fait a Conrad Clippyng, et Godekyn de Renle sur les custumes d'Engleterre. (fn. ii-117-102-1) Also, an assignment was made to Conrad Clipping and Godkin Renle on the customs of England. (fn. ii-117-102-1)
Item, fait a remembrer, d'assigner totes les leynes le roi en le countie de Glouc', qe sont eismees a .d. saks, al oeps ma dame la Reyne Phelip', en eide d'acquiter ses dettes par dela, en partie de paiement de .vij. .m. .ccclxxv.li. qe la sont dues par billes de la garderobe, et dont le roi ad comandez qe assignement se face hastiement. Also, let it be remembered to assign all the king's wool in the county of Gloucestershire, which is estimated at 500 sacks, to the use of our lady Queen Philippa in aid of acquitting her debts overseas, in part payment of £7,375 which is due by bills of the wardrobe and for which the king has commanded that an assignment shall swiftly be made.
29. Tresredoute seignur, a vostre parlement sommons a Westm' par assent de vous meismes avant vostre departir si estoit monstre, coment apres la dite somons vous aviez la victoire de voz anemis, par la grace de Dieu, par quele grace le poeple de vostre roialme totes partz furont le plus assurez a demorer et reposer en quiete, et voz anemis d'Escoce, et de totes partz, le plus desassurez et esbaiz. Par quoi, par celle cause et autres, si fust requis as grantz et autres de vostre roialme, en plein parlement, [p. ii-122][col. a] qe eantz regard a ce q'il vous covendroit estre hastiement aidez, a tenir covenantz a voz alliez, et as gentz de Flandres, et a parfournir, par l'aide de Dieux, vostre emprise; queu chose ne se poait faire par ne neofuyme de garbe, leine et aigneux a vous grante, par cause qe ce ne poeit si hastiement estre leve, si aucune autre aide ne vous fust grante de quoi deniers puissent plus hastiement estre levez. Sur quele requeste, les grantz et communes de vostre roialme avoient grant traitee et parlaunce; dedeynz queu traite, survyndrent les countes d'Arundell, et de Glouc', et Monsir William Trussell, qe bien et noblement, et en bone manere, monstrerent la bone grace qe Dieu vous avoit prestee, le angoisse et peril en quel vous, nostre dame la roine, et les grantz qe sont entur vous, estoiez por defaute d'argent. Et par quoi par cause de la dite primere demonstrance, et le excitement des ditz countes, et Monsir William, les grantz et communes qe estoient a vostre dit parlement, eauntz regard au grant meschif en quel vous serriez si vous ne feussez aidez, si vous ount graunte .xx .m. sacs de leine, a prendre hastiement queu part q'eles soient trovez, en la forme qe s'ensuyt; c'estassaver, chescun sak au pris nadgairs assentuz a Notyngh', ensint qe chescun de qi la dite leine serroit prise, si en soit servi de la neofuyme de garbe, leine et aigneux et autre subside a vous grante du secound an. Dont, sire, nous sumes entour, et serroms de jour en autre, a traiter ove marchandz, et totes maners de gentz ove queux nous purroms, a faire lever deniers de les dites leines, et auxint ce qe hom poet des dites leines et subsides a venir hastiement devers vous, en aide a vous deliverer des covenantz et promesses qe vous avez fait par de la. Et si tost come nous averoms fait ascun exploit de chevaunce fait sur le dit aide, ou autre qe vous purra valeir en certein, qe serra moult par temps, ove l'aide de Dieux, vous ent serrez hastiement certefiez par le dit Monsir William Trussel, ou autre qe vous serra hastiement envoiez. Sur quele chose nous travailleroms de jour en autre sans ascun fenttise tanqe vous sachez le certein. Et certeinement, sire, voillez entendre qe l'entente des grantz et communes de vostre roialme si est, qe cest aide ne soit pas mys en mayns de tielx come voz autres leines ont este mys avant ces houres, ou vous n'avez este serviz de riens a l'afferant; mes tout le dit grant viegne a vostre profit, a deliverance de vous et de vostre meschief, et a bon exploit de vostre emprise. Et porce qe le dit aide ne vous estoit grante avant le lundy la veille Seint Jake, si ne voillez, sire, enmerveiller, ne voz alliez, et voz bones gentz de Flandres ne le deivent faire, qe les dites leines, ne l'argent d'ycelles ne vous est encore venuz. Car, certeinement quantqe poet estre levez de voz ditz subsides vous veudront de jour en autre si tost come travail et sen de home le purra faire. Le seint espirit etc. Escrit a Westm', le .xxx. me jour de Juyl, par l'arcevesqe de Cant', chaunceller, tresorer, le comte d'Arundell, Thomas de Wak de Lidel, et autres de vostre counseil en Engleterre. [Letter of the chancellor, treasurer and others of the council to the king.]
29. Most dread lord, at your parliament summoned at Westminster, by the assent of you yourself before your departure, it was declared after the said summons that you had the victory against your enemies, by the grace of God, by which grace the people of all parts of your realm were more assured of living and reposing in quiet, and your enemies from Scotland and elsewhere were more disquieted and afraid. Wherefore, for this reason and others, the great men and others of your realm were asked in full parliament, [p. ii-122][col. a] considering that you needed to be aided swiftly in order to uphold agreements with your allies and the people of Flanders, and to complete, by the aid of God, your undertaking, which could not be done by means of the ninth sheaf, wool and lamb granted to you, since this could not be levied very swiftly, that another aid would be granted to you from which money might more swiftly be levied. The great men and commons of your realm had great negotiation and discussion upon this request; in which negotiation the earls of Arundel and Gloucester and Sir William Trussell appeared and declared well and nobly and in a good manner the good grace which God had lent you, and the anguish and peril in which you, our lady the queen, and the great men who are among you had for default of money. And wherefore, by reason of the said first discussion and the urging of the said earls and Sir William, the great men and commons who were at your said parliament, having regard for the great misfortune which you would have if you were not aided, granted you 20,000 sacks of wool, to be swiftly taken wherever they shall be found, in the form that follows; that is to say, each sack at the price formerly agreed at Nottingham, so that each person from whom the said wool is taken shall be compensated for the ninth sheaf, wool and lamb and other subsidy granted to you for the second year. Wherefore, lord, we are, and will be from day to day, bent on negotiating with merchants and with all manner of people whom we can, to cause money to be levied from the said wool, and also to cause as much of the said wool and subsidies as possible swiftly to come to you, to be delivered to you in aid of the agreements and promises which you have made overseas. And as soon as we have made any progress concerning the levy made upon the said aid, or other which could definitely assist you, which, with the aid of God, will be very soon, you will be immediately informed thereon by the said Sir William Trussell, or another who you will presently send. We will labour on this matter from day to day without any relaxation until you know definitely. And certainly, lord, you will understand that the intent of the great men and commons of your realm is that this aid shall not be put in the hands of such men as had your other wool before this time, from which you have received no appropriate benefit; but that the whole said grant should come to your profit, to your deliverance and that of your misfortune, and to the good accomplishment of your undertaking. And because the said aid was not granted you before the Monday of the vigil of Saint James, neither you, lord, nor your allies, nor your good people of Flanders should wonder that the said wool and the money from the same has not yet come to you. Because, certainly, whatever can be levied from your said subsidies will come to you from day to day as soon as the labour and direction of man can make it so. The Holy Spirit, etc. Written at Westminster on 30 July by the archbishop of Canterbury, the chancellor, the treasurer, the earl of Arundel, Thomas Wake of Liddel and others of your council in England.
D'autrepart, trescher seignur, vous pleise saver qe les custumers de vostre terre ount fait lour pleinte a vostre consail par decea, qe plusours gentz de vostre roialme font mener priveement leines as parties de dela sanz paier custume, en grant damage de vous. Par quoi, trescher sire, voillez faire mander a l'estluse en Seland, et aillurs en celles parties, ou arrivalx sont, de espier queles gentz ce sont, et ou les leines q'ils ount amenez sont devenuz, les queles sont forfait a vous de reson, sicome vous bien savez. Et nous avons mys et mettroms la payne qe nous purroms, a destourber q'il ne le facent. Et si vous peussez saver les nouns de nuls tielx par de la, qui ount ensi amenetz les leines sanz paier custume, adonqes vous pleise nous ent certifier, et auxi de la quantite des leines q'ils ount amenetz; si qe ce qe ne poet estre puny par dela soit redrescez et puny par decea. In addition, dearest lord, may it please you to know that the customs officers of your land have complained to your council here that many people of your realm cause wool to be exported overseas secretly without paying the custom, to your great damage. Wherefore, dearest lord, will you cause it to be ordered at Sluys in Zeeland, and elsewhere in those parts where arrivals come, to discover which people these are, and where the wool which they have exported has come from, which is rightly forfeited to you, as you know well. And we have set and will set what penalty we can to prevent this being done. And if you might know the names of any such men overseas, who have thus exported wool without paying the custom, then would you please inform us thereon, and also the amount of wool which they have exported; so that those who cannot be punished overseas shall be corrected and punished in this realm.
[col. b]
[memb. 4]
30. Tresdotez seignur, come l'onurable pier en Dieux, l'ercevesqe de Canterbirs, le conte d'Arundel, le sir de Wak et nous eussoms certifiez par noz lettres a vostre haute seignurie, coment les grantz, et autres de vostre roialme d'Engleterre, eiantz regard q'il vous covendroit eistre hastiement eidez de tenir covenantz a voz allies, et as gentz de Flandres, et aparfourmir, ov l'eide de Dieux, vostre emprise; quele chose ne se poait faire si par temps come il covendroit par la neofisme des garbes, toisons, et agnelx a vous grantez, par cause qe ce ne poait si hastiement estre leveez; vous avoient bonement grantez .xx. .m. saks de leine, aprendre solonc certeyn fourme contenue es dites lettres. Et puis entre nous et autres de vostre conseil avoms treteez od ascuns marchandz d'Engleterre, sur l'achate des leynes a vous granteez en diverses contes, de la manere de quel achate, et des plusours autres choses tretez et parlez en vostre parlement, et en consel puis le departir du dit parlement, vous enveoms ascuns informacions, contenuz en un roulle enseales soz noz sealx, par Monsir William Trussel, q'ad deligalment pursui voz bosoignes, et < exitez > l'esploit d'icelles par totes voies q'il savoit, et qi ne poait estre delivres pur venir devers vous enfourmes des voz bosoignes avant la fesaunce de cestes. A qi des choses susdites, et autres parliez et treteez es dites parlement et conseil, plese a vostre seignurie doner foi et credence. Tresredotez seignur, li seint espirit vous voille garder touz jours, et doner a vous victoire de voz enemys. Escrit a Londres le .xiij. jour d'Augst. 30. Most dread lord, whereas the honourable father in God, the archbishop of Canterbury, the earl of Arundel, Lord Wake and we by our letters to your high lordship, have informed you that, having considered your need to be swiftly aided in order to keep your promises to your allies and to the people of Flanders, and to accomplish, with the aid of God, your undertaking, which cannot be done as quickly as is necessary by the ninth sheaf, fleece and lamb granted to you since it cannot be levied very quickly, the great men and others of your realm of England have willingly granted you 20,000 sacks of wool, to be taken according to a certain form contained in the said letters. And then, between us and others of your council, we spoke to certain English merchants about the purchase of wool granted to you in various counties, about the manner of this purchase and about many other things discussed and talked over in your parliament and in council since the conclusion of the said parliament. We send you certain information, contained in a roll sealed under our seals, with Sir William Trussell, who has diligently pursued your business and encourages the accomplishment of the same in all the ways he knows, and who cannot be free to come before you informed of your business before the completion of these matters. Wherefore, may it please your lordship to give validity and credence to the aforesaid things, and to other things discussed and talked over in the said parliament and council. Most dread lord, may the Holy Spirit protect you always and give you victory over your enemies. Written at London on 13 August.
La tenur de la peticion Monsir Geffrey de Staunton' mys en ceste parlement de diverses tortz et delaies, solonc ce q'est supposez, a lui faites noun duement en countre la leie par les justices du commune baunk, en le plee q'est devant eux par brief le roi, entre le dit Monsir Geffrey, demandant, et Monsir Johan de Staunton' de Eyleston', chivaler, et Amye sa femme, tenantz, de quinze boves de terre od les appurtenantz en Eyleston etc.: [Petition of Sir Geoffrey Staunton.]
The tenor of the petition which Sir Geoffrey Staunton put forward in this parliament concerning various wrongs and delays, as is alleged, unduly done to him by the justices of the common bench contrary to the law, in the plea which is before them by the king's writ, between the said Sir Geoffrey, claimant, and Sir John Staunton of Elston, knight, and Amy, his wife, tenants, concerning fifteen bovates of land with the appurtenances in Elston, etc.:
31. 'A nostre seignur le roi et son counseil monstre son liche bacheler Geffrey de Staunton': qe come il eyt lungement plede, devant les justices du commune baunk, Johan de Staunton', chivaler, et Amye sa femme, des certeines tenementz en Eyleston'; et par la defalte le dit Johan la dite Amye fut resceu a defendre son droit, et apres plusours essoignes des services nostre seignur le roi, et autres delaies, la dite Amye voucha son dit baron a garant, quel voucher le dit Geffrey par certeine cause contrepleda, et demura en juggement; et puis par protestacions, et en autre manere nounduement faites a la suyte la dite Amie, furent les dites parties ajorneez tanqe ala quinzeyne de la trinite drein passe. Sur quel ajournement et delai le dit Geffrey myst peticion en le drein parlement devant nostre seignur le roi, ensemblement od le tenur del record et proces du dit plee. Queux illoeqes viewes et examinez fut sa dite peticion endosse et respondu en dit parlement en < la > manere qe s'ensuyt: [Petition of Sir Geoffrey Staunton.]
31. 'To our lord the king and his council; his liege bachelor Geoffrey Staunton declares: that for a long time he has impleaded John Staunton, knight, and Amy, his wife, before the justices of the common bench, concerning certain tenements in Elston; and by the default of the said John the said Amy was received to defend his right, and after many essoins of our lord the king's services and other delays, the said Amy vouched her said husband as guarantor, which voucher the said Geoffrey counterpleaded for a certain reason, and awaited judgment; and then by protestations, and in other manner, unduly made at the suit of the said Amy, the said parties were adjourned until the quinzaine of Trinity last. Upon this adjournment and delay the said Geoffrey put forward a petition before our lord the king in the last parliament, together with the tenor of the record and process of the said plea. After it was viewed and examined there, his said petition was endorsed and answered in the said parliament in the manner which follows:
Avis est au counseil, qe par lei de terre le dit Geffrey de Staunton' q'est estraunge ala fyn, est resceivable al averement q'il tent, purce q'il n'est de cel averement ouste par estatut ne par autre ley; par qoi la court doit aler au juggement solonc ce qe les parties ont pledee, et sont demurez au peril d'une part et d'autre. Et quant al drein point del record, la ou Amye dit qe si la court agarde q'ele eit mestier a respondre outre, ele est prest a ce faire, acorde est, qe ele ne poet a autre respons avenir par lei de terre, ne nulle autre respons par protestacion a lui sauver, del hure qe les parties sont demurez tut atrenche en juggement, sicome piert par le record, dont ceste peticion fait mencion. Et surce soit brief mande as [p. ii-123][col. a] justices du bank, ou le plee est, q'ils aillent au juggement en le dit plee, solonc la garde et avys avantditz, nient contresteant la protestacion avantdite, come plus pleinement piert par la dite peticion qe demuret en la chauncellerie. Et de quele peticion et l'endossement de y celle le transescript est southescript, et comence ensuit: "A nostre seignur le roi et a son counseil monstre Geffrey, fitz William de Staunton' etc.". (fn. ii-117-116-1) Sur quele peticion, et l'endossement de y celle, brief du grant seal fut mande as ditz justices du commune bank. De quel brief le transescript est southescript, et comence ensuit: "Edwardus, Dei gracia, rex Anglie et Francie, et dominus Hibernie, justiciariis suis de banco etc.". (fn. ii-117-116-2) Ensemblement od les ditz transescriptz de la dite peticion, et l'endossement de y celle, et le transescript del tenour del record et proces avantditz, dont la copie est southescript, et comence ensuit: "Placita apud Westm' coram Johanni de Stonore, et sociis suis justiciariis domini regis de banco, a die Sancti Michelis in .xv. dies, anno regni domini regis Edwardi tercii a conquestu terciodecimo. Rotulo .cvij. Galfridus filius Willielmi de Staunton' etc.". (fn. ii-117-116-3) Qe vewes meisme le record et proces, et la peticion et l'endossement avantditz, si en le dit plee le proces fut tiel, qe adonqes al'assent au juggement rendre, solonc l'avys et acord avantditz, et auxint par brief du prive seal dont la copie est southescript, et comence ensuit: "Edward, par la grace de Dieu, roi d'Engleterre et de France, et seignur d'Irlande, as justices du commune baunk etc.". Et puis purce q'ils ne voleient riens faire, briefs sicut alias, ou qe ils signifiasent la cause etc. de qoi ils n'ont riens uncore volue fere, ne cause signifier, dont homme quide et entente q'il serra unqore ajourne, a grant damage le dit Geffrey, et par la delaie a desheritance de lui. Dont il pri au dit conseil qe, pur Dieu, voillent avoir regard as choses susdites, et comandier as ditz justices q'ils aillent au juggement rendre, solonc le plee pledee devant eux, eantz regard al avys du dit parlement et mandementz susditz, avant qe le bank leve, issint q'il ne soit plus outre ajourne ne delaie a sa desheritance; ou qe les justices facent venir lour roulles et le dit record et proces en dit parlement, issint qe illoeqes, par assent du parlement et de touz, puit estre acorde du juggement, et le juggement rendue, ou pur lui, ou encontre lui, avant qe le dit bank leve; eantz regard as estatutz faitz, qe nul commune lei soit delaie, ne les juggementz purloignies par difficulte ou oppinions, einz droit fet as touz, come nostre seignur le roi est tenuz par son serement.' The council considers that by the law of the land the said Geoffrey Staunton, who is not privy to the fine, is receivable to the averment which he holds, since he was not removed from this averment by statute or by other law; wherefore the court should give judgment according to what the parties have pleaded, and which they have awaited at the peril of both parties. And as regards the last point of the record, where Amy said that if the court decided that she needs to answer further, she was prepared to do so, it is agreed that she cannot give another answer by the law of the land, or any other answer by protestation reserved to her, for the entire time that the parties have awaited judgment, as appears by the record which this petition mentions. And a writ thereon shall be sent to [p. ii-123][col. a] the justices of the bench where the plea is, so that they shall give judgment in the said plea according to the aforesaid warning and advice, notwithstanding the aforesaid protestation, as more fully appears by the said petition which remains in the chancery. And the transcript of this petition and the endorsement of the same are written below and begin as follows: "To our lord the king and his council; Geoffrey, son of William Staunton, declares etc." (fn. ii-117-116-1) Upon this petition and the endorsement of the same a writ of the great seal was sent to the said justices of the common bench. The transcript of this writ is written below and begins as follows: "Edward, by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland to his justices of the bench etc.". (fn. ii-117-116-2) This writ was sent together with the said transcripts of the said petition and the endorsement of the same, and the transcript of the tenor of the aforesaid record and process, the copy of which is written below and begins as follows: "The plea at Westminster before John Stonor and his fellow justices of the king's bench, on the quinzaine of Michaelmas in the thirteenth year of the reign of the lord King Edward the third since the Conquest [1339]. Rotulet 107. Geoffrey, son of William Staunton, etc." (fn. ii-117-116-3) The same record and process and the aforesaid petition and endorsement were viewed, so that the process in the said plea was such that they then agreed to return judgment according to the aforesaid advice and accord, and also by writ of the privy seal, the copy of which is written below and begins: "Edward, by the grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to the justices of the common bench etc." And then because they were unwilling to do anything, writs of sicut alias were made, in which they made known the reason etc. why they were still unwilling to do anything, or to give the reason why one expects and intends that it will be again adjourned, to the great damage of the said Geoffrey, and to his disinheritance as a result of the delay. Wherefore he prays the said council that, for God, they would be willing to consider the aforesaid matter, and to order the said justices to return judgment according to the plea pleaded before them before the bench adjourns, having regard for the advice of the said parliament and the aforesaid orders, so that the case shall not be further adjourned or delayed to his disinheritance; or that the justices shall cause their rolls and the said record and process to be produced in the said judgment, so that, by the assent of the parliament and everyone, the judgment can be agreed and returned there, either for him or against him, before the said bench adjourns; having regard for the statutes made so that no common law shall be delayed, or judgments postponed by obstruction or opinion, without justice being done to all, as our lord the king is bound by his oath.'
La respons de ceste peticion faite en le dit parlement s'ensuyt. The answer given to this petition in the said parliament follows.
Viewes et lues en plein parlement la dite peticion, et le dit transescript de la peticion mys en drein parlement, et l'endossement de y celle, et auxint les avantditz transescriptz del tenour del dit record du dit plee qe vient en chauncellerie, et des briefs du grant seal, et prive seal sur ce faites, et envoiez as ditz justices, queux sont southescriptz, assentu est par touz en plein parlement, et comande par les prelatz, countes, barons et autres du parlement, a Sire Thomas de Drayton, clerk du parlement, q'il aille a Monsir Johan de Stonore, et a ses compaignons, justices du commune bank, et lour die, q'ils aillent au juggement rendre solonc le plee pledee devant eux avant qe le bank leve, sanz plus outre ajourner ou delaier les parties. Et en cas q'ils ne puissent acorder, pur difficulte ou autre [col. b] cause, qe adonqes le dit Sire Johan et ses compaignons veignent en parlement, et qe le dit Sire Johan porte od lui les roules et le record de meisme le plee en parlement, illoeqes a prendre final acord quel juggement se devera faire. Lequel Sire Johan et ses compaignons porterent en parlement, le lundy preschein avant la feste Seint Margerete, les roules et le record du dit plee. Et assemblez illoeqes chaunceller, tresorer, justices del un bank et de l'autre, barons del eschekir et autres du conseil le roi, et en dit parlement vewes et lues les ditz proces et record, et meisme le record solonc le plee plede et enroulle et en dit parlement debatuz diligialment et examinez en meisme le parlement, est finalment acordez qe l'avantdit Geffrey, qe n'est pas partie a la dite fyn, ne heir de la partie, einz tut estraunge, doit estre resceu a verrer qe le dit Thomas unqes nul estat avoit en les ditz tenementz, et qe la dite Amye a voucher l'avantdit Johan son baron, ne al averement avantdite, quele ele autrefoith refusa, ne doit < ore > estre resceu, nient contresteant la protestacion contenue en le dit record. Et si avys soit ala court etc. mesqe le dit Geffrey doit recovrer seisine des meismes les terres. Par qoi, en dit parlement, dit est as justices q'ils en lour bank aillent au juggement rendre, sur les choses qe devant furent pledez par les parties, et desqueux ils demurerent en juggement, nient contresteant qe la dite Amye ore demande estre resceu al averement avantdit, quele ele refusa devant < expressement; > issint qe le dit Geffrey recovre sa seisine devers les avantditz Johan et Amye etc. After the said petition had been viewed and read in full parliament, as well as the said transcript of the petition put forward in the last parliament and the endorsement of the same, and also the aforesaid transcripts of the tenor of the said record of the said plea which was produced in the chancery and of the writs of the great seal and privy seal made thereon and sent to the said justices, which are written below, it was agreed by all in full parliament, and Sir Thomas Drayton, the clerk of the parliament, was ordered by the prelates, earls, barons and others of the parliament to go to Sir John Stonor and his fellow justices of the common bench and tell them to return judgment according to the plea impleaded before them before the bench adjourns, without further adjournment or delay to the parties. And in the event that they could not agree, because of complications or for another [col. b] reason, the said Sir John and his fellow justices should come into parliament, and the said Sir John should bring with him into parliament the rolls and the record of the same plea, in order finally to agree upon a judgment. The said Sir John and his fellow justices, on the Monday immediately before the feast of Saint Margaret, brought into parliament the rolls and the record of the said plea. And with the chancellor, treasurer, justices of both benches, barons of the exchequer and other of the king's council assembled there in the said parliament, the said process and record were viewed and read, and the same record according to the plea impleaded and enrolled in the said parliament was diligently debated and examined in the same parliament, and it was finally agreed that the aforesaid Geoffrey, who was not party to the said fine, or an heir of the party, but completely removed from it, should be received to verify that the said Thomas never had any estate in the said tenements, and that the said Amy should not now be received to vouch the aforesaid John, her husband, nor to the aforesaid averment, which she previously refused, notwithstanding the protestation contained in the said record. And the court is of the opinion etc. provided that the said Geoffrey shall recover seisin of the same lands. Wherefore, in the said parliament, the justices were told that they should return judgment in their bench on the matters which were previously impleaded by the parties, and for which they await judgment, notwithstanding that the said Amy had asked to be received to the aforesaid averment, which she expressly refused before; so that the said Geoffrey should recover his seisin from the aforesaid John and Amy etc.
La copie del record et proces du plee avantdit, qe vient en chauncellerie per brief le roi. The copy of the record and process of the aforesaid plea, which came into the chancery by the king's writ.
Placita apud Westm' coram Johanni de Stonore et sociis suis justiciariis domini regis de banco, a die Sancti Michelis in .xv. dies, anno regni < domini > regis Edwardi tercii a conquestu terciodecimo. Rotulo .cvij. The plea at Westminster before John Stonor and his fellow justices of the king's bench, on the quinzaine of Michaelmas in the thirteenth year of the reign of the lord King Edward the third since the Conquest [1339]. Rotulet 107.
Not'. Nottinghamshire.
Galfridus, filius Willielmi de Staunton', per Johannem de Staunton' attornatum suum optulit se, .iiij. die, versus Johannem de Staunton' de Eyleston, militem, de placito quindecim bovatis terre cum pertinenciis in Eyleston, quas clamat ut jus suum, versus eum et Amiam uxorem ejus, quas Walterus de Evermue dedit Galfrido de Staunton' et Alicie uxori ejus et heredibus de corporibus ipsorum Galfridi de Staunton' et Alicie exeuntibus, et que post mortem predictorum Galfridi de Staunton' et Alicie, et Willielmi filii eorundem < Galfridi > de Staunton' et Alicie, et Willielmi filii ejusdem Willielmi, [memb. 5] prefato Galfrido filio ejusdem Willielmi, filii Willielmi, et consanguineo et heredi predictorum Galfridi de Staunton' et Alicie, descendere debent, per formam donacionis predicte etc. Et ipse non venit. Et tam ipse quam predicta Amia, alias, scilicet a die Sancti Hillarii in .xv. dies, anno regni domini regis nunc duodecimo, comparuere in curia etc. apud Eborum, postquam placitaverunt inde cum predicto Galfrido, et posuissent se hinc inde in juratam patrie. Que quidem jurata tunc posita fuit inter eos in respectum usque a die Sancte Trinitatis in .xv. dies proximo sequente, nisi Willielmus Scot, die jovis in prima septimana quadragesime, apud Newerk prius venisset, quo die coram prefato Willielmo Scot predicti Johannes et Amia fecerunt defaltam, prout idem Willielmus ad prefatam quindenam Sancte Trinitatis recordabat, per quod tunc preceptum fuit vicecomiti quod caperet predicta tenementa in manum domini regis etc., et quod summoneret eos quod essent ibidem in crastino Sancti Martini proximo sequenti, audiendum inde judicium suum. Ad quem diem vicecomes mandavit quod cepit predictam terram etc., et quod summonuit etc. Et predicta Amia tunc fecit se essonium de servicio domini regis versus predictum Galfridum etc. Et habuit inde diem per essonium suum de servicio domini regis predictum usque < a die > Pasche in tres septimanas proximo sequentes etc., hic scilicet apud Westm' etc. Idem [p. ii-124][col. a] dies datus fuit predicto Johanni etc. Ad quem diem, predictus Johannes fecit se inde essonium de servicio domini regis versus predictum Galfridum etc. Et habuit inde diem per essonium suum de servicio domini regis predictum usque ad hunc diem hic, scilicet a die Sancti Michelis in .xv. dies proximo sequentes apud Westm' etc. Idem dies datus fuit predicte Amie hic etc. Et modo venit predicta Amia, et dicit quod predicta terra est jus suum; et petit quod ipsa per defaltam predicti Johannis viri sui non amittat jus suum, ex quo venit ante judicium etc., set quod admittatur ad defensionem juris sui etc. Et admittitur etc. Et vocavit inde ad warantum Johannem de Staunton' sumonitum in comitatibus Somers' et Devon' etc. Et Galfridus dicit quod ipse Johannes quem ipsa Amia vocavit ad warantum est ipse Johannes vir ipsius Amie per cujus defaltam etc. Per quod ipse non intendit quod ipsa ad istud vocaretur ad warantum admitti debeat, nisi ostendat curie etc. Ob quam causam etc. Geoffrey, son of William Staunton, by John Staunton, his attorney, appeared in court on the fourth day against John Staunton of Elston, knight, concerning the plea of fifteen bovates of land with the appurtenances in Elston, which he claims as his right, against the said John and Amy, his wife, which land Walter Evermue gave to Geoffrey Staunton and Alice, his wife, and the heirs issuing from the body of the same Geoffrey Staunton and Alice, and which after the death of the aforesaid Geoffrey Staunton and Alice, and William, son of the same Geoffrey Staunton and Alice, and William, son of the same William, [memb. 5] should have descended to the aforesaid Geoffrey, son of the same William, son of William, and the blood relation and heir of the aforesaid Geoffrey Staunton and Alice, by the terms of the aforesaid gift etc. And he did not come. And both the said John and the aforesaid Amy upon another occasion, namely on the quinzaine of Saint Hilary in the twelfth year of the reign of our present lord king [1338], appeared in court etc. at York, after they had pleaded with the aforesaid Geoffrey, and put themselves on the jury of the neighbourhood in this matter. This jury was then placed between them in adjournment until the quinzaine of Holy Trinity immediately following, until William Scot, on the Thursday in the first week of Lent, first came to Newark, on which day the aforesaid John and Amy made default before the aforesaid William Scot, as the same William recorded at the aforesaid quinzaine of Holy Trinity, when the sheriff was ordered to seize the aforesaid tenements into the lord king's hands etc., and to summon those who were present on the morrow of Martinmas immediately following to hear his judgment on this matter. On which day the sheriff reported that he had taken the aforesaid land etc., and that he had summoned etc. And the aforesaid Amy then made essoin of the lord king's service against the aforesaid Geoffrey etc. And thereon she was given a day for her aforesaid essoin of the lord king's service until the third week after Easter immediately following [1339] etc., here at Westminster etc. The same [p. ii-124][col. a] day was given to the aforesaid John etc. On which day the aforesaid John made essoin of the lord king's service against the aforesaid Geoffrey etc. and he was given a day for his aforesaid essoin of the lord king's service until this day, namely the quinzaine of Michaelmas immediately following [1339], here at Westminster etc. The same day was given to the aforesaid Amy etc. And only the aforesaid Amy came, and she said that the aforesaid land is her right; and she claimed that she should not lose her right by default of the aforesaid John, her husband, since she appeared before the court etc., but that she should be received for the defence of her right etc. And she was received etc. And she vouched as guarantor John Staunton summoned in the counties of Somerset and Devon etc. And Geoffrey said that the said John whom the said Amy vouched as guarantor is the same John, husband of the same Amy, by whose default etc. Wherefore he does not believe that she should be allowed to vouch him as guarantor, unless he shall show the court etc. For which reason etc.
Et Amia dicit quod predictus Johannes vir suus, quem ipsa vocavit etc. fuit solus seisitus de predictis tenementis. Et postea inter predictum Johannem et ipsam Amiam, querentes, et quendam Thomam de Crauthorn, deforciantem, de eisdem tenementis levavit quidam finis in curia regis Edwardi patris domini regis nunc, in octabis Sancti Hillarii anno regni sui sextodecimo, coram Willielmo de Bereford, et sociis suis, tunc justiciariis ejusdem patris etc. de banco; per quem finem predictus Johannes recognovit predicta tenementa cum pertinenciis esse jus predicti Thome, ut illa que idem Thomas habuit de dono predicti Johannis. Et pro illa recognicione etc. idem Thomas concessit predictis Johanni et Amie predicta tenementa, cum pertinenciis, et illa eis reddidit in eadem curia, habenda et tenenda eisdem Johanni et Amie, et heredibus ipsius Johannis, de capitalibus dominis, etc. Et profert hic partem predicti finis, que hoc testatur etc. Et de statu quem predictus Johannes habuit ante finem predictum, per quem finem idem Thomas reddidit ipsis Johanni et Amie tenementa predicta, vocat ipsum Johannem ad warantum etc. And Amy said that the aforesaid John, her husband, whom she vouched etc. was seized of the aforesaid tenements alone. And afterwards between the aforesaid John and the same Amy, plaintiffs, and a certain Thomas Crauthorn, deforciant, a certain fine was levied from the same tenements in the court of King Edward, father of the present lord king, on the octave of Saint Hilary in the sixteenth year of his reign [1323], before William Bereford and his fellow justices of the bench of the same father etc.; by which fine the aforesaid John acknowledged the aforesaid tenements with the appurtenances to be the right of the aforesaid Thomas as that which the same Thomas had of the gift of the aforesaid John. And for that acknowledgement etc. the same Thomas granted to the aforesaid John and Amy the aforesaid tenements with appurtenances, and he surrendered the tenements to them in the same court, to have and to hold to the same John and Amy, and the heirs of the same John, of the chief lords etc. And he produced this part of the aforesaid fine, which he witnesses etc. And concerning the estate which the aforesaid John had before the aforesaid fine, by which fine the same Thomas surrendered the aforesaid tenements to the same John and Amy, she vouches the same John as guarantor etc.
Et Gafridus dicit quod ipsa per hoc ad vocandum predictum Johannem admitti non debet. Quia dicit quod causa quare ad illud vocare admitti deberet, est pro eo quod predictus Thomas habuisse debuit tenementa illa de dono predicti Johannis ante finem predictum. Et dicit quod predictus Thomas nuncquam aliquem statum habuit in predictis tenementis, et hoc paratus est verificare; unde petit judicium etc. And Geoffrey said that she should not be allowed to vouch the aforesaid John for this. He said that the reason why she should be allowed to vouch for this, is because the aforesaid Thomas should have had those tenements of the gift of the aforesaid John before the aforesaid fine. And he said that the aforesaid Thomas never had any estate in the aforesaid tenements, and he is prepared to prove this; wherefore he seeks judgment etc.
Et Amia dicit quod ipse per illam verificacionem a vocato suo ipsam excludere non potest. Quia dicit quod ipsa ad habendum illud vocatum allegat seisinam predicti Johannis viri sui ante levacionem finis predicti, quam seisinam ante finem etc. ipse Galfridus non dedicit. Et per breve suum ipse fecit ipsam Amiam tenentem de predictis tenementis, simul cum predicto viro suo etc. quod intelligi debet per finem predictum, per quem finem supponitur transmutacio possessionis de persona predicti Johannis in personam predicti Thome: et eundem Thomam reddidisse eadem tenementa ipsis Johanni et Amie in forma predicta. Unde petit judicium, si ipsa ad vocandum predictum Johannem admitti non debeat etc. And Amy said that she cannot be excluded from her voucher by that proof. She said that she, in order to have that voucher, claimed the seisin of the aforesaid John, her husband, before the levy of the aforesaid fine, which seisin before the fine etc. the same Geoffrey does not deny. And by his deed he made the same Amy the tenant of the aforesaid tenements, together with her aforesaid husband etc. which should be understood by the aforesaid fine, by which fine the change of the possession was moved from the person of the aforesaid John to the person of the aforesaid Thomas; and the same Thomas surrendered the same tenements to the same John and Amy in the aforesaid form. Wherefore she seeks judgment as to whether she should be allowed to vouch the aforesaid John etc.
Et Galfridus dicit quod causa quare predicta Amia istud vocatum habere deberet, est pro eo quod predictus Thomas habuisse deberet tenementa illa de dono predicti Johannis ante finem predictum levatum. Et ex quo ipse pretendit verificare, quod predictus Thomas nuncquam aliquid habuit in tenementis predictis; quam verificacionem ipsa Amia admittere recusat, petit judicium etc. And Geoffrey said that whereas the aforesaid Amy should have this voucher, it is because the aforesaid Thomas should have had those tenements of the gift of the aforesaid John before the aforesaid fine was levied. And since he intends to prove that the aforesaid Thomas never had any estate in the aforesaid tenements, which proof the same Amy refuses to accept, he seeks judgment etc.
Et Amia dicit quod ipsa per verificacionem illam a vocato suo predicto excludi non debet, contra hec que ipsa superius allegavit; et que non sunt dedicta per ipsum Galfridum. Et de hoc petit judicium etc. Et si videatur curie quod ipsa necesse habeat ulterius respondere, parata [col. b] est etc. Dies datus est < eis > hic a die Sancti Hillarii in .xv. dies, in statu quo nunc salvis partibus etc. Et super hoc predicta Amia ponit loco suo Willielmum de Elleworth, vel Willielmum de Medewill etc. Ad quem diem prefata Amia fecit se essonium de malo veniendi versus predictum Galfridum in placito predicto. Et habuit diem per essonium suum hic ad hunc diem, scilicet a die Sancte Trinitatis in .xv. dies etc. Ad quem diem venerunt tam predictus Galfridus, in propria persona sua, quam predicta Amia per attornatum suum etc. And Amy said that she should not be excluded from her aforesaid voucher by that proof, against that which she claimed above; and that these things were not denied by the same Geoffrey. And she seeks judgment on this etc. And if it seems to the court that it is necessary for her to answer further, she is prepared [col. b] to do so etc. A day is given to them here on the quinzaine of Saint Hilary [1340], in the estate which is now reserved to the parties etc. And in this matter the aforesaid Amy appoints in her place William Elleworth or William Medewill etc. On which day the aforesaid Amy made her essoin of illness against the aforesaid Geoffrey in the aforesaid plea. And she had a day by her essoin here on this day, namely on the quinzaine of Holy Trinity [1340] etc. On which day both the aforesaid Geoffrey, in his own person, and the aforesaid Amy, by her attorney, appeared etc.
La copie de la primere peticion qe le dit Sire Geffrei mist a nostre seignur le roi et a son conseil en l'autre parlement. The copy of the first petition which the said Sir Geoffrey put forward to our lord the king and his council in the other parliament [March-May 1340].
A nostre seignur le roi et a son conseil; monstre Geffrey, fitz William de Staunton': qe come il ad porte son brief de forme de done vers Johan de Staunton', de Eyleston, chivaler, et Amye sa femme: et en le dit proces le dit Johan fist defalt, et puis par divers essoignes de service le roi, et en autre manere, par proces continue tanqe ala quinzeme de Seint Michiel drein passe, la dite Amie vient en court, et fut resceu par la defalte son baroun a defendre son droit, et voucha le dit Johan son baroun a garant, quiel vouchier le dit Geffrey contrepleda. Et surce furent les parties ajournez tanqe a la quinzeine de Seint Hiller drein passe. Et puis par essoigne jour done au dit Geffrey a la quinzeine de la Trinite preschein avenir, come piert par le transescript del record du plee cosu a cestes, a grant damage le dit Geffrey, et en cas par le delay desheritance de lui. Prie le dit Geffrey qe le dit record soit lieu et examine; et outre ordine qe juggement soit done sur le plee plede ala dite qinzeine de la Trinite, issint qe le dit Geffrey ne soit plus lunge delaie de son droit; et qe le drein point del record soit examine, qar sauve est au dite Amie respons qe est encontre la ley; desicome le dit Geffrei chalenga le voucher par certeine cause, et demura en juggement a trenche lungement devant, et qe celle enroulement fut fait par mesprision des clerks, come il entent. To our lord the king and his council; Geoffrey, son of William Staunton, declares: that he has brought his writ of the form of the gift to John Staunton of Elston, knight, and Amy, his wife; and in the said process the said John made default, and then by various essoins of the king's service, and in other manner, postponed by process until the quinzaine of Michaelmas last [1339], when the said Amy came into court and was received by the default of her husband to defend her right, and vouched the said John, her husband, as guarantor, which voucher the said Geoffrey counterpleaded. And the parties were adjourned until the quinzaine of Saint Hilary last [1340]. And then by essoin a day was given to the said Geoffrey on the quinzaine of Trinity next coming [1340], as appears by the transcript of the record of the plea sewn to this, to the great damage of the said Geoffrey and possibly to his disinheritance as a result of the delay. The said Geoffrey prays that the said record shall be read and examined; and also that it be ordained that judgment shall be given on the plea pleaded on the said quinzaine of Trinity, so that the said Geoffrey shall not be further delayed his right; and that the last point of the record shall be examined, since answer is reserved to the said Amy which is against the law, inasmuch as the said Geoffrey challenged the voucher for a certain reason, and awaited judgment for a long time before, and that this enrolment was made by error of the clerks, as he believes.
La respons de la dite peticion fet en dit parlement, et l'endossement de y celle. The answer to the said petition made in the said parliament [of March-May 1340] and the endorsement of the same.
Avis est au conseil qe par lei de terre le dit Geffrey de Staunton', q'est estrange a la fin, est resceivable al averement q'il tent, purce q'il n'est de celle averement ouste par estatut, ne par autre ley. Par qoi la court doit aler au juggement solonc ce qe les parties ount plede, et sont demurez au peril d'un part et d'autre. Et quant al drayn point del record, la ou Amie dit qe si la court < a > gard qe ele eit mester arespondre outre, ele est prest a ce faire: acorde est, qe ele ne poet a autre respons avenir par ley de terre, ne nul autre respons par protestacion a lui salver, de l'heure qe les parties sont demurez tut a trenche en juggement, sicome piert par le record dont ceste peticion fait mencion. Et surce soit brief mande a les justices du commune bank, ou le plee est, q'ils aillent au juggement en le dit plee, solonc l'agard et avis avantditz; nientcontrestreant la protestacion avandite. The council considers that by the law of the land the said Geoffrey Staunton, who is not privy to the fine, is admissible to the averment which he holds, since he was not removed from this averment by statute or by other law; wherefore the court shall give judgment according to what the parties have pleaded, and which they have awaited at the peril of both parties. And as regards the last point of the record, where Amy said that if the court decided that she needs to answer further, she was prepared to do so, it is agreed that she cannot give another answer by the law of the land, or any other answer by the protestation reserved to her, for the entire time that the parties have awaited judgment, as appears by the record which this petition mentions. And a writ thereon shall be sent to the justices of the common bench, where the plea is to give judgment in the said plea, according to the aforesaid warning and advice; notwithstanding the aforesaid protestation.
La copie du brief du grant seal fait sur meisme la peticion, et l'endossement de ycelle as ditz justices de comme bank. The copy of the writ of the great seal made on the same petition, and the endorsement of the same to the said justices of the common bench.
Edwardus, Dei gracia rex Anglie et Francie et dominus Hibernie, justiciariis suis de banco, salutem. Cum Galfridus, filius Willielmi de Staunton', implacitet in curia nostra coram vobis per breve nostrum Johannem de Staunton' de Eyleston, militem, et Amiam uxorem ejus, de quindecim [p. ii-125][col. a] bovatis terre cum pertinenciis in Eyleston; ac processu inde inter eos coram vobis continuato, prefata Amia, que, post capcionem terre predicte in manum nostram per defaltam predicti Johannis viri sui, coram vobis ad quindenam Sancti Michelis proximo preteritam comparens, et asserens terram predictam esse jus suum, ac petens ipsam ad defensionem juris sui in hac parte, ex quo ante judicium venit, admitti, ad idem jus suum defendendum per vos extitit admissa; ulterius Johannem de Staunton' versus predictum Galfridum in eodem placito vocaverit ad warantum, idemque Galfridus ad hoc dixerit quod idem Johannes sic vocatus ad warantum est ipse Johannes vir ipsius Amie, per cujus defaltam terra predicta capta est in manum nostram, perquod non intendebat ipsam Amiam ad hujusmodi vocare ad warantum admitti debere, nisi curie ostenderet, ob quam causam eadem Amia dictum virum suum vocaret ad warantum. Quo pretextu eadem Amia ulterius placitando allegavit, dictum virum suum sic vocatum ad warantum fuisse solum seisitum de tenementis predictis, et quod postmodum inter predictum Johannem et ipsam Amiam, querentes, et quendam Thomam de Crauthorn, deforciantem, de eisdem tenementis levavit quidam finis in curia domini Edwardi nuper regis Anglie, patris nostri, in octabis Sancti Hillarii, anno regni < sui sextodecimo, > coram Willielmo de Bereford, et sociis suis, tunc justiciariis ipsius patris nostri de banco, per quem finem dictus Johannes recognovit tenementa predicta cum pertinenciis esse jus predicti Thome, ut illa que idem Thomas habuit de dono predicti Johannis. Et pro illa recognicione idem Thomas concessit predictis Johanni et Amie predicta tenementa cum pertinenciis, et illa eis reddidit in eadem curia, habenda et tenenda eisdem Johanni et Amie, et heredibus ipsius Johannis; partem finis predicti, que hoc testabatur, coram vobis proferendo, et asserendo quod de statu quem predictus Johannes habuit ante finem illum, per quem finem prefatus Thomas reddidit ipsis Johanni et Amie tenementa supradicta, eadem Amia vocat ipsum Johannem ad warantum. Ac prefatus Galfridus ad hoc dixerit ipsam Amiam ad vocandum prefatum Johannem admitti non debere, eo quod causa quare ad vocare illud admitti deberet, est pro eo quod dictus Thomas tenementa illa de dono predicti Johannis ante finem predictum habuisse debuit, cum idem Thomas nuncquam statum aliquem in illis tenementis habuerit. Et hoc optulit verificare, petendo judicium si ipsa ad tale vocare ad warantum fuisset admittenda. Dictaque Amia ad hoc respondendo asseruit ipsam a vocare suo per verificacionem hujusmodi excludi non debere, eo quod ipsa ad habendum vocare illud seisinam predicti Johannis viri sui ante levacionem dicti finis per prefatum Galfridum non dedictam allegavit. Et ex quo idem Galfridus per breve suum fecit ipsam Amiam tenentem de tenementis predictis simul cum predicto viro suo, quod habet intelligi per dictum finem, supponentem transmutacionem possessionis de persona dicti Johannis in personam prefati Thome, eundemque Thomam tenementa illa eisdem Johanni et Amie in forma predicta reddidisse, petiit ipsa Amia similiter judicium si ipsa ad vocandum predictum Johannem admitti non deberet. Ac prefatus Galfridus ad hoc iterato dixerit causam esse quare ipsa Amia vocare illud habere deberet, pro eo quod dictus Thomas tenementa illa habuisse debuit de dono predicti Johannis ante dictum finem. Et ex quo pretendit verificare quod dictus Thomas nuncquam aliquid habuit in tenementis predictis, quam verificacionem ipsa Amia admittere recusat, petiit judicium si ipsa < ad vocare > illud debeat admitti. Eademque Amia ad hoc allegaverit ipsam per dictam verificacionem a vocare suo predicto excludi non debere, contra hec que ipsa superius allegavit, et que per ipsum Galfridum non sunt dedicta, et de hoc petiit judicium, ulterius protestando quod si videretur curie ipsam necesse habere ulterius respondere, hoc facere est parata. Per quod datus fuit dies partibus predictis coram vobis super premissis, a die Sancti Hillarii proximo preterito in .xv. dies, et ulterius per essonium ipsius Amie usque ad quindenam Sancte Trinitatis proximo futurum; ac [col. b] prefatus Galfridus, per peticionem suam coram nobis et consilio nostro in parliamento nostro apud Westm' ultimo convocato exhabitam, nobis supplicaverit, ut lecto et examinato transcripto recordi et processus placiti predicti, coram eodem consilio nostro exhibito, velimus juxta avisamentum ejusdem consilii nostri ordinare et jubere judicium super premissis, secundam formam, vim et effectum placiti predicti, ad dictam quindenam Sancte Trinitatis reddi, absque prorogacione ulteriori. Et quia negocio predicto coram dicto consilio nostro cum difficultate non modica deducto, visum est eidem consilio nostro quod per legem terre dictus Galfridus, qui ad finem predictum extraneus existit, ad verificacionem quam pretendit est admittendus, eo quod ipse de eadem verificacione per statutum, nec per aliam legem, nullatenus est amotus, per quod curia nostra ad judicium reddendum debet procedere prout dicte partes placitarunt et in judicio morantur hinc et inde, sub periculo quod incumbit; et eciam quod illa verba superius in dicto recordo, ut dicitur, contenta, videlicet, ubi dicta Amia dicit quod si curia consideraverit quod ipsa necesse habeat ulterius respondere, ad illud faciendum parata existit, per dictum consilium nostrum concordatum est quod dicta Amia non potest ad aliam responsionem venire per legem terre nec aliquam aliam responsionem per protestacionem sibi salvare, a tempore quo partes predicte precise morantur in judicio. Volentesque ea que in dicto parliamento nostro sic concordata existunt execucioni debite demandari, vobis mandamus quod, visis recordo et processu placiti predicti coram vobis habitis, ac transcripto peticionis predicte, et indorsamenti ejusdem, necnon tenore recordi et processus predictorum, quem coram nobis in cancellaria nostra certis de causis venire fecimus, et que quidem transcriptum et tenorem vobis mittimus sub pede sigilli nostri, si in eodem placito taliter sit processum, tunc ulterius ad judicium in placito predicto reddendum, secundum concordiam et avisamentum predicta, sine dilacione procedatis, protestacione predicta non obstante. Teste me ipso apud Westm' .xxij. die Maii, anno regni nostri Anglie quartodecimo, regni vero nostri Francie primo. Edward, by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to his justices of the bench, greeting. Whereas Geoffrey, son of William Staunton, by our writ before you in our court impleaded John Staunton of Elston, knight, and Amy, his wife, concerning fifteen [p. ii-125][col. a] bovates of land with appurtenances in Elston; and the process thereon between them being adjourned before you, the aforesaid Amy, after the aforesaid land was taken into our hands, appeared before you by the default of the aforesaid John, her husband, at the quinzaine of Michaelmas last [1339] and claimed the aforesaid land to be her right, and sought to defend her right in this matter, wherefore she came before the court to be admitted to the same right and her defence was admitted by you; furthermore, she vouched John Staunton as guarantor against the aforesaid Geoffrey in the same plea, and the same Geoffrey said to this that the same John thus vouched as guarantor is the same John, husband of the same Amy, by whose default the aforesaid land was taken into our hands, wherefore he did not believe the same Amy should be allowed to vouch him as guarantor, unless the court was shown why the same Amy vouched her said husband as guarantor. Wherefore the same Amy further claimed in pleading that her said husband thus vouched as guarantor was seised of the aforesaid tenements alone, and that afterwards a certain fine was levied between the aforesaid John and the same Amy, plaintiffs, and a certain Thomas Crauthorn, deforciant, concerning the same tenements in the court of the lord Edward, former king of England, our father, on the octave of Saint Hilary in the sixteenth year of his reign [1323], before William Bereford and his fellow justices of the bench of our same father, by which fine the said John acknowledged the aforesaid tenements with the appurtenances to be the right of the aforesaid Thomas which the same Thomas had of the gift of the aforesaid John; and for that acknowledgement the same Thomas granted to the aforesaid John and Amy the aforesaid tenements with appurtenances, and he surrendered the land to them in the same court, to have and to hold to the same John and Amy, and the heirs of the same John. Part of the aforesaid fine, which this witnessed, was produced before you, and it was claimed that the same Amy vouched the same John as guarantor concerning the estate which the aforesaid John had before this fine, by which fine the aforesaid Thomas surrendered the aforesaid tenements to the same John and Amy. And the aforesaid Geoffrey said to this that the same Amy should not be allowed to vouch the aforesaid John for this, because whereas she should be allowed to vouch him, it is because the said Thomas should have had those tenements of the gift of the aforesaid John before the aforesaid fine, when the same Thomas never had any estate in those tenements. And he offered to prove this, seeking judgment as to whether she was allowed such voucher as guarantor. And the said Amy, in answer to this, claimed that she should not be excluded from vouching him by this proof, because she claimed to have vouched this seisin of the aforesaid John, her husband, before the levy of the said fine, which the said Geoffrey did not deny. And since the same Geoffrey, by his deed, made the same Amy tenant of the aforesaid tenements, together with her aforesaid husband, which he has understood by the said fine, the change of possession having moved from the person of the said John to the person of the aforesaid Thomas, and the same Thomas having surrendered those tenements to the same John and Amy in the aforesaid form, the same Amy similarly sought judgment as to whether she should be allowed to vouch the aforesaid John. And the aforesaid Geoffrey again said that whereas the same Amy should have vouched him, it was because the said Thomas should have had those tenements of the gift of the aforesaid John before the said fine. And since he intends to prove that the said Thomas never had any estate in the aforesaid tenements, which proof the same Amy refuses to accept, he sought judgment as to whether she should be allowed to vouch him. And the same Amy claimed that she should not be excluded from her aforesaid voucher by the said proof, against that which she claimed above, and that the same Geoffrey did not deny this, and she sought judgment on this, further protesting that if it seemed necessary to the court for her to answer further, she was prepared to do this. Wherefore a day was given to the aforesaid parties before you on the foregoings, on the quinzaine of Saint Hilary last [1340], and then by the essoin of the same Amy on the quinzaine of Holy Trinity next coming [1340]; and [col. b] the aforesaid Geoffrey, by his petition presented before us and our council in our last parliament summoned at Westminster [March-May 1340], petitioned us, the transcript of the record and process of the aforesaid plea having been presented before our same council, by the advice of our same council, that we would ordain and order judgment on the foregoings, according to the form, force and effect of the aforesaid plea returned on the said quinzaine of Holy Trinity, without further delay. And since the aforesaid business was brought to trial before our said council with some difficulty, it seemed to our same council that by the law of the land the said Geoffrey, who was not privy to the aforesaid fine, by the proof which he intended to be allowed, by the same proof, by statute or by other law should in no way be removed, wherefore our court should proceed to return judgment according to what the said parties pleaded and it should await judgment thereupon, under peril which is incumbent; and also that those words contained above in the said record, as is said, that is to say, where the said Amy says that if the court considered it necessary for her to answer further, she was prepared to do this, it is agreed by our said council that the said Amy cannot give another answer by the law of the land or by any other answer reserved to her by protestation, for the entire time in which the aforesaid parties awaited judgment. And willing due execution to be demanded in our said parliament, the record and process of the aforesaid plea having been viewed before you, as well as the transcript of the aforesaid petition and the endorsement of the same, and also the tenor of the aforesaid record and process which we caused to be produced before us in our chancery for a certain reason, and which transcript and tenor we sent to you under our seal to make process in the same plea, we command that you return judgment in the aforesaid plea, according to the aforesaid agreement and advice, without further delay, notwithstanding the aforesaid protestation. Witnessed by me myself at Westminster on 22 May in the fourteenth year of our reign of England, and the first of our reign of France [1340].
La copie de la lettre du prive seal, envoie as ditz justices d'aler au juggement sanz plus outre delaie < les parties. > The copy of the letter of the privy seal sent to the said justices to return the judgment without further delaying the parties.
[memb. 7]
Edward, par la grace de Dieu roi d'Engleterre et de France et seignur d'Irlande, a noz chers et foialx Monsir Johan de Stonore et ses compaignons, justices du nostre commune bank, salutz. Come nostre chere et foial Geffrey de Staunton' eit emplede devant vous, par nostre brief, Johan de Staunton', chivaler, et Amie sa femme, des certeines tenementz od les appurtenantz en Eyleston, et par divers essoignes de nostre service faites par la dite Amie, et par protestacions et ajournementz sur ce < nient > duement faites, s'il ad il este lungement delaiez de son droit, a grant damage de lui, et en cas desheritance. Sur quoi il mist peticion en nostre drain parlement devant < nous, > ensemblement ove la tenure del record et proces du dit plee, queux examinez et responduz en dit parlement, vous viegnent de souz le pee de nostre grant seal, ore a la quinzeine de la Trinite, queu jour les dites parties ont devant vous par ajournement; vous mandons, qe vewes le dit proces et l'endossement de la dite peticion, et noz briefs qe sur ce vous veignent de souz nostre dit grant seal, aillez sanz delai au juggement rendre entre les dites parties, solonc l'avys et acord du dit parlement, et les mandementz susditz, nient contresteant nul essoigne de nostre service affaire par la dite Amie, ala quinzeine avantdite, par cause de delaier meisme le juggement. Done souz nostre prive seal, a Gippewyce, le .xvij. jour de Juyn, l'an de nostre regne d'Engleterre quatorzisme, et de nostre regne de France primer. Edward, by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland, to our dear and faithful Sir John Stonor and his fellow justices of our common bench, greetings. Whereas our dear and faithful Geoffrey Staunton has impleaded before you, by our writ, John Staunton, knight, and Amy, his wife, concerning certain tenements with the appurtenances in Elston, and by various essoins of our service made by the said Amy, and by protestations and adjournments unduly made thereon, he has for a long time been delayed his right, to his great damage and, perhaps, disinheritance. Wherefore he put a petition before us in our last parliament [March-May 1340] which, together with the tenor of the record and process of the said plea which were examined and answered in the said parliament, shall be brought before you under the authority of our great seal on the quinzaine of Trinity [1340], which day the said parties have before you by adjournment; we order you to view the said process and the endorsement of the said petition, and our writs thereon under our said great seal which shall be brought before you, and to proceed without delay to return judgment between the said parties, according to the opinion and accord of the said parliament and the aforesaid orders, notwithstanding any essoin of our service made by the said Amy at the aforesaid quinzaine to delay the same judgment. Given under our privy seal at Ipswich on 17 June in the fourteenth year of our reign of England, and the first of our reign of France [1340].

Appendix July 1340

1

Letters patent dated 25 July 1340 recording the terms and conditions of the grant of the forced loan of 20,000 sacks of wool made in parliament and recorded on the parliament roll of July 1340 (item 11); the document is not recorded on the chancery rolls, but survives in the register of Bishop Grandisson of Exeter, and may have been copied there from one of the texts supplied to the knights of the shires at the end of this parliament.

Source : The Register of John de Grandisson, Bishop of Exeter , ed. F.C. Hingeston-Randolph, 3 vols. (London, 1894-9), I.63.

2

Petition of Roger Chandos, leading to the issue of a commission of oyer and terminer, dated 6 July 1340 and warranted 'by petition of parliament'.

Sources : SC 8/40/1990; CPR 1340-3 , 90.

3

Petition (not extant) of the chapter of York Minster, resulting in the appointment of a two commissions dated 20 July 1340 and warranted 'by council in parliament'.

Source : CPR 1340-3 , 85.

4

Letters patent of Edward, duke of Cornwall, dated 23 July 1340, issued as a royal inspeximus : the prince's subjects in Cornwall have sued on various occasions and by petition in parliament against the court set up at Launceston, by John of Eltham as earl of Cornwall. The king, with the assent of his council in full parliament, ordered a commission on the matter, which found that the court was an unwarranted novelty; with the assent of parliament, a writ was issued to the treasurer and barons of the exchequer, who confirmed that no such court had been held in time past. At the parliament at Westminster in July 1340, all the evidence was shown and the matter decided, and the council decided and parliament agreed that matters should be as formerly. The date of the original petition in parliament is uncertain; it is the later stages of this case that apply to the parliament of July 1340.

Source : CPR 1340-3 , 18-19.

Footnotes

  • f1340cint-1. B. Wilkinson, The Chancery under Edward III (Manchester, 1929), 81 (n. 2), 154-5.
  • f1340cint-2. CCR 1339-41 , 488.
  • f1340cint-3. E.B. Fryde, 'Edward III's war finance, 1337-41: transactions in wool and credit operations', D.Phil. thesis, University of Oxford (1947), 503-5.
  • f1340cint-4. RDP , IV.521-4. None of the original returns survives for this parliament, so our knowledge of the membership of the commons is confined to those who received writs de expensis in the chancery: Return of the Name of Every Member of the Lower House of Parliament 1213-1874 , 2 vols. (London, 1878), I.132-3. G.O. Sayles, The Functions of the Medieval Parliament of England (London, 1988), 436, prints an advice from the domestic council to the king that parliament ought to be called in his absence, which Sayles assumes refers to this assembly; in fact, the document dates from 1339: see parliament of October 1339, Appendix no. 1. The return of one proctor of the lower clergy to this assembly survives: A.K. McHardy, 'The representation of the English lower clergy in parliament during the later fourteenth century', SCH 10 (1973), 100 (n. 13).
  • f1340cint-5. Foedera , II(ii).1125.
  • f1340cint-6. For the membership of the regency council, see T.F. Tout, Chapters in the Administrative History of Mediaeval England , 6 vols. (Manchester, 1920-33), III.112.
  • f1340cint-7. Fryde, 'Edward III's war finance', 506; E.B. Fryde, William de la Pole, Merchant and King's Banker (London, 1988), 147.
  • f1340cint-8. For the Nottingham schedule, see CPR 1334-8 , 480-2.
  • f1340cint-9. Fryde, 'Edward III's war finance', 539-63; W.M. Ormrod, 'The crown and the English economy, 1290-1348', in Before the Black Death: Studies in the 'Crisis' of the Early Fourteenth Century , ed. B.M.S. Campbell (Manchester, 1991), 177 (n. 94).
  • f1340cint-10. CCR 1339-41 , 493.
  • f1340cint-11. RDP, IV.524-5 ; CCR 1339-41 , 613; Sayles, Functions , 436-7.
  • f1340cint-12. G.L. Harriss, King, Parliament and Public Finance in Medieval England to 1369 (Oxford, 1975), 280.
  • f1340cint-13. See the parallel record in the king's bench plea roll transcribed (in truncated form) and translated in SCCKB , VI.1-11.
  • f1340cint-14. J.G. Edwards, '"Justice" in early English parliaments', in Historical Studies of the English Parliament , ed. E.B. Fryde and E. Miller, 2 vols. (Cambridge, 1970), I.289-90.
  • f1340cint-15. Note, however, that the case continued on an appeal of error in king's bench: SCCKB , VI.4-11; and see Sayles, Functions , p. 446.
  • ii-117-46-1. Cf. Rot.Scot ., I.592-4 (dated 21 June 1340, i.e. before the convening of this parliament)
  • ii-117-52-1. CPR 1340-3 , 85
  • ii-117-54-1. CPR 1340-3 , 85
  • ii-117-64-1. RDP , IV.524-5. See also below, item 25
  • ii-117-88-1. RDP , IV.524-5. See also above, item 18
  • ii-117-102-1. Cf. CPR 1340-3 , 51
  • ii-117-116-1. Below, at heading 'The copy of the first petition which the said Sir Geoffrey put forward...'
  • ii-117-116-2. Below, at heading 'The copy of the writ of the great seal made on the same petition...'
  • ii-117-116-3. Below, at heading 'The copy of the record and process of the aforesaid plea...'