Close Rolls, Edward III: May 1339 | British History Online

Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III: Volume 5, 1339-1341. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1901.

'Close Rolls, Edward III: May 1339', in Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III: Volume 5, 1339-1341, (London, 1901) pp. 119-126. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-close-rolls/edw3/vol5/pp119-126 [accessed 23 April 2024]

May 1339



May 12. Berkhampstead.	Nicholas de la Beche, knight, acknowledges that he owes to Robert de Veer, knight, 100 marks, to be levied etc. in co. Berks.
	Cancelled on payment, acknowledged before the chancellor in the 13th year.
	Membrane 6d.
May 10. Berkhampstead.	To the taxers and collectors in the city of London of the triennial tenth and fifteenth lately granted by the community of the realm. Order to permit John de Flete, keeper of the exchanges of London and Canterbury, and the workmen, moneyers and other ministers of these exchanges, to have respite until Michaelmas next, for their quotas, so that the king may cause justice to be done to them when he has been more fully informed, as the late king on 1 March in the second year of his reign granted by letters, which the king has confirmed, that the said keepers and others should be quit of all contributions while they were in their office and if they granted anything of their free will, it should be levied and assessed by the keepers, and the keepers themselves should be taxed by the barons of the exchequer, and now the king has learned from John that the collectors have assessed them for the tenth and fifteenth and propose to levy divers sums of money of them for that cause.
	By the keeper and C.
	Membrane 4d. (fn. 1)
April 28. Berkhampstead.	To John de Haudlo and his fellows, keepers of the maritime land in co. Buckingham. Order not to compel Roger Hillary, one of the justices of the Bench to find any man at arms for that custody by reason of two parts of the manor of Haversham in that county, now in his hand, because he has prepared himself to arms according to the exigence of his estate, to ride with the other justices and lieges in the company of Edward, duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester, against the king's alien enemies, if they presume to invade the realm. By C.
May 8. Berkhampstead.	Hervey de Stanton, parson of Elm church, diocese of Ely, acknowledges that he owes to Thomas de Bernes of London, merchant, 20 marks: to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in co. Surrey.
	John de Stoford acknowledges that he owes to Richard Lacer, citizen of London, 200l.; to be levied etc. in co. Devon.
	Cancelled on payment.
May 8. Berkhampstead.	To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer. Order to cause Queen Philippa to have respite until Michaelmas next for 100s. as Thomas de Garton, late keeper of the wardrobe, in his account rendered at the exchequer, accounted that he had delivered to the queen on 15 February in the 5th year of the reign, 100s. by the hands of John de Eston, his clerk, as a prest, to be restored. By C.
May 4. Berkhampstead.	To the abbot and convent of Kirkestall. Request to provide Richard de Troxford, who long served the king and his father, with compent maintenance until the king's arrival in England. By the Keeper and C.
May 12. Berkhampstead.	Gilbert de Sandale, parson of Northmymmes church, diocese of Lincoln, and William son of William de Middelton acknowledge that they owe to Gilbert de Wygeton, clerk, 60l.; to be levied, in default of payment, of their lands and chattels and Gilbert's ecclesiastical goods, in co. Hertford.
May 13. Berkhampstead.	Brother Roger, abbot of Butlesden acknowledges for himself and convent that they owe to John de Oxenford of London, vintner, 30l.; to be levied in default of payment, of their lands and chattels in co. Buckingham.
May 14. Berkhampstead.	John de Cromhale acknowledges that he owes to Thomas de Gloucestr[ia], clerk, 20l.; to be levied etc. in co. Gloucester.
May 25. Berkhamp-stead.	Simon de Reddeswell, parson of Fordham church, diocese of London, and Walter de Reddeswell of co. Essex, acknowledge that they owe to John de Dyngelee, 100 marks; to be levied etc. of their lands and chattels and Simon's ecclesiastical goods in co. Essex.
	Cancelled on payment.
	Membrane 3d.
May 3. Berkhamp-stead.	To the arrayers of men at arms and others in co. Oxford. Order not to compel William Corbet to find any men at arms or others for the defence of co. Oxford against hostile invasion, or to stay there in person, by reason of his lands there, while he is staying in the company of Edmund de la Beche, keeper of the town of Southampton, upon the safe custody of that town, with all the men of his power. By C.
May 1. Berkhampstead.	To the keepers of the maritime land in co. Sussex. Order not to compel Oliver de Bohun to find any men at arms or others for the custody of the maritime land in co. Southampton, while he is staying in the king's company in parts beyond the sea with his men at arms and others of his power. By C.
March 23. Berkhampstead.	To the justices of the Bench. Whereas Henry, earl of Lancaster, impleads before them Robert del Isle, knight, that Robert render to him John the son and heir of Ed[mund] Peverel, asserting that the wardship ought to pertain to him, which said wardship Robert holds by the king's grant by security to render the heir to the king at will, the king, considering that it may be to his prejudice if process be taken without his being consulted, orders the justices to continue the plea in the state in which it now is, until ordered otherwise, so that they do not proceed to render judgment without consulting the king. By p.s. [11808.]
May 4. Berkhamp-stead.	To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer and to the chamberlains. Order to inspect the rolls and memoranda of the exchequer touching the account of Roger bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, sometime keeper of the late king's wardrobe, and to inform the king without delay of what they shall find there concerning 438l. 6s. 8d. in which the late king was bound to John de Moubray, and to supersede the demand made upon John de Moubray, son of the said John, for his debts and those of his father, up to the said sum, until Easter next, so that the king may cause what is just to be done in the mean time, as John the son has besought the king to cause that sum to be allowed to him in his debts, as the late king was bound to his father in 438l. 6s. 8d. by a bill under Roger's seal, at the time when he was keeper of the wardrobe, and Roger charged himself with that sum in his account, and the bill was lost in the custody of William le Moigne, sometime keeper of the wardrobe. By C.
May 8. Berkhampstead.	To John de Veer, earl of Oxford, and his fellows, keepers of the maritime land in co. Essex, and to the arrayers of men at arms and others in that county and co. Hertford. Order to supersede the demand made upon John de Pulteneye to find men for that custody of the maritime land in co. Essex by reason of his lands in those counties, while he retains twenty men at arms and other armed men and archers in his company ready to set out with Edward duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester, the keeper of England, as often as there is danger of hostile attacks, and he is staying at London for the preservation of the peace there and for its defence against such attacks, by the command of the keeper and of the council. By C.
	The like, 'mutatis mutandis' to the sheriff of Hertford. By C.
May 9. Berkhampstead.	To the keepers of the maritime land in co. Norfolk. Order to supersede the exaction made upon Thomas Chaumberleyn for finding a man at arms for that custody by reason of his lands in the county, while he is staying in the company of Hugh le Despenser, whom the king appointed with other lieges to array men at arms and others in certain counties of the realm, and to the said custody, as Hugh has certified by his letters in chancery.
May 7. Berkhampstead.	To Richard earl of Arundel and his fellows, keepers of the maritime land in co. Southampton. Order to compel all those of cos. Wilts and Southampton, who assert that they are of the retinue of Robert bishop of Salisbury, and are not, to make the said custody with the others of the county, at their own cost, as the king appointed Robert and other lieges to array all men in co. Wilts to set out with Edward duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester and other magnates against the king's enemies if they should presume to invade the realm, and to do certain other things, and the king has learned that divers men of the said counties assert themselves to be of the bishop's retinue and therefore that they ought not to be bound for that custody, so that the maritime land there is not guarded as is fitting. By C.
	To Robert bishop of Salisbury. Order not to claim (advocet) as his own any men who are not of his retinue. By C.
April 29. Berkhampstead.	To John de Warenna, earl of Surrey, and his fellows, arrayers of men at arms and others in co. Surrey. Order to supersede the distraint made on John de Hedersham to stay in that county upon the safe custody of those parts while he is in the company of the abbot of Battle upon the safe custody of the maritime land in co. Kent, as the abbot has besought the king to order the distraint to be superseded, as John is of the abbot's retinue and is staying in his company in co. Kent as aforesaid, and John is distrained by the earl's deputies to stay in co. Surrey for its safe custody, and the abbot cannot make the custody in co. Kent unless he have the men of his retinue with him. By C.
May 15. Berkhampstead.	To John Bardolf and his fellows, keepers of the maritime land in co. Norfolk. Order to supersede the distraint made upon the prior of Okebourn, for finding men for that custody by reason of his lands in the county, as the prior has shown that the priory was taken into the king's hands as an alien priory, and he holds it by the king's commission, at will, rendering a certain ferm yearly at the exchequer, yet those deputed by the keepers distrain him to find men for that custody, pretending that the priors of that place and other alien men of religion at the time when the pricries were in the king's hands by reason of war, underwent such charges, wherefore the prior has asserted that he pays a greater sum for his ferm for that custody than was wont to be paid in times past, and has besought the king to discharge him of the said custody and such charges, on account of the small price, at the present time of the things from which the ferm ought to be levied. By C.
	The like to the following for the same prior:—
	John Bardolf and his fellows, keepers of the maritime land in co. Suffolk.
	The keepers of the maritime land in co. Dorset.
May 8. Berkhampstead.	To Roger de Northwod. Order to direct those deputed with him by William de Clynton, earl of Huntyngdon, keeper of the maritime land in co. Kent, to stay in the island of Shepeye upon its safe custody against hostile invasions, to be attendant upon that custody and to guard the island from danger, and if they refuse to do this, then to inform the king in chancery of their names, so that he may punish them for their rebellion and disobedience, as the king has learned that they refuse to make that custody. By C.
May 18. Berkhampstead.	Nicholas de Ledred, citizen of London, acknowledges that he owes to John de Watenhull, clerk, 100s.; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in the city of London.
	Membrane 2d.
May 3. Berkhampstead.	To Robert de Morle, admiral of the fleet from the mouth of the Thames towards the North. Order to supersede the demand made on the prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England to find a man at arms or other to set out to sea with the admiral, by reason of his lands in co. Suffolk, while the prior is finding thirty men at arms and other armed men and archers for the custody of Southampton by the king's order with the advice of the council, as the prior has besought the king to supply a remedy, as the admiral distrains him for this cause, and has arrested and imprisoned Richard de Bachesworth, a brother of the Hospital. By C.
April 29. Berkhampstead.	To the arrayers of men at arms and others in co. Rutland. Order not to compel Benedict de Fulsham to find any men to set out against the king's enemies outside the island of Shephey, in the hundred of Midelton, which belongs to Queen Philippa, while he is staying in the island with the men of his power, for its safe custody, as he has the custody of that hundred by the queen's grant and the arrayers distrain him by reason of his lands in co. Rutland. By C.
May 7. Berkhampstead.	To the sheriff of Wilts. Order to compel all the men of that bailiwick who ought to pay wages to the men at arms and archers staying at Porchester for the safe custody of the maritime land there, to pay such wages so that the men may not withdraw as the king has learned from the men that their wages are in arrear for a great time and that those who ought to pay them refuse to do so, wherefore it will behove them to depart from that place unless their wages are quickly paid.
April 28. Berkhampstead.	To the keepers of the maritime land and arrayers of men in co. Sussex. Order not to compel John, bishop of Exeter, to find men for that custody by reason of his lands in the county, while he is attendant upon the arraying of men at arms and others in co. Devon with Hugh de Courteneye, earl of Devon. By C.
April 7. Berkhampstead.	To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer. Whereas the late king on 10 April in the 19th year of his reign, granted to John de Pulteneye, citizen of London, that he should be quit for life of all tallages, aids and other contributions, the king orders them to discharge him of the sums exacted of him by reason of such grants since the said 10th day, which sums are exacted of him by reason of an ordinance made on 12 July last to revoke such grants and quittances, and to charge John with such contributions from the said 12 July. By C.
May 7. Berkhampstead.	To the justices of the Bench. Whereas John, son of Lambert, de Algerkyrk impleads Walter de Byrmyngham and Elizabeth his wife before them that they shall permit him to present a fit parson to the church of Algerkyrk, and the king bore another writ returnable before the justices on the octaves of Trinity next, against Walter and Elizabeth, that they should permit the king to present a fit and proper person to that church, and the king has learned that John, Walter and Elizabeth on the morrow of the Ascension, are pleading in that affair by common consent, sue that the affair may be finally discussed on the said day, and judgment rendered thereon, so that they may defraud the king of his right in this respect, or cunningly prorogue the suit of the king's right to his prejudice; the king therefore orders the justices to take such mature and diligent deliberation upon the process of the affair between John and Walter and Elizabeth and so to act that no harm shall be done to the king by such cunning suits, nor the prosecution of his rights deferred. By C.
May 3. Berkhampstead.	To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer. Order to supersede the demand made on Alan la Zousche son and heir of William la Zousche of Mortimer and Eleanor his wife, for 5,000l. in the lands of the inheritance of William which are not of the lands of Eleanor by reason of a recognisance; as William and Eleanor, on 19 January in the 4th year of the reign, acknowledged that they owed to the king 10,000l. to be paid at will, for the land of Glamorgan and Morgannou in Wales, the manor of Hanle co. Worcester and the manor of Teukesbury co. Gloucester, which they lately rendered to the king by a fine levied in his court before the justices of the Bench; and because the land and manors were of Eleanor's inheritance, the king granted that the execution of the recognisance should be made in this wise, to wit: that during the life and wedlock of William and Eleanor the execution should be made of all their lands, goods and chattels and if Eleanor should die first or a divorce take place the execution should be made of Eleanor's lands, goods and chattels only, and that William and his heirs should be discharged of the 10,000l.; and if William should die and Eleanor survive, the execution should be made of her lands, goods and chattels, and that William's heirs should be discharged as aforesaid; and afterwards on 22 January following the king pardoned William and Eleanor 5,000l. of the said 10,000l. at the request of the parliament assembled at Westminster on Monday after St. Katherine in the 4th year of the reign, and that the remaining 5,000l. should be paid to the king, as appears by inspection of the rolls of chancery.
May 14. Berkhampstead.	To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer, Dublin. Order to cause Elizabeth de Burgo to have respite until the Purification next for all the debts and reliefs which she owes at the exchequer. By C.
May 8. Berkhampstead.	To John Bardolf and his fellows, keepers of the maritime land in co. Norfolk. Order to supersede the distraint made on John Strech for finding two men at arms for that custody by reason of his lands in the county, while he is staying with the men at arms and others of his power with the king in parts beyond the sea, as he was staying there when the king arrived, at great expense, and he lately came to parts of the realm to seek victuals and other necessaries for the maintenance of his said men, and is now about to return to the king. By C.
May 12. Berkhampstead.	To the arrayers of men at arms in co. Somerset. Order to supersede the distraint made on the sisters of the order of the Hospital of St. John of Jersulam in England of Bocland, to find a man at arms for the custody of the maritime land in co. Dorset, by reason of the lands of the prior of that Hospital in that county, from which the sisters are maintained, while the prior finds thirty men at arms for the custody of Southampton, as the sisters are found by alms and the distribution of the prior and brethren of the Hospital and have nothing wherewith to live except by the ministration of the prior and brethren. By C.
May 14. Berkhampstead.	To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer, Dublin. Order to cause Henry de Ferar[iis], who is staying with the king in parts beyond the sea, to have respite until Michaelmas next for all the debts which he owes at the exchequer, his own, those of his wife, one of the daughters and heirs of Theobald de Verdon, and those of their ancestors. By C.
May 29. Berkhampstead.	William de Mundene, clerk, acknowledges that he owes to Henry Wymond and Alan de Chikewell, executors of the will of John de Abbodeston, 100s.; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in co. Hertford.
	Cancelled on payment.
—	William de Arderne, citizen of London, puts in his place Theobald Poleyn, to prosecute the execution of a recognisance for 10l. made to him in chancery by Thomas le Mareschal and William Gentilcorps.
	Membrane 1d.
May 20. Berkhampstead.	To the sheriff of Somerset. Order to supersede the execution of a writ directing him to take John Randulf of Colleshull, as lately at the request of R. bishop of Bath and Wells showing that John, his parishioner, was excommunicated for contempt of the bishop's authority and would not be judged by ecclesiastical censure, the king ordered the sheriff to judge John according to the custom of England, until he should satisfy holy church for his contempt; and because John appealed to the Roman court from the sentence passed upon him by the bishop and for the protection of the court of Canterbury, and pursues his appeals with effect, as will fully appear by the public instruments made thereupon and the process held in the court of Canterbury, shown to the king in chancery under the seal of the official of that court, the king not wishing to prevent John from pursuing his appeal ordered the sheriff to direct the bishop to be in chancery on the morrow of St. Thomas last, to show cause why the taking of John should not be superseded pending the appeal, and the sheriff returned that he made the return of the writ to John atte Pulle, bailiff of the bishop's liberty, who made no answer thereto, wherefore the king ordered the sheriff not to omit to enter that liberty, and to direct the bishop to be in chancery on the morrow of the Ascension last, in the form aforesaid; and the bishop having appeared in chancery on the morrow of the Ascension by Walter Power and Henry de Ingelby, clerks, his attorneys, has said nothing why the taking of John should not be superseded.
	The like of the sheriff of Gloucester.
May 20. Berkhampstead.	To Richard de Wylughby and his fellows, justices appointed to hold pleas before the king. Whereas John Payn impleads John Alwy and others contained in the original writ, before the king, of a trespass committed on him by John and the others in reaping and carrying away his corn at Haveryng atte Boure, and although John Payn alleged that the land where the corn was growing was parcel of the manor of Haveryng atte Boure which is of the ancient demesne of the crown of England, and which Queen Philippa holds for life by the king's grant, and all the tenants of the manor who wish to demise their lands, ought by the custom of the manor to come to the queen's court there and render those lands by a rod into the queen's hands, and if any tenant demised his land there by enfeoffment or otherwise, the queen and her bailiffs should enter the land, retain it and dispose thereof at will; and that John de Chiltebourn held the land where the corn was sowed, and alienated it without any surrender in the queen's court, so that the queen caused it to be seized by Robert de Hogham, her steward there, who delivered it in the queen's court by a rod to John Alwy, to hold at will, rendering 4s. yearly; and John sowed the land and reaped the corn as his own, yet the justices proceeded in the plea and intend to take an inquisition thereon; the king therefore orders them to view the record and process held upon the premises, considering the prejudice that would be done to the king and queen if John Payn recovered against John Alwy, and not to attempt anything which would prejudice the king, without consulting him. By C.
May 24. Berkhamp-stead.	To the taxers and collectors in co. Sussex of the triennial tenth and fifteenth granted by the laity. The men and tenants of R. bishop of Chichester of the hundred of Buxle near Hastyng have shown the king that whereas they were assessed, with the men of the Cinque Ports, who have lands, goods and chattels in that hundred at 112s. 1½d. for the second year of payment, and although the portion of the men of the Cinque Ports amounts to 42s. 3d. of that sum, and the other men of that hundred are prepared to pay the remaining 69s. 9½d. yet the collectors intend to levy the 112s. 1½d. of them entire, omitting the men of the Cinque Ports, because they pretend that they ought to be quit of such taxation by charters of the king's progenitors, wherefore the bishop's men have besought the king to provide a remedy; the king therefore orders the collectors to receive the 69s. 9½d. from the said men and to discharge them of the remaining 42s. 3d. provided that this sum be levied of the men of the Cinque Ports, unless they can show by charters that they ought to be quit thereof.
	To the treasurer and barons of the exchequer. Order to discharge the bishop's men and the taxers and collectors of the said 42s. 3d. if they find that the premises are correct, provided that the men and collectors answer for the remaining 69s. 9½d.
	Enrolment of release by John de Schobbenhangre to Sir Nicholas de la Beche, knight, of all actions of debts, contracts, covenants made or due to him by Sir John de la Beche, knight, by recognisance or otherwise. Witnesses: Sir Thomas Ussecarle, William Jurdan, John atte Bere, Thomas Tocchewyk. Dated at London on Thursday before St. Barnabas, 13 Edward III. French.
	Enrolment of release by John de Schobenhangre to Sir Nicholas de la Beche, knight, and Margery his wife and Nicholas's heirs, of all his right and claim in all his lands in Benettefeld, which Sir John la Beche, knight, formerly held of John's gift and enfeoffment, and which Nicholas now holds by the gift and enfeoffment of Sir Andrew de Segrave, knight, and Joan his wife as of her inheritance, by a fine levied in the king's court. Witnesses: Sir Thomas Ussecarle, William Jurdan, Henry Pyntkenay, John atte Bere, Thomas de Tocchewyk. [Dated as above.]