Edward III: September 1353 | British History Online

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

'Edward III: September 1353', in Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, (Woodbridge, 2005) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/parliament-rolls-medieval/september-1353 [accessed 19 April 2024]

1353 September

Introduction 1353

Westminster

23 September - 12 October

(C 65/17. RP , II.246-253. SR , I.329-344)

C 65/17 is a roll of 3 membranes, numbered from 3 to 1, each approximately 295 mm. in width, sewn together in the chancery style. The condition of the roll is good, apart from occasional gallic acid stains on membrane 3, particularly at the top of the membrane. The text, written in a small, clear chancery script, occupies the rectos of the membranes only. The dorses are blank, apart from the heading, 'Rot. parliamenti anno .xxvij. E. tercii', and the later note, 'Ordinarees stapul', at the head of membrane 3, the contemporary heading, 'Rotulus ordinacionum apud Westm' in magno consilio ibidem summonito die lune proximo post festum Sancti Mathei Apostoli factarum, anno regni regis E. tercii post conquestum Anglie vicesimo septimo', at the foot of membrane 1, and the later notes, 'Magnus consilius anno 27 Ed 3', where the membranes are joined. Marginal headings are contemporary. Arabic numerals throughout the roll are later. The roll does not appear to be incomplete.

The inclusion of the proceedings of the great council of September 1353 in the series of chancery parliament rolls has given this assembly a quasi-parliamentary status: as we shall see below, it also chose to behave like a parliament in granting taxes and entering common petitions. It was summoned, however, as a great council: the writs of summons, and the note in the margin of the close roll against the record of those writs, use the term 'council' rather than 'parliament'. More substantively, while the personal summonses to 47 spiritual peers, 55 lay peers and 12 judges and senior royal officials more or less replicated the membership of the lords in recent parliaments, the sheriffs received distinctive writs ordering them to return only one belted knight for each county (rather than the two regularly elected to parliaments), (fn. f1353int-1) and the election of representatives of the cities and towns was taken out of the hands of the sheriffs and effected via writs addressed directly to the civic and municipal authorities of 38 designated urban centres, each of which was requested to return two members. (fn. f1353int-2) The result was a 'commons' that was very much more weighted in numerical terms towards the urban and mercantile interest than was the case in regular parliaments, and where the determination of which cities and towns achieved individual representation was achieved by the crown rather than by the sheriffs. All the names of the shire representatives are known: those for 27 of the 38 cities and towns are recoverable from the original returns or the writs de expensis issued at the end of the assembly. (fn. f1353int-3)

The assembly of 1353 was summoned to implement the Ordinance of the Staple, the new arrangements worked out for the functioning and regulation of the new wool staples established in England, and the principal item of business recorded on the proceedings of this great council. The staple was a fixed point through which all wool (and sometimes other goods) produced in England had to pass en route to foreign markets. Staples had been established variously on the continent and in England since 1313; after 1334 they had been fixed in the Low Countries. (fn. f1353int-4) Because of its association with the syndicates of merchants who had controlled royal credit and the wool trade during the early stages of the French wars, this continental staple became discredited, and when the farm of the customs system was wound up in 1351 it was more or less inevitable that the staple would be transferred back to England. It was long assumed by historians that the Ordinance of the Staple of 1353 therefore represented a concession by the crown to the wool producers and up-country merchants opposed to the restrictive practices of the 1340s and eager to re-assert their political interest in the wake of the collapse of the credit syndicates. (fn. f1353int-5) However, it is now clearly established that the domestic staples were established not under pressure from the commons in the great council of September 1353, but by a government edict issued in June of that year and ratified in a council summoned to Westminster on 1 July; this reform was a response not merely to the political mood of the mercantile interest in England but also to a range of diplomatic, economic and fiscal issues bearing upon government policy. (fn. f1353int-6) The Ordinance of the Staple was therefore a premeditated piece of legislation designed by the crown to ensure the smooth operation of the new system of domestic staples, and represented an important contribution to the legislative programme of the early 1350s. (fn. f1353int-7) There was one vital difference from the statutes of 1351-2, however: namely, that the staple regulations were issued as, and intended by the crown as, a flexible piece of legislation to last only so long as it suited the king's purpose: in other words, to be an ordinance rather than a statute. This (along with the more pragmatic point that it needed particular endorsement by the urban and mercantile element) must be the decisive reasons why the crown chose to summon a customised great council rather than a regular parliament, for its confirmation.

That contemporaries were aware of, and originally prepared to observe, the assembly's non-parliamentary status is strongly suggested by the total lack of evidence relating to private petitions having been entered during this assembly: the absence of any chancery instruments warranted 'by petition of parliament' during 1353 signals the fact that under Edward III at least, it was acknowledged that the crown only had an obligation to receive and answer private petitions in properly constituted parliaments. (fn. f1353int-8) The very specific and targeted nature of the business which the crown intended to cover in the great council is also emphasised by the record of the proceedings: the opening speech, made (after the usual delays consequent upon late arrivals) on Friday 27 September by the chief justice of king's bench, Sir William Shareshull, referred only to the fact that the domestic staples had been set up and that the crown now sought assent to 'some articles' concerning their regulation. The ordinance was then read aloud to the prelates, magnates and commons assembled in the White Chamber; any amendments they proposed were to be supplied in writing. The commons requested a copy of the legislation: one was given to the knights and one to the burgesses (an example of how these two groups of representatives often functioned separately in great councils, as in parliaments), who then 'after great deliberation' returned their written comments to the king's council. None of those comments was recorded on the official roll of proceedings, and - with one exception - it is therefore impossible to tell what effect they had on the legislation already drafted by the crown. The exception is the issue of the location and number of the staples: among the common petitions subsequently entered by the kings, citizens and burgesses is a request that, in addition to the nominated locations for the new English staples (Newcastle upon Tyne, York, Lincoln, Norwich, Westminster, Chichester, Winchester, Exeter and Bristol), the crown should set up additional staples at Worcester, Nottingham, Hull, Boston, Stamford, Lynn, Ipswich and Canterbury. This was granted only in respect of Canterbury, 'in honour of St Thomas' (item 38). Since the record of the Ordinance on the roll of proceedings of the great council includes Canterbury among the list of English staples, this means that the official record cannot have been begun until after the second stage in the proceedings of the assembly. (fn. f1353int-9) (The Ordinance itself was issued as letters patent formally dated 23 September, although there is evidence that it was formally disseminated to the other departments of central government and to the sheriffs until not issued for proclamation until November.) (fn. f1353int-10) Otherwise, the roll provides no clue as to what happened between Friday 27 September and Monday 7 October. We are therefore left to speculate about the degree of bargaining, and the number of substantive amendments, applied to the ordinance during the week beginning Monday 30 September.

The Ordinance of the Staple can be read from a number of different perspectives. From the crown's point of view (and, by extension, from the vantage point of alien merchants), its principal importance probably lay in the arrangements its provided for the reception and protection of foreigners trading in England. Already in the parliament of 1351 the crown had responded to the commons' request for the confirmation of the 1335 statute guaranteeing freedom of trade within England to denizens and aliens alike. At Michaelmas 1352 it had instituted a ban on the export of wool from England by denizen merchants, thus placing all rights to this trade in the hands of aliens. The results had been disappointing: during the following fiscal year, fewer than 17,000 sacks of wool had passed through the customs system compared with over 23,000 in 1351-2. Having recently taken back direct management of the customs from the merchant syndicates which had farmed the system in the 1340s, Edward III's government realised the need to maximise income from this source and was therefore eager to offer alien merchants new trading rights and protection as a inducement to their coming into England. The new English staples were intended to provide markets to which native wool producers would have ready access (hence the designation of a number of staples at inland locations) and where foreign merchants could conduct their purchases freely and safely. (fn. f1353int-11) The award to the new mayors and constables elected in each of the new staples of far-reaching judicial powers over trespass, debt and contract, and the effective monopoly which these new tribunals enjoyed over all legal proceedings with the exception of pleas of land and freehold, gave the staple courts a strikingly powerful jurisdiction: their immunity from visitation even by the eyre or its contemporary equivalent, the court of king's bench, demonstrates the considerable authority that the crown thereby devolved upon the personnel of the domestic staples. Its purpose in this respect was to create efficient and speedy forms of justice that might be relevant and attractive to alien traders. This explains why considerable attention was paid to debt litigation. An alternative to the somewhat cumbersome debt process under the Statute of Merchant was created, whereby debts could be registered under the newly-created seals of the staples; in the event of defaults, legal actions would follow not in the common law courts but by speedy process in chancery. (fn. f1353int-12) The effect of this measure, both directly and indirectly, was considerable: the staple system became a recognised and established means of debt recovery; (fn. f1353int-13) and the evident influx of aliens into England generated a striking upswing in wool exports, resulting in the largest ever profits from the customs and subsidies on overseas trade in the financial year 1353-4. (fn. f1353int-14)

From the perspective of the English mercantile community, the advantages and priorities of the legislation were rather different. As has already been suggested, those who did not belong to (and had in many cases been the victims of) the monopolistic companies that had operated during the early stages of the Hundred Years War accepted the ban on denizen exports of wool because at the time it seemed the only guarantee against the revival of harmful speculative ventures based on the security of the wool trade. The encouragement provided to aliens to come into England was therefore crucial to the economic well-being of those upcountry producers and middlemen who relied on provincial markets to sell their wool for export. However, this wider commercial network also presumably recognised that the staples would be good for trade in their own areas: this, together with logistical ease, may be one reason why the commons in 1353 asked for the number and location of the staples to be increased. By establishing the staples in most cases outside the head ports of the customs system (only at Bristol, Chichester and Newcastle were the staple and the customs administration situated in the same town), the crown no doubt intended to reduce fraud: wool could only be exported if it had been weighed both at the staple and at the port. (fn. f1353int-15) It also, however, meant additional trade for the towns designated as staple centres. Within those towns - and in the additional staple subsequently established at Hull (fn. f1353int-16) - the new structures created opportunities for members of the mercantile elite to further their own economic, social and political interests through service to the crown as mayors and constables of the staple. And the availability of the new legal remedies offered by the Ordinance of the Staple provided a strong inducement to native, as well as foreign merchants: the regulations concerning debt proceedings in the staples did not specify that either party had to be an alien, and denizens quickly recognised that procedure under the staple legislation was the most effective means of debt recovery available to them. All of these incidental benefits serve to explain why the Ordinance proved so apparently popular in 1353 and why the commons in the parliament of 1354 specifically requested that legislation be enrolled as a statute 'to last forever' (parliament of 1354, item 16).

Had the implementation of the Ordinance of the Staple been the only matter conducted by the crown in the great council of 1353, it is unlikely that the assembly would have been given the opportunity to discuss the other affairs of the realm: it was a feature of a great council, after all, that it was called for specific, rather than general, business. The meeting in the White Chamber on 7 October, however, changed both the agenda and the authority of the assembly. Sir Bartholomew Burghersh, the king's chamberlain, made a speech before the king, lords and commons, summarising the important Anglo-French negotiations that had begun at Guînes earlier in the year under the patronage of the new peace-making pope, Innocent VI. (fn. f1353int-17) These talks ended inconclusively in the spring, after which Edward sent his confessor, John Woodrow, to Avignon with details of his conditions for peace. The proceedings of the great council provide important evidence of the details of those terms: the restoration of Aquitaine as fully as Edward III's ancestors had held it, the duchy of Normandy, the county of Ponthieu, all the lands which Edward had conquered in France, and the obedience of Flanders, all of these to be held 'freely without homage or other services', that is, in full sovereignty. The English king was willing, however, to give up Normandy if it could be shown that John II of France had an explicit right to it. (fn. f1353int-18) These were remarkable terms, and they set the diplomatic agenda for the draft treaty of Guînes, drawn up in the spring of 1354, though never ratified. The French had agreed to an extension of the truce with England in July, to terminate on 11 November; at the same time, having heard nothing from Woodrow, Edward III had sent the archdeacon of Huntingdon, William Whittlesey, to the curia to request an answer to his proposals. Although Burghersh's speech to the great council said that Whittlesey had 'nothing to report', the pope had in fact recommended a further extension to the truce in order to re-activate the Guînes negotiations; it seems that it was Edward III's determination to get John II to agree to his earlier demands that had produced the stalemate and now provided the justification for a public declaration that the king was about to make ready for war.

Readiness for war also, as Burghersh made explicit, created an obligation upon the realm to provide the king with taxes. The chamberlain's statement that the king had forgone the wool subsidy for the previous year and a quarter is curious: there is clear evidence that the subsidy, last granted by the parliament of 1351 to run for two years from Michaelmas 1351 to Michaelmas 1353, had been collected throughout that period; (fn. f1353int-19) and it may be that Burghersh's speech represents a garbled or even, arguably, a deliberately distorted comment on the fact that, since the inception of the alien monopoly over wool exports in 1352, no English merchants had, of course, been required to pay the wool subsidy. While the government's argument appears to have been somewhat disingenuous, it had the necessary effect: presumably on the same day, 7 October, the lords and commons agreed to authorise an extension of the wool subsidy unconditionally for one year, and, in the event of a prolongation of the war, for two years thereafter (with the understanding that the profits of the tax during those two years would be applied specifically for military expenditure - a point reiterated in the subsequent common petitions [item 35]). (fn. f1353int-20)

The government must have been well aware when it summoned the great council of 1353 that the wool subsidy of 1351 was due to expire at the end of September: indeed, its desire to dovetail the old and the new grants must provide part of the explanation for the precise timing of the assembly. (fn. f1353int-21) That this great council exercised such an important fiscal authority makes it doubly important to appreciate its distinction from a properly constituted parliament. Whereas direct taxes on the laity had been regularly negotiated in parliament since Edward I's time, the appropriate venue for the authorisation of the wool subsidy was much more uncertain: of the eleven grants of the wool subsidy made to the crown between 1333 and 1353, only four were made in parliament, and the rest were granted in merchant assemblies or councils of magnates. (fn. f1353int-22) The reason for such relative flexibility lay in contemporary ambiguities and disagreements over whether the subsidy should be authorised by those who paid it - the merchants - or by those whose livelihoods were ultimately affect by it - the wool growers and dealers represented in the parliamentary commons. To seek a renewal of the wool subsidy from a great council containing elected representatives of the shires and urban communities was evidently as close as the crown needed to come to full parliamentary authority for the subsidy in 1353. Nor did the lords and commons in the great council balk at exercising such power. They did, however, insist on acting in the manner of recent parliaments by linking the grant of supply with the redress of grievances: after the confirmation of the wool subsidy, as the roll of proceedings tells us, the commons requested that the king provide answers to their petitions. Had the assembly functioned as a great council proper, there would have been no place for such general business; the king's agreement to hear and deliver common petitions (though evidently not, as we have noted, private petitions) had the effect of transforming the assembly into a quasi-parliament: indeed, it may have been Edward II's recognition of this effective elimination of the distinction between a parliament and a representative great council that led him to negotiate all subsequent grants of the wool subsidy in properly constituted and officially designated (and, though only somewhat belatedly, to acknowledge parliament's exclusive control over this tax in 1362).

The common petitions heard and answered by the crown as a result of the king's concession on or after 7 October were notably fewer in number than had been the case in the previous parliament: this itself is probably a measure of the extraordinary nature of the process and the short time the commons were evidently given to compile their list of requests and grievances. The business thus highlighted was notably varied, including matters concerning the personnel and powers of the justices of labourers (item 36), (fn. f1353int-23) the recent devaluation of the coinage (a matter which, as the crown pointed out in its response, had been given a response in the previous parliament)(item 37), the unscrupulous activities of one of the most infamous of Edward III's courtiers, Sir John Molyns (item 40), (fn. f1353int-24) and the perennial issue of the abuse of royal pardons (item 41). (fn. f1353int-25) More pertinent to the main business of the assembly were the issues relating to the alnage of cloth (item 34) and the weighing of wool (item 39). During its earlier experiments with domestic staples the crown had normally given special incentives to cloth manufacturers, and it was in this spirit that the commons in 1353 apparently requested the termination of the regulations regarding the measurement of cloth recently re-imposed in 1351. What followed was a compromise: the crown requested that the commons discuss the matter further with the chancellor and treasurer in order to ensure that the crown was appropriately compensated for the loss of revenue that might result; it was accordingly agreed that, while the assize of cloth would technically remain in force, the alnager and his deputies would no longer confiscate cloths not of the assize but would charge fines on an established sliding scale. (fn. f1353int-26) This system evidently satisfied the cloth manufacturers, for it remained in force until 1373. (fn. f1353int-27) The common petition for the establishment of a standard measure for wool was perhaps a response to the statement in the Ordinance of the Staple that 'there shall be one weight, one measure and one yard throughout the land', which lacked any definition of the actual standard for weighing wool (item 14). (fn. f1353int-28) In fact, the details had already been set out in the parliament of 1352, as part of a general campaign to standardise weights and measures: this, rather than any particular negligence, may explain the crown's evasive response to the petition of 1353 (item 39). In any case, during 1354 and 1355 the crown duly issued the staples and ports with new official metal weights stamped with the royal monogram to indicate that they accorded with the king's standard. (fn. f1353int-29) The adoption of such measures in response to common petitions is an important indication of the crown's determination to make the new staple system, and the direct management of the customs, work effectively.

The other matter of business included in the common petitions and which has traditionally been seen as of enduring historical importance and interest is the request concerning 'those of his allegiance who sue his clerks and those having his preferment in a court other than his' (item 33). This was a somewhat opaque reference to the practice whereby those presented by bishops or provided by popes to ecclesiastical benefices within England might, in the event of being ousted by a royal nominee, appeal for assistance and judgment to the papal curia. The matter had been at the centre of the debate leading to the Statute of Provisors in 1351, and had in fact already been largely resolved when in 1352 the king had indicated his goodwill by giving up his right to present to benefices reserved by the crown prior to his own accession: appeals to the curia had actually dropped in number since 1351. (fn. f1353int-30) The commons in 1353 may have been motivated by a mixture of xenophobia and anticlericalism, though those lords and gentry who had rights of patronage over church offices were also potentially under threat from appeals to the curia. Whatever the case, it provided the crown with the opportunity to close a loophole that had been left in the statute of 1351 by issuing legislation requiring that those who appealed to a court outside the realm on matters over which the king's courts had cognisance were to be required to answer before the king's justices within two months of the issue of a writ of praemunire facias ; failure to do so would result in outlawry and forfeiture of all lands and goods, with the matter of the appeal then being resolved in the king's courts. The Statute of Praemunire, subsequently reinforced in later parliaments, was to take on great symbolic significance in determining the relative jurisdiction of the English crown and the papacy; in the short term, however, it was of rather less importance, being enforced erratically and usually only in the king's interest. (fn. f1353int-31)

The fact that the crown chose to provide formal legislation responding to the common petition on appeals to the curia, and to other matters, raised the issue of the status of the resulting legislation. By the mid-fourteenth century it was an established convention of constitutional vocabulary that statutes could only be made in parliament: legislative acts issued outside this context were ordinances. (fn. f1353int-32) The latter, unlike the former, could be temporary measures to be amended or repealed at the will of the king and council. In 1353, however, the chancery went against recent practice by enrolling on the statute roll the legislation produced as a result of the second set of proceedings of the great council. (fn. f1353int-33) (Interestingly, it did not follow suit with the initial business, the Ordinance of the Staple, whose definitive record remained the one on the roll of proceedings of the great council). (fn. f1353int-34) No doubt the statute roll was chosen because there was no other acknowledged place to make a formal record of such matters. (fn. f1353int-35) But the chancery was also evidently aware of the fact that the status of this 'statute' was somewhat anomalous. In contrast to the clear evidence for the proclamation of the Ordinance of the Staple, (fn. f1353int-36) there is no such evidence that the statute as a whole was published in this manner; (fn. f1353int-37) and there is in fact explicit evidence from the 1360s to indicate that the clause now known as the Statute of Praemunire was not proclaimed (though it was also determined at that moment that lack of proclamation did not in itself invalidate it as a statute). (fn. f1353int-38) Evidently the crown had some difficulty in coming to terms with the highly anomalous nature of the later, quasi-parliamentary, proceedings of the 1353 great council.

That the commons were aware of the different approach taken to the recording of the two sets of legislation is made clear by the very last of their petitions on the roll of proceedings of the great council: that the business of this assembly be entered on the roll of the next parliament, since 'ordinances and agreements made in councils are not of record as they would be if they were made by common parliament' (item 42). The statement was not strictly true, since parliament (like the council) was not formally a court of record; however, the fact that the parliament roll had taken on a certain established format over the preceding decade, and the increasingly close association between parliament and the statute roll, make the sentiment understandable. (fn. f1353int-39) As the crown's response to the petition indicates, the commons' real objective was to ensure that the Ordinance of the Staple was confirmed as a statute and would thus be guaranteed in perpetuity. Although it apparently accepted this proposal and principle, the Introduction to the parliament of 1354 indicates the various ways in which the government of Edward III sought to compromise on the status of the legislation and thus retained the power to determine the duration and termination of the domestic staples.

The last date to which the roll of proceedings of the great council refers is Monday 7 October. Assuming that the wool subsidy was granted on that day, the remainder of the assembly was taken up with the formulation and answering of the common petitions. The writs de expensis for the knights of the shire were dated 12 October, which is generally held to be the terminal date of the assembly; the fact that the equivalent writs for the citizens and burgesses were dated 20 October seems not in this case to indicate that the urban representatives were asked to stay on after the dismissal of those from the counties, (fn. f1353int-40) since the payment period for both groups was actually declared to be the same. (fn. f1353int-41) It may therefore be assumed that the later stages of proceedings of the great council closely mirrored those of contemporary parliaments and that the assembly was dissolved immediately after the reading of the crown's responses to the common petitions on or shortly before Saturday, 12 October 1353.

Text and translation



[p. ii-246]
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1. ROTULUS ORDINACIONUM APUD WESTM' IN MAGNO CONSILIO IBIDEM SUMMONITO, DIE LUNE PROXIMO POST FESTUM SANCTI MATHEI APOSTOLI FACTARUM, ANNO REGNI REGIS EDWARDI TERCII, VIDELICET ANGLIE VICESIMO SEPTIMO, ET FRANCIE QUINTODECIMO.	1. THE ROLL OF THE ORDINANCES MADE AT WESTMINSTER IN THE GREAT COUNCIL SUMMONED THERE ON THE MONDAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE FEAST OF SAINT MATTHEW THE APOSTLE IN THE TWENTY-SEVENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD OF ENGLAND, AND THE FIFTEENTH OF FRANCE.
2. Au lundy prochein apres la feste de Seint Matheu l'apostle, l'an du regne nostre seignur le roi Edward le tiercz, c'estassavoir d'Engleterre vint septisme, et de Fraunce quinzisme, si feust un grant conseil somons a Westm'. A queu jour feust crie en la sale de Westm' qe touz ceux qi y furent venuz au dit conseil par commandement du roi se deveroient eiser tantqe le meskerdy preschein suant, et puis de ceo meskerdy tantqe a vendredy preschein ensuant, par cause qe plusours des grantz illoeqes somons n'estoient pas venuz mes furent en venant. Au queu vendredy, assemblez en la chaumbre Blaunche nostre seignur le roi, prelatz, ducs, countes, barons et les communes, feust monstre par Monsir William de Shareshull, chief justice le roi, la cause de somons du dit conseil: coment nostre seignur le roi ad bien entendu qe par cause qe l'estaple des leines d'Engleterre, qe sont la sovereine marchandise et jewel de son roialme d'Engleterre, ad este tenue pardela hors du dit roialme, gentz de estranges terres sont enrichez, et le profit qe ent deust avoir venuz en son roialme au commune poeple par vente de lour leines ad este acrochez as singuleres persones de meisme le roialme, a grant damage et empoverissement de la commune de meisme le roialme; queu meschief considere, nostre seignur le roi par assent des ascuns prelatz et grantz de meisme son roialme, pur l'encres et relevement de son poeple, ad ordine qe l'estaple des leines, peaux lanutz, quirs et plom soit tenue en son roialme d'Engleterre et en ses terres de Gales et d'Irland en certeins lieux. Et del assent et avisement des ditz prelatz et grantz ad ordine pur la maintenance et bon governement de meisme l'estaple ascuns pointz, queux il fist overtement lire devant les prelatz, grantz et communes, d'avoir lour assent. Et aussint qe s'ils veissent riens a adjouster ou d'amenuser, q'ils le deussent monstrer en escript. Et sur ceo les communes demanderent copie des ditz pointz; quele copie lour feust baillie, c'estassavoir, une as chivalers des countees et une autre as citezeins et burgeis. Et ils, apres grande deliberacion eue entre eux, monstrerent au conseil leur avis en escrit; quele escrit lue et debatue par les grantz, si furent les ordinances de l'estaple faites en la forme qe s'ensuit:	2. On the Monday immediately following the feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of our lord King Edward the third of England, and the fifteenth of France, a great council was summoned at Westminster. On which day an announcement was made in Westminster Hall that all those who had come there to the said council by the king's order should take their ease until the Wednesday immediately following, and then from that Wednesday until the Friday immediately following, because many of the great men summoned there had not arrived but were coming. On which Friday, with our lord the king, the prelates, dukes, earls, barons and commons assembled in the White Chamber, the reason for the summons of the said council was declared by Sir William Shareshull, the king's chief justice: how our lord the king has fully considered that because the staple of wool of England, which is the sovereign merchandise and jewel of his realm of England, has been held overseas outside the said realm, people from foreign lands are enriched, and the profit which ought to have come into his realm to the common people by the sale of their wool has been collected by individual persons of the same realm, to the great damage and impoverishment of the commonalty of the same realm; having considered this misfortune, our lord the king, by the assent of some of the prelates and great men of his same realm, for the increase and improvement of his people, has ordained that the staple of wool, woolfells, leather and lead shall be held in certain places in his realm of England and in his lands of Wales and Ireland. And with the assent and advice of the said prelates and great men, for the maintenance and good government of the same staple, he has ordained some articles, which he caused to be publicly read before the prelates, great men and commons, in order to have their assent. And also that if they should wish to add or subtract anything, they ought to declare it in writing. And thereupon the commons requested a copy of the said articles, which copy was delivered to them, that is to say, one to the knights of the shires and another to the citizens and burgesses. And they, after great deliberation was had among them, declared their advice to the council in writing; which writing was read and debated by the great men, so that the ordinances of the staple were made in the form that follows:
3. 'Edward par la grace de Dieu roi d'Engleterre et de France et seignur d'Irland as touz noz visconts, meirs, baillifs, ministres et autres noz foialx as queux cestes presentes lettres vendront, saluz. (fn. ii-246-7-1) Porceo qe eue bone deliberacion od prelatz, ducs, countes, barons et chivalers des countees, c'estassaver de chescun countee un pur tout le countee, et des communes des citees et burghs de nostre roialme d'Engleterre somons a nostre grant conseil tenuz a Westm', le lundy preschein apres la feste de Seint Matheu l'apostle, l'an de nostre regne d'Engleterre vint septisme, et de France quatorzisme, sur les damages qe sont notoirement avenuz, sibien a nous et a les [col. b] grantz come a nostre poeple de nostre roialme d'Engleterre et de noz terres de Gales et d'Irland, par cause qe l'estaple des leines, quirs et peaux lanuz de noz ditz roialme et terres ad este tenue hors de noz ditz roialme et terres; et aussint sur les grantz profitz q'avendroient a noz ditz roialme et terres < si l'estaple feust tenue deinz > ycelles, et nulle part aillours, si avons, al honur de Dieu et en relevacion de noz roialme et terres avantditz, et pur eschure les perils qe purront avenir du contrair en temps avenir, par conseil et commune assent des ditz prelatz, ducs, countes, barons, chivalers et communes avantdites, ordine et establi les choses souzescriptes, c'estassavoir:	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 3. 'Edward by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland to all our sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, officials and our other faithful subjects to whom these present letters shall come, greeting. (fn. ii-246-7-1) Because good deliberation was had with the prelates, dukes, earls, barons and knights of the shires, that is to say, one from each county for the whole county, and with the commons of the cities and boroughs of our realm of England summoned to our great council held at Westminster on the Monday immediately following the feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle in the twenty-seventh year of our reign of England and the fourteenth of France, for the damages which have notoriously come to us and to the [col. b] great men as well as to our people of our realm of England and of our lands of Wales and Ireland, because the staple of wool, leather and woolfells of our said realm and lands has been held outside our said realm and lands; and also for the great profits which should come to our said realm and lands if the staple was held inside the same, and not elsewhere, to the honour of God and in relief of our aforesaid realm and lands, and in order to avoid the perils that might occur to the contrary in times to come, by the council and common assent of the said prelates, dukes, earls, barons, knights and commons aforesaid, we have ordained and established the things written below, that is to say:
4. Primerement, qe les estaples des leines, quirs, peaux et plom cressantz et provenantz deinz noz roialme et terres avantditz soient tenues perpetuelment es lieux souzescriptz; c'estassavoir, pur Engleterre a Noef Chastel sur Tyne, Everwyk, Nicole, Norwicz, Westm', Canterbirs, Cicestr', Wyncestr', Excestr' et Brustuyt; et pur Gales a Kermerdyn; et pur Irland a Dyvelyn, Waterford, Cork et Droghda, et nulle part aillours. Et qe totes les dites leines, aussibien veilles come noveles, peaux lanuz, quirs et plom qe serront mesnez hors des ditz roialme et terres soient primes mesnez as dites estaples, et illoeqes les dites leines et plom, entre marchant et marchant ou marchant et autres, loialment poisez par l'estandard; et chescun sac et sarpler d'icelles leines issint poisez, enseale souz le seal du meir del estaple. Et qe totes les leines ensi poisez et sealez a les estaples d'Everwyk, Nicole, Norwicz, Westm', Canterbirs et Wyncestr', et aussint quirs, peaux lanuz et plom qe vendront illoeqes, paie ent la custume de l'estaple soient tesmoignez par bille enseale de seal du meir de l'estaple, et amesnez as portz souz escriptz, c'estassavoir, de Everwyk a Hull, de Nicole a Seint Botulf, de Norwicz a Grant Jernemuth, de Westm' a Loundres, de Canterbirs a Sandwicz et de Wyncestr' a Suthampton'; et illoeqes soient les ditz leines et plom autrefoitz poisez par noz custumers assignez en meismes les portz, et touz les leines et plom qe serront amesnez as portz de Noef Chastel, Cicestr', Excestr', Brustuyt, Kermerdyn, Dyvelyn, Waterford, Cork et Droghda, ou les autres estaples sont tenues, soient illoeqes forsqe un foitz poisez par l'estandard entre marchant et marchant ou marchant et autres en presence de noz custumers illoeqes; et soit endenture faite entre le meir de l'estaple esteant en port du meer et noz custumers illoeqes des touz les leines et plom issint poisez et aussint des quirs et peaux lanuz qe vendront a meisme l'estaple pur passer illoeqes.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 4. First, that the staples of wool, leather, woolfells and lead increasing and arising in our aforesaid realm and lands shall be permanently held at the places written below, that is to say, for England at Newcastle upon Tyne, York, Lincoln, Norwich, Westminster, Canterbury, Chichester, Winchester, Exeter and Bristol; and for Wales at Carmarthen; and for Ireland at Dublin, Waterford, Cork and Drogheda, and not elsewhere. And that all the said wool, old as well as new, woolfells, leather and lead which will be exported out of the said realm and lands shall first be brought to the said staples, and there the said wool and lead shall be lawfully weighed by the standard, between merchant and merchant or merchant and others; and each sack and sarpler of the same wool thus weighed shall be sealed under the seal of the mayor of the staple. And that all the wool thus weighed and sealed at the staples of York, Lincoln, Norwich, Westminster, Canterbury and Winchester, and also the leather, woolfells and lead which will come there, the custom of the staple thereof having been paid, shall be witnessed by a bill sealed with the seal of the mayor of the staple, and brought to the ports written below, that is to say, from York to Hull, from Lincoln to Boston, from Norwich to Great Yarmouth, from Westminster to London, from Canterbury to Sandwich and from Winchester to Southampton; and there the said wool and lead shall be again weighed by our customs officials assigned in the same ports; and all the wool and lead which will be brought to the ports of Newcastle, Chichester, Exeter, Bristol, Carmarthen, Dublin, Waterford, Cork and Drogheda, where the other staples are held, shall be weighed only once by the standard between merchant and merchant or merchant and others in the presence of our customs officials there; and an indenture shall be made between the mayor of the staple being at the seaport and our customs officials there of all the wool and lead thus weighed and also of the leather and woolfells which will come to the same staple to be exported.
5. Et meismes ces leines et plom et aussint quirs et peaux lanuz custumez et cokettez, et les custumes ent dues paiez a noz ditz custumers en touz les ditz portz, c'estassavoir, des denzeins, pur le temps q'ils ont passez, [p. ii-247][col. a] demy marc du sac de leine, demy mark de trois centz peaux lanuz et une mark du last des quirs; et des aliens, dis soldz du sac de leine, dis soldz de trois centz peaulx lanuz et vint soldz du last des quirs et trois deniers de chescune vint soldee de plom; soient adonqes les dites marchandises par marchantz estranges qi les averont achatez, et noun pas par Engleis, Galeis, ne Irreis, amesnez as parties dedela hors de noz ditz roialme et terres, queu part qe plerra as ditz marchantz estranges. Et qe les ditz meir et custumers ne delaient nul homme voluntrivement pur gayn, ne pur celle cause n'en autri manere rien ne preignent de nulli pur faire ceo q'appertient a lour office, sur peine d'emprisonement et de paier a la partie le double de ceo q'ils averont ensi pris, et aussint de ceo qe la partie serra endamage par cause de tiele prise ou delaie; et outre d'estre reint a nostre volunte, mes se tiegnent paiez de ceo q'ils prendront en certein pur lour offices faire. Et qe le meir de l'estaple et les custumers preignent serment des touz marchantz qi ensi passeront leines, quirs, peaux lanuz et plom q'ils ne teneront nulle estaple pardela de meismes les marchaundises.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 5. And this same wool and lead, and also the leather and woolfells customed and cocketted, and the customs due from the same having been paid to our said customs officials in all the said ports (that is to say, from denizens, for the times that they have exported, [p. ii-247][col. a] ½ mark per sack of wool, ½ mark per 300 woolfells and 1 mark per last of leather; and from aliens, 10s. per sack of wool, 10s. per 300 woolfells and 20s. per last of leather, and 3d. for every 20 shillings' worth of lead), the said merchandises shall then be exported overseas by the foreign merchants who have purchased them, and not by English, Welsh or Irish, out of our said realm and lands to wherever the said foreign merchants please. And that the said mayor and customs officials shall not wilfully delay anyone for gain, nor for this reason or any other should they take anything from anyone in doing that which belongs to their office, on penalty of imprisonment and of paying to the party double that which they have thus taken, and also the damages of the party because of such taking or delay; and further, they shall be ransomed at our will; but they shall consider themselves satisfied with that which they take for certain in order to carry out their offices. And that the mayor of the staple and the customs officials shall take an oath from all merchants who will export wool, leather, woolfells and lead that they will not hold any staple overseas of the same merchandises.
6. Item, pur replenir les ditz roialme et terres de monoie et de plate d'or et d'argent et des marchandises d'autres terres, et pur doner talent as marchantz estranges de venir od lour merces et marchandises es roialme et terres avantditz, si avons establi et ordine qe touz marchantz estranges qi ne sont mye de nostre enemite, de quele terre ou nacion q'ils soient, puissent sauvement et seurement souz nostre proteccion et sauf conduyt venir et demorir en noz ditz roialme et terres queu part q'ils vorront, et d'illoeqes retournir ove lour niefs, merces et marchandises qecunqes, et fraunchement vendre lour marchandises a les estaples et aillours deinz meismes noz roialme et terres a qi qi les vodra achater, paiant les custumes ent dues. Et pur plus asseurer marchantz estranges et autres mesnantz biens et marchandises es ditz roialme et terres, si volons et grantons, ordinons et establissons pur nous, noz heirs et subgitz qe riens ne soit pris outre les custumes avantdites ne preises a nostre oeps, par colour de vente ou en autre manere, de eux contre lour volunte, ne par noz ministres ne les ministres de noz heirs, ne par les ministres de nul des roialx, prelatz, ducs, countes, barons, seignurs ne dames ne de nul autre, petit ne grant. Et si nul ministre ou autre, par colour de son office ou en autre manere, preigne riens de eux contre lour gree, soit meintenant arestu par les meir ou baillifs du lieu, s'il soit hors de l'estaple, ou par les meir et ministres de l'estaple s'il soit deinz l'estaple, et soit hastif et redde proces fait devers lui de jour en jour et de heure en heure, solonc la lei de l'estaple et nemye a la commune lei, sibien hors de l'estaple come dedeinz, a chescuny pleinte qi issint serra greve. Et s'il soit ent atteint, paie au marchant le double de ceo q'il prist, et tant a nous; et qe nulle commission soit faite de prendre tieles prises des ditz marchantz, et si nulle tiele commission soit faite, soit tenue subreptice et pur nulle.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 6. Also, in order to replenish the said realm and lands with money and gold and silver plate and with merchandises from other lands, and to encourage foreign merchants to come with their goods and merchandises to the aforesaid realm and lands, we have established and ordained that all foreign merchants who are not of our enmity, from whichever land or nation they may be, may safely and confidently come under our protection and safe conduct and dwell in any part of our said realm and lands that they wish, and may return from there with all their ships, goods and merchandises whatsoever, and may freely sell their merchandises at the staples and elsewhere within our same realm and lands to anyone who wishes to buy them, paying the customs due for the same. And in order to better assure the foreign merchants and others bringing goods and merchandises to the said realm and lands, we will and grant, ordain and establish for us, our heirs and subjects that nothing shall be taken from them beyond the aforesaid customs nor assessed to our use, by pretext of sale or in any other manner against their will, either by our officials or those of our heirs, or by the officials of any of the royal family, prelates, dukes, earls, barons, lords or ladies or any other, small or great. And if any official or other, by pretext of his office or in any other manner, shall take anything from them against their will, he shall be immediately arrested by the mayor or bailiffs of the place if he is outside the staple, or by the mayor and officials of the staple if he is within the staple, and speedy and strict process shall be made against him from day to day and hour to hour, according to the law of the staple and not at the common law, outside the staple as well as inside, at each person's complaint who shall be thus aggrieved. And if he is attainted of this, he shall pay to the merchant double that which he took, and as much to us; and that no commission shall be made for taking such prises from the said merchants, and if any such commission shall be made, it shall be held surreptitious and treated as null.
7. Item, nous volons et grantons qe touz marchantz, sibien denzeins come estranges, puissent achater leines, peaux, quirs et plom par touz noz roialme et terres, sanz covyne ou collusion pur amenuser le pris des dites marchandises; issint totes foitz q'ils les amesnent a les estaples. Et qe nul marchant, Engleis, Irreis ne Galeis, ne passe nulle manere des leines, quirs, peaux lanuz ne plom hors de noz ditz roialme et terres, sur peine de vie et de membre et de forfaiture des dites marchandises et de touz lour autres biens et chateux devers nous, et de forfaiture de lour terres et tenementz devers les chiefs seignurs, et eient les chiefs seignurs brief d'eschete en le cas. Et qe nuls estranges marchantz, par covyne entre eux et marchantz Engleis, Irreis ou Galeis, amesnent les dites merces et marchandises des marchantz Engleis, Irreis ou Galeis hors [col. b] des roialme et terres avantditz, au profit des Engleis, Irreis ou Galeis en partie ou en tout; ne qe nul marchant Engleis, Irreis, Galeis n'autre face covyne ove marchantz estranges d'amesner lour leines, quirs et peaux lanuz ou plom as parties dedela hors des roialme et terres avantditz souz noun des marchantz estranges, ne envoient ne tiegnent lour servantz ou autres lour attournes es parties dedela hors de noz ditz roialme et terres, pur vendre ou surveer la vente de lour dites leines, quirs, peaux ou plom illoeqes, ou de receivre les deniers provenantz de la vente des ditz leines, quirs, peaux et plom; ne qe nul Engleis, Irreis ne Galeis, par lui ne par autre, preigne paiement d'or ne d'argent ne d'autre chose en recompensacion ou commutacion ou en noun de paiement es parties dedela hors de noz roialme et terres avantditz des marchandises vendues en Engleterre, Irland ou Gales tochantes l'estaple, mes soit tout tieu paiement fait en or ou argent ou marchandises en Engleterre, Irland ou Gales ou le contract se fist, sur les forfaitures et peines preschein avantdites; ne qe les marchantz estranges ne marchantz denzeins facent entre eux, en prive n'en apert, compaignie ne confederacie ou fraude ou deceite de ceste ordinance, ne qe nul les meinteigne pur gayn n'en autre manere en tiele fraude ou deceite, sur meismes les forfaitures et peines. Et, tutdys, fait a entendre qe chescun Engleis, Irreis et Galeis puisse amesner franchement ses leines propres, quirs, peaux et plom al estaple, a vendre illoeqes, sanz estre arte de les vendre en pays, et qe chescun marchant qi vende ses leines al estaple soit tenuz de garantir la empatture de meismes les leines.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 7. Also, we will and grant that all merchants, denizens as well as foreigners, may buy wool, woolfells, leather and lead throughout our realm and lands, without deceit or collusion to diminish the price of the said merchandises; on condition that they shall always bring them to the staples. And that no merchant, English, Irish or Welsh, shall export any manner of wool, leather, woolfells or lead out of our said realm and lands, on penalty of life and limb and of forfeiture of the said merchandises and of all their other goods and chattels to us, and of forfeiture of their lands and tenements to the chief lords, and the chief lords shall have a writ of escheat in this case. And no foreign merchants, by agreement between them and English, Irish or Welsh merchants, shall export the said goods and merchandises of English, Irish or Welsh merchants out [col. b] of the aforesaid realm and lands, to the profit of the English, Irish or Welsh merchants in part or in whole; and that no English, Irish, Welsh or other merchant shall make an agreement with foreign merchants to export their wool, leather and woolfells or lead overseas out of the aforesaid realm and lands under the name of the foreign merchants, nor send or keep their servants or their other attorneys overseas out of our said realm and lands to sell or examine the sale of their said wool, leather, woolfells or lead there, or to receive the money coming from the sale of the said wool, leather, woolfells and lead; and that no Englishman, Irishman or Welshman, by himself or by another, shall take payment of gold or silver or anything else in compensation or exchange or in the name of payment overseas out of our aforesaid realm and lands from the merchandises sold in England, Ireland or Wales concerning the staple, but that all such payment shall be made in gold or silver or merchandises in England, Ireland or Wales where the contract was made, on the forfeitures and penalties immediately aforesaid; and that neither foreign nor denizen merchants shall make a company or alliance amongst themselves, privately or publicly, in fraud or deceit of this ordinance, and that none shall maintain them for gain or in any other manner in such fraud or deceit, on the same forfeitures and penalties. And it is always to be understood that each Englishman, Irishman and Welshman may freely bring his own wool, leather, woolfells and lead to the staple to sell them there, without being forced to sell them in the country, and that each merchant who sells his wool at the staple shall be bound to guarantee the packing of the same wool.
8. Item, pur ceo qe nulle estaple poet estre profitable pur nous et pur noz ditz roialme et terres si ele ne soit franche, si volons et grantons pur nous et noz heirs, pur meintenance du dite estaple, qe totes maneres des gentz puissent venir od lour cariages et biens devers l'estaple et returnir d'icelle franchement, sanz ceo q'ils soient destourbez par prises de nous ou de nul autre; sauvez a nous et a noz heirs totes maneres des prises roiales de totes maneres d'autres cariages et vitailles par touz noz roialme et terres avantditz, auncienement dues et usees de droit, come ad este fait par nous et noz auncestres devant ces heures. Et eit chescun cariour retournant de l'estaple une bille souz le seal du meir de l'estaple, par quele il poet estre conu q'il seert al estaple, contenante les journees qe lui bosoigne pur son retournir a l'ostiel, quele bille lui soit grante franchement; et soit le meir jure q'il ne fra nulle tiele bille pur nul autre qi ne seert al estaple. Et si nul tiel cariour, charette, beste, nief ou autre chose qe seert pur cariage de ceo q'appertient a l'estaple soit pris et soit deinz la verge hors de l'estaple, soit heue et crie leve sur les pernours, et soient meintenant les pernours priz par gentz de la ville ou la prise feust faite, ou par gents d'autres villes s'ils soient deffuantz, et mesnez devant le seneschal et mareschalx de nostre hostiel, et illoeqes soit fait redde punissement de eux, solonc ceo qe le fait demande. Et si tiele prise soit faite hors de la verge, soit heue et crie leve, et soient les pernours priz et arestuz par la villee ou tiele prise est faite, ou par autres villees prescheines s'ils soient deffuantz, et mesnez a la prescheine gaole, et illoeqes soit fait de eux come des larons si le fait le demande. Et en cas qe les gentz des tieles villes soient negligentz, et ne veullent pursuir ne arester tieux pernours come devant est dit, respoignent les quatre villees prescheines des damages qe purront estre trove devant ceux queux nous a ceo assignerons les pleintifs avoir encoru par lour defaute, s'ils ne se puissent resonablement ent excuser. Et si tieles prises soient faites en lieu ou l'estaple est, soient les pernours arestuz par les meir et ministres del estaple, et droit fait as pleintifs par les ditz meir et ministres; issint totes voies qe si tiele prise soit faite al estaple, et l'estaple [p. ii-248][col. a] soit deinz la verge, et les pernours arestuz soient de nostre hostiel, adonqes soit fait droit de eux par les meir et ministres del estaple; et soient les seneschal et mareschalx de nostre hostiel, ou lieutenant le seneschal, a ceo appellez s'ils y veullent estre, pur veer qe droit se face des ditz pernours solonc la leie del estaple. Et en cas q'ils ne y viegnent point, aillont les meir et ministres de l'estaple avant en le proces, et facent justice solonc la leie de l'estaple, nientcontreesteant la nounvenue des seneschal et mareschalx ou lieutenant avantditz.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 8. Also, because no staple can be profitable for us and our said realm and lands if it is not free, we will and grant for us and our heirs, for the maintenance of the said staple, that all manner of people may come with their carriages and goods to the staple and return from the same freely, without being disturbed by prises from us or from any other; saving to us and our heirs all manner of royal prises from all manner of other carriage and victuals throughout our aforesaid realm and lands, traditionally due and used of right, as has been done by us and our ancestors before this time. And each carrier returning from the staple shall have a bill under the seal of the mayor of the staple, by which it can be known that he serves at the staple, containing the journeys that he needs for his return home, which bill shall be freely granted to him; and the mayor shall swear that he will make no such bill for any other who does not serve at the staple. And if any such carrier, cart, beast, ship or other thing that serves for the carriage of that which belongs to the staple shall be taken and shall be within the verge outside the staple, a hue and cry shall be raised on the takers, and the takers shall immediately be seized by the people of the vill where the prise was made, or by the people of other vills if they have fled, and brought before the steward and marshals of our household, and there strict punishment shall done to them, as the deed requires. And if such prise shall be made outside the verge, a hue and cry shall be raised and the takers shall be seized and arrested by the townspeople where such prise was made, or by other nearby townspeople if they have fled, and brought to the nearest gaol, and there they shall be treated as thieves if the deed requires it. And in the event that the people of such vills shall be negligent and do not wish to pursue or arrest such takers as is aforesaid, the four nearest vills shall answer for the damages that the plaintiffs have incurred by their default (which can be found before those whom we will assign to this), if they may not reasonably be excused thereof. And if such prises shall be made in a place where the staple is, the takers shall be arrested by the mayor and officials of the staple, and justice done to the plaintiffs by the said mayor and officials; so that always if such prise shall be made at the staple, and the staple [p. ii-248][col. a] shall be within the verge, and the takers arrested shall be of our household, then justice shall be done to them by the mayor and officials of the staple; and the steward and marshals of our household or the steward's lieutenant shall be called to this if they wish to be, to see that justice is done to the said takers according to the law of the staple. And in the event that they shall not come, the mayor and officials of the staple shall proceed in the process and do justice according to the law of the staple, notwithstanding the absence of the aforesaid steward, marshals or lieutenant.
9. Item, en cas qe nostre baunk ou le commune baunk, ou justices en Eyre, ou justices d'assises ou la place de la mareschalcie, ou ascuns autres justices viegnent es lieux ou les dites estaples sont, les ditz justices ne seneschal ne mareschalx ne autres des dites places n'eient nulle conisance illoeqes des choses q'appertienent au conisance du meir et ministres del estaple.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 9. Also, in the event that our bench or the common bench, or the justices in eyre, or the justices of assize or the court of the marshalsea or any other justices come to the places where the said staples are, neither the said justices nor the steward, marshals or others of the said places shall have any cognisance there of the things which belong to the cognisance of the mayor and officials of the staple.
10. Item, nous comandons et defendons qe nuls mareschalx ne autres ministres de nostre hostiel ne d'autri facent liveree, ne se mellent es lieux ou les estaples sont tenues, des mesons ou marchantz ou lour meignee ou leines ou autres marchandises de l'estaple serront herbergez, ne entront en y celles pur lour office faire illoeqes, ne riens ne preignent pur ent faire despeit a nully, sur peine de faire gree a la partie a qi seute il serra atteint de quatreble de ceo qe le pleintif serra endamage, et outre soit grevousement puniz devers nous.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 10. Also, we order and forbid that any marshals or other officials of our household or of another's shall make livery or meddle in the places where the staples are held, nor in houses where the merchants or their households or wool or other merchandises of the staple shall be lodged, nor enter into the same to perform their office there, nor take anything to spare anyone, on penalty of making payment to the party at whose suit he shall be attainted of four times the plaintiffis damages, and he shall further be grievously punished by us.
11. Item, nous volons et grantons qe nulle conge ne privilege de faire passer par Engleis, Irreis ne Galeis, leines, quirs, peaux lanuz ne plom hors des ditz roialme et terres ne soit grante par nous ne par noz heirs contre ceste ordinance; et si nulles soient grantez au contrair, soient tenues pur nulles, et ne doignent garantie ne excusacion a ceux qi ferront passer les dites marchandises q'ils n'encourgent les peines et forfaitures contenues en le dit tierc article.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 11. Also, we will and grant that no permission or privilege to export wool, leather, woolfells or lead out of the said realm and lands by Englishmen, Irishmen or Welshmen shall be granted by us or by our heirs contrary to this ordinance; and if any shall be granted to the contrary, they shall be treated as null, and they shall provide no warrant or excuse to those who export the said merchandises that they shall not incur the penalties and forfeitures contained in the said third article.
12. Item, avons ordine et establi qe les meirs et conestables de les estaples eient jurisdiccion et conisance deinz les villes ou les estaples serront et les suburbes d'icelles des gentz et de tote manere des choses tochantes l'estaple; et qe touz marchantz venantz al estaple, lour servantz et lour meignee en l'estaple soient mesnez par la lai marchant des totes choses tochantes l'estaple, nemye par la commune leie de la terre ne par usages des citees, burghs n'autres villes; et q'ils n'empledent nene soient empledez devant les justicers des ditz lieux en plee de dette, covenante et trespas tochantes l'estaple; einz pledent totes persones des queux ils se vodront pleindre, sibien ceux qi ne sont mye de l'estaple come ceux qi sont de l'estaple, queux serront illoeqes trovez et soient en meisme la manere empledez, soulement devant les meir et justicers de l'estaple qi serront a ceo deputez, des totes maneres des plees et de accions dont la conisance appartient as ministres de l'estaple, et de tote manere des contractes et covenantes faites entre marchant et marchant, ou autres, dont l'une partie soit marchant ou ministre de l'estaple, le quel qe le contract ou covenante soient faitz deinz l'estaple ou dehors; et aussint des trespas faites deinz l'estaple au marchant ou as ministres de l'estaple par autres ou par nul de eux as autres, elise la partie pleintif le quel il voet suyr sa accion ou sa querele, devant les justicers del estaple par la lei de l'estaple, ou en autres places a la commune leie, et soit a ceo receu. Issint totes voies qe es plees tochantz ascun de nostre hostiel, le seneschal ou son lieutenant et les mareschalx de nostre dit hostiel y soient ovesqe le meir de l'estaple, pur veere qe droit se face as parties, come devant [col. b] est dit, s'ils y veullent estre; mes plees de terre et de frank tenement soient a la commune lei. Et si marchantz ou lour gentz esteantz al estaple, par cause d'icelle facent felonie, ou soient tuez, desrobbez, ou mahemez par qecunqes persones, soient le meir de l'estaple et autres covenables assignez justices a oier et terminer les dites felonies et mahemes deinz l'estaple sanz delaie solonc la commune lei. Et si nul felon ou trespassour soit pris et detenu deinz ascune franchise, a qi qe ceo soit, par cause de tiele felonie ou maiheme faites deinz l'estaple, soit meintenant mande par brief de faire venir le dit felon ou celui qi fist le maiheme devant les ditz justices, a faire droit de lui en la fourme avantdite. Et si ceux qi ont tieux prisons en garde ne les veullent deliverer, encourgent la peine de cent livres devers nous, et jadumeins deliverent le corps en la fourme desusdite. Et en cas qe nul enditement soit fait hors de l'estaple des felonies ou trespas faites par gent de l'estaple, ou par autres a eux deinz l'estaple, soit cel enditement mande devant le dit meir et ceux qi serront assignez ovesqe lui justices a faire droit en celle partie. Et si plee ou debate soit meue devant le meir de l'estaple entre les marchantz ou ministres d'icelle, et sur ceo pur trier ent la verite enqueste ou proeve soit a prendre, si volons qe si l'une partie et l'autre soit estrange soit trie par estranges; et si l'une partie et l'autre soit denzeine soit trie par denzeins, et si l'une partie soit denzeine et l'autre aliene, soit l'une moite de l'enqueste ou del proeve des denzeins, et l'autre moite des aliens.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 12. Also, we have ordained and established that the mayors and constables of the staples shall have jurisdiction and cognisance in the vills where the staples shall be and the suburbs of the same, of the people and of all manner of things touching the staple; and that all merchants coming to the staple, their servants and their household in the staple shall be subject to the law merchant concerning all things touching the staple, and not by the common law of the land or by the usages of cities, boroughs or other vills; and that they shall not implead or be impleaded before the justices of the said places in pleas of debt, covenant and trespass touching the staple; but shall implead all persons of whom they wish to complain, those who are not of the staple as well as those who are of the staple, who shall be found there and are impleaded in the same manner, only before the mayor and justices of the staple who shall be appointed to this, concerning all manner of pleas and actions of which the cognisance belongs to the officials of the staple, and concerning all manner of contracts and covenants made between merchant and merchant or others of which the one party is a merchant or official of the staple, whether the contract or covenant is made inside the staple or outside; and also concerning trespasses done within the staple to a merchant or the officials of the staple by others, or by any of them to others, the party plaintiff shall choose whether he wishes to sue his action or complaint before the justices of the staple by the law of the staple, or in other places at the common law, and he shall be thereto received. So that always in pleas touching anyone from our household, the steward or his lieutenant and the marshals of our said household shall be there with the mayor of the staple to see that justice is done to the parties, as is aforesaid, [col. b] if they wish to be there; but pleas of land and freehold shall be at the common law. And if merchants or their people being at the staple, because the same commit a felony, or shall be killed, robbed or injured by any persons whatsoever, the mayor of the staple and other worthy men shall be assigned justices to hear and determine the said felonies and injuries in the staple without delay, according to the common law. And if any felon or trespasser shall be taken and detained within any franchise, to whomsoever this shall be, because of such felony or injury done within the staple, the said felon or he who did the injury shall immediately be ordered by writ to come before the said justices to do justice upon him in the aforesaid form. And if those who have such prisoners in custody do not wish to deliver them, they shall incur the penalty of £100 to us, and nevertheless shall deliver the body in the aforesaid form. And in the event that any indictment shall be made outside the staple of felonies or trespasses done by people of the staple, or by others to them within the staple, this indictment shall be sent before the said mayor and those who shall be assigned justices with him to do right in this matter. And if a plea or dispute shall be moved before the mayor of the staple between the merchants or officials of the same, and in order to try the truth in this matter an inquest or proof shall be taken, we will that if both parties are foreign, it shall be tried by foreigners; and if both parties are denizens, it shall be tried by denizens, and if one party is denizen and the other alien, the one half of the inquest or proof shall be of denizens and the other half of aliens.
13. Item, au fyn qe les contractes faites deinz l'estaple soient le meutz tenuz et les paiementz prestement faitz, si avons ordine et establi qe en chescune des dites estaples soit un seal ordine, demorant en la garde du meir de l'estaple souz les sealx des conestables, et qe totes obligacions qe y serront faites soient ensealez du dit seal, paiant pur chescune obligacion de cent livres et dedeinz de chescune livre un maill', et de chescune obligacion outre cent livres de chescune livre un ferlyng. Et qe le meir de l'estaple, par vertue de celles lettres ensi ensealez, puisse prendre et tenir en prison les corps des dettours apres le terme encoru, tant q'ils eient fait gree au creditour de la dette et des damages; et aussint de arester les biens des ditz dettours, et de liverer les ditz biens as creditours par verroie estimacion, ou de les vendre a meutz qe homme purra, et de liverer le deniers as ditz creditours tantqe a la somme due. Et en cas qe les dettours ne soient trovez deinz l'estaple, ne lour biens a la value de la dette, soit ceo certifie en la chancellerie souz le dit seal. Sur quele certificacion soit brief mande de prendre les corps des ditz dettours sanz les mettre a mainprise, et de seisir lour terres et tenementz, biens et chateux; et soit le dit brief retourne en nostre chauncellerie ove la certificacion de la value des ditz terres et tenementz, biens et chateux; et sur ceo y soit due execucion faite de jour en jour, en manere come il est contenu en l'estatut marchant, issint qe celui a qi la dette est due eit estat de frank tenement en les terres et tenementz qe lui serront liverez par vertue de cel proces, et recoverir par brief de novele disseisine en cas q'il soit oste; et qe le dettour n'eit my avantage del quarter d'un an, q'est contenu en le dit estatut marchant. Et en cas qe nul creditour ne voille avoir lettres du dit seal, einz voille esteer a la foi du dettour, si apres le terme encoru il demande la dette, soit le dettour cru sur sa foi.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 13. Also, to the end that the contracts made within the staple shall be the better upheld and the payments promptly made, we have ordained and established that in each of the said staples a seal shall be ordained, remaining in the custody of the mayor of the staple under the seals of the constables, and that all obligations which shall be made there shall be sealed with the said seal, paying for each obligation of £100 and below, for each pound one halfpenny, and for each obligation above £100 for each pound one farthing. And that the mayor of the staple, by virtue of these letters thus sealed, may take and hold in prison the bodies of debtors after the term incurred, until they have made payment to the creditor of the debt and damages; and also to seize the goods of the said debtors and to deliver the said goods to the creditors by true valuation, or to sell them as well as possible and to deliver the money to the said creditors up to the sum due. And in the event that the debtors shall not be found within the staple, nor their goods to the value of the debt, this shall be certified in the chancery under the said seal. Upon which certification a writ shall be sent to take the bodies of the said debtors without granting them bail, and to seize their lands and tenements, goods and chattels; and the said writ shall be returned in our chancery with the certification of the value of the said lands and tenements, goods and chattels; and due execution shall be made upon this from day to day in the manner contained in the statute merchant, so that he to whom the debt is due shall have his estate of freehold in the lands and tenements which shall be delivered to him by virtue of this process, and recovery by writ of novel disseisin in the event that he is evicted, and that the debtor shall not have the advantage of a quarter of a year which is contained in the said statute merchant. And in the event that any creditor does not wish to have letters of the said seal, but wishes to stand to the faith of the debtor, if after the term incurred he demands the debt, the debtor shall be believed on his faith.
14. Item, pur ce qe nous avons entendu qe ascuns marchantz achatent avoir de pois, leines et autres marchandises par un pois et vendont par un autre, et font aussint deceivables retretes sur le poiser et aussint usent falses mesures et verges, en grant deceite de nous et de tote la commune et des loialx marchantz, si volons et establisons qe une pois, une mesure et une [p. ii-249][col. a] verge soit par tote la terre sibien hors de l'estaple come dedeinz. Et qe les leines et tote manere d'avoir de pois soient poisez par balances, issint qe la lange du balance soit ouele, sanz encliner al une partie ou al autre, et sanz mettre main ou pee, ou autre touche faire a y celle; et qe celui qi face al encontre, au damage du vendour, forface devers nous la value de la marchandie issint poise et mesure; et eit la partie qe se pleindra le quatreble de ceo q'il serra endamage. Et eit le trespassour l'emprisonement d'un an, et soit reint a nostre volunte. Et sur ceo soient assignez justices d'enquere des tieux trespassours a totes les foitz qe mester serra, et de faire droit sibien a nostre seute come a seute d'autres qi se vodront ent pleindre.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 14. Also, because we have understood that some merchants buy avoirdupois, wool and other merchandises by one weight and sell them by another, and also make deceitful deductions upon the weight or use false measure and yards, in great deceit of us, of all the commonalty and of loyal merchants, we will and establish that there shall be one weight, one measure and one [p. ii-249][col. a] yard throughout the land, outside the staple as well as inside. And that the wool and all manner of avoirdupois shall be weighed by balances, so that the tongue of the balance is even, without inclining to one side or the other, and without putting hand or foot upon it or making other contact with the same; and that he who acts to the contrary, to the detriment of the seller, shall forfeit to us the value of the merchandise thus weighed and measured; and the party who complains shall have four times the value of his damages. And the trespasser shall have one year's imprisonment and shall be ransomed at our will. And justices shall be assigned in this matter to inquire of such trespassers whenever there is need, and to do justice at our suit as well as at the suit of others who wish to complain thereof.
15. Item, avons ordine et establi qe touz marchantz, aliens et denzeins et autres, qi amesneront vyns et autres merces et marchandises qecunqes q'eles soient al estaple, citees, burghs et bones [memb. 2] villes ou as portz du meer deinz noz ditz roialme et terres, les puissent sauvement, et sanz chalenge ou empeschement de nulli, vendre en gros, ou a retaill ou par parcelles, a lour volunte, a qecunqes gentz qi les vodront achater. Et qe nul marchaunt, prive ne estraunge, n'autre de quelle condicion q'il soit, aille par terre ne par eawe d'encontrer tieux vyns, merces et marchandises venantz en noz ditz roialme et terres, en meer n'aillours, pur les forstaller, achater, ou en autre manere arrer, avant q'ils veignent a l'estaple ou a port ou ils serront deschargez, ne entre les niefs par tiele cause tant qe les marchandises soient mises a la terre pur vendre, sur les peines et forfaitures contenues en le dit tierc article.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 15. Also, we have ordained and established that all merchants, aliens, denizens and others, who bring wine and other goods and merchandises whatever they be to the staple, cities, boroughs and good [memb. 2] vills or to seaports in our said realm and lands may safely, and without challenge or impeachment from anyone, sell them wholesale or retail or by parts at their will to whatever people wish to buy them. And that no merchant, denizen or foreigner or other of whatever condition he may be, shall go by land or water to meet such wine, goods and merchandises coming into our said realm and lands, on the sea or elsewhere, in order to forestall, buy or reserve them in any way, before they shall come to the staple or the port where they shall be unloaded, or enter into the ships for such reason before the merchandises shall be put to land to be sold, on the penalties and forfeitures contained in the said third article.
16. Item, qe nul marchant, prive n'estraunge n'autre, amesne hors de nostre roialme d'Engleterre leines, peaux lanutz ne quirs a Berewyk sur Twede ne nulle part aillours en Escoce; ne qe nul homme, marchant n'autre, de quelle condicion q'il soit, vende ses leines, peaux lanuz ne quirs a nul homme de Escoce ne a nul autre pur amesner en Escoce, sur les forfaitures et peines contenues en le dit tiercz article.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 16. Also, that no merchant, denizen or foreign or other, shall export wool, woolfelsl or leather out of our realm of England to Berwick upon Tweed nor to any other part of Scotland; and that no man, merchant or other, of whatever condition he may be, shall sell his wool, woolfells or leather to any Scotsman or to anyone else to carry it to Scotland, on the forfeitures and penalties contained in the said third article.
17. Item, nous volons et grantons qe si ascun marchant, prive ou estrange, soit desrobbe de ses biens sur meer, et les biens ensi desrobbez viegnent a ascune part deinz noz ditz roialme et terres, et voet suyr pur les ditz biens recoverir, soit resceu de prover les ditz biens estre les soens par ses merches, ou par sa carte ou coket, ou par bons et loialx marchantz prives ou estranges; et par tielx proeves soient meismes les biens delivres au marchant, sanz autre seute faire a la commune lei. Et en cas qe nulles niefs issantes de noz ditz roialme et terres, ou venantes a y celles, par tempest ou par autre infortune debrisent sur les costeres du meer, et les biens viegnent a terre qe ne purront estre dit wrek, soient meintenant et sanz fraude ou mal engin delivres as marchantz as queux les biens sont ou a lour servantz par tiele proove, come devant est dit, paiant a ceux qi les averont sauvez et gardez covenablement pur lour travaill; c'estassavoir, par discrecions des viscontes, baillifs ou autres noz ministres es lieux geldables ou autres seigneurs n'ount point des franchises, et par l'avys et assent des quatre ou sys des meillours et plus suffisantz prodes hommes du pais. Et si ceo soit deinz franchise d'autres seignurs, adonqes ceo face par les seneschalx ou baillifs ou gardeins de meisme la franchise, et par l'avys et assent de quatre ou sys prodes hommes du pais, come desus est dit, sanz nulle delaie.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 17. Also, we will and grant that if any merchant, denizen or foreign, shall be robbed of his goods at sea, and the goods thus robbed shall come to any part within our said realm and lands, and he wishes to sue to recover the said goods, he shall be received to prove that the said goods are his by his marks, or by his deed or cocket, or by good and lawful merchants, denizen or foreign; and by such proofs the same goods shall be delivered to the merchant, with making other suit at the common law. And in the event that any ships leaving our said realm and lands, or coming to the same, are destroyed by storm or by other misfortune on the coasts of the sea, and goods come to land which cannot be considered part of the said wreck, they shall be immediately and without fraud or deception delivered to the merchants to whom the goods belong, or to their servants, by such proof as is aforesaid, paying those who have saved and kept them suitably for their undertaking; that is to say, at the discretion of the sheriffs, bailiffs or our other officials in geldable places where other lords have no franchise, and by the advice and assent of four or six of the best and most worthy men of the area; and if this shall be within the franchise of other lords, then it shall be done by the stewards or bailiffs or wardens of the same franchise, and by the advice and assent of four or six law-worthy men of the area, as is aforesaid, without any delay.
18. Item, avons ordine et establi qe touz marchantz, prives et estranges, puissent sauvement amesner et porter deinz noz ditz roialme et terres plate d'argent, bilettes d'or et tote autre manere d'or et totes monoies [col. b] d'or et d'argent a nostre billion ou a noz eschaunges quelles nous ferrons ordiner, a noz dites estaples et aillours, parnant illoeqes monoie de nostre coigne d'or ou d'argent covenablemement a la value. Et si nul voille prendre bone monoie d'or ou d'argent d'autre coigne qe de nostre en paiement, la preigne sanz emspeschement, [sic: read 'empeschement'] si qe nul soit a ceo arte s'il ne la voille prendre de gree. Purveu totes voies qe nulle monoie n'eit commune cours deinz noz ditz roialme et terres forsqe la monoie d'or et d'argent de nostre coigne, et qe nulli emporte hors de noz ditz roialme et terres le veil esterling, n'autre monoie, forsqe nostre novele monoie d'or et d'argent; horspris les marchantz estraunges qi apportent es noz ditz roialme et terres ascune manere de monoie, et ne veullent emploier celle monoie deinz meismes noz roialme et terres, queux nous volons q'ils puissent tote celle monoie ou quantqe ent demora nient emploie reporter en lour pais sanz empeschement. Issint totes voies qe bone et loiale serche en soit faite en les portz et autres lieux ou arivaill y est; et qe tote la monoie qe chescun marchant estrange amesnera deinz noz ditz roialme et terres soit mise en escript par les serchours, au fyn qe nul marchant n'emporte plus q'il n'apporta en meismes noz roialme et terres. Purveu totes voies qe nul ministre n'autre, par colour de tiele serche ne face empeschement ne destourbance a nul marchaunt estrange, pur lui grever nounduement; et qe totes les falses monoies qe purront estre trovez par serche, ou en autre manere espiez deinz meismes noz roialme et terres, en deceite de nostre bone monoie, soient forfaites a nous solonc les ordinances autrefoitz ent faites.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 18. Also, we have ordained and established that all merchants, denizen and foreigners, may safely bring and carry into our said realm and lands silver plate, gold bars and all other manner of gold, and all gold and silver money [col. b] to our bullion or to our exchanges, which we shall cause to be ordained at our said staples and elsewhere, taking there money of our gold or silver coin suitable to the value. And if anyone wishes to take good money of gold or silver of other coin than ours in payment, he shall take it without impeachment, on condition that no one shall be forced to do so if he does not wish to take it willingly. Provided always that no money shall have common course in our said realm and lands except the gold and silver money of our coin, and that no one shall carry out of our said realm and lands the old sterling or other money, except our new gold and silver money, except the foreign merchants who bring any manner of money into our said realm and lands, and do not wish to employ this money in our same realm and lands, who we allow may return all this money or as much as shall remain unused to their country without impeachment. So that good and lawful search is always made thereof in the ports and other places where there are arrivals; and that all the money that each foreign merchant shall bring into our said realm and lands shall be put in writing by the searchers, to the end that no merchant shall take away more than he brought into our same realm and lands. Provided always that no official or other shall make impeachment or disturbance to any foreign merchant by reason of such search, to grieve him unduly; and that all the false money that shall be found by search or discovered in any other manner in our same realm and lands, in deceit of our good money, shall be forfeited to us, according the ordinances previously made thereon.
19. Item, nous volons et establissons qe ceux qi ount leines, quirs, peaux lanuz et plom, en pais entre les lieux ou les estaples sont et la meer, et les veullent faire carier a les estaples par eawes douces ou braces du meer, facent endentures entre eux et les baillifs des villes ou ils les mettront en nief, tesmoignantes combien des leines, quirs, peaux et plom est issint mys en nief; et les baillifs des lieux preignent serment et sufficeante seurte, pur quelle ils vodront respoundre de eux et des mariners, q'ils irront od celle leine, quirs, peaux et plom a les estaples et nulle part aillours, et deschargeront illoeqes avant q'ils entront la meer. Et qe les baillifs envoient maintenant l'une partie del endenture contenante la seurte, et la quantite des leines, quirs, peaux et plom au meir del estaple, as costages de ceux as queux les biens sont par ascun homme pur qi ils vodront respondre. Et si nul meir, baillifs ou autre ministre de lieu ou tieles marchandises serront chargez soeffrent les dites marchandises passer en autre manere, encourgent, sibien les meir, baillifs et ministres avantditz come celui qi les chargera, les peines et forfaitures contenues en le dit tierc article.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 19. Also, we will and establish that those who have wool, leather, woolfells and lead in areas between the places where the staples are and the sea, and who wish to cause the same to be carried to the staples by fresh water or inlets of the sea, shall make indentures between them and the bailiffs of the vills where they put them on a ship, witnessing how much wool, leather, woolfells and lead is thus put on the ship; and the bailiffs of the places shall take an oath and sufficient security, for which they will answer, of them and the mariners, that they will go with this wool, leather, woolfells and lead to the staples and nowhere else, and will unload there before they enter the sea. And that the bailiffs shall immediately send one part of the indenture containing the security and the quantity of wool, leather, woolfells and lead to the mayor of the staple, at the cost of those to whom the goods belong by any man for whom they will answer. And if any mayor, bailiffs or other official of the place where such merchandises are loaded shall suffer the said merchandises to pass in any other manner, the mayor, bailiffs and aforesaid officials, as well as he who will load the same, shall incur the penalties and forfeitures contained in the said third article.
20. Item, qe en chescune ville ou l'estaple serra tenue, soient ordeinez certeines rues et lieux ou les leines et autres marchandises serront mys. Et pur ceo qe les seignurs ou gardeyns des mesons et lieux, veantz la necessite des marchantz, metteront par cas lour mesons a trope haute ferme, si avons ordeine qe les mesons qe sont a lesser en tiele manere soient mises a resonable ferme, solonc l'ordinance du meir et des conestables de l'estaple et de quatre prodes hommes des meillours de la ville ou l'estaple est, qi serront jurrez en presence des ditz meir et conestables, de faire loiale taxe, si qe pur defaute des mesons l'estaple ne soit mye empesche, et qe nul homme qi amesne ses leines ou autres marchaundises illoeqes ne soit destourbe de herberger meismes les leines et marchaundises en les mesons queles il avera issint aloue.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 20. Also, that in each vill where the staple shall be held certain streets and places shall be ordained where the wool and other merchandises shall be put. And because the lords or wardens of the houses and places, seeing the necessity of the merchants, by chance put their houses at too high a farm, we have ordained that the houses which are to be leased in such manner shall be put at a reasonable farm, according to the ordinance of the mayor and constables of the staple and of four law-worthy men from the best men of the vill where the staple is, who shall be sworn in the presence of the said mayor and constables to make a lawful assessment, so that the staple shall not be disrupted for default of houses, and that no man who brings his wool or other merchandises there shall be prevented from storing the same wool and merchandises in the houses which he has thus rented.
[p. ii-250]
[col. a]
21. Item, qe nul marchant estrange soit emplede ou empesche pur autri trespas ou pur autri dette, dont il n'est pas dettour, plegge ou mainpernour; purveu totes voies qe si noz liges gentz, marchantz ou autres, soient endamagez par ascuns seignurs de estranges terres ou lour subgitz, et les ditz seignurs duement requis faillent de droit a noz ditz gentz, nous eions la lei de mark et de reprisailles come ad este use devant ces heures, sanz fraude ou mal engyn. Et en cas qe debat sourde, qe Dieu defende, entre nous et ascuns seignurs de estrange terre, si ne volons mye qe les gentz et marchantz de la dite terre soient sodeinement subduz deinz noz ditz roialme et terres par cause de la dite debate, einz q'ils soient garniz, et proclamacion ent publie q'ils voideront les ditz roialme et terres od lour biens franchement, deinz qarant jours apres le garnissement et proclamacion issint faites. Et qe en le meen temps ils ne soient de riens empeschez ne destourbez de lour passage, ou de lour profit faire de meismes les marchandises, s'ils les veullent vendre. Et en cas qe pur defaut de vent ou de navie, ou pur maladie, ou autre cause evidente, ils ne poent voider noz dit roialme ou terres deinz si brief temps, adonqes eient autres quarant jours, ou plus si mestier soit, deinz quel temps ils purront passer covenablement ove lour marchandises vendre, come devant est dit.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 21. Also, that no foreign merchant shall be impleaded or impeached for another's trespass or debt, of which he is not the debtor, pledge or mainpernor; provided always that if our liege people, merchants or others, shall be harmed by any lord of foreign lands or their subjects, and the said lords, having been duly consulted, fail to do justice to our liege people, we shall have the law of marque and reprisals as has been the custom before this time, without fraud or deception. And in the event that a dispute arises, which God forbid, between us and any lords from foreign lands, we do not will that the people and merchants of the said land shall be arrested without warning in our said realm and lands because of the said dispute, but that they shall be warned, and proclamation publicly made that they shall freely leave the said realm and lands with their goods within forty days after the warning and proclamation thus made. And that in the meantime they shall not be impeached of anything or disturbed of their passage or of their profit made from the same merchandises, if they wish to sell them. And in the event that they are unable to leave our said realm or lands within so brief a time, for default of wind or of ship, for illness or other obvious reason, then they shall have another forty days, or more if necessary, within which time they can conveniently pass with their goods to be sold, as is aforesaid.
22. Item, pur ceo qe nous pensons bien qe les marchantz estranges ne viegnent my si communement en Irland et en Gales pur marchaunder come ils font en Engleterre, si volons de nostre grace especiale, qe bien lise as gentz d'Irland et de Gales, qi ne purront deliverer lour leines, quirs, peaux lanuz et plom en Irlaunde et en Gales as tieux marchantz estranges, de venir ove lour dites marchandises, apres ceo q'ils soient custumez et cokettez en Irland et en Gales, a ascune de noz estaples en Engleterre, a quele qe lour plerra, portantz lour cokettes tesmoignantes lour marchandises q'ils deschargeront a les estaples en Engleterre, issint qe eux quant ils serront venuz a les estaples en Engleterre, ne ceux qi lour dites marchandises achateront de eux illoeqes, ne paieront autrefoitz custume ne subside pur les dites marchandises issint custumez en noz dites terres d'Irland ou de Gales. Et soient noz tresorer et barons de nostre escheqer d'Engleterre certifiez deux foitz par an a meins, c'estassavoir a la Pasqe et a la Seint Michel, combien des leines, quirs, peaux lanuz et plom passent hors de la dite terre d'Irlande, et de la custume ent paie. Et en cas qe les marchantz, ou autres gentz d'Irlande ou de Gales, apres ceo q'ils soient en meer ove lour dites marchandises passent aillours qe a les estaples en Engleterre, encourgent les peines et forfaitures contenues en le dit tierc article.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 22. Also, because we truly think that the foreign merchants do not come as commonly into Ireland and Wales in order to trade as they do into England, we will of our special grace that it shall be properly permitted to the people of Ireland and of Wales who cannot deliver their wool, leather, woolfells and lead in Ireland and Wales to such foreign merchants to come with their said merchandises, after they have been customed and cocketted in Ireland and Wales, to any of our staples in England that they please, bringing their cockets witnessing their merchandises which they will unload at the staples in England, so that when they have come to the staples in England, neither they nor those who have bought their said merchandises from them there shall again pay custom or subsidy for the said merchandises thus customed in our said lands of Ireland or Wales. And our treasurer and the barons of our exchequer of England shall certify at least twice a year, that is to say at Easter and Michaelmas, how much wool, leather, woolfells and lead is exported out of the said land of Ireland and the custom paid for the same. And in the event that the merchants or other people of Ireland or Wales, after they are at sea with their said merchandises, shall go elsewhere than to the staples in England, they shall incur the penalties and forfeitures contained in the said third article.
23. Item, qe nul marchant n'autre, de quele condicion q'il soit, parde ne forface ses biens et marchandises pur trespas ou forfait de son servant, s'il ne le face par par [sic] mandement ou abette de son mestre, ou q'il eit mespris en l'office en quel son mestre lui ad mys, ou en autre manere, qe le mestre soit tenu a respondre pur le fait son servant par la lei marchant, come par aillours est usee. Et pur ceo qe marchantz ne poent sovent longement demorer en un lieu pur entrelesser lour marchandises, si volons qe hastif droit lour soit fait de jour en jour et de heure en heure, solonc les leies usees en autieles estaples tenues avant ces houres par aillours, totes les foitz q'ils se vodront pleindre de nulli, ou qe nul se vodra pleindre de eux; issint qe les marchantz ne soient par malice tariez pur defaute de hastif remede.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 23. Also, that no merchant or other, of whatever condition he may be, shall lose or forfeit his goods and merchandises for the trespass or forfeiture of his servant, unless he does it at the order or instigation of his master, or he shall have erred in the office in which his master has put him, or in any other manner, that the master shall be held to answer for the act of his servant by the law merchant, as is the custom elsewhere. And because merchants often are unable to stay for a long time in one place for neglect of their merchandises, we will that hasty justice shall be done to them from day to day and hour to hour, according to the laws used in such staples held elsewhere before this time, whenever they should wish to complain of anyone, or anyone should wish to complain of them; so that the merchants shall not be delayed by malice for default of speedy remedy.
24. Item, pur ceo qe nous avons pris touz marchantz estranges venantz en noz ditz roialme et terres [col. b] en nostre especiale proteccion; et outre grante de lour faire hastif remede des greefs, si nuls lour soient faitz, si avons ordine et establi qe si nulle outrage ou greef lour soit fait en pais hors de l'estaple, les justicers del lieu ou tiele outrage lour serra fait facent hastiement justice a eux, solonc la leie marchant, de jour en jour et de heure en heure, sanz desport faire a nulli, ou de les mettre a suyr a la commune leie. Et si nul soit convict q'il eit grevee les marchantz issint priz en nostre proteccion, soit pur le contempt fait a nous puny devers nous, en tant come serra ajugge au marchant pur ses damages; et soient ajuggez as ditz marchantz estrange damages au double.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 24. Also, because we have taken all the foreign merchants coming into our said realm and lands [col. b] into our special protection, and further have granted to give them speedy remedy concerning their grievances, if any shall be done to them, we have ordained and established that if any outrage or grievance shall be done to them in the areas outside the staple, the justices of the place where such outrage is done shall make speedy justice to them, according to the law merchant, from day to day and hour to hour, without exempting anyone, or compelling them to sue at the common law. And if anyone shall be convicted because he has aggrieved the merchants thus taken into our protection, for the contempt done to us he shall be punished by us, in as much as shall be awarded to the merchant for his damages; and double the damages shall be awarded to the said foreign merchants.
25. Item, pur ceo qe les estaples ne se purront mye longement tenir ne les ordinances ent faites et a faire estre gardez si bons executours et justicers ne soient establiz pur faire ent bone et redde execucion, si avons ordeine et establi qe en chescune ville ou l'estaple est ordeine soit fait et establi un meir, bon, loial et suffisant, eant conisance de la leie marchant, pur governir l'estaple et faire droit a chescuny solonc les leies avantdites, sanz desport, favour ou greef faire a nulli. Et soient aussint en chescun lieu ou l'estaple est, deux conestables covenables, ore au commencement mys par nous, pur faire ceo qe attient a lour office en manere come en autre estaple est acustume. Et quant ils serront mortz ou chaungez, adonqes soient autres esluz par la communalte des marchantz du dit lieu. Et qe nul meir ne tiegne l'office outre un an s'il ne soit de novel eslu par la communalte des marchantz, sibien estranges come denizeins. Et qe les ditz meir et conestables eient poair de garder la pees et de arester les meffesours en les estaples pur trespas, dette ou pur autre contract, et les mettre en prisone, et punir solonc la leie de l'estaple. Et soit ordeine une prisone pur la sauve garde de eux qi serront issint emprisonez. Et soient les meirs, visconts et baillifs des villes ou l'estaple est, ou joignantes al estaple, entendantz as meir et ministres de l'estaple, de faire execucion de lour mandementz, sur peine de greve forfaiture. Et soit un seignur de chescun pais ou l'estaple est, assigne d'estre en eide as meir et ministres de l'estaple, a quele heure q'il soit requis de par ascun des ditz meirs de justicer les rebeaux qi par les ditz meir et ministres ne purront estre justicez; et de les meintenir et conseiller quant mestier serra a bon governement de l'estaple. Et si nul marchant ou autre se voille pleindre du meir ou conestables, q'ils ont failli de droit ou favour fait contre reson a nulle partie, soit hastiement redresce par le chaunceller et autres de nostre conseil, sanz nulle delaie. Et qe meismes les meir et conestables ne facent ne ordeinent riens qe soit au contrair de cestes ordinances, nene facent interpretacion ne excepcion a y celles, autrement qe les paroles ne purportent. Mes s'il y ad riens qe soit en doute, soit monstre a nostre conseil et illoeqes soit declare par bon avys.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 25. Also, because the staples cannot be held for a long time and the ordinances made and to be made thereon cannot be kept unless good executors and justices are established to make good and strict execution thereof, we have ordained and established that in each vill where the staple is ordained, one good, lawful and sufficient mayor shall be made and established, who has knowledge of the law merchant, to govern the staple and to do justice to each person according to the aforesaid laws, without giving favour, exemption or injustice to anyone. And in each place where the staple is there shall also be two suitable constables, now at the beginning appointed by us, to do that which belongs to their office in the manner accustomed in other staples. And when they shall die or be changed, then others shall be elected by the commonalty of merchants of the said place. And that no mayor shall hold the office for more than one year unless he is newly elected by the commonalty of merchants, foreigners as well as denizens. And that the said mayor and constables shall have power to keep the peace and to arrest offenders in the staples for trespass, debt or for other contract, and to put them in prison and punish them according to the law of the staple. And a prison shall be ordained for the safe keeping of those who shall be thus imprisoned. And the mayors, sheriffs and bailiffs of the vills where the staple is, or which are adjacent to the staple, shall submit to the mayor and officials of the staple in executing their orders, on penalty of grave forfeiture. And one lord of each area where the staple is shall be assigned to be an aid to the mayor and officials of the staple, whenever he shall be required on behalf of any of the said mayors to discipline the rebels who cannot be disciplined by the said mayor and officials, and to maintain and counsel them when necessary to the good government of the staple. And if any merchant or other shall wish to complain that the mayor or constables have failed of justice or shown favour to any party contrary to reason, he shall be swiftly redressed by the chancellor and others of our council without any delay. And that the same mayor and constables shall not do or ordain anything contrary to these ordinances, or make interpretation or exception to the same, otherwise than as the words signify. But if anything is in doubt, it shall be shown to our council and declared there by good advice.
26. Item, nous avons ordine qe en chescun lieu ou l'estaple se tendra, soit certein noumbre des correcters, sibien de estranges come des privez, prodes hommes, sufficeantz et sachantz de tieu mestere pur loialment faire et recorder les bargaynes entre les vendours et achatours, come ad este usee en autres estaples tenues aillours; et q'ils troessent suffisantz mainpernours devant les meir et conestables del estaple de loialment faire ceo q'attient a lour office. Et s'ils soient trovez en defaute, paient a tant a celui qi serra endamage, come sa perte amontera; issint q'ils ne se mellent de nulle manere des marchandises pur le temps q'ils demoerent en office; et qe nully soit constreint d'avoir correcter s'il ne le voulle avoir de gree, ne de paier riens a nul correcter, s'il ne se melle de son bargaine a sa requeste.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 26. Also, we have ordained that in each place where the staple will be held there shall be a certain number of correctors, worthy men, whether foreign or denizen, sufficient and knowledgeable for such service lawfully, to make and record agreements between the sellers and buyers, as has been the custom in other staples held elsewhere; and that they shall find sufficient mainpernors before the mayor and constables of the staple to lawfully do that which belongs to their office. And if they shall be found in default, they shall pay to the person who shall be harmed as much as his loss shall amount to, so that they shall not concern themselves with any manner of merchandises during the time they remain in office; and that no one shall be bound to have a corrector if he does not wish to have one willingly, nor to pay anything to any corrector unless he concerns himself with his agreement at his request.
[p. ii-251]
[col. a]
Item, qe certein noumbre des portours, packers, gwynders, overours et autres laborers des leines et de totes autres marchandises soit ordeine sufficeantment pur le lieu ou l'estaple est; et soient ils et les correcters et totes maneres des officers de l'estaple estre les conestables jurrez devant le meir de l'estaple q'ils loialment ferront lour office, sanz fraude ou mal engin. Et aussint, soient touz marchantz, denizeins et aliens, venantz as dites estaples par cause de marchandie jurrez devant meismes les meirs et conestables q'ils serront justiciables par les ditz meirs et conestables, solonc la leie et usage de l'estaple, et maintendront, quant qe en eux est, l'estaple, et les leies et usages de y celle, sanz fraude ou mal engyn. Et le meir et les conestables soient jurrez en la chauncellerie de faire loialment ceo qe appertient a eux.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] Also, that a certain number of porters, packers, winders, workers and other labourers of wool and all other merchandises shall be sufficiently ordained for the place where the staple is; and they, the correctors and all manner of officers of the staple, except the constables, shall swear before the mayor of the staple that they shall lawfully perform their office, without fraud or deception. And also, all merchants, denizens and aliens coming to the said staples by reason of trade shall swear before the same mayors and constables that they shall be justiciable by the said mayors and constables, according to the law and custom of the staple, and they will maintain the staple when they can, and the laws and customs of the same, without fraud or deception. And the mayor and constables shall swear in the chancery lawfully to perform that which belongs to them.
27. Item, nous volons et ordinons qe les marchantz estranges elisent deux marchantz estranges, des queux l'un devers le suth et l'autre devers le north, soit assigne de seer ove les meirs et conestables des estaples, ou ascun des ditz esluz vendra d'oier les pleintes tochantes marchantz aliens qe serront meues devant les ditz meirs et conestables, a totes les foitz qe ascun des ditz esluz y voedra estre, et de veer qe plein droit soit fait as ditz marchantz aliens; issint qe les ditz meirs et conestables ne cessent point d'aler avant en lour proces en cas qe tieux esluz ne y viegnent pas; et en cas qe debate sourde par entre eux sur discussion d'ascun plee ou querele, soit le tenour de cel plee ou querele mande devant le chaunceller et autres de nostre conseil, a terminer illoeqes sanz delaie. Et soient aussint esluz sys parsones, c'estassavoir quatre des aliens, dont deux soient de Alemaigne et deux de Lumbardie et deux de Engleterre, qi soient prodes hommes de foie et facent serment de faire bien et loialment lour office; c'estassavoir, qe quant et a quele heure ascune quescion ou debate sourdera ou avendra entre marchantz d'ascune nounresonable leine, ou d'ascune noundue enpackure solonc les covenantes faites entre l'achatour et vendour, qe les dites persones, ou quatre de eux, puissent devant le meir de l'estaple et ses officers par lour serment dire et amender sicome reson < vodra; > et a ceux sur ceo soit done credence sanz nul contredit.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 27. Also, we will and ordain that the foreign merchants shall elect two foreign merchants, one in the south and the other in the north, who shall be assigned to sit with the mayors and constables of the staples where any of the said elected men will come to hear the complaints concerning alien merchants that shall be moved before the said mayors and constables, whenever the said elected men wish to be there, and to see that full justice is done to the said alien merchant; on condition that the said mayors and constables shall not cease to proceed in their process in the event that such elected men do not come there; and in the event that a dispute arises between them upon the discussion of any plea or quarrel, the tenor of this plea or quarrel shall be sent before the chancellor and others of our council to be determined there without delay. And also, six persons shall be elected, that is to say, four aliens, of whom two shall be from Germany and two from Lombardy, and two from England, who shall be worthy and loyal men, and they shall take an oath to perform their office well and lawfully; that is to say, that when and at whatever time any question or dispute arises or occurs between merchants concerning any unsatisfactory wool, or concerning any wrongful packing according to the covenants made between the buyer and seller, that the said persons, or four of them, may speak and make amends by their oath as reason demands before the mayor of the staple and his officers; and credence shall be given to them in this matter without any contradiction.
28. Item, nous avons ordeine et establi qe si nul marchant ou autre face conspiracie, confederacie, covyne, machinacion ou murmure ou mal engyn en nul point qe purra tournir a empeschement, destourbance, defesance ou destrees des dites estaples ou de rien qe a eux appertient ou purra apertiner, et de ceo soit atteint devant le meir et ministres de l'estaple, ou autres queux nous a ceo assignerons, encourge la peine et forfaiture contenues en le dit tierc article.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 28. Also, we have ordained and established that if any merchant or other shall form a conspiracy, alliance, agreement, scheme, disturbance or deception in any point that can result in the impeachment, disturbance, destruction or distress of the said staples or of anything that belongs or can belong to them, and shall be attainted of this before the mayor and officials of the staples or others whom we shall assign to this, he shall incur the penalty and forfeiture contained in the said third article.
29. Item, come il soit contenu en la chartre nostre ael grantee as marchantz estranges, et par nous conferme, qe des marchandises queles ils amesneront es noz ditz roialme et terres, et des queux trois deniers de la livre sont a paier par les ditz marchantz estraunges solonc meisme la grante, soit done foi et credence a eux sur la value des dites marchandises, par lettres queles ils purront monstrer, de meismes les biens de lour seignurs ou compaignons, et s'ils n'eient point des lettres q'ils soient cruz par lour serment en celle partie; et ja done est a entendre a nous et a nostre conseil par la pleinte des ditz marchantz qe tut eient ils lettres tesmoignantes la value de lour marchandises, les visconts, meirs, baillifs et ministres des plusours lieux les constreignent de jurer pur meismes les marchandises, contre la fourme de lour dite chartre; et ja le meins apres le serment fait ensealent lour barelles, fardeux et bales pur quelles ils ont fait lour serment, et les lessent giser quatre jours [col. b] ou sys issint enseales avant q'ils les veullent veer; et issint ils tolent as ditz marchantz la vente de lour biens a grant damage de eux. Nous nient voillantz qe les marchantz estranges qi viegnent ove lour marchandises en noz ditz roialme et terres pur commune profit d'ycelles soient en tiele manere grevez, si volons, grantons et establisons qe la dite chartre soit tenue, et qe les barelles, fardeux et bales et les autres biens des ditz marchantz, et queles ils averont monstre lour lettres qe ne soient mye suspecionouses ou fait le serment come il est contenu en meisme la chartre, meintenant apres le serment fait ou tieles lettres monstrez, soient lour biens delivers a eux sanz delaie, pur faire ent lour profit, sanz riens prendre de eux outre la custume de trois deniers de la livre; issint qe les meirs, viscontes, baillifs ou autres ministres plus ne se mellent de meismes les biens, sur peine d'enprisonement et de paier a la partie endamage parcelle cause ses damages a quatreble, et tant a nous. Et sur ceo soit droit fait en la chauncellerie a chescuny pleinte.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 29. Also, whereas it is contained in the charter of our grandfather granted to foreign merchants, and confirmed by us, that concerning merchandises which they bring into our said realm and lands, for which 3d. per pound is to be paid by the said foreign merchants according to the same grant, faith and credence shall be given to them on the value of the said merchandises by letters which they can show concerning the same goods from their lords or companions, and if they do not have letters they shall be believed on their oath in this matter; it has now been suggested to us and our council by the complaint of the said merchants that although they have letters witnessing the value of their merchandises, the sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs and officials of several places force them to swear for the same merchandises, contrary to the form of their said charter; and nonetheless, after the oath has been made, they seal their barrels, bundles and bales for which they have made their oath, and leave them to remain thus sealed for four [col. b] or six days before they will see them; so that they deprive the said merchants of the sale of their goods to their great damage. Not wishing the foreign merchants who come with their merchandises into our said realm and lands for the common profit of the same to be aggrieved in such manner, we will, grant and establish that the said charter shall be upheld, and that the barrels, bundles and bales and the other goods of the said merchants, for which they have shown their letters that are not suspicious, or have taken the oath as is contained in the same charter, immediately after the oath is taken or such letters are shown, their goods shall be delivered to them without delay, to make their profit thereof, without anything to be taken from them beyond the custom of 3d. per pound; so that the mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs or other officials shall no longer concern themselves with the same goods, on penalty of imprisonment and of paying to the injured party in this case four times his damages, and the same amount to us. And justice shall be done in this matter in the chancery at every person's complaint.
30. Item, avons ordeine et establi qe touz ceux qi serront convictz q'ils ont amesnez leines, quirs et peaux lanuz as parties dedela, contre la la [sic] defense et proclamacion ent faites avant la fesance de ceste ordinance, soient ajuggez a la prisone et encourgent forfaiture de meismes les leines, quirs et peaux issint passez, et de touz lour autres biens et chateux; et outre soient reintz a nostre volente.	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 30. Also, we have ordained and established that all those who shall be convicted because they have exported wool, leather and woolfells overseas, contrary to the prohibition and proclamation made thereon before the making of this ordinance, shall be sent to prison and shall incur the forfeiture of the same wool, leather and woolfells thus exported, and of all their other goods and chattels; and further, they shall be ransomed at our will.
31. Item, nous volons, grantons et ordinons qe totes les susdites choses soient fermement gardez et tenues en touz pointz, nient contreesteante franchise, custume, privilege, exempcion, juggementz ou autres grantes faites as citees, burghs, villes, communaltes, gentz de cynk portz et autres portz ou autres singuleres persones qecunqes. Et en cas qe riens soit a amender, adjouster, chaunger, ou retreer, de nul des pointz avantditz en temps avenir parverroie cause, nous volons qe ceo soit fait par bone deliberacion et avys des grantz et autres de nostre conseil; sauvant en autres choses as prelatz, ducs, countes, barons et autres seignurs lour feires, marchees, hundredes, wapentaks, letes et jurisdiccions, courtes, franchises et priveleges et totes autres choses a eux regardantes es lieux ou les estaples sont et serront et aillours, aussi avant come ils les avoient avant qe les estaples estoient ordeinez. En tesmoignance de quele chose nous avons fait faire cestes noz lettres patentes. Done a Westm' les lundy et an susditz.'	[Ordinance of the Staple.] 31. Also, we will, grant and ordain that all the aforesaid things shall be firmly kept and upheld in all points, notwithstanding franchise, custom, privilege, exemption, judgements or other grants made to cities, boroughs, vills, commonalties, people of the Cinque Ports and other ports or other individual persons whatsoever. And in the event that anything shall be amended, added, changed or subtracted concerning any of the aforesaid points in times to come for a true reason, we will that this shall be done by the good deliberation and advice of the great men and others of our council; saving in other things to the prelates, dukes, earls, barons and other lords their fairs, markets, hundreds, wapentakes, leets and jurisdictions, courts, franchises and privileges and all other things concerning them in the places where the staples are and will be and elsewhere, as completely as they had them before the staples were ordained. In witness of which we have caused to be made these our letters patent. Given at Westminster on the aforesaid Monday and year.'
[memb. 1]
32. Et le septisme jour d'October, seantz nostre seignur le roi, prelatz et grantz en la chaumbre Blaunche, furent les communes appellez, et y fust monstre par Monsir Bartholomeu de Burgherssh, chaumberleyn le roi, coment nostre seignur le roi, pur le profit et relevement du poeple de son dit roialme q'ad este molt endamagez avant ces heures en divers manere, et pur eschuer les perils qe aviendront as plusoures gentz de meisme son roialme sur meer par roberies et en autre manere, avoit desporte les custumes et subside des leines, quirs et peaux lanuz, plus d'un an et un quarter, dont il eust eu un tres grant profit s'il les eust receu, parcause d'establier la dite estaple en son roialme d'Engleterre, come desus est dit. Et coment meisme nostre seignur pensant coment il purra meuthe eiser son poeple, qi si sovent ad este charge des imposicions et des grandes eides a lui faites avant ces heures, par cause de la guerre quelle il ad meintenu contre son adverser de France, qi lui detient ses droitures et heritages a lui devolutz notoirement de la corone de France; sur quelle chose il envoia nadgairs des plus nobles et plus excellentz d'estat de son roialme, come l'ercevesqe de Canterbirs, le ducs [p. ii-252][col. a] de Lancastr' et autres prelatz et grauntz, a Gynes de faire tretee ove les deputes son dit adversair, en presence d'un cardinal qe nostre seint pier y manda de y estre come mediatour et nemye partie et de lui ent faire relacion; et apres cele tretee il envoia son confessour a la court de monstrer a nostre dit seint pier en confession, com pres il se vodra prendre, au fyn qe la guerre entre lui et son dit adversair purroit cesser, pensant la mortalite des gentz qe avoit este par celle cause, et aussint les grantz travails et esuoies qe lui et ses gentz avoient endurez puys le commencement de meisme la guerre, et desirant d'espendre partie de son temps en autrie guerre a greindre plesance et honur de Dieu; c'estassavoir, qe si son adversair lui vorroit faire restitucion de la duchee de Gyen auxi entierment come nul de ces auncestres l'avoit, de la duchee de Normandie et du countee de Pountif et aussint des terres quelles il avoit conquis sur son dit adversair en France, Bretaigne et aillours, et aussint del obeissance de Flaundres, dont il est seisi, a tenir franchement sanz homage ou autre service, il assenteroit bien, pur cessacion de la guerre, de resigner la dite corone; et uncore ne lerroit il mye pur Normaundie q'il ne soeffreit bien qe son dit adversair la eust, s'il savoit monstrer q'il avoit overt droit de l'avoir; et qe nostre dit seint pier sur ceo tastereit < la volente > son dit adversair en manere prive, et qe en autre manere nostre dit seignur le roi n'assenteroit a autre tretee de pees. Fesant totes voies ses protestacions, qe en cas qe son adversair ne le vorroit accepter, qe ses droitures lui soient sauvez aussi entierment come a lui appertiegnoient devant es totes choses. Et depuys en cea n'ad nostre dit seint pier certifie a nostre seignur le roi, coment qe meisme nostre seignur envoia apres devers lui son clerc Mestre William de Witleseye, ercedeakne de Huntyngdon', pur savoir de lui ascun effect de la bosoigne, et de lui reporter, le quel ercedeakne n'ad riens reporte en effect. Par quoi il semble a nostre seignur le roi et a les grauntz et autres de son conseil q'il covient nostre seignur le roi s'apparailler pur la guerre encontre son dit adversair, sibien pur defense de son roialme d'Engleterre, come pur ses ditz droitz recoverir; pur quel apparaill lui covient avoir une grande somme d'avoir. Et si monstra le dit chaumberleyn outre coment le paiement du subside des leines, quirs et peaux lanuz cessa a la Seint Michel darrein passe; de quel subside, s'il le eust en plus avant, lui acrestereit un grant profit, en eide de la meintenance de sa dite guerre; et coment aussint il n'est mye l'entencion le roi de faire coillette ne taxe de ses gentz, ne d'autres charges mettre sur son poeple. Mes il prie as prelatz, grauntz et ses communes q'ils lui veullent graunter le dit subside des leines, quirs et peaux lanuz pur un temps.	[Speech to the lords and commons.] 32. And on 7 October, with our lord the king, the prelates and great men sitting in the White Chamber, the commons were summoned, and it was declared by Sir Bartholomew Burghersh, the king's chamberlain, how our lord the king, for the profit and relief of the people of his said realm which has been greatly harmed before this time in various ways, and for avoiding the perils which come to many people of his same realm on the sea by robberies and in other ways, has removed the customs and subsidy of wool, leather and woolfells for more than a year and a quarter, from which he would have had a very great profit if he had received them, by reason of the establishment of the said staple in his realm of England, as is aforesaid. And how our same lord, thinking how he could better comfort his people who have so often been burdened with impositions and great aids made to him before this time, because of the war which he had maintained against his enemy of France who withheld his rights and inheritances clearly passed down to him from the crown of France; on which matter he recently sent many nobles and excellent men of estate of his realm, such as the archbishop of Canterbury, the duke [p. ii-252][col. a] of Lancaster and other prelates and great men, to Guînes to make a treaty with the deputies of his said enemy in the presence of a cardinal whom our holy father sent there to be an impartial mediator and to report thereon to him; and after this treaty he sent his confessor to the court to declare to our said holy father in confession how he wished to take a loan, to the end that the war between him and his said enemy could cease, considering the mortality of people which has occurred as a result of this cause, and also the great torments and miseries which he and his people have endured since the beginning of the same war, and desiring to spend part of his time in another's war to the greater pleasure and honour of God; that is to say, that if his enemy should wish to restore the duchy of Aquitaine to him as entirely as any of his ancestors had it, the duchy of Normandy, the county of Ponthieu and also the lands which he has conquered on his said enemy in France, Brittany and elsewhere, and also the obedience of Flanders, of which he is seised, to hold freely without homage or other service, he would truly assent, for the cessation of the war, to resign the said crown; and yet, as regards Normandy, he would not permit his said enemy to have it if it were shown that he himself had a clear right to it; and that our said holy father in this matter explored the will of his said enemy in a private manner, and that our said lord the king would not assent to another treaty of peace in other manner, always protesting that, in the event that his enemy would not accept it, his rights in all things shall be saved to him as completely as they previously belonged to him. And from then on our said holy father has certified to our lord the king how our same lord afterwards sent his clerk Master William Whittlesey, archdeacon of Huntingdon, on his behalf to learn from him any result of the business and to report to him, which archdeacon in fact has nothing to report. By which it seemed to our lord the king and the great men and others of his council that it was necessary for our lord to ready himself for war against his said enemy, for the defence of his realm of England as well as to recover his said rights, as a result of which preparation it was necessary for him to have a great sum of money. And the said chamberlain further declared how the payment of the subsidy of wool, leather and woolfells ceased at Michaelmas last past; which subsidy, if he had it henceforth, would enrich him with a great profit, in aid of the maintenance of his said war; and how also it was not the king's intention to take a collection or tax from his people, nor to put other burdens upon his people. But he prayed that the prelates, great men and his commons would wish to grant him the said subsidy of wool, leather and woolfells for a time.
Concessio subsidii triennalis.	Grant of triennial subsidies.[COMMON PETITIONS.]
Sur queu priere eue deliberacion entre les ditz prelatz, grauntz et communes s'assenteront unement et granterent au roi le subside des leines, quirs et peaux lanuz a receivre en manere come fust pris devant ces heures, par troiz aunz, c'estassavoir, de la feste de Seint Michel darrein passe tantqe a la feste de Seint Michel preschein avenir, simplement et sanz condicion ou recompensacion du parte q'il avoit, ou pur desport du dit subside come devant est dit. Et en cas qe lui covient guerroier, adonqes q'il eit le dit subside par deux aunz prescheins suantz la dit feste de Seint Michel preschein avenir, et nemye en autre manere; et qe les deniers sourdantz de meisme le subside soient sauvement gardez pur la dite guerre, sanz ceo q'ils soient mys en autre oeps. De queu grante nostre seignur le roi enmercia les seignurs et communes. Et adonques les dites communes prieront au roi qe lour peticions quelles ils avoient faites touchantes ascunes grevances et aussint profitz de ses communes feussent respondues; queles peticions nostre seignur le roi fist lire et respondre par les prelatz, grantz et autres de son conseil illoeqes assemblez, en la manere q'ensuit: [col. b] 33. Primerment, les dites communes prient a nostre seignur le roi qe remedie soit ordeine vers ceux de sa ligeance qi pursuont ses clers et ses avaunces en autri courte qe le soen, contre les juggementz renduz en sa dite courte, et encontre les prerogatives qe partenont a sa corone; et aussint contre ceux qi moevent plee en autri courte hors de cest roialme de rien qe soit temporel; puis qe la courte nostre seignur le roi et ses leies sont overtes a chescun pur faire droit. Et aussint contre ceux qi par nul especial privelege occupient ou font debate en ascunes dignites, priories ou possessions, as queux attient franche eleccion, ou pertient le presentement au roi, ou a nul de sa ligeance, solonc l'article ent purveu en la grande chartre, (fn. ii-246-68-1) come ad este de tut temps use en roialme d'Engleterre. Et s'il plest a nostre seignur le roi qe touz ceux soient appellez en sa court contre tiel jour qe plerra a lui et a son bon conseil, a respondre au roi, et vers ceux qi se vorroient pleindre; et qe ceux qi ne obeient de venir al dit journee, soient mys hors de la proteccion le roi, lour biens et lour chateux forfaitz et autres possessions temporeles s'ils les eient. Et apres lour desobeisance sue encourgent lour attornes, procurers et meintenours la peine susdite s'ils de lour bosoignes plus se entremettont; et soient tieux attornes ou procurers par la lei vers lour ditz mestres excusez.	Deliberation was had on the subject of this request among the prelates, great men and commons, and they agreed unanimously and granted to the king the subsidy of wool, leather and woolfells, to be received in the manner it was taken before this time, for three years, that is to say, from the feast of Michaelmas last past until the feast of Michaelmas next coming, plainly and without condition or compensation for the part which he had, or for setting aside of the said subsidy as is aforesaid. And in the event that it shall be necessary for him to make war, then he shall have the said subsidy for two years immediately following the said feast of Michaelmas next following, and not in any other manner; and that the money arising from the same subsidy shall be safely kept for the said war, without being put to other uses. For which grant our lord the king thanked the lords and commons. And then the said commons prayed the king that their petitions which they have made concerning any grievances and also the profits of his commonalty would be answered; which petitions our lord the king caused to be read and answered by the prelates, great men and others of his council assembled there, in the manner that follows: [col. b][COMMON PETITIONS.][Remedy against those who appeal to courts outside the realm.] 33. First, the said commons pray to our lord the king: that remedy shall be ordained against those of his allegiance who sue his clerks and those having his preferment in a court other than his, contrary to the judgments returned in his said court, and contrary to the prerogatives that belong to his crown, and also against those who move a plea in another's court outside this realm on any matter within the temporal jurisdiction; since our lord the king's court and his laws are open to each person for doing justice. And also against those who by no special privilege occupy or make disputes concerning any dignities, priories or possessions which enjoy free election or pertain to the presentment of the king or of anyone of his allegiance, according to the article provided thereon in the Great Charter, (fn. ii-246-68-1) as has always been the custom in the realm of England. And that it may please our lord the king that all these shall be summoned to his court on such day as will please him and his good council, to answer to the king and to those who wish to complain; and that those who do not obey and do not come on the said day shall be put outside the king's protection, and their goods and chattels and any other temporal possessions which they have shall be forfeited. And after their disobedience has been sued, their attorneys, procurers and maintainers shall incur the aforesaid penalty if they assume responsibility for their business; and such attorneys or procurers shall be excused by the law towards their said masters.
[editorial note: Responsio. ]	[editorial note: Answer. ]
Acorde est qe totes gentz de la ligeance le roi, de quele condicion q'ils soient, qi tretent nulli hors du roialme en plee dont la conisance appertient au roi, ou suent en autri court a defaire ou empescher les juggementz renduz en la court le roi, soient ils, lour attornes, meintenours et notairs hors de la proteccion le roi, et lour terres, biens et chateux forfaitz au roi; et soient pris ou q'ils soient trovez et emprisonez et reintz a la volente le roi; et en cas q'ils ne puissent estre trovez, adonqes soient mys en exigend et utlagez par due proces. (fn. ii-246-71-1)	It is agreed that all people of the king's allegiance, of whatever condition they may be, who deal with anything outside the realm in a plea of which the cognisance belongs to the king, or sues in another's court to undo or impeach the judgments returned in the king's court, they, their attorneys, maintainers and notaries shall be outside the king's protection, and their lands, goods and chattels shall be forfeited to the king; and they shall be taken where they are found and imprisoned and ransomed at the king's will; and in the event that they may not be found, then they shall be put in exigent and outlawed by due process. (fn. ii-246-71-1)
34. Item, ils prient a nostre seignur le roi: qe de sa bone grace lui plese ostier l'office d'aunage q'est en damage de lui et de tout son roialme; et en lieu de ceo ordeiner un autre profit plus en avauntage de lui, et en eese de son poeple, et pur sa realte sauver; c'estassaver, de chescun drape entier quatre deniers aprendre del vendour.	[Abolition of the alnage.] 34. Also, they pray to our lord the king: that it may please him of his good grace to terminate the office of alnage which is to the detriment of him and all his realm; and in place of this, to ordain another profit more to his advantage and to the ease of his people and to save his royalty; that is to say, to take 4d from the seller for each whole cloth.
[editorial note: Responsio. ]	[editorial note: Answer. ]
Quant al second article, viegnent les comunes devant les chaunceller et tresorer et tretont de cest point, au fin qe bone et due recompensacion se face au roi pur l'ostier du dit office. (fn. ii-246-77-1)	As regards the second article, the commons shall come before the chancellor and treasurer and discuss this point, to the end that good and due compensation shall be made to the king for terminating the said office. (fn. ii-246-77-1)
35. Item, ils prient: qe s'il plest a nostre seignur le roi qe les subsides a ore grantez, ensemblement ove les quinzismes et dismes qe sont a lever, soient sauvement gardez sanz estre despendues ou mys en autre oeps nul forsqe tantsoulement en la maintenance de ses guerres, solonc sa bone disposicion.	[Reservation of subsidies for the war.] 35. Also, they pray: that it may please our lord the king that the subsidies now granted, together with the fifteenth and tenths which are to be levied, shall be safely kept without being spent or put to any other use than solely for the maintenance of his wars, according to his good disposition.
[editorial note: Responsio. ]	[editorial note: Answer. ]
Quant au tierc article, il plest au roi qe ensi soit.	As regards the third article, it pleases the king that it shall be so.
36. Item, ils prient: qe les justicers des laborers et gardeyns de la pees soient establiz des plus suffisantz demorantz deinz les countees, pur l'eese du poeple, solonc la disposicion nostre seignur le roi et son bon conseil; issint qe tieux justices soient artez par nostre dit seignur le roi a pursuyr les articles de lour commission. Et qe meismes les justices eient poair a punir les hostillers pur lour outrageouses chertees et les regraters des vitailles. Et q'ils surveent en chescun countee les mesures, aunes et pois, issint q'ils soient tenuz en touz pointz solonc les ordianances en ceo conseil acordez; purveu totes foitz < qe tieux commissions ne soient > en prejudice des ministres l'ostiel le roi, ne de nulle autre franchise. Et soient en ce cas les seignurs des franchises, meirs et baillifs des citees, burghs et villes chargez les susdites ordinances garder et tenir; purveu totes foitz qe nul tiel commissioner face depute, ne qe les susditz commissioners n'aillent [p. ii-253][col. a] a la deliverance de nulli en cas de corone, sanz les justices as gaoles deliverer assignez.	[Appointment and powers of justices of the peace and of labourers.] 36. Also, they pray: that the justices of labourers and keepers of the peace shall be appointed from the most worthy men dwelling in the counties, for the ease of the people, according to the disposition of our lord the king and his good council; so that such justices shall be required by our said lord the king to pursue the articles of their commission. And that the same justices shall have power to punish innkeepers for their outrageous prices, and the regraters of victuals. And that they shall inspect the measures, ells and weights in each county, so that they shall be held in all points according to the ordinances agreed in this council; provided always that such commissions shall not be in prejudice of the officials of the king's household or of any other franchise. And in this case the lords of franchises, mayor and bailiffs of cities, boroughs and vills shall be charged to observe and uphold the aforesaid ordinances; provided always that no such commissioner shall appoint a deputy, and that the aforesaid commissioners shall not go to delivery in [p. ii-253][col. a] any crown cases without the justices assigned to deliver to gaols.
[editorial note: Responsio. ]	[editorial note: Answer. ]
Quant au quart article, il plest au roi qe justices bons et covenables soient esluz de faire droit au roi et a son people des totes choses contenues en cest article; sauvant totes foitz a chescun seignur et autre ses franchises en touz pointz. (fn. ii-246-87-1)	As regards the fourth article, it pleases the king that good and suitable justices shall be elected to do justice to the king and his people concerning all things contained in this article; always saving to each lord and other man his franchises in all points. (fn. ii-246-87-1)
37. Item, ils prient a nostre seignur le roi: qe lui plese, a plus tost q'il purra, remettre l'esterling a la value q'il soleit estre auncienment; quele chose serra pur son profit sovereinement, com homme lui poet par pluseures voies monstrer, et ordeiner qe la monoie qe ore court ne soit enpaire tant qe al temps qe lui plerra mettre amendement.	[Currency.] 37. Also, they pray to our lord the king: that it may please him, as soon as he can, to restore the sterling to the value that it formerly had; which thing will be for his profit above all else, as can be demonstrated in many ways, and to ordain that the money now current shall not be debased until the time it will please him to make amendment.
[editorial note: Responsio. ]	[editorial note: Answer. ]
Quant au quint article, meisme l'article feust respondu en le darrein parlement. (fn. ii-246-92-1)	As regards the fifth article, the same article was answered in the last parliament. (fn. ii-246-92-1)
38. Item, ils prient: qe s'il plest a nostre seignur le roi pur le tresgrant eese et relevement de sa commune, qe plus des estaples soient faites qe ne sont ordeinez, c'estassaver, Wircestre, Notingham, Hull, Seint Botolf, Staunford, Lenne, Gippewicz et Canterbirs.	[Establishment of additional staples.] 38. Also, they pray: that if it pleases our lord the king, for the very great ease and relief of his commonalty, more staples shall be made than are ordained, that is to say, Worcester, Nottingham, Hull, Boston, Stanford, Lynn, Ipswich and Canterbury.
[editorial note: Responsio. ]	[editorial note: Answer. ]
Quant al sisme article, il plest au roi qe une estaple soit a Canterbirs, en l'onur de Seint Thomas; (fn. ii-246-97-1) et qe les autres estaples autre foitz ordeines se tiegnent.	As regards the sixth article, it pleases the king that there shall be a staple at Canterbury in honour of Saint Thomas; (fn. ii-246-97-1) and that the other staples previously ordained shall be held.
39. Item, s'il plest a nostre seignur le roi, il semble a sa commune qe entre cy et la Pasqe preschein, par bone deliberacion et par l'acort des grantz et communes, soit assys sorte des leines, a comencer a la Pasqe susdite.	[Measure of wool.] 39. Item, if it pleases our lord the king, it seems to his commons that between now and next Easter, by good deliberation and by the agreement of the great men and commons, a measure of wool shall be appointed, to begin at the aforesaid Easter.
[editorial note: Responsio. ]	[editorial note: Answer. ]
Quant al septisme article, le roi se avisera od son bon conseil sur cest point entre cy et la Pask, s'il soit affaire ou nemie.	As regards the seventh article, between now and Easter the king and his council will consider this point further as to whether or not it should be done.
40. Item, pur ceo qe par pluseures peticions monstrez par la commune des grevances as diverses gentz faites, par trope grevous fyns et amerciementz de eux priz sibien par Monsir Johan de Molyns come par autres, par especiales commissions usees en autre manere qe la lei commune ne demande; plese a nostre seignur le roi en sa bone disposicion sur tieles grevances a ceux qi pleindre se vodront ordeiner remedie; purveu totefoitz qe la grande chartre et la chartre de la foreste soient en touz pointz tenues.	[Remedy against heavy judicial penalties.] 40. Also, because it has been shown by the commons in many petitions that grievances have been done to various people, as a result of the extremely heavy fines and amercements taken from them by Sir John Molyns as well as others, by special commissions used in a manner other than as the common law requires; may it please our lord the king in his good disposition to ordain remedy concerning such grievances to those who shall complain; provided always that the Great Charter and the Charter of the Forest shall be upheld in all points.
[col. b]
[editorial note: Responsio. ]	[editorial note: Answer. ]
Quant a l'oetisme article, il plest au roi qe celui qi se vodra pleindre de Monsir Johan de Molyns ou de nul autre assigne en tiele commission, q'il soit oi, et s'il soit trove qe le dit Monsir Johan ou autre, eit mespris, soit redresse en due manere.	As regards the eighth article, it pleases the king that he who wishes to complain about Sir John Molyns or any other assigned in such commission shall be heard, and if it shall be found that the said Sir John or any other has erred, he shall be redressed in due manner.
41. Item, pur ceo qe nostre seignur le roi par suggescions meyns veritables ad plusours foitz grante sa chartre de pardon as larons notairs et as communes murdrers, fesantz a lui entendre q'ils sont demorantz en ses guerres de outre meer, la ou ils sont sodeinement retournez en lour pays a perseverer en lour mesfaitz, en deceite du roi et en affraie des communes de lour pays; plese a nostre dit seignur, solonc sa bone disposicion, tieles deceites redresser, et en tieu cas en temps avenir estre meultz avise. Priantz touz jours a sa bone seigneurie qe sa grace soit tutdys overte, come avant ad este a ceux qi la purront deservir.	[Pardons.] 41. Also, because our lord the king, by false representation, has often granted his charter of pardon to well-known thieves and common murderers, who led him to believe that they are remaining overseas in his wars, when they have quickly returned to their country to continue their crimes, in deceit of the king and in disturbance of the commonalty of their regions; may it please our said lord, according to his good disposition, to redress such deceits, and to be better advised in such cases in times to come. Praying always to his good lordship that his grace shall always be open, as it has been previously to those who deserve it.
[editorial note: Responsio. ]	[editorial note: Answer. ]
Quant al noefisme article, acorde est par nostre seignur le roi et les grantz qe en chescune chartre de pardon de felonie soit la suggescion comprise en la dite chartre, et le noun de lui qi fist la suggescion au roi. Et si apres soit trove la suggescion nient veritable, adonqes soit la chartre tenue pur nulle; et eient les justices, devant queux les dites chartres serront alowez, poair d'enquere sur tiele suggescion; et s'ils la troissent nient verroie, adonqes desalouent meisme la chartre, et facent la lei.	As regards the ninth article, it is agreed by our lord the king and the great men that in each charter of pardon concerning a felony, the representation shall be contained within the said charter, and the name of him who made the representation to the king. And if the representations shall afterwards be found to be untrue, then the charter shall be treated as null; and the justices before whom the said charters shall be admitted shall have power to inquire into such representation; and if they shall find it to be untrue, then they shall disallow the same charter and act according to the law.
42. Item, pur ceo qe plusours articles tochantz l'estat le roi et commune profit de son roialme sont acordez et assentuz par lui, les prelatz, grantz et communes de sa terre a ce conseil ore tenu; prie la dite commune: qe les articles susditz soient a preschein parlement recitez, et entrez en roule de mesme ce parlement, a tiel entent qe les ordinances et acortes faites en conseils ne soient de recorde, come s'ils fuissent faitz par commune parlement.	[Confirmation of the ordinances of this assembly in parliament.] 42. Also, because many articles touching the king's estate and the common profit of his realm are accorded and agreed by him, the prelates, great men and commons of his lands at this council now held; the said commons pray: that the aforesaid articles shall be repeated at the next parliament and entered in the roll of the same parliament, for the reason that the ordinances and agreements made in councils are not matters of record as they would be if they were made by common parliament.
[editorial note: Responsio. ]	[editorial note: Answer. ]
Quant al disme article, il plest au roi qe totes les ordinances faites de l'estaple soient publiez et criez en chescun countee d'Engleterre et en chescun lieu ou les estaples sont, au fyn q'ils soient fermement tenues; (fn. ii-246-117-1) et a preschein parlement, pur greindre fermete, eles serront rehercez et mys en roule du parlement. (fn. ii-246-117-2)	As regards the tenth article, it pleases the king that all the ordinances made concerning the staple shall be published and announced in every county of England, and in every place where the staples are, to the end that they shall be firmly upheld; (fn. ii-246-117-1) and at the next parliament, for greater firmness, they shall be repeated and put in the roll of the parliament. (fn. ii-246-117-2)

Appendix 1353

Ordinance of the Staple (27 Edw III st. 2: SR , I.332-43): the ordinance is transcribed in full on the staple roll, the new chancery enrolment begun in 1353 specifically to record great seal instruments issued in connection with the staple. Its position on that roll, following items dated early in 1354, suggests that it was not written up here until some time after the great council of 1353 and the enrolment of the ordinance on the roll of its proceedings; this is reinforced by the memorandum written on the dorse of m. 22 of the staple roll (see below, no. 5), and by the declarations of the decision to establish a staple at Hull and articles relating to the staple made in the parliament of 1354, which follow immediately after the text of the ordinance on the face of the roll (see below, no. 6). The ordinance is given on the staple roll, as on the parliament roll, in the form of letters patent formally dated at Westminster on 23 September 1353, that is, the day of assembly of the great council which confirmed the legislation.

Source : C 67/22, mm. 22-21.

Ordinance of the Staple (27 Edw III st. 2: SR , I.332-43): the copy of the ordinance sent by the chancery to the exchequer survives, following exactly the text as set out on the statute roll. It contains marginal annotations denoting the 28 articles of the ordinance, which equate with the 28 clauses marked up in the modern edition of the statute roll. See also below, no. 3.

Source : E 175/2/25.

Ordinance of the Staple (27 Edw III st. 2: SR , I.332-43): complete transcriptions of no. 2 above were made on both the treasurer's remembrancer's and the king's remembrancer's memoranda rolls in the exchequer. The latter also includes a transcription of the covering writ issued by the chancery, dated 20 November 1353.

Sources : E 159/130, Brevia directa baronibus , Michaelmas; E 368/126, Recorda , Michaelmas.

Writs for proclamation of the Ordinance of the Staple (27 Edw III st. 2: SR , I.332-43): five of the chancery writs, dated 8 November, addressed to sheriffs and staple officials ordering proclamation of the ordinance of the staple survive in the form in which they were returned to chancery, with endorsements recording the action taken in the relevant localities.

Sources : C 255/3/3/62-66.

Memorandum that although it was decided in the great council of 23 September last by the great men and others that wool and lead should be weighed and the customs on wool, lead, woolfells and leather paid at the staples, and that wool and lead should not be weighed again at the ports, nevertheless afterwards it was ordained by the council that all wool weighed in the staples of York, Lincoln, Norwich, Westminster, Canterbury and Worcester which were then taken to ports for export should be weighed again there for the purpose of assessing the customs, but that in the other four staples, which are at sea ports, namely Newcastle, Chichester, Exeter and Bristol, wool should be weighed once only, but in the presence of the king's customs officials. No date.

Source : C 67/22, m. 22d.

Memorandum that it was decided by the king and others of the council after the making of the Ordinance of the Staple to establish a further staple at Hull, which, along with the other articles of the Ordinance of the Staple, was confirmed by the king, prelates, prince of Wales, duke of Lancaster and others at the parliament of 1354. No date.

Source : C 67/22, m. 20.

Writ for proclamation of an ordinance made in great council: one writ, addressed to the sheriff of Kent and dated 25 November 1353, ordering proclamation of an ordinance made in great council, survives as returned into chancery.

Source : C 255/3/3/67.

Writs for proclamation of ordinances made in great council: five writs, addressed to various sheriffs and dated 1 December 1353, ordering proclamation of ordinances made in great council, survive as returned into chancery.

Sources : C 255/3/3/68-72