1317-01-29, Wallingford

To the sheriff of Lincoln. At the complaint of Walter de Rudestan, John le Colier of Notingham, John de Tumby, Hugh de Claxeby of Boston, Peter Cullul of Holand, Heury de Donyngton, Wlpinus Lumbard, Walter Bayhus of Lincoln, Nicholas de Thymelby and Nicholas de Walsokne, merchants, that whereas they freighted a ship of Baldwin Skyne at Boston, and loaded her with wool and other goods and wares to be taken thence to parts beyond sea to make their profit thereof, certain malefactors of Sluys (de Eaxclusis) in Flanders attacked the ship on her voyage by the coast between Dunwich and Orford, within the king's power, and carried away the wool and goods to the value of 1,100/. sterling, and took the same into the power of the count of Flanders, the king wrote to the count requesting him to hear the complaint of the aforesaid merchants or their attorney, and to cause justice to be done to them ; the count, however, put them off with divers and frivolous excuses, and failed to do them justice, as the mayor and community of the merchants of the king's realm at Andewerp have signified to the king by their letters; wherefore the king orders the sheriff to arrest goods of the men of Sluys, and from elsewhere within the count's power, excepting corn, meat, wines, spicery and such like victuals, and to cause them to be guarded safely until further orders, certifying the king of his proceedings.