1377-07-26, Westminster

John Foxcote of Duntesburne to Hugh Sprot citizen of London. Recognisance for 811. 7s. 4d.; to be levied etc. in Gloucestershire. The king to Thomas Burdet. Lease for three years from 22 June last, by mainprise of John Squyer, Simon Hostiler, Henry Cokkes and Henry Boseleye of London and John Fillyngleye and Henry Caldaye of Warwickshire, of the subsidy in Warwickshire, Leycestershire, Salop and Staffordshire upon cloths for sale granted to the late king by the lords and commons to have release of the forfeiture of alnage thereupon laid of old time, to wit 4d. for the cloth of assize without grain, 6d. the cloth of assize of scarlet, and 5d. the cloth of assize of half grain, the moiety thereof for every half cloth, and for every cloth exceeding the half by 3 ells or more which is not a whole cloth, and for every cloth exceeding the whole cloth of assize by 3 ells or more in proportion, rendering 68 marks a year ; covenants for discharge of the said farm in case the subsidy or parcel thereof shall cease; that the lessee shall be quit of impeachment touching the collection thereof, saving his action to any who will complain of extortion or excess ; that the lessee shall not render account, but only answer for his farm; that he shall have licence to lease the subsidy in gross or in parcel without impeachment ; that he shall have a third of the forfeitures of cloth exposed for sale without being sealed with the seal appointed for the purpose according to the statute ; that if he shall have occasion to sue any man in a matter concerning his farm, the king will be a party in aid thereof ; that commissions shall be issued to men nominated by the lessee to make inquisition in those counties in what towns and places cloths are made, and every maker shall be forbidden under pain of forfeiture to suffer any cloth to pass out of his keeping until sealed as aforesaid ; that from Michaelmas the seals shall be new made, and the other seals shall be given up and put in the treasury, to avoid damage to the lessee ; and that if the subsidy be further leased, the said Thomas shall have the preference ; saving wholly ' to the king the residue of the said forfeitures, and forfeitures under the statute of Westminster made on the morrow of St. Edmund the Martyr 47 Edward III of cloths not of the length and breadth therein comprised, for all which forfeitures the lessee shall answer at the exchequer. Dated Westminster, 8 July. French. By bill of the treasurer. The following have like leases : Surrey and Sussex. John Legge serjeant at arms for five years from 22 June last, rendering 9/. 6s. 8d. a year. Mainpernors, William Brantyngham and William Weston of Surrey. Dated 10 August. French. Norffolk and Suffolk. William Gerard of Norwich for four years from Michaelmas last, rendering 55 marks a year, and taking a moiety of the forfeitures. Dated 24 October. French. The counties of Bristol, Gloucester, Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. Thomas Beaupyne for two years from Michaelmas last, rendering 160/, a year and taking a third . 8] of the forfeitures. Mainpernors, Walter Derby and John Woderoue of the county of Bristol. Dated 30 October. French. By bill of the treasurer. Yorkshire, Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland. John de Pathorne of York for five years from 21 June last, rendering 55 marks a year and taking all forfeitures. Mainpernors, Guy de Rouclif clerk, John Rouclif and Simon de Elvyngton of Yorkshire. Dated 30 October. French. By bill of the treasurer. Wiltesir. William Wyther of Dorcestre for three years from 21 June last, rendering 100 marks a year and taking a moiety of the forfeitures. Mainpernors, John Kentecombe and John Gillyngham of Dorset. Dated 10 November. French. _ By bill of the treasurer. Kent. John atte Frithe for three years from Michaelmas last, rendering 10/. a year. Mainpernors, William Medmenham and Thomas Sandre of Kenynton of Kent. Dated 20 November. French. By bill of the treasurer. Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Edmund Giffard for five years from 21 June last, rendering 10/. a year and taking a third of the forfeitures. Mainpernors, Richard Milton and John Woderoue of Oxfordshire. Dated 22 December. French. By bill of the treasurer. Herefordshire. Nicholas Prille for ten years from Easter last, rendering 4/. a year and saving to the king the forfeitures. Mainpernors, William Jouet and Thomas Eyton of Herefordshire. Dated 18 May. French. By bill of the treasurer. Norhamptonshire. John Colyngtrough for ten years from Easter last, rendering 40s. a year and saving to the king the forfeitures. Mainpernors, John Parker of Olney of Bukinghamshire and Henry Puys of Staffordshire. Same date. French. By bill of the treasurer. Wiltesir. Thomas de Bureford citizen of New Salesburs from 1 June last to Michaelmas and thenceforward for five years, rendering 100 marks a year and taking a moiety of the forfeitures. Mainpernors, John Shoune, John Biterlegh, Nicholas Baker, John Justice, Richard Stille and Edmund Cosford of New Salesburs, the mainprise being taken at the king's command by Piers de Cusance sheriff of Wiltesir, who shall answer for the same if the mainpernors be not sufficient. Dated 20 June. French. By bill of the treasurer.