1380-02-06, Westminster

To the mayor and bailiffs of Suthampton. Order, upon petition of the master, merchants and seamen of a ship called le Jhesu Crist of the port of Portugal by the mayor and bailiffs arrested with the ship etc., to take of them an oath they shall not leave England without the king's licence, and to suffer them to go at large, delivering all their goods in the ship or elsewhere in whose hands soever found, the ship and gear to the custody of John Pulmoude and William Bacoun burgesses and merchants of Suthampton by way of deposit until upon better information the king shall deliberate thereupon with the council, and in presence of Thomas de Percy the king's admiral to the northward or of his attorney making with them indentures of the same ; as their petition shews that the said ship was laded with wax, corduane and other property of merchants of Portugal of the king's friendship to no small value, but on its voyage to Flanders off the coast of England, in confidence of peace between England and Portugal, was taken and brought to Suthampton by the said admiral and his men, averring that the Portuguese were the king's enemies, and shews that it was there unladed of great part of the said merchandise, which by sale and otherwise is now dispersed and eloigned, and that merchants and subjects of the king with ships and goods coming within the dominion of Portugal are there peaceably entreated ; and on behalf of the admiral it is witnessed that by default of the petitioners a violent assault was first made upon him, and that divers galleys of Portugal at the wages of the king of Portugal and of his subjects were lately retained at sea against the king and his subjects. The king has commanded the said John and William to receive the ship and goods aforesaid, of a part thereof to minister to the petitioners reasonable expenses for their meat, raiment and other things needful, to take information and certify in chancery concerning goods unladed and eloigned, their description, price or value, when, how and by whom they were eloigned or sold and to whom. By K. and C. in parl.