1321-12-21, Cricklade

To the bailiffs of Henle. Whereas the king lately ordered them to deliver to Robert son of Ralph de Burtonstather the three sarplers of wool-fells of John Birek and Arnald Birek, merchants of Poperyng , of the power of the count of Flanders, arrested at Robert's suit, and to deliver to William de Luyton and other merchants of London the other four sarplers of the said Flemish merchants arrested at their suit, which wool was arrested by the sheriff of Southampton by the king's order and was afterwards arrested by the aforesaid bailiffs for certain reasons within their bailiwick ; and the king afterwards ordered them to keep the wool in their hands until further orders, because Laurence de Gloucestre asserted that the above seven sarplers belonged to him at the time of the arrest, and alleged error in the process made by the aforesaid sheriff, and the king ordered the bailiffs to summon the aforesaid Robert, William, and the other merchants to appear before the king in chancery on Tuesday after St. Andrew last, the day given to Laurence; at which day the parties appeared before the king, and agreed that an inquisition should be taken . 411 and it is found by the inquisition taken by Ralph de Bereford and de Biflete at Southampton, in the presence of the parties, that the three sarplers belonged to Laurence on the day of arrest, to wit after St. Giles last, and for a month and two days previously, and Laurence bought them from divers men in the country with his own and that the four sarplers also belonged to Laurence on the day of the and fora month and two days previously, and that he bought them divers merchants before that time: the king therefore orders them to the said seven sarplers to Laurence without delay.