1328-09-19, Walsingham

To the sheriff of Southampton. Whereas, at the complaint of Roger de Ja Hurne and Richard de Cockle of Southampton, and other merchants of that town and of the town of Great Yarmouth and elsewhere that certain malefactors of France, Normandy, and Poitcu had attacked them in warlike manner when they had gone to the ports of Bune in Poitou and Leyre in Normandy, and had slain them (sic), burnt their ships, and taken and carried away their goods and chattels in the ships, the king ordered the sheriff to cause all goods and chattels and debts of the men and merchants . 321 said lands to be arrested, and to be kept safely until the said of this realm should be satisfied for their damages, and it is proof made at the suit of the said Roger and Richard by the oath plying the sea (mare exercencium) and of other men of the bailiwick before John Randolf and John de Ticheburn that the aforesaid took and had their will of the ships and other goods of Roger and Richard to a great value; as the said matter be discussed and determined before the coming parliament by reason doubts that have arisen in respect thereto, the king orders the to cause the goods and wares of the said merchants of France, and Poitou arrested by him by pretext of the order aforesaid to safely without loss, and to cause all their goods and chattels and found hereafter to be arrested by the view and testimony of two or other men of the places wherein they shall be arrested, and to to be kept safely in like manner until the said merchants of this he satisfied for their goods, chattels and debts, or until otherwise certifying the king of his proceedings. By C. like to the sheriffs of Gloucester, Wilts, Somerset, and Dorset.