1303-11-07, Burstwick

To the bailiffs at Lenne of the bishop of Norwich, of Robert de Monte and of William de Carleton. Whereas the king lately, at the of Ralph Gedge and John de Pycheford, burgesses and of Scardeburgh suggesting that two of their ships with their and chattels in them were driven by contrary winds to the port of within the land and power of the king of Norway, and were arrested by Erlingr (Heleny ) Hildeson, the said king's bailiff at and were detained from them requested the said king by his to cause the ships, goods and chattels to be restored to the and to cause justice to be done to them, and afterwards because said king had done nothing in this matter, but had wholly failed showing justice to the said merchants, as the king learned from complaint and from the letters patent of the men of Scardeburgh their common seal testifying this, the king ordered the bailiffs Boston to arrest goods and wares of the men and merchants of the land or power of the king of Norway found within the town of Boston to the value of 100/.,and ordered the said bailiffs of Lenne to cause goods to the like value to be arrested within their town, and to cause them to be kept safely until otherwise ordered, and to certify the king of their proceedings, of whose goods they should have arrested, and ot their value: the king, although the bailiffs of Lenne have signified to him that they have in their custody goods and wares of the men and merchants of the land and power of the king of Norway to the value of 100/., to wit boards (bord ), fish and sparres in divers ships, has stayed further execution for the said merchants because it was suggested to him by certain merchants of Norway that his said merchants had not lost their goods or wares to the value aforesaid, nor half thereof, and that the king of Norway had not failed them in any justice sought from him as they alleged; and the king, at the request of his said merchants, who asserted that certain men and merchants of the towns of Newcastle-on-Tyne and Hertepole know what goods and wares they lost in form aforesaid, and whether or not the king of Norway has failed to show them justice, has caused the men and merchants of Newcastle and Hertepole to be examined as to this; and he learns by their examination returned to him that goods and wares of his said merchants were arrested and detained to the value of 200/., and that the king of Norway had failed to do them justice, as is aforesaid: the king therefore orders the bailiffs to cause the goods and wares in their custody to be appraised in the presence of the said merchants of Norway, if they wish to be present, and to cause them to be delivered to the king's said merchants to the value of 100/., in part satisfaction of the said 200/., certifying the king of their proceedings herein without