1343-01-10, Westminster

Memorandum that Richard came into chancery at the house of the Friars London, on 18 January, and acknowledged the preceding deed. Enrolment of indenture made between the king and his merchants de Melcheburn, Roger de Wollesthorp, Reginald du Conduyt, de Shilvyngton, Henry Goldbetere, Thomas de Yaford, William Thomas de Swanneslond, Hugh de Ulseby, Thomas Gouk, Henry de Robert Pynson, William de Lodelowe, Walter Prest, Thomas Drayton, John de Astwyk, Robert de Penereth, Robert Coksid, Gilbert Henry de Tiddeswell, Hugh Cokheved, Richard de Galeweye, John Roger Hardegray, Adam Lucas, Adam Tirtwhyt, Robert Stuffyn, de Roderham, attorney, William de Amyas, Robert de Dalderby, de Chiryton, Walter de Kelstern, Thomas de Berewyk and William Melcheburn, testifying that the king, by the advice of the archbishop of the earl of Northampton and others of the council, has granted the merchants all the customs and subsidies upon wool and other due to him, except the prise and custom of wine of 2s. the tun, except the passage of 400 sacks of wool which remain of the 30,000 granted to him to be received from Midsummer last to Michaelmas and from that feast to the end of three years following, paying to the so much of the sum as the said customs amount to, as shall be found good account of the customers in all the ports of England rendered at exchequer, and the merchants shall receive 4 mark a sack for the and 40s. in addition for the subsidy, of which sum they will be to pay to the treasurer of the wardrobe for the expenses of the house- 1,000 marks for every month of 28 days, by indenture made with to wit from Sunday the day of St. Margaret next, during the aforesaid and of the remainder payment shall be made to the king at the end each quarter, so that the merchants be not charged with any payment their will, except at the terms aforesaid, and during the term the shall choose customers and weighers in every port of England the coket is open, and that all the cokets open or closed shall remain them during the term, the closed cokets being under the seal of the or high treasurer, and of the open cokets, the customers shall one foil and the controllers the other under the seal of the customers, the accounts of the customers shall be rendered at Christmas next, so the merchants may know what they will pay yearly for the customs subsidies ; and if the king make arrest of ships whereby the passage of wool and merchants is restricted, or if the merchants are disturbed by or other sufficient cause, without their fault, then they shall have . Parr 2. 267 allowance in the payments, as they shall be found to have lost by such causes by the king's council, by writ to the merchants who have wool at Durdraght and to others, by the view and testimony of controllers appointed in each port; and if any merchants to whom the king is bound for wool taken from them at Durdraght cannot pass wool to haye allowance for their debt, they may grant the debt to the merchants, who shall have allowance for such sums in their passage of wool, as formerly granted; and none of the merchants shall be aggrieved before the justices by reason of these agreements, and the justices shall free them from assizes, juries and inquisitions during the said term when they can find sufficiency of other good people for the same, and the merchants will pay the king yearly beyond the sum aforesaid 10,000 marks, and if the merchants, their people or goods are arrested in parts beyond for the king's debts, the king will protect them from damage, and he will grant them the necessary writs and commissions quit of the fee for the seal, so that each person shall pay for his writs. Done with the assent of the archbishop of Canterbury, the prince, the earl of Northampton, Sir William de Cusance the treasurer, Sir Bartholomew de Burgherssh, Sir Ralph Stafford, the steward, Sir John Darcy, chamberlain, Master. John de Offord, keeper of the privy seal, Master John de Thoresby, and others of the council. Dated at Westminster, 8 July, 17 Edward III. French. Enrolment of indenture made between the king and the same merchants testifying that the king out of regard for their good service has of his special favour granted to them a moiety of the forfeitures which come to him of wool bought below the price fixed at the last parliament held at Westminster, for the same term, and that the justices to enquire concerning such forfeitures shall be appointed with the assent and advice of the merchants, at the common cost of the king and the merchants, and that all inquests and presentments taken during that time for forfeitures shall be kept private until towards the end of the three years, without any execution being made thereof. Dated as above. ['rench. MBRANE 5 MEMBRA 1d.