1346-03-14, Richard Westminster

Order to be at London on the octaves of St. Gregory next with all the money of those customs received by them from Midsummer last, to be paid there to John de Wesenham, Simon his brother and Richard de Salteby, the king's merchants, and to render account to them of the issues of the customs and subsidies, so that the payments which the merchants are bound to make to the king for the same may not be delayed through the default of those collectors, whereby the king would have cause to punish them, as for certain sums of money the 1 king has granted to those merchants all the customs and subsidies due in the ports of England, from the said feast for a certain time, contained in 4] the indenture made with them, and now those merchants have besought the king to compel all the collectors of customs and subsidies to render : account to them, as they cannot pay the king what they are bound to pay q him unless full answer is made to them for the issues of the customs and ; subsidies. By K. Enrolment of indenture made between the king and John de Wesenham, Simon his brother and Richard de Salteby, testifying that whereas the king j has granted to those merchants all the customs and subsidies of wool, hides and wool fells in England until Michaelmas next in accordance with an 4 indenture made with them, the merchants have agreed that on 20s. of the 4 subsidy on each sack of wool passing out of the realm between now and F the said Michaelmas, the king may grant the 20s. of the subsidy where he pleases in aid of his great needs, so that he do their will elsewhere, wherefore the king has assigned to them the 1,000 marks which they have undertaken to pay each month on the said customs and subsidies for the 7 expenses of the household, to be received entirely for their use from the beginning of May next, and also all the fees wherewith the customs are charged for the terms of Easter and Michaelmas next, except the fees of the two queens of the earl of Norhampton and of Sir John de Stryvelyn in part satisfaction of what shall be received between now and Michaelmas of the 20s. of the subsidy so granted ; and in part satisfaction of the same the king has granted to the merchants all the ferms or profits of the benefices of aliens, as well of cardinals as of others, which the king will cause to be taken into his hand in aid of his war and of the defence of the realm, to be received by the merchants from the gule of August last until Michaelmas next, and in case the sums. received by the merchants of the said 1,000 marks and for the fees and ferms before Michaelmas pass the sum which shall be found to have been received of the 20s. of the subsidy granted by them, then they-shall be bound to answer to the king for the remainder, but if they do not attain that sum the king shall assign what is lacking of the issues of the customs and subsidies after the feast or elsewhere - where they shall be quickly served, and in all other points the first agreements made between the king and the said merchants shall remain in force. Dated at Westminster on 15 February, 20 Edward III. French. By p.s. [17288.]