1355-05-04, William Westminster

To the sheriff of Lincoln. Because the king is informed that certain merchants and others, who desire their own gain at the expense of the public weal, are publishing that the king and council ordain that no alien shall make woollen cloth for sale in England, and if any one does so he shall pay 4s. the cloth to the king in name of custom, and because it is commonly said that alien merchants have taken wool and woolfells of merchants of England to parts beyond under their own names, contrary to the ordinance of the staple, and have done other things to impair that ordinance, the king will indict them thereupon, for fear of which alien merchants are hastening to depart from the realm: the king wishing it to be publicly known that the premises have not been put about by the will of himself and his council, but that they rather wish woollen cloth to be made by all, both natives and aliens in England, and that alien merchants may come securely to the realm, abide and traffic, depart at will, and not wishing that any of them be troubled for exporting wool, woolfells, hides or lead of English merchants under their names, provided they henceforth observe the ordinance, orders the sheriff to cause proclamation to be made that no one shall publish such falsehoods in future to the detriment of the king and his council, and to take all found doing so after the proclamation and keep them safely in prison, so that they be not released without the king's special order. [J 'adera.] 9. John de Boudon, knight, acknowledges that he owes to William de Haldene 20 marks; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in Sussex. 9. Laurence Hauberk and Roger de Gaddesby acknowledge that they owe to John de Bisshopeston, clerk, 24/.; to be levied etc. in the county of Leicester.