1365-05-28, Westminster

Memorandum that whereas the king lately appointed Ralph de Brantyngham one of the chamberlains of the exchequer pertaining to the earldom of Albemarle, now for particular causes in the king's hand, and Thomas earl of Warrewyk appointed Richard de Pyryton clerk to the office of the other chamberlain as to him pertained of old time, and the said Ralph and Richard were sworn before the council to behave well and faithfully in those offices, acting lawfully and exercising the same without favour or wrong to any man, and whereas they appointed under them the said Ralph one Ralph de bi Kesteven clerk and the said Richard one William Wenlok clerk to exercise the said offices as well in the absence as in the presence of the said chamberlains, and the said clerks made oath so to do, in the 38th year of the reign the said chamberlains and Ralph de Kesteven, in the absence of William Wenlok, gave information to the king suggesting that Richard de Chestrefeld clerk, deputy appointed by John bishop of Worcester the treasurer in the receipt of the exchequer, at divers times in divers years there made undue allowances, payments, expenses, receipts and liveries, rasing the rolls thereof and inserting other writing without the knowledge of. the said chamberlains and their clerks to whose office pertained the control thereof, without whose presence (as they alleged) such payments etc. might not nor of right ought to be made, and that the king is deceived concerning 1,000/. and more converted to the use of the said deputy and of others of his assent, offering to prove the same, promising the king that he shall have so much or more of the said deputy, and for the king's advantage, that such damage might no longer be done, craving that Richard de Chestrefeld should be examined, should content the king of moneys improperly paid and delivered, and should be punished for an example to others; and they delivered to the king a roll containing the premises article by article, affirming by their oath taken before the king that all in the roll was true, which roll the king delivered to William de Wykham clerk of the privy seal, John atte Lee steward of the king's household, Robert de Thorpe, ITI. 115 Knyvet justices, William de Askeby chancellor of the exchequer, de Plesleye baron of the exchequer, Guy Bryan, John de John de Thorpe warden of the king's money and Gautron Barde master of the money and to others of the council whom king by word of mouth appointed to examine with deliberation articles therein contained in presence of the said chamberlains and and of Richard de Chestrefeld, to hear, set down in writing determine their statements and declarations touching the on the king's behalf and the answers and justifications of said Richard, and to certify the king thereof. Before whom as well the said chamberlains and Ralph de Kesteven as said Richard de Chestrefeld, and the cause was heard against namely : (1) That whereas 100,000 marks of the ransom of the king of France was received in money, and the receipt of the exchequer is therewith charged, 917 marks 10s. was by the said Richard received over and above that sum, for which no answer is yet made to the king, nor has the king information thereof, concealing the same from him and appropriating it to the said Richard. To this Richard says that an agreement was made between the king and them of France that the king should take 100,000 marks of gold in French money worth that sum in English gold, as is contained in an indenture produced and in the treaty of peace, adding the condition that they of France should pay 20d. sterling for mintage of every pound by weight and be discharged of the seignorage thereof namely 40d. for every pound, that the 100,000 marks were received according to the covenant in divers moneys of the gold of France which were not so much worth in English money but greatly deficient, that when the seignorage was deducted, the mintage received and paid to divers moneyers to whom it pertained, the said 917 marks 10s. was received as parcel thereof to make up the said sum according to English money for the deficiency and mintage aforesaid, and is included therein, and that over and above that sum answer is made to the king by divers payments made in French money after receipt thereof for a price and value of 1000 marks and more greater than was received ; all which was debated before those appointed as aforesaid, and proved. (2) That the said Richard ought to have received of the king's moneys in the treasury at divers times the following sums, namely 3 March in the 37th year 40 marks, 27 July in the 36th year 100s., 12 May in the 35th year, of the collectors in Essex of a moiety of the tenth and fifteenth granted to the king in the 34th year in aid of the war for expenses of men at arms, 27]. 6s. lld., for which he took double allowance by one tally levied and rased in the rolls of the receipt, so that it appears that the king lost the clear sum last mentioned, and no answer is made for the two others from another source. William de Wenlok is vouched to approve this article, not meddling in all the others. To this Richard answers that a sum of 59/. 13s. 4d. was assigned to John Wyryng, John Anlak and other seamen appointed for the war at sea to be taken of the said collectors for their wages, and by writ of the king's great seal command was given to the collectors to pay the same to them or their attorneys, that they made the said Richard their attorney to receive the same, which he so did, and gave an acquittance thereof produced in the exchequer by the collectors in their discharge and acknowledged by Richard to be his deed, by which Richard is to answer to the said seamen, as is plain by a record in the exchequer; and he after paid great part to certain of the seamen, and was ready to pay the residue amounting to 271. 6s. 1ld. if he had been by any of them required so to do, but the plague then raging, and no man demanding anything thereof, moved by conscience he delivered that sum into the receipt aforesaid until suit should be made for payment, so that if none of the said seamen should come for payment the king should have the money sooner than any other; and after the said seamen came to the said Richard craving payment, and he contented them, as he was bound to do, without having again the money, causing a tally containing the said sum to be levied for his recompense of the prest aforesaid in lieu of payment, and thereby taking allowance for the same in those prests, and contenting the king of the residue thereof, not admitting any double allowance; and this was found before those appointed by the record of the exchequer and by the proofs. (3) That when in times of vacation the said Richard passed to his own church and elsewhere upon his own business, he assigned and fabricated before the council cause of going for the king's business, and on 27 July in the 36th year received of the king's gift 107. for his expenses in going to the northern parts on secret business of the king, and on 17 May in the 37th year 10/. 10s. for expenses towards the northern parts to pay the wages of seamen, where he never paid any such wages, fraudulently converting those sums to his profit. To this Richard says that he is ready to prove by John de Haddon the king's serjeant at arms and other lawful men at divers times appointed to pay such seamen s wages and by his own oath that be was sent by the council to the customers in the ports of Boston F: and Kyngeston upon Hull for speedy levying and delivering to ' the said John and others of divers sums for such wages, who 4 paid the same according to their ability as the council com- & manded them; and this he proved: before those appointed by & examination and by his oath and other true informations and reasons expressly shewn, which the chamberlains by their declarations might not lawfully gainsay. (4) That whereas William de Feriby late treasurer of the king's household gave up at the receipt of the exchequer a tally containing 100]. appointed for expenses of the household and not received by him, so that the money was of the king and none other, by a rasure by him made in the rolls of the receipt the said Richard converted that sum to another s use and not to the use and profit of the king. To this Richard says that the said 1007. was by indenture (produced, and acknowledged by William de Manton as his deed) paid by the treasurer to the said William de Manton keeper of the king's wardrobe for expenses of the household ; and this was expressly found before those appointed, and the accusation proved unjust. . 117 (5) That whereas William de Farleye late treasurer of the king's wardrobe charged himself in the receipt of the exchequer with 200 marks of the issues and increase of his office which he knew he had received and was chargeable towards the king, and after died in Aquitaine, at the suit of the said William's executors, who rendered his account of his office, the said Richard caused the rolls of the receipt to be rased, and a tally to be levied of that sum, whereby the king lost 200 marks. To this Richard says that the said William paid the money in the receipt of the exchequer, wherefore he must needs have a - tally to sue for his allowance or the money would be paid again, and lest that should be, by judgment of the barons of the exchequer a tally was levied in lieu of an acquittance, and was noted of record, and this was before those appointed found to be true by the record. (6) That whereas it was proved by certain men of the king's court that a letter patent of the king affecting John de Shardelowe, dated in the 14th year and containing 100 marks, ought to have been given again to the king for payment of 101. only, by procurement of the said Richard with the treasurer full payment of the money was made without the knowledge or assent of the chamberlains, whereby the king lost 85 marks. (7) That by information and procurement of the said Richard two tallies were levied upon the customers of Bristol, one for Adam de Wymondham containing 150/. 7s. 4d., the other for William de Canynges containing 69/. without any remission made to the king or profit taken to his use, for which payments great profit came to the said Richard and others of his assent, which ought to have come to the king and did not. (8) That whereas for divers causes the king was bound to John de Coloyne in 600 marks and more, and after his death his executors would have pardoned the king a great sum to have an assignment of the residue, by suit made to the said Richard and others of his assent the said executors had full payment without any remission made to the king or profit taken to his use, for which payment great profit came to the said Richard, etc. To these three articles Richard says that the king owed the said sums and was bound to pay them, and by divers writs which are at the receipt of the exchequer commanded payment to be made, by virtue whereof, and by precept of the treasurer granting payment as his duty was, the same were paid in full, and that by sufficient warrant and controlment of the chamberlains which is of record and cannot be gainsaid, whereby it is clear that they had knowledge thereof, seeing that they controlled those payments ; and this was before those appointed proved to be true. (9) That on the first day when the bishop of Worcester took over the office of treasurer a loan of 2121. was entered in the rolls of the receipt of the exchequer, as if the said bishop had advanced that money to the king, and the said rolls are charged therewith, wherefore by process of time the bishop might claim repayment, and so the king would lose that sum, for that he received none of it to his use. To this Richard says that the entry was inserted by assent of the king's council more speedily to recover so much against the merchants of Malbayn who were bound to the bishop in that sum, whereof the said merchants had nothing of the said receipt, and it could not be turned to the king's loss inasmuch as the merchants were answerable to the king in that sum by a prest charged upon them, and the king by colour of the prest sued the debtors of the said merchants for the money by process in the exchequer, and so recovered a part of it; and that in like manner used it to be done in times past, and was done for Ralph de Brantyngham and many more; and so before those appointed it was found by the premises and by other reasons set forth on either side. (10) That great numbers of customers of England, by whose hands great part of the king's treasure is received, and the clerks and officers in the exchequer of whom was complaint made in parliament by the commons of England, were removed and appointed by the said Richard and by his procurement with the treasurer and others of the council. To this Richard says that customers, clerks or officers of the exchequer were never by him removed or made, but by the king and all his council ; and this was by the council witnessed before those appointed, and that no damage thereby happened to the king, nor did the chamberlains allege nor shew special damage. (11) That it is notorious that Roger de Chestrefeld and the said Richard are brothers, and to write the rolls and tallies of the receipt of the exchequer severally had in their time Robert de Derby their cousin, and another clerk under him of their country and of their assent, who during all the times of the three last treasurers every day brought rolls and warrants of the great seal and of the privy seal to their own dwellings, wrote tallies and rased rolls at their own will, whereby the king has had great loss and may have in future, the defaults of whom will in times to come more fully appear; for to take rolls of record and writs of warrant out of the place of the receipt was never before heard of. To this Richard says that from the time he was clerk of the treasurer until now he has never written any tallies nor caused them to be written at his lodging or without the place of the receipt, nor rased any rolls, that the rolls may not anywise- be written when the court is sitting (sedente placea) at Westminster before noon unless the clerks should be there all day long, which was never heard of; and this was expressly proved before those appointed, as the chamberlains might not gainsay. (12) That during all the time of two treasurers the said Richard has made all great payments of the king's moneys between him and two tellers of the receipt of the exchequer, who are of his affinity and wear his livery, as well to foreigners as to natives, at the houses of divers customers in the city of London and in the chamber of the receipt with doors closed and sealed, without view and testimony of the chamberlains who ought to have witnessed and controlled every payment, by colour of which payments so made in their absence great damage may have happened to the king. To this Richard says that all payments of the king's moneys are and have been made by precept of the . 119 treasurer and by sufficient warrant, that sometimes money to make payments must be borrowed of men in the said city and elsewhere, and payment liastily made as well in the said city as at the treasurer's lodging for divers the king's business and for taking journeys whenever command is given on the king's behalf as well after noon as before, and sometimes by night, or otherwise the king's business would remain without furtherance to his hurt, which may not be derogated because of the chamberlains absence, and that no special damage is alleged for that cause; and so before those appointed it was found by divers true reasons, which the chamberlains might not gainsay. (13) That the said Richard informed the treasurer that it would be derogatory to his office if the chamberlains should meddle with him in assignments, payments or other matters whatsoever affecting him, whereof they ought to have had knowledge as well as the treasurer or any other, as appears by statutes and other ancient books of the exchequer, by reason of which information they had not nor might have such knowledge, to the king's hurt. To this Richard says that the chamberlains would have precepts for assignments and payments in the same manner as the treasurer, and so would at their will assign and pay etc., which pertains solely to the office of treasurer and not to their office, and that the treasurer in his time should not suffer the chamberlains so to encroach upon the king to restrict the treasurer's office, inasmuch as the moneys whereof payments are made are solely the king's and none other s, and they ought to be made by the king or treasurer, and nought pertains to the office of chamberlain but to control etc., but he should be pleased that the chamberlains would be present at the time of assignments and payments to do what pertains to their office, and that if it should be otherwise the king might suffer great hurt for the cause aforesaid; and so it was found manifestly before those appointed. (14) That whereas in the 34th year the moiety of a tenth and fifteenth was granted by the commons of England for wages of men at arms and archers arrayed in defence of the realm against the enemies who landed at Wynchelse, and for its safeguard by sea, it appears by the rolls of the receipt of the exchequer that of the said moiety 1,000 and more is lacking (not mentioning whether 1,000/., 1,000 marks or 1,000d.) for which answer is not made to the king by default of the said Richard to the king's hurt, craving that Richard should render account of the said tenth and fifteenth. To this Richard says that the said moiety was granted in aid of the war, under a condition that the exchequer (whereof the receipt is a part) should not meddle therewith, nor the collectors account or answer there, but for that there was great need of those wages, and the said moiety might not be levied, the king chevised divers sums of his own treasury and paid them for divers counties, commanding divers collectors to pay again in the treasury the sums so chevised, of which sums the king is contented, a small portion only excepted whereof execution of the exchequer is being made of his will that the king lose not his money, as is fully found by record in the exchequer, that account was taken of the said tenth and fifteenth before divers knights by the commons chosen and before Henry de Greystok and Amaury de Shirlond to them joined by the council, to which account the said Richard was no party, nor is he bound to account for the same, and that no default therein may attach to him inasmuch as executions for the king's debts pertain not to him nor to the receipt of the exchequer; and before those appointed this was proved by the record aforesaid and other reasons shewn. (15) That the said Richard caused a tally under date of the 14th year containing 401. to be rased, and a new writing put in name of Roger de Chestrefeld his brother, who after had allowance of that sum by the said tally, and so the king lost 401. To this Richard says that it is not to the king's prejudice to change a tally levied under one name to another name, the sum remaining the same and the first tally being given up, that so it was-done in times past and is done day by day, for the king may lose and has lost nothing, and that the change was controlled by the chamberlains, whereto they are parties and should answer etc., nor may they proceed against the enrolment as being parties etc.; and before those appointed this was found manifest, and that the king lost nothing nor might lose. (16) That whereas for long time there was great scarcity of money in the receipt of the exchequer so that for default of payment the king's household and his works in divers places were in great part lacking, the said Richard without warrant or cause assigned advanced divers sums of the king's money to divers merchants and others, namely to Henry de Brusele and Richard Thoky 150 marks, whereof the king is not yet contented nor ever will be, but is to his great hurt put to action by exchequer summons for the same. To this Richard says that he never advanced a penny of the king's to the said Henry and Richard or to any other, but by precept and grant of the treasurer a tally was levied to them of the sum named, and a prest put on them to repay the same to the king on a set day if they should carry wool to parts over sea the custom and subsidy whereof should amount to so much, which sum the king respited for a greater sum by him due to the said Henry, which is expressly found by process in the exchequer, so that the king has lost and may lose nothing ; and this was by the said record etc. distinctly found before those appointed. (17) That the said Richard without warrant or cause assigned advanced to the prior and convent of Southwerk 88 marks of the king's money paid from the receipt of the exchequer, of which the king is not yet contented, nor ever will be without the ruin of the said house. To this Richard says that he never advanced a penny of the king's money to the said prior, but that the said prest was made and entered at the request of the bishop of Winchester for more speedy recovery of divers debts due to the said prior by divers his debtors in the city of London, that he received nothing of the king in the said receipt, and it might not be turned to the king's hurt inasmuch as by the said prest the prior is to answer to the king, and that in like manner . 121 it used to be done in times past, and was done for Ralph de Brantyngham; and so before those appointed it was found by divers reasons set forth on either side. (18) That the said Richard, going to survey the king's works in Risshedon castle, gave to divers workmen 110s., for which he after accounted in the receipt of the exchequer, and received that sum by special precept of the king, no warrant being produced or found. To this Richard says that the wages of the said workmen were in arrear throughout a time of vacation, wherefore they would not abide upon the works there but were minded to withdraw, that the said money was given them by precept of the treasurer, as William de Wykham well knew, lest they should withdraw and the works be hindered, that so used it to be done because of putting in writing (propter abbreviacionem) the men s wages, and that it was not to the king's hurt but to his advantage; and this was proved true before those appointed. (19) That John de Rouceby says he is charged in the receipt of the exchequer with 301. which he never received, and that this is because all payments were by the said Richard made without knowledge of the chamberlains and not under their supervision, so that they might not nor can witness whether that sum was paid or no, whence great scandal of the court may arise. To this Richard says that the said John accounted for the said money, charging himself therewith of his own accord, and delivering the particulars to the court, and never made complaint, so that by these particulars being true it appears that he is lawfully charged ; and so it was found before those appointed. (20) That whereas the executors of John de Middelton, late keeper of victuals at Calais, accounted at the exchequer and went away quit, the said executors were after summoned anew, and charged with 500 marks and more, whereof no man could answer nor give information but only the said Richard for that all payments were by himself made, and they contented the king thereof, to their hurt and the scandal of the king. To this Richard says that the executors accounted for the sums wherewith they charged themselves and went away quit, that they ought to have charged themselves with the said 500 marks and did not, for that before his death the said John received that sum and in his life time did not charge himself therewith in his account, nor did they after his death, but concealed the same, wherefore they were summoned the second time to answer and content the king, or to shew cause etc., that the chamberlains controlled the said sum, and approved the charge as lawful, and this they have acknowledged before those appointed, so that it is clear that they had knowledge thereof, and that no wrongdoing may be imputed to him for this cause inasmuch as the king is thereof contented for that the executors might shew nothing for their discharge; and so before those appointed it was found by the record and otherwise. (21) That whereas the king of his favour, and for discharge of his father's soul who was bound in a certain sum to John de Weston, ordered that the said sum should be paid, the said John might never be contented until he gave the said Richard a jewel price 10/., in contempt of the king's command and to the said John's hurt. To this Richard says that he received nothing of the said John before he was contented of the debt, and after of his own free will John gave him a ring not worth 20s., and called the said John to witness; and this was found by lawful proofs before those appointed. (22) That the said Richard received of William de Wenlok, clerk of the receipt of the exchequer, a jewel price 24 marks to suffer him to go in his company into the king's presence at Westminster with a bag with the money reserved for the king's chamber, to the scandal of the king. And the said William, being present and examined by those appointed, acknowledged that it was a girdle and not worth 60s., and that he gave it not for any matter affecting his office or the king, but for divers other friendly acts which the said Richard had done him divers times before; and this the chamberlains might not gainsay. (23) That whereas a yearly sum is assigned to the dean and canons of the college of the chapel of St. Stephen within Westminster palace, whereof the said Richard is canon, the said Richard at one time received 10 marks of his fellow canons and at another time 100s. to aid them concerning the payment of the said sum, which payment notwithstanding he withdrew and confounded. To this Richard says that he is canon of the said chapel and partaker in the said yearly sum, and received the money above mentioned as well of his purparty thereof as of the gift of the dean and canons by their free will without brokage of any kind, and not for the cause aforesaid, and that this was not to the prejudice or scandal of the king ; and so it was proved before those appointed. (24) That the said Richard, for making divers payments and assignments as well to vintners as to other merchants, received of their gift divers tuns and pipes of wine, namely of Walter Forester, John Michel of London, John Wytegod of Suthampton and many more, of which he sold great part to the king's butler (botellarius), craving that the said butler William de Strete, William Glendale clerk of the great wardrobe, Edmund Rose and other foreign officers may be examined upon oath of their suit in this behalf, how much they gave for their said assignments and payments ; and that these articles upon their oath made to the king do not contain a sixth part of the concealments, frauds and deceptions which the said Richard and Robert de Derby his cousin have committed in the exchequer and in the king's receipt. And the said butler and many other of the officers aforesaid were examined touching the premises, and by their examination and divers other proofs and justifications of the said Richard before those appointed as aforesaid it was found that this accusation and all the other above recited are false, and ought not to have been published. And when all and singular the premises, as well accusations as answers, were heard, tried and examined before those appointed, and it was found that the king has lost nothing nor might have lost by the allowances, payments, expenses, receipts, liveries, rasures or writings alleged, nor was deceived, defrauded or damaged in any IIT. 123 in the articles contained, those appointed testified as was first chiefly commanded them by the king and recorded before the all and singular the premises, informing him concerning the answers and proofs made on either side, and that he taken or might have taken no hurt, but that the said Richard not guilty of any deception, delivering the roll again to the king he might set forth and do his will thereof. And the said and Ralph being thereof warned, doubting of the king's and further declaring their malice, anger and envy which they towards the said Richard without cause, alleged the premises the king a second time, and that favour was shewn to the said herein, suggesting fraud, favour and wrongdoing in some the council, and craving that the premises should be laid before and discreet hearers other than of the affinity of the said to be by the king appointed to hear and determine the in the presence and by testimony of the chamberlains, and compel the said Richard to account therein ; and the king their good will ordered them to shew him in writing what be done, and what remedy or correction might be applied the articles to his honour and profit ; and hereupon they to the king of their will and information a roll containing it appeared to them that the said Richard and Robert de Derby be removed from their offices, that lawful and discreet should be appointed to hear and determine the premises, that said Richard should account for all and singular the sums above the records of those appointed, and the answers, allegations, proofs and justifications aforesaid notwiththat he should pay the same again to the king, that the clerks and accountants newly put to serve the king (in no default is found) should be removed and others put in their that the treasurer should not make payments, receipts, liveries, or aught else affecting his office without the assent, view, and presence of the chamberlains, that no writing should be outside the receipt of the exchequer, and that the said Richard others of his counsel should be punished, so condemning him others who have no knowledge thereof before the king without being found in them, as was expressly found before those and is by them recorded, and informing the king to the end wrong and vengeance should be done upon his servants without in breach of their oaths. And having heard and understood premises the king, willing that the truth should be found, sent all the council the said roll and all other rolls of accusations replies to him delivered by the chamberlains namely before bishop of Ely the chancellor, John bishop of Bath and Wells treasurer, William bishop of Winchester, Simon bishop of London, duke of Lancastre, Richard earl of Arundell, Robert earl of Humphrey de Bohun earl of Hereford, William de Monte earl of Salisbury, William de Wykeham, Guy Bryan, John Lee, William de Skipwyth, Henry de Grene, Robert de Thorpe, Knyvet justices and others, straitly commanding them to take concerning the said rolls, and diligently to examine and the articles therein contained in presence of the said Richard of the chamberlains, and to certify him of what they should And before the whole council the said articles were read one one in their presence, the accusations, answers, proofs and justifications heard, and it was found and approved before the whole council, as previously before those appointed, that the accusations were false and ought not to have been published in all and singular the articles thereof, that the king was not deceived or defrauded in anything nor took hurt therein, and that the said Richard was not guilty of any default; and the chamberlains thereupon being asked whether they had more to say, or more accusation to make against the said Richard, or more to declare in the premises, say they have not. And all and singular the premises being by the council recorded for the king, and full information thereof given to him, the king knowing and acknowledging that the said Richard is not guilty of the said false accusations, and holding him therein justified, the premises being fully determined, and having respect to the malice, falsehood and envy of the said chamberlains and their said clerks and to the false accusations and surmises whereof they informed the king contrary to their oaths to the damage of the said Richard and of many more, it was in full council determined by the king and the whole council that the said Richard shall go without a day quit of all the articles aforesaid, and that the said chamberlains Ralph de Brantyngham and Richard de Piryton and all their clerks whom they have set under them to serve the king as well in the exchequer as in the receipt be removed and thrust out from their offices; and the said Richard de Piryton being so removed and his office void, lest the business of the king and people should be delayed for lack of one occupying the same, the king by letters patent under the great seal appointed in his stead John de Newenham clerk during pleasure and until further [order], and instead of Ralph de Brantyngham he likewise appointed William de Mulsho clerk, and nevertheless for particular causes, for the wrongdoings, falsehoods and accusations aforesaid and divers other defaults committed in those offices in the times of the said late chamberlains whereof he is not yet fully informed, and for that it is contained in the statute made in a parliament holden at Westminster in the quinzaine of Michaelmas in the 36th year (sic), that all who by malice should make surmises to the king, their surmises should be sent before the chancellor, the treasurer and ; the great council, that they should there find security to prosecute the p same, and that if the same should be found false or bad those making them should incur the same pain as the accused would have if convicted, the king by John atte Lee his steward gave order to Ralph de Brantyngham and Richard de Piriton forbidding them to withdraw 3 from the city of London until the king should do, determine and order what should to him seem good in the premises, or until further order. And upon suit to the king and council made by the said chamberlains for licence to withdraw until a set time, a day was given them by the king and council under the said prohibition fifteen days from Easter in the 39th year. And within the said Easter term, namely on 27 May, the whole council being gathered together by order of the king to debate and adjudge the premises not yet debated, the said Ralph and Richard de Piryton did not appear, and the said Richard de Chestrefeld appeared, and being asked if he will pursue against his accusers according to the statute, answered that it is sufficient for him that by God's gift the king and council to whom he was defamed hold him justified, and he gives thanks to the king and his most wise council for their just proceeding in the premises, not willing to pursue to vengeance for recovery of damages according to the