1373-01-26, Westminster

Writ of aid, the said constables and the subcollectors or deputies under of forfeiture, in consideration of the urgency of the case, with all to levy and deliver to the collectors from time to time according form of their commission all sums by them assessed or yet to upon them the said constables and upon single persons the commons of the towns and parishes of the said hundred which yet assessed nor fully paid, so that full payment thereof be made the feast of St. Gregory next at latest, and to be aiding the in the execution of the premises, knowing moreover that, be not obedient to this present command, the king will be with them as with men who rebel against him ; as the king by patent appointed Robert de Mortymer, Ralph de Shelton, Geney, William Clere, William de Norton and John de five, four, three and two of them by oversight of the of Suffolk and certain others appointed for the purpose in Norffolk the subsidy of 116s. of every parish in the realm lately granted king by the lords and commons of England, so that every of greater value throughout the county should be aiding and rateably to another of less value without severance by or otherwise, and the said subsidy being so assessed parish appointed them to levy and collect the same of all the king's namely as well of lords as of other secular persons of estate or condition sparing none, and to make answer to for it at set terms long past ; and whereas in Norffolk as well and negligence of the collectors as by rebellion of the said and many more who refused to pay the sums reasonably upon them, great part of that subsidy, amounting to 16s., was and yet is in arrear, the king many times after commanded the collectors without delay to levy of all his subjects sparing none all sums assessed upon parishes and single persons, and to cause answer to be made to the king them, whereof little or nothing has been done; and the is informed of a surety that payment [has not been made] of sums so assessed as well upon the said constables as upon the commons of the said hundred and of the towns and parishes thereof, for which answer ought to have been made to the king at terms long past, not only by default of the collectors, but also for that the said constables and certain others of the hundred, whom the collectors deputed to levy and collect the said subsidy under them in that hundred, despising the king's commands, have taken no heed to levy the sum assessed of the commons, and the commons have taken no heed to pay the same, whereat the king is disturbed and moved to anger not without cause. The king has commanded the sheriff from time to time to arrest the said constables, the subcollectors and all other of the said commons who shall be found contrary and rebellious herein, and to bring them before the king and council to answer for their contempt. By C. Et erat patens.