1320-08-27, Odiham

To the sheriff of Sussex. At the complaint of Stephen Aleyn, citizen merchant of London, that whereas he loaded in Normandy a ship of his La Margarete of London, whereof John Thomme was master, with goods to the value of more than 100/. for the purpose of bringing the to England to make his profit thereof, the master and mariners of the were so pursued by malefactors of Flanders and other pirates on the that they durst not come to any port in this realm, but that they arrived Caus, in the power of the abbot of Fécamp in Normandy, for salvage of bodies, the ship and goods, and the goods that were carried out of the for safety by the mariners to Jand and to the abbot's cell of St. Valery Caus, were taken and carried away by certain men of the abbot's lordship the said cell, the king wrote to the abbot to cause restitution of such to be made to the said merchant and amends for the unjust detention ; but the abbot has failed to do justice to the said merchant, as the and community of the city of London have signified to the king by letters patent: wherefore the king orders the sheriff to arrest goods of said abbot and of the men of his power to the value of the aforesaid and to keep the same safely until Stephen have been satisfied for that or until further orders, certifying the king concerning the goods in execution of this order.