1321-03-15, Wallingford

ToR. count of Flanders. Upon its being lately found by an inquisition taken by the sheriff of Kent by the king's order that John Crabbe and other malefactors of Flanders took a ship called Bona Navis of La whereof John Springere was master, together with the chests, beds, other small things of the said John Springere, which were appraised by jurors of the inquisition at 210 marks sterling, at Le Dunes on the near the Isle of Thanet whilst on her voyage to London, and carried same away with them to Flanders, the king requested the count to cause or satisfaction to be made to John Springere for the ship, chests, and other goods; avd the count at length replied that lhe was in of the matter, since he was not informed of the said deed or of who perpetrated it, adding that he would punish the latter if he could them in his jurisdiction; at which answer the king marvels, especially John Crabbe, the principal perpetrator of the above deed, was of the land of Flanders and stayed therein when he wished, and it was testified before the king that there were in the ship wines belongto certain of the king's merchants of Gascony, which were captured in manner by the said malefactors and which came to the count's use, and the count gave the ship to the lord of Meldyngham; wherefore the again requested him to consider the aforesaid matter and to cause the John Spingere to be satisfied; but he has done nothing in the matter, Stephen Craye, citizen and merchant of London, executor of John's will, given the king to understand; and it was agreed in a treaty lately between the king and his council and the count's envoys that tlie men and the count's men wishing to make complaint of such should prosecute the said matters this side the quinzaine of : wherefore the king requests the count to cause justice to be done the aforesaid executor according to the treaty aforesaid, certifying the of his proceedings at the said quinzaine.