1336-11-12, Stirling

To Hugh de Courteneye, earl of Devon, John de Ralegh, William de Hamo Dereworth and Elias de Godelegh. Whereas the king them to pursue, arrest, take and commit to prison all malefactors felonies and misdeeds in the realm, and those suspect, wherever shouid be found in co. Devon, avcording to the ordinance passed in the parliament at Westminster, and the king also appointed. them to be to take inquisitions in that county concerning the felonies and committed by the said suspects and concerning felonies, robberies, trespasses, excesses and crimes committed by any in that county, to hear and determine all the premises both at the king's suit and at of any others who wish to complain or prosecute for the king or his; John de Norwico, with certain false and forged commissions under the seal and with other false letters and commissions under counterfeit privy with other suspect instruments, seals and things, who was lately found diembrane 8d and arrested at Bokeland and imprisoned at Exeter arrested ships, victuals and other things in divers towns and ports of the realm, by pretext of the said commissions and letters, extorting divers sums of money from divers men; which commissions, etc., have been brought before the king's council at York, whereupon a debate was held there upon the punishment of such malefactors, and it was agreed that if by inquisition or by Jobn s confession, he should be found guilty of the said forgery, sedition, extortion and crime, then justice should be done to him as a plunderer and enemy of the king and his people; the king therefore orders the justices to view the said commissions, etc., which he sends to them in a certain bag (baga) and box (pixide), under the half seal (sub pede sigilli), and these being examined and inquisition taken upon the premises, if John is found guilty of the said crimes then to judge him to be drawn and hanged. By K. and C.