1366-07-30, Westminster

Order to the sheriffs of London to call before them John Clerk, fullere, in the presence of William Strete, the king's butler, and if they are satisfied that the statement of the butler referred to below is true, .to levy from the said John, out of his lands and chattels, 4 marks for each of the pipes of wine and the price of the 3 tuns of wine referred to below, and deliver the said moneys to the butler by indenture, that he may answer to the king therefor; as the said John lately acknowledged before the council that he had sold 4 pipes of ungauged Gascon wine (appraised at 4 marks the pipe), and 3 tuns of ungauged Gascon wine which Richard atte Dane, bocher, took from a ship wherein they were laded and housed in a cellar of the said John at London against the form of the statute, whereupon it was awarded that the wines should be forfeit to the king, and the king by writ ordered the butler to levy from John 4 marks for each pipe, and to have the 3 tuns appraised and sold, and to answer to the king for the moneys forthcoming, and the butler has now given the king to understand that . 339 the wines have long been eloigned, so that he cannot arrest and sell or levy the moneys forthcoming, and has prayed the king to a remedy.