1331-05-06, Havering Atte Bower

Order to the sheriff of Middlesex to proclaim in his bailiwick an ordinance made by assent of the prelates, earls and barons of the yealm, and to establish and swear wardens and to certify the treasurer and barons of the Exchequer of their names pursuant to that ordinance, to wit, that none carry without the realm the king's sterling or silver plate or vessels of gold or silver on pain of forfeiture thereof, nor bring within the realm or elsewhere in the king's power counterfeit money on pain of forfeiture of life and goods, so always that all people may bring silver plate, vessels of silver and all manner of silver money to the king's exchanges and there receive the true value in sterling, and that no gold money be received in payment within the realm ; and that in all places on the seacoast search be made that the foregoing ordinance be observed, save that forfeiture of life shall not be incurred before Midsummer next; and that the commonalty of each port shall choose two men thereof to search with the bailiffs thereof all who leave or enter the realm and to arrest sterling and counterfeit money as aforesaid, and to make an indenture thereof between the said men and bailiffs, and to certify the treasurer and barons of the Exchequer hereon, and to send the counterfeit money to the exchanges to the warden thereof by indenture, and to send the part of the indenture remaining with them to the Exchequer by which the warden of the changes shall be charged with what he shall have received ; and that such searchers shall have each tenth penny of the king's gift ; and that the wardens and searchers shall take oath before the sheriffs or their chief wardens where the latter are not responsible to sheriffs to act loyally and honestly herein on pain of forfeiture of all they have; and that suspicious sterling brought within the realm be arrested and brought to the exchanges at the costs of those who bring it, and there duly assayed, and if the pound be found below the standard of England by 12d. it shall be melted down and the right value thereof delivered to the possessor without his incurring forfeiture ; and that there be a table at Dover and elsewhere where the king shall ordain certain passages for changing necessary money for people leaving or entering the realm, and that those deputed to keep the tables exchange money by view and testimony of controllers put there by the king, and that all who come from beyond seas bringing money there current bring that money to the nearest tables where they land and receive it instead in money current in the realm; and if they be found elsewhere with such money, the same shall be forfeited and an indenture made thereon, whereof one part shall be sent to the Exchequer. [French.]