1341-07-18, Tower of London

Licence for prelates, earls, barons and the rest of the men of England and Wales, their heirs and successors, pursuant to a grant made by the king in Parliament summoned at Westminster in 12 Edward III, at the instant request of the commons of the realm by their petition before the king and council in the same Parliament, by assent of the prelates, earls, barons and others of the council, to dig their own soil to find gold and silver and treasure, and to purify the metal and extract the treasure by view and testimony of a clerk to be deputed hereto by the king, so that the silver so purified be brought to the king's mints to be delivered to the keeper or keepers of the change or changes for money to be struck therefrom, and so that the gold and the treasure trove be brought to the Exchequer; and a third part of the money so struck and a moiety of the gold so purified and of the treasure trove shall remain to the king and the residue shall be delivered to the lords; and if any lord neglect to dig, the king may dig and retain the metal and treasure; but none shall purify metal or extract treasure in the absence of the said clerk on pain of forfeiture thereof. By K. & C.