1388-11-16, Westminster

Commission to Robert Persay, chivaler, Gerard de Lounde, chivaler, Stephen de Thorp, chivaler, Nicholas Ryse of Beverley, Richard Aglion of Beverley, draper, Thomas de Swynton, Nicholas Hastynges, Thomas Lorimer, Richard Ward, Robert de Thorp, William de Melyngton, Walter de Rudeston of Hayton and William Pauns to levy and collect in the East Riding, co. York, except the city of York, the tenth and fifteenth, payable in moieties at the Annunciation next and Midsummer following, which the lords, magnates, and commonalties of counties, and the citizens and burgesses of cities and boroughs, considering the grave perils to the realm which might arise both by land and sea unless a sounder plan of defence were speedily prepared, granted to the king in the Parliament held and convoked at Cantebrigg on the morrow of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary last, to be expended on the safeguarding and defence of the realm and the safe-keeping of the sea and the marches of Scotland, provided always that secular lords of towns and lay persons having goods and possessions contribute to the said tenth and fifteenth in respect of all their goods, and that ecclesiastical persons contribute in respect of goods forthcoming from lands acquired by them since 20 Edward I; and order to them to go from town to town and from place to place within the said riding, and summon before them two men and the reeve from every town, and the mayor, bailiffs and four men from every city and borough, charging them that without delay they cause the money to be levied and delivered to them (the commissioners) by one or two of the most sufficient men of the said cities, towns and boroughs, or else to cause the money to be levied from the said reeves etc. themselves, so that answer be made to the king therefor at the aforesaid terms at latest. By K. and C. Mittitur in extractis.