1407-07-10, Westminster

Grant to Henry Redford (alias Retford), chivaler, with the assent of the king's council, and by mainprise of William lord de Roos of Hamelak of the county of Lincoln and John Waterton of the county of York, esquire, of the keeping of the county of Lincoln with the issues and profits belonging to two farms, called jirma comitatus post terras datas and firma comitatus numero annuatim, and to the profits of the county ; to hold the same from Michaelmas last during the king's pleasure, rendering 200/. yearly at the Exchequer by equal portions at Easter and Michaelmas, without any payment or allowance being made to him for his fee ; with proviso that he answer at the Exchequer for all other farms, debts, issues and profits of the county, by the mainprise aforesaid, and neither seek nor obtain any pardon from the king in this behalf : notwithstanding (1) that the king on 5 November last committed the keeping of the county to him during pleasure, on condition that he rendered yearly at the Exchequer the farms due to the king and answered at the Exchequer for the king's debts and all other charges pertaining to the said keeping, and (2) that Edward ITI, on learning that all sheriffs of the county since 18 Edward I [recte II had accounted as agents and not as farmers, so that thereby the king had sustained no small damage formerly though the decrease of certain farms by the deduction of allowances, gave order to the treasurer and barons of the Exchequer by the advice of his council that answer should be made to him in full for the two farms aforesaid, and also for as much as could be levied yearly of the profits of the county, no sheriffs being charged for more than they could levy thereof. By p.s. and by bill of the treasurer. [5338.] . 77