1314-10-24, Spalding

Mandate to the sheriff of the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, various kinds of victuals being required for the king's Household, as well on account of the ensuing Christmas as of the Parliament summoned to meet at Westminster on the octave of St. Hilary, to buy and provide 20 lasts of red herrings, 10,000 codfish, 20,000 stockfish, and 20 barrels of sturgeon, and to cause the same to be sent to London, there to be delivered to William de Northwell, clerk of the kitchen. Payment is to be made as well out of the debts due to the king as out of the other issues of the sheriff's bailiwick. All his expenses will be allowed to the sheriff in bis account at the Exchequer. The negligence of the sheriff's predecessors is not to emboldén him in postponing the execution of the present mandate, or in inventing frivolous excuses for evading it. It is well known that such purveyances can be speedily and conveniently made for the king's money if proper diligence be used, and if the sheriff be remiss in the premises, the king will so punish him as to afford an example to other delinquents. [Parl.