1342-02-01, Tower of London

Mandate to the abbots of the Cistercian order, the master and priors of the Gilbertine order and other religious of the county of Lincoln, as follows; the king is credibly informed that they cause wool, hides and other vendibles to be bought by their lay brothers and afterwards sold to merchants beyond the seas and others along with their own wool and hides, to the impoverishment of the city of Lincoln and other market towns of the king in the county, whereby his farms and oustoms are - fraudulently withdrawn to his damage and loss, to the scandal of their order, the injury of their credit, the king's prejudice and the damage of the city and towns aforesaid. He therefore commands them to desist entirely from such trading, otherwise he will apply the hand of correction to this, as he believes will be well pleasing to God, whereby they will feel themselves not a little aggrieved.