1301-04-18, Worcester

Notification to the good men, religious and whole commonalty of the county of Essex, that as there is a scarcity of oats and malt in that county, the king will be pleased to accept 1,000 quarters of wheat, in full satisfaction of the 500 quarters of wheat, 500 quarters of oats and 200 quarters of malt, which he had requested them to collect under the directions of Robert le fiz Wauter and Peter de Donewiz, king's clerk, and returns thanks. As regards payment, the said Robert and Peter inform the king that the men of Essex cannot give their goods with confidence except to persons named, who have power to tax, collect and pay when the time comes. But inasmuch as the taxors and collectors, which the king intends to have elected among themselves, cannot be elected or appointed before Michaelmas, and the king and his company in their Scotch expedition cannot put off the transport of their provisions later than Midsummer, the king requests that his former letters patent, directed to the taxors and collectors, which seem sufficient for the purpose, be held over until Michaelmas, until the taxors and collectors are elected and appointed, and if they require further security the king will give it, as the said Robert and Peter and Hugh de Bourgh, king's clerk, which latter is also sent to receive the above corn, together with the sheriff of the county, shall more fully declare. French.