1331-05-12, Havering Atte Bower

Ordinance, made because of the great losses sustained by the king in the collection of his customs of wools, hides, and wool-fells by the negligence of the collectors, and by the controllers having discharged their office by deputy and not in person, that in every port of collection of such customs one at least of the collectors and the controller shall be present at the weighing of the wool to see that every sack, poke, and sarpler is correctly weighed for the king and for the merchants, that either of the collectors shall keep a roll of the customs paid as a check on the controller, and that they shall render quarterly at the Exchequer a view of account verified by one of the three rolls under the seals of the collectors and controller; and forasmuch as the loss which has occurred has arisen by fraud and negligence on the part of the weighers and the controllers or their deputies, that these shall be put out of their offices notwithstanding any commission they have of the same and other controllers appointed in their place; and that weighers shall be chosen in the ports by the respective commonalties. By K.&C. 1331. This ordinance is sent to the following ports : Hartilpole. London. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Sandwich. Kyngeston-upon-Hull. Chichester. Boston. Southampton. Lynn. Exeter. Great Yarmouth. Melecombe. Tpswich. May 30.