Westminster
24 April - 27 May
(C 65/34. RP , III.55-68. SR , II.12)
Richard II's third parliament was convened at Westminster in April 1379. Its business is recorded on C 65/34, a roll of eight membranes stitched together in chancery style, head to tail, and numbered in a later hand. The text, written by a number of chancery clerks, occupies only the recto, or face, of the membranes. The upper half of membrane 7 has been left blank. The dorse of the roll is blank except for some later notes written at the joins of membranes: 'Parl.2 R.2 apud Westm.', and on the dorse of membrane 1 (the last in the sequence of the text) 'Parliamentum de anno 2 R. secundi pars secunda'. There is a contemporaneous schedule stitched to the margin of membrane 4 which is in a hand different from that of the text on that membrane. Of the marginal headings some are original and others of later date; the arabic numerals are all later. The roll, which appears to be complete, is generally in good condition, though membrane 6 is stained with gallic acid.
Writs of summons were issued on 16 February 1379 to the archbishops of Canterbury and York, the bishop of London, and eighteen other diocesans. (fn. 1) The heads of houses summoned were the abbots of St Augustine's, Canterbury, and of St Albans, with twenty-one other abbots and the priors of Coventry and the hospital of St John. The peers summoned were the duke of Lancaster, the royal earls Edmund of Cambridge and Thomas of Buckingham, who was named as constable of England, and twelve other earls of whom John de Montfort, earl of Richmond, was also the duke of Brittany, and whose return to his duchy the ministers were urgently seeking to contrive. There were also forty-six other temporal lords, including three described as knights. The chief justice, John Cavendish, was summoned with eleven other justices and serjeants. At the end of the session writs de expensis were issued for, besides knights of the shire from every county, the representatives of eighteen boroughs, to whom can be added two members for the city and county of Bristol and four citizens of London.
The parliament began to assemble at Westminster on 25 April, but was twice adjourned to allow late-comers, one of whom was the king himself, to appear. The first session then began in the painted chamber of the palace on Wednesday 27 April. The chancellor Richard le Scrope's address on the purposes of the assembly, reported on the roll in direct speech, was eloquent of the government's embarrassments (Items 3-7). Scrope explained that after the sudden end of the parliament at Gloucester the numbers of the continual council had been made up in London. They were sworn in, and immediately set to work to resolve the problems that had defeated their predecessors. With the slender resources offered by the subsidy granted at Gloucester they found themselves unable to sustain the operations that were already in hand, and still less to propose any scheme for the defence of the realm. They accordingly decided to convene a great council after Christmas, which the prelates, tenants in chief, and professional advisers summoned declined to attend on the grounds that their late exertions at Gloucester had left them with pressing business of their own. The result was a more sharply worded order which brought the company together at the beginning of February. It was plain, however, when the ministers presented their agenda, that the needs were real, that there was nothing in the treasury, that effective funds could only be raised by a communal levy, and that the commons could only be taxed by a parliament. That was a remarkable admission, in an unusually frank and detailed account of the administrative process, born of desperation.
In the meantime, loans were raised from the peers themselves, from London, and from other towns, and secured by the king's jewels. The king's credit and the safety of the kingdom were both at stake, and the commons were left with no option but to come to their rescue. The roll bears no evidence of any serious demur by the commons, though there must have been at least some discussion, and even debate, before a graduated poll tax, ranging from ten marks for a duke to four pence for the generality, was agreed and the session concluded on 27 May. The king consented to waive the rest of the subsidy granted at Gloucester (Item 18), but a more powerful incentive was the concession of a searching review of the collection and disposal of the revenue and expenses of the household by a panel of bishops and peers appointed at the request of the commons, and enrolled with some emphasis (Item 12).
The judicial business of the session was confined to the earl of Salisbury's plea against the earl of March, which was once again postponed, and further consideration of the deepening dispute over the enfeoffment of lands for the performance of Edward III's will. (fn. 2) The commons presented thirty petitions, among the more noteworthy of which were one which requested that all petitions in parliament should be granted the courtesy of a response before the dissolution (Item 28); another which obliged the justices of the peace to hold their sessions quarterly and gave them the power to force all able-bodied vagrants in their counties either to work or to face imprisonment (Item 48); and a third which ordered all goldsmiths henceforward to identify their work with individual hallmarks (Item 56). A further six petitions were submitted by the burgesses of Calais, while the final petition on the roll was from the chancellor and scholars of Cambridge; it appears to be something of an afterthought, and it is not clear whether it was adopted as a part of the 'common petition'.
The parliament was dissolved on 27 May, (fn. 3) and the collection of what one chronicler called 'a subsidy so extraordinary that its like had never been seen nor heard of before' (fn. 4) - that is, the second poll tax, began almost immediately. It provided only minimal relief from the government's financial embarrassment, however, and just over four months later, at the beginning of September, writs had to be issued for yet another parliament to meet in January 1380.
| [p. iii-55] | |
| [col. a] | |
| ROTULUS PARLIAMENTI TENTI APUD WESTM' IN .XV. PASCHE, ANNO REGNI REGIS RICARDI SECUNDI POST CONQUESTUM ANGLIE SECUNDO. | THE ROLL OF THE PARLIAMENT HELD AT WESTMINSTER ON THE QUINZAINE OF EASTER, IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE REIGN OF KING RICHARD, THE SECOND SINCE THE CONQUEST OF ENGLAND. |
| Pars II. | Second part. |
| [memb. 8] | |
| 1. En la quinszeine de Pasqe, qe fuist le .xxv. jour du moys d'Avrille l'an dessuisdit, < et > qe fuist le primer jour de cest parlement, s'assemblerent en < le > palays du roi a Westm' monseignour d'Espaigne et aucuns des prelats et seignours du roialme, et illoeqes attenderent longement la venue de nostre seignour le roi et d'autres seignours, qi pur lors n'y estoient encores venuz. Et au darrein, en mesme le jour, pur ce qe aucuns des viscontz n'avoient encores retornez lour brief du parlement, et auxint, pur ce qe plusours prelatz et autres grantz du roialme q'avoient [la] sommonz du parlement, n'estoient unqores venuz, si estoit assentuz et comandez depar le roi qe mesme le parlement feust continuez tanqe al lendemain proschein venant, et [ainsi] fuist fait; et de ce crie fust fait solempnement en la sale de Westm', donant en mandement a toux as queux il appartint q'ils retornassent le dit lendemain bien matin, pur y oier en presence de nostre seignour le roi la pronunciacion des causes de la somonce de ce present parlement. | 1. On the quinzaine of Easter, which was 25 April in the aforesaid year [1379] and the first day of the parliament, messire of Spain and some of the prelates and lords of the kingdom assembled in the king's palace at Westminster, and there they long awaited the arrival of our lord the king and other lords, who had not as yet arrived. And at last, on the same day, because some of the sheriffs had still not returned their writs of parliament, and also because many prelates and other great men of the kingdom who had received summons to parliament had still not arrived, it was agreed and ordered on behalf of the king that the parliament be adjourned until the next day, and so it was done; and a solemn announcement thereof was made in the hall of Westminster, in which orders were given to all concerned that they return early in the morning of the next day, there to hear in the presence of our lord the king the declaration of the reasons for summoning this present parliament. |
| 2. Item, le maresdy proschein, pur ce qe les chivalers des countees, citezeins des citees, burgeis de burghes, q'avoient la dite somonce, appellez par le retourn ent fait par les viscontz, et grant partie de eux nient comparante, a cause qe encores n'estoient < ils > venuz a la ville, a ce q'estoit tesmoignez illoeqes, et auxint partie de prelatz et seignours si fuist encores absent, si fuist mesme le parlement autrefoitz adjornez del comandement nostre seignour le roi tanqe al lendemain proschein par la dite cause. Et sur ce autre foitz fuist crie fait en appert qe touz retournassent par temps le dit lendemain, pur y oier la dite pronunciacioun en presence de nostre dit seignour le roi. | 2. Also, the following Tuesday [26 April], because a great number of the knights of the shires, citizens of the cities, and burgesses of the boroughs, who had received the said summons, being named in the return made by the said sheriffs, had not appeared, as they had not yet arrived in town, as it was reported, and also some of the prelates and lords still being absent, so the same parliament was for that reason again adjourned at the command of our lord the king until the following day. And thereupon, a further public announcement was made that everyone should return early the following day, to hear there the said declaration in the presence of our said lord the king. |
| 3. Au quiel lendemain, qe fuist le mesqardy, et le .xxvij. jour d'Avrille, vint en parlement mesme nostre seignour le roi, et bien pres touz les grantz, prelatz et seignours du roialme; et illoeqes en la chambre depeinte, appellez la einz les ditz chivalers, citezeins et burgeis, et autres qe avoient la dite somonce, monsire Richard le Scrope, chivaler, chanceller d'Engleterre, del comandement mesme nostre seignour le roi, y avoit les paroles, et dist: | 3. The following day, which was Wednesday 27 April, there appeared in parliament our same lord the king, and almost all the great men, prelates and lords of the kingdom; and there in the Painted Chamber, the said knights, citizens and burgesses and others who had received the said summons having been called within first, it fell to Sir Richard le Scrope, knight, chancellor of England, to speak, by order of our same lord the king, and he said: |
| 4. Seigneurs et sires, nostre seignour le roi cy present, qi Dieu salve, moy ad comandez de vous dire et exposer le causes de la somonce de cest son parlement, qe sont tielles, c'estassavoir; primerement et principalement, al reverence de Dieu, nostre seignour le roi voet qe les libertees de seinte esglise, et les bones loys et custumes de son roialme soient entierment salvez et [col. b] gardez. Et si nully se vorra pleindre qe grief luy soit fait a l'encontre, dont remede ne purra estre purveuz sanz parlement, qe ce soit touchez en ce parlement, et due remede ent serra purveuz. | 4. Lords and sirs, our lord the king here present, whom God preserve, has ordered me to speak and explain the reasons for the summoning of this his parliament, which are these, namely; first and foremost, out of reverence for love of God, our lord the king wishes that the liberties of holy church and the good laws and customs of his kingdom shall be wholly preserved and [col. b] kept. And if anyone wishes to complain that injury has been done him in contravention thereof, for which remedy cannot be provided without parliament, that it shall be dealt with in this parliament, and a proper remedy provided. |
| 5. Et d'autre parte, notoire chose est, et conuz a la greindre partie de vous touz, coment sur le fyn et departement del darrein parlement tenuz a Gloucestr', nostre seignour le roi fist assigner aucuns prelatz et seignours pur estre de son continuel conseil pur l'an ensuant, selonc ce q'autrefoitz estoit assentuz. Mais pur le sodein departement d'ycelle parlement il n'y purroit assigner le nombre entier de ses dites continuelx conseillers, si fist il apres assigner le remenant des ditz conseillers a Londres, et lour fist jurer de faire loialment lours < aides > et diligences sur le bon governement des busoignes del roialme. Les queux conseillers tretantz des ditz busoignes, et eiantz devant lours oilx les grantz meschiefs et perils apparantz par les enemys qi nous sont environez toutz partz, et le temps et seisone de estee hastir, pur quelle seisone nulle ordinance estoit purveuz en dit parlement en salvacioun du roialme et resistence de tantz des enemys, n'oserent emprendre, a ce q'ils distrent, sur eux soul l'ordinance de si perilous et haut fait. Mais lour fuist advis pur le mieltz qe si tost come le feste de Nowelle feust passez, qe lors estoit tresprocheinement venant, si feust pur mesme la cause assemblez un grant conseil de touz les [grantz] seignours du roialme, prelatz et autres, et par tant furent envoiez les ditz prelatz et seignours pur venir a Westm' a les oetaves de Seint Hiller lors proschein venant. A quiel temps, les prelatz et [seignours soi] excuserent de lour venue; aucuns d'eulx disantz qe pur grandes et necessaires occupacions q'ils avoient affaire autre part, sibien c'estassavoir des busoignes du roialme come de lours propres busoignes, paront ils ne poient venir ne travailler al dit conseil, et meement si fresshement apres lour autre long travaille et long demoeure q'ils avoient fait al dit parlement de Gloucestre. Par quoy avoient < en > comandement < autrefoitz > de venir, toute excusacion cessante, le lundy proschein apres le Chandeleure proschein passe. Au quiel temps vindrent bien pres touz les prelatz, sibien abbes, come autres, ducs, contes, barons, banerettes et autres sages du roialme; et illoeqes exposez les grantz perils et meschiefs du roialme parmy les grandes guerres apparantz par terre et par meer, dont nulle ordinance estoit purveuz encontre la dite proschein seisone de estee; et enoultre declarre devant eulx touz par les officers et ministres du roi, et les tresoriers de la guerre, l'estat du roi et de roialme; et trovez par examinacion qe rienz en effect estoit [remys] en la dite tresorie pur la guerre, estoit dit en mesme [p. iii-56][col. a] le conseil pur conclusion final, q'ils ne poaient celle meschief remedier sanz charger la commune du roialme. Quelle charge ne poait estre fait ne grantez sanz parlement. Et par tant par assent de eulx touz, dont la greindre partie sont ycy ore presentz, estoit cest parlement sommonez, et par eulx assentuz qe en le moien temps fuist une suffisante armee ordenez a la meer, en defense et salvacion du dit roialme et de la navie et des costiers du meer, par manere come ce est ore apparaille. A quelles coustages touz les seignours illoeqes esteantz appresterent, voluntrifment a nostre seignour le roi diverses grandes sommes de deniers; et einsi firent les bones < gentz de Londres, et plusours > autres villes et severals persones du roialme, as queux nostre seignour le roi par assent fait en dit grant conseil avoit envoiez par celle cause, et s'est par tant obligez a eux pur le repaiement d'ycelles sommes par seuretees, et ses fortz obligacions; et ses grantz joialx ad fait mettre en gage, pur chevance faire a la dite armee. Et issint est nostre seignour le roi grantement endettez. | 5. And for the other part, it is well known, and familiar to the great majority of you all, how at the end and dissolving of the last parliament held at Gloucester [20 October-16 November 1378], our lord the king caused certain prelates and lords to be appointed to his continual council for the following year, in accordance with what had been agreed. But because of the sudden dissolution of that same parliament it was not possible to appoint the full quota of the said continual councillors, and so he caused the rest of the said councillors to be appointed in London, and made them swear loyally to perform their tasks and duties in managing the affairs of the realm. The councillors dealing with the said matters, and having before their eyes the great troubles and perils arising from the enemies who surrounded us on all sides, and considering the fast approaching time and season of summer, for which season no ordinance had been made in the said parliament for the security of the realm and for resisting such enemies, dared not, as they confessed, take upon themselves alone the ordinance of so perilous and important a matter. But they were advised for the best that as soon as Christmas had passed, which was then close upon them, a great council of all the great lords of the realm, prelates and others would be assembled for the same reason, and therefore the said prelates and lords were instructed to come to Westminster on the octave of St Hilary next following [21 January 1379]. At which time, the prelates and lords excused themselves from attending; some of them saying that because of important and urgent matters which they had to attend to elsewhere, namely both the business of the kingdom as well as their own affairs, they were not able to come to nor stay at the said council, and especially so soon after the long labour they they had undertaken at the said parliament of Gloucester. On account of which they were ordered to attend on another occasion, with no excuses accepted, on the Monday following the next Candlemas [7 February 1379]. On which date almost all the prelates, abbots as well as others, dukes, earls, barons, bannerets and other wise men of the kingdom appeared; and there they recounted the great perils and troubles of the kingdom arising from the great and manifest wars by land and by sea, for which no provision had been made in preparation for the said season of summer soon approaching; and further, there was laid before them by the king's officers and ministers, and the treasurers of the war, an account of the state of the king and kingdom; and after it was found upon examination that, in effect, nothing had been paid into the said treasury for the war, it was [p. iii-56][col. a] finally concluded by the same council that they could not remedy the situation without further burdening the commons of the kingdom. Which charge could not be made or granted without parliament. And for that reason, by the assent of them all, the majority of whom are here present at this time, this parliament was summoned, and it was agreed by them that in the meantime an adequate force would be ordained for the sea, for the defence and security of the said realm, the fleet and the sea coasts, in the manner which is now evident. Towards the costs of which all the lords there present voluntarily lent our lord the king various great sums of money; as did the good people of London, and many other towns and several persons of the realm, to whom our lord the king, with the consent of his great council had written for this reason, and he is for this reason obliged to repay them the same sums through sureties and firm bonds; and his great jewels have been placed in pledge to obtain money on loan for the said armed expedition. And so our lord the king is deeply in debt. |
| 6. Et par tant nostre seignour le roi vous prie, mes seignours les prelatz, et autres grantz seignours du roialme, qe vous par vous mesmes, et vous, mes seignours de sa bone commune, par vous mesmes, duement considerez les choses dessusdites, et nient merveillantz par tant qe cest parlement est si hastivement sommonez apres l'autre parlement si novellement tenuz a Glouc', veullez vous adviser diligeaument, coment, al meindre grevance, desaise et charge, de vous touz et de son bon poeple, l'oneur de nostre seignour le roi, les droitures de sa coroune et de son dit roialme et de ses autres heritages, et vous touz, mieltz purrez estre salvez, et le dit roialme et vous [...] defenduz, a greindre meschief et confusioun de touz ses enemys et les vostres; et coment et de quoi les ditz chevauches faites, et les autres necessaires despenses faitz et affaire de jour en autre entour le dit defens et salvacion del roialme, et des autres terres et seignouries nostre seignour le roi, et de vous touz, purront pluis aisement estre levez. | 6. And therefore our lord the king asks of you, my lords the prelates and other great lords of the realm, that you, amongst yourselves, and you, my lords of his good commons, amongst yourselves, duly consider the aforesaid matters, and rather than marvelling that this parliament has been summoned with such haste so soon after the other parliament recently held at Gloucester, that you diligently discuss how, with the least harm, injury and burden being inflicted on you and his good people, the honour of our lord the king, the rights of his crown, of his said kingdom and of his other inheritances, and of you all, may best be saved, and the said realm and you defended, to the great trouble and confusion of his enemies and yours; and how and by what means the said expeditions made, and other essential costs incurred and to be incurred daily in the said defence and security of the kingdom, and the other lands and lordships of our lord the king, and of you all, might with the greatest ease be funded. |
|
7. Et pur estre pleinement appris de la veritee des ditz necessaires despenses faitz et affaire, les tresoriers de la dite guerre serront prestz et apparaillez, a quelle heure qe vous plest, de vous monstrer clerement en escrit lours resceites et despenses faitz puis le dit darrein parlement, et les sommes dues, avec les autres necessaires despenses dessusditz a mettre sibien sur la marche de Caleys, come a Chirburgh', Brest, la marche d'Escoce,
[[The following text has been deleted: et]] Irlande et aillours. Et nostre seignour le roi voet qe si aucun du roialme soi sente grevez d'aucune chose a lui fait nounduement, et contre la loy, qe ne poet mye estre remediez sanz parlement, qe de cella il mette avaunt sa peticion en parlement. Et pur resceivre, trier et examiner tielles billes, nostre dit seignour le roi ad fait assigner certains prelatz, seignours, justices et clercz, par la forme et manere qe s'ensuit; et voet et comande qe plein justice soit faite et ordeinez en ce parlement a touz gentz, sibien a les meindres come a les greindres; et qe ce present parlement soit continuez de jour en autre < tanqe > le roi nostre seignour < vous > ent donne sa congie et licence a departir. | 7. And that you may be fully informed of the true extent of these said necessary expenses incurred and to be incurred, the treasurers of the said war shall be ready and equipped, whensoever you please, to show you clearly set out in writing their receipts and expenses since the said last parliament, and the sums due, together with the other necessary expenditure mentioned above to be assigned to the marches of Calais, as well as to Cherbourg, Brest, the marches of Scotland, Ireland and elsewhere. And our lord the king wills it that if anyone feels aggrieved by anything done him which is improper and contrary to the law, and which cannot be remedied without parliament, that he shall bring forward a petition thereon in parliament. And to receive, try and examine such bills, our said lord the king has caused certain prelates, lords, justices and clerks to be appointed, in the following form and manner; and he wills and commands that full justice be done and ordained in this parliament to all, both lesser and greater; and that this present parliament shall continue from one day to the next until the king our lord has given you his permission and licence to depart. |
| [col. b] | |
8. Resceivours des peticions d'Engleterre, Irlande, Gales et Escoce:
| 8. Receivers of petitions from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland:
|
9. Resceivours des peticions de Gascoigne, et d'autres terres et pays depardela, et des Isles:
| 9. Receivers of petitions from Gascony, and other lands and countries overseas, and from the Channel Islands:
|
| Et ceux qi vorront bailler leur peticions, les baillent avant devant les oept jours proschein venantz finiz. | And let those who wish to submit petitions, hand them in within the next eight days [5 May 1379]). |
10. Et sont assignez triours des peticions d'Engleterre, Irlande, Gales et Escoce:
| 10. The following are assigned to be triers of petitions from England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland:
|
| - touz ensemble, ove .vi. des prelatz et seignours avantditz au meins: appellez a eux chanceller, tresorier, seneschal et chamberlein, et auxint les sergeantz nostre seignour le roi quant il busoignera. Et tendront lour place en la chambre du chamberlein, pres de la chambre depeinte. | - to act all together, with at least six of the aforesaid prelates and lords: consulting with the chancellor, treasurer, steward and chamberlain, and also the serjeants of our lord the king when necessary. And they shall hold their session in the chamberlain's room, near the Painted Chamber. |
| [p. iii-57] | |
| [col. a] | |
11. Et sont assignez triours des peticions de Gascoigne, et d'autres terres et paiis de dela la mier, et des Isles:
| 11. The following are assigned to be triers of petitions from Gascony, and other lands and countries overseas, and from the Channel Islands:
|
| - touz ensemble, ou .vi. des prelatz et seignours avauntditz; appellez a eux chanceller, tresorier, seneschal, chamberlein et les sergeantz le roi quant il busoignera. Et tendront lour place en la chambre marcolf. | - to act all together, or at least six of the aforesaid prelates and lords; consulting with the chancellor, treasurer, steward, chamberlain and the king's serjeants when necessary. And they shall hold their session in the Marcolf Chamber. |
| [memb. 7] | |
| The upper half of membrane 7 has been left blank. | |
| Item, pur certaines enchesons des queux nostre seignour le roi estoit moevez, il comandoit qe certaines cedules a lui baillez en parlement, contenantes diverses articles, feussent enroullez es roulles de < cest > parlement, des queux cedules la tenour s'ensuit de mot a mot: | Also, for certain reasons which influenced our lord the king, he ordered that certain schedules submitted to him in parliament, containing various articles, should be enrolled in the rolls of this parliament, the texts of which schedules are given verbatim below: |
| 12. Ces sont les nouns des prelatz et seignours assignez pur examiner l'estat du roi, a la requeste des communes; c'estassavoir, l'ercevesqe de Canterbirs, l'evesqe de Londres, l'evesqe de Roucestre, le conte de la Marche, le conte < de > Warr', le conte de Staff', le seignour de Latymer, monsire Guy de Brien, ou monsire Johan de Cobham et monsire Roger de Beauchamp'. Primerement, d'examiner les revenues provenantz del subside des leynes rescuz puis la feste de Seint Michel < darrein, > et qe vraisemblablement ent sont a resceivre, tanqe al feste de Seint Michel proschein. Item, de veoir sibien touz les revenues du roialme resceuz depuis le dit temps, come les revenues des priours aliens, et del auncien maltolt des leynes, des voidances des evesqes, abbeis et des autres profitz quelconqes, et queux vraisemblablement ent purront estre resceuz et levez tanqe al dit feste de Seint Michel, sibien par les mains des tresorers de la guerre come en le resceite, et del hanaper de la chauncellerie, et es autres places nostre seignour le roi qeconqes. Item, d'examiner queles maneres de fees ou gaiges les grantz et petites officers du roi soloient prendre en le primer temps le roi Edward l'aiel nostre seignour qi ore est. Item, d'examiner queux annuites grantez par < nostre seignour > le roi le dit aiel, et par monsire le prince, queux Dieux assoille, sont paiez. Item, de surveer les moebles del roi l'aiel, c'estassavoir ou elles soient devenuz, et en queux mains; et queux persones sont paiez en descharge de l'alme le dit aiel; et quelle parcelle ent demoert al oeps nostre seignour le roi; et ou le remenant est devenuz. Et qe ceux qi ent ont distribucioun soient tenuz de les monstrer as ditz seignours, et s'ils sont venuz al profit du roi en descharge de son poeple, ou noun. Item, de veer et examiner la somme de les expenses del hostiel nostre seignour le roi, appellantz devant eux les officers [col. b] del avantdit hostiel, pur mieltz estre aformez. Item, des gardes, mariages, forfaitures et eschetes. Item, des revenues de Caleys et des autres chastelx et forcelettes, et autres revenues de la guerre par meer et par terre. Item, des revenues de Burdeux, c'estassavoir de vin et del billion et des autres tieux profitz. Item, del subside des draps, c'estassavoir le drape ove le seal .xviij. d. Item, des profitz des possessions des cardinalx rebealx. Item, de veer qe ceux q'ont pris gaiges pur la guerre soient fait d'acompter et respondre de ce qe remeint en lours mains. Item, de les deniers appellez Rome-penies, q'amont a grande somme, et de les arrerages des plusours ans. Et fait a remembrer qe les ditz seignours assignez ont comaundement du roi mesmes en parlement, d'entrer, c'est assavoir touz ensemble, ou trois de eux au meins, des queux serront de chescun degree un, es lieux et places le roi necessaires a ceste affaire, avec les officers ou gardeins d'ycelles, et de y sercher ensemble avec les ditz officers les roulles, accomptes, et autres choses quelconqes qe touchent ceste matire, et de faire et accomplir quanqe dessus est dit, et de reporter distinctement a nostre dit seignour le roi et a son conseil quanqe ils < ent > averont fait ou trovez, avec lour bone advis en celle partie. Et nostre seignour le roi voet et comande as touz ses officers et ministres des dites places q'ils monstrent as ditz seignours assignez, ou trois de eux, les roulles, accomptes, tailles et autres evidences quelconqes touchantz ceste matire, et lour ent soient entendantz en la fourme avantdite, tant et si sovent q'ils soient requiz par les ditz seignours ou nul de eux. | 12. These are the names of the prelates and lords appointed to examine the estate of the king, at the request of the commons; namely, the archbishop of Canterbury, the bishop of London, the bishop of Rochester, the earl of March, the earl of Warwick, the earl of Stafford, Lord Latimer, Sir Guy de Brienne or Sir John Cobham, and Sir Roger Beauchamp. Firstly, to examine the revenues arising from the subsidy on wool received since Michaelmas last [29 September 1378], and those which are likely to be received, up to Michaelmas next [29 September 1379]. Also, to inspect all the revenues of the kingdom received since the said time, as well as the revenues of alien priors, and from the ancient levy on wool, from vacancies of bishoprics, abbacies and other profits whatsoever, and which will probably be received and levied from them until the said Michaelmas, both by the treasurers of war as well as in the office of receipt, and the chancellor's coffers, and in any other places of our lord the king whatsoever. Also, to examine what manner of fees or wages the great and petty officers of the king were accustomed to take in the time of King Edward, grandfather of our lord the present king. Also, to examine what annuities granted by our lord the king the said grandfather, and by our lord the prince, whom God absolve, have been paid. Also, to make an inventory of the chattels of the king the grandfather, namely where they are to be found, and in whose hands; and which persons were paid for the relief of the said grandfather's soul; and what part of them remains for the use of our lord the king; and where that remainder is to be found. And that those who have the disbursement of them shall be obliged to show them to the said lords, and whether they have resulted in profit to the king in relief of his people, or not. Also, to inspect and examine the whole expenses of the household of our lord the king, having the officers [col. b] of the aforesaid household called to appear before them, to be the better informed. Also, of wardships, marriages, forfeitures and escheats. Also, of the revenues of Calais, and of other castles and strong places, and other revenues of the war by land and sea. Also, of the revenues of Bordeaux, namely of wine and of bullion and other such profits. Also, of the subsidy on cloth, namely the cloth with the 18d. seal. Also, of the profits from the possessions of the rebel cardinals. Also, to see that those who have taken wages for the war shall make account and answer for what remains in their hands. Also, of the payment called Rome-pennies, which amounts to a great sum, and the arrears of many years. And be it remembered that the said lords appointed have been ordered by the king himself in parliament to enter, all together - or at least three of them, of whom there shall be one of each degree - into the places or properties of the king required for their purpose, with the officers or wardens of the same, to search there together with the said officers for the rolls, accounts and any other things which touch thereon, and to carry out and accomplish it as mentioned above, and to make a clear report to our said lord the king and his council on whatsoever they have done or found, and give their considered advice on the matter. And our lord the king wills and commands all his officers and ministers of the said places that they shall show the said appointed lords, or three of them, the rolls, accounts, tallies and any other relevant pieces of evidence, and they shall attend to this in such a way and as often as they shall be required by the said lords or any of them. |
| 13. Item, les seignours et communes du roialme < d'Engleterre > esteantz a ceste parlement granterent pur eux et pur tout la commune d'Engleterre le subside des leynes, quirs et peaux lanutz; et un autre subside a prendre des biens des certaines persones parmy le roialme, souz certeines fourme et manere comprisez en une cedule ent faite et baillee avant en parlement, dont le tenour s'ensuit de mot a mot: | 13. Also, the lords and commons of the kingdom of England present at this parliament grant on behalf of themselves and on behalf of all the commons of England the subsidy on wool, hides and woolfells; and another subsidy to be taken from the goods of certain persons throughout the kingdom, under certain conditions set out in a schedule made thereon and submitted in parliament, the text of which follows verbatim: |
| Les seignours et communes du roialme d'Engleterre considerantz les grandes necessitees du dit roialme, et la malice des enemys de France et aillours, entendantz grant recoverer au dit roialme, et destruccioun des ditz enemys, qe poent avenir par la grace de Dieu, si suffisantie des gentz d'armes et des archiers en brief soit envoie outre la meer sur les ditz enemys, pur eux grever et lour malice aresteer, selonc la sage discrecion nostre tresredoute seignour le roi et les seignours esteantz a cest present parlement, en lieu ou leur semblera pluis necessaire et profitable, en esploit de nostre seignour le roi et de son dit roialme, grantent qe si la marke du saak des leynes, et les sys deniers de la livre, qe furent grantez au darrein parlement tenuz a Gloucestre, soient pardonez et adnullez a present, la subside des leynes a durer par un an entier apres la feste de Seint Michel proschein avenir, c'estassavoir, < de > chescun saak tant come estoit grantez devant le dit parlement de Gloucestre et une somme d'argent a lever des diverses persones du roialme, en manere come ensuit, sibien [...] dedeinz franchises realx come dehors; c'estassavoir, | The lords and commons of the kingdom of England - considering the great needs of the said kingdom, and the malice of the enemies of France and elsewhere, and seeking full recovery of the said kingdom and the destruction of the said enemies, which could come about by God's grace, if sufficient numbers of men-at-arms and archers were swiftly sent overseas to oppose the said enemies to grieve them and end their malice, in accordance with the wise discretion of our most redoubtable lord the king and the lords attending this present parliament, wheresoever shall seem to them most necessary and profitable, to discharge the business of our lord the king and his said kingdom - do grant that if the mark on the sack of wool, and the six pence in the pound, which were granted at the first parliament held at Gloucester, are pardoned and annulled for the moment, the subsidy on wool shall last for one whole year after Michaelmas next [29 September 1379], namely, there being paid on each sack as much as was granted before the said parliament of Gloucester, and also a sum of silver shall be levied from various persons of the kingdom, in the manner which follows, both within royal franchises as well as outside them; namely: |
| [memb. 6] | |
| 14. Le duc de Lancastre et le duc de Bretaigne, chescun a — .x. marcz Item, chescun conte d'Engleterre — .iiij.li. Item, chescun des countesses veoves en Engleterre, atant come les conts — .iiij.li. Item, chescun baron et baneret, ou chivaler qi poet atant despendre — .xl. s. Item, chescun baronesse veove paiera come le baron, et banresse come le baneret — .xl. s. Item, chescun <bacheler,> et chescun esquier <qi> par l'estatut devroit estre chivaler — .xx. s. Item, chescune veove dame, femme de bachiler ou esquier, al afferant — .xx. s. Item, chescun esquier de meindre estat — .vi. s. .viij. d. Item, chescune femme veove de tiel esquier ou marchant suffisant — .vi. s. .viij. d. Item, chescun esquier nient possessionez des terres, rent ne chateux, q'est en service ou ad este armez — .iij. s. .iiij. d. Item, le chief priour del hospital de Seint Johan, come un baron — .xl. s. Item, chescun comandour de cel ordre d'Engleterre, come un bachiler — .xx. s. Item, chescun autre frere chivaler du dit ordre — .xiij. s. .iiij. d. Item, des touz les autres freres du dit ordre, chescun come esquier nient possessione — .iij. s. .iiij. d. |
14. The duke of Lancaster, and the duke of Brittany, each at —10 marks Also, every earl of England —£4 Also, every widowed countess in England, as much as the earls —£4 Also, every baron and banneret, or knight who is able to spend so much —40s. Also, every widowed baroness, as much as a baron, and a banneress as much as a banneret —40s. Also, every gentleman, and every squire who ought, by statute, to be a knight —20s. Also, every widowed lady, wife of a gentleman or a squire, by assessment —20s. Also, every squire of lesser estate —6s. 8d. Also, every widowed wife of such a squire or of a sufficient merchant —6s. 8d. Also, every squire not in possession of lands, rents or chattels, who is in service or has borne arms —3s. 4d. Also, the chief prior of the Hospital of St John, as much as a baron —40s. Also, every commander of the order in England, the same as a bachelor —20s. Also, every other brother knight of the said order —13s. 4d. Also, from all the other brothers of the said order, each as much as a squire without possessions —3s. 4d. |
| 15. Item, chescun justice, sibien de l'un bank come de l'autre, et ceux q'ont este justices de mesmes les bankes, et le chief baroun de l'escheqier, chescun — .c.s. Item, chescun sergeant et grant apprentice du loy — .xl. s. Item, autres apprentices qi pursuent la loy, >chescun< — .xx. s. Item, touz les autres apprentices de meindre estat et attournez, chescun — .vi. s. .viij. d. |
15. Also, every justice of either bench, and those who have been justices of the same benches, and the chief baron of the exchequer, each —100s. Also, every serjeant and great apprentice of the law —40s. Also, other apprentices who practise the law, each —20s. Also, all other apprentices of lesser estate and attorneys, each —6s. 8d. |
| 16. Item, le meir de Londres paie come un conte — .iiij.li. Item, les aldermen de Londres, chescun come un baroun — .xl. s. Item, touz les meirs de les grandes villes d'Engleterre, chescun come un baroun — .xl. s. Item, les autres meirs des autres petites villes, selonc l'afferant de lour estat — .xx. s., .x. s. ou demi marc Et touz les jurates des bones villes et grantz marchantz du roialme, paient come bachilers — .xx. s. Item, autres marchantz suffisantz — .xiij. s. .iiij. d. Item, touz les meindres marchantz et artificers q'ont la gaigne de la terre, selonc l'afferant de lour estat — .vi. s. .viij. d., .iij. s. .iiij. d. ij s. .xij. d., ou .vi. Item, chescun sergeant et frankelein du paiis, selonc lour estat — .vi. s. .viij. d. ou .xl. d. Item, les fermers des manoirs, parsonages et granges, marchantz des bestes et d'autre mesnue marchandie, selonc lour estat — demi marc, .xl. d., .ij. s. ou .xij. d. |
16. Also, the mayor of London is to pay as much as an earl —£4 Also, the aldermen of London, each as much as a baron —40s. Also, all the mayors of the great towns of England, each as much as a baron —40s. Also, the other mayors of the remaining small towns, according to the extent of their estate —20s., 10s. or half a mark And all the jurats of large towns, and the great merchants of the kingdom, are to pay as much as gentlemen —20s. Also, other sufficient merchants, —13s. 4d. Also, all lesser merchants and artificers who have profit from the land, according to the extent of their estate —6s. 8d., 3s. 4d., 2s. 12d., or 6 Also, every serjeant and franklin of the country, according to their estate —6s. 8d. or 40d. Also, the farmers of manors, parsonages and granges, merchants dealing in livestock, and other lesser merchandise, according to their estate, —half a mark, 40d. 2s. or 12d. |
| 17. Item, touz les advocatz, notairs et procuratours mariez, paient come sergeantz de loy; apprentices du loy et attournez, chescun selonc son estat — .xl. s. .xx. s. ou demi marc Item, pardoners et sommoners mariez, chescun selonc son estat, — .iij. s. .iiij. d., .ij. s. ou .xij. d. Item, touz les ostilers qi ne sont mye al estat de marchant, chescun selonc son estat — .xl. d., .ij. s. ou .xij. d. Item, chescun homme mariee, pur lui et sa femme qi ne sont mye des estatz suisnomez, outre l'age de .xvi. ans, forspris verroies mendinantz — .iiij. d. Et chescun homme et femme soles de tiel estat et oultre l'age suisdite — .iiij. d. |
17. Also, all advocates, notaries and proctors who are married are to pay as much as serjeants at law, apprentices of the law and attorneys, each according to his estate, —40s. 20s. or half a mark Also, pardoners and summoners who are married, each according to his estate —3s. 4d., 2s. or 12d. Also, all innkeepers who do not belong to the estate of merchants, each according to his estate —40d. 2s. or 12d. Also, every married man, for himself and his wife, if they do not belong to the estates named above and are over the age of 16, except genuine beggars —4d. And every single man and woman of such estate and over the said age —4d. |
| Item, chescun marchant estrange, de quelle condicion q'il soit, paie a son afferant come autres denzeins. | Also, every foreign merchant, of whatsoever status he be, to pay according to their estate like denizens. |
| Et qe toutes les paiementz suisnomez ne soient levez de nule persone mais en lieu ou il est demurrant, et nul part ailleurs. | And that all the aforenamed payments shall be levied from people only in the place where they are resident, and nowhere else. |
| Et fait a remembrer qe les sommes suisnomez queux ne sont pas mises en certain, soient assis par la discrecion des assessours et controullours a ce ordenez. | And be it remembered that those of the sums named above which are not fixed shall be assessed at the discretion of the assessors and controllers thereto appointed. |
| Et qe les coillours de le subside suisdit eiont jours de lour paiement, a la feste de Seint Johan Baptistre proschein avenir, et la feste de Seint Pere ad Vincula delors proschein ensuant. | And that the collectors of the aforesaid subsidy shall have days for their payment at the feast of St John the Baptist next to come [24 June 1379], and at the feast of St Peter ad vincula then next following [1 August 1379]. |
| 18. Et est assavoir qe nostre seignour le roi esteant mesmes en parlement le .xxvij. jour de Maii, l'an present, del assent des prelatz, ducs, conts, barons et autres grantz de son roialme, a la priere de sa dite commune fist relesser mesme le jour, sibien les .vi. d. grantez en dit parlement de Gloucestre, a prendre des marchandises a passers pardehors, et a amesners deinz le roialme d'Engleterre, come le novel subside de .xiij. s. .iiij. d. grante en mesme le parlement de Gloucestre, a prendre de chescun saak de leyne, et de .xiij. s. .iiij. d. de touz les .ccxl. peaux lanutz, et .ij. marcz de chescun last de quirs a passers hors de mesme le roialme: veulliant et grantant qe del dit .xxvij. jour de May, la demande et paiement des ditz subsides cessent, et de tout soient oustez. Purveuz toutes voies qe les subsides et custumes des ditz leynes, quirs et peaux lanutz grantez et duez a nostre seignour le roi devant le dit parlement de Glouc', estoisent en lour force, et soient coillez et levez par fourme des commissions sur ce faitz devaunt mesme le parlement as custumers nostre seignour le roi parmy le roialme. | 18. And be it known that our lord the king, being himself in parliament on 27 May in the present year, with the assent of the prelates, dukes, earls, barons and other great men of his kingdom, at the prayer of his said commons caused to be remitted on the same day, both the 6d. granted in the said parliament of Gloucester, to be taken from merchandise exported and imported into the kingdom of England, as well as the new subsidy of 13s. 4d. granted in the same parliament of Gloucester, to be levied on each sack of wool, and 13s. 4d. on every 240 woolfells, and 2 marks on every last of hides to be exported from the same kingdom: willing and granting that on the said 27 May the demand and payment of the said subsidies should cease, and be entirely set aside. Provided always that the subsidies and customs on the said wool, hides and woolfells granted and owed to our lord the king before the said parliament of Gloucester shall remain in force, and be collected and levied by means of commissions directed before the same parliament to customs officers of our lord the king throughout the kingdom. |
| < Pro comite Sar'. > | On behalf of the earl of Salisbury. |
| 19. Item, est assavoir q'il y a un certa in enroullement enroullez es roulles du darrein parlement tenuz a Gloucestre, en la fourme qe s'ensuit: | 19. Also, be it known that a certain enrolment, enrolled in the rolls of the last parliament held at Gloucester [1378], reads as follows: |
| [p. iii-59] | |
| [col. a] | |
| Item, fait a remembrer qe sur la demande qe William de Montagu, cont de Salesbirs, fait d'avoir les terres de Dynbegh' en Gales, il y a un enroullement entrez es les roulles du parlement tenuz a Westm' a la .xv. e de Seint Michel, l'an du regne nostre seignour le roi q'orest primer, en la fourme qe s'ensuit: (fn. 5) Item, William de Montagu, conte de Salesbirs, mist avant en parlement une sa petition, en la forme qe s'ensuit; | Also, be it remembered that upon the request made by William Montagu, earl of Salisbury, that he receive the lands of Denbigh in Wales, an enrolment was made in the rolls of the parliament held at Westminster on the quinzaine of Michaelmas, in the first year of the reign of our lord the present king, in the following form: (fn. 5) Item, William Montagu, earl of Salisbury, submitted in parliament a petition in the following form: |
| A nostre seignour le roi monstre son lige William de Montagu, conte de Salesbirs, come mon tresredoute seignour le roi vostre aiel, qi Dieu assoille, dona et granta a mon pier William de Montagu, nadgaires conte de Salesbirs, et a ses heirs de son corps issantz, ove clause de garantie, le chastiel, ville et honeur de Dynbeygh', et les cantredes de Roos, Roweynok et Kaiemer, et la commot de Dynmael, ove les appurtenantz en Gales, salvant ent la reversion a lui et a ses heirs, come pluis pleinement piert par ses chartres a mon dit pier ent faites. Les queux chastiel, ville et honour, cantredes et commot, ove les appurtenantz, Roger de Mortimer, pere Esmon conte q'orest, come cousin et heir Roger de Mortymer, nadgairs conte de la Marche, demanda devers moi, par noun de la terre de Dynbeygh' ove les appurtenantz en Gales, par brief de scire facias devant mon dit seignour le roi vostre aiel, en sa courte en bank le roi, de ent avoir execucioun. En quiel plee je pria aide de mon dit seignour le roi, vostre aielle, par la cause avauntdite. Et apres brief de procedendo sur ce grantez, le dit Roger, le pere Esmon, recoveri devers moi par juggement les ditz chastiel, ville, honeur, cantredes et commot, ove les appurtenances, par noun de la terre de Dynbeigh' ove les appurtenances en Gales; come en le record et proces sur ce faitz pleinement appiert. En quelles record et proces, et auxint en juggement sur ce renduz, il y ad errour; et le quelle jugement estoit execut, et moi ouste de ma possession, l'an de son regne .xxviij. me , dont je n'avoie unqes rien en value, coment qe mon dit seignour le roi vostre aiel par sa chartre avoit grante a ce faire, come dessuis est dit. Puis quiel perte, j'ai sui de parlement en parlement par diverses peticions de ent avoir remedie, et entre autres au parlement tenuz a Westm' le .viij. me jour de Novembre, l'an de son regne .xlvi. me une ma peticion sur ceste matire estoit endosse en ceux paroles, (fn. 6) Le roi ne voet mie qe l'eir q'est deinz age et en sa garde ne perde rienz pur le temps q'il est en sa garde; mais quant il vient a son pleine age, sue, et droit serra faite al une partie et al autre; et ore le dit heir, c'estassavoir Esmon de Mortymer ore conte de la Marche, fitz et heir mesme celui Roger le cousin, est avenuz a son pleine age. | To our lord the king, his liege William Montagu shows that whereas our most redoubtable lord king, your grandfather, whom God absolve, gave and granted to my father William Montagu, late earl of Salisbury, and to the heirs of his body, with a clause of warranty, the castle, town and honour of Denbigh, and the cantreds of Rhos, Rhufiniog and Cymeirch, and the commote of Dinmael, with their appurtenances in Wales, saving the reversion of them to him and his heirs, as appears fully in the charters thereon granted to my said father. Which castle, town and honour, cantreds and commote, with their appurtenances, Roger Mortimer, father of Edmund the present earl, as cousin and heir of Roger Mortimer, late earl of March, demanded from me, by the name of the land of Denbigh with its appurtenances in Wales, by writ of scire facias before my said lord king your grandfather, in his court of King's Bench, thereof to have execution. In which plea I sought the aid of my said lord the king, your grandfather, in the aforesaid matter. And after a writ of procedendo had been granted thereon, the said Roger, the father of Edmund, recovered from me by judgment the said castle, town, honour, cantreds and commote, with their appurtenances, by the name of the land of Denbigh with its appurtenances in Wales; as appears fully in the record and process made thereon. In which record and process, and also in the judgment rendered thereon, there is error; and the judgment was executed, and I ousted from my possession, in the twenty-eighth year of his reign, of which I have nothing left of value, even though my said lord the king your grandfather by his charter granted to do so, as said above. Since which loss, I have sued from parliament to parliament by various petitions to obtain a remedy, and amongst other petitions at the parliament held at Westminster on 8 November, in the forty-sixth year of his reign [1372] one of my petitions hereon was endorsed with these words, (fn. 6) The king does indeed not wish that the heir who is under age and under his protection should lose anything for the time when he is in his wardship; but when he comes of age, let him sue and right shall be done to either party; and now the said heir, namely Edmund Mortimer who is now earl of March, son and heir of the same Roger the cousin, has come of age. |
| Qe plese a vostre tresgraciouse seignourie comander, de faire venir le dit record et proces devant vous et vostre tressage conseil en ceste present parlement; et appellez le dit Esmon et ceux qi sont en celles parties a appellers, et veuez et examinez les dites record et proces, de moi ordeiner ent remedie, selonc droit et resoun. Et si errour y puisse estre trovez qe le dit jugement soit reversez et adnulliz, et moi restitut a ma possession ove les issues d'ycelle, come la loy demande. | May it please your most gracious lordship to order that the said record and process be brought before you and your most wise council in this present parliament; and having called the said Edmund and those who ought to be called as parties to the suit, and having inspected and examined the said record and process, to ordain remedy for me, according to right and reason. And if error be found therein, that the said judgment shall be reversed and annulled, and myself restored to my possession along with the issues from the same, as the law demands. |
| Quelle peticion lue en mesme le parlement et entendue, dit feust et comandez en cest parlement, par les prelatz et seignours pierres du < parlement > lors esteantz en mesme le parlement, a monsire Johan Cavendissh', chivaler, chief justice nostre seignour le roi, q'ad les record et proces dont la dite peticion fait mencion en garde, q'il ferroit venir mesmes les record et proces en cest parlement sanz delaie. Luiquiel monsire Johan apporta en dit parlement mesmes les record et proces, entre diverses autres recordz et proces comprises en certains roulles tachez ou consutz ensemble. Et sur ce, le dit conte de Salesbirs assigna en parlement par especial et par bouche diverses errours estre contenuz en ycelle record et proces, empriant qe par celles errours, et par autres quelles en ycelle record et proces purront estre trovez, le jugement y renduz soit reversez; et qe le dit [col. b] Esmon de Mortymer, filz et heir le dit Roger < le > cousin, ore conte de la Marche, y fuist [garniz] par brief de scire facias d'estre a proschein parlement d'oier les ditz record et proces, et de faire et resceivre ce q'adonqes en celle partie serra agardez. Et cel brief lui estoit grantez illoeqes, et comandez estre fait retornable en dit proschein parlement. Et puis apres sur le fin du dit parlement, le dit monsire Johan Cavendissh', par comandement des prelatz et seignours du parlement ent a lui fait, portast mesmes les record et proces en le bank le roi, pur y demurrer come en garde tanqe au dit proschein parlement. Et est ordeinez et acordez qe mesmes les record et proces soient en dit proschein parlement par la cause avauntdite. A quele proschein parlement, c'estassavoir en cest present parlement tenuz a Gloucestre le mesqardy proschein apres la feste de Seint Luk l'Ewangelist, vient le dit [conte] de Salesbirs en sa persone devaunt nostre seignour le roi, en presence des prelatz, pierres et autres seignours du parlement, le dit monsire Johan de Cavendissh q'ad mesmes les record et proces dont la dite peticion fait mencion en garde illoeqes present, et monsire Brian de Cornewaille, viscont de Shropshire, retourna en cest parlement le dit brief de scire facias issint fait et grante au darrein parlement; dont sibien del dit brief come del retourn ent fait par le dit viscont, le tenour s'ensuit de mot en mot: | Which petition having been read and heard in the same parliament, the prelates and lord peers attending the same parliament ordered Sir John Cavendish, knight, chief justice of our lord the king, who had the record and process of which the said petition made mention in his keeping, to cause the same record and process to be brought before this parliament without delay. Which Sir John brought the same record and process to the said parliament, along with various other records and processes contained in certain rolls attached or stitched together. And thereupon, the said earl of Salisbury spoke in parliament of particular errors contained in the same record and process, praying that on account of those errors, and because of others which might be found in the same record and process, the judgment passed be reversed; and that the said [col. b] Edmund Mortimer, son and heir of the said Roger the cousin, now earl of March, be summoned by writ of scire facias to be at the next parliament to hear the said record and process, and to do and receive whatsoever would then be decided on the matter. And the writ was thereupon granted to him there, and was deemed returnable in the said next parliament. And later, at the close of the said parliament, the said Sir John Cavendish, at the command of the prelates and lords of parliament, brought the same record and process to the King's Bench, for it to remain there in safe-keeping until the said next parliament. And it was ordained and agreed that the same record and process should be available in the said next parliament for the aforesaid reason. At which parliament, namely in this present parliament held at Gloucester on the Wednesday next after the feast of St Luke the Evangelist [20 October 1378], the said earl of Salisbury appeared in person before our lord the king, in the presence of the prelates, peers and other lords of parliament, and the said Sir John Cavendish who had the same record and process of which the said petition made mention in his keep, and Sir Brian Cornwall, sheriff of Shropshire, returned in this parliament the said writ of scire facias thus issued and granted at the last parliament; the texts of which writ and return thereof uttered by the said sheriff, are given verbatim here: |
| Ricardus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie, et Francie, et dominus Hibernie, vicecomiti Salop', salutem. Cum Rogerus de Mortuo Mari, filius Edmundi de Mortuo Mari nuper comes Marchie, ut consanguineus et heres Rogeri de Mortuo Mari nuper comitis Marchie, avi sui, in curia domini Edwardi nuper regis Anglie, avi nostri, coram eodem avo nostro, termino Trinitatis, anno regni sui Anglie vicesimo octavo, per breve ipsius avi < nostri, > ac consideracionem ejusdem curie, recuperaverit versus Willielmum de Monte Acuto, comitem Sarum, terram de Dynbeigh' cum pertinentiis in Wallie; idemque comes Sarum per peticionem suam nobis in presenti parliamento nostro exhibitam nobis supplicaverit. Ut cum diversi errores in recordo et processu ac reddicione judicii loquele predicte intervenissent, ad grave dampnum ipsius comitis Sarum, vellemus recordum et processum inde habita coram nobis et consilio nostro in dicto parliamento nostro venire, eademque recordum et processum ibidem examinari, ac errores inde repertos corrigi jubere: nos supplicacioni predicti comitis Sarum in hac parte annuentes, recordum et processum predicta coram nobis ac prelatis et magnatibus in dicto parliamento ea de causa venire fecimus, ac insuper errores illos, si qui fuerint, modo debito corrigi, et ulterius inde fieri volentes quod est justum, tibi precipimus quod per probos et legales homines de comitatu tuo scire facias Edmundo de Mortuo Mari, nunc comiti Marchie, filio et heredi prefati Rogeri filii Edmundi, quod sit coram nobis in proximo parliamento nostro ubicumque tunc fuerit, auditurus recordum et processum predicta, si sibi viderit expedire, ulteriusqe facturus et recepturus quod considerari contigerit tunc ibidem. Et habeas ibi nomina illorum per quos ei scire feceris, et hoc breve. Teste meipso apud Westm' primo die Decembris, anno regni nostri primo. (fn. 7) | Richard, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, to the sheriff of Shropshire, greeting. Whereas Roger Mortimer, son of Edmund Mortimer late earl of March, as cousin and heir of Roger Mortimer late earl of March, his grandfather, in the court of the lord Edward late king of England, our grandfather, in the presence of our same grandfather, in Trinity term in the twenty-eighth year of his reign over England [1354], by a writ of our same grandfather, and judgment of the same court, recovered from William Montagu, earl of Salisbury, the land of Denbigh with appurtenances in Wales; and the same earl of Salisbury petitioned us through a petition shown to us in our present parliament that since various errors were to be found in the record and process and in the judgment passed in this case, to the grave injury of the earl of Salisbury, we might order the said record and process to be brought before us and our council in our said parliament, and the same record and process to be examined there, and order the errors found in it to be corrected: we, granting the request of the aforesaid earl of Salisbury in the matter, caused the aforesaid record and process of the cause to be brought before us and the prelates and magnates in the said parliament, and errors subsequently found in them, if any, to be corrected by the proper means, and further wishing to do what is just, we order you that through worthy and lawful men of your county you make known to Edmund Mortimer, now earl of March, son and heir of the aforementioned Roger son of Edmund, that he should appear before us in our next parliament wheresoever that may be held, to hear the aforesaid record and process, if that should seem expedient, and also to perform and accept whatever shall happen to be decided there. And you shall have with you the names of those through whom you caused him to be notified, together with this writ. Witnessed by me at Westminster on 1 December, in the first year of our reign [1377]. (fn. 7) |
| Responcio Briani de Cornewaille < vicecomiti: > Edmundus de Mortuo Mari nunc comes Marchie, filius et heres Rogeri de Mortuo Mari filius Edmundi de Mortuo Mari nuper comitis Marchie, non est inventus in balliva mea postquam istud breve michi liberatum fuit, nec aliqua habet terras seu tenementa in eadem ubi premuniri potest. | The answer of Brian Cornwall, sheriff: Edmund Mortimer, now earl of March, son and heir of Roger Mortimer son of Edmund Mortimer, late earl of March, was not to be found in my bailiwick after this writ had been delivered to me, nor does he have any lands or tenements in the same wherein he might be summoned. |
| Et sur ce le dit cont de Salesbirs en ce parlement pria nostre seignour le roi qe luy pleust a luy granter un autre brief de scire facias, pur garnir le dit Esmon ore conte de la Marche, filz et heir le dit Roger filz Esmon, a la dite terre de Dynbeigh', d'estre devaunt nostre seignour le roi en son proschein parlement, d'oier, faire et resceivre ce qe la loye demande, come dessuis est dit. Quiel brief [p. iii-60][col. a] par nostre dit seignour le roi, par l'advis des seignours et autres sages du parlement lui ad grantez, et comandez estre fait retornable en dit proschein parlement. Et enoultre est acordez en ce parlement qe les ditz record et proces par la dite cause soient en dit proschein parlement. Au quiel proschein parlement, c'estassavoir en cest present parlement tenuz a Westm' a la .xv. e de Pasqe, monsire Johan de Lodelowe, viscont de Salop', retornast le dit brief de scire facias grante au dit parlement de Glouc', de quiel brief, ovesqe l'endossement et retourn ent faitz par le dit viscount, le tenour s'ensuit de mot a mot: (fn. 8) | Whereupon, the said earl of Salisbury in this parliament prayed of our lord the king that it might please him to grant him another writ of scire facias, instructing the said Edmund, now earl of March, son of the said Roger son of Edmund, and heir in the said land of Denbigh, to appear before our lord the king in his next parliament, to hear, perform and receive whatever the law demands, as said above. Which writ [p. iii-60][col. a] was granted to him by our said lord the king, by the advice of the lords and other learned men of parliament, and it was deemed returnable at the said next parliament. And furthermore it was agreed in the parliament that the said record and process of the said cause should be available in the said next parliament. At which parliament, namely in this present parliament held at Westminster on the quinzaine of Easter, Sir John Ludlow, sheriff of Shropshire, returned the said writ of scire facias issued at the said parliament of Gloucester, which writ, together with the endorsement and the return made by the said sheriff, runs as follows: (fn. 8) |
| 20. Ricardus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie et Francie, et dominus Hibernie, vicecomiti Salop', salutem. Cum Rogerus de Mortuo Mari, filius Edmundi de Mortuo Mari, nuper comes Marchie, et consanguineus et heres Rogeri de Mortuo Mari nuper comitis Marchie, avi sui, in curia domini Edwardi nuper regis Anglie, avi nostri, coram eodem avo nostro, termino Trinitatis, anno regni sui Anglie vicesimo octavo, per breve ipsius avi nostri, ac consideracionem ejusdem curie, recuperaverit versus Willelmum de Monte Acuto, comitem Sarum, terram de Dynbegh' cum pertinentiis in Wallie; idemque comes Sar', per peticionem suam nobis in parliamento nostro apud Westm', in quindena Sancti Michaelis anno regni nostri Anglie primo tento, exhibitam, nobis supplicaverit, ut cum diversi errores in recordo et processu, ac reddicione judicii loquele predicte intervenissent, ad grave dampnum ipsius comitis Sar', vellemus recordum et processum inde habita < coram > nobis et consilio nostro in dicto parliamento nostro venire, eademque recordum et processum ibidem examinari, ac errores inde repertos corrigi jubere; et nos supplicacioni predicti comitis Sar' in hac parte tunc annuentes, recordum et processum predicta coram nobis ac prelatis et magnatibus in parliamento nostro predicto ea de causa venire fecimus; ac insuper errores illos, si qui forent, modo debito corrigi, ulteriusque inde fieri volentes quod esset justum, per breve nostrum tibi preceperimus quod scire faceres Edmundo de Mortuo Mari, nunc comiti March', filio et heredi prefati Rogeri filii Edmundi, quod esset coram nobis in parliamento nostro extunc proximo tenendo ubicumque tunc foret, auditurus recordum et processum predicta, si sibi videret expedire, ulteriusque facturus et recepturus quod considerari contingeret tunc ibidem; ac tu in dicto proximo parliamento, videlicet in presenti parliamento nostro apud Glouc', die Mercurii proximo post festum Sancti Luce Ewangeliste tento, retornaveris quod prefatus Edmundus de Mortuo Mari, comes Marchie, filius et heres Rogeri de Mortuo Mari, filii Edmundi de Mortuo Mari nuper comitis Marchie, non fuit inventus in balliva tua postquam dictum breve tibi liberatum fuit, nec aliqua < habuit > terras seu tenementa in eadem ubi ipse premuniri potuit. Tibi precipimus quod per probos et legales homines de comitatu scire facias prefato Edmundo de Mortuo Mari, comiti Marchie, filio et heredi prefati Rogeri filii Edmundi, apud predictam terram de Dynbegh', quod sit coram < nobis > in proximo parliamento nostro ubicumque tunc fuerit, auditurus recordum et processum predicta, si sibi viderit expedire, ulteriusque facturus et recepturus quod considerari contigerit tunc ibidem. Et habeas ibi nomina eorum per quos ei scire feceris, et hoc breve. Teste me ipso apud Westm' .xij. die Decembris, anno regni nostri secundo. | 20. Richard, by the grace of God king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, to the sheriff of Shropshire, greeting. Whereas Roger Mortimer, son of Edmund Mortimer, late earl of March, and cousin and heir of Roger Mortimer, late earl of March, his grandfather, in the court of the lord Edward, late king of England, our grandfather, in the presence of our same grandfather, in Trinity term, in the twenty-eighth year of his reign over England [1354], by a writ of our grandfather, and the judgment of the same court, recovered from William Montagu, earl of Salisbury, the land of Denbigh together with appurtenances in Wales; in consequence of which the earl of Salisbury petitioned us through his petition presented to us in our parliament held at Westminster, on the quinzaine of Michaelmas, in the first year of our reign over England [1377], that since various errors were to be found in the record and process, and the judgment rendered in the aforesaid case, to the grave injury of the earl of Salisbury, we should order the said record and process made thereon to be brought before us and our council in our said parliament, and the same record and process to be examined there, and the errors found therein corrected; and we, granting the petition of the aforesaid earl of Salisbury, caused the aforesaid record and process of the cause to be brought before us and the prelates and magnates attending our aforesaid parliament; and errors subsequently detected, if any, were to be duly corrected; and wishing further to do in this whatever was just, by our writ we ordered you to instruct the aforementioned Edmund Mortimer, now earl of March, son and heir of the aforementioned Roger son of Edmund, to appear before us in our next parliament to be held, wheresoever that may be, to hear the aforesaid record and process, if it seemed expedient, and also to perform and receive whatever was then decided; and you in the said following parliament, namely in our present parliament held at Gloucester [1378], on the Wednesday next after the feast of St Luke the Evangelist, returned that the aforementioned Edmund Mortimer, earl of March, son and heir of Roger Mortimer, son of Edmund Mortimer, late earl of March, had not been found in your bailiwick after the said writ had been delivered to you, and neither did he have any lands or tenements in the same in which he might be summoned. We order you that through worthy and lawful men of the county you instruct the aforementioned Edmund Mortimer, earl of March, son of the aforementioned Roger son of Edmund, and heir to the aforesaid land of Denbigh, to appear before us in our next parliament wheresoever that may be, to hear the aforesaid record and process, if it seems expedient, and further to perform and receive whatsoever may be decided there. And you shall have the names of those through whom you caused him to be notified, together with this writ. Witnessed by myself at Westminster on 12 December, in the second year of our reign [1378]. |
| 21. Responcio Johannis de Lodelowe, vicecomitis: Virtute istius brevis scire feci Edmundo de Mortuo Mari, comiti Marchie, filio et heredi Rogeri de Mortuo Mari filii Edmundi de Mortuo Mari nuper comitis Marchie, per Johannem < de > Hodenet, Thomam de Ledebury, Johannem filium Radulfi de Hodenet et Walterum de Suggedon, probos et legales homines de balliva mea apud terram de Dynbegh' infra nominatos, vicesimo quarto die Martii, anno regni domini regis nunc secundo, quod sit coram domino rege in proximo parliamento suo ubicumque tunc fuerit, auditurus, [col. b] facturus et recepturus, quod considerari contigerit tunc in eodem parliamento de omnibus et singulis in isto brevi contentis, secundum formam, vim et effectum ejusdem brevis, et prout per idem breve precipitur. | 21. The answer of John Ludlow, sheriff: By virtue of this writ I notified Edmund Mortimer, earl of March, son and heir of Roger Mortimer son of Edmund Mortimer late earl of March, through John Hodenet, Thomas Ledbury, John son of Ralph Hodenet, and Walter Sugden, worthy and lawful men of my bailiwick on the said land of Denbigh, on 24 March, in the second year of the reign of the lord king, that he should appear before the lord king in his next parliament, wheresoever that might be, to hear, [col. b] perform and accept whatsoever may be decided in the same parliament concerning each and every item mentioned in the writ, in accordance with the form, force and effect of the same writ, and as is ordered therein. |
| 22. Sur quoi vint en ce present parlement sibien le dit conte de Salesbirs par monsire Johan de Montagu, chivaler, un de ses generalx attournes fait par patente nostre dit seignour le roi, dont la date est a Westm' le .xij. jour d'Averill l'an present, mesme le conte de Salesbirs esteant es parties de dela en la service nostre seignour le roi, come le dit conte de la March' en sa persone, et illoeqes oiez et entenduz le ditz brief et retourn, et les recordz et proces dont mesme le brief fait mencion, esteantz en parlement le dit [memb. 5] conte de Salesbirs par son dit attourne, se profri d'assigner illoeqes les errours quieles il dit estre comprises en les record et proces avauntdites. | 22. Whereupon there appeared in this present parliament, as well the said earl of Salisbury, by one Sir John Montagu, knight, one of his general attorneys appointed by a letter patent of our said lord the king dated at Westminster on 12 April in the present year [1379] - the same earl of Salisbury being in foreign parts in the service of our lord the king - as the said earl of March, who appeared in person; and there, the said writ and return having been heard and understood, as well as the record and process of which the writ made mention, the earl of Salisbury being represented in parliament [memb. 5] by his said attorney, offered to point out there the errors which he claimed were to be found in the aforesaid record and process. |
| 23. Et le conte de la March adonqes present en parlement, dist qe le dit brief n'est pas servi sicome mesme le brief demande: qar il dit qe en le dit brief est contenuz qe le viscont ferroit garnir Esmon de Mortimer, conte de la Marche, filz et heir Roger de Mortymer nadgaires conte de la March fitz Esmon de Mortymer. Et par le retourn de mesme le brief expressement apiert qe le viscont ad garni Esmon de Mortymer conte de la March, filz et heir Roger de Mortimer filz Esmon de Mortymer nadgairs conte de la March, par quel retourn einsi fait doit estre entendu par la < loy > autre persone estre garni qe en le dit brief est contenuz; qar le dit Esmon le pier Roger n'estoit unqes conte; et n'entende mye le dit Esmon ore conte de la March' qe par tiel retourn del dit brief la court voille oultre proceder en dite busoigne. | 23. And the earl of March, then present in parliament, said that the said writ had not been served as the same writ had demanded: since he said that in the said writ it was stated that the sheriff should notify Edmund Mortimer, earl of March, son and heir of Roger Mortimer late earl of March, son of Edmund Mortimer. And from the return of the same writ it plainly appeared that the sheriff had notified Edmund Mortimer earl of March, son and heir of Roger Mortimer son of Edmund Mortimer late earl of March, with respect to which return thus issued the law would understand another person to have been notified rather him named in the said writ; since the said Edmund father of Roger has never been earl; and the said Edmund, now earl of March, certainly did not believe that through such a return of the said writ the court should proceed further in the said matter. |
| 24. A quoi le dit conte de Salesbirs dist qe le dit Esmon ore conte de la March' est suffisantement garni, par quiel garnissement il apparust et feust present, empriant a nostre seignour le roi et as seignours du parlement, q'il poet estre resceuz d'assigner les errours comprises en le record et proces avauntditz, qe sur ce les ditz record et proces duement examinez en parlement, plese a nostre seignour le roi et as seignours du parlement, pur les errours comprises en ycelles record et proces, repeller et de tout adnuller le juggement erroinement y renduz envers lui. Et enoultre, a mesme le conte de Salesbirs faire plein restitucion de la terre susdite, avec ses appertenantz qelconqes, et avec les issues en le moien temps prisez et resceuz. | 24. To which the said earl of Salisbury replied that the said Edmund now earl of March had been adequately summoned, and as a result of which summons he had appeared and was present, praying of our lord the king and lords of parliament that he might be allowed to indicate the errors contained in the aforesaid record and process, and that thereupon, the said record and process having been duly examined in the parliament, it might please our lord the king and the lords of parliament, on account of the errors contained in the same record and process, to repeal and altogether annul the judgment erroneously passed against him. And furthermore, that the aforesaid land might be fully restored to the same earl of Salisbury, together with its appurtenances whatsoever, and with the issues taken and received in the meantime. |
| 25. Et est assavoir qe pur ce qe cest parlement si estoit bien pres au fyn quant cest busoigne feust issint touchez et parlez; et par tant, et pur autres chargeantz busoignes touchantz < l'estat > nostre seignour le roi, et la salvation du roialme, dont les seignours du parlement d'autre part estoient alors moelt grandement occupiez; mesmes les seignours qi alors ne furent suffisantement avisez sur si haute et chargeante matire, ne poaient a ceste busoigne pluis attendre. Mais, par assent du parlement, jour ent est donez as ditz contes en le proschein parlement, toutes < choses > esteantz en mesme l'estat q'ore sont, et sauvez as parties lours resons et chalanges quelconqes. Et enoultre est accordez qe les record et proces avauntditz soient en dit proschein parlement, < par la > cause avantdite. | 25. And be it known that because this parliament was so close to ending when the matter was raised and discussed; and for this reason as well as other burdensome matters concerning the estate of our lord the king and the security of the kingdom, with which the lords of parliament were also then greatly preoccupied; the same lords, who were then inadequately informed upon so important and burdensome a matter, could not attend any further to this matter. But, by the assent of parliament, a day for this was fixed for the said earls in the next parliament, all things remaining equal, and saving to the parties their explanations and arguments of any kind. And further, it was agreed that the aforesaid record and process of the cause should be available at the said next parliament. |
| Pur les executours le roi Edward. | On behalf of King Edward's executors. |
| Item, les executours de seignour Edward nadgairs roi d'Engleterre, < aiel, etc., > mistrent avant en parlement nadgairs tenuz a Gloucestre une certaine lour bille dessouzescrite. Et apres qe mesme la bille fuist lue en dit parlement, une certeine question y estoit demandez des [p. iii-61][col. a] justices, sergeantz et les autres gentz du loy lors presentz, par les seignours en dit parlement; a la quelle question les ditz justices, et les autres dessuisditz, parmy le charge a eux donez illoeqes, si firent devaunt les seignours lour responce en escrit, et le baillerent au clerc du parlement. | Also, the executors of Lord Edward, late king of England, grandfather, etc., submitted in the parliament lately held at Gloucester a certain bill of theirs written out below. And after the same bill had been read in the said parliament, a certain question had been asked of the [p. iii-61][col. a] judges, serjeants and other men of the law then present, by the lords in the said parliament; to which question the said judges and the others aforesaid, fulfilling the charge laid upon them there, caused their written answers to be presented to the lords, and delivered them to the clerk of parliament. |
| 26. Et ore les dites bille, question et responce de novel rehercez devant les prelatz < et > seignours en ce present parlement, al instance des ditz executours, en presence de monsire Johan de Cavendissh', monsire Robert Bealknapp', monsire William de Skipwyth', monsire Roger de Fulthorp', monsire Henry Percy, monsire Robert Tresilian, < justices; et > monsire Henry Asty, < chief baron de l'escheqier; et > Johan Holt, Davy Hanmere, Wauter Clopton et Johan de Middelton, sergeantz le roi, < et plusours autres, > mesmes les executours prierent qe celles question et responce fuist enroullez en roulle de parlement de record, et sur ce mesme la responce q'estoit fait a Gloucestr' en partie corrigez par les seignours et justices en cest parlement, fuist acordez et assentuz qe les dites bille, question et responce feussent entrez et enroullez en roulle de parlement, en la fourme qe s'ensuit: (fn. 9) | 26. And now the said bill, question and response being rehearsed anew before the prelates and lords in this present parliament, at the instance of the said executors, in the presence of Sir John Cavendish, Sir Robert Bealknap, Sir William Skipwith, Sir Roger Fulthorp, Sir Henry Percy, Sir Robert Tresilian, justices; and Sir Henry Asty, chief baron of the exchequer; and John Holt, Davy Hanmer, Walter Clopton and John Middleton, king's serjeants, and many others, the same executors prayed that the question and response might be enrolled on the roll of parliament as of record, and thereupon that answer which was made at Gloucester, having been corrected in part by the lords and justices in this parliament, it was agreed and assented that the said bill, question and answer be entered and enrolled on the roll of parliament, in the following form: (fn. 9) |
| A nostre seignour le roi et as seignours en cest present parlement, monstrent les executours nostre seignour le roi Edward qi Dieux assoille, l'aiel nostre seignour le roi q'or est; qe come ils furent enfeoffez en certains manoirs, terres et tenementz par le dit aiel, a eux et lours heirs, queux le dit aiel avoit de son purchas; et les ditz feoffez firent lour resceivour des issues et profitz provenantz des ditz manoirs, terres et tenementz: la le dit resceivour est defenduz et comandez par aucuns du conseil nostre seignour le roi q'orest, de riens paier pur mandement des ditz feoffes, sanz especial mandement du roi. Par quoy prient les ditz feoffez qe comande soit a le dit resceivour, < de > faire son office es ditz manoirs, terres et tenementz, come il avoit en charge par les ditz feoffes, non obstantz les ditz mandement et defense faitz au contraire. Et qe les ditz feoffez purront rejoier leur possessioun des ditz manoirs, terres et tenementz, en manere come ils furent enfeoffez par nostre [col. b] dit seignour le roi, l'aiel. | To our lord the king and the lords in this present parliament, the executors of our lord the king Edward, whom God absolve, the grandfather of our lord the present king, show: whereas they and their heirs were enfeoffed with certain manors, lands and tenements by the said grandfather, which the said grandfather had by purchase; and the said enfeoffed persons appointed a receiver for the issues and profits arising from the said manors, lands and tenements: and the said receiver was challenged and forbidden by certain of the council of our lord the present king to pay anything on the orders of the said feoffees, without special mandate from the king. On account of which the said feoffees pray that the said receiver be ordered to perform his office in the said manors, lands and tenements, as he was charged by the said feoffees, notwithstanding the said mandate and prohibition made to the contrary. And that the said feoffees may again enjoy their possession of the said manors, lands and tenements, as they were enfeoffed by our [col. b] said lord the king, the grandfather. |
| Et est assavoir qe < monsire d'Espaigne, > duc de Lancastre et les seignours du parlement, et monsire Richard le Scrope, chaunceller d'Engleterre, chargerent justices et les sergeantz le roi, en parlement, par le serement q'ils avoient fait au roi, et sur lour ligeaunce, et en peril de < lours > almes, et einsi come ils veullent respondre devant le roi en temps avenir, q'ils deussent veritablement dire la veritee des articles ensuantz, sur la loy de la terre. C'estassavoir, qe par la ou seignour Edward jadys roi d'Engleterre, aiel nostre seignour le roi q'orest, autrefoitz enfeoffa le dit duc, et autres seignours, des certains manoirs et terres qe furent del purchas le dit aielle, en fee simplement, sanz aucun condicioun, par sa chartre souz son grant seal, quelle lour estoit alors monstree, < de la > < date del quinte jour d'Octobre, l'an du regne le dit aielle cynquantisme; et qe mesme l'aielle > les fist liverer sur ceo plenere seisine, auxint sanz aucun condition en escrit ou par parole. Et puis long temps apres, le dit roi l'aiel pria les feoffez susditz par sa bouche q'ils deussent ordener pur la susteignance des freres de Langle et des nonaignes de Dertford, et de faire un obit perpetuel pur l'alme la countesse de Huntyngdon', et un autre pur l'alme la countesse mareschal, < et certaines autres charges; > si celle charge fait a les ditz enfeoffez en tiel manere puis le doun suisdit serroit par la loy de la terre ajugeable condicioun, issint qe par tant le dit doun serroit ajugge condicional, ou noun? A la quelle question les ditz justices disoient qe si le doun suisdit fuist simple, come dit est, sanz parlaunce devant le doun, ou sur le doun, ou sur la liveree d'aucun charge ou fesaunce qe les enfeoffez deussent faire; qe par nulle priere faite a eux apres ceo q'ils furent en possessioun, nomement par la chartre de roi q'est de record, le dit doun precedent quel fuist adonqes simple ne poet estre fait condicionel. Et enoultre diont qe si le roi q'orest ait droit as ditz manoirs et terres, par autre title, come il poet avoir par plusours voies, par quelconqe cause resonable de quelle ils ne sont a ore < enfourmez > ne chargez, il lour semble qe son droit lui ent est, et doit toutdis estre, salvez. | And be it known that messire of Spain, duke of Lancaster, and the lords of parliament, and Sir Richard le Scrope, chancellor of England, charged the judges and the king's serjeants in parliament, by their oath which they made to the king, and on their allegiance, and on peril of their souls, as they would answer to the king in time to come, that they accurately recount the truth about the following articles, according to the law of the land. Namely, that whereas the lord Edward, once king of England, grandfather of our lord the present king, sometime enfeoffed the said duke and other lords with certain manors and lands which had been acquired by the said grandfather, in fee simple, without conditions, by his charter under his great seal, dated 5 October, in the fiftieth year of the reign of the said grandfather [1376], which was then shown to them; and the said grandfather thereupon granted them seisin, without any conditions, spoken or in writing. And long after, the said king the grandfather requested of the said enfeoffed persons, by his own mouth, that they might ordain for the maintenance of the friars of Langley and the nuns of Dartford, to celebrate a perpetual obit for the soul of the countess of Huntingdon, and another for the soul of the countess marshal, with certain other charges; if that charge laid upon the said feoffees in such manner after the aforesaid grant should be judged a condition by the law of the land, and would the said grant then be judged conditional, or not? To which question the said justices replied that if the aforesaid gift was simple, as said, without discussion before the grant, at the time of the grant itself, or the delivery of any charge or action which the feoffees ought to undertake; that by no request made of them after they had been granted possession, especially by the charter of the king which bears record, could the said preceding gift which had then been simple be made conditional. And they said further that if the present king had a right to the said manors and lands by another title, which he could have in various ways, for whatsoever just cause of which they were not at present informed or charged, it seemed to them that his right is and ought always to be preserved for him. |
| CY APRES S'ENSUENT LES PETITIONS BAILLEES A NOSTRE SEIGNEUR LE ROI PAR LA COMMUNE D'ENGLETERRE, AVEC LES RESPONCES FAITES ET DONEES EN PARLEMENT. | HERE FOLLOW THE PETITIONS SUBMITTED TO OUR LORD THE KING BY THE COMMONS OF ENGLAND, TOGETHER WITH THE ANSWERS MADE AND GIVEN IN PARLIAMENT. |
| [col. a] | |
| A trespuissant et tresredoute seignour le roi et a son conseil, prelatz et autres seignours de cest parlement, tenuz a Westm' le lundy en la quinzisme jour de Pasqe, l'an de vostre regne second, supplient voz humbles communes pur les peticions dessouz escritz, en aide et profit du roialme: | To the most exalted and redoubtable lord the king and his council, prelates and other lords of this parliament held at Westminster on Monday on the quinzaine of Easter, in the second year of your reign, your humble commons request support for the petitions written below, to the aid and benefit of the realm: |
| [memb. 4] | |
| I. [Liberties and Charters.] | I. [Liberties and Charters.] |
| 27. En primes, supplient les communes, desicome la volentee le roi est, qe seinte esglise eit ses franchises et droitures en touz pointz, sauve au roi sa regalie et la commune loye de la terre, tenuz come il ad este en temps de ses progenitours. | 27. First, the commons request, as is the king's wish, that holy church shall have its franchises and liberties in all points, saving to the king his regality and the common law of the land, upheld as it was in the time of his progenitors. |
| Qe plese qe les dites franchises et loyes, ensemblement ove la grant chartre et la chartre de la foreste, soient tenuz et gardez en touz pointz, pur Dieu, et en oevre de charitee, nientcontreesteant aucun estatut fait a contraire. | If it please, may the said franchises and laws, together with the Great Charter, and the Charter of the Forest, be upheld and kept in all respects, for God and by way of charity, notwithstanding any statute made to the contrary. |
| [col. b] | |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Il plest au roi qe seint esglise eit sa franchise et libertees en touz pointz, salve au roi sa regalie, et qe la grant chartre et la chartre de la foreste et les loyes de la terre, soient fermement tenuz et gardez. (fn. 10) | It is pleasing to the king that holy church should have its franchise and liberties in all points, saving to the king his regality, and that the Great Charter, and the Charter of the Forest, and the laws of the land shall be strictly kept and upheld. (fn. 10) |
| II. [Petitions to receive answers.] | II. [Petitions to receive answers.] |
| 28. Item, supplient les communes, purce qe peticions et billes mises en parlement par diverses persones des communes ne purront d'ycelles devant ces heures nul responce avoir, qe de lour peticions et billes mises ore en cest present parlement, et des tous autres queux serront mises en parlementz en temps avenir, qe bone et gracious respons et remede lour ent soit ordeine devant lour departir de chescun parlement; et surce due estatut soit fait en ce present parlement, et enseale a demurrer en tout temps avenir, s'il vous plest. | 28. Item, the commons request that because petitions and bills submitted in parliament by various members of the commons have received no answer in the past, a good and gracious response and remedy shall be ordained before their departure from each parliament for the petitions and bills now submitted in this present parliament, and all others which shall be submitted in parliaments in time to come; and that a proper statute shall be made thereon in this present parliament, and sealed so as to remain in force in all time to come, if it please you. |
| [p. iii-62] | |
| [col. a] | |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Il plest au roi qe des tielles peticions baillez en parlement des choses qe aillours ne purront estre terminez, bone et resonable responce soit fait et donez devaunt departir de parlement. | It is pleasing to the king that to such petitions submitted in parliament on matters which cannot be settled elsewhere, a good and reasonable answer should be given and granted before the end of parliament. |
| III. [Forest bounds.] | III. [Forest bounds.] |
| 29. Item, supplient les communes qe come grantee estoit au parlement tenuz a Westm', l'an primer du tresnoble aiel a nostre seignour le roi q'orest, qi Dieux assoille, qe les purales qe chivachez estoient en temps le roi Edward son aiel se tendroient en manere come ils estoient alors chivachez; et qe par la ou ils n'estoient pas chivachez q'ils serroient chivachez, et qe sur ce chartres serroient faites as touz les countees d'Engleterre: quelles choses estoient faites et confermez en touz les parlementz puis encea. Et jalemeyns les gardeins et ministres des forestes font lour attachementz hors de boundes ensi chivachez, et font enditer les gentz des choses faites hors de mesmes les boundes de jour en autre, a grant damage du poeple, et au contraire des dites gentz [sic: read 'grantz'] et confermentz. | 29. Item, the commons request: whereas it was granted in the parliament held at Westminster, in the first year of the most noble grandfather of our lord the present king [1327], whom God absolve, that the bounds of the forest which were ridden in the time of King Edward his grandfather should remain as they were when ridden; and that where they had not been ridden they would be ridden, and that charters would be made thereupon for all the counties of England: which things were done and confirmed in all the parliaments since this. Yet nevertheless, the wardens and ministers of the forests make attachments outside the bounds thus ridden, and cause people to be indicted from day to day for things done outside the same bounds, to the great injury of the people, and contrary to the said grants and confirmations. |
|
Par quoi supplient les dites communes,
[[The following text has been deleted: qe les dites communes]] qe les dites boundes soient chivachez de novel, en manere come ils sont boundez par les dites chartres, parentre cy et la feste de Seint Michel proschein avenir. Et q'en touz enditementz faitz de vert ou de venisoun, les lieux ou les trespasses sont faites soient specifiez en mesmes les enditementz; et si autrement, q'ils soient voides et tenuz pur nul, et qe peyne soit ordene sur les ditz gardeins et ministres qi font lour attachementz, ou grevent les gentz pur choses faites hors des dites boundes. Et qe les compleynantz puissent recoverir lour damages a tresble vers les ditz gardeins et ministres, s'ils soient atteintz a leur suite. | In consequence of which the said commons request that the said bounds be ridden again, in the way in which they were defined by the said charters, between now and Michaelmas next. And that in all indictments of vert or venison, the places where the offences were committed shall be specified in the same indictments; and if they are not, they shall be invalid and held at naught, and a penalty be ordained for the said wardens and ministers who make their attachments or grieve the people for things done outside the said bounds. And that plaintiffs shall recover triple damages from the said wardens and ministers if they are convicted at their suit. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Il plest au roi qe la chartre et les autres estatutz de la foreste soient tenuz et gardez, et meintenuz en touz lour pointz. Et si les ministres de la foreste trespassent, en grevance del poeple, encontre la loye et l'assise de foreste, q'ils soient puniz selonc ce qe la loy demande: et si aucun soi vorra ent pleindre en especial, pursue devers le conseil nostre seignour le roi, et droit luy ent serra fait. | It pleases the king that the charter and the other charters of the forest shall be kept and upheld and fully maintained. And if the ministers of the forest, to the harm of the people, trespass against the law and the assize of the forest, that they shall be punished in accordance with the law's demand: and if anyone wishes to make particular complaint, let him sue to the council of our lord the king, and right shall be done him. |
| IV. [Raising of loans.] | IV. [Raising of loans.] |
| 30. Item, monstrent les communes, coment ore tarde, puis la darrein conseil tenuz a Westm', furent mandez diverses lettres de credence dessouz le prive seal, par certains chivalers et esquiers de la courte le roi, es diverses parties du roialme, pur faire chevance d'argent al oeps le roi; queles lettres avoient les cowes blankes, et les ditz credensours de lour auctoritee demesne escriverent les nouns des plusours gentz sur les cowes des lettres suis dites, et baillerent a eux les lettres, affermantz qe le roi les maunda a eux, et demanderent de eux grandes sommes tielles come lour pleust, et ceux qi se excuserent de les paier tielles sommes les manacerent fortement depar le roi, et les comanderent depar le roi d'estre devant le conseil le roi, et assignerent a eux jours a leur volentee; a grande damage et affraye des ditz povres communes, et ensclandre du roi, et encontre la loye de la terre. | 30. Item, the commons show that of late, since the last council held at Westminster, various letters of credence under the privy seal were sent to various parts of the realm by certain knights and squires of the king's court, to request loans of silver for the king's use; which letters had blank seal-strips, and the said creditors of their own authority wrote the names of many persons on the seal-strips of the aforesaid letters, and delivered the letters to them, affirming that the king had sent them to them, and they demanded from them sums as great as they wished, and those who excused themselves from paying such sums they fiercely threatened on behalf of the king, and ordered them on the king's behalf to appear before the king's council, and assigned them days at will; to the great injury and consternation of the said poor commons, and the slander of the king, and contrary to the law of the land. |
| Par quoy supplient les dites communes q'ordene soit qe coment q'il plese au roi d'envoier lettres pur apprompter argent en temps avenir, et celui a qi la lettre vient excuse resonablement du dit apprompt, q'il soit a ce [receu,] sanz lui mettre au travail, ou lui grever par sommons, ou par autre manere. | Because of which the said commons request that it be ordained that whenever it pleases the king to send letters to borrow silver in the future, if anyone whom the letter reaches excuses himself on reasonable grounds from the said loan, that it be allowed, without him being put to any trouble, or being grieved by summons, or in any other way. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Il plest au roi. | It pleases the king. |
| V. [Replacement of customs collectors.] | V. [Replacement of customs collectors.] |
| 31. Item, monstrent les communes, coment ordeine soit en parlement qe touz les viscontz d'Engleterre chescun an serront changez et grande partie del profit du roialme pertienant a nostre dit seignour le roi est en le subside des leynes; qe vous plese qe touz les custumers et les countreroullours d'Engleterre soient en mesme le [col. b] manere remuez, pur profit nostre dit seignour le roi, et commune profit du roialme. | 31. Item, the commons showed that whereas it was ordained in parliament that all the sheriffs of England should be replaced annually, and a great part of the profit of the kingdom pertaining to our said lord the king is in the subsidy on wool; that it may please you that all the customs officers and controllers of England shall be removed in the same [col. b] way, to the benefit of our said lord the king, and the common profit of the realm. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi, par l'advis de son conseil, ent ordenera de tieux officers come luy semblera. | The king, by the advice of his council, will ordain such officers as he chooses. |
| VI. [Malefactors from Cheshire.] | VI. [Malefactors from Cheshire.] |
| 32. Item, monstrent les communes qe come gentz del countee de Cestre q'est conte palays, et autres q'ont tielle franchises, viegnent de jour en autre as force et armes ove grantz routes des gentz es diverses countees parmy tout le roialme, et nomement gentz del countee de Cestre, et font diverses felonies, roberies et arcines, ravisementz des femmes, dames et damoisels, et pluseurs horribles trespasses y font; et puis repaierent al dit countee de Cestre, et es autres lieux queux sont ensi enfranchisez, et mes q'ils soient enditez et utlagez pur tiel manere des trespas et felonie, nulle execucion est fait es ditz countees, queux sont ensi enfranchisez. | 32. Item, the commons show: whereas the people of Cheshire, which is a county palatine, and others who have such franchises, by force and arms with great bands of people daily enter various counties throughout the kingdom, and especially men of Cheshire; and they commit various felonies, thefts and arsons, ravishing wives, ladies and damsels, and commit many, horrible offences there; and then return to the said county of Cheshire, and to other places which are thus enfranchised, and even if they are indicted and outlawed for such offence and felony, no execution is made in the said counties, which are thus enfranchised. |
| Par quoy prient les ditz communes q'execucion soit faite des forfaitures des terres et tenementz, biens et chateux, et punissement de corps, sibien en le countee de Cestre et es autres countees q'ont tielles franchises, come en autres countees qi ne sont mye enfranchisez, pur grant profit nostre seignour le roi, et autres seignours de la terre. | On account of which the said commons pray that execution shall be made of forfeitures of lands and tenements, goods and chattels, and corporal punishment, both in Cheshire and in other counties which have such franchises, as well as in other counties which are not enfranchised at all, for the great benefit of our lord the king and other lords of the land. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Il plest au roi qe les trespassours soient duement puniz, et la manere coment ils serront puniz le roi par l'advis de son conseil ent ferra ordener de melliour remedie q'il purra; sauvant au roi et a chescun autre son lige ses droitures. | It pleases the king that the offenders be duly punished, and the king by the advice of his council will ordain the manner in which they are to be punished in order to provide the best remedy he can; saving to the king and all his other lieges their rights. |
| VII. [Scottish prisoners.] | VII. [Scottish prisoners.] |
| 33. Item, monstrent les communes qe toutesfoitz puis les trues prises parentre les roialmes d'Engleterre et d'Escoce, toutes les persones d'Escoce qi furent prises chivachantz a fere de guerre, et autrement trespassantz en Engleterre, et ailleurs deinz la seignourie nostre seignour le roi, ont este liverez quitz de raunson par vertu des trues avantdites; et ore, diverses persones Engleises tarde prises par d'Escotz sont aucuns raunsonez, et aucuns detenuz en prisone, par cause q'ils ne veullent assentir a raunseon faire. | 33. Item, the commons show that ever since the truces made between the realms of England and Scotland, all the Scots who had been captured whilst riding to war and otherwise committing offences in England and elsewhere within the lordship of our lord the king have been freed without payment of a ransom by virtue of the aforesaid truces; yet now, of various Englishmen lately captured by the Scots, some have been ransomed and some detained in prison because they will not to agree to pay a ransom. |
| Sur quoy plese a nostre dit seignour le roi, pur son honour demesne, et aide et socour des ditz liges et subsigtz, ent ordener remede et comander as gardeins de la marche, et les seignours assignez de tenir jour de marche, q'ils ne soeffrent tielle injurie estre faite au roi et ses liges. Mais qe les ditz liges nostre seignour le roi queux sont ou serront issint prises par Escotz, soient [liverez] de auxi bon condicion come l'Escotz prises par les Engleys ont este devant ces heures, sanz aucun raunseon faire. | In view of which may it please our said lord the king, for his own honour, and to help and support his said lieges and subjects, to ordain a remedy, and order the wardens of the march, and the lords appointed to hold Marchdays, that they shall allow no such injury to be inflicted on the king and his lieges. But that the said lieges of our lord the king who are or shall be captured by the Scots shall be freed in as good condition as the Scots taken in the past by the English, without any ransom paid. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Il y a un jour prise sur mesme la matire en les marches, parentre les gardeins d'ambes partz, le darrein jour de Juyn proschein venant; au quiel jour, si Dieu plest, resonable remede ent serra ordenez. | A day has been fixed for discussion of the matter in the marches, between the wardens of both parts, on the last day of June next [1379]; on which day, if it pleases God, a reasonable remedy shall be ordained. |
| VIII. [Sheriffs' farms.] | VIII. [Sheriffs' farms.] |
| 34. Item, supplient les communes qe come nostre seignour le roi ait grantez par ses lettres patentes as diverses gentz grandes sommes, a prendre del corps des diverses countees; et les viscontz des dites countees sont chargez de tout le profit del entir corps sur lour acompt, et ne purront lever les dites sommes, a cause des lettres patentes suisdites as diverses gentz grantez, issint qe plusours viscontz des countees sont destruitz et anientiz. | 34. Item, the commons request: whereas our lord the king has granted great sums by his letters patent to various men, to be taken from the body of the people of various counties; and the sheriffs of the said counties are charged with all the profit from the entire body of people on their account, and they are unable to levy the said sums, because of the aforesaid letters patent granted to various people, so that many sheriffs of the counties are destroyed and ruined. |
| Qe plese a nostre dit seignour le roi et a son bon conseil ordeiner qe les viscontz des countees purront avoir allouance en l'escheqier sur lour acompt, de les deniers des corps des countees as diverses gentz issi grantez, come dessuis est dit. | May it please our said lord the king and his good council to ordain that the sheriffs of the counties shall have allowance in the exchequer on their account, for the money from the body of the county thus granted to various persons, as is said above. |
| [editorial note: Responsio] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi s'advisera par son conseil. | The king will consider this further with his council. |
| IX. [Robbers.] | IX. [Robbers.] |
| 35. Item, supplient les communes qe come diverses larons, robbours et autres felons, soient prises et emprisonez; les unes, avaunt aucune deliverance soit faite de eux, debrusent la prisone et eschapent; les unes aparnent clergie par quoi ils sont sauvez; et les unes par brocage et maintenance faites en le mesne temps sont deliverez, en grant confort et abaundissement des tielx malfeisours [p. iii-63][col. a] et routours et destourbance de la pees et quiete del commune poeple. | 35. Item, the commons request: whereas various thieves, robbers and other felons are captured and imprisoned; some of whom, before any deliverance has been made upon them, break out of prison and escape; some by plea of clergy by which they are saved; and some are freed by brokage and maintenance, to the comfort and emboldenment of such malefactors [p. iii-63][col. a] and rioters and disturbers of the peace and tranquillity of the common people. |
| Qe pleise a nostre dit seignour le roi et son conseil avoir regarde quelles roberies sont ore es diverses parties d'Engleterre par grandes routes et compaignies overtement faitz, et ent ordeiner, qe deux ou trois des meillours et pluis vaux et loialx de chescun countee soient assignez d'enquere des tieux mesfesours, et d'aler maintenant a leur deliverance apres ce q'ils soient prises; horspris en cas de mort de homme, dont soit fait come ad este devant ces heures: quelle ordinance serra grant comfort et quiete al povre poeple, et grant destructioun des dites mesfeisours. Et qe viscontz certifient a ceux qi serront issint assignez en lours countees des nouns de ceux qi serront issint prises, et en lour garde, dedeinz un moys apres qe tielx mesfeisours soient prises, sur peine de paier au roi pur chescun q'ils concelerent par manere susdit .x.li. | May it please our said lord the king and his council to consider the robberies which are at present flagrantly committed in various parts of England by great bands and companies, and to ordain that two or three of the best and most respected and loyal people of each county be appointed to inquire into such malefactors, and to proceed immediately to their trial after they have been captured; except in a case of homicide, where it shall be done as it has been in the past: which ordinance will bring great comfort and tranquillity to the poor people, and the great ruin of the said malefactors. And that sheriffs shall notify those thus appointed in their counties of the names of those who are thus taken, and in their keep, within a month of such malefactors being taken, on pain of paying a penalty of £10 to the king for each person they conceal in the aforesaid manner. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Il a diverses estatutz faitz en ce cas, queux le roi voet qe soient veuez par les seignours et autres de son conseil; et ceux qi serront profitables pur son poeple le roi voet qe soient mises en execution. Et enoultre, le roi chargera ses justices de faire les deliverances si sovent come embusoignera. | There are various statutes made in this case, which the king wishes to be reviewed by the lords and others of his council; and those which shall be found profitable for his people the king wishes to put into effect. Furthermore, the king entrusts the justices with carrying out the trials as often as needs be. |
| X. [Wool of northern couties.] | X. [Wool of northern counties.] |
| 36. Item, supplient les communes qe come a cause d'entre commune parentre les roialmes d'Engleterre et Escoce la greindre partie des leynes d'Everwyk, Duresme, Westmerl', Cumbr' et Northumbr', forspris une petite somme q'est eskippe a Berewyk sur Twede, paiant a custume et subside .ij. marcz pur le saak, < sont > emmesnez en Escoce sanz riens paier a nostre seignour le roi pur subside ou custume; issint qe la ou nostre seignour le roi soloit prendre une grande somme pur custume et subside de les leynes suisdites en le port de Noef-Chastel sur Tyne, annuelment, il ne prist riens par yces deux ans darrein passez, come poet estre trovez par acompt des custumers de mesme le port. Qe vous plese ent ordeiner remede. | 36. Item, the commons request: whereas because of the common boundary between the kingdoms of England and Scotland the greater part of wool from York, Durham, Westmorland, Cumberland and Northumberland, except for a small amount which is shipped to Berwick upon Tweed, paying a custom and subsidy of two marks per sack, is taken into Scotland without anything being paid to our lord the king for subsidy or custom; so that, whereas our lord the king used to receive a large sum from the aforesaid custom and subsidy on wool in the port of Newcastle upon Tyne each year, he has received nothing for the past two years, as may be discerned from the account of the customs officers of the same port. May it please you to ordain a remedy for this. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| [Le] roi le voet qe due remede ent soit ordeinez, par l'advis de son consel. | The king wills that due remedy shall be ordained by the advice of his council. |
| XI. [Scarborough: Defence of the coast.] | XI. [Scarborough: Defence of the coast] |
| 37. Item, supplient les communes qe come les enemys de France ove grandes armes et pluseurs vessealx de guerre ont estee continuelment, et unqores sont, en les parties de North; et nomement devers le couste de Scardeburgh', la quelle ville est perillousement assis sur la meer overtement as assautes des ditz enemys; et les gentz du dite ville, par prise et raunceons des dites enemys q'amonte a .m.li., q'ont este paiez deinz ces deux ans darrein passez, ensi destruitz et amesnusez; et plusours des dites gentz en Boloigne et autres lieux depar dela unqores en prisone esteantz; qe la dite ville est < en > point d'estre ars et destruite et tout le couste environ; et ce en brief temps sinoun qe hastive remede soit ent ordeine. | 37. Item, the commons request: whereas the French enemies with considerable arms and numerous ships of war have continually been and are still in northern parts; and particularly about the coast of Scarborough, which town is perilously situated on the sea and open to the attacks of the said enemies; and the people of the said town, through the exactions and ransoms of the said enemies which amount to £1000, and have been paid within the last two years, are thus crushed and ruined; and many of the said people are still imprisoned in Boulogne and in other places overseas; so that the said town is on the point of being burnt and destroyed and all the surrounding coast with it; and that within a short time unless remedy be swiftly ordained. |
| Qe plese a nostre dit seignour le roi et a son tressage conseil, considerantz les grantz damages et perils qe au dit ville et la couste environ sont avenuz, et unqores apparantz d'avenir, ordener et assigner certeins vessealx de guerre sur les dites coustiers, de les garder encontre la malice et poair des ditz enemys, et ce durant les guerres, en salvation du dite ville, et la chastel nostre seignour le roi illoeqes assis, et de tout la paiis environ. | May it please our said lord the king and his most wise council, considering the great damage and perils which have come upon the said town and surrounding coast, and are still likely to arise in future, to ordain and assign certain ships of war to the said coasts, to guard them from the malice and power of the said enemies, and that during the wars, for the security of the said town and the castle of our lord the king situated there, and of all the surrounding countryside. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Ceste matire est en partie touchez as marchantz des dites costieres qi sont a cest parlement, et par lour advis, et d'autres q'ont appassers lours marchandies en celles marches par la meer, remede ent est ordeinez, par manere come le conte de Northumbr', et le mair de Londres, qi furent assignez en parlement de treter sur ceste busoigne, le sachent pluis au plein declarrer. | This matter partly concerns the merchants of the said coasts who are present at this parliament, and by their advice and that of others who have conveyed their merchandise to those marches by sea, remedy is ordained for this, of which the earl of Northumberland and the mayor of London, who were appointed in parliament to deal with the matter, know and will explain the matter. |
| The following as far as 'Novel-Chastiel sur Tyne' is written in a different, contemporary hand on a loose leaf of parchment stitched to m.4. | |
| Ceste l'ordinance et grante par l'advis des marchaundz de Londres, et des autres marchaundz vers la northe, par assent de touz les communes de parlement, pardevant le comte de Northumbr' et le meair de [col. b] Londres; pur la garde et tuicion du mier, et costerz del admiralte de northe, ove deux niefs, deux bargis et deux balengers, armez et arraiez pur la guerre sur les coustages qe s'ensuient: | This is the ordinance and grant made by the advice of the merchants of London, and others, merchants towards the north, and with the assent of all of the commons of parliament, before the earl of Northumberland and the mayor of [col. b] London; for the protection and keeping of the sea, and the coasts of the admiralty of the north, with two ships, two barges and two balingers, armed and equipped for war upon the costs which follow: |
| Primerement, pur prendre de chescun nief et craier, de quele portage q'il soit, qe passe par la mier dedeinz le dite admiralte alant et retournant, pur le voiage de chescun tonne-tight, .vi. d.; horspris niefs chargez ove vins, et niefs chargez ove marchandises en Flaundres qe serront frettez et deschargez a Londres; et niefs chargez ove leynes et peues a Londres, ou ailleurs dedeinz la dite admiralte, qe serront deschargez a Caleis: les queux niefs les gardeins de la dite mier ne serront tenuz de les [conduire] sanz estre allouez. Item, de prendre de chescun vesseau pessoner, qe pessent sur la mier du dit admiralte entour harang, de quele portage q'il soit, en un simaigne de chescun tonne-tight, .vi. d. Item, de prendre des autres niefs et vesseaux pessoners, qe pessent entour autres pessons sur la mier dedeinz la dite admiralte, de quele portage q'il soit, en troiz simaignes de chescun tonne-thight, .vi. d. Item, de prendre de touz autres niefs et vesseaux passanz par mier dedeinz la dite admiralte, chargez ove charbons au Novel-Chastiel seur Tyne, de quele portage q'il soit, en le quarter de un an, de chescun tonne-tight, .vi. d. Item, de prendre de touz autres niefs, craiers et vesseaux, passanz par mier dedeinz la dite admiralte, chargez ove biens des marchanz qeconqes en Espreux, ou en Northwhay, ou en Scone, ou en ascune lieu en mesme les parties depardela, pur le voiage alant et retournant, de chescun last quar, [sic: read 'quir'] viz lastas graves, .vi. d. | First, taking from each ship and boat, of whatsoever tonnage it be, which sails the sea within the said admiralty going and returning, for the voyage of each ton weight, 6d.; except ships laden with wine, and ships laden with merchandise in Flanders to be shipped to and unloaded at London; and ships laden with wool and hides at London, or elsewhere within the said admiralty, which will be unloaded at Calais: which ships the wardens of the said sea shall not be obliged to escort without an allowance made. Also, taking from each fishing vessel which fishes for herring in the sea of the said admiralty, of whatsoever tonnage it be, in one week for each ton weight, 6d. Also, taking from other ships and fishing vessels which fish for other fish in the sea within the said admiralty, of whatsoever tonnage they be, in three weeks for each ton weight, 6d. Also, taking from all other ships and vessels passing by sea within the said admiralty laden with coal of Newcastle upon Tyne, of whatsoever tonnage they be, in a quarter of a year, for every ton, 6d. Also, taking from all other ships, boats and vessels, passing by sea within the said admiralty, laden with the goods of merchants of any kind to Esbjerg, or to Norway, or to Skane, or to any place in those parts overseas, for the outward and inward journey, from each last of hides, namely heavy lasts, 6d. |
| Item, d'avoir de nostre seignour le roy commissions a monsire Thomas Percy, admiral del northe, Thomas Rust, John Hesildene, John de Scharbourgh' et Robert Rust de Blakenay, gardeins du dite mier, pur lever et parner le dite grante et subside, sibien par terre come par mier, par tout la dite admiralte, et pouer de faire deputez a lever et receivre les diz grante et subsides en les portes par tout la dite admiralte ou les diz gardeins sembliront mestier, issint qe les diz commissioners, et coilleurs, ove leur deputez, soient acomptables a les surveiours et controllours des bones citees et villes desouz escripz, et a nule autres; < et qe leurs commissions soient faites > jointement et devisement a durer tanqe a la feste de Seinte Katerine prochein venant. | Item, to have from our lord the king commissions for Sir Thomas Percy, admiral of the north, Thomas Rust, John Hesildene, John Scarborough, and Robert Rust of Blakeney, wardens of the said sea, to levy and take the said grant and subsidy, both by land as well as sea, throughout the said admiralty, and to have power to appoint deputies to levy and receive the said grant and subsidies in ports throughout the said admiralty wheresoever the said wardens deem it necessary, so that the said commissioners and collectors, together with their deputies, be accountable to the surveyors and controllers of the good cities and towns named below, and to no others; and that their commissions shall be made jointly and severally to last until the feast of St Katherine next coming [25 November 1379]. |
| Item, ordeine est, par l'advis des avandiz marchanz, qe ceux desouz escriz soient surveiours et controllours des avandiz gardeins et coillours, et q'ils averont commissions de ensi fere, et de lever et parner la dite subside en leurs portz, < et entierement deliverer as gardeins susditz, > sanz estre acomptable devers le roy. | Item, it is ordained by the advice of the aforesaid merchants that those named below shall be the surveyors and controllers of the aforesaid wardens and collectors, and that they shall have commissions so to act, and to levy and take the said subsidy in their ports, and deliver it in its entirety to the aforesaid wardens, without being accountable to the king. |
Seurviours et controllours.
| Surveyors and controllers.
|
| XII. [County of Cumberland.] | XII. [County of Cumberland.] |
| Item, monstrent les communes, et nomement les povres communes del countee de Cumbr', come souvent as diverses parlementz ont monstrez, qe come la marche du dit countee adjoynant as parties d'Escoce issint est [p. iii-64][col. a] destruite et degaste par les enemys Escotz, qe n'y ad nully q'ose demurrer parentre la citee de Cardiol et la dite terre d'Escoce, et ovesqe ce, par la ou le chastel et la citee de Cardoil serroient le sovereyn resuit et governayl de tout le countee, les queux chastel et citee sont outrement sanz sure et sauve garde pur defaut de reparacion, et q'ils sont sanz gardein. | 38. Item, the commons show, and especially the poor commons of the county of Cumberland, as they have often shown to various parliaments: whereas the march of the said county adjoining parts of Scotland is so [p. iii-64][col. a] destroyed and wasted by the Scottish enemies that no one dare dwell between the city of Carlisle and the said land of Scotland, and what is more, although the castle and city of Carlisle ought to be the chief resort and seat of government of the entire county, that castle and city are entirely without a sure safeguard through lack of repair, and they have no keeper. |
| Sur quoy plese a nostre dit seignour le roi et son sage conseil considerer les grantz perils queux sont en point d'avenir de jour en autre, et les grantz povert et noun poair de ses communes suisditz, et issint ordeiner qe les ditz chastel et citee soient suffisantment reparaillez, et q'ils aient un puissant gardein illoeqes demurrant as coustages du roi. | In view of which may it please our said lord the king and his wise council to consider the great perils which are on the point of arising every day, and the great poverty and weakness of the aforesaid commons, and to ordain that the said castle and city shall be adequately repaired, and that they shall have a powerful warden dwelling there at the king's expense. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Quant a la reparacion de la citee, il n'appartint mye au roi, mais ent soit mandement fait de compeller ceux a la reparacion faire qi sont tenuz de faire. Et quant au dit chastel, il est en reparant, et covenablement serra reparez. Et quant as gardeins de la marche y faire, le roi voet, par l'advis de son conseil, ordeiner le mieltz qe lui semblera affaire. | As for the repair of the city, that is certainly not the duty of the king, but a mandate shall be issued to compel those whose obligation it is to carry out the repairs. And as for the said castle, it is being repaired and shall be fittingly repaired. And as for the wardens of the march to be appointed there, the king will, by the advice of his council, ordain as seems best to him. |
| XIII. [Bullion.] | XIII. [Bullion.] |
| 39. Item, supplient les communes qe come ils soient enformez par les officers sur la monoie de la toure de Londres, coment, pur defaute de bone ordinance, nul or, n'argent, n'en vient en Engleterre, mais de ce q'est en Engleterre grande partie ad este, et de jour en autre est, emporte < hors > de la terre: et ce qe demoert en Engleterre par les clippers et par autre voie est devenuz trop feble, et de jour en autre tiele damage encresce. | 39. Item, the commons request: whereas they have been informed by the officers of the mint of the Tower of London, that, because of a lack of good ordinance, neither gold nor silver arrives in England, but that most of what is in England has been, and still is withdrawn daily from the land: and what remains in England is weakened by clipping and by other means, and such damage increases from day to day. |
| Par quoy vous plese sur ce prendre bon conseil et remede, autrement les ditz officers ont garniz, come devant vous veullent estre excusez, qe si vous n'y mettez brief remede en poy de temps avenir, la ou vous purrez avoir .v. s. vous n'averez pas .iiij. s. Et oultre, l'entente des ditz officers est qe la monoie ne soit chaunge en aucun poynt, mais qe tielle ordinance soit prise, par laquel l'or et l'argent q'est pardela viegne en Engleterre, et qe ce q'est en Engleterre y demoert, auxi avant qe homme purra. Et qe ce qe demoert en Engleterre soit tenuz bone et fort, et en sa nature come reson est; au profit du roi et de tout son roialme; et au profit des marchantz d'Engleterre, qi vendent lours leynes a Caleys; et au profit des marchantz d'Engleterre, q'achatent leur marchandises en Flandres pur amesner en Engleterre; et au profit de touz ceux qi despendent les dites marchandises. (fn. 11) | On account of which may it please you to take good counsel and remedy, otherwise the said officers have warned us, as they wish to be excused before you, that if you do not provide a swift remedy within a short space of time, where you once could have had 5s. you will not have even 4s. And further, the opinion of the said officers is that the money should not be changed in any way, but that such an ordinance should be made by which the gold and silver which are overseas should be brought into England as quickly as possible, and the money which is in England should remain there. And that that which remains in England should be kept good and strong and of sound quality; for the profit of the king and all his realm, and for the profit of the merchants of England who sell their wool at Calais; and for the profit of the merchants of England who buy their merchandise in Flanders to be brought to England; and for the profit of all those who distribute the said merchandise. (fn. 11) |
| [memb. 3] | |
| Le roi ent voet estre advisez par les officers de la monoie et les marchantz et autres de pluis sages sur ceste matire; et sur ce faire ordeiner le meillour remede qe ce purra faire. | The king will be advised in the matter by the officers of the mint and the merchants and others from amongst the most experienced, and thereupon cause the best possible remedy to be ordained. |
| XIV. [Alien religious.] | XIV. [Alien religious.] |
| [memb. 3] | |
| 40. Item, supplient les communes, purceo q'en parlement darrein tenuz a Westm' estoit ordeine qe toutes maneres religiouses [...] deussent avoir este voidez hors du roialme devant la Chaundeleure adonqes proschein ensuant, pur certains grosses causes alors illoeqes assignez; et unqore nientmeins sont plusours des tielx religiouses deinz le roialme, a grant peril du poeple nostre seignour le roi; et nomement de ceux quex sont des < coustees > de la meer, qar en aucuns places les enemys purront legerment et sodeynement par covyne et assent dex tielx religiouses entrer les dites places, et aler a chival ou a pee mille persones ensemble hors de mesmes les < places > en la terre foreine du roialme, et ce deux foitz as marrees par noeet et par jour a chescun recrest de la meer, come apertement poet estre prove en l'Isle de Haillyng en Hamptshire, et ailleurs. Et auxint ils poent en un noet d'illoeqes envoier en Normandie, et certifier les enemys de novelx de roialme. Pur queux meschiefs et autres eschiure, prient les communes qe touz tielx religiouses datives soient de tout oustez hors du roialme, pur greindre asseurance d'icelle, selonc l'ordinance et l'effect del parlement avantdit. | 40. Item, the commons request: whereas in the last parliament held at Westminster it was ordained that all manner of religious [...] ought to have been expelled from the realm before Candlemas then approaching [2 February 1378], for certain important reasons then given there; yet nevertheless there are still many such religious within the kingdom, to the great peril of the people of our lord the king; and especially of those who dwell on the coasts of the sea, for in some places the enemies can easily and suddenly with the co-operation and assent of such religious enter the said places, and send out by horse or by foot a thousand men together from those same places into remote parts of the kingdom, and this twice with the tides by night and by day on each rising of the sea, as can clearly be proven on Hayling Island in Hampshire and elsewhere. Moreover, they can send from there to Normandy within the night, and inform the enemies of the state of the kingdom. To avoid which troubles and others the commons pray that all such endowed religious be entirely driven from the said kingdom, for the greater security thereof, in accordance with the ordinance and intention of the aforesaid parliament |
| [col. b] | |
| Le roi ent ad fait faire ce q'ent estoit ordeinez pur la greindre partie; et si aucun se vorra pleindre en especial d'autre persone demurrante, due remede ent serra fait. Et le priour de Hayllyng ent ad trovez suffisante seuretee, selonc la forme del dite ordinance. | The king has caused most of what was ordained to be done; and if anyone wishes to make a particular complaint about someone remaining, due remedy shall be provided. And the prior of Hayling has found sufficient guarantee thereon, in accordance with the form of the said ordinance. (fn. 12) |
| XV. [Sheriffs not to be justices of the peace.] | XV. [Sheriffs not to be justices of the peace.] |
| 41. Item, monstrent les communes qe la ou plusours viscontz de les countees sont diverses foitz assignez par comissioun nostre seignour le roi d'estre justices de la pees en mesmes les countees dont ils sont viscontz, souvent foitz font lours sessions de la pees a cause d'enditer pluseurs gentz des felonies et des autres trespasses, a tiel purpos de prendre de les endites outrageouses mainprises et fynes, en grant arriresment et oppression du people. | 41. Item, the commons show: whereas many sheriffs of counties have on several occasions been appointed by commission of our lord the king to be justices of the peace in the same counties in which they are sheriffs, they often hold their sessions of the peace to indict many people of felonies and other trespasses, with the intention of exacting from those indicted outrageous mainprises and fines, to the great injury and oppression of the people. |
| Sur quoi plese a nostre tresgracious seignour le roi et son conseil, issint ordener qe nul homme pur le temps q'il serra viscont ne soit mye ordeine justice de la pees en mesme le countee dont il est viscont, en amendement des meschiefs suisditz. | In consequence of which may it please our most gracious lord the king and his council to ordain that no man during the time when he is sheriff shall be appointed a justice of the peace in the same county of which he is sheriff, to correct the aforesaid abuses. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi le voet. | The king wills it. |
| XVI. [Loans to Edward III.] | XVI. [Loans to Edward III.] |
| 42. Item, supplient les communes qe come en temps de vostre noble aiel, qe Dieux assoille, l'an de son regne quarrant et tierce, pluseurs gentz de son roialme, sibien citezeins et burgeis des citees et burghes come autres, appresterent a vostre dit aiel plusours grandes sommes des deniers en aide de sa guerre, des quelles summes les unes sont en partie repaiez, et pleuseurs nient unqore de riens paiez, a grant anientisement de voz ditz povres communes, les queux ont sovent en diverses parlementz et conseilx tenuz devant ces heures pursuez, sanz due responce, remede ou paiement ent avoir; a lour grant destructioun et damage, et tresmale ensample d'autresfoitz apprester. | 42. Item, the commons request: whereas in the time of your noble grandfather, whom God absolve, in the forty-third year of his reign [1369-70], many people of his kingdom, both the citizens and burgesses of the cities and boroughs as well as others, lent to your said grandfather numerous large sums of money in support of his war, of which sums some were repaid in part, yet some have not yet been paid at all, to the great injury of your said commons, who have often sued in various parliaments and councils held in the past without due answer, remedy or payment; to their great ruin and harm, and setting a very bad example for future occasions. |
| Qe plese a vostre tresgraciouse seignourie, pur Dieu, et en oevre de charitee, et en descharge del alme de vostre dit aiel, comander graciousement qe gree et plenere satisfaccion lour ent soit faite ore au present de les biens queux furent a vostre dit aiel. | May it please your most gracious lordship, for God and by way of charity, and in relief of your said grandfather's soul, graciously to command that compensation and full satisfaction now be granted them from the goods which were your said grandfather's. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi lour ent ferra paiement si tost come il purra bonement. | The king will pay them as soon as he well can. |
| XVII. [Expenses of members of parliament.] | XVII. [Expenses of members of parliament.] |
| 43. Item, supplient les communes qe par la ou lours despenses sont ordeinez en brief nostre seignour le roi, assignez as viscontz de chescun countee a lever selonc le purport du dit brief a eux direct, al oeps des chivalers du parlement nostre seignour le roi illoeqes esteantz; la sont lour dites despenses assises sur chescune ville des ditz countees, selonc l'afferant, par la ou les unes villes sont tenuz du roi qe riens ne veullent paier, coment qe lour tenure ne soit d'auncien demesne nostre seignour le roi; et les unes villes des piers du roialme, qi tiegnent par baronie, qi riens ne veullent paier, a cause qe lours seignours sont au parlement pur eux < et > lours hommes en propres persones, et preignent si largement cel parol 'lour hommes', qe coment q'il ne ad en une ville qe quatre ou cynk bondes, et cent ou deux centz qi tiegnent franchement, ou par rolle de courte et sont frankes du corps, unqore ne veullent riens paier as dites despenses; issint qe toute la somme par celle cause abregge et nient leve, si est recoupe en paiement des despenses des ditz chivalers, a grant damage et coustages de eux; dont ils prient remede. | 43. Item, the commons request: whereas their expenses are ordained by a writ of our lord the king instructing the sheriffs of each county to levy them in accordance with the purport of the said writ addressed to them, for the use of the knights of the parliament of our lord the king there present; whereas their said expenses are assessed proportionately on each town in the said counties, there are some towns held of our lord the king which will not pay anything, even though their tenure is not of the ancient demesne of our lord the king; and some towns of the peers of the realm, who hold by barony, who will not pay anything, because their lords are attending parliament in person on behalf of them and their men, and they interpret the phrase 'their men' so broadly, that although there are only four or five bondsmen, and a hundred or two hundred people who hold freely, or by roll of court and are personally free, still they will not pay anything towards the said expenses; so that the total sum for that reason is reduced and remains unlevied, and so it is deducted from the payment of the expenses of the said knights, to their great injury and cost; for which they seek remedy. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Soit use come ent ad este devant ces heures. | Let it be done as it has been done before this time. |
| XVIII. [Halfpennies and farthings.] | XVIII. [Halfpennies and farthings.] |
| 44. Item, monstrent les communes qe come il est ordeine par estatut, certaines poises de payn, et de cervoise certeines mesures; c'estassavoir, galon, potel et quart; et les ditz communes n'ont petit monoye pur paier pur les petites mesures, a grant damage des dites communes. | 44. Item, the commons show: whereas certain weights of bread and certain measures of beer were ordained by statute; namely, gallon, pottle and quart; yet the said commons do not have small coinage with which to pay for small measures, to the great injury of the said commons. |
| Qe plese a nostre dit seignour le roi et a son sage conseil, de faire ordeiner mayles et ferthinges, pur paier pur les petites mesures, et autres petites marchandises, pur Dieu, et en eovre de charitee; et qe les vitaillers parmy [p. iii-65][col. a] le roialme soient chargez de vendre lour vitailles selonc la quantitee du monoye. | May it please our said lord the king and his wise council to order halfpennies and farthings to pay for the small measures and other small items of merchandise, for God and by way of charity; and that victuallers throughout [p. iii-65][col. a] the kingdom shall be charged to sell their victuals in accordance with the availability of the coinage. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Si tost come le roi nostre seignour purra estre purveuz de boilloun, il voet qe ce soit fait, pur commune profit du roialme. | As soon as the king our lord is provided with bullion, he wills that this shall be done, for the general benefit of the kingdom. |
| XIX. [Tithes from woodland.] | XIX. [Tithes from woodland.] |
| 45. Item, monstrent les communes, de ce qe grant meschief est par les persones de seinte esglise, qi demandent dismes de tout manere de boys, par colour de silva cedua, et les font travailler torcenousement par sommons grevouses devant < juges > de seinte esglise es plusours lieux du roialme; issint qe par tiels sommons et grevances paient dismes de grosses arbres, et auxint pur maeresme q'ils abatent pur amender leur maisons, et pur foail, la ou ils ne soloient ne deussent paier du droit. Mais les dites communes, pur noun poair, et pur grant favour qe les dites persones de seinte esglise ont devant les juges, et purce qe les juges sont parties en ce cas, ils grantent lour volentee a tort, pur greindre meschief avenir eschuir, q'ad este fait as plusours des communes avant ces heures molt sovent: dont ils prient remede qe silva cedua soit declarre en autre manere qe les clercs avant ces heures le ont declarrez pur lour profit, sanz assent des seignours; et par estatut soit ordeine de subboys, ou de certeyne age dedeinz dys: qar devant le primer pestilence nulles dismes de nul manere de bois ne furent donez, grantez ne demandez. Et sur ce qe chescun homme poet avoir prohibicion sur son cas: qar ceux de la chauncellerie entendent qe de quele age qe le bois soit, s'il voet requere qe prohibicion sur ce ne gist mye. | 45. Item, the commons show: that great trouble which is caused by persons of holy church, who demand tithes from all kinds of woodland by colour of silva cedua, and wickedly cause them to appear on grievous summons before judges of holy church in many places in the kingdom; so that on account of such summons and grievances they pay tithes on great trees, and also on timber which they cut to repair their houses, and for fuel, even though they are neither accustomed nor ought to pay that by right. But the said commons, through their weakness, and because of the great favour which the said persons of holy church are shown by the judges, and because the judges are party to the deed, acquiesce in the wrong, to avoid greater trouble in the future, which has been inflicted on many of the commons very often in the past: for which they seek remedy, that silva cedua shall be defined in a way other than that in which the clerics have defined it in the past to their advantage without the assent of the lords; and a statute shall be made for brushwood, or woodland of a certain age below ten years: since before the first pestilence no tithes on any kind of woodland were given, granted nor demanded. And thereupon, that each man may have prohibition on his case, since those of the chancery pay no heed to the age of the wood if a man wishes to claim that prohibition thereon. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Soit use come resonablement ad este devant ceste heure. | Let it be done as was reasonably done before this time. |
| XX. [False accusations and imprisonment.] | XX. [False accusations and imprisonment.] |
| 46. Item, supplient les communes qe come au darrein parlement tenuz a Gloucestre feust ordeine qe certeines persones, seignours et autres, serroient assignez par commission en chescun countee parmy le roialme, q'aient poair par lour commission, qe si tost come ils sachent, ou q'ils soient creablement certifiez, des aucuns routes, assemblees des mesfesours, barettours, ou autres tielx riotours, en lour marchees, en affraie du poeple, et contre la paix, de les arester tantost par lour corps, sanz attendre enditement ou autre proces de loy, et les envoier au procheine gaole ovesqe la cause de l'arest mys en escript, illoeqes a demurrer sanz estre deliverez par mainprise, baille ou en autre manere, tanq'al venue des justices de deliverance en paiis. Quelle ordinance semble a les dites communes treshorrible et perillouse pur les bones gentz et loialx parmy le roialme, les queux par celle ordinance serront pluis communement arestuz et emprisonez par manere susdit, sanz aucune cause qe les mesfeisours, come par male volentee des aucuns des ditz commissioners, et malveises informacions et fauxes acusementz de lour enemys, maintenours et mesfeisours, en paiis endossez as aucuns des justices, surmettantz q'ils sont malfeisours, q'unqes ne trespasserent. Issint qe chescun frank homme du roialme serroit en servage as ditz seignours et commissioners, et a leur retenues. La quelle ordinance est overtement encontre la grande chartre, et diverses estatutz ent faitz en temps des progenitours nostre dit seignour le roi, qe nul frank homme ne soit pris, n'emprisone, sanz due proces du loy. | 46. Item, the commons request: whereas at the last parliament held at Gloucester [1378] it was ordained that certain persons, lords and others, would be appointed by commission in each county throughout the kingdom, and would have authority by their commission, as soon as they knew, or were credibly informed of any bands, assemblies of malefactors, troublemakers, or other such rioters in their marches, disturbing the people, contrary to the peace, to place them immediately under bodily arrest, without waiting for indictment or any other process of law, and send them to the nearest prison with the reason for their arrest set out in writing, there to remain without being freed by mainprise, bail or any other means until the arrival of justices of delivery in the county. Which ordinance seems to the said commons most terrible and perilous for good and loyal people throughout the kingdom, who, as a result of this ordinance, shall be more commonly arrested and imprisoned in the aforesaid manner, for no other reason than that the malefactors, as well as through the ill-will of some of the said commissioners, and the wicked rumours and false accusations of their enemies, maintainers and malefactors, endorsed in the region by some of the justices, allege that they are malefactors, when they have never offended. So that every free man of the realm shall be in servitude to the said lords and commissioners and their retinues. Which ordinance is blatantly contrary to the Great Charter and various statutes made thereon in the time of the progenitors of our lord the king, that no free man should be seized or imprisoned without due process of law. |
| Par quoy pleise a nostre dit seignour lige, et a les tresnobles seignours du parlement, qe ceste horrible et grevouse ordinance soit repelle au present; et ordeiner bone et redde punissement des toutz tielx mesfeisours, issint qe les bones gentz purront vivre en quiete, sanz estre arestuz ou emprisonez, s'il ne soit par enditement, ou autre cause resonable, come l'aunciene loy le voet. | On account of which may it please our said liege lord, and the most noble lords of parliament, at once to repeal this terrible and grievous ordinance; and ordain for a good and strict punishment of all such malefactors, so that good people may live in tranquillity, without being arrested and imprisoned, if there has been no indictment or other reasonable cause, as the ancient law wills it. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Soit mesme l'estatut fait a Gloucestre de tut repellez; esteisant toutes voies l'estatut de Norht' en sa force et vertu; et ceux qi sont pris et emprisonez par vertu d'aucuns [col. b] parols contenuz en le dit estatut de Glouc' sanz autre enditement, soient outrement deliverez. (fn. 13) | Let the statute made at Gloucester be wholly repealed; whilst the statute of Northampton shall in all ways retain its force and validity; and those who have been seized and imprisoned by virtue of any [col. b] words contained in the said statute of Gloucester without any other indictment shall all be freed. (fn. 13) |
| XXI. [Pleas of the constable and marshal.] | XXI. [Pleas of the constable and marshal.] |
| 47. Item, supplient les communes, purce qe nous veons novelx faitz moevez devant le conestable et mareschalle, de ce qe certaines persones des liges le roi sont appellez par bille devant les ditz conestable et mareschall, des tresons et felonies supposes estre faitz deinz le roialme d'Engleterre, et illoeqes demesnez et emprisonez, contre la loy du roialme, et contre la forme del grande chartre, qe voet qe nul homme serra n'emprisone, n'en autre manere destrint, sinoun par loial jugement des ses piers, et la loy de la terre. Quelle chose s'il soit suffert serroit tresmal ensample, et anientisement de la loy de roialme. | 47. Item, the commons request: whereas we are witnessing new actions made before the constable and marshal, in the sense that certain of the king's lieges are summoned by bill before the said constable and marshal for treasons and felonies supposedly committed within the kingdom of England, and there they are demeaned and imprisoned, contrary to the law of the realm, and contrary to the form of the Great Charter, which states that no man be imprisoned, nor distrained in any way, unless by the loyal judgment of his peers, and the law of the land. Which action, if it continues to be allowed shall set a very bad example and be destructive to the law of the land. |
| Par quoi vous pleise ent ordeiner remede qe les dites conestable et mareschalle cessent des tielx plees tenir; et touz tieux plees des choses supposez estre faite deinz le roialme d'Engleterre soient triez et terminez devaunt justice, par commune loy du roialme, et la forme del grande chartre susdite; eantz regard qe touz les gentz du roialme, de quel estat ou condicioun q'ils soient, purront estre issint empeschez et destruitz par fauxe compassement de lour enemys. | In consequence of which, may it please you to ordain remedy, so that the said constable and marshal shall cease to hold such pleas; and all such pleas upon things supposed to have been done within the kingdom of England shall be tried and determined before a judge, by the common law of the land and the form of the aforesaid Great Charter; bearing in mind that all the people of the kingdom, of whatever status or condition they may be, may be thus impeached and ruined by the fraudulent machinations of their enemies. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Pur ce qe les heirs qi cleiment l'office de conestable sont de tendre age, et en la garde nostre seignour le roi, et la chose demande grant deliberation, et tuche si haute matire, et l'estat de la corone nostre seignour le roi, et le parlement est pres a fyn, les seignours du parlement ne poent, ne ne oesent, ent faire finale discution quant au present. Mais quant a la querele q'est novelement attame devaunt les ditz conestable et mareschalle, tuchant un appell de treson faite en Cornewaill', a ce q'est dit; nostre seignour le roi prendra la dite querele en sa main, et en outre ferra assigner des tieux commissioners come luy plerra, pur oier et terminer la dite querele, selonc les loys et usages de la terre, sauvant chescuny droit. | Because the heirs who claim the office of constable are of tender age, and in the ward of our lord the king, and because the matter requires lengthy deliberation, and concerns so important a matter as well as the estate of the crown of our lord the king, and because the parliament is near to its end, the lords of parliament are unable to, and dare not, conclude the matter at present. But as for the action which has recently begun before the said constable and marshal touching an appeal of treason made in Cornwall, as it is said, our lord the king shall take the said case into his own hands, and furthermore he will cause to be appointed such commissioners as he chooses to hear and settle the said case, in accordance with the laws and usages of the land, saving to everyone his right. |
| XXII. [Justices of the peace and labourers.] | XXII. [Justices of the peace and labourers.] |
| 48. Item, supplient les communes qe en chescun countee d'Engleterre soient ordeinez .vi. ou .vij. justices de la paix, dont les deux soient aprisez de la loy, et q'ils soient fermement chargez par nostre seignour le roi et son conseil, de faire lour sessions quatre foitz par an au meins, selonc l'estatut, et qe touz les servantz, vitaillers, laborers et artificers queux serront atteintz devant eux d'exces, et queux ferront fyn pur leur trespas, qe lour fyn ne soit meyns qe lour exces, mais pluis s'il busoigne, par discretion des justices issint a punir et par toutes les autres voies qe les estatutz de eux ent faitz purportent. Et qe chescun des ditz justices, pur le temps q'ils soient present en aucuns des sessions, aient gages de nostre seignour le roi pur chescun jour un certein, pur lour sessions, a paier par les maynes des viscontz ou ils serront justices, des issues de lour baillie. Et qe les justices aient franchement brief pur lour fee de seal hors del chauncellerie as viscontz, pur paier lour gages avauntdites. Et qe les viscontz aient auxint brief hors del chauncellerie as barons del escheqier, de lour allouer tielx paiementz sur leur acompt; et qe nul soit associe du coste par brief de la chauncellerie, n'en autre manere, as justices avantditz. Et qe les ditz justices, viscontz, seignours des villes, conestables, et baillifs, en chescune countee aient poair d'attacher et arester toutz les puissantz de corps, wagarantz en leur baillies, de servir et laborer selonc l'estatut; et s'ils refusent de servir, q'ils soient mandez al proschein gaole, a demurrer en prisone tanq'ils se veullent justifier, selonc l'estatut ent ordeine. Et q'un estatut soit fait en ce present parlement de ceste matire, perpetuelment a durer de la feste de Seinte Michel proschein avenir: et q'en le mesne temps soit crie fait par les viscontz en chescune ville marchee par tout le roialme de la force de cest estatut, siqe les ditz servantz, vitaillers, artificers et laborers, se purroient retrere de lours outrageouses prises s'ils veullent, ou autrement les ditz [p. iii-66][col. a] communes serront en brief temps destruitz et anientiz as touz jours. Et qe les dites justices soient esluz par l'advis des seignours et communes de parlement de les pluis vanis et sages de chescun countee, q'a celle office puissent et veullent continuelment entendre. | 48. Item, the commons request: that in every county of England there shall be ordained six or seven justices of the peace, of whom two shall be learned in law, and that they shall be strictly charged by our lord the king and his council to hold their sessions at least four times a year, in accordance with the statute, and that all servants, victuallers, labourers and artificers who shall be convicted before them of excess and who shall pay a fine for their offence shall not pay a fine which is less than their excess, but more if need be, at the discretion of the justices inflicting the punishment, and shall be punished by all the other ways provided in the statute made thereon. And that each of the said justices, for the time during which they attend any of the sessions, shall have wages from our lord the king, consisting of a fixed amount for each day of their sessions, to be paid by the sheriffs of the counties where they are justices from the issues of their bailiwick. And that the justices shall freely receive a writ for their fee sealed in chancery and instructing the sheriffs to pay their aforesaid wages. And that the sheriffs shall also have a writ from the chancery addressed to the barons of the exchequer instructing them to allow such payments on their account; and that no one shall be associated with the aforesaid justices by writ of the chancery or in any other way. And that the said justices, sheriffs, lords of the towns, constables, and bailiffs in each county shall have the power to attach and arrest all the able-bodied, wandering about their bailiwicks, to serve and labour in accordance with the statute; and if they refuse to serve, that they shall be sent to the nearest gaol, to remain in prison until they will justify themselves in accordance with the statute ordained thereon. And that a statute shall be made in this present parliament hereon, to endure forever from Michaelmas next: and that in the meantime proclamation shall be made by the sheriffs in each market town throughout the realm of the substance of this statute, so that the said servants, victuallers, artificers and labourers may withdraw their outrageous demands if they will, for otherwise the said [p. iii-66][col. a] commons will be forever ruined and destroyed within a short space of time. And that the said justices shall be elected upon the advice of the lords and commons of parliament from amongst the most respected and experienced men of each county, who are able to and will attend continually to this duty. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi, par l'avis de son conseil, ferra ordeiner de resonable nombre des bones et suffisantz justices en chescun countee d'Engleterre, aiant consideracioun a la quantitee des countees; et voet q'ils ne soient remuez, n'autres a eux associez, sanz l'assent du conseil. Et quant a les peynes ent a ordener, il a des suffisantz paines ordeinez par estatut devaunt ceste heure, les queux peines et estatutz le roi voet qe soient mises en due execucion. Et quant as gages des justices, aient trois ou deux des ditz justices qi tendront les sessions, pur profit du roi et de son poeple, la sisme partie des profitz provenantz de lours estretz, tanqe au proschein parlement. | The king, upon the advice of his council, will cause a reasonable number of good and sufficient justices to be ordained in each county of England, bearing in mind the size of the counties; and he wills that they shall not be removed, or others associated with them, without the assent of the council. And as for the penalties to be ordained hereon, he has ordained adequate penalties by statute before this time, which penalties and statutes the king wills shall be duly put into practice. And as for the wages of the justices, let two or three of the said justices who hold their sessions, for the benefit of the king and his people, have a sixth of the profits arising from their estreats, until the next parliament. |
| XXIII. [Writs not to be delayed.] | XXIII. [Writs not to be delayed.] |
| 49. Item, prient les communes qe come par estatut soit ordeine qe la ou tenementz sont demandez devers le roi, et evidences sont serchez en tresorie par brief, soit celui qi suit pur le roi mys a respondre apres quatre briefs retournez, chescun brief eant l'espace de .xl. jours devant le retourne, et qe cel estatut ne soit mys en delaye par mandement de petit ou de grant seal le roi. Mais, purce qe nul remede est ordene devers les gardeins du dite tresorie s'ils ne retornent les ditz briefs, si sont pluseurs du roialme delaiez de lour droit, aucun foitz a terme des ans, aucun foitz a terme de vie. Qe plese a vostre tresexcellent seignourie, en celle partie ordeiner bone et gracious remede. | 49. Item, the commons pray: whereas it is ordained by statute that where tenements are demanded from the king, and documentary evidence is searched for in the treasury by writ, whosoever sues for the king shall be brought to answer after four writs returned, each writ having the space of forty days before the return, that this statute shall not be delayed by mandate of the king's petty or great seal; but because no remedy is ordained against the keepers of the said treasury if they do not return the said writs, many people of the kingdom are delayed from obtaining their due, sometimes for years, sometimes for life. May it please your most excellent lordship, to ordain a good and gracious remedy for this matter. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Soit mesme l'estatut gardez et mys en execucion. | Let the same statute be kept and put into practice. |
| XXIV. [Shipowners and mariners.] | XXIV. [Shipowners and mariners.] |
| 50. Item, prie la commune, purce qe en temps passe la terre d'Engleterre estoit bien repleine de navie, auxibien des niefs grosses come des petites, par quiel navie la dite terre estoit a celle heure grandement enrichez, et des toutes terres enviroun grandement redoutez. Et puis la comencement de la guerre les ditz niefs ont este si sovent arestuz pur diverses viages sur la meer, paront les possessours du dit navie < ont > suffertz si grant damage et perde, sibien des niefs et batelx come des autres attilementz a ce appurtenantz, sanz avoir aucun regard du roi ou de roialme; et auxint leurs mariners, les unes armez, et les autres archiers, ne preignent qe .iiij. d. le jour; quelle prise leur semble si petite qe grande partie des mariners sont retretz des ditz offices, issint par une voie et par autre les possessours des niefs, et la navie est bien pres gaste et destruit. | 50. Item, the commons pray: whereas in the past the land of England was well provided with a resplendent navy, comprising large ships as well as small, by which navy the said land was greatly enriched at that time, and greatly feared by all neighbouring lands. Yet since the beginning of the war the said ships have been seized too often for various expeditions on the sea, as a result of which the owners of the said fleet have suffered very great damage and loss, both of ships and boats as well as equipment pertaining to them, without any regard given to the king or the kingdom; and in addition, their mariners, some armed and some archers, only receive 4d. a day; which payment seems so small to them that a large number of the mariners have abandoned their said duties, so that by one means or another the shipowners and the fleet are almost wholly wasted and destroyed. |
| Sur quoy pleise ordeiner, par advys du conseil, qe les possessours des niefs aient regard pur lour niefs, et les marineres lours gages oweles as autres archiers, comenceant les dites gages a lour moustre: quelles amendement ferront si grant esploit en temps avenir, q'il tournera a grant profit du roi et du roialme. | Whereupon, may it please you to ordain, by the advice of the council, that the owners of ships shall receive consideration for their ships, and that the mariners shall receive wages equal to other archers, beginning the said wages at their muster: which amendment shall encourage such effort in time to come that it will turn to the great advantage of the king and the kingdom. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Soit usez come devant ent ad este usez. | Let it be done as it has been done in the past. |
| XXV. [Knights and burgesses.] | XXV. [Knights and burgesses.] |
| 51. Item, prient les chivalers, citezeins et burgeis, queux sont travaillez a ce present parlement pur lour countees, citees et burghes, q'ils ne soient coillours, assessours, ne contrerollours de ceste summe grante a nostre seignour le roi au present. | 51. Item, the knights, citizens and burgesses who have travelled to this present parliament to represent their counties, cities and boroughs, pray that they be not made collectors, assessors or controllers of the great sum now granted to our lord the king. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Il plest au roi, parissint q'ils deliverent au conseil en escrit devant lour departir les nouns de pluis suffisantz et discretes persones en chescune countee, citee et burghe, sibien pur l'assession, come pur coiller le dit subside. | It is pleasing to the king, provided that they submit to the council in writing before their departure the names of the most worthy and discreet people in each county, city and borough, both for the assessment as well as for the collection of the said subsidy. |
| XXVI. [Royal pardons.] | XXVI. [Royal pardons.] |
| 52. Item, prie la commune qe nostre seignour le roi de sa grace especial lour face pardoun de toutes maneres pointz d'eir tanqe a cest present feste de Pentecost, et de toutz les [col. b] aunciens dettes desperrez pendantz en l'escheqier de tout temps de ses progenitours; et auxint de toutz pointz d'eir de foreste tanq'al feste avauntdit. Et sur ce grauntir chartres hors del chauncellerie en chescun countee a ceux qi le veullent pursuir, pur fee de seal. | 52. Item, the commons pray: that our lord the king of his special grace shall grant them pardon of all manner of eyre until this present feast of Whitsun, and from all the [col. b] desperate debts pending in the exchequer from the time of his progenitors; and also from all points of eyre of the forest until the aforesaid feast. And thereupon to grant charters from the chancery in each county to those who will sue, for the price of sealing. |
| [memb. 2] | |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi s'advisera. | The king will consider it. |
| XXVII. [Treasurers of war.] | XXVII. [Treasurers of war.] |
| 53. Item, prie la commune qe les tresorers de guerre soient deschargez de lours offices, et qe le tresorer le roi d'Engleterre soit ordeine de resceivre tout l'argent, et toutes les grantes queux serront faites desore pur les guerres, en manere come il ad este use avant ces heures. | 53. Item, the commons pray: that the treasurers of war shall be discharged from their offices, and that the treasurer of the king of England shall be appointed to receive all the silver, and all the grants which shall be made henceforth for the wars, in the way which it has been done in the past. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Il plest au roi qe les ditz tresoriers de la guerre soient desore deschargez de lour office faire, et qe le tresorier d'Engleterre, et les chamberleins de l'escheqier, ent facent lour office, par manere come avant ces heures soloient faire. | It is pleasing to the king that the said treasurers of the war shall henceforth be discharged from performance of their duties, and that the treasurer of England and the chamberlain of the exchequer shall continue in office, as has customarily been done in the past. |
| XXVIII. [Merchants and bullion.] | XXVIII. [Merchants andbullion.] |
| 54. Item, prient les communes qe nul homme n'aporte en Engleterre draps d'or ne de soye, keverchiefs, perree, ne nul manere des joealx, ne de pelleure; n'amesne nulle leyne hors d'Engleterre de cest jour en avant, s'il ne port .ij. s. d'esterlings en boilloun pur chescune livre, pur encresser l'or et l'argent deinz le roialme; a durer tanq'a proschein parlement. | 54. Item, the commons pray: that no man shall bring into England cloth of gold or of silk, kerchiefs, precious stones, or any kind of jewels, nor fur; nor take any wool out of England from this day onwards unless he brings 2s. sterling in bullion for each pound, to increase the gold and silver within the kingdom; to last until the next parliament. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Ordenez est en parlement qe pur chescune livre draps d'or et de soie, de keverchiefs, de perree et de touz maneres de joealx, et pelleure, a amesners deinz le roialme apres la Seint Johan proschein venant; et auxint de chescune livre par nombre provenante de la darrein vente en Engleterre a faire, les leynes, peaux lanutz et quirs qe serront amesnez hors du roialme apres la dite feste, les marchantz ent soient tenuz d'apporter boillon d'or ou d'argent a la value de .xij. esterlings a la toure de Londres. C'estassaver, pur les ditz draps, keverchiefs, perree, joialx et < pelleure, > deinz le demy an proschein apres la venue d'ycelles deinz le roialme d'Engleterre; et pur les dites leynes, quirs et peaux, deinz l'an proschein apres le passage d'ycelles hors del dit roialme. Et a ce faire bien et loialment troevent les marchantz suffisante seuretee devant les custumers es portz ou les ditz choses vendront ou passeront; c'estassavoir, les ditz marchantz venantz deinz le roialme avec les ditz draps, keverchiefs, perree, joealx et pelleure, a lour venue; et les marchantz des leynes, peaux et quirs, a lour dit passage hors del roialme. Et comencera ceste ordinance de tenir lieu au dite feste de Seint Johan proschein venant, a durer tanqe al proschein parlement, pur assaier en le moien temps si ce soit profitable pur le roi et son roialme, ou nemye. Et si voet nostre seignour le roi qe les dites seuretees issint affaires par manere qe dit est, soient par les ditz custumers mandez en l'escheqier al fyn del dit an. | It is ordained in parliament that for each pound's worth of gold and silk cloth, of kerchiefs, precious stones and all kinds of jewels, and fur, to be brought into the kingdom after the feast of St John next [24 June 1379]; and also for each pound by number arising from the last sale in England to be made, the wool, woolfells and hides which shall be taken out of the kingdom after the said feast, the merchants shall be obliged to bring bullion of gold or silver to a value of twelve silver pennies to the Tower of London. That is to say, for the said cloth, kerchiefs, precious stones, jewels, and fur, within half a year of the arrival of the same within the kingdom of England; and for the said wool, hides, and skins, within a year of the passage of the same out of the said kingdom. And the merchants shall give surety before the customs officers in the ports where the said items are being imported or exported, that they shall perform it well and loyally; namely, the said merchants entering the said kingdom with the said cloth, kerchiefs, precious stones, jewels and fur, on their arrival; and the merchants of wool, woolfells and hides, on their passage out of the said kingdom. And this ordinance shall take effect from the said feast of St John next, and shall remain in force until the next parliament, so that in the meantime it can be gauged whether it is beneficial for the king and his kingdom or not. And if our said lord the king wills it, that the said pledges thus made in the aforementioned manner shall be sent by the said customs officers to the exchequer at the end of the said year. |
| XXIX. [Sumptuary law.] | XXIX. [Sumptuary law.] |
| 55. Item, qe nul homme ne femme deinz le dit roialme, forspris chivalers et dames, ne use nul manere de perree, pelleure, draps d'or, ne ribane d'ore, ne drap de soye, s'il ne poet dispendre .xl.li. par an, sur paine de forfaiture de quanqe il use a contraire d'ycestes. | 55. Item, that no man or woman within the said kingdom, except knights and ladies, shall wear any kind of fur, cloth of gold, or ribbon of gold, or cloth of silk, if they cannot spend £40 a year, on pain of forfeiting whatever they wear if they contravene this. |
| [editorial note: Responsio.] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi s'advisera tanqe a proschein parlement. | The king will consider it further before the next parliament. |
| XXX. [Goldsmiths' hallmarks.] | XXX. [Goldsmiths' hallmarks.] |
| 56. Item, pur ce qe l'or et l'argent q'est oevere par orfevres en Engleterre est plusours foitz trove meyns fyn q'il doit estre, par cause qe les orfevres sont lours juges mesmes; soit ordeine decy enavant, qe chescune orfevre eit son merche propre sur son oevereigne, et l'assaie de touche soit as mairs et governours des citees et burghes, ovesqe l'eide de meistre del monoye, s'il mestre soit; portant le merche del citee ou burghe ou il est assaie. | 56. Item, whereas gold and silver which is worked by goldsmiths in England is on many occasions found to be less pure than it ought to be, because the goldsmiths are their own judges; be it ordained from now on that each goldsmith shall place his own stamp upon his work, and the assay of touch shall fall to the mayors and governors of the cities and boroughs, assisted by the master of the mint if need be; bearing the stamp of the city or borough where it was assayed. |
| [p. iii-67] | |
| [col. a] | |
| Item, est ordenez qe chescun orfevre d'Engleterre eit desore son propre merche par soi mesmes; et si aucun vesselle q'est affaire soit trovez deinz le roialme apres la nativite Seint Johan proschein venant nient merchez del merche del orfevre qe le fist, ou soit de < pir > alay qe l'esterling; qe mesme l'orfevre soit tenuz de paier a la partie pleignante le double value de mesme le vesselle, et jademeins eit la prisone, et face fyn selonc la quantitee et qualitee de trespas. Et enoutre nostre seignour le roi ferra assigner des tieux come luy plerra, de faire la dite assaie sibien a Londres come aillours, as touz les foitz come embusoignera; et apres l'assaie faite, de mercher le dit oeveraigne de une autre merche a ce assigner par nostre dit seignour le roi. Et est assentuz qe ceste ordinance comencera de tenir lieu a la dite feste de Seint Johan, et durera tanqe a proschein parlement, pur assaier en le moien temps si ce soit profitable, ou nemye. | Item, it is ordained that every goldsmith of England shall henceforth have his own personal stamp; and if any vessel to be made is found within the kingdom after the nativity of St John next [24 June 1379] without the stamp of the goldsmith who made it, or is made of base alloy rather than sterling silver; that the same goldsmith shall be obliged to pay to the plaintiff party twice the value of the same vessel, and even then he shall be sent to prison, and pay a fine in accordance with the degree and nature of his offence. Furthermore, our lord the king shall appoint whomsoever he chooses to carry out the said assay at London as well as elsewhere, as often as need be; and after the assay is done, to stamp the said work with another mark assigned for the purpose by our said lord the king. And it is agreed that this ordinance shall begin to take effect on the said feast of St John, and last until the next parliament, so as to see in the meantime whether it be profitable or not. |
| SEQUNTUR QUEDAM SUPPLICATIONES PRO VILLA DE CALES'. | HERE FOLLOW CERTAIN REQUESTS MADE ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF CALAIS. |
| [Staple at Calais.] | [Staple at Calais.] |
| 57. A nostre treshaut et trespuissant seignour le roi et son tresnoble et tressage conseil monstrent voz simples burgeis de Caleis qe come les estoit grantez en parlement par chartre du nostre tresredoute seignour le roi Edward qi Dieux assoille; la quelle chartre est conferme en parlement par nostre dit seignour le roi q'orest; qe l'estaple des leynes, quirs, peaux lanutz, plounc, esteym, furmage, [buir,] plumes, gaule, felparie et su qe deveroient estre amesnez hors d'Engleterre, Irlande et Gales, et la ville de Berewyk sur Twede, serroient amesnez a la ville de Caleys, et nul autre part aillours, pur profit du roi. Des quelles marchandises, leynes et peaux lanutz, de Jernemuth' et d'icelle paiis, et grant partie de furmage, et de buyr, de plounc et d'esteyn, et marchandises d'Irland et de Gales, ont este retraitez par long temps, et sont amesnez en Flandres et aillours; a grant damage du roi, come < de > prendre sa custume des dites marchandises a la ville de Caleys, sibien al entre come al issue. Et auxi oue les dites marchandises sont amesnez, ils ne sont mye serchez pur le roi s'ils soient loialment custumez en Engleterre, ou noun. | 57. To our most high and exalted lord the king and his most noble and wise council, your simple burgesses of Calais show: whereas it was granted them in parliament by a charter of our most redoubtable lord the king Edward, whom God absolve - which charter was confirmed in parliament by our said lord the present king - that the staple of wool, hides, woolfells, lead, tin, cheese, butter, feathers, gall, frippery, and fat which ought to be taken out of England, Ireland and Wales and the town of Berwick upon Tweed, should be taken to the town of Calais, and nowhere else, for the profit of the king. Of which merchandise, wool and woolfells from Yarmouth and the lands there, and a large amount of cheese, butter, lead, tin, and merchandise of Ireland and Wales, have long been withdrawn, and are taken to Flanders and elsewhere, to the great injury of the king in taking his custom from the said merchandise at the town of Calais, both on entry and exit. Moreover, where the said customs are taken, they are not searched on behalf of the king to see whether they have had customs faithfully paid on them in England or not. |
| Plese a vostre tresnoble hautesse et seignourie ordeiner qe toutes marchandises susdites soient constreintz d'estre amesnez a l'estaple de Caleys, come est contenu en leur dite chartre, et confirmacion, a grant profit du roi, et amendement de la dite ville. | May it please your most noble highness and lordship to ordain that it shall be compulsory to take all the aforesaid merchandise to the staple of Calais, as is contained in their said charter and confirmation, to the great profit of the king and amendment of the said town. |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Quant a cest primer article, le roi voet qe la chartre estoise en sa force en touz pointz, forspris des choses q'ont congie en parlement, puis la date de mesme la chartre, de passer aillours. | As for the first article, the king wills that the charter shall remain in force in all points, except for things which have been permitted in parliament, since the date of the same charter, to pass elsewhere. |
| [Evasion of Calais staple.] | [Evasion of Calais Staple.] |
| Item, d'enquere pur profit du roi, de diverses marchandises qe duissent estre amesnez a l'estaple en la ville de Caleis, et sont amesnez en Flandres et aillours, a grant prejudice et damage du roi. | Item, to inquire for the king's benefit, into various goods which ought to be brought to the staple in the town of Calais, and yet are taken to Flanders and elsewhere, to the great detriment and injury of the king. |
| Pleise a conseil nostre seignour le roi, faire venir un foitz en l'an toutes les cokettes de les custumers de toutz les portz d'Engleterre, Irlande et Gales, et auxint toutes les cokettes del sercheour de Caleis, pur examiner l'un cokett encountre l'autre, et issint purra homme savoir queux marchantz ont amesnez lour marchandises aillours qe a Caleys, encontre l'ordinance del parlement, et la chartre de Caleis, et par ycele voie le roi poet avoir grant profit des forfaitures de ceux q'ont fait encontre l'ordinance avauntdite. Et soient les custumers chargez qe nul alien face eskipper nulles marchandises a nul port d'Engleterre forsqe en niefs ovesqe les biens d'autres marchantz Engleis, et qe les dites aliens troevent suffisante seuretee par meinprise d'Engleis, devaunt lour departir hors del port, de les amesner a Caleys, et nul part aillours, sur peine de forfaiture [col. b] de lours dites biens issint amesnez, et lours persones d'estre emprisonez a la volente le roi. | May it please the council of our lord the king, to assemble once a year all the cockets of the customs officers of all the ports of England, Ireland and Wales, and also all the cockets of the searcher of Calais, to compare one cocket with another, for thus it would be possible to know which merchants had taken their merchandise to places other than Calais, contrary to the ordinance of parliament and the charter of Calais; and by that means the king could make a large profit from the forfeitures of those who have acted against the aforesaid ordinance. And let the customs officers be charged to ensure that no alien cause any merchandise to be shipped from any English port except in ships also carrying the goods of other English merchants, and that the said aliens shall provide adequate surety by mainprise of an Englishman before their departure from the port to take them to Calais and nowhere else, on pain of forfeiting [col. b] their said goods thus taken elsewhere, and being imprisoned at the king's will. |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Le roi ad grantez ceste article en touz pointz des choses en Engleterre tantsoulement; et voet qe per fourme de mesme l'article bone ordinance ent soit faite, et proclame en touz les portz d'Engleterre, et sur ce soient briefs et mandementz faitz, sibien as tresorer et sercheour de Caleys come a les custumers des ditz portz; lours chargeantz estroitement q'ils facent venir et porter d'an en an, a les oeptaves de Seint Michel a pluis tard, a l'escheqier nostre seignour le roi, touz les ditz cokettes, ensemble ovesqe toutes les suretees issint faites as ditz portz d'Engleterre, par obligations ou en autre manere, aufyn qe les tresorer et barons del dit escheqier y purront loialment estre acertez de la pleine veritee; et par tant purront ordiner oultre, pur le profit nostre seignour le roi en celle partie, come mieltz lour semblera. | The king has granted this article in its entirety so far as it touches England; and he wills that by way of the same article a good ordinance may be made thereon, and proclaimed in all the ports of England, and writs and mandates on this issued, both to the treasurer and searcher of Calais as well as to the customs officers of the said ports; strictly charging them that they appear each year by the octaves of Michaelmas at the latest, and bring with them to the exchequer of our lord the king all the said cockets, together with all the sureties thus made at the said ports of England by bonds or in other manner, that the treasurer and barons of the said exchequer may be faithfully assured of the whole truth; that they may ordain further for the profit of our lord the king in the matter, as shall seem best to them. |
| [Great hall at Calais.] | [Great hall at Calais.] |
| Item, come grante estoit par la dite chartre as ditz burgeys, en sustentacion des plusours chargez q'ils deveront faire et supporter deinz la dite ville, l'assise du pain, vin et de cervoise, et le stallage des des [sic] drapers, et de bochiers, et autres marchantz illoeqes: ore vient le tresorer de Caleys, et les voet ouster d'un partie de la grant sale en la quele les bochiers tienent lour bocherie, par vertu et maundement d'une lettre du prive seal, par suggestioun nient resonable; la quele sale le dit tresorer les delivera par vertu d'un brief du roi a la primer grante de lour dite chartre, et ont toutdis depuis, et plusours ans a devant, este en possessioun. | Item, whereas the assize of bread, wine, and beer, and the stallage of drapers and butchers and other merchants there was granted by the said charter to the said burgesses, in support of the many charges they are obliged to bear and fulfill within the said town: yet now the treasurer of Calais comes, and wishes to oust them from one part of the great hall in which the butchers hold their market, by virtue and mandate of a letter of privy seal, on unreasonable grounds; which hall the said treasurer assigned them by virtue of a writ of the king on the occasion of the first grant of their said charter, and they have had it ever since in their possession, and for many years preceding this. |
| Pleise a vostre tresnoble hautesse, et tresgraciouse seignourie, granter as dites burgeys q'ils puissent rejoier la dite sale, ovesqe la stallage des drapers et de bochiers avauntnomez, selonc la tenure des chartre et confirmacioun, et usage avauntdites; qar si la dite sale lour soit detenu, ils n'averont lieu ou a tenir la draperie ne la bocherie, ne les loys de la ville suisdite. | May it please your most noble highness, and most gracious lordship, to grant to the said burgesses that they may again enjoy use of the said hall, together with the stallage of the aforenamed drapers and butchers, in accordance with the tenor of the aforesaid charter and confirmation, and previous usage; for if they are deprived of the said hall, they will have nowhere to hold their drapers' or butchers' markets, nor the business laws of the aforesaid town. |
| [Bequests of chattels at Calais.] | [Bequests of chattels at Calais.] |
| Item, come lour estoit grante en la dite chartre q'ils puissent deviser en testament lour terres et tenementz auxi franchement come les citezeins de Londres; supplient les ditz burgeys q'ils puissent deviser en testament lours moebles auxi franchement come lours terres et tenementz desuisditz; nonobstante aucuns articles, usages, ou custumes usees en les dites parties selonc les aunciens loys: purceo qe par ycelles loys le baroun ne poet rien deviser a sa femme, ne la femme a son baroun. | Item, whereas it was granted them in the said charter that they might bequeath their lands and tenements by testament as freely as the citizens of London; the said burgesses request that they may bequeath by testament their chattels as freely as their aforesaid lands and tenements; notwithstanding certain articles, usages, or customs practised in those parts by ancient laws: because by those laws the husband cannot leave anything to his wife, nor the wife anything to her husband. |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Estoisent lours aunciens loys et custumes. | Let their ancient laws and customs remain in force. |
| [Exemption from customs at Calais.] | [Exemption from customas at Calais.] |
| Item, supplient les dites burgeys q'ils puissent estre frankes de custume et de tollonu des draps lanuz et liengez q'ils amesnent a la dite ville pur la sustenance d'ycelle, sibien al entre come al issu, come lour estoit graunte par chartre nostre seignour le roi, qi Dieux assoille, q'ils deveroient estre auxi frankes come les burgeys estoient illoeqes en auncien temps; pur les queux le tresorer de Caleys ad eue plusours mandementz de certifier al conseil nostre seignour le roi q'orest, par quoi ils ne deveroient mye estre quitz des dites custumes; la quele certificacioun il n'ad mye fait. | Item, the said burgesses request: that they may be spared custom and tax on woollen and linen cloth which they take to the said town for the sustenance of the same, both on entry as well as on exit, as was granted to them by a charter of our lord the king, whom God absolve, and that they ought to be as free as the burgesses dwelling there in ancient times; on behalf of whom the treasurer of Calais had received many mandates ordering him to inform the council of our lord the present king as to the reasons why they should not indeed be quit of the said customs; yet he has not provided that information. |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Quant as vitailles necessaires pur lours despenses, il plest au roi. | With regard to the victuals necessary for their expenses, it pleases the king. |
| [Plea of debt at Calais.] | [Plea of debt at Calais.] |
| Item, monstrent les meir et aldermen de la dite ville qe come ils avoient renduz un jugement, selonc les lois et usages auncienement en la dite ville, come lour chartre fait mencion, parentre William de Montagu, conte de Salesbury, procuratour et attorne de Johan de Biterleigh', et Alice sa femme, executrice du testament William Tenturer le puisne, nadgaires citezein de Novel Salesbury, et autres executours du dite Alice del testament desuisdit, demandant, et William Gilbert [p. iii-68][col. a] de Salesbury, defendant, en un plee de dette. Le quiel jugement l'avauntdit William Gilbert fist appeller envers le conseil nostre dit seignour le roi. Et pur le quiel jugement corriger certains commissairs estoient assignez par commissioun nostre seignour le roi suisdit, a la denominacion le dit William Gilbert: les queux comissairs ont affermez le dit jugement selonc les loys avauntdites; supplient les avauntdites meir et aldermen qe si le dit jugement serra autre foitz corrige, il purra estre corige par tielles gentz qi scievent les loys du dit paiis: qar la loy d'Engleterre est expressement encontre lour chartre, s'il ne soit des terres et tenementz: considere qe depuis le conquest n'estoit unqes jugement qe fuist rendu en la dite ville par les loys et custumes d'ycele, corige, ne reverse, par les loys d'Engleterre. | Item, the mayor and aldermen of the said town show: whereas they have made a judgment in accordance with the ancient laws and usages of the said town, as their charter makes mention, in the case between William Montagu, earl of Salisbury, proctor and attorney of John Bitterley, Alice his wife, executrix of the will of William Dyer the younger, lately a citizen of New Salisbury, and other executors of the said Alice of the aforesaid will, plaintiff, and William Gilbert [p. iii-68][col. a] of Salisbury defendant, in a plea of debt. Which judgment the aforesaid William Gilbert caused to be taken before the council of our said lord the king. And for the correction of the judgment certain commissioners were appointed by commission of our aforesaid lord the king, at the nomination of the said William Gilbert, which commissioners affirmed the said judgment in accordance with the aforesaid laws; the aforesaid mayor and aldermen request that if the said judgment is corrected on another occasion, it may be corrected by persons as know the laws of the land, since the law of England expressly runs contrary to their charter, if it be not of lands and tenements: considering that since the conquest there never was a judgment rendered in the said town by the laws and customs of the same, which has been corrected or reversed by the laws of England. |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Soit la dite chartre et les franchises de Caleys monstrez en la chauncellarie, et illoeqes appellez les parties, les justices et les sergeantz le roi, si par inspeccion de mesmes les chartre et libertees purra apparoir, qe la chose appartint a la discussion de la courte le roi en Engleterre, adonqes illoeqes soit la querele determine; et si noun, soit remandez a Caleys pur y estre terminez, selonc les loys et usages du paiis. | Let the said charter and the franchises of Calais be shown in the chancery and let there be called the parties, the justices and the king's serjeants, so that if is appears on inspection of the same charters and liberties that the matter ought to be discussed by the court of the king in England, then the case shall be determined there; and if not, it shall be sent back to Calais to be determined there, in accordance with the laws and usages of the country. |
| [memb. 1] | |
| [University and town of Cambridge.] | [University and town of Cambridge.] |
| 58. A nostre tresredoute seignour le roi et son tressage conseil supplient voz humbles chappelleins et oratours le chaunceller et escolers de vostre universite de Cantebrigg' qe come, al derrain parlement tenuz a Gloucestre, vous lours grantastes par voz graciouses lettres patentes les punissementz de vendours de touz maneres vitailles, et fauxes mesures et poiis faitz et [col. b] usez en la dite ville, en defaute del mair illoeqes; c'estassavoir, s'il n'ent fist due punishment, ou feust necligent et remys en celle partie; quelle vostre grant et l'execucioun d'ycelle, coment qe celle feust faite pur ease et commune profit del dite universitee, et qe plusours notables defautes y soient sovent trovez en defaute del dit mair et ses ministres, mesme le mair et baillifs, et autres gentz du dite ville par covyne entre eux faite, lour destourbent en quanqe ils puissent de mettre vostre dit grant en execucion, a grante chiertee des vitalles, et descrees de vostre dite universitee, et encountre commune profit. | 58. To our most redoubtable lord the king and his most wise council, your humble chaplains and orators the chancellor and scholars of your university of Cambridge request: whereas, at the last parliament held at Gloucester, you granted them by your gracious letters patent the punishments for sellers of all kinds of victuals and false measures and weights made and [col. b] used in the said town, in default of the mayor there; namely, that if he did not inflict due punishment, or was negligent or remiss in the matter; which grant by you and its execution were made for the ease and general benefit of the said university; and many noteworthy faults are often found in the actions of the mayor and his ministers, for the same mayor and bailiffs, and other men of the said town, by a plot conceived amongst them, disturb them whenever they are about to put your said grant into practice, causing a great dearth of victuals, and the injury of your said university, and contrary to the common good. |
| Qe plese a vostre roial majeste, pur l'amour de Dieu, et pur encrees et quiete de vostre dite universitee, et pur commune profit, graciousement confermer as ditz suppliantz et a lours successours le dit vostre grant: adjoustant oultre a ycelle, si vous plest, q'ils aient poair de punir les ditz mair et baillifs et lours officers, s'ils soient vitaillers tantcome ils soient en lour offices, et lours fauxes mesures sibien come autres; et s'il busoigne d'enquere des ditz officers vitaillers, pur Dieu, et en oevre de < charitee. > Et auxint, qe le dit chanceller, ses deputes et commissairs, aient poiar de veer et examiner les parties [sic: read 'proces'] par eux comenciez par vertu des dites lettres en celle partie, et mesmes les proces comenciez duement oier et terminer selonc les loys de la terre, pur commune profit d'ycelle. | May it please your royal majesty, for the love of God and for the advancement and tranquillity of your said university, and for the common good, graciously to confirm your said grant for the said supplicants and their successors: adding to the same, if it please you, that they shall have the authority to punish the said mayor and bailiffs and their officers if they are victuallers while they remain in office, and their false measures as well as other things; and if necessary, to make inquiries about the said officer victuallers, for God and by way of charity. Furthermore, that the said chancellor, his deputies and commissioners shall have the power to inspect and examine the process begun by them by virtue of the said letters in this matter, and that the same process once begun shall be duly heard and determined in accordance with the laws of the land, for the common benefit thereof. |
| [editorial note: Responsio. ] | [editorial note: Answer.] |
| Si plest au roi, semble as seignours de parlement qe ce lour est a granter pur cynk < ans > proschein avenirs. (fn. 14) | If it please the king, it seems to the lords of parliament that this is to be granted to them for five years to come. (fn. 14) |
Westminster
24 April 1379
1
Grant to the chancellor of the University of Cambridge of a five-year extension to his right to punish offenders against the assizes of bread, wine, ale and other victuals in the town, if the mayor and bailiffs are negligent in this matter. By king and petition of parliament. Dated 24 April 1379.
Source : CPR 1377-81 , 349. (Cf. Parliament of 1378, Appendix, and no. 18 below).
2
Order to the sheriffs to proclaim an ordinance made in this parliament that every goldsmith shall have his particular mark to mark vessels of silver made by him. By king in parliament. Dated 6 June 1379.
Source : CCR 1377-81 , 255.
3
Order to the justices to proceed to judgment in a suit between the king and Thomas bishop of Exeter concerning the patronage of Plympton priory (Devon), following a petition by the bishop to parliament. Dated 13 November 1379.
Source : CCR 1377-81 , 274.
4
Appointment of Thomas de Percy, admiral of the north, and others to defend Scarborough and the surrounding coast, and to collect a subsidy for their expenses; simultaneous appointment of various persons to survey and control them. By petition of the commonalty in parliament. Dated 16 June 1379.
Source : CPR 1377-81 , 355.
5
Petition to the king and council from the master and scholars of the college called 'Mokel University Hall' at Oxford, said to have been founded by King Alfred and at which Bede among others is said to have been a scholar, for the recovery of certain lands of which they claim to have been unjustly deprived by Edmund Franceys, citizen of London. No endorsement
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.69.
6
Petition to the king and council from Alexander, archbishop of York, claiming the right to confirm the provost of a college called 'Otuenhall' in Oxford, which right has recently been denied to him due to dissensions with in the college.
Endorsed : A commission of bishops and royal clerks is to be appointed in parliament to decided this matter.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.69.
7
Petition to the council and lords of parliament from the people of Northumberland for relief from the depredations of the Scots and their consequent poverty.
Endorsed : Let the supplicants, by the advice of the wardens of the March, state clearly how the situation might best be remedied, and discuss this with the lords.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.69.
8
Petition to the king and his council of parliament from Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin complaining of a process which has been brought to his prejudice before John de la Pole, justice of Chester, concerning his lands in North Wales.
Endorsed : A letter of privy seal is to be sent to de la Pole to appear before the council concerning this matter.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.70.
9
Petition to the king and council from the people of the town of Rye (Sussex), which has been taken several times by the king's enemies, asking that they be granted the fines paid by labourers and artificers to the justices of the peace in Sussex to enable them to repair their walls. No endorsement
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.70.
10
Petition to the council from the mayor and burgesses of [King's] Lynn (Norfolk) asking that men of the town should not be arrayed for service by outsiders since they are needed for the defence of the town. No endorsement
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.70.
11
Petition to the king from the mayor and commonalty of the town of Melcombe (Dorset) complaining that the town has recently been devastated by the king's enemies and asking for various financial privileges such as are enjoyed by other towns. No endorsement
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.70.
12
Petition to the king, nobles and commons in parliament from the mariners of England complaining that they are only paid 'threepence per day, and sixpence per week', and asking to be paid higher wages.
Endorsed : The king will take the advice of the great council.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.253. (See Item 50 on the roll).
13
Petition to the king, nobles and commons in parliament from the masters of ships and barges of the realm asking for rewards and compensation for the use of their vessels in the crown's service.
Endorsed : The king wishes to reward those who deserve it.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.253.
14
Petition to the lords of parliament requesting that the agreement that masters of ships be permitted to claim three shillings and fourpence per tuntight for each quarter that they serve, in order to pay for their equipment, be adhered to. No Endorsement
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.253.
15
Petition to the lords of parliament from the merchants of the German Hansa who are accustomed to coming to England, requesting confirmation of the franchises granted to them by the charters of former kings, which have not been respected in recent times, as a result of which they have been obliged to pay additional dues and some of them have had their goods arrested or been imprisoned, on the pretext that similar wrongs were being committed by the lords of Prussia against English merchants.
Endorsed : It is agreed in parliament that goods and merchandise should be returned to the petitioners in return for pledges, or divided up between them, and that a letter of privy seal be sent to the Master of Prussia asking him to make similar redress to English merchants there.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.253-4.
16
Petition to the king and council from the merchants of England complaining that the recent ordinance of parliament to the effect that 'no cloth shall be offered for sale before it has been sealed with the appropriate seal' has been misinterpreted, and asking that the wording of the ordinance be clarified.
Endorsed : It should be explained how this has damaged people.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.254.
17
Petition to the king and council from the burgesses of Dunwich (Suffolk) asking that the inhabitants of neighbouring towns and religious houses be prohibited from holding their fairs and markets within the haven of Dunwich, as this is affecting their profits from customs and subsidies, which contribute to their annual fee-farm payable to the king. No Endorsement
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.254.
18
Petition to the king and council from the chancellor and scholars of the University of Cambridge requesting confirmation of certain privileges granted to them formerly concerning the sale of wine and victuals within the town and the execution of justice upon persons who transgress against the university authorities. No Endorsement
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.254. (See no. 1 above).
19
Petition to the king and council from the inhabitants of the town of Salisbury complaining that the king's officers in Clarendon Park choose certain persons in the town each year and compel them to sell the underwood from the park, to the great damage of the latter.
Endorsed : The officers and ministers of the forest and park have no authority to act outside the bounds of the forest without the king's licence.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.254-5.
20
Petition to the king from the people of the city of Salisbury informing him that they have begun to enclose the city with great ditches for its protection from the king's enemies, and asking that all those who hold tenements or rents within the city be obliged to contribute to the cost of this.
Endorsed : Let the mayor and bailiffs have the power to compel those who are recalcitrant to do this.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.255.
21
Petition to the king from the community of the borough of Wareham (Dorset), who are tenants of the earl of March, who is in the king's wardship, asking that their two port-reeves should not be called to account at the exchequer as they have been for the past twenty-four years, for they are obliged to account only to the earl of March and his ministers. No Endorsement
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.255.
22
(a) Petition to the king from the inhabitants of the county of Sussex asking him to appoint a sufficient guard for the castle of Bramber, which is dilapidated and, being on the coast, open to attack by the king's enemies. (b) Petition to the king and council from the inhabitants of the county of Sussex complaining that they have suffered greatly at the hands of the king's enemies and asking them to ordain a remedy for this. Endorsement : These two bills are to be sent before the lords.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.255.
23
Petition to the king and council from the commons of various cities and boroughs requesting repayment of loans which they made to Edward III in support of his wars.
Endorsed : Let them ask the executors or administrators of the goods of the former king.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.255. (See Item 42 on the roll)
24
Petition to the king and lords of parliament from William Heron of Ford (Northumberland) complaining that the Scots have committed damage to the value of £100 to his tenants, lands and beasts, in return for which his men rode against the Scots and seized a pound, for which the earl of Northumberland obliged him to hand over 320 cattle, 1600 sheep and £100 to the Scots, promising him restitution in due course, which he has not received. The earl also imprisoned him at Newcastle, and various of the earl's men assaulted his castle of Ford; for all of which he prays remedy.
Endorsed : Certain lords are appointed to arbitrate between the two parties.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.255-6.
25
Petition to the king and council from Joan, wife of Sir Thomas Felton, who is being held as a prisoner of war in Aquitaine, asking that the Count of St-Pol, a French prisoner of war in England, should not be released until Sir Thomas has also been released.
Endorsed : The king by advice of his council will do what seems best to him.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.256.
26
Petition to the king and his council from Maud, wife of Sir John de Bourchier, who has spent a long time in prison in Brittany and has been put to ransom for 12,000 francs but has been let down as a result of various agreements not being fulfilled by others; his wife now asks the king and council to help in securing his release, in part by not releasin Roger Belfort, a French prisoner, until the said agreements have been performed.
Endorsed : The king will do what seems best to him.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.256.
27
Petition to the king from his lieges of the county of Kent complaining that they are amerced and constrained by the ministers of Dover castle, especially those called catchpoles, to respond to writs, pleas and so forth, and asking him to restrict the power of his ministers at the castle to what it used by custom to be, as it was agreed to do in the parliament of 1376.
Endorsed : This bill is to be sent to the chancery, where on the advice of the justices right will be done to the parties.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.256.
28
Petition to the king, prelates and lords in parliament from the prior of Blyth (Nottinghamshire), complaining that although he is a perpetual, instituted by the archbishop of York, and not removable, one Master John de Middleton, a secular, has ousted him from his priory by colour of a letter patent purchased from the king, and has sold and wasted his goods. The prior asks that this letter patent be cancelled and that he be restored to his priory. He also attaches a copy of the letter from Pope Lucius II (1144-45) forbidding anyone to remove the priors of Byth. No Endorsement
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.256.
29
Petition to the king and council from the lords and commons of England that it be ordained in this parliament that all the 'special bills' submitted to this parliament to which no response or endorsement has been made before the end of the parliament should be endorsed or responded to within a short time afterwards by certain lords assigned to do this, and that they should subsequently be regarded as just as valid and enforceable as other bills of parliament, just as if this had been done in full parliament; and that the same should be the case in all parliaments in the future. No Endorsement
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.256. (See Item 28 on the roll).
30
Petition to the king and lords of parliament from Edmund, earl of March, that his tenants in the towns of Great Gransden and Wells (Huntingdonshire) should not be distrained to contribute to the repair of the bridge at Huntingdon, since they are by right exempted from this and other similar impositions.
Endorsed : This bill is to be sent into the chancery, where right will be done, and in the meantime the process against the said tenants is to be halted.
Source : Printed in full in RP , III.177-8.
| 1 | CCR 1377-81 , 235-6. |
| 2 | C. Given-Wilson, 'Richard II and his Grandfather's Will', EHR , 93 (1978). |
| 3 | CCR 1377-81 , 252-3. |
| 4 | Anonimalle Chronicle 1333-1381 , 127. |
| 5 | See PRO C49/9/6-7. |
| 6 | PRO SC8/267/13330. |
| 7 | This appears to be an error for 1378. |
| 8 | PRO C49/9/4. |
| 9 | PRO C49/9/4. |
| 10 | 2 Ric.2 stat.2 c.1; the statutes of this parliament are printed in SR , II.12. |
| 11 | See PRO SC8/19/932; SC8/271/13512. |
| 12 | See PRO PR 1 Ric 2, item 40. |
| 13 | 2 Ric.2 stat.2 c.1. |
| 14 | PRO SC8/19/913. |
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