The Gascon Rolls Project

C61_48

Gascon Roll for the 10th year of the reign of Edward III

Physical condition of the roll

The roll consists of 6 membranes. There are entries on all of the face sides and dorses. The roll is generally clean and in good condition.

C 61/48 10 Edward III (1336-37)

Introduction.

The roll is a comparatively short one, consisting of only six membranes. As far as its contents are concerned it is not particularly unusual, containing the usual mix of entries relating to the officers and offices of the duchy, trade, the administration of justice, financial matters, especially the meeting of demands on the Bordeaux treasury, and grants. However, there are some clear indications that circumstances were not all that they seemed. Perhaps the most obvious of these is the place of issue of many of the entries. The entries issued between 3 July and 4 September 1336 were issued from Perth, reflecting the king's presence on campaign in Scotland,and further entries in June and November of the same year were issued at Roxburgh and Stirling, amply demonstrating Edward III’s continued preoccupation with his northern border, and the threat from the Scots. ¹ The other indication is the reissue of documents from the previous year’s roll for the preparation of the ships of Bayonne for war issued on 10 February 1336, which by the end of the year had become full-blown plans for the dispatch of the Bayonne fleet, in part to escort the English merchant fleet back from the duchy with its all-important cargo of wine, but also to provide maritime control of the English Channel, and the suppression of the threat from ships rumoured to be assembling in Norman ports. ² The importance of the orders late in 1336 were accentuated by the appointment of Niccoló Usodimare, the constable of Bordeaux, as vice admiral. ³

Other entries in the roll, earlier in 1336, might have given some cause for optimism that matters between the English and French were moving towards peace. On 25 March the king wrote to the seneschal of Gascony and Constable of Bordeaux, asking them to keep the duchy safely, and informing them that he had written to the king of France about the return of lands in Blanquefort, Veyrines and Livran. ⁴ Other letters dated to the same day, addressed to the same officials, ordered them to distrain subjects of the king of France who had recovered their rents and immoveable goods as a result of the peace between the king and the king of France ‘to acknowledge the lordship, homage, fealty and oaths and other duties that they are required to make to the king for them’. These French subjects had resisted doing so contrary to the agreement, and the king expressed his amazement at their failure to do so, the king’s subjects having done what was required of them to the king of France for the return of their lands. ⁵ The king demonstrated his willingness to do justice concerning the return of rights in his dealings with Galhart d’Ornon and his wife Maria d’Audenge, who had appealed to the court of France ⁶ in relation to judicial rights in the lordship of Audenge. ⁷ A further entry of 15 April deals with the replacement of Master Simon de Staines by Master Guiraut Dupuch as one of the king’s commissioners to deal with the restoration of lands, Staines being unable to continue because of ill health. ⁸ A stray entry not relating to the duchy or its affairs also found its way onto this roll. It again related to the preservation of the king’s rights, but this time over his counties of Ponthieu and Montreuil. ⁹ One must wonder, however, if the dispatch of Master Arnaut de Tilh, king’s clerk, to Aquitaine, with secret instructions committed to him orally by the king, and which Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony, as well as the community of Bayonne, were ordered to give credence to, combined with a diplomatic mission to Portugal, indicated that the king, by June 1336, was beginning to give up on any resolution with the French. ¹⁰

Although entries on the roll make it difficult to discern what the situation was in relation to peace between the kings of England and France, the king’s concern for the defence of the duchy remained very strong. As we shall see the demands on the financial resources of the duchy were heavy. Very early on in the year on 25 March, the constable of Bordeaux was ordered to use his discretion in the payment of the king’s and his ancestors’ debts. The king reminded the constable, that though he often charged him to make payments from the duchy’s resources, it was not his intention to compromise the defence and government of the duchy to meet such orders. ¹¹ The seneschal at the same time was ordered to compel the citizens of Bordeaux to repair and maintain the defences of the city. ¹² At the end of the year Arnaut de Tilh and Master John Mountfichet were ordered to obtain information on the condition and repair of the castles of the duchy, and report this back to the king and his council, an indication, perhaps, that the king and his council were assessing the duchy’s ability to withstand the French should hostilities once again break out. ¹³ A similar concern might have lain behind an order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to obtain information about the custody of the castle of Saint-Macaire earlier in the year. ¹⁴ A more specific concern was clearly expressed at the end of September 1336 when the seneschal and constable were ordered to see that the castles of Arnaut III de Durfort at Bordiels and Pépinès were sufficiently garrisoned. Given the concern shown by the king to the interests of the Durfort 'of Frespech' family throughout the roll, the king obviously wanted to keep them loyal to his obedience. ¹⁵ One final entry relating to the defence of the duchy perhaps indicates that the king’s own demands for manpower had drawn fighting men from the duchy. On 20 August 1336, by letters issued at Perth, the king ordered Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony, to have it proclaimed throughout the duchy, that no men-at-arms were to leave the duchy with horses, arms or armour without the seneschal’s special licence, but were to remain in the duchy for its defence and security. ¹⁶

The king’s handling of the appointments of officers shows the continued balancing act that the king had to maintain between good governance, and the reward of loyal supporters. This was hampered by the death of one constable of Bordeaux (John Travers, died c. 1334) who had been appointed by the king, in office, and the death of Thomas Greysouthen, appointed by the seneschal of Gascony and the council to replace him, not long after. ¹⁷ A further entry records the purchase by Oliver de Ingham, the seneschal of Gascony, of the fittings and paraphernalia of John Travers’s chapel, which had been stored in the castle of Bordeaux after his death. ¹⁸ Those rewarded for loyal service included Master Bernat de Brocas, king’s clerk, who received the office of controller of the castle of Bordeaux; John le Spicer, receiving the office of executor of the seal and counterseal for contracts in Puymirol and Penne-d’Agenais; Master Pons de Coutron, king’s clerk, receiving the office of executor of the seal and counterseal for contracts in the seneschalcy of Agenais; and in particular Arnaut-Gassie de Saint-Jean, king’s valet, who was evidently receiving a further reward when the king granted him the baylie of Pontonx. ¹⁹ Other grants of office were made to provide for loyal subjects of some importance, who had lost their lands to the French because of their adherence to the king-duke. Galhart de Bourg petitioned the king directly for the office of keeper of the tower of the castle of Bordeaux, and the king ordered that he be certified about the office, presumably in preparation for making the grant. ²⁰ Galhart de Fargues made a similar request, though his request was less precise for the king requested information on how and where it was best to compensate him. ²¹ Fargues not only seems to have lost his lands and possessions, for other entries concern the payment of wages that were in arrears for him and his men from the time that he held the keepership of the Île d'Oléron, as well as for service to the king and his father. ²² Some of the grants of office were apparently being made merely as a result of those who had received grants from local ducal officials seeking greater security by a grant/confirmation by the king/duke. One such was that requested by Doat-Amaniu de Bouglon, damoiseau, who sought the keepership of the castle and baylie of Mas d’Aire, an office he had already been granted by Amaniu de Foussat, seneschal of the Landes. ²³ However, some grants were clearly made to important administrators, not as rewards, but because of their skills. John Mountfichet, a notary public and king’s clerk, was granted the office of king’s remembrancer, and keeper of the papers of the king’s notaries who had died in the duchy, on 8 April 1336. Mountfichet had been in royal service long before the grant for an order for the payment of his wages for service, and for his journeying back and forth from the duchy to England on royal business was made in August, and this made express reference to sums owed to him from the time that John Travers had been constable of Bordeaux. Although many of the grants of offices were probably made with the full knowledge that they would be treated as sinecures, and that deputies would collect the bulk of the wages and fees, this was clearly not the case for Mountfichet. He went to the trouble of securing a grant late in 1336 that he could fulfil the office of remembrancer by a deputy whenever he was occupied by other royal business. Mountfichet was a trusted administrator kept busy by royal business in many forms. ²⁴

As with most of the rolls, judicial matters find their place, the king being the highest level of appeal for litigants in the duchy, unless they took the undesirable route of resorting to Paris. One of these latter cases has already been referred to concerning Galhart d’Ornon and his wife, and the lordship of Audenge. Other more mundane cases concerned the disputed Faure inheritance in Saint-Macaire, and debts owed to Arnaut III de Durfort. ²⁵ Indeed, the Durforts seem to have made considerable recourse to the law. Another entry concerns assaults made on the men of Arnaut II de Durfort, lord of Frespech, whilst under the king’s protection. ²⁶ But the king must have had his doubts about some of the claims of the Durforts, for the constable of Bordeaux was ordered to defer the payment of the sum of 800 l.st. , which the king knew had already been paid to Arnaut II de Durfort. ²⁷ However, the most prominent judicial matter dealt with in the roll relates to the accusations of treason made by Johan de Latresne against Pey de Camparian, burgess of Bordeaux, and Johan de Lombaud, damoiseau, accusations vigorously contested by both Camparian and Lombaud. ²⁸ Latresne’s accusations might well have placed his life in danger, whether his accusations were true or trumped up, for the king received him into his protection on 20 August. ²⁹ Latresne may not have been as publicly minded as he might have wished to portray by his accusations, for the king was ordering an inquiry into Latresne’s deception of the king in relation to the payment of customs on his wine in Bordeaux. ³⁰

After the defence of the duchy, perhaps the king’s greatest concern for the duchy was trade. The strong trade links between England and Aquitaine, not only produced much needed customs revenue for the king’s exchequer in the duchy, but also provided for the prosperity of the two great cities of the duchy – Bordeaux and Bayonne, and their hinterlands, and also for English merchants going there, and paramount in this was of course the wine trade. Two particularly long-standing issues appear on this roll. The first of these related to the payment of customs on wine brought to Bordeaux from towns further inland, and the claims of exemption that men from those towns claimed to have. The king stated that it was not his intention that these men be exempt, and ordered that they should pay the custom, but this issue was to reappear regularly in subsequent rolls. ³¹ The other issue was the exemption that Gascon merchants enjoyed when bringing goods to England of the payments due from foreign merchants. This had been a repeated complaint of the merchants of both Bordeaux and Bayonne, and the king granted the men of Bayonne exemptions, whilst also receiving, more generally, the wine merchants of Gascony into his protection in coming to England, with exemptions from customs. ³² The king’s generosity to Bayonne was extended in a further exemption on royal tolls in Bayonne itself, and the all-important grant of the baylie of Labenne, and the place of Capbreton, the jurisdiction in which lay Bayonne’s point of access to the sea. ³³ Other trade matters more directly related to English merchants. One entry concerned the violent dispute between the merchants and mariners of Great and Little Yarmouth, which seems to have boiled over into an attack by ‘certain evildoers from Great Yarmouth’ on Roger de Rothenhale, the representative of William Man of Little Yarmouth, that resulted in the death of Rothenhale, and the theft of Man’s goods and merchandise, all committed, Man alleged, whilst he and they were under royal protection. ³⁴ The other entry concerned the seizure of stone ballast brought by English merchants to Bordeaux. The English merchants and mariners had, they alleged, been accustomed to sell this ballast, presumably for building work. The allegation was that the constable of Bordeaux and the prévôt of the Ombrière were seizing this. The king ordered that, if the allegations were true, they were to desist from doing this, unless they were needed for the king’s works, then the king should have preference in buying them. ³⁵

Even as late as 1336, the roll still has many entries that relate to issues from previous reigns, though most of these related to debts for wages for service. ³⁶ The most interesting of these relates to Margaret Wake, the widow and executor of Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent, the king’s uncle. She had paid out substantial sums to pay off some of the debts of her late husband, and was being pursued by Bordeaux merchants for further sums owed for gold, wines and victuals received by the late earl when he was Edward II’s lieutenant in the duchy, for the reformation of the duchy, and during the French siege of La Réole. ³⁷ Given the king’s guilt about the conspicuous loyalty of his uncle to his father, and his own role in his death, Margaret Wake’s successful request for payment of an annuity from the customs of Bordeaux is perhaps no surprise.

Simon J. Harris.

1.: See entries from entry 45 to entry 65 .
2.: See entry 3 , entry 4 , entry 94 , entry 95 , entry 96 , entry
3.: See entry 89 .
4.: See entry 23 .
5.: See entry 22 .
6.: The parlement of Paris.
7.: See entry 17 .
8.: See entry 26 .
9.: See entry 33 .
10.: See entry 37 , entry 37 , entry 38 .
11.: See entry 20 .
12.: See entry 21 .
13.: See entry 55 .
14.: See entry 44 .
15.: See entry 66 .
16.: See entry 53 .
17.: See entry 5 .
18.: See entry 77 .
19.: See entry 6 , entry 10 , entry 11 , , entry 10 , entry 35 , entry 36 .
20.: See entry 30 .
21.: See entry 29 .
22.: See entry 14 , entry 32 .
23.: See entry 57 .
24.: See entry 24 , entry 25 , entry 60 , entry 78 .
25.: See entry 15 , entry 54 .
26.: See entry 28 .
27.: See entry 74 .
28.: See entry 45 , entry 58 , entry 59 , entry 86 .
29.: See entry 51 .
30.: See entry 85 .
31.: See entry 18 .
32.: See entry 40 , entry 83 .
33.: See entry 79 , entry 80 , entry 81 .
34.: See entry 7 .
35.: See entry 43 .
36.: See entry 46 where Ramon d’Espiau and Maria d’Espelette, daughter and heiress of Sans d’Espelette, sought payment for wages due to Sans d’Espelette, for his service and that of his retinue with Edward I, reference being made to correspondence of Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, who died in 1310.
37.: See entry 67 , entry 68 .

Membrane 6

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Gascon roll for the 10th year of the reign of King Edward III after the Conquest.

3

Same as above.

10 February 1336 Knaresburgh Knaresborough . For the surveying of the ships of Bayonne and the other ports of the duchy of Gascony . ¹

Re-issue of entry in C 61/47 .

By K. and C.

1.: There was no duchy of Gascony, but a duchy of Aquitaine (or Guyenne). The English clerks sometimes used Gascony as a synonym of Aquitaine (or Guyenne).

4: 10 February 1336 Knaresburgh Knaresborough . For the preparation of the ships of Bayonne for war.

Re-issue of entry in C 61/47 .

By K.

5

12 February 1336 . Walsyngham Walsingham . Concerning the auditing of an account.

Assignment of Master Simon de Staines , Master Jordani Austen Jourdain and Podio, de Guiraut Dupuch , or two of them, to audit the account of the executors of the testament of Craysothen Thomas Greysouthen for the time that he was charged with the office of constable of Bordeaux, both for the receipts and expenses, and liveries, and all other things touching the office, and to do whatever else is necessary in connection with the account. They are ordered to audit the account and to certify the treasurer and barons of the English exchequer of the audit and the issues of the same under their seals, without delay. The king has also ordered the controller [of Bordeaux], or his substitute, to have his rolls a the audit, and to be be intendant on the auditors. Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony , and others of the king's council there, had charged Greysouthen with the office after the death of John Travers, then constable of Bordeaux , until the king appointed another constable, and Greysouthen had exercised it for some time in that form, and Greysouthen's executors have requested that the king order the audit of the account, which the king agrees to. ¹

By C.

1.: For a related entry, see entry in C 61/47 .

6

3 March 1336 . Westm' Westminster . For Master Bernat de Brocas.

Grant, for life, to Master Bernat de Brocas, king's clerk , for his good service, of the office of controller of the castle of Burdeg' Bordeaux , receiving what others who have held this office have been accustomed to receive. ¹

By K.

1.: For the original grant expectant on the death of Master Johan Guitard, see entry in C 61/42 . For related entries, see entry in C 61/45 , entry in C 61/46 , entry in C 61/47 .

7: 18 March 1336 . Westm' Westminster . For William Man of Little Yarmouth.

Order to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony , or his lieutenant, to obtain full information on the complaint of William Man of Parva Jernemuth Little Yarmouth , and do speedy justice on the punishment for the felony done against him, and on the recovery of Man's goods and merchandise, with Man, his attorney or proctor, according to the fors and customs there. Man has shown the king by his complaint, that the king took him, his men, lands, property, rents and all his possessions into his protection for two years by his letters patent, and he sent Roger de Rothenhale, mariner , his valet , to Burdeg' Bordeaux with his goods and merchandise, to the value of 200 m. , to do business with them, but certain evildoers from Magna Jernemuth Great Yarmouth killed Rothenhale, and his goods and merchandise were taken by various men in contempt of the king's protection, in Man's great damage. Man has requested remedy, and the king has agreed that justice ought to be done.

8: 20 March 1336 . Westm' Westminster . For accounting with Johan Dies for his wages.

Order sicut alias to the constable of Bordeaux to view the letters of retainder of Dieis Johan Dies , and the payments made to him for his wages that have been made to him in those parts, and the account with Dies, or his attorney, from the time that he was in the king's service at the king's wages, and to make payment to him without delay of what is found to be owed to him by the account beyond the 45 l. and wages paid to him by the king from the time that he was in the king's service in Scotland ( in partibus Scot' ), and other payments made to him of whatsoever kind, from the issues of the duchy, according to the tenor of the king's previous orders, any other order of the king to the contrary notwithstanding; and the constable will have due allowance in his account.

Dies has alleged to the king that John de Haustede, late seneschal of Gascony , retained him with three mounted men-at-arms at the king's wages during pleasure; and the king paid him the wages of him and his company in the wardrobe, from 29 December 1334, which was the day that Dies came to the king in England, until 25 February 1335, when he was in the king's service in Scotland; and 45 l. was delivered to him from the king's treasury in part payment of the arrears of his wages before 29 September, for the time that he was in the king's service in the duchy. Dies requested that the king account with him for the time that he was retained in the king's service, and make payment.

The king ordered the constable to view Dies' letters of retainder, and payments made to him of his wages there, and to account with him for the time that he and his company were in the king's service, and to make payment of what was owed, but this has not been done, and the king is amazed by this.

By K. and C.

9

26 March 1336 . Westm' Westminster . For the same Johan [Dies].

Order to the same to view the letters of retainer of Dieis Johan Dies , and the payments made to him for his wages that have been made to him overseas, and the account with Dies, or his attorney, from the time that he and his company were in the king's service overseas at the king's wages, and to make payment to him without delay of what is found to be owed to him by the account beyond the 45 l. and wages paid to him in the duchy, from the issues of the duchy, any other order of the king to the contrary notwithstanding; and the constable will have due allowance in his account.

Dies has alleged, as above, as far as: and to make payment of what was owed, but this has not been done, bacause of which Dies has now requested that since the king owes him for his wages, in addition to the 45 l. for the time that he and his company were retained, and were in the king's service overseas, and in addition to the payments made to him by the constable, and for the time that he was in the king's service in England and Scot' Scotland made by the keeper of wardrobe. The king wishes to agree to this.

By K. and C.

10: 19 March 1336 . Westm' Westminster . ¹

Grant, during pleasure, to John le Spicer , for his good service, of the office of executor of the seal and counterseal for contracts in Pymerole Puymirol and Penne Penne-d'Agenais with its appurtenances in the duchy, holding the office in the same manner that others have held the office. ²

By p.s.

11: Same as above

And it is ordered to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to deliver the office [of executor of the seal and counterseal for contracts in Puymirol and Penne-d'Agenais ] to John [le Spicer] in the said form.

1.: A note in the margin states: 'Vacated because it has been returned and it is otherwise below under the same date'.
2.: The entry has been crossed out. For the entry for which this entry was crossed out, see entry 70 . For a related entry, see entry in C 61/49 .

For Master Pons de Coutron.

10 February 1336 . Walsyngham Walsingham .

Grant, for life, to Master Coutrone, de Pons de Coutron, king's clerk , ¹ for his good service, of the keepership of the king's seal and the counterseal used for contracts in the seneschalcy of Agenesium Agenais , and the office of serjeanty for executing the seals; having the same with all emoluments, profits, and other appurtenances. ²

By p.s.

1.: The firstname is written Pauncius , and is an unusual form, possibly an error for Poncius , 'Pons', and is written elsewhere with an 'a'.
2.: For entries crossed out in favour of this and the following entry, see entry , entry .

13: Same as above

And it is ordered to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to deliver to Pons [de Coutron] the keepership of the king's seal and the counter-seal [used for contracts in the seneschalcy of Agenesium Agenais ] and the said office of serjeanty.

By p.s.

14: 15 April 1336 . London . For Galhart de Fargues.

Order to the constable of Bordeaux to view the bills, registers and other memoranda of previous constables of Bordeaux concerning what is owed to Farges Galhart de Fargues , and he should make payment of what he finds is owed, and by account with Fargues, or make other satisfaction elsewhere from the issues of the duchy without delay, any order of the king's to the contrary notwithstanding, and the constable will have due allowance in his account. Fargues has requested that the king will make payment to him of the various sums of money owed to him by the king for his wages and those of his men-at-arms from the time he had the keepership of the insula Oleronis Île d'Oléron and was in the king's and Edward II, late king of England 's service elsewhere in the wars of the duchy, as more fully appears in certain bills sealed by the seals of various constables of the king's and his late father's, which bills Fargues claims to have in his possession.

By C.

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15: 15 April 1336 . Turris London' Tower of London . For Arnaut [II] de Durfort.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony to hear the complaint of Duro Forti, de Arnaut [II] de Durfort, kt , or his proctors or attorneys, call before him the debtors whom he finds owe Durfort various sums of money by bonds ( scripta obligatoria ), or by other means, and compel them to make payment of these sums according to the form of their bonds, and according to the fors and customs there, so that Durfort does not complaint again to the king on this matter for default of justice. Durfort has requested that the king will compel the many debtors who owe him various sums of money to pay him.

16: Same as aboveFor Galhart de Bourg.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux, to obtain full information with those of the members of the king's council of those parts, and certify the king of what they find under the king's seal used in the duchy, without delay, together with the writ. Bourk Galhart de Bourg has shown by his petition, exhibited before the king and his council, that on occasion of the war in the duchy, because he adhered to Edward II and afterwards to the current king, he lost his lands and possessions, which had a great annual value, from the beginning of the war, and does not have anything to maintain his status, and he has requested that he be granted and assigned the writing office ( scribania ) of Blankefort Blanquefort , for his life, or until his lands and possessions are restored to him. The king wishes to be certified how much the office is valued, namely, its value each year in all issues, who holds that office now, and how and in what manner, and also on the service that Bourg has done to the king and his father in the war, and on the annual value of the lands and possessions lost by Bourg in all issues.

By petition of C.

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17

25 March 1336 . Westm' Westminster . For Galhart d'Ornon and his wife Maria.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony to summon before them Urnone, de Galhart d'Ornon and his wife Maria [d'Audenge], daughter and heiress of Blanquafort Bernat de Blanquefort, former lord of Ausengia Audenge , the king's procurator of [the duchy] , and others whom he considers ought to be called, if Ornon and his wife wish to come before the seneschal concerning the claims that they have made on rights in Audenge, then he is to do due and speedy justice, as by right and according to the fors and customs of thos parts, ought to be done. Ornon and his wife have shown that Bernat de Blanquefort had appealed to the court of France ¹ because, as he has asserted, he had been impeded by the king's officials in the duchy in the high and low justice with full and shared jurisdiction which he alleged to have, and that he and his ancestors were in possession of Ausengia Audenge , and in the rights of wreck on the coast, and what issues come from that right. ²

By C.

1.: The parlement of Paris.
2.: For a related entry, see entry in C 61/44 .

18: 25 March 1336 . Westm' Westminster . Concerning the payment of customs to the king.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to obtain full advise on the statute for the payment of the custom on wine in Burdeg' Bordeaux , and they should compel all those bringing wine to the port of that city, who do not enjoy the ancient privilege, to pay the custom, as is just, notwithstanding letters of exemption. The king has heard many times that certain men, by pretext of letters which they claim to have containing that the burgesses of certain towns were exempt from the payment of the custom of wine at Bordeaux, which, if it is permitted, is to the king's damage and prejudice. Because it was not the king's intention, that anyone having such letters should be exempt or quit of this payment, express mention not being made to a quittance of the payment of the custom, unless enjoyed by ancient privilege contained in a certain statute on the payment of the custom that merchants buying wine to the king's use were bound to pay the custom.

By K. and C.

19: 25 March 1336 . Westm' Westminster . Concerning the negotiations about the remission of the king's debts.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and to the constable of Bordeaux to negotiate discretely with those to whom wages and other debts are owed, and to agree, as far as they are able for the king's honour and profit upon the remission of the king's debts. The king, by various letters, has ordered the constable to pay various wages and debts from the issues of the duchy, and now understands that some to whom they are owed would be willing to remit one third of the debt, others even the half, if due payment or satisfaction was granted to them of the remainder.

By K. and C.

20: 25 March . Westminster . For having discretion in the payment of the king's debts.

Order to Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, constable of Bordeaux , to have discretion in paying the king's and his ancestors's debts, so that he is able to pay the necessary expenses of the duchy's defence and government, and so that the king does not suffer damage and harm by this. Though the king had charged the constable, by his letters, to make various payments, both for certain business of his, and for wages and other debts, it was not his intention, however, that this be done at the expense of the defence and government of the duchy.

By K. and C.

21: Same as above Concerning the repair of the walls and towers of Bordeaux.

Order to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony to compel the citizens of Burdeg' Bordeaux and the others who are bound to repair its walls, towers, enclosure, ditches and fortifications, to make those repairs, in the best way possible, so that no damage nor danger to the king or his liege men of these parts can happen by default of repair. The king has learned that the defences of the city are now damaged, broken and deteriorating, and are in great need of repair and great danger could result if action is not quickly taken.

By K.

22: Same as above Concerning the distraining of the subjects of the king of France according to the form of the peace.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux that they should distrain all the subjects of the king of France who had recovered their rents and immoveable goods until now because of the peace made between the king and the king of France, to compel them to acknowledge the lordship, homage, fealty and oaths and other duties that they are required to make to the king for them. Amongst other things, it was contained in the agreement made between the king's commissaries and those of the king of France, that their mutual subjects who had abandoned or lost their rents or immovable goods in the duchy or elsewhere, during the war or disturbances, or their successors or heirs, excepting eleven banished men, whose lands were confiscated by special sentences for various crimes and which have been obtained by the king and the king of France not becaue of the war, would be returned in the rights and state that those people held them when Charles, late count of Valos' Valois , came to the duchy to put it in the hands of Charles [IV], late king of France . The rents and immoveable goods were restored to those subjects in accordance with the agreement, but the king is given to understand that certain subjects of the king of France who have had their rents and immoveable goods restored to them by the king's ministers in the duchy, and who ought to make recognizances, homages, fealties and oaths and other dues to the king for these, defer and delay doing so unjustly, against the form of the agreement, about which the king is much amazed, especially since the king's subjects who have been similarly restored have done what was required of them towards the king of France.

By the same K. and C.

23

Same as above For the safe keeping of the duchy of Aquitaine.

Order to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony , and Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, constable of Bordeaux , to endeavour to keep safely the duchy as they have done before, and so that no loss or danger should befall the king or his subjects there through their default. Concerning the return of the lands Blaviafortis Blanquefort , ¹ Verines Veyrines and Lyvranum Livran , the king has written to the king of France , demanding justice in that king's court according to the form of the agreement made between the two kings, and requested that the king wait for the arrival of the king's messengers, but if the king of France refuses to wait for that messenger, they are to deliver those lands to Duroforti, de Aymeric de Durfort , before war or any other danger is threatening, protesting not to prejudice the king's or any other's rights.

By K. and C.

1.: Blaviafortis is an obvious mistake for Blancafortis .

For John Mountfichet.

8 April 1336 . Waltham Waltham Holy Cross .

Grant, for life, to Mounfichet John Mountfichet, public notary , king's clerk , for his good service to the king in Gascony and Angl' England , for the king's business, done not without great labour by him, of the office of the king's remembrancer ( memorandarius ) in the duchy, and also of the keepership of the papers of the king's notaries who have died in the duchy concerning the king's business; ¹ holding the offices with the emoluments and profits pertaining to them, in the same manner that others who have held them have done. ²

By the same K.

1.: This office is what is known as a garde-note.
2.: See the related entry: entry 78 .

25: Same as above

And it is ordered to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux, or their lieutenants, to deliver to John [Mountfichet] the office [of king's remembrancer], and the keepership [of the papers of dead notaries], together with their emoluments and profits, and all the other things that pertain to them, and cause him to have the wages and fees for them, according to the tenor of the king's letters.

By the same K.

26

15 April 1336 . Tower of London. That Master Guiraut Dupuch should attend to the king's business in the place of Master Simon de Staines.

Order to Master Podio, de Guiraut Dupuch, lawyer , that if Master Stanes Simon de Staines is unable to attend to the business committed to him and Master Jordani Austen Jourdain ¹ , and those delegated by the king of France , then he is to attend to it in his place, the king not wishing the same to be delayed on this account. The king has ordered all his seneschals, officers, ministers and subjects of the duchy diligently to obey and attend on him and Jourdain concerning these matters.

Amongst other things lately agreed between the commissaries of the king of France, and those of the king, on the restoration of the lands of the subjects of that king in the Agenn' seneschalcy of Agenais , and the king's subjects of the duchy, it was agreed that the lands of the subjects of both kings taken before and after the truce made at Regulum La Réole , be returned if it pleased the kings, and the king has now been informed by his messenger ( nuncii ) that the king of France wishes to observe the agreement, and the king wishes the same. The king committed Staines and Jourdain to proceed to the return of these lands with the commissaries of the king of France, according to the tenor of the schedule made on this, sealed by the commissaries of both kings, saving the king's right in each article contained in the peace treaties and agreements made before between the king of France and his predecessors and the king and his predecessors. And the king is now given to understand that Staines is gravely ill, and not able to attend to the business, and the king wants to obviate the delays and dangers that could happened because of this.

1.: Here and in the following entry his usual name, Austindus , is written Augustinus .

27: Same as above For the same.

Order to the same, that if Stanes Master Simon de Staines is unable to attend to the business which was committed to him and Jordani Master Austen Jourdain , and the delegates of the king of France, to do what was specified in their commission, then [ Master de Podio Guiraut Dupuch, lawyer ] is to attend to it with Jourdain in Staines' place. Lately, the king ordered Staines and Jourdain, together with those delegated by the king of France , to return all the immovable goods seized and occupied on both sides after the peace made on the 31 May 1325 until the 23 May 1334, to those from whom they were taken or to their assignees, saving the king's right in all other things that pertain to the king by virtue of the peace or by other means, proceeding planely so that negotiations would not be unduly protracted; and the king is now given to understand that Staines is gravely ill, and cannot attend to this, and the king wants to obviate the delays and dangers that could happened because of this.

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28: 15 April 1336 . Turris London' Tower of London . For Arnaut [II] de Durfort.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony diligently to make inquiry by the oath of good and law-worthy men there, of which and how many men of Arnaut [II] de Durfort, lord of Fosso Podio, de Frespech , and his adherents, when under the king's protection and safeguard were beaten, wounded and mistreated, and which of them were mutilated in their limbs, and what goods and property of theirs were lost, and which of them were wickedly killed, and which were hanged without lawful trial, and what kind of other crimes and injuries perpetrated against Durfort, his men and their adherents, and by whom, where, when, in what manner and how, and the full truth on all the circumstances concerning these felonies. And he should punish all those found guilty of such traspasses, felonies, crimes or injuries, according to the fors and customs there, so that by punishment others will fear to perpetrate such similar crimes, and so that Durfort does not complaint again to the king on this matter for default of justice.

Durfort has complained that, although the king granted his protection and safeguard, by his letters patent, to Durfort and his adherents, and his lands, property, revenues and all his possessions in the duchy, for three years, prohibiting anyone from doing any injury, trouble and damage to them, or their property, nevertheless evildoers in several places of the duchy hurt, wounded, sometimes maimed Durfort and his adherents, plundered their goods, killing or hanging some of them without lawful trial, to the grave damage of Durfort and his adherents, and contrary to the king's safeguard and peace.

By C.

29: Same as above For Galhart de Fargues.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to obtain full information with those of the king's council there about Farges Galhart de Fargues ' service to the king and Edward II , about the lands and possessions he lost during the wars in the duchy, and their annual value, and where the king could make restitution to Fargues or satisfy him; and to certify the king of this information under the king's seal used in the duchy without delay. Fargues has shown to the king, by his petition exhibited before the king and his council, that, because of the wars in the duchy, and because he faithfully adhered to Edward II, and to the king in the same wars, he has totally lost his lands and possessions to the annual value of 260 l.st. , and does not have anything to maintain his status, unless the king aids him, and he requests that the king grant or assign to him lands, rents or possessions in any place in the duchy.

By petition of C.

30: 15 April 1336 . Turris London' Tower of London . For Galhart de Bourg.

Order to the same that obtained full information with those of the king's council there on the service of Burgh' Galhart de Bourg to the king and Edward II in the wars in the duchy, the annual value of the lands and possessions that he lost because of those wars, and of the office of keeper of the tower of the castle of Bordeaux , how much it is worth per annum in all its issues, and who holds this office and in what manner; and certify without delay the king of this information under the king's seal in use in the duchy. Bourg has shown to the king, by his petition exhibited before the king and his council, that, because of the wars in the duchy, and because he faithfully adhered to Edward II, and to the king in the same wars, he has totally lost his lands and possessions to a great annual value, and does not have anything to maintain his status, unless the king aids him, and he requests that the king aids him, and he requests that the king grant or assign to him for life the office of keeper ( turragium ) of the tower of the castle of Bordeaux to aid his maintenance, until his lands and possessions lost because of these wars be returned to him, or until the king orders otherwise about this

By petition of C.

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31

15 April 1336 . Turris London' Tower of London . For Arnaut [II] de Durfort.

Order to the constable of Bordeaux to account with Duro Forti, de Arnaut [II] de Durfort, kt , or his attorney or proctor, of the sums received by him from the issues of the toll of Sanctus Macharius Saint-Macaire , from the 2 February 1332 ¹ onward, by virtue of the king's grant, and by other orders, and if it found by this, that he is owed more than these sums, then he should cause the arrears to be paid to Giovanni Portinari, merchant of Florencia Florence , Durfort's attorney personally appointed by Durfort before the king, or to Portinari's attorney or proctor, from the issues of the customs without delay, any ordinance or order of the king's to the contrary notwithstanding, so that the same complaint does not come to the king again for default of payment; and the constable will have due allowance in his account.

Lately, the king granted, with the assent of his prelates, earls, barons and other magnates summoned in his parliament held at Westminster in the fourth year of his reign, to Durfort, and his heirs, forever of 500 m.st. of land and rent each year, in compensation for the damage he had suffered in the time of Edward II , in the wars in the duchy, and for his good service to the king and his father. Thereafter, the king granted to Durfort, and his heirs, on 2 February 1332, that he could take the 500 m.st each year from the issues of the toll of Saint-Macaire, until the king provides him, and his heirs, with 500 marks worth of land or rent each year in the duchy. And if it happened that Durfort, or his heirs, could not take the 500 m. from the issues of the toll, the king granted to him, and his heirs, that he could take the deficiency from the issues of the customs of Bordeaux, as more fully appears in the king's letters. And the king ordered to the constable of Bordeaux to pay Durfort, or his attorney, the 500 m.st. each year from the first money coming from the issues of this toll. And Durfort has informed the king that the main part of this sum of money remains in arrears and he has requested that the king will wish to make speedy payment. ²

1.: The order clause in the roll makes this the 6 February, but it is clearly an error for 2 February of the 6th year of the reign of Edward III, as is made clear earlier in the entry, and in other entries related to this.
2.: For the original grant to Durfort, see entry in C 61/43 . For the letters revoking the grant, see entry in C 61/43 . For the grant to Durfort of the 500 marks from the tolls of Saint-Macaire, see entry in C 61/44 . For the order to resume the lands, see entry in C 61/44 . For an order to pay Durfort the 500 marks a year from the tolls, see entry in C 61/44 . For a further grant to Durfort concerning the tolls, see entry 48 . For two further entries concerning the toll of Saint-Macaire, see entry in C 61/50 , entry in C 61/50 . For a regrant of the lands to Durfort, see entry in C 61/50 . For a further complaint of Durfort that the lands had not been delivered to him, see entry in C 61/52 . For a confirmation of the grant made to Durfort's son, see entry in C 61/64 .

32: 10 April 1336 . Waltham Waltham Holy Cross . For Galhart de Fargues.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony to view the papers, instruments and other memoranda concerning the debts that Farges Galhart de Fargues claims are owed to him, summon the parties before him, hear their arguments and compel all those that he finds by that inspection, or by other legitimate ways, owe the sums of money to Fargues to pay them as is just, and according to the fors and customs there, without delay. Fargues has requested that the king will compel those who he is reasonable able to show owe him large sums of money, and the king wishes to agree to what is just.

For John de Gayton.

4 May 1336 . Westm' Westminster .

Grant to Gaythone John de Gayton of 140 l.par. , of the king's gift, in compensation of the great costs he was put to, and the damage that he sustained by the king's order, in a dispute between the men of the count of Albe Marlie Aumale ¹ and Gayton, concerning the preservation and defence of the king's rights in the counties of Ponthieu and Montistrollum Montreuil , which amounted to a not inconsiderable sum. Gayton has requested compensation and the king wishes to look on this favourably.

By the same K. and C.

1.: Jean II de Castille, count of Aumale (1302-1343).

34: Same as above

And it is ordered to the receiver of the counties [of Ponthieu and Montreuil] to make payment to John [de Gayton] of the 140 l.par. from the arrears of the issues of the counties, from the time that they came into the king's hand, and he will have due allowance in his account.

By K. and C.

For Arnaut-Gassie de Saint-Jean.

30 May 1336 . Wodestok Woodstock .

Grant to Arnaut-Gassie de Saint-Jean, king's valet , the king wishing to further reward him for his good service, that he should hold the baylie of Pontonx , with its appurtenances, for as long as he conducts himself well in the office. He is not to be removed from this office before the king is certified of the reason for this, and not without the king's special order. The king previously granted the office to him during pleasure by his letters patent. ¹

1.: For the original grant, see entry in C 61/47 .

36: Same as above

And it is ordered by the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to permit Arnaut[-Gassie de Saint-Jean] to have and hold the baylie [of Pontonx] according to the tenor of the king's letters.

37: 2 June 1336 . Wodestok Woodstock . For giving credence to Arnaut de Tilh.

Letter of credence to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony , in respect of what Master Tylio, de Arnaut de Tilh, king's clerk , whom the king is sending to him for some difficult business of concern to the king, will say to him on the king's behalf.

By K.

38: 2 June 1336 . Wodestok Woodstock . For the same.

Letter of credence to the mayor, jurats, hundred peers and community of Baion' Bayonne in respect of what Master Tylio, de Arnaut de Tilh, king's clerk , whom the king is sending to them for some business concerning the king, will say to them on the king's behalf, since the king gratefully remembers their constant fidelity, and their opposition to the king's enemies, not avoiding risk to person and property.

By K.

39: 3 June 1336 . Wodestok Woodstock . Concerning the payment of the expenses of Egidio of Spain.

Order to Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, constable of Bordeaux , that when Ispannia Egidio of Spain arrives there on his way to Portugal , he is to make payment of a suitable amount of money on his wages from the issues of the duchy above the 10 m. already delivered to him, for his journey there, his residence and return to the king, receiving from Egidius his letters patent attesting to the payment, and Usodimare will have due allowance in his account. The king is sending Egidius of Spain to Portugal to conduct certain of the king's business there, and the king granted to him for each day he was on this side of the sea ( in partibus cismarinis ) 12 d. , and 2 s. a day when overseas ( in partibus transmarinis ), for his expenses while in the king's service, and the king caused 10 m. to be delivered to him for his wages by the Bardorum merchants of the Bardi society .

40

14 June 1336 . Novum Castrum super Tynam Newcastle upon Tyne . Concerning protection for merchants.

To all sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and the other liege men of the king, and also the collectors of murage, pontage and pavage, both within and outside liberties.

Letters of protection and safe conduct for one year granted to the wine merchants of Gascony coming to the kingdom [of England ] with their wines and goods, and to their men and servants, and their wine and merchandise, prohibiting anyone from doing any damage or harm to them in person, their wine or goods, nor taking anything from them against their will, or doing anything contrary to the charter that they have from Edward I, , ¹ or the current king's confirmation of it; provided that they pay the customs due and used in the kingdom. It is ordered that the merchants and their men and servants, be maintained, protected and defended, and that no injury, trouble, damage, impediment or harm is permitted to be done to them, and if etc. The king does not wish that any of their wine and merchandise be taken against their will for the king's use or for anyone else, without due satisfaction being made to them.

The king's grandfather granted, by his charter, which the king has confirmed, to the wine merchants, and other foreign and alien merchants to come into his realm, for the payment by them of certain customs on their wines, property and merchandise, to that king and his heirs, and that they be quit of murage, pontage and pavage, and that no exaction, prise or prest will be levied on any of them or their merchandise or goods. ²

1.: The 'Gascon Ordinance' on wine (Westminster, 13 August 1302). A translation of this document has been published in English Economic History. Select Documents , ed. A. E. Bland and alii (London, 1914), p.208-11.
2.: For a related entry, see entry in C 61/47 .

41

20 June 1336 . Berewicus super Twedam Berwick-upon-Tweed . For Johan Élies.

Licence granted to Elye Johan Élies, citizen of Burdeg' Bordeaux that he or his heirs are able to build in stone or lime ( calce ) and crenellate a maison-forte or fortalice in Sadiracum Sadirac , ¹ and once built to hold the same to him and his heirs without any impediment of the king, his heirs and their ministers, forever. This is providing that the house or fortalice should be returned to the king or his heirs at the order of the king, his heirs or their seneschals, in times of war or peace ( iratis et pacatis ).

By C.

1.: This might be the ' château de Tustal ' in Sadirac (arr. Bordeaux, dép. Gironde).

42: 18 June 1336 . Berewicus super Twedam Berwick-upon-Tweed . For protection for the inhabitants of the parish of Tabanac.

To all the seneschals, constables, castellans, officials, bayles, ministers and all other faithful subjects in the duchy.

Letters of protection during pleasure, granted to the inhabitants of the Tavenate, de parish of Tabanac , their men, lands, property, rents and all their just possessions, as the king, wishing to show them favour, has received them into his protection and safe-keeping. They are to be maintained, protected and defended, and no one is to be permitted to injure, trouble, damage or harm them. If anything has been done contrary to this, it is to be put right without delay.

43: 20 June 1336 . Berewicum super Twedam Berwick-upon-Tweed . For the merchants and mariners of Bristol.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony to obtain full information concerning the the seizure of ballast brought to Bordeaux, and elsewhere in the duchy from the merchants and mariners of Bristoll' Bristol by the constable of Bordeaux, the prévôt of the Ombrière of Burdeg' Bordeaux or other ministers of the king, and if he finds that they did do this, he is to cause them to desist from doing so, and to permit the merchants and mariners to sell them; provided that if these stones are needed for the king's works there, the king would be given preference for buying them, according to what is necessary as it is customary.

The merchants and mariners have requested a remedy, as they put big stones in their ships for ballast and brought them to Bordeaux and elsewhere in the duchy for sale, but the constable, prévôt and other ministers of the king, seized them and carried them away under the pretence of their offices, keeping them, to the great damage of those merchants and mariners.

By the same K.

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44: 20 April 1336 . Buldeford Bulford . Concerning the certification on the value of the castle of Saint-Macaire.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux that, having obtained full information with king's councillors of these parts about the value per annum of the castle of Saint-Macaire and also of the lands and places of la Bourt Labourd , Goos Gosse , Seignanx , Born' Born , Mymysan Mimizan and Herbafavera Labouheyre , in their various services, issues, revenues and all their other issues, about who have them now, for which reason and in what way, they should send without delay to the king via the messenger of these presents, certifications of this information under the king's seal in use in the duchy.

By C.

45

19 August 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For the king.

Order to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony , that having called before him the parties and having listened them, he should do swift and full justice without delay, according to the fors and customs of the duchy without deceit and concealment of the truth to the king's detriment. As la Trena Johan de Latresne , has informed the king that he has charged Campreian Pey de Camparian, burgess of the city of Bordeaux with treason against the king and, if it proved, Camparian's goods will be forfeited to the king, and Latresne is prepared to prove it in court. ¹

1.: For related entries, see entry 51 , entry in C 61/52 .

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46: 3 July 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For Ramon d'Espiau and his wife Maria.

Order to the constable of Bordeaux to pay without delay from the issues of the duchy to Spyau, del Ramon d'Espiau and his wife Maria [d'Espelette], daughter and heiress of Spelete, de Sans d'Espelette , the 17 l. , 7 s. and 8 d.st. owed to Espelette, any other order or ordinance on these payments notwithstanding, receiving from Espiau and Maria the king's letters and their letters of acquittance, and he will have due allowance in his account. Formerly, Edward I was bound to Espelette in 17 l. , 7 s. and 8 d.st. for his wages and those of this retinue, from the time he stood in his service at the time of the war in the duchy, by account of Espelette with Sendale, de John de Sandale, clerk , as more fully appear in the letters of Henry de Lacy, then earl of Lincoln , Edward I's lieutenant in the duchy , letters that Espelette delivered to Edward I's treasury by Sandale. Edward I ordered the constable of Bordeaux to pay from the issues of the duchy the 17 l. , 7 s. and 8 d.st. or their value in other money to Espelette or his attorney or proctor, at the delivering of these letters patent made on this matter, as more fully appear in the [Edward I]'s letters. Lately, Espiau and his wife Maria insistently requested, as they have in their possession [Edward I]'s letters, that the king pay to them of these 17 l. , 7 s. and 8 d.st. . As Espiau and Maria have delivered for cancellation [Edward I]'s letters to the chancery, the king is willing to do it.

By K. and C.

47

20 June 1336 . Rokesburgh Roxburgh . For Doat-Amaniu de Bouglon.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux or their lieutenants, as he previously ordered them, to deliver to Boglon' Doat-Amaniu de Bouglon, damoiseau to deliver to him the baylies of Sales Salles , Juliak Juliac ¹ and Aulas Le Las with their parts and permit him, or to a suitable substitute or substitutes to hold them, any grant on these baylie previously made notwithstanding, and pay him what is due of the annual 120 l.parv.t. from 15 August 1330 from the issues of the duchy or make satisfaction to him elsewhere in the duchy according to the tenor of the king's order previously sent to them. ² And if it has not be done, they should grant to Bouglon 120 l.t. to be annually received in a place of the duchy. In recompensation of the damages suffered by him in the service of the current king and of Edward II , the king granted by his letters patent to Bouglon to receive for life 120 l.parv.t. per annum from the issues of the baylie of Castel-Amouroux in the duchy, Bouglon receiving nothing of this sum or a part of it, because of the opposition of the French, he requested, on 15 August 1330, that the king will provide this sum to him elsewhere; the king granted to him these 120 l.parv.t. to be perceived each year from the issues of the baylies of Salles, Juliac and Le Las. And thereafter Bouglon informed the king that the constable could not satisfy him of these 120 l.parv.t. from these issues, because he asserted he owed various payments from the issues of these baylies to various men of the duchy, and Bouglon requested that the king will grant him this baylies to be held by him or a suitable substitute or substitutes, answering each year to the constable of Bordeaux for the sums above the 120 l.st. granted to him. The king granted at will to Bouglon to do so, any grant of these baylies previously done notwithstanding, as more fully appear in the king's letters patent, and ordered the seneschal and constable to deliver these baylies to Bouglon, and make payment to Bouglon of the arrears of the 120 l.parv.t. per annum, since 15 August 1330, from the issues of the duchy or make satisfaction to him elsewhere in the duchy, but this has still not been done, as the king is given to understand by Bouglon, whereof he is much amazed. ³

By C.

1.: According to entry in C 61/42 this baylie is Mérignac and not Juliac, but there was usely no baylie in Mérignac.
2.: For the related entry, see entry in C 61/42 .
3.: For related entries, see entry in C 61/42 , entry in C 61/43 , entry in C 61/44 , entry in C 61/44 , entry in C 61/46 , entry in C 61/46 , entry in C 61/47 .

48

3 July 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For Arnaut [II] de Durfort.

Grant to Duro Forti, de Arnaut [II] de Durfort, kt. and his heirs to have and hold all the issues of the toll of Sanctus Macharius Saint-Macaire on the roads and on the river, by his own hands or by his attorney or proctor, by indenture made between Durfort or his attorney or proctor and the controller appointed by the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux. So that Durfort and his heirs have from this toll 500 m. each year and that they receive the remaining above these 500 m. from the issues of the toll at the end of each year in part payment of the arrears, until Durfort is fully satisfied of these arrears. And consequently the king orders the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to deliver to Durfort or his attorney or proctor all the issues of the toll on the roads and on the river, or to his attorney or proctor in this form, the constable being discharged of these issues, proviso that he will answer to the king of what remains above the 500 m. , when Durfort will be satisfied of the arrears. Formerly, the king granted, by the assent of his prelates, earls, barons and other magnates summoned in his Parliament at Westminster the fourth year of his reign, to Durfort and his heirs forever 500 m. of land and revenue per annum in sterling in the duchy, in compensation of the damages he suffered at the time of the king and Edward II in the wars in the duchy and for his good service to the current king and Edward II. And thereafter, on 2 February 1332, the king granted to Durfort and his heirs to receive each year these 500 m. in sterling from the issues of the toll of Saint-Macaire until the king provide him and his heirs of 500 m. of land or revenue per annum in the duchy. And if it happened that Durfort or his heirs cannot receive these 500 m. from the issues of the toll, the king granted to him and his heirs, that what is lacking of this sum of 500 m. per annum be received from the issues of the customs of Bordeaux, as more fully appear in the king's letters; and the king ordered to the constable of Bordeaux to pay to Durfort or his attorney these 500 m. in sterling each year from the first money coming from the issues of this toll. And Durfort has informed the king that the main part remained unpaid and requested that the king will make payment of the arrears. The king ordered to the constable that, having accounted with Durfort or his attorney for this sum on the issues of the toll from 2 February 1332, ¹ what happens to be above these 500 m. should be paid to Portinuari Giovanni Portinari, merchant of Florencia Florence , Durfort's attorney or Portinari's attorney, any ordinance or order to the contrary notwithstanding. But these arrears have not been paid to Durfort by the constable, so Durfort requested that the king will grant him a suitable place to be satisfied of the arrears and of these annual 500 m. . ²

1.: It is written in the roll the 6 February, but it is clearly an error for 2 February of the 6th year of the reign of Edward III.
2.: For the original grant to Durfort, see entry in C 61/43 . For the letters revoking the grant, see entry in C 61/43 . For the grant to Durfort of the 500 marks from the tolls of Marmande, see entry in C 61/44 . For the order to resume the lands, see entry in C 61/44 . For an order to pay Durfort the 500 marks a year from the tolls, see entry in C 61/44 . For an order to the constable of Bordeaux to account with Durfort for the tolls, see entry 31 . For two further entries concerning the toll of Saint-Macaire, see entry in C 61/50 and entry in C 61/50 . For a regrant of the lands to Durfort, see entry in C 61/50 . For a further complaint of Durfort that the lands had not been delivered to him, see entry in C 61/52 . For a confirmation of the grant made to Durfort's son, see entry in C 61/64 .

For Bertruc de Mestre.

49

4 July 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth .

Grant to Bertruc de Mestre to have the keepership ( turragium ) of the king's tower of Bordeaux and the keepership of the prison in this tower ¹ for five years after the end of the ten years period where it was granted to him, with the fees and emoluments pertaining this office. The king granted to Mestre on 30 May 1331 for the good service he did when the king was overseas, of the office of the keepership of the king's tower of Bordeaux and the keepership of the prison in this tower, to have with the fees and emoluments pertaining to this office from 31 May 1331 until the end of a ten years period, as more fully appear in the king's letters made on it to Mestre. ²

By C.

1.: The keep of the castle of the Ombrière nicknamed 'l'Arbalesteyre'.
2.: For related entries, see entry in C 61/43 , entry in C 61/52 , entry in C 61/52 , entry in C 61/52 , entry in C 61/52 .

50: Same as above

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, as on 30 May [1331], etc. as above, to permit Bertruc [de Mestre] to have and hold this office of keepership of the king's tower of Bordeaux for a five years period after [the end] of the said ten years period.

51

20 August 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . Concerning the protection for Johan de Latresne.

Order to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony , that after having full information, he he finds what la Trena Johan de Latresne has said are so, he should admit him and his men in the king's safeguard et permit them to go about armed for their protection, provided that the king's peace is not disturbed, nor evil done. Latresne has requested that the king will admit him to his safeguard, and to go about armed, because certain enemies are plotting hos violent death. ¹

1.: For related entries, see entry 45 , entry in C 61/52 .

52: 20 August 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For the king.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to inform themselves, as soon and as fully as possible, on the value of the lands and issues lost by Durandi Ramon Durand, then seneschal of the Landes , and if he finds that Durand's heirs deceived the king about the true value of these lands and revenues, he should by no means make the payment granted by the king for these losses, but he should endeavour to recover the remaining [of this money] from them to the king's profit. Lately, at the request of Durand, because of the good services he did against the king of France , as he had lost annually 100 librates sterling of lands and revenues, the king granted to him and his heirs, in compensation, 100 l.st. to be received annually from the lands and revenues of la Bourde Labourd , until they can recover their lost lands and revenues, and yet the king understood that Durand greatly deceived the king, as these lost lands and revenues were not worth then more than 10 l. or they are worth until now [10 l. ] annually, and therefore Durand, when alive, and his heirs did not care to recover their lands and revenues.

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53: 20 August 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . So that the men-at-arms do not leave the duchy.

Order to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony , as the king wants to avoid the dangers that may happen in the duchy by the absence of men-at-arms, to forbid on the king's behalf and publicly proclaim in all the places of the duchy he will find expedient, that no man-at-arms of the duchy is allowed, without incurring forfeiture, to leave the duchy with horses and arms, or armour without the seneschal's special licence, but has to stay there well prepared and provisioned for the defence and security of the country, punishing those who do not obey this order.

54: Same as above. For Peyrona Faure.

Order to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony that having called the parties and having heard their accounts, he should do swift and full justice to Peyrona Faure according to the fors and customs of the duchy, so that Peyrona does not complain again to the king because of a lack of justice. Lately, Faur Peyrona Faure, burgess of Sanctus Macarius Saint-Macaire requested that the king will provide her with a remedy, as she is the nearest heiress of her late brother Faur Arnaut Faure , and Caturco, de Rosa de Cahors , widow of Arnaut has occupied by force and unjustly detains this inheritance

55: 6 November 1336 . Stryvelyn Stirling . Concerning the supervision of the victuals and some other things.

Order to Tilio, de Arnaut de Tilh and Master Mounfichet John Mountfichet to obtain full information about the victuals, equipment, armament, condition and repair of the castles in the duchy, and certify the king and his council under their seals, with order to seneschals, constables, prévôts and all other officers and subjects of the duchy to be intendant on them for this business, as the king had committed them such supervision from the time of John Travers, former constable of Bordeaux and Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, current constable of Bordeaux .

By C.

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56: 20 August 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For Arnaut Amanieu and some others.

Order to the constable of Bordeaux that after examination of the bills and letters of all the constables of Bordeaux, excepting the bills and letters of Master Galiciano, de Pey de Galician by which, for certain reasons, the king does not wish that anything should be paid, he should make payment or make a suitable satisfaction on the issues of the duchy to Amanevy Arnaut Amanieu , Bertran [de Séris] and Serris Huc de Séris of what he finds is due to them for their wages or the restor of their horses, receiving these bills and letters, and he will have due allowance in his account. Lately, Arnaut Amanieu, Bertran de Séris and Huc de Séris requested that the king will make payment or a suitable satisfaction to them, as the king is bound to them in several sums of money for their wages and the restor of their horses from the time they were in the king's service in the war of Gascony, as more fully appear by the bills and letters of former constables of Bordeaux, which the bills and letters they claim to have in their possession.

57: 12 August 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For Doat-Amaniu [de Bouglon], damoiseau.

Order to Oliver de Ingham , seneschal of Gascony , that having obtained sufficient information, if he finds Amanevi Doat-Amaniu[de Bouglon], damoiseau sufficient and suitable for the keepership of the castle and baylie of the Mansum Adduren' Mas d'Aire , he should grant him this keepership with certain letters under the king's seal in use in the duchy for duration at pleasure. Lately, Bouglon requested that the king will wish grant to him at pleasure and for as long as he behaves well there, this keepership under the king's seal in use in the duchy, as Fossato, de Amaniu du Foussat, seneschal of the Landes Landar' , committed to him at pleasure the keepership and government of the castle and baylie of the Mas d'Aire with all appurtenances of the keepership, receiving there the customary wages for him and another man-at-arms as well as six footmen serjeants.

58: 22 August 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For Pey de Camparian.

Order to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony and Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, constable of Bordeaux , the king wishing to prevent the wrong-doing of Johan de Latresne, that he obtain full information on the complaint of Pey de Camparian, burgess of the city of Burdeg’ Bordeaux , and if he is able to establish la Trene Johan de Latresne ’s wrongdoing, then he is to summon the necessary witnesses, duly proceed, and come to a proper decision as should be done according to the fors and customs of the duchy. With the proviso that aside from Camparian’s guilt he should not be harmed by Latresne’s cunning and wrongdoing. On behalf of Camparian, the king has received a petition as follows: Latresne, moved solely by hatred and in order to extort money and other things from Camparian through fear of a law-suit, has falsely accused him of the crime of treason before Ingham, and Camparian has requested that the king to see to It that information is received concerning this matter, and that he mercifully comes to the aid of Camparian. If through this information Latresne’s wrong-doing is established, lest through Latresne’s wrongdoing Camparian’s innnocence is injured, you will show mercy to him, particularly since he is ready to undergo a trial without mercy if he is found guilty.

59: 20 August 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For Johan de Lombaud, damoiseau.

Order to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony to summon lo Vaut Johan de Lombaud, damoiseau and la Trene Johan de Latresne before you, hear the reasons, and bid Latresne to respond to them, and further that swift justice is done to both parties according to the laws and customs of our duchy without recourse to the subterfuge of delay, lest in mockery of the law and to our detriment the truth is hidden. The king has received a petition from Lombaud as follows: Lately for certain reasons he has charged Latresne with treason committed by him against the king and if it were proved his goods would be confiscated and be credited to the king’s revenue and he stands ready to prove the treason. Lombaud has requested that the king will order that an inquiry is set up in this matter, as is his due, and the king wishes justice to be done in the foregoing.

60: 22 August 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For Master Johan Mountfichet.

Order to the constable of Bordeaux or his lieutenant that, having accounted with Master Mounfichet John Mountfichet, king's clerk of his wages for the time he stood in the king's service, coming to Angl' England , staying there and returning from there [to the duchy], attending to the king's business, he should make payment to him or make other satisfactions without delay from the issues of the duchy, and he will have due allowance in his account. Lately, Mountfichet requested that the king will wish to make payment of the sums owed to him, as the king is bound to him until now in various sums of money for his wages from the time of John Travers, former constable of Bordeaux as well as from the time of [the current constable of Bordeaux], because Mountfichet has been sent by the seneschal of the duchy and some of the king's council there to [England] for various business concerning the duchy and its status.

61: 3 September 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . .

Order to the mayor, hundred peers and all the community of the city of Baione Bayonne , to prepare the city's fleet for war, if it is not ready, and man them with sufficient and well armed soldiers and others necessary things and send them quickly towards the English sea to augment the English navy sea, and to resist the galleys and other ships gathering on the Norman sea-coast to aid the king’s Scottish enemies or to invade his kingdom of England, or other of his lands, and the king will repay them for their expenses, as the king has be told about this threat and trust Bayonne's constant allegiance and good will toward the king. The king wishes to counter this threat, and protect his kingdom and his people, and the king acknowledges their loyalty, constancy and benevolence towards him and his royal house.

By the same K.

For Simon Cruvelli .

62: 3 September 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth .

Grant at pleasure to Simon Cruvelli , king's clerk , by the king's special grace and because of his good service, of the issues and profits of default or defaults made in the court of Gascony without rendering anything to the king for it.

By the same K. and C.

63: Same as above

And it is ordered to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to permit Simon [Cruvelli] to have and receive the issues and profits of default or defaults in the court of Gascony according to the tenor of the said king's letters, etc. as above.

64: 4 September 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For Guilhem de Campagne.

Order to the constable of Bordeaux to account with Campania Guilhem de Campagne , keeper of the Blavia castle of Blaye for the time he has been keeper of this castle, and pay him for what is in arrears of his wages, and also his wages from henceforth for as long as he has the custody, from the issues of the duchy, just as it has accustomed to be done, and he will have due allowance in his account.

65

4 September 1336 . Villa de Sancto Johanne Perth . For Simon Cruvelli .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, that having accounted with Simon Cruvelli , king's clerk who lately went in Angl' England on the king's order, for some king's business, he should make payment to him from the issues of the duchy, from the day left from Burdeg' Bordeaux , his staying in England and return, for his wages and for the restor of two horses he claims to have lost in the king's service in various occasions, and he will have due allowance due allowance in his account. ¹

By the same K.

1.: After this entry another entry is begun, which is clearly an error, and was addressed to the constable of Bordeaux, ordering him to account with Simon Cruvelli . A note in the margin against it states ‘vacated’.

66: 30 September 1336 . Notyngham Nottingham . Concerning the garrisoning of some castles .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to sufficiently garrison Arnaut [II] de Durfort 's castles of Bordil' Bordiels and Podium Pynnesii Pépinès with men-at-arms and others, and victuals from the issues of the duchy, in such a way that no damage or loss happens to the king or his subjects of those parts because of this keepership, and the constable will have due allowance in his account for the costs in the garrisoning of these castles. The king has learned that great damage and loss could occur in Agenes' Agenais by the lack of garrisons of Durfort's castles of Bordiels and Pépinès.

By the same K. and C.

For Margaret widow of Edmund, former earl of Kent.

67

28 September 1336 . Baumburgh' Bamburgh .

Grant to Margaret [Wake], widow and executor of Edmund [de Woodstock], earl of Kent , the king's uncle of 500 l.st. to be received by the hands of whomever she deputes by her letters patent, from the issues of the custom of Bordeaux , that is 100 l.st. each year at Michaelmas, until she is satisfied of the 500 l.st. , so that she can satisfy certain merchants of the duchy for the wine, victuals and other things received from them by the earl of Kent, any ordinance or order of the king to the contrary notwithstanding. Lately, Margaret requested that the king will make satisfaction to certain merchants of the duchy, who are pursuing her, asserting that the earl was bound to them in 500 l.st. for gold, wine and other victuals that the earl of Kent received from them, when he was in the duchy for the reform of its condition by the order of Edward II , and when he was besieged by the French in the town of Regula La Réole . Various jewels, ( jocalia ), and other things of the great value came into the king's hands after the earl of Kent's death, ¹ and she has paid from her own possessions 3,000 l. to pay off the earl's various debts.

By the same K. and C.

1.: Edmund of Kent died in 1330.

68: 28 September 1336 . Baumburgh' Bamburgh .

And it is ordered to the constable of Bordeaux to make payment to the countess Margaret [Wake] or her attorney of 100 l.st. from the custom of Bordeaux at the next Michaelmas and year after year at the same date, until this countess or her attorney is fully paid of the 500 l.st. , receiving from the countess or her attorney her letters of acquittance, and in the last payment the king's letters, and he will have due allowance in his account.

69

3 October 1336 . Nottingham . For Ramon d'Espiau of Bayonne ¹ .

Grant to de Spyawe Ramon d'Espiau of Baion' Bayonne , former master of the ship called la Seint Jak' of 50 l.st. to be received from the prévôt of Bayonne on the issues of his prévôté, in compensation of the freight for bringing from Bordeaux to London Caillowe Arnaut Caillau 's wines which were kept for the king's service, and order to the prévôt of Bayonne to deliver without delay to Espiau these 50 l.st. or their value in other money from the issues of his prévôté, any order to the contrary notwithstanding, receiving from him his letters of acquittance, and he will have due allowance in his account. As Espiau requested that the king will satisfy him of this freight. ²

By the same K. and C.

1.: It is written in the margin: 'Void and has been returned because he has other king's letters paying this sum sent to the constable of Bordeaux dated 8 February 1352'. The entry and the title in the margin are crossed out.
2.: See the related entry: entry in C 61/49 , entry in C 61/49 , entry in C 61/49 , entry in C 61/50 , entry in C 61/51 , entry in C 61/64 .

For John le Spicer.

70

19 March 1336 . Westm' Westminster .

Grant at pleasure and as long as he behaves well in this office to John le Spicer , for his good service, of the keepership and the executoria of the seal and counter-seal of contracts used in Penna Penne-d'Agenais and Podium Mirolli Puymirol to have and exercise himself or by a suitable substitute each time le Spicer will have to leave for the king's service, together with the issues, emoluments, and other things pertaining to this keepership and executoria , any grant at pleasure of this keepership and executoria by the king or others in the king's name to another done before now notwithstanding. ¹

By the same K.

1.: For entries crossed out for this entry, see entry 10 . For a related entry, see entry in C 61/49 .

71: Same as above

And it is ordered to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to make have and exercise the said office with its parts to John [le Spicer] in the said form.

By the same K.

72: 20 October 1336 . Aukeland Bishop Auckland . Concerning of the conservation of the duchy for the king .

To the seneschal of Gascony, the constable and mayor of Bordeaux and all his other counsellors and ministers in the duchy.

The king firmly enjoins them in the matter of provident guidance of what must be done for the king in the duchy, and the preservation of his rights and honour, to apply with all their strength the necessary diligence which the nature of the time demands, not yielding to the terrors of the king’s adversaries, and sparing no efforts but instead behaving with so much wisdom and courage that the king will commend their intelligence and solid loyalty and in the future give them ample reward. The king desires, particularly during those times which disturbed and full of dissension, to call upon their constant loyalty to meet the dangers which through negligence and lack of care may transpire in his duchy the king calling upon their constant loyalty.

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73

2 October 1336 . Leyc' Leicester . For Gassie de Vallat of Saint-Macaire.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony that having called before him the parties and having obtained on this matter sufficient information, he should do full justice to Gassie de Vallat, of Sanctus Macarius Saint-Macaire , so that he does not complain again to the king by lack of justice. Lately, Vallat requested that the king will provide remedy, as Cosyn Guilhem Cousin, citizen of the city of Burdeg' Bordeaux and his wife Gaybarda exercise without right possession of his island called Tyrebracum ¹ in the castellany of Saint-Macaire .

1.: It was probably an island situated on the river Garonne.

74: 3 October 1336 . Leyc' Leicester . For the king.

Order to the constable of Bordeaux to supersede payment of 800 l.st. by pretext of other orders directed or to be directed to him for the payment of the same or or any part of it, to Duro Forti, de Arnaut [II de] Durfort , since the king knows by legitimate information that Pulteneye John de Pulteney has paid on the king's behalf this 800 l.st. , to Durfort, which the king owes to him from thate 500 m.st. each year from the issues of the toll of Sanctus Macharius Saint-Macaire , which the king granted Durfort. The king has promised to pay to Pulteney this 800 l.st. in the next feast of Easter, without delay.

By the same K.

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75

20 October 1336 . Auckland' Bishop Auckland . For the vicomte of Tartas.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to make an agreement or lease of the baylies of Gosse , Seinhans Seignanx , Aurivall' Auribat , Mons Fortis Montfort , Ponton' Pontonx and Pollon Pouillon just as is best and most profit as they are able for the king's profit, and deliver those baylies to the Tartasii, de vicomte of Tartas ¹ by these agreements, having them until it is otherwise ordained in allowance of his said fee, if it will extend to the sum by the agreement. If it exceeds it, then the surplus is bound to be paid to us, and if it does not attain that sum then the constable is to make a payment to the vicomte of the residue from the issues of the duchy, and the king will make allowance to him in his account. The vicomte of Tartas requested the king make a lease of the baylies.

1.: Guitart d'Albret , vicomte of Tartas (d. 1338).

For Oliver de Ingham.

76: 8 November 1336 . Stryvelyn Stirling .

Grant of 200 m.st. or their value in other money to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal [of Gascony] in aid of his excessive expenses that he has to meet in Bordeaux, and thus the king orders the constable to pay Ingham without delay 200 m.st. , or their value in other money, from the issues of the duchy, any other orders sent to him notwithstanding, receiving from Ingham his letters patent, and the constable will have due allowance in his account.

By the same K.

Similar letters are directed to the constable of Bordeaux to make payment in the same form:

76.1: Grant of 100 m. to Insula John de Lisle, mayor of the city of Burdeg' Bordeaux .

77: 6 November 1336 . Stryvelyn Stirling . Concerning the delivery of ornaments to Oliver de Ingham .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux to deliver all the ornaments ( ornamenta ) and fittings ( apparamenta ) of chapel of the late John Travers , former constable of Bordeaux to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of the duchy for a reasonable price to be delivered by the king's order, by indenture made between the constable and Ingham, and the constable will have due allowance in his account. As Travers had not yet accounted of the issues of his office, these ornaments were kept in the king's hand among other goods and chattels.

By C.

78

6 November 1336 . Stryvelyn Stirling . For John Mountfichet .

Grant to John Mountfichet, public notary in the parts of Gascony as well as in Angl' England , king's clerk , to be represented by substitutes or a substitute in his office of the king's remembrancer memorandarius in the duchy and also of the keepership of the papers of the king's notaries in the duchy concerning the king's business, whenever he is doing other king's business. Lately, the king granted for life to Mountfichet, because of his good service, this office and this keepership together with the emoluments and profits appertaining to them under the same conditions that others who had this office and keepership had it until now, as more fully appear in the king's letters patent made to Travers. ¹

By C.

1.: For a related entry, see entry 24 .

For the community of Bayonne.

79: 20 November 1336 . Bothevill' Bothwell .

Grant at pleasure to the merchants, mariners and the other king's subjects of the city of Baion' Bayonne to be exempted of the payment of 2 s.morl. that the prévôt of Bayonne received for the king's profit from all the ships returning to the port of Bayonne, any order of the king's to the contrary notwithstanding. Lately, the mayor, jurats, hundred peers and the community of the city of Bayonne requested that the king will exempt by his grace the merchants, mariners and the other king's subjects of the city of Bayonne of the 2 s.morl , that is 9 d.st. 1 ob. , that the prévôt of Bayonne is used to receive from all the ships returning to the port of Bayonne.

80: Same as above

And it is ordered to the prévôt of Bayonne to exempt the said merchants, mariners and the king's subjects of the city of [Bayonne] of the payment of the 2 s.morl on all the ships returning to the port [of Bayonne] and permit them to be exempted on that matter as long as the king wishes it, etc. as above.

By the same K. and C.

81: Same as above

Grant at pleasure to the mayor, hundred peers and all the community of the city of Bayonne of the king's la Bena baylie of Labenne and the place called Capbreton to have with all that pertains to this baylie without rendering anything to the king, any grant or order of the king's to the contrary notwithstanding, because of their good service to the king and their ancestors' to former kings of England.

82: Same as above

And it is ordered to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to deliver this baylie and place to the major, hundred peers and all the community of the city [of Bayonne] , etc. as above.

By the same K. and C.

83: Same as above

Order to sheriffs, bailiffs and all other ministers and faithful subjects, both collectors of the three pence in the pound and others, both within liberties and without them, that they should not trouble the merchants and the king's subjects of the city [of Bayonne]. The mayor, hundred peers and all the community of the city of Bayonne have requested from the king that, whereas their fellow citizens the merchants and king’s subjects of the city coming to England have been bound to pay to the king the three pence in the pound levied on foreign and alien merchants on their goods and merchandise brought to England, and taken from it, that they be aquitted from this by the king’s special grace; and the king has granted this for the great and useful service that the mayor, hundred peers, jurats and community have done to him and his progenitors.

By the same K. and C.

84: 3 December 1336 . Bothevill' Bothwell . Concerning the retaining of ships .

Order to Oliver de Ingham , seneschal of Gascony to retain all the English ships coming to the duchy to load wines or other ships, until the ships coming from Baiona Bayonne will be arrived, so thatthey perform more safely together what will ordered to them; and if any ships of Flandria Flanders come there, he should keep them under arrest until he receives another order from the king. As several English ships of the kingdom sailed recently towards the parts of the duchy to load wines, the king does not want they return separately but wait for the ships of Bayonne.

By the same K. and C.

85: 25 November 1336 . Bothevill' Bothwell . For the king .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony that, if he finds that the allegations against la Crene Johan de Latresne are true, then he should proceed further for the king’s indemnity, and as he considers ought to be done according to the fors and customs of those parts. The king has learnt that it was customary in his city of Bordeaux, that no noble should be exempted from paying the custom for his wine at the castle of Bordeaux , and Latresne, who claims himself to be noble, has not paid the custom for his wines for a long time, as a non-noble ( ignobilis ) of the city, as more fully appear in the papers of the court of Gascony, deceiving the king, and diminishing the king's custom and contrary to the aforesaid custom, against what was customary in the duchy. The king wishes to be indemnified, and if Latresne is guilty, that he should be punished.

By C.

86: 25 November 1336 . Bothevill' Bothwell . For Johan Lombaud, damoiseau .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony that, having called before him the king's procurator and the others who you consider ought to be summoned, and having inspected the papers of the king’s court of Gascony, then he should proceed to do full justice to Tresne, del Johan de Latresne according to the fors and customs of those parts. The king has accepted the complaint of Lumbaud Johan Lombaud, damoiseau , that although he has accused Latresne of various crimes and treasons before the seneschal sitting in judgment on the matters, both for the king and himself, and he has requested Latresne’s punishment according to his offence, as Latresne has said nothing before you or cited his good conduct of loyalty, just as the papers of the king’s court of Gascony more fully contain, as Lombaud says, the seneschal has not bothered to do justice on the matter, about which the king is much amazed. The king does not wish such a crime to go unpunished, if it was perpetrated.

For the king.

87: 12 December 1336 . Bothevill' Bothwell .

Order to Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, constable of Bordeaux , to account with Oliver Ingham , seneschal of Gascony , for arrears of Ingham’s fee and for horses bought by him to further the king’s business in the duchy, which he claims are owed to him. Usodimare is to know what is actually due and to make sure that, in future, Ingham’s fee is paid every quarter year from ducal revenues. And he will have due allowance for this in his accounts. As the king trusts Usodimare’s circumspection, and his assiduous service, Usodimare is to further the king’s business in the duchy, to encourage his faithful subjects there to sustain their loyalty, and to prevent discords, so that the king may commend his prudence and hard work, and as he is to believe what he is told by William de Radnor, the king’s valet , on the king’s behalf.

88: 13 December 1336 . Bothevill' Bothwell .

Request to the nobles, knights and all other faithful subjects in the duchy to help Oliver Ingham , as seneschal of Gascony, to resist the machinations of the king’s enemies, enjoining them to help him to maintain the king’s rights and honour. The king has been pleased to hear, on Ingham’s testimony, of their continuing loyalty and defence of the king’s interests.

Concerning the appointment of the vice admiral.

89: 16 January 1337 . Turris London' Tower of London .

Commitment to Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare at pleasure [of the office] of vice admiral of the king's fleet of galleys and all the other ships of the duchy that the king has ordered at pleasure to be prepared for the defence of the duchy. Usodimare is empowered to punish all the mariners and others of the fleet as it is just and has been used until now.

90: Same as above

Order to Niccolò [Usodimare] to diligently attend to the matter in the form above.

By the same K.

91: Same as above

And it is ordered to all the masters, mariners and others of the king's fleet of galleys and all other ships of the duchy to obey and attend in everything Niccolò [Usodimare] as vice admiral of this fleet as it is said above.

Concerning the appointment of the lieutenant of the constable of Bordeaux.

92: 28 January 1337 . Turrim London' Tower of London .

Commitment of Usus Maris Antonio Usodimare as lieutenant of Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, constable of Bordeaux to do and exercise all that pertains to the office of constable when Niccolò is applying to the office of [vice] admiral, answering during this time to the king of the issues of this office, and doing and exercising in this office of constable, as it was used before. The king has appointed Niccolò Usodimare, constable of Bordeaux, vice admiral of the king's fleet of the galleys and all the other ships of the duchy that the king would have ordered at pleasure for the defence of the duchy, as more fully appear in the king's letters patent, and as the king has learned that Niccolò cannot exercise the office of constable while the office of admiral is vacant.

93: Same as above

And it is ordered to all the king's subjects in the duchy to attend and obey to Antonio [Usodimare] as lieutenant of Niccolò [Usodimare] in all that pertains to the office of constable, as long as he stays in this office.

Concerning the purveying of victuals.

94: 20 January 1337 . Turris London' Tower of London .

Assignment to John de Radnor to purvey various victuals in the duchy, according to the information and advice of the seneschal of Gascony and of the constable of Bordeaux, and to keep them safely at the king's pleasure, answering to the king for these victuals, and receiving in this office reasonable and customary wages, with an order to Radnor to attend to this office, setting aside all other business.

95: Same as above

And it is ordered to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux to diligently inform John [de Radnor] on the purveyance of the victuals just as they consider is to the best advantage of the king.

By the same K.

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96

27 November 1336 . Bothevill' Bothwell . Concerning the sending of ships on the English sea.

Order to the major, jurats, hundred peers and all the community of the city of Bayonne , the king recalling the faithful constancy, and the pure affection that they have shown to the king and his progenitors, to prepare without delay all the ships of their city sufficient for war, if they have not already been prepared, and supply them with able and strong men, and arms and other necessary things, and send these ships prepared for war to the English sea; ¹ and those ships of our subjects coming there, if they are at Burdegal' Bordeaux and in the neighbouring harbours, for wine and other merchandise, they are to conduct those ships and men to the English Sea, or to England; and thereafter they have to enjoin, on the king's behalf, the masters, mariners and others being on these ships of Bayonne, together with some other ships that are prepared to help, to break company and sail separately to every harbour of Normann' Normandy and to the harbours of the eastern parts where certain Scots and foreigners are preparing ships for war against the king [of England], to investigate the ships to find if the king of France has licensed them by his letters patent to damage the king's men on sea or elsewhere, and to resist them and take them on sea. Whereas de Brus David Bruce and other enemies of Scot' Scotland are allied with some men of the power of the king of France and some other foreign lands against the king [of England], and the Scots with these foreigners are preparing several ships and galleys of war and are gathering them in various harbours of Normandy and other neighbouring ports, and are attacking those ships and goods of the English merchants and other Englishmen, lying at anchor near the coast of the kingdom, and taking away the ships after killing merchants and mariners, and are endeavouring to damage the king and his subjects, the king wishes to repel the malice of the Scots and other aliens for the defence of his realm and his subjects.

By the same K.

1.: The Atlantic Ocean and more precisely the Gulf of Biscay (in French 'le golfe de Gascogne').

For the king.

97

13 December 1336 . ¹

Letters requesting the mayor, jurats and all the community of the city of Bordeaux to continue their strenuous efforts and actions on the king’s behalf, as they and their predecessors had done in the past. They are to resist the evil enterprises of his enemies and preserve his honour and rights. If any dissensions arise among them or among the king’s other subjects, which God forbid, they should root them out promptly, under pain of forfeiture of all possessions held from the king, so that they are ‘unanimous, as brothers’, especially in the present troubled times. They are to resist all those who infringe or invade the king’s rights, so that they may be duly commended and rewarded. The king will apprise the seneschal of Gascony, to whom they are to show their loyalty and give their aid, of his wishes in this respect.

1.: The place is missing.

: Similar letters have been sent to:

97.1: Same as above.

the Baion' mayor, hundred peers, jurats and all the community of the city of Bayonne , the Sanctus Severius prévôt, jurats and all the community of the town of Saint-Sever , the Sanctus Johannes de Sordys prévôt, jurats and all the community of the town of Saint-Jean-de-Sorde , the Seynt Milhoun prévôt, jurats and all the community of the town of Saint-Émilion , the Sanctus Makarius prévôt, jurats and all the community of the town of Saint-Macaire , the Blavia prévôt, jurats and all the community of the town of Blaye , the Burgh prévôt, jurats and all the community of the town of Bourg , the Penn' prévôt, jurats and all the community of the town of Penne[-d'Agenais] , the Pymerole prévôt, jurats and all the community of the town of Puymirol , the Leybourn' prévôt, jurats and all the community of the town of Libourne ,

98: Same as above

Letters requesting the mayor, jurats and all the community of the city of Bordeaux , to oppose any usurpation of the king’s hereditary rights, not sparing any cost or labour. The king will ensure that they are recompensed for their trouble and expense, so that others may be moved by their example to do the same in future. The king has learnt of their steady, constant and unflinching loyalty from Oliver Ingham , seneschal of Gascony , in the face of all adversity.

99

Same as above

Letters requesting the lord of Lesparre , ¹ to continue to resist the attempts of all enemies against the king’s rights, and to aid the seneschal of Gascony to preserve them and the king’s honour, so that he will commend Lesparre’s loyalty and strenuous support. The king will then provide an appropriate reward.

1.: Sénebrun V de Lesparre .

: Similar letters have been separatly sent to:

99.1

Same as above.

the Landar' seneschal of the Landes , Edmundi Arnaut Aymon , Greyly Johan [II] de Grailly , Tours Bertran de Lastours , the Rosan lord of Rauzan , the Pomeriis, de lord of Pommiers , the lord of Musserak' ¹

1.: The English clerk probably made a mistake in reading the name of the lord of Montferrand .