The Gascon Rolls Project

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C 61/141 33 Henry VI (1454-55)

Introduction.

With the loss of the duchy with the fall of Bordeaux in October 1453, despite the English government's evident desire to recover Aquitaine, the business contained in the roll begins to lose its variety. This roll contains almost without exception letters of protection and safe-conduct, and licences to export goods. The sole entry on the role to do with administrative matters in Aquitaine is the first of sequence of entries through the final rolls whereby offices, never to be in the control of the English again, were granted out, usually to loyal Gascons. The grant to Phélip de Laplace is quite extensive, containing the keepership of the castle of the Ombrière in Bordeaux, the keepership of the papars of dead notaries, and the writing offices of the king's court of sovereignty, and of the prévôt of the castle of the Ombrière. ¹ These were important offices though not of the first rank, and Laplace appears to have been one of the companions of the dean of Saint-Seurin, so a loyal Gascon who had chosen exile with one of the most important Gascon exiles. Being so soon after the loss of the duchy, there could have been every expectation of this grant being made good, but whether such grants remained so in subsequent rolls is less certain. Nor is it clear whether some sort of provision was made for payments to such individuals until possession of the offices could be obtained, for as it is clear that this grant was made to a loyal servant who had sustained loss to maintain his loyalty, then the grants were of exceptionally poor value, though they may have served as evidence of continued intent towards the duchy to encourage such exiles. Another entry, a stray, relates to administrative matter elsewhere, and is like other entries in these last few rolls, concerning the service of an individual in Calais. Whether this was a mistake or the roll was being used for such entries on occasion is unclear. ²

The licences granted for ships to go to the duchy were granted to a mixture of Englishmen and Gascon exiles. As with the previous roll, some of the entries indicate what the exiles had given up. One in particular goes into some detail. The entry concerning Johan Constantin notes that ‘to preserve his loyalty to the king, [he] had to leave his parents, wife, children and all his goods and inheritance there’. Subsequently Constantin’s father had died, and he had humbly requested ‘a licence to go to the duchy to bring back his wife and children, and save his goods which he [had] placed in the hands of his friends there’. ³ The entries also include further licences granted to some exiles, whose appearance in roll 140 had suggested that they had decided to quit English obedience to return to Bordeaux. Both Galhart de Laroque and Pey du Sirey had received licences to return in January 1454, but if their intentions had been to remain in Aquitaine, these had come to nought, for both received further licences in September and October 1454, and Laroque was to receive a further licence in September 1458. ⁴

Like Laroque or Sirey, quite a number of English and Gascons were repeat recipients of licences and several were to receive further licences. The Gascons Johan d’Orthe and Johan de Compagne received licences in 1454 and 1457 and 1454 and 1458 respectively, ⁵ and the Englishmen Richard Harris and John Stevens in 1454 and 1455, and two licences in 1454 respectively. ⁶ Some of those Englishmen receiving licences were not apparently of the mercantile class - Otto Gilbert, and esquire, and William Bourgchier, lord Fitzwarin, kt.

As with the last roll, a small number of safe-conducts were issued to Gascons to come to England to trade. Where the locale of the merchants is specified, they are noted as coming from Bayonne, or Saint-Jean-de-Luz near Bayonne. ⁷

The way that entries are enrolled provide some issues that might suggest that the roll as we have is not complete and that a membrane or membranes is missing. Membrane 5 commences with a line that runs from the top down to encompass the first two entries. This kind of line, when used in the Gascon Rolls, is used to enclose documents that are linked because of a common subject, and often bear the same date. Although it is not common for them to do so, they can, on occasion, cross from membrane to membrane. The line running from the top of membrane 5 would seem to indicate that the first two entries were supposed to be tied to an entry or entries on the preceding membrane. However no line now continues onto the preceding membrane, and nor is the final entry on the preceding membrane of the same type as the two entries on membrane 5, it being a safe-conduct, and they being licences. It is possible that a membrane has been lost at some time from this roll.

Simon J. Harris.

1.: entry 43
2.: entry 35 .
3.: entry 23 . For other entries making reference to losses, see entry 10 & entry 21 .
4.: For Laroque, see entry in C 61/140 , entry 2 & entry in C 61/143 . For Sirey, see entry 12 & entry in C 61/140 .
5.: entry 22 & entry in C 61/143 ; and > entry in C 61/140 , entry 13 & entry in C 61/143 .
6.: entry 14 & entry in C 61/142 ; & entry 17 & entry in C 61/140 .
7.: entry 16 , entry 25 , entry 26 , entry 33 & entry 36 .

Membrane 7

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1: 29 September 1454. Pountfret Pontefract . For a licence .

Grant of a licence for one year to Thomas Clement , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he, in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called la Marie of Landehelp' Landulph , of 80 tuns capacity or less, of which Grigge Reynold Grigg is master, and the same Thomas is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , and other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Clement suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he does not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

2

28 September 1454. Pountfret Pontefract . For a licence .

Grant of a licence for one year to la Rota Galhart de Laroque , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he, in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Martyn of London , of 100 tuns capacity or less, of which Guilhermi Arnaut-Guilhem is master, and Robert Johnson is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , and other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Laroque suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he does not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship. ¹

By K. and C.

1.: For a later licence for this same ship, see entry in C 61/140 .

3

5 September 1454. Middelham Middleham . For a licence .

Grant of a licence for one year to Stokker William Stocker , William Riggewyn and Stokker John Stocker by the advice and assent of the king's council, that they, jointly or individually, are able to go to the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , and other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, in one English ship, or various ships, loaded with goods and merchandise, not pertaining to the Calais staple, unload the goods and trade with them, and return to England with the ship or ships loaded with other goods and merchandise without the Stockers and Riggewyn suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he does not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship. ¹

By K. and C.

1.: For other licences granted to Stocker, see entry 34 and entry in C 61/143 .

4

25 September 1454. Shiryfhuton' Sheriff Hutton . For a licence .

Grant of a licence for one year to Bonyfaunt John Bonifant and John Mote , at their humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that they, or either of them, or by their agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called la Trinite of Cales' Calais , of 200 tuns capacity or less, of which John Porter is master, and Whethill Richard Wheathill is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Bonifant and Mote suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that they do not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship. ¹

By K. and C.

1.: For another licence for Bonifant, see entry in C 61/140 .

5: 28 September 1454. Pountfret Pontefract . For a licence .

Grant of a licence for one year to Makeram Arnaut Macanan and Makeram Ricart Macanan , at their humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that they, or either of them, or by their agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called la Mangdeleyn' of London , of 200 tuns capacity or less, of which Curtes John Curtis is master, and John [Tiptoft], earl of Worcester is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Arnaut Macanan and Ricart Macanan suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that they do not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

6: 25 September 1454. Shiryfhuton' Sheriff Hutton . For a licence .

Grant of a licence for one year to Elys Nicholas Ellis and Patryngton' Thomas Patrington , at their humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that they, or either of them, or by their agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Antony of Hull , of 440 tuns capacity or less, of which Benyngton' Robert Bennington is master, and the aforesaid Ellis and Patrington are owners, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's cities of Burdegal' Bordeaux and Bayonne, or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Ellis and Patrington suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that they do not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

For a licence.

7: 5 September 1454. Middelham Middleham .

Grant of a licence for one year to Kerver William Carver , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Edward of Suthampton Southampton , of 320 tuns capacity or less, of which Lychefeld Thomas Lichfield is master, and the aforesaid Carver is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Carver suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he does not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

8: Same as above

Grant of a licence for one year to John Staple , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called Langmedesbarge , of 120 tuns capacity or less, of which John Langmede is master and owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Staple suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he does not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

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9: 9 October 1454. Westm' Westminster . For a licence to transport for Sturgeon .

Grant of a licence for one year to John Sturgeon, citizen and mercer of London , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Newe Goost of London , of 300 tuns capacity or less, of which William Legge is master, and the same Sturgeon, Thomas Style and John Bolle are owners, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Sturgeon suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he does not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

10

3 October 1454. Huntyngdon' Huntingdon . For Pey Ap .

Grant of a licence for one year to Ap' Pey Ap , ¹ at his humble request, that he can go to the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, stay there, conduct his business there, and return to England without trouble from the king or his officers. Ap has shown the king that after John [Talbot], earl of Shrewsbury , was killed by the king's adversaries in the king's duchy of Aquitaine by the fortunes of war, and the duchy was subjected to the obedience of the king's great adversary of France, Ap wishing to remain faithful to the king, came to him in England, and left his goods and inheritance there. He now wishes to return to the duchy to save his goods which are in the hands of his enemies, and requests a licence to do so.

1.: There are several mentions of Pey Ap, merchant of Bordeaux - he subsequently returned to Bordeaux - during the Grands Jours of Bordeaux (French provisional court of justice) of 1459. See Archives Historiques de la Gironde , IX (Paris-Bordeaux, 1867).

11: 11 October 1454. Westm' Westminster . For a licence to transport .

Grant of a licence until 24 June next to Thomas Kelly , Elliot Igon' , Peter Demoleyra and Thomas Broke at their humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that they in person, or by their agents or attorneys, can take a certain barge called le Nicholas of Exmouth , of 60 tuns capacity or less, of which Beall William Beale is master, and with sixteen mariners or fewer, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the barge loaded with other goods and merchandise without Kelly or the others suffering trouble from the king, or his officers or ministers, provided only that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that they do not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

12: Same as above For a licence to transport .

Grant of a licence as above to Serey Pey du Sirey , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Marie of Hampton' Southampton , of 260 tuns capacity or less, of which John Estounes is master, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Sirey suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only, as above mutatis mutandis .

13

14 September 1454. Westm' Westminster . For a licence to transport .

Grant of a licence for one year to Campanha Johan de Campagne and Bernat de Splantes ¹ in consideration of all the goods and hereditaments that they had and relinquished in the duchy of Aquitaine when it was lost, because they remained faithful to the king, and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that they in person, or by their agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Julyane of Fowy Fowey , of 150 tuns capacity or less, of which Richard Land is master and owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , Baion' Bayonne or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Campagne and Splantes suffering trouble from the king, or his officers or ministers, provided only that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that they do not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

1.: The English clerk has distorted this name. It could be perhaps a 'Bernat d'Espiaut'.

14: 11 October 1454. Westm' Westminster . For a licence .

Grant of a licence for one year to William Jacob and Harrys Richard Harris , at their humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that they in person, or by their agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Cristofre of Hoke Hook , of 100 tuns capacity or less, of which Sonday Geoffrey Sunday is master, and the same Harris is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Jacob and Harris suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that they do not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

15: 31 October 1454. Westm' Westminster . For a licence .

Grant of a licence until 1 June next to Richerdson John Richardson and John Warde , merchants, at their humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that they in person, or by their agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Cristofre of Novum Castrum super Tynam Newcastle upon Tyne of 240 tuns capacity, of which Dryffeld Henry Driffield was master, and the aforesaid Richardson and Warde were owners, loaded with goods and merchandise etc., as above mutatis mutandis .

For K. and C.

16: 4 September 1454. Middelham Middleham . For a safe-conduct .

To all admirals etc.

Letters of protection and safe-conduct for one year, for Barreyne Martin de Barrène , master of a certain balinger called le Saintferro of Saint John Lus Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the duchy of Aquitaine, who is currently in England, that he may remain with his ship and mariners, merchandise, goods, property and equipment, trade with them, and buy others and load it on the balinger, and go to the king's duchy, and return to England as often as he likes within the term of the safe-conduct without any trouble or impediment. Provided only that he answers to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he and his mariners conduct themselves well towards the king and his people, and do nothing in contempt or to the damage of them.

Barrène has shown that when the king's duchy was taken by the king's adversary of France, and subjected to him, he remained loyal to the king and came to England with his balinger charged with various of his goods and merchandise under certain letters of safe-conduct which are shortly to expire. He fears that he will be damaged in his body and his goods by certain of his enemies, and requests that the king will show him his royal munificence. The king has granted this in consideration of what he has been shown, and because Barrène has appeared before the king in his chancery and sworn an oath to be a true liege for his life.

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17

Same as above

Grant of a licence as above to Stephenes John Stevens , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Trinite Clyfford , of 300 tuns capacity or less, of which John Bronde is master, and of which Clyfford Thomas Clifford, kt , and John Helmeslem are owners, loaded with goods etc. as above mutatis mutandis . ¹

By K. and C.

1.: This and the immediately following entry are problematic for they commence this membrane with a line against them in the lefthand margin which extends upwards to the top edge of the membrane as if the line should continue onto the previous membrane linking them to entries there, though it doesn't continue. In addition, both entries are licences granted to trade in the duchy, but are heavily abbreviated, and the phrasing of the entries, and the dating ' Teste ut supra ' would suggest that they depend on a previous licence that closed membrane 6. However, membrane 6 ends with a safe-conduct, and it seems unlikely that the clerk meant to refer back to this entry. It is possible that the membranes have become disordered, or a membrane is missing.

18: Same as above

Grant of a licence as above to Nicholas Lolle , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Bartholomewe of Landhilp' Landulph , of 100 tuns capacity or less, of which Nicholas Vian' is master, and the same Nicholas Lolle is owner, loaded with goods etc. as above mutatis mutandis .

By K. and C.

For a licence to transport.

1 September 1454. Middelham Middleham .

Grant of a licence for one year to Martyn' Thomas Martin , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called [...], ¹ loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Martin suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided etc. as above.

By K. and C.

1.: A space for the name of the ship has been left, but never completed.

Same as above

Grant of a licence for one year to Blakborn' John Blackbourne, citizen and vintner of London , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called [...], ¹ loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Blackbourne suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided etc. as above.

By K. and C.

1.: A space for the name of the ship has been left, but never completed.

21: 21 September 1454. Shiryfhuton' Sheriff Hutton . For a licence to transport .

Grant of a licence for one year to Johan de Bloy , in consideration of all the goods and hereditaments that he had and relinquished in the duchy of Aquitaine when it was lost, because he remained faithful to the king, and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called la Katerine of Suthampton Southampton , of 200 tuns capacity or less, of which Dirretz Andriu d'Aretz is master, and John William is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Bloy suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided etc. as above.

By K. and C.

22: Same as above For a licence to transport .

Grant of a licence for one year to Dorta Johan d'Orthe , in consideration of all the goods and hereditaments that he had and relinquished in the duchy of Aquitaine when it was lost, because he remained faithful to the king, and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Cristofre of Wynchelse Winchelsea , of 80 tuns capacity or less, of which Prat John Pratt was master and owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Dorta suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided etc. as above.

By K. and C.

23

23 September 1454. Shiryfhuton' Sheriff Hutton . For a licence to transport .

Grant of a licence for one year to Constantyn Johan Constantin that he can go to the city of Burdegal' Bordeaux or other parts of the duchy with two servants in his company, reside there, conduct his business, and return to England with his wife, children, servants, and his goods and property without trouble from the king or his officers. Constantin has shown the king how after John [Talbot], late earl of Shrewsbury , was killed in the duchy of Aquitaine by the adversities of war, and by the king's adversaries, and the duchy was subjugated to the obedience of the king's great adversary of France , ¹ he came to England to preserve his loyalty to the king, but had to leave his parents, wife, children and all his goods and inheritance there. Subsequently his father has died, and Constantin humbly requests a licence to go to the duchy to bring back his wife and children, and save his goods which he placed in the hands of his friends there.

By K. and C.

1.: Charles VII, king of France (1422-61).

24: 29 September 1454. Pountfret Pontefract . For a licence to transport .

Grant of a licence for one year to Gille Thomas Gill, the elder , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Trinite of Dortemouth Dartmouth , of 60 tuns capacity or less, of which Marchall' Ralph Marshal is master, and Tukker Richard Tucker and John Weston are owners, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Gill suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided etc., as above.

By K. and C.

For safe-conduct.

25: 1 September 1454. Middelham Middleham .

To all admirals etc.

Letters of protection and safe-conduct for one year, for Bertran de Colneys , Guilhem Guilhoton , Guilhem Béroy , Pey Estrok and Pey Faure to come into England, and the king's lordships, jurisdictions and territory with their ship, and with their goods, merchandise, property and servants, jointly or individually, and stay there without any impediment, damage or harm, provided only that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues for the goods and merchandise brought by them or any of them into England , and that they do not carry the goods or merchandise of the enemy by colour of the presents. On behalf of Colneys and the others it has been shown how they in the duchy of Aquitaine at the time that the duchy was taken from the king's obedience by his adversary of France, and subjected to him, intend to come into England under a safe-conduct of the king's adversary for the salvation of their goods, and to preserve their allegiance to the king, and request the king will show his royal munificence to them.

26: Same as above

[Letters of protection and safe-conduct] for the same duration, for Degarans Arnaut de Garans , Fayhet Bernat de Fayet and Johan de Manes to come into England as above. They have shown as above, and they request as above.

27: 30 October 1454. Westm' Westminster .

Grant of a licence until 1 June to Kendale Richard Kendal and Hutchyn Laurence Hutchin , at their humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that they in person, or by their agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Michell of Fowy Fowey , of 90 tuns capacity or less, of which the same Hutchin is master and owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Kendal and Hutchin suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that they do not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

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For a licence to transport.

28: 18 October 1454. Westm' Westminster .

Grant of a licence until 1 June to Ralegh Walter Raleigh at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain barge called le Seint John of Exmuth' Exmouth , of 60 tuns capacity or less, of which Andrewe William Andrew is master, and Raleigh is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the barge loaded with other goods and merchandise without Raleigh suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he does not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

29: 11 November 1454. Westm' Westminster .

Grant of a licence until 1 July to Thorysby John Thoresby at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Trinite of Lenn' Episcopi Lynn , of 180 tuns capacity or less, of which Edmund Pevill' is master, and Thoresby is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Thoresby suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he does not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

25 November 1454. Westm' Westminster .

Grant of a licence as above to Davys John Davis of Doresley Dursley , Thomas Berkeley of Berkeley and Davys John Davis of Berkeley at their humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Trinite of Berkeley , of 70 tuns capacity or less, of which Poule William Poole is master, and Davis, Berkeley and Davis are owners, loaded with goods and merchandise etc. as above mutatis mutandis . ¹

By K. and C.

1.: The entry is followed by five sets of empty entry marks.

31: 2 December 1454. Westm' Westminster .

Grant of a licence until 24 June to William Bourgchier, Fitz Waryn [lord] FitzWarin , kt , at his humble request, that he, in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Trinite Fitz Waryn , of 100 tuns capacity or less, of which Bourgchier is owner, Rawelyn John Rawlin is master, and Thomas Classhe , bursar , loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, with 24 mariners or fewer, to the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Bourgchier suffering trouble from the king, or his officers or ministers, provided only as above, and that neither Bourgchier, his agents or attorneys, master and mariners as above.

By K. and C.

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32: 10 December 1454. Westm' Westminster . For a licence to transport for Hottot .

Grant of a licence until 24 June next to Hotot John Hottot at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents or attorneys, can take a certain ship called le Trinite of Gippewicum Ipswich , of 200 tuns capacity or less, of which William Humfrey is master, and Keche William Keech is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegall' Bordeaux , or other parts of his duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the barge loaded with other goods and merchandise without Hottot suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he does not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

33: 12 December 1454. Westm' Westminster . For safe-conduct .

Letters patent of protection and safe-conduct for one year, by the advice and assent of the king's council, for Reparatse Pelento de Reparatzea of Sanctus Johannes de Lunis Saint-Jean-de-Luz , near Baion' Bayonne , Auger de Belay of Baion' Bayonne , la Huviague Bertholomiu de Lohobiague , and Garrauda Ramon de Garralde , and each of them to come into England , and other lordships, jurisdictions and territories of the king, with two servants or fewer, with a certain ship or balinger called le Seint John of Sanctus Johannes de Luus Saint-Jean-de-Luz of capacity of 80 tuns or less, of which the same Reparatzea or his attorney is master, and also with 28 mariners and ship's boys or fewer, for the governance of the ship and balinger, loaded with various goods and merchandise, by land, sea and river, mounted or on foot, with their property and equipment, reside there and unload the ship and reload it with other goods and merchandise, merchandise pertaining to the Cales' Calais staple only excepted, and return to their own parts, and to come again to England again as often as he pleases during the term of the present conduct, without disturbance or impediment. Proviso that Reparatzea and the others conduct themselves well and honestly towards the king and his people, and do nothing in contempt or prejudice of the king or his people, and that they present these letters without delay to captains, mayors or governors of any castles, fortalices or towns where they enter or land. It is also provided that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England. It is also provided that none of them bring wheat into England in the ship or balinger, and also that the sums of money obtained for the goods and merchandise within the ship be taken in the goods and merchandise of England according to the form of the statute. It is further provided that if any of Reparatzea or the others infringe the safe-conduct, the king does not wish the others to be prejudiced or damaged by this, but only the one who has made the infringement.

By K. and C., and of the aforesaid date etc.

34

7 January 1455. Westm' Westminster . For a licence to transport for Tregoran.

Grant of a licence until 1 July next to Tregurreyn' John Tregoran and Stokker John Stocker at their humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that they in person, or by their agents and attorneys, can take a certain ship called le James of Asshe Saltash , of 200 tuns capacity or less, of which William Tonker is master and owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Tregoran and Stocker suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that they do not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship. ¹

By K. and C.

1.: For other licences granted to Stocker, see entry 3 and entry in C 61/143 .

35: 11 May 1455. Westm' Westminster .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for one year, for Roger Landen of Wokyngham Wokingham in Berkshire, yeoman and belleyeter bell founder , alias Roger Landyn of Wokingham in Berkshire, husbandman and founder , or by whatever other name he is known, who is going to Picardie Picardy , in the king's service, in the company of Clyfton Gervase Clifton, kt , treasurer of Cales' Calais , and residing their upon the defence and victualling of the town and the march there.

By p.s.

36: 15 July 1455. Westm' Westminster . For safe-conduct .

Letters patent of protection and safe-conduct for one year, for a certain barge called le Clement of Baion' Bayonne , of 100 tuns capacity or less, of which Doyarsabale Martin d'Oiharzabal is master, with the goods and merchandise, and equipment, and also to this master, two merchants and 34 mariners or fewer, to come into England, and the king's lordships, jurisdictions or territories, and stay there, unload the barge, and load it with other goods and merchandise, provided it does not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, merchandise, and return to the duchy of Aquitaine, any marque, counter-marque or reprisal granted by the king notwithstanding. It is ordered that the ship be protected in doing this, and that no-one be permitted to injure, trouble, damage or impede it, and if anything has been forfeited or injured, it is to be put right without delay. Proviso only that the king is answered for the customs, subsidies and other dues, and that the masters and mariners conduct themselves well and honestly towards the king or his people, and without doing any damage or prejudicial to the king or his people. It is also provided that they do not enter any castles, fortalices or towns of the king, without first showing the king's letters of safe-conduct to the captains, mayors or governors of the same place, and that no wheat is brought to any part of the king's realm.

By K.

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37: 6 March 1455. Westm' Westminster . For a licence for [Otto] Gilbert.

Grant by letters patent of a licence for one year to Gilbard Otto Gilbert, esquire , at his humble request and by the advice and assent of the king's council, that he in person, or by his agents and attorneys, can take a certain ship called le James of Dertemouth Dartmouth , of 100 tuns capacity or less, of which John Langmede is master, and the same Gilbert is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Gilbert suffering trouble from the king, or his officers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, both on those that are exported out of England and imported into England, and that he do not take out any victuals, grain, horses, arms and armour in the ship, except for the reasonable victualling and defence of the ship.

By K. and C.

38

25 March 1455. Westm' Westminster . For a licence for [Guilhem] Pineau.

To all admirals etc.

Grant of a licence for half a year to Pynawe Guilhem Pineau , originating in the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , he having requested the same, that he can go to Ispann' Spain , ¹ where he has left various goods and merchandise to around the value of 60 l. , and collect them and bring them to England in an English ship, or another ship under that safe-conduct. The king orders that Pineau be permitted to do this, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise.

1.: It meant the kingdom of Castile.

39

9 August 1455. Westm' Westminster . For safe conduct.

Letters patent of protection and safe-conduct for one year, at the request and in relief of Gausem Johan Gaucem originating in the duchy of Aquitaine, who, when the king's adversary of France invaded and subjugated the city of Burdegal' Bordeaux and his country there, lost all of his moveable and immoveable goods, and came to England observing his allegiance to the king, to Daurguos Martin d'Arrangoitze , ¹ master of a certain ship called le Sincerr' of Sanctus Johannes de Luus Saint-Jean-de-Luz , of 80 tuns capacity or less, and with the ship, loaded with goods and merchandise, and 28 mariners, and also their property and equipment, to come into England as often as it pleases them, and to reside, unload the cargo and trade with it, and reload the ship and return home without any impediment, letters of marque, counter-marque and reprisal notwithstanding. Proviso only that the king is answered for the customs, subsidies and other dues, and that the masters and mariners conduct themselves well and honestly towards the king or his people, and without doing any damage or prejudicial to the king or his people. It is also provided that they do not enter any castles, fortalices or towns of the king, without first showing the king's letters of safe-conduct to the captains, mayors or governors of the same place, and that no wheat is brought to any part of the king's realm.

By p.s. and of the date etc.

1.: Arrangoitze is the Basque name of the commune of Arcangues (in Labourd).

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For a licence.

40: 16 August 1455. Westm' Westminster .

Grant of a licence for one year to Richard Anson and John Haynson , owners of a certain ship called le Grete George of Hull , of 320 tuns capacity or less, by a request made on their behalf, that they in person, or by their agents and attorneys, can take that ship, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England or other places subject to the king, with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Anson and Haynson suffering trouble from the king, or his officers or ministers, provided only that they answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, and that they do not bring any wheat into any part of the king's realm.

By K. and C.

41: Same as above

Grant of a licence as above to Cliderowe Hugh Clitheroe and Richard Anson , owners of a certain ship called le Julian' of Hull of 200 tuns capacity or less owner , by a request made on their behalf, etc. as above mutatis mutandis .

42: 15 August 1455. Westm' Westminster . For a licence .

Grant of a licence by the king's special grace for one year to William Ryder, kt , at his humble request, that he in person, or by his agents and attorneys, can take a certain ship called Gyles of Hull , of 260 tuns capacity or less, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, as far as the king's city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , or other parts of the king's duchy of Aquitaine, unload the goods, and return to England with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise without Ryder suffering trouble from the king, or his officers or ministers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, and that he does not bring any wheat into England.

By p.s.

43

11 August 1455. Westm' Westminster . For Phélip de Laplace .

Grant for life by the advice and assent of the king's council to Platea Phélip de Laplace of the keepership of the Umbrarie, Burdegal' castle of the Ombrière in Bordeaux , the office of keeper of the papers of dead notaries , and the writing office of the king's court of sovereignty , and the Umbrarie court of the prévôt of the castle of the Ombrière . The king has granted this to Laplace, who originated in Aquitaine, in consideration of the great costs, labour and pain which he sustained during the war in the duchy, and how he on account of his loyalty to the king, by the oppression and tyranny of the king's adversaries and enemies when the king's city of Burdegall' Bordeaux was subjugated, lost all that he had so that he has nothing to live on, and is now residing with the Sanctus Severinus dean of Saint-Seurin , ¹ with whom he came to England many times for the succour and relief of the same, and returned there to his great cost and expense. ²

By p.s., and of the date etc.

1.: Pey du Taste , dean of Saint-Seurin from 1445 to 1460, but he left Bordeaux for England in 1449. Whilst in England he became a member of the king's council.
2.: For a related grant to Laplace, see entry in C 61/144 .

44

12 August 1455. Westm' Westminster . For a licence .

Grant of a licence for one year to Boke Ellis Book , owner and master of a certain barge called le Katerine of Plymmouth' Plymouth , of 60 tuns capacity, the licence being requested on his behalf, that he can go with the barge loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, to the king's duchy of Aquitaine, trade there, and return to England or other places subject to the king, with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise, as often as it pleases him, without Book suffering trouble from the king, or his officers or ministers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, and that he does not bring any wheat into England. ¹

1.: For another licence granted to Book, see entry in C 61/143 .

For a licence to transport.

18 August 1455. Westm' Westminster .

Grant of a licence for one year to Bayly Richard Bailey, merchant , the licence being requested on his behalf, that he can go in person, or by his agent or deputy, with a certain ship called le Marie of Bristoll' Bristol , of 300 tuns capacity, of which William Thomas or Robert Gotham is master, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, to the king's duchy of Aquitaine or Ispann' Spain , ¹ trade there, and return to England or other places subject to the king, with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise, as often as it pleases him, without Bailey suffering trouble from the king, or his officers or ministers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, and that he does not bring any wheat into England.

1.: It meant the kingdom of Castile.

46: 17 August 1455. Westm' Westminster .

Grant [of a licence] as above to Gille Thomas Gill, the elder , the licence being requested on his behalf, that he can go in person, or by his agent or deputy, with a certain ship called le Antony of Dertemouth' Dartmouth , of 100 tuns capacity, of which Neweman John Newman is master, loaded with goods etc., as above, mutatis mutandis .

47: Same as above

Grant [of a licence] as above to John Stourton of Stourton , kt , the licence being requested on his behalf, that he can go in person, or by his agent or deputy, with a certain ship called le George of Weymouth , of 120 tuns capacity, of which the same Stourton is owner, loaded with goods and merchandise, etc., as above, mutatis mutandis .

48: Same as above

Grant [of a licence] as above to John Stourton of Stourton , kt , the licence being requested on his behalf, that he can go in person, or by his agent or deputy, with a certain ship called la Maudeleyne of Weymouth , of 160 tuns capacity, of which the same Stourton was owner, loaded with goods and merchandise, etc., as above.

For a licence to transport.

11 August 1455. Westm' Westminster .

Grant of a licence for one year to John Shepley, merchant of the king's town of Coventrie Coventry , the licence being requested on his behalf, that he can go in person, or by his agent or deputy, with a certain ship called le Katerine of Brest , of 200 tuns capacity, of which John White is master, loaded with goods and merchandise that do not pertain to the Cales' Calais staple, to the king's duchy of Aquitaine or Ispann' Spain , ¹ unload them, and return to England or other places subject to the king, with the ship loaded with other goods and merchandise, as often as it pleases him, without Shepley suffering trouble from the king, or his officers or ministers, provided only that he answer to the king for the customs, subsidies and other dues on the goods and merchandise, and that he does not bring any wheat into England.

1.: It meant the kingdom of Castile.

50: Same as above

Grant [of a licence] as above to Assheburn John Ashbourne, merchant of the king's town of Coventrie Coventry that he can go in person, or by his agent or deputy, with a certain ship called le Marie of Brest , of 200 tuns capacity, of which William White is master, loaded with goods and merchandise, etc., the licence being requested on his behalf, as above, mutatis mutandis .