The Gascon Rolls Project

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C 61/99 10 Richard II (1386-7)

Introduction.

The roll is comparatively short, consisting of ten membranes, and contains only forty-eight entries. Indeed, a third of the roll consists of two lengthy inspeximus containing numerous charters and grants, one for the benefit of the hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem in Bordeaux, and the other for the mayor, jurats and burgesses of Libourne. The remainder of the roll consists of the usual fare for these chancery rolls - grants and confirmations, letters of protection and attorney, the grant of offices, and entries relating to justice, and trade.

In addition to the two lengthy inspeximus , the roll contains a number of grants and confirmations. Another inspeximus , this time considerably shorter, was granted to the abbot and convent of the Cistercian house at Bonlieu, near Lormont. The house had been founded by Gaston de Montferrand in 1141 on the Gironde on the bank facing Bordeaux, and the grant being confirmed by the king was that of the Lord Edward (eldest son of King Henry III of England), dated to 1261, acquitting them of all customs on their property that they bought and sold in England and Ireland. ¹ Although it is not expressly stated, the grant perhaps had in mind the wine produced on their estates which would have found a ready market in England. Another grant favoured Gassie-Arnaut de Salies, esquire, who had evidently been in royal service for sometime, first to the king's father, Edward of Woodstock, and then to the king himself after his coronation. He was rewarded with a grant of the baylie of Capbreton. ² Orders relating to earlier grants also supported further Gascons. The king's father had granted the land of Juliac to Ramon de Marsan, but he and his heirs had been killed by the enemy, and his brother, Arnaut-Guilhem received a grant of the same place from the king. An order was made to deliver the same to Marsan. ³ Marsan was shown further favour by an order to the seneschals of Aquitaine and the Landes, and the prévôt of Saint-Sever, to aid him and Pey II, his father. ⁴ The order in favour of Johan de Cantiran was more complex for he had been granted the land of Noaillan again by the king's father, a grant confirmed by the king. However, the land had been taken into the king's hands by the seneschal of Aquitaine, and then granted to Johan de Lamothe. This latter grant was to be revoked, and the land restored to Cantiran. ⁵

The remaining grants were for Englishmen. The first of these was to Sir Robert Greenacre, a military retainer of long standing. He received a grant of the castle of Vertheuil in return for 28 years service to Edward III, and to Edward of Woodstock in their wars, and special note was made of his service with two knights, 22 men-at-arms, and 20 armed archers for half a year in Woodstock's expedition to Spain (and presumably at the battle of Nájera), and also for his service to the king after his coronation, in his wars in Gascony for seven years without wages or reward. ⁶ The other grant was one that was to become a standard element of the means of making financial provision for the seneschals of Aquitaine, and that was of the castle of Fronsac granted to John Harpsden, the newly appointed seneschal. With the treasury of Aquitaine almost continually drained of resources to meet the demands placed on it for the Anglo-Gascon administration, the payment of annuities, and the costs of the defence of the duchy, even the seneschals had problems obtaining the payment of their fees, so that the security of the resources of the castle, acted as a valuable financial supplement, as well as placing a very powerful and strategically placed fortress, recently forfeited to the king, in the hands of one of the king's leading ministers.

The chief offices in the duchy were nearly all replaced either shortly before, or during this regnal year. John Harpsden, the new seneschal of Aquitaine, had been appointed in the previous year in March 1385, and he and his men received protections to stay in the duchy. ⁷ John de Stratton, the constable of Bordeaux, and a London vintner, John de Clopton, then in his service, also received protections to remain in the king's service in Aquitaine dating to 22 June 1386. ⁸ However, Stratton's tenure of the office was in its last few months, for John de Gedney, king's clerk, received a grant of the office on 26 December 1386. ⁹ Some of the judiciary was also changed with the appointment of Reynaut Andrieu to the office of judge of civil and criminal appeals at the court of Gascony. ¹⁰ But not all changes seemed to have been well thought through. On 12 June Sir William de Farrington, had been appointed as mayor of Bordeaux, only for the appointment to be cancelled on 29 June. ¹¹ A letters of protection granted to Adam de Misterton and his men and property, for them to go to Aquitaine to undertake unspecified business for the king, offers more interest. It would appear likely that the trip related to the acquisition of wine for the use of the king and his household, and Misterton feared the actions of Galhart II de Durfort, lord of Duras, and of Galhart, prévôt of Bordeaux, for Misterton had been responsible for the arrest of wine belonging to them in England. Durfort and the prévôt were to be obliged to find security that they would not take action against Misterton under pain of imprisonment. ¹²

There are only three entries relating to the provision of justice on the roll. The first of these is perhaps the most interesting for it recites at length the details of an engagement in the Gironde estuary and a dispute that arose over the spoils, and which, incidentally, also concerns the lord of Duras. According to Adam de York's complaint, he and his partners had remained in Bordeaux after the other ships had returned to England, presumably referring to the annual wine fleet. Their ship lying in the Gironde, of which the enemy seemed to have received notice of, was then attacked by a warship of the French enemy from Talmont and La Rochelle manned with 200 armed men. Against the odds York and those with him fought with and captured the enemy ship and its crew, and a division of the prisoners was made, with the king to have a third, the master and his associates another third, and the lord of Duras the final third. However, the lord of Duras had managed to get hold of the prisoners and their ship to the alleged damage of the king and York and his associates and requested a remedy. ¹³ The complaint concerning the same Arnaut-Guilhem de Marsan noted above, was apparently the result of the dislocation of war. Marsan claimed that part of his inheritance, the land and baylie of Labourd, had been seized into the hands of Edward III because Marsan had been prevented by the war from coming and claiming it. In the meantime Edward III had granted it to someone else. Such complaints were not uncommon in Aquitaine in the 1370s and 80s. ¹⁴ The final case concerned the inhabitants and burgesses of Libourne who had complained that the mayor, jurats and burgesses of Bordeaux had imposed new impositions and customs on their goods, and distrained them to pay them, though the inhabitants and burgesses had been damaged by the war, and burdened by the defence of their town, and were not accustomed to pay such novelties. They requested remedy and the king superseded the coercions and distraints, and ordered their return. ¹⁵

A small number of licences granted to English and Gascon merchants continued to give consent for trade between England and the duchy. The three licences granted to Iter de Mirepech and other merchants of Bordeaux and Bayonne, simply permitted trade, with all three licences being secured by the mainprise of Englishmen of London and Hampshire. ¹⁶ Two further licences were also granted simply for trade, one to John Polymond of Southampton to take wheat to Bordeaux, or, slightly more unusually, Lisbon; and the other was to John Warner of London and Julian de Bordeaux, the master of a barque of Bayonne, taking wheat to Bayonne. ¹⁷ The other licences appear to express a real concern on the part of the English administration for the supply of victuals to its two major cities in Aquitaine - Bordeaux and Bayonne. The licences granted to Pey de Casils , Pey de Raché and Dominjon de Suhart of Bayonne, to John Cole of Bridgwater, and to Gassie Arnaut, merchant of Bayonne, were all expressed in terms making it clear that wheat was being taken to those cities 'for their stocking'. ¹⁸ Indeed, the licence granted to Gassie Arnaut stated that it was granted 'in relief and sustenance of the king's faithful lieges there against hostile attack', though it was immediately added that it was also 'to make a profit'. Although this wording may have just been a clerical regurgitation of the reasons expressed in these merchants' requests, that there was some concern for the victualling of English possessions overseas is supported by the assignment to Stephen Sporet to take the barque called the Margarete of Ipswich, then lying in the Thames, load it with the victuals and other necessary things which had been purveyed for that purpose, and take them to the castle of Fronsac, and the castle and town of Cherbourg. ¹⁹

Simon J. Harris.

1.: entry 3 .
2.: entry 12 .
3.: entry 43
4.: entry 45 .
5.: entry 44 .
6.: entry 16 & entry 39 .
7.: entry 20 , entry 21 & entry 37 .
8.: entry 4 & entry 5 .
9.: entry 23 , entry 24 , entry 25 , entry 26 & entry . The other important financial officer, the controller of the castle of Bordeaux, was not changed, and remained in the hands of Thomas Lombard ( entry 36 ).
10.: entry 28 .
11.: entry 6 .
12.: entry 38 .
13.: entry 8 .
14.: entry 17 .
15.: entry 41 .
16.: entry 9 , entry 10 & entry 11 .
17.: & entry 47 .
18.: entry 29 , entry 40 entry 46
19.: entry 18 .

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3 July 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For the confirmation for the hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem.

Inspeximus of letters patent of the confirmation which John, lord Neville, late lieutenant in Aquitaine, made under the seal which is used in those parts, in these words:

20 November 1378 . Burdeg' Bordeaux .

To all seneschals, justices, prelates, barons, prévôts, executors, mayors, under-mayors, and jurats of the cities and towns, keepers of ports, bridges and passages, justiciars, officers, and other ministers and faithful subjects of the king in the principality or lordship, or their lieutenants.

Confirmation by John, lord Neville , lieutenant of King Richard [II], king of France and England, in Aquitaine , of certain letters patent of Edward [III] , late king of England, of privileges granted to the order of Saint John of Jerusalem , with a great seal in green wax hanging from a cord of red and green silk, and brought before him by Brothers Arnaut de la Cal and Deodatus, Ymbard Déodat Imbard , ¹ of that order, living in the house of the bridge of Saint John in Bordeaux of that order, as follows:

10 February 1328 . Ebor' York .

To all archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, provosts, ministers, and all bailiffs and faithful subjects.

Inspeximus by Edward [III], king of England, lord of Ireland and duke of Aquitaine, of a charter of confirmation, which was lately made under the seal then used, to God and the Blessed Mary, and St John the Baptist, and the brothers of the Hospital of Jerusalem, in these words:

30 June 1327 . Ebor' York .

To the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, provosts, ministers, and all bailiffs and faithful subjects.

Inspeximus by Edward [III], king of England, lord of Ireland and duke of Aquitaine, of a charter of confirmation, which Edward [I] , late king of England, the king's father, made to God and the Blessed Mary, and St John the Baptist, and the brothers of the Hospital of Jerusalem, in these words:

22 September 1308 . Certeseye Chertsey .

To archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, provosts, ministers, and all bailiffs and faithful subjects.

Inspeximus by Edward [II] , king of England, lord of Ireland and duke of Aquitaine, of a charter of confirmation, which Edward [I], late king of England, the king's father, made to God and the Blessed Mary, and St John the Baptist, and the brothers of the Hospital of Jerusalem, in these words:

8 June 1280 . Westm' Westminster .

To archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, provosts, ministers, and all bailiffs and faithful subjects.

Inspeximus by Edward [I], king of England, lord of Ireland and duke of Aquitaine, of a charter of confirmation, which Henry [III] , late king of England, the king's father, made to God and the Blessed Mary, and St John the Baptist, and the brothers of the Hospital of Jerusalem, in these words:

27 June 1253 . Wynton' Winchester .

To the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, foresters, sheriffs, provosts, ministers, and all bailiffs and faithful subjects.

Grant and confirmation by Henry [III], king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy, Aquitaine, and count of Anjou, to God and the Blessed Mary, and St John the Baptist, and the brothers of the Hospital of Jerusalem, of all reasonable gifts of land, men and alms, made to them by the king's predecessors, or by others in the past, or from the king, or to be made in the future by kings and others, or acquired in other ways, both in the form of churches, property and possessions. The king wishes and orders that the brothers and their men, should have and hold all their possessions and alms, with all liberties and free customs, in wood and field, in meadow and pasture, in rivers and mills, in roads and paths, in ponds and fish ponds, in heath and fisheries, in granges and orchards ( virgultis ), within and without towns, with sock and sack, and toll and team, and infangthief ( infangenethef ) and Outfangthief ( utfangenethef ), and hamsoken ( hamsock ) and gridbrith, and blodwite ( bodwyte ) and fidhwyte , and fletwite ( flitwyte ) and feardwite ( ferdwyte ), and hengwite ( hengwyte ) and leyrwite ( leyrwyte ), and flemenefrith , and murder and robbery, and forstal, and ordel and oreste , in all places and for all causes. The king also grants forever that the brothers will be quit from all amercements, and that they and all their men are to be free from all scot and geld, and all aids to the king, sheriffs, and all their ministers, and hidage and carrucage, and danegeld and horngeld, military service, wapentak' and scutage, tallage, lastage, stallage, pleas and causes of shire and hundred, and ward and wardpenny, averpenny, hundred penny, borough penny and tithing penny, and all works of castle, parks, bridge and wall, and all carriage, summage ( summagium ) and navage ( navigium ), and all manner of works on the building of royal houses. The king prohibits the taking of their timber for the works, or for any other reason, and similarly their corn, or any of their property, or that of their men, should not be take for the stocking of castles.

The king wishes that they be free to take what they wish from all their woods, and that they should not be put to forfeiture, waste or amercement on account of this. The king quitclaims forever waste, regards and view of foresters and all other customs in all their land and assarts, and those of their men which have been made, and which should afterwards be made with the king's assent. The king further grants that the brothers should be able to assart in all their woods which they had in the bounds of the forest without licence of the king, his heirs or their bailiffs, and with no claim from them; and that they and their men should be quit of the lawing of their dogs forever.

The king grants that the brothers of the hospital, and all their men, are to be quit from all tolls in market, and in all markets, and in all crossings of bridges, roads and seas throughout the realm, and in all the king's lands where he is able to grant in whatever liberty, and all their markets and men are to be similarly quit from all tolls.

The king grants and confirms that if any of their men loses his life or a limb for his crimes, or flees, and will not stand to judgment, or commits other crimes for which he ought to lose his chattels, in wheresover justice is done, whether it be in the king's court or in another court, then the brothers are to have the chattels without the interference of the king's sheriffs or his bailiffs, they are to put them into their possession in those case and other cases when the king’s bailiffs, if the chattels pertain to the king, are able to seize them into the king’s hands.

Moreover the king grants that animals that are called waifs found in the fees of the hospitallers are to be the brothers' unless someone follows them and is able to prove that they are theirs, and unless it is within the prescribed time according to the custom of that country. And if any tenant of the brothers' forfeits his fee, then it is to be lawful for the brothers to be put in possession of the same fee, notwithstanding the custom for the king to have the waste of the fee for a year and a day. Similarly if any of their men is amerced and this comes to the king or his bailiffs, for whatever reason, crime or forfeiture, then the money of the amercement is to be collected in money and kept in a money bag in the exchequer and delivered to the brothers, and the king should make the decision about whether the death or mutilation should be carried out.

The king, moreover, grants to them that even though they may not have used any of the liberties used within this charter, even so they may use this liberty in the future and no-one may contradict them, notwithstanding that they have not used it for a long time.

The king makes this grant in perpetual alms with all liberties and free customs which can be conferred on a religious house, for the love of God, and for the soul of King John, the king's father, and for the souls of all the king's ancestors and successors. The king prohibits any forfeiture for them and their men contrary to this charter under pain of forfeiture, because the king has received the brothers and all their property and possessions, and all their men into the king's custody and special protection.

Witnesses: B[oniface of Savoy], archbishop of Canterbury , primate of all England , ² R[ichard], earl of Cornwall , the king's brother, Richard de Clare, earl of Gloucester and Hertford , Humphrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford , John Maunsel, provost of Beverley , Master William de Kilkenny, archdeacon of Coventry , Ralph FitzNicholas , Crioll' Bertrand de Criol , John de Grey , Leyncton John de Lexington , Robert Wahand , William Grenoun , and others.

Inspeximus of another charter of the same King Henry, the king's father, made to the brothers of Jerusalem in these words:

23 June 1253 . Wynton' Winchester .

To archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, justices, stewards, sheriffs, bailiffs, ministers and all the king's faithful subjects.

Letters of protection of Henry [III], king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy, Aquitaine, and count of Anjou, ordering that the men, lands, property, rents, possessions and tenements of the brothers of the hospital of Jerusalem , are to be kept, protected and maintained, just as if they were the king's, and no injury or harm is to be permitted to be done to them. Pleas against them are prohibited unless they are held before the king, or his chief justice. Emends are to be made to them without delay for any forfeitures they have suffered.

The king grants and confirms the same for himself and his heirs, to God, the Blessed Mary, and St John, and the brothers of the hospital and their successors, just as the charter reasonably attests.

Witnesses: J[ohn Pecham], archbishop of Canterbury , primate of all England , G[odfrey Giffard], bishop of Worcester , T[homas Cantilupe], bishop of Hereford , R[obert Burnell], bishop of Bath and Wells , and W[illiam Middleton], bishop of Norwich , Edmund [of Lancaster], the king's brother , Edmund [of Almain], earl of Cornwall , Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester and Hertford , Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln , John de Warenne, earl of Surrey , Bello Campo, de William de Beauchamp, earl of Warwick , Humphrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford , Mortuo Mari, de Roger de Mortimer , John de Vescy , Roger de Clifford , Grandisono, de Otto de Grandison , Robert de Tibetot , Neyvill' Robert de Neville , Reginald de Grey , Genevill' Geoffrey de Joinville , Hugh, son of Otho , Robert, son of John , and others.

The king grants and confirms this for the devotion that he holds to God, the Glorious Virgin Mary, and St John the Baptist, and also the affection which he has for the brothers of the Hospital, just as the charter reasonably attests.

Witness: J[ohn Langton], bishop of Chichester , the king's chancellor , Thomas [of Lancaster], earl of Lancaster , John de Warenne, earl of Surrey , William de Leybourne , Robert de Tony , William Paynek , Henry de Pelpy , and others.

The king grants and confirms the same to God, the Blessed Mary, and St John, and the brothers of the Hospital, just as the charter reasonably confirms.

Witness: W[illiam Melton], archbishop of York , primate of England , J[ohn Hotham], bishop of Ely , the king's chancellor , H[enry Burghersh], bishop of Lincoln , the king's treasurer , Thomas [of Brotherton], earl of Norfolk , and marshal of England , the king's uncle, John de Warenne, earl of Surrey , Mortuo Mari, de Roger de Mortimer , Sancto Johanne John de St John , John de Roos, steward of the king's household , and others.

The king exemplifies the same according to the tenor of the charter, under the king's seal now used, at the request of the prior of the Hospital.

Witnesses: W[illiam Melton], archbishop of York , primate of England , J[ohn Hotham], bishop of Ely , the king's chancellor , H[enry Burghersh], bishop of Lincoln , the king's treasurer , J[ohn Stratford], bishop of Winchester , W[illiam Ayermine], bishop of Norwich , Henry [of Lancaster], earl of Lancaster , Mortuo Mari, de Roger de Mortimer , Thomas Wake , John de Roos, steward of the king's household , and others.

Tripartite.

Brothers Arnaut and Déodat showed to Neville, certain other letters patent of privilege of the Hospitallers, granted lately by Edward [III], king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, with a great seal in green wax pendant on a green and red cord, the tenor of which is:

8 March 1348 . Westmonasterium Westminster .

To archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, provosts, ministers, and all the king's bailiffs, and faithful subjects.

Inspeximus of Edward [III], king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, of the tenor of the charter of Richard, late king of England, the king's progenitor, made to the master and brothers of the house of the Hospital of Jerusalem, made in certain letters patent under the seal which was used in Bordeaux for contracts, and shown before the king in chancery. in these words:

5 January 1194 . Spiram .

To archbishops, bishops, abbots, counts, vicomtes, barons, seneschals, justices, prévôts, and all bayles and the king's faithful subjects, and all the sons of Holy Mother Church

Grant by Richard , king of England, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, count of Anjou, to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary and John the Baptist, and the house of St John of Jerusalem, and the master, brothers and their men, because of the hospital of Jerusalem is splendid in all its work, and because of the daily help that the master and brethren have shown to the rest of the people in need, over and above the call of duty both overseas and here, and wishing for the salvation of the souls of King Henry [II] , the king's father, and the queen his mother, and his brothers, and the king's ancestor, of all the king's rights and lordship in all their tenements, and in the alms given to them, and in whatever they have been able to acquire, we grant to them in pure and perpetual alms, and all power, liberties and free customs which royal power is able to confer in all as they hold all property and possessions, and all their appurtenances, which they possess or in the future will possess, well and in peace, freely and quietly, wholly, fully and honourably, in wood and field, in meadow and pasture, and marshes, fisheries and ponds, in rivers and mills, in ovens, and fairs and markets, in lands, fields and vineyards, in buying and selling in inhabited places, and in robberies, and in rape, arson, murders, in tolls and in bounds ( metis ), in men, in houses, and in measures, and in cities, castles, towns, in roads. And the king wishes and firmly lays down that the men of the hospital are to be quit of service in the army, and cavalry, of tolls, pontage and passage, and homage, and stagio , and of all rents and of all complaints, pleas, aids and tallages, and of all works of cities, castles, towns they should have peacefully. Similarly if any men of the brothers has been amerced to the king, or his bailiffs, for any cause, crime or forfeiture, the amercements are to be paid to the brethren without delay. The king forbids anyone being put in a plea except before the brethren, or the bailiffs of the house, or their serjeants, all this and all the revenues, the king gives to them with their other liberties, and free customs, with all property pertaining to the house and brethren and the men of the hospital throughout the king’s realm and his lands overseas and on this side of the sea, or wherever they are, retaining nothing for the king, nor the king’s heirs and successors, except for the prayers and spiritual goods of the house.

Witnesses: R., Lernovicen' bishop of Limoges ³ and H[enri], bishop of Saintes , Radumo de Betham , Ferr' William de Ferrers , Robert [II] de Harcourt , Geoffroy de Sei , Aimery [VII de Thouars], Thoardz vicomte of Thouars , Hugues le Brun , ⁴ Bellai of Mostrell , Jean [de Béthune], Duay prévôt of Douai , ⁵ Seffrid , ⁶ Cicestr' treasurer of Chichester . ⁷

Given by W[illiam Longchamp], Eliensis bishop of Ely , legate of the pope and king's chancellor .

The king grants and confirms the grants, just as the charter reasonably attests.

Witnesses: J[ohn de Stratford], Cantuar' archbishop of Canterbury , primate of all England , W[illiam Edington], Wynton' bishop of Winchester , king's treasurer , ⁸ , Henry [of Grosmont], earl of Lancaster , William de Bohun, Northampton earl of Northampton , ⁹ Thomas Wake of Liddell , ¹⁰ Meubray John de Mowbray , ¹¹ Richard Talbot, 12 seneschal of the king's household , ¹³ and others.

By p.s., and for 100 s. paid into the hanaper.

They also showed certain other letters patent of the late king of England, making grants to the brothers and hospital, under the great seal of white wax, the tenor of which follows:

20 August 1345 . Westm' Westminster .

Order by Edward [III], king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, to the constable of Bordeaux, and his lieutenant, that having viewed the king's charter, he is to permit the brothers of the hospital of St John of Jerusalem in the duchy of Aquitaine, to enjoy the liberties and quittances for themselves and their men, without impediment according to the tenor of the charters, grants and confirmations of the king's progenitors, and just as they have been accustomed to use and enjoy them. The brothers have claimed to have various liberties and quittances by charters of the king's progenitors, late kings of England, which they say they and their predecessors as brothers of the hospital used and enjoyed from the time of the making of the charters and confirmations.

The brothers, Arnaut and Déodat, have shown the privileges and letters, and have requested confirmation of the same, and lord Neville, wishing to agree to the request for the devotion to God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St John the Baptist, approves, ratifies and confirms the same, on behalf of the king, and with the power given to him.

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They also showed certain other letters patent of the late king of England, making grants to the brothers and hospital, under the great seal of white wax, the tenor of which follows:

20 August 1345 . Westm' Westminster .

The king ratifies, accepts and approves, and grants and confirms the contents to the brothers of the hospital.

For 10 l. paid into the hanaper.

1.: His family name suggests he came from Provence.
2.: Boniface de Savoie (of Savoy).
3.: In fact Sebrand Chabot , bishop of Limoges from 1179 to 1198.
4.: Hugues IX de Lusignan (d.1219), called le Brun, lord of Lusignan and count of la Marche.
5.: Jean de Béthune (d. 1219), prévôt of the church Saint-Amé of Douai. Brother of Baudoin de Béthune also mentioned there among the witnesses. On him (d.1211), see Duchesne, A., Histoire généalogique de la maison de Béthune (Paris, 1639), pp.156-9.
6.: Wrongly named as Goffridus in this roll.
7.: Treasurer of Chichester from 1189, he was in Germany with Richard the Lionheart from July 1193 to January 1194. He died c. 1197-1198. See Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300 volume 5, Chichester, ed. D. E. Greenway, (London, 1996), p.17.
8.: Bishop of Winchester (1345-1366).
9.: First earl of Northampton (d.1360).
10.: Second Baron Wake of Liddell (1297 – 31 May 1349).
11.: John de Mowbray, 3rd Baron Mowbray (29 November 1310 – 4 October 1361).
12.: Second Baron Talbot (d.1356).
13.: Since 1347.

2: 27 July 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For passage.

To all admirals, captains, castellans and their lieutenants, keepers of ports and other maritime places, sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and other faithful subjects.

Order to deliver shipping for Thirlowe Henry Thurlow , of the order of the friars minor, whom the king is sending to Gascony on his business with speed, for his passage there, for his money.

3: 26 July 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For a confirmation for the abbot and convent of the house of Bonlieu etc.

Inspeximus of letters patent of Edward , son of King Henry [III] , the king's progenitors, made to the abbot and convent of Bonlieu, near Lormont, of the Cistercian order in the duchy of Aquitaine, in these words:

17 December 1261. . Burdeg' Bordeaux

To his stewards, provosts, ministers and all his bailiffs and faithful subjects.

Grant by Edward , eldest son of the king of England, by his letters patent, to the abbot and convent of Bonlieu near Lormont Bonus Locum near Lauren' Mons , of the Cistercian order, that they are quit of all customs on all their property that they sell, and which they buy, throughout all England and Ireland forever. It is ordered that it is not to be permitted that any custom be levied on those goods throughout England and Ireland.

The king grants and confirms the grant of the Lord Edward.

By K.

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4: 22 June 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For protection.

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for one year, for John de Stratton, lord of Landirans Landiras , constable of Bordeaux , who is staying in Aquitaine, in the king's service.

5: 22 June 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For protection.

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for one year, for John de Clopton, citizen and vintner of London , who is staying in Aquitaine, in the same service, in the company of John de Stratton, Landirans lord of Landiras , constable of the king's castle of Bordeaux .

By bill of p.s.

6: 29 June 1386 . Marlebergh' Marlborough . For a revocation.

Revocation of the grant to Faryngdon William de Farringdon, kt , that the king made to him by his letters patent of 12 June last, of the office of mayor of Bordeaux , which the king for certain reasons has had to annul.

By letters under the king's signet.

For protection.

10 July 1386 . Westm' Westminster .

To the seneschal of Aquitaine, the judge appellate of Gascony , and the mayor and jurats of Bordeaux , and their lieutenants, and all the other officers, ministers, bayles and justices of the duchy of Aquitaine.

Letters of protection during pleasure, granted to Galhart and Cussaco, de Gaubert de Cussac , citizens of Bordeaux , and Guiraut , Johan , Ramon and Cussaco, de Bernat de Cussac , sons of the aforesaid Galhart, their wives and households, property, possessions and good enfeoffed tenants ( affeuatos ) and feuda, moveable and immoveable goods into the king’s special protection and safe guard, the king seeing their prosperous and well disposed behaviour. The king orders them to maintain, protect and defend these people and their property and goods both moveable and immoveable, and their wives and families under pain of forfeiture and royal indignation, from all oppressions, harms, injuries, violence, terrors and injustices, and other novelties. They are to have this protection published publicly with prohibitions, and as a sign of this protection they are to put up the king’s royal pennon so that no one can claim ignorance of this, and appoint one or more serjeants at the expense of the Cussacs when requested to do so, and are not to intermeddle in matters which relate to this, without prejudice to the king’s rights.

The following has similar letters of protection under the same date, namely:

7.1: Same as above

Marolio, de Johan de Mareuil ; Textoris Guilhem Teycheney .

8: 18 August 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For Adam de York .

Order to the seneschal of Aquitaine, the constable and mayor of Bordeaux , and certain councillors of the king there, to diligently obtain information on the truth of the complaint made by Adam de York concerning the ships, goods and prisoners taken in the Geronde Gironde by whatever ways and means that they are able. They are to make satisfaction to the king, and his lieges for the ships, goods and prisoners agreed and made upon their capture, and do full and speedy justice, curbing the lord of Duras. The king does not wish to hear of this matter again because of default of justice.

York and his associates have greatly complained to the king by their petition, intimating that, after the return of all the ships from Bordeaux to England, loaded with wine, York and his partners stayed at Bordeaux, and the king's enemies of Talemonde Talmont , and la Rochel La Rochelle , learning that they had remained, came with a ship of war and attacked them in the river Gironde with 200 armed men. By divine intervention they defeated them and took them prisoner, as well as 140 prisoners saved in the ship who gave themselves up to the king's lieges, the master of the cog in which they were, and to York. It was agreed between the king's lieges that the prisoners should be divided into three, one part going to the king, the second to the master and his associates, and the third to the lord of Duras for the salvation of the prisoners. However, the lord of Duras, because a certain esquire of his received the fealty and oath of the prisoners, at the request of the king's lieges, unjustly detained the prisoners and ship with all the goods in the ship, to the grave damage to the king who is bound to do justice, and the manifest destruction and impoverishment of the king's lieges, for which they request remedy, and the king does not wish those who risked their bodies for the king's honour, to be injured.

By C.

For carriage of wheat

11 September 1386 . Westm' Westminster . ¹

To all admirals, etc.

Grant of a licence to Mierepote Iter de Mirepech of Burdeg' Bordeaux , that he can take 160 quarters of wheat that he bought in England, and loaded ito ships in the port of Sutht' Southampton , by him, his servants or attorneys to Bordeaux to trade with. Mirepech had requested that the king grant this, and the king agreed because John Wyncelowe of London , draper , and Brighlyngeseye Thomas Brightlingsea of Hampshire , personally mainprised that Mirepech would take the wheat to Bordeaux , and nowhere else, under the penalty of the forfeiture of the value of the wheat. It is ordered that Mirepech be permitted to take the wheat there without any impediments, first paying the customs due to the king, any ordinances, proclamations, prohibitions or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

1.: A note in the margin states ' extractus '.

5 October 1386 . Westm' Westminster .

Iterius, Mierpete Iter de Mirepech , ¹ Elias, Vaschere Hélias de Bacheré and Gayfere Pey Gayfer , merchants of Gascony, have similar letters for 280 quarters of wheat, by the mainprise of Maschal Roger Maschall and John Penkston of Hampshire .

1.: A merchant of Bordeaux.

11: 4 December 1386 . Westm' Westminster .

Monyngus, Dancout Moninges d'Ancou and Martinus, Heriat Martin Hiriart of Bayonne, merchants, have similar letters for 800 quarters of wheat in two of their barques, by the mainprise of Mascal Roger Maschall and Briklyngsey Thomas Brightlingsea of Hampshire .

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For Gassie-Arnaut.

26 August 1386 . Westm' Westminster .

Grant to Gassie-Arnaut de Salies, esquire , for the service done to the king's father, ¹ and to the king after the king's coronation, of the Cabreton' baylie of Capbreton , near Baion' Bayonne , holding the same with the wages, fees and profits pertaining to the same baylie, for the term of his life, in the same manner that Guiraut de Mente , now dead, had it. ²

By p.s.

1.: Edward of Woodstock .
2.: For an order to permit Salies to hold the office, see entry in C 61/105 . For another related order, see entry in C 61/105 .

13: Same as above

And it is ordered to the seneschal of the Landes , or his lieutenant, to cause the office of baylie [of Capbreton] to be delivered to Gassie[-Arnaut de Salies] with its wages, fees and profits, according to the tenor of the king's letters.

14: Same as above

And it is ordered to Harpeden' John Harpsden, seneschal of Gascony , or his lieutenant, that as above to the same Gassie[-Arnaut de Salies] .

15: Same as above

And it is ordered to the constable of Bordeaux, or his lieutenant, to permit Gassie[-Arnaut de Salies] , and the attorney, to have the wages, fees and profits pertaining to the baylie [of Capbreton] , according to the tenor of the king's letters.

16

2 October 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For Robert Greenacre .

Grant, by the king's special grace, to Grenacres Robert Greenacre, kt , for his good service to Edward III, late king of England , the king's grandfather, and to Edward of Woodstock , the king's father, now deceased, for 28 years in the their wars, especially with two knights, 22 men-at-arms, and 20 armed archers for half a year in the expedition that E[dward], the king's father, made into Spain, and also for his service to the king after his coronation, in his wars in Gascony for seven years without wages or reward, of the Vertuill castle of Vertheuil in Madok Médoc , and the lands, lordships, rents, profits and emoluments of the castle and Saint-Mambert Sancti Mabti', de , with all its appurtenances, which were the Logeran lord of Langoiran's , the king's rebel. To hold the same for life, from which castle, lands and lordships the king has had no profit, and which have been in the hands of the Bouche captal de Buch and others by the order of the Nevill' lord Neville , whilst he was the king's lieutenant in Gascony, for as long as it pleases the king. ¹

By letters of the king under the signet.

1.: For the order for livery of the castle, see entry 39 .

17

22 October 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For Arnaut-Guilhem de Marsan, kt.

Order to the seneschal of Aquitaine, the constable of Bordeaux and the judge of the superior court of Aquitaine , to summon before them, or one of them, Lop, Seint Julian lord of Saint-Julien and Saut Sault , at the prosecution of Arnaut-Guilhem de Marsan, kt , to explain the matter, to hear the arguments of both parties without delay and frivolous appeals, and do full and speedy justice concerning the land and Labort baylie of Labourd , and the jurisdiction and possession of the same according to fors, laws and customs there. And if Lop de Saint-Julien does not appear on the day assigned, or does not wish to abide by the judgment, then they are to put Marsan in possession of his inheritance, saving the rights and customs of the land of Aquitaine and more especially those of the land and baylie of Labourd, in order that Marsan does not complain again to the king for default of justice.

Lately, Edward [II] , the king's great-grandfather, had granted to the late Durant Ramon Durand, kt , that the king would grant him compensation if he lost his lands while in the king's service. Afterwards, the same king, because Durand's lands had been seized by the king of France ¹ because of the war, ² granted to Durand 100 l.st. per annum from the issues of the duchy of Aquitaine, until that king had been certified of the value of the lands lost by Durand, or until the king ordained otherwise. Later, Edward [III] , the king's grandfather, considering Ramon Durand's good service, and wishing to show him his special grace for this, granted to him and his heirs, that they should receive this annual rent from the rents, issues and profits of the baylie and land of Labourd forever, until Durand recovered his lands or the king compensated him with another place of the same value. The king retained high and low justice in every place within the baylie, except in the parishes of Guyssen Guiche , Bardes Bardos , Durt Urt and Briscos Briscous which the king granted to Ramon and his heirs, ³ just as appears in the chancery rolls.

Arnaut-Guilhem de Marsan has now asserted that he is son and heir of Columes Briana de Colomiers , daughter of Ramon Durand, and showed that after the death of Durand, ⁴ Edward III had seized the land and baylie into his own hands because Arnaut-Guilhem had been prevented by the troubles of war from coming to claim his inheritance. Edward [III], forgetting the grant to Durand, granted the baylie, with its jurisdiction and all its other appurtenances and profits to Lop de Saint-Julien for life without rendering anything to the king, as appears in the chancery rolls. ⁵

By p.s.

1.: Charles IV .
2.: The War of Saint-Sardos, 1324-5.
3.: See entry in C 61/43 .
4.: In 1332-3.
5.: For the original grant of Edward II, see entry in C 61/38 . For a near identical order, see entry in C 61/107 . For related entries, see entry in C 61/90 , entry in C 61/90 , entry in C 61/91 , entry in C 61/94 , entry in C 61/107 , entry in C 61/107 , entry in C 61/109 , entry in C 61/109 , entry in C 61/111 , entry in C 61/114 , entry in C 61/116 . On the career of Ramon Durand and his descendants, see Pépin, G., 'Ramon Durand of Toulouse: A lawyer turned knight in the service of the kings of England', Fourteenth-Century England VII , ed. W. Mark Ormrod (Woodbridge, 2012), 73-87. See pp.82 and 85 on the matter concerned by this entry.

18: 24 October 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For the taking of a barque for carrying victuals to the town of Cherbourg.

Assignment to Stephen Sporet to take a certain barque called the Margarete of Gippewicum Ipswich , lying in the Thamis' river Thames , and load the victuals and other necessary things which have been purveyed for the victualling of the Fronsak castle of Fronsac , and the castle and town of Chierburgh' Cherbourg , into the ship and take them to those places, any arrest previously made of the barque, not withstanding, the king wishing to provide victuals for those places. Sporet is ordered to diligently attend to this, and all sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs and ministers of the king, and the owners, masters and mariners of ships, and other faithful subjects, are firmly ordered to be intendant on him, and aid him.

By C.

19: Same as above Concerning the enrolment of a memorandum.

Memorandum that on 24 October, in the present year, the king appointed Thomas [Arundel], bishop of Ely , as his chancellor, and delivered his great seal to the bishop, just as appears in a certain memorandum endorsed in the king's close rolls.

20: 26 November 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For a protection.

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for one year, for Herpeden' John Harpsden, seneschal of Aquitaine , who is staying overseas, in the king's service, for the safe-keeping of the lordship of Aquitaine.

By bill of p.s.

21

27 November 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For a protection.

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for one year, for John Paris , who is staying in the king's service, in the company of Harpeden' John Harpsden, kt , seneschal of Aquitaine , in the defence of the lordship of Aquitaine. ¹

By bill of p.s.

1.: The entry is followed by a space containing an empty set of entry marks.

22: 28 November 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For a general attorney.

Letters of general attorney in England, for one years, for Harpeden' John Harpsden, kt , who is staying in Gascony in the king's service, nominating William Venour of London , and John Brouns , alternately.

Thomas de Newenham, clerk , received the attorneys before the return of John to England.

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For the commitment of the office of Bordeaux.

23: 26 December 1386 . Castrum Regis de Wyndesore Windsor Castle .

Grant to Gedeneye John de Gedney, king's clerk , of the custody of the castle of Bordeaux , and the office of constable of Bordeaux, having the same during pleasure, and taking the wages and fees that pertain to the office provided that he answer to the to the king at his exchequer for the issues of that office.

By p.s.

24: Same as above

And it is ordered to John de Stratton, lord of Landiranis Landiras , late constable of Bordeaux , or his lieutenant, to deliver to Gedeneye John de Gedney , the custody [of the castle of Bordeaux] and the office [of constable of Bordeaux], with the keys, rolls, papers, memoranda, and all the other things that pertain to the office, by indenture, according to the tenor of the king's letters.

25: Same as above

And it is ordered to all the seneschals and receivers, and the ministers and officers of the king, and also the king's other faithful subjects in the duchy of Aquitaine, that they be intendant on and answer John [de Gedney], constable of the king , in all that pertain to that office.

26: Same as above

And it is ordered to the mayor, jurats and other inhabitants of the king's city of Burdeg' Bordeaux that they be intendant on and answer John [de Gedney], as keeper of the castle [of Bordeaux], and constable of Bordeaux , in all that pertains to that office.

27: Same as above

And it is ordered to the king's lieutenant in the duchy, or the seneschal of Aquitaine, to deliver to Gedeneye John de Gedney , the custody [of the castle of Bordeaux] and the office [of constable of Bordeaux], according to the tenor of the king's letters.

28

25 January 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For Master Reynaut Andrieu.

Appointment to Master Andree Reynaut Andrieu, bachelor of law originating from the town of Reule La Réole , ¹ to the office of judge of civil and criminal appeals at the king's court of Gascony , and hearer of causes of the same court, having the same with the emoluments and profits that pertain to the office during pleasure. Taking the customary fees and wages for that office, just as other have been accustomed to take in that office, from the constable of Bordeaux. Order to all the king's subjects in the lordship of Aquitaine, to obey and be intendant on Reynaut Andrieu in all things that pertain to the office of judge and hearer.

By K. and C.

1.: La Réole had submitted to the French led by the duke of Anjou on 31 August 1374. It was retaken briefly by the 'English' in 1378 before being besieged by the duke of Anjou in September 1378. This town submitted to this latter the same month. The 'English' took again this town only in 1416, so Master Reynaut Andrieu lived exiled at Bordeaux.

29: 3 February 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For the taking of wheat.

To all admirals etc.

Grant to Pey de Casils , Rasshe Pey de Raché and Domyngeon, Sewar Dominjon de Suhart of Bayon Bayonne , at their request, that they are able to take 800 quarters of wheat loaded into three ships of Bayon' Bayonne in the port of Suthampton' Southampton , to the cities of Burdeg' Bordeaux and Bayonne, for the stocking of the same. The king has granted this because Slegh John Sleigh and John Polymond have mainprised in chancery under penalty of the value of the wheat that Casils will take the wheat to those cities, and not to any other parts. It is ordered that Casils and the others be permitted to take the wheat from that port to those cities without any impediments, first paying the customs, subsidies and other dues, whatsoever proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

30: 26 February 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For the taking of wheat.

Grant to John Polymond of Suthampton' Southampton at his request, that they are able to take 800 quarters of wheat bought in England loaded into ships in the port of Suthampton' Southampton , in person or by his attorneys, to the city of Burdeg' Bordeaux , or the city of Luschebon' Lisbon in Portugal . The king has granted this because Penxton' John Penkston and Brightlyngsey Thomas Brightlingsea Sutht' of Hampshire have mainprised before the king in chancery that Polymond will take the wheat to one of those cities, and not to any other parts. It is ordered that Polymond be permitted to take the wheat from that port to those cities without any impediments, first paying the customs and other dues, whatsoever proclamations, prohibitions or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

For John de Harpsden, seneschal of Aquitaine.

31: 16 March 1387 . Westm' Westminster .

Grant, by the king's special grace, to Harpeden John de Harpsden, seneschal of Aquitaine , and in recompense of the 1,000 l. which Harpsden is owed on his account at the exchequer, or which it is found is owed to him, which sum Harpeden has released, of the custody of the Fronsak castle of Fronsac . Harpsden is to hold the same for as long as he holds the office of seneschal of Aquitaine, taking for the same custody all profits, issues, revenues and commodities pertaining to the castle and lordship, and which the lord of the castle and lordship was reasonably accustomed to take at the time that that castle came into the king's hands, without rendering anything to the king. It is provided that Harpsden should maintain the castle at his own cost, and taking nothing from the same king for the custody beyond the same profit.

By K. and C.

32: Same as above

And it is ordered to lescrop William le Scrope, late keeper and captain of the Fronsak castle of Fronsac , or his lieutenant, to deliver, without delay, the castle and lordship with its appurtenances, with all that pertains to that custody, to John [de Harpsden] , or his deputy or attorney, by indenture to be made between them.

33: 16 March 1387 . Westm' Westminster .

To the seneschal of Aquitaine, and the constable and mayor of Bordeaux , and each of them, and all the king's officers and ministers in Aquitaine, and their lieutenants.

And it is ordered that the horses, arms and all the other personal goods and equipment both of William [le Scrope] and his servants of the castle [of Fronsac] , and his lieutenant, servants and soldiers in the castle, are to be delivered to them without delay. They are to permit them to take them where they will, freely and without impediment, and to given them safe and secure conduct, though at their own reasonable cost and expense.

By K. and C.

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34

10 January 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for one year, for Richard Arnold, tanner , who is going to Aquitaine, in the king's service, in the company of Gedeney John Gedney, constable of Bordeaux . ¹

By bill of p.s.

1.: The entry is followed by a space containing three sets of empty entry marks.

35: 22 January 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For general attorney .

To the seneschal of Aquitaine, and the constable and mayor of Bordeaux , and their lieutenants, and all prévôts, bayles, ministers, and subjects and lieges of the king in the duchy of Aquitaine.

Letters of attorney in England, for two years, for Filingley Richard de Fillongley, king's esquire , who has, before the king, nominated Gedeneye John de Gedney, clerk , as his attorney and proctor, to act in causes, both civil and criminal, brought by or against Fillongley, in any court of Gascony; and to request and receive in Fillongley's name in those parts all sums of money owed to him by the king or others, and to make letters of acquittance for the sums received by Gedney on Fillongley's behalf.

John de Burton, clerk , received the attorney.

36: 25 January 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for one year, for Lumbard Thomas Lombard, controller of the Burdegal' castle of Bordeaux who is staying in Aquitaine, in the king's service.

By bill of p.s.

37

25 January 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for one year, for William Rosce , mercer , who is going to Aquitaine, in the king's service, to reside with Harpeden' John de Harpsden, kt , seneschal of Aquitaine . ¹

By bill of p.s.

1.: The entry is followed by a space containing three sets of empty entry marks.

38

29 January 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For protection for Adam de Misterton .

To the seneschal of Aquitaine, and the constable, Burdeg' mayor and jurats of Bordeaux , and also the judges and whatsoever officers and ministers, and the lieges, subjects and faithful people of the king in the lordship of Aquitaine.

Letters of protection and safe-keeping for one year, for Adam de Misterton , and his servants, and their goods, to go to Aquitaine, to whatever places he wishes to go, reside there, conduct the king's business and his own, and return to England, and for all the goods and merchandise. Misterton is going to Aquitaine to conduct the king's business and his own, but fears for himself and injury to his goods and merchandise from the lord of Duras ¹ and Galhart, Burdeg' prévôt of Bordeaux , because of his arrest of certain wine of the lord and prévôt in England, for the king, and for Misterton. The king wishes to provide security and salvation for Misterton against the malice of that lord and prévôt.

Order that no injury, trouble, damage, violence, impediment or any harm is to be permitted to be done to Misterton or his servants, in coming, residing and conducting the business. The seneschal, constable, mayor and council of the king are to take sufficient security, both by obligation of great sums of money, and in other manners, from the lord of Duras and the prévôt, that they will do no damage, violence or evil to Misterton or his servants, or injury to their goods. If the lord and prévôt refuse to find the security, then they are to commit them, or either of them so refusing, to prison, until they decide to do it. And they are to certify the king in chancery of the security that they have taken, by their letters under their seals.

1.: Galhart II de Durfort .

39

2 October 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For Robert Greenacre, kt .

To the seneschal of Aquitaine, or his lieutenant, and the constable and mayor of Bordeaux.

Order to put Grenacres Robert Greenacre , or his attorney or proctor, in possession of the Vertvill castle of Vertheuil in Madok Médoc , and the lands, lordships, rents, profits and emoluments of the castle and Sancti Mamberti, de Saint-Mambert , with all its appurtenances, which were the Logeran lord of Langoiran's , the king's rebel. The king granted the same to Greenacre for life, the same having been in the custody of the Busche captal de Buch , and others, by the order of the Nevill' lord Neville , then lieutenant of the king in Gascony , during the king's pleasure. ¹

1.: For the grant to Greenacre, see entry 16 .

40: 14 February 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For the transport of corn .

To all admirals, etc.

Grant of a licence to John Cole of Bruggewauter Bridgwater , at his request, that he can take 100 quarters of wheat and 200 quarters of beans and peas, loaded onto ships in the port of the town of Bruggewauter Bridgwater , to Burdeg' Bordeaux for the stocking of the same. The king has granted this because Fitelton' John Fittleton and John Dunster of Somerset , personally mainprised before the king in chancery that Cole, under penalty of the value of the corn, would take the wheat, peas and beans to there, and not to anywhere else. It is ordered that Cole be permitted to take the wheat, peas and beans to Bordeaux without any impediments, paying the customs due to the king, whatsoever proclamations, ordinances, and orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

41: 19 March 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For the burgesses of the town of Libourne .

Order to the mayor, jurats and burgesses of Burdeg' Bordeaux that the coercions and distraints that they have imposed on the burgesses and inhabitants of Leybourne Libourne for the payment of impositions and customs should be superseded, and any distraints that they have taken to be released. If there are any reasons why this ought not to be done, then they are to certify the king and his council. On behalf of the burgesses and inhabitants, it has been complained that although they have sustained great costs and expenses on account of the war against the king's enemies and rebels there, and around the salvation and keeping of the town and its surrounding parts, the mayor, jurats and burgesses, having no consideration for this, have imposed new impositions and customs at Burdeg' Bordeaux to be paid for on their goods and property, which they and their progenitors have at no time being accustomed to pay, and are being unjustly coerced and distrained to pay it to their great damage and manifest prejudice. They have requested a remedy, and the king wishes to preserve them from this, taking the costs and expenses they have incurred.

By C.

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42

17 March 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For a confirmation for Libourne .

Inspeximus of letters patent of Pey de Madéran, keeper and executor of the seal and counterseal which was used in Bordeaux for contracts, and Johan Rey, prévôt of the Ombrière of Bordeaux, made in these words:

29 October 1386 . The Umbrar' common house of the prévôté of the Ombrière .

Letters of inspection of Maderano Pey de Madéran, keeper and executor of the seal and counterseal which was used in Bordeaux for contracts , and Regis Johan Rey, Umbrar' prévôt of the Ombrière of Bordeaux , of letters and privileges of the predecessors and progenitors of the king, and of the king himself, sealed with seals of green, white and red wax, appended by silk cords, and also certain other letters of the lieutenants and seneschals of Aquitaine, and the constables of Bordeaux. The letters are not erased or cancelled, nor in any way defective or suspicious, as appears by the tenor of those letters brought before them by Master Hélias Mat and Vitalis Arnaut Bidau , notaries, proctors of the mayor, jurats and all the community of Libornie Libourne , the tenor of which follows:

29 September 1270 . Vallis Viridis Vauvert .

To all bailiffs, provosts and ministers in England, Ireland , Wales and Scotland .

Order by letters patent, by Prince Edward , that no new customs should be taken from the burgesses of Layburn' Libourne from henceforth. They and their goods, and their heirs residing in the town, and all burgesses of the town, present and future, and their goods, are forever aquitted of all new customs and tolls. ¹

Item another letter sealed in green wax with a silk cord, in these words:

28 July 1348 . Westminster .

To the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, counts, barons, justices, vicomtes, communities, prévôts, ministers and all bayles and faithful people of the king in the duchy of Aquitaine, and elsewhere in the king's lordship and jurisdiction.

Grant in perpetuity by Edward [III], king of England and France, lord of Ireland , to the burgesses and inhabitants of Libornia Libourne that they should not be troubled or harmed on the occasion of any new impositions or grants made by the king or others after and against the privileges and liberties, or ancient customs granted to the burgesses or inhabitants, but that they should be forever quit of these impositions, customs or maletots imposed on their goods and merchandise in the duchy. It is provided that the custom on their wine loaded at Bordeaux, and other customs and tolls anciently owed and paid to the king, ought to be paid to the king and his heirs, notwithstanding letters or privileges in prejudice of this.

The king is favourably inclined to the burgesses and inhabitants because of their great and useful service to the king and his progenitors, not without labour and onerous costs, and whereas their privileges and liberties granted to them by the king and his progenitors contain that the burgesses and inhabitants, present and future, and their goods, should be free from all customes and maletots to be paid on their goods to the king and his progenitors, they have complained that they are being subject to certain new impositions granted and imposed in the duchy on wines and all other merchandise in various places, and the king does not wish them to be troubled by them.

Witnessed by W[illiam Edington], Wynton' bishop of Winchester , treasurer , Henry [of Grosmont], earl of Lancaster , Bello Campo, de Thomas Beauchamp, Warr' earl of Warwick , Master Offord John Ufford, dean of St Mary, Lincoln , chancellor , Ralph Stafford , Bartholomew Burgerssh , Richard Talbot, steward of the household . ²

By K. and C.

Item another letter sealed with red wax.

3 February 1351 . Bordeaux .

Letters of John de Charnels, constable of Bordeaux and lieutenant of John de Chiverston, kt , seneschal of Aquitaine , stating that it was not the intention of the king, or Henry [of Grosmont], earl of Lancaster , , that the imposition that the earl made when he was the king's lieutenant and captain general there, out of necessity and for the difficult business of the king, with the counsel and advice of the king's councillors there, and with the assent of the nobles and non-nobles of the duchy, of the imposition of one écu on each tun of wine loaded on to ships and other vessels for export out of the duchy, to be levied until 5 June 1351. It is ordered to the prévôt and mayor of Libourne that neither the inhabitants of the town and district, nor any merchants who buy wine from them for export should be compelled to pay the imposition. ³

Item another letter sealed with white wax appended:

8 May 1358 . Westminster .

To the seneschal of Gascony, the constable of Bordeaux and the prévôts of Libournia Libourne and Sanctus Emilianus Saint-Émilion , and other ministers and officials in the duchy of Aquitaine.

Order by Edward [III], king of England and France , lord of Ireland , that the receivers of tolls from merchants, mariners and owners of ships of the towns of Libourne , Sancta Fides Sainte-Foy[-la-Grande] and Brageracum Bergerac , and should be prohibited from levying anything other than the ancient tolls, dues and customs, under penalty of the loss of those tolls, and if the receivers have levied any beyond those anciently paid from the merchants, mariners, and owners, then they are to compel them to restore them without delay.

It has been greatly complained on behalf of those merchants, mariners, and owners, bringing wine by land or down the rivers Dordon' Dordogne and Insula Isle , showing that the receivers greatly and frequently trouble them beyond the ancient customs that they pay, and they request a remedy, and the king wishes to limit the damage and loss to them. ⁴

John Gravesby .

Item another letter sealed with green wax, and a silk cord, in the following form:

22 June 1341 . The Tower of London .

Grant by Edward [III], king of England and France , lord of Ireland , to the mayor, jurats and community of Libornia Libourne , their heirs and successors, for their fidelity to the crown and their magnificent defence against the king's enemies, of all stones and sand thrown out by ship or other vessels coming to the Dordonia Dordogne and landing at the port of Libourne or elsewhere from Burgum Bourg to Libourne, and taking the same for the repair of the walls of the town in perpetuity. ⁵ And for the ease of access to the walls for the defence of the town if the enemy are attacking, the king grants that no burgess of the town, nor anyone of whatsoever status or condition should build anything in the road, ways or places adjoining the walls and towers of the town by which access to them is impeded, and all the roads and their environs are not to be obstructed by the depositing of excrement or other rubbish, and nothing is to be piled up, to ensure that all armed men, both mounted and on foot, can defend the town at the beginning of an attack without impediment. And the king further grants that all men who are not of the the king's obedience who bring salt or other merchandise by the river should be bound to land with their ships or vessels at Libornia Libourne and discharge their salt or merchandise within the walls of the town, on condition that, if the men of the town cannot agree a reasonable price for the purchase of the things, then they should be put back in the ships and allowed to go on their way. And because the king is given to understand that the burgesses of the town are put to great expenses around the construction of their walls, and wishes to gratefully repay them for this, he grants to the mayor, jurats and community that they are able to dig a ditch and fore-ditch ( profossata ) around the town, ⁶ holding the same to them and their successors for the fortification, enclosure and utility of the town together with all other liberties granted to them by the king forever. ⁷

Item, certain other letters sealed with green wax, and with a silk cord, in these words:

8 June 1341 . Rangele Kings Langley .

Inspeximus by Edward [III], king of England and France , lord of Ireland , of letters patent of the king under the king's seal of the court of Gascony in these words:

11 April 1341 . Burdeg' Bordeaux .

Letters of inspection of Oliver de Ingham, kt , seneschal of Gascony of letters patent of Prince Edward, firstborn son of the king of England, of certain privileges written in the letters, Ingham having seen, read, held and touched the letters ( vidisse, legisse, tenuisse, palpasse ) which were under the great seal of the prince in green wax which is true and whole and appended by a cord of green and red silk to the letters, the letters not being cancelled in any way and being beyond doubt, in these words:

29 September 1270 . Vallis Viridis Vauvert .

To the archbishops, bishops, abbots, counts, barons, justiciars, vicomtes and all bayles and faithful subjects.

Grant by Prince Edward, firstborn son of the king of England, ⁸ by charter to the burgesses of the town and port of Leyborn' Libourne that they should have a commune in the town with all the liberties and free customs that pertain to the town of the following:

item, that the burgesses are able each year to select twelve jurats, and those jurats each year should select two law-worthy men from their community for the mayoralty, the jurats being selected on 21 July, the two candidates for the majoralty on 22 July, and the two men are to be presented on 23 July, in the Burdeg' castle of Bordeaux , to the seneschal of Gascony, or his lieutenant, or the constable of Bordeaux; and the presentation having being made, either the seneschal, his lieutenant or the constable are to appoint the mayor, but if the seneschal, lieutenant or constable fail to do this on 22 or 23 July, then the jurats can appoint the mayor that they choose themselves from the two candidates to govern for a year, and this is to be done in perpetuity;
item, that the town of Libourne should remain in the hands of the king of England in perpetuity such that at no time it should leave his hand or demesne ( de manu nec de mensa );
item, that the burgesses, present and future, and their goods in the town of Libourne should be free from all customs due to the king or his heirs entering, in coming to, leaving and residing in the town;
item, that they should not be bound to do military service ( excercitus ) except in the Burdeg' diocese of Bordeaux , and in the Vasaten' diocese of Bazas , and that they and all their goods should be quit and free throughout all the king's lands of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland from all new customs put in place there;
item, that each member of the community of the town should contribute towards the costs and expenses made for the community and town just as is assessed by the mayor and jurats;
item, that the burgesses should not be distrained in the jurisdiction of the king for another man's debts unless they are pledges or capital debtors ( debitores capitales ) so long as they are ready to stand trial with their creditors before the mayor.

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The king confirms the liberties, customs and privileges granted to the burgesses by his grandfather, and just as they have used them since the making of the grant, and for their loyalty and for the losses and expenses that they have sustained, the king grants that neither the town of Libourne, its jurisdiction nor its rent should be alienated by sale, gift or exchange out of the king's hands, except to future heirs of England. ⁹

By petition of C. in parliament.

Item, other letters sealed with white wax in this form:

25 May 1355 . Westminster .

Inspeximus by Edward [III] , of letters patent of John de Chiverston, seneschal of Gascony, sealed with the seal of the court by Gascony, in these words:

10 May 1354 . Reula La Réole .

Letters of inspection of John de Chiverston, kt , seneschal of Gascony , of certain letters patent of Henry [of Grosmont], earl of Lancaster, steward of England, then lieutenant of the king, not erased or cancelled, nor in any way defective or suspicious, as appears by the tenor of these words:

14 August 1346 . Brageriacum Bergerac .

Grant by Henry [of Grosmont], Lancastr' earl of Lancaster and Werbeye Derby , the king's lieutenant and captain general in Aquitaine and Lingua occitana Languedoc , to the mayor, jurats and commons of Liburnie Libourne , that they and their successors to collect, take and levy the profits and emoluments that they imposed for the enclosure of the town with walls or machicolations and ramparts, and other works for the defence of the town, for the stipends of various men-at-arms, both mounted and on foot, and also so that they could lend various large sums of money to the king, or his officials, the impositions being levied on the sale of wine, salt, rumage , ¹⁰ lecturatgio , measures of corn, vessels ( salargia ) in which salt is sold by measure, upon fish and other merchandise passing through the town, on the tables and benches in the common hall, ¹¹ and upon those selling bread there, and upon brokers ( coretaria ) in the town. The earl grants this on codition that the profits and emoluments are expended on the repair and fortification of the town, and upon the works and other necessities, to continue until the town is completely enclosed with sufficient walls, ramparts, towers. The earl attests by this grant that the mayor, jurats and commons, and their predecessors have legitimately collected the emoluments, and that the proceeds were expended on the repair of the defences as is manifest.

The earl received a request, presented by the mayor, jurats and community of the town, that he confirm, by his letters patent, the emoluments received by them, which were faithfully expended for the profit and honour of the king, and for the preservation of the town, and grant them a licence and special order in the king's name, and his, that the same profits and emoluments can be collected until the town is enclosed by ditches and walls, with towers, machicolations and barbicans, and [the ditch] flooded with water. The earl wishes to agree to this. ¹²

Granby.

The grant was inspected by those of the council, as is attested by the appending of the royal seal of the court of Gascony.

The king wishes and grants that the mayor, jurats and community of Libourne should have and take the emoluments in the aforesaid form during pleasure, provided only that the same emoluments are used in aid of the enclosure of the town and other necessities for it.

Item, a certain other letter sealed with red wax in the form which follows:

27 May 1356 . Bordeaux .

Letters of Edward [of Woodstock], prince of Wales , the king's lieutenant , sealed with red wax, confirming the salin of Libourne , by which salt is to be unloaded and sold only in Libourne and in the two fairs of Saint Vincent in Burgum Bourg , between the Bec Dambes Bec d'Ambès and Brageriacum Bergerac . For the good service in the war, and because it was realised that the ground on which the town was founded is unfertile, so that little germinates or produces fruit within their jurisdiction and for almost half a Gascon league around, the prince's progenitors granted the salin ( salinum ). ¹³

The keeper and prévôt have sealed the letters with the royal seals which are used in the offices.

The king accepts, approves, ratifies and confirms the letters. ¹⁴

1.: See Guinodie, R. Histoire de Libourne , I (Bordeaux, 1845), p. 350.
2.: See Guinodie, R. Histoire de Libourne , t. I, pp. 363-4.
3.: See Guinodie, R. Histoire de Libourne , vol. I, p. 364.
4.: See Guinodie, R. Histoire de Libourne , t. I, pp.366-7.
5.: This is presumably a reference to ballast being jettisoned from the ships as they are loaded with cargo.
6.: The exact sense of what the king is granting here is not quite clear. It seems likely that there is a double ditched defence to be dug before the walls to improve the defences.
7.: For the original grant, see entry in C 61/53 . See also Guinodie, R. Histoire de Libourne , t. I, pp. 36, 358-9.
8.: The future King Edward I, then lord of Gascony.
9.: For the original grant, see entry in C 61/53 . See Guinodie, R. Histoire de Libourne , vol. I, pp. 349-350.
10.: Rumagium - a charge for the stowing of wine in the hold of a ship.
11.: Presumably the market stalls.
12.: See Guinodie, R. Histoire de Libourne , vol. I, pp. 40-41, 361-2.
13.: Guinodie, R. Histoire de Libourne , vol. I, pp. 43-7, 372-3.
14.: For later confirmations of Henry IV and Henry VI, see entry in C 61/108 and entry in C 61/120 .

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43: 12 December 1386 . The in palacio nostro Westm' palace of Westminster . For Arnaut-Guilhem de Marsan .

To the seneschal of Aquitaine, constable of Bordeaux, and whatever other ministers and officers of the king there who have an interest, or their lieutenants.

Order to put Marssan Arnaut-Guilhem de Marsan, kt , or his attorney, in full and peaceful possession of the land of Juliac , with its appurtenances. Lately, the king, by his special grace, and for his good service in the the king's war, and with the assent of his council, gave that land to Arnaut-Guilhem, which land the king's father had, lately by his letters patent, given to Marssan Ramon [de] Marsan , brother of Arnaut-Guilhem. Ramon and his heirs were lately killed by the enemies of the king, and the land is detained by those enemies and rebels. Arnaut-Guilhem and his heirs of his body legitimately begotten, were to hold the land by the customary service forever.

44: 10 January 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For Johan Cantiran .

Order to Harpeden' John Harpsden, seneschal of Gascony , and the constable of Bordeaux, and the king's council there, to view the letters of Edward [of Woodstock], late prince of Wales , the king's father, granting the land of Noaillan with its appurtenances, to Johan Cantiran for life, and the king's confirmation of the same, and if they find by them that the land was given and confirmed to Cantiran, then the same is to be delivered to Cantiran with its appurtenances, before Easter next, together with the issues, dues, commodities, profits and emoluments from the time that the land was taken into the king's hands. Cantiran is to hold the same according to the effect of the king's father's grant, and the confirmation of it. The seneschal is ordered to revoke the letters that he made granting the same to Mote, la Johan de Lamothe . If there is a reasonable cause why this should not be done, then they are to certify the king in chancery under their seals before Whit Sunday.

Cantiran has shown the king that the prince his father granted the land to him by his letters patent, which the king has confirmed, for his good service, and though he was in peaceful possession, the seneschal took the land into the king's hands for no reason, and then granted them to Lamothe by his letters, and put him possession while Cantiran was in England in the king's service, to his great damage and harm. Cantiran requests that the seneschal's letters be revoked, and he be restored to the land, which the king wishes to agree to.

By the council. In triplicate.

45: 15 December 1386 . Westm' Westminster . For Arnaut-Guilhem .

To the seneschals of Aquitaine and the Landes, the prévôt of Saint-Sever, and whatsoever officers of the king in the lordship.

Order, at the request of Arnaut-Guilhem de Marsan, kt , of the Landes , and for his good service in the king's war, that they are to provide reasonable aid and succour to Pey [II] de Marsan, kt , father of the same Arnaut-Guilhem, and Arnaut-Guilhem himself, and sustain, protect and defend them, so that they area able to continue to peacefully hold the land that they hold from the king. It is provided that, as a consequence of this maintenance, they should not be removed or ejected against the fors and customs there, nor without due process and the king's order out of the king's court there.

By p.s.

46: 10 May 1387 . Redyng' Reading . For the transport of wheat .

To all admirals etc.

Grant of a licence to Gassie Arnaut, merchant of Baion' Bayonne , at his request, that he can take 500 quarters of wheat bought in Somerset and Bristoll' Bristol , and to be loaded into a certain barque, of which Pey de Puy , was master, in the port of Bristol, and to be taken to Baion' Bayonne in relief and sustenance of the king's faithful lieges there against hostile attacks, and to make his profit. The king has granted this because Gassie has sworn a corporal oath before the king in chancery, that he will take the wheat to Bayonne, and not to anywhere else. It is ordered that Gassie be permitted to take the wheat bought in that county by him or his servants or attorneys, loaded into the barque in that port, and take them to Bayonne, first paying the customs and other dues that are due, whatsoever ordinances, proclamations, prohibitions or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

47: 11 June 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For the transport of wheat .

To all admirals etc.

Grant of a licence to John Warner of London , and Burdeux Julian de Bordeaux, master of a barque called Seint Johan of Baion' Bayonne , at their request, that they can take 300 quarters of wheat, loaded in the port of the city of London , and take them to the city of Bayonne, to make their profit. The king has granted this because Boterwyk John Butterwick of London , and John Corner of London , salter , have personally mainprised before the king in chancery for Warner and Bordeaux, under the penalty of the payment of the value of the wheat, that they would take the wheat to Baion' Bayonne , and not elsewhere, and bringing letters testimonial under the seal of the city of Bayonne attesting that the wheat was discharged there into chancery before Easter next. It is ordered that Warner and Bordeaux be permitted to take the wheat from London to Bayonne without any impediments, first paying the customs and other dues, whatsoever proclamations, prohibitions, statutes or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

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48: 6 June 1387 . Westm' Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for one year, for For Hugh Grenak of Lincoln , taverner , who is going overseas, in the king's service, to reside there in the company of Harpeden' John de Harpsden, seneschal of Aquitaine .

By bill of p.s.