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C 61/137

Gascon Roll for the 28th years of the reign of Henry VI

Physical condition of the roll

The roll consists of five membranes. There are entries on all of the face sides, but on none of the dorses. The roll is generally in good condition.

C 61/137 28 Henry VI (1449-1450)

Introduction.

This very short roll (5 membranes) none the less contains interesting entries. Take, for example, the two entries concerning Pey de Montferrand. This staunch supporter of the Anglo-Gascon party had married Mary, the bastard daughter of the late John, duke of Bedford (d. 1435), probably when his father Bertran III de Montferrand was a member of the duke’s household. Nevertheless, the lands and revenues amounting to 500 l.t. promised as her dowry were never paid because of Bedford’s death, so Pey de Montferrand had requested compensation. Henry VI gave him the small region of Maremne situated in the Landes, as well as the baylie and toll of Hastingues, but it is not certain that Pey de Montferrand actually obtained any revenue from them at such a difficult juncture for the English military position (1450). 1 Pey de Montferrand also claimed the unpaid annuities coming from the dower which his grandmother Margarida/Margaret de Stratton was due to receive from her second husband Pons VII de Castillon, lord of Castillon-de-Médoc (d. 1418). As this lordship had been since seized into the king’s hands, it was now, according to Montferrand, the king's responsability to pay what was by now a large sum of money. 2

Two entries deal with consequences of the surrender by the alférez of Navarre Luis de Beaumont of the castle of Mauléon to the French under the command of the count of Foix (September 1449). His castle of Curton (Entre-deux-Mers), where we still can see the magnificent tower of the keep, was situated too close to Bordeaux, so the city requested the king to have it annexed to itself in order to better defend its surrounding area. 3 Two Gascons were pardoned for killing two Basques of the garrison of the castle of Curton when escaping from its jail. They were allegedly arrested because the captain of this castle was suspected of wanting to hand it over to the French. The captain himself came from the Basque Country and Navarre like Luis de Beaumont and his garrison was made of Basques (we should understand this here as the Basques of the Northern Basque Country). 4

A pardon was also granted to a young burgess (20 years old) of Bordeaux named Pey Ap who had exercised justice himself without any right to do so, in confining illegally for two weeks in his house his servant Perarnaut Serey whom he had allegedly caught in the act of robbery. His relatively young age was invoked to moderate his crime. 5

Worthy of mention is the entry where an esquire of Bayonne was appointed as crier of his city. 6 Also interesting are the letters of protection granted to two men from Utrecht and Brabant allowing them to come to Bordeaux. 7 It is possible that these men were making a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, although they might also have been coming to Gascony to trade.

The loyal Bidau de Bielle, originating from Bayonne but now dwelling at Bordeaux, who was possibly the captain of the castle of Castillon-de-Médoc in 1447 (called here Bidot de Bielle), 8 was made a burgess of Bordeaux 9 and was appointed as one of the members of the king’s council at Bordeaux, 10 showing that the Anglo-Gascon government was keen to reward those of good will ready to support it at this time, when the French were beginning seriously to threaten the English position in France. Normandy had already fallen between August 1449 and August 1450. It was surely only a matter of time before Charles VII turned his attention to Gascony.

Guilhem Pépin.

1.
See entry 15 .
2.
See entry 1 .
3.
See entry 4 .
4.
See entry 8 .
5.
See entry 16 .
6.
See entry 10 .
7.
See entry 12 .
8.
See entry in C 61/135 .
9.
See entry 2 .
10.
See entry 3 .
1

12 October 1449 . Westminster . For Pey de Montferrand, esquire .

Power granted to Pey [Berland], archbishop of Bordeaux , Bernat Angevin, esquire, Rausano, de [lord] of Rauzan , Maseriis, de Pey de Mazères, licentiate of laws , 1 and Tastano, de Pey du Taste, Sanctus Severinus dean of Saint-Seurin , bachelor of laws , or at least three or two of them, to hear the parties and their proctors and diligently terminate this according to the local laws and customs. The king orders all the persons concerned by this matter to obey and attend them in the execution of these presents. In his supplication Montferand Pey de Montferrand, Saudicus, Latrau Soudic of la Trau , 2 has explained to the king that the late Poncius, Castellione, de Pons[VII] de Castillon, kt , had received in dowry ( marritagium ) when he married the late Margareta Margarida de Stratton , grandmother of Pey, the sum of 4,000 gold guyennais and 100 librates of annual revenue in the money of Bordeaux, and the same Margarida de Stratton by virtue of a will made by the same Pons [VII] had to receive, according to the local laws and customs, a dower amounting to 6,000 gold guyennais and 150 librates of annual revenue in the money of Bordeaux, but after his death Margarida could not receive this sum nor later her grandson and heir Pey de Montferrand, so Pey requests the king to provide him swift justice on this matter.

1.
On him (noted as Petrus de Maseriis ), see Lainé, F., Fasti Ecclesiae Gallicanae , 13, Diocese of Bordeaux (Turnhout, 2012), p.391, no.275.
2.
In order to understand the use of the nicknames Soudan of la Trau and Soudic of la Trau (now la Trave, com. Préchac, arr. Langon, dép. Gironde), nicknames beginning to be assimilated with a title at this period, see Pépin, G., 'Les Soudans de Preissac ou de la Trau : de Clément V à l’ordre de la Jarretière', Les Cahiers du Bazadais , no.187 (2014), pp.4-72.
2

5 October 1449 . Westminster . For Bidau de Bielle .

Creation of Vital, Villa Bidau de Bielle, esquire originating from Bayonne , dwelling now at Bordeaux , as burgess and citizen of the city of Bordeaux, permitting him to enjoy for his lifetime the franchises, liberties and customs owned by the burgesses and citizens of this city.

By p.s., etc.

3

Same as above

Appointment of Vital, Villa Bidau de Bielle, esquire , as one of the members of the king's council of Aquitaine, receiving there the annual wages and fees as the other members of this council.

By p.s., etc.

4

13 November 1449 . Westminster . For the mayor, jurats and citizens of the city of Bordeaux .

Annexation in perpetuity to the city of Bordeaux , because of the great expenses and works of the mayor, jurats and citizens of the community of Bordeaux in the king's wars as well as in the keepership and repair of this city and some other places, towns and castles in the king's obedience within the duchy of Aquitaine, of the castle and lordship of Curton in patria Burdegale Bordelais in the Inter duo Maria Entre-deux-Mers with their appurtenances. The king has learned that Luis de Beaumont , called the lalpheritz alférez of Navarre 1 who held by oath from the king the town , castle , castellany and lordship of Mauléon of Soule in the seneschalcy of the Landes , and he has surrendered them against this oath and without the king's order to the Fuxo, de count of Foix , 2 the king's enemy and rebel, 3 becoming a traitor in doing so, thus his goods have been seized to the king. And Luis de Beaumont owned before his treason among other things the castle and lordship of Curton that went in the king's hands because of Beaumont's treason.

By K., etc., and by authority of the Parliament.

1.
The alférez of Navarre was at the head of the king of Navarre's army.
2.
Gaston IV de Foix .
3.
He surrendered the castle of Mauléon to the count of Foix in September 1449. See Courteault, H., Gaston IV, comte de Foix, vicomte souverain de Béarn, prince de Navarre, 1423-1472 (Toulouse, 1895), p.146.
5

13 November 1449 . Westminster . For Luis de Beaumont . 1

Similar entry as entry 4 .

By K., etc., and by authority of the Parliament.

1.
This title is a mistake.
6

24 February 1450 . Westminster . Concerning licence to transport for Domenges de Monségur and some others .

Licence granted to Domenges de Monségur , master of a ship called la Katerine of Bayonne , Hawas Johan de Habas , master of another ship called la Seynt Johan of Bayonne and Salvatus, Larra Saubat de Larre , master of a barge called la Seynt Johan of Bayonne to buy themselves or through their deputies and some other merchants of 2,400 quarters of wheat, broad beans and other grains in the kingdom of England, 1,000 quarters having to be loaded in la Katerine , 800 quarters in the ship called la Seynt Johan and 600 quarters in the barge called la Seynt Johan , in whatever port of England , in order to bring them to Bayonne for the victualling of the king's liege men of this city. The king orders all the admirals etc. to permit them to buy and to export these to Bayonne, paying due customs.

7

4 March 1450 . Westminster . Concerning licence to transport . 1

Licence granted to Salvatus, Deuguachopo Saubat du Guachopo , master of a ship called la Gabriell' of Bayonne , to buy himself or through his deputies and other merchants 600 quarters of wheat, broad beans and other grains, load them in whatever port of England and bring them to Bayonne for the victualling of the king's liege men. Prato, de Laurens Duprat of Bayonne, esquire , and Anglada, de Pey d'Anglade of Bayonne , esquire , became mainpernors for Saubat before the king in chancery under pain of 100 l. , ensuring that this wheat, broad beans and the other grains will be brought to Bayonne and not to any region enemy to the king; Saubat giving in chancery letters testifying the unloading of this wheat under the seal of the community of the city of Bayonne before 2 February 1451. The king orders all the admirals etc. to permit Saubat to buy and to export these to Bayonne, paying due customs.

1.
Extractus is written in the margin.
8

30 August 1450 . Westminster . For pardon granted to Bernat Descudenham and some others .

Pardon to Bernat Descudenham and Bernat de Peringet , originating of the duchy of Aquitaine, who have killed two Basques who chased them when they escaped jail in the castle of Curton , as they were jailed by the captain of the castle of Curton who had learned he was suspected that he would surrender his castle to the king's enemies, as this captain held this castle with Basques companions ( socii vel servitores... Vasculi ) and was originating from the possessions ( patrimonium ) of the constable of Navarre , 1 who had surrendered one year ago 2 the castle of Mauléon to the king's enemies. 3

1.
Luis de Beaumont , alférez of Navarre and lord of Curton.
2.
In 1449, to the count of Foix Gaston IV.
3.
A section of this text ( dominus Johanes Gui et Arnaldus obmanerunt ) is difficult to understand as possibly a part of a sentence is missing before.
9

18 December 1449 . Westminster . Concerning confirmation for David de Brosses .

Inspeximus and confirmation of letters patent of John [Holland], earl of Huntingdon , king's lieutenant in Aquitaine to Brossis, de David de Brosses , son and heir of Estèbe de Brosses and his heirs: 1

10 November 1439 . Burdegala Bordeaux .

The king has granted at this pleasure to Bross' Estèbe de Brosses, bachelor of both laws , king's procurator [fiscal] of the duchy of Aquitaine , the defaults and wages of the court of Gascony up to the value of [10 l.st. of the English money]. 2 Huntingdon, because of the great service of Brosses who is now is servant and secretary has done to him, grants him for life these defaults and wages with their revenues. Furthermore, Huntingdon grants in perpetuity to him and his heirs and assignees of a house with its revenues and garden ( casal ) with all their appurtenances situated within the Beata Maria de Platea parish of Notre-Dame-de-la-Place of Bordeaux, and is situated between the garden ( causa ) of Estèbe de Brosses, on one part, and the garden of Nolim Nolin Alby of the parish of Saint-Pierre 3 on the other, and is stretching from a public street 4 to the garden of the chapel Notre-Dame-de-la-Place . 5 And Huntingdon confirms the grant to Brosses in perpetuity in fief by the constable of Bordeaux of the hall ( aula ) of Ayran with its appurtenances, as appear in the charter of enfeoffment, and the king enfeoffs again this hall to Brosses, 6 with the proviso that Brosses will pay each year the rent ( census) ) and revenue due to the king.

For half a mark paid in the hanaper.

1.
It is specified that the letters have been sealed by a seal bearing Huntingdon's arms.
2.
On 12 July 1430, see entry in C 61/123 .
3.
Called Nolin Blanc of the parish of Saint-Projet in entry in C 61/138 .
4.
Either the 'rue du Loup' or the 'rue de Cheverus'.
5.
On this parish church of Bordeaux, see Barraud, D. and Lavaud, S., 'Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Place / Église Sainte-Marie-de-la-Place', in Atlas historique de Bordeaux . Sites et monuments, III, ed. S. Lavaud (Bordeaux, 2009), pp.29-31.
6.
This was already granted to Brosses on 12 July 1430: entry in C 61/123 .
10

23 April 1450 . Leycestre Leicester . For Bertholomiu d'Arribère .

Grant for life to Ryvera, de Bertholomiu d'Arribère, esquire originating from the duchy of Aquitaine, of the office of crier of the city of Bayonne to be occupied by himself or through a deputy with all its profits.

By p.s., etc..

11

3 August 1450 . Westminster . Concerning a licence [granted] to John Taverner . 1

Licence granted to John Taverner , master of a ship called le Gracedieu of London to buy himself or through his deputies 3,000 quarters of wheat, peas and other grains in the kingdom of England and export them to the city of Bordeaux for the victualling of the king's liege men being there. William Crouche of London , merchant , and Austyn John Austin of London , merchant , became personally mainpernors for Taverner before the king in chancery under pain of 1,000 l. , ensuring that this wheat, peas and other grains will be brought to Bordeaux and not elsewhere. The king orders all the admirals etc. to permit Taverner to buy and to export these to Bordeaux, paying due customs.

1.
Extractus is written in the margin.
12

11 August 1450 . Westminster . Concerning safeguard .

Letters of protection granted for two years to Jan Desvoles chaplain , originating from the city of civitas Traiectensi Utrecht and Mathias Mathis Lounversell originating from the regions of in partibus Brabancie Brabant , allowing them to come to Bordeaux by land and at sea with in their company four persons, either on horse or foot, and their goods and harnesses, with the proviso that they behave well towards the king and do not attempt to do any damage.

13

6 June 1450 . Leycestre Leicester . Concerning safeguard .

Letters of protection granted to Mayest Johan Magescq , master of a ship called la Kateryne of Bayonne , and also his ship with its mariners and servants being now in the port of Dertemouth Dartmouth , allowing them to go to the regions of Gascony with the king's ambassadors of Gascony together with their servants, goods, horses and harnesses, and allowing them to go from Dartmouth to Bayonne. Order to all the king's admirals etc. not to interfere, with the proviso that Magescq and the other persons mentioned there behave well towards the king and do not attempt to do any damage.

14

9 August 1450 . Westminster . Concerning licence to transport . 1

Licence granted to Selly David Cely of the town of Westminster , Henry May and Patrick Deny , merchants of Bristoll' Bristol , to buy themselves or through deputies 600 quarters of wheat, broad beans, peas and other grains in Gloucestershire , Somerset and Bristol , load them in a ship called la Marie , formerly of Motrigo , 2 in the port of Bristol and bring them to the city of Bordeaux for its victualling. William Thomas of Bristol , merchant , John Russel of Southampton in Hampshire , yeoman , and Richard Edy of Bristol , hoper hopper , 3 became personally mainpernors for May and Deny before the king in chancery under pain of 40 l. on their goods and chattels, ensuring thaat May and Deny will bring these to Bordeaux and not elsewhere; May and Deny giving in chancery letters testifying the unloading of this wheat under the seal of the community of Bordeaux before 24 June 1451. The king orders all the admirals etc. to permit May and Deny to buy and to export these to Bordeaux, paying due customs.

1.
Extractus is written in the margin.
2.
It seems to be an Irish port.
3.
A hopper was a plowman.
15

24 July 1450 . Westminster . For Pey de Montferrand .

Grant in perpetuity to Montferant Pey de Montferrand, Latrau Soudan of la Trau , 1 and his heirs, of the baronny of Marenne Maremne with all its rights and revenues, and also the baylie and toll of Fastingues Hastingues with all its rights and appurtenances, a barony and baylie which are now in the hands of the king's enemies, in compensation of the lands and revenues given as a dowry to his wife by the king's uncle. Pey de Montferrand has supplicated the king that when he married Mary [Bedford] , illegitimate daughter of the king's uncle John [of Lancaster], former duke of Bedford , the king's uncle, this latter gave to Montferrand as his daughter's dowry some lands and revenues up to the value of 500 l.t. as appear in a public instrument, and Bedford died thereafter without legitimate heirs before the delivery of these lands and revenues, so that Bedford's lands, possessions, revenues and his immovable goods were inherited by the king by hereditary right. 2

By p.s., etc., and by authority of the Parliament.

1.
In order to understand the use of the nicknames Soudan of la Trau and Soudic of la Trau (now la Trave, com. Préchac, arr. Langon, dép. Gironde), nicknames beginning to be assimilated with a title at this period, see Pépin, G., 'Les Soudans de Preissac ou de la Trau : de Clément V à l’ordre de la Jarretière', Les Cahiers du Bazadais, no.187 (2014), pp.4-72.
2.
See the related entry: entry in C 61/138 .
16

9 April 1450 . Westminster .

Pardon to Pey Ap, citizen of Bordeaux , who is less than 20 years old, for having kept prisoner in a room of his own house one servant who was Pretrumdem Per-Arnaut Serey , originating of the rebel country, who had been caught in the commission of a robbery, as he wanted to preserve his reputation and was not fully aware of law due to his young age, and as he has been molested by the constable of Bordeaux, the procurator fiscal and the other king's officers. Serey has been kept one night with his hands tied up in his back, and after he was left with hands untied for fifteen days in the same room, then he was freed by Pey Ap and afterwards his friends have made an agreement with this latter allowing Serey to come back in his house, and three hours later Serey escaped by a window.

By p.s., etc.