18 January 1339 . Berkhampstede Berkhamsted . For moving Sénebrun [V], lord of Lesparre to make restoration of goods etc.

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux that if Sénebrun [V], lord of Sparra Lesparre , is reluctant or omits to surrender the victuals, things and goods of Insula John de Lisle, mayor of Burdeg' Bordeaux , William Daynel of Hereford , Richard Cysat of Magna Jernemuth' Great Yarmouth , Walter Durban of Ledbury , Esguer Guilhem Esquer , la Guerra Pélegrin d' Aguerre and others which his men, both of his household and others took from the ship called la Seinte Marie of Baiona Bayonne which made land at Solacum Soulac , and which were taken to Lesparre's castle, then they should move, induce and compel him to restore them and punish him for his contempt just as they consider expedient according to the fors and customs of those parts.

Certain ships in the port of London were charged with the victuals and other things of Lisle and the others to be taken to Burdeg' Bordeaux and certain other places in the duchy to aid in the provisioning of those places, and three of those ships were attacked by war galleys, two of them being taken, but the third, the Seinte Marie , took refuge at Soulac and was plundered by Lesparre's men, the goods being valued at 1,500 l. . On the behalf of the king and of Lisle and the others, Lesparre was requested to restore the victuals, things and goods but refused to do so to the king's grave damage, and to the loss of the city of Bordeaux, and of Lisle and the others as the king is given to understand. The king ordered Lesparre to make restoration to the seneschal and constable and to Lisle and the others without further delay, to use them for provisioning Bordeaux and other places.

Attested by Edward [of Woodstock], duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester , keeper of England . ¹

By the keeper and C.

20 February 1339 . Westminster . For Pey Gassie .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony to view the letters and process concerning the request made to the king by Pey Gassie about his cloth and other goods, and if he finds that it is as complained, then he is to execute the premises in the form that he considers ought to be done, according to the fors and customs there.

According to letters patent under the seal used in the duchy for contracts in Bordeaux, Gassie has shown that he complained that Tholosa Juan de Tolosa, master of the ship Sancta Maria of Sanctus Sebastianus San Sebastián , who, according to agreements made between Vitalis Ramon Bidau, merchant , servant of Gassie , and Tolosa at Sande Wicus Sandwich , bound himself to take Gassie's goods including three packs ( pagne ) of wool cloths and other merchandise valued at 400 l.st. from Sandwich to Bordeaux to be delivered to Gassie, was responsible for the theft at sea of the cloth by Domingo Vidasd' and his accomplices, and the seneschal of Gascony has many times requested by his letters patent to the prêvôt, alcaldes and jurats of Sanctus Sebastianus San Sebastián to compel Tolosa to render the cloth and merchandise or the value of the same to Gassie, and also to satisfy him for his expenses and damages.

However, the prévôt, alcaldes, jurats replied last time that the king of Castile ( Ispannia ) had forbidden them to do so and had granted Tolosa a safe guard by his letters patent. Gassie was left without justice, and requested that the seneschal would give a marque against the burgesses and inhabitants of San Sebastián, and also against whatsoever persons of the realm of Castile, and the goods of the same coming into the seneschal's jurisdiction in remedy as is customary up to the value of the 400 l.st. , and the damages condemned. Gassie requested that the property and goods of the Spanish of San Sebastián and whatever others of the realm of Spain coming into the king's district and lordship in the duchy be taken and and arrested, and the same detained under arrest until Gassie recovers his goods, or until the seneschal otherwise ordains on the process and goods, saving to Gassie his rights that he has in the marque, and the seneschal orders the prévôts of the Umbrebr' Ombrière of Bordeaux , Bayonne and Dax and the other prévôts, officials, ministers and bayles appointed in the duchy, and also Rollandi Pey Rolland , Pey de Purelli , Bernat de Bove and Bernat Genest , serjeants of the king, to take and arrest the possessions and goods of those Spanish of the town of San Sebastián and whatever others of the realm of Spain that they find in the duchy, the holy and religious excepted, and to keep them until the king orders otherwise by his; and Gassie requested the king to urge the seneschal put the premisses into execution.

Attested by the keeper .

By C.

6 March 1339 . Biflet Byfleet . Concerning wool to be received and sold .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux that he should receive the 200 sacks of wool that the king is sending to the duchy for the expedition of the king's business there, and for the defence of the same against invasions by the enemy, and that he should sell the same by the view and testimony of the seneschal of Gascony and Insula John de Lisle, mayor of Burdeg' Bordeaux , or either one of them, and he should deliver 200 l.st. from the issues of that sale to Lisle in part payment of 406 l. 6 s. 8 d. which the king owes him for the costs that he has been put to concerning the defence of [Bordeaux] just as more fully appears by the account made before the constable and the certification made by the constable under the seal of the court of Gascony sent to the king by his order. It is the king's intention that the residue of the money is to be kept and expended for the king's business which emerges from now on, just as the constable, seneschal and mayor consider is most advantageous for the king, and it is not be used to pay existing debts.

Attested by the keeper .

By K. and C.

10 March 1339 . Kenyngton' Kennington . Concerning the arresting of un-cocketed wool .

To all sheriffs, bayles, ministers and other faithful subjects.

Letters of intendancy in favour of Hyndeleye Adam de Hindley whom the king is sending to the duchy with wool for the expedition of the king's business, and whom he has assigned to oversee all wool sent from England by whomsoever it is sent, and by whose warrant, and to arrest all un-cocketed wool if it has been sent to those parts against the proclamation and inhibition of the king. Hindley is to keep all wool that he arrests safe until he is ordered otherwise, and he is to send regular certification to the king of the wool that he arrests and of all things that he does in this matter. The king has been given to understand that many men of England are exporting un-cocketed wool without the king's licence, and without paying customs or subsidies both publicly and in secret against the king's proclamation and inhibition made throughout the realm.

Attested by the keeper .

By the keeper and C.

6 April 1339 . Berkhampsted Berkhamsted . For an exemplification .

Exemplification by inspection of the rolls of chancery at the request of Seguini Estèbe Séguin, burgess of Burdeg' Bordeaux and of Sanctus Macharius Saint-Macaire of letters patent granted to him under the seal now used in England in these words:

The king has granted that the letters be exemplified because the originals have been accidentally lost.

Attested by the keeper .

6 April 1339 . Berkhampstede Berkhamsted . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus until Michaelmas next for Insula John de Lisle who is residing in Gascony in the king’s service.

Attested by the keeper .

By K.

27 April 1339 . Berkhampstede Berkhamsted . For the purchasing of crossbows and their sending to Bordeaux .

Order to the treasurer and barons of the Exchequer and the chamberlain that they should buy and purvey with the king's money 100 crossbows with two feet, 100 crossbows with one foot, ¹ 300 bows and one tun or one pipe of arrows, and one tun or one pipe of equipment ( attilium ) for crossbows without delay for the king's use, and cause them to be sent to Burdeg' Bordeaux to be delivered to the constable of Bordeaux for the equipping of the castles and towns in those parts according to the advice of the seneschal of Gascony ; and if they are not able to find the crossbows and bows promptly then they should buy and provide suitable timber to make that number of bows and cause it to be sent to the city with two or three attilliators selected by them, and delivered to the constable. The treasurer and barons and the chamberlain are also ordered to buy and purvey 2,000 quarters of wheat, 1,000 quarters of oats and 500 quarters of beans and peas in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire and in other parts from where it can be speedily sent to the port of Bristoll' Bristol , and do this with all speed and cause it to be sent to Bristol and placed in ships and sent to Gascony to be delivered to the constable to be used as the seneschal shall ordain.

Attested by the keeper .

By p.s.

10 June 1339 . Berkhampstede Berkhamsted . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus until Christmas next for William Pral who is residing in Gascony in the king’s service by the king’s order.

Attested by the keeper .

These were renewed because he was assigned elsewhere by K.

13 June 1339 . Berkhampsted' Berkhamsted .

Similar letters of protection for one year for Radenore William de Radnor who is going to Gascony in the king’s service by the king’s order.

These were renewed because he was assigned elsewhere.

20 July 1339 . Kenyngton' Kennington .

Letters of protection with clause volumus until Christmas next for John de Bromdon of Bristoll' Bristol who is going to Gascony in the king’s service by the king’s order.

Attested by the keeper .

By the keeper.

20 August . Wyndesore Windsor . For the payment of the wages of Guilhem-Ramon de Durfort .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux to account with Durefort Guilhem-Ramon de Durfort , or his attorney, for his wages, if he has not already done so, and cause payment to be made to him of what he is able to find is owed from the issues of the duchy or by other suitable satisfaction, and he will receive due allowance in his account. Durfort has requested that the king will wish to make payment to him of various sums of money that the king is bound to him in for his wages and those of his men-at-arms, both mounted and on foot from the time that they stood in the king's service in the duchy, and the king wishes to favourably agree to the request.

Attested by the keeper .

By C.

27 August 1339 . Wyndesore Windsor . For the purchase of victuals and sending them to Gascony . ¹

Order to Stephen le Blount, king's clerk , that he should diligently attend to the buying and providing of 1,000 quarters of wheat, 1,000 quarters of beans and peas and 1,500 quarters of oats in Somerset , Gloucestershire and Worcestershire wherever it is to the greatest advantage of the king and the least harm of his subjects, as the king assigned him to do in person or by deputies, and to cause the same to be carried to the port of Bristoll' Bristol with all speed to be sent to Gascony, the king having ordained the purveying of various victuals throughout his realm for the sustenance of the king's subjects in his service in Gascony, and their sending there as quickly as possible. And because the king is given to understand that many men of various parts resist with force and arms the king's purveyors to the grave damage and delay of the expedition of the king's business and to the loss of his realm, and wishing to resist the malice of these rebels, and to cause them to be punished, the king has committed power to Blount to take and arrest all those whom he finds resisting the purveyance and commit them to prison and detain them there until ordered otherwise. The king has ordered each sheriff of the counties that they should make payment from the issues of their bailiwick for the corn bought and purveyed by Blount and his deputies, for the carriage of the same, and for the houses for the safe-keeping of the corn for as much as that money is sufficient, by Blount's testimony. If that money is not sufficient then the sheriffs are to make indentures between them and the men of their bailiwick from whom the victuals were bought and the price, and also between Blount and the sheriffs for the victuals taken, the location of the houses and payment by which the sheriffs are able to have due allowance in their accounts for the sums, and the men payment for the victuals. The sheriffs are to assign a day for the payment of the sums, namely the 12 November where the indentures are to be exhibited before the treasurer and barons of the exchequer and the chamberlain. The king does not wish anything to be done in the fees of the Church against the liberty of the Church concerning the taking of the same. ²

Attested by the keeper .

By the keeper and C.

4 September 1339 . Wyndesore Windsor . For the payment of the wages of Stephem le Blount . ¹

Order to the sheriff of Gloucester that he should pay 10 l. from the issues of his bailiwick without delay to Stephen le Blount, king's clerk , towards his expenses going about his business, the king having assigned Blount by his letters patent to purvey and buy various victuals in Gloucestershire , Somerset and Worcestershire , and to cause them to be carried to the port of Bristoll' Bristol to be sent to Gascony for the sustenance of the king's subjects there in his service, receiving from Blount his letters patent attesting to the receipt of the same. The sheriff will receive due allowance in his account for the same.

Attested by the keeper .

By the keeper and C.

26 September 1339 . Wyndesore Windsor . For the de-arresting of ships of Bayonne .

Order to the mayor and bailiffs of Bristoll' Bristol that if the ships of Bayonne which have been arrested in that port have been arrested by them by direction of William Trussel, admiral of the Western Fleet , and for no other reason, then they are to de-arrest them and permit them to return to Gascony without delay for the king's service there. Danciete Martin d'Anzieta, master of the ship called Dieulagard of Baiona Bayonne and Dardir Pey Dardy, master of the ship called la Seint Johan of Baiona Bayonne have requested that the king will wish to cause their ships which have been arrested in Bristol to be de-arrested so that they can return to Gascony for the king's service because their ships were charged with wine and other victuals at Baionam Bayonne to go to the port [of Bristol ], but before they left, Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony and the mayor of Baion' Bayonne , compelled the masters, merchants and mariners within those ships to swear on the Gospels that once they had discharged their cargoes at Bristol they would return to Bayonne or Burdeg' Bordeaux for the king's service there, and their ships are now discharged and held under arrest, and the king wishes to agree favourably to their request.

Attested by the keeper .

By C.

26 September 1339 . Wyndesore Windsor . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus for a year for Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony , who is residing in Gascony in the king’s service by the king’s order.

Attested by the keeper .

These were renewed by the keeper because he was assigned elsewhere.

Same as above For attorneys .

Letters of attorney for Oliver [de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony], nominating John son of Robert de Ingham and Hantyngham Roger de Antingham alternately.

These were renewed by the chancellor because he was assigned elsewhere.

10 November 1339 . Kenyngton' Kennington . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus until Easter next for Master Savynak Guilhem [de] Savignac who is going to Gascony in the king’s service.

Attested by the keeper .

By the keeper and C.

8 November 1339 . Langeley Kings Langley . For John de Ellerker .

Order to Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony , or his lieutenant, to obtain full information on whether the two ships charged with victuals and sent to Gascony contained in the request of John de Ellerker, king's clerk , were taken by the enemy, and if they were, when and where and by whose negligence, and whether any of the corn and goods were saved, and if they were, what the value of the corn and goods was, and of other circumstances touching it by all ways and means that he considers expedient, and he should send certification of what he finds to the king under the king's seal used in the duchy together with this writ.

Ellerker, when he was assigned to be receiver of money and victuals to be sent to the duchy for the sustenance of the king's faithful subjects in the months of May, June and July 1338, caused 470 quarters of wheat and 30 quarters of wheat flour, with various measures for corn and flour, to be measured, price 125 l. , 120 sides of bacon, price 16 l. , 4,000 stockfish, price 32 l. , 24 quarters of oatmeal, price 16 s. , 5 quarters of peas pisa alba , price 15 s. , 9 cloths of Bristol, price 15 l. and haketons, hauberks, plates and various other pieces of armour, price 31 l. 13 s. , and also 12 marks of silver which was given to John de Chattertz for costs and expenses concerning the victuals and goods and, against the arrival of other victuals and other goods, to be charged in two ships of Bayonne, one of which was called the Sanctus Bartolomeus of Bayonne Darblat whereof Domenges was master, and the other called the Sancta Maria of Bayonne Guerre whereof Pélegrin d'Aguerre was master at London and Suthampton' Southampton . According to the ordinance of the king's council, and by their advice the ships were put in the custody of Chattertz, and departed from the ports of the city of London and Southampton in July to go to Burdeg' Bordeaux in the company and under the protection of four other ships of Baion' Bayonne which had been hired at London to convey other corn and goods. The enemy in eighteen armed galleys ambushed the two ships and captured one of them, and the other was wrecked, as they sailed into the Gerounde river Gironde near Talamount' Talmont on 23 August with the loss of all the goods within them; and Ellerker has requested that the king will wish to discharge him for the corn and other goods. ¹

20 November 1339 . Langeley Kings Langley . For superseding the purchase of victuals .

Order to Stephen le Blount whom the king, by his letters patent, has assigned to buy and provide 1,000 quarters of wheat, 1,000 quarters of beans and peas and 1,500 quarters of oats in Somerset , Gloucestershire and Worcestershire and cause them to be carried to the port of Bristoll Bristol to be sent to Gascony for the sustenance of the king's faithful subjects in the king's service there, that that order to purvey the victuals is to be superseded, and that all the victuals that have already been bought are to be sold for the king's best advantage and as Blount considers expedient; and the money that is raised is to be delivered to Radenore William de Radnor, king's valet , and Oliver de Ingham, seneschal of Gascony , by indenture made between Blount and Radnor to be taken to Gascony.

Attested by the keeper . ¹

By C.

10 January 1340 . Langeley Kings Langley . For Jean Coupale of Dinant .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux, or their lieutenants, that they should permit Jean Coupale of Dynaunt Dinant in Alemannia Almain to have and hold the office of the prévôté of the Umbraria Ombrière of Burdeg' Bordeaux on condition that Coupale continues to answer to the king for the farm of that office for as long as he should hold it, the king having originally granted the office to Coupale for his life by his letters patent for his good service to Isabella [of France], queen of England , the king's mother, and to the king both overseas and in England, rendering each year 300 l.t.parv. to the king and his heirs by the hands of the constable, and which, at the request of Coupale, because the original grant did not make mention of the office being held with the chanala , ¹ the king granted the same office to him for his life together with the chanala , rendering the same to the king and his heirs by the hands of the constable each year. ²

Attested by the keeper .

25 August 1339 . Westminster . For Ramon d'Espiau of Bayonne .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux that if they are able to find that Spyawe Ramon d'Espiau of Baion’ Bayonne has not been satisfied by the seneschal, constable or by the prévôt of Baion' Bayonne for the 50 l. by virtue of earlier orders from the king, then they are to cause him to be paid the 50 l. without delay, according to the tenor of the king's earlier orders; receiving from Espiau his letters of acquittance, and the constable will have due allowance in his account, with a proviso that if the king's earlier letters for payment should afterwards be found, no payment should be made for them, but they should be cancelled.

Espiau, when he was master of the king's ship called le Seint Jak' , charged the ship with certain wine of Cailowe Arnaut Caillau's at Burdeg' Bordeaux to be carried to London for a hire charge agreed between Espiau and the men of Caillau, but the wine was taken for the king's use and Espiau was not satisfied for the hire charge, upon which Espiau requested that the king would satisfy him. The king, because Espiau had been impoverished, granted to him 50 l.st. to be taken by the hands of the prévôt of Bayonne from the issues of the prévôté in compensation for the hire charge, and ordered the prévôt to deliver the 50 l. or the value in other money, any other order to the prévôt notwithstanding.

Afterwards, Espiau gave the king to understand that although he delivered the king's letters to the prévôt for payment, he has been unable to have payment of the same, because of which, therefore, the king ordered the seneschal and constable by his letters patent that, if they found that Espiau had not received payment from the prévôt by the king's letters, then they were to cause him to be satisfied for the sum from the issues of the duchy, or by a suitable assignment on the customs of the Burdeg' castle of Bordeaux or the prévôté of the Umbreria Ombrière or elsewhere, any other orders of the king to the contrary notwithstanding, just as is found by inspection of the rolls of chancery. Espiau has now requested that the king will wish to provide him with a remedy because when he was travelling towards the city of Burdeg' Bordeaux , he was taken by the king's French enemies and they took the king's letters from him and, as a consequence, he cannot now have payment of the sum, and the king having consideration of the great labours that Espiau has been put to in the service of E[dward II], late king of England , the king's father, and to the king wishes him to be satisifed for the sum. ¹

Attested by the keeper of England .

By p.s.

1 November 1339 . Westminster . For Arnaut de Durfort .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony to diligently obtain information concerning whether the various lands, tenements, liberties and privileges and possessions that were granted to Duro Forti Arnaut de Durfort by the king's charter, or any parcel of the same, before the making of the charter or afterwards were given, granted or assigned to anyone, and if so to whom, by whom, for what reason, in what manner, and of the size of the parcel, and their true value each year, and to send certification of what he finds to the king under the king's seal used in the duchy without delay together with this writ. Durfort has requested that the king will wish to cause such gifts, grants or assignments made to anyone of those granted to him up until now to be revoked and the king wishes to be more fully certified.

Attested by the keeper .

By C.