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C 61/57 19 Edward III (1345-46)

Introduction

The roll is not an overly long roll, but is packed full of interesting information. Hostilities between the English and French had been ongoing for several years at this point, and the Anglo-Gascon duchy had been somewhat beleaguered in the face of slow but progressive French conquest. However, the real focus for the conflict had been far north of the duchy where Edward III had squandered enormous sums of money putting together and maintaining an extensive network of alliances with the nobles and princes of the southern Low Countries and the Empire in an attempt to isolate the French. The king had campaigned extensively in northern France, including Brittany, and despite the stunning naval victory at Sluys on 24 June 1340, had failed to bring the French to battle on the land. ¹ In the meantime, the duchy had survived on the skills of its English and Gascon officials and a slow trickle of money and resources which had done little more than maintain the status quo , with only minor shifts towards improvements in the English position. As such the roll marks a break with the previous years with the first real attempt in Edward III’s reign to recover the Anglo-Gascon position.

As we have seen from previous rolls, the king and his English administration had been trying to shore up the Anglo-Gascon position. The transfer of the allegiance of the Albret brothers, and the lieutenancy of Bernat-Etz V, lord of Albret, had brought to the English a powerful ally, and many important Gascon nobles still remained loyal to the king. However, with a shortage of funds, and despite Bernat-Etz’s visit to England in December 1341 to report the dire situation in the duchy, the English struggled to meet the challenge to English authority, so that by the spring of 1344, the position had become critical. The joint lieutenancy of Henry of Grosmont, earl of Derby, and Richard FitzAlan, earl of Arundel, commencing in March 1344 brought little tangible change, but plans were being laid in early 1345 for a more aggressive policy in Aquitaine.

The first hint of this is clearly demonstrated in the massive shake-up of the English personnel governing the duchy. Very early in the year, on 25 February 1345, the appointment of Ralph de Stafford, baron of Stafford, as seneschal of Gascony, brought the most senior English nobleman to have held that office up until that time to the duchy. ² As befitted an individual of his status, he brought a retinue of thirty-four named individuals with him. ³ On the same day Edward III commissioned foot archers to be raised from the English shires and within the fortnight following the king made an indenture of war with Henry of Grosmont, earl of Derby, to lead an army of 2,000 men to Gascony. ⁴ The instructions to Stafford also revealed the king’s commitment to reforming the duchy. Stafford was instructed to inspect ‘the state and conduct of the king’s councillors, officers and ministers’, and to remove those he found unnecessary. He was to have power to bring people into bonds and friendship with the king, to inquire into the gifts made by the king and resume those that had been unjustly made into the king’s hands, and was further ordered to inquire into malicious complaints that were burdening the poor. ⁵ The appointment of Stafford was followed by the appointment of a new mayor of Bordeaux, William Stury, on 24 April 1345. ⁶

The appointment, on 10 May 1345, of Henry of Grosmont, earl of Derby, as the king’s lieutenant and captain in the duchy, truly revealed the king’s plans. ⁷ As Stafford had been the highest ranking individual to hold the office of seneschal, Grosmont was the highest ranking and first English noble of royal blood, to hold that office when he first received the lieutenancy in the previous year, since the ill-starred lieutenancy of Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent, in 1324-5. With the new appointment he was now given full and sole authority. At the same time, and like Stafford, he received commissions of extensive powers. By his appointment both as lieutenant and captain-general in the duchy, he was given the superior administrative and judicial power, and also the powers to summon and lead the army in the duchy. The details of his commission are also, unusually, spelled out in the enrolment of the powers committed to him. It is very clear that this was no mere lieutenancy of reform, but was primarily intended to recover the king’s rights by military power if necessary. ⁸

As Fowler, Sumption and Gribit have detailed, Grosmont moved very quickly after his arrival in Bordeaux on 9 August 1345. Departing from Stafford’s policy of subduing the duchy by siege warfare, Bergerac fell following a surprise assault on 24 August, and on 21 October he won a stunning victory over the French at Auberoche. Throughout this period the Anglo-Gascon forces rapidly subdued the duchy either by assault or surrender with the rapid collapse of the French position. However, you could be forgiven for missing the entire campaign if the sole piece of evidence was this Gascon Roll. Although we know that Grosmont was in regular contact with Edward III and the English administration, and preparations were clearly underway, no reference to the actual campaign or the successes that it achieved can be found in the roll. ⁹

Although specific mentions of the escalation of the war is difficult to find in the roll, it is very clear that preparations were being made. The Graillys, whose loyalty had only recently been in doubt, had clearly been restored to a trusted position. The king was prepared to excuse Pey de Grailly, vicomte of Benauges and Castillon, from personal military service on account of his ill-health, and because he had offered to send his son, the captal de Buch, with men to aid the king. ¹⁰ It is perhaps significant that the latter was among fourteen knights of Aquitaine who served in Grosmont’s personal retinue during the expedition. ¹¹ The question of Grailly’s claims to Saint-Bazeille and Landerron were also to be reconsidered. ¹² The importance of Bernat-Etz V, lord of Albret, is also still apparent. Albret had clearly made many personal sacrifices in the service of Edward III, and this is revealed, perhaps most explicitly in an order of 15 June 1345. It would seem that Albret, presumably when he was acting as the king’s lieutenant in the duchy, had compensated the lord of Mussidan for losses he had suffered for his adherence to the king, with his own castle of Gensac. He now sought the recovery of the same castle, and compensation for the lord of Mussidan elsewhere. ¹³ Strenuous attempts were made to keep other important lords onboard with generous grants. ¹⁴

The thorny issue of relations with the kingdom of Castile are also apparent in this roll. Edward III hoped to secure an alliance with Alfonse XI, king of Castile, or at worst Castilian neutrality. The big difficulty that the king had with his relations with the Castilians was the hostility between the Castilian maritime interests and that of his own subjects in the important port of Bayonne. The king sought to bring these to resolution, whilst at the same time advancing the negotiations that the earl of Derby had initiated in 1344. ¹⁵

The king was also having problems with the men of Bayonne. During an earlier phase of the war Edward III had successfully negotiated a temporary suspension of the annual election of the mayor of Bayonne. Instead he had managed to have Pey de Poyanne, himself elected to the office, to be kept in office until the end of the war. Either by Poyanne’s high-handedness, or because of opposition to royal interference in the liberties of the city, Poyanne met considerable opposition, and eventually had to be required to resign. It would appear that was not the end of the issue, for, following Poyanne’s death in exile, his wife and his children claimed to have been stripped of their moveable and immoveable goods and driven from Bayonne by the malice of those who had opposed her husband, with the connivance of the king’s local ministers. ¹⁶ The king ordered the seneschal to do justice to the widow and to restore her. But trouble was also being faced by other royal officials in Bayonne. Arnaut de Maribat, the prévôt of Bayonne, had actively been impeded in the execution of his office. ¹⁷ Finally, and perhaps rather unusually, there is the interesting information about the election of the mayor of Bayonne. Usually the city chose three suitable candidates annually who were presented to the seneschal of Gascony who would select one of them in the king's name. Under these circumstances no record of the names of the three candidates, or often the selected candidate ever appear in the Gascon Rolls because the seneschal made the selection, and it was never referred back to England. In this example, because Ralph de Stafford, the new seneschal, had not been sworn into office at the time of the election, the mayor, jurats, hundred peers and community had taken the initiative and approached the king directly so that we have a brief but valuable detail of the election process and the candidates. ¹⁸

More regular business was not entirely neglected. Several entries refer to trade matters, usually disputes. Walter Turk and John le Clerk, citizens of London, sought the king’s aid in obtaining justice for the recovery of herrings and hides from Bordeaux men. ¹⁹ Robert de Northampton, a tailor from London, sought the arrest of Ramon-Mathiu de Gascogne who had been convicted in the king’s court of unspecified ‘great crimes’ against Northampton, and who had been imprisoned in Newgate, but had escaped and returned to the duchy. ²⁰ The king also made provision for the payment of debts that he owed to certain merchants of the duchy of Aquitaine, with an allowance on wine carried to English ports. ²¹ William de Staines, king’s valet, another citizen of London, had been particularly unlucky. He had exported wool from Bristol, paying the customs and aid, but there seems to have been an error in the letters of the coket, for the wool was not mentioned in them, and when he got to Bordeaux, the mayor of Bordeaux confiscated them. Staines had complained to the king, and the rolls of the king’s collectors of the customs in Bristol had been checked which proved the correct customs had been paid, and the mayor was ordered to restore the wool, or its value. ²² But not all entries were so negative, Pey-Ramon de Brugère and Bernat de Malouse, merchants of the duchy, were the recipients of letters of protection to come to England to trade with their goods. ²³

The continued problem that the king’s administration had in paying its debts remains very apparent. There was the usual series of orders to pay debts owed to those who had served the king in the duchy, including to Master Aubert Mège, a constable of Bordeaux from the last years of the reign of Edward II. ²⁴ The king also made orders to ensure debts owed by his subjects were paid. ²⁵ The request of the bishop of Bayonne adds a rather interesting personal note. The bishop sought a grant of a stretch of land lying between the walls of the city for a garden for his own personal use for his life. ²⁶ The difficulties that could face those who held the office of constable of Bordeaux are brought into stark relief, with the pursuit of the assets of John Travers. Travers had first held the office from 1324-26, but was apparently considered a safe pair of hands for he was re-appointed in June 1331, serving until early 1335. However, it would appear that he was never able to fully acquit himself of some of the sums owed during his tenure, for the king ordered the seizure of all valuables that Travers had at the time of his death in the duchy. ²⁷ Since the finances of the duchy had been on such a parlous footing for such a long period, it is hardly surprising that individuals such as Travers should have faced such difficulties.

Simon J. Harris & Nicholas A. Gribit.

1.: For detailed discussions of the outbreak of war see: Ormrod, Edward III , pp. 212-246; Rogers, War Cruel and Sharp , pp. 127-216; and Sumption, Trial by Battle: The Hundred Years War I , pp. 185-369.
2.: entry 4 .
3.: entry 15 , entry 16 , entry 49 , entry 50 , entry 52 , entry 52.1 , entry 52.2 , entry 54 , entry 54.1 , entry 54.2 , entry 54.3 , entry 54.4 and entry 58 . This is not to say that earlier seneschals had not had their own retinues and followers, but we have in this case the best details to date. A reconstruction of Stafford’s retinue has shown that it probably comprised 50 men-at-arms and an equal number of archers: Gribit, N., 'Henry de Lancaster's Army in Aquitaine, 1345: Recruitment, Service and Reward during the Hundred Years' War' (unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Leeds, 2012), pp. 91-92; Gribit, N., Henry of Lancaster's Expedition to Aquitaine, 1345-46 , pp. 53-4. Interestingly, Thomas Cok, who succeeded Stafford as seneschal in 1347 was required to maintain a retinue of 20 men-at-arms and 40 archers in times of peace, which increased to 60 men-at-arms and 200 archers in times of war ( entry in C 61/59 ).
4.: On 25 February commissioners were ordered to recruit 125 men each from Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Lancashire, and on the following day orders were sent to raise 125 archers from Cheshire: TNA C 76/20, m. 34. The indenture of war was made between Edward III and Henry of Grosmont on 13 March 1345: TNA E 159/123, m. 254; printed in Gribit, Henry of Lancaster's Expedition to Aquitaine, 1345-46 , pp. 251-6.
5.: entry 21 , entry 22 and entry 28 .
6.: entry 41 , entry 42 and entry 42 .
7.: entry 31 . Henry of Grosmont is termed as ‘Henry of Lancaster’ throughout the references to him in the roll. For a detailed discussion of Grosmont, his lieutenancies in the duchy and campaign, see Fowler, The King's Lieutenant , pp. 39-74, as well as Sumption, Trial by Battle: The Hundred Years War I , pp. 455-488, 512-13, & 519-20. For an important and interesting analysis of Grosmont's campaign focusing on the retinue and army that he took to the duchy, see Gribit, N., Henry of Lancaster's Expedition to Aquitaine, 1345-46 , published by Boydell Press in 2016 based on Gribit, N., 'Henry de Lancaster's Army in Aquitaine, 1345: Recruitment, Service and Reward in the Hundred Years' War' (unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Leeds, 2012).
8.: entry 34 . For further commissions of power to the earl, see > entry 32 and entry 33 .
9.: The roll does contain quite a considerable number of letters of protection, and of attorney for those going to the duchy with Grosmont, but also with Laurence de Hastings, earl of Pembroke, and Peter Gretheved , king’s clerk, who was to act as receiver of money and victuals in the duchy during the course of the campaign (see entry 26 , entry 27 , entry 27.1 , entry 27.2 , entry 55 , entry 73 , entry 74 , entry 75 , entry 81 , entry 89 , entry 90 , entry 91 , entry 92 & entry 93 . Gretheved led his own retinue of nineteen men-at-arms and 100 foot archers to the duchy at the end of 1345: TNA C 62/122, m.9.
10.: entry 38 . The king also granted to Grailly that he could be represented by a proxy in all legal case because of his illness ( entry 36 ).
11.: TNA E 101/25/9, m. 3.
12.: entry 39 .
13.: entry 56 .
14.: entry 83 .
15.: > entry 23 , entry 57 , entry 62 and entry 84 . For detailed discussions of the negotiations and the earl of Derby’s importance in these, see Fowler, K., The King’s Lieutenant , pp.45-7.
16.: entry 25 & entry 46 .
17.: entry 45 .
18.: entry 48 .
19.: entry 17 .
20.: entry 29 .
21.: entry 18 .
22.: entry 88 .
23.: entry 40 .
24.: entry 11 , entry 30 , entry 61 , entry 67 , entry 83 and entry 86 .
25.: entry 72 & entry 82 .
26.: entry 66 .
27.: entry 20 .

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Gascon Roll for the 19th year of the reign of Edward III in England, and his 6th in France.

1

28 February 1345 . Westminster . For Pons [IV], lord of Castillon .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony, or his lieutenant, that if the lord of Lesparre , by his letters of obligation, owes Pons [IV], lord of Castellione, de, Castellion Castillon , 500 l.bord. each year for Mountynac Montignac , and has refused to pay it to him, then Montignac is to be delivered to the lord of Castillon, without any delay, or, otherwise, he is to compel Lesparre to pay the sum to him. And if the lord of Lesparre's letters of obligation were taken and detained by Nicholas de la Beche, late seneschal of Gascony , and the lord of Castillon does not have possession of Montignac, then it is to be restored to him, so that the king's grant to him takes effect, according to the power and effect of the king's letters.

Lately, the king granted Montignac to the lord of Castillon, which place had come into the king's hands by forfeiture, because of the rebellion of Sparra Bernat de Lesparre . The lord of Castillon was to hold the same until he had recovered the castle and Mons Andronis castellany of Montendre , with its appurtenances, which the king had given him in fee, in compensation for the damages and injury that he had sustained in the wars in the duchy of Aquitaine, and which was in the hands of the French enemies and rebels. It has now been requested, on the behalf of the lord of Castillon, that whereas Oliver de Ingham, late seneschal of Gascony , having received the king's letters concerning Montignac, with the assent of the lord of Castillon, caused the same to be delivered to the lord of Lesparre, who bound himself, by his letters, to the lord of Castillon, in the sum of 500 l.bord. , to be paid annually by him, which sum he paid for three years, and now refuses to do so; and Beche received the letters of obligation from the lord of Castillon, for the king's information concerning the dispute over the payment, and the letters are still detained; that the king will cause Montignac to be delivered to him, or the money and letters of obligation be restored to him, and the king wishes to agree to what is just. ¹

1.: See the related entry entry in C 61/54 .

2: 16 March 1345 . Westminster . For investigating the state and conduct of the officers in the duchy of Aquitaine .

Assignment to Ralph [de Stafford], baron of Stafford , seneschal of Gascony , to inspect the state and conduct of all the king's councillors, officers and ministers there, and revoke the retention of those he finds not to be necessary, so that they are no longer paid their fees and wages; and also to remove those ministers and officials, whom he finds unfit, the constable and mayor of Bordeaux excepted, and replace them with suitable people; and to do all other things that ought to be done for the direction of the king's ministers, and the good government of the duchy. The king has been informed that many of the king's councillors, whom the king retains, and many of his ministers and officers in the duchy, do not fulfil their office, and the king orders his seneschal to attend to his assignment concerning this.

By K.

3: 16 March 1345 . Westminster . For investigating the number and accoutrements of the men-at-arms and others, being in the king's wages in the duchy of Aquitaine .

Order to Ralph [de Stafford], baron of Stafford , seneschal of Gascony , and the constable of Bordeaux, that, since it has been asserted that the king's money in the duchy has been carelessly dispensed, before the constable pays the wages there to the men-at-arms, he is to check that the men have horses and sufficient arms according to ancient usage; so that the king is not deceived in their number, the seneschal, constable and marshal of the army , are to supervise the number and equipment of the armed men and others receiving the king's wages at least once a month, and see to it that the wages are paid only for the number of armed men and other sufficient people that he finds, from the time that they began their service in the war. To avoid deception, that often happens with horse compensation, they are ordered that all horses are to be appraised according to the customs of war, as soon as they arrive, giving them an honest value and ordaining a distinctive brand ( certum signum ) to identify them.

By K. and C.

For the appointment of the seneschal of Gascony.

4: 25 February 1345 . Westminster .

To all prelates, counts, vicomtes, barons, knights and free tenents, seneschals, mayors, jurats, consuls, communities, colleges, communities, constables, castellans, prévôts and receivers of issues, and bayles and faithful subjects in the duchy of Aquitaine.

Appointment, during pleasure, to Ralph [de Stafford], baron of Stafford , to the office of seneschal of Gascony, with all that pertains to that office. They are to obey, answer and be intendant upon him, in all things pertaining to his office.

By K.

5: Same as above

And it is ordered to Edmund de la Beche, lieutenant of the seneschal of Gascony , to deliver the office of seneschal of Gascony to the same Ralph .

6: 20 March 1345 . Wyndesore Windsor . For protection for Pey Bignau .

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

Letters of protection, during pleasure, granted to Bynau Pey Bignau of Baion' Bayonne , his men, tenants, lands, property, rents and all his just possessions, since the king, wishing to show him favour has received him and them into his protection and safe-keeping. They are to be maintained, protected and defended from injury and violence, and amends should be made to them for any forfeitures that they have suffered, without delay.

By K.

7: 20 March 1345 . Wyndesore Windsor . For Margarida de Noaillan, widow of Pey-Guilhem, lord of Mataplan .

To all seneschals, castellans, officials, mayors, jurats, peers, prévôts, bayles, ministers and other faithful subjects in the duchy of Aquitaine.

Letters of protection, during pleasure, granted to Noalhano, de Margarida de Noaillan, widow of Pey-Guilhem, lord of Mata Plana Mataplan , her household and men, persisting in the king's obedience, and also her property, rents, just possessions and goods, as the king, wishing to show her favour, and preserve her from injury and violence, has received her and them into his protection and safe-keeping. They are to be protected and defended from injury and violence, and if anything has been attempted in prejudice of this, then it should be restored to its original condition.

By K.

For Master Aymeric de Paon, for the payment of fees and wages.

Same as above

Order to the constable of Bordeaux to account with Master Pavonis, de Aymeric de Paon, one of the king's councillors in the duchy of Aquitaine , ¹ for his fees and wages for that office, and make payment to him of what is owed from the issues of the duchy, or by an assignment on a suitable place in the duchy, and the constable will receive due allowance in his account.

1.: The Paon family was one of the most important families of burgesses of Saint-Émilion.

9: Same as above

Similar letters are directed to the constable for Podio, de Guiraut Dupuch, juge-mage of the king's court of Gascony .

10

30 March 1345 . Guldeford Guildford . For Bergunh de Lehet, for the payment of wages . ¹

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, just as it has been previously ordered to him, that he make speedy payment to Lee Bergunh de Lehet , of what he finds is owed to him by the account made with him, for his wages, or by an assignment on the goods of Mants Maria de Manx, native of the city of Baion' Bayonne , but now the wife of Pierre Montran , of La Rochele La Rochelle , the king's enemy and rebel, if those goods pertain to the king, or elsewhere, where it is possible to make satisfaction to Lehet.

The constable is to receive the bills that Lehet has on this upon payment, and he will have due allowance in his account. Lately, at the request of Lehet, it has been alleged that the king owes him various sums of money for his wages, from the time that he was in the king's service in the duchy of Aquitaine, as appears by various bills sealed with the seal of the constable of Bordeaux, which Lehet claims he has in his possession. The king ordered the constable to view the bills, and account with Lehet for his wages, and pay him for what was found to be due, or make an assignment on the goods of Manx, or elsewhere, where Lehet could be satisfied. The king accepts that this has not been done, at which the king is greatly surprised. The king, considering Lehet's good conduct, wishes his order to be put into execution. ²

1.: A note in the margin states 'Vacated because it is elsewhere below.
2.: The entry has been crossed out. For the entry that replaced it, see entry 11 .

11

30 March 1345 . Guldeford Guildford . For Bergunh de Lehet, for the payment of wages .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, just as it has been previously ordered to him, that he make speedy payment to Lee Bergunh de Lehet , of what he finds is owed to him for his wages, by inspection of the bills that Lehet claims to have, or by an assignment on the goods of Mants Maria de Manx, native of the city of Baion' Bayonne , but now the husband of Pierre Montran , of La Rochele La Rochelle , the king's enemy and rebel, if those goods pertain to the king, or elsewhere, where it is possible to make satisfaction to Lehet. The constable is to receive the bills upon payment, and he will have due allowance in his account.

Lately, at the request of Lehet, it has been alleged that the king owes him various sums of money for his wages, from the time that he was in the king's service in the duchy of Aquitaine, which was accounted before Usus Maris Antonio Usodimare, late the lieutenant of Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, then constable of Bordeaux , as more fully appears by various bills under the seal of Antonio Usodimare, which Lehet claims he has in his possession. The king ordered the constable to view the bills, and account with him for his wages, and pay him what was owed, or make an assignment on the goods of Manx, or elsewhere, where Lehet could be satisfied. The king accepts that this has not been done, at which the king is greatly surprised. The king, considering Lehet's good conduct, wishes his order to be put into execution. ¹

1.: For the entry that this replaced, see entry 10 .

12: 1 April 1345 . Westminster . For the archbishop of Bordeaux, for safe-keeping .

To all seneschals, castellans, officials, mayors, jurats, peers, prévôts, bayles, ministers and other faithful subjects in the duchy of Aquitaine.

Letters of protection, during pleasure, granted to Pey [Duluc], archbishop of Burdeg' Bordeaux , his household and familiars ( commensales ), and his men, both villeins and vassals ( tam questales quam feuda[ta]rii ), and also his property, rents, just possessions and goods, as the king, wishing to show him favour, and preserve him from injury and violence, has received him and them into his protection and safe-keeping. They are to be protected and defended from injury and violence, and if anything has been attempted in prejudice of this, then it should be restored to its original condition.

By K.

13: Same as above For Guirauda, widow of Pey de Poyanne .

Saubyst Guirauda de Saubist, widow of Puyano, de Pey de Poyanne has similar letters.

By K.

14: 18 May 1345 . Westminster .

Greyly Pey [II] de Grailly, vicomte of Benaug' Benauges and Castellioun Castillon has similar letters.

By K.

For attorney.

15: 7 April 1345 . Westminster .

Letters of general attorney in England, for a year, for Craystok' William de Greystoke, kt , who is going with Ralph de Stafford in the king's service to Gascony, nominating Nevill' Ralph de Neville of Raby and Seton' Thomas de Seaton alternately.

Thomas de Bract' received the attorney.

16: Same as above

The same William has similar letters of attorney, nominating Richemund' Peter de Richmond and Clement de Skelton alternately.

The same Thomas [de Bract' ] received the attorney.

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17: 6 February 1345 . Westminster . For Walter Turk and John le Clerk .

Order to the mayor and jurats of Burdeg' Bordeaux to summon the parties in the complaint of Walter Turk and Clerc John le Clerk , citizens of the city of London, before them, and hear the complaint of Turk and Clerk, or their attorney, and if they find that the complaint is true, then they should cause them to recover their herrings and hides, if they still exist, and if not, then their value, and cause full and speedy justice to be done, as by right, and according to the fors and customs there, ought to be done. They are to send certification of what has been done, under the seal of the mayoralty of the city to the king in the chancery, without delay, with this writ.

The king has received the complaint of Turk and Clerk, that they loaded seven lasts of red herrings ( allec rubeus ), and eight ox-hides, valued at 42 l.st. , in a ship called la Michel of London , of which Sarlot Stephen Scarlet , was master, in the port of London , which carried it to Burdeg' Bordeaux , where they planned to do business and make their profit. And though they delivered the goods to Guilhem Faure and Roke Ramon Laroque , men of Bordeaux, in whose house they were accustomed to stay, they did what they willed with the merchandise, and unjustly refused to answer to them, or their attorney, for it, to their great damage and harm, for which they requested a remedy. The king, wishing justice to be done, ordered his then seneschal of Gascony, or his lieutenant, to call the parties before him, hear the complaint of Turk and Clerk, or their attorney, and if he found that the complaint was true, cause the merchandise to be restored to them, if it still existed, or the value of the same, and to do full and speedy justice. Turk and Clerk have now requested that the king aid them, because the resolution of the complaint has been delayed, and the king wishes justice to be done.

By C.

18: 10 February 1345 . Westminster . For the merchants of the duchy of Aquitaine .

Order to the mayor and jurats of Burdeg' Bordeaux that, as soon as they have seen these presents, they are to have it publicly proclaimed in the street called Umbrere l'Ombrière in the city of Bordeaux, and elsewhere in the city, where they consider it necessary that, for various sums of money which the king owes to certain merchants of the duchy of Aquitaine , the king has granted to them, that they, in person, or by their attorneys should take 2 s. from each tun of wine carried by them or others from the duchy to certain English ports, from the custom of 2 s. which foreign merchants must pay, until they have been satisfied for what is owed to them, and they are not to omit to do this. For their greater security, it is granted to them, and all the other merchants of the duchy, that they can come to England, with their wine, safely and securely, and that no prisage will be permitted to be taken from them for their wine by the king's butler , or other subjects of the king, to the king's use, or that of others, for any reason, against their will, unless they are satisfied for the price that they would have been able to sell it, just as is more fully contained in the king's letters.

By K.

19: 15 March 1345 . Westminster . For the men and tenants of the prévôté of Entre-Deux-Mers .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and constable of Bordeaux, or their lieutenants, to hear the complaints of all the men of the Inter Duo Maria prévôté of Entre-deux-Mers , and summon before them those who ought to be called, and hear their arguments on the complaints; and they are to obtain information on the harassment and oppressions that have been done to the men, and if they find that the damage, harassment and oppressions have been done to them unjustly, then the perpetrators are to be made to desist from what they have been doing, and the men are to be maintained and defended in their just and ancient rights, fors and customs. The men of the prévôté have requested remedy, since certain men of those parts, to whom the king has granted the prévôté, have unjustly harmed them, taking their goods, and imprisoning them, and committing other oppressions, contrary to what, by right, ought to be done, or what has been accustomed to be done since that prévôté came into the hands of the king's progenitors, late kings of England; especially since all those of the prévôté, who ought to be imprisoned for trespasses and crimes that they are accused of, ought to be put in the prison of the Burdeg' castle of Bordeaux , and not elsewhere, until justice can be done to them, according to the fors and customs of those parts.

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20

1 March 1345 . Westminster . For inquiring of the goods belonging to John Travers . ¹

Assignment of Master John Wawayn, constable of Bordeaux , Eland' Henry de Elland and Brantyngham Adam de Brantingham , or two of them, to inquire, by the oaths of good and law-worthy men of the duchy of Aquitaine by whom the truth is able to be known, of the goods, chattels, jewels, silver, gold and gilt vessels, and other property of which John Travers, late constable of Bordeaux , had at the day of his death, because he died with various debts to the king, from the time that he was constable, which have not yet been answered for. They are to inquire into whose hands they came, in whose hands they are now, and they are to arrest all of those goods, and take them into the king's hands, without delay, regardless of whosoever hands they have come, and they are to be kept safely by the constable, until the king orders otherwise. They are to send certification to the king, in the chancery, of the goods, chattels, jewels, vessels and other property that has been arrested, and of all other things that they have done in this matter, with all speed that they are able. All of the king's officers and ministers in the duchy are to be intendant on them, consult and aid them, as they will be informed.

By K.

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

21: 16 March 1345 . Westminster . For treating upon bonds and friendship, and receiving rebels against the king into the king's grace and peace .

Grant to Ralph, baron of Stafford , seneschal of Gascony , of full power to make agreements with nobles and whatsoever persons whom he considers it expedient, and enter into bonds and friendship between the king and them, and others who wish to come into the king's obedience, and to receive them into this; to appoint the fees, wages and remuneration; to confirm what has been agreed, with whatever security they will make for receiving those rebels, who withdrew from the king's obedience, into the king's grace and obedience; to grant remission, pardon, and letters which give them sufficient security; to bring those of the king's subjects who are in dispute, to peace, while during the war, compelling them to make peace by taking their goods into the king's hands, and by other legitimate means; and to do everything else possible for the good governance of the duchy, and the preservation of the king's peace there. The king promises to confirm whatsoever the seneschal does in this matter.

By K.

22: 16 March 1345 . Westminster . For obtaining information upon excessive grants made by the king .

Order to Ralph, baron of Stafford , seneschal of Gascony to summon the king's proctors, and others of the king's council, and diligently obtain information, by whatever ways and means necessary, upon all those gifts made by the king there, the reasons for the grant, the merit of it, and the value of it given for the grant, and how much it was really worth, and how, and in what manner the king was deceived in this. He is to send the information that is obtained, from time to time, together with his good advice, to England. The king accepts that he has made many excessive gifts by persistent requests and unjust and deceitful allegations in the duchy, and wishes to be more fully informed on the matter.

By K.

23

20 March 1345 . Westminster . For treating for friendship between the men of Bayonne, and the subjects of the king of Castile .

Commitment to Pey [de Saint-Jean], bishop of Baion' Bayonne , Vilario, de Johan Duviella, sacrist , Laurens de Saint-Jean, canon of Baion' Bayonne and official of Aquen' Dax , and Quercubus, de Bernat de Cassous, citizen of Baion' Bayonne of full powers to negotiate with the other party in the dispute between Bayonne and Biarritz on the one part and the coastal towns of the king of Castile up to Bayonne, without recourse to the courts, since there is still sufficient time under the treaty negotiated between them, but not put into effect, to define its terms.

The king has been informed by the mayor, jurats, hundred peers and community of Baion' Bayonne that the agreement ( tractatus ) between them, and those of Biarritz on the one part, and the coastal towns of the king of Castile up to the town of Bayonne , or their proctors, on the other part, concerning the recognising and making of amends for the damage done by the men of the coast and others, and, making peace between the parties, has not been put into effect because some of the coastal men of Castile and the commissaries sent by their superiors refuse to proceed with the king's two or three commissaries, for they wish separate negotations of truce ( diversos facere processus treugarum ), but according to the former agreement, it ought to be one single negotiation ( tractatus unus and commissaries empowered for the whole negotiation between only two parties, equity and equality ( equitas et equalitas ) being observed between them, the party of the king's subjects adding that not only the king’s immediate subjects of the coast but those subjects of the county of Viscaye Biscay , Galicia and Ysture Asturias were included as one part in the business against those of Bayonne and Biarritz, and that one single negotiation and the peace agreement should be made by the same commissaries. Although the king's subjects and the commissaries showed great respect and friendship and went to Fons Rabidus Hondarribia in the king of Castile’s realm ready to negotiate with the opposing party, the king of Castile’s commissaries and those of the lord of Viscaye would not agree, but they were still party to the treaty which was to last from last Michaelmas ¹ for three years ratified by the king. Furthermore the king has been informed that because of hinderances for infirmity and others lawful hinderances impossible to forsee, expenses might affect this business and there will be no easy resort ( recursus ) to the king to recall the commission given the great distance.

1.: The 29 September 1344.

24: 23 March 1345 . Wyndesore Windsor . For Pey d'Escassefort .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and constable of Bordeaux, to view the letters of Oliver de Ingham, late seneschal of Gascony , which Scostaffort Pey d'Escassefort has, and if they find that he granted to him all the goods, lands and rents which Fossato, de Arnaut-Gassie de Foussat, kt , the king's enemy and rebel, had in the Sent Lobes parish of Saint-Loubès , and elsewhere in the king's lordship and jurisdiction, they should cause them to be delivered to him without delay, regardless of whosoever hands they have come, according to the tenor of Ingham's letters, and they should maintain and defend him in the possession of the same. Escassefort has requested that the king will order that the goods, lands and rents of Foussat in that parish and elsewhere, which came into the king's hands by Foussat's rebellion, and which Ingham granted to him for certain reasons, and which grant the king confirmed under his privy seal, be delivered to him; and the king, for the great labour and losses that Escassefort has incurred in the king's service, in coming from Gascony to England, and returning there as messenger, wishes to agree to the request.

25

7 April 1345 . Westminster . For Guirauda de Poyanne, widow of Pey de Poyanne . ¹

Order to Ralph, baron of Stafford , seneschal of Gascony , to defend Guirauda [de Saubist], widow of Puyanne Pey de Poyanne, late mayor of Baion' Bayonne , from injury and violence, and cause the moveable and immoveable goods that were Pey de Poyanne 's, if they were taken into the king's hands by malicious allegations, to be delivered and restored to Guirauda and her sons, first receiving from them security to answer to the king for the same, if they ought to pertain to the king, and this is to be done to serve as an example to those serving the king.

The king has received the painful complaint of Guirauda, that her late husband, when he assumed the office of mayor of the city of Bayonne, conducted himself in a laudable manner in that office, and the king, concerned for the governance of the city, requested that Poyanne should continue in the governing and defence of the city, and wrote to the mayor, jurats, hundred peers and community of the city on this, that Poyanne be permitted to remain in the office of mayor during the war that had then broken out, notwithstanding the privilege and statute of the city to the contrary for a new election. Poyanne remained in office, and well and faithfully defended the city. However, some of the city, being ill disposed to Poyanne's honest actions, incited the people against him, and for this reason, to avoid their malice, he left the town to stay with the bishop of Lascuren' Lescar , ² and died.

After his death, the king's ministers, by the procurement and evil information of Poyanne's enemies, alleging that Poyanne had usurped the office of mayor contrary to the privilege and statute of the city, occupied all of Poyanne's moveable goods, and ejected Guirauda, her sons and Poyanne's household from their immoveable property in the city, and caused them to flee for fear of these enemies, so that they will end up in miserable want, unless the king aids them. The king, considering the good conduct of Poyanne, and his great victory over the king's enemies at sea, and his laudable government and defence of the city at the king's request, does not wish that what Poyanne did at the king's request should be used to damage his wife, children and household. ³

By K.

1.: A note in the margin states ' extractus '.
2.: Ramon d'Andoins , bishop of Lescar (1326-48).
3.: For another, fuller, version of this entry, dating to 17 April, see entry 46 . For further related entries, see entry in C 61/75 , entry in C 61/80 , entry in C 61/85 & entry in C 61/85 . Pey de Poyanne had been an influential figure in Bayonne. In the 1330s and 40s he had served as an admiral for Edward III, winning an important naval victory, and had been elected mayor. Because of the turbulent times in the duchy as relations with the French deteriorated, the king had requested that the normal annual selection of the mayor be suspended, and that Poyanne be kept in office for the duration of the war. The jurats and community reluctantly agreed, but it would seem that considerable opposition arose in the city, whether because of Poyanne's actions, or simply because there was some measure of anger against the king's suspension of an element of their normal privileges. Poyanne was eventually forced into exile to reside with the bishop of Lescar, and he died there. Poyanne's wife and his son Miqueu subsequently complained of the forfeiture of their property, and were still seeking its recovery in the 1360s and 70s.

For protection.

26: 10 April 1345 . Westminster .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for a year, to Tangele Ralph de Tangley , who is going to Gascony, with certain provisions for Hastynges Laurence de Hastings, earl of Pembroke , who is going in the king's service to Gascony.

By the testimony of the same earl.

4 June 1345 . Westminster .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for a year, to Hastynges Hugh de Hastings, kt , who is going with Hastynges Laurence de Hastings, earl of Pembroke , in the king's service to Gascony.

By the testimony of the same earl.

The following have similar letters of protection, for a year, who are going with the earl, in the king's service to Gascony, under the same date:

27.1: Same as above

Redenesse William de Reedness, kt , Thomas de Molton' ;

27.2: Same as above

Thomas de Kent , Rocheford' John de Rochford .

By the testimony of the same earl .

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28: 30 March 1345 . Shene Sheen . For having certification upon certain customs in the duchy of Gascony .

Order to Ralph, baron of Stafford , seneschal of Gascony , to summon the king's proctor and others of the king's council there, and obtain information on the following matter in the duchy with all diligence, since the king would like the advice of those who are better informed on such matters before he gives orders on this. He is to send certification of the information that is found, together with his advice on the matter, under the king's seal used in the duchy, so that the king, with those of his council, can consider what reasonably ought to be done. The king understands that, through false and malicious complaints received by his ministers, and the barons and their ministers, and others in the duchy, the poor of the area are wearied and virtually destroyed. It is thought by some, that the king should order that complainants, particularly in criminal cases, should, before their complaints are admitted, swear that that they know or think them to be true, so that there is less likelihood of perjury by the complainants. Another custom has grown up in those parts, that the bodies of murder victims are put by the bayles in pipes or coffins by the roadside and the friends of the dead are not allowed to bury them without a large payment to the bayles. The king regard this as inhumane and has been requested to provide a remedy.

29: 12 April 1345 . Westminster . For taking Ramon-Mathiu de Gascogne .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the mayor of Burdegale Bordeaux to attach Vascon' Ramon-Mathiu de Gascogne wherever he can be found in their bailiwicks, without delay, and to arrest his goods and chattels wheresoever they find them in their bailiwicks; and they are to detain him in prison, and keep the goods and chattels under safe arrest, without any waste of them, until the king will order otherwise. They are to send certification to the king in the chancery, of what they have done on this matter, and of the value of the goods and chattels, and of what kind they are, under the king's seal, without delay, so that full and speedy justice can be done both for the king and for Norhampton' Robert de Northampton of London , tailor .

Gascogne was convicted of certain great crimes done to Northampton, against the king's peace, in the king's court, before John de Aylesham, late one of the sheriffs of London , by inquisition, and was adjudged to pay 200 l. to Northampton for the damages that he sustained, and was committed to Newgate prison until he had satisified him for the damages. He did not make satisfaction, and escaped from gaol, as the sheriffs of London have certified in chancery, by the king's order. The king has now been informed that Gascogne is in the duchy, and is in hiding and on the run, and the king wishes him to be punished for his crime, and execution of judgment be made against him.

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30: 13 May 1345 . Westminster . For Bertran de Lescours, kt .

Order sicut alias to the constable of Bordeaux, or his lieutenant, to account with Bertran de Lescours, kt , or his attorney, for the wages and horse compensation that the king owes him, and pay him or his attorney for them, or make a suitable assignment on the issues of the duchy, or from the first money that the king sends there, without delay. The constable will receive due allowance in his account. The king owes Lescours various sums of money for his wages, and those of his men, both mounted and on foot, from the time that they were in the king's service in the duchy of Aquitaine, and for compensation for horses lost in that service, and he has requested that the king will pay him, to which the king wishes to agree.

31

10 May 1345 . Westminster . Concerning the appointment of the king's captain and lieutenant in the duchy of Gascony and adjacent parts .

Appointment of Lancastr' Henry of Lancaster, earl of Derby , as lieutenant and captain in the duchy of Aquitaine and parts adjacent. The king grants full power to Lancaster to exercise, in the king's name, all that pertains to that office. Archbishops, bishops, counts, barons, vicomtes, castellans, and whatsoever other persons in the duchy are to obey, and be intendant on the earl. ¹

1.: Edward III and Henry of Lancaster had clearly been well advanced in their planning by this point, for the indenture of war between them, which sets out in more detail what the earl was to do dates to 13 March 1345 (E 159/123 m.254, and for a full edition of this document, see Fowler, K., The King's Lieutenant , pp.230-232).

For treating of friendship and alliance.

32: Same as above

Grant of full power to Lancastr' Henry of Lancaster, earl of Derby , to negotiate and agree treaties of friendship and alliance with whomsoever persons, noble and otherwise, of whatever realm, nation, condition, state or dignity they are, and whatsoever communities, and to make whatever surety for the confirmation and strengthening of the same. The king will confirm whatever the earl does in this matter, and binds himself and his heirs to observe it. The king makes this known to all interested parties by these presents.

33: Same as above

Grant to Lancastr' Henry of Lancaster, earl of Derby , of full power to treat and agree, as above, to retain them against all men, and agree the fees, wages and remunerations of those men, and to stipulate and receive suitable surety from them, and as above.

34

Same as above Concerning the exercising of whatsoever jurisdiction in the duchy of Gascony in the king's name . ¹

Grant to Lancastr' Henry of Lancaster, earl of Derby , whom the king has appointed as lieutenant in the duchy, of full power for the reform of the state and governance of the same, and other neighbouring lands and places, and the recovery of the king's lands and rights which are wrongly occupied by the king's rebels, with the following jurisdiction in the king's name:

he is to have complete and shared jurisdiction, high and low justice, and whatever jurisdiction the king has there, and to defend, govern and set right the king's lands and places in the duchy, and do full justice according to the fors and customs there;

he is to seek and receive possession of castles, places, rights and duties which are unjustly detained from the king; and also, using a strong hand, when necessary, to recover, obtain and retain them, summoning, assembling and leading a military expedition ( calvacata ) and army, pursuing and taking contrariants and rebels, and as is just, punishing them and coercing them, and taking fines and ransoms from them.

and admitting to the king's grace and peace, those who wish to come, or return, to the king's grace and obedience, and granting to them remission and pardon as pertains to the king, both of corporal punishment, and forfeiture of their goods, and making full security to them;

the lands and places of rebels that are confiscated and whatsoever other rights that are taken into the king's hands, and the lands acquired by Lancaster for the king, are to be given and granted to people who have loyally served the king, or who want to come into the king's obedience and service, according to their merit, to be held of the king as of the king of England, for the service that is owed and accustomed; they are to be put in possession of the same, and defended in their possession, and Lancaster is to make truces and peace as he considers is best for the king's advantage;

he is to examine the conduct of the king's ministers there, and those that he finds are unfit, should be removed, the seneschal of Gascony and constable of Bordeaux only excepted, and he is to replace them with suitable people;

he is to do all other things necessary for the defence and recovery, and the good governance of the king's lands and subjects in the duchy, and those parts;

the king promises, for himself and his heirs, to confirm what Lancaster, does, gives and grants, and he revokes, by these presents, all such similar powers granted to others of his officers, the seneschal and constable excepted. ²

1.: A note in the margin states ' extractus '.
2.: Several elements of this grant are the same as those given in the indenture of war made between Edward III and the earl, and these must be seen as complementing and confirming those powers agreed on in the indenture (E 159/123 m.254, and for a full edition of this document, see Fowler, K., The King's Lieutenant , pp. 230-2).

35

Same as above For certifying the king of the gifts made in Gascony . ¹

Order to the same , that he diligently obtain information, in all ways and means that he considers expedient, of the gifts and grants made by the king, and the merit of the recipients, because the king has been given to understand that, he has been deceived by the urging of certain people who have been less than honest to make excessive gifts in the duchy. All the castles, lands, tenements, liberties, profits from the king's mints, and whatsoever else which he finds that the king has given or assigned at the request of petitioners, or in compensation for expenses and for service done to the king, or for losses or damages, when the truth has been hidden from the king, are to be taken and held in the king's hands, without regard to person. The earl is to send certification of what he has done in this matter, with his counsel and advice on what the king should do in this matter.

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

36: 18 May 1345 . Westminster . For the admittance of a proctor for Pey de Grailly, vicomte de Benauges .

To all seneschals, castellans, constables, prévôts, officials, ministers and other faithful subjects of the king in the duchy of Aquitaine.

Grant to Greyly Pey [II] de Grailly, vicomte de Benaug' Benauges and Castellion' Castillon , that because of his illness, which prevents him from travelling to places where courts are held, and because of the affection that he has shown for the king, as has been attested to the king, that he can appoint a proctor, with sufficient power to act on his behalf, to prosecute and defend in cases and lawsuits for him, excepting cases touching the king or his heirs, customs contrary to this notwithstanding. And it is ordered that in all cases and lawsuits heard or to be heard before them, for or against Grailly, they should admit his proctor, having sufficient power, except the before excepted, and Grailly should not be harassed or troubled for not appearing.

By K.

37: 16 May 1345 . Westminster . For general attorney .

Letters of general attorney in England, for a year, for Loreng' Nigel de Loring, kt , who is going in the company of Lancastr' Henry of Lancaster, earl of Derby , in the king's service to Gascony, nominating Loreng' Simon de Loring and Magdaleyne John de la Magdalene alternately.

Sancto Paulo John de Saint Paul received the attorney.

For Pey de Grailly.

38: 17 May 1345 . Westminster .

Grant to Greyly Pey [II] de Grailly, vicomte de Benaug' Benauges and Castellion' Castillon , that he might reside in his castles, fortalices and other places in the duchy for their defence and security and those of neighbouring parts, during the troubled times, the king's previous order to the contrary notwithstanding, provided that Grailly's eldest son, and that of Greyly Johan [II] de Grailly , with 100 men-at-arms come to serve the king in the present war, and that he comes in person, if the king, or any of his kinsmen ( aliquis de sanguine nostro ) come there, to personally labour in the king's service, in the war. The king, lately, ordered Grailly, by his letters under the privy seal, to labour to defend the king's rights in his duchy of Aquitaine, and, if necessary, to serve in the war. Because of Grailly's illness, which the king accepts, Grailly had made the above offer, which the king, accepts in gratitude, and wishing to spare his labours has made the grant.

By K.

39: 18 May 1345 . Westminster .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony to summon the king's proctor and others of the king's council there, and diligently obtain information upon the claim of Greyly Pey [II] de Grailly, vicomte de Benaugia Benauges and Castellioun' Castillon to the places of Sanctus Easilius Sainte-Bazeille and Landaron Landerron , and send certification of what he finds, under the king's seal used in the duchy, without delay. For certain reasons, the king wishes to be certified on the claims, and in what manner and which way they are made.

40: 8 June 1345 . Westminster . Protection for Pey-Ramon de Brugère and Bernat de Malouse, merchants of Gascony .

To all admirals, sheriffs, mayors and bailiffs of towns, reeves, ministers and all other faithful subjects of the king.

Letters of protection for one year, granted to Burgere Pey-Ramon de Brugère and Bernat de Malouse , merchants of the duchy of Aquitaine, their wines and other merchandise, as the king, wishing to show them favour, has received them and their wines and merchandise into his protection and defence, so that they might come to England with their wine and merchandise, make their profit with the same, and return home. No injury, trouble, damage, impediment or harm is to be permitted to be done to them; and if any forfeitures have been incurred by them, amends are to be made without delay, provided the merchandise they ply is lawful, and they pay the customs and subsidies.

By K.

For the appointment of the mayor of Bordeaux.

41: 24 April 1345 . Westminster .

Appointment, during pleasure, of William Stury to the office of mayor of Burdeg' Bordeaux ; holding the office as others have been accustomed to have and exercise it, taking the customary fee.

By p.s.

42: Same as above

And it is ordered to the seneschal of Gascony and constable of Bordeaux, to deliver the office [of mayor] to the same William , having and exercising the same, according to the tenor of the king's letters.

By the same writ.

43: Same as above

To the jurats, good men and all the community of the city of Bordeaux.

Letters of intendancy in favour of the same William , as mayor [of Bordeaux].

By the same writ.

44

8 June 1345 . Westminster . For John de Radnor .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, or his lieutenant, to account with Radenore John de Radnor , or his attorney, for his wages, and for his compensation for horses, if he has not been accounted with already, and make payment to him, or his attorney, for what he finds is owed to him, or otherwise by a suitable assignment on the issues of the duchy, without delay, and the constable will receive due allowance in his account. Radnor has requested that the king will make payment to him for the various sums of money that the king owes him for his wages, and for his compensation for his horses lost in the king's service, from the time that he was in the king's service in the duchy of Aquitaine, and the king wishes to agree to the request. ¹

1.: For a related entry, see entry 61 .

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45: 6 June 1345 . Westminster . For Arnaut de Maribat, prévôt of the city of Bayonne .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony, or his lieutenant, to hear the complaint of Marybat Arnaut de Maribat, prévôt of Baion' Bayonne , put forward for both the king and for Maribat, and summon before him those malefactors and trespassers, of whom the prévôt complains, and also the king's advocate there, and if he finds them guilty, he is to proceed to their punishment, according to the fors and customs of those parts, so that by their punishment, they serve as an example to others committing such acts. Maribat, according to his oath in receiving the office of prévôt, wished to render punishment, and execute judgment against malefactors transgressing against the laws, fors and customs there, but various men there, impede him in exercising his office as he should, and utter threats against him, and continue to make serious threats, in contempt and prejudice of the king, and to Maribat's great damage. A remedy has been requested on Maribat's behalf, and the king does not wish to tolerate such prejudicial things to him and his ministers.

By C.

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46

17 April 1345 . Westminster . For Guirauda de Poyanne, widow of Pey de Poyanne .

Order to Ralph, baron of Stafford , seneschal of Gascony , to defend Guirauda [de Saubist], widow of Puyanne Pey de Poyanne, late mayor of Baion' Bayonne , from injury and violence, and see to it that others defend her and cause the moveable and immoveable goods that were her late husband's, if they have been taken into the king's hands, they are to see to it that they are delivered and restored to Guirauda and her sons, first receiving from them security to answer to the king for the same, if they ought to pertain to the king, if they are ajudged to the king, notwithstanding the king's orders to the contrary, appeals that have been introduced, or prohibitions, and this is to be done for Guirauda to serve as an example to those serving the king.

The king has received the sorrowful complaint of Guirauda, that her late husband assumed the office of mayor of the city of Bayonne, and conducted himself in a laudable manner in that office, and the king, concerned for the government of the city, requested that Pey de Poyanne should continue to govern and defend the city, and wrote to the mayor, jurats, hundred peers and community of the city on this, that Poyanne be permitted to remain in the office of mayor during the war that had then broken out, notwithstanding the privileges and statute of the city to the contrary for a fresh election. Poyanne remained in office, and well and faithfully defended the city. And the king, by his letters patent, ratified, approved and confirmed the same for the king's and the city's benefit. Notwithstanding the king's orders, and on account of the complaints and appeals, and to prevent scandal and the loss of the city, we withdrew the appointment.

However, some of the city, envying Poyanne's honest actions, maliciously stirred up the people against him, and for this reason, Poyanne left there with the bishop of Lascuren' Lescar , ¹ and stayed in his company. Afterwards Poyanne died, and by the procurement and evil information of Poyanne's enemies, the king's proctor and the king's ministers there, by the pretext that Poyanne had usurped the office of mayor or vicar against the privileges of the town, seized all the moveable goods and ejected Guirauda and her family and household from her immoveable goods, and as a consequence of this were forced to leave and live in abject poverty.

The king, being mindful of Poyannes's victory against the king's enemies at sea, and his laudable government and defence of the city at the king's request, does not wish the effect of what he had done to be reversed, but rather, that the benefits that they brought to be increased. ²

By K.

1.: Ramon d'Andoins , bishop of Lescar (1326-48).
2.: For another, briefer, version of this entry, dating to 7 April, see entry 25 . For further related entries, see entry in C 61/75 , entry in C 61/80 , entry in C 61/85 & entry in C 61/85 .

47: 23 April 1345 . Westminster . For Pey d'Escassefort .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, or his lieutenant, to account with Cassaforti Pey d'Escassefort, also called Patricon , for the 3 d. st. a day that he was granted, from the time that it was granted, and give him satisfaction of what is owed, from the issues of the duchy; receiving from him his letters patent attesting to receipt of the money, and the constable will have due allowance in his account. Geneva Hugues de Genève , lord of Vareys Varey and Hanton' Anthon , lieutenant and captain general in the duchy of Aquitaine , and Bisqualey Reynold de Bixley, late the lieutenant of Oliver de Ingham, then seneschal of Gascony , attending to the good service of Escassefort in the Gascon war, and going by their order, and those of other officials of the king, voluntarily, on missions of Genève and the others to various barons, nobles and other faithful subjects of the king, with letters close touching the state of the duchy, exposing himself to danger and loss, granted to him that he could carry a shield bearing the arms of the king ( scutellum cum armis nostris ), and be constituted a messenger, assigning to him 3 d. a day, to be taken each day from the issues of the duchy from the constable during pleasure. The king confirmed this, just as is more fully contained in the king's letters patent.

48

23 April 1345 . Westminster . For the confirmation of the election of the mayor of the city of Bayonne . ¹

To the mayor, jurats, hundred peers and community of Baion' Bayonne .

Confirmation of the selection of Puteo, de Pey Duputs as mayor of Baion' Bayonne for the following year. The mayor, jurats, hundred peers and community had elected Pey Duputs, Arderio, de Perramon Dardy and Burdegal' Arnaut de Bordeaux , citizens of Bayonne, on the first Saturday of April, and because the king had not yet had the oath of the seneschal of Gascony , they had presented the three to the king, by their letters, so that one of the three could be accepted as mayor of the city, and the king, having received laudable testimony of the fidelity and industry of Duputs, had confirmed him in the office. The mayor, jurats, hundred peers and community are to be intendant upon and answer Duputs in all things that pertain to his office.

By p.s.

1.: Notes in the margin state ' extractus ' and ' scr' '.

For protection.

49: 20 April 1345 . Westminster .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for a year, to Craystok' William de Greystoke , who is going in the company of Ralph, baron of Stafford , in the king's service to Gascony.

By the testimony of the same baron.

50: Same as above

Similar letters are made under the name of Greystok' William de Greystoke .

For protection.

51: 20 April 1345 . Westminster .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for a year, to Ralph, baron of Stafford , who is going in the king's service to Gascony.

By K.

Same as above

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for a year, to Pype James de Pipe , who is going in the company of Ralph, baron of Stafford , in the king's service to Gascony.

By the testimony of the same baron.

The following, who are going in the company of Ralph, baron of Stafford, in the king's service to Gascony, have similar letters of protection, for a year, under the same date:

52.1: Same as above

John Dodingseles , Edmund Dodingseles , Doilly John D'Oyley , Myldelneye Ralph de Midney , Pey de Lymeseye , Mortuo Mari Constantine de Mortimer , Hynkeley John de Hinckley , Monte Forti John de Mountford , Roger de Aston , Thomas de Pecche , Master Edmund Morteyn , Hynton' William de Hinton , John de Stafford , Danyel Thomas Daniel , Middelneye Ralph de Midney ;

By the testimony of the baron .

52.2: Same as above

Walter de Faucomberge , Plays Thomas Plaice , John de Mereworth , James de Stafford , John de Hyde , Haydok' Matthew de Haydock , Vivian de Staunton , Mersh' William de Marsh , John de Loges , Richard de Abraham , Stodleye William de Studley , Mussinden' William de Missenden , Bromshull' Richard de Bramshall , Colvyle George de Colville , Hondsacre William de Handsacre , Muscenden' William de Missenden, citizen of London , Middelneye Thomas de Midney .

By the testimony of the baron . ¹

1.: There is a considerable gap on the membrane between this and the next entry.

53: 26 June 1345 . Sandwicu' Sandwich . For protection .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , until Christmas next, to Roger son of Baroun Roger Baron of Flicham Flitcham , who is staying in the king's service in Gascony, in the company of Lancastr' Henry of Lancaster, earl of Derby .

By bill of p.s., and the testimony of Herlyng John Harling .

For attorney.

20 April 1345 . Westminster .

Letters of general attorney in England, for a year, for Ralph, baron Stafford who is going in the king's service to Gascony, by the king's order, nominating John de Thoresby and Sancto Paulo John de Saint Paul alternately.

Master John de Thoresby received the attorney.

The following, who are going in the company of Ralph, baron of Stafford, in the king's service to Gascony, by the king's order, have similar letters of general attorney in England, for a year, under the same date, nominating the following:

54.1: Same as above

Pype James de Pipe - John de Tamworth, clerk , and Lullyngton' Geoffrey de Lullington, clerk ;

54.2: Same as above

Colevyle George de Colville - Shirewode Alan de Sherwood , and William Bate ;

54.3: Same as above

Mersh' William de Marsh - John de Tamworth , and Lullyngton' Geoffrey de Lullington ;

54.4: Same as above

Doilly John D'Oyley - James de Stafford , and Knyghtleye John de Knightley .

John de Tamworth, clerk received the attorney by license of Master John de Thoresby . ¹

1.: This clause is entered against entry - entry . There is a gap between this and the next entry.

55: 28 April 1345 . Westminster . For attorney .

Letters of general attorney in England, for a year, for Eland' Henry de Elland who is going in the king's service to Gascony, nominating Duncastr' Hugh de Doncaster and Robert de Clayton alternately.

Cod' J. de Coddington received the attorney.

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56: 15 June 1345 . Westminster . For Bernat-Etz, lord of Albret .

Order to Lancastre Henry of Lancaster, earl of Derby , lieutenant in the duchy of Aquitaine , and to his seneschal of Gascony, diligently to obtain information on the request of Bernat-Etz [V], lord of Lebreto, de Albret , concerning the lord of Moissidan Mussidan , and if they find that Albret gave his Gensak castle of Gensac , with its rents and appurtenances to that lord, because of that lord's adherence to the king, then it should be restored to Albret, and the lord of Mussidan, if he has conducted himself well towards the king, should have compensation for it elsewhere in the duchy, holding the same until he is able to recover his lands lost in the king's service. Albret granted the castle to the lord because of his adherence, holding the same until he was provided with lands and rents to the same value, and Albret has requested that the king assign him lands and rents to the value of the castle, and order the livery of the castle to him, and the king wishes to agree to the request.

By K.

57

22 June 1345 . Sandwicu' Sandwich . For the payment of the wages of the bishop of Bayonne and Master Guiraut Dupuch .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and constable of Bordeaux that they, immediately after they see this letter, organise and agree with Pey [de Saint-Jean], bishop of Bayonne , and Master Podio, de Guiraut Dupuch , their travel to the king of Castile , and agree the money for their pay and expenses, and see to it that it is paid. The constable is to pay the money without excuse, lest, for lack of that money, the business that the bishop and Dupuch are being sent on, which is dear to the king's heart, is delayed in any way.

The king has heard the account of his envoys whom he sent to the king of Castile some time ago, concerning an alliance ( liga ) to be made between the kings. After having full discussion with his council on this, it has been agreed that that treaty and alliance should be completely confirmed according to its form, and the king sent a letter to the bishop and Dupuch, whom he wished to send to the king of Castile with full power to draw up and conclude the agreement, containing the king's full intentions, and requesting that they take responsibility for this, and that they be with the king of Castile before 15 August. The king is also sending letters patent for the surrendering and dissolution of the truce made in Brittan' Brittany , and they are to see to it that the contents of the letters, are made public. ¹

1.: There is a gap between this and the next entry on the membrane.

58: 8 July 1345 . Redyng' Reading . For attorney .

Letters of general attorney in England, for a year, for Middelneye Ralph de Midney, kt , who is staying in the king's service in Gascony, in the company of Ralph, baron of Stafford , nominating Peter de Cotes, parson of the church of Chiselburgh' Chiselborough , and Putteneye Walter de Pitney alternately.

Attested by Lionel [of Antwerp], the king's son, keeper of England .

Grym' Ellis de Grimsby received the attorney.

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59: 8 July 1345 . Redyng' Reading . For Richard de Gapton .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the captain of Sanctus Matheus Saint-Mathieu , or their lieutenants, to obtain full information on the capture, sale and detention of the ship, goods and merchandise of Richard de Gapton of Parva Jernemuth' Little Yarmouth , and the value of the same, by all ways and means that they are able, and if they are able to find that the complaint made by Gapton contains the truth, then they are to proceed against Clare Mathieu de Claire, servant of Jean de France , and captain of the great galley of Depe Dieppe , and Thomas Ceriel , master of the same galley , who Gapton has alleged seized his ship, and others from Normandy, and their supporters, by the arrest of their goods and chattels, which they find in their bailiwicks, so that Gapton is satisfied for his ship, goods and merchandise if they still exist, and if not, of their value, and of damages which he has sustained by their detention, as is just.

Gapton has shown the king, that he, after the proclamation and publication of a truce between the king and his allies, on the one part, and certain of the king's adversaries, and their allies on the other, sent his ship called la Margarete of Jernemuth' Yarmouth , loaded with various merchandise, namely wood, cloth and other goods, to the port of Burd Bordeaux , but the ship was driven by a storm towards Flandr' Flanders , away from where he wished to do business with his goods. Clare, Ceriel and others from Normandy in the galley, by force and arms, took the ship and goods and merchandise in it, and took them to Bolon' Beate Marie Boulogne[-sur-Mer] , and sold the ship, the wood and cloth for 200 gold écus in the same port, and disposing as they willed with the beds, gear and other goods in the ship, without making satisfaction to Gapton, to his great damage and impoverishment, and contrary to the form of the truce, and he requests a remedy, and the king wishes to support him in this matter.

Attested by Lionel [of Antwerp], the king's son, keeper of England .

By C.

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60

22 May 1345 . Westminster . For Bernat-Guilhem de Bruges, and Pey Dirac .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony, and the mayor of Bordeaux , or their lieutenants, and also all of the king's officers in the duchy of Aquitaine, to view the instruments and processes relating to the complaint of Brugges Bernat-Guilhem de Bruges , and Dirak, Dyrak Pey Dirac , citizens and merchants of Bordeaux, and Oxenford John de Oxford and Paumer Henry Palmer , citizens and merchants of London, and if, by inspection of them, they are able to legitimately find that Jordan de Lucbert, seneschal of Xancton' Saintonge and Angoumois , and others, have not done justice to the merchants, and made restitution to them, or some other satisfaction, for the 700 gold pennies, called écus ( escutes ) by the king's request, then they are to arrest, without delay, all the goods and merchandise of the seneschal of Saintonge and Angoumois, and his ministers, and the men and subjects of the seneschalcy of Saintonge and Angoumois, wherever they can find them within the duchy, and a mark is to be placed on them, and they are to be detained until the merchants have been fully satisified for their money, and the damages that they have sustained by the taking and detention of the money, as by right and according to the fors and customs of those parts, ought to be done, and has been done in similar cases.

Bruges, Dirac, Oxford and Panner have complained that, after the proclamation and publication of the truce between the king and his allies, on the one part, and his adversary, and his allies, on the other, they sent the 700 gold pennies to Burdeg' Bordeaux , by Peter Bower , their servant, but it was unjustly taken and detained from him by Lucbert, and certain of his officers, both of the seneschalcy of Saintonge and Angoumois, and of Caturc' Quercy , Albeg' Albigeois , and Tholos' Toulousain . The king ordered his then seneschal of Gascony, to request with all speed, by his letters, to the seneschal of Saintonge and Angoumois, and other interested parties, that, considering the form of the truce, they would restore the money to the merchants, according to the form of the truce, so that the no further complaint comes to the king. Afterwards, on behalf of the merchants, the king has been informed, that though the seneschal of Saintonge and Angoumois and others, have been repeatedly requested by the seneschal of Gascony, and by his letters under the seal used in the duchy, to do justice, they have totally refused to do so, as has been attested by the seneschal of Gascony , and is likewise contained in three public instruments made on the complaint. The king ordered his then seneschal, and his lieutenant, and his officers in the duchy to view the instruments, and process relating to the complaint, and if, by this examination, he was legitimately able to find that the seneschal of Saintonge and Angoumois and others had failed to do justice when requested to do so, then they were to arrest, without delay, all the goods and merchandise of the seneschal of Saintonge and Angoumois, and his ministers, and the men and subjects of the seneschalcy of Saintonge and Angoumois, wherever they can find them within the duchy, and detain them until the merchants have been fully satisified for their money, and the damages that they have sustained by the taking and detention of the money. The seneschal of Gascony has not executed this order, to the great damage and harm of the merchants, and they have requested a remedy. ¹

1.: For a related entry, see: entry 024 in C 61/54 .

61

8 June 1345 . Westminster . For the payment of wages .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, to account with Radenore John de Radnor , or his attorney, for his wages, and compensation for horses lost in the king's service, from the time that he was in the king's service in the duchy of Aquitaine, and if he finds that they are owed to Radnor, then he is to make payment or a suitable assignment on the issues of the duchy, or from the first money sent by the king to the duchy, to him or his attorney, without delay, and the constable will have due allowance in his account. Radnor has requested payment of the sum owed to him for his wages and compensation, and the king wishes favourably to agree to the request. ¹

1.: For a related entry, see entry 44 .

62: 20 June 1345 . Westminster . For the payment of money to the bishop of Bayonne and Master Guiraut Dupuch, the king's emvoys .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and constable of Bordeaux, that as soon as you have seen this letter, together with Pey [de Saint-Jean], bishop of Baion' Bayonne , and Master Podio, de Guiraut Dupuch , in the best way that they can they are to treat with them about the progress that they have made with their negotiations with the king of Castile , and about their wages and expenses in this matter, and the constable is to pay that money without any excuse being offered, because, without this payment they might not be able to complete their mission.

The king has heard from his envoys to the king of Castile, his dear cousin, that they had been sent some time before to set up an alliance between that king and him. And afterwards they discussed the matter with those of the king's council more fully, and it was agreed that the treaty should be fully ratified in the form set out. The king sent his letters to the bishop and Dupuch, whom the king had sent to the king of Castile, with full powers to make an agreement and put an end to the negotiations, and containing the king's full intentions in the matter, and asking them to take up the burden and labour in the matter, and that they should go to the king of Castile wherever he is by 15 August next.

63

Same as above Memorandum .

Memorandum that the king left England on 3 July, from the port of Sandwicus Sandwich , and on the same day delivered the great seal for the governance of the realm in his absence, to Sadyngton' Robert de Saddington, chancellor , for the ruling and keeping of the country, as appears in a memorandum enrolled on the dorse of the close rolls for this year. ¹

1.: For the memorandum on the close rolls, see Calendar of the Close Rolls (CCR), 1343-6 , p.594.

64: 8 July 1345 . Redyng Reading . For Master John Wawayn .

To all admirals, mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, ministers, and faithful subjects.

Letters of protection for the corn, and victuals bought and purveyed in England by Master Waweyn John Wawayn, constable of Bordeaux , clerk , to be taken to the city of Burdeg' Bordeaux for the maintenance of him and his household there, and also of the ship la Jonette de Hope of Thamisia Thames , its master, John Gerard , and the mariners taking the corn and victuals there. They are to be maintained, protected and defended, and no injury, interference, damage, arrest, impediment or harm is to be permitted to happen to them, and if any forfeiture has been incurred, then amends are to be made without delay. The king does not wish that any of the corn or victuals be taken for his use, or that of anyone else, up until Michaelmas.

Attested by Lionel [of Antwerp], the king's son, keeper of England .

By p.s.

65

Same as above Memorandum .

Here the king returned to England from Flandr' Flanders as appears in a memorandum enrolled on the dorse of the close rolls of this year. ¹

1.: For the much fuller memorandum on the close rolls, that this entry seems to refer to, see Calendar of the Close Rolls (CCR), 1343-6 , p.639.

66: 30 August 1345 . Westminster . For the bishop of Bayonne .

Order to Lancastr' Henry of Lancaster, earl of Derby , the king's lieutenant in the duchy , to obtain full information upon the request of the bishop of Baion' Bayonne , that the king will grant him a piece of land between the small and great walls of the town of Bayonne, adjacent to the bishops palace ( mansio ), which is 300 feet in length, and 60 feet in width, to make a garden for his own use, for his life. If he finds that it can be done without damage or prejudice to the king and the town, then he should commit it to him for his life, by the king's letters under the seal used in the duchy; provided that the men living within the town should have access to and from the walls, across that land, in times of war, and whenever it is necessary, the commission and grant notwithstanding. The king wishes to agree to the request because of the bishop's service to him.

By K., by the information of Master John de Thoresby .

67: 28 August 1345 . Westminster . For Aubert Mège, canon of the church of Bordeaux .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, to view the bills that Mecge Aubert Mège, king's clerk , canon of the Burdeg' church of Bordeaux has under the seals of Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, late constable of Bordeaux , and Usus Maris Antonio Usodimare, late lieutenant of the same constable , and if he is able to find that Mège is reasonably owed various sums for his wages and fees which he ought to have taken from the king, then he is to pay him from the issues of the duchy; receiving from Mège the bills, and he will have due allowance in his account. Mège has requested the payment of the sums that the king owes him, and the king wishes to agree to this because of Mège's great service to the current king and to Edward II .

By K.

68

3 July 1345 . Sandewicu' Sandwich . For John Bellett . ¹

Grant, during pleasure, to Belet John Bellett , for his good service, of that office for examining all merchandise in the duchy of Aquitaine for which letters under the king's seal called the coket are made, and which Hyndele Adam de Hindley , lately held. He is to take the customary wages in that office, provided that he answers to the constable for forfeitures that ought to pertain to the king.

By p.s.

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

69

28 August 1345 . Westminster . For the delivery of the castle of Cornet in the Isle of Guernsey to Thomas de Ferrers . ¹

Order to Tholosa Pey-Bernat de Toulouse and his associates, masters and admirals of the galleys that came from the city of Baion' Bayonne to the king, and Pey de Fargues, master of the ship called le Dieu Gard' of Baion' Bayonne , to deliver Castle Cornet on Guernsey , which they and certain others, loyal to the king, took during the war, and which is in their custody, to Ferrariis Thomas de Ferrers, keeper of Gereseye Jersey , Gernereye Guernsey , Serk Sark , and Aureneye Aldeney , with the arms, victuals and all other property of the king's within the castle, by indenture. The king gives them license, once they have made livery, to depart to Bayonne, or elsewhere, without impediment, and indemnifies them against anyone for the taking of the castle. The king has ordered Ferrers to receive the castle from them, and keep it safely. ²

By K.

1.: A note in the margin states ' extractus '.
2.: Castle Cornet is on Guernsey, but throughout the entry, the royal clerk, has located it on Jersey.

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70: 3 July 1345 . Sandwicu' Sandwich . For John Bellett .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and constable of Bordeaux to deliver to Belet John Bellett , the office for examining all merchandise in the duchy of Aquitaine for which letters under the king's seal called the coket are made, which Hyndele Adam de Hindley lately held, which the king granted him by entry 68 . The constable is to pay him the wages and fees according to the tenor of the king's letters.

By p.s.

71

8 October 1345 . Westminster . For Ramon Séguin, and Ramon his son .

Grant, during pleasure, to Seguyn Ramon Séguin, son of Seguyn Bidau Séguin , and Ramon, his son , for Séguin's good service, of the corn tax ( bladaria ) of Reule La Réole with all that pertains to it, during pleasure, from as soon as the town comes into the king's hands; E[dward II], late king of England, the king's father , having, by his letters patent, previously granted the same corn tax to Séguin, during his pleasure. ¹

By p.s.

1.: For the original grant, see entry in C 61/33 .

72: 18 October 1345 . Westminster . For Bertran Guitard .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux, to hear the complaint of Guitarinii Bertran Guitard , concerning the 36 l.t.parv.nig. which he claims Marchia Gassie de Lamarque, damoiseau , was obliged to pay him at a certain time, now passed, by his charter sealed with the seal used in those parts, and he is to summon Lamarque, and hear his arguments, and do what, by right, and according to the fors and customs of those parts ought to be done. Guitard has requested payment and the king wishes that justice is done.

73: 20 October 1345 . Westminster . For attorney .

Letters of general attorney in England, for a year, for Thomas Fichet, kt , who is staying in the company of Hastynges Laurence de Hastings, earl of Pembroke , in the king's service in Gascony, nominating Welmiton' Richard de Wilmington, clerk , and Chippele Robert de Chipley alternately.

The chancellor received the attorney, by letters of the earl.

74: 10 December 1345 . Clipston' Old Clipstone . For protection .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , until Easter next, to Brigge James de Bridge , who is going in the king's service to Gascony, in the company of Gretheved' Peter Greathead, clerk .

By bill of the same Peter.

75: Same as above For attorney .

Letters of general attorney in England, until Easter next, for the same James [de Bridge] who is going to Gascony, nominating Worshop' John de Worksop and Ponte Fracto John de Pontefract alternately.

By the same bill. David de Wollore received the attorney.

76: 20 October 1345 . Westminster . For Galhart de Beautiran, damoiseau, for a ratification .

To the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux, or their lieutenants, and all other seneschals, officers, ministers, and all other faithful subjects in the duchy.

Ratification and approval of the letters of Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, late constable of Bordeaux , and Oliver de Ingham, late seneschal of Gascony , acquitting Bautirano, de Galhart de Beautiran, damoiseau , of the sum of 934 l. 12 s. 10 d. bord. which he formerly owed to Lugana Élie, widow of Bautirano, de Johan de Beautiran, damoiseau , afterwards the wife of Revynhano Huc de Révignan . Galhart de Beautiran owed the sum to Lugana Élie, for which he pledged all of his goods. The debt was found amongst the goods of Révignan and his wife, which forfeited to the king because of their enmity and rebellion against the king, and Beautiran paid the sum to Usodimare by various distraints and attachments, and by his arrest, of which payment, Usodimare acquitted him and his goods towards Lugana Élie, and promised to relieve him of all charges, damages and expenses which he, in future, could sustain because of the debt as is attested by the letters of Usodimare, and the letters of Ingham, ratifying and confirming this. Bautiran has requested that the king confirm the letters, and the king wishes to agree to this.

77: Same as above Memorandum .

Here the king's great seal was delivered to Master Offord John de Ufford , to be kept, as appears in a memorandum enrolled on the dorse of the close rolls of this year.

78: 28 October 1345 . Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , for a year, to Ebor' Hugh de York, parson of the church of Drayton Passelewe Drayton Parslow , who is staying in the king's service in Gascony.

By K.

79: Same as above For attorney .

Letters of general attorney in England, for a year, for the same Hugh [de York] who is going to Gascony, nominating Langechestre Walter de Lanchester, clerk , and Robert de Grendon, tailor , of London , alternately.

Master John Wawayn received the attorney.

80

28 October 1345 . Westminster . For Pons d'Escalette, damoiseau .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony, or his lieutenant, to hear the complaint of Scaleta Pons d'Escalette, damoiseau , or his attorney, concerning the confiscation and forfeiture of his lands, houses, men, questaux ( questales ) ¹ and free-tenants ( censuales ), woodland, rents and other goods in the parish of Cadorna [Saint-Seurin-de-]Cadourne , in the honour of the lord of Sparra Lesparre at the request of Pey Aquerii , kt , who had alleged that Escalette was an enemy and rebel, and the grant of the same to Aquerii . He is to summon Aquerii before him, inspect his letters, and hear his arguments, and if he is able to find that Escalette's allegation is true, then he is to restore what has been confiscated, and cause full and speedy justice to be done, as by right, and according to the fors and customs there ought to be done, notwithstanding the king's gift.

On Escalette's behalf, it has been shown that, though he has been loyal and faithful, and has faithfully adhered to the king, preserving his rights in the duchy, he was captured by certain French enemies and rebels who had invaded the duchy in war, and was imprisoned until they had received a great ransom, the king, at the request of Aquerii , who had alleged that Escalette was an enemy and rebel, had confiscated his lands, houses, men, villeins ( questales ) and free tenants ( censuales ), woodland, rents and other goods in that parish, and they were granted to Aquerii . Escalette, feeling himself badly treated, approached Oliver de Ingham, late seneschal of Gascony , for restitution of what had been confiscated, and he, disregarding the grant to Aquerii , restored them to Escalette.

1.: In Gascony the questaux were the equivalent of serfs.

81: 10 November 1345 . Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , until Easter next, to Peter Gretheved' , king's clerk , who is going in the king's service, by the king's order, to Gascony.

By K.

82

16 November 1345 . Hertford . For Bertran Ferrand, canon of Nevers .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, to view the bills that Feraund' Bertran Ferrand, canon of Nivernen' Nevers , one of the king's councillors in the duchy of Aquitaine ¹ , concerning the various sums of money owed to him by the king, and if he finds by those bills, that it is owed, then he should make prompt payment from the issues of the duchy; receiving the bills from Ferrant, and he will have due allowance in his account. Ferrant has requested payment for the various sums owed to him for his wages and fees for his service, as more fully appears in various bills of Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, late constable of Bordeaux , and Usus Maris Antonio Usodimare, late the lieutenant of the same constable , and under the king's seal, which Ferrant claims to have in his possession, and the king wishes to agree to the request.

By C.

1.: He was a canon of Nevers and may have lost or resigned this benefice before 1352; he became a canon of Bordeaux before 1355. See See Lainé, F., Le diocèse de Bordeaux, Fasti Ecclesiae Gallicanae , 13 (Turnhout, 2012), p.283, no.495.

83: 20 November 1345 . Westminster . For Arnaut [III de Durfort], son and heir of Arnaut [II] de Durfort .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, or his lieutenant, to account with Arnaut [III de Durfort], son and heir of Duro Forti Arnaut [II] de Durfort , or his attorney, for the sums received by him, or by others in his name, from the issues of the tolls of Sanctus Makar' Saint-Macaire , and the customs of Burdeg' Bordeaux , both from the time of Usus Maris Niccolò Usodimare, late constable of Bordeaux , and Usus Maris Antonio Usodimare, late the lieutenant of the same constable , and of the present constable, and he should make full and speedy payment to Durfort, or his attorney, from the issues of the duchy, of what he finds to be in arrears of the 500 m. annuity; receiving from Durfort, or his attorney, his letters of acquittance attesting to the payment, and he will have due allowance in his account. The king granted to Arnaut de Durfort, deceased, Arnaut's father, the 500 m. , to be taken from the tolls, and if that was insufficient, from the customs, in compensation for the 500 m.st. worth of land and rents in the duchy each year, which the king promised to provide him for his great service, the same to be taken until he had been provided with the lands and rents, as is more fully contained in the king's letters patent. Durfort requests payment of the arrears of the same, and the king wishes favourably to agree to the request, for his great service to him.

84

24 November 1345 . Westminster . For Egidio of Spain, king's serjeant-at-arms .

Order to the same, to view the king's order concerning the payment of wages to Ispann' Egidio of Spain, king's serjeant-at-arms , and if they find that Egidio has requested payment, and was attending to the king's business, he is to account with him, or his attorney, both for the days that Egidio was attending to the king's business, and for the sums that he received for his wages, allowing to him 2 s. a day when he was overseas ( in partibus transmarinis ), and 12 d. when on this side of the sea ( in partibus cismarinis ), and was in the king's service, and make payment to him for what he finds is owed, or make satisfaction to him in another manner from the issues of the duchy; and the constable will have due allowance in his account.

Egidio has shown that since he was lately sent to the duchy, and from there to Ispann' Castile , Portugal and Arragon' Aragon , on certain business of the king's, and the then constable of Bordeaux was ordered to pay him a daily sum at the above rates, for the time that he was in the king's service, as is more fully contained in the king's order. Aafterwards he returned to the duchy, and was sent by the seneschal of Gascony , and the king's council there, to Navarr' Navarre , Aragon, and to the constable of Amalyon Malón , ¹ to accomplish further business of the king. Since he has often requested payment of his wages from the constable and other constables, but has received nothing but 23 marks, he requests that the king order payment of the arrears.

1.: The castle of Malón (Aragon), situated at the border with the kingdom of Navarre.

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85

10 December 1345 . Clipston' Old Clipstone . For the livery of florins to Henry, earl of Lancaster and others .

Order to Peter Gretheved' , king's clerk , that, from the 50,000 écu ( floreni de scuto ), valued at 10,200 l.st. , each écu being 4 s. , which he received at the receipt of the exchequer, to take to Gascony for the expedition of the king's business, he is to pay 12,000 écu to Henry [of Grosmont], earl of Lancaster and Derby , the king's kinsman; 1,666 écu to Hastynges Laurence de Hastings, earl of Pembroke , and 1,333 écu to Walter de Mauny ¹ for their reward for the second quarter of the year, from the time that they went to the duchy in the king's service, beyond the customary war wages. Concerning the residue of the money, this is to be used for the expedition of the king's business in the duchy, by the advice of the earl of Lancaster, the seneschal of Gascony and the constable of Bordeaux, and as the king will enjoin him to do.

By K. and C.

1.: Wauthier de Masny was his original name in his native Hainaut.

86: 2 January 1346 . Wodestok' Woodstock . For the payment of wages .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux to account with Lescuno, de Fortaner [V] de Lescun , or his attorney, both for his fees and wages, and those of his men-at-arms and others, from the time that they were in the king's service, and to make payment or a suitable assignment to him, or his attorney, for what he finds is owed, and he will have due allowance in his account. Lescun has requested payment of, or assignment for, various sums that the king owes him for the fees and wages, and the king wishes to agree to the same.

By C.

87: 19 December 1345 . Westminster . For the taking of security from the owners and masters of all of the ships of the realm of England .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, for certain reasons, to receive sufficient security from the owners or masters of all ships of the realm of England, of capacity of 30 tuns or more, which he finds at Burdeg' Bordeaux and elsewhere there, to have the ships at the port of Portesmuth' Portsmouth on 14 February at the latest, to go with their ships in the king's service, as they will be ordered on the king's behalf; and that he should not permit those ships to carry goods anywhere other than England and Flandr' Flanders , ships of the king's land of Hibn' Ireland , only excepted. The king is to be certified in the chancery of the security, and of the number and names of the ships, under the constable's seal, before that date.

88

13 January 1346 . Westminster . For William de Staines of the city of London .

Order to the seneschal of Gascony to hear the complaint of Stanes William de Staines, king's valet , citizen of London concerning the confiscation of his wool in the city of Burdeg' Bordeaux by Biskele Reynold de Bixley, mayor of Burdeg' Bordeaux , and view the king's letters under the privy and secret seals, now directed to him, summoning before him, the same mayor, and others who ought to be called, causing the wool to be returned to Staines, or his attorney, if it still exists, or the value of the same, if it doesn't, doing full and speedy justice, as by right and according to the fors and customs there ought to be done, so that Staines does not have to complain again for default of justice. The king has received Staines' complaint that, whereas he lately, in the port of Bristoll' Bristol , put ten bags ( poketti ) of wool, on which the customs and aid had been paid to the king, in the ship called la Dieu Garde , of which John le Spicer and John de Wycombe , were owners, and John Brian was master, and they were taken to Bordeaux, where Bixley, alleging that the wool ought to be confiscated because the payment of the subsidy in the letters of the coket, shown by Staines' attorney, made no mention of the wool, and forfeit to the king, and he took it into the king's hands, claiming a third part to his own use. By various writs, the king has signified to Bixley that Staines has paid the customs and subsidy, as appears by the rolls of the king's collectors of the customs in Bristol appointed by the king, and ordered Bixley, that if the wool was arrested for this reason, and not for any other, then it should be released from arrest and restored to Staines, or his attorney, without delay. Bixley ignored the order, and detained the wool, swearing that the king's order was not genuine, to Staines' great damage, and impoverishment, upon which he has requested remedy, and the king does not wish him to be injured by this. ¹

1.: See the related entry entry in C 61/60 .

For protection

89: 15 January 1346 . Westminster .

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , until Easter next, to John son and heir of Burghfeld' Bartholomew de Burghfield , who is going in the king's service to Gascony with Peter Gretheved' , king's clerk .

By testimony of the same Peter.

90: Same as above

Letters of protection, with clause volumus , until Easter next, to James Barry , who is going in the king's service to Gascony with Peter [Greathead] .

By testimony of the same Peter.

For protection for the earl of Pembroke.

91: 23 January 1346 . Westminster .

To all admirals, keepers of sea ports, sheriffs, bailiffs, owners, masters and mariners of ships, and other ministers, and faithful subjects.

Letters of protection for the ship called la Margerie of London , of which Simon William of Clyve is master, of the master and mariners, and of the victuals within the ship of Hastynges Laurence de Hastings, earl of Pembroke , being taken to Gascony for the maintenance of the earl and his men there, in the king's service, on a military expedition. They are to be permitted to go to Gascony, any commission or order for the arrest of ships, for the king's service, notwithstanding. No injury, interference, damage, impediment or any other harm is to be permitted to be done to them, and if any forfeiture has been incurred, then amends are to be made without delay; provided that the ship, once it has discharged the victuals, returns to Portesmuth' Portsmouth by 14 February at the latest, and is ready to go in the king's service, according to the order made to the master on the king's behalf.

By K.

92: Same as above

And it is ordered to Richard [FitzAlan], earl of Arundel , admiral of the western fleet , or his lieutenant, that he should permit the ship [called la Margerie of London ] to go to Gascony with the victuals, without any impediment, any commission or order for the arrest of ships, for the king's service, directed to him or others, notwithstanding.

By K.

93: Same as above

A similar writ is directed to Burgherssh Bartholomew de Burghersh, constable of Dovorra Dover castle , and keeper of the Cinque Ports , or his lieutenant.

94: 20 November 1345 . Westminster . For the livery of victuals to Peter Greathead .

Order to the sheriff of Somerset and Dorset to take the 31 tuns of wheat flour, that the king ordered him to provide from the issues of his bailiwick, for the king's use, to the ports of Melecombe Melcombe Regis and Lym' Lyme Regis , and deliver them to Peter Gretheved' , king's clerk , receiver of the king's victuals to be sent to Gascony , or to his attorney, by indenture to be made them, as the king wishes to provide for his faithful subjects there.

95: 6 January 1346 . Westminster . For certification of the value of the horses of Peter Greathead .

Order to Master John Wawayn, constable of Bordeaux , to appraise each of the war horses that Peter Gretheved' , and his nineteen men-at-arms, are taking to Gascony, and to certify to the king in the chancery, the value of the same, under the seal used in the duchy. The king is sending Greathead and his men-at-arms to Gascony, in his service, to reside there according to indentures made between the king and him.