The Gascon Rolls Project

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C 61/87 48 Edward III (1374-75)

The context of the roll is much as it was with those that immediately precede it. However, unlike previous rolls, the roll is dominated by the grant of licences to English and Gascon merchants to export victuals, predominantly grain to the duchy, and contains far fewer entries concerned with those going to or staying in the duchy in the king's service.

We will come to these licences later. With the continued erosion of English power and authority in the duchy, and a diminution of the extent of the duchy under English control. We see some glimpses of this in the entries in the roll, which indicates some level of turmoil and discontent in the English administration in the duchy. In the very first entry on the roll the seneschal of Aquitaine and the constable of Bordeaux were ordered to do justice to Richard de Fillongley. Fillongley was an important officer of Edward of Woodstock, and was a recipient of grants of offices in the then principality, grants confirmed by the king after the surrender of the principality into the king's hands by the prince. One of these had been the office of general serjeant in Bordeaux and Bordelais, with authority in resort over other general serjeants and other kinds of serjeants in Bordeaux and the Bordelais, and in Agen. Fillongley complained that 'many of the king's servants, subjects, ministers and others, as well as Richard's deputies in those offices, have made confederacies and conspiracies to remove Fillongley from these offices and their profits, daily making deceitful and crafty machinations, by which others of the king's servants and Richard's deputies in those parts have withdrawn from those offices, with some retaining large sums of money, arrears and other profits and emoluments in their own hands, while others have fled with these profits, arrears and debts, in contempt and prejudice of the king and to the great damage of Fillingley'. ¹ Opposition from other officials whose own authority had been impinged on or impaired by the grant is perhaps understandable, but that Fillongley's own officials had betrayed his trust and conspired against him suggests that the English administration was tearing itself apart from within.

Further problems, but relating to the castle of Mauléon in the far south of the duchy, concern the difficulties faced by the castellan and his lieutenant in the maintenance and defence of the castle. Arnaut de Saumont, lieutenant of the lord of Caupenne in the castle, complained that he had served the king loyally in the wars and had expended all that he had and had nothing to maintain his estate. He requested the grant of the baylie of Pouillon (in the Landes), and also of the three messageries in Mauléon. ² The lord of Caupenne himself raised separate issues, in part to do with alienations made by previous officers, but also requesting that certain rights that those holding his office had to the ' aubergades ', rights of shelter that the castellan or his representatives could claim, could be commuted to a money payment. ³

As we have seen this roll contains far fewer entries relating to those going to or staying in Aquitaine in the king's service. Indeed, if one sets aside the small number of individuals who accompanied Thomas de Felton, the seneschal of Aquitaine, back to the duchy, there are only three such entries, one of whom was for William White of Holme who was staying in the company of John de Stratton, the English esquire who, by marriage, had become lord of Landiras (near Bordeaux). ⁴ The one other protection of interest besides the ones relating to Felton concerns Florimont, lord of Lesparre. The lords of Lesparre had been conspicuous by their loyalty to the English, and the protection suggests that Florimont had been in service in England, for it is granted because he 'is staying overseas in the king's service', which would be odd for a Gascon serving in Aquitaine. ⁵ The protections relating to Thomas de Felton are also of interest. Felton was probably appointed to the position of seneschal of Aquitaine in 1363, and he was confirmed in this position by the king by a fresh appointment on 6 March 1373. He had evidently returned to England in the early months of 1374, and might well have been reappointed to the office again. ⁶ It would seem that Felton returned to Aquitaine in September when the king ordered the admiral of the Western Fleet, and the mayor and sheriffs of Bristol, to deliver 20 ships to him for his return there. In the previous July a number of individuals accompanied him. ⁷

Several entries are grants made by the king, or confirmations of grants made by his sons Edward of Woodstock and John of Gaunt. The knight John de Newenton, who had been granted the keeping of the strategically important castle of Châteauneuf south west of Angoulême, was also granted the lands, taxes, rents, jurisdictions and lordships of Guillaume de Craon, kt, a rebel, valued at around 100 l. , in the town of Châteauneuf-sur-Charente where the castle was located, for his life. This gave him a personal stake in the defence of the castle, as well as giving him additional local revenue to support himself there. ⁸ A Gascon, Pey de Lamothe, received two confirmations. The first confirmed a grant of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, who, as lieutenant in Aquitaine, had granted him the prévôté of the town, castle and castellany of Bazas and the Bazadais. ⁹ The second confirmed him in the custody of Langon which he had received by commission of the seneschal of Aquitaine. ¹⁰ The original grants and their confirmations secured Lamothe in a senior position under threat from French incursions along the Garonne valley, in an area where the Lamothe family were already possessed of considerable authority, with several important castles.

As was noted above the roll is dominated by entries concerning trade. One particularly interesting entry concerns the resolution of a dispute over the measurement and sale of English cloth in Bordeaux. The manner of the measurement of cloth had been defined by a statute issued at the parliament held at Northampton in 1328, but there had been disputes in the city between the cloth merchants in Bordeaux and those of England concerning the measurement. The king confirmed that the method of measurement set out by the statute should be followed, but that it should be done by two cords supplied by the aulnager of cloths in England, the cords being of white thread, each stamped at both ends with a seal containing a crowned letter 'E', and sent in a leather bag sealed with the king's seal. ¹¹ Another entry also dealt with a dispute. Richard Bastard, the master of a ship called La Margaret of Plymouth, owned by John Weston, had been accused by Jacob Voos, a merchant of Flanders, of seizing bacons and tuns of grain from him at sea. Voos had been unable to substantiate his claim before the king and Bastard had been told to return home and keep the goods safe until Voos could prove that he was actually a merchant of Flanders, and that the goods belonged to him or another Fleming. However, despite this Voos and others, displaying considerable ingenuity, had apparently attempted to circumvent this decision and had impleaded Bastard before the constable and other royal ministers in Bordeaux, and had succeeded in having Weston's ship arrested and detained in Bordeaux. Both Weston and Bastard petitioned to the king and he ordered the constable and ministers not to arrest Bastard or the ship, and to direct Voos back to the council in England. ¹²

However, the majority of entries relating to trade, like the rolls from the early period of the principality of Aquitaine, consist of licences granted to English and Bordeaux and other Gascon merchants, ¹³ many being London merchants, fifteen to merchants of Bordeaux, ¹⁴ and only one to a master of a ship of Bayonne. ¹⁵ With only one exception these were exclusively for foodstuffs, being various kinds of grain, beans and peas, the exception being for grain, cloth and tallow. ¹⁶ Although we have seen from the entry concerning disputes over the measurement of cloth in Bordeaux that cloth had a place in the Bordeaux trade, the licences emphasise the predominance of the Bordeaux wine export trade with England, and of the English grain export trade with Aquitaine. Many of the licences granted to Bordeaux merchants grant that they might use the money they had received for the sale of wine that they had brought to England and sold, to buy grain and other foodstuffs. The disturbed state of the duchy as the war progressed must have made if very difficult for the parts of the duchy still under English control to obtain foodstuffs from the French held areas.

Jonathan Mackman & Simon J. Harris.

1.: entry 1 . For another entry concerning the same matter, see entry 6 .
2.: entry 42 .
3.: entry 56 .
4.: entry 20 . For the other entry concerning an Englishman, see entry 14 .
5.: entry 3 .
6.: see the note to entry 48 .
7.: For the protections granted to those accompanying Felton, see entry 29 , entry 29.1 - entry 29.3 , entry 43 & entry 47 . These are perhaps a small part of those 9 knights, 50 esquires and 60 archers that were retained by Felton in 1374 in support of his office (TNA E101/179/14).
8.: For the grant of the keeping of the castle, see entry 8 , entry 9 & entry 10 . For the grant of the lands, etc. of Guillaume de Craon, kt, see entry 12 . For a further grant of lands, taxes and rents, see entry 13 .
9.: entry 46 .
10.: entry 57 .
11.: entry 16 & entry 17 .
12.: entry 19 .
13.: entry 4 , entry 7 , entry 11 , entry 22 , entry 23 , entry 27 , entry 31 , entry 34 , entry 35 , entry 45 , entry 50 , entry 52 , entry 54 & entry 55 .
14.: entry 15 , entry 18 , entry 21 , entry 24 , entry 25 , entry 26 , entry 28 , entry 31 , entry 32 , entry 33 , entry 36 , entry 37 , entry 38 , entry 39 & entry 49 .
15.: entry 53 .
16.: entry 34 .

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3 February 1374 . Westminster . For Richard Fillongley .

Order to the seneschal of Aquitaine and the constable of Bordeaux , for the salvation of the king's rights and the good rule of those parts, that they do justice to Fylongley Richard de Fillongley , his attorneys, proctors or deputies in his name, according to the fors and customs of those parts, concerning all his offices and everything pertaining to them. Fillongley, one of the ministers of Edward [of Woodstock], prince of Wales , has petitioned the king both on his own behalf and the king's, showing how, for his good service and by letters patent which the king subsequently confirmed, the prince, when he was prince of Aquitaine , appointed him as his general serjeant in the town of Bordeaux and the whole of the Bordelais and the resort of the same, to the offices of all the general serjeants and other offices of whatsoever kind of both the towns, baylies and prévôtés, and of castellanies and of assize jurisdictions (' assisiagiorum ') of Bordeaux and the Bordelais and the resort of the same, as well as to all the serjeanties in the city of Agenn' Agen , with resort and assizes, with all the emoluments pertaining to those offices, for the term of his life, holding them in person or by deputies, over ecclesiastical, noble and common men alike. The prince also ordered the former seneschals of Aquitaine and the Agenais to place Fillongley or his proctors in possession of these offices, maintain and defend them, and remove anyone previously in those offices, any previous letters of appointment notwithstanding, as contained in both the prince's letters and the king's confirmation. However, many of the king's servants, subjects, ministers and others, as well as Richard's deputies in those offices, have made confederacies and conspiracies to remove Fillongley from these offices and their profits, daily making deceitful and crafty machinations, by which others of the king's servants and Richard's deputies in those parts have withdrawn from those offices, with some retaining large sums of money, arrears and other profits and emoluments in their own hands, while others have fled with these profits, arrears and debts, in contempt and prejudice of the king and to the great damage of Fillingley, to the detriment of his status. They are not to molest or trouble him, or allow others to do so, contrary to the tenor of the prince's letters or the king's confirmation. ¹

1.: For the earlier confirmations, see entry in C 61/83 . For a confirmation by Richard II, see entry in C 61/94 . For other related entries, see entry 6 , entry in C 61/95 & entry in C 61/95 .

2: 6 February 1374 . Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus for one year for Elena, Hatfeld Ellen Hatfield, executrix of the will of Hatfeld John Hatfield, former citizen and pepperer of London , who is setting out to Aquitaine in the king’s service, to stay in the city of Bordeaux with Joan, wife of Robert Rous, mayor of Bordeaux .

By bill of p.s.

3: 6 February 1374 . Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus for one year for Florimont, lord of Lasparre Lesparre , who is staying overseas in the king's service.

By bill of p.s.

4: 7 February 1374 . Westminster . For taking grain to Bordeaux .

To all and singular admirals and their lieutenants, sheriffs, customers, keepers of sea ports and other maritime places, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and others.

Licence to John Michel of London that he may load 55 tuns of wheat, beans or oats into the crayer called le Marie of London , which has a capacity of 55 tuns of wine, in the port of London or in any port in the county of Kanc' Kent , and that the master , John Wytard , and his ten fellow mariners may take this to Burdeg' Bordeaux , at his own profit, for the sustenance of the king's subjects there, provided that Michel give sufficient security in the port of loading that he will take the grain to Bordeaux and nowhere else outside the king's realm. Order that Michel be allowed to load this grain into the said crayer in the said port, and that the master and mariners be allowed to take it to Bordeaux without hindrance, any previous orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

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20 February 1374 . Westminster . For Oliver Martin .

Order to Thomas de Felton, seneschal of Gascony , Master Wykford Robert de Wickford, constable of Bordeaux , and Robert Rous, mayor of Bordeaux , to deliver possession of the house formerly of de Pree Gaucem Duprat , deceased, situated in the or street ( quarreria ) ¹ called des Aires des Ayres in the parish of Sainte-Eulalie in Burdeg' Bordeaux , to Martyn Oliver Martin , together with the issues of that property from 4 November 1372, to hold according to the tenor of the king's previous letters. The king's eldest son, the prince , granted this house to Martin, keeper of his wardrobe, by his letters patent when he was prince of Aquitaine, for his good service, to hold for term of his life. This house had come to the prince as an escheat, but when the lordship of Aquitaine came into the king's hands, this house was also taken into the king's possession, and thus on 4 November 1372, in respect for the prince and for Martin's good service to him, the king granted the said house and its appurtenances to Martin, to hold for the term of his life by the customary service from the king and his heirs in the same manner as previously granted by the prince's letters patent. ²

By p.s.

1.: The word carreira means street in Gascon.
2.: For the earlier grant, see entry in C 61/85 .

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26 February 1374 . Westminster . For Richard Fillongley .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux, or his lieutenant, that he view the letters granted to Fylongley Richard de Fillongley by Edward [of Woodstock], prince of Wales , when he was prince of Aquitaine , and the king's own confirmation, and allow Fillongley, his servants and deputies, to enjoy the offices and prévôtés contained in the letters, and levy, collect and receive the profits and emoluments pertaining to them. Fillongley, one of the ministers of Edward, prince of Wales, has complained to the king, showing how the prince, by letters patent subsequently confirmed by the king's own letters, granted him for the term of his life, for his good service in those parts, the office of general serjeant in the town of Bordeaux and the whole of the Bordelais and the resort of the same, as well as the offices of all the serjeants-general and other offices of whatsoever kind of both the towns, baylies and prévôtés, and of castellanies and assize jurisdictions (' assisiagiorum ') of Bordeaux and the Bordelais and the resort of the same, together with all the emoluments pertaining to those offices, to hold those in person or by his deputy, over ecclesiastical, noble and common men alike. However, in order to remove him from the prévôté of Entre-deux-Mers , one of the prévôtés granted to him by the prince, and from the profits and emoluments of that and other prévôtés, he and his servants and deputies are being impeded from collecting the profits and emoluments there, as they ought to do, in contempt of the king, to the damage of Fillongley and contrary to the grant and confirmation. He has sought remedy, and the king wishes that right be done. ¹

1.: For the earlier confirmations, see entry in C 61/83 . For a confirmation by Richard II, see entry in C 61/94 . For other related entries, see entry 1 , entry in C 61/95 & entry in C 61/95 .

7: 10 March 1374 . Westminster . For the transport of grain .

To all and singular admirals and their lieutenants, sheriffs, customers, keepers of sea ports and other maritime places, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and others.

Licence to Thomas de Ingelby, merchant , that he and his servants may load 300 quarters of beans and peas and 300 quarters of oats into ships in the port of Bruggewater Bridgwater , and take them to the city of Burdegal' Bordeaux , provided that Thomas find sufficient security in the said port that he will take the grain to Bordeaux and not to any other place outside the king's realm. Order that Thomas and his servants be permitted to do this without hindrance, having first paid the due customs in the said port, any previous orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

For John de Newenton, kt.

8: 14 March 1374 . Westminster .

Grant for life to John de Newenton, kt , of the keeping of the Chastelneuf castle of Châteauneuf , receiving 100 l. of the current money each year from the hands of the receiver of Dengolem' Angoulême .

By K. and C.

9: Same as above

Order to Thomas de Felton, seneschal of Gascony , or his lieutenant, to deliver the keeping of the Chastelneuf castle of Châteauneuf with its appurtenances and all things pertaining to that custody to the said John [de Newenton] without delay, according to the tenor of the aforesaid letters.

By K. and C.

10: Same as above

Order to the receiver of Angoulême to pay to the aforesaid John [de Newenton] each year for the term of his life 100 l. of the money current there from the issues, profits and revenues of the said castle , according to the tenor of the aforesaid letters, receiving letters of acquittance from John acknowledging receipt of the said payments, for which, together with the current order, he shall have due allowance in his account.

By K. and C.

11: 6 August 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of grain .

Licence to Roger Penrose of Pensans Penzance in Cornewaille Cornwall that he may buy 60 quarters of wheat and 60 quarters of oats within the counties of Devon and Cornub' Cornwall , load them into ships in any port in those counties, and take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux , for the sustenance of the king's people there, as Roger has made his oath in Chancery that he will not take this cargo to any place other than Bordeaux. Order that he be permitted to buy, load and, having first paid the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, transport this cargo without hindrance, any previous proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

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14 March 1374 . Westminster . For John de Newenton . ¹

Grant to John de Newenton, kt , for his past and future good service, of all the lands, taxes (' cens '), rents, jurisdictions and lordship, with all rights, profits and appurtenances, worth around 100 l. of the money current there, which Guillaume de Craon, kt , formerly held in the town of Chastelneuf Châteauneuf[-sur-Charente] , and which have come, or ought to come, into the king's hands on account of Craon's rebellion. He is to hold these for the term of his life, paying liege homage and all other moneys due by right, with full reversion after his death to the king and his heirs.

By K. and C.

1.: A marginal note states ' extractus '.

14 March 1374 . Westminster . For the same John . ¹

Grant for life to John de Newenton, kt , castellan of the Chastelneuf castle of Châteauneuf , for his past and future good service and in consideration of the costs of keeping that castle, of the lands, taxes (' cens ') and rents, together with the high, middle and low jurisdiction and lordship and the rights and profits of the same, pertaining to the said castle, worth 25 l. a year or thereabouts of the money current there, with full reversion after his death to the king and his heirs.

By K. and C.

1.: A marginal note states ' extractus '.

14: 8 June 1374 . Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus for one year for Cleybrok Robert Claybrook of Driffeld super le Wold Great Driffield , who is staying in Aquitaine in the king's service.

By bill of p.s.

15: 3 July 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of grain .

To all and singular admirals and their lieutenants, sheriffs, customers, keepers of sea ports and other maritime places, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and others.

Licence to Pey Bache, Burdeg' merchant of Bordeaux , that he may buy 300 quarters of wheat in the county of Sutht' Hampshire , load them into ships in the port of Sutht' Southampton , and take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux , for the sustenance of the king's people there, as he has made his oath in chancery that he will take this cargo to Bordeaux and nowhere else. Order that he be permitted to do this without hindrance, having first paid the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, any previous ordinances, proclamations or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

By C.

Concerning the measuring of cloth.

3 July 1374 . Westminster .

Order to the mayor and jurats of the city of Burdeg' Bordeaux , and the king's other ministers, that henceforth they should measure all cloth offered for sale by any merchants within the said city and its vicinity, in the manner following, any previous orders notwithstanding. In the statute issued at Northampton by the assent of the parliament it was stated that, in places where cloth is brought to land, that cloth should be measured by the king's aulnager in the presence of the mayor and bailiffs, or the bailiffs alone if there is no mayor, namely that the length of every ray ¹ cloth should be measured by a line of 7 yards, four times measured by the list, ² and the length of every coloured cloth measured by the back, by a line of six yards and a half, four times measured. ³ However, there have been disputes in Bordeaux and its environs between the cloth merchants of Bordeaux and those of England , concerning the measuring of English woollen cloth in that city. Wishing to end these disputes, the king has ordained that all English woollen cloth sold in Bordeaux should be measured using two cords of white thread, each stamped at both ends with a seal containing a crowned letter 'E', assigned by the aulnager of cloths in England. The king sends these cords in a white leather bag, sealed with the great seal, and wishes that all such cloths sold in Bordeaux and its vicinity should be measured with these cords, according to the form of the said statute, and should any cloths be put up for sale which exceed the correct length, then it should be measured by the cords accordingly.

1.: i.e. striped.
2.: i.e. the border of the cloth.
3.: The full text of the statute appears in Stat. Realm , i, p.260.

17: Same as above

The same order is directed to the constable of Bordeaux under the same date.

18: 12 July 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of grain .

To all and singular admirals and their lieutenants, sheriffs, customers, keepers of sea ports and other maritime places, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and others.

Licence to Digeronde Arnaut de Gironde, merchant of Bordeaux , at his request, that he may load 600 quarters of wheat into a certain ship in the port of Sancto Botho Boston and take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux , for the sustenance of the king's people there, as he has made his oath in chancery that he will take this grain to Bordeaux and nowhere else. Order that he be permitted to do this without hindrance, having first paid the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, any ordinances, proclamations or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

19: 14 July 1374 . Westminster . For Richard Bastard .

Order to the constable and other ministers of Bordeaux not to arrest Richard Bastard, his fellows or his ship on the suit of Jacob Voos or others regarding the taking of bacons and grain, but to tell them to bring their case before the king's council in England. Voos and others have complained to the king that certain bacons and tuns of grain have been seized at sea from him, a merchant of Flanders , by certain subjects of the king and taken to Plymuth Plymouth , where they have been detained by Richard Bastard, master of John Weston's ship called 'La Margaret' of Plymouth , and others, as goods of the king's enemies. The king summoned Bastard and the others to appear before the council to answer this claim, but on that day Voos was not able to prove that the goods belonged to him or to any merchant of Flanders. Bastard and the others were therefore told to return home and keep the goods safe until Voos could prove that he was a merchant of Flanders, and that the goods belonged to him or another Fleming. However, Voos and others have impleaded Bastard on this matter before the constable and his ministers, and Weston's ship has been arrested and detained for a long time. Weston and Bastard have petitioned the king, claiming that they have always been prepared to appear before the king's council in England on this matter, and to abide by its decision, and that they are being maliciously prosecuted on this.

20: 12 July 1374 . Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus for one year for William White of Holm Holme , who is setting out to Aquitaine in the king's service, to stay there in the company of John de Stratton, lord of Landiras .

By bill of p.s.

Concerning the transport of grain.

21: 23 July 1374 . Westminster .

To all and singular admirals, captains, castellans and their lieutenants, customers, keepers of sea ports and other maritime places, sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and others.

Licence to la Lande Johan de Lalande, merchant and burgess of Bordeaux , at his request that, having previously brought six tuns of Gascon wine into England and sold it there, he may buy 400 quarters of grain, of whatever type he wishes, load them into ships in the ports of Gippewicum Ipswich , Colecestr' Colchester or Sandwicum Sandwich and take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux , at his own profit, as he has made his oath in chancery that he will not take this grain to any other place except Bordeaux. Order that he be permitted to do this without hindrance, having first paid the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, any proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

22: 20 July 1374 . Westminster .

Similar licence to Sauvage Richard Savage, citizen of London , that he may buy 300 quarters of wheat wherever he pleases in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire , load them into ships in any ports in those counties and take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux at his own profit, as he has made his oath in Chancery etc. mutatis mutandis .

23: 28 July 1374 . Westminster .

Similar licence to Sibille Walter Sibyl, citizen and stockfishmonger of London , that he may buy 100 quarters of wheat and 100 quarters of oats and beans in the counties of Lincolnshire and Hampshire , load them into ships in the port of Sandwicum Sandwich and take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux as above, etc. mutatis mutandis .

24: 28 July 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of wheat .

Licence to Johan Marquès, citizen of Bordeaux , that, having brought certain wines into England, taken them to Sandwich and sold them, he may use this money to buy 300 quarters of old wheat, grown in the previous year, load them into ships in the port of that town, and take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux , for the sustenance of the king's people there. Order to the same officials as above ( entry 21 ) that he be permitted to do this without hindrance, having first paid the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, etc. as above.

25: 2 August 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of wheat .

Similar licence to Pey Bache, merchant of Burdeg' Bordeaux , that, having brought certain wines into England, taken them to Sandwich and sold them, he may use the money to buy 300 quarters of wheat, etc. as above mutatis mutandis .

26: 5 August 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of wheat .

Similar licence to Johan Faure, merchant and burgess of Burdegal' Bordeaux , that, having brought 60 tuns of wine into England and sold them, he may buy 300 quarters of wheat, load them into ships in the port of Sandwicum Sandwich , and take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux , for the sustenance of the king's people there. Order as above mutatis mutandis .

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27: 11 August 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of wheat .

Licence to Elys Thomas Ellis of Sandwicum Sandwich that he may buy 40 tuns of wheat in the county of Kent , load them into ships in any port in that county, take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux or Bayon' Bayonne for the sustenance of the king's people there, and buy other victuals there and bring them back to England. Order that he may do this without hindrance, paying the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, any proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

28: 12 August 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of wheat .

Licence to Chikat Arnaut Chiquet, merchant and burgess of Burdeg' Bordeaux , that he may buy 200 quarters of wheat wherever he wishes in the county of Kent , load them into ships in the port of Sandwicum Sandwich , and take them to Bordeaux to make his own profit. He has made his oath in chancery that he will not take this wheat to any place other than Bordeaux. Order that he may do this, paying etc. as above.

For protection.

12 July 1374 . Westminster .

Letters of protection with clause volumus for one year for Edmund Slary , esquire , who is setting out to Aquitaine in the king's service in the company of Thomas de Felton .

By bill of p.s.

Similar letters of protection for the same time to the following, who are setting out to the same parts in the same service, in the company of the aforesaid Thomas , under the following dates:

29.1: 28 September 1374 . Westminster .

Neunton John Newenton, kt .

By bill etc.

29.2: 20 December 1374 . Westminster .

Peter Clerk, esquire .

By bill etc.

29.3: 10 January 1374 . Westminster .

Mallyng John Malling .

By bill etc.

30: 17 August 1374 . Westminster . Concerning taking grain to the town of Bordeaux .

Licence to Lyouns Richard Lyons, citizen of London , that he himself or his attorneys may load 500 quarters of wheat into ships in the port of Sandwicum Sandwich , take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux for the sustenance of the king's people there, and buy other victuals there to bring back to England. Order that he be permitted to do this without hindrance, having first paid the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, any proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

Concerning the transport of grain.

31: 2 September 1374 . Westminster .

Similar letters patent to Valle Viridi, de Guilhem de Vauvert, citizen of Burdeg' Bordeaux , that he may buy 20 tuns of wheat, 20 tuns of oats and 10 tuns of beans in the county of Hampshire , load them in the port of Sutht' Southampton and take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux , for the sustenance etc. as above.

32: Same as above

Similar letters to Bennet Fortin Beneyt, citizen of the same city [of Bordeaux] , that he may buy 30 tuns of wheat, 20 tuns of oats and 10 tuns of beans in the county of Hampshire , etc. as above.

33: 2 September 1374 . Westminster .

Similar letters to Rous Robert Roos, mayor of Bordeaux , that he, by his attorney , Richard Savage , may load 10 tuns of oats into ships in the port of London , and take them to the city of Burdeg' Bordeaux , for the sustenance of the king's people there.

34: 3 September 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of grain and cloth .

Licence to Andrew de Preston of London , that he may load grain, cloth and tallow worth 100 marks into ships in the ports of Sutht' Southampton and Plymuth Plymouth , and take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux , to make his profit. Order that he be permitted to do this, having first paid the customs, etc. as above.

35: 6 September 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of grain .

Licence to Kempe John Kemp, citizen of London , that he or his attorneys may load 100 quarters of wheat into ships in the port of Sutht' Southampton , take them to Burdeg' Bordeaux for the sustenance of the king's people there, and buy other victuals there to bring back to England. Order that he be permitted to do this without hindrance, having first paid the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, any etc. as above.

Concerning the transport of grain.

36: 11 September 1374 . Westminster .

Licence to Garoyz Arnaut Garros, citizen and Burdeg' merchant of Bordeaux , that he may load 120 quarters of oats in the port of London , and take them to Bordeaux for the sustenance of the king's people there. Order that he [be permitted to] do this, paying etc. as above.

By C.

37: 12 September 1374 . Westminster .

Similar letters patent to la Lobere Ramon de Laloubère and Reymond Johan Ramon, Burdeg' merchants of Bordeaux , for [loading] 60 tuns of wheat, 30 tuns of oats, 20 tuns of rye and 20 tuns of beans in the port of Sutht' Southampton , for the sustenance of the people of Bordeaux .

14 September 1374 . Westminster .

Similar letters to Arnaut Gessis , merchant and burgess of Burdeg' Bordeaux , ¹ for loading 120 quarters of oats in the port of London and taking them to Bordeaux in the aforesaid manner.

1.: Possibly a variant of 'Gassie'.

39: Same as above

Similar letters to Johan de Born, merchant and Burdeg' burgess of Bordeaux , for loading 60 quarters of wheat, 60 quarters of oats, 60 quarters of rye and 20 quarters of beans and peas in the ports of Sutht' Southampton , Plymmuth Plymouth and Dertemuth Dartmouth and taking them to Bordeaux in the aforesaid manner.

40: 18 September 1374 . Westminster . For the passage of Thomas de Felton .

Order to Philip de Courtenay, admiral of the Western Fleet , or his lieutenant in the port of Bristol , and to the mayor and sheriffs of Bristol , to deliver without delay to Thomas de Felton, seneschal of Gascony or his attorneys, the 20 ships which have been arrested in that port on the king's orders for the passage of Felton and his men to Gascony in the king's service, together with sufficient victuals and other things necessary for their passage, paying a reasonable price for them.

41

28 September 1374 . Westminster . For John Daggenet .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux to allow John Daggenet to have and exercise the office of porter or keeper of the gate of the Umbreriam, Burdeg' Ombrière of Bordeaux , taking the usual profits and emoluments pertaining to that office, from 10 January 1373 for the term of his life. Edward [of Woodstock], prince of Wales , by letters patent made when he was prince of Aquitaine , granted this office to his messenger Daggenet, for his good service, and the king confirmed this grant for himself and his heirs by letters patent on the said 10 January. ¹

1.: For the king's confirmation, see Calendar of the Patent Rolls (CPR), 1370-74 , p.228.

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27 November 1374 . The notre palois de Westm' palace of Westminster . For Arnaut de Saumont .

[in French]

Order under the great seal to the seneschal of Aquitaine that he should call before him Arnaut de Saumont and others as required, inform himself of the truth and circumstances of the matters contained in Saumont's petition, and do whatever seems best for the honour and profit of the king, and the safety and maintenance of the king's lordship there. Sauvemont Arnaut de Saumont, lieutenant of the king's Mauleon castle of Mauléon for the lord of Caupeyne Caupenne , has complained that, while he has served the king well and loyally in the wars, he has expended everything which was his and has nothing with which to maintain his estate without the king's assistance. He has therefore asked that he be granted the baylie and keeping of the king's place of Poillou Pouillon for the term of his life, with all the profits, revenues and emoluments pertaining to it, which he could perform better than anyone else, as he was born in that lordship and all his friends are nearby. He has also asked that he receive, for term of his life, the three messageries in Mauléon, the first called of la Barhoa La Barhoue , the second of Dairbailha Arbailles and the third Sole Severein Soule , ¹ which have no duties except to summon the people of the land before the castellan to do their business and take no wages from the king.

1.: The Soule was divided into three messageries ( messadgeries in Gascon), the Haute-Soule (in Gascon Sole Sobiran ), the Arbailles and the Basse-Soule or La Barhoue (in Gascon Sole Jusan or La Barhoa ). Each of the messageries was headed by a messager ( messadgé in Gascon) which was a justice official who applied the judgments of the court of Licharre , the representative assembly of the men of Soule. See La coutume de la Soule , ed. M. Grosclaude (Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, 1993), pp. 17-20 and the definition of the messenger in Lespy, V., Dictionnaire béarnais ancien et moderne (Montpellier, 1867), p. 67 (article Messadger, Messadge ).

43: 4 December 1374 . Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus for one year for Robert Mersch , esquire , of Essex , who is going to Aquitaine in the king's service in the company of Thomas de Felton, seneschal of Aquitaine .

By bill of p.s.

44: 10 December 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of wheat .

To all and singular admirals, captains, castellans and their lieutenants, customers, keepers of sea ports, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and others.

Licence to Vermdos Domenges de Brindos, master of the ship called la Seint Johan of Baion Bayonne , at his request, that he or his servants may load 150 tuns of wheat into a ship in the port of Sandwicum Sandwich , and take it to Bayonne or Burdeg' Bordeaux for the sustenance of the king's people there, as he has made his oath in Chancery that he will not take this wheat to any places other than Bayonne or Bordeaux. Order that he be permitted to do this without hindrance, having first paid the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, any previous proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

45: 12 December 1374 . Westminster . For Richard Lyons .

Licence to Richard Lyons that he or his servants may load 600 quarters of wheat in the port of Orewell Orwell and take it to Burdeg' Bordeaux for the sustenance of the king's people there, and buy other merchandise there and bring it back into England. Order to the same officials that he or his servants be permitted to do this, having first paid the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, any order or proclamations to the contrary notwithstanding.

46

3 December 1374 . Westminster . Confirmation for Pey de Lamothe . ¹

Inspeximus of letters patent of John [of Gaunt], duke of Lancaster , made when he was the king's lieutenant in Aquitaine:

6 March 1374 . Burdeaux Bordeaux .

Grant by John [of Gaunt], Castelle, Legionis king of Castile and León , duke of Lancaster and king's lieutenant in Aquitaine , to la Mote Pey de Lamothe , for his past and future good service to the king and himself, of the Basatz, Bazadez prévôté of the town, castle and castellany of Bazas and the Bazadais , with all the profits, emoluments and franchals pertaining to it, presently in the hands of the duke's enemies, to hold for life of the king and his heirs, notwithstanding any other gift to the contrary, performing the services and with all the other rights, dues and customs. Order to the seneschal of Aquitaine and the constable of Bordeaux, and all other seneschals, mayors, receivers, prévôts, bayles, officers, ministers and other subjects of the king that they allow Lamothe to use and enjoy this peaceably, and put him in possession of this on demand once the office comes into the king's obedience, according to the terms of these letters. Given under the duke's privy seal.

The king, of his special grace and for Pey's past and future good service, approves, ratifies and confirms everything contained in the letters of his son and lieutenant, for him and his heirs, and that Pey may hold the said prévôté with its appurtenances for the term of his life, for the ancient, due and customary services, with remainder to the king and his heirs after Lamothe's death. ²

By K. and C.

1.: A note in the margin states ' extractus '.
2.: For a later petition to Richard II requesting confirmation of this office, see SC 8/273/13618.

47: 20 December 1374 . Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus for one year for Sewal Thomas Sewell, esquire , who is going overseas in the king's service in the company of Thomas de Felton, seneschal of Aquitaine .

By bill of p.s.

48

6 March 1374 . Westminster . For Thomas de Felton .

Order to the constable of Bordeaux that he is to pay to Thomas de Felton, kt , who has been appointed as seneschal of Aquitaine by the king's letters, such wages and fees from the issues of the duchy as other seneschals have previously been paid, for as long as he holds that office during the king's pleasure. This is to be done by indentures made between them from time to time, for which he will be given due allowance in his account. ¹

1.: Printed in Rymer, Foedera , vol. 3, part 2, p.1000. This entry is rather curious for it is dated exactly a year after Felton's appointment to the office of seneschal by Edward III. Since Felton had returned to England in 1374 for a brief visit, it is possible that his appointment was renewed at that time, and this order to the constable to pay Felton's wages simply accompanies an unrecorded reappointment. Alternatively this entry has been misplaced in the Gascon Rolls, and should date to a year earlier.

49: 20 December 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of grain to Bordeaux .

To all and singular admirals and their lieutenants, customers, collectors of customs, keepers of sea ports and other maritime places, sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and others.

Licence to Reynaud de Tilh, burgess of Burdegal' Bordeaux , that he or his servants may buy 120 tuns of wheat, 20 tuns of beans and peas and 20 tuns of oats in the towns of Sancto Botho Boston , Lenn Lynn , Magna Jernemuth Great Yarmouth or Weymuth Weymouth , load them into ships in any of those ports, and take them to Bordeaux , for the sustenance of the king's people there and to make his profit. Constantyn Arnaut Constantin, burgess of Bordeaux , has personally stood surety in chancery for Reynaud that he will take this cargo to Bordeaux and nowhere else. Order that he be permitted to do this, having first paid the due customs and subsidies, any previous proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

50: 13 January 1375 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of wheat .

Licence to Hedyngham John Hedingham, citizen of London , that he or his servants may buy 1000 quarters of wheat in the counties of Berkshire , Dorset and Sussex , load them into ships in whichever ports he wishes, and take them to Burdegal' Bordeaux , for the sustenance of the king's people there, as he himself has mainperned before the king's council that he will not take this cargo to any place other than Bordeaux. Order to all admirals, etc, that he be permitted to do this without hindrance, having first paid the customs, subsidies and other moneys due, any previous proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

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51: 20 October 1374 . Westminster . For protection .

Letters of protection with clause volumus for one year for John Andrew [of] Coubrugg Cowbridge , who is going to Aquitaine in the king's service in the company of Thomas de Felton .

By bill of p.s.

52: 15 November 1374 . Westminster . For John Cole .

To all and singular admirals and their lieutenants, customers, keepers of sea ports and other maritime places, sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and others.

Licence to John Cole of Bruggewater Bridgwater that he or his servants may load 300 quarters of beans and peas into ships in the port of Bridgwater and take them to Burdegal' Bordeaux or Baion Bayonne , for the sustenance of the king's people there, and to make his own profit, provided that he find sufficient security in that port that he will take this cargo to those towns, or one of them, and not to the king's enemies elsewhere, and that he brings letters under the seal of the constable of Bordeaux proving that he has unloaded this cargo before the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist next. Order that, having provided this security, he or his servants be permitted to do this, having first paid the due subsidies and customs, any previous proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

53: 22 November 1374 . Westminster . For Domenges Mondenx .

To all and singular admirals, captains, castellans and their lieutenants, customers, keepers of sea ports and other maritime places, and others in Ireland and England.

Licence to Mondenge Domenges de Mondenx, master of the barge Sancti Spiritus of Baion Bayonne , that he or his servants may load 120 tuns of wheat into the said ship in the port of Dublin in Hibernia Ireland and take them to Baion Bayonne , for the sustenance of the king's people resident there. He has made his oath in the English chancery that he will not take this wheat to any other places overseas except to Bayonne. Order that he or his servants be permitted to do this freely and without hindrance, having first paid the customs, subsidies or other moneys due, any previous proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

54: 4 December 1374 . Westminster . For Walter Sibyl .

Licence to Sibyll Walter Sibyl, citizen of London , at his request, that he or his servants may buy 300 quarters of wheat and 100 quarters of beans in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire , load them into ships in whichever ports he wishes, and take them to Burdegal' Bordeaux , to make his own profit. He has made his oath in chancery that he will not take this wheat to any other place overseas except to Bordeaux. Order to the same officials etc. as above.

55: 10 December 1374 . Westminster . Concerning the transport of wheat .

To all and singular admirals, captains, castellans and their lieutenants, customers, keepers of sea ports, mayors, bailiffs, ministers and others.

Licence to Hugh Fastolf, citizen of London , at his request, that he or his servants may buy 40 quarters of wheat in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk , load them in the port of Magne Jernemuth Great Yarmouth and take them to Burdegal' Bordeaux in Gascony, at his own profit. He has agreed in chancery that he will not take this wheat to any other place overseas except to Bordeaux. Order that he or his servants may do this freely and without hindrance, having first paid the customs, subsidies or other moneys due, any previous proclamations, ordinances or orders to the contrary notwithstanding.

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27 November 1374 . The notre palois de Westm' palace of Westminster . For the lord of Caupenne .

[in French]

Order under the great seal to the seneschal of Aquitaine, that he should call before him the lord of Caupeyne Caupenne , castellan of the king's Mauleon de Soule castle of Mauléon , and anyone else by whom he might be better informed of the truth and circumstances surrounding the castellan's petition, and do what seems best for the profit and honour of the king, and the safety and maintenance of his lordship there. The lord of Caupenne, has stated that he and other castellans before him were accustomed to receive aubergades ( overgades ) ¹ from each house of the land of Soule , except from nobles, ² for which he and his predecessors have put forward many arguments and requests before the king. He has asked that the king might wish to send by commission to those parts to agree with the people of the land of Soule and turn the aubergades into rents, coming to an agreement with the people for the profit of the king, the castle and the castellan. Also, to the great prejudice of the king and the said place, previous castellans, and the seneschal of Gascony, have taken from certain fees the lands and services which pertain to the king and his castle, and without which the castellan is not able to survive. He has asked the king to give him an order to bring those lands and services into the king's hands, to the profit of the king and his castle as before. He has also shown how certain people of Soule are bound to bring certain quantities of firewood for each household ( fue ), of straw, green vegetables, cabbages and to bind sheaves and to carry dung to the land ( soient tenuz de de faire certeine quantite de busche pur chescun fue, de paille, de pores, de chowes, de cercler les bleds et de porter des fymes as terres ), all of which are not to the profit of the king, his castle or the castellan. He therefore asks that he be given power to commute these dues into wheat, for the better profit of the king and the castle. Finally, since the castle of Mauléon requires extensive repairs to the walls and other things, he has asked that he may be given orders that the people of Soule should make the repairs as quickly as they can, and that they should not be bound to pay their customary rights to the king in Gascony until this work is completed. ³

1.: An 'aubergade' or 'albergade' was a "droit de gîte" (right of shelter) that the lord or his representative could request from a tenant.
2.: It corresponds to a distinction, usual in this area, between ostaus de gentius (noble house) and ostaus (houses) of ordinary people.
3.: For related entries see entry in C 61/90 and entry in C 61/89 .

57

8 December 1374 . Westminster . For Pey de Lamothe .

Confirmation to la Mote Pey de Lamothe , who has custody of the places of Langon in Aquitaine by commission of the seneschal, that he may continue to receive a certain custom of 4 d. in the pound from all merchandise passing through that area, as specified in the seneschal's letters, for the safe custody of that area, for as long he holds this custody and for the duration of the war. ¹

By K.

1.: For a later confirmation of these letters, see entry in C 61/97 .