English Economic History: Select Documents

by Unknown

And that every man who will sue for us against such as shall commit fraud against this ordinance be admitted hereto and have the fourth penny of that which shall be so deraigned at his suit to our profit.

And that the mayor or bailiffs in every port where merchants and ships are take oath of the merchants and masters of ships going and returning that they will commit no fraud against this ordinance in any point.

And that there be a table of exchange at Dover and elsewhere where and when it shall seem good to us and our council to make exchanges. And that the wardens of the said tables make exchanges by testimony of the controllers whom we will appoint there.

And that no pilgrim pass out of our realm to the parts beyond the sea except at Dover, on pain of imprisonment for a year. And that good ward and strict be made in all places on the seacoast in ports and elsewhere where there is any manner of landing, by good and lawful men sworn, who in our name shall cause diligent search to be made that none, of what condition or estate soever he be, take sterling money, silver in plate, or vessel of gold or silver out of our realm without our licence, nor bring into the said realm or power false money or counterfeit sterling, as is aforesaid, on the pains and forfeitures aforesaid. And the money, vessel or plate so forfeited shall be delivered at our exchanges by indenture, whereof the one part remaining with the searchers shall be delivered at the Exchequer, and by the same indentures the warden of the exchanges shall be charged with that which he shall have received.

And that the searchers have of our gift for all their work the fourth penny of as much as they find so forfeited. And if the searchers make release or show favour to any and be attainted hereof they shall be liable to forfeiture of as much as they shall have in goods; and that the hostlers in every port where there is passage shall be sworn to make search upon their guests in like manner as the searchers shall do, and shall have the fourth penny of that which they find forfeit to us, as the said searchers shall have. And it is our intention that the said searchers have power to search the hostels and to inform themselves of the doings of hostlers; and that the hostlers, in case they be found deceitful against the said articles, shall be punished and incur the forfeiture aforesaid.

Wherefore we command you, straitly enjoining, that forthwith upon sight of these letters you cause all the articles and points aforesaid to be cried and published in cities and boroughs, market towns, ports and all other places within your bailiwick, as well within franchise as without, where you shall see fit so to do; and that in all other places within your bailiwick where need shall be, except the places where such wardens and searchers shall be deputed by us, you cause such searchers and wardens to be established and sworn to keep and observe this our ordinance in the form aforesaid, on the pains contained in this form; and that you certify the Treasurer and Barons of our Exchequer without delay of the names of those who shall be hereafter assigned by you as searchers and wardens. Given under our great seal at York, 6th June in the 9th year of our reign.

In like manner command is given to the several sheriffs throughout England....

The oath of the searchers.—You shall swear that you will well and lawfully make search of all the things contained in your commission whereof search ought to be made according to the commission, and that you will lawfully perform all the other things contained in the same, and that you will lawfully charge yourself with that which you shall find forfeited to the King and will make a lawful indenture thereof and render a lawful account, and that you will spare none for love or for favour, to have private gain, whereby the King may be a loser. So help you God and his saints.

9. Opinions of Officers of the Mint on the State of English Money [Rot. Parl., III., 126-7], 1381-2.

To our lord the King and to all the lords and commons of his realm, make known, as they have often done before these times without being heard, the officers over the moneys of the Tower of London, how for lack of good ordinance no gold or silver comes into England, but of that which is in England a great part has been and from day to day is carried out of the land, and that which remains in England by fault of the deceit of clippers and otherwise is become right feeble, and from day to day such damage increases. Wherefore please it you to take good counsel and remedy hereon, otherwise we, the said officers, warn you, and before God and before you we will be excused, that if you do not apply a speedy remedy thereto in short time to come, where you think to have 5s. you will not have 4s.