Messengers of the city of Bayonne. King and council. [The petition is not entirely...

Petitioners

Messengers of the city of Bayonne.

Addressees

King and council.

Nature of request

[The petition is not entirely legible as a consequence of the rather liberal application of gall].1) The messengers request confirmation of their city's privileges and liberties.2) They request that their people be quit of the tax on them coming to England and departing as the merchants of Spain are.3) They request that they are quit of customs and tolls as are the people of the town of Dax.4) [Largely illegible request that (from SC 8/284/14195) asks that a man of Bayonne who kills a stranger in Bayonne might be able to escape as the stranger would have if he had killed a man of Bayonne in his own country].5) They request that a remedy is made so that they can come and go to their lands and goods as by default of the baillis of the city it is not safe to do so without being robbed and despoiled.6) They request that the city be given the king's seal of Gascony . . . them pay the deeds to clerks or in another manner sufficient taxation to be assessed.7) They request letters of request to the king of France on their behalf to revoke the letters of marque that he has issued against them.8) They request further letters to the king of France that when a person of Bayonne commits murder or some other crime on sea or land, those who are not guilty might not be seized or arrested in person or in goods.9) They request that the king swear an oath to the messengers as the king was accustomed to swear an oath to them and they would swear in return.

Nature of endorsement

[On face:]1) Let the charters be viewed.2) The customs were granted at the request of the merchants of the duchy and elsewhere overseas to have certain advantages which they have.3) [Rendered illegible. From SC 8/284/14195: Let the privileges of the city of Dax on this point be viewed.]4) The king has understood that the oath made by his seneschal to the people of the city is that he will keep their laws and customs, and to grant this request would be contrary to their laws and customs, and so contrary to the oath.5) The present seneschal and constable, or those who will be seneschal and constable for the time being, are to be written to, to advise themselves concerning this article and ordain so that they can come and go safely.6) The present seneschal, or the person who will be seneschal for the time being, is to be ordered to take from the people of Bayonne in moderation, and that they are to be treated the more graciously because of the good service that they have done and will do.7) The king of France has been asked on this point.8) The messengers who will go to the parlement of Paris are to be charged with this business among the others.9) The king understands that his seneschal, who is in Gascony, has made an oath to them as is customary, and nevertheless let the present seneschal be commanded to swear the oath if he has not already done so.[On dorse, none].

Places mentioned

Bayonne, [Gascony, France]

Spain

Dax, [Gascony, France].

For a duplicate of this petition, see SC 8/284/14195