Mayor and jurats of Bordeaux. King. [The petition is badly damaged and much of the...

Petitioners

Mayor and jurats of Bordeaux.

Addressees

King.

Nature of request

[The petition is badly damaged and much of the upper left-hand side of the petition is illegible or semi-illegible. Petition in 9 parts:]1) [Largely illegible] The Mayor and jurats state that the King's officials are obstructing them, and request a commission to inquire into this.2) [Largely illegible] It is requested that the constable and receivers observe the old customs concerning customs on wine.3) [Largely illegible] It is requested that the constable and receivers observe another old custom and liberty concerning customs on wine and wages.4) They request that the constable and receivers of customs observe their liberty and immunity from paying custom at the castle of Bordeaux on wine from their vineyards outside of the diocese of Bordeaux.5) They state that the customs formerly received at Royan were transferred to Bordeaux at the request of merchants, but that it has now been moved back to Royan, and good faith demands that it should not be received twice. They ask the king to clarify where he wishes it to be received.6) They state that the city is greatly overburdened with the expenses of the Mayor, and ask that while the Mayor is appointed by the King his salary and expenses might be assessed moderately.7) They state that they had a custom whereby anyone resident in the city for a certain length of time became a burgess, but that the constable or receiver has been preventing certain people who have lived in the city for fourteen years and more from becoming burgesses. They ask that the constable and receiver might be ordered to allow Astorius to enjoy this liberty like other burgesses of Bordeaux, and to return the money they have taken from him immediately.8) The mayor and jurats state that the constable and the lieutenant of the seneschal built a certain pentice on common pasture next to the Umbrer gate, saying that it would not be to the prejudice of the town and that they would remove it whenever they were asked to by the king or the town; but they have not done so, and indeed are building more structures there. They ask that they might all be removed, so that they can have use their common pasture as they have been accustomed to.9) The mayor and jurats request the return of dominion over foreigners and strangers in Bordeaux which a certain bailiff took to himself in prejudice of their liberties.

Nature of endorsement

[On face:]1) . . .their advice, calling those of the council etc. it is sent back to the King so that . . .2) . . . to inform themselves on the aforesaid . . .3) [No apparent response].4) The privilege is to be [examined] and justice is to be done to them according to the privilege and what has been in use hitherto, insofar as it accords with the privilege.5) Let it be ordered that if they find that it was formerly customary to pay one custom only then let it cease.6) Let it be ordered and enquired into how it used to be done, and if any document exists concerning the assessment of the wages or not. And if so, then when it has been seen, and when advice has been taken and the council has deliberated on this etc. the King is to be informed of this. And in the meantime the people of Bordeaux are to be told to deal with the Mayor etc. and the Mayor [is to be told] to be moderate in requesting expenses from them. 7) The seneschal and constable are to be ordered to inform themselves on the contents of the petition; and if they find that it is so, they are to permit the said burgesses etc.8) Let it be ordered as above.9) Let the seneschal and constable be ordered that they certify the king of the premises, and on the settlement made on this by the Lord of Creon, and the king will further do etc.[On dorse:][Partly illegible] Text of a writ granting the right to bear arms in the Duchy of Aquitaine to one Aymer.

Places mentioned

Bordeaux, [Guyenne, France]

Royan, [Saintonge, France].

People mentioned

Richard de Haveringe (Havering), constable of Bordeaux

John de Haveringe (Havering), seneschal of Gascony.

For a related document, see SC 8/277/13849

For related entries, see mm.2, 2d, 4d in C 61/27