Title: Calendar of the Fine Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office. Prepared under the Superintendence of
The Deputy Keeper of the Records. Vol. XV Henry VI - A.D. 1422-1430. Published by Authority of His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for
the Home Department, 1935, London, 294
Date: 20 December 1429
Place: Westminster
8 HENRY VI
MEMBRANE 24.
1429
Dec. 20.
Westminster.
Commission to John Stodeley of Kydermynstre, ‘goldesmyth,’ John Stapull of Marteley, Richard Knotte of Bredon, Richard Felde of Kyngesnorton, Laurence Kynges of Arley, Robert Webbe of Evesham, William Sollay of Hyndelep and William Meryhurst of Duddeley to levy and collect from all cities, boroughs and towns, and from all secular lords of towns and other lay persons having goods and possessions, and from others both great and small, in the county of Worcester (except the city of Worcester), and also from ecclesiastical persons in respect of goods forthcoming from lands acquired by them since 20 Edward I, the two whole fifteenths and tenths, payable one fifteenth and one tenth on the morrow of Hilary next and the other fifteenth and tenth at Christmas following, which the commonalties of the realm and the citizens and burgesses of cities and boroughs, of their free will and with the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal, granted to the king in his present parliament, especially for the defence of the realm, to wit, as great a sum as has heretofore been levied in like case, and no more, provided always that the said secular lords of towns and lay persons and others aforesaid contribute to such payment in respect of all their goods and chattels whatsoever, and the ecclesiastics as above for their portion with the commonalty of the county, and that no one be spared, and that answer be made for such fifteenths and tenths at the Exchequer or other appointed place at the said terms; and order to them to go in person from town to town and from place to place within the said county, and cause to come before them two men and the reeve from every town, and the mayor, bailiffs and four men from every city and borough, from the most discreet and upright men of the said towns, cities and boroughs, charging them to have the money levied and delivered to them (the commissioners) without delay by one or two of the most sufficient men of every city, town and borough, or else to have the money levied from the men themselves and answer made therefor to the commissioners; provided always that answer be made to the king for the whole sum at the terms aforesaid, so that the affairs of the realm be not delayed for failure of payment through their default. And order to dukes, earls, barons, knights, lords of towns, freemen and the whole commonalty of the county, and to the mayors, bailiffs and commonalties of cities, boroughs and towns, and to the sheriff of the county, to be intendant to the commissioners; and to the sheriff to join with the commissioners in distraining those who refuse to pay.
Mittitur in extractis. [Sent in extracts]
The like to the following in the counties named:-
MEMBRANE 21.
. . .
John Erihith of Plomsted, Henry Hikkes of Rouchestre, John Chepsted of Chepstde, Thomas Cressell, Richard Ildirgate, Simon Plukke of Stourmouth, William Sednore, Robert Symnell of Smeth, Peter Knyght, Richard atte Sole, John Brenchele, ‘dier,’ Richard Propchaunt of Maydeston, William Slyham of Brenchele, Simon Fitz Rauf of Tunbregge, Thomas Sprynget of Sythyngborne; Kent.
. . .
Plumstead, Rochester, Chipstead, Aldergate, Stourmouth, Smeeth, Maidstone, Brenchley, Tunbridge, Sittingbourne.