| Description | From: the barons of Sandwich
To: Henry III, king of England
Their fellow barons, with whose advice they should reply to the king's mandate, are absent in Normandy, Poitiers, Gascony, Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere, transporting their merchandise. The barons hold their lands and liberties by the service of finding 5 ships once a year for 15 days. Each ship is to have 20 men armed in the manner of sailors ('more maritimo') and a master ('rector'). If the ships remain in the king's service for longer, he shall maintain them with his money. Lastage belongs to the barons. Their bailiffs take 2 casks, each worth 20s, from each ship for prisage of wines. This tax was first levied in the time of King John and has been discontinued and then reimposed several times since. The prior and convent of Canterbury Cathedral Priory have a reeve in the town and port of Sandwich who holds pleas there and receives amercements and the priory's customs. They believe that the priory received these things before the Conquest and have heard this from their ancestors. If they find out more from their absent fellows they will inform the king.
Endorsed with description, partly obscured by the mount, and notes that there are copies of this return held in the king's treasury and by the barons of Sandwich and the priory in late 13th cent hands. |
| Physical Description | Parchment, 1m, indented at top, filing hole to left, dirty, stained, several small holes, partly mounted on modern paper |