DORSET AND KING JOHN. 137 



There are also fines of the Knights of the lionor of Dunstcr, also 

 of Bologne and of Bath. 



Whilst the subject of prisoners is before us it will be convenient 

 to make some further remarks concerning them. Prisoners -svere 

 supplied Avith food, and their chattels were frequently taken by the 

 .Sheriff to pay for it ; by licence other articles might be supidied to 

 prisoners as robes and money to the Lord de Crassay "qii diu fu'it 

 i p'isona n'ra." P.R., 4 John, August 19. 



Prisoners in custody for certain offences might obtain their 

 liberty by making fine with the King ; the fines paid by prisoners to 

 be discharged from custody were sometimes paid partly in kind. 

 Thus John le Tengre undertook to pay 100 marks and " 10 fine 

 hares, fair and good," of which he was to pay 40 marks and 5 hares 

 before his discharge, and his sons were to be received as hostages 

 for the remainder, which was to be paid in two portions, and on 

 payment of the second portion the hostages were to be freed. (P.K., 

 8 John, April 28.) Wiomar' Erito made a similar arrangement, 

 hares and all, and Rob. Weldebof, who was taken prisoner at 

 Carrickfergus and imprisoned at Gloucester, promised 30 marks 

 and one good hunter (chascur), and as four of his friends gave 

 security for the payment he was discharged at once. (P.R., IG 

 John, December 21.) Hostages were also supplied with food at 

 their own cost or that of their friends, but the men of Anjou must 

 have been astonished at receiving, as a mark of the King'a favuui', 

 a letter declaring that on account of the love he bore them he 

 quitted their hostages of all expenses which they owed for food, for 

 35U silver marks of which he requested payment before Michael- 

 mas. 



Salt, wine, corn, and leather were apparently the principal 

 articles of trade with this country, and Wareham seems to have 

 had its share of the trade such as it was. Alexander of Warchaiii, 

 received licence from the King at Gilliugham uu January 12, 12U7, 

 to carry one cargo of .salt and leather into Normandy. (I'.K., 7 

 John, January 12.) Lucas, of Wareham, safe conduct for himself 

 and his ship in trading throughout the country on his iiayuig upon 



