524 A. D. 1338. 



Peruchi, and for leizing all their goods and chattels, wherever they could 

 be fovind. [Rot. pat. fee. 12 Edw. III. m. 5.] He alfo feized the pro- 

 perty of the Cluniac and Ciftercian monks throughout all England, 

 [Walfingham, p. 146] and of all the religious eftablifhments depending 

 upon foreign ones, called alien priories, till they bought themfelves off. 

 \Fadera, V. v, p. 490 — Knyghton, col. 2570.] 



AugufI: — At the requeft of the duke of Brabant the king granted the 

 merchants and burgeffes of Dieft, Bruffels, Tienen, Mechlin, and Lewe, 

 freedom of buying wool and trading in England, with the privilege of 

 being liable only for their own debts and tranfgreffions, provided their 

 lords fhould not make war upon him or allift his enemies : and he grant- 

 ed, that their cloths fhould be examined and marked by the ulnators, or 

 meafurers, within five days, at the furtheft, after being unpacked *. He 

 alfo confirmed the grants made by his predeceflors to the citizens of Co- 

 logne. [Fadera, V. v,pp. 79, 80, 82.] 



Odlober 4" -24''' — Southampton, the principal commercial port on the 

 fouth coafi: of England, was burnt and plundered by the French. [Feed- 

 era, V. V, p. 99 — Walfingham, p. 512.] 



Odober i4"'-24''' — There being apprehenfions of a formidable inva- 

 fion from France, orders were iifued for ftationing a fufEcient force in 

 the ifland of Sheppey, for fortifying London on the bank of the river 

 with flone or planks, and driving piles into the channel to obflrudl the 

 approach of the enemy's veflels : and all perfons, clergy or laity, without 

 any exception, were ordered to contribute, in proportion to their eftates 

 in London, to the expenfe. [Foedera, V. 'v,pp. 85, 86.] 



1339, March G'*" — Henry Darcy mayor of London having reprefent- 

 ed to the king, that the income of fifty marks, which ufed to be paid 

 annually by the merchants of Amiens, Nele, and Corbie, to his prede- 

 ceflx)rs, (fee p. 389) had now failed by the merchants leaving the coun- 

 try on account of the war, he ordered the fhirrefs of London to pay that 

 fum to the mayor. [Foedera, V. v,p. 105.] 



June 12''' — A fpecies of coin of inferior quality, called black money 

 or turneys (probably fuch as had been lately prohibited in England) 

 had been introduced in Ireland, the currency of which, being fuppofed 

 prejudicial to that of the legal money, had been fupprefled. But the 

 quantity of good money in circulation being found inadequate to the 

 wants of the country, the warden (or viceroy) of Ireland was now au- 

 thorized to reftore the currency of the black money, if he and his coun- 

 cil fhould think it expedient, till a fufficient quantity of better money 

 could be provided. About three months before, twenty-four pair of 



* I liavf been very brief in relating the grants in tliey difTer from the grant to the people of Dieft 

 to thoft cities, becaufe the favour refpeftiiig the in the ye;ir 1328, already infcrtcd. 

 rxaminatiun of tin ir cloths i« the only article where- I 



