Source One

Extract from the Customs Accounts, Catalogue Ref: E 122/71/4

Transcript

London

Particulars of the account of Nicholas Brembre and John Philippot, knights, collectors of the customs and king’s subsidy on wool, skins and woolfells in the port of London, that is to say the issues of the same custom and royal subsidy there from the feast of St Michael in the fourth year [of the king’s reign] until the feast of St Michael next following, by the view and testimony of Geoffrey Chaucer, controller of the same custom and royal subsidy there …

In the ship of John Doubble, the same day¹ [18 November 1380]

• From Gerard Bek, alien, for 4 sacks [and] 2 ½ nails² of wool, in 2 wrappers – Customs [due] £11, 15 shillings, 4 ¾ pence
• From John Philipot, native, for 4 sacks [and] 10 nails of wool, in 2 wrappers – Customs [due] £10, 9 shillings, 7½ pence
• From Andrea Michel, alien, for 1½ sacks [and] 21½ nails of wool, in 1 wrapper – Customs [due] 102 shillings, ¾ pence
• From Peter Gracian, alien, for 4 sacks of wool in 2 wrappers – Customs [due] £10, 13 shillings, 4 pence
• From Peter Brakatyn, alien, for 4 sacks [and] 5½ nails of wool in 2 wrappers – Customs [due] £10, 19s
• From Francesco Gwenise, alien, for 8½ sacks [and] 17 nails of wool, in 4 wrappers – Customs [due] £23 10 shillings, 9¼ pence
• From Antonio Merweylle, alien, for 4½ sacks [and] one nail of wool, in 2 wrappers – Customs [due] £12, 12½ pence
• From African Peter [Affrikano Petro], alien, for 4 sacks [and] 13 ½ nails of wool, in 2 wrappers – Customs [due] £11, 7 shillings, 2¼ pence
• From Thomas Newynton, native, for 4 sacks [and] 12 ½ nails of wool in 2 wrappers – Customs [due] £10, 12 shillings ½ pence

Sum of native wool 8 sacks, 22½ nails – £21, 20 pence

Sum of alien wool 32 sacks, 2 nails – £85, 8 shillings, 9½ pence

Issue of the seal 18 pence

–

¹ As the preceding entry

² A unit of measuring the weight of wool

Notes:

‘African Peter’ appears in the customs records on eighteen occasions this financial year alone, across eleven days in total. There were a total of 184 ships recorded in the account this year, many of which record the same merchants and their goods. It is impossible to know whether the merchants themselves were present on each occasion, or just their goods, although the names would certainly have been familiar to those working in the customs house.