The Stonor letters and papers, 1290-1483; ed. for the Royal historical society, from the origial documents in the Public record office, by Charles Lethbridge Kingsford.

223. THOMAS HOWLAKE TO SIR WILLIAM STONOR 24 JULY 1478

It does not seem possible to explain the whole of Howlake's transactions; no doubt there were some things which would have been obvious to his em|ployer but are obscure to us. A comparison with Nos. 2 and 41 in the Cely Papers gives a partial clue. The first figures (xl., xxxij., xxxvij., and j) are the numbers of the serplars (see No. 159 above). Each serplar contained 2½ sacks (ss. di.) with a number of odd cloves. A clove contained 7 lb., and there were 52 cloves to the sack. So the total weight would be 10 sacks + 149 cloves, or 12 sacks 45 cloves; the total weight clear is given, however, as only 11½ sacks 14 cloves. From the Cely Account it appears that in selling a rebate was allowed. In the Cely Account (No. 41) the rebate was 2 cloves on the sack, and fractions of less than half a sack were disregarded; but

(perhaps as compensation) the rebate on the last serplar was 4 cloves, though it only contained 1 sack 18 cloves. In Howlake's account the total rebate was apparently 57 cloves; if we calculate it at 4½ cloves the sack and dis|regard resulting fractions of cloves, the rebate on the first serplar was 15 cloves, and on each of the others 14, giving the total of 57. This explains the "poyse". The price of 11½ sacks 14 cloves at 19 marks the sack should be £149 1s. 6d., not £147 12s. 8d.; possibly there was a reduction in respect of a broken sack; or it may be that this is the "more respyte" to which Howlake refers. The value in sterling money agrees with the value in Flemish (£180 8s. 9g.), if one-third is taken at 25s. 4g. Flemish for £1 sterling, and the rest at 24s. It is therefore clear that Howlake when he wrote "viij s. g. ffl." meant only 8 shillings Flemish. The "g" presumably means "groot"; but it is clear that if so there were, as calculated, 12 groots to the shilling; for on this basis the three bills exactly make up £180 8s. 9d. Flemish.

Peter van de Rade and Danyell van de Rade, merchants of Bruges, appear in the Cely Papers (Nos. 2 and 10). Dr. John Coke was employed in July, 1478, to treat with Thomas de Plana, the representative of Maximilian and Mary of Burgundy "super Intercursu ac communicatione Mercansie necnon Piscatione super mare," and to arrive at a settlement of all commercial grievances between England and Flanders. As a result a treaty was con|cluded on 12 July; to the treaty there were annexed documents dealing with the complaints of the Merchants of the Staple, fixing Ordinances for the Staple at Calais and providing for the inspection of the wool-trade there (Foedera, xii, 66-86). "Thursday last" was 23 July, the day before Howlake wrote his letter, so that news of what had been done at Bruges could hardly have reached Calais. From A.C., xlvi, 175.

Jhesu A^no xviij^o.

Ryght reverent and worchipfull Syr, I recommaund me unto your good maisterchip in the most lowly wyse I best can or may &c. Fyrder|more, Syr, please yt your maysterchip to wyt þat now latly I have made a salle, þe whiche follewyth.

The xxij day in Jully I sold to Peter Vanderade and Danyell Vanderad off Bruges iiij serplars ffynne Cottes wolle ffor xix marcs le sacc, and to take ffor the thyrd part off the holle summa ffor every L. st. xxv. s. iiij. g. ffl, [Sc. flemming.] and for the rest ffor every vj. s. viij. d. st. viij. s. g. ffl.

xl. ss. di. xliij cl.; xxxij. ss. di. xxxix. cl.; xxxvij. ss. di. xxxiiij. cl.; j. ss. di. xxxiij. cl.; poyse xj. sacc. di. xiiij. cl.; Summa cxlvij. l. xij. s. viij. d. st.; Valethe ffl. ciiij^xx. li. viij. s. ix. g.

Item ffor pt. (payment) off the same:

℞. off the forseid Danyell a byll payable at the sygȝth:

Summa lxij. li. vj. s. vij. g.

Item. ℞. off the same a byll payable the xxij day in Janyver next:

Summa lix. li. xiij. g.

Item. ℞. off the same a byll payable the xxij day in Jully next after þat: Summa lix. li. xiij. g.

Syr, and please you, as ffor the ffor seyd merchaunttes þat have bought your wolle be as good as eny þat came out off Flaundyrs, and ffor þat I have shewed theme the more ffavor and gevyn theme the more respyte off þat. And as ffor the land, I truste God, shaldo ryght welle nowe þat the trewse ys taken: and doctyr Coke ys come ffrome the Dewke off Borgon to Calez, and seyethe by promese of the dewke to hyme made that the ffl. goldys shalbe set down and have course lyke as they had in the Sympson int' a yere: the whiche, doctyr Coke seyethe, shold have benne donne a Thorseday þat last was at Bruges, but yet we here nothyng þer off: but þat same donne þat the merchauntes myght come to Calez with þe mone to be pd. without losse, yt is thought þer wold be gret ffett; and the same knowythe our lord, whome I bysyche ever to preserve your Ryght worshipffull Maysterchip. Wrettyn at Calez the xxiiij day in Jully.

Be your lowly servaunt daylly to my symple power, Thos. Howlok.

To my right honorable and worchipfull mayster, Syr Wylliam Stonor, knyght and merchaunt of þe Stapull at Calez.