XIX.
26 February 1328.
Edward, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine, to all to whom these pre sent letters may come — Greeting. We have inspected our charter of confirmation which we lately made, under the seal which we were then using, to the Barons of our Cinque Ports in these words : Edward^ by the grace of God^ King of England, Lord of Ireland^ and Duke of Aquitaine, to all to whom these present letters may come — Greeting. We have inspected the letters patent which *King Edward of illustrious memory, formerly King of England, our grandfather, made in these words.
* Edward I.
"Edward, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine, to all to whom the present letters may come — Greeting. Considering that our Navy of the Cinque Ports cannot be kept up without great outlay and expense ; lest that Navy languish or perish in the future, we have granted for Us and our heirs that all they of the Cinque Ports aforesaid, and any others whatsoever avowing themselves to be of the Liberty of the same, and on that account willing to enjoy them, shall subscribe, to wit, every one of them according to their power, to the performance of the Service due to Us or our heirs with their ships whenever they shall have it in command from us or our heirs. In testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness myself at Saint Albans the 28 day of April in the 26th year of our reign." [1298].
We therefore, holding as ratified and Ratified the aforesaid grant, have granted and confirmed it, for us and our heirs, as the aforesaid letters reasonably testify ; but because heretofore various dissensions have arisen over the general words aforesaid contained in the aforesaid letters, to wit, that each one of them shall sub scribe according to their power, We, in order that the Barons oj the aforesaid Ports may be the better able to perform the aforesaid Service to us and our heirs at opportune times, hy the advice of our Prelates, Earls and Barons, and the Commons of our kingdom in our present Parliament assembled, have granted for us and our heirs to the said Barons of the Cinque Ports that all they of those Ports, and whatsoever others avowing themselves to be of the Liberty of the same, and willing on that account to enjoy them, shall subscribe to the maintaining and performing the Navy and Service aforesaid from all their goods and chattels being as well within the Liberties of the Cinque Ports aforesaid as without, and may be duly compelled thereto by the Mayors and Jurats of the Ports aforesaid, and also by the Constable of our Castle of Dover if need be, and that the goods and chattels of the said Barons and others, whether they shall be within the said Liberty or without, which shall be taxed by taxes or any other burdens whatsoever for maintaining and performing the aforesaid Navy and Service, shall in no wise be taxed with the goods and chattels of foreign men. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters patent to be made. fVitness myself at fVestminster, the 25 day of February in the first year of our reign [1327].
We, however, at the request of the Barons themselves, have caused a copy to be issued of our charter aforesaid under the seal which we are now using.
In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent.
Witness myself at York, the 26 day of February in the second year of our reign.