controllership, offices in the customs seem to have been used regularly
as sinecures for the esquires. In 1353 Griffith de la Chambre was
granted the office of gauging of wine in the towns of Lenn and Great
Yarmouth. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p.11.] At the same time Roger
Clebury received a similar grant. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1352, p.
411.] In 1343 William de Clopton had a grant for life of the
collectorship of the port of London with wages of L20. Apparently he did
not actually exercise the office because certain merchants to whom the
king had farmed the customs of the realm were directed to pay him his
wages. [Footnote: C. R. 1343, p. 194.] In 1347 he and John
Herlyng--another esquire--were collectors of the petty customs in
London. [Footnote: Rymer, vol. 3, p. 115.] In 1352 and again in 1355 his
deputy is specifically mentioned. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, 1352, p.
327; C. R. 1355, p. 166.] In 1346 John de Herlyng was granted the office
of controller of customs in Boston (Pat. Roll p. 204). In 1348 he was
granted the office of controller of wools, hides and wool-fells, wines
and all other merchandise at Newcastle-upon-Tyne with this added
provision, "furthermore because he stays continually in the King's
company by his order, he may substitute for himself a deputy, in the
said office," etc. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 130.] In 1352 he was
controller of the customs in the port of Boston and likewise in that of
Lenne--with provision in the same terms as those above for a deputy in
the latter office--and collector of the petty custom in London--with
deputy. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, 1352, pp. 327, 348, 355.] In 1359 he
surrendered the office of controller of customs at Boston for an annuity
of ten marks. [Footnote: idem. 1378, p. 133.] At one time he was also
controller in the port of St. Botolph. [Footnote: Devon's Issues, 1370,
p. 381.] From the fact that the records show Herlyng was constantly in
the King's court, it is clear that he exercised all these offices by
deputy.