+Source.+--_Parliamentary Writs_, vol. i., p. 214.
The King to the Sheriff of Gloucester, greeting.
We firmly enjoin you to compel without delay all the men in your
bailiwick who have twenty librates of land, or a complete knight's fee
of the annual value of twenty pounds, and who hold from us in chief and
ought to be knights, but are not, to receive from us the arms of a
knight before or at the approaching Festival of Christmas; further, you
are to compel without delay all those in your bailiwick who have twenty
librates of land, or a complete knight's fee of the annual value of
twenty pounds, from whomsoever they hold, and who ought to be knights,
but are not, similarly to receive the arms of a knight at or before the
same festival; take care to exact good and sufficient security from
them, and cause their names to be inscribed on a roll in the presence of
two lawful men of the aforesaid county, and have the roll, with your
seal and those of the two knights appended, transmitted to us without
delay. We further desire you to know that we shall cause strict
examination to be made of your conduct in the execution of this mandate,
and shall cause fitting punishment to be given.
Witness the King at Westminster on the XXVI. day of June.