Purveyance

Purveyance, a greatly expanded form of the ancient customary right of prise, was a medieval prerogative right of the English Crown to purchase provisions and other necessaries, at an appraised price, and to requisition horses and vehicles for royal use. The ancient right was for the benefit of the poor, but was developed in England, over the course of the late eleventh through the fourteenth centuries, as the purveyance system, by which the king was able to collect goods needed for both household and military use. The system was open to abuse from corrupt officials, who often requisitioned goods for profit or used extortion and other means to obtain items or money, the proceeds of which were not accounted for or delivered to the king. Consequently, English monarchs enacted numerous statutes, though largely ineffectual, in an attempt to curb the corruption. Purveyance for military purposes was discontinued in 1362, with the right itself finally abolished in 1660.