Purveyance

Purveyance, a greatly expanded form of the ancient customary right of prise, was a mediaeval 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 - for whatever purpose - was open to abuse from corrupt officials, who would often requisition goods and sell them for profit or use extortion and other means to obtain items or money that was not passed on or divulged to the king. Accordingly, English kings established numerous, though somewhat ineffectual, statutes in an attempt to limit the corruption. Purveyance for military purposes was discontinued in 1362, with the right itself finally abolished in 1660.