A royal official who arranged the king's accommodation during his itineraries. Traders were required to allow the king's purveyors first choice of all the goods on sale. Although payments were prescribed, a fair rate was rarely paid for supplies. Indeed there were frequent complaints that suppliers were not paid at all. Also, there were many impostors requisitioning for themselves. The name was changed from purveyor to achatour = buyer, in an attempt to eliminate corruption - a hopeful but futile exercise. The Latin term was praecursor. -
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.