TRANSLATION

[1. Letter from the mayor, seeking support for his cause, 1414]

Dear and trusty friends, we send you good greetings with all our hearts, letting you know that at the time of drafting this letter, we are healthy in body (thanks be to God), and have not been imprisoned as your opponents have stated in Lynn – which cost us a great deal of money. Nonetheless we are assured, thanks to the favour of my lord [the Bishop] of Norwich and of various other lords, that our opponents shall not have their way. We have high hopes of furthering our election, for the law is on our side. The steps they have taken against us are completely contrary to our charters and our liberties. Therefore keep your spirits up and encourage all those friendly to us, for the effort we have put into our cause has resulted in this great council; we anticipate no resolution until the council is over. We beseech you, and all our friends, with all our hearts to send us gold with as much speed that you can muster, for we have made major commitments and are spending large sums of money to achieve our goals and to protect the interests of the community (which God preserve, forever). Whoever believes in the rights of the community and its well-being, now is the time to put forward a helping hand, and achieve what we wish – or else [submit] to perpetual shame and pain that will last longer than we care to admit. Therefore, as quickly as you may, gather together six or seven of the best persons (as you so judge) and send them around to our friends to tell them the truth of the matter and of this great need, for the benefit of all. And send us an accurate account of what is received from every man, for it is essential if we are to recoup our expenses from our opponents. For many shameful things are spoken about them in the king's house, and in London among the estates. So that the blame will rest on your heads, not on us; for we do not intend to abandon our pursuit for our rights, unless it be due to you alone, which God forbid. Certainly we are going to need £40 or £50 more than we have. To speed things up, assign ten or twelve persons to collect as much as you can and, within three or four days, gather it together; for we must have it quickly, by [the hand of] whomever you think best, to ensure our cause is successful. We hope that every man shall receive back what he puts up [...] for, believe me, in whatever sum they happen to be condemned, we will never release them from it. We write no more at this time, but may the Holy Trinity guide us all, and will be certain to destroy their commission. Written in haste at 2:00 p.m. on the Monday following St. Math.'s day. Your own Bartholomew Petypas, mayor.

[2. Inquisition at Swaffham, 23 May 1415, into disturbances at Lynn]

On Trinity Sunday 1 Henry V [18 June 1413] the said 4 persons came with many others unknown with force and arms, viz. swords and staves, to the guildhall of the Holy Trinity at King's Lynn [sic] and violently and maliciously made an assault by night on the brethren of the gild against the king's peace, so that they were frightened and in great despair of their lives and mutilation of their limbs.

On Monday before St. Bartholomew 2 Henry V [20 August 1414], as Thomas Waterden, John Wenteworth, Thomas Brygge, John Bolt, and John Spicer of King's Lynn with other honourable gentlemen of the country were peacefully in John Warner's tavern in King's Lynn, there came the same 4 persons with a great multitude of people with force and arms, violently, wickedly and unlawfully against the king's peace upon the said Thomas Waterden and others, who intended to go peacefully to their inns and houses; and John Wardeyn glasier and John Cissesson spurrier of King's Lynn with other persons unknown lay in wait with force and arms against the king's peace for the said Thomas Waterden and others as they were going home with lights before them and assaulted them, to the no small disturbance of the king's peace and the bad example of others. John Frevylee, keeper of the gaol of King's Lynn, seeing the disturbance made by John Wardeyn, John Cisseson and many others, arrested them at the gaol by virtue of his office; but Bartholomew Petypas, hearing of this, came thither with force and arms and a great multitude of people and by strength and his own power, in the absence of the said keeper and without his assent or will, received and delivered John Wardeyn, John Cissesson and the others from the gaol, to the great prejudice of the king's laws and the perpetual destruction of the liberties of the town.

On Wednesday, the Decollation of St. John the Baptist 2 Henry V [29 August 1414], the king having directed his letter and command to Edmund Oldhall, then sheriff of co. Norfolk, to survey and hear the governance and ordinance relating to the election of the mayor of King's Lynn, together with other gentlemen of the country, Bartholomew Petypas, then in his mayoralty, with William Halyate, John Bilneye and John Tilneye and a great multitude of men of the town in manner of war with swords, staves and other arms violently and unlawfully against the king's peace disturbed and hindered the said sheriff and gentlemen and the good burgesses of the town as far as they could with armed force and insulting words from the election of a mayor and violently broke the bridges about the town and maliciously guarded the gates with armed men, so that very many gentlemen of the country were unable to get in to the aid of the sheriff, whereby the said sheriff and other gentlemen and the good men, burgesses and mayors elected from of old were frightened and stood in despair of their lives and the mutilation of their limbs; and the said Bartholomew and his fellows would not let the said sheriff, gentlemen, good burgesses and mayors come to the guildhall for the election of the mayor according to use and ancient custom, but they held the election in the house of the Austin friars of King's Lynn, in contempt of the king and of the liberties of the town.

On Friday, the Conversion of St. Paul 2 Henry V [25 January 1415] Bartholomew Petypas made an assault in the guildhall at King's Lynn with his drawn baselard on John Lakynghithe and on other good burgesses of the town during his mayoralty, procured and abetted by William Halyate, John Bilneye and John Tilneye and their fellows unknown, whereby the said mayor was thrown to the ground and trampled upon among them violently, maliciously, wickedly and unlawfully against the king's peace, to the very great terror of the said good burgesses and mayors elected from of old and to the very great despair of their lives and mutilation of their limbs, and Bartholomew and his fellows did other evil things to the said mayor and good burgesses and mayors elected from of old every day maliciously, wickedly and unlawfuly, against the king's peace, so that they did not dare for fear of death to hold any session in the guildhall, as was the custom from of old, for the good governance of the town and the preservation of the king's peace there, whereby the mayor, good burgesses and mayors elected from of old are seriously diminished and maliciously destroyed so far as is possible by the said 4 persons and their accomplices, to the very great destruction of the governance of the liberty of the town, to the very great contempt of the king and prejudice of his laws and to the very great deterioration of the liberties of the town.

[3. The mayoral election of 1415, thwarted, provokes an uprising]

Memorandum that on 29 September 1415, between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., when Robert Brunham, mayor of Bishop's Lynn, was attending mass in Holy Trinity chapel within the parish church of St. Margaret's, Lynn, burgess William Wyth suddenly appeared before the mayor and, calling on Thomas Abnale prolocutor of the community of Lynn to be his witness, delivered to Robert Brunham the mayor three royal writs, sealed in white wax under the Great Seal of England. One of which [ordered him] to continue to occupy the mayoralty himself until the King's Council has given consideration to the dispute [over the election], notwithstanding the election made by the community of Lynn the previous 29 August; upon penalty [for failure] of £1000.

[The clerk then proceeds to transcribe and/or summarize the content of the king's writs. The first, dated 26 September 1415, referred to the community having elected John Bilney as mayor, and ordered Brunham not to turn over the office to him. The second writ, of the same date, ordered him to ensure that John Spicer, John Bolt, John Waterden, Bartholomew Systerne, John Permonter, Philip Franke, Bartholomew Petipas, John Bilney, William Hallyate, John Bucworth, William Walden, and John Meryell appeared before Chancery in the quindene of Michaelmas. The third, which the clerk noted had been delivered to John Bilney and was not available for copying, ordered Bilney not to take up the office of mayor, despite his election, and to appear before Chancery in the quindene of Michaelmas.]

Robert Brunham having opened these two writs, by mayoral order the common clerk read them out and declared their contents to the mayor and people who were in the chapel. While the third writ was handed over to Robert Beer, the sergeant-at-mace, so that he could execute it. Hearing the clamour made by a great number of people who were pouring into and out of Holy Trinity chapel and the church itself, in consequence of this [turn of events] and in support, as it is said, of the liberties and franchises of the town or borough of Bishop's Lynn, dom. Thomas de Hevenyngham, prior of the monastic priory at Lynn, after the procession [was over], came in person into the Holy Trinity chapel and ordered the crowd and populace in the name of God to quieten down and leave, to prevent the disturbance they were making from interfering with the daily divine services. He asked mayor Robert Brunham to go up into the chancel to hear High Mass (for it was Sunday and there were two services), and this was done, with Robert Brunham being assigned a stall at the entrance to the choir, where he might stand on the right-hand side of the prior; there being present Sir John Litilbury and Bartholomew Petypas a previous mayor of Bishop's Lynn. Meanwhile, so many members of the community of Lynn gathered and came into the church that it was extraordinary.

Once mass was over and the blessing had been given with the sacrament, Bartholomew Petypas earnestly requested Robert Brunham that, if it pleased him, he go into the guildhall, as was the custom and usage, for the swearing-in of mayor-elect John Bilney. He replied that when the Lord Chancellor of England was last in Lynn he had, in the presence of many persons, ordered Robert to continue to occupy the mayoralty until he received other instructions based on decisions reached by the King's Council; and he said that the Chancellor had today renewed those orders to continue in office, via a writ [given] to Robert by William Wyth, under penalty of a thousand pounds. He also said that the Chancellor had in another writ, [delivered] by William Wyth, ordered that John Bilneye not be admitted to the office of mayor to which recently elected: "I, Robert, delivered the same by my own hands to Robert Beer, sergeant-at-mace, to give to John Bilneye." He added that he had no intention of entering the guildhall for any purpose whatsoever, unless compelled by force against his will – seeing that the populace was stirred up and there was a real risk of that eventuality. Upon this, Bartholomew requested from the mayor the keys to the guildhall. Robert replied that they were at his house. [Bartholomew] requested that he send for them. He replied that no-one in his household had authority to touch them unless he was present in the house in person. He said that it was not his intention to disobey the orders (as above) in the Chancellor's writ, by handing over or surrendering in any way whatsoever his position as mayor, so that he would lose a thousand pounds, and added that if any wished to take his position or office from him against his will, it would be at their own risk. Reproachful words from the vulgar people coming and going in the church have not been recorded here by the common clerk, as it seems to him they are in no way relevant to community affairs; and those things said against the community or slanders against the wise, judicious and providential patricians sworn to the service of the borough, I leave out.

Finally, at the instance of the council and entreaties of Sir John Litilbury and Bartholomew Petypas, former mayor of Lynn, and in order to avoid worse, Robert Brunham agreed to go to his residence in Mercer Row, Lynn, to get the keys to the guildhall, on condition that no-one in any way molest him or harm him physically. When he came out of the church door into the street, so thick was the crowd that gathered around, that by sheer force of numbers they propelled both him and the common clerk to the guildhall door. Then they called forward John Mordon the bellman of Lynn and made the mayor, against his will, send him for the keys to the guildhall doors. When the bellman returned, they made him unlock the door, and then Robert de Brunham was knocked down by the press of the crowd and lay there in peril for some time – never was a mayor so vilely treated, as far as anyone has heard – and likewise the common clerk. After that mayor Robert de Brunham was hoisted up by force, brought into the guildhall, and set down on the low bench in the south corner of the guildhall. While the mayor was so suffering and fearful, the chest or muniment box of the guildhall, in which are placed for security and safe-keeping the community treasures (that is, the royal charters, records, and evidences), was broken open by John Blome fletcher and three royal charters concerning the liberties, franchises and privileges of the borough or town of Bishop's Lynn, sealed with the Great Seal of England, along with a round casket of contents unknown, which were found there, were removed by Bartholomew Petypas the former mayor of Lynn. Taking firm hold of them, he carried them out of the guildhall.

Half an hour later arrived John Bilneye, [who had been] elected, named and legitimately appointed as mayor on 29 August according to [the terms of] the king's charter and the new ordinances enrolled in the king's Chancery with an exemplification issued under the Great Seal of England; he had been detained by a high fever and other infirmities. Entering the guildhall, he seated himself on the lower bench. Immediately the community [wished to] follow up on the election and appointment of John Bilneye, having the common clerk bring about his admittance to the mayoralty by administering the customary oath. The clerk responded that from ancient times it had been prescribed that the mayor's oath was in the muniments chest, written down in a certain bound red book; the clerk did not know it by heart. [At that] the whole congregation raised their voices, crying out: "Indeed, you lie! You can give him his charge well enough!", and again, "Give him his charge!" The mayor [to] Ashebourne: "Why will you not give me my charge?" Upon this the clerk, to avoid the situation getting more out of hand, felt compelled to take from the muniments chest the book with a design of Holy Trinity [on its cover], upon which the oath of John Bilneye the mayor-elect was given and received, in the following words: "Sir, you shall place your hand upon the book and you shall swear that you shall govern and rule the community of this town well and truly, with all your ability and diligence, during the year that you are mayor. And maintain all the franchises of the town, and every parcel thereof both within and without, with all your power, and undertake all duties that pertain to the mayoralty, so help you God at the Final Judgement."

The mayor having been thus sworn, the community ordered Thomas Abnale, the prolocutor of the whole community, to administer to William Ashebourne the common clerk his oath of office according to the good ordinances enrolled at Chancery with an exemplification issued under the Great Seal of England. At this point Robert Beer, the sergeant-at-mace of the mayor and community, arrived and offered and delivered to mayor John Bilney the aforementioned sealed writ prohibiting him from taking up the mayoralty (as specified in [the above copy of] the writ). The latter, with the gravity due the situation, received the writ and ordered the common clerk to open it and read it out to the congregation, and this was done in Latin. The writ having been read out, heard, and understood, the mayor declared that he did not in any way wish to take up administration of the mayoralty, but rather he wished to obey the king's writ in all regards, whatever the writ demanded and required. Robert Brunham asked the sergeant-at-mace where he had been all this time, and why he had not [earlier] delivered the writ to John Bilneye as he had been instructed. He replied that he had been at the house of John Bilneye mayor, but had been unable to speak with him; and, he went on, when he returned to the guildhall it had been impossible for him to pass through the doorway into the hall, due to the size and agitation of the crowd. Such was the excuse he offered. The community then instructed the common clerk to administer to Robert his oath, according to custom, and this was done; and the [guildhall] key was handed over to Robert Beer by the consent of the community.

Robert de Brunham was still sitting in the corner of the guildhall, confused and in pain. There were present Thomas de Hevenyngham, prior of the monks at Lynn, Sir John Litilbury, Bartholomew Systerne, one of the 24 jurats, and John Permonter burgess of the town, [acting] as mediators for the restoration of peace and harmony, since Robert de Brunham had been maltreated and subjected to compulsion against his will, even imprisoned and detained as some say. Robert de Brunham asked the community what it wanted. In response to which they unanimously asked to have handed over to them the key to the chest or muniments box in which are kept the treasures of the borough of Bishop's Lynn – that is, the king's charters concerning the liberties, appurtenances, privileges and franchises, and the records and evidences of the town of Lynn – as well as the key to the treasury where the common seal is kept under communal keys in the possession of the mayor along with the mayoral sword and seal of the mayoralty. As regards the common seal, he had a concern in view of the fact that there was some degree of disagreement, dissension and dispute persisting here and he did not wish the common seal to be put to any kind of use in support of some particular party.

Robert Brunham replied that the room in which the common seal was kept also contained the treasury of the Gild of Holy Trinity of Lynn, of which he was alderman, and that it had four keys, of which the two chamberlains of the town of Lynn had custody of two, while he, Robert, had two in his custody – one by right of his office as mayor, and one by right of his office as alderman of Holy Trinity Gild. He said that he was not prepared to surrender that the mayoralty was responsible, unless [forced] against his will. This issue was negotiated for a long time, from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and later. Finally, with the consent of Bartholomew Systerne, one of the jurats of the borough of Lynn, and John Permonter, a burgess of good sense, and at the request and advice of the Prior of Lynn and the knight, Robert handed over all the items that had been asked for, as mentioned above, except for the sword belonging to the mayoralty, with an expression of concern and protest that he was doing so under compulsion and against his will. In the meantime, one citizen (whose name is not known at present) took that sword by force from Robert's sergeant, against the latter's will. John Bilneye, the mayor elected, appointed and sworn as indicated above, who was present, continued to protest before the community that this was not what he wanted, and that he did not wish to be in any way involved. And so it came about, against the express wishes of John Bilneye mayor as well as those of Robert de Brunham, that the keys to the muniments chest together with the mayoral seal were handed over to Sir John Litilbury for safekeeping, under the seals of Bartholomew Systerne and Bartholomew Petypas, by consent of and instruction from the community there.

[The account continues with somewhat confused memoranda noting that on 14 October a new writ, dated 6 October, was delivered to Brunham, confirming that notwithstanding Bilneye's election Brunham should remain in office until further notice; which was read out in the Tuesday marketplace on (Tuesday) 15 October as well as (later?) in the Saturday marketplace.]

A little later, by consent of the mayor and others of the 24 jurats as well as others summoned, nominated and elected, the Prior of Lynn, Thomas Brygge, Thomas Hunte, William Hunderpound, and William Ashebourne the common clerk went in person to Sir John Litilbury, who had in his custody the key to the chest and the mayoral seal, under the seals of Bartholomew Petypas and Bartholomew Systerne, to ask him on behalf of the mayor to return them, so that the mayor could carry out the exercise of his duties, by authority of the king's letters patent. In reply, Sir John Litilbury stated that when he was given sufficient authority he would willingly hand them over. Thomas Brygge then said to him: "Sir, we believe you have a writ to that effect." Who replied, saying: "Sir, I told you that when I have sufficient authority, I shall do what is right. You'll get no other answer from me at this time." This was communicated to the mayor by the Prior of Lynn and the others who were there at that time.

[4. Extracts from the king's Exemplification of the Revocation of the New Ordinances and Constitutions, 2 June 1416]

[The king states that he has inspected the document of revocation, which is then recited:]

To all sons of Holy Mother Church who see this document, we the mayor, jurats, and the rest of their fellow burgesses of the town of Bishop's Lynn, together with the whole community of that town, give greetings in the Saviour's name. Whereas our ancestors and predecessors of happy memory, former burgesses of this town, from time immemorial, for the better and healthier government of the town were accustomed to make twenty-four jurats from the more judicious, upstanding, worthy, and qualified burgesses of the town, and to elect each year a mayor, chamberlains, common clerk, common sergeant-at-mace, and other officers and ministers in the town, by virtue and authority of certain liberties and privileges granted to our ancestors and predecessors and their heirs and successors by the charters of the noble ancestors of [... the king ...], with the assent and at the special request of the then Bishop of Norwich [...] under certain manner and form as follows.

Viz., that all the burgesses of the town each year on 28 August be summoned and forewarned by the common sergeant-at-mace, in the name and by the authority of the mayor of the town then in office, to assemble on the following day, along with the mayor and the jurats of the town then in office, at the guildhall of the town, for the election both of the mayor and of the other officers and ministers mentioned. They having assembled, the alderman of the Holy Trinity Gild of Lynn then in office or – if he is unable to to attend – whomever he designates as he deputy in regard to this election is to choose and nominate four of the more worthy and qualified burgesses of the town who are not of the status or rank of jurats but are then among those present. Who are to elect to join them eight others of their fellow burgesses, likewise not of the status or rank of the twenty-four jurats, for choosing the mayor and the other officers and ministers of the town for the coming year. Which twelve burgesses so chosen, having been administered their customary oath by the common clerk of the town, should proceed at once to electing one of the twenty-four jurats – and no other – to the office of mayor of the town, and other of their fellow burgesses or others who are not burgesses to the offices of chamberlains, common clerk, common sergeant-at-mace, and gatekeepers, as well as to the offices of bellman and wayte in the town for the coming year.

They having been thus elected to the offices, should in the guildhall on the following September 29 (and not before) without delay be administered by the common clerk the customary oaths pertaining to their offices. This having been done, they should continue to fulfill and undertake their duties throughout one entire year.

In regard to the election of the twenty-four jurats, the ancient custom was thus. Whenever one or more of the twenty-four jurats dies, retires from his position, or because of his faults legitimately warrants removal and expulsion from office, the mayor then in office and the remainder of the jurats, in the presence of each and every other burgess of the town who wishes to attend (upon being given notice by the sergeant-at-mace, on behalf of the mayor), as often as and whenever necessary, should elect, admit and appoint one or more of the more worthy, upstanding, judicious, and qualified burgesses to the place of he or they dying, retiring, or being removed, to exercise the corresponding authority. Those being thus elected, admitted and appointed – the customary oath having been administered – should continue for life in this status and position, unless it should happen due to the causes mentioned that they or any one of them should voluntarily retire or be removed.

Furthermore, should it happen that any one or more of the coroners or constables should die, or on account of old age or for some other good reason should retire or be removed, then the mayor then in office should have the burgesses of the town forewarned by the common sergeant to come to the guildhall to elect to the vacant office or offices. Once all his fellow burgesses wishing to attend have arrived, the mayor should nominate four of his fellow burgesses, who should similarly nominate eight others of their fellow burgesses who are then present. This being done, the twelve so nominated, after having been administered their customary oath, should elect and appoint another person or persons in place of the coroners or constables removed or whose positions are vacant.

While these ordinances, electoral procedures, and ancient customs endured and were observed in the manner described, our ancestors and predecessors, the mayor, jurats, burgesses, and community of the town led a peaceful, contented, and pleasant existence, through a long period of prosperity. But recently serious discord, strife, controversy, riot, dissension, and quarrels have arisen and spread among the fellow burgesses and others of the same town, because of certain new ordinances and constitutions relating to the election of the mayor, the other jurats, and the officers and ministers mentioned; which were made by certain former burgesses of the town and their adherents. Which [discord etc.] has increased to a deplorable level in recent days. The tenor of these new ordinances and constitutions takes the following form:

Memorandum, that recently various disagreements, discords, and controversies have been stirred up and have arisen between the mayor of the town of Bishop's Lynn and the majority of the burgesses of the town, on the one hand, and certain other burgesses of the town, on the other hand, concerning the annual election, and the method of that election, both of the mayor of the town and of the chamberlains, prolocutor, common clerk, common sergeant-at-mace, janitors, and other ministers and officers it is accustomed to elect annually in the town. Also concerning the election, and the method of that election, of fellow burgesses of the town to the status and rank of the twenty-four jurats, whenever and as often as it happens that one or more should be elected because one or more in that position die or voluntarily retire, or are removed because of their faults, and likewise as to the offices of coroner, constable, or others in the town. The present king, our dread lord, has heard of these disagreements, discords and controversies as the result of a complaint by certain persons; and has observed that the disagreements, discords and controversies – stemming not only from the causes just mentioned, but also from older disputes not completely and amicably settled – having lain dormant, have broken out afresh between the parties, and that these are likely to foster and facilitate disturbances and commotions between the parties and the rest of the burgesses of town and the community of the same.

He, wishing not only to take precautions against such dangers but also to put an end to the strife and bring about a secure restoration of peace and tranquillity between the parties, issued a royal command that certain of the parties appear before him. He informed them of his wishes in these matters, following which, he benevolently urged the parties to settle their differences and restore peace, putting an end permanently to the strife amongst themselves. Therefore, with the authority and at the prompting of the king, and also through their unanimous agreement, freely and willingly, the parties reached a final settlement of the disputes, discords and controversies between them, in regard to the elections and day of election of the mayor, jurats, prolocutor, and other officers indicated below; and also in regard to when the mayor assumes office and the way in which his oath is administered. The necessary articles, in the form that follows, were agreed upon unanimously to be valid in the town for themselves and for their successors.

That is, that henceforth and forever the election of the mayor in the town should be made according to the method used in the city of London. Or at least as much as it can possibly conform with the London procedures, insofar as that in the town there are not aldermen, wards, a recorder, nor various other things that exist in the city of London; but rather there are, by town ordinance, twenty-four jurats. That henceforth the election take place annually on 29 August. That whoever is then elected shall on 29 September following, and not earlier, according to custom, take his oath in the town guildhall; the common clerk administering the oath to the person elected. That having been done, he may assume the status and position, and continue therein as the chief executive throughout an entire year. Regarding the method of the election it was agreed that all burgesses of the town who are willing and able to assemble at the town guildhall on 29 August for the mayoral election may freely come there. The assembly having come together, it should be publicly proclaimed that no-one, under penalty of imprisonment, presume to express an opinion or participate in the election unless he is a fellow burgess or a minister of the town.

Immediately afterwards, the prolocutor and the common clerk of the town should instruct all the assembled burgesses to elect and nominate, after careful deliberation, two individuals from the twenty-four jurats or others who have formerly been members of the twenty-four jurats and are of the same status and rank – other than those notorious for having been discharged because of dishonesty, or other faults relating to public business. Choosing and nominating, as candidates for the mayoralty, whichever two of the twenty-four jurats or others the burgesses believe to be the more judicious, qualified, and beneficial for the community, to the praise of God and to the town's advantage, honour, and good reputation.

The nomination of the two nominees should take place according to the following method. The prolocutor and common clerk are first to enquire of the burgesses to whom they would wish to give their support in the first place, and to whom in the second place; and this with an appropriate pause in between, to allow one of them to receive a clear nomination, so that those assigned to this task have fully sounded out public opinion before enquiring about the other nominee. It being carefully and properly ascertained by the prolocutor and clerk who as the first choice and who as the second choice in this matter have the greatest support among the burgesses. To ensure that this is accurately determined and reported to the mayor and jurats, the prolocutor and clerk should themselves be present among the burgesses. And they should be administered a sound oath to report openly, faithfully and without fraud to the twenty-four jurats in the chamber assigned for their sessions, the names of the two persons; that is, of he who had the greatest support in the first place, and he who had the greatest support in the second place.

This having been done, first the mayor of the town, then each of the jurats in sequence should secretly state to the prolocutor and clerk his preference regarding one or the other of the nominees put forward to them, the mayor and jurats, as candidates for the mayoralty. The common clerk, under observation from the prolocutor, should write a confidential record of the individual preferences of each of the mayor and jurats. He of the two candidates on whom the majority of the mayor and jurats agree should be chosen and made mayor for the coming year. The election made in this way should forthwith be faithfully reported to the burgesses. Should the two candidates receive an equal number of votes from the mayor and jurats, then the mayor's vote is to count for two votes; so that, in such a situation, he who has the vote of the mayor should be chosen and amicably accepted as mayor of the town for the coming year.

In regard to the election of four chamberlains in the town, it was agreed that each year, immediately following the jurats and burgesses agreeing on the choice of a mayor, two burgesses of the town should be elected by the mayor and jurats to be two of the chamberlains, by the following method: agreement is to be reached on which two are to have the position or office of chamberlain by the mayor and jurats then in office, or at least the greater number of the twenty-four jurats shall be agreed, the vote of the mayor counting (as above) for two votes in the event that the mayor and jurats are evenly split in their votes and a majority does not exist. For the election of the other two chamberlains each year, two other burgesses should be nominated and chosen as chamberlains by those burgesses themselves who are present (as for the election of a mayor), or by the majority of the same; the testimony and record of the prolocutor and clerk, sworn in the manner mentioned, being always relied on to indicate which two burgesses of the town are decided upon by the majority of the burgesses participating in the election. The intention of the parties being that none of the chamberlains be in any year chosen from the twenty-four jurats, nor that any of those jurats be appointed to the office of chamberlain.

It was also agreed that when any of the twenty-four jurats dies, or it happens that any of them voluntarily retires or is removed from the status and rank of jurat – whether by withdrawal, deposition, or discharge, on account of old age or physical infirmity or any other cause at all – the mayor then in office should immediately designate a day to address this matter. Through the common sergeant-at-mace, he should give notice of this date to the twenty-four jurats and all other burgesses, and forewarn them to appear then in the chamber and guildhall. All burgesses not numbering among the twenty-four jurats who opt to participate should there and then, after careful deliberation amongst themselves, select and nominate from their number two persons whom they consider the more judicious, dependable, and qualified men to assume the status and rank of jurat, to God's praise and the town's advantage and honour. The prolocutor and clerk, sworn to this duty, should be present amongst the burgesses for this business; they should, in the chamber of the twenty-four jurats, faithfully and without fraud (in accordance with the oath they took), immediately report openly to the jurats the names of those two burgesses on whom all the burgesses have agreed.

Regarding which nominees, if it appears to the twenty-four jurats, or at least to the majority, that the two burgesses nominated to assume the status and rank of jurat are sufficiently judicious and qualified, or that either of them is sufficiently judicious and qualified, then he whom the majority of the twenty-four jurats agree to be sufficiently judicious and qualified is immediately to be accepted and advanced by the jurats to their status and rank, once the customary oath has been administered to him; he should forthwith be considered one of their number and ranked with them. Otherwise, if it appears to the majority of the twenty-four jurats that neither of the pair is, for any reason, sufficiently judicious and capable, then, those persons being excluded, the burgesses shall immediately convene again in the guildhall and, in the place of the excluded persons, should select two others from their number. On that occasion, and any thereafter, when there is need for someone to be chosen and advanced to that status and rank, both the choice and the acceptance should be restricted to the more judicious, more dependable, and more qualified burgesses of the town. It was agreed that no-one henceforth should be elected to or accepted into the rank of the twenty-four jurats unless he is of free status and possess [an income of] at least a hundred shillings in rents.

If in the future at such an election there is elected any common victualler who sells by retail, he should abstain from this kind of sale of victuals. Until he does so, he should not be advanced to that rank. And during his time at that rank he should not be a common victualler, under penalty of being removed from the rank.

In the same way, in all regards, that the twenty-four jurats are elected should the coroners and constables be elected, whenever there is a need to elect such officers. With the proviso, however, that coroners and constables may be chosen either from the twenty-four jurats or from any of the other burgesses, at the discretion of the electors.

It was also agreed and decided that, if in the future anyone petitions for the discharge of someone who is of the status and rank of the twenty-four jurats or the removal of that person from the status and rank, for any reason whatsoever, or any of the twenty-four jurats wishes to petition for his own discharge on account of old age, illness, physical infirmity, or any other reason whatsoever, the mayor then in office should designate a particular day and give notice of that date to all the jurats and burgesses, by forewarning them through the common sergeant-at-mace to be present in the chamber and guildhall. Once they have assembled on that date – the jurats in their chamber with the mayor, and in the guildhall those of the burgesses wishing to be present – after serious deliberation in their separate groups on the reasons put forward by anyone for removing or discharging someone, or the reasons that an individual (or someone on his behalf) argues for his own discharge, if the reasons put forward and argued appear valid and reasonable to the majority of the mayor and jurats, and also to a majority of the other burgesses who are in the guildhall, then the jurat against whom the reasons for removal have been laid out or the reasons for discharge have been argued, should be discharged from the rank and status and another person elected in his place, in the manner indicated above with the customary oath being administered. Otherwise the person in question should not, at that time or in any way, be removed or discharged from the status and rank, whether at his own petition or that of anyone else.

In this matter the mayor's vote is to count for two votes, in the event that in the debate on the reasons there is not found to be a majority among the mayor and jurats. As for what was the majority opinion among the burgesses, full credence is to be given to the prolocutor and clerk, who are sworn to this duty, and to the report they will make on this matter, in accordance with the procedure set out in regard to the mayoral election.

It was also agreed that on 24 August each year, the twenty-four jurats and all the other burgesses of the town having been duly forewarned by the common sergeant-at-mace to assemble in the chamber and the guildhall, by the assent of all, or at least a majority, of the burgesses who are not of the rank of the twenty-four jurats, there should be elected one of those burgesses not of that rank to be prolocutor of the town for the year following. Immediately after election, the person elected should take his oath before the mayor, jurats, and all the burgesses, and thereafter assume and excercise his office during the year. The common clerk, sworn to this duty, is to make a report and announcement as to which burgess the majority of the burgesses have agreed should be the prolocutor.

In regard to the offices of common clerk, common sergeant-at-mace, keeper of the east gate, keeper of the west gate, and keeper of St. Anne's gate, and the offices of bellman and wayte for the town, it was agreed and decided that each year the mayor and jurats then in office should nominate men for those offices. These can be burgesses or any other persons whatsoever, according to the judgement and discretion of the mayor and jurats. This to be done on 29 August immediately after the election of the chamberlains. With the proviso that if controversy of any kind arises among the mayor and jurats regarding any or all of these elections, those persons on whom the majority of the mayor and jurats agree are to be elected to the offices, and appointed individually in the same according to the nomination, the opposition or alternate preference of the minority notwithstanding. If a majority does not exist, but both parties are equal, then the mayor's vote is to count for two votes (as repeatedly indicated above) in order to create a majority.

With the further proviso that the names of the officers thus nominated be immediately announced to the burgesses in the guildhall, and that at least the majority of the burgesses be satisfied with the nominees. If the majority of the burgesses in the guildhall are not satisfied regarding the nominees, or any one of them, the mayor and jurats should proceed without delay to repeating the selection of another nominee. In the place of the persons rejected, there should be nominated such persons as the majority of the burgesses are prepared to approve and find satisfactory. The prolocutor and common clerk then in office, sworn to this duty, are each year to ascertain and report faithfully (according to their oath) to which officers the majority of the burgesses have given approval, and with which they indicate they are satisfied and with which they are not satisfied. But if the majority of the burgesses are not satisfied with the persons nominated in the first round, nor with those nominated in a second round, then the person or persons on whom the majority of [both] the twenty-four jurats and the other burgesses can agree for holding those offices, or any of them, in a third round of elections should be elected to and hold the offices or office.

It was also agreed that in the appointment of the prolocutor and common clerk of the town to their offices, in the guildhall chamber before the mayor and jurats then in office each of them should take his customary oath for the faithful performance and exercise, without fraud, of his office and all things pertaining to the same. The common clerk's oath should be as follows: [see "Oaths of officers and burgesses"]. The prolocutor at his appointment should take the same oath (mutatis mutandis). On any and each occasion when it happens that the prolocutor or the clerk – as well as the mayor and all the other ranks and officers – are re-elected to their offices, their oaths are to be renewed; that is, they are to be taken again, as often as this seems expedient to the mayor, jurats, and burgesses. If any prolocutor or clerk is found to act unfaithfully, contrary to his oath, and is duly convicted of the same, he is to lose not only his office but also his franchise of the town; and thereafter may under no circumstances be restored to that office and franchise, nor exercise or occupy any other office in the town in future.

Certain immense expenses, costs, losses, and intolerable damages have come about as a result of the aforementioned discord, strife, controversy, riot, and dissension, from the time that these new ordinances and constitutions were produced and enacted in the town. And over the course of time much worse is feared and can be expected to happen, unless things can be brought under control. They may result in the final destruction and impoverishment, as well as the desolation and probable overthrow, of the entire town – may it be far distant! Observing this, and wishing to take precautions against losses and onerous damages of this kind and, to the best of our ability, pluck up by the roots and entirely erase the strife, quarrels, and dissension from the town and from among its inhabitants, as well as to restore peace, quiet, and true harmony between us, and our heirs and successors, with the support and assistance of the lords [of the town] in re-establishing it forever, by this document we – by our common consent, will, and authority, for ourselves and our heirs and successors – revoke, void, disempower, and annul each and every of the above new ordinances and constitutions regarding the election of the mayor, jurats, officers and ministers, as specified in the above memorandum. Which [ordinances] have been the basis for fuelling grief and hatred, and every instance of the same. It is our will that these new ordinances and constitutions not be applied henceforth in the town, by ourselves or our heirs and successors, or in any way whatsoever be in effect or exercised. But that from this time forward and forever they be completely without power or substance.

Furthermore, for the better, healthier, and more judicious government of the town, through our common decision, assent, will and authority, we wish, grant, order, give and declare for ourselves, our heirs and successors, that the abovementioned ancient customs, ordinances, constitutions and all other commendable and prescribed customs, in each and every of their articles pertinent [to these matters] from now on, and forever, be upheld, adhered to, and firmly observed.

And if it happen that the town's mayor then in office should die within his year, before he has completed the term of his mayoralty throughout that year, the alderman of the gild then in office is to occupy, exercise and undertake the office of the mayor thus dying until the end of that year, as was the case and custom from ancient time, the new ordinances and constitutions notwithstanding.

[The concluding section of the document begins with a statement – whether from the borough authorities or, less likely, the king is not clear – that nothing within the document is to be prejudicial to the lordship rights of the Bishop of Norwich, and that the new common seal of the town was applied to the document at Lynn on 1 June 1416. There follows a statement of the king indicating approval of this exemplification of the revocation, witnessed by him at Westminster on 2 June 1416.]

[5. Election day, 29 August 1416]

At which assembly, around 11 o'clock, the mayor put the question whether there was anyone in the guildhall other than sworn and known burgesses. The general response to the mayor was "No". Upon which the mayor had William Ashebourne the common clerk publicly read out before the community the exemplification under the Great Seal of England of the king's inspeximus of the revocation of the New Ordinances [recited].

The public reading of the exemplification of the revocation and annulment of the New Ordinances and Constitutions having taken place, and it being understood, the mayor said: "Sirs, is there any man in this hall who objects to any point in this document of revocation and annulment?" They replied "No." After a brief pause, the mayor again asked: "Sirs, is there any man at all in this hall at this time who objects to any point?" They replied "No." For a third and final time the mayor gave an opportunity, saying: "Sirs, if there is any man in the hall at this time who is not happy or satisfied with these matters, let him stand up unafraid and state his opinion." They replied unanimously, to the effect that they considered themselves well satisfied with everything.

At this the mayor said: "Sirs, as you well know, today is our day to choose our mayor, and other officers, for the coming year. Is it your wish that we proceed to the election, or not?" They replied unanimously that it was. It is the case that the alderman of Holy Trinity Gild, Lynn, then in office may nominate and elect a minimum of 4 of the more judicious, qualified, and dependable burgesses who are not of the status or rank of jurats and are among those present, [who in turn are] to elect eight other of their fellow burgesses likewise not being of the status or rank of jurats, [all twelve serving] for the election of the mayor and other officers and ministers of the town. That alderman, standing bare-headed before the mayor and the community, both asked and requested: "Sirs, is it your wish that I name four persons, as this book prescribes?" Everyone responded that it was. Again he asked: "Sirs, what do you say – is it your wish that I name and call up four persons?" And they said that it was. Having giving the opportunity for proper consideration of the matter, the alderman named John Bryghtzeve, John Broun, John Maupas, and William Spyr, burgesses and merchants of the town of Lynn. They were instructed to go into the council chamber, according to custom and usage, and use their judgement to add to their number another eight of the more judicious, qualified, and dependable burgesses, according to custom and usage, two at a time; these were: Peter Cambell, John Sylesden, William Blakeneye, Philip Franke, John Alger, William Gedeney, Richart Thweyt, and Robert Narburgh.

These 12 came out of the council chamber and one by one took their customary oaths to do their duty (as indicated above) well and faithfully, as contained in the bound red book kept in the muniments chest etc. The 12 then went back into the council chamber for quite some time, to reach an agreement that was satisfactory to them. They came out with their verdict in writing, carried by John Alger. Upon which the alderman, at the suggestion of Philip Franke prior to the decision being announced, left his seat and stood up bareheaded before the mayor and whole community there and asked: "Sirs, has it been your wish that I name and call up four burgesses, as we have done?" For certain, they unanimously responded that it was. Upon which the mayor instructed William Ashebourne the common clerk to take delivery of the verdict. The common clerk asked the 12: "Sirs, are you all agreed?" They replied that they were. He then said: "Sirs, hand over your verdict." They handed over to the common clerk a written paper note in which it was set down that the 12 sworn men had elected John Wesenham as mayor for the coming year, Walter Todenham, William Waterden, William Stile, and Hugh Cook as chamberlains, William Ashebourne as common clerk, Robert Beer as sergeant-at-mace and keeper of the east gate, John Frome as keeper of the south gate, Thomas Groute as keeper of the north gate, and John Mordon as bellman, for the next year coming, beginning as of next Michaelmas, on which day they will take their oaths in the guildhall, as is set down in the exemplification mentioned above.

Memorandum that on the same day, after the mayor, chamberlains, and other officers had been elected, the mayor with the consent of [those of] the community present had arranged, as a favour to the mayoralty, for the council of the reverend father, dom. John Wakerynge by God's grace Bishop of Norwich, to come before the mayor and community gathered there following that event, as observers of the assembly and the people taking part in it. That is: Master John Cays, parson of the church of Fakenham and clerk of the King's Hanaper; Master William Sponne, steward of the hospice of the reverend father; dom. Thomas Hevenyngham, prior of the monks at Lynn; and Edmund Oldehall esq., receiver of the king's revenues for the Duchy of Lancaster in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, and one of the king's justices for keeping the peace in Norfolk, substituting for John Spenser, sheriff of Norfolk, also of the council, because the sheriff is said to be detained in London, infected with a fever and other infirmities. The mayor, 24 jurats, and burgesses there assembled rose to leave with both a cheerful demeanour and feeling of great satisfaction, pleased both with the conclusion of the day's events and the arrival of the bishop's council; and all departed in tranquillity, peace and harmony, giving praise to God and rejoicing in His grace.

On which day, proclamation was made in the town of Bishop's Lynn – that is, in the Tuesday marketplace and Saturday marketplace – around 9 o'clock, in the names of the king and the lord of the liberty of the town of Bishop's Lynn, at the instructions and recommendation of Edmund Oldehalle, king's justice for keeping the peace in Norfolk, with the agreement of those present from the council of the Bishop of Norwich, and in the presence of Thomas Hunte mayor of the town of Lynn, that craftsmen and labourers who were residents of Lynn should not fail to remain at and keep open their shops or selds, pursuing their crafts or other livelihoods as they are accustomed on week-days, unless they are burgesses. And that all vagrants or itinerant persons who were within the liberty should bring themselves before the king's justices [to give assurances] for keeping the peace, so that no insurrections, gatherings, conventicles, or riots in any form or fashion take place this day in the town of Lynn.

[6. Letter from the mayor and good men of Lynn concerning a rioter, 1416]

To the most honourable gentleman and our most devoted friend, John Spenser, sheriff of Norfolk. Respected and reverent sir, we commend ourselves to you, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the kindness and courtesy you have shown us in times past, hoping for continuation of the same. We have understood your letter, for which our deepest thanks. As concerns Thomas Feltwell goldsmith, mentioned in your letter, it is well-known throughout Lynn that he was in the past indicted for rebellion and riot, and we have dealt with him fairly and in good faith, sir, since the last time that he was newly indicted. He never showed any repentance in word or action as far as we could tell, nor did anyone speak up for him until now – except only his wife spoke to us on his behalf – but he remained obstinate, full of ill-will, malice and worse. So it seemed to us and our fellows that we were not obliged to do him any favours. And we have been repeatedly informed, sir, that Thomas Hardell, Thomas Enemethe and many others with ill intent are consorting with and gathering again around Bartholomew Petypas, to offer him advice and his party support; and one is an attorney and schemes to have me, the mayor, brought in person to answer before the king or his council, along with all the bonds that we have taken in this matter. We beg you, sir, if it please you, to pay special attention to determining if this is what is being talked about there, and to do your best to prevent it, and send us information on the matter along with your best advice, by a speedy letter. We shall reimburse you for your efforts in a manner that will satisfy you, with God's grace. Sir, we are sending to you, by the carrier of this letter, a little young [...] beer, for we are given to believe that your other is destroyed. As regards your table "meyne" we have written on this matter, and as soon as it arrives we will send it to you. And sir, my wife Elizabeth commends herself to you a thousand times over. If there is anything else we may or can do to please you, do let us know by letter and we shall do whatever is within our power. Dear sir, we can say no more at this time. But Jesus give you long life, body and soul, and continual increase in honours. Written at Lynn, the second day of the month of July, in the fourth year of the reign of King Henry V.