Commons of Norfolk and Suffolk and all other counties of England. King and lords...

Petitioners

Commons of Norfolk and Suffolk and all other counties of England.

Addressees

King and lords of parliament.

Nature of request

The commons of Norfolk and Suffolk and all other counties of England state that, contrary to the statue that all lieges of the realm may buy and sell without hindrance in all cities, boroughs, ports and elsewhere throughout the realm, and that any charters or patents granted to the contrary should be considered null, the king has granted to the people of Great Yarmouth that no-one should be able to buy or sell for seven leagues round the town, and that Kirkley, which is six leagues from Great Yarmouth, and in Suffolk, should be annexed to that town, which is in Norfolk, although a charter concerning the matter was repealed in parliament as harmful to the commons. The people of Yarmouth do not allow anyone to buy or sell in Kirkley roads, so ships anchored there, which cannot get into Yarmouth because of contrary winds, have to throw their herring overboard. A bill was sued to repeal this charter at the last parliament at Northampton, which was endorsed at the king's command that the inquest previously held on the matter did not seem adequate to the council, so that a new one should be taken. This has been done, and all the points in the bill from Northampton found to be true. The commons request that the charter be repealed, and no similar charter granted in future.

Nature of endorsement

The king wishes the said charter to be repealed with regard to the said new grant included in it, with the new increase of their farm by reason of this grant, saving to the burgesses their former charters, and good customs.

Places mentioned

Kirkelerod (Kirkley), Suffolk

Jernemuth (Great Yarmouth), [Norfolk].

For a related petition, see SC 8/153/7622

• Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ric II, vol. II, 1381-1385, (Public Record Office, 1898), p.105 (revocation of offending charter)
• Rotuli Parliamentorum; ut et Petitiones, et Placita in Parliamento, vol. III, Ric II and Hen IV, (Record Commission, 1783), pp.116b-117a (transcription of document on parliament roll: text modified)