John Fordham, Bishop of Durham. Fordham John King. Bishop of Durham John, bishop...

Petitioners

John Fordham, Bishop of Durham.

Name(s)

Fordham, John

Addressees

King.

Occupation

Bishop of Durham

Nature of request

John, bishop of Durham, requests remedy since his predecessors used to have great yearly profit from the coal in the bishopric and royal franchise of Durham and especially by loading and shipping in ships and vessels seeking it in the River Tyne, which profit represented a large part of the revenue of the church of Durham, but the men of Newcastle upon Tyne hinder him and those wishing to buy coals, contrary to Edward III's statute made in parliament at York in the ninth year of his reign [1335]. Also, whereas the petitioner, by confirmation of the King's ancestors, ought to have access for ships and other vessels to his part of the water, the men of Newcastle and their officers prevent vessels arriving and loading coal and other commodities, and will not allow the bishop to have his own vessels on the water to receive his coals, and without royal warrant and for their own profit they put grievous impositions on each chaldron of coal laden on that water, and have demanded the same for the bishop's coal from men wishing to ship it. As a result the bishop has had no profit from his coal during his time in office.

Nature of endorsement

[None].

Places mentioned

Durham, County Durham

York

River Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne, [Northumberland].

People mentioned

Edward [III], King of England.

For a later related petition from the people of Newcastle see SC 8/129/6422

For the Chancery warrant with which it was formerly enclosed see no.3073 of C 81/483