Weavers and workers of worsted cloth in Norfolk. King and council. The weavers and...

Petitioners

Weavers and workers of worsted cloth in Norfolk.

Addressees

King and council.

Nature of request

The weavers and workers request that they can use their craft without making fine as Robert de Polee obtained the alnage of their cloths by a commission commanding that their cloths be made to an unaccustomed length, and taking 1d. or more for each cloth depending on its length. Many weavers are being driven from their craft, as the merchants do not wish to buy their cloth, as Robert de Polee seizes improperly made cloth from them, until they have made fine with him.

Nature of endorsement

This petition was brought by Montgomery in the presence of the bishops of Durham, Ely, Worcester and others of the council and the bishop of Norwich was commanded by the king that the things contained in the petition be in such manner ordained that the king is not offended.Let the Bishop of Norwich, Walter de Norwich and Constantine de Mortimer enquire in the presence of the workers and other merchants and others who seem to them to be appropriate, of the matter contained in the petition and the state in the time that Peacock held the office, and of other articles and the inquisition is to be returned into Chancery, so that the king can further do what is to be done.

Places mentioned

Norfolk.

People mentioned

Robert de Polee (Poley)

John de Mountgomery (Montgomery), usher of the chamber and bailiff of the Bishop of Norwich

[Louis de Beaumont], Bishop of Durham

[John Hotham], Bishop of Ely

[Adam de Orleton], Bishop of Worcester

[William Ayermine], Bishop of Norwich

Walter de Norwyz (Norwich)

Constantine de Mortimer

John Pecok (Peacock).

For a related document, see SC 8/313/E105

For a closely related petition by the same petitioners, see SC 8/17/811

For another petition with which this petition was probably enclosed, see SC 8/268/13369

For a near identical copy of this petition without a response, and with which this petition was probably enclosed, see SC 8/268/13364

• Calendar of Close Rolls, Edw III, vol. I, 1327-1330, (Public Record Office, 1896), pp.395-6 (order in accordance with the response to the petition)
• Rotuli Parliamentorum; ut et Petitiones, et Placita in Parliamento, vol. II, Edw III, (Record Commission, 1783), p.28a-b (no.50) (full edition of later copy of original petition)
• The Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, Ed. Paul Brand, Anne Curry, Chris Given-Wilson, Rosemary Horrox, W.M. Ormrod and J.R.S. Phillips, (Cambridge University Press, 2005), Appendix of Unedited Petitions, 1307-1337, Rotuli Parliamentorum II, pp.13-30, no.50 (summary of references)