Francis Blomefield

“ Know ye, that we have granted to our citizens of Norwich, that none of them shall be forced to answer to any plea (or action) out of Norwich, unless it be to pleas concerning foreign tenures, except the mintmasters, and our own officers; we have also granted them acquittance of murder, and gavelet within their city, and that none of them shall be forced to duel, (or combat,) and that they may try all pleas of the Crown among themselves, according to the custom of the city of London ”

“ Wherefore we will and firmly command, that the citizens themselves, and their heirs, all the aforesaid things, with the city and its appurtenances, shall have and hold of us and our heirs, to them and their heirs, paying yearly one hundred and eight pounds of esterlings, by tale, from (out of, or for,) the city of Norwich, by the hands of the Provost of Norwich, at our Exchequer, every Michaelmas day, and the citizens of Norwich shall yearly choose such Provosts out of themselves (or their own body) as shall be agreeable to us and them ”

“ On the 27th of November following, the King, by charter dated at Westminster, created Roger, son of Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, and Steward of his Household: who being in such favour as to be made Earl of the county, may be allowed to be constable of the castle, seeing history mention no other as constable at that time ”