Francis Blomefield

“ Soon after this, the mayor was called before the privy council again, and commanded to go down to Norwich, and move the assembly to agree, that the priory and all its liberties might be formally exempted out of the county of the city, for which the Prior should either pay them five marks a year, or 80l. down ”

“ Edmund's Bury, and from thence to Norwich, where he kept his Christmas; at his entry, he was received by the mayor, sheriffs, aldermen, and all the masters or wardens of the crafts or companies, all new clad in scarlet, the mayor in the name of the city, made him a handsome present, and feasted him and his nobles grandly, the city having raised 140l. for that purpose; they made presents also to John Earl of Oxford and his lady, who lodged at the College of the Chapel in the Fields ”

“ Wilton, alderman, Jeffry Steward and Rob. Large, commoners; and for the priory four monks and two lawyers: but when the assembly signed their bonds of award, they inserted a conditional clause, namely, that they should not enter into treaty on any point contrary to the determination of Huse and Townesende, which leaving the chief thing still in question, the whole matter came to nothing but continual suits, indictments, and animosities subsisted between them during this whole reign. In 1493, wheat was sold at 6d. a bushel in London and Norwich. ”

“ In the last year of this King was a writ directed to the sheriffs commanding them, as they loved themselves and all that belonged to them, to appear at the Exchequer, and satisfy the fee farm of 113l. 8s. and 40s. increase, and 40s. ”

“ Her be your true feightfull and most humble subyietts maisters, the Meire, Shiriffs, and Aldermen, of this your citee of Norwich, which as wele for themselff as in the name of all the commonailte, and inhabitants of the same, thank your Heighness, as humbely, as reverently, and as hertyly, as any subgiets may do their sovereigne Lord, for this, that it hath lekid you, of your most speciall grace, to be personally present, and to shewe your most riall persone here among them in this your cite, to ther grettest erthly joy and comforte. ”

“ And for a pleyn and oppen recognicion that ye sovereigne Lord be hertily welcome to them all, And that all they be your feithfull lovyng subgiets in worde, will, and dede, according to ye duty of ther alligeans, and how be it, that they ar more pore, and not of such welth as they have ben afore thes dayes. Yet sovereigne Lord they offer, geve and bringe here onto your Heighness a present. ”

“ And that ye concele nought, these defautes afforseid, sparing no man, for love, hate, ne drede, upon peyne of grevous ponyschement, be avyse of the Meyre, and mo sufficient men of the same crafte. But that ye xull soo governe your crafte in all thing, that may be encrese, profit, and worschip, unto alle the citee, and well, and truly, yee schall don alle that longith to maistres of the crafte for to doo. ”

“ Ye schall swer, that ye schall well and truly servyn the Lord owr Kyng, the office of Schrevehood in the cite and counte of Norwych, suburbes, hamelettis, procinctis, and circuites of the same cite and counte. And truly, buxumly, and rightfully, ye xall trete the peple of the same cite and counte, and alle other peple in that that touchyth your office. ”

“ Also non panell maken, atte non nomination of partye, ne non man impanell between partye and partye, but they that ben endefferent men, in no wyse, ne no man, woman, ne childe, aforn xal waren, of no pleynt, ne processe, that is, or xall be, ageyne hym or them, in the same court, but be autorite, and comaundement of the seid court, ne non disceyt doon, of non processe longyng to the seid courte ”

“ And non of hem losen be yowre defautys, as ye will answer therfore to the Kyng, and qwyte the comons agene the Kyng, and no man lete owte of preson, qwych is sent into preson be the Meyre, wyth owtyn assent, or specyall commaundement of the Meyr. And ye schall well and truly, the lawys, lybertes, and good custumes, and ordinaunces of the seyd cite kepen, and susteynen, in as moche as to you longyth. ”