The borough of Kings Lynn: Rolls, from Edward I to 1656

Rolls, from Edward I to 1656

(c.) Rolls from the Time of Edward the First to 1656 A.D.

(1.)—Edward I.—Two Subsidy Rolls. (1.) The Roll of moneys gathered in a single constabulary of the town of Bishop's Lynn towards the payment of a Fifteenth, granted to the King by parliament in the 3rd or 29th year of Edward the First. To learn the reasons for assigning this roll to the one or the other of these years, the reader is referred to "Remarks on a Subsidy Roll in the Possession of the Corporation of Lynn Regis. Communicated by the Rev. G. H. Dashwood F.S.A." in the first volume of "Norfolk Archæology." (2) The Roll of moneys, gathered in a single constabulary of the town of Bishop's Lynn towards the payment of a tenth. Neither of these rolls is dated. Extracts from Roll (1) are given in Mr. Dashwood's paper. Roll (2) came to light after the publication of the antiquary's essay.

(2.)—Edward I. (?).—Imperfect Terrier of the town of Bishop's Lynn. Not dated; but assigned to Edward the First's time, by a note on the leather wrapper.

(3.) 24–6 Edward I.—Assize-of-Bread Rolls of the 24th, 25th and 26th years of Edward the First.

(4.) Edward II.—Copy, in hand-writing of Henry the Sixth's time, of a Terrier (temp. Edward II. ?) of the part of Bishop's Lenn, called Neweland; ending with the words, "Hic explicit tota illa pars Lenn' que vocatur Newelond, scilicet ex parte Aquilonari dicte Ville."

(5.) 3 Edward II. to 1654 A.D.—Leet Rolls of the years of 3 Edward II.; 2, 7, 20, 26, 33, 46 and 49 Edward III., with undated membranes of divers rolls of the same reign; 3, 15, 18 Richard II.; 5, 6 Henry IV., with undated membranes of divers rolls of the same reign; 8 Henry V.; 4, 5, 6, 9, 13 Henry VI.; 20 Elizabeth; 13, 14, 21 James I.; and 1654 A.D. Also, to be mentioned in connection with these rolls, Headborough's Books of 1594, 1624, 1630, 1633, 1636, 1641, 1663, 1666, 1746 A.D., and similar books of later years.

(6.) Edward II. (?).—Undated Bede-Roll of the Gild Merchant of the Holy Trinity of Lenn; exhibiting 867 names of the brethren of the gild on two closely written membranes, the earlier membrane being headed, "Hii sunt fratres Gilde Mercatorie de Lenn."

(7.) October, 3 Edward II.—Illustrated copy of a Composition made between John by God's grace the Bishop of Norwich and Lord of the town of Bishop's Lenne of the one part, and the Mayor and Community of the said town of the other part.

(8.) 1 Edward III. to 4 & 5 Philip andMary.—Chamberlains' Yearly Accounts of receipts and payments, in the years 1–2, 5–6, 7–8, 8–9, 9–10, 10–11, 11–12, 12–13, 13–14, 14–15, 17–18, 20–1, 22–3, 23–4, 25–6, 27–8, 28–9, 29–30, 30–1, 31–2, 34–5, 35–6, 36–7, 38–9, 39–40, 41–2, 43–4, 44–5, 45–6, 46–7, 47–8, 48–9, 49–50 of Edward the Third, and 50 Edward III.—1 Richard II.; 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 8–9, 12–13 of Richard the Second, and 22 Rich. II.—1 Hen. IV.; 3–4 of Henry the Fourth; 1–2, 4–5, 6–7 of Henry the Fifth; 23–4, 25–6, 31–2, 35–6 of Henry the Sixth; 1–2, 5–6, 13–14 of Edward the Fourth; 1–2 and 2–3 of Richard the Third; 1–2, 7–8, 9–10, 20–1 of Henry the Seventh; 2–3, 6–7, 11–12, 15–16 of Henry the Eighth, with fragmentary Rolls of 18–19, 19–20, 20–1, 22–3, 27–8, 31–2, 35–6 of the same reign; 2–3, 3–4, 4–5, 5–6 of Edward the Sixth, and 6 Edw. VI.—Mary; and 1 & 2–2 & 3, 2 & 3–3 & 4, 3 & 4–4 & 5 and 4 & 5 Philip and Mary.

(9.) 8 & 23 Edward III.—Husting Court Rolls (fragmentary) of the 8th and 23rd years of Edward the Third.

(10.) 47 Edward III. to 24 Henry VII.—Trinity Gild Rolls; viz., rolls of the yearly accounts of the scabins of the Gild Merchant of the Holy Trinity of Lenn, of the years 47–8 of Edward the Third; 8–9, 10–11, 13–14, of Richard the Second; 7–8 of Henry the Fourth; 4–5, 9–10 of Henry the Fifth, and 10 Henry V.—1 Henry VI; 3–4, 16–17, 17–18, 19–20, and 22–3 of Henry the Sixth; 3–4, 7–8, 8–9, 14–15, 17–18, 18–19 of Edward the Fourth; 1 Edward the Fifth; and 8–9, 18–19 and 23, of Henry the Seventh. Made up from the Feast of the Holy Trinity of one year to the same Feast in the next following year, these accounts show that the Gild derived a considerable yearly revenue from the sale of mill-stones, grave-stones, paving-stones and marble, in which commodity it seems to have had a monopoly, and a still more important source of income from fees for admissions,—women being admitted to the spiritual benefits of the gild for the same heavy payment, by which men became participators in all the benefits of the association. What is here said of the terms and conditions, under which women were admitted to the Gild should not escape the reader's attention, nor be allowed to pass from his mind, as it differs materially from what was written on the same subject by the late Mr. Harrod, F.S.A., some of whose translated extracts from these records represent that women entered the Gild, in order to share in the special benefits of the society. For instance, according to Mr. Harrod (vide his published "Report on the Deeds and Records of the Borough of King's Lynn," 1874), Margaret Kyrketon in the 10th year of Henry the Fifth paid a hundred shillings "for admission to special benefits of the Guild after her death," the Latin word there rendered "special" being a contracted form of "spiritualibus."

— Also, to be mentioned with these Rolls of Accounts, (a.) The Series of Congregation Rolls, viz., rolls of records of acts and proceedings at the assemblies of the Alderman and brethren of the Trinity Gild (8 Ric. II. to 12 Henry VI.), and (b) a Terrier, made in 4 Edw. IV. of the Lands and Tenements of the Gild of the Holy Trinity of Bishop's Lenn, lying in South Lenn.

(11.) 8–22 Richard II.—Enrolments of Wills (Testaments and Last Wills).

(12.) 9 Richard II. to 10 Henry V.—Assembly or Congregation Rolls (otherwise styled Guild Hall Rolls) of the following years, (a) 9–10 Richard II.; (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Henry IV.; (c) 13 Henry IV.–1 Henry V.; and (d) 6–7, 8–9 and 9–10 Henry V. It should be observed that three of these four rolls pertain to the period, beginning in 19 Richard II., when the Congregation records of the Red Register cease, and closing with 2 Henry VI., the opening year of the Assembly (or Congregation) Book No. I.; during the larger part of which period, if not during the whole of it, the Acts and Proceedings of Assemblies wore entered for permanent record on the membranes of Hall Rolls, instead of the leaves of Hall Registers.

(13.) 11 Richard II. to 39 Henry VI.—Corpus Christi Gild Rolls; viz., Rolls of the yearly accounts of the successive treasurers of the Corpus Christi Gild, of the following years 11–12, 15–16, of Richard the Second; 1–2, 2–3, 3–4, 4–5, 5–6, 6–7, 8–9, 10–11, 11–12 of Henry the Fourth, and 13 Hen. IV., 1 Hen. V.; and 3–4, 5–6, 6–7, 7–8, 8–9, 9–10, 10–11, 12–13, 16–17, 17–18, 18–19, 19–20, 20–1, 22–3, 24–5, 25–6, 29–30, 31–2, 37–8, 38–9 Henry VI.

(14.) 15 Richard II.—Rental of the rents pertaining to the community of the town of Bishop's Lenn.

(15.) 17 September, 4 Henry VI.—Rental of all the rents, tenements and lands of the community of Lenn, renewed on the seventeenth day of September of 4 Henry VI. and 1425 A.D., John Parmonter being then the Mayor of Lenn.

(16.) 4–5 Henry VI.—Rental of all the rents, tenements and lands of the community of Lenne.

(17.) Philip and Mary.—Tolbooth Roll (paper) headed, Thys Booke Gatheryd in the year of Raaff Downs Mayor anno 1557 by me Henry Hylle.

(18.) Elizabeth.—Four Petty Tolls' Rolls (paper), of moneys taken by way of the same tolls.

(19.) 13 Elizabeth to 1751 A.D.—Nine Rolls of enrolments of deeds, of the following terms of years, 13 Eliz. to 1 James 1, 1640–48, 1654–62, 1671–91, 1689–1702, 1702–8, 1710–11, 1717–29, 1730–33, 1733–35, and 1735–40. Together with a Book of enrolments of deeds of 1740 –51, A.D.

(20.) 22–3 Elizabeth.—Roll of the Common Staith Quay Tolls and Rents; headed, "Thaccompt of Michaell Revitt for the Profettes rising of the Comen Stath Yarde . . . the warehouses thereto belonginge within the same, from the yeldinge up of his accompte made the xixth of February in the xxii yere of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lady Quene Elizabeth until the first daie of the moneth of March in the xxiii yere of her said Majesties reigne, made and yelded up att the Hall holden the Tenth daie of the said month of March in the second yere of Mr. Franncis Shaxton his mayoralty, as followeth."

(21.) 1597 A.D.—Roll of the names of the Mayors of Lynn, from John Cotshall mayor of the said town in 1352. With historical notes and memoranda.

(22.) 20 April, 1604. — Petty Tolls Roll, indented and headed, "This Roll indented made the xx^th daie of Aprill 1604, and in the yeres of the raigue of our Sovereign Lord James &c. . . . . of all such tolls commonly called pettie . . . ., belonging to the Maior and burgesses of the said towne of Lenne as they have appointed Clement Pilgram one of their watter-bailiffes of the said Town to collect gather take and receive for upon or in respect of any such goodes wares or merchandizes as shalbe conveied or carried either by water or by land from or out of the said towne or the liberties thereof, apperteyninge or belonginge to any foriner or stranger, or any person or persons not being fre of any citie burgh or towne priviledged from payinge of tolls within the said towne of Lenne, as hereafter followeth."

(23)—February 1656.—Petty Tolls' Roll, headed. "A Roll of all . . . . Tolls belonging to the Mayor and burgesses of the said burrough, commonly called pettie tolls to be collected and gathered for and in respect of all such goods wares and merchandizes as be hereafter mencioned after the rates hereunder written and set downe, and soe for any greater or lesser quantityes proportions or summes which shalbe conveied or carried by water or by land to any place or places out of the said burrough or the libertyes thereof (except into parts beyond the sea), belonging to any forreigner or other person or persons not being priviledged from paying of tolls within the said borrough or the libertyes thereof, transcribed and copied out this day of February in the yeare of our Lord 1656, as hereafter followeth."