Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood. William Finch-Crisp
Blaking, of Martham, fled into St. Nicholas’ Church, and confessed to having broken open a house at Hemsby and the prison at Southtown, and to having killed W. F. N. Blaking. The law in those days was, if a murderer could reach a church or churchyard before being apprehended, and confessed his crime to a coroner, justice, &c., he was set at liberty without taking a trial.
William Fastolf and H. Rose, Esqs., returned to Parliament, held at Lincoln.
Leather was not only used for various military purposes, but formed a considerable part of the common dress of the people before the introduction, and during the infancy, of the woollen manufacture.
Yarmouth claimed a free Borough by the Burgesses.
William Fastolf and H. Rose, Esqs., again returned to Parliament, held at Nottingham.
Price of pipe (120 gals.) of “red wine,” 20s.
During the reigns of Edward II. and III., Richard II., Henry IV., V., and VI., and Edward IV., upwards of 160 Burgesses were returned to Parliament, 72 of which were held at Westminster, 6 at York, 1 at London, Ripon, and New Sarum, and 2 at Gloucester.
Two Parliaments held, but not represented by the same Burgesses.
A Castle stood on the site of the King Street Independent Chapel, but was demolished in 1621.
Great disputes between the Barons of the Cinque Ports and the Bailiffs of this Borough, concerning the free fair which the former attempted to remove.
Burgesses exempted from serving on Juries, Inquests, or at Assizes, within the Borough.
Blackfriars’ Tower completed.
Forty ships of war ordered to Yarmouth roads.
The Yarmouth navy, comprising 20 men-of-war, had orders to proceed to the port of Dort, to convoy the King’s four plenipotentiaries to the Court of Hainault from those parts to England. On their return they took two Flemish ships and their cargoes. The Bishop of Glasgow, who was on board one, died of his wounds at Sandwich.
Thomas De Drayton, a Yarmouth man, who had held the office of bailiff fifteen times, was appointed Admiral of the North Fleet.
Yarmouth magistrates, &c., fitted out a fleet of men-of-war, well equipped, at their own cost and charge, to go against the enemy at sea for the space of a month.
John Perebrown, a burgess of Yarmouth, led the King’s North Sea Fleet in the great battle of Sluys, and did great service; 230 ships and 30,000 Frenchmen were lost.
Oct. Edward III. embarked on board the Yarmouth squadron in his unsuccessful expedition to Brittany.
The principal inhabitants fined 1000 marks for committing trespasses, &c., on the sea coast.
The first Haven cut.
Yarmouth assisted Edward III. at the siege of Calais with 43 vessels of war and 1,075 mariners, which was 18 ships more than London sent, and more than any other port, except Fowey.
Plague carried off 7,052 persons out of the then population of 10,000.
Yarmouth gave to the St. George’s College of Windsor by charter, a last of red herrings, to be delivered annually for ever on St. Andrew’s day, concerning which many disputes have since arisen.
Passenger boat from Yarmouth to Norwich sunk near Cantley, and 38 persons drowned.
Fastolf, father of the renowned Sir John Fastolf, one of the bailiffs.
Six Yarmouth vessels captured and burnt in the Bay of Brittany.
John Lawers hung for not paying the Custom House dues.
Yarmouth first appointed a staple port.
August 22nd. Kirkley Road united to the town and port of Yarmouth by charter of Edward III., but repealed four years afterwards.
Price of coal, including freight, 5s. 6d. per chaldron.
The memorable rebellion of Wat Taylor. The town attacked by 20,000 rebel archers or bowmen, who plundered houses and did much damage, but who were defeated after much bloodshed.
June 20th. Violent shock of an earthquake, and much damage done.
June. King Richard II. visited Great Yarmouth.
Market Place paved, and a Cross and Pillory built.
William Bardolf, Baron Bardolf, died. He had large estates near Yarmouth.
Sir Henry Percy and Fauset Percy sent to Yarmouth with 300 men-at-arms and 600 archers, to guard the coast, an invasion from France being apprehended.
A Horse Ferry at Gorleston existed.
The second Haven made, and a third in 1408.
Several small Yarmouth and other ships taken by Danish pirates in a sharp conflict off the coast. Lost £20,000 in specie.
After a lapse of 111 years the fortifications of the town were completed – 20 towers, 10 gates, and the wall, 2,280 yards in extent. (See 1544.)
Coals first imported here from Newcastle. Wood was used as fuel before this.
Henry IV. granted, by the consent of Parliament, that the shipping, weighing, and packing of wool, hides, and skins, should be done at Yarmouth, it being a frontier town.
Third Haven cut.
The annual election of four Bailiffs, reduced to two, and so continued until a Mayor was appointed in their stead.
Yarmouth Bridge, with 8 arches, built, before which a horse, cart, cattle, and foot ferry-boat existed. This was replaced by 4 successive drawbridges, i.e., 1553, 1570, 1785, and 1836. (See 1849.)
About 60 pilgrims sailed from Yarmouth in the ship “Falcon,” for the shrine at Santiago, in Spain; and in 1434, 20 more left.
The freedom of the Borough purchased for two marks.
Ralph Wadiswyke was made Comptroller of the Customs for taking Lord Doisemond, a French lieutenant, prisoner.
Caister Castle supposed to have been founded by Sir John Fastolf, K.G. He was born in 1377, and died in 1459 in his Hall at Caister, aged 82 years, and was buried in the Abbey Church of St. Bennet, at Holme, leaving his estate to John Paston, Esq.
July 24th. Lord Lieutenants of Counties first appointed.
Sacred Dramas and Mysteries performed in St. Nicholas’ Church.
John Pedle, labourer, of Yarmouth, executed for coining and uttering 18 groats, made of copper and lead, as good and lawful money of England.
Our Lady’s organ in St. Nicholas’ Church built; the old and new organs in 1485; great old organs in 1486; and Jesus’ organ in 1550.
John Paston died in the Fleet Prison, after the seizure of his estates.
Fourteen persons hanged at one time upon a gallows erected on the beach.
The Duke of Norfolk, at the head of 3,000 men, laid siege to Caister Castle, which was surrendered to his Grace. He died in 1475, and Caister Castle again reverted to the Paston family.
Yarmouth