There is associated evidence for murage, dated 15/5/1340, concerning men of the town of Harwich (a complaint by burgesses of Ipswich).
Wording
Commission to John de Whelnethani, John de la Rokele and Robert de Clere reciting that the burgesses of Ipswich have made petition to the king showing that whereas they hold their town of him as of the crown of England at fee farm by grant of former kings, rendering 60/. yearly, and the port of Erewell with the arm of the sea there pertains and has in time past pertained to their town, the bailiffs whereof ought to make distraints and attachments in the port and have used to take there in the king's name toll and other petty customs towards the farm of the town, the men of the town of Harwich, by colour of letters patent whereby the king, at the suit of the said men setting forth that the town pertained to the town of Harwich, granted licence for them to take murage there, notwithstanding that the letters patent were afterwards revoked by other letters patent as being prejudicial to the king and the said burgesses, still levy the said murage in the port, and thus the burgesses cannot pay their farm to the king, and appointing them to find by inquisition in the county of Suffolk whether the port with the arm of the sea there pertains to the town of Ipswich, and whether the burgesses of Ipswich have used to make distraints and attachments and take toll and other petty customs in the port, and all other circumstances touching the premises.
Granted by Edward III. (Regnal year 14). Granted at Westminster. Grant by By C..
The appointed commissoners or auditors were John de Whelnethani; John de la Rokele; Robert de Clere
Primary Sources
Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1898, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1338-40) Vol. 4 p. 556
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 16/01/2009. Last updated on 19/01/2013. First published online 9/01/2013.
