1348-05-12, Westminster Apnil

Commission to William de Thorpe, Richard de Kelleshull, Robert de Thorpe, John de la Rokele and Roger Petygard to make inquisition in the county of Suffolk touching a petition of the burgesses of Dunwich, presented before the king and council at Westminster on the morrow of Hilary last, shewing that, whereas the mayor and commonalty took the town at fee farm from Edward I, at the rent of 651. yearly, at which time there was such frequent arrival of merchants and mariners, denizen and alien, on account of their commodious port that the profit of tolls of goods and merchandise amounted to a great part of their farm and the men of the town had eighty great ships, and on account of such frequent arrival the lands in the town were extended beyond their true value and no market or fair was then held in any town within a circuit of twelve miles save in their town, now their port is obstructed by sand and by jetsam, divers of their lands there are submerged and overflowed, so many markets and fairs have since been granted to men, religious and others, by the king's said grandfather, the late king and himself, and their shipping in these times of war has been destroyed by the enemy, very many men have left the town to dwell elsewhere and those remaining there are not sufficient for the payment of the farm, and praying that the king will order that the town be taken into his hands and appoint some man there to answer to him for all issues and profits in discharge of the petitioners of the farm aforesaid ; and to certify the king fully as to the obstruction of the port, the amount at which the profit of the toll of the port and the lands since submerged were extended when the rent of the town was fixed, their present value, what markets and fairs have been granted to the damage of the town since the same time and what damage or prejudice would result to the king if he should take the town into his hands and appoint a keeper thereof. By pet. of Parl 1348 MEMBRANE ld. April 8.