60 THE SILVERY HOSTS OF THE NORTH SEA. 



the ports have complained to their sovereigns for 

 redress and remedy, and yet sometimes been sufferers 

 by the outrage and insolence of the people." 



It was ordered by the king that " whereas our 

 barons of the ports claim to have at Yarmouth royal 

 justice, and the keeping of our peace, doing royal 

 justice, together with our provost of Great Yarmouth, 

 in this form, that during the fair they shall have four 

 sergeants, whereof one to bear our banner, another 

 to blow a horn for to assemble the people (for pro- 

 clamation) to be heard the better, and the other two 

 to bear rods for to keep our peace, and these offices 

 they may do on horseback if they will." The bailiffs 

 who were deputed by the Cinque Ports to attend 

 the " herring fair " were termed " Bailiffs for Yer- 

 mouth," and they, "yearly upon the vigil of the 

 Feast of St. Michael, make their repair for Yermouth 

 aforesaid, unto a house which they do there hire for 

 that purpose (for one of their own there they never 

 had), bringing with them their learned counsel, a 

 town clerk, two sergeants bearing white rods, a brazen 

 horn sounder, one carrying a banner of the arms of 

 the ports, and a jailor, who being come thither many 

 times, the bailiffs of Yermouth within a few hours 

 after with the then new elects and some other of 

 their brethren do repair to their lodgings, and them 

 courteously do welcome and entertain." On the next 

 day, which would be St. Michael's, these strangers 

 repair to the church to hear divine service, the 

 "Yermouth" bailiffs sending for them to sit with 

 them, " which I term courtesy ; for place among them 



