POLITICAL HISTORY 



exchequer. But still money was not forthcoming freely, and 1 the sheriff was 

 warned that unless he squeezed his county more thoroughly the king would 

 make him remember. The Jews were finally expelled in 1 290 and the county 

 came into the hands of the Italian merchants. 



Home defence cost the king nothing but a command Suffolk had 

 to defend its own shores. The coast had been for years infested by pirates, 

 who plundered Dunwich, landed raiding parties and attacked ships, and 

 by 1295 to this was added the possibility of French invasion. 8 Peremp- 

 tory orders were issued to Earl Roger to guard the coast, laying all other 

 things aside. Under him William de Boville of Letheringham, Reginald 

 de Argenteyn of Halesworth and Cratfeld, Roger de Coleville of Rendle- 

 sham, John de Byskeleye of Brampton, constables, were directed to levy 

 the county forces, horse and foot, and to cause them to come to the coast 

 to guard it. Royal letters were sent to the following knights and county 

 gentlemen, who were to work under the constables, and to see that their 

 tenants and men were in readiness for defence, William de Neyreford of 

 Henstead and Cove, Robert de Shelton, John Bygod, Edward Charles 

 of Dodnesse, Jolland de Vallibus, Giles de Mountpounzen, William de 

 Wauncy of Depden, Simon de Noers, John de Cokeford of Whatfield and 

 Naughton, Thomas de Bavent of Easton Bavent, William de Kerdiston of 

 Glemham, Robert de UfFord of Ufford, Shelton, and Bawdsey, John de 

 Holebrook of Kesgrave and Floxhall. Recalcitrant landowners were to be 

 distrained by the sheriff if they refused to answer to their assessment, and 

 Peter de Dunwich was made overseer. The general tightening of the sinews 

 of government had its reaction under Edward II. The levelling effect of the 

 county legislation of Edward I had been resented, and >uo ivarranto 

 stung deep. St. Edmund and St. Etheldreda again asserted their privileges 

 against the county, the barons regrasped their liberties, the sheriff and the 

 conservators of the peace became party leaders, and the common folk followed 

 the lawless example of their superiors. Suffolk was suffering all the evil effects 

 of the prolonged wars with France and Scotland, and of a series of bad 

 seasons. The continual drain of men and money exasperated the peasants, as 

 it wearied the landowners. Provisions were scarce and dear, purveyance 

 harsh. The rich bribed the takers of prisage and the poor had to bear 

 double. Justice was again at the mercy of might. Stephen de Segrave of 

 Peasenhall, and Nicholas his brother, espoused the quarrel of their brother 

 Henry with Walter de Bermyngham. 3 Nicholas assembled his men at Bury 

 with horse and arms, and marched through the county, spreading dismay, to 

 join Stephen and overawe the court at Norwich where Henry was 

 imprisoned. The king forbade this brotherly expression of interest, but the 

 Segraves carried it through, and next year Nicholas, far from being in dis- 

 grace, received from the king a grant for life of the town and castle of Orford 

 and 60 out of the farm of Ipswich. 4 Peter de Gaveston, earl of Cornwall, 

 on his marriage with Margaret, sister of Gilbert de Clare, received the castle 

 and manor of Eye and the manor of Haughley. The county was soon divided 

 into Royalists and Lancastrians. One of the lords ordainers of 1311 was Sir 

 Bartholomew de Burghersh, whose wife was the only daughter of Richard 



1 Cal.of Close, 1279-88, p. 529. ' Ibid. 1288-96, p. 455. 



* Ibid. 1307-13, p. 354. 4 Cal. of Pat. 1307-13, p. 506. 



2 169 22 



