A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 



killed him in single combat, although the latter was assisted by a huge mastiff 

 dog, which our man ' cut in two through the reins,' before he struck, off the 

 Scotchman's head. The name Venile is probably a misprint for Nevile, a 

 Robert de Nevile being returned to Parliament for Norfolk, i6 Edw, III. In 

 1332^ another Norfolk champion had to do with the expedition to Ireland, 

 and sixty archers were to be provided by the sheriff of Norfolk. This was 

 Robert de Morley, one of the most famous warriors of the time, both in the 

 French and Scotch wars. He had much to do with the naval victory of 

 Sluys, and was present at Cressy, but in spite of all these services had 

 to do penance bare foot through the streets of Norwich for slaying the 

 bishop's deer. 



In 1338 mention was made on the Patent Roll' of unlawful assemblies 

 being held in Norwich, and the Mayor of Lynn ^ was directed to put his 

 town in a state of defence. 



The country continued to be at war with France and Scotland and the 

 east coast was exposed to the attacks of French and Scotch vessels. We get 

 a glimpse of Edward's policy of alliance with Flanders from the order given 

 in 1340 that the common seal of the city of Norwich should be put with 

 those of London, Lincoln, and York, to letters of confederacy with Bruges, 

 Ypres, and Ghent.* 



In February, 1340,^ Edward and his wife came to Norwich to witness 

 a great tournament here, after which he is said to have paid a visit to his 

 mother, Isabella, at Castle Acre. It may have been on this occasion that he 

 is supposed to have been entertained by John Braunche at Lynn, as shown on 

 the latter's brass, dated 1364. The king was at Norwich again in November, 

 I 344, as is shown by a grant made to the city at that time.' 



The kingdom suffered during this reign from the terrible pestilence, the 

 French wars, and the weakness of the central power, accompanied by 

 oppressive taxation, but no events of any great local importance took place 

 until the year 1381. In this year came the rebellion of Geoffrey^ the 

 Litester or Lister, which, being perhaps, the most important event in the 

 history of the county, deserves special mention. 



There had been many causes which had created great discontent, not 

 only here but all over England, and especially four which may be for- 

 mulated thus : 



First, the immediate oppression of a poll tax of twelve pence a head which 

 was granted in 1380, though one of fourpence had just been paid in 1377; 

 and the long sustained grievances of the purveyors and the maladministration 

 of justice.* This was the cry against the government. 



Secondly, the stricter enforcement of the lord's rights to the unpaid 

 labour which had always been due both from free and bond tenants, and 

 which had now, owing to the sweeping away of so many labourers by the 



' Close, 6 Edw. Ill, m. 16. ' Pat. 12 Edw. Ill, m. 34 a'. ' Ibid. 12 Edw. Ill, m. ^J. 



* Ibid. 14 Edw. Ill, pt. ii, m. 41. ' Blomefield, iii, 86. * Pat. 19 Edw. Ill, pt. i, m. 8 J. 



' The Anct. Indictments, 128, and Norf. Lay. Subsidies, Lt^, cited by Powell, Rising in East Anglia, seem 

 to establish this as the correct Christian name of the chief leader. Walsingham has confused him with John 

 Lister of Norwich. 



' There had been many a bitter complaint of the oppression during the last half-century, e.g. by the 

 sherifft in 1333, as to free warren in 1334, unfair tallages in 1337, and against pun'eyors in 1328, 1330, 

 1331 (vide Patent Rolls). For instances of minor extortions by bailiffi, warreners, &c., 14 Edw. I, see 

 Horf. Anti^. Miscell. ii, 192-3. 



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