Account of the setting up of self-government in A.D. 1200: Ipswich

On Thursday following the festival of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in the second year of the reign of King John [29 June], the whole town of the borough of Ipswich gathered in the churchyard of St. Mary at Tower to elect two bailiffs and four coroners for the town, according to the specifications of the charter of the aforesaid lord King, which that king recently granted to the the borough. On which day the burgesses, by common assent and with one voice, elected two upright and law-abiding men of their town, viz., John fitz Norman and William de Beaumes, who were sworn to the administration of the ballivalty of the town and that they shall behave well and faithfully to both poor and rich.

They also unanimously elected on that day four coroners, viz. John fitz Norman, William de Beaumes, Philip de Porta, and Roger Lew, who were sworn to the administration of pleas of the crown and to doing other things which concern the crown in the borough, and to supervise the bailiffs in the just and legal treatment of poor as well as rich.

On the same day it was ordained by common counsel of the town that henceforth there ought to be in the borough twelve sworn capital portmen, such as there are in other free boroughs of England, and that they should have full power on behalf of themselves and the whole town to govern and maintain the borough and all its liberties, and to render judgements of the town; and also to take care of, ordain and do in the borough whatever may need to be done to maintain the status and reputation of the town. And on this matter the bailiffs and coroners declared that the whole town should come to the churchyard on Sunday following the festival of the Apostles Peter and Paul, to elect 12 capital portmen, according to the intent of this ordinance.

On Sunday following the festival of the Apostles Peter and Paul [2 July], the whole town of Ipswich gathered before the bailiffs and coroners to elect 12 capital portmen for the town, as was previously decided. By consent of the town, the bailiffs and coroners elected four upright and law-abiding men from each parish of the town, who were sworn to elect 12 capital portmen from the better, wiser and more able townsmen to make ordinances for the well-being of the town, as was already said. And those sworn men of the parishes came and elected, on behalf of themselves and the whole town, these 12 names written below, viz. John fitz Norman, William de Beaumes, Philip de Porta, Roger Lew, Peter Everard, William Goscalk, Amise Bolle, John de Saint George, John le Mayster, Sayer fitz Thurstan, Robert Parys and Andrew Peper. Who took oath before the whole town that they would govern the borough of Ipswich well and faithfully, maintain as best they could all the liberties recently granted to the burgesses of the borough by the charter of the lord King, maintain all liberties and free customs of the town, render just judgements in the town court without discrimination towards any individual, and moreover ordain and do all things touching the status and reputation of the town, and to deal lawfully and justly with poor as well as rich.

On the same day as the 12 capital portmen were sworn in this fashion, they required the whole town to raise its hands over the book and in one voice to solemnly swear that from that hour forth they would obey, attend, counsel and support the bailiffs, coroners, and each and every of the 12 capital portmen, with their bodies and their chattels for the purpose of preserving and maintaining the reputation, liberties and free customs of the town in whatever location necessary (excepting against the lord King or his power), with all their might, insofar as they ought to do within justice and reason.

On the same day it was agreed that the new charter of the King be handed over to two upright and law-abiding townsmen for safekeeping, viz. John fitz Norman and Philip de Porta, who were sworn to faithfully keep the charter and deliver it to the town when it shall be necessary and when they shall be warned and required to do so by the town. And because as much had been ordained and done for the status and reputation of the town as could be that day, it was agreed that the bailiffs, coroners and all capital portmen should come together on Thursday next after the festival of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr to ordain and do whatever might be required for the status and reputation of the town.

On Thursday following the festival of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr [13 July], the bailiffs, coroners and all capital portmen gathered to deal with and ordain for the status of the town of Ipswich.

• First, they ordain that all custom of the borough henceforth be collected by the hand of the bailiffs and four upright and law-abiding men of the borough. And that they pay this annually to the King's Exchequer for the rightful and traditional farm of the town.
• Also, they ordain that there be two beadles in the borough, sworn to make all attachments and distraints, and carry out all orders from bailiffs, coroners and capital portmen which ought to be done in the borough. And that one of the beadles be keeper of all prisoners who shall be arrested by the bailiffs; which keeper is to find surety for his safekeeping of all prisoners etc.
• Also, they ordain that, [it was decided] by common counsel of the town, there be made a common seal of the borough to be used in important business concerning the borough community, and for sealing letters giving the official opinion of all burgesses of the borough, and for doing all things that need to be need for the common reputation and utility of the town. The common seal is to be in the custody of three or four upright and law-abiding men sworn to that task before the community of the borough.
• Also, they ordain that, [it was decided] by common counsel of the town, there be in the borough an upright, law-abiding and suitable man to be alderman of the Merchant Gild in the borough. And that four upright and law-abiding townsmen be associated with him. The alderman and those four shall be sworn to well and faithfully maintain the Gild and all that belongs to it.
• Also, they ordain that the new charter be conveyed into open session of the county court of Suffolk and to Norwich into open session of the county court of Norfolk. And that the charter be manifestly read out in those courts, so that the liberties contained therein be publicly known and disseminated in locations throughout the counties.
• Also, they ordain that no burgess of the town may be exempt from customs [collected] in the town on his merchandise, if he be a merchant, unless he be at lot and scot in the common aids and business of the town.

On Sunday following the festival of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary [10 September], the community of Ipswich gathered before the bailiffs, the coroners, and the other capital portmen of the town to hear all the above ordinances, which were read out before the people in the churchyard of St. Mary at Tower. After the reading, the whole community unanimously consented to the ordinances. Afterwards they elected bailiffs to hold office during the coming year, viz. John fitz Norman and William de Beaumes. On the same day they elected four men to join with the bailiffs in collecting town customs, viz. Peter Peper, Norman Halynoth, Clement le Palmer, and Leman de Ponte. On the same day they elected two beadles, viz. John Prikehert and John Hawe, who were sworn to well and faithfully collect attachments and distraints and to carry out all orders given by bailiffs, coroners and portmen that pertain to their official duties. John Prikehert was elected to be keeper of the prisoners of the town, and he found sureties for answering for any escapes by prisoners, should that happen (which God forbid), viz. Edmund de Marisco, Peter Peper, John Hawe and Thomas de Horner. And because no more could be accomplished on that day, it was agreed that bailiffs and community would be here on Thursday following the festival of St. Faith to elect an alderman and do other things not possible now. The bailiffs were asked, in the interim, to have a common seal made, as ordained above.

On Thursday following the festival of St. Faith [12 October], the bailiffs, coroners, and other capital portmen, and the whole community assembled in the church of St. Mary at Tower. The bailiffs showed the common seal of the town which had recently been made. Then there were elected three of the more law-abiding and capable men of the borough to have safekeeping of the seal, viz. John fitz Norman, William de Beaumes, and Philip de Porta, who were sworn before the community to well and faithfully take care of the seal, and not allow it to be applied to any letter or other [written] instrument, unless it shall be to the common honour and utility of the town or the burgesses of the town, and that by agreement of their peers. And furthermore it was agreed that the town charter remain in their custody.

On the same day was elected, by common counsel of the town, an alderman, viz. William Goscalk. And four were elected to be his associates, viz. Peter Everard, John le Mayster, Roger Lew and John de Saint George, who were sworn together with the alderman to well and faithfully govern the Merchant Gild of the borough of Ipswich and all articles belonging to the Gild; and that they treat all brethren of the Gild well and lawfully. Afterwards the alderman and his four associates, in the presence of the townspeople, said that all who are of the liberty of the town shall come before them on a certain day, time and place to be announced, to place themselves in the Gild and contribute to the hanse of the Gild.

[The following section is found only in the 16th century copy of the Ipswich Domesday. Other factual evidence (e.g. custumal, cap.75), along with spelling of certain words, make it unlikely this is a post-medieval insertion, yet it is not clear why this section, if part of thirteenth century source records from which medieval copies of the Domesday were made, is not in those earlier copies. Possibly it was omitted because recorded separately in the Merchant Gild's own records and not considered relevant to the daily work of borough administration, for which the Domesday was a reference tool (rather than being an historical record).]

On the same day the bailiffs, coroners and other portmen, and the whole community discussed together how and by what means it would be best to provide for the maintenance of the Merchant Gild and all that belongs to it. The bailiffs, coroners, and other portmen, and the whole community with one voice agreed and ordained that the alderman who had now been elected and all aldermen who should be elected in the future might have and control for the profit of the Gild the buying and selling of all the merchandise listed below, viz. millstones, rubstones, dogstones, quernstones, grindstones, gravestones, mortars of marble, and pavingstones of marble. The alderman, by his oath, ought to render a correct and just account each year, before the bailiffs and coroners, of all profits made and interest acquired from the year passed as a result of the buying and selling of the aforementioned merchandise. Furthermore they unanimously agreed that henceforth no resident of the town -- not anyone, denizen or alien -- may be involved in the buying or selling of the said merchandise within the town or within its liberties and precinct, except only the alderman of the Gild for the use and profit of the Gild. And this under penalty of forfeiture of all such merchandise bought or sold.

The same day it was permitted by the whole community, at request of the 12 capital portmen, that for the labour they undertake for the community, they may have Odenholm meadow for feeding their horses.

Also, it was ordained and agreed by the whole community that the laws and free customs of the town should be set down in a particular roll, which shall be called the Domesday. This roll shall always be kept in the custody of those who shall at the time be bailiffs of the town, so that they may know how to carry out their office. All statutes of the Merchant Gild shall be placed in another roll, just as is done in other cities and boroughs where there is a Merchant Gild. The alderman may always have this roll in his possession, so that he know how to carry out his office.