The first Yarmouth crane erected by Richard Bishop.
1529.
Duke of Suffolk suppressed a riot arising from the dearness of corn.
1535.
Nov. 1st. Tumult in St. Nicholas’ Church; twenty-four persons, with
William Swarton, the chaplain, at their head, disturbed the congregation
while the Rev. D. R. Cotton was preaching.
1538.
The high altar of St. Nicholas’ Church, remarkable for its richness and
beauty, with the saints’ figures and pictures, broken and destroyed.
1541.
Oct. 28th. Four merchant heretics entered St. Nicholas’ Church, and
created a great disturbance during the service.
Nov. 2nd. A merchant and shoemaker were fined 2s. each for bargaining
and selling a last of white herring in the Church.
Sir Humphrey Wingfield returned to Parliament, held at Westminster.
Ordered that Aldermen should wear scarlet gowns, with fur tippets and
straight hose, at assemblies and festivals.
1544.
Height of town wall, 23 feet. On war being declared the following year
with France, a large rampire was thrown up on the eastern side, and
afterwards extended along the north and south walls. (See 1396.)
Sir H. Wingfield again returned to Parliament.
1545.
At Corporate meetings no member allowed to depart without leave of the
Bailiffs; otherwise was fined for disorderly conduct. Members of the
Corporation compelled to wear scarlet gowns and straight hose, under
penalty of fines.
1546.
Two French ships and 120 prisoners taken by the town.
A house for country butchers built.
1549.
The sixth Haven made. It was agreed that the money, plate, ornaments,
robes, vestments, tunicles, albs, ameffes, belonging to St. Nicholas’
Church, should be disposed of, together with the bells in the steeple and
other property in the Church, and the proceeds (£1,816 9s. 7d.) devoted
to its construction. The Haven was then commenced, 100 men being
employed daily upon it.
A rebellion in the town. Kett’s adherents advanced and destroyed all the
materials for the Haven, and laid it in ruins; and the work of the
Harbour was stopped till the following year. The next attempt also
proved as unsuccessful. Another report says—The Norfolk rebellion, under
Kett, the tanner, commenced; but their designs were frustrated by
Yarmouth men, who, setting fire to a stack of hay on the west side of the
Haven, were able to attack the enemy unseen, and defeated them, many
insurgents being killed, 80 taken prisoners, and six pieces of ordnance
secured. They were afterwards defeated by the Earl of Warwick at
head-quarters in Norwich, and lost some 4,500 men; their leaders, William
and Robert Kett, being suspended alive in chains on a gibbet.
1550.