Chapter XLV: Section VII (1)

_Present stele of Lynn_, _as to its shipping_, _trade and commerce_, _exports and imports_, _population_, _&c._

In former times, and even at some pretty remote periods, Lynn stood high among our English sea-ports, in regard to its shipping. Hence, as long ago as the year 1374, when Edward the III was fitting out an expedition against France, and required his principal sea-ports to furnish ships to enable him more effectually to accomplish his purpose, he is said to have had from Lynn 19 ships, when London sent only 24, Bristol 25, Plymouth, 26, Sandwich 22, Dover 21, Weymouth 20; and Newcastle only 17, Hull 16, Harwich 14, and Ipswich 12. So that Lynn appears to have been then among the first of our sea-ports, as to the number of its ships, or the extent of its trade and commerce. In after ages it is supposed to have maintained its rank among its sister ports; but we are not able to ascertain the exact degree of its weight and consequence among them during all the subsequent periods.

Of late years our trade and commerce have fluctuated with the times, and our shipping and tonnage have increased or decreased according to the natural operation of a state of peace or of war. In 1776, being the earliest period at which any record appears to have been preserved of them, the number of trading vessels belonging to this port {1161} was 85, and the amount of tonnage 12,700; in 1777 and 1778, ( and probably in 1779,) they continued in much the same state, as appears from a MS. account which belonged to a late shipmaster: but in 1780, or 1781, there was an increase, though we cannot learn how much. But in 1791 the ships were 125, and tonnage 17,000; in 1801, ships 108, tonnage 13,000; in 1806, ships 134, tonnage 15,600; in 1811, ships 106, tonnage 12,000.—From this it would seem, that our trade is not now in a progressive or thriving state; and though our shipping are still considerable in number, yet in point of _tonnage_ they are less than at any former period here referred to, or probably than at any one period since the commencement of the present reign. What effect a peace would have, it is impossible precisely to say, but the probability is, that our trade would then revive, and things revert again into their old channels.

The trade of this town formerly to different parts of the continent was very considerable, and particularly to the Baltic; but it is now almost totally deprived of all its foreign trade; and except some little intercourse with Spain and Portugal, its trade is at present almost wholly confined to the importation of _Coals_, and the exportation of _Corn_ coastwise to different British ports. The quantity of coals imported these years is said to have been very great, and that of last year has perhaps exceeded any other year: and as that article bears a very heavy duty it has greatly helped to keep up the revenue of the custom-house. Foreigners, under the licence system, bringing the produce of the Baltic, may also be supposed to have contributed considerably to produce the same effect. The tables below will serve to cast some further light upon the subject, and help the reader to judge of the trade of this place for the last fifty years. {1162a}

As to the _Coal-trade_, which now constitutes the chief article or main branch of our remaining commerce, and which of late has employed so large a portion of our shipping, and is thought likely to decline considerably this year (1812,) owing to the price of that commodity having been lately lowered, so as to diminish the profits so much, that it will be no longer worth the while of the private ship-owners, who are pretty numerous, to employ their vessels in the trade: and it is supposed that they will therefore be obliged to lay them up. This seems a great hardship upon them, for which our principal merchants are much blamed, whether justly or not, the present writer will not take upon him to say. Powerful merchants, most certainly, as well as powerful men of other professions, have before now acted very unfairly and oppressively towards their weaker neighbours.

The trade to _Greenland_ and to _Davis’s Straits_, or what is called the _Whale Fishery_, is another branch in which Lynn has been concerned for many years: and as it is still persevered in, it may be presumed to have proved no ungainful concern. The ships fitted out for this trade generally sail in March and return about July. Three or four ships have been usually employed in this trade, and sometimes more, but we understand that there are only two fitted out this year. Some ships also of late years have traded between this town and Canada, chiefly, we believe, for timber: and as we are now quite shut out from the Baltic, this trade will probably increase. On the whole, we presume it may be very truly said, that the trade of Lynn is at this time at a lower ebb than it was ever known to be at any time within the last hundred years or more. When we shall have driven the French out of Spain and Portugal, and obliged Napoleon to restore all his conquests, and allow us a free trade to every part of the continent, it may be hoped it will once more revive and flourish as much as ever.

The _population_ of Lynn is _between ten and eleven thousand_. The census taken in 1801 fixed it at 10,097, and that taken in 1811 at 10,253. But there is no reliance to be placed on the accuracy of either. The real population probably exceeded both these numbers, and it is uncertain at which of the two periods was the most numerous. Some have thought that it must have been in 1801, and the present writer was once of that opinion. What led him to that conclusion was, the great and unusual number of untenanted houses found in different parts of the town in 1810, amounting in all to _above one hundred_. But observing, upon further deliberation, that a still greater number of new houses, of a smaller rent, had lately sprung up in certain alleys and outskirts of the town, and all tenanted, he was induced to relinquish his former opinion, and conclude that our population had not actually decreased. Nor can he now help thinking the real population of the town at each of those periods to have much exceeded the numbers made out by the respective persons employed on the occasion; and moreover, that our present population is not below 10,500 souls.

Of this population, it is a melancholy consideration that the greatest part are still very ignorant and unenlightened, and never frequent any place of worship, and are in fact in a state of mere heathenism, though they are all absurdly considered as members of the established church. It is indeed by such members that this same church is enabled so greatly to outnumber our great body of dissenters, or the nonconforming party throughout the nation. Were only the sober and devout on each side to be numbered, it is highly probable that the established church, with all its vast wealth, and alliance with the state, would be found to be the minor party. As to the regular communicants, it is the opinion of some, that even the very methodists alone could at present muster a number not inferior to those of our establishment. Be that as it may, it must be exceedingly absurd and stupid to consider the ignorant, the irreligious, and heathenish part of the community as belonging to any church at all.

The religious functionaries or ministers of this town, both churchmen and dissenters, are allowed to be in general very assiduous in the discharge of their clerical and ministerial duties; and were they at the same time less subject to prejudice, bigotry, and intolerance, and more disposed to believe what their Lord and Master has declared, that _they who are not against us are for us_, they would certainly deserve great commendation. But they and their flocks are, _for the most part_, so deficient in the articles of christian charity, forbearance, and liberality, that they may be said to dishonour the very cause they have espoused, and the service in which they are embarked. The more orthodox and evangelical they pretend to be, the more uncharitable and intolerant they are generally found. Their evil spirit of intolerance and infallibility seems to carry them so far as hardly to allow those who stand without the pale of their respective communions to be worthy of even the name of christians. Sometimes they have been heard to pronounce such as they fancied to be heterodox, as presuming to _teach men to be christians without believing any one principle of that institution_; as if God had endowed them with the infallible knowledge of christian truth, and constituted them judges of the very state and destinies of their fellow professors. It was a saying in the primitive times, “See how these christians love one another;” but here it might rather be said, “See how these christian parties and sects envy, vilify, and hate one another.” In short, they may be said to possess so large a portion of that unworthy spirit of jealousy and rivalry as would disgrace even the meanest tradesmen, or the very lowest orders of shopkeepers and mechanics: and what is still worse, they seem quite incapable of blushing for their absurd and unchristian conduct. There are however some honourable exceptions to this representation, though they seem to be very few. But we will now close this section, and here conclude the regular series of this history.

SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION;

(_containing divers recollections_, _corrections_, _and miscellaneous matters_:)—_defects in the plans and modes of public worship_, _or the usual proceedings in our religious assemblies—our gentry and tradesmen capriciously and absurdly distinguished—shrimp trade—water-works—brief account of certain public buildings previously omitted—additional hints relating to our grammar-school_, _our libraries_, _and present population_.

To what was said of our religious sects and parties in the preceding section, under the heads of rivalry, envy, uncharitableness, &c. it might justly have been added, that they are also very deficient in their modes of conducting public worship, or their way and manner of proceeding in their religious assemblies; and particularly in _neglecting_ as they do the _reading_ and _expounding_ of the scriptures. Things would be likely to come to a much better pass, if, at least, _half_ the time that is now spent in _preaching_ and _singing_ were appropriated to the important duties of _reading_ and _expounding_ the sacred writings. The minds and attention of the people, in that case, would be directed to the meaning and understanding of holy writ, and a spirit of enquiry after scripture knowledge could not well fail of being effectually promoted in our respective congregations. Instead of that, as the case now stands, or as the public ministry is at present conducted, the people seem in general as unacquainted with the scripture at the end of the year, as they were at the beginning of it, and quite unconcerned or indifferent about the matter. They appear to attend for some other purpose—that of mere amusement, or something very short of what they ought to have in view in attending the christian ministry. Most preachers seem, as if afraid to lay the scriptures at large before the people, lest they should attract too much of their attention, so as to induce them by degrees to read, think, and judge for themselves, or become actual searchers of the scripture, and indisposed to take every thing upon _trust_ from their ghostly guides: for notwithstanding our usual outcry against the _papists_, our priests and theirs are more nearly allied than is generally supposed. These hints, it is presumed, are not altogether unworthy of the serious consideration of the different religionists of this town. {1168}

Except these of the learned professions, and _very few_ besides, all the principal families of this town are in fact _tradesmen_; yet even these are here very capriciously and superciliously distinguished into _gentlemen_ and _tradesmen_; though the former retale their goods, or sell their commodities in small quantities, as well as the latter: and surely a man who buys corn by the bushel, the coomb, or the quarter, and sells coals by the chalder and half chalder, and his deals in any small quantity the buyer may wish, and his bottled wine by single dozens, is to all intents and purposes as much a tradesman as a grocer, a linen-draper, an ironmonger, or a druggist. What then is the ground of this distinction? Is it education? No: our tradesmen in general have been brought up at the grammar-school, and the others can seldom or ever pretend to any higher advantage. Nor do they possess minds more cultivated by reading and knowledge of the world; for there is every reason to believe that the tradesmen are at least their equals in those respects, and some of them perhaps very much their superiors. But is not fortune or _wealth_ the ground of this distinction? No: many of those denominated tradesmen are known to be much more wealthy, as well as much more intelligent and respectable, than some of those who have arrogated to themselves the dignified name of gentlemen. On what then can this curious distinction be founded? It may very truly be answered, On pride, arrogance, ignorance, impertinence, and vulgar servility. {1169}

In treating of our trade and commerce, in the preceding section, that remarkable branch or article, the _shrimp-trade_, was quite forgotten; and some perhaps may think that it might as well still remain so: others however will be of a different opinion; at least when they learn that beside what has been consumed in the town and parts adjacent, and up the country, there have been actually sent from hence to London alone, by the stage coaches, in one season, or within a year, no less then between _sixty and seventy tons of shrimps_. {1170} It is a vast quantity to be sent by land, and coach carriage, to the distance of a hundred miles. We have not learnt how long this trade has been kept up on this large scale. It is said to have somewhat declined since the Bostonians have taken it up and become our rivals. But this rivalship can do no harm, as London, no doubt, will readily receive as many shrimps as both these towns can possibly furnish.

[Picture: N. E. View of the Kettle Mills or Waterworks]

The _Water-works_ of this town are also among the articles overlooked in the preceding part of this history. It is agreed on all hands that Lynn is supplied with excellent water from the Gaywood river, a stream that takes its rise about Grimston, six or seven miles off. At the Kettle-mills, in the north-east outskirt of Lynn, this water is raised into a reservoir, which is between 30 and 40 feet higher than the surface of the water in the river. Formerly there were two engines used for this purpose. One of them was worked by a fall of water in the river, and the other by horses. This latter was used when the water-engine was under repairs, or in dry seasons when the water-engine had not sufficient power to supply the town. In very dry seasons the hire of horses was very expensive. About the year 1779 or 1780 the water-engine became unfit for further use. A new one being then erected on better principles, had near three times the power of the old one. Thus the town was plentifully supplied with water for some years, and at a small expense, as the horse-engine was seldom used. But unfortunately the corporation came afterwards to a resolution to have the town supplied with water by the force of _steam_. A fire-engine was erected, which afforded an ample supply of water to the town; in consequence of which the horse and water engines were taken down. But the corporation, neglecting to avail themselves of the improvements of Bolton and Watts, erected their engine on the old principle of Newcomen; and it was soon discovered, to the astonishment of the unlearned in hydraulics, that the expense of coals and repairs amounted to a sum so far beyond the calculation of the corporation, that it was absolutely necessary to purchase no more steam at that rate.—The town is now supplied by an engine turned by water; but as it is constructed on old principles, the town, in dry seasons, must be ill-supplied and much distressed: and as the steam engine is become unfit for further use, the town must always be without a drop of water while the water engine is under repairs, which sometimes takes up more than a fortnight. This is an inconvenience which the town is said never to have experienced until the late alterations were made. On the whole therefore, this business appears to have been injudiciously managed; so that it would be very desirable to see it put upon a better footing, which it certainly ought to be, as there has lately been an advance made in the water-rate—for which no plausible reason is known to have been yet assigned, any more than for the unexpected advance in the price of _beer_.

In our preceding account of _the public buildings_, it now appears that divers of them have passed unnoticed, and particularly the _Theatre_, the _Custom-Haute_, and the _Town-Hall_; each of which we shall now briefly describe. The _Theatre_ was originally the Hall of an opulent company, which constituted one of our numerous _Guilds_, that of _St. George_. After the dissolution of the Guilds it was converted it seems into a kind of _Exchange_, and after that into a _court-house_, for holding the county quarter sessions of the peace. Since those sessions were allowed to be held in the town-hall it has been converted into a Theatre, or Play-house, which is said to be very convenient and neat, neither profusely ornamented nor disgustingly plain; and although not free from faults, yet they are, it seems, what resulted from the architect having to fill up the shell of an old building which had been erected for another purpose. The usual time of performing here is in the Spring, when the inhabitants are entertained by the Norwich Company.

The _Custom House_ was erected for an _Exchange_, in 1683, by Sir John Turner, the founder it is supposed of that family. It is a handsome free-stone building, with two tiers of pilasters, the lower of the Doric, and the upper of the Ionic order, with a small open turret, terminating in a pinnacle. In a niche, in front, is a statue of king Charles the second, that _most religious_ king, as his bishops and clergy used to call him, even in their addresses to the deity. This building contains several commodious apartments, well suited for the accommodation of the respectable collector of his majesty’s customs and his numerous underlings.—It has been noticed before that the revenue of this house, in 1806 amounted to 84,200_l._ and the last year (1811,) to 75,300_l._ which is said to exceed the revenue of most houses of the same description in the kingdom. {1173}

[Picture: Custom House, published Oct. 1, 1810, by W. Whittingham, Lynn]

[Picture: The Town Hall, Jail House, published April 1810, by W.
Whittingham, Lynn]

The _Town-hall_, or _Guild-hall_, alias _Trinity-hall_, is an ancient building of stone and flint. It consists of divers apartments, the first of which is the _stone-hall_, where the county quarter sessions, as well as the town sessions are held. This hall, comprehending probably the principal part of the old Guild-hall, is 58 feet in length, by 27 wide, and proportionably lofty. There are in it the following _portraits_:—Full-length of _Sir Robert Walpole_, who is said to have been returned for this borough seventeen times; and so firmly was it attached to him, or so completely under his control, that even after he was expelled the House of Commons he still continued member for this place: Also half length of Sir _Thomas White_, the liberal benefactor to young tradesmen: Likewise a half length of _Sir __Benjamin Keene_, the memorable ambassador to the Spanish Court, who was a native of this town.—The adjoining _Ball-room_ is 60 feet long, 27 broad, and 22 feet high. The adjoining _Card-room_ is 27 feet by 27, and 22 feet in height. Some have pronounced these rooms ill contrived and have observed that, as they are upon a line, it would have given them an uncommon elegance had the openings from one into another been in three arches in the centre, supported by pillars, instead of the present _Glass-doors_, which have a mean appearance. The eye, it has been further observed, would then at once have commanded a suit of one hundred and forty-five feet, which, with handsome lustres properly disposed, would have rendered these rooms inferior to few in England. The position of the _music gallery_ has also been found fault with. But on these matters we will not enlarge: nor does it seem necessary to subjoin a particular description of the _Council-room_ and other apartments or offices connected with this building. {1174}

As Lynn has not been much distinguished for its literature or bookishness, it can be no great wonder that it should not abound with public libraries. Till of late years there was here nothing of the kind, except in the two churches of St. Nicholas and St. Margaret, each of which was furnished with a library. That of the former is now no more: it was removed some years ago to the other church, by way of addition to that collection. Both being thus consolidated or united, form what is called the _Church library_. It may be said to be, on the whole, a respectable collection, consisting of the donations of divers individuals, at different times; but it has never been supported with much spirit, nor has it received any great addition now for many years; owing, perhaps, to the unliterary or unbookish character of our corporation, and of most of our great and wealthy families. St. Nicholas’ Library, it seems, was founded in 1617, and that of St. Margaret’s about 14 years later. This was much augmented in 1714, by the will of _Dr. Thomas Thurlin_, master of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and rector of Gaywood, who bequeathed to it 179 folios, 178 octavos and duodecimo’s, and 84 quartos; in all 441 volumes, valued then at 160_l._ which it is presumed was the best single donation ever made to this Library. This bibliothecal collection is the property of the corporation, and is under the care of a librarian of their appointment, with an annual salary of 2_l._ It is not open to the public at large, and is not therefore, strictly speaking, a public library. It contains about 1700 volumes.

Before the year 1797, our reading and bookish people chiefly consisted of the members of a few _book-clubs_, which then existed in the town; together with the subscribers to those _circulating libraries_, (made up mostly of _novels_,) which our booksellers had formed, and which constituted, if it do not still constitute, a lucrative branch of their trade; for _novel-reading_ is carried on hereon a large scale, especially among the female part of our population; to which not a few of them probably owe all the polish, real or fictitious, which their manners have acquired.—But in the year 1797 a subscription Library was here founded, which has been hitherto in a thriving way, and it has at present upwards of a hundred members. The rules or orders of this society consist of about twenty, and are, on the whole, well expressed and adapted to the occasion. {1176} A general meeting of the society is held _annually_, on the _first Monday_ in _July_, (the anniversary of the establishment of the Library in 1797.) _Quarterly_ meetings are also held, on the _first Mondays_ in _October_, _January_, and _April_, every year. Each subscriber may propose what books he pleases for the Library, (except such as ape _merely professional_, _political pamphlets_, or _Novels_,) by entering their Titles and Prices in a book kept for that purpose. But they must be so entered a week at least before the general or quarterly meeting, otherwise they cannot lawfully be then balloted: nor must the same book be balloted for more than _twice_ in one year. A _librarian_, (who is also _treasurer_) and a _sub-librarian_, are annually chosen; the latter gives daily attendance at the library, from _eleven_ to _one_, and from _six_ to _eight_. The present number of different articles or _works_ in this library amounts to about 600, and the number of _volumes_ to near 1400; many of them very valuable and expensive. They are all new books.

Here in addition to what was before advanced, at pages 1164 and 1165, relating to our present population, it seems proper and necessary to say something further upon that subject, as _West Lynn_, or _Old Lynn_, and _Gaywood_, {1177} which may justly be denominated _out suburbs_, were not included in that reckoning. Now the population of these two places amounts to about 800, which added to 10,253, will make our whole population somewhat to exceed eleven thousand: and as this does not comprehend our _sea faring people_, who are very numerous, our whole or actual population may be very reasonably and safely supposed to be now no less than twelve thousand. Yet this is probably much below what it has been in former times.

In addition also to what was said of the _pictures_ in the town-hall, it may be proper here just to add, that the Ball-room there contains two whole lengths, the one of his present _Majesty_ in his coronation robes, and the other of the late _Lord Nelson_. The former a copy, from an original by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and the latter a copy, from an original by Hoppner—both done by _Mr. Lane_, son to our present collector, and said to do no small credit to the skill and talents of that young artist, who is supposed to be the very first native of Lynn that has ever promised to rise to eminence in that line.

* * * * *

_Lynn Benefactions_, _or Charities_.

Here it was intended to close the work, by a table or _summary of remarkable events_, chronologically arranged; but considering that our different _benefactions_ and _charities_ seemed to require to be more fully stated and particularized, it was thought proper to give first a cursory view of that subject—Among these charities the first place perhaps is due to the _endowment of the grammar-school_; which may probably be ascribed to one of the _Thorsbys_, sometime before the reformation, whose Will is noticed at page 1174, and who it is supposed was that same Thorsby mentioned before at p. 528, as founder of the _college_ in this town. It is likely he might fit up the place over the charnel-house for a school-room, settle on the master a house to dwell in, and an annual salary. He was contemporary with _Walter Coney_, and like him wealthy, and also ready to employ his wealth in acts of liberality and charity, which has made his memory truly respectable.

_Sir Thomas White_, citizen and alderman of London, who lived in queen Mary’s time, was another of our early benefactors. He gave during his life 2000_l._ to the city of _Bristol_ to purchase lands of the yearly value of 120_l._ for which it was agreed that the mayor and corporation of that city, in 1567 and the ten ensuing years, should pay the sum of 100_l._ which having for that time been allowed to accumulate, was to be thus expended: 800_l._ to be divided in loans without interest, among sixteen young Clothiers, freemen of that city, for ten years, upon sufficient security; at the aid of which time that sum to be lent to such other persons as the desire of the mayor, alderman, and four of the common council shall point out. The remaining 200 to be expended in the purchase of corn to be sold to the poor at prime cost. At the expiration of nine years at the feast of St. Bartholomew he directed that 104_l._ should be paid to the mayor and corporation of _York_, to be lent by them to four young freemen of that city, (clothiers always preferred.) The same sum the next year on the same conditions, to the city of _Canterbury_: the next to _Reading_, the next to the _Merchant Tailors’ company_; the next to _Gloucester_, and so on successively, to _Worcester_, _Exeter_, _Salisbury_, _Norwich_, _Southampton_, _Lincoln_, _Winchester_, _Hereford_, _Oxford_, _Cambridge_, _Shrewsbury_, _LYNN_, _Bath_, _Derby_, _Ipswich_, _Colchester_, _Newcastle_; and then to begin again at Bristol, and to proceed annually and regularly to the other places for ever.—Lynn first received this money (if we are not mistaken) in 1594; then in 1618, then in 1642; it next became due in 1666, but was put off for three years, till 1669, on account of the seat of the late rebellion (as it was said) having been where the estate lay. The rent was therefore lost for three years. The next payments was made in 1693. The next was received in 1724, the payment having been retarded because the corporations refused to allow taxes, which were unjustly insisted upon by the city of Bristol: at last however, rather than go to law, they agreed to allow those taxes. How many times Lynn has received this money since, we have not learnt; but suppose it has been paid pretty regularly; so that our corporation ought to have now in hand a large sum to lend to poor tradesmen. The present expence of _stamps_ is said to have in a great measure destroyed the benevolent intention and use of this benefaction.

But one of the principal charities belonging to this town is that which bears the name of Mr. _John Crane_, an apothecary of Cambridge, about the time of Charles the First and the Common Wealth. It consists of 147 acres and one rood of land, at Fleet in Lincolnshire, or rather arises out of the rental of that land, which now amounts to 395_l._ 10_s._ a year, which comes to Lynn by rotation every five years, as it belongs successively to the town of Cambridge, the university of Cambridge, the town of Ipswich, the town of Wisbeach, and the town of Lynn. The rental being originally only 62_l._ was appropriated to each of these places successively, till each of them should receive to the amount of 200_l._ From each payment the sum of 20_l._ a-piece was to be lent to _three_ young tradesmen, without interest, for 20 years. The odd forty shillings to be given to the minister who should be appointed to preach, at the place which received the money, a commemoration sermon to stir up others to the like charitable deeds. Afterwards the benefaction to continue to each place for ever, and supplied as follows; viz. to relieve honest old men and women in distress, and release from prison poor men confined there for debt. The testator changes those entrusted with the management of this concern (as they will answer it before God) to relieve the _most honest and most religious men and women_ in their several places, who had lived well, had a good report, and had been reduced by mere misfortune, or through no fault of their own: and he cautions them against applying any part of his benefaction to the relief of _dissembling hypocritical persons_. The chief part of this statement the author has drawn, with some abridgement, from a MS. account, once the property of a former alderman. He has not been able to learn how this charity is now applied by our corporation: only that it is at the disposal of the mayor and the four senior aldermen.

Other charities are as follow—15_l._ given by _Robert Boston_ alias _Tyler_, to be lent from year to year to deserving objects.—Also _John Strogers_ of Lynn, Cook, by will, 25 April, 1670, gave 45_l._ to the mayor and burgesses, that 20_s._ per annum might be paid to the minister of St. Margaret’s to preach a sermon the 1st. of January, and 14_s._ to 14 widowers and widows in Trinity-Hall ward, and 10_s._ to ten poor women in Stonegate ward upon the 20th. of December; and 10_l._ to the mayor and burgesses to buy a piece of plate.—Also _Edward Robinson_, born and educated in this town, by will, dated April 12, 1770, gave a capital tenement, in Lath Street, to the mayor and burgesses, and their successors forever, upon the trusts, and to the uses, intents, and purposes following—_viz._ To pay 1_l._ to the curate of St. Margaret’s church, to preach a sermon there every Good Friday for ever—and to pay to 12 poor decayed seamen, or other decayed aged men, that the mayor, aldermen, and common-council shall elect, for life, upon each Good Friday, ten shillings apiece:—and (after paying _one pound_ on St. Thomas’s day to the minister and church wardens of _Thornham_,) to distribute the remainder of the rents among such 12 poor men as shall be placed in the Broad Street Almshouse, above 60 years of age.—Also Mr. _John Horn_, the memorable master of the Grammar-school, by his Will dated 27 April 1731, after sundry Legacies given to his relations, directed the residue of his estate to be sold, and the produce to be paid to the mayor and aldermen, to be by them put out at interest, and that interest to be by them yearly for ever employed for binding out of poor children apprentices.—Moreover, of late years, _Mary Leake_, widow, of this town, bequeathed 200_l._ to the mayor, aldermen, and common-council, to be put out at interest, and the produce applied, as before, to bind poor children apprentices:—also her sister _Catherine Barwell_, bequeathed 300_l._ to the same trustees, the interest whereof to be laid out in purchasing coals, to be given away to such industrious poor women as receive no parish relief.—The last, but not the least of all our benefactions, is that of the late _Mr. Cook_ of London, who bequeathed 5000_l._ 3 per cent stock, in trust to the mayor and burgesses, the interest whereof to be applied for the benefit of the three almshouses in the town: viz. that of 2300_l._ to the _Bede-house_, that of 700_l._ to the _South-Lynn_ almshouse, and that of 2000_l._ to the almshouse in _Broad-Street_.

To those above enumerated may be added the following benefactions.—Viz. _Loneyson’s_ annuity of 10_l._ to St. James’ Hospital; from 75 acres of pasture land in the south marshes. (see p. 1134)—Also 30_s._ a year towards cloathing two poor widows, arising from a Legacy of 40_l._ bequeathed by _Joan Maye_ to the mayor and burgesses, about 1660.—Also 40_s._ a year, for 7 years, to a _poor scholar_, a native of Lynn, who shall go thence to the university of Cambridge; being a bequest of _Alex Hall_, merchant of this town, who died about 1597.—Also 16_s._ or 3_l._ 8_s._ 8_d._ a year for the term of _five years_, (out of Nottely tithes in North Runcton) to a _poor scholar_, chosen out of the poorest scholars of this Free-school, by the master and vicar master of Trinity College Cambridge, and the mayor of Lynn: being the gift, it seems, of _Richard Hopps_.—Also _John Pierson_, carpenter, left 6_l._ per annum by his Will dated 22. Oct. 1623, as follows; _viz._ 40_s._ a year to a _poor scholar_, who shall go out of the grammar school of this town to any college in Cambridge, to be continued during the first seven years of his abiding there; also the same sum of 40_s._ every Lent season to the poor people in the Lynn Almshouse, (the _Bedehouse_ we presume;) and another sum of 40_s._ to the poor people in _Stone gate-ward_, to be distributed also in the Lent season by the direction of the mayor for the time being, or the alderman of the said ward.—Beside these there is the _Token-money_, consisting of the sum of about 43_l._ annually laid out in _coals_, which are distributed in single mets, or some such small quantities among the poor in the different wards. When or whence this money originated the author cannot distinctly say, but he understands it to be of pretty long standing, and the gift of some well disposed person or persons, of other times. He also understands from good authority that _all the charities_, or _benefactions now in the gift of the corporation_, _amount to the annual sum of_ 498_l._ 16_s._ _exclusive of the endowments of the different Almshouses_. {1184}

☞ Since the above was sent to the press, the author got sight of a curious old book which belonged to a former town-chamberlain, (Jos. Cooper senr.) in which the following charities are recorded.

“_Mrs. Titloe_, about 1613, left a Legacy to the town, the interest
whereof, amounting to 11_l._ annually, to be paid to Emanuel College
Cambridge: 8_l._ of which to be paid to _two_ scholars that have gone
from this Free-school thither: the remaining 3_l._ to the fellows
towards the repairs of the chapel.—Also _Matthew Clarke_, alderman,
gave 10_l._ the interest to be divided among 20 poor widows in the 10
wards, [interest then at 10 per cent.]—Also _Mrs. Jane Gurlin_, maid,
gave 20_l._ to be lent out for three years gratis.—Also _Wm. Cleave_
Esq. of London, gave a house situated at the corner of Grass-Market,
let at 13_l._ per annum, the rent to be distributed to the poor of
St. Margaret’s parish, at the discretion of the minister,
church-wardens, and overseen of the same.—Also _Gyles Bridgman_,
alderman, (mayor in 1679) gave 100_l._ to the mayor and burgesses on
trust, the interest to be paid for ever to the master and widows, or
sisters in the almshouse (_Bedehouse_) by way of augmentation of
their weekly pensions.—Also, Nov. 10, 1721, _Mrs. Margery Brock_,
gave 20_l._ the interests to be laid out in coals, and given to 4
poor widows in St. Margaret’s parish for ever.”

In the same book also stand recorded the sources and amount of our Christmas _Coal-Charity_, thus expressed,

Here follows what is given to the poor in money and coals at Christmas.

_l._ _s._ _d._ _Mr. Graves_ and _Mr. Sendall_ gave 20 13 6 8 nobles each _Mr. Clarke_ the interest of 20_l._ to 20 1 0 0 widows of the ten wards. _Mr. Strogers_ to three wards 1 14 0 _Mr. Peirson_ to Stonegate ward 2 0 0 _Alderman Holly_ interest of 100_l._ 6 0 0 _Alderman Auborne_ to the ten wards 9 10 0 Likewise is Coals 9 10 0 _Total_ £43 0 8

Then it is added,—

And on New Year’s day among the poor children 1 0 0 in the Work-house And near Easter Sunday to the poor 3 0 0 (pensioners) in St Mary Magdalen’s Hospital. And to those in Framingham’s Hospital. 3 0 0 And to those in St James’s Hospital 3 0 0 (Bedehouse) And for a Sermon on Midsummer-day 1 0 0 £11 0 0

Then it is also added, that Alderman Auborne’s Charity was first disposed of at Christmas 1741.

But it must not be here forgotten that this same old book also discovers the origin and founder of the Lynn _Grammar School_, which had we obtained a sight of in time, would have saved us those useless conjectures at pages 1140, 1160, 1178. The passage alluded to is as follows—

“_Mr. Thos. Thorisby_, alderman, and sometimes mayor, built a chapple
adjoining to the south side of the church of St. Margarets, and gave
to the master of the Charnell House, (now the _Free_ School,) certain
lands in Gaywood, to the value, of 8_l._ per annum, for teaching
Grammar and Songs, and also for singing durges, (dirges,) dayly in
the said chapple: which land became forfeited to the crowne, and
invented in the Corporation by Charter of Edward VI.”

Thus is the origin of our grammar-school at last sufficiently cleared up, which seems to have been founded in the reign of Edward IV, or that of Henry VII, when Thorsby flourished and was thrice mayor of this town.—see more of him at p. 528.

* * * * *

TABLE OF EVENTS.

A TABLE _of memorable_, _or somewhat remarkable events_, _relating to this town_, _from the Conquest to the present time_; _including what is most worthy of preservation in Mackerell_, _and divers private MSS. belonging to certain of our most curious townsmen_: _the whole chronologically arranged and brought down to the present year_—1812.

A.D. 1066. This year the French conquered England, and their commander, the Norman Bastard, seated himself on the English throne, which was also possessed by his descendants for many generations: Lynn of course felt the effects of this revolution and readily acceded to the new order of things. _Stigand_, archbishop of Canterbury, and his brother _Ailmar_, bishop of Elmham, were before the great men that bore sway here; but they were now ousted, and their power and possessions transferred by the Conqueror to two of his French adherents, _Odo_ bishop of Baieux, in Normandy, his half brother, and _Herfast_, one of his own chaplains. Frenchmen then got possession of almost all the land in the kingdom, and they were the progenitors of most of our present noble families; so that our House of Lords is now in a great measure made up of their descendants.

1100. About this time St. Margaret’s church was built by bishop Herbert, who granted long indulgences to the people to commit all manner of sin, by way of encouragement or inducement to contribute towards the completion of the sacred edifice; as if he thought that to give people their full swing in all manner of iniquity, was the surest way to make them pious and liberal.

About the same time was also built the Benedictine Priory, on the south side of the church.

1144. A Priory at Gaywood was founded in honour of Mary Magdalen, whence it is still called _St. Mary Magdalen’s Hospital_. The priory has long disappeared, and has been succeeded by the present Hospital. The founder’s name was _Petrus Capellanus_, who died in 1174.—see p. 530, &c.

1190. A terrible riot and commotion here, and in many other parts of the kingdom, excited, it seems, for the purpose of plundering and massacring the poor _Jews_, who were then settled in great numbers here and in many of our great towns. Of what then occurred here see vol. I. page 391 of this work.

1204. This town was constituted a Borough by royal charter, and its chief magistrate was at the same time, or soon after, denominated _Mayor_, see page 393. These honours were the royal gifts of king _John_, who repeatedly visited this town. His last visit was in the autumn of 1216. He soon after died at Newark, and was interred at Worcester, where his remains were discovered in 1797 in a state of remarkable preservation, considering that they had lain in the ground near 600 years.

1233. King Henry 3. granted his first charter to this town, in confirmation of that of his father, 28 years before.

1268. The same sovereign granted our corporation a second charter with more ample privileges, in consideration of _the faithful and laudable service_, and valiant _assistance_ which our burgesses had rendered him in the late troubles of his kingdom.

1271. Lynn said to be then a fortified town: but it was probably so ever since, or very soon after it received its first charter, if not before.

1330. The queen dowager _Isabel_ took up her residence at _Rising Castle_ by Lynn, where she continued to reside afterwards as long as she lived, which was 28 years; in the course of which time her son Edw. III. his queen Philippa, and their son the black prince, repeatedly visited her there: and there can be no doubt of their having also frequently visited this town in the mean time.

1340. The king and queen were at Rising for some time, as appears by the account rolls of Adam de Reffham and John de Newland of Lynn, who sent his majesty at the same time a present of wine.—Previous to the king’s arrival the queen dowager sent her precept to the mayor of Lynn, for 8 carpenters to assist in making the necessary preparations.

1344. The king and his court were here for some time, as appears from certain letters which he sent from hence to the bishop of Norwich, then at _Avignon_, to be there delivered by him to the pope.

1349. A dreadful plague or pestilence, which had broke out in the north of Asia, made its destructive way soon into Europe, and now to England. It is said to have raged so much in some countries that scarcely a tenth part of the population escaped. It was called _the black death_, and is said to have swept away in Norfolk alone, 57,374 persons, from January to July, and 7000 of them in the town of _Yarmouth_. We cannot find how many perished then at Lynn, but the number was doubtless very great, as the disorder then raged terribly throughout the whole county. Most of the clergy seem to have then perished; hence we are told that 850 persons were, by the bishop of this diocese instituted and collated to benefices which had now become vacant—50,000 persons were carried off in _London_, and as many at _Paris_.—see p. 358 of this work, and Andr. 1. 372.

1369. An order was made that no Roadsman should charge more than 3_s._ 4_d._ for pylotting in any stranger’s ship from the channel to the town.

1380. The pope granted his license for christening in St. Nicholas’s chapel; which must of course, in the public estimation, have added greatly to the sanctity and dignity of the place.

1381. An ordinance made for the inhabitants of this town to merchandise.—Another account says—it was an order, or ordinance for settling of merchandise in this town—both seem too ambiguous and mysterious to make out. But it was in the reign of Richard 2. when many strange ordinances were made, and many vile measures pursued. Except his _mother_, and especially his _queen_, whom his subjects used to call _the good queen Ann_, {1190} there was about his court but little that could be deemed respectable. His favourite method of raising money was by a loan: a few instances of the respective sums he demanded of his subjects as they stand in the _Fædera_, will shew the comparative wealth of Lynn, and other places at that period.—From _London_ 10,000 marks: from _York_, _Gloucester_, _Salisbury_, and _Lincoln_, each 200 ditto.—From _Cambridge_, _Canterbury_, and _Southampton_, each 100 ditto.—From _Bristol_, 300 ditto.—From _Norwich_, 500 ditto.—From _Lynn_, 400 ditto.

1384. Our _bishop Spencer_ went abroad at the head of a crusade, or army, of 50,000 foot and 2000 horse, to fight for pope _Urban_, against pope _Clement_: for there were then two heads of the catholic church, which made it a perfect monster. In this memorable crusade great numbers of Norfolk and Lynn people were doubtless enlisted.

1399. _Sir William Sawtre_, (minister of St. Margaret’s,) prosecuted here for _Lollardism_, (much the same with what we call _protestantism_,) and forced to recant; but relapsing soon after, he was taken up and burnt for his reputed heresy. He is called the English proto-matryr.—see more of him at p. 580, &c.

1403. Two fierce factions sprung up here and disturbed the peace of the town for 30 years; at their heads were two aldermen of that time, _Wentworth_ and _Pettipas_.—see p. 364, &c.

1417. Our mayor and aldermen and other merchants obtained from Henry V. a warrant to elect an alderman for Denmark and Norway: of which see more, p. 485.

1446. King Henry VI. came to Lynn and ordered the sword to be borne before the mayor.—Next year the sword was carried before the mayor for some time, and then before the bishop as formerly, the mayor following him.

1449. King Henry came to Lynn again, and ordered the sword to be carried before him. {1191}

1469, or 1470. About this time Edward IV. (put to flight by the great Earl of Warwick,) came to Lynn out of Lincolnshire; and in crossing the washes lost his baggage and money, according to some of our MS. accounts.—One account says that he arrived here on Michaelmas Day, 1470, and took shipping here for Flanders on the 2nd of October; so that his stay was only three or four days. At that time we are told that he _pardoned Robert Gregory_, _Coney_, _and company_, who had probably sided with the house of Lancaster. The Red Mount is said to be the place at which he then took up his abode; whose buildings must have been very extensive and capacious, as he is said to have been attended by a large retinue. It may also be supposed a place of strength, and the most so of any at Lynn, or a kind of fortress; for in a place of no other description would so wary and able a leader choose to trust himself for so many days and nights together, as he was then circumstanced.

1471. March 9. Edward landed here on his return from Flanders, in his way to London.

1476. Walter Coney built the roof of the cross aisle of St. Margaret’s church: also the Trinity chapel there, which has been lately pulled down.

1482. A great law-suit between the town and the bishop about the right of holding the Court Leet. It does not appear which party gained the cause.

1493. A great fray between the inhabitants and the under sheriff of the county. But neither the occasion, not the result or consequence is mentioned.

1493. King Henry VII. his queen, his mother, and his eldest son Arthur, with a numerous retinue, visited this town; and were lodged and entertained at the Austin Convent, which then stood behind Mr. Rishton’s house, and partly it seems on the same site. It was doubtless a sumptuous edifice, and the most suitable for the accommodation of the royal visitors of any place then in this town.—see p. 513, &c.

1501. The town-walls new cast, with mortar, broken glass, and terras.

1502. Thomas Thorisby built the south part of St Margaret’s church, the college, and the south gates. It was then his third mayoralty. It does not appear at what time he founded the Grammar School.

1506. The service suspended in St. Margaret’s church, and christenings performed in the Charnel house—the occasion not specified, or how the affair terminated.

1510. A suit between this town and Cambridge about the toll of Stirbitch Fair:—the precise ground of the dispute not stated. Nor is it clear who gained the cause.

1512. Parishioners of St. James’s rose against the Prior, for certain wrongs he had done them—such as cutting down the trees in the churchyard.

1515. A woman burnt in the Market-place, for the murder of her husband.

1519. Cardinal Wolsey came to Lynn in great state, and with a princely retinue of lords, knights, and gentlemen, as was his usual manner of travelling.

1520. Thomas Miller now became mayor for four years successively. In the meantime he had a law suit with the bishop for precedence, or the right of having the sword carried before him; and is said to have got the cause. A few years after his lordship lost most of his consequence here, being obliged by his sovereign to resign his temporal jurisdiction at Lynn to him, in exchange for the abbey of St. Bennet in Holme: at which time the name of the town was changed from _Bishop’s Lynn_ to _King’s Lynn_.

1527, (or 1528, according to other accounts) Mary, queen dowager of France, and sister of Henry VIII, with the duke of Suffolk, her second husband, came to Lynn, and lodged (as Mackerell says,) _at Mr. Coe’s place_: but nothing further is said of Coe’s place, or yet of Coe himself.

1531. A maid servant boiled to death in the market-place, for poisoning her mistress.

1535. A Dutchman burnt in the market-place for reputed heresy; in other words, for presuming to think for himself, and acting conscientiously—which was deemed a crime in former times, and is so deemed still in some places.

1536. The four great orders of Friars, together with the other religious orders, were here suppressed, which was followed by the dissolution of the convents and other religious houses, which diminished in a great measure the respectable appearance of the town.

1537. William Gisborough, a friar, was hanged here, and his father at Walsingham, for attempting to relive their order, in opposition to the royal decree.—Two marts or fairs were also then instituted here, one at the _assumption_, the other at the _purification_ of the Blessed Virgin.

1540. The town much afflicted with hot burning agues and fluxes, on which account there was no mart kept.

1541. The East Gates repaired, and the king’s arms set up there.

1546. The Gilds and Chauntries suppressed, and their possessions seized by the king:—His majesty now also granted his licence for uniting South Lynn to the borough, it being before unconnected with it, and a separate jurisdiction. This however seems not to have been brought to full effect till about ten or eleven years after, in the reign of Philip and Mary.