We pray that no lord, knight, esquire nor gentleman do graze nor feed any bullocks or sheep if he may spend forty pounds a year by his lands, but only for the provision of his house.
By me, Robt. Kett.
" " Thomas Aldryche. Thomas Cod.
[258] Some doubt has been expressed as to the interpretation of these words. They should probably be read as referring to enclosures made not by lords or by large farmers, but by the peasants themselves. The rebels point out that a considerable number of people have spent capital on hedging and ditching their lands for the better cultivation of saffron, and therefore ask that, while other enclosures should be pulled down, a special exception may be made in favour of this particular kind of enclosure.
9. Petition to Court of Requests from Tenants Ruined by Transference of a Monastic Estate to Lay Hands[259] [R.O. Requests Proceedings, Bundle 23, No. 13], 1553.
Inhabitants of Whitby v. York.
To [the] Queen's Highness our most dread Sovereign Lady and to her most honorable Council.
1553. Lamentably complaining sheweth unto your Highness and to ... Council your poor obedient subjects and daily orators, poor husbandmen the ... of Halkesgarthe and Senseker in Whitby Strand in the County of York, that the said inhabitants, late being tenants of the dissolved Monastery of Whitby [afore]said, after it was come into the hands of our late sovereign lord King Henry ... and after that it did come to the hands and possession of the late Duke of Northumb[erland] and of late purchased of him by one Sir John Yorke, knight, who is now in possession of the premises; which said Sir John Yorke hath lately been there and kept court on the said premises at two sundry times; which said Sir John Yorke of his extort power and might, and by great and sore threatenings of the said tenants and inhabitants there, and by other means, hath gotten from them all the leases [that were in their] custodies and possession, and unreasonably hath raised and ... rents and excessively hath gressomed, fined, pilled and ... maketh inquiry all about for your poor orators with great ... do suppose if he could find them, he would lay the ... because they should not be able to exhibit this their bill of c[omplaint] ... and your said Council, how he hath fined them and raised ... and yearly rents, if your said orators should still bear and pay, appear by a bill hereunto annexed your orators hands or marks thereto ... of the old [rents] the [ne]w by them ... to be paid unto the said Sir John Yorke ... thereby shall be utterly undone in this world ... favour, help and succour with speedy [remedy] ... consideration of the premises and forasmuch as your said orators and ancestors of your said poor orators have holden and enjoyed the premises according to the old ancient custom, old rents and old fines, as hereunder it may plainly appear, without enhancing, or raising, without vexation or trouble, and in consideration also that the said Sir John Yorke is a man of power and might, lands, goods, and possessions ... greatly friended, and your poor orators being sore afraid to be imprisoned by him, and also very poor men, and not able to sue against him, nor hath no remedy but only to sue ... Majesty of your most gracious goodness ... said Council, to call before your Majesty and your said C[ouncil] ... and to take order in the premises, that your poor orators according to justice, right, and good conscience may peaceably enjoy all the premises, paying their old accustomed rents and fines, according as they and their ancestors have done, time out of mind of man. And your said poor orators shall daily pray to God for the prosperous preservation of your Majesty in your most Royal Estate long to reign, and for your most honourable Council long to continue.
Endorsed....
21 October
The tenants and inhabitants of Senseker and Halkesgarthe in Whitby Strand in the County of York desire to have Sir John Yorke called before the Council and to take order that your orators may have....