The oaths tendered to the rest of our officers and functionaries of those times are in a similar strain, and they are very curious, but are too long to be all inserted here. All the other officers being sworn by the town-clerk, the oaths are so expressed as to denote that circumstance; but the case in respect to his own oath being different, it is varied in its form accordingly, and thus worded—
“Ser, I shall be obedient to you as my mayster Mayre, and truelye write and trewe recorde make and trewe councell gyffe after my discression, when I am cleped thereto or boden, and all other things truelye do and use that perteyneth to the office of common clerk of this towne, and the councell of the towne truelye kepe: so God me help at holy dome.”
Such were our forms of swearing before the reformation.—As to a Lord High Steward, it does not appear that there was here then any such officer or functionary; which appears to have sprung up about the time of the first or second Charles: and it seems an empty insignificant office.—Quere, if its origin was not suggested or occasioned by the bishop’s High Steward of former times?
[1154a] A like refusal to serve the office of alderman is liable to a fine not exceeding 40l. and that of a common-council-man 20l.
[1154b] The mayor, recorder, aldermen, common-council-men and all other officers and their deputies, take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy when they enter into office, and thereby have all the laws, liberties, usages, & customs, granted and confirmed to them, without lett or molestation.—See Charles 2nds first Charter; also Mackerell, 213.
[1155] Lovecop, or Lovecoup is what some now improperly call Lastage two a-penny per quarter on corn carried out by unfreemen.
[1157] The mart is said to have been formerly kept in Damgate; but latterly, for a great length of time, it has been kept in the Tuesday market place. Thither, at the opening of it, the mayor and his brethren set out from the Hall in solemn procession, when the following proclamation, according to Mackerell, is made by the crier—
“Whereas by a charter granted unto this corporation by king Henry viii. in the 27th. year of his reign, that the mayor and burgesses of the burgh of King’s Lynn, and their successors, might from thenceforth for ever, have, hold, and keep, within the said burgh, one mart, or fair, to begin upon the day next after the feast of the purification of the blessed virgin Mary yearly, and to continue six days then next following, with all the liberties, jurisdiction, and privileges, there contained in the Letters patents, granted by the said king unto the said mayor and burgesses; any act of parliament before that time made to the contrary notwithstanding; as by the transcript of the said patent under the great seal of England, more at large appeareth:—Now Mr. Mayor, the Aldermen and Common-council-men of this burgh Do Publish and make Known, That the said Fair or Mart to be holden this year, doth Begin this present Day, and shall continue for the space of Six Days from hence next following, with the ancient liberties, jurisdictions, and privileges thereof, and of holding the court of Pie-Powder for the hearing, trying, and determining, of all accidents and suits incident thereunto.—Also the mayor commandeth all common victuallers, that they utter and put to sale no other victuals but such as shall be sweet and wholesome for man’s body, and that they do afford the same at reasonable prices; and keep all assizes according to law.—And that all weights and measures which shall be used, be lawful and sealed according to the laws and statutes in that behalf made.—And also that all persons do forbear to put to sale, or shew forth wares on the Lord’s day.—And further, that all such persons as may be justly suspected of evil behaviour, do avoid this burgh and the liberties thereof; and that all others do keep within their several lodgings from nine of the clock every evening until six of the clock next morning. God Save the King.”
Afterwards in the Common Stath-yard—
“All persons that have any Lastage, Wares, or Linen Cloth, to sell by wholesale, shall lay the same in the Common-stath-yard, or in Warehouses, Booths, or Chambers there, as heretofore hath been used, or as they or any of them shall be thereunto appointed. God Save the King.”