A Calendar Of The Freemen Of Great Yarmouth 1492-1800
There were two ways in which to gain the freedom of the Borough.
Sons of freemen (provided they were born after their fathers had become a freeman) and apprentices of freemen who had served their masters for seven years could claim the right to be admitted.
In earlier times, residence was insisted on and freedom was lost by absence from the borough for more than a year and a day.
On admission, freemen swore an oath of loyalty. This dates from about 1500 and its form is unique to Great Yarmouth. It runs:
"Thus hear ye bailiffs and all good men that I, A. B. shall bear faith and truth to the king and his heirs with my body and goods. The counterfeiting of the king's seal I shall not see nor know, the king's coin I shall not counterfeit nor impair. The franchises of Great Yarmouth, the good customs, usages and ordinances of the same with my body and goods I shall maintain obey and keep. I shall be at the commandment of the bailiffs and their ministers when I shall be summoned to enquire upon any inquest either for the king or between parties or for any other cause. I shall not conceal nor cover nor cloak any strangers' goods in prejudice of this franchise. If I know any traitor, spy, thief, or any evildoer I shall give warning and notice thereof to the bailiffs of this town for the time being or to their ministers. All this shall I hold and do for my part so God help me."
Before the reform of municipal corporations in 1835, only freemen could take part in the government of the town. It was just part of their privileged position within the community.
They were exempt from the town's customs duties and only they could act as traders or craftsmen in the town or vote in parliamentary elections.
It was this right to vote that turned out to be the undoing of the borough's freemen.
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