Gladman's procession, also variably known as a parade or insurrection, was a ____ which took place on 25 January 1443 in Norwich, led by local merchant John Gladman.[1]
Background
editDuring the elections of aldermen in 1404, 1413, 1432, and 1437, the application of the Common Seal was repeatedly found to be forged or applied improperly. All of these issues lead to several of the aldermen to have previously accused of various malfeasances at the time of the procession.[1]
Arbitration by the Earl of Suffolk
editThe Earl of Suffolk made an arbitration which covered a series of long-standing disputes that had taken place between the City of Norwich and several of its ecclesiastical neighbours. All parties involved agreed to abide by the terms of his arbitration decision in advance as a precondition of the arbitration itself. His verdict was that the City of Norwich would be found guilty on all counts.[1]
These guilty verdicts meant that the city would be obliged to relinquish its claims to the disputed areas. These were Ratonrowe, Tombland, Holmstreet, and Normanslord. Such a decision would deprive the city of court revenues that year, and lead to the continued proceeding of the Pentecost fair, which allowed the Norwich Cathedral priory to gain control of the entire city during its observance; it was rumoured by Norwich inhabitants that the prior, John Heverlond, would introduce new customs such as taxing the washing of cloth by the river and the bringing of food into the city. The document also bound the city to destroy all of its grain mills that were situated on the River Wensum, then known as the "New Mills", under commands by the prior of St Benet of Hulme. It mandated the surrender of grazing rights in several outlying hamlets and the paying of rents on various city properties, such as the Common Staithe.[1]
Protest and procession
editKnowledge of the procession is present only in two accounts, both of which contain significant contradictory elements and distorted truths. These are firstly an account given months after the repression of the protest by the prior of Norwich Cathedral and his sympathisers at an inquest in Thetford, and secondly by the citizens in 1448. The account of the Cathedral portrayed the procession as "organised, militarised and treasonous," with a motive to undermine future claims to the city's disputed territories and encourage harsh punishment. The citizens' account was motivated by their attempts to declare innocence, and claimed that the procession was a festivity that was wrongly accused as treasonous.[1]
Priory's account
edit
Gladman’s procession occurred between 22 and 25 of January 1443.[2] A crowd led by local merchant John Gladman, who was dressed as the King of Christmas, broke into Norwich Guildhall and stole its common seal to prevent the sealing of the arbitration document. After removing the seal, they marched to the precinct gates as the church bells rang. They blockaded the gates; during this occupation, the protesters took the prior's pillory from the ground and destroyed his prison that was situated at Tombland. They stayed at the gates until Heverlond surrendered copies of his claims of the lands in the arbitration document as well as a number of evidences, which included a previous agreement that confirmed his right to the lands. Following this, they moved in a procession around the city walls, closing its gates until days later the Duke of Norfolk arrived and demanded they be opened.[1]
On 25 January, a crowd of commoners began a siege on the priory in an attempt to break down its gates. This failed, and a few days later the crown instigated a formal royal inquisition. The verdict of this inquisition was announced on 28 February,[2]
Citizens' account
editHistoricity
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f Crosby, Derek M.; Steensel, Arie van (2017). "Gladman's procession and communal identity in Norwich, 1425-1452*". In van Steensel, Arie; Colson, Justin (eds.). Cities and Solidarities: Urban Communities in Pre-Modern Europe. London: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 978-1-351-98362-4.
- ^ a b Pettitt, Tom (2018). Carpenter, Sarah; Kipling, Gordon; Twycross, Meg (eds.). "Carnevale in Norwich, 1443: Gladman's Parade and Its Continental Connections". Medieval English Theatre (39). Boydell & Brewer: 35–76. JSTOR 10.7722/j.ctt1wx91m4.7.