STORM AND COMPANY
The following appears to be a plea made by Thomas Cromwell on behalf of a group of petitioners. It is addressed to Cardinal Wolsey who was Archbishop of York from 1514 and a Cardinal from 1515. Thomas Cromwell entered the service of Wolsey in 1514.
MONASTIC CHANCERY PROCEEDINGS transcribed by J S Purvis M.A. F.S.A. and printed in 1938. (English)
19 E.C.P. 469, 35 (A.D. 1518-1529; probably in or near the latter year)
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To --- --- --- Thomas Lord Cardinal, Legate de latere, Archbishop of York Primate and Chancellor of England.
Humbly sheweth and complaineth --- --- --- John Byrcham Robert Sawmon Bartholomew Storme and Robert Wyndell of Whitby in the County of York, fisher men, that where, gracious Lord, one William (Brownsfete?) now prior of Bridlington and one Elizabeth Dodys of Bridlington aforesaid, widow, four years past or thereabouts by one consent made unto the sea a certain ship of the portage 25 ton there to fish, and the said ship being at the sea in fishing and after her whole fishing accomplished returned homewards unto and towards Bridlington and being upon the sea was encountered with a ship of war of France, which ship of France took the said ship; Whereupon the master and mariners of the ship being in the ship made intercession to the Frenchmen that they may be at their ransom and put in pledges for their ransom ship and fish; wherupon the Frenchmen concluded to take for the ransom of the ship and mariners the sum of 22li. 6s 8d; and thereupon it was condescended by the Frenchmen that the master of the ship accompanied with certain mariners should go unto Whitby and so to send to Bridlington for the sum of 22li,6s. 8d. and to put in pledges as is aforesaid; Whereupon the master departed from the ship and came to Whitby, and there shewed unto your orators the misfortune of the ship and how they should pay for their ransom the sum of 22li. 6s. 8d., and your orators sent at the instance of the master and mariners unto the prior of Bridlington and also unto Elizabeth Dode widow to know whether they would pay the 22li. 6s. 8d. of and for the ship and mariners or not; Whereupon the prior and also Elizabeth instantly desired your orators that the ship and mariners might be ransomed and the sum of 22li. 6s. 8d. paid, faithfully promising that they would see your orators truly satisfied of the sum of 22li. 6s. 8d., at whose instance your orators paid the 22li. 6s. 8d. of and for the ransom of the ship; And after that, gracious lord, the ship was eftsoons taken with the Scots so that the possession came never into the hands of your orators nor yet unto the hands of the prior nor Elizabeth. And at such time, most gracious lord, your orators demanded of the prior and Elizabeth the sum of 22li. 6s. 8d., which your orators at the instance of the prior and Elizabeth before had paid for the ship, the prior and also Elizabeth always utterly denied to pay and yet do, contrary to all right and good conscience forasmuch as the ship was eftsoons taken with the Scots; And so your orators be without remedy to recover the 22li, 6s. 8d. by the course of the common law, forasmuch as they have no speciality whereby they might demand the 22li. 6s. 8d., unless your most merciful pity to them in this behalf be showed. ( Plea for writ sub pena).
Thomas Cromwell
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And later in the century another but different legal action:-
YORKSHIRE FINES 1594-Easter Term 36 Elizabeth
PLAINTIFFS Hugh Bethell,Sampson Inglebie,James Birkbie & William Storme.
DEFORCIANTS George Concett & Katherine his wife.
NATURE & SITUATION OF THE PROPERTY 6 Messuages of lands in Thorpe Arche.