A petition was also presented at the same time from the towns of Ipswich, Orford, Alborough, and Dunwich, similar in general to the above petition from the fishmongers of London; entreating their lordships, that the town of Lowestoft may not only enjoy their ancient freedom of buying and selling herrings on every occasion, but also be protected for the future against the interruptions of the town of Yarmouth; and that each town might enjoy the common right of the nation without any restraint or limitation from each other, as the most effectual means of preventing a monopoly, and rendering the herring fishery of more general utility. TO THE HONOURABLE THE PEERS OF ENGLAND ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT. THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE BURGESSES ETC., FOR THE TOWNS OF IPSWICH, AND DUNWICH IN THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, Humbly shewing, That your petitioners being informed, that his majesty, together with his council have recommended the case between the towns of Lowestoft and Yarmouth, concerning the free trade of herring fishing, to your lordships’ care and determination; your petitioners do think fit to recommend some particulars to your lordships’ consideration. 1st. That the town of Lowestoft is more antient than the town of Yarmouth. 2nd. That Lowestoft is in the county of Suffolk, and Yarmouth in the county of Norfolk. 3rd. So that it seems unreasonable to us, that the town of Yarmouth should infringe upon the town of Lowestoft, which is a more antient town than Yarmouth, and in a distinct county, and full nine miles distant, and thereby not only bring a prejudice to Lowestoft, but to the whole coast of Suffolk, and consequently to the whole trade of herring-fishing, by their destroying the common right which the western fishermen and the city of London have enjoyed by trading with our coast rather than Yarmouth, to the great advantage of the whole nation; whereas such a monopoly as the town of Yarmouth pretends to, would be destructive both to us and the town of Lowestoft. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray, That the town of Lowestoft may not only enjoy their antient freedom of buying and selling herrings at all times, but that there may not be any encroachments by the town of Yarmouth upon the town of Lowestoft, but that each town may enjoy the common right of this nation without circumscription to each other; whereby monopolies will be prevented, and the trade of herring fishing become more advantageous to the nation. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, etc. JOHN ROUS, RICHARD COOKE, FOR DULWICH. JOHN HOLLAND, {97} ROBERT BROOKS, FOR ALBOROUGH. WALTER DEVERRIX.