Family and Education

Offices Held

Searcher, King’s Lynn by 1574, mayor 1583-4.

Biography

Clarke was for many years a leading member of the King’s Lynn corporation. During his service in Parliament he received wages at the rate of 3s.4d. a day, plus expenses. In July 1586 £21 was paid to him and his colleagues. Although he is not mentioned by name in the journals of the House, he may have attended two committees to which the burgesses of King’s Lynn were appointed, concerned with Hartlepool pier (28 Feb. 1589) and salted fish (11 Mar. 1589). He was sometimes sent to London on other business, such as seeing the lord admiral about infringements of the borough’s liberties in April 1594, and, a year later, going up again about various lawsuits, including one with Cambridge. On 23 Mar. 1596 he was one of a deputation to the Privy Council to discuss the refusal by some townsmen of Lynn to pay towards ‘setting out a warship’. The last reference found to him is for 3 Feb. 1601, when he paid in an acquittance for Lord Keeper Egerton’s fee as high steward.

Harl. 6265, f. 6d; Lansd. 113, f. 41; 135, f. 392; King’s Lynn congregation bks. passim; D’Ewes, 440, 445; Lynn Freemen, 116, 118.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: J.C.H.

Notes