CUPPER, Robert

More can be added to the earlier biography.2 The Commons 1386-1421, ii. 716-17.

During the early 1430s, Cupper participated in one of the disputes that frequently marred relations between Great Yarmouth and the Cinque Ports. He features in a petition, almost certainly heard in the Parliament of 1431, brought by John Adam*, William Broughton*, Stephen Alby* and Thomas Carpenter*, who were all Members of that assembly and who had been the Ports’ bailiffs at the Yarmouth herring fair of the previous year. In the petition, Adam and his associates complained that the authorities at Yarmouth had prevented them from exercising their rightful jurisdiction in the town, and that they had obstructed fishermen from the Ports at the fair. One of their complaints alleged that John Pynne*, the provost or senior bailiff at Yarmouth, and Cupper had led an armed assault against them on 12 Oct. 1430. The petitioners requested that Pynne, his co-bailiff, Richard Ellis and Cupper should appear before the King’s Council to answer for their actions, although with what result is not known.3 SC8/296/14753-4.

At the end of the 1430s Cupper’s executors, Ralph Browning* and John Cobald, the supervisor of his will, Judge William Paston, and Robert Clere esquire sued his widow Agnes for trespass in the borough court at Yarmouth. No doubt the suit was connected with various properties in the town (a ‘fysshus’, ‘Berghus’ and ‘renter’ with buildings and other appurtenances) which Cupper had settled upon the plaintiffs, and which they were to convey to Miles Stapleton* in December 1442.4 Norf. RO, Gt. Yarmouth recs., ct. rolls 1438-9, 1442-3, Y/C 4/147, m. 5; 150, m. 11.