PARMENTER, John

More may be added to the earlier biography.1 The Commons 1386-1421, iv. 19-20.

During the latter part of Henry IV’s reign, a ‘Parmatir’ or ‘Permatir’ attended an unidentified inn of chancery in London. While it appears that he was from Lynn, it is likely that he was a relative of the MP, who was already active as a merchant by that period and who is not otherwise identified as a lawyer.2 N.L. Ramsay, ‘The English Legal Profession’ (Cambridge Univ. Ph.D. thesis, 1985), 104, 108.

Although associated with the party of mediocres at Lynn early in his career, Parmenter was among those whom the borough sent to its feudal lord, the bishop of Norwich, at some stage in 1418-19, to complain about an unjust suggestion Bartholomew Petipas*, a leading member of that faction, had made against the mayor.3 Norf. RO, King’s Lynn bor. recs., chamberlains’ acct. 1418-19, KL/C 39/52.

During the Parliament of 1429, Parmenter and his fellow MP for Lynn, John Waterden*, acquired (or secured a renewal of) a charter of liberties for the borough known as ‘the Rider’, and they also obtained a royal commission for the repair of the town’s ditch.4 Ibid., translation of hall bk., 1422-9, 1450, KL/C 7/29, p. 284b. The Parliament, which sat at Westminster, was dissolved in late February 1430, but Parmenter returned to London in the company of John Waryn* the following November to take a security from John Drewell esquire, who owed the borough £100.5 Ibid., hall bk. 1431-50, KL/C 7/3, ff. 3v, 4.

During his abbreviated last mayoralty, Parmenter featured as a defendant in a Chancery suit brought by William Cantelowe*, victualler of Calais. According to Cantelowe, Parmenter had permitted his co-defendants, Richard Frank* and John Holdernesse, also burgesses of Lynn, to send their ship to Newcastle in pursuit of their business, even though the Crown had commandeered it to carry supplies to the garrison at Calais.6 C1/70/128.

Following Parmenter’s death, his widow Maud and son Robert quarrelled over his will. In May 1439 Maud, seeking redress for the wrongs which she alleged Robert had done to her, appealed to the borough authorities for help, and they ordered two burgesses to negotiate with him, although with what result is not known. They also agreed to her request to have the will recorded in the town’s archives.7 KL/C 7/3, f. 106.