Petitionary negotiation in a community in conflict : King's Lynn and West Norfolk, c.1575 to 1662
This study examines petitions which originated in Norfolk during the first half of the seventeenth century. It asks three questions: How and by whom were petitions used? What do those petitions reveal about power relations and social values? What was the impact of the civil war and the interregnum on petitionary negotiations? Detailed research focuses on Norfolk in general and Kingâs Lynn in particular. Petitioners sought places and advancement, as well as redress for ills and injustices. Petitions were indicators of where authority and responsibility were perceived to lie, but also of the status of the petitioners and their right to be heard. Petitions also helped to reflect and generate socio-political expectations and values. The persistence of petitioning, even in times of greatest conflict, indicates the high value placed on this form of interactive negotiation. The background to individual petitions is shown by a review of the political environments of petitioning and the process of petitioning examined for the period c.1600-1640. The study identifies a network of Norfolk arbitrators to whom the crown and petitioners turned for assistance. Petitions to Norfolk Quarter Sessions from 1629 to 1660 provide
Smith, Peter
Petitionary negotiation in a community in conflict : King's Lynn and West Norfolk, c.1575 to 1662. This study examines petitions which originated in Norfolk during the first half of the seventeenth century. It asks three questions: How and by whom were petitions used? What do those petitions reveal about power relations and social values? What was the impact of the civil war and the interregnum on petitionary negotiations? Detailed research focuses on Norfolk in general and Kingâs Lynn in particular. Petitioners sought places and advancement, as well as redress for ills and injustices. Petitions were indicators of where authority and responsibility were perceived to lie, but also of the status of the petitioners and their right to be heard. Petitions also helped to reflect and generate socio-political expectations and values. The persistence of petitioning, even in times of greatest conflict, indicates the high value placed on this form of interactive negotiation. The background to individual petitions is shown by a review of the political environments of petitioning and the process of petitioning examined for the period c.1600-1640. The study identifies a network of Norfolk arbitrators to whom the crown and petitioners turned for assistance. Petitions to Norfolk Quarter Sessions from 1629 to 1660 provide
negotiation community conflict king west norfolk study_examines petition originate norfolk ask question petition use petition reveal power_relation social value impact civil_war interregnum negotiation detailed focus norfolk general king particular seek_place advancement well redress ill injustice indicator authority responsibility perceive lie also status right heard also help reflect generate socio_political expectation value persistence even time great conflict indicate_high value place form interactive negotiation background individual petition show review political environment petition process examine period study identifies network norfolk crown turn assistance norfolk quarter provide