Court Book: Assemblies, Hundred, Record and Strangers (Piepowder) courts

WIN/52

Court Book: Assemblies, Hundred, Record and Strangers (Piepowder) courts

1558-1575

The cover is labelled '3' and endorsed 'Hundred Book' and 'A Court and Hundred Booke from the 7th of Mar primo Elizabeth to the 10th Eliz'

The contents in detail are as follows:

Folio

1 blank

2-4 Coronation precedents copied from 'the Leger of the Brotherilde howse at Romney: 20 Hy III at the coronation of Queen Eleanor taken from the Red Book in the Exchequer, Rich II, Hy V, Rich III, and an order of the Brodhull' held on 12 Dec 1429 arranging the distribution of the canopy and lances.

5-141 Courts of Record. The court meets fortnightly on Tuesdays before the mayor or his deputy and the jurats. The whole course of each case is enrolled following its first entry in the space left for subsequent proceedings. No statements are recorded beyond the date of the hearing, the plea, the formal steps in process and its conclusion, normally by agreement, but cases also went to trial both by jury and compurgation. From 1569 (fo 72v) this practice is discontinued and entries made from court to court for all cases proceeding.

The court becomes a Court of Piepowder for Strangers whenever occasion demands; 7 Mar 1558 - 13 Sep 1575

The following unusual features are noted:

18v Court of Piepowder; 10 Jun 1561

19 Admission of William Crowde as a freeman paying 4s fine; 10 Jun 1561

21-22 Entries of recognizances with note of the appearance of parties and their release in 'open hundred', 21 Dec 1561

25v Court for Strangers, 28 Oct 1561

26v Alice wife of Roger Benson; has levied a fine to John Peck, mayor, of a piece of land (½a) in Quarter 23, which RB bought from Henry Barnes; 4 Nov 1561

Plea by Richard Dyne and wife Marina v William Waters of Catsfield for 43,000 billets called Winchelsea Billets worth £5 13s 4d; 7 Jun 1564

30 Letter from Hastings requesting a general withernam against Sandwich and judgment thereon; 7 Jul 1562

One leaf unfoliated between fos 30 and 31

36 Judgment of withernam against Pevensey, 8 Jun 1563

37v Court of Piepowder, 3 Dec 1563

46v Court of Piepowder, 11 Sep 1565

48 Court for Strangers, 3 Nov 1565

49v Esther wife of Thomas Standen of Catsfield; has levied a fine to TS's father Simon Standen of all lands and tenements in Winchelsea; 6 Nov 1565

52 Court for Strangers, 1 Mar 1566

51v Alice wife of Thomas Holden, widow of Garrard Cooper of Winchelsea, has levied a fine to John Savery of Winchelsea of a messuage and garden in Quarter 2; 26 Feb 1568

52v Memo concerning the valuation of 17 tuns of 'trayne oyle' seized by the bailiff for the debt of John Curton of Bilbao, Spain, owned by James Morleye of London, merchant; 12 Mar 1566

57v In consideration of the weakness of the assistance to justice, Mr Edward Middleton was accepted as freeman and elected jurat, 28 Jan 1567

58 Mr Thomas Guldeford, esq took the oath and was admitted to the office of bailiff of the town according to the custumal, by force of Letters Patent to the heirs male of 'the Gyldefords' He then appointed Stephen Middleton as his sergeant, 2 Mar 1567

62 Court for Strangers; 1567

Admission of George Chatfield and William Hider, advocants, as freemen paying 26s 8d each by way of fine and promising to pay as much annually as long as they enjoy the benefit of it; admission of John Milward, paying only 3s as he had lost his freedom by being absent from the town for more than a year and a day; 1 Jul 1567

62v John Milward elected jurat; 1 Jul 1567

69 Order for punishment of William Whatlie by being whipped out of town for attempting to carry Mr Love, the late mayor, before the Lord Warden, for filing off his irons and for calling on the commons to lay hands on the mayor in church. Also two depositions Nd [Court heading omits date but follows a Court for Strangers; 1 Jul 1567]

71v Appointment of John Durrant as guardian to Alice Brice, orphan; Nd

76 Bond in 200 marks from John Jeffery of Hastings, yeoman, to Edward Middleton of Winchelsea, jurat, and Thomas Standen, rector of Icklesham, to pay £8 by 21 Oct next; 21 Aug 1567

78 Court for Strangers; plea by Dennis le Bourg and Claud le Pester v Stephen Factier of Montpellier; SF attached by a boat called the Margaret and casks of wine; dismissed; 18 Mar 1570

82 Letter from Rye to the Cinque Ports requesting general withernam against Plymouth, and copy of judgment of withernam in Rye court. Note of consent by Winchelsea; 26 Feb 1571/10 Oct 1570

97 Court for Strangers: Robert Puckell of London, merchant, a prisoner for words spoken against the court, fined £5 which was mitigated to 11s 8d; 24 Oct 1572

97v Judgment of withernam against Rochester at same court

100-2 Courts for Strangers, 17 Feb-21 Apr 1573

101v Judgment of withernam against Rye, 17 Apr 1573

105 Final concord levied in the Court of Record between John Awood, plaintiff and John Durrant and his wife Clemence, deforciants, concerning a messuage, 3 cellars (seltariis), 1 barn and garden and 3 orchards, in Winchelsea; 16 Jun 1573

107 Judgment of withernam against London at same court.

108-9 Courts for Strangers, 3-14 Aug 1573

111 Final concord levied in the Court of Record between John Pirle, plaintiff and William Estie and Rochell (sic) his wife, defendants; 10 Nov 1573 messuage and garden in Winchelsea. Signatures

113v-4 Common recovery suffered in the Court of Record between Goddard White, plaintiff, Thomas Holden, defendant, William Pellett, vouchee; 24 Nov 1573 a messuage, barn, 2a land called Bartlemewefield in Winchelsea

115v Court for Strangers; 19 Dec 1573

117v Final concord levied in the Court of Record between Robert Whyte, plaintiff and John Pirle and his wife Elizabeth, defendants, concerning a messuage and garden in Winchelsea. Signatures. Same day: Final concord levied in the Court of Record between Richard Smyth, plaintiff and Edward Wood and his wife Marion, defendants, concerning one messuage and garden lying in the 1st quarter of Winchelsea; 16 Feb 1574

120-1 Proceedings at the request of Rye for withernam against Conquett and Brest and afterwards against the whole Duchy of Brittany; Mar-Sep 1574

122 Final concord levied in the Court of Record between John Pirle, plaintiff and William Eglestone and Margaret his wife, defendants, concerning 1 messuage and garden in Winchelsea; [?] Apr 1574

125v Final concord levied in the Court of Record between John Ashburnham, plaintiff and John Pirle and Elizabeth his wife, defendants, concerning 1 messuage and garden in Winchelsea; 19 Jul 1574

127 Abstract from the White Book of the Cinque Ports recording an agreement made 1 Apr 1516 to seek before the Lord Warden a fair division of the allowance on fifteenths and tenths' [On the distribution of this allowance out of national taxation, see RRC, pp76, 77]

129v Court for Strangers; 12 Oct 1574

133v Final concord levied in the Court of Record between Robert Wamsley, plaintiff and William Butler and Joan his wife, defendants, concerning 1 messuage and garden in the 9th quarter of Winchelsea; 7 Dec 1574

134v Final concord levied in the Court of Record between John Goffe, plaintiff and Gillian Harlakenden, widow, defendant, concerning a messuage, a garden, 3 shops and a piece of land in Winchelsea; 18 Jan 1575

136v Final concord levied in the Court of Record between Ralph Culpeck, plaintiff and John Pirle and Elizabeth his wife, defendants, concerning 1 messuage and 1 piece of land in Winchelsea; [?] Apr 1575

139 Court for Strangers; 21 Jun 1575

141v-00 Hundred Courts: No regular succession of courts are entered, some courts follow weekly, three weekly, monthly or at longer intervals after each other The 'full hundred' for election of mayor, is held regularly on the first Sunday after Easter and the week after for lesser officers; 21 Apr 1560-25 Apr 1568

The following extracts of unusual form or interest are noted:

142 Agreement that no sheep be allowed at large in the town, on the common or pendants of the hill, with penalties. Similar agreement for hogs, which are to be yoked and ringled, no person being allowed more than 4 hogs; 28 Apr 1560

142v Statement of the terms under which Lawrence Ashburnham was admitted to the freedom, paying 6s 8d annually, and 3s towards any taxes, but with no obligation to hold office.

143 grant to Thomas Sturgyon at 8s: tenement and land in Quarter 19 (N: land of heirs of George Lowes; W,S: road; S,E; partly to the tenement and land of John Durrant; E: road; E: partly to the orchard of Robert Holden), which lately escheated to the town; 21 Dec 1560 grant to Hugh Middleton jurat at 3s: tenement and garden in Quarter 13 (E,S: tenement and land of HM; W: tenement and garden of Ferret Brice; N: road); 21 Dec 1560

143 Inquisition for eating flesh in Lent; 17 Mar 1561

143v Grant of a way with pendants of the hill adjoining the Conyfyld to Hugh Middleton, jurat, for 21 years, paying 4s 8d pa with the right of the inhabitants to take thorns and bushes, and of the town to take timber and wood; 21 Dec 1560 Grant to William Egelston and Thomas Sturgeon of a lane between their tenements, for a year paying 2d pa, the lane to be scoured to allow water to drain away. At the same court. [Note: the scribe has repeated fo 143 on the following leaf]

144-5 Presentments and verdicts: These are entered in the court books They include the escape of a freeman from prison punished by disfranchisement; uttering the 'counsel' of an inquest; forcible entry; assault. A large number concern William Egelstone, late mayor, for misdeeds during office, including the removal of the town's records and seal to his own house and attempting personal gain in the town's suit against Sir John Guyldford, kt, for a marsh unjustly retained; 19 Jul 1561

145v-6 Minutes of a Brotherhood at Romsey, 22 Jul 1561

146 Inquisition taken by John Peck, mayor, and William Crispe, esq, Lieutenant of Dover Castle, concerning 'the view of ships, mariners and masters of ships, etc' At Winchelsea, 'Ships, boats, crayers: none; mariners: Nicholas Clark and John Legat; masters and Maryed; Roger Griffin, unmarried; Thomas Neighbour, married'; 29 Jul 1561

146v Ordinance concerning a cess to meet the cost of town suits at law; 4 Oct 1561

147v ordered that at next a decision should be made concerning the housing and ground that Mr Nicholas White hired of the town in 1538-39; 21 Dec 1561

148v Nicholas Clark of Winchelsea mariner and Roger Griffen of Winchelsea mariner forcibly entered a messuage and garden in Quarter 13 belonging to James Glaseby, who is restored; 1561

149 List of presentments; offences include casting soil into cellars, bowling green, fishmarket, shop at the strand, town dock; 25 Mar 1562

150 Lease for 21 years to Goddard Whit, jurat, of a piece of ground which he occupied belonging to the Court House Order that William Eglisden [Egelstone] shall show proof of tenure of the town brewhouse. Order confirming that a previous order concerning stray cattle entered in 'the red booke in folio xviij' shall be duly executed. Order that no geese be suffered to go abroad in the town; 12 Apr 1562

150v Bond of John Suttell in £40 concerning the making of hose which shall not 'lye loose nor to be bolsteryd, but to lye just unto their Legges, as in auncyent tyme was accustomed'; 1 Jun 1562

151 bonds as above from Lewes Burton, Thomas Tamar, John Pirle, Thomas Herington, Richard Hussey and Robert Whit, tailors, all of Winchelsea; 1 Jun 1562

152 Grant to William Awate. A tenement at Strand having the tenement where Michael Bisson lives on the W, the Fissher Kaye on the E, the channel on the N and the street on the S, paying annually 3s 4d. Convenant to rebuild and maintain the tenement; 19 Jul 1562

152 William Whateley is tenant to William Eglisden of the town's brewhouse at The Strand; reports on what WE said to him about it; 1562

152v List of presentments, including John Parker for casting dung into a cellar in the butchery; 19 Jul 1562

153 Lease for 10 years to Edmund Weerd alias Bushe of Rye, beerbrewer, of the Brewhouse at Strand, at £3 pa. Grant to Goderd Hunt of a tenement and 4 pieces of land in Winchelsea later in the tenure of Richard Sharp at 2s a year; 21 Dec 1562

154 Resolution concerning the hiring out of the town's vacant grounds and the 'townes Dockes', 18 Apr 1563

154v Resolution concerning the ordinances of cattle in the Old Red Book; 25 Apr 1563

154v jury appointed to view and value vacant land in each quarter belonging to the town and at the strand to be hired out at the next hundred, except Stone Mill and the ground lying to John Durrant's house; 25 Apr 1563

154v proclamation to claim a house and piece of ground in Quarter 18, sometime Powle's, late Henry Barnes; 25 Apr 1563

154v Goddard White shall pay the rent due to John Guldeford kt for a piece of marsh ground late occupied by Goddard Chapman jurat; 25 Apr 1563

155 grants of vacant land, all besides the queen's rent, 20 May 1563:

1 vacant ground against Anthony Mansill's ground or orchard; to John Love mayor at 12d

2 piece of ground against George Briseland's ground; to Anthony Hatton at 18d

3 piece of ground by the pound; to Thomas Smith at 4d

4 all those parcels of the town's vacants in Quarter 4; to Edmund Hartwell at 4s 10d

5 two parcels in Quarter 1; to Thomas Holden at 3s 4d

6 two parcels late enclosed by John Durant; to Edmund Hartwell at 5s 4d

7 piece beneath the pendants of the hill outside Watchbell Gate, reserving a lawful way to a common well there; to Lawrence Botting at 4s 6d

8 piece of ground on the S side of the Legates house; to Edmund Hartwell at 2s

9 all the town's marsh (E: the housing and land of Richard Clerk's heirs; S,W: road; N: the common channel); rent 33s 4d

155 Mr Cheyney to show how he holds a stable which Mr Chapman occupies, or else the town to repossess it and hire it out with the adjoining vacant ground; 1563

155 Thomas Bab to show why he should enjoy the pieces of land called Scrases and Sowters in Quarter 7 [there is a Seltere in Quarter 7 in 1292 but no Scrase]

155 Harrison's heirs to show how they hold the land N of the Legates house

155 Ferry besides the bridge granted to Lawrence Brugferth

156 proclamation for land in Quarter 18 late Goddard Foster

156 house and ground in Quarter 10 late Thomas Brice sometime Richard Clerk (John Pirle has paid the rent in the right of the heirs)

156 house at the Strand late William Pawle before William Eglisden; (the rent paid by William Burdet so proclamation ceases)

156 piece of ground at Strand between the house and ground of the heirs of William Jonson and the heirs of Harrison

156 piece of ground in Quarter 7 sometime Sowter's (E: The Ferret/Street)

156 Town Ferry farmed to John Game at £6 13s 4d; 31 Jul 1563

156v to take counsel's opinion concerning the vacants at the Strand; 9 Nov 1563

158 Resolution that a panel be set up to review the town ordinances. Order that no stone, timber, brick or building stuff, which has either formed part of a building or is fit to be built with, to be carried out of the town under penalty of £3 6s 8d a ton; 21 Dec 1563

159v Ordinances concerning the town government; 16 Apr 1564

159v bowling green leased to Anthony Hatton for 21 years at 12d; to make a pair of butts on it; 16 Apr 1564

159v grant to John Suttell at 8d: piece at Strand (S: tenement of JS; Witness(es): Michael Beson; N: William Burdet; E: road)

160 Grant to Edward Wood for 2 pieces of land in the 7th quarter at 2s 8d; 16 Apr 1564

160 grant of piece on N side of town (N: the channel; E: land of heirs of Richard Clerk; S: road; W: the common way) to Goddard White jurat and Thomas Herrington for the life of the longer liver, at £3; to pay queen's rent of 3s 4d; 16 Apr 1564

160 Lease for 21 years at 40s to Mr Peck, now mayor, of the brewhouse; 16 Apr 1564

160v Licence to Goddard Hunt to take down a house in the 12th quarter and carry the materials to Udimore to rebuild his house lately burnt down, contrary to the ordinance on this matter recently made

160v Grant to Goddard White, jurat, John Prall, and John Pirle, all the salts lying between the ground and the channel at Strand; commons have delegated the letting of a tenement at Strand late William Awater and adjoining piece of vacant ground to the mayor and brethren

160v grant to John Legate of a piece of ground on the N side of his house where he lives, at 12d + the queen's rent; lease for a year of the common ferry to John Gayme at £6 13s 4d; 16 Apr 1564

161 The panel on town ordinances have chosen 30 acts which they deem worthy of preservation and it is ordered that these 'are all confirmed to be good and wholesome and are agreed to be all recorded in one book together for them to be made'; 22 Jul 1563

161 bonds to keep inns by Hugh Middleton, jurat, Lawrence Brigeforth, lighterman, Michael Beson, Goddard Chapman, jurat, Maurice Eustace, yeoman, Peter Johnson and William Tranter, shoemaker; 22 Jul 1564

161 lease of salts to John Gayme; they are next Mr Brown's ground (N: channel), paying ¼d a rod towards the queen's rents; 11 Dec 1564

162 Appointment of William Harman as master of the town hospitals;

162 grant to Michael Beson from 25 Dec at 4s 4d: tenement and piece of ground at the Strand (E: common ground of town; W: tenement of MB; N: channel; S: street), to build the tenement before 25 Dec 1565; 11 Dec 1564

162 order that the Chamberlains have power to sell the timbers of the bridge; order to pay John Davison 27s 8d in recompense for his 'paines, travail, and pen ink and paper and drawing of sundry books'; grant to James Glasbye of a piece of salt at Strand having Mr Browne's ground to the Channell on the north; 11 Dec 1564

162 Permit to John Wesborne to dig stone in the town dike between his gate going into the marshes, namely from against the Watchbell Gate as far as the Friars well for a fine of 3s; 11 Dec 1564

162v William Egliston, in consideration of his impediments, to keep his butchery shop at home at his house, and to pay the chamberlain 3s 4d so long as he shall occupy a butchery; 1564

162v If Goddard White and Thomas Harrington inn their salts before 25 Dec 1565 they may have 40s of the fine rebated; 1564

162v Licence to Goddard White to carry away 20 tons of stone and 7000 tiles, fine 3s 4d; 1564

162v Licence to John Westbourne to dig up the stones in the town ditch between his gate going into the marsh ..., from against the Watchbell Gate until the Friars' Well; fine 3s; 1564

163 Appointment of Thomas Spruce as master of the town hospitals, 24 Feb 1565

164 grant to Thomas Neighbour [later described as a mariner] and wife Magdalen: orchard in Quarter 24 occupied by TN, at 5s Od; 1565

164v Confirmation of grants of town salts at Strand to Godderd Whit and John Praule.

164v-5 innkeepers' recognizances by six including Michael Garnsby, lighterman; 22 May 1565

165v Lease for one year to John Game of the town ferry; 20 Jul 1565

165v grant to Thomas Smith, miller: tenement and two gardens at the Strand, late French, at 9s Od; to build it within a year; marked void [see f168 below]; 1565

165v Thomas Smith to bring a testimonial from the place where he has lived the last three years, and evidence that he is married to the woman whom he presently keeps; 1565

167 Assembly, Thomas Smyth, miller, expelled the town for refusal to furnish proof of marriage 'to her that he keepeth for his wife'; 20 Sep 1567

167v order against John Love, ex-mayor, for embezzling escheated wine; 1567

168 Grant to Goddard Whit of a tenement late Frenches at Strand [see f165v above] for £3 fine and 4d a year; resolution concerning French wines escheated to the corporation; 21 Dec 1565

168v bond, William Crowde of Winchelsea, pinner, and Thomas Smith of Winchelsea, gunner; 1565

169 Settlement (feoffment) from Thomas Sargeant and his wife Margaret (widow of Thomas Hooker) to John Savery, all of Winchelsea:

A messuage or principal tenement with orchard and garden in the 7th quarter of Winchelsea, having the street on the E, the land of William Eglisden and the heirs of Giles Davy on the S, the lands of Joan Hollocke, widow, and John Peck on the W and N. To hold to the use of Thomas, son of the donors, in tail, with remainder to the donors and their heirs.

Certificate that Margaret was examined for proof of consent and that the town seal was attached to the deed; 11 Sep 1565

169v town tailors bound to abide by laws regarding hose: Thomas Tamar, John Suttell, John Pirle, Thomas Herrington, Lewis Burton [later called a Frenchman]; 1565

171v Feoffment from Thomas Standen of Catsfield, husbandman, and his wife Hester (younger sister of Philip, son and heir of Henry Smyth of Winchelsea, deceased), to TS's father Simon Standen, of all the lands, tenements, etc in Winchelsea which Hester inherited on the death of Philip. Certificate that Hester was examined, etc; 6 Nov 1565

171v Feoffment from Thomas Holden, shoemaker, and his wife Alice (widow of Garrard Cooper, deceased) to John Savery, all of Winchelsea Consideration: 'a certain sum of money'. A messuage and garden in the 2nd quarter of Winchelsea, having the land of the heirs of John Wattes on the E, the land late of John Rowndbeame on the S, the street on the W and N. Certificate that Alice was examined, etc; 26 Feb 1566

172v Feoffment from Nicholas Baker of Rye, tailor, and his wife Parnel to Thomas Saunders of Connyngbrok in Kennardington, Kent, yeoman. Consideration: 'a certain sum'. Two tenements, 1 orchard, 1 garden in the 7th quarter of Winchelsea, having the tenement and lands of William Egliston on the E, the lands of John Donnyng on the N, the tenement and lands of John Peck on the W and the street on the S. Certificate that Parnel was examined, etc; 22 Oct 1566

173 Feoffment from Francis Culpeper of Salehurst, gent, and his wife Philippa (daughter and heir of Thomas Hinxsted of Winchelsea, deceased) to John Love of Winchelsea, in pursuance of an agreement of 22 Feb 1567 All the lands, tenements, etc, late of Thomas Hinxsted, in the liberty of Winchelsea Certificate that Phillipa was examined, etc; 25 Feb 1567

173v Release from Mr Peck to Richard Smyth of Guestling of his term in the tenure of the town's brewhouse; 12 Sep 1566

174 Order that Thomas Smyth shall cease to be both miller and baker in the town at the same time. Order that the chamberlains shall sell the vessels in the brewhouse. Notice that Mr Middleton has released to Mr White his interest in the pendants of the hill adjoining the Conyfield; 28 Oct 1566

174 Mr Tompson's proposal to have the town's brewhouse at Strand at fee-farm at the present rent on condition that he spend £100 on it in 18 months, brew during his life and appoint it to be kept a brewhouse after his death to be considered at next; 1566

Agreement that the chamberlains shall secure the deed of the Reade Acre, which belongs to St John's House, from Mr Peck and return it to the rest of the deeds; 28 Oct 1566

174v Edward Ratcliffe offers to take a 21-year lease of the house and lands where he lives at 16s; to be considered at next; 1566

175 Lease for 21 years to Edward Ratclife of a house and land in Winchelsea on condition he repair it, 4 Jan 1567

Grant of the farm of the Bomage to Legat paying 9s quarterly, 'to take of every vessel lying within the liberties of this town 4d for bomag and not above'; 4 Jan 1567

[This term may derive either from 'Boomage', lying within the boom of the harbour, or alternatively from the Dutch 'Bom', a broad-beamed fishing vessel similar to the Brighton Hog-boat, which recently survived in the Scheveningen area but may have been widely used formerly. Terms like sloop, flyboat and yacht also derive from Dutch]

175v Agreement that Morrys Ewstace, who holds Laurence Bottinge's interest in the waste piece under the Watchbell gate shall have also the way reserved there for the town's use 4 Jan 1567

'An abstract of the goods of Hunts widow', a short list; nd [1567]

176-77 missing

179 Agreement to satisfy the claim of Sandwich for withernam out of the town's funds, 6 Apr 1567

180v Assembly: order fixing the rates of wages for thatcher, ripier and sawyer; 10 May 1567

182-3 Common Recovery suffered in the Court of Winchelsea, by several adjournments, Joan Hollock, widow, plaintiff, Philip and John Lowes, gents (sons and heirs of George Lowes, late of Winchelsea, deceased), defendants, William Pellet vouchee, concerning a messuage, kitchen, 2 barns and 2 gardens in Winchelsea; 18 Jun - 10 Sep 1566

183v Assembly: business concerned entirely with town finance; 24 Jun 1567

183v-5 Sessions of the peace: no business entered beyond election of a grand jury 'at the same Hundred' (which shows the intermingling of different courts), Thomas Holden surrendered a piece of town's land in the 1st quarter to Edward Wood. Yarmouth bailiffs and representatives at the Brotherhood chosen. Ordinance forbidding wholesale bread from Rye or elsewhere being brought to the town. Readmission of William Eglisden as freeman, formerly expelled, at the request of the Lord Warden. A form of submission, 'I am sorry for my usages to the town' etc, is subjoined; 15 Jul 1567

185v Ordinance for more speedy recovery of small debts under 6s 8d; 21 Dec 1567

187v Ordinance laying an entry fine of 10s on the freedom, except the mayor's choice of one freeman in his term of office; 12 Apr 1568

187v John Crouch butcher licensed to keep a shop at any place in the town where he shall hire a house; 1568

188v Disputed election of mayor; Edward Middleton elected, followed by an entry that in view of the weak support of this election other freemen have elected William Eglistone, 25 Apr 1568

This is followed by a long resolution condemning the latter election and recounting the removal of the town records from the Court Hall for entering the same. Middleton's election is confirmed; 30 May 1568

189 Fines laid on the ringleaders of the counter-election of William Eglistone as mayor and they are ordered to lose their uppermost garments which they wore on that day; 30 May 1568

190 [Misnumbered 200] Further fines for offences on that occasion. The entry disfranchising William Eglisden for a second time is however struck out; 30 May 1568

English

Large folio bound in limp parchment, with central leather strap cross-stitched in parchment and remains of brass buckle. Comprises 192 fos paper. The first gathering is guarded with a strip of parchment from a finely written and illuminated 13th century service book