Report on the Records of New Romney

( 12 ) MR. EDWARD SALISBURY'S REPORT ON THE RECORDS OF NEW ROMNEY. IT is seldom that a corporation can produce archives so numerous as those still remaining in the possession of the town of New Romney. These stores 0£ antiquarian knowledge were hidden from sight till some ten years ago, when, under the auspices of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, some notices of them were appended by the late Henry T. Riley to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Reports of that Commission. The corporation were enabled by those reports to appreciate more fully the value of their records. To make them ·more accessible "to all whom it may concern," and to render them more secure against loss or ill usage at the hands of successors ignorant of their real worth, the present corporation took steps to have them thoroughly repaired, inspected, and catalogued, and the following report has thereupon been drawn up. Whilst inspecting the records of New Romney, Mr. Riley was so struck with their stores of ancient lore and historical information, that he availed himself largely of the information scattered through them. His reports consist, almost entirely, of curious and interesting extracts from the bound volumes, which are the oldest, and the most valuable part of the collection. The earliest volume, the Assessment Book for 3-7 Richard II., he translated in extenso, at the instigation of Henry Stringer and Henry Bacheler Walker, Esquires, whose antiquarian tastes led them to urge the due preservation and investigation of these records. This translation is now among the archives of Romney, and will be found on the inter-· leaves introduced into the volume when it was rebound, under Mr. Riley's direction. The most unlearned "seeker after truth " is thus made acquainted with the varied contents of this volume, which opens with the levying in Romney of the poll tax that led to Wat Tyler's insurrection, and contains many interesting particulars throwing light on that troubled period. At the same time the two next volumes, Assessment Books, ii. and iii., were similarly bound, and remain at present as left by Mr. Riley, except that during my inspection of the Romney records, in June 1885, a portion of an earlier folio of volume ii., than the one with which it commences, came to light, and two complete folios (115, 116) belonging to volume iii. were also found. These additions have been repaired, and inserted in their respective places. REPORT ON NEW ROMNEY RECORDS. 13 In Mr. Riley's Reports to the Historical Manuscripts Commission no attempt was made to shew the connection between the different classes 0£ records, nor how the one set 0£ books originally kept by the town authorities expanded into two or three series, in order to keep pace with the increased business and importance of the borough; nor how the officials who kept the town accounts, for instance, were changed at a later period and reduced to two in number, either to make it possible to deal with all the affairs relating to this Cinque Port by a division of labour, or perhaps most probably because the :financial state of the town required fewer officers to care for it, its trade having been diminished by the receding of the sea from its ancient haven, as the huge promontory of Dungeness was formed gradually in the course 0£ years. This work Mr. Riley would most likely have been requested to undertake had his life been prolonged, but his untimely death left his work unfinished, and this report aims to complete as well as may be what he so well began. I propose, therefore, to deal with the Romney Records in the two classes into which they naturally £all, viz. , (1) of bound volumes and (2) of loose papers, and to thoroughly investigate their contents. RECORDS OF NEW ROMNEY. PA.RT I.--" BOOKS." The volumes remaining extant in the possession of the corporation of Romney are thirty-four in number, and may be arranged in classes in the following order in which they will be dealt with in the ensuing report, viz. : (1) Assessment Books. (6) Charter Books. (2) Chamberlain's Accounts. (7) An odd volume containing (3) Court Books. the election of the Mayor (4) Books 0£ Plaints. and Jurats. (5) Common Assembly Books. (1.) ASSESSMENT BOOKS. The books which may be thus described in the Romney Records are six in number, vols. i.-vi. ; they cover the period from 1879 to 1527, the only break being from 1446 to 1448, which occurs between volumes ii. and iii. From 1469 to 1522, the books overlap one another, and constitute a double series, or an early instance of book-keeping by double entry! The varied records scattered throughout these six books may be thus summarized:- a. " Malitota Generalis " or Maletot. b. "Compotus" of the Jurats of the town year by year, being an account 0£ receipts and expenditure. From 5 Henry VIII. the accounts are kept by two officials described as " Gardiani," "Camerarii" or "Thesaurarii." 14 REPORT ON NEW ROMNEY RECORDS, c. Scot and " Common Fine." (Details of each commence in vol. iv.) il. Election of Jurats, Mayor o;r Bailiff, Common C lerk, Chamberlain, and other municipal officers. These are first given for 9 Henry VIII. (See vol. iii., f. 128 d'.)* e. Miscellaneous Entries, Wills, Admissions to the Freedom, Recognizances, Bonds, Indentures, Leases, etc. M.A.LETOT .AND SCOT, The Maletot was " a rate levied upon the sale of commodities ;" the Scot or " common fine " was levied upon the inhabitants, at the rate of fourpence on freemen of the town, but of eightpence on "men not free." This privilege as to taxation to some extent accounts for the freedom of the borough being eagerly sought after even to a recent period. The Maletot was seldom levied more than once a year, being generally assessed from March 25 £or the ensuing year; but the Scots were levied frequently, at intervals of about three months on the average, though in cases of emergency they followed one another in rapid succession. Instances of this will be mentioned in our notice of volume v. of the Assessment Books. If the amount raised by a Scot was insufficient it was sometimes supplemented by the levying of a half Scot to make up the deficiency. The Scot was levied (originally, at least) £or some definite object outside the ordinary expenses of the borough (see, e.g., vol. vi., f. 51 d') ; while the " General Maletot " was to defray tlie ordinary charges of the town. Therefore the reason for raising the Maletot is never given, while the object for which the Scot was assessed is nearly always stated. Let us now examine these volumes more in detail. VOLUME I., .A.sSESSMENT BooK, 8-7 RICII.A.RD II. This book gives, at folio 1, the assessment of all persons above the age of :fifteen, dwelling in Romney towards the subsidy granted to Richard II. by his Parliament at Northampton, 2 November, 4 Richard II. This is the only detailed entry of the assessment of a "lay subsidy " in Romney that I have been able to find in these volumes. The first entries of the assessment of the Maletot are irregularthe first, entered at fol. 4 d', is for a period of eighteen months, * The numbers attributed to the volumes are those given to them in the Schedule of Books, appended to this Report. The number of a folio simply applies to the obverse of the leaf; the reverse is denoted by the number followed by a d' (dorso). The little letters a and b refer to the left and right hand column on the page respectively. Thus Fol. 12 = obverse of page 12. Fol. 12 d' = reverse or back of page 12. Fol. 12 (a) = left-hand column on the face of page 12. Fol. 12 d' (b) = right-hand column Qn reverse of page 12. VOLS, I., A.D. 1379-84, AND II., A.D. 1384-1446. 15 £rom Christmas, 8 Richard II., to 24 June, 5 Richard II. ; and the next, at folio 7, was "paid by tally" for nine months, from June 24 to March 25, 5 Richard II. These are the only instances 0£ a Maletot being levied for a period other than one year. The first " Oompotus " 0£ receipts and expenditure (£. 9) is for the complete year 25 March, 4 Richard II., to 25 March, 5 Richard II. ; but on looking closely into the items 0£ receipt it is found to contain all the sums the assessment 0£ which is previously given at ff. 1, 4 d', and 7. Hence we conclude that the volume now before us is complete in itself; all the amounts stated in it to have been raised previous to the first ·" Oompotus" being duly acknowledged in that account. But the first item 0£ revenue is (£. 9) a sum 0£ £19 4s. ld. received by the present accountants froni their predecessors, Jurats 0£ Romney. From this we must conclude that some system 0£ levying taxes, and some records 0£ them, existed in Romney before the period at which this first volume commences. This conclusion is strengthened by an entry that occurs at fol. 44 d' 0£ volume ii. Richard Grygory was imprisoned, and charged with breaking the peace and acting contrary to the usages 0£ the town by hindering the porters in the discharge 0£ their duty 0£ "wine-trending." The Jurats ordered a search as to his antecedents to be made in " the Register 0£ the Acts 0£ the Town;" and in such register £or 14 Richard II. ( or 1890) it was found that on a similar occasion he had been bound over in 100s. to keep the peace. Such entries clearly prove the previous existence 0£ earlier records which have now entirely disappeared. The Maletots £or the years 5-6 and 6-7 Richard II. respectively are given at ff. 18 and 17 d'; each being followed by the Compotus for the same period; and thus the volume before us presents a complete outline 0£ the taxation 0£ Romney, and the receipts and expenditure 0£ the corporation £rom Oh1·istmas, 8 Richard II. (1879), to 25 March, 7 Richard II. (1384), at which point the Romney :finance is taken up by volume ii. Before leaving vol. i. it is to be noted that nothing but money matters are entered in it ; it is purely and simply an " Account Book;" and those miscellaneous notes and memoranda which throw strong side-lights on the local and political history 0£ the place do not occur in this volume. VOLUME II., AssESSMENT BooK, 7 RICHARD II. a:o 24 HENRY VI. Till recently this volume began at folio 8 0£ the old pagination, the first seven folios being entirely gone. A careful search among the loose records 0£ the corporation brought to light a portion of folio 6, which has been repaired and inserted in its proper place. This portion 0£ folio 6 bears only miscellaneous notes, such as occur also on folios 8 and 9, and it seems likely that all the leaves from 1 to 9 originally contained similar memoranda, not regular entries 0£ Maletot or Compotus. This view is borne out by the £act that the first Maletot here entered (at folio 2 d' present pagination) is for the 16 REPORT ON NEW ROMNEY RECORDS, year beginning 25 March, 7 Richard II., the very date at which the previous book stops. The contents 0£ volume ii. are as follow : 1. The Maletot levied from " the Annunciation 0£ the Blessed Virgin" (March 25) in each year till the same date in the following year. 2. The annual " Compotus " 0£ the J urats 0£ the town. 3. Miscellaneous Entries, Wills, Recognizances, Admissions to the Freedom, Pleas, etc. At :ff. 15 d', 19, the clerk apparently left a blank space £or the heading descriptive 0£ the Maletot given below, but omitted to fill it in afterwards. This is the first sign 0£ anything like carelessness or haste in keeping these books ; later on it becomes very common, the heading being omitted altogether or shortened into the one word" Maletolta." Extraneous notes among the accounts occur £or the first time at folio 21 d'. At folio 52 these notes begin to assume large proportions, taking up no less than £our pages, :ff. 52, 53. This is an indication 0£ the increase 0£ business, which, in later times, led to the one class 0£ record originally kept in the town being split up into three or £our different sets of books, according to the dif£erent matters to be recorded. Thus during the reign of Henry VIII. the series 0£ Assessment Books, which had up to that time been almost the only record 0£ all the proceedings 0£ the town, is separated into three distinct series: (1) Chamberlain's Account Books; (2) Court Books; and (8) Books 0£ Plaints. The :financial particulars previously entered in the Assessment Books are recorded in the Chamberlain's Account Books ; the Court Books contain Admissions to the Freedom and other business transacted at the courts ; and _the Pleas, such as that entered at folio 44 d' 0£ volume ii., are recorded in the Books 0£ Plaints. At folio 63 of this volume the names 0£ the Jurats who furnish the " Oompotus " are given £or the first time ; and in the absence of any list of Ju.rats elected for this period they are valuable. Miscellaneous accounts relative to the voyages 0£ the "Bargia '' of Romney also occur at folio 44 d'; the expenses attendant on sending the said barge to Newcastle are noted, anno 21 Richard II. : " Oompotus Symonis Clerk, Roberti Geste, Supervisorum Bargie et J ohannis Palmer Magistri ejusdem xxvjt0 die Mail a0 r.r.r, (regni Regis Ricardi) predicti xxi0." And at folio 85 d' is a note 0£ expenses connected seemingly with the expedition to Agincourt, 3-4 Henry V. This last entry is suggestive 0£ the hurry and activity prevalent in seaports 0£ the south and east coasts, to furnish the King with ships necessary to transport his expedition to France, and provide them with commissariat stores. These books abound in such touches as these, and it is on this account that they are so valuable in connection with history at large. ORIGINAL Fon:M OF THESE Booxs. What the original form of this and the following Assessment Book was it is very difficult to determine. It would seem to have VOLUME II., A.D. 1384-1446. 17 bee:n made up of loose accounts, each year being kept separately, and the whole series being eventually brought together and bound up into one volume. This is supported by the following evidence: (1) That the leaves of the book varying greatly in size form a most irregular volume ; (2) that from folio 96 to folio 189, as originally bound (judging by the former pagination), the accounts are arranged anyhow, without regard to chronological sequence; and (3) that £or some years the account ejther of receipts or expenditure is wanting, and for other years both are absent, which would imply that they had been mislaid and were not forthcoming when the volume was bound originally in the parchment cover, the remains of which form the frontispiece of the present book. Thus both Maletot and Compotus for 5-6 Henry V. are missing, which should be entered at folio 89; at folio 102 the accounts of the expenditure £or 3-4 Henry VI. are given, but out of place, as they ought to follow folio 103 containing the expenditure for 2-S Henry VI.; while there is no account of the Maletot levied in 3-4 Henry- VI., and no Compotus for 4-5 Henry VI. ; and at folio 180 both Maletot and Compotus £or 18-19 Henry VI. are entirely wanting. On the other hand, the numerous anachronisms in which the book abounds dispose one to think that the volume must have been bound at an early period. Thus folio 97 gives the continuation of the " Compotus " for 5-6 Henry VI. begun on folio 106 d', and yet it occurs after the accounts of 9-10 Henry V., and contains a lengthy memorandum dated 23 Henry VI., and a note of 1 Edward IV. So also at folio 100 d', after the accounts of 1-2 Hem,•y VI., occurs a ":6.nalis recognicio," dated 8 June, 10 Henry VI., which seems to have been inserted here as a convenient place, by the clerk at the later date who found this space blank. Towards the end of this volume the accounts of receipts and expenditure are kept with much less regularity and correctness than is the case previously. On folio 181 occurs the lzeailing of the Maletot £or the year 20-21 Henry VI., but the accounts entered on the lower half of the page seem to have been neatly cut out by means of a knife or scissors. Folios 182-184 contain miscellaneous entries of the reigns of Henry V. and Henry VI., and at folio 135 occurs the Compotus of the J urats £or the year 28-24 Henry VI., both receipts and expenditure being given. Hence £or the years 20-28 Helll'y VI. no accounts remain, except that among the receipts £or the year 28-24 Henry VI. this item occurs: " £23 5s. 3d. of old debt £or the Scots and Maletots of preceding yea1·s." This volume ends with folio 186, which contains three memoranda of the years 37 Henry VI. and 1 Edward IV. on its £ace; on the dorse are some entries dated 25 Henry VI. Among the receipts noted on folio 180 is the sum of £9 12s. 6d. from the men of Lydd, in part-payment of their contribution £or the year. This contribution, of the fiftli-penny paid by the men 0£ Lydd, which is a constant item in the town accounts of Romney, ;ed to many a dispute in after years between the Cinque Port a1􀃐d its member. .A. record of two such quarrels has come down to us m the shape of two Oompositions, between the men of L ydd and VOL. XVII, 0 18 REPORT ON NEW RQMNEY RECORDS, Romney, still existing amongst the Lydd records and belonging to the reigns of Henry VIII. and Charles I. respectively. P.A.RLIAMENT.A.RY REPRESENT.A.TION OF ROMNEY. Among the items of Romney expenditure, the amount paid to the Members sitting £or Romney will always be found whenever a Parliament was held. But at folio 100 (1-2 Henry VI.) after accounting £or a certain sum paid to John .A.dam and Richard Olytherowe £or representing Romney in Parliament £or a certain time we read," Also paid to the same John .A.dam being at the same Parliament (1 Henry VI.) for this towne anrl, JJover, viz., from the 20th day of January to the pt day of March inclusive, receiving £or our town 20d ·a day: total £3 68 8cl." Turning to the official "Returns of Members of Parliament," vol. i., p. 304 (Blue Boole, .A.,D. 1878), we find that in the Parliament summoned to meet at Westminster 9 November 1422 (1 Henry VI.), Romney was represented by Ricardus Cliderowe and Willielmus Piers, and Dover by Johannes Bra ban and Willielmus Hamond; and that in the Parliament summoned to meet at Westminster 20 October 1423 (2 Henry VI.) these places were represented-Romney by Johannes Adam and Ricardus Olytherowe, and Dover by Walterus Stratton and Johannes Braban, respectively. But no indication is to be found that either of these members at any time during these two years representerl, both places at once, as is here stated. This is by no means the only occasion on which this anomaly occurs ; £or we read again at fol. 103 that 5 mares were " paid John Braban £or his stipend at Parliament the previous year" (i.e. 2 Henry VI.), although according to the official return quoted above Braban represented Dover, and not Romney, in that Parliament; and at fol. 103 d', among the accounts £or 4-5 Henry VI., a payment made to John Byngele as representing JJover anrl, Romney, is accounted £or, although the official return simply described Byngley as one of the members sent up by Dover. .A. similar entry will be found at fol. 106 d', with regard to John .A.dam, one of the Romney members, who is paid £or "being at Parliament £or us and Dover" in the year 5-6 Henry VI. .A.t fol. 110 appear entries in the year 7-8 Henry VI. £or payments made to J olm .A.dam and Richard Olytherowe as representing Romney, and to one Orouche, member £or Dover, for "being at the Parliament £or us and Dover," of 20d. a day £or eighty days. VoLUME III., .A.ssESSMENT Boox, 1448-1527. The pagination in this volume is at first threefold: one numbering in Roman figures is contemporary with the book. This original pagination, however, stops at folio 21 ; thence to folio 44 the numbering is only twofold, at the bottom of the page, in a sixteenth century hand, and at the top in a later hand, .A.t folio 44 the former of these ceases, and thenceforward the paging is consecutive, in an early seventeenth century hand. For some reason which does not appear the accounts £or the three years 13-16 Henry VOLUME III., .A..D. 1448-1527. 19 VIII. are wanting ; the book closing at folio 138 with the accounts £or 17-18 Henry VIII. When the volume was rebound, under Mr. Riley's supervision, folios 116 and 117 were missing, but a careful search brought to light the missing leaves, and they have now been bound up in their proper place. The contents of volume iii. may be summarized thus : (1.) General Maletot up to 18 Edward IV. (fol. 75). (2.) "Compotus Juratorum" to 5 Henry VIII., and after that "Compotus Gardianorum" or" Camerariorum." (8.) "Electio Juratorum," etc., £rom 9 Henry VIII. (£ol. 128 d'). (4.) Miscellaneous Entries: Wills, Recognizances, Bonds, Indentures, Admissions to the Freedom, etc., etc. (1.) The Maletot is accounted £or in full in this volume up to the year 12-18 Edward IV. But from folio 75 (d') [18-14 Edward IV.] the name of and amount contributed by each individual are not given, as had been customary hitherto ; but these details are entered in a separate set of boolcs, commencing with the next volume (vol. iv., 8 Edward IV. to 7 Henry VII.) ; and in the present volume is entered only the total amount derived from the Maletot for the year, wliich appears as the first item of receipt in the Oorrpotus for each year. Hence we see that £or the years 18-14 Edward IV. to 18 Henry VIII. the increase 0£ business and the growth 0£ the place drove the J urats to a system 0£ bookkeeping by double-entry, that by single entry being found too cumbersome £or their _purpose ! The two sets 0£ books employed consist 0£ :-(1) Assessment Books, vols. iv.-vi., covering the period from 8 Edward IV. to 18 Henry VIII., and taking the place 0£ the account 0£ the Maletot, hitherto given immediately before the " Compotus " in the same volume with it, and containing also the account 0£ Scots and fines levied in the town; and (2) Assessment Book, vol. iii., 26 Henry VI. to 18 Henry VIII., the volume now under consideration. This £act is most interesting. It speaks 0£ the influence felt at Romney from the widening 0£ the nation's mind, the extension 0£ its boundaries, the impulse to its commerce, produced by the discovery 0£ the New World, and the resumption by England 0£ its guiding hand in politics on the continent, when at the close 0£ the internecine Wars 0£ the Roses she again took a leading part, in what we now call the " European Concert" ! Situate as Romney was upon the seaboard nearest to France, in continual intercourse with continental nations by means 0£ its commerce, it could not but £eel the effect 0£ the world-wide stirring and awakening in the reigns 0£ Henry VII. and Henry VIII. Changes were made in the constitution 0£ its corporation, and in its methods 0£ recording local affairs, which have lasted till times relatively modern ; and it is hardly too much to say that by the end 0£ Henry VIII.'s reign the form the corporation had assumed and its method 0£ administering local affairs were essentially the same as at the commencement 0£ the present century. (2.) This volume also shews a great change in the officials who C 2 20 REPORT ON NEW ROMNEY RECORDS, kept the accounts 0£ the town. Hitherto the account has always been described as" Compotus Juratorum," but at folio 124 0£ the present volume the account for 5-6 Henry VIII. is rendered by Clement Baker and Thomas Glover, " GUARDIANS " 0£ the town 0£ Romney. This is the :first time that this term is applied to the accountants; while the next account for 6-7 Henry VIII. (folio 126) is kept by John Holle and Thomas Glover, " Oamerarii" or Okamberlains 0£ the town. Then at folio 127, 7-8 Henry Vill., the two accountants, John Houll and John Lucas, are again called "Guardians." Next year the Accountants are John Lucas and Christo£er Hen:field (folio 128) ; and in the following year Christofer Henfield and Richard Bursill (folio 129) are also called" Guardians OR Chamberlains." Chamberlain eventually became the usual term. Hence it would appear that from this time two Accountants were chosen from amon,r; the Jurats for eack year ( compare the " Electio Juratorum" on folio 128 d' with the "Compotus" on folio 129), who are ca.lled Chamberlains or Guardians, and to whom the care 0£ the town finances was committed. Moreover only one 0£ the two Chamberlains was changed every year. Thus, one 0£ them, having been a Chamberlain £or the previous year, would possess an experience and a knowledge of details that would ensure continuity and accuracy in rendering the accounts; while the continual introduction of a stranger would prevent peculation, and render collusion to defraud the commonalty impossible for any length 0£ time. On one occasion, 10-11 Henry VIII. (folio 181), indeed, the two Chamberlains chosen were both new, but the reason seems to be that neither 0£ the Chamberlains £or the previous year (see the election 0£ Jurats at folio 180) were among the Jurats chosen for this year. .A.t folio 182 the accounts are rendered £or the :first time in Enr;lisk by" John Chylton and Harry Robyns, Chamberleyns 0£ the Towne & Port of N ewe Romeney " £or the year 11 and 12 Henry VIII . .A.bout this time the Chamberlains seem sometimes to have had difficulty in getting the Scot and other taxes paid by the commoners; for at folio 134 is an entry that on March 25th, 13 Henry VIII., after the election 0£ officers, " the foresaid Comminers were determyned and also condiscended.that every person or persons who will not pay their Scotes as thei · be . sessed or otheir their duties within a moneth after thei be required by the Cbamberlayns 0£ the said Towne of Romeney that then thei :and. every 0£ them to be committed to Warde and there to remayne unto such tyme as their said duties be full satisfied and paide." (3. ) Folio 128 d' marks an important epoch in the keeping 0£ the records of Romney, for the election of 'Jurats is there recorded for tke first time, as well as that of the Chamberlains, Common Clerk, and Common Sergeant. From the year 9 Henry VIII. therefore down to a comparatively late date, these Assessment Books furnish a complete list 0£ all officers chosen year by year to constitute the corporation of Romney. The election took place at the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25), at the beginning 0£ the VOLUME IV,, .A..U. 1469-92. 21 financial' year, an.cl their term of office expired at the same date in th@ following year. At folio 119 the chief magistrate, previously called Mayor, is again designated Baylif. In the later volumes, the election of this officer is never noted. (4.) The miscellaneous notes entered in this volume vary greatly both in character and importance. Among the most important are the entries of wills, specimens of which will be found at folio 45, where "the last will " of John le Mede of Romney, made 8 April, 33 Henry VI., is given; and folio 52, where the will of John Porter, dated at Romney 18 December 1465, occurs. It is to be noted that no chronological order is observed in these entries of. memoranda, but the scribe seems to have inserted them whereever he could find room. Thus at folio 45 is entered the above will, dated 8 April, 33 Henry VI. ; the next memorandum underneath this is of an admission to the freedom, dated 10 October, 2 Edward IV.; and the first two entries on folio 45 d' are of 11 October 3 Edward IV. and 9 November 2 Edward IV. respectively. At folio 50 in like manner occur entries dated in the following order: 4 Edward IV.,4 March 1460-1,15 Edward IV.,4 Edward IV., 22 Edward IV., and 7 Henry VII. At folio 50 is a most curious account of the accession to the throne of Edward, Earl of March, not to be met with in any English history. The following is a translation of a portion of it: "Memorandum, that on Wednesday 4 March in the year of Our Lord according to the computation of the Roman Church 1461, but according to the computation of the Ohurch of England in the year of our Lord 1460, being not entirely :finished, Edward, Earl of March, by the older and wiser of the people of the Kingdom of England, with the intervention of Divine grace, (was) called and by the concurrent voice of the people was accepted and ·chosen as King, to whom it belonged of mere hereditary right, and received possession of the Kingdom of England and government of the same and the sceptre and diadem of the same at Westminster," etc. Then follows the pedigree of the Earl of March. VoLUME IV., AssEsSMENT Boo:ir, 1469-1492. The next Assessment Book embraces a ve1•y eventful period, from 8 Edward IV. to 17 Henry VII. (1469-1492). It is now in very good condition, one lea£, folio 317, having been recovered in the process of repairing and rebinding. Like the previous volumes, the first few pages seem to have contained miscellaneous entries, now lost, owing to these pages being entirely decayed, and only a few fragments remaining. The book really begins at folio 3 with, (translation) "The Scot assessed on the Sunday after the Feast of St Hilary in the Eighth year of Edward IV., King of England (i.e. January 15, 1469), by Commissioners of that town, at the rate of 4a in the £ from Freemen, and Sd from men not free; half of, it to be paid by Saturday next 22 REPORT ON NEW ROMNEY RECORDS, (January 21) by each man, under pain 0£ forfeiting 12d besides the aforesaid part, and the other hal£ to be paid on the Feast 0£ Pentecost next (May 21) without further delay." .A.t £o1io 4 d' the general Maletot £or 8-9 Edward IV. is given; on folio 7 the receipts by the J urats 0£ Romney "de vetere debito " 0£ old debt during the year 9-10 Edward IV.; and on £olio 9 d' the payments £or the same period. This book also gives (e.g., pp.14-16) the proportion which the men 0£ Lydd owe as their contribution towards the expenses 0£ the commonalty £or the years 8 and 9 Edward IV. The contents 0£ the volume are there£ore-(1) The Scots levied. (2) The General Maletots collected. (3) Accounts of receipts and expenditure. (4) The contribution paid by the men 0£ Lydd. (5) The names 0£ the J urats and "Thesaurarii " elected . .A.t first the entries extraneous to these subjects are very £ew, but about the 13th year 0£ Edward IV. (folio 58 d') they become so numerous as to occupy as much space as the account 0£ Scots and Maletots. The interesting nature 0£ these memoranda may be judged from the following specimen which occurs at folio 54 : "Memod that on Seynt Andrew's Day .A.postill in the xii yere 0£ the reign 0£ our Sovereyn Lord Kyng E the ilijth Sir Richard Corbet p'och' pr'st (parish priest) 0£ Seynt Nicholas (was) had into the Oommen liouse £or diverse £rays supposed by hym made wythin the town, uppon which the seide Sir Richard promised i£ he be £ounde in defaute 0£ ye seide £rays makyng, to abide the rule of the Jurats 0£ this town, and to kepe good rule and no £rays to make withyne the town in tyme to come but i£ it be his defendant under payne 0£ £or£aytur 0£ xls to the Oommen 0£ y8 town." THE SCOT. With regard to the taxes levied under the name 0£ Scot, the time allowed £or the payment of the Scots seems to have varied greatly, according to the occasion. Thus at folio 106 a Scot is levied on 18 June, 15 Edward IV., "to be paid immediately without further delay, with all speed ;" and at folio 110 another Scot is assessed on 17 September, 15 Edward IV., "one moiety to be paid on Sunday next following, viz. September 24, and the other moiety on the Sunday next after that, viz. October lst.'' But, as a rule, a period 0£ £rom two to three months seems to have been allowed £or payment (see, e.g., folios 24 d', 80, and 126). Sometimes it was necessary- to raise a further amount in addition to that yielded by the Scot, and this was done by levying a hal£ Scot, as at folio 82. Towards the end 0£ this book the entries are irregular, and the accounts badly kept. In the course 0£ repairing and rebinding, portions 0£ two extra leaves have been recovered, and the volume now ends at folio 319. ( Of. the Historical MSS. Commission Report, IV., .A.pp., p. 440, sect. 2.) VOLUME V., A.D. 1492-1516. 23 VOLUME v., ASSESSMENT BooK, 1492-1516. Volume v. begins exactly at the point where the previous book left off, and its contents are of a similar character, and similarly arranged to those of the previous volume. :Examining the book more in detail we find folio 1 filled with miscellaneous notes belonging to the reign of Henry VII. At folio 2 is entered a Scot assessed on the 26 July, 7 Henry VII., "ad navigium domini Regis," and payable immediately. On folio 3 d' another Scot is described as levied "in auxilium navigii," and being assessed on .August 26 was to be paid on September 8 ; while the next entry (folio 4 d') is of a Scot assessed on September 23 following, for the same purpose, and payable on the Sunday next after the Feast of St. Francis. It would thus seem that in times of emergency special Scots were levied at very short intervals indeed. The next entry on folio 5 d' is of a Scot levied on nearly the same day, September 25, and for the same purpose, but not payable till .All Saints' Day, November 1, following. The first few pages of this volume are entirely filled with notes of the different Scots levied; and it is not till we come to folio 9 d' that we meet with a " Malitolta Generalis " levied £or the year '7-8 Henry VII. Amongst the entries of receipts £or this year is a curioμs one of "receipts of aid from the men of Old Romney," to which attention has been called by some antiquarian searcher of a later date, by the insertion of a hand pointing to the entry and the word " nota " by its side. DISTURB.A.NOES IN THE TOWN, The receipts for the year '7-8 Henry VII. are given very fully, and include items of income of a very varied nature, including the proceeds of the Scots and '' rec􀄙pciones pro sanguine extracto et affraiis hoe anno." This latter source of revenue contributes a total of 6s. 2d. ; and it is not perhaps strange that the contribution was received from a man bearing the very suggestive name 0£ " Richard JTaaabonit," who "pro affraia facta in Willielmum Heere " has to pay xii d. only, "et residuum condonatur quia pauper est." His adversary, William Heere, has also to pay xii d. himself, but we read that " Sd. wal::l received from Isabella Ohapmau £or William Heere in full payment (of his fine)." Perhaps this leniency may partly account for the £act that in the next year (8-9 Henry VII.) the fines "pro sanguine extracto" (folio 80 d') are much more numerous than in the previous year, and their amounts larger. Indeed there seems t.o have been a pretty general melee, from the way the names are mixed up. SUBSIDIES OR FIFTEENTHS LEVIED IN ROMNEY, Among the receipts £or the year '7-8 Henry VII. will be noted ( on folio 22) an account of "the first and second whole :x:vth and xth " paid "hoe anno," which reminds us immediately 0£ the splendid 24 REPORT ON NEW ROMNEY RECORDS, accounts of Fifteenths and Tenths in the Public Record .Office, known by the name o:f " Lay Subsidies." There is among those Lay Subsidies nothing £or Romney £or the reign o:f Henry VII. except £or the twelfth year (Lay Subs., Cinque Ports, 230/187), and £or that year only one small membrane containing three names is extant. I:f these most valuable public records £or the Cinque Ports were supplemented by means of a reference to the Romney records now und1pr consideration, and to those o:f any other o:f the ports that may be in existence, a very great service would be rendered to the literary public.* Up to folio 24 this book contains nothing but the Scots assessed £or 7-8 Henry VII., and the account o:E receipts £or the same year. Then at folio 24 d' begin the Scots assessed in 8-9 Henry VII. They are not nearly so numerous as in the preceding year, which seems to have been a year 0£ unusual activity by sea, perhaps connected with the discoveries in the New Worldsee, £or example, the fitting out•o:f a fleet by Cabot under the King's auspices in March 1496 (Rymer, vol. xii., p. 595, old edition)-or the fear 0£ some foreign invasion (see Rymer, vol. xii., p. 482, old edition). At folio 29 d' the General Maletot is given, and at folio 31 "recepciones, camerarii Ville de Romene de anno viijO Henrici vijm1." In this year the term "Camerarius" supersedes that 0£ "Thesaurarius " previously used in vol. iv., and would seem to point to a change in the duties of the officer who kept the corporation accounts, and prepares the way £or the .Assessment books becoming the "Chamberlain's .Accounts Books," as we find they do in the next volume (volume vi., 1528-1580). It is remarkable that no account 0£ e::tpenlliture was kept £or the year 7-8 Henry VII.; but £or the next year 8-9 the expenditure is given (fol. 39) as well as the receipts. The memoranda inserted * The following extract from this volume, folio 22 d', will enable the skilled searcher at once to see the value of these records : "Recepciones secunde integre xv• et x0 hoe anno ('7 Henry VII.). "In primis rec' de Thomas Ramsey . , . . . xxxj• vjd Johanne Cheynee, milite, p' wm Swann . Ix• Ric'o Wygge . . . . . , iij• ijd Joh'e Vagge . x8 xd Thoma Sebrand xij8 ixd J oh'e Se brand . ix8 ixd½ Will'o Brookhill . . . xx• de eodem Will'o p' Thomam Bursell xv• yd Joh'e Kneohebull . . . . iiij• jd ob. Joh'e Whateman de Midle ij8 jd Joh'e Whateman, Senr iiij• iiijd ob. J oh'e Eps . . . iiij• vijd Joh'e Whateman de Midle ijd ob. Joh'e Whateman, Junr ij• jd Joh'e Vagge . xij• xjd Joh'e Sebrand . . • , ij• vijd Summa ix11 vij• vd ." No subsidy roll could give a more complete account of the names of those upon whom the Fifteenth was assessed, and the amounts paid by them. VOLS. V. (1492-1516) .A.ND VI. (1516-22). 25 between the accounts 0£ receipts and expenditure are in Eng1ish, many 0£ them £or the first time in this year (folios 3'7 d', 38). At folio 4'7 d' a' half Scot is noted as assessed " ad opus et negocium ville." From this time, 9 Henry VII., £or a. considerable period no more Scots seem to have been levied. The accounts £or the year 3-4 Henry VIII. are rendered by Richard Stuppeny, Sen., ana Robert Parys, Guardians 0£ the town of Romney-the first time that these officers have been the accountants. The chief omissions in this volume are of all mention of the year 10-11 Henry VII., and 0£ the General Maletot, which is omitted,for the first time, in the yea?• 3-4 Henry VIIL In its place is only a note of a Scot granted 5 Henry VIII. "unto the common charge of the King's navy" (folio 172 d'). The following instances will shew the interesting nature of the memoranda interspersed throughout this volume as in the preceding ones. At folio 101 d' is a "Memorandum that the v Ports may not excede above vc Ii Subpena," etc. ; but in what direction they may not exceed does not appear ; and a note is made at folio 119 d' " of blodwykes presented at the last hundred the Munday before the £est of Saynte Margate the xviijth yere 0£ Kyng Harry the VJJtll ;" after which follows a list of six names. VOLUME VI., AssESSMENT Boo1r, 1516-1522. The next book in the series, volume vi., 7-13 Henry VITI. (1516-1522), has £or convenience sake been described as an Assessment book, but the information it supplies is very varied. Folios 1-56 are wanting, and the volume at present begins at folio 57 ; folios 5'7-80 contain entries of miscellaneous matters for various dates durin􀄀 the reigns of Henry VIII., Mary, and Elizabeth, which it is impossible to deal with in any order. At folio 82 the series of Maletots is resumed at the point where it broke off in volume v., the Maletot £or '7-8 Henry VIII. being the first given. On folio 57 d' is au account 0£ a " Oommon Scote and Common fyne levied and to be payd out of hand," "towards the charges of renewing 0£ th􀄁 Great Charter of ye v Portes." Folios 58 d' and 59 also contain entries of "the Scote " and "the Common Fyne " levied in the same reign, and similar entries occur up to folio 81, the only exception being one entry on folio 74, bearing date 5 and 6 Philip and Mary. After folio 139, however, the character 0£ the book changes. The rest 0£ it (140-158) would be more correctly described as forming a " Oommon .4.ssembly Book" £or the years 6-9 Elizabeth, with a few memoranda of various dates scattered here and there. This is the last volume that gives the General Maletot in the old form, stating the names of those upon whom the tax was assessed and the amount levied on each ; it thus forms the last of the subseries of volumes (iv.-vi.) which are contemporary with volume iii. and sup].Jlementary to it, as noted above ; while from the nature of the entries at folios 189-158 it may be called the fi.l'st 26 REPORT ON NEW ROMNEY RECORDS, " Oornrnon Assembly Boole," and as such is the first of the series of Common Assembly Books embraced in volumes xxxi.-xxxili., which cover an unbroken period from 1577 to 1761. Since the entries at folios 139-153 0£ the present book (volume vi.) refer to the period 6-9 Elizabeth or 1563 to 1567, there is only an interval of some ten years between this book and volume xxxi. Hence we are led to infer that about the middle of Henry VIII.'s reign, 1528, the business to be transacted by the Corporation had so expanded and altered its character that the nature of the records was altered to suit the changed condition of affairs, and we see tlie one set of records described under the common title of "Assessment Books" (vols. i.-iv.) giving place to two sets 0£ books of record,:viz. (1) the "Chamberlain's Account Books" (vols. vii. and viii.; .A..D. 1528 to 1626), in which was recorded the financial business of the town; and (2) the" Common Assembly Books" (vols. xxxi.-xxxiii.), containing the record of what may be called the civil business 0£ the Corporation. At the same time all the law matters arising in the town were put on record in Court Books and Books of Plaints (volumes ix.-xxx.). The general features of this volume (vi.) have been dealt with in this re))ort, rather than the nature of its individual contents. Attention has already been drawn to these by Mr. Riley, in the Fifth Report of the Historical MSS. Commission (Appendix, pp. 552, 553), where very full and interesting extracts will be found. VOLUME VII., C:a:a.MBERL.A.IN's AcooUNT Boorr, 1528-1580. The first entry in the book occurs at folio 4 d', and records the election 0£ J urats, Chamberlains, and other officers, which took place on 25th March, 19 Henry VIII. Then come the accounts of the Chamberlains so elected, the first item received being the. proceeds of a " Common Scot " amounting to £5 13s. 6d. At folio 9 occurs an entry which is interesting, as she wing the state of feeling 0£ the J urats and Commoners to one another and to the "Brotherydd :" " Att this day be the hole concent o:£ the Jurats and Commoners it is agreed that the contravers between the said ,J urates and Commoners be peased without Scote or compleynt to the Brotherydd House uppon payn of every offender doing the contrarye aud (to forfeit) 3s. 4d. to be recovered to the use 0£ the town of his goodes and catalles without redempcyon." SOURCES OF INCOME .A.T THIS TIME. The Scots were still levied as often as necessary, but only the sum total produced by the Scot is entered as an item of receipt. This is important to notice, for it marks the first great departure from the principle of the Assessment Books, by no longer giving the names 0£ those upon whom the taxes were assessed and the amount paid by each individual. We thus lose that which is of the VOLUME VII., A.D. 1528-80. 27 utmost value in the eyes 0£ the searcher amongst records-tlie names of tke inkaoitants of tke place. In addition to the Scots the sources 0£ income are very varied. In some cases money was contributed £or a special purpose: thus, at fol.15 is a note of an "item (received) of the Bailly and Jurates of Lyde towards the transportyng 0£ the King (Henry VIII.) to Calleys and from Calleys 46s." This was in October 1532 (23 Henry VIII.), and . was ?ne o􀄶 the journeys undertaken by Hem-y VIII. to have an interview with the French King. The election 0£ J urats and other town officers £or the year 23 Henry VIII. is not given, but only the account 0£ the Chamberlains £or that year at folio 15. Folio 17 is wanting, containing apparentl;y the election 0£ J urats, etc., for 24 Henry VIII., as the accounts for the year 24-25 Henry VIII. commence on folio 18. The interesting nature 0£ the items 0£ receipt and expenditure is again folly proved by an entry on folio 19 d'. The Chamberlains seek allowance for 5 mares," paid to Mr. 'Buntyng in :full payment 0£ all bis wages 0£ burgesshipp to the Parliament and to the Coronation 0£ the Queue." EARLIEST NOTICE OF HUNDRED OouRT, The earliest mention of a Hundred Court being held will be found at folio 20 0£ this book, and the election of J urats, etc., is entered as having been the first business transacted in that Court . .After the election other affairs were dealt with, as regulating local matters, admissions to the freedom 0£ the town, etc. The business transacted on this occasion was as follows: "Item it is condescended and agreed by the said J urates and Comons that wheras Henri Hewson retaillyth sellyng 0£ .Ale, that he shall sell a quarte of .Ale out 0£ dores as men nedyth to have it £or an ob. (½d,) uppon payn of every tyme so not doyng and duely approved shall £or£ett xiid." Then followed the admission into the freedom 0£ the town 0£ John Dodde, a native 0£ Shelwyche, Kent, and Thomas Houson of Hythe, Kent, and the proceedings closed, Folio 24, which would give the holding 0£ the Hundred Court and election 0£ Jurats, etc., £or the year 26-27 Henry VIII., is missing; but the Chamberlain's .Accounts £or this year are given at folio 25. On folio 80 d', at the Hundred Court held 25 March, 28 Henry VIII., the admission 0£ Freemen is noted in Englisli £or the first time in these words : " .Att this day be made freemen William Stokes and William Simpson." .At folio 47 is entered the rough account of payments made by Mr . .Alsnoth during the time tnat "Wyl:mott and Marden were Chamberlains," 81 Henry VIII. Turning back to folio 36, we find that W ylmott and Marden were elected Chamberlains £or the year 80-31 Henry VIII., and at folio 36 d'-38 d' their accounts are given. Hence folio 47 is out 0£ its place, and ought properly to follow folio 38. It is not quite clear why these rough accounts are entered here, £or the items 0£ expenditure are not accounted £or by the 28 REPORT ON NEW ROMNEY RECORDS. Chamberlains. William .Alsnoth was Bailiff £or the year (folio 36), and it would almost seem as if he kept a separate account of moneys expended £or the Corporation. From the 32nd to the 35th year of Henry VIII. (folios 39-57), i.e. £or 33 and 34 Henry VIII., no election of Jurats is given, and the accounts are very carelessly kept, only the items of expenditure being entered, and no attempt made at balancing the two sides of the account. So again, from 36 Henry VIII. to 2 Edward VI. (£olios 61-63), only a few irregular entries occur; but at £olio 64 the accounts begin again regularly £or 2-8 Edward VI. Between folios 65 and 67 a gap occurs in the accounts, though not in tke olit paging. The years 3-4 and 4-5 Edward VI. were missing; but amongst the loose records in the Corporation chests some sheets of accounts were £ound w bich from internal evidence seemed to belong to this period, and the handwriting of which exactly tallies ,vith that of tbe entries that follow at folio 67, £or 5-6 Edward VI. These sheets have therefore been inserted, and fill up the period that was wanting. It is noticeable that from the year 32 Henry VIII. onwards the receipts are very frequently not accounted £or. TOWN RENT ROLLS. Amongst the loose records belonging to Romney is an excellent set of Town Rent Rolls, commencing in the reign of Elizabeth and coming down with but few breaks to the present time. The origin of these Rent Rolls will be £ound at folio 63 of the present volume, where, among the receipts £or 5 Edward VI., these rents of Corporation lands appear under the heading "The Bo lee of the Rents of the town." DEnTs TO THE TowN. Some very curious entries of debts due to the town occur at folio 115 d', at the end of the accounts £or 1558-9. The first one is as follows : " Item Goodman Anderson oweth to the towne £or one payer of blewe housen 8s. 4d.;" while another man owes 8s. Sd. £or a" white fusteyn dobblett." The next individual owes 7s. £or two similar articles, and Thomas Coacher was evidently more extravagant in his apparel, £or he owes 5s. for three yards of "blacke myllyon frockyn," and Ss. £or " one blacke payer of hossen drawen out with Sarssenet." An interesting question suggests itself as to how these debts were incurred. Did the town supply the freemen with goods on account out of the common purse? A.nd did the corporation make a profit out of these and similar transactions ? THE ROMNEY "PL.A.Y," One item of expenditure which occurs at intervals throughout these books comes most prominently before us in the book under examination, viz. , the play acterl at Romney.* In the accounts £or * " The Passion Play and Interludes at New Romney" are the subject of a paper, by Canon Scott Robertson, in .LJ..rclueolo9ia Oantiana, XIII., 216-2'7, "THE PLAY " AT NEW ROMNEY. 29 1560-1561 it is by far the most important item, and the entries are so full as to throw great light on the character of the play and the place it held in the popular estimation. The town seems to have grudged no expense to make it a success, and to bring the dresses and stage scenery to as great a pitch of perfection as the ideas of stage decoration at the time would allow. The payments all relate to it from the entry on page 118 of paid "to the Bailiffs and J urats of Lydd in parte of payment £or there copes and vestures bought £or or {Jay, £6," and to John Forsett, Common Clerk," for wrytynge out o the playe booke" and " the partes of the latter playe " (folio 118 d'), to the list 0£ articles '' Bought at London £or or Playe." The labour of writing out the play and the different parts must have been enormous, and the amount paid to the clerk £or this part of the work, though it may seem a large amount £or those days, was well earned. 'l'he nature of the play may be gathered from the following, which heads the list of articles "bought at London: " " Fyrst iiij beardes and heares £or the bane cryers and a here and beard £or the foole, 10s." It would seem to have been a sacred comedy, if the expression is allowable-a legitimate outcome 0£ the " mysteries " or miracle plays . 0£ an earlier age. The mixture of ban criers and fools reminds one 0£ the grave-scene in Hamlet, in which the serious impression produced by the skull and the gravedigger is heightened by the introduction 0£ the poor fool Y orick ! The paper used by the Common Clerk in writing out the play appears as "payd £or a realme 0£ the best whyte paper 4s. 4d." The continual mention 0£ "our play," "our last play," "our iiijth play," would seem to point to a succession of performances. Having gone to so much expense £or costumes and scenery, the town seems to have determined to make the most 0£ such expenditure. . The entries relating to the preparation 0£ the stage and scenery £or the play are very curious, and throw much light upon the state 0£ stage accessories just .before Shakespeare came upon the scene. Rome is said "not to have been built in a day," but Richard Hawkyns set up a whole city in that period of time, according to the following entries ! At folio 122 we read : " John Brenton, £or dygging 0£ the holes £or the playe, vid. Item, payd to Richard Hawkyns for a daye's worake to set up the Oytye of Samarye, xiid. Item, to Richard Outon £or drying 0£ the playe gere, :x:.iid.'' "Item, payd to the drom player £or his paynes l0d." (Fol. 122 d'.) "Item, payde to tb􀄑 mynstrylls that played at or iijd playe x8." · "Item, payd to Thomas Starre £or dressing 0£ the Pascall lambe at or last play 118." (Fol. 128.) "Item, payd to John Anderson £or a barren 0£ bere £or the iijth play, and £or a pynt of bere £or the iiijth playe, 118 9d." 30 NEW ROMNEY COURT BOOKS, CONTENTS OF COURT BOOKS. In the Court Books are entered proceedings of the various courts held in Romney, to which different names are given. It would appear that the two courts usually held were the Curia Generalis and the Hundred Court. ..A. Curia Specialis is also spoken of occasionally, but it would seem to be only a special session of the Curia Generalis. The Hundred Court is met with first; it is recorded in volume ix. (1520-1529), while the Curia Generalis does not appear till volume xii. (1552-1559). Some 0£ the court books contain entries 0£ both; volumes xii., xiii., and xv. are examples. Sometimes they seem to have been held together, as in the fragment volume xvii., where the court is also described as " Curia Generalis et Hundreda." .At a later 􀂞eriod, however, in volume ix. (1616-1628), we meet with the Ouria Generalis chronicled by itself. It then met every week and dealt with such matters as the price of bread in the town, which was fixed by the " Assize of Bread." The latest date at which the term "Curia Generalis Domiui Regis, etc. " appears is 1649, in volume xxi., where the court is also described as "Curia D. Regis," or "Curia " simply; perhaps the expression " Curia tenta," etc., with which the proceedings chronicled in volume xxii. (1649-1658) generally commence, may refer to the same court. The other session is described at first as the Hundred Court simply (volume ix.); later on, it becomes the Hundred Court "Sive Sessio Pacis " in volume xv., and in volume xvi. "Hundreda Sive Sessio Pacis Domine Regine." This description marks the transition to the modern form of the cour􀂟 which appears in volume xx. (1616-1675), at the commencement, as Hundred or " Sessio Pacis," and in the end of the book as the " Generalis Quarterialis Sessio Pacis Domini Caroli," etc. Thus the present Quarter Sessions of the Justices 0£ the Peace would seem to be the outgrowth or representative of the old Hundred Court. This is confirmed by volume xxvii., a court book from 1720-1744, in which the court is described as the "Hundred or General Quarter Sessions of the Peace of our Sovereign Lord." We may see too the reason of there being no record in the nature of court books at Romney £or a date later than 1744, inasmuch as it is, and has been £or the past century, the custom for the records 0£ Quarter Sessions to remain with the Clerk of the Peace for the county. We can only notice further that from 1651 (volume xxii.) the court previously described simply as "Curia tenta," etc., is called a Court of Record, and that this description is retained in volumes xxiii.xxvi., that is to the year 1727. No. 1 2 8 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12: 18 14 15 16 1'7 18 l9 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 2'7 28 29 . NEW ROMNEY RECORDS. SCHEDULE OF THE RECORDS. 3Sooftt). NATURE OF Boon:. DATE. REMARXS, ETC. Assessment Book, 1379-1384 Interleaved with Mr. Riley's Translation. Assessment Book. 1384-1446 Noticed in the Historical MSS. Commission Report IV. App. 489, 44-0. Assessment Book. 1448-1527 See same Report IV. App. 489, and Report V. App, 542-552. Assessment Book. 1469-1492 See Report IV. App. 44-0. Assessment Book. 1492-1516 Assessment Book, Com- 7-13 mon Assembly Book Ren. VIII. (ff. 140 d'-158); also 6-9 Eliz. Miscellaneous Notes. Chamberlain's Accounts. 1528-1580 Chamberlain's Accounts. 158'7-1626 See f. 251 to the end, as to the contribution from Romney- to the wars in Bohemia. Court Book. 1520-1529 "Hundred" Court. • Court Book. 1529-1548 Court Book. 1549-1551 "Curia Domini Regis." Court Book. 1552-1559 " Curia Generalis." Court Book, 1559-1568 "Curia Generalis," with notes of other matters. Court Book. 156'7-1568 "Curia Generalis." Court Book. 1569-1588 "Curia Generalis." Court Book. 1588-1608 Court Book. 1604-1606 Fragment only. Court Book. 1608-1609 Fragment only. Court Book. 1616-1628 "Curia Generalis" only. Court Book. 1616-1675 Hundred & General Courts. Court Book. 1628-1649 "Curia Genemlis Regis." Court Book. 1649-165& "The Court of Record of the Keepers of theLiberties of England by authority of Parliament holden," etc. Court Book. 1658-166'7 Court Book. 166'7-1686 Court Book. 1686-1'70'7 Court Book, 170'7-1'72'7 Court Book. 1'720-1'744 "Hund1•erl, or General Quarter Sessions of the Peace." Book of Plaints, 1454-1482 Suits to be tried. Book of Plaints. 1628-1665 .Entry Book of Pleas to be tried in the Court (P). 31 FOLIOS. 20 136 Oi1-aa 188 3-819 ·1-196 57-153 286 256 116 27 ff: 1, 4-244 2'74 2'74-28'7 310 334 [55 ff.] [48 ff.] 3'76 829 200 Not paged. 260 32 NEW ROMNEY RECORDS, No. NATURE OF BOOK. DATE. REMAR:KS, ETC. FOLIOS, 80 Book of Plaints. 1665-1'746 Entry Book of Pleas in "Curia de Recordo Regis." 31 Common Assembly Book. 1577-1622 Contains notes of admission 288 to the Freedom. 82 Common Assembly Book. 1622-1701 808 pp. 83 Common Assembly Book. 1702-1'761 516 pp. 84 Charter Book. 1551 84 pp. 85 Charter Book. 1638-1684 91 86 Election Book of Mayor, 1596-1784 1'7-190 Jurats, etc. RttOtb􀀍 tn J;unblt􀀍. NO.OF :BUNDLE. DATE, NATURE OF CONTENTS, 1 Temp. Hen. VII. aud Hen. VIII. Bills of Complaints, Answers, Notes of Costs of Suits, eto. 2 Charles II. to George II. Papers relating to Poll, and Window Taxes. Hearth, 8 Temp. Anne, Eliz., and Charles I. Relating to Sewers, Grants, Leases, Pleadings. 4 Temp. James I. and Charles I. Briefs and Pleadings at Romney and Dover ; List of Jurors; Bills of Complaint, and Answers. 5 · Temp. Henry VIII. Taxation of Barons of Romney. 15'7'7. Suit between London and the Cinque Ports, concerning Customs. Temp, Henry VII. Taxes on Ron;iney Barons. Charles I. Brief concerning New Romney, Charles II. Pleas and Process of Court, etc., relating to Dover, Lydd, Romney. 6 Temp. Elizabeth. Pleas and Answers. Instructions to Commissioners of Musters. Miscellaneous Papers, Writs from the Lord Warden. 7 .r ames II. to William III, Writs and Subpcena, Henry VIII. to Charles II. Grants, Leases, and Bonds, 8 8 Elizabeth. Composition with Old Romney. Temp. Elizabeth. Taxation of the Barons. 9 Various dates. Pleas, Answers, etc. 8-9 Elizabeth. Portion of a Court Book. 10 16'79. Record of Process of Court. Temp. Charles I. Petition of George, Archbishop of Canterbury, to Theophilus, Earl of Suffolk, Lord Warden. 25 August 1658. Proceedings of the Court of Chancery of the Cinque Ports, 11 Temp. William and Mary, File of Pleas ; Writs of Capias ; Letters of Attorney. NEW ROMNEY RECORDS. 33 No. OF BUNDLE, 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 28 24 25 26 27 28 29 80 81 82 881 845 85 lJATE. Temp. Anne. James I. and Charles I. Charles II. William and Mary. Elizabeth to George II. Temp. Henry VII., Henry VIII., and Elizabeth. Temp. Elizabeth. Henry VI. to Henry VIII. Henry VI. to George III. Henry IV. to William and Mary. Charles II. to George III. Temp. Henry VII. Henry VII. to Charles I. Elizabeth to Charles II. Temp. Elizabeth, etc. Various dates. Henry VIII. to James I. Various dates. 1611. Various dates from Temp. Eliz. Elizabeth to 1652. Elizabeth to George I. Various dates. Richard II. to Henry V. Temp. Elizabeth. 6 James I. Various dates. Temp. Chas. I. and Commonwealth. Elizabeth to Charles II. 1685. Elizabeth to William III. 1621-1629. Temp. Charles I. 1608. Edwal•d VI. VOL, XVU, NATURE OF CONTENTS. Repudiation of Transubstantiation. File of Costs of Suit. Records of Process, and Letters concerning Oath of Allegiance and Members of Parliament; Inquisition Post Mortem. Similar file. Important Papers. Muster Rolls of the Trained Bands. Certificates of Romney 'l'axation. Papers relating to Subsidies. Grants and Leases. Bundle of :P1·ocZamations. "Feet of Fines." Important. Parliamentary Election Papers. Composition with Old Romney. Grants by the Corporation, and Exemplifications of Suits brought by Q. Elizabeth and Philip and Mary, concerning marshes. Receipts for Rents of Crown lands. "Common Fines." Wills and Papers cognate. Grants and Leases. Miscellaneous. Copy of theDraft of the New Charter designed by the Town of Lydd. 1'e Lydd, Broomhill, and Orlestone. "Process of Withernam," Letters and Papers. Miscellaneous Papers. "Feet of Fines." Two grants. Depositions, and Answer of John Horsmonden, in the Suit of Godfrey v. Horsmonden. Relating to the Brotherhood. Petitions and Letters to the Brotherhood, Guestling, & Lord Warden. Deputations for the Guestling. Surrender of Charter to James II. Letters and Papers relating to the Brotherhood and Guestling. Assembly Book of the Guestling. Petition for a New Charter. Instructions respecting the Passage. Confirmation of liberties, etc. D