Notes on the Municipal Records of Queenborough

( 169 ) NOTES ON THE MUNIOIP AL RECORDS OF QUEENBOROUGH. BY REV. C. EVELEIGH WOODRUFF, M.A. THE recent visit of the Kent .A.rchreological Society to Queenbo1·ough may afford e:x.cuse for a short notice of the Municipal Records of that borough. The records are carefully preserved in a muniment room beneath the Town Hall, but it seems likely that in former days they were less well cared for, inasmuch as few date back further than the end of the fifteenth century. .A.t some period no doubt a general clearing out resulted in a holocaust being made of what the Mayor and Jurats considered mere useless rubbish, in which the earlier records would certainly have been included. However, enough remains to give us some little insight into the history of the borough in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries ; and since no report upon the records has been issued by the Historical MSS. Commission, I venture to offer to the members of the Society the result of a few days' work in the muniment room undertaken by the kind permission of .A.. W. Howe, Esq,, the present Mayor of Queenborough. The Records may be conveniently divided into the following classes :- !.-Royal Charters. II.-Bound Volumes. III.-Loose Papers. I. The Charter box contains the following six Charters:- 1. Dated 1 Henry V. 2. ,, 1 Edward IV. 3. ,, 1 Edward VI. 4. ,, 2 and 3 Philip and Mary. 5. ,, 1 Elizabeth. 6. ,, 2 James I. 170 NOTES ON THE :MUNICIPAL RECORDS All the above have portions of the Great Seal attached, of which Nos. 3 and 6 preserve very fine impressions. These six Charters are inspeximus Charters confirmatory of the original Charter granted by King Edward III. in his fortysecond yea,r (1368). This Charter is no longer extant, but the following transcript from the Patent Rolls is preserved at Queenborough. "Edwardus dei gratia, etc., etc., inter cetera quibus nostra solicitudo versatur votis nostris occurrit precipuum reguum nostrum et eius incolas in pace et tranquillitate regere et a noxiis preservare locaq_ue ad fortifi.candum habilia ad subditi nobis populi securitatem et hostium nostrorum formidamen et repulsionem solida fortitudine roborare sane considerato in Insula de Shepeye quodam loco situ decoro satisque securo et brachia maris multum lato et profundo et pro applicatione navium congruo vicino, castrum et villam ibidem construere incipimus, eaque muris et fossatis sufficienter ad ipsius regni fulcimentum et decorem et hominum partium vicinarum et bonorum suorum munimen proponimus domino concedeute fi.rmare quam quidem villam Burgum Regine duximus nominandum, et ut maior confluat concursus populorum ad eandem et ad habitandum ibidem animum assumant promptiorem et sit locus ille securitatis et fortitudinis incrementum ibidem solatium et quietem habitatorum concessimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris et hac carta nostra confi.rmavimus habitatoribus Burgi illius libertates et privilegia subscripta videlicet quod dicta villa perpetuus et liber burgus sit et homines eiusdem ville liberi sint Burgeuses et habeant omnes libertates et liberas consuetudines ad liberum burgum pertinentes et quod de se ipsis singulis annis in £esto Sancti Michaelis eligere possint unum maiorem duos ballivos qui burgum predictum et libertates ceteraque dictum Burgum tangencia custodiant et gubernent, et qui cum electi fuerint corporale prestent sacramentum coram constabulario Castri predicti nomine nostro quod nobis et dicto Burgo fi.deles erunt, et in hiis que regimen et custodia eiusdem concernunt bene et fi.deliter se gerent, et habebuut et quod ha.beaut duo mercata ibidem sin.gulis septimanis unum videlicet per diem lune et aliud per diem J ovis, et duas £arias singulis annis unam videlicet in festo Sancti Jacobi Apostoli in mense Julii et per quinque dies prosequentes, et aliam quarto die Martii et per septem dies prosequentes cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus ad hujus modi mercati et ferias pertinentibus nisi mercata ilia et ferie ille sint OF QUEEN.BOROUGH. 171 ad nocumentum viciuarum mercatarum et vicinarum feriarum. Et quod iidem burgenses et successores sui non implacitent seu implacitentur alibi quam infra eundem Burgum coram Maiore et Ballivis dicti Burgi pro tempore £uerint de aliquibus tenuris suis intrinsecis aut trangressionis seu contractibns infra Burgum £actis, et quod habeant in eodem Infangenethef et Outfangenethe£ et judicium inde £acere possint et quod quieti sint per totum regnum et potestatem nostram de thelonio pontagio pavagio muragio Kaiagio gwyndagio lastagio stallagio wharvagio hidagio ryvagio wrecco maria et de shiris et hundredis et de omnibus aliis consuetudinibus de rebus et mercha ndisis suis propriis prestandum imperpetuum et quod iidem Burgenses heredes et successores sui non ponantur in Assisis Juratis recognicionibus aut inquisicionibus aliquibus ratione terrarum et tenementorum • suorum forinsecorum vel ratione transgression um contractuum convencionum aut aliorum negociorum suorum forinsecorum quorumcunque coram J usticeario aut aliis miuistris nostris vel heredum nostrorum emerserint faciendum quamdiu moram in eodem Burgo ut Burgenses ejusdem ibidem inhabitantes steterint et quod homines forinseci non ponantur cum ipsis Burgensibus in Assisis Juratis recognicionibus aut inquisicionibus hujusmodi que ratione terrarum vel tenementorum in eodem burgo existencium aut transgressionum contractum convencionum aut aliorum negociorum intrinsecorum emerserint £aciendi nisi res illa tangat nos vel heredes nostros aut comitato Burgi predicti et insuper quod dicti Burgenses et eorum herede s et successores dictum burgum habitantes et inhabitaturi cjuieti sint de omnimodis tallagiis auxiliis decimis et quintis decimis ac aliis quotis nobis vel heredibus nostris de propriis bonis suis concedendum prestaudum concessimus etiam prefatis Burgensibus et eorum successoribus q uod Maior et Ballivi eiusdem Burgi habeant cognicionem omnium pl acitorum de contractibus debitis convencionibus et transgressionibus in eodem burgo emergentibus et executores eorumdem que non tangunt nos vel heredes nostros aut comitatem dicti burgi et quod iidem burgenses de propriis vinis suis de quibus negociantur quieti sint de recta prisa nostra videlicet de uno dolio vini ante malum et alio post malum et quod Custos quinque portuum nostrorum aut ministri sui vel Barones eorundem portuum de dicto Burgo vel Burgensibus eiusdem burgi vel de possessionibus aut rebus suis in eodem burgo nee de navibus eorumdem burgensium in aliquo non intromittant nee quod ipsi Burgenses de serviciis que dicti Barones quinque portuum nobis et heredibus nostris de navibus suia invenire tenentur in aliquo onerentur sed omnino inde quieti sint et exonerati imperpetuum 172 NOTES ON THE MUNIOIP A.L RECORDS Quare volumus et :firmiter precipimus pro heredibus nostris quod dicti Burgenses et eorum heredes et successores dictum burgum inhabitantes et inhabitaturi omnibus et singulis libertatibus quietanciis et privilegiis predictis plene gaudeant et utantur in perpetuum sine occasione vel impedimento nostri vel heredum nostrorum Justiciorurn Exchaetorum Vicecomitum. aut aliorum Ballivorurn sui Ministrorum nostrorum quorum cunque hiis testibus venerabilibus patribus S A.rchiepiscopo Cantuariensis tocius Anglie Prirnati W W ynton cancellario nostro J Elien thesauro nostro Episcopis Johanne Duce Lancastri, Edmundo comiti Cantebre, filiis nostris carissimis, Rumfredo de Bohun comiti Hereford, Ricardo Comiti Arundel1, Thoma de Bello Campo Comiti Warr, Renrico de Percy, Thoma de Roos de Ramelak, Walter de Manny, Will Latymer Senescallo hospicii nostri, et aliis. Datum per rnanum nostrarn W estrninsterio x die Maii. per ipsum Regem." In the preamble of this Charter the King distinctly states that his object in thus dignifying the little hamlet of :fishermen's houses (hitherto called Bynnee) with the title of a royal borough, was to attract a larger population to the neighbourhood of his newly erected castle. This castle had been commenced in the year 1361 from the plans of the celebrated architect William of Wickham, and was designed for " the strengthening of the realm and the refuge of the inhabitants " of the Isle of Sheppey ; that a town should spring up under its walls capable of supplying the requirements of the garrison within seems to have been the motive which induced the King to grant to the inhabitants full corporate privileges. Under this Charter the town was governed until 1625, when King Charles I. granted a new Charter to Queen borough. This Charter is preserved amongst the archives, and was the basis of Queenborough law until the passing of the Municipal Reform .A.et in our own times. The following is a short abstract of the provisions of this Charter. The boundaries by land are described as follows :" From the gate called Barres gate on the east side of the borough, and so by the land or fleet by the marsh called Rushenden Marsh, on the south side there, and from thence OF QUEENBOROUGH. 173 to the common creek unto the Swale on the west side, and from the aforesaid Swale unto the marsh called Digge's Marsh on the north side, and from the said marsh unto the gate called Barres gate on the east side." And by water u From the passage or place called Kjng·'s Ferry unto the place commonly called Swale's Spitt. Saving, neverthelesEJ, to us and our heirs and successors excepted and reserved our Castle of Quinborowe, and all the waters and lands within the liberty, circuit, and precincts of the same Castle." The government 0£ the town, which under King Edward III.'s Charter was vested in a Mayor and two Bailiffs, was now f'ntrusted to a Mayor, four Jurats, and two Bailiff's, with one"d iscreet man learned in the laws 0£ England" as Steward. The Mayor on his election had to take oath before the Constable of the Castle. A Court of Record was to be held before the Mayor and Steward, or either of them, every Monday three weeks, but they had no power to try cases touching the loss of life. No burgess could be compelled to muster or find arms out of the borough. All was to be held "as of our Manor of East Greenwich as in common soccage on payment of ten shillings of lawful money of England payable at the receipt of the Exchequer or into the bands of the Sheriff of the County of Kent at the £east of St. Michael." The Queenborough Charters were, in the fifteenth century, distributed amongst various members of the Corporation. In 1476 an entry in the Statute Book informs us that Alan Jaeob (Mayor) holds the Papal Bull* and the common seal. John Raynet, a box covered with leather containing two Charters. John Clerk, a box of wicker work containing one Charter. Richard Pylgryme, a box with one Charter. Richard Rand, a box with one Charter. William Brett, a box with one Charter. * What was this Papal Bull ? On another page we find the following entry :" The privileges contained in our Charter which said privileges all and every of them our most Holy father in Christ Pope Nicholas the fourth hath graciously • ratified." '!'his is a puzzle, since Pope Nicholas IV. died in the year 1292 seventy-six years before the date of the earliest Queenborough Charter. ' 17 4 NOTES ON THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS IJ. BOUND VOLUMES. The most important of these is the Statute Book, a thick quarto containing 115 vellum leaves, bound in oaken boards from which the clasp has disappeared. On one of the :flyleaves at the beginning of the volume are some verses in a handwriting of the early part of the :fifteenth century; they are apparently a somewhat coarse satire upon th e Friars. Also the following memorandum: "That William Kynge and Richard Davy hath axett ffrancbys in the Kyng's name of Yngelond of the Mayor of Queneburgh for the saff gards of thar lyffys and ther godys on the vijth day of ffebrnary in the yere of our sovereign lorde Kynge Harry the vijth vjth yere." .A.t the beginning of the volume is a rubricated Calendar occupying twelve pages; at the foot of the page for the month of :ffebruary is the following entry:- " Be itt known to all men by these presents that I Richard Bond of Quinborow, Mayer in the County of Kent in the Isle of Shepey, and I John Allan of the same towne, byndys us and every one of us to other our heres, executors, and assyns, to abyde the wourde and arbytrayment of Richard Taylor, Robert holton, Thomas hewet, and Richard Cockerell ye elder burgesys of ye same towne, for all manner of causes, debaytts, demands, and controversys had between ye £orsayd Richard and John from the begynging of the world to the date hereafter on payne of forfi.tt xijli sterling to the party yt, will not ther abyde the Arbetryment of ye for sayd arbetrater, and £or ye more suerty we ye forsayd Richard and John charytably hath sett to our seylls hand ye xx day of Aprell the xviij yere of King Harry the viii. By me Rychard Bond P' me John Alyn." A Table of Contents follows the Calendar. Tot subscripta continentur in isto volumine. Magna Carta de fi.nibus. Carta de ff oresta novi articuli. Sentencia lata super eisdem Statuta de Gaveleto. Provisiones de Mertona De terris et libertatibus per Statuta de Marleburgh quirendis de gratia Regis. W estmonasterii primum Oonsuetudines Kanoie. OF Q,UEENBOROUGH. 175 Gloucesterie cum explanatione W estmonasterii secundum Statutum Religiosorum Confirmacio domini regis Cartarum Statuta scaccarii Districiones scaccarii Statutum de bigamis Statutum de mercatoribus Statutum Wyntonie Statutum de quo W aranto .A.rticuli contra Regiam prohibicionem Statuta de emptoribus terrarum Statut-t;i.m exonie " " " " ,, de militibus de vocatis ad warrant.um de vasto facto in custodia de Conspiratoribus de J uratis et asidsis Exposiciones vocabulorum in cartis libertatmn. Modus Calumpniaudi essonia. Dies communes in banco. Dies dotis. Visus franciplegii. Modus faciendi homagium. Assisa panis et cervisie. Extenta manerii. [ram. Modus ad mesurandum terCompositio ad puniendum infringentis assisum et forstallarios. Summa parva hengham. Modus ordinandi brevia. Exceptiones ad cassandum brevia. Tractatus de bastardia. " Contra vicecomitis et clericos Judicium essoniorum. brevia retornantes Caclit Assisa. The other bound volumes are- Articuli qui in narrando indiget observari. I.-A . .A. parchment bound book in bad condition labelled. a Entries in King Henry VIIt11 and part of Henry VIIIt11s reign." The first entry is dated 11 Henry VII. (1497). It contains views of frankpledge, etc. :a • .A. parchment bound book in bad condition and imperfect. The first entry is dated Monday, May 8, 34, Henry VIII. Contains views of frankpledge, etc. On a subsequent page the following entry appears :-" Md that I Willyam N obull husbandman hath here taken senctory £or the safety of my body and my goods th e xxij day of .A.pprell, Thomas Robinson meer the xix yere of ye rayne of King Harry the viij th." c . .A. parchment bound book in bad condition, inscribed " C from 1533." Contains admission of Freemen and Actions for debt. D. Court book, commencing April 8, 1611, and ending April 29, 1661. 176 NOTES ON THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS E. Court book, 1661-1724. Certificates under the Test Act. oyster fishery. At the end are a number of Also entries relating to the 1661. (Extracts.) '' Stephen Morris disfranchised till he pay £5 for contempt in slitoing and undervalueng ye charter. "None to keep a horse except ye Mayor, Jurats, and Bailifis, and ye two Butchers, on forfeiture of 3• for every day except they hire hvo whole leeses or rent £10 per annum. "The Hoyman and Bakers admitted to keep a horse on the green. "Mr Richd Nicolls fined £5 for abusing the Mayor and undervaluing him in his authority." II.-Proceedings of the Mayor's 0ourt, 1573-1608 (extracts) :- 1573. " At this law day it is ordayned by the Maior, Bayli:ffs, and Burgesses yt every Baker in the said Towne and liberty shall sell to every victuayler xiij loves to the dossin, and likewise every burges in the town and liberty shall sell xiij loves to the dossin being no vitayler, uppon the payne of every one that o:ffendeth to the contrary iij• iiijd." 1575. "We present the butts (for tlie Archers) for being in decay and will that they be made up this weke." " We the said Jury will that order be taken in the towne for keepinge clean of the Churchyard, and about the Church." 1582. "lt'm we present that we think it is expedient to have a cucking stole made in the Towne for the punishment of scouldes and unquiet." 1584. " Itm the same Jury do present all the Inhabitants of the said towne for Bowling and such other unlawful games wherefore every man is amerced to paye ijd unto the poor men's boxe, and he that refuseyth to pay shall be distrayned by the officers and shall paye xijd." 1584. "yt is agreed that Richard Higat fl.eming shall paye unto our Church, that fa to saye unto the Minister iij•, and unto the Clerk xij«." "It'm it is agreed that Richard Higat flaming shall provide one caliver furnished, to remayne in the custody of our chambers for ever uppon payne if he doe not provide it by Midsommer next x:x.•." 1588. " We present privy tiplers not licensed to sell malt. Widdowe Lawson and Richard Whyte not to tipple or sell any more upon payne of vj• and viijd £or every tyme." "Md that Robert Lulley Clarke did sell a black ma1•e 0£ three years old in the market £or the Bum of fifty three shillings," OF QUEENBOROUGH. III.-Records of Court, 1598-1674. IV.-Book of Enrolments, 1585-1671. V.-Chamberlain's .Accounts from 1611 :- 1613. pd to M1 Lee (Steward) for his fee . It'm paid £or the Vane and setting it up rtm paid £or writing a petition to ye lord of Canterbury 1623. For gaging 410 barrells 0£ beere 4d per barrel Mr Garland rent for the land laid to the Copperas house pd to Mr Pretchett for making 0£ a sermon ye 4 June For repairing the Court Hall and building 0£ a prison under the same and for repairing 0£ the cadge and pillory Pd for chardges in going to the Burgesses to London and for lobsters that were given to them 1653. Rent for the New Salt house . For mendinge the glass windows in the Court Hall. For the Market House tylement For two posts £or the stocks . Vile £or setting up the stocks . For a sheet to burie a poore man for sockinge of him For lobsters for Col. Kenniwicke To W eldishe and William ffelowe for £etching back the souldiers To Vile £or clearing the well " for setting up the cesterne " for makeing a waterside place at the great pond Fo1• cleaning the well and mending the hoope 0£ ye bucket For cleaning the pond To John Siborne for a rope To Smith for his work about the bucketts* 177 2u 0 0 8 4 7 6 6 17 4 2 10 0 6 0 15 12 3 1 0 0 £ s. d. 1 0 0 2 0 3 0 7 0 3 8 4 0 1 0 15 6 3 0 3 0 10 0 1 0 1 16 0 4 15 0 2 16 0 1 13 0 * The well above referred to was no doubt the Castle well, to whioh the townsmen now had free access for the first time, the Castle having been demolished in the previous year. This well is still the sole source of the water supply for the town. VOL, XX:II, N 178 NOTES ON THE 'MUNICIPAL RECORDS VI.-Chamherlain's Accounts from 1700. VIL-Folio Book labelled Town Quay. VIII.-Parcbment bound book containing translations of Charters, copies. of By-laws, etc. The Mayor's salary is set down at £20, with a lease for twenty-four sheep on the Common. Fines: .A. Jurat refusing the office of Mayor £50. A Bailiff refusing :to be a Jurat £80. Free Burgesses refusing the office of Bailiff £20. Admission of Freemen 40s £or the sons of freemen and for apprentices, £6 in the case of "foreigner􀂴." IX.-Churchwa.rdens' Accounts, 1723-1768 :- 1781, June 5th• "pd the Ringers and for Bonfire, Beer, etc., upon his Majesty's coming to anchor within Sheerness " £1 13 6 June 6th• "Paid to the Boats' crews that attended the Mayor, Jurats, and J3aili:£fs when they waited on his Majesty on boa,Td tb.e CaTolina yatch " 1 0 0 1762, May 7th• "Paid Mt Ongley for one barTell ot StTong peeT to be drank by the populace when peace was proclaimed " 1 16 0 X.-Cesse Book from l '706. Also- contains the Land Bailiff's disbursements :from 1702. :XI.-Folio book- inscribed Parish of QueenboroughA.rticles of ye Committee, 1806-1810. XII.-Folio book containing abstracts of leases. III. LOOSE P .A.PERS. These may be divided into two classes (a) Geri.era], (b) Letters. Many of the latter refer to the Parliamentary elections, and are of interest as shewing the influence which was brought to bear upon the Burgesses by those who imagined that they had a right to control their choice or representatives. 00NTE􀀓TS 􀀔F L􀀕RGE .PORTFOLIO, Office copy of the Royal Charter of Queenborough. '< A copy of the origina,l record remaining in the Rolls Chapel having been examined therewith this day by me John Hewett Aug. 16th 1827.)' OF QUEENEOROUGH . 179 .A. copy of King Charles Il.'s Confirmation of the Charter . .A. letter from Christopher Robinson, Mayor, to the Collector of the Queen in Kent, protesting against the imposition of the 10th and 15th being levied by the parish of Minster .on lands and goods of certain Burgesses of Queenborough. A. copy of the Charter, "a.mended by Capt Evans 1626." .A. "copy of ye old Charter of Queenborough/' 42 Edw. III. Names of the Burgesses 1459-60, and 1471. Nomina Burgensium ville de Queenburgh tempore J ohannis Swalman Maioris de Queen burgh .A.nno xxxviij0 H. vjth. N orthwode Armiger. Joh'es Swalma.n, Maior. Will' s Bret, Sen.'. Will's Bret, Jun'. J oh'es Bret. Galfred Benet, mortuua. Alan.us Jacob. Joh'es 1adya. Joh'es lowythe. N omina Burgensium de novo Appoaita Anno E. iiijto :x.i0 • Will's Bret, Sen'. Will's Bret, Ju.n'. Robt Knyght. Joh'es Clerk. Alanus Jacob. Joh'es Cowle. . Ric. Pilgcym. Joh'es Wyllya. Will'!:, Bunce. Joh'es Clerk. ·Joh'es Payne. Joh'es Gryggs. Thomas Ben.et. herte. Rubene Bret. Will's Baker. Ric. Rande. Joh'es Coke. Will's Estwood. Will's Barnarde. Thomas Aleyn. 1368. Copy from Patent Roll of a Warrant for the appointment of Richard de Blore, Richard Cok, and William Ohaundeler as paymasters for work done at Queenborough Castle . 1384. Copy from the Patent Roll of Grant by King Richard II. of the lordship of the Castle to his favourite Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford. The will of Thomas Robynson, singleman, of Queenborough made Novr 22d, 1557 :- "I . b • • , • g1ve and equeath my soul to God Allmighty and my body to be buried in the Churchyard of Mynster, to the pa11.sh N2 180 NOTES ON THE M:UNICIP .AL RECORDS priest 0£ the same iij8 iiijd, to the Chapell 0£ Queenborowe :x:x8 • To Roger Kircopp iij8 , to Elizabeth Stevenson one half angell in gold. To Ralph Blythe one blacke cote and ij8 in money. To William Thorneborowe'swife xijd. ToKircoppe's Children and John Saunders' children vij5• To each howse xijd. To Gilbert Amore one doblett. To William Howhe one sherte and my best breaches. To Mr John Saunders £or the injuries done to him by me when I was his servaunt vj8 viijd. To Roger Kircoppe iij8 iiijd. '.ro my Mr John Saunders' wife v8 • To be bestowed at Mynster at my buryall one ewe shepe wyth as moche brede and drynke as shall suffice, and at my moneths minde at Quinbo1·owe. To the townhall of Qui:nborow xl8," His executors are directed to sell his house to the best advantage, and to devote the money to making a well in the middle of the town. '' To every pore house in the towne xijd and all the rest to be bestowed in dedes of mercy and pyttie." Witnesses, Sir John Shere£ preste, James Pette, Roger Kircoppe, and other more. (Proved before the Mayor Robert Colens May 24th, 1558.) SMALL PORTFOLIO. 1558. An Assessment for the Minister's wages, 41 paid and the total amounted to £5 3s. 4d. 1660. Proceedings in the Court Leet before John Tyce, Mayor:- " We present that Daniel Baker, £freeman, being at home at his owne house, hath wilfully absented himself from his attendance at this Court Leet and hee is therefore amerced at 58 to bee levied £or the use of the poor 0£ the towne. "Also we present M1• Nicholas Taylor and Henry Minge £or their keeping each 0£ them a hogg on the Common more than their stock, and are therefore allowed a moneth's time £or their removal of them upon penaltie of xijd a peece. ".Also we present John Tayler £or keeping company at his house in Sermon time on the last Lord's Day and hee is therefore amerced at ij8• " .Also we present Mr Richard Thompson £or breaking downe the cage and stock house, and doe order him to repaire the same againe at his owne charge within one moneth upon penaltie 0£ xx8 • " Also we present M1• Richard Thompson £or detaining forty shillings of the money given to the Towne by James Herbert, Esqre, and Sir William Wheeler, KL,* and order the aame to be paid unto * Members for .the Borough 1660, OF QUEENBOROUGII. 181 the Chamberlain of the Town before the next Court day upon the penalty of iiij11• " Also we present the same Mr Richard Thompson for deteyning the plate taken off the Town Mace, whereon was engraved the last pretended State arms and order it to be delivered to the Chamberlain before the next court day on penalty of 408 • "Ordered that the severall Victuallers of this Towne shall sell a full wine quart of strong beere for a penny to any person who shall have occasion £or the same, upon the penalty of xijd for every default not exceeding two quarts in one day to one man (pen drawn through) house. '' Whereas the Register booke of this Towne hath heertofore beene in the hands of severall persons uncapabie of keeping the same by reason whereof divers persons who have been borne and buried within the said Towne have not been Registered to the great dishonour of this Towne and of those borne therein, it is heereby ordered that the said Register book bee put into the hands of the Minister of this Towne for the time being or some other person capable of keeping the same, to be duly kept on penalty of 56 a moneth for every other person who shall deteyn the same," 1679. Article exhibited in the Court the fourth day of August 1679 against Andrew Widgen, Serjant Mace, and one of the Freemen of the Borough of Queen borough:- " Imprimis that the said Andrew Widgin in the presence of diverse of the £freemen .... did upon the £ower and twentieth day of July last past publish declare and say these approbious scandalous and villifying words following, that is to say, 'They are all rogues that voted or spoke against Captaine Hales,' Mr Richard Nicholls being then present and hearing the same words and knowing that Mr Henry Knight, Mai01· of the said Borough, amongst severall of the Juratts had given his vote in the last election against the said Captain Hales, asked the said Andrew Widgin what he made of his Master, Master Mayor. The said Andrew replyed that he was as badde as the rest." 1664. Cesse for renewing the Charter, total £37. 1728. View of Frankpledge . . 1607. A petition from the Mayor, etc., of Queenborough to the King complaining that although King Edward III. built them a chapel of their own, and that they provide a convenient Curate, yet they have to pay tithes to the parish church of Minster. 182 NOTES ON THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS The Muster Roll, 16 Elizabeth (1574). Walter Wheatley, Mayor . Thomas Lawson, Water balie Allen Henman, land baylie Eli Graff . Robert Rayholl William Browman John Maplis Thomas Nox Edward Browne J obn Howlyng John Brett Thomas Spencer Edmund W eynaμi. Wyllym Norcotte Roger Gayton Robert Daile Gilbert Am.ore William Antony two calivers :furnished. two calivers furnished. two calivers :furnished. one caliver one corslet furnished. his caliver furnished. . a bowe and she£ 0£ arrows sword and dagger. a bowe and she£ 0£ arrows sword and dagger. one ca1iver £urnished. one caliver furnished. a bill sword and dagger. a bill sword and dagger. a bowe she£ 0£ arrows and dagger. a bill sword and dagger. a bill sword and dagger. a bill sword and dagger. a bil1 sword and dagger. a bill sword and dagger. a bill sword and dagger. LETTERS. 1576. Thomas Smyth, Customer, to the Mayor and Jurats 0£ Queen borough. "I am advised that you have stayed. fyve barrells 0£ powder 0£ Mr Thomas Manwood which came indeed very unorderly to y r hands by ignorance 0£ them that shipped it, and therefore you have done duties 0£ good offices in staying it. But seeing it is the dewtie 0£ all men to certifi e a truth when any thing is in contraversie. And that also I am requested thereto by the right worshipf ul Mr Justice Manwood his uncle. This is to let you know the Cust om 0£ the sai.d powder is truly paid." 1596-7. S ir Moyle Finch to the Mayor and J urats of Queenborough. Directin g them to choose "meete and unmeet men to serve in the next P arliament," "£or the better ass erting whereof I am to infor m you by my letters or otherwise 0£ the contents of her Matics good meaning £or the said Borough in the intended Parliament, which if yt shal l otherwise ap peare to be evil! supplied, the said OF QUEENBOROUGH. 183 Lord (as they write) shall have occasion to enquier and find out by whose default the same hath happened."* t610. From the Mayor and Burgesses 0£ King's Lynn to the Mayor and Burgesses of Queenborough, in answer to a complaint by the latter that the " officers 0£ the town of Lynn had taken some dewties which they ought not to take from the Burgesses of Queenborough." The Mayor of Lynn returns a guarded answer, but takes the opportunity of reminding the Burgesses of Queenborough that their Charter is less ancient than that of Lynn, which dates from the days o-f King John. 1623. The Earl of Montgomeryt to the Mayor and Jurats. Thanking them for having "soe freely conferred one Burgess' place at my disposinge and the other upon Mr Bassett," but inasmuch as "upon the first motion of a Parliament" he did "presume upon their love so far as to make a, promise to engage his credit for two of his special friends Mr Roger Palmer and Mr Pooley." He therefore begs the J urats to elect these gentlemen as Mr Bassett offers to retire. Whitehall, 6 Jan. 1623. 1625. From the same to the same. "After my hastie commendacions I have just cause to make ye worst constructions 0£ your undiscreete carriage towards me in slighting my letters which I directed unto you for Mr Rober􀄱 Pooley, a gent. every way able to discharge a greater trust than happily might betide him from that Corporation, if you had made choice of him according to the tenor and meaning of my sayd letters. .A.nd assure yourselves since Sir Edward Hales out of respect to mee is content to wave acceptance of that Burgesshipp w11 yee would enforce upon him, if in his Roome you choose not the sayd Mr Pooley for whom you see how much I am engaged, I shall consider it as a neglect and scorne doubled uppon mee, and shall most assuredly therefore whensoever your occasions shall need my furtherance bee found Whitehall, 25th 0£ Aprill 1625. Yor friend according to yo" behavior to mee in this and in ye future, MONTGOMERY." * In 1592-3 the Burgesses had returned John Cobham, Esq., and John Baynham, Gent. t Philip, second son of the second Earl of Pernbroke; he was raised to the peerage in 1605 as ]3a:i;on Herbert of Shurland in the Isle of Sheppey and Earl of Montgomery. In 1630 he sucueeded his elder brother .in the Earldom of Pembroke. 184 NOTES ON THE ·MUNICIPAL RECORDS 1654. John, Earl 0£ Thanet, to the Mayor, etc. "His Highness the Lord Protector and the Councell have thought fitt that at the time and place where proclamation shall be made £or the election 0£ Burgesses, the instrument entitled ye Gou'ment of the Commonwealth shalbe alsoe read." 1680-81. William Glanvill* to Mr. Peter Ken, Mayor 0£ Queenborough. "Mr Mayor, "And all that are freemen of the Corporation of Queenborough. Though I freely confess that I cannot pretend any Title to your £avonr, yet I hope I have not by any act of mine deserved yr unkindness. I did heretofore by a letter (or I now doe) offer myself and service to yo1• Corporation which I think was in itself no offense ; in that offer I neither sought or designed any particular advantages to myself beyond the reputation 0£ being your servant in Parliament .... I hope no man can reasonably think I gave you, Mr Mayor, or any other person any just cause of displeasure by my late petition to the honourable House of Commons £or the asserting my own right and theirs who at the last election were pleased to vote £or me . . . . As the whole house was pleased without a negative voice to think my cause good, so after all my trouble and charge I got nothing but the hon°r of being thought worthy to sit in that House and capable to serve my King and country and yor Corporation. It would be a meaness much below the minde of a gentleman to make supplication to be yr Burgess, but it fs a necessarey peice of civility and good m anners to offer my service i£ you please to accept it. I freely forget all unkindness shewed me at the last election, and I think mee as fitt to serve you in the next Parliament as the house of Commons thought me in the last, though my prospect be no other but trouble and expense I will think it some credit to mee to bee in the next session the towne of Queenborough's Most faithfull and humble sernt London, Jan. 27, Si, WILL'M GLA.NVILL." 1680. Sir Edward Hales to the Mayor, etc. Says that on account 0£ age and infirmity he must cease to represent them in Parliament, and recommends his son Charles as his successor. * William Glanville of St, Oleres in Ightham; he married Frances, daughter of Edward Hales of Chilston. OF QUEENBOROUGH. 185 1689, J au. 22. James Herbert to the Mayor and J urats. "Gentlemen, I have had the happiness to serve twice for your Corporation thro' ye favour of some of my friends among you, and yet by ye opposition of others it was upon termes so severe as a stranger might have expected it. However I shall not decline still offering you my service in this next Parliament, and hope you will consider my Interest and fortune in ye Island and Hundred is not so inconsiderable as to expose me to ye hazard of such opposition as I formerly met with all. And I am willing to believe that you will think them friends no more to you than to me yt made use of so unworthy an argument as to make my kindnesse and gratitude to your Town in ye present I made you of a New Mace as an occasion in ye Committy to void my last election. Gentlemen, I need no act to assure you that I cannot but intend ye good of. your Corporation since ye best of my £fortune lyes in your nearest neighbourhood, and so concerns me as Common good to us both. Truly I am sensible of these oppositions as reflecting too much upon me in that place. I will hope to finde you better inclined at this time, and therefore make you this early offer of standing in hope to find your favour, and that such as were my friends before may have so good an influence upon ye rest as to encourage me thereunto, which I wish I may understand by Mr Barton who will deliver you this from your assured friend to serve you J.A.MES HERBERT."