CORPORA. TION OF of the 14th century, being a calendar, or summary of its contents. 66 An oblong paper book of eight leaves, containing "The free voluntary offerings and subscriptions of his "Majesty's good subjects, in testimony of their affection to his Majesty, in pursuance of an Act of Parliament, "intituled An Act for a free and voluntary present to "his Majesty' [Charles II.], taken the fowre and "twentieth day of October, in the 13th yeare [1661], "etc." The contributors named therein towards the relief of his Majesty's necessities, are 172 in number, the smallest sum given being 2 pence, and the largest 3 pounds, contributed by Edward Sealy, of Bridgwater, mercer. John Sealy, gentleman, gives 10 shillings; George Blaunchflower, husbandman, 1 shilling; Robert Blake, helyar" [tiler] gives "fower pence;" Benjamin Blake [brother of the Admiral, and lately Mayor], 20 shillings; Robert Lush, of Bridgwater, gent., "doth present to his Majestie 20 shillings, in hand paid.""The totall of the mony presented to his Majestie and mentioned in this booke is 401. 68. 3d.; "all which is paid unto John Bennet, Esquire, the "Receiver." This John Bennet was afterwards created the first Baron Ossulston, A.D. 1682. 66 66 66 A paper writing, in the form of an Indenture, to the following effect.-"The delyverauns of the Goodys of the "Chirchis of Briggwater, by the Vycary William atte "Well, Johan Sely, and others, to Johan Martyne and "William Snothe, Wardens of the seide chirche, the yere "of oure Lord мCCCCXLVII°, the iiii day off October : "In primis, i crosse with ii ymages of Mare and Johan, of sylvere and gylte. Item, i ffote and i staffe to "the same crosse, of coper and gylte. Item, i demon 66 stracion [monstrance, or ostensory] for the Sacrement, "off silvere and gylte. Item, ii sensurys off sylvere, "with ii casis. Item, iii chalys of sylvere and gylte. 66 Item, ii crewetes of sylvere. Item, ii candelstikkes "of sylvere. Item, i crismatory of sylvere gylte. "Item, i schip [incense boat] off sylvere. Item, ii "crossis of latone and gylte. Item, vi corporas. Item, "iiii casis. Item, i rede purse of veluet with i cor 66 poras ther in. Item, i relique of Seynt Stephyn, "closed in sylvere. Item, ii coupis of sylvere for the "Sacremente. Item, i box of latone for the Sacrement. phoner tofore Seynt Mare preste. Item, i Portas "Portehors, or Portifory] of the bequest of Will. "Hurste. Item, i Antiphoner before the Dekyn. "Item, i Manuell. Item, i Ordynall. Item, i seute of vestementes callid the gylte seute. Item, ii copis, "i chesepill [chesuble], ii tunyclis with other ornamentes of blew veluet, with lipardys hedys of golde, "that Alexander Hody yaffe inne [gave in]. Item, i cope of white damaske with eglis of gold displayed, "that Johan Cosyn yaf inne. Item, hole seute of "clothe of golde callid Bonndys seute. Item, i seute "of grene sylke, callid Hurstys vestementes. Item, "ii rede copis for chauntours. Item, ii yelow copis "for chauntours of borde Alexander [? colour of sandal [stars] of sylke. Item, ii olde grene copis. Item, "i olde pall of sylke. Item, i olde cope of purpur. "Item, i auterclothe of rede damaske. Item, i veyle "for Lente. Item, alle thapareyll for the hye auter "of conterfet damaske, with lipardes of golde. Item, "i clothe to hange aboue the hye auter with the xii Appostolis. Item, ii dex [desk] clothis. Item, v auter clothis, with v ffrountelles. Item, i seute of ray [striped] grene sylke. Item, i Sepulcre clothe. "Item, i peynted clothe of rede, with i ymage offe oure perid. Item, ii auter clothis dysteyned, of the As"sumpcioun offe oure Lady. Item, i auter clothe of "the Passioun." The above is written in a firm clear hand; the following is added, in two hands of inferior merit: "i peyre of white vestementes for Lente; i white "cloth for the hie auter for Lente, with ii curteyns "of bustian to the same; i white tynacle of fustian; i white cloth for the high auter, with a crosse of "blew bokeram; i stenyd cloth to hang by fore the "auter, yn the rode lofte. Item, there lackyth iii "towellys. Item, there lackyth ii helyngys [? cover A parchment indenture, in Latin, without date, but bolonging probably to the early part of the reign of Edward I. It makes known "unto all the faithful in "Christ to whom these present letters shall come," that all the burgesses and the commonalty of the Burgh of Brugewater, for the promotion of love and charity, and the repression of strife and rancour, have ordained that they will choose yearly two Seneschals of their Guild, and one bailiff, to attend on them; such Seneschals to have power to punish those offending against these ordinances. If any one among them shall maliciously impute to another a charge of theft, forgery. neifty ["nativitatis," the being a born bondman], murder, adultery, or excommunication, and be convicted thereof before the Seneschals aforesaid, he shall be amerced and bound to the commonalty in the sum of 12 pence, and make satisfaction to the other, at the award of his peers. No one shall implead another without the burgh, under pain of amercement. If any one shall be summoned by the bailiff to appear before the Seneschals, and neglect to do so, he is to be amerced. Those opposing execution or distress, made by the bailiff by order of the Seneschals, are to be amerced and bound to the commonalty in 40 pence, besides making due amends by award of their peers. No one in the burgh is to buy flesh or fried fish before the third hour [9 a.m.] for the purpose of regrating [retailing], under pain of becoming bound to the commonalty in the price of the flesh or fish so bought or sold. If any one is elected to the office of Seneschal of St. Mary's, or of the Holy Cross in the church of the said burgh, or to the wardenship of the bridge of the said burgh, he shall render account for the moneys arising therefrom to the said Seneschals, whenever summoned so to do. Any person refusing any one of those offices, if elected thereto, is to be bound to the commonalty in the sum of 68. 8d. All penalties and amercements are to be duly levied by the bailiff. The Seneschals are to render account for all moneys received by them, each year, upon the morrow of the Circumcision of our Lord. These Seneschals, not improbably, were the same officials who were afterwards known as "Pro A parchment copy of a formal notice, in English, dated the 4th of October, in the 2nd year of Edward IV., by William Atwelle and John Walsche, "Comyn Stew"ardis of the Burgh of Bruggewater," as to depositions in a case of assault and theft of title deeds by violence. It is of great length, and excellently written, but its chief interest lies in the fact stated that "Richard Myttone, Edwarde Hancoke, Thomas Swete, and Jo"han Knyght, Preste, were sworne a pone a boke afore "Richard Chokke, on of the Kyng is Justice and "othere in the churche of the Grey Freris of Brugg"water, the Saterday the secunde day of Octobre afore "the date of the present wrytyng;" the only instance in all these documents in which the slightest allusion to the church of the Grey Friars, or Friars Minors, of Bridgwater, has been met with. A parchment indenture in Latin, bearing date the 8th of August, in the 11th year of King Edward IV. (A.D. 1471), by which Master Maurice, Prebendary of the prebendal church of Llangoullo, in the Diocese of St. David's, conveys to Sir Hugh, perpetual Vicar of the same church, and Thomas ap Rees ap Davyd, of the same parish, the said church for a term of 5 years, at a yearly rent of 20 shillings, by them to him to be paid. The seal is lost. On the back is written, in a contemporary hand, a curious set of verses, which, as forming probably a specimen of the Welch-English of the period, are here transcribed. Hay, hay, take goode hede wat you say, CORPORA TION OF BRIDG WATER CORPORA TION OF BRIDG VATER They that byne in soo deppe, }gaudeamus. | sol de stella. semper clara. And thys lyghte no tyme lesyng Among the Bridgwater documents-a thing that would hardly be anticipated, and indeed very difficult to be accounted for are intermingled a considerable number of papers and documents, about one hundred in number, bearing reference to the University and town of Oxford, at various dates ranging between the reigns of Edward I. and Henry VII. The most reasonable solution of the difficulty is perhaps to be found in the supposition that a former Steward, or Town Clerk, of Bridgwater, may, at the same time that he held office there, have been also engaged in practice as an attorney, or notary public, at Oxford; as several of the drafts of conveyances connected with Bridgwater and its vicinity, which are still preserved, and have been previously noticed, are of much about the same date (Edward IV. -Henry VII.) as those connected with Oxford, hereinafter described, and have every appearance of having proceeded from the same hand. A sheet of parchment, containing a Mill-Court roll belonging to the Castle of Oxford, 11th and 12th Edward III., written in a hand of that date. Its title is-" Curia molendinorum Castri Oxoniæ, tenta ibidem "die Jovis proxima post Festum Sanctæ Katerinæ Virginis, anno regni Regis Edwardi, Tertii a Conquæstu, undecimo." The contents of it are a series of amercements of tenants for the offence of grinding at other mills, than the lord's mill. 66 A warrant, addressed to. Thomas Holman, Richard Bustard, and others, to collect the King's tenths at Oxford, 15th Edward IV. A notification, in Latin, by Thomas Stevenes, S.T.P., one of the Commissaries of the University of Oxford, and of George Nevil, Archbishop of York, and Chancellor thereof, to the effect that William Vowell and Thomas Hallyn, late Scholars of the University, on the Eve of St. Mary Magdalen, A.D. 1477, by command of Master Thomas Chandeler, S. T. P., a Commissary of the University, were, for certain rebellions and offences against him and the Proctors committed, put in prison in charge of Thomas Holman and Richard Bustard, bailiffs of the town. After being duly convicted of such offences, "adversante fortuna," they escaped from prison; whereupon, punishment of the bailiffs was demanded by the Commissary, in virtue of his office. It is, however, hereby notified that as the said scholars were not committed to their charge for theft or murder, but for rebelling against the Statutes of the University, and further, that as they had since made full satisfaction for their offences, the bailiffs are excused from all further demands or plaints in respect thereof; which is now notified under the Chancellor's seal, 30th September 1468. The seal is lost. A sheet of parchment, containing an award in Latin, by John Dalebar, Clerk, in a dispute between Robert Alketone and Reginald Baryntyne, as to the right to the manor of Little Haseley, in the county of Oxford. The possession.thereof is to be with Reginald, he paying 50 pounds to the said Robert; 15th December, 4th Henry VI. William Brampton is named in the document as being the then Mayor of Oxford. On the back of the preceding sheet is written, in Latin, an ordinance as to apprenticeship in the craft of the Tawyers of Oxford; made by the Master of the trade, with the assent of William Dagvile, Mayor of Oxford. "Foreigners" admitted to the trade are to pay 538. 4d., and to find a breakfast. The Mayor, Aldermen, Bailiffs, and Chamberlain, are also to be invited to a breakfast, given by the craft, once a year. The two documents, though well written, are, both of them, probably only drafts. The one last mentioned is probably of the later date. Draft of a conveyance, on paper, in Latin, by Robert, Abbot of St. Mary's, at Osney, granting to Matildis, widow of Edward Woodward, a sum of 10 pounds yearly, from the Abbey rents in the vill and fields of Westone, in the said County; 12th Henry VII. A grant, on parchment, in Latin, by William Pedyngtone, son and heir of Richard, to John Janyns, of Oxford, of his messuage and garden in the High Street there, in the Parish of St. Mary, between the tenement of the College of Oryel, called "Takeleysynne," and the tenement of the Abbess of Godestowe; 37th Henry VI. An original document; but the seal is lost. Among the witnesses are, Richard Spragot, John Clerk, William Dagvile, and John Seman, Aldermen. Paper draft of a lease, in Latin, by Edward Wodeward, Mayor of Oxford, to John Hede and Thomasine, his wife, of a tenement near the West Gate there, situate between the garden of the Friars Minors and "Le New“market;” 5th Henry VII. Paper draft of a conveyance, in Latin, by Robert Hye and Thomas Hadfeld to George Skydemore, burgess of Oxford, of a messuage in the Parish of St. Michael, in the suburbs, in the street called "Grampond," near the tenement of the Prioress of Litilmore; 8th Edward IV. Paper draft of a deed, in Latin, of Edward Wodeward, Mayor of Oxford, and several aldermen, excusing John Havell, without the North Gate, brewer, from serving in any public office, he paying 4 marks to the Chamberlain; 10th Henry VII. Parchment draft of a notification, in Latin, that William Blacborne, fishmonger, is entitled to all the privileges of a citizen of Oxford; 1st Henry VII. The preceding is written upon the back of what appears to be an original conveyance of Robert, Abbot of Athelney, in Somerset, Thomas Tremdyll, and others, to Richard Berham and Johanna, his wife, of lands in the Parish of Chiltone; 22nd Edward IV. The three seals of the indenture are lost. Paper draft of a conveyance, in Latin, by William Parker and Thomas Bilton, to John Eggecomb, gentleman, of a garden in the street called " Grampound," without the South Gate, at Oxford; temp. Edward IV. or Henry VII. A bundle of Letters of Attorney, on paper, in Latin, mostly relating to Oxford. One is of the 14th of Edward IV., executed by John Stokys, Warden, and the College, of All Souls. Another is executed by Robert, Abbot of Athelney. Ordinance, on parchment, in Latin, for an Inquisition as to a trespass in the Port Meadow at Oxford; 9th Henry VII. "Billa vera" is endorsed on it. It contains many names of husbandmen accused of taking part in the riot. 66 Parchment draft of a conveyance, in Latin, by Robert, Abbot of Osney, granting to Roger Favell, Clerk, of Bessellesley, an honest chamber," which Thomas Thirleby had, while he lived, in the garden of the Convent. The Abbot is to find him in meat and drink, as though a Canon. He, on the other hand, is to receive "the recourse of people coming to him for the sick;" to instruct such novices of the place as are sent to him, in grammar; to celebrate Divine Service at Feasts; to visit the sick, when required, and, when necessary, "to inspect their urines;" date 1495. A very curious document. The Thomas Thirleby, above-mentioned, not improbably was a kinsman of the Bishop of Westminster and Norwich, of the same names, and of Thirlby, the Town Clerk of Cambridge, mentioned under " Downing "College, Cambridge," in this year's Report. 66 Paper draft of a conveyance, in Latin, by Richard Hewes, Mayor, and the Aldermen and Commonalty of Oxford, to John Herdson, of certain property situate in Bocardo Lane, in Oxford; 11th Henry VII. Paper draft, in Latin, of a deed of confirmation by Robert Spragot, son of Richard, Alderman of Oxford, to John Ashley, draper, of property in Graunt Pount, in the suburbs of Oxford. Without date, but probably of the time of Henry VII. The suburbs beyond the Great Bridge are in other documents called "Grampound.". Parchment deed, in Latin, of conveyance by Thomas Coventre, Mayor of Oxford, and many others, to Thomas Wynne and Johanna, his wife, of a messuage in the Parish of All Saints, in Oxford; 8th Henry VI. The original deed, apparently; but if so, it has lost the seal. CORPORA. CORPORA- Final concord, on parchment, in Latin, between Brother Richard Launcyng, Provincial of the House and Church of Motyndone, in the Diocese of Canterbury, of the Order of the Holy Trinity and the Redemption of Captives, and the Brethren thereof, and the Mayor and Commonalty of Oxford; A.D. 1488. Apparently, the original deed. For further mention of this Order, see p. 310, col. 2. Parchment indenture, in Latin, whereby Richard Lekes, of Oxford, "bruer," grants to John Stymsone his brewery, in the Parish of St. Peter in the East, between the tenement of the Abbot and Convent of Evesham and a tenement of the College of "Le Orielle; " 1st Edward IV. The seal is lost. Attached to it is an inventory of the fittings delivered to the purchaser, with the brewhouse. Parchment conveyance, in Latin, by William Orchard, of Oxford, Esquire, to John Atkyns, of Hedyngton, of lands at Berton; 1st Richard III. Apparently, the original deed. Paper draft, in Latin, of a bond executed by the Prior of St. Frideswide's, in Oxford, to Thomas Shelton; date 1495. A long sheet of parchment, containing the Coroner's Roll for Oxford, 25-29 Edward I., in writing of contemporary date. It embraces 16 cases, some of them of interest. 66 Parchment draft of an indenture, made between William Tebard, President of the College of St. Mary Magdalene, without the West Gate of Oxford," and the Scholars thereof, and Richard Vyse, granting to him the office of Rector of Hospath, in that County; 37th Henry VI. The College had only been founded three years. A large parcel of miscellaneous documents, some parchment, but mostly paper, stitched together; being for the most part, extracts as to summonses for assault or debt, in the Counties of Somerset, Devon, and Dorset; a few of them, of little or no interest, bearing reference to Oxford. In one case, John Harley, late of Walton in Gordano, in Somerset, is summoned, with others, for breaking into the house of John Wydeslade there, and cutting down trees. Paper draft of a letter of attorney, in Latin, of William Spryngel, scholar of the "Alma Universitas" of Oxford, empowering John Westley and Philip Spryngel to enter for him on a messuage in the vill of Sandwich; without date, but probably temp. Henry VII. 66 Paper draft of a conveyance, in Latin, by George Woode and William Bruc, Clerk, to Henry Amshegood, Esquire, of a garden and stable in a lane in Oxford, called "Shirelane," and near a house called "Le Canone Scole; " without date, but probably temp. Henry VII. Paper draft of a grant, in English, by Cristina, Prioress of the Blessed Mary of Litilmore, near Oxford, of an annuity of 6s. 8d. to John Eggecumbe; with power of distress upon her hall, called Henxsey [now Hinxey] Hall in Oxford; without date, but probably temp. Henry VII. Another bundle of memoranda, being extracts of pleas of debt or trespass in various Courts in Oxford, temp. Richard III. and Henry VII.; of little or no value, apparently, or interest. Among them is entered the following passage,-"As for the woman, Mr. Eggecombe 66 applied, and said by mouth, that the day, yere, and tyme the said trespas [was alleged] to be done the "said Alice was covert de [baron] and prayed "that the pleyntif myght be barred." The question suggests itself whether this Mr. Eggecombe (Edgcumbe), who apparently has been mentioned in two other instances, may not have been the original owner of these papers; or was the owner of the papers a member of the Orchard family? From the next article, it appears that a John Eggecombe was an Alderman of Oxford. A paper writing, in a mutilated condition, addressed To all those to whom, etc.," by Richard Hewes, Mayor of Oxford, John Seman, Edward Wodeward, and John Eggecombe, Aldermen, and others, and stating that one George Avery had been informed against by one William Tayllour, "inholder of Oxford," as having taken part in the late insurrection in the North of England, and in Flanders and the outward parts of the realm, “agenst our said sovereyn lord, and of every trouble or in"surexion that hath been in Oxford." On being arrested by one of the Proctors, after three days he was discharged on bail; upon which, Robert Marleton, sergeant-at-arms, 66 determined to arrest him for examination upon the charges; whereupon Avery took refuge in Lincoln College. While there, his goods had been seized for rent by the Bursar of Oriel College. This paper is intended apparently as a formal attestation of the above facts. It is dated 22nd of December, but no year is given. The "insurrection" mentioned in it was no doubt that of Lambert Simnel, terminated by the battle of Stoke, in Nottinghamshire, 6th June 1487. 66 Parchment draft of a deed, in Latin, whereby Giles Pultone, of Lillyngstone Lovell, in the County of Oxford, Gentylman," ," and Katherine, his wife, and others, grant to John Whertone and Edward Rigge, Clerks, a quitrent of 8s. 6d. arising from a tenement called Le Sar"senhede " [Saracen's Head], in the parish of St. Peter in the East, in Oxford, between a tenement of the College of St. Mary Magdalen on the west, and a tenement of University College on the east; as also, a yearly rent arising from a tenement in the parish of St. Michael there, without the West Gate, situate in Grauntpount, between the tenement of the Prior and Convent of St. Frideswide and the tenement of John Eggecombe; 11th Henry VII. VII. Paper draft of a Petition of a carpenter, apparently John Bricine by name, to the King, probably Henry "Grevousli sheweth and compleyneth unto your highnesse your poure and faithfull subject, your carpynter Johan Bricine, That when your Grace had a "sight bi picture [plan] of the ruffe [roof] of your "halle of Wodestoke, and therwith your Highnesse was 66 66 66 66 66 contented, and accordyng to the said picture your "said carpenter spoyled tymbre; thereupon the Prior "of Lantony shewed your said carpynter your Highnesse would have it otherwise transposed, your said "carpynter then answered the said Prior, your good "Grace shalbe pleased with the said ruff, yf your said carpynter shalbe recompensed in money accordyng as "the said work will require. And bi cause of a round wyndow ther your first propossion was chaunged; "and so your said carpynter is not hable to fynysh the "said second propossion, oonlesse he have ix li., which "is unpayd. And yf it come to more money, your said carpynter will stand to your Grace of reward. For part of your forsaid spoyled tymbre bi your said carpynter it was occupied to divers uses in your housis "of office ther, and bi other carpynter[s]. And Allmyghti Jesu preserve your Majeste royall long to prospere and to endure." At the head of the draft is written, I.H.S. [Jesus]. A paper Draft book of an Oxford Attorney, or Notary, temp. Henry VII., containing drafts of conveyances, bonds, petitions, and other business documents, under the 3rd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th years of that reign. There are drafts of three or four conveyances by Richard Walker, Prior of St. Frideswide's, in Oxford; as also a rough draft of a will of William Orchard, of Oxford, A.D. 1490. As throwing light upon the past history of the town of Oxford, at the close of the 15th century, these papers would probably well repay a close examination. The following extracts from documents, in general of a more recent date, which came under my notice during my last visit to Bridgwater, have been kindly forwarded to me by Mr. J. R. Smith, Junior, of the Friars, Bridgwater; from whom, in addition to this favour, I have received valuable assistance on many occasions during my researches; thanks to his extensive acquaintance with, and the active interest he takes in, the past history and antiquities of his native place. An Information (on foolscap paper) of Sarah Leakey, of Bridgwater, widow, taken on oath the 22nd of August 1744, before William Binford, an Alderman and Justice of the peace for the Borough; wherein she states that she keeps a common alehouse within the Borough, and that yesterday, about noon, one Bampfyld Moore Carew, or Bampfyld Carew, as he named himself, came to her house, and desired to lodge there, which he did last night; and saith that this evening he came into her house very drunk, and greatly intoxicated with liquor. And deponent further said that the said Carew had then with him at her house a woman whom he called his wife, and a girl, his daughter; and she believed the said Carew to be a common stroller, and had nothing to subsist on but what gentlemen gave him. 66 In a Life of Carew (better known as the "King of the Gipsies") published in 1812, it is stated that he on several occasions visited Bridgwater, on one of which, about the time of the great Fair, he appeared upon CORPORA- WATER. Having perused a certificate under the hands "of Tho. Wroth, Knight, Col. John Pyne, and Col. "Rob Blake, members of the Honble House of Com 66 66 mons in this present Parliam', in the behalf of the "Burrow of Bridgwater, in the Countie of Somerset, "importing an inequallitie of taxes and paymts charged upon the same by the Hundred of North Petherton, "whereof the said burrow is a part; and particularly "in this present monthly assessment, wherein the rest "of the said hundred doth presse the said burrow, and "limits thereof, to pay a third part with the said hun"dred, whereas upon good informacon it is but the eighteeth (eighth) part of the said hundred. I there"fore desire yow all that accordingly you lay no more on the said burrow and limits thereof, in the said monthly assessmt and other publique rates, then "according to the proporcion of the eighth part as "aforesaid; forbearing to trouble the said towne anie "farther in that behalf; and the rather, for that the "said towne hath susteyned exceeding great losses by "fire; almost one third part thereof being burnt down to the ground in the late seidge thereof; the Parlia"ment having besides declared their desires and in"tencions to redresse all grievances of this nature 66 66 through the inequality of rates in the kingdome : "thus not doubting of your readie conformitie to a "thing soe just and equall, thus attested by the mem"bers aforenamed, who well know the different state "and condicon both of the said towne and hundred. "I remaine, "Windsor, the second Your verie assured frend, "of December 1647." "T. FAIRFAX." (Directed, on the outside) "To the Commissioners for the monthly assessment "in the Countie of Somersett, and to the High Con" stable of the hundred of North Petherton, and every "of them." 66 On a small double sheet, quarto.-A Letter bearing the Royal Seal of England: signed by "William Blathwayt," and dated from the Court at Whitehall, the 4th December 1687; the King's most Excellent Majesty being present in Councill: reciting that, by the Charter granted to the Town of Bridgwater, a power was reserved to His Majesty, by his order in Council, to remove from their employments any officers in the said town; His Majesty was pleased to order thereby that William Masey, John Rogers, William Symons, Town Clerk, Robert Baker, William Criddle, John Curry, and Robert Reeves, capital burgesses, be removed and displaced from their aforesaid offices in the said town of Bridgwater. 66 By a similar Letter, headed "James R," dated Whitehall, 6th Decr. 1687, in the 3rd of our reign," and signed, by His Majesty's command, by Sunder"land Ld," and directed "to our trusty and well "beloved the Mayor and Corporation of our Borough of Bridgewater, etc.;" they are required forthwith to elect and admit our trusty and well beloved John Gilbert, Sen', Robert Balch, Roger Hoare, Thomas "Turnor, Samuell Pitman, and John William Briknell, "to be capital burgesses and Town Clerke in the room "of the persons removed by former order, without administering any oath, except the usuall oath for "the execution of their respective places." 66 : An Information, on foolscap paper, dated 2nd July 1718, made by Henry Player, the sexton, and Richard Coles, parish clerk, of the parish and parish church of Bridgwater who say that George Balch, John Trott, and 12 others (therein named) are all Dissenters from the Church of England, and, save occasionally, never come to the divine service of the Church. Also, that Roger Hoare, Joseph Farewell, Joseph Grandway, John Roberts, Robert Methwen, James Bowles, and John Oldmixon [the historian], had applyed themselves to, and frequented the Presbyterian and Anabaptist Conventicles; till of late they are thence withdrawn, and come to the service of the Church of England; and that Robert Methwen was generally looked on and much taken notice of as a troublesome man, and a great disturber of the peace and quiet of the town. That they never saw the said Hoare, Farewell, Grandway, Roberts, Methwen, or Mr. John Gilbert, kneel at the reading of the prayers of the Church. They also depose as to the manner in which the Mayor was wont to celebrate great occasions, etc., such as Coronation day, Royal birthdays, etc., by ringing of bells, bonfires, going to church in state (order of procession somewhat minutely described), and meeting in the evening at a public-house to drink the health of the Sovereign. Information of Katherine Welles, in 1718, who deposed that her late husband, John Welles, went into Wales to escape being taken up for drinking the Pretender's health by the name of King James III., and for speaking seditious words: and that he kept himself quiet there until the passing of the Act of Pardon and Indemnity. A letter, dated 16th October 1653, addressed to Humfry Blake, asking him to use his influence with the Mayor of Bridgwater, on behalf of Thomas Maundy, of Fetter Lane, London, for the payment of 25l. 11s. 6d. for the making of one of the maces for the borough, which weighed 564 oz., at 9s. per ounce, and 5s. for the case. An Affidavit, dated 1718, headed "In Banco Regis" (on foolscap paper, with a shilling stamp) made by Ambrose Hozee and three other capital burgesses of the borough; two of whom say, they syte (sit) in a pew between Joel Gardner and James Bowles; and that Joel Gardner usually makes his responses to the services of the Church in time of divine service loud enough to be heard by any one near him (if not asleep), and especially on his knees when the King and royal family are prayed for; and that the said James Bowles doth usually sleep or lye in a sleeping posture upon his seat in time of service; and therefore tis no wonder if he does not hear the responses made by others to the prayers of the Church, at the reading of which he seldom or never kneels. This statement as to Bowles is confirmed by an Affidavit of William Prior, dated 8th January 1718; who, in order to shew his own loyalty, further states that "He "did blot the name of Queen Anne out of his Prayer "Book, which he usually made use of in the church; "and wrote the name of his then Majesty King George "in the Litany, and other prayers therein; and that he always made his responses on his knees; that he did "not (as falsely accused) drink the health of 'the king < on the other side of the water,' or endeavour to make a bonfire on the Pretender's birthday." Richard Coles, parish clerk, and others, make information as to how, by the order of Robert Steare, the then Mayor, they prevented an attack by the country folk on the Meeting-house at Bridgwater; keeping a night watch, and being provided with bills and other weapons for the said watch: (no date, and probably only a draft, as many alterations are made). Warrant, dated 23rd March 1718, under the hand of Edward Raymond, the then Mayor; directed to the Constables of the Borough, to warn John Gilbert, John Allen, and John Oldmixon, to appear before him at his house by 8 of the clock in the forenoon of that day, to give an account of the names of the persons (which it was stated they knew) who went up and down the streets of the town on the Friday night or Saturday morning previous, in a riotous and seditious manner, disturbing the inhabitants, crying out "Ormond for ever "" he is come." 66 Information of Richard Miller, John Mounshire, and William Morse; who make oath that on the 28th and 29th May 1717, being the anniversaries of His Majesty's birthday, and the return of King Charles II., upon the request of Ferdinando Anderdon, Mayor, they played upon musick at the " Swan Inn" in Bridgwater, where Mr. Anderdon and others were assembled, to make public rejoycings suitable to so great occasions, and that to the best of their remembrance they did not play the tune "The King shall enjoy his own again;" and that Mr. Coles, then lately elected a capital burgess, did not desire them to play it, or offer them 5s. to do so. An Affidavit of Robert Steare, an Alderman of the borough, wherein he states that Mr. Robert Methwen, a solicitor of Bridgwater, was looked upon and esteemed as a public disturber of the tranquillity of the town, and CORPORATION OF BRIDG WATER. CORPORA TION OF WATER. DOWNING that he had for many years been infamous "for swearing "for his clyents at the Assizes." Copy of a paper in favour of Ferdinando Anderdon and Nicholas Jefferys, signed by 225 inhabitants, as to the way in which they went through their mayoralties by celebrating great occasions, and the like. An indenture (on two skins of parchment), dated 13th November 1694, and made between the Mayor, Aldermen, and burgesses of the one part, and Rich. Lowbridge, of Sturbridge, in the County of Worcester, yeoman, of the other part; whereby the said R. Lowbridge agrees, in consideration of certain privileges therein mentioned, to construct water-works, and to supply the town with water, by means of a cistern to be erected on the High Cross, the water being obtained from the Town Brook; the Corporation agreeing, when the work is finished, to pay Lowbridge 100%. But by a deed poll, dated the same day as the indenture (on paper foolscap), Lowbridge agrees to release the Corporation from the payment of the 1007. (It may be not inappropriate to add, that these works were constructed, and for many years the town received its supply of water through their agency; the water being conveyed in the ground through large wooden trunks, formed out of hollowed trees; beyond a few fragments of these trunks, which are occasionally dug up in the streets, nothing now remains of the works. The High Cross was taken down, no doubt with its cistern, in pursuance of the Act 19 Geo. III. c. 36; being an Act, amongst other things, to improve and widen the avenues leading to the Market House.) 66 An indenture on parchment, dated 1st January 1646, signed by Humphrey Blake, Mayor," whereby the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses confirm the appointment of Mr. John Norman, as minister of the Parish, and thereby covenant "to pay him for his livelyhood, "to be settled during his officiating there," the annual sum of 1101. payable quarterly, free of all taxes, rates, or assessments within the said town. A book on three sheets of rough double foolscap, written on both sides with the heading,—“ In this Boke ys conteyned as well the weapons as the somes of money taxed upon the ynhabytants of Bridgewat "for the settyng forth of souldyers the vij daye of "February, A.D. 1557, yn which yere Calyes by the "French was takyin." The book is arranged in the order of streets-the greatest number of names occurring in the street called "Between Church and Bridge.' "The total amount of money produced by this assessment appears to have been 31. 19s. 4d.; and among the many instruments of war which were given, may be mentioned bills, bows, spears, swords, daggers, jacks, and poleaxes. As in the case of my former Report, it is my pleasing duty to express my obligations to my friend, H. F. Nicholls, Esquire, the Worshipful the Mayor of Bridgwater, at whose suggestion-owing to the great interest he takes in the early history of the town-this second inspection has been made. As on the former occasion also, I have to return my thanks to J. H. B. Carslake, Esquire, the Town Clerk, for his kind assistance, in the way of placing every possible facility for examining these documents at my disposal. My obligations to Mr. J. R. Smith, Jun'., for his valuable services have elsewhere been brought under notice. HENRY THOMAS RILEY. DOWNING COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE: THE BOWTELL Being a foundation of comparatively recent establishment, Downing College, of course, cannot be expected to have anything of interest, of its own, in the way of what we may call archives, or records; a deficiency, however, which is to some extent made up by the fact of its possessing the Bowtell Collection of Manuscripts. John Bowtell, a flourishing bookseller and stationer of St. Michael's Parish, in Cambridge, during the latter part of last century and at the beginning of this, (and who is best known perhaps by his munificent bequest to Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge,) scems to have devoted no little time and money to the forming of collections for the illustration of the former history of the County, University, and Town of Cambridge. Some of his collections seem to have been prepared by him with a view to publication; but none of them, so far as I am aware, have ever appeared in print. By his will, dated the 22nd of September 1813, he left the whole of his books and papers to Downing College; with a request that they should be preserved in the Library there. Being favoured with an opportunity of inspecting these volumes, thanks to the good offices of John Perkins, Esq., Fellow and Tutor of the College, who made it his especial care that I should be provided with every facility for doing so, I have gathered the following extracts from, and particulars relative to, a collection of which little notice seems hitherto to have been taken. The volumes, I should add, are here noticed in the order in which I took them from the Library shelves."Libri Rationales." or Accounts of the Town of Cambridge, in ten thick small folio paper volumes, halfbound, beginning in the second year of Henry the Eighth (A.D. 1510) and coming down to 1787. The accounts thus bound up, under Mr. Bowtell's inspection, were originally entered in separate sets of papers; and though in the early volumes those for some years are now wanting, the deficiencies seem to be comparatively few in number. On a blank leaf at the beginning of the first volume (1510-1560), with the signature "J. Bowtell, Mar. 1794," is written the following entry, as to the circumstances under which they came into Mr. Bowtell's possession :: 66 66 66 66 66 66 "These ten volumes of Rentals (with the other writings, whatever may be their value,) owe their pre"servation to the following circumstances:-In 1788, hearing that a parcel of loose writings were offered to be sold to a shop-keeper as waste paper, and presuming, from the station of their late possessor, that some of them might be worth preserving, I stepped "forward and superseded a sale, which no doubt would "have consigned them to oblivion" ["eternal" occurs before this last word, but has been nearly erased with a knife]. They had been formerly in the pos"session of Alderman York, the Town Clerk, after "whose death, in 1756, they got into the custody of "his brother, Edward York, his executor, who lodged "them in an antient chest of St. Michael's Church, "where they lay till after his death, and also the decease of his widow, when the clerk of the parish was "authorized to make what use he pleased of them, as they contained nothing relating to the parish, and were pronounced of no value; accordingly, they were privately offered for sale, and I became the pur"chaser. On a careful examination, I selected several "useful papers from a number of private letters, &c., "all indiscriminately jumbled together, and, among "them, a parcel of these rentals. Mr. York was suc "ceeded, as Town Clerk, 4 September 1756, by James "Day, Gent.; after whose decease, his executor and "brother (died December 13th, 1805) Mr. Charles Day, "discovered another parcel of old rentals, which he pre"sented to me in 1794, knowing (as he was pleased to "say) that if they were of any value, no one would pay 66 66 66 66 more regard to their preservation. I immediately "arranged the whole in chronological order, and "caused the same to be uniformly bound in ten vo"lumes." At the foot of the same page is added,-"I am told that the Town Clerk usually makes a dupli"cate of the rentals every year, for his own inspec "tion." On the inside of the cover of this volume is written, in pencil, in Bowtell's hand, June 17, St. "Botolph's Day;" St. Botolph probably being looked upon by him somewhat in the light of his "Patron "Saint." The accounts in the First Volume of the "Libri "Rationales" are entered on about 500 leaves of paper; but towards the beginning a Calendar, on vellum, is inserted, written in black, blue, and rubric, in a hand of probably the earlier half of the 15th century. At the beginning of the respective months it has the following halting Latin lines: January. "Prima dies mensis, et septima, truncat "ut ensis.' February."Quarta subit mortem, prosternit tertia "fortem." DOWNIN |