THE Great and Ancient CHARTER OF THE Cinque-Ports OF Our LORD the KING And of The Members of the same LONDON Printed by T. N. for the Mayor and Jurats of Hasting 1682. The Great and Ancient CHARTER OF THE Cinque-Ports CHARLES the Second Char. 2. By the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. To all those to whom these Our present Letters-Patents shall come Greeting We have look'd over the Letters-Patents of Our famous Predecessor the Lady Elizabeth late Queen of England Eliz. about Confirmation according to these words viz. Elizabeth by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith c. To all those to whom these present Letters-Patents shall come Greeting We have look'd over the Letters-Patents of the Lady Mary Mar. late Queen of England Our dearly beloved Sister about Confirmation made according to these words Mary by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith and upon Earth of the Church of England and Ireland Supream Head To all those to whom our present Letters-Patents shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Letters-Patents of Edward VI. Lord Edw. 6. late King of England Our Brother about Confirmation made according to these words Edward VI. by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and upon Earth of the Church of England and Ireland Supream Head To all those to whom Our present Letters-Patents shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Letters-Patents of Henry VIII Lord Hen. 8. late King of England Our moâ— dear Father about Confirmation made according to these words Henry by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To all those to whom these present Letters-Patents shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Letters-Patents of Henry Lord Hen. 7. late King of England Our Father about Confirmation made according to these words Henry by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Charter of Edward IV. Lord late King of England made since the Conquest according to these words Edward Edw. 4â— by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Chief Officers and to all Bailiffs and faithful Subjects Greeting We have look'd upon the Charter of Confirmation of Richard II. Lord late King of England since the Conquest made according to these words Richard Rich. 2. by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To all those to whom Our present Letters shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Charter of Confirmation of Edward Lord late King of England Our Grandfather according to these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Edw. 3. Lord of Ireland and Aquitain To the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Head-Officers and to all Bailiffs and faithful Subjects Greeting We have look'd upon the Charter of Edward Lord late King of England Our Father according to these words Edward Edw. 2. by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Head-Officers and to all Bailiffs and faithful Subjects Greeting We have look'd upon the Charter which Edward Lord late King of England Our Father granted to the Barons of the Cinque-Ports according to these words Edward Edw. 1. by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Head-Officers and to all Bailiffs and faithful Subjects Greeting Know ye that for the faithful Service which Our Barons of the Cinque-Ports have hitherto paid to Our Predecessors the Kings of England and to Us lately in Our Army in Wales and for their good Service to be continued for the future faithfully to Us and to Our Heirs the Kings of England We have granted and confirmed by this Our Charter for Us and Our Heirs to the same Our Barons and their Heirs all their Liberties and Acquitances The Liberties and Acquitances viz. so that they may be free from all Toll and from all Custom viz. from all Lastage Tallage Passage Carriage Riverage Bridg-toll and all Wreck and from all Sale as their Achat and Reachat through Our whole Land and Dominion with Soc and Sac Thol and Them and that they may have Infangtheff and be Wreckfree and Wittfree Lastage-free and * Lovecopefree and that they may have Den and Strond at Great Yarmouth according to what is contained in an Ordinance by Us thereupon made and for ever to be observed and also that they be quit from Customs to be done to Shires and Hundreds so that if any one brings an Action against them they shall not Answer nor Defend themselves otherwise than they used to do in the time of Henry Lord Our Great Grandfather as also that they may have whatever they find by Sea and Land and that they be quit as to all their Goods and Merchandising as Our Free-men and that they have their due Respects at Our Court and their Liberties through Our Dominions wheresoever they shall come and that in all their Lands which they were possessed of in the time of the Lord Henry Our Father viz. in the Forty fourth year of his Reign they be quit for ever from the General Summons before Our Itinerate Justices at what Pleas soever in whatsoever Counties their said Lands be as also they shall not be bound to appear before Our Justices aforesaid unless any of the Barons sue any Man or be sued by any And that they shall not be Impleaded but where they ought and are wont to be viz. at Shepwey Shepwey And that for the rest of their Liberties and Acquitances they have them as well fully and honorably as they and their Predecessors had them heretofore by their Charters in the times of the Kings of England Edward William the First and the Second King Henry Our Great-Grandfather and of Henry Lord the King Our Father as those Charters which Our said Barons have from thence and which We have look'd upon do reasonably testifie And We forbid any one to disturb them or their Trading upon pain of the forfeiture of Ten pounds to Us provided that if the Barons be defective in doing and taking Justice that the Warden of the Cinque-Ports to Us and Our Heirs for the time being shall enter upon their Ports and Liberties upon default of the said Barons to do full Justice there Provided always that the said Barons and their Heirs shall pay to Us and Our Heirs the Kings of England every year the full Service of Fifty seven Ships at their own Cost
of the Antient Town of Rye And whereas also the Barons and Inhabitants of the aforesaid Cinque-Ports Antient Towns and Members of the same and their Predecessors and the Mayors Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of Hasting aforesaid in the County of Sussex and their Predecessors and the Mayors Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of New-Romney aforesaid in the said County of Kent and their Predecessors and the Mayors Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of Heeth aforesaid in the said County of Kent and their Predecessors and the Mayors Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of Dover aforesaid and their Predecessors and the Mayors Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of Sandwich aforesaid in the County of Kent and their Predecessors and the Mayors Jurats and Commons of the Antient Town of Rye aforesaid in the County of Sussex and their Predecessors and the Mayors Jurats and Commons of the Ancient Town of Winchelsea aforesaid in the County of Sussex and their Predecessors and the Bayliff Jurats and Commons of the Town and Priviledged Monastery of Pevensey aforesaid in the County of Sussex and their Predecessors and the Bayliff Jurats and Commons of the Town of Seaford aforesaid in the County of Sussex and their Predecessors and the Bayliff Jurats and Commons of the Town of Lydd aforesaid in the County of Kent and their Predecessors and the Mayors Jurats and Commons of the Town of Folkstone aforesaid in the County of Kent and their Predecessors and the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Town of Feversham aforesaid in the County of Kent and their Predecessors and the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Town of Fordwich aforesaid in the County of Kent and their Predecessors and the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Town and Hundred of Tenderden aforesaid in the County of Kent and their Predecessors have had held and enjoyed and as yet have hold and enjoy divers Liberties Franchises Priviledges Jurisdictions Acquitances and Freedoms in time past as well upon the account of the Letters Patents aforesaid above recited and several other Charters and Letters Patents by other Our Predecessors the Kings and Queens of England to them and their Predecessors heretofore respectively given granted and cofirmed as upon the account of divers Prescriptions and Customs used and accustomed in the same Ports Towns and Members respectively We considering that the Barons of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid and the Barons of the Antient Towns of Rye and Winchelsea aforesaid and of the Members of the same Ports and Antient Towns have from time to time throughly performed and paid great Services with their Navy to very many of Our Progenitors and Predecessors the Kings and Queens of England to their great cost and to the great honour and profit of Our Progenitors and Our Kingdom aforesaid And gratiously and piously considering that the said Cinque-Ports Antient Towns and the Members of the same Ports and Towns are continually liable to the Injuries Wrongs Piracies and sudden Oppressions of Our Enemies As also willing and greatly desiring that the Navy of the Ports aforesaid and of the Antient Towns aforesaid and of the Members of the same Ports and Antient Towns should not perish or decay which cannot without great Charges and Expences be kept maintained or furnished but that it may be found fitter and in better readiness to serve Us Our Heirs and Successors And that the Cinque-Ports and Antient Towns and the Members of the same Ports and Antient Towns by the frequent recourse and increase of Inhabitants may be made the stronger and better able to defend themselves and the Neighbouring Country And also Consideration being had of the most pleasing and acceptable Service which the Barons of the Cinque-Ports and of the Antient Towns aforesaid have performed and paid to Us at Our Inauguration to the Crown of this Our Kingdom of England according as in times past they did and were bound to do to Our Progenitors the Kings and Queens of England at their respective Coronation the time of the contrary being never remembred to have been and are still bound to do to Our Heirs and Successors the Kings of England at their Coronation according to their Honour and Priviledge And We have looked upon the several Letters Patents as well of Our Famous Predecessor aforesaid the Lady Elizabeth late Queen of England as of Our most Dear Grandfather aforesaid and Our most Dear Father abovementioned and all and singular the things respectively contained and specified in the same As also all and singular the other Gifts Grants Charters Confirmations and Letters Patents whatsoever made by one or more of Our Ancestors or Predecessors the Kings or Queens of England to the Barons of the Cinque-Ports and to their Heirs and the Inhabitants of the Cinque-Ports or other Advocants of the Liberties of the same and to the Barons of the Cinque-Ports their Heirs and Successors and to the Barons of the Cinque-Ports and of the Members of the same and to the Barons and Honest-Men of the Cinque-Ports and of the Members of the same and to the Mayor Bailiffs and Jurats of the Cinque-Ports and Members of the same and to the Mayor and Jurats Bailiffs and Jurats or Jurats of the Cinque-Ports and Members of the same and every of them and of any Port or Member aforesaid And to the Baron of the Town and Port of Hasting and to the Bailiff Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of Hasting and to the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of Hasting and to the Baron of the Town and Port of New-Romney and to the Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of New-Romney and to the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of New-Romney and to the Baron of the Town and Port of Heeth and to the Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of Heeth and to the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of Heeth and to the Baron of the Town and Port of Dover and to the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of Dover and to the Baron of the Town and Port of Sandwiâ—h and to the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Town and Port of Sandwich and to the Baron of the Antient Town of Rye and to the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Antient Town of Rye and to the Baron of the Antient Town of Winchelsea and to the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Antient Town of Winchelsea and to the Baron of the Town and Priviledged Monastery of Pevensey and to the Bayliff Jurats and Commons of the Town and Priviledged Monastery of Pevensey and to the Baron of the Town of Seaford and to the Bayliff and Commons of the Town of Seaford and to the Baron of the Town of Lydd and to the Bayliff Jurats and Commons of the Town of Lydd and to the Baron of the Town of Folkstone and to the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Town
for the time being of the Cinque-Ports Antient Towns and Members of the same as to any Jurisdictions Authorities Liberties or Priviledges within the aforesaid Cinque-Ports Antient Towns and Members of the same hitherto lawfully used and exercised by the said Wardens or Keepers of the Cinque-Ports Antient Towns and Members of the same Provided also That these Letters Patents or any thing or things contained or mentioned in the same may in no wise extend or be extended to the confirming strengthening establishing approving or ratifying certain Letters Patents or any thing or things in the same contained or mentioned made by the Lord Henry the Sixth late King of England under his great Seat of England bearing Date the Twenty eighth day of November in the Five and twentieth year of his Reign unto the Mayor of the Town of Feversham and to the Barons and Commons of the same Town and their Successors Or heretofore made or granted or mentioned to be granted under the Name of any other Incorporation whatsoever Nor to the confirming strengthening establishing approving or ratifying any Liberties Franchises Immunities Priviledges Exemptions Grants thing or things whatsoever given granted confirmed contained specified or mentioned in the same Letters-Patents of the said late King Henry the Sixth Nor to the confirming any other Letters Patents whatsoever concerning the confirmation strengthning or approving of the aforesaid Letters Patents of the said late King Henry the Sixth or of any thing or things contained or mentioned in the same Letters Patents of the said late Henry the Sixth any thing in those Patents to the contrariwise notwithstanding And We further Will We will further and by these Presents do Ordain and strictly enjoyning do Command for Us Our Heirs and Successors That all every Mayor Bayliff Jurat Recorder Coroner Common Clerk Constable and all other Officers and Ministers of the aforesaid Cinque-Ports Antient Towns and Members of the same or any of them respectively and their Deputies as also that all Justices of Peace to Us Our Heirs and Successors within the same Cinque-Ports Antient Towns or Members of the same or any one or more of them by the virtue and according to the Tenour of these our Letters Patents or of any other Letters Patents or Charters heretofore made who are now appointed or hereafter are to be nominated chosen or appointed before they be admitted to the performance or exercise of the Office or Offices of the Place or Places to which they have been respectively so nominated appointed elected or ordained or shall hereafter be nominated elected or ordained or before that they or any of them respectively in any wise enter upon such Place they and every of them shall take as well the Corporal Oath commonly called The Oath of Obedience as the Corporal Oath commonly called The Oath of Supremacy upon the Sacred Gospels of God before such Person or Persons as and which are at present or shall be for the future appointed and designed to give and tender such like Oaths by the Law and Statute of this Our Kingdom of England And We further Will and by these Presents do Ordain and Declare for Us Our Heirs and Successors That when any election for the future shall be made of any Person or Persons whosoever into the Office of a Recorder or into the Office of a Town Clerk to any of the Ports Towns Members or Places aforesaid otherwise than of such and such-like Person and Persons who are now chosen and preferr'd in such-like Office or Offices and do now serve in the same or either of them respectively if so be that We Our Heirs or Successors by any Writing or Warrant under the Hand and Seal of Us Our Heirs or Successors shall declare or signifie to the Barons of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid or to the Mayor Jurats and Commons or to the Bayliff Jurats and Commons or to the Bayliff and Commons of the Ports and Antient Towns aforesaid and their Members or to any other Officers and Members of those Ports and Towns and the Members of the same respectively to which such Election or Elections respectively do belong to be made Our or Our Heirs and Successors disallowing of such Person or Persons respectively so elected to serve in such like Office or Offices to which as is aforesaid he or they were elected respectively That then and so often both by and after such declaration and signification made in the form aforesaid the Election or Elections of such Person or Persons so disallowed as is abovesaid shall be void and of none effect And that from that time it may and shall be lawful for the Barons of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid and the Members of the same or for the Mayor Jurats and Commons of the Ports and Antient Towns aforesaid and of the Members of the same or for the Bayliff Jurats and Commons or for the Bayliff and Commons of those Ports and Towns and the Members of the same or any one or more of them respectively to whom such Election or Elections respectively belong to be made to chuse nominate and Swear any other honest and discreet Person or Persons fit for the executing the Office or Offices aforesaid unto which he or they shall be respectively nominated and elected into the Place or Places of such Person or Persons so as is aforesaid elected and afterwards disallowed according to the Tenor of these Presents and other Letters Patents and Grants of any of Our Predecessors made for that purpose And thus as often as such a Case shall happen any thing contained in these Presents or any other reason cause or matter whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And that expess mention is not made in these Presents of the true yearly value or of the certainty of the Premises or of any of them or of other Gifts or Grants heretofore made by Us or by any of our Progenitors or Predecessors to the aforesaid Barons of the Cinque-Ports and to the Mayor Jurats and Commons to the Bayliff Jurats and Commons and to the Bayliff and Jurats of the same Cinque-Ports Antient Towns and Members of the same and to their Successors Or any Act Ordinance Proviso Proclamation or Restraint to the contrary heretofore had made published ordained or provided or any other reason cause or matter whatsoever in any thing notwithstanding In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the Three and twentieth day of December in the Twentieth Year of the Reign of Us Charles the Second c. By a Writ of the Privy Seal Pigott The Doquet SIR THIs contains Your Majesties Grant and Confirmation unto the Barons of the Cinque-Ports and to the Towns and Members of the same of their Ancient Charters Liberties and Priviledges and of some Particulars formerly granted and hereby renewed in regard of some small Defects therein and with power to make Deputies and recover the things granted by Actions of Debt Also a