late Queen about the Grants to the Barons of the said Cinque-Ports and Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and Members of the same Ports and Towns and every of them and to their Successors the Barons of the said Cinque-Ports Towns and Members made after these words Elizabeth by the Grace of God We have look'd upon the Charters of Eliz. about Fifteenths Queen of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To the Treasurer Chancellor and Barons of Our Exchequer for the time being and to all other the Officers Ministers and Subjects of Us Our Heirs and Successors for the time being or which hereafter shall be to whom it shall or may appertain and to every of them Greeting Whereas it appeareth unto Us by one Record remaining in Our Exchequer amongst the Records of the Term of Easter in the Sixth year of the Reign of Our most Dear Grandfather King Henry the Seventh That John Convers of Winchelsea and William Warwyn of Dover Combons of the five Ports did come before the Barons of the same Exchequer the Seventh day of May in that same Term of Easter in their proper Persons and did exhibite to the said Court there a certain Letter of Attorney Sealed with the Common Seal of the Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons of the five Ports and directed to the Treasurer and Barons of the same Exchequer the Tenor whereof followeth in these words To the Right Mighty and Noble Lord John Dynham Knt. Lord Dynham High Treasurer of England and to the full Honourable the Barons of our Sovereign Lord the Kings Exchequer at Westminster that now be We the Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons of the Towns and Ports of Hasting Winchelsea Rye Romney Heth Dover and Sandwich at our Brotheryield-General at the said Town and Port of Romney the day of the Date hereof Holden Assembled that is to say William Nepsham Bayliff of Hasting Richard Martham Mayor of Winchelsea John Cheeseman Mayor of Rye John Cheynew Jurate of Romney Thomas Walton Jurate of Heth Edward Hextal Mayor of Dover and Thomas Aldy Mayor of Sandwich which send due Recommendations in all humblewise as appertaineth And whereas it hath pleased our Sovereign Lord by the Advice of his Council is Agreed that the Sustentation-Subsidy and maintenance of our Navy to do our old Service to our Sovereign Lord the King and to his Heirs Kings of England That at every whole Fifteenth and Tenth hereafter by the Commons of this His Realm to Him and to His Heirs to be granted the Collectors of the same and every of them within the Counties of Kent and Sussex from thenceforth shall have deduction in their Accompts betwixt them by the Certificate of the said Barons so that they exceed not the Sum of Five hundred Pounds Sterling for the Allowance of all Resiants and Advocants of their Allowance of all such Fifteens as from thenceforth shall be granted to our said Sovereign Lord the King and to His Heirs Kings of England and from thenceforth to be gathered and that his Highness willeth in that behalf that we nor our Heirs shall not in any wise exceed the Sum of Five hundred Pounds and that we should thereupon be bound by Recognizance before His said Barons in His said Exchequer at Westminster to the accomplishment of the same We the said Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons certifie by these Presents that we the day of the making hereof have given full Power and Authority to our Right Trusty and Right Well-beloved Brethren and Combons Mr. John Convers of the said Town of Winchelsea and William Warwyn of the said Town of Dover our true and lawful Attorneys joyntly and severally in that behalf by the Advice of Learned Councel to bind us to our said Sovereign Lord the King and to His Heirs Kings of England by Recognizance in the said Kings Exchequer before the said Barons in all due and convenient Form and Sum reasonable after the said Wisdoms and Discretions of the said High-Treasurer and the said Barons for the accomplishment of the Premises that is to say That we nor our Heirs shall not from henceforth exceed the said Sum of Five hundred Pound In Witness whereof we the said Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons the Seal of our said Brotheryield used and accustomed to thesâ— Presents have put at the saâ— Town and Port of Romney th 12th day of April in the Sixth yea of the Reign of our said Sovereign Lord King Henry the Seventh Whereupon the said John Convers and William Warwyn being then present in the said Court in their proper Persons and admitted there by the Barons to be the Attorneys of the said Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons of the aforesaid Ports to execute and do in all things according to the Tenor of the said Letter And the said John and William taking upon them the same did acknowledge the same Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons to owe to Our said Grandfather One thousand Pound Sterling to be paid to Our said Grandfather in the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist then next coming And except they did perform it the said John and William in the stead and Name of the same Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons did grant that Our Grandfather should cause to be levied the said Money of the Lands and Tenements of the said Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons whereof they or any others or any other that were seized and of their Goods and Chattels to whose hand soever they should come and made that this Recognizance was under such Condition That if the Collectors of the Fifteenths and Tenths to Our said Grandfather then or to His Heirs Kings of England in the Counties of Kent and Sussex and elsewhere within this Realm of England from henceforth to be granted should not have Deductions in their Accompts to Our said Grandfather of such whole Fifteenth and Tenth to be yielded by the Certificates of the Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons or their Successors from thenceforth to be above the Sum of 500 l. And if the said Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons their Heirs and Successors by their Certificates to such Collectors in the said Counties of Kent and Sussex and elsewhere within this Realm of England of and for such whole Fifteenth and Tenth for the same Mayors Bayliffs Jurats and Barons and the Resiants and Advocants of the said Ports to be made and directed should not exceed the Sum of 500 l. at every such Fifteenth and Tenth thenceforth to be granted that then the said Recognizance should be void otherwise it should remain in his strength and effect as by the said Record remaining in the Custody of Our Remembrancer in Our Exchequer more at large appeareth And whereas further it appeareth unto Us by Letters under the Privy Seal of Our said most dear Grandfather King Henry the Seventh directed to Mr. Treasurer and the Barons of his Exchequer bearing Date at Westminster the Three and Twentieth day of June in the Ninth
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
for fifteen days at the Summons of Us or Our Heirs We have likewise granted to them of Our special Grace Utfangtheff that they may have Utfangtheff in their Lands within the Ports aforesaid like as Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Earls and Barons have in their respective Mannors in the County of Kent And that they shall not be Impannel'd upon Assizes Not be Impannel'd upon Assizes or Juries or any Recognizances by reason of their Foreign Tenure against their Will And that of their own Wines in which they Traffick they shall be quit from Our Right-Price Right-Price of Wine viz. of one Pipe of Wine before the Mast and another behind the Mast And we have further granted to the said Barons for Us and Our Heirs that they shall have this Liberty for ever viz. that We or Our Heirs shall not have the Guardianship or Giving in Marriage their Heirs upon the account of their Lands which they hold within the Liberties and Ports aforesaid for which they pay their aforesaid Service and for which We or Our Predecessors had not the Guardianship Giving in Mariage and giving in Marriage in times past But the aforesaid Confirmation of the Liberties and Acquaitances aforesaid and other Grants following We of Our special Grace have caus'd to be renew'd to them Provided always in all things there be nothing prejudicial to his Majesties Dignity to Us and to Our Heirs or hurtful to the Priviledges of Our Crown Life and Members Wherefore We Will and firmly Command for Us and Our Heirs that the Barons aforesaid for ever enjoy all their Liberties and Acquitances aforesaid according as the Charters aforesaid do reasonably testifie And that of Our special Grace they may have Utfangtheff in their respective Lands within the Ports aforesaid Utfangtheff after the same manner as Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Earls and Barons have in their respective Mannors in the County of Kent And that they shall not put in the Assizes Juries or any Recognizances upon the account of their Forreign Tenure against their Will And that in their own Wines in which they Traffick they shall be quit from Our Right-Price viz. of one Pipe of Wine before the Mast and another behind the Mast And that in like manner they may for ever enjoy the Liberty aforesaid viz. That We or Our Heirs shall not have the Guardianship or Giving in Marriage their Heirs upon the account of their Lands which they hold within the Liberties and Ports aforesaid for which they pay their aforesaid Service and for which We or Our Predecessors had the Guardianship or Giving in Marriage in times past But the aforesaid Confirmation of the Liberties and Acquitances aforesaid and other Our Grants following We of Our special Grace have caus'd to be renew'd to them Provided always in all things there be nothing prejudicial to his Majesties Dignity to US and to Our Heirs or hurtful to the Priviledges of Our Crown Life and Members as aforesaid Witnesses hereunto being the Reverend Father Robert Portunensis Bishop Cardinal of the Holy See of Rome Frier William de South Provincial Prior of the Fryer Preachers in England William de Valentia our Uncle Roger de Mortuo Mari Roger de Clifford Mr. Walter Stamell Dean of Salisbury Mr. Robert Scarborough Arch-Deacon of the East-Ridings Mr. Robert Sexton Bartholomew de Southley Thomas de Wayland Walter de Hopton Thomas de Normannel Stephen de Pencestre Francis de Bonona John de Levetot John de Metingham and others Given under Our Hand at Westminster the Seventeenth day of June in the Sixth Year of Our Reign This Charter before the Signing thereof was by the Kings command openly read in the pâ—esence of the abovenamed Witnesses and others of Our Council then present and was heard examined and agreed upon in the form above-written We have also look'd upon the Letters-Patents which the same Our Father made to the Barons aforesaid after these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all Bailiffs and faithful Subjects to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting Know ye that for the faithful Service which Our Trusty and Well-beloved Barons and other Our Honest Men of the Cinque-Ports have hitherto paid to Us and Our Progenitors the former Kings of England and shall pay for the future We have granted to them for Us and Our Heirs that they and their Heirs the Barons of the said Ports shall for the future be ever free from all Tallages From all Tallages and Subsidies to be paid to Us and Our Heirs out of the whole or any part of their own proper Ships We have also granted to the same Barons and Men for us and Our Heirs That concerning the lawful things and Commodities which they in due manner shall buy within Our Dominion of Ireland Commodities in Ireland no one may be their Partners in those Things and Commodities nor partake with them in any wise against the Will of the same Barons and Men. We have further granted for Us and Our Heirs as much as in Us lyeth to the Barons and Trusty Persons aforesaid That all and every of them born within the aforesaid Cinque-Ports although they have Lands or Tenements without the Liberties of the said Ports which are held by such a Service as the Giving in Marriage upon the account of their being under Age Giving in Marriage which belongs to Us and Our Heirs according to the Law and Custom of Our Realm Nevertheless according to the Liberty of the Ports they may Marry themselves without the let or impediment of Us or Our Heirs for ever any Right to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And therefore we charge you and every of you that ye molest not or disturb the Barons and Persons aforesaid in any thing contrary to these Our Grants In witness whereof we have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at St. Albans the Twenty eighth day of April in the Twenty sixth year of Our Reign We have also look'd upon some other Letters-Patents which Our said Father granted to the above-named Barons after these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting Taking into consideration that the Navy of Our Cinque-Ports cannot be maintained without great Charge and Expences left the said Navy should fail or decay for the future We have granted for Us and Our Heirs That all the Members of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid and all other Advocants whatsoever that are willing to enjoy the Liberties of the same do contribute viz. every one according to his abilities to do Service to Us and Our Heirs with their Navy whensoever they shall be commanded by Us and Our Heirs In witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at St. Albans the Twenty eigth day of April
in the Twenty sixth year of Our Reign And we Ratifying the Grants and Confirmations aforesaid do grant and confirm them to be well pleasing to Us and Our Heirs as much as in Us lyeth for the Barons aforesaid of the Cinque-Ports their Heirs and Successors for their good and faithful Service which they have hitherto paid to Us and shall pay for the future as the Chatters and Letters aforesaid do reasonably testifie And We further willing to do the said Barons a greater kindness have given and granted to them for Us and Our Heirs That although they have not hitherto enjoyed any one or more of their Liberties and Priviledges contained in the said Charters and Letters yet the said Barons their Heirs and Successors may use and enjoy their Liberties and Priviledges aforesaid and every of them without the let of Us or Our Heirs or Our Officers whatsoever Witness hereunto the Reverend Fathers William Bishop of Worcester J. Bishop of Bath and Wells and W. Bishop of Exeter Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester and Hereford John de Britann Earl of Richmond Adam de Valentia Earl of Pembroke Hugh de le Spencer Robert Son of Pagan Edmund de malo Lacu Steward of Our Houshld and others Given under Our Hand at Westminster the Twenty sixth day of July in the Seventh year of Our Reign We making Good the Grants and Confirmations aforesaid do Ratifie and by the Tenour of the Presents confirm them to be well pleasing to Us and Our Heirs as much as in Us lies for the aforesaid Barons of the Cinque-Ports their Heirs and Successors for the good and faithful Service hitherto paid to Us and Our Progenitors and for the future to be paid to Us and Our Heirs as the Charters and Letters aforesaid do reasonably testifie And further willing to do to the aforesaid Barons a greater kindness We have granted for Us and Our Heirs to the same Barons of the Cinque-Ports That although they or their Predecessors hitherto have not fully enjoyed any one or more of their Liberties and Acquitances contained in the Charters and Letters aforesaid yet the said Barons their Heirs and Successors may fully enjoy for ever make use of their Liberties and Acquitances aforesaid without any let or impediment of Us Our Heirs or any of Our Officers whatsoever The Witnesses hereunto are the Reverend Fathers S. Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor J. Bishop of Bath and Wells Our Treasurer Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster Edmund Earl of Kent Our most dear Sons Edward de le Spencer Guydo Brian John Atley Steward of Our Houshold and others Given under Our Hand at Westminster the First day of July in the Thirty eighth Year of Our Reign We have also look'd upon the Letters-Patents of the same Our Grandfather after these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting We have look'd upon Our Charter of Confirmation which We lately made to the Barons of Our Cinque-Ports under the Seal which We then used after these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting We have look'd upon Our Charter of Confirmation which we lately made under the Seal which We then used to the Barons of Our Cinque-Ports after these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Letters-Patents which the Lord Edward of famous Memory late King of England Our Grandfather made according to these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting We considering that the Navy of the Cinque-Ports cannot be sustained without great Costs and Charges left the Navy for the future should fail or decay We have granted for Us and Our Heirs That all the Members of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid and other Advocants and Resiants whatsoever in the Liberties of the same do contribute viz. every of them according to their abilities for the doing the Service with their Ships to Us and Our Heirs whenever by Us or Our Heirs they shall be commanded thereunto In Witness whereof we have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at St. Albans the 28 day of April in the 26 Year of Our Reign And we Ratifying the Grant aforesaid do grant and confirm it to be well pleasing to Us and Our Heirs as the aforesaid Letters do reasonably testifie And because about those general words contained in the Letters aforesaid viz. that every one contribute according to his Abilities there have risen in former times divers dissentions That the Barons of the Ports aforesaid may the more commodiously pay their aforesaid Service to Us and Our Heirs at fit times We have given and granted by the Advice of Our Prelates Earls and Barons and the Commons of Our Realm assembled together in Our present Parliament to the said Barons of the Cinque-Ports that all the Members of the said Ports and all Advocants and Resiants whatsoever in the Liberties of the same contribute to the Navy and Service aforesaid to be kept and maintained out of all their Goods and Chattels as well those that are without the Liberty of the aforesaid Cinque-Ports as within and may be compelled thereunto by the Mayors and Jurats of the Ports aforesaid and also if need be by the Constable of Our Castle of Dover The Goods of Advocants and Barons of the Cinque-Ports not to be taxed with the Goods of Foreigners And that the Goods and Chattels of the said Barons and others as well without the said Liberties as within which are taxed for the maintenance of the Navy and performing that Service be by no means taxed for Tallage and other Tributes with the Goods and Chattels of Foreigners In witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the Twenty fifth day of February in the First year of Our Reign And We thought fit to have a Copy of Our Charter aforesaid under the Seal which We now use to be transcrib'd according to their request In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at York the Twenty sixth day of February in the Second year of Our Reign And We Ratifying the Grants and Confirmations aforesaid as well pleasing for Us and Our Heirs as much as in Us lyeth do grant and confirm to the aforesaid Barons of the Cinque-Ports their Heirs and Successors the Barons of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid for their good and faithful Service to Us and Our Progenitors hitherto paid and for the future to be paid to Us and Our Heirs their Liberties as the Charters
and Letters aforesaid do reasonably testifie and as the said Barons and their Ancestors the Barons of the Ports aforesaid have hitherto lawfully used and enjoyed their Liberties and Acquitances aforesaid In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the Twenty second day of January in the First year of Our Reign And We being certified by the humble Petition of the said Barons and honest Men of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid and their Members That notwithstanding it is contained in the Magna Charta of the Liberties of England amonst other things that the Barons of the Cinque-Ports may have all their Liberties and Free-Customs yet they by reason of the ambiguity obscurity and doubtful meaning of certain Words and general Terms contained in the Charters Letters and Confirmations aforesaid have been and are at this time hindered from the enjoying of certain of their Liberties and Free-Customs as also the Priviledges and Acquitances which they were wont freely peaceably and quietly to enjoy in the Ports aforesaid and Members thereof from the time of the making the Charters Letters and Confirmations aforesaid to the impoverishing and undoing of the said Barons and Honest Men as also to the damage of the Service of Our Navy and the utter loss thereof likely to ensue We therefore greatly considering not only the premised but also the good voluntary and free Service which the aforesaid Barons and Honest Inhabitants of the Cinque-Ports and Members aforesaid have paid to Our Progenitors and especially to Us in the restoring the Rights of Our Kingdom And willing likewise to secure their Peace and Tranquility and the publick Good on this behalf and making good to them and well pleasing to Us and Our Heirs as much as in Us lies all the Grants and Priviledges aforesaid as also all and every of them which are contained and specified in the Charters Letters and Confirmations aforesaid and all and every of their Liberties Priviledges Acquitances and Free-Customs which they their Ancestors and Predecessors had and used in the time of Our Progenitors and which they were wont to enjoy and possess do accept approve and ratifie them And to the forementioned Barons of the Ports and Members aforesaid and to their Heirs and Successors by the tenour of these Presents do give grant and confirm as fully plainly and entirely as if they had been word for word expressed declared and manifested in these Presents We willing moreover and granting for Us and Our Heirs aforesaid that the aforesaid Barons and their Heirs and Successors of the Ports and Members aforesaid shall have all their Liberties Acquitances Priviledges and Free-Customs restor'd to them as fully and entirely as their Ancestors and Predecessors had them in the times of St. Edmund the Confessor and William the Conqueror late Kings of England or any other of Our Progenitors more freely fully and honorably And although the said Barons and Honest Inbabitants or their Ancestors and Predecessors the Barons and Honest Inhabitants of the Ports and Members aforesaid or any of them by some emergent chance have not yet fully enjoyed or perhaps misused any one or more of the Liberties Acquitances Priviledges and Free-Customs contained in the said Charter and Letters yet the Barons and Honest Inhabitants their Heirs and Successors for the future shall fully use and enjoy the Liberties and Acquitances Priviledges and Free-Customs whatsoever so not-used or mis-used Any Interruption or Impediment whatsoever notwithstanding or any of them without any hindrance or let occasioned by Us or Our Heirs Justices Sheriffs Coroners Escheators or other Bailiffs or Officers to Us or Our Heirs whatsoever any interruption had or made in time past to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding We have also granted for Us and Our Heirs and by this Our Charter have confirmed to the Mayors Bailiffs and Jurats of every Port and Member of the Ports and Members aforesaid which were chosen in the Ports and Members aforesaid by the Commons of the same That if any Customs hitherto granted and used in the Ports and Members of them or any of them be doubtful or defective in any part or if any differences arising afresh concerning them in the same Ports and Members or in any of them where there hath not been a Remedy formerly made shall want new ordering and reforming that the said Mayors Bailiffs and Jurats of every Port and Member of the Ports and of the Members aforesaid and their Heirs and Successors with the assent of the Commons of that Port or Member of the Ports and of the Members aforesaid where this amendment defect or difficulty shall happen to be made or had May appoint a Remedy agreeable to Honesty and Reason A fit Remedy to be appointed for the common good of the Barons and Honest Men and Inhabitants of the same Port or Member of that Port as also other of Our faithful Subjects resorting thither as often as they shall see it expedient Provided that that Ordinance be profitable to Us and Our Subjects and agreeable to Reason as aforesaid And that they may Record their Liberties and Free-Customs before Us Our Justices or other Our Officers whatsoever And further that the same Barons may be encouraged for the future to pay as good Service or to their utmost ability Better to Us and Our Heirs then they paid Our forementioned Progenitors and Us in times past We have thought fit that other Liberties and Acquitances plain and express be granted anew to the same Barons and Honest Men. And moreover of Our special Grace meer Motion and certain Knowledge We have granted and by these Presents do grant for Us and Our Heirs as much as in Us lies to the same Barons and Honest Men of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid and to the Barons and Honest Men of all and singular the Ports Towns and Members adjoining united and pertaining to the same Cinque-Ports or any of them that they their Heirs and Successors and other Resiants whatsoever within the Ports and Members aforesaid or within any of the same contributing to the Service and Navy aforesaid be for ever quit from Toll Panage Bridg-toll Wharfage Murage Passage Lastage Stallage Tallage Carriage Weight-toll Picage Land-tax Scot and Gild Hidage Escuage and also from the Suits of County and Hundred and Tributes of Hundreds from the View of Free-Pledges and the Pence belonging to the View of Free-Pledges as also from whatsoever Summons Returns or Payments to be paid to Us Our Heirs or Our Successors for any of the Premises aforesaid And from Fines for Murder and common Amercement whensoever it happen that a County or Town before Us or Our Heirs or before Us or whatsoever Our Justices Officers or Ministers belonging to Us Our Heirs and Successors fall into the hands of Us or Our Heirs and from all such like Custom throughout Our whole Realm and Dominions And We have also granted to the aforesaid Barons and Honest Men their Heirs
be under the Seals of any of the Members of the said Cinque-Ports and Towns or any of them And if the said Bills or Billets do or shall at any time hereafter of or for any Fifteenth amount above the said Sum of 500 l. then for Us Our Heirs and Successors We Will and Charge the said Treasurer Chancellor and Barons of the same Exchequer and every of them from time to time to allow to the said Collector and Collectors of Us Our Heirs and Successors for the time being for the said Barons of the said Cinque-Ports and Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and their Successors and for them and every of their Members and the Resiants of the said Ports Towns and Members and the Advocants of the said Ports and Towns the said Sum of 500 l. and no more And then for Us Our Heirs and Successors We Will and Command that the said Treasurer Chancellor and Barons of the Exchequer of Us Our Heirs and Successors for the time being make as hasty Process as lawfully as may be made against the said Barons of the said Cinque-Ports and of the said Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and their Successors for the levying of the said 1000 Marks by them to Us Our Heirs or Successors to be forfeited for their exceeding the said Sum of 500 l. contrary to their said Recognizance And further for Us Our Heirs and Successors We do Will and Charge all and every Collector and Collectors of Us Our Heirs and Successors of every Fifteenth to Us granted or hereafter to Us Our Heirs or Successors to be granted that they and every of them do receive of the said Barons of the Cinque-Ports and of the said Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and their Successors for them their and every of their Members and the Resiants of the said Ports Towns and Members and the Advocants of the said Ports and Towns all and every such Bills and Billets as have been or hereafter shall be tendred unto the said Collector or Collectors or any of them according to the purport and true meaning of these Presents And moreover for Us Our Heirs and Successors of Our meer grace and certain knowledge We do grant to the said Barons of the said Cinque-Ports and Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and of the Members of the said Ports and Towns and their Successors that neither they nor their Successors nor any of them nor the Resiants of them or any of them nor the Advocants of the said Ports and Towns or any of them or their Successors at any time hereafter by Us Our Heirs or Successors or by the Treasurer Chancellor or Barons of the said Exchequer of Us Our Heirs or Successors or by any Collectors or other Officers or Ministers of Us Our Heirs or Successors shall be distreined impeached impleaded or molested in any thing contrary to the Tenor and Purport of these Presents although express mention of the true yearly value or certainty of the Premises or of any of them or of any other Gifts or Grants by Us or any of Our Progenitors to the aforesaid Barons of the said Cinque Ports or of the said Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and their Members heretofore made in these Presents is not made or any Statute Act Ordinance Provision or Restraint to the contrary made ordained or provided or any other thing cause or matter to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the Six and twentieth day of January in the Three and fortieth year of Our Reign We have also looked upon the Letters Patents of Our most Dear Grandfather Lord James late King of England made according to these Words James by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting c. In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the Thirtieth day of January in the Second Year of Our Reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the Thirty eight We have also looked upon the Letters Patents of Our most Dear Father Lord Charles late King of England of Blessed Memory made after these Words Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting c. In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the Sixteenth day of June in the Tenth Year of Our Reign Whereas Our Town and Port of Hasting in our County of Sussex and Our Town and Port of New-Romney alias Romene of Heeth Dover and Sandwich in Our County of Kent are and from the time of the contrary of which being never known to have been were always the Cinque-Ports of Us and Our Progenitors the Kings and Queens of England And whereas also Our Towns of Rye and Winchelsea in Our said County of Sussex are and from the whole time aforesaid have been Antient Towns and within the Liberties of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid And whereas also the Town and Priviledged Monastery of Pevensey and the Town of Seaford in the County of Sussex aforesaid and the Towns and Places called Bulver-Heath Little Iham and Hidney in the County of Sussex aforesaid and the Towns or Places called Beckesbourne and Graunge alias Grenche in the County of Kent aforesaid are and have been ever since the time aforenamed Members of the said Town and Port of Hasting And the Town of Bromhill in the aforesaid Counties of Sussex and Kent and the Town of Lydd and Old-Romney in the County of Kent aforesaid and that other Towns or Places called Denge-Marsh Oswardstone alias Oswelstone in the County of Kent aforesaid are and have been ever since the time aforenamed Members of the said Town and Port of New-Romney alias Romene and also the Town of Westheeth in the County of Kent aforesaid is and hath been ever since the time aforesaid a Member of the same Town and Port of Heeth and also the Towns of Folkstone and Feversham in the County of Kent aforesaid and the Towns and Places called Margate St. Johns Goresend Brichington-Wood alias Wood-Church and St. Peters in the Isle of Thannet in the County of Kent aforesaid and Kingsdown and Ringwolde in the County of Kent aforesaid are and have been ever since the time aforesaid Members of the forenamed Town and Port of Dover and also the Towns or Places of Fordwich Deal Walmer Ramsgate and Stomer in the aforesaid County of Kent and Sarr in the Isle of Thannet in the said County of Kent and Brightlingsey in the County of Essex are and have been from the whole time aforesaid Members of the said Town and Port of Sandwich as also the Town and Hundred of Tenderden in the aforesaid County of Kent is a Member
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
false Printed for Lot and Copefree now Copefree is to be quit from Poll-Money Or else it signifies to be quit from that which Diggers of Mines pay to the Lord for breaking up his Ground M. Mariage signifieth not only the coupling together of Man and Wife but also the bestowing a Ward or a Widow in Mariage Manutenentiae Maintenance in our Common Law is used in the evil part for him that secondeth a Cause depending in Suit between others either by lending of Money or making Friends for either Party toward his help then the injured Party may have against him a Writ of Maintenance Misericordia is used in the Common Law for an Amercement or Mulct set upon any for Offence so that if a Man be outragiously Amerced in a Court that is not of Record as in a Court Baron c. there is a Writ called a Moderata Misericordia to be directed to the Lord or his Baily Commanding them that they take moderate Amercements according to the quantity of the fault Murage is a Toll levied for the Building or Repairing of Publick Walls it seemeth also to be a Liberty granted by the King to a Town for the gathering of Money toward Walling of the same N. Novel Disseisin See before Assise of Novel Disseisin O. Outfangtheff alias Ufangtheff is that Thieves or Felons of your Land or Fee out of your Land or Fee taken with Felony or Stealing shall be brought back to your Court and there judged P. Passage signifies the Hire that a Man payeth for being transported Over-Sea Pannage or Pawnage is that Money which the Agistors of Forests do gather for the feeding of Hogs within the Forest and it is also taken for all manner of Mast-Trees within the Forest on which the Hogs do feed Pontage is either the Contribution which is gathered or the Toll which is paid by Passengers for the Repair of Bridges it is called also Brigbote Peisage is Weight and Measure from Peisa signifieth Weight Piccage is the Money paid for the breaking of the Ground to set up Booths and Standings in Fairs Q. Quietancia alias Acquietancia is a Release or Discharge from any Debt formerly due Quo Warranto is a Writ which lieth against him that Usurps any Franchise from the King then the King shall have this Writ to make him come before his Justices and shew what Warrant or Title he hath to demand such Franchise Or else it signifieth a Writ against him that intrudeth himself as Heir into Land R. Riverage is that which is paid for being carried over a River Right Prisage of Wines is a Custom whereby the King challengeth out of every Bark loaden with Wine containing less than forty Tun two Tun of Wine at his own Price Regrator See Ingrosser Redisseisin See Assise of Redisseisin Recordate is a Writ directed to the Sheriff to remove a Cause out of an inferior Court into the Kings-Bench or Common-Pleas S. Soc is a liberty or power to seek after Thieves or Stolen Goods within a Mannor and to do justice upon the Inquisition It is also taken for the Company of Tenents which live within such a Liberty and are exempted from those common Services of the Prince and Countrey whereunto Subjects are ordinarily tied Sac is a Royalty or Priviledge touching Plea and Correction of Trespasses within a Mannor and to have the Amercements of ones Tenants in ones own Court. Stallage is a certain Custom exacted for the Street taken or assigned in Fairs and Markets Scot See Lot Shot is Tax-Money Scutage Escuage or a kind of Knights-Service called Service of the Shield whereby a Tenant who holds by Knight-Service is bound to follow his Lord into the Scottish or Welsh Wars at his own charge Strip or Estrepement is a Writ for taking Lands from him that strips and spoils them Or properly the unmeasurable soaking or drawing of the heart of the Land by Plowing or Sowing it continually without Manuring or other such useage as is requisite in good Husbandry T. Tallage is used for the share of a Mans Substance paid by way of Tribute Theolonium Tolnetum Toll or Custom paid to the King Thol is the liberty of Buying and Selling in ones own Ground Them is the Priviledge of having the Generations of your Villains with their Suits and Cattel wheresoever they shall be found in England Terrage is a freeing from Land-Taxes Tumbrel is a Cucking-Stool a Punishment for Scolds V. View of Frankpledge is a Writ to exempt one from the View of Frankpledge who is not Resident within the Hundred Frankpledge is a Custom whereby Neighbours were commonly bound one for another to be Sureties for each others Truth to the King and his Subjects Vtlagat is an Out-lawed Person Vetit-Mamium a Writ of Withernam which is directed to the Sheriff for the taking as many of the Mans Goods who did Distrein unlawfully from another as the value of the Distreined Goods comes to And if the Goods or Beasts be in a Fortlet or Castle the Sheriff may take with him the Power of the County and beat down the Castle W. Wast is when a Tenant lets the House fall or pulls it down or cuts down any thing with damage to the Land that he possesseth It is also a Punishment or Forfeiture belonging to Petit-Treason or Felony Wret is where a Ship is perished on the Sea and no Man escapeth alive out of the same and the Ship or part of the Ship so perished or the Goods of the Ship come to the Land of any Lord the Lord shall have that as a Wreck of the Sea But if a Man or a Dog or a Cat escape alive so that the Party to whom the Goods belong come within a year and a day and prove the Goods to be his he shall have them again Witfree is a Discharge from all Defaults and Amercements Waviat is when Goods are seized by Waif which is the Goods of a Thief whether stolen or not which upon urgent necessity as haste or such like he hath left any where behind him then the Kings Officer or the Bayliff to the Lord within whose Jurisdiction they were left who by Prescription or Grant from the King hath the Franchise of Waif may seize the Goods so Waived to to the Lords use who may keep them as his own unless the Owner come and lay claim to them within a year and a day FINIS