and Bayliffs John Batten John Shilling ford John Cutler John Coscom William Shaply Edmond Lacy Bishop of Hereford was translated hither and 6. Aprilis consecrated Bishop of this Diocess Regna Regum 9. Henry the 5. An. D. 1421. Mayors and Bayliffs John Cook Robert Voysey John Salter John Atyate Nichalas Trâ—lawny William Jourden paid a Fine of five pound for a License to discharge his Ship at Colepool Roger Batten being arrested at the suit of Richard Crymell in an Action of Debt for six pound for two Tun of Wine was admitted to do his Law for the same with three hands according to the Custom of the said City Rot. 40. By the Custom of this City if there be not sufficient Citizens or Inhabitants of Free-hold to be returned in a Jury on a Trial that then a return may be made of other Citizens who have moveable Goods sufficient At a Parliament held in London Bishop Lacy in the Convocation House made an excellent Oration touching the Reformation of the Clergy whereat the King was present and did so well approve thereof as that he was resolved had his days been but lengthned to have seen the same put in due execution The King died in August and his Son Henry the Sixth of the Age of nine Months was proclaimed King Regna Regum 1. Henry the 6. An. D. 1422. Mayors and Bayliffs Thomas Easton John Cutler William May William Cook John Stokely Thomas Duke of Exeter made Governour of the King's Person Henry the 6. Regna Regum 2. Henry the 6. An. D. 1423. Mayors and Bayliffs John Batten John Hull William Bishop William French William Vpton Ordered by the Mayor and Common-Council of this City that the eldest Son and Heir apparent of any Free-man shall not be admitted to the Freedom of the said City by Patrimony or by right of his Father during his Father's life-time nor that any Apprentice shall be made Free of the said City for his Service unless he were bound by Indenture and have truly served seven years at the least and the same to be proved by good Testimony Rot. 26. Regna Regum 3. Henry the 6. An. D. 1424. Mayors and Bayliffs John Cook John Salter Thomas Nymett John â—oscom Nicholas Trelawny A Subsidy of Tunnage and Poundage granted to the King towards his Wars Canon Bread and Wine first given to the Mayor and Officers against the Feasts of Christmas and Easter Regna Regum 4. Henry the 6. An. D. 1425. Mayors and Bayliffs Robert Voysey William May Peter Plenty John Cross John Smert By the Custom of this City a Man seised of Land therein in the right of his Wife may grant an Estate thereof for a Town Term i. e. nine and twenty years reserving a reasonable Rent Rot. 52. Thomas Duke of Exeter died Regna Regum 5. Henry the 6. An. D. 1426. Mayors and Bayliffs Thomas Easton William Oke William Vpton Walter Merefield William Bishop 'T was proved in open Court that the Mayor of this City for the time being had the charge and government of every Freeman's child after his Father's death being within the Age of one and twenty years and is to appoint Guardians for the said Orphan as well for his good Education as for the preservation and right ordering of his Estate and Fortune left unto him Rot. 4. Regna Regum 6. Henry the 6. An. D. 1427. Mayors and Bayliffs John Hull John Cross Stephen Butterford John Trelawny John Bacon Ordered by the Mayor and Common Council of this City that if any of the Members thereof being duly warned by one of the Sergeants at Mace of the said City to appear at the Council Chamber to consult touching the publick affairs of the said City and shall refuse so to do he shall forfeit and pay for every such default 3 s. and 4 d. unless a reasonable excuse of his absence be offered and allowed Rot. 2. Regna Regum 7. Henry the 6. An. D. 1428. Mayors and Bayliffs John Shilling ford William Vpton John Smert John Cook William Servington By Custom the Mayor of this City time out of mind hath had and ought to have the cognisance hearing and determining of all scolds and disordered persons Rot. 16. The Master and Company of the Bakers had made an order among themselves not to give any advantage Bread or 1 d. on the dozen and for some days refused to bake any Bread at all that the Citizens should yield to their order and that the Mayor should weekly give an Assize pleasing to them But this Mayor being a very wise Man and well learned in the Laws the matter being discoursed and well considered commanded the said Master and Wardens and chiefest of the offenders to Ward where they were kept â—till they had openly acknowledged their Confederacy revoked their said Order and paid their several Fines imposed on them for their said offence Regna Regum 8. Henry the 6. An. D. 1429. Mayors and Bayliffs John Shilling ford William Vpton John Orum John Beaâ—fitz Bennâ—t Drew An Action was here traversed in the King's Court held at the Guild-hall before the Mayor and Bayliffs of the said City touching a Nusance for the carrying away of another Man's Water and a Verdict found for the Plaintiff according to the Custom of the said City Rot. 7. 17. Regna Regum 9. Henry the 6. An. D. 1430. Mayors and Bayliffs John Hull Thomas Cook Nicholas Athole Andrew Thring Walter Pope Omnia Trnementa infra Civitatem Exoniensem suburbia ejusdem in Fâ—odâ— simplici sunt devisabilia legabilia Rot. 51. The Custom of this City is that in every Action where a Foraigner is to do his Law in a Court of Pypowders he may do it by his own hand alone Rot. 5. Regna Regum 10. Henry the 6. An. D. 1431. Mayors and Bayliffs William Cook John Cross John Smert John Troly Walter Merefield Regna Regum 11. Henry the 6. An. D. 1432. Mayors and Bayliffs Thomas Cook John Bacon John Kirton Walter Pope Ralph Crudg 'T is recorded that if any person in a suit depending in this Court be condemned and be present he shall be committed to Ward and there remain in execution till he have made full satisfaction of the Debt Rot. 6. Also that by the Custom of this City no person coming within the Port of Exon with a Vessel loaden with Goods ought to unload the same but only at the place accustomed without special license of the Mayor of the said City had to the contrary Rot. 2. Regna Regum 12. Henry the 6. An. D. 1433. Mayors and Bayliffs John Salter Nicholas Athole Richard Orenge John Bag Robert Ford Regna Regum 13. Henry the 6. An. D. 1434. Mayors and Bayliffs William Cook John Kirton Andrew Thring John Bagg Thomas Parson Regna Regum 14. Henry the 6. An. D. 1435. Mayors and Bayliffs Thomas Cook John Kirton Andrew Thring John Bagg Thomas Paison Regna Regum 15. Henry the 6. An. D. 1436. Mayors and Bayliffs
tenendum Curiam sive Curias-dictae Civitatis quoties me ab eisdem abesse contigerit ad faciendum omnia alia in dicta Civitate Curia quae ego facerem si personaliter interessem In cujus rei testimonium has literas patentes sigillo Officii Majoratûs ficri feci Sigillatum datum Exoniae praedicto decimâ— septimo die mensis Martii Anno Regni Regis Edvardi tertii à conquestu octavo This Martin Lekenn 18. Martii died in his Mayoralty and Thomas Lichfield was elected Mayor to supply for the residue of this year that Office Regna Regum 9. Edw. the 3. An. D. 1335. Mayors and Bayliffs Henry Hughton Robert Pleigh Thomas Furbor William Lydeland Alexander Wallis Custos Magister domus beatae Mariae Magdalenae extra portam Australem Civitatis Exoniensis tulerunt glebam pro redditu exeunte de quodam gardino extra portam oriâ—ntalem Civitatis praedictae vocato Morley Shulteshay jacente inter gardinum Willielmi Tantifer Richardi Russell haec Consuetudâ— vocata Gleba Adjudicatum fuit Decano Capitulo beati Petri Exoniensis quoddam Tenementum scâ—tuatum is vico Australi Civitatis Exoniensis secundum Consuetudinem Civitatis praedictae dicitur Shortford Decanus Capitulum beati Petri Exoniensis recuperaverunt seisinam unius Tenementi in Parochia Sanctae Sativole extra portam orientalem dictae Civitatis secumdum consuetudinem esusdem Civitatis dicitur Gavelock Regna Regum 10. Edw. the 3. An. D. 1336. Mayors and Bayliffs Henry Hughton Thomas Furbor John Coles William Shillingford John Colebrook The King in Parliament holden at Westminster made a Dutchy of the Earldom of Cornwal and gave the same to his eldest Son Prince Edward surnamed the Black Prince from his dreadful acts and sent his Letters thereof to the Mayor by the name of the Mayor of his Honourable City of Exeter and also sent a Writ for the proclaiming thereof and withal made this City parcel of the said Dutchy as formerly it was of the Earldom This City being now held of the said Duke as parcel of the said Dutchy by the Fee Farm Rent of twenty pounds per Annum Regna Regum 11. Edw. the 3. An. D. 1337. Mayors and Bayliffs Thomas Gervis Rober Noble Richard Pleigh John Newton John Davy Bishop Grandison Founded and built the Colledge and Church of Oâ—tcry St Mary in the County of Devon and endowed the same with great Livelihoods He was also a liberal Benefactor to the Vicars Choral of his own Church Regna Regum 12. Edw. the 3. An. D. 1338. Mayors and Bayliffs Henry Haughton Nicholas Godescott Richard Pleigh Thomas Furbor John Davy Consuctudo in Civitate Exoniensi est quod nothus non gaudebit privilegio ullo pariter cum legitimis which well agrees with a rule in Law Qui ex damnato coitu nascuntur inter liberos non computentur Regna Regum 13. Edw. the 3. An. D. 1339. Mayors and Bayliffs Thomas Lichfield Robert Bridport John Cook John Newton Roger Wythom Fines for the Conveyance of Lands or Rents were now usually levied within this City whereof I here thought good to instance one or two instead of many viz. Haec est finalis Concordia facta inter Johanem Carpenter quaerentem Robertum Cottrell Defensorem de duabus acris terrae jacentibus in suburbiis extra portam orientalem Civitatis Exoniensis Haec est finalis Concordiae facta inter Robertum Brâ—dworthy quaerentem Walteram dâ— Swemthull Matildam uxorem ejâ—â— defensorem de uno Messuagio jacente in summo vico Civitatis Exoniensis Regna Regum 14. Edw. the 3. An. D. 1340. Mayors and Bayliffs Henry Hughton Robert Bridport Thomas Furbor Richard Pleigh Richard Halberton I held it likewise requisit to set down how ancient the Inrolment of Deeds hath here been and thereof only to give you a like precedent or two viz. Irrotulatur Charta Willielmi Leigh facta Thomae Robin de uno Messuagio jacent infra Parochiam dâ—â—i Stephani Civitatisâ— Exoniensis Irrotulatur Charta Rogeri Shillingford facta Waltero Hugthon de uno Mâ—ssuagio â—acente extra portam occidentalem Civitatis praedictae Regna Regum 15. Edw. the 3. An. D. 1341. Mayors and Bayliffs Hanry Hughton Reynold Wythen Thomas Furbor Richard Pleigh John Sutton The ancient Custom of this City is when the Chief Lord in Fee cannot be answered of the rent due to him out of his Tenement and no distress can be there levied for the same The Lord must come to the Tenement and there take a stone or some other dead thing of the said Tenement and bring the same to the Court at the Guildhall held before the Mayor and Bayliffs and thus must he do seven quarter days successively And this is called Aglebe And if on the said seventh quarter day the Lord be not satisfied of his rent and arrears then the said Tenement shall be adjudged to the said Lord To hold the same a year and a day And this is called Gavelock And then forthwith Proclamation shall be openly made in the Court That if any man pretends any Title to the said Tenement that he appear within the year and day then next following and satisfie the Lord of the said rent and arrears but if no appearance be made and the rent not paid Then shall the Lord come again to the said Court and pray that according to the said Custom the said Tenement be adjudged to him in his Demesh as of Fee according to the intention of the Law in such like cases which is commonly called le cessavit per biennium And this Custom here is called Shortford and in French Foreclose And so the Lord shall have from thenceforth the said Tenement with the appurtenances in Fee to him and his Heirs for ever Regna Regum 16. Edw. the 3. An. D. 1342. Mayors and Bayliffs Robert Furbor Robert Bradworthy Nicholas Halberton Nicholas Godescott Walter White Bishop Grandison with others by order of Parliament Were sent over as Embassadors to the Pope touching a Treaty of Peace and afterwards concluded between England and France Nemo infra aetatem viginti unius Annorum existens potest ullo modo terras seu Tenementa sua alicui dimittere per consuetudinem Civitatis praedictae Rot. 40. Regna Regum 17. Edw. the 3. An. D. 1353. Mayors and Bayliffs Thomas Furbor William Hastment Roger Treseler Richard Pleigh Robert Noble Regna Regum 18. Edw. the 3. An. D. 1344. Mayors and Bayliffs Henry Hughton John Newton John Sutton Richard Pleigh Robert Noble The King was advertized but untruly of a Ryot here committed by sundry lewd and evil disposed persons which information was so enforced that the King being otherwise incumbred with the care of his Forreign Wars conceived the worse of the Report and thereupon sent down his Commission of Oyer and Determiner dated 20. Aug. this year and directed to the Mayor and Justices of the said City strictly requiring them to have
secured at the lower end of the new Haven they likewise did cut out a new Leat through the Marsh-ground about half a mile in length and also a Pool wherein near an hundred sail of Ships may with safety at all times ride and from thence to the said Key Boats and Barges may daily pass up and down through the River to load and discharge the Merchants goods which formerly could hardly be so done in a weeks time for which good end sundry new and other Lighters are here provided in readiness and the rate for conveyance of all Goods and Merchandizes abated almost a third part which worthy undertaking being thus projected was this Summer vigorously carried on and compleated by the daily indefatigable endeavours of Mr. Henry Smith Receiver General of the said City whereby he hath very much obliged us all In which said work the Chamber having expended about the sum of three thousand pounds whereunto Doctor George Cary Dean of this Church hath been a liberal Benefactor Regna Regum 20. Charles the 2. An. D. 1676. Mayors and Bayliffs William Glyde Thomas Bale Daniel Gundry George Sanford Joseph Boson Bishop Sparrow having well governed this Church about nine years force was translated to the Bishoprick of Norwich in whose stead Thomas Lamplugh Doctor in Divinity was 3. Octobris elected Bishop of this Diocess and 12. Novembris at Lambeth by Gilbert Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury consecrated thereunto READER THese few Lines should have been placed in the Four and Twentyeth year of the Reign of Charles the First James Gould was Mayor in which year be pleas'd to add what follows After the King's Death Proclamations being brought to this Mayor he refused to proclaim or receive them but with scorn and contempt being by the Messenger left in his house threw them out of his door And when the Judges of the Assizes in their Circuit came hither he likewise slighted them and would not acknowledge their power for which they Fined him two hundred pounds for the recovery whereof they troubled him in the Court of Exchequer to which he appeared and defended himself so well and so far until the Attorney General entred A non vult prosequi against him And at the next Summer Assizes the Judges Executed their Commission at Tyverton where before or since they never sate which was purposely done by way of Revenge of this Mayor's stubborness towards them who was a person of a low stature but of an undaunted courage of whom may truly be said what was once attributed to King Alexander the Great Mens tamen in parvo corpore Magna fuit Hebrews 13.16 To do good and to distribute forget not for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased 'T Is not only equal but just that such as have been Founders of Hospitals or Benefactors unto them should have due respect in preserving their memories from violation or ruine And no less for the encouragement of others to tread in their footsteps and to imitate them in their vertues for vertues are but personal vices communicative In short I have here set down a perfect Catalogue of the Names and Gifts of all such worthy Benefactors as by their last Wills and Testaments or otherwise have given any Lands Rents Annuities or Money for and towards the relief of poor people in several Alms-houses within this City and County of Exeter whose charitable Acts herein ought not to be silenced and buried in the Pit of Oblivion but to be had in an everlasting remembrance As 't is good not to do evil so 't is evil having time and opportunity not to do good Here you 'l find several kinds of Charity wherein you may observe that these worthy persons have made it their study to discover the several necessities of the Poor and have left behind them a store-house of provision for them that are in need even Bread for the Hungry Cloth for the Naked Salve for the Wounded Relief for the Sick a House for them that are Harbourless Education and Maintenance for the Younger a Bank for the Merchant and Tradesman in Extremity For Riches are called Goods not because they make us good but because we may do good with them if God give us grace and opportunity Charity for certain is the Rich Man's School where he ought to learn works of Mercy both in heart and hand the Disciples had all things amongst themselves in common not by a legal community but a charitable communication for Charity is bonum sui diffusivum not perfect unless imparted the charitable Man is the best Friend to himself laying up in store for the time to come for every good work he doth is a grain of seed for Life Eternal read the Scripture which if you believe put it forthwith in practice Proverbs 14.21.19.17 Psalm 41.1 2.3 Eccles 11.1 2. and let your good works go before you that your Father's Name in Heaven may be glorified Charity ought to be free and 't is accounted as no gift when that which is given can no longer be with-held Bis dat qui cito dat the gift is doubled by a speedy deliverance Lay not up Riches for Moths and Worms and for Children that are Wicked who play and sport upon their Fathers Graves but rather follow the example of our Saviour who went up and down doing good in healing of Diseases and doing works of Alms and Charity than which he hath not laid on us any other duty with a stricter injunction good works are necessary to Salvation though not to Justification as the Tree with her Fruits the Sun with his Light the Fire with his Heat and the Water with her moisture Shew me thy Faith â—aith St. James by thy works which are viae ad Regnum sed non causae Regnandi they are the way to the Kingdom but not the cause of reigning there we are not saved propter opera and yet sine operibus we shall not enter Heaven Let us take a pattern from the Emperour Titus who thought he had lost a day wherein he had not done some Act of Charity how many of our Fore-fathers have we read of who went up and down the streets to find out the necessities of the Poor as meet Objects to be relieved with their Charity Let me advise you to whom God hath given a greater measure of these Earthly Riches to dispense with some part thereof as these your pious Ancestors have done for God expects it from you be not as a possessor but as a Steward and know withall that you must be accountable for the Poors portion before God And if you love Riches saith St. Augustin put them in a place assured for Eternity Pliny saith that the greatest Divinity is to see a mortal Man oblige his like and that it is the shortest way to arrive at Eternal Glory the practice of giving Alms is so excellent as 't will make you therein with all humility be it spoken like God himself for his Nature