Charles the Second, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France,
and Ireland, defender of the faith, to all to whom these presents shall come,
greeting. We have seen a charter, or letters patents, of the lady Elizabeth,
late Queen of England, in these words: Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of
England, France, and Ireland Queen, defender of the faith, to all to whom
these present letters shall come, greeting. We have seen an inrollment of
some letters patent of ours to one Christopher Hatton, esq. made in the
eighteenth year of our reign, and inrolled amongst the records of our Court
of Chancery, in these words: the Queen, to all whom, &c. greeting. Seeing that
our well beloved and faithful servant Christopher Hatton, esq. captain of our
guard, lately had by our gift and grant to him and his heirs, amongst other
things, the castle of Corfe, otherwise called Corfe Castle, in the county of
Dorset, with all its liberties, privileges, preheminences, commodities,
regalities, and appurtenances, and also the lordship or manor of Corfe, with
all its rights, members, liberties, and appurtenances, in the Isle of Purbeck,
in our said county of Dorset, which castle, indeed, is an ancient castle, and
most fitly situate for a bulwark and defence of the said island against our
foreign enemys, and the keeper or constable of the said castle, and also the
mayor and barons of the borough of Corfe, in our said county of Dorset, for
the time being, and the inhabitants of the said borough and island aforesaid,
time out of the memory of man, have severally had and enjoyed for themselves
certain and divers rights, franchises, liberties, quittances, and privileges,
and divers other customs, liberties, freedoms, and exemptions, as well by
prescription as upon the account and pretence of charters, grants, and confirmations,
by our progenitors, Kings of England, to the same severally anciently made and granted,
and because the charters, grants, and liberties aforesaid now for many years past have
not been allowed and confirmed by us, nor by other our progenitors Kings of England,
as well the said constable as the aforesaid mayor and barons and inhabitants of
the island aforesaid now of late have been many times interrupted in using and
enjoying the same liberties, as we are credibly informed, upon which the same
Christopher Hatton, and the mayor and burgesses of the said borough, and the
inhabitants of the island aforesaid, have humbly besought us, that, graciously
and liberally, we would exhibit and extend to them in this part our munificence
and royal grace. We therefore, at their request aforesaid, and from the relation
of divers credible persons undertaking the aforesaid libertys, priviledges, and
franchises, to be for the common profit of the said burrough and island aforesaid,
as also very necessary for the governance and defence of the same against the
common enemy, and also in consideration of the good, true, and faithfull service
to us heretofore many ways done and bestowed by the aforesaid Christopher Hatton,
are willing, from our special grace and certain knowledge and mere motion, and
by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we grant to the aforesaid
Christopher Hatton, and his heirs, that the same Christopher Hatton, and his heirs,
being lords of the castle, lordship, and manner aforesaid, may have, and may have
power and authority, fully to have, hold, use, and enjoy, for ever, within the castle,
lordship, and manner aforesaid, and also within the borough of Corfe, and within
the aforesaid Isle of Purbeck, and the precincts and libertys of the same island,
so many, so great, such, the same, of like sort, and such like legal customs,
libertys, priviledges, franchises, immunities, exemptions, quittances, and
jurisdictions, how many, how great, of what sort, and with any constable or
keeper of our aforesaid castle, by whatsoever name heretofore hath had, held,
used, or enjoyed, or ought, by reason or pretence of any charter or letters patents,
by us, or any of our progenitors. Kings of this kingdom of England, by any means
heretofore made, confirmed, or granted, or by any other legall manner, right, custom,
use, prescription, or title, whatsoever, heretofore used, had, and accustomed; and
we will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we ordain and
grant that the aforesaid Island of Purbeck, and the circuit, precinct, and
jurisdiction, and so of the rest, be and extend themselves, and protend, as well
in length and breadth as in circuit and precinct, to such, and such like, and like
sort, bounds, goales, limits, to what sort, and which as the aforesaid Isle of
Purbeck, and its circuit, precinct, and jurisdiction, time out of memory of man,
or at any time before the date of these presents, have been accustomed to extend
and protend themselves; and it may and shall be lawful for the aforesaid Christopher
Hatton, and his heirs, and also for his bailiffs, and other officers and ministers
whatsoever, and also for the tenants and residents within the aforesaid island for
the time being, to make perambulation or perambulations from thence, for the
overseeing, knowing, and bounding their liberties and franchises about, within,
and without the aforesaid island, and the liberties, circuits, and precincts of
the same, in whatsoever place, lands, tenements, or lordships they shall be, within
the same island, or county of Dorset, without the lett of us, our heirs or successors,
or any other whatsoever, as it is fitt, goals, bounds, limits, paths, stones,
walls, hedges, bridges, waters, ditches, houses, fences, crosses, or other ways,
by whatsoever manner they are bounded, as they have been afore used, and those
bounds and goals to renew, or place anew, and this as often as it shall please
them, or shall seem necessary to them to be done, and this without any writt or
any other warrant from thenceforth to be obtained or pursued from us, our heirs
or successors, in this part by any way whatsoever.
And furthermore, of our more ample grace, we grant, and by these presents, of our
certain knowledge and mere motion, for us, our heirs and successors, as much as in
us lyes, we grant unto the aforesaid Christopher Hatton, and his heirs, for ever,
that the same castle, lordship, and mannor, of Corfe aforesaid, in the Isle of
Purbeck, and also all and singular the places within the precincts and liberties
of the same castle, lordship, and manor, and isle aforesaid, as well by land as
by water, be exempted, separated, priviledged, and absolutely, for ever, from any
power, jurisdiction, and office of admirall or admirals of our kingdom of England,
our heirs or successors, and their commissioners, officers, deputys, lieutenants,
and ministers whatsoever, for the time being, and that no admiral of England, of us,
our heirs or successors, or his lieutenant, commissioner, officer, or deputy, for
the time being, nor any admirals, or lieutenants, commissioners, ministers, officers,
or deputys of the same admiral or admirals of us, our heirs or successors, for the
time being, the castle, lordship, mannor, or isle aforesaid, nor the precincts of
any of the same, by land or by water, shall enter to enquire, exercise, do,
or execute, any thing that doth or may belong to the office of admiralty within the
castle, lordship, mannor, or isle aforesaid, or any of the precincts of the same,
by any means whatsoever ; but that the said castle, lordship, mannor, and island,
and all and singular the places within the precincts and liberties of the same,
as well by land as by water, be altogether, and for ever, without the power,
jurisdiction, and authority of the said admirall or admirals, and his and their
lieutenants, officers, deputies, and ministers whatsoever, and that none of our
admiral or admirals of England, or of our heirs or successors, nor their
lieutenants, deputies, ministers, nor officers aforesaid, nor either or any of
them, send in, within the said castle, lordship, mannor, or island aforesaid,
or any of the precincts or liberties of the same, by land or by water, concerning
any thing that doth or may belong, in any way, in this part to this office of
admiralty, or to the office of the same, nor any person or persons within the
castle, lordship, mannor, or island aforesaid, or any place or places within
any precincts of the same, from any cause whatsoever, belonging to the office
and jurisdiction of admirall of England, shall cite, summon, distrain, attach,
or take, in their persons, or in their goods, nor any thing that doth or may
belong to this office, there to do, exercise, or execute, nor there judicially,
nor on pretence or colour of this their office, shall he or they there sitt by
any means; and that no bayliff or other minister of the same Christopher Hatton,
or their heirs, or any other or others whatsoever, within the same castle,
lordship, mannor, and isle aforesaid, or the precincts or liberties of the same,
or any resident or being of any of them, be drawn into any plea, complaint,
inquisition, or by any other means be disturbed, or compelled by any means
whatsoever, within the same castle, lordship, mannor, and isle aforesaid, or
any of the precincts of the same, or any other, there to answer to any admirall
or admirals of us, our heirs or successors, or his or their lieutenants,
commissioner, minister, or deputy, for the time being, at the suit of us, our
heirs and successors, nor to any other whatsoever, or by any other means whatsoever,
concerning things done upon the sea, or other where, neither concerning any
contracts, conventions, transgressions, contempts, mainprisons, or other offences,
things, or matters whatsoever, committed or emerging, either upon land or by
water, by any means, and pertaining to the jurisdiction of the admiral of England;
and that neither the aforesaid bailiffs or ministers of the aforesaid Christopher,
or his heirs, nor any other within the castle, lordship, mannor, or isle aforesaid,
or any of the precincts of the same, residing or being, permit any admiral or
admirals, nor his nor their lieutenants, deputy, commissioner, or minister,
or any of them, there to exercise jurisdiction or office of this sort, neither
may they obey them or their precepts, or commands thereto, be executed, hut
they may lawfully and freely resist them, and disobey them in any thing, if
they shall go against this our grant, without impetition, molestation, or
grievance, forfeiture, or punishment, losing any thing to us, or our heirs,
or to this sort, of our admirall or admirals, or our said heirs or successors,
for the time being, to be made, paid, satisfied, or any ways to be levied.
And moreover, of our more ample special grace, and from our certain knowledge
and mere motion, we have granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs
and successors, we grant to the aforesaid Christopher Hatton, to his heirs
and assigns for ever, that the same Christopher, and his heirs, having and
possessing the said castle and lordship, be admiralls within the castle,
lordship, mannor, and island, and the precincts and liberties of the same,
and that they may do, exercise, and execute, before themselves, their bailiffs,
or deputys, all and singular within the castle, lordship, mannor, and isle
aforesaid, and the precincts and liberties of the same, which do or may
belong to the office of admiralty, and for whatsoever debts, contracts,
conventions, transgressions, deceptions, and other things and offences
whatsoever, upon the sea or other where done or committed, and which, for
such like things or contracts, by any means may and ought to be handled,
enquired into, heard, corrected, informed, or determined, within the said
castle, lordship, mannor, and island, or the precincts or libertys of the
same, and that the bailiff or deputys of the aforesaid Christopher Hatton,
and his heirs for the time being, may have for ever the cognizance of all
and singular actions, suits, complaints and demands, concerning any manner
of debts, contracts, conventions, transgressions, deceptions, and offences
of this sort, before the same bayliffs or deputys to be heard and determined,
and if there be any commission, or commissions, or letters patent, to the
contrary of this our grant, granted, made, or liberated, the same commission,
commissions, or letters patent, and all the pretence of the same commission,
or letters patent, made, found, or executed, and also all and singular by
the admiral or admirals of us, or of our heirs and successors, by their officers,
deputies, or ministers, whatsoever, to the contrary of this our present
grant, made, found, or executed, by the force and virtue of these presents,
be void and of none effect, and be accounted for nothing, and so reputed
in all things, so that no admiral of England of us, our heirs or successors
for the time being, or his lieutenant, commissioned officer, procurator,
or deputy, or the lieutenants, officers, commissioners, procurators, or
deputys whatsoever, of this sort of admiral for the time being, the
aforesaid castle, lordship, mannor, or island, or the precincts or liberties
of the same, or other places, by land or by water, to do or execute any thing
there, which doth or shall belong to the office of admiralty aay ways, shall
enter, or themselves thenceforth within the same castle, lordship, mannor,
or island, or the liberties or precincts of any of the same, any way shall
put themselves; giving also firmly in command,bythe tenor of these presents,
to this sort of admiral or admirals of us, our heirs and successors, for
the time being, and to their lieutenants, commissioners, officers,
procurators, and ministers, and to every one of them, under a grievous
forfeiture, that they, and every of them, obey and yield obedience to all
and singular the premises on the sole exhibition or shewing of these letters,
without any writt, or any other process or mandate, in this part to them
to be directed and pursued or obtained for the future, and not to be gone
against in anything. And further, we grant, and by these presents, for us,
our heirs and successors, we grant the aforesaid Christopher Hatton, his
heirs and assigns, and that the same Christopher, his heirs and assigns,
lords of the said castle, lordship, and mannor of Corfe, and the serjeants
and ministers of them for the time being, as touching the rest, be for
ever free and quitt, throughout all our land and power, from all toll,
custom, passage, lastage, pontage, and imposition whatsoever, of and from
all things which shall or may be brought or carried into the aforesaid
island for the provision and defence of the aforesaid castle. And moreover,
for the greater defence and safety of the aforesaid island, and the
inhabitants of the same, we give, and by these presents, for us, our
heirs and successors, we grant to the aforesaid Christopher, during his
life, the keeping and governance of the castle or fortress of Bronkesey,
in the said county of Dorset. And further, of our more ample grace, we
will, and from our certain knowledge and meer motion, we grant unto the
aforesaid Christopher Hatton and his heirs, for ever, that the same
Christopher Hatton, or his heirs, or his or their deputy or deputys,
may have power and authority to take mustrations, called musters, of all
the inhabitants within the burrough and island aforesaid, and all and
singular our liege inhabitants of the said Island of Purbeck, of whatsoever
state or condition they shall be, and whom it shall seem good to them to call
out, to gather together and help, and them, and every one of them, according to
their state, well and sufficiently to make to be armed and guarded, for the
safe keeping, tuition, and defence of the same island, to be held and kept,
so often and whensoever we, our heirs and successors, shall make or assign
our liege subjects of our county of Dorset aforesaid, to be mustered or armed,
and no otherwise, and that no commissioner of us, our heirs or successors,
to any mustration, called musters, in our aforesaid county of Dorset, hereafter
to be assigned, or assigned to be taken, put themselves in, in anything within
the island aforesaid, or the precincts of the same, neither may they enter,
within the island aforesaid, the precincts and bounds of the same, to do or
execute any their office concerning such like musters or mustrations by any
means, and that from this time no person or persons be armed, or any instruments
of war be carried out of the island aforesaid, but that they, all and singular,
do remain, and be used only for the safeguard and defence of the same within
the island aforesaid. And furthermore, know ye, that we, as well in
consideration of the good service that the aforesaid mayor and barons and
other inhabitants of the burrough of Corfe aforesaid, and their
successors, have heretofore done in the defence of the said castle
at Corfe and island aforesaid; and that at present, by the tenure of
their lands, they are obliged to at their own proper costs and
charges, as often as it shall be necessary, of our more ample grace,
and of our certain knowledge and mere motion, we will, and by these
presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we grant to the aforesaid
mayor, and the barons, and the inhabitants of the said burrough of
Corfe, and their successors, that they may, as touching the rest,
for ever have, hold, use, and enjoy, and may have power and authority
fully to have, hold, use, and enjoy all such like, and like sort of
legal customs, liberties, priviledges, franchises, immunities,
exemptions, quittances, and jurisdictions, of what sort, how great,
and with the mayor and barons, and inhabitants of the burrough
aforesaid, or either or any of them, by whatsoever name or names,
or by whatsoever incorporation, or pretence of any incorporation,
before this, lawfully have had, held, used, or enjoyed, or ought to
have had, held, used, or enjoyed, by reason or pretence of any charters
or letters patents, by us, or by any of our progenitors Kings of
this our kingdom of England, by any means heretofore made, confirmed,
or granted, or by any other legal manner, right, custom, use,
prescription, or title heretofore used, had, and accustomed, and that
the mayor and barons of Corfe aforesaid, and the inhabitants of the
parish of Corfe aforesaid, and their successors, mayors, barons,
and inhabitants there, for the time being, from this time, may have
and exercise all and all manner of liberties, franchises, priviledges,
quittances, customs, immunities, and exemptions, as the inhabitants
in any of our Cinque Ports now lawfully have, or ought to have, any
statute, act, ordinance, or provision, or any other thing, cause, or
matter whatsoever, in anything notwithstanding. And furthermore, we,
being willing to bestow our more plentiful grace on the inhabitants
of the burrough and isle of Purbeck, and their successors, inhabiting
there, have taken them, and every one of them, and also their lands
and tenements, and their possessions, and their goods and chattels,
and of every one of them, inhabiting and being within the isle
aforesaid, into the special protection of us, our heirs and successors,
willing and granting that of their blades and hay, their horses,
beasts, heifers, sheep, swine; lambs, poultry, and other victuals,
or goods, chattels, or things, of them inhabiting the isle aforesaid,
or any of them, for the time being, growing, renewing, nourished,
or being within the same island, to the use of us, our heirs or
successors, or of any other whatsoever, or by any other bailiffs or
ministers of us, our heirs or successors whatsoever, or of any other
whatsoever, nothing at all to be taken, led away, or any way carried
away out of the island aforesaid, or the precincts of the same; and
that no bailiff, minister, or purveyor of victualls, of our hospitall,
or any other minister of us, our heirs or successors, may any ways put
himself in within the island aforesaid, to take or carry anything.
We have granted also to the same mayor, barons, and inhabitants of
the island aforesaid, and the precincts of the same, that they may
not be put, or any of them by any means be put, in any assize,
juries, attaintures, or inquest whatsoever, by any of our justices,
or other ministers of us, our heirs or successors, upon the account
of lands, tenements, transgressions, or other businesses, or foreign
contracts whatsoever, except only in those assizes, juries,
attaintures, and inquests which concern the lands and tenements
within the aforesaid island, and the transgressions, contracts,
and other businesses arising within the aforesaid island, if they
have not lands, tenements, or revenues, out of the island aforesaid,
for which of right they ought to be put or impannelled. And further
we will, and by these presents we grant, for us, our heirs and
successors, that the aforesaid Christopher Hatton, and his heirs,
and the aforesaid mayor, barons, and inhabitants of the burrough
and island aforesaid, and their successors, severally, may have
and hold all and singular the donations, concessions, liberties,
quittances, franchises, immunities aforesaid, above to them by
these presents severally granted, and that they, all and singular,
and every one of them, may fully use and enjoy, without the
impeachment, impediment, perturbation, molestation, or grievance,
of us, our heirs or successors, or of our justices, escheators,
or sheriffs, or of any other bailiffs or ministers, of us, our
heirs or successors whatsoever. And we will, and for us, our
heirs and successors, we grant, that upon the exhibition or
showing of these letters patent, or the inrollment, or
exemplification, or duplicate of the same, as well before us,
in our court of chancery, of our heirs and successors, as
before the justices of both our benches of our heirs and
successors, and before the treasurer and barons of our exchequer,
our heirs and successors, and also before the justices and
commissioners of us, our heirs and successors, as well in all
and singular the courts of us, our heirs and successors, and
places of record, as in whatsoever courts and places throughout
our whole kingdom of England, for any thing or things in our
same letters patent contained or specified, the same letters
patent, and all the constitutions and several grants bestowed on
the aforesaid Christopher Hatton, and his heirs, and on the
aforesaid mayor, barons, and inhabitants, and their successors,
be presently and immediately allowed, and that the same treasurer,
and barons, justices, commissioners, and others whatsoever, to
whom the said allowance doth belong, of and in the same, all and
singular the premises, from time to time, shall make, or cause
to be made; and that the same Christopher Hatton and his heirs, and
the aforesaid mayor and barons, and the inhabitants of the burrough
and island aforesaid, and their successors, be exonerated, and quietly
withdraw, and every one of them be exonerated, and quietly withdraw,
from all and all manner of burdens and demands towards them, against
the donations and concessions, confirmations, libertys, franchises,
priviledges, and immunities aforesaid, in courts and places of this
sort, exacted by the same courts and places, from time to time, towards
us, our heirs and successors, any variety, uncertainty, contrariety,
repugnancy, negligence, omissions of the writt ad quod dammim,
undue or less true recitall of names or words, or any other cause,
thing, or matter whatsoever notwithstanding. We will also, and by these
presents we grant, unto the aforesaid Christopher Hatton, that he have
these our letters* patent, under our great seal of England, made and
sealed in due manner, without fine or fee, great or small, to us, in
our hanaper office, or other where, to our use, thenceforth to be made
or paid, because express mention, &c. In witness of which things,
&c. I. R. at Westminster, the seventeenth day of July, by right from
the privy seal, &c. We also have thought fit to exemplify, by these
presents, the tenor of the inrollment of our letters patent aforesaid,
at the request of the mayor, barons, and inhabitants of Corfe
aforesaid. In witness of which we have caused these our letters
patent to be made. Witness ourself, at Gorhambury, the sixteenth day
of July, in the nineteenth year of our reign. Know ye also, that we,
the immunities, liberties, priviledges, and all the rest and singular
the premisses in the letters patent aforesaid, recited, accounting,
ratified, and grateful, and them, at the humble petition of the present
mayor, barons, and inhabitants of the burrough of Corfe aforesaid,
of our special grace, and certain knowledge and mere motion, have
ratified and confirmed, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and
successors, do ratify and confirm. And know ye further, that we, of
our more plentifull special grace, and certain knowledge, and mere
motion, will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors,
we grant to the aforesaid mayor, barrens, and inhabitants of the
burrough of Corfe aforesaid, and their successors, that they and
their successors, as to the rest, be for ever quit, and they shall
be of and from all toll, custom, pannage, pontage, keyage, murage,
stallage, pissage, piccage, terrage, lastage, passage, carriage,
rivage, aponsage, scot, and gild, hidage, scutage, and from all racks,
and from all ven-dition, achat, and rechat, through all our land,
and power, with soca and saca, to land them, and that they be lastage,
free love, copefree, and wite free, and that they have den and
strond at Great Yarmouth, and that they be quit of all their things,
and all their merchandize, as our freemen, and that of their proper
wines, with which they negotiate, they be quit of our recta prisa
(viz.) of one hogshead of wine ante nialum, and another post malum.
We have granted also, and for us, our heirs and successors, we
confirm to the same mayor, barons, and inhabitants of the burrough
aforesaid, and their successors for ever, that if anv custom in the
burrough aforesaid, hitherto obtained and used, be in any part hard
and defective, or any do arise anew in the same burrough, and where
there is no remedy provided, that do need ordination or amending,
that the same mayor and barons, with the assent of the community of
the said borrough, or of the greater part of the same community, may
appoint a fit remedy, agreeable to good faith and reason, for the
common profit of the mayor, barons, and inhabitants of the aforesaid
borrough, and ordinances and constitutions, in English called bylaws,
for the common utility aforesaid, to make and frame, with punishment
and penaltys fit to be inflicted for the breaking and violating of
the same ordinances and constitutions, and for the same punishments
and penaltys, districtions, from time to time, to make, and the
goods and chattels of the breakers and violators of the ordinances
and constitutions aforesaid, as is aforesaid, being distrained, to
keep until the payments of the punishments and penalties by the
aforesaid breakers and violators of the constitutions and ordinances
aforesaid, so that these ordinances be profitable to us and our
people, and agreeable to good faith and reason, and not contrary,
but according to, the laws of England. Also we will, and by these
presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we grant to the said
mayor, barons, and inhabitants of the burrough aforesaid, and their
successors for ever, that they may record their liberties and free
customs before us, our justices, aud other ministers whatsoever.
And further, for the better ruling and governing of the said burrough,
of our special grace and certain knowledge, and mere motion, we have
given and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and
successors, we give and grant to the same mayor, barons, and inhabitants
of the burrough aforesaid, and their successors for ever, that, concerning
the rest for ever, the mayor of Corfe aforesaid, for the time being, and
his deputy, in case of sickness, infirmity, or absence of the mayor, from
time to time, and the last preceding mayor of Corfe aforesaid be, and shall
be, keepers of the peace and justices of us, our heirs and successors,
within the said bur-rough of Corfe aforesaid, and by these presents,
we create, constitute, make, and ordain them, the mayor and his deputy
as aforesaid, and the aforesaid last preceding mayor from time to time,
keepers of the peace, and justices of us, our heirs and successors,
for the keeping of the peace within the said borough, and for all
the ordinances and statutes for the good of the peace of us, our heirs
and successors, and for the keeping of the same, and the quiet ruling
and governing of the people of us, our heirs or successors, already
put forth, or for the future to be put forth within the said borough
of Corfe aforesaid, according to one form and effect of the same to
be kept, and to cause to be kept; and to chastise and punish there
all the offenders against the form of those ordinances and statutes
as according to the form of these ordinances and statutes shall be
to be done. We will also, and by these presents, for us, our heirs
and successors, we grant to the said mayor, barons, and inhabitants
of the borough of Corfe aforesaid, and their successors, that the said
mayor, or the deputy of the said mayor, and the last foregoing mayor
of Corfe aforesaid, and any one of the justices for the keeping of
the peace of us, our heirs and successors, in our said county of Dorset,
who shall be willing to intermeddle in this business, or two of them,
of which the said mayor, or his deputy as is aforesaid, we will be
always one, may have power and authority touching the rest for ever,
to hold within the aforesaid borough a convention of justices for us,
our heirs and successors, for the keeping of the peace of us, our heirs
and successors, commonly called privy sessions or petty sessions,
according to all the ordinances and statutes, for the good of the
peace of us, our heirs and successors, for the keeping of the same,
and for the quiet ruling and governing of our people, of our heirs and
successors, already put forth, or for the future to be put forth,
within the said borough of Corfe aforesaid, and according to one form
and effect of the same, to be kept, and to cause to be kept, and that
as often as whensoever business touching and concerning the execution
in form aforesaid by our aforesaid justice for the peace of us, our
heirs and successors, constituted by this our present charter in the
borough aforesaid from time to time shall be done and ended, the
inhabitants of the borough aforesaid may not be summoned by our justices
of our said county of Dorset to any other convention, commonly called
privy sessions or petty sessions to be held without the borough aforesaid.
Nevertheless we will, and we do declare our royal intention to be, that
every mayor, and the deputy of the same, and the last foregoing mayor
aforesaid from. time to time, before he or they be admitted to the
execution, of the said office of justice of the peace as aforesaid,
may and shall take such a corporal! oath upon the holy gospells of
God faithfully to execute that office in all things and through all
things as the justices of us, our heirs and successors, for the keeping
of our peace in our said county of Dorset, and in other our countys
within our kingdom of England, are wont to take, do take, and from time
to time are and shall be obliged to take, without any other warrant,
writt, or commission from us, our heirs or successors, to be procured
or obtained; and that every mayor of the same borough, and the deputy
of the same, and the last foregoing mayor, may and shall take the same
oath from time to time before the barons of the said borough which now
are or hereafter shall be, or before two or more of them, and that the
said barons of the borough aforesaid, or two or more of them, from time
to time, as touching the rest, for ever by these presents, may have
full power and authority of administering such an oath as aforesaid
from time to time without any other or further warrant, writt, or commission
from us, our heirs or successors, in that part to be procured or obtained.
And we will, and by these presents for our heirs and successors we grant
to the mayor, barons, and inhabitants of Corfe aforesaid and their
successors, that, if it happen any mayor of the said borough of Corfe
aforesaid for the time being at any time or times to be sick or weak for
the future, or from any other just and reasonable cause shall be detained
or rendered unable that he cannot attend the office of the mayor, or the
necessary businesses of the same borough, or if he shall think it necessary
for him upon any reasonable cause to go out of the said borough, and not
there to stay or inhabit, that then and so often as it shall and may be lawful
for the said mayor of the borough aforesaid for the time being, from time
to time during the whole term in which the aforesaid mayor shall continue
in his office of mayor, to make and constitute one of the barons of the said
borough to be the deputy of the same mayor so as aforesaid being sick or
weak, or so upon a reasonable cause detained or rendered unable, or without
the borough aforesaid staying or inhabiting as abovesaid; which deputy,
indeed thus into the office of deputy mayor to be made and constituted,
is and shall be the deputy of the same mayor from time to time and justices
of us, our heirs and successors, for the keeping of the peace in the
borough aforesaid as is abovesaid, so often as the aforesaid mayor shall
happen to be sick or weak, or be detained upon any reasonable cause, or
be rendered unable, or be absent as aforesaid during the whole time in
which the aforesaid mayor shall continue in the office of mayor, unless
the aforesaid mayor hath made or constituted any other of the aforesaid
barons his deputy; and that every such deputy of the aforesaid mayor so
as aforesaid to be made and to be constituted all and singular the things
which do belong or ought to belong to the office of the mayor, and to
the office of a justice for the keeping of the peace of us, our heirs
and successors, within the borough aforesaid to be done and to be executed
from time to time so often as the aforesaid mayor thus happens to be
sick or weak, or so to be detained or be rendered unable, or be absent
during such time in which the deputy of the aforesaid mayor shall be and
continue, may do and execute by virtue of these our letters patent, so
fully, freely, and entirely, and in so ample a manner and form, as if
the mayor aforesaid if he were present might do and execute the same,
having first taken the corporall oath upon the holy gospels of God for
such deputy well and faithfully to execute all and singular the things
which do belong tu the office of deputy mayor, and to the office of a
justice of us, our heirs and successors, for the keeping of the peace
of our borough aforesaid, before one or more of the barons of the
borough aforesaid, and so often as the case thus happens. And moreover
we will, and bythese presents,for us, our heirs and successors, we
grant to the same mayor and barons of the said borough of Corfe, and
their successors for ever, that any two or more of the barons of the
borough aforesaid may have full power and authority of giving and
administering such corporal oath or such corporal oaths upon the holy
gospells of God as is above-said to every deputy mayor and justice of
the peace in such case as is aforesaid, to be made without any writt,
commission, or further warrant in that part from us, our heirs or
successors, to be procured or obtained. And moreover we will, and by
these presents, for us, our heirs and successsors, we grant to the said
mayor, barons, and inhabitants of the said borough of Corfe aforesaid,
and their successors for ever, that the bailiffs of the sheriff of our
said county of Dorset touching the rest for ever may not put themselves
into, take, and arrest any person or persons by virtue or color of any
writt or precept, or of any writts or precepts, of us, our heirs or
successors, without the licence of the mayor or deputy mayor of the
same borough for the time being first had and obtained, notwithstanding
so that there always be inhabiting within the said borough a bailiff or
bailiffs of the said mayor and barons who can and will execute such
writts and precepts of us, our heirs and successors, all and singular
the premisses aforesaid above by these presents granted and confirmed,
or mentioned to be granted and confirmed, to the aforesaid mayor, barons,
and inhabitants of the said borough of Corfe, and their successors for
ever, to be had and enjoyed. And further we will that Edward Dackomb,
esquire, the present mayor of the said borough, Edward Osborne, commonly
called Lord Latimer, son and heir apparent to our well-beloved and
very faithfull couzin and counseller Thomas Earl of Danby, our Treasurer
of England, John Banks of Kingston Hall in our county of Dorset,
esquire, Anthony Eursman, William Frampton, Philip Bailey, Nathaniel
Smith senior, and James Summers of Corfe aforesaid, gentlemen, be, and
they shall be, the present modern and respective mayors and barons of
the borough of Corfe aforesaid, and may have, enjoy, and use the rights,
priviledges, grants, in any manner belonging to the mayor and barrens
of the said borough. Provided always, and it is our royal intention,
that these our letters patent, or anything contained in the same, shall
not be in anything prejudicial to the heirs or assigns of Ralph Banks,
late of Kingston Hall aforesaid, knight, deceased, late lord of the
manor, borough, and lordship of Corfe aforesaid, as to any jurisdiction,
authority, liberties, rights, or priviledges, within the borough of
Corfe or Isle of Purbeck aforesaid, heretofore by the said Ralph
Banks, or by any other heretofore being lord of the said borough,
manner, and lordship of Corfe aforesaid, lawfully used and exercised,
or any ways belonging to the said borough, manor, and lordship. And
further we will, and by these presents for us, our heirs and
successors, we declare and firmly command to be enjoyned, that all
and every mayor, deputy mayor, and barons of the said borough now by
these presents nominated, constituted, or for time to come to be
called and constituted, before they be admitted to the execution or
exercise of the office or offices of the place or places to whom or
to which they shall so respectively be called, appointed, or constituted,
or any way they put themselves in, or either of them respectively put
himself in, they shall take, and every one of them shall take, both
the corporal oath, commonly called the oath of obedience, and the
corporall oath commonly called the oath of supremacy, upon the
holy gospells of God, before such person or such persons of what
sort, and who at present are appointed and designed, or for the
future shall be appointed by the laws and statutes of this our
kingdom of England, to give and administer such oaths. In witness
whereof we have caused these our letters patent to be made. Witness
myself at Westminster the twelfth day of February in the thirty-first
year of our reign, by writt from the privy seal.
For a fine in our haniper office 6/. 13s. 4d.
PIGOT.
Contents