It is doubtful for what purpose this place was formed. Some have conjectured that it was intended to be a mansion for the dead. The least reflection will convince any man, that this conjecture is wide of probability. Is it not more natural to suppose," that as this cave is so near the place where the house of the Black Friers once stood, it was formed by the brotherhood, either as a penetentiary exercise, or for the purpose of obtaining water? The one or the other of these seems the most probable conjecture which can be formed.

THE

CORPORATION.

The Privileges, Customs, and interesting Occur. rences relating to it.

FROM the earliest records the burgesses enjoyed many, and, at that period, very valuable privileges; but they possessed no corporate rights. The grant of Roger de Lacy *, while it confirms the privileges of the burgesses, clearly evinces that they possessed no authority, but what he condescended to bestow. The office of head borough or prætor, a burgess might hold, provided he would give as much for it as any other person; but any other person was eligible, in case he was the highest bidder.

In this dependent state the burgesses continued till the honour of Pontefract became the property of the Dukes of Lancaster, and the Dukes of Lancaster lost their names in that of Kings of England. Richard III. in the first of his reign, granted to this borough a charter, to be governed by a mayor,' recorder, and thirteen comburgesses, or aldermen; and before the conclusion of the year, a charter of confirmation. The charters are in the usual style, * Vid. CH. No. 1. Appendix.

and define and confer the rights and immunities of a corporate body on the burgesses.

Whether the burgesses had aided and assisted Richard in accomplishing his design on the crown, or whether he bestowed this boon to attach them to his interest, is not easy to decide. The latter conjecture is most probable, as Richard saw the storm now gathering, which at last burst upon him, and put an end to his cruelties and his life.

As it was usual for our kings to resume the charters of corporate bodies, in order to raise money for granting new ones, it is not improbable that Henry VII. resorted to this measure, in regard to this borough. In the fourth of his reign he granted a charter, expressed in the same terms as that of Richard, but without noticing or referring to it in any way.

In the above charter it is ordained, that the mayor shall be chosen by the votes of the burgesses; and the mode that obtained was to give these votes openly in the Mote-Hall. This mode of choosing the mayor became a source of strife and contention among the burgesses; and the quarrels and differences which arose from one election scarcely subsided before another took place, which in like manner gave birth to others. Thus the town was rent by factions; peace was banished and good neighbourhood destroyed.

To terminate these differences, and restore peace and harmony to the town, the burgesses appear to have petitioned James I. to grant a new charter, to regulate the mode of choosing the mayor in future. Accordingly, in the fourth

of his reign, a charter was granted, appointing that mode of choosing the mayor which has ever since obtained. The mode is this, each burgess writes on a scroll of paper, "On the fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord (mentioning the current year) such a person is elected mayor of this town or borough." The name of the burgess is not signed, but the scroll of each is put into a box, then taken out by the town clerk, and the alderman, whose name is wrote on the greater number of scrolls, is declared duly elected; and the scrolls are burned, that the handwriting may not be scrutinized, least it should be known for whom, or against whom any burgess voted.

In the charter of Charles II. the same rights and privileges are conferred, as in those before granted; one clause excepted. The town clerk and recorder had hitherto been chosen by the mayor; but by this charter the right of appointing these he reserves to himself and sucThe nomination is left to the mayor, but they are not allowed to enter into office without a warrant in that behalf, under the King's sign manual,

cessors.

James II. eager to introduce popery, availed himself of his prerogative to grant charters, to accomplish this object. In his charter to this borough, he reserves to himself, his heirs and successors, the right of removing at pleasure, the mayor or any of the aldermen. It is easy to perceive his design, in inserting such a clause in his charters. It was, that corporate bodies might feel their dependence on the crown, and be led to support all its pretensions, or be de

prived of all their privileges, and others more obsequious and obedient be substituted in their place.

Previous to the commencement of the civil war the corporation appear to have been much alarmed, and to have felt themselves incapable of performing their duty as liege subjects, in maintaining the peace of the town. They chose out of the burgesses sixteen, and associated them with themselves, for the better management of the town's affairs.

In

During the civil war, and the siege of the castle, the authority of the mayor was superseded by the chief commanding officer in the town. this turbulent period, corporate privileges were disregarded; and no other law was admitted to be valid than that of the sword.

On the restoration of Charles II. commissioners were appointed for regulating corporations, by his letters patent, dated Sept. 10, 1662, at which time the following persons were removed from their office of aldermen, Leonard Ward, John Cooper, Richard Wildman, John Drake, and Jarvis Cooper; and these six gentlemen were placed in the office of aldermen, the said places being void as aforesaid, Wm Wilkinson, Jun. Robert Tatham, Jun. Richard Austwick, G. Shillito, Jun. Leonard Stables, Jun. and Thomas Jackson, Jun.

The reason of the removal of the above gentlemen, was their attachment to the interests of the late parliament. Those who had enjoyed power and authority under the auspices of Cromwell were ousted; and the friends of those high prerogative notions which now obtained, were substituted in their place.

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