and grant to Robert Edgar, gent., a right to a certain quantity of town ground, against the place where the said Robert Edgar hath pulled or taken down part of a messuage situate in the High-street, called Brook-street, in this town; which agreement this court declares null and void; and that neither the bailiffs, portmen, or headboroughs, or any of them, jointly or severally, have any legal right or authentic usage or custom, to grant, make, or confirm any title or interest of, in, or to, any part or parcel of town waste, soil, or ground, to any person or persons whomsoever; and that the same is to be first proposed to be deliberated upon, and agreed, at some great court, consisting of the bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty of the corporation of Ipswich, and not otherwise, or in any other manner howsoever. But it is ordered, that in consideration of two guineas in gold, paid by the said Robert Edgar, he shall be allowed to lay the foundation of his new wall nine inches further into the common street, the right of the bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty being by him acknowledged; and that he shall be allowed to erect pales all along the front of the said house in Brook-street, and that he shall be allowed to build a porch to the said house, on paying £5 for the use of the corporation.

September, 8, 1716. Whereas, the town house, wharf, warehouse, and river Orwell, with the several duties and fees annexed, and therefrom arising, have been always received and taken as part of the fee farm, for which the bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty of this town, do pay an annual rent of £60 into his Majesty's court of exchequer; and whereas, the said duties and fees have been paid, without interruption, beyond the memory of man, it is ordered and agreed, that all the said duties and fees must and shall be maintained and preserved, and shall be henceforth strictly enforced and collected; and that all such persons as shall attempt to withhold and frustrate this intention, by landing merchandise at private quays, shall be proceeded against, as counsel shall advise.

April 10th, 1717. Agreed, that great care and due methods be taken to recover the charter of King Edward IV. and all other charters or writings of or belonging to this corporation, that are out of the town treasury, or mislaid; and that where any such charters and writings are wanted, and cannot be recovered by endeavour and search, that new copies or transcripts and exemplifications be taken from the records, at the charge of this corporation, without let or delay.

November 28th. One hundred and fifty pounds was agreed to be paid to the proprietors of the conduithead, late Mr. Caley's, for supplying the town with water; about which great pains were taken by the bailiffs, and a piece of land adjoining is hired of Mr. Bailiff Colman, for the purpose of forming a reservoir, laying down pipes &c., and the whole was managed under the direction of Mr. Colman.

December 9th, 1719. It was resolved, that making the river navigable from this port to Stowmarket would be prejudicial to the trade of Ipswich.

October 18th, 1720. Thursday next, being the king's coronation, shall be kept in such a manner as the bailiffs shall direct, at the charge of the corporation,

May 16th, 1721. Agreed and ordered, that £50 be given as a gratuity to Mr. Nottingham, who was an instrument in bringing about a release that was given to Mr. Stroud, respecting the Handford Hall estate: and it was agreed and ordered, that Mr. Bailiffs shall have liberty to treat the said Mr. Stroud and Mr. Nottingham, or either of them, whenever they come to see the corpora

tion, at the discretion of the said bailiffs, and at the expense of the corporation. The persons in power had actually agreed to sell the Handford Hall estate, and it would have been lost to the corporation, but for this timely negociation.

September 8th. John Marlow, gent., and William Churchill, esq., were elected bailiffs.

On the 29th of September, Mr. Churchill was discharged from the office of bailiff, at his request, and Mr. John Steward was chosen in his room.

Mr. Marlow was discharged from his office of bailiff, and, for his contempt of the court, fined £50, when Mr. Steward and Mr. Gravenor were sworn in.

October 10th. This court doth agree, that Mr. Gravenor, by procuring Mr. Steward to be sworn on the 29th of September last, did save the corporation from being dissolved; that Mr. Marlow's discharge was not regular; that he do remain bailiff, with Mr. Steward, and take the oath immediately. This court doth order the following speech, spoken by Cooper Gravenor, gent., now in court, shall be recorded in the great court book, which follows in these words :

" Gentlemen,

"I presume you all know, and I hope you will believe, that the inducement I had to offer my service on the 29th of September, was (as I really intended it) in that emergency, to draw the new-elected Mr. Steward to the hall to be sworn, and thereby prevent the dissolution of the corporation, by the absence and refusal of those who were chosen to accept the office, which succeeded accordingly, and I hope will not prove such an obstruction of another being elected, as to create a forfeiture within the act of parliament; and that it will appear that I did not offend either against the government or the act. Gentlemen, I am advised, and do agree, that my election is void in law, and, consequently, my oath which I have taken; that Mr. Marlow's discharge was not regular, and consequently his fine was not regular, and I desire that you will agree, and order that Mr. Marlow's fine and discharge, being irregular, be repealed, and discharged and vacated; that my election is void, that Mr. Marlow remain bailiff, having been chosen on the 8th of September last, for the year ensuing, and that he be sworn and declared bailiff, with Mr. Steward, by whose being sworn in the 29th of September, the corporation is saved."

November 27th, 1722. A loyal address was presented to His Majesty.

June 17, 1723. Goodchild Clarke was admitted to his freedom, on paying a fine of £5, having served Mr. Nathaniel Burrage, late town clerk, only five years; and two other persons were admitted, on paying a small fine, having served only part of their apprenticeship, and twelve other persons were admitted, on paying a fine of £10 each: by which it may be seen that it was formerly much easier to obtain the honour of being a free burgess than at the present day. At this court it was stated, that Mr. Cooper Gravenor had been possessed of the town-house crane, and crane house, and of a quay or wharf called the town quay, under a pretended lease, subject to the payment of £50, yearly, as rent of the aforesaid premises, and hath not paid or accounted with this corporation for any part of the said rent for thirteen years, and is also indebted to the corporation, on several other accounts, in divers sums of money; and whereas, the present bailiffs have, in a friendly manner, requested the said Cooper Gravenor to pass and settle his accounts, which he has refused to do; and having got into his power, or custody, several charters, court books, papers, and records, belonging to the corporation, which he refuses to deliver up: it is agreed, that a suit or suits be commenced against him, at the expense of the corporation, when, on the request of Mr. Gravenor, it was put to the vote, and the resolution was carried by one hundred and sixty four votes for it, and only a solitary vote against it, Mr. Edward Bird. Glad enough must the corporation have been to get rid of such a troublesome subject, for they were involved in a continued scene of confusion, broils, and litigation, during the twenty years Mr. Gravenor was amongst them. They seemed now to have settled down into something like a calm, and continued to proceed for several years in an uninterrupted routine of regularity.

July 31st, it was agreed, that to-morrow being the accession of His Majesty King George II. to the throne, be celebrated by drinking His Majesty's health on the town hall, as usual.

August 2d, 1723. Being advised, by counsel, that no freeman can be evidence in the case between William Salter, and Cooper Gravenor, to be tried at Bury assizes, it is ordered and agreed, that the several persons named be disfranchised, to give evidence at the trial, and five persons were ordered to be, and were disfranchised, accordingly; and, on the 8th of September these five persons were re-elected free burgesses, and sworn in accordingly. Cooper Gravenor exhibited a bill in chancery against the corporation, on pretence of having expended the amount of his rent, &c., for the benefit of the corporation: an answer was ordered to be put in.

April 26th, 1726. It is agreed, that upon payment of £200 by Cooper Gravenor to the corporation, that all differences, suits, and demands existing, or that have existed between them, from the beginning of the world to the present, shall cease, and be put an end to, and that on his payment of the money, the common seal shall be set to this agreement.

It seems that our worthy ancestors, not being yet enlightened on the subject of free trade, on the 18th of