VI.-Chamberlain's Accounts from 1700. VIII.—Parchment bound book containing translations of Charters, copies of By-laws, etc. The Mayor's salary is set down at £20, with a lease for twenty-four sheep on the Common. Fines: A Jurat refusing the office of Mayor £50. A Bailiff refusing to be a Jurat £30. Free Burgesses refusing the office of Bailiff £20. Admission of Freemen 40s for the sons of freemen and for apprentices, £6 in the case of "foreigners." IX.-Churchwardens' Accounts, 1723-1768: 1731, June 5th. "Pd the Ringers and for Bonfire, Beer, etc., upon his Majesty's coming to anchor within Sheerness" June 6th. "Paid to the Boats' crews that attended X.-Cesse Book from 1706. Bailiff's disbursements from 1702. £1 13 6 100 1 16 0 Also contains the Land XI.-Folio book inscribed Parish of Queenborough Articles of ye Committee, 1806-1810. XII.-Folio book containing abstracts of leases. III. LOOSE PAPERS. These may be divided into two classes (a) General, (b) Letters. Many of the latter refer to the Parliamentary elections, and are of interest as shewing the influence which was brought to bear upon the Burgesses by those who imagined that they had a right to control their choice of representatives. CONTENTS OF LARGE PORTFOLIO. Office copy of the Royal Charter of Queenborough. "A copy of the original record remaining in the Rolls Chapel having been examined therewith this day by me John Hewett Aug. 16th 1827." A copy of King Charles II.'s Confirmation of the Charter. A letter from Christopher Robinson, Mayor, to the Collector of the Queen in Kent, protesting against the imposition of the 10th and 15th being levied by the parish of Minster on lands and goods of certain Burgesses of Queenborough. A copy of the Charter, "amended by Capt Evans 1626." A "copy of ye old Charter of Queenborough," 42 Edw. III. Names of the Burgesses 1459-60, and 1471. Nomina Burgensium ville de Queenburgh tempore Johannis Swalman Maioris de Queenburgh Anno xxxviij° H. vjth. 1368. Copy from Patent Roll of a Warrant for the appointment of Richard de Blore, Richard Cok, and William Chaundeler as paymasters for work done at Queenborough Castle. 1384. Copy from the Patent Roll of Grant by King Richard II. of the lordship of the Castle to his favourite Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford. The will of Thomas Robynson, singleman, of Queenborough, made Nov 22a, 1557 :— "I give and bequeath my soul to God Allmighty, and my body to be buried in the Churchyard of Mynster, to the parish priest of the same iij iiijd, to the Chapell of Queenborowe *. To Roger Kircopp iij, to Elizabeth Stevenson one half angell in gold. To Ralph Blythe one blacke cote and ijs in money. To William Thorneborowe's wife xij. To Kircoppe's Children and John Saunders' children vij. To each howse xijd. To Gilbert Amore one doblett. To William Howhe one sherte and my best breaches. To M2 John Saunders for the injuries done to him by me when I was his servaunt vjs viij. To Roger Kircoppe ijs iiijd. To my Mr John Saunders' wife v. To be bestowed at Mynster at my buryall one ewe shepe wyth as moche brede and drynke as shall suffice, and at my moneths minde at Quinborowe. To the townhall of Quinborow xl." His executors are directed to sell his house to the best advantage, and to devote the money to making a well in the middle of the town. "To every pore house in the towne xijd and all the rest to be bestowed in dedes of mercy and pyttie." Witnesses, Sir John Sheref preste, James Pette, Roger Kircoppe, and other more. (Proved before the Mayor Robert Colens May 24th, 1558.) SMALL PORTFOLIO. 1558. An Assessment for the Minister's wages, 41 paid and the total amounted to £5 3s. 4d. 1660. Proceedings in the Court Leet before John Tyce, Mayor : "We present that Daniel Baker, ffreeman, being at home at his owne house, hath wilfully absented himself from his attendance at this Court Leet and hee is therefore amerced at 5s to bee levied for the use of the poor of the towne. "Also we present Mr Nicholas Taylor and Henry Minge for their keeping each of them a hogg on the Common more than their stock, and are therefore allowed a moneth's time for their removal of them upon penaltie of xijd a peece. “Also we present John Tayler for keeping company at his house in Sermon time on the last Lord's Day and hee is therefore amerced at ijs. "Also we present Mr Richard Thompson for breaking downe the cage and stock house, and doe order him to repaire the same againe at his owne charge within one moneth upon penaltie of xx. "Also we present Mr Richard Thompson for detaining forty shillings of the money given to the Towne by James Herbert, Esqre, and Sir William Wheeler, K, and order the same to be paid unto Members for the Borough 1660. the Chamberlain of the Town before the next Court day upon the penalty of iiij11. "Also we present the same Mr Richard Thompson for deteyning the plate taken off the Town Mace, whereon was engraved the last pretended State arms and order it to be delivered to the Chamberlain before the next court day on penalty of 403. "Ordered that the severall Victuallers of this Towne shall sell a full wine quart of strong beere for a penny to any person who shall have occasion for the same, upon the penalty of xijd for every default not exceeding two quarts in one day to one man (pen drawn through) house. "Whereas the Register booke of this Towne hath heertofore beene in the hands of severall persons uncapable of keeping the same by reason whereof divers persons who have been borne and buried within the said Towne have not been Registered to the great dishonour of this Towne and of those borne therein, it is heereby ordered that the said Register book bee put into the hands of the Minister of this Towne for the time being or some other person capable of keeping the same, to be duly kept on penalty of 5a a moneth for every other person who shall deteyn the same." 1679. Article exhibited in the Court the fourth day of August 1679 against Andrew Widgen, Serjant Mace, and one of the Freemen of the Borough of Queenborough :— "Imprimis that the said Andrew Widgin in the presence of diverse of the ffreemen . . . . did upon the fower and twentieth day of July last past publish declare and say these approbious scandalous and villifying words following, that is to say, "They are all rogues that voted or spoke against Captaine Hales,' Mr Richard Nicholls being then present and hearing the same words and knowing that Mr Henry Knight, Maior of the said Borough, amongst severall of the Juratts had given his vote in the last election against the said Captain Hales, asked the said Andrew Widgin what he made of his Master, Master Mayor. The said Andrew replyed that he was as badde as the rest." 1664. Cesse for renewing the Charter, total £37. 1728. View of Frankpledge. 1607. A petition from the Mayor, etc., of Queenborough to the King complaining that although King Edward III. built them a chapel of their own, and that they provide a convenient Curate, yet they have to pay tithes to the parish church of Minster. 1576. Thomas Smyth, Customer, to the Mayor and Jurats of Queenborough. "I am advised that you have stayed fyve barrells of powder of Mr Thomas Manwood which came indeed very unorderly to y hands by ignorance of them that shipped it, and therefore you have done duties of good offices in staying it. But seeing it is the dewtie of all men to certifie a truth when any thing is in contraversie. And that also I am requested thereto by the right worshipful Mr Justice Manwood his uncle. This is to let you know the Custom of the said powder is truly paid." 1596-7. Sir Moyle Finch to the Mayor and Jurats of Queenborough. Directing them to choose "meete and unmeet men to serve in the next Parliament," "for the better asserting whereof I am to inform you by my letters or otherwise of the contents of her Maties good meaning for the said Borough in the intended Parliament, which if yt shall otherwise appeare to be evill supplied, the said |