THE Great and Ancient CHARTER OF THE Cinque-Ports OF Our LORD the KING And of The Members of the same LONDON Printed by T. N. for the Mayor and Jurats of Hasting 1682. The Great and Ancient CHARTER OF THE Cinque-Ports CHARLES the Second Char. 2. By the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. To all those to whom these Our present Letters-Patents shall come Greeting We have look'd over the Letters-Patents of Our famous Predecessor the Lady Elizabeth late Queen of England Eliz. about Confirmation according to these words viz. Elizabeth by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith c. To all those to whom these present Letters-Patents shall come Greeting We have look'd over the Letters-Patents of the Lady Mary Mar. late Queen of England Our dearly beloved Sister about Confirmation made according to these words Mary by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith and upon Earth of the Church of England and Ireland Supream Head To all those to whom our present Letters-Patents shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Letters-Patents of Edward VI. Lord Edw. 6. late King of England Our Brother about Confirmation made according to these words Edward VI. by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and upon Earth of the Church of England and Ireland Supream Head To all those to whom Our present Letters-Patents shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Letters-Patents of Henry VIII Lord Hen. 8. late King of England Our moâ— dear Father about Confirmation made according to these words Henry by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To all those to whom these present Letters-Patents shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Letters-Patents of Henry Lord Hen. 7. late King of England Our Father about Confirmation made according to these words Henry by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Charter of Edward IV. Lord late King of England made since the Conquest according to these words Edward Edw. 4â— by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Chief Officers and to all Bailiffs and faithful Subjects Greeting We have look'd upon the Charter of Confirmation of Richard II. Lord late King of England since the Conquest made according to these words Richard Rich. 2. by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To all those to whom Our present Letters shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Charter of Confirmation of Edward Lord late King of England Our Grandfather according to these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Edw. 3. Lord of Ireland and Aquitain To the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Head-Officers and to all Bailiffs and faithful Subjects Greeting We have look'd upon the Charter of Edward Lord late King of England Our Father according to these words Edward Edw. 2. by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Head-Officers and to all Bailiffs and faithful Subjects Greeting We have look'd upon the Charter which Edward Lord late King of England Our Father granted to the Barons of the Cinque-Ports according to these words Edward Edw. 1. by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Head-Officers and to all Bailiffs and faithful Subjects Greeting Know ye that for the faithful Service which Our Barons of the Cinque-Ports have hitherto paid to Our Predecessors the Kings of England and to Us lately in Our Army in Wales and for their good Service to be continued for the future faithfully to Us and to Our Heirs the Kings of England We have granted and confirmed by this Our Charter for Us and Our Heirs to the same Our Barons and their Heirs all their Liberties and Acquitances The Liberties and Acquitances viz. so that they may be free from all Toll and from all Custom viz. from all Lastage Tallage Passage Carriage Riverage Bridg-toll and all Wreck and from all Sale as their Achat and Reachat through Our whole Land and Dominion with Soc and Sac Thol and Them and that they may have Infangtheff and be Wreckfree and Wittfree Lastage-free and * Lovecopefree and that they may have Den and Strond at Great Yarmouth according to what is contained in an Ordinance by Us thereupon made and for ever to be observed and also that they be quit from Customs to be done to Shires and Hundreds so that if any one brings an Action against them they shall not Answer nor Defend themselves otherwise than they used to do in the time of Henry Lord Our Great Grandfather as also that they may have whatever they find by Sea and Land and that they be quit as to all their Goods and Merchandising as Our Free-men and that they have their due Respects at Our Court and their Liberties through Our Dominions wheresoever they shall come and that in all their Lands which they were possessed of in the time of the Lord Henry Our Father viz. in the Forty fourth year of his Reign they be quit for ever from the General Summons before Our Itinerate Justices at what Pleas soever in whatsoever Counties their said Lands be as also they shall not be bound to appear before Our Justices aforesaid unless any of the Barons sue any Man or be sued by any And that they shall not be Impleaded but where they ought and are wont to be viz. at Shepwey Shepwey And that for the rest of their Liberties and Acquitances they have them as well fully and honorably as they and their Predecessors had them heretofore by their Charters in the times of the Kings of England Edward William the First and the Second King Henry Our Great-Grandfather and of Henry Lord the King Our Father as those Charters which Our said Barons have from thence and which We have look'd upon do reasonably testifie And We forbid any one to disturb them or their Trading upon pain of the forfeiture of Ten pounds to Us provided that if the Barons be defective in doing and taking Justice that the Warden of the Cinque-Ports to Us and Our Heirs for the time being shall enter upon their Ports and Liberties upon default of the said Barons to do full Justice there Provided always that the said Barons and their Heirs shall pay to Us and Our Heirs the Kings of England every year the full Service of Fifty seven Ships at their own Cost
in the Twenty sixth year of Our Reign And we Ratifying the Grants and Confirmations aforesaid do grant and confirm them to be well pleasing to Us and Our Heirs as much as in Us lyeth for the Barons aforesaid of the Cinque-Ports their Heirs and Successors for their good and faithful Service which they have hitherto paid to Us and shall pay for the future as the Chatters and Letters aforesaid do reasonably testifie And We further willing to do the said Barons a greater kindness have given and granted to them for Us and Our Heirs That although they have not hitherto enjoyed any one or more of their Liberties and Priviledges contained in the said Charters and Letters yet the said Barons their Heirs and Successors may use and enjoy their Liberties and Priviledges aforesaid and every of them without the let of Us or Our Heirs or Our Officers whatsoever Witness hereunto the Reverend Fathers William Bishop of Worcester J. Bishop of Bath and Wells and W. Bishop of Exeter Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester and Hereford John de Britann Earl of Richmond Adam de Valentia Earl of Pembroke Hugh de le Spencer Robert Son of Pagan Edmund de malo Lacu Steward of Our Houshld and others Given under Our Hand at Westminster the Twenty sixth day of July in the Seventh year of Our Reign We making Good the Grants and Confirmations aforesaid do Ratifie and by the Tenour of the Presents confirm them to be well pleasing to Us and Our Heirs as much as in Us lies for the aforesaid Barons of the Cinque-Ports their Heirs and Successors for the good and faithful Service hitherto paid to Us and Our Progenitors and for the future to be paid to Us and Our Heirs as the Charters and Letters aforesaid do reasonably testifie And further willing to do to the aforesaid Barons a greater kindness We have granted for Us and Our Heirs to the same Barons of the Cinque-Ports That although they or their Predecessors hitherto have not fully enjoyed any one or more of their Liberties and Acquitances contained in the Charters and Letters aforesaid yet the said Barons their Heirs and Successors may fully enjoy for ever make use of their Liberties and Acquitances aforesaid without any let or impediment of Us Our Heirs or any of Our Officers whatsoever The Witnesses hereunto are the Reverend Fathers S. Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor J. Bishop of Bath and Wells Our Treasurer Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster Edmund Earl of Kent Our most dear Sons Edward de le Spencer Guydo Brian John Atley Steward of Our Houshold and others Given under Our Hand at Westminster the First day of July in the Thirty eighth Year of Our Reign We have also look'd upon the Letters-Patents of the same Our Grandfather after these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting We have look'd upon Our Charter of Confirmation which We lately made to the Barons of Our Cinque-Ports under the Seal which We then used after these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting We have look'd upon Our Charter of Confirmation which we lately made under the Seal which We then used to the Barons of Our Cinque-Ports after these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting We have look'd upon the Letters-Patents which the Lord Edward of famous Memory late King of England Our Grandfather made according to these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting We considering that the Navy of the Cinque-Ports cannot be sustained without great Costs and Charges left the Navy for the future should fail or decay We have granted for Us and Our Heirs That all the Members of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid and other Advocants and Resiants whatsoever in the Liberties of the same do contribute viz. every of them according to their abilities for the doing the Service with their Ships to Us and Our Heirs whenever by Us or Our Heirs they shall be commanded thereunto In Witness whereof we have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at St. Albans the 28 day of April in the 26 Year of Our Reign And we Ratifying the Grant aforesaid do grant and confirm it to be well pleasing to Us and Our Heirs as the aforesaid Letters do reasonably testifie And because about those general words contained in the Letters aforesaid viz. that every one contribute according to his Abilities there have risen in former times divers dissentions That the Barons of the Ports aforesaid may the more commodiously pay their aforesaid Service to Us and Our Heirs at fit times We have given and granted by the Advice of Our Prelates Earls and Barons and the Commons of Our Realm assembled together in Our present Parliament to the said Barons of the Cinque-Ports that all the Members of the said Ports and all Advocants and Resiants whatsoever in the Liberties of the same contribute to the Navy and Service aforesaid to be kept and maintained out of all their Goods and Chattels as well those that are without the Liberty of the aforesaid Cinque-Ports as within and may be compelled thereunto by the Mayors and Jurats of the Ports aforesaid and also if need be by the Constable of Our Castle of Dover The Goods of Advocants and Barons of the Cinque-Ports not to be taxed with the Goods of Foreigners And that the Goods and Chattels of the said Barons and others as well without the said Liberties as within which are taxed for the maintenance of the Navy and performing that Service be by no means taxed for Tallage and other Tributes with the Goods and Chattels of Foreigners In witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the Twenty fifth day of February in the First year of Our Reign And We thought fit to have a Copy of Our Charter aforesaid under the Seal which We now use to be transcrib'd according to their request In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at York the Twenty sixth day of February in the Second year of Our Reign And We Ratifying the Grants and Confirmations aforesaid as well pleasing for Us and Our Heirs as much as in Us lyeth do grant and confirm to the aforesaid Barons of the Cinque-Ports their Heirs and Successors the Barons of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid for their good and faithful Service to Us and Our Progenitors hitherto paid and for the future to be paid to Us and Our Heirs their Liberties as the Charters
be under the Seals of any of the Members of the said Cinque-Ports and Towns or any of them And if the said Bills or Billets do or shall at any time hereafter of or for any Fifteenth amount above the said Sum of 500 l. then for Us Our Heirs and Successors We Will and Charge the said Treasurer Chancellor and Barons of the same Exchequer and every of them from time to time to allow to the said Collector and Collectors of Us Our Heirs and Successors for the time being for the said Barons of the said Cinque-Ports and Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and their Successors and for them and every of their Members and the Resiants of the said Ports Towns and Members and the Advocants of the said Ports and Towns the said Sum of 500 l. and no more And then for Us Our Heirs and Successors We Will and Command that the said Treasurer Chancellor and Barons of the Exchequer of Us Our Heirs and Successors for the time being make as hasty Process as lawfully as may be made against the said Barons of the said Cinque-Ports and of the said Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and their Successors for the levying of the said 1000 Marks by them to Us Our Heirs or Successors to be forfeited for their exceeding the said Sum of 500 l. contrary to their said Recognizance And further for Us Our Heirs and Successors We do Will and Charge all and every Collector and Collectors of Us Our Heirs and Successors of every Fifteenth to Us granted or hereafter to Us Our Heirs or Successors to be granted that they and every of them do receive of the said Barons of the Cinque-Ports and of the said Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and their Successors for them their and every of their Members and the Resiants of the said Ports Towns and Members and the Advocants of the said Ports and Towns all and every such Bills and Billets as have been or hereafter shall be tendred unto the said Collector or Collectors or any of them according to the purport and true meaning of these Presents And moreover for Us Our Heirs and Successors of Our meer grace and certain knowledge We do grant to the said Barons of the said Cinque-Ports and Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and of the Members of the said Ports and Towns and their Successors that neither they nor their Successors nor any of them nor the Resiants of them or any of them nor the Advocants of the said Ports and Towns or any of them or their Successors at any time hereafter by Us Our Heirs or Successors or by the Treasurer Chancellor or Barons of the said Exchequer of Us Our Heirs or Successors or by any Collectors or other Officers or Ministers of Us Our Heirs or Successors shall be distreined impeached impleaded or molested in any thing contrary to the Tenor and Purport of these Presents although express mention of the true yearly value or certainty of the Premises or of any of them or of any other Gifts or Grants by Us or any of Our Progenitors to the aforesaid Barons of the said Cinque Ports or of the said Towns of Rye and Winchelsea and their Members heretofore made in these Presents is not made or any Statute Act Ordinance Provision or Restraint to the contrary made ordained or provided or any other thing cause or matter to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the Six and twentieth day of January in the Three and fortieth year of Our Reign We have also looked upon the Letters Patents of Our most Dear Grandfather Lord James late King of England made according to these Words James by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting c. In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the Thirtieth day of January in the Second Year of Our Reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the Thirty eight We have also looked upon the Letters Patents of Our most Dear Father Lord Charles late King of England of Blessed Memory made after these Words Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. To all those to whom these present Letters shall come Greeting c. In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our Self at Westminster the Sixteenth day of June in the Tenth Year of Our Reign Whereas Our Town and Port of Hasting in our County of Sussex and Our Town and Port of New-Romney alias Romene of Heeth Dover and Sandwich in Our County of Kent are and from the time of the contrary of which being never known to have been were always the Cinque-Ports of Us and Our Progenitors the Kings and Queens of England And whereas also Our Towns of Rye and Winchelsea in Our said County of Sussex are and from the whole time aforesaid have been Antient Towns and within the Liberties of the Cinque-Ports aforesaid And whereas also the Town and Priviledged Monastery of Pevensey and the Town of Seaford in the County of Sussex aforesaid and the Towns and Places called Bulver-Heath Little Iham and Hidney in the County of Sussex aforesaid and the Towns or Places called Beckesbourne and Graunge alias Grenche in the County of Kent aforesaid are and have been ever since the time aforenamed Members of the said Town and Port of Hasting And the Town of Bromhill in the aforesaid Counties of Sussex and Kent and the Town of Lydd and Old-Romney in the County of Kent aforesaid and that other Towns or Places called Denge-Marsh Oswardstone alias Oswelstone in the County of Kent aforesaid are and have been ever since the time aforenamed Members of the said Town and Port of New-Romney alias Romene and also the Town of Westheeth in the County of Kent aforesaid is and hath been ever since the time aforesaid a Member of the same Town and Port of Heeth and also the Towns of Folkstone and Feversham in the County of Kent aforesaid and the Towns and Places called Margate St. Johns Goresend Brichington-Wood alias Wood-Church and St. Peters in the Isle of Thannet in the County of Kent aforesaid and Kingsdown and Ringwolde in the County of Kent aforesaid are and have been ever since the time aforesaid Members of the forenamed Town and Port of Dover and also the Towns or Places of Fordwich Deal Walmer Ramsgate and Stomer in the aforesaid County of Kent and Sarr in the Isle of Thannet in the said County of Kent and Brightlingsey in the County of Essex are and have been from the whole time aforesaid Members of the said Town and Port of Sandwich as also the Town and Hundred of Tenderden in the aforesaid County of Kent is a Member
Places aforesaid or within the Liberties Bounds Limits and Precincts of the same respectively and for the looking after all Indictments whatsoever which have been or shall be so presented before the aforesaid Mayors and Bayliffs or their Deputies and the Jurats and their Successors respectively or which have been made or exhibited and not yet determined before other of Our late Justices of the Peace within the aforesaid Cinque-Ports Antient Towns and the Members of the same or any of them respectively and for the directing making and continuing Process against all and singular of them so indicted or against those who for the time to come shall happen to be indicted before the aforesaid Mayor or his Deputy and Jurats the Bayliff or his Deputy and Jurats or their Successors respectively or against those who shall render or give up themselves to their own proper Officers and to hear and determine all and singular the Felonies Murders Manslaughters Witchcrafts Inchantments Fortune-telling Art-magick Trespasses Forestallers Regrators Ingrossers Extortions Assemblings Indictments aforesaid and all and singular the rest above-mentioned according to the Laws and Statutes of Our Kingdom of England which are already set forth or shall be set forth and to correct and punish the said Delinquents and every of them for their Offences by Fines Ransoms Amercements Forfeitures or any other way as hath been used or ought or hereafter shall be to be done according to the Law and Custom of Our Kingdom of England or according to the Form of the Ordinances and Statutes aforesaid already set forth or hereafter to be set forth and to do execute and perform all other things within the aforesaid Cinque-Ports Antient Towns and Members of the same and the Liberties Bounds Limits and Precincts of the same respectively as fully freely and perfectly and in as ample manner and form as the Justices of the Peace of Us Our Heirs and Successors in the Counties of Kent Sussex and Essex or in any of them or in any other County within Our Kingdom of England have heretofore done performed and executed or may or shall hereafter have power to do perform or execute by virtue of any Commission Act of Parliament Statute Law or Custom or by other legal way whatsoever and in as ample manner and form as if all those things had been exactly and by special words contained declared repeated and expressed in these Our Letters Patents And that any two or more of the aforesaid Mayors and Jurats of any Port of the aforesaid Cinque-Ports and their Successors respectively within the Ports aforesaid and within the Liberties Bounds Limits and Precincts of the same as also within any other Place or Places Town or Towns whatsoever appertaining or belonging to any Port aforesaid or being a Member of any Port aforesaid in which Place or Places Town or Towns the Mayor or Bayliff is not chosen by the Commons of the said Place or Places Town or Towns the Mayor of which Places and his Deputy for the time being We Will always have to be but one and that any two or more of the aforesaid Mayors and Jurats and their Successors respectively of either of the Antient Towns of Rye and Winchelsea aforesaid and of any Member of the aforesaid Cinque-Ports and Antient Towns aforesaid where there is a Mayor the Mayor of which Places or his Deputy for the time being We Will always have to be but one and any two or more of the aforesaid Bayliffs and Jurats of any Member of the Ports aforesaid where such Bayliff is chosen by the Commons of the same Member and their Successors respectively the Bayliff of which Place or his Deputy for the time being We Will always have to be but one from time to time for ever for the future may and shall be the Justices of Us Justices to deliver Gaols Our Heirs and Successors to deliver Gaols from the Prisons lying and being in the same within the Cinque-Ports Antient Towns Members and other Places aforesaid and within the Liberties Bounds Limits and Precincts of the same respectively from time to time acccording to the Laws and Custom of this Our Kingdom of England And by these Presents we create appoint make ordain and confirm any two or more of the said Mayors Bayliffs and Jurats and their Successors respectively the Mayor and Bayliff of which Places or their Deputy We Will always have to be but one the Justices of Us Our Heirs and Successors to deliver Gaols from the Prisons being in the same within the aforesaid Cinque-Ports Antient Towns Members and Places aforesaid and within the Bounds Limits Liberties and Precincts of the same respectively from time to time according to the Custom of this Kingdom of England and to do execute and perform all other things whatsoever from time to time within the aforesaid Cinque-Ports Antient Towns Members and Places aforesaid and within the Bounds Limits Liberties and Precincts of the same respectively as fully freely and compleatly and in as ample manner and form In as ample manner and form as other Justices as the Justices of Us Our Heirs and Successors in the aforesaid Counties of Kent Sussex and Essex and any one of them or in any other County within the Kingdom of England have heretofore done performed or executed to the delivering Gaols by virtue of any Commission Act of Parliament Statute Law or Custom or any other legal way whatsoever or for the future may or shall have the Power to do perform and execute and in as ample manner and form as if all those things had been exactly and by special words contained declared repeated and expressed in these Our Letters Patents And that no other Justices of Us Our Heirs and Successors that are appointed or are to be appointed for the Peace of Us Our Heirs or Successors within the aforesaid Counties of Kent Sussex and Essex or any of them Nor any Justice of Us Our Heirs and Successors appointed or to be appointed to enquire after hear and determine divers Felonies Trespasses and other Misdemeanors or to deliver Gaols within the aforesaid Counties of Kent Sussex and Essex or any of them Nor any Sheriff Under-Sheriff Coroner Escheator nor any other Officers belonging to Us No other Justices may be suffered to enter in c. Our Heirs or Successors within the aforesaid Counties of Kent Sussex and Essex or any one of them for the future enter or come in any wise to do act or perform any thing or things within the aforesaid Cinque-Ports Antient Towns Members or Places aforesaid or within the Liberties Bounds Limits or Precincts of the same Nor may any of them have or exercise any Authority or Jurisdiction concerning any causes things or matters whatsoever any way appertaining belonging or lying upon or which for the future shall happen to appertain belong or lie upon the Justices of Us Our Heirs and Successors appointed or to be appointed to keep the Peace or to enquire after hear