Printed and Published at the Dover Express Works. 1916.

TO BE FORMATTED

ANNALS OF DOVER.
SECTION SIX.
THE MAYORS AND THEIR TIMES.
I. THE EARLY CIVIC CHIEFS.

The Roll of the Chief Magistrates of Dover from the
Saxon times until the present day would have been an unique
record if it had been preserved in its entirety; and, even as
it stands, with some gaps in its earlier period, it is unsurpassed
in Municipal armals. Owing to changes in the fashions of
the times, the titles of the Chief Magistrates of Dover have
varied; but the whole list is usually referred to as "The
Roll of the Mayors " — a Roll on which any man may feel
proud to have his name inscribed.

In the Saxon times the Civic Chief was called " The
Reeve." There must have been a considerable number of
Reeves, but, unfortunately, none of their names have been
preserved. In the Norman time the Chief Officer of the
Corporation was called "The Prepositus " ; and in Early
English times the title was changed to "Mayor." The
Prepositi ruled for 191 years, yet the names of only seven
of them have been preserved ; and of the Mayors, whose
line commenced in 1298, the list is incomplete until the
year 1353, from which date it is perfect. Of the Prepositi
the seven names will be given, and, like the names of all
the Mayors on the Roll, will be accompanied by notes
relating special incidents of their times.

The long period over which the Roll extends is divided
into epochs, forming natural divisions of Dover's Municipal
histor}.-. The names of the Mayors are inserted opposite
each year in which they held office, but the note on each
Mayor is appended to his first Mayoralty.



2 52 ANNALS OF DOVER