Printed and Published at the Dover Express Works. 1916.

TO BE FORMATTED

ANNALS OF DOVER.
SECTION SIX.
THE MAYORS AND THEIR TIMES.
VI. FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMON
COUNCIL. 1556 TO 1605.

The establishment of the Common Council in the year

1556 was, in a way, the commencement of representative
government in the Council of the Borough. Up to
that time every Freeman had had a place and the
right to speak and vote in the Common Assembly, but
it was thought desirable to confine the deliberative
and executive authority to a more select body. At
that date (9th October, 1556) the Burgesses in Common
Assembly elected the members of the Common Council, but
ever afterwards, until the passing of the Municipal Corpora-
tions Act of 1835, all vacancies in the Common Council were
filled by themselves. That greatly impaired the Council's
representative character; but it was in accordance with the
customs of the times, and, therefore, was tolerated for 280
years.

1557 Thomas Warren 1558 Thomas Collye

1559 Thomas Pepper (90.

(go) Thomas Pepper, Mayor in the years 15591 1563, 1565 and
1567. Previous to his first Mayoralty there had been disorder in the
Corporation, to remedy which, it appears from the minutes, that in
the sixth month of his first Mayoralty the Jurats formed themselves
into an association to promote harmony and prosperity.

1560 Richard Gibbs (91)

(91) Richard Gibbs, Mayor in 1560, went as a Baron to the
Cinque Ports Court of Brotherhood during that year, and was fined
40/- for disorder.

1 56 1 Richard Elam (92)

(92) Richard Elam, Mayor in 1554 and 1569, was one of the
Jurats who took a great interest in St. Mary's Church after it was
handed over to Corporation for the townspeople. He ordered the
floor of the Church to be paved.

1562 WilHam Hannington 1563 John Robbins (93)

(93) John Robbins, Mayor in the last half of the year 1562-3,
being the last half of the year of William Hannington's second
Mayoralty. It appears that the Commonalty, after a year and a half's
discipline by the nominee of the Crown, was sufficiently orderly to
be again allowed to exercise their ancient franchises.



THE MAYORS AND THEIR TIMES 299

1563 Thomas Pepper 1564 William Burden (94)

(94) William Burden, Mayor in 1564, was a man of some
standing in Dover. His brother was styled the " Comptroller."

1565 Thomas Pepper 1566 Thomas Watson (95)

(95) Thomas Watson, Mayor in the years 1566 and 1584, was
the last Mayor elected in St. Peter's Church.

1567 Thomas Pepper 1568 John Edwards (96)

(96) John Edwards, Mayor in 1568, who, in the last month of
his Mayoralty, leased to his brother, Thomas, "one piece of voyd
ground, sett, laying and beinge under the Townewall of Dover,
betwene the Penyles Bench and the Towre, called the Comon Prison,
contayninge in length a hondretc and tenne footte, be it more or
lesse, and in breadth from the said Townewall downe to the lowe
watter marke, and it is further grawnted by the said Maior and
Chamberlains that the same Thomas Edwardes shall have the occu-
pienye of the voyd grownde under the Penyles Bench until such
tym© as the said Maior and Chamberlaines shall have neyd thereof
for buildinge or any other necessary cause."

1569 Richard Elam 1570 Thomas Burnell (97)

(97) Thomas Burnell was Mayor in 1570-r. During his
Mayoralty unofficial war was raging, which was worse than the real
thing. The Straits of Dover were blockaded by British and Dutch
privateers, who were chasing and seizing Spanish ships, which they
brought into Dover Harbour, where they sold their cargoes and the
Spaniards who manned the ships were brought up into the Dover
Market Place, where they were sold at a hundred pounds each and
then placed in irons in the Market Place Prison until their friends
came to purchase their liberty. Complaints were made about it to
the Privy Council by the Spanish Ambassador, and when this Mayor
retired he was Mayor no more.

1571 Thomas Andrews (98)

(98) Thomas Andrews was Mayor five times between 1571
and 1583. During his last Mayoralty, in 1583, he was removed from
office because of his hostility to the Romney Marsh men who were
being employed by the Royal Commission who were superintending
the construction of the Great Pent.

1572 Thomas Andrews i573 Thomas Andrews
1574 Thomas Andrews 1575 Thomas Warren
1576 John Lucas (99)

(99) John Lucas, who was Mayor in the year 1576, was
a brewer and a shipwright, and his residence was near
the top of Snargate Street. He died about four years
after his Mayoralty. There is in the Borough Archives
a letteft" of * introduction, countersigned by Mr. Lucas as
Mayor, introducing a Mr. A. Powler to Mr. Robert Peter, of the
House of Receipt, George Square, Dover. George Square is not
otherwise mentioned in the Dover Records, but there is no doubt
but that it was a space at the top of Snargate Street where the
bench stocd, on what is now called New Bridge. The Custom House,



30O ANNALS OF DOVER

¦which is referred to as the "House of Receipt," stood there; while
on the east side of the Square was the opening to the Fish Market;
and on the west side the "George Tavern" (now the "Shakespeare"
Hotel).

1577 Robert Finnett (100)

(100) Robert Finnett, Mayor in the years 1577 and 1578, in
his first Mayoralty received from the Privy Council e renewal of
the Charter of the Corporation.

1578 Robert Finnett 1579 Thomas Allyn (loi)
(loi) Thomas Allyn was Mayor only one year. During his

Mayoralty, on the 6th April, 1580, there was an earthquake in Dover,
and part of the Castle wall, next Canon Gate, fell.

1580 John Garrett (102)

(102) John Garrett was Mayor in the years 1580 and 1581. He
was an innkeeper.

1 581 John Garrett 1582 Thomas Andrews

1583 Thomas Andrews 1583 William Willis (103)
(103) William Willis, Mayor in part of the year 1583 and 1585,

was the first Mayor elected in St. Mary's Church.

1584 Thomas Watson 1585 William Willis

1586 Thomas Bredgatte (104)

(104) Thomas Bredgatte, Mayor in 1586 and 1587, was a Jurat
who was a superintendent of the cart traffic in the making of the
Pent.

1587 Thomas Bredgatte 1588 John Tench (105)

(105) John Tench, chosen Mayor in 1588, died in the next
year, and Edward Kempe (afterwards Mayor) married his widow.

1589 Henry Leonard (106)

(106) Henry Leonard, Mayor in 1589, had previously been a
Chamberlain.

1590 Jeffery Glydd (107)

(107) Jeffery Glydd, Mayor in 1590, was very strict with victuallers.

1 591 Humphrey Meade (108)

(id8) Humphrey Meade, Mayor in 1591, was a canopy bearer
at the Coronation of James I.

1592 Thomas Elwoode (109)

(109) Thomas Elwoode, Mayor in 1592, died in 1612, and
bequeathed an annual rent of 20/- to be distributed in bread by the
St. Mary's Overseers.

1593 Robert Burnett (no)

(no) Robert Burnett, Mayor in 1593, continued to be a Jurat
until the reign of James I.

1594 John Skeythe (in)

(ill) John Skeythe, Mayor in 1594, is not otherwise
mentioned.



THE MAYORS AND THEIR TIMES 301

1595 George Bynge (112)

(112) George Bynge, Mayor in 1595, 1596, 1604 and 1605, in
his third Mayoralty was associated with the building of the Court
Hall in the Market Place. The minutes say that the Corporation
resolved to build a structure " to be bewtefied with faire windowes,
fitt for such a house, and to have a garrett there made." In his
fourth Mayoralty, in June, 1606, the new Court Hall wais finished,
and it was found to be too much ornamented, the minutes having
the following thereon : — " Whereas the carver of the work about the
new Court Hall, either of himself or at the request of some others,
hath cutt and carved certain scuttchions, letters and marks of
particular persons which doeth rather deface the work than bewtefie
the same, it is therefore decreed at this assembly that order be given
to the said carver, or to the carpenter, to cutt out the scuttchions,
letters and marks before the same be paynted, egcept the arms of
the Cinque Ports, which is to remain."

1596 George Bynge 1597 William Leonard (113)

(113) William Leonard was Mayor in the years 1597, 1610 and
1611.

1598 Jeremy Garrett (114)

(114) Jeremy Garrett, of the same family as John, before
mentioned, was Mayor in 1598.

1599 Edward Kempe (115)

(115) Edward Kempe was Mayor in 1599 and in 1612. He died
during his last Mayoralty, and had a public funeral at St. James's
Church, where there is a monument to his memory.

1600 John Bachelor (116)

(116) John Bachelor, chosen Mayor isi 1600, was the keeper of
the " Guildhall Tavern," near the Market Place.

1601 John Bredgatte (117)

(117) John Bredgatte, Mayor in 1601, wae a son of Thomas
Bredgatte, previously Mayor.

1602 Richard Siseley (118)

(118) Richard Siseley was Mayor when Queen Elizabeth died.

1603 William Nethersole (119)

(119) William Nethersole was elected Mayor in 1603, when,
contrary to custom, the Corporation went to St. James's Church, where
a sermon was preached by Mr. Vincent HufEam, the Rector, because
Mr. Walter Richards, Minister of St. Mary's, refused to preach there
unless he was paid, whereas there was never any such demand before.

1604 George Bynge 1605 George Bynge



303 ANNALS Ul'" DOVER