Printed and Published at the Dover Express Works. 1916.
TO BE FORMATTED
ANNALS OF DOVER.
SECTION EIGHT.
DOVER IN PARLIAMENT.
II. ELECTIONS OF THE FIRST PERIOD.
Edward III., 1366-1377
In the Reign of Edward III., after the fortieth year,
when the record of Dover Parliamentary representation begins,
there are seven ParHaments on record, to which eight different
Burgesses were sent from Dover.
1366 Nicholas atte Hall and William de Denne.
Nicholas atte Hall was a member of an influential family
which settled at Dover soon after the Conquest.
William de Denne was a Jurat of considerable influence,
who was then Mayor.
1368 Nicholas atte Hall and Simon Monin.
The Parliament to which these two were returned was
called after a lapse of a year.
Simon Monin was of a family which came from Nor-
mandy at the Conquest, and settled at Dover.
1369 There was a Parliamentary writ issued in this year,
but no names are entered on the return.
137 1 The next return found was for this year, but the name
of Simon Monin only was entered on the return.
1372 John atte Hall and Water EHs.
John atte Hall sat for Dover in eight Parliaments,
and was Mayor nine times.
Walter Elis was a Jurat, and was three times sent as
Burgess of Parliament, but was never Mayor.
1373 John atte Hall and John atte Street.
John atte Street sat in nine Parliaments for Dover.
1376 Simon Coldred and John Elis.
These two members were Jurats, but are not otherwise
mentioned in the local records.
1377 The writ was returned without names.
Richard II., 1377-1399.
In this reign twenty-two Parliaments were summoned,
but in several of them no returns were made from Dover,
İnly four new Members are introduced.
DOVER IN PARLIAMENT 369
1378 John atte Hall and John Monin.
John Monin sat in four Parliaments. He was styled
" junior," his father being of the same name. The seal of
this Member was three crescents within an indented border.
It is attached to a deed dated 141 5, preserved in the Dover
Muniment Cabinet.
1379 None of the writs of the Cinque Ports had names
attached this year.
1380 This year Parliament sat at Northampton. No Dover
Members were returned.
1381 John atte Hall and John atte Street.
1382 John atte Hall and John Monin.
1383 John atte Hall and Walter EUs.
The above two were the Members in the Spring Session.
1383 Walter Elis and John atte Street.
These two went to the Autumn Session. The second
Session had to do with the war in France. The English
contributed " a tun of gold " towards the extinction of the
Clementines, who were defeated this year at the Battle of
Dunkirk.
1384 John atte Street and John Hamon.
John Hamon was a Jurat and a Chamberlain of the
Dover Corporation.
1385 John atte Street and John Gyles.
John Gyles was returned as Member eight times. His
family had an estate in Dover called " Gyles 's Coomb,"
north of the Castle.
1386 John atte Hall and John Gyles.
1388 John atte Hall and John Gyles.
These two Members went to the Spring Session of 1388,
which was held in London, and adjourned.
1388 John Monin and John Gyles.
These two went to the Autumn Session, the same year,
which was held by adjournment at Cambridge, and was
called " The Wonderful Parliament," because it was held
at London and Cambridge.
1390 John Gyles and John Monin.
1390 A writ came to Dover for an Autumn Session, but no
Dover Members went up.
1 391 John Gyles and John atte Street.
In this Parliament the Burgesses of Dover who went up
had, as Burgesses, a striking object lesson. Richard II.
370 ANNALS OF DOVER
demanded a contribution of j£i, ooo from the City of London.
The citizens refused to pay it. The King forthwith annulled
their Charter, and they were compelled to pay _^ 10,000 for
its renewal.
1393 John Gyles and John atte Street.
This Parliament was held at Winchester.
1394 No return made to the writ.
1395 John atte Street and John Gyles.
In this Parliament a truce of twenty-eight years was
made with France.
1397 John Monin and Nicholas Spicour.
Nicholas Spicour was a Jurat, but never Mayor; but
Thomas Spicour, his father, was Mayor twice. Nicholas
Spicour was elected for ParUament twice.
1398 A writ received, but no Members returned this year.
1399 Writs were issued by Richard II. for a Parliament in
Sej)tember, but on the day of meeting the King
was a prisoner in the hands of Henry, Earl of
Oxford. Dover returned no Members to that
Parliament, which sat for one day cfrily, and
received Richard II. 's abdication.
Henry IV., 1399- 141 3.
Henry, Earl of Oxford, as Henry IV., ascended the
vacant throne on September 30th, 1399, and immediately
called a Parliament to meet on the 6th October. In Henry's
short and troubled reign (the first King of the House of
Lancaster) only six elections are mentioned.
1399 John Gyles and John de Evebroke.
This Parliament was called by the new Knig on the
ist October, and met on the 6th of the same month. Owing
to the short time allowed for election, most of the Members
were the same as in the preceding Parliament which assembled
in September. It is doubtful whether the two Dover
Members were in their places on the day of opening, but they
were there on the 13th October, when the Coronation took
l^lace.
John de Evebroke was a Jurat when chosen for Parlia-
ment. He was Mayor twice. He had a residence on the
west side of King Street, where he died in 1415.
DOVER IN PARLIAMENT 37I
1 40 1 In this year Dover received writs lo return two Mem-
bers, but no return was made, nor did Parliament
meet, for, early in the year, there was an attempt
to dethrone Henry IV., and, by way of retaliation,
Richard II., who was in prison, was murdered.
1402 John atte Street and Thomas Gyles.
Thomas Gyles was a son of John Gyles, a former
Member.
1403 and 1404 Writs were received at Dover in both of
these years, but no Members were returned. Civil
war was raging. The Battle of Shrewsbury took
place in 1403; and, in 1404, the Parliament being
at Coventry, the ParUament "wages" would not
have met the cost of travelling. That was called
" The Unlearned Parliament," because all lawyers
were excluded.
1406 Thomas Gyles and Henry Merle.
Henry Merle was a Jurat who was chosen for Parliament
in 1406 and 1407. In the latter year an Act was passed
curtailing the King's prerogatives by the establishment of a
Privy Council.
1410 Peter Reade and Nicholas Spicour.
Peter Reade was the Lieutenant of Dover Castle.
1 411 and 141 2 There is no mention of writs in 141 1 nor in
141 2. It is presumed that Dover ignored the writs,
for there were Parliaments held, at which the
King reproved " the too great Hberty of speech
of Members of the House of Commons."
Henry V., 1413-1422.
In this reign seven Parliaments were called.
1413 John Garton and Thomas Monin.
In this Parliament it was ordained that Members should
reside at the places where they represented.
John Garton was a Jurat who was three times chosen for
Parliament.
Thomas Monin was a Jurat.
14 1 4 Walter Stratton and John Garton.
Walter Stratton was a Jurat of Dover in 1414 when he
was returned to Parliament, and he was Jurat until his death
in 1437. He was sent to Parliament five times, and he was
eleven times Mayor.
372 ANNALS OF DOVER
1415 and 1416 In these years Dover received writs, but
the Corporation sent no Burgesses to Parliament.
This was because they were so busy at Dover in
the transport of troops in the war with France.
141 7 Thomas atte Crouche and John Braban.
Thomas atte Crouche owned much property in Dover.
John Braban was chosen as a Burgess of Parliament
eight times between 141 7 and 1431.
141 9 Walter Stratton and John Braban.
1420 Thomas atte Crouche and Thomas Arnold.
Thomas Arnold was an owner of land in Snargate Ward.
He was Mayor three times. His name appears as witness to
six Corporation Charters.
1421 (Spring Session) John Braban and Thomas Arnold.
142 1 (Autumn Session) Walter Stratton and John Braban.
There were two elections of Burgesses of Parliament in
the year 142 i.
Henry VI., 1422-1461.
In this long reign only seventeen Parliaments are men-
tioned, and, owing to the disturbed condition of the Kingdom,
many election returns have been lost.
1422 John Braban and William Hammond.
William Hammond was a Jurat, but never Mayor, and
he was only once chosen for Parliament.
This ParUament had nothing to do but to appoint a
Regent, owing to the King's infancy, he being less than a
year old.
1423 Walter Stratton and John Braban.
1425 Thomas atte Crouch and John Carton.
1426 John Byngley and Thomas Frankeleyn.
John Byngley was a Jurat. He went to Parliament only
once.
Thomas Frankeleyn was a Jurat and an attorney.
1427 Walter Stratton and Gilbert (jcrnun.
Gilbert Gernun was a Jurat, v/ho was elected for Par-
liament in the years 1427 and 1432. His family, alias
Harpele, which migrated to Dover from Norfolk, was here
in the time of Hubert de Burgh, William Gernun being one
of the witnesses of the deed of gift by which Hubert granted
the Manor of Eastbridge to the Maison Dieu. The Gernuns
held the Manor of Siberston, in Hougham parish.
boVER IN PARLIAMENT 373-
1429 Thomas atte Crouche and Thomas atte Coombe.
Thomas atte Coombe was a Jurat and coal merchant
when chosen as a Burgess of Parliament, and he does not
appear to have filled any other office.
1 43 1 John Braban and William Brewys.
William Brewys was the Mayor of Dover who negotiated
the agreement by which Faversham nominated one of its
Burgesses to be elected for one of the Dover seats in
Parliament.
1432 Gilbert Gernun and Walter Nesham.
Walter Nesham was the Bailiff of Dover. He was twice
chosen for Parliament. In 1446, Henr}' VI., by letters
patent, forgave several officials their trespasses, and Walter
Nesham, Bailiff of Dover, was included in that Pardon.
1433 Burgesses of Parliament were elected in this year, but
the returns are missing.
1435 John Pyrye and John Braban.
John Pyrye is not elsewhere mentioned in Dover records.
He is supposed to have been a Burgess of Faversham,
returned as one of the Parliamentary representatives of Dover
in accordance with the agreement above referred to. He
was the only Faversham Burgess who ever sat for Dover in
Parliament.
1437 WiUiam Brewys and Walter Nesham.
For the following four years the returns are lost.
1442 John Ward and Ralph Toke.
John Ward's name appears in the Dover Hundred Courts'
Records three times.
Ralph Toke was Seneschal and Marshal of the Castle.
He was elected for Parliament three times. He was in
Parliament in the Autumn Session of 1449 and the Session
of 1450, when the Duke of Suffolk was impeached, and who,
while attempting to leave the realm, was assassinated on
board a ship off Dover.
1447 Richard Nesham and John Toke.
Richard Nesham was a son of Walter Nesham, the
Bailiff of Dover.
John Toke was a brother of Ralph Toke, the Seneschal
of the Castle.
1449 Stephen Grygge and John Toke.
Stephen Grygge was only returned for Parliament once.
374 Annals of t)0VEti
1449 (Autumn) Ralph Toke and Richard Grygge.
Richard Grygge, who was Mayor three years, and lived
in Snargate Street, was, in the year 1446, awarded jQ^ by
the King for exposing himself to the dangers of the sea in
conveying a Royal Message to Calais.
1450 Ralph Toke and Richard Grygge.
1453 Thomas Doyley and John Toke.
Thomas Doyley had " Sir" prefixed to his name, and
was, it is supposed, in some office at the Castle. There is
a record of his having been Mayor five times, but the Wars
of the Roses commencing at this time, when Dover became
deeply involved with the Yorkist faction, the records both
as to the Mayoralty and the Parliamentary representatives
are lost, or it is probable a good deal more might have been
heard of Sir Thomas Doyley.
1454 Writs to elect two Members came this year, but none
were returned.
Edward IV., 1461-1483.
During the period of seventeen years, 1465-1473, there
were but few Parliaments called, and Dover was not repre-
sented in any. In 1455 Dover received the election writ,
but made no return. In 1459 a Parliament was held in the
Yorkist interest at Coventry, but Dover Castle, being in
favour of the Lancastrians, and the Barons of the Cinque
Ports being pledged to the Yorkists, no Dover representa-
tives were elected. In 1460 there was a Parliament held at
Winchester, but no returns were made by Dover. From
that time until 1471, a period of ten years, all the Cinque
Ports' Parliamentary election returns, including those of
Dover, are lost. Also, from 1478 until the end of the Reign
of Edward IV. all the Parliamentary returns are missing.
It was during this interval that the Liberties and Franchises
of Dover were for one year seized by the Crown.
1472 Thomas Hextall and William Alytron.
This was the first Parliament to which Dover sent
representatives during the Reign of Edward IV., as far as
the existing records go.
Thomas Hextall was the Lord Warden's Receiver at
Dover Castle, under the Duke of Buckingham, the Lan-
castrian leader, and under the Earl of Warwick, the Yorkist.
bOVER IN PARLIAMENT ^*^5
He served both of his masters so well that he got a strong
position at Dover. Although not a native, he became a
Freeman, a Jurat, Mayor, and a Burgess of Parliament ; and
when the King, Edward IV., took away the Civil liberties
of the Town and Port, he placed them in charge of Thomas
Hextall as Gustos until the old rule was restored.
William Mytron was a Jurat who resided in King Street.
1478 Thomas Hextall and Roger Appleton.
Roger Appleton 's family came from Appleton Manor,
of Ickham, near Wingham, where they had been since the
Norman times. Roger Appleton settled in Dover, and held
the Manor of Maxton at the time when he was sent as a
Dover Burgess to ParUament.
Edward V., April 9th to June 25, 1483.
In this short reign of only 77 days, no Parliament was
called. The Prince of Wales, who was proclaimed as
Edward V., was a minor, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester,
the late King's brother, assumed the office of Protector, ;
but immediately after, on the pretext that the children of
Edward IV. were illegitimate, he, on the 25th June, 1483,
seized the Grown, and it is alleged that he caused Edward V,
and his brother to be suffocated in the Tower of London.
Richard III., 1483-1485.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester, having usurped the
Throne on the 25th June, 1483, as soon as pos.sible called
a Parliament, which assembled on the nth November, 1483,
but no Dover Burgesses were returned, for, before that
Parliament met, the leading men of Kent had risen against
Richard in favour of Henry of Richmond, who, two years
later, was crowned as Henry VII. The Kentish ri.sing in
favour of Henry was led by Sir Edward Poynings (who was
subsequently Lieutenant of Dover Gastle and, later, Lord
Warden). The risinc; was premature, and Poynings had to
fly to France until Henry had rai.sed sufficient men and money
to establish himself on the Throne, but when Henry VII.
had the power he rewarded this Kentish supporter. The
Acts passed in that one Parliament of Richard III. were for
the first time written in English. Also, the Acts of Parlia-
ment were then printed for the first time.
376 ANNALS OF DOVER
Henry VII., 1485-1509.
In this reign of twenty-four years there were eight
Parliaments, and there is no reason to beheve that Dover
failed to return Burgesses of Parliament on each occasion,
but the returns, which should be in the Record OfiEice,
are lost. It appears from the records of the Cinque Ports
Courts that the Burgesses attended Parliament, and they were
requested to bring copies of all new Acts of Parliament, the
practice of printing the Acts, commenced in the Reign of
Richard III., having made copies available. In the last
years of his reign, Henry VII. dispensed with Parliaments,
his coffers being brimful.
Henry VIII., 1509-1547.
There were nine Parliaments summoned in this reign,
of v.'hich all the returns are missing from the Chancery
pr.pers except one, but four others appear in the Dover
Records. Of the Parliaments assembled in 151 o, 1511 and
1 5 14 we have no information nor of the Parliament of 1545.
The writ for the Parliament of 1523 was accompanied by a
letter from the King, addressed to the Mayor and his
Brethren of his Town of Dover, asking them to elect two
barons of great discretion and experience in consequence of
the weighty matters which would be considered in the coming
ParHament, both affecting the state of the English Church
and the war in France.
1523 Thomas Vaughan and Robert Nethersole.
Thomas Vaughan was a Jurat of large experience, and
he had been Bailiff of Dover for some years.
Robert Nethersole was of a family of Wymynswold,
Kent, and a Dover Jurat.
1529 Robert Nethersole and John Warren.
John Warren was of an old Dover family, his father
having been Mayor in the Reign of Henry VII.
1536 John Warren and Robert Nethersole.
1539 Thomas Vaughan and John Paynter.
John Paynter was one of the Commissioners appointed
in 1534 to take oaths of fealty to the King in Dover, and
he had also been Mayor.
DOVER IN PARLIAMENT 377
1 541 John Warren and William Graenger.
William Graenger was a Dover Jurat who resided near
Upwall Gate. When he was at the Parliament of 1541 he
exhibited to the House of Commons the Dover Charter in
order to secure authority for a new plan for the nomination
of Mayors by the Jurats, instead of being proposed, as of
old time, in the Common Assembly of Freemen.
Edward VI., i547-i553-
In this reign of seven years there were but two Par-
liaments called. The Dover returns for them are not
preserved with the Chancery Records, but in the Dover
Records there are particulars of the election of 1553, a few
months before the King's death ; and that return is of special
interest because at that election one of the Members was
selected from the Isle of Thanet, such a choice never having
before nor afterwards been made.
1553 Henry Cryppes and Thomas Portway.
Henry Cryppes is described as being of the Isle of
Thanet. It is not stated of what locality, but there is reason
to believe that he was a native of Margate.
Thomas Portway was the Dover Baihff in the Reign of
Edward VI., and a very active Jurat.
Mary, 1553-1558-
In this reign, which was first called "Mary's," and
afterwards " Philip and Mary's," there were five Parlia-
ments called. One sat for a whole year, one four weeks,
one three months, one ten weeks, and one ten months.
There was an interval of two years between the fourth and
fifth Parliaments.
The names of the Dover Members who sat in the
Parliament called in 1553 are lost.
1554 John W^ebb and Thomas Collye.
There is nothing special on record concerning John
Webb.
Thomas Collye was a sheep farmer and a beer brewer.
He several times held the office of Mayor, and there is in
the British Museum "A Book of Orders and Decrees passed
in his time for the Good Rule of Dover."
378 ANNALS OF DOVER
1554 (Autumn) William Hannington and John Webb.
William Hannington was the head of the Victualling
Department at Dover, a Jurat, and was Mayor. Particulars
of his career will be found in a note on his Mayoralty in
Section VI.
1555 Thomas Warren and Edmund Rowse.
Thomas Warren was a Dover Jurat who was sent to
Parliament at three elections between 1555 and 1572. He
mentioned in his will that his " wages " for attending
Parliament were not paid, and that he had to pay his own
expenses at the Coronation.
Edmund Rowse was a Castle official, and was nominated
by the Lord Warden.
155S Joseph Beverley and John Cheyney.
Joseph Beverley was a Dover Castle official, a lawyer,
and in the Corporation he was a Town Clerk and a Jurat.
John Cheyney was also a Castle official, a relative of
Sir Thomas Cheyney, the Constable.
Elizabeth, i 558-1603.
In the Reign of (^ueen Elizabeth, which extended over
forty-five years, there were ten Parliaments elected, this
Queen having entirely ignored the old rule of annual
Parliaments. Of the twenty Members elected for Dover,
eleven were new men. Ten of them were Burgesses of Dover,
and the others appear to have been Crown nominees. In
the year 1572 the Court of Brotherhood of the Cinque Ports
made a new decree for the choosing of Burgesses of Parlia-
ment, but it does not appear to have altered the procedure
at Dover.
1559 Thomas Warren and John Robbynes.
John Robbynes was a master mariner who owned some
of the ships of the Dover Passage. He was one of the
canopy bearers at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
1563 Thomas Warren and John Robbynes.
157 1 Thomas Andrews and John Pinchney.
Thomas Andrews was a Dover Jurat who was chosen
as a Burgess of Parliament in 157 1 and 1572.
John Pinchney was an officer of Dover Castle nominated
in the Lord Warden's interest.
bOVfek tN PAfeLlAMfeNt 379
1585 Sir Richard Barry and John More.
Sir Richard Barry was the Lieutenant of Dover Castle
under Lord Cobham, the Lord Warden. He superintended
the building of the long wall of the Great Pent in 1583. He
was in charge of Dover Castle when the Spanish Armada
was defeated within sight of it.
John More was a kinsman of Sir Thomas More, the
Lord Chancellor.
1586 Sir Richard Barry and John More.
1589 Sir Thomas Fane and Edward Stephens.
Sir Thomas Fane was the successor of Sir Richard Barry
as Lieutenant of Dover Castle, and he held that position
until his death in 1606. He was knighted at Dover Castle
in 1573, when (^ueen Elizabeth spent a week there during
her progress through Kent. Sir Thomas Fane represented
Dover in Parliament for twelve years, and was instrumental
in obtaining the renewal of the Passing Tolls Act, which
supplied Dover Harbour with its revenue, in recognition of
which service the Common Council presented to Sir Thomas
ten gallons of claret and five gallons of sack. When the
new Court Hall was built in the Market Place in 1605 the
coat-of-arms of Sir Thomas Fane was carved there, where
it remained until the old structure was demolished in 1861.
Edward Stephens was an outsider who was admitted
to the Freedom of Dover to qualify him to be elected.
1594 Sir Thomas Fane and Thomas Ellwood.
Thomas Ellwood, a Dover Jurat, was Dover's Parlia-
mentary representative for four years. After he retired he
complained that his " wages " for attending Parliament had
not been paid for two years.
1598 Sir Thomas Fane and William Leonard.
William Leonard was a Dover Jurat who was a Burgess
of Parliament for three years.
160T George Fane and George Newman.
George Fane was the younger brother of Sir Thomas
Fane, and he held an office under his brother at the Castle.
He represented Dover in Parliament until 1609, and was
knighted by James L
George Newman was a Doctor of Civil Law and
Commissary General of the Diocese of Canterbury. He
was knighted by James I.
3^0 ANiXALS OF DOVER
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