SECTION IV.

FROM 1689, TO THE ELECTION OF THE FIRST MAYOR UNDER THE MUNICIPAL COPORATION ACT, 6 WILLIAM IV., 1836.

N the accession of the sovereigns William and Mary, to the throne of these realms, the kingdom at large hailed the event with the greatest satisfaction. The Declaration published by the king contained a long list of evils which had been practised during the late reign, amongst which the seizure, or compulsory surrender of the Corporation Charters was enumerated; and it was therein declared that "the late charters, by which the elections of burgesses are limited contrary to the ancient custom, should be considered null and of no force" and that all Boroughs should again return to their ancient prescriptions and charters.i

Accordingly, in the 1st William and Mary, 1689, the Charter of incorporation of this Borough, of the 36th Charles II., 1684, was superseded; and the previous one of the 13th Charles II., 1661, was restored, and is yet in force, excepting

i Merewether and Stephen's History of Boroughs and Municipal Corporations, vol. III. page 18-15.

Thomas Dickson,
Martin Headley,
John Killinoreck,
William Pickering,
Joseph Iiawmkr,

Thomas Potter,
William Rooke,
Joshua Irbetson,
William Sawer.

assistants.

Christopher Pawson,
Edward Caddy,
Adam Hargrave,
John Hodgeson,
Thomas Foster,
Henry Stanhope,
Joshua Hill,
Richard Hey,
George Banister,
Isaac Blackrurne,
Bartholomew Blades,
Thomas Kitchingman,

William Massey,
John Kitchingman,
Michael Idle,
Rorert Shaw,
John Rorinson,
Henry Pawson,
John Preston,
Thomas Bickerdike,
Thomas Hardwicke,
Bartholomew Towers,
Rorert Potter,
Mark Broadley.

Numerous searches were made in the various Record offices in the Metropolis for this Charter, hut without success; it was thought to have been either lost or destroyed. It has however been recently discovered in an office in this town, and very obligingly given up to the author, who has great satisfaction in seeing it restored to its legitimate owners, the Council of this Borough, and a translation thereof is given in Appendix XVIII.; the original is ornamented in the same manner as the preceding one of 13th Charles II. At present the Charter is deposited in the office of the Town Clerk. It is probable that a new Corporate Seal would at this time be provided, though its existence is entirely unknown.

It is learned from the Records of the Court of Quarter Sessions, that this Charter was read in the "Guildhall" in this town, on the 1st of January, 1685, before William Lowther, Bradwardine Tindall, and William Ellis, Esquires, his Majesty's Special Commissioners appointed for swearing the Mayor and other members of the Corporation therein named, into office. The first Court of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, was held on the 6th of February in the same year, when the Bill of Charges incurred in obtaining this Charter was produced, and a Committee of nine members of the Corporation were appointed to audit the same, and report thereon to a future Court. The Committee accordingly met on the 16th of the same month, at the house of Mr. Robert Nesse, the Sergeant at Mace, and after carefully examining the Bill of Charges referred to them:—

"Resolved, * * * * that the best way to raise the money to defray the charge of the Charter, is to make six monthes Assessmt (pporc'onable to the Cessmt of the poore,) through the whole Parrish, to be paid by eu'y Freeholder & Inhabitant wihin the Parrish & Burrough aforesaid. Out Leeds to be exempted."

At a Court held on the 20th of the same month, the Committee presented their Report, embodying the above resolution, which was read and adopted; and an assessment ordered to be laid upon the Borough, for discharging the same. There is no entry made in the Court Books of the particulars of the Bill of charges for obtaining this Charter.

It was also agreed at the same Court to send an address to the king, of which the following is a copy; and subsequently, the Mayor and Mr. Henry Stanhope, an Assistant, were appointed to present the same. There were 602 signatures appended to the address, including the members of the Corporation.

"To the King's most Excelt Ma^"Wee yor Maty" most dutyfull & loyall subjects, the Mair, Ald'men, Com'on Councell, Towne Clarke, & other Inhabitants wthin the Towne & Burrough of Leeds in yor County of Yorke, Doe sorrowfully condole the Death of our late Gracious Sov'aigne (of blessed memory,) yor Maty" most deare & intirely beloved Brother. And in the most cheerfull sinceritye of or Hearts, Wee humbly p'sent this or most joyfull Congratulac'on to yor sacred Matye for yo1 happy Accession to the Imp'iall Crowne of this Kingdom, and of all other yor Maty" Dominions & Countreyes."

"And wee doe in all humillitye beseech yor Maty= to p'mitt us to lay o* most thankfull acknowledgments at t yo1 Itoyall Feet, for yor MM" late most gracious Delarac'on; Beseeching Almighty Gotl to Grant y" a long & p'spous Reigne over us. And that yor Crownc * Dignitye may be established in peace upon yor MaTe & Posteritye for ever, ia our devout & solemne prayers, joined wth or firmy resoluc'ons to support 6c defend the same Vth the Lives Sc Fortunes of "Dread tri

"Yor Maty" most Dutyfull

"Loyall & obedient Subjects,

"GERVASE NEVILL, Maiv

At a Court held on the 15th of June, 1685, it was

"Ordered that the Ord' of this Cor4 made the 20th of February last, for defraying of the charge of the Charter, shall be pursued; And that Mr- Mair & 4 or 5 of the Aid'men, wth as many of the Assistants as pleases, doe meet on Wednesday, the 24th instant, att the House of MTM Hannah Johnson, by seaven of the clock in ye morning, to goe about to collect the same."

And at a Court held on the 27th of July, in the said year, it was also

"Ordered that such FreeholdTM wthin the Burrough, as pay their respective p'porc'ons of the six Monthes Assesnvt made towards the defraying the charges of obtaining the p'sent Charter, shall bee for the future exempted from paying Is. 6d* a peece, (according to former custome for keeping them from being returned att Assizes or Sessions.) And shall notwihstanding be freed att the charge of the Corporac'on."

About this time, the Corporation of this Borough was involved in an action-at-law with that of Kingston-upon-Hull, on account of the non-payment of Toll or Port duties to the latter place, by Joseph Pinckney of this town. The subject was brought before the last mentioned Court of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of this Borough, and it was proposed that the costs of defending the said action should be defrayed at the public expense. The Order of Court of the 29th of September, 1675, (given in the preceding section) was read, and it was ordered that the action-at-law then pending, and all actions thereafter to be commenced by or against any of the inhabitants of this Borough, for the non

payment of toll to the towns of Kingston-upon-Hull, Wakefield, or any other place, should be prosecuted and defended at the charge of the inhabitants of this Borough, application to be first made to the Court for that purpose.

At the same Court it was also

"Ordered that noe Member of the Cort of Com'on Councell shall at any time depte the Cort, wthout the license of the Mair, for the time being,) upon paine of forfeiting the sume of 2s- 6d. to the use of the Corporac'on."

During this reign, the Corporation appears to have been rather in debt, as on the 1st of November, 1686, a Committee was appointed to inspect the corporate accounts, and to consider some method of speedily discharging the various claims to which the Corporation was then subject; and also to confer with the several Masters, or other principal members of the Trading Companies and Fraternities in the Borough, respecting the renewal of their several "Constitutions", and to report thereon.

William Lowther, Esquire of Swillington, appeared before the Corporation on the 29th of September, 1687, accompanied by, and on the behalf of Robert Baynes, the younger, Esquire, of Knostrop, to endeavour to prevail on the Court to excuse Mr. Baynes from serving the office of Assistant, to which he had been for some time previously elected. Mr. Lowther appears to have given great offence to the Municipal body by his speech, as it is recorded in the Court Books, that he " cast seu'al reflexions upon the Con and the Members thereof, and in p'ticuler, said, that he cared not for the Records of the Court, for they were false, & not to be trusted; and againe, that noe p'son in the Court knew when reason was offerred." This speech as might have been foreseen, produced an effect just the opposite of what was intended. Mr. Baynes was fined for his contumacy and contempt of the Court, in not accepting the office to which he had been elected.