Ratios Financieros Año 2016:

The first major changes introduced at Hythe again followed 4

the granting of a charter of incorporation in 1575. By the

charter, a corporation was established consisting of a mayor, nine jurats and a commonalty. Elections in the town were to be

governed by the same regulations as at Dover. This, in itself, is not very helpful since little may be discovered about the system in Dover at this period. The system set up was in all probability similar to that established at Romney in 1562, where the mayor was chosen from within the bench of jurats by the jurats and commonalty.^

1. See above pp. 138-9*

2. White & Black Books, 201-2. 3. See above p .

138

4. M. Weinbaum, British Borough Charters 1307-1660, 62; H.A. Merewether & A.J. Stephens, The History of the Boroughs and Municipal Corporations of the United Kingdoms, ii, 1321. 5. See above p.l

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g) Hastings

The head officer of Hastings, although styled the bailiff, was elected by the commonalty of the town and the issue of the

general electoral regulations had the same effect in Hastings as in the towns which had an elective mayoralty; instead of election by the whole commonalty, the right of choosing the head officer

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was to be with a panel of 37. There is no way of knowing for how long this system remained in force because of lack of records. Such information as does survive is of little value in isolation. A decree of 1564, for example, suggests a re-assertion of the rights of the freemen, while also indicating that some type of common council may have existed. It stated that ’none but freemen sworn shall be warned to any assembly, or have a voice therein, and that no act be done or passed by less than 24 jurats and freemen.' The exact significance of this decree is difficult to interpret in

the absence of supporting evidence but it does suggest that the regulations issued by the Brodhull had probably lapsed by this time.

On 15 February, 1588/9 the town was granted a charter of

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2, J.M. Baines, Historic Hastings, 74.

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incorporation by Queen Elizabeth, incorporating it as the mayor, jurats and commonalty of Hastings. Thomas Kay, the incumbent bailiff, was appointed the first mayor and the jurats for the previous year were also confirmed in office. They were to serve

until the next election day, when elections were to be held in 3 accordance with the system used before the grant of the charter.^

This, in itself, is far from helpful since little in known about the earlier history of the town. It seems probable, however, that.

the crown was very concerned about the possibility of civil disturbance and sought to avert this possibility by the grant of

1. E.S.R.O., Sayer MS. 3,824, pp.1-6,

2. See above p. l40.

3.

3,824,

4. E.S.R.O., Sayer MS. 3,824, p.l.

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% by this late date, the system of election was more limited than •

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that prescribed by the custumal, where elections were to be made

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by the whole commonalty. ^

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In common with most English towns, the grant of a charter of incorporation to Hastings was in response to a petition from the

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inhabitants of the town. This petition was granted to ensure that Hastings should be ’a town or port of peace and quiet, to the terror of evil persons and for the reward of the good.’^ It is

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possible to read much into this pious statement. At this time,

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charters of incorporation which restricted the size of the governing group. Such charters have been described as treaties

-a of alliance between a crown which wished to see power in the hands of vj a group small and rich enough to be answerable to it and urban

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elites determined to perpetuate their local status. It appears likely that the charter granted to Hastings fits in with this pattern and that its effect was to limit the size of the governing group in the town.

This system appears to have operated until the close of the century for the court books record the annual election of the mayor

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and other officers in the hundred-place. By 1603, however, the o system of election was once more changed. It was decreed that:

To avoid the great inconveniences which by common experience are found to be by reason of the

election of the mayor of this town abroad in the public view of the whole multitude, not only of inhabitants but also of many strangers, assembling at such elections in the open

hundred-place, whereby all matters of

council are disclosed and may not be kept |

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128.

2. H.M.C.. 13 pt. iv, 355. 3. Ibid., 358-9.

a larger additional council which, in theory, had to be consulted

J. Tait, The Medieval English Borough (Manchester, 1936), 303

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secret ... that from henceforth all the elections of the mayors of this town shall be solemnised, made, done and performed in the court hall as •

a place more decent, apt and secret for such J

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usage or decree to the contrary notwithstanding.

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