The King in Stamford Baron

Professor Alan Rogers 2012

The following notes are taken from the Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council vol vii pages 227-229

At Collyweston[1] the vth day of August [1541], being present the Duke of Suffolk, the Lord Privey Seale, the Gret Chambrelain of Englande, the Gret Admiral of Englande, the Bisshop of Duresme [Durham], the Tresorer of [the Royal] Household, the Comptroller of Household, the Master of the Horse, the Vice-chambrelain,  Sir Thomas Wriothesley Secretary, the Chauncelour of th’Augmentacions. 

Wheras the King’s Majestie, being at this tyme in his progresse towards his Highnes cyty of York, myndeth to passe thorough his towne of Stamforde, being th’Alderman and th’inhabitaunts therof warned and demaunded of their libertyes, there hath arrisen matyer of contencion touching the same betwene the Shiriff of Northamptonshire, th’Alderman of the said towne and the Bailiff of the libertyes of Peterborough, that is to say, how farre every of the libertyes aforsaid do extende and shuld be used and how every of the said Shirif, Baillif of libertyes and Alderman shall gyve their attendaunce on his Majestie passing through the parishe of St Marten on this side the bridge, standing upon the water of Weylande and as it shulde appere in the county of Northampton, the said Shiriff clayming to cary the white rodde before the King’s Majestie untill the fote of the said bridge on this syde of the said water, alledging that neyther th’Alderman of the towne, nor the Baillif of the libertyes ought to beare any mace or other thing before the King’s Majestie till his Highnes’ arryvall at the said place of the bridge; the Baillif of the libertyes clayming th’office of the said Shiriff within the precincte of the saide libertyes, that is from th’entre into St Martyn’s parishe unto the saide place of the bridge t’apperteyn unto him onely and not to the Shirif of the shire;  th’Alderman of the said town clayming of right to mete the King’s Majestie out of the hole towne and before his arryval in the said St Martyn’s parishe, and to cary his mase before his Majestie through the said paryshe of St Martyn’s and so thorough the rest of the towne unto th’ende of the precincte of the saide towne in Lincolnshire. 

The King’s Majesty and the Lords and others of his Majestie’s Privy Counsail, attending upon his moost royaull personne, considering that the Shirif is his Majestye’s principall and ordynary offycer for the county of Northampton aforsaide and that neyther the Baillif of the libertyes hath yet proved that at tyme heretofore the Baillif for the tyme being hath caryed before the King’s Majesty any rodd, nor yet the saide Alderman can shew any sufficient graunte why he shuld cary the mase before the King’s Majesty from and through the places he claymeth, hath ordeyned and decreed that for this tyme onely the Shirif shall cary before his Majesty the white rodde through the said parishe of St Martens unto the middle of the said bridge and no further; and at the fote of the bridge on th’other side the Alderman to mete his Majestie with his mase and so t’attende upon his Highness unto the furthest precincte of the said towne on the further syde of the water; and the said Baillif of the libertyes for this present to surcease and in no wise to entremedle. 

Which sayd ordre the King’s Majestie and his Counsail woll and ordeyn shall take place for th’avoyding onely of confusion at this tyme in attendaunce upon his Majesty and in no wise to be taken or interpreted herafter eyther to the prejudice of any of the titles of the said Alderman and Bailliff, which any of them shal be able herafter to shewe or declare for the mayntenaunce of their claymes touching the carying of the said mase or rodd or of any other matyer which they shal herafter alledge, being mayntenable or to th’enlarging of th’authority of the Shiriff otherwise then herafter shalbe determyned. Provided alway that notwithstanding the saide ordre all and every th’inhabitaunts of the said parishe of St Marteyn’s shal be and contynue contributours and pay towards the xvth [fifteenth][2], knyghts and burgesses’ fees[3] and all other paymets, and do all and every such other thing and things with th’Alderman and burgesses of the saide towne of Stamforde as the said inhabitaunts of the said parishe of St Martens have bene used to pay and do heretofore before the making of the said decree, anything in the same conteined to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.    

[1] at the royal palace there, a favourite place of Henry VII and Henry VIII

[2] the royal taxes

[3] a tax taken from time to time to pay the expenses of the members of parliament

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