ration,) and the Indenture between the Bailiff and the Sheriff, in which the electors are not described, and they sign and seal as a joint and several act. Writ, dated the 5th of July, in the 13th year of Indorsed. By virtue of this Writ, in both the next County Courts of Cambridge and Huntingdon, after the receipt of this Writ, I made proclamation and caused to be elected for each of the Counties aforesaid, two Knights, the most fit and discreet, according to the force, form and effect of the said Writ, as appears in two Indentures to this Writ sewed, as the said Writ in itself doth demand and require. And further, I have commanded William Barre and Thomas Olyve, Bailiffs of the Liberty of the Town of Huntingdon, who have the full return of all the Writs of the Lord the King, and the execution thereof within the Liberty aforesaid, because I cannot make execution of this Writ out of the Liberty aforesaid, at present, who thus answer me, "the execution of this Writ appears in the Indenture to this Writ sewed." [The Mandate then follows, to which is annexed the Indenture, in these words.] THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a certain Writ, &c., proclamation being made at the next Court after the Receipt of the said Writ, to &c. George Gyddyng [and eleven others], who were present at the proclamation aforesaid, have elected John Chicksond and John Dekke, two fit Burgesses for the Commonalty of the aforesaid Borough of Huntingdon, who have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, &c. In Witness whereof the said George Gyddyng, John Abbotesle, John Sekyngton, Richard Brygges, John Digger, Lawrence Jekette, John Wysenhell, John Andrewe, Stephen Herford, William Denton, John Frankton, and Richard Ledre to the present Indentures have set their Seals. Dated the day, place and year aforesaid. The two next describe the Electors as Burgesses, and in all other respects agree with the previous return. Writ, dated the 10th day of December, in the 15th year of King Henry VI. THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a certain Writ, &c., proclamation being made in the next County Court of Huntingdon, after the receipt of the said Writ, (to wit), &c., Thomas Charwalton [and seven others], Burgesses of the Town of Huntingdon, present at the proclamation aforesaid, have elected John Prysete and John Andrewe, two fit Burgesses for the Commonalty of the aforesaid Town of Huntingdon, who have full, peaceable and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Town aforesaid, &c. IN WITNESS Whereof to one part of this Indenture, the aforesaid Thomas Charwalton and all other the Electors abovenamed have set their Seals, and to the other part remaining in the custody of the said Electors, the said Sheriff hath set his Seal of office. Dated the year, day and place abovesaid. Writ, dated the 3rd December, in the 20th year of King Henry VI. THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a certain Writ, &c. proclamation being made in the next County Court of Huntingdon, after the receipt of the said Writ, to wit, &c. John Chicksand [and five others], Burgesses of the Town of Huntingdon, being present at the making of the proclamation, have elected John Trevelyn and John Abbotysle, two fit Burgesses for the Commonalty of the aforesaid Town of Huntingdon, who have full, peaceable and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Town aforesaid, &c. In Witness whereof to one part of this Indenture the said John Chicksand and all other the Electors above-named have set their seals, and to the other part of this Indenture remaining in the custody of the aforesaid Electors, the said Sheriff hath set his seal. Dated the year, day and place abovesaid. The words "next Court," taken abstractedly, in the next returns, might be understood to mean the next Corporate Courts; but a comparison of these with the previous returns will show that the court intended was a County Court, or a Court Leet, which was not the proper place for the exercise of a corporate act. Writ, dated the 5th December, in the 25th King Henry VI. year of THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a certain Writ, &c. proclamation being made in the next Court holden at the aforesaid Borough, after the receipt of the said Writ, to wit, &c. John Gyddyng [and eleven others], Burgesses, who were present at the proclamation aforesaid, have elected John Trevilyan and Reginald Aqueburgh, two fit Burgesses for the Commonalty of the aforesaid Borough of Huntingdon, who have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, &c. In witness whereof the aforesaid John Gyddyng, John Chicksond, John Abotesle, John Sekyngton, Thomas Olyff, Richard John Freman, Richard, William, John Dowett, Henry, and Stephen, to this present Indenture have set their seals. Dated the day, place and year abovesaid. Writ, dated the 2nd day of January, in the 27th year of King Henry VI. THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a certain Writ, &c. proclamation being made in the next Court, holden in the aforesaid Borough, after the receipt of the said Writ, to wit, &c. John Chicksonde [and eleven others], who were at the proclamation aforesaid, have elected Reginald Aqueburga and William Garnett, two fit Burgesses for the Commonalty of the aforesaid Borough of Huntingdon, who have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, &c. In witness whereof the aforesaid John Chikson, John Abbotesle, John Sckyngton, Thomas Masterchamber, Thomas Clyff, Thomas Charwelton, Richard Brygges, Lawrence Ivett, John Douett, Richard Mette, William Moygne, and Richard Squyre, to the present Indentures have set their seals. Dated the day, place and year abovesaid. We shall insert an abstract of the Writ under which the following return was made. There can be no doubt that anciently the Burgesses to Parliament were the most susbtantial Burgesses of the place; not made so merely for the purpose of election, but ancient, substantial, resident Burgesses, and this Writ confirms that position: for we find the King directing that the members for every Borough should be abiding and residing within it ;* in short, that the electors and elected should be from the same class of persons. The Indenture varies considerably in language from the rest, but it throws no additional light on the subject. The persons electing are called electors of the Burgesses, i. e. of the Burgesses to Parliament. It is evidently done in a careless manner, and, if taken strictly, would imply that the persons named were, in fact, the only persons entitled to elect. HENRY, by the Grace of God, &c. To the Sheriff of Cambridge and Huntingdon, Greeting. Inasmuch as with the advice of our Council We have ordained our Parliament to be holden at Westminster, on the 6th day of November next coming, and there to have conference, &c. And in the statute enacted in our Parliament holden at Westminster in the eighth year of our reign, it is among other things pro. vided and ordained that the Knights of the Counties within the Kingdom of England, elected to come to the Parliament thenceforth to be holden, shall be elected in every County by the men abiding and residing in the said County, each of whom should have Freehold tenements to the value of forty shillings per annum at the least, beyond reprises, and that they who shall be so elected shall be in like manner abiding and residing in the same Counties, and that they who should have the greater number of those who could expend forty shillings by the year and upwards as is aforesaid, should be returned Knights for the Parliament by the Sheriffs of every County, by Indentures to be thereupon made and sealed between the said Sheriffs and the aforesaid electors. We firmly enjoining, do command you that, proclamation being made in your next County Courts of both the Counties aforesaid, to be holden after the receipt of this Writ, of the day and place aforesaid, you cause two Knights girt with swords, the most fit and discreet of each of the Counties aforesaid; and of every City of both those Counties, two Citizens abiding and residing within the same City; and of every Borough of both the Counties aforesaid in like manner abiding and residing within the said Borough, two Burgesses of the most discreet and most sufficient, to be freely and indifferently elected by those who shall be present at such proclamation, according to the form of the statute aforesaid, and of a certain other statute thereupon lately enacted and provided, * See Kelly's Essay on Residents and Non-Residents. London. Valpy. 1821. &c. Witness ourself, at Shene, the 23d day of September, in the twenty-eighth year of our reign. [The Indenture follows in these words.] THIS INDENTURE, made in the full County Court of Huntingdon, there holden on &c. between Walter Trumpyton, Knight, Sheriff of the County aforesaid, of the one part, and John Shynsand [and five others], electors of the Burgesses of the Town of Huntingdon, of the other part, Witnesseth, that by virtue of a Writ of the Lord the King to the said Sheriff directed, they have elected Reginald Arneburgh and John Chapman, Burgesses for the Parliament to be holden at Westminster, on the 6th day of November next coming after the date of these presents, to do and consent to all and singular matters, as the Writ of the Lord the King, to this Indenture sewed in itself, doth demand and require. Witness whereof, to this Indenture the parties aforesaid have alternately set their seals. Dated the day, year and place abovesaid. In The words of the Writ under which the next return was made are the same as in the last, requiring the residence of the elected. Writ, dated the 5th September, in the 29th year of King Henry VI. THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a certain writ, &c. proclamation being made in the next Court, holden in the aforesaid Borough after the receipt of the said Writ, to wit, &c. John Abbotsley, Coroner of the said Borough, John Gyddyng [and ten others], who were present at the proclamation aforesaid, have elected Reginald Armesburgh and William Scott, two fit Burgesses for the Commonalty of the aforesaid Borough of Huntingdon, who have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, &c. In Witness whereof the aforesaid John Abbotesley, John, John, Thomas, Richard, Lawrence, William, John, John, John, John, and John Skynner, to these present Indentures have set their seals. Dated the day and year abovesaid. The two following institutions to the mastership of St. John's occur next in order of dates. We have only to observe on their consistency with the rest of these documents |