Deal, which, since these laws were made, has become a place of considerable trade, and is increasing daily in population. Deal pays more King's taxes, and provides more subjects to serve him than Sandwich, our next and nearest market town, to which place we are bound to go to buy whatever we want, a distance of five miles from us.

9th. The situation of Deal being opposite to the Downs -the great road of England-where sometimes may be seen three or four hundred ships of all sizes at anchor, which have been supplied with fresh provisions and necessaries from us, but now, corn, flour, &c., must be bought in a market, which before we purchased by sample. Unless we are made a Corporate and Market Town we shall not be able to supply, as heretofore, the wants of the shipping, which are sometimes very great. This will be a great detriment to the public trade of the country to our East India Merchants' Ships and other trading vessels which many times lay in the Downs a month or more for a fair wind. They must live upon their sea stock; so when at sea and making a long passage, will be short of provisions.

10th. The oppression of the poor is very great; with scanty means they are constrained to buy bread and provisions at extreme rates because they cannot spare time from their daily labour to go five miles to buy a bushel, half-a-bushel, or a peck of corn or offal to feed their pigs and cows with, although they pay ready money for what they want.

11th. That our being dependent on Sandwich for every article of food, places the people in a very great strait, incapacitates the ship agents and boatmen in sending daily supplies to the shipping and enhances the price, causing general complaint among the whole population, now exceeding Three Thousand Souls, a much larger number than Sandwich, who monopolises all law and justice, as well as doling out to us supplies of provisions at high prices, which

is both troublesome and inconvenient and a vast oppression on the

poor.

The exertions of the Managers in obtaining the Charter of Incorporation succeeded, in spite of the greatest influence of Sandwich in endeavouring to prevent it.

1699, October 13th.-The deputation appointed by the managers fetched home the Charter, with which the inhabitants were greatly delighted-Deal had been made a Borough and market town, now independent of its neighbour town of Sandwich. The first thing done was the enrolment of the Freemen, which list is kept in the box belonging to the Corporation. The following are the names of the Mayor, Recorder, Jurats, Common Council, Town Clerk, Attornies, and Officers of Court, after obtaining the Charter, 1699 :—

SERJEANT AT MACE:-Daniel Martin, Junr.

MAYOR'S SERJEANT :-Richard Rand.

At the first meeting of the Mayor, Jurats, Common Councilmen, the following order and decrees were made:

1699.-October 19, Ordered, That in case any Jurat or Common Councilman shall not meet in the Council Chamber when duly summoned by order of the Mayor, shall forfeit as follows, viz.; the Jurats, two shillings, and the Councilmen, one shilling; provided that they be not sick or absent from home.

Ordered, That if any Jurat shall be guilty of revealing out of doors what is discussed in the Common Assembly, or any Commoner, whereby any person shall receive any prejudice, the Jurat to forfeit one pound; the Commoner, ten shillings.

Ordered, That all fish brought on shore shall be sold openly by public sale, and on no account shall any person presume to sell the same until after the expiration of two hours. Any fisherman detected in disregarding this rule shall forfeit five shillings for the first offence, and ten shillings upon the second conviction.

Ordered, Whereas, there has been in times past great liberty taken by certain persons in removing beach from the shore, and not paying for the same. For the future, every person taking beach for ballast shall pay for every ton thereof as follows, viz., three-pence a ton for all English merchant vessels, and eight-pence for all foreigners. Thomas Tavenor and John Fuller are appointed to collect the dues from this day

forward, who shall be paid for their trouble, two shillings in the pound.

October 19,-Ordered, That any person selling any goods or carrying on any trade in the town of Deal, and not having or inhabiting any dwelling within the same, shall not be admitted a Freeman at any time without first paying down the sum of ten pounds for such admission.

October 19.-All questions to be discussed at any meeting of the Common Assembly shall be first submitted to the Mayor, who shall, if he deems them of sufficient consideration, move the same; and during the debate no one shall presume to interrupt the same till the matter be decided one way or the other, upon forfeiture of six-pence.

Ordered, That no alien or foreigner shall expose anything for sale in the Market before nine of the forenoon, nor stay therein longer than four of the clock in the afternoon, upon forfeiture of three shillings and six-pence for every offence.

Ordered, That the Fairs shall be kept in the market-place; but for chapmen and dealers in cattle of all kinds, shall be at the south end of the town as near it as can be.

1700.-October 19th, The town and parish of Deal, by order in vestry duly convened, appointed twenty persons as a Committee of Management to further the scheme of obtaining a Charter of Incorporation; and, whereas, the said Committee incurred debts amounting to £337 Os. 34d., for which they are responsible-£100 subscribed for among themselves, and £200 borrowed of Captain Rand Pye, on their bond at six per cent. interest, and other small sums of certain individuals; and, whereas, it appears there is a sum of £95 1s. 44d. uncollected, and also a part in private hands.

Ordered, That the £100 advanced by the Commitee shall be re-paid to them by the subscriptions as collected. It is further ordered and decreed, That all outstanding debts shall be paid by virtue of the promised subscriptions or collected

from any bye laws shall be made by the Mayor and Corporation for raising monies towards the payment of the the said debts, and for erecting of a market-place and Court Hall.

Ordered, that the sum of twenty pounds be paid to Mr. Joseph Nicholls for the house of Anna Lawrence, widow, and that the Treasurer pay the same upon a legal conveyance made of the said house to the use of the Corporation.

Ordered, that the Mayor's Serjeant be allowed, for his attendance, the sum of eight pounds per annum.

Orders concerning Freemen, July 17th, 1700.-Ordered, That all persons who shall or have, without leave or freedom, opened any shop or carried on any trade in the Borough of Deal shall, for such offence pay down 6s. 8d. per month during the time he shall continue the said offence, which fine, upon non-payment, shall be recovered by distress and sale of goods of the offenders, returning the party so offending the overplus, if there be any.

1700, July 21st.-Whereas, upon reading the Charter this day, it appeared that, by a grant found therein, all fees, profits and perquisites whatsoever belonging to the Market and Fairs held within the Borough, belong exclusively to the Mayor, Jurats and Commonalty of the said Borough.

Ordered.―That the said fees and dues shall be collected by the Mayor's Serjeant, and by him paid weekly to the Treasurer of the Borough for the time being; and that the said Treasurer do pay thereout to the Mayor for the time being a sum not exceeding £25 per annum, towards the charges attending the Mayoralty: the payments are as follows::-

To the Mayor's Serjeant

Rent of the Town Hall

To the Recorder, on his holden Sessions.

And expenses of that day.