18 



assist the Mayor in the execution of Justice on the "Weymouth side. The 

 three nominated were Christopher Percie.gen., Christopher Anketell, gent., 

 and Mr. Chaffyn, arm. These, however, having probably refused to accept 

 office, the following names were afterwards substituted : 



Thos. Howarde } This note is appended : - 



George Trenchard V armig, " Md yt there was no 



John Willms amercement." 



In the following reign (4th, Jas. 1st) 1607, the Court for the united Borough 

 was described as follows : 



" Villa de Waymouth et Melcombe Regis." " Cur dmi Regis ville pdce tent 

 apud guihald ibm coram Maiore, Aldis. Eallivis, Burgeusibus et Coitate vile 

 pdc scdm coss ville pdce a tpe cuius contrarii memoria homin non existit usitat 

 et appbat in eaclen die martis scilt nono die Septembris Anno Regni dni nri 

 Jacobi dei grae Anglie &c. Regis nunc quarto et Scotie quadragessimo." 



These Courts were held alternately in Weymouth and Melcombe Regis 

 apparently every week, and were occupied solely in providing for the 

 security of the Borough, the removal of obstructions, nuisances, &c. 

 The vast number of presentments of " sterquilinia " would lead one to 

 suppose that the height of every ones ambition was to plant a dung- 

 mixen before his neighbour's door. Other great causes of complaint were 

 the obstruction of water courses, ruinous quays, dangerous chimneys and 

 mantels, and encroachments on the public lands. I might, perhaps, refer 

 to these more particularly at a future time. 



The personeloi these courts being obviously unadapted for deciding questions 

 of law, there were other courts held before the Mayor, Baillives, 

 and Recorder. The latter functionary, however, was not always present, 

 which probably led to the postponement of the purely legal business. 



An entry of the appointment of a Recorder occurs October 14th, 1594 : 



" Upon this psent daye Richard Swayne Esquier by a generall consent of the 

 Maior &c is elected and chosen to be Recorder of the said towne And it is 

 therefore agreed upon by the said Maior &c that a patent thereof shalbe made 

 unto him with a ffee of iii li, vi s, vuid. yearly to be paid unto him, and that 

 Mr. Maior shall seal the same patent with the Seales of the towne in that 

 behalf used 



Such a Court was held September 21st, 1663, of which the following is 

 the heading : 



" Generalis Sessip pads pBurgo et Villa pdca tent apud Guildall ibm xxi die 

 Septembris Anno Dm mi Caroli secundi nunc Rs Ang &c decimo quinto &c, 

 coram Thoma Hide Majore, Samuel Bond Recordatore Henrico Rose et 

 Georgio Pitt Balliis &c." 



Entries of the fining of Jurors for non-attendance are not unfrequent, 

 and contempt of Court is severely dealt with. Of the latter the following 

 are instances : 



" January 19th, 1617. Att the Sessions of the peace Mathewe Allin speak- 

 ing openly in the Courte that the Coarse which Mr. Mayor did take would 

 drive all men oute of the Towne the Corte did graunte the good behavior 

 againste him and required him to find suretyes for the same and thereupon a 

 warrant was directed unto Srients att the Mace ad capiend." 



