102 13RIDPORT CORPORATION RECORDS. 



A multiplication table is then given to 12 times 15, the product 

 of which number is represented by g (nine score) and then 

 going on to 7 times 20. 



The proceedings in the Law Court 1 1 Ed. 3 follow, and a Royal 

 mandate 9 Ed. 3 concerning privileges claimed by the burgesses 

 concludes the volume. 



The Law Court Books are six in number ; the earliest, A.D. 

 1571 1601, commences with the oaths taken by the Constables, 

 the Cofferers, the Sergeant, the Free Burgesses, the Bailiffs, the 

 Hay ward, the Town Clerk, and the High Sheriff. Then follow 

 fines levied on those who were excused attendance at the Court by 

 payment of a fine. Among these the first named in the volume is 

 John Colfox, jun., who, like the rest, had to pay one penny for his 

 absence. After these come the trials of alleged offenders and the 

 fines imposed on those found guilty. The charges most frequently 

 brought were absence of free tenants from the Court without 

 permission, excessive charges made by millers and butchers, 

 breaking the assize by bakers and brewers, playing at unlawful 

 games, allowing dung and other offensive matter to lie near their 

 premises, committing assaults, not keeping fences in repair, 

 housebreaking, receiving lodgers into their houses, killing calves 

 before the legal time, strange butchers killing animals, and strange 

 bakers selling bread within the borough. Before this Court actions 

 for debt were tried and boys were apprenticed, many to learn the 

 art of rope making, the term of apprenticeship being usually from 

 seven to ten years, the master giving the apprentice at the time of 

 binding one penny for each year of the term and undertaking to 

 provide meat, lodging, Sunday and work-day clothing, to give him 

 13sh. 4d. at the expiration of the term, and in some trades, as that 

 of shoemaking, all the tools that belong to a journeyman of that 

 occupation. Another function performed at this Court was the 

 granting of licenses to brewers and typlers that is retailers of 

 beer who, in the words of the record, were " appointed for this 

 yerc according to the order and auncicnt customc of the borough." 

 Each of them was bound in 10 with two sureties to observe the 



