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ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 193 



Queen Elizabeth confirmed to the town of Neivcajtle the favours 

 of her progenitors, and added new ones, by her charter, bear- 

 ing date, 22d March, and 42d year of her reign (hj. 



So much for the royal Charters and Privileges granted to Netv- 

 cajlle. Next, of its 



Civil Government. This is admirable, and does honour to it, in 

 its minuteft branches. For the adminiflration of juilice, it hath 

 feveral courts ; 



The Mayor's Court ; Ward-Moot j 



Sheriff's Court ; Pyepowder-Court 5 

 Court of Confciencc ; and, 



Admiralty-Court ; Three gilds, annually. 

 Court of Common-Council ; 



The Mayor's, Court is held every Monday at the weft end of the QUJL& 

 Guild-hall in the Exchange. It is a court of record, and of great 

 importance. It preferves the rights, laws, franchifes, and cuf- 

 toms of the corporation. In it are tried all actions for debt, tref- 

 pafles, accounts, covenants, broken attachments, fequeftrations, 



or other matters arifmg within the town and liberties, to any 

 value whatfoever. No attorneys are allowed to plead in it, but 

 fuch as are free of the corporation, who are fworn at their ad- 

 miffion. It hath fix fergeants at mace to attend it. If the clerk 

 of this court takes infufficient bail, and the defendant abfconds, 

 the plaintiff, upon judgment obtained, may oblige the clerk to 

 pay the debt or damage, by petition to the court. 



(1) See an abftrafl of ir, and other charters. and grants to the corporation, in Gardiner, 

 410. Lond. with ma/iy cuts, and a map of the river fyne t Pages 204. 



VOL. II. C c An 



