438 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



jlock, Lord Scrope of Ma/bam, Sir William Gafcoign, Sir Robert Con- 

 ftable, &c. (v). 



The lord warden of the eaft marches was governor of the 

 town for the time being, and appointed the officers of the garifon, 

 for whofe conduct he was anfwcrable. 



It was fummoned to fend two members to parliament by King 

 Henry VIII. It is governed by a mayor, recorder, and four bai- 

 liffs, chofen annually by the burgeffes, in number about 300. 

 They elect the two members of parliament. The mayor and 

 bailiffs are the returning officers (iv). 



By a treaty between King Ediuard VI, and Mary Queen of Scot- 

 land, dated at Norham, icth June, 1551, it was made a county- 

 town, or as the record expreffes it, a free town, independent of 

 the two kingdoms (x). 



By the charter of King Barnes I, granted 1602, the mayor, re- 

 corder, and four bailiffs, or any three of them, the mayor al- 

 ways to be one, are impowered to hold in their Guild-hall, or 

 Tollbooth,one court of pleas every Tuefday in every fecond week 

 throughout the year; to have four ferjeants at mace, and no 

 more, and a coroner; a merchant's guild with hanfe, and all 

 other liberties, privileges, and free cuftoms belonging to that 

 guild ; to prohibit merchant-ftrangers to difpofe of any goods 

 within their precincts, except in grofs or by wholefale. 



(v) HoL Chron. Vol. i. p. 285. (ui) Browne Willh. 



(x) Rym. Feed. torn. xv. p. 265. 



Afta Regia, Vol. iii. 8vo. p. 373. 



They 



