176 THE DERBY MUNICIPAL MUNIMENTS. 



Chester, the Rowditches, and several large Closes between 

 Derby and Mickleover," a portion of which land had been 

 purchased by Mr. Crowshaw about 1630, who left it to the 

 Corporation of Derby for charitable uses. The Rent Rolls of 

 these lands exist from the first year of James I., and are 

 among the Municipal MSS., as well as a survey of their lands 

 at Little Chester in 1664 These are fortunately in a good 

 state of preservation. 



According to the Charter of King James,* before alluded 

 to, the Corporation was constituted of two Bailiffs and twenty- 

 four Burgesses, with a Recorder, Chamberlain, and other 

 officers. Now, in addition to the complete list of the Bailiffs 

 and Mayors from the year 151 3, which Hutton, in his History 

 of Derby, gives us, a fairly consecutive list of the other officials 

 connected with the Borough could certainly be obtained 

 from these Records, as well as much other important and 

 interesting matter, from the period of the Enrly Stuarts down 

 to the present time, which would not only be valuable, but 

 would make Derby's history far more complete than it is at 

 present. The Town Council had before them not very long 

 ago, a suggestion that an expert should be employed to sort 

 and arrange these MSS., and obtain from them a permanent 

 record of the doings of their predecessors. 



It is very much to be desired that this suggestion may be 

 carried out, and that such a History of the Corporation of 

 Derby as would be worthy of our County Town may before 

 long see the light of day.t 



* Glover's Derbyshire, p. 379. 



t There is a general movement throughout the country to preserve and 

 permanently place on record such valuable muniments as the town of 

 Derby evidently possesses in these perishable documents. The neighbouring 

 Corporation of Nottingham, a few years ago, were similarly able to rescue 

 and record theirs. — Ed, 



