By the Rev. C. Collier, M.A., F.S.A. 



307 



Staneford's bears a wool pack. Three were issued for the payment 

 of the poor ; the one dated 1658, and having the legend " Remember 

 the poor/' with the figure of a cripple, is very rare. Andover 

 issued tokens in its corporate capacity. 



There are deeds in the town chest in connection with lime-burning, 

 and this seems to have been a trade of some extent. John Selyd, 

 Roger de Clatford the Steward of Andover, John Asselyn, and 

 others, grant the use of the chalk-pit on the way leading from 

 Andover to Barton Stacey to William le Halyere, of Ambresbury, 

 and Olive, his wife, for digging the chalk and burning it. Andover 

 was formerly famous for the manufacture of druggets, serges, and 

 shalloons, but these trades have left the town and passed away 

 completely. The district in the town called the Racks is the only 

 relic of the trade and of the place where it was carried on. 



Ample materials for the history of the rights and privileges of the 

 town exist in the archives of the Corporation. We have, too, an able 

 analysis of all the documents relating to these matters in a case 

 drawn up for Serjeant Mere wether. The point for the learned Serjeant's 

 opinion was, whether the right of voting was with the Corporation 

 or with the inhabitants. The drawer of the case recites or mentions 

 every deed, document, and reference relating to the town that he 

 can find. We give some of the points mentioned in this singular 

 case. The men of Andover paid a fine to Henry II. King John 

 granted two charters to the townsmen. King Henry III. confirmed 

 the previous grants. Members of Parliament for Andover were first 

 summoned in the 23rd year of Edward I. They were likewise 

 elected to the parliament summoned by Edward II. in the 1st 

 year of his reign. The town continued to send Members, but 

 not regularly, until the 27th of Queen Elizabeth. Edward 

 III. granted a charter, or rather an inspeximus, to the in- 

 habitants, confirming one by Henry III., by which was given to 

 the men of Andover the manor with the outer hundred. Richard II. 

 confirmed Henry the Third's grant. Henry IV., by inspeximus, con- 

 firmed Richard the Second's charter. In the time of Henry VI. 

 Richard Wiredrawer and Laurence Alexander, late Bailiffs of the 

 town of Andover, stood charged in the great roll with several 



