268 



Ancient History of Shaftesbury. 



repealed in the reign of Mary, was re-enacted in that of Elizabeth, 

 and is still in force. Now that an increase in the episcopate ia 

 undoubtedly needed, and the difficulties in the way of fresh legis- 

 lation on this subject are so many, it would perhaps be wise for our 

 rulers in church and state to act on the powers they alread}^ possess. 

 Under this act 26 suffragan bishops could be at once appointed. 



Shaftesbury, as already stated, is termed a borough in Domesday 

 Book, and was so by prescription. Allusions are made to it as a 

 borough 37 Henry III. and in Eichard the II. Alan de 

 Wyke was Mayor 7 Edward It. The first known charter of 

 Incorporation however, was granted by Queen Elizabeth. James I. 

 granted another, and Charles II. a third. This charter granted 

 power within the borough limits to " hold pleas of all trespasses &c, 

 and of all debts not exceeding £10,"-— a court in fact for the 

 recovery of small debts equivalent to our present county court. 

 The borough possesses two maces, to be carried before the Mayor 

 on all occasions of public solemnity. One of these, (see Plate), 

 mentioned so early as 14 Edward 4th, has on the broad ends 

 a shield of three compartments. In the first the Arms of France 

 and England. In the second those of the Abbey, Azure, in chief 

 2 roses, a cross flory between four martlets Or. In the third, one 

 of the Town coats, a Lion pawing against a tree on which a large 

 bird is seated. The colours are not marked. The more modern 

 mace is dated 1604 and has the arms and initials of James I. 

 The Town seal is of the date of Elizabeth's charter 1570. It is of 

 silver having on one end the Town coat above-mentioned, with the 

 letters B.S. at the sides : and on the other end, quarterly, Argent 

 and Azure, a cross quarterly counterchanged, in the 1st and 4th a 

 fleur-de-lis of the 2nd ; in the 2nd and 3rd a lion's or leopard's head 

 of the 1st. The former seal was anciently used for warrants for the 

 court of requests and small debts before- mentioned. The latter is still 

 the official seal of the corporation. The Church plate consists of a 

 chalice inscribed " This chalice belongeth to the holy Trinity of 

 Shaston 1670." Another of older workmanship, chased with a plain 

 Elizabethan pattern. A large paten with the inscription " Ex dono 

 Thorace Hockny 1714." A flagon and paten inscribed " The gift 



