LXXIX.
9 July 1471.
Edward, by the grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, to all to whom these present letters shall come — Greeting. Know that as the liberties and franchises of our town of Dover and its Limbs stand seised into our hands for reasonable and legitimate causes : We therefore, wishing so far as pertains to us to properly provide for the sound and suitable government and the happy ruling of the Town and Limbs aforesaid and of our people there, and for the safety of others daily going to the same, also for other notable causes especially moving us and our council, with the assent and advice of our said council we have constituted our beloved and faithful Thomas Hexstall, in whose fidelity and discretion we repose full confidence, as Warden of our Town and Limbs aforesaid during our pleasure, giving and granting to him, by the tenor of the presents, full and sufficient authority and power for ruling and governing the said Town and Limbs and our people of the same and others going to them, and for doing, exercising, and executing all other and singular things which pertain to the good ruling and sound government of the said Town and Limbs, according to the laws and customs hitherto justly and reasonably used in the said Town and Limbs, also for having the keys and officers, as the mayors of the town aforesaid, by virtue of certain liberties conceded by us and our progenitors on that behalf, hitherto had, until we otherwise order for the governance of the said Town and Limbs : We give it also firmly in command to the officers of the Town and Limbs aforesaid, and also to all and singular our lieges and subjects of the said Town and Limbs, by the tenor of the presents that they be aiding, consultant, and obedient in all things, as is seemly, to the said * Thomas as Warden of the said Town and Limbs in all things which pertain to the rule and governance aforesaid.
* In November 147 1 Nicholas S tut ham, znd Baron of the Exchequer (Rot. Pat. 7 Ed. IV., 30 Oct.); Thomas Bourchier, knigl^t ; T. Dyn/um ; John ffogge ; Thomas Echyngham, knigl:t ; and Ifi/liam Notyngham ; were appointed
In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent.
Witness myself at Westminster on the ninth day of July in the eleventh year of our reign.
{By the King himself and, on the date aforesaid, by the authority of Parliament. Ive.J.
A portion of the seal remains.
as a Commission to enter the Cinque Ports as Justices to try rebels. Thomas Hexstally Receiver of the Lord Wiirdcn, the Duke of Buckingham, was amongst those tried, but he obtained a general pardon (Rot. Pat. Nov. 3, II Ed. IV.). The rebellion was of course that of the Earl of Warwick, which placed Henry VI. on the throne again in 1470.