VI. FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
1556 TO 1605.
The establishment of the Common Council in the year 1556 was, in a way, the commencement of representative government in the Council of the Borough. Up to that time every Freeman had had a place and the right to speak and vote in the Common Assembly, but it was thought desirable to confine the deliberative and executive authority to a more select body. At that date (9th October, 1556) the Burgesses in Common Assembly elected the members of the Common Council, but ever afterwards, until the passing of the Municipal Corpora tions Act of 1835, all vacancies in the Common Council were filled by themselves. That greatly impaired the Council's representative character; but it was in accordance with the customs of the times, and, therefore, was tolerated for 280 years.
1557 Thomas Warren
1558 Thomas Collye
1559 Thomas Pepper (90)
(90) Thomas Pepper, Mayor in the years 15591 1563, 1565 and 1567. Previous to his first Mayoralty there had been disorder in the Corporation, to remedy which, it appears from the minutes, that in the sixth month of his first Mayoralty the Jurats formed themselves into an association to promote harmony and prosperity.
1560 Richard Gibbs (91)
(91) Richard Gibbs, Mayor in 1560, went as a Baron to the Cinque Ports Court of Brotherhood during that year, and was fined 40/- for disorder.
1561 Richard Elam (92)
(92) Richard Elam, Mayor in 1554 and 1569, was one of the Jurats who took a great interest in St. Mary's Church after it was handed over to Corporation for the townspeople. He ordered the floor of the Church to be paved.
1562 WilHam Hannington 1563 John Robbins (93)
(93) John Robbins, Mayor in the last half of the year 1562-3, being the last half of the year of William Hannington's second Mayoralty. It appears that the Commonalty, after a year and a half's discipline by the nominee of the Crown, was sufficiently orderly to be again allowed to exercise their ancient franchises.
1563 Thomas Pepper
1564 William Burden (94)
(94) William Burden, Mayor in 1564, was a man of some standing in Dover. His brother was styled the " Comptroller."
1565 Thomas Pepper
1566 Thomas Watson (95)
(95) Thomas Watson, Mayor in the years 1566 and 1584, was the last Mayor elected in St. Peter's Church.
1567 Thomas Pepper
1568 John Edwards (96)
(96) John Edwards, Mayor in 1568, who, in the last month of his Mayoralty, leased to his brother, Thomas, "one piece of voyd ground, sett, laying and beinge under the Townewall of Dover, betwene the Penyles Bench and the Towre, called the Comon Prison, contayninge in length a hondretc and tenne footte, be it more or lesse, and in breadth from the said Townewall downe to the lowe watter marke, and it is further grawnted by the said Maior and Chamberlains that the same Thomas Edwardes shall have the occu pienye of the voyd grownde under the Penyles Bench until such tym© as the said Maior and Chamberlaines shall have neyd thereof for buildinge or any other necessary cause."
1569 Richard Elam
1570 Thomas Burnell (97)
(97) Thomas Burnell was Mayor in 1570-r. During his Mayoralty unofficial war was raging, which was worse than the real thing. The Straits of Dover were blockaded by British and Dutch privateers, who were chasing and seizing Spanish ships, which they brought into Dover Harbour, where they sold their cargoes and the Spaniards who manned the ships were brought up into the Dover Market Place, where they were sold at a hundred pounds each and then placed in irons in the Market Place Prison until their friends came to purchase their liberty. Complaints were made about it to the Privy Council by the Spanish Ambassador, and when this Mayor retired he was Mayor no more.
1571 Thomas Andrews (98)
(98) Thomas Andrews was Mayor five times between 1571 and 1583. During his last Mayoralty, in 1583, he was removed from office because of his hostility to the Romney Marsh men who were being employed by the Royal Commission who were superintending the construction of the Great Pent.
1572 Thomas Andrews
1573 Thomas Andrews
1574 Thomas Andrews
1575 Thomas Warren
1576 John Lucas (99)
(99) John Lucas, who was Mayor in the year 1576, was a brewer and a shipwright, and his residence was near the top of Snargate Street. He died about four years after his Mayoralty. There is in the Borough Archives a letteft" of * introduction, countersigned by Mr. Lucas as Mayor, introducing a Mr. A. Powler to Mr. Robert Peter, of the House of Receipt, George Square, Dover. George Square is not otherwise mentioned in the Dover Records, but there is no doubt but that it was a space at the top of Snargate Street where the bench stocd, on what is now called New Bridge. The Custom House, which is referred to as the "House of Receipt," stood there; while on the east side of the Square was the opening to the Fish Market; and on the west side the "George Tavern" (now the "Shakespeare" Hotel).
1577 Robert Finnett (100)
(100) Robert Finnett, Mayor in the years 1577 and 1578, in his first Mayoralty received from the Privy Council e renewal of the Charter of the Corporation.
1578 Robert Finnett
1579 Thomas Allyn (101)
(101) Thomas Allyn was Mayor only one year. During his Mayoralty, on the 6th April, 1580, there was an earthquake in Dover, and part of the Castle wall, next Canon Gate, fell.
1580 John Garrett (102)
(102) John Garrett was Mayor in the years 1580 and 1581. He was an innkeeper.
1581 John Garrett
1582 Thomas Warren
1583 Thomas Andrews
1583 William Willis (103)
(103) William Willis, Mayor in part of the year 1583 and 1585, was the first Mayor elected in St. Mary's Church.
1584 Thomas Watson
1585 William Willis
1586 Thomas Bredgatte (104)
(104) Thomas Bredgatte, Mayor in 1586 and 1587, was a Jurat who was a superintendent of the cart traffic in the making of the Pent.
1587 Thomas Bredgatte
1588 John Tench (105)
(105) John Tench, chosen Mayor in 1588, died in the next year, and Edward Kempe (afterwards Mayor) married his widow.
1589 Henry Leonard (106)
(106) Henry Leonard, Mayor in 1589, had previously been a Chamberlain.
1590 Jeffery Glydd (107)
(107) Jeffery Glydd, Mayor in 1590, was very strict with victuallers.
1591 Humphrey Meade (108)
(108) Humphrey Meade, Mayor in 1591, was a canopy bearer at the Coronation of James I.
1592 Thomas Elwoode (109)
(109) Thomas Elwoode, Mayor in 1592, died in 1612, and bequeathed an annual rent of 20/- to be distributed in bread by the St. Mary's Overseers.
1593 Robert Burnett (110)
(110) Robert Burnett, Mayor in 1593, continued to be a Jurat until the reign of James I.
1594 John Skeythe (111)
(111) John Skeythe, Mayor in 1594, is not otherwise mentioned.
1595 George Bynge (112)
(112) George Bynge, Mayor in 1595, 1596, 1604 and 1605, in his third Mayoralty was associated with the building of the Court Hall in the Market Place. The minutes say that the Corporation resolved to build a structure " to be bewtefied with faire windowes, fitt for such a house, and to have a garrett there made." In his fourth Mayoralty, in June, 1606, the new Court Hall wais finished, and it was found to be too much ornamented, the minutes having the following thereon : — " Whereas the carver of the work about the new Court Hall, either of himself or at the request of some others, hath cutt and carved certain scuttchions, letters and marks of particular persons which doeth rather deface the work than bewtefie the same, it is therefore decreed at this assembly that order be given to the said carver, or to the carpenter, to cutt out the scuttchions, letters and marks before the same be paynted, egcept the arms of the Cinque Ports, which is to remain."
1596 George Bynge
1597 William Leonard (113)
(113) William Leonard was Mayor in the years 1597, 1610 and 1611.
1598 Jeremy Garrett (114)
(114) Jeremy Garrett, of the same family as John, before mentioned, was Mayor in 1598.
1599 Edward Kempe (115)
(115) Edward Kempe was Mayor in 1599 and in 1612. He died during his last Mayoralty, and had a public funeral at St. James's Church, where there is a monument to his memory.
1600 John Bachelor (116)
(116) John Bachelor, chosen Mayor isi 1600, was the keeper of the " Guildhall Tavern," near the Market Place.
1601 John Bredgatte (117)
(117) John Bredgatte, Mayor in 1601, wae a son of Thomas Bredgatte, previously Mayor.
1602 Richard Siseley (118)
(118) Richard Siseley was Mayor when Queen Elizabeth died.
1603 William Nethersole (119)
(119) William Nethersole was elected Mayor in 1603, when, contrary to custom, the Corporation went to St. James's Church, where a sermon was preached by Mr. Vincent HufEam, the Rector, because Mr. Walter Richards, Minister of St. Mary's, refused to preach there unless he was paid, whereas there was never any such demand before.
1604 George Bynge
1605 George Bynge