| Description | The first books in this series, because of the way in which they have been bound, appear to have been used by both the mayor and sheriffs; customs and port entries are recorded between 1417 and 1420. After c.1422, there are two separate series of mayors' and sheriffs' books and the former usually contain lists of aldermen, common councilmen and officers; admissions of freemen; pleas of portmote and crownmote and actions in the portmote court (to 1789); presentments before the mayor (before 1506) and at quartersessions (1506-1684). Late fifteenth and early sixteenth century volumes contain some Assembly orders, coroners' inquests and names of people standing in another's place to render judgements in the portmote court. From 1567 to 1687, money distributed from the city charities is recorded and from 1588 to 1606, there are entries concerning the receipt and despatch of letters to and from Ireland, by the mayor on behalf of the Privy Council. An annual volume was kept, except for the volume which covers the years 1836 to 1874. By the 1930s, they were in an extremely fragile condition. Although repaired and rebound at that time, so that each volume contains a number of years, extensive conservation work is still required. |