| Description | These files mainly contain documents relating to all stages of the actions heard in the mayor's portmote court (see MR), together with jury lists and petitions to the mayor for the removal of cases from the pentice to the portmote court (see MPE). In the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, the files also contain documents pertaining to cases heard at quarter sessions. The files of proceedings in the Inner Pentice form a separate series (MIP), but some are still attached to the mayors' files from the mid eighteenth century onwards. In addition, mayors' files contain documents pertaining to administrative matters, for example, letters; military papers; proclamations; and apprenticeship indentures which are also found as separate series of records. The early files often contain material relating to several mayoralties, but from about the end of the sixteenth century, a separate file was usually begun for each mayor. Access to some of the mayors' files has to be restricted because they have not yet been repaired. There are gaps in the series. |