| Description | Richard Townesend, ironmonger, elected Councilman in the place of Edward Williames, innholder, deceased.
It was complained that the country bakers were molested with suits by the Company of Bakers of Chester for selling their bread upon market-days in the City. Search among earlier Assembly Orders showed that the country bakers had liberty to sell their brown and "boulted" bread in the City on market-days between the hours of eight in the morning and three in the afternoon. It was ordered that they should continue to enjoy this liberty of selling their bread on the North side of Eastgate street, at these times. If they sold their bread elsewhere in the City, it would be forfeited to the prisoners of the Northgate [Gaol].
Richard Golborne, gentleman, Clerk of the Pentice, complained that William Bristowe and Thomas Ashton, Leavelookers for the last year, detained a fee of five marks due to him from their office. It was ordered that they should pay him within a fortnight.
(ZA/B/2/95v). Complaint was made that much corn was sold in the City by foreigners without being brought into open market. Therefore it was ordered that no corn should be bought of foreigners on market day until it had been brought into the Corn Market. A penalty of 6d was imposed on the buyers for every measure of such corn.
Since the City was in danger of being filled with poor people, it was ordered that, from the following May 1st, every month the Aldermen and Constables should make a survey of the poor inmates and strangers dwelling within their respective wards and should certify the Mayor, so that such persons might be removed. This order was to be perpetual and Aldermen and Constables neglecting it were to be fined 3s: 4d.
It was ordered that the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen Ince and Crompton and Sheriff Anderson should treat with Mr. Richardson for the purchase of the late Bishop's Palace for the City's use.
No swine were to be kept within the City walls under pain of 6s: 8d fine. Robert Parkes was enjoined to impound in the Northgate ditch all swine which he should find in the streets and to keep them until the fines had been paid.
(ZA/B/2/96). In a petition Anne Baxter, widow, alleged that her late husband, Henry Baxter, about eight years age owed the Mayor and Citizens the sums of £25 and £100, for the payment of which he entered into bonds with sureties. When the wars began he was possessed of goods worth at least £340. He left these in his house in the City and in the absence they were seized by those then in power. She therefore prayed that the bonds might be cancelled. It was ordered that four of the Aldermen should examine the truth of her allegations and should report to the Mayor and Aldermen within a month.
Michael Hunt, cutler, sought to be made a freeman, alleging that the City needed one of his trade, but his petition was rejected by a majority vote. |