| Description | This is an Elizabethan prayer book and psalter of the early 1570s, bound with parchment end papers on which the text of the oaths sworn by Corporation members and officials were recorded from the late 16th to about the end of the 18th century. Used frequently for Pentice and special courts.
[Book of Common Prayer, R. Jugge, quarto 1575? Short Title Catalogue 16305?], bound with The Psalter or Psalms of David, R. Jugge, quarto 1572 Short Title Catalogue 2390.
Title-page of Book of Common Prayer lacking.
?Late 16th century binding with parchment end papers inserted containing the following:
At end:
Leaf 1, r. and v. Leaf from illuminated MS. with practice signatures of `John Ratclyffe maior'. ?John Ratcliffe, senior, mayor 1601-2 or John Ratcliffe, junior, mayor 1611-12.
Leaf 2, r. Oaths partially defaced.
v. Oaths of freemen, mayor, recorder and sheriffs.
Leaf 3, r. Oaths of the 24 and 40, constable, 4 serjeants and muringers.
v. Oath of Serjeant-at-peace and oath of supremacy.
Note: Oaths on 11.1-3 to end of oath of serjeant-at-peace written in a late 16th century hand [`queene' altered to `kinge']. Oath of supremacy on 3 verso written in ?early 17th century hand.
Leaf 4, r. and v. Oath of allegience, early 17th century hand. [`James' altered to `Charles'].
At front:
Leaf 1, r. Oath of freemen.
v. Oaths of mayor and recorder.
Leaf 2, r. Oaths of Sheriffs and muringers.
v. Oath of the 24 and 40.
Leaf 3, r. Oaths of constables and the 4 serjeants.
v. Oath of the serjeant-at-peace.
Leaf 4, r. Headed `Anno primo Gulielmi et Maviae [1689-90]. 1. Oath of allegience. 2. Oath of supremacy.
v. Headed `Anno XXV Caroli Secundi Cap 2' [1673]. Oath against transubstantiation.
Leaf 5, r. [Oath on 4 verso continued].
v. Oath of Town Clerk.
Note: Oaths on pp.1-5 written in ?the same late 17th century hand.
Leaf 6, r. Assembly order 7 Aug. 1707 re payment of alms due on death of almsmen. Treasurer's oath, in early 18th century hand.
v. Oath of the yeoman of the pentice, in 18th century hand.
Leaf 7, r. Oath of allegience and abjuration, oath of mayor, ?late 18th century hand.
v. Oath of the sheriffs, oath of the coroners, murengers, treasurers and leave lookers in the same ?late 18th century hand
On front inside cover:
1. Fees for admittance to the freedom by indenture, birth and order of the Assembly, early 18th century hand.
2. Signed `George Jones, 18 Granville Road' [?Chester].
3. Letter 8 June 1910 from Wilfrid ?N. Lloyd at Grosvenor House, London, on behalf of the Duke of Westminster offering to subscribe towards the purchase of this prayer book for the Corporation.
Note: No reference has been found to the purchase of this prayer book by the Corporation in the Council or Committee minutes, but presumably it was purchased about this time. |