[1. Petition to 1433 parliament]

[A-01] First, it is agreed to by the bailiffs and community of the town of Shrewsbury regarding the annual election of bailiffs and other town officials, from this time forth in perpetuity, that the two bailiffs of the town then in office shall, on the day of the election of new officers – that is, the Friday following St. Giles' day in September – in front of the community take a public oath upon a [holy] book, administered by the town clerk then in office, that they will honestly and without bias choose publicly in the town guildhall 25 persons from the most honest and impartial members of the community who are resident burgesses, permanent householders, and contributors towards all financial impositions within the town, using the form and procedure that follows. The bailiffs (or either one of them) are not – because of any gift, promise, procurement, friendship, favouritism, envy, enmity, association with anyone, or for any other cause, through fraud, malice, collusion, or conspiracy (by he or they, or anyone else on their behalf) – to fail to choose the 25 persons from the most qualified and impartial members of the community, as described above, who are then present in the guildhall on the occasion of the election; and not anyone else. Excluding those who have held the office of bailiff and those who were electors the previous year, and so long as there are then present a sufficient number of [qualified] persons to make the election. The bailiffs are not to choose the said 25 persons from any list previously drawn up. The which 25 persons thus chosen shall make their choice under oath, sworn along the same lines as that of the bailiffs and administered by the town clerk. Then the town clerk is to question each under oath whether they, or any of them, have been suborned to choose any particular person to any particular office which lies within their election. If any person or persons is found under examination to have been suborned, then he (or they) is to be removed and another qualified and impartial burgess of the town, sworn and found (in the manner stated) not to have been suborned, is to be put in his place.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-02] Then the 25 are to proceed to elect 2 bailiffs for the year to come from the most honest, impartial and qualified burgesses of the town (as indicated above) who are best able to rule and govern, properly and faithfully according to law, good custom, and usages of the town. On condition that each of those chosen as bailiffs is to possess in his own right or for his lifetime lands or rents worth £10, or to own goods worth £100. Each of the bailiffs is to be a permanent resident and householder of the town, and contributor to all financial impositions within the town. Should the 25 choose a bailiff or bailiffs who do not meet the above qualifications, then each of them is to forfeit 20s. to the town community. If they cannot agree on whom to elect, then election by the majority of the 25 will be valid. If that majority chooses one or more bailiffs who are not qualified, then each of that majority is to forfeit the said sum of 20s., to be levied by the bailiffs then in office to the use of the community. Nor are the 25 persons to choose any official from their own number, but from other qualified and capable burgesses, as described above. They are not to choose for the office of bailiff anyone who has been bailiff within the previous 3 years, upon [penalty of] forfeiting the said sum of 20s., to be levied in the fashion indicated. Henceforth they are not to choose anyone for the office of the 6 [cessors] who has already held the office of bailiff of the town, each of them under penalty of 20s., levied in the said manner.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-03] The 25 persons sworn in the manner indicated above are to choose 6 men called cessors, each of whom is to hold 26s.8d annually from lands or rents (over and above reprises) in his own right or for his lifetime, or own goods worth £10, and is to be a bona fide burgess and resident of the town. [They are] to be responsible henceforth for the duties of receiving all kinds of revenues that come, or ought to come, yearly to the communal exchequer of the town, and for the effective and honest care of those revenues for the common profit.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-04] The 25 persons are to choose, by their oath sworn in the manner indicated above, 2 town coroners from qualified burgesses resident in the town, who are to occupy the office of coroner within the town and its liberties. The coroners are to oversee the public works of the town during their term of office, to ensure they are properly carried out from time to time, in a reasonable and honest fashion, for the benefit of the community. Whoever has been coroner one year is not to be chosen to the officer of coroner during the 3 years following. Nor is any man who has been a member of the 6 one year to be chosen to the office of the 6 men during the 3 years following. Henceforth, no-one who has held the office of coroner or of 6 men in the town is to occupy the office of sergeant, under penalty of 40s. upon each one [of the 25?], to be levied from each and every one by the bailiffs then in office, for the profit of the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-05] It is agreed to that no-one is to speak with the 25 persons – neither past or future bailiffs, nor anyone else – once they have taken their oath and been examined in the manner already mentioned, and have been tasked with making the election; nor is to go with them into whatever place where the election shall be made. With the exception of the present or future common clerk of the town; and he is to take oath upon a book, before the community of the town, that he will not suborn them, or any of them, nor allow any other man to suborn them to choose anyone particular for an office. He is thus to keep them safe [from influence] until they, or a majority of them, have reached agreement, in the way already indicated. Neither they nor any of them may depart from the place to which the town clerk brings them for making the election, until the election has been completed, upon penalty of 40s. each., to be levied by the bailiffs then in office, for community use.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-06] It is agreed to that the bailiffs who are newly elected each year, before they can take office, are to take oath upon a book before the community of the town: that they shall be faithful and loyal to the king and his heirs; that they will honestly and properly maintain his peace within the town, and administer and govern the assizes of all victuals within the town and its liberties; that they will do justice to poor as well as to rich; and that they will perform all the duties of the office honestly, to the utmost of their wisdom and ability, according to the laws, customs and usages of the town.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-07] It is agreed to that the said 6 men, once elected in the manner already mentioned, shall publicly take oath upon a book, before the community: that every day assigned by the bailiffs and the 6 men for receiving community revenues they shall go to the communal exchequer and there receive all such revenues as are brought there by various persons, and honestly and properly keep those moneys secure; also that they shall honestly and properly oversee all expenses and costs made by the bailiffs for the benefit and esteem of the town; and also to assist and advise the bailiffs for the benefit of the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-08] The coroners who are elected annually are to take a public oath in the manner already mentioned: that they shall honestly and properly fulfill the duties of coroner within the town and liberties; oversee the public works of the town; and honestly and properly write down, or have written down, the details of those works – where and when they were carried out, associated expenses and costs – and on a weekly basis deliver them to the bailiffs and 6 men in the town exchequer. If any person disobeys and does the contrary, and will not comply with the aforesaid ordinance, he is to forfeit 40s., to be levied by the bailiffs then in office, to the use of the community. If the bailiffs are negligent and fail to levy that penalty, as aforesaid, each is to forfeit 66s.8d., [of which] two-thirds go to the king, and one-third to whoever sues on behalf of the king, to the use of the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-09] Those who have been, or shall in future be, bailiffs are each to have and take for their year's term of office a fee of 100s. and a gown worth 20s. (and no more). The steward of the town then in office is to have and take annually 40s. for his fee and a gown of the same style as the bailiffs', worth 20s. Each of the 6 men in office now or in the future is to have and take for his annual fee a gown worth 13s.4d for his labour. The common clerk of the town in office now or in the future is to have and take annually for his fee 40s. and a gown worth 13s.4d. of the same style as those of the 6 men. Also, the coroners in office now or in the future are to have and take from the community revenues, for their labour in overseeing the public works, 12d. per week throughout the year, to be divided evenly between them. The bailiffs in office now or in the future are to be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses and costs incurred by them for the benefit and esteem of the town, at the time they render account; on condition that is has been confirmed by the 6 men (or at least 3 of them) that the expenses and costs have truly been incurred for the purposes indicated, otherwise their claims are not to be allowed.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-10] It is agreed to that the bailiffs who will take office may appoint two town sergeants, from individuals for whom they are prepared to be answerable. A third town sergeant is to be chosen annually by the 25 persons, on election day; he is to be a bona fide burgess, qualified, resident, and contributor to all kinds of levies within the town. The sergeant is to be warden of the town gate called the Castle Gate. The third sergeant is also to be responsible for collection of the town rents, honestly delivering the same to the 6 men in the exchequer on (at the latest) the day when the bailiffs and 6 men go over the accounts, and rendering a true account of the same. He is to receive annually for that labour 20s. from the community revenues, from the hands of the 6 men, and answer for everything that pertains to his duties. On the condition that this sergeant is to find suitable guarantors regarding levying the money assigned by the bailiffs for him to collect, and regarding delivering it to the 6 men in the communal exchequer and rendering an honest account before the bailiffs and 6 men in the exchequer, when they require him to do so; and regarding him being responsive and obedient to the bailiffs and their orders, as he ought to be. If that sergeant is unable to find guarantors for that purpose, in order to protect the bailiffs from being answerable, then the bailiffs may choose and appoint any sergeant for whom they will be answerable, at their own risk. Those 3 sergeants are to render a proper and honest account of all issues and estreats of the court, after the end of every third court session. Also of fines from brewsters who, when they sell ale, break the assize customarily enforced in the town since ancient times; [they are to account] at the end of every quarter, or within that period if it is so ordered or required by the bailiffs and 6 men then in office. Also of all other revenues that are part of their duty to collect and ought to be put towards the common profit, [they are to account] at the end of each year, before the day when the bailiffs and 6 men go over the accounts.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-11] Before they take up office, the sergeants are to take oath upon a book before the bailiffs and 6 men then in office, in the community exchequer, that each and every one of them shall: be faithful and loyal to the bailiffs, community, and franchises of the town; treat both poor and rich fairly; collect all moneys that the bailiffs assign them as their duty to levy, in the form of estreats or other revenues, for the profit of the community; render honest account of the same to the bailiffs and 6 men when they so require it; and be attendant on and obedient to the bailiffs, as they ought to be in their office. Each of them is to have and take annually, from community revenues, 26s.8d and a gown worth 10s. The sergeants are to be removed from office at the end of each year, along with the other officers. None of the sergeants is to occupy that office within the town [on terms] contrary to these ordinances, upon penalty of £6.13s.4d to be levied from each of them by the bailiffs then in office, to the use of the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-12] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that those who have been, or shall in future be, bailiffs and 6 men of the town shall henceforth choose and appoint tollreeves, from the most honest and most capable persons they can find, to receive the tolls and customs that ought to be taken at the town gate for communal profit. Before they can occupy the office of tollreeve, they are to take oath upon a book, in the community exchequer before the bailiffs and 6 men: to be faithful to the bailiffs and community of the town; and to bring to the community exchequer of the town, whenever required by the bailiffs and 6 men, all revenues that it is their duty to collect for communal profit. Once sworn, the tollreeves may receive and keep safe all the customs money sometimes called "sergeants' fees" that ought rightly to be collected at the gates, putting this money aside separately and then producing it and handing it over in the exchequer, in the manner already mentioned, without fraud, conspiracy, or deceit [to withhold any], to be received and recorded annually in its own right. If any omission or deceit on the part of the tollreeves, or any one of them, is discovered and proven true before the bailiffs and 6 men, they are to be removed from office by the bailiffs and 6 men whenever so found at fault, and others put in their places. Furthermore, when legally convicted of the same, each is to forfeit 40s. and is to be imprisoned, without prospect of bail or mainprise, until that amount is raised and paid to the 6 men for communal profit. If the bailiffs who were in office, or shall be in the future, do not impose the penalty specified in this article, then each of them is to forfeit 100s.; of which two-thirds go to the king, and one-third to the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-13] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that no bailiff of the town shall henceforth receive or have in keeping any rents, customs, fines, nor other incomes or revenues that belong to the community. Rather these are to be taken to the community exchequer and there paid and delivered to the 6 men, who may have the safekeeping of the same. Those who have been, or shall in future be, bailiffs may not reduce or waive any duties payable to the community without consulting and obtaining the agreement of the 6 men, or at least 3 of them, upon penalty of paying double the amount they have waived.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-14] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that the bailiffs and 6 men shall render to auditors chosen annually by the community, under oath administered by the auditors, an accurate and honest account of all rents, revenues, and other profits already mentioned. The bailiffs are to carry out, or have carried out, their responsibility to the best of their knowledge – without any fraud, conspiracy or deceit – in bringing, or having brought, into the hands of the 6 men all rents, revenues, fines, and other profits that go, or ought to go, to the profit of the community during the year that they occupy the office of bailiff. Those 6 men are to have safekeeping of those communal goods that remain at the close of every accounting, until the election day, when they should bring it before the community in the guildhall and there be informed by the community who shall [thereafter] have the keeping of the same, for communal profit. If any future bailiff of the town obstructs or disturbs the 6 men in their safekeeping of the communal goods, he is to forfeit £10; of which two-thirds go to the king, and one-third to the community. The auditors who are chosen by the community, according to a long-established process, to audit the accounts of the bailiffs and 6 men concerning communal goods received by the 6 men, are henceforth after their election to take oath upon a book, administered by the common clerk, before the community to accept or reject them [i.e. the accounts] according to the form of the accounts, at their honest discretion. The bailiffs then in office are to have three peals of the community bell rung, to summon the community together to choose the auditors. Henceforth the auditors are not to be chosen based on some petition drawn up, to the deceit of the community. Similarly, burgesses who are chosen to go to Parliament are henceforth to be chosen by the community, in the same way and manner that the auditors are.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-15] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that no bailiff during his term of office may buy or sell by retail any kind of victuals, [nor] by means of collusion or underhandedness, contrary to parliamentary statutes and ordinances dealing with such cases. If he acts, personally or by others, contrary to those statutes and ordinances he is to forfeit – over and above the penalty specified in the statutes and ordinances – £20; of which two-thirds go to the king, and one-third to the community.

[A-16] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that all distresses that remain in safekeeping among the communal goods, not having been recovered by acquittance or replevin, on the day when the bailiffs and 6 men, past or future, have to render their account are to be shown to the auditors during the accounting and they are to make a record of what distresses remain; with a view to them being handed over by the bailiffs and 6 men to their successors chosen for the year following, by indenture, on the Monday following election day, without further delay, for the profit of the community. No bailiff is to act contrary to the ordinance contained in this article, upon penalty of forfeiting 40s., two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-17] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that whenever the town bailiffs, past or future, make a public proclamation (as has long been the custom) that all burgesses of the town should come to the town guildhall, or send their sergeants to instruct individuals to come to the bailiffs for purposes of the good rule, government, and welfare of the town, if anyone stays away and refuses to respond to such proclamations or instructions, without a reasonable and good cause for being excused, he shall forfeit and lose to the community 12d., to be levied from his goods and possessions by the bailiffs, without any remission, for the profit of the community. If the bailiffs are negligent in thus levying the penalty, they are to forfeit 2s.; of which two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-18] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that if any burgess or resident of the town is attached by any of the sergeants, in relation to any personal action within the town, that they are not to take him to gaol nor take any fee from him if he can find within the town or liberties sufficient guarantors for his coming to answer the Crown or the [opposing] party, depending on the requirements of the case, at whatever time is assigned him by the bailiffs in office now or in the future. If any sergeant does the contrary to this ordinance, he shall forfeit 20s. to the community, to be levied by the bailiffs then in office. And every time that any of the sergeants acts contrary to this ordinance he is to forfeit 20s., to be levied from him as already indicated. If then bailiffs then in office fail to levy the penalty found to be warranted, they are to forfeit 100s.; of which two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-19] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that, if any burgess of the town or liberties is being vexatiously sued or in any other way harassed so as to be in danger of losing his goods in relation to communal business of the town, and proper examination finds this indeed to be the case so that the bailiffs and community know it to be true, then the communal goods may be used to defend him or them, or preserve them from any [personal] losses. If the bailiff or bailiffs are negligent in this and will not use their power and such of the communal goods as seems reasonable to reimburse, by the hands of the 6 men, him or them thus vexed for reasonable expenses and costs in defending himself or themselves (assuming there to be sufficient goods in the communal treasury of the town), then the bailiff or bailiffs are to forfeit the penalty that follows in this ordinance: that is, each of the bailiffs, if they or either of them is found at fault, is to forfeit 40s., two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-20] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community, that if any person or persons create a disturbance in infringement of the king's peace within the town, and this is duly proved by verdict of 12 qualified and impartial persons of the town, and [he is] duly convicted of the same according to the custom of the town, before the bailiffs then in office in the guildhall, then he or they are each to forfeit 3s.4d, to be levied by the bailiffs for the use of the community, without any remission. If any person or persons commit an assault, striking any man in infringement of the king's peace within the town, and this is duly proved as already indicated, he is to forfeit 3s.4d, to be levied in the manner indicated. If any person or persons draw blood when assaulting a man, in infringement of the king's peace within the town, and this is duly proved as already indicated, he or they are each to forfeit 6s.8d, to be levied in the manner indicated. If the bailiffs then in office do not impose those penalties, so that such a penalty shall in the future happen to be lost, then they are to forfeit double the amount of the penalty; of which two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-21] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that the common seal of the town be kept in the common coffer, as has been the case in the past; and that 4 respectable men of the town, chosen by the community, shall have the 4 keys to the locks in their safekeeping. Neither the bailiffs, those now in office or those to be, nor anyone else is to remove the seal from the coffer for purposes of sealing any grant made to any person by the bailiffs and community, without the consent of 24 respectable men, burgesses of the town; they are to oversee the removal of the seal, sealings, and the restoration of the seal into the coffer. All documents belonging to the community of the town that exist now or shall exist in future are to be put into the coffer, and safeguarded and administered in the manner indicated. If anyone acts contrary to the ordinance contained in this article, he is to forfeit £20, two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community. Also, the account rolls of the bailiffs and 6 men then in office are from year to year to be deposited as [official] record, indented between the bailiffs and 6 men, as one party, and the auditors chosen annually to audit the accounts of the bailiffs and 6 men, as the other party. And all burgess rolls, community compositions, and court rolls are to be placed and kept in that coffer.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-22] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community, for the good rule and government of the town in the future, that the bailiffs and community and their successors shall choose 12 respectable men [who are] burgesses, residents, and the most qualified and judicious men of the town, to be permanent assistants to the bailiffs then in office, giving them good advice beneficial to the community whenever they are summoned to come to the bailiffs in the guildhall. They are to remain as such for life, unless they have to be discharged from the office due to some reason deserving it by judgement of the bailiffs and community. If any of them dies or is discharged, then another qualified and deserving burgess of the town is to be chosen in his place by the bailiffs and community; he is to take oath upon a book to be faithful to the bailiffs and community and to his franchise. If any of them absent themselves without good cause, when summoned by the bailiffs, or either of them or by any of their sergeants, and refuses to come to the bailiffs for the purpose mentioned, then he is to forfeit 3s.4d to the community of the town, to be levied from his goods and possessions by the bailiffs then in office, without any remission. If the bailiffs then in office are negligent in levying the penalty, they are to forfeit 6s.8d, two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-23] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that if any burgess or resident of the town interferes with or opposes any of the above ordinances, through collusion, conspiracy or any other method, or directly or indirectly stirs up any opposition to or interference with any of these ordinances in the future, or obstructs or prevents the bailiffs then in office from levying the penalties prescribed above as forfeits, then he is to be deprived of all offices and of his freedom within the town, for life; nor is he to be made free, nor listened to, nor have a voice in any common assembly regarding any matter that concerns the community. If in the future any man who is chosen to the office of bailiff refuses that office after being duly elected to it, in the manner already indicated, he is to forfeit £26.13s.4d, to be levied from his lands, goods and possessions by the bailiffs then in office, for the profit of the community. If the bailiffs then in office do not carry out the stipulations made in this article, failing to levy the penalty mentioned so that the penalty is lost (unless they are obstructed from doing it), then each of them is to forfeit £40, two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-24] If any person or persons who are subjected to forfeiting various penalties to the town community, as indicated in the above articles, lack the means to pay such penalties, then the town bailiffs then in office are to arrest them – if they can be found within the town or liberties – and commit them to prison, to be kept securely there until they have made an agreement [for payment] of the penalties to the community.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-25] If the town bailiffs, or either of them, or any other person who is (due to the above ordinances) subjected to a penalty payable to the king, is for that reason indicted before the king or his council or any of his justices, he or they are to be tried as to whether guilty or not of [the offence giving rise to?] the penalty by 12 qualified and impartial burgesses of the town and liberties, and not by anyone else.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[A-26] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that henceforth on every day when the bailiffs, 6 men, coroners, and other town officers are elected, all the above articles and ordinances shall be read out loud before the community, by the common clerk of the town then in office, before any action is taken regarding the elections. This is so that all the community shall hear and know the good rules for government of the town contained in the ordinances, and can shun and avoid the offences clearly identified in the articles and ordinances.
[corresponding 1444 clause]

[2. Petition to 1445 parliament]

[B-01] May it please the wise and judicious Commons in this present Parliament to recall that at an earlier time various terms of settlement were drawn up between the bailiffs and community of the town of Shrewsbury, to promote peace, tranquillity and good government – the which were enacted by authority of Parliament in the time of our present sovereign to be in force for a certain time; which articles, among others, are contained in a schedule attached to this petition. Following their grant, they have up until now brought about harmony between the bailiffs and community, and maintained peace and unity in the town, to the relief and prosperity of the community. In that regard we request our lord the king, in this present Parliament, that by the consent and authority of his lords spiritual and temporal assembled in this Parliament, there be enacted all the things contained within the schedule. So that these things be made law and so be adhered to by the bailiffs now in office and those in times to come and by the community and each member of it, in perpetuity. And so that whenever the bailiffs or other officers, or any one of them, or anyone else covered by the schedule, commits or attempts anything contrary to any of the articles in the schedule, in regard to which the penalty is payable to the community, the community may at will bring an action in the king's courts in the town guildhall before the bailiffs then in office, or before the king's justices at Westminster, to levy the sums of money specified as payable to the community by he or they who has done contrary to any such article, for failing to carry out anything contained in the article. And that in the case of infringement of any article whereby the penalty should be payable to the king or his successors, whichever member of the community is willing to sue for the payment of the fine is to have one-third of the same, to be put towards the profit of the community.

[B-02] First, it is agreed to by the bailiffs and community of the town of Shrewsbury, so that there be good government in that town from henceforth and forever, that the bailiffs and community have chosen Roger Eyton, William Bastard, William Boerley, Thomas Thornes, Thomas Forster, John Knyght, John Shotton, John Gamell, John Falke, Thomas Otteley, Richard Stury, and John Beget – 12 worthy burgesses [who are] resident householders, the best qualified and most judicious within the town or liberties – that they and their successors shall be aldermen and give ongoing support to the bailiffs and their successors through good counsel given, according to their wisdom and judgement, for the well-being, prosperity, esteem, and welfare of the town, whenever they are forewarned to come to the guildhall of the town, or to any other place within the town, for the purpose mentioned. They are to remain so for as long as they live, so long as they reside continuously within the town or liberties; otherwise they are to be discharged by the bailiffs and community, or their successors, for what seems to them to be reasonable cause or when they die. Within 20 days following a vacancy, a replacement is to be chosen by the bailiffs and the aldermen still living and be set in the place of him thus dead or discharged. The individual thus chosen is to be given his oath of office by the town clerk and his successors: to be faithful and honest towards the bailiffs and community of the town and its franchise; not for friendship, association, or kinship, love or hate, nor as the intermediary of any other or for any other cause, to given any counsel to the bailiffs and their successors other than what his conscience tells him is the most beneficial and helpful to the bailiffs and community, for the benefit and esteem of the town. If any of them, when forewarned by the bailiffs or by either of them or by any of their sergeants, absents himself without reasonable cause and will not come to the bailiffs for the purpose mentioned, and that is proven before the law by an enquiry held by the bailiffs, he is to forfeit 3s.4d, as often as he is forewarned and fails to come. The bailiffs then in office are empowered by the present Parliament to levy such penalty or penalties so forfeited by him or them, to the use of the community, from his goods and chattels, without any remission. If the bailiffs then in office are negligent and will not levey the penalty or penalties, then they are to forfeit 6s.8d, of which two-thirds go to the king and one-third to the community. If any of the aldermen are absent, the bailiffs may proceed with their necessary business, by the advice of those who are present, for the welfare and esteem of the town.

[B-03] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community of the town, for the good government of the town, that the bailiffs and community have chosen Richard Attynham, Adam Goldsmyth, Thomas Couper, Nicholas Clement, Edmund Bastard, Degory Water, Philip Grace, Roger Adyes, Richard Taverner, William Wotton, John Grafton, Richard Marchall, John Hervy, Richard Waryng, Thomas Wynnes, Thomas Stone, Roger Pontesbury, William Thornton, Hugh Kynton, William Tuder weaver, William Nesse, Thomas Ideshale, John Fox saddler, and John Water – 24 worthy burgesses [who are] resident householders, [chosen from] the best qualified and most judicious members of the town community – that they and their successors shall give ongoing support and advice to the bailiffs and aldermen and their successors through good counsel given in matters of all kinds, according to their wisdom and judgement, for the well-being, prosperity, esteem, and welfare of the town whenever they are forewarned to come to the guildhall, or to any other place within the town, for the purpose mentioned. They are to remain so for as long as they live, so long as they reside continuously within the town or liberties; otherwise they are to be discharged by the bailiffs and community, or their successors, for what seems to them to be reasonable cause or when they die. Within 20 days following a vacancy, a replacement is to be chosen in the presence of the bailiffs by the remaining members of the 24, and he or they so chosen to be set in the place of him or them thus dead or discharged. The individual thus chosen is to be given his oath of office by the town clerk and his successors: to be faithful and honest towards the bailiffs and community of the town and its franchise; not for friendship, association, or kinship, love or hate, nor as the intermediary of any other or for any other cause, to given any counsel to the bailiffs and their successors other than what his conscience tells him is the most beneficial and helpful to the bailiffs and community, for the benefit and esteem of the town. If any of them, when forewarned by the bailiffs or by either of them or by any of their sergeants, absents himself without reasonable cause and will not come to the bailiffs for the purpose mentioned, and that is proven before the law by an enquiry held by the bailiffs, he is to forfeit 20d., as often as he is forewarned and fails to come. The bailiffs then in office are empowered by the present Parliament to levy such penalty or penalties so forfeited by him or them, to the use of the community, from his goods and chattels, without any remission. If the bailiffs then in office are negligent and will not levy the penalty or penalties, then they are to forfeit 3s.4d, of which two-thirds go to the king and one-third to the community. If any of the 24 are absent, the bailiffs may proceed with their necessary business, by the advice of those who are present, for the welfare and esteem of the town. And if the bailiffs then in office, or anyone else, raises, requests or proposes any matter to the entire community of the town, at such time as they assemble together in the guildhall, neither the community nor any member of it is to make a response, nor give permission to the bailiffs, [their] lieutenants, or anyone else, but only give their advice to the 24 commoners. They are then to adopt the best and most judicious advice, and to choose and appoint a speaker on their behalf from among the 24. No other member of the community is to presume [to act as], or take it upon him to be, the speaker or give a response, express his wishes, or say anything to any of the bailiffs, lieutenants, deputies, or anyone else, in their sessions and assemblies, but only to the 24 commoners, upon penalty of 20s. For every conviction of such [offender], the bailiffs are empowered by the present Parliament to levy it for the use of the community. And then the speaker so designated by the 24 commoners is to state and affirm the will of the community to the bailiffs and aldermen; and [communicate] the wishes of the entire community, by the mouth of one of the 24 commoners, chosen for that purpose as mentioned, to the bailiffs, 12 aldermen and 24 commoners (or such of them as are present in the town to proceed on the matter or matters so raised, requested, proposed or expressed), as they think reasonable and beneficial for the town, without any interruption or interference by any other member of the community, under the penalty mentioned.

[B-04] This is agreed to by the bailiffs and community of the town of Shrewsbury, concerning the annual election of bailiffs and other officers of the town. That from henceforth the bailiffs of the town then in office shall, on the day of the election of new officers – that is, the Friday after Michaelmas – using their good judgement, choose two members of the 24 men called commoners, who have been chosen by the community of burgesses of the town to be a council for the community to assist the bailiffs and 12 aldermen of the town. Which 2 men thus chosen from the 24 shall take a public oath upon a book before the bailiffs and community of the town, to be administered by the town clerk then in office, that they will honestly and without bias choose publicly in the town guildhall 25 persons from the most honest and impartial members of the community who are resident burgesses, permanent householders, and contributors towards all financial impositions within the town, using the form and procedure that follows. Those who have held the office of bailiff or who were electors during the last two years are excluded; each of the 25 is to be the sole tenant of a freehold of an annual rental value of 13s.4d (over and above all charges), or else own goods worth £6.13s.4d, over and above his debts payable. That there be no fraud or deception involved; that is, the said 2 men (nor either one of them) are not – because of any gift, promise, procurement, friendship, favour, envy, enmity, association with anyone, or for any other cause, through fraud, malice, collusion, or or conspiracy (by he or they, or anyone else on their behalf) – to fail to choose the 25 persons from the most qualified and impartial members of the community as described above, who are then present in the guildhall on the occasion of the election; and not anyone else. So long as there are then present a sufficient number of persons to make the election. In that regard the 2 men are to be questioned under oath whether they, or either of them, has been suborned to choose any [particular] person [to be] of the 25; if either is found to have been suborned, that one is to be removed and another chosen in his place, in the way indicated above, until 2 members of the 24 are found who have not been suborned. The 2 men thus chosen are not to choose the 25 from any list previously drawn up. The which 25 thus chosen shall make their choice under oath, sworn along the same lines as that of the aforementioned 2 men and administered by the town clerk. Then the town clerk is to question each under oath whether they, or any of them, have been suborned to choose any particular person to any particular office which lies within their election. If any person or persons is found under examination to have been suborned, then he (or they) is to be removed and another qualified and impartial burgess of the town, sworn and found (in the manner stated) not to have been suborned, is to be put in his place.

[B-05] Then the 25 are to proceed to elect 2 bailiffs for the year to come from the most honest, impartial and qualified burgesses of the town (as indicated above) who are best able to rule and govern, properly and faithfully according to law, good custom, and the necessary usages of the town. On condition that each of those chosen as bailiffs is to possess in his own right or for his lifetime lands or rents worth £10, or to own goods worth £100. Each of the bailiffs is to be a permanent resident and householder of the town or its liberties, as of 3 years prior to the election. And they are not to be persons subject to any special law. Should the 25 choose a bailiff or bailiffs who are not qualified, or do not meet the above requirements, then each of them is to forfeit 100s. to the town community. If they cannot agree on whom to elect, then an election by [a majority of] at least 15 will be valid. If the 25, or any of them, choose a bailiff or bailiffs who are not qualified, then each is to forfeit the aforementioned sum of 100s., to be levied by the bailiffs then in office to the use of the community. Nor are the 25 persons to choose any official from their own number, but from other qualified and capable burgesses, as described above. They are not to choose for the office of bailiff anyone who has been bailiff within the previous 3 years, upon [penalty of] forfeiting the said amount, to be levied in the fashion indicated. The bailiffs so chosen are to be householders within the town throughout the term of their office, under penalty of forfeiting 50s. to the use of the community, without any remission. Henceforth they are not to choose anyone for the office of the 6 [cessors] who has already held the office of bailiff of the town, each of them under penalty of the same amount levied in the said manner.

[B-06] If any person or persons suborn the 2 men who choose the 25, or either of them, in regard to the election of the 25 or any of them, or else at any time suborn the 25 in regard to making any officer who lies within their election, that person or persons thus suborning – whether man or woman – and so proven by due process is each to forfeit 40s. to the use of the community and is to be deprived for life of any office or franchise within the town. If he who has been suborned, and is found guilty of the same through the questioning or by any other means, will not reveal who suborned him, he is to forfeit 40s. to the use of the community. Neither of the 2 men who choose the 25 one year is to be chosen for the same role within the 5 years that follow, nor appointed or admitted to the office of bailiff during the 3 years following their election of the 25.

[B-07] The 25 persons sworn in the manner indicated above are to choose 6 men called cessors, each of whom is to hold 25s.8d [sic] annually in lands or rents (over and above reprises) in his own right or for his lifetime, or own goods worth £20; and is to be a bona fide burgess and resident of the town. [They are] to be responsible henceforth for the duties of receiving all kinds of revenues that come, or ought to come, yearly to the communal exchequer of the town, and for the effective and honest care of those revenues for the common profit. If the 25 choose the 6 men, or any of them, [in a way] contrary to this ordinance, then every member of the 25 will pay the penalty of 100s., as often as they do it. If the 25 cannot agree on the election of the 6 men, then election by at least 15 of them is to be valid; if the 15, or any of the 25, choose the 6 men, or any of them, [in a way] contrary to this ordinance then each of them is to forfeit the penalty of 100s. to the use of the community. The bailiffs then in office have the power to levy the penalties so forfeited by those duly convicted through a subsequent enquiry held before the bailiffs.

[B-08] The 25 persons sworn in the manner indicated above are to choose under oath 2 town coroners from qualified burgesses resident in the town, who are to occupy the office of coroner within the town and its franchises. The coroners are to oversee the public works of the town during their term of office, to ensure they are properly carried out from time to time, in a reasonable and honest fashion, for the benefit of the community. Whoever has been coroner one year is not to be chosen to the officer of coroner during the 3 years following. Nor is any man who has been a member of the 6 one year to be chosen to the office of the 6 men during the 3 years following. If the 25 choose the coroners, or either of them, [in a way] contrary to this ordinance, then every member of the 25 will pay the penalty of 100s., as often as they do it, to the use of the community. If the 25 cannot agree on the election of the coroners, then election by at least 15 of them is to be valid; if the 15, or any of the 25, choose the 6 men, or any of them, [in a way] contrary to this ordinance then each of them is to forfeit the penalty of 100s. to the use of the community. The bailiffs then in office have the power to levy the penalties so forfeited for communal profit, as set out in the previous article.

[B-09] Henceforth, no-one who has held or will hold the offices of coroner or 6 men in the town is to occupy the office of sergeant. Each of them under penalty of 100s., to be raised from them (and each of them) by the bailiffs then in office for communal profit, in the manner as set out in the previous 2 articles.

[B-10] It is agreed to that no-one is to speak with the 25 persons – neither past or future bailiffs, nor anyone else – once they have taken their oath and been examined in the manner already mentioned, and have been tasked with making the election; nor is to go with them into the place where the election shall be made. With the exception of the present or future common clerk of the town; and he is to take oath upon a book, before the community of the town, that he will not suborn them, or any of them, nor allow any other man to suborn them to choose anyone particular for an office. He is thus to keep them safe [from influence] until they, or a majority of them, have reached agreement, in the way already indicated. Neither they nor any of them may depart from the place to which the town clerk brings them for making the election, until the election has been completed, upon penalty of 40s. each. The bailiffs then in office have the power to levy the penalties so forfeited by them, to the use of the community.

[B-11] It is agreed to that the bailiffs who are newly elected each year, before they can take office, are to take oath upon a book before the community of the town: that they shall be faithful and loyal to the king and his heirs; that they will honestly and properly maintain the peace within the town and its liberties, and administer and govern the assizes of all victuals within the town and its liberties; that they will do justice to poor as well as to rich; and that they will perform all the duties of the office honestly, to the utmost of their wisdom and ability, according to the laws, customs and usages of the town.

[B-12] It is agreed to that the said 6 men, once elected in the manner already mentioned, shall publicly take oath upon a book before the community: that every day assigned by the bailiffs and the 6 men (or [at least] 3 of them) for receiving community revenues they shall go to the communal exchequer and there receive all such revenues as are brought there by various persons, and honestly and properly keep those moneys secure; also that they shall honestly and properly oversee all expenses and costs made by the bailiffs for the benefit and esteem of the town; and also to assist and advise the bailiffs for the benefit of the community.

[B-13] The coroners who are elected annually are to take a public oath in the manner already mentioned: that they shall honestly and properly fulfill the duties of coroner within the town and liberties; oversee the public works of the town; and honestly and properly write down, or have written down, the details of those works – where and when they were carried out, associated expenses and costs – and on a weekly basis deliver them to the bailiffs and 6 men in the town Exchequer. If any coroner disobeys and does the contrary, and will not comply with the aforesaid ordinance, he is to forfeit 40s. to the use of the community. The bailiffs then in office have the power to levy the penalties so forfeited by those duly convicted. If the bailiffs are negligent and fail to levy that penalty, as aforesaid, each is to pay the penalty of 66s.8d., [of which] two-thirds go to the king, and one-third to the community.

[B-14] Those who have been, or shall in future be, bailiffs are each to have and take for their year's term of office a fee of 100s. and a gown worth 20s. (and no more). Each of the 6 men in office now or in the future is to have and take 13s.4d for his fee and a gown worth 13s.4d for his labour. Also, the coroners in office now or in the future are to have and take from the community revenues, for their labour in overseeing the public works, 12d. per week throughout the year, to be divided evenly between them. The bailiffs in office now or in the future are to be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses and costs incurred by them for the benefit and esteem of the town, at the time they render account; on condition that is has been confirmed by the 6 men (or at least 3 of them) that the expenses and costs have truly been incurred for the purposes indicated, otherwise their claims are not to be allowed. If the 6 men, or any of them, are absent on the days assigned for receiving [revenues], without reasonable cause or permission from the bailiff or bailiffs then in office, then each of them who is absent is to forfeit 2d on each occasion, without any remission. Absences of the 6 men are to be entered into record by the town clerk, so that [the fines] may be deducted from their fees at the end of the year.

[B-15] It is agreed to that the bailiffs who will take office may appoint two town sergeants, from individuals for whom they are prepared to be answerable. A third town sergeant is to be chosen annually by the 25 persons, on election day; he is to be a bona fide burgess, qualified, resident, and contributor to all kinds of levies within the town. The sergeant is to be warden of the town gate called the Castle Gate. The third sergeant is also to be responsible for collection of the town rents, honestly delivering the same to the 6 men in the town exchequer on (at the latest) the day when the bailiffs and 6 men go over the accounts, and rendering a true account of the same under oath. He is to receive annually for that labour 20s. from the community revenues, from the hands of the 6 men, and answer for everything that pertains to his duties. On the condition that this sergeant is to find suitable guarantors regarding levying the money assigned by the bailiffs for him to collect, and regarding delivering it into the hands of the 6 men in the communal Exchequer and rendering an honest account before the bailiffs and 6 men in the Exchequer, when they require him to do so; and regarding him being responsive and obedient to the bailiffs and their orders, as he ought to be. If that sergeant is unable to find guarantors for that purpose, in order to protect the bailiffs from being answerable, then the bailiffs may choose and appoint any sergeant for whom they will be answerable, at their own risk. Those sergeants are to render a proper and honest account of all issues and estreats of the court, after the end of every third court session. Also of fines from brewsters who, when they sell ale, break the assize customarily enforced in the town since ancient times; [they are to account] at the end of every quarter, or within that period if it is so ordered or required by the bailiffs and 6 men then in office. Also of all other revenues that are part of their duty [to collect] and ought to be put towards the common profit, [they are to account] at the end of each year, before the day when the bailiffs and 6 men go over the accounts.

[B-16] Before the point where they take up office, the sergeants are to take oath upon a book before the bailiffs and 6 men then in office, in the community exchequer, that each and every one of them shall: be faithful and loyal to the bailiffs, community, and franchises of the town; treat both poor and rich fairly; collect all moneys that the bailiffs assign them as their duty to levy, in the form of estreats or other revenues, for the profit of the community; render honest account of the same to the bailiffs and 6 men when they so require it; and be attendant on and obedient to the bailiffs, as they ought to be in their office. Each of them is to have and take annually, from community revenues, 26s.8d and a gown worth 10s. The sergeants are to be removed from office at the end of each year, along with the other officers. None of the sergeants is to occupy that office within the town [on terms] contrary to these ordinances, upon penalty of £6.13s.4d. The bailiffs then in office have the power to levy the penalty thus forfeited by them, to the use of the community.

[B-17] Those who have been, or shall in future be, bailiffs and 6 men of the town shall henceforth choose and appoint tollreeves, from the most honest and most capable burgesses they can find, to receive and collect the tolls and customs that ought to be taken at the town gate for communal profit. Before they can occupy the office of tollreeve, they are to take oath upon a book, in the community exchequer before the bailiffs and 6 men: to be faithful to the bailiffs and community of the town; to collect and receive for communal profit all revenues that fall within their duties; and to bring the same to the community exchequer of the town, whenever required by the bailiffs and 6 men (or 3 of them). Once sworn, the tollreeves may receive and keep safe all the customs money sometimes called "sergeants' fees" that ought rightly to be collected at the gates, putting this money aside separately and then producing it and handing it over in the exchequer, in the manner already mentioned, without fraud, conspiracy, or deceit [to withhold any], to be received and recorded annually in its own right. If any omission or deceit on the part of the tollreeves, or any one of them, is discovered and proven true before the bailiffs and 6 men, they are to be removed from office by the bailiffs and 6 men whenever so found at fault, and others put in their places. Furthermore, when legally convicted of the same, each is to forfeit 40s. and is to be imprisoned, without prospect of bail or mainprise, until that amount is raised and paid to the 6 men for communal profit. If the bailiffs who were in office, or shall be in the future, do not impose the penalty specified in this article, then each of them is to forfeit 100s.; of which two-thirds go to the king, and one-third to the community.

[B-18] It is agreed that no bailiff of the town shall henceforth receive or have in keeping any rents, customs, fines, nor other incomes that belong to the community. Rather these are to be taken to the community exchequer and there paid and delivered to the 6 men, who may have the safekeeping of the same, for communal profit. Those who have been, or shall in future be, bailiffs may not reduce or waive any duties payable to the community without consulting and obtaining the agreement of the 6 men, or at least 3 of them, upon penalty of paying double the amount they have waived.

[B-19] The bailiffs and 6 men shall render to auditors chosen annually by the community, under oath administered by the auditors, an accurate and honest account of all rents, revenues, fines, and other profits already mentioned. The bailiffs are to carry out, or have carried out, their responsibility to the best of their knowledge – without any fraud, conspiracy or deceit – in bringing, or having brought, into the hands of the 6 men all rents, revenues, fines, and other profits that go, or ought to go, to the profit of the community during the year that they occupy the office of bailiff. Those 6 men are to have safekeeping of those communal goods that remain at the close of every accounting, until the election day, when they should – under penalty [for default] of £10 each – bring it before the community in the guildhall, for the use of the community. At which time and place the community is to choose a chamberlain who shall have custody of those goods for communal benefit, and the communal goods are to be delivered to him then and there; he is to have 6s.8d annually for his labour, and a gown worth 13s.4d. in the style of those of the 6 men. This chamberlain is to be a bona fide burgess, permanent householder, and contributor towards all financial impositions within the town, possessing in his own right or for his lifetime lands or rents worth 40s. (over and above reprises), or goods and chattels to the value of at least £40 over and above his debts payable. The chamberlain is to render account each year before the town auditors chosen to hear the account of the bailiffs and 6 men. These auditors are henceforth to be chosen annually, on the Thursday before St. Mathew's day in September. Following that day they are to hear the accounts of the bailiffs and 6 men and of other officers, until the Thursday following. On which Thursday the chamberlain is to appear before the bailiffs and auditors, and to take oath upon a book to accept and adhere to the decisions of the auditors concerning the account: receipts, payments and expenses he has made using the communal goods. If any of the future bailiffs of the town obstruct or disturb the 6 men in their safekeeping of the communal goods, then each is to forfeit £30 every time this happens; of which two-thirds go to the king, and one-third to the community. The auditors who are chosen by the community, according to a long-established process, to audit the accounts of the bailiffs, 6 men, and chamberlain concerning communal goods received by the 6 men and chamberlain, are henceforth after their election to take oath upon a book, administered by the common clerk, before the community to accept or reject them [i.e. the accounts] according to the form of the accounts, at their honest discretion. The bailiffs then in office are to have three peals of the community bell rung, to summon the community together to choose the auditors. Henceforth the auditors are not to be chosen based on some petition drawn up, to the deceit of the community. Similarly, burgesses who are chosen to go to Parliament are henceforth to be chosen by the community, in the same way and manner that the auditors are.

[B-20] All distresses that remain in safekeeping among the community goods, not having been recovered by acquittance or replevin, on the day when the bailiffs and 6 men, past or future, have to render their account are to be shown to the auditors during the accounting and they are to make a record of what distresses remain; with a view to them being handed over by the bailiffs and 6 men to their successors chosen for the year following, by indenture, on the Monday following election day, without further delay, for the profit of the community. No bailiff is to act contrary to the ordinance contained in this article, upon penalty of forfeiting 40s., two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.

[B-21] If the bailiffs will not levy the penalties forfeited as per this schedule, which it falls to them to levy whenever such a forfeit occurs, then the bailiffs are to incur a penalty equal to that to be forfeited; two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community. Excepting those penalties for which other amounts are imposed on the bailiffs, as specified in particular articles of this schedule.

[B-22] Whenever the town bailiffs, past or future, make a public proclamation (as has long been the custom) that all burgesses of the town should come to the town guildhall, or send their sergeants to instruct individuals to come to the bailiffs for purposes of the good rule, government, and welfare of the town, if anyone stays away and refuses to respond to such proclamations or instructions, without a reasonable and good cause for being excused, he shall forfeit and lose to the community 12d., to be levied from his goods and possessions by the bailiffs, without any remission, for the profit of the community. If the bailiffs are negligent in thus levying the penalty, and are duly presented according to the law, they are to forfeit 2s.; of which two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.

[B-23] If, at the suit of any party, any burgess or tenser of the town is attached by any of the sergeants or their assistants in the town, in relation to any personal action or for providing assurance of keeping the peace within the town or its liberties, they are not to take any such attached burgess or tenser to gaol before having brought him or them before the bailiffs, or their deputies at that time. And then he or they may accept from the one attached and arrested guarantors (if he can find them) such as the bailiff or bailiffs, at their discretion, consider sufficient for keeping the peace within the town or appearing to answer the Crown or the [opposing] party in the said action, as has been the custom in the past and depending on the requirements of the case, depending on the requirements of the case, at whatever time is assigned him by the bailiffs or their deputies (or any one of them) in office now or in the future. In such a case the sergeants or their assistants, or any of them, are not to take any fee from him. If the person or persons thus attached or arrested cannot find guarantors within the town and its liberties, and is committed to prison by the bailiffs or their deputies, or any of them, then when he thus arrested is released he is to pay, on every occasion, 4d. to the sergeant for his fee for the arrest, and no more – except for 4d. to the town clerk for make a record of any surety for keeping the peace. If any resident of the town, or someone from outside the town and its liberties who is neither a burgess nor a tenser, is attached and arrested at the suit of a party in regard to any personal action, the sergeant may take from him 4d. and no more. If he is attached and arrested for the purpose of providing surety for keeping the peace towards any outsider or resident who is not a burgess or tenser, the bailiffs may take only 14d. for the warrant and its sealing, and the clerk only 4d. for writing it. And if he is obliged to find guarantors, then he is to pay the clerk 12d. for making a record of the same and 8d. to the sergeant for the arrest, and no more. If any sergeant takes [more] or does the contrary to this ordinance, or anything here specified, so that the aggrieved party complains to the bailiffs or their deputies, or any of them, at the next court session or the one following that, then each and every sergeant who so does and is duly found guilty of the same is to forfeit 3s.4d to the town community – this to be levied by the bailiffs for the use of the community. If the bailiffs are negligent and do not duly levy that penalty, they are to forfeit 6s.8d, two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community. It is not lawful for any bailiff or bailiffs of the town to take from any person or persons sureties for the peace outside the town guildhall. Such sureties are to be registered there and made part of the official record.

[B-24] Should there be any burgess of the town or liberties, or either of the 2 men who hereafter choose the 25 electors of town officials, or any of the 25 [themselves], or any other person or persons who is or are being vexatiously sued or being harassed in any other way in regard to any election due to take place or [other] cause, so as to be in danger of losing his goods in relation to communal business of the town, and proper examination finds this indeed to be the case so that the bailiffs, 12 aldermen, the 6 men, and the 24 commoners who assist the bailiffs and aldermen know it to be true, then the communal goods may be used to defend him or them, or preserve them from any [personal] losses. If the bailiff or bailiffs and the 6 men are negligent in this and will not use their power and such of the community goods as seems reasonable (if there are sufficient goods in the hands of the 6 men) to reimburse him or them for reasonable expenses and costs in defending himself or themselves, then the bailiff or bailiffs and the 6 men are each to forfeit the penalty that follows in this ordinance: that is, each of the bailiffs and 6 men, if they or any of them are found at fault, is to forfeit 40s., two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.

[B-25] If any person or persons create a disturbance in infringement of the king's peace within the town and its liberties, and this is duly proved by verdict of 12 qualified and impartial persons of the town, before the bailiffs then in office in the guildhall, then he or they are each to forfeit 3s.4d, to be levied by the bailiffs for the use of the community, without any remission. If any person or persons commit an assault, striking any man or woman in infringement of the king's peace within the town and its liberties, and this is duly proved as already indicated, he is to forfeit 3s.4d, to be levied in the manner indicated. If any person or persons draw blood when assaulting a man or woman, in infringement of the king's peace within the town, and this is duly proved as already indicated, he or they are each to forfeit 6s.8d, to be levied in the manner indicated. If the bailiffs then in office do not impose those penalties, so that such a penalty shall in the future happen to be lost, then they are to forfeit double the amount of the penalty; of which two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community.

[B-26] The common seal of the town is to be kept in the common coffer, as has been the case in the past; and 4 respectable men of the town, chosen by the community, shall have the 4 keys to the coffer in their safekeeping. Neither the bailiffs, those now in office or those to be, nor anyone else is to remove the seal from the coffer for purposes of sealing any grant made to any person by the bailiffs and community, without the consent of 24 respectable men, burgesses of the town; they are to oversee the removal of the seal, sealings, and the restoration of the seal into the coffer. All documents belonging to the community of the town that exist now or shall exist in future are to be put into the coffer, and safeguarded and administered in the manner indicated. If anyone acts contrary to the ordinance contained in this article, he is to forfeit £20. two-thirds to the king and one-third to the community. Also, the account rolls of the bailiffs and 6 men then in office are from year to year to be deposited as [official] record, indented between the bailiffs and 6 men, as one party, and the auditors chosen annually to audit the accounts of the bailiffs and 6 men, as the other party. And all burgess rolls, community compositions, and court rolls are to be placed and kept in that coffer.

[B-27] If any burgess or resident of the town interferes with or opposes any of the above ordinances, through collusion, conspiracy or any other method, or directly or indirectly stirs up any opposition to or interference with any of these ordinances in the future, or obstructs or prevents the bailiffs then in office from levying the penalties prescribed above as forfeits, then he is to be deprived of all offices and of his freedom within the town, for life; nor is he to be made free, nor listened to, nor have a voice in any common assembly regarding any matter that concerns the community.

[B-28] If any person or persons who are subjected to forfeiting various penalties to the town community, as indicated in the above articles, lack the means to pay such penalties, then the town bailiffs then in office are to arrest them – if they can be found within the town or liberties – and commit them to prison, to be kept securely there until they have made an agreement [for payment] of the penalties to the community. And if they have the means [to pay] then, by authority of this present Parliament, the bailiffs are empowered to distrain for the penalties as often as they are imposed, and the distresses held until they [i.e. the bailiffs] have been satisfied for the penalties imposed in the abovementioned fashion, without any replevin of the distresses [permitted].

[B-29] If any burgess or tenser is indicted for any offence or offences committed, or alleged to have been committed, by him within the town or its liberties, and is arrested for the same – [no matter] whether allowed bail or mainprise by the bailiff or bailiffs or held in prison – the person or persons so indicted and put under restraint may be released without paying any fine or fee (except to the town clerk for writing the record) and without any fraud or prevention, so long as they are of good name and reputation.

[B-30] Waifs and strays of all kinds and other forfeited goods within the town and its liberties which ought to be put towards communal profit, are to be sold by the bailiffs and the 6 men (or 3 of the 6 at least). Any sale made to the contrary is to be void.

[The following clause is a little garbled]
[B-31] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community, for good government of the town and avoidance of trouble that might arise in the future, that henceforth no burgess or resident of the town or its liberties, out of fear that over the course of time the king's tenants and other residents of the town – when the bailiffs were in need of preserving good rule and peace – would call upon their masters and fellows of the same affiliation, rather than on the bailiffs (who are charged with preserving good rule and peace in the town); for every man who wished to give livery and receive livery in the town or its liberties gave and received liveries contrary to the Statute of Liveries enacted in the past. Then, when the bailiffs needed [support] at any assembly of lords, assises, or sessions [of the Peace], after a disturbance or trouble had arisen in the town, those men who were liveried would side with their masters or their fellows, and not with the bailiffs, who are responsible for keeping the peace as already mentioned. It is [therefore] ordained that henceforth no man living in the town or its liberties is to accept or wear a livery of any kind that is contrary to statutes of liveries made in the past, under the penalty specified in such statutes of liveries. If any burgess or resident receives a livery contrary to those statutes, then he is to forfeit the penalty specified in the statutes, the burgess [is to lose] his franchise, and the resident is to be expelled from the town forever. If the bailiffs will not duly execute [such punishment] upon one duly convicted, then they will suffer the same penalty, [paid] to the use of the community.

[B-32] It is agreed that no sergeant is to be chosen by the bailiffs, nor by the 25, within 2 years of him having been one of the 25. Anyone who is an elector one year is not to be, nor to participate in any election of officials within the town, on election days within the 2 years that follow. Any man who has served as bailiff one year is not to be chosen for the office of town coroner the following year. If a coroner or sergeant is chosen contrary to what has been agreed, he is to forfeit his fees and wages. And if anyone is chosen contrary to this article, he is not to be considered an officer.

[B-33] It is agreed that if any offence or offences are committed by the bailiff or bailiffs, or any other officer, contrary to any of the articles contained in this schedule, or any offence or offences are committed by them or any of them in the course of carrying out official duties within the town or its liberties, and they (or any of them) are impeached or sued for the same – whether at the suit of the Crown, or of the party [offended] – and the matter comes to court, then the coroners then in office are empowered to impanel the jury for the trial of those offences, and to oversee the process until the matter has reached determination according to law and reason. Except for offences committed by the coroners against these ordinances, for which the impanellment for [the trial of] the coroners is to be done by the town clerk then in office.

[B-34] If the town bailiffs, or any other person, are (due to the above ordinances) subjected to any penalty or penalties payable to the king, and in regard to its forfeiture are indicted before the king or his council or any of his justices, he or they are to be tried as to whether guilty of the penalty or penalties or not by 12 qualified and impartial burgesses who reside within the town or its liberties, and by no-one else; nor by any outsider.

[B-35] It is agreed to by the bailiffs and community that henceforth on every day when the bailiffs, 6 men, coroners, and other town officers are elected, all the above articles and ordinances contained in this schedule shall be read out loud before the community, by the common clerk of the town then in office, before any action is taken regarding the elections. This is so that all the community shall hear and know the good rules for government of the town contained in the ordinances, and can shun and avoid the offences clearly identified in the articles and ordinances.