of the Statute thereupon, enacted and provided, and the names of the same Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, so to be elected, to be inserted in certain Indentures, to be thereupon made between you and those who shall be present at such election, although such persons to be elected shall be present or absent, and cause them to come at the said day and place, so that the same Knights shall have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Counties aforesaid, and the said Citizens and Burgesses for themselves, and the Commonalties of the Cities and Boroughs aforesaid, severally of themselves to do and consent to those things, which, then, there, by the Common Council of our said Kingdom, by the blessing of God shall happen to be ordained, upon the businesses aforesaid, so that for want of such power, or by reason of the improvident election of the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses aforesaid, the said businesses do in nowise remain unperformed. And your election in your full Counties distinctly and openly made under your seal, and the seals of those who shall be present at such election, without delay you certify us in our Chancery, at the said day and place, sending to us the other part of the Indentures aforesaid, sewed to these presents, together with this writ. Witness ourself at Westminster, the 21st day of September, in the twelfth year of our Reign.

[Then follow the Manucaptors indorsed.]

BY THIS INDENTURE made at Huntingdon, in full County Court there holden, on Saturday next after the Feast of St. Dennis, in the thirteenth year of the Reign of King Henry the Fourth, between William Alleyn, Sheriff of Huntingdon and George Gydding, John Deyvyll, Roger Chamberleyn, John Denton, John Fett, John Leyghton, Simon Clapthorn, and John Hawkyn, and others, of the other part. It is witnessed, that proclamation being made, by virtue of a certain Writ of the Lord the King, to the said Sheriff directed, in the said County, of a certain Parliament of the said Lord the King, by the advice of his Council, to be holden at Westminster, on the morrow of All Souls next coming, the aforesaid George, John Deyvyll, Roger, John Denton, John Fetts, John Leghton, Simon, and John Hawkyn, and others, there present, have elected Robert Peck and Thomas Freeman, fit Burgesses for the Town of Huntingdon, having full and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, to do and consent to those things which then at the said Parliament by the blessing of God,

F

shall happen to be ordained. In witness whereof, as well to this Indenture of the said election, made in full County, to be sent together with the said Writ to the Lord the King, as to the other part of the said Indenture, to be certified in the Chancery of the Lord the King, at the said day and place, the aforesaid Sheriff, and all the others, have set their seals. Dated, the day, place, and year aforesaid.

We now find the electors described as Burgesses present at the proclamation, acting with the consent of the whole Commonalty; but we are left to conjecture whether the word

Commonalty" is applied to the residue of the select body, if such existed, or to the inhabitants at large qualified to act as Burgesses. Common sense, and a reference to collateral evidence, must lead us to a determination.

Writ dated the 22d of March, in the 1st year of

the reign of King Henry V.

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a certain writ, &c. to this Indenture sewed, proclamation being made at the next County Court of Huntingdon after the receipt of the said Writ, to wit, &c. George Gydyng, John Sayer, John Foxton, John Fetter, John Leyghton, Simon Clapthorn, Thomas Purslee, and Roger Chamberleyn, who were present at such proclamation, have elected Robert Peck and John Denton, two fit Burgesses, with the assent of the whole Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid; who have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, to do and consent to those things, &c. In witness whereof to one part of this Indenture the said George, and all other the Electors abovenamed, have set their seals, and to the other part of this Indenture remaining in the custody of the aforesaid Electors, the said Sheriff hath set his seal. Dated the day, place, and year, abovesaid.

Writ dated the 26th September, in the 2d year of

the reign of King Henry V.

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of the Writ of the Lord the King, &c. proclamation being made at the next County Court of Huntingdon after the receipt of

the said Writ, viz. &c. George Giddyng, Robert Peck, John Wendelyngbury, John Denton, Simon Bocher, John Leyghton, John Fette, William Newsham, William Karhill, Richard Spycer, John Oswestre, John Bykle, Roger Smith, and William Atte Okys, Burgesses of the Borough of Huntingdon, who were present at the proclamation aforesaid, have elected Roger Chamberleyn and John Foxton, the two Burgesses for the Borough aforesaid, with the assent of the whole Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, to be at the Parliament of the said Lord the King, ordained to be holden, &c. which said Burgesses have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, &c. In witness whereof to one part of these Indentures the said George Giddyng, and all other the Electors abovenamed, have set their seals, and to the other part of this Indenture remaining in the custody of the aforesaid Electors, the said Sheriff hath set his seal. Dated the day, place, and year, abovesaid.

Writ dated the 29th of September, in the third year of King Henry V.

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a certain Writ, &c. proclamation being made in the next County Court of Huntingdon, &c. John Denton [with twelve other names], Burgesses of the Borough of Huntingdon, who were present at such proclamation, have elected Robert Pekke and John Bykkle, the two Burgesses of the Borough: aforesaid, with the assent of the whole Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, to be at the Parliament of the said Lord the King, &c. which said Burgesses have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, to do and consent to those things which then at the said Parliament by the blessing of God shall happen to be ordained. In witness whereof, as well the aforesaid Sheriff, as the aforesaid Robert Pekke, and all other the Electors abovenamed, to these present Indentures have alternately set their seals. Dated the day, year, and place,

abovesaid.

The electors in the following return are also undescribed. In the last they returned for themselves and the commonalty.; in this, they elect for the commonalty alone. But from neither can it be inferred that they elected as corporators.

The absence of a common seal here, also proves that this was not only not a corporate act, but simply the deed of individuals acting in a several right, who must have been Burgesses according to the tenor of the writ, under which the return was made.

Writ dated the 5th October, in the 5th year of
King Henry V.

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by a certain Writ, &c. Proclamation being made in the next County Court of Huntingdon, after the receipt of the said Writ, to wit, &c. George Gyddyng [and eleven other names], who were present at the proclamation aforesaid, have elected John Fette and Richard Freman, two fit Burgesses for the Commonalty of the Town of Huntingdon, who have full power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Town of Huntingdon aforesaid, &c. In witness whereof, to one part of the Indentures aforesaid, George Gyddyng, and all other the electors abovenamed, have set their Seals, and to the other part of this Indenture remaining in the custody of the aforesaid Electors, the said Sheriff hath set his Seal. Dated the day, place, and year aforesaid.

The two next returns are similar to the last. The capacity. in which the electors act is not stated, and the elected are vested with power to act for themselves and the commonalty.

Writ dated the 24th day of August, in the 7th year of King Henry V.

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a certain Writ, &c., proclamation being made in the next County Court of Huntingdon, after the receipt of the said Writ, viz. &c. Robert Pekke [and eleven other names], who were present at the proclamation aforesaid, have elected William Spycer and Hugh Parson, two fit Burgesses for the Commonalty of the Town of Huntingdon, who have full and sufficient power for themselves, and the Commonalty of the Town aforesaid, &c. In witness whereof to one part of the Indentures aforesaid, Robert Pekke, and all other the Electors above-named, have set their Seals, and to the other

part of this Indenture remaining in the custody of the aforesaid Electors, the said Sheriff hath set his Seal, dated the day, place, and year abovesaid.

Writ dated the 25th day of February, in the 8th

year of King Henry V.

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a certain Writ, &c. proclamation being made in the next County Court of Huntingdon, after the receipt of the said Writ, to wit, &c. George Giddyns [and eleven other names], who were presentat the proclamation aforesaid, have elected Robert Pekke and John Colles, the two Burgesses for the Commonalty of the Town of Huntingdon, who have full and sufficient power for themselves, and the Commonalty of the Town of Huntingdon aforesaid, &c. In witness whereof, to one part of the Indentures aforesaid, George Giddyns and all other the electors above-named have set their seals, and to the other part of these Indentures remaining in the custody of the aforesaid electors, the said Sheriff hath set his seal, dated the day, year, and place aforesaid.

In the following return, the electors are described simply as Burgesses, whether incorporated or not, does not appear, but if they had acted, quá corporators, they would and ought to have affixed the common seal.

Writ dated the 20th of October, in the 9th year of
King Henry V.

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that by virtue of a Writ, &c. proclamation being made in the next County Court of Huntingdon, after the receipt of the said Writ, to wit, &c. John Denton [and ten others], Burgesses of the Borough of Huntingdon, who were present at the proclamation aforesaid, have elected George Giddyng and Robert Pekke, two fit Burgesses for the Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, who have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Commonalty of the Borough aforesaid, &c. In Witness, whereof, to one part of the Indentures aforesaid, John Denton and all other the electors above-named have set their seals, and to the other part of this Indenture remaining in the custody of the aforesaid electors, the said Sheriff hath set his seal, dated the day, place, and year abovesaid.