in Rye was so reduced in value, but also its inhabitants were so impoverished, that neither the town nor its barons and trusty men could find and provide their quota of such navy as they ought to do. The King therefore granted to the Mayor and Barons of Rye, and "to the inhabitants and tenants resident and not resident in the Town and Hundred of Tenterden, that they should be of one Bailiff and Commonalty of the same Town and Hundred of Tenterden, perpetual and corporate for ever, and be a body corporate by the name of the Bailiff and Commonalty of Tenterden." Then follow directions for the election of the bailiff, and for the holding of courts fortnightly, according to the custom of the Cinque Ports. Also the exemption of the inhabitants from the tolls, levies, and burdens of the shire and hundred, and from attending the Shire Courts at Penenden Heath, the Hundred Courts of the Seven Hundreds, and before Justices in Eyre and Commissioners of Sewers; and a command that the Bailiff and Commonalty according to his means, to the service of ships for the many when required so to do. And that all pleadings should be in the

court before the Bailiff of Tenterden, or in the court of the Cinque Ports called Shipway.
   Rye was no doubt glad to be relieved of a portion of its burdens, by its more prosperous neighbour Tenterden. Later on (8 Henry VII), a composition was entered into between the two towns for apportioning the services to be rendered, and the payments to be made by each. The next corporate change, at Tenterden, took place in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when that sovereign added to its importance by substituting a Mayor for a Bailiff; and from that time until the passing of the Municipal Corporation Act, its corporation under the charter of Queen Elizabeth was styled, "The Mayor, Jurats, and Commons of the Town and Hundred of Tenterden" (which included part of Ebony), John Hales being its first Mayor. The maces and seals of the Corporation should be inspected. There is a bailiff's seal (brass), also two mayor's seals (one silver and the other brass). The Corporate seal is an elaborate one, and bears the arms of