A Civic Society for Romsey, Hampshire UK and surrounding villages

4. Regulations of 1625

These draw attention to problems that appear to have arisen both within the Corporation membership and in town matters. More immediately, the corporation made rules regulating their own affairs and their behaviour.

In terms of Corporation conduct the regulations indicate the concern of the office-holders to maintain the dignity of the mayor and also the close relationship between the Corporation and the Anglican church. In fact, the corporation acquired a dedicated pew in the abbey church which, according to R. Holmes, churchwarden, ‘they have enjoyed time immemorial without paying any acknowledgement to the parish for the same’.

The first two rules of 1625, repeated in the 1742 revisions, read:
No 1 That all the aldermen and burgesses attend the mayor on Christmas day, Easter day and Whit Sunday yearly for ever also 24th March, 25th July, 5th August and 5th November to church at prayer morning and evening etc under penalty of 3s 4d unless sufficient excuse, for a burgess 2s 6d to the poor of the town.
No 2 Six of the aldermen and burgesses to attend the mayor to church on Sundays and Holy Days in the gowns as in the former cases and under the same penalty.

These rules reinforce the expressed wish of the charter
That the aforesaid six Aldermen and twelve Chief Burgesses of the aforesaid town for the time being shall be from time to time assistants and aids to the Mayor of the aforesaid town of Romsey for the time being in all causes, businesses and matters touching, or in any way concerning, the said town of Romsey in any things whatsoever;

The rules enabled the mayor to send the sergeants-at-mace round to summon aldermen or burgesses to attend him at church.

Later rules – Nos 19 and 20 – suggest that Corporation members were not always at peace with each other.
19. If any alderman or burgess shall misdemean himself to the mayor in his presence or absence, in word or deed he shall forfeit 10 shillings for every offence and be further punished if the cause required in the discretion of the said mayor, and every burgess shall forfeit 6s 8d for such offence above for the use of the poor.
20. Aldermen abusing each other to pay a fine of 6s 8d. If any alderman abuse a burgess he pays 3s 4d. If a burgess abuse an alderman, he shall pay ten shillings for a fine, of a burgess abuse a burgess 2s 6d and the mayor to examine the offender and impose further punishment as the case may require. Any other inhabitant abuse an alderman 6s 8d, if a burgess 3s 4d.

There is a definite impression that rules were re-active. A problem arose and the council made a rule to preclude its happening again. Another 1625 rule implies that some people were assuming more authority than their status allowed
Mayor and alderman or aldermen and burgesses only may for a just and lawful cause rate the said town and default of persons not paying, they are to be distrained.

Confidentiality was to be maintained:
Item: It is ordered and agreed upon that if any member of the corporation or any officer of the court shall at any time henceforward divulge any thing that is discussed about in that court to any person whatsoever which may cause a difference betwixt the members of the corporation and any inhabitant or neighbour, every such member upon good proof may made thereof shall forfeit for every such offence ten shillings.

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