A recording of this talk was broadcast on 2nd July at 10am (GMT)
In her fascinating loaded talk Sheila presented us with a range of evidence to demonstrate elections and ceremonies taking place in the Medieval Kent Cinque Ports. Thus, giving us a glimpse into the life and times of our Cinque Port ancestors.
She started by saying that the decline of the Cinque Ports importance was thought to have been in the late Middle Ages. However, her research found that there is no clear date of their decline with evidence pointing to some ports having continued their ancient ceremonies into the late 17th century. Although, nowadays some customs are still observed they are purely traditional.
In the 13th century the country was undergoing an increase in population and urbanisation with towns in general having greater self-government. The ceremonies of the Cinque Ports demonstrated their civic honour and religious observance establishing a supremacy amongst other towns particularly in communities on the Kent coast. There were major ecclesiastical players such as, Canterbury’s Christchurch Priory, St Augustines Abbey, and the archbishops, as well as Faversham Abbey, Battle Abbey etc., who were exerting their influences on individual Cinque Ports. Plus, there were royal influences. The Cinque Ports were often pushing for more independence particularly from the crown. During the reign of Edward I, when in 1225 Magna Carta was reissued, officials were sent to interrogate and pull back royal power in the Cinque Ports. To avoid the jurisdiction of the King Dover moved their court from Dover Castle to St James Church which was in the liberty of the Cinque Port of Dover.
The ports ancient customs gave them authenticity and a way to enhance these still further was to write about them which they did in Custumals. These Custumals were not written just once but a number of times to making a case for the Cinque Ports to retain self-government with civic elections etc.
Civic elections were really important to the Cinque Ports and took place annually on a different date per port. Elections were held in the parish church or the churchyard, and after the election mass was held, the church being seen to legitimise what was going on in the town. Freemen, incomers and out-dwellers were called to the election by the town’s Common Sergeant who sounded the ‘moot horn’ at various location throughout the town. For example, in Sandwich at 14 places, although Sheila said she is yet to find any records giving the exact locations of these places. Whilst in New Romney it was at every corner of the town.
Displayed at the election, to dignify the occasion, were objects such as keys, seals, the common chest etc. Before the election commenced the former Mayor, Bailiff and Jurats withdrew promising not to meddle in the coming election. The incoming 12 Jurats who had been nominated were elected and then took an oath, and were known as the sworn men. Above them was a bailiff (sometimes two) nominated for election by the Archbishops or the Monarchs. At Faversham the Bailiff always had to be presented to the Abbot for his approval. They did not always have mayors and only Dover, Sandwich and Fordwich were known to have had a mayor from the 13th century. Faversham had to put up a fight against the Abbey for them to be allowed a mayor.
Sheila described the St Bartholomew’s Day procession at Sandwich through the town from St Peters Church marking the Cinque Ports battle with the French. She remarked the use of quick lime in the battel was possibly the first documented use of chemical warfare.
In Dover the wife of the mayor organised the collection of money to make the towns great candle. Votive offerings were thought to protect the town. The candle’s measurement equalled the circumference of the town or Cinque Port liberty. The records were unclear which but in either case it would have been an extremely long candle! The candle was painted and wound on a reel for transportation rather like an electric cable. After a procession around Dover, it started its journey to Canterbury where the procession was received at the city's Newingate (aka St Georges Gate) and accompanied into the Cathedral to the shrine of St Thomas. Pieces of the candle were cut off for use in the cathedral throughout the year
Sheila ended her talk by saying that the Cinque Ports saw themselves as extremely valuable, a major player in Kent as well as in the country and to some extent they still do today.
Report by Tricia Baxter