MERIONETH RECORDS

MERIONETH RECORDS

I. COURT ROLLS AND OTHER RECORDS[1] OF THE BOROUGH OF DINAS MAWDDWY AND THE MANOR OF MAWDDWY

 COURT ROLLS OF THE BOROUGH

 

            J. E. Vincent, a representative of the Charity Commission appointed to inquire into the affairs of extinct corporations in Wales, told the land commissioners in 1894 that he came very definitely to the conclusion that there never had been a corporation of Dinas Mawddwy—that it never had had any legal existence, and that it was a mere plaything of the Mytton family[2]. He had failed to trace a charter creating the corporation and a similar failure was experienced by the Municipal Corporations Commission of 1834 and 1880[3]. Yet in spite of the complete absence of a charter, usually the most cherished possession of a corporation, Dinas Mawddwy claimed to be a borough and indeed had certain municipal institutions and officers analogous to those of well-established boroughs.

            The history of the borough prior to 1774, when the records of the local court begin, is extremely vague and uncertain, though not so completely blank as the government commissioners would have us suppose. Transcripts of what purports to be an inspeximus of a charter granting privileges to the inhabitants of Dinas Mawddwy were made by Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt (1592—1667)[4] who does not specify in whose hands the original was when he copied it. Its whereabouts now is equally mysterious but Vaughans copy, imperfect as it sometimes is, deserves attention.

            The following is a translation, of the inspeximus which hitherto has not been published or considered by historians of the

boroughs of the British Isles :

           

Hugh Burgh, Lord of Mowthoy, to all to whom these present letters may come greeting in the Lord everlasting. Know ye that I the aforesaid Hugh by consent and assent of Elizabeth my wife have inspected the charter of grant and liberty which John Mowthoy, father of the said Elizabeth, lord ofMowthoy. made to the burgesses of Mowthoy, their heirs and successors in these words. Know ye present and future that 1 John Mowthoy, Lord of Mowthoy, have given, granted and by this my present charter confirmed to my beloved and faithful below-written, viz., David Holbach, Mathew ap Ieuan ap Iorwerth, Madock ap David ap Madocke, William ap Addas ap Tuder, David doll pantrey, Madocke ap Owen, Ieuan ap Llewelyn ap David, Margret daughter of Laurence, Eigneon ap Iorwerth ap Riddorch, William ap Llewelyn ap Eden, Iouan his brother, Gruffuth ap Eigneon ap Iorwerth, David his brother, Eigneon ap Madocke Gogh, David ap Iorwerth ap Ridderch, Eigneon ap Ieuan here, Eigneon Vaure, Deucus gethyn, Grono Wehyth, Madock bridyth, David ap Ieuan here of Dynas, Ryrett duy ap David Lloid, Gruffre bach, Madoelt ap David, Dyo duy his brother, Madock gogh weyth, John ap Laurens, Ieuan dewe, Willcocke ap Gruffuth ap Willcocke, Tuder ap David gogh, Dyo ap Gruffuth moyle, Llewelyn ap Ieuan Moyle,Llewelyn ap daywyn, Cadogan ap Griflith wyn, and David ap Ithell ap Mor mawre, such of them, their heirs and successors as may be burgesses, that they shall have a free borough in my town of Dynas Mowthoy, so that the aforesaid burgesses, their heirs and successors shall be free of all customs and services pertaining to me and my heirs in all my lands wherever they may be. 1 also grant to the same burgesses, their heirs and successors that they shall be free of toll and team, of passage and pontage throughout all my land, of heriots, reliefs, tollages and all customs and services to me and my heirs pertaining, saving to me and my heirs twelve pence annually for each burgage. And if my bailiff of mine or my heir lays hands on my said burgesses, their heirs or successors contrary to the liberties and customs of the law of Brittany (? Breteuil) which I fully and peacefully grant to the same burgesses, their heirs and successors, I grant that they shall have and hold the law of Brittany as freely and wholly as the citizens of Hereford hold it in all customs pertaining to the said law, so that no one shall do any merchandising in the said borough, unless ho be of the said law and by the will of the said burgesses. I grant also for me and my heirs that my aforesaid burgesses, their heirs and successors shall have a gild merchant with hanse and with the assize of bread and beer, and with all the liberties to the said gild pertaining. So that if any foreign native shall come to the aforesaid borough and hold land and be in scot and lot with the aforesaid burgesses for a year and a day, he shall remain there free, and shall never be delivered to his lord. I grant also for me and my heirs to my aforesaid burgesses, their heirs and successors that they may arrest all robbers, homicides and malefactors found in the said borough and imprison them in their own prison and judge them themselves. Wishing also to make my liberality more abundant to these my burgesses, their heirs and successors, I also grant by these presents that they may pursue all malefactors sheltering in the said borough or fugitives within a lance all round the said borough, attach them, take them to their prison and judge them, as previously stated. Moreover I the aforesaid John for me and my heirs wish and grant that the aforesaid -liberty be granted to the same burgesses, their heirs and successors within the boundaries in this charter made to them, viz., from the course of the water called Ffinnant to the course of the water called Glenyrch in breadth, and thus from the rivers called Divě and Kerist as far as a certain place called Moyle yr ychen within my manor of Kerist, together with housebote, haybote and common of pasture within the aforesaid bound~, saving to me and my heirs form the aforesaid burgesses or others who are or shall be free priodorion in the patria of Mowthoy the rents, services, heriots, amobrages and all other customs for their lands and tenements in the aforesaid patria, as they were wont formerly to pay to mo and my ancestors, my aforesaid grant of liberty notwithstanding. And therefore I the aforesaid John and my heirs will warrant and for ever defend all the aforesaid liberties in all things as aforesaid to the aforesaid burgesses, their heirs and successors against all mortals. In witness whereof I have affixed my seal to this my present charter. Dated at Dynas Mowthoy 20 February 17 Richard II (1393/4). I, therefore, the aforesaid Hugh Burgh, lord of Mowthoy, by consent and assent of Elizabeth my wife ratify and fully confirm forever by these presents the aforesaid charter for me and my heirs to my aforesaid burgesses of Mowthoy, both their heirs and successors. I the aforesaid Hugh, wishing moreover to make my liberality more abundant to my said burgesses, their heirs and successors, grant for me and my heirs that the said burgesses shall have and hold the aforesaid law of Brittany as freely and wholly as the citizens of Hereford hold it in all customs pertaining to the said law, so that no one shall do any merchandising in my lordship of Mowthoy unless he be of the said law and by the will of the said burgosses. In witness whereof I affix my seal to these present. Dated at Mowthoy aforesaid,12 June 1 Henry VI [1423

].



[1].These Records were transferred to the National Library of Wales from the County Offices, Dolgelley, in 1940

[2]Royal Commission on Land in Wales (1895), Vol. IV, p. 716.

[3]Municipal Corporations Commission, First Report (1835), Appendix IV, pp. 2673—5; and Municipal Corporations Commission (1880), Part I, pp. 31—2

[4]Peniarth MS. 236, N.L.W. pp. 169—173, 185—189