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CHAP. V.

ANTIQUITY OF THE OFFICE OF BAILIFF.

The term bailiff is derived from the French bayljff that is, praefectus provinciae, and as the name, so the office, was answerable to that of France. In ancient times the administration of justice devolved upon certain individuals, appointed by the reigning monarch, who upon taking the office were generally designated the king’s bailiffs; other persons also, to whom were committed the keeping of the king’s castles, were usually termed bailiffs, as, the bailiff of Dover Castle, &c &c. besides these instances just noted, another, and almost the only one now remaining, was generally distinguished with that title, viz, the chief magistrates of cities and boroughs, some of whom, by charter, art now designated by that of mayor, whilst many others retain the title of bailiff to the present time; amongst which Retford may be classed as one.

At what period this title was first claimed by, or bestowed upon, the magistrates of this Borough is unknown ; certain it is, however, that it was previous to the thirteenth century. In the charter of James I. it is stated that the burgesses had been known sometimes by the name of bailiffs and burgesses, sometimes by the name of burgesses, and sometimes by other names; which information would lead us to conclude that no certain cognomen was applied until the granting of the charter just alluded to; indeed the term mayor, and major, is not unfrequently mentioned in several of the ancient records, but whether applied from authority, or allowed by courtesy, I am unable to certify; at the granting of that charter, however, this was set at rest, and since that period they have invariably retained the name.

At the commencement of my labours it was my intention to have given a succession of magistrates from the year 1607, but finding that to be impossible, from various causes, over which I had no control, I am only enabled to present the names of those for that year, and of the individuals who were nominated aldermen of the Borough, by the ordinances appended to the charter.

BAILIFFS AND ALDERMEN OF 1607.

William Thornton, Senior Bailiff.
Nicholas Watson, Junior Bailiff.

ALDERMEN.

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