Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/393

 persons being elected from each of the fifteen townships as under:—

"Thirty Sworn Men in 1570.

Kirkham: James Baine. James Clayton.

Clifton: William Porter. Tho. Cardwell.

Freckleton: Hen^{ry} Colbron. Rich. Browne.

Singletons: James Davy. W^m Smith

Larbrick: Robt. Johnson. Will. Fletcher.

Thistleton: Joh. Smith. Robt. Cornay.

Warton: Wm. Platon. Robt. Fletcher.

Bryning: Robt. Croke. John Croke.

Ribby: — Benson. Henry Shaw.

Wesham: Robt. Hornby. Henry Johnson.

Treales: W^m Swarbrick. Tho. Porter.

Hambleton: Robt. Bradshaw. W^m Bamber."

The oath taken by the "Sworn men" was administered by the civil authorities, and their tenure of office was for life, or until they thought proper to resign. The origin of "Sworn men," or at least of the name, dates from the fourteenth century, and the institution itself seems to have been common in this part of Lancashire; Preston, Lancaster, Garstang, and Goosnargh, having had assemblies bearing similar titles and performing similar duties, but consisting only of twenty-four men each.

In 1636 a serious dispute arose between the Thirty-men and the vicar, the Rev. Edward Fleetwood, owing to the latter requiring the council to subscribe to the following conditions:—

"1st. They shall lay no gauld themselves without the consent of the vicar.

2nd. That the vicar shall have a negative voice in all their proceedings, and that they shall determine nothing without the consent of the said vicar.

3rd. They shall not put or elect any new 30-men without the vicar's consent.

4th. They shall not meet in the church upon any business whatever, unless they acquaint the vicar before.

5th. If there be any turbulent or factious person, that the rest of the company shall join with the vicar and turn him out."

On the Thirty-men refusing to comply with his request, the vicar excluded them "by violence" from their usual meeting-*