Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... the Wirral side of the Dee, near Blacon, and a dispute arose between the Mayor and Richard Trevor of Trevallin, who alleged it was taken on the Welsh side of the river, and belonged to him as ViceAdmiral or representative of the Lord High Admiral. Perhaps it was in consequence of this dispute that Queen 1 By decree of the Admiralty Court, 20 Hen. VIII., the Prior of Birkenhead was declared entitled to royal fish, wreck, flotsam, jetsam, lagan, deodands, &c, within certain limits on the Mersey. Harl. MSS. 2010, f. 208 (48). But in his plea to Quo warranto, 27 Ed. III., the Prior had disclaimed wreck and royal fish; and it does not appear how the Priory subsequently acquired the right to them. Elizabeth appointed a special commission1 in 1596 consisting of Peter Warburton, serjeant-at-law, and Hugh Beston, the Receiver-General for North Wales, to inquire into the capture of royal fish on the coast of Cheshire. The letters patent recited that it had been a palatine franchise from time immemorial to have all royal fish, such as whales, sturgeon, and "thorlhede" (porpoise), caught in or about the shores of Cheshire, brought to the Castle of Chester, where the customary fee was paid to the captor. But for some years the capture of such fish had been concealed and not reported, so that the perquisites were being lost. Accordingly, juries were to be impanelled at the Hundred Courts of Wirral, Eddisbury, and Bucklow as those bordering on the sea and the rivers Dee and Mersey, and witnesses examined, in order to ascertain on oath what royal fish had been caught and by whom. The commissioners were given power to enter the liberties, and were to make a report to the next county sessions at Chester, and preserve the right of the Crown...
