The Town Council having decided that a Brotherhood and Guestling should be held (see 165), the representatives from the Five Ports, two Ancient Towns and their eight Members, met a New Romney on the 29th of October, after an interval of 29 years since the holding of the last court. The weather was delightful and the little town was full of animation, while the ringing of a good peal of eight bells added cheerfulness to the event. From about 10 to 11 a.m., carriages continued to arrive with robed Mayors and gold or silver laced mace-bearers, most of whom made the New Inn their rendezvous. The Hastings Mayor and his party were among the earliest arrivals in a carriage-an-four. They proceeded to the residence of the Deputy-Mayor of New Romney, who escorted them to the Town Hall, where they were joined by the other deputations. A procession was then formed, headed by the Mayor of Hastings, who being also the Speaker, was attended by his chaplain (the Rev. T. Nightingale) and the Recorders (W. W. Attree, Esq.). On arriving at the church - a fine building, with a good organ - the mayors took their proper positions round a red-covered table in the spacious chancel, with their maces lying before in gorgeous array. The other members of the deputations sat in the pews near their respective mayors. After prayers had been read by the vicar, the Speaker's Chaplain from Hastings preached an appropriate sermon from Jeremiah IX 23 & 24 "Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him who glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord who exercise(sic) loving-kindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord."
The Brotherhood was held in the Town Hall as soon as the church service was concluded, and here the Mayor of Hastings, took the chair, with the other mayors in the following order:- Sandwich, Romney and Rye on the right; Dover and Winchelsea on the left, there being no mayor from Hythe.
The Speaker, in opening the Court, addressed his loving brothers, barons, combarons and friends, saying he had to thank them for their kindness in coming there that day. He had for a long time thought that a Brotherhood should be held, but he never thought that the honour of holding it would fall on himself. As soon as he was aware of it, he laid the subject before the Town Council, and they unanimously agreed that a letter -
