Cinque Ports

The five ports of England which lie towards France. These ports, on account of their importance as defenses to the kingdom, early had certain privileges granted them, and in recompense were bound to furnish a certain number of ships and men to serve on the king's summons once in each year. "The service that the barons of the Cinque Ports acknowledge to owe, upon the king's summons, if it shall happen, to attend with their ships fifteen days at their own cost and charges, and so long as the king pleases, at his own charge." Cowell, "Quinque Portus," The Cinque Ports are Dover, Sandwich, and the other of the Cinque Ports have ports appended to them in like manner. The Cinque Ports have a lord warden, who had a peculiar jurisdiction, sending out writs in his own name, and who is also constable of Dover Castle. The jurisdiction was abolished by 18 & 19 Vict. c. 48; 20 & 21 Vict. e. 1. The representatives in parliament and the inhabitants of the Cinque Ports are each termed "barons." Brande; Cowell; Termes de la Ley.

The five ports of England which lie towards France. These ports, on account of their importance as defences to the kingdom, early had certain privileges granted them, and in recompense were bound to furnish a certain number of ships and men to serve on the king's summons once in each year. "The service that the barons of the Cinque Ports acknowledge to owe; upon the king's summons, if it shall happen, to attend with their ships fifteen days at their own cost and charges, and so long as the king pleases, at his own charge;" Cowell, Quinque Portus. The Cinque Ports, under the ordinance of Henry III. in 1229, were Hastings, Dover, Sandwich, Hythe and Romney, to which were added Winchelsea and Rye; 1 Social England 412. The two latter are sometimes reckoned ports of Sandwich; and the other of the Cinque Ports have ports appended to them in like manner. The Cinque Ports had a Lord Warden, who had a peculiar jurisdiction, sending out writs in his own name. This office is still maintained. The first admiralty jurisdiction in somewhat modern form appears to have been committed to the Lord Warden and Bailiffs of the Cinque Ports. The constitution of these ports into a confederacy for the supply and maintenance of the navy was due to Edward the Confessor. Edward I. confirmed their charter. The last charter was in 1668. Their courts had civil, criminal, equity, and admiralty jurisdiction and were not subject to the courts at Westminster. See the charters in Jeakes' Charters of the Cinque Ports. See Inderwick's King's Peace; Les Cinque Ports, by Benoist-Lucy; Court of the Cinque Ports. The representatives in parliament and the inhabitants of the Cinque Ports were termed barons; Brande; Cowell; Termes de la Ley. And see Round, Feudal England 563.

Five (now seven) ports or havens on the south-east coast of England, towards France, formerly esteemed the most important in the kingdom. They are Dover, Sandwich, Romney, Hastings, and Hythe, to which Winchelsea and Rye have been since added. They had similar franchises, in some respects, with the counties palatine, and particularly an exclusive jurisdiction, (before the mayor and jurats, corresponding to aldermen, of the ports,) in which the king's ordinary writ did not run. 3 Bl. Comm. 79. The 18 & 19 Vict. c. 48, (amended by 20 & 21 Vict. c. 1,) abolishes all jurisdiction and authority of the lord warden of the Cinque Ports and constable of Dover Castle, in or in relation to the administration of justice in actions, suits, or other civil proceedings at law or in equity.

Five (now seven) ports on the S. E. coast of England having privileges of their own, with a governor called Lord Warden, and an exclusive jurisdiction of their own, for which they were bound to furnish a certain number of ships and menat-arms to the King, — Romney, Dover, Sandwich, Hastings, Hythe, Winchelsea, and Rye.

[L. Lat. quinque, portusj five ports.] Five (now seven,) ports or havens on the S. £. coast of England, towards France, formerly esteemed the most important in the kingdom. They are Dover, Sandwich^ Romney, Hastings and H3rthe; (sometimes called in the old books, Doure, Sandwyz, Romual, Hastings and Heya; Bract, fol. 118;) to which Winchelsea and Rye have been since added. They have similar franchises, in some respects, with the counties palatine, and particularly an exclusive jurisdiction (before the mayor and jurats, [corresponding to aldermen,] of the ports,) in which the king's ordinary writ does not run. 3 Bl, Com. 79. They have a governor called the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, who is always the constable of Dover castle. Id. ibid. P. Cyclopoedia. See Warden of the Cinque Ports. The members returned from these ports to parliament are termed barons of the cinque ports. Brande, The superior importance of these haven towns dates from a remote period, and originally grew out of their local situation, it being considered necessary from their proximity to France that they should be guarded with peculiar vigilance against invasion. CowelL In the time of the Saxons there were but three, which are mentioned in Domesday book, namely, Dover, Sandwich and Romney; to these the Conqueror is said to have added Hastings and Hythe, making the number which has ever since given them their name. Crabb's Hist, Eng. Law, 141. Their franchises are expressly mentioned by Bracton, and, with some exceptions, are still preserved; although the towns themselves have long since lost their ancient importance. Bract. fol. 118. Municipal Corporation Act, Stat. 5 & 6 WilL IV. c. 76. cl. 134, 135.