A genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry - by Sir Bernard Burke, Fourth Edition, 1862 (link to the full Hassards of Lyme text on this website - with corrections)

Burke puts his usual pedigree enhancing spin on the Hassards:

p.664: Soon after the Conquest a branch became seated in Gloucestershire, and afterwards removed to Dorsetshire.

The first English ancestor from whom an unbroken succession can be traced was,

John Hassart or Hassard, A.D. 1469, lord of the manor of Seaton, 7 miles from Lyme. He left issue,

John Hassart, of whom hereafter.
Gilbert, Rector of Trusham, co. Devon, 31 July 1541.

They have completely different families....

Some account of the family of Hassard, with a list of descendants in England and Ireland - By the Rev Henry Biddall Swanzy MA, 1903 (link to full text on byu.edu)

[The first section of this, about the Hassards in England, is adpated from Outlines of the History and Genealogy of the Hassards and their Connections (link to original book - PDF 9.4mb, 76 pages) - Rev Henry Short, 1858. - but Swanzy makes it shorter and more readable.]

Short/Swanzy show that the Hassards were already in Lyme by 1377:

p.7: Alexander Hassard appears in 1377 as witness to a deed amongst the archives of Lyme Regis, Dorsetshire.

p.8: JOHN HASSARD of Seaton, seven miles from Lyme living 1465 was father of :-

I. ROBERT of whom presently.
II. John Hassard
III Radolphus Hassard Vicar of Portersharm, Dorsestshire rendered an account of his Vicarage in the reign of Henry VIII

The eldest son (uncertain) :-
ROBERT HASSARD of Lyme had four children, order of age :
I. John Hassard of Lyme Regis b.1498 (had son Robert, same left below)
II. Gilbert Hassard, Rector of Trusham, Devonshire, 1541.
III ROBERTof whom presentIy
Anne Hassard, m.1525 Robert Yonge, third son of John Yonge MP for Plymouth, and brother of John Yonge, of Collyton, Devon grandfather of Sir John Yonge created a Baronet 26 Sept 1661.

The elder son,
John Hassard, b.1498, mayor of Lyme in 1550 and 1557, left issue,

John, of whom hereafter, [b.1531]
Robert, several times mayor of Lyme, and M.P. for the borough in 1589 and 1593.
Anne, m. to Robert, 3rd son of John Yonge
- IGI: Alice Hassard Christening: 25 DEC 1546 Lyme Regis, Dorset father John Hassard (should be here?)

Burke puts Anne as the daughter of John b.1498 - Short/Swanzy, above right, say she was his sister.

ROBERT HASSARD of Bridport and Lyme made his Will in 1545 . . . [says later he m.Agnes] he left six children:

I. WiIliam Hassard - There is no further trace of him.
II. Nicholas Hassard, Burgess of Lyme 1551
- Short has a George in here
III. JOHN of whom presently [b.1531]
I. Amys Hassard m. Richard Tygin
II. Alice Hassard m.
- IGI: Alice Hassard Christening: 25 DEC 1546 Lyme Regis, Dorset - but her father was John Hassard...
III. Joan Hassard also married

 

The elder son,
John Hassard, b.1531,

He left issue,
Robert, of whom hereafter.
John, Vicar of Awliscombe, co. Devon
Mary, m. Roger Hill of Tounsford [should be Poundisford, near Pitminster] , co. Somerset, Esq.
- IGI: Mary Hassard Christening: 10 NOV 1549 Lyme Regis, Dorset father John Hassard
Spouse: Roger Hill Marriage: 03 or 05 MAR 1568 Pitminster, Somerset
Alice,m. Alexander Hill, Esq., 2nd brother of Roger
- IGI: Alice Hassard Christening: 29 JUN 1554 Lyme Regis, Dorset father John Hassard

Just as we finally get to one character we definitely know something about John b.1531, d.1612. - they disagree about his parentage and his children . . . the extra problem now is that we begin to get Parish Records (in green) becoming availbable, and often contradicting both of these accounts!

The youngest son:-
JOHN of Lyme b.1531 at Bridport. He married Thomasine daughter of John Parrot.

Mr Hassard left three sons and three daughters :-
I JOHN of whom presently
II Robert Hassard who left a daughter Anne Hassard
III Richard Hassard
I Susan Hassard m. Hardye. She had two sons Walter and George Hardye
II Anna Hassard - m. Torker
III Thomasine Hassard

IGI has several more children born in Lyme at this time with 'father John Hassard' - any of which could belong to John b.1531. However the Hassard family in Lyme would have become extended by this time and every couple seemed to have a John (and a Robert), so some of the children could just as easily have been from another one.

click on photos for larger images of Bovey House as it is today:

It is not clear exactly when the house was bought. It may have been bought by John b.1531 or by his father.

Extract from: Outlines of the History and Genealogy of the Hassards and their Connections (link to original book - PDF 9.4mb) - Rev. Henry Short, 1858

(read with caution - more pedigree enhamcing and Victorian morality tales ahead... and with so many John and Robert Hassards around there is clear evidence that Short got some of them mixed up. In some cases he might well have joined different Johns and Roberts into one person. But an interesting rough overview of the life at that time.)

Extract from: Some account of the family of Hassard, with a list of descendants in England and Ireland - By the Rev Henry Biddall Swanzy MA, 1903 (link to full text on byu.edu)

(this is the shortened, and rather more honestly edited version of the account on the left)

Note: the genealogy of both is almost certainly wrong!! - as well as confusing the various Johns and Roberts.

I. Robert, of whom we shall treat hereafter.

II. John. [what follows could have any one of dozens of John Hassards, Swanzy left it out....] From the Valor Ecclesiasticus of HENRY VIII., we find John Hassard divided with others the sum of £lxviiij iiijs. ijd., monies connected with the college of the Blessed Mary, in the Diocese of Winchester A.D. 1509, "Decanat Winchestre. Collegii. beate Marie juxta Winton Socij. Wm. Pile, John Hassard, &c., hij percipuit annuati dividet inter se de redtlit predict ,£lsviiij. iiijs. ijd."

III. Radulphus, vicar of Portersham, in the co. of Dorset. He rendered an account of his vicarage (glebe) in the reign of Henry VIII., as we glean from the same source.

I ROBERT of whom presently
II John Hassard
III Randolphus Hassard Vicar of Portersham, Dorsethire rendered an account of his Vicarage in the reign of Henry VIII

[Short seems to have forgotten to tell us about the daughter so Swanzy left her out completely.]

We now return to the eldest son, Robert. He had the honor of representing his native place in Parliament early in the reign of Henry VIII.—but not having as yet searched the private writs in the British Museum, we have no records of his proceedings. Lyme seems to have been highly favoured in early times : in the reign of Edward I. it was one of the 145 places which sent Members to Parliament, while Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool, Preston, &c., were either exempt on account of their poverty, or overlooked by the Sheriffs. For be it remembered that from the time that Knights and Burgesses were first summoned to Parliament, to the reign of James I., the expenses of all members were paid. The Knights received from the country 4s. per day, (and in the reign of Edward II. those who were not Knights 2s. per day,) while the Burgesses were paid the same amount by the Boroughs. It is true that on this account there was not the same honor attached to the office of Member of Parliament as now, though Mr. Roberts does not appear correct in asserting that the Burgess took an inferior part in the House to the Knights—that they did not legislate, &c. On the contrary, we glean from Hallam, that in some respects the Burgesses were even of more importance than they—and in one instance at least we find them retained by the King, after the Knights were dismissed, for important business.

Again, in the reign of Richard II., "The Commons required that a general commission should be made out, similar to that in the last Session, giving power to a certain number of Peers and other distinguished persons, to inquire into the state of the household, as well as into all receipts and expenses since the King's accession. The former petition seems to have been passed over, (nevertheless, the Commons repeated it in their schedule of expenses,) but a Commission as requested was made out to three prelates, three earls, three bannerets, three knights, and three citizens : "a clear proof of equality. —Sallam, Middle Ages, vol. ii. p. 194.

The journey from Lyme was now a tedious and dangerous one, requiring a man of good nerve and physical powers to venture upon. There were for two centuries later no regular roads—merely tracts here and there, and those ofttimes impassable, obliterated, or infested by robbers. "Wheeled carriages were of course unknown, so that Mr. Hassard had to get on his horse, and, his man servant behind with his luggage, to jog his 144 miles and back, with such ease as opportunity offered. At this time, even London itself was so ill-paved that faggots were thrown into the street to enable his Majesty to pass en route to "Westminster. Indeed the first statute for paving the highway between the Strand and Charing Cross did not pass till A.D. 1555. The said Robert, M. P., left issue three sons and a daughter,

I. John. II. Gilbert. III Robert IV. Anne.

The eldest son:-
uncertain)

ROBERT HASSARD of Lyme had four children (order of age

John, b. 1498, is the first we find seated in the Civic Chair. He accepted the oflice of Mayor A.D. 1550, and again a. d. 1556-7, and probably during other years, though no record remains. From the fact of his occupying the chief magistrate's post in both these reigns (viz., of Edward VI. and Mary), we should be inclined to have judged lightly of Mr. Hassard's religious views, but that we see "the inhabitants of Lyme aspired to the honor of being the first protestants in these parts, on account of their having sent for Thomas Hancock, the famous preacher, through whom the Poole folkes embraced God's word." From this it appears that Mr. Hassard and his fellow townsmen may have looked solely to the Lamb of God for salvation. Lukewarm a man could scarcely be in those days ; to one side or other his mind must almost of necessity have turned; he must either have become more enthralled by and confirmed in his old errors, or cast his idols to the moles and to the bats. Let us hope that Mr. Hassard like his brother Robert stood by the side of the Reformers, though he ran imminent risk of wearing the martyr's crown. We have a further reason for thinking that this was the case, from reading that " the principal men, or council of Lyme Regis, of whom he was one, had shewn themselves so remarkable in their religious zeal for the new learning, that they were accounted, as they set forth afterwards in a petition, " Heretics for their religion," in consequence of which Mary withdrew an allowance of £20 a year, pressed the Cobb workmen, and removed them for the repairs of Dover harbour ; which was accounted a great injury to the borough." "With regard to the preacher, Hancock, the following item occurs at Lyme A.D. 1549 : " Paid for the dyner when the Prysse (Priest) preached here, 4s.," from which we imagine that the worthies of the Borough superadded the benefits of the preacher's conversation to those of his public discourse. During the year 1556, when Mr. Hassard was Mayor, no less than 89 suffered martyrdom at Oxford alone. Archbishop Cranmer being the most distinguished.

Before entering upon the particulars of his mayoralty, we will relate some of the duties devolving upon him in that capacity ; and we cannot do better than quote from Mr. Robeets. "Each mayor and his brethren formed in reality a board of guardians, a board of health, a board of trade, and a provincial legislature. Did they not manage the poor, regulate about what caused sickness, and the treatment of the diseased, settle prices of commodities, define what number of attorneys should practise, and prescribe how trade should be carried on, and how it should be fettered, and fix punishments for new ofiences?" The pursuivant that brought a proclamation furnished the local legislators with work, as did also the bad character who displayed some manifestation of a new or disused vice. To these duties we must add that they were the responsible guardians of the coast. The Mayor was Captain of the Soldiers—though he might have a substitute to discipline and train them. Surely this, when we remember the state of the coast for so many years from foreign enemies, pirates and smugglers, was of itself no light burden. Another singular duty Mr. Hassard performed, though that was possibly owing only to his personal love for Church music, which gives a particular feature to his character, (viz.) that of paying the choristers. Under the head of choristers the following items occur :—
Paid for iij yards and i half of Kevsey, to make hoses for three laddys which singeth in Church . . 5s. 10d.

These were not apparently boys of the town, from the following item : —
Delivered to the Lad that sang in the Quire when he departed .. .. .. 0s.12d.

Beyond these duties the Mayors carried out the orders and laws of the State, and had, from the multiplicity of their duties, a prominence that, says the same author, should " cause us to view them as very remarkable men." " They were left to their own judgment," says he, "like a Turkish Cadi, and much ready ability and conduct was often required from them, neither was it required in vain. The functions also now exercised by the Ecclesiastical Courts were then performed by them. Brawling in Church and other matters fell within the same jurisdiction. It will scarcely be a digression here to state what were the instruments used for the several sentences of the dread mayors and other principal men when borough towns were the seats of local legislature. For the gentlemen, Mr. Mayor was to provide a tumbrel (tumberella), to which persons were sometimes fastened by an iron chain and conveyed bareheaded, with din and cry, though the principal streets of the town ; but it seems he had equal need to furnish for the other sex a "Cucking stool," which was kept ready for use in the Lond Church porch of Lyme. Cucking is a corruption of Coquine, so that Cucking stool is that for troublesome, noisy women.

"No brawling wives— no furious wenches,
No fire so hot but water quenches."

Accordingly in the town account book of Lyme are the following entries :—
For bringing the Cucking Stool out of the Church 1s. 6d.
For a mending the Cucking Stool . . . 01s. 6d.

A learned Town Clerk enters " Item, præsentant uxorem Thomæ Lacy unam Scold." In another item, we find that William Welsh, his wife, and his daughter Elizth. Purden, are common scolders, one with the other, to the disturbance of their neighbours. The expense of using this formidable machine we learn from the following entry at Gravesend, 1636 : —"The porters for ducking the goodwife Campion, 2s." From the above accounts of the mayor's duties, &c , we may form some idea of Mr. Hassard's life during the years of his mayoralty— and certainly the office was no sinecure, nor had he much time for idleness.

As nothing can give a better idea of the state of these primitive times, we here quote some curious extracts from the Lyme accompt books during the time he held this onerous post, and commence with an account of certain articles handed over to him on entering the duties of that office, from the former mayor : —

First, iiij water bushels, three of them with bands of yron and oone with owte. Item, oone strick and a yron to strick polts.
Item, a payer of balannce. xxviij pound of brasen weights and oone pound of small weights, xj pies of leden waights conteyning xxij.
A Boke for Assize bread. (This book was used to contain entries of the price of bread fixed by the Mayor at a Sessions or Assize.)
Two yrons to mark wt. all. The scale of the Mayor's office.
Two hooks of yron wh. chaynes. A case of counters.

In A.D. 1560, there is mentioned "a great brooche (i. e. spit) of yron," for the feasts then kept at Mr. Mayor's house—or for the Cobb ale. The mention of this brooche, or spit, calls to mind that indispensable prime mover of the same with its savoury charge—the turn-spit Dog—a breed now rarely seen. ""Without his friendly or compulsory labours the due progress of dinner was arrested as much as if the mill stream were diverted from its course, or the steam engine of a mill had exploded. Some 70 odd years ago cooks and their underlings were seen running about the City of Wells with great inquiries each for her truant. Some one just arrived from the country had seen a frolicsome young midshipman giving fifty turnspit dogs an excursion upon the neighbouring Mendip hills. The spits could not be turned and the necessity of the case prompted each cook to provide other viands as a substitute." The improved jack caused the breed of turnspits to be discontinued. Mr. Roberts gives a bill of fare of some of these feasts—after enjoying which one might imagine the presence of the Doctor occasionally needed. How then shall we pity the poor Mayor and his guests when we remember that there was no such person within a number of miles, and yet more when we are aware that when he did arrive, instead of a dose of rhubarb and magnesia, he would recount some astrological calculations and other superstitious absurdities in order to qualify such medicines as he had to administer. So scarce were medical men thar in Henry VIII.'s time there were only twelve surgeons in London, and those few had to be approved by the Dean of St. Paul's and Bishop of London, instead of passing a College of Surgeons.

But notwithstanding the semi-barbarized state of England in these days— progress was making, and Mr. Hassard was not behindhand in encouraging any improvements. Thus we find him establishing waterworks in Lyme, to which needful work a list of subscribers' names was found on a loose paper headed, "getting in of the water and paving the west street, John Hassard, Esq., Mayor." These subscriptions run from 4d. to £8—the average sums being 2s. 6d. Some items shewing the value of wages, &c., are curious and worthy of insertion

Charges for equalling the street . . . £2 0s 0d
Wages, 6 /12d. a day without meat. . .
5 3/4d. per day for meat. . .
A labourer for his work altogether . . . £0 0s 11 3/4d.
A man and two horses a day . . . £0 1s. 2d.
Two ploughs (i. e.) carts to carry away stones . . . £0 1s. 8d.
Meat and drink besides . . . £0 0s. 4d.
A sack of lime . . . £0 0s. 6d.

There is another specimen of the value of money at this time, and which gives an idea of the style of Church music patronised by Mr. Hassard. Item, "a pair of horgans for St. Michael's Church at York, A. D. 1536, £8. 0. 0." These were not great organs but regals, or a pair of organs, played upon the knees of a performer—such as may be seen in a painting of St. Cecilia. The virgin with rapturous looks holds a double organ, or pair of organs in her lap, —

" And whiles that the organs made melodie,
To God alone, thus in her hearte sang she."

One Robarts lived at Crewkeme at the time of the Reformation, who was an "Organ maker," and let out organs to Churches by the year ; he was paid by John Hassard, while Mayor of Lyme, A.D. 1550, his year's rent, 11s. There are various entries respecting Orgyn makers coming for to see the Orgyns, 2s. and 2s. 4d., and this for a journey of 14 miles.

During this mayoralty, Mr. Hassard was not only captain of the soldiers, but had to superintend all kinds of military duties, which were very complicated before the weapons of the earliest ages had yielded to the arms of modern times ; in a word, before bows and arrows were laid aside. It was in 1544, the inhabitants of Lyme beat off the French vessels that made an assault upon the town, when King Harry had made the voyage to Boulogne. This they did at their own charge. It is not, therefore, surprising that the principal men took great pride in their "Town gonnes." Mr. Hassard, in 1551, paid "one penny for two men dressing the gonnes at Christmas." A penny was the customary gift, or box, to the gunners. In this reign these gonnes were a novelty, and no wonder that they were held in almost veneration. A raging enemy had been kept from landing at Lyme, and all the evils of former invasions too well handed down to them by their parents, averted. A cannon was purchased in London, by Mr. Hassard, at a considerable expense. In 1557, he enters, "Item two yards of canvas to make bags to put gunpowder in and for making, 1s. 0d." Again, " 30lb. of big shot for the ordnance or cannon, at 2d. the lb., 5s. 10d." Gunpowder was then only made on the continent.

During Mr. John Hassard's mayoralty another custom existed, which had been handed down from the earliest times and continued until within a century and a half of the present. Just as in oriental countries, no approach could be made to a great man without the accompaniment of a gift, so in A. D. 1550, we find him charging : —

"Item, paid to my Lord Poulett's Parson to welcome him to town, 6d." In another, "Master Poulett's Clarke, 5d." ; this was Lord Thos. Poulett. Bribes were indeed common, and the mayors of Lyme made good use of their Shrimpis (now prawns) for this purpose. These delicacies were sold at 4d. per hundred, and some were sent this year by Mr. Hassard, as a present to my Lord of Bedford, together with some wine valued at 2s. 2d. Under the same head of bribes, we find a banquet given to my Lady Poulett, cost 7s. 6d. It would appear that my Lords were equally liberal in return to the Mayor, as presents of venison constantly occur; an item respecting one this year, A. D. 1550, is somewhat difiicult to comprehend. Mr. Hassard makes the charge:—"For eating a venyson sent by my Lord Poulett, 8s. 0d."

The last duty we shall mention which devolved upon Mr. Mayor was that of entertaining at his own house (for there was no mansion-house in these times), not only the Burgesses and Inhabitants, but the great Lords, who seemed to be fond of paying them a visit en passant, and occasionally Royalty itself. Of all the changes in Lyme itself we most regret the loss of these houses—the Hassards with others have all been swept away by the encroachments of the sea. To sum up the history of the Mayor—we quote again from Roberts' History— "It was but fair that the legislators and entertainers of nobility—the providers of ordnance and gunpowder the payers of rates to send Burgesses to Parliament, should have some return beyond inhabitants of the country who had no such burdens. Accordingly we find each Borough was an Imperium in Imperio.—Like other institutions Boroughs have played their part, and have been modified so as to have lost much of their original character. The mayors are no longer legislators, directors of the defences of their borough, and we know not what besides."

With regard to Mr. John Hassard's property we know but little. One portion of his land is thus recorded : "In the 36th year of Henry VIII., lands in Lyme Abbots (alias) Sherborne holme, a parcel of Sherborne Abbey was granted to Thos. Goodwin, who had license to alienate to John Hassard and heirs." "We find that he also possessed a right of fishery.—From the accounts we have given of his duties, and the satisfactory way in which he performed them, we may safely say that Mr. John Hassard possessed no small share of talent, industry, and perseverance ; we may add intrepidity, charity, and clemency—all of which were brought into increased exercise by his having thrown off the garments of Rome, and having put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Mr. Hassard left a son,

John Hassard of Lyme Regis b.1498 Mayor of Lyme 1550 and 1556-7 During his Mayoralty he was not only Captain of the soldiers but had to superintend all kinds of military duties. In 1551 he paid one penny for women two men dressing the gonnes at Christmas" He bought a cannon in London at considerable expense, and enters in his accounts, in 1557, "Item two yards of canvas to make bags to put gunpowder in and for making 1s. 0d. "Again: 35 lb of big shot for the ordnance or cannon at 2d. the lb., 5s. 10d.

In the 36th year of Henry VIII. lands in Lyme Abbots alias Sherbone Holme a parcel of Sherborne Abbey, were granted to Thomas Goodwin, with licence to alienate to John Hassard. He had a son:-

Robert, who was living on his own property at Charmouth, two miles from Lyme, a. d. 1565. He seems to have been rather an extraordinary character. At one time he might be designated a jolly good fellow—at another a bigotted Puritan. Through his desire either to improve his place in beauty or profit we find him in various scrapes—yet he served the office of Mayor, and sat several years in Parliament with evident credit to himself, and benefit to his constituents. Previous to the year 1591, we find he had also been warden of the Cobb Ale (or great feast of Lyme). The practice was to choose the wardens annually at the Guildhall, and doubtless the choice fell upon individuals who were not likely to mar the festive occasion. The proceeds of the Cobb Ale were duly carried to account. When money was wanted in A. D. 1591, for renewing the fee farm from the Queen by a new grant, Mr. Hassard and Mr. Bydgood lent for the purpose respectively some £20 out of the Cobb Ale-money, which was repaid to the Cobb account. This annual convivial meeting was held for the purpose of supporting the Cobb, or harbour. The mayor for the time was one of the wardens of the feast. William Barret, sometime Mayor, contributed to the dignity of the feast by a present to the Mayor of a whistle and a chain of silver, weighing eleven ounces. The room in which this feast was held was called the Cobb Hall. And to the feast we may add revels and dancing.

" Merry it is in halle to hear the harpe.
The minstrelles synge, the jogelours carpe."

The originator of jokes or fool (who was, by the bye, no fool) was wanted to enliven the feast where so many guests sat so long around the festive board. The musical departments being in 1595 incomplete, Mr. Vyney was paid for a basse horn 1s. 6d.

"They had menstrelles of moche honours,
Fydelers, soytolyrs, and trompeters,
And else it were unright."

For a further account of this feast which seems to have lasted a week, see Mr. Roberts' History of Southern Counties, p. 339, &c. Mr. Hassard possessed a salmon fishery ; but salmon was about this time so abundant that even tradesmen's apprentices became so tired of it that they petitioned the Mayor only to be allowed to eat it twice a week.

In 1595, an entry is made by the Mayor, —"Whipping of three of the Ship Boys for stealing Mr. Hassard's salmon fish in the Cobb, 1s." Whipping seems to have been quite the fashion. The charge of 4d, made for whipping a boy continued for many years the same. Whipping a woman was more expensive as we find —

A. D. 1625. Agnes Abbott whipping twice . . . 2s. 4d.
A. D. 1654. Two soldiers to attend the whipping of a woman . . . 2s. 6d.
Paid to whipping 4 women . . . 4s.

Tea and coffee being as yet unknown in England, we find beer used as their substitute. Being so important a beverage no wonder there were so many laws respecting it. Its price was regulated by the Mayor and Corporation : three half-pence per gallon was the average value. The sellers of beer were called Tiplers.

In the year 1589, we see Mr. Robert Hassard taking his father's place in Parliament, and again in 1590 he filled the same honorable and distinguished office. During this year he is recorded as having spent twenty-three weeks in London, for the purpose to procure a renewal of the fee farm rent from the Crown. For this he makes the usual charges, but much more concisely and in a less business-like manner than formerly, which will at least prove that his honour was above suspicion by his constituents.

Items. My expence for myself and my man for 23 weeks . . . £26 18s. 0d.
Paid for my chamber several to myself . . . £1 0s. 0d.
For hire of a horse up and from from London four times (13s. 4d. for hire to London and back, 4 ways, 288 miles) . . . £2 13s. 4d.
Paid to Forster up and down for my things, 4 times . . . £0 19s. 0d.
A large box, and for a lock and key for the charter . . . £0 4s. 0d.
The hire of a horse from London to Windsor, when my horse was lame . . . £0 2s. 6d.
Boat hire from London to the Court (at Greenwich) several times . . . £1 0s. 0d.

Mr. Hassard appears again in Parliament A. D. 1593; no items are given; we merely find his charges and fees at the Parliament £22 8s. What business was transacted this year is not recorded. We must not here omit to mention a change showing the increased value placed upon, and demand for, seats in Parliament. One or two cases may be noticed : A. D. 1586, the Earl of Warwick requested (through two friends) the Mayor and Burgesses of Poole, that they would nominate the young Earl of Bedford, his lordship's ward, for the sake of his grandfather. In 1584, at Leicester, II. Skipwith, Esq., and Thos. Johnson, one of her Majesty's sergeants at arms, were appointed Burgesses in Parliament, and either of them promised to bear their own charges. So at Lyme Regis, Zachary Bethell was chosen 29th January, 1593-4, a Burgess of P., by the Marquis of Winchester, while the Mayor, Burgesses, and Freemen elected Robert Hassard, Esq., who took his seat accordingly. Whether his long and dangerous rides or his arduous duties in Parliament proved too much for his strength—or whether from seeing more of the world he conceived the idea of improving his own domain, we cannot say, but certainly he commenced this work in no very Christian spirit. In this year, 1596, the Jury of Lyme found that he had enclosed a plot of ground which had been in common, time out of mind, and as they affirm "Sithence the way is foundred." In another presentment, the way was said to be strayted. This was by St. Andrew's Chapel, on the way towards Uplyme. St. Andrew's Lane, Cross, and Wells, are localities now not known by these names. It is true that this Common may and most likely was useless bad land, and that he had as much right as any other to enclose it ; moreover, from its contiguity to his own property it was of double value to him personally ; yet it appears to have been contrary to Borough law ; and considering his position (the late Worshipful the Mayor and Member for the Borough), even allowing for the great difference of character and feeling in those bygone days, we cannot possibly justify the measure. But this was not a solitary mischance ; in A. D. 1598, Mr. Hassard furnished matter for another presentment, through the same desire of improving his own grounds, though we may hope without its being any personal loss or injury to his neighbours. This time he takes in part of a lane, and removes the bondstones (boundary) leading down the way to the Cobb —which he is ordered to make as before under pain of 20s. A view was taken of the locality, and the measurement entered into the Court of Hustings Book. This encroachment upon lanes and common land has been made by hundreds in every county, and so far, we trust, Mr. Hassard was guilty only in the sight of the law, and shewed no desire to injure any of his fellow-townsmen—but another and last case mentioned seems more doubtful: in 1599, the following year, he was amerced in the sum of four-pence for having locked a gate, and stopped people from going to the Cobb. "Why or wherefore he should do this it is impossible to say—but we should fear his temper had begun to be soured by his Puritanical notions. The crime does not certainly appear to have been considered great in the eyes of his judges by his being fined the large sum of fourpence. A few years after this "The Puritan party, we find, gained great influence at Lyme and in many other Corporations. The companies of players who had heen hitherto much encouraged, and allowed the use of the Churches for their performances, were in 1612 paid to go on to the next town without playing—for scenic representations came to be treated as horrors."—Eight days' festivity, music, and mixed dancing (i. e., the dancing together of the two sexes), must have raised a ferment ; we must expect, therefore, that the Cobb Ale would be assailed, though scarcely that Mr. Hassard, the late warden, should have been at the head. However, so far we are pleased with his upright character ; his views were changed, and he is not ashamed to stand manfully forward and own it.—On this subject, one of their enemies writes—

"Rather than fail, they will defy
That which they love most tenderly,
Quarrel with minc'd pies, and disparage
Their best and dearest friend, plum porridge ;
Fat pig and goose itself oppose,
And blaspheme custard through the nose." —
______________________________Butler's Hudibras.

"The religious feuds in the Corporation had proceeded to a great height this year. Mr. John Geare, the Vicar, having preached puritanically, had his license withdrawn. The Court had now taken part against the Geneva doctrines. Mr. Geare, now styled 'An unbeneficed Preacher' by his enemies, procured an act (i. e., a lawsuit) against the Mayor and his Brethren, and the Cobb Wardens, for using profane language, and for religious abuses. He was favoured by Robert Hassard. The Court party agreed that the action should be defended at the town charge. They charged Mr. Robert Hassard with misdemeanors wilfully committed in his mayoralty, and laid the matter before the Star Chamber ; and he was accordingly dismissed from his rule and place of magistrate."

If these charges were just, why were they not brought years before, as it would not appear that he had served the office of Mayor for some fifteen years? Be the time when it may, no mention of misdemeanors was then made, or clearly ever would have been, had he not changed his religious tenets and openly taken the side of the oppressed Vicar. Mr. Hassard' s views were probably yet far from clear, but his mind had been greatly agitated and a great change had been undergone, amply sufficient to make allowance for his past delinquencies, without having become sufficiently stayed to keep him steadily walking in the narrow path of his Lord and Saviour. In this emergency some honorable person interceded on his behalf, and Mr. Hassard was restored, provided that he cleared himself in a judicial hearing in the Star Chamber ; but this his pride forbad him to do, and having neglected to appear, he was expelled. From another account we find that Mr. Hassard was given time to clear himself—but he compounded with his adversary, Mr. John Roze, an ex-mayor of Lyme.

In the Harl. M.S. No. 1451, relating to the Visitation of Dorset during the year 1565,—Mr. Robt. Hazard of Charmouth, is mentioned as claiming a right to use armorial bearings, and to all the other privileges of a gentleman, but his claim was set aside on the score "ignobilis." From the place, we believe this must refer to the subject of our memoir ; or from the orthography, it might be doubtful ; but when we know the omnipotence of politics to turn friends into foes, and that the mere fact of holding opposite views has been the cause of many more serious disqualifications, we must be cautious how we trust to the right or wrong of a claim of this kind. Moreover, Mr. Hassard very possibly knew little of his own genealogy, and his Norman blood may have risen at the questions and doubts of his Saxon querist. From this time, at least, the request, though from generation to generation the Hassards have been Lords of Manors, J.P.'s and M.P.'s, has apparently never been renewed, from which we conclude that they have always believed in their right to the arms they bore, probably in France, centuries before, and have therefore never deigned to repeat their demand. He left no issue, and probably died a bachelor.

Robert Hassard who was living at Charmouth two miles from Lyme in 1565, Mayor of Lyme MP for Lyme 19 Oct., 1588, 1592-3 and 16 Dec, 1620. Previous to 1591 he appears as warden of the Cobb Ale, or great feast of Lyme. He possessed a salmon fishery; in 1590 appears the following entry in the town accounts:- "Whipping of three of the Ship Boys for stealing Mr. Hassard's salmon fish in the Cobb, 1s." In 1590 he spent twenty-three weeks in London on behalf of the borough of Lyme, to procure a renewal of a fee farm grant from the Crown. His accounts are preserved:-

Items. My expence for myself and my man for 23 weeks . . . £26 18s. 0d.
Paid for my chamber several to myself . . . £1 0s. 0d.
For hire of a horse up and from from London four times (13s. 4d. for hire to London and back, 4 ways, 288 miles) . . . £2 13s. 4d.
Paid to Forster up and down for my things, 4 times . . . £0 19s. 0d.
A large box, and for a lock and key for the charter . . . £0 4s. 0d.
The hire of a horse from London to Windsor, when my horse was lame . . . £0 2s. 6d.
Boat hire from London to the Court (at Greenwich) several times . . . £1 0s. 0d.

Mr Hassard appears again in Parliament in 1593; no items are given merely charges and fees at the Parliament, £22 8s. [this following section could easily be a different Robert!] On several occasions he came into collision with the municipal authorities as in 1596 when the Jury of Lyme found that he had enclosed a plot of ground which had been in common time out of mind, 'sithence the way is foundred," and again in 1598, when he took part of a lane, and removed the bondstones (boundary) which he was ordered to make as before under pain of twenty shillings. Finally in 1612, rancour was stirred up over religious differences, Mr Hassard was charged with misdemeanors committed during his mayoralty years before, the matter was referred to the Star Chamber, and he was dismissed from his rule and place as a magistrate. He was apparently reinstated later for he [or another Robert! - this is supposed to be the son of John b.1498!!!] appears as M.P. for Lyme 16 Dec 1620. At the Visitation of Dorset, 1565, Mr Robert Hazard of Charmouth is mentioned as claiming a right to use armorial bearings a claim which the heralds dismiss on the score "ignoblis." He left no issue, and probably died a bachelor. [or, as we now know, he probably married Elizabeth Clarke in Exeter, 1577, and had at least four sons...]

We now return to his uncle,

Gilbert, M.A., Rector of Trusham, in the county of Devon, A. D. 1541. [mere bigotted conjecture follows] This Rectory was of small value—but unimportant as it was, or the Rector might be, at the time—how interesting would be his history ! that of a clergyman in this painfully exciting and tyrannical reign. The Church was now in its transition state—Rome was tottering to its foundation. What did he think of Wickliffe — what of Calvin—how did he like Ridley's appointment to the Bishopric of Rochester, through the sole interest of the King's favourite Physician, Sir William Butts, of Shakesperian memory ? That he was yet professedly a Romanist appears most probable, or he could scarcely have retained his living—but he may have had serious misgivings as to the soundness of his creed. He may and we trust ho had pondered over the arguments of the great Reformers. How can we imagine a more exciting period ! He must have gazed upon at least some of those splendid architectural monuments, of the faith of our forefathers—the monasteries, standing in their glory amidst scenes of entrancing beauty at the early periods of Henry's reign, and at another beheld them dashed in ruins to the ground. "With what agony of mind must he, if yet a true son of the apostate Church, have looked on ! But of his views and feelings we must contentedly leave all to conjecture, and bidding adieu to the Rector of Trusham, proceed to his sister,

II. Gilbert Hassard, Rector of Trusham, Devonshire, 1541.

III. ROBERT of whom presently.

I. Anne Hassard, m.1525 Robert Yonge, third son of John Yonge M.P. for Plymouth and brother of John Yonge of Collyton, Devon, grandfather of Sir John Yonge created a Baronet 26 Sept 1661.

[somewhat predictably we're told nothing about Anne, just lots about the great status her family got when they married her off - other sources say she was Gilbert's niece, not his sister]

11. Robert, whether third, second, or eldest son, we have not ascertained [he could say the same about almost all of them....], but as he himself followed an old custom, and made his youngest son his heir, it is probable that he was the third. He married a lady whose christian name was Agnes, but her surname is lost to us. His general place of residence was at Birdporte or Burport, as it is spelt in his will, but his taste seems to have accorded with that of so many of the family in their love for civic employments, and we accordingly find him taking an active part in Lyme. From an old record there, Mr. Robert Hassard is mentioned as entering a charge during the commocion times for some expense when the Cornish men would have the prayers in the old tongue (latin) and made sad confusion. These men spurned the book of Common Prayer as being in new English, which so many could not understand, as they could neither read nor follow the service in English. Cornish, a dialect of the Celtic, being their language. The insurgents grew more daring as mercy was ofiered to them, and in their tenth article expressed their determination to have nothing to do with the English tongue, as follows: "We will have the Bible and all books of Scripture in English to be called in again, for we are informed that otherwise the Clergy shall not of long time confound the heretics." A proclamation of Henry VIII.'s, A. D. 1526, forbade the buying, receiving or keeping the New Testament or the Old in the English, French or Dutch tongue.—Notes and Queries.

The Reformation was not introduced in Dorsetshire in the quiet manner it obtained in other Counties. The rebellion in the 5th Edward VI., of the people of Cornwall was one of great violence and bloodshed. Thus we shall not be surprised at an entry of Mr. Hassard's, in the Lyme book— "Pd. to Thomas Battyn for the hire of a horse in the Commocion time 1s. 6d."

We are glad to find in the preamble of Mr. Hassard's will now in Doctors Commons, that whatever were the religious views he entertained in his youth, he had before his departure come to a clear knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus ; and when we bear in mind the state of the times in this respect in which he lived, we may be sure that he had undergone no little struggle. The profession of Christianity was not then as now the fashion—but whichever side a man took he was sure of some persecution, and that of the most painful kind — persecution from those " of his own household." In his will, after expressing his gratitude to the Almighty for his manifold mercies and loving kindness, he professes his entire trust in the blood of his redeeming Saviour for the pardon of his sins, and in his merits for his justification. He declares his belief in the utter weakness and inability of man to do any thing aright without the grace of the Holy Spirit to guide, &c. He then proceeds with certain bequests, and begins with the poor of Bridport. To them he leaves monies to be divided so and so. He then mentions the Parson of Bridport, to whom he leaves £1 for preaching his funeral sermon ; next, £8 to the Cathedral Church at Bristol, and certain monies to the poor there. These bequests are very interesting, as they prove the connexion between the Lyme and Bristol families, or rather that they were one and the same ; which, though before linked together, had been so rather on traditional than on certain grounds. He then proceeds with legacies to his daughters and their husbands, and so on to his sons ; but we shall quote these when we come to them individually. To his wife, Agnes, he leaves plate, linen, and a jointure, together with the house and garden at Bridport, to revert at her death to his youngest son, John, whom he makes heir to his landed estates at Bridporte, Waldich, &c. He directs his wife, Agnes, to act as his sole executrix. In this will there is mention of property obtained by bargain, an early form of conveyance.—It was made A. D. 1545, and proved in London the December of the same year. The said Robert Hassard and Agnes, his wife, left issue four sons and three daughters, viz.

I. William. II. Nicholas. III. George. IV. John.
I. Alice. II. Amys. III Joan.

The last named son of Robert Hassard of Lyme (p.8)

ROBERT HASSARD of Bridport and Lyme made his WiIl in 1545, proved in London, Dec, 1545, leaves money to the poor of Bridport, £1 to the Parson of Bridport for preaching his funeral sermon, £8 to then Cathedral Church at Bristol and money to the poor there. To his wife Agnes he leaves plate linen and a Jointure, together with the house and garden at Bridport to revert at her death to his youngest son John, whom he makes heir to his landed estates at Bridport, Waldish &c. Robert Hassard who had lived through the early days of the Reformation left six children.

I. William Hassard to whom his father bequeathed money and plate including a silver cup, three silver spoons, salt cellars, &c. There is no further trace of him.

II. Nicholas Hassard Burgess of Lyme 1551.

III John of whom presently

I. Amys Hassard m. Richard Tygin and inherited money, plate and linen and a diamond ring from her father

II. Alice Hassard m.

III. Joan Hassard also married.

[It is not clear at this point why Swanzy ommitted George, listed as son III by Short]