both them and the same City So long as the Customs be not contrary to right law and Justice Their Customs not to be against Law saving in all things the liberty of the Church of Westminster to the Abbots and Monks of the fame place to them granted by the Charters of us and our predecessors Kings of England But as touching our Jews and Merchant strangers Jews and strangers and other things out of our foresaid grant touching us or our said City we and our heirs shall provide as to us shall seem expedient These being witness R. King of Almain our Brother Edward our first Son Roger of Mortimer Roger de Clifford Roger Leybourn Robert Watrand Robert Aquiln Mi. Godfrey Gifford our Chancellor Walter de Merton Mr. John Cheshil Archdeacon of London John de la lind William de Aette and others Given by our hand at Westminster the 26th day of March in the 52th year of our Reign WE have seen a certain Charter which the Lord Edward the first sometimes Edw. 1. King of England made to the aforesaid Citizens of London bearing date the 18th day of April in the 26th year of his Reign in which Charter amongst other things it is contained That whereas our said Citizens by the Charters of our said progenitors have been accustomed hitherto to present every Mayor whom they have chosen in the said City yearly before the Barons of the Exchequer our progenitor or we not being To present â—he Mayor to the Barons of the Exchequer at Westminster that he may be admitted by the said Barons as Mayor for us notwithstanding that at the next coming of our Progenitor or of us unto Westminster or London he may be presented to our progenitors or to us and so admitted Mayor We willing to shew more ample favour to the said Citizens in that behalf do grant to them for us and our heirs The Mayor of the said City when he shall be chosen by the said Citizens and also the Sheriffs of the said City when they likewise at the accustomed time shall be chosen by the said Citizens we and our The Mayor and Sheriffs in the absence of the King and Barons to be presented to the Constable of the Tower heirs and our Barons not being at Westm or at Lond. they may or shall be presented and admitted to and by the Constable of our Tower of London yearly in such sort as they before were wont to be presented and admitted so as nevertheless that at the next coming of us or our heirs to Westminster or London the said Mayor be presented to us or our heirs and admitted for Mayor And also we have granted for us and our heirs to our said Citizens Citizens quit of Pannage Murage c. that they and their successors Citizens of the said City be for ever quit and free of Pannage Pontage and Murage throughout all the Realm and all our dominions Sheriffs of Lond. to be amerced as the Sheriffs of other Counties And that the Sheriffs of the said City as often as it shall happen them to be amerced in our Court for any offence they shall be amerced according to the measure and quantity of the offence as other the Sheriffs of our said Realm have been amerced for the like offence Wherefore we will and streightly charge and Command for us and our heirs that the said Citizens and their successors have all the liberties Citizens to enjoy their Customs freedoms Quittals and free Customs aforesaid and them may and shall use according to our confirmation renovation and grants aforesaid for ever as by the aforesaid Charter amongst other things more fully appeareth WE have also seen certain Letters Patents Edw. 2. of Lord Edward Son of Edward sometimes King of England our progenitor made in these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all to whom these present Letters shall come greeting Know ye that whereas the Mayor and the good men of the City of London have of late thankfully done us aid of armed footmen at our Castle of Leeds in our County of Kent and also aid of like armed The Aids granted to the King shall not be prejudicial to the City nor drawn into example men now going with us through divers parts of our Realm for divers causes We willing to provide for the indemnity of the said Mayor and men of our City of London in this behalf have granted to them for us and our heirs that the said aids to us so thankfully done shall not be prejudicial to the said Mayor and good men their heirs and successours nor shall they be drawn into consequent for time to come In Witness whereof we have caused those our Letters to be made Patents Witness my self at Aldermanston the 12th day of December in the 15th year of our Reign WE have also seen the Charter of Edw. 3. Char. 1. Lord Edward the third sometimes King of England our progenitor made in these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To his Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Rulers Ministers and other his Bailiffs and faithful Subjects greeting Know ye that we for the bettering of our City of London and for the good and laudable service which our welbeloved Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty of the said City heretofore have often done to us and our progenitors with the assent of the aforesaid Earls Barons and all the Commonalty of our Realm being called to this our present Parliament at Westminster have granted and by this our Charter for us and our heirs confirmed to the Citizens of the aforesaid City the liberties hereunder written to have and to hold to them and their heirs and successors for ever First Magna Charta recited whereas in the great Charter of the liberties of England it is contained that the City of London may have all their Antient liberties and Customs And the same Citizens at the time of the making of the Charter from the time of Saint Edward King and Confessor and William the Conqueror and of other our progenitors had divers liberties and Customs as well by the Charters of those our progenitors as without Charter by Antient Custom whereupon in divers the Circuits and other the Courts of our said progenitors as well by Judgments as by statutes were invaded and of some of them adjudged We will and grant for us and our heirs that they may have the liberties according to the Usurpations of their Liberties revoked form of the abovesaid great Charter And that Impediments and usurpations to them in that behalf made shall be revoked and Annulled We have further granted for us and our heirs to the said Citizens their heirs and successors aforesaid that the Mayor of the aforesaid City which for time shall be shall be one of the Justices to be assigned
same to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors We for us our heirs and successors do restore by these presents as fully freely and wholly and in as ample manner and form as they or their Predecessors had used or enjoy the same in any times of our Progenitors or Predecessors once Kings and Queens of England We will also and by these presents for us our heirs and successors grant That it shall be lawful for the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London aforesaid any Authority Office Jurisdiction Liberty Priviledge Franchise Immunity Quittals Free Customs mentioned in the Letters Patents or Charters aforesaid or any of them or other their Customs which hitherto they have used or perhaps have abused or not claimed when they ought to have claimed That they nevertheless the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors may henceforth for ever fully have enjoy and use any matter cause or thing whatsoever in times past had made or provided to the contrary thereof notwithstanding without hindrance or Impediment of Us our Heirs or Successors our Justices Sheriffs Coroners Escheators or any other Bailiff or Minister of Us our Heirs or Successors whatsoever the same Authorities Offices Jurisdictions Liberties Priviledges Franchises Immunities Quittals and free Customs whatsoever in likewise not used or abused or not claimed or any of them And to the intent the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors in time to come may the more safely freely and quietly hold and enjoy to them and their Successors for ever all and singular the premises in the said Letters Patents or Charters before mentioned or intended to be given or granted by the same And for the intent that no ambiguity controversy doubtful construction or question of or about the premises may henceforth arise but be altogether taken away We for the considerations aforesaid and of our special grace for Us our Heirs and Successors do give and grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors for ever all and singular the mannors Lands Tenements Offices Fees Rewards Liberties Priviledges Jurisdictions Immunities Ordinances Quittals Hereditaments and all and singular other things whatsoever in the said Letters Patents or Charters afore-recited or any of them contained or mentioned to have been given or granted with all and singular the appurtenances except such as in the same Charters or Letters Patents or in these prgsents are excepted as fully plainly freely and wholly to all intents and purposes as if they had been expressed named mentioned declared and manifested severally and namely and word for word in these presents To hold all and singular the premises by these presents mentioned to be granted or confirmed with all Appurtenances of Us our Heirs and Successors by such the same or the like Services Fees Fee-farm Rent Sums of Money and demands whatsoever by which or what and as all and singular the same premises were formerly held of Us or our predecessors or were intended to be held by the same Letters Patents Charter or otherwise And whereas Lord Henry the fixth Recital of the Charter of the 26th of Octob. 23. Henry 6. late King of England our predecessor by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster the 26th day of October in the 23d year of his Reign granted unto the Citizens of the City aforesaid amongst other things that the same Citizens and their Successors for ever The Soil of the Streets and Thames granted to the City should have all Soils Commons Purprestures and Improvements in all Wasts Commons Streets Ways and other places in the City and Suburbs aforesaid and in the Water of Thames within the limits of the same City together with the profits of the same Purprestures and Improvements and that they may improve and Rent and enjoy the rents of them and their Successors for ever and likewise several other things as in the said Letters Patents more fully appears And whereas in the Parliament of the said Lord Henry the 6th late King of England held at Westminster in the 28th year of his Reign it was enacted by Authority of the same Parliament that the same King should take resume seize and retain into his hands and possession all Honours Castles Lordships Towns Villages Mannors Lands Tenements Wasts Rents Reversions Fees Fee-farms and services with all Appurtenances in England Wales and the Marches of the same Ireland Guiana Calice and the Marches of the same which the said Lord Henry by his Letters Patents or otherwise had granted from the first day of his Reign and all Honours Castles Lordships Towns Villages Mannors Lands Tenements Wasts Rents Reversions Fees Fee-farms and services with all their Appurtenances which were of the Dutchy of Lancaster and by the King himself conveyed by grant or grants of the same King and the said King to have hold and retain all the same premises in the like state he had them at the time of such like concession made by the same King of the same And that all Letters Patents by the All Charters of K. Henry 6.1 1 made void said King or any other person or persons at the request and desire of the said King to any person or persons made of the premises or any of them should be void and of no force in Law As by the same Act of Parliament amongst other things doth more fully appear And whereas our most famous Progenitor Henry the 7th late King of England c. by his Letters Patents under the great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster the 23 of July in the 20 year of his Reign reciting amongst other things all and singular donations confirmations grants restitutions innovations ordinances and all other Articles and things in the said Letters Patents contained he did accept and approved and ratified and confirmed all and and singular the said things to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Heirs and Successors by the same Letters Patents and did grant confirm by his said Letters Patents all and singular those things as fully plainly and wholly as if they had been severally and word for word expressed declared and manifested in the said Letters Patents of the same Lord Henry the 7th to the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors as by the said Letters Patents amongst other things more plainly appears And whereas there are divers questions lately risen concerning the validity as well of Doubts concerning the validity of the Charter of the 20th of Henry 7. the said Letters Patents of the said Lord Henry the 6th as of the said Lord Henry the 7th thereupon made by reason or pretence of the same Act of Parliament concerning resumption aforesaid We willing that all questions thereof should be from henceforth taken away and to the intent
part or parcel of it by which our title in and to the said premises ought to be found before the making of these our Letters Patents And notwithstanding any defect in not reciting or ill reciting of any Lease or Leases Grant or Grants heretofore made for term of life or lives or years or otherwise of the premises or of any part or parcel of them being upon Record or not upon Record or otherwise however And notwithstanding the ill naming or not right or certain naming any Village or Hamlet Parish Ward Place Precinct or Country in which the premises or any part of them is or are And notwithstanding any defect in not mentioning or not fully rightly or certainly mentioning the name or names of all or any Tenements These Letters Parents to be sealed without paying any Fine in the Hamper Forms Possessions or Occupations aforesaid and all and singular other the premises or any parcel thereof or of the Annual rent reserved in and upon the premises or any part thereof And notwithstanding any defect uncertainty or Computation or declaration or omission of the true value of the premises or any part of them in these present Letters Patents expressed And notwithstanding any defect in not mentioning our true right state or title of or to the same premises or any part or parcel of them And notwithstanding the statute of Lord Henry the 6th late King of England our Ancestor made and published in the year of his Reign and notwithstanding the statute of Lord Henry the 4th late King of England our Ancestor made and published in the first year of his Reign And notwithstanding the statute aforesaid of not putting Lands and Tenements in Mortmain And notwithstanding the statute made in the Parliament of Edward the first in the third year of his Reign And the statute made in the Parliament of Edward the third in the twenty eight year of his Reign concerning choosing of the Coroners And notwithstanding any other statute or statutes of this our Kingdom of England or any other defects whatsoever and notwithstanding the not mentioning the natures kinds species quantities of the premises or any of them or any part or parcel of them We will also and by these presents grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London that they shall and may have these our Letters Patents made and sealed under the great Seal of England without â—endring paying or making Fine or Fee great or little to us in our hamper or otherwise to our use any way for that express mention is not made of the true yearly value or of the certainty of the premises or any of them or of other gifts or grants heretofore made by Us or by any of our Progenitors or Ancestors to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of of the City of London or any other statute Act Ordinance Proclamation Provision or Restriction made Published Ordained or provided to the contrary or any other cause or matter whatsoever in any thing notwithstanding In Witness whereof we have made these our Letters Patents Witness my self at Westminster the 18th day of October in the 14th year of our Reign Fees taken by the Common Outroper FOr selling of all Goods ¼ in ever Shilling For writing and keeping the Books 1 Penny per l. To the Cryer for crying the Goods 1 s. Fees taken by the Register for Broakers FOr the Bond to be entered into by every Broaker Brogger and Huckster to the Chamber 8 d. For every Bargain Contract Pawn for or upon which there shall be lent or given 1 s. or above and under 5 s. ¼ For every the like for which shall be lent 5 s. or more and under 20 s. ½ For every the like on which shall be lent 20 s. or more and under 40 s. 1 d. For every the like on which shall be lent 40 s. or more 2 d. Court of Conscience in London Clerks Fees FOr every Plaint 2 d. For every Appearance 2 d. For every Order 4 d. For every Remittance to the Common Law 4 d. For every Precept or VVarrant to Committo Prison 6 d. For every Search 2 d. For every Satisfaction acknowledged on an Order 6 d. For VVarning every Person within the Liberties 4 d. For VVarning every Person without the Liberties 6 d. For serving every Precept or VVarrant 4 d. VVE have also seen a certain other Charter of our said most dear Father Charles the First late King of England of Blessed Memory made in these words CHARLES by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. To all to whom these present Letters shall come greeting WHEREAS Out Well-beloved the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Predecessors within the Port of London within the Liberties and Franchices of our City of London and Suburbs thereof have had exercised and enjoyed or claimed to have exercise and enjoy the Paccage of Cloths c. Office of Paccage of all Cloths Woolls Woollfells Calves skins Goat-skins Bales of Tinne and of all other Merchandizes whatsoever to be packed casked piped barrelled or otherwise vesselled out of the said Port to be transported to any the parts beyond the Seas of the Goods and Merchandizes as well of Aliens and Persons born under any Forreign Allegiance in any parts beyond the Seas wheresoever they should be Customed and also the Office as well for Surveying or Scavage of all Goods or Wares of any Merchant either Alien or Denizen whose Father was or should be an Alien born without our Allegiance and from the parts beyond the Seas to be brought to the said Port by way of Merchandize as also for the surveying delivering or balliage of Balliage of Goods all Goods and Wares of any such Merchants aforesaid to be exported from the said Port into the parts beyond the Seas or otherwise on the account of Merchandizes upon and through the River Thames within the said Port in any Ship Boat Barge or Vessel whatsoever floating laden remaining or being off of any Shore of the said River of Thames and upon any Wharffe or Shore of the same River which should happen there to remain and be delivered or unladen as well by Water as by Land within the Port aforesaid within the Franchices and Liberties of the said City and Suburbs thereof all which they have enjoyed time out of mind and by vertue of several Charters or Letters Patents of Edward the Fourth late King of England in the First and Eighteenth years of his Reign to them granted and also by vertue of a certain other Charter or Letters Patents of Henry the Eighth late King of England to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens aforesaid granted in the Third year of his Reign â—y whatsoever Name or Names the same are called in the said Letters Patents by Authority of Parliament confirmed or by colour of the same Letters
other Pleas whatsoever one writ shall suffice in all Pleas for every Kings time And that no summons Attachments or Executions be made by any the Officers whatsoever of us or our heirs by writ or without writ within the liberty of the said City but only by Ministers of the said City And that the Sheriffs of the same City which shall be towards the aid of the fame of that City may lawfully have the forfeitures of victuals and other things and Merchandizes according to the tenor of the Charter thereof made to the said Citizens and shall not be debarred thereof hereafter contrary to the tenor of the same Charters And that the same Citizens in the Circuits of the Justices from henceforth sitting at the Tower of London shall be guided by the same Laws and Customs whereby they were guided in the Circuits holden in the time of Lord John and Henry sometimes Kings of England and other our progenitors and if any thing in the last circuit was done or attempted contrary to their liberties and free Customs we will not they be prejudicial unto them but that they may be guided as of old time they were We have also granted for us and our heirs that the same Citizens from Citizens to be taxed in Subsidies as other Commoners and not as Citizens henceforth in and toward subsidies grants and contributions whatsoever to be made to the use of us or our heirs shall be taxed and contributory with the commonalty of our Realm as common persons and not as men of the City And that they be quit of all other Tallages and that the liberty of the said City shall not be taken into the hands of us or our heirs for any personal Trespass or judgment of any Minister of the said City Neither shall a keeper in the said City for that occasion be deputed but the same Minister shall be punished according to the quality of his offence And that no purveyor and taker Officer and other Minister of us or our heirs or of any other shall make any prices in the said No Purveyor of the Kings to make any price in Lond. without the consent of the party No prices of wines of Citizens City or without of the goods of the Citizens of the same City contrary to their will and pleasure unless immediately they make due payment for the same or else may have respit thereof with the good will of the seller And that no price be made of the wines of those Citizens by any the Citizens of us or our heirs or otherwise against their wills that is to say of one Tun before the Mast and another behind it nor by any other means but shall be quit thereof for ever Furthermore we forbid No Purveyor to be a Merchant of the same goods whereof he is Purveyer that any officer of us or our heirs shall Merchandize by himself or others within the said or without of any thing touching their Offices Also we grant that the Lands and Tenements lying without of the said Citizens which have been or hereafter shall be Ministers of the said City be bound to keep the said City harmless against us and our heirs of those things which concern their Offices as their tenements be within the said City and that no Market from henceforth shall be granted by us or our heirs to any within 7 miles in Circuit No Market within seven miles of London of the said City And that all inquisitions from henceforth to be taken by our Justices St. Martins Le grand or Ministers of the said City shall be taken in Saint Martins in London and not elsewhere Except the Inquisitions to be taken in the Circuits at the Tower of London and for the Goal-delivery at Newgate And that none of the freemen of the said City shall be impleaded or troubled at our Exchequer or elsewhere by bill except it be by those things which touch us or our heirs Wherefore we will and streightly No Citizen to be impleaded in the Exchequer unless it concern the King command for us and our heirs that the said Citizens their heirs and successors have all their liberties and free Customs and the same may use and enjoy for ever in form aforesaid These being witness W. Archbishop of Cant. J. Bishop of Ely our Chancellor and others Given at Westminster the 6th day of March in the 1st year of our Reign WE have seen also certain other Letters Edw. 3. Char. 2. Patents of Lord Edward the 3d. King of England made in these words Edward by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitain To all to whom these present Letters shall come greeting Know ye that whereas our well beloved the Citizens of the City of London by their Petition exhibited before us and our Councel in our present Parliament at Westminster assembled have given us to understand that Felons Thieves and other Malefactors and disturbers of the peace who in the said and elsewhere have committed man-slaughters Robberies and divers other Felonies privily departing from the said City after those Felonies committed into the village of Southwark where they cannot be Attached by the Ministers of the said City and there are openly received and so for default of due punishment are more bold to commit such Felonies and they have beseeched us that for the confirmation of our peace within the said City bridling the naughtiness of the said Malefactors we would grant unto them the said village to have to them their heirs and successors for ever for the farm and rent therefore yearly due to us to be yearly paid at our Exchequer We having consideration to the Premises with the assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and Commonalty being in our present Parliament Southwark granted to the Citizens in Parliament aforesaid have granted for us and our heirs to the said Citizens the said village of Southwark with the appurtenances to have and to hold to them and their heirs and successors Citizens of the said City of us and our heirs for ever to pay to us by the year at the Exchequer of us and our heirs at the accustomed times the farms therefore due and accustomed In Witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness my self at Westminster the 6th day of March in the first year of our Reign WE have also seen a certain other Charter of the same Lord Edward the 3d. in these words Edward by the Grace of Edw 3. Char. 3. God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain To all to whom these present Letters shall come greeting Know ye whereas in our Parliament at York holden the morrow after the ascensioâ— of our Lord in the ninth year of our York Statute recited Reign It was ordained and enacted that all Merchant Strangers and English born and every of them of what estate or condition soever who would buy or
sell corn wine powderable wares fish or other victual All Merchant strangers as English should sell and buy in all Cities and Towns wools cloth wares or other vendâ—ble things whatsoever wheresoever they weâ—â— either in Cities Towns Boroughs Porâ—â— of the Sea Fairs Markets or other places in the Realm whether within liberties or without might without Impediment freely sell the same victuals or wares to whom they would as well to foreigners aâ— English born The enemies to us and our Realm only excepted notwithstanding the Charters of liberties to any Cities or places aforesaid granted to the contrary or custom or judgment upon the said Charters as in the foresaid state is more plainly contained yet nevertheless because in the statutes as well in our said Parliament as in other Parliaments of our Progenitors sometimes Ks. of Engl. made by us and our progenitors Citizens enjoy their Customs according to Magna Charta with the common consent of the Prelates Earls Barons and Commonalty of our Realm it was granted and establisht That the great Charter of the liberty of Engl. iâ— in all singular its Articles should be maintained and firmly observed And in the same Charter amongst other things it is contained the City of London may have its antient liberties and free customs unhurt And it hath been the intent and meaning as well of us as our Progenitors yet is that the said great Charter in all the Articles thereof may be still observed and that by pretext of the said Stat. or any other nothing shall be done to the prejudice or infringment of the said Charter or of any Article therein contained or of the antient liberties or customs of the said City may be unjustly burthened touching their said liberties and free Customs contrary to such intent with the consent of the Prelates Earls and Barons assistant with us in this our Parliament Have granted for us and our heirs that the Citizens of the said City their heirs and successors may have all their liberties and free customs unhurt and whole as before these times they more freely had the same The aforesaid statute for the said Merchants made to the hurt of the liberties and Customs of the said City notwithstanding In Witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness my self at Westminster the 26th day of March in the 11th year of our Reign Edw. 3. Char. 4. WE have also seen a certain other statute of the said Lord Edward the 3d. late King of England made in these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To all to whom these our Letters shall come greeting Know ye that we being worthily careful of the conservation and increase of the name and honour of our City of London and at the supplication of the Mayor Sheriffs and Commonalty of the said City to us humbly made will and grant for us and our heirs that the Serjeants of Lond. may bear Maces of Gold or Silver Serjeants appointed to bear the Maces iâ— our said City may lawfully carry theâ— of Gold or Silver or Silvered or Garnished with the sign of our Arms or otheâ—â— every where in the said City and in the Suburb of the same and in the County of Middlesex and other places to the liberties of the said City appertaining And also without the said City to meet with us our Mother Consort or the Children of us or of our heirs or other Royal Persons when we or any of us shall come to the said City and also in going forth with us or any of us when we shall depart from the said City as also in the presence of us our Mother or Consort or our Children when the said Mayor or Sheriffs or Aldermen of the said City or any of them shall come to us or our heirs at or without the command or warning of us or any of us and as often as it shall happen any of the said Serjeants to be sent to foreign places and without the said City to do their Office at the command of us or oâ— the Mayor or Sheriffs aforesaid they may lawfully carry going and coming publickly as our own Serjeant at Arms attending our presence do carry their Maces Any Ordinance or Commandment made to the contrary notwithstanding In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents witness my self at Westminster the 10th day of June in the 28th Year of our Reign of England and of France the 15th WE have also seen certain Letters Patents Edw. 3. Char. 5. of our Lord Edward late King of England the third in these words Edward King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all to whom these Letters shall come greeting Know Ye That whereas amongst other Liberties granted to the Citizens of our City of London by the Charters of our progenitors sometimes Kings of England which we have confirmed and by ours it hath been granted unto them that all Merchants strangers coming Merchant strangers to board and not to keep houses into England shall remain at board with the free Hosts of the City aforesaid and of other Cities and Towns in England without keeping any houses or societies by themselves And that there should be no Brokers of any Merchandizes from henceforth unless they were chosen thereunto by the Merchants in the Mysteries Brokers to be chosen by the Merchants of the mystery in which the said Brokers exercise their Offices and thereupon at the least do take their Oaths before the Mayor of the said City And also that the Merchants who were not of the Freedom of the said City should not sell by retail any Wines or other wares within the said City or the Suburbs thereof And now our welbeloved Subjects the Mayor Aldermen and other Citizens of the said City have humbly beseeched us by their Petition exhibited in these words To our Lord the King and his good Council do shew the Liege Mayor Aldermen and Petition of the Mayor and Aldermen to the King Commonalty of the City of London that whereas they have often sued in divers Parliaments to have consideration how that they are impoverished and undone by reason their Liberties by him and his progenitors to them granted are restrained and great part taken away and now at the last Parliament holden at Westminster it was answered to them that they should declare their Griefs specially and they should have good remedy therefore of which Griefs amongst divers others these be That every Stranger might dwell in the said City and keep a house and be a Broker and sell and buy all manner of Merchandizes by retail and one Stranger to sell to another to sell again to the great inhancing the prices of Merchandizes and a cause to make them remain there more than forty daies Whereas in time past no Merchant stranger might use any of these points contrary to the Franchises
their great costs and expences born the Offices of Mayoralty shall not be put in any Assizes Juries or Attaints Recognizances or Inquisitions out of the said City and that they nor any of them shall be Tryer or Tryers of the same although they touch us or our Heirs or Successors or other whomsoever And that without that City neither they nor any of them be made Collectors Aldermen of Lond. not to be Collectors or Taxers out of the City or Collector Assessor Taxor Overseer or Comptroler of the Tenths Fifteens Taxes Tallages Subsidies or other charges or impositions whatsoever to us our heirs or successors hereafter to be granted or given And if they or any of them be elected to any of the Offices or Charges aforesaid and that the same Mayor or Aldermen do deny refuse or not do the offices or charges aforesaid then they or any of them shall not by any means Aldermen not to suffer for refusal of such Offices incur any contempt loss pain fine imprisonment or forfeiture by occasion of their so refusing or not doing nor shall for that cause forfeit any issues by any means And further as we understand Lord Edward sometimes King of Enland the 3d. after the conquest our Progenitor with the assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and Commonalty of the Realm of England assembled in Parliament holden at Westminster in the first year of his Reign at the Petition of the then Citizens of the said City by his Letters Patents granted for him and his heirs to the same Citizens the Town of Southwark with the appurtenances to have and hold to them and their successors Citizens of the same City of the same our Progenitors and their heirs for ever paying unto him by the year at the Exchequer of him and his heirs at the terms accustomed the farm therefore due and accustomed as in the said Letters Patents more fully is contained And now the Mayor and Commonalty of the same City and their predecessors have and hold certain liberties and Franchises in the Town aforesaid by vertue of those Letters Patents and do use the same as their predecessors have had and held them and have used and enjoyed them And they now fear that divers Doubt in the use of some Liberties in Southwark doubts opinions varieties and ambiguities controversies and dissentions may light and be likely to spring grow be imagin'd holden and had in time to come in and about the use and exercise of such liberties and franchises for want of more clear and full declaration and expressing of the same for that divers diversly interpret judg and understand we therefore to the end to take away from henceforth and utterly to abolish all and all manner of causes occasions and matters whereupon such opinions ambiguities varieties controversies and dissentions may spring be holdeâ— and moved in this behalf have of our special grace and from our meer motion granted to the said Mayor and Commonalty of the said City which now be and their successors Southwark granted to the City of London Waifes Estrayes Treasure c. Mayor and Commonalty Citizenâ— of that City which for the time being shalâ— be for ever the Town of Southwark with the Appurtenances with all Chattels called Waif and Estray also Treasure found in the Town aforesaid and all manner oâ— handiwork goods and Chattels of Trayton Felons Fugitives Outlawed Condemned convicted and of Felons defamed and denying the law of our Land wheresoever or before whomsoever Justice shalâ— Goods disclaimed Escheats Forfeitures be done upon them And also goods disclaimed found or being within the Town aforesaid and also all manner of Escheats anâ— forfeitures which may there pertain unto us as fully and wholly as we should have them if the same Town were in ouâ— hands And that it shall be lawful to the The Mayor c. to put themselves in possession same Mayor and Commonalty and to their successors by their deputy and Ministers of the same Town to put themselves in possession of and in all the handiworks and Chattels of all manner of Traytors Felons Fugitives Outlaws condemned convicted and of Felons defamed and denying the Laws of our Land And also of and in all goods disclaimed found and being within the same Town and also of and in all the Escheats and forfeitures to us and to our heirs there pertaining And that the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their successors by themselves or their deputy or Ministers may have in the Town Assize of Bread aforesaid Assay and Assize of Bread Wine Beer and Ale and all other victuals and things whatsoever saleable in the said Town and also all and whatsoever doth and may Clerk of the Market appertain to the Office of Clerk of the Market of our house or of our heirs together with the correction and punishment of all persons there selling Wine Bread Beer Ale and other victuals and of all other inhabiting and exercising any Arts whatsoever and with all manner of Forfeitures and Fines forfeitures fines and amerciaments to be forfeited and all other which there do and in any time to come may there pertain to us our heirs or successors And that they shall have in the said Town the execution of all manner of writs of ours or of our Execution and return of Writs to be by the City-Officers heirs and successors and of all other wrâ—ts commandments precepts extracts and warrants with the return of the same by such their Minister or deputy whom they shall thereunto chuse So alwaies that the Clerk of the Market of our house or of the house of our heirs or the Sheriff or Kings Clerk of the Market nor the Sheriff of Surrey to intermeddle Escheator of the County of Surrey which now is or hereafter shall be do not by any means intermeddle enter or do any execution We have also granted to the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their successors for ever that they shall and may have yearly one Fair in the Town aforesaid for 3 days that is to say the 7th 8th and 9th dayes of September To be A Fair for three days in the year holden together with a Court of Pypowders and with all liberties and free Customs to such Fair appertaining that they may have and hold there at their said Courts before their said Ministers or deputy the said 3 days from day to day and hour to hour from time to time all occâ—sions plaints and pleas of a Court of Pypowders together with all Summons Attachments Arrests Issues Fines redemptions and commodities and other rights whatsoever to the same Summons and Attachments Court of Pypowders any way pertaining without any impediment let or hindrance of us our heirs or successors or other our Officers and Ministers whatsoever and also that they may have there a view of Franckpledg and whatsoever there to pertaineth View of