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
above all reprizes and charges as aforesaid unto the said Mayor Commonalty and to their successors as aforesaid for ever without hindrance of us or our heirs our Justices Escheators Sheriffs Coroners Bailiffs or other the Ministers of us or our heirs whatsoever And this without any other the Kings Letters Patents or any inquisitions upon any writ of ad quod damnum Without other Writ of Ad quod damnum c. or any other the Kings commandments in this behalf by any means to be had prosecuted and taken The statute concerning Lands and Tenements not to be put in Mortmain or any other statute act or ordinance made to the contrary notwithstanding To have as many writs ad quod damnum c. And we also will and grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty that they and their successors may have so many and such writs ad quod damnum and other Royal Letters Patents Executory from time to time upon the licence aforesaid in full satisfaction and contentation of the said sum of 1923 l. 9 s. 8 d. In Witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness my self at Westminster the 20th day of June in the 18th year of our Reign We have seen also other Letters Patents Edw. 4. Char. 4. of Lord Edward late King of England the 4th in these words Edward by the grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all to whom these present Letters Patents shall come greeting Know ye that whereas the sum of 12923 l. 9 s. 8 d. is amongst other things due by us to our welbeloved the Mayor Commonalty of our City of London as in the receipt of our Exchequer more fully appeareth This Charter confirmed by Parliament in the third year of Henry 8. of which said sum the Mayor and Commonalty are willing to remit and release unto us the sum of 7000 l. to the intent that we should vouchsafe to grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and their Successors the Offices and Occupations 7000 l. the consideration of this Charter under-written to be had in form following We inwardly pondering not only the Premises but also the manifold pleasures to us by the Mayor and Commonalty of the said City before time acceptably done and willing as we are bound before all other things to pay or recompence our debts have of our special grace and for that the said Mayor and Commonalty have for them and their successors remitted and released unto us 7000 l. parcel of the said 12923 l. 9 s. 8 d. granted and by these presents do grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and their successors in full satisfaction and contentation of the said sum of 7000 l. to them by us due the Offices or Occupations of packing all Grant of the Office of Packing to the City manner of Wollen-Cloaths Sheep-skins Calves-skins Goat-skins Vessels of Amber and of all other Merchandizes whatsoever to be packed tunned piped barrelled or any wise to be included with the oversight of opening all manner of Customable Merchandizes arriving at the Port of Safety as well by Land as by Water within the Liberties and Franchises of the said City and Suburbs of the same as well of the goods of Denizens as of Aliens wheresoever they shall be accustomed And also the Office of packing all Woollen-cloaths Sheep-skins Lamb-skins Goat-skins and Calves-skins with kipping and poundring of the same and all Ambervessels and of all other Merchandizes to be packed picked and poundered in London or the Suburbs of the sume or to be carried by Land or to be Customed as well concerning the goods of Merchants Denizens as of Aliens and also of the The Office of Portage Office of Carriage and Portage of all Woolls Sheep-skins Tynn-bails and other Merchandizes whatsoever which shall be carried in London from the Water of Thames unto the houses of strangers and contrariwise from the said houses to the same Water or of other Merchandizes which ought to be carried being in any house for a time And also the Office on Occupation of Garbling of all manner of Office of Garbling Spices and other Merchandizes coming to the said City at any time which ought Gawging to be Garbled And the Office of Gawger within the said City And also the Office of Wine-drawers to provide for the carrying Wine drawer of Wines brought to the Port of the said City and laid on Land wheresoever it be and elsewhere to be carried to have the Occupations and Offices aforesaid and every of them and the Dispositions Ordinances Oversights and Corrections of the same Together with all fees profits and emoluments to the same Offices or occupations and other the premises and every of them due used and accustomed to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the same City and to their successors for ever And â—o be exercised by them or their Depuries also the exercising of the same Offices by themselves or by their sufficient deputies without any account or any other thing to us or our heirs therefore to be given or made in full satisfaction and contentation of the said sum of 7000 l. And further whereas our most dear Cozen Anthony The Coroners place of London pretended to belong to the chief Butler of England Earl Rivers hath of our grant by our Letters Patents the Office of our chief Butler of England under a certain form in the said Letters Patents specified by reason of which Office the Earl hath granted and pretendeth to grant the Office of Coroner within the said City and suburbs of the same We likewise in satisfaction and contentation of the said sum of 7000 l. Grant of the Coroners place to the City to the said Mayor and Commonalty as is aforesaid due Have of our special grace granted to the same Mayor and Commonalty and their successors may lawfully and safely grant the said Office of Coroner to any person who shall please the said Mayor and Commonalty and their successors and may make a Coroner there whom shall please them immediately and as soon as the said Office of chief Butler of England of the Office of Coroner aforesaid shall happen to be void or to come to our gife by the surrender of the said Earl or by any other Cause whatsoever And we will by these presents that the same Office of The Offices of Chief Butler and Coroner severed Coroner be from henceforth severally and distinctly and altogether separated from the Coroner so made by the said Mayor and Commonalty or their successors may have full power and Authority to exercise and do all and singular things which to the Office of Coroner within the said City and the suburbs of the same do pertain to be exercised and done so that none other ouâ— Coroner nor of our heirs or successors shall by any means intermeddle within the said City or the suburbs of
Circuits of Except Inquisitions in Eyre in the Tower of London the Tower of London and for the Gaol-delivery at Newgate In Witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness my self at Westminster the 16th day of June in the 10th year of our Reign Moreover we have seen other Letters Henry 8. Char. 2. Patents of the same Lord Henry late King of England our progenitor made in these words Henry the 8th by the grace of God King of England and France Deâ—ender of the Faith and Lord of Ireland â—o all to whom these present Letters shall â—ome greeting whereas we by our Letters Patents the date whereof is the 18th â—ay of June in the 13th year of our Reign â—ave of our special grace and from our certain knowledg and meer motion given and granted for us and our heirs forasmuch as in us then was to Sir William Sidney Knight the Office of Keeper of â—he great beam and common ballance or weight within our City of London for â—eighing of all Merchandizes of Avoir â—u pois and also all weights whatsoever within the same City which Office one William Stafford deceased lately exercised and occupied by what name soever the â—â—me Office was named or known And have ordained made and constituted the said Sir William Sidney keeper of the great beam ballance and weight and of all other weights whatsoever and also of the weights of all spices wares commodities Merchandizes and things in the City aforesaid there to be weighed and accustomed and used to be bought and sold by weight And have granted also by our said Letters Patents to the said Sir William Authority and power to make name and assign from time to time all manner of Clerks Porters Servants and Ministen of the great Beam and Ballance and of the Iron Beam and of the Beam of the Stillyard and of the weights aforesaid and also all other Clerks Porters Servants and Ministers to the same Office belonging and also to remove the same or any of them and other or others to make put and constitute in his or their place as often as to him shall seem expedient To have occupy and exercise the Office and Officeâ— aforesaid together with the Authority aforesaid to the said Sir William Sidney by himself or by his deputy or deputies during our pleasure to his proper use and behoof with all and singular commodities houses advantages profits fees and emoluments to the said Office in our time or in the times of any our progenitors Kings of England due and accustomed pertaining or belonging in as ample manner and form as any person having or occupying such Office before this time had received or enjoyed the same And have given and granted the same commodities houses advantages profits fees and emoluments and all and singular the premises for the exercise and occupation of the Office aforesaid in manner and form aforesaid to the said Sir William during our pleasure to the use and behoof of the said Sir William without account or any other thing to us or our heirs in this behalf for the premises to be made given or paid Although express mention be not made of the true yearly value or of any certainty of the premises or any grant or grants by us or any of our progenitors to the said Will. before this time made contained in the said Letters Patents above specified or any Statute Act Ordinance Restraint or Provision before this time made or provided to the contrary or any other thing cause or matter whatsoever in any thing notwithstanding as by the same our Letters Patents fully appeareth Which our pleasure in that behalf we will by these Sir William Sidney's Patent cancelled shall be determined And which Letters Patents the same William Sidney hath surrendred into our Chancery to be cancelled to the intent we would vouchsafe to grant our Letters Patents to the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of our City of London And because now of late we understand of the grievous complaint of our welbeloved the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of our said City of London that the said Lord Edward sometime King of England the 2d our progenitor by his charter dated the 18th day of June in the 12th year of his Reign amongst other things granted to the then Citizens of our said City predecessors to the now Mayor Commonalty and Citizens aforesaid that the weights and Beams for the weighing of Merchandizes between Merchants and Merchants of which the profits growing and knowledg of the same pertain to the Commonalty of the said City should remain to be kept at the will of the Commonalty in the custody of two sufficient men of the same City expert in that Office to be thereunto chosen by the Commonalty of the same City And that they should in no wise be committed to any others than to such as should be so chosen as by the same his Letters Patents which we have seen more fully appeareth And because also the Lord Henry sometimes King of England the fourth our progenitor by his Letters Patents dated the 25th day of May in the first year of his Reign of his favourable Grace amongst other things Tronage granted to the City by H. 4. granted to the said Citizens of the said City Tronage that is to say the weighing of Lead Wax Pepper Alloâ— Madder and all other such wares within the said City for ever Which Letters Patents we of our special grace by our charter dated the 12th day of July in the first year of our Reign ratified and confirmed to the same then Citizens and to their successors as by the same our Letters Patents more fully appeareth By which Letters Patents and by the continual keeping of the Office of Beam Ballance Weights and of other the premises time out of mind by the said Citizens and their predecessors and by the exercise and occupation of the same within the said City without any Keeping the Beams Weights pertain to the City by prescription challenging It is manifest and without any difficulty evident and apparent unto us that the said Office of the great Beam and common Ballance ordained for weighing between Merchants and Merchants and the Office of keeping of the great Ballance or weight within our City of London for the weighing of all Merchandizes of Avoir du pois and also of all weights whatsoever within the said City and also of all Spices Wares Merchandizes and things in the City aforesaid there to be weighed and also the Authority and power to make name and assign all and all manner of Clerks Porters Servants and Ministers of the said great Beam and Ballance and of the Iron Beam and of the Beam of the Stillyard and also all other Clerks Porters Servants and Ministers to the said Office pertaining and the Issues and revenues thereof coming and all and singular the premises pertaining and of antient right belonging to the Mayor Commonalty and
Commons Woods Under-woods Rents Services Reversions Court-Leets Views of Franck-pledge Chattels waved Strays free Warrens and all and singular the said premises with the Appurtenances except before excepted to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London and to their Successors for ever To be holden of us and our Heirs and Successors as of our Mannour of East-Greenwick in our County of Kent by fealty only in Fee-Soccage and not in Chief for all services and demands whatsoever We give also and for the consideration aforesaid do by these Presents grant to the said A Grant of all the Rents c. of the Premises from Michael was without accompt Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London all the Issues Rents Revenues and profits of the said Mannour Messuages Lands Tenements and all other the premises with their Appurtenances coming and growing from the Feast of S. Michael the Archangel last past hitherto to have the same to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of our gift without accompt or any other thing to us our Heirs or Successors by any means therefore to be given paid or made And furthermore of our ample Grace we will and for us our Heirs and Successors do by these Presents grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and to their Successors that we our Heirs and Successors will yearly for ever discharge acquit and save harmless as well the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors as the said Mannours Messuages Lands Tenements and all other the premises with their Appurtenances and every part thereof against us our Heirs and Successors and against whatsoever The King to save the City harmless against Corodies c. persons concerning all and all manner of Corodies Rents Fees Annuities sums of Money and charges whatsoever by any means giving out or to be paid out of the premises or to be charged thereupon Saving the services hereby reserved Saving the services above by these presents reserved and the demises and grants by any means made for terms of life or years of the premises or any parcel whereupon the old Rent and more is reserved and shall be due yearly during the terms aforesaid and besides the Covenants in those Demises and And the yearly Fee-farm Grants being And saving 10 l. by the year of the Antient Farm for the Town of Southwark aforesaid by the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens due in our Exchequer yearly to be paid and payable willing and by these presents by streight Injunction commanding as well our Chancellor and General Overseers and Councel of our said Court of Augmentations and Revenues of our Crown and all Receivers Auditors and others our Officers of ours or of our Heirs whatsoever for the time being That they and every of them upon the only shewing of these our Letters Patents or of the Inrolments of the same without any other Writ or Warrant from Us or our Heirs by any means to be obtained and prosecuted shall make and cause to be made unto the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London and their Successors full power and due allowance and manifest discharge of all such Corodies Rents Fees Annuities and sums of Money whatsoever going out or to be paid out of the premises or thereupon charged or to be charged except before excepted And these our Letters Patents and the Inrolment of the same shall be yearly and from time to time a sufficient Warrant and discharge as well to the said Chancellour and General Overseers and to our Councel of our said Court of Augmentations and Revenues of our Crown as to all Receivers Auditors and other Officers and Ministers of ours our Heirs and Successors whatsoever for the time being in this behalf We will also and by these presents do grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London that they may and shall have these our Letters Patents in due manner made and sealed under our Great Seal of England without fine or Fee great or small to Us in our Hamper or elsewhere to our use to be by any means given paid or made although express mention be not in these presents made of the true yearly value or of the certainty of the premises or of other gifts or grants of Us or by any our Progenitors to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens before this time made any Statute Act or Ordinance provision or restraint thereof made ordained or provided to the contrary or any thing cause or matter whatsoever in any thing notwithstanding In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents witness my self at Westminster the 23. day of April in the fourth year of our Reign We have also seen the Letters Patents of our most dear Father Lord James late King of England c. made in these words James by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. To all to whom our present Letters Patents shall come greeting Whereas our beloved the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of our City of London time out of mind have had exercised and ought and have accustomed themselves to have and exercise the Office Conservation of the Thames of Bailiff and conservation of the water of Thames to be exercised and occupied by the Mayor of the same City for the time being during the time of his Mayoralty or by his sufficient Deputies in upon and about the water of Thames that is to say from the Bridge of the Town of Staynes in the County of Middlesex and toward the Extent of the Mayors Jurisdiction on the Thames â—ast unto London-Bridge and from thence â— a certain place called Kendall otherwise â—nland otherwise Yeenleet towards the Sea and East and in Medway and in the Port of Medway â—e City of London aforesaid and upon whatsoever Bank and upon every Shore â—d upon every Wharf of the same water â— Thames within the limits and bounds aâ—resaid and in upon and about all and â—ery of them And also for all the time Fees and profits â—resaid have had and taken and ought â—d have accustomed to have and take to â—eir own proper use by the Mayor of the â—e City for the time being during the time of his Mayoralty or his sufficient Deputies all wages rewards fees and profits belonging to the same Office of Bailiff And whereas the said Mayor and Commonalty The Mayor c. to have the Office of measuring Coals and grain and Citizens from all the time aforesaid have had and exercised the Office of measurer and measuring of all Coals and grain of whatsoever kind And also of all kind of Salt and all kind of Apples Pears Plums and other Fruit whatsoever and also all kind of roots eatable of what kind Salt Apples c. soever and of Onyons and of
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
of the said City before these times had and used by which Grievance the Merchants of the said City are greatly impoverished and the Navy impaired and the Privities of the Land by the said strangers discovered to our enemies by Spies and other strangers into these houses received May it therefore please your The prayer of the Petition Majestyand Council to ordain in this Parliament that the Merchants strangers may be restrained in the points aforesaid and the Mayor Aldermen and Commons in the said City may enjoy the said Franchises We for the special affection we bear to the said Citizens willing to provide for the tranquillity and profit of the said Citizens in that behalf with the Assents of our Prelates Nobles c. Have granted for us The King 's Grant to the City in Parliament and our Heirs to the said Mayor and Aldermen and Citizens of the said City and their successors upon condition that they put the said City under good government to our honour and profit of our Realm of England and right govern the same That no strangers from henceforth shall sell any wares in the same City or Suburbs thereof Strangers to keep no house in London nor be Broker by retail nor shall keep any house â—oâ— be any Broker in the said City or the Suburbs thereof any Statute or Ordinance made to the contrary notwithstanding saving always to the Merchants of High Almaine their Liberties to us and our progenitors to them granted and confirmed In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness my self at Westminster the fourth day of December in the 50th Year of our Reign of England and of our Kingdom of France the 37th WE have seen the Charter of our Lord Henry 4. Henry the fourth late King bearing date the 25th day of May in the first year of his Reign made to the Citizens aforesaid in which Charter is contained amongst other things as followeth And moreover of our ample grace we have granted to us and our heirs as much as in us is to the same Citizens their heirs and successors as aforesaid that they shall have the custody Citizens to have the keeping of the Gates of Newgate Ludgate Gathering Tolls as well of the Gates of Newgate and Ludgate as all other the Gates and Posterns of the same City and also the Office of gathering of the Tolls and Customs in Cheap and Billing sgate and Smithfield there rightfully to be taken and accustomed and also the Tronage that is to say Tronage the weighing of Lead Wax Pepper Allom Madder and other like wares within the said City for ever As by the said Charters amongst other things more plainly may appear WE have seen the Charter of Lord Edw. 4. Char. 1. Edward the 4th late King of England in these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To all Archbishops c. greeting Although as we understand such things alltogether as ought to be holden and determined by Conservators of the peace and Justices assigned for hearing and determining divers Felonies trespasses and misdemeanors in all the Counties of our Realm of England by the Kings Authority by vertue of the Ordinances and Statutes of our Realm aforesaid made for the good of the peace and rule of our people have alwaies time out of mind been used and well affirmed and yet be in our City of London Nevertheless to the end that from henceforth one good certain and undoubted manner may be continually had in our said City for the conservation of the peace and governing our people of the same And that the same may alwaies be and remain a City of peace and quietness We will of our meer motion and by tenor of these presents do grant for us as much as in us is to to the Mayor and Commonalty of the City aforesaid and to the Citizens of the same and to their successors for ever that they may have and hold all and singular their Mayor and Citizens to enjoy their Customs liberties and free Customs as whole and sound as ever they had and held them in all time of our Progenitors And further we grant for us and our heirs aforesaid to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and to their successors the liberties and Authorities acquittals and franchises under-written that is to say That from henceforth the Mayor and Recorder of the said City who now be and their successors The Mayor Recorder such Aldermen as have been Mayors shal be Justices of the Peace and the Mayors and Recorders which for the time shall be as well those Aldermen which before this time have been Mayors of the same City as other Aldermen who shall hereafter sustain the charge of Mayoralty and shall be thereof dismissed as long as they shall there remain Aldermen for ever shall be conservators of the present peace of our City and the peace of our successors of the said City and liberties thereof as well by Land as by Water And To put all Ordinances for the preservation of the Peace in execution to keep or cause to be kept all Ordinances and Statutes made and to be made for the good of our peace and for the quietness rule and government of our people in all their Articles as well within the City aforesaid as the liberty and Suburbs of the same as well by Land as by Water according to all the force form and effect of the same And to chastise and punish whom they shall find offending contrary to the form and effect of the said Ordinances and Statutes as according to the form of the Ordinances and Statutes aforesaid should be done We will also and grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and The Mayor Aldermen Recorder to be Justices of Oyer and Terminer their successors that the now Mayor and his successors aforesaid and the Recorder of the said City which for the time shall be and such Aldermen as aforesaid or four of the same Mayor Recorder and Aldermen of whom we will that such Mayor for the time being and his successors to Mayor to be of the Quorum be one be Justices and have so assigned them Justices for us and our successors forever To enquire hear and determine as often and at such times as to them shall seem meet of all manner of Felonies Trespasses Forestalling and Regratings Extortions and other Misdemeanours within the said City or the Liberties or Suburbs thereof as well by Land as by Water by whomsoever or after what manner soever done or committed and which from henceforth shall happen to be done And also to hear and determine and execute all and singular other things which shall pertain to our Justices of the Peace within our Realm of England So alwaies that the said Mayor and Citizens and their Successors may have and hold all and singular
the same although express mention of the true yearly value or certainty of the premises or any of them or of any other gift or grants by us or our progenitors to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens or to their predecessors before this time by any means made be not in these presents made or any statute Act Ordinance or provision thereof made published or ordained to the contrary or any other thing whatsoever notwithstanding In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness my self at Westminster the 20th day of June in the 18th year of our Reign And whereas in and by certain Letters Henry 7. Patents of Lord Henry late King of England the 7th our progenitor made under the great seal of England bearing date the 23d day of July in the 20 year of his Reign amongst other things it is recited that of all time of which the memory of man is not to the contrary for the Common weal of the Realm and City aforesaid it hath been used and by Authority of Parliament approved and confirmed that no stranger from the liberty of the City may Merchanchandize foreign bought and sold forfeit to the City buy or sell from any stranger from the liberties of the same City any merchandize or wares within the liberties of the same City upon forfeiture of the same The said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens and their predecessors by all the time aforesaid have had and received and have been accustomed to receive perceive and have to the use of the same Mayor Commonalty and Citizens all and all manner of Merchandizes and wares bought and sold within the liberties of the same City as aforesaid and forfeitures of the same Merchandizes and wares until of late past time they were troubled or molested The same Lord Henry the 7th by his Letters Patents as aforesaid for pacifying and taking away from henceforth controversies and ambiguities in that behalf and to fortify and by express words to explain and declare the liberty and custom aforesaid to them the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their heirs and successors and willing the said liberties to be peaceably and quietly had possessed and enjoyed to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their successors with the forfeitures aforesaid against the said late Lord K. Henry his heirs and successors granted and by his said Charter confirmed to the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their successors that no stranger from the liberties of the same City may buy or sell from any other stranger to the liberty of the same City any Merchandizes or wares within the liberties of the same City And if any stranger to the liberty of the same City shall sell or buy any merchandizes or wares within the liberty of the same City of any other stranger to the liberty of the same City that the same Mayor Commonalty and Citizens and their successors may have hold and receive all and all manner of such like Merchandizes and wares so bought and to be bought sold or to be sold within the liberty of the said City between whatsoever strangers to the liberty of the same City as forfeited and all the forfeitures of the same and also penalties fines and redemptions whatsoever any waies forfeited lost or to be lost or to be forfeited or due thereon to the use and profit of the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their heirs and successors without hindrance of the same late King his heirs or successors and without any account or any other thing to be rendred or paid thereof to the said late King his heirs and successors any statute Act or ordinance of us or our progenitors made to the contrary notwithstanding although the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City or their predecessors have before that time used abused or not used those Customs and liberties saving alwaies that the great men Lords and Nobles and Strangers may buy things in the gross for their own use but not to sell again other English and strangers of what condition soever they shall be may freely whatsoever Merchandizes in gross for their families and proper uses within the liberties of the said City without any forfeiture loss or hindrance whatsoever so that they do not sell again the said Merchandizes to any other and further the same late King of his more ample grace by his said Letters Patents amongst other things did give and grant to the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the same City of London and their successors the Office of The Office of Gawger Gawger within the said City and the deposing Ordering Surveying and Correction of the same To have hold exercise and occupy the said Office and other premises with all fees profits and emoluments to the same Office in any manner belonging or appertaining to the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens by themselves or by their sufficient deputy or deputies from the 22d day of August in the first year of his Reign for ever without any account to be made thereof or any other thing rendring and paying â—o the said Lord Henry 7th his heirs of sucessors as by the said Letters Patents more plainly may appear WE have also seen the Letters Patents Henry 8. Char. 1. â—f Lord Henry the 8th late King of England our progenitor made in these words Henry by the grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas Edward the 3d. sometimes King of England our progenitor by his Letters Patents amongst other things hath granted to the Citizens of the City of London that all Inquisitions from hence to be taken by the Justices and other the Ministers of the men of the said City should be taken at great Saint Martins in London and not elsewhere except inquisitions to be taken in Circuits in the Tower of London and for the Goal-delivery of Newgate Know ye that we for some urgent causes reasonable as moving at the petition of the Mayor and Commonalty aforesaid and of the Citizens of the same City have of our special grace and from our certain knowledg and meer motion granted And by these presents do for us and our heirs as much as in us is grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and unto their successors and unto the same Citizens of the same City that all inquisitions by the Justices or other our Ministers or of our heirs to be from henceforth of the Inquisitions formerly taken in S. Martins to be in London men of our City aforesaid shall be taken at the Guild-Hall within the City aforesaid or at any other place within the same City where it shall from time to time be thought to our Justices for the time being before whom those Inquisitions ought hereafter to be taken most expedient and most convenient and not elsewhere except inquisitions to be taken at the
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
Frankpledg together with all Summons Attachments Arrests Issues Amerciaments Fines Redemptions Profits Commodities and other things whatsoever which there may or ought therefore pertain to us our heirs or successors And furthermore the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their successors may by themselves or by their Minister or deputy in the said Town appointed take and arrest all manner To carry to Newgate Thieves taken in Southwark of Felons Thieves and other Malefactors found within the said Town and may lead them to our goal of Newgate safely to be kept until they shall be by process of Law delivered And further the said Mayor A Grant of what Liberties the King had or should have in Southwark and Commonalty and Citizens their successors may for ever have in the Town aforesaid all manner of liberties Priviledges Franchises Acquittals Customs and Rights which we should or might there have if the said Town were and remain'd in our hands without any thing to be by any means given or paid to us or our heirs beside only ten pounds for the antient farm therefore due and without Impeachment Let molestation or disturbance of us or our heirs or successors Justices Escheators Sheriffs Officers or Ministers of ours or of our heirs or successors whatsoever The The right of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury excepted rights liberties and Franchises of right belonging to the most Reverend Father and Lord in Christ Lord Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury and of other persons there always saved although express mention be not here made of the true yearly value of the premises or of any other gifts or grants to the Mayor or Aldermen Sheriffs and Citizens or to their Successors or any of them made according to the form of the statute there of had made and provided or any other statute Ordinance Act thing cause or matter whatsoever not withstanding These being witness The Reverend Father Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury William Archbishop of York George of Exon Chancellor and William Bishop of Ely and our dear Brother George of Clarence and Richard of Glocester Dukes and others Given by our hand at Westminster the 9th day of November in the 2d year of our Reign WE have also seen certain other Letters Edw. 4. Char. 2. Patents of the same Lord Edward laâ—e King of England the 4th made in these words Edward by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To all to whom these present Letters shall come greeting Know ye that for certain and notable causes us specially moving of our special grace and certain knowledg we have granted to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of our said City Tonnage granted to the City of London That the Tonnage and weigning and measuring laying up placing and housing of whatsoever woolls by whomsoever from whatsoever parts brought or to be be brought to the City aforesaid or which have before time been accustomed to be Weighing pf Woolls to be at Leaden-Hall and in no other place within 3 miles brought to the staple of Westminster shall from hence be and be made in the place called Leaden-Hall within our City aforesaid and in no other place within three miles of the said City To have the laying up placing and housing aforesaid together with all sees profits and emoluments to the same laying up placing and housing or any of them due used or accustomed to the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the same City and their successors for ever without any account to be made or any other thing therefoe to us to be paid although express mention be not in these presents made of the clear yearly value or certainty of the premises or of any other gifts or grants by us or our progenitors to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their successors by any means made or any other statute Act ordinance or any other thing whatsoever made to the contrary notwithstanding In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness our self at Westminster the 27th day of August in the third year of our Reign Edw. Char. 3. Moreover we have seen certain other Letters Patents of the aforesaid Lord Edward late King of England the 4th made in these words Edward by the grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all to whom these present Letters shall come greeting Know ye that whereas the sum of twelve thousand nine hundred twenty three pounds nine shillings eight pence is by us amongst other things due to our beloved and Faithful Subjects the Mayor Commonalty Citizens of our City of London as in the receipt of our Exchequer more plainly appeareth of which sum the said Mayor Commonalty are willing to remit and release unto us 1923 l. 9 s. and 8. p. To the intent we should vouchsafe to grant them license that they and their successors might purchase Lands Rents and Services and other possessions whatsoever to the value of 200 marks by the year over all charges and reprizes although they should be holden of us of others by any manner of service of whatsoever person or persons willing to give bequeath or assign the same to them to have and to hold to the same Mayor and Commonalty and their successors aforesaid for ever in form following We inwardly pondering not only the premises but also the manifold pleasures to us by the Mayor and Commonalty of the said City before this time acceptably done and willing as we are bound before all other things wholly to pay and recompence our debts have of our special grace and for that the Licence to purchase 200 Marks per annum in Mortmaine Licence to any to grant to the City 200 Marks per annum in Mortmaine said Mayor and Commonalty for them and their successors have remitted and altogether released unto us the said sum of 1923 l. 9 s. 8 d. granted and given licence and by these presents do grant and give licence for us and our heirs as much as in us is to the said Mayor and Commonalty that they and their successors may purchase Lands Revenues Rents Services and other possessions whatsoever to the value of 200 marks by the year over all charges and reprizes of any person or persons willing to give grant bequeath or assign the same unto them although they be holden of us or others by any manner of service in full satisfaction and contentation of the said sum of 1923 l. 9 s. 8 p. to them by us due without any fine or fee to be paid to the use of us or our heirs to have and to hold to the same Mayor and Commonalty and their successors for ever and we have by tenor of these presents given special licence to the same person and persons that he or she may give grant bequeath or assign Lands Tenements Rents Possessions and services to the yearly value aforesaid over and
Citizens we will in no wise be wronged And to the end that from henceforth all Ambiguity in such case might be taken away And that the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their successors may not in time to come be impeached impleaded or grieved by us or our heirs or successors or any of our Justices or Ministers of or for the premises or any of them we will and grant to the now Mayor Commonalty and Citizens and to their successors that the weights and Beams for weighing of Merchandizes Weights Beams to be in the hands of persons chosen by the Commonalty between Merchant and Merchant whereof the profits growing and the knowledg of them to pertain to the Commonalty of the City aforesaid shall remain at the will of the Commonalty of the same City to be kept in the custody of good sufficient men of the same City expert in that Office and to be thereunto chosen by the Commonalty aforesaid and that to others then so to be chosen iâ— no wise they be committed And that they shall have Tronage that is to say Tronage the weighing of Wax Lead Pepper Allom Madder and all other such like wares within the said City for ever Willing also to do the said Mayor and Commonalty a more ample pleasure in this behalf we have of our favourable grace and from our certain knowledg and meer motion given and granted and by these presents do give and grant to the same Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London the aforesaid Office of keeper of the great Beam and common Great Beam commoâ— Ballance Ballance ordained for weighing between Merchant and Merchants and also the Office of the great Beam and weights within the said City for weighing of Merchandizes of Avoir du pois and also of all weights whatsoever within our said City and of all Spices Wares Merchandizes and things in our said City there to be weighed by whatsoever name the said Office is named or known And do by these presents make ordain and constitue the same Mayor Commonalty and Citizens and their successors keepers of the great Beam Ballance and Weights aforesaid and other Weights whatsoever The Mayor Commonalty and Citizens ordained Keepers of the Beams Weights and also the weighing of all Spices Wares Merchandizes and things in the City aforesaid there to be weighed and accustomed to be bought and sold by weight within our said City And also we do give and grant to the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of our City aforesaid Authority and Power to make name and assign from time to time all and all manner of Clerks Porters Servants and Ministers of the Great Beam and Ballance and of the To assign Clerks of the several Beams Iron Beam and of the Beam of the Still-Yard and Weights aforesaid and also all other Clerks Servants and Ministers to the same Office pertaining and also to remove them or any of them and to make constitute and place other in his or their place as often as to them shall seem expedient To have occupy and exercise the Office aforesaid together with the Authority and Power aforesaid to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors by themselves their Deputy or Deputies for ever to their own proper use and behoof together with all and singular Commodities Houses Advantages Profits Wages Fees and Emoluments in our time or in the times of any of our Progenitors Kings of England due and accustomed pertaining or belonging to the same Office in as ample manner and form as the same Citizens and their Predecessors or any other person or persons having or occupying the same Office before this time had and received or enjoyed the same And also we give and grant by these presents to the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens and to their Successors the Commodities Houses Advantages Profits Fees and Emoluments and all and singular the Premises for the exercise and occupation of the said Office to the proper use and behoof of the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors without Account or any other thing to us or our Heirs to be delivered made given or paid in this behalf for the Premises or any of them in these Letters Patens specified and contained Although express mention be not in these presents made of the true value or certainty of the Premises or of their Gifts or Grants by us to the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the said City before this time made or any Statute Act Ordinance Provision or Restraint thereof made ordained or provided to the contrary or any other thing cause or matter whatsoever in any wise notwithstanding In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness my self at Wâ—stminster the 13th day of April in the 22th year of our Reign WE have seen also the Letters Patents Edw. 6. of Lord Edward late King â—f England the 6th our progenitor made in these words Edward the 6th by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland Desender of the Faith and and in Earth Supream Head of the Church of England and Ireland To all to whom these present Letters shall come greeting Know ye that for the summe of 647 l. 2 s. and 1 d. of Lawful The consideration of the Charter mony of England paid to the hands of the Treasurer of our Court of Augmentation and Revenues of our Crown to our use by our welbeloved the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London whereof we acknowledg us to be fully satisfied and paid and the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their successors to be thereof acquitted and discharged by these presents and for other causes and considerations us thereunto especially moving have of our special grace and from our certain knowledge and meer motion and also with the advice of our Council given and granted and by these presents do give and grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens Grant of several Messuages in Southwark To the Mayor c. of the City of London all that our messuage or tenement with the appurtenances now or late in the tenure of Simon Sebatson scituate and being next our Mansion late Charles late Duke of Suffolk in Southwark in the County of Surrey and all that our messuage or tenement with the appurtenances next the broad gate of the same our mansion in Southwark aforesaid And all that our close of ground called Moulters close containing by estimation fifteen acres lying in Newington in our said County of Surrey and all that our close of ground containing by estimation 2 Acres now or late in the tenure of John Parrow lying and being in Saint Georges dunghil in the Parish of Saint George in Southwark aforesaid and also all that one close of ground late in the tenure of John Billington lying in Lambeth-marsh in the parish of Lambeth in the said County of Surrey
To have the said office without accompt hold and enjoy the said Office and all and singular the premises with all and singular wages rewards fees profits and appurtenances whatsoever to the said Offices and every or any of them belonging or appertaining to the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors for ever by the Mayor of the aforesaid City for the time being during the time of his Mayoralty or his sufficient Deputies to be exercised and executed without any account or any other thing to be rendred or made thereof to us our Heirs No other Water Bailiff Conservator or measurer may meddle or Successors So as no other Bailiff or Conservator of the aforesaid water or measurer of Coals Grain Salt Apples Plumbs Roots to be eaten Onyons or other Merchandizes or Commodities or of any thing or things above-mentioned shall be or shall in any ways intermeddle in the premises or any of them And we willing to shew to our said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens more ample favour of our especial grace and from our certain knowledge and meer motion for Us our Grant of the said Offices notwithstanding any non-user or abuser of the same Heirs and Successors grant and by this our present Charter confirm unto the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors hitherto in some case happening have not used or peradventure have abused the offices aforesaid or any or some of the offices or the measurage aforesaid or any thing or things to any or some of them appertaining or belonging Notwithstanding they the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors from henceforth freely and peaceably shall use and enjoy the said offices so not without hinderance used or abused and every of them without the let or impediment of us our Heirs or Successors or of our Justices Escheators Sheriffs or other Bailiffs Officers or Ministers of us our Heirs or Successors any Statute or Ordinance made or Judgment rendered or any Charters of us our Progenitors or Predecessors in times past made or granted notwithstanding Although there be no express mention in these presents of the true yearly value or certainty of the premises or of any of them or of other gifts or grants by us or by any of our Progenitors or Predecessors to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London aforesaid before these times made or any Statute Act Ordinance Provision Proclamation or Restraint to the contrary thereof theretofore had made published ordained or provided or any other thing cause or matter whatsoever notwithstanding In witness whereof these our Letters we have caused to be made Patents Witness my self at Westminster the 20th day of August in the third year of our Reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the thirty ninth WEE have seen also certain other Letters King James Charter 2. Patents of our said most dear Father of blessed memory Lord James late King of England made in these words James 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 very many of our Progenitors sometimes Kings of England of their especial Grace and for free laudable multiplied and continued service done and expended in times past by the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Predecessors And also for divers other urgent causes and considerations them thereunto especially moving Have given granted and confirmed to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London and their Successors divers liberties priviledges franchises Immunities authorities jurisdictions ordinances Customs and quittances as by the several Letters Patents of our Progenitors and Predecessors sometimes Kings of England more fully and manifestly is and appeareth WE also for and in consideration of the high fidelity constancy and ready and laudable service by the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of our said City of London to us in the beginning of our Reign and continually ever since maniiested faithfully done and expended We have ratified and allowed and for Us our Heirs and Successors as much as in us is do accept of and approve all and singular the Letters Patents Charters and Confirmations of our most famous Progenitors and Ancestors to the same Mayor and A Confirmation of all former Charters c. to the City Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London and their Predecessors by whatsoever name of incorporation before these times made granted or connrmed and all and singular gifts grants confirmations restitutions customs ordinances explanations and all other things whatsoever in whatsoever Letters Patents or Charters of our Predecessors Progenitors or Ancestors Kings of England and also all and singular things in the said Letters Patents Charters Grants Confirmations or any of them contained recited confirmed or explained and all and singular jurisdictions authorities priviledges quittances aâ—d free customes and hereditaments whatsoever which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London or their Predecessors by the name of Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of The several names of the corporations of London the City of London or by the name of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London or by the name of the Mayor Citizens and Commonalty of the City of London or by the name of the Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London or by the name of the Citizens of the City of London or by the names of the Barons of London or by the names of the Barons of the City of London or by any other name whatsoever by reason or force of any Letters Patents Charters or Confirmations of any of our Progenitors Kings of England which in any time or times they had reasonably used or exercised and them all and singular to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London and their Successors do ratifie and confirm To have and hold enjoy and exercise all and singular the premisses to the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London and their Successors for ever so fully clearly and entirely and in as ample manner and form as if they were or had been severally particularly and by name in these presents expressed and declared And further we will and of our special grace for Us our Heirs and Successors do grant that the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors be restored to all and singular their Authorities Jurisdictions Liberties Franchises Priviledges Acquittances Immunities and free Customes and we do restore the same to them and their Successors by these presents as fully freely and intirely A grant and restitution of all liberties as fully as their Ancestors enjoyed them as they or their Predecessors in any time of our Progenitors or Predecessors Kings of England used or enjoyed or ought to have use and
Victuals against the form of the Ordinances and Statutes or any of them made for the common profit of our Kingdom and people and also to hear and determine all and singular the same felonies and misdeeds according to the Laws and Statutes of our Realm of England And also to hear and determine do and execute all and singular other thing or things which pertain have pertained or in time to come may pertain to Justices of the Peace within the said City of London So always that the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors may have and hold all and singular their antient priviledges free whole and unhurt And that no other Keeper of the peace or Justice or other No other Justices to intermeddle Officers or Ministers of Us our Heirs or Successors whatsoever shall intermeddle in the same or any of them We will also and by these presents for Us our Sheriffs to be attendant on the said Justices Heirs and Successors charge and command the Sheriffs of the said City of London for the time being that from time to time they be assisting aiding attending and devising as it behoveth to the said Mayor Recorder and Aldermen and every or any of them in execution of the premises and according to our true meaning herein expressed And further We do hereby give and grant for Us our Heirs and Successors to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London and their Successors that the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors for the time being may have and enjoy to their own proper use without any account thereof to be rendered to Us out Heirs or Successors all Treasure found or to be found in the said Franchises and places called Black-Fryers White-Fryers Dukes Place Great S. Bartholomews Little S. Bartholomews Treasure found within the Precincts aforesaid granted to the City and Cold Harbour abovesaid and waved goods and Chattels and Estrays goods and Chattels of Felons and Fugitives for whatsoever Felony done or to be done by them within any the said Franchises or places adjudged or to be adjudged before Us our Heirs or Successors or any the Justices aforesaid And that it shall be lawful for the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors by their Deputy or Minister Deputies or Ministers of the said City Liberties or Suburbs of the same to put themselves in seizen and possession of and in all manner of treasure found goods and Chattels waved and estrayed goods and chattels of Felons and Fugitives from time when they shall happen by vertue of these our Letters Patents without any further Warrant whatsoever We wil also by these presents grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London To have these presents under seal without Fine in the Hamper that they shall have these our Letters Patents under our Great Seal of England in due manner made and sealed without fine or fee great or little to be rendred paid or made to Us in our Hamper or otherwise to us in any wise for the same for that express mention is made of the time yearly value or certainty of the Premises or any of them or of any other gifts or grants made by Us or by our Progenitors or Predecessors to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of London before their time or any Statute Ordinance Provision Proclamation or Restriction to the contrary thereof heretofore made or ordained set forth or provided or any other thing cause or matter whatsoever Whereof these our Letters we have caused to be made Patents Witness our self at our Honor of Hampton Court the 20 day of September in the year of our Reign of England France and Ireland the sixth and of Scotland the two and fortieth We have have moreover seen certain other Jac. Char. â— Letters Patents of our said most dear Father of blessed memory Lord James late King of England c. made in these words James by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the Faith c. To all to whom these our present Letters shall come greeting So great is the force of our love towards our City of London our Royal Chamber as whatsoever is in us that we shall see necessary or profitable to the Mayor and London the Kings Royal Chamber Commonalty and Citizens of the same our City that we have been ready freely to give from our soul to the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of our said City and it pleases Us well that all grants made by our Predecessors in times past to our City of London be not only confirmed but also inlarged Therefore whereas amongst other things it appears that amongst other things the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of London from all time whereof the memory of Man is not to the contrary have had and lawfully exercised the Office of The City to have the measuring of all Coals brought to London upon the Thames measuring all Coals of what kind or sort soever in any Port of the same City coming brought or carried upon the Water of Thames in any ship boat barge or other vessel whatsoever floating or being upon what part soever of the said water of Thames or on what Bank Shore or Wharfe soever of the same Water of Thames from the Bridge in the Town of Stains in the County of Middlesex and to the Bridge of London and from thence to a certain place called Yendal or Yenland or Yenleet toward the Sea and East and also in Medway in the Port of the City of London Nevertheless a Question is risen whether the weighing of Coals brought within the limits aforesaid together with the measuring of Coals doth belong to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City We therefore to take away all controversies in this part as well for the present as for the time to come and to remove all doubt and to the intent the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City may use have and enjoy as well the weighing as measuring and each as the Wages Rewards Fees and Profits used for the same of our special Grace have given granted and confirmed and by these presents for Us and our Heirs and Successors do give grant and confirm to our beloved the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of our said City The City weigh all coals of London and to their Successors the weighing of all Coals called Stone-coals Pit-coals Earth-coals and all other Coals weighable of what kind or sort soever in or at the said Port of London coming or brought up the said Water of Thames in any ship boat or barge or other vessel whatsoever floating or being in any port of the same water of Thames and upon whatsoever bank shore or wharfe of the same Water of Thames from the said Bridg of Stayns to the said Bridg of
And whereas divers ill disposed persons more affecting their own private gain and profit than the general and pubâ—ick good and benefit of our said City little weighing the conservation of the said River of â—ate and at the present do daily and usually sell Coals and other things by Retail in less quantity in Boats commonly called Lighters and other vessels floating and being on the water of Thames aforesaid after such Coals have been unladen from the Ships and other vessels Selling coals by Retail in Lighters which first brought them within the limits aforesaid which persons make the same Boats or Lighters as their common Shops and Ware-houses and in them do daily hold upon the said water of Thames a common Market for selling of such Coals and other things having one two three and sometimes more Boats or Lighters lying together and fastened one to the other in the River of Thames aforesaid by which Market on the Thames for selling coals forestalling ingrossing and regrating aforesaid to the great cosinage damage and oppression as well of the poor as the rich daily encreases and augments and the price of Coals and other things is made dearer And for that by the frequent importation unlading and measuring of such Coals and such like things in and from the said Boats or Lighters very many of the same Coals and other dirt often fall and are cast into the River of Thames to the great harm and choaking up the stream of the same River and the said Boats so placed do greatly hinder the stream of the said River and the passage of Passengers upon the water of the same River We therefore thinking it fit that No Markets to be in Lighters such an Evil ought not to be permitted to continue we â—ommand and for Us our Heirs and Successors prohibit all persons whatsoever that they nor any of them from henceforth sell or presume to sell any Coals of what kind soever upon the water of Thames in any Boat Lighter or other vessel whatsoever excepâ— only in such Ships or other vessels which at first brought the same Coals within the Port of the said City and the limits abovesaid unless upon some Port Key or Wharf near the said River upon pain of contempt of our Royal Mandate and incurring such pains and punishments which may be inflicted by the Laws and Statutes of this our Kingdom upon such contemners and neglecters And because it is our intent that the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City aforesaid and their Successors shall fully enjoy the Premises we therefore by these presents declare and signifie and for us our heirs and successors do grant and covenant to and with the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors That they may safely freely and quietly have use and enjoy all and singular the Premises for ever without the hindrance of Us our heirs or successors or any Officers or Ministers of Us our heirs or successors And if any doubt in time to come shall be found in these presents or any default scruple or question concerning the Premises shall happen to arise we our heirs and successors If any defects be in these presents others more effectual to be granted shall vouchsafe to make and grant other Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England of our Heirs or Successors to the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors for the better giving granting and confirming and for the safer enioying of the Premises when it shall be desired by the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors for that the express mention of the true yearly value or of the certainty of the Premises or of other gifts and grants by us or by any of our Ancestors made in times past to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City is not made or being in these presents or any other Statute Act Ordinance Proclamation or Restriction to the contrary heretofore made ordained or published or any other matter or thing whatsoever in any wise notwithstanding In witness whereof we have caused these ouâ— Letters to be made Patents Witness my self at Westminster the 15th of September in the 12th year of our Reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland 48th Know ye now that we deeply considering K. Charles Char. 1. and calling to memory the good and laudable services performed by our beloved and faithful Subjects the said Mayor Good service of the City remembred and accepted and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London which we graciously accept And from our soul affecting the good and happy estate of our said City To encrease and enlarge with the greatest favour and grace we can and to establish with all care and diligence we can the Rule and Government of our said City of our especial grace and from our certain knowledge and meer motion and for divers other good causes and considerations especially moving us at present we do accept and approve of for us and our heirs and Successors as much as in us lies all and singular the Letters Patents Charters and Confirmaiâ—ons Confirmation of all the Letters Patents except as hereafter is excepted aforesaid and all and singular Gifts Grants Confirmations Restitutions Customs Ordinances Explanations Articles and all other things whatsoever in the same Letters Patents or Charters except as are herein after excepted and all and singular Lands Tenements Offices Jurisdictions Authorities Priviledges Liberties Franchises Quittals Immunities Free Customs and Hereditaments whatsoever which he said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens The names of the Corporations of London of the City of London or their Predecessors by the name of Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London or by the name of Mayor and Aldermen Citizens or Commonalty of London or by the name of Mayor or Citizens of the City of London or by the name of Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London or by the name of Citizens of the City of London or by the name of Barons of London or by any other name whatsoever by reason and force of the said Letters Patents Charters or Confirmations or by use or Prescription or any other lawful means at any time or times heretofore they have had ratified and bestowed and all those we ratifie and confirm by these presents to the said Mayor and Commonalty Restitution of all their Liberties except as herein is excepted and Citizens of the said City of London and their Successors We will also and for the considerations aforesaid for us our heirs and successors do grant that the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors be fully and wholly restored to all and singular their Authorities Jurisdictions Liberties Franchises Priviledges Quittals and Free Customs whatsoever abovesaid except such as are herein after excepted and all and singular the
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
soever at present they be called or known or hereafter shall happen to be called or known and although the same sort of wares Merchandizes and things heretofore were not accustomed to be weighed but in time to come shall happen to be weighed or bought and sold by weight And we do for us our heirs and successors by these presents ordain make and constitute the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors Keepers of the great Standard Ballance and Weight and all Weights whatsoever and also Weigher of all sorts of wares commodities Merchandizes and things to be weighed and which have been accustomed and used to be bought and sold by weight within our said City To have and exercise the said Office and Occupation aforesaid by them their Deputies Officers or Ministers together with the fees profits wages rewards With the Fees and Profits and emoluments of right belonging or appertaining to the same Office without any account or any other thing to be made rendred or paid for any of the last mentioned premises in this behalf to us our Heirs or Successors And also of our more ample grace and meer motion we will and by these presents for us our heirs and successors do grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens that it may and shall be lawful to the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors and their Deputies Officers and Ministers to ask demand take and receive to the use of the same Mayor Commonalty and Citizens for the weighing of all Merchandizes of Avoir du pois aforesaid and all sort of commodities wares and things to be weighed the fees and rewards of weighing the same sort of commodities Merchandizes and things to be weighed for which no fee or reward was heretofore lawfully had or received which how great and what like they shall be for weighing from henceforth shall be appointed and allowed by the Lords Chancellors and Treasurers of England President of the Council of us our heirs and successors Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Lord Steward of the house of us our heirs and successors the two Chief Justices of the King's Bench and Common Bench for the time being or by four of them at least and by them subscribed without account or other thing to be rendred or made to us our heirs and successors And also we will for us our heirs and successors do erect and create in and through the said City and Liberties thereof and in and through our Borough or Town of Southwark in our County of Surrey a certain Office called Outroper or Common Cryer to and for the selling of Houshold-stuff Apparel The Office of Outroper or Common Cryer granted to the Mayor c. Leases of Houses Jewels Goods Chattels and other things of all persons who shall be willing that the said Officers shall make sale of the same things by publick and open claim commonly called Out-cry and sale in some common and open place or places in the said City and the Liberties of the same and for the Borough and Town of Southwark aforesaid And the same Office for the consideration aforesaid we for us our heirs and successors do give and grant to the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of London and their Successors for ever To have and exercise the same Office by them or their Deputy Officer or Minister Officers Deputies or Ministers being first allowed or admitted To be exercised by them or their Deputies chosen in common Council thereto by the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City for the time being in Common Council of the same City assembled or by the major part of them And that it shall and may be lawful to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors and their Deputy or Deputies Officers or Ministers to demand take and keep for the use of the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens aforesaid the Wares and Fees expressed in a certain Schedule To take the Fees expressed in a Schedule annexed hereunto annexed And we will and for us our heirs and successors do strictly appoint command and charge all other persons that neither they nor any of them presume to sell any goods chattels houshold-stuff apparel jewels and other things Others not sell by out-cry in publick claim called Outcry in the City aforesaid or the Liberties of the same or in the Borough and Town of Southwark under pain of our Royal displeasure And also for the consideration aforesaid We for Us our Heirs and Successors do grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors And by these presents do declare â—â—eemens Widows to use Husbands Trades that the Relicts and Widows of Freemen of the said City using manual Arts and Occupations so long as they shall continue Widows and remain in the same City from time to time and at all times hereafter may and be licensed to use and execute and exercise the same Arts and manual Occupations in the said City although they were not educated by the space of seven years as apprentices notwithstanding the statute made and published in Parliament of Lady Elizabeth late Queen of England in the 5th year of her Reign or any other statute or ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding And further for the considerations aforesaid we by these presents for Us our Heirs and successors do grant and confirm to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors That no Market shall henceforth be granted erected or permitted That no Market be kept within seven miles of the City by Us our Heirs or Successors within 7 miles in Compass of the said City And because we understand that it has been of an antient Custom of the same City had and allowed in the Circuits of the justices of our progenitors once Kings of England to the Citizens aforesaid that the Mayor and Aldermen of the said City for the time being ought to record by word of mouth all their antient customs as often and whensoever any thing in act or question touching the said customs happens and is moved before any Justices We the same being considered willing that the customs of the TheMa yor c. to record their Customs by the mouth of the Recorder said City be rather inlarged then diminished of our special grace have granted for us our Heirs and Successors to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors that whensoever and as often as there shall happen any issues to be taken of or upon any custom of the same City between any parties in pleading although they themselves be parties or if any thing shall be moved or happen in pleading act or question touching the customs aforesaid before Us our Heirs or Successors or Justices for holding pleas before Us our Justices of
Guild-Hall of the said City as by the said Act fully appears We will and for us ouâ— heirs and successors ordain and constitute thâ—â— from time to time and in all future times â—here be and shall be a certain Office Clerk and his Fees of the Clerk of the Court of Requesâ— aforesaid And that there be and shall be from time to time and in all future times one fit person to be named and appointed by the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City assembled in Common Council of the same City or the greater part of them to be a Clerk of the same Court to make write enter and register Warrants Precepts Process Acts Orders and Executions of that Court And for labour and Attendance to have and receive his fees and wages expressed in a Schedule annexed to these presents And that there be from time to time and in all future times shall be a certain Office of Beadle of Beadle and his Fees the Court of Requests aforesaid to be named and appointed by the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City assembled in Common Council of the same City or the greater part of them To summon all such persons to appear in the same Court to answer to such like persons as are appointed in the said Act of Parliament and to serve and execute Warrants Precepts and Process of the same Court and to receive for his labour in the same Office the Wages and Fees expressed in a certain Shedule hereunto annexed And whereas divers Burglaries Felonies Roberies clandestine Stealings and Thefts of Goods Jewels Apparel and Houshold-stuff and other things are daily committed within our City of London and liberties of the same to the grievous damage of some of our Subjects inhabiting there or in the parts adjoyning We for the better discovery of such like offenders and of things so lost will and for Us our Heirs and Successors by these presents do ordain grant and constitute that from henceforth for ever within Register of Brokers of Pawns c. the said City of London and the liberties of the same there be and shall be a certain Office of Register of all and for all sales and pawns made or to be made to retailing Brokers within the said City and liberties of the same and for any Goods Jewels Apparel Houshold-stuff and other things so to be sold or pawned by any persons and for Us our Heirs and Successors We now do give and grant by these presents the same Office to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors to have and exercise the said Office by them or their Officer Deputy or Minister or Officers Deputies or Ministers first to be allowed and admitted thereto by the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City assembled in Common Council of the same City for the time being or the greater part of them And that it may and shall be lawful for the said Mayor and Citizens of the said City and their Successors and their Deputy or Deputies Officer or Officers to demand take or have and rerain in their power to the use of them the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City the Wages and Fees expressed in a certain Schedule annexed to these presents without any account or any thing else to be rendred or made to us our heirs or successors And further we do give and grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors that it may and shall be lawful to the Citizens of the same City and any of them for the time being to expose and hang in and over the Citizens may hang out Signs Streets and Ways and Alleys of the said City and Suburbs of the same Signs and posts of Signs affixed to their Houses and Shops for the better finding out such Citizens Dwellings Shops Arts or Occupations without impediment molestation or interruption of us our heirs or successors or any Officers or Ministers whatsoever of us our heirs or successors And whereas Lord Henry the eighth late King of England c. by his Letters Patents bearing date at Westminster the 13th day of January in the 28th year of his Reign amongst other things for him and his successors did give and grant to the said Bethlem and its Charter Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors the keeping ordering and governing of the House and Hospital of him the late King called Bethlem situate without and near Bishopsgate of the said City of London and all Mannors Lands Tenements Possessions Revenues and Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever lying and being belonging and appertaining unto the same Hospital or House called Bethlem and made and constituted by the same his Letters Patents these the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors Masters Keepers and Governours of the said House and Hospital called Bethlem and of the said Mannors Lands Tenements and other Premises belonging to the same House or Hospital To have hold and enjoy the said Custody Order and Government of the said House or Hospital called Bethlem And the said manner Lands Tenements Possessions Revenues Hereditaments belonging to the same House and Hospital called Bethlem To the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors for ever to the uses and intents which are in and upon the Foundation ordered and provided by the said late King his Heirs or Successors And that the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London and their Successors might be better able to support the but then and expences of the poor in sustaining the House House of the Poor in West-Smithfield called the House of the Poor in West-Smithfield and other burthens assigned and appointed to the same Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors by Indenture mentioned to be made between the said late King and those the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City in the said letters Patents As by the same his Letters Patents amongst other things more fully appears Know ye that we from our Soul affecting and intimatley desiring to support and establish the said works for us our Heirs and Successors do grant and confirm to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors the said Custody Ordering and Government of the said House and Hospital called Bethlem and all Mannors Lands Tenements Possessions and Revenues whatsoever and wheresoever lying and being belonging and appertaining to the same House and Hospital called Bethlem And do make ordain and constitute by these presents Mayor c. Governors of Bethlem those the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors Masters Keepers and Governors of the said House and Hospital called Bethlem and of the said Mannors Lands Tenements and
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
purpose first had or obtained And that the Porter or Carrier appointed and from time to time to be appointed by the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors or by their sufficient Officers or Deputies for the time being shall have take or receive of or from the said Merchants as well Aliens born without the Allegiance of Us Our Predecessors Heirs or Successors and under any Forreign Allegiance in Parts beyond the Seas as of the said Denizens born or to be born within the Power or Allegiance of Us Our Predecessors Heirs or Successors whose Father is or shall be an Alien born without the Allegiance of Us Our Predecessors Heirs or Successors for the Carriage or Portage of the said Goods and Merchandizes such Sums of Money for their labour aforesaid as in a certain Schedule to these presents annexed are mentioned and appointed without any account or other thing to be therefore rendered or made to Us Our Heirs or Successors besides the Rents hereafter in these Presents mentioned to be paid to Us Our Heirs or Successors AND FURTHER of our more abundant grace certain knowledge and meer motion and for the consideration aforesaid We do for us our Heirs and Successors give and grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City aforesaid and their Successors the Office or Imployment of the Scavage and Surveying Scavage granted to the City and also the Scavage of all the Goods and Wares customable whatsoever of any Merchants as well Aliens as Denizens whose Father is or shall be an Alien born or to be born without the Allegiance of us our Predecessors Heirs or Successors and to be brought from any parts beyond the Seas within the Liberties and Franchices of the said City and Suburbs thereof on account of Merchandizing and also the surveying delivering or Balliage of all the Goods and Wares of any of the said Merchants within the Liberties and Franchices of the said City which shall be carried out into parts beyond the Seas by way of Merchandize through and upon the River Thames within the limits aforesaid in any Ship Boat Barge or Vessel whatsoever floating laden remaining or being off of any Shore of the said River of Thames and which upon any Bank Wharf or Shore of the said River shall happen to remain and be delivered or unladen within the Liberties and Franchices of the said City and Suburbs thereof together wth the Fees Sums of Money Profits and Emoluments in a certain Table or Schedule to these presents annexed mentioned and respectively limited and appointed according to the form of the Statute made and published in the 22th year of Henry the Eighth late King of England All and singular which said Fees Sums of Money Profits and Emoluments in the said Table or Schedule last mentioned and expressed as due and lawful Fees to the said several Offices of Scavage and Balliage aforesaid annexed and belonging and in the Execution of the same Offices and either of them respectively hereafter to be had and taken We do for us our Heirs and Successors ratifie establish and confirm by these presents and the same Fees Sums of Money Profits and Emoluments in the said last mentioned Table or Schedule we do for us our Heirs and Successors grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City aforesaid and their Successors for ever by these presents TO HAVE and exercise the said Offices and Imployments last mentioned and either of them with the Appurtenances and the disputings orderings supervisings and corrections of the same and either of them together with all the Fees Sums of Money Profits and Emoluments to the said Offices or Imployments and either of them in the said Table or Schedule to these presents annexed mentioned and respectively appointed unto the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the said City and their Successors for ever and also to exercise and occupy the said Offices or Imployments by themselves or by their sufficient Minister or Ministers Deputy or Deputies without any Accompt or other Matter to be rendred or made to us our Heirs or Successors for the same besides the Rents hereafter in these presents mentioned to be reserved and paid to us our Heirs and Successors and without incurring any Penalty of the said Offices or Imployments or either of them or any Parcel thereof although they or their Deputies Officers or Servants shall not survey or deliver the Goods and Merchandizes aforesaid when they shall be ready upon reasonable Request or Notice thereof given for the performing the said Works or Services WILLING and by these Presents for us our Heirs and Successors enjoyning and commanding all and singular such Aliens and Denizens aforesaid that they from time to time do make and deliver or cause to be made and delivered unto the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their Successors or their Servants Deputies or Collectors of the Scavage aforesaid for the time being true and perfect Bills of Entry of all and every their Goods Merchandizes and Wares which shall be from time to time brought within the Liberties and Franchises of the said City and Suburbs thereof under pain of our Royal Indignation and of being farther punished for their Contempt of our Command in this behalf YIELDING therefore yearly to Us Our Heirs and Successors into the Receipt of Our Exchequer at Westminster Three Founds Six Shillings and Eight Pence of lawful Money of England at the Feasts of St. Michael the Archangel and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by equal portions every year to be paid AND WHEREAS We are informed that with intent to defraud and deceive the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City aforesaid of the Fees and Profits to the said several Offices belonging and appertaining several Goods and Merchandizes have been fraudulently laden and unladen by divers Persons at certain Wharfs or places commonly called St. Katherines Tower-Wharf Southwark Bick-Shoar Wappin Redrith Deptford Greenwich and Blackwall and other places between Blackwall and London-Bridge on both sides of the River Thames aforesaid supposing the same Places to be without the Port of London aforesaid and the Liberties Franchises and Suburbs thereof WE WILL and by these Presents for Us our Heirs and Successors do Ordain and Declare that for ever hereafter all and singular Merchant-strangers born without our Allegiance in Parts beyond the Seas and under Forreign Obedience and also the Sons of such Merchant-strangers who henceforth shall lade or unlade any Goods or Merchandizes Customable in the Port of the City of London aforesaid or in any of the said Places or Wharfs above-mentioned shall from time to time render and pay or make and cause to be rendred and paid unto the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City aforesaid and their Successors or their Officers Deputies and Servants such Wages and Fees as are in the said Tables or Schedules mentioned and expressed AND FURTHER because We are given