also commands that no Merchant being a Free-man of the City shall take any Apprentice to serve him for less than seven years to be bound and inrolled according to the Custom of the said City and not otherwise And recites an Act of Parliament made in the third of King James that every Citizen and Free-man of the City of London and every other Person and Persons inhabiting or which should inhabit in the said City of London or the Liberties of the same being a Tradesman Victualer Labourer who then had or from thenceforth shall have any Debt or Debts owing to him or them not amounting to 40 s. by any Citizen or any other Person or Persons being a Victualer Tradesman or Labourer who doth or shall inhabit within the City or the Liberties of the same may cause such like Debtor or Debtors to be warned or summoned by the Beadle or Officer of the Court of Requests at Guildhal London for the time being to be left at the Dwelling-house of such Debtor or Debtors or by any reasonable Warning to be given to appear before the Commissioners of the said Court of Request as by the said Act appears By the same he constitutes that there shall be a certain Office of a Clerk of the said Court and that he shall be appointed by the Major Commonalty and Citizens assembled in Common Councel or the greater part thereof to be Clerk there to write enter and register Warrants Precepts Processes Acts Orders and Executions of the Court and for his Labour and Attentance to have and receive the Fees and Wages expressed in a Schedule or Table hereafter mentioned or set down And also grants them the Office of a Beadle of the said Court to be named and appointed by the Major Commonalty and Citizens assembled in Common Councel or the greater Part of them To summon all such Persons to appear to answer such Persons appointed in the said Act and to serve and execute Warrats Precepts and Processes of the said Court and to receive for their Wages and Labour the Fees expressed in a certaine Schedule or Table hereafter mentioned or set down And whereas divers Burglaries Felonies Robberies Clandestine Stealings and Thefts of Goods c. was daily committed in the said City and Liberties to the grievous Damage of the People for the better Discovery of such Offenders and of things lost it is granted and constituted that from thenceforth there shall be a certain Office of Register to be made to retailing Brokers for any Goods c. And grants to the Major Commonalty c. to execute the said Office by them or their Deputies first to be admitted by the Major and Commonalty and Citizens assembled in Common Councel or the greater Part of them And that it shall and may be lawful for them or their Deputy to take and receive such Fees as are in a Table hereafter mentioned without any Account to be given for the same And also grants to the Major Commonalty c. to expose and hang over the Streets Ways and Allies of the said City Signs and Posts of Signs affixed to their Houses and Shops for the better finding out such Citizens Dwellings without Impediment Molestation or Interruption of the King or his Successors And also recites a Patent of Hen. 8th dated the 13th of Jan. in the 28th year of his Reign of a Grant to the Major and Commnalty c. for the keeping ordering and governing of an Hospital called Bethlem and all the Mannors c. made and constituted by the said Letters Patents to the said Major and Commonalty for ever And also for the better enabling and supporting of the house of the Poor in West-Smithfield confirms the Indenture made between the said King Henry the Eighth and the Major Commonalty and Citizens and grants them the Ordering and Government of the House or Hospital called Bethlem with Manors Lands c. thereunto belonging To have and to hold the Custody and Government of the said Hospital and the Manors Lands c. for ever to the Uses Intents and Purposes in the Charter of Henry the Eighth But that the Revenues of the said Hospital be employed to no other Use than charitable Uses in the said Hospital And also doth charge and command that the said Major Commonalty c. do not grant any of the said Manors Lands c. not for above the Term of 21 years to commence from the time of the making of it reserving half of the yearly Value at least of such Manors Lands c. so Leases to be paid during the said Term to the Major Commonalty c. to the Uses above mentioned And also grants to the Major Commonalty c. That it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Major Commonalty c. to purchase to them and their Successors of any Person whatsoever five Acres of Land lying and being in St. Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex being then in the occupation of Margaret Pennel although the same be held of the King in Capite To have and to hold to the said Major and Commonalty c. for ever And also gives License to all Persons that are concerned in the same to sell notwithstanding they are held in Capite by Knights Service and notwithstanding the Statute of putting of Lands and Tenements in Mortmain And also grants them full power to build upon the said five Acres without License notwithstanding any Statute to the contrary And also doth further grant to the Major Commonalty c. That the recited Letters Patents and the Inrolment shall be in all things found valid good sufficient and effectual in Law without further Confirmation License or Toleration to be procured or obtained notwithstanding any Writ or Writs of Ad quod dampnum being not issued out returning before the making of the said Patent notwithstanding any Misnomer in any part of the said Grant And also grants to the said Major Commonalty c. That they shall have the Letters Patents made and sealed under the Great Seal of England without paying any Fine or Fee great or little to the Hamper or otherwise Dated at Westminster the 18th day of October in the 14th year of our Reign Fees taken by the Common Outroper FOR selling of Goods ¼ in every Shilling For writing and keeping the Books 1 d. per l. To the Cryer for crying the Goods 1 s. Clerks Fees of the Court of Conscience in London 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 Warrant to commit to Prison 6 d. For every Search 2 d. For every Satisfaction acknowledged on an Order 6 d. For Warning every Person within the Liberty 4 d. For Warning every Person without the Liberties 6 d. For serving every Precept or Warrant 4 d. Fees taken by the Register of Broakers For the Bond to be entred into by every Broaker Brogger and
Chart. 3. Commands all Weares to be removed out of the Thames or Medway And that the Keepers of the Tower do not exact any thing for Weares That great hurt hath grown to the City and Realm by Weares Confirms the same HENR 3. Chart. 4. No Citizen to plead without the Walls except Monyers and Ministers Acquits Murther within the City and Portsoken and none shall wage Battail That they may discharge themselves of Pleas belonging to the Crown That no man may take a Lodging by Force or by delivery of the Marshal The Citizens of London to be quit of Toll and Bestage None to be condemned of Amerciaments but according to the Law of the City That there be no Miskenning in any Pleading That the Hustings be kept once a Week That Right be holden to them of their Lands and Tenures according to the Custom of the City That Pleas be there holden of all Debts which be lent at London and Promises there made If any take Toll he shall fail of Right the Sheriffs of London may take Goods To have Hunting as formerly To be quit from Bristol Childwite and Teresgite and of all Scotals so that the Shriff of London or any of the Bayliffs shall not make any Scotale To hold of him and his Heirs HENR 3. Chart. 5. That all the Warren of Staines shall be unwarrened so that they and their Heirs may have Liberty of Warren and Forrest in the said Warren without the Contradiction of the Warrenner or Forester and to be free of Exactions and Commands The same to be unwarrened HENR 3. Chart. 6. There is another Charter of the same King concerning Queen Hythe reciting a Covenant made between the Earl of Cornwall and the City of London for certain Exactions belonging to Queen Hythe the said Earl granting for him and his Heirs that the said Major and all the Majors after him and Commonalty of the said City may hold the said Queen Hythe with all their Liberties Customs c. in Fee-Farm paying yearly to the said Earl his Heirs and Assigns 50. l. viz. at Easter 25. l. and St. Michael Th'archangel The King allowing of the said Covenant for him and his Heirs Grants and Allows the same the 6th of February in the 31th Year of his Reign HENR 3. Chart. 7. There is another Charter of the said King wherein he grants for him and his Heirs and confirmed it by Charter That the Major and Citizens of London should hold all their Liberties and Free Customs which they had in the time of King Henry his Grand-father and his Ancestors Kings of England for ever The said King granted to the Citizens that every Major they should choose he not being at Westminster they should present him to the Barons of his Exchequer that he may be admitted by them as Major so that at the next coming of the King or his Heirs to Westminster he may be presented and so admitted Major And the King Wills and Commands for him and his Heirs that out of the Farm of the said City there be allowed to the Sheriffs of the said City yearly in his said Accompt 7. l. at his Exchequer for the Liberâ—y of St. Pauls and that his Citizens throughout all his Dominions as well on this side as beyond the Sea be quit of all Toll and Custom for ever HENR 3. Chart. 8. There is another Charter of the aforesaid King bearing Date the 11th day of January in the 50th Year of his Reign wherein he granted to the said Citizens that they might traffick with their Merchandizes when they please throughout his Dominions as well by Sea as by Land without Interruption of him or his as they see expedient quit from Custom Toll c. And may abide for their Trading wheresoever they please till such time it shall be more fully ordered by his Councel touching the State of the said City Pro ut Letters Patents HENR 3. Chart. 9. There is another Charter of the said King wherein he granted to his Citizens of London for him his Heirs and Successors whom of late has been received into his Grace and Favour after divers Trespasses and Forfeitures of them and their Commonalty to him for the which both for Life and Member and all other things belonging to the said City they have submitted themselves to his Will That none of them be compelled to plead out of the Walls of the said City for any thing except forreign Tenures And except his Monyers and Officers And except those things which shall happen to be done against his Peace which according to the Common Law of the Realm were wont to be determined in the parts where the Trespasses were done And except Pleas concerning Merchandizing which were wont to be determined according to the Law-Merchant in Burrough and Fairs So yet notwithstanding that those Plaints be determined in Burroughs and Fairs by four or five of the said Citizens of London that shall be there present saving to him the Amerciaments upon Pain of Forfeitures He also grants to the said Citizens acquittal of Murther in the said City and in Portsoken and that none of the Citizens may wage Battail And that for the Pleas belonging to the Crown chiefly those that may chance within the said City to discharge themselves of Pleas of the Crown according to ancient Custom of the City except that upon the Graves of the Dead for that which they should have said if they had lived It shall not be lawful to swear but instead of those deceased which before their Deaths to discharge those which concerning the things belonging to the Crown were called and received There may other free and lawful Men be chosen which may accomplish that which by the deceased should have been done if they had lived And within the Walls of the said City none may take Lodgings forceably He hath also granted the Citizens throughout all his Dominions wheresoever they come to dwell with their Merchandizes And also throughout all the Sea Ports as well on this side as beyond the Seas which shall be free of all Toll and Customs c. except every where his ancient Custom and Prices of Wines That is to say one Tun before and another behind the Mast at 20. s. the Tun to be paid in such Form as he and his Ancestors have been accustom'd to have the said Prices And if Toll or Custom shall be taken of the Citizens of London the Sheriff may take Goods therefore at London He also granted to them that the Hustings be kept once a Week and that only by one Day so as those things within the same day that cannot be determined may continue till next Morning and no longer and that Right be holden to them for their Rights and Tenures within the same City according to the Custom of the said City and Forreigners and Citizens may make their Attorneys as well in Pleading as Defending and that there may not be Miskening in any other Pleas that
is to say if they have not declared altogether well and of all their Debts which were lent at London and Promises there made Pleas be there Held according to the ancient Custom Further he granted to the City that all be quit of Childwit and Jeresgive and from Scotale so that our Sheriffs of London nor any other Bayliff shall not make any Scotale And also that the said Citizens may justly have and hold their Lands Tenures or Promises and also their Debts whosoever shall owe them and that no Merchant or other forestall any Goods coming to London to be sold upon Forfeiture of Imprisonment and the things bought And that none put their Goods to Sale before Custom be paid upon Pain of Forfeiture And that no Merchant-Stranger or other do buy any Goods before they be weighed at the King's Beam upon Forfeiture of the said Wares And also that those Debts which of Contracts or Loan shall be due unto them shall be inrolled in the Exchequer upon the Recognizance of those who shall stand bound Nevertheless no Debt to be inrolled but testified by six or four Witnesses who may be sufficient to answer as well for the Debt as for the Damages which any may have of such Recognizances if the same happen to be falsly done under their Names And for every pound so inrolled one penny to be paid towards the sustentation of those who attend To hold to them and their Heirs so long as they shall behave themselves well to the King and his Heirs together with their just and reasonable Customs heretofore had so as the Customs be not contrary to Law saving in all things the Liberty of the Church of Westminster But as touching Jews and Merchant-Strangers he will provide as he sees expedient Dated the 26th day of March 1268. EDWARD 1. A Charter made by Edward the First to the City of London dated April 18. Anno Domini 1298. In which Charter is contained That the Citizens of London have been accustomed to present every Major before the Barons of the Exchequer the King not being at Westminster that he may be admitted Major The King willing to shew more ample Favour to the said Citizens Doth Grant to them for him and his Heirs the Major and Sheriffs in absence of the King and Barons to be presented to the Constable of the Tower of London yearly Nevertheless that at the next coming of the King or his Heirs to Westminster or London the Major be presented and admitted c. And the King also Granted for him and his Heirs to the Citizens and their Successors for ever quit and free of Pannage Pontage and Murrage throughout the Realm and Dominions And that the Sheriffs amerced for any Offence shall be amerced according to the measure of the Offence as other the Sheriffs of our Realm have been amerced for the like offence And the Citizens to enjoy their Customes EDW. 2. Letters Patents of Edward Son of Edw. King c. reciting Whereas the Major and good men of the City of London have of late done the King Service with Armed men c. going with the King through divers parts of the Realm The King willing to indempnifie the said Major and Citizens Hath granted to them for him and his Heirs That the Aids so done shall not be prejudicial to the said Major and Citizens and Successors nor be drawn into Consequence or Example Teste 12 Dec. 1322. EDW. 3. A Charter of Edw. the Third by consent of Parliament hath Granted and Confirmed to the Citizens of London the Liberties underwritten To have and to hold to them their Heirs and Successors for ever First Whereas in the Great Charter of the Liberties of England is contained that the City of London may have all the Ancient Liberties and Customs And the said Citizens at the time of making the Charter from the time of St. Edward and William the Conquerour had divers Liberties and Customs as well by Charters as without Charter by Ancient Custom whereby in divers the Circuits and other the Courts of his Progenitors as well by Judgments as by Statutes were invaded He grants for him and his Heirs that they may have their Liberties according to the Form of the aforesaid Great Charter And that Impediments and Usurpations to them in that behalf made shall be revoked and annulled He further grants for him and his Heirs to the Citizens c. That the Major of the aforesaid City which for time shall be one of the Justices to be assigned for the Goal delivery at Newgate and be named in every Commission thereof to be made And that the said Citizens may have Infamy Theft and Chattels of Fellons of all those who shall be adjudged before them within the Liberties of the same City at the aforesaid Goal to be adjudged And whereas also by the Charters of his Progenitors it was granted to the same Citizens that they should hold the Sherifwick of London and Middlesex for 300 l. yearly to be paid at the Exchequer And they are now charged with 400 l. yearly contrary to the Form of the said Charters He grants for him c. That the Citizens their Heirs and Successors hold the aforesaid Sherifwicks for 300 l. yearly and that they be acquitted the said 100 l. Further grants for him and his Heirs to the Citizens their Heirs and Successors to bequeath their Tenements within the Liberties of the aforesaid City as well in Mortmaine as in other Manner as in ancient time they have been accustomed to do And whereas in a Charter of King Edw. his Father made to the said Citizens is contained that the Sheriffs of the said City as often as they shall be amerced for any Offence in the Court should not be amerced in other manner for Escapes than other Sheriffs wont to be in other Counties on this side Trent He grants that the Sheriffs of the said City shall in no wise be amerced or charged for the Escape of Thieves in any otherwise than as the Thieves on this Side Trent And that the Citizens shall not be charged for the Custody of those that fly to the Churches within the aforesaid Liberty and that the Citizens may take away all the Wears in the water of Thames and Medway The King Wills and Commands that all Merchant-Strangers coming to England shall sell their Wares and Merchandizes within 40 days after their coming thither and shall continue and board with free Hosts of London and other the Cities and Towns of England And also Wills and Grants for him and his Heirs that the Marshal-Steward or Clerk of the Market of his Houshold or of his Heirs shall not sit from thenceforth within the Liberty of the said City nor exercise any Office there nor any way draw any Citizen to plead without the Liberties of the said City of any thing to happen within the Liberties of the same And that no Escheator from henceforth exercise the Office but that the Major for
the time being do the Office of Escheator within the said Liberty so that he take his Oath that he exercise the Office and answer to the King and his Heirs as he ought to do and that the Citizens be not compelled to go or send to War out of the said City and that the Constable of the Tower shall not make any Prizes of any thing belonging to the Citizens nor arrest Ships or Boats bringing Victuals c. to or from the said City And forasmuch as the Citizens in Fairs of England were wont to have amongst themselves Keepers to hold the Pleas touching the Citizens of the said City and assembling at the Fairs grants as much as in him is that the Citizens may have such like Keepers to hold such like Pleas of their Covenants as of ancient time they had Except the Pleas of Land and of the Crown He further Grants for Him and his Heirs That the Sheriffs of London shall not be compelled to take any Oath at the Exchequer but upon the yielding up of their Accounts And Grants the Citizens all their Liberties and free Customs as of old time they were wont And that they may record their said Liberties And that to the allowance of their Charters to be had in the Exchequer and other his 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 him or his Heirs by Writ or without Writ within the Liberty of the said City but onely by the Officers of the said City And that the Sheriffs may lawfully have the Forfeitures of Victuals and other things and Merchandizes according to the Charter and shall not be debarred thereof hereafter And that the Citizens shall be guided by the same Laws and Customs as in the time of King John and King Henry And if any thing was attempted contrary to their Liberties and free Customs He Wills that they be not prejudicial to them but that they be guided as of old time they were The King Grants for him and his Heirs that the said Citizens be taxed in Subsidies and Contributions as other Commoners And that they be quit of all other Tallages And that the Liberty of the said City shall not be taken into his hands or his Heirs for any Personal Trespass of any Minister of the City And that no Purveyor Taker Officer and other Minister of him or his Heirs or of any other shall make any prices in the City or without of the Goods of any Citizen contrary to their Will And that no Prices be made of Citizens Wines against their Wills but shall be quit thereof for ever Also no Officer of the King or his Heirs shall merchandize within or without the said City of any thing touching their Offices Also grants that the Lands and Tenements lying without of the Citizens which have or shall be Ministers of the City be bound to keep the City harmless against him and his Heirs of things which concern their Offices And that no Market shall be granted within seven Miles round the City And that all Inquisitions from henceforth shall be taken by our Justices or Ministers of the said City in St. Martins le Grand except the Inquisitions in the Circincts at the Tower and for the Goal Delivery at Newgate and no Citizen to be impleaded in the Exchequer unless it concern the King And Grants the City all their ancient Liberties and free Customs Dat. 6. Martii in the first year of his Reign Anno 1327. EDW. 3. Chart. 2. Also other Letters Patents of King Edward 3. upon the Citizens Petition to the King in Parliament concerning Robberies Fellonies c. where the Robbers Fellons c. fly into Southwark and cannot be attached by the Ministers of the City for Prevention of which the King with the Parliament grants to the City the said Village of Southwark to hold to them and their Successors for ever for a Farm and Rent to be paid yearly at the Exchequer at the accustomed times due and accustomed Teste 6. Martii 1327. EDW. 3. Chart. 3. Another Charter of Edw. 3. in the Parliament at York holden the ninth Year of his Reign wherein all Merchant-Strangers as well as English should sell and buy in all Cities and Towns in the Realm except to the Enemies of the King and Realm yet nevertheless because the Statutes as well in this as in other Parliaments it was granted and established that the great Charter of the Liberty of England in all and singular the Articles should be maintained And in the same Charter is contained that the City of London may have it's ancient Liberties the King grants to the Citizens for him and his Heirs that the Citizens their Heirs and Successors shall have all their Liberties and free Customs Teste 26 die Martii 1337. EDW. 3. Chart. 4. Another Stat. of Edw. 3. wherein he granted to the City that the Serjeants of London may bear Maces of Gold or Silver or Silvered or garnished with the Sign of his Arms in the City and Liberties and also without the City to meet with the King his Mother his Consort or his Children c. And as often as any of the Serjeants be sent to Foreign places without the City to do their Office at the Command of the King or the Major or Sheriffs they may carry their Maces Teste 10 Junii 1355. EDW. 3. Chart. 5. Letters Pattents from King Edward 3. confirmed that all Merchant-Strangers coming into England shall remain at Board with free Hosts and not to keep Houses And that there be no Brokers of any Merchant unless they be chosen by the Merchants of the Mystery in which the Brokers exercise their Offices and to take their Oath before the Major of the City And that Merchants who are not free of the City do not sell by Retail any Wares within the said City or Suburbs thereof The Major and Aldermen and Commonalty petition the King that they have often sued in Parliament that they are impoverished by reason their Liberties formerly granted are restrained Therefore prayes the King and Councel to ordain in Parliament that the Merchants-Strangers may be restrained The King with consent of Parliament granted for him and his Heirs that the Major Aldermen and Citizens of the said City and their Successors upon condition they put the said City under good Government That no Stranger from henceforth shall sell any Wares in the City or Suburbs by Retail nor keep House or be Broker in the City or Suburbs saving to the Merchants of High Almain their Liberties Teste 4 Dec. in the fiftieth year of his Reign of England and of France the 37th HENR 4. A Charter of Henry the 4th Dat. 25 Maii 1399. Granting to the Citizens the keeping of the Gates of Newgate and Ludgate and all other the Gates and Posterns of the City And also the Office of gathering the Tolls and