three years special privileges.

Mandate to the sheriff of Oxford that he cause a fair to be at Wallingford every year to last for four days, for Friday in Pentecost week and the three following days, and that that fair be free and quit of toll and all customs which pertain to such fairs for three years.

Given by the Lord King at Oxford on the 28th day of March.

Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), I. 24.

A fair or market was sometimes bought from the crown.

1221. Remission of the price of the right to hold a market and fair.

The King to the Barons of the Exchequer greeting.

Know that for God's sake we have pardoned the abbot of Hale the palfrey by which he made fine to us for having a market every week on Wednesday at Hale, and a fair every year lasting for two days, the eve and the feastday of St. Dennis, that thus he may make two chalices in his abbey.

Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), 477.

1298. To the Sheriff of Hereford.

Order to supersede entirely the levying of 11 marks from Miles Pychard, for the fee of a charter of fair and market granted in the twenty-third year of the reign, as Miles paid this sum into the wardrobe by the hands of John de Drokenesforde, keeper thereof.

Cal. of Close, 1296-1302, 171.

A Fair which was Farmed.

1331. To the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer.

Order to cause William de Pynlande, clerk, to be discharged of 50s. yearly for the fair of Lopen in Somerset, … the king having committed the fair to Gilbert Talebot for the term of twenty years.

Cal. of Close, 1330-3, 265.

Some precautions were taken that new markets and fairs should not be established where they would damage those which already existed. A saving clause to this end was usually inserted in the grants.

1205. Grant of a market at Wilton.

The King to the Sheriff of Hereford greeting.

Know that we have granted to Henry de Longchamp that he have a market at Wilton every Tuesday, so that it be not to the injury of neighbouring markets. And therefore we command you to cause that he hold it, and to cause this to be proclaimed throughout your bailiwick.

Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), I. 50.

Provision against Encroaching Markets.

1205. The King to the Sheriff of Lincoln greeting.

Because we granted to our beloved Thomas of Muleton a market to be held at Flete every week on Sunday, before we granted to Fulk of Oyri his market at Gedney on the same day: we will that the said Thomas stand and hold as we granted to him, and that Fulk's market be on another day. And therefore we command you that you cause this to be done.

Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), I. 20.

1214. The King to the Sheriff of Oxford greeting.

We command you that the market of Crowmarsh, which is held to the injury of our market at Wallingford, and which by our precept was forbidden to be held for one turn, be prohibited and entirely abolished.

Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), I. 175.

1222. The King to the Sheriff of Somerset greeting.

We have heard that a market has been newly established without warrant at Wechat to the detriment of the market of Dunster. And therefore we command you that if so it be, then without delay you cause such market to be forbidden, so that for the future no market be there held to the detriment of the market of Dunster.

Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), I. 527b.

  MARKET-PLACES.

Markets and fairs were held sometimes in open and outlying places, as at Smithfield; but more frequently in central parts of their towns—in graveyards, in the market-places of which many survive, and in the streets. The last case has named streets in many English towns "Cheap" or "Cheapside," for "cheap" meant "market."

1223. The King to the Mayor and Bailiffs of Lincoln greeting.

We command you that on our behalf you cause to be forbidden that any market be held in future at Lincoln in the graveyards, but that the markets be held in the streets of that city, where best and most adequately you shall provide that they be.

Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), I. 547.

1233. The king has granted to Hamo de Crevecquer that the market, which has been used to be held every week on Sunday at Brenchley in the graveyard of the church, be held henceforth on the land of Hamo of Brenchley, and that he and his heirs have there every year a fair to last three days, the vigil, the day and the morrow of the feast of All Saints. And the sheriff of Kent is commanded to cause that market and the fair to be proclaimed, and to be held as aforesaid.

Cal. of Close, 1231-4, 234.

1234. The king has granted to the prior and the brethren of the bridge of Lechlade that they have for ever at Lechlade bridge every year a fair, to last for five days, the eve and the feastday of the Decollation of St. John the Baptist and the three following days.

Cal. of Close, 1231-4, 398.

1235. The king has conceded to Henry, Abbot of St. Edmund, that he and his successors have yearly for ever two fairs in the suburb of the town of (Bury) St. Edmunds, namely one outside the north gate, outside the town, beside the hospital of St. Saviour, to last for three days, the eve, the day, and the morrow of the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord; and another outside the south gate of the town, likewise to last for three days, the eve, the day, and the morrow of the feast of the Translation of St. Edmund: unless such fairs be to the injury of neighbouring fairs. And the sheriff is commanded to cause this charter to be read in full county court, and these fairs to be proclaimed and held.

Cal. of Close, 1234-7, 61.

Encroachments on market-places were not lawful without special licence.

1123. Foundation of the Priory of St. Bartholomew on part of Smithfield market-place by Rahere, first prior.

Since the place godly to him (Rahere) shown was contained within the king's market, of the which it was not lawful to princes or other lords, of their proper authority, anything to diminish, neither yet to so solemn an obsequy to depute: therefore, using … men's counsel, in opportune time he addressed him to the king, and before him, and the Bishop Richard (de Belmeis, Bishop of London) being present, the which he had made to him favourable before, effectually expressed his business, and that he might lawfully bring his purpose to effect meekly besought. And nigh him was he (St. Bartholomew) in whose hand it was, to what he would the king's heart to incline, and ineffectual these prayers might not be, whose author is the apostle, whose gracious hearer was God: his word therefore was pleasant and acceptable in the king's eye. And when he had weighed the good will of the man prudently, as he was witty, he granted to the petitioner his kingly favour, benignly giving authority to execute his purpose. And he, having the title of the desired possession, of the king's majesty, was right glad.

Book of the Foundation of the Church of St. Bartholomew, London. Original Latin version (Cotton MS., Vesp., B. IX., fols. 41-3), written 1174-89. Old English