^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 LIBRARV 
 
 OF THE 
 
 University of California. 
 
 Class ^ 
 
 
 ii^- 
 
 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Arcinive 
 
 in 2008 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 littp://www.arcliive.org/details/chartersofborougOOcambricli 
 
THE CHARTERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BOROUGH OF CAMBRIDGE 
 
SonDon: C. J. CLAY and SONS, 
 
 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE, 
 
 AVE MARIA LANE. 
 
 ©laBgoiu: 50, WELLINGTON STREET. 
 
 ILnpjig: F. A. BROCKHAUS. 
 
 i^tfa lorft: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. 
 
 iSombas: E. SEYMOUR HALE. 
 
OF THE 
 
 jjsilVERSlTY 
 
 OF 
 
<^^^'^ 
 
 
 -j-f 
 
 
 ij^ 
 
 - c: — ^- 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^S^' 
 
 .ojr- 
 
 ^ 
 
 gv- 
 
 
 c-P 
 
 
 ^ /| -L ^ . 
 
 J 
 
 J 4 ^^^ ^ 1^:14^ 
 
 M 
 
 ,^ 
 
 
^ . , . _ „.,. (2l-.wv-t<v-s. 
 
 ^vY^brMpe. ?^i^ 
 
 THE CHARTERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BOROUGH OF CAMBRIDGE 
 
 EDITED FOR 
 
 THE COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF CAMBRIDGE 
 
 AND THE CAMBRIDGE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY 
 
 BY 
 
 FREDERIC WILLIAM MAITLAND, LL.D, D.C.L. 
 
 DOWNING PROFESSOR OF THE LAWS OF ENGLAND 
 
 AND 
 
 MARY BATESON 
 
 ASSOCIATE AND LECTURER OF NEWNHAM COLLEGE 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF 
 
 CAMBRIDGE 
 
 AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS 
 
 1901 
 

 Camfattljge: 
 
 PRINTED BY J. AND C. F. CLAY, 
 AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Introduction 
 
 I. Writ of King Henry the First . 
 
 II. Writ of King Henry the Second 
 
 III. First Charter of King John 
 
 IV. Second Charter of King John 
 V. First Charter of King Henry the Third . 
 
 VI. Second Charter of King Henry the Third 
 
 VII. Third ChartW of King Henry the Third . 
 
 VIII. Fourth Charter of King Henry the Third 
 
 IX. Charter of King Edward the First 
 
 X. Charter of King Edward the Second 
 
 XI. Letters Patent of King Richard the Second 
 
 XII. First Charter of King Richard the Second 
 
 XIII. Second Charter of King Richard the Second 
 
 XIV. Letters Patent of King Richard the Second 
 XV. Letters Patent of King Henry the Fourth 
 
 XVI. Letters Patent of King Henry the Fifth . 
 
 XVII. Letters Patent of King Henry the Sixth . 
 XVIII. Letters Patent of King Henry the Sixth . 
 
 XIX. Letters Patent of King Edward the Fourth 
 
 XX. Letters Patent of King Edward the Fourth 
 
 PAGE 
 
 vii 
 
 2 
 2 
 
 4 
 6 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 14 
 i6 
 i8 
 
 20 
 22 
 24 
 32 
 
 38 
 46 
 48 
 50 
 52 
 
 54 
 62 
 
IV 
 
 Table of Contents. 
 
 XXL 
 
 Letters 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Letters 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Letters 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Letters 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Letters 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Letters 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Letters 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Letters 
 
 Patent of King Henry the Eighth 
 Exemphficatory of King Henry the Eighth 
 Patent of King Edward the Sixth 
 Exemphficatory of King Edward the Sixth 
 Patent of Queen Elizabeth 
 Patent of King James the First . 
 Patent of King Charles the First 
 Patent of King Charles the Second 
 
 PAGE 
 
 62 
 
 64 
 
 74 
 
 78 
 
 96 
 
 116 
 
 136 
 
 168 
 
 Appendix 
 
 I. Letters Exemphficatory of King Edward the Third. 196 
 
 II. Letters Patent of King Henry the Sixth ... 198 
 
 III. Award on the Toll of Northampton Burgesses . 202 
 
 IV. Letters Patent of Philip and Mary .... 204 
 
 Illustration 
 Charter of King John, 8 May, 1207, to face Title-page. 
 Note : The original measures 8^ ins. by 6| ins. 
 
The publication of the Ancient Charters of 
 the Borough has been undertaken jointly by the 
 Corporation of Cambridge and by the Cambridge 
 Antiquarian Society. 
 
 We gratefully acknowledge our indebtedness to 
 the late Mr F. C. Wage, M.A., sometime Mayor, 
 Mr J. E. L. Whitehead, M.A., Town Clerk, and 
 Miss Mary Bateson for their valuable services, 
 and to Dr Maitland for his admirable Introduction 
 and general superintendence and revision of the 
 whole work. 
 
 H. M. TAYLOR, 
 
 Mayor. 
 
 J. W. L. GLAISHER, 
 
 President of the 
 Cambridge Antiquarian Society, 
 
 Cambridge, 
 
 February 1901. 
 
At a meeting of the Council of the Borough of 
 Cambridge holden at the Guildhall this first day of 
 January in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred 
 and one it was resolved unanimously on the pro- 
 position of the Mayor seconded by Mr Alderman 
 Deck *' That this Council do hereby, in pursuance 
 of the Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act, 1885, 
 confer upon Frederic William Maitland, M.A., 
 LL.D., D.C.L., Downing Professor of the Laws 
 of England, the Honorary Freedom of the Borough 
 of Cambridge, in recognition of the care and great 
 ability which he has devoted to the investigation 
 and the illustration of the early annals of this 
 ancient Borough, and of his generosity in placing 
 his erudition at the service of the Council by 
 undertaking gratuitously the editing of the Charters 
 of the Borough, and do hereby admit the said 
 Frederic William Maitland to be an Honorary 
 Freeman of the Borough of Cambridge accordingly." 
 
 H. M. TAYLOR, 
 
 Mayor, 
 
 J. E. L. WHITEHEAD, 
 
 Toivn Clerk. 
 
OF the: 
 FjNIVERSITY 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 BY 
 
 F. W. Maitland. 
 
 The good work of transcribing and translating the royal 
 charters of the town of Cambridge was undertaken some 
 years ago by the late Mr F. C. Wace, M.A., then Mayor of the 
 Borough, and Mr J. E. L. Whitehead, M.A., the Town Clerk. 
 After having been for a while in my hands, it has been 
 brought to completion by Miss Bateson, Associate and 
 Lecturer of Newnham College. Though more than one hand 
 has laboured on this book, I hope that it will not be 
 found unworthy of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society or of 
 the Municipal Corporation which has generously sanctioned 
 and forwarded the publication of these its ancient records. 
 
 Cambridge, when it compares itself with other towns, has 
 no reason to be ashamed of its charters. All the kings and 
 queens regnant of England from Henry I to Charles II are 
 represented in the following pages, with the exception of 
 Stephen, Richard I, Edward V, Richard III, and Henry VII, 
 though Edward III and Mary Tudor will appear only in an 
 appendix. The reader will be able to compare a curt writ 
 of Henry I with the artificially contrived cadences that -were 
 fashionable in the chancery of Richard II and with the lengthy 
 and wordy, pompous and yet very cautious clauses of the 
 seventeenth century. And beneath all this he may see the 
 growth of an English town. 
 
 But to see this he must look somewhat intently. It must 
 be confessed that to a student of institutions the series of 
 B. C. b 
 
viii Introduction. 
 
 charters granted to a borough is apt to be a little disappoint- 
 ing, at least for a moment. He wishes to ask many questions 
 that it will not answer. But, if that be so, it is because he has 
 yet to learn that to answer those questions is not the proper 
 function of the documents which the borough community 
 obtains from the central power. He is interested in constitu- 
 tions, and he sees in the Cambridge of 1833 (on the eve, 
 that is, of the great Municipal Reformation) a constitution 
 which, if decadent, is elaborate. He sees a mayor, four 
 bailiffs, four councillors, twelve aldermen, four and twenty 
 common councilmen, two treasurers, two coroners, a high 
 steward, a recorder. He sees also a body, a small body, of 
 burgesses. Moreover, he can discover how these various 
 organs and officers of the borough are constituted, what are 
 their duties and what their rights \ Then, knowing that 
 these matters had not been fixed by any general law, 
 knowing that the reforming Act of 1835 was the first Act 
 of its kind, he perhaps hopes that as regards each town 
 separately he may see a constitution imposed upon it or 
 manufactured for it by its charters. If that be so, disappoint- 
 ment awaits him. He has yet to learn how autonomous, 
 how self-constituting and self-organizing the borough com- 
 munity had been. 
 
 During the Middle Ages the function of the royal charter 
 was not that of * erecting a corporation ' or regulating a 
 corporation which already existed, but that of bestowing 
 * liberties and franchises ' upon a body which, withifi large 
 limits, was free to give itself a constitution and to alter that 
 constitution from time to time. There were things that it 
 could not do unless it obtained a privilege from the king. 
 It could not, for example, institute coroners, for that would 
 
 * Appendix to First Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the 
 Municipal Corporations^ 1835, pt. iv. p. 2185. (I cite this work as Mun. Corp. 
 Rep.) 
 
Introduction. ix 
 
 have disturbed the justiciary scheme of the shire of which the 
 borough formed a part. It could not declare that its own 
 officers should do that work of summoning, distraining and 
 arresting which had theretofore been done, even within 
 borough walls, by the sheriff. Nor could it take from the 
 sheriff the power and duty of collecting those rents and tolls 
 which were due to the king. It demanded from the king a 
 certain amount of exemption and immunity. But, this 
 having been acquired, it was very free to give itself a 
 constitution, to develop a conciliar organ, one council or 
 two councils, to define the modes in which burgherhood 
 should be acquired, to adopt the ballot or the open vote, and 
 generally to be as oligarchic or as democratic as it thought 
 fit. And at least from the fourteenth century onwards a 
 large use was made of this liberty. Elaborate constitutions 
 were established and after a few years abolished, and some 
 of our boroughs had revolutions enough to satisfy a South 
 American republic. 
 
 It is not uncommonly supposed that this medieval 
 autonomy came to an end in the age of the Tudors, or at all 
 events in the age of the Stewarts ; that charters were then 
 granted to the boroughs which imposed rigid and oligarchic 
 constitutions ; and that such charters were the outcome of 
 a definite policy on the part of the State. Only to a very 
 small degree is this true of Cambridge. No charter proceed- 
 ing from any Tudor did anything towards defining the 
 constitution of the burghal community, and yet during the 
 reign of Elizabeth that constitution was being frequently 
 altered at important points by the activity of the burgesses in 
 their Common Halls\ The charter of James I (1605) did 
 a very little and that of Charles I (1632) did a little more 
 towards introducing rigidity by drawing a few constitutional 
 
 ^ Coopei, Annals, ii. 105, 107, 160, 163, 209, 226, 233, 241, 278, 310, 320, 
 341, 342, 383, 409, 461, 485, 597-8j 612. 
 
 d2 
 
X Introduction. 
 
 outlines, for an outline drawn by charter the burgesses could 
 not destroy by by-law. But it is plain that these instruments 
 were not thrust upon the town by the central power in the 
 State. The charter of James I was obtained by the burgesses 
 after a prolonged and bitter controversy with the University 
 and at the cost of much money. No doubt, in 1685 we at 
 length see royal interference which, however, could soon 
 afterwards be pronounced unlawful and futile. To Charles II 
 the Town had to surrender its power of electing its own 
 officers. The famous suit against the City of London had 
 placed all charters at the royal mercy, for hardly a borough 
 in England could hope to satisfy the king's subservient 
 judges that it had not misused and forfeited its liberties. 
 Still even then, when the king had secured the main matter 
 and had provided by his charter that for the future every 
 borough officer should be 'amovable' by the King in 
 Council, he was for the more part content with the con- 
 stitution that Cambridge had been slowly developing. 
 And, as we know, he failed. After the Revolution of 1688 
 the charter of 1685 was treated as void ; the charter of 
 1632 was resumed ; and, as will be evident to those who 
 study its terms, it was very far from forcing upon Cam- 
 bridge a constitution that was defined in detail. As a 
 matter of fact, in 1786 a by-law made an important 
 change in the manner in which the mayor was to be 
 elected, and the validity of this change was upheld by the 
 Court of King's Bench\ 
 
 It may also be worthy of observation, for at this point 
 mistakes can be made, that to the very last — that is, until 
 1835 — the constitution of the corporate body at Cambridge 
 was thoroughly democratic. It is true that this body had 
 become very small. In a town with more than twenty 
 thousand inhabitants it consisted of less than two hundred 
 
 1 Mtm. Cot p. Rep. p. 2185 ; Newling\. Francis, 3 Term Reports, 189. 
 
Introduction, xi 
 
 men, and a considerable number of them lived elsewhere. 
 But this, let us notice, was the result of the old community's 
 autonomy. That community had been free, too free, to 
 decide the terms upon which it would admit new members, 
 and unfortunately in the eighteenth and perhaps in the 
 seventeenth century that freedom had been misused for 
 unworthy purposes. However, if we look at this little 
 body, this body of burgesses, we see that it is thoroughly 
 democratic. Despite the conciliar organs that it has 
 evolved, despite the twelve aldermen and the four and twenty 
 members of the common council, all the important affairs of 
 the corporation are brought before a general assembly in 
 which all the corporators, all the burgesses, have votes. 
 Possibly it was because the burgensic body was so small that 
 it preserved its democratic shape, but at any rate in Cam- 
 bridge there never took place that transfer of power to a 
 'select body' of which we may read elsewhere. To the 
 end the power of the corporation remained in a primary 
 assembly of the burgesses ^ 
 
 These brief remarks have been written for the purpose 
 of suggesting to the reader the point of view from which the 
 following documents should be examined. All that he might 
 like to know he will not find in them ; but then the mere fact 
 that the charters are not dictating a constitution is highly 
 important. He will doubtless know where to look for other 
 documents. Cambridge has been very fortunate. Few 
 indeed are the towns of England that can boast so good 
 a book of local history as Cooper's Annals. Here we can 
 offer no more than a few words about the royal charters, 
 about the instruments which define the borough's relation to 
 the king ; and we will take them in their chronological order. 
 
 I. Undated Writ of Henry I, Of the first of the docu- 
 ments that are here printed we have not the original. It is 
 
 1 Mun. Corp, Rep, p. 2188. 
 
xii Introduction. 
 
 a writ of Henry I (iioo — 1135), addressed to Hervey, Bishop 
 of Ely (1109 — 1 131), and attested by an unnamed Chan- 
 cellor, by Miles of Gloucester, and by Richard Basset, 
 whose names seem to point rather to the latter than to the 
 former half of Henry's reign. A comparatively modern copy 
 of it is found in the Corporation's ' Cross Book.' Apparently 
 the burgesses produced the original before the King's Bench 
 in the days of Richard \\ (p. 80), and they obtained a 
 confirmation of it in 1 548 from Edward VI (p. j6\ The fact 
 that it was not included in earlier confirmations will not seem 
 to throw doubt upon its genuineness if its import is con- 
 sidered, since such benefits as it bestows upon the burgesses 
 were of a kind that must in all probability have soon become 
 obsolete or were much more explicitly secured by more 
 modern documents. The brief sentence in it which gave 
 occasion for its production in the time of Richard W and 
 again in the time of Edward VI merely expresses the king's 
 will that men who do wrong in the borough shall ' there do 
 right ' : that is, shall be tried in Cambridge and not else- 
 where. Later documents defined in a far more accurate 
 manner the privilege of being sued at home. Indeed it may 
 be doubted whether Henry I, when he issued this document, 
 supposed that he was conferring a boon upon the townsfolk. 
 The main object of the writ which he sent to the bishop of 
 Ely, who seemingly was acting as the local justiciar, and to 
 the barons of Cambridgeshire, was to make ' his borough of 
 Cambridge ' the one * port ' and emporium of the shire. No 
 boat is to be charged or discharged at any hithe in the 
 county except at the hithe of the borough, and the town is to 
 be the one place at which toll is to be taken : we might say 
 in modern terms that the only custom-house is to be th^re. 
 It has commonly been supposed that the king went so far as 
 to forbid that any carts {carete) should be laden except in the 
 borough ; but this seems hardly a possible command. The 
 
Introduction. xiii 
 
 important word appears to be, not carete, but carece^ and this 
 might well stand for barges^ Indubitably if all traffic by- 
 water were thus banned to the hithes of the county town, 
 that town would be a gainer. Still it was toll that the king 
 wanted, and that toll would be paid to the king's officers for 
 the king's use. It is only therefore by a stretch of words 
 that we can give this remarkable writ a place among the 
 borough's Charters of Liberties. 
 
 II. Undated Writ of Henry II. Our second document 
 is a writ of Henry II (1154 — 1189) in which he declares that 
 he has granted his town of Cambridge to the burgesses. 
 Here again we have to rely upon a copy in the Cross 
 Book and upon a confirmatory charter granted by Edward 
 VI (p. 74) ; but we may also gather that the original of 
 this writ was produced before the justices of Richard II 
 (p. 80). Apparently it was then thought to be a writ not 
 of Henry II but of Henry I, and the same opinion seems 
 to have been prevalent in the time of Edward VI. In 
 Richard ITs day, so we are told, the burgesses exhibited 
 an undated document which they ascribed to Henry I and 
 which said just what is said by this writ of Henry II. A 
 mistake about such a matter might easily be made in the 
 fourteenth century when not every one remembered that 
 Henry I was neither Duke of Aquitaine nor Count of 
 Anjou. This error, however, seems to be the foundation 
 of the belief, entertained by Mr Cooper, that a grant of 
 the town was made to the burgesses by the first of the 
 Henries though * neither this grant, nor any copy or enrol- 
 ment of it is now known to be extant 2.' Such a grant made 
 at so early a day would have given Cambridge a highly 
 exceptional eminence among her sister boroughs and we are 
 
 ^ See carrica, carica, in Henschel's Ducange. Also carrack in Skeat'a 
 Dictionary. 
 
 ^ Cooper, Annals^ i. 22. 
 
xiv Introduction. 
 
 inclined to suppose that the burgesses of Richard IFs time 
 pardonably confused the Henries and so misled Mr Cooper. 
 
 In the year which ended at Michaelmas 1185 the 
 burgesses of Cambridge rendered an account at the Ex- 
 chequer of three hundred marks of silver and one mark of 
 gold 'that they might have their town at farm and that 
 the sheriff might not meddle therewith \' This would seem 
 to be the occasion of the writ or charter that lies before 
 us. Miss Bateson has ascertained by an inspection of the 
 Pipe Rolls that in the next year, that which ended at 
 Michaelmas 11 86, the burgesses began to account for the 
 farm of the borough. The writ is tested by Roger Fitz 
 Reinfrid 'apud Keueilli,' a place which is not Kenilworth, 
 but Quevilly near Rouenl The king was in Normandy 
 from April 1185 to April 11 861 
 
 The king grants the town to the burgesses who thence- 
 forth are to answer at the Exchequer for the ' farm ' or rent 
 of the borough which has heretofore been paid by the sheriff. 
 It would be impossible to state in a few words the precise 
 legal effect of this transaction or to deal with all the questions 
 that it raises. As the later history of our town amply shows, 
 learned persons might hold different opinions as to the scope 
 of the few rough words in which a king of the twelfth century 
 spoke of one of his boroughs as a single thing which he 
 could let to farm. Especially was there room for contro- 
 versy over the question whether he had placed at the 
 burgesses' disposal those bits of waste land which would 
 sooner or later become valuable'*. However, the main effect 
 of the grant is that the bailiffs or other officers elected by the 
 
 1 Madox, Exchequer^ i. 399 ; Cooper, Annals, i. 28. 
 
 - We owe this identification to Mr Round, who kindly gave us his help at this 
 point. 
 
 8 Eyton, Itinerary of Henry II, pp. •263-7. 
 
 ^ I have spoken of this at some length in Township and Borough, Univ. Press, 
 1898. 
 
Introduction. xv 
 
 burgesses will collect those various royal dues which hereto- 
 fore have been collected by the sheriff — the haw-gavel and 
 land-gavel, that is, the small rents due to the king from 
 houses in the town and arable strips in the fields, also the 
 tolls of the market, the profits of the borough court and of 
 the king's mill — and will thereout pay to the king that ' farm ' 
 or rent of the town which the sheriff has formerly paid as 
 part of the ' farm ' of his shire. There is a chance that 
 the bailiffs may make a profit ; but the main advantage 
 that the townsfolk gain is the exclusion of the sheriff and 
 his subordinates. 
 
 It will be observed that this grant of the borough by 
 Henry II is not a grant in perpetuity. It is a grant of the 
 borough in ' farm ' but not in ' fee farm.' Probably the king 
 regards it as revocable, though the burgesses have been 
 willing to give him a handsome sum for it. 
 
 III. First Charter of John (1201). To King John 
 (1199 — 1215) Cambridge, like many other boroughs, owes 
 her principal charters. The original of that which is dated 
 on the 8th of January 1201 (p. 5) is not known to be 
 extant, but a copy of it stands upon the Charter Roll at 
 the Record Office. We may briefly set forth its contents. 
 
 The king grants to the burgesses of Cambridge a gild 
 merchant and declares that all the burgesses of Cambridge 
 of the gild merchant shall be quit of toll and similar dues 
 (passage, lastage, pontage and stallage) in all his lands on 
 both sides of the sea. It seems, however, to be extremely 
 doubtful whether at Cambridge — and the same might be said 
 of some other towns of equal rank — any gild merchant took 
 definite shape and stood apart from the general body of 
 burgesses. Apparently the freedom from toll which King 
 John conceded was conceived to belong to every burgess of 
 Cambridge merely because he was a burgess^ : in other words, 
 
 ^ Certainly this was so in later days: Mun. Corp, Rep. 2190. 
 
xvi Introduction. 
 
 no trace seems as yet to have been found in later documents 
 of any smaller body organized as a gild of merchants which 
 was treated as having an exclusive right to that liberty which 
 had been obtained from the king. It would appear, how- 
 ever, that the mayor and bailiffs, besides holding a court five 
 times a year for suits concerning land, and besides holding a 
 court every Tuesday for personal actions, were prepared to 
 hold ' from day to day and from hour to hour their court of 
 the gild merchant,' to decide disputes between merchant and 
 merchant ' according to the exigence of the complaint.' This 
 we are told in Richard II's day (p. 84). Thus we have a little 
 evidence of a court which did summary justice between 
 merchant and merchant and compelled the defendant to 
 answer so soon as a charge was made against him ; but we 
 do not know that the organization of this court differed in 
 any respect from that of the ordinary borough court. Also 
 we have from the Tudor time a little evidence of an attempt 
 to constitute or reconstitute a gild merchant, of which, how- 
 ever, all burgesses were to be members\ This occurs in 
 1547 exactly at a time when the burgesses were engaged 
 in procuring a confirmation of their most ancient charters, 
 and the suggestion seems allowable that their attention was 
 directed by their legal advisers to the fact that the liberties 
 granted by King John were granted to the burgesses of 
 Cambridge 'of the gild merchant' and to none others I 
 More of the gild merchant cannot here be said ; but John's 
 time was the time when many of the boroughs were busy ob- 
 taining charters, when 'common forms' of charter were talking 
 shape in the royal Chancery, and when a gild of merchants 
 really was active and even dominant in some boroughs I 
 
 ^ Gross, Gild Merchant, i. 10. 
 
 2 Compare the resolution of 1547 in Cooper, Annals y ii. 2 with the two 
 documents of 1548 printed below, pp. 74, 78. 
 
 ^ This charter closely resembles one granted to Gloucester in the year 1 200 : 
 
Introduction. xvii 
 
 We may too easily draw the inference that the organiza- 
 tion of a town exactly follows the lines which seem to be 
 drawn by its charter. As to the exemption from toll, this 
 was a precious boon worthy of purchase by a good round 
 sum, for the land was full of toll takers. Even until 1835 it 
 was valued by Cambridge burgesses if they dealt in corn, and 
 some of the inhabitants of Cambridge complained of the 
 rules which debarred them from becoming members of the 
 shrunken body which enjoyed this liberty. 
 
 Then we see jurisdictional privileges which once were 
 highly prized. The burgesses are not to be impleaded out- 
 side the walls of the borough except in respect of ' exterior 
 tenures ' : that is to say, lands which lie elsewhere. They 
 may decline trial by battle, and instead may defend them- 
 selves in pleas of the crown according to the ancient custom 
 of the borough, which probably required an oath sworn with 
 oath-helpers. Their amercements are to be no heavier than 
 such as are sanctioned by the old law of the borough. Again, 
 in suits touching land the ancient custom is to be observed. 
 They are encouraged to make reprisals if the officers of other 
 towns take toll from one who belongs to the gild merchant 
 of Cambridge. 
 
 Then their fair in Rogation week — Reach fair — is secured 
 to them. How they had become entitled to a fair held so far 
 outside their town we are not told. They are to be freed from 
 any geares-gifu, any year's gift or annual present which 
 the sheriff may have been exacting : such exactions were 
 common and were often called the sheriffs aid or sheriffs 
 welcome. They need not attend those scot-ales which a 
 sheriff is wont to hold : those feasts at which he sells his beer 
 while no one else may sell any. 
 
 There follows a general concession of ancient liberties, 
 
 . Rot. Cart.Joh. p. 56. See Ballard, English Boroughs in the Reign of John, Eng. 
 Hist. Rev. xiv. 93. 
 
xviii Introduction. 
 
 a declaration that any new customs established in time of war 
 shall be quashed, a grant of royal protection to all traders 
 who visit Cambridge, and a threat that those who trouble the 
 burgesses will incur the penalty, the heavy penalty, of ten 
 pounds. 
 
 On the whole this charter secured to Cambridge most of 
 those ' franchises ' which the chief boroughs of England 
 enjoyed at the opening of the thirteenth century. Cambridge 
 now starts upon its long career as a royally chartered town. 
 
 IV. Second Charter of John (1207). In 1207 a final 
 settlement was made of the farm of the borough. The 
 burgesses were to hold the town not only in farm but in fee- 
 farm. They and their heirs were to hold it for ever at a rent 
 of forty pounds of blanched money and twenty pounds of the 
 current coin^ 
 
 To this was added a short clause which said that the 
 burgesses might make of themselves a reeve {prepositum) 
 whom they would and when they would. Apparently the 
 borough had up to this time had four bailiffs as its principal 
 officers. It now, following what has become the general 
 fashion, desires to have some one officer at its head. For a 
 short while this officer may have been called the reeve or the 
 alderman ; but very soon, and perhaps even in John's reign, 
 the title of mayor, which was rapidly spreading outwards 
 from London, was adopted, and Hervey the son of Eustace 
 the son of Duning appears as mayor of Cambridge^ 
 
 V and VI. First and Second Charters of Henry III 
 (1227). In 1227 when Henry III (1216 — 1272) had at- 
 tained full age the burgesses obtained from him a confir- 
 mation of those liberties which his father had granted to 
 
 ^ As to the mode of reckoning money see Turner, The Sheriffs Farm, 
 Transactions of Royal Historical Society^ New Series, xii. 119: 'A sum of money 
 reckoned by tale may be reduced to a sum of blanched money by making a 
 deduction from it of one shilling in the pound.' 
 
 2 Maitland, Township and Borough, p. i66. 
 
Introduction. xix 
 
 them. The two charters of 1227 are copies of John's two 
 charters. 
 
 VII. Third Charter of Henry III (1256). In 1256 
 the burgesses went to the king for what may seem to us 
 a strange concession. In the Middle Ages the town-com- 
 munity to which a trader belonged was often conceived 
 to be under a certain liability for his debts. A man of 
 Cambridge will perhaps be arrested in the borough of 
 Huntingdon because some other man of Cambridge owes 
 money to a man of Huntingdon. About the middle of 
 the thirteenth century a good many boroughs were en- 
 deavouring to obtain exemption from this rule. It will be 
 seen that King Henry III did not grant an absolute 
 exemption to the townsfolk of Cambridge. The man of 
 Cambridge and his goods are to be free from arrest for 
 the debt owed by another unless that other is solvent and 
 the Cambridge burgesses in their court have made default 
 in justice : so if the Cambridge court has ' denied right ' to a 
 man of Huntingdon it will still be imprudent for any 
 man of Cambridge to visit the neighbouring town. Not 
 until 1275 was an end put to this system of intermunicipal 
 reprisals^ and long after that the old principle was still 
 enforced against foreigners. 
 
 VIII. Fourth Charter of Henry III (1256). On the 
 same occasion, but by another charter, some new and im- 
 portant privileges were acquired by the burgesses. First 
 they were to have the highly valued ' return of writs.' Up 
 to this time, though they had a court of their own in 
 which the sheriff did not preside and though he no longer 
 collected those revenues that had been granted in farm to the 
 burgesses, he still had much to do in the borough. It was 
 for him to execute all the processes of the king's own courts, 
 the Chancery, Exchequer and Benches, and to do all the 
 
 1 Siat. West I. c. 23. 
 
XX Introduction. 
 
 summoning, distraining and arresting that royal ^'writs 
 commanded. The townsfolk desired to get this work into 
 their own hands so that it might be done by their elected 
 officers. When they have the ' return of writs ' the sheriff 
 will still be the person who will be directed by the king's 
 courts to make the requisite summonses, distraints, arrests 
 and so forth ; but he will be bound to hand on the writs to 
 the town officers who will execute them. If those officers 
 make default, then the sheriff may be told to disregard the 
 franchise of the town {quod non omittas propter aliquam liber- 
 tateni) ; still normally all this executive work will be done by 
 the town's own officers. This is a privilege which many 
 boroughs were seeking in the reign of Henry III. At a later 
 time a few took a further step along the same road, and, 
 being made ' counties of themselves,' had sheriffs of their own 
 who were the direct recipients of the writs that flowed from 
 Westminster. 
 
 Another right that was granted to the Cambridge bur- 
 gesses in 1256 was that of entertaining in their court the 
 action which was called in Latin de vetito namii and in 
 French vee de nam. We know it as the action of replevin. 
 It had been treated as an action which did not fall within the 
 ordinary competence of the communal and seignorial courts, 
 for the distrainor who refused to surrender the distrained 
 goods when security was tendered to him for the prosecution 
 of the claimant's suit was regarded as committing a serious 
 offence against the king. 
 
 Thirdly, the townsfolk were to have the right of electing 
 coroners. To be free from the interference of the officers of 
 the shire was the object at which they had been aiming, and 
 by the end of Henry Ill's reign their exemption was almost 
 complete. 
 
 IX. Oiarter of Edward I (1280). From Edward I 
 (1272 — 1307) they sought no more than a confirmation of 
 
Introduction. xxi 
 
 previous charters. In his reign a confirming charter takes 
 the form that is known as an Inspeximus. The king says 
 'We have inspected' such and such charters of our ances- 
 tors and we now confirm them : the contents of the docu- 
 ments that are to be confirmed are recited at full length. 
 
 X. Charter of Edward II (13 13). From Edward II 
 (1307 — 1327) we have a charter granted in 13 13. He con- 
 firmed charters of his father and grandfather, and the 
 confirmation was followed by a clause which had become 
 usual and which declared that the burgesses were to enjoy 
 the chartered liberties although of such liberties they had 
 made no use in the past. This was a protection against 
 the legal doctrine that franchises are forfeited as well by 
 non-use as by misuse or abuse. A few new privileges 
 were then conceded. The burgesses were to be free from 
 pavage, murage and pickage throughout the king's do- 
 minions. Apparently therefore a Cambridge man who 
 went into another town might not only refuse to pay toll 
 and other dues of a similar kind, but could not be compelled 
 to contribute to the paving of the streets or the maintenance 
 of the wall of the town to which he had gone\ The right of 
 the burgess to plead and be impleaded only within the 
 borough was declared and defined. The jury which convicts 
 him is to consist of his fellow-townsmen unless either the 
 king or the community of the borough is concerned in the 
 cause. The burgesses may bequeath lands and tenements 
 within the borough as though they were chattels. It is not 
 improbable that long before this in Cambridge, as in other 
 boroughs, the right to give lands by last will had been 
 assumed and was already regarded as sanctioned by 
 custom. 
 
 XL Letters Patent of Richard II (1377). The long 
 
 ^ The old pavages and murages were not direct taxes like modem rates but 
 partook of the nature of tolls. This was at least the common case. 
 
xxii Introduction. 
 
 reign of Edward III (1327 — 1377) is unrepresented. We 
 may suppose that by this time the men of Cambridge had 
 acquired all the privileges that they needed from the king 
 and were busily engaged at home in developing their institu- 
 tions within those wide limits that were set by the law of the 
 land and by the not illiberal immunities that their ancestors 
 had purchased. On the other hand, from Richard IPs time 
 (1377 — 1399) come some highly important documents. 
 However, the letters patent which were obtained in 1377 at 
 the very beginning of the reign were a mere confirmation 
 of Edward's II's charter. We say ' letters patent ' for, though 
 it is common to speak of all or nearly all the instruments 
 which the kings grant to the towns as * borough charters/ still 
 there are formal differences between the solemn carta and the 
 less solemn litterae patentes, and, as usually happens in such 
 cases, the less solemn form gradually prevailed over the more 
 solemn. The reader who is careful of such matters may 
 contrast the long and sometimes very interesting lists of 
 witnesses who attest the execution of a true carta with the 
 curt Teste meipso which the English king thinks a sufficient 
 authentication of his open letters. 
 
 XII. First Charter of Richard II {12,^2). We come to 
 a document which records not an increase but a diminution 
 of those liberties that the community had enjoyed. The 
 story of the Peasants' Revolt in 1381 cannot be told here; 
 but in consequence of the riots in Cambridge the borough was 
 adjudged to have forfeited its franchises. The effect of such 
 a forfeiture would be not only that the burgesses would lose 
 the precious immunity from toll and other like privileges that 
 had been granted to them, but also that some warden ap- 
 pointed by the king would take the place of their elected 
 mayor and that their farming of the town would come to an 
 end. However, after they had made humble submission, a 
 less extreme punishment was imposed. Their rent was 
 
Introduction. xxiii 
 
 raised from lOi to 105 marks (in other words from 
 £6j. 6s. Sd. to £70), and at the same time a certain portion 
 of their liberties was taken from them and bestowed upon the 
 University. This portion consisted of the guardianship of 
 the assizes of bread, wine and beer, the guardianship of the 
 assay and supervision of weights and measures, the jurisdic- 
 tion over regraters and forestallers, and the jurisdiction over 
 sellers of unwholesome victuals. Jurisdiction was a source of 
 revenue, and the result of this change would be that a con- 
 siderable number of fines and amercements which otherwise 
 would have been paid to the mayor and bailiffs of the 
 borough would flow into the coffers of the University. On 
 these unfavourable terms the liberties of the Town were 
 restored to the body which we may by this time call the 
 corporation of the borough : its rent or ' farm ' was increased 
 and its income was diminished, probably by at least iJ"io, for 
 this was the sum which the University was annually to pay 
 for the jurisdictional rights that it was acquiring\ 
 
 The task of reading a Latin charter of this age may 
 perhaps be lightened if the reader knows that, following a 
 fashion set by the papal chancery, the scribe of the charter is 
 often aiming at the production of a certain rhythmical effect. 
 He wishes to end as many clauses as possible with one or 
 other of a few admired cadences. The nature of the favourite 
 cadence may be illustrated by some of the instances that 
 occur in the document which lies before us. Thus we have — 
 graviter impetiti — notorie redtmdabant — forisfacere non de- 
 berent — humillime submisissent — integre seisienda. It is as 
 though a man writing in English were to strain after such 
 ends for his sentences as — ' university jurisdiction ' — * liberal 
 education' — 'all of his faithful lieges' — 'to the contrary 
 
 ^ For the Peasants' Revolt see Cooper, Annals^ i. 120; Maitland, Township 
 and Borough, p. 192; Powell, Rising in East Anglia\ Trevelyan, England in the 
 Age of Wycliffe^ c. vi. 
 
 B. C. C 
 
xxiv Introduction. 
 
 notwithstanding.' It is chiefly in the preambles or narra- 
 tive parts of documents that this fine writing is found. 
 When the operative part is reached the clerk must attend to 
 business and think less of his style. 
 
 XIII. Second Charter of Richard 11 (i^Ss). In 1385 
 the borough corporation was able, not indeed to recover what 
 it had lost in 1382 — for that had been given to the Univer- 
 sity — but to acquire from the king some new sources of 
 profit. It complained of a diminished income. Not only had 
 the burgesses lost what the masters and scholars had gained, 
 but many burgage houses whence rents (haw-gafol or ' high 
 gable rents ') were payable had perished in a recent fire. So 
 the community procured a grant of * fines, ransoms, amerce- 
 ments and forfeited issues.' These, it will be understood, 
 were not the profits of the borough court. Such profits 
 already formed part of that * town ' which the burgesses held 
 in farm. What they newly acquired in 1385 consisted of 
 pecuniary penalties imposed by the king's own courts, by the 
 King's Bench, the Common Bench, the Exchequer, justices in 
 eyre, justices of assize and gaol delivery, justices of the peace, 
 the steward and marshals of the king's household. Thence- 
 forward if an inhabitant of Cambridge were fined in the 
 King's Bench, the corporation of the town would be able to 
 procure the amount of the fine after it had been paid into the 
 Exchequer. And so with ' forfeited issues.' If in an action 
 in the king's courts a sheriff is commanded to distrain a man 
 of Cambridge in order to compel his appearance, and the 
 sheriff seizes corn or other ' issues ' of that man's land, and, 
 owing to continued contumacy, those issues are forfeited, the 
 profit is to come ultimately to the hands of the officers of the 
 town of Cambridge. In addition to this ' the chattels of 
 fugitives, felons and outlaws ' were granted to the municipal 
 corporation. Even at the present day a municipal corpora- 
 tion will occasionally be able to make a little profit out of 
 
Introduction. xxv 
 
 such clauses as those which are contained in the present 
 charter. Very recently the corporation of Nottingham suc- 
 ceeded in obtaining from the Treasury the proceeds of certain 
 fines that had been imposed upon offenders at Nottingham \ 
 In days when felons and outlaws still forfeited their chattels, 
 the revenue of a borough was sometimes materially increased 
 by a lucky windfall. 
 
 XIV. Letters Patent of Richard II {12)94). The charter 
 of 1385 contained a saving clause which excepted out of the 
 grant that was made to the Town ' fines, ransoms, amerce- 
 ments and forfeited issues in cases in which scholars of the 
 University or their servants were parties.' Apparently this 
 gave rise to some difficulties when the burgesses went to the 
 Exchequer to obtain the money to which the charter entitled 
 them. In 1394 those difficulties were to be removed. A 
 certificate from the officers of the University to the effect that 
 a particular fine, amercement or the like did not fall within the 
 exception was to be treated as conclusive at the Exchequer, 
 and without further investigation the Treasurer and Barons 
 were to allow to the burgesses the sum that was in question. 
 
 XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII. Letters Patent of Henry IV, 
 Henry F, and Henry VI (1399 — 1461). From the three 
 Lancastrian kings we have nothing but confirmations. 
 Though the confirming documents fill a small space in 
 this book, it should be understood that really they are 
 long. Each Inspeximus takes up bodily into itself its im- 
 mediate predecessor, so that a letter of Henry VI may 
 recite the whole of a letter of Henry V, which may recite 
 the whole of a letter of Henry IV, and so on back 
 to the days of John. Only after reading charters which 
 contain and confirm other charters do we at length reach 
 the few words of confirmation which are being obtained 
 from the reigning king. 
 
 ^ In re Nottingham Corporation^ [1897] 2 Q. B. 502. 
 
 C 2 
 
xxvi Introduction. 
 
 XIX. Letters Patent of Edzvard IV (1465). This 
 document of 6 July 1465 might be called an ' exemplifica- 
 tion ' of a ' private act of parliament ' passed in the session 
 which began on 29 April 1463. The corporation of Cam- 
 bridge had then presented a petition. It stated that the 
 town of Cambridge was bound annually to pay to the 
 king the farm of £yo, and had also to pay ;^8. io.y. to the 
 Priory of Caldwell and £ i to the Priory of Kenilworth. It 
 also stated that to every * dysme and quinzime ' — that is to 
 every national tax which took the form of a ' tenth ' on 
 boroughs and a ' fifteenth ' on counties — the inhabitants of 
 Cambridge had to contribute £^6, 12s. 2\d. It also stated 
 that the corporate revenue did not exceed £^0 yearly. It 
 complained that many houses had been demolished in order 
 to make room for King's College. It also alleged that 
 Henry VI ' late King of this realm in deed and not by 
 right' had by letters patent dated 18 July 1446 reduced 
 the contribution of the town towards each dysme and 
 quinzime to ;^20. It stated that this reduction was to be 
 effectual although the community of Cambridge might — by 
 their representatives in parliament, we suppose — be deemed 
 consenters to the act that imposed the tax, and although that 
 act contained a clause declaring that exempt places were not 
 to be excepted. It then said that this deed of the usurping 
 Lancastrian was void since the Yorkist had ' graciously taken 
 upon him the crown.' It prayed that Henry's concession 
 might be confirmed in parliament. 
 
 Then we learn that the petition thus presented in the 
 parliament of 1463 received the royal assent which was 
 endorsed upon it in the usual form : Soit fait come il est 
 desir^. And now on 6 July 1465 the burgesses obtain an 
 * exemplification ' of this act : in other words a solemnly 
 authenticated copy of the petition and endorsement, which 
 copy they will be able to produce if any attempt be 
 
Introduction. xxvii 
 
 made to exact more than ;^20 from the inhabitants of 
 Cambridge. 
 
 XX and XXI. Letters Patent of Edward IV (1466) 
 and of Henry VIII (isio). These are mere confirmations. 
 
 XXII. Letters Exemplificatory of Henry VIII (1530). 
 What is ' exemplified ' by this instrument is an extract from 
 the rolls of the court of King's Bench showing how in a then 
 recent case the municipal corporation of Cambridge had 
 asserted and proved its chartered right to the chattels of 
 felons. The extract begins with the record of an inquest held 
 by the two coroners of the borough which tells how Robert 
 Ashwell was slain in Trumpington Street by James Newland, 
 how the murderer fled, and how he had within the liberty of 
 the town of Cambridge goods to the value of twenty marks, 
 which were seized by the mayor and bailiffs. Then we learn 
 that, the indictment having been removed into the King's 
 Bench, the mayor and bailiffs were summoned. They ap- 
 peared by their attorney, who said on their behalf that they 
 did not understand that the king required an answer from 
 them. This, it may be noted, was the proper and civil 
 phrase for a defendant to use, when he was in effect going 
 to plead that the king was making a baseless claim. Upon 
 this follows a highly interesting plea, which begins with the 
 assertion that Cambridge is a corporate borough by prescrip- 
 tion. We may observe that by the time of Henry VIII 
 English lawyers had adopted the notion that a corporation is 
 no natural growth but must have been created by public 
 power. They were, however, willing to admit that corpo- 
 rateness, like other liberties and franchises, could be pre- 
 scribed for, and, there being no charter which had explicitly 
 created a corporation at Cambridge, the attorney for the 
 borough relied upon prescription. Then he produced the 
 charter of Richard II (No. XIII) which conferred the right 
 to the chattels of felons, fugitives and outlaws. Then he 
 
xxviii Introduction, 
 
 produced the last of the confirming docunients, namely, the 
 letters patent granted by Henry VIII (No. XXI) who 
 was the then reigning king. Then he asserted that the 
 goods of the murderer had been lawfully seized by the 
 mayor and bailiffs, and he ended his plea with the proper 
 offer of verification. To that plea the Attorney-General 
 demurred. And then there was a joinder in demurrer : 
 that is to say, both parties desired the judgment of the court 
 on the question whether the plea was sufficient in law. Upon 
 this follows a judgment for the Town. The mayor and bailiffs 
 may keep the goods of the murderer and ' may go hence 
 without day ' : in other words, they are dismissed out of the 
 court without being told that they must appear again. A 
 saving clause for ' the kings right if any ' is a common form 
 in such cases. The king is not to be debarred from reassert- 
 ing his right, if any, upon some future occasion. 
 
 From the fact that the Attorney-General demurred we 
 may perhaps infer that the case was treated as being 
 doubtful and important. New ideas about the nature and 
 origin of corporations were making their way into English 
 law, and it may not have been plain that the corporate 
 quality could be claimed on the ground of prescription. 
 
 It will be observed that this exemplification does not bear 
 the Teste meipso which would stand on letters patent 
 issuing from the Chancery, but was attested by John 
 Fitzjames who was Chief Justice of England. Also the 
 seal seems to be, not the great seal of the realm, but that 
 of the court of King's Bench. An exemplification of a record 
 of a court of law could probably be obtained, not as a favour, 
 but on payment of a fee to the clerk of the court. It was 
 useful to have an authenticated copy of the record of a suit 
 in which the borough had been victorious. 
 
 XXIII. Letters Patent of Edward VI (1548). A con- 
 firmation was obtained from Edward VI of his father's letters 
 
Introduction. xxix 
 
 (XXI) which confirmed a long series of earlier instruments. 
 But also for some reason or another the burgesses obtained 
 a confirmation of their two oldest documents, the writs of 
 Henry I and Henry H, and these seem never to have 
 been confirmed before this time. One of them was more 
 and the other but little less than four centuries old. 
 
 XXIV. Letters Exemplificatory of Edward VI (1548). 
 What are here exemplified are two successful claims of 
 cognizance made in the reign of Richard II, the one in the 
 court of King's Bench, and the other in the court of the King's 
 Household. The rulers of the borough in 1548 must have 
 desired to have in their hands an indisputable proof that in 
 Richard II's days the exclusive right of the borough court to 
 entertain actions arising within the limits of the borough 
 was proved before two high tribunals. 
 
 The extract from the rolls of the King's Bench (p. 79) 
 records an action for assault and false imprisonment brought 
 in Richard II's reign by John Longe against William Burton. 
 Thereupon the attorney of the borough appears to claim 
 cognizance of the suit for the borough court (p. 81). A long 
 and interesting assertion follows. It tells us what the men of 
 Cambridge at the end of the fourteenth century thought of 
 the ancient history of the borough and incidentally it throws 
 light upon the courts that they were holding. Their attorney 
 produced the writs of Henry I and Henry II. Apparently 
 that which came from Henry II he ascribed to Henry I 
 (p. 8t), but he also seems to have had some confirmatory 
 charter of Henry II, of which we have seen no other trace. 
 Then he showed John's charter. Then he told of the courts 
 that were held : a court held on five stated days in the year 
 for actions touching lands : a court held once a week for 
 personal actions : a court which could be held from day to 
 day if strangers were concerned : a court of the gild merchant 
 which would do justice between merchants not only from day 
 
XXX hitroduction. 
 
 to day, but from hour to hour : two courts-leet with view of 
 frankpledge held in spring and autumn (p. 85). Then the 
 charters of Henry III, Edward II and Richard II were 
 tendered. Then four cases from the reigns of the then reign- 
 ing king (Richard II) and of Edward III in which cognizance 
 had been granted to the borough court were alleged and the 
 records of the King's Bench were cited (p. 89). Finally a 
 writ or 'letter close' to the justices which had just been 
 obtained was produced : in effect it told the justices to allow 
 the claim of the burgesses. And allowed it was by the usual 
 words 'Therefore let them have their liberty.' Whereupon 
 the attorney of the Borough, as in duty bound, appointed a 
 day for the litigation in the gildhall, and the litigants were 
 told that, if full and speedy justice were not done to them, 
 they might return to the King's Bench. 
 
 The second record that was exemplified in 1548 came 
 from the court of the King's Household of Richard II's day 
 (p. 93). That court being at Cambridge, Thomas Lodeworth 
 had sued Geoffrey Castur in it for a debt ; but the attorney of 
 the Town had claimed cognizance of the cause and claimed it 
 successfully. 
 
 XXV. Letters Patent of Elizabeth (1589). Not until 
 1589 did the incorporated burgesses of Cambridge obtain a 
 secure lordship of Sturbridge Fair, that great fair, 'by far the 
 largest and most famous fair in all England,' which was held 
 in the fields of Cambridge. Seemingly their title was of this 
 sort : A fair had been granted by John to the Lepers' 
 Hospital which stood in the remotest corner of the territory 
 of Cambridge where its chapel may be seen to this day. But 
 that hospital had been founded and endowed by the com- 
 munity of the town and the community claimed to be its 
 patron. Then we may suppose that, as leprosy became 
 much rarer than it had been in the twelfth century, and the 
 hospital was not required, the burgesses began to regard 
 
Introdjiction. xxxi 
 
 themselves as entitled to the profits of the fair\ It may well 
 be doubted whether to medieval lawyers such a claim on 
 their part would have seemed unreasonable. Elizabeth's 
 charter tells us how Henry VIII attacked their title by an 
 information of quo waranto, how they submitted themselves, 
 and how the fair was adjudged to the king^ (p. 99). Probably 
 their right to the fair was by no means clear, but we cannot 
 argue that they knew that they were in the wrong merely 
 because they declined to plead against King Henry VIII in 
 the fulness of his power. From his daughter they obtained 
 the statement that the fair had been theirs from time im- 
 memorial (p. 97) and a grant which would set the question at 
 rest for all time to come. That grant, however, was not 
 obtained until after a prolonged struggle with the University, 
 in the course of which the clauses of the draft charter, or 
 ' book ' as it was called, underwent careful criticism and 
 many alterations. We find that the Town had retained the 
 Attorney-General and the University had retained the 
 Solicitor-General. The University was in the act of obtain- 
 ing letters patent which would secure to her certain jurisdic- 
 tional rights in the fair. The grant to the Town was dated 
 on the 15th of August, the grant to the University on the 
 30th. The relation that the two documents were to bear to 
 each other required nice adjustment. The townsfolk were 
 not satisfied by the result and accused their mayor of having 
 betrayed their interests. The University, it will be re- 
 membered, had ever since the insurrection of Richard IFs 
 time been possessed of that jurisdiction over victuals, weights 
 and measures which the Town had forfeited, and the exercise 
 of jurisdictional rights in Sturbridge Fair had been the 
 occasion of many disputes. 
 
 ^ See the History of Sturbridge Fair in vol. v. oi Biblioth. Topograph. Britan. 
 I think this the most probable account of the matter but am not aware that it has 
 ever been satisfactorily explained. 
 
 ^ Cooper, Annals^ i. 393. 
 
xxxii Intro deletion. 
 
 XXVI. Letters Patent of James I (1605). Until 1605 
 the municipal corporation had never been formally ' created ' 
 by the king. Already in Henry VIII's reign it had success- 
 fully asserted its prescriptive right to be corporate. But in 
 the reign of James I the time had come when it was hardly 
 safe for a body to live without a solemn document wherein 
 the king professedly made it ' a body corporate and politic in 
 deed, fact and name.' Old charters which spoke now of the 
 ' men ' and now of the ' burgesses ' of the town, now of the 
 mayor and now of the mayor and bailiffs, were apt to occasion 
 difficulty. The greater part of the long and wordy document 
 which was obtained from King James is taken up by the 
 formal creation and erection of a corporation (p. 119), which 
 is to be capable of holding property, of suing and being sued 
 (p. 121), of using a common seal (p. 123), of making by-laws 
 (p. 123), and of acquiring in mortmain lands to the value of 
 £(iO a year (p. 127). Then to this corporation are confirmed 
 the rights granted by the king's predecessors, the old rent 
 being still reserved (p. 129). The length and verbosity of 
 the charters of the Stewarts, which are well illustrated by this 
 document and the documents that follow it, are in a great 
 measure due to the extreme severity of the rules of construc- 
 tion which the courts of law had been applying to royal 
 grants. Everything was to be presumed in favour of the 
 kingly grantor. The words by which he purported to confer 
 a right were to mean as little as was possible. The result of 
 this was that the grantees were studious to obtain, and willing 
 to pay for, more and more words. For example, the clause 
 which tells how the king makes the grant ' of our special 
 grace, from our certain knowledge and mere motion ' was 
 worth obtaining. It would sometimes, though not always, 
 serve to repel the objection that the king had been 'deceived 
 in his grant' or must not be supposed to have really in- 
 tended all that he had apparently said. 
 
Introduction.^^' xxxiii 
 
 It will be noticed that even James I did very little in the 
 way of imposing a constitution upon the borough. He 
 established no council to rule the borough. The power to 
 make by-laws was to be exercised by the whole body of the 
 burgesses or the greater part of them, but the mayor was to 
 have a veto (p. 123). 
 
 XXVII. Letters Patent of Charles I (1632). Except 
 during a brief interval (1685 — 8) this instrument continued to 
 be for upwards of two centuries 'the governing charter' of the 
 borough. It was so until 1835 when the municipal corporations 
 were reformed. It is a very long document and at first sight 
 may seem to have done far more than really it did. It once 
 more incorporates what was already a corporation both by 
 prescription and the charter of James I (p. 139), and the full 
 flood of words which bestowed capacity to sue and be sued, 
 to hold property, to use a common seal and to make by-laws 
 was let loose once more. It declares that there are to be 
 twelve aldermen and twenty-four members of the common 
 council (p. 143), and in so doing it confers from without a 
 little new rigidity upon the constitution which had been 
 evolved from within. But as to the function of these conciliar 
 bodies it refers to the ancient usage, and nothing was said 
 about qualification, mode of election or tenure of office. 
 Nothing, again, was said about the definition of the general 
 body of burgesses, about the right to burgherhood or the 
 means by which this body might perpetuate itself We notice 
 also that the power of making by-laws, which is given in 
 large terms, was reposed in this general body assembled in 
 a primary assembly. 
 
 The really important clauses of the charter seem to be the 
 following. In the first place much was said of the two 
 treasurers. Apparently it was to be made quite clear that 
 the treasurers were to be able to sue in the borough court for 
 money penalties incurred by infringers of the by-laws (p. 145). 
 
xxxiv Introduction. 
 
 There had been difficulties about this matter. It might be 
 argued that in such a case one and the same person, one and 
 the same corporation, was both plaintiff and judge, besides 
 being the law-maker and the recipient and enjoyer of the 
 exacted money. We may conjecture that all objections on 
 this score were for the future to be carefully precluded. 
 Secondly, it was to be plain that the mayor or a bailiff might 
 appoint a deputy (p. 151). Thirdly, with some exceptions, 
 no one was to exercise in the borough any craft or 
 manual occupation unless he had served for seven years as 
 an apprentice (p. 157). Fourthly, — and perhaps in this 
 clause we may see what the corporation regarded as the 
 main point of the charter — the corporation is to have a 
 very general power of taxing, not merely its own members, 
 but the other inhabitants of the borough (p. 159). Were we 
 to ask whether the king himself had power to lay taxes on his 
 subjects or could give any such power to others, we should 
 ask a question about which in 1632 King Charles and many 
 of his subjects held diametrically opposite opinions. We 
 know how it was finally decided, and that a famous burgess 
 of Cambridge, Oliver Cromwell, took part in the decision. 
 
 Then there was a confirmation of ancient liberties (p. 161). 
 The rights of the University were carefully saved (p. 165), 
 and there were elaborate dispensing clauses such as the kings 
 loved and in which they posed as sovereigns who were com- 
 petent to override both statute and common law (pp. 
 
 165-7)^ 
 
 XXVIII. Letters Patent of Charles II (1685). On 
 II November 1684 the Corporation executed a deed which 
 purported to surrender to the king the right of appointing the 
 
 1 As to these dispensing clauses, which were by no means new under the 
 Stewarts, see Hardy, Introduction to the Charter Rolls, pp. xxiv., xxv. The 
 reader can there find an explanation of the reference made in the document that is 
 before us (p. 165) to a statute of 18 Hen. VI. 
 
Introduction. xxxv 
 
 mayor, aldermen, common councilmen, bailiffs and other 
 officers of the borough. A few weeks afterwards, on 3 January 
 1685, the present document was sealed. By it the king filled 
 the offices with his nominees, who, however, with some few 
 exceptions, seem to have been the men who were in office at 
 the time of the surrender^ The chief point secured by the 
 king in the new charter was that for the future the King in 
 Council would have an absolutely unfettered power of 
 removing all or any of the holders of office, so that all the 
 rulers of the borough would have good reason for dread- 
 ing his displeasure. Repeated in town after town, this 
 assumption of control over the municipalities would, it need 
 hardly be said, make the king master of parliament. For the 
 rest, we see less change in the constitution of Cambridge than 
 we might have expected. The officers, including the alder- 
 men and councillors, were to be appointed in the manner 
 accustomed within the borough during the last twenty years. 
 This provision would have had the effect of stereotyping some 
 parts of the constitution which in the past had been treated as 
 alterable. But the whole document became a nullity. The 
 surrender of 1684 was never enrolled. At the last moment of 
 his reign the terrified James endeavoured to retrace a few of 
 his many false steps and by a Proclamation declared, in effect, 
 that at Cambridge and other towns which were in a like case 
 the surrendered charters were valid and the substituted 
 charters void 2. This was on 17 October 1688. On 5 No- 
 vember the deliverer landed. 
 
 At this point ends the history of the town of Cambridge, 
 so far as it is written in royal charters. The next interference 
 of national authority with municipal affairs was to be of a far 
 different kind. In 1833 the corporation was called upon to 
 
 ^ Cooper, Annals, iii. 604. 
 
 2 For this proclamation and its legal effect, see NewHng v. Francis, 3 Term 
 Reports, 189 : a Cambridge case. 
 
xxxvi Introduction. 
 
 render an account of its stewardship. In 1835 it was 
 reformed. 
 
 Appendix I. In an Appendix are printed four documents 
 which have been preserved along with the charters of liberties. 
 Of these, the first shows us the civic corporation bound to pay 
 to the Prior of Caldwell a rent of ;^8. ioj-. This rent formed 
 part of the ' third penny ' of the borough to which the earl 
 had been entitled \ The acquisition by the burgesses of the 
 ' farm ' of their town had, at least in some cases, involved not 
 only a settlement with the king, but also a settlement with 
 the earl, for he had been entitled to a third part (* the third 
 penny ') of the profits of the borough court. 
 
 Appe?tdix II. In 1455 Henry VI grants to the burgesses 
 a piece of land which he had acquired from the Prior of 
 Anglesey, the burgesses having given in exchange another 
 piece of land for the enlargement of the site of King's College. 
 The whereabouts of these plots has been lately explained by 
 the Registrary of the University in his noble History I 
 
 Appendix III. The practice of giving to burgesses the 
 right to take toll in their town and to be themselves quit of 
 toll both there and elsewhere naturally gave rise to inter- 
 municipal disputes. Sometimes the question whether the 
 men of one town had lawfully become free of toll in another 
 town involved a comparison between the dates of the charters 
 granted to the two towns respectively, and an investigation of 
 the state of affairs which had existed before the charters were 
 sealed. We here see an Award made in 15 19 by two arbitra- 
 tors who are justices of the court of Common Pleas. The 
 matter at stake is the toll demanded in Sturbridge Fair from 
 burgesses of Northampton. An annuity of ten shillings is to 
 be paid by the corporation of Northampton to that of Cam- 
 bridge, and there is to be a further payment of two pence for 
 
 ^ Cooper, Annals^ i. 37, 109. 
 
 ^ Clark, Architectural History^ i. 212 ; ii. 404. 
 
Introduction. xxxvii 
 
 every cart that leaves the fair laden with 'stuff' of the 
 Northamptoners. 
 
 Appendix IV. Our last document shows us Philip and 
 Mary restoring to the corporation certain rents which upon 
 the dissolution of the chantries in the reign of Edward VI 
 had been seized on the part of that protestant king. These 
 rents issuing out of booths in Sturbridge Fair and amount- 
 ing to ;^8. 1 5 J. 2d. had been bequeathed to the community 
 by divers benefactors upon trusts which in the language of 
 modern lawyers were partly superstitious and partly charit- 
 able. Edward had paid to the burgesses for distribution among 
 the poor an annuity of £6. \os. 6d., keeping to himself the 
 residue which represented so much as had been devoted to 
 the procurement of masses for the dead. His catholic suc- 
 cessors restored the old rents to the corporation, to be held 
 upon the old trusts, which were no longer — though they soon 
 would be once more — unlawful. However, it will be seen that 
 a reason is given for the invalidation of Edward's seizure of 
 the rents, and that this reason has nothing to do with religion. 
 It was said that these rents, since they issued out of customary 
 lands, did not fall within the Act which gave the endowment 
 of chantries to the king. 
 
 It is a mistake to suppose that the great Act of 1835 
 dissolved old corporations and put new corporations in their 
 stead. The Corporation of the Borough of Cambridge whose 
 Council has seen good to provide for the publication of these 
 charters is the selfsame body to which the charters were 
 granted. In 1835 it renewed its youth and at the beginning 
 of another century can look forward to a vigorous life and 
 backward upon a memorable history. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 p. 45, line 3. For Quevilly read Qiievilly, 
 
 p. 53, line 13. Y ox private xtz.^ privy. 
 
 pp. 74 and 75. The date in the margin should be 1548 not 1549. 
 
 p. 20 r, line 25. For the private x^zA privy. 
 
CHARTERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BOROUGH OF CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 B. C. 
 
I. Breve Regis Henrici Primi. 
 
 A.D. II 20 ^Henricus Rex Anglorum Herueio Eliensi Episcopo et 
 ""2' omnibus Baronibus suis de Grentebrugeseira salutem. Pro- 
 hibeo ne aliqua navis applicet ad aliquod litus de Cantebruge- 
 seira nisi ad litus de burgo meo de Cantebruge neque carece 
 onerentur nisi in burgo de Cantebruge neque aliquis capiat 
 alibi theoloneum nisi ibi. Et quicumque in ipso burgo 
 forisfecerit ibidem faciat rectum. Quod si quis aliter fecerit 
 precipio ut sit mihi inde ad rectum coram iusticia mea 
 quando precipio inde placitare. T[estibus :] Cancellario et 
 Milone de Gloecestria [et Ricardo Basset apud Londoniamjl 
 
 II. Breve Regis Henrici Secundi. 
 
 A.D. 1 161 ^Henricus dei gracia Rex Anglie et Dux Normannie et 
 
 — "89 Aquitannie et Comes Andegavie lusticiariis, Vicecomitibus et 
 omnibus Ministris et Fidelibus suis salutem. Sciatis me 
 tradidisse ad firmam burgensibus meis de Cantebruge villam 
 meam de Cantebruge tenendam de me in capite per eandem 
 firmam quam vicecomites mihi reddere solebant et ut- ipsi 
 inde ad scaccarium meum respondeant. Et ideo precipio 
 quod prefatos burgenses et omnia sua custodiatis et manu- 
 teneatis sicut mea propria ne quis eis in aliquo iniuriam vel 
 
 ^ Transcript in Cross Book, f. 47 ; also Inspeximus of 2 Edw. VI. Original 
 not known to exist. 
 
 2 Not in Cross Book ; supplied from the Inspeximus. 
 
 * Transcript in Cross Book, f. 47; also Inspeximus of 2 Edw. VI. Original 
 not known to exist. 
 
I. Writ of King Henry the First. 
 
 ^ Henry King of the English to Hervey Bishop of Ely and a.d. 1120 
 all his barons of Cambridgeshire greeting. I forbid that any ~~"^^ 
 boat shall ply at any hithe in Cambridgeshire, save at the 
 hithe of my borough of Cambridge, nor shall barges be laden, 
 save in the borough of Cambridge, nor shall any take toll 
 elsewhere, but only there. And whosoever doth forfeit in 
 the borough let him there do right. And if any do otherwise, 
 I command that he be at right thereof before my justice 
 when I command that there be plea thereof As witnesses: 
 the Chancellor and Miles of Gloucester and Richard Basset 
 at London. 
 
 n. Writ of King Henry the Second. 
 
 ^Henry by the grace of God King of England and a.d. 1 161 
 Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Count of Anjou, ~'' ^ 
 to his Justices, Sheriffs and all his Ministers and faithful 
 People greeting. Know ye that I have delivered at farm 
 to my burgesses of Cambridge my town of Cambridge to 
 be holden of me in chief by the same farm which my 
 sheriffs were wont to render to me, and so that they them- 
 selves [the burgesses] do answer therefor at my exchequer. 
 And therefore I command that ye guard and maintain the 
 said burgesses and all things to them belonging as though 
 they were mine own, so that no one may in any wise cause to 
 
 1 See Cooper, Annals^ i. 25. 
 
 2 See Cooper, Annals, i. 28. 
 
 I — 2 
 
4 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 molestiam faciat aut gravamen. Nolo enim quod ipsi alicui 
 inde respondeant nisi mihi et ad scaccarium meum. Teste : 
 Rogero filio Reinfrido apud Keueilli. 
 
 III. Carta Prima Regis Johannis. 
 
 I20I *Iohannes dei gracia Rex Anglie etc. Sciatis nos con- 
 
 Jan. 8 cessisse et presenti carta nostra confirmasse burgensibus 
 nostris de Cantebruge gildam mercatoriam, et quod nullus 
 eorum placitet extra muros burgi de Cantebruge de ullo 
 placito preter placita de tenuris exterioribus, exceptis mone- 
 tariis et ministris nostris. Concessimus eciam eis quod nullus 
 eorum faciat duellum et quod de placitis ad coronam nostram 
 pertinentibus se possint disracionare secundum antiquam 
 consuetudinem burgi. Hoc eciam eis concessimus quod 
 omnes burgenses de Cantebruge de gilda mercatorum sint 
 quieti de theloneo et passagio et lestagio et pontagio et 
 stallagio in feria et extra et per portus maris Anglie et 
 omnium terrarum nostrarum citra mare et ultra mare, salvis 
 in omnibus libertatibus civitatis Londonie, et quod nullus de 
 misericordia pecunie iudicetur nisi secundum antiquam legem 
 burgi, quam habuerunt temporibus antecessorum nostrorum. 
 Et quod terras suas et vademonia et debita omnia iuste 
 habeant quicumque ea debeat. Et de terris suis et tenuris 
 que infra burgum sunt rectum eis teneatur secundum consue- 
 tudinem burgi. Et de omnibus debitis suis que accomodata 
 fuerint apud Cantebruge et de vademoniis ibidem factis, 
 placita apud Canteburge^ teneantur. Et si quis in tota terra 
 nostra theloneum vel consuetudines ab hominibus de Cante- 
 bruge de gilda mercatorum ceperit, postquam ipse a recto 
 defecerit, vicecomes de Cantebruge vel prepositus de Cante- 
 bruge namum inde apud Cantebruge capiat, salvis in omnibus 
 libertatibus civitatis Londonie. Insuper eciam ad emenda- 
 
 ^ From a copy enrolled in Rot. Cart. Joh. A. R. 2, m. ro as printed in Record 
 Commissioners edition, p. 83. A copy in Cross Book, f. 49. Original not 
 known to exist. 
 
 2 Sic. 
 
Jan. 8 
 
 Charter of King John. 5 
 
 them injury or damage or grievance. For I will not that 
 they answer therefor to any but to me and at my exchequer 
 As witness : Roger the son of Reinfrid at Quevilly. 
 
 III. First Charter of King John. 
 ^John by the grace of God, King of England etc. Know ^^^oi 
 ye that we have granted and by this our present charter have 
 confirmed to our burgesses of Cambridge a gild merchant, 
 and that none of them shall plead without the walls of the 
 borough of Cambridge concerning any plea, unless they be 
 pleas of exterior tenures, except our moneyers and servants. 
 Moreover we have granted to them that none of them shall 
 make [proof by] battle, and that with regard to pleas per- 
 taining to our crown they may deraign themselves according 
 to the ancient custom of the borough. This also we have 
 granted to them, that all the burgesses of Cambridge of the 
 gild of merchants shall be quit of toll and passage and lastage 
 and pontage and stallage, in fair and without, and throughout 
 the ports of the sea of England and of all our lands on this 
 side of the sea and beyond the sea, saving in all things the 
 liberties of the city of London, and that none be adjudged to 
 be in mercy as to his money except according to the ancient 
 law of the borough which they had in the times of our 
 ancestors. And that they may justly have their lands and 
 pledges and all debts, whosoever may owe the same. And 
 that right shall be done to them touching their lands and 
 tenures which are within the borough according to the custom 
 of the borough. And of all their debts which shall have been 
 contracted at Cambridge and of the pledges made there, pleas 
 shall be held at Cambridge. And if any in all our land shall 
 take toll or customs from the men of Cambridge of the gild 
 of merchants and shall have made default in right, then the 
 sheriff of Cambridge or the reeve of Cambridge shall take 
 therefor a distress at Cambridge, saving in all things the 
 liberties of the city of London. Moreover for the amendment 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. 31. 
 
6 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 cionem burgi de Cantebruge concessimus eis feriam suam 
 in septimana Rogacionum cum libertatibus suis sicut earn 
 habere consueverunt, et quod omnes burgenses de Cantebruge 
 sint quieti de jherescheve et de scothale si vicecomes noster 
 vel aliquis alius ballivus scotaliam faciat. Has predictas 
 consuetudines eis concedimus et omnes alias libertates et 
 liberas consuetudines quas habuerunt temporibus antecess- 
 orum nostrorum quando meliores vel liberiores habuerunt, 
 et si alique consuetudines iniuste levate fuerint in warra 
 cassate sint. Et quicunque petierint burgum de Canteburge* 
 cum mercato suo, de quocumque loco sint, sive extraney 
 sive alii, veniant morentur et recedant in salva pace nostra 
 reddendo rectas consuetudines, et nemo eos disturbet super 
 hanc cartam nostram. Et prohibemus ne quis inde iniuriam 
 vel dampnum vel molestiam predictis burgensibus nostris 
 faciat super forisfacturam nostram decem librarum. Quare 
 volumus et firmiter precipimus quod predicti burgenses et 
 heredes eorum hec omnia predicta hereditarie habeant et 
 teneant de nobis et heredibus nostris, bene et in pace, libere 
 et quiete, integre et honorifice, sicut superius scriptum est. 
 Testibus : R[ogero] Sancti Andree Episcopo, G[alfrido] filio 
 Petri Comite Essexie, R[oberto] Comite Leicestrie, W[illelmo] 
 Comite Sarrisbirie etc. Data per manum nostram apud 
 Geytintone, viij die lanuarii anno regni nostri secundo. 
 
 IV. Carta Secunda Regis Johannis. 
 
 1-207 'lohannes dei gracia Rex Anglie Dominus Hybernie Dux 
 
 May 8 Normannie et Aquitannie Comes Andegavie Archiepiscopis, 
 Episcopis, Abbatibus, Comitibus, Baronibus, lusticiariis, Vice- 
 comitibus, Prepositis, et omnibus Ballivis et Fidelibus suis 
 salutem. Sciatis nos concessisse et hac carta nostra con- 
 firmasse burgensibus nostris de Cantebrige villam de Cante- 
 brige cum omnibus pertinenciis suis habendam et tenendam 
 in perpetuum de nobis et heredibus nostris sibi et heredibus 
 
 1 Sic. 
 
 2 Original in Borough Archives with a portion of the great seal in green wax 
 appendant. 
 
Charters of King John. 7 
 
 of the borough of Cambridge we have granted to them their 
 fair in Rogation week with its liberties as they were accus- 
 tomed to have it, and that all the burgesses of Cambridge be 
 quit of jherescheve and of scotale if our sheriff or any other 
 bailiff shall make a scotale. These customs aforesaid we have 
 granted to them and all other liberties and free customs which 
 they had in the times of our ancestors when they best and 
 most freely had the same, and if any customs have been 
 unjustly levied in time of war, they shall be quashed. And 
 whoever shall seek the borough of Cambridge with their mer- 
 chandize, whencesoever they be, whether strangers or others, 
 they may come, stay and return in our sure peace upon render- 
 ing right customs, and none shall disturb them upon [pain of 
 infringing] this our charter. And we forbid that any cause 
 herein injury or loss or trouble to our burgesses aforesaid 
 upon pain of our forfeiture of ten pounds. Wherefore we 
 will and firmly command that the aforesaid burgesses and 
 their heirs shall have and hold all these things aforesaid in 
 inheritance of us andour heirs well and peaceably, freely 
 and quietly, entirely and honourably as is written above. As 
 witnesses: Roger, Bishop of St Andrews, Geoffrey Fitz Peter 
 Earl of Essex, Robert Earl of Leicester, William Earl of 
 Salisbury etc. Given by our hand at Geddington on the 
 8th day of January in the second year of our reign. 
 
 IV. Second Charter of King John. 
 
 *John by the grace of God King of England Lord of 1207 
 Ireland Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Count of Anjou, ^^^ ^ 
 to his Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Earls, Barons, Justices, 
 Sheriffs, Reeves, and all his Bailiffs and faithful People 
 greeting. Know ye that we have granted, and by this our 
 charter have confirmed, to our burgesses of Cambridge the 
 town of Cambridge, with all its appurtenances, to have and to 
 hold for ever of us and our heirs to them and their heirs, 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals, i. 33. 
 
S Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 suis reddendo inde annuatim ad scaccarium nostrum anti- 
 quam firmam scilicet quadraginta libras albas et viginti libras 
 numero de cremento pro omni servicio per manus eorum ad 
 duo scaccaria anni. Quare volumus et firmiter precipimus 
 quod predicti burgenses et heredes sui habeant et teneant pre- 
 dictam villam cum omnibus pertinenciis suis bene et in pace, 
 libere et quiete, integre, plenarie et honorifice in pratis et 
 pascuis, molendinis, aquis et stagnis cum omnibus libertatibus 
 et liberis consuetudinibus suis. Concessimus eciam eis quod 
 faciant de se ipsis prepositum quem voluerint et quando 
 voluerint. Testibus : Dominis Willelmo Londoniensi, Petro 
 Wintoniensi, lohanne Norwicensi, loscelino Bathoniensi Epis- 
 copis, Galfrido filio Petri Comite Essexie, Comite Alberico, 
 Willelmo Briwerre, Galfrido de Nevilla,Reginaldo de Cornhille. 
 Data per manum Hugonis de Welles Archidiaconi Wellensis 
 apud Lamheam viii'^ die Maii Anno Regni nostri octavo. 
 
 V. Carta Prima Regis Henrici Tertii. 
 
 1227 ^Henricus dei gracia Rex Anglie Dominus Hybernie Dux 
 
 Normannie Aquitannie et Comes Andegavie Archiepiscopis, 
 Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, Comitibus, Baronibus, lusti- 
 ciariis, Forestariis, Vicecomitibus, Prepositis, Ministris, et omni- 
 bus Ballivis, et Fidelibus suis salutem. Sciatis nos concessisse 
 et presenti carta nostra confirmasse burgensibus nostris de 
 Cantebrige gildam mercatorum, et quod nuUus eorum placitet 
 extra muros burgi de Cantebrige de ullo placito preter placita 
 de tenuris exterioribus exceptis monetariis et ministris nostris. 
 Concessimus eciam eis quod nullus eorum faciat duellum et 
 quod de placitis ad coronam nostram pertinentibus se possint 
 disracionare secundum antiquam consuetudinem burgi. Hoc 
 eciam eis concessimus quod omnes burgenses de Cantebrige 
 de gilda mercatorum sint quieti de theloneo et passagio et 
 
 ^ Original in the Borough Archives with a large portion of the great seal in 
 green wax appendant. 
 
' F THE 
 
 UWiVERSITY 
 
 OF 
 
 Charter of King Henry tlie Third. 
 
 rendering therefor yearly at our exchequer the ancient farm, 
 to wit forty pounds blanch, and twenty pounds by tale 
 by way of increase, for all services, by their hands at two 
 exchequers in the year. Wherefore we will, and firmly 
 command, that the aforesaid burgesses and their heirs shall 
 have and hold the aforesaid town with all its appurtenances 
 well and peaceably, freely and quietly, entirely, fully and 
 honourably, in meadows and pastures, mills, waters and 
 pools, with all their liberties and free customs. Moreover we 
 have granted unto them that they shall make of themselves 
 a reeve, whom they will and when they will. As witnesses : the 
 lords William Bishop of London, Peter Bishop of Winchester, 
 John Bishop of Norwich, Josceline Bishop of Bath, Geoffrey 
 Fitz Peter Earl of Essex, the Earl Aubrey, William Briwerre, 
 Geoffrey de Nevill, Reginald of Cornhill. Given by the 
 hand of Hugh of Wells, Archdeacon of Wells, at Lambeth, 
 the eighth day of May in the eighth year of our reign. 
 
 V. First Charter of King Henry the Third. 
 
 ^ Henry by the grace of God King of England Lord of ^^7 
 Ireland Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Count of Anjou, 
 to his Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, 
 Justices, Foresters, Sheriffs, Reeves, Ministers and all his Bailiffs 
 and faithful People greeting. Know ye that we have granted 
 and by this our present charter have confirmed to our 
 burgesses of Cambridge a gild merchant, and that none of 
 them shall plead without the walls of the borough of Cam- 
 bridge concerning any plea, unless they be pleas of exterior 
 tenures, except our moneyers and servants. Moreover we 
 have granted to them that none of them shall make [proof 
 by] battle, and that with regard to pleas pertaining to our 
 crown they may deraign themselves according to the ancient 
 custom of the borough. This also we have granted to them, 
 that all the burgesses of Cambridge of the gild merchant may 
 be free of toll and passage and lastage and pontage and 
 I See Cooper, Annals^ i. 40. 
 
10 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 lestagio et pontaglo et stallagio in feria et extra et per portus 
 maris Anglie et omnium terrarum nostrarum citra mare et 
 ultra mare, salvis in omnibus libertatibus civitatis Londonie. 
 Et quod nullus de misericordia pecunie iudicetur nisi se- 
 cundum antiquam legem burgi quam habuerunt temporibus 
 antecessorum nostrorum. Et quod terras suas et tenuras et 
 vadimonia et debita omnia iuste habeant quicunque ea 
 debeant. Et de terris suis et tenuris que infra burgum sunt 
 rectum eis teneatur secundum consuetudinem burgi. Et de 
 omnibus debitis suis que accomodata fuerint apud Cantebrige 
 et de vadimoniis ibidem factis placita apud Cantebrige 
 teneantur. Et si quis in tota terra nostra theloneum vel 
 consuetudinem ab hominibus de Cantebrige de gilda mer- 
 catorum ceperit postquam ipse a recto defecerit vicecomes de 
 Cantebrige vel prepositus de Cantebrige namum inde apud 
 Cantebrige capiat, salvis in omnibus libertatibus civitatis 
 Londonie. Insuper eciam ad emendandum burgum de Can- 
 tebrige concessimus eis feriam suam in septimana Rogacionum 
 cum libertatibus suis sicut earn habere consueverunt. Et 
 quod omnes burgenses de Cantebrige sint quieti de yeresghyve 
 et de scotale si vicecomes noster vel aliquis alius ballivus 
 scotaliam fecerit. Has predictas consuetudines eis conce- 
 dimus et omnes alias libertates et liberas consuetudines 
 quas habuerunt temporibus antecessorum nostrorum quando 
 meliores vel liberiores habuerunt, et si alique consuetudines 
 iniuste levate fuerint in werra cassate sint. Et quicunque 
 pecierint burgum de Cantebrige cum mercato suo de quo- 
 cunque loco sint sive extranei sive alii veniant morentur et 
 recedant in salva pace nostra reddendo rectas consuetudines 
 et nemo eos disturbet super hanc cartam nostram. Et pro- 
 hibemus ne quis inde iniuriam vel dampnum vel molestiam 
 predictis burgensibus nostris faciat super forisfacturam nos- 
 tram decem librarum. Quare volumus et firmiter precipimus 
 quod predicti burgenses et heredes eorum hec omnia predicta 
 hereditarie habeant et teneant de nobis et heredibus nostris 
 bene et in pace, libere et quiete, integre et honorifice, sicut 
 superius scriptum est et sicut carta domini lohannis Regis 
 
Charter of King Henry the Third. 1 1 
 
 stallage, in fair and without, and throughout the ports of the 
 sea of England and of all our lands on this side of the sea 
 and beyond the sea, saving in all things the liberties of the 
 city of London. And that none may be adjudged to be in 
 mercy as to his money except according to the ancient law 
 of the borough which they had in the times of our ancestors. 
 And that they may justly have their lands and tenures and 
 pledges and all debts, whosoever may owe the same. And that 
 right shall be done to them touching their lands and tenures 
 within the borough according to the custom of the borough. 
 And of all their debts which shall have been contracted at 
 Cambridge and of the pledges made there, pleas shall be held 
 at Cambridge. And if any in all our land shall take toll or 
 custom from the men of Cambridge of the gild merchant 
 and shall have made default in right, then the sheriff of 
 Cambridge or the reeve of Cambridge shall take therefor a 
 distress at Cambridge, saving in all things the liberties of the 
 city of London. Moreover for the amendment of the borough 
 of Cambridge we have granted to them their fair in Rogation 
 week with its liberties as they were accustomed to have it, 
 and that all the burgesses of Cambridge may be free of 
 yeresghyve and of scotale if our sheriff or any other bailiff 
 shall make a scotale. These customs aforesaid we have 
 granted to them and all other liberties and free customs 
 which they had in the times of our ancestors when they best 
 and most freely had the same, and if any customs have been 
 unjustly levied in time of war, they shall be quashed. And 
 whosoever shall seek the borough of Cambridge with their 
 merchandize, whencesoever they be, whether strangers or 
 others, they may come, stay, and return in our sure peace 
 upon rendering right customs, and none shall disturb them 
 upon [pain of infringing] this our charter. And we forbid 
 that any cause herein injury or loss or trouble to our burgesses 
 aforesaid upon pain of our forfeiture of ten pounds. Where- 
 fore we will and firmly command that the aforesaid burgesses 
 and their heirs shall have and hold all these things aforesaid in 
 inheritance of us and our heirs well and peaceably, freely and 
 
12 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 patris nostri quam inde habent racionabiliter testatur. Hiis 
 testibus : Galfrido Elyensi, Thoma Norwicensi Episcopis, 
 Huberto de Burgo Comite Kancie lusticiario nostro, Gilberto 
 Comite Gloucestrie et Hertfordie, Henrico de Aldithele, 
 Radulfo filio Nicholai, Nicholao de Molis, Godefrido de 
 Crawecumbe, et aliis. Data per manum uenerabilis patris 
 Radulfi Cycestrensis Episcopi Cancellarii nostri apud West- 
 monasterium vicesimo primo die Aprilis anno regni nostri 
 undecimo. 
 
 VI. Carta Secunda Regis Henrici Tertii. 
 
 12-27 ^Henricus dei gracia Rex Anglie Dominus Hybcrnie Dux 
 
 P^^ ^^ Normannie Aquitannie et Comes Andegavie Archiepiscopis, 
 Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, Comitibus, Baronibus, lus- 
 ticiariis, Forestariis, Vicecomitibus, Prepositis, Ministris, et 
 omnibus Ballivis, et Fidelibus suis salutem. Sciatis nos con- 
 cessisse et hac carta nostra confirmasse burgensibus nostris 
 de Cantebrige viilam de Cantebrige cum omnibus pertinenciis 
 suis habendam et tenendam inperpetuum de nobis et here- 
 dibus nostris sibi et heredibus suis, reddendo inde annuatim 
 ad scaccarium nostrum antiquam firmam scilicet quadraginta 
 libras albas et viginti libras numero de cremento pro omni 
 servicio per manus eorum ad duo scaccaria anni Quare 
 volumus et firmiter precipimus quod predicti burgenses et 
 heredes sui habeant et teneant predictam viilam cum omnibus 
 pertinenciis suis bene et in pace libere et quiete integre 
 plenarie et honorifice in pratis et pascuis, molendinis, aquis et 
 stagnis cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus 
 suis. Concessimus eciam eis quod faciant de se ipsis pre- 
 positum quem voluerint et quando voluerint sicut carta 
 domini lohannis Regis patris nostri quam inde habent racio- 
 nabiliter testatur. Hiis testibus : Galfrido Elyensi, Thoma 
 Norwicensi Episcopis, Huberto de Burgo Comite Kancie 
 
 1 Original in Borough Archives with a portion of the great seal in green wax 
 appendant. 
 
Charters of King Henry the Third, 13 
 
 quietly, entirely and honourably as is written above and as 
 the charter of the lord King John our father, which they 
 have thereof, reasonably testifies. As witnesses : Geoffrey 
 Bishop of Ely, Thomas Bishop of Norwich, Hubert de Burgh 
 Earl of Kent our Justiciar, Gilbert Earl of Gloucester and 
 Hertford, Henry of Audley, Ralph Fitz Nicholas, Nicholas 
 de Molis, Godfrey of Crowcombe and others. Given by the 
 hand of the reverend father Ralph Bishop of Chichester our 
 Chancellor at Westminster on the twenty- first day of April 
 in the eleventh year of our reign. 
 
 VI. Second Charter of King Henry the Third. 
 
 * Henry by the grace of God King of England Lord of 1227 
 Ireland Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earl of P^'^^^* 
 Anjou, to his Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, 
 Barons, Justices, Foresters, Sheriffs, Reeves, Ministers and 
 all his Bailiffs and faithful People greeting. Know ye that 
 we have granted and by this our charter have confirmed to 
 our burgesses of Cambridge the town of Cambridge with all 
 its appurtenances to have and to hold for ever of us and our 
 heirs to them and their heirs, rendering therefor yearly at 
 our exchequer the ancient farm, namely forty pounds blanch, 
 and twenty pounds by tale by way of increase, for all services, 
 by their hands at two exchequers in the year. Wherefore we 
 will and firmly command that the aforesaid burgesses and 
 their heirs may have and hold the aforesaid town with all its 
 appurtenances well and peaceably, freely and quietly, entirely, 
 fully and honourably, in meadows and pastures, mills, waters 
 and pools with all their liberties and free customs. Moreover 
 we have granted unto them that they shall make from among 
 themselves a reeve, whom they will and when they will, accord- 
 ing as the charter of the lord King John our father, which 
 they have thereof, reasonably testifies. As witnesses: Geoffrey 
 Bishop of Ely, Thomas Bishop of Norwich, Hubert de Burgh 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. 40. 
 
14 Charters of the Borotigh of Cambridge. 
 
 lusticiario nostro, Gilberto Comite Gloucestrie et Hertfordie, 
 Henrico de Aldithele, Radulfo filio Nicholai, Nicholao de 
 Molis, Godefrido de Crawecumbe, et aliis. Data per manum 
 venerabilis patris Radulfi Cycestrensi Episcopi Cancellarii 
 nostri apud Westmonasterium vicesimo primo die Aprilis 
 anno regni nostri undecimo. 
 
 VII. Carta Tertia Regis Henrici Tertii. 
 
 1256 ^Henricus dei gracia Rex Anglie Dominus Hibernie Dux 
 
 April I J Normannie Aquitannie et Comes Andegavie Archiepiscopis, 
 Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, Comitibus, Baronibus, lusti- 
 ciariis, Vicecomitibus, Prepositis, Ministris, et omnibus Ballivis, 
 et Fidelibus suis salutem. Sciatis nos concessisse et hac carta 
 nostra confirmasse dilectis burgensibus nostris de Cantebrugia 
 quod ipsi inperpetuum per totam terram et potestatem 
 nostram banc habeant libertatem videlicet quod ipsi vel 
 eorum bona quocumque locorum in potestate nostra inventa 
 non arestentur pro aliquo debito de quo fideiussores aut 
 principales debitores non extiterint, nisi forte ipsi debitores de 
 eorum sint communa et potestate habentes unde de debitis 
 suis in toto vel in parte satisfacere possint et dicti burgenses 
 creditoribus eorundem debitorum in iusticia defuerint et de 
 hoc racionabiliter constare possit. Quare volumus et firmiter 
 precipimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris quod predicti 
 burgenses inperpetuum habeant libertatem prescriptam sicut 
 predictum est. Et prohibemus super forisfacturam nostram 
 decem librarum ne quis eos contra libertatem illam in aliquo 
 vexare, molestare vel inquietare presumat. Hiis testibus : 
 Guidone de Lezignano fratre nostro, Johanne Priore de Novo 
 Burgo, Henrico de Bathonia, magistro Simone de Wautone, 
 Willelmo de Grey, Willelmo Maudut, Artaldo de Sancto 
 Romano, magistro Johanne Manselle, Philippo de Bocland, 
 
 ^ Original in Borough Archives with a large portion of great seal in green wax 
 appendant. 
 
Charters of King Henry the Third. 15 
 
 Earl of Kent our Justiciar, Gilbert Earl of Gloucester and 
 Hertford, Henry of Audley, Ralph Fitz Nicholas, Nicholas 
 de Molis, Godfrey of Crowcombe and others. Given by the 
 hand of the reverend father Ralph Bishop of Chichester our 
 Chancellor at Westminster on the twenty-first day of April 
 in the eleventh year of our reign. 
 
 VH. Third Charter of King Henry the Third. 
 
 * Henry by the grace of God King of England Lord of 1256 
 Ireland Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Count of ^" " 
 Anjou, to his Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, 
 Barons, Justices, Sheriffs, Reeves, Ministers and all his Bailiffs 
 and faithful People greeting. Know ye that we have granted 
 and by this our charter have confirmed to our beloved burgesses 
 of Cambridge that they may for ever throughout the whole 
 of our land and dominion have this franchise, namely that 
 they themselves or their goods, wheresoever found in our 
 dominion, shall not be arrested for any debt of which they 
 shall not be the sureties or principal debtors, unless perchance 
 the debtors shall be of their commonalty and power and shall 
 have whereout to make satisfaction for their debts in whole or 
 in part and the said burgesses shall have made default in 
 justice to the creditors of the same debts and this be reason- 
 ably proven. Wherefore we will and firmly command for 
 ourselves and our heirs that the aforesaid burgesses may for 
 ever hold the above written franchise as aforesaid. And we 
 forbid upon pain of our forfeiture of ten pounds that any 
 one presume to vex, molest or disturb them in anything 
 contrary to that franchise. As witnesses : Guy de Lusignan 
 our brother, John Prior of Newburgh, Henry of Bath, Master 
 Simon of Walton, William de Grey, William Mauduit, Artald 
 de Sancto Romano, Master John Mansel, Philip of Buckland, 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. p. 46. 
 
1 6 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 Willelmo Gernun et aliis. Data per manum nostram apud 
 Westmonasterium undecimo die Aprilis anno regni nostri 
 quadragesimo. 
 
 VIII. Carta Quarta Regis Henrici Tertii. 
 
 1256 ^Henricus del gracia Rex Anglie Dominus Hibernie Dux 
 
 P" " Normannie Aquitannie et Comes Andegavie Archiepiscopis, 
 Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, Comitibus, Baronibus, lustici- 
 ariis, Vicecomitibus, Prepositis, Ministris, et omnibus Ballivis, 
 et Fidelibus suis salutem. Sciatis nos concessisse et hac 
 carta nostra confirmasse dilectis burgensibus nostris de Can- 
 tebrugia quod ipsi inperpetuum habeant returnum omnium 
 brevium nostrorum villam nostram Cantebrugie et libertatem 
 eiusdem ville tangencium et quod per manus suas proprias 
 respondere possint ad scaccarium nostrum de omnibus de- 
 mandis et summonicionibus eiusdem scaccarii ipsos burgenses 
 contingentibus. Et quod decetero placitare possint infra 
 villam predictam omnia placita libertatem suam tangencia 
 tam de vetito namio quam de aliis placitis suis que sine 
 iusticiariis nostris placitari possunt, ita quod nullus vicecomes 
 aut alius ballivus noster intromittat se de aliquibus ad liber- 
 tates suas spectantibus nisi per defectum predictorum bur- 
 gensium vel ballivorum suorum eiusdem ville. Et quod iidem 
 burgenses de se ipsis eligere possint et creare coronatores in 
 villa predicta ad atachiamenta placitorum corone nostre infra 
 predictam villam Cantebrugie emergencium facienda usque 
 ad adventum iusticiariorum nostrorum sicut alibi ad corona- 
 tores nostros pertinet. Quare volumus et firmiter precipimus 
 pro nobis et heredibus nostris quod predicti burgenses in- 
 perpetuum habeant omnes libertates prescriptas sicut pre- 
 dictum est. Et prohibemus super forisfacturam nostram 
 decem librarum ne quis eos contra libertates et concessiones 
 huiusmodi vexare, molestare vel inquietare presumat Hiis 
 testibus : Guidone de Lezignano fratre nostro, lohanne Priore 
 
 ^ Two originals in Borough Archives. They are duplicate except in the date. 
 That not used as the foundation of our text is dated April xi. Each has a portion 
 of the great seal in green wax appendant. 
 
Charters of King Henry the Third. 17 
 
 William Gernun and others. Given by our hand at West- 
 minster the eleventh day of April in the fortieth year of 
 our reign. 
 
 VIII. Fourth Charter of King Henry the Third. 
 
 * Henry by the grace of God King of England Lord of 1^56 
 Ireland Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Count of 
 Anjou, to his Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, 
 Barons, Justices, Sheriffs, Reeves, Ministers and all his Bailiffs 
 and faithful People greeting. Know ye that we have granted 
 and by this our charter have confirmed to our beloved burgesses 
 of Cambridge that they shall for ever have the return of all our 
 writs touching our town of Cambridge and the liberty of the 
 same town, and that they may have power by their own 
 hands to answer at our Exchequer to all demands and sum- 
 monses of the same Exchequer concerning them the aforesaid 
 burgesses. And that henceforth they may be able to plead 
 within the town aforesaid all pleas touching their liberty as 
 well for vee de nam [replevin] as other their pleas which can 
 be pleaded without our justices, so that no sheriff or other 
 our bailiff may meddle in any things relating to their liberties, 
 save by default of the aforesaid burgesses or their bailiffs of 
 the said town. And that the said burgesses may elect and 
 create from among themselves coroners in the town aforesaid 
 for making the attachment of pleas of our crown arising 
 within the aforesaid town of Cambridge until the coming of 
 our justices as belongs to our coroners elsewhere. Wherefore 
 we will and firmly command for ourselves and our heirs that 
 the aforesaid burgesses may for ever have all the before 
 written liberties as aforesaid. And we forbid upon pain of 
 our forfeiture of ten pounds that any presume to vex, molest 
 or disturb them contrary to these liberties and grants. As 
 witnesses : Guy de Lusignan our brother, John Prior of 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. p. 46. 
 B. C. 2 
 
1 8 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 de Novo Burgo, Henrico de Bathonia, magistro Simone de 
 Wautone, Willelmo de^ Grey, Willelmo Maudut, Artaldo de 
 Sancto Romano, magistro lohanne Manselle, Philippo de 
 Boclande, Petro Everard, Willelmo Gcrnun et aliis. Data 
 per manum nostram apud Westmonasterium undecimo die 
 Aprilis anno regni nostri quadragesimo. 
 
 IX. Carta Regis Edwardi Primi. 
 1280 2£(j^a^j.(^us (jgj gj-acia Rex Anglie Dominus Hibernie et 
 
 Nov. 
 
 24 
 
 Dux AquitannieArchiepiscopis Episcopis,Abbatibus,Prioribus, 
 Comitibus, Baronibus, lusticiariis, Vicecomitibus, Prepositis, 
 Ministris et omnibus Ballivis et Fidelibus suis salutem. In- 
 speximus cartam quam Celebris memorie dominus Henricus 
 dudum Rex Anglie pater noster fecit burgensibus de Can- 
 tebrigia in hec verba : Henricus dei gracia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Henry III. 
 in the nth year of his reign and on the 21st April 1227 
 hereinbefore printed and numbered V. The present Charter 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Inspeximus eciam cartam quam prefatus pater noster fecit 
 predictis burgensibus in hec verba : Henricus dei gracia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Henry III. 
 in the 40th year of his reign and on the nth April 1256 
 hereinbefore printed and numbered VIII. The present Charter 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Nos autem donaciones et concessiones predictas ratas 
 habentes et gratas eas pro nobis et heredibus nostris quantum 
 in nobis est concedimus et confirmamus sicut carte predicte 
 racionabiliter testantur. Hiis testibus : venerabilibus patribus 
 Roberto Bathoniensi et Wellensi et Thoma Menevensi Epi- 
 scopis, Edmundo fratre nostro, Willelmo de Valencia avunculo 
 nostro, Johanne de Vescy, Roberto Tybotot, Antonio Beke 
 Archidiacono Dunolmensi, Hugone filio Otonis, Roberto filio 
 
 ^ de repeated. 
 
 2 Two originals (duplicate) in Borough Archives. In one a space is left 
 blank for the initial letter. 
 
Charter of King Edward the First. 19 
 
 Newburgh, Henry of Bath, Master Simon of Walton, William 
 de Grey, William Mauduit, Artald de Sancto Romano, 
 Master John Mansel, Philip of Buckland, Peter Everard, 
 William Gernun and others. Given by our hand at West- 
 minster the eleventh day of April in the fortieth year of 
 our reign. 
 
 IX. Charter of King Edward the First. 
 
 * Edward by the grace of God King of England Lord of 1280 
 Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine, to his Archbishops, Bishops, °^' '^^ 
 Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, Justices, Sheriffs, Reeves, 
 Ministers and all his Bailiffs and faithful People greeting. We 
 have inspected a charter which our father lord Henry of 
 famous memory late King of England made to the burgesses 
 of Cambridge in these words: Henry by the grace of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Henry III. 
 in the nth year of his reign and on the 21st April 1227 
 hereinbefore translated and numbered V. The present Charter 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 We have inspected also a charter which our father afore- 
 said made to the aforesaid burgesses in these words : Henry 
 by the grace of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Henry III. 
 in the 40th year of his reign and on the nth April 1256 
 hereinbefore translated and numbered VIII. The present 
 Charter then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Now we ratifying and according the gifts and grants 
 aforesaid do grant and confirm the same for ourselves and 
 our heirs so far as in us lies as the aforesaid charters reason- 
 ably testify. As witnesses : the reverend fathers Robert 
 Bishop of Bath and Wells and Thomas Bishop of St David's, 
 Edmund our brother, William de Valence our uncle, John 
 de Vescy, Robert Tybotot, Antony Beke Archdeacon of 
 Durham, Hugo Fitz Otes, Robert Fitz John, Richard de 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. 60. 
 
20 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 lohannis, Ricardo de Bosco, Galfrido de Pycheforde, Eustachio 
 de Hacche, Elya de Hauville, Petro de Huntingfeld, lohanne 
 de Bykenore, et aliis. Data per manum nostram apud West- 
 monasterium vicesimo quarto die Novembris anno regni 
 nostri nono, 
 
 X. Carta Regis Edwardi Secundi. 
 
 1313 'Edwardus dei gracia Rex Anglie, Dominus Hibernie, et 
 
 Nov. 27 Dux Aquitannie, Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Abbatibus, Pri- 
 oribus, Comitibus, Baronibus, lusticiariis, Vicecomitibus, 
 Prepositis, Ministris, et omnibus Ballivis, et Fidelibus suis 
 salutem. Inspeximus cartam quam dominus Henricus quon- 
 dam Rex Anglie avus noster fecit burgensibus de Cantebrige 
 in hec verba : Henricus dei gracia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Henry III. 
 in the nth year of his reign and on the 21st of April 1227 
 hereinbefore printed and numbered VI. The present Charter 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Inspeximus etiam cartam confirmacionis quam dominus 
 Edwardus quondam Rex Anglie pater noster fecit eisdem 
 burgensibus in hec verba : Edwardus dei gratia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter of Inspeximus granted 
 by Edward I. in the 9th year of his reign and on the 24th 
 November 1280 hereinbefore printed and numbered IX. The 
 present Charter then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Nos autem donaciones concessiones et confirmaciones 
 predictas ratas habentes et gratas eas pro nobis et heredibus 
 nostris quantum in nobis est prefatis burgensibus et eorum 
 heredibus ac successoribus concedimus et confirmamus sicut 
 carte predicte racionabiliter testantur. Preterea volentes 
 eisdem burgensibus graciam facere ampliorem concessimus 
 eis pro nobis et heredibus nostris quod licet ipsi aliqua vel 
 aliquibus libertatum et quietanciarum predictarum hactenus 
 
 1 Original in Borough Archives. Initial letter adorned with grotesques. A 
 small portion of the great seal appendant. Contemporary note at foot : Examinata 
 per R. de Haliwell et W. de Clyf. dupplicata. A duplicate in Borough Archives 
 with a larger portion of the seal, but with a space left blank for the initial E. 
 This duplicate has at the end a note : perfmcm centum marcarum. 
 
Charter of King Edward the Second. 2I 
 
 Bois, Geoffrey of Pitchford, Eustace of Hatch, Elias of 
 Hautville, Peter of Huntingfield, John of Bicknor and others. 
 Given by our hand at Westminster on the 24th day of 
 November in the ninth year of our reign. 
 
 X. Charter of King Edward the Second. 
 ^ Edward by the grace of God King of England Lord of 1313 
 
 Nov. 1*2 
 
 Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine, to his Archbishops, Bishops, 
 Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, Justices, Sheriffs, Reeves, 
 Ministers and all his Bailiffs and faithful People greeting. 
 We have inspected a charter which Lord Henry formerly 
 King of England our grandfather made to the burgesses of 
 Cambridge in these words : Henry by the grace of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Henry III. 
 in the nth year of his reign and on the 21st of April 1227 
 hereinbefore translated and numbered VI. The present Charter 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 We have inspected also a charter of confirmation which 
 Lord Edward formerly King of England our father made to 
 the same burgesses in these words : Edward by the grace 
 of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter of Inspeximus granted 
 by Edward I. in the 9th year of his reign and on the 24th 
 November 1280 hereinbefore translated and numbered IX. The 
 present Charter then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Now we ratifying and according the gifts, grants and 
 confirmations aforesaid, do grant and confirm the same for 
 ourselves and our heirs so far as in us lies to the aforesaid 
 burgesses and their heirs and successors as the aforesaid 
 charters reasonably testify. Moreover, being willing to do an 
 ampler favour to the same burgesses, we have granted to them 
 for ourselves and our heirs that, although they may not hitherto 
 have fully used the beforementioned liberties and quittances 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. 73. 
 
22 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 plene usi non fuerint ipsi nichilominus et heredes ac suc- 
 cessores sui predict! libertatibus et quietanciis predictis et 
 earum qualibet decetero absque inquietacione vel impedi- 
 mento nostri vel heredum nostrorum aut ministrorum nos- 
 trorum quorumcumque racionabiliter gaudeant et utantur. 
 Et insuper concessimus eis pro nobis et heredibus nostris 
 quod ipsi et heredes ac successores sui predicti de pavagio 
 muragio et picagio infra regnum et potestatem nostram 
 imperpetuum sint quieti. Et quod terras et tenementa sua 
 infra eundem burgum et suburbium eiusdem existencia tan- 
 quam catalla sua in ultima voluntate sua legare possint 
 quibuscumque et cuicumque voluerint dum tamen ad manum 
 mortuam non deveniant. Et quod de transgressionibus seu 
 contractibus in eisdem burgo et suburbio factis non placitent 
 nee implacitentur extra burgum ilium nisi res ipsa tangat nos 
 vel heredes nostros et quod super transgressionibus et con- 
 tractibus illis aut aliis factis intrinsecis per forinsecos minime 
 convincantur set solummodo per comburgenses suos nisi factum 
 illud tangat nos vel heredes nostros aut comunitatem burgi 
 predicti, ita tamen quod magistris et scolaribus universitatis 
 eiusdem ville super aliquibus libertatibus eis per progenitores 
 nostros quondam Reges Anglie concessis per concessiones 
 nostras supradictas nuUatenus preiudicetur. Hiis testibus : 
 venerabilibus patribus lohanne Norwycensi et lohanne Bar- 
 thoniensi et Wellensi Episcopis, Gilberto de Clare Comite 
 Gloucestrie et Hertfordie, Adomaro de Vallencia Comite 
 Pembrochie, Hugone le Despenser, Radulfo filio Willelmi, 
 Bartholomeo de Badelesmere et aliis. Data per manum 
 nostram apud Westmonasterium vicesimo septimo die No- 
 vembris anno regni nostri septimo. 
 
 XL LiTTERE Patentes Regis Ricardi Secundi. 
 B77 ^Ricardus dei gracia Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus 
 
 Dec. 8 
 
 Hibernie omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint salutem. 
 Inspeximus cartam domini Edwardi quondam Regis Anglie 
 
 1 From an Inspeximus of Henry VI. An original is not known to be extant. 
 
Letters Patent of King Richard the Second. 23 
 
 or some of them, they nevertheless and their heirs and 
 successors beforementioned may henceforth reasonably enjoy 
 and use the liberties and quittances beforementioned and 
 every of them without let or hindrance by us or our heirs or 
 any of our ministers whomsoever. And moreover we have 
 granted to them for ourselves and our heirs that they and 
 their heirs and successors beforementioned shall be for ever 
 free from pavage, murage and pickage within our realm and 
 dominion. And that they may by last will bequeath their 
 lands and tenements within the borough and the suburb thereof 
 as if the same were their chattels to whatsoever persons or 
 person they may wish, provided the same shall not come into 
 mortmain. And that concerning trespasses or contracts made 
 in the same borough and suburb they may not sue or be sued 
 outside that borough unless the matter concerns us or our heirs. 
 And that touching those trespasses and contracts or other 
 internal affairs they shall not be convicted by strangers but 
 only by their fellow-burgesses, unless the matter concerns us 
 or our heirs or the commonalty of the aforesaid borough. But 
 so nevertheless that by our grants abovementioned no manner 
 of prejudice be done to the masters and scholars of the 
 university of the same town in any of the liberties granted to 
 them by our progenitors formerly Kings of England. As 
 witnesses : the venerable fathers John Bishop of Norwich and 
 John Bishop of Bath and Wells, Gilbert de Clare Earl of 
 Gloucester and Hertford, Aymer de Valence Earl of Pem- 
 broke, Hugh le Despenser, Ralph Fitz William, Bartholomew 
 of Badlesmere and others. Given by our hand at Westminster 
 on the twenty-seventh day of November in the seventh year 
 of our reign. 
 
 XI. Letters Patent of King Richard the Second. 
 
 1 Richard by the grace of God King of England and 1377 
 France and Lord of Ireland to all to whom the present letters 
 shall come greeting. We have inspected the charter of the 
 lord Edward formerly King of England, our great-grandfather, 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. ii6. 
 
 Dec. 
 
24 Charters of tJie Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 proavi nostri burgensibus ville de Cantebriggia factam in hec 
 verba : Edward us dei gracia etc. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Edward II. 
 in the 7th year of his reign and on the 27th of November 131 3 
 hereinbefore printed and numbered X. The present instrument 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Nos autem donaciones, concessiones, confirmaciones, liber- 
 tates et quietancias predictas ratas habentes et gratas, eas pro 
 nobis et heredibus nostris quantum in nobis est acceptamus, 
 approbamus, ratificamus et tenore presencium eisdem bur- 
 gensibus et eorum heredibus ac successoribus concedimus et 
 confirmamus prout carta predicta racionabiliter testatur, et 
 prout iidem burgenses libertatibus et quietanciis predictis 
 semper hactenus a tempore concessionis et confeccionis carte 
 predicte racionabiliter uti et gaudere consueverunt. In cuius 
 rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. 
 Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium octavo die Decembris 
 anno regni nostri prime. 
 
 XII. Carta Prima Regis Ricardi Secundi. 
 
 138* *[R]icardus dei gracia [R]ex Anglie et Francie et [D]omi- 
 
 ^^ ' nus Hibernie Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, 
 Ducibus, Comitibus, Baronibus, Militibus, lusticiariis, Vice- 
 comitibus, Prepositis, Ballivis, Ministris et aliis Fidelibus suis 
 salutem. Sciatis quod cum maior ballivi et comunitas ville 
 nostre Cantebrigie coram nobis in ultimo parliamento nostro 
 accusati fuissent et graviter impetiti de eo quod ipsi nuper 
 contra 00s ac honorem nostrum et ligeancie sue debitum 
 nequiter insurrexisse ac varios defectus et excessus notabiles 
 et enormes ac mala quamplurima tempore huiusmodi insur- 
 reccionis perperam commisisse debuissent, que non solum in 
 nostre regie maiestatis dedecus et offensam verum eciam in 
 quorundam fidelium ligeorum nostrorum dampnum gravis- 
 simum ac iacturam, ut dicebatur, notorie redundabant: Super 
 
 1 Original in Borough Archives with a portion of the great seal in green wax 
 appendant. Space left for the initial. 
 
Charter of King Richard the Second. 25 
 
 made to the burgesses of the town of Cambridge in these 
 words : Edward by the grace of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Edward II. 
 in the 7th year of his reign and on the 27th of November 13 13 
 hereinbefore translated and numbered X. The present in- 
 strument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Now we ratifying and according the said gifts, grants, 
 confirmations, liberties and quittances aforesaid, do for our- 
 selves and our heirs, so far as in us lies, accept, approve, 
 ratify and by the tenour of these presents grant and confirm 
 the same to the said burgesses and their heirs and successors 
 in such wise as the aforesaid charter reasonably testifies, and 
 as the said burgesses have always hitherto been wont reason- 
 ably to use and enjoy the aforesaid liberties and quittances 
 from the time of the grant and making of the aforesaid 
 charter. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters 
 to be made patent. As witness myself at Westminster on 
 the eighth day of December in the first year of our reign. 
 
 XII. First Charter of King Richard the Second. 
 
 * Richard by the grace of God King of England and 138a 
 France and Lord of Ireland to his Archbishops, Bishops, ^^ ' 
 Abbots, Priors, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Knights, Justices, 
 Sheriffs, Reeves, Bailiffs, Ministers and other faithful People 
 greeting. Know ye that whereas the mayor, bailiffs and com- 
 monalty of our town of Cambridge were accused and gravely 
 impeached before us in our last parliament, for that they of late 
 wickedly revolted against us and our honour and their debt of 
 allegiance, and in the time of the said insurrection were said to 
 have wilfully committed divers notable and enormous defaults 
 and excesses and very many wrongs, which, it was said, 
 notoriously redounded not only to the disgrace and contempt 
 of our royal majesty but also to the most grievous damage 
 and loss of some of our faithful lieges : Whereas thereupon 
 
 ^ See Cooper, AnnalSy i. 125. 
 
26 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 quo prefatis maiore et ballivis in propriis personis suis ac 
 dicta comunitate per duos comburgenses suos coram nobis in 
 eodem parliamento nostro iuxta formam cuiusdam brevis 
 nostri eis inde directi comparentibus et super premissis 
 allocutis ac responso per ipsos ibidem proposito dies eis 
 per nos fuisset prefixus et assig-natus ad respondendum 
 finaliter, et ad proponendum et allegandum inter alia pro 
 se ipsis, si quid haberent seu dicere scirent in forma iuris, 
 quare libertates et privilegia eis per cartas progenitorum 
 nostrorum quondam regum Anglie data et concessa et per 
 nos confirmata racione defectuum et excessuum predictorum 
 et maxime occasione dicte insurreccionis forisfacere non de- 
 berent : Prefatique maior, ballivi et comunitas habentes suffi- 
 cientis temporis spacium super premissis deliberandi et nichil 
 effectuale coram nobis in parliamento illo e contrario pro 
 se ipsis proponere seu allegare scientes tandem se quoad 
 libertates et privilegia sua predicta cessantibus et omissis 
 excusacionibus quibuscunque in hac parte disposicioni et 
 ordinacioni nostris humilime submisissent : Ac nos dicta liber- 
 tates et privilegia pro defectu sufficientis responsionis, con- 
 siderata eciam suorum qualitate delictorum, de assensu 
 eiusdem parliamenti in manum nostram tanquam forisfacta 
 decreverimus integre seisienda: Subsequenterque consideratis 
 et debite ponderatis defectubus et excessubus supradictis 
 super quibus dicti maior et ballivi et comunitas fuerant ut 
 premittitur impetiti et ut ipsi ac omnes alii in regno nostro 
 magis caveant in futuro erga nos et heredes nostros consimilia 
 perpetrare ac efficacius et solicicius studeant in fide et 
 obediencia nostris fideliter permanere, et ut huiusmodi de- 
 fectus et excessus pena non careant : Volentes quedam 
 privilegia dicte comunitati auferre pro perpetuo et per ea 
 universitatem Cantebrigie, que est mater et propagatrix 
 scienciarum et doctrine erga quam viscera nostra intime sunt 
 commota, que eciam universitas multa et varia infra breve 
 dispendia et pressuras sustinuit, exaltare ordinavimus et per 
 cartam nostram confirmavimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris 
 quod cancellarius universitatis Cantebrigie et successores sui 
 
Charter of King Richard the Second, %'j 
 
 the aforesaid mayor and bailiffs appearing in their proper 
 persons and the said commonalty by two of their fellow- 
 burgesses before us in our said parliament according to the 
 form of a certain writ directed to them in that behalf, and 
 being charged with the premisses, and an answer having 
 been propounded by them there, a day was fixed and 
 assigned to them by us for replying finally and for pro- 
 pounding and alleging on their behalf amongst other things 
 what, if aught, they might or could say in form of law by 
 way of showing cause why they should not forfeit, by 
 reason of the said defaults and excesses and especially of 
 the said insurrection, the liberties and privileges given and 
 granted to them by the charters of our progenitors formerly 
 Kings of England and by us confirmed : And whereas 
 the aforesaid mayor and bailiffs and commonalty, having a 
 sufficient space of time to deliberate on the matters aforesaid, 
 and not being able to propound on their behalf or allege 
 anything effectual to the contrary, before us in the said 
 parliament, at length most humbly submitted themselves in 
 the matter of the liberties and privileges aforesaid, to our 
 disposition and ordinance, all excuses in this behalf being 
 stayed and abandoned : And whereas we, for the default of 
 sufficient answer, and in consideration of the quality of their 
 evil deeds, decreed by the assent of the said parliament that 
 the said liberties and privileges should wholly be seized into 
 our hands as forfeited : And whereas, having thereafter con- 
 sidered and duly weighed the defaults and excesses aforesaid 
 of which the said mayor and bailiffs and commonalty were 
 impeached as is aforesaid, and to the end that they and all 
 others in our kingdom may for the future dread to commit 
 the like against us and our heirs and may the more effi- 
 caciously and anxiously study faithfully to remain in our 
 faith and obedience, and in order that defects and excesses of 
 this kind may not lack punishment : We (willing to take away 
 certain privileges from the said commonalty for ever and 
 thereby to exalt the university of Cambridge who is the 
 mother and propagatrix of sciences and learning, towards 
 
28 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 et eorum vices gerentes soli et in solidum habeant custodiam 
 assise panis vini et cervisie, ac cognicionem et punicionem 
 eiusdem, ac eciam custodiam assise et assaie' ac supervisum 
 mensurarum et ponderum in dicta villa Cantebrigie et sub- 
 urbiis eiusdem, necnon potestatem inquirendi et cognoscendi 
 de forstallatoribus, regratariis, carnibus et piscibus tam putridis, 
 viciosis et aliis incompetentibus quam aliis super hiis punici- 
 onem debitam faciendi ac gubernacionem correccionem et 
 punicionem premissorum et aliorum victualium quorumcum- 
 que, simul cum finibus forisfacturis et amerciamentis inde 
 provenientibus, pro quadam firma decem librarum nobis et 
 heredibus nostris inde annuatim reddenda imperpetuum prout 
 in eadem carta plenius continetur : Et quia iam posito in 
 ipsorum maioris ballivorum et comunitatis libera eleccione 
 ex precepto nostro si ipsi residua libertates et privilegia in 
 manum nostram taliter existencia pro quodam annuo incre- 
 mento ultra antiquam firmam, quam ipsi pro villa et omnibus 
 libertatibus et privilegiis per ipsos prius optentis nobis reddere 
 solebant, recipere et rehabere voluerint necne, iidem maior 
 ballivi et comunitas restitucionem residuorum libertatum et 
 privilegiorum predictorum cum incremento quatuor marcarum 
 nobis et heredibus nostris pro eisdem imperpetuum ultra 
 antiquam firmam suam predictam reddendo humiliter et 
 instancius sibi fieri postularunt et suum ad hoc voluntarium 
 prebebant assensum : Ac considerantes bonum gestum quern 
 ipsi erga nos et progenitores nostros antea habuerunt, volen- 
 tesque propterea ad graciam cum eisdem maiore et ballivis 
 et comunitate ne ipsi totalem amissionem suarum defleant 
 libertatum, non obstante decreto aut forisfactura predictis, 
 ex pietate regia peragendam misericorditer inclinari, de avi- 
 samento et deliberacione prelatorum procerum et magnatum 
 nobis in dicto parliamento nostro assistencium, concessimus 
 dictis maiori et ballivis ac burgensibus dicte ville nostre et 
 hac carta nostra confirmavimus villam nostram predictam 
 cum omnibus pertinenciis suis : Habendam et tenendam sibi 
 heredibus et successoribus suis burgensibus eiusdem ville de 
 nobis et heredibus nostris imperpetuum una cum omnibus et 
 
Charter of King Richard the Second. 29 
 
 whom our bowels are moved within us, which university 
 moreover has of late day sustained many and various expenses 
 and extortions) have ordained and by our charter have 
 confirmed for us and our heirs that the chancellor of the 
 university of Cambridge and his successors and their vice- 
 gerents jointly and singly shall have the guardianship of the 
 assize of bread, wine and beer and cognizance and punishment 
 of the same, and also the guardianship of the assize and 
 assay and supervision of measures and weights in the said 
 town of Cambridge and the suburbs of the same, and the 
 power of inquiring and taking cognizance of forestallers, 
 regraters, flesh, fish (as well bad, stale and otherwise im- 
 proper as of other), and of inflicting due punishment for 
 these matters, and the government, correction and punishment 
 of the aforesaid and of all other victuals whatsoever, together 
 with the fines, forfeitures and amercements thence arising, for 
 a certain rent of ten pounds to us and our heirs thence 
 annually to be paid for ever, as in the same charter is more 
 fully contained : And whereas by our command it was 
 placed in the free choice of the said mayor, bailiffs and 
 commonalty whether or no they wished to take back and 
 repossess the remaining liberties and privileges, these being 
 in our hand, for some annual increment beyond the ancient 
 farm which they were used to render to us for the town and 
 all the liberties and privileges formerly obtained by them, 
 and the said mayor, bailiffs and commonalty humbly and 
 earnestly begged that a restitution might be made to them 
 of the remaining liberties and privileges aforesaid with an 
 increment of four marks to be paid to us and our heirs for the 
 same for ever over and above their aforesaid farm, and gave 
 to this their voluntary assent : Now we (considering the good 
 bearing which they beforetimes had towards us and our 
 progenitors and wishing therefore of our royal pity mercifully 
 to incline towards favour to be shown to the said mayor, 
 bailiffs and commonalty, so that they may not have to 
 deplore a total loss of their liberties, and notwithstanding the 
 decree or forfeiture aforesaid), with the advice and de- 
 
30 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 singulis privilegiis, quietanciis, immunitatibus, liberis consue- 
 tudinibus, donacionibus, concesslonibus, feriis ac aliis liber- 
 tatibus quibuscumque sibi per cartas dictorum progenitorum 
 nostrorum et confirmacionem nostram predictam concessis, 
 adeo plene et integre sicut ea ante impeticionem submis- 
 sionem et decretum predicta racionabiliter habuerunt et 
 tenuerunt, et eadem privilegia quientancias immunitates, 
 liberas consuetudines, donaciones, concessiones, ferias et alias 
 libertates predictas sibi heredibus et successoribus suis pre- 
 dictis imperpetuum iuxta formam cartarum et confirmacionis 
 nostre predictarum habenda restituimus eisdem : Salvis dum- 
 taxat et exceptis libertatibus cancellario dicte universitatis 
 Cantebrigie et successoribus suis per cartam nostram pre- 
 dictam concessis ut est dictum, nolentes quod iidem maior 
 ballivi et burgenses sen eorum aliquis se de eisdem ex nunc 
 sub gravi indignacione nostra intromittant seu intromittat set 
 quod dicto cancellario pro tempore existenti ac eius com- 
 missariis sive vicem gerenti inde auxilientur et intendant 
 secundum formam dicte carte : Reddendo nobis et heredibus 
 nostris annuatim antiquam firmam dicte ville, videlicet 
 centum et unam marcas et ulterius predictas quatuor marcas 
 de novo incremento ad festa Pasche et Sancti Michaelis per 
 equales porciones imperpetuum : Quare volumus et firmiter 
 precipimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris quod iidem maior 
 ballivi et burgenses dictam villam Cantebrigie cum omnibus 
 suis pertinenciis ac eciam privilegiis, quietanciis, immunitatibus, 
 liberis consuetudinibus, donacionibus, concessionibus, feriis ac 
 aliis libertatibus predictis habeant et teneant sibi heredibus et 
 successoribus suis predictis de nobis et heredibus nostris 
 imperpetuum adeo plene et integre sicut ea ante impeticionem, 
 submissionem et decretum predicta juxta tenorem cartarum 
 et confirmacionis nostre predictarum racionabiliter habuerunt 
 et tenuerunt, salvis dumtaxat et exceptis libertatibus cancel- 
 lario dicte universitatis Cantebrigie et successoribus suis pre- 
 dictis per cartam nostram predictam concessis sicut predictum 
 est, nolentes quod iidem maior ballivi et burgenses seu eorum 
 aliquis se de eisdem exnunc sub gravi indignacione nostra 
 
Charter of King Richard the Second. 3I 
 
 liberation of the prelates, nobles and magnates assisting us 
 in our said parliament, have granted to the said mayor and 
 bailiffs and burgesses of our said town and by this our 
 charter have confirmed our said town with all its appurten- 
 ances : To have and to hold to them their heirs and successors 
 burgesses of the said town, of us and our heirs for ever, 
 together with all and singular the privileges, quittances, im- 
 munities, free customs, gifts, grants, fairs and other liberties 
 whatsoever granted to them by the charters of our said pro- 
 genitors and by our confirmation aforesaid, as fully and entirely 
 as they reasonably had and held them before the impeach- 
 ment, submission and decree aforesaid, and we restore to them 
 the same privileges, quittances, immunities, free customs, gifts, 
 grants, fairs and other liberties aforesaid to be had by them their 
 heirs and successors aforesaid for ever according to the form 
 of the charters and of our confirmation aforesaid : Save only 
 and except, as has been said, the liberties granted to the 
 chancellor of the said university of Cambridge and to his 
 successors by our charter aforesaid, our will being that the 
 said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses or any of them shall not 
 from henceforth meddle therewith upon pain of our grievous 
 displeasure, but that they shall be aiding and intendant 
 therein to the said chancellor for the time being and his 
 commissaries or vicegerent according to the form of the said 
 charter : Rendering to us and our heirs yearly the ancient 
 farm of the said town, to wit, one hundred and one marks 
 and further the aforesaid four marks of new increment, at 
 the feasts of Easter and of Saint Michael, by equal portions 
 for ever : Wherefore we will and firmly command for us and 
 our heirs that the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses shall 
 have and hold the said town of Cambridge with all its 
 appurtenances, and also the privileges, quittances, immunities, 
 free customs, gifts, grants, fairs and other liberties aforesaid, 
 to them, their heirs and successors aforesaid, of us and our 
 heirs for ever, as fully and entirely as they reasonably had 
 and held the same before the impeachment, submission and 
 decree aforesaid, according to the tenour of the charters and 
 
32 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge, 
 
 intromittant seu intromlttat set quod dicto cancellario ac 
 eius commissario inde auxilientur et intendant secundum 
 formam dicte carte, reddendo nobis et heredibus nostris 
 annuatim centum et unam marcas ac dictas quatuor marcas 
 ut de novo incremento imperpetuum sicut predictum est. 
 Hiis testibus venerabilibus patribus Willelmo Archiepiscopo 
 Cantuariensi tocius Anglie Primate, Willelmo Wyntoniensi et 
 Radulpho Sarisbiriensi Episcopis, lohanne Rege Castelle et 
 Legionis Duce Lancastrie, Thoma Comite Bukyngham avun- 
 culis nostris carissimis, Ricardo Arundell, Thoma Warrewico 
 Comitibus, Ricardo Lescrope Cancellario, Hugone de Segrave 
 Thesaurario nostris, Albredo de Veer Camerario nostro, 
 lohanne de Monte Acuto Senescallo Hospicii nostri et aliis. 
 Data per manum nostram apud Westmonasterium primo die 
 Maii anno regni nostri quinto. 
 
 per ipsum Regem et consilium 
 
 MUSKHAM. 
 
 XIII. Carta Secunda Regis Ricardi Secundi. 
 
 1385 ^Ricardus dei gracia Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus 
 
 ^^' ^ Hibernie Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, Duci- 
 bus, Comitibus, Baronibus, lusticiariis, Vicecomitibus, Prepo- 
 sitis, Ballivis, Ministris, et aliis Fidelibus suis salutem. Sciatis 
 quod cum plures libertates et franchesie dilectorum burgen- 
 sium nostrorum ville nostre Cantebrigie una cum pluribus 
 commoditatibus et proficuis unde magna pars firme sue levari 
 consuevit eis nuper ablate et scolaribus universitatis ibidem 
 concesse fuissent et dicta nichilominus eorum firma exaltata 
 et granditer augmentata : Et insuper iam tarde magna pars 
 
 1 Original in Borough Archives. Great seal in green wax nearly perfect. 
 
Charters of King Richard the Second, 33 
 
 of our confirmation aforesaid (save only and except the 
 liberties to the chancellor of the said university of Cambridge 
 and to his successors aforesaid granted by our charter afore- 
 said as has been said before, it being our will that the said 
 mayor, bailiffs and burgesses or any of them shall not from 
 henceforth meddle therewith upon pain of our grievous dis- 
 pleasure, but they shall be aiding and intendant therein to 
 the said chancellor and his commissary according to the form 
 of the said charter), rendering to us and our heirs yearly for 
 ever one hundred and one marks and the said four marks by 
 way of new increment as is aforesaid. As witnesses : the 
 venerable fathers William Archbishop of Canterbury Primate 
 of all England, William Bishop of Winchester, Ralph Bishop 
 of Salisbury, John King of Castile and Leon Duke of 
 Lancaster, Thomas Earl of Buckingham, our dearest uncles, 
 Richard Earl of Arundel, Thomas Earl of Warwick, Richard 
 Le Scrope our Chancellor, Hugh de Segrave our Treasurer, 
 Aubrey de Vere our Chamberlain, John de Montacute the 
 Steward of our Household and others. Given by our hand at 
 Westminster on the first day of May in the fifth year of our 
 reign. 
 
 By the King himself and council 
 
 MUSKHAM. 
 
 XIII. Second Charter of King Richard the Second. 
 
 ^Richard by the grace of God King of England and 1385 
 France and Lord of Ireland to his Archbishops, Bishops, ^^* ^ 
 Abbots, Priors, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Justices, Sheriffs, Reeves, 
 Bailiffs, Ministers and other his faithful People greeting. 
 Know ye that whereas many liberties and franchises of our 
 beloved burgesses of our town of Cambridge together with 
 many advantages and profits, whence a great part of their 
 farm was wont to be raised, have lately been taken away from 
 them and granted to the scholars of the university there, and 
 their said farm nevertheless has been increased and greatly 
 augmented: And moreover now of late a great part of the 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. 130. 
 B. C. 3 
 
34 Charters of the Borotigh of Cambridge. 
 
 ville predicte videlicet centum burgagia et plura magna et 
 parva simul cum omnibus bonis et catallis in eisdem burgagiis 
 existentibus unde magna pars dicte firme levari et solvi 
 debuit per duo subita ignis infortunia combusta fuissent et 
 penitus devastata, eoque pretextu nonnulli burgensium qui 
 dicta burgagia inhabitabant de villa predicta recesserunt 
 aliique burgenses eiusdem ville nisi succursum pariter et 
 auxilium de dampnis et deperditis huiusmodi cicius habeant 
 villam illam proponant relinquere desolatam : Nos igitur 
 super premissis pie compacientes ac volentes indempnitati 
 nostre in hac parte prospicere et relevacioni et emendacioni 
 ville nostre predicte ac status burgensium nostrorum eiusdem 
 ville in salvacionem et continuacionem firme nostre predicte 
 manus apponere adiutrices, de gracia nostra speciali et ad 
 requisicionem burgensium nostrorum predictorum conces- 
 simus pro nobis et heredibus nostris et hac carta nostra 
 confirmavimus eisdem burgensibus, quod ipsi et heredes ac 
 successores sui burgenses eiusdem ville imperpetuum habeant 
 omnia fines redempciones et amerciamenta ac exitus foris- 
 factos omnium hominum tam residencium infra eandem 
 villam et libertatem eiusdem quam aliorum quorumcumque 
 quos in eadem villa, occasione alicuius placiti vel querele 
 liberum tenementum in eisdem villa et libertate tangencium, 
 seu occasione alicuius debiti vel transgressionis contractus seu 
 querele alterius rei infra easdem villam et libertatem emer- 
 gencium, tam coram iusticiariis nostris et heredum nostrorum 
 ad placita coram nobis tenenda assignatis, et iusticiariis 
 nostris de banco, ac coram thesaurario et baronibus nostris 
 et heredum nostrorum de scaccario, ac coram iusticiariis 
 nostris ad assisas capiendas, inquisiciones faciendas, gaolas 
 deliberandas, et ad pacem nostram conservandam, ac iustici- 
 ariis ad inquirendum de artificibus laboratoribus et aliis 
 operariis necnon de ponderibus et mensuris, ac iusticiariis 
 itinerantibus et quibuscumque aliis iusticiariis nostris, quam 
 coram senescallo et marescallis ac clerico mercati hospicii 
 nostri, ac coram escaetoribus vicecomitibus et aliis officiariis 
 et ministris nostris quibuscumque amerciari vel exitus foris- 
 
Charters of King Richard the Second, 35 
 
 town aforesaid namely one hundred burgages and more, great 
 and small, together with all goods and chattels being within 
 the same burgages, whence a great part of the said farm was 
 leviable and payable, has, by two sudden calamities of fire, 
 been burnt and completely devastated, and on that account 
 certain of the burgesses who used to inhabit the said burgages 
 have departed from the said town, and other burgesses of the 
 same town, unless they quickly have succour and aid in such 
 their damages and losses, also propose to leave the town 
 desolate : We therefore being pitifully compassionate in the 
 matters aforesaid, and wishing to provide for our indemnity 
 in this behalf, and to apply helping hands to the relief and 
 amendment of our town aforesaid and of the estate of our 
 burgesses of the same town in the salvation and continuance 
 of our farm aforesaid, of our special grace and at the request 
 of our said burgesses have granted for us and our heirs 
 and by this our charter have confirmed to the same burgesses 
 that they and their heirs and successors, burgesses of the 
 same town, shall for ever have all fines, ransoms, and amerce- 
 ments and forfeited issues of all men, as well of residents 
 within the same town and the liberty thereof, as of all others 
 who in the same town may happen to be amerced or to 
 forfeit issues, by occasion of any plea or plaint touching 
 any free tenement in the same town and liberty, or by 
 occasion of any debt, trespass, contract or plaint of any other 
 matter arising within the same town and liberty, as well 
 before the Justices of ourselves and our heirs assigned to hold 
 pleas before us, and our Justices of the Bench, and before the 
 Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer of ourselves or our 
 heirs, and before our Justices for holding assizes, taking 
 inquisitions, delivering gaols and for preserving our peace, 
 and the Justices for inquiring about artificers, labourers, and 
 other workmen and about weights and measures, and Justices 
 in eyre and other our Justices, as also before the Steward and 
 Marshals and Clerk of the Market of our Household, and 
 before the Escheators, Sheriffs and all other our officers and 
 ministers whomsoever. And that they shall have all manner 
 
 3—2 
 
36r Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 facere contigerit. Et quod habeant omnimoda catalla feloniim 
 ac fugitivorum ac utlagatorum de omnibus tam de tenentibus 
 et residentibus infra villam et libertatem predictas quam de 
 extraneis et aliis quibuscumque que infra villam et libertatem 
 predictas inveniri contigerit : Ita quod liceat eisdem bur- 
 gensibus huiusmodi fines redempciones et amerciamenta et 
 exitus forisfactos statim cum adiudicata fuerint per ballivos 
 seu deputatos suos coUigere et levare, et de huiusmodi catallis 
 felonum et fugitivorum in seisinam se ponere, et ea ad usum 
 eorumdem burgensium in auxilium firme sue predicte retinere 
 possint, absque impedimento nostri vel heredum nostrorum, 
 iusticiariorum, escaetorum, vicecomitum aut aliorum ballivo- 
 rum seu ministrorum nostrorum vel heredum nostrorum 
 quorumcumque, et absque compoto vel alio raciocinio inde 
 nobis vel heredibus nostris seu ministris nostris quibuscumque 
 reddendo imperpetuum : Salvis semper cancellario magistris 
 et scolaribus universitatis nostre ville predicte et succes- 
 soribus suis finibus forisfacturis amerciamentis et aliis pro- 
 ficuis ac libertatibus et privilegiis quibuscumque eis et 
 predecessoribus suis per nos et progenitores nostros. quondam 
 reges Anglie concessis: Salvis eciam et exceptis huiusmodi 
 finibus redempcionibus amerciamentis exitibus forisfactis et 
 catallis in casibus quando scolares dicte universitatis vel 
 servientes sui partes existunt : Quare volumus et firmiter 
 precipimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris quod predict! 
 burgenses heredes ac successores sui omnia huiusmodi fines 
 redempciones amerciamenta et exitus forisfactos, ac eciam 
 omnimoda huiusmodi catalla felonum fugitivorum et ut- 
 lagatorum in forma predicta habeant et percipiant et liber- 
 tatibus illis plene gaudeant et utantur imperpetuum : Salvis 
 semper ut premittitur cancellario magistris et scolaribus 
 universitatis predicte et successoribus suis finibus forisfacturis 
 amerciamentis et aliis proficuis ac libertatibus et privilegiis 
 quibuscumque eis et predecessoribus suis per nos et pro- 
 genitores nostros predictos concessis : Salvis eciam et exceptis 
 huiusmodi finibus redempcionibus amerciamentis exitibus 
 forisfactis et catallis in casibus quando scolares dicte uni- 
 
Charters of King Richard the Second, 37 
 
 of chattels of felons and fugitives and outlaws, from all, as 
 well of tenants and residents within the town and liberty- 
 aforesaid, as of strangers and all others, which [chattels] shall 
 happen to be found within the town and liberty aforesaid : 
 So that it may be lawful for the same burgesses to collect 
 and levy all such fines, ransoms and amercements and forfeited 
 issues as soon as they may have been adjudged, by their 
 bailiffs or deputies, and of such chattels of felons and fugitives 
 they may put themselves in seisin and retain the same to 
 the use of the said burgesses in aid of their farm aforesaid, 
 and without hindrance by us or our heirs or the Justices, 
 Escheators, Sheriffs or other bailiffs or ministers of us or of 
 our heirs, and this for ever, without rendering therefor account 
 or other reckoning to us or our heirs or any our ministers : 
 Saving always to the chancellor, masters and scholars of our 
 university of the town aforesaid and to their successors, the 
 fines, forfeitures, amercements and other profits and liberties 
 and privileges whatsoever granted to them and their pre- 
 decessors by us and our progenitors formerly Kings of 
 England : Save also and except all such fines, ransoms, 
 amercements and forfeited issues and chattels in cases in 
 which scholars of the said university or their servants are 
 parties : Wherefore we will and firmly command for our- 
 selves and our heirs that the aforesaid burgesses, their heirs 
 and successors, shall have and take all such fines, ransoms, 
 amercements and forfeited issues, and also all manner such 
 chattels of felons, fugitives and outlaws in the form aforesaid, 
 and shall fully enjoy and use these liberties for ever : Save 
 always as is before said to the chancellor, masters and 
 scholars of the university aforesaid and to their successors 
 the fines, forfeitures, amercements and other profits and 
 liberties and privileges whatsoever granted to them and to 
 their predecessors by us and our progenitors aforesaid : Save 
 also and except such fines, ransoms, amercements and for- 
 feited issues and chattels in cases in which scholars of the 
 said university or their servants are parties as is aforesaid. 
 As witnesses : the venerable fathers William Archbishop 
 
38 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 versitatis vel servientes sui partes existunt sicut predictum 
 est. Hiis testibus : venerabilibus patribus Willelmo Archie- 
 piscopo Cantuariensi tocius Anglie primate, Roberto London- 
 iensi, Willelmo Wyntoniensi Episcopis, lohanne Rege Castelle 
 et Legionis Duce Lancastrie, Edmundo Eboraci, et Thoma 
 Gloucestrie Ducibus avunculis nostris carissimis, Ricardo 
 Arundell, Hugone Staffordie, Michaele de la Pole Suffolcie 
 Cancellario nostro Comitibus, Hugone Segrave Thesaurario 
 nostro, lohanne de Monte Acuto Senescallo Hospicii nostri 
 et aliis. Data per manum nostram apud Westmonasterium 
 nono die Decembris anno regni nostri nono. 
 per breve de private Sigillo 
 
 SCARLE. 
 
 ^ Irrotulata in meniorandis scaccarii inter recorda de termino 
 Sancte Trinitatis anno decimo Regis Ricardi secundi ex parte 
 Rememoratoris Thesaurarii. 
 
 XIV. LiTTERE PATENTES ReGIS RICARDI SECUNDI. 
 
 „^394 2[R]icardus dei gracia [R]ex Anglie et Francie et Dominus 
 
 Hibernie omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint salutem. 
 Sciatis quod cum nos nuper considerantes dampna et de- 
 perdita que ville nostre Cantebrigie ac burgensibus nostris 
 eiusdem ville tam per ablacionem libertatum et franchesiarum 
 suarum quam per diversa et subita ignis infortunia evenerunt, 
 de gracia nostra speciali in relevacionem et emendacionem 
 ville nostre predicte ac status burgensium nostrorum pre- 
 dictorum necnon salvacionem et continuacionem firme nostre 
 eiusdem ville concesserimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris 
 et carta nostra confirmaverimus eisdem burgensibus quod 
 ipsi et hercdes ac successores sui burgenses eiusdem ville 
 imperpetuum habeant omnia fines redempciones et amercia- 
 menta ac exitus forisfactos omnium hominum tam residencium 
 infra eandem villam et libertatem eiusdem quam aliorum 
 quorumcumque quos in eadem villa occasione alicuius placiti 
 
 ^ An endorsement on the charter. 
 
 2 Original in the Borough Archives with a part of the great seal in green 
 wax appendant. 
 
Letters Patent of King Richard the Second. 39 
 
 of Canterbury Primate of all England, Robert Bishop of 
 London, William Bishop of Winchester, John King of Castile 
 and Leon Duke of Lancaster, Edmund Duke of York and 
 Thomas Duke of Gloucester our dearest uncles, Richard Earl 
 of Arundel, Hugh Earl of Stafford, Michael De La Pole Earl 
 of Suffolk our Chancellor, Hugh Segrave our Treasurer, John 
 de Montacute the Steward of our Household and others. 
 Given by our hand at Westminster on the ninth day of 
 December in the ninth year of our reign. 
 
 By writ of privy seal 
 
 SCARLE. 
 
 Enrolled in the Memoranda of the Exchequer among the 
 records of the Trinity Term in the loth year of King Richard 
 the Second on behalf of the Remembrancer of the Treasurer. 
 
 XIV. Letters Patent of King Richard the Second. 
 
 * Richard by the grace of God King of England and J^P^c. 
 France and Lord of Ireland to all to whom the present 
 letters shall come greeting. Know ye that whereas lately we, 
 considering the damages and losses which have happened 
 to our town of Cambridge and to our burgesses of the same 
 town, as well by the taking away of their liberties and 
 franchises, as by divers and sudden misfortunes by fire, of our 
 special grace for the relief and amendment of our town 
 aforesaid and of the estate of our burgesses aforesaid, and 
 also the salvation and continuance of our farm of the same 
 town, granted for ourselves and our heirs and by our charter 
 confirmed to the said burgesses that they and their heirs and 
 successors, burgesses of the said town, should have for ever 
 all fines, ransoms and amercements and forfeited issues of 
 all men, as well of residents within the same town and the 
 
 * See Cooper, Annals^ i. 142. 
 
4Q Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 vel querele liberum tenementum in eisdem villa et libertate 
 tangencium, seu occasione alicuius debiti vel transgressionis 
 cpntractus seu querele alterius rei infra easdem villam et 
 libertatem emergencium tarn coram iusticiariis nostris et 
 heredum nostrorum ad placita coram nobis tenenda assig- 
 natis, et iusticiariis nostris de banco, ac coram thesaurario 
 et baronibus nostris et heredum nostrorum de scaccario, ac 
 coram iusticiariis nostris ad assisas capiendas, inquisiciones 
 faciendas, gaolas deliberandas et ad pacem nostram confir- 
 mandam, ac iusticiariis ad inquirendum de artificibus labora- 
 toribus et aliis operariis necnon de ponderibus et mensuris, 
 ac iusticiariis itinerantibus, et quibuscunque aliis iusticiariis 
 nostris, quam coram senescallo et marescallis ac clerico 
 mercati hospicii nostri ac coram escaetoribus, vicecomitibus 
 et aliis officiariis et ministris nostris quibuscumque fines 
 facere vel amerciari aut exitus forisfacere contigerit, et quod 
 habeant omnimoda catalla felonum et fugitivorum ac utla- 
 gatorum de omnibus, tam de tenentibus et residentibus infra 
 villam et libertatem predictas, quam de extraneis et aliis 
 quibuscumque, que infra villam et libertatem predictas in- 
 veniri contigerit^ ita quod liceat eisdem burgensibus huius- 
 modi fines, redempciones, amerciamenta et exitus forisfactos 
 statim cum adiudicata fuerint, per ballivos seu deputatos 
 suos colligere et levare, et de huiusmodi catallis felonum et 
 fugitivorum in seisinam se ponere, et ea ad usum eorumdem 
 burgensium in auxilium firme sue predicte retinere possint, 
 absque impedimento nostri vel heredum nostrorum, iusticia- 
 riorum, escaetorum, vicecomitum aut aliorum ballivorum seu 
 ministrorum nostrorum, vel heredum nostrorum, quorum- 
 cunque, et absque compoto vel alio raciocinio inde nobis vel 
 heredibus nostris seu ministris nostris quibuscumque reddendo 
 imperpetuum : Salvis semper cancellario et magistris et 
 scolaribus universitatis nostre ville predicte et successoribus 
 suis, finibus, forisfacturis, amerciamentis et aliis proficuis ac 
 libertatibus et privilegiis quibuscumque eis et predecessoribus 
 suis per nos et progenitores nostros quondam Reges Anglie 
 
 ^ corr. contigerint* 
 
Letters Patent of King Richard the Second. 41 
 
 liberty of the same, as of all others who in the same town by- 
 reason of any plea or plaint touching a free tenement in the said 
 town and its liberty, or by reason of any debt or breach of 
 contract or plaint of any other matter arising within the said 
 town and its liberty, should chance to make fines or to be 
 amerced or to forfeit issues, as well before the Justices of 
 ourselves and our heirs assigned to hold pleas before our- 
 selves, and our Justices of the Bench, and the Treasurer and 
 Barons of the Exchequer of ourselves and of our heirs, and 
 before our Justices for taking assizes, making inquisitions, 
 for gaol delivery and for confirming our peace, and the 
 Justices for inquiring about artificers, labourers and other 
 workmen, also about weights and measures, and Justices in 
 eyre, and all other our Justices, as also before the Steward 
 and Marshals and Clerk of the Market of our Household, and 
 before Escheators, Sheriffs and all other our officers and 
 servants, and that they [the said burgesses] should have all 
 manner of chattels of felons and of fugitives and of outlaws 
 from all men, as well from tenants and residents within the 
 town and liberty aforesaid, as from strangers and all others 
 whomsoever, which [chattels] may chance to be found within 
 the town and liberty aforesaid, so that it may be lawful for 
 the said burgesses to collect and levy by their bailiffs or 
 deputies such fines, ransoms, amercements and forfeited issues, 
 so soon as they shall have been adjudged, and of such 
 chattels of felons and of fugitives may put themselves in 
 seisin, and retain the same to the use of the said burgesses in 
 aid of their farm aforesaid, without hindrance from us or our 
 heirs, or the Justices, Escheators, Sheriffs or of any other 
 bailiffs or ministers of us or of our heirs, and this for ever, 
 without rendering account or other reckoning therefor to 
 us or to our heirs or any our ministers : Save always to the 
 chancellor and masters and scholars of our university of the 
 town aforesaid and to their successors the fines, forfeitures, 
 amercements and other profits and liberties and privileges 
 whatsoever granted to them and their predecessors by us and 
 our progenitors formerly Kings of England: Save also and 
 
42 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 concessis : Salvis eciam et exceptis huiusmodi finibus, re- 
 dempcionibus, amerciamentis, exitibus forisfactis et catallis 
 in casibus quando scolares dicte universitatis vel servientes 
 sui partes existunt, prout in carta nostra predicta plenius 
 continetur: lamque predicti burgenses nobis supplicaverint 
 ut cum ipsi super allocacione et percepcione huiusmodi 
 finium, redempcionum, amerciamentorum, exituum forisfac- 
 factorum ac catallorum felonum, fugitivorum et utlagatorum 
 sibi per nos sic concessorum, pretextu excepcionum pre- 
 dictarum in dicta carta nostra contentarum multipliciter 
 impediti et retardati existant, velimus eis de remedio in 
 hac parte graciose providere: Nos volentes ipsos burgenses 
 plenum et integrum beneficium et effectum concessionis 
 nostre predicte habere et reportare, de gracia nostra speciali 
 et de assensu consilii nostri in presenti parliamento nostro, 
 volumus et concedimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris prefatis 
 burgensibus et successoribus suis quod, quandocumque et 
 quocienscumque vicecomes Cantebrigie pro tempore existens 
 retornum brevium, summonicionum seu aliorum mandatorum 
 nostrorum maiori et ballivis ville predicte pro huiusmodi 
 finibus, redempcionibus, amerciamentis, exitibus et catallis ad 
 opus nostrum infra villam predictam et libertatem eiusdem 
 levandis aliquo tempore futuro fecerit, et iidem burgenses 
 et successores sui burgenses ville predicte huiusmodi fines, 
 redempciones, amerciamenta, exitus et catalla infra villam 
 et libertatem predictas emergencia ad opus suum proprium 
 virtute carte nostre predicte super compotum vicecomitis 
 comitatus predicti prout moris est clamaverint, cancellarius 
 universitatis eiusdem ville qui pro tempore fuerit vel ejus 
 vicem gerens in casu illo et in omnibus aliis casibus et 
 processubus huiusmodi fines, redempciones, amerciamenta, 
 exitus et catalla in quibuscumque curiis et placeis nostris 
 tansrentibus sive concernentibus thesaurario et baronibus 
 nostris et heredum nostrorum de scaccario, quociens et 
 quando per ipsos maiorem et ballivos aut eorum aliquem 
 fuerit requisitus, absque aliqua difficultate seu domigerio, 
 certificet sub sigillo officii sui, si scolares dicte universitatis 
 
Letters Patent of King Richard the Second. 43 
 
 except such fines, ransoms, amercements, forfeited issues and 
 chattels in cases in which scholars of the said university or 
 their servants are parties, as in our charter aforesaid is more 
 fully contained : And whereas now the aforesaid burgesses 
 have besought us that, whereas they, in the collection and 
 receipt of such fines, ransoms, amercements, forfeited issues 
 and the chattels of felons, fugitives and outlaws, so granted to 
 them by us, are much hindered and retarded by pretext of the 
 aforesaid exceptions in our said charter contained, we would 
 be pleased graciously to provide a remedy for them in this 
 behalf: Now we, willing that the said burgesses should have 
 and obtain the full and complete benefit and effect of our 
 grant aforesaid, do, of our special grace and with the assent of 
 our council in our present parliament, will and grant for 
 ourselves and our heirs to the aforesaid burgesses and their 
 successors that, when and as often as the sheriff of Cambridge 
 for the time being shall in time to come make a return of our 
 writs, summonses or other commands to the mayor and 
 bailiffs of the town aforesaid, for levying to our use within 
 the said town or the liberty thereof any such fines, ransoms, 
 amercements, issues and chattels, and the said burgesses and 
 their successors, burgesses of the town aforesaid, shall by 
 virtue of our said charter claim to their own proper use, upon 
 the account of the sheriff of the said county, as the usual 
 course is, any such fines, ransoms, amercements, issues and 
 chattels arising in the town and liberty aforesaid, then the 
 chancellor for the time being of the university of the said 
 town or his vicegerent, in that case and in all other cases and 
 processes in any of the courts or places belonging to us or 
 concerning us, shall certify such fines, ransoms, amercements, 
 issues and chattels, when and so often as it shall be required 
 by the said mayor and bailiffs or any of them, without any 
 difficulty or danger, under the seal of his office, to the 
 Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer of us and our heirs, 
 whether or no the scholars of the said university or their 
 servants are parties in such fines, ransoms, amercements, 
 issues and chattels : And that the said Treasurer and Barons 
 
44 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 vel servientes sui in huiusmodi finibus, redempclonibus, 
 amerciamentis, exitibus et catallis partes fuerint necne. Et 
 quod iidem thesaurarius et barones de omnibus et singulis 
 huiusmodi finibus, redempcionibus, amerciamentis, exitibus et 
 catallis de quibus eis per huiusmodi certificacionem dicti 
 cancellarii vel ejus vicem gerentis successivis temporibus 
 faciendam constare poterit scolares dicte universitatis aut 
 servientes suos partes non existere, plenam allocacionem 
 eisdem burgensibus iuxta tenorem carte nostre predicte, 
 absque aliqua alia verificacione, inquisicione seu informacione 
 in hac parte facienda vel habenda faciant indilate : ipsosque 
 burgenses omnia huiusmodi fines, redempciones, amercia- 
 menta, exitus et catalla iuxta tenorem eiusdem carte ac 
 certificacionem huiusmodi habere et percipere ac eis pacifice 
 gaudere permittant imperpetuum. Volumus insuper et 
 concedimus quod predicti burgenses de omnibus huiusmodi 
 finibus, redempcionibus, amerciamentis, exitibus et catallis 
 citra datam carte nostre predicte factis vel emersis, de quibus 
 nobis nondum est satisfactum, plenam allocacionem iuxta 
 tenorem carte nostre predicte per huiusmodi certificacionem 
 cancellarii dicte universitatis in scaccarium nostrum in hac 
 parte faciendam, absque alia inquisicione vel verificacione 
 inde capienda vel facienda, habeant et optineant de gracia 
 nostra speciali pariter et favore. In cuius rei testimonium 
 has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste me ipso apud 
 Westmonasterium vicesimo octavo die Februarii anno regni 
 nostri decimo septimo. 
 
 per peticionem in parliamento 
 
 S CARLE. 
 
 1 Irrotulate in memorandis scaccarii inter recorda de termino 
 Sancte Trinitatis anno decimo septimo Regis Ricardi secundi ex 
 parte Rememoratoris Thesaurarii. 
 
 ^ An endorsement. 
 
Letters Patent of King Richard the Second. 45 
 
 of all and singular such fines, ransoms, amercements, issues and 
 chattels, in which, as by any such certificate hereafter made of 
 the said chancellor or of his vicegerent, it shall be apparent 
 to them that the scholars of the said university or their 
 servants are not parties, shall without delay make full allowance 
 to the said burgesses according to the tenour of our charter 
 aforesaid, without any other verification, inquisition or in- 
 formation to be made or had in this behalf, and shall permit 
 the said burgesses to have, receive and peaceably enjoy all such 
 fines, ransoms, amercements, issues and chattels, according to 
 the tenour of the said charter and such certificate, for ever. 
 Moreover we will and grant that the aforesaid burgesses of all 
 such fines, ransoms, amercements, issues and chattels as have 
 been made or arisen since the date of our charter aforesaid 
 and for which satisfaction has not as yet been made to us,, 
 shall, of our special grace and favour, have and obtain a full 
 allowance, according to the tenour of our charter aforesaid by 
 such certificate of the chancellor of the said university to be 
 made in our Exchequer on this behalf, without any other 
 inquisition or verification to be taken or made for the same. 
 In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be 
 made patent. As witness myself at Westminster the twenty- 
 eighth day of February in the seventeenth year of our reign. 
 
 by petition in parliament 
 
 SCARLE. 
 
 Enrolled in the Memoranda of the Exchequer amongst the 
 Records of Trinity Term in the 17th year of King Richard the 
 Second on behalf of the Treasurer's Remembrancer. 
 
46 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 XV. LiTTERE Patentes Regis Henrici Quarti. 
 
 1405 ^[Hjenricus dei gracia [R]ex [AJnglie et Francie et 
 
 [D]ominus Hibernie omnibus ad quos presentes littere per- 
 venerint salutem. [IJnspeximus cartam domini Ricardi nuper 
 Regis Anglie secundi post conquestum factam in hec verba : 
 [Rjicardus dei gracia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Richard II. 
 in the 9th year of his reign and on the 9th December 1385 
 hereinbefore printed and numbered XIII. The present in- 
 strument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Inspeximus eciam litteras patentes eiusdem domini Ricardi 
 nuper Regis similiter factas in hec verba : [R]icardus dei 
 gracia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Richard II. 
 dated in the 17th year of his reign and on the 28th February 
 1394 hereinbefore printed and numbered XIV. The present 
 instrument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 [N]os autem donaciones concessiones et voluntates 
 predictas ratas habentes et gratas, eas pro nobis et heredibus 
 nostris quantum in nobis est acceptamus approbamus et 
 dilectis nobis nunc burgensibus ville predicte ac heredibus et 
 successoribus suis de gracia nostra speciali concedimus et con- 
 firmamus prout carta et littere predicte racionabiliter testantur, 
 et prout iidem burgenses et successores sui huiusmodi fines 
 redempciones amerciamenta et exitus forisfactos ac eciam 
 catalla felonum fugitivorum et utlagatorum necnon certifica- 
 cionem et allocacionem in forma predicta a tempore confec- 
 cionis carte et litterarum predictarum habuerunt, ac libertatibus 
 predictis seu earum aliqua a tempore predicto semper hac- 
 tenus uti et gaudere consueverunt : Salvis semper cancellario 
 magistris et scolaribus universitatis nostre ville predicte 
 et successoribus suis finibus forisfacturis amerciamentis et 
 
 1 Original in the Borough Archives with a portion of the great seal in green 
 wax appendant. 
 
Letters Patent of King Henry the Fourth. 47 
 
 XV. Letters Patent of King Henry the Fourth. 
 
 1 Henry by the grace of God King of England and 1405 
 France Lord of Ireland, to all to whom the present letters ^ * '^ 
 shall come greeting. We have inspected the charter of the 
 lord Richard, formerly King of England, the second since 
 the conquest, made in these words: Richard by the grace 
 of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Richard II. 
 in the 9th year of his reign and on the 9th December 1385 
 hereinbefore translated and numbered XIII. The present in- 
 strument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 We have inspected also the letters patent of the same 
 Lord Richard formerly King similarly made in these words : 
 Richard by the grace of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Richard II. 
 dated in the 17th year of his reign and on the 28th February 
 1394 hereinbefore translated and numbered XIV. The present 
 instrument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Now we therefore, ratifying and according the said gifts, 
 grants and injunctions, do for ourselves and our heirs, so far 
 as in us lies, accept and approve, and to our beloved the now 
 burgesses of the aforesaid town and to their heirs and suc- 
 cessors do, of our special grace, grant and confirm the same, 
 in such wise as the charter and letters aforesaid reasonably 
 testify, and in such wise as the same burgesses and their 
 successors have had such fines, ransoms, amercements and 
 forfeited issues and also the chattels of felons, fugitives and 
 outlaws, and certificate and allowance in the form aforesaid, 
 from the time of the making of the charter and letters afore- 
 said, and have always hitherto been wont to use and enjoy the 
 aforesaid liberties or any of them from the time aforesaid : Save 
 always to the chancellor, masters and scholars of our uni- 
 versity of the aforesaid town and to their successors the fines, 
 forfeitures, amercements and other profits and liberties and 
 
 1 See Cooper, Annals^ i. 150. 
 
48 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 aliis proficuis ac libertatibus et privilegiis quibuscumque eis 
 et predecessoribus suis per predictum nuper Regem seu dictos 
 progenitores suos ante hec tempora concessis : Salvis eciam 
 et exceptis huiusmodi finibus redempcionibus amerciamentis 
 exitibus forisfactis et catallis in casibus quando scolares dicte 
 universitatis vel servientes sui partes existunt sicut predictum 
 est. In cuius rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus 
 patentes. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium decimo nono 
 die Februarii anno regni nostri sexto 
 
 Shelford. 
 pro octo marcis solutis in hanaperio. 
 
 Examinata per lohannem Roderham et Henricum Shelford 
 clericos. 
 
 ^ Irrotulate in memorandis scaccarii de anno septimo Regis 
 Henrici quarti inter recorda de termino Sancti Hillarii ex parte 
 Rememoratoris Thesaurarii. 
 
 XVI. LiTTERE Patentes Regis Henrici Quinti. 
 1419 2|-]^jgj^j.j(,yg (jgj gracia Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus 
 
 Hibernie omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint 
 salutem. Inspeximus litteras patentes domini Henrici nuper 
 Regis Anglie patris nostri factas in hec verba : [HJenricus dei 
 gracia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Henry IV. dated 
 in the 6th year of his reign and on the 19th of February 1405 
 hereinbefore printed and numbered XV. The present instrument 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Nos autem donaciones, concessiones et voluntates predictas 
 ratas habentes et gratas, eas pro nobis et heredibus nostris, 
 quantum in nobis est, acceptamus, approbamus, et dilectis 
 nobis nunc burgensibus ville predicte ac heredibus et 
 successoribus suis de gracia nostra speciali concedimus et 
 confirmamus, prout carta et littere predicte racionabiliter 
 
 * An endorsement. 
 
 2 Original in Borough Archives with a fine impression of the great seal 
 in green wax appendant. 
 
Letters Patent of King Henry the Fifth, 49 
 
 privileges whatsoever granted in time past to them and to 
 their predecessors by the aforesaid late King or his said 
 progenitors : Save also and except such fines, ransoms, 
 amercements, forfeited issues and chattels in causes in which 
 scholars of the said university or their servants are parties as 
 is aforesaid. In witness whereof we have caused these our 
 letters to be made patent. Witness myself at Westminster 
 on the nineteenth day of February in the sixth year of our 
 reign. 
 
 Shelford. 
 
 for eight marks paid to the hanaper. 
 
 Examined by John Roderham and Henry Shelford, clerks. 
 
 Enrolled in the Memoranda of the Exchequer for the seventh 
 year of King Henry the Fourth amongst the records of Hilary 
 term on the part of the Treasurer's Remembrancer. 
 
 XVI. Letters Patent of King Henry the Fifth. 
 
 * Henry by the grace of God King of England and France 1419 
 and Lord of Ireland to all to whom the present letters shall °^* ^^ 
 come greeting. We have inspected the letters patent of the 
 lord Henry late King of England, our father, made in these 
 words : Henry by the grace of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Henry IV. dated 
 in the 6th year of his reign and on the 19th of February 1405 
 hereinbefore translated and numbered XV. The present in- 
 strument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Now we, ratifying and according the said gifts, grants and 
 injunctions, do, for ourselves and our heirs so far as in us 
 lies, accept and approve and of our special grace do grant 
 and confirm the same to our beloved the now burgesses of 
 the town aforesaid and their heirs and successors, in such 
 wise as the charter and letters aforesaid reasonably testify, 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. 163. 
 B. C. 4 
 
50 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 testantur et prout iidem burgenses et successores sui huius- 
 modi fines, redempciones, amerciamenta et exitus forisfactos, 
 ac eciam catalla felonum, fugitivorum et utlagatorum, necnon 
 certificacionem et allocacionem in forma predicta, a tempore 
 confeccionis carte et litterarum predictarum habuerunt, ac 
 libertatibus predictis seu earum aliqua a tempore predicto 
 semper hactenus uti et gaudere consueverunt : Salvis semper 
 cancellario, magistris et scolaribus universitatis nostre ville 
 predicte et successoribus suis finibus, forisfacturis, amer- 
 ciamentis et aliis proficuis ac libertatibus et privilegiis 
 quibuscumque, eis et predecessoribus suis, per predictum 
 nuper Regem seu dictos progenitores suos, ante hec tempora 
 concessis: Salvis eciam et exceptis huiusmodi finibus, re- 
 dempcionibus, amerciamentis, exitibus forisfactis et catallis in 
 casibus quando scolares dicte universitatis vel servientes sui 
 partes existunt sicut predictum est. In cuius rei testimonium 
 has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste : lohanne 
 Duce Bedfordie Custode Anglie, apud Westmonasterium 
 quinto decimo die Novembris anno regni nostri septimo. 
 
 pro duodecim marcis solutis in hanaperio 
 
 Haseley. 
 
 Examinata per Henricum Kays et Thomam Haseley, clericos. 
 
 XVII. LiTTERE Patentes Regis Henrici Sexti. 
 1424 *[H]enricus dei gracia Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus 
 
 Feb. 3 
 
 Hibernie omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint salutem. 
 [IJnspeximus litteras patentes carissimi domini et patris nostri 
 Regis defuncti factas in hec verba : [HJenricus dei gracia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Henry V. dated 
 in the 7th year of his reign and on the 15th November 1419 
 hereinbefore printed and numbered XVI. The present Charter 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Nos autem litteras predictas de eisdem donacionibus, 
 
 1 Original in the Borough Archives with a nearly perfect great seal in green 
 wax appendant. 
 
Letters Patent of King Henry the Sixth. 51 
 
 and in such wise as the said burgesses and their predecessors 
 have had such fines, ransoms, amercements and forfeited 
 issues, and also chattels of felons, fugitives and outlaws, also 
 certificate and allowance in form aforesaid, from the time of 
 the making of the charter and letters aforesaid, and have 
 always hitherto been wont to use and enjoy the liberties 
 aforesaid or any of them from the time aforesaid : Save 
 always to the chancellor, masters and scholars of our 
 university of the town aforesaid and to their successors the 
 fines, forfeitures, amercements and other profits and liberties 
 and privileges whatsoever, granted before now, to them and 
 to their predecessors, by the aforesaid late King or his said 
 progenitors : Save also and except such fines, ransoms, 
 amercements, forfeited issues and chattels in cases in which 
 scholars of the said university or their servants are parties, 
 as is aforesaid. In witness whereof we have caused these our 
 letters to be made patent. As witness : John Duke of Bed- 
 ford Guardian of England at Westminster on the fifteenth 
 day of November in the seventh year of our reign. 
 
 for twelve marks paid to the hanaper 
 
 Haseley. 
 
 Examined by Henry Kays and Thomas Haseley, clerks. 
 
 XVII. Letters Patent of King Henry the Sixth. 
 
 ^ Henry by the grace of God King of England and France 1424 
 and Lord of Ireland to all to whom these present letters 
 shall come greeting. We have inspected the letters patent 
 of the dearest lord, our father the deceased King, made in 
 these words : Henry by the grace of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Henry V. dated 
 in the 7th year of his reign and on the 15th November 141 9 
 hereinbefore translated and numbered XVI. The present 
 Charter then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Now we approve, ratify and confirm the letters aforesaid 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals ^ i. 172, where a wrong date seems to be given. 
 
 4—2 
 
52 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 concessionibus et voluntatibus, minime revocatis, de assensu 
 dominorum spiritualium et temporalium in parliamento nostro 
 apud Westmonasterium anno regni nostri primo tento exis- 
 tencium, approbamus, ratificamus et confirmamus, prout littere 
 predicte racionabiliter testantur, et prout iidem burgenses et 
 predecessores sui donacionibus, concessionibus et voluntatibus 
 predictis, a tempore confeccionis litterarum et confirmacionis 
 predictarum hucusque, racionabiliter uti et gaudere consue- 
 verunt. In cuius rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri 
 fecimus patentes. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium 
 tercio die Februarii anno regni nostri secundo 
 
 per breve de private sigillo 
 
 Haseley. 
 
 Examinata per lohannem Spryngthorpe et Thomam Haseley, 
 clericos. 
 
 Trinitatis recorda anno XVII'* regis Ricardi secundi nuper 
 Regis Anglie rotulo VIP ibidem prima carta irrotulata. 
 
 XVIII. Littere Patentes .Regis Henrici Sexti. 
 
 1437 ^[HJenricus dei gracia Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus 
 
 arc 23 f^ibei-nie omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint 
 
 salutem. Inspeximus litteras domini Ricardi nuper Regis 
 
 Anglie secundi post conquestum factas in hec verba : Ricardus 
 
 dei gracia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Richard II. 
 in the ist year of his reign and on the 8th of December 1377 
 hereinbefore printed and numbered XL The present instrument 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Inspeximus eciam litteras patentes domini Henrici nuper 
 
 1 Two originals (duplicate) in the Borough Archives, both with fragments of 
 the great seal in green wax appendant. That not used as the foundation of our 
 text was examined by John Bate and Richard Wetton in the place of Selby and 
 Sturgeon, and bears the note Dupplicate per rotulum. 
 
 I 
 
Letters Patent of King Henry the Sixth. 53 
 
 concerning the said gifts, grants and injunctions (which have 
 in no wise been revoked) by the assent of the lords spiritual 
 and temporal present in our parliament at Westminster 
 held in the first year of our reign, in such wise as the afore- 
 said letters reasonably testify, and in such wise as the said 
 burgesses and their predecessors were wont reasonably to 
 use and enjoy the said gifts, grants and injunctions, from 
 the time of the making of the said letters and confirmation 
 until now. In witness whereof we have caused these our 
 letters to be made patent. Witness myself at Westminster 
 on the third day of February in the second year of our 
 reign 
 
 by writ of private seal 
 
 Haseley. 
 
 Examined by John Spryngthorpe and Thomas Haseley, 
 clerks. 
 
 The first Charter was enrolled on Roll No. 7 in the records 
 of Trinity Term in the 17th year of King Richard II. some- 
 time King of England. 
 
 XVIII. Letters Patent of King Henry the Sixth. 
 
 ^ Henry by the grace of God King of England and France 1437 
 and Lord of Ireland, to all to whom the present letters shall ^^^ ^^ 
 come greeting. We have inspected the letters of the lord 
 Richard lately King of England the second after the conquest 
 made in these words : Richard by the grace of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Charter granted by Richard II. 
 in the ist year of his reign and on the 8th of December 1377 
 hereinbefore translated and numbered XI. The present in- 
 strument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 We have also inspected the letters patent of confirmation 
 of the lord Henry, lately King of England, our grandfather, 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals, i. 186. 
 
54 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 Regis Anglie avi nostri prefatis burgensibus de confirmacione 
 factas in hec verba : Henricus dei gracia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Henry IV. 
 dated in the 6th year of his reign and on the 19th of February 
 1405, hereinbefore printed and numbered XV. The present 
 instrument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Nos autem cartas et litteras predictas de huiusmodi 
 libertatibus, franchesiis et quietanciis, minime revocatis, de 
 avisamento et assensu dominorum spiritualium et temporalium 
 ac comunitatis regni nostri Anglie in parliamento nostro apud 
 Westmonasterium anno regni nostri primo tento existencium 
 acceptamus approbamus et dilectis nobis nunc burgensibus 
 ville predicte ac heredibus et successoribus suis confirmamus, 
 prout carte et littere predicte racionabiliter testantur, et prout 
 iidem burgenses et antecessores sui libertatibus, franchesiis et 
 quietanciis illis, a tempore confeccionis cartarum et litterarum 
 predictarum semper hactenus, racionabiliter uti et gaudere 
 consueverunt. In cuius rei testimonium has litteras nostras 
 fieri fecimus patentes. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium 
 vicesimo quinto die Marcii anno regni nostri quintodecimo 
 per ipsum regem et consilium suum in parliamento 
 
 Sturgeon. 
 
 Examinate per Ricardum Selby et Ricardum Sturgeon 
 clericos. 
 
 XIX. Littere Patentes Regis Edwardi Quarti. 
 
 1465 ^Edwardus dei gracia Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus 
 
 Hibernie omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint 
 salutem. Inspeximus quandam peticionem nobis in par- 
 liamento nostro apud Westmonasterium vicesimo nono die 
 Aprilis anno regni nostri tercio summonito et per diversas 
 prorogaciones et adiornaciones usque vicesimum primum diem 
 
 ^ Original in the Borough Archives. Great seal in yellow wax appendant by 
 parchment tag. 
 
Letters Patent of King Edward the Fourth. 55 
 
 to the aforesaid burgesses, made in these words : Henry 
 
 by the grace of God &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Henry IV. 
 dated in the 6th year of his reign and on the 19th of February 
 1405, hereinbefore translated and numbered XV. The present 
 instrument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Now, the said charters and letters aforesaid of such liberties, 
 franchises and quittances (which have in no wise been revoked) 
 we, with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and tem- 
 poral and of the commonalty of our realm of England present 
 in our parliament held at Westminster in the first year^ of our 
 reign, do accept and approve and to our beloved the now 
 burgesses of the town aforesaid and their heirs and successors 
 do confirm the same, in such wise as the charters and letters 
 aforesaid reasonably testify, and in such wise as the same 
 burgesses and their predecessors have always hitherto reason- 
 ably been wont to use and enjoy these liberties, franchises 
 and quittances from the time of the making of the charters 
 and letters aforesaid. In witness whereof we have caused 
 these our letters to be made patent. Witness myself at 
 Westminster on the twenty-fifth day of March in the fifteenth 
 year of our reign 
 
 By the King himself and his council in parliament 
 
 Sturgeon. 
 Examined by Richard Selby and Richard Sturgeon, clerks. 
 
 XIX. Letters Patent of King Edward the Fourth. 
 
 2 Edward by the grace of God King of England and France 1465 
 and Lord of Ireland, to all to whom the present letters shall 
 come greeting. We have inspected a certain petition ex- 
 hibited (among others) to us in our Parliament summoned 
 at Westminster on the twenty-ninth day of April in the third 
 year of our reign and continued by divers prorogations and 
 adjournments until the twenty-first day of January in the 
 
 1 A general confirmation of charters having been ordered by parliament in that 
 year. 
 
 2 See Cooper, Annals^ i. -214. 
 
$6 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 lanuarii anno regni nostri quarto continuato per comunitatem 
 regni nostri Anglie in dicto parliamento eodem vicesimo primo 
 die lanuarii existentem ex parte maioris, ballivi et comuni- 
 tatis ville nostre Cantebrigie inter alia exhibitam et in 
 filaciis cancellarie nostre residentem in hec verba And also 
 that Where the Maier, baillif and Cominalte of your Towne 
 of Cambrigge been yerely chargeable for the ferme thereof 
 be Ixx. li. to your highnes and viii. li. and x. s. to the Priour 
 of Caldewell and xx. s. to the hous of Kyllyngworthe, and 
 the same Towne and also the inhabitauntez therin taxed at 
 every dysme and quinzisme graunted by parlement to xlvj. 
 li. xii. s. ii. d. ob., toward which charges the Maire, Baillifs 
 and Cominalte and all fermes, rentes and other casueltees of 
 the seid Towne and therto belongyng in certein not past 
 xl. li. yerely: And also dyvers and many places late mansions 
 there been appropred to the College of oure lady and seint 
 Nicholas there: And divers and many places beying somtyme 
 mancions there and inhabited with people and chargeable with 
 charges there beene utterly wasted and forletted ; and divers 
 and many other places late inhabited with Craftes mene of 
 the seid Towne and in like wise than chargeable nowe been 
 inhabited with scolers and soo not chargeable ; For which 
 causes grete parte of the inhabitauntes Craftes men late 
 dwellyng in the Towne been thens departed and daily de- 
 parten and moo entenden soo to doo to the utterest em- 
 poverisshyng of the same Towne and be likely hode to the 
 utterest destruccion therof withoute youre gracious socour 
 and reliefe in that partie shewed ; be consideracione of which 
 premisses Henry the sixt late kyng of this Reame, in dede 
 and not be right, by his lettres patentes beryng date at 
 Westminster the xviii. day of lulii the xxiiii. yere of his 
 usurped reigne graunted for hym his heires and successours 
 that the Maier, Baillifs and Cominalte and the seid Towne to 
 XX. li. oonly and not over to hym of or for a dysme and 
 quynzisme and every other charge and parcell of the same 
 disme and quinzisme to hym by the Cominalte of the Reame 
 of Englond in his last parlemente giffen graunted and to be 
 
Letters Patent of King Edward the Fourth. $7 
 
 fourth year of our reign, by the commonalty of our realm 
 of England present in the said parliament on the said 
 twenty-first day of January, on the part of the mayor, 
 bailiff and community of our town of Cambridge which 
 petition remains on the files of our Chancery in these words : 
 ''And also that Where the Maier, baillif and Cominalte of 
 your Towne of Cambrigge been yerely chargeable for the 
 ferme therof be Ixx. li. to your highnes and viii. li. and x. s. 
 to the Priour of Caldewell and xx. s. to the hous of Kyllyng- 
 worthe, and the same Towne and also the inhabitauntez 
 therin taxed at every dysme and quinzisme graunted by 
 parlement to xlvj. li. xii. s. ii. d. ob., toward which charges 
 the Maire, Baillifs and Cominalte and all fermes, rentes and 
 other casueltees of the seid Towne and therto belongyng in 
 certein not past xl. li. yerely: And also dyvers and many 
 places late mansions there been appropred to the College of 
 oure lady and seint Nicholas there : And divers and many 
 places beying somtyme mancions there and inhabited with 
 people and chargeable with charges there beene utterly 
 wasted and forletted ; and divers and many other places late 
 inhabited with Craftes mene of the seid Towne and in like 
 wise than chargeable nowe been inhabited with scclers and 
 soo not chargeable ; For which causes grete parte of the 
 inhabitauntes Craftes men late dwellyng in the Towne 
 been thens departed and daily departen and moo entenden 
 soo to doo to the utterest empoverisshyng of the same 
 Towne and be likely hode to the utterest destruccion therof 
 withoute youre gracious socour and reliefe in that partie 
 shewed ; be consideracione of which premisses Henry the 
 sixt late kyng of this Reame, in dede and not be right, by 
 his lettres patentes beryng date at Westminster the xviii. day 
 of lulii the xxiiii. yere of his usurped reigne graunted for 
 hym his heires and successours that the Maier, Baillifs and 
 Cominalte and the seid Towne to xx. li. oonly and not over 
 to hym of or for a dysme and quynzisme and every other 
 charge and parcell of the same disme and quinzisme to hym 
 by the Cominalte of the Reame of Englond in his last 
 
58 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 paied shulden be assessed, taxed and tailed, and the same 
 XX. li. oonly and not over by that cause to hym shuld be 
 boundon to pay, and graunted over to the seid Maire, 
 Baillifs and Cominalte and their successours for hym « his 
 heires and successours that, whensoever eny hoole disme 
 or quinzisme, or eny other charge or parcell of disme or 
 quinzisme, to hym his heires or successours by the Cominalte 
 of the Reame of Englond shuld happene to giffe or graunted, 
 that then the seid Maier, Baillifs and Cominalte^ and their 
 successours or the seid Towne to xx. li. oonly and not over 
 to every such disme and quinzisme soo to be giffen or 
 graunted shuld be assessed, taxed and tailed, and the same 
 XX. li. oonly and not over to hym his heires and successours 
 by that cause shuld be bounden and soo fro thensforth 
 for the quantite, rate and afferaunce of every disme and 
 quinzisme and every part or parcell of the same disme and 
 quinzisme to hym, his heires and successours to be giffen and 
 graunted to his use, his heires or successours, of the same 
 Maier, Baillifs and Cominalte and their successours to be 
 rered : And that the same Maire, Baillifs and Cominalte and 
 their successours and the seid Towneshipe of every somme 
 over the forseid xx. li. of theym by force of such disme or 
 quinzisme to him, his heires or successours, graunted and to 
 be graunted to his use, his heires or successours, by eny 
 mean to be rered, shuld be utterly quyte and discharged for 
 ever ; Although the same Maier, baillifs and Cominalte or 
 eny of theym to thiese maner grauntes be or shuld be parties, 
 doers, consenters or graunters or eny of theym be or shalbe 
 partie, doer, consenter or graunter ; And although these 
 maner graunte or grauntes be or shuld be, been or shuld 
 been, made under thiese wordes and termes of places exempt 
 not except by eny manner mean and forme, or other wordes 
 or termes of like force and effect, such manner graunt or 
 grauntes shuld be made, or alsmoche as the forseid Maier, 
 Baillifs and Cominalte and their predecessours xlvi. li. at every 
 hole disme and quinzisme to hym and his progenitours 
 graunted to theym afore tyme paiden notwithstondyng, as 
 
Letters Patent of King Edward the Fourth. 59 
 
 parlemente giffen graunted and to be paied shulden be 
 assessed, taxed and tailed, and the same xx. li. oonly and 
 not over by that cause' to hym shuld be boundon to pay, 
 and graunted over to the seid Maire, Baillifs and Cominalte 
 and their successours for hym his heires and successours that, 
 whensoever eny hoole disme or quinzisme, or eny other 
 charge or parcell of disme or quinzisme, to hym his heires 
 or successours by the Cominalte of the Reame of Englond 
 shuld happene to giffe or graunted, that then the seid Maier, 
 Baillifs and Cominalte and their successours or the seid 
 Towne to xx. li. oonly and not over to every such disme 
 and quinzisme soo to be gififen or graunted shuld be assessed, 
 taxed and tailed, and the same xx. li. oonly and not over 
 to hym his heires and successours by that cause shuld be 
 bounden and soo fro thensforth for the quantite, rate and 
 afferaunce of every disme and quinzisme and every part or 
 parcell of the same disme and quinzisme to hym, his heires and 
 successours to be gififen and graunted to his use, his heires 
 or successours, of the same Maier, Baillifs and Cominalte 
 and their successours to be rered : And that the same Maire, 
 Baillifs and Cominalte and their successours and the seid 
 Towneshipe of every somme over the forseid xx. li. f 'f theym 
 by force of such disme or quinzisme to him, his heires or 
 successours, graunted and to be graunted to his use, his 
 heires or successours, by eny mean to be rered, shuld be 
 utterly quyte and discharged for ever ; Although the same 
 Maier, baillifs and Cominalte or eny of theym to thiese 
 maner grauntes be or shuld be parties, doers, consenters, or 
 graunters or eny of theym be or shalbe partie, doer, consenter 
 or graunter ; And although these maner graunte or grauntes 
 be or shuld be, been or shuld been, made under thiese wordes 
 and termes of places exempt not except by eny manner 
 mean and forme, or other wordes or termes of like force and 
 efifect, such manner graunt or grauntes shuld be made, or 
 alsmoche as the forseid Maier, Baillifs and Cominalte and 
 their predecessours xlvi. li. at every hole disme and quinzisme 
 to hym and his progenitours graunted to theym afore tyme 
 
6o Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 the seid graunt therof plainly appereth ; And it is soo that 
 by your gracious takyng uppon your highnes after your right 
 and title the Croune of this Reame the seid graunte was 
 voide ; And for that cause your Tresorer and Barons of your 
 Eschequer will not alowe the seid letres patentes : And doute 
 is whether the provision made in your last parlement be 
 sufficiant to helpe the seid Maier, Baillifs and Cominalte and 
 your seid Towne, which not holpen, then they been but as 
 undone : Wherfore that it please your highnes to ordeyn, 
 stablissh and enacte in this your present parlement that the 
 seid letres patentes be good and efifectuell in your lawe 
 accordyng to thentent of theym : And that the forseid Maier, 
 Baillifs and Cominalte and their successours, their poverte 
 considered, may have due allowaunce and discharge of the 
 matiers conteyned in the same lettres patentes in all Courtes 
 and places of the Reame withoute eny ambiguite or difficulte, 
 by writtes oute of your Chauncery uppon the same letres 
 patentes to be had, the same writtes to be had at all tymes 
 necessarie and requisite withoute eny denyer. Inspeximus 
 eciam quandam responsionem eidem peticioni per nos de 
 avisamento et assensu dominorum spiritualium et temporalium 
 in eodem parliamento similiter existentium ac comunitatis 
 predicte necnon auctoritate eiusdem parliamenti factam, et 
 in dorso eiusdem peticionis insertam, in hec verba Soit fait 
 come il est desire. Nos autem tenores peticionis et respon- 
 sionis predictarum ad requisicionem maioris, ballivi et comu- 
 nitatis ville nostre predicte duximus exemplificandos per 
 presentes. In cuius rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri 
 fecimus patentes. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium 
 sexto die lulii anno regni nostri quinto. 
 
 Faukes. 
 
 Examinate per lohannem Faukes et Thomam Ive, clericos. 
 
 ^Irrotulate in memorandis scaccarii de anno VHP" Regis 
 Edwardi quarti : videlicet inter recorda de Termino Pasche 
 Rotulo xviii ex parte Rememoratoris Thesaurarii. 
 
 ' An endorsement. 
 
Letters Patent of King Edzvard the Fourth. 6i 
 
 paiden notwithstondyng, as the seid graunt therof pleinly 
 appereth ; And it is soo that by your gracious takyng uppon 
 your highnes after your right and title the Croune of this 
 Reame the seid graunte was voide ; And for that cause your 
 Tresorer and Barons of your Eschequer will not alowe the 
 seid letres patentes : And doute is whether the provision 
 made in your last parlement be sufficiant to helpe the seid 
 Maier, Baillifs and Cominalte and your seid Towne, which 
 not holpen, then they been but as undone : Wherfore that 
 it please your highnes to ordeyn, stablissh and enacte in this 
 your present parlement that the seid letres patentes be good 
 and effectuell in your lawe accordyng to thentent of theym : 
 And that the forseid Maier, Baillifs and Cominalte and their 
 successours, their poverte considered, may have due allowaunce 
 and discharge of the matiers conteyned in the same lettres 
 patentes in all Courtes and places of the Reame withoute eny 
 ambiguite or diflficulte, by writtes oute of your Chauncery 
 uppon the same letres patentes to be had, the same writtes 
 to be had at all tymes necessarie and requisite withoute eny 
 denyer." We have inspected likewise a certain answer to the 
 said petition by us on the advice and consent of the lords 
 spiritual and temporal, present m like manner in the said 
 parliament, and of the aforesaid commonalty [of the realm], 
 and by the authority of the said parliament made and in- 
 serted on the back of the said petition in these words " Let 
 it be done as it is desired." Now we, at the request of the 
 mayor, bailiff and commonalty of our town aforesaid have 
 thought good that the tenours of the said petition and answer 
 should be exemplified by these presents. In witness whereof 
 we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Wit- 
 ness myself at Westminster on the sixth day of July in the 
 
 fifth year of our reign. 
 
 Faukes. 
 
 Examined by John Faukes and Thomas Ive, clerks. 
 
 Enrolled in the Memoranda of the Exchequer of the eighth 
 year of King Edward the fourth : to wit, amongst the records 
 of the Easter Term in Roll i8 on behalf of the Treasurer's 
 Remembrancer, 
 
62 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 XX. LiTTERE Patentes Regis Edwardi Quarti. 
 
 1466 ^Edwardus dei gracia Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus 
 
 Hibernie omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint 
 salutem. Inspeximus litteras patentes Henrici sexti nuper 
 Regis Anglie in hec verba : Henricus dei gracia &c. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Henry VI. 
 dated in the 15th year of his reign and on the 25th of March 
 1437, hereinbefore printed and numbered XVIII. The present 
 instrument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Nos autem cartas et litteras patentes ac omnia et singula 
 contenta in eisdem rata habentes et grata, ea pro nobis et 
 heredibus nostris, quantum in nobis est, acceptamus et appro- 
 bamus, ac dilectis nobis nunc burgensibus ville predicte ac 
 heredibus et successoribus suis ratificamus et confirmamus. 
 In cuius rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus 
 patentes. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium sexto die 
 lulii anno regni nostri sexto. 
 
 XXI. Littere Patentes Regis Henrici Octavi. 
 1510 2[H]enricus dei gracia [R]ex [A]nglie et [F]rancie et 
 
 April 29 
 
 [DJominus [Hjibernie [0]mnibus ad quos presentes littere 
 pervenerint salutem. [IJnspeximus litteras patentes domini 
 Edwardi nuper regis Anglie quarti progenitoris nostri de 
 confirmacione factas in hec verba : Edwardus dei gracia 
 &c. :— 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Edward IV. 
 dated in the 6th year of his reign and on the 6th of July 1466, 
 hereinbefore printed and numbered XX. The present instru- 
 ment then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Nos autem cartas et litteras predictas ac omnia et singula 
 
 ^ From the Inspeximus of 2 Henry VIII. Original not forthcoming. 
 ^ Original in the Borough Archives, with a portion of the great seal appended 
 by strings of green and white silk, in which gold thread is twisted. 
 
Letters Patent of King Edward the Fourth. 63 
 
 XX. Letters Patent of King Edward the Fourth. 
 
 ^Edward by the grace of God King of England and 1466 
 France and Lord of Ireland, to all to whom the present ■'"^ 
 letters shall come greeting. We have inspected the letters 
 patent of Henry the Sixth late king of England in these 
 words : Henry by the grace of God etc. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Henry VI. 
 dated in the 15th year of his reign and on the 25th of March 
 1437, herei nbefore translated and numbered XV III. The present 
 instrument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Now we, ratifying and according the said charters and 
 letters patent and all and singular the matters therein con- 
 tained, do for ourselves and our heirs, so far as in us lies, 
 accept and approve the same, and do ratify and confirm the 
 same to our beloved the now burgesses of the said town, their 
 heirs and successors. In witness whereof we have caused 
 these our letters to be made patent. Witness myself at 
 Westminster, the sixth day of July in the sixth year of our 
 reign. 
 
 XXI. Letters Patent of King Henry the Eighth. 
 
 2 Henry by the grace of God King of England and France 1510 
 
 and Lord of Ireland, to all to whom the present letters shall 
 come greeting. We have inspected the letters patent of 
 confirmation of the lord Edward the fourth, lately King of 
 England, our ancestor, made in these words: Edward by 
 the grace of God &c. : — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the Letters Patent of Edward IV. 
 dated in the 6th year of his reign and on the 6th of July 1466, 
 hereinbefore translated and numbered XX. The present instru- 
 ment then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Now we, ratifying and according the said charters and 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals, i. 215. 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. 292. 
 
 April 29 
 
64 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 in eisdem contenta rata habentes et grata, ea pro nobis et 
 heredibus nostris, quantum in nobis est, acceptamus et appro- 
 bamus ac dilectis nobis nunc burgensibus ville predicte ac 
 heredibus et successoribus suis ratificamus et confirmamus, 
 prout carte et littere predicte racionabiliter testantur. In 
 cuius rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus 
 patentes. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium vicesimo 
 nono die Aprilis anno regni nostri secundo. 
 
 YONG. 
 
 pro quadraginta solidis solutis in hanaperio. 
 
 Examinate per Wilelmum Malhom et Thomam Coweley, 
 clericos. 
 
 Irrotulate. 
 
 XXII. Littere Exemplificatorie Regis Henrici 
 
 OCTAVI. 
 
 1530 ^[H]enricus octavus dei gracia Anglie et Francie [R]ex 
 
 ^^y ^5 fidei defensor et Dominus Hibernie [OJmnibus Ballivis et 
 Fidelibus suis salutem. [IJnspeximus quoddam recordum 
 coram nobis habitum in hec verba: Placita coram domino 
 Rege apud Westmonasterium in Termino Fasche anno regni 
 Regis Henrici octavi vicesimo primo Rotulo xiij° inter placita 
 Regis. H Cantebriggia. IF Alias, scilicet quarto die lulii anno 
 regni domini Regis nunc decimo nono, apud Cantebriggiam 
 in comitatu predicto coram Edwardo Slegge et Henrico 
 Gylson, coronatoribus dicti domini Regis ville sue Cante- 
 briggie predicte et libertates "^ eiusdem, super visum corporis 
 Roberti Asshewelle, nuper de Cantebriggia predicta, laborer, 
 ibidem mortui et interfecti, per sacramentum xij iuratorum 
 extat presentatum, quod tercio die lulii anno regni dicti 
 domini Regis decimo nono supradicto, circa horam decimam 
 post meridiem, in nocte eiusdem diei, predictus Robertus 
 
 1 Original in the Borough Archives, with a seal in black wax (probably that 
 of the King's Bench) appended by parchment tag. 
 
 2 Sic : corr. libertatis. 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Henry the Eighth. 65 
 
 letters and all and singular the matters therein contained, do 
 for ourselves and our heirs, so far as in us lies, accept and 
 approve the same, and do ratify and confirm the same to 
 our beloved the now Burgesses of the said town, their heirs 
 and successors, in such wise as the charters and letters afore- 
 said reasonably testify. In witness whereof we have caused 
 these our letters to be made patent. As witness. Myself at 
 Westminster on the twenty-ninth day of April in the second 
 year of our reign. 
 
 YONG. 
 For 40 shillings paid to the hanaper. 
 
 Examined by William Malhom and Thomas Coweley, clerks. 
 Enrolled. 
 
 ^XXII. Letters Exemplificatory of King Henry 
 THE Eighth. 
 
 Henry the Eighth by the grace of God King of England 1530 
 and France Defender of the Faith and Lord of Ireland, to all ^^^ '^ 
 his Bailiffs and faithful People, greeting. We have inspected 
 a certain record had before us in these words: Pleas before 
 our lord the King at Westminster, in the Easter Term in 
 the twenty-first year of the reign of King Henry the Eighth, 
 in the 13th Roll amongst the pleas of the King. H Cam- 
 bridgeshire. H Heretofore, to wit, on the 4th day of July 
 in the nineteenth year of the reign of our lord the now King, 
 at Cambridge in the county aforesaid before Edward Slegge, 
 and Henry Gylson, the coroners of the said lord King of 
 his said town of Cambridge and the liberty of the same, upon 
 the view of the body of Robert Asshewell late of Cambridge 
 aforesaid, labourer, there dead and slain, it is presented by the 
 oath of twelve jurors that on the 3rd day of July in the 
 aforesaid nineteenth year of the reign of the said lord King, 
 about the tenth hour after noon, in the night of the same 
 day, the aforesaid Robert Asshewell was in the peace of God 
 
 ^ Not mentioned in Cooper's Annals. 
 B. C. 5 
 
66 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 Asshewelle fuit in pace Dei et dicti domini Regis, in quodam 
 vico ibidem vocato Trumppyngtone Strete in villa Cantebriggie 
 predicta, ibidem venit, eodem tercio die lulii anno supradicto, 
 quidam lacobus Newland nuper de villa Cantebriggie predicta, 
 in comitatu predicto, ffyssher, sive peddeler, circa horam pre- 
 dictam, vi et armis, videlicet baculo vocato a ffagott logge, ut 
 felo dicti domini Regis, contra pacem ipsius Regis, coronam 
 et dignitatem suas, ex malicia precogitata et insultu premedi- 
 tato, per ipsum in Robertum Asshewelle, _adtimc et ibidem 
 inventum, insultum fecit, et ipsum Robertum Asshewelle 
 cum predicto baculo precii unius obuli, quem idem lacobus 
 manibus suis tunc tenuit, prefatum Robertum Asshewelle super 
 capud suum felonice percussit, unde cerebrum capitis sui 
 exivit, dans ei tunc et ibidem plagam mortalem, de qua quidem 
 plaga mortali idem Robertus Asshewelle incontinenter obiit, 
 et sic idem lacobus prefatum Robertum Asshewelle tunc et 
 ibidem felonice et voluntarie interfecit et murderavit, contra 
 pacem dicti domini Regis, et quam cito idem felo feloniam et 
 murdrum predictas in forma predicta fecisset, fugam fecit, 
 et habuit bona et catalla infra libertatem ville Cantebriggie 
 predicte, in comitatu predicto, ad valenciam viginti marcarum 
 tempore murdri predicti facti, que seisita fuerunt per maiorem 
 et ballivos ville Cantebriggie predicte ut ius suum &c.: Quod 
 quidem indictamentum dictus Rex nunc coram eo postea 
 certis de causis venire fecit terminandum &c. : Per quod 
 preceptum fuit vicecomiti quod non omittet &c. quin venire 
 faceret prefatos maiorem et ballivos ville Cantebriggie ad 
 respondendum domino Regi de bonis et catallis predictis &c.: 
 Et modo, scilicet die lune proximo post mensem Pasche isto 
 eodem Termino, coram domino Rege apud Westmonasterium, 
 veniunt predicti maior ville Cantebriggie predicte necnon 
 ballivi eiusdem ville per Thomam Skrymsher attornatum 
 suum, et, habito auditu inquisicionis predicte, dicunt quod 
 ipsi non intendunt quod dominus Rex nunc ipsos racione 
 inquisicionis predicte, seu aliquorum bonorum et catallorum 
 que fuerunt predicti lacobi Newlande per maiorem et ballivos 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Henry the Eighth. 6y 
 
 and of the said lord King, in a certain street there called 
 Trumppyngton Strete in the town of Cambridge aforesaid, 
 and there came, on the said third day of July in the said 
 year, a certain James Newland, late of the said town of 
 Cambridge in the said county, fisher or pedlar, about the 
 said hour, with force and arms, namely a stick called a 
 " ffagott logge," as a felon of the said lord King, against 
 the peace of the said King, his crown and dignity, of malice 
 aforethought and premeditated assault, made therewith, 
 on the said Robert Asshewell, then and there found, an 
 assault, and with the aforesaid stick, of the price of one 
 halfpenny, which the said James then held in his hands, 
 did strike the aforesaid Robert Asshewell on his head 
 feloniously, whereby the brain of his head issued, giving to 
 him then and there a mortal wound, of which mortal wound 
 the said Robert Asshewell incontinently died, and so the 
 same James aforesaid did then and there feloniously and 
 wilfully kill and murder the said Robert Asshewell against 
 the peace of the said lord King, and, as soon as the said felon 
 had committed the felony and murder aforesaid in manner 
 aforesaid, he took to flight, and he had goods and chattels 
 within the liberty of the town of Cambridge aforesaid, in the 
 county aforesaid, to the value of twenty marks at the time 
 when the murder aforesaid was committed, which were seized 
 by the mayor and bailiffs of the town of Cambridge aforesaid 
 as their right &c. : which indictment the said King has now, 
 for certain causes, caused to come before him that it may be 
 terminated &c. : Wherefore it was commanded to the sheriff 
 that he should not omit &c., but should cause the said mayor 
 and bailiffs of the town of Cambridge to come to answer to 
 the lord King concerning the goods and chattels aforesaid &c.: 
 And now, to wit, on the Monday next after the month of 
 Easter in the said Term, before the lord King at West- 
 minster, come the aforesaid mayor of the town of Cambridge 
 aforesaid and the bailiffs of the said town, by Thomas 
 Skrymsher their attorney, and, upon hearing had of the said 
 inquest, they say that they do not understand that the now 
 
 5—2 
 
68 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 predicte ville Cantebriggie seisitorum^ et penes se retentorum, 
 Impetere seu occasion are vellt aut debet, aut quod iidem 
 maior et ballivi pro bonis et catallis illis aliquo modo domino 
 Regl de aliquo debito respondere aut onerari debent: quia, 
 protestando quod inquisicio predicta necnon materia in 
 eadem contenta minus sufficiens in lege existat ad ponendum 
 ipsos eidem inquisicioni respondere, pro placito tamen dicit^ 
 quod predicta villa Cantebriggie est antiquus^ burgus et unus 
 de antiquissimis burgis huius regni Anglie, [et]^ eedem burgus 
 et villa Cantebriggie sunt, et ante tempus et a tempore cuius 
 contrarii memoria hominum non existit, fuerunt unum corpus 
 et una comunitas in se incorporata, tarn de burgensibus 
 eorumdem burgi et ville, quam de uno maiore et quatuor 
 ballivis per dictos burgenses eorumdem burgi et ville singulis 
 annis in festo sancti Michaelis Archangeli electis et eligendis ; 
 et tarn iidem burgenses quam predicti maior et ballivi ante 
 et per totum predictum tempus cuius contrarii memoria 
 hominum non existit, per nomen burgensium ville Cante- 
 briggie quam per nomen maioris et ballivorum ville Cante- 
 briggie placitaverunt et placitati fuerunt et adhuc existunt, 
 et persone® habiles ad perquirendum et habendum terras, 
 tenementa, libertates et franchesias et alia quecumque here- 
 ditamenta, per alterum et utrumque nomen predictorum 
 nominum, videlicet tam burgensium ville Cantebriggie quam 
 maioris et ballivorum ville Cantebriggie: et dicunt quod 
 dominus Ricardus nuper Rex Anglie et Francie secundus 
 per litteras suas patentes quas predicti maior et ballivi hie in 
 curia proferunt, et quarum data est apud Westmonasterium 
 nono die Decembris anno regni sui nono, inter alia ex sua 
 gracia speciali concessit pro se et heredibus suis et per 
 litteras predictas confirmavit burgensibus ville predicte here- 
 dibus et executoribus^ suis burgensibus ville predicte im- 
 
 ^ seitorum MS. 
 
 ^ Sic : corr. dicunt. 
 
 ^ antigus MS. 
 
 * et omitted in MS. 
 
 ^ persones MS. 
 
 ^ Sic. corr. successoribus. 
 
Letters Uxemplificatory of King tienry the Eighth. 6g 
 
 lord King desires or ought to impeach or take occasion 
 against them by reason of the inquest aforesaid, or of any 
 the goods and chattels which belonged to the aforesaid 
 James Newland, and were seized by the mayor and bailiffs 
 of the aforesaid town of Cambridge and retained in their 
 hands, or that the said mayor and bailiffs for the same goods 
 and chattels ought in any wise to answer or be charged to 
 the lord King as for a debt : for (protesting that the inquest 
 aforesaid and the matter therein contained are insufficient in 
 law to put them to reply to the said inquest) they, by way 
 of plea, say that the aforesaid town of Cambridge is an 
 ancient borough and one of the most ancient boroughs of 
 this realm of England, and that the said borough and town 
 of Cambridge are, and before time and from time of which 
 the memory of man does not exist to the contrary, have been 
 one body and one commonalty incorporate in itself, as well 
 of the burgesses of the said borough and town as of one 
 mayor and four bailiffs by the said burgesses of the said 
 borough and town in each year on the feast of Saint Michael 
 the Archangel elected and to be elected; and that as well the 
 said burgesses as the aforesaid mayor and bailiffs before and 
 throughout the whole aforesaid time of which the memory 
 of man does not exist to the contrary, as well by the name of 
 the burgesses of the town of Cambridge, as by the name of 
 the mayor and bailiffs of the town of Cambridge, have pleaded 
 and have been, and still are, impleaded, and have been and 
 still are persons capable of purchasing and holding lands, 
 tenements, liberties and franchises and other hereditaments 
 whatsoever, as well by both or either of the names aforesaid, 
 to wit, as well by the name of the burgesses of the town of 
 Cambridge, as by that of the mayor and bailiffs of the town 
 of Cambridge : and they say that the lord Richard the 
 Second, sometime King of England and France, by his letters 
 patent, which the aforesaid mayor and bailiffs here produce 
 in court and of which the date is at Westminster on the ninth 
 day of December in the ninth year of his reign, amongst 
 other things of his special grace granted for himself an d his 
 
70 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 perpetuum omnimoda catalla felonum, fugitivorum et utla- 
 gatorum, de omnibus tenentibus et residentibus infra villam 
 et libertatem predictas, tarn de extraneis quam de aliis quibus- 
 cumque, que infra villam et libertatem inveniri contigerint, 
 ita quod liceat eisdem burgensibus eadem catalla felonum et 
 fugitivorum in seisinam se ponere et ea ad usum eorundem 
 burgensium in auxilium firme ville predicte retinere possint, 
 absque impedimento eiusdem nuper Regis vel heredum 
 suorum iusticiariorum, vicecomitum aut aliorum ballivorum 
 seu ministrorum suorum vel heredum suorum quorumcumque, 
 et absque compoto vel alio raciocinio inde eidem nuper Regi 
 seu heredibus suis seu ministris dicti nuper Regis quibus- 
 cumque reddendo imperpetuum, prout in eisdem litteris 
 patentibus plenius^ continetur: Quas quidem litteras patentes 
 predicti nuper Regis Ricardi secundi ac omnia singula in 
 eisdem litteris contenta dominus Rex nunc Henricus octavus 
 per litteras suas patentes, quas nunc iidem maior et ballivi 
 similiter hie in curia proferunt, quarum data est apud West- 
 monasterium xxix die Aprilis anno regni ipsius domini Regis 
 secundo, ratum habens et gratum, pro ipso domino Rege 
 nunc approbavit, ac burgensibus ville predicte et heredibus et 
 successoribus suis ratificavit et confirmavit, prout in eisdem 
 litteris patentibus predicti domini Regis nunc plenius conti- 
 netur : Et iidem maior et ballivi dicunt quod predictus 
 lacobus Newlande, tempore murdri predicti perpetrati, ac 
 tempore inquisicionis predicte capte, fuit et adhuc est liber 
 burgensis ville Cantebriggie predicte, et non scolaris unlver- 
 sitatis Cantebriggie predicte, nee serviens alicuius scolaris 
 universitatis predicte; Virtute quarum quidem litterarum paten- 
 cium prefatis burgensibus confectarum, predicti maior et 
 ballivi predicta bona et catalla unde in dicta inquisicione fit 
 mencio, ex quo tempore murdri predicti fuerunt predicti 
 lacobi, post inquisicionem predictam captam, apud et infra 
 predictam villam Cantebriggie et tempore murdri predicti 
 per predictum lacobum perpretati et postea inventa seisive- 
 
 1 phnis MS. 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Henry the Eighth, yi 
 
 heirs and by the letters aforesaid confirmed to the burgesses 
 of the town aforesaid, to their heirs and executors \corr. 
 successors], burgesses of the town aforesaid, for ever, all 
 manner of chattels of felons, fugitives and outlaws, from all 
 tenants and residents within the town and liberty aforesaid, 
 as well from strangers as from all others which [chattels] 
 might happen to be found within the town and liberty, in 
 such wise that it should be lawful for the said burgesses to 
 put themselves in seisin of the said chattels of felons and 
 fugitives and retain the same for the use of the said 
 burgesses in aid of the farm of the town aforesaid, without 
 any hindrance by the said late King or his heirs by the 
 justices, sheriffs or other bailiffs or ministers of him or of 
 his heirs, and without rendering account or other reckoning 
 for the same to the said late King or his heirs or to any 
 the ministers of the said late King, for ever, as in the said 
 letters patent is more fully contained : Which letters patent 
 of the aforesaid late King Richard the Second and all and 
 singular in the same letters contained, the now lord King 
 Henry the Eighth by his letters patent, which now the same 
 mayor and bailiffs likewise produce here in court, whereof 
 the date is at Westminster on the 29th day of April in the 
 second year of the reign of the said lord King, ratifying and 
 according, did, for himself the now lord King approve the 
 same and to the burgesses of the town aforesaid and their 
 heirs and successors did ratify and confirm the same, in such 
 wise as in the said letters patent of the aforesaid lord the now 
 King is more fully contained: And the said mayor and 
 bailiffs say that the aforesaid James Newland, at the time 
 when the murder aforesaid was perpetrated, and at the time 
 when the inquest aforesaid was taken, was and still is a free 
 burgess of the town of Cambridge aforesaid, and not a 
 scholar of the university of Cambridge aforesaid, nor a 
 servant of any scholar of the university aforesaid : By virtue 
 of which letters patent made to the aforesaid burgesses, the 
 aforesaid mayor and bailiffs did seize the aforesaid goods and 
 chattels whereof mention is made in the said inquest, which, 
 
72 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 runt, et penes se in auxilium predlcte firme eiusdem ville 
 Cantebriggie retinent et habent, prout eis bene licuit. Et 
 hoc predicti nunc maior et ballivi parati sunt verificare. Et 
 petunt indicium si dominus Rex nunc pro predictis bonis et 
 catallis que fuerunt predicti lacobi Newlande ulterius im- 
 petere aut ipsos de aliquo debito pro bonis et catallis illis 
 onerari. Et predictus Ricardus Lyster, generalis attornatus 
 domini Regis nunc, qui pro ipso Rege sequitur, pro ipso 
 Rege dicit quod titulum dictorum maioris et ballivorum per 
 ipsos superius placitatum et factum ad manutenendum^ ipsos 
 habere et retinere bona et catalla predicta non est sufficiens 
 in lege, ad que ipse pro eodem domino Rege necesse non 
 habet nee per legem tenetur respondere. Et pro insuffici- 
 encia eorumdem placiti et tituli pro dicto domino Rege petit 
 judicium, et quod ipsi bona et catalla per ipsos ut predicitur 
 seisita dicto domino Regi respondere et quod ipsi ad finem 
 cum dicto domino Rege occasione seisionis et retencionis 
 eorumdem adiudicari debeant. Et predicti maior et ballivi, 
 ex quo ipsi sufficiens placitum et titulum ad manutenendum 
 ipsos maiorem et ballivos retinere et habere bona et catalla 
 predicta placitaverunt et demonstraverunt que ipsi parati 
 sunt verificare prout curia &c., et que predictus Ricardus 
 Lyster, qui sequitur &c., non dedicit nee ad ea aliqualiter 
 respondit set verificacionem illam superinde admittere omnino 
 recusat, ut prius petunt judicium, et quod breve patens 
 predictum eis [et]* successoribus suis allocerentur &c.: Super 
 quo, visis et per curiam hie intellectis omnibus et singulis 
 premissis, servientibus domini Regis ad legem ac eiusdem 
 Regis attornato ad hoc convocatis et presentibus, pro eo 
 quod videtur curie hie quod placitum et titulum^ dictorum 
 maioris et ballivi sufficientes in lege existunt ad manutenen- 
 dum ipsos maiorem et ballivos retinere et habere bona et 
 catalla predicta, consideratum est quod littere patentes pre- 
 dicte dictis maiori et ballivis ville Cantebriggie predicte et 
 
 ^ manutend'' MS. 
 ^ et omitted in MS. 
 ' Corr. titulus. 
 
Letters Exempltficatory of King Henry the Eighth. 73 
 
 at the time of the said murder did belong to the aforesaid 
 James, and which after the taking of the inquest aforesaid 
 were found at and within the said town of Cambridge, at the 
 time of the said murder perpetrated by the said James and 
 afteVwards, and in their hands they do retain and hold the 
 same in aid of the aforesaid farm of the said town of Cam- 
 bridge, as well they may. And this the said now mayor and 
 bailiffs are ready to verify. And they pray judgement 
 whether the now lord King, for the aforesaid goods and 
 chattels which belonged to the aforesaid James Newland, will 
 any further impeach them or will charge them with debt for 
 the same goods and chattels. And the aforesaid Richard 
 Lyster, the Attorney-General of the now lord King, who sues 
 on the King's behalf, says for the King that the title of the 
 said mayor and bailiffs by themselves above pleaded and 
 made for maintaining them to have and retain the goods and 
 chattels aforesaid, is not sufficient in law, and that thereto he 
 on behalf of the said lord King has no need nor is bound by 
 law to answer. And because of the insufficiency of the said 
 plea and title, he prays judgement for the said lord King, 
 and that they, for the goods and chattels, so seized by them 
 as aforesaid, ought to answer to the said lord King, and that 
 they ought to be adjudged to make fine with the said lord 
 King on account of the seizing and retaining of the same. 
 And the said mayor and bailiffs, for that they have pleaded 
 and shewn a sufficient plea and title to maintain them the 
 ^ mayor and bailiffs in retaining and having the goods and 
 chattels aforesaid, which they are prepared to verify as the 
 court &c., and which the aforesaid Richard Lyster, who sues 
 &c., has not denied (nor has he in any wise replied to the 
 same but altogether refuses to admit the verification afore- 
 said), once more pray judgement, and that the said letter 
 patent to them and their successors, be allowed &c. Where- 
 upon, all and singular the said premisses being seen and 
 understood by the court here, and the Sergeants-at-Law 
 to the lord King and the Attorney of the said King being 
 for this purpose convoked and assembled, for that it appears 
 
74 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge, 
 
 successoHbus suis in hac parte allocentur: Et quod predict! 
 nunc maior et ballivi bona et catalla predicta virtute littera- 
 rum patencium predictarum habeant et gaudeant: et quod 
 ipsi eant inde sine die salvo semper iure Regis si quod &c.: 
 Quod quidem recordum coram nobis sic habitum duximus 
 exemplificandum per presentes. In cuius rei testimonium has 
 litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste: Johanne Fitz 
 lamys apud Westmonasterium quinto decimo die Maii anno 
 regni nostri vicesimo secundo. 
 
 XXIII. LiTTERE Patentes Regis Edwardi Sexti. 
 
 1549 Edwardus^ sextus dei gracia Anglie Francie et Hibernie 
 
 ^^ ^^ Rex fidei defensor et in terra ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernice 
 supremum caput omnibus ad quos presentes littere pervenerint 
 salutem. Inspeximus litteras patentes Celebris memorie 
 domini Henrici nuper Regis Anglie octavi, patris nostri 
 precharissimi, de confirmacione factas in hec verba: Henricus 
 dei gracia &c.: — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the letters patent of Henry VIII. 
 dated in the 2nd year of his reign and on the 29th of April 15 10, 
 hereinbefore printed and numbered XXI. The present in- 
 strument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Inspeximus cartam domini Henrici quondam Regis Anglie 
 factam in hec verba : Henricus dei gracia &c.: — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the writ of Henry II. hereinbefore 
 printed and numbered II. The present instrument then pro- 
 ceeds as follows : — 
 
 * Original in the Borough Archives. Three large skins. Initial elaborately 
 adorned with portrait of the King &c. Great seal nearly perfect. 
 
Letters Patent of King Edward the Sixth. 75 
 
 to the court here that the plea and title of the said mayor 
 and bailiffs are sufficient in law to maintain them the mayor 
 and bailiffs in retaining and having the goods and chattels 
 aforesaid, it is considered that the letters patent aforesaid to 
 the said mayor and bailiffs of the town of Cambridge afore- 
 said and their successors in this behalf be allowed : and that 
 the aforesaid now mayor and bailiffs do have and enjoy the 
 goods and chattels aforesaid by virtue of the letters patent 
 aforesaid : and that they go hence without day, saving always 
 the right of the King if any &c. : which record so had before 
 us we have thought good to be exemplified by these presents. 
 In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be 
 made patent. As witness: John Fitzjames at Westminster 
 on the fifteenth day of May in the twenty-second year of our 
 reign. 
 
 XXIII. Letters Patent of King Edward the 
 
 Sixth. 
 
 ^Edward the Sixth by the grace of God of England, 1549 
 France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and of the ^^ '^ 
 Church of England and Ireland upon earth the Supreme Head, 
 to all to whom the present letters shall come, greeting. We 
 have inspected the letters patent of confirmation of the lord 
 Henry the Eighth, of farnous memory, late King of England, 
 our dearest father, made in these words : Henry by the grace 
 of God &c.: — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the letters patent of Henry VIII. 
 dated in the 2nd year of his reign and on the 29th of April 15 10, 
 hereinbefore translated and numbered XXI. The present in- 
 strument then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 We have inspected a charter of the lord Henry sometime 
 King of England made in these words : Henry by the grace 
 of God &c.: — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the writ of Henry II. hereinbefore 
 translated and numbered II. The present instrument then 
 proceeds as follows: — 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ ii. 17. 
 
y6 Charters of tlie Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 Inspeximus eciam quoddam breve domini Henrici quon- 
 dam Regis Anglie de prohibicione in hec verba: Henricus 
 Rex Anglie &c.: — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the writ of Henry I. hereinbefore 
 printed and numbered I. The present instrument then pro- 
 ceeds as follows: — 
 
 Inspeximus eciam quandam aliam cartam quam dominus 
 Henricus tercius quondam Rex Anglie fecit burgensibus de 
 Cantebrige in hec verba : Henricus dei gracia &c. : — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the charter granted by Henry III. in 
 the 40th year of his reign and on the nth of April 1256, herein- 
 before printed and numbered VII. The present instrument 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Inspeximus eciam quandam aliam cartam domini Ricardi 
 quondam Regis Anglie factam in hec verba: Ricardus dei 
 gracia &c. : — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the charter granted by Richard II. in 
 the 5th year of his reign and on the ist of May 1382, herein- 
 before printed and numbered XII. The present instrument 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Nos autem cartas et litteras predictas ac omnia et singula 
 in eisdem contenta rata habentes et grata, ea pro nobis et 
 heredibus nostris, quantum in nobis est, acceptamus et appro- 
 bamus, ac dilectis nobis nunc burgensibus ville predicte ac 
 eorum heredibus et successoribus ratificamus et confirmamus, 
 prout carte et littere predicte racionabiliter testantur. In 
 cuius rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. 
 Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium terciodecimo die Maii 
 anno regni nostri secundo. 
 
 MiLSENT. 
 
 ^ . ^ fGeorgium Throkmarton) ^. . 
 
 Exammate per -^ „ ^ ^^ . , ^ V Clericos. 
 
 [Petrum Ayssheton J 
 
Letters Patent of King Edward the Sixth. yy 
 
 We have inspected also a certain writ of prohibition of 
 the lord Henry sometime King of England in these words : 
 Henry King of England &c.: — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the writ of Henry I. hereinbefore 
 translated and numbered I. The present instrument then 
 proceeds as follows : — 
 
 We have inspected also a certain other charter which the 
 lord Henry the Third sometime King of England made to the 
 burgesses of Cambridge in these words : Henry by the grace 
 of God &c.: — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the charter granted by Henry HI. in 
 the 40th year of his reign and on the nth of April 1256, herein- 
 before translated and numbered VH. The present instrument 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 We have inspected also a certain other charter of the lord 
 Richard late King of England made in these words : Richard 
 by the grace of God &c.: — 
 
 Here follows a copy of the charter granted by Richard H. in 
 the 5th year of his reign and on the ist of May 1382, herein- 
 before translated and numbered XII. The present instrument 
 then proceeds as follows : — 
 
 Now we, ratifying and according the said charters and 
 letters and all and singular in the same contained, do, for us 
 and our heirs, so far as in us lies, accept and approve the 
 same, and to our beloved the now burgesses of the town 
 aforesaid, and their heirs and successors, do ratify and confirm 
 the same, in such wise as the charters and letters aforesaid 
 reasonably testify. In witness whereof we have caused these 
 our letters to be made patent. As witness : Myself at West- 
 minster the thirteenth day of May in the second year of our 
 reign. 
 
 MlLSENT. 
 
 _ . J , fGeorge Throckmartonl ^. . 
 Examined by |p, ^Ayssheton | ^^^'^^- 
 
^B Charters of the Borottgh of Cambridge, 
 
 XXIV. LiTTERE EXEMPLIFICATORIE REGIS EDWARDI 
 
 SextP. 
 
 1548 Edwardus sextus dei gracia Anglie, Francie et Hibernie 
 
 Rex, fidei defensor, et in terra ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernice 
 supremum caput omnibus ad quos presentes littere perve- 
 nerint salutem. Inspeximus tenorem recordi et processus 
 loquele que fuit coram nobis, sine brevi nostro, inter lohannem 
 Longe et Willelmum Burton, de quadam transgressione eidem 
 lohanni per prefatum Willelmum apud Cantebriggiam^ illata, 
 ut dicebatur, quem coram nobis in Cancellariam nostram 
 venire fecimus, in hec verba: — Tenor recordi et processus, de 
 quibus in billa huic sedule attachiata fit mentio, et coram 
 domino Rege Termino Sancte Trinitatis anno regni Regis 
 Ricardi secundi post conquestum sexto irrotulato sequitur in 
 hec verba ro. Ixxv: — Cantabrigia U Willelmus Burton 
 attachiatus fuit ad respondendum lohanni Longe de placito 
 trangressionis per billam, et sunt plegii de prosequendo 
 scilicet lohannes Whichobbe et Robertus Beylam, et unde 
 idem lohannes Longe in propria persona sua queritur quod 
 predictus Willelmus die lune proximo post festum Omnium 
 Sanctorum anno regni domini Edwardi nuper Regis Anglie, 
 avi domini Regis nunc, quadragesimo nono, vi et armis, 
 scilicet gladiis baculis &c. ipsum lohannem Longe apud 
 Cantebriggiam cepit et imprisonavit, videlicet per unum diem, 
 quousque idem lohannes Longe finem per quadraginta solidos 
 cum predicto Willelmo pro deliberacione sua habenda fecisset, 
 detinuit, et alia enormia ei intulit, contra pacem dicti avi &c., 
 unde dicit quod deterioratus est et dampnum habet ad valen- 
 ciam decem librarum, et inde producit sectam &c.: Et pre- 
 dictus Willelmus in propria persona sua venit. Et super 
 hoc venit Robertus de Soham attornatus maioris et balli- 
 vorum ville Cantebriggie ad libertates suas petendas, et calump- 
 
 ^ Original in the Borough Archives. Fragments of the great seal in brown 
 wax appended by parchment tag. 
 2 MS. Cantebregg'. 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Edward the Sixth. 79 
 
 »XXIV. Letters Exemplificatory of King Edward 
 
 THE Sixth. 
 
 Edward the Sixth by the grace of God King of England, 1548 
 France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith and of the Church ^^^ '3 
 of England and Ireland on earth the Supreme Head, to all to 
 whom the present letters shall come, greeting. We have 
 inspected the tenour of the record and process of the suit 
 which was before us, without our writ, between John Longe 
 and William Burton, touching a certain trespass committed 
 at Cambridge by the aforesaid William against the said John, 
 as was alleged, which [record and process] we have caused to 
 come before us in our chancery, [and which ran] in these 
 words : — The tenour of the record and process, whereof 
 mention is made in the bill attached to this schedule, and 
 which was enrolled on Roll No. 75 before the lord King 
 in Trinity Term in the sixth year of the reign of King 
 Richard the Second since the Conquest, in these words : — 
 Cambridgeshire. IF William Burton was attached by bill 
 to answer John Longe concerning a plea of trespass, and 
 there are pledges for the prosecution, namely John Whichobbe 
 and Robert Beylam, and therein the said John Longe in his 
 ^ own person complains that the said William, on Monday next 
 after the feast 'of All Saints in the forty-ninth year of the 
 reign of the lord Edward sometime King of England, the 
 grandfather of the lord now King, by force and arms, to wit, 
 with swords and staves &c., took and imprisoned the said 
 John Longe at Cambridge, to wit, for one day, and detained 
 the said John Long until he had made fine by forty shillings 
 with the said William for his deliverance, and other enormous 
 things to him did, against the peace of the said grandfather 
 &c., whereby he [John] says that he has loss and damage 
 to the value of ten pounds, and thereof he produces suit &c. : 
 And the aforesaid William comes in his own person. And 
 thereupon comes Robert of Soham, the attorney of the mayor 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ ii. 17. 
 
8o Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 niat inde libertatem suam, videlicet habendi cognicionem 
 placiti predicti coram prefatis maiore et ballivis in gilda aula 
 sua apud Cantebriggiam ; quia dicunt quod villa Cantebriggie 
 est antiquus^ burgus et a toto tempore extitif^ et nuper fuit in 
 possessione domini Henrici filii Willelmi Conquestoris nuper 
 Regis Anglie progenitoris domini Regis nunc, qui quidem 
 Henricus nuper Rex habuit in eodem burgo ballivos suos, 
 qui quidem ballivi tempore quo burgus ille fuit in manibus 
 predicti Regis Henrici habuerunt cognicionem placitorum, 
 tam de terris et tenementis in eodem burgo et suburbio 
 eiusdem existentibus, quam de transgressionibus, conven- 
 cionibus et aliis contractibus quibuscumque in eodem burgo 
 et suburbio emergentibus, et tenuerunt inde placita coram 
 eisdem ballivis apud Cantebriggiam, qui quidem Henricus 
 nuper Rex per cartam suam quam proferunt in curia, que est 
 sine data, tradidit et ad firmam dimisit tunc burgensibus de 
 Cantebriggia villam suam de Cantebriggia, tenendam de ipso 
 tunc Rege et heredibus suis, per eandem firmam quam vice- 
 comes Cantebriggie sibi reddere solebat, qui quidem Henricus 
 quondam Rex &c. per aliam cartam suam, quam proferunt 
 in curia, que similiter est sine data, concessit quod si quis 
 ibidem forisfecerit ibidem faciat rectum. Et dicunt quod 
 virtute concessionum predictarum ballivi ville predicte, qui 
 tunc fuerant^, tenuerunt omnia placita tam de terris et tene- 
 mentis in eodem burgo et suburbio existentibus, quam de 
 transgressionibus [convencionibus] et aliis contractibus quibus- 
 cumque in eisdem burgo et suburbio emergentibus. Et dicunt 
 quod postmodum Henricus filius imperatricis quondam Rex 
 &c. per cartam suam, quam proferunt &c., precepit quod 
 burgenses sui de Cantebriggia haberent et tenerent ita bene et 
 in pace et iuste omnes libertates et liberas consuetudines suas 
 in rivagiis et in omnibus aliis rebus sicut carta Regis Henrici 
 avi sui eis testatur. Et dicunt quod, tam tempore predicti 
 Regis Henrici filii imperatricis &c., quam predicti Regis Henrici 
 
 ^ antiqus MS. 
 2 extiterit MS. 
 ^ Corr. fuerunf. 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Edward the Sixth. 8i 
 
 and bailiffs of the town of Cambridge for claiming their 
 liberties, and challenges thereof their liberty, to wit, of having 
 cognizance of the aforesaid plea before the aforesaid mayor 
 and bailiffs in their gildhall at Cambridge ; for they say 
 that the town of Cambridge is an ancient borough, and 
 existed from all time, and was of late in the possession of the 
 lord Henry the son of William the Conqueror sometime King 
 of England, the ancestor of the lord now King, and that the 
 said Henry sometime King had in the same borough his 
 bailiffs, which bailiffs at the time when that borough was in 
 the hands of the aforesaid King Henry had cognizance of 
 pleas, as well touching lands and tenements being in the 
 same borough and the suburb of the same, as also touching 
 trespasses, covenants and other contracts whatsoever arising 
 in the same borough and suburb, and held pleas thereof 
 before the said bailiffs at Cambridge, and that the said 
 Henry sometime King, by his charter, which they produce in 
 court, which is without date, delivered and to farm let, to the 
 then burgesses of Cambridge, his town of Cambridge, to hold 
 of himself the then King and his heirs by the same farm 
 which the sheriff of Cambridge was wont to render to him ; 
 and that the said Henry sometime King &c., by another 
 charter of his which they produce in court, which likewise is 
 without date, granted that if any one should forfeit there, he 
 should there do right. And they say that by virtue of the 
 aforesaid grants the bailiffs of the aforesaid town, who then 
 were, held all pleas, as well touching lands and tenements 
 being in the said borough and suburb, as concerning trespasses, 
 [covenants,] and other contracts whatsoever arising in the said 
 borough and suburb. And they say that afterwards Henry 
 son of the Empress, sometime King &c., by his charter 
 which they produce &c., ordered that his burgesses of Cam- 
 bridge should have and hold as well and peaceably and rightly 
 all their liberties and free customs in the river-banks and in 
 all other things as the charter of King Henry his grandfather 
 witnessed to them. And they say that, as well in the time of 
 the aforesaid King Henry son of the Empress &c., as of the 
 B. c. 6 
 
82 Charters of the Borough of Carnbridge. 
 
 avi &c., ballivi burgi predicti, qui pro tempore fuerant, similiter 
 tenuerunt coram eis omnia placita infra dictum burgum et 
 suburbium emergencia in forma predicta ; et ipsi et omnes 
 successores sui similiter postea tenuerunt coram eis omnia 
 placita predicta in forma predicta. Et dicunt quod dominus 
 lohannes quondam Rex &c. per cartam suam anno regni sui 
 sexto concessit burgensibus suis de Cantebriggia gildam 
 mercatoriam, et quod nullus eorum placitaret extra muros 
 burgi de Cantebriggia de ullo placito preter placita de tenuris 
 exterioribus exceptis monetariis et ministris suis, et quod 
 haberent terras suas et tenuras et vadimonia et debita omnia 
 quecumque^ ea debeant, et de terris suis et tenuris que infra 
 burgum sunt, rectum eis teneatur secundum consuetudinem 
 burgi, et de omnibus aliis debitis suis que accomodata fuerunt 
 apud Cantebriggiam et de vadimoniis ibidem factis placita 
 apud Cantebriggiam teneantur. Et ulterius dicunt quod 
 idem lohannes quondam^ Rex &c., per aliam cartam suam 
 anno regni sui octavo, concessit et per eandem cartam suam 
 confirmavit burgensibus suis de Cantebriggia villam de 
 Cantebriggia cum omnibus pertinenciis suis habendam et 
 tenendam imperpetuum de ipso tunc Rege et heredibus suis 
 sibi et heredibus suis, reddendo inde annuatim ad scaccarium 
 suum antiquam firmam, scilicet quadraginta libras albas et 
 viginti libras numero de incremento pro omni servicio, per 
 manus eorum ad duo scaccaria anni ; et quod ipsi et heredes 
 sui haberent et tenerent predictam villam cum omnibus 
 pertinenciis suis bene et in pace, libere et quiete, integre, 
 plenarie et honorifice, in pratis et pascuis, molendinis, aquis 
 et stagnis, cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus 
 suis ; et quod facerent de se ipsis prepositum quern voluerint 
 et quando voluerint. Et dicunt quod, post concessionem 
 predictam, burgenses ville predicte quolibet anno eligerent^ 
 prepositum suum et ballivos ville predicte in crastino nativi- 
 tatis beate Marie ; quiquidem prepositus et ballivi semper 
 
 1 Sic MS. 
 
 * quandam MS. 
 
 3 Sic MS. 
 
Letters Exeniplificatory of King Edward the Sixth. 83 
 
 aforesaid King Henry the grandfather &c., the bailiffs of the 
 aforesaid borough, for the time being, likewise held before 
 them all pleas arising within the said borough and suburb in 
 form aforesaid ; And they and all their successors likewise, 
 afterwards have held before them all the aforesaid pleas in 
 form aforesaid. And they say that the lord John sometime 
 King &c. by his charter in the sixth year of his reign, granted 
 to his burgesses of Cambridge a gild merchant, and that none 
 of them should plead beyond the walls of the borough of 
 Cambridge concerning any plea, save pleas of external tenures, 
 except his moneyers and servants, and that they should have 
 their lands and tenures and pledges and all debts, no matter 
 who should owe the same, and that touching their lands and 
 tenures which are within the borough, right should be holden 
 to them according to the custom of the borough, and con- 
 cerning all other their debts, which were lent at Cambridge, 
 and concerning pledges there made, pleas should be holden 
 at Cambridge. And further they say that the said John 
 sometime King &c., by another charter of his, in the eighth 
 year of his reign, granted and by his said charter confirmed 
 to his burgesses of Cambridge the town of Cambridge with 
 all its appurtenances, to have and to hold for ever, of him the 
 then King and his heirs, to them and their heirs, rendering 
 therefor yearly to his exchequer the ancient farm, namely 
 forty pounds blanch and twenty pounds by tale by way of 
 increase, for all service by their hands at the two exchequers 
 of the year ; and that they and their heirs should have and 
 hold the aforesaid town with all its appurtenances, well and 
 peaceably, freely and quietly, wholly and fully and honourably, 
 in meadows and pastures, mills, water and pools, with all their 
 liberties and free customs ; and that they should make from 
 among themselves a reeve whom they would and when they 
 would. And they say that, after the aforesaid grant, the 
 burgesses of the aforesaid town in every year chose their 
 reeve and bailiffs of the aforesaid town on the morrow of the 
 Nativity of the Blessed Mary ; and the said reeve and bailiffs 
 always held before them at Cambridge all the aforesaid pleas, 
 
 6—2 
 
84 Charters of the Borough of Camh'idge. 
 
 tenuerunt coram eis apud Cantebriggiam omnia placita pre- 
 dicta, videlicet de terris et tenementis tenuerunt curias suas 
 et dederunt inde quinque dies per annum, videlicet die lune 
 proximo post festum Sancti Mathei appostoli et evangeliste, 
 et die lune proximo post festum sancte Lucie virginis, et die 
 lune proximo post diem dominicam in medio quadragesime, 
 et die lune proximo post festum Sancte Trinitatis, et die lune 
 proximo post festum sancti lacobi appostoli ; et eciam tenue- 
 runt placita de transgressionibus et aliis contractibus et 
 convencionibus per intrinsecos factis qualibet die martis per 
 annum ; et de quibuscumque transgressionibus, contractibus 
 et convencionibus et aliis rebus inter forinsecos et intrinsecos 
 et forinsecos et forinsecos de die in diem ; et similiter tenue- 
 runt curiam suam de gilda mercatoria inter mercatores et 
 mercatores de mercandisis suis de die in diem et de hora in 
 horam secundum exigenciam querele ; et similiter predicti 
 prepositi et ballivi tenuerunt ibidem quolibet anno duas letas, 
 videlicet unam post festum Sancti Michaelis et aliam post 
 festum Pasche, et ceperunt presentaciones de omnibus articulis 
 que ad letam et visum franci plegii pertinent et ceperunt inde 
 puniciones delinquencium ; et similiter omnes successores sui, 
 officia predicta in burgo predicto gerentes, omnia placita 
 predicta coram eis tenuerunt in forma predicta ; quas quidem 
 libertates et consuetudines predictas dominus Henricus filius 
 Regis lohannis quondam Rex Anglie per cartas suas quas 
 proferunt in curia tunc burgensibus suis ville predicte postea 
 concessit et confirmavit, quarum cartarum una data est apud 
 Westmonasterium vicesimo primo die Aprilis anno regni sui 
 undecimo, et altera carta ^ data est apud Westmonasterium 
 duodecimo die Aprilis anno regni sui quadragesimo ; et 
 ulterius concessit idem Henricus quod de cetero placitare 
 possint infra villam predictam omnia placita libertatem tan- 
 gencia, tam de vetito namio, quam de aliis placitis que sine 
 iusticiariis suis placitare possint, ita quod nullus vicecomes 
 aut alius ballivus ipsius Regis intromitteret se de aliquibus 
 ad libertates suas spectantibus, nisi per defectum predictorum 
 * MS. alter his carte. 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Edward the Sixth. 85 
 
 to wit, concerning lands and tenements they held their courts 
 and gave for this five days yearly, namely, on the Monday 
 next after the feast of Saint Matthew [Sept. 21] the apostle 
 and evangelist, and on the Monday next after the feast of 
 Saint Lucy the Virgin [Dec. 13], and on the Monday next 
 after the Sunday in Mid Lent, and on the Monday next after 
 the feast of the Holy Trinity, and on the Monday next after 
 the feast of Saint James the apostle [July 25] ; and also they 
 held pleas touching trespasses and other contracts and 
 covenants made by those within the town on every Tuesday 
 throughout the year; and concerning all manner of trespasses, 
 contracts and covenants and other matters between strangers 
 and those within the town, and between strangers and strangers 
 [they held plea] from day to day; and likewise they held their 
 court of the gild merchant, between merchants and merchants, 
 concerning their merchandises, from day to day and from 
 hour to hour, according to the exigence of the complaint ; 
 and likewise the aforesaid reeves and bailiffs held there in 
 every year two leets, namely, one after the feast of Saint 
 Michael and the other after the feast of Easter, and received 
 presentments concerning all articles which pertain to the leet 
 and the view of frank-pledge and took thence the penalties of 
 delinquents ; and likewise all their successors, bearing the 
 aforesaid offices in the aforesaid borough, held all the afore- 
 said pleas before them in form aforesaid ; and the aforesaid 
 liberties and customs the lord Henry son of King John, 
 sometime King of England, by his charters which they 
 produce in court, afterwards granted and confirmed to his 
 then burgesses of the aforesaid town ; of which charters one is 
 dated at Westminster on the' twenty-first day of April in the 
 eleventh year of his reign, and the other charter is dated at 
 Westminster on the twelfth day of April in the fortieth year 
 of his reign ; and moreover the same Henry granted that 
 henceforth they should be able to plead within the aforesaid 
 town all pleas touching their liberty, as well concerning vee 
 de nam [replevin], as concerning other pleas which they 
 could plead without his Justices, so that no sheriff or other 
 
86 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 burgensium vel ballivorum suorum eiusdem ville ; et quod 
 iidem burgenses de seipsis eligere possint et creare coronatores 
 in villa predicta, ad attachiamenta placitorum corone sue 
 infra predictam villam Cantebriggie emergencia facienda, 
 usque ad eventum lusticiariorum suorum, sicut alibi ad 
 coronatores suos pertinuit ; et prohibuit idem Rex super 
 forisfacturam decern librarum ne quis eos contra libertates 
 et concessiones huiusmodi vexare, molest^re vel inquietare 
 presumat. Et proferunt hie in curia cartam predictam 
 premissa testificantem, cuius data apud Westmonasterium 
 undecimo die Aprilis anno regni sui quadragesimo. Ac 
 postmodum dominus Edwardus quondam Rex Anglie, pro- 
 avus domini Regis nunc, predictas cartas et confirmaciones 
 progenitorum suorum inspiciendo, easdem donaciones, con- 
 cessiones et confirmaciones predictas ratas habens et gratas, 
 eas pro se et heredibus suis quantum in ipso fuit predictis 
 burgensibus et eorum heredibus ac successoribus concessit et 
 confirmavit, sicut carte predicte racionabiliter testantur ; et 
 preterea, volens idem Rex iisdem burgensibus graciam facere 
 ampliorem, concessit eis predictis pro se et heredibus suis quod 
 licet ipsi aliqua vel aliquibus libertatum et quietanciarum 
 predictarum hactenus plene usi non fuerant, ipsi nichilominus, 
 heredes ac successores sui predicti, libertatibus et quietanciis 
 predictis et earum qualibet de cetero, absque inquietacione 
 vel impedimento ipsius Regis vel heredum suorum aut 
 ministrorum suorum quorumcumque, racionabiliter gaudeant 
 et utantur ; et quod de transgressionibus seu contractibus in 
 eisdem burgo et suburbio factis non placitent nee implacitentur 
 extra burgum ilium, nisi res ipsa tangat ipsum Regem vel 
 heredes suos ; et quod super transgressionibus et contractibus 
 illis aut aliis factis intrincesis per forinsicos^ minime convin- 
 cantur, set solomodo per comburgenses suos, nisi factum illud 
 tangat ipsum Regem vel heredes suos aut comunitatem burgi 
 predicti. Ac postmodum dominus Rex nunc, dictas cartas 
 progenitorum suorum inspiciendas^, donaciones, concessiones. 
 
 1 Sic MS. 
 
 ^ MS. inspiciendo. 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Edward the Sixth. 8/ 
 
 bailiff of the King himself should meddle with any matters 
 relating to their liberties, except upon default of the afore- 
 said burgesses or of their bailiffs of the same town ; and that 
 the said burgesses might be able to choose from among them- 
 selves and create coroners in the aforesaid town, to make 
 attachment of the pleas of his crown arising within the afore- 
 said town of Cambridge, until the coming of his Justices, as 
 pertained to his coroners elsewhere ; and the same King 
 forbad under a penalty of ten pounds that any one should 
 presume to vex, molest or disturb them against such liberties 
 and grants. And they [the burgesses] produce here in court 
 the aforesaid charter testifying the premisses, and dated at 
 Westminster on the eleventh day of April in the fortieth year 
 of his reign. And [they say that] afterwards the lord Edward 
 sometime King of England, the great-grandfather of the now 
 lord King, inspecting the aforesaid charters and confirmations 
 of his ancestors, and ratifying and according the said gifts, 
 grants and confirmations, did for himself and his heirs, as far 
 as in him lay, grant and confirm the same to the aforesaid 
 burgesses, their heirs and successors, as the aforesaid charters 
 reasonably testify ; and moreover, the said King, wishing to 
 confer an ampler favour on the said burgesses, granted to 
 them aforesaid for himself and his heirs, that, although they 
 theretofore had not fully used all or some of the liberties and 
 quittances aforesaid, nevertheless they, their heirs and succes- 
 sors aforesaid might reasonably enjoy and use the liberties and 
 quittances aforesaid and any of these henceforth, without let 
 or hindrance by the King or his heirs or any his ministers, 
 and that concerning trespasses or contracts made in the said 
 borough and its suburbs, they should not plead nor be im- 
 pleaded outside that borough unless the matter should concern 
 the King or his heirs ; and that concerning such trespasses 
 and contracts or other internal affairs they should in no wise 
 be convicted by foreigners, but only by their fellow-burgesses, 
 unless the matter should concern the King or his heirs or the 
 commonalty of the borough aforesaid. And [they say that] 
 afterwards the lord now King, inspecting the said charters of 
 
88 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 confirmaciones, libertates ac quietancias in cartis predictis 
 contentas ratas habens et gratas, ^eas pro se et heredibus suis, 
 quantum in ipso est, acceptavit, approbavit, ratificavit, et 
 per cartam suam eisdem burgensibus et eorum heredibus ac 
 successoribus concessit et confirmavit, prout carta predicta 
 predicti Edwardi proavi sui racionabiliter testatur, et prout 
 iidem burgenses libertatibus et quietanciis predictis semper a 
 tempore concessionis et confeccionis carte predicte raciona- 
 biliter uti et gaudere consueverunt. Et proferunt hie in curia 
 cartam domini Regis nunc premissa testificantem, cuius data 
 est apud Westmonasterium octavo die Decembris anno regni 
 sui primo. Et dicunt quod maior et ballivi burgi predicti, 
 qui pro tempore fuerunt, semper a tempore confeccionis 
 predicte carte predicti Edwardi proavi &c., habuerunt cogni- 
 cionem omnium placitorum in burgo predicto emergencium, 
 tenendorum in burgo predicto in forma predicta. Et dicunt 
 quod huiusmodi Hbertas maiori et balHvis ville predicte coram 
 domino Rege nunc extitit allocata videlicet termino Sancti 
 Hillarii anno regni domini Regis nunc secundo, Rotulo Iviij., 
 inter lohannem Scothowe querentem et Adam Savage de 
 Cantebriggia de placito transgressionis ; et similiter termino 
 Sancti Hillarii anno regni domini Regis nunc tercio Rotulo 
 xlix., inter Thomam Redere de Cantebriggia querentem et 
 Willelmum Baylif et Rogerum Harleston de capcione et 
 detencione catallorum &c.; et similiter termino Sancti 
 Michaelis anno regni domini Edwardi nuper Regis Anglie, 
 avi domini Regis nunc, tricesimo septimo, Rotulo Ixxxxvij., 
 inter Willelmum Shyrwynke querentem et lohannem filium 
 Stephani Morice de placito transgressionis ; et eciam termino 
 Sancti Hillarii anno eiusdem avi &c. xxxiij% Rotulo Ciij., 
 inter lohannem With querentem et lohannem Freng de placito 
 transgressionis &c. Et super hoc dominus Rex mandavit 
 lusticiariis suis hoc breve suum clausum in hec verba : — 
 Ricardus dei gracia Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus 
 Hibernie, dilectis et fidelibus suis Roberto Tresilian et sociis 
 suis lusticiariis ad placita coram nobis tenenda assignatis 
 salutem. Quia maior, ballivi et burgenses ville nostre Cante- 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Edward the Sixth. 89 
 
 his ancestors, and ratifying and according the gifts, grants, con- 
 firmations, liberties and quittances contained in the aforesaid 
 charters, did for himself and his heirs, so far as in him lay, 
 accept, approve and ratify the same, and by his charter did 
 grant and confirm the same to the said burgesses, their heirs 
 and successors, in such wise as the charter aforesaid of the 
 aforesaid Edward his great-grandfather reasonably testifies, 
 and in such wise as the said burgesses always, from the time 
 of the granting and making of the aforesaid charter, have been 
 wont reasonably to use and enjoy the liberties and quittances 
 aforesaid. And they produce here in court the charter of 
 the lord now King, testifying the premisses, of which the 
 date is at Westminster on the eighth day of December in the 
 first year of his reign. And they say that the mayor and 
 bailiffs of the borough aforesaid, for the time being, have 
 always from the time of the making of the aforesaid charter of 
 the aforesaid Edward the great-grandfather &c., had cog- 
 nizance of all pleas arising in the borough aforesaid, to be 
 held in the borough aforesaid in form aforesaid. And they 
 say that such liberty is allowed to the mayor and bailiffs 
 of the town aforesaid before the lord now King, to wit, in 
 the Hilary term in the second year of the reign of the lord 
 now King on Roll No. 58 [in a suit] between John Scothowe 
 plaintiff and Adam Savage of Cambridge in a plea of trespass ; 
 and likewise in the Hilary term of the third year of the reign 
 of the lord now King on Roll No. 49 [in a suit] between 
 Thomas Redere of Cambridge plaintiff and William Bayliff 
 and Roger Harleston touching a taking and detention of 
 chattels &c. ; and likewise in the Michaelmas term in the 
 thirty-seventh year of the reign of the lord Edward, some- 
 time King of England, the grandfather of the lord now King, 
 on Roll No. 97 [in a suit] between William Shyrwynke 
 plaintiff and John the son of Stephen Morice in a plea 
 of trespass ; and also in the Hilary term in the 33rd year 
 of the same grandfather &c., on Roll No. 103 [in a suit] 
 between John With plaintiff and John Freng concerning 
 a plea of trespass &c. And hereupon the lord King sent 
 
90 Charters of tJie Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 briggie, tarn per cartas progenitorum nostrorum quondam 
 Regum Anglie, quas confirmavimus, quam per cartam nostram, 
 clamant habere diversa privilegia, quietancias, immunitates, 
 liberas consuetudines, donaciones, concessiones, ferias ac alias 
 libertates, quibus ipsi et antecessores sui, maiores, ballivi et 
 burgenses ville predicte, a tempore confeccionis cartarum et 
 confirmacionis predictarum, semper hactenus usi sunt et gavisi, 
 sicut dicunt : Vobis mandamus quod, visis cartis predictis, 
 ipsos maiorem, ballivos et burgenses omnibus et singulis 
 privilegiis, quietanciis, immunitatibus, liberis consuetudinibus, 
 donacionibus, concessionibus, feriis et libertatibus in eisdem 
 contentis coram vobis uti et gaudere permittatis, iuxta 
 tenorem cartarum et confirmacionis predictarum, prout eis uti 
 debent ipsique et omnes antecessores sui, maiores, ballivi et 
 burgenses eiusdem ville, privilegiis, quietanciis, immunitatibus, 
 liberis consuetudinibus, donacionibus, concessionibus, feriis et 
 libertatibus illis a tempore predicto semper hactenus raciona- 
 biliter uti et gaudere consueverunt : Salvis dumtaxat et 
 exceptis libertatibus et privilegiis cancellario et scolaribus 
 universitatis Cantebriggie et successoribus suis per cartas 
 progenitorum nostrorum seu nostras aut per litteras patentes 
 eorumdem progenitorum nostrorum seu nostras concessis : 
 Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium vicesimo quinto die 
 lulii anno regni nostri septimo. Per quod iidem maior et 
 ballivi ut prius petunt cognicionem istius placiti in forma 
 predicta &c. Et visis cartis dictis, necnon allocacionibus 
 predictis coram domino Rege residentibus, quia manifeste 
 constat curia quod huiusmodi libertas alias eis extitit allocata 
 in casu consimili. Ideo habeant inde libertatem suam &c. 
 Et super hoc predictus attornatus prefixit diem partibus 
 predictis coram prefatis maiore et ballivis in gilda aula apud 
 Cantebriggiam die martis in festo Translacionis sancti Thome 
 martyris et dictum est prefato attornato quod partibus pre- 
 dictis plena et celeris iusticia exhibeat : alioquin redeant &c. 
 Inspeximus eciam tenorem recordi et processus loquele que 
 fuit coram Senescallo et Marescallo Hospicii nostri apud 
 Cantebriggiam die martis proxima post festum translacionis 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Edward the Sixth. 91 
 
 to his Justices this his writ close in these words : — Richard by 
 the grace of God King of England and France and Lord of 
 Ireland, to his beloved and faithful Robert Tresilian and 
 his fellows, Justices assigned to hold pleas before ourselves, 
 greeting. Whereas the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of our 
 town of Cambridge, as well by the charters of our ancestors 
 sometime Kings of England, which we have confirmed, as 
 by our charter, claim to have divers privileges, quittances, 
 immunities, free customs, gifts, grants, fairs and other liberties, 
 which they and their predecessors, mayors, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the town aforesaid from the time of the making 
 of the charters and of the confirmation aforesaid always 
 hitherto have used and enjoyed, so they say : We command 
 you that, having seen the aforesaid charters, you do allow 
 them, the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses to use and enjoy 
 before you all and singular the privileges, quittances, im- 
 munities, free customs, gifts, grants, fairs and liberties con- 
 tained in them, according to the tenour of the charters and 
 of the confirmation aforesaid, in such wise as they ought to 
 use the same and as they and all their predecessors, mayors, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the same town, have always hereto- 
 fore been wont reasonably to use and enjoy those privileges, 
 quittances, immunities, free customs, gifts, grants, fairs and 
 liberties from the time aforesaid : Save always and except the 
 liberties and privileges granted to the chancellor and scholars 
 of the university of Cambridge and their successors by the 
 charters of our ancestors or by our own, or by the letters 
 patent of the same our ancestors, or by our own : Witness 
 myself at Westminster on the twenty-fifth day of July in the 
 seventh year of our reign. Wherefore the said mayor and 
 bailiffs once more seek cognizance of this plea in form afore- 
 said &c. And the said charters having been seen, and also 
 the allowances aforesaid remaining with our lord the King, 
 because it manifestly appears to the court that such liberty 
 was heretofore allowed in a similar case : Therefore they 
 shall have their liberty therein &c. And thereupon the afore- 
 said attorney [of the borough] fixed a day for the parties 
 
92 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 sancti Thome Martins proxime preterite inter Thomam 
 Lodeworth et Galfridum Castur de Cantebriggia de triginta 
 [et octo^] solidis, quos idem Thomas a prefato Galfrido 
 exigit, necnon allocaciones libertatum maiori et ballivis 
 ville predicte iuxta hbertates et consuetudines eis per cartas 
 progenitorum nostrorum quondam Regum Anglie quas con- 
 firmavimus concessas in hec verba : [Inspeximus tenorem 
 recordi et processus loquele que fuit] coram nobis [in hec 
 verba] : Placita [aule Hospicii domini Regis existentis apud 
 Cantebriggiam die mercurii proxima^] post festum translacionis 
 sancti Thome Martiris coram Senescallo et Marescallo Hos- 
 picii [predicti et anno regni^] Regis Ricardi secundi post 
 conquestum septimo. Galfridus Castur de Cantebriggia at- 
 tachiatus fuit per billam ad respondendum Thome Lodeworth 
 de placito debiti ; et unde idem Thomas in propria persona 
 sua queritur de predicto Galfrido et dicit^ quod ei debet et 
 iniuste detinet triginta et octo soHdos, eo quod idem Galfridus 
 ibidem emit in xv Michaelis anno regni Regis secundi Ricardi 
 sexto coreum de predicto Thome pro summa predicta sol- 
 venda quandocumcque &c. ; qui quidem Thomas petiit* 
 summam pecunie supradicte sibi solvi et licet idem Galfridus 
 de solucione dictorum triginta et octo solidorum sepius per 
 predictum Thomam requisitus eandem summam solucione 
 omnino recusat et sic iniuste detinet, unde deterioratus est 
 et dampnum habet ad valenciam quadraginta solidorum, et 
 inde producit sectam : Et predictus Galfridus presens in curia 
 &c. : Super quo venit Robertus lugler attornatus maioris et 
 ballivorum ville Cantebriggie ad Hbertates suas petendas et 
 calumpniandas, et calumpniat inde libertatem suam, videlicet 
 habendum cognicionem placiti predicti coram prefatis maiore 
 et ballivis in gilda aula sua apud Cantebrigiam. 
 
 ^ Defaced and illegible. 
 
 - Defaced and illegible where the document has been folded. Words defaced 
 in the original supplied from P. R. O. County Placita, Chancery, Cambridge, 
 No. 13. 
 
 3 MS. dicet. 
 
 ^ A word defaced, supplied from P. R. O. County Placita, Chancery, Cam- 
 bridge, No. 13. 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Edward the Sixth. 93 
 
 aforesaid before the aforesaid mayor and bailiffs in the 
 gildhall at Cambridge on the Tuesday the feast of the 
 Translation of Saint Thomas the Martyr, and the aforesaid 
 attorney is ordered to shew full and speedy justice to the 
 parties aforesaid : otherwise let them return &c. We have 
 inspected also the tenour of the record and process of the 
 suit which was held before the Steward and Marshal of our 
 Household at Cambridge on the Tuesday next after the 
 feast of the Translation of Saint Thomas the Martyr last past, 
 [in a plea] between Thomas Lodeworth and Geoffrey Castur 
 of Cambridge concerning thirty-eight shillings, which the 
 said Thomas exacts from the aforesaid Geoffrey, and also 
 the allowances of liberties to the mayor and bailiffs of the 
 town aforesaid according to the liberties and customs granted 
 to them by the charters of our ancestors sometime Kings of 
 England, which we have confirmed in these words : We have 
 inspected the tenour of the record and process of the suit 
 i^hich was held before us in these words : — Pleas of the Hall 
 of the lord King's household being at Cambridge on Wednes- 
 day next after the feast of the Translation of Saint Thomas 
 the Martyr before the Steward and Marshal of the said 
 Household and in the seventh year of the reign of King 
 Richard the Second after the conquest. Geoffrey Castur of 
 Cambridge was attached by bill to answer Thomas Lodeworth 
 concerning a plea of debt ; and hereupon the said Thomas in 
 his own person complains of the aforesaid Geoffrey and says 
 that he owes to him and unjustly detains thirty-eight shillings, 
 because the said Geoffrey there bought in the quindene of 
 St Michael, in the sixth year of the reign of King Richard 
 the Second, a hide from the aforesaid Thomas for the sum 
 aforesaid to be paid whensoever &c. : and the said Thomas 
 sought the aforesaid sum of money to be paid to him, and 
 although the said Geoffrey was frequently called upon for 
 payment of the said thirty-eight shillings by the aforesaid 
 Thomas, he altogether refuses the said sum in payment and 
 so unjustly detains it, whereby he is injured and has damage 
 to the value of forty shillings, and thereof he produces suit : 
 
94 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 Here follows a copy o/ the recital of the history of the 
 borough, hereinbefore printed p. 80 (quia dicunt quod villa 
 Cantabriggie est antiquus burgus, &c.) to p. 88 (Johannem 
 Freng de placito transgressionis). 
 
 Per quod iidem maior et ballivi ut prius petunt cog- 
 nicionem istius placiti in forma predicta &c. : Et visis cartis 
 predictis, ante tempus memorie quam post, et diligenter 
 examinatis, necnon allocacionibus predictis coram domino 
 Rege residentibus, quia manifeste constat curie quod huius- 
 modi libertas eis alias extit^ allocata in casu consimili, licet 
 tamen expresse non exprimantur, coram Senescallo et Mare- 
 scallo, per verba specialia in cartis ante tempus memorie, 
 habito tamen respectu ad cartas predictas et ad alias cartas 
 ex post facto factas, necnon ad allocaciones placitorum coram 
 eis adjudicatas et cartas et confirmaciones Regis nunc et ad 
 alias causas, letas, curias, motas : Ideo habeant inde libertatem 
 suam &c. : Et super hoc predictus attornatus prefixit diem 
 partibus predictis coram maiore et ballivis in gilda aula apud 
 Cantebrigiam die veneris proxima post festum translacionis 
 Sancti Thome martiris, et dictum est prefato attornato quod 
 partibus predictis plena et celeris justicia exhibeatur: alioquin 
 reddeant &c. : Nos autem tenores recordorum et processuum 
 ac allocacionis predictorum ad requisicionem maioris et 
 burgensium ville Cantebrigie duximus exemplificandas per 
 presentes : In cuius rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri 
 fecimus patentes. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium 
 terciodecimo die Maii anno regni nostri secundo. 
 
 Examinate per Georgium Throkmorton et Petrum Ayssheton, 
 Clericos. 
 
 Corr. extitit. 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Edward the Sixth. 95 
 
 And the aforesaid Geoffrey being present in court &c. : On 
 which comes Robert Jugler the attorney of the mayor and 
 bailiffs of the town of Cambridge to seek and claim their 
 liberties, and he challenges their liberty therein, namely to 
 have cognizance of the aforesaid plea before the aforesaid 
 mayor and bailiffs in their gildhall at Cambridge. 
 
 Here follows a copy of the recital of the history of the 
 borough, hereinbefore translated p. 81 (for they say that the 
 town of Cambridge is an ancient borough, &c.) to the foot of 
 p. 89 (John Freng concerning a plea of trespass). 
 
 Wherefore the said mayor and bailiffs once more seek 
 cognizance of that plea in form aforesaid &c. : And the 
 charters aforesaid, before the time of memory and after, being 
 seen and diligently examined, and also the allowances afore- 
 said remaining with the lord King, because it manifestly 
 appears to the court that such liberty was heretofore allowed 
 to them in a similar case, (although nevertheless [such liberties] 
 are not expressly stated,) before the Steward and Marshal, by 
 special words in charters before the time of memory, respect 
 nevertheless being had to the charters aforesaid and to other 
 charters made subsequently, as also to the allowances of pleas 
 adjudged before them and the charters and confirmations of 
 the now King, and to other causes, leets, moots, courts: There- 
 fore let them have their liberty herein &c. : and thereupon the 
 aforesaid attorney [of the borough] fixed a day for the parties 
 aforesaid before the mayor and bailiffs in the gildhall at 
 Cambridge on the Friday next after the Translation of Saint 
 Thomas the martyr, and the aforesaid attorney is ordered to 
 shew full and speedy justice to the parties aforesaid : other- 
 wise let them return &c. : Now we have thought good that 
 the tenour of the records and processes and allowance afore- 
 said at the request of the mayor and burgesses of the town of 
 Cambridge be exemplified by these presents : In witness 
 whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. 
 Witness myself at Westminster on the thirteenth day of May 
 in the second year of our reign. 
 
 Examined by George Throckmorton and Peter Ayssheton, 
 Clerks, 
 
96 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 XXV. LiTTERE Patentes Regine Elizabethe. 
 
 1589 ^Elizabeth dei gracia Anglie, Francie et Hibernie Regina, 
 
 "^" '^ fidei defensor &c. omnibus ad quos he litere nostre patentes 
 pervenerint salutem. Cum maior ballivi et burgenses ville 
 nostre Cantebrigie in comitatu Cantebrigie ante tricesimum 
 annum inclyti ac precharissimi patris nostri domini Henrici 
 dei gracia nuper Regis Anglie octavi, de tempore in tempus 
 existentes a tempore cuius contrarii memoria hominum non 
 existit, habuerunt ac usi fuerunt habere et tenere quotannis 
 quandam feriam sive nundinas apud Barnewell et Sturbridge in 
 predicto comitatu Cantebrigie ac infra libertatem ville nostre 
 Cantebrigie tentam sive tentas, ac per nomen nundinarum de 
 Sturbridge cognitam seu cognitas incipientem sive incipi- 
 entes quolibet anno in festo sancti Bartholomei Apostoli et 
 ab eodem festo continue usque decimum quartum diem 
 proxime post festum exaltacionis sancte crucis singulis annis 
 durantem sive durantes, unacum omnibus et omnimodis iuris- 
 dictionibus, authoritatibus, curiis, proficuis curiarum, liberis 
 consuetudinibus, tolnetis, doccagiis, picagiis, stallagiis, opellis, 
 groundagiis, advantagiis, commoditatibus, proficuis, easia- 
 mentis, et aliis libertatibus quibuscumque, ad huiusmodi 
 feriam sive nundinas pertinentibus vel quoquo modo spec- 
 tantibus. Exceptis nonnuUis libertatibus, potestatibus, iuris- 
 diccionibus, immunitatibus, prescripcionibus, consuetudinibus, 
 easiamentis, preheminenciis, proficuis, et commoditatibus 
 universitati nostre Cantebrigie infra easdem nundinas habitis, 
 usitatis et perceptis : Quequidem nundine per laudabilem 
 industriam maioris, ballivorum, et burgensium ville Cante- 
 brigie predicte de tempore in tempus existentium loci ipsius 
 commoditate, academic vicinitate, et temporis opportunitate 
 opitulantibus in longe maximas ac celeberrimas tocius Anglie 
 
 ^ Original in the Borough Archives. The initials are elaborately ornamented 
 with a portrait of the Queen and the Tudor arms. A perfect great seal in a tin 
 box appendant. 
 
Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth, 97 
 
 XXV. Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 * Elizabeth by the grace of God of England, France and '589 
 Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith &c., to all to whom 
 these our letters patent shall come greeting. Whereas the 
 mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of our town of Cambridge in the 
 county of Cambridge before the thirtieth year of our illustrious 
 and dearest father the lord Henry the Eighth by the grace of 
 God sometime King of England, from time to time being, 
 from the time of which the memory of men does not run to 
 the contrary, have had and have been used to have and hold 
 yearly a certain feast or fair, held at Barnwell and Sturbridge 
 in the aforesaid county of Cambridge and within the liberty 
 of our town of Cambridge, and known by the name of 
 Sturbridge Fair, beginning in each year on the feast of 
 St Bartholomew the Apostle and lasting from the same feast 
 continuously until the fourteenth day next after the feast of 
 the exaltation of the Holy Cross in every year, together with 
 all and every the jurisdictions, authorities, courts, profits of 
 courts, free customs, tolls, dockages, pickages, stallages, 
 booths, groundages, advantages, commodities, profits, ease- 
 ments, and other liberties whatsoever pertaining to such feast 
 or fair or in any way concerning it : Saving certain liberties, 
 powers, jurisdictions, immunities, prescriptions, customs, ease- 
 ments, preeminences, profits, and commodities had, used and 
 taken by our university of Cambridge within the said fair : 
 Which fair by the laudable industry of the mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the aforesaid town of Cambridge, from time to 
 time being, by the convenience of the place itself, the neigh- 
 bourhood of the university and the favourableness of the 
 time helping, has become by far the largest and most famous 
 fair in all England, whence very much of use is derived as 
 
 * Cooper, Annals^ i. 466. 
 B. C. 7 
 
9^ Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 nundinas evaserint, unde plurimum utilitatis tarn mercatoribus 
 per universum regnum Anglie ubicque locorum dispersis ad 
 easdem nundinas concurrentlbus, ac merces et mercandisas 
 satis ibidem brevi tempore vendentibus, quam eciam emp- 
 toribus ad nundinas illas de singulis tocius regni partibus ad 
 pisces salsos, butirum, caseum, mel, salem, linum, canabum, 
 picem et bitumen, aliasque merces et mercandizas quas- 
 cunque emendum ac providendum venientibus effluxit: Ac 
 cum ex proficuis earundem nundinarum maior, ballivi et 
 burgenses dicte ville Cantebrigie de tempore in tempus per 
 tempus immemoratum existentes, non solum maximam partem 
 septuaginta librarum legalis monete Anglie pro feodi firma 
 ville Cantebrigie predicte ac aliarum libertatum ac franchesi- 
 arum suarum per chartas diversorum progenitorum nostrorum 
 Regum Anglie reservatarum levaverint,verum eciam earundem 
 nundinarum beneficio eandem villam in viis, stratis, fossis ac 
 aliis oneribus quam plurimis supportare et manutenere per 
 totum tempus predictum usque tricesimum annum regni 
 precharissimi patris nostri predicti satis habiles effecti sunt 
 et potentes: Ac cum universis commoditatibus antedictis 
 non obstantibus, postea videlicet die mercurii proxime post 
 crastinum purificacionis beate Marie anno regni illustrissimi 
 ac precharissimi patris nostri domini Henrici nuper Regis 
 Anglie octavi tricesimo, per Johannem Baker attornatum 
 dicti nuper patris nostri precharissimi in curia eiusdem nuper 
 patris nostri apud Westmonasterium coram lusticiariis eius- 
 dem nuper patris nostri ad placita coram ipso nuper domino 
 Rege ac patre nostro tenenda assignatis, datum fuit eidem 
 curie intelligi et informari quod maior, ballivi et burgenses 
 dicte ville Cantebrigie in comitatu Cantebrigie ad tunc pro 
 tempore existente, per quatuor annos tunc ultime elapsos et 
 amplius usi fuerunt et adtunc utebantur habere nundinas sive 
 feriam apud Barnewell et Sturbridge in comitatu Cantebrigie 
 in crastino sancti Bartholomei Appostoli et ab eodem crastino 
 continue usque decimum quartum diem proxime post festum 
 exaltacionis Sancte Crucis sequentem singulis annis, tenendas 
 qum omnibus libertatibus et libeHs consuetudinibus ad huius- 
 
Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth. 99 
 
 well by the merchants dispersed throughout the whole realm 
 of England in every place coming together to the said fair, 
 and selling their wares and merchandise sufficiently there in 
 a short time, as also by the buyers coming to this fair from 
 all parts of the whole realm to buy and provide salt fish, 
 butter, cheese, honey, salt, flax, canvas, pitch and bitumen 
 and other wares and merchandise whatsoever : And whereas 
 from the profits of the said fair the mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the said town of Cambridge from time to time 
 being from time immemorial, not only have raised the greatest 
 part of the seventy pounds of lawful money of England for 
 the fee farm of the town of Cambridge aforesaid and of their 
 other liberties and franchises reserved by the charters of 
 divers of our ancestors the Kings of England, but also by the 
 benefit of the said fair have been rendered sufficiently fitted 
 and able to support and maintain the said town in ways, 
 streets, ditches, and other very numerous burdens during 
 the whole time aforesaid until the thirtieth year of the reign 
 of our dearest father aforesaid : And whereas all the con- 
 veniences aforesaid notwithstanding, afterwards, to wit on the 
 Wednesday next after the morrow of the purification of the 
 Blessed Mary in the thirtieth year of the reign of our most 
 illustrious and dearest father the lord Henry the Eighth 
 sometime King of England, by John Baker attorney of our 
 said late dearest father in the court of our said late father at 
 Westminster before the Justices of our said late father 
 assigned to hold pleas before himself sometime lord King 
 and our father, the said court was given to understand and 
 was informed that the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 said town of Cambridge in the county of Cambridge then for 
 the time being, for four years then last past and longer had 
 used and still used to have a fair or feast at Barnwell 
 and Sturbridge in the county of Cambridge on the morrow 
 of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle and from the said 
 morrow continuously until the fourteenth day next following 
 after the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross in 
 each year, to be held with all liberties and free customs 
 
 ;— 2 
 
100 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 modi feriam sive nundinas spectantibus, necnon habere et 
 tenere ibidem per totum tempus predictum per senescallos 
 et alios ministros suos curiam pedis pulverisati et colore 
 eiusdem capere et attachiare nonnullos dicti nuper domini 
 Regis ac patris nostri subditos ad nundinas et feriam predictas 
 confluentes, et eos tam per corpora quam per bona et catalla 
 sua multocies inquietare et aggravare, ac diversas fines, re- 
 dempciones et amerciamenta de huiusmodi dicti nuper patris 
 nostri subditis capere, et ad solum commodum dicti maioris, 
 ballivorum et burgensium detinere et convertere, ac eciam 
 habere omnimodas alias forisfacturas et regalitates quascunque 
 infra precincta nundinarum seu ferie predictarum apud Barne- 
 well et Sturbridge predictas annuatim tempore ferie seu nun- 
 dinarum earundem contingentes : Et quod de omnibus et 
 singulis libertatibus et franchesiis supradictis predicti maior, 
 ballivi et burgenses per spacium dictorum quatuor annorum 
 et amplius super dictum dominum Regem apud Barnewell et 
 Sturbridge predictas in dicto comitatu Cantebrigie usurpa- 
 verunt in dicti domini Regis et sue regie prerogative grave 
 damnum et preiudicium ac in magnum contemptum ipsius 
 domini Regis, prout per informacionem predictam in dicta 
 curia dicti nuper domini Regis ac patris nostri precharissimi 
 remanentem, plenius liquet : Super qua quidem informacione 
 dictis tunc maiore, ballivis et burgensibus ville Cantebrigie 
 predicte premunitis existentibus ad respondendum quo war- 
 ranto claimabant habere libertates, franchesias et privilegia 
 predicta, si quid pro se et successoribus suis in extinctionem 
 informacionis predicte dicere vellent aut scirent : Ac eisdem 
 maiore, ballivis et burgensibus die lune proxima post cras- 
 tinum Assencionis Domini anno regni predicti nuper patris 
 nostri precharissimi tricesimo primo, coram ipso domino Rege 
 et patre nostro precharissimo apud Westmonasterium per 
 attornatum suum comparentibus, et diversis diebus inter- 
 loquendi eis in eadem curia datis et concessis : Tandem die 
 mercurii in crastino sancti Johannis Baptiste anno regni dicti 
 nuper domini Regis et patris nostri precharissimi tricesimo 
 primo : Quia dicti adtunc maior, ballivi et burgeuFes, nolentes 
 
Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth. lOi 
 
 belonging to such feast or fair, also to have and to hold there 
 through all the time aforesaid by their stewards and other 
 ministers a court of pie-powder and under colour of the same 
 to take and to attach divers subjects of the said late lord 
 King and our father coming to the fair and feast aforesaid 
 and oftentimes to disquiet and trouble them as well in body 
 as in their goods and chattels and to take divers fines, re- 
 demptions and amercements from such subjects of our said 
 late father, and to detain and convert them to the sole use of 
 the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses, and also to have all 
 other kinds of forfeitures and regalities whatsoever within 
 the precincts of the fair or feast aforesaid at Barnwell and 
 Sturbridge aforesaid annually happening at the time of the 
 said feast or fair : And that in all and singular the liberties 
 and franchises abovesaid the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses for the space of the said four years and more have 
 usurped upon the said lord King at Barnwell and Sturbridge 
 aforesaid in the said county of Cambridge, to the grave 
 loss and prejudice of the said lord King and of his royal 
 prerogative and to the great contempt of the said lord King 
 himself as more fully appears by the aforesaid information 
 remaining in the said court of the said late lord King and our 
 dearest father : On which information, the said then mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the town of Cambridge aforesaid 
 being summoned to answer by what warrant they claimed to 
 have the liberties, franchises and privileges aforesaid, if they 
 wished to or could say anything for themselves and their 
 successors in answer to the information aforesaid : And the 
 said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses on the Monday next after 
 the morrow of the Ascension of the Lord in the thirty-first 
 year of the reign of our aforesaid late dearest father, before 
 the lord King himself and our dearest father at Westminster 
 appearing by their attorney, and several days being given and 
 granted to them for imparling in the said court : At length 
 on the Wednesday on the morrow of Saint John the Baptist 
 in the thirty-first year of the reign of the said late lord King 
 and our dearest father : Because the said then mayor, bailiffs 
 and burgesses not wishing to contend with our said dearest 
 
I02 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 cum dicto patre nostro precharissimo in hac parte contendere 
 aut libertates suas predictas defendere, sed semetipsos quoad 
 feriam seu nundinas de Sturbridge predictas ac alias libertates 
 in eadem informacione specificatas, voluntatem et bene- 
 placitum dicti nuper patris nostri precharissimi humillime sub- 
 mittentes, nihil dixerunt in extincione informacionis predicte : 
 Concessum et consideratum fuit per curiam dicti domini Regis 
 ac patris nostri quod omnes et singule libertates, franchesie et 
 privilegia in informacione predicta specificata in manus dicti 
 patris nostri precharissimi seisirentur et remanerent, prout per 
 recordum inde in dicta curia dicti nuper patris nostri remanen- 
 tem ^ plenius poterit apparere : Cumque maior, ballivi et bur- 
 genses nostri dicte ville nostre Cantebrigie nunc pro tempore 
 existentes, per dilectum et fidelem nostrum Rogerum Northe 
 militem, dominum Northe de Kirtling, summum et capitalem 
 dicte ville senescallum, nobis humillime supplicaverint quatenus 
 nos reginea pietate moti feriam predictam vocatam Sturbridge 
 Fayre cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus 
 antedictis eisdem maiori, ballivis et burgensibus concedere 
 dignaremur: Nos equis postulacionibus eorundem maioris, 
 ballivorum et burgensium favorabiliter annuentes, longum et 
 continuum usum earundem nundinarum vocatarum Sturbridge 
 fayer per eosdem maiorem, ballivos et burgenses eorumque 
 predecessores in forma predicta habitum considerantes, ac 
 proficua et utilitates tam mercatoribus quam emptoribus ad 
 easdem nundinas venientibus, ac eciam maiori, ballivis et 
 burgensibus ville predicte et universitati nostre predicte pro- 
 venientes, perpendentes firme insuper nostre continuacioni 
 (unde maxima pars ex proficuis earundem nundinarum levari 
 solebat), prospicere volentes : Ac ut dicta villa nostra Cante- 
 brigie tam in oneribus suis supportetur quam sub prospero 
 et pacifico regimine nostro augeatur et condecoretur deside- 
 rantes : Ex gracia nostra speciali ac ex certa sciencia et mero 
 motu nostris dictam feriam sive nundinas de Sturbridge 
 quotannis apud Barnewell et Sturbridge infra libertatem 
 dicte ville Cantebrigie tenendas, ac in festo Sancti Bartho- 
 lomei Appostoli annuatim incepturas, et ab eodem festo 
 
 1 Sic MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth, 103 
 
 father in this matter or to defend their aforesaid liberties, but 
 most humbly submitting themselves, as touching the feast or 
 fair of Sturbridge aforesaid and other liberties specified in the 
 same information, to the will and good pleasure of our said late 
 dearest father, said nothing in answer to the information afore- 
 said : It was granted and determined by the court of the said 
 lord King and our father that all and singular the liberties, 
 franchises and privileges specified in the information afore- 
 said should be seized and should remain in the hands of our 
 said dearest father, as by the record thereof remaining in the 
 said court of our said late father may more fully appear : 
 And whereas our mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of our said 
 town of Cambridge aow for the time being, applying by our 
 beloved and faithful Roger North knight, Lord North of 
 Kirtling, the high and chief steward of the said town, have 
 most humbly entreated us that we, moved by our queenly 
 pity, would deign to grant the fair aforesaid called " Sturbridge 
 Fayre " with all the liberties and free customs aforesaid to 
 the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses : We, favourably re- 
 garding the just petitions of the said mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses, considering the long and continuous use of the 
 said fair called '' Sturbridge fayer " by the said mayor, bailiffs 
 and burgesses and their predecessors held in the form afore- 
 said, and desiring to increase the profits and advantages 
 accruing as well to merchants as to buyers coming to the 
 same fair, and also to the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 town aforesaid and to our aforesaid university, considering 
 further the continuation of our farm (whereof the greatest 
 part was wont to be levied from the profits of the said fair) : 
 And desiring that our said town of Cambridge may both be 
 supported in its burdens and be increased and adorned 
 under our prosperous and peaceful rule : Of our special grace 
 and from our certain knowledge and mere motion We give 
 and grant, and for us. our heirs and successors (as far as in 
 us lies) we restore out of our hands, deliver, confirm, ratify 
 and approve by these presents that the said feast or fair of 
 Sturbridge be held yearly at Barnwell and Sturbridge within 
 
104 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 continue usque decimum quartum diem proxime post festum 
 exaltacionis Sancte Crucis annuatim temporibus futuris du- 
 raturas,, unacum omnibus et omnimodis antedictis proficuis, 
 commoditatibus, easiamentis, curie proficuis, curie authori- 
 tatibus, iurisdiccionibus, facultatibus edificandi, construendi, 
 erigendi, cooperiendi, removendi, locandi, necnon ordinandi 
 et disponendi opellas locis earundem nundinarum et opel- 
 larum consuetis, et aliis libertatibus, franchesiis et liberis 
 consuetudinibus universis quibus ipsi nunc maior, ballivi et 
 burgenses eorumve predecessores in nundinas predictas ali- 
 quibus temporibus retroactis usi aut gavisi fuerunt, prefatis 
 maiori, ballivis et burgensibus ville nostre Cantebrigie et 
 eorum successoribus imperpetuum : Damus et concedimus ac 
 pro nobis, heredibus et successoribus nostris (quantum in 
 nobis est) restituimus extra manus nostras, deliberamus, con- 
 firmamus, ratificamus et^ approbamus per presentes : Salvis 
 tamen et semper acceptis^ et reservatis tam nobis, heredibus 
 et successoribus nostris quam cancellario, magistris et scho- 
 laribus dicte universitatis nostre Cantebrigie et successoribus 
 suis, omnibus et singulis privilegiis, libertatibus, franchesiis, 
 immunitatibus, preheminenciis, potestatibus, iurisdiccionibus, 
 prescripcionibus, consuetudinibus, easiamentis, proficuis, com- 
 moditatibus, et advantagiis quibuscunque [tentis] a dictis 
 cancellario, magistris et scholaribus universitatis nostre Cante- 
 brigie aut eorum aliquo, aut ab eorum ministris, famulis, 
 servientibus, aut ab eorum aliquo aut ab aliqua vel aliquibus 
 dicte universitatis nostre Cantebrigie personis priviiigiatis in 
 dictis nundinis, feria seu feriis predictis anglice vocatis Stur- 
 bridge fayre, vel infra precincta earumdem, vel in aliquibus 
 subditorum nostrorum cetibus, conventibus seu congregacioni- 
 bus, infra suburbia ville nostre Cantebrigie vel infra villam de 
 Barnewell, aut eiusdem ville campos et limites, antehac vul- 
 gariter vocatis Sturbridge Fayre, vel in aliquibus locis ubi 
 ferie sive nundine vulgariter vocate Sturbridge fayre ante hec 
 tempora tenebantur, que racione, causa, vigore, vel virtute 
 alicuius donacionis, concessionis seu confirmacionis nostre vel 
 
 ■^ Corr. exceptis. 
 
Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth. lo^ 
 
 the liberty of the said town of Cambridge, and begin on 
 the feast of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle yearly, and from 
 the same feast last continuously unto the fourteenth day 
 next after the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross 
 yearly in future times, together with all and every the afore- 
 said profits, advantages, easements, profits of court, authorities 
 of court, jurisdictions, powers of building, constructing, erecting, 
 covering, removing, placing, as also of ordering and disposing 
 the booths in the accustomed places of the said fair and booths 
 with all other liberties, franchises and free customs which 
 they the now mayor, bailiffs and burgesses or their predeces- 
 sors have used or enjoyed in the aforesaid fair at any time 
 past, to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of our 
 town of Cambridge and their successors for ever : Save 
 however and always excepting and reserving as well to us, 
 our heirs and successors as to the chancellor, masters and 
 scholars of our said university of Cambridge and their suc- 
 cessors, all and singular the privileges, liberties, franchises, 
 immunities, preeminences, powers, jurisdictions, prescrip- 
 tions, customs, easements, profits, conveniences and advan- 
 tages whatsoever [held] by the said chancellor, masters and 
 scholars of our university of Cambridge or any of them, or 
 by their ministers, attendants, servants or any of them, or by 
 any person or persons of our said university of Cambridge 
 privileged in the said fair, feast or feasts aforesaid, called in 
 English " Sturbridge fayre," or within the precincts of the 
 same, or in any assemblies, conventions or congregations of 
 our subjects within the suburbs of our town of Cambridge, 
 or within the town of Barnwell or the fields and boundaries 
 of the same town, heretofore commonly called " Sturbridge 
 Fayre " or in any places where the feast or fair commonly 
 called " Sturbridge fayre " before these times was held, which 
 by reason, cause, authority or power of any gift, grant or 
 confirmation of us or of our ancestors had or done before these 
 times, or of any act of parliament, or which were held 
 by themselves or any of them in the fair, feast or feasts 
 aforesaid or in the precincts of the same or in the said 
 
lo6 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 progenitoriim nostrorum ante hec tempora habite seu facte 
 aut alicuius actus parliamenti aut que per ipsos aut ipsorum 
 aliquem in nundinis, feria seu feriis predictis aut precinctis 
 earumdem, vel in dictis cetibus, conventibus, seu congre- 
 gacionibus, vel in dictis locis ubi ferie seu nundine vulgariter 
 vocate Sturbridge faire antehac tenebantur, habite, gavise, 
 usitate aut percepte fuerunt aliquo tempore per maiorem 
 partem viginti annorum proxime preteritorum, his litteris 
 nostris patentibus aut hac concessione, restitucione seu de- 
 liberacione nostra, aut aliqua lege, causa, re vel materia 
 quacumque in contrarium inde aliquo modo non obstante : 
 Habendam, tenendam, utendam et gaudendam eandem feriam 
 sive nundinas unacum omnibus et omnimodis antedictis pro- 
 ficuis, commoditatibus, easiamentis, curie proficuis, curiarum 
 authoritatibus, iurisdiccionibus, facultatibus edificandi, con- 
 struendi, erigendi, cooperiendi, removendi, locandi, necnon 
 ordinandi et disponendi opellas locis earumdem nundinarum 
 et opellarum consuetis, et aliis libertatibus, franchesiis et 
 liberis consuetudinibus universis quibus ipsi nunc maior, 
 ballivi et burgenses eorumve predecessores temporibus retro- 
 actis (ut prefertur) usi vel gavisi fuerunt (exceptis pre- 
 exceptis) prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus eorumque 
 successoribus imperpetuum, predicto iudicio in predicto brevi 
 de quo warranto reddito aut aliquo actu, ordinacione, abusu, 
 non usu, aut aliqua alia re, causa vel materia quacumque in 
 aliquo non obstante : Volumus insuper et pro nobis, heredibus 
 et successoribus nostris, ex certa sciencia et mero motu nostris 
 prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus et eorum successoribus 
 (quantum in nobis est) damns et concedimus per presentes, 
 quod ipsi et eorum successores de tempore in tempus futuro 
 tempore existente ordinaciones, regulas et statuta (secundum 
 formam et effectum harum litterarum patentum) quoad paci- 
 ficam et quietam gubernacionem nundinarum predictarum, 
 ac tam quoad edificacionem, erectionem, cooperturam, loca- 
 cionem, dislocacionem, remocionem, limitacionem, preficci- 
 onem, et ordinacionem opellarum quarumcunque infra nun- 
 dinas predictas de cetero erigendarum, quam eciam quoad dis- 
 
Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth. 107 
 
 assemblies, conventions, or congregations, or in the said places 
 where the feast or fair commonly called " Sturbridge faire " 
 hitherto was held, or enjoyed, used or taken at any time 
 through the greater part of the twenty years last past, 
 these our letters patent, or this our grant, restitution or 
 delivery, or any law, cause, thing or matter whatsoever to 
 the contrary thereof in any way notwithstanding : To have, 
 hold, use and enjoy the same feast or fair together with 
 all and every the aforesaid profits, conveniences, easements, 
 profits of court, authorities of courts, jurisdictions, powers of 
 building, constructing, erecting, covering, removing, placing 
 and also of ordering and disposing booths in the accustomed 
 places of the said fair and booths, with all other liberties, 
 franchises and free customs which they the now mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses or their predecessors in times past 
 (as has been said before) have used or enjoyed (things before 
 excepted being excepted) to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses and their successors for ever, the aforesaid judge- 
 ment given in the aforesaid writ of " quo warranto " or any 
 act, ordinance, abuse, nonuser or any other thing, cause or 
 matter whatever in anything notwithstanding : We will 
 moreover and for us, our heirs and successors, of our certain 
 knowledge and mere motion, we give and grant by these 
 presents, to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses and 
 their successors (as far as in us lies) that they and their 
 successors from time to time in future time being, may and 
 can make, set up, issue and establish ordinances, rules and 
 statutes (according to the form and effect of these letters 
 patent) concerning the peaceful and quiet government of the 
 fair aforesaid, both as touching the building, erection, covering^ 
 placing, displacing, removing, limiting, fixing and ordering 
 of booths whatsoever within the fair aforesaid henceforth to 
 be erected, and also as touching the dispositions and assurances 
 of the same by last wills, donations, surrenders, or otherwise to 
 be made : Also as touching each of the arts, faculties, occupa- 
 tions or mysteries, for gathering, ordering, directing, arranging 
 and deputing the merchants, workmen and artificers (holding 
 
lo8 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 posiciones et assurancias earundem per ultimas voluntates, 
 donaciones, sursumreddiciones aut aliter fiendas : Necnon 
 quoad singulam artium, facultatum, occupacionum seu misteri- 
 orum, mercatores, opifices atque artifices (opellas seu staciones 
 aliquas in nundinis predictis tenentes sive occupantes) con- 
 iunctim (prout decet) locis, opellis et stacionibus unicuique 
 earumdem artium, facultatum, occupacionum et misteriorum 
 mercatoribus, opificibus et artificibus designatis et consuetis 
 (specialiter vero in quodam loco earundem nundinarum 
 vocato Cheapeside) coUocandis, ordinandis, designandis, dis- 
 ponendis et deputandis, facere, constituere, edere et stabilire 
 possint et valeant, imperpetuum vel ad tempus prout eis 
 magis expedire videbitur, duraturas et inviolabiliter obser- 
 vandas, dummodo ordinaciones, regule et statuta huiusmodi 
 iuri, titulo sive interesse alicuius burgensis dicte ville Cante- 
 brigie, legittime et secundum consuetudines et ordinaciones 
 dicte ville tenentis seu possidentis aliquam opellam in nun- 
 dinis predictis non preiudicent, nee libertatibus aut privilegiis 
 cancellarii, magistrorum et scholarium universitatis nostre 
 Cantebrigie, nee consuetudinibus suis antehac per maiorem 
 partem viginti annorum proxime preteritorum usitatis ali- 
 qualiter derogent, nee legibus aut statutis regni nostri Anglie 
 fuerint repugnantes: Ac dummodo huiusmodi ordinaciones, 
 regule aut statuta non prohibeant nee restringant aliquam 
 personam per universitatem predictam privilegiatam a con- 
 duccione alicuius opelle seu opellarum in nundinis predictis : 
 Ac que quidem ordinaciones, regulas aut statuta tam per 
 prefatos maiorem, ballivos et burgenses aut eorum successores 
 imposterum edenda et stabilienda quam per eos aut eorum 
 predecessores antehac edita seu stabilita de tempore in tempus, 
 mutandi, revocandi, reiiciendi, adnichillandi aut secundum 
 eorum discreciones confirmandi, necnon alia quecumque de 
 tempore in tempus edendi, ordinandi et stabiliendi prout 
 temporis mutatio et rerum eventus exigebit^ eisdem maiori 
 ballivis et burgensibus eorumque successoribus pro nobis 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris (quantum in nobis est) 
 
 1 Sic MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth. 109 
 
 or occupying any booths or stations in the aforesaid fair) jointly 
 (as is becoming) in the places, booths and stations marked 
 out and accustomed for each of the said arts, faculties, 
 occupations and mysteries for the merchants, workmen and 
 artificers (especially in a certain place of the said fair called 
 Cheapeside), for ever, or for the time being, as to them shall 
 seem more expedient, to continue and to be inviolably ob- 
 served, provided that such ordinances, rules and statutes 
 shall not prejudice the right, title or interest of any burgess 
 of the said town of Cambridge, lawfully and according to the 
 customs and ordinances of the said town, holding or possess- 
 ing any booth in the fair aforesaid, nor shall in any way 
 derogate from the liberties or privileges of the chancellor, 
 masters and scholars of our university of Cambridge or 
 their customs used heretofore for the greater part of twenty 
 years last past, nor shall be repugnant to the laws or statutes 
 of our realm of England : And provided that such ordi- 
 nances, rules or statutes shall not prohibit nor restrain any 
 person privileged by the university aforesaid from holding 
 any booth or booths in the fair aforesaid : And these ordi- 
 nances, rules or statutes as well those in future to be issued 
 or established by the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses 
 or their successors as those issued or established by them or 
 their predecessors beforetime from time to time, we for our- 
 .'^elves our heirs and successors (as far as in us lies) of our 
 certain knowledge and mere motion give full present authority, 
 and grant power of changing, revoking, rejecting, annulling 
 or, according to their discretions, of confirming, and also of 
 issuing, ordering and establishing any others from time to 
 time as the change of time and the course of events shall 
 require, to the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses and their 
 successors : Now we forbid and expressly prohibit by these 
 presents any sellers of any goods, called in English mercery 
 wares or grocery wares, to be placed elsewhere in the said 
 fair or to occupy any stall or station for selling such goods in 
 the said fair except in the aforesaid place called Cheapeside, 
 nor any woollen clothes or any clothes made of woollen 
 
no Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 ex certa sciencia et mero motu nostris plenam authoritatem 
 presentem damus et concedimus facultatem : Nolumus autem 
 sed expresse prohibemus per presentes aliquos venditores 
 aliquarum mercium anglice appellatarum mercery wares seu 
 grocery wares alibi in nundinis predictis locari vel aliquam 
 opellam seu stacionem ad huiusmodi merces vendendum in 
 nundinis illis occupare nisi in predicto loco vocato Cheapeside, 
 nee aliquos pannos laneos seu vestimenta aliqua facta ex 
 pannis laneis alibi in eisdem nundinis vendicioni exponi 
 preterquam in loco consueto ibidem vocato le Duddery, nee 
 aliquos aurifabros alibi in eisdem nundinis locari seu merces 
 suas in aliquibus opellis vendicioni exponere, nisi tantum in 
 loco earundem nundinarum antiquitus appellato Soper lane 
 alias Gouldsmiths Rowe, nee aliquos fabros stanarios anglice 
 pewterers vel brasyers alibi in nundinis illis merces suas 
 vendicioni exponere nisi solummodo in stacionibus et opellis 
 earundem nundinarum consuetis in Pewtry rowe et Brasyer 
 Rowe ibidem : Providemus tamen et expresse volumus per 
 presentes quod omnes et singuli burgenses nostri ville predicte 
 qui secundum ordinaciones antehec^ in eadem villa factas et 
 consuetudines eiusdem ville hactenus usitatas aliquam seu 
 aliquas opellam seu opellas in nundinis predictis de prefatis 
 maiore, ballivis et burgensibus modo tenent sibi, heredibus et 
 assignatis suis burgensibus dicte ville vel pro termino vite vel 
 annorum sive huiusmodi opellam seu opellas perquirerint^ sive 
 cam vel eas per dissessum hereditarium acceperint, earundem 
 opellarum quamlibet sibi, heredibus et assignatis suis bur- 
 gensibus dicte ville, vel pro termino vite vel annorum secun- 
 dum seperales eorum status, titulos, interesse et terminos quos 
 in eisdem, iuxta ordinaciones in eadem villa antehac factas et 
 stabilitas ac publica eorundem maioris, ballivorum et bur- 
 gensium authoritate in eadem villa nuper confirmatas ac 
 secundum consuetudines eiusdem ville hactenus usitatas 
 habent, de cetero habeant et teneant ac habere et tenere 
 valeant harum presencium litterarum nostrarum patencium 
 beneficio ac vigore, et in tam amplis modo ac forma ac si hec 
 
 1 Sic MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth. ill 
 
 cloth to be exposed for sale elsewhere in the said fair except 
 in the accustomed place there called the Duddery, or any 
 goldsmiths to be placed elsewhere in the said fair or to 
 expose their goods for sale in any stalls, except only in the 
 place of the said fair of old called Soaper Lane or Goldsmiths' 
 Row, or any tin-smiths, in English pewterers or brasiers, to 
 expose their goods for sale elsewhere in the fair except 
 only in the accustomed stations and stalls of the said fair 
 in Pewtry Row and Brazier Row there : But we provide 
 and expressly will by these presents that all and singular 
 our burgesses of the town aforesaid who, according to the 
 ordinances heretofore made in the said town and the customs 
 of the said town hitherto used, now hold any stall or stalls 
 in the aforesaid fair from the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses for themselves their heirs and assigns, burgesses of 
 the said town, or for a term of life or of years, whether they 
 have acquired such stall or stalls or have received it or them 
 by hereditary descent, henceforth may have and hold and 
 can have and hold each of the same stalls to themselves, their 
 heirs and assigns, burgesses of the said town, or for the term 
 of life or of years according to their several estates, titles, 
 interest and terms which they have in the same, according to 
 the ordinances in the same town heretofore made and estab- 
 lished, and by the public authority of the said mayor, bailiffs 
 and burgesses in the said town lately confirmed, and according 
 to the customs of the said town hitherto used, by benefit and 
 virtue of these our present letters patent, and in as ample 
 a manner and form as if this our present charter had been 
 made and granted to each burgess aforesaid, as far as concerns 
 their stalls which now they hold from the beforenamed mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses in the aforesaid fair and in form afore- 
 said : Provided always that in order that unity and concord 
 may be the better fostered and preserved between the 
 chancellor, masters and scholars of our university of Cam- 
 bridge aforesaid and the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of 
 our said town of Cambridge : We do not will nor do we 
 intend that these our letters patent or anything contained 
 
1 1 2 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 presens charta nostra cuilibet burgensi predicto quoad opellas 
 suas quas modo de prefatis maiore, ballivis et burgensibus in 
 nundinis predictis ac in forma predicta tenent, esset confecta 
 atque concessa : Proviso semper quod quo melius unitas et 
 Concordia inter cancellarium, magistros et scholares uni- 
 versitatis nostre Cantebrigie predicte ac maiorem, ballivos 
 et burgenses dicte ville nostre Cantebrigie foveatur et con- 
 servetur : Nolumus neque intendimus has literas nostras 
 patentes aut quicquam contentum in eisdem intelligi, accipi 
 vel torqueri ad tollendum, coarctandum, diminuendum aut in 
 dubium vocandum uUam partem libertatum, franchesiarum, 
 immunitatum, potestatum, iurisdiccionum,prescripcionum, con- 
 suetudinum, easiamentorum, beneficiorum aut commoditatum 
 a dictis cancellario, magistris et scholaribus aut eorum aliquo 
 aut ab eorum ministris, famulis seu servientibus aut eorum 
 aliquo in nundinis, ferie^ sive feriis predictis vocatis Sturbridge 
 fayre habitam, gavisam, usitatam vel perceptam, racione, causa, 
 vigore seu virtute alicuius concessionis, actus parliamenti, pre- 
 scripcionis, aut consuetudinis cuiuscumque, aut ab ipsis vel 
 ipsorum aliquo in nundinis predictis vel in aliquibus subditorum 
 nostrorum cetibus, conventibus seu congregacionibus infra 
 suburbia ville nostre Cantebrigie vel infra villam de Barnewell 
 aut eiusdem ville campos et limites antehac vulgariter vocatis 
 Sturbridge Fayre, vel in aliquibus locis ubi ferie seu nundine 
 vulgariter vocate Sturbridge Fayre ante hec tempora tene- 
 bantur, habitam, gavisam, usitatam vel perceptam aliquo 
 tempore per maiorem partem viginti annorum proxime pre- 
 teritorum : Set quod predictis cancellario, magistris et scho- 
 laribus ac successoribus suis eorumque singulis et ipsorum 
 ministris, famulis et servientibus quibuscumque bene liceat 
 et licebit in nundinis sive feriis predictis uti, frui, gaudere, 
 habere, tenere et percipere omnia et omnimoda libertates, 
 franchesias, immunitates, potestates, iurisdicciones, prescrip- 
 ciones, consuetudines, easiamenta, beneficia, et commoditates 
 per nos seu per aliquem progenitorum aut predecessorum 
 nostrorum seu per authoritatem parliamenti ipsis aut ipsorum 
 
 1 Sic MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth. 1 1 3 
 
 in them should be understood, taken or twisted to the 
 taking away, restricting, diminishing or calling in question 
 any part of the liberties, franchises, immunities, powers, 
 jurisdictions, prescriptions, customs, easements, benefits or 
 commodities had, enjoyed, used or received by the said 
 chancellor, masters and scholars or any of them or by their 
 ministers, officers or servants or any of them in the fair or feast 
 aforesaid called Sturbridge fayre, by reason, cause, power or 
 virtue of any concession, act of parliament, prescription or 
 custom whatsoever had, enjoyed, used or received by them 
 or any of them, in the fair aforesaid or in any assemblies, 
 conventions or congregations of our subjects within the 
 suburbs of our town of Cambridge or within the town of 
 Barnwell or the fields and limits of the said town heretofore 
 commonly called Sturbridge Fayre, or in any places where 
 the feast or fair commonly called Sturbridge Fayre before 
 these times was held, at any time through the greater part of 
 twenty years last past : But that it may and shall be fully 
 lawful to the aforesaid chancellor, masters and scholars and 
 their successors and to each of them and to their ministers, 
 officers and servants whomsoever in the fair or feast aforesaid 
 to use, take, enjoy, have, hold and receive all and every the 
 liberties, franchises, immunities, powers, jurisdictions, pre- 
 scriptions, customs, easements, benefits, and advantages by 
 us or by anyone of our ancestors or predecessors or by 
 authority of parliament given, granted or confirmed to them 
 or to any of them, or had, received, used or enjoyed by them 
 or any of them in the said fair, assemblies, conventions or 
 places aforesaid commonly called Sturbridge faire at any 
 time through the greater part of twenty years last past, in as 
 ample manner and form, to whatever effect, object or intent, 
 B. C. 8 
 
114 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 alicui data, concessa aut confirmata vel ab ipsis aut ipsorum 
 aliquo in eisdem nundinis, cetibus, conventibus seu locis pre- 
 dictis vulgariter vocatis Sturbridge faire aliquo tempore per 
 maiorem partem viginti annorum proxime preteritorum 
 habita, percepta, usitata aut gavisa in tam amplis modo et 
 forma ad quemcumque effectum, propositum seu intencionem, 
 ac* si he litere nostre patentes maiori, ballivis et burgensibus 
 ville nostre Cantebrigie predicte omnino facte non fuissent 
 absque ullo scrupulo, dubitacione seu questione de, in, aut 
 super ea re movendis, his Hteris nostris patentibus aut materia 
 seu re aHqua in eisdem contenta in aHquo non obstante : 
 Proviso semper et nostra voluntas et intencio est quod he 
 litere nostre patentes aut aliqua res seu materia quacumque 
 in eisdem superius contenta nullo modo se extendat neque 
 quovismodo intelligatur, interpretetur seu accipiatur ad tollen- 
 dum, evacuandum, restringendum, diminuendum seu coarc- 
 tandum privilegia, libertates, immunitates, preheminencias 
 authoritates, iurisdicciones, proficua, commoditates, advantagia 
 seu eorum aliqua vel aliquos ante hec tempora per nos sive 
 progenitores nostros maiori, ballivis et burgensibus dicte ville 
 nostre Cantebrigie data, tradita seu concessa, queque nunc 
 virtute et pretextu aliquarum literarum nostrarum patencium 
 aut progenitorum nostrorum vel racione et vigore alicuius 
 actus parliamenti antehac editi seu provisi pleno et integro 
 robore iure existit seu existunt et debuit existere poterit seu 
 poterint : Sed quod he litere nostre patentes atque omnia et 
 singula in eisdem contenta omni modo habeantur, accipiantur 
 et interpretentur imperpetuum contra nos, heredes et succes- 
 sores nostros, atque omnes alias personas atque personam, 
 corpus politicum atque corpora politica nunc aut imposterum 
 aliquod ius, titulum aut interesse de, aut in, predictis nundinis, 
 feria seu feriis de Sturbridge habentes aut vendicantes aut 
 habencia seu vendicancia quam liberatissime ad omnem usum, 
 commodum et utilitatem ipsorum maioris, ballivorum et 
 burgensium et successorum suorum : Et quod dicti maior, 
 ballivi et burgenses et eorum successores his literis nostris 
 
 1 Sic MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Qtieen Elizabeth. 115 
 
 as if these our letters patent to the mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of our town of Cambridge aforesaid had in no wise 
 been made, without any scruple, doubt or question being 
 moved of, in, or on this matter, these our letters patent 
 or any matter or thing in the same contained in any wise 
 notwithstanding : Provided always and our will and intention 
 is that these our letters patent or any thing or matter what- 
 soever in the same above contained in no way shall extend 
 nor in any way shall be understood, interpreted or received to 
 the taking away, avoiding, restricting, diminishing or con- 
 tracting the privileges, liberties, immunities, preeminences, 
 authorities, jurisdictions, profits, commodities, advantages or 
 any of them given, granted or conceded before these times by 
 us or our ancestors to the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of 
 our said town of Cambridge, which now by virtue and pretext 
 of any letters patent of us or of our ancestors or by reason 
 and virtue of any act of parliament heretofore issued or 
 provided in full and entire force in law exists or exist and 
 ought to exist and may exist : But that these our letters patent 
 and all and singular the matters contained therein in every way 
 may be had, received and interpreted for ever against us, our 
 heirs and successors, and all other persons and person, body 
 politic and bodies politic, now or hereafter having or claiming 
 any right, title or interest of, or in, the aforesaid fair or feast 
 of Sturbridge, as freely as possible, to all use, advantage and 
 profit of the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses and their 
 successors : And that the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses 
 and their successors may and can use these our letters patent 
 for ever in any form of law, to all effects and intents as shall 
 seem to them most useful or to be more expedient, any 
 thing or matter whatsoever in these presents or in any law, 
 ordinance or matter whatsoever to the contrary thereof in 
 
 8—2 
 
Ii6 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 patentibus imperpetuum uti possint et valeant in quacumque 
 iuris forma ad omnes efifectus et intenciones prout iis maxime 
 commodum meliusve expedire videbitur, aliqua re seu materia 
 quacumque in presentibus aut aliqua lege, ordinacione seu 
 materia quacumque in contrarium inde in aliquo non ob- 
 stantibus. In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri 
 fecimus patentes. Teste me ipsa apud Drayton decimo 
 quinto die Augusti anno regni nostri tricesimo primo. 
 
 POWLE. 
 
 per breve de private sigillo et de dato predicto auctoritate 
 parliamenti. 
 
 examinate per Willelmum Brevit. 
 
 XXVI. LiTTERE Patentes Jacobi Primi. 
 
 1605 ^lacobus dei gratia Anglie Scotie Francie et Hibernie 
 
 Rex fidei defensor &c. omnibus ad quos presentes litere 
 pervenerint salutem. Cum burgus noster de Cantabrigia in 
 comitatu Cantabrigie sit burgus antiquus et populosus et 
 burgenses burgi illius quandoque per nomen maioris, balli- 
 vorum et burgensium eiusdem burgi quandoque per nomen 
 burgensium burgi illius et quandoque per alia nomina ville 
 predicte necnon diversas libertates, franchesias, immunitates, 
 consuetudines, preheminencias, et alia hereditamenta hab- 
 uerunt, usi et gavisi fuerunt ac habent, utuntur et gaudent 
 tam per seperales et diversas cartas et literas patentes 
 diversorum progenitorum et antecessorum nostrorum Regum 
 et Reginarum Anglie quam eciam racione diversarum 
 prescripcionum et consuetudinum in eodem burgo usitatarum 
 et habitarum cumque dilecti subditi nostri modo maior, 
 ballivi et burgenses burgi de Cantabrigia predicta nobis 
 humillime supplicaverunt quatenus nos eisdem maiori, ballivis 
 et burgensibus graciam et munificenciam nostram regiam in 
 hac parte exhibere et extendere velimus : Quodque nos pro 
 meliori gubernacione et regimine eiusdem burgi dictos ma- 
 
 ^ In the Borough Archives. On two large skins. A fragment of the great 
 seal in brown wax appendant. The initials are adorned with the royal arms. 
 
Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth. 117 
 
 any wise notwithstanding-. In witness whereof we have 
 caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness myself 
 at Drayton on the fifteenth day of August in the thirty-first 
 year of our reign. 
 
 POWLE. 
 
 by writ of Privy seal and of the aforesaid date by authority 
 of parliament. 
 
 Examined by William Brevit. 
 
 XXVI. Letters Patent of James the First. 
 
 ^ James by the grace of God of England Scotland France 1605 
 and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c. to all to ^P"^ 3o 
 whom the present letters shall come greeting. Whereas our 
 borough of Cambridge in the county of Cambridge is an 
 ancient and populous borough, and our burgesses of that 
 borough sometimes under the name of the mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the same borough, sometimes under the name of 
 the burgecses of that borough, and sometimes under other 
 names of the town aforesaid have had, used and enjoyed and 
 also have, use, and enjoy divers liberties, franchises, immuni- 
 ties, customs, preeminences, and other hereditaments as well 
 by separate and divers charters and letters patent of divers of 
 our ancestors and predecessors. Kings and Queens of England, 
 as also by reason of divers prescriptions and customs used and 
 had in the same borough, and whereas our beloved subjects 
 the now mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough of 
 Cambridge aforesaid have supplicated us most humbly that 
 we would be willing to shew and extend in this behalf our 
 royal grace and munificence to the said mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses : And that we for the better government and ruling 
 
 1 See Cooper, Annals^ iii. 17. 
 
1 1 8 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge, 
 
 iorem, ballivos et burgenses eiusdem burgi in unum corpus 
 corporatum et politicum per nomen piaioris, ballivorum et 
 burgensium burgi de Cantabrigia per literas nostras patentes 
 confirmare, facere, constituere et creare dignaremur cum 
 augmentacionibus et addicionibus quorumdam libertatum, 
 privilegiorum et franchesiarum prout nobis melius videbitur 
 expedire : Nos igitur volentes quod decetero imperpetuum 
 continuo habeatur unus certus et indubitatus modus in 
 eodem burgo, de et in regimine et gubernacione eiusdem 
 burgi et populi nostri in eodem burgo inhabitantis ac 
 aliorum ibidem confluentium : Ac eciam ut pax nostra 
 ceteraque facta iusticie et boni regiminis ibidem melius 
 custodiri et fieri valeant et possint, sperantesque quod si 
 maior, ballivi et burgenses dicti burgi et successores sui 
 maiores et ampliores ex concessione nostra regali gaudere 
 possint dignitates, privilegia, iurisdicciones, libertates et 
 franchesias tunc ad servicia que poterint^ nobis heredibus et 
 successoribus nostris, impendenda et exhibenda, specialius 
 fortiusque sentiant se obligatos : Necnon ad humilem petici- 
 onem et rogacionem predilectorum et fidelium conciliarii 
 nostri Thome domini Ellesmere domini cancellarii Anglie 
 nunc capitalis senescalli burgi predicti et lohannis Fortescue 
 militis ducatus nostri Lancastrie cancellarii ac moderni 
 recordatoris burgi predicti de gracia nostra speciali ac ex 
 certa sciencia et mero motu nostris voluimus, ordinavimus, 
 constituimus, concessimus et declaravimus ac per has literas 
 nostras patentes pro nobis, heredibus et successoribus nostris, 
 volumus, ordinamus, constituimus, concedimus et declaramus 
 quod dictus burgus de Cantabrigia de cetero imperpetuum 
 sit et erit et permanebit liber burgus de se et quod homines 
 eiusdem burgi liberi sint burgenses, et quod habeant omnes 
 libertates et liberas consuetudines ad liberum burgum spec- 
 tantes imperpetuum et quod maior, ballivi et burgenses 
 eiusdem burgi quodque burgenses burgi illius, sive antehac 
 legittime incorporati fuerunt sive non, de cetero imperpetuum 
 sine uUa questione seu ambiguitate imposterum fiendi sint et 
 
 ^ Corn pertinents 
 
Letters Patent of James the First. 119 
 
 of the same borough would deign to confirm, make, constitute 
 and create the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the same 
 borough into one body corporate and politic by the name of 
 the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough of Cambridge 
 by our letters patent with augmentations and additions of 
 certain liberties, privileges and franchises as shall seem good 
 and expedient to us : We therefore willing that henceforth for 
 ever continually there should be one certain and undoubted 
 method in the same borough of and in the ruling and govern- 
 ment of the same borough and of our people dwelling in 
 the same borough and of others coming together there : and 
 also that our peace and other deeds of justice and good ruling 
 there may be able to be and should be better kept and done, 
 and hoping that if the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 said borough and their successors enjoy from our royal 
 concession greater and ampler- dignities, privileges, juris- 
 dictions, liberties and franchises then they will feel them- 
 selves more specially and strongly bound to discharge and 
 fulfil the services which pertain to us, our heirs and successors: 
 Moreover at the humble petition and request of our well- 
 beloved and faithful councillor Thomas Lord EUesmere Lord 
 Chancelloi of England now high steward of the borough 
 aforesaid and of John Fortescue, knight, Chancellor of our 
 Duchy of Lancaster and the now recorder of the borough 
 aforesaid, of our special grace and from our certain knowledge 
 and mere motion we have willed, ordained, constituted, 
 granted and declared and by these our letters patent for us, 
 our heirs and successors, we will, ordain, constitute, grant and 
 declare that the said borough of Cambridge henceforth for 
 ever may be and shall be and shall remain a free borough of 
 itself and that the men of the said borough may be free 
 burgesses and that they may have all liberties and free 
 customs belonging to a free borough for ever, and that the 
 mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the said borough and also the 
 burgesses of that borough, whether beforetime they have 
 been lawfully incorporated or not, henceforth for ever without 
 any question or ambiguity hereafter shall be made and shall 
 
I20 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 erunt unum corpus corporatum et politicum in re, facto et 
 nomine, per nomen maioris, ballivorum et burgensium burgi 
 de Cantabrigia: ac omnes burgenses burgi predicti per nomen 
 maioris, ballivorum et burgensium burgi de Cantabrigia unum 
 corpus corporatum et politicum in re, facto et nomine realiter 
 et ad plenum pro nobis, heredibus et successoribus nostris, 
 erigimus, facimus, ordinamus, constituimus et declaramus per 
 presentes et quod per idem nomen habeant successionem 
 perpetuam, et quod ipsi per nomen maioris, ballivorum et 
 burgensium burgi de Cantabrigia sint et erunt perpetuis 
 futuris temporibus persone habiles et in lege capaces ac 
 corpus corporatum et politicum in lege capax ad habendum, 
 perquirendum, recipiendum, possidendum, gaudendum et reti- 
 nendum terras, tenementa, libertates, privilegia, iurisdicciones, 
 franchesias et hereditamenta quecunque, cuiuscunque generis, 
 nature vel speciei fuerint sibi et successoribus suis, in feodo 
 et perpetuitate sive pro termino anni vel annorum aut aliter 
 quocunque modo, necnon bona et catalla quecunque, necnon 
 ad dandum, concedendum, dimittendum, alienandum, assig- 
 nandum et disponendum terras, tenementa et hereditamenta 
 predicta ; Et quod imperpetuum per idem nomen maioris, 
 ballivorum et burgensium burgi de Cantabrigia placitare et 
 implacitari, respondere et responderi, defendere et defendi 
 Valeant et possint in quibuscunque curiis et locis coram nobis, 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris ac coram quibuscunque 
 iudicibus et iusticiariis et aliis personis et officiariis nostri, 
 heredum vel successorum nostrorum, aut aliorum quorum- 
 cunque, in omnibus et singulis accionibus, placitis, sectis, 
 querelis, causis, materiis et demandis quibuscunque, cuius- 
 cunque sunt aut erunt generis, nature seu speciei in tam 
 amplis modo et forma prout aliqui alii ligei nostri huius regni 
 nostri Anglie persone habiles et in lege capaces sive aliquod 
 aliud corpus corporatum et politicum infra regnum nostrum 
 Anglie habere, perquirere, recipere, possidere, gaudere, placi- 
 tare et implacitari, respondere et responderi, defendere et 
 defendi, facere, permittere sive exequi possint et valeant : Et 
 quod predicti maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi predicti et 
 
Letters Patent of James the First. 121 
 
 be one body corporate and politic in deed, fact and name 
 by the name of the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough of Cambridge : and all the burgesses of the borough 
 aforesaid by the name of the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of 
 the borough of Cambridge, we erect, make, ordain, constitute 
 and declare by these presents, for us our heirs and successors, 
 one body corporate and politic in deed, fact and name, 
 really and fully, and that by the said name they may have 
 perpetual succession, and that they themselves by the name 
 of the mayor, bailifTs and burgesses of the borough of Cam- 
 bridge may be and shall be in all future times persons fit and 
 capable in law and a body corporate and politic capable in 
 law to have, obtain, receive, possess, enjoy and retain lands 
 tenements, liberties, privileges, jurisdictions, franchises and 
 hereditaments whatsoever, of whatever kind, nature or species 
 they may be, for themselves and their successors, in fee and 
 perpetuity, whether for a term of a year or of years or 
 otherwise, in whatsoever manner, and goods and chattels 
 whatsoever, also to give, grant, demise, alienate, assign and 
 dispose of the lands, tenements and hereditaments aforesaid ; 
 and that for ever by the said name of the mayor, bailififs and 
 burgesses of the borough of Cambridge they may be qualified 
 and be able to plead and to be impleaded, to answer and to 
 be answered, to defend and to be defended, in whatsoever 
 courts and pleas before us, our heirs and successors and 
 before whatsoever judges and justices and other persons and 
 officers of us, our heirs or successors, or of others whomsoever, 
 in all and singular actions, pleas, suits, complaints, causes, 
 matters and demands whatsoever, of whatsoever kind, nature 
 or species they are or shall be, in as ample a manner and form 
 as any other our lieges of this our realm of England, persons 
 qualified and capable in law, or any other body corporate and 
 politic within our realm of England are able to and can have, 
 acquire, receive, possess, enjoy, plead and be impleaded, 
 answer and be answered, defend and be defended, make, 
 permit or execute: And that the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs 
 and burgesses of the borough aforesaid and their successors 
 
122 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 successores sui habeant imperpetuum comune sigillum pro 
 causis et negociis suis quibuscunque ac successorum suorum 
 agendis serviturum : Et quod bene licebit eisdem maiori, 
 ballivis, burgensibus et successoribus suis sigillum illud ad 
 libitum suum de tempore in tempus frangere, mutare et de 
 novo facere, prout eis melius fieri videbitur : Et ulterius de 
 uberiori gracia nostra volumus et per presentes pro nobis, 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus predictis maiori, 
 ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et eorum successoribus 
 quod maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi predicti pro tempore 
 existente vel maior pars eorundem, quorum maiorem burgi 
 predicti pro tempore existente unum esse volumus, habeant 
 et habebunt plenam authoritatem, potestatem et facultatem 
 condendi, constituendi, ordinandi, faciendi et stabiliendi de 
 tempore in tempus talia et huiusmodi leges, statuta, iura, 
 ordinaciones et constituciones qualia eis sive maiori parti 
 eorundem, quorum maiorem burgi predicti pro tempore 
 existente unum esse volumus, bona, utilia, salubria, honesta et 
 necessaria iuxta eorum sanas discreciones fore videbuntur 
 pro bono regimine et gubernacione maioris, ballivorum et 
 burgensium burgi predicti et omnium et singulorum aliorum 
 burgensium, officiariorum, ministrorum, artificum, inhabitan- 
 cium et residencium quorumcunque infra burgum predictum et 
 libertates eiusdem pro uberiori bono publico, comuni utilitate 
 ac bono regimine burgi predicti : Ac eciam pro meliori 
 gubernacione, disposicione, locacione et dimissione terrarum, 
 possessionum, revencionum et hereditamentorum prefatorum 
 maioris, ballivorum et burgensium burgi predicti ac res 
 et causas alias quascunque burgi predicti statum, iura et 
 interesse eiusdem burgi tangentes seu quoquo modo con- 
 cernentes : Quodque maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi pre- 
 dicti pro tempore existente vel eorum maior pars, quorum 
 maiorem burgi predicti pro tempore existente unum esse 
 volumus, quociescunque huiusmodi leges, iura, constituciones 
 et ordinaciones condiderint, fecerint vel stabiliverint in forma 
 predicta huiusmodi et talia penas, puniciones, et penalitates, per 
 imprisonamentum corporis seu corporum vel per fines et 
 
Letters Patent of James tlie First. 123 
 
 may have for ever a common seal to be kept for transacting 
 all the causes and businesses whatsoever of them and their 
 successors : And that it shall be fully lawful to the said 
 mayor, bailiffs and burgesses and their successors from time 
 to time at their pleasure to break, change and re-make that 
 seal as it shall seem to them best to be done : And further of 
 our more abundant grace we will and by these presents for 
 us, our heirs and successors, we grant to the aforesaid mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid and their 
 successors that the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid for the time being or the greater part of 
 them, of whom we will that the mayor of the borough afore- 
 said for the time being shall be one, may have and shall have 
 full authority, power and capacity of framing, constituting, 
 ordaining, making and establishing from time to time such and 
 suchlike laws, statutes, rules, ordinances and constitutions as 
 to them or to the greater part of them, of whom we will that 
 the mayor of the borough aforesaid for the time being shall 
 be one, shall appear to be good, useful, salutary, lawful and 
 necessary according to their sound discretions for the good 
 ruling and governing of the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of 
 the borough aforesaid and of all and singular the other 
 burgesses, officers, servants, artificers, inhabitants and residents 
 whomsoever within the borough aforesaid and the liberties 
 thereof, for the greater public good, the common weal and the 
 good ruling of the borough aforesaid : And also for the better 
 governing, disposition, letting and demising of lands, posses- 
 sions, revenues and hereditaments aforesaid of the mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid and other things 
 and causes whatsoever of the aforesaid borough, touching or 
 in any way concerning the estate, rights and interests of the 
 said borough : And that the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of 
 the borough aforesaid for the time being or the greater part 
 of them, of whom we will that the mayor of the borough 
 aforesaid for the time being shall be one, as ofton as they 
 shall have framed, made or established such laws, rules, 
 constitutions and ordinances in form aforesaid, may make, 
 
124 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 amerciamenta vel per eorum iitrumque erga et super omnes 
 delinquentes contra huiusmodi leges, instituta, iura, ordi- 
 naciones et constituciones sive eorum aliquod sive aliqua, 
 qualia et que eisdem maiori, ballivis et burgensibus pro tempore 
 existente sive eorum maiori parti, quorumque maiorem burgi 
 predicti pro tempore existente unum esse volumus, necessaria, 
 opportuna et requisita pro observacione earundem ^ legum, 
 ordinacionum et constitucionum melius fieri videbuntur, facere 
 ordinare, limitare et providere, ac eadem fines et amerciamenta 
 levare et habere possint et valeant ad opus et usum maioris, 
 ballivorum et burgensium burgi predicti et successorum 
 suorum absque impedimento nostri aut heredum vel suc- 
 cessorum nostrorum aut alicuius sive aliquorum officiariorum 
 vel ministrorum nostrorum vel heredum aut successorum 
 nostrorum et absque aliquo compoto nobis, heredibus seu 
 successoribus nostris, inde reddendo : Que omnia et singula 
 leges, ordinaciones, iura, ordinaciones et constituciones sic ut 
 prefertur facienda observari volumus sub penis in eisdem 
 continendis : Ita tamen quod leges, ordinaciones, consti- 
 tuciones, imprisonamenta, fines et amerciamenta huiusmodi 
 sint racionabilia et non sint repugnancia vel contraria legibus, 
 statutis, consuetudinibus sive iuribus regni nostri Anglie seu 
 racionabilibus et laudabilibus prescripcionibus et consuetu- 
 dinibus in eodem burgo antique usitatis et consuetis : Et ut 
 maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi predicti et eorum successores 
 de tempore in tempus onera et expensas burgi predicti melius 
 sustinere et supportare possint et valeant de gracia nostra 
 speciali, certa sciencia et mero motu nostris concessimus ac 
 per presentes pro nobis, heredibus et successoribus nostris 
 concedimus et licenciam specialem, legittimam et licitam 
 facultatem, potestatem et authoritatem damus prefatis maiori, 
 ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus suis ad 
 habendum, perquirendum, recipiendum et retinendum eis et 
 successoribus suis imperpetuum tam de nobis, heredibus et 
 successoribus nostris, quam de quibuscunque subditis et ligeis 
 nostris aut de aliis quibuscunque sive aliqua alia persona sive 
 
 ^ MS. eorundem. 
 
Letters Patent of James the First. 125 
 
 ordain, limit and provide such and suchlike pains, punishments 
 and penalties, by imprisonment of the body or the bodies, or 
 by fines and amercements, or by either of them, towards and 
 upon all delinquents against such laws, institutions, rules, 
 ordinances and constitutions or any one or more of them, as 
 to the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses for the time being or 
 to the greater part of them, of whom we will that the mayor 
 of the borough aforesaid for the time being shall be one, 
 shall appear necessary, fit and requisite for the observance 
 of the said laws, ordinances and constitutions, and the said 
 fines and amercements they may and can levy and have, to 
 the use and advantage of the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses 
 of the borough aforesaid and of their successors, without any 
 hindrance from us, or our heirs and successors, or from any 
 one or more officers or servants of us or of our heirs and 
 successors, and without any account thereof to be rendered 
 to us or our heirs or successors : Which all and singular the 
 laws, ordinances, rules, ordinances and constitutions as is before 
 said we will to be caused to be observed under the penalties 
 contained in the same : But so that such laws, ordinances, 
 constitutions, imprisonments, fines and amercements be reason- 
 able and be not repugnant or contrary to the laws, statutes, 
 customs or rights of our realm of England or the reasonable 
 and laudable prescriptions and customs, in the said borough 
 of old used and accustomed : And that the mayor, bailiffs 
 and burgesses of the borough aforesaid and their successors 
 from time to time can and may be better able to sustain and 
 support the burdens and expenses of the borough aforesaid, 
 of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, we 
 have granted and by these presents, for us, our heirs and 
 successors, we grant and give special, legitimate and lawful 
 licence, faculty, power and authority to the aforesaid mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid and their 
 successors, to have, acquire, receive and retain to them and to 
 their successors for ever, as well from us, our heirs and 
 successors, as from any our subjects and lieges and from 
 others whomsoever, whether from any other person or any 
 
126 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 aliquibus aliis personis quibuscunque, mesuagia, terras, tene- 
 menta, rectorias, decimas, redditus, revenciones, servicia et 
 alia possessiones et hereditamenta quecunque infra villam 
 Cantabrigie predicte seu infra suburbia, libertates, limites aut 
 precincta eiusdem ville existencia que de nobis, heredibus vel 
 successoribus nostris non tenentur imediate in capite nee per 
 servicium militare, dummodo eadem mesuagia, terre, tene- 
 menta, rectorie, decime, redditus, revenciones, servicia et alia 
 possessiones seu hereditamenta per eosdem maiorem, ballivos 
 et burgenses burgi predicti et successores suos sic ut prefertur 
 habenda, perquirenda, recipienda et retinenda in toto non 
 excedant valorem sexaginta librarum per annum, statuto de 
 terris et tenementis ad manum mortuam non ponendis aut 
 aliquo alio statuto, actu, ordinacione, provisione seu restriccione 
 in contrarium inde antehac habito, facto, edito, ordinato seu 
 proviso, aut aliqua causa vel materia quacunque in aliquo 
 non obstante : Damus eciam ac per presentes pro nobis, 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris, concedimus cuicunque 
 subdito nostro et quibuscunque subditis nostris, heredum et 
 successorum nostrorum, potestatem, licenciam et authoritatem 
 quod mesuagia, terras, tenementa, rectorias, decimas, redditus, 
 revenciones, servicia et alia possessiones et hereditamenta 
 quecunque infra villam predictam aut infra suburbia, liber- 
 tates, limites seu precincta eiusdem ville existencia, que de 
 nobis, heredibus vel successoribus nostris non tenentur 
 imediate in capite nee per servicium militare prefatis maiori, 
 ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus suis 
 dare, legare, concedere, alienare sive conveiare possint et 
 valeant, dummodo eadem messuagia, terre, tenementa, rectorie, 
 decime, redditus, revenciones, servicia et alia possessiones et 
 hereditamenta non excedant clarum annuum valorem sex- 
 aginta librarum per annum, statuto de terris et tenementis ad 
 manum mortuam non ponendis aut aliquo alio statuto, actu, 
 ordinacione, provisione seu restriccione inde in contrarium 
 antehac habito, facto, edito, ordinato seu proviso non obstante : 
 Et ulterius de ampliori gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa sciencia 
 et mero motu nostris concessimus, approbavimus, ratificavi- 
 
Letters Patent of James the First. \2J 
 
 other persons whomsoever, messuages, lands, tenements, 
 rectories, tithes, rents, revenues, services and other possessions 
 and hereditaments whatsoever being within the town of 
 Cambridge aforesaid or within the suburbs, liberties, limits 
 and precincts of the said town, which are not held immediately 
 from us, our heirs or successors, in chief, nor by military 
 service, provided that the said messuages, lands, tenements, 
 rectories, tithes, rents, revenues, services and other possessions 
 or hereditaments by the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of 
 the borough aforesaid and their successors so as is aforesaid, 
 to be held, acquired, received and kept, do not in the whole 
 exceed the value of sixty pounds a year, the statute against 
 putting lands and tenements in mortmain and any other 
 statute, act, ordinance, provision or restriction heretofore had, 
 made, issued, ordained or provided to the contrary or any 
 cause or matter whatever in any wise notwithstanding : We 
 give also and by these presents we grant for us, our heirs and 
 successors, to every the subject or subjects of us, our heirs 
 and successors, power, licence and authority that he or they 
 can and may be able to give, bequeath, grant, alienate or 
 convey to the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses aforesaid of the 
 borough aforesaid and their successors, messuages, lands, 
 tenements, rectories, tithes, rents, revenues, services and other 
 possessions and hereditaments whatsoever, being within the 
 town aforesaid or within the suburbs, liberties, limits or 
 precincts of the said town, which are not held immediately 
 of us, our heirs or successors, in chief, nor by military service, 
 provided that the said messuages, lands, tenements, rectories, 
 tithes, rents, revenues, services and other possessions and 
 hereditaments do not exceed the clear yearly value of 
 sixty pounds a year, the statute against putting lands 
 and tenements in mortmain, or any other statute, act, 
 ordinance, provision or restriction heretofore had, made, 
 issued, ordained or provided to the contrary notwithstand- 
 ing : And furthermore of our ampler special grace and 
 from our certain knowledge and mere motion we have 
 granted, approved, ratified and by these presents we grant 
 
128 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 mus et confirmavimiis ac per presentes pro nobis, heredibus 
 et successoribus nostris concedimus, approbamus, ratificamus 
 et confirmamus prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi 
 de Cantabrigia predicta et successoribus suis omnia et 
 omnimoda, tot, tanta, talia, eadem, huiusmodi et consimilia 
 concessiones, liberas consuetudines, libertates, privilegia, 
 franchesias, imunitates, quietancias, exempciones, ferias, 
 nundinas, mercata, theolonea, tolneta, iurisdicciones, com- 
 moditates, emolumenta, terras, tenementa et hereditamenta, 
 quot, quanta, qualia, et que maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi 
 de Cantabrigia predicta aut eorum aliqui, modo legittimo 
 habent, tenent, gaudent et utuntur, aut habere, tenere, 
 uti aut gaudere debent per nomen maioris, ballivorum 
 et burgensium burgi de Cantabrigia aut per nomen balli- 
 vorum et burgensium burgi de Cantabrigia aut per nomen 
 burgensium burgi de Cantabrigia sive per quecunque alia 
 nomina sive per quodcunque aliud nomen vel per quam- 
 cunque incorporacionem vel corpus politicum seu pretextu 
 cuiuscunque incorporacionis vel corporis politici premissa 
 aut eorum aliqua data seu concessa fuere predictis maiori, 
 ballivis et burgensibus aut aliquibus seu alicui predecessorum 
 suorum racione vel pretextu aliquarum cartarum aut litera- 
 rum patencium per aliquem progenitorum sive antecessorum 
 nostrorum quoquo modo antehac factarum, confirmatarum 
 vel concessarum aut racione vel pretextu alicuius legittime 
 prescripcionis, usus seu consuetudinis antehac habite seu 
 usitate seu quocunque alio legali modo, iure seu titulo, licet 
 eadem seu eorum aliquod vel aliqua antehac usi non fuerunt 
 vel fuit, aut abusi vel male usi vel discontinuati fuerunt vel 
 fuit, aut licet eadem aut eorum aliquod vel aliqua deperdita 
 aut forisfacta sint aut fuerint : Habendum tenendum et gau- 
 dendum eadem terras et tenementa, libertates, privilegia, 
 franchesias, iurisdicciones et cetera premissa eisdem maiori, 
 ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus suis 
 imperpetuum : Reddendo inde nobis, heredibus et successo- 
 ribus nostris talia huiusmodi et consimilia redditus, servicia, 
 denariorum summas et tenurias que proinde nobis antehac 
 
Letters Patent of James the First, 129 
 
 approve, ratify and confirm for us, our heirs and successors, 
 to the aforesaid mayor, baih'ffs and burgesses of the borough 
 of Cambridge aforesaid and to their successors, all and every, 
 so many, so great, such, the same, of this kind and like 
 concessions, free customs, liberties, privileges, franchises, 
 immunities, quittances, exemptions, feasts, fairs, markets, 
 takings, tolls, jurisdictions, conveniences, emoluments, lands, 
 tenements and hereditaments of such sort, quantity and 
 nature, and which the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough of Cambridge aforesaid, or any of them, in a lawful 
 manner have, hold, enjoy and use, or ought to have, hold, use 
 or enjoy by the name of the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of 
 the borough of Cambridge, or by the name of the bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the borough of Cambridge, or by the name of 
 the burgesses of the borough of Cambridge, or by whatever 
 other names, or by whatever other name, or by whatever 
 incorporation or body politic, or on pretext of whatever in- 
 corporation or body politic, the premises or any of them have 
 been given or granted to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses or to any one or more of their predecessors, by 
 reason or pretext of any charters or letters patent made, 
 confirmed or granted by any of our ancestors or predecessors 
 in any way heretofore, or by reason or pretext of any lawful 
 prescription, use or custom heretofore had or used, or by any 
 other legal manner, right or title, although the same or any 
 one or more of them heretofore have or has not been used or 
 have or has been abused or badly used, or have or has been 
 discontinued, or although the same or any one or more of them 
 have or has been lost or forfeited : To have, hold and enjoy 
 the said lands and tenements, liberties, privileges, franchises, 
 jurisdictions and other premises to the said mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the borough aforesaid and to their successors for 
 ever : Rendering thence to us, our heirs and successors, such, 
 such like, and similar rents, services, sums of money and 
 tenures which to us heretofore have been thence due, payable 
 B. C. 9 
 
I30 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 debita, solubilia et de iure consueta fuerunt : Quare volumus 
 et per presentes pro nobis, heredibus et successoribus nostris, 
 concedimus prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi 
 de Cantabrigia predicta et successoribus suis quod habeant, 
 teneant, utantur et gaudeant ac plene habere, tenere, uti et 
 gaudere possint et valeant imperpetuum omnia et omnimoda 
 predicta terras, tenementa, redditus, revenciones, libertates, 
 liberas consuetudines, privilegia, authoritates, quietancias et 
 hereditamenta quecunque predicta secundum tenorem et 
 effectum harum literarum nostrarum patencium, sine occa- 
 sione vel impedimento nostri heredum vel successorum nos- 
 trorum quorumcunque : Nolentes quod iidem maior, ballivi 
 et burgenses burgi predicti vel eorum aliqui vel aliquis nee 
 aliquis burgensis burgi predicti racione premissorum sive 
 eorum alicuius per nos vel per heredes nostros, iusticiarios, 
 vicecomites, escaetores aut alios ballivos seu ministros nostros 
 heredum seu successorum nostrorum quorumcunque inde oc- 
 casionentur, molestentur, vexentur seu graventur, molestetur, 
 vexetur, gravetur seu in aliquo perturbetur : Volentes et per 
 presentes firmiter pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris 
 mandantes et precipientes tarn Thesaurario, Cancellario et 
 Baronibus Scaccarii nostri, heredum et successorum nostrorum, 
 ac omnibus et singulis aliis iudicibus et iusticiariis nostris 
 heredum et successorum nostrorum, quam Attornato et 
 Solicitore nostro generali pro tempore existente et eorum 
 cuilibet et omnibus aliis officiariis et ministris nostris quibus- 
 cunque, quod nee ipsi nee eorum aliquis sive aliqui aliquod 
 breve seu summonicionem de quo warranto seu aliquod aliud 
 breve seu brevia vel processus nostros quecunque versus 
 predictos maiorem, ballivos et burgenses burgi predicti seu 
 eorum aliquos seu homines vel inhabitantes burgi predicti 
 vel eorum aliquem vel aliquos, pro aliquibus causis, rebus, 
 materiis, ofifensis, clamatibus, usurpacionibus aut eorum aliquo 
 per ipsos sive eorum aliquos, debitis, clamatis, attemptis, 
 usitatis, habitis sive usurpatis ante diem confeccionis pre- 
 sencium prosequantur aut continuant aut prosequi aut 
 continuari faciant aut causabunt seu eorum aliquis faciet 
 
Letters Patent of James the First. 131 
 
 and of right accustomed : Wherefore we will and by these 
 presents for us, our heirs and successors, we grant to the 
 beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough of 
 Cambridge aforesaid and to their successors that they may 
 have, hold, use and enjoy, and may be able to and can fully 
 have, hold, use and enjoy for ever all and every the aforesaid 
 lands, tenements, rents, reversions, liberties, free customs, 
 privileges, authorities, quittances and hereditaments whatso- 
 ever aforesaid, according to the tenour and effect of these our 
 letters patent, without hindrance or impediment of us, our 
 heirs or successors, whatsoever: Being unwilling that the said 
 mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid or 
 any one or more of them or any burgess of the borough 
 aforesaid by reason of the premises or any of them, by us or 
 by our heirs, justices, sheriffs, escheators or other bailiffs or 
 ministers of us our heirs or successors whomsoever should 
 herein be hindered, molested, vexed or impeded or in any 
 wise disturbed : Willing and by these presents firmly, for 
 us our heirs and successors, ordering and enjoining, as well 
 the Treasurer, Chancellor and Barons of the Exchequer of us, 
 our heirs and successors, and all and singular the other judges 
 and justices of us, our heirs and successors, as our Attorney 
 and Solicitor General for the time being and either of them, 
 and all other our officers and ministers whomsoever, that 
 neither they nor any one or more of them may prosecute or 
 continue or cause to be prosecuted or continued any writ or 
 summons of quo warranto or any other our writ or writs or 
 processes whatever against the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the borough aforesaid or any of them or the 
 men or inhabitants of the borough aforesaid or any one or 
 more of them, for any causes, things, matters, offences, claims, 
 usurpations or any of them by any one or more of them due, 
 claimed, attempted, used, held, or usurped before the day of 
 
 9—2 
 
132 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 aut causabit : Volentes eciam quod maior, ballivi et bur- 
 genses burgi illius vel eorum aliqui per aliquem vel aliquos 
 iusticiarios, iudices, officiarios vel ministros predictos in aut 
 pro debito, usu, clameo vel abusu, libertate, franchesia aut 
 iurisdiccione infra burgum de Cantabrigia predicta suburbia 
 aut precincta eiusdem ante diem confeccionis harum literarum 
 nostrarum patencium minime molestentur aut impedientur 
 aut ad ea aut eorum aliquod respondere compellantur : Et 
 ulterius de ampliori gracia nostra speciali ac ex certa sciencia 
 et mero motu nostris volumus et per presentes pro nobis 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus prefatis maiori, 
 ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus suis 
 quod he litere nostre patentes vel irrotulamenta earum- 
 dem erunt in omnibus et per omnia firme, valide, bone, 
 sufficientes et efifectuales in lege erga et contra nos, heredes 
 et successores nostros, tam in omnibus curiis nostris quam 
 alibi infra regnum nostrum Anglie absque aliquibus con- 
 firmacionibus, licenciis vel tolleracionibus de nobis, heredibus 
 vel successoribus nostris, imposterum per predictos maiorem, 
 ballivos et burgenses burgi predicti et successores suos 
 procurandis impetrandis aut obtinendis : Non obstante male 
 nominando vel male recitando aut non recitando aliquorum 
 premissorum aut alicuius partis vel parcelle premissorum 
 in hiis Uteris nostris patentibus mencionatorum vel reci- 
 tatorum: Et non obstante non inveniendo officium vel 
 inquisicionem premissorum aut alicuius inde parcelle per 
 que titulus noster invenire debuit ante confeccionem harum 
 literarum nostrarum patencium : Et non obstante statuto 
 in parliamento domini Henrici nuper Regis Anglie sexti 
 antecessoris nostri anno regni sui decimo octavo facto et 
 edito: Et non obstante statuto de terris et tenementis ad 
 manum mortuam non ponendis et non obstante aliquibus 
 aliis defectionibus in non recte nominando naturas, genera, 
 species, quantitates aut qualitates premissorum aut alicuius 
 inde parcellam : Proviso semper et firmiter per presentes 
 pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris prefatis maiori, 
 ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus suis 
 
Letters Patent of James the First. 133 
 
 the making of these presents : WiHing also that the mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of that borough or any of them by any 
 one or more justices, judges, officers or ministers aforesaid 
 in or for any debt, usage, claim or abuse, liberty, franchise 
 or jurisdiction within the borough of Cambridge aforesaid, 
 the suburbs or precincts of the same, before the day of the 
 making of these our letters patent should in no way be 
 molested or hindered or be compelled to answer these or any 
 of them : And further of our ampler special grace and from 
 our certain knowledge and mere motion, for us, our heirs and 
 successors, we will and by these presents we grant to the before- 
 named mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid 
 and their successors, that these our letters patent or enrol- 
 ments of the same shall be in all things and by all means, 
 firm, strong, good, sufficient and effectual in law towards 
 and against us, our heirs and successors, as well in all our 
 courts as elsewhere within our realm of England, without 
 any confirmations, licences or tolerations from us our heirs 
 or successors hereafter to be procured, sought or obtained by 
 the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 aforesaid and their successors : Notwithstanding the badly 
 naming or badly reciting or not reciting of any of the 
 premises or of any part or parcel of the premises mentioned 
 or recited in these our letters patent : And notwithstanding 
 the not finding of an office or inquisition of the premises or 
 of any parcel thereof by which our title ought to have been 
 found before the making of these our letters patent : And 
 notwithstanding the statute made and promulgated in the 
 parliament of the lord Henry the Sixth sometime King of 
 England our ancestor in the eighteenth year of his reign : 
 And notwithstanding the statute against putting lands and 
 tenements in mortmain, and notwithstanding any other 
 defects in not rightly naming the natures, kinds, species, 
 quantities or qualities of the premises or of any parcel 
 thereof: Provided always and firmly by these presents for 
 us, our heirs and successors, we enjoin and command the 
 aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough afore- 
 
134 Clmrters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 precipimus et mandamus quod he litere nostre patentes aut 
 aliquod in eisdem contentum non aiiqualiter extendat ad 
 preiudicium, enervacionem seu impedimentum iurisdiccionum, 
 privilegiorum, libertatum, finium, forisfacturarum, amercia- 
 mentorum, proficuum seu hereditamentorum quorumcunque 
 cancellario, magistris et scholaribus universitatis nostre 
 Cantabrigie aut alicui seu aliquibus predecessorum suorum 
 per quodcunque nomen incorporacionis seu per quecunque 
 nomina incorporacionis per nos aut aliquos aut aliquem 
 progenitorum aut antecessorum nostrorum nuper regum 
 seu reginarum Anglie concessos seu mencionatos fore con- 
 cessos, sed quod iidem cancellarius, magistri et scholares 
 et successores sui omnibus talibus iurisdiccionibus, privilegiis, 
 libertatibus, finibus, forisfacturis, amerciamentis, proficuis et 
 hereditamentis habeant, teneant et gaudeant ac habere, tenere 
 et gaudere valeant et possint libere, pacifice et quiete, hiis 
 presentibus aut aliquo in eisdem contento non obstante : 
 Volumus eciam et per presentes concedimus prefatis maiori, 
 baliivis et burgensibus burgi de Cantabrigia quod habeant 
 et habebunt has literas nostras patentes sub magno sigillo 
 nostro Anglie debito modo factas et sigillatas absque fine 
 seu feodo magno vel parvo nobis in hanaperio Cancellarie 
 nostre seu ahbi ad usum nostrum quoquomodo reddendo 
 seu solvendo : Eo quod expressa mencio de vero valore 
 annuo aut de aliquo* alio valore vel certitudine premissorum 
 sive eorum alicuius aut de aliis donis sive concessionibus 
 per nos seu per aliquem progenitorum ^\vq predecessorum 
 nostrorum prefatis maiori, baliivis et burgensibus burgi de 
 Cantabrigia predicta ante hec tempora factis in presentibus 
 minime facta existit aut aliquo statuto, actu, ordinacione, 
 provisione, proclamacione sive restriccione in contrarium 
 inde antehac habito, facto, edito, ordinato sive proviso aut 
 aliqua alia re, causa vel materia quacunque in aliquo non 
 obstante. In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri 
 fecimus patentes. Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium 
 
 ^ MS. aliquo aliquo. 
 
Letters Patent of James the First, 135 
 
 said and their successors, that these our letters patent or 
 anything contained in them shall not in any way extend to 
 the prejudice, weakening or hindering of the jurisdictions, 
 privileges, liberties, fines, forfeitures, amercements, profits or 
 hereditaments whatsoever granted, or mentioned to be granted, 
 to the chancellor, masters and scholars of our university of 
 Cambridge or to any one or more of their predecessors, by 
 whatever name of incorporation or by whatever names of 
 incorporation, by us or any one or more of our ancestors or 
 predecessors sometime kings or queens of England, but that 
 the said chancellor, masters and scholars and their successors 
 may have, hold and enjoy and may be able to and can have, 
 hold and enjoy all such jurisdictions, privileges, liberties, fines, 
 forfeitures, amercements, profits and hereditaments freely, 
 peacefully and quietly, these presents or anything contained 
 in them notwithstanding: We will also and by these presents 
 we grant to the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses 
 of the borough of Cambridge that they may have and shall 
 have these our letters patent under our great seal of England 
 in the proper manner made and sealed without fine or fee 
 great or small in any way to be rendered or paid to us into 
 the hanaper of our Chancery or elsewhere to our use : Any 
 omission in these presents of an express mention of the 
 true annual value 'or of any other value or certitude of the 
 premises or any of them, or of other gifts or grants, made 
 by us or by any of our ancestors or predecessors before these 
 times to the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough of Cambridge aforesaid, or any statute, act, ordinance, 
 provision, proclamation or restriction heretofore had, made, 
 issued, ordained or provided or any other thing, cause or 
 matter whatsoever in any wise to the contrary hereof not- 
 withstanding. In witness whereof we have caused these our 
 letters to be made patent. Witness myself at Westminster 
 
Feb. 6 
 
 136 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge, 
 
 tricesimo die Aprilis anno regni nostri Anglie, Francie et 
 Hibernie tercio et Scocie tricesimo octavo. 
 
 T. Ravenscrofte. 
 
 per breve de private sigillo &c. 
 
 Taxatur finis pro confirmacione priorum libertatum iiij li. 
 
 T. Ellesmere, Cancellarius. 
 
 XXVII. LiTTERE Patentes Caroli Primi. 
 
 632 *Carolus dei gracia Anglie, Scotie, Francie et Hibernie 
 
 Rex, fidei defensor, &c. omnibus ad quos presentes pervenerint 
 salutem. Cum burgus noster Cantabrigie in comitatu nostro 
 Cantabrigie sit burgus antiquus et populosus, cumque maior, 
 ballivi et burgenses eiusdem burgi diversas libertates, franche- 
 sias, consuetudines, immunitates et preheminencias habuerunt 
 ac usi et gavisi fuerunt, tam racione et pretextu diversarum 
 cartarum et literarum patencium per diversos progenitores et 
 antecessores nostros nuper Reges vel Reginas Anglie antehac 
 factarum, concessarum seu confirmatarum quam racione et 
 pretextu diversarum prescripcionum, usuum et consuetudinum 
 in eodem burgo ab antique usitatarum et consuetarum : 
 Cumque dilecti subditi nostri modo maior, ballivi et burgenses 
 eiusdem burgi nobis humiliter supplicaverunt quatenus nos, 
 pro meliori regimine, gubernacione et melioracione eiusdem 
 burgi, graciam et munificenciam nostram regiam in hac 
 parte graciose extendere et exhibere velimus, quodque nos 
 predictos maiorem, ballivos et burgenses eiusdem burgi per 
 quodcunque nomen sive per quecunque nomina modo in- 
 
 ^ Rot. Pat. 7 Car. I., p. 12. Copy in Cross Book, p. 192. Original not in 
 Borough Archives. 
 
Letters Patent of Cliarles t/te First. 137 
 
 on the thirtieth day of April in the third year of our reign 
 of England, France and Ireland and the thirty-eighth of 
 Scotland. 
 
 T. Ravenscroft. 
 
 by writ of Privy Seal, &c. 
 
 The fine for confirmation of former liberties is taxed £/\. 
 T. Ellesmere, Chancellor. 
 
 XXVI I. Letters Patent of Charles the First. 
 
 ^Charles by the grace of God of England, Scotland, 1632 
 France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c. to all 
 to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas our 
 borough of Cambridge in our county of Cambridge is an 
 ancient and populous borough, and whereas the mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the said borough have had and have 
 used and enjoyed divers liberties, franchises, customs, immu- 
 nities and preeminences, as well by reason and pretext of 
 divers charters and letters patent heretofore made, granted 
 or confirmed by divers our ancestors and predecessors some- 
 time Kings or Queens of England as by reason and pretext 
 of divers prescriptions, uses and customs in the said borough 
 from old time used and accustomed : And whereas our beloved 
 subjects the now mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the said 
 borough have most humbly supplicated us that we, for the 
 better ruling, government and amelioration of the said 
 borough, would be willing graciously to extend and shew our 
 royal grace and munificence in this respect, and that we 
 would be willing to make, ordain, constitute, erect and create 
 the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the said borough 
 by whatever name or by whatever names they may now be 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals, iii. 245 — 6. 
 
 OF 
 
138 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 corporati sint vel antehac incorporati fuerunt, et utrum 
 antehac incorporati fuerint sive non, in unum corpus cor- 
 poratum et politicum per nomen maioris, ballivorum et 
 burgensium burgi Cantabrigie facere, ordinare, constituere, 
 redigere et creare velimus cum augmentacionibus et addicio- 
 nibus quorumdam libertatum, privilegiorum et francheslarum 
 prout nobis melius fieri et fore videbitur : Nos igitur publicum 
 bonum et utilitatem eiusdem burgi graciose desiderantes, 
 volentesque quod de cetero imperpetuum continuo habeatur 
 unus certus et indubitatus modus de et pro regimine et 
 gubernacione eiusdem burgi et popuH nostri ibidem inhabi- 
 tantis et aliorum illuc influentium, et quod burgus predictus 
 de cetero imperpetuum sit, erit et permaneat burgus pacis et 
 quietis ad formidinem et terrorem malorum delinquentium et 
 in premium bonorum : Sperantesque eciam quod si amplior 
 ex concessione nostra gaudere poterint libertates et pri- 
 vilegia tunc ad servicia que poterint nobis, heredibus et 
 successoribus nostris impendenda et exhibenda specialius 
 fortiusque sentiant se obligatos : De gracia nostra speciali ac 
 ex certa sciencia et mero motu nostris voluimus, ordinavimus, 
 constituimus, declaravimus et concessimus ac per presentes 
 pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris volumus et 
 ordinamus, constitu[i]mus, declaramus et concedimus quod 
 dictus burgus Cantabrigie sit, erit et permaneat de cetero 
 imperpetuum liber burgus de se, et quod maior, ballivi et 
 burgenses burgi predicti^ et successores sui de cetero imper- 
 petuum sint et erunt vigore presencium unum corpus cor- 
 poratum et politicum in re, facto et nomine per nomen ma- 
 ioris, ballivorum et burgensium burgi Cantabrigie ac eos per 
 nomen maioris, ballivorum et burgensium burgi Cantabrigie 
 unum corpus corporatum et politicum in re, facto et nomine, 
 realiter et ad plenum, pro [nobis] heredibus et successoribus 
 nostris incorporamus, erigimus, facimus, ordinamus, consti- 
 tu[i]mus, creamus, confirmamus, ratificamus et declaramus per 
 presentes et quod per idem nomen habeant successionem 
 
 ^ For "maior... predict!" the Letters Patent of Charles II. read "burgenses et 
 inhabitantes burgi de Cantabrigia predicta." 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First. 139 
 
 incorporated, or heretofore have been incorporated, and 
 whether they have heretofore been incorporated or not, into 
 one body corporate and politic by the name of the mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the borough of Cambridge, with 
 augmentations and additions of certain liberties, privileges and 
 franchises as to us shall seem best : We therefore graciously 
 desiring the public good and advantage of the said borough, 
 and willing that henceforth for ever continually there shall 
 be held one certain and undoubted mode of and for the 
 ruling and government of the said borough and of our people 
 there dwelling and of others resorting thither, and that the 
 borough aforesaid henceforth for ever may be, shall be and 
 remain a borough of peace and quietness to the fear and 
 terror of evil-doers and to the reward of the good : And 
 hoping also that if, from our grant, they shall be able to 
 enjoy liberties and privileges more amply, then they may feel 
 themselves more specially and more strongly bound to pay 
 and render the services which they may be able to do to us, 
 our heirs and successors : Of our special grace and from our 
 certain knowledge and mere motion we have willed, ordained, 
 constituted, declared and granted and by these presents for 
 us, our heirs and successors, we will and ordain, constitute, 
 declare and grant that the said borough of Cambridge may 
 be, shall be and remain henceforth for ever a free borough 
 of itself, and that the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid^ and their successors henceforth for ever 
 may be and shall be, by virtue of these presents, one body 
 corporate and politic, in deed, fact and name, by the name of 
 the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough of Cambridge, 
 and by the name of the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough of Cambridge we incorporate, erect, make, ordain, 
 constitute, create, confirm, ratify and declare them by these 
 presents one body corporate and politic in deed, fact and 
 name, really and fully, for [us] our heirs and successors : And 
 that by the same name they shall have perpetual succession : 
 
 * For "mayor... aforesaid" the Letters Patent of Charles II. read "burgesses 
 and inhabitants of the borough of Cambridge aforesaid." 
 
140 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 perpetuam : Et quod ipsi per nomen maioris, ballivorum et 
 burgensium burgi Cantabrigie sint et erunt perpetuis futuris 
 temporibus persone habiles et in lege capaces ac corpus 
 corporatum et politicum et in lege capax ad habendum, 
 perquirendum, recipiendum, possidendum, gaudendum et reti- 
 nendum^ mesuagia, terras, tenementa, libertates, privilegia, 
 iurisdicciones, franchesias et alia hereditamenta quecunque, 
 cuiuscunque sint generis, nature vel speciei, sibi et succes- 
 soribus suis, in feodo et perpetuitate seu ad terminum vite, 
 vitarum, anni vel annorum vel aliter quocunque modo, necnon 
 bona et catalla quecunque, necnon ad dandum, concedendum, 
 dimittendum, alienandum, locandum, assignandum et dis- 
 ponendum eadem^ mesuagia, terras, tenementa et heredita- 
 menta necnon bona et catalla quecunque ac ad omnia et 
 singula alia facta et res facienda et exequenda per nomen 
 predictum : Et quod per idem nomen maioris, ballivorum et 
 burgensium burgi Cantabrigie placitare et implacitari, respon- 
 dere et responderi, defendere et defendi valeant et possint in 
 quibuscunque curiis, placeis et locis coram nobis heredibus et 
 successoribus nostris ac coram quibuscunque iudicibus et 
 iusticiariis et aliis officiariis, personis et ministris nostris, 
 heredum et successorum nostrorum, aut aliorum quorum- 
 cunque in omnibus et singulis accionibus, querelis, sectis, 
 placitis, causis, materiis et demandis quibuscunque, cuiuscun- 
 que sunt aut erunt generis, nature vel speciei eisdem et in 
 tarn amplis modo et forma prout alii ligei nostri huius regni 
 nostri Anglie, persone habiles et in lege capaces sive aliquod 
 aliud corpus corporatum et politicum infra hoc regnum 
 nostrum Anglie habere, perquirere, recipere, possidere, gau- 
 dere, retinere, dare, concedere, dimittere, alienare, assignare 
 et disponere, placitare et implacitari, respondere et responderi, 
 defendere et defendi, facere, permittere, sive exequi possint et 
 valeant, prout antehac de antiquo consueverunt: Et quod maior, 
 ballivi et burgenses burgi predicti et successores sui de cetero 
 imperpetuum habeant comune sigillum pro causis et negociis 
 
 ^ The Letters Patent of Charles II. insert "maneria." 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First. 141 
 
 And that they themselves by the name of the mayor, bailiffs 
 and burgesses of the borough of Cambridge may be and 
 shall be in all future times persons fit and in law capable and 
 a body corporate and politic and in law capable to have, 
 acquire, receive, possess, enjoy and retain ^ messuages, lands, 
 tenements, liberties, privileges, jurisdictions, franchises and 
 other hereditaments whatsoever, of whatsoever kind, nature or 
 species they may be, for themselves and their successors in 
 fee and perpetuity or for a term of life or lives, of a year 
 or years, or otherwise, in whatever manner ; also goods and 
 chattels whatsoever ; and to give, grant, demise, alienate, let, 
 assign and dispose of the said^ messuages, lands, tenements 
 and hereditaments, and goods and chattels whatsoever, and 
 to do and carry out under the name aforesaid all and singular 
 other acts and deeds : And that under the said name of the 
 mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough of Cambridge 
 they may be able to and can plead and be impleaded, answer 
 and be answered, defend and be defended in whatsoever courts, 
 places and localities before us our heirs and successors and 
 before whatsoever judges and justices and other officers, persons 
 and ministers of us, our heirs and successors, or of others 
 whomsoever in all and singular actions, complaints, suits, pleas, 
 causes, matters and demands whatsoever, of whatsoever kind, 
 nature or species they are or shall be, by the same and in as 
 ample manner and form as our other lieges of this our realm 
 of England, persons fit and in law capable, or any other body 
 corporate and politic within this our kingdom of England 
 can and are able to have, acquire, receive, possess, enjoy, 
 retain, give, grant, demise, alienate, assign and dispose, 
 plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered, defend and 
 be defended, do, permit or execute, as heretofore from old 
 time they have been accustomed : And that the mayor, bailiffs 
 and burgesses of the borough aforesaid and their successors 
 henceforth for ever may have a common seal to be kept for 
 carrying out the causes and businesses of themselves and of 
 
 1 The Letters Patent of Charles II. insert *• manors." 
 
142 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge, 
 
 suis et successorum suorum quibuscunque agendis serviturum : 
 Et quod bene liceat et licebit eisdem maiori, ballivis et 
 burgensibus burgi predict! et successoribus suis sigillum illud 
 ad libitum suum de tempore in tempus frangere, mutare et de 
 novo facere prout eis melius fieri et fore videbitur expediens, 
 prout antehac de antique habuerunt et consueverunt: Et 
 ulterius de uberiori gracia nostra volumus ac per presentes pro 
 nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus prefatis 
 maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus 
 suis quod de cetero imperpetuum sit et erit infra burgum pre- 
 dictum unus de burgensibus burgi predicti qui erit et voca- 
 bitur maior burgi predicti, quodque sint et erunt duodecim de 
 capitalibus burgensibus burgi predicti in forma inferius in hiis 
 presentibus expressa eligendi, preter maiorem burgi predicti, 
 qui erunt et nominabuntur aldermanni ac de privato consilio 
 burgi predicti prout de antiquo ut prefertur consueverunt, 
 quodque similiter sint et erunt infra burgum predictum 
 viginti quatuor de aliis discretioribus burgensibus eiusdem 
 burgi qui erunt et nominabuntur de comuni concilio burgi 
 predicti : Et volumus ac per presentes pro nobis, heredibus et 
 successoribus nostris concedimus quod predicti viginti quatuor 
 de comuni consilio burgi predicti pro tempore existente erunt 
 de tempore in tempus assistentes et auxiliantes maiori et 
 aldermannis dicti burgi pro tempore existente in omnibus 
 causis, rebus, negociis et materiis quibuscunque dictum 
 burgum tangentibus seu quoquomodo concernentibus tocies 
 quocies et quandocunque per maiorem burgi predicti pro 
 tempore existente requisiti fuerint prout usitatum et con- 
 suetum hactenus fuit et de antiquo gavisi fuerunt : Volumus 
 eciam ac per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus 
 nostris statuimus et ordinamus quod de cetero imperpetuum 
 sint et erunt duo thesaurarii in idem corpus corporatum et 
 politicum maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et 
 successoribus suis incorporati et uniti infra burgum Canta- 
 brigie predicte et eos thesaurarios burgi predicti plene et 
 realiter incorporamus, unimus et consolidamus imperpetuum 
 per presentes eligendos per maiorem, ballivos et burgenses 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First. 143 
 
 their successors whatsoever : And that it may be and shall be 
 lawful for the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid and their successors to break, change and 
 make anew from time to time that seal at their pleasure, 
 as to them shall seem most expedient, as heretofore from 
 old time they have had and were wont to have : And further 
 of our fuller grace we will, and by these presents for us, our 
 heirs and successors we grant, to the beforenamed mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid and to their 
 successors, that henceforth for ever there may be and shall 
 be within the borough aforesaid one of the burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid who shall be, and shall be called, mayor 
 of the borough aforesaid, and that there may be and shall 
 be twelve of the chief burgesses of the borough aforesaid 
 to be chosen in the form expressed below in these presents, 
 besides the mayor of the borough aforesaid, who shall be 
 and shall be called aldermen and of the private council 
 of the borough aforesaid, as from old time, as it is said, 
 they were accustomed, and that likewise there may be and 
 shall be within the borough aforesaid twenty-four of the 
 other more discreet burgesses of the said borough who shall 
 be and shall be called of the common council of the borough 
 aforesaid : And we will and by these presents for us, our heirs 
 and successors we grant, that the aforesaid twenty-four of 
 the common council of the borough aforesaid for the time 
 being shall be from time to time assisters and helpers to the 
 mayor and aldermen of the said borough for the time being 
 in all causes, things, businesses and matters whatsoever 
 touching or in any way concerning the said borough as often 
 as and whensoever they have been called on by the mayor of 
 the borough aforesaid for the time being as has been used 
 and accustomed hitherto and as they have enjoyed from old 
 time : We will also and by these presents for us our heirs and 
 successors we enact and ordain that henceforth for ever there 
 may be and shall be two treasurers in the said body corpo- 
 rate and politic, to be incorporated and united to the mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid, and their 
 
144 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 burgi predict! vel maiorem partem eorumdem pro tempore ex- 
 istente ad omnia et singula quecunque ad predictum officium 
 thesaurarii spectantia exequenda et performanda sacramentis 
 suis, non solum pro fideli et debita execucione officii^ sui 
 coram maiore burgi nostri predicti vel deputato suo pro 
 tempore existente, verum eciam pro fideli et plena conserva- 
 cione libertatum et privilegiorum universitatis nostre Can- 
 tabrigie coram cancellario vel procancellario universitatis 
 nostre predicte vel deputato suo in universitate nostra pre- 
 dicta existente iisdem die, loco, modo et forma ac verbis 
 quibus maior et ballivi burgi nostri predicti singulis annis 
 sacramenta sua respective prestare tenentur, super sancta 
 Dei evangelia prius prestanda : Quibus quidem cancellario 
 vel procancellario aut deputato suo pro tempore existente ac 
 maiori burgi nostri predicti vel deputato suo pro tempore 
 existente plenam potestatem et auctoritatem damus et 
 concedimus per presentes huiusmodi respective sacramenta 
 eisdem thesaurariis singulis annis imposterum tocies quoties 
 novi thesaurarii nominati, electi, deputati et admissi fuerint 
 administrare, et quod post talia sacramenta sic ut prefertur 
 respective prestita et non antea bene liceat et licebit prefato 
 thesaurario sic electo, nominato et prefecto, eligendo, nomi- 
 nando et preficiendo coram maiore et ballivis in curiis de 
 recordo infra burgum predictum tentis et tenendis aliquam 
 personam sive aliquas personas quascunque non existentes 
 scholares vel eorum servientes, ministros vel farnulos vel 
 personas per cartas et privilegia cancellarii, magistrorum et 
 scholarium universitatis nostre Cantabrigie predicte concessa 
 privilegiatas in predictis curiis impetere, implacitare et pro- 
 sequi pro aliqua causa, debito sive denariorum summa aut 
 aliqua alia re, materia sive penalitate, forisfacta seu foris- 
 facienda pro non debita observacione ordinacionum et consti- 
 tucionum predicti burgi in hiis presentibus inferius men- 
 cionatarum, proviso semper quod per banc licenciam et 
 concessionem nostram dictis thesaurariis aut eorum deputatis 
 
 1 MS. officio. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First, 145 
 
 successors, within the borough of Cambridge aforesaid, and 
 the said treasurers of the borough aforesaid we fully and really- 
 incorporate, unite and consolidate for ever by these presents 
 to be chosen by the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid or the greater part of them for the time 
 being, to execute and perform all and singular whatsoever 
 relates to the aforesaid office of treasurer, having first taken 
 their oaths on the holy Gospels of God, not only for the 
 faithful and due execution of their office before the mayor 
 of our borough aforesaid or his deputy for the time being, 
 but also for the faithful and full preservation of the liberties 
 and privileges of our university of Cambridge before the 
 chancellor or vicechancellor of our university aforesaid or his 
 deputy being in our university aforesaid, on the same day 
 at the same place in the same manner and form and words by 
 which the mayor and bailiffs of our borough aforesaid are 
 bound every year to take their oaths respectively : To whom, 
 namely, the chancellor or vicechancellor or his deputy for 
 the time being and to the mayor of our borough aforesaid or 
 his deputy for the time being we give and grant by these 
 presents full power and authority to administer such oaths 
 respectively to the said treasurers each year for ever so often 
 as new treasurers have been nominated, elected, deputed and 
 admitted, and that after such oaths as is aforesaid have been 
 respectively taken and not before, it may be and shall be 
 lawful to the aforesaid treasurer so elected, nominated and 
 appointed, or to be elected, nominated and appointed, to 
 summon, implead and prosecute before the mayor and 
 bailiffs in the courts of record held and to be held within 
 the borough aforesaid any person or persons whomsoever, 
 not being scholars or their servants, attendants or domestics 
 or persons privileged in the aforesaid courts by the charters 
 and privileges of the chancellor, masters and scholars of our 
 university of Cambridge aforesaid granted, for any cause, 
 debt or sum of money or any other thing, matter or penalty 
 forfeited or to be forfeited for not duly observing the or- 
 dinances and constitutions of the aforesaid borough below 
 B, C. 10 
 
146 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 nullatenus attentent in premissis aut eorum aliquibus impetere, 
 implacitare vel prosequi cancellarium, procancellarium, minis- 
 tros aut scholares universitatis nostre Cantabrigie aut eorum 
 aliquem, vel aliquos alios persones^ per dictam universitatem 
 nostram vel per privilegia et immunitates a nobis vel pre- 
 decessoribus nostris eisdem concessas quovismodo privi- 
 legiatas et exemptas dummodo talia debita sive summe, 
 penalitates sive forisfacture non excedant summam quadra- 
 ginta solidorum : Et ulterius volumus ac per presentes pro 
 nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus prefatis 
 maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus 
 suis quod maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi predicti pro 
 tempore existente et successores sui seu eorum maior pars, 
 quorum maiorem burgi predicti pro tempore existente semper 
 unum esse volumus super summonicionem publicam per 
 maiorem eiusdem burgi pro tempore existente inde fiendam 
 ad hoc congregati et assemblati habebit et habebunt 
 plenam potestatem et facultatem condendi, constituendi, 
 obtinendi, faciendi et stabiliendi de tempore in tempus 
 imperpetuum talia et huiusmodi leges, statuta, iura, consti- 
 tuciones, decreta et ordinaciones racionabiliter in scripta 
 quecunque que eis vel maiori parti eorumdem quorum 
 maiorem burgi predicti pro tempore existente unum esse 
 volumus, bona et salubria, utilia, honesta et necessaria iuxta 
 eorum sanas discreciones fore videbuntur pro bono regimine 
 et gubernacione maioris ballivorum et burgensium burgi 
 predicti et omnium et singulorum aliorum burgensium, 
 officiar[ior]um, ministrorum, artificum, et inhabitantium et resi- 
 dentium quorumcumque infra burgum predictum et libertates 
 eiusdem, salvis tamen et semper exceptis personis quibus- 
 cunque in dicta universitate nostra vel suburbiis et iuris- 
 diccione eiusdem per privilegia predicta quocunque modo 
 privilegiatis et exemptis, pro uberiori bono publico, communi 
 utilitate ac bono regimine burgi predicti ac eciam pro meliori 
 disposicione, locacione et dimissione terrarum, possessionum, 
 
 1 Sic MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First. 147 
 
 mentioned in these presents, provided always that by this our 
 licence and grant to the said treasurers or their deputies they 
 shall in no way attempt in the premises or any otherwise to 
 summon implead or prosecute the chancellor, vicechancellor, 
 servants or scholars of our university of Cambridge or 
 any of them or any other persons in any way privileged 
 and exempted by our said university or by privileges and 
 immunities granted to them by us or our predecessors, 
 and provided that such debts, or sums, penalties or forfeits 
 do not exceed the sum of forty shillings: And further we 
 will and by these presents for us our heirs and successors we 
 grant to the aforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid and to their successors that the mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid for the time 
 being and their successors or the greater part of them, of 
 whom we will that the mayor of the borough aforesaid for 
 the time being shall always be one, on a public summons 
 to be made thereof by the mayor of the said borough for 
 the time being, gathered and assembled for this purpose, 
 shall have full power and capacity to compose, constitute, 
 obtain, make and establish from time to time for ever such 
 and such kind of laws, statutes, rules, constitutions, decrees 
 and ordinances whatsoever reasonably in writing, which to 
 them or to the greater part of them (of whom we will that 
 the mayor of the borough aforesaid for the time being shall 
 be one) shall appear to be good and salutary, useful, just 
 and necessary according to their sound discretions for the 
 good rule and government of the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses 
 of the borough aforesaid and of all and singular the other 
 burgesses, officers, servants, workmen and inhabitants and 
 residents whomsoever within the borough aforesaid and the 
 liberties of the same (save however and always excepted 
 the persons whomsoever in our said university or the suburbs 
 and jurisdiction of the same by the aforesaid privileges in 
 any manner privileged and exempted) for the ampler public 
 good, the common utility and the good ruling of the borough 
 aforesaid, and also for the better disposition, letting and 
 
 10 — 2 
 
148 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 revencionum et hereditamentorum prefatorum maioris, bal- 
 livorum et burgensium burgi predict! ac rerum et causarum 
 aliarum quarumcunque burgum predictum statum, iura et 
 interesse eiusdem burgi tangencium seu aliquo modo concer- 
 nencium : Quodque maior, ballivi et burgenses eiusdem burgi 
 pro tempore existente vel eorum maior pars, quorum 
 maiorem pro tempore existente unum esse volumus, quo- 
 tiescunque huiusmodi leges, statuta, iura, ordinaciones et 
 constituciones condiderint, fecerint, ordinaverint vel stabili- 
 verint in forma predicta huiusmodi et tales penas, puniciones 
 et penalitates per imprisonamentum corporis vel corporum 
 vel per fines et amerciamenta vel per eorum utrumque erga 
 et super omnes delinquentes, non existentes scholares vel 
 personas sic ut prefertur privilegiis universitatis nostre pre- 
 dicte privilegiatos, contra huiusmodi leges, iura, ordinaciones 
 et constituciones sive eorum aliquod vel aliqua qualia et que 
 eisdem maiori, ballivis et burgensibus pro tempore existente 
 vel maiori parti eorum (quorum maiorem pro tempore 
 existente unum esse volumus) necessarie opportune et re- 
 quisite pro observacione earumdem legum, ordinacionum et 
 constitucionum melius fore videbitur facere, ordinare, limi- 
 tare et providere : Ac eadem penalitates, fines et amercia- 
 menta per thesaurarios pro tempore existente de tempore in 
 tempus levanda et colligenda et super recusacionem seu 
 denegacionem et non solucionem eorumdem, quod tunc bene 
 liceat et licebit prefatis thesaurariis talem personam sive tales 
 personas sic recusantem vel recusantes, modo non fuerint 
 scholares vel persone sic ut prefertur per privilegia univer- 
 sitatis nostre privilegiati, impetere et secundum legem in eo 
 casu provisam prosequi in curiis de recordo coram maiore et 
 ballivis burgi predicti Cantabrigie et successoribus suis tentis 
 et tenendis, et pro recuperacione huiusmodi finium, forisfac- 
 turarum, penalitatum, amerciamentorum, et denariorum sum- 
 marum constitutarum et constituendarum, ac eadem sic in 
 debita legis forma recuperata ad opus et usum maioris, 
 ballivorum et burgensium burgi Cantabrigie predicte et 
 successorum suorum de tempore in tempus solvere absque 
 
Letters Patent of Cliarles the First. 1 49 
 
 demising of lands, possessions, reversions and hereditaments 
 of the befo renamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid and of other matters and causes whatso- 
 ever touching or in any way concerning the borough aforesaid, 
 the estate, rights and interests of the said borough : And 
 that the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the said borough 
 for the time being or the greater part of them, of whom we 
 will that the mayor for the time being shall be one, as often 
 as they shall have ordained, composed, made or established 
 such laws, statutes, rights, ordinances and constitutions in 
 form aforesaid, may make, ordain, limit and provide such and 
 such like pains, punishments and penalties by imprisonment 
 of the body or bodies or by fines and amercements or by 
 either of them for and upon all delinquents, not being scholars 
 or persons as is aforesaid privileged by the privileges of our 
 university aforesaid, against such laws, rights, ordinances and 
 constitutions or any of them or any such like and which to 
 the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses for the time being or 
 to the greater part of them (of whom we will that the mayor 
 for the time being shall be one) shall appear to be necessary, 
 fit and desirable for the observance of the said laws, or- 
 dinances and constitutions : And that the same penalties, 
 fines and amercements shall be levied and collected by the 
 treasurers for the time being from time to time, and upon 
 the refusal or denial and non-payment of the same, that then 
 it may be and shall be fully lawful to the beforenamed 
 treasurers to sue such person or persons so refusing (provided 
 they be not scholars or persons so as is aforesaid privileged 
 by the privileges of our university) and according to the law 
 provided in that case to prosecute in the courts of record 
 held and to be held before the mayor and bailiffs of the 
 aforesaid borough of Cambridge and their successors, and 
 for the recovery of such fines, forfeitures, penalties, amerce- 
 ments and sums of money appointed and to be appointed, 
 and the same when thus recovered in due form of law 
 to pay to the benefit and use of the mayor bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the borough of Cambridge aforesaid and of their 
 
150 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge, 
 
 impedimento nostro, heredum vel successorum nostrorum 
 aut alicuius vel aliquorum officiariorum vel ministrorum 
 nostrorum, heredum vel successorum nostrorum, et absque 
 aliquo compoto nobis heredibus seu successoribus nostris inde 
 reddendo : Que omnia et singula leges, ordinaciones, iura et 
 constituciones sic ut prefertur facienda observari volumus sub 
 penis in eisdem continendis : Ita tamen quod leges, ordina- 
 ciones, statuta, constituciones, imprisonamenta, fines et amer- 
 ciamenta huiusmodi sint racionabilia et non repugnancia nee 
 contraria legibus, statutis, consuetudinibus sive iuribus regni 
 nostri Anglie, seu racionabilibus et laudabilibus prescrip- 
 cionibus et consuetudinibus in eodem burgo antiquo usitatis 
 et consuetis : Et ita tamen quod sint [non] repugnantes 
 vel contraria legibus, statutis, cartis, privilegiis, libertatibus, 
 consuetudinibus, prescripcionibus sive iuribus sic ut prefertur 
 cancellario, magistris et scholaribus dicte universitatis nostre* 
 concessis, factis, usitatis vel observatis : Ac pro meliori execu- 
 cione regie voluntatis nostre in hac parte assignavimus, nomi- 
 navimus, constituimus et fecimus ac per presentes pro nobis 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris assignamus, nominamus et 
 constitu[i]mus et facimus dilectos nobis Thomam Watson et 
 Ricardum Pottall fore et esse modernos thesaurarios burgi 
 predicti : Proviso semper quod infra triginta dies post datum 
 presencium prestabunt sacramentum per thesaurarios sic 
 ut prefertur respective prestandum : continuandos in eodem 
 officio a dato presencium usque ad festum Sancti Michaelis 
 Archangeli proxime sequentem, et exinde quousque duo alii 
 de burgensibus burgi predicti in officio thesaurarii eiusdem 
 burgi debito modo electi, prefecti et iurati fuerint secundum 
 ordinaciones et constituciones in hiis presentibus superius 
 expressas et declaratas : Et ulterius volumus ac per presentes 
 pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus 
 prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et 
 successoribus suis quod si contigerit maiorem vel aliquem 
 ballivorum burgi predicti aliquo tempore imposterum infra 
 
 ^ nostris MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First, 1 5 1 
 
 successors from time to time without impediment of us, our 
 heirs or successors or any one or more of the officers or 
 servants of us, our heirs or successors, and without any- 
 reckoning in that matter to be returned to us, our heirs or 
 successors : Which laws all and singular, ordinances, rights 
 and constitutions to be made so as aforesaid we will to be 
 observed under the pains therein to be contained : But so 
 that such laws, ordinances, statutes, constitutions, imprison- 
 ments, fines and amercements be reasonable and not repug- 
 nant nor contrary to the laws, statutes, customs or rights of 
 our realm of England, or the reasonable and laudable pre- 
 scriptions and customs in the said ancient borough used and 
 accustomed : And so that they be not repugnant or contrary 
 to the laws, statutes, charters, privileges, liberties, customs, 
 prescriptions or rights so as is aforesaid granted to, made, 
 used or observed by the chancellor, masters and scholars of 
 our said university : And for the better execution of our 
 royal will in this behalf we have assigned, named, constituted 
 and made and by these presents for us our heirs and suc- 
 cessors we assign, name, and constitute and make our beloved 
 Thomas Watson and Richard Pottall to become and to be 
 the now treasurers of the borough aforesaid : Provided 
 always that within thirty days after the giving of these 
 presents they shall each take the oath to be taken by the 
 treasurers as is aforesaid : to be continued in the same office 
 from the date of these presents until the feast of Saint 
 Michael the Archangel next following, and thenceforward 
 until two other of the burgesses of the borough aforesaid 
 shall have been elected, appointed and sworn into the office 
 of treasurer of the same borough in due manner according 
 to the ordinances and constitutions above expressed and 
 declared in these presents : And further we will and by these 
 presents for us our heirs and successors we grant to the 
 aforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 aforesaid and their successors that if it happen that the 
 mayor or any of the bailiffs of the borough aforesaid at any 
 time hereafter within one year after he shall have been made 
 
152 Charters of tJie Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 unum annum postquam ad oifficium maioralitatis vel balli- 
 vatis burgi predict! prefectus et iuratus fuerit fore egrotum 
 et invalidum aut pro aliqua causa necessaria et racionabili 
 interesse non possit aut possint utpote ofificium suum in 
 propria persona sua exequi et intendere nequeat vel nequeant, 
 quod tunc et tocies in casibus predictis bene liceat et licebit 
 prefato maiori cum assensu trium aldermannorum pro tempore 
 existente et prefatis ballivis cum assensu maioris burgi pre- 
 dict! pro tempore existente eligere, appunctuare, nominare 
 et preficere unum alium probum et idoneum virum de alder- 
 mannis burgi predict! qui officium maioris burgi predict! 
 antetunc gesserit in loco ipsius maioris et unum alium 
 probum et idoneum virum de burgensibus burgi predict! qui 
 officium ballivi burgi predict! antetunc gesserit in loco ipsius 
 ballivi sic languid!, egroti aut absentis in loco maioris et ut 
 deputatum pro maiore burgi, et in loco ballivi burgi predict! 
 ut deputatum pro ballivo burgi predict! ad omnia et singula 
 facienda et agenda durante tempore invalitudinis aut absencie 
 maioris et ballivi predict! que ad officium maioris et ballivi 
 burgi predict! realiter pertinebunt seu spectabunt aut devenire 
 possint et valeant quodque quilibet talis deputatus in loco et 
 officio maioralitatis vel ballivatis burgi illius sic ut prefertur 
 nominatus, constitutus et prefectus et constituendus sacra- 
 mentum corporale in forma predicta prius coram maiore 
 burgi predict! pro tempore existente necnon coram cancellario 
 vel procancellario universitatis nostre predicte vel deputato 
 suo pro tempore existente iuxta modum et formam in ea 
 parte usitatam pro iuramentis maioris et ballivorum burgi 
 predict! prestans officium illud habeat et exerceat durante 
 invalitudine et absencia maioris et ballivi predict! et sic tocies 
 quoties casus ita accidit : Et ulterius volumus ac per presentes 
 pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus pre- 
 fatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predict! et succes- 
 soribus suis, quod maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi predict! 
 pro tempore existente vel maior pars eorum (quorum 
 maiorem pro tempore existente unum esse volumus) de 
 tempore in tempus perpetuis futuris temporibus potestatem 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First. 153 
 
 and sworn into the office of the mayoralty or bailiwick of the 
 borough aforesaid shall become sick and weak or for any 
 necessary and reasonable cause may not be able to take part 
 so that he shall be unable to discharge and attend to his office 
 in his own person that then and always in the cases aforesaid 
 it may be and shall be fully lawful to the aforenamed mayor 
 with the assent of three aldermen for the time being and to 
 the aforenamed bailiffij with the assent of the mayor of the 
 borough aforesaid for the time being to choose, appoint, 
 nominate and make another upright and fit man, one of the 
 aldermen of the borough aforesaid who shall formerly have 
 held the office of mayor of the borough aforesaid, in the place 
 of the mayor himself, and another upright and fit man, one of 
 the burgesses of the borough aforesaid who shall formerly 
 have held the office of bailiff of the borough aforesaid, in the 
 place of the bailiff himself thus feeble, sick or absent in place 
 of the mayor and as deputy for the mayor of the borough, 
 and in place of the bailiff of the borough aforesaid as deputy 
 for the bailiff of the borough aforesaid, to do and perform 
 all and singular during the time of the sickness or absence of 
 the mayor and bailiff aforesaid which really shall pertain 
 or relate to the office of mayor and bailiff of the borough 
 aforesaid or may or can happen, and that each such deputy 
 in the place and office of the mayoralty or bailiwick of that 
 borough named, constituted and appointed and to be con- 
 stituted as is aforesaid taking his corporal oath in the form 
 aforesaid first before the mayor of the borough aforesaid for 
 the time being, and before the chancellor or vicechancellor of 
 our university aforesaid or his deputy for the time being 
 according to the manner and form used on that behalf for 
 the oaths of the mayor and bailiffs of the borough aforesaid, 
 may have and exercise that office during the sickness and 
 absence of the mayor and bailiff aforesaid and so as often as 
 the case thus happens : And further we will and by these 
 presents for us our heirs and successors we grant to the 
 beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 aforesaid and to their successors, that the mayor, bailiffs and 
 
1 54 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 et authoritatem habeant et habebunt annuatim et quolibet 
 anno in die Martis in secunda septimana proxima post festum 
 pasche comuniter vocatum Hock Tuseday eligendi et nomi- 
 nandi, et quod eligere et nominate possint et va leant duos de 
 discretioribus et magis probioribus burgensium burgi predicti 
 qui erunt thesaurarii burgi predicti pro uno anno integro a 
 festo Sancti Michaelis Archangeli tunc proximo sequente, 
 quodque illi postquam sic ut prefertur electi et nominati 
 fuerint in [officio] thesaurarii burgi predicti antequam^ ad 
 officium illud exequendum admittantur sacramentum cor- 
 porale in die festi Sancti Michaelis tunc proximo sequente 
 nominacionem et eleccionem predictam in guildhalda burgi 
 predicti coram cancellario vel procancellario universitatis nostre 
 predicte, vel deputato suo pro tempore existente, et coram 
 maiore ville nostre predicte, vel deputato suo pro tempore 
 existente, sacramentum corporale respective in presentibus 
 superius expressum, eisdem modo et forma prout prefertur 
 prestabunt coram maiore eiusdem burgi pro tempore exis- 
 tente, in presencia huiusmodi aldermannorum et ceterorum 
 de comuni consilio eiusdem burgi qui tunc presentes fuerint 
 ad officium illud bene, recte et fideliter in omnibus officium 
 illud tangentibus exequendum prestabunt et eorum alter 
 prestabit : Et quod post huiusmodi sacramentum prestitum 
 officii thesaurarii burgi predicti pro uno anno integro tunc 
 proximo sequente officium thesaurarii burgi predicti exequi 
 possint et valeant et exinde quousque duo alii de burgensibus 
 burgi predicti ad officium thesaurarii burgi predicti prefecti 
 fuerint iuxta ordinaciones in presentibus expressas et de- 
 claratas : Et si contigerit predictis thesaurariis burgi predicti 
 pro tempore existente vel eorum alteri aliquo tempore im- 
 posterum infra unum annum postquam ad officium thesau- 
 rarii burgi predicti ut prefertur prefecti fuerint obire, quod 
 tunc et tocies bene liceat et licebit predictis maiori, ballivis 
 et burgensibus eiusdem burgi pro tempore existente semel 
 vel maiori parti^ eorumdem infra quatuordecim dies proxime 
 subsequentes ipsius vel ipsorum thesaurariorum mortem, 
 
 ^ antiquum MS. ^ tnaiorem partem MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First, 155 
 
 burgesses of the borough aforesaid for the time being or the 
 greater part of them (of whom we will that the mayor for the 
 time being be one) from time to time in future times may 
 have and shall have power and authority annually and in 
 each year to elect and nominate on the Tuesday in the 
 second week next after the feast of Easter commonly called 
 Hock Tuesday, and that they may and can elect and nominate 
 two of the more discreet and more upright of the burgesses of 
 the borough aforesaid, who shall be treasurers of the borough 
 aforesaid for a whole year from the feast of Saint Michael 
 the Archangel then next following, and that they after that 
 they have been elected and nominated as is aforesaid to 
 the office of treasurer of the borough aforesaid before they 
 be admitted to carry out that office shall take their corporal 
 oath on the day of the feast of Saint Michael then next 
 following the nomination and election aforesaid in the guild- 
 hall of the borough aforesaid before the chancellor or vice- 
 chancellor of our aforesaid university, or his deputy for the 
 time being, and before the mayor of our town aforesaid, or 
 his deputy for the time being, and both of them shall take 
 the corporal oath respectively expressed before in these 
 presents, in the same manner and form as is aforesaid before 
 the mayor of the said borough for the time being, in the 
 presence of such aldermen and others of the common council 
 of the said borough who shall then be present, for the ful- 
 filling of that office well, rightly and faithfully in all things 
 touching that office : And that after such oath taken of the 
 office of treasurer of the borough aforesaid they may and can 
 execute the office of treasurer of the borough aforesaid for 
 one whole year then next following and thenceforward until 
 two others of the burgesses of the borough aforesaid shall 
 have been appointed to the office of treasurer of the borough 
 aforesaid according to the ordinances expressed and declared 
 in these presents : And if it shall happen that the aforesaid 
 treasurers of the borough aforesaid for the time being or either 
 of them at any time hereafter within one year after they have 
 been admitted as aforesaid to the office of treasurer of the 
 
156 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 amocionem vel decessum assemblare in guildhalda burgi 
 predict! seu in aliquo alio loco conveniente infra burgum 
 predictum et ibidem eligere, nominare et preficere unum 
 alium vel duos alios probos et idoncos viros de burgensibus 
 burgi predicti in thesaurarium sive thesaurarios burgi predicti 
 in loco vel locis ipsius vel ipsorum sic mortui et decedentis 
 mortuorum et decedentium sicut antehac consueverunt : Et 
 quod ille sive illi sic electi et prefecti officium ilium thesaurarii 
 burgi predicti habeat et exerceat, habeant et exerceant, 
 durante residuo eiusdem anni et exinde quousque duo alii de 
 burgensibus^ predictis in forma predicta in thesaurarios burgi 
 predicti electi, prefecti et iurati fuerint, et sic tocies quocies 
 casus sic acciderit: Ita tamen ut iuramenta respective superius 
 mencionata coram cancellario vel procancellario dicto univer- 
 sitatis nostre predicte vel deputato suo pro tempore existente 
 prius prestabunt vel prestabit : Volumus insuper ac ut bonum 
 regimen, gubernacio civilis et pax et concordia inter inhabi- 
 tantes et incolas predicti burgi sive limitibus infuturum unita 
 et stabilita sint^ concedimus prefatis maiori, ballivis et bur- 
 gensibus burgi predicti et successoribus suis quod nullus in- 
 habitans, inhabitantes seu aliqua alia persona sive persone 
 quecunque infra libertates et precincta eiusdem burgi, modo 
 non sint scholares aut eorum servientes et ministri aut de 
 eorum familiis aut alie persone in dicta universitate nostra 
 predicta vel suburbiis et precinctis eiusdem quovismodo 
 privilegiate aliqua arte, misterio sive manuali occupacione 
 utetur sive utentur, exerceat seu exerceant, nisi huiusmodi 
 persona sive persone pleno tempore septem annorum se- 
 cundum morem et modum apprenticii et leges statutas regni 
 nostri Anglie in eo casu provisos inserviet seu inservient, sub 
 pena et forisfactura viginti solidorum legalis monete Anglie 
 pro quolibet mense prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus 
 burgi predicti levanda et solvenda, eadem summa per 
 thesaurarios burgi predicti pro tempore existente per ac- 
 cionem debiti in curia de recordo predicta coram maiore 
 et ballivis burgi de Cantabrigia predicti tenta et tenenda 
 
 1 burgi MS. 2 sit MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First. 157 
 
 borough aforesaid should die, that then and so often it may 
 be and shall be fully lawful to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the said borough for the time being at once or 
 the greater part of them within fourteen days next following 
 the death, removal or departure of the said treasurer or 
 treasurers to assemble in the guildhall of the borough afore- 
 said or in some other convenient place within the borough 
 aforesaid and there to elect, nominate and appoint one other 
 or two other upright and fit men from the burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid as treasurer or treasurers of the borough 
 aforesaid in the place or places of him or them so dead or 
 departing as heretofore they have been accustomed : And 
 that he or they so ielected and appointed may have and 
 exercise that office of treasurer of the borough aforesaid 
 during the rest of the same year and thenceforth until two 
 others of the burgesses aforesaid in form aforesaid shall have 
 been elected, admitted and sworn as treasurers of the borough 
 aforesaid, and so as often as the case shall thus happen : 
 So however that he or they shall first take the oaths re- 
 spectively mentiohed above before the chancellor or vice- 
 chancellor aforesaid of our university aforesaid or his deputy 
 for the time being : We will further and, that good rule, civil 
 government and peace and concord amongst the inhabitants 
 and dwellers of the aforesaid borough or in its limits here- 
 after may be united and established, we grant to the afore- 
 said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid 
 and to their successors that no inhabitant, inhabitants or 
 any other person or persons whosoever within the liberties 
 and precincts of the same borough, unless they be scholars 
 or their servants and ministers or of their families or other 
 persons in any way privileged in our said university afore- 
 said or the suburbs and precincts of the same shall use or 
 exercise any art, mystery or manual occupation, unless such 
 person or persons shall serve for the full term of seven years 
 according to custom and manner of apprenticeship and 
 the statute-laws of our realm of England in that case 
 provided, under the penalty and forfeit of twenty shillings of 
 
158 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 recuperanda, nisi pro instruccione pauperum in pannis con- 
 ficiendis et aliis manufacturis lane, canabis sive lini aut alii 
 materialis: Et ulterius de ampliori gratia nostra speciali ac 
 ex certa sciencia et mero motu nostris damns et concedimus 
 prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et 
 successoribus suis per presentes quod de tempore in tempus 
 imposterum bene liceat et licebit prefatis maiori, ballivis et 
 burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus suis racionabiliter 
 et indifferenter taxare, imponere et assidere in et super omnes 
 et singulas personas^ quascunque inhabitantes sive incolas^ 
 burgi predicti, non existentes scholares aut eorum servientes 
 et ministros aut de eorum familiis aut alias personas in dicta 
 universitate nostra quoquomodo privilegiatas, tales raciona- 
 biles ratas proporciones sive denariorum summam pro, in 
 et circa meliori supportacione et sustentacione onerum et 
 expensarum predicti burgi et manutenacione pontium, altarum 
 [viarum] et aliorum operum necessariorum pro publico et 
 comuni bono eorumdem maioris, ballivorum et burgensium 
 imposterum faciendas quales per ipsos [bonas] et convenientes 
 fore videbitur ac huiusmodi taxacionem, imposicionem et 
 racionabilem denariorum summam sic taxatam et impositam, 
 taxandam et imponendam, levare, colligere et percipere possint 
 ad proprium opus et usum predictorum maioris, ballivorum 
 et burgensium burgi predicti, et pro non solucione eiusdem 
 summe distringere de bonis et cattalis cuiuslibet seu quarum- 
 libet persone sive personarum eandem summam recusan- 
 tium, aut aliter per sectas, querelas et queremonias huiusmodi 
 personam vel personas recusantem aut recusantes ita solvere 
 in curia de recordo coram prefatis maiore, ballivis et burgen- 
 sibus burgi predicti tenta et tenenda, impetere, implacitare et 
 prosequi per thesaurarios pro tempore existente, illatam, 
 inferendam et inducendam donee de huiusmodi denariorum 
 summa predicti maiar et ballivi burgi predicti plenarie satis- 
 facti^ et soluti erunt : Et ulterius de ampliori gracia nostra 
 speciali ac ex certa sciencia et mero motu nostris concessimus, 
 approbavimus, ratificavimus et confirmavimus ac per presentes 
 
 1 personis MS. ^ {-ncoles MS, » fonsfacti MS. 
 
Letters Patent of CJiarles the First. 159 
 
 lawful money of England for each month, to be levied and 
 paid to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid, the same sum to be recovered by the 
 treasurers of the borough aforesaid for the time being by 
 action of debt in the court of record aforesaid before the 
 mayor and bailiffs of the borough of Cambridge aforesaid 
 held and to be held, unless for instruction of the poor in 
 making cloth and other manufactures of wool, hemp or flax 
 or other material : And further of our fuller special grace and 
 from our certain knowledge and mere motion we give and 
 grant to the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of 
 the borough aforesaid and to their successors by these 
 presents that from time to time hereafter it may be and shall 
 be lawful to the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses 
 of the borough aforesaid and to their successors reason- 
 ably and indifferently to tax, impose and assess in and upon 
 all and singular persons whatsoever, inhabitants or dwellers of 
 the borough aforesaid, not being scholars or their servants 
 and ministers or of their families or other persons in any way 
 privileged in our said university, such reasonable rates, pro- 
 portions or sum of money for, in and concerning the better 
 support and sustentation of the burdens and expenses of the 
 aforesaid borough and the maintenance of the bridges, high- 
 ways and other works necessary for the public and common 
 good of the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses hereafter to 
 be made as shall be deemed by them to be [good] and 
 convenient, and such taxation, imposition and reasonable 
 sum of money so taxed and imposed, or to be taxed and 
 imposed, they may be able to levy, collect and take to the 
 proper advantage and use of the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the borough aforesaid, and for the non-payment 
 of the said sum charged, required and incurred, to distrain 
 upon the goods and chattels of any person or persons refusing 
 the same sum, or otherwise "by suits, pleas and complaints, to 
 sue, implead and prosecute such person or persons refusing 
 so to pay, in the court of record held and to be held before 
 the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 
i6o Charters of the Boroitgh of Cambridge. 
 
 pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus, 
 approbamus, ratificamus et confirmamus prefatis maiori, 
 ballivis et burgensibus burgi de Cantabrigia predicta et 
 successoribus suis omnia et omnimoda, tot, tanta, talia, 
 eadem, huiusmodi et consimilia concessiones, liberas consue- 
 tudines, libertates, privilegia, franchesias, immunitates, quie- 
 tancias, exempciones, ferias, nundinas, mercatas, theolonea, 
 tolneta, iurisdicciones, commoditates, emolumenta, terras, 
 tenementa et hereditamenta quanta, quot, qualia, et que, 
 maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi de Cantabrigia predicta 
 aut eorum aliqui modo legittimo habent, tenent, gaudent et 
 utuntur aut habere, tenere, uti aut gaudere debent per nomen 
 maioris, ballivorum et burgensium burgi de Cantabrigia aut 
 per nomen ballivorum et burgensium burgi de Cantabrigia 
 aut per nomen burgensium burgi de Cantabrigia sive per 
 quecunque alia nomina sive per quodcunque aliud nomen aut 
 per quamcunque incorporacionem vel corpus politicum seu 
 pretextu cuiuscunque incorporacionis vel corporis politic! 
 premissa aut eorum aliqua data seu concessa fuerunt predictis 
 maiori, ballivis et burgensibus aut aliquibus seu alicui pre- 
 decessorum suorum, racione vel pretextu aliquarum cartarum 
 aut literarum patentium per aliquem progenitorum sive 
 afitecessorum nostrorum quoquomodo antehac factarum, con- 
 firmatarum vel concessarum, aut racione vel pretextu alicuius 
 legittime prescripcionis, usus seu consuetudinis antehac habite 
 seu usitate seu quocunque alio legali modo iure seu titulo, 
 licet eadem seu eorum aliquod vel aliqua antehac usa non 
 fuerunt vel fuit, aut abusa vel male usa, vel discontinuata 
 fuerunt vel fuit, aut licet eadem aut eorum aliquod vel aliqua 
 deperdita aut forisfacta sint aut fuerint habendum, tenendum 
 et gaudendum eadem terras et tenementa, libertates, privi- 
 legia, franchesias, iurisdicciones, et cetera premissa eisdem 
 maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus 
 suis imperpetuum : Reddendo inde nobis, heredibus et suc- 
 cessoribus nostris talia, huiusmodi et consimilia redditus, 
 servicia, denariorum summas et tenuras qualia proinde 
 nobis antehac debita solubilia et de iure consueta fuerunt: 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First, i6i 
 
 aforesaid by the treasurers for the time being, until from 
 such sum of money the aforesaid mayor and bailiffs of the 
 borough aforesaid shall have been fully satisfied and paid : 
 And further of our fuller special grace and from our certain 
 knowledge and mere motion we have granted, approved, 
 ratified and confirmed and by these presents for us our 
 heirs and successors we grant, approve, ratify and confirm 
 to the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough of Cambridge aforesaid and to their successors all 
 and all kinds, so many, so great, such, the same, like and 
 similar grants, free customs, liberties, privileges, franchises, 
 immunities, quittances, exemptions, fairs, feasts, markets, 
 takings, tolls, jurisdictions, commodities, emoluments, lands, 
 tenements and hereditaments, as many, the like, the same and 
 the which the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 of Cambridge aforesaid or any of them in a lawful manner 
 have, hold, enjoy and use or ought to have, hold, use or enjoy 
 under the name of the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough of Cambridge or under the name of the bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the borough of Cambridge or under the name 
 of the burgesses of Cambridge or under whatever other 
 names or under whatever other name or under whatever 
 incorporation or body politic or on the pretext of what- 
 ever incorporation or body politic the premises or any of 
 them have been given or granted to the aforesaid mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses or to any one or more of their pre- 
 decessors, by reason or pretext of any charters or letters 
 patent by any of our ancestors or predecessors in any way 
 heretofore made, confirmed or granted, or by reason or 
 pretext of any legitimate prescription, usage or custom here- 
 tofore had or used or by any other lawful manner, right or 
 title, although the same or any one or more of them hereto- 
 fore has or have been not used, or abused or badly used, or 
 discontinued, or although the same, or any one or more of 
 them, may or shall have been lost or forfeited : To have, hold 
 and enjoy the same lands and tenements, liberties, privileges, 
 franchises, jurisdictions, and other premises to the said mayor, 
 B. C. U 
 
1 62 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 Quare volumus et per presentes pro nobis heredibus et 
 successoribus nostris concedimus prefatis maiori, ballivis et 
 burgensibus burgi de Cantabrigia predicta et successoribus 
 suis quod habeant, teneant, utantur et gaudeant ac plene 
 habere, tenere, uti et gaudere possint et valeant imperpetuum 
 omnes et omnimoda predicta terras, tenementa, redditus, 
 reverciones\ libertates, liberas consuetudines, privilegia, au- 
 thoritates, quietanceas, et hereditamenta quecunque predicta, 
 secundum tenorem et effectum harum literarum nostrarum 
 patencium sine occasione vel impedimento nostri heredum vel 
 successorum nostrorum quorumcunque : Nolentes quod iidem 
 maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi predicti vel eorum aliqui vel 
 aliquis nee aliquis burgensium burgi predicti, racione premis- 
 sorum sive eorum alicuius per nos, vel per heredes nostros, ' 
 iusticiarios, vicecomites, escaetores aut alios ballivos seu 
 ministros nostros heredum et successorum nostrorum quorum- 
 cunque inde occasionentur, molestentur, vexentur seu graven- 
 tur, molestetur, vexetur, gravetur seu in aliquo perturbetur, 
 volentes et per presentes firmiter pro nobis heredibus et 
 successoribus nostris mandantes et precipientes tam Thesau- 
 rario, Cancellario et Baronibus Scaccarii nostri heredum et 
 successorum nostrorum, ac omnibus et singulis aliis iudicibus 
 et iusticiariis nostris heredum et successorum nostrorum 
 quam Attornato et Solicitori nostro generali pro tempore 
 existente et eorum cuilibet et omnibus aliis officiariis et 
 ministris nostris quibuscunque, quod nee ipsi nee eorum 
 aliquis sive aliqui aliquod breve seu summonicionem de 
 quo warranto seu aliquod aliud breve seu brevia vel pro- 
 cessum quecunque versus predictos maiorem, ballivos et 
 burgenses burgi predicti seu eorum aliquos seu homines vel 
 inhabitantes burgi predicti vel eorum aliquem vel aliquos pro 
 aliquibus causis, rebus, materiis, ofifensis, clameis aut usurpa- 
 cionibus aut eorum aliquo per ipsos sive eorum aliquos 
 debitis, clamatis, attemptatis, usitatis, habitis seu usurpatis 
 ante diem confeccionis presencium prosequantur aut con- 
 tinuantur aut prosequi aut continuari facient et causabunt 
 
 ^ revaiciones MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First. 163 
 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid and to their 
 successors for ever : Rendering thence to us, our heirs and 
 successors such, like and similar rents, services, sums of 
 money and tenures as thence to us heretofore have been due, 
 payable and of right accustomed : Wherefore we will and by 
 these presents for us our heirs and successors we grant to 
 the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 of Cambridge aforesaid and to their successors that they may 
 have, hold, use and enjoy and that they can and may be able 
 fully to have, hold, use and enjoy for ever all and all kinds 
 aforesaid of lands, tenements, rents, reversions, liberties, free 
 customs, privileges, authorities, quittances, and hereditaments 
 whatsoever aforesaid, according to the tenour and effect of 
 these our letters patent without hindrance or impediment of 
 us our heirs or successors whomsoever : We being unwilling 
 that the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 aforesaid or any one or more of them or any burgess of the 
 borough aforesaid, by reason of the premises or of any of 
 them by us, or by our heirs, the justices, sheriffs, escheators 
 or other bailiffs or ministers of us our heirs and successors 
 whomsoever should therein be hindered, molested, vexed or 
 aggrieved or in any thing disturbed, willing and by these 
 presents strictly for us our heirs and successors commanding 
 and enjoining as well to the Treasurers, Chancellors and 
 Barons of the Exchequer of us our heirs and successors, and 
 to all and singular the other judges and justices of us our 
 heirs and successors as to our Attorney and Solicitor General 
 for the time being and to each of them and to all others our 
 officers and ministers whomsoever, that neither they nor any 
 one or more of them shall prosecute or continue or shall make 
 or cause to be prosecuted or continued any writ or summons 
 of "Quo Warranto" or any other writ or writs or process 
 whatsoever against the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and bur- 
 gesses of the borough aforesaid or any of them or the 
 men or inhabitants of the borough aforesaid or any one or 
 more of them for any causes, things, matters, offences, claims 
 or usurpations or any one of them due, claimed, attempted, 
 
 II — 2 
 
164 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge, 
 
 seu eorum aliquis faciet aut causabit: Nolentes eciam quod 
 maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi illius vel eorum aliqui per 
 aliquem vel aliquos iusticiarios, iudices, officiarios vel ministros 
 predictos in aut pro debito, usu, clameo, vel abusu libertatum 
 franchesiarum aut iurisdiccionum infra burgum de Cantabrigia 
 predicta, suburbia ac precincta eiusdem ante diem confeccionis 
 harum literarum nostrarum patencium molestentur aut im- 
 pediantur aut ad ea aut eorum aliquod respondere compel- 
 lantur : Et ulterius de ampliori gracia nostra speciali ac ex 
 certa sciencia et mero motu nostris volumus et per presentes 
 pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus 
 prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et 
 successoribus suis quod he litere nostre patentes vel irrotula- 
 menta earumdem erunt in omnibus et per omnia firme, 
 valide, bone, sufficientes et effectuales in lege erga et contra 
 nos heredes et successores nostros tam in omnibus curiis 
 nostris quam alibi infra regnum nostrum Anglie absque 
 aliquibus confirmacionibus, licenciis vel tolleracionibus de 
 nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris imposterum per 
 predictos maiorem, ballivos et burgenses burgi predicti aut 
 successores suos procurandis impetrandis aut obtinendis : 
 Non obstante male nominando vel male recitando aut non 
 recitando aliquorum premissorum aut alicuius partis vel 
 parcelle premissorum in hiis literis nostris patentibus men- 
 cionatis vel recitatis: Et non obstante non inveniendo officium 
 vel inquisicionem premissorum aut alicuius inde parcelle per 
 que titulus noster inveniri debuit ante confeccionem harum 
 literarum nostrarum patencium : Et non obstante statuto in 
 parliamento domini Henrici nuper regis Anglie sexti ante- 
 cessoris nostri anno regni sui decimo octavo facto et edito : 
 Et non obstantibus aliquibus aliis defectibus in non recte 
 nominando naturam, genera, species, quantitates aut qualitates 
 premissorum aut alicuius inde parcelle : Proviso semper et 
 firmiter per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus 
 nostris prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti 
 et successoribus suis precipimus et mandamus quod he litere 
 nostre patentes aut aliquod in eisdem contentum non ali- 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First. 165 
 
 used, had or usurped by themselves or any of them before 
 the day of the making of these presents: We being un- 
 willing also that the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of that 
 borough or any of them by any one or more justices, judges, 
 officers or ministers aforesaid in or for any debt, usage, claim, 
 or abuse of the liberties, franchises or jurisdictions within the 
 borough of Cambridge aforesaid, the suburbs and precincts 
 of the same before the day of confirmation of these our 
 letters patent should be molested or hindered or should be 
 compelled to answer to them or any of them : And further 
 from our fuller special grace and from our certain knowledge 
 and mere motion we will and by these presents for us our 
 heirs and successors we grant to the beforenamed mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid and to their 
 successors, that these our letters patent or the enrolment of 
 the same shall be in all things and by all things firm, 
 strong, good, sufficient and effectual in law towards and 
 against us, our heirs and successors, as well in all our courts 
 as elsewhere within our realm of England, without any con- 
 firmations, licences or allowances from us, our heirs and suc- 
 cessors for ever, to be procured, applied for or obtained by 
 the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 aforesaid or their successors: Notwithstanding the bad naming 
 or bad recital or non-recital of any premises or of any part or 
 parcel of the premises in these our letters patent mentioned 
 or recited : And notwithstanding the not finding the office or 
 inquisition of the premises or of any parcel thereof by which 
 our title ought to be found before the making of these our 
 letters patent : And notwithstanding the statute made and 
 issued in the parliament of the lord Henry sometime King of 
 England the Sixth our predecessor in the eighteenth year of 
 his reign : And notwithstanding any other defects in not rightly 
 naming the nature, kinds, species, quantities or qualities of 
 the premises or of any parcel thereof: Provided always and 
 strictly by these presents we enjoin and command for us our 
 heirs and successors to the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the borough aforesaid and their successors that 
 
1 66 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 qualiter extendant ad preiudicium, oneracionem seu impedi- 
 mentum iurisdiccionum, privilegiorum, libertatum, consue- 
 tudinum, prescriptorum, composicionum, easiamentorum, 
 finium, forisfacturarum, amerciamentorum, proficuorum seu 
 hereditamentorum quorumcunque cancellario, magistris et 
 scholaribus universitatis nostre Cantabrigie seu alicui seu 
 aliquibus predecessorum suorum per quodcunque nomen 
 incorporacionis seu per quecunque nomina incorporacionum 
 per nos aut aliquos aut aliquem progenitorum aut anteces- 
 sorum nostrorum nuper Regum seu Reginarum Anglie con- 
 cessorum seu mencionatorum fore concessorum seu ab iisdem 
 cancellario, magistris et scholaribus vel aliis personis infra 
 universitatem nostram predictam privilegiatis racione vel 
 pretextu alicuius legittime prescripcionis usus seu consue- 
 tudinis antehac habitis, factis seu usitatis sed quod iidem 
 cancellarius, magistri et scholares et successores sui omnibus 
 talibus iurisdiccionibus, privilegiis, libertatibus, consuetu- 
 dinibus, prescripcionibus, composicionibus, seu easiamentis, 
 finibus, forisfacturis, amerciamentis, proficuis et hereditamentis 
 habeant, teneant et gaudeant ac habere, tenere et gaudere 
 valeant et possint, libere, pacifice et quiete hiis presentibus 
 aut aliquo in eisdem content© non obstante : Volumus 
 eciam^ et per presentes concedimus prefatis maiori, ballivis et 
 burgensibus burgi de Cantabrigia quod habeant et habebunt 
 has literas nostras patentes sub magno sigillo nostro Anglie 
 debito modo factas et sigillatas absque fine in hanaperio 
 cancellario nostro seu alibi ad usum nostrum quoquomodo 
 reddendo seu solvendo : Eo quod expressa mencio de vero 
 valore annuo aut de aliquo alio valore vel certitudine pre- 
 missorum sive eorum alicuius aut de aliis donis sive con- 
 cessionibus per nos seu per aliquem progenitorum sive 
 predecessorum nostrorum prefatis maiori, ballivis et bur- 
 gensibus burgi de Cantabrigia predicta ante hec tempora 
 factis in presentibus minime facta existit aut aliquo statuto, 
 actu, ordinacione, provisione, proclamacione sive restriccione 
 
 ^ The Patent Roll gives only the opening words of each of these concluding 
 sentences. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First, 167 
 
 these our letters patent or anything contained in the same 
 shall not in any way extend to the prejudice, injury or 
 hindrance of the jurisdictions, privileges, liberties, customs, 
 prescriptions, compositions, easements, fines, forfeitures, 
 amercements, profits or hereditaments whatsoever granted 
 or mentioned to be granted to the chancellor, masters and 
 scholars of our university of Cambridge or to any one or more 
 of their predecessors by whatever name of incorporation or by 
 whatever names of incorporation by us or any one or more 
 of our ancestors or predecessors sometime Kings or Queens 
 of England, or by the same chancellor, masters and scholars 
 or other persons privileged within our university aforesaid, 
 by reason or pretext of any legitimate prescription, usage 
 or custom, heretofore had, made or used, but that the said 
 chancellor, masters and scholars and their successors may 
 have, hold and enjoy all such jurisdictions, privileges, liber- 
 ties, customs, prescriptions, compositions, or easements, fines, 
 forfeitures, amercements, profits, and hereditaments and may 
 be able to have, hold and enjoy the same freely, peacefully 
 and quietly, these presents or any thing contained in the same 
 notwithstanding : We will also and by these presents we 
 grant to the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough of Cambridge that they may have and shall have 
 these our letters patent under our great seal of England in 
 due manner made and sealed without fine to be rendered or 
 paid into the hanaper to our chancellor or elsewhere to our 
 use in any way : Any omission in these presents of an 
 express mention of the true annual value or of any other 
 value or certitude of the premises or of any of them or of 
 other gifts or grants made by us or by any of our ancestors 
 or predecessors to the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the borough of Cambridge aforesaid before these 
 times or any statute, act, ordinance, provision, proclamation 
 or restriction heretofore had, made, issued, ordained or pro- 
 vided or any other thing, cause or matter whatsoever in any 
 wise to the contrary hereof notwithstanding : In witness 
 whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent ; 
 
1 68 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 in contrarium inde antehac habito facto edito ordinate sive 
 proviso aut aliqua alia re, causa vel materia quacunque in 
 aliquo non obstante: In cuius rei testimonium has literas 
 nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste me ipso apud West- 
 monasterium sexto die Februarii anno regni nostri Anglie, 
 Scotie, Francie et Hibernie septimo. 
 
 per breve de private sigillo. 
 
 XXVIII. LiTTERAE Patentes Caroli Secundi. 
 
 1685 *Carolus Secundus Dei gratia Anglie Scocie Francie et 
 
 Jan. 3. Hibernie Rex, fidei defensor &c. Omnibus ad quos presentes 
 litere pervenerint salutem. Cum maior, ballivi et burgenses 
 corporacionis nostre Cantabrigie in comitatu nostro Canta- 
 brigie omnes potestates, franchesias, libertates, privilegia et 
 authoritates suas de vel concernentes eleccione nominacione 
 constitucione existencia vel appunctuacione aliquarum per- 
 sonarum in, ad vel pro seperalibus et respectivis officiis maioris, 
 capitalis seneschalli, recordatoris, aldermannorum, ballivorum 
 comunis clerici, burgensium de comuni concilio, coronatorum 
 et thesaurariorum dicte corporacionis nobis concessere et 
 sursumreddidere quamquidem concessionem et sursumred- 
 dicionem acceptavimus ac per presentes acceptamus 
 
 Here follows a copy^ of a part of the Letters Patent of 
 Charles I. hereinbefore printed p. 138, 1. 7 (Nos igitur publi- 
 cum &c.) to p. 142, 1. 6 (habuerunt et consueverunt :) 
 
 Volumus etiam ac per presentes pro nobis heredibus et 
 successoribus nostris concedimus et declaramus quod de 
 cetero imperpetuum sint et erunt^ infra burgum, libertates 
 vel precincta eiusdem separalia membra et officiaria in forma 
 inferius nominata et constituta, vel mencionata eligenda 
 
 1 On five skins. Fine portrait of the King in the initial. Each skin is 
 engraved with a fine border. Great seal cracked and poor impression, appended 
 in a tin box. 
 
 2 With the slight changes indicated in the notes to the Letters Patent of 
 Charles I. 
 
 '^ erint MS. passim. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the First. 169 
 
 Witness: myself at Westminster on the sixth day of February 
 in the seventh year of our reign of England, Scotland, France 
 and Ireland. 
 
 by writ of privy seal. 
 
 XXVIII. Letters Patent of Charles the Second. 
 
 ^Charles the Second, by the grace of God, of England, 1685 
 Scotland, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith •'^"* ^* 
 &c. to all to whom the present letters shall come greeting. 
 Whereas the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of our corporation 
 of Cambridge in our county of Cambridge have granted and 
 surrendered to us all their powers, franchises, liberties, privi- 
 leges and authorities of or concerning the election, nomination, 
 constitution, existence, or appointment of certain persons in, 
 to, or for the separate and respective offices of mayor, high 
 steward, recorder, aldermen, bailiffs, town clerk, burgesses of 
 the common council, coroners and treasurers of the said 
 corporation, which concession and surrender we have accepted 
 and by these presents accept : 
 
 Here follows a copy^ of a part of the Letters Patent of 
 Charles I. hereinbefore printed p. 139, 1. 6 (We therefore 
 graciously &c.) to p. 143, 1. 6 (were wont to have:) 
 
 We will also and by these presents for us our heirs and 
 successors we grant and declare that henceforth for ever there 
 may be and shall be within the borough, the liberties or 
 precincts of the same, separate members and officers in form 
 below named and constituted or mentioned as to be elected 
 and constituted, namely one upright and discreet man of the 
 burgesses of the borough aforesaid who shall be and shall 
 be called mayor of the borough aforesaid, one upright and 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ iii. p. 603. 
 
 2 With the slight changes indicated in the notes to the Letters Patent of 
 Charles I. 
 
170 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 et constituenda, videlicet unus probus et discretus vir de 
 burgensibus burgi predicti qui erit et vocabitur maior burgi 
 predicti, unus probus et discretus vir de burgensibus burgi 
 predicti qui erit et vocabitur capitalis senescallus burgi 
 predicti, unus probus et discretus vir in legibus regni nostri 
 Anglie eruditus qui erit et vocabitur recordator burgi predicti, 
 duodecim probi et discreti viri de capitalibus burgensibus 
 burgi predicti preter maiorem burgi predicti qui erunt et 
 vocabuntur aldermanni burgi predicti, quatuor probi et dis- 
 creti viri de burgensibus burgi predicti qui erunt et vocabuntur 
 ballivi burgi predicti, unus probus et discretus vir de burgen- 
 sibus burgi predicti qui erit et vocabitur comunis clericus 
 burgi predicti, viginti et quatuor probi et discreti viri de 
 aliis discretioribus burgensibus burgi predicti qui erunt et 
 vocabuntur de comuni concilio burgi predicti, duo probi et 
 discreti viri de burgensibus burgi predicti qui erunt et 
 vocabuntur coronatores burgi predicti et duo probi et discreti 
 viri de burgensibus burgi predicti qui erunt et vocabuntur 
 thesaurarii burgi predicti : Ac pro meliori execucione volun- 
 tatis nostre in hac parte assignavimus, nominavimus, consti- 
 tuimus et fecimus ac per presentes pro nobis, heredibus et 
 successoribus nostris assignamus, nominamus, constituimus 
 et facimus dilectum nobis Nicholaum Eagle generosum fore 
 et esse primum et modernum maiorem burgi predicti con- 
 tinuandum in eodem officio a data presentium usque festum 
 sancti Michaelis Archangeli nunc proxim.e sequens^ si dictus 
 Nicholaus Eagle tamdiu vixerit, et exinde quousque unus 
 alius ad officium maioris burgi predicti electus, prefectus et 
 iuratus fuerit : Et assignavimus, nominavimus, constituimus 
 et fecimus ac per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successori- 
 bus nostris assignamus, nominamus, constituimus et facimus 
 dilectum et perquam fidelem conciliarium nostrum Thomasum 
 Chichley militem, Cancellarium Ducatus nostri Lancastrie 
 fore et esse primum et modernum capitalem senescallum 
 burgi predicti, continuandum in eodem officio durante vita 
 sua : Et assignavimus, nominavimus, constituimus et fecimus 
 
 ^ sequent' MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Second, 171 
 
 discreet man of the burgesses of the borough aforesaid who 
 shall be and shall be called high steward of the borough 
 aforesaid, one upright and discreet man learned in the laws 
 of our kingdom of England who shall be and shall be called 
 recorder of the borough aforesaid, twelve upright and discreet 
 men of the chief of the burgesses of the borough aforesaid, 
 besides the mayor of the borough aforesaid, who shall be and 
 shall be called aldermen of the borough aforesaid, four upright 
 and discreet men of the burgesses of the borough aforesaid 
 who shall be and shall be called bailiffs of the borough 
 aforesaid, one upright and discreet man of the burgesses of 
 the borough aforesaid, who shall be and shall be called the 
 common clerk of the borough aforesaid, twenty-four upright 
 and discreet men of the other more discreet burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid, who shall be and shall be called of the 
 common council of the borough aforesaid, two upright and 
 discreet men of the burgesses of the borough aforesaid, who 
 shall be and shall be called coroners of the borough afore- 
 said, and two upright and discreet men of the burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid, who shall be and shall be called treasurers 
 of the borough aforesaid : And for the better execution of our 
 will in this behalf, we have assigned, named, constituted and 
 made, and by these presents for us our heirs and successors 
 we assign, name, constitute and make our beloved Nicholas 
 Eagle gentleman to become and to be the first and present 
 mayor of the borough aforesaid, to be continued in the 
 same office from the date of these presents until the feast of 
 Saint Michael the Archangel now next following if the said 
 Nicholas Eagle shall live so long, and thence until another 
 shall have been elected, appointed and sworn to the oflfice 
 of mayor of the borough aforesaid : And we have assigned, 
 named, constituted and made, and by these presents for us 
 our heirs and successors we assign, name, constitute and make 
 our beloved and right faithful councillor Thomas Chicheley 
 knight, Chancellor of our Duchy of Lancaster, to become and 
 to be the first and present high steward of the borough 
 aforesaid, to be continued in the same office during his life : 
 
1/2 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 ac per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris 
 assignamus, nominamus, constituimus et facimus dilectum et 
 perquam fidelem Gulielmum dominum Allington, baronem 
 Allington de Wimondley et Killard Constabularem Turris 
 nostre London fore et esse primuin et modernum recorda- 
 torem burgi predict! continuandum in eodem officio durante 
 vita sua : Et assignavimus, nominavimus,. constituimus et 
 fecimus ac per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus 
 nostris assignamus, nominamus, constituimus et facimus 
 dilectos nobis Samuelem Newton, seu Edwinum Mayfeild, 
 Edwardum Miller, Franciscum Jermin, Thomasum Ewin, 
 Thomasum Fox, predictum Nicholaum Eagle, Thomasum 
 Fowle, Matheum Blackley, Thomasum Walker, Carolum 
 Chambers, Johannem Pepys et Isaacum Watlington generosos 
 fore et esse primos et modernos aldermannos burgi predicti 
 continuandos in eodem officio durantibus vitis suis respectivis : 
 Et assignavimus, nominavimus, constituimus et fecimus ac 
 per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris 
 assignamus, nominamus, constituimus et facimus dilectos 
 nobis Franciscum Harby, Robertum Warne, Christoferum 
 Oldfield et Thomasum Crabb fore et esse primos et modernos 
 ballivos burgi predicti continuandos in eodem officio a data 
 presentium usque ad festum Sancti Michaelis Archangeli 
 nunc proxime sequens^ si iidem Franciscus Harby, Robertus 
 Warne, Christofer Oldfield et Thomasus Crab tamdiu 
 respective vixerint seu aliquis eorum vixerit et exinde quo- 
 usque quatuor alii ballivi de burgensibus burgi predicti in 
 officiis ballivorum burgi predicti de bono modo electi prefect! 
 et iurati fuerint : Et assignavimus, nominavimus, constituimus 
 et fecimus et per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successori- 
 bus nostris assignamus, nominamus, constituimus et facimus 
 dilectum nobis Willelmum Baron generosum fore et esse 
 primum et modernum comunem clericum burgi predicti 
 continuandum in eodem officio durante vita sua : Et assigna- 
 vimus, nominavimus, constituimus et fecimus et per presentes 
 pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris assignamus, 
 
 1 sequent'' MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Second. 173 
 
 And we have assigned, named, constituted and made and by 
 these presents for us our heirs and successors we assign, name, 
 constitute and make our beloved and right faithful William 
 Lord Allington, Baron Allington of Wymondley and Killard, 
 Constable of our Tower of London, to become and to be the 
 first and present recorder of the borough aforesaid to be 
 continued in the same office during his life: And we have 
 assigned, named, constituted and made and by these presents 
 for us our heirs and successors we assign, name, constitute 
 and make our beloved Samuel Newton or Edwin Mayfield, 
 Edward Miller, Francis Jermin, Thomas Ewin, Thomas Fox, 
 the aforesaid Nicholas Eagle, Thomas Fowle, Matthew Black- 
 ley, Thomas Walker, Charles Chambers, John Pepys and 
 Isaac Watlington, gentlemen, to become and to be the first 
 and present aldermen of the borough aforesaid, to be con- 
 tinued in the same office during their respective lives : And 
 we have assigned, named, constituted and made and by these 
 presents for us our heirs and successors we assign, name, 
 constitute and make our beloved Francis Harby, Robert 
 Warne, Christopher Oldfield and Thomas Crabb to become 
 and to be the first and present bailiffs of the borough afore- 
 said to be continued in the same office from the date of these 
 presents to the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel now 
 next following, if the said Francis Harby, Robert Warne, 
 Christopher Oldfield and Thomas Crabb or any of them 
 shall live so long respectively, and thenceforward until four 
 other bailiffs from the burgesses of the borough aforesaid 
 shall have been elected, appointed and sworn in good 
 manner into the offices of bailiffs of the borough afore- 
 said : And we have assigned, named, constituted and made 
 and by these presents for us our heirs and successors assign, 
 name, constitute and make our beloved William Baron gentle- 
 man to become and to be the first and present common 
 clerk of the borough aforesaid to be continued in the same 
 office during his life : And we have assigned, named, con- 
 stituted and made and by these presents for us our heirs and 
 successors we assign, name, constitute and make our beloved 
 
1/4 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 nominamus, constituimus et facimus dilectos nobis Thomasum 
 Dickinson, Philippum Hawkins, Johannem Moore, Rogerum 
 Hurst, Josephum Cooper, Johannem Witham, Johannem 
 Sanders, Cornelium Austin, Willehnum Walker, Johannem 
 Walker, Edwardum Chapman, Robertum Smith, Robertum 
 Sanders, Adam Newlin, Johannem Fowkes, Jacobum May- 
 feild, Thomasum Silke, Gerardum Herring, Philippum 
 Reynold, Johannem Fage, Josephum Heath, Willelmum 
 Wendy, Nicholaum Apthorp et Henricum Pyke fore et esse 
 primos et modernos burgenses de comuni concilio burgi 
 predicti continuandos in eodem officio durantibus vitis suis 
 respectivis : Et assignavimus, vocavimus, constituimus et 
 fecimus ac per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus 
 nostris assignamus, nominamus, constituimus et facimus 
 dilectos nobis Carolum Chambers et Josephum Cooper 
 generosos fore et esse primos et modernos coronatores burgi 
 predicti continuandos in eodem officio a data presentium 
 usque festum Sancti Michaelis Archangeli nunc proxime 
 sequentem si dicti Carolus Chambers et Josephus Cooper 
 tamdiu vixerint seu aliquis eorum vixerit, et exinde quousque 
 duo alii de burgensibus burgi predicti in officio coronatoris 
 eiusdem burgi de bono modo electi prefecti et iurati fuerint : 
 Et assignavimus, nominavimus, constituimus et fecimus ac 
 per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris 
 assignamus, nominamus, constituimus et facimus dilectos 
 nobis Ricardum Nicholson et Stephanum Hanchet fore et 
 esse primos et modernos thesaurarios Burgi predicti con- 
 tinuandos in eodem officio a data presentium usque festum 
 Sancti Michaelis Archangeli nunc proxime sequens^ si 
 dicti Ricardus Nicholson et Stephanus Hanchet tamdiu 
 vixerint seu aliquis eorum vixerit et exinde quousque duo 
 alii de burgensibus burgi predicti in officio thesaurarii eiusdem 
 burgi de bono modo electi prefecti et iurati fuerint : Et 
 insuper volumus ac pro nobis heredibus et successoribus 
 nostris concedimus quod predicti maior, capitalis senescallus, 
 recordator, aldermanni, ballivi, comunis clericus, burgenses 
 
 1 sequent' MS, 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Second. 175 
 
 Thomas Dickinson, Philip Hawkins, John Moore, Roger 
 Hurst, Joseph Cooper, John Witham, John Sanders, Cornelius 
 Austin, William Walker, John Walker, Edward Chapman, 
 Robert Smith, Robert Sanders, Adam Newlin, John Fowkes, 
 James Mayfield, Thomas Silke, Gerard Herring, Philip 
 Reynold, John Fage, Joseph Heath, William Wendy, 
 Nicholas Apthorp and Henry Pyke to become and to be 
 the first and present burgesses of the common council of the 
 borough aforesaid to be continued in the same office during 
 their respective lives : And we have assigned, named, con- 
 tituted and made, and by these presents for us our heirs and 
 successors we assign, name, constitute and make our beloved 
 Charles Chambers and Joseph Cooper gentlemen to become 
 and to be the first and present coroners of the borough afore- 
 said, to be continued in the same office from the date of these 
 presents until the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel now 
 next following, if the said Charles Chambers and Joseph 
 Cooper or either of them shall live so long, and thence- 
 forward until two others of the burgesses of the borough afore- 
 said shall have been elected appointed and sworn in good 
 manner into the office of coroner of the same borough : And 
 we have assigned, named, constituted and made and by these 
 presents for us our heirs and successors we assign, name, con- 
 stitute and make our beloved Richard Nicholson and Stephen 
 Hanchet to become and to be the first and present treasurers 
 of the borough aforesaid to be continued in the same office 
 from the date of these presents until the feast of Saint Michael 
 the Archangel now next following, if the said Richard 
 Nicholson and Stephen Hanchet or either of them shall 
 live so long, and thenceforward until two others of the 
 burgesses of the borough aforesaid shall have been elected, 
 appointed and sworn in good manner in the office of treasurers 
 of the said borough: And further we will and for us our 
 heirs and successors we grant that the aforesaid mayor, high 
 steward, recorder, aldermen, bailiffs, common clerk, burgesses 
 of the common council, coroners and treasurers of the borough 
 aforesaid by these presents named and constituted shall 
 
176 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 de comuni concilio, coronatores et thesaurarii burgi predict! 
 per presentes nominati et constituti officium sive officia, 
 locum sive loca ad quod vel que sic ut prefertur respective 
 nominati est et sunt exercebit et exercebunt pro tali tem- 
 pore et temporibus et in tali modo et forma prout in dicto 
 burgo antehac usitatum fuit aliquo in presentibus in contrarium 
 non obstante : Volumus insuper et per presentes firmiter pre- 
 cipimus quod Nicholaus Eagle in presentibus nominatus fore 
 maior burgi predicti antequam ad seperalia officia maioris 
 et aldermanni burgi predicti respective infra burgum pre- 
 dictum exequenda admittatur sacramentum corporale super 
 sanctum dei Evangelium pro fideli et debita execucione officii 
 maioris et aldermanni prestabit coram dicto Samuel i Newton 
 et Willelmo Baron vel eorum uno quibus quidem Samueli 
 Newton et Willelmo Baron huiusmodi sacramentum prefatum 
 Nicholao Eagle dandi et administrandi plenam potestatem 
 et authoritatem coniunctim et divisim damns et concedimus 
 per presentes absque aliquo alio warranto vel comissione a 
 nobis in ea parte procurando et obtinendo : Ac etiam ordina- 
 mus ac per presentes firmiter precipimus quod capitalis 
 senescallus, recordator et aldermanni burgi predicti per 
 presentes nominati et constituti antequam ad execucionem 
 officiorum suorum respective admittantur seu aliquis eorum 
 admittatur seperale sacramentum corporale super sanctum dei 
 Evangelium pro fideli et debita execucione officiorum suorum 
 respective prestabunt et eorum quilibet prestabit, ac etiam 
 ballivi burgi predicti, burgenses de comuni concilio, coro- 
 natores et thesaurarii burgi predicti in presentibus nominati 
 et constituti antequam ad execucionem officiorum suorum ad- 
 mittantur seu eorum aliquis admittatur seperale sacramentum 
 corporale officia sua respective tangens bene et fideliter 
 exequenda prestabunt et eorum quilibet prestabit coram 
 dicto Nicholao Eagle et Willelmo Baron vel uno eorum, 
 quibus quidem Nicholao Eagle et Willelmo Baron dandi et 
 administrandi huiusmodi sacramentum dictis officiariis vel per- 
 sonis predictis respective plenam potestatem et authoritatem 
 coniunctim et divisim damns et concedimus per presentes 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Second, 177 
 
 perform the office or offices, the place or places, to which as is 
 aforesaid he or they is or are nominated respectively for such 
 time and times and in such manner and form as in the said 
 borough heretofore has been accustomed, anything in these 
 presents to the contrary notwithstanding: We will moreover 
 and by these presents we strictly enjoin that Nicholas Eagle 
 named in these presents to be mayor of the borough aforesaid, 
 before that he shall be admitted to perform the several offices 
 of mayor and alderman of the borough aforesaid respectively, 
 within the borough aforesaid, shall take the corporal oath on 
 the holy Gospel of God for the faithful and due execution of the 
 office of mayor and alderman before the said Samuel Newton 
 and William Baron or one of them, to the which Samuel Newton 
 and William Baron jointly and severally we give and grant 
 by these presents full power and authority to give and admi- 
 nister such oath to the aforesaid Nicholas Eagle and without 
 any other warrant or commission to be procured and obtained 
 from us on that behalf: And also we ordain and by these 
 presents we strictly enjoin that the high steward, recorder 
 and aldermen of the borough aforesaid, named and con- 
 stituted by these presents, before that they be admitted or 
 any one of them be admitted to the execution of their offices 
 respectively shall take and each of them shall take a several 
 corporal oath on the holy Gospel of God for the faithful and 
 due execution of their offices respectively, and also the 
 bailiffs of the borough aforesaid, the burgesses of the common 
 council, the coroners and treasurers of the borough aforesaid 
 named and constituted in these presents, before that they 
 be admitted or any one of them be admitted to the execution 
 of their offices shall take and each of them shall take a 
 several corporal oath concerning the good and faithful 
 discharge of their offices respectively before the said Nicholas 
 Eagle and William Baron or one of them, to the which 
 Nicholas Eagle and William Baron we give and grant by 
 these presents full power and authority conjointly and severally 
 of giving and administering such oath to the said officers or 
 persons aforesaid respectively and without any other warrant 
 B. C. 12 
 
178 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 absque aliquo alio warranto vel comissione a nobis in ea 
 parte procurando aut obtinendo : Ac etiam ordinamus ac per 
 presentes firmiter precipimus quod Willelmus Baron comunis 
 clericus burgi predict! per presentes nominatus et constitutus 
 antequam ad execucionem officii sui admittatur sacramentum 
 corporale super sanctum dei Evangelium pro fideli et debita 
 execucione officii sui prestabit coram prefato Nicholao Eagle 
 et Samueli Newton vel eorum uno, quibus quidem Nicholao 
 Eagle et Samueli Newton dandi et administrandi huiusmodi 
 sacramentum prefato Willelmo Baron plenam potestatem et 
 authoritatem coniunctim et divisim damns et concedimus 
 per presentes absque aliquo alio warranto vel comissione a 
 nobis in ea parte procurando aut obtinendo : Et ulterius 
 volumus et per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus 
 nostris concedimus maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi pre- 
 dicti pro tempore existente quod servientes ad clavam et 
 omnes alii inferiores officiarii vel ministri infra burgum pre- 
 dictum qui in presentibus non nominati vel constituti sunt et 
 qui consueti fuerunt esse infra burgum predictum, libertatem 
 vel precincta eiusdem de hinc imperpetuum infra conveniens 
 tempus post datam presentium electi, prefecti et iurati sint et 
 erunt per et coram tali persona et personis et huiusmodi modo 
 et forma prout ex antiqua consuetudine in dicto burgo antehac 
 usitatum fuit, et officium sive officia, locum sive loca ad quod 
 vel que electi, prefecti et iurati sint et erunt, exercebit et 
 exercebunt pro tali tempore et temporibus et in tali modo et 
 forma prout in dicto burgo usitatum fuit aliquo in presentibus 
 in contrarium non obstante : Et ulterius volumus ac per pre- 
 sentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris damns 
 et concedimus prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi 
 predicti et successoribus suis quod quandocunque accident 
 aliquem maiorem, capitalem senescallum, recordatorem, 
 comunem clericum et aliquem vel aliquos de aldermannis 
 et burgensibus de comuni concilio burgi predicti, corona- 
 torem et thesaurarium burgi predicti pro tempore existente 
 obire seu ab officio suo vel ab officiis suis amoveri vel 
 decedere quos et quem pro racionabili causa amobiles esse 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Secojid. 179 
 
 or commission to be procured or obtained from us in that 
 behalf: And also we ordain and by these presents strictly 
 enjoin that William Baron the common clerk of the borough 
 aforesaid, named and constituted by these presents, before that 
 he be admitted to the execution of his office shall take the 
 corporal oath on the holy Gospel of God for the faithful and 
 due execution of his office before the aforesaid Nicholas 
 Eagle and Samuel Newton or one of them, to the which 
 Nicholas Eagle and Samuel Newton we give and grant by 
 these presents full power and authority jointly and severally 
 to give and administer such oath to the aforesaid William 
 Baron and without any other warrant or commission to be 
 procured or obtained from us in that behalf: And further we 
 will and by these presents for us our heirs and successors 
 we grant to the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 aforesaid for the time being, that the sergeants-at-mace and all 
 other inferior officers or servants within the borough aforesaid, 
 who in these presents have not been named or constituted, 
 and have been accustomed to be within the liberty of the 
 borough aforesaid or the precincts of the same, henceforth for 
 ever, within a convenient time after the date of these presents, 
 may be and shall be elected, appointed and sworn by and 
 before such person and persons and in such manner and form 
 as by ancient custom in the said borough heretofore has 
 been accustomed, and the office or offices, place or places 
 to which they may have been or shall have been elected, 
 appointed and sworn, he and they shall perform for such time 
 and times and in such manner and form as in the said 
 borough has been used, anything in these presents to the 
 contrary notwithstanding : And further we will and by these 
 presents for us our heirs and successors we give and grant 
 to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 aforesaid and to their successors, that whensoever it shall 
 happen that any mayor, high steward, recorder, common 
 clerk and one or more of the aldermen and burgesses of the 
 common council of the borough aforesaid, the coroner and 
 treasurer of the borough aforesaid for the time being shall die 
 
 12 — 2 
 
i8o Charters of tJu Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 et amoveri volumus prout antehac in eodem burgo assue- 
 tum fuit vel in casu vacancie alicuius vel aliquorum offici- 
 ariorum burgi predicti pro tempore existente, quod tunc et 
 in quolibet tali casu alia idonea persona vel alie idonee 
 persone de tempore in tempus ad et in oflficia ilia re- 
 spective de bono modo eligetur, iurabitur et constituetur, 
 eligentur, iurabuntur et constituentur per talem personam 
 et personas in tali loco et modo prout in eodem burgo per 
 spacium viginti annorum iam ultimum elapsum usitatum 
 fuit, et officium sive officia, locum sive loca ad quod vel 
 que sic electus et iuratus fuerit vel fuerint, exercebit et 
 exercebunt pro tali tempore et temporibus et abinde 
 amotus erit vel amoti erunt in tali modo prout in huius- 
 modi casibus in burgo predicto consuetum fuit : Volumus 
 etiam ac per presentes pro nobis heredibus et successori- 
 bus nostris statuimus et ordinamus quod maior, ballivi et 
 thesaurarii burgi predicti in presentibus nominati et constituti 
 et maior, ballivi et thesaurarii burgi predicti de cetero 
 imperpetuum et eoruni successores singulis annis respective 
 prestabunt sacramenta sua pro fideli et plena conservacione 
 libertatum et privilegiorum universitatis nostre Cantabrigie 
 coram cancellario vel procancellario universitatis nostre 
 predicte vel deputato suo in universitate nostra predicta 
 existente iisdem die, loco, modo et forma ac verbis quibus 
 nuper maior, ballivi et thesaurarii burgi nostri predicti singulis 
 annis sacramenta sua respective antehac prestare tenti fuerunt: 
 Quibus quidem cancellario vel procancellario aut deputato 
 suo pro tempore existente plenam potestatem et authoritatem 
 dam us et concedimus per presentes huiusmodi respective 
 sacramentum maiori, ballivis et thesaurariis burgi predicti in 
 presentibus nominatis et constitutis et maiori, ballivis et 
 thesaurariis burgi predicti singulis annis imposterum toties 
 quoties novi maiores, ballivi et thesaurarii nominati, electi, 
 deputati et admissi fuerint administrare, et quod post tale 
 sacramentum sic ut prefertur per prefatos thesaurarios respec- 
 tive prestitum et non antea, bene liceat et licebit prefatis 
 thesaurariis sic electis, nominatis et prefectis, eligendis, 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Second. i8i 
 
 or shall be removed or depart from his or their office, whom 
 we will to be removeable and to be removed for reasonable 
 cause as heretofore in the said borough has been accustomed, 
 or in case of the vacating of any one or more of the officers 
 of the borough aforesaid for the time being, that then and 
 in each such case another fit person or other fit persons 
 from time to time shall be elected, sworn and constituted to 
 and into those offices respectively in good manner by such 
 person and persons, in such place and manner as in the same 
 borough for the space of twenty years now last past has been 
 used, and the office or offices, place or places, to which he 
 or they shall have been elected and sworn, he or they shall 
 execute for such time and times and therefrom he or they shall 
 be removed in such manner as in such cases in the borough 
 aforesaid has been accustomed : We will also and by these 
 presents for us our heirs and successors we order and ordain 
 that the mayor, bailiffs and treasurers of the borough afore- 
 said, named and constituted in these presents, and the mayor, 
 bailiffs and treasurers of the borough aforesaid hereafter for 
 ever and their successors, in each year respectively shall take 
 their oaths for the faithful and full preservation of the liber- 
 ties and privileges of our university of Cambridge before the 
 chancellor or vice-chancellor of our university aforesaid or his 
 deputy being in our university aforesaid, on the same day, 
 in the same place, manner and form and words in which 
 formerly the mayor, bailiffs and treasurers of our borough 
 aforesaid in each year have been bound to take their oaths 
 respectively heretofore : To the which chancellor or vice- 
 chancellor or his deputy for the time being we give and grant 
 by these presents full power and authority to administer such 
 oath respectively to the mayor, bailiffs and treasurers of the 
 borough aforesaid named and constituted in these presents, and 
 to the mayor, bailiffs and treasurers of the borough aforesaid 
 in each year hereafter, as often as new mayors, bailiffs and 
 treasurers have been named, elected, deputed and admitted, and 
 that after such oath is taken as is aforesaid by the aforesaid 
 treasurers respectively, and not before, it may be and shall be 
 
l82 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 nominandis et preficiendis coram maiore et ballivis in curia 
 de recordo infra burgum predictum tenta et tenenda, aliquam 
 personam sive aliquas personas quascunque non existentes 
 scholares vel eorum servientes, ministros vel famulos vel 
 personas per cartas et privilegia cancellario, magistris* et 
 scholaribus universitatis nostre Cantabrigie predicte concessa 
 privilegiatas in predicta curia impetere implacitare et prosequi 
 pro aliqua causa, debito sive denariorum summa aut aliqua 
 re, materia sive penalitate, forisfacta seu forisfacienda pro non 
 debita observacione ordinacionum et constitucionum predicti 
 burgi : Proviso semper quod per licentiam et concessionem 
 nostram dicti thesaurarii aut eorum deputati nullatenus 
 attentent in premissis aut eorum aliquibus impetere, implaci- 
 tare vel prosequi cancellarium, procancellarium, magistros 
 aut scholares dicte universitatis nostre Cantebrigie aut eorum 
 aliquem vel aliquas alias personas per dictam universitatem 
 nostram vel per privilegia et immunitates nobis vel prede- 
 cessoribus nostris eisdem concessas quovismodo privilegiatas 
 et exemptas, dummodo talia debita sive summa, penalitates 
 seu forisfacture non excedant summam quadraginta soli- 
 dorum : Et ulterius volumus ac per presentes, pro nobis, 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus prefatis 
 maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus 
 suis quod si contigerit maiori vel aliqui ballivorum burgi 
 predicti aliquo tempore imposterum infra unum annum post- 
 quam ad officium maioralitatis vel ballivate burgi predicti 
 prefectus et iuratus fuerit fore egrotum et invalidum aut pro 
 aliqua causa necessaria et racionabili interesse non possit 
 aut possint, utpote officium suum in propria persona sua 
 exequi et intendere nequeat vel nequeant, quod tunc et toties 
 in casibus predictis bene liceat et licebit prefato maiori cum 
 assensu trium aldermannorum pro tempore existente et 
 prefatis ballivis cum assensu maioris burgi predicti pro 
 tempore existente eligere, appunctare, nominare et preficere 
 unum alium probum et idoneum virum de aldermannis burgi 
 predicti qui officium maioris burgi predicti antetunc gesserit 
 
 1 cancellarii^ magistri et scholaritun MS. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Second, 
 
 fully lawful for the aforesaid treasurers so elected, named and 
 appointed, or to be elected, named and appointed, before the 
 mayor and bailiffs, in the court of record held and to be held, 
 within the borough aforesaid, to sue, implead and prosecute 
 any person or persons whatsoever, not being scholars or their 
 servants, officers or domestics or persons privileged by the 
 charters and privileges granted to the chancellor, masters and 
 scholars of our university of Cambridge aforesaid, in the 
 aforesaid court, for any cause, debt or sum of money or for 
 any thing, matter or penalty forfeited or to be forfeited for not 
 duly observing the ordinances and customs of the aforesaid 
 borough : Provided always that by our licence and grant the 
 said treasurers or their deputies shall in no wise try in the 
 premises or any of them to sue, implead or prosecute the 
 chancellor, vice-chancellor, masters or scholars of our said 
 university of Cambridge or any of them or any other persons 
 in any way privileged and exempt by our said university or 
 by the privileges and immunities granted to them by us or our 
 predecessors, and provided that such debts or sum, penalties 
 or forfeitures shall not exceed the sum of forty shillings : And 
 further we will and by these presents, for us, our heirs and succes- 
 sors we grant, to the aforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses 
 of the borough aforesaid and to their successors that if it shall 
 happen that the mayor or any of the bailiffs of the borough 
 aforesaid at any time hereafter within one year after he shall 
 have been admitted and sworn to the office of the mayoralty or 
 bailiwick of the borough aforesaid, shall be sick and infirm or 
 for any necessary and reasonable cause he or they cannot be 
 present, so that he or they cannot perform their office in their 
 proper person that then and so often in the cases aforesaid it 
 may and shall be fully lawful to the aforesaid mayor with 
 the assent of three aldermen for the time being and to the 
 aforesaid bailiffs, with the assent of the mayor of the borough 
 aforesaid for the time being to elect, appoint, nominate and 
 admit another upright and fit man from the aldermen of the 
 borough aforesaid, who heretofore has filled the office of 
 mayor of the borough aforesaid, in the place of the mayor 
 
184 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 in loco ipsius maioris, et unum alium probum et idoneum 
 virum de burgensibus burgi predict! qui officium ballivi 
 burgi predicti antetunc gesserit in loco ipsius ballivi sic 
 languidi egroti aut absentis in loco maioris et ut deputatum 
 pro maiore burgi predicti et in loco ballivi burgi predicti ut 
 deputatum pro ballivo burgi predicti ad omnia et singula 
 facienda et agenda durante tempore invaletudinis aut absencie 
 maioris et ballivi predicti que ad officium maioris et ballivi 
 burgi predicti realiter pertinebunt seu spectabunt aut devenire 
 possint et valeant : Quodque quilibet talis deputatus in loco 
 et officio maioralitatis vel ballivate burgi illius sic ut prefertur 
 nominatus, constitutus et prefectus et constituendus Sacra- 
 mento corporali in forma predicta prius coram maiore burgi 
 predicti pro tempore existente necnon coram cancellario vel 
 procancellario universitatis nostre predicte vel deputato suo 
 pro tempore existente iuxta modum et formam in ea parte 
 antehac usitatam pro iuramento maioris et ballivorum burgi 
 predicti prestando officium illud habeat et exerceat durante 
 invaletudine et absencia maioris et ballivi predicti et sic toties 
 quoties casus ita accident: Et ulterius volumus ac per pre- 
 sentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus 
 prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti et suc- 
 cessoribus suis quod liceat et licebit recordatori burgi predicti 
 pro tempore existente aliquo tempore imposterum ad libitum 
 suum postquam ad officium recordatoris burgi predicti pre- 
 fectus et iuratus fuerit eligere, appunctare, nominare et 
 preficere unum probum et idoneum virum in legibus regni 
 nostri Anglie eruditum fore et esse deputatum recordatoris 
 burgi predicti pro tempore existente, durante bene placito 
 recordatoris burgi predicti et ad ea omnia et singula facienda 
 et agenda que ad officium recordatoris burgi predicti realiter 
 pertinebunt seu spectabunt aut devenire possint aut valeant : 
 Proviso semper ac plenam potestatem et authoritatem nobis 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris per presentes reservamus 
 de tempore in tempus et ad omnia tempora imposterum ad 
 maiorem, capitalem senescallum, recordatorem, aldermannos, 
 ballivos, comunem clericum, burgenses de comuni concilio, 
 
Letters Patent of Charles tJte Second, 185 
 
 himself, and one other upright and fit man from the burgesses 
 of the borough aforesaid, who heretofore has filled the office 
 of bailiff of the borough aforesaid, in the place of the bailiff 
 himself thus ill, sick or absent, in place of the mayor and as 
 deputy for the mayor of the borough aforesaid, and in place 
 of the bailiff of the borough aforesaid, as deputy for the 
 bailiff of the borough aforesaid, to do and perform all and 
 singular during the time of the sickness or absence of the 
 mayor and bailiff aforesaid, which really pertain or relate to 
 the office of mayor and bailiff of the borough aforesaid, or 
 may or can arise : And that every such deputy so as is afore- 
 said named, constituted and admitted and to be constituted 
 in the place and office of the mayoralty or bailiwick of that 
 borough, having first taken the corporal oath in form afore- 
 said before the mayor of the borough aforesaid for the time 
 being and also before the chancellor or vice-chancellor of our 
 university aforesaid or his deputy for the time being, accord- 
 ing to the manner and form in that behalf heretofore used for 
 the oath of the mayor and bailiffs of the borough aforesaid, 
 may have and exercise that office during the sickness and 
 absence of the mayor and bailiff aforesaid and so as often 
 as the case shall thus happen : And further we will and 
 by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we grant 
 to the aforenamed mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid and to their successors, that it may and 
 shall be lawful to the recorder of the borough aforesaid for 
 the time being at any time hereafter at his pleasure, after that 
 he shall have been admitted and sworn to the office of 
 recorder of the borough aforesaid, to elect, appoint, name 
 and admit an upright and fit man, learned in the laws of 
 our realm of England, to become and be deputy of the 
 recorder of the borough aforesaid for the time being during 
 the pleasure of the recorder of the borough aforesaid and to 
 do and perform all and singular those things which really 
 pertain or relate to the office of recorder of the borough afore- 
 said or may or can arise : Provided always and we reserve by 
 these presents full power and authority to us our heirs and 
 
1 86 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge, 
 
 coronatores et thesaurarios burgi predict! per presentes 
 nominatos et constitutes vel imposterum eligendos et nomi- 
 nandos seu eorum aliquem vel aliquos ad libitum et bene- 
 placitum nostrum heredum vel successorum nostrorum per 
 aliquam ordinacionem nostrum heredum aut successorum nos- 
 trorum in privato concilio factam et sub sigillo privati concilii 
 predicti eisdem respective significatam ad amovendum et 
 amotum et amotos esse declarandum: Et quoties nos, 
 heredes vel successores nostri, per aliquam talem ordinacionem 
 in privato concilio factam declarabimus vel declarabunt 
 huiusmodi maiorem, capitalem senescallum, recordatorem, 
 comunem clericum aut aliquem vel aliquos de aldermannis, 
 burgensibus de comuni concilio, coronatoribus vel thesaurariis 
 burgi predicti pro tempore existente sic amotum vel amotos 
 esse declaratum sive declarandum ut prefertur, quod tunc 
 et toties maior, capitalis senescallus, recordator, comunis 
 clericus et aliquis vel aliqui de aldermannis, burgensibus de 
 comuni concilio, coronatoribus et thesaurariis burgi predicti 
 pro tempore existente sic amotus vel amoti esse declara- 
 tus sive declarandi a seperalibus et respectivis officiis suis 
 ipso facto et sine aliquo ulteriore processu realiter, et ad 
 omnes intenciones et proposita quecunque amotus sit et erit, 
 amoti sint et erunt, et hoc toties quoties casus sic acciderit, 
 aliquo in contrarium inde non obstante : Et ut maior, ballivi 
 et burgenses burgi predicti et eorum successores de tempore 
 in tempus onera et expensas burgi predicti melius sustinere 
 et supportare possint et valeant de gratia nostra speciali ac 
 ex certa scientia et mero motu nostris concessimus ac per 
 presentes pro nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris con- 
 cedimus licentiam specialem legittimam et licitam facultatem, 
 potestatem et authoritatem damns prefatis maiori, ballivis et 
 burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus suis ad habendum, 
 perquirendum, recipiendum et retinendum eis et successoribus 
 suis imperpetuum, tam de nobis, heredibus et successoribus 
 nostris, quam de quibuscunque subditis et ligeis nostris, aut 
 de aliis quibuscunque, sive aliqua alia persona sive aliquibus 
 aliis personis quibuscunque, maneria, mesuagia, terras, tene- 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Second. 187 
 
 successors from time to time and at all times for ever, to re- 
 move and declare removed the mayor, high steward, recorder, 
 aldermen, bailiffs, common clerk, burgesses of the common 
 council, coroners and treasurers of the borough aforesaid 
 named and constituted by these presents or hereafter to be 
 elected and named, or any one or more of them, at the will 
 and pleasure of us, our heirs and successors, by any ordinance 
 of us, our heirs or successors made in the Privy Council and 
 under the seal of the Privy Council aforesaid respectively 
 signified to them: And as often as we, our heirs and successors, 
 by any such ordinance made in the Privy Council shall declare 
 such mayor, high steward, recorder, common clerk, or any 
 one or more of the aldermen, burgesses of the common 
 council, coroners or treasurers of the borough aforesaid for 
 the time being declared or to be declared so removed as 
 is aforesaid, that then and so often the mayor, high steward, 
 recorder, common clerk and any one or more of the alder- 
 men, burgesses of the common council, coroners and treasurers 
 of the borough aforesaid for the time being declared or to be 
 declared to be removed from their separate and respective 
 offices ipso facto and without any further process really and 
 to all intents and purposes whatsoever, may be and shall 
 be so removed, and this so often as the case shall so happen, 
 anything to the contrary thereof notwithstanding : And that 
 the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid 
 and their successors from time to time may and may be able 
 better to sustain and support the burdens and expenses of 
 the borough aforesaid, of our special grace and from our 
 certain knowledge and mere motion we have granted and by 
 these presents for us, our heirs and successors, we grant 
 special legitimate licence, and we give lawful faculty, power 
 and authority to the beforenamed mayor, bailiffs and bur- 
 gesses of the borough aforesaid and to their successors, to 
 have, acquire, receive and retain to them and their successors 
 for ever, as well from us, our heirs and successors, as from any 
 our subjects and lieges, or from others whomsoever, whether 
 from any other person or any other persons whomsoever, 
 
1 88 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 menta, rectorias, decimas, redditus, revenciones, servicia et 
 alia possessiones et hereditamenta quecunque infra burgum 
 Cantabrigie predicte seu infra suburbia, libertates, limites 
 aut precincta eiusdem burgi existentes : dummodo eadem 
 maneria, mesuagia, terre, tenementa, rectorie, decime, redditus, 
 reverciones^ servicia et alie possessiones seu hereditamenta 
 per eosdem maiorem, ballivos et burgenses burgi predicti 
 et successores suos sic ut prefertur habenda, perquirenda, 
 recipienda et retinenda in toto non excedant valorem sexa- 
 ginta librarum per annum, statuto de terris et tenementis 
 ad manum mortuam non ponendis aut aliquo alio statuto, 
 actu, ordinacione, provisione seu restriccione in contrarium 
 inde antehac habito, facto, edito, ordinato seu proviso, aut 
 aliqua alia causa vel materia quacunque in aliquo non 
 obstante : Damus etiam ac per presentes pro nobis, heredibus 
 et successoribus nostris, concedimus cuicunque subdito nostro 
 et quibuscunque subditis nostris, heredum et successorum 
 nostrorum, potestatem, licenciam et authoritatem, quod 
 maneria, mesuagia, terras, tenementa, rectorias, decimas, 
 redditus, reverciones^ servicia et alia possessiones et here- 
 ditamenta quecunque infra burgum predictum aut infra 
 suburbia, libertates, limites, seu precincta eiusdem burgi 
 existentes, prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi 
 predicti et successoribus suis dare, legare, concedere, alienare 
 sive convenire^ possint et valeant : dummodo eadem maneria, 
 mesuagia, terre, tenementa, rectorie, decime, redditus, reven- 
 ciones, servitia, et alia possessiones et hereditamenta non 
 excedant clarum annuum valorem sexaginta librarum per 
 annum, statuto de terris et tenementis ad manum mortuam 
 non ponendis aut aliquo alio statuto, actu, ordinacione, pro- 
 visione seu restriccione inde in contrarium antehac habito, 
 facto, edito, ordinato seu proviso non obstante : Et ulterius de 
 ampliori gracia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia et mero 
 motu nostris concessimus, approbavimus, dedimus, ratificavi- 
 mus et confirmavimus ac per presentes pro nobis heredibus 
 et successoribus nostris concedimus, approbamus, damus, 
 
 ^ reveticiones MS. ^ ? for convehere. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Second, 189 
 
 manors, messuages, lands, tenements, rectories, tithes, rents, 
 reversions, services and other possessions or hereditaments 
 whatsoever being within the borough of Cambridge aforesaid 
 or within ,the suburbs, liberties, limits or precincts of the said 
 borough : provided that the said manors, messuages, lands, 
 tenements, rectories, tithes, rents, reversions, services and 
 other possessions or hereditaments to be had, acquired, received 
 and retained, by the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid and their successors so as is aforesaid, in 
 all do not exceed the value of sixty pounds a year, the 
 statute concerning the not putting of lands and tenements 
 in mortmain, or any other statute, act, ordinance, provision 
 or restriction to the contrary thereof heretofore had, made, 
 promulgated, ordained or provided, or any other cause or 
 matter whatsoever in any wise notwithstanding : We give 
 also and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, 
 we grant to all and every one or more of the subjects 
 of us, our heirs and successors, power, licence and authority 
 that they may be able to and can give, lease, grant, alienate 
 or convey manors, messuages, lands, tenements, rectories, 
 tithes, rents, reversions, services and other possessions and 
 hereditaments whatsoever, being within the borough aforesaid 
 or within the suburbs, liberties, limits or precincts of the said 
 borough to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid and to their successors : provided that the 
 said manors, messuages, lands, tenements, rectories, tithes, 
 rents, reversions, services and other possessions and heredita- 
 ments do not exceed the clear annual value of sixty pounds 
 a year, the statute concerning the not putting of lands and 
 tenements in mortmain, or any other statute, act, ordinance, 
 provision or restriction to the contrary thereof heretofore had, 
 made, promulgated or provided, notwithstanding : And further 
 of our ampler special grace and from our certain knowledge 
 and mere motion, we have granted, approved, given, ratified 
 and confirmed and by these presents for us, our heirs and 
 successors, we grant, approve, give, ratify and confirm to the 
 aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough of 
 
190 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 ratificamus et confirmamus predictis maiori, ballivis et burgen- 
 sibus burgi de Cantabrigia predicta et successoribus suis 
 omnia et omnimoda tot, tanta, talia, eadem, huiusmodi et 
 consimilia officia, officiarios, concessiones, liberas consuetu- 
 dines, libertates, privilegia, franchesias, potestates, leges et 
 constituciones facienda et ordinanda [et] tenenda curias, fines, 
 amerciamenta, immunitates, quietancias, exempciones, ferias, 
 nundinas, mercata, theolonea, tolneta, iura, iurisdicciones, 
 comoditates, emolumenta, maneria, messuagia, terras, tene- 
 menta et hereditamenta quecunque quot, quanta, qualia 
 et que nuper maior, ballivi et burgenses burgi de Cantabrigia 
 predicta aut eorum aliqui antehac habuere, tenuere, usi vel 
 gavisi fuerunt aut habere, tenere, uti vel gaudere debuerunt, 
 per nomen maioris, ballivorum et burgensium burgi de 
 Cantabrigia aut per nomen ballivorum et burgensium burgi 
 de Cantabrigia aut per nomen burgensium burgi de Canta- 
 brigia sive per quecunque alia nomina sive per quodcunque 
 aliud nomen aut per quamcunque incorporacionem vel corpus 
 politicum seu pretextu cuiuscunque incorporacionis vel cor- 
 poris politici premissa aut eorum aliqua data seu concessa 
 fuerunt predictis nuper maiori, ballivis et burgensibus aut 
 aliquibus seu alicui predecessorum suorum racione vel pre- 
 textu aliquarum cartarum aut literarum patentium per nos 
 vel per aliquem progenitorum sive antecessorum nostrorum 
 quoquomodo antehac factarum, confirmatarum vel conces- 
 sarum, aut racione vel pretextu alicuius legittime prescrip- 
 cionis, usus seu consuetudinis antehac habite seu usitate, seu 
 quocunque alio legali modo, iure seu titulo, licet eadem seu 
 eorum aliquod vel aliqua antehac usi non fuerunt vel fuit, aut 
 abusi vel male usi, vel discontinuati fuere vel fuit, aut licet 
 eadem aut eorum aliquod vel aliqua deperdita aut forisfacta 
 sint aut fuerint, tamen sub limitacionibus et provisionibus 
 predictis, habendum, tenendum, occupandum, possidendum 
 et gaudendum eadem maneria, mesuagia, terras et tenementa, 
 libertates, privilegia, franchesias, iurisdicciones et cetera 
 premissa eisdem maiori, ballivis et burgensibus burgi predicti 
 et successoribus suis imperpetuum : Reddendo inde nobis, 
 
Letters Pate^it of Charles the Second. 191 
 
 Cambridge aforesaid and to their successors, to make and 
 ordain all and all sorts, so many, so great, such, the same, like 
 and similar offices, officers, grants, free customs, liberties, privi- 
 leges, franchises, powers, laws and customs and to hold courts, 
 fines, amercements, immunities, acquittances, exemptions, 
 feasts, fairs, markets, takings, tolls, rights, jurisdictions, com- 
 modities, emoluments, manors, messuages, lands, tenements 
 and hereditaments whatsoever, as, so many, such like and 
 which formerly the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough 
 of Cambridge aforesaid or any of them heretofore have had, 
 held, used or enjoyed or ought to have had, held, used or 
 enjoyed under the name of the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses 
 of the borough of Cambridge, or under the name of the 
 bailiffs and burgesses of the borough of Cambridge, or under 
 the name of the burgesses of the borough of Cambridge or 
 under whatever other names, or under whatever other name, 
 or under whatever incorporation or body politic, or by pre- 
 text of whatever incorporation or body politic the premises 
 or any of them have been given or granted to the aforesaid 
 late mayor and bailiffs, or any one or more of their prede- 
 cessors, by reason or pretext of any charters or letters patent 
 heretofore in any way made, confirmed or granted by us or 
 by any of our ancestors or predecessors, or by reason or 
 pretext of any legitimate prescription, use or custom hereto- 
 fore had or used, or by any other lawful manner, right or 
 title, although the same or any one or more of them hereto- 
 fore has or have been not used, or has or have been abused, 
 or badly used, or discontinued, and although the same or any 
 one or more of them have been lost or forfeited under the 
 aforesaid limitations and provisions, to have, hold, occupy, 
 possess and enjoy the said manors, messuages, lands and tene- 
 ments, liberties, privileges, franchises, jurisdictions and other 
 the premises to the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the 
 borough aforesaid and to their successors for ever: Rendering 
 thence to us, our heirs and successors, such, like and similar 
 rents, services, sums of money and tenures as thence hereto- 
 fore were due, payable and of right accustomed to us : 
 
192 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris, talia, huiusmodi et con- 
 similia redditus, servicia, denariorum summas et tenuras 
 qualia proinde nobis antehac debita solubilia et de iure 
 consueta fuerunt : Quare volumus et per presentes pro nobis, 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris concedimus prefatis maiori, 
 ballivis et burgensibus burgi de Cantabrigia predicta et 
 successoribus suis quod habeant, teneant, utantur et gaudeant 
 ac plene habere tenere uti et gaudere possint et valeant im- 
 perpetuum omnia et omnimoda predicta maneria, mesuagia, 
 terras et tenementa, redditus, reverciones, libertates, privilegia, 
 potestates, franchesias, Hberas consuetudines, authoritates, 
 consuetudines, exempciones, iurisdicciones, quietancias, here- 
 ditamenta et cetera premissa quecunque predicta secundum 
 tenorem et effectum harum literarum nostrarum patentium 
 sine occasione velimpedimento nostri heredum vel successorum 
 nostrorum quorumcunque : Nolentes quod iidem maior, 
 ballivi et burgenses burgi predicti vel eorum aliqui vel 
 aliquis nee aliquis burgensis burgi predicti racione premis- 
 sorum sive eorum alicuius per nos vel per heredes vel 
 successores nostros iusticiarios, vicecomites aut alios ballivos 
 seu ministros nostros heredum seu successorum nostrorum 
 quorumcunque inde occasionentur, molestentur, vexentur seu 
 graventur, molestetur, vexetur, gravetur seu in aliquo pertur- 
 betur : Proviso semper et firmiter per presentes pro nobis 
 heredibus et successoribus nostris prefatis maiori, ballivis et 
 burgensibus burgi predicti et successoribus suis precipimus et 
 mandamus quod he litere nostre patentes aut aliquid in 
 eisdem contentum non aliqualiter extendat ad preludicium, 
 oneracionem seu impedimentum iurisdiccionum, privilegiorum, 
 libertatum, consuetudinum, prescriptionum, composicionum, 
 easiamentorum, finium, forisfacturarum, amerciamentorum, 
 proficuorum seu hereditamentorum quorumcunque cancellario, 
 magistris et scholaribus universitatis nostre Cantabrigie seu 
 alicui seu aliquibus predecessorum suorum per quodcunque 
 nomen incorporacionis seu per quecunque nomina incorpora- 
 cionum per nos aut aliquos aut aliquem progenitorum aut 
 antecessorum nostrorum nuper regum seu reginarum Anglie 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Second. 193 
 
 Wherefore we will and by these presents for us, our heirs and 
 successors, we grant to the aforenamed mayor, bailiffs and 
 burgesses of the borough of Cambridge aforesaid and to their 
 successors that they may have, hold, use and enjoy and can 
 and may be able to have, hold, use and enjoy fully for ever all 
 and all kinds of the aforesaid manors, messuages, lands and 
 tenements, rents, reversions, liberties, privileges, powers, 
 franchises, free customs, authorities, customs, exemptions, 
 jurisdictions, acquittances, hereditaments and other premises 
 aforesaid whatsoever, according to the tenour and effect of 
 these our letters patent, without let or hindrance of us, our 
 heirs or successors whomsoever : Being unwilling that the said 
 mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough aforesaid or any 
 one or more of them, or any burgess of the borough afore- 
 said by reason of the premises or any of them should herein 
 be let, molested, vexed or impeded or in any way disturbed 
 by us or by our heirs or successors, justices, sheriffs or 
 other bailiffs or servants of us or of our heirs or successors 
 whomsoever: Provided always and we strictly enjoin and 
 command by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, 
 to the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough afore- 
 said and to their successors, that these our letters patent 
 or anything contained in the same shall not in any way 
 extend to the prejudice, injury or hindrance of the juris- 
 dictions, privileges, liberties, customs, prescriptions, com- 
 positions, easements, fines, forfeitures, amercements, profits 
 or hereditaments whatsoever granted or mentioned to be 
 granted to the chancellor, masters and scholars of our 
 university of Cambridge or any one or more of their pre- 
 decessors, under whatever name of incorporation or under 
 whatever names of incorporation by us or any one or more of 
 our ancestors or predecessors sometime Kings or Queens of 
 England, or by the said chancellor, masters and scholars, or 
 to other persons privileged within our university aforesaid by 
 reason or pretext of any legitimate prescription, use or custom 
 heretofore had, made or used, but that the said chancellor, 
 masters and scholars and their successors may have, hold 
 
 B.C. 13 
 
194 Charters of the Borottgh of Cambridge, 
 
 concessorum seu mencionatorum fore concessorum seu ab 
 iisdem cancellario magistris et scholaribus vel [ad] alias 
 personas infra universitatem nostram predictam privilegiatas, 
 racione vel pretextu alicuius legittime prescripcionis, usus seu 
 consuetudinis antehac habite, facte seu usitate, sed quod iidem 
 cancellarius, magistri et scholares et successores sui omnibus 
 talibus iurisdiccionibus, privilegiis, libertatibus, consuetudini- 
 bus, prescripcionibus, composicionibus seu easiamentis, 
 finibus, forisfacturis, amerciamentis, proficuis et heredita- 
 mentis habeant, teneant et gaudeant ac habere, tenere et 
 gaudere valeant et possint, libere, pacifice et quiete, hiis 
 presentibus aut aliquo in eisdem contento non obstante : Eo 
 quod expressa mencio de vero valore annuo vel certitudine 
 premissorum seu eorum alicuius aut de aliis donis sive 
 concessionibus per nos seu per aliquem progenitorum sive 
 predecessorum nostrorum prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensi- 
 bus burgi de Cantabrigia ante hec tempora factis in presenti- 
 bus minime facta existit, aut aliquo statuto, actu, ordinacione, 
 provisione, proclamacione sive restriccione in contrarium inde 
 antehac habito, facto, edito, ordinato sive proviso, aut aliqua 
 alia re, causa vel materia quacunque in aliquo non obstante : 
 In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus 
 patentes : Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium tertio die 
 Januarii, anno regni nostri tricesimo sexto. 
 
 Per breve de privato sigillo. 
 
 PiGOTT. 
 
 Pro fine in Hanaperio iij//. v]s. viijV. 
 
 Guilford, C. S. 
 
 Irrotulate in Memorandis scaccarii ciii Rotulo apud West- 
 monasterium scilicet inter commissiones et litteras patentes de 
 termino Pasche anno tertio regni regis Jacobi secundi ex parte 
 Rememoratoris Thesaurarii. 
 
 Jo. Tayleure. 
 
Letters Patent of Charles the Second. 195 
 
 and enjoy and may be able to and can have, hold and enjoy 
 freely, peacefully and quietly, all such jurisdictions, privileges, 
 liberties, customs, prescriptions, compositions or easements, 
 fines, forfeitures, amercements, profits and hereditaments, 
 these presents or anything contained in the same notwith- 
 standing : Any omission in these presents of an express 
 mention of the true annual value or certainty of the premises 
 or of any of them, or of the other gifts or grants made by us 
 or by any of our ancestors or predecessors to the aforenamed 
 mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of the borough of Cambridge 
 before these times or any statute, act, ordinance, provision, 
 proclamation or restriction heretofore had, made, promulgated, 
 ordained, or provided, or any other fact, cause or matter what- 
 soever in any wise to the contrary thereof notwithstanding : 
 In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be 
 made patent : Witness myself at Westminster on the third 
 day of January in the thirty-sixth year of our reign. 
 
 By writ of Privy Seal. 
 
 PiGOTT. 
 
 For fine into the Hanaper £\ 6j. %d. 
 
 Guilford, C. S. 
 
 Enrolled in the Memoranda of the Exchequer in Roll 103 
 at Westminster to wit amongst the commissions and the letters 
 patent of Easter Term of the third year of the reign of King 
 James the Second on behalf of the Treasurer's Remembrancer. 
 
 John Taylor. 
 
 13—2 
 
196 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I. LllTERE EXEMPLIFICATORIE ReGIS EdWARDI TeRTII. 
 
 1265 ^Edwardus dei gracia Rex Anglie Dominus Hibernie et Aqui- 
 
 Nov. 20 tannic omnibus ad quos presentes litere pervenerint salutem. In- 
 speximus placitum et processum habitos coram baronibus de scac- 
 cario nostro in hec verba : Placita coram baronibus de scaccario de 
 octabis sancti Martini anno regni Regis Edvvardi tercii post con- 
 questum quadragesimo. Prior de Caldewelle venit coram baronibus 
 xviij die Novembris hoc termino per lohannem de Roderham attor- 
 natum suum et queritur per billam de Edmundo Litester ballivo ville 
 Cantebrigie presente super compoto suo de debitis domini Regis 
 levabilibus intra libertatem eiusdem ville reddito hie {sic) modo in 
 octabis sancti Martini pro hominibus ville predicte de eo quod cum 
 maior et ballivi predicte ville Cantebrigie qui pro tempore erunt 
 reddent prefato priori annuatim xii marcas x solidos pro tercio 
 denario firme ville predicte quos quidem xii marcas x solidos dominus 
 lohannes dudum Rex Anglie progenitor domini Regis nunc assignavit 
 comiti David et licet idem ballivus integram firmam ville predicte 
 levaverit et idem prior ipsum ballivum solvendi ei redditum ilium 
 sepius requisierit, idem tamen ballivus colore officii sui redditum 
 predictum de duobus annis proxime preteritis videlicet quolibet anno 
 xii marcas x solidos penes ipsum detinet et inde nichil predicto 
 priori solvere voluit set solucionem redditi illius contradixit et adhuc 
 contradicit unde deterioratur et dampnum habet ad valenciam xl 
 librarum : Et hec offert &c. : Et predictus ballivus presens &c. : Et 
 super premissis per barones allocutus defendit dampnum et quicquid 
 &c. : Et petit diem inde loquendi usque in crastinum et habet 
 eundem diem : Et predictus prior similiter : Ad quern diem predictus 
 prior venit per dictum attornatum suum : Et lohannes de Londonia 
 maior dicte ville Cantebrigie et predictus ballivus veniunt similiter in 
 
 1 Original in Borough Archives. Exchequer seal appended, not by silk strings 
 but by parchment queue. 
 
Letters Exemplijicatory of King Edward ike Third, 197 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I. Letters Exempli ficatory of King Edward the Third. 
 
 * Edward by the grace of God King of England, Lord of Ireland 1365 
 and of Aquitaine, to all to whom the present letters shall come ^°^- '^° 
 greeting. We have inspected the plea and the process held before 
 the Barons of our Exchequer in these words: — Pleas before the 
 Barons of the Exchequer in the octave of Saint Martin in the fortieth 
 year of the reign of King Edward the Third since the conquest. 
 The Prior of Caldwell comes before the Barons on the 1 8th day of 
 November in this term by John of Rotherham his attorney and 
 complains by a bill concerning Edmund Litster^ bailiff of the 
 town of Cambridge now present on his account of the debts of 
 the lord King leviable within the liberty of the said town, ren- 
 dered in this manner within the octave of Saint Martin for the 
 men of the said town, inasmuch as that whereas the mayor and 
 bailiffs of the said town of Cambridge for the time being render to 
 the said Prior yearly 12 marks and 10 shillings on account of the 
 third penny of the farm of the said town, which 12 marks and 10 
 shillings the lord John formerly King of England, ancestor of our 
 present lord the King, assigned to Earl David and although the said 
 bailiff has levied the whole farm of the said town and the said Prior 
 has often called upon the said bailiff to pay him that rent, neverthe- 
 less the said bailiff under colour of his office keeps the aforesaid rent 
 for the two years last past, namely for each year 12 marks and 10 
 shillings in his own hands, and would not pay anything thereof to 
 the said prior but has refused the payment of that rent and still 
 refuses, whereby he is defrauded and suffers damage to the value of 
 40 pounds: And this he offers &c.: And the aforesaid baihff being 
 present &c. : And being called upon by the Barons concerning the 
 premises he defends the damage and whatever &c. : And he asks for 
 a day for pleading thereon, until the morrow and has the said day : 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. 109. 
 2 Dyer. 
 
19^ Ctiarters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 propriis personis suis : Et bene cognoscunt quod maior et ballivi 
 predicte ville Cantebrigie qui pro tempore erunt reddent prefato 
 priori annuatim xii marcas x solidos prout predictus prior per billam 
 suam predictam supponit et quod dictus redditus aretro est predicto 
 priori per duos annos proxime preterites : Et predictus prior petit 
 iudicium de cognicione &c. : Ideo consideratum est quod predictus 
 prior recuperet redditum predictum versus predictum ballivum vide- 
 licet xvij libras pro duobus annis predictis et dampna sua taxata per 
 barones ad xl solidos : Et idem ballivus pro iniusta detencione in 
 misericordia &c. : Et predictus prior remittit dampna &c. : et 
 concessit predicto ballivo diem solvendi ei denarios predictos in 
 festo concepcionis beate Marie virginis proxime futuro quern diem 
 solucionis dictus ballivus admisit &c. : Nos autem tenorem placiti et 
 processus predictorum ad requisicionem predicti prioris sub sigillo 
 de scaccario nostro duximus exemplificandum. In cuius rei testimo- 
 nium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste T. de Bodelowe 
 apud Westmonasterium xx die Novembris anno regni nostri tricesimo 
 nono. 
 
 per rotulum placitorum de anno xl termini sancti Michaelis. 
 
 II. LiTTERE Patentes Regis Henrici Sexti. 
 
 1455 ' Henricus dei gracia Rex Anglie et Francie et dominus Hibernie 
 
 ^"^^ ^^ omnibus ad quos presentes litere pervenerint salutem. Sciatis quod 
 cum prior prioratus de Anglesey et eiusdem loci conventus die 
 veneris in vigilia Apostolorum Petri et Pauli anno regni nostri 
 vicesimo sexto per quandam cartam suam dederint, concesserint et 
 carta ilia confirmaverint nobis quoddam gardinum vocatum Henablay 
 iacens in villa Cantebrigie inter aulam Sancte Trinitatis ex parte 
 australi et hospicium vocatum Garet hostelle ex parte boriali et 
 
 1 Original in Borough Archives. Great seal in yellow wax appended by 
 parchment queue. 
 
Letters Exemplificatory of King Edward the Third, 199 
 
 And the aforesaid prior likewise : On which day the aforesaid prior 
 comes by his said attorney : And John of London the mayor of the 
 said town of Cambridge and the aforesaid baiUff come likewise in 
 their own persons : And they fully acknowledge that the mayor and 
 bailiffs of the aforesaid town of Cambridge for the time being should 
 render yearly to the aforesaid prior 12 marks and 10 shillings, as the 
 aforesaid prior by his aforesaid bill alleges, and that the said payment 
 is in arrears to the said prior for the two years last past : And the 
 aforesaid prior asks for judgment on the acknowledgment &c. : 
 Therefore it is considered that the aforesaid prior shall recover the 
 aforesaid payment from the aforesaid bailiff, namely 17 pounds for 
 the two years aforesaid and his damages assessed by the Barons 
 at 40 shillings : And the said bailiff for unjust detinue in mercy &c. : 
 And the aforesaid prior remits the damages &c. and granted to the 
 aforesaid bailiff a day for payment to him of the aforesaid money on 
 the feast of the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary next ensuing 
 which day of payment the said bailiff agreed to &c. : We therefore at 
 the request of the aforesaid prior have caused the tenour of the 
 aforesaid plea and process to be exemplified under the seal of our 
 Exchequer. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to 
 be made patent. Witness T. de Bodelowe at Westminster the 20th 
 day of November in the thirty-ninth year of our reign. 
 
 By the roll of Pleas of the 40th year for the Michaelmas term. 
 
 II. Letters Patent of King Henry the Sixth. 
 
 ^ Henry by the grace of God King of England and France and 1455 
 Lord of Ireland to all to whom the present letters shall come ^^^^^ ^^ 
 greeting. Know ye that whereas the prior of the priory of Anglesey 
 and the convent of the same place on the Friday in the Vigil of the 
 Apostles Peter and Paul in the twenty-sixth year of our reign by a 
 certain charter of theirs have given, granted and by that charter have 
 confirmed to us a certain garden called Henablay lying in the town of 
 Cambridge between the hall called Trinity Hall on the South side 
 and the inn called Garret Hostel on the North side and abuts at the 
 
 ^ See Cooper, Annals^ i. 206. 
 
200 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 abuttat ad caput orientale super le Mylnestrete et ad caput occi- 
 dentale super fossam vocatam Kingesdiche, habendum et tenendum 
 gardinum predictum cum suis pertinenciis nobis, heredibus et as- 
 signatis nostris imperpetuum, prout in carta predicta plenius 
 continetur, nos de gracia nostra speciali et in recompensacione inter 
 alia cuiusdam fundi sive soli vocati strawlane sive Saltbithelane 
 nobis pro elargacione situs collegii nostri Regalis beate Marie et 
 Sancti Nicholai de Cantebrigia per dilectos nobis maiorem, burgenses 
 et comunitatem dicte ville Cantebrigie nuper dati et concessi dedimus 
 et concessimus et per presentes confirmavimus eisdem maiori, 
 burgensibus et comunitati eiusdem ville predictum gardinum cum 
 suis pertinenciis pro comuni transitu sive via inde fiendo et habendo 
 pro comunitate eiusdem ville a dicto vico vocato Milnestrete usque 
 aquam vocatam le Ree habendum et tenendum sibi heredibus et 
 successoribus suis absque aliquo nobis vel heredibus nostris inde 
 reddendo imperpetuum : eo quod expressa mencio de vero valore 
 annuo gardini predicti aut de aliis donis et concessionibus per nos 
 vel ahquem progenitorum nostrorum prefatis maiori et burgensibus 
 aut aliquibus predecessorum suorum ante hec tempora factis in 
 presentibus minime facta existit aut aliquibus statutis sive ordina- 
 cionibus editis, factis sive ordinatis non obstantibus. In cuius rei 
 testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus paten tes. Teste me 
 ipso apud Westmonasterium quintodecimo die March anno regni 
 nostri tricesimo tertio. 
 
 per breve de private sigillo et de data predicta auctoritate par- 
 liamenti. 
 
 Kyrkeham. 
 Irrotulatur. 
 
Letters Patent of King Henry the Sixth, 201 
 
 East end on the Mylnestrete and at the West end on the ditch called 
 Kingesdiche to have and to hold the garden aforesaid with its 
 appurtenances to us, our heirs and assigns for ever, as in the charter 
 aforesaid is more fully contained, of our special grace and in com- 
 pensation amongst other things for a certain plot or piece of ground 
 called Strawlane or Salthithelane lately given and granted to us 
 for the enlargement of the site of our Royal College of the blessed 
 Mary and Saint Nicholas at Cambridge by our beloved mayor, 
 burgesses and commonalty of the said town of Cambridge, we have 
 given and granted and by these presents we have confirmed to the 
 said mayor, burgesses and commonalty of the said town the aforesaid 
 garden with its appurtenances for a common passage or way thence 
 to be made and to be had for the commonalty of the said town 
 from the said street called Milnestrete as far as the water called " le 
 Ree" to have and to hold to them, their heirs and successors, without 
 any payment to be rendered thence to us or our heirs for ever : any 
 omission in these presents of an express mention of the true annual 
 value of the garden aforesaid or of the other gifts and grants made 
 by us or any of our progenitors to the aforesaid mayor and bur- 
 gesses or to any of their predecessors before these times or any 
 statutes or ordinances issued, made or ordained, notwithstanding. 
 In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made 
 patent. Witness myself at Westminster on the fifteenth day of 
 March in the thirty-third year of our reign. 
 
 By writ of the private seal and of the date aforesaid by authority of 
 parliament. 
 
 Kyrkeham. 
 Enrolled. 
 
202 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 III. Award on the toll of Northampton Burgesses. 
 
 1519 1x0 all true cristen people to whome this present wrightyng in- 
 
 dented of award shall come unto, Richard Ellyott knyght, and Lewes 
 Pollard knyght, too of the Kynges Justices of his comon bank, send 
 gretyng in our Lord God everlastyng. Where variance and debates 
 hath been dependyng between the mayar, beyliffs and burgesses of 
 the town of Cambrigge on that oon partie and the mayar, beyliffs 
 and the comburgesses of the town of Northamton on that other 
 partie, of, for and upon certeyn tolle and custome cleymed and 
 asked by the said mayar, beyliffs and burgesses of Cambrigge of 
 the said mayar, beyliffs, ffranchesed, ffremen and comburgesses of 
 Northampton for fysshys and barells and all other stuffe and merchaun- 
 dizes by them particularly bought in Stirbrigge ffeyre and all other 
 maner of passages and carriages thurgh and by the said town of 
 Cambrigge all tymes of the yere, which the seid parties have compro- 
 mitted them selffs to abyde and stond to the arbitrament, ordinaunce 
 and iuggement of us the said Richard Elyott and Lewes Pollard, and 
 we the said Richard and Lewes heryng and seyng aswell the tytles 
 and cleyme made by the said mayar, beyliffs and burgesses of 
 Cambrigge as the aunswers and allegyngs of the said mayar, beyliffs 
 and comburgesses of Northamton and also rypely perceyvyng the 
 same upon good deliberacyon and advysament by the assent of both 
 the seid parties have awarded in fourme folowying, that is to sey, ffirst, 
 where the said mayar, beyliffs and burgesses of Cambrigg have 
 certeyn plegges for tolle by them cleymed and asked of the said 
 mayar, beyliffs and comburgesses of Northamton by them taken at 
 Stirbrigge flfayre last holden, that the said mayar, beyliffs and burgesses 
 of Cambrigge or oon of them shall before the ffest of the exaltacion 
 of the holy Crosse next comyng upon request made, redely ver the 
 said gages to the ownar therof or to his deputie or deputies peying 
 so moche money, tolle and custome as the said gages ys leyd for, 
 and that the said mayar, beyhffs and comburgesses of Northamton 
 or oon of them shall paye yerly for ever for them and for all the 
 comburgesses and ffranchesed and fremen of the same town of 
 Northamton and ther successours to the said mayar, beyliffs and 
 
 1 See Cooper, Annals^ i. 302. In the Borough Archives. 
 
Award on the toll of Northampton Burgesses. 203 
 
 burgesses of Cambrigge and to ther successours or to ony of them 
 for all maner of stuffe, barelled ware and other merchaundizes bought 
 in the same feyre and all other passages and carriages thurgh and by 
 the seid town of Cambrigge at all tymes of the year only x^ by yere 
 in full recompence and satisfaccion of all maner of tolle or custome 
 hereafter to be due to the said mayar, beyliffs and burgesses of 
 Cambrigge and to ther successours and the same some of x^ to be 
 payd yerly in the tolle-both or ellswher within the said fayre in the 
 vigill of the exaltacion of the holy Crosse aforesaid to the seid 
 mayar, beyliffs and burgesses of Cambrigge aforesaid or to ony of 
 them over and besides for every cart that goeth loden owt of the 
 said ffayre with ther stuffe, the said cartar to paye to the said mayar, 
 beyhffs and burgesses of Cambrigge or to ther assynes for ever \f. 
 And also it ys awarded between the seid arbitratours that all fforeners 
 that be no comburgesses nor ffranchesed men nor freemen of the 
 said town of Northamton shall not be discharged by this present 
 arbitrament but to be contributours to the said mayar, beyliffs and 
 burgesses of Cambrigge accordyng to right and custome of the seid 
 ffayre this award not withstondyng. Also we the seid arbitratours 
 award that for further suarte of this owr award that the seid parties 
 before the ffest of All Saynts next commyng shall make indentures 
 eche to other concernyng this our award sealed with ther comon 
 sealles and after the same indentures be so sealed and delyvered 
 that the seid parties or ony of them shall delyver suche obligacyons as 
 they stond bounden in eche to other for the perfourmaunce of this 
 award. In witnesse wherof we the said arbitratours to every parte of 
 this present award have sette our sealles; yoven the iiij"* daye of the 
 moneth of June in the xi^^ yere of the reign of king Henry the viij^K 
 
204 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge. 
 
 IV. LiTTERE Patentes Philippi et Marie. 
 
 1^.7 'Philippus et Maria Dei gracia Rex et Regina Anglie, Hispani- 
 
 June 3 arum, Francie, utriusque Sicilie, Jerusalem et Hibernie, Fidei Defen- 
 sores, Archiduces Austrie, Duces Burgundie, Mediolani et Brabantie, 
 Comites Haspurgi, Flandrie et Tirolis, omnibus ad quos presentes 
 littere pervenerint salutem. Cum quidam annualis redditus octo 
 librarum quindecim solidorum et duorum denariorum annuatim 
 exeundus et soluendus de certis Shopis et lez Bowthes in Sturbridge 
 in comitatu nostro Cantebrige in tenura maioris, ballivorum et 
 burgensium ville nostre Cantabrige ad sustentacionem et manuten- 
 cionem certorum obituum, anniversariorum et annualis cuiusdam 
 elemosine erga pauperes infra predictam villam annuatim fiende 
 ratione cuiusdam actus parliamenti apud Westmonasterium anno 
 regni precharissimi fratris nostri Edwardi Sexti nuper Regis Anglie 
 secundo tenti ac ratione cuiusdam presentacionis secundum tenorem 
 eiusdem actus habite et facte in manus dicti nuper fratris nostri 
 devenit ac eciam in manibus nostris iam existit, et cum dictus 
 precharissimus frater noster a tempore eiusdem parliamenti annuatim 
 durante vita sua soluerit et dederit ac nos similiter a regno nostro in- 
 choato hucusque annuatim solverimus et dederimus prefatis maiori, 
 ballivis et burgensibus ville nostre predicte quendam alium annualem 
 redditum sex librarum decern solidorum et sex denariorum parcellam 
 suprascripti annualis redditus octo librarum quindecim solidorum et 
 duorum denariorum, ea intencione quod iidem maior, ballivi et 
 burgenses annuatim et de tempore in tempus predictum annualem 
 redditum sex librarum decem solidorum et sex denariorum per nos 
 ut prefertur eisdem datum et solutum erogarent et distribuerent ac 
 erogari et distribui facerent pauperibus et egenis infra predictam 
 villam nostram Cantebrige inhabitantibus commorantibus ad tempora 
 et loca usitata iuxta pias et laudabiles donatorum voluntates ac modo 
 et forma prout iidem maior, ballivi et burgenses semper antea usi ac 
 facere soliti fuissent : Sciatis igitur quod nos tam pro causis et con- 
 sideracionibus predictis ac intuitu pietatis quam habemus ad pios 
 ecclesie ritus et ceremonias secundum catholicam fidem et donatorum 
 voluntates infra predictam villam nostram Cantebrige annuatim 
 imperpetuum de cetero fiendas et observandas, ac eciam pro eo quod 
 
 ^ Original in Borough Archives with a portion of the great seal in brown 
 wax appendant. Initials elaborately adorned with portraits of the King and 
 Queen, Tudor arms, &c. 
 
^<^ Life ':!}•> 
 Letters Patent of Philip and Mary. 205 
 
 IV. Letters Patent of Philip and Mary. 
 
 ^Philip and Mary, by the grace of God, King and Queen of i557 
 England, Spain, France, the two Sicilies, Jerusalem, and Ireland, "^""^ ^ 
 Defenders of the Faith, Archdukes of Austria, Dukes of Burgundy, 
 Milan and Brabant, Counts of Hapsburg, Flanders, and Tyrol, to all 
 to whom the present letters shall come, greeting. Whereas a 
 certain yearly rent of eight pounds, fifteen shillings and twopence, 
 yearly issuing and to be paid from certain shops and booths in 
 Sturbridge in our county of Cambridge in the tenure of the mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of our town of Cambridge, for the support and 
 maintenance of certain obits, anniversaries and of a certain annual 
 alms to be made to the poor within the aforesaid town yearly, by 
 reason of a certain act of a parliament held at Westminster in the 
 second year of the reign of our dearest brother Edward the Sixth late 
 King of England, and by reason of a certain presentment had and 
 made according to the tenour of the said act, fell into the hands of 
 our said late brother and is also now in our hands, and whereas 
 our said dearest brother, from the time of the said parliament yearly 
 during his life, paid and gave, and we likewise from the beginning of 
 our reign till now yearly paid and gave to the aforesaid mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses of our town aforesaid a certain other yearly 
 rent of six pounds, ten shillings and sixpence, parcel of the aforesaid 
 annual rent of eight pounds, fifteen shillings and twopence, with the 
 intention that the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses yearly and from 
 time to time should levy and distribute and cause to be levied and 
 distributed the aforesaid annual rent of six pounds, ten shillings and 
 sixpence given and paid by us to them as is aforesaid for the poor 
 and needy dwelling and staying within our aforesaid town of Cam- 
 bridge, at the times and places accustomed, according to the pious 
 and praiseworthy wills of the donors and in manner and form as 
 the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses ever before were used and 
 wont to make it : Know ye therefore that we, both for the causes 
 and considerations aforesaid, and by the prompting of the piety 
 which we feel towards the pious rites and ceremonies of the church 
 according to the catholic faith and towards the wills of donors 
 henceforth to be carried out and observed yearly for ever within our 
 aforesaid town of Cambridge, and also because the aforesaid shops 
 
 1 See Cooper, Annals, ii. 132. 
 
2o6 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge, 
 
 predicte shope et lez bowthes in Sturbridge predicta sunt et tempore 
 sessionis parliamenti predict! fuerunt terre custumarie et non de 
 nobis aut de aliquo manerio nostro tente ac proinde supradictus 
 annualis redditiis octo librarum quindecim solidorum et duorum 
 denariorurn de eisdem shopis et lez bowthes exeundus ac ut prefertur 
 annuatim soluendus iuxta puram simplicem legittimam intencionem 
 predicti actus parliamenti ac ratione et vigore eiusdem aliquo legittimo 
 modo in manus predicti precharissimi fratris nostri devenire non 
 debuisset et in manibus nostris iam existit aut existere potest quam 
 pro fidelitate, industria ac acceptabili servicio nobis per predictos 
 maiorem, ballivos et burgenses antehac habitis factis et impensis ac 
 imposterum habendis fiendis et impendendis de gracia nostra speciali 
 ac ex certa sciencia et mero motu nostris dedimus et concessimus ac 
 per presentes damns et concedimus prefatis maiori, ballivis et bur- 
 gensibus predicte ville nostre Cantabrigie, supradictum annualem 
 redditum octo librarum, quindecim solidorum et duorum denariorum 
 de predictis shopis et lez bowthes in Sturbridge annuatim exeundum 
 et soluendum adeo plene libere et integre ac in tam amplis modo et 
 forma prout iidem maior, ballivi et burgenses predicti postremo reci- 
 tatum annualem redditum vnquam habuerunt, usi vel gavisi fuerunt, 
 aut habere, vti vel gaudere debuerunt, aut potuerunt, si idem annualis 
 redditus nunquam in manus predicti precharissimi fratris nostri aut 
 nostras devenisset, et adeo plene, libere et integre ac in tam amplis 
 modo et forma prout idem annualis redditus ad manus dicti pre- 
 charissimi fratris nostri ratione vel pretextu predicti actus parliamenti 
 vel aliter quocumque modo devenit seu devenire debuit devenerunt 
 seu devenire debuerunt ac in manibus nostris iam existit vel extite- 
 runt seu existere debet vel debuerunt : Habendum, tenendum, 
 gaudendum et retinendum predictum annualem redditum octo 
 librarum quindecim solidorum et duorum denariorum per nos per 
 presentes preconcessum eisdem maiori, ballivis et burgensibus et 
 eorum successoribus imperpetuum ad opus, usus et intenciones 
 supradictas annuatim imperpetuum ut prefertur [ut] observarent 
 perimplendo : Mandantes enim et per presentes firmiter iniungentes, 
 precipientes tam Thesaurario et Baronibus Scaccarii nostri quam 
 omnibus et singulis receptoribus, auditoribus et aliis officiariis et 
 ministris nostris heredum et successorum nostre prefate Regine 
 quibuscumque et eorum cuilibet quod ipsi et eorum quilibet [per] 
 solam demonstracionem harum litterarum nostrarum patentium aut 
 
Letters Patent of Philip and Mary, TiQf 
 
 and booths in Sturbridge aforesaid are and at the time of the session 
 of the parhament aforesaid were customary lands and not held of us 
 or of any manor of ours, and therefore the aforesaid annual rent of 
 eight pounds, fifteen shillings and twopence issuing from the said 
 shops and booths and to be paid yearly as is aforesaid, according to the 
 pure, simple, lawful intention of the aforesaid act of parliament, and 
 by reason and by force of the same, could not come into the hands 
 of our aforesaid dearest brother and is not and cannot be in our 
 hands now in any lawful manner, and further for the fealty, zeal 
 and acceptable service hitherto had, done and rendered to us by the 
 aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses and henceforth to be had, 
 done and rendered, of our special grace and from our certain 
 knowledge and mere motion we have given and granted and by these 
 presents we give and grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and bur- 
 gesses of our aforesaid town of Cambridge the aforesaid annual rent 
 of eight pounds, fifteen shillings and twopence, issuing and to be 
 paid from the aforesaid shops and booths in Sturbridge yearly, as 
 fully, freely and wholly and in as ample a manner and form as the 
 said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses ever had the last-named yearly 
 rent or were wont to- use or enjoy or ought to or could have, use 
 or enjoy the same, if the said yearly rent had never fallen into the 
 hands of our aforesaid dearest brother or our own, and as fully, 
 freely and wholly and in as ample a manner and form as the said 
 yearly rent came or ought to come to the hands of our said 
 dearest brother by reason or pretext of the aforesaid act of par- 
 liament or otherwise in any way, and now is or ought to be in 
 our hands: To have, hold, enjoy and keep the aforesaid yearly rent 
 of eight pounds, fifteen shillings and twopence by these presents 
 above granted by us to the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses and 
 their successors for ever, that as is aforesaid they may see to the 
 fulfilling of the use, purpose and intents above named yearly for 
 ever: Ordering and by these presents firmly enjoining and command- 
 ing both the Treasurer and the Barons of our Exchequer, and all 
 and singular the receivers, auditors and other officers and ministers 
 of us and of the heirs of our aforesaid Queen, whomsoever and 
 to each of them, that they and each of them make and cause to 
 be made on a single exhibition of these our letters patent or of the 
 enrolment of the same, without asking, seeking or prosecuting any 
 other writ or warrant from us or the heirs or successors of our 
 
2o8 Charters of the Borough of Cambridge, 
 
 super irrotulamentum earundem, absque alio breui seu warrento 
 
 a nobis vel heredibus aut successoribus nostre prefate Regine quoquo 
 
 modo impetrando obtinendo seu prosequendo, plenam, integram, 
 
 debitamque allocacionem, defalcacionem, deduccionem et exonera- 
 
 cionem manifestam prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus et eorum 
 
 successoribus de omni predicto annuali redditu octo librarum quin- 
 
 decim solidorum et duorum denariorum per nos per presentes 
 
 preconcesso facient et fieri causabunt : Et hec littere nostre patentes 
 
 aut irrotulamentum earumdem erunt annuatim et de tempore in 
 
 tempus tam dictis Thesaurario et Baronibus Scaccarii nostri quam 
 
 omnibus et singulis predictis receptoribus, auditoribus et aliis offici- 
 
 ariis et ministris nostris heredum et successorum nostre prefate 
 
 Regine quibuscumque et eorum cuilibet sufficiens warrantia et exone- 
 
 racio in hac parte : Ac ulterius damus pro consideracione predicta ac 
 
 ex certa sciencia et mero motu nostris, [et] per presentes concedimus 
 
 prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus totum ilium predictum reddi- 
 
 tum octo librarum quindecim solidorum et duorum denariorum et 
 
 proficua eiusdem a festo Sancti Michaelis archangeli ultimo preterito 
 
 hucusque proveniencia sine crescencia : Habendum eisdem maiori, 
 
 ballivis et burgensibus ex dono nostro absque compoto seu aliquo alio 
 
 proinde nobis et heredibus vel successoribus nostre prefate Regine 
 
 quoquomodo reddendo, solvendo vel faciendo : Ac eciam volumus 
 
 pro consideracione predicta ac ex certa sciencia et mero motu nostris 
 
 per presentes concedimus prefatis maiori, ballivis et burgensibus quod 
 
 habeant et habebunt has litteras nostras patentes sub magno sigillo 
 
 nostro Anglie debito modo factas et sigillatas absque fine seu feodo 
 
 magno vel parvo nobis in hanaperio nostro seu alibi ad usus nostros 
 
 quoquo modo reddendo, solvendo vel faciendo : Eo quod expressa 
 
 mentio de vero valore annuo aut de certitudine premissorum sive 
 
 eorum alicuius aut de aliis donis sive concessionibus per nos vel per 
 
 aliquem progenitorum nostre prefate Regine prefatis maiori et ballivis 
 
 et burgensibus ante hec tempora factis in presentibus minime facta 
 
 existit aut aliquo statuto, actu, ordinacione, provisione sive restric- 
 
 cione inde incontrarium facto, edito, ordinato, seu proviso, aut 
 
 aHqua aha re, causa vel materia quacumque in aHquo non obstante : 
 
 In cuius rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. 
 
 Testibus nobis ipsis apud Westmonasterium vicesimo tercio die 
 
 Junii annis regnorum nostrorum tercio et quarto. 
 
 per breve de privato sigillo &c. 
 
 Naylour. 
 
Letters Patent of Philip and Mary. 209 
 
 aforesaid Queen in any way, full, entire and due allowance, ex- 
 emption, deduction and open exoneration to the aforesaid mayor, 
 bailiffs and burgesses and their successors, of all the aforesaid 
 annual rent of eight pounds, fifteen shillings and twopence granted 
 above by us by these presents : And these our letters patent or 
 the enrolment of the same shall be yearly and from time to time 
 a sufficient warrant and excuse in this behalf both to the said 
 Treasurer and Barons of our Exchequer and to all and singular 
 the aforesaid receivers, auditors and other officers and ministers 
 whomsoever of us and of the heirs and successors of our aforesaid 
 Queen and to each of them : And further we give for the considera- 
 tion aforesaid and from our certain knowledge and mere motion 
 and by these presents we grant to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs 
 and burgesses all that aforesaid rent of eight pounds, fifteen 
 shilHngs and twopence and the profits of the same from the feast 
 of St Michael the Archangel last past arising or accruing till now: 
 To have to the said mayor, bailiffs and burgesses of our gift without 
 rendering, paying or making any account or anything else therefor 
 to us and the heirs or successors of our aforesaid Queen in any 
 way : And also we will for the aforesaid reason and from our 
 certain knowledge and mere motion by these presents we grant 
 to the aforesaid mayor, bailiffs and burgesses that they may and 
 shall have these our letters patent under our great seal of England, 
 made and sealed in due manner without fine or fee, large or 
 small, to be rendered, paid or made to us into our hanaper or 
 elsewhere for our use in any way : Any omission in these presents 
 of an express mention of the true annual value or of any other 
 value or certitude of the premises, or of any of them, or of other 
 gifts or grants made by us or by any of the ancestors or prede- 
 cessors of our aforesaid Queen before these times to the before- 
 named mayor, and bailiffs and burgesses, or any statute, act, ordi- 
 nance, provision or restriction, made, issued, ordained or provided 
 to the contrary hereof or any other fact, cause or matter in any wise 
 notwithstanding: In witness whereof we have caused these our 
 letters to be made patent. Witness ourselves at Westminster, the 
 twenty-third day of June in the third and fourth years of our reigns. 
 
 By writ of privy seal &c. 
 
 Naylour. 
 
 Of THE 
 
 "^"VERSITY 
 
PRINTED BY J. AND C. F. CLAY, 
 AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. 
 
 M' H I /r/ 
 
14 DAY USE 
 
 RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED 
 
 LOAN DEPT. 
 
 I^nn^'hi'JK^''^ "^lA"^ ^^^ date stamped below 
 or on the date - whjch renew^ Rene^als^X: 
 
 ^^ee^B-tt--iitu5a-I^^ 
 
 FEB 2 c 
 
 16% CK JAN 2 3 7? 
 
 mw-^=-Ma 
 
 SAN DIEGO 
 
 INTERJJBRARnOAFt 
 
 BSCIRWirSI 
 
 JDi 1 1 
 
 fi£CClR.APR2 '82 
 
 LD21A-50m-2,'71 
 (P200lBlO)476— A-32 
 
 General Library 
 
 University of California 
 
 Berkeley 
 
 irsr^i Z 6 '-J*^^ 
 
 LD 21-100m-7,'40 (6936s) 
 
■yy . 
 
 ^-.y.v-