Part 3

The bishop has a lordship called St. Germans. In that lordship, on the day on which King Edward lived and died, there was a market held on Sunday. And now it is made nothing by the market set up close at hand by the count of Mortain in his castle, on the same day.

Exon. Domesday (Rec. Com.), 182, 470.

1087. Necessity to change the day of the market at Hoxne in Suffolk.

Ailmarus, the bishop, held Hoxne in the time of King Edward.... In this manor there was a market in the time of King Edward and afterwards. William the king came, and the market was held on Sunday. And William Malet made his castle at Eye; and on the same day on which there was a market in the bishop's manor, William Malet made another market in his castle, and that so much to the detriment of the bishop's market that this was of little worth. Now therefore it is held on Friday, but the market of Eye still takes place on Sunday.

Domesday (Rec. Com.), II. 379.

1087. Abolition of Launceston Market.

The canons of St. Stephen hold Launceston. Thence the count of Mortain has now taken a market, which was situated there in the days of King Edward, and which was worth 20s.

Domesday (Rec. Com.), I. 120b.

It appears always to have been the intention of the Government that markets and fairs should be held only in the stronger places of the country, where the just and peaceful transaction of business could be secured. Such a situation was in the later middle ages the rule, but that in an early period it was not universal appears from the existence of legislation on the subject.

1066-87. Law of William the Conqueror.

We forbid that any market or fair be held or suffered except in the cities of our realm and in the walled boroughs and in castles and in the safest places, where the customs of our realm, and our common right, and the dues of our crown, which were constituted by our good predecessors, cannot suffer loss nor fraud nor violation; for we will that all things be done with right forms and openly, and in accordance with judgment and with justice.

Thorpe, Ancient Laws and Institutes, 212.

NEW CREATIONS.

1214. Grant of a market and fair to William of Lancaster.

THE KING TO THE SHERIFF OF WESTMORELAND GREETING.

Know that we have granted to our beloved and faithful William of Lancaster that we have every week a market at his manor of Barton on Thursday, and that he have a fair there every year to last two days, the vigil and the feastday of All Saints. And therefore we command you to cause that the said William have the market and fair according to the tenor of our charter which he has.

Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), I. 173.

1215. Grant of a market to the men of Beer Hackett.

THE KING TO THE SHERIFF OF DORSET GREETING.

Know that we have granted to our men of Beer that they have a market at Beer every week on Wednesday, so that it be not to the injury of neighbouring markets. And therefore we command you to cause them thus to have that market.

Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), I. 220.

1205. Creation of a royal fair having for three years special privileges.

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

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

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

A fair or market was sometimes bought from the crown.

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

THE KING TO THE BARONS OF THE EXCHEQUER GREETING.