Part 4

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

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

1298. To the Sheriff of Hereford.

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

Cal. of Close, 1296-1302, 171.

A Fair which was Farmed.

1331. TO THE TREASURER AND BARONS OF THE EXCHEQUER.

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

Cal. of Close, 1330-3, 265.

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

1205. Grant of a market at Wilton.

THE KING TO THE SHERIFF OF HEREFORD GREETING.

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

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

Provision against Encroaching Markets.

1205. THE KING TO THE SHERIFF OF LINCOLN GREETING.

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

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

1214. THE KING TO THE SHERIFF OF OXFORD GREETING.

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

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

1222. THE KING TO THE SHERIFF OF SOMERSET GREETING.

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

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

MARKET-PLACES.

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

1223. THE KING TO THE MAYOR AND BAILIFFS OF LINCOLN GREETING.

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