Edward II. ann. 15. in return for several kindnesses mentioned at large in his charter, (granted to the citizens of London. viz. That whereas they assisted him with armed footmen at the castle of Leeds, in Kent, &c.) grants that the same aids, &c. shall not be prejudical to the mayor, &c. nor be drawn into example.

Edward III. ann. 1. grants the citizens of London a very large and beneficial charter; wherein, according to the great charter, or the liberties of England, i. e. Magna Charta, all their antient liberties and customs are restored, and all usurpations of their former liberties revoked and annulled. He grants that the mayor and successors be one of the justices of the gaol delivery of Newgate, to be named in every commission; and that they have infangtheft, and +outfangtheft, and chattels of felons, &c ‡.

*

Also that according to former charters, they only pay three hundred pounds per annum, for the sheriffwicks of London and Middlesex. He also grants to the citizens, liberty to devise their lands in London in mortmain, or otherwise, as they were wont in former times. He likewise grants that the sheriffs of London should not be amerced any otherwise for the escape of thieves, &c. than other sheriffs on this side Trent; and that the citizens of London should not be charged with the custody of those that fly to the churches within their liberty for sanctuary, otherwise than of old accustomed, and that they may remove all wears in the Thames and Medway, and have the punishment thereof.

That all merchant-strangers that come to England to sell their merchandizes, &c. should be obliged to dispose of them in forty days: that they should not keep houses, but sojourn with the citizens, &c. he also grants that neither the marshal,

* Infangtheft, a liberty granted to lords of manors, to try and judge any thing taken in their fee.

+ Outfangtheft, is a like liberty for any thief taken out of their fee. See Holingshed. By this charter the king granted, that the franchises of the city should not thenceforth be seized into the king's hands for any cause, but only for treason and rebellion shewed by the whole city.

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steward,

steward, nor clerk of the market, of his houshold, should sit or exercise any power within the city. That the citizens should not be forced to plead out of the city. That no es cheator exercise any power within the city, but that the lord mayor for the time being, execute the office of escheator, and take an oath for the due performance thereof, and ac. count with the king and his heirs.

That the citizens, from henceforth, should not be obliged to go or send to war out of the city. That the constable of the Tower, &c. should not make any prizes in any respect, or arrest any boats bringing victual to the said city. That the citizens, as they were wont formerly, should have their keepers among themselves to hold the pleas touching their covenants or contracts, in the good fairs of England. That the sheriffs of London take no oaths at the Exchequer, but upon the giving up their accounts. He likewise restores to them all their former liberties and customs, which the justices of the Tower in their circuit had compelled them to claim, &c. He grants, that one writ of allowance of their charters should be sufficient for one king's time; and that no summons, attachments, or executions, be made by any of the king's officers within the liberties of the city, but only by the officers of the city; and that the sheriffs of the said city may lawfully take forfeitures of victuals and other things and merchandizes. He likewise grants, that if in the last circuit of the Tower, any thing was done or attempted contrary to their liberties, that the same should not be preju dicial to them, &c.

That the citizens of London, should be taxed in subsidies as other commons of the kingdom, and not as citizens. That they be quit of tallage, and that the liberty of the city be not taken into the king's hands for any personal trespass or judgment of any minister of the city; neither shall a keeper of the city for that reason be deputed, but the same minister shall be punished only according to his offence.

That no purveyor, or any other officer belonging to him or his heirs, should make any prize of the goods belonging to citizens without their consent, ncr make any prize of

their wines against their wills, &c. He likewise forbids his purveyors or other officers, to merchandize in any commo dity that related to their office. That all lands without the city, belonging to the officers of the same, be kept harmless, as their tenements are within the city. He also grants that no market be within seven miles of London. That all inquisitions be taken by the justices of London, in St. Mar tins le Grand, and not elsewhere, except the inquisitions to be taken for the Tower of London, and gaol delivery of Newgate: and that none of the freemen of the said city should be impleaded or troubled at the Exchequer, or elsewhere, by bill, except it be by those things that concern us and our heirs, &c.

"In his second charter, granted in parliament, ann. 1. he grants to the city of London, the village of Southwark, with the appurtenances, paying yearly at the Exchequer the farms thereof due and accustomed.

"In his third charter, ann. 11. granted in parliament to the city of London, the York statute is recited, wherein is enacted, that all merchant-strangers, as English, should sell their commodities, of what sort soever, at any cities, towns, or boroughs; notwithstanding their charters, liberties, &c. granted to the contrary. Nevertheless, the citizens of London are to enjoy their customs, according to Magna Charta, &c.

"In his fourth charter, ann. 28. he grants, that the serJeants of London may bear maces of gold or silver, within the liberties of the city of London, or without, in their attendance upon the king or royal family.

"In his fifth charter, granted, ann. 50. in parliament, he grants to the city of London, that the merchant-strangers coming into England, should board with a free host of the city, and not keep houses; and that there should be no brokers from henceforth, but what are chosen by the mer. chants which belong to the mystery in which the said brokers exercise their office.

"In the same charter, upon the humble petition of the mayor, aldermen, &c. The king in parliament grants to the

city of London, that no stranger should sell any goods by retail, or keep any house, or be a broker to the said city or suburbs *.

"Henry IV. in his charter, ann. 1. granted to the city of London for himself and his heirs, to the citizens and their heirs, to have the custody as well of the gates of Newgate and Ludgate as of all other gates and posterns belonging to the said city; with the office of gathering all toll and customs in Cheap, Billinsgate, and Smithfield, and also the tronage, i. e. the weighing lead, wax, pepper, allum, madder, and the like.

"Edward IV. in his first charter, ann. 2. grants to the city of London, for the more firm and entire establishing of the good government of the same, that they hold and enjoy all their liberties and free customs, as whole and sound as they had, and held them of any of his progenitors. He likewise grants that the mayor, recorder, and such aldermen as have been mayors, shall be discharged of the said office, and shall be justices of the peace for the putting all ordinances which are for the preservation of the peace and good government of the city, and of the suburbs and liberty thereof, as well by land as water, in execution; and that the said mayor, recorder, and aldermen, be justices of oyer and terminer; and that the mayor for the time being, and his successors, be of the quorum. And that the sheriffs of the city of London, be attendant upon the said justices; and aiding and assisting to them in preserving the peace of the city, as aforesaid; saving always to the said mayor, reeorder, aldermen and citizens, their customs, liberties, &c.

"He also grants to the city of London, that the customs of the said city be certified and recorded by word of mouth; and that the mayor and aldermen of the city, and their successors, do declare by the recorder, whether the things un

* A charter was granted in parliament to the city of London, ann.7. R. II. See Cotton's Records, 294, 466, &c. By which charter all their antient liberties and customs are restored and confirmed; all which may be found collected, and alphabetically digested in a tract said to be compiled by Sir Henry Calthorp, knight, and printed in the year 1642.

der

der dispute be a custom or not; and also grants the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the said city, that there be no forfeiture of the premiffes, upon the account of any nonuser, or abuser, &c.

"Also, that all persons inhabiting within the same, or the suburbs, or liberties thereof, should be contributory in proportion to their respective faculties, &c. to all taxes, grants, and talliages, &c. excepting only the merchants of Almain, which had a house in London commonly called, Guild-hall of the Almains.

"That the aldermen of the said city should not be put upon affizes, attaints, or juries, so long as they continue aldermen; and that those that have borne the office of mayor, should be utterly exempted for ever.

"Also, that the aldermen of London should not be collectors, or taxers, out of the city; and if they should be chosen to any of the said offices, they should not incur any penalty or imprisonment, upon the account of their re fusal.

"And whereas there were certain doubts concerning the use of some liberties belonging to the town of Southwark, formerly granted to the citizens of London by king Edward III. this king grants to the said city in a very large and extensive manner, the said town of Southwark, with all the appurtenances; and also all waifs, estrays, &c. and all treasure-trove in the town aforesaid, of all handy-works, goods and chattles of all traitors, felons, fugitives, and outlaws.

"Also all goods disclaimed, or found in the said town, with all escheats and forfeitures, as fully and wholly as he should have, if the town were in his own hands; and that it shall be lawful for the mayor, &c. to put themselves into possession thereof.

"He also grants to the mayor and commonalty of London, the assize of bread, wine, &c. victuals, and things salable in the said town; as also the clerkship of the market belonging to the said town, with all forfeitures and fines.

"And that the execution and return of writs, &c. be by the officers of the city of London, aud that neither the king's

clerk