1231
1231. Salford
Randulph
de Blundeville,
Earl of Chester, granted a charter making Salford a free or corporate borough.
It is not dated, but was probably granted in or about 1231. The document is now
in the Peel Park Museum. The following is a translation made by Mr. T. N.
Morton :-
“Ranulf, Earl of
Chester and of Lincoln, to all now present, and to those who shall hereafter
inspect or hear of this present Charter, gives salutation.
“[I.] Be it known that I
have given, granted, and by this my present charter have confirmed, that the
town of Salford may be a free borough; and that the burgesses dwelling therein
may have and hold all these liberties underwritten: [II.] First, that every
burgess may hold one acre of land with his burgage, and shall pay for each
burgage twelve pence per year, for all rents pertaining to the said burgage.
[III.] If the reeve of the town challenge any burgess concerning any plea, and
the party challenged shall not appear at the day appointed, nor any other for
him, in the laghe-moot, he shall forfeit to me twelve pence. [IV.] If any
burgess shall sue another burgess for any debt, and he has acknowledged the
debt, the reeve may appoint a day for him to appear (in court), viz., the
eighth; and if he comes not he shall pay me twelve pence for forfeiture of the
day, and pay the debt, and the reeve four pence. [V.] If any burgess shall in
anger strike or beat any other burgess within the borough without shedding
blood, he may make peace for himself in view of the burgesses, saving my right,
viz., twelve pence. [VI.] And if any one shall be sued within the borough
concerning any plea, he shall not answer, if a burgess to a bondman, or to any
other, save in his own portmannemoot, that is, concerning a plea which
appertains to the borough. [VII.] If any burgess or other person accuse another
burgess of theft, the prefect shall summon him to answer and to stand judgment
in the portmannemoot, saving my right. [VIII.] If anyone shall be sued by his
neighbour, or by any other person, concerning any matter which appertains to the
borough, and the complainant makes no appearance for three days, if the
defendant shall have the testimony of the reeve and of his neighbours that his
adversary has failed to appear during those three days, he need give no answer
to that plea, and the other shall be at the mercy (of the lord of the borough).
[IX.] Also no burgess ought to take bread which is for sale, except at my
bakehouse, according to the reasonable customs (of the borough). [X.] If I shall
have a mill there, the burgesses may grind at such mill to the twentieth bushel
and if I shall have no mill there, they may grind wheresoever they wish. [XI.]
Likewise the said burgesses can choose the reeve from themselves, whom they
wish, and remove him at the end of the year. [XII.] And when any burgesses shall
wish to grant mortgage, or sell his burgage, he may do so to any one, unless
the heirs wish to buy it, and then the nearest shall have the preference, saving
my service, and so that it be not sold to religion. [XIII.] Moreover, the
burgesses may arrest their debtors for debts contracted in the borough, if the
debtor acknowledge the debt, unless they hold a tenement in the borough. [XIV.]
The chattels of the burgesses may not be detained for any other debts than their
own. [XV.] The aforesaid burgesses also and all theirs, of whomsoever they may
buy or sell, and wheresoever they may be within my lordships, whether at fairs
or markets, shall be free from toll, except the salt toll.
[XVI.] Whosoever shall break the assize, whether of bread or of beer,
shall suffer a forfeiture of twelve pence three times; and the fourth time he
shall perform the assize of the town. [XVII.] Also the said burgesses shall have
common free pasture in the wood; in the plain, and in all the pastures belonging
to the town of Salford; and shall be free from pannage in the same wood of the
town of Salford. [XVIII] The same burgesses may take reasonably in the aforesaid
wood all necessaries for building and for burning. [XIX.] Any one may also
implead for his wife and for his family, and and the wife of any person can pay
his fine, to be made to the reeve as he ought, and to follow the plea for her
husband, if he himself chance to be elsewhere. [XX.] A burgess, if he have no
heir, can leave his burgage and his chattels, whensoever he dies, to whom he
pleases, saving my right, viz., four pence, and saving the service pertaining to
the said burgage; so, however, that the burgage be not alienated in religion.
[XXI.] When a burgess dies his widow shall remain in the house with the heir and
there necessaries so long as she remain without a husband, and from the time she
may wish to be married again, she may depart freely without dower, and the heir
as lord shall remain in the house. [XXII.] Also when a burgess dies his heir
shall give no further relief to me, except arms, viz., of this kind - a sword, a
bow, or a lance. [XXIII.] No one within the wapontake of Salford, as a
shoemaker, currier, fuller, or any such, may exercise his calling, except in the
borough, saving the liberties of the barony. [XXIV.] The aforesaid burgesses,
moreover, shall pay my rent for the burgages at four periods of the year : viz.,
the Nativity of our Lord, three pence; Midlent, three pence; the feast of the
blessed John the Baptist, three pence; and the feast of the blessed Michael,
three pence. [XXV.] All the above pleas shall be decided before the bailiffs of
the lord the earl, upon view of the burgesses. [XXVI.] Whoever may wish to sell
his burgage, except to religion, and to leave the town, shall pay me four pence
and go freely wheresoever he wishes, with all his chattels. I, Ranulph and my
heirs will guarantee all the aforesaid liberties and customs to the said
burgesses and their heirs against all men for ever, saving to me and to my heirs
reasonable tallage, except when the lord King impose a tallage on his boroughs
throughout England. In the memory whereof to this present page I have affixed my
seal: Before these witnesses: (l) Sir William, Justiciar of Chester; (2)
Simon de Montfort; (3) Pagan de Chauworth; (4) Fulc son of
Warren; (5) Gilbert de Segrave; (6) Walkel de Arderne; (7)
Richard de Vernon; (8) Roger Gernet;
(9) Roger de Derby; (10) Geoffrey de Bury; (11) Hugh de
Biron; (12) Simon and (13) John, scribes; and many others.”
For further details the
reader may consult The Firsf Charter of
Salford, County Lancaster, by
J. E. Bailey, F.S. A., reprinted with additions &c., from the
Palatine note Book for July and August, 1882. (Manchester 1882)
1231. Manchester
Robert,
Baron of Manchester, died in 1230-31.
He had married a daughter of Henry de Longchamp, and was succeeded
by his son Thomas.
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