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ports; therefore the burgesses were naturally and continually enquiring for those privileges, and seeking for a further grant. Other ports had acquired grants for a mercantile guild (Hansa) with extra powers, and they therefore gladly paid ten marks for their second charter, that of

KING HENRY III,

which gave similar privileges, and also a very strong clause that no one should trade in the borough unless a member of the guild; that strangers were to be well treated, under a penalty, but were not to retail their goods in the borough without permission.

The other charters down to the time of King Charles I were merely confirmations of this, but sometimes omitting the restrictive clause.

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In Charles I's time "incorporation" was acquired by boroughs generally, with power to buy and sell, and this was provided by his charter "recovered in 1695. The charter of 1695, however, was obtained under somewhat peculiar circumstances, as the following extract from the records will show:-"A new Charter being obtained, Alexander "Norris was turned out of his Mayoralty and "Thomas Johnson senr was nominated by his Majesty to be Mayor in his Room, and upon the "third day of October, 1695, he was sworne by "Thomas Norris and Jasper Maudit Esqrs and "took the office accordingly." [L. R. iv. 700].

66

Four of the councillors who refused to be sworn and qualify themselves under this new charter were discharged, and others elected in their room.

Three charters, 9 to 12, were passed over in "recovering" that of Charles I.

The charters 13 to 17 concerned smaller matters, such as who should be justices and coroners, and for a Wednesday market.

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That granted by Queen Victoria created Bishopric of Liverpool, and made the ancient borough a new city.

2. CORPORATION MINUTES (1550-1835, and to the present time)-16 large folio vols. and 10 vols. of Committee Minutes. Of vol. I there is a copy made in 1749; 2, 3, and 4 are originals with signatures, 900 pages each; 5, 7, and 8 are rough originals; 6, 9 to 16, fair copies. Extracts from these volumes were chosen from the originals by Sir J. A. Picton, and are now bound up in 13 foolscap folio volumes. He also published certain selections from these extracts in two thick quarto volumes, arranged, not chronologically, but under certain headings or subjects.

The following notes, referring principally to

LIVERPOOL CHAPELS,

extracted from the Corporation Minutes and other sources, may be inserted here:

[1393-4.] Henry Duke of Lancaster gave a Rent of 12s. to the Chapel (?a chantry.) [O. Bk. 5, p. 143.]

No. 16.-(Liverpool Chaplain.)

[1465, 10 Oct. 5 Edw. IV.] Charles Gelybrond and Elena his wife grant to James Harebron, Mayor of Liverpool and its Comonalty, All those Lands and tenements which he lately had by the gift and feoffment of John Gerstan, in the Town and Field of Gerstan, for the support of a suitable Chaplain to officiate in the Chapel of St. Mary of the Quay otherwise at the Altar of St. Katherine in the Chapel of St. Nicholas, or at the Altar of St. Mary in the same Chapel.

Witnesses: William Norres, Thomas Norres, Robert Lathum, esquires.

Two Seals (imperfect): Crosse and Harebron.

No. 18.-(Liverpool Chapels.)

[1470, 20 Aug. 10 Edw. IV.] Edmund Crosse, Mayor of Liverpool and the Comonalty with William Brand, cleric, purchase from Robert Tailliour and Margaret his daughter half a burgage of land in Chapel Street, between the burgage of Robert Derby, deceased, on the east, and the Town Cemetery on the west, for the lives of Robert and his daughter Margaret Rendering them forty pence, at Easter and Michaelmas in equal portions. And if Margaret dies without heirs, the property to remain for the maintenance of a Chaplain for the Altar of blessed Mary the Virgin, as per charter. If the half burgage should require rebuilding the stipends of the Chaplains of St. Nicholas and of St. Mary of the Quay are not to be disturbed.

Mem. the said Robert bequeathed to the Chapel of St. Nicholas one patine and a skelet (little bell) after the death of Robert and his wife, and wished that his son should have the care of the same at the discretion of the Mayor and Comonalty.

No. 19.-(Our Lady's Altar in St. Nicholas.)

[1498, 23 Oct. 14 Hen. VII.] Evan Haughton Mayor and the Burgesses of Liverpool grant to William Harebroune one burgage with the edifices and gardens in Banke street, between land of Thomas Earl of Derby and the camera of Richard Bexwick on the west, land of Henry Bowlde Kt. on the east, Church land on the north, and Banke street on the south. Rent 6s. 8d. for the Chaplain of St. Nicholas at Our Lady's Altar. They appoint William Lake and Thomas Newhouse their attorneys to take possession.

Seal a merchant's mark.

No. 20.-(Liverpool.)

[1503, 30 Nov. 19 Hen. VII.] David Gryffyth, Mayor, and the Comonalty grant to Richard Bexwyke merchant one quarter burgage in Banke street, late in tenure of John Eves, between lands of Stanley on the west, of William Harebron on the east, for 60 years. Rent 3d. to the King, to the Mayor and Comonalty 3s. 4d. for 20 years, then 5s. for the next 20 years, then 6s. 8d. for 20 years and for ever, as also 3d. to the lord the King.

No. 22.-(Liverpool.)

[1515-16, 18 March, 7 Hen. VIII.] William More, squier, grants to David Gryfith, Mayor, and his Co-burgesses, a comyn way for carriages, up the Milne street to the fyldes of Lyverpool and will keep a gate in defence of the field . . . . in exchange for a lane called the Milne Hill Lane from the Milne street. Power to revoke within a twelvemonth. "Way by Ould Hall ” mentioned.

Seal: trefoil.

No. 25.-(Liverpool Chapel: St. Nicholas.)

[1523, 5 Oct. 15 Hen. VIII.] William More esq. Maior and Comonalty in fee farm grant to William Molyneux, Knight, a parcel of land next More-green, opposite the croft of William Fazakyrley of Kirkby, being 96 feet in length, by 60 feet in breadth at one end and 36 feet at the other; for a rent of sixpence sterling per annum, for the reparation of the Chapel of St. Nicholas in Liverpool. They attorn Richard Standish, to give seisin.

(Seal gone.)

No. 26.-(Liverpool: Rood Altar.)

[1530, 28 Nov. 22 Hen. VIII.] Thomas Rose, brother and heir of William Rose, late of Derby, to Roger Fazakyrley, Mayor of Liverpool and the Comonalty an annuity or annual rent of two shillings from three fourths of a burgage, formerly his brother William's, in Castle street, between lands of William More esq. on the north; and of Nicholas Thompson on the south for the use of a suitable Chaplain celebrating divine service at the Rood Altar in the Chapel of St. Mary and St. Nicholas.

Witnesses: John Walker, Thomas Walker, John Erlonde, Thomas Halghton, Ric. Barker, Rauff Baile, Thomas Harebrowne, Robert Griffith, William Bradshaw, and many others. Seal IR in hexagon.

No. 27.-(Little Crosby and other Townships.)

[1591, 12 Nov. 33 Eliz.] Queen Elizabeth, on the petition of Alexander Pigott and the advice of William, baron of Burghley, Treasurer of England grants to Richard Urmeston2 gen. two parts

2 Inq. p.m. 26 July, 1624, at Westleigh.

of Crosby Hall, 30 messuages, 10 cottages, 40 acres of land, 40 of meadow, 80 of pasture, 200 of moss and turbary and one wind mill of the yearly value of £20, reserving moreover £6 13s. 4d. in Little Crosby, 66s. 8d. in Great Crosby, 4d. in Thorneton, 20s. in Ince Blundell, 6s. 8d. in Orrell, 12d. in Liverpool, £4 in Ditton, 20s. in Warrington, 20s. in Bold, and 52s. in Hindley the property of Richard Blundell,3 a recusant. Also a messuage called "Ballam" in Westby, the property of William and Cuthbert Clifton, recusants, and certain tithes in Deyles in the parish of Kirkham at the rate of 13 6s. 4d., reserving in Ballam 13s. 4d. and in tithes 13s. 4d. Trees and timber excepted, but house-bote, fire, plough and cart-bote allowed.

Seal: 3 m × 2 in bag.

CHURCH LANDS, ETC.

[1540-1.] The Mayor and 12 most honest men to view the Church lands and tenements, to see that there be no waste or decay therein. [L. R. i. 34, 35.]

Mass between 5 and 6 in the morning.

[Ibid.]

The Mayor to view the Church walls once a year. [Ib. 38.]

A clerk to be hired that can sing his plain song and prick song and play on the organs. [16. 37, 44]

[1545, Nov.] Chantries confiscated.

[1555.] New adorning of the Church.

[1558-9, 5 Feb.] 2s. to pay a monk of B. . . . a book.

for mending

[1558.] Rents owing to the rood altar since Sr William Tyenson's [? Jansen] departure to be paid to officers. [L. R. i. 42, 58.]

[1558-9.] Also they do say that Tho. Fayreclough ought to deliver to Mr. Mayor for the town's behove a lawful cow which was in his custody after the free gift of Haydock's daughter to the rood altar and he to pay for the said cow. [Ib. i. 42, 57-]

Robt Mercer also had to account for one cow belonging to the rood altar.

Sr W. Tyenson departed.

[1559.] This year Sr Nichs Whyte p'est served the Communion and after conveyed himself away w'oute leave taking etc.

[L. R. i. 50 copy 80.]

[1559.] Sir. Evan Nicolassen alias Tomasson succeeded. [16. i. 112, 113.]

3 Ric. Blundell died in Lancaster Gaol, 19 Mar. 1591-2.

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