In 1317, the 11th. of Edward II of England, John fitz David de Barry requested and obtained from the exchequer a grant of £105 for the commonality and town of Buttevant for its walling. A further grant was made on 6 August 1375, the 49th. of Edward III, to the provost and commonality of the town together with the customs of its North Gate. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttevant)
in 1375 customs were granted as well as 'part of the waste of Buttevant and the North Gate' (Thomas)
In the 11th of Edward II., 1317, a grant of release of £105, required of the commonalty and town of Buttevant by the exchequer, to be applied to enclosing it with walls, was made at the request of John Fitz David de Barry, to whom the town belonged; and he was required to see that the money was duly employed in the same. In the 49th of Edward III., another grant was made, dated August 6th, to the provost and commonalty ratifying a former grant of part of the waste of the town, with the north gate and customs there. (Brash)
Harris (NLI, Ms 3) records this letter as having been attested by William Tany, prior of the hospital of St John of Jerusalem. (CIRCLE footnote)
A royal confirmation of a borough charter by which the upkeep of the North Gate was put into private hands. What was need to get a royal confirmation? Was the deal being challenged? By whom? How common were such borough deals? Would they only rarely be preserved in latter archives?