Northampton was given a grant of murage dated 4/10/1301.
This was in the form of:-
Wording
Grant to the mayor, bailiffs and good men of the town of Northampton of murage for five years. By bill of the Exchequer.
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The king to the mayor, bailiffs and good men of his town of Northampton, greetings. Know that we have granted to you, to help with enclosing the town for the security and protection of the town and neighbouring parts, that for five years from the date of issue of this document you may collect in the town the customs indicated below, viz:
For every horse-load of grain for sale, whether barley or whatever kind, a farthing.
For every horse, mare, bull, and cow for sale, a halfpenny.
For every hide of horse, mare, bull and cow, {whether} raw, salted or tanned, a farthing.
For five hogs for sale, a halfpenny.
For ten small {hogs?} for sale, a halfpenny.
For ten sheep, goats, or pigs for sale, a penny.
For ten fleeces for sale, a penny.
For every hundred woolfells from sheep or goats for sale, a penny.
For every hundred skins of lambs, kids, hares, rabbits, foxes, cats, and squirrels for sale, a halfpenny.
For every hundred of grey-work for sale, sixpence.
For every quarter of salt for sale, a farthing.
For every horse-load of cloth for sale, a halfpenny.
For every whole cloth for sale worth 40s., a halfpenny.
For every bale of cloth for sale, brought by cart, 3d.
For every hundred worsted cloths for sale, twopence.
For every worsted cloth called a coverlet for sale, worth 40s., a penny.
For every hundred linen cloths for sale, a halfpenny.
For every hundred linen cloths from Aylsham for sale, a penny.
For every hood {? chef} of stiffened silk for sale, a penny.
For every other {piece of} silk for sale, a halfpenny.
For every hundred salted mullet or dried fish for sale, twopence.
For every cart-load of saltwater fish for sale, a penny.
For every horse-load of saltwater fish for sale, a halfpenny.
For every salmon for sale, a farthing.
For every dozen lampreys for sale, a penny.
For every cask of sturgeon for sale, a halfpenny.
For every thousand herring for sale, a farthing.
For every horseload of ashes for sale, a halfpenny.
For every horseload of honey for sale, a penny.
For every sack of wool for sale, twopence.
For every cart-load of tan for sale, weekly, a penny.
For a hundredweight of any goods sold by weight, a penny.
For every wey of tallow or fat for sale, a penny.
For every quarter of woad for sale, twopence.
For two thousand garlic or onions for sale, a halfpenny.
For every bale of cordwain for sale, threepence.
For every hundred boards for sale, a halfpenny.
For every millstone for sale, a halfpenny.
For every hundred faggots for sale, a farthing.
For every cart-load of brushwood or timber for sale, weekly, a halfpenny.
For every hundredweight of tin, brass or copper for sale, twopence.
For every bale of any merchandize for sale worth over 10s., a halfpenny.
For every cask of wine for sale, three halfpence.
For all merchandize for sale not mentioned here that is worth 5s. or more, a farthing.
We therefore command that you may take the aforesaid customs up to the end of five years, but when that term is ended the customs shall entirely cease and be abolished. In which thing etc. lasting for the said five years, witness the king at Donypas, the 4th October.
Granted by Edward I. (Regnal year 29). Granted at Dunipace. Granted by bill of the Exchequer..
Primary Sources
Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1895,
Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward I (1292-1301) Vol. 3 p. 608
online copyChristopher Markham, (ed.), 1898,
The Records of the Borough of Northampton (Northampton) Vol. 1 p. 58-61
online copy
Secondary Sources
Coulson, Charles, 2009,
Murage Grants (Handwritten list and notes)
Page, Wm (ed), 1930,
VCH Northampton Vol. 3 p. 1-32
online copyBallard, A. and Tait, J. (eds), 1923,
British borough charters, 1216-1307 p. 349
online copy
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 10/01/2009. Last updated on 03/05/2012. First published online 5/01/2013.
