Carta Mercatoria was granted an exemption from murage dated 1/2/1303.
Wording
The king to the archbishops etc. greeting. With regard to the well-being of all merchants of the underwritten kingdoms, land and provinves, to wit, Almain, France, Spain, Portugal, Navarre, Lombardy, Tuscant, Provence, Catalonia, our duchy of Aquitaine, Toulouse, Quercy, Flanders, Brabant, and all other foreign lands and places, by whatsoever name they be known, coming to out realm of England and having dealings (conversantium) there, we are particularly concerned how within our dominion the benefit (immunitas) of tranquillity and complete security may be provided for these merchants in days to come, so that they may be readier to serve us and out realm, and, inclining to their petitions and ordaining in the form which follows for the fuller safeguarding of of their condition, we have decided to grant the said merchants for ourselves and our heirs for ever the things underwritten. First, to wit, that all merchants of the said realms and lands with their wares whatsoever they are may come safely and securely under our defence and protection into our said realm of England and everywhere else within our power free and quit of murage, pontage and pavage, and that within our same realm and power they may trade, in large quantities only, in cities, boroughs and market-towns …
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Statutum de Nova Custuma.
Edwardus, Dei gratia, Rex Anglise, Dominus Hiberniae, et Dux Aquitanniae, Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Abbatibus, Prioribus, Comitibus, Baronibus, et Justiciariis, Vicecomitibus, Praepositis, ministris, et omnibus aliis ballivis et fidelibus suis, ad quos praesentes litterae pervenerint, salutem. Circa bonum statutum omnium mercatorum subscriptorum regnorum, terrarum, et provinciarum, videlicet, Alemaniae, Franciae, Hispanniae, Portugaliae, Navarriae, Lumbardiae, Tusciae, Provinciae, Catelaniae, et Ducatus nostri Aquitanniae, Tholosaniae, Caturcini, Flandriae, Brabanciae, et omnium aliarum terrarum et locorum extraneorum quocunque nomine censeantur, venientium in regnum nostrum Angliae, et ibidem conversantium, nos praecipua cura sollicitat, qualiter sub nostro dominio, tranquillitatis et plente securitatis munimine eisdem mercatoribus futuris temporibus pneparetur; ut itaque vota ipsorum reddantur ad nostra et regni nostri servitia promptiora, ipsorum petitionibus favorabiliter annuentes, et pro statu eorundem plenius assecurando, in forma quae sequitur ordinantes, subscripta dictis mercatoribus, pro nobis et haeredibus nostris, in perpetuum duximus concedenda. Inprimis, videlicet, quod omnes mercatores dictorum regnorum et terrarum salvo et secure, sub tuitione et protectione nostra, in dictum regnum nostrum Angliae, et ubicumque infra potestatem nostram alibi, veniant cum mercandisis suis quibuscamque, de Muragio, Pontagio, et Pannagio {An error probably for pavagio} liberi et quieti. Quodque infra iidem regnum et potestatem nostram in civitatibus, burgis, et villis mercatoriis possint mercari, duntaxat in grosso, tam cum indigenis seu incolis ejusdem regni et potestatis nostne praedictse, quam cum alienigenis extraneis, vel privatis: ita tamen, quod merces quae vulgariter 'mercerte' vocantur, ac 'species' mutatim vendi possint, prout antea fieri consuevit. …
Hiis testibus, venerabilibus patribus, Roberto, Cantuariae Archiepiscopo, totius Angliae Primate, Waltero Coventrea et Lychefeldse Episcopo, Henrico de Lascy Comite Lyncolniae, Humfrido de Bohun Comite Herefordiae et Essexiae ac Constabulario Angliae, Adamaro de Valentia, Galfrido de Goneville, Hugone le Despenser, Waltero de Bello Campo, Senescallo hospitii nostri, Roberto de Burys, et aliis. Datum per manum nostram apud Wyndesore, primo die Februarii, anno regni nostri tricesimo-primo.
Granted by Edward I. (Regnal year 31). Granted at Windsor.
Primary Sources
Rothwell, H. and Douglas, D.C., 1996 (2edn),
English Historical Documents (Routledge) p. 515-18
Riley, H.T. (ed), 1860, Munimenta Gildhallæ Londoniensis: Liber albus, Liber custumarum, et Liber Horn Vol. 2 pt. 1 p. 205-211
online
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 27/01/2009. Last updated on 19/01/2013. First published online 6/01/2013.
