of England. 5. That, by reason of any trespass or forfeiture of their Servants, they, the said freemen, should not lose their Goods and Chattels found in the hands of, or elsewhere deposited by the said servants as far they could prove them to be theirs. 6. That, if the said freemen, or any of them should decease within the realm, testate or intestate, their Goods should not be Confiscated, but should resort entire to their Heirs, on sufficient proof, first made, that the Goods were the Property of the Deceased, and that the persons so claiming as Heirs, were really and truly such. And, 7. That no person should presume to molest or disturb the said freemen, in prejudice of the liberties and privileges hereby granted them, on pain of forfeiting for such offence, the Sum of Ten Pounds." This Charter was attested by Guy de Leziman, Geffery de Leziman, and William de Valencia, the King's half Brothers, John Mansell aforesaid, now Treasurer of the Church of York, Archibald de S. Romans, Robert Waterand, William de Grey, Walter de Merton, Imberic de Pugeys, William Bonquare, William de S. Ermina, and others: and was, in aftertimes, confirmed by Edw. III. Jan. Anno 16. RICH. II. 22 April, Anno I; HEN. IV. 29th

May

May, Anno 1; HEN. V. 21st Nov. Anno I; and EDWARD IV. 26th February Anno 20.

EDWARD III.

King Edward the Third, for the farther advancement of this Town, by his precept directed to the Sheriff, and bearing date at Westminster 1st June Anno 1351. ordered that the Fair holden here on Thursday in Whitsun Week, should thenceforth be continued for seven days longer, and that Proclamation should be made thereof, in all proper places within his Balliwick.

HENRY V.

King Henry the Fifth, by his Charter dated at Westminster 21st Nov. 1413, whereby also he confirmed all the Charters of his Predecessors, released to the freemen of Kingston and their Successors, 247 of the 50%. per Annum which they had hitherto paid for the firm of their VILL: instead whereof they were to hold the said Vill, in future, at the yearly firm of 261. only, and this with a little variation, was confirmed by another Charter of the same King, dated 1st March 1421. Anno regn. 8. wherein the fee firm, is called 261. 6s. 8d. But it seems

by

by what we may collect from subsequent records, particularly from their plea to the demand of Arrears as stated in the Pipe Roll of 5. 6. Phillip and Mary to have been reckoned only 267.

HENRY VI.

King Henry the Sixth, by his Charter dated 18th March 1441, granted to the Free Men of this Place, that they should be one Body in right and name, and one Commonly Corporate for ever, of Two Bailiffs of the said Town, and the Free Men of the same, and should have perpetual Succession; and that they, and their Successors, should be called by the names of the Bailiffs and Free Men of the Town of Kingston upon Thames. This is the first

Charter in which we find them formally stiled a Body Corporate; that term not having been brought into use till about this time. It seems to have been on this Occasion also that they were first entitled to use a Common Seal.

EDWARD IV.

By a Charter of Epw. IV. dated 26th of February, 1480. 1. in which after premising the impoverished state of the Town, by reason of the

fee-firm

fee-firm which they were obliged to pay, and of divers inundations, and other burdens and Calamities under which they lay, and also reciting a Charter of King John, by virtue of which they hold a Court on every Saturday, and enjoyed divers privileges and immunities, till by the King's Officers and Others, they were let and hindered in the same. The "said King confirms the Charters of Incorporation given them by his Predecessors."

PHILLIP AND MARY.

By a Charter of King Phillip and Queen Mary, dated 25th of March, Anno 1556, whereby all their former Charters were Confirmed, beside the Two Fairs already granted them, they were Impowered to hold a Third, on the day and Morrow of St. Mary Magdalen, with all the rights and privileges thereto belonging. Also, in Consideration of the great burdens by them sustained, particularly on Account of the ruinous and decayed state of their Bridge, to erect a Fish-Wear, in the Thames near the Town, with eighty Perches or rods of Water, for that purpose, free of all rent and other payment whatsoever; so that they did not Incommode or obstruct the

navigation

Navigation of the River, and this was Confirmed by another of Queen Elizabeth, dated 7th May 1559.

CHARLES H.

By a Licence in pursuance of a Writ of ad quod damnum, dated 13th of May, 1662, King Charles the Second, granted unto the Bailiffs and freemen a Market to be holden at Kingston, on Wednesday in every week, with the Tolls of of the same to the proper use of the said Bailiffs and Freemen for ever, without any account or render whatsoever.

Council at Kingston, Anno, 838.

A. D. 838, in the 39th of Egbert, a General Council was holden at this place, at which were present Egbert the King himself. A. Athelwolf, his Son, Ceolnothus, Archbishop of Canterbury, with divers others of the Bishops, Abbots, and Nobility of the realm; at which time, the donation of the Manor of Mallings to the Church of Canterbury, by Baldred, King of Kent, about thirty years before, was Confirmed. And here, as our ancient chronicles testify, many of our