Charters of The House of Plantgenet
Randle Blundeville Earl of Chester granted three Charters they are without date but are considered to be granted by the same
person his reign extended for the period of fifty - one years.
It was during the time of one of the fairs that Earl Randle Blundeville was besieged in Rhuddlan Castle by the Welsh, when attempting the subjugation of those Cambrian mountaineers. The Earl ,
perceiving the nice pickle he was in , dispatched a messenger to De Lacy , his constable at Chester, a " ryght
valiaunt manne ," who, rushing into the fair , presently collected to his standard a " noble army of
fiddlers " and drunken musicians - the " tag , rag and bobtail " there assembled - and with these
he forth with set out to the relief of his beleaguered lord . The Welsh who, had previously felt sure of their
prey seeing the immense host approach , and hearing withal the terrible discords of the " harp , flute, sackbut,
psaltery, and other kinds of music, " reasonably enough concluded that Bedlam was let loose; and with that
doubtful sort of valor sometimes nicknamed discretion precipitately took to their heels , and so raised the siege
.
The Earl returned to Chester at the head of his victorious minstrels, and immediately chartered the holding of
the Fair with numerous privileges and immunities, granting to the brave De Lacy, and to his Heirs for ever the
licensing of and custody over the minstrels of Cheshire which prerogative he regularly exercised .
( Strangers Handbook to Chesrer - " Chesrer
C. C. Libary " )
charter III issued by Earl Ranulph
III of Chester These provisions are
contained in which is undated but is attributed to c.1208-18 Chester City Record Office Ref CH / 7
At the Beginning of the 13th century, the men of Chester and their heirs were granted the following privilege
... that no - one may buy or sell any kind of merchandise, which shall come to the City of
Chester by sea or by land , but them and their heirs, or by their favour , save at the fairs appointed at the Nativity
of S. John Baptist and at the Feast of S. Michael Wherefore I will that my aforesaid men, and their heirs , may
have and hold the before mentioned liberty from me and my heirs for ever, freely, quietly, honourably, and peaceably;
and I prohibit on the forfeiture of 10 l. to be taken for my use, that no one may hinder or trouble them in respect
of the aforesaid liberty.
Witnesses:- The Lord Hugh, then Abbot of Chester : Philip de Orreby, then Justice of Chester: Warren de Vernon:
William de Venables : Peter le Clerk and many others .
Earl John, the Scot, granted the same powers to the Guild Mercatorie , as freely as in the time of his uncle Earl
Randal III. " The Gild Merchant was granted with all the usual liberties and free customs which were such
important privileges in those feudal times First and for most would be the concession of the exclusive right to
trade within the borough. But besides this monopoly, there would be the no less valued privileges of freedom from
interference by the Earl 's bailiffs in city affairs, and the exemption , secured by payment of a certain fixed
sum , from tax and toll, which was always more or less capricious, and might become burdensome beyond all measure
to the citizens. They also had the right to hold markets and fairs, though the profits of one of these fairs were
conveyed away to St. Werburgh 's Abbey . ( Morris Tud & Plan p379 ) "
King John 1199 - 1216 Charters were a written document granting privileges or rights.
It is usually granted by the sovereign . The most famous is the Great Charter or ' Magna Charta ' he confirmed the charters relating to Chester granted by King Henry II, which seems to
have related to the customs between Chester and Ireland
An Attempt in high places to end the incessant warfare between the Welsh by marriage failed miserably. The last Earl of Chester, John the Scott, married Llewellyn's daughter Helen . Probably the lady was not consulted beforehand about this arrangement and she had her own means of ending an unpalatable marriage. We are told that at Darnhall she devilishly, like a wicked serpent , plotted his destruction, and by poison brought his life to an end. Her action changed the governorship of Cheshire for Henry III took the Earldom for himself.
King Henry III. granted three charters under the great seal as king of England; by him the first mayor was created after he took the earldom of Chester into his own hands, in the twenty-second year of his reign. One of the said charters shews that lie had seen the former charters of Randal, Earl of Chester and Lincoln, and doth grant and confirm, that none shall buy and sell merchandize in the city but citizens, except at the fairs mentioned in the charters of Randal, and he willeth that the said citizens shall have the same freedoms to them and their heirs for ever. - An. 32. Hen. III.
King Henry III . 1216 - 1272 granted three charters under the seal as King of England
. The Palatinate was merged in the Crown of England .
Charter Inspeximus by Henry III dated
October 23rd 1239
" We have inspected the Charter of Ranulph , some time Earl of Chester , in these words , "Ranulph ,
Earl of Chester to his Constable " (reciting in full Charter ) . We therefore accounting this gift and grant
as valid and acceptable, grant for ourselves and our heirs and with our seal confirm it, as the aforesaid Charter
of the Earl of Chester reasonably testifies." (Canon Morris Chester in Plantaganet and Tudor Times Page 483
- 492 )
King Edward I. appointed the mayor and citizens of Chester to furnish
two ships to serve in his wars in ScotlIand. An 4.Edw.I.
The same King Edward I. confirmed the former charters of his father Henry III. and also the charters of Randal,
Earl of Chester, &c. and the same king, by the same charter, gave the city of Chester, with the appurtenances,
liberties, and freedoms to the citizens of Chester, and their heirs, to be holden of him and his heirs for ever,
paying yearly 1001; he granted also the office of coroner, and that the citizens should have Socke, Sacke, Tole,
Theam, Infang-the of, Outfang-the of, and to be free throughout all his lands and dominions of Tole, Passage, &c.
This charter was dated at York.-An. 28. Edw. I.
Charter Inspeximus by King Edward I dated June 12th
1300 of an Inspeximus by Henry III
"Henry etc. , ( reciting Charter XI which recites Charter II by which the monopoly of all marketable things
in the City is granted to the citizens ) - No we , accounting the aforesaid gifts and grants valid and acceptable
, grant and confirm them for ourselves and our heirs as far as in us lies to the aforementioned citizens and their
heirs, citizens of the same City , as the aforesaid Charters reasonably witness ."
Canon Morris Chester in Plantaganet and Tudor Times Page 490
1307 - 1327 Edward II
An interesting trial took place in
the sixth year of Edward II. in connection with the Abbot 's claim of independence . Thomas de Ynes ( or Ince )
was attached to answer to the sheriffs for toll of corn imported. Upon this came the Abbot of Chester, and set
fourth his claim , declaring that he and all his men and tenants were free of toll throughout the whole of Cheshire
by the Earl's charter. The abbot besought the mayor and sheriffs to preserve his freedoms unimpaired . The case
was deferred to allow time for the investigation of the claim, the abbot appointing William de Bromburgh as his
Attorney. The case came up at several Portmotes , the sheriffs William Clerk and Robert de Macclesfield, opposing
the claim, which the abbot supported by bringing into court the old charters conferring the independent jurisdiction
. ( Morris Tud & Plan p 378 )
1327 - 1377 Edward III
After reading the said charter of
King Edward I . his grandfather , confirmed as well as the former charters of the earls, also the said charter
of Edward I. The same King again confirmed the former charters, and further granted to the citizens the vacant
grounds within the city, with liberty to build upon the same . The same King in another charter confirmed his former,
in fuller words and stronger language .
Edward III. after reciting the said charter of King Edward I. his grandfather,
confirmed as well the former charters of the earls, as also the said charter of Edward I, - this is dated Worcester,
An. I. Edw. III.
The same king again confirmed the former charters, and further granted to the citizens the vacant grounds within
the city, with liberty to build upon the same.- Dated Au. 1. Edw. I.
The same king did by another charter confirm his former; in fuller words and stronger language. - An 25. Ed .III.
Edward Prince of Wales, and Earl of Chester, son of Edward III. and commonly called the Black Prince, did by his charter, directed to the mayor and citizens, grant the fee farm of Chester,
being a hundred pounds a year, to the Earl of Arundell, for the term of his life.
The same prince and earl, also confirmed the former liberties and charters, and particularly and distinctly specified
the boundaries of the city, viz., from a spot called the Iron Bridge on the Eccleston-road, across the Wrexham
road to the Leach, then crossing Saltney-marsh, near the second mile-stone, and the river up to Blacon Point, along
the old course of the river turning up to Stone Bridge, by the brook side, cross the Parkgate road, up to Bachepool
, along the side of the brook to Flookersbrook, then crossing the canal and the two turnpike-roads to London, down
to the river side and up to Iron Bridge, making a circuit of about twelve or fourteen miles. This charter also
gave to the mayor and citizens the jurisdiction of the river Dee, from Iron Bridge to Arnold's-eye, now called
the Red Stones, near Hoylake, to which place the duty of the city coroner extends. - Dated An. 28. Edw. III.
1377 - 1399 King Richard II . By his letters patent shows the ruinous state of the city
, released to the citizens part of the fee - farm reserved by the charter of Edward I. confirmed all former charters.
Richard II The same King Richard II . prefixed the same stile for a remedy for the demise that had happened amongst
them; and for the furtherance of justice in the same city and better executions there of, grants unto his subjects,
mayors, sheriffs, and commonalty of the said city, to hold their courts and limited what processes they may award
in actions, personal felonies , appeals process of utlagary, as at the common law. So this court it carrieth great
authority granted under the caal of the principality of Chester, at Chester the fourth of August , anno regni sui
22
King Richard II. by his letters patent, shews the ruinous state of the city
and of the haven, and therefore released to the citizens seventy- three pounds ten shillings and eight pence, parcel
of the hundred pounds for the fee-farm reserved by the charter of Edward I. for which the city was in arrears.
- An. I. Rich. II.
The same king granted to the city, the profits of the passage, towards the building and repairing the bridge of
the Dee.-An. 2. Rich. II.
The same king confirmed all former rights and privileges.-An. 3.
Also he granted to the citizens the murage for four years. - An. 18.
The same king granted to the citizens the profits of the murage duties, towards the reparation of the walls of
the city, for five years.-An. 21. Rich. II.
The same King Richard II. by the name of King of England and France, Lord of lreland, Prince of Wales, and Earl
of Chester, confirmed the former charters and liberties in stronger words; and under the seal of the earldom, erected
it into a principality, which title however was annulled in the following reign.-An. 22. Rich. IT.
The same king, using the above style, to remedy such demunities as had happened to the city, and for the furtherance
of justice in the same city, did grant to his subjects, mayors, sheriffs, and commonalty of the said., city, leave
to hold their courts, and limited what processes they might award in actions personal, felonies, appeals, processes
of outlawry, as to the common law. This charter carried great authority, was under the seal of the earldom, and
dated at Chester, the 4th of August, An. 22. Rich. II
