Catalogue description Letters patent of Edward III

Confirms to the citizens of Carlisle the following liberties and customs which an inquisition held by Richard of Denton and John of Haveryngton established they were accustomed to have from time immemorial until Thomas of Lucy, sheriff of Cumberland, challenged their right of return of writs and Exchequer summons in 23 Edward III on the grounds that these liberties were not specified by charter:-

Full return of all writs of whatever kind, including summons of the exchequer

A market every Wednesday and Saturday

An annual fair of 16 days duration i.e. on the feast of the Assumption of the blessed Mary 15th August and for 15 days after

A free gild and free election of their mayor and bailiffs within the city, and 2 coroners

Emendation of the assise of bread, wine and beer when broken, gallows and infangthef

Right to hold the pleas of the Crown and to exercise everything pertaining to the duty of the sheriff and coroner in the city

Right to the chattels of felons and fugitives condemned in the city

Exemption from all fines, amercements of counties, and suits of counties and wapentakes

Right to hold pleas of fresh "frisce" force concerning free tenements within the city if the plaint is attached within 40 days after disseisin

Power for the bailiffs of the city to implead before them the royal writ of right patent and the writ of right of dower, according to the custom of the city, and right to have cognizance of all such pleas.

Right of common pasture for all kinds of animals at all times of the year, upon the king's moor, with right to dig turfs there and carry them away at will

Right for any free man to be the surety of another at the first court in pleas of trespasses, agreements or debt

Exemption throughout the realm of England, from toll, pontage, passage, lastage, quay-dues, carriage, murage, and stallage for all their things and merchandise

Right to have a place adjacent to the city called "le Batailholm" for their market and fairs

Power to bequeath their tenements in the city; such tenements are devisible

Right to have the mills of the city and the king's fishery in the water of Eden

The internal and external toll called "thurghtol" and the farms, measures, gavelyelds and small farms of the city as parcels of the farm of the city