Newcastle-on-Tyne's taxes were simplified in 1175 as follows:
"Know ye that I have granted and by this present charter have
confirmed to my burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne, and to all their
things which they can assure to be their own, acquittance from
toll and passage and pontage and from the Hanse and from all other
customs throughout all my land. And I prohibit all persons from
vexing or disturbing them therein upon forfeiture to me."
We grant to our upright men on Newcastle-on-Tyne and their heirs
our town of Newcastle-on-Tyne with all its appurtenances at fee
farm for 100 pounds to be rendered yearly to us and our heirs at
our Exchequer by their own hand at the two terms, to wit, at
Easter 50 pounds and at Michaelmas 50 pounds, saving to us our
rents and prizes and assizes in the port of the same town.
Ranulph, earl of Chester, made grants to his burgesses of Coventry
by this charter: "That the aforesaid burgesses and their heirs may
well and honorably quietly and in free burgage hold of me and my
heirs as ever in the time of my father and others of my ancestors
they have held better more firmly and freer. In the second place I
grant to them all the free and good laws which the burgesses of
Lincoln have better and freer. I prohibit and forbid my constables
to draw them into the castle to plead for any cause, but they may
freely have their portimote [leet court] in which all pleas
belonging to me and them may be justly treated of. Moreover they
may choose from themselves one to act for me whom I approve, who a
justice under me and over them may know the laws and customs, and
keep them to my counsel in all things reasonable, every excuse put
away, and may faithfully perform to me my rights. If any one
happen to fall into my amercement he may be reasonably fined by my
bailiff and the faithful burgesses of the court. Furthermore,
whatever merchants they have brought with them for the improvement
of the town, I command that they have peace, and that none do them
injury or unjustly send them into court. But if any foreign
merchant shall have done anything improper in the town that same
may be regulated in the portimote before the aforesaid justice
without a suit at law."
Henry confirmed this charter of the earl's by 1189 as follows: I
have confirmed all the liberties and free customs the earl of
Chester granted to them, namely, that the same burgesses may well
and honorably hold in free burgage, as ever in t
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