ers.
Yet this is something different from municipal jurisdiction over all the
inhabitants of a town. [Note IV.]

[39] Madox, Hist. of Exchequer, c. 17.

[40] Madox, Firma Burgi, p. 1. There is one instance, I know not if any
more could be found, of a firma burgi before the Conquest. It was at
Huntingdon. Domesday, p. 203.

[41] Madox, p. 12, 13.

[42] Id. p. 21.

[43] I have read somewhere that this charter was granted in 1101. But
the instrument itself, which is only preserved by an Inspeximus of
Edward IV., does not contain any date. Rymer, t. i. p. 11 (edit. 1816).
Could it be traced so high, the circumstance would be remarkable, as the
earliest charters granted by Louis VI., supposed to be the father of
these institutions, are several years later.

It is said by Mr. Thorpe (Ancient Laws of England, p. 267), that, though
there are ten witnesses, he only finds one who throws any light on the
date: namely, Hugh Bigod, who succeeded his brother William in 1120. But
Mr. Thorpe does not mention in what respect he succeeded. It was as
_dapifer regis_; but he is not so named in the charter. Dugdale's
Baronage, p. 132. The date, therefore, still seems problematical.

[44] This did not, however, save the citizens from paying one hundred
marks to the king for this privilege. Mag. Rot. 5 Steph. apud Madox,
Hist. Exchequer, t. xi. I do not know that the charter of Henry I. can
be suspected; but Brady, in his treatise of Boroughs (p. 38, edit.
1777), does not think proper once to mention it; and indeed uses many
expressions incompatible with its existence.

[45] Blomefield, Hist of Norfolk, vol. ii. p. 16, says that Henry I.
granted the same privileges by charter to Norwich in 1122 which London
possessed. Yet it appears that the king named the port reeve or provost;
but Blomefield suggests that he was probably recommended by the
citizens, the office being annual.

[46] Madox, Firma Burgi, p. 23. Hickes has given us a bond of fellowship
among the thanes of Cambridgeshire, containing several curious
particulars. A composition of eight pounds, exclusive, I conceive, of
the usual weregild, was to be enforced from the slayer of any fellow. If
a fellow (gilda) killed a man of 1200 shillings weregild, each of the
society was to contribute half a marc; for a ceorl, two orae (perhaps ten
shillings); for a Welshman, one. If however this act was committed
wantonly, the fellow had no right to call on the society for
contribution.