_Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus._ (Rec. Com.), I. 547.
1233. The king has granted to Hamo de Crevecquer that the market, which has been used to be held every week on Sunday at Brenchley in the graveyard of the church, be held henceforth on the land of Hamo of Brenchley, and that he and his heirs have there every year a fair to last three days, the vigil, the day and the morrow of the feast of All Saints. And the sheriff of Kent is commanded to cause that market and the fair to be proclaimed, and to be held as aforesaid.
1234. The king has granted to the prior and the brethren of the bridge of Lechlade that they have for ever at Lechlade bridge every year a fair, to last for five days, the eve and the feastday of the Decollation of St. John the Baptist and the three following days.
1235. The king has conceded to Henry, Abbot of St. Edmund, that he and his successors have yearly for ever two fairs in the suburb of the town of (Bury) St. Edmunds, namely one outside the north gate, outside the town, beside the hospital of St. Saviour, to last for three days, the eve, the day, and the morrow of the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord; and another outside the south gate of the town, likewise to last for three days, the eve, the day, and the morrow of the feast of the Translation of St. Edmund: unless such fairs be to the injury of neighbouring fairs. And the sheriff is commanded to cause this charter to be read in full county court, and these fairs to be proclaimed and held.
Encroachments on market-places were not lawful without special licence.
1123. _Foundation of the Priory of St. Bartholomew on part of Smithfield market-place by Rahere, first prior._
Since the place godly to him (Rahere) shown was contained within the king's market, of the which it was not lawful to princes or other lords, of their proper authority, anything to diminish, neither yet to so solemn an obsequy to depute: therefore, using ... men's counsel, in opportune time he addressed him to the king, and before him, and the Bishop Richard (de Belmeis, Bishop of London) being present, the which he had made to him favourable before, effectually expressed his business, and that he might lawfully bring his purpose to effect meekly besought. And nigh him was he (St. Bartholomew) in whose hand it was, to what he would the king's heart to incline, and ineffectual these prayers might not be, whose author is the apostle, whose gracious hearer was God: his word therefore was pleasant and acceptable in the king's eye. And when he had weighed the good will of the man prudently, as he was witty, he granted to the petitioner his kingly favour, benignly giving authority to execute his purpose. And he, having the title of the desired possession, of the king's majesty, was right glad.