Origin of the Market.

From the curious document just exhibited, it is demonstrably proved that Newcourt, in his great work on the Diocese of London, is incorrect, as to the origin of our present market. His words are these: "About the 22. of Edward I. Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, procured a market to be held here on Mondays, (which is now on Thursdays, as above-said,) and a fair yearly," &c. See Newcourt, vol. i. p. 650. We have proved that the market was founded in the 12th. Century, and it is now kept on the same day as was appointed by the Lord of the Honor of Wallingford. The market which Henry de Lacy procured to be kept was an additional one. See Inquisition, 6. Ric. II. (1382.) It has been long discontinued.

That the grant, made by Gilbert Basset to the burgesses of this town, conferred valuable and extensive privileges, may be inferred from a circumstance mentioned in a manuscript in the possession of the lords of the manor and borough. One Simon Privoweth, in the seventh year of the reign of Edward II. (1313) paid the lord of the manor a fine of twenty shillings for his freedom; a sum by no means

inconsiderable at that period as will appear by a reference to the price of provisions. It is stated in Fabian's Chronicle, that at this time the best wheat was sold in London for two shillings per quarter-the best ox for six and eight pence-the best sheep for eight pencethe best goose for two pence—a fat pig for a penny-and six of the best pigeons for a like

sum.

The Basset Family.

The family of Basset is very ancient and noble. In the reign of Henry I. and of King Stephen, Ralph Basset and Richard his son, were successively Justiciaries of England *. We have no doubt it was one of these that signed, as a witness, the ancient grant of the Church of Hillingdon to the Church of Evesham. See chap. iii. sect. 1. scended Gilbert and Fulc.

From these de

Gilbert as has

been already noticed became lord of the Honor of Wallingford, and Fulc was made Bishop of London in the reign of Henry III. (1241.) He succeeded to the inheritance of his brother Gilbert, and was a man of great influence in his day. Matthew Paris says,

* Dugdale vol. i. p. 378.

+ See Kippis's Bio. Brit.

"he was the anchor of the whole kingdom and the shield of stability and defence."

It was most probably under the influence of Gilbert Basset, who was lord of Wallingford, that that town was induced to distinguish itself, in the cause of Henry II. and his mother Maud against Stephen. There is preserved by Brady* a charter conferred by Henry on the burgesses of Wallingford, granting them unusual privileges, in consideration of their service to the king, in these contentions. It is not improbable, that as the king rewarded the burgesses of Wallingford thus, their Lord also received corresponding tokens of royal beneficence; and the liberty alluded to in the grant which founded the market, may have been a mark of Henry's favour to Basset, for service rendered him in his struggle for the crown.

The present Francis Basset, lord de Dunstanville and Basset, is a descendant of one of the branches of that family.

* Sce Brady, Appendix, No. 4.

SECTION 4.

INQUISITIONS TAKEN RELATIVE TO UXBRIDGE *.

An Inquisition or Inquisitio post mortem, was formerly appointed for the purpose of inquiring at the death of any man of fortune, the value of his estate, the tenure by which it was held, and who, and of what age, his heir was; in order to entitle the king to certain advantages incident to the military tenures, by which lands were then possessed †.

By an inquisition of the manor of Colham, taken at Colham in the second year of king Edward III. (1327) the writ being dated at Northampton the 16th. of May, it was found, that "there are there of rents of assize of the burgesses and others in Woxebrigge, six pounds nine shillings and four pence, at the terms of the Nativity of our Lord,-Easter,

*Copies of all these inquisitions, the originals of which are among the records in the Tower, are now in the possession of the lords of the town. They are written in abbreviated latin. We have here extracted from them whatever relates to the town.

+ See Black. Com. vol. ii. p. 68.

The then royal residence. This remark is applicable to all the other places from which the writs are dated. They were, for the time being, the residence of the court.

the Nativity of John the Baptist,-and Saint Michael. Also the toll of the Market of Woxebrigge is worth by the year thirty shillings. That the pleas and perquisites of the Portmotes* of Woxebrigge are worth by the year twenty-six shillings and three pence, and that there was six shillings and eight pence due to the steward of Wallingford, by custom, holding the view of Frank-pledge† at Woxebrigge yearly after Easter."

The following curious Customs of the manor are noticed in this Inquisition. “1st. That each tenant within the precincts of the Lordship, as well free as customary, shall give for each pig of the age of one year, a penny; and for each pig of the age of half a year, a half-penny." This custom was said to be worth ten shillings a year. "2nd. That there is a certain custom of the customary tenants called cope silver,

*The Portmote or Portmannimote i. e. Portman's Court, has been generally considered peculiar to port towns:-but this appears to be a mistake, as the word Port in Saxon, signifies the same as city or town. See Jacob's Law Dic.

+ The View of Frank-pledge, was what is now denominated the court leet, and was an acknowledgment of submission and service to the lord of the Honor. The pledge was required to be given by all free-men on attaining the age of fourteen. See Jacob's Law Dic.

Cope among miners is a custom or tribute due to the king or lord of the soil, out of the lead mines of Derbyshire. The Cope