Timeline, 1314

Edward, by the Grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine. To all archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, chief ministers, and bailiffs, and his faithful subjects Greeting: We have inspected the charter which the Lord Henry of renowned memory, formerly King of England, our grandfather, made to John Mansel, late parson of the Church of Wigan, in these words: Henry, by the Grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy Aquitaine, and Count of Angers. To all archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, chief ministers, and bailiffs, and his faithful subjects Greeting: Know ye that we have granted, and by this, our charter confirmed for us and our heirs to our beloved and faithful, John Mansel, parson of the Church of Wigan, that his Vill at Wigan may be a borough for ever, and that the burgesses of the same borough may have a Guild Merchant, with a treasury and other liberties and free customs to that Guild belonging, and that no one who is not of that Guild, may make any merchandise in the aforesaid borough, unless by the will of the same burgesses. We have also granted to the same burgesses and their heirs that they may have soke and sak and thol and theam and attachment within the said borough and infangenthef and utfangenthef, and that they may be free throughout our whole land and through all ports of the sea from toll, custom, passage, pontage, and stallage, and that they make no suit of the Counties or Wapentakes concerning their tenures which they hold within the borough aforesaid. We have also granted to the same burgesses and their heirs, that whatsoever traders shall come to the borough aforesaid with their merchandise, of whatsoever place they shall be, foreigners, or others, who shall be of our peace, or of our leave, shall come into our land, may come safely and securely to the aforesaid borough with their merchandise, and safely there may stay and safely from thence may return by doing there the right and due customs; we do also prohibit that no one may do injury or damage, or molestation, unto the aforesaid burgesses, upon forfeiture of £10. Wherefore we do will and firmly command for us and our heirs that the aforesaid Vill of Wigan be a borough for ever, and that the aforesaid burgesses may have the aforesaid Guild Merchant, with the Hanaper and with the other liberties and free customs to that Guild belonging, and that they may have all other liberties and free customs and quittances as is aforesaid.
    Witnesses hereto:- Richard Earl of Cornwall, our brother, Roger le Pygot Earl of Norfolk, Peter de Saband, William de Ferrers, Ralph Fit Nichol, William de Cantilupo, John de Plesset, Paul Peyner, Robert de Mustengros, Bartholemy Peche and others. Given by our hand at Woodstock, the 26th day of August, in the 30th year of our reign.    And we holding the grant, confirmation, and prohibition aforesaid ratified and in good part do grant and confirm for us and our heirs as much as in us unto our beloved clerk, Robert de Clyderhou, now the parson of the church aforesaid, and his successors, parsons of the same church, and the burgesses of the borough aforesaid, like as the charter aforesaid reasonably testifies; and as the aforesaid Robert and his predecessors, parsons of the church aforesaid, and the burgessors aforesaid and their ancestors, have hitherto reasonably used and enjoyed the liberties of aforesaid, from the time of making the charter aforesaid.    Witnesses, Gilbert de Clare Earl of Gloucester and Hereford, Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex, Adamaro de Valentia Earl of Pembroke, Hugh le Despencer, Edmund de Malo Lacu, steward of our household, and others.    Given by our hand at the New Monastery the 7th day of June, in the 7th year of our reign. - GULLING.