Whereas the town or Borough of Newport otherwise Lanston and the parish Church are in such ruin and decay that the Inhabitants of the said Borough, to the great want, refuse to support and repair the vill or Borough and the Church, as by the relation of several trustworthy persons appears; and, by the humble petition of the Inhabitants whereby they have humbly besought us, that, as well for the repairs of the parish church aforesaid as for the better relief of the Borough aforesaid, and the inhabitants' of the same who now are and for the time shall be, We may think fit to grant a Fair every year, and a market every week, within the town of Newport aforesaid for ever to be held : Know ye, therefore, that, of our special grace, and in consideration of the premises, we have given and granted to our beloved John Cottell, Richard Shere, John Knyght, Henry Carter, William Waterman, Hugh Carter, John Veale, and John Geke, inhabitants and good men of the borough aforesaid, that they and their successors may have a Fair annually within the Borough aforesaid to be held and kept on the vigil of the day, feast, and morrow of the exaltation of the Holy Cross [13th, 14th, and 15th Sept.] to last through three entire days, and also that they and their successors may have a market within the town of Newport aforesaid, for beasts, and other things there to be sold and bought on every Wednesday in each and every week, to last through the whole of that day : We have granted also to the same Inhabitants all the stallage, pikage, tolls, and customs belonging, and also a Court of Piepoudre within the fair time aforesaid, and everything belonging to the said Court of Piepoudre, and also all fines, amercements, forfeitures, issues, revenues, and profits accruing from the same : To have and to hold all the aforesaid premises to the Inhabitants aforesaid and their heirs, for the better support, relief, and reparation as well of the Church as of the Borough or town aforesaid from time to time whensoever it shall be necessary, without rendering any account to us, or our heirs. Witness the King, at Greenwich.
There are two noticeable peculiarities in this document. It is not authenticated by the Queen, and it does not incorporate the persons named, or provide means for continuing a succession. It is nevertheless the fact that, in
