5 Attachment(s)
Letters Patent of King John to Liverpool 1207 and Liverpool's Charters Since
Letters Patent of King John to Liverpool 1207
The attached images contain the actual letter patent and various seals.
Quote:
John, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, Count of Anjou, to all his faithful people who have desired to have Burgages in the township of Liverpool, greeting. Know ye that we have granted to all our faithful people who have taken Burgages in Liverpool that they may have all the liberties and free customs in the township of Liverpool which any Free Borough on the sea has in our land. And therefore we command you that securely and in our peace you come there to receive and inhabit our Burgages. And in witness hereof we transmit to you these our Letters Patent. Witness Simon dePateshill at Winchester on the twenty-eighth day of August in the ninth year of our reign.
All Image and information acknowledgments: Ian Wileman and Liverpool's Records Office
Ian has requested that any one wishing to use a Charter image must seek his permission first, PM me and I will supply you with his contact details.
2 Attachment(s)
KING HENRY III 1229 CHARTER
The traders in Liverpool soon wanted greater freedom. It happened in 1229 that King Henry III was in great financial difficulty and he was therefore very willing to sell further privileges. The inhabitants of Liverpool raised ten marks (around £6.50 at prices of that time) to buy a new charter of a very extensive kind.
This charter was of the greatest importance in the history of the borough for it effectively remained the governing charter until the 17th century. It was much more elaborate and detailed than King John's grant. The rights entailed almost the highest degree of borough privileges. It included:
· a formal grant to the burgesses (inhabitants of the borough with full municipal rights) of the privileges of a Free Borough for ever - this was a more formal and definite grant of powers than before to an existing body of burgesses
· establishment of a borough independent of the shire or county especially for judicial purposes
· increased trading privileges - not only exemption from tolls within the borough but also from all such tolls throughout the kingdom
· formal empowerment to establish an association or guild merchant with privileges confirmed to members of the guild
The Crown still had numerous rights and considerable property within the Borough, such as burgage rents, ferry dues and dues paid by 'foreign' merchants. These were substituted for a fixed payment to the King in a document signed the day after the charter, but this was not a permanent arrangement.
2 Attachment(s)
ROBERT DE FERRERS 1266 CHARTER
ROBERT DE FERRERS 1266 CHARTER
This charter basically states confirmations or clarifications of rights and privileges. (See attached images)
4 Attachment(s)
PHILIP & MARY 1556 CHARTER
PHILIP & MARY 1556 CHARTER
4 Attachment(s)
WILLIAM & MARY 1691 CHARTER
WILLIAM & MARY 1691 CHARTER:
8 Attachment(s)
WILLIAM III 1698 SECOND CHARTER
WILLIAM III 1698 SECOND CHARTER:
7 Attachment(s)
GRANT OF SUPPORTERS ARMS 1797
GRANT OF SUPPORTERS ARMS 1797:
4 Attachment(s)
QUEEN VICTORIA’S 1893 CHARTER
QUEEN VICTORIA’S 1893 CHARTER:
Quote:
Decreed that the title Lord Mayor of Liverpool could be used as opposed to plain Mayor.
VICTORIA BY THE GRACE OF GOD of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith To ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING : WHEREAS Our Royal Predecessor King John by His Charter dated on or about the twenty eighth day of August in the ninth year of his reign was graciously pleased to incorporate the Inhabitants of the Town and Boroughs of Liverpool and their successors by the title of The Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Liverpool AND WHEREAS We by Our Royal Charter dated the eleventh day of May in the forty third year of Our reign did constitute the said Borough of Liverpool a City and did declare that the Mayor Aldermen and Burgesses of the said Borough should thenceforth be one body politic and corporate by the name and style of the Mayor Aldermen and Citizens of the City of Liverpool NOW KNOW YE that Our will and pleasure is and WE DO HEREBY DECLARE AND ORDAIN that from and after the date of these presents the CHIEF MAGISTRATE now and for the time being of the said City of Liverpool shall be styled entitled and called LORD MAYOR OF LIVERPOOL AND WE DO HEREBY AUTHORISE AND EMPOWER the Chief Magistrate of the said City of Liverpool now and for the time being henceforth at all times to assume and use and to be called and named by the style title and appellation of Lord Mayor of Liverpool and to enjoy and use all and singular the rights privileges pre-eminences and advantages to the degree of a Lord Mayor in all things duly and of right belonging IN WITNESS whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent WITNESS Ourself at Westminster the third day of August in the fifty seventh year of Our reign.
BY WARRANT UNDER THE QUEEN'S SIGN MANUAL