CHARTER TO THE CINQUE PORTS 



A.D. 

 1278 



Cathaya, the inhabitants whereof (as I suppose) were of Great 

 olde time, called Seres. For from them are brought most ^^^^^y^- 

 excellent stuffes of silke. And this people is called Seres 

 of a certain towne in the same countrey. I was crediblie 

 informed, that in the said countrey, there is one towne 

 having walles of silver, and bulwarkes or towers of golde. 

 There be many provinces in that land, the greater part 

 whereof are not as yet subdued unto the Tartars. And 

 amongst* 



Somewhat is wanting. 



Part of the great Charter granted by king Edward 

 the first to the Barons of the Cinque portes, in 

 the sixt yeere of his reigne 1278. for their 

 good services done unto him by sea : wherein 

 is mention of their former ancient Charters 

 from Edward the Confessor, William the 

 Conqueror, William Rufus, Henry the second, 

 king Richard the first, king John, and Henry 

 the third continued unto them. 



Dward by the grace of God king of 

 England, lord of Ireland, & duke of 

 Gascoigne, to all Archbishops, Bishops, 

 Abbots, Priors, Earles, Barons, Justices, 

 Shirifs, Provosts, Officers, & to all Bay- 

 liffes and true subjects greeting. You 

 shall knowe that for the faithfull service 

 that our Barons of the five Ports hitherto to our pre- 

 decessors kings of England, & unto us lately in our armie 

 of Wales have done, and for their good service to us and 

 our heires kings of England, truly to be continued in 

 time to come, we have granted & by this our Charter 

 confirmed for us and our heires, to the same our Barons 

 and to their heires, all their liberties and freedomes. So 

 that they shall be free from all toll, and from all custome ; 

 that is to say from all lastage, tallage, passage, cariage, 



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