ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 205 



on Tuefdays and Saturdays. It hath alfo two great and noted 

 annual fairs. One is on the firji of Auguft, and continues eight 

 days together. It was granted by K. John. The other is on Sr. 

 Luke 5 day, in the fame place. It was granted by K. Henry VIT. 

 On thefe two days they arc alfo held on the town-moor. It has 

 been before obferved, that whilft they continue, the corporation 

 have a court of pye-powder, which has all the privileges that a 

 court-leet can have. The tolls, booths, ftallagc, picagc, and 

 courts of pyc-powdcr, of each of the fairs, in the times of the 

 usurpation, were valued at i z I. 



The revenue of the corporation of Ne-wcqftle, which they hold 

 in their own right, is upwards of 8000 /. per annum. They have 

 the royalties of the river Tyne from Sparr<rw-Haivk, by Tynemouth- 

 Bar, to Hedfwine-ftrea.m.$, above the village of Neivbum ; a fpace 

 of 14 miles. The circumference of their boundaries is 10 miles, 

 and 50 yards. The revenue for coals, fait, grindftones, ballad, 

 &.C. are received by eight chamberlains. They alfo keep the 

 town-fecurities. Their office is in the exchange. They are 

 commonly decayed merchants, eminent for their integrity, 

 chofen annually. Twenty-four auditors, chofen out of the 

 twelve companies, examine their accounts once a year ; and 

 conjunctly with the mayor and aldermen fee that the overplus of 

 their annual revenue is put into the to-wn-Jtock, or hutch, as it is 

 ufually phrafed. The chamberlains give daily attendance at their 

 office. 



Neivcaflle is not more eminent for its wealth and commerce, 

 than for its zeal in cheriming religion. It is famous for its mo- 

 nafteries, its hofpitals, alms-houfcs, and churches. The mona- 

 fteries were, 



St. 



