Book I.] 



THE FAIRS. 



41 



aforesaid every year to last for four days namely on 

 the vigil and on the day and on the morrow of St. 

 Luke the Evangelist and during one day following. 

 Unless those fairs be to the injury of the neighbouring 

 fairs. Wherefor we will and firmly command for us 

 and our heirs that the aforesaid Reginald and his heirs 

 for ever may have the aforesaid fairs at their manors 

 aforesaid with all liberties and free customs to such 

 fairs belonging. Unless those fairs be to the injury of 

 the neighbouring fairs as is aforesaid. These being 

 witnesses the venerable fathers J. Archbishop of Dublin, 

 J. of Winchester, A. of Durham and W. of Ely, Bishops, 

 Edmund our brother, Edmund Earl of Cornwall our 

 kinsman, John de Warren Earl of Surrey, Reginald de 

 Grey, John de St. John, Walter de Bello Campo, 

 Richard de Bosco and others. Given by the king's 

 hand at Westminster the 27th day of June. By the 

 King himself, Hugh de Veer informing him." — Charter 

 Roll, 21 Edward I., mem. 2, No. 10. MS. P.R.O. 



Before proceeding further we will now give a brief 

 biographical account of the lords of the manor of 

 Newmarket. 



The earliest documentary reference 

 to the Argentine family in the county 

 of Suffolk occurs in the 5th year of 

 Stephen, A.D. 1140, when Maud, widow 

 of Reginald de Argentine, obtained 

 licence from the king to marr>' again, 

 she having to pay that monarch a com- 

 position for her dowry. 



This Reginald was succeeded by 

 another Reginald de Argentine, 

 sheriff of the counties of Cambridee 



and Huntingdon, 



