The Right to Hold Markets and Lords in Medieval England

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Other Title
  • 中世イングランドにおける市場開設権と領主層
  • チュウセイ イングランド ニ オケル シジョウ カイセツケン ト リョウシュソ

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Abstract

How did feudal lords hold markets in medieval England? To answer this question, we investigate Royal Charters, which permitted the lords to hold markets, and other documents which show how the markets were held in fact-Hundred Rolls, Inquest Post Mortem and Placita de Quo Warranto. Yonekawa assumed that almost all markets held in fact were written in Royal Charters. But there were many informal markets, which were held without Charters. And, in the point of view of their manorial size and their other privileges, certainly, many lords who had the rights to hold markets were very major, but, some minor lords also had the rights. And these major and minor lords were willing to hold and maintain their markets. Firstly, they organized markets from prototype trade (ex. Sunday churchyard trade) with fixing market day, inspecting weight and measure, assizing of bread and ale, keeping peace and dealing with troubles of indebtness. Secondly, the lords often suppressed neighboring markets for their own markets. They supposed that neighboring markets would be harmful to their markets if they were held in 5 or 6 miles. So, not only boroughs but also the lords who held rural markets suppressed neighboring rural markets. But many markets, which lords were willing to hold with Royal Charters, decayed, because sellers and buyers didn't come to the markets. So, to gather many people to their markets, the lords got other Royal Charters for changing market days, excusing market tolls as well as suppressing neighboring markets. It shows these lords' effort to hold and maintain their markets that many Royal Charters dealing with markets were issued from 13th to the beginning of 14th century.

Journal

  • The Journal of Agrarian History

    The Journal of Agrarian History 35 (4), 17-35, 1993

    The Agrarian History Society (Renamed as The Political Economy and Economic History Society)

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