Charters of the Borough of Cambridge

A transcript and translation of the royal charters issued to the borough of Cambridge between the twelfth and seventeenth centuries.

Frederic William Maitland (Edited by), Mary Bateson (Edited by)

9781108010436, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 31 October 2010

258 pages, 1 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 1.5 cm, 0.33 kg

Professor F. W. Maitland was the foremost Victorian scholar on English legal history, and Mary Bateson a Cambridge medieval historian. This 1901 volume was edited for the Corporation of Cambridge and the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. It provides a transcript and translation of the royal charters issued to the borough of Cambridge between the twelfth and the seventeenth centuries. Maitland lays stress on the considerable independence the medieval borough had. It was largely self-governing, royal charters bestowing or confirming liberties rather than regulating the town governance or providing a constitution. However, there were some limitations, chiefly relating to justice, for which royal permission was needed. It was not until the late seventeenth century that royal authority began to tighten its control of borough affairs. The introduction explains the conventions of such charters, and how the reader should interpret the information contained therein. A valuable source of local history with wider significance.

Introduction
1. Writ of King Henry the First
2. Writ of King Henry the Second
3. First charter of King John
4. Second charter of King John
5. First charter of King Henry the Third
6. Second charter of King Henry the Third
7. Third charter of King Henry the Third
8. Fourth charter of King Henry the Third
9. Charter of King Edward the First
10. Charter of King Edward the Second
11. Letters patent of King Richard the Second
12. First charter of King Richard the Second
13. Second charter of King Richard the Second
14. Letters patent of King Richard the Second
15. Letters patent of King Henry the Fourth
16. Letters patent of King Henry the Fifth
17. Letters patent of King Henry the Sixth
18. Letters patent of King Henry the Sixth
19. Letters patent of King Edward the Fourth
20. Letters patent of King Edward the Fourth
21. Letters patent of King Henry the Eighth
22. Letters exemplificatory of King Henry the Eighth
23. Letters patent of King Edward the Sixth
24. Letters exemplificatory of King Edward the Sixth
25. Letters patent of Queen Elizabeth
26. Letters patent of King James the First
27. Letters patent of King Charles the First
28. Letters patent of King Charles the Second
Appendices.

Subject Areas: British & Irish history [HBJD1]