Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/384

 perform all ecclesiastical duties. Three years afterwards a vicar of Kirkham was charged and convicted of having been guilty of maladministration in his position as dean of Amounderness, but subsequently he received a full pardon from King Edward III.

In the year 1401, during the reign of Henry IV., the right to hold a market and fair was again confirmed to the abbot and convent of Vale Royal; subjoined is a translated copy of the grant, which bore the date of the 2nd of July:—

"The king to all men greeting: We have inspected a charter made by our progenitor, Lord Edward, formerly king of England, in these words:—'Edward, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine, to the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, provosts, ministers, and to all his bailiffs and subjects, health. Know that we have granted and by this our present charter confirm to our beloved in Christ the Abbot and Convent of Vale Royal, that they and their successors for ever shall have a market in each week on Thursday at their manor at Kirkham in the county of Lancaster, and also in each year a fair at the same town of five days duration, that is on the vigil, on the Day, and on the morrow of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and on the two days succeeding; unless the market and fair be found injurious to neighbouring markets and fairs. Therefore we desire and firmly enjoin, both for ourselves and our heirs, that the aforesaid Abbot and Convent and their successors for ever shall have the aforesaid market and fair at the aforesaid manor with all the liberties and free customs appertaining to similar institutions, unless such market and fair be detrimental to neighbouring interests as aforesaid.

"'These being witnesses:—The venerable fathers Robert Bath and Wells, John Winchester, and Anthony Durham, bishops; William de Valence, our uncle; Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln; master Henry de Newark, archdeacon of Richmond; master William de Luda, archdeacon of Durham; master William de Cornere, dean of Wymburne; John de St. John; William de Latymer; and others.

"'Given under our hand at Bourdeaux on the 21st of January, in the 15th year of our reign.'

"Holding the aforesaid charter and all matters contained in it as authentic and acceptable both for ourselves and our heirs, as far as our power extends, we accept, approve, grant, and confirm to our beloved in Christ, the present Abbot and Convent of the aforesaid place and their successors that the aforesaid charter be considered just, also we affirm that the same Abbot and Convent and their predecessors legally had and held the said market and fair before this date.

"In testimony thereof, etc. Witness the king at Westminster on the 2nd of July."

At the dissolution of monasteries the manor of Kirkham, together with the advowson of the church, was transferred by