Whereas we ar [...] seized in fee in Right of our Dutchie of Lancaster of and in the Tolle, aswell of Carts and Wagons laden with wood, corne, oyle, wooll, wine or any kind of merchandizes saleable, as of horses laden with an [...] kinde of the said Merchandizes, and of Cattell as oxen, steeres, kine, sheepe, lambes, hogges, and such l [...]ke passing through and over the Townes and bridges of Hartford, Ware, Stansted, Theale, Hatfield and Belbarre in our County of Hartford; which said Tolles in the Townes of Hartford Ware and Stansted h [...]ve beene (as we are credibly informed) from time to time collected and gathered by such as have bee [...]e farmers thereof to us and our Progenitors, and a great yearely rent therefore answered to our use and [...]he use of our said Progenitors and parcell of the revenues of our said Dutchie. And whereas we are likewise informed that tolle for [...]ll the things before mentioned hath been taken in Hatfield and Belbarre neere unto the same in the right of our said Dutchie, whic [...] tolle in the places last above mentioned by the negligence of our farmers there hath beene discontinued and decayed to our disi [...]herison and the diminishing and decrease of our Rents and Revenues of our said Duchie. We willing to preserve our inheritance i [...] the premises and not to loose that which of right apperteineth therin: doe by these presents declare and signifie our will and pleasu [...]e to be. And doe therfore straightly charge & command and enioyne all and every our said subiects whom it doth or may concerne, that shall passe through Hatfield and Belbarre or any of the Townes or Bridges aforesaid or either or any of them respectively, w [...]th any Cart, Waine, Waggon or Horse loaden with any the merchandizes aforesaid or with any other merchandizes whatsoever so [...]d or to be sold, or which shall drive any droves, of any such cattell as aforesaid through Hatfield or Belbarre[?] or any of our tow [...]es or bridges aforesaid or either or any of them sold or to bee sold upon paine of five hundred pounds a peece to be levyed upon h [...]s their and every or any of their Lands, Tenements, Goods and Chattells to our use; that he they and every or any of them forthwith upon sight or knowledge hereof doe pay unto Nathaniel Weston our Farmer thereof or his deputie or deputies assigne or as [...]ignes lawfully appointed and authorised for collection of the same. All such sume and sumes of mony as are due and have been used and anciently paid to the Farmour and Farmours of the said tolle in all or any of the place or places aforesaid heretofore by [...]e space of Forty yeares now last past as oft as he or they or any of them shall passe through and over the said Towne and Bridges [...]nd either or any of them without anie resistance or deniall of anie of our said subjects or any of them upon the paine and pe [...]ltie aforesaid, and as he and they and everie or any of them will avoid our displ [...]asure and answer the contrary at his and their and every of any of their perils unlesse such person or persons so refusing to pay tol [...]e as aforesaid can or doe shew forth some cha [...]er record or writing of priviledge for discharge thereof. And to the end that all and every our loving subiects may understand and take notice and knowledge what summe or summes of monies he or they ought to pay to our said Farmer for the premises respectively, and that no other or greater summe of summes of mony may be exacted or [...]equired of them or any of them by colou [...] of the premises. We have by the advice of our Chancellour and counsell of our said Dutchie cause such particular Rates there unto bee herein expressed and set downe as have beene heretofore usually paid for the premises: To wit for all carts, waines [...]r waggons laden with any kinde of Merchandizes to bee sold two pence a pence, for horses wanted, a penny a Horse, for Horses not wanted a halfe penny a Horse, for Horses loaden with Corne, a Farthing a Horse, and for droves of cattell, as Horse, oxen, steeres, kine and such like foure pence the skore, and for sheepe and Lambes and the like, two pence the skore. And for their b [...] satisfaction and knowledge hereof and herein: We will and command all Maiors, Bailiffs and other [...] of the aforesaid Townes and every of them respectively, that they and every of them upon request to them made on our behal [...] forthwith doe publish these our Letters in the open markets and other publique places of the said townes and every of them by r [...]ading the same. And further also that they and every of them our said Officers, and all our Iustices of Peace and other our officers [...] and in our said County be aiding counselling helping and assisting our said Farmer is deputie and deputies, assigne or assignes f [...]m time to time as the case shall require in the due Collection of the said tolle as afores [...]d as they and every of them will answe [...] the contrary at their and every of their perils.
Giuen at our said Pallace of Westmins [...]r under the seale of our Dutchie of Lanca [...] ter aforesaid the seventh of Aprill in the twelfth yeare of our raigne.
God save the King.