free in their municipia. The following words occur in the original records of this borough :— "If any be mindful to be made a burgess let him come into the court, and render to the pretor twelve pence, and take his burgage from the pretors, and render to the pretors' servant one penny, and he shall bear witness that he was made a burgess in this court." When these fees are paid, then shall he or his children's name be enrolled by the grand seneschal, or town clerk, in order to perpetuate the same from guild to guild. Then shall the following oath be administered to them, in open court, if they are of age, and have complied by paying their fees :

The oath of a free burgess, being a nobleman, knight, or gentleman, not residing within the borough of Preston, to be administered by the steward of the Guild.

"You shall swear, that you will be good and true to our Sovereign Lord King George the Fourth, and to the heirs of his body and other lawful successors of our said Lord the King. The guild merchant now holden, and which in time to come shall be holden if you live so long, you shall maintain and uphold. You shall warn your mayor, or his officers, if any conspiracy or secret conventicle shall exist in this town, against the peace of

our Lord the King. All these points and articles you shall well and truly keep, according to the laws and customs of the realm and of this town to your power. So help you God, and by the contents of this book."

The oath of a free burgess, not inhabiting within the borough.

"You shall swear, that you shall be good and true to our Sovereign Lord King George the Fourth, and to the heirs of his body, and other lawful successors of our said Lord the King. The guild merchant now holden, and which in time to come shall be holden, if you live so long, you shall maintain and uphold. Obeisant and obedient you shall be to the mayor of this town, concerning the franchises and customs thereof, and the same you shall maintain to your best endeavours, and this town keep harmless inasmuch as in lies. When you do inhabit this town, you shall be contributary to all manner of charges within this town, as summonses, watches, contributions, tasks, tollages, lot and scot, and all other charges, bearing your part as a freeman ought to do. And all and every other orders and ordinances made and confirmed at this present guild merchant, which are not contrary to the laws of this kingdom, you shall, as far as in you lieth, maintain and keep. You

you

shall keep also within this town, the king's peace, in your own person, according to law. You shall not colour any foreign goods, under or in your own name, whereby the king or this town might or may, lose their customs or advantages. You shall know no foreigner to buy or sell any merchandize with any other foreigner within this town or the franchises thereof, except at the time of the fair, but you shall warn the mayor, or his bailiffs. You shall know of no gatherings, conventicles, or conspiracies, made within the town of Preston, against the king's peace, but you shall warn the mayor or his burgesses, or some other officers thereof, and let the same be known according to the best of your power. All these points and articles you shall well and truly keep, according to the laws and customs of these realms, and of this town, to your power. So help you God, and by

the contents of this book."

The oath of a free burgess inhabiting the borough.

"You shall swear, that you shall be good and true to our Sovereign Lord King. George the Fourth, and to the heirs of his body, and other lawful successors of our said Lord the King. The guild merchant now holden, and which in time to come shall be holden, if you live

as long, you shall maintain and uphold, all and every other ordinances and orders, made and confirmed at this present guild merchant, which are not contradictory to the laws of this kingdom, you shall, as far as in you lieth, observe and keep. Obeisant and obedient you shall be to the mayor of this town, concerning the franchises and customs thereof, and the same you shall maintain and keep to your best endeavour, and this town keep harmless, inasmuch as in you lieth. And whilst you do and shall inhabit within this town, you shall be contributary to all manner of charges within this town, or summonses, watches, contributions, tasks, tollages, scot and lot, and all other charges, bearing your part as a freeman ought to do. You shall colour no foreigner's goods, or in your own name, whereby the king, or this town, might or may lose their customs or advantages. You shall know no foreigner to buy or sell any merchandize with any other foreigner within this town, or the franchises thereof, except. at the time of the fair, but you shall warn the mayor or bailiffs, or other officers. You shall also, within this town, keep the king's peace in your own person, according to law. You shall know no gatherings, conventicles, or conspiracies, within this town, against the king's peace, but you shall warn the mayor or other officers thereof,