Markets and fairs were held sometimes in open and outlying places, as at Smithfield; but more frequently in central parts of their towns—in graveyards, in the market-places of which many survive, and in the streets. The last case has named streets in many English towns "Cheap" or "Cheapside," for "cheap" meant "market."

1223. The King to the Mayor and Bailiffs of Lincoln greeting.

We command you that on our behalf you cause to be forbidden that any market be held in future at Lincoln in the graveyards, but that the markets be held in the streets of that city, where best and most adequately you shall provide that they be.

Cal. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), I. 547.

1233. The king has granted to Hamo de Crevecquer that the market, which has been used to be held every week on Sunday at Brenchley in the graveyard of the church, be held henceforth on the land of Hamo of Brenchley, and that he and his heirs have there every year a fair to last three days, the vigil, the day and the morrow of the feast of All Saints. And the sheriff of Kent is commanded to cause that market and the fair to be proclaimed, and to be held as aforesaid.

Cal. of Close, 1231-4, 234.

1234. The king has granted to the prior and the brethren of the bridge of Lechlade that they have for ever at Lechlade bridge every year a fair, to last for five days, the eve and the feastday of the Decollation of St. John the Baptist and the three following days.

Cal. of Close, 1231-4, 398.

1235. The king has conceded to Henry, Abbot of St. Edmund, that he and his successors have yearly for ever two fairs in the suburb of the town of (Bury) St. Edmunds, namely one outside the north gate, outside the town, beside the hospital of St. Saviour, to last for three days, the eve, the day, and the morrow of the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord; and another outside the south gate of the town, likewise to last for three days, the eve, the day, and the morrow of the feast of the Translation of St. Edmund: unless such fairs be to the injury of neighbouring fairs. And the sheriff is commanded to cause this charter to be read in full county court, and these fairs to be proclaimed and held.

Cal. of Close, 1234-7, 61.

Encroachments on market-places were not lawful without special licence.

1123. Foundation of the Priory of St. Bartholomew on part of Smithfield market-place by Rahere, first prior.

Since the place godly to him (Rahere) shown was contained within the king's market, of the which it was not lawful to princes or other lords, of their proper authority, anything to diminish, neither yet to so solemn an obsequy to depute: therefore, using … men's counsel, in opportune time he addressed him to the king, and before him, and the Bishop Richard (de Belmeis, Bishop of London) being present, the which he had made to him favourable before, effectually expressed his business, and that he might lawfully bring his purpose to effect meekly besought. And nigh him was he (St. Bartholomew) in whose hand it was, to what he would the king's heart to incline, and ineffectual these prayers might not be, whose author is the apostle, whose gracious hearer was God: his word therefore was pleasant and acceptable in the king's eye. And when he had weighed the good will of the man prudently, as he was witty, he granted to the petitioner his kingly favour, benignly giving authority to execute his purpose. And he, having the title of the desired possession, of the king's majesty, was right glad.

Book of the Foundation of the Church of St. Bartholomew, London. Original Latin version (Cotton MS., Vesp., B. IX., fols. 41-3), written 1174-89. Old English version written about 1400 and edited by Norman Page.

In the greater markets particular places were assigned to the sellers of particular wares.

Ancient Regulation of Oxford market renewed in 1319.

The sellers of straw, with their horses and carts that bring it, shall stand between East Gate and All Saints' church, in the middle of the king's highway.

The sellers of wood in carts shall stand between Shydyerd Street and the tenement sometime of John Maidstone….

The sellers of timber shall stand between the tenement which is called St. George's Hall and St. Edward's Lane….

The sellers of hogs and pigs shall stand between the churches of St. Mary and All Saints and on the north side of the street.

The ale or beer shall stand between St. Edward's Lane and the tenement sometime of Alice de Lewbury on the south side of the king's highway.

The sellers of earthen pots and coals shall stand between the said lane of St. Edward and the tenement sometime of John Hampton … and from that place upward.

The sellers of gloves and whittawyers shall stand between All Saints' church and the tenement which was sometime John the Goldsmith's….

The sellers of furs (? monianiorum) and linendrapers and langdrapers shall stand from the tenement which was John the Goldsmith's to the tenement of the abbot of Osney, in the corner, which John Smith sometime inhabited.

The bakers selling bread called Tutesyn shall stand between the shop which Nicholas the Spicer now holdeth and the tenement which John Coyntroyer holdeth.

The foreign[3] sellers of fish and those that are not free or of the Gild shall stand on market days behind the said sellers of bread, towards the middle of the street.

The foreign or country poulterers shall stand between Mauger Hall and the tenement called Somenois Inn….

The sellers of white bread shall stand on each side of Quatervois, from the north head thereof toward the south.

The tanners shall stand between Somenois Inn and Quatervois.

The sellers of cheese, eggs, milk, beans, new peas, and butter, shall stand on Quatervois Corner on each side of the way towards the Bailly.

The sellers of hay and grass at the pillory.

The sellers of rushes and brooms opposite to the Old Drapery.

The sellers of corn shall stand between North Gate and Mauger Hall.

The fruiterers … shall stand from Guildhall down towards Knap Hall.

The sellers of herbs … shall stand from Knap Hall towards Quatervois.

The sellers of dishes … between Baptys Inn and Stokenrow, near to the Palace.

The sellers of fresh fish which are of the Gild shall stand as they were formerly wont to do, under the palace of Nicholas the Spicer.

The sellers of wood from the great Jewry to the tables where fish is sold.

The carts with thorns and bushes shall stand between North Gate and Drapery Hall on the west side of the street.

Oxford Hist. Soc., Collectanea, II. 13 (reprint of MS. of Anthony Wood).