Chorographia, or, A survey of Newcastle upon Tine the estate of this country under the Romans : the building of the famous wall of the Piets, by the Romans : the ancient town of Pandon : a briefe description of the town, walls, wards, churches, religious houses, streets, markets, fairs, river and commodities, with the suburbs : the ancient and present government of the town : as also, a relation of the county of Northumberland, which was the bulwark for England, against the introdes of the Scots : their many castles and towers : their ancient Cheviot-Hills, of Tinedale, and Reedsdale, with the inhabitants.

THE GRANTS AND CHARTERS TO THE TOWNE.

THE antiquity of this Towne is known to be from that time, that the Romans had command in the Northern parts, who built the Picts Wall. After their departure the Saxons became masters of this countrey; then the Danes. The Danes being vanquished and expelled this land, the English enjoyed it, untill William the Conquerour made all England vassals, and obey his Norman laws, as far as the River of Tine. King Wil∣liam overthrew the Northern forces in Gateside-Foil, neer Newcastle. Since which time, great is the privi∣ledges that Kings and Princes hath endowed this Town with.

Robert sonne of William the Conquerour built the Castle, called New-Castle, against the often inrodes of our neighbouring Scots.

King John gave the first Grant to Newcastle, and endowed it with many priviledges and immunities to the good men of the same.

King Henry the third made it a Corporation, where∣as formerly it belonged to the County of Northumber∣land, as by Henry the thirds Charter doth appear,—Noveritis nos concessisse & demisisse, & hae Charta nostra confirmasse pro nobis & haredibus nostris, pro∣bis hominibus nostris, de Novo-Castello super Tinam, & haeredibus corum villam nostram cum Novo-Castello, cum omnibus pertinentibus suis ad seod firmum, &c.

The Town of Pampden was granted to the beloved Burgesses, and good men of Newcastle, in King Ed∣ward the firsts reign, as by his Charter appears,—Sciatis quod dedimus & concessimus, & haee Charta nostra confirmavimus, pro nobis, & haeredibus nostris, dileetis Burgensibus, & probis hominibus nostris ville Novieastri super Tinam, onmes terras & tenementa cum pertinentibus in Pampeden in Biker, juxta pre∣dictam Villam Novicastri, &c. Et quod predicta Villa Novicastri, & terrae, & tenementa predicta in Pampe∣den, unica Villa de cetero sint, & unus Burgus, ad uni∣endum & concludendum dictae Villae Novicastri in ang∣mendationem, emendationem, & securitatem, ejusdem Villae, &c.

All the Kings and Queens of England successively granted unto the Town some honour or priviledge, and inlarged their Charters.

Edward the third gave them the Forth, for the good services of the Townes-men.

Edward the fourth gave them power to choose yearely Mayor and Aldermen, in lieu of Baylisses.

After Kings granted to the Mayor and Communalty, all the Royalties of the River of Tine, from Sparrow-Hawke, unto Heddon-Streames; and that no ship load and unload any manner of goods, wares, and marchan∣dizes, in, or any place of the River, but onely at the Key of Newcastle. Also granted Commissioners to measure Keeles.

King Edward the sixth grants the Town of Gateside to be united to the Town of Newcastle. Repealed by Queen Mary.

Sir Thomas White, Lord Mayor of London, gave one hundred pound yearely to the chief Cities and Towns of England, for ever, to be lent to foure Clo∣thiers Merchants for ten yeares without interest. The Town of Newcastle enjoyeth her hundred pound in her turn; The first hundred pound which came to Newcastle was in 1599. The noblest gift that ever was given in England by any subject. Some think, in time, it will ingrosse the most of the money in this land.