The first of these charters gave to the bishop free warren over this manor and the soke: the second the liberty of holding an annual fair at this place, which was to commence two days before the eve of the feast of St. Barnabas, and to continue eight days: the third had for its objects the empowering of the bishop to try felons, {8b} and to hold a court leet; also the exemption of the inhabitants of the manor, and the soke from toll, and several other payments and services, beside protecting them from arrest by the sheriff’s and king’s officers. An additional charter was granted in the following year enabling the bishop to hold a weekly market here every Wednesday; and also another annual fair to commence on the eve of the feast of St. Lawrence, and to continue seven days. {8c} The custom of holding a fair on the anniversary of this festival appears to have prevailed at an earlier period, it being alluded to in the grant of the former fair. In the same reign, Gerrard, the son and heir of Ralph de Rhodes, appears to have preferred his claim to this manor, which had been sold by his father; {9a} perhaps in consequence of some omission in the performance of those services by which the estate was to be held. His claim does not appear to have been successful; for in the seventeenth year of the same king, the bishop fined to hold this manor in fee, but not to alienate without licence. {9b} Walter Mauclerke resigned the see of Carlisle in 1246, and as this manor devolved to his ecclesiastical successors, it may be inferred that it had been purchased to increase the revenues of the bishoprick, and not to be appropriated as his private property. The privileges of such essential interest to the estate, which had already been conferred by the preceding charters, were in part strengthened by fresh acknowledgements to the Bishops of Carlisle, in the reigns of the two succeeding kings; Edward the first confirming the grant of free warren, {9c} and Edward the second that which exempts the inhabitants of the manor and soke from certain payments and services. {9d} At the period of Richard the second, Roger le Scrop and Margaret his wife, with Robert Tibetot and Eve his wife, heirs and descendants of Gerbald le Escald, appear to have advanced a claim to this manor, and to have succeeded in obtaining letters patent, confirming to them homage and service from the ecclesiastical possessor. {9e} At that time also, when the border contests had laid waste the see of Carlisle, and divested the bishops of their seat of Rose Castle in Cumberland, they were necessitated to take up their residence at Horncastle, which continued for some time to be their principal place of abode. {9f} In the twenty-fifth year of Henry the sixth, that monarch confirmed the several charters granted to the bishops as lords of this manor, by Henry the third, and also conferred on them numerous other privileges. {10a}