TOLL.—Closely connected with this are tolls, which, here as well as in Germany, the king claimed in harbours, and upon transport by roads and by navigable streams[136], and which he either remitted altogether in favour of certain favoured persons or empowered them to take; thus, in the first instance, creating for them a commercial monopoly of the greatest value, by enabling them to enter the market on terms of advantage. As early as the eighth century we find Æðelbald of Mercia granting to a monastery in Thanet, exemption from toll throughout his kingdom for one ship of burthen[137], remitting to Milræd, bishop of Worcester, the dues upon two ships, payable in the port of London[138], and to the bishop of Rochester the toll of one ship, whether his own or another’s, in the same port[139]. And the grant to St. Mildðrýð in Thanet was confirmed for himself, and increased by Eádberht of Kent in 761, and extended to London, Fordwíc and Seorre[140]; and if the actual ship to which this privilege was attached should become unseaworthy through age, or perish by shipwreck, a new one was to receive the same favour. ----- Footnote 136: See Böhmer, Regest. Karol. Nos. 7, 14, 28, 31, 67, 71, 83, 89, 97, 111, 163, 206, 217, 220, 227, 231, 240, 252, 260, 272, 283, 288, 304, 308, 398, 415, 461, 463, 559, 561, 564, 566, 586, 592, 593, 605, 652, 693, 739, 787, 837, 885, 1528, 2067, 2073. These charters contain full particulars relative to the levy, release and grant of tolls in the Frankish empire. Footnote 137: Cod. Dipl. No. 84. “Navis onustae transvectionis censum qui a theloneariis nostris tributaria exactione impetitur, perdonans attribuo; ut ubique in regno nostro libera de omni regali fiscu et tributo maneat.” Footnote 138: Cod. Dipl. No. 95. “Ðá forgeofende ic him álýfde alle nédbade twégra sceopa ða ðe ðǽr ábædde beóð fram ðám nédbaderum in Lundentúnes hýðe; ond næfre ic né míne lastweardas né ða nédbaderas geþristlǽcen ðæt heó hit onwenden oððe ðon wiðgǽn.” See similar exemptions in Cod. Dipl. Nos. 97, 98, 112. Footnote 139: Cod. Dipl. No. 78. “Indico me dedisse ... unius navis, sive illa propria ipsius, sive cuiuslibet alterius hominis sit, incessum, id est vectigal, mihi et antecessoribus meis iure regio in portu Lundoniae usque hactenus conpetentem.” And this was confirmed a century later by Berhtwulf of Mercia. Footnote 140: Cod. Dipl. No. 106. After mentioning one ship, relieved from toll in London, he continues: “Alterius vero ... omne tributum atque vectigal concedimus, quod etiam a thelonariis nostris iuste impetitur publicis in locis, qui appellantur Forduuíc et Seorre.” -----