Cylchgronau Cymru

THIRD SERIES, No. VIII.—OCTOBER, 1856. KIDWELLY CHARTERS. Copies of some of the earlier charters of the borough of Kidwelly, in Caermarthenshire, have been commu¬ nicated to us through the kindness of G. P. Bevan, Esq., of Brecon; and they will be found interesting by all members of our Association, who are concerned in in¬ vestigating either the local antiquities of that county, or the history of Welsh corporations generally. Other documents, connected with the same place, will be laid before the Association at a future period. In the first of the charters of Kidwelly, by Henry Duke of Lancaster, (30 Edward III.,) here presented, an instance is afforded of the absolute power assumed by the Lords Marchers of Wales, who incorporated towns and boroughs within their jurisdictions, and gave them such charters and liberties as pleased themselves, without seeking leave or license from the Crown. By the 27 Henry VIII., ch. 24, that king resumed into his own hands this branch of the prerogatives of the Crown. The next charter, a.d. 1444, Henry VI., given by a sovereign of the same family, is a regular charter of incorporation; while that preceding, of the Duke of Lancaster, seems rather a grant of certain rights, privi¬ leges, and immunities, as pannage, fire bote, freedom from tolls, &c. T. O. M. ARCH. CAM13., THIRD SERIES, VOL. 11. 2 N