The mayor and community shall not ask or take anything [i.e. a fine or licence fee] from any man wishing to dwell in the town, as this is expressly against the liberty [granted to the town by] the Bishop. But if anyone resides there for a year and then wishes to be treated as other than a stranger, he may give what is reasonable [to purchase the franchise].

[The first sentence doubtless refers to licences to trade sold to non-burgess residents, which were themselves in part a punitive measure to create incentive towards becoming a freeman (a status which was supposed to provide superior commercial rights). The licences might be of a general tenor, or might be specific such as the case ca.1299 in which various butchers paid a fee for permission to retail meat on days other than the Tuesday market.]