Townspeople asked for charters like the charter of Lorris in this lesson because they wanted to gain certain rights and privileges that would allow them to have more control over their own affairs. These charters often granted townspeople the right to elect their own officials, hold markets and fairs, and make their own laws. This allowed townspeople to have a greater say in how their towns were run and gave them more freedom from the control of feudal lords. The charter of Lorris, in particular, granted townspeople the right to elect their own mayor and council, hold a weekly market, and build a wall around their town. These rights gave Lorris residents a significant amount of autonomy and allowed them to have a major say in how their town was governed.