The Magna Carta Project

Notification of the King's decree concerning the fees for sealing letters and charters

Identity

B1

Title

Notification of the King's decree concerning the fees for sealing letters and charters

Beneficiary

Date of issue

7 June 1199

Place of issue

Northampton, Northamptonshire, England (Places)

Sources

B = Lambeth Palace Library ms.1212 (Archbishopric of Canterbury cartulary) fo.21r-v (8r-v, pp.39-40), no.1, s.xiii ex. C = Ibid. fos.115v-116r (85v-86r, pp.223-4), s.xiii med.

Printed

(from B) Foedera, Conventiones, Litterae etc., or Rymer’s Foedera, 1066-1383, ed. A. Clarke et al., vol. 1, part i (London, 1816), 95-6; cf. PRO KB 27/18 mm.12-12d, where the present charter is referred to in pleadings before the court of Edward I.

Comment

Transcription

Iohannes Dei gratia rex Anglie dominus Hibernie dux Normannie Aquitanie et comes Andegauie archiepiscopis, episcopis, abbatibus, comitibus, baronibus, iusticiariis, vicecomitibus, prepositis et omnibus balliuis et fidelibus suis salutem.  Cum ad regimen regni Anglie quod nobis iure competit hereditario diuina misericordia vocauerit et mediante tam cleri quam populi unanimi consensu et fauore satis misericorditer nos in regem sublimauerit, summo desideramus desiderio sicut et debemus libertati et indempnitati tam cleri quam populi propensius prouideri et prauas et iniquas consuetudines que vel ex causa cupiditatis vel minus sano consilio vel alio motu mentis illicito pullularunt, ad honorem Dei et sacrosancte ecclesie et pacem et tranquillitatem cleri et populi penitus extirpare.  Et cum sigillum bone memorie Richardi fratris nostri illustris quondam regis Anglie diebus suis in eum peruenerat statum ut de quibusdam negotiis ad sigillum pertinentibus quedam preter cursum solitum ab antiquis temporibus statuta potius voluntate quam ratione mediante, in preiudicium regie dignitatis et libertatis regni recipiebantur, videlicet de literis protectionis patentibus pro quibus dabantur decem et octo solidi et quatuor denarii, pro quibus non debebantur dari nisi duo solidi, et de simplicibus confirmationibus in quibus nihil noui est insertum, pro quibus dabantur duodecim marce et quinque solidi, pro quibus non debebantur dari nisi decem et octo solidi et quatuor denarii.  Nos pro salute anime nostre et felicis memorie Henrici quondam regis Anglie patris nostri et memorati regis Richardi fratris nostri et omnium antecessorum et successorum nostrorum volumus, concedimus et ad instantiam venerabilis patris nostri Huberti Cantuar' archiepiscopi cancellarii nostri statuimus ne ullis aliquando temporibus a nostro vel alicuius succesorum nostrorum sigillo, quicquam ultra id quod ab antiquis temporibus de sigillo regum Anglie statutum est, recipiendum, et quod de sigillo bone memorie Henrici patris nostri quondam regis Anglie recipiebatur pro quibuscumque negotiis recipiatur, scilicet de charta noui feoffamenti terrarum vel quorumlibet tenementorum vel libertatum capiatur una marca auri vel decem marce argenti ad opus cancellarii, et una marc argenti ad opus vicecancellarii et una marca argenti ad opus prothonotarii, quinque solidi pro cera.  De simplici confirmatione in qua nihil noui est adiectum detur una marca argenti ad opus cancellarii, unus bisancius ad opus vicecancellarii et unus bisancius ad opus prothonotarii, et duodecim denarii pro cera.  De simplici protectione dentur duo solidi.  Si quis autem contra hanc constitutionem nostram venire presumpserit, indignationem Domini omnipotentis et nostram omnemque qua quisquam in regem unctus et consecratus maledicere potest maledictionem incurrat.  Predictus autem archiepiscopus Cantuar' et cancellarius noster una cum episcopis omnibus qui nobis in consecratione nostra manus imposuerunt in omnes qui contra hanc constitutionem venire presumpserint sententiam excommunicationis generaliter de assensu nostro promulgauit.  Huic autem nostre constitutioni quam de sigillo nostro fecimus, ipsum sigillum primo post coronationem nostram apposuimus in testimonium et perpetuam firmitatem.  T(estibus) T. Dublin' archiepiscopo, W(illelmo) London', Roffen', G(odefrido) Winton', H(ugone) Lincoln', E(ustachio) Eliens', H(erberto) Sarum, S(auarico) Bathon', G(alfrido) Couentr', H. Landauen', R, Bangor', Phil(ippo) Dunelm', S. Meden' episcopis, Willelmo comite de Arundel, Hamelino comite de Waren', R. com(ite) de Clare, W(illelmo) Marescallo com(ite) de Penbroc', G(alfrido) filio Petri com(ite) Essex', Rog(ero) le Bigot com(ite) Northfolcie, W(illelmo) com(ite) Sarum, R(anulfo) com(ite) Cestr', Walter(o) com(ite) Warwic', W(illelmo) com(ite) de Ferrariis, Willelmo de Braosa, Roberto filio Walteri, W(altero) de Lasci, W(illelmo) de Waren', Roberto filio Rogeri, Willelmo Briwer, Hug(one) Bardolf.  Dat' per manum H(uberti) archiepiscopi Cantuar' cancellarii nostri apud Northampton', septimo die Iunii anno regni nostri primo.

Calendar

Because under King Richard a fee was charged for the use of the seal that was higher than the customary amount, namely a charge of 18 shillings 4 pence for letters patent of protection, for which only 2 shillings ought to be charged, and of 12 marks and 5 shillings for simple confirmations with nothing new added, for which only 18 shillings and 4 pence ought to be charged; the king grants that henceforth no fee will be charged for the use of the seal greater than that charged under King Henry II, namely for new charters of enfeoffment of land or liberites 1 gold mark or 10 silver marks for the chancellor, and 1 silver mark for the vicechancellor, and 1 silver mark for the protonotary, and 5 shilings for wax; for simple confirmations in which nothing new is added, 1 silver mark for the chancelor, 1 bezant for the vicechancellor and 1 bezant fo the protonotary, and 12 pence for wax; for simple protection 2 shillings. The archbishop of Canterbury and other bishops have pronounced a genreal sentence of excommunication against anyone contravening this decree.

Charters not found in surviving rolls