Charter VII: Confirmation by Edward III on Royal Charter of 1324, no. II (1359)

VII.

Charter in the custody of the Town Clerk. 20 July 1359.

Edwardus dei gracia Rex Anglie & ffrancie & Dominus Hibernie Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Ducibus Comitibus Baronibus Justiciariis Vicecomitibus Prepositis Ministris et omnibus Balliuis & fidelibus suis salutem. Inspeximus cartam domini Edwardi nuper Regis Anglie patris nostri factam in hec verba [Hic sequitur prout in carta originali.] Nos autem concessionem & confirmacionem predictas ratas habentes et gratas eas pro nobis & heredibus nostris quantum in nobis est dilecto & fideli nostro Edwardo le Despenser consanguineo & heredi predicti hugonis ac nunc Burgensibus & aliis hominibus & tenentibus de kerdyf Vsk Kaerlion Neuport Cowbrugge Neeth & kenefeg ratificamus approbamus & confirmamus prout carta predicta racionabiliter testatur & prout ipsi et eorum antecessores libertatibus & quietanciis illis hactenus vsi sunt racionabiliter & gauisi. Hiis testibus venerabilibus patribus Stephano Archiepiscopo Cantuariensis tocius Anglie Primate. Willelmo Wyntoniensis Episcopo Cancellario nostro Johanne Roffensis Episcopo Thesaurario nostro. Willelmo de Bohun Norhampton Ricardo Arundell Rogero de Mortuo Mari Marchie Comitibus Johanne de Grey de Retherfeld Senescallo hospicij nostri & aliis. Datum per manum nostram apud Westmonasterium vicesimo die Julij anno regni nostri Anglie tricesimo tercio regni vero nostri ffrancie vicesimo.

p' viginti solidis solut. in Hanap'io. Newenh.

Endorsed:—"Confirmac'o Edwardi Regis Anglie tercij etc. Regni sui Anglie xxxiij and a° Regni sui francie xx°."

Note.—This Charter is in good condition. The initial letter E is neatly ornamented with pen and ink drawings of oak slips, basketwork and checquy designs, &c., and the capitals of the top line have their vertical strokes prolonged upwards and broadened in a fantastic manner. Seal, repaired, of green wax on green and red silk cords. Equestrian figure on one side; on the other, the King enthroned, with a lion sejant to his right, and a shield of France and England quarterly.

[Translation.]

Edward, by the grace of God King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, to the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Justices, Sheriffs, Prevosts, Ministers and all his Bailiffs and faithful subjects, greeting. We have inspected the Charter of the Lord Edward, formerly King of England, Our father, made in these words: [Here follows as in the original Charter.] Now We, ratifying and allowing the grant and confirmation aforesaid, do ratify approve and confirm them, for Us and Our heirs, as much as in Us lies, unto Our beloved and faithful Edward Le Despenser, cousin and heir of the aforesaid Hugh, and to the Burgesses and other men and tenants of Kerdyf, Usk, Kaerlion, Neuport, Coubrugge, Neeth and Kenefeg, as the aforesaid Charter reasonably testifies, and as they and their predecessors hitherto have used those liberties and quittances. Witness the venerable fathers Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England; William, Bishop of Winchester, Our Chancellor; John, Bishop of Rochester, our Treasurer; William de Bohun; Norhampton; Richard Arundell, Roger De Mortemer, Counts of the March; John de Grey de Retherfeld, Steward of our Household, and others. Given under Our hand at Westminster, on the twentieth day of July in the thirty third year of Our reign of England, and the twentieth of Our reign of France [1359.]