The Magna Carta Project

Notification of the King’s grant to the men of Calais of quittance from customs and exactions

Identity

B71

Title

Notification of the King’s grant to the men of Calais of quittance from customs and exactions

Beneficiary

Men of Calais (People)

Date of issue

4 April 1201

Place of issue

Windsor (Places)

Sources

B = Arras AD Pas-de-Calais A15 no.26, in an original inspeximus by Henry III, 7 December 1265. C = PRO KB 26/201 (Bench Plea Roll 55 Henry III) m.13, copy of the inspeximus B recited in litigation, 1270, as drawn to my attention by David Smith.

Printed

(calendar from B) Calendar of documents preserved in France, illustrative of the history of Great Britain and Ireland: Vol.1. A.D. 918-1206, ed. J. Horace Round (London, 1899), no.1324, and cf. F. Lennel, Calais des origines à la domination anglais (1180-1346), no. 1.

Comment

Transcription

Ioh(ann)es Dei gratia etc archiepiscopis, episcopis etc salutem.  Sciatis nos concessisse dilectis amicis nostris probis hominibus de Caleys quod ipsi cum omnibus rebus et cat(allis) suis per omnes terras nostras in conductu et protectione nostra sint tam in pace quam in guerra.  Volumus etiam quod iidem homines de Caleys quieti sint de theolonis et de omnibus aliis cons(uetudinibus) et exactionibus que ad nos pertinent per omnes terras nostras, unde vob(is) mandamus et precipimus quod eos et omnes eorum res et possessiones ad quemcumque locum terrarum nostrarum deuenerint manuten(eatis), custod(iatis) et protegatis sicut nostras res proprias sicut carta reg(is) Ric(ard)i fratris nostri rationabiliter testatur.  T(estibus) B. (sic) Cantuar’ archiepiscopo, W(illelmo) Lond’, I(ohanne) Norwic’, M(augero) Wygorn’ episcopis, G(alfrido) filio Petri com(ite) Essex’, Willelmo Marescall’ com(ite) de Pembroc’.  Dat’ per manum Simonis archid(iacon)i Wellen’ apud Wyndes’ quarto die April(is) anno r(egni) n(ostri) secundo.

Calendar

Notification that the king has granted to the men of Calais his protection, so that they may move throughout his lands in peace and war, and that they be quit of customs throughout his lands.

Charters not found in surviving rolls