Contents: The Westminster Tournament Challenge, an invitation to the Westminster Tournament, the joust held in honour of the birth of a son, Prince Henry, to Henry VIII (r. 1509-1547) and Catherine of Aragon (b. 1485, d. 1536) on New Year's Day, 1511. The document concludes with the signatur...
Will of Æthelflæd, including a bequest of land at Lambourn, Cholsey and Reading, Berkshire, to the king; at Damerham, Hampshire, to Glastonbury; at Hamme to Christ Church, Canterbury; at Woodham, Essex, to Ealdorman Brihtnoth and her sister for life, with reversion to St Mary’s, Barking; at Hadh...
Grant of Isabel, Countess de Warenne, to the priory of St Katherine, Lincoln
Scope & Content:
Isabel, Countess de Warenne (b. c. 1137, d. c. 1203) grants easements for 60 beasts to the priory of St Katherine, Lincoln, for the soul of her husband Earl Hamelin de Warenne (b. c. 1130, d. 1202). Endorsed: 'Cart[a]'. Affixed with a seal (now damaged) of a standing female figure (Birch, Cata...
Birth amulet with prayers and invocations to Sts Cyricus and Julitta
Scope & Content:
An amulet in roll form, thought to have been used as a birth girdle. Headed with a diagram of a cross, followed by a text in Middle English invoking the protection of the Cross on the wearer, with specific reference to childbirth. This is followed by prayers in Latin, invoking Sts Cyricus and J...
Grant of King John of England (r. 1199–1216) to William de Belver
Scope & Content:
Grant of King John of England to William de Belver, the son of William de Albineius, and to his heirs, that they may have a market at Bridgeford [Staffordshire], on any Thursday, and one fair in the same place each year through the three 'dies duraturam', that is the day of the Feast of St Peter...