A Charter of 1337
1337 c. 0
A Charter of 1337

Amongst the Records of the Court of Chancery kept in the Towers of London to wit the Charter Rolls of the 11th year of the Reign of King Edward the third No. 60 it is thus contained
The original text of this Act was not modern English. The traditional translation appears first with obsolete characters modernised. The original text (as an image) appears second.

For EDWARD Duke of Cornwall
The King to the archbishops &c., Greeting Amongst other ensigns of Royalty we consider it to be one of the most important that entrenched by the judicious distribution of Orders and dignities and Offices it may be supported by the discreet Counsels and power of the strong and as many hereditary degrees in our Kingdom falling into our Royal Hands as well by descent, of Inheritance according to the Law of our same Kingdom to Coheirs and Parceners as for want of Issue and various other events our said throne hath for a long time much suffered in a deficiency of Titles Honors and degrees of a rank We therefore with anxious Meditation considering the means whereby our Throne may be adorned and the same Kingdom and the holy Church thereof and also the other Lands subject to our dominion may be more securely and fitly defended against the attacks of enemies and adversaries and our peace among our subjects every where be kept undisturbed and desiring that remarkable places of our Kingdom may be distinguished by their pristine honors have turned our thoughts to the person of our beloved and faithful eldest son Edward Earl of Chester and willing to honor his person with the Common assent and council of the prelates Earls Barons and others of our Council in our present Parliament convoked at Westminster on Monday next after the Feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle last past have given to our same son the Name and Honor of Duke of Cornwall and him have preferred and girt with the sword as Duke of Cornwall as is fitting and lest it may in anywise hereafter be doubted what or how much the same Duke or others Dukes of the same place for the time being in the Name of the duchy aforesaid ought to have all the things in particular which we will to pertain to the same Duchy, we have commanded to be inserted in this our Charter–Therefore we have given and Granted for Us and our Heirs and by this our present Charter Confirmed to our same son under the name and Honor of the Duke of the said place: the Castles Manors Lands and Tenements and other things underwritten that he may be able to preserve the State and Honor of the said Duke according to the nobility of his kind and more easily support the charges in this behalf incumbent to wit the Shrievalty of Cornwall with the Appurtenances so that the aforesaid Duke and other Dukes of the same place for the time being at their pleasure make and constitute and may make and constitute a Sheriff of the aforesaid County of Cornwall to exercise and perform the Office of Sheriff there as hitherto it hath been accustomed to be done without the let or impediment of Us or our Heirs for ever And also the Castle Borough Manor and Honor of Launceneton with the park there and other their appurtenances in the County of Cornwall and Devon the Castle and manor of Tremeton with the Town of Saltessh and the park there and other their appurtenances in the County aforesaid the Castle Borough and Manor of Tyntagel with the appurtenances in the said County of Cornwall the Castle and Manor of Rostormel with the park there and other their appurtenances in the same County and the Manor of Clymmeslonde with the park of Kerybullok and other its appurtenances Tybeste with the Bailiwick of Powdershire and other its appurtenances Tewynton with the appurtenances Helleston in Kerier with the appurtenances Moresk with the appurtenances Tavarnayl with the appurtenances Pengkneth with the appurtenances Penlyn with the park there and other its appurtenances Rellaton with the Bedelry of Estwyvelshire and other its appurtenances Helleston in Trigshire with the park of Hellesbury and other its appurtenances Lyskyret with the park there and other its appurtenances Calistok with the fishery there and other its appurtenances and Talskydi with the appurtenances in the same County of Cornwall and the Town of Lostwythiel in the same County with the Mills there and other its Appurtenances and our prisage and Customs of Wines in the same County of Cornwall and also all profits of our ports within the same County of Cornwall to us belonging together with Wreck of the Sea as well of Whale and Sturgeon and other Fish which to us by reason of our prerogative belong as other things whatsoever to such wreck of the sea in anywise howsoever appertaining in all the aforesaid County of Cornwall & the profits and emoluments of County Courts holden in the aforesaid County of Cornwall and of Hundreds and the Courts of the same in the same County to us belonging and also our Stannary in the same County of Cornwall together with the Cornage of the same Stannary and with all Issues and profits thereof arising And also the esplees profits and perquisites of the Court of the Stannary in the same County except only 1,000 marks which we have granted to our beloved and faithful William de Montacute Earl of Salisbury for us and our Heirs to be received to him and his Heirs male of his Body lawfully begotten of the Issues of the profits of the cornage aforesaid until the Castle and Manor of Tonbrigg with the Appurtenances in the County of Wilts and the Manors of Aldeburn Ambresbury and Wynterbourne with the appurtenances in the same County and the Manor of Caneford with the appurtenances in the County of Dorset and the Manors of Henstrigg and Charleton with the appurtenances in the County of Somerset which our beloved and faithful John Warren Earl of Surrey and Joan his wife hold for the term of their Lives and which after their Death ought to revert to us and our Heirs after the decease of the same Earl and Joan we have Granted to remain to the aforesaid Earl of Salisbury and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfull begotten in value of 800 marks by the year and 200 marks of Land and Rent which we have agreed to provide to the same Earl of Salisbury to hold in form aforesaid shall come to his Hands And also our Stannary in the aforesaid County of Devon with the cornage and all issues and profits of the same and also esplees profits and perquisites of the Courts of the same Stannary and the Water of Dertmouth in the same County and the Yearly farm of £20 of our City of Exeter and our prisages and Customs of Wines in the Water of Sutton in the same County of Devon and also the Castles of Walyngford with its Hamlets and members and the yearly farm of the Town of Walyngford with the Honors of Wallingford and St. Walary with the appurtenances in the County of Oxford and in other Counties wheresoever the same Honors shall be and the Castle Manor and Town of Berkhampstead with the park there together with the Honor of Berkhampstead in the Counties of Hertford Bucks and Northampton and other their appurtenances and the Manor of Byflet with the park there and other its appurtenances in the County of SurreyTo have and to hold to the same Duke and the eldest sons of him and his Heirs Kings of England and the Dukes of the same place, hereditarily to succeed,in the Kingdom of England together with Knights Fees Advowsons of Churches Abbies Priories Hospitals Chapels and with the Hundreds Fisheries Forests Chases Parks Wood Warrens Fairs Markets Liberties Free Customs Wards Reliefs Escheats and Services of Tenants as well free as bond and all other things to the aforesaid Castles Boroughs Towns Manors Honors Stannaries and Cornage Lands and Tenements in anywise howsoever & wheresoever belonging or appertaining of us and our Heirs for ever together with £80 of yearly Farm which our beloved and faithful John de Meere is bound to pay to us by the year for his whole Life for the Castle and Manor of Meere with the appurtenances in the County of Wilts by us granted to him To hold for the term of his life to be received every year by the Hands of the said John for his whole life and with the said 1,000 yearly marks by us so granted to the aforesaid Earl of Salisbury of the Issues of the Cornage aforesaid after seizin had by him or his said Heirs Male of his Body begotten of the said Castle & Manor or Tonbrigg and of the Manors of Aldeburn Ambresbury Wynterbourne Caneford Henstrigg Charleton after the death of the same Earl of Surrey and Joan and of the said Two hundred Marks of Land and Rent to the same Earl of Salisbury and his Heirs Male of his Body begotten so to be provided according to the rate of the portion of the same Castle Manors Lands and Tenements when they shall wholly or by parts come to the Hands of the same Earl of Salisbury or his said Heirs Male of his Body begotten Moreover we have Granted for us and our Heirs and by this our Charter confirmed that the Castle and manor or Knaresboro’ in the County of York and other Counties wheresoever the same Honor shall be and the Manor of Isleworth with the appurtenances in the County of Middlesex which Philippa Queen of England our most deare Consort of our Grant holds for the Term of her Life and the Castle and Manor of Lydeford with the appurtenances and with the Chase of Dertemore with the appurtenances in the said County of Devon and the Manor of Bradenesh with the appurtenances in the same County which our beloved and faithful Hugh Daudele Earl of Gloucester and Margaret his Wife hold for the term of life of the same Margaret and the said Castle and Manor of Meere with the appurtenances which the aforesaid John so holds for the term of his life and which after the death of the same Queen Margaret and John ought to revert to Us and our Heirs after the decease of the aforesaid Queen, to wit, the said Castle and Manor of Knaresboro’ with their Honor Hamlets and Members aforesaid and other their appurtenances and the Manor of Isleworth with the appurtenances and after the death of the aforesaid Margaret The said Castle and Manor of Lydeford with the said Chase of Dertemore and other their appurtenances and the Manor of Bradenesh with the appurtenances and after the death of the aforesaid John the said Castle and Manor of Meere with the appurtenances shall remain to the aforesaid Duke and the eldest sons of him and his Heirs Kings of England and Dukes of the same place hereditarily to succeed in the Kingdom of England as aforesaid. To have and to hold together with the Knights Fees Advowsons of Churches Abbies Priories Hospitals Chapels with the Hundreds Wapentakes Fisheries Forests Chases Parks Woods Warrens Fairs Markets Liberties Free Customs Wards Reliefs Escheats and services of Tenants as well free as bond and all other things to the same Castles Manors and Honor in anywise howsoever and wheresoever belonging or appertaining in like manner of Us and our Heirs for ever and all which Castles Boroughs Towns Manor Honors Stannaries and Cornage Farms of Exeter and Wallingford Lands and Tenements as above specified together with Fees Advowsons and all the things abovesaid to the aforesaid Duchy by this our present Charter for Us and our Heirs We do annex and unite to the same for ever to remain so that from the same Duchy at any time they should be in no wise separated nor to any other or others than Dukes of the said place by us or our Heirs be given or in anywise howsoever grantedSo also that the aforesaid Duke or other Dukes of the same place dying and the Son or Sons to whom the said Duchy by pretext of our grants aforesaid is known to belong then not appearingthe same Duchy with the Castles Boroughs Towns and all other things abovesaid to us and our Heirs Kings of Englandshall revertto be retained in the Hand of us and our same Heirs Kings of England until there appear such son or sons hereditarily to succeed in the said Kingdom of England as abovesaid to whom then successively for us and our Heirs we Grant and will to be delivered the same Duchy with the appurtenances be holden as above is expressed Moreover we have Granted for us and our Heirs and by this our Charter confirmed to the aforesaid Duke that the same Duke and the eldest sons of the same Duke & his Heirs Dukes of the same place for ever may have free Warren in all the demesne Lands of the Castles Manors and other the places aforesaid so only the same Lands be not within the metes of our Forest so that no one enter the same Lands to chase in them or to take anything which to Warren pertains without the licence & Will of the same Duke and other Dukes of the same place under forfeiture to us of £10 Wherefore We Will and firmly Command for us and our Heirs that the said Duke may have and hold to him and the eldest sons of the same Dukes and his Heirs Kings of England and the Dukes of the same place hereditarily to succeed in the Kingdom of England as aforesaid the aforesaid Shrievalty of Cornwall with the appurtenances so that he and other the Dukes aforesaid make and constitute and may make and constitute the Sheriff of the aforesaid County of Cornwall at their pleasure to exercise & perform the office of Sheriff there as hitherto it hath been accustomed to be done without the let or impediment of us or our Heirs for ever And also the aforesaid Castles Boroughs Manors and Honors of Launceneton the Castle and Honor of Tremeton with the Town of Saltessh the Castle Borough and Manor of Tyntagel the Castle and Manor of Rostormel the Manors of Clymmeslonde Tybeste Tewynton Helleston in Kerier Moresk Tewarnayl Pengkneth Penlyn Rellaton Helleston in Trigshire Lyskyret Calistok Talskydy and the Town of Lostwythiel with their appurtenances together with the aforesaid Parks Bailiwicks Bedelry Fishery and other things abovesaid in the aforesaid County of Cornwall and the aforesaid Prisage Customs and Profits of the Ports aforesaid together with the said Wreck of the Sea and the said profits and emoluments of the Counties Hundreds and Courts aforesaid to us belonging and the said Stannary in the said County of Cornwall together with the Cornage of the same Stannary and with all Issues and Profits thereof arising and all esplees profits and perquisites of the said Court except only the said 1,000 marks which for us and our Heirs we have Granted to our beloved and faithful William de Montacute Earl of Salisbury to be received by him and his Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten of the Issues and Profits of the Cornage aforesaid until the said Castle and Manor of Tonbrigg with the appurtenances and the said Manors of Alebourne Ambresbury and Wynterbourne with the appurtenances and the said Manors of Henstrigg and Charleton with the Appurtenances which the aforesaid Earl of Surrey and Joan his Wife hold for the term of their lives and which after the death of the same ought to revert to us and our Heirs after the decease of the same Earl and Joan We have Granted to remain to the aforesaid Earl of Salisbury and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten in value of Eight hundred Marks by the Year and the said two hundred Marks of Land & Rent which We have agreed to provide to the same Earl of Salisbury To hold in form aforesaid shall fall into his Hands as is aforesaid and the said Stannary in the aforesaid County of Devon with the Cornage and all Issues and profits of the same and also esplees profits and perquisites of the Court of the same Stannary the Water of Dertmouth and the said Farm of £20 of the said City of Exeter and the said Prisages and Customs of Wines in the Waters of Sutton in the same County of Devon and also the aforesaid Castle of Walyngford with its Hamlets and Members the yearly Farm of the Town of Walingford with the said Honors of Walingford & of St. Walary the Castle Manor and Town of Berkhampstead with the said Honor of Buckhampstead and the Manor of Byflet with the Parks and other their appurtenances aforesaid together with King Fees Advowsons of Churches Abbies Priories Hospitals Chapels and with the Hundreds Fisheries Forests Chases Parks Woods Warrens Fairs Markets Liberties Free Customs Wards Reliefs Escheats and services of Tenants as well of free as bond and all other things to the aforesaid Castles Boroughs Towns Manors Houses Stannaries and Cornage Lands and Tenements in anywise howsoever and wheresoever belonging appertaining of us and our Heirs for ever together with the said £80 of Yearly Farm which the aforesaid John de Meere is bound to pay to us by the Year for his whole Life for the said Castle and Manor of Meere by us Granted to him to hold for the term of his Life To be received every Year by the Hands of the same John for his whole Life and also with the aforesaid One thousand Yearly Marks by us so granted to the aforesaid Earl of Salisbury of the Issues of the Cornage aforesaid after Seizin had by him or his said Heirs Male of his Body begotten of the said Castle and Manor of Tonbrigg and of the Manors of Aldeborn Ambresbury Wynterbourne Caneford Henstrigg and Charleton after the death of the same Earl of Surrey and Joan and of the said two hundred Marks of Land and Rent so to be provided to the same Earl of Salisbury and his said Heirs Male of his Body begotten according to the rate of the portion of the same Castle Manors Lands and Tenements when they shall wholly or by parts come to the Hands of the same Earl of Salisbury or of his said Heirs Male of his Body begotten as is aforesaid And that the aforesaid Castle and Manor of Knaresboro’ with its Hamlets and Members and Honor of Knaresboro’ and the Manor of Isleworth with the appurtenances after the death of our aforesaid Consort the Castle and Manor or Bideford with the appurtenances and with the said Chase of Dertemore with the appurtenances and the Manor of Bradenesh with the appurtenances after the decease of the aforesaid Margaret and the Castle and Manor of Meere with the Appertenances after the death of the aforesaid John de Meere shall remain to the aforesaid Duke to have and to hold to him the eldest son of the said Duke and his Heirs Kings of England and Dukes of the same place hereditarily to succeed in the Kingdom of England as aforesaid together with Knights Fees Advowsons of Churches Abbies Priories Hospitals Chapels and with the Hundreds Wapentakes Fisheries Forests Chaces Parks Woods Warrens Fairs Markets Liberties Free Customs Wards Reliefs Escheats and Services of Tenants as well Free as Bond and all other things to the same Castles Manors and Honor in anywise howsoever and wheresoever belonging or appertaining in like manner of us and our Heirs for ever as is aforesaid And all which Castles Boroughs Towns Manors and Honors Stannaries and Cornage Farms of Exeter and Wallingford Lands Tenements as above specified together with the fees advowsons and all other the abovesaid to the aforesaid Duchy by this our present Charter for us and our Heirs We annex and unite to the same for ever to remain So that from the same Duchy at any time they shall be in nowise separated nor to any other or others than Duke of the same place by us or our Heirs be given or in anywise howsoever be granted Soalso that the aforesaid Duke or other Dukes of the same place dying and the son or sons to whom the said Duchy by pretext of our Grants aforesaid is known to belong then not appearingthe same Duchy with the Castles Boroughs Towns and all other the things abovesaidshall revertto us to be retained in the hands of us and our said Heirs Kings of England until there appear such Son or Sons hereditarily to succeed in the Kingdom of England as is abovesaid to Whom then successively for us and our HeirsWe Grant and Willthe same Duchy to be delivered with the Appertenances To be holden as is above expressed And that the same Duke and the said eldest sons of the same Duke and the Heirs Dukes of the same place may have free Warren in all their demesnes aforesaid so only the same Lands be not within the metes of our Forest so that no one enter the same Lands to chase in them or to take any thing which to Warren pertains without the licence and will of the same Duke and others Dukes of the same place under forfeiture to us of ten pounds as is aforesaid These being witnesses the venerable Father J. Archbishop of Canterbury primate of all England our Chancellor Henry Bishop of Lincoln our Treasurer Richard Bishop of Durham John de Warren Earl of Surrey Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Thos. duke of Lydel John de Mowbray John Darcy the Nephew Steward of our Household and others
Given by our Hand at Westminster the 17th. day of March.
By the King himself and the whole Council in Parliament
Translated from an examined Copy (of) the Original Record
HENRY HEWLETT
Great James Street
Bedford Row