A letter from Eleanor of Provence (04/15/1254)

Translated letter:

Whereas the king understands by complaint of all the men of Edward the king’s son of Buelt and those parts that Robert le Walays, steward of Bouelt, and other bailiffs of Wililam de Cantilupo of those parts exact from every one of them having sheep, one sheep to his use, and attempt to extort money from them in many ways, and inflict other grievances on them, which the king will not suffer, the king prohibits them from giving any sheep, money or anything by way of extortion, but two or three of them are to be at Westminster before the council fifteen days after the close of Easter to sue their plaint against the said bailiffs, and the king will do them justice; and the king has commanded the said Robert to be on the same day before the council to answer them. By the queen.

Historical context:

When Henry III went to Gascony to deal with a rebellion, he appointed Eleanor to run the government with the counsel of his brother Richard of Cornwall (who was married to Eleanor’s sister Sanchia). The Patent Rolls record the actions she took in that position.

Scholarly notes:

(1) After the first two volumes of the Patent Rolls published in Latin, the editors shifted to English translations, explaining that the "language tends gradually to become more formal and verbose."

Printed source:

Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry III, 1247-58, 4.368; summary in English.(1)

Date:

04/15/1254