A letter from Joan of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders (1217, May)

Translated letter:

I, Joan, countess of Flanders and Hainaut, make known to all in the future as well as the present, that the abbot and convent of St. Peter of Oudenburg on the one side and John Cardon on the other, promised in the dispute that was between them according to the arbitration of a certain prior of Ter Doest and Walter of Ralenghem, namely about the alms which Giles of Thestrep conferred on the church of St Peter of Oudenburg; and those two spoke their decision in my presence, so that both parts consented to the decision as it is sealed with the seal of the lord bishop of Tournai and I give witness to this; and also present at this decision were my faithful and beloved Giles Bertaud, Gerard of Sottenghem, Gilbert of Borghela, Walter of Fontana, Baldwin of Prat, Philip of Wastina, Philip of Dergneau, Walter of Coutrai, cleric, and Baldwin of Lobbes. Enacted at Malea, Monday after the Trinity, in the year of the Lord 1217, in the month of May.

Original letter:

Ego Johanna, Flandrie et Hainonie comitissa, notum facio universis, tam futuris quam presentibus, quod abbas et conventus Sancti Petri de Oudenburgh ex una parte et Johannes Cardon ex altera parte, de querela, que inter ipsos erat, compromiserunt in salomonem quondam priorem de Dosa et Walterum de Ralenghem, videlicet de elemosina, quam Egidius de Thestrep contulerat ecclesie Sancti Petri de Oudenburgh; ct ipsi duo arbitrium suum dixerunt in presentia mea, ita quod utraque pars consensit arbitrio suo sicut sigillatum est sigillo domini episcopi Tornacensis et hujus rei testimonium perhibeo; et huic arbitrio interfuerunt dilecti et fideles mei, Egidius Bertaud, Gerardus de Sottenghem, Gilbertus de Borghela, Walterus de Fontana, Balduinus de Prat, Philippus de Wastina, Philippus de Derennau, Walterus de Curtraco, clericus, Balduinus de Lobis. Actum apud Maleam, feria secunda post Trinitatem, anno Domini millesimo ducentesimo septimo decimo, mense Maio.

Historical context:

The countess announces and bears witness to an agreement made by arbitration in a dispute between a monastery and a layman.

Printed source:

Johanna van Constantinopel, Gravin van Vlaanderen en Henegouwen ed. Theo Luykx, Verhandelingen van de Koninklijke Vlaamsche Academie voor Wetenschappen, Letteren en Schoone Kunsten van Belgie, Klasse der Letteren, VIII.5 (1946), 537, ep.5.

Date:

1217, May