A letter from Joan of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders (1220/1221, June 7)

Translated letter:

I Joan, countess of Flanders and of Hainaut, make known to all both present and future that for the sake of divine love and at the requests of my dearest relative and faithful Sybil, lady of Wavre, I, as the higher lady, confirm the gift of parsonages from Houtawa and from New Temple with their appurtenances, which lord Rudolf of Rodes granted as perpetual alms to the church of blessed Andrew near Bruges, and the sales of portions of the tithe from Houtawa and the permission for tithes to be acquired in the aforesaid parsonages in exchange for her land or rents, as the lady herself of Wavre confirms in her letters, (and I) cause the present document to be strengthened by the affixing of my seal. Granted at Ypern, in the year of the Lord 1220, in the month of March.(1)

Original letter:

Ego Johanna, Flandrie et Hainonie comitissa, omnibus notum facio, tam presentibus quam futuris, quod, divini amoris intuitu et ad preces karissime consanguinee et fidelis mee Sybille, domine de Waverin, donationem personatuum de Houtawa et de Novo Templo cum pertinentiis suis, quam dominus Radulphus de Rodes in perpetuam elemosinam ecclesie beati Andree juxta Brugis concessit et venditiones partium decime de Houtawa et concessionem de acquirendis decimis in predictis personatibus concambio terre sue sive reddituum, sicut ipsa domina de Waverin per litteras suas confirmat, tamquam domina superior confirmo, sigilli mei appensione presentem paginam faciens communiri. Datum apud Ypra, anno Domini millesimo ducentesimo vicesimo mense Martio.

Historical context:

The countess confirms the gift made by a relative, Sybil of Wavre, of parsonages to a church, with the sales of tithes in exchange for the land.

Scholarly notes:

1 This translation was provided by Ashleigh Imus.

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), 547-48, ep.17.

Date:

1220/1221, June 7