A letter from Amice

Translated letter:

I, Amice, sister of the former count of Leicester, greetings to all those to whom the present letters will have come.  You should know that I release to my lord Philip, illustrious king of France and his heirs in perpetuity the castle of Breteuil fully, with all its appurtenances and whatever the count of Leicester had beyond the sea of England and whatever by chance [excasu] I might be able to claim of that count formerly my brother by hereditary right beyond the sea of England.  Moreover I gave security [creantiavi, granted] to that same Philip king of France my lord that if perhaps my sister, the wife of Seher of Quinciac, should claim anything in this by chance [?excasu], I shall with the approval of that same king assign to my sister her part from my land of England.  Moreover the lord king gives me and my heirs in perpetuity the castle of St. Leodegar/Leger in Iveline and all of Iveline, and whatever pertains to the provostship of that castle, in fief and dominion, except the fief of William of Garland and the fief of John of Roboreto.  He also gives me and my heirs the fief of Bordarum and Foilleso, and whatever that same lord king has in the sale of the woods of Gaseran.  That this may hold perpetual force, I confirm the present page with my seal.  Enacted at Paris, in the 1204th year from the incarnation of the Lord.

Original letter:

Ego Amitia, soror quondam comitis Lecestrie, universis ad quos littere presentes pervenerint, salutem. — Noveritis quod ego quito in perpetuum domino meo Philippo illustri regi Francie et heredibus suis castrum Britolii integre, cum omnibus pertinentiis suis, et quicquid comes Lecestrie habebat citra mare Anglie, et quicquid de excasu ipsius comitis, quondam fratris mei, jure hereditario poteram reclamare citra mare Anglie. — Insuper ego creantavi ipsi domino meo Philippo Francie regi ut si forte soror mea, uxor Seheri de Quinciaco, in hoc excasu fratris mei aliquid reclamaverit, ego ad laudem ipsius regis de terra mea de Anglia eidem sorori mee partem suam assignabo. — Preterea autem dominus rex mihi et heredibus meis donat in perpetuum castrum Sancti Leodegarii in Aquilina, et totam Aquilinam, et quicquid pertinet ad preposituram ipsius castri, in feodo et dominio, excepto feodo Guillelmi de Garlande et feodo Johannis de Roboreto. — Donat etiam mihi et heredibus meis feodum Bordarum et de Foilleso, et quicquid ipse dominus rex habet in venditione nemorum de Gaseran. — Quod perpetuum robur obtineat, pre­sentem paginam sigillo meo confirmo. Actum Pari­sius, anno ab incarnatione Domini m° cc° quarto. 

Historical context:

The charter of release of Breteuil to the French king was confirmed two years later by Amice’s son, Simon:  Ego Simon dominus Montisfortis universis presentibus pariter et futuris notum fieri volo quod ego illud excambium, quod karissima mater mea Amicia fecit cum domino meo Philippo regeFrancie super terra Britolii et suis pertinentiis, gratum habeo et concedo, et illud eidem bona fide tenebo, et ab heredibus meis ipsi et heredibus suis tenebo et teneri faciam. — Quod ut ratum sit, sigillo meo confirmo. Actum Aneti, anno Domini m° cc° sexto; presentibus domino Guidone de Dompna-petra, Bartholomeo de Roia, Ursione camerario, Galterio juvene (Layettes, #815).  “I Simon, lord of Montfort wish it to be known to all those present and equally in the future that I agree and grant that exchange which my dearest mother, Amicia, made with my lord Philip, king of France, over the land of Breteuil and its appurtenances, and I shall hold it in good faith and make it held so by my heirs to his heirs.  That this be firm, I confirm with my seal.  Enacted at Anet, in the 1206th year of the Lord;  in the presence of lord Guido of Dampierre, Bartholomew of Roia, Ursio chamberlain, Walter, youth.                                                 

Printed source:

Layettes du trésor des chartes,  #738. 

Date: