A letter from Beatrice, countess of Joigny

Translated letter:

I, Beatrice, countess of Joigny , make known to all who will look at the present letters that, when my dearest lady Blanche, illustrious countess of Troyes, and my beloved lord Thibaut, her son, count palatine of Champagne and Brie, received my son William as her/their liege man for the county of Joigny for its appurtenances pertaining to their fief, saving the right of the other, and that same William afterwards, by his own motion and will, put himself and his whole land into my care, we, namely I and said William, swore to said countess and count, having touched the holy relics, that however often we were asked by them or either of them through a messenger or their letters patent, we would hand over to them of one of them the castrum of Joigny, namely the large and the small fortification.  – They however swore to us on their souls that within forty days after they were beyond their problem, they would give back in good faith the castrum of Joigny to us or one of us, namely the large and the small fortification, in that state in which it had been given to them or one of them.  – In witness of which I had the present letters made and strengthened by the protection of my seal.  Given in the 1222nd year of grace, on the Tuesday after the second week of Easter, at the Castrum of Theoderic.

Original letter:

Ego Beatrix, comitissa Jovigniaci, notum facio universis presentes litteras inspecturis quod, cum karissima domina mea Blancha, illustris comitissa Trecensis, et dilectus dominus meus Th., natus ejus, comes Campanie et Brye palatinus, Willelmum filium meum recepissent in hominem suum ligium de comitatu Jovigniaci et de pertinentiis ad eorum feodum pertinentibus, salvo jure alterius, et idem Willelmus postmodum, proprio motu et spontanea voluntate, se et totam terram suam in mea custodia posuisset, nos, ego scilicet et dictus Willelmus, dictis comitisse et comiti juravimus, tactis sacrosanctis reliquiis, quod, quocienscunque ab ipsis vel ab altero eorum per nuntium suum vel per litteras suas patentes fuerimus requisiti, nos trademus eis vel eorum alteri castrum Jovigniaci, magnam scilicet fortericiam et parvam. — Ipsi autem nobis jurare fecerunt in animas suas quod, infra quadraginta dies postquam fuerint extra exonium suum, ipsi nobis vel alteri nostrum reddent dictum castrum Jovigniaci, magnam videlicet fortericiam et parvam, in eo statu, bona fide, in quo traditum fuerit eis aut uni eorum. — In cujus rei testimonium, presentes litteras feci fieri et sigilli mei munimine roborari. Datum anno gratie M° CC° vicesimo secundo, die martis post quindenam Pasche, apud Castrum Theoderici.

Historical context:

The countess of Joigny records the agreement made with Blanche and Thibaut when they accepted her son as their liege, under her tutelage (regency), that she and her son would turn the castrum of Joigny over to them temporarily whenever needed.  A castrum is a fortification with an administrative center.

Printed source:

Layettes du Trésor des Chartes, 1.543-44, #1530.  

Date: