A letter from Philip II, king of France
Sender
Philip II, King of FranceReceiver
Blanche of Navarre, Countess of ChampagneTranslated letter:
Philip, by grace of God king of the Franks, to his beloved and faithful Blanche, countess of Troyes, greetings and love. You should know that that help which you promised for love of God and us to help in the Albigensian land, the twentieth part of your income, with expenses reasonably deducted, we do not hold as precedent or custom for you or your heirs. Enacted at Melun, in the year of the Lord, 1221, in the month of May.
Original letter:
Philippus Dei gratia Francorum rex, dilecte et fideli sue Blanche, comitisse Trecensis salutem, et dilectionem. Noveritis quod auxilium illud quod amore Dei et nostro promisistis faciendum ad subsidium terre Albigensis de vicesima parte reddituum vestrorum, deductis rationabilibus expensis, ad nullam vobis vel heredibus vestris trahemus consequentiam, vel consuetudinem. Actum Meleduni, anno Domini M CC XXI, mense maio.
Historical context:
The king of France tells the countess that he does not consider her contribution to his attack on the Albigensians a customary obligation.
Printed source:
The Cartulary of Countess Blanche of Champagne, edited by Theodore Evergates, © The Medieval Academy of America 2010 (University of Toronto Press, 2009), 256, #283. Reprinted with permission of the press.