A letter of confirmation to Godstow

Translated letter:

M[atilda] empress daughter of king H[enry] and [ruling] lady of the English to the justices and barons and all her Franks/Normans and English of all England, greetings.  You should know that I have granted and confirmed in perpetual alms to God and St. John the Baptist and the nuns of Godstow that they may have a fair at Godstow on the feast of St. John the Baptist that would last three full days.  For which I wish and firmly order that all those who come to the fair and all their things would have my firm peace going and coming so that nothing disturbs them or their things with a penalty.  Witnessed by the bishop of Ely and chancellor William, R[obert] count of Gloucester at Oxford. 

Original letter:

M. imperatrix H. regis filia et Angl’ domina justiciis et baronibus et omnibus suis francis et anglis totius Anglie salutem.  Sciatis me concessisse et in perpetuam elemosinam confirmasse deo et sancto Johanni baptiste et sanctimonialibus de Godestowe ut habeant unam feriam apud Godestowe ad festum sancti Johannis baptiste que duret tres dies plenarios.  Quare volo et firmiter precipio quod omnes illi qui ad feriam illam venerint habeant meam firmam pacem et omnes res eorum in eundo et redeundo ne aliquid eos nec res eorum injuste disturbet super forisfacturam x.li.  Test’ episcopo Eliensi et Willelmo cancellario, R. comite Gl’ apud Oxenef’.

Historical context:

The empress confirms the right she has granted to Godstow to hold a fair for three days on the feast of John the Baptist.  The editor notes that the letter was composed while Matilda was at Oxford and "domina Anglorum," lady (the feminine equivalent of "lord") of the English.

Printed source:

I am grateful to Emilie Amt for this text which is now available in The Latin Cartulary of Godstow Abbey, ed. Emilie Amt (Oxford:  Oxford University, 2014), 14, #15.

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