A letter of reward

Translated letter:

Elizabeth by the grace of God queen of Hungary to all the faithful of Christ present and future who will look at the present page, greetings in the Lord.   It is up to reginal sollicitude to measure the merits of individuals and to respond to each according to the demands of the merits, so that those whose actions deserve to be commended by a separate claim of worth, while they look to be fruitful from the benefit of reward, they may strive to grow from virtue to virtue; others may also be called by their example to do acts of loyalty with prompt and ready benevolence.  Therefore we wish to bring to the notice of all of you by the contents  of these that when our faithful Master James, a noble and honorable man, who did not fear to commit his person to lord Ladislaus, illustrious king of Hungary our dearest son,  to the accidents of fortune prosperous or adverse, offered pleasing service in the fervor of pure loyalty:  wishing to respond with some payment in recompense for his services, though he would be worthy of greater provision, we have given, donated and conferred two of our villages called Dobsza in the county of Segesd, adjoining neighbors, in one of which the church of St. Martin is founded, with all their uses and appurtenances, to be possessed in perpetuity and in peace by that Master James and his heirs and successors of his heirs.  In memory and perpetual stability of which thing, we have granted to said Master James letters strengthened by the protection of our double seal.  Dated by the hand of Master Gregory our loyal chancellor of our court in the thousand two hundred seventy seventh (1277th) year of the Lord.

Original letter:

Elysabeth Dei gracia Regina Hungarie omnibus Christi fidelibus presentibus pariter et futuris presentem paginam inspecturis salutem in Domino.  In partem Reginalis sollicitudinis accedit metiri merita singulorum, et vnicuique secundum exigenciam meritorum respondere, vt hij quorum opera singulari quodam probitatis titulo commendari merentur, dum remuneracionis beneficio prospiciunt se fecundos, de uirtute crescere studeant in uirtutes; alij quoque eorum exemplo ad opera fidelitatis exercenda prompta semper et parata beniuolencia inuitentur.  Proinde ad vniuersitatis vestre noticiam harum serie volumus peruenire; quod cum Magister Jacobus fidelis noster, vir utique nobilis et honestus, domino Ladizlao Illustri Regi Hungarie karissimo filio nostro in prosperis pariter et aduersis, personam suam casibus fortune committere non formidans, gratum in feruore mere fidelitatis inpenderit famulatum:  volentes eidem in reconpensacionem seruiciorum suorum, licet ampliori prouisione dignus esset, aliquali remuneracionis stipendio respondere; quasdam villas nostras duas Dubza noncupatas in Comitatu Segusdiensi sibi inuicem contiguas et vicinas, in quarum altera ecclesia Beati Martini est fundata, cum suis vtilitatibus et pertinencijs vniuersis ipsi Magistro Jacobo et suis heredibus heredumque suorum successoribus dedimus, donauimus et contulimus perpetuo et pacifice possidendas.  In cuius rei memoriam firmitatemque perpetuam presentes prefato Magistro Jacobo concessimus litteras dupplicis sigilli nostri munimine roboratas.  Datum per manus Magistri Gregorij aule nostre Cancellarij fidelis nostri anno Domini MoCCo septuagesimo septimo.

Historical context:

The queen rewards the service of one of her men to the young king with two villages in her county of Segesd.

Printed source:

Árpádkori új okmánytár:  Codex diplomaticus Arpadianus continuatus, vols. I-XII, G. Wenzel ed. (Pest-Budapest: 1860-74), 9.179, #121.

Date: