A letter from Marguerite of Provence (c.1280)

Translated letter:

To the most serene prince and our dearest nephew, lord Edward, by grace of God most illustrious king of England, Marguerite, by that same grace queen of France, greetings and affection of sincere love. Since Peter of Berengar and William of Richard de Leure, nephew of that Peter, were good, faithful, and necessary at the time of the English dissension to our friends and especially to your mother, our dearest sister, for whom in our view they procured loans of many sums of money and did other courtesies, and our people, as we understand, ... collectors of your customs on the island of Kencipui (Cheneche?), clearly extorted, and without cause, a certain quantity of money from said WIlliam, ... and the goods, things, and money of said William. We ask your sincerity that, considering said courtesies, you not permit that William to be harmed without cause by any one [representing] your power in any way, and that you have the things said to have been extorted from him, restored to him completely, so that he feels that our prayers to you have benefited him. Dated Pontisare (?), Friday after Ash [Wednesday].

Original letter:

Serenissimo principi et karissimo nepoti nostro, domino Eduardo, Dei gratia regi Anglie illustrissimo, Margareta, eadem gratia Francie regina, salutem et sincere dilectionis affectum. Quum Petrus Berengarii et Guillelmus Richardi de Leure, ejusdem Petri nepos, tempore dissensionis Anglie boni, fideles et necessarii fuerint amicis nostris et specialiter matri vestre, sorori nostre carissime, cui contemplacione nostra quamplures pecuniarum summas tradi mutuo procurarunt, ac alias curialitates fecerunt eidem; et gens nostra, ut intelleximus, videlicet levatores coustumarum vestrarum in insula de Kencipui, a dicto Willelmo et suis de bonis, rebus et pecunia ejusdem Guillelmi....ad quandam pecunie quantitatem extorserint, et indebite; sinceritatem vestram rogamus quatinus, considerantes curialitates predictas, non permittatis ipsum Guillelmum per aliquem potestatis vestre modo aliquo molestari indebite, et suas res extortats, ut dictum est, sibi reddi integre faciatis, ita quod preces nostras erga vos sibi senciat profuisse. Datum Pontisare, die veneris post Cineres.

Historical context:

The dowager queen writes to her nephew on behalf of men who had befriended Edward's mother when she was in France during the English dissensions and who have a grievance against his customs officials.

Printed source:

Lettres de Rois, Reines et Autres Personnages des Cours de France et D'Angleterre, ed. M. Champollion-Figeac (Paris: Imprimerie Royale, 1839), 1.278, ep.222

Date:

c.1280