A letter from Eleanor of Provence (01/17/1254)
Sender
Eleanor of ProvenceReceiver
John de Lexinton, Geoffrey de Langele, sheriff of CumberlandTranslated letter:
Appointment of John de Lexinton and Geoffrey de Langele, in the room of Thomas de Staunford, escheator beyond Trent, to extend the lands late of Ralph de Levinton in England; and the sheriff of Cumberland is commanded to provide a jury. By the queen.Historical context:
When Henry III went to Gascony to deal with a rebellion, he appointed Eleanor to run the government with the counsel of his brother Richard of Cornwall (who was married to Eleanor’s sister Sanchia). The Patent Rolls record the actions she took in that position.Scholarly notes:
(1) After the first two volumes of the Patent Rolls published in Latin, the editors shifted to English translations, explaining that the "language tends gradually to become more formal and verbose."Printed source:
Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry III, 1247-58, 4.362; summary in English.(1)