A letter from Escot, Tuscan (1249)

Translated letter:

“Escot, Tuscan, citizen of Constantinople,” certifies that he has received “from the most illustrious lady B[lanche], queen of the French ..., by the hand of Stephen of Montfort, treasurer of Pontoise, clerk of that lady queen, in the Hospital at Paris, 550 Tours pounds, in ready money, in which the illustrious lady M[arie], empress of Constantinople, was bound to him by a loan.” “In witness of which, I have had the present letters confirmed by my seal. Dated in the year of the lord, 1249, in the month of May.”

Original letter:

"Escot, Touscam, civis Constantinopolitanus," recognoscit se recepisse "ab illustrissima domina B[lanca], Francorum regina ..., per manum Stephani de Monteforti, thesaurarii Pontisarensis, ejusdem domine Regine clerici, in domo hospitalis Parisiensis, quingentas quinquaginta libras Turonensium, in pecunia numerata, in quibus illustris domina M[aria] imperatrix Constantinopolitana," sibi, "ex causa mutui tenebatur." "In cujus rei testimonium, prsentes litteras sigilli mei munimine duxi roborandas. Datum anno Domini millesimo ducentesimo quadragesimo nono, mense mayo."

Historical context:

This is a receipt for money Blanche paid to one of the creditors of her grandniece Marie, empress of Constantinople.

Printed source:

Teulet, Layettes, 3 #3773

Date:

1249