The City Archive's Oldest Document

Medieval Deed [496.5 BA9360/CAB14/26]

This deed is the oldest document in the Worcester City Archive, although it's not the oldest in the Record Office's holdings, and one of only a handful of documents that survives from medieval Worcester. A deed of gift was the most common method of selling land and property in the medieval period. Contrary to its title, the property was in fact sold for money, although the amount is never stated in the deed. Instead of a signature, it is authenticated by a seal and a list of witnesses to the transaction, including Walter Beauchamp and Henry of Ribbesford.  By the thirteenth century, documents were usually given a date, and this is unusual in that it has none. From the handwriting it can be dated to between 1275 and 1300, and at least one of the witnesses had died by 1304, so the later annotation on the reverse giving a date of 1298 may well be correct.

Transcription:

Sciant presentes et futuri quod Nos Willelmus Rocolf, et Walterus Quoynterel tunc ballivi Wygorn' Jacobus Aubyn, Pagan dictus Burgus, Ricardus Styward, Johannes Oglin, Johannes Comyn, Gervasius le Selle, Johannes de Pycheseus, Walterus Enneyse, Willelmus le Carter, Henricus de Aston et tota communitas Wygorn' dedimus, concessimus et hac carta confirmavimus Thome ApWyne concivi nostro totam Schoppam illam cum pertinentiis que sita est inter schoppam quam Nicholaus de Stadleye de nobis tenet ex parte una et schoppam Stephani le Loxsmyt ex altera, iuxta Aulam Gilde nostre. Habendum et tenendum de nobis et heredibus nostris eidem Thome et heredibus vel assignatis suis vel cuicumque dictam schoppam cum pertinentiis dare, assignare sive in testamento legari voluerit iure hereditar' imperpetuum. Reddendo inde annuatim ballivis nostris qui pro tempore fuerint decem solidos ad festum Annuntiacionis Beate Marie Virginis pro omni servicio seculari, consuetudine querela, secta curie, exactione, demanda. Et nos vero predicti Willelmus, Walterus, Jacobus, Paganus, Ricardus, Johannes, Johannes, Gervasius, Johannes, Walterus, Willelmus, Henricus et tota communitas et heredes nostri predictam schoppam cum pertinentiis predicto Thome et heredibus vel assignatis suis contra omnes homines et feminas qui sunt vel qui esse potuerint warentizabimus acquietimus et defendemus imperpetuum. Et ut habet nostra donacio concessio warantizatio acquietantia et defensio perpetue firmitatem robur optimum presenti carte sigillum nostrum communitatis apposuimus. Hiis testibus, Dominis Waltero de Bello Campo, Willelmo le Power Henrico de Ribesford, Petro de Salo Marisco, Rogero Corbet, Galfrido de Abetot militibus Thome de Pyrie et aliis.

Translation:

Know all men present and future that we William Rocolf and Walter Quoynterel, then bailiffs of Worcester, James Aubyn, Payne known as Burgess, Richard Styward, John Oglin, John Comyn, Gervase le Selle, John of Pycheseus, Walter Ennyse, William the Carter, Henry of Aston and the whole community of Worcester give and concede and by this charter confirm to Thomas Apwyne our fellow citizen all that shop with the appurtenances which is sited between the shop which Nicholas of Stadleye holds of us on the one part and the shop of Stephen the Locksmith on the other next to our Guild Hall. To have and to hold from us and our heirs to the same Thomas and his heirs or assigns or to whomever he may wish to give, assign or bequeath in his will that shop, in hereditary right for ever. Rendering therefore annually to those who are our bailiffs at the time ten shillings at the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary for all secular service, customary service, action, suit of court, exaction or demand. And indeed we the aforesaid William, Walter, James, Payne, Richard, John, John, Gervase, John, Walter, William, Henry and all the corporation and our heirs warrant, acquit and defend the aforesaid shop with the appurtenances to the aforesaid Thomas and his heirs or assigns against all men and women who are or who might be forever. And so that our gift, concession, warranty, acquittance and defence has the best perpetual strength and security we have affixed our communal seal to the present charter. With these as witnesses; Lord Walter de Beauchamp, William le Poer, Henry of Ribbesford, Peter of the Saltmarsh, Roger Corbet and Geoffrey Abetot knights, Thomas of Perry and others.