Antonio's Pelican Scroll

For my good and dear friend, +Antonio Patrasso

I'm hoping +TJ DeLuca will post his Italian translation so that I can link to that.


By Edward the King.   By Thyra the Queen.  Forasmuch as it is worthy and just to faithfully and devotedly serve and, as fitting, to venerate and enrich the Kingdom of the East; and forasmuch as our servant Antonio Patrasso has, through manifold and diverse acts, so faithfully and so devotedly served, venerated and enriched our realm as to obtain the acclaim of worthy and notable persons; and such worthy and notable persons having put before us a petition concerning the aforenamed Antonio that we find to be right, just and proper; therefore, we do by this our present and ever-valid decree invest, endow and exalt the said Antonio with the Order of the Pelican and do further command, decree and ordain that he shall henceforward and in perpetuity enjoy all the rights, privileges, prerogatives, and franchises attendant thereon freely, tranquilly, fully, wholly, honorably, well and in peace, without impediment, revocation or obstacle whatsoever.  And we do further affirm the right of the said Antonio to bear such Arms by Letters Patent as had been granted by our right noble ancestors: Gules, on a sun Or a cat herissony contourny sable, all within a bordure engrailed Or.  And, for the last, we do pledge and promise with the full force of Royal authority that we will defend the above-stated investment and endowment entirely from any man contradicting.  So that this our decree may remain always firm and stable we have set our signs manual below.  Enacted happily in the Barony of Carillion upon 17 January, in the forty-ninth year of the Society, in the presence of the Peers of the Realm Assembled.

Jointly issued charters

It's rare to find a later medieval charter jointly issued by the King and the Queen, particularly in England.  However, I've recently found some additional evidence of jointly-issued charters  and want to share examples of the language used (in English translation).


Ferdinand, count of Flanders and of Hainaut, and Joan, his wife, countess of Flanders and Hainaut, to all who will view the present letters, greeting.
(charter dated 1232 -- http://epistolae.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/letter/1125.html)


We, Henry, marquis, son of late William, also marquis, and wife Adelaide, countess, daughter of late Oldric of good memory, who was called Manfred, also marquis, have professed that as spouses we both live, from our birth, under Salic law. Moreover with that mentioned spouse consenting and confirming below the offerers and donors of that church, he, constant, told those present that it was perpetual. Whoever has conferred from his property anything on holy and venerable places will receive in this world a hundred-fold according to the word of Christ. Moreover, what is better is that he will possess eternal life. Therefore we, Henry, marquis, and Adelaide, countess, spouses, give and offer and through the present charter of donation . . . 
(charter dated 20 May 1043 -- http://epistolae.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/letter/1210.html)



Let it be known to all present and future that I, Baldwin, by the grace of God fourth king of the Latins of the holy city of Jerusalem, and Melisende, queen, our mother, grant and confirm the gift . . . 
(charter dated 1144 - http://epistolae.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/letter/1468.html)


I've got some more and I will post more examples as I sort through them.

Regnal numbering

I'm sharing here for interested people some research performed by Countess Aryanhwy merch Catmael on whether rulers in their own documents referred to themselves as "the third," "the fourth," etc.

Some months back there was a discussion about whether regnal numbers were used _by the ruler him/herself_, or only in 2nd-hand references by, e.g., historians. I'd said I'd found evidence of the former. Today I found another example. In the Hamburgisches Urkundbuch, there's two documents from 988 from Otto III which are dated as follows:

"Data XVII kalendas Aprilis. Anno dominicae incarnationis DCCCCLXXXVIII.
Indictione I, anno autem tertii Ottonis regnantis quinto"

and

"Data XV. kalendas Aprilis, anno dominicae incarnationis DCCCCLXXXVIII.
Indicatione I. Anno autem tertii Ottonis regnantis V".

The last clause in each indicates that 988 is the 5th year of the reign
of the third Otto.

-- Aryanhwy