Dublin Core
Title
Charter of Edward III - Grant dated at Kilkenny 18th February, 1373
Subject
This charter from King Edward III is a grant to the burgesses of Kilkenny. In the 1300's, the burgesses of Kilkenny were the leading Norman-Irish families who were in control of the town's commerce and governance.
Description
This Charter is addressed to the Burgesses in the city, which included the most powerful families in Kilkenny in the 1300's. It grants these individuals certain rights which were not afforded to the civilian population, including the right to refrain from joining the army and the right to not be convicted for any crimes outside of the jurisdiction. This charter follows on from the introduction of the Kilkenny Statues which were enacted in 1366, with the aim of bringing the Norman-Irish families more in line with English standards and to deepen the divide between the native population and the Norman-Irish.
The text reads:
Edward, by the grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, sends greetings to all to whom these present letters shall come. Know ye that, by the advice of our council, we have granted for us and our heirs, to the burgesses of the town of Kilkenny the liberties written below, namely, that they, their heirs and successors dwelling within the said town, or hereafter dwelling there as burgesses, shall not be put in any assizes, inquisitions, juries, attainders or recoguizances, whatsoever of anything happening outside of the town. And although the names of them, or any of them, be hereafter put in panels by the seneschals, sheriffs, servants, bailiffs and ministers of us, or of any other whatsoever, and returned before our justices, barons of our exchequer or ministers whatsoever, touching anything of any other perspective that that of Kilkenny, we will then that our justices, barons of our exchequer and other servants, altogether release them from any process to be made against them thereupon and that our said sheriffs, seneschals, ministers, bailiffs, or servants of us, or of any other whatsoever against us and our heirs, be rigorously fined and punished for making such returns against these liberties and that they satisfy those willing to complain thereof before any justices of us whatsoever, by damages according to the discretion of the said justices taking trial thereof. Moreover we will and grant for us our heirs that none of the burgesses, their heirs or successors aforesaid be from henceforth compelled or distrained to appear before any justices, barons of exchequer or other ministers of us whatsoever, without the said town to answer for the sale of wine, bread and beer and other provisions against the assize or proclamation made of the sellers thereof, but that they may be chastised or punished for such offence within the said town or the mears of bounds thereof, and not elsewhere, and this according to the laws and customs of our land of Ireland hitherto used. We have also granted that the burgesses of the said town or any of them be not compelled to leave the limits of [the] said town, to [assist] the army, perform escort duty or [attend] parliament, against the rebels, or any others our enemies, by summons or constraint of our ministers or others whatsoever nor to make or give escort to anyone, unless they wish to do so of their own accord, unless the said town should be lost or seduced in their absence, unless a general war should break out so that the land should be in rebellion, and then this being observed, that a sufficient guard be always left in the said town to keep the same safe and secure. Wherefore we will and under pain of our displeasure, we firmly enjoin all and singular persons that they be by no means grieve, molest or disturb the same burgesses or their successors aforesaid in violation of their aforesaid liberties. In testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness Robert de Assheton, our justiciar of Ireland, at Kilkenny the 18th day of February in the 47th year of our reign of England and 34th of France.
The text reads:
Edward, by the grace of God, king of England and France and lord of Ireland, sends greetings to all to whom these present letters shall come. Know ye that, by the advice of our council, we have granted for us and our heirs, to the burgesses of the town of Kilkenny the liberties written below, namely, that they, their heirs and successors dwelling within the said town, or hereafter dwelling there as burgesses, shall not be put in any assizes, inquisitions, juries, attainders or recoguizances, whatsoever of anything happening outside of the town. And although the names of them, or any of them, be hereafter put in panels by the seneschals, sheriffs, servants, bailiffs and ministers of us, or of any other whatsoever, and returned before our justices, barons of our exchequer or ministers whatsoever, touching anything of any other perspective that that of Kilkenny, we will then that our justices, barons of our exchequer and other servants, altogether release them from any process to be made against them thereupon and that our said sheriffs, seneschals, ministers, bailiffs, or servants of us, or of any other whatsoever against us and our heirs, be rigorously fined and punished for making such returns against these liberties and that they satisfy those willing to complain thereof before any justices of us whatsoever, by damages according to the discretion of the said justices taking trial thereof. Moreover we will and grant for us our heirs that none of the burgesses, their heirs or successors aforesaid be from henceforth compelled or distrained to appear before any justices, barons of exchequer or other ministers of us whatsoever, without the said town to answer for the sale of wine, bread and beer and other provisions against the assize or proclamation made of the sellers thereof, but that they may be chastised or punished for such offence within the said town or the mears of bounds thereof, and not elsewhere, and this according to the laws and customs of our land of Ireland hitherto used. We have also granted that the burgesses of the said town or any of them be not compelled to leave the limits of [the] said town, to [assist] the army, perform escort duty or [attend] parliament, against the rebels, or any others our enemies, by summons or constraint of our ministers or others whatsoever nor to make or give escort to anyone, unless they wish to do so of their own accord, unless the said town should be lost or seduced in their absence, unless a general war should break out so that the land should be in rebellion, and then this being observed, that a sufficient guard be always left in the said town to keep the same safe and secure. Wherefore we will and under pain of our displeasure, we firmly enjoin all and singular persons that they be by no means grieve, molest or disturb the same burgesses or their successors aforesaid in violation of their aforesaid liberties. In testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness Robert de Assheton, our justiciar of Ireland, at Kilkenny the 18th day of February in the 47th year of our reign of England and 34th of France.
Creator
Kilkenny Corporation
Source
Kilkenny County Council Library Service
Date
18th February 1373
Rights
Kilkenny County Council Library Service
Relation
Reference taken from the book 'Treasures Of Kilkenny - Charters and civic records of Kilkenny City' by John Bradley
Language
Latin and English