Jubilee Blogs Part 2: Royal manuscripts

To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, here at Hull University Archives, we thought it would be fun to delve into the collections to see what ‘royal’ items we could find to celebrate in style! In this second blog, I have given myself the challenge of finding an item relating to each monarch since 1066! Read on to see if I succeeded…

William I

For the ‘Conqueror’ we have this apt entry in a 17^th century commonplace book listing the surnames of those accompanying him on his invasion of England (U DDBM/33/4c). Sadly this item has suffered a bit of damage over the years but all the remaining surnames are still perfectly legible. Does your surname feature in the list?

U DDBM/33/4c

William II

William Rufus holds the distinction of being connected to the University Archives’ oldest document! U DDCA/37/46b is a confirmation by William II and his brother Robert, Duke of Normandy, of an exchange between Gislebert, Abbot of Caen and William de Tornebu.

U DDCA/37/46b

Henry I

Henry’s document (U DDCA/37/46c) is also related to Caen being a confirmation by him of gifts to the abbey of St Stephen of Caen. At this time in our history, the connection of the English monarchs with France was still very strong, as they continued to own significant lands over the Channel. 

U DDCA/37/46c

Stephen

I thought it might be a little hard finding something relating to Stephen owing to The Anarchy that occurred during his reign and, sadly, I didn’t find an original document relating to him from his reign, but I did find this copy of a charter of confirmation by him: 

U DDCV/15/263

Henry II

For our second Henry, we have this Inspeximus of letters patent to him. An inspeximus charter or letters patent is one in which the grantor confirms and recites a former charter. This one relates to a whole host of lands and various individuals. It was written in 1348 during the reign of Edward III and bears Edward’s great seal. [U DDCA2/29/103]

U DDCA2/29/103 extract

U DDCA2/29/103 great seal of Edward III

Richard I

A translation of a charter for Richard I, confirming grants by him to Selby Abbey in 1189. This translation is part of the surviving archives of Selby Abbey held at reference U DDLO/20, with some items in this series dating as far back as 1431!

U DDLO/20/77 extract

John

And what could be more appropriate for John than the Magna Carta! Here we have a facsimile copy of the famous document. Sadly no chance of us finding an original copy hiding in the stacks! 

U DX169/134

Henry III

From a Plea Roll during Henry’s reign, we have a translation of a dispute between Peter de Faucumberg and William, Earl of Albermarle relating to trespass and hunting in Rise Park. I hope the dispute was settled amicably! 

U DCC/2/6 extract

Edward I

For Hull’s founder, we have a fine (but imagined) portrait. The portrait is part of a collection (U DP160) of drawings, engravings and offprints of Hull, Yorkshire and other notable individuals and includes illustrations by F. S. Smith. 

U DP160/55

Edward II

Another tale of trespasses, this time against royal liberties in Holderness! Various individuals were accused of fishing in the mere at Lambwath without permission and others for keeping rents and payments for themselves that were rightfully the king’s. 

U DCC/2/36 extract

Edward III

The item for Edward is sadly in a very bad state but, consequently, is a good example of what can happen to archives that suffer water damage. The parchment deed is completely fused together and unreadable, although part of Edward’s seal still survives!

U DDPA/7/392 great seal of Edward III

Richard II

In this translation of a Letters Patent, Richard grants to his wife Queen Anne various lands and properties including the Manor of Brustwyk (now Burstwick). I wonder if they ever visited? 

U DCC/2/44 extract

Henry IV

An original deed relating to the prior and convent of Drax is our entry for Henry IV. It dates from 1410/11, only a few years before the Lancastrian king’s death. 

U DDEV/31/56

Henry V

A little bit of fun for Henry V – here is a cartoon by Victor Weisz as a Shakespearean actor saying lines from the playwright’s famous work about the king. 

U DX165/83 extract

Henry VI

Back to disagreements between the nobility for this item, as it concerns a plea between Henry VI and Humfrey, Earl of Stafford as to the right and title of the lordship of Holderness. Not sure I would have been as confident as Humfrey by taking on the king! 

U DHO/16/105 extract

Edward IV

For Edward IV we have a copy inspeximus relating to St Mary’s Abbey in York confirming charters granted by various monarchs including Richard II, Edward II, Edward III, and the first three Henrys. That’s a lot of history to cover! 

U DDBH/3/65 extract

Richard III

Something a little different for Richard III – a playbill for a production of Shakespeare’s ‘Richard III or the Battle of Bosworth Field’ performed at the Theatre Royal in Hull (1834). If you weren’t one for serious plays, you at least had a dance, by a Miss Beckwith, to look forward to at the end! Otherwise, you could always avoid the whole thing and go to see the jolly Barber of Seville the next day instead! 

U DDX/16/21

Henry VII

For a monarch who supposedly (although this is now disputed by historians) oversaw a ‘revolution in government’ it was decidedly difficult to find something relating to his reign. In the end, the best I could do was this letter dating from 1939 relating to research undertaken regarding Henry VII’s relationship with Beverley. Apparently Beverley was pro-Lancastrian. 

U DDMM/2/84

Henry VIII

Finding something for Henry VIII was certainly a lot easier than for his father! Here we have a letters patent, with a fine initial portrait of Henry VIII, exempting the priory of St Andrew from dissolution with other lesser monasteries dated 9 September 1536. Despite this, it didn’t actually save the priory which was dissolved in 1539. 

U DDCA2/29/119 extract

Come back tomorrow for the rest of the monarchs and to see if I complete my challenge...

Verity Minniti

Archives Assistant

University of Hull