Charter to the Town of Sheffield, 10 August 1297

by Thomas Lord Furnival

Thomas Lord Furnival's Charter

Omnibus Christi fidelibus hoc presens scriptum visuris vel audituris, Thomas de Furnivall tertius, filius et heres Domini Thomæ de Furnivall salutem in Domino sempiternam. Noveritis me dimisisse concessisse et feudi firmam dedisse, omnibus liberis tenentibus meis de villa de Schefeld et eorum heredibus, omnia tofta terras et tenementa quæ de me tenent in villa predicta de Schefeld. Tenendis et habendis de me et heredibus meis, predictis tenentibus et eorum heredibus, cum omnibus pertinenciis suis, predictis toftis terris et tenementis infra villam de Scheffeld et extra pertinentibus, in feudo et hereditate, libere quiete bene et in pace inperpetuum; ita quod libera warranna mea per predictos tenentes non impediatur, nec in aliqua perturbetur. Reddendo inde annuatim mihi et heredibus meis predicti tenentes et eorum heredes sexaginta et octo solidos, novem denarios et quadrantem argenti, ad duos anni terminos, scilicet medietatem ad Natale Domini, et medietatem ad nativitatem beati Johannis Baptistæ, pro omnibus seruiciis et demandis. Salvis mihi et heredibus meis fideliter escaetis, et sectis curiæ meæ de tenentibus predictis. Preterea volo et concedo quod curia dictæ villæ de Schefeld de tenentibus meis predictis teneatur infra predictam villam, de tribus septimanis in tres septimanas, per balliuos meis, sicut actenus usitatum est tempore antecessorum meorum. Et si ita contingeret quod dicti tenentes mei vel aliquis eorum super transgressione aliqua in dicta curia mea sint amerciandi, volo et concedo pro me et heredibus meis quod amerciantur per pares suos et hoc secundum qualitatem delicti. Ad hæc volo et concedo pro me et heredibus meis, quod dicti tenentes et eorum heredes tam ementes quam vendentes sint quieti per totum Hallumschire ubicunque ex omni exactione et peticione tolonei sicut illi solebant tempore antecessorum meorum inperpetuum. Et ego predictus Thomas et heredes mei hec omnia predicta cum pertinenciis predictis, sicut predictum est, predictis tenentibus meis et eorum heredibus contra, omnes gentes warantizabimus inperpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium presenti scripto ad modum sirographi confecto, sigilla partium alternatim sunt apposita. Hiis testibus Domino Roberto de Ecclesale Domino Edemundo Foliot militibus, Thoma de Schefeld Thoma de Munteney Roberto de Wadislay Radulpho de Wadislay Thoma de Furneus Willielmo de Darnale Roberto le Breton tunc senescallo de Hallumschire et aliis. Datum apud Schefeld quarto Idus Augusti, Anno Domini M°CC. nonagesimo septimo.

English translation

To all the faithful of Christ who shall see or hear this present writing, Thomas of Furnivalle, the third, son and heir of Sir Thomas of Furnivalle, eternal salvation in the Lord.

Know ye that I have demised, granted, and delivered in fee farm to all my Free tenants of the town of Sheffield and their heirs all the tofts, lands, and holdings which they hold of me in the foresaid town of Schefeld, to hold and to have [the same] of me and my heirs to the foresaid tenants and their heirs with all their appurtenances belonging to the said tofts, lands, and holdings, within the town of Sheffield and outside, in fee and heredity, freely, quietly, well, and in peace, for ever, (provided that my free warren be not hindered by the said tenants or in anywise disturbed), the said tenants and their heirs paying yearly therefor to me and my heirs £3. 8s. 9¼d. of silver, at the two terms of the year, namely, half at the Birthday of the Lord (Christmas), and half at the Nativity of Saint John Baptist, in discharge of all services and demands, reserving nevertheless to me and my heirs fealty, escheats, and suit of court of the said tenants.

Furthermore, I will and grant that the court of the said Town of Sheffield of my foresaid tenants shall be held within the foresaid town every three weeks by my Bailiffs, as hitherto has been accustomed in the time of my ancestors.

And if it should happen that my said tenants, or any of them, are to be fined for any trespass in my said court, I will and grant for myself and my heirs that they be fined by their peers, and that according to the measure of the offence.

Furthermore, I will and grant for myself and my heirs that the said tenants and their heirs, as well buyers as sellers, shall everywhere throughout all Hallamshire be quit from all exaction and demand of toll, as they were wont to be in the time of my ancestors, for ever.

And I, the foresaid Thomas, and my heirs, will warrant all these matters aforesaid, with their aforesaid appurtenances, as is aforesaid, to my aforesaid tenants and their heirs, against all people for ever. In witness whereof the seals of the parties are to the present writing, made in the manner of a chirograph, alternately affixed. Witnesses:—Sir Robert of Ecclissale, Sir Edemund Foliot, knights, Thomas of Schefeld, Thomas of Mounteney, Robert of Wadislay, Ralph of Wadislay, Thomas of Furneys, William of Darnale, Robert the Breton, then seneschal of Hallamshire, and others.

Given at Sheffield on the fourth of the Ides of August, in the year of the Lord 1297