Standard Practices

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1. Naming Practices

  • Christian names. Christian names have been extended and modernised as per the Oxford English Dictionary, so ‘Ralph’ for ‘Radulphus’, ‘William’ for ‘Willelmus’, and ‘Gilbert’ for ‘Gilebertus’. However, they have not been extended if there is no clear indication within the text of the full form. So, ‘H.’, not ‘Hubert’ or ‘H[ubert]’. Where the modern form is unclear, the original has been retained. Unusual or obsolete names, such as ‘Farramus’ or ‘Serlo’, or unusual renderings of more common names, like ‘Roeland’, have been rendered in the order in which they appear in the roll and have not generally been silently modernised.
  • Toponymic Surnames & Place Names. All place names which can reasonably be identified have been modernised, including those that form a surname. 1 Nevertheless, the original forms of places have been preserved in the calendar text where identification is doubtful or has proved impossible. Moreover, all variants have been recorded and retained in the index to aid searches of individual occasions on which a particular variant occurs, although we have not been able to tie an individual variant to its corresponding calendar entry. It should, though, be remembered that the images of the rolls are available online to facilitate this kind of research. With regard to toponymic surnames – ‘[John] of Lincoln’ – if the place is in the British Isles the prefix is translated to ‘of’. If it is in France or Flanders, the prefix ‘de’ is generally retained in examples like ‘Richard de Rouen’.
  • Surnames. Occupational surnames have been modernised, so ‘Clericus’ becomes ‘Clerk’, and ‘Pistor’ becomes ‘Baker’. Latinised national identifications and their French equivalents have also largely been modernised, so ‘Dacus’ or ‘le Daneis’ become ‘Danish’ and ‘Francigena’, ‘Gallicus’ or ‘le Franceys’ become ‘French’. Nickname surnames in Latin or French have been translated directly into English. ‘Ruffus’ and ‘le Rous’ are, for instance, translated into English as ‘Red’, while ‘Lupus’ becomes ‘Wolf’. Finally, and more straightforwardly, patronymic surnames such as ‘Johannes filius Roberti’ have been translated simply as ‘X son of Y’, 2 so ‘John son of Robert’.
  • Standard usage. In one significant respect we have departed from the modernisation rule. This is where to do so would alter a surname form which has become standard. Thus, in the case of ‘Extraneus’ we have used ‘Lestrange’ for people who can positively be tied to the well-known Shropshire family, but ‘Extraneus’ is retained for all other examples. Likewise, while patronyms are generally rendered ‘son of’, ‘fitz’ has been preferred for such well-known men as Meiler fitz Henry, John fitz Geoffrey, Fulk fitz Warin, and Ralph fitz Nicholas. Some toponymic surnames, too, disobey their rule. We have, for example, preferred ‘Hubert de Burgh’ to ‘Hubert of Burgh’ and ‘Robert de Lexington’ to ‘Robert of Laxton’. More difficult was the question of whether to change William de Braose into the modern ‘de Briouze’. We have not done so.
  • Titles. Aristocratic titles have been modernised, so, for example, ‘Albamarla’ becomes ‘Aumale’. Also, English ‘comes’ becomes ‘earl’, but French ‘comes’ remains ‘count’, so ‘count of Aumale’, but ‘earl of Oxford’. For women it is always ‘countess’. ‘Earl W. Marshal’ or ‘W. earl Marshal’ have been rendered in the manner they appear in the roll. It is ‘William de Mandeville, earl (not Earl) of Essex’, and equally ‘The earl of Essex’. ‘Comes de Ferrariis’ is more problematic, as there are several variant renderings in the original. We give as direct as possible translations of each variant as they occur, so ‘earl of Ferrers’ for ‘comes de Ferrariis’ and ‘Earl Ferrers’ for ‘comes Ferr’/Ferrar’’, but indexing them all under one heading.

2. Ecclesiastical festivals and other dates

  • Dates. The translation of feast-days follows the standard laid out in A Handbook of Dates for Students of British History, New Edition, ed. C.R. Cheney, rev. Michael Jones (Cambridge, 2000). They are capitalised as a matter of course – All Saints, Nativity of St. John the Baptist, St. Peter in Chains. We have translated sancti Petri ad Vincula as ‘St. Peter in Chains’ rather than ‘Lammas’ and Purificationis beate Marie as the ‘Purification of the Blessed Mary’ not ‘Candlemas’. Purificationis beate Virginis becomes ‘ the Purification of the Blessed Virgin’; Purificationis beate Marie Virginis becomes ‘the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary’.
  • ad festum – ‘at the feast of’. This is generally the form in which feast-days are couched. However, it has been dropped for all contexts.
  • Dating from feast-days. These generally follow the formula expressed in the Latin: xv dies post festum sancti Johannis Baptiste becomes ‘15 days after St. John the Baptist’ (dropping the feast), while ad quindenam festi sancti Michaelis becomes ‘at the quindene of Michaelmas’. Octaves, however, remain unaffected.
  • Exchequer sessions. These have been rendered: ad scaccarium Pasche/sancti Hillarii/sancti Michaelis – ‘at the Exchequer of Easter/Hilary/Michaelmas Exchequer’ NOT ‘at the Exchequer at Easter’, or ‘at the Easter Exchequer’, etc. But, reddendo ad scaccarium ad festum sancti Hillarii – is ‘to be rendered at the Exchequer at Hilary’ NOT ‘… at the Exchequer of Hilary’.
  • Regnal Years. ‘Anno xvij’, for example, is to be expressed as ‘in the seventeenth year’, as opposed to ‘17 Henry III’ or ‘in year 17’.

3. Formulae

In common with many other series of documents issuing from the English royal Chancery, the Latin in the Fine Rolls can be very formulaic; the same phrases consistently re-occurring throughout Henry’s long reign. For those not versed in English medieval administrative practice and language such formulae can appear inscrutable and there are few reliable printed or online guides. In devising standard translations we have been guided by the International Advisory Committee, although responsibility for what is offered lies solely with the editors.

Listed below is a selection of some of the most important (and occasionally unusual) re-occurring Latin phrases in the Fine Rolls with a suggested translation for each. In many cases a literal translation is eschewed in favour of something which more readily conveys the actual legal meaning. See, for example, ‘precium’.

  • ad custum suum – at his/her own cost.
  • ad firmam – at farm.
  • ad opus ipsius domini Regis – to the use of the same king.
  • anno in annum – from year to year.
  • apponat manum suum – place/put his hand (up)on.
  • averia – livestock.
  • capiat ... in manum domini Regis – [he is] to take … into the king’s hand
  • … captus et detentus in prisona … – … taken and detained in prison …
  • cepit homagium de … – [the king] has taken the homage of …
  • concessio – grant.
  • concessit – he has granted.
  • Constat nobis … – It is clear to the king …
  • coram Baronibus de scaccario – before the barons of the Exchequer.
  • cucurrit in chacia – … hunted.
  • dat – he/she gives.
  • dedit – he/she has given.
  • deliberacione a prisona – delivery (NOT release) from prison.
  • de primis denariis – from the first monies.
  • die quo obiit – on the day he/she died.
  • dominus Rex, eidem domini Regis, etc. – ‘lord’ is to be dropped, so ‘the king’, instead of ‘the lord king’.
  • donec Rex aliud inde preceperit – until the king orders otherwise.
  • duas partes [of an inheritance] – two thirds NOT two parts.
  • ei commisit custodiendum – he has committed to him to keep.
  • estoverium – ‘estover’ (in the forest), BUT ‘maintenance’ when referring, for example, to the means of support which the convent of a vacant religious house might receive.
  • Eodem modo scribitur – It is written to … in the same manner.
  • exigere – to exact NOT to demand.
  • ex parte eius – on his behalf.
  • facias replegiari – [he is] to cause to be replevied NOT repledged.
  • finem fecit – he/she has made fine.
  • firmiter iniungendo – firmly enjoining.
  • gratum et acceptum finem – [the king considers] a fine pleasing and acceptable.
  • Hinc est mittendum ad scaccarium et prius liberatum est ... – From here it is to be sent to the Exchequer and before it had been sent …
  • in capite – in chief.
  • in nomine dotis – in the name of dower NOT in right of dower.
  • intendentes sint et respondentes … – they are to be intendant and respondent [to] …
  • legali homines – law-worthy men.
  • liberaciones servientium – We have been unable to supply a suitable translation. Paul Harvey, the leading historian of the medieval English manor, suggests ‘liveries’ for the first word, but there is no clear view on whether ‘servants’ or ‘sergeants’ is meant for the latter. This has therefore been left in the original Latin in the translation.
  • liberare – to deliver NOT release.
  • minoris etatem – minor.
  • murdrum – murder fine.
  • non habet ingressum nisi per intrusionem quam facit – [he/she] has no entry except by the intrusion which he/she made
  • … non obstante – notwithstanding.
  • occasio (verb) – penalize.
  • per annum – per annum NOT a/each year.
  • per manum suum – by his hand.
  • per odium et atiam – out of hate and spite.
  • per summonitionem scaccarii – by summons of the Exchequer.
  • per visum et testimonium proborum et legalium hominum – by the view and testimony of trustworthy and law-worthy men.
  • precium (in writs of facias appreciari) – value NOT price.
  • probi homines – trustworthy men.
  • pro carta innovanda – for renewing a charter.
  • pro habenda racionabili parte sua – for having her RIGHTFUL (not reasonable) portion ...
  • pro uno associacione habenda - for having a justice of his own choosing to add to the panel of a commission
  • protestatum est – it has been attested.
  • quamdiu domino Regi placuerit – [for] as long as it is pleases the king.
  • que eum hereditarie contingunt – which fall to him by inheritance, BUT que eum iure hereditarie contingunt – which fall to him by hereditary right.
  • que fuit uxor – who was the wife NOT widow/once the wife, lately the wife, etc.
  • quod accepta ab eo securitate de … – that, having accepted security from him for …
  • quondam [vir] – former [husband].
  • petentem … tenentem – demandant … claimant
  • pro habendo brevi de attingendis xij juratoribus assise nove dissaisine capte … – for having a writ to attaint the twelve jurors of the assize of novel disseisin taken …
  • pro justiciando – for doing justice against
  • reddere – to render NOT to hand over.
  • rehabenda/rehabenda seisinam – to regain/regain seisin.
  • respondere ad scaccarium – to answer at the Exchequer NOT to respond.
  • salvo cuiuslibet iure – without prejudice to anyone else's right.
  • salvo custodiat … – he is to keep safely …
  • scire faciat – he is to cause … to know
  • sicut predictum est – as aforesaid
  • sine aliquo retenemento – without any retention.
  • statim visis litteris – immediately after having VIEWED these letters
  • terra que fuit – lands formerly of
  • terre que ... iure hereditarie contingunt – lands that fall to ... by hereditary right
  • testamentum – testament NOT will.
  • teste me ipso – Witness the king.
  • tradere – to hand over RATHER THAN to surrender.
  • usque ad etatem heredis … – until the heir comes of age.
  • usque ad legitimam etatem heredum predictorum – until the legal age of the aforesaid heirs.
  • ut dicit – as he/she says.
  • ut dicitur – as is said.
  • villa – always VILL (as opposed to town or township).
  • [homines] de visneto … – [men of] the neighbourhood of NOT area of
  • vobis mandamus quod id quod deest ipsi … de racionabili dote sua de … perficeret/perfici faciatis – order to make up/cause to be made up to the same … that which falls short of her reasonable dower of …

As the reign of Henry III progressed, so the extent and content of the Fine Rolls developed to meet the changing needs of king and subject. Many more fines are recorded for each regnal year during Henry’s personal rule, necessitating a considerable increase in the volume of parchment employed. An enormous number of these fines are one– or two–line entries recording the purchase of an increasingly varied array of writs to process law cases. While these entries are highly formulaic, nuanced differences in terminology requires nuanced translations. The most commonly occurring of such entries are listed below: 3

  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro habendo quodam pone/precipe de com’ X usque Y’ – A gives the king B for having a pone/precipe [to remove a plea] from the county court of X to [the county court of/the itinerant justices at/the Bench at] Y.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro habendo uno brevi de com’ X usque Y’ – A gives the king B for having a writ [to remove a plea] from the county court of X to Y.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro habendo brevi de warantia carte de com X usque Y’ – A gives the king B for having a writ of warranty of charter relating to the county of X at Y.
  • ‘A dat B pro quodam brevi habendo usque Y de com X de attachiando C et alios’ – A gives the king B for having a writ relating to the county of X to attach C and others to Y.
  • ‘A dat B pro habendo quodam brevi de sumonendo C de com X usque Y …’ – A gives B for having a writ relating to the county of X to summon C to Y.
  • ‘A dat B pro uno brevi ad terminum…’ – A gives B for a writ ad terminum …
  • ‘A dat B pro uno brevi ad terminum usque Westm’ – A gives B for a writ ad terminum at Westminster.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro habendo quodam brevi de attachiamento de com Z usque Westm’’ – A gives B for having a writ of attachment from the county of Z at Westminster.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro habendo quodam brevi super X de comitatu Y usque Westm’’ – A gives B for having a writ against W. of the county of Z at Westminster.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro attachiando quosdam de com’ Z sit coram Rege ostens Regi quare vi et armis…’ – A gives the king B for attaching certain men of the county of Z to appear before the king to show why with force and arms …
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro habendo quodam brevi de com Z usque Westm’ ad attachiand’ W et alios eo quod [etc.]’ – A gives the king B for having a writ relating to the county of Z to attach W. and others [to appear at] Westminster.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro habendo quodam apello contra X et alios de com Z usque Westm’.’ – A gives the king B to remove a certain appeal against W. and others from the county court of Z to Westminster.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro habendo quodam assisam de nove diss’ de com’ Z coram justiciariis de banco.’ – A gives the king B to remove an assize of novel disseisin from the county of Z before the justices of the Bench.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro habendo quodam brevi de attinctu de com’ Z usque Westm’’ – A gives the king B for having a writ of attaint relating to the county of Z at Westminster.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro habendo quodam recordo cuiusdam loquele que fuit in com’ Z coram Rege’ – A gives the king B for having before the king a record of a certain plea that was in the county of Z.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro uno brevi de apello habendo de com’ Z coram justiciariis apud Westm’’ – A gives the king B for having a writ of appeal relating to the county of Z before the justices at Westminster.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro quodam recordo habendo de com’ Z coram justiciariis apud Westm’’ – A gives the king B to produce a certain record from the county court of Z before the justices of Westminster.
  • ‘A dat domino Regi B pro uno brevi ad terminum de com’ Z coram justiciariis apud Westm’’ – A gives the king B for a writ ad terminum relating to the county of Z before the justices at Westminster.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de transgressione ad terminum’ – X gives the king Y for a writ of trespass ad terminum.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de transgressione habendo ad terminum‘ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of trespass ad terminum.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de ingressu ad terminum’ – X gives the king Y for a writ of entry ad terminum.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de intrusione habendo ad terminum’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of intrusion ad terminum.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de warantia carte habendo ad terminum’ – X gives the king Y for having writ of warranty of charter ad terminum.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de recordo habendo ad terminum’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of record ad terminum.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno pone habendo ad terminum’ – X gives the king Y for having a pone ad terminum.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de debito ad terminum’ – X gives the king Y for a writ of debt ad terminum.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno pone de consuetudinibus et serviciis habendo ad terminum’ – X gives the king Y for having a pone of [an action of] customs and services ad terminum.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de medio ad terminum’ – X gives the king Y for a writ of mesne ad terminum.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de recordo de falso iudicio habendo coram consilio domini Regis’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of record concerning a false judgement before the king’s council.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro recordo cuiusdam assise capte inter ipsum et A. coram Willelmo Britone habendo coram consilio Regis’ – X gives the king Y for having the record of an assize taken before William le Breton between himself and A. before the king’s council.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de gracia habendo’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of grace.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro quadam associatione habenda de Henry de Bathon’ ad Willelmum le Bretun’ – X gives the king Y for having a [writ] associating Henry of Bath with William le Breton.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro quodam brevi habendo quod dicitur si recognoscat super William Maudit’ – X gives the king Y for having a certain writ called si recognoscat against William Mauduit.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro una assisa rec’ [recognicionis or recognitura] utrum etc. capienda coram W. Trussell’’ – X gives the king Y for an assize utrum to be taken before William Trussell.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi quod dicitur quare impedit habendo coram iustic’ apud Cantuar’’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of quare impedit before the justices at Canterbury.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro brevi de inquisicione habendo utrum habeat 20 li. vel non et si no habeat 20 li. terre quod non distringatur ad se militem faciendum’ – X gives the king Y to have writ of enquiry as to whether he has £20 of land or not and if he does not have £20 of land that he be not distrained to take up knighthood.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y quod breve de attincta decetero non placitetur in villa sua’ – X gives the king Y that henceforth the writ of attaint be not pleaded in his/their town.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de debito habendo super viginti et iiij jur’ et communitatem civitatis Winton’ coram justiciariis apud Westm’’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of debt against the twenty four jurats and community of the city of Winchester before the justices at Westminster.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro quodam brevi de catallis reddendis habendo coram eisdem justiciariis’ – X gives the king for having a writ of detinue of chattels before the same justices.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de consuetudinibus et serviciis habendo coram justiciariis de Banco’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of customs and services before the justices of the Bench.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de expeditacione canum de inquis’ habend’’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of enquiry on the hambling of dogs.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de recordo falsi judicii habendo de cur Z coram justiciariis apud Westm’’ – X gives Y for having a writ of record for a false judgement from the court of Z before the justices at Westminster.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro quodam brevi de utrum habendo de com Z coram A’ – X gives Y for to have writ of utrum relating to the county of Z. before A.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro quodam breve de habendo respectu ad respondendum de transgressione foreste’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ for respite from answering for a trespass of the forest.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro brevi de debito habendo de com Z coram justiciariis in com A’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of debt relating to the county of Z before the justices in the county of A.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de inquisicione de receptamento cuiusdam malefactoris’ – X gives the king Y for a writ of enquiry into the harbouring of a certain malefactor.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro brevi de recordo habendo’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of record.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro duobus loquelis per unum pone habendis coram justiciariis de banco’ – X gives the king Y for having two cases by one pone before the justices of the Bench.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno pone de racionabili estoverio habendo coram justic’ de banco’ – X gives the king Y for having a pone concerning a reasonable estover before the justices of the Bench.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro uno brevi de recordo cuiusdam loquele habendo coram Rege’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ for the record of a certain case before the king.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro quodam brevi de medio habendo coram justiciariis de banco’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of mesne before the justices of the Bench.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro brevi de averiis Z fugatis de com Cantebr’ in com Hertford’ contra pacem Regis’ – X gives the king Y for a writ concerning the animals of Z driven from the county of Cambridgeshire into the county of Hertfodshire against the king’s peace.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro quadam certificacione cuiusdam nove disseisine habenda coram Nicholas de Turri’ – X gives the king Y for having a certification of [an assize] of novel disseisin before Nicholas de Turri.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro quodam brevi de ingressu habendo de com Z coram Justic itinerantibus apud A’ – X gives the king Y for having a writ of entry relating to the county of before the justices itinerant at A.
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro una assisa vocatur utrum’ – X gives the king Y for an assize utrum
  • ‘X dat domino Regi Y pro habendo uno brevi quod dicitur si recognoscat versus Z’ – X gives the king Y for having the writ which is called si recognoscat against Z. Si recognoscat is a writ to the sheriff ordering him that, if A admits owing B. a specific sum of money then the sheriff is to distrain the debtor to pay the sum owed.

4. Numerics: money and land valuations

When a monetary debt is involved the sum is rendered in figures, for example in a fine of £8 15s. 7d. Where land or rent is concerned ‘denariates/librates/solidates terre’ remain ‘denariates/librates/solidates of land/rent’ rather than ‘poundsworth/shillingsworth/penniesworth’. Sums involving £s should not have the dot after the £.

All numbers up to twelve are spelled out in full, except where they are included in monetary valuations, i.e. twelve knights’ fees, but £12. Round numerals, such as 100 and 1000, are not spelled out. Ordinals are always spelled out, i.e. seventeenth, fourth etc.

  • Medietas = moiety.
  • Dimidia = half.

Footnotes

1.
We are particularly grateful to Nicholas Vincent for sharing his vast knowledge of French place names and toponyms. Back to context...
2.
Or, equally, ‘A daughter of B’. Back to context...
3.
The editors are greatly indebted here to the advice of Dr. Paul Brand, a leading expert in medieval English legal practice. Back to context...

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