The Vernacular Magna Carta
and writ issued at Odiham
Magna Carta was inscribed in Latin, the language of record, but French was the language of the ruling class on both sides of the English Channel. It is believed that copies of Magna Carta were produced in Anglo-Norman (vernacular) French soon after Runnymede, to be distributed across the country for proclamation.
What happened at Odiham?
None of the original vernacular documents are known to have survived, but the Bibliothèque Municipale de Rouen holds a transcription of the vernacular Magna Carta (MS y 200). This is the only known vernacular copy of the 1215 Magna Carta in existence. It was written in a 13th century hand and included in the cartulary of the Leper Hospital of St. Giles at Pont-Audemer, Normandy. It clearly states that the vernacular document and writ that followed were attested in Odiham, 27 June 1215. It is not unreasonable to suppose that the original was prepared by scribes at Odiham Castle, just a few days after the Articles of the Barons was sealed at Runnymede.
The writ was directed to the sheriffs and twelve elected knights of each county, authorising them to seize property of those who refused the oath to the Twenty-Five Barons who had gathered at Runnymede to meet the King. This particular writ is addressed to the Sheriff of Hampshire who was to proclaim it throughout his bailiwick.
The Sheriff was William Briwere (Brewer), a staunch supporter of King John.
Iohan par la grace de Deu reis dEngleterre as visconte de Suthantesire, et as dosce esle uz en cel conte a enquerre et oster les maleises costumes des viscontes et de lor ministres, des fores et des forestiers, et des warennes, et des warenniers, et des riuieres, et de lor gardes, saluz. Nos vous mandons que senz de lai saisisiez en nostre main les terres et les tenemenz, et les chattels, de tos cels del conte de Suthantesire lui ne vodront iurer al xxv barons solonc la forme lui est escrite en notre charter del franchises, da cels luis auront a co atornez, et sil ne volent iurer, maintenant empris, quince iors complis puis que lor terres, et lor tenement, et lor chattel, seront secsi en notre main, faites vendre tos lor chattels, et les deniers qui en seront pris gardez sauuement a metre en laie de la sainte terre de Ierusalem, et lor terres, et lor tenemenz tenez ennotre main jusque il aient iure. Eo co fu puruein par le jugement larceveske Stefne de Cantorbire, et des barons de notre regne, et en tesmoig di ceste chose nos enueons cestes nos lettres ouertes. Tesmoig mei meisme a Odihaam le vint et septain ior de Iuig, lan de nostre regne dis et septain.
John, by the grace of God, King of England, to the sheriff of Hampshire and to the twelve who are chosen on that County, to enquire of, and put away, the evil customs of the sheriffs, and of their ministers, of forests and foresters, of warrens and warreners, of rivers and of guarding them, greeting. We command you, that without delay, you seize into our hands the lands and tenements and goods of all those of the county of Southampton, that will not swear to the said five and twenty barons, according to the form expressed in our charter of liberties, or to such as they shall have thereunto appointed; and if they will not swear presently, at the end of fifteen days after their lands, and tenements, and chattels are seized into our hands, and that ye sell all their goods, and keep safely the money that ye shall receive for the same, to be employed for the relief of the holy land of Jerusalem; and that ye keep their lands, and tenements, in our hands until they have sworn , or that STEPHEN, Archbishop of Canterbury, and the barons of our kingdom have given judgement their upon. In witness thereof, we direct unto you these our letters patent. Witness ourself: at Odihaam, the seventh and twentieth day of June, in the seventeenth year of our reign.
Magna Carta Exhibition
The Vernacular Translation will be the centrepiece of the Magna Carta Exhibition .
The Magna Carta committee are working closely with the Hampshire Record Office and the Bibliothèque Municipale de Rouen and have been awarded funding from the Executive Member for Culture, Recreation and Countryside to support the creation of touring pop-up displays and a display of the vernacular translation of the Magna Carta in Odiham from the Culture and Community Activity grants 2014/15.
During May 2015, children at Mayhill School will have an opportunity to write on vellum using gall ink, instructed by Paul Wright who is a parchmenter at William Cowley. More information to follow soon…
BBC Four: Illuminations: The Private Lives of Medieval Kings – Dr Janina Ramirez Explores Vellum Making for medieval Manuscripts.
Further information will be added to this site as the project develops.
References for this report
- Image courtesy of Bibliothèque Municipale de Rouen
- Magna Carta – James Clarke Holt Cambridge University Press, 7 May 1992