John (king of England 1199-1216), charter as earl of Mortain to his supporter William fitz William (fl. 1194-d. 1227), in Latin, on vellum

single sheet, measuring 134mm. by 142mm., in the name of John, earl of Mortain, granting the estate of Trubewelle (probably Nempnett Thrubwell, Somerset), as held previously by William Fitz William's grandfather Ellis ('Helye'), eleven lines in a fine early gothic hand with calligraphic flourishes (perhaps that of John's chancellor, Stephen Riddell, who appears first among the witnesses: 'Stephano cancellario meo'), original faded pink and white seal tags still attached, some small holes and minor stains with no damage to text, else outstanding condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This document is unrecorded. It has passed by inheritance to the present owners since the twelfth century

King John is perhaps the most vilified monarch in English history. He has often been portrayed as a villainous and weak character, scheming his way into power while his elder brother Richard 'the Lionheart' was away on crusade, and after Richard's imprisonment, offering the emperor money to keep his brother there indefinitely. In addition, he began to act the part of king, creating a mock royal court around himself (including his own chancellor, Stephen Riddell, and a chamberlain, Hubert de Bergh, both of whom witness this document). The present manuscript was issued by this court at a crucial moment in his life, immediately after Richard was released and returned in 1194. All of John's intrigues instantly collapsed, and the throne seemed further from his grasp than ever before. It was in this context, with his dreams crumbling to dust and only a few remaining loyal supporters around him, that this document was written – John and those present not knowing that soon after in 1199, Richard would die from a gangrenous crossbow-bolt wound, catapulting John into power.

Of the sixty single-sheet charters of John which survive from before 1199, only one other has appeared on the market in living memory (Phillipps MS. 28741, sold in our rooms 26 June 1967, lot 663, and again 24 June 1986, lot 65).

The present manuscript will be published in N. Vincent's forthcoming edition of the charters of the Plantagenet kings.