The FitzEllis archive, in Latin, on vellum

seventeen charters, including (a) charter of William Fitz William (see previous lot) granting the estate of 'Cetindon' (Thornton, Bucks.) to his brother Ellis, witnessed by Archbishop Hubert [Walter] of Canterbury and the royal justiciar Thomas de Huseburn among others, 185mm. by 80mm., professional and clear script, with green wax seal of William attached by vellum tags, with fleur-de-lys and remains of inscription, some damage to edge of seal, 1190s; (b) charter of Emma de Brai to her son Elias of a single hide of land in 'ackele' (Oakley, Bucks.), 210mm. by 56mm., thirteenth century; (c) charter of William fitz Elias, here styled 'dominus de Waterperie' concerning the estate of Wyrmehale (Worminghall, Bucks.), 215mm. by 98mm., early thirteenth century; (d) charter of Robert fitz Robert regarding the estate of Thornton, in favour of the church of St. Leonard in Snesshalle (a priory in Bucks., Norfs.), with wax seal attached (in pieces within a small cloth bag), c. 1200; (e) bottom half of a chirograph of William son of Hel 'miles' in favour of Hugh de Nevill and Bishop Herbert [Poore] of Salisbury, 238mm. by 105mm., in fine calligraphic script, dated 1215;  (f) grant of Gilbert de Thornton of land there in favour of his brother Robert 'cok', 185mm. by 165mm., seal torn away, thirteenth century; and 10 others of John 'le bretun', John fitz Geoffrey 'de Paderbirn', Stephen fitz Stephen de la Haye, and Hugo fitz Ranulph and his wife Agnes, concerning the estates of Thornton, Leckhamstead and Worminghall, six with seals attached, thirteenth or early fourteenth century; all with minor stains, folds and one with some minor loss to right-hand-side, else good 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."

William Fitz-Ellis was an important Anglo-Norman noble who appears to have had estates in the north of England, and who married a wealthy Oxfordshire heiress Emma de Brai (alias Peri) in the mid twelfth century. They held lordship over estates in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and were generous donors to Osney Abbey, and appear numerous times in the late thirteenth-century cartulary of that house (British Library, Cotton MS. Vit. E.xv: see H.E Salter, 'William of Newburgh', English Historical Review 22 (1907), 510-14). Salter identified William Fitz-Ellis with the twelfth-century chronicler William of Newburgh. The emergence of this collection adds much to what was previously known of the family.