Letter addressed to Edward I, King of England (1272-1307), in French, dated 31 May 1292

single sheet, 103x225mm, vellum, 13 lines, in fine condition, with two very fine large equestrian seals on vellum tags, one somewhat defective, counter-sealed with heraldic seals, in a fitted case

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."

The letter is addressed to the king from “Rasses sires de Gavre & Rogiers de Ghistele”, reporting on the value of goods seized from Scottish merchants on behalf of Guy de Dampierre, Count of Flanders, in a dispute concerning the dowry of Margaret his daughter; “le value des biens des marchans descoce ki arresteit & vendut” is “m.cccc.lix l. viij s. de sterling [£1,459 8s.]”; the letter was “faites & donnees lan de grace m.cc.lxxx & douze, le Samedi apres le pentecoste” [in 1292 Pentecost was on 25 May].

provenance

(1) Margaret, daughter of the Count of Flanders, married Alexander, eldest son of Alexander III of Scotland in 1282. After the latter’s death in 1283, Guy demanded repayment of part of Margaret’s dowry and he seized the goods of Scots merchants in Flanders. On 7 May 1292, the day after peace was signed between Edward I and Guy, Edward requested that Guy allow four Scots merchants to appraise and value the goods seized and to make reply to him (Calendar of Patent Rolls … Edward I: 1281–92, 1893, p.488). This is the reply. One of the senders is Roger of Ghistelles, whose family is famous for the Ghistelles Hours.

(2) The document is calendared in the ‘Inventaire chronologique des titres de la Flandre à la Chambre des comptes à Lille’, in J. de Saint-Génois, Monumens anciens, essentiellement utiles à la France, aux provinces de Hainaut, Flandre, Brabant ..., I, 1782, pp.dcccv–dcccvi.

(3) Sir Thomas Phillipps; his MS 32697 (his MSS 34921 and 35387 were from the same source and are now Bodleian Library, MS. Fr. a. 2 (P) and MS. Fr. c. 18 (P)); sold in our rooms, Bibliotheca Phillippica, 13 April 1981, lot 36 (ill.) to Tempus Antiques; resold in our rooms 8 December 1981, lot 33 (ill.).