Notarial Instrument 1
The Submission of John MacDonald
Submission text (English, translated by Edmund Curtis)
[149] In the name of God Amen. By this present public instrument let it appear evident to all that in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord according to the reckoning of the Church of England and Ireland &c., 1394 [N.S. 1395], and on the 16th day of March, in [150] a certain room within the enclosure of the Friars Preachers at Villa Pontana alias Drogheda, in the presence of my lord Richard, King of England and France and Lord of Ireland, as also in the presence of me and the subscribed witnesses: John MacDonald in person, removing his girdle, dagger, and cap, on bended knees fell at the feet of the said Lord our King and, raising his two hands with the palms together and holding them between the hands of the King, took these words in the Irish language, which were rendered in English by Thomas Talbot, interpreter, in the midst of many, cleric and lay, well understanding Irish then standing round, viz:
'I, John MacDonald, become liegeman of the lord Richard, King of England and France and Lord of Ireland, sovereign lord of me and my nation, as also of his heirs, kings of England, from this day forth in life, limb, and earthly honour, so that he and they shall have over me power of life and death, and I will be faithful to the same and his heirs for ever in all things and will help to defend him and his heirs against all worldly enemies whatsoever, and will be obedient to the laws, commands, and ordinances of the same or any of them according to my power and that of all mine: and I will come to the said lord my King and his heirs, being kings of England, and to his or their parliament and council or otherwise whensoever he or they shall send for me or whenever I shall be required, called, or summoned on his or their part or the part of their lieutenants: and I will well and faithfully come to the said Lord King, his heirs and their lieutenants, or to any of them, to give counsel, [151] and I will do in all and singular that which a good and faithful liegeman ought to do and is bound to do to his natural liege lord, so help me God and these God's holy Gospels.'
For observing and affirming this allegiance and fealty to the King as his sovereign lord and to his heirs and successors, being kings of England, having touched and kissed the holy Gospels, he took corporal oath. Upon which the King admitted him as his liege. Thereupon the said John requested me, the notary, to make him a public instrument. These things were done in the abovesaid indiction, pontificate, year, month, day and place, there being then present the venerable Fathers in Christ Thomas, Archbishop of York, Robert and Richard, bishops of London and Chichester, Thomas Mowbray, Marshal of England and Earl of Nottingham, Thomas Percy, Seneschal, and William Scrope, Chamberlain of the said King, witnesses thereto specially called and summoned. And I, Thomas Sparkeford, clerk of the diocese of Bath and Wells, by papal authority public notary, was present at all and sundry the said premises as they were done and executed as above described in the said year, month, day, and place along with the abovenamed witnesses, and saw and heard them all done, and have written and drawn them up in this public form and have signed with my usual and accustomed sign and name, having been summoned and called in witness of these premises.
Submission text (Latin, transcribed by Edmund Curtis)
[57]IN DEI NOMINE AMEN. Per presens publicum instrumentum cunctis appareat evidenter quod anno ab Incarnacione Domini secundum cursum et computacionem Ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernice millesimo trecentisimo nonagesimoquarto indiccione tercia [58] pontificatus sanctissimi in Christo patris et domini nostri Bonifacii divina providencia Pape noni anno quinto mensis Marcii die sextadecima, in quadam camera infra clausuram Ordinis Fratrum Predicatorum in Villa Pontana alias Drogheda vulgariter nuncupata Ardmachensi diocesi situata in mei Domini excellentissimi Principis Ricardi Dei gracia Regis Anglie et Francie et Domini Hibernie necnon mei notarii publici et testium subscriptorum presencia personaliter constituts Schane Mactonyld Ardmachensis diocesis, zonam cultellum et capicium ipsius a se amovens, genibus flexibus ad pedes dicti Domini nostri Regis procidit ambas manus suas palmis adinvicem iunctis erigens et inter manus prefati Regis tenens, protulit hec verba in lingua hibernica que verba fuerunt exposita in lingua anglicana per Thomam Talbot interpretem Ardmachensis diocesis in presencia plurium tam clericorum quam laicorum linguam hibernicam bene intelligencium viz.
'Ego Schan Mactonyld devenio ligeus homo Domini Ricardi Regis Anglie et Francie necnon Domini Hibernie supremi domini mei et mee nacionis necnon heredum suorum Anglie regum ab isto die inposterum de vita et membris et terreno honore ita quod in me vite necisque habeat et habeant potestatem eidemque et heredibus suis inperpetuum fidelis ero in omnibus ipsum ac heredes suos contra quoscumque mundanos iuxta meum et omnium meorum posse defendere iuvabo et obediens ero legibus mandatis et ordinacionibus ipsorum et ipsorum cuiuslibet : veniam dicto domino meo Regi et suis heredibus Anglie regibus ad ipsius et ipsorum [59] parliamentum et consilium vel alias quandocumque pro me miserit vel miserint seu ex parte ipsius et ipsorum, ipsorum vel loca tenencium cum fuero requisitus vocatus vel premunitus : ad ipsum Dominum Regem heredes et loca tenentes suos et eorum quemlibet bene et fideliter veniam consulendus et faciam in omnibus et singulis id quod bonus et fidelis ligeus homo facere debet et tenetur naturali ligeo domino suo. Sic Deus me adiuevet et hec sancta Dei evangelia.'
Ad quam quidem ligeanciam et fidelitatem dicto domino nostro Regi heredibus et successoribus suis Anglie regibus tanquam supremo domino suo observandas et iuvamen impendendum tactis per ipsum sacrosanctis evangeliis et deosculatis iuramentum prestitit corporale. Quo facto dictus dominus noster Rex prefatum Schan Mactonyld pro suo ligio admisit. Super quibus omnibus et singulis dictus Schan requisivit me notarium publicum quod conficerem sibi publicum instrumentum.
Acta sunt hec prout scribuntur et recitantur sub anno indicione pontificatu mense die et loco predictis presentibus tunc ibidem venerabilibus in Christo patribus ac dominis Domino Dei gracia Thoma Eboracensi archiepiscopo, Roberto et Ricardo Londoniensi et Cicestrensi epsicopis, Thoma Mowbray Comite Notyngham et Marescallo Anglie et Thoma Percy Senescallo dicto Regis et Willelmo Scrope Camerario dicti Regis testibus ad permissa vocatis specialiter et rogatis.
Et ego Thomas Sparkeford clericus Bathonensis et Wellensis diocesis publicus auctoritate apostolica notarius premissis omnibus et singulis dum sic ut [60] premittitur agerentur et fierent sub anno Domini indiccione pontificatu mense die et loco predictis unacum prenominatis testibus presens interfui eaque omnia et singula sic fieri vidi et audivi scripsi et in hanc publicam formam redegi signoque et nomine meis solitis et consuetis signavi rogatus et requisitus in testimonium premissorum.
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Margaret K. Smith