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Internet Medieval Sourcebook
Selected Sources: England
Contents
- General
- Arthuriana and Anglo-Saxon Britain
- Norman England
- The Conquest 1066
- William I: Administration & the Domesday Book
- William II
- Henry I and the Norman Regnum
- Angevin England
- Henry II
- The Man and His Family
- Thomas Becket
- Wars
- Administration and The Origins of Common Law
- Richard I Lionheart
- England under Angevin Rule
- Parliamentary Origins in England
- Common Law: A Law of Real Property
- The Barons Revolt and Magna Carta
- The Struggle of Henry III and His Barons
- Parliament Coalesces
- Later Medieval England
- Government
- Henry III
- Edward I
- Legal Texts
- Public Violence
- Social and Economic History
- Religious Life
- Yorkists and Lancastrians
- The Tudor Victory
General
- WEB British History Online
British History Online is a collection of nearly 1300 volumes of primary and secondary content relating to British and Irish history, and histories of empire and the British world. BHO also provides access to 40,000 images and 10,000 tiles of historic maps of the British Isles.
Arthuriana and Anglo-Saxon Britain
- See Anglo-Saxon England section
All primary sources previous here are now in their own section.
Norman England
- WEB The French of England [Fordham]
- William of Newburgh: History, full text
- Ordericus Vitalis: The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy. trans.
Thomas Forster, full text (London: H.G. Bohn, 1853-56) [Internet Archive]
- Before the Conquest
- The Conquest, 1066
- William I: Administration and the Domesday Book
William II Rufus
Henry I and the Norman Regnum
- Church and Society under the Normans
- WEB Textus Roffensis [Rochester Cathedral]
- William II (r. 1087-1100): Grants the manor of Haddenham to Bishop Gundulf for which, in return, Gundulf builds Rochester Castle. Ascribed to William II but editor thinks it was written c1108-1123. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- The dispute between bishop Gundulf and Pichot, sheriff of Cambridge. After 1087. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Agreement between Bishop Gundulf and Haimo son of Vitalis concerning privileges relating to the church at Stourmouth. 1093-1108 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Hugh, in agreement with his wife Emma and his sons, grants land at Southgate to St Andrew’s, Rochester. 1114-23 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Note on the bishop’s provisions from the church at Northfleet. after 1093-c1200 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Note concerning Geoffrey of Delce’s grant of land near Prestefield in order for his son to become a monk at St Andrew’s Priory. 1123-1200 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Bishop Gundulf: Arrangements for the clothing of the monks. c.1089–c.11081 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Bishop Ernulf: Grants privileges and lands to the church of St Andrew at Rochester. c.1114-c.1123 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Bishop Ernulf: Grants funds for the building and maintenance of St Andrew’s Priory. 1114-1124 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Bishop Ernulf: Sets up alms-giving in honour of Gundulf. 1114-1124 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Election of Avice as the first abbess of Malling. 7th March 1108 See Wikipedia: Malling Abbey [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- An Agreement made by the monks of Rochester with the wife of Robert Latimer. c.1100-c.1123[Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- William I (1066-1087): Gift of one hundred pounds, shortly before his death, to the church of St Andrew, Rochester 1087. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Bishop Gundulf: Bishop Gundulf affirms his release to William II of land at Borstal in exchange for three acres of land which were originally granted by bishop Odo to St Andrew’s Priory as garden for the monks. c.1088-c.1094 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Bishop Gundulf: Bishop Gundulf confirms a grant by Gilbert the priest of three hides at Haddenham in exchange for Gilbert entering the monastic life. After 1086 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Stephen
Angevin England
- Henry II
- The Man and His Family
- Peter of Blois: Letter 154, to Queen Eleanor, 1173,
trans. M. Markowski [M-Markow@wcslc.edu].
- Peter of Blois: Description of Henry II [Letter no. 66: to Walter, archbishop of Palermo, 1177)]
- Roger of Hoveden: The Revolt of 1173-74, from The
Chronicle
- Roger of Hoveden: The Revolt and Death of the Young
King, 1183, from The Chronicle
- Gerald of Wales: On Henry II and his sons,
from The Topography of Ireland, Chapters 49-50
- Gerald of Wales: Death of King Henry II and
comments on the Angevin Family, from De Instructione Principis (On the
Instruction of a Prince)
- Roger of Hoveden: The Last Days and Death of Henry II,
1189, from The Chronicle
- The Chronicle of "Benedict of Peterborough": The Death of King Henry II, 1189
- Gerald of Wales (1146-1225): The Death of
King Henry II, from the Life of Archbishop Geoffrey of York
- Thomas Becket
-
WEB The Becket Story
- Roger of Hoveden: The Chronicle: On the
Disputes between Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury and King Henry II of England,
early 13th c.
All the material from this chronicle relevant to the Becket matter; Roger quotes many
letters written by those closely involved in the dispute, including Thomas himself.
- William of Newburgh: Becket and Henry,
selections from Book II of his History, c. 1200
Three chapters concerning Becket's career, the murder, and Henry II's penance at the tomb
in 1174.
- Gervase of Canterbury, d. 1205: Thomas Becket's Life,
from History of the Archbishops of Canterbury
A precis of Thomas' career taken from Gervase's History of the Archbishops of
Canterbury
- Gervase of Canterbury, d. 1205: Thomas Becket's Death
Description of the martyrdom from the same work.
- Edward Grim: The Murder of Becket, Dec. 29, 1170 from Vita S. Thomae, Cantuariensis Archepiscopi et Martyris trans. Dawn Marie Hayes
[dms0603@is2.nyu.edu]. See also
Catholic
Encyclopedia: Thomas Becket.
- The Chronicle of "Benedict of Peterborough": The Murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of
Canterbury, 29 December 1170
- Church and Society under the Angevins
- Wars
- Gerald of Wales (1146-1225): The Conquest of
Ireland, Book I, Chapter 46: Description of Henry II, king of the English.
- Administration and The Origins of Common Law
- Richard I Lionheart
- England under Angevin Rule
Parliamentary Origins in
England
- Common Law: A Law of Real Property
- See the Medieval Sourcebook: Medieval Legal History page
- WEB Early English Laws
Early English Laws is a project to publish online and in print new editions and translations of all English legal codes, edicts, and treatises produced up to the time of Magna Carta 1215.
- F. W. Maitland: The Forms of Action at
Common Law, 1909
- Robert Palmer: Origins of Common Law. [Was At Houston, now at Internet Archive]
This informative discussion contains, embedded, the following documents:
- The Treaty of Winchester: Between Stephen and Henry [II], (1153)
- The Writ of Right (from Glanvill, 12.3)
- The Assize of Northampton, cc. 4-5 (1176)
- The Assize of Novel Disseisin [the earliest example of the writ of NOVEL DISSEISIN we
have; it comes from Glanvill, 13.33 (circa 1188)]
- The anonymous law known as Ordal (‘Ordeal’) 11-12th Century. [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
- Select English Writs
Texts in Latin and English of the most important early writs.
- Robert Palmer: The Law in 1188: Glanvill. [Was At Houston, now at Internet Archive]
Contains substantial excerpts from the law book known as Glanvill
- Robert Palmer: Rules of Law.
[Was At Houston, now at Internet Archive]
Page down this page for text of rules of law such as Utrum and Darein presentment.
- Dialogue of the Exchequer, 1180s. [Full
text of Book First, titles of Book Second]
- The Pipe Roll of the Bishopric of
Winchester, 1208-1209
Pipe roll records are among the most detail of all medieval sources, and show both the
development of the English administrative system, as well as types and scale of economic
activity.
- Bracton: De Legibus Et Consuetudinibus Angliæ, trans John Beames(On the Laws and Customs of England), in English
attributed to Henry of Bratton, c. 1210-1268), Full Text. PDF [Internet Acrhive]
- King John "Lackland"
- The Barons' Revolt and Magna Carta
- King John of England: Fees for Use of the Great Seal,
1199
- King John of England: Royal Licenses to Export and
Import, 1205-1206
- King John of England: Prisage on Wine, 1205
- Articles of the Barons, Jun 15, 1215 [At Magna Carta] [Internet Acrhive version here]
- Magna Carta, 1215, A Magna Carta in plain text is also available, as is a
British Library modern translation
- Roger of Wendover: Runneymede 1215 from Flowers
of Hisory.
- John I: Concession Of England To The Pope. A.D. 1213,.
- Innocent III: Declaration that Magna Carta is Null and Void, Aug 24, 1215, manuscript [British Library]
- Magna Carta, 1216, (a revised version), copyrighted
- The Political Songs of England From the Reign of John to that of Edward II, ed and trans Thomas Wright (1889) [Project Gutenberg]
The Struggle of Henry III and His Barons
Parliament Coalesces
Later Medieval England
- Government
- Henry III
- WEB Henry III Fine Rolls Project
The Henry III Fine Rolls Project makes the rolls available in English translation with a search engine, the first medieval source to be treated in this way.
The project is making the rolls intelligible, investigatable and freely available in the following ways:
An English translation of the rolls in electronic form with indexes and a search facility.
and digital facsimile images of the rolls.
- WEB Matthew Paris’s Clickable Map
A presentation of the map of Britain c. 1250
- Henry III: Documents of the Church of Salisbury in
the Early 13th Century, trans. Richard Barton
- Edward I
- The Register of Roger Martival, Bishop of Salisbury,
1315-1330, trans. Richard Barton
Texts from the Register of Roger Martivall, Bishop of Salisbury. The last one, in
particular, is of interest, as it is concerned with criminous clerks and clerical status.
- War with Scotland
- Legal Texts
- Statuta Armorum (The Statutes of Arms),
c. 1260
- The Assizes of Bread, Beer, & Lucrum Pistoris
- Statuta de Forstallariis (Statute of
Forestallers), c. 1300
- Judicium Pillorie (The Judgment of the
Pillory)
- Statuta de Mercatoribus (Statutes of
Merchants), 11 Edw. I (1283) & 13 Edw. I (1285)
- Edward I: Edward I: Statute of Quia Emptores,
1290.
- Edward I: Statute of Mortmain, 1279.
-
Edward I: Confirmatio Cartarum,
November 5, 1297, (Confirmation of Henry III's version of the Magna Carta). [Was At Britannia.com, now Internet Archive]
- Robert Palmer: Statutes of Edward I [Was At Univ. Houston, now Internet Archive]
Texts, plus discussion, with case examples.
- Robert Palmer: The Equity Courts.
[Was At Univ. Houston, now Internet Archive]
Texts, plus discussion, with case examples.
-
Ordinance of Laborers, 1349.
- Statute of Laborers, 1351.
- Titulus Regius, 1484
[At R3]
The Act of Parliament settling the crown on Richard III.
- Various Select Pleas
These documents illustrate the development of the English legal system.
- Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Cornish
Eyre.
- Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial
Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward III - Manor of Brightwaltham.
- Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 -
Lincolnshire Eyre.
- Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 -
Northamptonshire Eyre.
- Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 -
Bedfordshire Eyre.
- Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 -
Staffordshire Eyre.
- Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 -
Shropshire Eyre.
- Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of
Henry III and Edward I - Manors of the Abbey of Bec, A.D. 1247.
- Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns
of Henry III and Edward I - Manors of the Abbey of Bec, A.D. 1248.
- Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns
of Henry III and Edward I - Manors of the Abbey of Bec, A.D. 1249.
- Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns
of Henry III and Edward I - Manors of the Abbey of Bec, A.D. 1275.
- Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns
of Henry III and Edward I - Manors of the Abbey of Bec, A.D. 1280.
- Court Rolls of The Manor of Wakefield,
1274-1297
- Public Violence/Revolts
- Social and Economic History
- WEB England’s Immigrants Database 1330-1550
A fully-searchable database containing over 64,000 names of people known to have migrated to England during the period of the Hundred Years’ War and the Black Death, the Wars of the Roses and the Reformation.
- Religious Life
- Hundred Years War (1337-1453)
- Yorkists and Lancastrians
- Sir Jean Froissart: John of Gaunt in Portugal,
1385
- For Wycliff and Lollards see Reformation page
- The
Second Battle of St. Albans, 1461. [At Hillsdale, now Internet Archive]
-
Invasion
of Northern England, 1463. [At Hillsdale, now Internet Archive]
-
Siege
of Bamborough, 1464. [At Hillsdale, now Internet Archive]
-
The
Battle of Barnet, 1471. [At Hillsdale, now Internet Archive]
-
The
Battle of Tewkesbury, 1471. [At Hillsdale, now Internet Archive]
- WEB Sources on Richard III and The Yorkist Dynasty [Internet Archive/R3]
- Medieval sources are linked to directly from here, but the site contains many more early
modern and modern discussions of the Richard III controversy.
- Anonymous: Croyland Chronicle [Internet Archive/R3]
A portion of the Second Continuation, and the full text of the Third and Fourth
Continuations. Covers all entries for the period 1453-1486. Important primary source for
the study of the Wars of the Roses and especially the reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV, and
Richard III.
- Anonymous: History of the Arrival of Edward IV. in England and the Final Recovery of
His Kingdoms from Henry VI [Internet Archive/R3]
Yorkist propaganda in one of its earlier manifestations.
- Thomas More: The History of King Richard the Third. [Internet Archive/R3]
- Nicolas, Nicholas Harris: The Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York: The Wardrobe Accounts of Edward IV [Internet Archive/R3]
Nicolas's introductory memoirs of Yorkist royalty, with commentary on the
Ricardian controversies of the time; the privy purse expenses of Elizabeth of York. To
come: the Wardrobe Accounts. A lengthy series of documents, consisting of 24 interlinked
files.
- Plantagenet, Richard: The Statutes Ordained by Richard Duke of Gloucester, for the College of Middleham, July 4, 1478. [Internet Archive/R3]
- Titulus Regius, 1484
The Act of Parliament settling the crown on Richard III.
- Polydore Vergil: Anglica Historia, Books 23-25. [Internet Archive/R3]
History of the deposition of Edward V and the reign of Richard III by humanist historian
Polydore Vergil. One of the classic traditionalist sources.
Horace Walpole: Historic Doubts on the Life and Reign of King Richard III, 1768.
[Internet Archive/R3]
- John Warkworth, DD.: A Chronicle of the First Thirteen Years of the Reign of King Edward the Fourth.
[At R3]
Contemporary chronicle with Lancastrian leanings. [Internet Archive/R3]
The Tudor Victory
- Anonymous: The Ballad of Bosworth Field [Internet Archive/R3]
Sixteenth-century poem, thought to be written by an eye-witness to the battle, with
exhaustive list of Richard III's supporters.
NOTES: Links to files at other site are indicated by [At some indication of the site name or
location]. No indication means that the text file is local. WEB indicates a link to one of
small number of high quality web sites which provide either more texts or an especially
valuable overview.
The Internet Medieval Sourcebook is part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project. The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet
Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at
the Fordham University Center
for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the
Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in
providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University.
Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not
the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.
© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 20 Oct 2025 [CV]
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