Edward I, King of England | Royal charter, with seal, 1273

Edward I, King of England

Grant to John Revel of Newbold Revel 

in the name of "Edward, by the grace of god King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine", addressed to the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, counts, barons, and others, granting Revel free warren in the manors of Newbold, Brownes Wavre, Clifton, and Pailton in the Forest of Arden, Warwickshire, witnessed by W[alter Giffard] archbishop of York, primate of England, J[ohn Kirby] bishop of Ely and vice-Chancellor of England, Edmund of Kent, Henry of Lancaster, Roger Mortimer ("de Mortuo Mari") of Wigmore, Thomas Wake, John de Ros, and others, written in a very fine example of characteristically English documentary script in which the scribe, by increasing the pressure on his pen, created very thick strokes on the ascenders of several letters, notably the loop of 'd', and in most words on the first line, 13 lines, 185 x 315mm, given in his own hand at York, 1273, with a good impression of the royal seal in green wax attached with original white and green silk cord, "per breve de privato sigillo" (by writ of privy seal) written above the cords, endorsements, seal chipped with loss at extremities, some loss at right margin not affecting text, dust staining  

ROYAL DOCUMENTS BY EDWARD I ARE RARE ON THE MARKET. The Revel (or Revell) family were major landowners in Warwickshire over many generations. Sir John Revel, the son of William Revel of Newbold Revel, represented Warwickshire in Parliament. This charter grants John Revel right of free warren - sole privilege to kill rabbits, pheasants, and other small game - over extensive lands around Rugby. This right was customarily granted to lords of the manor.