School of History, Classics and Archaeology Teaching Collections

Letter from Bishop William Fraser about the death of the Maid of Norway, 7th October 1290

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Title

Letter from Bishop William Fraser about the death of the Maid of Norway, 7th October 1290

Number of Facsimile

072

Type

Letter

Date

07/10/1290

Language

Latin

Originator(s)

Bishop William Fraser

Recipient(s)

King Edward I

Transcription

Excellentissimo principi et domino reuerendissimo domino Edwardo Dei gratia Regi Anglie domino ybernie et Duci Acquitanie illustrissimo suus deuotus cappelanus W. permissione diuina ecclesie Sancti Andree in Scocia minister humilis salutem et felices ad vota successus cum incremento glorie et honoris. Sicut in presentia vestra nuper extitit ordinatum, conuenerunt nuncii vestri et nuncii Scotie qui fuerant vobis missi, nec non et aliqui proceres regni Scotie apud Perth, dominica proxima post festum Beati Michaelis archangeli ad audiendum responsum vestrum super hiis que petita et tractata fuerunt per nuncios Scotie coram vobis, quo responso vestro audito et intellecto fideles proceres et quedam pars communitatis Regni Scotie celcitudini vestre immensas referbant gratiarum actiones. Predicti vero nuncii vestri et nos deinde versus partes Orcadie ad tractandum cum nunciis Norwagie ad recipiendum dominam nostram reginam gressus nostros aripere disposuimus, et ad hoc paruimus iter nostrum, Sed insonuit in populo dolorosus rumor quod dicta domina nostra debuit esse mortua, propter quod regnum Scotie est turbatum et communitas disperata. Audito etiam et publicato rumore predicto, dominus Robertus de Brus qui prius non intendebat venire ad congregationem prenominatam, cum magna potentia ad interpellationem quorundam ibidem venit. Sed quid intendit facere uel qualiter operari adhuc ignoramus. set comites tamen de Marr et Atholie iam eorum exercitum demandarunt. Et quidam alii magnates terre trahunt se ad partem suam, et idcirco timetur de gerra communi et magna strage hominum, nisi altissimus per industriam et ministerium vestrum festinum remedium apponat. Domini episcopus Dunelmensis, Comes Warennie et nos audiuimus postmodum quod domina nostra predicta conualuit de infirmitate sua, sed adhuc est debilis. Et idcirco inter nos ordinauimus propre partes de Perth moram trahere quousque per milites qui sun in Orchadiam missi, de statu ipsius domine nostre utinam prospero et felici certitudinem habeamus. Et si de ispa optatos habuerimus rumores quos de die in diem expectamus, ad partes illas prout ordinatum est parati erimus proficisci ad perficiendum pro posse nostro negotium memoratum. Si Dominus Johannes de Balliolo venerit ad presentiam vestram consulimus quod cum ipso tractare curetis ita quod in omni euentu honor vester et commodum conseruentur. Sir vero contigat dominam nostram predictam ab hac luce migrasse, quod absit, dignetur si placet vestre excellentie versus marchiam, ad consolationem populi Scoticani et ut effusioni sanguinis parcatur, approprinquare, ita quod fideles regni suum possunt sacramentum conseruare illesum, et illum preficere in regem qui de iure debeat hereditare, dum tamen ille vestro consilio voluerit aderere. Valeat excellentia vestra per tempora diuturna prosperum et felicem. Datum apud Locri die Sabati in crastino Sancte Fidis virginis Anno Domini m. cc. Nonagesimo.

Translation

To the most excellent Prince and most revered Lord, Sir Edward, by the grace of God most illustrious King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Guienne, his devoted chaplain, William, by divine permission humble minister of the church of Saint Andrew in Scotland wisheth health and fortunes prosperous to his wishes with increase of glory and honour. As it was ordered lately in your presence, your ambassadors and the ambassadors of Scotland who had been sent to you and also some nobles from the Kingdom of Scotland met at Perth on the Sunday next after the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel to hear your answer upon those things which were asked and treated by the ambassadors of Scotland in your presence. Which answer of yours being heard and understood the faithful nobles and a certain part of the community of Scotland returned infinite thanks to your Highness. And your aforesaid ambassadors and we set ourselves to hasten our steps towards the parts of Orkney to confer with the ambassadors of Norway for receiving our lady the Queen, and for this we had prepared our journey; but there sounded through the people a sorrowful rumour that our said Lady should be dead, on which account the Kingdom of Scotland is disturbed and the community distracted. And the said rumour being heard and published, Sir Robert of Brus who before did not intend to come to the foresaid meeting, came with a great power to confer with some who were there. But what he intends to do or how to act, as yet we know not. But the Earls of Mar and Athol are collecting their army; And some other nobles of the land are drawing to their party and on that account there is fear of a general war and a great slaughter of men, unless the Highest, by means of your industry and good service, apply a speedy remedy. My Lords the Bishop of Durham, Earl Warenne and I heard afterwards that our foresaid Lady recovered from her sickness, but she is still weak; and therefore we have agreed amongst ourselves to remain about Perth, until we have certain news by the knights who are sent to Orkney, what is the condition of our Lady, would that it be prosperous and happy; and if we shall have the accounts which we wish concerning her and which we expect from day to day, we will be ready to set forth for carrying out the business committed ot us to the best of our power. If Sir John of Balliol comes to your presence we advise you to take care so to treat with him, that in any event your honour and advantage be preserved. If it turn out that our foresaid Lady has departed this life, and may it not be so, let your excellency deign if you please to approach towards the March, for the consolation of the Scotch people and for saving the shedding of blood, so that the faithful men of the Kingdom may keep their oath inviolate and set over them for King, him who of right ought to have the succession, if so be that he will follow your counsel.May your excellency have long life and health, prosperity and happiness. Given at Leuchars on the Saturday the morrow of Saint Faith the virgin, in the year of our Lord 1290.

Size

213mm x 145mm

Number of copies held

77

Document Information

National Manuscripts of Scotland, vol. i., plate LXX, p. 36

Date recorded

19/06/2015

Citation

“Letter from Bishop William Fraser about the death of the Maid of Norway, 7th October 1290,” School of History, Classics and Archaeology Teaching Collections, accessed February 19, 2025, http://collections.shca.ed.ac.uk/items/show/74.