The 1067 William Charter to London
History
The 1067 William the Conqueror Charter is the oldest document held in the City of London archives.
William became King after he successfully invaded England in 1066 and defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. The now King William I marched on London and was crowned in Westminster abbey on Christmas Day.
William was pretty shrewd and knew he needed to keep the powerful City of London, with its money and trading links, intact and loyal to him. With that in mind he granted the charter to the City of London.
The charter is physically small, perhaps 15cm wide, but its small size underestimates its historical importance – it is the earliest known Royal document which guarantees the rights of all people equally. The three accompanying discs are the Royal seal of King William I to prove the authenticity and authority of the document they are attached to.
Interestingly, the document is not written in Norman French but is instead written in old English, the translations of which are below.
Currently (5th January 2023) the William Charter can be seen in the Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London. Entry to the exhibition is free and the gallery is open seven days a week.
The William Charter’s Text
Text From The Exhibition Display
Will’m, kyng, gref Will’m bisceop & Gosfregd portirefan
William the king, greets William the bishop and Godfrey portreeve
& ealle pa burhwaru binnan Londone frencisce & englisce
and all the burghers within London, French and English,
freondlice & lc kyde eow pat ic wylle pat get beon eallra
friendily and I inform you that I will that ye-two be of all
paera laga weorde pe gyt wae ran on Edwerdes
the laws worthy which ye-two were on Edward the
daege kynges & ic wylle paet aelc cyld beo his faeder
king’s day and I will that each child be his father’s
yrfnume aefter his faeder daege & ic nelle gepolian
inheritance-taker after his father’s day and I will not suffer
pat aenig man eow aenig wrang beode god eow gehealde
that any man to you any wrong off. God you keep.
The Charter’s Original Old English Text
Will’m, kyng, gref Will’m bisceop & Gosfregd portirefan
& ealle pa burhwaru binnan Londone frencisce & englisce
freondlice & lc kyde eow pat ic wylle pat get beon eallra
paera laga weorde pe gyt wae ran on Edwerdes
daege kynges & ic wylle paet aelc cyld beo his faeder
yrfnume aefter his faeder daege & ic nelle gepolian
pat aenig man eow aenig wrang beode god eow gehealde
Translated to Modern English
William the king, greets William the bishop and Godfrey portreeve
and all the burghers within London, French and English,
friendily and I inform you that I will that ye-two be of all
the laws worthy which ye-two were on Edward the
king’s day and I will that each child be his father’s
inheritance-taker after his father’s day and I will not suffer
that any man to you any wrong off. God you keep.
A Modern Transcription
William the king, friendly salutes William the bishop and Godfrey the portreeve and all the burgesses within London both French and English. And I declare that I grant you to be all law-worthy, as you were in the days of King Edward; And I grant that every child shall be his father’s heir, after his father’s days; And I will not suffer any person to do you wrong; God keep you
Copied from the City of London website
