From Acre to Arley: The Earliest Charter of King Edward I

The earliest known charter issued by Edward I (r. 1272–1307) as king of England is housed in the Cadbury Research Library at the University of Birmingham. It records the 1274 grant of the manor of Arley to Letard de Henyn, described in the document as the king’s <i>vallettus </i>(servant). Letard did not hold Arley for long. Within two years, he received licence to sell the manor to Roger Mortimer. This article examines three surviving documents related to this change in tenure – Edward’s charter and letters patent, along with Letard’s own charter – which together offer a rare and valuable insight into Edward’s early reign, especially the legacy of his crusade and his changing attitude towards Wales. Full transcriptions and translations of the documents are provided in an appendix.