Subject

King John (1166-1216) approves the foundation of the abbey

Text

Johannes dei gratia Rex Anglorum, Dominus Hybernie, Dux Normannie (et) Aquitanie, et Comes Andegavie, omnibus fidelibus suis salutem.

Noveritis nos gratum et ratum habere testamentum dilecti et fidelis nostri Willelmi Mariscalli comitis Pembroc sicut illud condidit per rnanus executoris ipsius testamenti faciendum :

Volentes et firmiter precipientes quod inviolabiliter observetur et precipue de voto suo perficiendo, scilicet de quadam abbacia de ordine Cisterciensi in Hybernia construenda, de triginta carrucatis terre in loco competenti, sicut I(sabella) comitissa uxor sua et Gaufridus filius Roberti senescallus eius providebunt, quibus injunxit hoc facere.

Testibus : dominis Exonie et Wigornie episcopis, G. filio Petri comite Essex, et W. comite Sarisbir, apud Hamsted iij die Decembris.

Translation

John by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, and Count of Anjou, to all faithful subjects, greeting

Know that we welcome and ratify the will of our beloved and faithful William Marshal Earl of Pembroke, as created by the hands of the executors of the will:

Wishing and firmly ordering that his vow to construct and finish an abbey along with thirty carucates of land in a suitable place for the order of Cistercians in Ireland be observed; Isabel, his wife, the Countess, and Geoffrey fitzRobert, his seneschal, are enjoined to do this.

Witnesses: Henry Marshal, Bishop of Exeter, Mauger, Bishop of Worcester, Geoffrey fitzPeter, Earl of Essex, and Earl William (Longspee) of Salisbury, at Hamstead on the third day of December

Source

J. H. Bernard, ‘The Foundation of Tintern Abbey co. Wexford‘, in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, xxxiii, 1917, sect. C, pp. 527-529, a copy of which is inserted at f. iii. f. 28.

Manuscript

BL Add MS 4783 fo.28  (Dated by J H Bernard as December 1200)