1 - Common clauses in deeds

Summary

Before examining particular kinds of transaction, it is necessary to say something about clauses and formulations which are common to many kinds of conveyancing instruments, namely, addresses, parcels clauses and warranties.

ADDRESSES

Most twelfth- and early thirteenth-century charters, following the example of royal writs and writ-charters, started with an initial protocol, consisting of the name and style of the maker, an address and a salutation. There were many formulations, but they fell into two principal classes: a general address to all persons who might see or hear the document, and an address by a lord to such persons as he was able to command or influence. The following are typical examples:

Universis sancte matris ecclesie filiis ad quos presens scriptum pervenerit Ricardus Dei gracia abbas Cirenc' et eiusdem loci conventus salutem.

Rannulfus de Glanvilla omnibus hominibus et amicis suis, clericis et laicis, Francis et Anglis, tam presentibus quam futuris, salutem.

Addresses are of importance to students of diplomatic, particularly for establishing the styles used at various times by kings and magnates, but for legal purposes their only importance was that they contained the name of the maker, which was not usually repeated in the ensuing donative clause. The only matter which needs to be mentioned, because it is relevant to the dating of late twelfth-century charters, is the occasional use of the words Francis et Anglis (or Francigenis et Anglicis), as in Glanvill's charter above.