Exhibition: William the Conqueror’s 1067 Charter

The oldest document held in the City of London Corporation’s extensive archives will go on rare public display.

The William Charter was written on vellum (parchment) in Old English and measures just six inches by one-and-a-half inches. It comes complete with one of the earliest surviving seals from William the Conqueror's reign.

It was given to the City of London by King William I in 1067, shortly after the Battle of Hastings, but before he entered the City, and has been stored securely in the City of London Corporation's archives ever since.

The document will be displayed at the City of London Heritage Gallery -- in the basement of the Art Gallery.

The William Charter is the earliest known royal or imperial document to guarantee the collective rights of the inhabitants of any town, granting nothing new to Londoners, but confirming the citizens' rights and privileges, which were already in existence.

Translated into modern English, the Charter reads as follows:

"“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”."

City of London historians point out that one of the citizens' primary concerns, as expressed by the words "And I grant that every child shall be his father's heir, after his father's days" was to ensure that their property handed down to the son and heir, rather than attracting the interest of the Crown.

Ian has visited - review here.