The Hereford City Charter Manuscript in the collection of the Yuko Nii Foundation
Copyright Yuko Nii Foundation 2021
The Yuko Nii Foundation owns a manuscript charter of the City of Hereford. It is an English manuscript in “round hand.” Hereford is an ancient city going back over 1000 years. The charter, first created by King Richard I, the Lionhearted, Crusader, famed in lore with Robin Hood, was executed on 9 October 1189. Richard l concedes to his citizens of Hereford in Wales the holding of the town in perpetuity at a rent of £40 paid annually at the Exchequer.
The manuscript is 27 pages, probably written around 169798 since King William III’s confirmation indicates the 9th year of his reign, which would be 1697-98, the time of his third
The title page indicates it is written in English, which probably means that the original is in Latin and this is a transcription. The previous owners of this document are indicated.
Confirmation of charter By King William III, William of Orange
IN 1200 King John visited the city. The structure of the Hereford charter probably is derived from the Magna Carta of King John made at Runnymede in 1215, which is also the basis of English and thus American law. In 1216 King John visited Hereford in hiding from the French. A copy of the 1217 Magna Carta is housed in the Hereford Cathedral Library.
King John with his Hounds
In 676 AD, this locality was the center of the Magonsaete under King Milfrith, These were the Anglo Saxon people Merica. They were Christians.
This is an 8th century Anglo Saxon Church. The Angles, Saxons and Jutes were Germanic tribes nearly exterminated by the Romans. Eventually through Viking invasions they occupied much of “England” (Angland). The great saga Beowulf is derived from such important insemination of Viking heritage.
In 1067 William the Conquerer turned this town into a Norman garrison.
In 1583 Queen Elizabeth endowed the cathedral of Heresford.
The great seal of Queen Elizabeth designed by Nicolas Hilliard in the collection of the Yuko Nii Foundation. It shows Elizabeth on a horse!
In 1645 King Charles the First makes Hereford his headquarters. He gave the city its motto: “Invictae Fidelitat.” The seal in the collection of the Yuko Nii Foundation. King Charles I, crowned and armoured, is holding the reins of his horse and brandishing a sword with his right hand. In the lower part of the seal, a city (Edinburgh?) can be seen. Two royal badges, the thistle of Scotland and a Tudor rose, are depicted on the bardings of the galloping horse. Above the animal, we find a large fleur de lys -- a reminder of the claim of the English kings to the throne of France since Edward III -and a portcullis. On the edge of the seal, within two circles, appears the motto taken from the Psalm 77:8 Deus Judicium Tuum Regi Da (Give to the King, O God, Thy Faculty of Judgement).
The Hereford charter is Witnessed in Westminster 12 day of July in ye 12th year of our reign by writt under the privy seal, by Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury: