4 May 1213
British Library, London
From People of Medieval Scotland
Alex’ . Dei Gratia Rex Scott’ . Omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre sue salutem . Sciatis quod concessi-|mus Monachis de Melros’ . vt totam terram suam de Etryk’ . per easdem diuisas que continentur in| carta nostra que de eadem terra eis plenius confecta est in perpetuum habeant in Liberum forestum .| Quare firmiter prohibemus . ne quis sine eorum licentia in dicta terra secet aut uenetur super nostram plena-|riam forisfacturam Decem Librarum . Testibus . Waltero . Olifard . Iustic’ . Laodonie . Rogero auenel| Dauid Marscallo . apud Edinburc’ . Vicesimo Octauo die Maii Anno . Regni . domini Regis Vicesimo| secundo .
Alexander, by the grace of God king of the Scots, to all worthy men of his entire land [sends] greeting. Know that we have conceded to the monks of Melrose, that they should have their entire land of Ettrick for ever in free forest, by the same boundaries which are more fully specified in our charter which was drawn up for them concerning the same land. Wherefore we strictly forbid that anyone without their persmission should cut wood or hunt in the said land, on pain of our full forfeiture of ten pounds. As witnesses: Walter Oliphant, justiciar of Lothian; Roger Avenel; David the marischal. At Edinburgh on the twenty-eighth day of May in the twenty-second year of the reign of the lord king.
