1188
British Library, London
From People of Medieval Scotland
Alex’ . Dei Gratia Rex Scott’ . Omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre sue salutem .| Sciatis quod concessimus 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 plenariam forisfacturam decem| librarum . Testibus . Waltero . Olifard . Iustic’ . Laodonie . Rogero Auenel| Dauid Marscallo . Apud Edemburc’ . 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 in free forest for ever, by the same boundaries that are more fully specified in our charter that was drawn up for them concerning the same land. Wherefore we strictly forbid that anyone without their permission 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.
