late 1240s
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 terram suam| de Moll' in perpetuum habeant in liberum forestum . Quare fir-|miter prohibemus . ne quis in dicta terra sua secet aut uenetur| sine eorum licencia . super nostram plenariam forisfacturam decem| libratum . Test'. Waltero . Olifard' . Iusticiario . Laodonie . Rogerum| Auenel . Dauid Marscallo . Apud . Edinburc' . Vicesimo Octa-|uo 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 I have conceded to the monks of Melrose that they may have their own land of Mow for ever in free forest. Wherefore we strictly forbid that anyone should fell timber or hunt without their permission, 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.
