Bruce examines a rare 12th century document mentioning Crusaders

Significant document written in Latin in a clear Romanesque hand, recording gifts made to the Church of St. Mary at Rozoy-le-Jeune, near Courtenay in the Diocese of Sens, including those of three, or perhaps four, brothers about to set out for Jerusalem on the Second Crusade. As related in the document, Letuisa, a noble matron from Milly, inspired by divine command, gave up her wealth and sought a way in which she might better serve God. She sought out in poverty the communities of religious women and chose the Church of St. Mary at Rozoy, where she was received into the community of holy virgins who served God there. Seriously ill with fever she called together her sons and daughters, asking them to make donations to the church, to which they generously agreed. The gifts of three (or four?) of her sons, portions of the harvest from their lands, are spelled out, and were praised by the four daughters and three further sons (all parties are named); there appeared as witnesses several officials of the church, the crusader Arnulfus (Arnulfus ierosolomitanus) and the hunchback knight Stephanus (miles gibosus). The charter closes, "This gift was made in the same year in which the four above-named brothers set out for Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord." All factors point to this being at the time of the ill-fated and bloody Second Crusade, 1147. It is possible that the document lacks a seal, but it is believed that it may never have had one, as it is styled in a note by the scribe at the end "Hec Ö carta Letuydis Milliacensis" (This is a document of Letuisa of Milly), who may not have had a seal. The widespread washing and scouring of manuscripts during the Dark and Middle Ages to reuse the precious vellum, the cutting and use of pieces in bookbinding, and destruction in centuries of warfare, makes a document in such choice condition as this is the exception. Western European manuscripts before 1200 are scarce, and especially when so closely datable. The great majority of medieval manuscripts which remain accessible to the collector are leaves from books, often defective, or documents dealing with routine matters. By virtue of its content, the present document is quite rare and desirable. From the reign of King Louis VII (1120-1180), "Louis the Young," who conquered Charlemagne, himself joined Second Crusade, and later surrendered vast tracts of his land to Henry II of England. Transcription and translation available on request. With the catalogue description of The Rendells present.

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