Notification, Rodbert de Watevilla

Hempstead. Notification, Rodbert de Watevilla to all his men, French and English, that he has granted to Hugh de Capella for his homage and service, two and a half virgates of land in Hempstead for two shillings a year,

witnesses: Lady Matilda his wife, William Albz, Roger Capellanus, Tidbaldus, Richard de Watevilla, Turstanus Pprapositus, his brother Baldwinus, William son of Broc; on the part of Hugh [de Capella] Albricus de Capella and his brother Gaufridus, and Walter and Tomas and Richards son of Hugh, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, 8 lines, folds, lacks most of seal, small remains of seal tied on to tongue, 79 x c. 175mm., n.d. [early twelfth century].

***A scarce item, documents from the twelfth century are seldom seen on the market. The use of the form of address, "French and English, suggests a date not later than the loss of Normandy in 1205." - Hatton. Book of Seals, Oxford, 1950. The simplicity and brevity of this document would suggest an earlier date, perhaps the first quarter of the twelfth century..