Henricus, Dei gratia, Rex Angliae, Dominus Hiberniae, egregio principi H., eadem gratia, Regi Norwegiw illustri, salutem et felices ad vota successes. Literas vestras nuper nobis trans missas benigne recepimus, ut decebat, ex quarum tenore per-pendimus, quod vestroe non extitit voluntatis exercitum ducere in regnum Scotim ; vel aliquam guerram movere regi Scotiae, afni nostro carissimo ; nec etiam nuntii ejusdem Regis, in terra vestra arestati, contra honestatem regiam tractati fuerunt, sicut ex gravi querela quorundam nobis extitit plenius intimatum, super quo mansuetudinem regiam plurimum commendamus. De eo etiam, quod eosdem nuntios, ad preces ipsius Regis, liberari fecistis liberaliter et benigne, sieut in praedictis literis vestris perpendimus contineri, serenitati vestror gratiarum referimus actiones. Et quia nollemus, skut nec deceret, aliquam dissensionis materiam inter vos et præfatum Regem suboriri, sed potius pristine dilectionis foedera, inter progenitores vestros et sues dudum inita ad honorem Dei necnon et utriusque rem com-modum et quietem in posterum feliciter continuari, præfatum Regem Scotie rogabimus, et diligenter inducemus quod, si per ipsum, vel sues, damnum, vel injuria vobis, vel vestris fuerit illata, vobis ea qua convenit amicitia et vicinitate faciat emendari. Quapropter serenitatem vestram rogandum duximus cum affectu, quatenus erga præfatum Regem et gentem suam tam curialiter et modeste vos habere velitis, quod mutuo lionori vestro conveniat, et circumspectionem vestram pacificam merito commendare pos-simus. Teste meipso, apud Rem', xv die Novembris, anno regni nostri quadragesimo septimo.

Henry, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, .to the noble Prince H., by the same grace, the illustrious King of Norway, health and the happy accomplishment of his desires. We have received in a kindly spirit, as was fitting, your letter which was lately sent to Us, from the tenor of which We infer that it was not your intention to lead an army into the kingdom of Scotland, or to enter into war with the King of Scotland, Our most dear relative; and that, furthermore, the envoys of the said king, who were arrested in your territories, were not treated in a manner unbecoming royal courtesy, as some had informed Us in a bitter complaint, in regard to which matter We very much commend your royal clemency. We thank your Serenity, moreover, for having, as We gather from your letter, in a spirit of liberality and kindness caused the said envoys to be restored to liberty at the request of the aforesaid king. And because We are unwilling, and indeed it would be unbecoming, that any cause of dissension should arise between you and the aforesaid king, whilst We are anxious that the treaties of former good will, which were long ago entered into between your ancestors and his, and which redounded to the honour of God as well as to the benefit and peaceful state of both kingdoms, should happily continue in force in future, We will ask the afore-said King of Scotland, and endeavour to induce him, to cause reparation to be made to you, with befitting regard to the obligations of friendship and good neighbourliness, for any loss or injury which you or your subjects may have sustained at his hands, or at those of his subjects. Wherefore, We have judged it meet affectionately to request your Serenity to treat the aforesaid king and his people with such courtesy and moderation as may conduce to your mutual respect for each other, and which may enable Us deservedly to commend your pacific circumspection. Witness myself at Rem', the 15th day of November, the forty-seventh year of Our reign.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor
HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2001