"Henricus, Dei gratia, Rex Angliæ et Franciæ, et Dominus Hiberniæ, omnibus ad quos præsentes litteræ nostræ pervenerint, salutem. Ex quo Ipse, qui omnia ad suam complacentiam ordinat et disponit, per quem reges regnant, ex influenti et abundanti gratia sua, nobis, ex naturali nostra progenie, dederit nos regnare super subditos nostros, intelligimus onus et curam annexa dictæ gratiæ, quæ compellunt nos intendere ad tranquillitatem et conservationem regnorum et terrarum nostrorum, non tantum in defensione exterius, sed ad providendum pro sanis directione et regimine eorundem interius. Et consideramus in sapientia nostra, nobis per Deum data, quod in unitate perfecta, concordia, et vera dilectione inter subditos, requiescunt prosperitas et bona valentia cujuslibet terræ; et in rancore, debatis, ac discordia inter ipsos, manent subversio et ruina ejusdem, causatque quodlibet regnum sic divisum esse desolatum. Consideramus etiam nobiles fructus unitatis, amoris, requiei, et pacis, quas quilibet princeps tenetur procurare, favorare, et stabilire inter subditos; et quod sine unitate, dilectione, et pace, Auctor salutis non potest debite venerari. Propter quas considerationes, et ad evitandum talia inconvenientia, quæ insequi possunt ex varietatibus et discordiis, exortis infra istud nostrum regnum, in speciali inter dominos de sanguine nostro et alios de eodem, ad fortificandum nos contra inimicos nostros, qui malitiose solicitant se ad subdendum tyranniæ suæ, et ad devorandum nostros terras et subditos:—Nos, accordantes dictæ curæ nostræ, et ad complacendum Salvatori nostro, qui manet in unitate, dilectione, et pace, mature intelleximus, ponderavimus, et consideravimus, hujusmodi varietates, controversias, et differentias, quæ fuerunt certo tempore inter confidelem et prædilectum consanguineum nostrum, Ricardum, Ducem Eboraci, nostros confideles et prædilectos consanguineos, Ricardum, Comitem Warwyci, et Ricardum, Comitem Sarum, et alios, ejusdem Comitis Sarum natos, ex una parte: ac nostros confideles et prædilectos consanguineos, Alianoram, Ducissam Somercetriæ, Henricum, Ducem Somercetriæ, filium suum, el alios natos suos, nostros confideles et prædilectos consanguineos, Alianoram, Comitissam Northumbriæ, Henricum, Comitem Northumbriæ, filium suum, et alios natos suos, et nostros confideles et prædilectos, Johannem, Dominum de Clifforde, et fratres et sorores suos, ex alia parte; causatas principaliter per certas obviationem et insultationem ante hæc tempora apud villam de Sancto Albano; in quibus mariti dictarum Ducissæ et Comitissæ, et patres dictorum [Ducis] Somercetriæ, Comitis Northumbriæ, et Domini de Clifforde, interfecti fuerunt.

"Henry, by the grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, to all to whom these present letters shall come, greeting. Since He Himself, who ordains and arranges all things according to His own pleasure, through whom kings reign, by the influential and abundant grace bestowed upon us from our natural progeny, has given us to rule over our subjects, we understand the burden and responsibility attached to the said grace, compelling us to endeavor not only for the external defense, but also for the sound direction and governance of our kingdoms and lands. And we consider in our wisdom, given to us by God, that in perfect unity, harmony, and true love among our subjects, lie the prosperity and well-being of any land; and in resentment, disputes, and discord among them, lies the subversion and ruin of the same, causing any kingdom so divided to be desolate. We also consider the noble fruits of unity, love, peace, and tranquility, which every prince is obliged to promote, favor, and establish among his subjects; and that without unity, love, and peace, the Author of salvation cannot be duly honored. For these reasons, and to avoid such inconveniences that may arise from variations and discord, arisen within our kingdom, especially among the lords of our blood and others of the same, to fortify us against our enemies, who maliciously seek to subdue us to their tyranny and devour our lands and subjects:—We, mindful of our said responsibility, and to please our Savior, who abides in unity, love, and peace, have maturely understood, pondered, and considered such variations, controversies, and differences, which existed at a certain time between our faithful and beloved kinsman, Richard, Duke of York, our faithful and beloved kinsmen, Richard, Earl of Warwick, and Richard, Earl of Salisbury, and others, sons of the said Earl of Salisbury, on one side; and our faithful and beloved kinsmen, Eleanor, Duchess of Somerset, Henry, Duke of Somerset, her son, and others, her children, our faithful and beloved kinsmen, Eleanor, Countess of Northumberland, Henry, Earl of Northumberland, her son, and others, her children, and our faithful and beloved, John, Lord Clifford, and his brothers and sisters, on the other side; principally caused by certain prevention and insultation before this time at the town of St. Albans; in which husbands of the said Duchesses and Countesses, and fathers of the said Duke of Somerset, Earl of Northumberland, and Lord Clifford, were slain."

Et nos determinavimus in omnibus, ad removendum et omnino delendum controversias prædictas, et ad reducendum partes prædictas ad veram unionem, dilectionem, et concordiam. Et quamvis ita sit, nos ex nostris prærogativa, præeminentia, et auctoritate alta, quas Deus nobis dedit, ad gubernandum et regendum subditos nostros in omnibus quæ servare poterunt pro bono nostro et regni nostri, procedere libere possemus, adhuc nos, per avisiamentum Magni Concilii nostri, voluimus et desideravimus partes prædictas, ad ponendum dictas materias variationum in tractatu; quibus ipsi ad nostra voluntatem el desiderium condescenderunt, et concesserunt ad standum nostris laudo, ordinationi, et judicio, in eisdem materiis variationum; vocantes ad nos de magnis prælatibus regni nostri, dominorum de sanguine nostro, et Consilii nostri, ac etiam judicum nostrorum, quod nobis valde agreabile fuit, ad intelligendum ipsorum bonas dispositiones versus dilectionem, unitatem, et pacem, et ad ponendum eorum spem super nos.—Super quo, pro bono conclusionis intentionis supradictæ, depautavimus el vocavimus ad nos de magnatibus prælatorum regni nostri, dominorum de sanguine nostro, et Consilii nostri, ac judicum nostrorum, qui, ex nostro mandato, cum deliberatione, labore, et diligentia palpaverunt, intellexerunt, et examinaverunt, materias dictarum controversiarum et variationum, et communicaverunt maturaliter cum partibus prædictis, et eorum consiliis, ac audiverunt eorum querelationes, et substantias ipsarum controversiarum, responsionum, et declarationum ad præmissa, et ponderaverunt quanti ponderis illæ sunt. Ipsi etiam maturaliter communicaverunt, et diligenter exquisiverunt rationes et vias, et invenerunt multas et diversas, et palam illas nobis fecerunt, pro eradicatione radicum rancorum, et postpositione discordiæ et variationis supradictarum, ac pro stabilitione et nutritione perpetuæ et perfectæ unitatis, dilectionis, et pacis, inter partes prædictas. Quorum quidem dominorum et judicum diligentias et labores nos commendamus, et per eorum avisiamentum, et per avisiamentum Magni. Consilii nostri, congregati pro dicta unione apud Palatium nostrum Westmonasterii ad tempus præsens; ac etiam, ad magnam instantiam, cordiale desiderium, et preces, nobis facta per nostram carissimam et amantissimam uxorem, Reginam, quæ fuit, et est, ita desiderabilis dictarum unitatis, dilectionis, et:— In nomine concordiæ, prout sibi est possibile Ihesu, damus nostra arbitrium, ordinationem finalem, laudum, et judicium, inter prædictas partes in præmissis, modis et forma subsequentibus; ad laudem benedicti Salvatoris nostri, ad complacentiam benedictæ Matris suæ, et omnium civium supernorum, pro bono nostri, nostrorumque terrarum et subditorum, in confusionem inimicorum nostrorum, qui ex diu gaudio gavisi sunt in divisione inter nostros subditos. —

"And we have determined in all things, to remove and altogether extinguish the aforesaid controversies, and to bring back the aforesaid parties to true union, love, and harmony. And although it is within our prerogative, preeminence, and high authority, which God has given us, to govern and rule our subjects in all things that may preserve our good and our kingdom's, we could freely proceed, yet, by the advice of our Great Council, we have wished and desired that the aforesaid parties should engage in the discussion of the said matters of variations; to which they have consented to our will and desire, and have agreed to abide by our approval, ordinance, and judgment, in the said matters of variations; calling upon us from the great prelates of our kingdom, lords of our blood, and our Council, and also our judges, which was very agreeable to us, to understand their good intentions towards love, unity, and peace, and to place their hope upon us.—For the good conclusion of the aforesaid intention, we have appointed and summoned to us from the great magnates, prelates of our kingdom, lords of our blood, and our Council, and our judges, who, by our command, with deliberation, labor, and diligence, have felt, understood, and examined the matters of the said controversies and variations, and naturally communicated with the aforesaid parties, and their counsels, and heard their complaints, and the substance of those controversies, responses, and declarations to the foregoing, and weighed how much weight they bear. They also naturally communicated and diligently searched for reasons and ways, and found many and diverse, and openly presented them to us, for the eradication of the roots of resentments, and the postponement of the aforesaid discord and variation, and for the establishment and nourishment of perpetual and perfect unity, love, and peace, among the aforesaid parties. Whose diligence and labors of those lords and judges, we commend, and by their advice, and by the advice of our Great Council, assembled for the said union at our Palace of Westminster for the present time; and also, at the great instance, cordial desire, and prayers, made to us by our dearest and most loving wife, the Queen, who was, and is, so desirous of the said unity, love, and—In the name of harmony, as it is possible for Jesus, we give our final approval, ordinance, commendation, and judgment, between the aforesaid parties in the premises, in the following manner and form; to the praise of our blessed Savior, to the satisfaction of his blessed Mother, and all the citizens above, for the good of us and our lands and subjects, to the confusion of our enemies, who have rejoiced for so long in the division among our subjects.

Item, propter magnas et certas causas nos moventes, et propter stabilitionem, nutritionem, ac continuationem, integræ concordiæ, unionis, et dilectionis, inter omnes partes prædictas, laudamus, ordinamus, et judicamus, quod dictus noster consanguineus, Ricardus, Eboraci Dux, dabit dictis nostris consanguineis, Alianoræ, Ducissæ Somercetriæ, et Henrico, Duci Somercetriæ, filio suo, quinque millia marcarum, de talibus assignationibus, quæ erunt bonæ et sufficientes, de debitis quæ debentur per nos dicto nostro consanguineo, Duci Eboraci, pro vadiis suis Hiberniæ, distribuenda per nostrum avisiamentum inter ipsos, et inter fratres et sorores ejusdem Ducis Somercetriæ; et quod omnes tales actiones legitimæ, quæ erunt acceptæ pro levatione dictarum assignationum in nominibus ipsorum, pro quibus, vel pro quo, sunt levatæ vel assignatæ, sint per ipsos advocatæ et manutentæ, et nulla exoneratio fiat illarum, sine aggreamento ipsorum, quibus erant liberatae.

"Also, for the great and certain reasons moving us, and for the establishment, nurturing, and continuation of complete harmony, union, and love among all the aforementioned parties, we praise, ordain, and judge that our said kinsman, Richard, Duke of York, shall give to our said kinsmen, Eleanor, Duchess of Somerset, and Henry, Duke of Somerset, his son, five thousand marks, from such assignments as shall be good and sufficient, of the debts owed to us by our said kinsman, the Duke of York, for his wages in Ireland, to be distributed by our advice among them and among the brothers and sisters of the said Duke of Somerset; and that all such lawful actions, which shall be accepted for the lifting of the said assignments in their names, for whom, or for which, they are lifted or assigned, shall be advocated and maintained by them, and no exoneration shall be made of them without their agreement, to whom they were released."

Item, ubi Thomas Percy, Miles, Dominus de Egremonde, et Ricardus Percy, frater suus, filii dictæ consanouineæ nostræ, Alianoræ, Comitissæ Northumbriæ, fuerunt in Sessionibus nostris de Audiendo et Terminando, nuper tentis in Comitatu nostro Eboraci, coram Ricardo Byngham et Radulpbo Pole, Justiciariis nostris, et aliis nos. tris Commissionariis ibidem, per nomina contenta inter recorda Sessionum prædictarum, condemnati dicto nostro consanguineo Comiti Sarum in summa octo millium marcarum; ac ipsi et nostræ consanguineæ Aliciæ, uxori suæ, in summa quinque millium marcarum; Thomæ Nevyll, Militi, filio ejusdem Comitis Sarum, in summa mille marcarum; et eidem Thomæ, et Matildi, uxori suæ, in summa duorum millium marcarum; et Johanni Nevylle, Militi, filio etiam eidem Comiti Sarum, in summa octingentarum marcarum; propter diversas magnas transgressiones, suppositas et inventas in dictis Sessionibus esse factas per dictum Dominum Egremond, et Ricardum, fratrem ejus, dictis Comiti Sarum, Aliciæ, Thomæ Nevylle, Matildi, et Johanni Nevylle, ut per recorda dictarum Sessionum apparet; volumus, laudamus, ordinamus, et judicamus, propter considerationes prædictas, quod dictus noster consanguineus Ricardus, Comes Sarum, ac dicti Thomas et Johannes, filii sui, relaxent, et quilibet eorum relaxet, sufficienter in lege omnes summas prædictas, et executiones earundem. Ac etiam, quod ipsi, et quilibet eorum, sufficienter relaxent Radulpho Verney et Johanni Stiwarde, nuper Vicecomitibus civitatis nostræ Londoniarum, quorum custodiæ dictus Dominus Egremonde fuerat, propter condemnationes prædictas, monde fuerat, propter aut partem earundem, et, propter finem nostrum, commissus, omnimodas actiones, quas ipsi, vel aliquis ipsorum, possunt habere versus dictos nuper Vicecomites, propter escapiamentum dicti Domini Egremond extra prisonam nostram, et ipsorum custodiam.

"Also, where Thomas Percy, Knight, Lord of Egremont, and Richard Percy, his brother, sons of our said kinswoman, Eleanor, Countess of Northumberland, were in our Sessions of Oyer and Terminer lately held in our County of York, before Richard Byngham and Ralph Pole, our Justices, and other our Commissioners there, by names contained among the records of the said Sessions, condemned to our said kinsman the Earl of Salisbury in the sum of eight thousand marks; and they and our kinswoman Alice, his wife, in the sum of five thousand marks; to Thomas Neville, Knight, son of the same Earl of Salisbury, in the sum of one thousand marks; and to the same Thomas, and Matilda, his wife, in the sum of two thousand marks; and to John Neville, Knight, also son to the same Earl of Salisbury, in the sum of eight hundred marks; for divers great transgressions, supposed and found to have been done in the said Sessions by the said Lord Egremont and Richard, his brother, to the said Earl of Salisbury, Alice, Thomas Neville, Matilda, and John Neville, as appears by the records of the said Sessions; we desire, praise, ordain, and judge, for the aforementioned considerations, that our said kinsman Richard, Earl of Salisbury, and the said Thomas and John, his sons, shall release, and each of them shall sufficiently release, in law, all the aforementioned sums and executions thereof. And also, that they, and each of them, shall sufficiently release Ralph Verney and John Steward, late Sheriffs of our City of London, to whose custody the said Lord Egremont was committed for the aforementioned condemnations, or part of them, and, for our end, all actions that they, or any of them, may have against the said late Sheriffs, for the escape of the said Lord Egremont from our prison, and their custody."

Item, propter diversas considerationes nos moventes, volumus, ordinamus, judicamus, et laudamus, quod dictus Dominus Egremonde, ante Festum Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptistæ proximo futurum, sit obligatus per recognitionem suam, in Cancellaria nostra, dicto nostro consanguineo Ricardo, Comiti Sarum, in summa quatuor millium marcarum, solvenda dicto Comiti sub conditione, quod si idem Dominus Egremond, durante decem annorum termino proximo sequentium, custodiat pacem nostram erga eundem Comitem Sarum, et dictam nostram consanguineam, uxorem suam, suos filios, servientes, et tenentes, quod extunc dicta recognitio non sit executura, sed perdat suum vigorem. Et si dictus Dominus Egremonde non custodierit pacem nostram, ut præmittitur, et hoc demonstrato Cancellario Angliæ, et duobus Capitalibus Justiciariis, pro tempore existentibus, sic evidenter quod cogitant illud rationabile ad triandum, quod extunc licitum sit dicto Comiti Sarum, et executoribus suis, ad prosequendum executionem dictæ recognitionis, et aliter, non.

"Also, for various considerations moving us, we wish, ordain, judge, and commend, that the said Lord Egremont, before the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist next to come, be obliged by his recognizance, in our Chancery, to the said our kinsman Richard, Earl of Salisbury, in the sum of four thousand marks, payable to the said Earl under the condition that if the same Lord Egremont, during the term of ten years next following, keeps our peace towards the said Earl of Salisbury, and his said kinswoman, his wife, his sons, servants, and tenants, then the said recognizance shall not be executed, but lose its force. And if the said Lord Egremont does not keep our peace, as aforementioned, and this is proven to the Chancellor of England, and to the two Chief Justices for the time being, so clearly that they deem it reasonable to try it, then it shall be lawful for the said Earl of Salisbury, and his executors, to proceed with the execution of the said recognizance, and not otherwise."

Item, ubi diversi milites, armigeri, et alii, quidam servientes, et quidam tenentes, dicto nostro consanguineo Comiti Northumbriæ, et dicto Domino Egremonde, occasione debatarum prædictarum, fuerant obligati per eorum separales obligationes alicui dictorum consanguineorum nostrorum, Ducis Eboraci, Comitis Sarum, aut alicui filiorum suorum, ad effectum ad standum ipsorum regimini, ordinationi, et laudo, volumus, ordinamus, laudamus, el judicamus, quod ante Festum Sancti Petri quod dicitur 'Ad Vincula,' proximo futurum, apud civitatem nostram Eboracum, dictæ obligationes sint restauratæ ipsis qui obligantur in eisdem, vel quod ipsi habeant sufficientes acquietancias earundem. Sin autem, quod dictæ obligationes, seu acquietanciæ, ante idem Festum Sancti Petri, sint ibidem liberatte Majori dictæ civitatis nostræ Eboraci, ad usum illorum qui sic obligantur. Item, volumus, laudamus, ordinamus, el judicamus, quod, per mediationes superius recitatas, omnes variationes, discordiæ, debatæ, controversiæ, appellationes, et actiones mere personales, quæ fuerunt, et ad præsens sunt, inter partes supradictas, et quemlibet eorum, et inter aliquem partium prædictarum, ac aliquem tenentium vel servientium alicujus contrariæ partis, plenarie pacificatæ sint, postpositæ, et terminatæ pro perpetuo, per hæc nostra arbitrium, ordinationem, laudum, et judicium. Salvis semper cuilibet partium prædictarum, suis titulo, actione, et recto, quæ habet propter aliquam evidentiam arreragiorum, reddituum, aut aliorum servitiorum, compotorum detinentium, vel debitorum debentium, ratione alicujus legitimi contractus aut facti, confecti inter aliquos dictarum partium, aliter quam sunt inter articulos supradictos rememoratos, et omnibus aliis actionibus, rectis, et titulis, realibus et mixtis.

"Also, where various knights, esquires, and others, certain servants, and certain tenants, of our said kinsman the Earl of Northumberland, and the said Lord Egremont, by reason of the aforementioned disputes, had been obliged by their separate obligations to some of our said kinsmen, the Duke of York, the Earl of Salisbury, or some of their sons, to abide by their governance, ordinance, and commendation, we wish, ordain, commend, and judge that before the Feast of Saint Peter ad Vincula next to come, at our city of York, the said obligations shall be restored to those who are bound by them, or that they have sufficient acquittances thereof. If not, then the said obligations or acquittances shall, before the same Feast of Saint Peter, be delivered there to the Mayor of our said city of York, for the use of those who are so obligated. Furthermore, we wish, ordain, commend, and judge that, by the mediations mentioned above, all variations, discords, disputes, appeals, and merely personal actions, which have been, and are at present, between the aforementioned parties, and any of them, and between any of the said parties, and any tenants or servants of any contrary party, be fully pacified, set aside, and terminated perpetually, by this our arbitrament, ordinance, commendation, and judgment. Saving always to each of the said parties their title, action, and right, which they have by reason of any evidence of arrears, rents, or other services, accounts detain or debts owed, by reason of any lawful contract or deed made between any of the said parties, other than those mentioned in the aforementioned articles, and all other actions, rights, and titles, real and mixed."

Item, volumuas, ordinamus, laudamus, el judicamus, quod si aliqua variatio cadat inter consilia ambarum partium supradictarum in conceptura vel factura dictarum recognitionum, relaxationum, acquietanciarum, aut aliquarum aliarum scripturarum, supra specificatarum, quod extunc omnes hujusmodi variationes sint determinatæ per dictos nostros duos Capitales Justiciarios, qui habent plenam cognitionem nostræ intentionis in hac parte. Et ultra hoc, notificamus et declaramus, quod ubi dictæ partes sint g separatim obligatæ nobis, in Cancellaria nostra, in magnis summis ad obediendum et performandum dicta nostra arbitrium, ordinationem, et judicium, in præmissis, prout apparere [potest] evidentius per eadem, volumus et concedimus per præsentes, quod quælibet dictarum recognitionum et summarum, contentarum in eisdem, et quælibet parcella earundem, remaneant in suo vigore; et nulla earundem perdonabitur per nos aliquo modo, sine aggreamento partis, propter cujus securitatem dicta recognitio fuit facta, neque ante forisfacturam dictæ recognitionis, neque post. Et si aliquæ dictarum summarum, vel aliqua parcella earundem, recuperentur per actionem vel executionem, acceptam vel prosecutam nomine nostro, super aliquibus dictarum recognitionum, quod illa pars, ad cujus gravamen dicta nostra arbitrium et laudum contingent esse forisfacta, habebit medietatem omnium talium summa rum sic recuperatarum, et altera medietas inde assignabitur Thesaurario Hospitii nostri, ad providendum pro custagiis et expensis dicti hospitii nostri. Data sub nostro Magno Sigillo, apud Palatium nostrum Westmonasterii, vicesimo quarto die Martii, anno regni nostri tricesimo sexto."

"Furthermore, we wish, ordain, commend, and judge that if any variation arises between the counsels of both the aforementioned parties in the conception or making of the said recognizances, relaxations, acquittances, or any other writings specified above, then all such variations shall be determined by our said two Chief Justices, who have full knowledge of our intention in this matter. And beyond this, we notify and declare that where the said parties are separately bound to us in our Chancery in large sums to obey and perform our said decree, ordinance, and judgment in the premises, as may be more clearly seen through the same, we wish and grant by these presents that each of the said recognizances and sums contained therein, and every part thereof, shall remain in force; and none of them shall be pardoned by us in any way, without the agreement of the party for whose security the said recognizance was made, neither before nor after the forfeiture of the said recognizance. And if any of the said sums or any part thereof shall be recovered by action or execution taken or prosecuted in our name upon any of the said recognizances, the party to whose prejudice our decree and judgment were made liable to forfeiture shall have half of all such sums so recovered, and the other half thereof shall be assigned to the Treasurer of our Household to provide for the expenses and charges of our said household. Given under our Great Seal at our Palace of Westminster, the twenty-fourth day of March, in the thirty-sixth year of our reign."