Queen Sybilla of Jerusalem's letter to Constance of France, Countess of Toulouse, year 1177

Source:

https://epistolae.ctl.columbia.edu/letter/25226.html

Sibylla (born circa 1160, died 1190) was the Countess of Jaffa and Ascalon from 1176 and Queen of Jerusalem from 1186 to 1190. She was the eldest daughter of King Amalric of Jerusalem and Lady Agnes de Courtenay, sister of King Baldwin IV and half-sister of Princess Isabella/Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem, mother of Baldwin Aleramici/Prince Baldwin/King Baldwin V of Jerusalem. Her grandmother Queen Melisende had provided an example of successful rule by a queen regnant earlier in the century.

Above: Queen Sybilla of Jerusalem.

The letter:

In nomine sancte et individue trinitatis, patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Notum sit omnibus, tam futuris quam presentibus, quod ego Sibilla, comitissa Joppe et Ascalone, concessione et assensu Balduini, Ramatensis domini, et Baliani, fratris sui, necnon et filiarum suarum Eschive et Stephanie, concedo et confirmo tibi domine Constantie, sorori regis Francie et S. Egidii comitisse, scribanagium Bethduras, casalis tui, quod Georgius de Betheri pro ducentis quinquaginta bisanciis vendidit et in perpetuum habere concessit. Ut igitur hujus mee concessionis pagina rata permaneat in eternum et indissoluta, presentem cartam testibus subscriptis et meo sigillo muniri et corroborari precepi. Factum est hoc anno ab incarnatione Domini m c lxx vii, indictione undecima. Isti sunt testes : Wilelmus, Tyrensis archiepiscopus; princeps Reginaldus; Joscelinus de Semmosach, Ascalonensis castellanus; Balduinus, frater ejus; Willelmus de Mont Gorneit; Rohardus de S. Abraham; Robertus de Pinquigni; Gaufridus Turonensis. 

English translation:

In the name of the holy and individual trinity, of the father and son and holy spirit, amen.  Let it be known to all, future as well as present, that I Sibylla, countess of Jaffa and Ascalon, with the granting and consent of Baldwin, lord of Ramleh, and Balian, his brother, and also his daughters Eschive and Stephanie, grant and confirm to you lady Constance, sister of the king of France and countess of St. Giles, the secretarial function of Bayt Daras, your village, which George of Beziers sold for two hundred fifty besants and granted [you] to have in perpetuity.  So that the page of this my grant may remain in force and undissolved for eternity, I have ordered the present paper to be protected and strengthened by my seal.  This was done in this 1177th year from the incarnation of the Lord, eleventh indiction.  These are the witnesses:  William, archbishop of Tyre, prince Reginald; Joscelin of Semmosach, castellan of Ascalon; Baldwin, his brother; William of Mont Gournay; Rohard of St. Abraham; Robert of Picquigny; Galfred of Tours.