Eight-hundred years ago today

King John, 28-Aug-1207: Johannes, dei gratia, Rex Anglie, Dominus Hibernie, Dux Normannie, Aquitanie, Comes Andegauie, Omnibus fidelibus suis qui Burgagia apud Villam de Liuerpul habere uoluerint Salutem. Sciatis quod concessimus omnibus fidelibus nostris qui Burgagia apud Liverpul ceperint quod habeant omnes libertates et liberas consuetudines in Villa de Liuerpul quas aliquis Liber Burgus super mare habet in terra nostra. Et ideo uobis mandamus quod secure et in pace nostra illuc ueniatis ad Burgagia nostra recipienda et hospitanda. Et in huius rei testimonium has litteras nostras patentes uobis transmittimus. Teste Simone de Pateshill apud Wintoniam xxviii die Augusti anno regni nostri ix.

or, to put it another way:

King John, 28-Aug-1207: John, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, Count of Anjou, to all his faithful people who have desired to have Burgages in the township of Liverpool, greeting. Know ye that we have granted to all our faithful people who have taken Burgages in Liverpool that they may have all the liberties and free customs in the township of Liverpool which any Free Borough on the sea has in our land. And therefore we command you that securely and in our peace you come there to receive and inhabit our Burgages. And in witness hereof we transmit to you these our Letters Patent. Witness Simon de Pateshill at Winchester on the twenty-eighth day of August in the ninth year of our reign.

or, to put it another way:

HAPPY 800TH BIRTHDAY, LIVERPOOL!

Liverpool Just Before Dawn
800 not out.

Ignore the stupid, ill-informed stereotypes. Liverpool is a bloody brilliant city. And tonight they're gonna party like it's 1207.

Richard Carter

A fat, bearded chap with a Charles Darwin fixation.

3 comments

  1. Shouldn't that have been "Liverpool is a bloody, brilliant city"?

    Wait. Wait- hold your flamethrowers. Just kidding.

  2. I confesss to never having spent any significant time in Liverpool, but I do not "damant". I simply write to antagonise.

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