For example, a letter from the 13th century issued by a local lord might instruct the sheriff to summon the local population to court for a trial or to enforce a particular legal ruling. These letters served as the means by which law and order were maintained in an era without modern legal institutions.
Personal Letters
Personal letters were common in the medieval period, though they were less frequently preserved than royal or official correspondence. These letters were often exchanged between family members, friends, or allies and could range from matters of daily life to expressions of affection, support, or advice. Personal letters might be written by kings to their wives or between noble friends, offering a rare glimpse into the human side of medieval figures.
An example of a personal letter is that of King Henry VIII to his wife, Catherine of Aragon, in the early years of their marriage. In these intimate letters, Henry expressed his feelings of affection and concern, providing a stark contrast to the often formal and politically charged language of royal correspondence.
Clerical and Ecclesiastical Letters
Letters were also central to the functioning of the Church in medieval England. Bishops, archbishops, and abbots frequently corresponded with one another and with the Pope to discuss matters of doctrine, church politics, and religious affairs. Ecclesiastical letters could also involve matters such as the appointment of clergy, the granting of pardons, or the resolution of disputes between religious orders.
The correspondence between Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, and King Henry II, for example, played a pivotal role in the conflict between the crown and the Church, which eventually led to Becket’s martyrdom in 1170. shutdown123