2749

November. Damietta. Louis IX’s charter establishing the church of Damietta. The king records the arrival of the army on the shore on 5 June 1249 and the flight of the Muslim army from Damietta. What is now the church dedicated to St Mary has been purified and priest have been appointed to serve there. The king grants certain properties including two towers for the use of the clergy and that they shall receive a tithe of all seigneurial revenues in the city and diocese, the archbishop’s share to be two thirds. In addition to tithes the archbishop shall receive 5,000 besants and the canons 5,000 besants annually from the rents on rural and urban properties. The archbishop is to enfeoff ten knights who will owe service to him and, when necessary, to the ruler. The archbishop and clergy are to be free of all harbour and customs dues and the right to have their own weights and measures and sea vessels. Witnesses: Stephen the butler; John the chamberlain; Imbert the constable.