Published by Primary Source Microfilm

The Ancient Correspondence Class is reproduced here in its entirety. Spanning the reigns of King John to King Henry VIII, this unique collection includes the correspondence of kings, bishops, popes, knights, noblemen, royal servants and lords chancellor. Principally assembled from documents formerly held in the Tower of London, the Ancient Correspondence Class is comparable in breadth and detail to the later State Papers series. There are documents hand-written by Stephen Langton, John Gower, Pope Innocent III, most of the English kings and their chancellors, and a wide range of other medieval and early modern figures.

Affairs of state are the predominant theme, but also underscored are ecclesiastical elections, the besieging of castles, the wool trade, piracy on the high seas, the protection of lepers, enclosures, the keeping of servants and falcons, the presentation of jewels, taxes, safeguards against the invasion of England from France, border wars, royal buildings and local customs. More than 12,400 individual documents make up this substantial collection, which constitutes a major point of reference for all aspects of medieval studies.

Complete collection: 26 reels

Part One: PRO Class SC 1 Vols. 1-32
15 reels

Part Two: PRO Class SC 1 Vols. 33-64
11 reels