The following documents have been selected for inclusion from among those letters in the SC 1 series at TNA that have not previously been published, and are gathered here to illustrate the changing habits of rhetoric, language and sealing of royal epistolarity from the time of Edward's first emergence into national politics, in the period of reform and rebellion, until the latter years of his reign. I have arranged them chronologically to facilitate such comparison, and attempted to represent a range of recipients so that other forms of comparison may be possible.

Unless otherwise indicated, these are sent originals, rather than drafts or copies. Original letters from the king typically found their way into royal records by virtue of being sent to royal officials, and/or returned as evidence of actions taken. In the case of drafts, I have tried to identify other related drafts or final copies where possible. I have specified the use of the privy seal, seal of absence, and where the seal is unknown; all others are letters of the great seal. I have aimed to represent the text on the page thoroughly, so that the processes of production can be traced. I have expanded abbreviations except in names, places and dates, or where the expansion is uncertain. Inferred text has been marked with square brackets, while angle brackets indicate text that has been added, annotated or otherwise requires comment. Corrections, deletions and annotations are indicated in the notes. Text that cannot be inferred or is lost I have represented with an ellipsis, while I have preserved the habit of the scribes of representing missing information, especially names, with two puncti. In translation, I have tried to maintain a sense of the construction and arrangement of subclauses, rather than applying simplified modern English syntax, so that the structure and rhetorical parts of the letter remain evident.

Lord Edward (before November 1272)

1. 1265, 23 September. Lord Edward to Walter Giffard: for security to be guaranteed for John de Mucegros. Dated at Winchester. Seal unknown. SC 1/8/20.

Venerabili patri domino W dei gratia Bathoniensis & Wellensis Episcopo Edwardus illustri Regis Anglie primogenitus salutem, & amorem sincerum. Dilectus & fidelis noster dominus Johannes de Mucegras quamquam nobis alioquando resistebat; se nostris beneplacitis firmiter coaptavit.