Page 7 - WS The Wokingham Charters

B. NOTES & COMMENTS

1 The three categories after sheriffs, are often used interchangeably in mediæval Latin
documents, depending on authorship, context, custom and locality. If unqualified by an
adjective, any of the three may be applied generally to mean a person of authority within
the community, a law-enforcement officer or an official.

Praepositus has connotations of status and leadership and is often rendered as ‘proctor’,
but in a civil, English context is more likely to mean a community leader, such as a
Keeper of the Peace or magistrate, a reeve or a constable.

Minister can mean a reeve, bailiff or serjeant.

Ballius, usually translated as ‘bailiff’, can be a reeve, sheriff’s officer or an agent, such
as a rent-collector or a steward.

Given that a sheriff (shire-reeve), bailiff or a steward may also be described as a reeve, a
definitive translation is unlikely to be achievable.

This list is obviously hierarchical and intended to cover everyone with the authority and
responsibility for upholding the law. This suggests that “…. Keepers of the Peace,
bailiffs, law enforcement officers {and other officials]” would be a suitable ‘catch-all’, in
the spirit of the original.

2 In other words, by relinquishing the rights of the Crown (and of its agents) to the
specified fines, revenues and other privileges in perpetuity, Henry is in effect making a
charitable donation towards the building and upkeep of the church.

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