今天如期奉上这一部英国老契约。契约的立契时间在19世纪中，材质为羊皮纸（伦敦造），契约主体部分打开为正方形，下挂印鉴漆封（非火漆印，而是双面羊皮纸封住内部火漆盖出形状，主要为了保护火漆完整度）。这种加了挂坠的微型契约可能是英国地区教会专有的，常出现于大型遗嘱契约当中，主要用于教徒死后的遗产捐赠等问题。外加的挂坠十分精美，这些火漆封大多是教区的监管人盖发的，主要为了证明其契约的合理合法性，当然每个人的印会根据家族族徽有所改变。值得一提的是，这一部契约书的签发者查尔斯•伊文思是在英国国家档案馆可以查到的，有兴趣的朋友可以去看看，档案码是GB/NNAF/P213127。昨晚和一位国外的学者交流了一下，学习了一些古语句的正确含义，另外他也告诉我其实100磅的遗产在那个时代是不小了，而写正好100磅也是为了卡税金，再多就要翻倍缴税啦！
下面一个小问题，关于文中的字体。我自己可以看出为2种字体，其中黑色的主体部分字迹非常工整，但仍然可以看出字母都是不同的，背面没有钢板压印的痕迹。不知道这是否是手写的呢？
最后附上契约主要内容的翻译，其中有一段被人用刀子刮去所以无法解读，应该是写的不太合适吧……（照片是早晨拍的……光有点冷……凑合看吧！哈哈）
正文
The Seal of Charles Evans A. M.
查尔斯•伊文思印鉴
Chancellor of Norwich
诺里奇教区总监
Effects sworn under £ 100 and that intestate died 9th January
1857未立遗嘱人逝世于1857年1月9日，兹宣誓证明遗产为100英镑
Administration to the effects of Edward Mannall late of Beccles in the County of Suffolk Merchants Clerk deceased
萨福克郡贝克尔斯已故商务文员爱德华·曼纳尔的遗产认证
Dated 14th March 1857
1857年3月14日
Master of Arts, Official Principal of the Episcopal consistorial court of Norwich lawfully constituted To our beloved in Christ John Mannall of Halesworth in the County of Suffolk School Master lawful brother and one of the next of kin of Edward Mannall late of Beccles in the said County within our Jurisdiction Merchants Clerk a Bachelor deseased sendeth greeting whereas the aforesaid Edward Mannall lately ... deceased died intestate and whereas Cordelia Mannall Widow the lawful mother of the said deceased hath in due form of law renounced the letters of (administration of the Goods, rights, chattels and credits of the said deceased...
查尔斯•伊文思，文科硕士，诺维奇合法的主教教区法庭的法定庭长。爱德华•曼纳尔是我们辖区内的萨福克郡贝克尔斯的已故商务文员，未婚，无遗嘱死亡。愿下述教友节哀，约翰•曼纳尔，萨福克郡黑尔斯沃思人，小学校长，爱德华•曼纳尔的兄弟和亲属，还有亡人的合法母亲柯黛拉•曼纳尔遗孀，柯黛拉•曼纳尔以适当的法律形式放弃该死者的动产、权益、不动产及债权的管理。
We being desirous that the Goods, Chattels, applied and disposed of according to Law, Do therefore by these presents grant full Power and Authority to you in whose fidelity we confide, to administer and faithfully dispose of the Goods, Chattels, and Credits of the said deceased and to ask, demand, recover and receive whatever Debts and Credits which whilst living and at the time of his Death did any did anyway belong to his death did one, so far as such Goods, Chattels, and Credits will thereto extend and the Law require You having been already sworn well and faithfully to administer the same and to make a true perfect Inventory of all and singular the said Goods, Chattels, and Credits, and to exhibit the same into the Registry of the Lord Bishop of Norwich on or before the last day of June...next ensuing and also to render a just and true Account thereof on or before the last day of March which shall be in the Year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and fifty eight ... And we do by virtue of these presents ordain depute and constitute you, Administrator of all and singular Goods, Chattels, and Credits of the said deceased.(The right of all persons being always saved and reserved.) In witness whereof we have caused our seal of our office this Fourteenth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and fifty seven.
我们希望，动产和不动产得到合法处置，因此就上述动产、不动产及债权而言，当着所有在场见证人，因为我们信任你的忠诚，给予你全权管理和忠实地处置该死者的动产、不动产及债权，询问、要求、讨回和接收死者在世和去世时以任何方式产生的任何债务债权，法律要求你已经庄严宣誓去管理上述资产，做一个真正完美的清单，列出所有的动产、不动产及债权，在将要到来的6月30日或之前将清单归档到诺维奇主教大人的注册处，还要在公元1858年3月31日或之前做出公正真实的相关帐目。我们当着所有在场见证人，委托和指派你，作为该死者的动产、不动产及债权的管理者。（所有人的权利都将得到保留）1857年3月14日加盖本庭公章以兹证明。