Record revealed

# Letter patent with the Great Seal of Ireland attached

This unexpected gem is a document issued by the Chancery in Dublin, granting
land to a John Farrell. Attached is the Great Seal of Ireland, indicating
approval from King Charles II.

![](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/letter-patent-char.width-400.format-webp.webpquality-70.webp)

## Images

### Image 1 of 4

 ![A folded sheet of paper with a large, round, brown wax seal attached with red and white cord.](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/letter-patent-.max-1024x1024.format-webp.webpquality-70.webp) 

The letter patent folded closed, with the Great Seal below.

### Image 2 of 4

 ![A large sheet of paper with national symbols inked across the top and dense English text below.](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/letter-patent-_bzIiQCM.max-1024x1024.format-webp.webpquality-70.webp) 

The letter patent unfolded, showing how the Great Seal is attached.

### Image 3 of 4

 ![Intricate patterns engraved around a large letter 'C' with a portrait of a stylish man inside.](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/letter-patent-_JTOojXU.max-1024x1024.format-webp.webpquality-70.webp) 

Closeup of the portrait of King Charles II at the top of the letter.

### Image 4 of 4

 ![A large circle of wax with a figure wielding a sword on horseback and an Irish harp pressed into it.](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/letter-patent-_h7mBVLn.max-1024x1024.format-webp.webpquality-70.webp) 

Closeup of the attached Great Seal of Ireland.

## Why this record matters

Date
:   1584–1690

Catalogue reference
:   [C 106/153](https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3752712)

From the late 12th century, an English government ruled Ireland from Dublin.
Modelled on the government in London, with departments similar to English ones
in Whitehall, Ireland was governed as an extension of the Crown’s lands.

While English (later British) rule was not consolidated across the island until
the 17th century, the institutions of the Crown operated within their areas of
control, governing, collecting taxes, granting lands and fighting wars. All of
these created paperwork.

The National Archives in Kew houses hundreds of thousands of documents related
to the governance of Ireland. Most of these relate to the daily realities of
life within the English areas of control, but every now and again something
unexpected emerges.

This document is a letter patent, a type of written order or grant given by the
monarch. It was issued during the reign of Charles II in the 1670s by the
Chancery in Dublin.

The Chancery handled most of the Crown's administration in Ireland, with the
Lord Chancellor usually granted the title of Keeper of the Great Seal of
Ireland. The Great Seal was a symbol of power, a unique engraving pressed onto a
mixture of resin and beeswax to authenticate important documents and indicate
royal approval.

In this instance we see a letter patent issued to a John Farrell, who is being
granted land. The patent notes where the lands are, the terms under which the
land is granted, and the rents that must be paid to the Crown. The Great Seal
proves that it is official.

Original letters patent are rare, especially those that were issued to the
recipients. Often all that survives is a clerical copy, with text written onto a
patent roll without any of the lavish decoration seen here. To find an original
in such good condition is a treat.

How did this one end up at The National Archives? It was sent to London as part
of a court case taken to the Westminster Court of Chancery in the early 18th
century. This document is one of many submitted to the Masters in Chancery as
evidence in an equity hearing, and it was never reclaimed. In the 1840s it
officially became part of The National Archives’ collection, where it sits among
hundreds of papers related to lands in Ireland.

[View record details](https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3752712)

## Featured articles

Record revealed

### [A medieval Irish roll with hidden grievances](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/stories/medieval-irish-roll-with-hidden-grievances/)

![A scanned roll exposing writing, yellow after being scanned. The background is black.](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/operation-irish-exch_fq1uMfc.2e16d0ba.fill-600x400.format-jpeg.jpegquality-60.bgcolor-fff.jpg)

This roll provides a glimpse into how medieval Ireland was governed, but today
plays a starring role in the development of scientific methodologies.

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