This is a university diploma in philosophy and theology obtained in five years, awarded to the deacon of Caen : Julien Saffrey, on March 5, 1732.
William the Conqueror (1028-1087) is a King of England who died in Rouen.
The use of his effigy in official documents was done in university acts, mainly in Calvados.
Dimensions :
. Vellum: approximately 21 x 39 cm. Old traces of folds. The document retains its flexibility.
. Diameter of the wax seal in its capsule: 9 cm
Vellum is a parchment made from the skin of very young calves.
On the back, the royal seal gives the price of a sheet of vellum, at 13 sols.
Here is the text, with our apologies if any variation is found to be incorrect during transcription :
Universis Praesentes Literas Inspecturis, Rector, Et Universitas generalis studii Academia Cadomensis, notum facimus et tertamur dilectum nostrum Julianum Saffrey diaconum Cadomeum, per quinque annos completos in hai Universitate, tum philosophicis a Logicalibus inclusini, tum Superioribus disciplinis operam dedisse, nidelicat per biennium philosophia, a Dionysialibus anni milleimi septingentesimi nigesimi quinti, usque ad solemnes Juducias anni milleimi septingentesimi nigesimi septimi; Theologia uero per tres annos, a Dionysialibus anni milleimi septingentesimi octavi, usque ad solemnes Judicias anni milleimi septingentesimi nigesimi primi; que supra dicta nobis constiturunt testimoniis seriptis Professorum, apud quos per illud quinquennii tempus studuit, a nobis vilis, perlectis, mature examinatis, et postea eidem Domino Saffrey redditis, in quorum fidem has ipsi Literas per generalum dicto Universitatis seribam secretarium expediri, easque ipsius chirographo, atque sigillo magno ejusdem Universitatis Communiri et approbari fecimus.
Translation idea : To all the Literary Inspectors present, to the Rector and to the University of General Studies of the Academy of Caen, we announce and declare that our beloved Julien Saffrey, deacon of Caen, for the five years completed in this University, has paid attention both to the philosophical and logical inclusion, and to the higher, philosophical disciplines for two years, from the divine years of the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty-five, until the solemn Judges of the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven; I have been studying theology for three years, from the divine years of the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight, to the solemn Judgments of the year one thousand seven hundred and thirty-one; that the above declarations have been established for us by the secret testimonies of the professors with whom he studied during this period of five years, and we have had it shared and approved with the great seal of the same University. Given at Caen in our General Congregation for the right of nomination, as is the custom, among the Franciscans, to accuse and celebrate, the year of the Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty-two, on the fifth day of the month of March. (Dunel signature). In the margin: Insinuated and Controlled at Bayeux on the third of April 1732. R. thirty sols.