Catalogue description NUNCII.

Particulars of account and compoti of ambassadors and heraldic messengers (hence nuncii) from the reigns of Henry III to James I.

The documents are the vouchers and receipts for expenses of ambassadors and other diplomatic personnel undertaking missions abroad on behalf of the English crown between the late thirteenth to late fifteenth centuries. On occasion, the accounts also include details of the expenses of foreign ambassadors visiting England, whose visit was paid for by the English crown (eg E 101/321/32). The accounts also contain details of payments to diplomatic messengers for the delivery of letters, writs and other documentation concerning current negotiations.

E 403/2420-2429 and E 407/38 hold ambassador and messenger expenses. E 36/186-192 - diplomatic documents from Edward II to Henry VIII. Prior to 42 Edward III see pipe rolls, E 372 and duplicate chancellor rolls, E 352. After 42 Edward III see foreign accounts rolls, E 364. Declared accounts 1545-1706, E 351143-52. C 66-67 patent rolls hold appointment details, powers, safe-conducts and protections for ambassadors and messengers. See C 76 for treaty enrolments; SC 1 for diplomatic correspondence.

M C Hill, 'Jack Faukes, king's messenger, and his journey to Avignon in 1343', English Historical Review, vol 61 (1942), pp 19-30 describes in detail E 101/312/4; A Larson, 'The payment of fourteenth century English envoys', English Historical Review, vol 56 (1939), pp 403-414.See also M C Hill, The king's messengers, 1199-1377: a contribution to the history of the royal household (London, 1961).

Details of accounts of individual negotiations and of other royal messengers not engaged on diplomatic missions, can be found in the wardrobe foreign expense rolls and wardrobe daily expense rolls, in the 'Wardrobe and Household' section of E 101: for these accounts see PRO Lists and Indexes, vol 35 (London, 1912), pp 186-204 and pp 220-270.