King John’s testament and the last days of his reign

King John's testament is the first royal testament or will to survive in its original form in an English context. The purpose of this article is to make the original text (together with a translation) of the testament generally known for the first time and also to offer some thoughts about its meaning and significance both in terms of the diplomatic of will-making in the twelfth and early thirteenth century and in terms of the events that took place during the last days of King John's reign.