I, William, Count of Holland, want it to be known to both present and future persons who shall see the present charter, that I have given to the citizens of Haarlem the following freedom, viz:

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After a person has become a citizen, he shall not be obliged to be of service to anyone, but shall enjoy freedom according to the law of the city.

I have further instructed the already mentioned citizens that by taking an oath they ratify that each one will uphold the right of another.

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The citizens of Haarlem shall pay to me or the legitimate lord of Holland 10 pounds annually and in perpetuity on the feast of the Lord's birth and 10 pounds on the feast of John the Baptist.

Moreover when it happens that I or the lawful lord of Holland travels to the court of the emperor or marries or is knighted, the citizens of Haarlem shall pay me 20 pounds on each of these occasions. If one of my sisters or a sister of the lawful lord of Holland is married, the said citizens of Haarlem shall give 15 pounds. Likewise, if my brother or the brother of the lawful lord of Holland is knighted or married, the citizens of Haarlem shall pay him 15 pounds on each of these occasions.

Furthermore, the citizens of Haarlem shall serve me in the execution of my military obligations or those of the lawful lord of Holland with 64 men.

Moreover, I have given power to the aldermen of Haarlem to make new regulations or statutes, in consultation with my bailiff, for the duration of half a year or a full year, which the aldermen have ratified with an oath as useful to the community or the principal part thereof, my jurisdiction in this matter being preserved.

In order, however, that the liberty contained in the present document and granted by me, William, Count of Holland, out of benevolence and in consultation with my noble and faithful men to the citizens of Haarlem, may forever remain in force and cannot be invalidated by anyone, I have delivered the present charter to the already mentioned citizens of Haarlem, ratified with my seal.

The following persons act as witnesses to this: lord Lubbert, Abbot of Egmond, lord Nicolas Persijn, lord Theoderic, Viscount of Leiden, master Daniel, Theoderic of Teilingen, Simon of Haarlem, Walter of Egmond, and Hugo of Kralingen.

Given at Haarlem, in the year of the Lord 1245, on the day of Saint Clement, pope and martyr. Happily ever after. Amen.