S 1051

A.D. 1042 x 1066. King Edward to Ely Abbey; grant of land at Lakenheath and confirmation of privileges and of land at Ely, Swaffham Prior, Horningsea, Wood Ditton, Hauxton, Newton, Stapleford, Great Shelford, Triplow, Melbourn, Armingford, Little Gransden, Stetchworth, Balsham, Fulbourn, Teversham, Westley Waterless, Trumpington, West Wratting, Snailwell, Fen Ditton, Hardwick, Milton, Impington, Cottenham, and Willingham, Cambs.; at Hartest, Glemsford, Hitcham, Rattlesden, Drinkstone, Nedging, Barking, Barham, Wetheringsett, Livermere, Occold, Wicklow, Sudbourne, Melton, Kingston, Hoo, Stoke (near Ipswich), Debenham, Brightwell, Woodbridge and Brandon, Suffolk; at Feltwell, Bridgeham, Methwold, Croxton, Weeting, Mundford, Bergh Apton, Westfield, Fincham, Northwold, Walpole, Marham, Dereham, Thorpe and Pulham, Norfolk; at Hadstock, Littlebury, Stretley (Green) in Littlebury, the two Rodings, Rettendon, Amberden (Hall) in Debden, Broxted, Easter, Fambridge and Terling, Essex; at Hadham, Hatfield and Kelshall, Herts.; at Spaldwick, Somersham, Colne and Bluntisham, Hunts. Latin

Archive:

Ely

MSS:

1. Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 111, pp. 137-311, pp. 234-236 (s. xvi)
2. Cambridge, Trinity College, O.2.1 (1105), ff. 77r-78v (s. xii 2)
3. Cambridge, Trinity College, O.2.41 (1145), pp. 98-102 (s. xii med.)
4. Cambridge, Trinity College, O.2.41 (1145), pp. 69-73 (s. xii med.; French version; incomplete)
5. Cambridge, University Library, E.D.R. G/3/28, pp. 71-72 (s. xiii ex.)
6. Cambridge, University Library, E.D.C. 1, ff. 75v-76v (s. xii/xiii)
7. London, British Library, Add. 9822, ff. 14v-15v (s. xv)
8. London, British Library, Cotton Cleopatra C. I, ff. 92v-94v (s. xiv 2)
9. London, British Library, Cotton Tiberius A. VI, ff. 101r-102v (s. xii 2)
10. London, British Library, Cotton Titus A. I , ff. 24r-25r (s. xii)
11. London, British Library, Harley 230, ff. 126v-127r (s. xiv)
12. London, British Library, Harley 358, ff. 28r-29r (s. xvi)
13. London, British Library, Harley 6598, ff. 27r-28r (s. xvii)
14. London, British Library, Lansdowne 447, ff. 36v-37r (s. xvii)
15. London, Public Record Office, C 52, 2, no. 12 (s. xiii)
16. London, Public Record Office, C 52, 33, no. 2 (s. xiii)
17. London, Public Record Office, C 53, 12 Edw. II, no. 40
18. London, Public Record Office, C 53, 2 Edw. III, no. 78
19. London, Public Record Office, C 53, 1 Hen. IV, pt 2, no. 5
20. London, Public Record Office, C 56, 8, no. 11
21. London, Public Record Office, C 56, 35, no. 3
22. London, Public Record Office, C 56, 97, no. 6
23. London, Public Record Office, C 56, 107, no. 13
24. London, Public Record Office, C 66, 1 Ric. II, pt 5, m. 34
25. London, Public Record Office, C 66, 2 Hen. VI, pt 4, mm. 4-2
26. London, Public Record Office, C 66, 2 Edw. IV, pt 6, m. 25
27. London, Society of Antiquaries, 38, ff. 181v-182v (s. xiv med.)
28. London, Society of Antiquaries, 128, f. 152r (s. xvii; incomplete)
29. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Dugdale 11 (S.C. 6501), f. 1r-v (s. xvii)
30. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Dugdale 21 (S.C. 6511), ff. 70v-71r (s. xvii)
31. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Gough Cambridge 22 (S.C. 17772), ff. 2v-3r (s. xiv 2)
32. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Laud Misc. 647 (S.C. 1595), ff. 46v-47r (s. xii)

Printed:

Mon. Angl., i. 93-4; Bentham, Ely, Appendix, pp. 2-3 (no. 2); K, 907; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 476-7 (no. 7); Stewart, Liber Eliensis, pp. 211-14; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 6, no. 60; Landon 1939, pp. 26-8 (no. 48), ex MS 15; Blake, Liber Eliensis, pp. 161-3, ex MS 6

Comments:

Stewart, Liber Eliensis, p. 211 n., suspicious; PN Beds. and Hunts., pp. 204, 208; Harmer, Writs, pp. 37, 222 n. 2, not authentic in present form; Blake, Liber Eliensis, pp. 417-18, citing Harmer, possibly expanded and embellished version of a genuine charter, some encouraging features; Hart, ECEE, no. 35 (pp. 34-5, 50, 67, 84) and p. 251, citing Blake, authentic; Hart, ECE, no. 55, authentic; Barlow 1979, p. 42, forged; Gelling, ECTV, no. 184, authentic; Crosby 1994, pp. 154-5, may have been drawn up around 1080; Kennedy 1995, p. 151 n. 86, on immunity; Wormald 1995, p. 128, spurious; Wormald 1996, p. 123, unquestionably spurious

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    Old Text

    • + Eadwardus dei gratia rex Anglorum cunctis Christi fidelibus perpetuam in domino salutem. Cum rex et dominus rerum omnium deus, nullo indigens cuncta possideat, agit ineffabili qua hominem dilexit caritate ut ex his quae usui humano creata largiter ministrat, ipse aliqua quasi donaria gratanter recipiat, quo se colentes ad suae seruitutis intentionem deuotiores reddat, quos postmodum perpetua secum libertate regnare concedat. Qua seruitutis intentione antiqui patres succensi, sua primum domino studuerunt impendere, postmodum se mutuantes terrenis coelestia temporalibus sempiterna. Quorum uestigia Eadgarus auus meus ac praedecessor sceptrigerae potestatis diligenter subsequens et exemplar perfectius implens, Elyense coenobium et alia, illud tamen egregie praeter caetera restaurauit, restaurans ditauit, ditans omnimoda libertate quietauit, consultus adiutusque sedula sancti Æ∂elwoldi summonitione uel copiosa praediorum augmentatione; quod et sancto Dunstano alacriter collaudante cunctisque primatibus regni priuilegio firmatum est; Æ∂elredus quoque pater meus suae gubernationis tempore quaedam praedia eidem loco contulit prioremque libertatem suae suorumque concessionis priuilegio solidauit. Horum ego Eadwardus dei gratia successor licet indignus, cum in his deuotam circa dei aecclesiam religionem uel religiosae deuotionis operationem longe dispar conspicio, ueneranda eorum statuta nequaquam infringere praesumo, sed fortiter quantum in mea efficacia est defensare et utcumque augere desidero; unde et praefato coenobio uillam nomine Lachingehei firme et haereditarie subiicio quo illorum aliquo modo subiungar consortio, et sanctorum inibi multiplici meritorum laude quiescentium amplificer suffragio, libertatem ab eisdem ut diximus restitutam, ab ipsa autem regina uirgine sanctissima prius habitatione possessam, possessione sanctificatam, sanctificatione uenerabilem factam, inuiolatam manere et omnimodo prouehendam censeo, quod et priuilegii attestatione meorumque consensu fidelium stabile praesentibus et futuris pronuntio; summam ergo eorum quae illi loco hoc nostro adiacent tempore uel legum consuetudine nominatim subiecta monstrabimus descriptione. In comitatu Grantecestriae ipsa insula cum duobus centuriatibus et omnibus appendiciis: Extra Suafham, Horninggeseie, Dittune, Hauekestune, Neutune, Staplesford, Scelford, Tripelan, Meldeburne, Erningeford, Grentedene, Steuicheswr∂e, Belesham, Fuulburne, Teuresham, Westlai, Trumpintune, Wratinge, Sneillewelle, Dittune, Hardwic, Mideltune, Impintune, Cotenham, Uuinlingeham, omnisque quartus nummus reipublicae in prouincia Grantecestriae et aliquae terrae in ipsa uilla. In comitatu Sudfolc, Hertest, Glemesford, Hecham, Rattesdene, Drincestune, Neddinge, Berchinges, Bercheham, Wederingesete, Leuuremer, Acholt, ad Wichelau quinque et dimidium centuriatum, Sutborne, Meltune, Kingestun, Ho, Stoke, Debham, Bri∂welle, Oddebruge, Brandune. In comitatu Nor∂folc, Feltwelle, Brugeham, Medelwolde, Crochestune, Watinge, Mundefort, Berc, Westfeld, Uingeham, Nor∂welle, Walepol cum appendiciis, Merham, Derham, ˘orp, Pelleham. In comitatu Essexiae, Hadestoc, Littelbirig, Stratlai, duae Rodinges, Ratendune, Amerdene, Brocheseued, Estre, Fanbruge, Terlinges. In comitatu Hertford, Hadham, Hatfeld, Keleshelle. In comitatu Huntendune, Spaldwic cum appendiciis, Sumeresham, Colne, Bluntesham. Haec et horum appendicia siue maiora siue minora insuper omnia a quocumque adiecta uel adiicienda bonorum testimonio possessa, cum omni saca et soca sine aliqua exceptione saecularis uel aecclesiasticae iusticiae illi monasterio damus, data quieta clamamus, eadem qua sancti uiri illud glorificauerunt libertate, quo neque episcopus neque comes neque alicuius exactionis minister sine licentia uel aduocatione abbatis et fratrum ullo modo se praesumat intromittere uel rem sanctae aliquo modo inquietare. Sitque in eorum ut semper fuit arbitrio a quocunque potissimum elegerint ordinari uel sua sanctificari episcopo, conuenienti equidem dispositione regina hac utitur libertate quae regem et regnum mundumque florentem deserens insulam pro dotalitio possedit ubi sponso suo Christo integerrime seruiuit, quod et caro florens in tumulo ueste etiam incorrupta ostendit. Haec quemcunque uoluit episcopum asciuit sed sanctus Wilfredus Eboracensis archiepiscopus familiarior extitit qui eam cum suo coetu uirginum consecrauit. Cum autem multo posteriori tempore seruitio dei pene deficiente Eadgarus restauraret coenobium, posito ibi grege monachorum quibus abbates praefecit quos sanctus Æ∂eluuoldus et sanctus Dunstanus sanctusque Oswaldus ordinauerunt, et quamdiu uixerunt quasi suis consuluerunt. Post hos quosque meliores uinculo charitatis sibi adtrahebant e quibus aliquos secum in monasterio retinebant. Harum ergo consuetudinum cum non fuissem constitutor malo esse testis et fidelis conseruator quam perfidus et detestabilis euersor, deum summum seruatorem inuocans, ut qui haec constituta sanctorum nostrumque infregerit testamentum sanctorum et omnipotentis, nisi poeniteat, incurrat odium, induens maledictionem sicut uestimentum dum Iudae aemulatur opprobrium.