S 1386

A.D. 1020. Writ of Archbishop Wulfstan informing King Cnut and Queen Ælfgifu (Emma) that Æthelnoth has been consecrated to the see of Canterbury. English

Archive:

Canterbury, Christ Church

MSS:

1. London, British Library, Add. 14907, ff. 16v-17r (s. xviii)
2. London, Lambeth Palace Library, 1370, f. 69v (s. xi)

Printed:

K, 1314, ex MS 1; Thorpe, p. 313; Earle, p. 232; Councils and Synods, no. 62 (p. 449)

Translated:

Whitelock, EHD, no. 133 (pp. 601-2)

Printed and Translated:

Harmer, Writs, no. 27 (pp. 182-3), ex MS 2

Comments:

Harmer, Writs, pp. 171, 448-9, authentic; Chaplais 1966, p. 17, probably an oral declaration recorded by Archbishop Æthelnoth for his own protection, unlikely that an 'original' documentary record of this declaration existed (= 1981, XV, p. 17); Chaplais 1966a, pp. 174-5 (= 1973, p. 59); Whitelock, EHD, p. 601, early copy of original letter; Councils and Synods, pp. 447-9; Brooks 1984, p. 290, cited; Ker, Catalogue, pp. 346-7 (no. 284), art. a, on MS 1

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  • Metadata

    Text

    • + Wulfstan arcebiscop gret Cnut cyning his hlaford . 7 Ælfgyfe þa hlæfdian eadmodlice . 7 ic cyþe inc leof þæt we habbað gedon swa swa us swutelung fram eow com æt þam biscope Æþelnoþe . þæt we habbað hine nu gebletsod . Nu bidde ic for Godes lufon . 7 for eallan Godes halgan þæt ge witan on Gode þa mæþe . 7 on þam halgan hade . þæt he mote beon þære þinga wyrþe þe oþre beforan wæron Dunstan þe god wæs 7 mænig oþer þæt þes mote beon eall swa rihta 7 gerysna wyrðe . þæt inc byð bam þearflic for Gode . 7 eac gerysenlic for worolde .
  • Metadata

    Translation

    • Archbishop Wulfstan greets King Cnut his lord and the lady Ælfgifu humbly. And I inform you both, beloved, that we have done, exactly as the declaration came from you to us, to Bishop Æthelnoth: [namely] that we have now consecrated him. Now I request, for the love of God and for all God’s saints, that you may show due honour to God and to the holy order: [namely] that he may be entitled to the things to which the others were previously [entitled]— Dunstan the Good, and many another: namely that this man likewise may be entitled to the rights and dignities. That will be of use to you before God and also be honourable in [the eyes of] the world.
  • Metadata

    Old Text

    • + Wulfstan arcebiscop gret Cnut cyning his hlaford. 7 Ælfgyfe ˇa hlæfdian eadmodlice. 7 ic cyˇe inc leof ˇæt we habba∂ gedon swa swa us swutelung fram eow com æt ˇam biscop Æˇelnoˇe. &