S 1511

A.D. 975 x 987. (? 980 x 987) Will of Brihtric and Ælfswith, his wife, including bequests of 2 sulungs at Denton and 2 at Longfield, with renders from Hæslholt, Wateringbury, Birling and Harrietsham, all in Kent, to St Andrew's. Rochester; of land at Meopham, Kent, to Christ Church (Canterbury); and of land at Darenth to Brihtwaru for life with reversion to St Andrew's; of land at Birling to Wulfheah; at Wateringbury to Wulfsige; at Hæslholt to Sired; at Harrietsham to Wulfheah and Ælfheah; at Walkingstead (in Godstone, Surrey) to Wulfstan Ucca; at Stratton in Godstone, Surrey, to Walkingstead minster; and at Titsey, Surrey, to Wulfsige; also confirmation of earlier bequests of land at Fawkham, Bromley and Snodland, all in Kent, to St Andrew's (Rochester). English and Latin versions

Archive:

Rochester

MSS:

1. Maidstone, Kent Archives Office, DRc/R1 (Textus Roffensis), ff. 144r-145r (s. xii 1; English)
2. Maidstone, Kent Archives Office, DRc/R1 (Textus Roffensis), ff. 145v-147r (s. xii 1; Latin)

Printed:

Hickes, Diss. Epist., p. 51, English version; Hickes, Diss. Epist., pp. 51-4, Latin version; Hearne, Textus Roffensis, pp. 110-12, English version; Hearne, Textus Roffensis, pp. 112-15, Latin version; Thorpe, Reg. Roff., pp. 26-7, English version; Thorpe, Reg. Roff., pp. 26-7, Latin version; K, 492, English version; K, 1242, Latin version; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 171 (no. 36), Latin version; Thorpe, pp. 503-5, Latin version; B, 1132, English version; B, 1133, Latin version; Campbell, Rochester, no. 35, English version; Campbell, Rochester, no. 35b, Latin version

Printed and Translated:

Thorpe, pp. 500-3, English version; Whitelock, Wills, no. 11 (pp. 26-9), English version

Comments:

Hickes, Diss. Epist., p. 56; Whitelock, Wills, pp. 128-92; Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 292-5, on place-names; Campbell, Rochester, pp. xx-xxii, xxv, genuine; Barker 1977, on background; Brooks 1978, pp. 87-91, on heriot; Gelling, ECTV, no. 339, authentic; Brooks 1984, pp. 221, 371 n. 45, on Meopham; Wormald 1986, pp. 157-9, on background; Kennedy 1995, p. 166, on legal background; Flight 1996

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    • Þis is Byrhtrices 7 Ælfswyðe his wifes nihsta cwide . ðe hi cwædon on Meapaham on heora maga gewitnesse ; þæt wes Wulfstan Úcca . 7 Wulfsie his broðor . 7 Sired Ælfredes suna ; 7 Wulfsie se blaca . 7 Wine preost ; 7 Ælfgar on Meapaham ; 7 Wulfeh Ordeges suna ; 7 Ælfeh his broðor . 7 Byrhtwara Ælfrices laf . 7 Bryhtric hyræ mæg . 7 Ælfstan bisceop ; Ærest his kynehlaforde ænne beah . on hundeahtotigan mancysan goldes ; 7 an handsecs . on ealswa miclan . 7 feower hors ; twa gerædede . 7 twa sweord gefetelsode . 7 twegen hafocas ; 7 ealle his headorhundas ; 7 ðære hlæfdian . ænne beah on ðrittigan mancysan goldes ; 7 ænne stedan . to forespræce . þæt se cwyde standan moste ; 7 for his sawle 7 his yldrena . into Sancte Andree . twa sulung æt Denetune ; 7 hio for hire sawle 7 hire yldrena ; twa æt Langanfelda . 7 þiderin for hy . ðrittig mancys goldes . 7 ænne sweorbeah ; on xl. mancysan . 7 ane cuppan seolfrene . 7 healfne bænd gyldenne . 7 ælce geare to heora gemynde . twegra daga feorme . of Hæslholte . 7 . ii . of Woðringaberan . 7 . ii . of Bærlingan . 7 . ii . of Hærigeardeshamme; 7 to Cristes circan . lx . mancys goldes . xxx . ðam biscope . xxx . ðam hirode ; 7 ænne sweorbeah . on . lxxx . mancys ; 7 twa cuppan seolfrene . 7 ðæt land æt Meapaham ; 7 to Sancte Augustine . ðrittig mancys goldes . 7 twa cuppan seolfrene . 7 healfne bænd gyldenne . 7 þæt land æt Dæræntan . Byrhwara hire dæg ; 7 æfter hire dæge . into Sancte Andree . for unc . 7 uncre yldran ; 7 Bærlingas Wulfehe ; 7 he selle . x . hund pænega . into Sancte Andree ; for unc 7 uncre yldran ; 7 Wulfsie Woðringabyras . innon þæt gecynde ; 7 Sirede . Hæslholt . innon þæt gecynde ; 7 Wulfege 7 Ælfege his breðer Herigeardeshamme . innon þæt gecynde . Wulfege þæt inland . 7 Ælfege þæt utland . 7 Wulfstane Uccan . Wolcnesstede . innon þæt gecynde ; 7 án handsecs . on ðrim pundan ; 7 ða tyn hyda on Strættune . into þæm mynstre . to Wolcnesstede ; 7 þæt land æt Fealcnaham . æfter Byrhwara dæge . into Sancte Andree . for Ælfric hire hlaford . 7 his yldran . swa heora cwide wæs . 7 Bromleah . æfter Brihtwara dæge . into Sancte Andrea ; swa Ælfric hire hlaford hit becwæð . for hine 7 his yldran . 7 Snodingcland eac ; into Sancte Andrea . æfter hire dæge . swa Ælfere hit becwæð Ælfrices fæder . 7 he seoððan . on gewitnesse . Eadgife ðære hlæfdian . 7 Odan arcebisceopes . 7 Ælfeges Ælfstanes suna . 7 Ælfrices his broðor . 7 Ælfnoþes Pilian . 7 Godwines æt Fecham . 7 Eadrices æt Hó . 7 Ælfsies preostes on Crogdæne ; 7 Wulfstane . lx . mancos goldes to dælanne for unc 7 uncre yldran . 7 oðer swilc Wulfsige to dælanne . 7 hæbban heom wið god gemæne gif hy hit ne don ; 7 Wulfsige . Tydiceseg . 7 ða boc ; innon þæt gecynde . 7 . ii . spuran . on . iii . pundan ; 7 ic bidde for godes lufan minne leofan hlaford . þæt he ne ðafige þæt ænig man uncer\ne/ cwide awænde . 7 ic bidde ealle godes freond þæt hi ðarto filstan . hæbbe wið god gemæne þe hit brece . 7 god him sy symle milde þe hit healdan wille ; Hec est ultima commendatio siue rerum suarum pro deo distributio . quam fecerunt simul Brihtricus et Ælfsuuitha uxor eius . Appropinquante die mortis eorum . in uilla que uocatur Meapehám . testibus his presentibus de propriis parentibus suis . uidelicet Uulfstano cognomine Ucca . et Uulfsio fratre eius . et Siredo filio Ælfredi . et Uulfsio cognomine blaca . et Wine presbytero . et Ælfgaro in Meapaham . 7 Wulfego filio Ordegi . et Ælfego fratre eius . 7 Brihtwara Ælfrici relicta . et Bryhtrico eius consanguineo . et Ælfstano episcopo . Primum naturali domino suo regi armillam auream que habebat octoginta mancas auri . et unum handseax tantundem auri habentem . et quattuor equos . duos ex eis optime faleratos . et duos gladios optime adornatos . et duos accipitres . et omnes canes suos uenaticos . Et domine sue \regine/ armillam unam que habebat triginta mancas auri . et unum equum emissarium . eo pacto ut adiuuaret eum apud regem . quatinus ista commendatio siue distributio rerum suarum firma et stabilis esset post mortem suam . Et pro anima sua et omnium antiquorum suorum . dedit ecclesie Sancti Andree duas sullingas terre in Danituna . Et ipsa Ælfsuuiða similiter dedit eidem ecclesie Sancti Andree pro anima sua et omnium parentum suorum duas sullingas terre que uocantur Langafelda . et preter hec dedit eidem ecclesie xxx . mancas auri . et unam torquem auream de . xl . mancis auri . et unum cupam argenteam . et dimidiam uittam capitis auream . Et omni anno in diebus anniuersariorum suorum ordinauerunt seruitoribus ecclesie Sancti Andree firmam duorum dierum de terra illa que uocatur Hæsleholt . et duorum dierum de Uuotringeberia . et duorum dierum de Bærlinges . et duorum dierum de Herigetesham . Et ecclesie Christi Cantuarie dederunt sexaginta mancas auri . xxx . archiepiscopo . xxx . conuentui fratrum . et unam torquem auream que habebat octoginta mancas auri . et duas cuppas argenteas . et terram illam que uocatur Meapeham . Et ecclesie Sancti Augustini dederunt . xxx . mancas auri . et duas cuppas argenteas . et dimidiam uittam auream . Et terram illam que uocatur Dærente dederunt Brihtuuara in diebus uite eius tantum . et post mortem eius ecclesie Sancti Andree pro se et antecessoribus suis . Et Bærlinges dederunt cuidam nomine Wulfego tali pacto . ut ipse daret inde omni anno decies centum denarios pro se et pro antecessoribus suis ecclesie Sancti Andree . Et cuidam Wulfsio dederunt Uuotryngebyri . sibi et sue progeniei in hereditatem futuram . 7 Siredo Hæselholt . et Wulfego 7 Ælfego fratri suo Hergetesham . in hereditatem futuram . et cuidam Wulfstano cognomine Ucca terram que uocatur Wolcnestede . et illas . x . hydas terre que sunt in Strættuna . dederunt monasterio de Wolcnesteda . Et post mortem Bryhtware . terram de Falcheham dederunt ecclesie Sancti Andree . 7 Bromlegam similiter post mortem eius . sicut Ælfricus dominus eius dederat eam eidem ecclesie . Similiter dederunt et Snodilande eidem ecclesie post mortem Brihtware . sicut Ælferus filius Ælfrici eam prius dederat ipsi ecclesie . et ipse postea per testimonium Eadgyue regine . et Odonis archiepiscopi . et Ælfegi filii Ælfstani . et Ælfrici fratris eius . et Ælfnoði cognomine Pilia . et Goduuini de Fecham . et Eadrici de Hó . et Ælfsi presbyteri de Croindene . Et cuidam Wulfstano dederunt lx . mancas auri diuidere pauperibus pro animabus suis . et cuidam Wulfsio tantundum diuidere pro animabus eorum . et cum deo agant iudicium nisi fideliter fecerint . Ego Brihtricus pro dei amore rogo dominum meum dulcissimum . ut ista nostra donatio inuiolabilis permaneat . nec eam a quoquam uiolari permittat . Similiter rogamus et petimus omnes amicos dei . quatinus nobis adiutores in hac ré existant . et quicunque eam aliquatenus uiolare presumpseri\n/t ; ab ipso domino Christo iudice . eternum recipiant iudicium . Et qui eam inuiolabilem conseruauerint ; deum sibi sentiant affore propicium .
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    • 1˝is is Byrhtrices 7 Ælfswy∂e his wifes nihsta cwide . ∂e hi cwædon on Meapaham on heora maga gewitnEsse ; ˇæt wEs Wulfstan ucca . 7 Wulfsie his bro∂or . 7 Sired Ælfredes suna ; 7 Wulfsie se Blaca . 7 Wine preost ; 7 Ælfgar on Meapaham ; 7 Wulfeh Ordeges suna ; 7 Ælfeh his bro∂or . 7 Byrhtwara Ælfrices laf . 7 Bryhtric hyræ mæg . 7 Ælfstan bisceop ; Ærest his kynehlaforde ænne beah . on hundeahtotigan mancysan goldes ; 7 an handsecs . on ealswa miclan . 7 feower hors ; twa gerædede . 7 twa sweord gefetelsode . 7 twegen hafocas ; 7 ealle his headorhundas ; 7 ∂ære hlæfdian . ænne beah on ∂rittigan mancysan goldes ; 7 ænne stedan . to forespræce . ˇæt se cwyde standan moste ; 7 for his sawle 7 his yldrena . into Sancte AndreE . twa sulung æt Denetune ; 7 hio for hire sawle 7 hire yldrena ; twa æt Langanfelda . 7 ˇiderin for hy . ∂rittig mancys goldes . 7 ænne sweorbeah ; on xl. mancysan . 7 ane cuppan seolfrene . 7 healfne bænd gyldenne . 7 ælce geare to heora gemynde . twegra daga feorme . of Hæslholte . 7 . ii . of Wo∂ringaberan . 7 . ii . of Bærlingan . 7 . ii . of Hærigeardeshamme; 7 to Cristes circan . lx . mancys goldes . xxx . ∂am biscope . xxx . ∂am hirode ; 7 ænne sweorbeah . on . lxxx . mancys ; 7 twa cuppan seolfrene . 7 ∂æt land æt Meapaham ; 7 to Sancte Augustine . ∂rittig mancys goldes . 7 twa cuppan seolfrene . 7 healfne bænd gyldenne . 7 ˇæt land æt Dæræntan . Byrhwara hire dæg ; 7 æfter hire dæge . into Sancte Andree . for unc . 7 uncre yldran ; 7 Bærlingas Wulfehe ; 7 he selle . x . hund pænega . into Sancte Andree ; for unc 7 uncre yldran ; 7 Wulfsie Wo∂ringabyras . innon ˇæt gecynde ; 7 Sirede . Hæslholt . innon ˇæt gecynde ; 7 Wulfege 7 Ælfege his bre∂er Herigeardeshamme . innon ˇæt gecynde . Wulfege ˇæt inland . 7 Ælfege ˇæt utland . 7 Wulfstane Uccan . Wolcnesstede . innon ˇæt gecynde ; 7 an handsecs . on ∂rim pundan ; 7 ∂a tyn hyda on Strættune . into ˇæm mynstre . to Wolcnesstede ; 7 ˇæt land æt Fealcnaham . æfter Byrhwara dæge . into Sancte Andree . for Ælfric hire hlaford . 7 his yldran . swa heora cwide wæs . 7 Bromleah . æfter Brihtwara dæge . into Sancte Andrea ; swa Ælfric hire hlaford hit becwæ∂ . for hine 7 his yldran . 7 Snodingcland eac ; into Sancte Andrea . æfter hire dæge . swa Ælfere hit becwæ∂ Ælfrices fæder . 7 he seo∂∂an . on gewitnesse . Eadgife ∂ære hlæfdian . 7 Odan arcebisceopes . 7 Ælfeges Ælfstanes suna . 7 Ælfrices his bro∂or . 7 Ælfnoˇes Pilian . 7 Godwines æt Fecham . 7 Eadrices æt Ho . 7 Ælfsies preostes on Crogdæne ; 7 Wulfstane . lx . mancos goldes to dælanne for unc 7 uncre yldran . 7 o∂er swilc Wulfsige to dælanne . 7 hæbban heom wi∂ god gemæne gif hy hit ne don ; 7 Wulfsige . Tydiceseg . 7 ∂a boc ; innon ˇæt gecynde . 7 . ii . spuran . on . iii . pundan ; 7 ic bidde for godes lufan minne leofan hlaford . ˇæt he ne ∂afige ˇæt ænig man uncer'ne' cwide awænde . 7 ic bidde ealle godes freond ˇæt hi ∂arto filstan . hæbbe wi∂ god gemæne ˇe hit brece . 7 god him sy symle milde ˇe hit healdan wille ; Latin Text Rubric: De Danituna . et de Langafelda . et de Dærente . et de Falcheham . et de Snodilande . et de Bromlega . HEc est ultima commendatio siue rerum suarum pro deo distributio . quam fecerunt simul Brihtricus et Ælfsuuitha uxor eius . Appropinquante die mortis eorum . in uilla quE uocatur Meapeham . testibus his presentibus de propriis parentibus suis . uidelicet Uulfstano cognomine Ucca . et Uulfsio fratre eius . et Siredo filio Ælfredi . et Uulfsio cognomine blaca . et Wine presbytero . et Ælfgaro in Meapaham . 7 Wulfego filio Ordegi . et Ælfego fratre eius . 7 Brihtwara Ælfrici relicta . et Bryhtrico eius consanguineo . et Ælfstano episcopo . Primum naturali domino suo regi armillam auream quE habebat octoginta mancas auri . et unum handseax tantundem auri habentem . et quattuor equos . duos ex eis optime faleratos . et duos gladios optime adornatos . et duos accipitres . et omnes canes suos uenaticos . Et dominE suE 'reginE' armillam unam quE habebat triginta mancas auri . et unum equum emissarium . eo pacto ut adiuuaret eum apud regem . quatinus ista commendatio siue distributio rerum suarum firma et stabilis esset post mortem suam . Et pro anima sua et omnium antiquorum suorum . dedit EcclesiE Sancti AndreE duas sullingas terrE in Danituna . Et ipsa Ælfsuui∂a similiter dedit eidem EcclesiE Sancti AndreE pro anima sua et omnium parentum suorum duas sullingas terrE quE uocantur Langafelda . et prEter hEc dedit eidem EcclesiE xxx . mancas auri . et unam torquem auream de . xl . mancis auri . et unum cupam argenteam . et dimidiam uittam capitis auream . Et omni anno in diebus anniuersariorum suorum ordinauerunt seruitoribus EcclesiE Sancti AndreE firmam duorum dierum de terra illa quE uocatur Hæsleholt . et duorum dierum de Uuotringeberia . et duorum dierum de Bærlinges . et duorum dierum de Herigetesham . Et EcclesiE Christi CantuariE dederunt sexaginta mancas auri . xxx . archiepiscopo . xxx . conuentui fratrum . et unam torquem auream quE habebat octoginta mancas auri . et duas cuppas argenteas . et terram illam quE uocatur Meapeham . Et EcclesiE Sancti Augustini dederunt . xxx . mancas auri . et duas cuppas argenteas . et dimidiam uittam auream . Et terram illam quE uocatur Dærente dederunt Brihtuuara in diebus uitE eius tantum . et post mortem eius EcclesiE Sancti AndreE pro se et antecessoribus suis . Et Bærlinges dederunt cuidam nomine Wulfego tali pacto . ut ipse daret inde omni anno decies centum denarios pro se et pro antecessoribus suis EcclesiE Sancti AndreE . Et cuidam Wulfsio dederunt Uuotryngebyri . sibi et suE progeniei in hereditatem futuram . 7 Siredo Hæselholt . et Wulfego 7 Ælfego fratri suo Hergetesham . in hereditatem futuram . et cuidam Wulfstano cognomine Ucca terram quE uocatur Wolcnestede . et illas . x . hydas terrE quE sunt in Strættuna . dederunt monasterio de Wolcnesteda . Et post mortem BryhtwarE . terram de Falcheham dederunt EcclesiE Sancti AndreE . 7 Bromlegam similiter post mortem eius . sicut Ælfricus dominus eius dederat eam eidem EcclesiE . Similiter dederunt et Snodilande eidem EcclesiE post mortem BrihtwarE . sicut Ælferus filius Ælfrici eam prius dederat ipsi EcclesiE . et ipse postea per testimonium EadgyuE reginE . et Odonis archiepiscopi . et Ælfegi filii Ælfstani . et Ælfrici fratris eius . et Ælfno∂i cognomine Pilia . et Goduuini de Fecham . et Eadrici de Ho . et Ælfsi presbyteri de Croindene . Et cuidam Wulfstano dederunt lx . mancas auri diuidere pauperibus pro animabus suis . et cuidam Wulfsio tantundum diuidere pro animabus eorum . et cum deo agant iudicium nisi fideliter fecerint . Ego Brihtricus pro dei amore rogo dominum meum dulcissimum . ut ista nostra donatio inuiolabilis permaneat . nec eam a quoquam uiolari permittat . Similiter rogamus et petimus omnes amicos dei . quatinus nobis adiutores in hac re existant . et quicunque eam aliquatenus uiolare presumpseri'n't ; ab ipso domino Christo iudice . Eternum recipiant iudicium . Et qui eam inuiolabilem conseruauerint ; deum sibi sentiant affore propicium .