S 152

A.D. 797 (Glastonbury). Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Cynehelm and his successors; confirmation of the freedom of Glastonbury Abbey, previously granted by King Ecgfrith. Latin

Archive:

Glastonbury

MSS:

1. Cambridge, Trinity College, R.5.33 (724), ff. 1-19v, ff. 10v-11r (s. xiii)
2. Oxford, Queen's College, 368, p. 47 (s. xvii)

Printed:

Hearne, Adam of Domerham, pp. 67-8, ex MS 1; K, 1017, ex Hearne etc; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 46 (no. 80), ex Hearne; B, 285, ex Hearne, K and MS 1*

Comments:

Levison 1946, p. 251, accepts this as a translation by William of Malmesbury of an OE version of an early privilege, cf. B 284; Finberg, ECW, no. 400, authentic; Scott 1981, pp. 100, 200 nn. 100-2; Edwards 1988, pp. 52-5, authentic, William of Malmesbury may have found charter at Winchcombe; Sims-Williams 1990, p. 166 n. 107, unreliable; Dumville 1992a, pp. 53-4 n. 91, suspicious, Glastonbury adaptation of material pertaining to Winchcombe; Cubitt 1995, pp. 276-7, may contain authentic material; Abrams 1996, pp. 23, 148 n. 34, 336-7, 338 n. 98, on textual tradition and historical background

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    • Privilegivm Cenwlfi Regis. Regnante in perpetuum domino nostro Jhesu Christo omnium regnorum domino . Ego Cenuulf rex Merciorum postquam electus sum in regem per Deum omnipotentem qui est omnium bonorum largitor et retributor hanc suprascriptam libertatem a domino Leone apostolico papa adquisivi Kinelmo et successoribus suis et sicut eandem libertatem Egfridus rex antecessor meus ei firmiter condonavit . Ita quoque ego ei scripto confirmo cum consilio et licencia terrenorum principum quorum inferius nomina scripta sunt et ei sine ullo mendacio aut dolo largior firmiter habendam . Hec confirmacio Cenuulfi et episcoporum ejus et principum fuit constituta et scripta in venerabili loco qui dicitur Glastingebir' . Anno .dccxcvii. incarnacionis domini . secundo anno regni mei . quod mihi Deus concessit . Subscripciones. Ego Kynedriˇ abbatissa cum karissimis congnatis meis Etheburh . et Celfled hanc libertatem hic ascriptam Kynelmo concedendo subscribo . hac ratione . ut si etiam post tempus contigerit quo venerabilis loci Glastoniensis possessionem et potestatem alterius progeniei homo suscipiat tamen Kinelmus et ejus successores stabiliter sine ulla perturbacione et fiducialiter permaneat in sua libertate et perpetua pace . Ad confirmandam vero hanc libertatis potestatem . Ego Cenwulf rex singnum sanctæ crucis inpressi . Subscripserunt Ethelardus Cantuariæ et Higbertus Eboraci archiepiscopi et . ix . episcopi . et . xiii . abbates inter quos Beadulf . abbas ejusdem loci et sex principes .