S 21

A.D. 700 or 715. Wihtred, king of Kent, to St Mary's Church, Lyminge; grant of 4 sulungs (aratra) at Pleghelmestun and pasture in Romney Marsh. Latin with bounds

Archive:

Canterbury, Christ Church (ex Lyminge)

MSS:

1. London, British Library, Cotton Augustus ii. 88 (s. viii 2; BM Facs., i. 4; Ch.L.A., iii, no. 189; Ward 1936, facing p. 11))

Printed:

Smith, Bede, pp. 785-6; K, 47; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 452-3 (no. 2); B, 98; Earle, pp. 17-19; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 1, no. 20

Translated:

Jenkins, Lyminge, pp. 19-20; Ward 1936, pp. 11-12

Comments:

Jenkins, Lyminge, pp. 20-2; BM Facs., iv, p. 7, 9th century; Stenton 1918, p. 427 n. 19, original (= Stenton 1970, p. 51 n. 5); Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 25-7, on place-names; Ward 1936, pp. 14-16; Ward 1949, p. 40; Wright 1950, p. 388; Ekwall, D.E.P.N., p. 392, under Romney; Ch.L.A., iii, no. 189, contemporaneous, very probably original; Ch.L.A., iv, p. xvii, treats as authentic, modelled on S 19; Bruckner 1965, pp. 27, 27, 42 n. 158, on script; Chaplais 1969, p. 539, (= 1973, p. 103), interpolated version of S 19 produced a century or so later; Stenton 1971, p. 283, cited; Lowe 1935, p. xiii-xiv, trustworthy, a copy of S 19; Cox 1976, pp. 26, 38, 41, 44-5, on place-names; Bischoff 1976, pp. 691-2, script probably mid 8th century; Whitelock 1976, pp. 142, 144, on date and witnesses; Sawyer 1978, p. 152, 8th-century copy extending grant; Scharer 1982, pp. 94-7, interpolated version of S 19; Tatton-Brown 1984, p. 27, on topography; Wormald 1985, p. 25, original or early copy; Brooks 1988, p. 93, on topography.; Foot 2000, II. 112, 115; Thompson 2006, pp. 20 et passim, on script

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    • + In nomine Domini Dei nostri Iesu Christi . Ego Uuihtredus rex Cantuariorum prouidens mihi in futuro decreui dare aliquid omnia mihi donanti et consilio accepto bonum uisum est conferre basilicae beatae Mariæ genetricis Dei quae sita est in loco qui dicitur Limingae terram iiii aratrorum quae dicitur Pleghelmestun . cum omnibus ad eandem terram pertinentibus iuxta notissimos terminos id est bereueg . et meguuines paeð et stretleg . Terrulae quoque partem eiusdem Dei genetrici beatae Mariae similiter inperpetuum possidendam perdono . cuius uocabulum est Rumining seta . ad pastum uidelicet ouium trecentorum . ad australem quippe fluminis quae appellatur Liminaea . Terminos uero huius terrulae ideo non ponimus quoniam ab accolis undique certi sunt . Quam donationem meam uolo firmam esse <in>perpetuum ut nec ego seu heredes mei aliquid inminuere praesumant . Quod si aliter temptatum fuerit a qualibet persona sub anathematis interdictione sciat se praeuaricari Ad cuius confirmationem pro ignorantia litterarum + signum sanctae crucis expressi et testes idoneos ut subscriberent rogaui <i>d est Berhtuualdum archiepiscopum . uirum uenerabilem. + Ego Berhtuualdus episcopus . rogat<us> consensi et subscripsi . + Signum manus Uuihtredi regis + Signum manus Aethilburgae reginae + Signum manus Enfridi . + Signum manus Aedilfridi . + Signum manus Hagana + Signum manus Botta . + Signum manus Bernhaerdi + Signum manus Theabul + Signum manus Frodi + Signum manus Aehcha . + Signum manus Aesica + Signum manus Adda + Signum manus Egisberhti . Actum in mense Iulio indictione xiiima +
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    Translation

    • + In the name of our Lord God Jesus Christ. I, Wihtred, king of the dwellers in Kent, acting with foresight for myself in the future, have decided to give something to Him Who gives all things to me and, having received advice, it seemed good to grant to the church of the blessed Mary, the mother of God, which is located in the place that is called Lyminge, land of 4 sulungs that is called Pleghelm’s tun with all belonging to that same land nearby the very well-known boundaries, that is ‘barley way’ and ‘Mægwine’s path’ and Strætleah. I also give a portion of the same land to the blessed Mary, the mother of God, likewise to possess in perpetuity whose name is the ‘pasture of the Romney people’, as pasture for three hundred sheep, to the south of the river that is called Lyminge. We have not set down the bounds of this small area of land since they are established on both sides among the inhabitants. I wish this gift to be steadfast in perpetuity so that neither I nor my heirs should presume to diminish anything. If anything otherwise should be attempted by any person, let him know that he is transgressing under an interdict of anathema. In confirmation of this on account of my ignorance of writing I have imprinted +, the mark of the holy cross, and have asked suitable witnesses to subscribe, namely, Archbishop Beorhtwald, a venerable man. + I, Beorhtwald, [arch]bishop [of Canterbury], having been asked, agreed and subscribed. +. + Mark of the hand of Wihtred, king. + Mark of the hand of Æthelburg, queen. + Mark of the hand of Eanfrith. + Mark of the hand of Æthelfrith. + Mark of the hand of Hagana. + Mark of the hand of Botta. + Mark of the hand of Beornheard. + Mark of the hand of Theabul. + Mark of the hand of Frod + Mark of the hand of Acca. + Mark of the hand of Æssica. + Mark of the hand of Ædda + Mark of the hand of Ecgisberht. Done in the month of July, thirteenth indiction.
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    Old Text

    • Endorsements: (1) Rumening seta inn to Limining + mynster (2) s. xii: Wictredus rex Cantuariæ contulit ecclesiæ sanctæ Mariæ de Limminge . iiii . aratra . Pleghelmestun et Rumingsete ad pastum ovium ccc. + In nomine domini Dei nostri Jhesu Christi . Ego Uuihtredus rex Cantuariorum providens mihi in futuro decrevi dare aliquid omnia mihi donanti et consilio accepto bonum visum est conferre basilicæ beatæ Mariæ genetricis Dei quæ sita est in loco qui dicitur Limingæ terram . iiii . aratrorum quæ dicitur Pleghelmestun . cum omnibus ad eandem terram pertinentibus juxta notissimos terminos id est bereueg . et meguuines paed' et stretleg . terrulæ quoque partem ejusdem Dei genetrici beatæ Mariæ similiter inperpetuum possidendam perdono . cujus vocabulum est Rumining seta . ad pastum videlicet ovium trecentorum . ad australem quippe fluminis quæ appellatur Liminaea . terminos vero huius terrulæ ideo non ponimus quoniam ab accolis undique certi sunt . Quam donationem meam volo firmam esse [in] perpetuum ut nec ego seu heredes mei aliquid imminuere præsumant . Quod si aliter temptatum fuerit a qualibet persona sub anathematis interdictione sciat se prævaricari ad cujus confirmationem pro ignorantia litterarum + signum sanctæ crucis expressi et testes idoneos ut subscriberent rogavi id est Berhtuualdum archiepiscopum virum venerabilem . + Ego Berhtuualdus episcopus . rogat[us] consensi et subscripsi . + Signum manus Uuihtredi regis . + Signum manus Æthilburgæ reginæ . + Signum manus Enfridi . + Signum manus Ædilfridi . + Signum manus Hagana . + Signum manus Botta . + Signum manus Bernhærdi . + Signum manus Theabul . + Signum manus Frodi . + Signum manus Aehcha . + Signum manus Aesica . + Signum manus Adda . + Signum manus Egisberhti . Actum in mense Julio Indictione xiiima.