Show all data

• Metadata

  Text

  • In nomine Dei summi et altissimi. Certis adstipulationibus nos sancti et iusti patres frequentatiuis orationibus admonent, ut Deum quem diligimus et credimus intima mentis affectione cum bonorum operum diligentia incessanter timeamus et amemus, qui retributionem omnium actuum nostrorum in die examinationis iuxta uniuscuiusque meritum reddet, ideoque subtilissima mentis certatione illum imitari satagamus. Licet mortalis uite pondere pressi et labentibus huius seculi possessionibus simus infecati, tamen miserationis eius largitate caducis opibus eterna celestis uite premia mercari queramus. Quapropter ego Æþelstanus, desiderio celestis exardens, fauente superno numine basileos Anglorum ceterarumque gentium in circuitu persistentium, litterarum apicibus commendare procuraui ne, aut incuria successorum nostrorum aut inuidia quadam uel perfidia, nostra dicta uel facta futuri successu temporis negarentur, et ad controuersiam nostris successoribus demum deuenire potuerunt. Quod, cum consensu ac licentia episcoporum meorum ac multorum optimatum, Deo omnipotenti et sancto Petro apostolo ac uenerabili familie que sita est in loco celebri ubi ruricole appellatiua relatione nuncupant Maldumesburg deuota mente intus ad ecclesiam donans donabo perpetuis temporibus .xv. mansas, .v. in loco qui dicitur Norþtun, et in alio loco .v. qui dicitur Sumerford, et in tercio loco .v. ubi dicitur æt Æwylme. Et mandatum commendamus, in nomine altitroni gubernatoris, ut nullus superueniat hominum, inflatus gressibus superbie, nec rex nec episcopus nec princeps nec prepositus nec alicuius persone habitus qui hanc prefatam libertatem in alicuius oneris molestia mutare audeat, aut in diebus nostris uel successorum nostrorum, sed sit libera ab omni mundiali iugo, exceptis istis, expeditione, pontis arcisue renouatione, cum omnibus que ad ipsum locum pertinere dinoscuntur, campis, pratis, pascuis, siluis, eatenus ut pro meis delictis patrisque mei Eadwardi regis cotidie missas pro nobis saluberrimas Deo offerant et dulcissonas modulationes nec psalteriorum armis spiritalibus contra inuisibiles hostes pro nobis dimicare non cessent. Si quis autem prescriptis statutis noluerit consentire aut obedire, sciat se alienum esse <a> consortio sancte Dei ecclesie et a corpore et sanguine Domini nostri Iesu Christi per auctoritatem beati Petri apostoli sociorumque eius, nisi prius hic digna emendauerit penitentia ante mortem. Sciantque sapientes regionis nostre nos has prefatas terras non iniuste rapuisse rapinamque Deo dedisse, sed sciatis accipi <eas> quemadmodum iudicauerunt omnes optimates regionis Anglorum, insuper et apostolicus pape Romane ecclesie Iohannes, Ælfredo defuncto qui nostre felicitati et uite emulus extitit, nequitie inimicorum nostrorum consentiens, quando me uoluerunt patre meo defuncto cecare in ciuitate Wintonia, si non me Deus sua pietate eripuisset, sed denudatis eorum machinamentis remissus est Ælfred ad Romanam ecclesiam, ut ibi se coram apostolico Iohanne iureiurando defenderet. Et hoc fecit coram altare sancti Petri, sed facto iuramento cecidit coram altare et a manibus suorum famulorum portatus est ad scolam Anglorum et ibi tercia nocte finiuit. Et tunc apostolicus ad nos remisit et quid de eo ageretur a nobis consuluit, an cum ceteris Christianis corpus illius poneretur. His peractis et nobis renunciatis, optimates nostre regionis cum propinquorum illius turma efflagitabant omni humilitate ut corpus illius per nostram licentiam cum corporibus poneretur Christianorum nobisque illorum efflagitationi consentientibus Romam remisimus et, consentiente papa, positus est ad ceteros Christianos, quamuis indignus esset. Et sic iudicata est mihi tota possessio eius in magnis et modicis. Sed et hec apicibus litterarum prenotauimus, ne quamdiu Christianitas regnet aboletur, unde mihi possessio quam Deo et sancto Petro dedi donaretur, nec iustius noui quam Deo et sancto Petro hanc possessionem darem, qui emulum meum in conspectu omnium cadere <fecerunt> et mihi sanitatem et regni prosperitatem largiti sunt. Hiis testibus consentientibus quorum inferius nomina recitantur. Anno dominice incarnationis .dccccxxxi. acta est hec prefata libertas. + Ego Æthelstan rex totius Britannie prefatam donationem cum sigillo sancte crucis confirmaui. + Ego Eadmundus eiusdem regis frater consignaui. + Ego Eadred eiusdem regis frater consignaui. + Ego Wlfhelm Dorobernensis ecclesie episcopus eiusdem regis donationem cum tropheo agye crucis confirmaui. + Ego Þeodred Londoniensis ecclesie episcopus consignaui. + Ego Ælfeagh Wintanensis ecclesie episcopus triumphalem tropheum agye crucis impressi. + Ego Cenwald episcopus consensi et subscripsi. + Ego Oda episcopus confirmaui. + Ego Ælfric episcopus consensi. + Ego Wulfhelm episcopus confirmaui. + Ego Burhric episcopus consensi. + Ego Æþelgar episcopus roboraui. + Wul<f>gar dux + Ælfere dux + Æþelwold dux + Æþelstan dux + Ea<l>hhelm dux + Æthelmund dux + Ugtred dux + Odda minister + Wul<f>gar minister + Ordeah minister + <Eadric> minister + Eadmund minister + Elfric minister + Wulf<s>ige minister + Wullaf minister + Wyh<t>gar minister + Ælfred minister + Wulfric minister + Ælfsige minister + Ælfsige minister + Æþered minister + Wulfhelm minister
• Metadata

  Translation

  • In the name of God the supreme and the highest. With assured corroboration holy and just fathers admonish us in their frequent prayers that God, in Whom we delight and believe with the innermost affection of our mind, we should fear and love unceasingly with a love of good works, Who will give recompense for all of our deeds on the Day of Judgment according to the merit of each one; and so we try with the keenest striving of our mind to imitate Him. Although we are oppressed by the burden of mortal life and polluted by the transitory possessions of this world, yet through the bounty of His compassion we seek to purchase the eternal rewards of the heavenly life with transitory wealth. Wherefore I, Æthelstan, inflamed by a desire for the heavenly [kingdom], with the favour of Heavenly Grace king of the English and of other neighbouring peoples, took care to commit [this] to writing so that our words and deeds should not be negated with the passage of time, either through the lack of care of our successors or through some kind of envy or dishonesty, and be able at length to come into contention amongst our successors. With the agreement and authorisation of my bishops and many nobles, I, giving at the church with devout intent, shall give for all time 15 hides to Almighty God and St Peter the Apostle and the venerable community that is located in the famous place that rustics in appellative narration call Malmesbury, 5 in the place that is called Norton and 5 in another place that is called Sumerford and 5 in a third place that is called Ewen. And we grant the mandate, in the name of the Governor enthroned on high, that no man puffed up by the swellings of pride might attack it, neither a king nor a bishop nor a princeps nor a prepositus nor persons of any station, who might dare to change this aforementioned liberty into the annoyance [reading 'molestiam' for MS 'molestia'] of any burden, either in our days or [in those] of our successors; but may it be free from every worldly burden, except these: military service [and] the renewal of bridge and fortress, with all that is recognised as belonging to that very place, with fields, meadows, pastures, [and] woods, to the end that for my sins and [those] of my father, King Edward, they will offer beneficial masses daily for us to God and sweet-sounding melodies, nor cease to fight with the spiritual arms of psalm-singing for us against invisible enemies. If anyone, moreover, should not wish to agree to or obey the prescribed statutes, let him know that he will be separated from the fellowship of the holy church of God and from the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ through the authority of the blessed Peter the Apostle and his companions, unless he should atone in this world with a worthy penance before his death. And let wise men of our realm know that we have not seized the aforementioned lands unjustly and given the plunder to God, but you know that they were received just as all the nobles of the land of the English adjudged them, and also the apostolic pope of the Roman church, John, on the death of Alfred, who was envious of our good fortune and life, conspiring in the wickedness of our enemies when they wished to blind me in the city of Winchester on the death of my father, if God in His goodness had not snatched me away; but with their machinations laid bare, Alfred was sent to the church at Rome to defend himself there by swearing an oath before the Apostolic John; and this he did before the altar of St Peter. But when the oath had been sworn, he fell down before the altar and was carried by the hands of his servants to the schola Anglorum, and there he died on the third night. And then the Apostolic one sent to us and consulted with us as to what should be done with him, whether his body should be placed with other Christians. After these things had happened and been reported to us, the nobles of our realm with a throng of his relatives entreated with all humility that his body should, with our permission, be placed with the bodies of Christians and on our agreeing to their entreaty, we sent back to Rome and, with the pope’s agreement, he was placed with other Christians, although he was unworthy. And so all his property, great and small, was adjudged to me. But, so that it will not be terminated as long as Christianity prevails, we have also recorded these things in writing, [namely,] whence the property that I gave to God and St Peter was given to me; nor do I know of anything more just than that I should give this property to God and St Peter, who caused my rival to fall in the sight of all, and has bestowed on me health and the good fortune of a kingdom. With these witnesses agreeing whose names are rehearsed below. This aforementioned liberty was created in the year of the Lord’s incarnation 931. + I, Æthelstan, king of the whole of Britain, confirmed with the seal of the holy cross, the aforementioned gift. + I, Edmund, brother of the same king, made the sign of the cross. + I, Eadred, brother of the same king, made the sign of the cross. + I, Wulfhelm, bishop of the church of Canterbury, confirmed with the trophy of the holy cross the gift of the same king. + I, Theodred, bishop of the church of London, made the sign of the cross. + I, Ælfheah, bishop of the church of Winchester, imprinted the triumphal trophy of the holy cross. + I, Cenwald, bishop [of Worcester], agreed and subscribed. + I, Oda, bishop [of Ramsbury], confirmed. + I, Ælfric, bishop [of Hereford], agreed. + I, Wulfhelm, bishop [of Wells], confirmed. + I, Burgric, bishop [of Rochester], agreed. + I, Æthelgar, bishop [of Crediton], validated. + Wulfgar, dux + Ælfhere, dux + Æthelwald, dux + Æthelstan, dux + Ealhhelm, dux + Æthelmund, dux + Uhtred, dux + Odda, minister + Wulfgar, minister + Ordheah, minister + Eadric, minister + Edmund, minister + Ælfric, minister + Wulfsige, minister + Wulflaf, minister + Wihtgar, minister + Alfred, minister + Wulfric, minister + Ælfsige, minister + Ælfsige, minister + Æthelred, minister + Wulfhelm, minister
• Metadata

  Old Text

  • Quomodo Athelstanus rex dedit Sancte Meldunensis ecclesie Nortun 7 Sumerford . Awelm . In nomine Dei summi et altissimi . Certis adstipulacionibus nos sancti 7 justi patres frequentativis orationibus admonent . ut Deum quem diligimus et credimus intima mentis affectione cum bonorum operum diligentia incessanter timeamus et amemus . Qui retributionem omnium actuum nostrorum in die examinationis juxta uniuscujusque meritum reddet . ideoque subtilissima mentis certatione illum imitari satagimus . Licet mortalis vitæ pondere pressi et labentibus huius seculi possessionibus simus infecati ; tamen miserationis ejus largitate caducis opibus æterna cælestis vitæ præmia mercari queramus . Quapropter ego Athelstanus desiderio regni cælestis exardens favente superno numine basyleos ; Anglorum cæterarumque gentium in circuitu persistentium . litterarum commendare procuravi . ne aut incuria successorum nostrorum . aut invidia quadam . vel perfidia . nostra dicta vel facta futuri successu temporis negarentur . et ad controversiam nostris successoribus demum devenire potuerint ; quod cum consensu ac licentia episcoporum meorum ac multorum optimatum . Deo omnipotenti 7 sancto Petro apostolo ac venerabili familie que sita est in loco celebri ubi ruricole appellativa relacione nuncupant Maeldumesburg devota mente intus ad ecclesiam donans donabo perpetuis temporibus . xv . mansas . v . in loco qui dicitur Northun . 7 in alio loco . v . qui dicitur . Sumerford . 7 in tertio loco . v . qui dicitur at Awilme . 7 mandatum commendamus in nomine altithroni gubernatoris ut nullus superveniat hominum inflatus gressibus superbiæ . nec rex . nec episcopus . nec princeps . nec prepositus . nec personæ alicujus habitus . qui hanc prefatam libertatem in alicujus oneris molestia mutare audeat . aut in diebus nostris vel successorum nostrorum . sed sit libera ab omni mundiali jugo . exceptis istis . Expeditione . pontis . arcisve renovatione . Cum omnibus quæ ad ipsum locum pertinere dinoscuntur . Campis . Pascuis . Pratis . Silvis . eatenus ut pro meis delictis patrisque mei Eadwardi regis . cotidie missas pro nobis saluberrimas Deo offerant . et dulcisonas modulationes psalteriorum . armis spiritualibus contra invisibiles hostes pro nobis dimicare non cessent . Si quis autem prescriptis statutis noluerit consentire aut obedire ; sciat se alienum esse a consortio sanctæ Dei æcclesiæ . et a corpore et sanguine domini nostri Jhesu Christi . per auctoritatem beati Petri apostoli sociorumque ejus . nisi prius hic digna emendaverit pænitentia ante mortem . Sciantque sapientes regionis nostræ nos has terras prefatas non injuste rapuisse . rapinamque Deo dedisse . sed sciatis accipi eas quemadmodum judicaverunt omnes optimates regionis Anglorum . Insuper et apostolicus papa Romanæ æcclesiæ Johannes . Ælfredo defuncto qui nostræ felicitati et vitæ emulus extitit ; nequitiæ inimicorum nostrorum consentiens . quando me voluerunt patre meo defuncto cecare in civitate Wintonia . si non me Deus sua pietate eripuisset . sed denudatis eorum machinamentis ; remissus est Ælfred ad Romanam ecclesiam . ut ibi se coram apostolico Johanne jurejurando defenderet . et hoc fecit coram altare Sancti Petri . sed facto juramento cecidit coram altare . et a manibus suorum famulorum portatus est ad scolam Anglorum . et ibi tertia nocte vitam finivit . Et tunc apostolicus ad nos remisit ; et quod de eo ageretur a nobis consuluit . an cum cæteris Christianis corpus ejus poneretur . His peractis et nobis renuntiatis ; optimates nostræ regionis cum propinquorum illius turma efflagitabant omni humilitate ut corpus illius per nostram licentiam cum corporibus poneretur Christianorum ; nobisque illorum efflagitationi consentientibus Romam remisimus . et consentiente papa positus est ad cæteros Christianos . quamvis indignus esset . et sic judicata est mihi tota possessio ejus in magnis et modicis . Set et hæc apicibus litterarum prenotavimus . ne quandiu Christianitas regnet aboletur . Vnde mihi prefata possessio quam Deo et sancto Petro dedi donaretur . Nec justius novi quam Deo et sancto Petro hanc possessionem darem . qui emulum meum in conspectu omnium cadere fecerat . et mihi sanitatem . et regni prosperitatem largiti sunt . His testibus consentientibus quorum inferius nomina recitantur . Anno dominicæ incarnationis . dcccc . xxxi . acta est hæc præfata libertas . Ego Atheustan rex tocius Britannie prefatam donacionem sigillo sancte crucis confirmavi . Ego Eadmundus ejusdem regis frater consignavi . Ego Eadred ejusdem regis frater consignavi . Ego Wlfhelm Dorobernensis ecclesie episcopus ejusdem regis donacionem cum thropheo agye crucis confirmavi . Ego ˝eodred Londoniensis episcopus ecclesie consignavi . Ego Alfeagh Wyntanensis ecclesie episcopus triumphalem tropheum agye crucis impressi . Ego Cenwald episcopus consensi 7 subscripsi . Ego Oda episcopus confirmavi . Ego Alfrich episcopus consensi . Ego Wlfhelm episcopus confirmavi . Ego Burhric episcopus consensi . Ego Athelgar episcopus roboravi . Ulgar dux . Aelfere dux . Athelwold dux . Athelstan dux . Eadmund minister . Elfrich minister . Wlfrige minister . Wllaf minister . Eahhelm minister . Aeˇelmund dux . Ugtred dux . Odda minister . Ulgar minister . Ordeahg minister . Eadrig minister . Wychgar minister . Aelfred minister . Wlfrich minister . Aelfsige minister . Aeˇered minister . Wlfhelm minister .