S 431

A.D. 936. King Athelstan to Æthelhelm, his faithful minister; grant of 10 hides (manentes) at Marksbury, Somerset. Latin with English bounds

Archive:

Glastonbury

MSS:

1. Longleat, Marquess of Bath, 39, f. 186r-v (s. xiv med.)
2. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Wood empt. 1 (S.C. 8589), f. 208r-v (s. xiv)
3. Lost Glastonbury Liber Terrarum, no. 128 (s. xiii; see Abrams 1996, p. 34)

Printed:

B, 709, ex MS 2; Watkin, Glastonbury Cart., ii. 550-1 (no. 1027), ex MS 1

Comments:

Liebermann 1913, p. 69; Grundy, Somerset, pp. 186-90, bounds appear to be post-Conquest; Finberg, ECW, no. 434, authentic, indiction 8 for 9; John 1966, pp. 53-4, on royal style; Keynes 1980, p. 44 n. 80, on formulation; Costen 1983, pp. 25-7, on bounds; Costen 1991, p. 43, possible reference to open-field agriculture in bounds; Costen 1991, p. 44, bounds probably twelfth-century; Costen 1992, p. 44, on estate history, boundary clause probably post-Conquest; Abrams 1996, pp. 29, 34, 35, 39, 166-7, on MS sources; on estate; Wormald, English Law, pp. 444-5, on royal titulature

Show all data

  • Metadata

    Old Text

    • Carta regis Athelstan de Merkesburi . Regnante domino in perpetuum sancta trinitate , præsentisque vitæ curriculis subterlabentibus atque omnibus propemodum rerum gestis oblivioni traditis aut ignoranter id agente vel incuria regum ac magistrorum ignaviter torpescente ac claricente ; Quapropter ego Athelstanus nodante Dei gratia basileos Anglorum et eque totius Britanniæ orbis gubernatur litterarum memorie commendare procuravi aliquam juris mei partem meo fideli ministro Ethelelmo in æternam hereditatem pro ejus amabili subjectione atque obedientia necnon et pro placabili peccunia quam devota mente mihi detulit munificentie donacionis gratia seu supradiximus in æternam hereditatem condonavi in loco qui vulgari dictione et appellativo relatione nuncupatur at Merkesburi . ut habeat et possideat quam diu vivat et postquam universitatis viam adierit posteritatis sue successoribus illam prædictam terram juxta estimacionem decem manentium cuicumque voluerit heredi derelinquat cum omnibus ad se rite pertinentibus paschuis pratis silvis silvorumque nemoribus . Sit predicta terra libera in omnibus mundialibus causis preter pontis et arcis constructione expedicionisque adjuvamine in cunctis successoribus . Hoc jus donacionis augendo conservantibus feliciter perveniant inter celibes cælestium turmarum et sine fine in eterna doxa letentur . Si quis hoc quod non optamus infrimgere temptaverit hoc nostrum donum sciat se in examine tremendi judicii redditurum temeritatisque audaciam perpessum esse nisi pura emendacione et singulta lamentacione emendaverit . Istis terminibus predicta terra circumgirata esse videtur . ˝is beth ˇe land mere at Merkesburi . On radanforde ˇanen end lang brokes on Conigrave est and nortward ˇanen on rigte to Wedergrave southward ˇanen bi Wyrtwalen to Aldresyate of Aldresyate on Middilgrave suthward ˇanen end lang weies of the wei birth west . ˇanen bi wirtwallen . ˇanen on Widencombe southward ˇanen end land Widecombes on Southbrok end lang brokes on Holendich ˇanen end lang ˇes Mere hawen on Kalwendoune ˇanen end lang calwendoune to ˇis forlang est ende . ˇanen ˇar north on the heved to grave ˇanen on wirˇwale . ˇanen on smale wey end lang weies in wondes dich schot and foure acres bi northe ˇan dich of wondes dich by wirtwalen ˇaron brigtingleighe estward panen on rigt up on Pinckesbrugge ˇanen on merewelle ˇanen on rgit to ˇis est long furlang est ende ende lang ˇar lete to ˇan north lang furlang north ende end langes ˇar lete ˇar on stan wei ende langes stan weies ˇar eft on Radenforde . Acta hec est prædicta donacio anno ab incarnacione domini nostri Jhesu Christi . dccccxxxvi o . indictione octava . Ego Athelstanus rex totius Britannie prefatam donacionem cum sigillo sancte crucis confirmavi . + Ego Wlfhelm Dorobornensis archiepiscopus ejusdem regis donacionem cum trophæo agie crucis confirmavi . Ego Alfetg Wintoniensis ecclesiæ episcopus triumphalem trophæum agiæ crucis impressi cum multis aliis .