A.D. 961. King Edgar to Æthelwold, his faithful minister; grant of one hide (cassa for cassatus) at Evesty (lost) on the river Camelar (Cam Brook), Somerset. Latin with English bounds

Archive:

Bath

MSS:

1. Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 111, pp. 55-131, pp. 79-81 (s. xii 2)

Printed:

K, 484 and vol. iii. 455; B, 1074; Hunt, Bath Carts., pp. 25-6

Comments:

Stevenson 1914, pp. 692 n. 14, 697 n. 41, dubious or spurious; Grundy, Somerset, pp. 179-81, bounds describe part of Dunkerton, east of Cam Brook; Finberg, ECW, no. 486, authentic; Hart, ECNE, pp. 383-4, survey refers to an area in Wellow; Keynes 1980, p. 44 n. 77, influence of 'Æthelstan A' formulation

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    • Regnante inperpetuum Domino nostro Iesu Christo. Flebilia fortiter detestanda titillantis seculi piacula, diris obscene horrendeque mortalitatis circumsepta latratibus, non nos patria indepte pacis securos, sed quasi fetide corruptele in uoraginem casuros, prouocando ammonent, ut ea toto mentis conamine cum casibus suis non solum despiciendo, sed etiam uelut fastidiosam melancolie nausiam abominando fugiamus, tendentes ad illud euangelium, ‘Date et dabitur uobis’. Qua de re ego Eadgar, per omnipatrantis dexteram apice totius Albionis sullimatus, quandam ruris partem meo fideli ac deuoto ministro nomine Æðelwold satis libenter donare decreueram, id est unam cassam in loco ub dicitur æt Geofanstige, iuxta riuulum quem solicole uocitant Camelar, quatinus illam cum omnibus ad se rite pertinentibus, sine iugo exose seruitutis, liberaliter ac perpetualiter possideat, ea tamen interiacente conditione, ut communi iugo subiciatur quod cunctis generaliter constat, id est expeditionalium rerum et arcium munitione pontiumque constructione. Si autem quod absit aliquis, faculis inuidie succensus, hanc mee liberalitatis singrapham elidere uel infringere conatus fuerit, sciat se nouissima ac magna examinationis die, classica archangeli clangente salpice, bustis sponte patentibus somata iam rediuiua propellentibus, cum Iuda proditore ac pecuniarum compilatore impiissimisque fautoribus Iudeis, sub eterne anathemate maledictionis edacibus innumerabilium tormentorum flammis sine defectu periturum. Predictum namque rus his terminis circumcinctum clarescit. Þis synt þa land gemæra æt Geofanstige. Ærest of deopan forda andlang Camelar oð pyttelles ford, up of pyttelles forda andlang ceorla gemære oð þone ellen styb, of þam ellen stybbe on þone ealdan seað, of þam seaþe swa wyrtruma sceat oð ramleah weg, andlang þes weges oþ þone Bæþ herpoð, andlang þæs herpoðes eft on deopan ford. Huius namque donationis scedula anno dominice incarnationis .dcccclxi., indictione .iiii., carraxata est, cuius etiam radicate auctoritas firmitatis his testibus roborata constat, quorum nomina subtus litteris depicta cernuntur. Ego EADGAR rex Anglorum sub sigillo agie crucis corroboraui. + Ego Dunstan archiepiscopus constitui. + Ego Byrhtelmus episcopus subscripsi. + Ego Æðelwoldus episcopus suppressi. + Ego Byrhtelmus episcopus annui. + Ego Osulfus episcopus consignaui. + Ego Ælfhere dux supposui. + Ego Ælfheah dux. + Ego Æðelstan dux. + Ego Æðelwold dux. + Ego Ælfgar consul. + Ego Byrhferð consul. + Ego Osuuerd minister. + Osulf minister. + Ealdred minister. + Ælfhelm minister. + Ordgar minister. + Æinulf minister. + Byrhtric minister. + Byrhtulf minister. + Æðelwold minister. + Æðelsige minister. + Ceolwold minister. + Ceoleh minister. + Æluric minister. + Æþelm minister. +
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    • Our Lord Jesus Christ ruling forever. The lamentable sins of a tottering [reading ‘totillantis’ for MS ‘titillantis’] age strongly to be execrated, hedged round by the harsh barking of repulsive and frightful death, admonish us (not secure in our fatherland with a peace that has been gained but, as it were, about to fall into the abyss of stinking decay) by rousing us to flee those things with their misfortunes, not only by despising them with the whole effort of our mind but also by abominating it, just like the disagreeable loathing of spite, directing our course towards that gospel, ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you’. Wherefore I, Edgar, through the favour of the All-accomplishing One elevated to the head of the whole of Albion, have determined to give completely freely a certain portion of land to my faithful and devoted minister, Æthelwald by name, that is, one hide in the place which is called ‘Evesty’, nearby the rivulet that locals call Camel, in order that he may possess it with all things that rightly belong to it, without the yoke of most odious servitude, freely and in perpetuity, that condition, however, interposing, that it be subjected to the common burden which is fixed for all in general, that is, of military service and the strengthening of fortresses and building of bridges. If, however, anyone, inflamed by the fire-brands of envy, which God forbid!, should try to harm or violate this record of my generosity, let him know that on the last, great Day of Judgment, with the trumpet of the archangel sounding a summons, with the graves opening of their own accord, driving those asleep now back to life, he will perish under a curse of eternal condemnation without fail with the traitor and accumulator of money, Judas, and the most wicked accomplices of Judas in the consuming flames of torments without number. The aforementioned land is surrounded by these boundaries. These are the land-boundaries at ‘Evesty’ [i.e., Dunkerton]. First from deep ford along Cam Brook to mouse-hawk’s ford; up from mouse-hawk’s ford along ceorls’ boundary to the elder-tree stump; from the elder-tree stump to the old pit; from the pit along the woodbank to ram-wood way; along the way to the Bath high-road; along the high-road back to deep ford. The document of this gift was written in the year of the Lord’s incarnation 961, in indiction 4, the authority of whose rooted firmness is fixed, being validated by these witnesses whose names are to be seen portrayed in letters below. I, EDGAR, king of the English, corroborated this with the sign of the holy cross. + I, Dunstan, archbishop [of Canterbury], agreed. + I, Beorhthelm, bishop [of Winchester], subscribed. + I, Æthelwald, bishop [?of Sherborne or Crediton], imprinted below. + I, Beorhthelm, bishop [of Wells], assented. + I, Oswulf, bishop [of Ramsbury], marked with the sign of the cross. + I, Ælfhere, dux, subscribed. + I, Ælfheah, dux. + I, Æthelstan, dux. + I, Æthelwold, dux. + I, Ælfgar, consul. + I, Beorhfrith, consul. + I, Osweard, minister. + Oswulf, minister. + Ealdred, minister. + Ælfhelm, minister. + Ordgar, minister. + Eanwulf, minister. + Beorhtric, minister. + Beorhtwulf, minister. + Æthelwald, minister. + Æthelsige, minister. + Ceolwald, minister. + Ceolheah, minister. + Ælfric, minister. + Æthelm, minister. +
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    Old Text

    • De Geofanstiga . Regnante in perpetuum domino nostro Jhesu Christo . Flebilia fortiter detestanda totillantis sæculi piacula diris obscenæ horrendæque mortalitatis circumsepta latratibus non nos patria indeptæ pacis securos . sed quasi fætidæ corruptelæ in voraginem casuros provocando ammonent . ut ea toto mentis conamine cum casibus suis non solum despiciendo . set etiam velut fastidiosum melancoliæ nausiam abominando fugiamus . tendentes ad illud æuuangelicum . 'date . et dabitur vobis' 1 . Qua de re ego Eadgar . per omnipatrantis dexteram apice totius Albionis sullimatus quandam ruris partem meo fideli ac devoto ministro nomine Æ∂elwold . satis libenter donare decreveram . id est unam cassam in loco ubi dicitur æt Geofanstige . juxta rivulum quem solicolæ vocitant camelar . quatinus illam cum omnibus ad se pertinentibus sine jugo exosæ servitutis liberaliter ac perpetualiter possideat . ea tamen interjacente conditione . ut communi jugo subiciatur . quod cunctis generaliter constat . id est expeditionalium rerum . et arcum munitione . pontiumque constructione . Si autem quod absit aliquis faculis invidiæ succensus hanc meæ liberalitatis singrapham elidere vel infringere conatus fuerit ; sciat se novissima ac magna examinationis die classica archangeli clangente salpice bustis sponte patentibus somata jam rediviva propellentibus cum Juda proditore ac pecuniarum compilatore . impiissimisque fautoribus Judeis sub æternæ anathemate maledicitonis edacibus innumerabilium tormentorum flammis sine defectu periturum . Prædictum namque rus his terminis circumcinctum clarescit . Divisiones. ˝is synt ˇa land gemæra æt Geofanstige . Ærest of deopan forda andlang camelar o∂ pyttelles ford . up of pyttelles forda and lang ceorla gemære o∂ ˇone ellen styb . Of ˇam ellen styb be on ˇone ealdan sea∂ . of ˇam seaˇe swa wyrtruma sceat o∂ ramleah weg . Andlang ˇes weges oˇ ˇone bæˇ herpo∂ . Andlang ˇæs herpo∂es eft on deopan ford . [H]ujus namque donationis scedula anno dominicæ Incarnationis . DCCCCLXI . Indictione . IIII a . carraxata est . cujus etiam radicatæ auctoritas firmitatis his testibus roborata constat . quorum nomina subtus litteris depicta cernuntur . Ego Eadgar rex Anglorum sub sigillo agiæ crucis corroboravi . + . Ego Dunstanus archiepiscopus constitui . + . Ego Byrhtelmus episcopus subscripsi . + . Ego A∂elwoldus episcopus suppressi . + . Ego Byrhtelmus episcopus annui . + . Ego Osulfus episcopus consignavi . + . Ego Ælfhere dux supposui . + . Ego Ælfheah dux . + . Ego Æ∂elstan dux . + . Ego Æ∂elwold dux . + . Ego Ælfgar consul . + . Ego Byrhfer∂ consul . + . Ego Osuuerd minister . + . Osulf minister . + . Ealdred minister . + . Ælfhelm minister . + . Ordgar minister . + . Æinulf minister . + . Byrhtric minister . + . Byrhtulf minister . + . Æ∂elwold minister . + . Æ∂elsige minister . + . Ceolwold minister . + . Ceoleh minister . + . Æluric minister . + . Æˇelm minister . + .