S 779

A.D. 970 (Woolmer, Hants.). King Edgar to Ely Abbey; confirmation of privileges and of land at Melbourn and Armingford, Cambs., and at Northwold, Norfolk, in exchange for 60 hides (cassati) at Harting, Sussex. Latin and English versions

Archive:

Ely

MSS:

1. London, British Library, Stowe Charters 31 (s. xi/xii; Latin and English; OS Facs., iii. 32)
2. London, British Library, Add. 5819, ff. 3v-5r (s. xviii; Latin and English)
3. London, British Library, Add. 9822, ff. 13r-14v (s. xv; Latin and English)
4. London, British Library, Cotton Augustus ii. 13 (s. xv; Latin and English)
5. London, British Library, Cotton Domitian A. XV, ff. 97r-100v (s. xv med.; Latin and English; incomplete)
6. London, British Library, Harley 230, ff. 123r-124r (s. xiv; Latin and English)
7. London, Public Record Office, C 56, 8, no. 11 (Latin and English)
8. London, Public Record Office, C 56, 35, no. 3 (Latin and English)
9. London, Public Record Office, C 56, 97, no. 6 (Latin and English)
10. London, Public Record Office, C 56, 107, no. 13 (Latin and English)
11. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Dodsworth 97 (S.C. 5038), ff. 68r-71v (s. xvii; Latin and English)
12. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Gough Cambridge 22 (S.C. 17772), ff. 1r-2r (s. xiv 2; Latin and English)
13. Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 111, pp. 137-311, pp. 237-240 (s. xvi; Latin)
14. Cambridge, Trinity College, O.2.1 (1105), pp. 48-49 (s. xii 2; Latin; incomplete)
15. Cambridge, Trinity College, O.2.41 (1145), pp. 66-69 (s. xii med.; French version; incomplete)
16. Cambridge, Trinity College, O.2.41 (1145), pp. 81-86 (s. xii med.; Latin)
17. Cambridge, University Library, E.D.R. G/3/28, pp. 64-66 (s. xiii ex.; Latin)
18. Cambridge, University Library, E.D.C. 1, ff. 40v-41v (s. xii/xiii; Latin; incomplete)
19. London, British Library, Add. 9822 (s. xv; Latin)
20. London, British Library, Cotton Cleopatra C. I, ff. 89v-91v (s. xiv 2; Latin)
21. London, British Library, Cotton Domitian A. XV (s. xv med.; Latin)
22. London, British Library, Egerton 3047, ff. 3v-5, 4v (s. xv; Latin)
23. London, British Library, Harley 230 (s. xiv; Latin)
24. London, British Library, Harley 358, ff. 29r-30v (s. xvi; Latin)
25. London, British Library, Harley 6598, ff. 25v-27r (s. xvii; Latin)
26. London, British Library, Lansdowne 447, ff. 37r-38v (s. xvii; Latin)
27. London, British Library, Lansdowne 863, f. 101r-v (s. xvi; Latin)
28. London, Public Record Office, C 53, 12 Edw. II, no. 42 (Latin)
29. London, Public Record Office, C 53, 2 Edw. III, no. 78 (Latin)
30. London, Public Record Office, C 53, 1 Hen. IV, pt 2, no. 5 (Latin)
31. London, Public Record Office, C 52, 2, no. 11 (s. xiii; Latin)
32. London, Public Record Office, C 52, 33, no. 1 (s. xiii; Latin)
33. London, Public Record Office, C 66, 1 Ric. II, pt 5, m. 34 (Latin)
34. London, Public Record Office, C 66, 2 Edw. IV, pt 6, m. 25 (Latin)
35. London, Society of Antiquaries, 38, ff. 180r-181r (s. xiv med.; Latin)
36. London, Society of Antiquaries, 128, f. 152r (s. xvii; Latin; incomplete, with transl. 301r-302r)
37. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Dodsworth 10 (S.C. 4152), ff. 47r-v, 55r (s. xvii; Latin)
38. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Dugdale 11 (S.C. 6501), ff. 1v-2v (s. xvii; Latin)
39. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Dugdale 21 (S.C. 6511), ff. 69v-70r (s. xvii; Latin; incomplete)
40. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Eng. hist. C. 241, ff. 34v-36r (s. xvi; Latin)
41. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Gough Cambridge 22 (S.C. 17772) (s. xiv 2; Latin)
42. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Laud Misc. 647 (S.C. 1595), ff. 24v-25r (s. xii; Latin; incomplete)

Printed:

Mon. Angl., i. 93, Latin version; Bentham, Ely, Appendix, pp. 1-2, Latin version; K, 563, Latin version, ex MSS 2, 4; K, 563, English version, ex MSS 2, 4 ; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 474-5 (no. 2), Latin version, ex MS 37; Thorpe, pp. 237-9, Latin version; B, 1266, Latin version, ex MS 1; B, 1267, English version, ex MS 1; Wyatt 1919, pp. 119-21, English version; Landon 1939, pp. 24-6, Latin version, ex MS 27 ; Blake, Liber Eliensis, pp. 76-8, Latin version, ex MS 18 ; Pope 1971, pp. 88-92, Latin version, ex MS 1 and Blake ; Pope 1971, pp. 88-92, English version

Printed and Translated:

Thorpe, pp. 239-43, English version; Robertson, Charters, no. 48 (pp. 98-103), English version, ex MS 1

Comments:

Astle 1792, spurious; B, 1266, doubtful if authentic; Plummer 1892; 1899, ii, pp. 152, 155, spurious; Stevenson 1898a, p. 505 n. 1, spurious; Stevenson 1904, p. 202 n. 2, doubtful; McIntosh 1949, p. 113 and n. 8, attributes English version to Ælfric and suggests date c. 1006; Miller 1951, pp. 15, 25-6; Robertson, Charters, pp. 345-7; Whitelock 1959, p. 77 n., dubious; John 1960, pp. 105-6; Blake, Liber Eliensis, pp. 414-15, citing Whitelock, spurious; Hart, ECEE, no. 55, citing John, authentic; John 1966, pp. 58, 210-33, on royal style; Latin text substantially authentic, vernacular version of later date; Pope 1971, on Ælfric's connection with Old English version; HRH, p. 230, probably spurious, subscriptions consistent except for Bishop Ælric; Sawyer 1983, p. 298, on Woolmer; Yorke 1988a, p. 68; Wormald 1988a, p. 40; Wormald 1988a, p. 41 n. 115, on use of the vernacular; Thacker 1988, p. 54, probably authentic; Kennedy 1995, pp. 141, 150-1, balance of opinion would seem to favour authenticity; Pelteret 1995, p. 278, on terminology; Wormald 1995, p. 128, on legal detail; Thornton 2001, p. 52, dubious

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    Old Text

    • Endorsement: Hæc est carta regis Eadgari de institutione abbatiæ Eliensis : et duplicatur Aw Omnipotentis Dei cunctorum sceptra regentis moderamine regum immo totius sæculi creaturæque cunctæ indissolubili regimine æquæ gubernantis habenas ipsius nutu et gratia suffultus . Ego Eadgarus basileus dilectæ insulæ Albionis subditus nobis sceptri Scotorum . Cumbrorumque . ac Brittonum . et omnium circum circa regionum quiete pacem perfruens . studiosus sollicite de laudibus creatoris omnium occupor addendis . ne nostra inertia nostrisque diebus plus æquo servitus ejus tapescere videatur . sed greges monachorum . et sanctimonilium hac nostra tempestate ipso opitulante qui se nobiscum usque in finem sæculi manere promittere dignatus . est . ubique in regno nostro desertis monasteriis antiquitus Dei famulatu deficiente . nunc reviviscente adsurgere cupimus . sub Sancti Benedicti abbatis regula viventes . quatinus illorum precatu et vigente religione sancta servitus Dei nos ipsum placatum rectorem habere queamus . Unde frequentes monitus venerabilis Atheluuoldi episcopi cordetenus pertractans cupio honorare . hoc privilegio rebusque copiosis monasterium quod in regione Elig situm dinoscitur antiquitus . ac Sancti Petri apostolorum principis honore dedicatum . decoratumque reliquiis et miraculis almæ virginis Etheldredæ cujus vita venerabilis nobis modernis historia Anglorum promitur quæ etiam incorruptibili corpore hactenus condita mausoleo marmoreo albo perdurat : Locus denique predictus deficiente servitio Dei nostra ætate regali fisco subditus erat . sed a secretis noster Atheluuoldus Deique amator diocesi Uuintoniensis civitatis fungens . datis nobis sexaginta cassatis in villa quæ ab accolis Heartingas nuncupatur mutuavit locum predictum cum appendiciis ejus . augmentavique mutuationi tres villas quæ his nominibus vocitantur . Meldeburna . Earmingaford . Northuuold . et ipse ilico monachos meo consilio et auxilio Deo fideliter regulari norma servientes perplures inibi collocavit . quibusque Brihtnothum quendam sapientem ac bene morieratum virum præpositi jure præfecit. Cui effectui admodum ego congaudens letabundus pro amore Christi et Sancti Petri quem patronum michi sub Deo elegi et sanctæ Etheldredæ virginis Deo dilectæ et ejus prosapiæ sanctæ illic quiescentis . et pro animabus patrum meorum regum antiquorum augmentare largiter mutuationem illam his donis . testibus consiliaris meis volo . Hoc est decem millia anguillarum quæ omni anno in villa quæ æt Uuyllan dicitur pro expenditione redduntur fratribus ad victualia . modo et deinceps concedo . et intra paludes causas seculares duorum centuriatuum . et extra paludes quinque centuriatuum in Uuichlauuan in provincia Orientalium Saxonum benigne ad fratrum necessaria sanciendo largior . quin etiam omnes causas seu correptiones transgressionum juste legis in sermonibus secularibus omnium terrarum sive villarum ad monasterium predictum rite pertinentium . et quas in futurum ævum Dei providentia loco prefato largitura est . sive emptione . seu donatione . aut aliqua justa adquisitione . stent cause seculares emendandæ . tam clementi examine fratrum loco manentium victui vel vestitui necessaria ministrantes . adhuc insuper omnem quartum nummum reipublicæ in provincia Grantaceaster fratribus reddendum jure perpetuo censeo. Et sit hoc privilegium liberum quasi munus nostrum Deo devote oblatum et sanctis ejus predictis . ad remedium animarum nostrarum sicuti prefati sumus . ut nullus regum nec principum aut ullius ordinis quislibet prepotens imposterum obstinata tyrannide aliquid horum infringere presumat . si non vult habere omnipotentis Dei maledictionem et sanctorum ejus et meam et patrum meorum pro quibus ista omnia libera haberi volumus æterna libertate in æternum . amen . Hoc privilegium huius donationis et libertatis fecimus scribi anno incarnationis domini nostri Jhesu Christi nongentesimo septuagesimo . indictione tertia decima . anno regni mei æque tertio decimo in villa regali . quæ famoso vocabulo a solicolis Uulfamere nominatur . non clam in angulo . sed sub divo palam evidentissime scientibus totius regni mei primatibus . quorum quedam nomina hic infra inseri ad testimonium imposterum mandavimus . Ego Eadgarus rex animo benigno hoc largiendo Deo concessi . et regia sublimitate corroboravi . Ego Dunstan Archiepiscopus corroboravi . Ego Oscytel Archiepiscopus consolidavi . Ego Atheluuold episcopus confirmavi . Ego Ælfstan episcopus consignavi . Ego Osulf episcopus confirmavi . Ego Uulfric episcopus adquievi . Ego Uuynsige episcopus corroboravi . Ego Alfuuold episcopus confirmavi . Ego Aluuold episcopus consolidavi . Ego Osuuold episcopus adquievi . Ego Byrhthelm episcopus confirmavi . Ego Eadelm episcopus consignavi . Ego Ælric episcopus consolidavi . Ego Uulfsige episcopus corroboravi . Ælf∂ry∂ Regina . Ælfric Abbas . Escwig Abbas . Osgar Abbas . Ælfstan Abbas . Æthelgar Abbas . Cyneuueard Abbas . ˘urcytel Abbas . Ealdred Abbas . Ordbriht Abbas . Sifer∂ Abbas . Martin Abbas . Æthelstan Dux . Ælfhere Dux . Ælfheah Dux . Ordgar Dux . Ætheluuine Dux . Oslac Dux . Malcolm Dux . Birhtnoth Dux . Eadulf Dux . Birhtfer∂ minister . Eanulf minister . Ælfuuine minister . Ætheluueard minister . Ælfuuine minister . Uulfstan minister . Ælfuueard minister . Uulfgeat minister . Osulf minister . Osuueard minister . Leofa minister . Birhtric minister . Ælfsige minister . Ulf minister . Osulf minister . Heanric minister . Hringulf minister . Leofstan minister . Oslac minister . Frena minister . Sifer∂ minister . Leofric minister . Eadric minister . Uulfno∂ minister . Ælfsige minister . Ulfcytel minister . Hroold minister . ˘urstan minister . Osgod minister . Gota minister . Frithegist minister . ˘urfer∂ minister . ˘urgod minister . Osferth minister . Oscytel minister . Siferth minister . ˘urcytel minister . Forne minister . Cnut minister . Dunstan minister . ˘urcytel minister . His igitur testibus et aliis compluribus de omnibus dignitatibus et primatibus regni mei hæc constituta et peracta noscuntur . que etiam nostra usitata sermocinatione describi mandavimus hac eadem sceda . quo possint in auribus vulgi sonare . ne aliqua scrupulositate admisceri videantur . sed regia auctoritate seu potestate nobis a Deo donata omnis contradictio funditus adnulletur . Gode ælmihtigum rixiende ∂e ræt 7 gewissa∂ eallum gesceaftum ˇurh his agenne wisdom . 7 he ealra cininga cynedom gewylt . Ic Eadgar cining eac ˇurh his gife ofer Engla ˇeode . nu up aræred 7 he hæf∂ nu gewyld to minum anwealde Scottas 7 Cumbras . 7 eac swylce Bryttas . 7 eall ˇæt ∂is igland him on innan hæf∂ ˇæt ic nu on sibbe gesitte minne cynestol hohful embe ˇæt hu ic his lof arære ∂e læs ∂e his lof alicge to swy∂e nu on urum timan ˇurh ure asolcennysse . ac ic wille nu ˇurh Godes wissunge ˇa forlætenan mynstru on minum anwealde gehwær mid munecum gesettan . 7 eac mid mynecenum 7 Godes lof geedniwian ∂e ær wæs forlæten Criste wissiendum ∂e cwæ∂ ˇæt he wolde wunian mid us o∂ ˇissere geendunge . 7 ˇa munecas libban heora lif æfter regole ˇæs halgan Benedictes us to ˇingunge ˇæt we ˇone hælænd habban us glædne . 7 he us gewissige 7 urne eard gehealde 7 æfter geendunge ˇæt ece lif us forgife ; Nu is me on mode æfter mynegungum Atheluuoldes biscopes ˇe me oft manode ˇæt ic wille goodian ∂urh Godes silfes fultum . ˇæt mynster on Elig mid agenum freodome 7 sinderlicum wur∂mynte . 7 si∂∂an mid æhtum ˇam to bigleofan ˇe we gelogia∂ ˇær to Godes ∂eowdome ˇe ∂ær simble wunion. Seo stow wæs gehalgod iu fram ealdum dagum ˇam halgan Petre to wyr∂mynte ∂æra apostola yldost . 7 heo wæs geglengd ˇurh Godes sylfes wundra ˇe gelome wurdon æt Atheldrythe byrgene ˇæs halgan mædenes ˇe ∂ær gehal li∂ o∂ ˇis on eall hwittre ∂ryh of marmstane geworht . be hyre we ræda∂ hu heo her on liue wæs 7 hu heo Gode ∂eowode on godre drohtnunge . 7 be hyre geendunge . 7 hu heo up adon wæs ansund of hyre byrgene swa swa Beda awrat Engla ˇeodæ lareow on his larbocum. Nu wæs se halga stede yuele forlæten mid læssan ∂eowdome ˇonne us gelicode nu on urum timan . 7 eac wæs gehwyrfed ˇam cyninge to handa ic cwe∂e be me sylfum . ac Atheluuold bisceop ˇe his min rædbora 7 so∂ Godes freond . sealde me to gehwærfe ˇone ham Heartingas . on sixtigum hidum wi∂ ˇam mynster lande ˇe li∂ into Helig . 7 ic ˇa geeacnode into Elig mynstre ˇas ∂ry hamas ∂e ˇus sind gehatene . Meldeburna . Earningaford . Nor∂wold . 7 he ˇær rihte mid minum ræde 7 fultume mid munecum gesette ˇæt mynster æfter regole . 7 him ealdor gesette us eallum ful cu∂ne Brihtno∂ gehaten . ˇæt he under him ˇane halgan regol for Gode gefor∂ade æfter mynsterlicum ˇeawe ; ˘a gelicode me ˇæt he hit swa gelogode mid Godes ˇeowum Gode to lofe . 7 ic ˇa geeacnode to ˇære ærran sylene tyn ˇusenda elfixa ælce geare ˇam munecum ˇe me for fyrdinge gefyrndagum aras binnan ˇam iggo∂e of ˇam folce æt Wyllan . 7 ealla ˇa socna eac ofer ˇæt fennland into ˇam twam hundredum him to scrudfultume . 7 on east Englan æt Wichlawan . eac ealle ˇa socna ofer fif hundredum . 7 ofer ealle ˇa land gelice ˇa socna ˇe into ˇam mynstre nu synd begytene . o∂∂e ∂a ˇe him gyt becuma∂ ˇurh Cristes foresceawunge . o∂∂e ˇurh ceap . o∂∂e ˇurh gife . habban hi æfre on eallum ˇa socne . 7 ˇone feor∂an pening on folclicre steore into Grantanbricge be minre unnan . 7 gif ænig mann ˇiss awendan wylle ˇonne gange eall seo socn ˇe to anre niht feorme gebyre∂ into ˇære stowe . 7 beo ˇis priuilegium ˇæt is sindorlice wyr∂mynt . o∂∂e agen freodom into ˇære stowe mid eallum ˇisum ∂ingum Gode geoffrod mid urum goodum willan . Gode æfre frig 7 Godes halgum for minre sawle 7 minra yldrena us to alysednesse . swa ˇæt nan ˇæra cyninga ∂e cuma∂ æfter me o∂∂e ealdorman . o∂∂e o∂er rica mid ænigum riccetere o∂∂e unrihte ˇiss ne awende odde gewanige be ˇam ˇe he nelle habban Godes awyrgednysse 7 his halgena . 7 minne . 7 minra yldrena ˇe ˇas ∂ing fore synd gefreode on ecum freote on ecnysse. AMHN.