King Æthelred to St Paul's; confirmation of lands. Latin

Archive:

London, St Paul's

MSS:

1. London, St Paul's DC., W.D., 1, f. 39r (s. xiii med.)
2. London, St Paul's DC., W.D., 4, ff. 7v-8r (s. xiii)
3. London, St Paul's DC., Liber B (s. xiii; lost)

Printed:

Mon. Angl., iii. 303; Dugdale, St Paul's, p. 188, ex MSS 1, 3; Dugdale, St Paul's (rev. edn), Appendix, p. 12; K, 1311

Comments:

Gelling, ECTV, no. 230, spurious; Keynes 1980, p. 268, spurious

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  • Metadata

    Text

    • Ego Æþelredus rex, una cum Ymma regina et cum principibus meis, coram conuentu Dei sacerdotum, reuerentissimo scilicet antistiti Ælfstano, terras monasterii beati Pauli apostoli quas a predecessoribus meis siue a me donatas, seu a regibus gentium exterarum seu a principibus seu a quibuslibet hominibus, sub confirmationis testimonio omnes perpetualiter possidendas contuli, quatinus michi criminum meorum flagitia a Domino uenia relaxetur et confusiones scandalorum scismata simultatumque dehinc aboletur et, ut firmius hec donationis cartula roboretur, etiam presentibus ducibus, comitibus omnique ordine sacerdotali, uexillum sancte crucis manu propria infixi, et testes idoneos ad subscribendum eadem signi impressione dignum curaui, quorum numerus et nomina subter adnexis figuris agnoscuntur. Si quis uero quod absit, tirannica potestate fretus aut fastu superbie tumidus, contra hoc decretum a me confirmatum in magno seu in modico nocere aut irrita facere temptauerit, nouerit se iudicante Domino uiuos ac mortuos gehenne suppliciis missus perpetuasque luere penas. VALETE
  • Metadata

    Translation

    • I, King Æthelred, together with Queen Emma and with my principes, in the presence of an assembly of God’s priests, grant to the most reverent Bishop Ælfstan, the lands of the minster of the Blessed Paul the Apostle that have been given by my predecessors or by me, or by kings of foreign peoples or by principes or by whatever men, that they are to be possessed in perpetuity under a deed of confirmation so that a pardon be granted me by the Lord from the torments of my crimes and henceforth the embarrassments of slanders and the quarrels [arising from] dissensions be done away with and, in order that this charter of gift be more resolutely confirmed, I have also impressed the mark of the holy cross with my own hand in the presence of the duces, comites and the whole priestly order, and have taken care that witnesses are suitable to subscribe worthily with that same mark of the cross whose number and names are acknowledged below with the attached marks. If anyone, God forbid!, relying on tyrannical power or puffed up by the haughtiness of pride, should attempt to a greater or lesser degree to harm or do worthless things against this decree confirmed by me, let him know that when the Lord judges the living and the dead, sent to torments of Gehenna, he will pay the eternal penalties. FAREWELL.
  • Metadata

    Old Text

    • B. London, Guildhall, 25504 (formerly St Paul's D. & C., WD 4, ('Liber L')), 7v-8r: copy, s. xii Rubric: Priuilegium Æˇelredi insignis Anglorum regis. Ego Æˇelredus rex una cum Ymma regina et cum principibus meis, coram conuentu dei sacerdotum, reuerentissimo scilicet antistiti Ælfstano terras monasterii beati Pauli apostoli quas a predecessoribus meis siue a me donatas, seu a regibus gentium exterarum seu a principibus seu a quibuslibet hominibus, sub confirmationis testimonio omnes perpetualiter possidendas contuli, quatinus michi criminum meorum flagitia a domino uenia relaxetur et confusiones scandalorum scismata simultatumque dehinc aboletur, et ut firmius hec donationis cartula roboretur, etiam presentibus ducibus, comitibus omnique ordine sacerdotali uexillum sancte crucis manu propria infixi, et testes idoneos ad subscribendum eadem signi impressione dignum curaui, quorum numerus et nomina subter adnexis figuris agnoscuntur. Si quis uero quod absit tirannica potestate fretus aut fastu superbie tumidus contra hoc decretum a me confirmatum in magno seu in modico nocere aut irrita facere temptauerit, nouerit se iudicante Domino uiuos ac mortuos gehenne suppliciis missus perpetuasque luere pens. + VALETE