S 462
A.D. 940. King Edmund to Elswithe, his kinsman and faithful minister; grant of 20 hides (mansae) at Batcombe, Somerset. Latin with English bounds.
Archive: Glastonbury
MSS: 1. Marquess of Bath, Longleat, 39, 167r (s. xiv)
2. Bodleian, Wood empt. 1, 181v (s. xiv)
3. Liber Terrarum, no. 106 (lost, cf. Abrams 1996, p. 34)
Printed: K 383 and vol. vi. 229-30 ex MS 2; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 55-6 (no. 113) ex MS 2; B 749 ex MS 2; Watkin, Glastonbury Cart., ii. 464-5 (no. 844) ex MS 1.
Comments: Grundy, Somerset, pp. 86-91, on bounds; Whitelock, Wills, p. 125, possible that the estate was given jointly to Ælfheah, the king's kinsman, and to Ælfswith his wife, and that the copyist omitted Ælfheah's name; Finberg, ECW, no. 441, authentic, beneficiary probably Ælfsige; Keynes 1980, pp. 44-5, takes beneficiary to be Ælfswith; Scott 1981, pp. 114-16, 136, 202 n. 112; Abrams 1996, pp. 29, 34, on MS sources, p. 55, original beneficiary probably Ælfsige, name has been corrupted; cf. S 1485.
Carta Edmundi Regis de . Batecoumbe .
Regnante imperpetuum domino nostro Jhesu Christo . Dum conditoris nostri providencia omnis creatura valde bona in principio formata formoseque creata atque speciose plasmata est supra et infra celos tam in angelis quam in hominibus ac in multimodis ac in diversis speciebus jumentorum animalium piscium volucrum qui omnia nature sue jura nutu creatoris persolvant nisi homo solus qui ad ymaginem suam plasmatus est et omnibus prelatus tamen propter prevaricacionem corruens in mortem et primam in mortalitatis stolam miserabiliter Deum contempnendo mandatum ammisit . Iccirco ille divicie diligende sunt que numquam decipiunt habentem nec in ipsa morte ammittuntur sed plus habundant dum cernitur quod amatur .
Qua propter Ego Edmundus favente superno numine basileos industrius Anglorum ceterarumque gencium in circuitu persistencium cuidam meo propinquo et fideli ministro vocitato . Elswithe ob illius amabile obsequium ejusque placabili fidelitate viginti mansas largiendo libenter concedens perdonabo . illic ubi vulgus relacione vocitat . at Batecombe . quatinus ille bene perfruatur ac perpetualiter possideat dum huius labentis evi cursum transeat illesus atque vitalis spiritus incorruptibili carne inhereat et post se cuicumque voluerit perhenniter heredi derelinquat sicuti supra taxati sumus . Si[t] hoc predictum rus liber ab omni mundiali obstaculo cum omnibus que ad ipsum locum pertinere dinoscuntur tam in magnis quam in modicis rebus campis paschuis pratis silvis excepto istis tribus expedicione pontis arcisve cohedificacione . Haunc vero meam donacionem quod opto absit a fidelium mentibus minuentibus atque frangentibus fiat pars eorum cum illis de quibus e contra fatur . 'Discedite a me maligni in ignem eternum quia paratus est Sathane in satellitibus ejus' 1 nisi prius digna Deo penitencia veniam legali satisfaccione emendent .
Istis terminibus predicta terra circumgirata esse videtur .
Þis is þe landmere at batecombe . at austien on þan put . of þan putte on þan olden wei of þan weie . on þe harenapuldre þanen endelangweie rigthwei þat it comit on combisberghewei endlang þis weies to þis kingesmere þane end lang þis weies þat it comit on þan Wodestou pin þanne a doun on mere wei þat it comigt on þere hevedstock þanen on þa herenwirnen . on þene pulle . þanen endlangstremes þat it comigt on alum . þanne get it over alum on merebrok þanen endlangstremes op atte þa water sweliend' þanen up on þa hille of þare hulle on folanbrok of þan broke on þa ealde dich' endlangdich þat it comigt to þan combe over þan combe on wliate on wolfgate on alum awwilman of alum awwilman on bradeston' of þan stane out atte þere folanmede of þere mede over þane feld to þa wode þanen endlang rigtes to fileleighe on dikemor of dikemour eft on þane put .
Acta est hec prefata donacio anno ab incarnacione domini nostri Jhesu Christi . d . c . c . c . c . quadragesimo .
Ego Edmundus rex Anglorum prefatam donacionem cum sigillo sancte Crucis confirmavi cum multis aliis .