S 797
A.D. 974. King Edgar to Ælfric, abbot of Malmesbury; restoration of land at Nene which had been forfeited by Æthelnoth. Latin.
Archive: Crowland
MSS: 1. BL Arundel 178, 46rv (s. xvi)
2. BL Lansdowne 207c, 117v-118r (s. xvii)
3. Oxford, Queen's College, 368, pp. 203-5 (s. xvii)
Printed: Savile, Ingulph, pp. 884-5; Fulman 1684, pp. 47-8 ex MS 1; Wilkins, Concilia, i. 260; Birch, Ingulf, pp. 80-1 ex MS 1; B 1300.
Comments: Finberg, ECW, no. 310, authentic, suggests name may be a mistake for Avene, meaning Avon in Bremhill, Wilts.; John 1966, p. 58, on royal style, p. 280, certainly authentic; Kelly, pers. comm., probably spurious, seems to be a version of S 796 with Nene substituted for Eastcourt.
Ego Edgarus totius Albionis rex , necnon maritimorum seu insulanorum regum habitantium , adeo ut nullus progenitorum subjectione largiflua Dei gratia suppetente sim sublimatus quid imperii mei potissimum regi regum domino darem tanti memor honoris solertius sæpe tractavi , piæ igitur fautrix devotionis pervigili meæ studiositati , superna subito insinuavit pietas , queque in regno meo sancta restaurare monasteria , quæ velut mustivis scindulis , cariosisque tabulis ligno tenus visibiliter diruta , sic quod magis est intus a servitio Dei ferme vacua fuerunt et neglecta . ideotis nempe clericis ejectis , nullius regularis religionis disciplinæ subjectis , plurimis in locis , sanctioris seriei , scilicet monachici habitus præfeci pastores ; ad ruinosa quæque templorum redintegranda opulentos ego fiscalium munerum exhibui sumptus . quorum unum nomine Alfricum virum in omnibus ecclesiastici expertissimum officiis , famosissimi constitui custodem cænobii , quod Angli bifario vocant nomine Malmesburgh . cui pro commoditate animæ mæe , ob salvatoris nostri ejusque matris semper virginis Mariæ , necnon apostolorum Petri et Pauli , Aldelmique almi præsulis honorem particulam terræ Nene cum pratis et silvis munifica liberalitate restitui . Hæc a prædictis accommodata clericis . a contentioso injuste possessa est Adelnotho , sed supersticiosa illius confictatione , subtilique disceptatione a sapientibus meis audita , et fluctuatione sua mendosa ab eisdem præsente me convicta , monasteriali a me reddita est usui ,
anno dominicæ incarnacionis 974 . et regiæ consecrationis primo .
+ Ego Edgarus totius Albionis finitimorumque regum basileus , cum signo sanctæ crucis istud chirographum confirmavi .
+ Ego Dunstanus Dorobernensis archiepiscopus istud donum regium agiæ crucis trophæo corroboravi . + .