S 1507
A.D. 873 x 888. Will of King Alfred, including bequests of land at Lambourn and Wantage, Berks.; at Stratton in Trigg and elsewhere in Cornwall; at Axmouth, Branscombe, Cullompton, Exminster, Hartland, Lifton, Tiverton, Whitchurch, Devon; at Sturminster Marshall, Dorset; at Candover, Crondall, Hurstbourne Priors, Hurstbourne Tarrant, Kingsclere, Meon, Hants.; at Arreton in the Isle of Wight; in Kent; at Cannington, Carhampton, Chewton Mendip, Crewkerne, Kilton, Wedmore and Yeovil, Somerset; at Eashing, Godalming, Guildford, Leatherhead and Thunderfield Castle, Surrey; at Aldingbourne, Angmering, Beckley, Beeding, Beddingham, Dean, Ditchley, Felpham, Lyminster, Rotherfield, Sutton and Steyning, Sussex; at Amesbury, Ashton Keynes, Bedwyn, Chippenham, Chisledon, Edington and Pewsey, Wilts.; also æt Suttune (Sutton, Hants. or Wilts.), æt Aweltune (Alton, Hants., or Alton Priors, Wilts.), æt Deone (? East and West Dean, Sussex, or West Dean, Wilts.), æt Sutheswyrth (? Lustleigh in Devon), æt Mylenburnam (? Silverton, Devon), æt Welewe and æt Welig (Wellow in Hants., Wilts. or Somerset), æt Cumtune (Compton) and æt Burnham (Somerset); the beneficiaries including Winchester (Cathedral) and the king's children. Old English, Middle English and Latin versions.
Archive: Winchester, New Minster
MSS: Old English
1. BL Stowe 944, 29v-33r (s. xi1; OS Facs., iii. 22; Making of England, p. 265 (no. 240), 30v-31r only; Smyth 1995, pl. 24, fol. 30v only)
2. BL Stowe 945, 2v-8v (s. xviii)
3. Earl of Macclesfield, Shirburn Castle, Liber Abbatiae, 8v-9r, 10rv (s. xiv)Middle English
4. Earl of Macclesfield, Shirburn Castle, Liber Abbatiae, 9r, 10v-11r (s. xiv)Latin
5. Earl of Macclesfield, Shirburn Castle, Liber Abbatiae, 9r-10r, 11v-12r (s. xiv)
Printed: Old English
Manning 1788; K 314; Thorpe, pp. 484-92; Edward, Liber de Hyda, pp. 52-4, 62-6, with translation, pp. 327-33; B 553; Earle, pp. 144-9; Birch, Liber Vitae, pp. 74-80 ex MS 1, with translation; Harmer, SEHD, pp. 15-19 (no. 11), with translation, pp. 49-53; Wyatt 1919, pp. 106-9; Miller, New Minster, no. 1.Middle English
Edwards, Liber de Hyda, pp. 54-6, 67-71; B 554; Miller, New Minster, appendix.Latin
Alford 1663, iii. 149-51; K 1067; Edwards, Liber de Hyda, pp. 57-60, 71-5; B 555; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 3, no. 59 bis; Miller, New Minster, appendix.
Translated: Keynes and Lapidge 1983, pp. 174-8; Whitelock, EHD, no. 96 (pp. 534-7).
Comments: Harmer, SEHD, pp. 91-103; PN Sussex, p. 426, suggests Burnham is Eastbourne; Alexander 1931, on Lifton; Finberg, ECDC, no. 16; Darlington 1955, pp. 31, 87; Finberg, ECW, no. 25 (pp. 32, 76, 126, 166), authentic; John 1966, pp. 42-3; Stenton 1971, p. 553, cited; PN Berks., ii. 333; Jones 1976, p. 28, on Sussex estates; Gelling, ECTV, no. 28 (pp. 30, 155), authentic; Whitelock, EHD, p. 534; Hill 1981, map no. 148 (p. 84); Keynes and Lapidge 1983, pp. 173-4, 313-26; Wormald 1988, no. 20; PN Dorset, ii. 45; Dumville 1992, pp. 110-11 n. 263, on Lambourn; Making of England, pp. 264-5 (no. 240); Lowe 1993a, pp. 15-19, on MSS 3-5; Lowe 1993b, on terminology; Hooke 1994, pp. 17, 103-4; Kennedy 1995, pp. 178, 183; Pelteret 1995, pp. 110-11, 267; Smyth 1995, pp. 264-6, 401-20, composite document with later additions and revisions to earlier versions; Abrams 1996, pp. 52-3, 71, 92, on Chisledon, Burnham and Wedmore; Blair 1996, p. 117, on internal reference to Cheddar; Keynes 1996, pp. 98-9, on MS 1.
First Part:
Ic Ælfred cingc mid Godes gife 7 mid geþeahtunge Æþeredes ercebisceopes 7 ealra Westseaxena witena gewitnesse, smeade ymbe minre sawle þearfe 7 ymbe min yrfe þæt me God 7 mine yldran forgeafon 7 ymbe þæt yrfe þæt Aðulf cingc min fæder us þrim gebroðrum becwæð Aþelbolde 7 Æðerede 7 me, 7 swylc ure swylce lengest wære þæt se fenge to eallum.
Ac hit gelamp þæt Æþelbold gefor, 7 wyt Æþered mid ealra Westseaxena witena gewitnesse uncerne dæl oðfæstan Æþelbyrhte cingce uncrum mæge on þa gerædene þe he hit eft gedyde unc swa gewylde swa hit þa wæs þa wit hit him oðfæstan, 7 he þa swa dyde ge þæt yrfe ge þæt he mid uncre gemanan begeat 7 þæt he sylf gestrynde.
Þa hit swa gelamp þæt Æþered to feng, þa bæd ic hine beforan urum witum eallum þæt wyt þæt yrfe gedældon, 7 he me ageafe minne dæl. Þa sæde he me þæt he naht eaðe ne mihte todælan forþon he hæfde ful oft ær ongefangen, 7 he cwæð þæs þe he on uncrum gemanan gebruce 7 gestrynde æfter his dæge he nanum menn sel ne uðe þonne me. 7 ic þæs þa wæs wel geþafa.
Ac hit gelamp þæt we ealle on hæðenum folce gebrocude wæron. Þa spræce wyt ymbe uncre bearn, þæt hy sumre are beþorftan, sælde unc on þam brocum swa unc sælde. Þa wæron we on gemote æt Swinbeorgum, þa gecwædon wit on Westseaxena witena gewitnesse þæt swaðer uncer leng wære, þæt he geuðe oðres bearnum þara landa þe wyt sylfe begeaton 7 þara landa þe unc Aðulf cingc forgeaf be Aðelbolde lifiendum butan þam þe he us þrim gebroðrum gecwæð. 7 þæs uncer ægðer oþrum his wedd sealde swaðer uncer leng lifede þæt se fenge ægþer ge to lande ge to madmum 7 to eallum his æhtum butan þam dæle þe uncer gehwæðer his bearnum becwæð.
Ac hit gelamp þæt Æðered cingc gefor. Þa ne cydde me nan mann nan yrfegewrit ne nane gewitnesse þæt hit ænig oðer wære butan swa wit on gewitnesse ær gecwædon. Þa gehyrde we nu manegu yrfe geflitu, nu þa lædde ic Aþulfes cinges yrfegewrit on ure gemot æt Langandene 7 hit man arædde beforan eallum Westseaxena witum. Þa hit aræd wæs þa bæd ic hy ealle for minre lufan 7 him min wedd bead, þæt ic hyra næfre nænne ne oncuðe forþon þe hy on riht spræcon, 7 þæt hyra nan ne wandode ne for minan lufan ne for minum ege þæt hy þæt folcriht arehton þy læs ænig man cweðe þæt ic mine mægcild oððe yldran oððe gingran mid wo fordemde. 7 hy þa ealle to rihte gerehton 7 cwædon þæt hy nan rihtre riht geþencan ne mihtan, ne on þam yrfegewrite gehyran nu hit eall agan is þæron oð þine hand, þonne þu hit becweðe 7 sylle swa gesibre handa swa fremdre swaðer þe leofre sy. 7 hi ealle me þæs hyra wedd sealdon 7 hyra handsetene þæt be hyra life hit nænig mann næfre ne onwende on nane oðre wisan butan swa swa ic hit sylf gecweðe æt þam nyhstan dæge.
Second Part:
Ic Ælfred Westseaxena cingc mid Godes gyfe 7 mid þisse gewitnesse gecweðe hu ic ymbe min yrfe wille æfter minum dæge.
Ærest ic an Eadwearde minum yldran suna þæs landes æt Strætneat on Triconscire 7 Heortigtunes 7 þa bocland ealle þe Leofheah hylt 7 þæt land æt Carumtune 7 æt Cylfantune 7 æt Burnhamme 7 æt Wedmor, 7 ic eom fyrmdig to þam hiwum æt Ceodre þæt hy hine ceosan on þa gerad þe we ær gecweden hæfdon mid þam lande æt Ciwtune 7 þam þe þærto hyrað. 7 ic him an þæs landes æt Cantuctune 7 æt Bedewindan 7 æt Pefesigge 7 Hysseburnan 7 æt Suttune 7 æt Leodridan 7 æt Aweltune 7 ealle þa bocland þe ic on Cent hæbbe.
7 æt þam nyðeran Hysseburnan 7 æt Cyseldene agyfe man into Wintanceastre on þa gerad þe hit min fæder ær gecwæð. 7 þæt min sundorfeoh þæt ic Ecgulfe oðfæste on þam neoðeran Hysseburnan.
7 þam gingran minan suna þæt land æt Eaderingtune 7 þæt æt Dene 7 þæt æt Meone 7 æt Ambresbyrig 7 æt Deone 7 æt Sturemynster 7 æt Gifle 7 æt Crucern 7 æt Hwitancyrican 7 æt Axanmuðan 7 æt Branecescumbe 7 æt Columtune 7 æt Twyfyrde 7 æt Mylenburnan 7 æt Exanmynster 7 æt Suðeswyrðe 7 æt Liwtune 7 þa land þe þærto hyran þæt synd ealle þe ic on Wealcynne hæbbe butan Triconscire.
7 minre yldstan dehter þæne ham æt Welewe, 7 þære medemestan æt Clearan 7 æt Cendefer, 7 þære gingestan þone ham æt Welig 7 æt Æsctune 7 æt Cippanhamme.
7 Æðelme mines broðer suna þone ham æt Ealdingburnan 7 æt Cumtune 7 æt Crundellan 7 æt Beadingum 7 æt Beadingahamme 7 æt Burnham 7 æt Þunresfelda 7 æt Æscengum.
7 Aþelwolde mines broðor suna þone ham æt Godelmingum 7 æt Gyldeforda 7 æt Stæningum.
7 Osferðe minum mæge þone ham æt Beccanlea 7 æt Hryðeranfelda 7 æt Diccelingum 7 æt Suðtune 7 æt Lullingmynster 7 æt Angemæringum 7 æt Felhhamme 7 þa land þe þærto hyran.
7 Ealhswiðe þone ham æt Lambburnan 7 æt Waneting 7 æt Eðandune.
7 minum twam sunum an þusend punda, ægðrum fif hund punda.
7 minre yldstan dehter 7 þære medemestan 7 þære gingstan 7 Ealhswiðe, him feowrum, feower hund punda, ælcum an hund punda.
7 minra ealdormanna ælcum an hund mangcusa.
7 Æþelme 7 Aðelwolde 7 Osferðe eac swa.
7 Æþerede ealdormenn an sweord on hundteontigum mancusum.
7 þam mannum þe me folgiað þe ic nu on Eastertidum feoh sealde twa hund punda agyfe man him 7 dæle man him betweoh ælcum swa him to gebyrian wille æfter þære wisan þe ic him nu dælde.
7 þam ercebisceope .c. mancusa 7 Esne bisceope 7 Wærferðe bisceope 7 þam æt Scireburnan.
Eac swa gedæle for me 7 for minne fæder 7 for þa frynd þe he foreþingode. 7 ic foreþingie twa hund punda: fiftig mæssepreostum ofer eall min rice, fiftig earmum Godes þeowum, fiftig earmum þearfum, fiftig to þære cyrican þe ic æt reste.
7 ic nat naht gewislice hwæðer þæs feos swa micel is, ne ic nat þeah his mare sy; butan swa ic wene. Gyf hit mare sy beo hit him eallum gemæne þe ic feoh becweden hæbbe. 7 ic wille þæt mine ealdormenn 7 mine þenigmenn þær ealle mid syndan 7 þis þus gedælan.
Þonne hæfde ic ær on oðre wisan awriten ymbe min yrfe þa ic hæfde mare feoh 7 ma maga. 7 hæfde monegum mannum þa gewritu oðfæst 7 on þas ylcan gewitnesse hy wæron awritene. Þonne hæbbe ic nu forbærned þa ealdan þe ic geahsian mihte. Gif hyra hwylc funden bið ne forstent þæt naht, forþam ic wille þæt hit nu þus sy mid Godes fultume.
7 ic wille þa menn þe þa land habbað þa word gelæstan þe on mines fæder yrfegewrite standað swa swa hy fyrmest magon, 7 ic wylle gif ic ænigum menn ænig feoh unleanod hæbbe þæt mine magas þæt huru geleanian.
7 ic wylle þa menn þe ic mine bocland becweden hæbbe þæt hy hit ne asyllan of minum cynne ofer heora dæg, ac ic wille hyra dæg þæt hit gange on þa nyhstan hand me butan hyra hwylc bearn hæbbe þonne is me leofast þæt hit gange on þæt stryned on þa wæpned healfe þa hwile þe ænig þæs wyrðe sy. Min yldra fæder hæfde gecweden his land on þa spere healfe næs on þa spinl healfe þonne gif ic gesealde ænigre wif handa þæt he gestrynde þonne forgyldan mine magas. 7 gif hy hit be þan libbendan habban wyllan gif hit elles sy gange hit ofer hyra dæg swa swa we ær gecweden hæfdon. Forþon ic cweðe þæt hi hit gyldan forþon hy foð to minum þe ic syllan mot swa wif handa swa wæpned handa swaðer ic wylle.
7 ic bidde on Godes naman 7 on his haligra þæt minra maga nan ne yrfewearda ne geswence nan nænig cyrelif þara þe ic foregeald. 7 me Westseaxena witan to rihte gerehton þæt ic hi mot lætan swa freo swa þeowe swaðer ic wille. Ac ic for Godes lufan 7 for minre sawle þearfe wylle þæt hy syn heora freolses wyrðe 7 hyra cyres. 7 ic on Godes lifiendes naman beode þæt hy nan man ne brocie ne mid feos manunge ne mid nænigum þingum þæt hy ne motan ceosan swylcne mann swylce hy wyllan.
7 ic wylle þæt man agyfe þam hiwum æt Domrahamme hyra landbec 7 hyra freols swylce hand to ceosenne swylce him leofast sy, for me 7 for Ælflæde 7 for þa frynd þe heo foreþingode 7 ic foreþingie. 7 sec man eac on cwicum ceape ymbe minre sawle þearfe swa hit beon mæge 7 swa hit eac gerysne sy 7 swa ge me forgyfan wyllan.