S 215
A.D. 875. Ceolwulf (II), king of Mercia, to Wærferth, bishop of Worcester; grant to the diocese of exemption from the burden of feeding the king's horses and their servants, in return for liturgical services. The bishop grants to the king a four-life lease of 6 hides (manentes) at Daylesford, Gloucs., with reversion to Worcester, in return for 60 mancuses of gold. Latin.
Archive: Worcester
MSS: BL Cotton Tib. A. xiii, 27rv (s. xi1)
Printed: Hearne, Heming, pp. 57-8; K 306; Thorpe, pp. 128-9; B 540; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 2, no. 39.
Translated: Whitelock, EHD, no. 95 (p. 533).
Comments: Stenton 1971, p. 252 n. 1, cited with reference to King Ceolwulf; Davies 1972, pp. 473, 476, on formulas; Finberg, ECWM, no. 82, authentic; O'Donovan 1973, p. 92, on witness-list; Whitelock, EHD, p. 533, treats as authentic; Sims-Williams 1990, p. 152, cited with reference to estate history; Dumville 1992, p. 42 n., on estate history; Smyth 1995, p. 53.
Dægles ford .
+ In nomine sancte et individue trinitatis anno ejusdem incarnationis humane . dccclxxv . indictione . vii . Ego Ceolwulf gratia Dei gratuita largiente rex Merciorum aliquid mihi in elemosinam donare precogitavi ut sempiterne mercedis portionem acceptarem ideo rogatus a Werfriðo antestite Huicciorum et familia in Uueogernacestre . istam libertatem . cum meorum omnium unanimo consensu episcoporum et principum . ac etiam cunctorum optimatum nostræ gentis perpetualiter donavi ut tota parrochia Hwicciorum a pastu aequorum regis et eorum qui eos ducunt obsoluta et secura permansisset . et ille episcopus dedit regi Ceolwulfo sex manentes ubi appellatur Daeglesford et hoc divinum servitium pro expiationem peccaminum Ceolwulfi regis diffiniunt ut in illis monasteriis in quibus prænominata servitus persolvi deberet memoria et oratio dominica cotidie ad celum mitteretur quamdiu Christiana fides in ista gente servaretur . tunc etiam supradictus rex antenominato episcopo dedit . lx . mancusos auri ea conditione ut ipse istam terram habuisset . et tribus heredibus quibus voluisset post se relinquisset . et post dies istorum heredum antedicta terra ad Uueogernensem civitatem rediret pro anima Ceolwulfi regis et posterum illius et tamen libertas supradicta perpetualiter permaneret . Omnipotens Deus illos custodiat qui hoc donum custodire dignentur . et qui violare temptav'e'rint sciant se rationem reddituri in tremendo examinis die . hii sunt testes et confirmatores huius donationis quorum nomina infra signo sanctæ crucis notantur .
+ Ego 'C'eoluulf rex Merciorum hanc conditionem propria manu confirmo .
+ Ego Eadberht episcopus consensi.
+ Ego Wærferð episcopus consensi .
+ Ego Deorlaf episcopus .
+ Ego Beorhtnoð dux .
+ Ego Æþelhun dux .