S 633

A.D. 956 (Cirencester, Gloucs.). King Eadwig to Worcester minster, at the instance of Brihtnoth; grant of 5 hides (cassati) at Phepson in Himbleton, Worcs., with salt-furnaces. Latin with English bounds.

Archive: Worcester

MSS: BL Cotton Tib. A. xiii, 150r-151r (s. xi2)

Printed: Hearne, Heming, pp. 333-4; K 451; B 937; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 2, no. 104.

Translated: Jones 1958, pp. 106-7.

Comments: Robinson 1923, p. 59; Grundy, Worcs. 1927, pp. 151-2, on bounds; Ker 1948, pp. 59, 67-8, unsatisfactory; Drögereit 1952, pp. 62-5; Finberg, ECWM, no. 280, authentic; Hart 1972, p. 126, on formulation; Dumville 1979, p. 7 n.; Whitelock, EHD, pp. 372-3, defends the 'alliterative' charters, of which this is one; Keynes 1980, p. 49 n. 93, p. 62 n. 108, p. 82 n. 165; Hooke 1981/1, pp. 149-50, on salt-workings; Keynes 1985, pp. 156-9, on 'alliterative' charters; Hooke 1990, pp. 167-9, on bounds, with map p. 168; Hart 1992, pp 132, 431-45, on formulation.

De Fepsetna tune .

Px Cuncta quæ cernuntur inter cælum et terram practice temporalia sunt . et quæ non videntur in cælestibus theorice catholica fide credenda sunt . Quapropter antiqui dudum decreverunt cum terrenis æternalia et caducis celestia collucrari .

Ideoque illuc anelando toto mentis conamine alacriter . Eadwi Rex nutu Dei Angulsæxna . et Northanhumbrorum imperator . paganorum gubernator . Breotonumque propugnator . gratanter ut dictum est Deo cohortante 'gratis accepistis gratis date' 1 . dat precibus et suasionibus Brihtnothi regalis presidis monasterio Wigornensi quinque cassatos ad Fepsetnatune cum omnibus ad eam pertinentibus

ut libere ac perpetualiter habeant ab omnibus scilicet supervenientibus negotiis

preter expeditionem et emendationem pontis et arcis .

Preterea . V . salsuginis fornaces ad eandem villam in perpetuum jure hereditario subjacere in nomine altithroni conditoris precipit ac permittit .

Hæc carismata caraxata sunt Cirnaceastre anno dominicæ incarnationis . DCCCC . L . VI . et primo anno regiæ dignitatis . Eadwi . quo sceptra rexit regalia .

Constat etiam hic codicellus magna auctoritate catholicorum sic titulatus . Beatus agonista totius Britta'n'nie Eadwi en imperat obsecrando et obsecrat imperando per munus euuangelicæ auctoritatis ut nullus fraudulenter hoc ejus donum audeat violare ; ne penas luat mortis amaræ . Sed unusquisque qui animæ suæ amicus et custos velit esse ; huic donationi sue studeat augmentando et servando prodesse ; ut gaudiis civium cælestium valeat interesse .

Eadwi regum præcellentissimus hoc prerogativum cum triumphali vexillo . Et Oda archiepiscopus cum cæteris presulibus aliisque obtinatibus quorum vocabola subnotantur consignat .
Osketel summus pontifex .
Wlsie episcopus .
Ast regulus .
Morgant regulus .
Athelmund . dux .
Alfwald . didasculus .
Kenwold . monachus .
Vrm . minister .
Elfsie . episcopus .
Oswlf . episcopus .
Eadgar . regulus .
Eadmund . dux .
Alfhere . dux .
Dunstan dogmatista .
Brihtferht minister .
Gunner minister .

Ðis syndon ða gemæru to Fepsetnatune . Ærost of hymel broc . 7 swa . on suð dene . of þære dene on fleferð . 7 swa on ða dic . ondlang dices on mær ford . of ðam forde on nut fen . þæt swa ondlang dene . of ðære dene on æþelflede sige . swa on scylf wege of þæm wege on hymel broc .