S 779
A.D. 970 (Woolmer, Hants.). King Edgar to Ely Abbey; confirmation of privileges and of land at Melbourn and Armingford, Cambs., and at Northwold, Norfolk, in exchange for 60 hides (cassati) at Harting, Sussex. Latin and English versions.
Archive: Ely
MSS: Latin and English
1. BL Stowe Ch. 31 (s. xi/xii; OS Facs., iii. 32)
2. BL Add. 5819, 3v-5r (s. xviii)
3. BL Add. 9822, 13r-14v (s. xv)
4. BL Cotton Aug. ii. 13 (s. xv)
5. BL Cotton Domit. xv, 97r-100v (s. xv; incomplete)
6. BL Harley 230, 123r-124r (s. xiv)
7. PRO Conf. R. 1 Hen. VII, pt 1, no. 11
8. PRO Conf. R. 2 Hen. VIII, pt 3, no. 3
9. PRO Conf. R. 14-18 Eliz., no. 6
10. PRO Conf. R. 4 Jas. I, no. 13
11. Bodleian, Dodsworth 97, 68r-71v (s. xvii)
12. Bodleian, Gough Cambridge 22, 1r-2r (s. xiv2)Latin
13. Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 111, pp. 237-40 (s. xvi)
14. Cambridge, Trinity College, O. 2. 1, pp. 48-9 (s. xii; incomplete)
15. Cambridge, Trinity College, O. 2. 41, pp. 66-9 (s. xii med.; French version)
16. Cambridge, Trinity College, O. 2. 41, pp. 81-6 (s. xii med.)
17. Cambridge, U.L., EDC, Liber M, pp. 64-6 (s. xiii2)
18. Ely, D. & C., Liber Eliensis, 40v-41v (s. xiii; incomplete)
19. BL Add. 9822, ***** (s. xv)
20. BL Cotton Cleop. C. i, 89v-91v (s. xiv)
21. BL Cotton Domitian xv, ***** (s. xv)
22. BL Egerton 3047, 3v-5, 4v (s. xv)
23. BL Harley 230, ***** (s. xiv)
24. BL Harley 358, 29r-30v (s. xvi)
25. BL Harley 6598, 25v-27r (s. xvii)
26. BL Lansdowne 447, 37r-38v (s. xvii)
27. BL Lansdowne 863, 101rv (s. xvi)
28. PRO Ch.R. 12 Edw. 2, no. 42
29. PRO Ch.R. 2 Edw. III, no. 78
30. PRO Ch.R. 1 Hen. IV, pt 2, no. 5
31. PRO Cart. Ant. R. 2, no 11 (s. xiii)
32. PRO Cart. Ant. R. 33, no. 1 (s. xiii)
33. PRO Pat. R. 1 Rich. II, pt 5, m. 34
34. PRO Pat. R. 2 Edw. IV, pt 6, m. 25
35. London, Soc. Ant. 38, 180r-181r (s. xiv)
36. London, Soc. Ant. 128, 152r (s. xvii; incomplete, with transl. 301r-302r)
37. Bodleian, Dodsworth 10, 47rv, 55r (s. xvii)
38. Bodleian, Dugdale 11, 1v-2v (s. xvii)
39. Bodleian, Dugdale 21, 69v-70r (s. xvii; incomplete)
40. Bodleian, Eng. hist. c. 241, 34v-36r (s. xviii)
41. Bodleian, Gough Cambridge 22, ***** (s. xiv)
42. Bodleian, Laud. Misc. 647, 24v-25r (s. xii; incomplete)
Printed: Latin
Mon. Angl., i. 93; Bentham, Ely, Appendix, pp. 1-2; K 563 ex MSS 2, 4; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 474-5 (no. 2) ex MS 37; Thorpe, pp. 237-9; B 1266 ex MS 1; Landon 1939, pp. 24-6 ex MS 27; Blake, Liber Eliensis, pp. 76-8, ex MS 18; Pope 1971, pp. 88-92, ex MS 1 and Blake.English
K 563 ex MSS 2, 4; Thorpe, pp. 239-43, with translation; B 1267 ex MS 1; Wyatt 1919, pp. 119-21; Robertson, Charters, no. 48 (pp. 98-103) ex MS 1, with translation; Pope 1971, pp. 88-92.
Comments: Astle 1792, spurious; B 1266, doubtful if authentic; Stevenson 1898/1, p. 505 n. 1, spurious; Plummer 1899, pp. 152, 155, spurious; Stevenson 1904, p. 202 n. 2, doubtful; Robertson, Charters, pp. 345-7; McIntosh 1949, p. 113 and n. 8, attributes English version to Ælfric and suggests date c. 1006; Miller 1951, pp. 15, 25-6; Whitelock 1959, p. 77 n., dubious; John 1960, pp. 105-6; Blake, Liber Eliensis, pp. 414-15, citing Whitelock, spurious; Hart, ECEE, no. 55, citing John, authentic; John 1966, p. 58, on royal style, pp. 210-33, Latin text substantially authentic, vernacular version of later date; HRH, p. 230, probably spurious, subscriptions consistent except for Bishop Ælric; Pope 1971, on Ælfric's connection with Old English version; Sawyer 1983, p. 298, on Woolmer; Kennedy 1995, pp. 141, 150-1, balance of opinion would seem to favour authenticity; Pelteret 1995, p. 278, on terminology; Wormald 1995, p. 128, on legal detail.
Endorsement:
Hæc est carta regis Eadgari de institutione abbatiæ Eliensis : et duplicatur
Aw Omnipotentis Dei cunctorum sceptra regentis moderamine regum immo totius sæculi creaturæque cunctæ indissolubili regimine æquæ gubernantis habenas ipsius nutu et gratia suffultus .
Ego Eadgarus basileus dilectæ insulæ Albionis subditus nobis sceptri Scotorum . Cumbrorumque . ac Brittonum . et omnium circum circa regionum quiete pacem perfruens . studiosus sollicite de laudibus creatoris omnium occupor addendis . ne nostra inertia nostrisque diebus plus æquo servitus ejus tapescere videatur . sed greges monachorum . et sanctimonilium hac nostra tempestate ipso opitulante qui se nobiscum usque in finem sæculi manere promittere dignatus . est . ubique in regno nostro desertis monasteriis antiquitus Dei famulatu deficiente . nunc reviviscente adsurgere cupimus . sub Sancti Benedicti abbatis regula viventes . quatinus illorum precatu et vigente religione sancta servitus Dei nos ipsum placatum rectorem habere queamus . Unde frequentes monitus venerabilis Atheluuoldi episcopi cordetenus pertractans cupio honorare . hoc privilegio rebusque copiosis monasterium quod in regione Elig situm dinoscitur antiquitus . ac Sancti Petri apostolorum principis honore dedicatum . decoratumque reliquiis et miraculis almæ virginis Etheldredæ cujus vita venerabilis nobis modernis historia Anglorum promitur quæ etiam incorruptibili corpore hactenus condita mausoleo marmoreo albo perdurat : Locus denique predictus deficiente servitio Dei nostra ætate regali fisco subditus erat . sed a secretis noster Atheluuoldus Deique amator diocesi Uuintoniensis civitatis fungens . datis nobis sexaginta cassatis in villa quæ ab accolis Heartingas nuncupatur mutuavit locum predictum cum appendiciis ejus . augmentavique mutuationi tres villas quæ his nominibus vocitantur . Meldeburna . Earmingaford . Northuuold . et ipse ilico monachos meo consilio et auxilio Deo fideliter regulari norma servientes perplures inibi collocavit . quibusque Brihtnothum quendam sapientem ac bene morieratum virum præpositi jure præfecit. Cui effectui admodum ego congaudens letabundus pro amore Christi et Sancti Petri quem patronum michi sub Deo elegi et sanctæ Etheldredæ virginis Deo dilectæ et ejus prosapiæ sanctæ illic quiescentis . et pro animabus patrum meorum regum antiquorum augmentare largiter mutuationem illam his donis . testibus consiliaris meis volo . Hoc est decem millia anguillarum quæ omni anno in villa quæ æt Uuyllan dicitur pro expenditione redduntur fratribus ad victualia . modo et deinceps concedo . et intra paludes causas seculares duorum centuriatuum . et extra paludes quinque centuriatuum in Uuichlauuan in provincia Orientalium Saxonum benigne ad fratrum necessaria sanciendo largior . quin etiam omnes causas seu correptiones transgressionum juste legis in sermonibus secularibus omnium terrarum sive villarum ad monasterium predictum rite pertinentium . et quas in futurum ævum Dei providentia loco prefato largitura est . sive emptione . seu donatione . aut aliqua justa adquisitione . stent cause seculares emendandæ . tam clementi examine fratrum loco manentium victui vel vestitui necessaria ministrantes . adhuc insuper omnem quartum nummum reipublicæ in provincia Grantaceaster fratribus reddendum jure perpetuo censeo. Et sit hoc privilegium liberum quasi munus nostrum Deo devote oblatum et sanctis ejus predictis . ad remedium animarum nostrarum sicuti prefati sumus . ut nullus regum nec principum aut ullius ordinis quislibet prepotens imposterum obstinata tyrannide aliquid horum infringere presumat . si non vult habere omnipotentis Dei maledictionem et sanctorum ejus et meam et patrum meorum pro quibus ista omnia libera haberi volumus æterna libertate in æternum . amen .
Hoc privilegium huius donationis et libertatis fecimus scribi anno incarnationis domini nostri Jhesu Christi nongentesimo septuagesimo . indictione tertia decima . anno regni mei æque tertio decimo in villa regali . quæ famoso vocabulo a solicolis Uulfamere nominatur . non clam in angulo . sed sub divo palam evidentissime scientibus totius regni mei primatibus . quorum quedam nomina hic infra inseri ad testimonium imposterum mandavimus .
Ego Eadgarus rex animo benigno hoc largiendo Deo concessi . et regia sublimitate corroboravi .
Ego Dunstan Archiepiscopus corroboravi .
Ego Oscytel Archiepiscopus consolidavi .
Ego Atheluuold episcopus confirmavi .
Ego Ælfstan episcopus consignavi .
Ego Osulf episcopus confirmavi .
Ego Uulfric episcopus adquievi .
Ego Uuynsige episcopus corroboravi .
Ego Alfuuold episcopus confirmavi .
Ego Aluuold episcopus consolidavi .
Ego Osuuold episcopus adquievi .
Ego Byrhthelm episcopus confirmavi .
Ego Eadelm episcopus consignavi .
Ego Ælric episcopus consolidavi .
Ego Uulfsige episcopus corroboravi .
Ælfðryð Regina .
Ælfric Abbas .
Escwig Abbas .
Osgar Abbas .
Ælfstan Abbas .
Æthelgar Abbas .
Cyneuueard Abbas .
Ðurcytel Abbas .
Ealdred Abbas .
Ordbriht Abbas .
Siferð Abbas .
Martin Abbas .
Æthelstan Dux .
Ælfhere Dux .
Ælfheah Dux .
Ordgar Dux .
Ætheluuine Dux .
Oslac Dux .
Malcolm Dux .
Birhtnoth Dux .
Eadulf Dux .
Birhtferð minister .
Eanulf minister .
Ælfuuine minister .
Ætheluueard minister .
Ælfuuine minister .
Uulfstan minister .
Ælfuueard minister .
Uulfgeat minister .
Osulf minister .
Osuueard minister .
Leofa minister .
Birhtric minister .
Ælfsige minister .
Ulf minister .
Osulf minister .
Heanric minister .
Hringulf minister .
Leofstan minister .
Oslac minister .
Frena minister .
Siferð minister .
Leofric minister .
Eadric minister .
Uulfnoð minister .
Ælfsige minister .
Ulfcytel minister .
Hroold minister .
Ðurstan minister .
Osgod minister .
Gota minister .
Frithegist minister .
Ðurferð minister .
Ðurgod minister .
Osferth minister .
Oscytel minister .
Siferth minister .
Ðurcytel minister .
Forne minister .
Cnut minister .
Dunstan minister .
Ðurcytel minister .
His igitur testibus et aliis compluribus de omnibus dignitatibus et primatibus regni mei hæc constituta et peracta noscuntur . que etiam nostra usitata sermocinatione describi mandavimus hac eadem sceda . quo possint in auribus vulgi sonare . ne aliqua scrupulositate admisceri videantur . sed regia auctoritate seu potestate nobis a Deo donata omnis contradictio funditus adnulletur .
Gode ælmihtigum rixiende ðe ræt 7 gewissað eallum gesceaftum þurh his agenne wisdom . 7 he ealra cininga cynedom gewylt . Ic Eadgar cining eac þurh his gife ofer Engla þeode . nu up aræred 7 he hæfð nu gewyld to minum anwealde Scottas 7 Cumbras . 7 eac swylce Bryttas . 7 eall þæt ðis igland him on innan hæfð þæt ic nu on sibbe gesitte minne cynestol hohful embe þæt hu ic his lof arære ðe læs ðe his lof alicge to swyðe nu on urum timan þurh ure asolcennysse . ac ic wille nu þurh Godes wissunge þa forlætenan mynstru on minum anwealde gehwær mid munecum gesettan . 7 eac mid mynecenum 7 Godes lof geedniwian ðe ær wæs forlæten Criste wissiendum ðe cwæð þæt he wolde wunian mid us oð þissere geendunge . 7 þa munecas libban heora lif æfter regole þæs halgan Benedictes us to þingunge þæt we þone hælænd habban us glædne . 7 he us gewissige 7 urne eard gehealde 7 æfter geendunge þæt ece lif us forgife ; Nu is me on mode æfter mynegungum Atheluuoldes biscopes þe me oft manode þæt ic wille goodian ðurh Godes silfes fultum . þæt mynster on Elig mid agenum freodome 7 sinderlicum wurðmynte . 7 siððan mid æhtum þam to bigleofan þe we gelogiað þær to Godes ðeowdome þe ðær simble wunion. Seo stow wæs gehalgod iu fram ealdum dagum þam halgan Petre to wyrðmynte ðæra apostola yldost . 7 heo wæs geglengd þurh Godes sylfes wundra þe gelome wurdon æt Atheldrythe byrgene þæs halgan mædenes þe ðær gehal lið oð þis on eall hwittre ðryh of marmstane geworht . be hyre we rædað hu heo her on liue wæs 7 hu heo Gode ðeowode on godre drohtnunge . 7 be hyre geendunge . 7 hu heo up adon wæs ansund of hyre byrgene swa swa Beda awrat Engla þeodæ lareow on his larbocum. Nu wæs se halga stede yuele forlæten mid læssan ðeowdome þonne us gelicode nu on urum timan . 7 eac wæs gehwyrfed þam cyninge to handa ic cweðe be me sylfum . ac Atheluuold bisceop þe his min rædbora 7 soð Godes freond . sealde me to gehwærfe þone ham Heartingas . on sixtigum hidum wið þam mynster lande þe lið into Helig . 7 ic þa geeacnode into Elig mynstre þas ðry hamas ðe þus sind gehatene . Meldeburna . Earningaford . Norðwold . 7 he þær rihte mid minum ræde 7 fultume mid munecum gesette þæt mynster æfter regole . 7 him ealdor gesette us eallum ful cuðne Brihtnoð gehaten . þæt he under him þane halgan regol for Gode geforðade æfter mynsterlicum þeawe ; Ða gelicode me þæt he hit swa gelogode mid Godes þeowum Gode to lofe . 7 ic þa geeacnode to þære ærran sylene tyn þusenda elfixa ælce geare þam munecum þe me for fyrdinge gefyrndagum aras binnan þam iggoðe of þam folce æt Wyllan . 7 ealla þa socna eac ofer þæt fennland into þam twam hundredum him to scrudfultume . 7 on east Englan æt Wichlawan . eac ealle þa socna ofer fif hundredum . 7 ofer ealle þa land gelice þa socna þe into þam mynstre nu synd begytene . oððe ða þe him gyt becumað þurh Cristes foresceawunge . oððe þurh ceap . oððe þurh gife . habban hi æfre on eallum þa socne . 7 þone feorðan pening on folclicre steore into Grantanbricge be minre unnan . 7 gif ænig mann þiss awendan wylle þonne gange eall seo socn þe to anre niht feorme gebyreð into þære stowe . 7 beo þis priuilegium þæt is sindorlice wyrðmynt . oððe agen freodom into þære stowe mid eallum þisum ðingum Gode geoffrod mid urum goodum willan . Gode æfre frig 7 Godes halgum for minre sawle 7 minra yldrena us to alysednesse . swa þæt nan þæra cyninga ðe cumað æfter me oððe ealdorman . oððe oðer rica mid ænigum riccetere oððe unrihte þiss ne awende odde gewanige be þam þe he nelle habban Godes awyrgednysse 7 his halgena . 7 minne . 7 minra yldrena þe þas ðing fore synd gefreode on ecum freote on ecnysse. AMHN.