S 1522

A.D. 998 (15 April). Will of Leofwine, son of Wulfstan, including bequests of land at Kelvedon, Essex, and at Mearcyncg seollan (probably Markshall, Essex) to St Peter's, Westminster; at Purleigh, Essex, partly to God's servants at Notley, Essex, and partly to Leofwaru, his aunt; and at Barling, Essex, to Wulfstan, bishop (of London). English.

Archive: Westminster

MSS: 1. Bodleian, Eng. hist. a. 2, no. XII (s. xi ?; BA Facs. no. 14; Keller 1906, no. 6)
2. Bodleian, Eng. hist. a. 2, no. XVI (s. xviii)
3. Bodleian, Eng. hist. a. 2, no. XVII (s. xviii; Latin translation of MS 2)

Printed: Madox 1702, p. 421 ex MS 1; K 1293 ex Madox; Thorpe, pp. 541-2 ex Madox, with translation; Napier and Stevenson, p. 22 (no. 9), with translation, pp. 123-4; Wyatt 1919, pp. 121-2.

Comments: Napier and Stevenson, pp. 122-35, authentic; Gordon 1937, pp. 48 n., 85-6; Hart, ECE, no. 32, MS 1 original; Brooke and Keir 1975, p. 369, probably authentic; Whitelock 1963, p. 10; Harvey 1977, p. 23; BA Facs., p. 6, MS 1 may be original, but script points to s. xi med., dating information probably read from Easter table.

Notes: Lower portion of chirograph (CHIROGRAPHUM), with step on lower edge, perhaps from wrapping-tie.

Endorsements:
(1) in a contemporary hand: þis is Leofwines cwide Wulfstanes suna.
(2) in a slightly later hand: Cynlæuedene . + .
(3) in a hand of early s. xiv: Killauedene uersus ecclesiam.

+ In nomine domini nostri Ihesu Cristi . þys is Leofwines cwide Wulfstanes suna . þæt is þonne ærest þæt ic gean Criste 7 sancte Petre for minre saule in to Westmynster ealra þara þinga þe me Crist to gefultumian wyle æt þam lande æt Cynlaue dyne . 7 æt Mearcyncg seollan on wuda 7 on felda . 7 ic gean of Purlea in to Hnutlea healfere hide landes on easthealf stræte for mine sawle þam Godes þeowan . 7 minre faþan Leofware þæs heafodbotles on Purlea . 7 ealles þæs þe me þær to locaþ . 7 gif Eadwold længc libbe hire suna þonne heo . fo he þærto . gif heo þonne læng beo 7 þæt God wille sylle hit on þa hand þe hire æfre betst gehyre on uncer bega cynne . 7 ic gean minum hlaforde Wulfstane bisceope þæs landes æt Bærlingum. Þys wæs gedon þæs geares fram ures Drihtnes gebyrdtide. DCCCCXCVIII anni dn'i XI indic' XX epac V c'cur' VIII ciclos XVII kalendæ mai dies .XIIII. lun' XV kalendæ mai dies pasce XVI. lun' ipsius

This is the will of Leofwine, son of Wulfstan. That then is first, that I give into Westminster, to Christ and to St Peter, for the sake of my soul, all the things that Christ will help me to on the estate at Kelvedon and at Mearcyncg seollan, in wood and infield. And I give from Purleigh into (at?) Notley, to God's servants, half a hide of land on teheast side of the street, for the sake of my soul. And to my paternal aunt, Leofwaru, the chief building in Purleigh, and all that belongs to me there. And if Eadwold, her son, live longer than she, let him succeed thereto. But if she live longer, and God will it, let her give it to whomsoever obeys her best amongst the kindred of us both. And I give to my lord, Bishop Wulfstan, the land at Barling. This was in the year 998 from our Lord's birth, &c.