S 1098

Writ of King Edward declaring that he confirms the gifts made by Earl Leofric and Godgifu (Godiva) to Abbot Leofwine and the brethren at Coventry minster. English and Latin versions.

Archive: Coventry

MSS: 1. BL Add. Ch. 28657 (s. xii; Birch 1889)
2. BL Add. 32100, 115v (s. xvi; Latin version)
3. BL Cotton Claud. A. viii, 81rv (s. xvi)
4. Bodleian, Dugdale 13, pp. 440-1 (s. xvii)
5. Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare Birthplace Library, Gregory Leiger-Book (dep.), pp. 25-6 (s. xiv; Latin version)

Printed: Harmer, Writs, no. 45 (pp. 219-21)ex MSS 1, 2, with translation.

Comments: Harmer, Writs, pp. 214-18, 462-3, spurious; Lancaster 1954, pp. 113-14, 123-4, spurious; Bishop and Chaplais 1957, p. xxii n. 1, forged by the same hand as BL Add. Ch. 11205, p. xxiii n. 2; Davis 1971, esp. pp. 543-4, probably forged in Stephen's reign; Hart, ECNE, no. 77, spurious; BA Facs., p. 11, on scribe of MS 1.

Eadward kyngc gret ædsiæ arcebiscop 7 ealle mine biscopes abbudes 7 eorles þeignes 7 scirgerefan 7 ealle mine holden freondlice. ælce mannum gebyreð swyðe rihte ure drihten God luuien 7 hehlice weorðien 7 geornlice Godes lagum 7 anrædlice filgean 7 ælmesdæden georne befellen þurh hwan þæt he of synbænden hine selfne mote alynian. For uræ Drihten on larspelle þuss cweð, Gestrynað eow syluum mid ælmesdædum madme hord on heofonan and wunnungæ mid ænglum. For hwilcæ neodlicum þingan icc kyþe eow eallum þæt icc ann mid fulre unne þæt þa ilcæ gyue þæ Leofric eorl 7 Godgyue habbeð gegiuen Criste 7 his leoue moder 7 Leofwine abbyde 7 þam gebroðran innan þam munstre æt Couæntree for hiere saule to helpe on lande 7 on loga, on golde 7 on seolfre, on madmen 7 on oðre eallum þingum swa full 7 swa forð swa hit heom sylfan on handen stod 7 swa hie þer mide þæne ilcan mynster wurðlice habbeð gegoded swa icc hit festlice getyþie. 7 icc ann heom eft ealswa for minre saule þæt hie habben þer to fullne freodom saca 7 socna, toll 7 team, hamsocne, forsteall, blodwite, fihtwite, weardwite 7 mundbryce. Nu willic henenforð þæt hit sye a muneca wunungc/ and standen hieo on Godes griðe 7 Sancte Marian 7 on minre æfter Sancte Benedictes regel on þære abbuden wealdunge. 7 icc nelle nateshwon geþafian þæt ænig mann ætbrede oððe geutige heora gyue 7 heora ælmessæ oððe þæt þær ænig mann ænigne onstyngc habbe on ænigum þingum oððe on ænigum timan buton se abbud 7 þa gebroðran to þæs mynstres neodan. 7 hwa sæ þas elmessæ mid ænige gode geece ece him Drihten heofona blissan. 7 hwa se hieo ætbrede oððe þane mynster on ænigum þingum on ænigen timan awersie stande he on Godes ungriðe 7 his leoue moder 7 minre. God eow ealle gehealde.