S 906

A.D. 1004. King Æthelred to Burton Abbey; confirmation of privileges and lands granted by Wulfric as in his will (S 1536). The estates in question are Dumbleton, Gloucs.; in south Lancs.; in Wirral; at Rolleston, Harlaston, Staffs.; Beorelfestune (? Barlaston, Staffs. or Barlestone, Leics.); Marchington, Staffs.; Conisborough, Yorks. W.R.; Alvaston, Derbys.; Northtune (? Norton juxta Twycross, Leics.); Elford, Oakley, Tamworth, Balterley, Staffs.; Walesho (? Wales, WRY); Thorpe Savin, WRY; Whitwell, Clowne, Barlborough, Duckmanton, Mosborough, Eckington, Beighton, Derbys.; Doncaster, WRY; Morlingtune; Austrey, Warwicks.; Palterton, Derbys.; Wibtoft, Warwicks.; Twongan (? Tonge, Leics., or Tong, Salop); Burton upon Trent, Stretton, Bromley, Pillaton, Gailey, Whiston, Staffs.; Laganford (? Longford, Salop); Stirchley, Staffs.; Niwantun æt thære wic (probably Newton by Middlewich, Cheshire); Wædedun, Niwantun (? Newton Solney, Derbys.); Winshill, Staffs.; Suttun; Ticknall, Derbys.; Shenton, Wigston Parva, Lecis.; Halen (? Hawne in Halesowen, Worcs.); Hremesleage (? Romsley, Salop); Shiplea, Salop; Suthtune (? Sutton Maddock, Salop); Actune (? Acton Trussel in Baswich, Staffs.); Darlaston, Rudyard, Cotwalton, Church Leigh, Staffs.; Okeover, Ilam, Cauldon, Derbys.; Castern, Staffs.; Suthtune (? Sutton on the Hill, Derbys.); Morley, Breadsall, Morton, Pilsley, Ogston, North Wingfield, Snodeswic, Derbys.; Tathwell, Lincs.; Appleby Magna, Leics.; Weston in Arden, Burton Hastings, Warwicks.; Sharnford, Leics.; Harbury, Warwicks.; Aldsworth, Arlington, Gloucs.; Eccleshale (? Eccleshall, Staffs.); Waddune; Sheen, Staffs.; Langandune (? Longdon, Staffs.); Bupton, Stretton, Derbys. Latin with English.

Archive: Burton

MSS: 1. Burton-on-Trent Museum, Burton Muniment 1 (s. xi2; OS Facs., iii, Anglesey 2)
2. Aberystwyth, N.L.W., Peniarth 390, 179v-180v = pp. 358-60 (s. xiv)
3. Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 111, pp. 278-9 (s. xvi)
4. BL Cotton Vesp. E. iii, 4r (s. xiii; incomplete)
5. BL Harley 358, 40v-41r (s. xvi; ex 1)
6. BL MS Loans 30 (Marquess of Anglesey), 8r-9r (s. xiii1)
7. Bodleian, Dodsworth 38, 25r-26v (s. xvii; incomplete; ex 1)
8. Bodleian, Dugdale 11, 9r-10r (s. xvii; ex 1, 6)
9. Bodleian, James 25, pp. 163-4 (s. xvii; incomplete; ex 6)

Printed: Mon. Angl., i. 269-70; K 710 ex Mon. Angl.; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), iii. 39-40 (no. 4) ex MS 6; Luard, Annales Monastici, i. 183; OS Facs., iii., Angelsey 2, with translation; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 4, no. 76; Sawyer, Burton, no. 28 (and endorsements, pp. xxxv-vii).

Translated: Duignan and Carter 1886, pp. 103-7; Stevenson 1911/1, pp. 13-14; Bridgeman 1916, pp. 115-18 (no. 22).

Comments: Bridgeman 1916, pp. 118-19; Whitelock, Wills, pp. 151-60; Jeayes 1937, no. 1; Whitelock 1943, p. 123; Finberg, ECWM, no. 146, authentic, with correction p. 237; HRH, p. 232, MS 1 not original but charter possibly genuine, subscriptions are consistent; Hart, ECNE, no. 40 (pp. 71, 84, 99, 109, 126), authentic; Keynes 1978, p. 170 n. 5, on chrismon, MS 1 late 11th century; Sawyer, Burton, pp. xxxiv-viii, 53, authentic; Keynes 1980, pp. 106-7, on formulation, p. 123, on connection with S 920, p. 260, authentic, MS 1 a later copy; PN Staffs., i. 91, 103; Hooke 1990, p. 327, cited; cf. S 1536.

Postquam malesuada ueneniferi serpentis suggestio primum generis humani parentem inuida fraude uetiti seduxit edulio pomi . mortis continuo sententia huiusque uite erumnosa ipsi prot[ho]plasto opponitur peregrinatio . unde et in posteros mortifere cumulus dampnationis ob multiplices iniquitatum exercitationes a Deo excreuit . ut totius [a]dinuentor malitie diabolus ad ipsius quo prediximus radice originis totam ferme sibi hominum progeniem diuina permissione et culpa exigente ad penas consociaret gehennales . eius t?mide ab initio satellitumque conspirantium preparatas elationi . donec unicus eterni patris uerbigena substantiam dolens perisse que sue ymaginabitur similitudini . mysterio secretiori in ultima secli aetate uirginea sésé carne uelaret . ac uerus deus uerusque homo inter homines sine peccati macula in persone conuersaretur unitate . idque supernum consilium inimico in tantum celebatur . ut ipsum gula . uana gloria . auaritia . quibus armis primum prostraret hominem adgredi non diffideret . autumans ipsum qui totius bonitatis fons caputque est laqueo inique posse inretiri preuaricationis . sed sacre testimonio scripture tertio ab ipsa transuerberatus ueritate vmbras denuo uictus repedat infernales . hac nostre auctori salutis mox famulatus adfuit angelicus . Hisque omnibus ita ut diximus humanitatis exactis . Iesus sancto refertus pneumate . sapientia e[t]ate . proficiens et gratia medicamenta restaurationis humane tali protinus proposuit institutione . poenitentiam inquiens agite . appropinquabit enim regnum celorum . Haecque et alia sue documenta pietatis multiplicium dignatus [est]S:ss>i confirmare signis miraculorum . cecos inluminando . surdis auditum reddendo . mutis loquendi officium . mancis manuum utilitatem . claudis gradiendi possibilitatem . paraliticis menbrorum integritatem . leprosis cor[po]ris emundationem lunaticis demoni'acis'sque sensum mentis . mortuis uitam . viuis uiam uite huiusmodi sententi[is rese]rando . C[urrite dum luc]em habetis . ut uos tenebre non comprehendant . Verumptamen hostis insidiis antiqui infidelium corda Iudeorum inter hec omnia obduruerunt . ut ipsum mediatorem dei et hominum post illata probra ac flagella cruci adfigere animo non metuerent cecato . qui tamen corpus animatum tert[ia die incorruptibile] uictor resumpsit et inmortale . discipulisque palpandum clausis exhibuit ianuis . quadraginta inter eos crebrius illis apparendo conuersatus ymeras . illisque adstantibus et intuentibus die quadragessimo celi petiit habitacula collocans se cum nostre carnis substantia in paterni dextera throni . angelis hec uerba apostolis pronuntiatibus . sic ueniet quemadmodum uidistis eum euntem in celum . De quo sui aduentus die ita ipse per prophetam . dies inquid ille . dies [i]re . dies calamitatis et miserie . dies tribulationis et angustie . dies tenebrarum et caliginis . dies nebule et turbinis . dies tube et clangoris . Tanti siquidem f[or]midine diei adtactus . et tam districto iudici plac[er]e gestiens . ego . Æþelred rex Anglorum offero ipse domino nostro Iesu Cristo libertatem monasterii cuiusdam uulgaru usu . æt Byrtun . appellatur . ut sit [s]emper cum omnibus que sibi subiacent . villulis . prediis . campis . siluis . pratis . pascuis . aquarum decursibus piscationum hostiis et cunctis necessitatis humane utensilibus eterna securitate liberrimum ut illud no[bil]is progeniei minister . Wulfric extruxit . et exstructum collegio instituit monachico . dominium loci et in eo habitantium mee regali committens dominationi . habeatque abbas uocabulo . Wulfgeat . qui ad hoc ordinatus . est . primus . liberam facultatem interius exteriusque sub mea dicione illud gubernandi postposito cuiuslibet alterius hominis dominio . Hec uero libertas huius priuilegii annotatione [ide]o roboratur . quatenus in ipso loco eiusdem quo prediximus ordinis familia iugiter regulari more sub abbate tunc sibi prelato iuxta 'regulam' militans sancti Benedicti adgregetur . spesque prescripti ministri qui hoc Cr[isto] contulit monasterium . per puram in ipso habitantium conuersationem sanctamque eorum intercessionem . ad celestium renumerationem erigatur diuitiarum . Verum si quispiam altioris inferiorisvae persone h[unc] locum deuastare uel quispiam ex eo abstrahere . seu minuere aut in seruitutem studuerit redigere . tribus tantummodo exceptis expeditione scilicet . arcis . pontisue constructione . sciat se a celesti alienari [gloria] et gehennalia subire tormenta . vbi uermis est non moriens . et ignis indeficiens . dentiumque stridor [int]olerabilis . ni citius a sua resipiscat prauitate . E contrario siquis hoc donum quod Criso offertur aug[ment]are uoluerit . nouerit celestia se recipere premia . vbi Cristus omnia in omnibus . dies sine nocte . lux inde[f]iciens . claritas sempiterna . vita perpetua . gloria ineffabilis . requies eterna . gaudium sine fine . Haec autem sunt nomina uillarum . que prefatus minister ipsi sancto deuotissime subegit monasterio :-

Ærest Byrtune þe þæt mynster onstent . 7 Strættun . 7 Bromleage . 7 Bedintun . 7 Gageleage . 7 Witestun . 7 Langanford . 7 Styrcleage . 7 Niwantun æt þære wic . 7 Hwædedun . 7 oðer Niþantun . 7 Wineshylle . 7 Suðtun . 7 Tycenheale . 7 þæt æt Scenctune . 7 þæt æt Halen . 7 Remesleage . 7 þæt æt Sciplea . 7 þæt æt Suþtune . 7 þæt æt Actune twegra manna dæg ealswa ða foreward sprecað 7 þæt æt Deorlafestune . 7 Lege mid eallon þan ðe þær to hereð . 7 Hilum . Acofre mid eallon þam þe þærto hereð . 7 Bregdesheale . 7 Mortun . 7 eal seo socne þe þær to hereð . 7 Pyllesleage . 7 Taþawyllan . 7 Æppelbyg . 7 þæt æt Burhtune . 7 æt Westtune . 7 þæt æt Wicgestane . 7 þæt æt Scearnforda . 7 þæt æt 'Ealdes' wurðe . 7 þæt æt Ælfredingtune . 7 þæt æt Waddune . 7 þæt æt Sn?deswic 7 þæt æt Wynnefelda . 7 þæt æt Oggodestune forð inn mid Mortune . 7 þæt æt Hereburgebyrig . 7 þæt æt Ecclesheale . 7 þæt æt Suðtune . 7 þæt æt Morleage .

Scripta siquidem est huius libertas priuilegii anno ab incarnatione Cristi . millesimo . iiii . indictione . ii . horum testimonio sapientum quo[rum n]omina inferius annotata esse cernuntur .

Ego Æþelred rex Anglorum hoc donum perpetua ditaui libertate .
Ego Æþelftan filius regis .
Ego Ecgbyrht filius regis .
Ego Eadmund filius regis .
Ego Eadred filius regis .
Ego Eadwig filius regis .
Ego Eadgar filius regis .
Ego Ælfric . archi . episcopus composui .
Ego Wulfstan . archi . episcopus conclusi .
Ego Ælfheah . episcopus consignaui .
Ego Ælfhyn . episcopus consensi .
Ego Lyuuingc . episcopus condixi .
Ego Æþeric . episcopus confirmaui .
Ego Ælfhelm . episcopus corroboraui .
Ego Ordbyrht . episcopus assensi .
Ego Godwine . episcopus adquieui .
Ego Ælfgar . episcopus adunaui .
Ego Godwine . episcopus affirmaui .
Ego Sigeferð . episcopus auxiliatus sum .
Ego Ælfwardus . abbas .
Ego Ælfsinus . abbas .
Ego Wulfgarus abbas .
Ego Keanulfus . abbas .
Ego Ælfsinus . abbas .
Ego Germanus . abbas .
Ego Godemannus . abbas .
Ego Wulfricus . abbas .
Ego Leofricus . abbas .
Ego Bryhtwoldus . abbas .
Ego Eadred . abbas .
Ego Ælmær . abbas .
Ego Ælfric . dux .
Ego Ælfhelm . dux .
Ego Leowine . dux .
Ego Æþelmær [ministe]r .
Ego Ordulf . m[inister]
Ego Wulfgeat . minist[er]
Ego Wulfheah . minister .
Ego Wulfstan . minister .
Ego Styrr . minister .
Ego Morkare . minister .
Ego Fræna . minister .
Ego Æþeric . minister .
Ego Æþelmær . minister .
Ego Ælfgar . minister
Ego Aþelwold . minister .
Ego Ulfcytel . minister
Ego Eadric . m[ini]st[er]
Ego Godric . m[inister]
Ego Godwine . minister
Ego Æþelweard . minister
Ego Ælfgar . minister
Ego Leofwine . minister
Ego Byrhtere . minister
Ego Leofwine . minister
Ego Ælmær . minister