S 497

A.D. 944. King Edmund to Ælfstan, minister; grant of 12 hides (mansae) or sulungs at Ealdingtune (? Monkton) in Thanet, Kent. Latin with English bounds.

Archive: Canterbury, Christ Church

MSS: 1. BL Stowe Ch. 25 (s. x med.; OS Facs., iii. 26)
2. London, Lambeth Palace, 1212, pp. 396-7 (s. xiii)

Printed: B 791.

Comments: Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 260-3, on bounds; Drögereit 1935, pp. 383-9, original; Ward 1943, p. 25, on bounds; Barker 1949, p. 57, contemporary; Chaplais 1965, pp. 59-60, original, written by Winchester scribe also responsible for S 510, 528, 535, 552 (= 1973, pp. 41-2); Stenton 1970, pp. 94-5, on witnesses; Finberg 1972, p. 415, on unit of assessment; Chaplais 1978, p. 16 n. 24, MS 1 has step from wrapping-tie (= 1981, XIV, p. 17); Keynes 1980, p. 16, original, product of 'Edmund C'; Dumville 1994, pp. 144-51, on script.

Endorsements (various hands):
(1) Oda archiepiscopus . on Tenyt
(2) + þis is þara twelf sulunga boc æt Ealdingtune þe Eadmund cing gebocode Ælfstane his þegne on ece yrfe
(3) Edmundus Rex dedit Aldintune Elfstano famulo suo
(4) . latine .

+ In nomine sanctæ trinitatis . Quamvis decreta pontificum et verba sacerdotum velud fundamenta montium indistrictis ligaminibus fixa sint . Tamen plerumque tempestates et turbines sæcularium rerum etiam religio sanctæ Dei æcclesie maculis reproborum dissipabitur ac rumpitur . Idcirco incertum futurorum temporum statum providentes posteris succedentibus profuturum esse decrevimus . ut ea quæ communi tractu salubri consilio definiuntur sertis litterulis roborata confirmentur .

Qua propter ego . Eadmundus . rex Anglorum ceterarumque gentium in circuitu persistentium gubernator et rector . cuidam mihi fidelissimo ministro nomine . Ælfstano . devotionis ejus sollertia ejusdemque placatus obsequio . dignatus sum impertiri . bis senas mansas . quod Cantigene dicunt . twelf sulunga . In illo loco ubi jamdudum solicole illius regionis nomen imposuerunt . æt Ealdingtune . Tali autem tenore hoc præfatæ munificentiæ munus tradendo concessi . ut possideat et firmiter teneat usque ad ultimum cursum vitæ suæ cum omnibus utensilibus quæ Deus cælorum in ipsa telluris gramine creavit . Tam in notis causis et ignotis . in modicis et in magnis . campis . pascuis . omnino . donans donabo libertatem . Et postquam humani generis fragilitatem deseruerit et ad desiderabilem jucunditatis viam per gratiam superni judicis adierit . succedentium . sibi cuicumque libuerit æternaliter derelinquat ceu superius prænotavi . Sit autem prædictum rus liber ab omni fiscali tributo sæculariumque servitutum exinanitum . Sine expeditione et pontis arcisve instructione . Præcipioque in nomine Dei summi tam nobis viventibus quam etiam divina præcepta prædicantibus huius libertatis statuta ad irritum deducere minime quispiam præsumat . quisquis benivola mente meam donationem amplificare satagerit in hoc præsenti sæculo vitam illius prospera feliciter longiturnæ vitæ gaudia teneat . Si quis autem propria temeritate violenter invadere præsumpserit . Sciat se proculdubio ante tribunal districti judicis titubantem tremebundumque rationem redditurum . Nisi prius digna satisfactione emendare maluerit .

Istis terminibus prædicta terra circumgyrata esse videtur . þis synt þa land gemæro to ealdingtune . Ærest on westan raculfinga mearce be þære ea norþ be raculfinga mearce on þone hrycg peg 7 lang weges oþ þone niwan dic andlang dices oþ mildryðe mearce suþ 7lang merce on þa ea wantsume 7lang wantsume oþ raculfinga mearce .

Acta est hæc præfata donatio . Anno ab Incarnatione domini nostri Jhesu Christi . DCCCCXLIIII . Indictione II .

+ Ego Eadmundus rex Anglorum præfatam donationem cum sigillo sanctæ crucis + confirmavi .
+ Ego Eadred ejusdem regis frater consignavi .
+ Ego Eadgifu ejusdem regis mater consensi .
+ Ego Oda Dorobernensis æcclesie archiepiscopus ejusdem regis donationem cum tropheo agie crucis + consignavi .
+ Ego Wulfstan archiepiscopus prædictum donum subarravi .
+ Ego Þeodred Lundoniensis æcclesie episcopus consensi .
+ Ego Ælfheah Wintaniensis æcclesie episcopus triumphalem tropheum agie crucis + impressi .
+ Ego Cenwald episcopus .
+ Ego Ælfric episcopus .
+ Ego Ælfred episcopus .
+ Ego Æþelgar episcopus .
+ Ego Burgric episcopus .
+ Ego Wulfhelm episcopus .
+ Ego Wulfsige episcopus .
+ Æþelstan dux .
+ Æþelwold dux .
+ Æþelstan dux .
+ Ealhhelm dux .
+ Æþelmund dux .
+ Eadric dux .
+ Uhtred dux .
+ Wulfgar minister .
+ Eadmund minister .
+ Wulfric minister .
+ Ælfsige minister .
+ Wulfric minister .
+ Ælfstan minister .
+ Ælfsige minister .
+ Ælfheah minister .
+ Beorhtwold minister .
+ Ælfgar minister .
+ Æþered minister .
+ Æþelgeard minister .
+ Wihtgar minister .
+ Ælfred minister .