S 796
A.D. 974. King Edgar to Ælfric, abbot of Malmesbury; restoration of 10 hides (manentes) at Eastcourt in Crudwell, Wilts. The land had been forfeited by Ætheloth. Latin.
Archive: Malmesbury
MSS: 1. BL Lansdowne 417, 19v-20v (s. xv)
2. BL Royal 13 D. ii, 38rv (s. xii)
3. PRO E 164/24, 133rv (s. xiii)
4. Bodleian, Rawl. B. 252, 26r (s, xviii)
5. Bodleian, Wood empt. 5, 44v-46r (s. xviii)
6. Oxford, Magdalen College, 172, 94v (s. xii)
Printed: K 584 ex MS 1; Hamilton, William of Malmesbury, G.P., pp. 404-5 ex MS 6; Brewer, Reg. Malm., pp. 316-18 ex MS 3; Stubbs, William of Malmesbury, G.R., i. 173-4 ex MS 2; B 1301 ex Brewer, Hamilton, Stubbs and MS 1.
Comments: Darlington 1955, p. 89; Watkin 1956, p. 213 and n. 80, some very doubtful features; Finberg, ECW, no. 311, authentic; John 1966, p. 280; HRH, p. 231, doubtful although the subscriptions are consistent, apart from the three Æthelwolds (? a scribal error); Wormald 1988, no. 42; cf. S 1582, a set of bounds for Eastcourt which may originally have belonged to S 796.
De Estcote quam Eadgarus Rex dedit Sancte Meldunensi ecclesie .
Cum universitatem generalis masse metam maneat certa visibiliaque ut apostolus inquid temporalia . invisibilia vero perpetua . restat unusquemque ut hic peracta illic percipere merita .
Unde ego Eadgarus tocius Albionis basileus necne maritimorum seu insulanorum meorum subjectione regum circum habitancium adeo ut nullus progenitorum meorum subjectione largiflua Dei gracia suppetente sublimatus quid imperii mei potissimum regi regum domino darem tanti memor honoris sollercius sepe tractavi . Pie igitur fautrix devocionis pervigili mee studiositati superna subito insinuavit pietas queque in regno meo sancta restaurare monasteria . Que velut muscivis scindulis cariosisque tabulis tigno teniis visibiliter diruta . sic quod majus est intus a servicio ferme vacua fuerant neglecta . Idiotis nempe clericis ejectis nullius regularis religionis discipline subjectis . Plurimis in locis sanctioris serici scilicet monachici habitus prefeci pastores ad ruinosa queque templorum redintegranda opulentos fiscalium munerum eis exhibens sumptus . Quorum unum nomine Alfricum virum in omnibus ecclesiasticum famosissimi custodem constitui cenobii quod Angli biphario vocitant onomate Maldumesburg . Cui pro commoditate animule mee ob salvatoris nostri ejusdemque theotecos semper virginis Marie necnon apostolorum Petri et Pauli Aldhelmique almi presulis honorem particulam terre . X . videlicet manencium vocabulo Eastcotun cum pratis 7 silvis munifica liberalitate restitui . Hec terra a predictis semel accommodata clericis diu a plerisque postremo a contentioso injuste possessa est Aþelnodo . set supersticiosa subtilique ejus convectione a sapientibus meis audita ac disceptacione illius mendosa ab eisdem me presente convicta ; monasteriali a me reddita est usui .
Anno dominice incarnacionis . DCCCC . LXXIIII . Regni vero mei . XIIII . Regie consecracionis primo .
Hanc vero restitucionis scedulam predicti Abbatis rogatu ob future posteritatis memoriam tenacem caraxare precepi . Ne quam diu Christiana fides viget in nostratibus ab aliquo tyrannici potestatus prefatum rus ab illo sancto loco violenter quod absit aligenetur . ab affinitate vero circumjacencium agellulorum hec memorata terra giratur territorio .
Idoney testes regii doni astipulatores sunt isti .
Ego Eadgar rex vexillifero signo throphei proprium datum corroboravi .
Ego Dunstan archipastor salutifere stigmate gabuli consensi 7 subscripsi .
Ego Oswald antistes vivifici signaculo triumphi idem adstipulavi .
Ego Athelwold presul taumatico crucis sigillo illud confirmavi .
Nos tres uniformi proprio Alstani appellativo vocitamine episcopi consignavimus .
Ego Byrththelm geminique Athelwoldi episcopi consensimus 7 subscripsimus .
Ego Alfhere dux consensi 7 [subscripsi .]
Ego Aethelwine dux consensi 7 subscripsi .
Ego Byrhtnoð Dux subscripsi .
Ego Oslac comes 7 prefectus consensi .
Ego Wlstan prefectus consensi .
Ego Athelwerd fraterque meus Aelfwerd ministri consensimus 7 subscripsimus .
Ego Eadulf consensi 7 subscripsi .