S 1490

Probably A.D. 1042 x 1043. Will of Ælfric Modercope, including bequests of land at Thurwineholm and Loddon, Norfolk, to (Bury) St Edmunds; at Bergh Apton, Norfolk, with Fuglholm to St Etheldreda's (Ely); at Barton Turf, Norfolk, to St Benedict's, Holme. English.

Archive: Bury St Edmunds

MSS: 1. Cambridge, U.L., Ff. 2. 33, 45r (s. xiii2)
2. BL Add. 14847, 15r (s. xiv)

Printed: K 970; Thorpe, pp. 566-7, with translation; Whitelock, Wills, no. 28 (p. 74), with translation. p. 75.

Translated: Douglas and Greenaway, EHD II, no. 181 (p. 899).

Comments: Fowler 1920, no. 12; Douglas 1932, pp. cxi-ii; Whitelock, Wills, pp. 185-6; Hart, ECEE, no. 127, authentic; Campbell 1996, p. 17.

Þis is se quide þe Alfric biquath er he ofer se ferde. þat is erst Lodne into seynt Eadmunde be wude and by felde and be fenne so ful 7 so forth so ic it formist ahte. And ic an þat lond at Birthe into seynt Aþeldrithe so ful 7 so forth so ic it bigeten hauede eyþer on wude oþer on felde. And into Holm to sancte Benedicte Berton al so ful 7 so forth so ic it ahte. And ic an into Rameseye six marc silures. and þat schal Godric mine brother lesten. 7 ic an Þurwineholm into Lodne. and Fuglholm into Berhe. And þa schep delen men on to half into Lodne 7 half into Beorthe. And 'ic' biquethe to min heregete ane marc goldes. and þat schal Godric mine brother lesten. And Alfric biscop I biquethe mine teld 7 min bedreaf þat ic best hauede vt on mi fare mid me. 7 be Alfric biscop 7 Tofi Prude. 7 Þrunni þese quides mundes hureþinge. þat it no man awende. 7 gif it wa wille awenden; god almithen awende is ansene fram hym on domesday.


This is the will which Ælfric made before he went across the sea. First, to St Edmund's, Loddon - woodland, open land and fen - with as full rights as ever I owned it; and I grant the estate at Bergh to St Etheldreda's with all the rights with which I acquired it, both woodland and open land; and Barton to St Benedict's at Holme, with as full rights as those with which I owned it. And I grant to Ramsey six marks of silver, and that my brother Godric is to pay. And I grant Thurwineholm with Loddon and Fuglholm with Bergh. And the sheep are to be divided into two parts, half for Loddon and half for Bergh. And for my heriot I bequeathe one mark of gold, and Godric my brother is to pay it. And I bequeathe to Bishop Ælfric my tent, and my bed-clothing, the best that I had out on my journey with me. And Bishop Ælfric, Tofi the Proud and Thrym, are to be executors of this will, especially in order that no one may alter it. And if anyone wishes to alter it, may God Almighty turn his face from him on the Day of Judgment.