140
S 914

King Æthelred re-establishes a monastic community in place of clerks at Christ Church, Canterbury, grants land at Eastry and confirms the community's estates at Ickham, Bossington, Adisham, Appledore, Swarling, Preston, Graveney, Westwell, Chart and Farleigh, Kent; at Patching, Sussex; at Meopham and Cooling, Kent; at Walworth, Surrey; at Monks Risborough, Buckinghamshire; at Lawling (in Latchingdon), Essex; at Hadleigh and Monks Eleigh, Suffolk; and in Thanet. A.D. '1006' [for 1002]

Archive: Canterbury, Christ Church

(i) Latin version

Hoc priuilegium . ego Æðelredus rex Anglorum . Ælfrico archiepiscopo . =cclesi= regimen Christi gubernante . dictaui et subscripsi.
Ego gratia Dei summitonantis . Angligenum . Orcadarum necne in gyro iacentium . monarchus . ÆÐELREDUS. Angligenis notesco philochristis ; dum pater uenerabilis . archipresul . ÆLFRICUS. cura pastorali memet sollicite mandatis diuinis sepissime debriauit . ingenioque crescente salubri . creator Deus cor illustrauit regium nostrum . mundumque cotidie ab hominum malitia senescentem intellegens . proh dolor . Dei seruitium passim nostra in gente a cultoribus clericis defleo extinctum . et tepefactum ; unde satrapis docentibus meis in gente piissimis . aecclesiam saluatoris in Kantia positam . expulsis pro uitiis patulis clericis . cum sanctus Augustinus iussu beati . GREGORII. pap= monachos infra Christi ecclesiam primitus rege piissimo annuente . ÆÐELBERHTO. constituit . grege monachili dominam gentis Christo opitulante . adornabo ; substantiam =cclesi= . monachorumque nouiter inibi locatis . perpetualiter in huius libello corroboratione . priuilegioque confirmo.
Uillul= uero Christi ad aecclesiam rite pertinentes qu= temporibus antiquissimis a meque monarcho aliisque fidelibus actenus concessa sunt . lingua plebeia hec continent uocabula ; Primitus . EASTRIGE . quod rus specialiter dum in decimationem sorte prouenit mearum uillarum . pro redemptione peccaminum . terra . ripaque . marina . Christi eternaliter =cclesi= contribuo ; Postquam constat IOCCHAM uillula . BOSINGTUN . et EDESHAM . appendentia parua . APELDRE . ET SWYRDHLINCAS . PREOSTANTUN . GRAVANEA . WYLLAN . CEART . FERNLEAH . On Suðsexan . PÆCCINGAS . In occidentali Cantia . MEAPHAM . CULINGAS . In Suðrian iuxta Lundoniam . WEALAWYRÐ ; Itidem ultra flumen Tamensem . HRISEBEORGAN margine luci Cilterni . uillula ecclesie Christi rite pertinens ; In orientalibus Saxonibus LÆLLING ; In orientalibus Anglis HÆÐLEH . et in regione eadem . ILLALEH . In insula Tanatorum territoria lata.
Sit autem predictum Christi speciale monasterium cum uillulis omnibus ad se rite pertinentibus ab omni seruitute liber terrena . campis . pascuis . pratis . siluarum nemoribus . mariscis salsis . piscationibus . uenationibus . aucupationibus tribus exceptis . expeditione . pontis . arcisque reedificatione . Si quis uero beniuolum hoc nostrum priuilegium muneribus Deo dignis augere satagat . amplificet sibi Deus mansionem amenam sedibus in superis cum omnibus sanctis . Si tunc ut non optamus quis maliuolum diabolico instinctus flatu . hanc nostram confirmationem minuerit . uel dempserit ; partem cum Iuda proditore Domini accipiat et dentibus Cerberi infernalis . sine termino cum demonibus omnibus Stigia palude corrodetur . nisi mortem ante communem . congrua emendet satisfactione quod nequiter contra Deum suum deliquid factorem ; Cum uero melius sit peccatum cauere quam emendare ; rogo . et cunctos successores obsecro fideles . reges . episcopos . duces . gentisque dominatores . ne sitis Christi raptores =cclesi= . uerum substanti= monachorumque inibi Deo seruientium seduli defensores . ut partem habeatis cum iustis non deficientem in celis . Scriptum est hoc priuilegium mille decurso anno uero .vi^to. His testibus me rogantibus necne concordantibus . quorum uocabula inferius lucide karaxantur.
+ Ego Æðelredus Anglorum induperator . hoc priuilegium ore manuque crucis signaculo corroboro.
+ Ego ÆLFRICUS Dorobernicus archipresul hanc prerogatiuam uexillo sancto confirmaui.
+ Ego UULFSTANUS Lundonie pontifex ecclesie . huius regis beniuolentiam trophaeo sancto consolidaui.
+ Ego ÆLFHEAH Wentonie episcopus . assensum prebui.
+ Ego ORDBERHT episcopus consensi.
+ Ego Æðelricus episcopus condonaui.
+ Ego Aðulfus episcopus pro uiribus annui.
+ Ego Godwinus Hrofensis ecclesie episcopus corroboraui.
+ Ego LYUINGUS . regis beneficium in Deo conclusi.
+ Ego Wulfricus abba.
+ Ego Ælward abba.
+ Ego Wulfgar abba.
+ Ego Ælfsinus abba.
+ Ego Leofricus abba.
+ Ego Ælfsinus abba.
+ Ego Wighardus abba.
+ Ego Ælfric dux.
+ Ego Ælfhelm dux.
+ Ego Leofwine dux.
+ Ego Leofsige dux.
+ Ego Æðelmær minister.
+ Ego Ordulf minister.

+ Ego Eadric minister.
+ Ego Byrhtric minister.
+ Ego Æþelric senex minister
+ Ego Leofric minister
+ Ego Sigeward minister
+ Ego Sigered minister
+ Ego Wulfstan senex minister.
+ Ego Wulfstan iuuenis minister
+ Ego Lyfing minister.
+ Ego Leofstan minister.

(ii) Old English version

On Drihtnes naman ælmihtiges Godes . Ic Æðelred mid Godes gyfe Angelðeode cyning . 7 wealdend . eac oðra iglanda ðe her abutan licgað . cyðe Engliscum cristenum mannum . hu se arwyrða arcebisceop . Ælfric . of his bisceoplican wisdome . 7 gymenne . me on Godes bebodum oft abysgud hæfð ; Ic eac ðurh Godes gyfe mine þearfe of ðære godcundan lare . 7 bodunge . geornlice understandan wylle . 7 ic ðisne ðeodscype undergyte ðurh manna yfelnysse . 7 unrihtwisnysse eall to wide fordonne . 7 forhergudne ; Eac betwux minum andgyte ic geseo . 7 soþlice understande þæt þes ðeodscype ðurh preosta gymeleste wide on ðisum earde ðurh ungehealdsumnysse awyrd is . 7 ic Godes ðeowdom aledne 7 acoledne ðearle behreowsige . Sæde ic minum witun ðe me for Gode . 7 for worulde rædað þæs him God andgyt sylð mines modes hohfulnysse . Cwædon hi ða þæt hit ðurh Godes fultum betere wære . þæt ic ða preostas of Cristes cyrcean for hiora openan leahtran . 7 gyltan geutode . 7 Cristes cyrcean mid munechades mannum gesette þe for me . 7 mi\n/ne leodscype ðærinne woldon rihtlice gebiddan and God gladian . Ic ða swa dyde on Cristes cyrcean munecas gesette of ðære bysne ðe sanctus Augustinus hider tobrohte . þæt wæs þæt he on Cristes cyrcean be sanctus GREGORIUS hæse . 7 ðæs mæran cinges geðeahte 7 fultume . ÆÐELBYRHTES . ða haligan munecas ðærinne gesette ðe he hider on eard mid him brohte . 7 ða munecas syððan ðurh hira haligan drohtnunga to biscopan gewurdan.
Ðære cyrcean landspede . 7 ðæra muneca ðe þær niwon inne gelogode synd ecelice . on ðisum sunderfreolse . ic gestrangige . 7 þara tuna her on naman awrite . þe of ealdum dagum 7 fram me Angelcinge . 7 eac of oðrum geleaffullum mannum hiderto ; to ðære halgan stowe gesealde syndon ; Ærest is . EASTRIGE . þæt land into Cristes cyrcean for minre sawle . ge on lande . ge on sæ strande . ecelice ic sylle ; ðonne is IOCCHAM . BOSINGTUN . EDESHAM . 7 APELDRA . lytle berewic . SWYRDHLINCAS . PREOSTATUN . GRAUANEA . WYLLAN . CEART . FERNLEAH . On Suðsexan . PÆCCINGAS . On West Cent . MEAPHAM . CULINGAS . On Suðrian wið Lundenne . WEALAwyrð . eftsona begeondan Tæmese . HRISEBYRGAN . be Cilternes efese . to Cristes cyrcean . tun . rihte togelicgende . On Eastsexum . LÆLLING . On East Englum . HÆÐLEAH . 7 ðær ful gehende . ILLALEH . On Tenet lande sum dæl landes;
Si æfre ðis forespecen mynster fram eallum eorðlicum þeowdome freoh . 7 mid eallum ðam tunum ðe him to gelicgað . þæt is on feldum . 7 on læsewum . 7 on mædum . 7 on wudubearwum . 7 on sealtum merscum . 7 on fiscnoðum . 7 on huntnoðum . 7 on fugelnoðum . butan þysum þrim ðingum . þæt is fyrdfærelde . 7 brigcgewurce . 7 burhbote ; Gyf hwylc welwillendra manna ðysne minne sunderfreols . mid godum ðingum geeacnian wylle . gemænifylde God ælmihtig his wununge on heofonlicum setlum mid eallum halgum . Gyf ðonne hwylc yfel man of deofle onæled sy . þæt he ðisne minne sunderfreols gewanige . oððe gelytlige . sy he Iudas gefera Cristes belæwendes . 7 sy he toren of hellehundes toðum . on ðam egeslicum hellewitum . mid eallum deoflum butan ælcum ende butan he hit ær his endedæge rihtlice gebete . þæt he wið his drihten manfullice agylte ; Ðonne hit soðlice betere is þæt man wið synne warnige . ðonne hi man geswincfullice bete . Ic bidde . 7 halsige ealle geleaffulle mine æftergengan . ciningas . 7 bisceopas . 7 ealdormen . 7 þeode wealdendras . þæt ge ne syn Cristes cyrcean reafgendras . ac þæt ge syn geornfulle beweriendras Cristes agenre landare . 7 ðara muneca ðe ðær Gode þeowian . þæt ge on ecere reste singal lif . 7 myrhðe habban motan mid eallum his halgum æfre butan ende . AMEN.
+ Ic Æðelred Engla cining þysne Cristes cyrcean sunderfreols on Cristes strengðe getrymme;
+ Ic . Ælfric Cristes cyrcean arcebisceop þæs godan cinges freols mid rode tacne æfre gestrangie;
+ Ic Wulfstan Lundeniscra manna bisceop mines hlafordes dugoðgife æfre geðwærige.
+ Ic Ælfheah Wincestriscera manna bisceop þises foresædan cinges bocunge be minre strengðe gefæstnige.
+ Ic Ordbyrht bisceop þæt ylce mid Godes bletsunge dyde .
+ Ic Æþelric bisceop þæt ilce dyde.
+ Ic Aðulf bisceop þæt ylce dyde.
+ Ic Godwine bisceop eal þæt ylce dyde.
+ Ic Lyfing bisceop mines hlafordes willan . 7 godnysse ecelice getrymme.
+ Ic Wulfric abbod soð gewitnys.
+ Ic Ælfward abbod ealswa.
+ Ic Wulfgar abbod. + Ic Ælfsige abbod.
+ Ic Leofric abbod. + Ic Wighard abbod.
+ Ic Ælfric ealdorman. + Ic Ælfhelm ealdorman.
+ Ic Leofwine ealdorman. + Ic Leofsige ealdorman.
+ Ic Æðelmær mines hlafordes discþen gewitnys.
+ Ic Ordulf ealswa trywe gewitnys.
+ Ic Eadric trywe gewitnys.
+ Ic Byrhtic cinges ðegen gewitnys.
+ Ic Æþelric ealda trywe gewitnys.
+ Ic Leofric hrægelðen trywe gewitnys.
+ Ic Siward cinges þegen ; æt ræde . 7 æt runan ðisre spræce trywe gewitnys.
+ Ic Sigered Siwardes broðor trywe gewitnys.
+ Ic Wulfstan ealda gewitnys.
+ Ic Wulfstan geonga gewitnys.
+ Ic Lyfing soð gewitnys.
+ Ic Leofstan gewitnys.

Edition: Charters of Christ Church, Canterbury, ed. N. P. Brooks and S. E. Kelly, Anglo-Saxon Charters (The British Academy, forthcoming), no. 140. For apparatus criticus and a detailed commentary see this edition.

In the name of the Lord, Almighty God. I, Æthelred, by God's grace king and ruler of the English and of the other islands that are situated around, declare to English Christians how the venerable Archbishop Ælfric, in his episcopal wisdom and diligence, has often engaged me in God's commands. I also, through God's grace, earnestly wish to understand my duty from spiritual teaching and preaching, and I perceive [that] this nation through the people's wickedness and unrighteousness is all too widely corrupted and devastated. And among my perceptions I see and truly understand that this nation is corrupted through the negligence of priests far and wide in this country through unchastity. And I sorely lament [that] God's service is cast aside and cooled. I declared to my counsellors who advise me in divine and earthly matters that God gives them understanding of my mind's anxious care. They declared then that it would be better with a view to God's support that I expel the priests from Christ Church for their open vices and sins and establish Christ Church with monks who would properly pray to and gladden God therein on behalf of me and my people. I then did establish monks in Christ Church, following the Rule that St Augustine brought hither, that he, by the command of St Gregory and the advice and protection of the glorious King Æthelberht, established there holy monks that he had brought with him into the country and the monks thereafter through their holy way of life rose to be bishops.
The landed property of this church and of the monks that have newly been lodged there, I confirm in perpetuity in this special privilege. I set down here the names of the estates given to the holy place in former times and by me, king of the English, and also by other pious people. First is Eastry: I give that estate into Christ Church in perpetuity for my soul, both on land and on the sea-shore. Also: Ickham, Bossington, Adisham and the little berewick at Appledore, Swarling, Pretson, Graveney, <West>well, Chart, Farleigh [all in Kent]. In Sussex, Patching. In West Kent, Meopham, Cooling. In Surrey, by London, Walworth. Likewise beyond the Thames, Risborough by the edge of the Chilterns, an estate rightly belonging to Christ Church. In Essex, Lawling. In East Anglia, Hadleigh and, close nearby, Eleigh. In Thanet, a great deal of land.
Let this afore-mentioned minster be forever free from all earthly service, with all the estates that belong to it� that is, in fields, pastures, meadows, woods, saltmarshes, fisheries, hunting grounds and hawking grounds, except for these three things: military service, bridgework and fortress-work. If any benevolent men desire to increase this special privilege of mine with benefits, may Almighty God multiply his dwelling in the heavenly realm with all the saints. But if any evil person is incited by the devil to infringe or diminish this my special privilege, let him be the companion of Judas, Christ's betrayer, and let him be torn by the teeth of the hound in the dreadful torments of Hell, with all the devils without any end, unless he makes amends before he dies, for what he evilly did against his Lord. For it is truly better to be warned against sin, than to make painful atonement for it. I ask and implore all my faithful successors, kings and bishops and ealdormen and leaders of the people, that they be not plunderers of Christ Church, but that they zealously be protectors of Christ's own landed property and of the monks who serve God there, that they may have eternal life in perpetual rest and happiness with all his saints for ever without end. Amen.
+ I, Æthelred, king of the English, have strengthened this special privilege of Christ Church in Christ's power.
+ I, Ælfric, archbishop of Christ Church, have confirmed henceforth the privilege of this good king with the sign of the cross.
+ I, Wulfstan, bishop of the people of London, am in agreement henceforth with my lord's munificence.
+ I. Ælfheah, bishop of the people of Winchester, have confirmed the written grant of this aforesaid king by my power.
+ I, Ordbriht, bishop, have done the same, with God's blessing.

[Other witnesses]

Translation: Charters of Christ Church, Canterbury, ed. N. P. Brooks and S. E. Kelly, Anglo-Saxon Charters (The British Academy, forthcoming), no. 140.