29
S 1056

King Edward renews the liberties of St Paul's minster, with particular reference to eight hides (mansae) at Barling and five at Chingford, Essex. [A.D. 1042 x 1066, or ? 908]

Archive: London, St Paul's

TEXT

In nomine Domini nostri Iesu Christi saluatoris. Ea qu= legaliter salubriterque determinantur, licet solus sufficeret sermo, ad euitandam tamen temporis futuri ambiguitatem fidelissimis scripturis et documentis sacris sunt commendanda. Quam ob rem ego Eadwardus rex Anglorum, pro =tern= retributionis spe et relaxatione peccaminum meorum, ad laudem regis =terni et ad honorem sancti Pauli apostoli gentium doctoris, regali auctoritate renouaui atque restauraui libertatem ad monasterium ipsius statutum in Lundonia ciuitate, ubi diu sanctus Erkenwaldus episcopatum tenuit, h=c est enim illa libertas quam ut =ternaliter in supradicto monasterio permaneat animo libenti constituo, id est octo mansas ad Bærlinga et quinque ad Cingelforde. Hanc ego libertatem, pro petitione et admonitione uenerabilis episcopi Erkenwaldi qui tunc temporis eidem monasterio prefuit, placabili mentis deuotione dictare, scribere, commendare procuraui. Denique adhuc pro ampliori firmitatis testamento omnimodo pr=cipimus atque precipiendo obsecramus, ut maneat ista libertas, quam pr=fatus Erkenwaldus episcopus in Romulea urbe a uenerabili papa Agatho petebat, insolubiliter ab omni human= seruitutis iugo, cum omnibus per circuitum ad illud monasterium rite pertinentibus, tribus solummodo exceptis, expeditione, pontis arcisque constructione et exercitu. Si quis uero, quod non optamus, huius decreti aduersitatem infringere temptauerit aut aliter quam a nobis statutum est mutare presumpserit, sit a consortio Domini nostri Iesu Christi segregatus et cum lupis rapacibus ponatur et cum nefandissimo Iuda, qui Christum tradidit, infernales inperpetuum luat p=nas, si ad satisfactionem et emendationem non uenerit.

Edition: Charters of St Paul's, London, ed. S. E. Kelly, Anglo-Saxon Charters 10 (Oxford: Published for The British Academy by Oxford University Press, 2004), pp. 210-11 (no. 29). For apparatus criticus see ibid., p. 211, and for a detailed commentary see ibid., pp. 211-12.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ the Saviour. Those things that are determined legally and to good effect, although speech alone should suffice, yet, to avoid ambiguity at a future time, should be granted with very reliable writings and holy documents. Wherefore, I, Edward, king of the English, in return for the hope of eternal reward and release from my sins, in praise of the Eternal King and in honour of St Paul the Apostle, teacher of the gentiles, by royal authority have renewed and restored the liberty for his minster established in the city of London, where St Eorcenwald long held the bishopric, for this is that liberty that I am establishing of [my own] free will in order that it should remain eternally in the aforementioned minster, that is, eight hides at Barling and five at Chingford. I have brought about the composition, writing [and] granting of this charter of liberty in devout agreement of spirit in response to the request and admonition of the venerable Bishop Eorcenwald, who was then for a time in charge of that same minster. As still greater evidence of resolve we instruct in every way and beseech through that instruction that that liberty should remain which the aforementioned Bishop Eorcenwald sought in the Romulean city [i.e., Rome] from Pope Agatho, perpetually, [free] from every yoke of servitude, with all things rightly belonging to that same minster round it, three things alone being excepted: military service, the construction of bridge and fortress and military service [sic]. If indeed anyone should attempt, which we do not want, to bring about opposition to this ordinance or presume to change it to other than what has been decided by us, let him be separated from the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ and placed with ravening wolves and with the very wicked Judas, who betrayed Christ, and pay hellish punishments in perpetuity, if he does not come to penitence and reform.

Translation: David A. E. Pelteret.