3
S 71

Æthelred, king of the Mercians, grants fifteen hides (cassati) near Tettan monasterium (Tetbury, Gloucestershire), to Abbot Aldhelm. A.D. 680 or 681

Archive: Malmesbury

TEXT

In nomine Domini nostri Iesu Christi saluatoris. Nichil intulimus ut apostolicum testatur oraculum in hunc mundum; uerum nec auferre quid possumus. Iccirco terrenis ac caducis eterna et mansura mercanda sunt. Quapropter ego <Æthelredus> rex Merciorum, rogatus a patricio meo et propinquo meo Cenfritho, pro remedio anime mee ac pro oratione fratrum in Meldubesberg Deo seruientium, .xv. <cassatos> iuxta Tettan monasterium Aldhelmo abbati libenter largitus sum. Si quis uero hanc donationem augere et amplificare uoluerit, augeat Deus partem eius in libro uite. Quod si quis, tyrannica potestate fretus, demere uel auferre satagerit, sciat se coram Christo nouemque angelorum ordinibus in tremendo examine rationem redditurum. Scripta est autem hec cyrographi cartula anno ab incarnatione Domini .dclxxxi., indictione .ix.
+ Ego Theodorus gratia Dei archiepiscopus confirmaui.
+ Ego Saxulbus episcopus subscripsi.
+ Ego Bosel episcopus subscripsi.
+ Signum manus Æthelredi regis Merciorum.
+ Signum Cenfrithi comitis.

Edition: Charters of Malmesbury Abbey, ed. S. E. Kelly, Anglo-Saxon Charters 11 (Oxford: Published for The British Academy by Oxford University Press, 2005), pp. 133-4 (no. 3). For apparatus criticus see ibid., p. 134, and for a detailed commentary see ibid., pp. 135-8.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ the Saviour. As the apostolic pronouncement attests, we have brought nothing into this world; but neither is there anything we can carry out. Accordingly, eternal and lasting things must be purchased with earthly and transitory ones. Wherefore I, Æthelred, king of the Mercians, at the request of my nobleman and my relative, Cenfrith, have freely granted, for the salvation of my soul and in return for prayer by the brethren serving God at Malmesbury, 15 hides near the monastery of Tetta to Abbot Aldhelm. If anyone should wish to increase and enlarge this gift, may God increase his share in the book of life. If anyone, relying on tyrannical power, should attempt to take it away or carry it off, let him know that he will have to render account before Christ and the nine orders of angels in the fearful Judgment. This chirograph was written in the year from the incarnation of the Lord 681, in indiction 9.
+ I, Theodore, by the Grace of God archbishop [of Canterbury], confirmed.
+ I, Seaxwulf, bishop [of the Mercians], subscribed.
+ I, Bosel, bishop [of the Hwicce], subscribed.
+ Mark of the hand of Æthelred, king of the Mercians.
+ Mark of Cenfrith, comes.

Translation: David A. E. Pelteret.