4
S 73

Æthelred, king of the Mercians, grants thirty hides (cassati) west of the highway (i.e. Foss Way), and fifteen hides near Tettan monasterium (Tetbury, Gloucestershire), to Abbot Aldhelm and his successors. A.D. 681

Archive: Malmesbury

TEXT

In nomine Domini Dei 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 Coenfritho, pro remedio anime mee ac pro oratione fratrum in Meldunesburg Deo seruientium .xxx. <cassatos> ab occidentali parte strate publice et non longe in alio loco quindecim prope Tettan monasterium Aldelmo abbati et successoribus eius in libertatem terrenarum seruitutum perpetualiter, libenter largitus sum. Et hanc donationem meam sacre crucis signaculo propria manu confirmaui et fauorabilium uirorum claro consensu corroboraui, ut nulla post obitum nostrum regalis audacitas nec secularis dignitas contra decretum nostrum confringere temptauerit. 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 rationem redditurum. Scripta est autem hec cyrographi cartula anno ab incarnatione Christi .dclxxxi., indictione .ix.
+ Signum manus Æth\el/redi regis Merciorum.
+ Signum manus Coenfrithi comitis.
+ Ego Theodorus gratia Dei archiepiscopus confirmaui.
+ Ego Saxulbus episcopus subscripsi.
+ Ego Bosel episcopus subscripsi.

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. 134-5 (no. 4). For apparatus criticus see ibid., p. 135, and for a detailed commentary see ibid., pp. 135-8.

In the name of our Lord God Jesus Christ the Saviour. We have brought nothing into this world, as the Apostolic declaration bears witness; but neither are we able to carry anything away. On that account eternal and lasting things must be purchased with earthly and transitory ones. Wherefore I, Æthelred, king of the Mercians, at the request of my patricius and relative, Cenfrith, for the salvation of my soul and in return for the prayer by the brethren serving God at Malmesbury, have freely bestowed 30 hides from the western side of the public street and not far away in another place fifteen [hides] near the monastery of Tetta on Abbot Aldhelm and his successors in perpetual freedom from earthly servitude. And I confirmed this gift of mine with the mark of the holy cross in my own hand and strengthened it with the clear agreement of beloved men, so that after our death no royal audacity nor man in secular office should attempt to infringe against our decision. If indeed anyone should wish to increase and enlarge this gift, may God increase his portion 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 render account before Christ and the nine orders of angels. This chirograph was written in the year from the incarnation of Christ 681, in indiction 9.
+ Mark of the hand of Æthelred, king of the Mercians.
+ Mark of the hand of Cenfrith, comes.
+ 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.

Translation: David A. E. Pelteret.