Concerning Laws of the Mercians, probably 9th century
This provides information on the payment of wergild (the legal value set on a person’s life according to rank) within Mercian society. Textus Roffensis, f. 39v. Translated from Old English and edited by Dr Christopher Monk.
The anonymous tract known as Be Mircna Laga (‘Concerning Laws of the Mercians’), probably ninth-century1.
Transcription
39v (select folio number to open facsimile)
Ceorles wergyld is on Mircna laga cc scillinga. Đegenes wergyld is syx swa micel, þæt byð xii hun-
scillinga. Đonne byð cyninges anfeald wergild
syx þegena wergyld be Mircna laga, þæt is xxx
þusend sceatta, þæt bið ealles cxx punda. Swa
micel is þæs wergyldes on.2 And for þam cynedo-
me gebyrað oþer swilc to bote on cynegylde. Se wer3 gebyreð magum, ⁊ seo cynebot þam
leodum.
Translation
In the laws of the Mercians, a ceorl’s wergild is 200 shillings.4 A thegn’s wergild is six times as much,5 that is 12 hundred shillings. Then, according to Mercian laws, the single wergild of a king is the same as the wergild of six thegns, that is 30 thousand pennies,6 which is 120 pounds in total. It is the greatest of the wergilds in [the ‘folk-right’ of the people, according to Mercian laws].7 And for that kingdom there happens to be a further compensation within the king-payment. The wergild belongs to his family, and the king-bot to the people.8
Footnotes
1 Though this legal tract is associated with a compilation of texts made by Wulfstan of York, archbishop from 1002 to 1023, there is nothing to suggest Wulfstan composed it. On the contrary, the material deals with the kingdom of Mercia, and as Mercia ceased to have an independent kingdom after the 880s, the text likely dates to before that time: see Patrick Wormald, The Making of English Law: King Alfred to the Twelfth Century, vol. 1 (Blackwell, 1999), pp. 391–93. It has been suggested that Be Mircna Laga may derive from traditions of Mercian oral law: see Tom Lambert, Law and Order in Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford University Press, 2017), p. 74.
2 ‘Swa micel is þæs wergyldes on folces folcriht be Myrcna laga.’ The scribe accidentally omitted the second half of the sentence, which does however appear in two other manuscripts that contain a copy of this text.
3 Wer is here used as shorthand for wergild.
4 A ceorl is the lowest ranked freeman in Anglo-Saxon society. The wergild (literally ‘man-payment’) was the monetary value placed on a free person’s life in the context of compensation laws.
5 A thegn (or ‘thane’) is a higher ranked freeman, owing loyalty directly to his lord, or to the king.
6 Or ‘sceats’/‘sceattas’.
7 The bracketed text is missing in the Old English; see note.
8 Old English cynebot, meaning something like ‘king’s compensation’. I’ve preserved the Old English element -bot, here, in order to distinguish it from the -gild (also -gyld) element that appears in wergild and cynegild, and which essentially also has the meaning of ‘payment’ or ‘compensation’.
List of Byzantine Emperors, c.1123
Transcription and translaton of Textus Roffensis, ff. 107r-107v by Jacob Scott.
No rubric. The numbering begins at 34, which is confusing. Perhaps the scribe was confused too, as he may have thought the list was a continuation of the previous folio, which has 33 names listed.
Transcription
107r (select folio number to open facsimile)
xxxiiii Cxxxiiii Constantinus filius con-
stantini et helenae.
xxxv Constantinus et con-
stantius et constans tres filii eius.
xxxvi Iulianus apostata.
xxxvii Iouianus.
xxxviii Valentianus.
xxxix Valens frater eius.
xl Gratianus filius ua-
lentiani cum ua-
lentiniano fratre
matre seuera.
xli Theodosius.
xlii Archadius et Honorius filii theodosii.
xliii Theodosius filius archadii, et ualentinianus.
xliiii Martianus auitus postea episcopus est factus.
xlv Leo et maiorianus, postea alius leo.
xlvi Deinde zenon imperator efficitur.
xlvii Theodericus.
xlviii Anastasius.
xlix Iustinus et iustinianus.
L Iustinus.
Li Tiberius.
Lii Mlii Mauricius.
Liii Focas.
Liiii Eraclius.
Lv Odda.
Lvi Heraclonas.
Lvii Constantinus frater eraclii.
Lviii Constantinus filius constantini.
Lix Constantinus frater constantini superioris regis.
Lx Iustinianus minor.
Lxi Leo.
lxii Tyberius.
Lxiii Iustinianus.
Lxiiii Philippicus.
Lxv Anastasius.
Lxvi Tlxvi Theodosius.
107v
Lxvii Leo.
Translation
34 Constantine [I] son of Constantinius and Helena.
35 Constantine [I] and Constantine and Constans [I] the third son.
36 Julian the Apostate.
37 Jovian.
38 Valentian [I].
39 Valens frater eius.
40 Gratian son of Valentinian [I] of Valentinian
41 Theodosius [I].
42 Arcadius and Honorius sons of Theodosius [I].
43 Theodosius son of Arcadius, and Valentinian [I].
44 Marcian auitus postea episcopus est factus.
45 Leo [I] and maiorianus, postea alius leo.
46 Deinde zenon imperator efficitur.
47 Theodericus.
48 Anastasius.
49 Justin [I] and Justinian [I].
50 Iustin [II].
51 Tiberius [II].
52 Maurice.
53 Phocas.
54 Heraclius.
55 Odda[?].
56 Heraklonas.
57 Constans [II] frater eraclii.
58 Constantine [IV] filius constantini.
59 Constantine [IV] frater constantini superioris regis.
60 Justinian [II] minor.
61 Leontios.
62 Tiberius [III].
63 Justinian [II].
64 Philippikos.
65 Anastasios [II].
66 Theodosius [III].
67 Leo [III].
List of Roman Popes, c.1123
Lists of Roman Popes. Translation of Textus Roffensis, ff. 105r-106v by Jacob Scott.
The list is in two columns. Popes names are given coloured initials, either red or green, and are numbered, in red Roman numerals, from 1-149; but then the numbers break off at 106v, and the coloured initials have not been written. The scribe for the last two pages is not the original scribe. The list was completed after 1191.
Transcription
105r (select folio number to open facsimile)
Incipiunt nomina pontificum Romane urbis per ordinem
i Petrus apostolus. iii. kl’ iulii.
ii Linus. vi. k’ decemb’.
iii Cletus. vi. kl’ mai.
iiii Clemens. ix. kl’ deceb’.
v Anacletus. iii. id’ iulii.
vi Euaristus. vi. kl’ nou’.
vii Alexander. v. non’ mai.
viii Sixtus. viii. idus april’.
viiii Thelesphorus. non’ ian’.
x Yginus. iii. idus ian’.
xi Pius. v. idus iunii.
xii Anicitus. xii. kl’ mai.
xiii Sother. x. kl’ mai.
xiiii Eleutherus. vii. kl’ iunii.
xv Victor. xii. k’ mai.
xvi Zepherinus. vii. k’ sept’.
xvii Calestus. ii. idus octob’.
xviii Vrbanus. viii. k’ iunii.
xviiii Pontianus. xii. k’ decemb’.
xx Antherus. iii. non’ ian’.
xxi Fabianus. xiii. k’ feb’.
xxii Cornelius. xviii. k’ octob’.
xxiii Lucius. iiii. non’ mart’.
xxiiii Stephanus. iiii. non’ aug’.
xxv Sixtus. viii. idus aug’.
xxvi Dionisius. vii. k’ ian’.
xxvii Felix. iii. k’ iunii.
xxviii Euticianus. vi. id’ decemb’.
xxviiii Gaius. x. k’ mai.
xxx Marcellinus. vi. k’ mai.
xxxi Marcellus. xvii. k’ feb’.
xxxii Eusebius. vi. non’ octob’.
xxxiii Melciades. iiii. idus decemb’.
xxxiiii Siluester. ii. k’ ian’.
xxxv Marcus. non’ oct’.
xxxvi Iulius. ii. id’ april’.
xxxvii Liberius. vii. kl’ mai.
xxxviii Felix. iiii. k’ aug’.
xxxviiii Damasus. iii. id’ decemb’.
xl Syricius. viii. k’ mart’.
xli Anastasius. v. k’ mai.
xlii Innocentius. v. kl’ aug’.
xliii Zosimus. vii. kl’ ianuarii.
xliiii Bonefacius. ix. kl’ nouemb’.
xlv Caelestinus. viii. idus april’.
xlvi Syxtus. viii. idus aug’.
xlvii Leo. iii. idus april’.
xlviii Hilarius. iiii. id’ Sept’.
xlviiii Simplicius. vi. non’ mart’.
105v
l Felix. iiii. k’ aug’.
li Gelasius. xi. kl’ decemb’.
lii Anastasius. xiiii. kl’ decemb’.
liii Simmachus. xiiii. kl’ aug’.
liiii [O]rmisda. viii. idus aug’.
lv Iohannes. xv. kl’ iunii.
lvi [F]elix. iiii. idus octob’.
lvii Bonifacius. xvi. kl’ nou’.
lviii Iohannes, qui et mercurius, vi. kl’ iun’.
lix Agapitus. x. kl’ mai.
lx Siluerius. xii. kl’ iulii.
lxi Vigilius.
lxii Pelagius. vi. non’ mart’.
lxiii Iohannes martyr. iii. idus iul’.
lxiiii Benedictus. ii. kl’ aug’.
lxv Pelagius. viii. idus feb’.
lxvi Gregorius. iiii. idus mar’.
lxvii Sauinianus. vi. kl’ mai.
lxviii Bonifacius. ii. kl’ nouemb’.
lxviii Bonefacius. viii. kl’ iulii.
lxx Deusdedit. vi. idus nouemb’.
lxxi Bonifacius. viii. kl’ nouemb’.
lxxii Honorius. iii. idus octob’.
lxxiii Seuerinus. iiii. non’ aug’.
lxxiiii Iohannes. iii. idus octob’.
lxxv Theodorus. ii. idus mai.
lxxvi Martinus. iiii. id’ nou’.
lxxvii Eugenius. iiii. non’ iunii.
lxxviii Vitalianus. vi. kl’ febr’.
lxxviiii Adeodatus. vi. kl’ iulii.
lxxx Donus. iii. idus aprilis.
lxxxi Agatho. ii. non’ ian’.
lxxxii Leo iunior. v. non’ iulii.
lxxxiii Benedictus. viii. idus mai.
lxxxiiii Iohannes. iiii. non’ aug’.
lxxxv Conon. xii. kl’ octob’.
lxxxvi Slxxxvi Sergius. vii. idus sept’.
lxxxvii Iohannes.
lxxxviii Iohannes. xv. kl’ nou’.
lxxxviiii Sisinnius. viii. idus nou’.
xc Constantinus. vi. idus ian’.
xci Gregorius. iiii. idus febr’.
xcii Gregorius. iiii. kl’ decemb’.
xciii Zacharias. id. mart’.
xciiii Stephanus. v. kl’ mai.
xcv Paulus.
xcvi Constantinus.
xcvii Stephanus.
xcviii Adrianus.
xcviiii Leo sanctus.
106r
c Stephanus.
ci Paschalis.
cii Eugenius.
ciii Valentinus.
ciiii Gregorius.
cv Sergius.
cvi Leo.
cvii Benedictus.
cviii Nicholaus.
cix Adrianus.
cx Iohannes.
cxi Martinus.
cxii Adrianus.
cxiii Stephanus.
cxiiii Formosus.
cxv Bonefatius.
cxvi Stephanus.
cxvii Romanus.
cxviii Theodorus.
cxix Icxix. Iohannes.
cxx Benedictus.
cxxi Leo.
cxxii Christoforus.
cxxiii Sergius.
cxxiiii Anastasius.
cxxv Lando.
cxxvi Iohannes.
cxxvii Leo.
cxxviii Stephanus.
cxxix Icxxix. Iohannes.
cxxx Lcxxx. Leo.
cxxxi Stephanus.
cxxxii Marinus.
cxxxiii Agapitus.
cxxxiiii Iohannes.
cxxxv Benedictus.
cxxxvi Donus.
cxxxvii Bonifatius.
cxxxviii Benedictus.
cxxxix Iohannes.
cxl Iohannes.
cxli Iohannes.
cxlii Gregorius.
cxliii Leo.
cxliiii Iohannes.
cxlv Benedictus.
cxlvi Iohannes.
cxlvii Siluester.
cxlviii Iohannes.
cxlix Iohannes.
106v
(S)ergius.
(B)enedictus.
(J)ohannes.
(B)enedictus.
(S)iluester.
(G)regorius.
(C)lemens.
( )amasus.
(L)eo.
(V)ictor.
(S)tephanus.
(B)enedictus.
(N)icholaus.
(A)lexander.
(G)regorius.
(V)ictor.
(U)rbanus.
( )aschalis.
( )elasius.
( )alixtus.
(H)onorius.
(I)nnocentius.
(C)elestinus.
(L)ucius.
(E)ugenius.
(A)nastasius.
(A)drianus.
(A)lexander.
(L)ucius.
(U)rbanus.
(G)regorius.
(C)lemens.
(C)elestinus.
Translation
Here are the pontiffs of the city of Rome by ordination:
1 Peter the apostle. 3rd kl’ july.
2 Linus. 6th k’ december.
3 Cletus. 6th kl’ may.
4 Clement [I]. 9th kl’ December.
5 Anacletus. 3rd id’ July.
6 Evaristus. 6th kl’ November.
7 Alexander. 5th non’ may.
8 Sixtus [I]. 8th idus april.
9 Telesphorus. non’ january.
10 Hyginus. 3rd idus january.
11 Pius [I]. 5th idus june.
12 Anicetus. 12th kl’ may.
13 Soter. 10th kl’ may.
14 Eleutherius. 12th kl’ june.
15 Victor [I]. 12th k’ may.
16 Zephyrinus. 7th k’ september.
17 Calestus[?]. 2nd idus october.
18 Urban [I]. 8th k’ june.
19 Pontian. 12th k’ december.
20 Anterus. 3rd non’ january.
21 Fabian. 13th k’ february.
22 Cornelius. 18th k’ october.
23 Lucius [I]. 4th non’ march.
24 Stephan [I]. 4th non’ august.
25 Sixtus [II]. 8th idus august.
26 Dionysius. vii. k’ january.
27 Felix. iii. k’ june.
28 Eutychian. vi. id’ december.
29 Caius. x. k’ may.
30 Marcellinus. vi. k’ may.
31 Marcellus. xvii. k’ february.
32 Eusebius. vi. non’ october.
33 Miltiades. iiii. idus december.
34 Sylvester. ii. k’ january.
35 Mark. non’ october.
36 Julius [I]. ii. id’ april.
37 Liberius. vii. kl’ may.
38 Felix [II]. iiii. k’ august.
39 Damasus. iii. id’ december.
40 Siricius. viii. k’ march.
41 Anastasius. v. k’ may.
42 Innocent [I]. v. kl’ august.
43 Zosimus. vii. kl’ january.
44 Boniface [I]. ix. kl’ november.
45 Celestine [I]. viii. idus april.
46 Sixtus [III]. viii. idus august.
47 Leo [I]. iii. idus april.
48 Hilary. iiii. id’ September.
49 Simplicius. vi. non’ march.
50 Felix [III]. iiii. k’ august.
51 Gelasius [I]. xi. kl’ december.
52 Anastasius [II]. xiiii. kl’ december.
53 Symmachus. xiiii. kl’ august.
54 Hormisdas. viii. idus august.
55 Iohn [I]. xv. kl’ june.
56. Felix [IV]. iiii. idus october.
57 Boniface [II]. xvi. kl’ november
58 John [II], qui et mercurius, vi. kl’ june.
59 Agapetus [I]. x. kl’ may.
60 Silverius. xii. kl’ july.
61 Vigilius.
62 Pelagius [I]. vi. non’ march.
63 John [III] the martyr. iii. idus july.
64 Benedict [I]. ii. kl’ august.
65 Pelagius [II]. viii. idus february.
66 Gregory [I]. iiii. idus march.
67 Sabinian. vi. kl’ may.
68 Boniface [III]. ii. kl’ november.
69 Boniface [IV]. viii. kl’ july.
70 Adeodatus [I]. vi. idus november.
71 Boniface [V]. viii. kl’ november.
72 Honorius [I]. iii. idus october.
73 Severinus. iiii. non’ august.
74 John [IV]. iii. idus october.
75 Theodore [I]. ii. idus may.
76 Martin [I]. iiii. id’ november.
77 Eugene [I]. iiii. non’ june.
78 Vitalian. vi. kl’ february.
79 Adeodatus. vi. kl’ july.
80 Donus. iii. idus april.
81 Agatho. ii. non’ january.
82 Leo [II] junior. v. non’ july.
83 Benedict [II]. viii. idus may.
84 John [V]. iiii. non’ august.
85 Conon. xii. kl’ october.
86 Sergius [I]. vii. idus september.
87 John [VI].
88 John [VII]. xv. kl’ november.
89 Sisinnius. viii. idus november.
90 Constantine. vi. idus january.
91 Gregory [II]. iiii. idus february.
92 Gregory [III]. iiii. kl’ december.
93 Zachary. id. march.
94 Stephen [I]. v. kl’ may.
95 Paul [I].
96 Constantine.
97 Stephen [III?].
98 Adrian [I].
99 Saint Leo [III].
100 Stephen [IV].
101 Paschal [I].
102 Eugene [II].
103 Valentine.
104 Gregory [IV].
105 Sergius [II].
106 Leo [IV].
107 Benedict [III].
108 Nicholas [I].
109 Adrian [II].
110 John [VIII].
111 Marinus [I].
112 Adrian [III].
113 Stephen [V].
114 Formosus.
115 Boniface [VI].
116 Stephen [VI].
117 Romanus.
118 Theodore [II].
119 John [IX].
120 Benedict [IV].
121 Leo [V].
122 Christopher.
123 Sergius [III].
124 Anastasius [III].
125 Lando.
126 John [X].
127 Leo [VI].
128 Stephen [VII].
129 John [XI].
130 Leo [VII].
131 Stephen [VIII].
132 Marinus [II].
133 Agapetus [II].
134 John [XII].
135 Benedict [V].
136 Donus[?].
137 Boniface [VII].
138 Benedict [VII].
139 John [XIV].
140 John [XV].
141 John [XVI].
142 Gregory [V].
143 Leo.
144 Iohannes.
145 Benedict [VII?].
146 John [XVI].
147 Sylvester [II].
148 Iohannes.
149 Iohannes.
Sergius.
Benedictus.
Johannes.
Benedictus.
Siluester.
Gregorius.
Clemens.
( )amasus.
Leo.
Victor.
Stephanus.
Benedictus.
Nicholaus.
Alexander.
Gregorius.
Victor.
Urban.
( )aschalis.
( )elasius.
( )alixtus.
Honorius.
Innocent.
Celestine.
Lucius.
Eugene.
Anastasius.
Adrian.
Alexander.
Lucius.
Urban.
Gregory.
Clement.
Celestine.
List of the Bishops of Alexandria, c.1124
Transcription and translation of Textus Roffensis, ff. 109r-109v by Jacob Scott.
Also known as the Patriarchs or Popes of Alexandria, the highest-ranking bishop of Egypt.
Transcription
109r (select folio number to open facsimile)
Nomina Episcoporum
alexandriae
urbis.
[The list begins at the top of the folio:]
i [P]etrus apostolus.
ii Marcus euangelista.
iii Annianus.
iiii Abilius.
v Cerdo.
vi Primus.
vii Iustus.
viii Eumenes.
ix Marcus.
x Celadion.
xi Agrippinus.
xii Ixii Iulianus.
xxiii Demetrius.
xiiii Heraclas.
xv Dionisius.
xvi Mxvi Maximus.
xvii Lxvii Theona.
xviii Petrus martyr.
xix Achilla.
xx Alexander.
xxi Athanasius.
xxii Georgius procax.
xxiii Athanasius iterum.
xxiiii Petrus.
xxv Timotheus.
109v
xxvi Theophilus.
xxvii Cyrillus.
xxviii Philippus.
Translation
Names of the Bishops of the City of Alexandria:
1 Peter the Apostle.
2 Mark the Evangelist
3 Anianus.
4 Avilius.
5 Kedron.
6 Primus.
7 Justus.
8 Eumenes.
9 Markianos.
10 Celadion.
11 Agrippinus.
12 Julian.
13 Demetrius [I].
14 Heraclas.
15 Dionysius.
16 Maximus.
17 Theonas.
18 Peter [I] the Martyr.
19 Achillas.
20 Alexander [I].
21 Athanasius [I].
22 Gregory [of Cappadocia] [the impudent?].
23 Athanasius [I] the same.
24 Peter [II].
25 Timothy [I].
26 Theophilus [I].
27 Cyril [I].
28 Philip[?].
List of the Bishops of Jerusalem, c.1123
Transcription and translation of Textus Roffensis, ff. 107v-110r by Jacob Scott.
The lists are written in two columns: each section begins with a rubric, and names are numbered in Red roman numerals. There are spaces left at the end of some of the lists, apparently for updating names.
Folio
Transcription
Literal Translation (see Translation Notes)
107v (select folio number to open facsimile)
Incipiunt nomi-
Here begins the
na episcoporum Heiroso-
names of the bishops of the
limæ urbis.
city of Jerusalem.
i Primus iesus filius iosedech.
1 First was Jesus son of on high.
ii Ioachim.
2 Joachim
iii Elyasib filius eius.
3 Elyasib his son.
iiii Ioachim qui et iudas
Joachim, who is son of Judas
filius elyasib.
son of elyasib.
4 Elyasib.v Iohannes filius eius.
5 John his son.
vi Iaddus.
6 Iaddus.
vii Onias.
7 King.
viii Simon iustus.
8 Simon the just.
ix Eleazar frater eius.
9 Eleazar his brother.
x Mannases patruus eius.
10 Mannases uncle.
xi Onias filius symo-
11 Onias son of
nis iusti.
Simon the Just.
xii Simon.
12 Simon.
xiii Onias.
13 Onias.
xiii Iesus qui et iason frater eius.
14 Jesus and his brother, Jason.
xv Onias qui et menelaus.
15 Onias
xvi Alchimus qui et ioachim.
16 Alchimus
xvii Iudas machabeus.
17VJudah Maccabee.
xviii Ionathas frater eius.
18 his brother Jonathan.
xix Simon tercius frater.
19 Simon was third brother.
108r
xx Iohannes qui et ircanus
20 John ircanus here and Ircanus
filius symonis, filii
the son of Simon, son
eius aristobolus, an-
of Aristobulus,
tigonus, alexan-
Antigonus,
der, et alii duo.
Alexander, and two others.
xxi Aristobolus, i. annum.
21 Aristobolus, i. year.
xxii Alexander, rex et sacerdos.
22 Alexander, king and priest.
xxiii Yrcanus et aristobo-
23 Yrcanus and
lus filius eius de pote-
Aristobolus son might be
state confligunt,
in conflict,
sed yrcanus a pom-
but Yrcanus from
peio pontifex pre-
Pompei high
ficitur.
preficitur.
xxiiii Antigonus filius ari-
24 Antigonns son
stoboli fratris
Aristobulus brother
ircani. Postea
ircani. After
defecit regnum
failed kingship
et sacerdotium iudeorum.
and Jews.
Itaque herodes rex
King Herod,
xxv filius antipatri ana-
25 The son of Antipater
leum quendam de
analeum an invitation
babilonia accitum
from Babilonia
xxv. pontificem
25. pontiff appointed
iudeorum constituit.
Jews constitution.
Post uero exiguum xxvi.
After
xxvi aristobolum
26 Aristobulum
fratrem uxoris suae
brother of his wife
marianinae nepotem
Marian
hircam successorem
successor
dedit.
he gave.
Quo post
After one
annum interfecto,
year
analeo reddidit
sacerdotium. Tunc Then defecerunt pontifi- the pontiffs ces ueteris testa- of the Old menti. Testament.
List of the Popes of Antioch, c.1123
Transcription of Textus Roffensis, ff. 109v-110r by Jacob Scott.
Transcription
109v (select folio number to open facsimile)
Nomina pontifi-
cum antiochenae
urbis.
ii Euodius martyr.
iii Ignatius.
iiii Heros.
110r
v Cornelius.
vi Nero.
vii Theophilus.
viii Maximianus.
ix Serapion.
x Asclepiades.
xi Philetus.
xii Zebennus.
xiii Babillas.
xiiii Fabianus.
xv Demetrianus.
xvi Paulus hereticus.
Sed hoc eiecto suc
xvii cedit Domninus.
xviii Timeus.
xix Cyrillus.
xx Dorotheus.
xxi Tirannus.
xxii Eudoxius.
xxiii Meletius.
xxiiii Paulinus.
xxv Meletius iterum.
xxvi Flauianus.
xxvii Yxxvii Ysidorus martyr.
Translation
Names of the Popes of Antioch:
1 Peter the Apostle
2 Evodius the Martyr.
3 Ignatius.
4 Heron [I].
5 Cornelius.
6 Nero[?].
7 Theophilus.
8 Maximus [I].
9 Serapion.
10 Asclepiades.
11 Philetus.
12 Zebinnus.
13 Babylas.
14 Fabius.
15 Demetrius.
16 Paul the heretic.
Sed hoc eiecto suc
17 cedit Domnus.
18 Timaeus.
19 Cyril.
20 Dorotheus.
21 Tyrannion.
22 Eudoxius.
23 Meletius.
24 Paulinus.
25 Meletius again.
26 Flavian [I].
27 Ysidorus[?] the martyr.
List of twenty-four elders, c.1124
A list of twenty-four elders, the purpose of which is unknown. Translation of Textus Roffensis, folio 116v by Jacob Scott.
Transcription
116v (select folio number to open facsimile)
hæc sunt nomina uiginti quattor
seniorum. Iarim. Bidea. Raletea.
Maria. Correp. Sercib. Hibas. Abia. Michae.
Samae. Phaner. Hesmer. Affessor. Chesir. Gobra.
Chohos. Techeiamer. Ezechkiel. Enasib. Machin.
Samuhel. Beniamin. Dispar. Amin.
Translation
Here are the names of twenty-four elders:
Jarim,
Bidea,
Raletea,
Maria,
Correp,
Sercib,
Hibas,
Abia,
Michae,
Samae,
Phaner,
Hesmer,
Affessor,
Chesir,
Gobra,
Chohos,
Techeiamer,
Ezechiel,
Enasib,
Machin,
Samuel,
Benjamin,
Dispar,
Amin
Lists of British Bishops 604-1313 recorded in Textus Roffensis
Lists of Archbishops of Canterbury, Bishops of England and Scotland. Translation of Textus Roffensis 110v-117r.
Folio
Transcription
Literal Translation (see Translation Notes)
110v (select folio number to open facsimile)
110v Archbishops of Canterbury
The lists are written in two columns: each section begins with a rubric, and names are numbered in Red roman numerals. There are spaces left at the end of some of the lists, apparently for updating names. Some names are written in later hands. Completed after 1313.Nomina archiepiscoporum dorober-
Names of the archbishops of
nensis aecclesiae.
Canterbury:
i Augustinus. >vii. kl’ iunii.<
1 Augustine. >vii. kl’ june.<
ii Laurentius. >iiii. non’ febr’.<
2 Laurence. >iiii. non’< february.
iii Mellitus. >viii. kl’ mai.<
3 Mellitus. >viii. kl’ may.<
iiii Iustus. >iiii. id’ nouembr’.<
4 Justus. >iiii. id’ november.<
v Honorius. >ii. kl’ octob’.<
5 Honorius. >ii. kl’ october.<
vi Deusdedit. >Idus iulii.<
6 Deusdedit. >Idus july.<
vii Theodorus. >xiii. kl’ octob.<
7 Theodore. >xiii. kl’ october.<
viii Berhtuualdus.
8 Berhtwald.
vi [D]atuuinus.
9 Tatwine.
x Nothhelmus.
10 Nothhelm.
xi Cuðbertus.
11 Cuthbert.
xii Bregouuinus.
12 Bregowine.
xiii Iaenbertus.
13 Jænberht.
xiiii Aedilheardus.
14 Æthelhard.
xvWulfredus.
15 Wulfred.
xvi Suidredus.
16 Suidredus[?].
xvii Celnodus.
17 Ceolnoth.
xviii Aethelredus.
18 Æthelred.
xix Elegmundus.
19 Plegmund.
xx Athelmus.
20 Athelm.
xxi Wulfelmus.
21 Wulfhelm.
xxii Oda se goda. iiii. non’ iunii.
22 Oda the Good. iiii. non’ june.
xxiii Dunstanus. xiiii. kl’ iunii.
23 Dunstan. xiiii. kl’ june.
xxiiii Aeþelgarus.
24 Æthelgar.
The list continues at the top of the folio:
xxv Sigericus.
25 Sigeric [the Serious].
xxvi Aelfricus.
26. Ælfric [of Abingdon].
xxvii Aelfeachus. xiii. kl’ mai.
27 Ælfheah. xiii. kl’ may.
xxviii Liuincus.
28 Lyfing.
xxix Aeþelnodus.
29 Æthelnoth.
xxx Eadsynus.
30 Eadsige.
xxxi Rodbertus.
31 Robert [of Jumièges].
xxxii Stigandus.
32 Stigand.
xxxiii Lanfrancus. v. kl’ iunii.
33 Lanfranc. v. kl’ june.
xxxiiii Anselmus. xi. kl’ mai.
34 Anselm. xi. kl’ may.
xxxv Rodulfus. xiii. kl’ nouembr’.
35 Ralph [d'Escures]. xiii. kl’ november.
xxxvi Willelmus.
36 William [de Corbeil].
xxxvii Teodbaldus.
37 Theobald [of Bec].
xxxviii Tomas.
38 Thomas [Becket].
xxxix Ricardus.
39 Richard.
Baldewinus.
Baldewin [of Forde].
Hubertus.
Hubert [Walter].
Stephanus.
Stephen [Langton].
Ricardus.
Richard [le Grant].
Edmundus.
Edmund [of Abingdon].
Robertus.
Robert [Kilwardby].
Iohannes.
John [Peckham].
Robertus.
Robert [Winchelsey].
Walterus.
Walter [Reynolds].
111r Bishops of Rochester
Completed after 1319. There is a Latin annotation, partly legible, in a later hand (Lambarde’s?) at the bottom right corner.111r
Nomina episcoporum hrofensis aecclesiae.
Names of the bishops of Rochester:
i Iustus. iiii. idus nouember.
1 Justus. 4th ides of november
ii Romanus.
2 Romanus.
iii Paulinus. vi. idus october.
3 Paulinus. 6th ides of october
iiii Ythamar.
4 Ithamar.
v Damianus.
5 Damianus.
vi Putta.
6 Putta.
vii Cuichelmus.
7 Cwichelm.
viii Gybmundus.
8 Gebmund.
ix Tobias.
9 Tobias.
x Alduulfus.
10 Ealdwulf.
xi Dunno
11 Dunn.
xii Eardulfus.
12 Eardwulf.
xiii Diora.
13 Diora.
xiiii Weormundus.
14 Waermund [I].
xv Beornmodus.
15 Beornmod.
xvi Tadnothus.
16 Tadnoth.
xviii Badenothus.
17 Badenoth.
xviii Cuðuulfus.
18 Cuthwulf.
xix Suithulfus.
19 Swithwulf.
xx Burhricus.
20 Burgric.
xxi Ceolmundus.
21 Ceolmund.
xxii Cyneferthus.
22 Cyneferth.
xxiii AÆlfstanus.
23 Ælfstan.
xxiiii Goduuinus i.
24 Godwin I.
xxv Goduuinus ii.
25 Godwin II.
xxvi Sywardus.
26 Siward.
xxvii Ernostus.
27 Arnost.
xxviiii Gundulfus.
28 Gundulf.
xxix Radulfus.
29 Ralph [d'Escures].
xxx Ernulfus.
30 Ernulf.
xxxi Iohannes i.
31 John I.
xxxii Ioh’s ii.
32 John II.
xxxiii Ascelinus.
33 Ascelin.
xxxiiii Walterius.
34 Walter.
xxxv Walerannus.
35 Waleran.
xxxvi Gilebertus.
36 Gilbert [Glanvill].
xxxvii Benedictus.
37 Benedict [of Sausetun].
xxxviii Henricus.
38 Henry [Sandford].
Ricardus.
Richard [Wendene].
Laurencius.
Laurence [of St Martin].
Walterus.
Walter [de Merton].
Iohannes.
John [Bradfield].
Thomas.
Thomas [Ingoldsthorpe].
Thomas
Thomas [Wouldham]
Hamo
Hamo [Hethe]
111v Bishops of London
111v
Nomina episcoporum orien-
Names of the bishops of the
talium saxonum.
West Saxons:
i Mellitus.
1 Mellitus.
ii [C]edd.
2 Cedd.
iii Ercenwald.
3 Earconwald.
iiii Waldhere.
4 Waldhere.
v Inguuald.
5 Ingwald.
vi Ecguulf.
6 Ecgwulf.
vii Wigheh.
7 Wigheah.
viii [E]adbriht.
8 Eadberht.
ix Eadgar.
9 Eadgar.
x [C]enwalh.
10 Coenwealh.
xi Eadbald.
11 Eadbald.
xii Haðobriht.
12 Heathoberht.
xiii Osmund.
13 Osmund.
xiiii Æðelnoð.
14 Æthelnoth.
xv Ceolbriht.
15 Ceolberht.
xvi Ðeodred.
16 Ðeodred[?].
xvii Brihthelm.
17 Brihthelm.
xviii Ælfstan.
18 Ælfstan.
111v-112r Bishops of Chichester
Nomina episcoporum austra-
Names of the bishops of the
lium saxonum.
South Saxons:
i Wilfrið.
1 Wilfrid.
ii Eadbriht.
2 Eadberht.
iii Eolla.
3 Eolla.
iiii Sigga.
4 Sigeferth.
v Alubriht.
5 Aluberht.
vi Bosa.
6 Osa/Oswald.
vii Gislhere.
7 Gislhere.
viii Iota.
8 Tota.
ix Wiothun.
9 Wihthun.
x Aðelwulf.
10 Æthelwulf.
xi Cynred.
11 Cynered.
xii Guðheard.
12 Guthheard.
112r
xiii Ælfred.
13 Ælfred.
xiiii Eadhelm.
14 Eadhelm.
xv Æðelgar.
15 Æthelgar.
xvi Ordbyrht.
16 Ordbriht.
112r-112v Bishops of Winchester
Nomina episcoporum
Names of the bishops
occidentalium
of the west
saxonum
Saxons
i Primus occidentalium
1 Prime West Saxons,
saxonum, Birinus fu-
Birinus
it episcopus, qui cum consilio
was the bishop, who at the advice
honorii papae uene-
of the honored pope came to
rat britanniam.
Britain.
ii AÆgilberht.
2 Agilbert.
iii [W]ine.
3 Wine.
iiii Leutherius.
4 Leuthere.
v Hædde. Deinde in duas parrochias diuisus est, altera uuentanae aecclesiae, altera scirburnensis aecclesiae.
5 Hædde. Deinde in duas parrochias diuisus est, altera uuentanae aecclesiae, altera scirburnensis aecclesiae.
vi Danihel.
6 Daniel.
vii Hunfrið.
7 Hunfrith.
viii Cyneheard. ix Æðelhear[d.]
8 Cyneheard. 9 Æthelheard
x Ecgbald.
10 Ecgbald.
xi Dudd.
11 Dudd.
xii Cynebriht.
12 Cyneberht.
xiii Ealhmund.
13 Ealhmund.
xiiii Wigðegin.
14 Wigthegn.
xv Herferð.
15 Herefrith.
xvi Eadhun.
16 Eadhun.
xvii Helmstan.
17 Helmstan.
xviii Sxviii Suuiðhun.
18 Swithun.
112v
xviiii Ealhferð.
19 Ealhferth.
xx Denewulf.
20 Denewulf.
xxi Friðestan.
21 Frithestan.
xxii Byrnstan.
22 Beornstan.
xxiii Ælfheah.
23 Ælfheah [I].
xxiiii Ælfsige.
24 Ælfsige [I].
xxv Aðelwold.
25 Æthelwold [I].
xxvi Ælfheah.
26 Ælfheah [II].
Vuentania aecclesia in duas parrochias diuisa est tempore friðestan, unam tenuit friðestan, et alteram æðelstan, postea oda. Deinde in tres parrochias diuisa est, wiltunensis, et willensis, et cridiensis aecclesiae.
Winchester is then divided into two dioceses in the time of friðestan, one held friðestan and other Æthelstan, then Oda. Then in three parishes divided, Wiltunense and willensis and Cridiensis church.
111r Bishops of Salisbury
Nomina episcoporum Scirebur-
Names of the bishops of
nensis aecclesiae.
Salisbury.
i Eldhelm.
1. Aldhelm.
ii Forðhere.
2. Forthhere.
iii Herewald.
3. Herewald.
iiii Æðelmod.
4. Æthelmod.
v Cenefrið.
5. Denefrith.
vi Sigbriht.
6. Wigberht.
vii Ealhstan.
7. Eahlstan.
viii Heahmund.
8. Heahmund.
ix Æðelheah.
9. Æthelheah.
x Wulfsige.
10. Wulfsige [I].
xi Asser.
xi Asser.
xii Æðelweard.
xii Æthelweard.
xiii Waerstan.
xiii Wærstan.
xiiii Æðelbald.
xiiii Æthelbald.
xv Sigelm.
xv Sigehelm.
xvi Ælfred.
xvi Alfred.
xvii Wulfsige.
xvii Wulfsige [II].
xviii Alfwold.
xviii Ælfwold [I].
xix Æþelsige.
25 xix Æthelsige [I].
112v Bishops of Saint Albans
113r
S Alesbienses
St Albans
Nomina episcoporum uuiltunensis aecclesiae.
Names of the bishops of Saint Albans
i Æðelstan.
i Æðelstan.
ii Oda. iii. Ælrici.
ii Oda. iii. Ælrici.
iii Osolf.
iii Osolf.
iiii Ælfstan.
iiii Ælfstan.
v Wulfgar.
v Wulfgar.
vi Sigericus, dei amicus.
vi Sigericus,
113r Bishops of Wells
Nomina episcoporum uuillensis aecclesiae.
Names of the bishops of Wells
i Aðelm. ii Wulfhelm.
i Athelm. ii Wulfhelm [I].
iii Æiii Ælfheah ii.
iii Alphege ii.
iiii Wulfhelm.
iiii Wulfhelm [II].
v Brihthelm.
v Bryhthelm.
vi Kynewerd.
vi Cyneweard.
vii Sigar.
vii Sigar.
113r Bishops of Exeter
Nomina episcoporum cridiensis aecclesiae.
Names of the bishops of Exeter
i Eadulf.
1 Eadwulf.
ii Æðelgar.
2 Æthelgar.
iii Alfwold.
3 Ælfwold.
iiii Sideman.
4 Sideman.
v Ælfric.
5 Ælfric.
vi Alfwold.
6 Ælfwold.
113v Bishops of Worcester
113v
Nomina episcoporum uuicciorum aecclesiae.
Names of the bishops of Worcester
i Sexwulf.
1 Sexwulf.
ii Bosel.
2 Bosel.
iii Estfor.
3 Estfor.
iiii Ecwine.
4 Ecwine.
v Wilfrið.
5 Wilfrið.
vi Hildred.
6 Hildred.
vii Wærmund.
7 Waermund.
viii Gilhere.
8 Tilhere.
xii Heaðered.
9 Heathured.
113v Bishops of Cheshire
Nomina episcoporum prouinciae merciorum.
Primus in prouincia merciorum et lindisfarorum ac mediterraneorum anglorum i episcopus, Diuma. ii Ceollach. iii Tiii Trumhere. iiii Iaruman. v Cedda. vi Winfrið. vii Seaxwulf. Postea uero in ii.as parrochias diuiditur post seaxwulfum prouincia merciorum, duos episcopos habuit headdan et uuilfridum, postea wilfridus electus et headda prefatus regebat ambas parrochias, deinde eadwine qui et uuor nominabatur. Iterum diuisa est in duas parrochias. i Torhthelm. Leicestrenses. ii Eadberht. iii Enpona. iiii Terenbyrht. v Teðhum. vi Ealdred. vii Ceoldred. viii Hwita. Iterum Cestrenses. ix Cemele. x Cuðfrið. xi Berthun. xii Sigeberht. xiii Aldulwulf. xiiii Herewine. xv Aðelwald. xvi Humberht. xvii Kynefyrð.
Nomina episcoporum herefordensium. i Putta. ii Torhelm. iii Torhthere. iiii Ealhstod. v Cuðberht. vi Dodda. vii Avii Acca. viii Ceadda. ix Aldberht. x Esne.
114r Bishops of Leicester
114r
114r Bishops of Hereford
114v
xi Ceolmund.
xii Vtel.
xiii Wulfheard.
xiiii Peonna.
xv Adwulf.
( )udulfus, Mucel, Demlef, Kinemund, Edgar, Tidhelm, Wlfhelm, Aluric, Adulfus, Elstanus, Leuegarus, Walterus, Robertus, Girardus, Reinaldus, Gosfridus, Ricardus, Robertus, Gilebertus, Robertus, Robertus, Willelmus. Lincolnienses.
Nomina episcoporum lindisfarorum. i Eadheah. ii Æðelwine. iii Eadgar. iiii Cynebyrht. v Alowig. vi Ealdwulf. ix Byrhtred. x Leofwine. xi Ælfnoð. xii Æscwig. Ælfhelm. Eadnod. Æadricus. Eadnod. Wlfwi. Remigius. Robertus. Alexander. Robertus ii. Walterus. Hugo. Norwicenses.
Nomina episcoporum orientalium saxonum. i Felix. ii Thomas. iii Beorhtgils. iiii Bisi. vii Ceolwulf. viii Eadwulf.
114v Bishops of Lincoln
114v Bishops of Norwich
115r
Postea in duas parrochias diuiditur.
i Eadewine.
ii Roðberht.
iii Haðelac.
iiii Æðelfrið.
v Eanfrið.
vi Aþelwulf.
vii Alhheard.
viii Sviii Sibba.
ix Hunferð.
x Hunberht.
xi Æcce.
xii Æscwulf.
xiii Eadred.
xiiii Guðwine.
xv Alberht.
xvi Ecglaf.
xvii Heardred.
xviii Ælfhun.
xix Widfrið.
xx Wærmund.
xxi Wilred.
xxii Aðulf.
xxiii Ælfric.
xxiiii Ðeodred. Teodredus, Elstanus, Algarus, Elfwinus, Aluricus i. Aluricus ii. Stigandus, Agelmarus, Herfastus, Herebertus.
115r Bishops of North Humber (York)
Eboracenses.
Nomina episcoporum norðan
hymbrorum gentis.
i Primus paulinus, a iusto
archiepiscopo ordinatus. ii Aðan. iii Lines. iiii Colmann. v Iuda. Postea in duas par- rochias diuiditur, ceadda eboracensi aecclesiae ordinatum, wilfrið hagstalden- siae ordinatus. De- positoque wilfriðo a rege ecfriðo, ea- ta pro eo ordine episcopus hagstaldensiae, pro ceaddan bosa eboracensi. Defuncto eatan, iohannes pro eo ordinatur. Post longum uero exilium, wilfrið iterum in episcopatu hagstaldensiae receptus est. Et idem iohanne defuncto, eboraci substitutus.
Nomina episcoporum eboracensis aecclesiae. Names of the bishops of York: i Wilfrið. 1 Wilfrid [I]. ii Ecberht. 2 Ecgbert. iii Coena. 3 Coena. iiii Eanbald. 4 Eanbald. v Wulfsige. 5 Wulfsige. vi Wimund. 6 Wigmund. Ripenses. Ripon
Nomina episcoporum haustal densis aecclesiae. Names of the bishops of i Acca. 1 Acca. ii Friðeberht. 2 Friðeberht. iii Alhmund. 3 Alhmund. iiii Gilberht. 4 Gilberht. v Æðelberht. 5 Æðelberht. vi Heardred. 6 Heardred. vii Eanberht. 7 Eanberht. Dunelmeses Durham
Nomina episcoporum lin- Names of the bishops disfarnensium. of Lindisarn. i Aidan. 1 Aidan. ii Finan. 2 Finan. iii Colman. 3 Colmán. iiii Eata. 4 Eata [of Hexham]. v Cuðberht. 5 Cuthbert. vi Eanberht. 6 Eadberht. vii Eadfrið. 7 Eadfrith. viii Kynewulf. 8 Cynewulf. ix Sigebald. 9 Higbald. x Ecberht. 10 Egbert. Candida Casa was the church established by St Ninian in Whithorn, Galloway, southern Scotland, in the mid fifth century AD. The name derives from Latin: casa (meaning hut) and candidus/candida (meaning shining or glittering white), referring possibly to the stone used to construct it, or the whitewash used to paint it.
Nomina episcoporum aecclesiae Names of the Bishops of the church quae dicitur casa which is called Casa candi(da). Candida: i Pehthelm. 1 Pehthelm. ii Froðowald. 2 Frithwald. iii Hehtwine. 3 Pehtwine. iiii Æðelberht. 4 Æthelberht [of Whithorn]. v Eadwulf. 5 Beadwulf.
115v
115v Bishops of York
115v Bishops of Ripon
116r Bishops of Durham
116r
116r Bishops of Casa Candida (Galloway, Scotland)
Names of the seven Archangels, 8th century
Transcription and translation of Textus Roffensis, f. 116v by Jacob Scott.
This is a copy of the brief Nomina archangelorum, a text probably earlier than the end of the 8th cent., in which seven archangels are listed to whom one should call on during incantations and prayers after changes of circumstance or fortune.
Transcription
116v (select folio number to open facsimile)
hæc sunt nomina septem archangelorum
Michael. Gabrihel. Raphael. Urihel.
Barachiel. Raguhel. Pantasaron.
Translation
Here are the names of the seven archangels:
Michael,
Gabriel,
Raphael,
Uriel,
Barachiel,
Raguel,
Pantasaron1.
Further reading
Paolo Tomea, 2017, Appunti sulla venerazione agli angeli extrabiblici nel Medioevo occidentale. I nomina archangelorum e l’enigmatica fortuna di Pantasaron. Analecta Bollandiana, Volume 135, Issue 1, pp. 27-62. Online here
Footnotes
1 Pantasaron, perhaps of Jewish provenance, who at the moment is not attested in any earlier source than the Nomina (Tomea 2017).
Notes of liturgy added to the Mass, c.1124
Notes of liturgy added to the Mass by Popes Celestine, Telesphorus and Sixtus. Transcription and translation of Textus Roffensis, f. 117r by Jacob Scott.
Date uncertain. Also see the Popes responsible for introducing new forms of service into the liturgy on folio 116v.
Transcription
117r (select folio number to open facsimile)
Officium missæ instituit Celestinus
papa. Telesforus papa constituit
ut gloria in excelsis deo diceretur. Syxtus
papa addidit, sanctus, sanctus, sanctus.
Translation
The service of Mass instituted by Pope Celestine1.
Pope Telesphorus2 set that we were to say 'Glory to God in the highest'.
Pope Sixtus I3 added 'holy, holy, holy'.
Footnotes
1 Bishop of Rome from 10 September 422 to 1 August 432.
2 The eighth bishop of Rome from c. 126 to c. 137.
3 Also spelled Xystus. The seventh bishop of Rome from c. 115 to 124/126/128.
Popes responsible for new forms of service, c.1124
Transcription and translation of Textus Roffensis, folio 116v by Jacob Scott.
Folio
Transcription
Literal Translation (see Translation Notes)
116v (select folio number to open facsimile)
Clemens alexandrinus, Te igitur clemen-
Clement of Alexandria. Most
tissime pater. Gregorius papa primus,
Merciful Father. Pope Gregory I:
Diesque nostros in tua pace. Alexander papa
Order of your peace. Pope Alexander
primus, Qui pridie quam pateretur. Magnus
I: Who the day before he was to suffer.
leo, Supplices te rogamus omnipotens deus. Grego-
Leo the great: We humbly pray Almighty God.
rius papa secundus, Intra quorum nos con-
Gregory II: Admit us.
sortium. Gregorius papa primus, Preceptis
Pope Gregory I: Commands
salutaribus moniti. Sergius papa, Agnus dei.
thy saving. Pope Sergius: Lamb of God.
Innocentius papa constituit ut pax da-
Pope Innocent set the order that peace
retur.
is given.
Bull of Pope Eugene, 1146
Transcription
206r (select folio number to open facsimile)
P R I U I L E G I U M E V G E N I I PAPE.
Eugenius episcopus seruus seruorum Dei, dilectis filiis brieno pri-
ori ecclesie beati Andree Rofensis, eiusque fratribus tam presenti-
bus quam futuris regularem uitam professis. Inperpetuum.
Ad hoc2 uniuersalis ecclesie cura nobis a prouisore omnium
bonorum Deo commissa est, ut religiosas diligamus personas,
et beneplacentem Deo religionem studeamus modis
omnibus propagare. Neque enim Deo gratus aliquando famu-
latus impenditur, nisi ex karitatis radice procedens,
a puritate religionis fuerit conseruatus. Oportet igitur
omnes Christiane fidei amatores religionem diligere, et loca
( )3 uenerabilia cum ipsis personis diuino seruicio
mancipatis attentius confouere, vt nullis prauorum
hominum inquietentur molestiis, vel inportunis
angariis fatigentur. Quapropter dilecti in Domino
filii uestris iustis postulationibus clementer annui-
mus, et prefatam beati Andree apostoli ecclesiam, in qua
diuino mancipati estis obsequio, sub beati Petri
et nostra protectione suscipimus, et presentis
scripti priuilegio communimus. Statuentes ut
quascunque possessiones, quecunque bona, tam ex
dono et concessione bone memorie Lanfranci, Anselmi,4 Radulfi, Teodbaldi, Cantuariensium
archiepiscoporum, et Gundulfi Rofensis episcopi, Willelmi et Henrici Anglorum regum, quam aliorum Dei fide-
lium, inpresentiarum iuste et canonice possidetis,
aut in futurum concessione pontificum, liberali-
tate regum, largitione principum, oblatione fide-
lium, seu aliis iustis modis prestante Domino poteri-
tis adipisci, firma uobis uestrisque successoribus et illi-
bata permaneant. Concessionem autem uobis
rationabiliter factam ab Ernulfo bone memorie
episcopo uestro de sinodalibus denariis, et scripti eius
pagina confirmatam, ratam esse censemus. Preterea
concordiam que inter uos et uenerabilem fratrem
nostrum Ascelinum episcopum uestrum, per prefatum Teodbaldum Can-
tuariensem archiepiscopum de Lamheđa,5 Cudintu-
na, et quibusdam aliis possessionibus iuste et cano-
nice facta est, ratam et firmam esse decernimus. Preposi-
turam quoque ipsius ciuitatis sicut actenus super homi-
nes uestros et episcopi et prepositure regis quartam partem racio-
nabiliter habuistis, Socam etiam et Sacam, tol et tem,
et infangenetheof, ceteras quoque consuetudines
et libertates uestras racionabiliter hactenus habitas, ni-
chilominus uobis confirmamus. Decernimus ergo ut nulli
omnino hominum liceat prefatum locum temere perturbare,
aut eius possessiones auferre, vel ablatas retinere, mi-
nuere, seu quibuslibet uexationibus fatigare. Sed
omnia integra conseruentur, eorum quorum guberna-
tione et sustentacione concessa sunt, vsibus omni-
modis profutura. Salua sedis apostolice auctoritate, et
diocesanorum episcoporum canonica iusticia et reue-
rentia. Si qua igitur in futurum ecclesiastica secularisue per-
sona huius nostre constitutionis paginam sciens, contra eam
temere uenire temptauerit, secundo tertioue com-
monita, si non reatum suum congrua satisfactione
correxerit, potestatis honorisque sui dignitate ca-
reat, reamque se diuino iudicio existere de perpetrata
iniquitate cognoscat, et a sacratissimo corpore
et sanguine Dei et Domini redemptoris nostri Iesu Christi alie-
na fiat, atque in extremo examine districte ultioni subia-
ceat. Cunctis autem eidem loco sua iura seruantibus, sit
pax domini nostri Iesu Christi. Quatinus et hic fructum bone ac-
tionis percipiant, et apud districtum iudicem premia ęterne
pacis inueniant Amen Amen. Datus transtiberim per manum Rodberti sancte Romane ecclesie pres-
biteri cardinalis et cancellarii v kalendas Martii, indictione viiii.a, Inca[r]nationis dominice anno mcxlv pontificatus uero
domni Eugenii pape iii anno secundo.
+ Ego Eugenius catholice ecclesie episcopus subscripsi.7
+ Ego Conradus8 Sabinensis episcopus subscripsi et,
+ Ego Albericus Hostiensis episcopus subscripsi.
+ Ego Ymarus Tusculanus episcopus subscripsi.
+ Ego Odo diaconus cardinalis sancti Georgii ad Velum Aureum subscripsi.
+ Ego Guido diaconus cardinalis sanctorum Cosme et Damiani, subscripsi.
+ Ego Octauianus diaconus cardinalis sancti Nicolai in Carcere
Tulliano subscripsi.
+ Ego Gregorius diaconus cardinalis sancti Angeli subscripsi.
+ Ego Berardus diaconus cardinalis sancte Romane ecclesie subscripsi.
+ Ego Guido diaconus cardinalis sancte Marie in Porticu subscripsi.
+ Ego Gregorius presbiter cardinalis tituli Calixti subscripsi.
+ Ego Guido presbiter cardinalis tituli sancti Grisogoni subscripsi.
+ Ego Gilbertus indignus sacerdos sancte Romane ecclesie subscripsi.
+ Ego Guido presbiter cardinalis tituli sanctorum Laurentii et Damasi subscripsi.9
+ Ego Bernardus presbiter cardinalis tituli sancti Clementis subscripsi.
+ Ego Iordanus presbiter cardinalis tituli sancte ( )10 Susanne subscripsi.
Papal rota:11
Outer circle:
Inner circle, upper left quadrant:
Inner circle, upper right quadrant:
Lower quadrants:
EVGENIVS PAPA III
Monogram:12
BENE VALETE subscripsi13
Translation
The Privilegium14 of Pope Eugene15
Bishop Eugene, servant of God’s servants, to beloved sons, namely the holy prior of the church of Saint Andrew of Rochester and his brothers, both present and future, professed to the regular life. Eternal blessings.
As is necessary, the care of the universal church was entrusted to us by God, the Overseer of all good men, in order that we may esteem religious persons,16 and may by all means increase the religion pleasing to God.17 And, indeed, not at any time is grateful service being rendered to God unless it is proceeding from the root of charity and has been preserved by the purity of religion. 18 It is right therefore that all friends of the Christian faith esteem religion,19 and diligently care for venerable places along with the very persons surrendered for divine service, so that they are not being disturbed by trouble from any crooked person, or with importunity being wearied by duress. Wherefore, O beloved sons in the Lord, we mercifully nod our assent to your lawful petitions; and the aforementioned church of the blessed apostle Andrew, to whom you are surrendered in divine obedience, we receive under the protection of ourselves and St Peter, and we reinforce the claim of privilege of the present communication.
It is established by means of the gift and grant, from good memory,20 of Lanfranc, Anselm, Ralph, Theobald, archbishops of Canterbury,21 and of bishop Gundulf of Rochester,22 and of William and Henry, kings of the English,23 and of other faithful ones of God, that you will now presently hold whatever possessions and whatever good things both justly and canonically, and will do so also in the future, whether by pontifical grant, the generosity of kings, the largess of leaders, the offerings of the faithful, or by other lawful means furnished by the Lord; and thus you will be able to firmly secure such things for you and your successors, and they shall remain undiminished.
Moreover, we recommend to be ratified the grant of synodal pennies, reasonably made to you, from good memory, by Ernulf your bishop and confirmed by a sheet of his writing.24 In addition, we ratify and validate the mutual agreement between you and our venerable brother Ascelin,25 your bishop, concerning Lambeth and Cuddington,26 along with certain other possessions, an agreement which was made justly and canonically through the aforementioned Theobald, archbishop of Canterbury.27 And likewise, in the same way, through the head of this very community,28 hitherto above your men, we no less to you confirm that you reasonably hold a quarter from the bishop and the king’s reeve,29 including soke and sake,30 toll and team,31 and infangen-theof,32 as well as other customs and liberties of yours reasonably held thus far.
We determine therefore that is it not permitted for anyone at all to recklessly trouble the aforementioned place, or carry off its possessions, or accept what has been stolen from there, or diminish or harass by disturbances of any kind. But everything should be preserved intact for those for whom they were granted, with governance and maintenance, for all beneficial uses. By the reliable authority of the apostolic see, and by the canonical rights and reverence of the diocesan bishops.
If therefore in the future any person, ecclesiastical or secular, knowing this documentation of our decree, is tempted to rashly go against it, despite being warned a second and a third time, he should know that if he will not correct his guilt with suitable penance – should he be devoid of the dignity of power and honour – that he is liable by divine justice to be proved a perpetrator of iniquity, and alienated from the most sacred body and blood of God and of our Lord Redeemer Jesus Christ,33 and moreover subject to severe retribution at the Last Judgement. But may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all those maintaining his justice at that very place. 34 May they be well served here and now with the fruit of activity, and may they find the reward of eternal peace before the stern judge. Amen. Amen.
Dated across the Tiber by the hand of Robert, cardinal priest and Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church,35 on the fifth day before the kalends of March [25th February], in the ninth year of the indiction [1146],36 [following] the year 1145 of the Lord’s incarnation, in the second year of the papacy of the lord Pope Eugene III.37
I Eugene, bishop of the catholic church,38 assented.
I Corrado, bishop of Sabina,39 assented and
I Alberic, bishop of Ostia,40 assented.
I Imar, bishop of Tusculum,41 assented.
I Odo, cardinal deacon of San Georgio ad Velum Aureum,42 assented.
I Guido, cardinal deacon of Santi Cosma e Damiano,43 assented.
I Octavian, cardinal deacon of San Nicola in Carcere Tulliano,44 assented.
I Gregorio, cardinal deacon of San Angelo,45 assented.
I Berardus, cardinal deacon of the holy Roman Church,46 assented.
I Guido, cardinal deacon of Santa Maria in Portico,47 assented.
I Gregorio, cardinal priest of the titular [church] of [San] Callisto,48 assented.
I Guido, cardinal priest of the titular [church] of San Crisogono, assented.
I Gilberto, unworthy priest of the holy Roman Church, assented.
I Guido, cardinal priest of the titular [church] of Santi Lorenzo e Damasi, assented.
I Bernardo, cardinal priest of the titular [church] of San Clemente, assented.
I Johannes, cardinal priest of the titular [church] of Santa Susanna, assented.
[Papal rota]49
Show me, O Lord, a token for good.50
Saint Peter. Saint Paul. Pope Eugene III.
[Monogram]51
Be of good health.
I assented.
Footnotes
1 See notes 24 and 25, below. This text was added to Textus Roffensis later in the twelfth century by a scribe other than the principal scribe, who completed his work around 1123.
2 ‘Ad hoc…’.
3 Scribal erasure.
4 ‘Anselmi’.
5 Or ‘Lamheða’.
6 Much of the first section of folio 207v is difficult to read due to both water damage and ink from the other side of the folio showing through. I used Colin Flight’s transcript as an aid to reconstructing the text: online here [accessed 13.04.2018].
7 The abbreviation for subscripsi (‘I assented’, literally, ‘I wrote below’), usually referred to as a ‘subscription’, appears at the end of each witness name and title; it looks like a tramlined ‘X’. The cross symbols (+) in the left margin may be taken to represent the crosses written by each individual witness in the original document, which the witness would have placed before his name. The ones in this charter are replicas by the Textus Roffensis scribe.
8 ‘Conradus’, possibly an error for ‘Corradus’. See n. 27, above.
9 Here, the Latin refers to two saints, Lawrence and ‘D’, which I have taken as Damasus. The basilica of San Lorenzo in Damaso is the church in question but it was formerly known as Titulus Damasi, the titular church of Saint Damasus. A useful article on this is online here [accessed 09.05.2018]
10 Scribal erasure.
11 The papal rota appears after the list of witnesses to authenticate the document. It is a cross within two concentric circles. The inner circle is divided into quadrants.
12 The monogram consists of letters of different sizes forming a composition similar to a modern-day logo.
13 The monogram is followed by the subscription abbreviation.
14 A document containing a special right, privilege or prerogative, usually conveyed by a bull, charter or letter.
15 Eugene (Eugenius) III, pope from 15 February 1145 to his death in 1153.
16 ‘religious persons’: the sense, here, is people devoted to a religious order. The pope is alluding to the monks of St Andrew’s priory.
17 ‘religion’: the sense, here, is the spiritual life of those in a religious order, such as the monks of St Andrew’s.
18 Latin ‘conseruatus’, ‘preserved’; if ‘consecratus’ was meant, then ‘sanctified’ would be the meaning, which may seem more apt.
19 Again, the implication for ‘religion’ in the context of this bull is the spiritual life of those in a religious order.
20 The Latin phrase (de) bone memorie, ‘from/of good memory’ is used in legal documents, apparently with the sense of ‘it is well recalled’.
21 Archbishops of Canterbury: Lanfranc, 1070–89; Anselm, 1093–1109; Ralph d’Escures, 1114–22, formerly bishop of Rochester, 1108–14; Theobald of Bec, 1139–61.
22 Gundulf, bishop of Rochester and prior of St Andrew’s Priory, Rochester, 1077–1108.
23 William II (‘Rufus’), r. 1087–1100; Henry I, r. 1100–35.
24 Ernulf, bishop of Rochester and prior of St Andrew’s priory, Rochester, 1114–24. Ernulf’s document is recorded in Textus Roffensis at folio 197r. The money refers to that due from the priests of the parish to the bishop on the occasion of a synod or, as in this particular case, when the priests receive chrism (holy anointing oil). For a translation of Ernulf’s document, see Christopher Monk, ‘Bishop Ernulf grants funds for the building and maintenance of St Andrew’s Priory: Textus Roffensis, f. 197r’: online here.
25 Ascelin, bishop of Rochester, 1142–48.
26 Cuddington was the village appended to the manor of Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, owned by the monks of St Andrew’s priory, Rochester. The ‘mutual agreement’, which in reality saw bishop Ascelin being rebuked by a papal legate, Imar of Tusculum, is recorded in Textus Roffensis, folios 203v–204r, for which see Christopher Monk, ‘Judgment of Imar of Tusculum in favour of the monks of St Andrew’s Priory, Rochester, Textus Roffensis, ff. 203v–204r’: online here [accessed 08.05.2018].
27 Theobald’s confirmation of the grants of Lambeth and Cuddington, along with various other manors, is found in Textus Roffensis, folios 204v–205r.
28 ‘head of this very community’, translating ‘Preposituram […] ipsius ciuitatis’, could conceivably mean ‘reeve of the very city’, but the context suggests the pope is confirming land and privileges through the prior of St Andrew’s.
29 The meaning of ‘quarter’ or ‘fourth part’ (Latin, ‘quartam partem’) is not entirely clear to me, but the allusion must be to land formerly granted by both the bishop and king’s reeve to St Andrew’s priory.
30 Christopher Corèdon and Ann Williams, A Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases (2004): ‘Sake, and sokE. Grants of sake and soke allowed the granter to intercept the fines and other profits of justice relating to his own estate which would otherwise have gone to the king; the rights of sake and soke are particularly associated with bocland’, i.e. ‘bookland’, land granted by the book, by royal charter.
31 A Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases: ‘Toll and team. Term describing wide-ranging rights of a lord. In A[nglo-]S[axon] law, “toll” indicated the lords’ right to take payment, i.e. commission on the sale of cattle or goods within his estate. “Team” indicated the lord’s right to take fines from those accused of stealing cattle; also it indicated the power to oversee the presentation of evidence of the right to sell presented goods. When new town charters were granted, “toll and team” was usually included from the beginning.’
32 An Old English term signifying the legal right to judge and punish a thief who commits the crime within one’s own jurisdiction, and to receive any fines related to the crime of said thief. Compare A Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases: ‘Infangen-theof. The right of a lord to pursue and hang a thief caught in possession of stolen goods, i.e. red handed.’
33 ‘alienated from the most sacred body and blood, etc’: this is the threat of excommunication.
34 That is, at St Andrew’s Priory.
35 Robert Pullen, d. in or after 1146, was an English theologian and the archdeacon of Rochester from before 1134 to c. 1144, when he resigned. He became cardinal priest of San Martino ai Monte in 1144 and was appointed as Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church by Pope Lucius II in 1145. He is often considered one of the founders of Oxford University. A useful entry on Robert Pullen, along with relevant bibliography, is online here [accessed 08.05.2018].
36 The indiction refers to 15-year cycles originally related to the Roman fiscal year. The ninth year of the indiction referred to here is the ninth year from the indiction year of 1137. Indiction years run from September to September, making February 25, 1146 the date the bull was signed. More information on indiction years online here [accessed 30.04.2018].
37 The sense must be following the 1,145th full year of Christ’s incarnation (which falls on the 25 December, 1145), and therefore corresponding to the year 1146, as the bull is dated to 25 February which is said to be in the second year of Eugene’s papacy, which we know began 15 February, 1145.
38 i.e. Pope Eugene III.
39 Corrado Demetri della Suburra, bishop of Sabina from 1127/8; he succeeded Eugene III as pope (1153–54).
40 Albéric of Ostia b. France in 1080, d. 1148, a Benedictine monk and cardinal bishop of Ostia 1138–48.
41 Imar of Tusculum (d. 1161), cardinal-bishop from 1142, and served as papal legate to England during the pontificate of Lucius II, 1144–45.
42 Odo (Odone) Fattiboni, b. Italy, d. 1165, created cardinal deacon in 1130; the church is also known as San Giorgio in Velabro. I have kept the Italian names of the churches throughout.
43 Guido da Vico, b. Italy, d. 1150, created cardinal deacon in 1130.
44 Octavian (Ottaviano) of Monticelli, cardinal deacon 1138–51.
45 Possibly Gregorio Papareschi, b. Italy, created cardinal deacon 1134.
46 Cardinal deacon without title. Very little is known about him. His earliest subscription is for a bull in 1144.
47 Guido de Crema, created cardinal deacon in 1145; later Antipope Paschal III (1164–68).
48 I have not attempted to provide any biographical details for those of the lower rank of cardinal priest. The meaning of ‘titular’ is simply to indicate the church has been assigned to a cardinal priest.
49 See n. 47, below.
50 Based on Psalm 85:17 in the Vulgate.
51 See n. 48, below.
It He Bequeathed, c.975-c.1025 AD
Hit becwæð (‘It he bequeathed’), a c. 975–c.1025 formula for asserting the right to hold bequeathed land. Textus Roffensis, ff. 95r–95v. Translated from Old English and edited by Dr Christopher Monk.
Hit becwæð (‘It he bequeathed’), a formula for asserting the right to hold bequeathed land, c. 975–c.10251.
Transcription
95r (select folio number to open facsimile)
hit becwæð, ⁊ becwæl
se ðe hit ahte mid fullan folcrihte swa swa
hit his yldran mid feo, ⁊ mid feore rihte begea-
tan, ⁊ letan, ⁊ læfdan ðam to gewealde ðe hy
wel uðan, ⁊ >swa< ic hit hæbbe swa hit se sealde þe to
syllanne ahte unbryde, ⁊ unforboden, ⁊ ic
agnian wylle to agenre æhte ðæt ðæt ic hæb-
be, ⁊ næfre ðæt yntan ne plot, ne ploh, ne turf,
ne toft, ne furh, ne fotmæl, ne land, ne læse, ne
fersc, ne mersc,2 ne ruhnerum, wudes ne feldes,
landes ne strandes wealtes, ne wæteres, butan
ðæt læste ða hwile ðe ic libbe, forþam nise tinan
on life ðe æfre gehyrde ðæt man cwydde oððon
crafode hine on hundrede oððon ahwar on ge-
mote on ceapstowe oþþe on cyricware ða hwile þe
he lifde unsac he wæs on life beo on legere swa swa
he mote, do swa ic lære beo ðe be þinum, ⁊ læt ine
be minum ne gyrne ic ðines ne læðes ne landes,
ne sace ne socne, ne ðu mines ne ðærft ne myn-
te ic ðe nan ðing.
Translation
It he bequeathed,3 and he died: he who owned it with full folk-right,4 just as his ancestors obtained it with cattle and with life-right, and allotted and left it to his keeping, which they granted well. And so I have it just as he who owned the right to give gave it, both honestly and lawfully. And I wish to own that which I have as my own property, and never to intend for you anything,5 not plot or ploughland, turf or toft,6 furrow or footmark, land or pasture, freshwater or marsh land, clearing, wood or field, of land or of shore, of woodland or of water, but that it may last as long as I live. For there is not a tithing-man7 alive who has ever heard that it was claimed or craved, in a hundred-court or any other meeting, in a market-place or at church, for the time he was alive:8 guiltless he was in life; let him be so in death, as he must. Do as I instruct: you be with yours and leave me to mine; I do not desire what is yours, not lea or land, sake or soke,9 and you do not need what is mine, nor do I intend to leave you anything.10
Footnotes
1 This text is anonymous and undated; however, scholars suggest a date of composition between the late tenth and early eleventh centuries; see http://www.earlyenglishlaws.ac.uk/laws/texts/becw/ [accessed 14.02.2018].
2 ‘It’: in context, a piece of land.
3 Folk-right, the right of customary law.
4 ‘never to intend for you’, translating ‘næfre þe myntan’, a correction of Textus Roffensis’ ‘næfre ðæt yntan’, and which appears in the only other manuscript containing Hit becwæð: Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 383, folios 59r–59v, at folio 59v, line 2: www.earlyenglishlaws.ac.uk/laws/manuscripts/b/?tp=s&nb=2086 [accessed 14.02.18]. In his own translation of Hit becwæð, Patrick Wormald translates myntan with the modern legal term ‘devise’, meaning to leave land by means of a will: The Making of English Law: King Alfred to the Twelfth Century (Blackwell, 2001), pp. 384–85.
5 Old English toft, probably a Scandinavian loan-word, meaning ‘a piece of ground’: see Bosworth and Toller Dictionary online: http://www.bosworthtoller.com/030678 [accessed 14.02.18].
6 ‘tithing-man’: translating ‘tinan’ (? accusative of tin [variant of tien]), ‘ten’, a ‘ten-man’, an allusion to the ‘tithingmen’, who had responsibilities assisting at the hundred court. See Tom Lambert, Law and Order in Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford University Press, 2017), p. 247.
7 ‘he was alive’, referring to the man who bequeathed the property.
8 ‘sake and soke’ (Old English, sac and socn) was a ‘standard way of referring to the right to receive legal revenues’ from owned land: Lambert, Law and Order, p. 134.
9 See above, n. 4.
10 ‘-c’ corrects a ‘-t’.
Judgement of Imar of Tusculum, 1146
Transcription
203v (select folio number to open facsimile)
IMARUS Dei gratia Tusculanus episcopus, apostolicę
sedis legatus. Omnibus matris ęcclesię filiis ad
quos litterę istę peruenerint, salutem. Rei gestę
memoria litteris prouide committitur, ne lites
semel sopitę, in futuro iterum Pinstaurentur.roinde uniuersitati uestrę per pręsentia scripta
notum esse uolumus, quod inter Ascelinum Rofensem
episcopum, et eiusdem loci monachos, ęcclesię scilicet beati
Andreę, super iure maneriorum Lamhetham
et Hendenham,2 controuersia huiusmodi
orta est. Asserebant prędicti monachi memo-
rata maneria sibi ad uictum proprium a rege An-
glorum Willelmo3 iuniore, et Lamfranco4 pię
recordationis Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, et
Gundulfo5 Rofensi episcopo concessa rationabi-
liter et donata, et ad eiusdem rei euidentiorem
probationem, eorundem car( )tas6 et confirma-
tiones, et sequentium regum Anglorum Henrici,
et Stephani, et Anselmi Cantuariensis archiepiscopi
in medium proferebant.7 Contra quę cum
pręfatus Ascelinus Rofensis episcopus nichil firmum,
nichil ualidum responderet, nec se in pretaxatis
maneriis ius habere probare posset, assiden-
tibus nobis uenerabilibus fratribus Teobaldo8 Cantuariensi
archiepiscopo, Rodberto Lundoniensi, Henrico Wintoniensi,
Alexandro Linconiensi, Ebrardo Noruuicensi, Si-
fredo Cicestrensi episcopis, Gaufrido Sancti Albani, Ger-
uasio Westmonasterii, Petro Scireburnensi, abbatibus,
et magistro Hilario, et aliis quam pluribus
religiosis personis ipsa maneria cum omnibus
suis appenditiis secundum quod carte donatio-
nis et confirmationis continebant, ipsis
monachis adiudicauimus,9 et ipsos possessores
constituimus ipso eorum episcopo promittente, quod
deinceps sine uexatione et inquietatione,
monachos bona et possessiones suas habere
permitteret, et pacem eis seruaret, quod et ipsi
firmiter obseruare precipimus, ad cuius rei ar-
gumentum ipsos monachos in osculo pacis
recepit. Nos itaque prędictorum fratrum iustis
petitionibus facilem prębentes assensum,
tam sepedicta maneria quam alia omnia
eorum bona et possessiones quas in pręsentia-
rum iuste possident, uel in futuro legitime
habituri sunt, iura etiam, consuetudines,
libertates rationabiliter indultas, auctoritate
officii quo fungimur ipsis confirmamus, et
pręsentis scripti attestatione roboramus.
Translation
Imar, bishop of Tusculum, by the grace of God, legate of the apostolic see.10 To all the sons of the mother church to whom this letter shall have come, greetings. The memory of a former matter is providently committed to a letter: quarrels not finally laid to rest may yet be renewed in the future.11
Hence, we wish to be known to you all through this present communication, because a dispute of this sort has arisen between Ascelin, bishop of Rochester,12 and the monks of that same place, namely the church of St Andrew, over the right of the manors of Lambeth and Haddenham. The aforesaid monks have claimed the above-mentioned manors for themselves for their own living by [grant of] William the younger,13 king of the English, and on record by Lanfranc, pious archbishop at Canterbury,14 and granted and bestowed in accordance with reason by Gundulf, bishop at Rochester.15 And for the proof of this very thing they have brought forward to the mediator the charters and confirmations of these same ones, as well as the supporting [documentation] of Henry and Stephen, kings of the English,16 and of Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury.17 Whereas, against this, the aforementioned Ascelin, bishop of Rochester, has responded with nothing of substance, nothing of validity; nor has he been able to prove his right to the previously assigned manors to our venerable brothers sitting in council: Theobald, archbishop of Canterbury;18 Robert of London;19 Henry of Winchester;20 Alexander of Lincoln;21 Everard of Norwich;22 Seffred, bishop of Chichester;23 the abbots, Geoffrey of St Albans,24 Gervase of Westminster, 25 Peter of Sherborne;26 and Hilary the master;27 and to as many other religious persons. The very manors, with all their associated appurtenances, which the charters of gift and confirmation were securing, we awarded to the very monks, and constituted them owners with the assurance of their bishop, who hereafter, without vexation and disturbance, might both permit the good monks to have their properties and preserve peace towards them – which we give orders to him to observe steadfastly. And as evidence of this he received the very monks with the kiss of peace. Therefore, with such just petitions of the aforementioned brothers, we give our easy assent to both those oft-spoken manors and all other goods and possessions, which in the present time they rightly possess, or in the future will legitimately hold, whether rights, customs, or freedoms reasonably granted. We confirm these very things by the authority of the office which I discharge and reinforce the present written testimony.
Footnotes
1 This document was copied by a later scribe; the principal scribe of Textus Roffensis completed his work about 1123. The original charter dates to the period of Imar of Tusculum’s service as papal legate. See n. 2, below.
2 ‘Lamhetham et Hendenham’ (‘Lambeth and Haddenham’), underlined for emphasis by a later scribe, who has also drawn the symbol } in the right margin to draw attention to the lines where he has made further underlines, for which see the notes below.
3 ‘ad uictum proprium a rege […] Willelmo’ (‘for their own living by king […] William’), underlined by a later scribe.
4 ‘Lamframco’ (‘Lanfranc’), underlined by a later scribe.
5 ‘Gundulfo’ (‘Gundulf’), underlined by a later scribe.
6 A letter has been erased to give the correct spelling of ‘cartas’.
7 A partially legible Latin annotation appears in the left margin at this point, written in a non-medieval hand, and in the form of a question. It is possible to decipher ‘pro Lambeth’ (‘for Lambeth’) on the upper line; and the last word looks like ‘pensionis’ (genitive form of pension, ‘payment’).
8 ‘Teobaldo’ (‘Theobald’), underlined by a later scribe.
9 ‘ipsis monachis adiudicauimus’ (‘we awarded to the very monks’), underlined by a later scribe.
10 Imar of Tusculum (d. 1161), cardinal-bishop from 1142, and served as papal legate to England during the pontificate of Lucius II, 1144–45.
11 This rather enigmatic statement alludes to the ongoing nature of the disagreement over the ownership of certain manors between the monks of St Andrew’s and their bishops; it is outlined in what follows. Though the charter does not say so, the disagreement originally began in the time of bishop John II, 1139–42; see Mary P. Richards, ‘Texts and their traditions in the medieval library of Rochester Cathedral Priory’, Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 78.3 (1988), pp. 1–129, at p. 59.
12 Ascelin, bishop of Rochester, 1142–48. Unlike some of the earlier bishops of Rochester, Ascelin was not a monk and so was not also the prior at St Andrew’s.
13 William II (‘Rufus’), r. 1087–1100.
14 Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury, 1070–89.
15 Gundulf, bishop of Rochester and prior of St Andrew’s Priory, 1077–1108.
16 Henry I, r. 1100–35; Stephen, r. 1135–54.
17 Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, 1093–1109.
18 Theobald of Bec, archbishop of Canterbury, 1139–61.
19 Robert, bishop of London, 1141–50.
20 Henry of Winchester, also known as Henry of Blois, younger brother of King Stephen, and bishop of Winchester, 1129–71.
21 Alexander, bishop of Lincoln, 1123–48.
22 Everard, bishop of Norwich, 1121–45.
23 Seffred I, bishop of Chichester, 1125–45.
24 Geoffrey, abbot of St Albans Abbey, 1119–46.
25 Gervase of Blois, illegitimate son of King Stephen, abbot of Westminster Abbey, 1138–57.
26 Peter, abbot of Sherborne Abbey, c. 1142–c.1160.
27 Probably Hilary of Chichester (c. 1110–69), who served as clerk for Henry of Blois, see n. 12, above; he was educated as a canon lawyer, hence the use of ‘master’, i.e. a scholar, and was appointed as bishop of Chichester in 1147.
Rochester Cathedral Foundation Charter, 604 CE*
King Æthelberht grants land in Rochester to the church of St Andrew, Textus Roffensis, ff. 119r–119v Translated from Latin and Old English by Dr Christopher Monk. Date: likely after 1066.
The foundation charter of Rochester Cathedral, written primarily in Latin, though preserving its land boundary clause in Old English, announces that King Æthelberht grants land and privileges to the Church of St Andrew (the early name of the cathedral) in the year 604.
Transcription
119r (select folio number to open facsimile)
INcipiunt8 priuilegia aecclesię sancti9
Andreae Hrofensis concessa a tempore Ęthil-
berhti regis, qui fide Christiana a beato Au-
gustino suscepta, eandem ęcclesiam con-
strui fecit.10
REGNANTE11
IN PERPETVVM DOMINO
nostro Iesu Christo saluatore,
mense Aprilio, sub die
iiii kalendas Maias, indictione
vii ego Æthelberhtus12 rex
filio meo Eadbaldo admo-
nitionem catholice fidei
optabilem. Nobis est13
aptum semper inquirere,
qualiter per loca sanctorum
pro animę remedio
uel stabilitate salutis nostrę aliquid de portione
terrę nostrę in subsidiis seruorum Dei deuotissi-
mam uoluntatem debeamus offerre. Ideoque tibi
Sancte Andrea tuęque ęcclesiae quę est constitu-
ta in ciuitate Hrofibreui ubi pręesse uidetur
Iustus episcopus, trado aliquantulum telluris mei. hic est terminus mei doni.14 Fram Suðgeate
west andlanges wealles oð Norðlanan to
Stræte, ⁊ swa east fram St>aerte oð Dodding-
hyrnan ongean Bradgeat. Siquis uero au-
gere uoluerit hanc ipsam donationem, auge-
at illi Dominus dies bonos. Et si presumpserit
minuere aut contradicere, in conspectu
Dei sit damnatus et sanctorum eius hic et in ęterna
secula, nisi emendauerit ante eius transitum
quod inique gessit contra Christianitatem nostram. hoc cum consilio Laurentii episcopi et omnium princi-
pum meorum signo sanctę crucis confirmaui, eosque
iussi ut mecum idem facerent. AMEN.15
Translation
Here begin the privileges granted to the Church of Saint Andrew at Rochester, from the time of King Æthelberht who, having received the christian faith from the blessed Augustine, caused the same church to the built:
By our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ reigning perpetually, in the month of April, on the 4th day before the May calends [28th April],3 in the 7th year of the indiction [604],4 I King Æthelberht to my son Eadbald, a desired reminder of the Catholic faith. To us it is always proper to examine how, by means of holy places, for the remedy of the soul and the steadfastness of our salvation, we ought to offer, a most devout wish, something from the share of our land for the relief of the servants of God. And, therefore, to thee Saint Andrew and thy church, which is located in the city of Rochester and where Bishop Justus is seen to be head, I do hand over a small part of my land. Here is the boundary of my gift: from South Gate, west along the wall as far as North Lane, to Street,5 and so east from Street as far as Doddinghyrne6 opposite Broad Gate. If any man wishes to increase this very gift, may the Lord increase good days to him. And if he presumes to diminish or oppose it, may he be damned in the sight of God and his saints, here and on into the worlds everlasting, unless he repents that which he has done unjustly against our Christian faith.
This, in counsel with bishop Laurence and all my principal men,7 I have confirmed by the sign of the holy cross and have commanded them in order that they might with me accomplish the same. Amen.
Footnotes
1 King Æthelberht of Kent, often spelt Ethelbert, r. c.590–616.
2 This is a fraudulent document; see Nicholas Brooks, ‘Rochester, A.D. 400–1066’, in Medieval Art, Architecture and Archaeology at Rochester, ed. Tim Ayers and Tim Tatton-Brown (Maney, 2006), pp. 6–21, at pp. 8–10. The purported date is 28th April, 604 (see notes 3 and 4 below). 604 is the date for the foundation of Rochester Cathedral assigned by the monk-historian Bede: ‘In the year of our Lord 604 […] Augustine also consecrated Justus as bishop of a Kentish city which the English call Hrofescaestir [Rochester] after an early chieftain named Hrof. This lies nearly twenty-four miles west of Canterbury, and a church in honour of Saint Andrew the Apostle was built here by King Ethelbert’. Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, trans. Leo Sherley-Price, revised R. E. Latham (Penguin, revised ed., 1990), pp. 107–08. The document, as it appears in Textus Roffensis (penned by the principal scribe about 1123), is a copy of an earlier forgery which was possibly written a few years after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The forger may have modelled the forgery on a much older charter, for it is skilfully crafted, but inserted the boundary clause to correspond exactly to land that was seized by William I to build Rochester Cathedral. Therefore, as Brook suggests, the cathedral would have been able to use this charter to claim compensation for their lost land.
3 ‘May calends’, i.e. the first of May; the fourth day before the May calends is therefore April 28th .
4 i.e. in the year 604. The indiction refers to cycles of 15-year periods related to the Roman fiscal year. The indiction year referred to here is that beginning September 597 through to September 598. The seventh year of this particular indiction runs therefore from September 603 to September 604. As the date already given is the 28th April, it follows that the year must be 604. For more information on indiction years, see: https://www.britannica.com/topic/indiction [accessed 30.04.2018].
5 The main thoroughfare at that time through the city, from Westgate to Eastgate, continuing on to Canterbury, and corresponding to the present-day (old) High Street in Rochester (not the bypass of the same name). See Tim TattonBrown, ‘The topography and buildings of Medieval Rochester’, in Medieval Art, Architecture and Archaeology at Rochester, ed. Ayers and Tatton-Brown, pp. 22-37, at p. 23, fig. 1. 6 ‘Dodda’s corner/horn’, located at the crossroads in the centre of Rochester. See Brook, ‘Rochester, A.D. 400–1066’, p. 10, and Fig. 1
6 ‘Dodda’s corner/horn’, located at the crossroads in the centre of Rochester. See Brook, ‘Rochester, A.D. 400–1066’, p. 10, and Fig. 1
7 Bishop Laurence, archbishop of Canterbury, c.604–619. He was part of the Gregorian mission sent to Kent to convert the English peoples and was, unusually, consecrated by his predecessor Augustine before the latter died.
8 A Latin annotation in a non-medieval hand appears above the rubric; it is not fully legible.
9 The bar of the letter ‘t’ is extended.
10 The bar of the letter ‘t’ is extended.
11 ‘REGNANTE…’. To the right, in the margin, there is a faint manicule (a pointing finger).
12 A later hand, probably early-modern, has underlined the date and the king’s name and made an annotation, perhaps in Latin, in the right margin; however, it is not fully legible.
13 The bar of the letter ‘t’ is extended.
14 A later hand has inserted an asterisk with a corresponding annotation in the left margin, translating into earlymodern English the boundary clause: ‘[…] from Southgate West & along […] wal[l]s to north lane to street. & so east from street to dodinghorn lane and then to brod gate.’ The last word of the boundary clause, ‘Brad[-]geat’, has also been underlined.
15 The letter ‘N’ is stretched.
Dispute over the estate at Snodland, 995-1005
The dispute between bishop Godwine and Leofwine over the estate of Snodland, 995–10051. Textus Roffensis, ff. 155r–156v. Translated from Old English by Dr Christopher Monk.
Transcription
155r (select folio number to open facsimile)
xP2Her cyð on ðysum gewrite, hu Godwine biscop
on Hrofeceastre, ⁊ Leofwine Ælfeages
sunu ( )3 wurðon gesybsumode ymbe þæt land
æt Snoddinglande, on Cantwarabyrig.
Þa4 ða se biscop Godwine com to ðam biscopstole
þurh hæse his cynehlafordes Æðelredes cynges
æfter Ælfstanes forðsiþe biscopes, þa gemetæ he on
ðam mynstre þa ylcan swutelunga þe his fore-
genga hæfde, ⁊ þærmid on þæt land spæc, ongan
ða to specenne on ðæt land, ⁊ elles for Godes
ege ne dorste, oððæt seo spræc wearð þam
cynge cuð. Þa ða him seo talu cuð wæs, þa sende
he gewrit ⁊ his insegl5 to þam arcebisceope Æl-
frice, ⁊ bead him þæt he ⁊ hys þegenas on East6
Cent, ⁊ on West Cent,7 hy onriht gesemdon,
be ontale, ⁊ be oftale. Þa þæt wæs þæt se bisceop Godwi-
ne com to Cantwarabyrig to ðam arcebiscope, þa
com ðider se scyresman8 Leofric, ⁊ mid him Ælfun
abbod, ⁊ þegenas ægþer ge of9 East Cent ge of
West Cent,10 eal seo duguð, ⁊ hy ðær þa spæce swa
lange handledon, syððon se bisceop his swute-
lunge ge(e)owod hæfde, oþ hy ealle bædon þone
biscop eaðmodlice, þæt he geunnan scolde þæt he
moste mid bletsunga þæs landes brucan æt
Snoddinglande his dæg, ⁊ se biscop þa þæs
getiðode on ealra þæra witena ( )11 þanc
þe þær gesomnode wæran, ⁊ he ( ) behet
þæs truwan þæt land æfter his dæge unbesacen
eode eft into þære stowe þe hit ut alæned
wæs, ⁊ ageaf þa swutelunga þe he to þam lande
hæfde þe ær of þære stowe geutod wæs, ⁊ þa ha-
gan ealle þe he bewestan þære cyrcan hæfde
into þære halgan stowe, ⁊ þises loces æren-
dracan wæran, Ælfun abbod ⁊ Wulfric abbod,
⁊ Leofric sciresman, ⁊ Siweard, ⁊ Wulfstan æt
Sealtwuda, ⁊ Ælfelm Ordelmes sunu. Þonne
is her seo gewitnes þe æt þisum loce wæs, þæt is
ærest se arcebiscop Ælfric, ⁊ se biscop God-
uuine, ⁊ Wulfric abbod, ⁊ Ælfun abbod, ⁊ Ælfnoð
æt Orpedingtune, ⁊ se hired æt Cristes Cyr-
can, ⁊ se hired æt Sancte Augustine, ⁊ s[e]o burh-
waru on Cantwarebyrig, ⁊ Leofric sciresman,
⁊ Lifing æt Meallingan, ⁊ Siweard, ⁊ Sired his
broðor, ⁊ Leo[f]stan12 æt Mærseham, ⁊ Godwine
Wulfeages sunu, ⁊ Wul[f]stan13 æt Sealtwuda, ⁊
Wul[f]stan14 iunga, ⁊ Leo[f]wine15 æt Dictune, ⁊ Leo-
fric Ealdredes sunu, ⁊ Goda Wulfsiges sunu,
⁊ Ælfelm Ordelmes sunu, ⁊ Sidewine æt Peal-
leswyrðe, ⁊ Wærelm, ⁊ Æþelred portgerefa
on byrig,16 ⁊ Guðwold. Gif hwa þis ðence to awen-
denne, ⁊ þas foreword to abrecenne, awende
him God fram his ansyne on þam miclan dome,
swa þæt he si ascyred fram heofena rices myrhðe,
156v
⁊ sy eallum deoflum betæht into helle. AMEN.
Translation
It is made known here in this document how Godwine,17 Bishop of Rochester, and Leofwine, son of Ælfheah, became reconciled at Canterbury in regard to the land at Snodland.18
When bishop Godwine came to the episcopal see at the behest of his sovereign lord, King Æthelred,19 after the death of bishop Ælfstan,20 then he discovered in the cathedral the very same written testimony which his predecessor had,21 and who had therewith made a claim on that land.22 Then [Godwine] attempted to lay claim to that land – for the fear of God he durst not do otherwise – until the suit became known to the king. When the claim was known to him, then [the king] sent a letter and his seal to the archbishop, Ælfric, and commanded him that he and his thegns, in both East and West Kent, should settle matters justly, be the verdict for or against the claim.
Then it was that bishop Godwine came to Canterbury to the archbishop; then thither came Leofric the sheriff,23 and with him abbot Ælfun and the thegns of both East and West Kent, the entire body of noblemen. And there they deliberated over the claim, after the bishop had revealed his written testimony, until finally they all respectfully bade the bishop that he should grant that [Leofwine] might, with his blessing, have use of the land at Snodland during his lifetime. And the bishop then permitted this to the satisfaction of all the witan, which was gathered there.24 And [Leofwine] pledged his troth that after his lifetime the land should thereafter revert to the place from which it was leased out.25 And he gave up the written testimony he had related to the land, which previously had been alienated from that place,26 and all the hagas which he had west of the church to the holy place.27 And the mediators of this agreement were abbot Ælfun, abbot Wulfric, sheriff Leofric, Siweard, Wulfstan of Saltwood, and Ælfhelm son of Ordhelm.28 And here is the list of witnesses to this agreement: namely, first, the archbishop Ælfric,29 then the bishop Godwine, abbot Wulfric, abbot Ælfun, Ælfnoth of Orpington, the brethren at Christ Church,30 the brethren at St Augustine’s,31 the citizens of Canterbury, sheriff Leofric, Lifing of Malling, Siweard and Sired his brother, Leofstan of Mersham,32 Godwine son of Wulfheah,33 Wulfstan of Saltwood,34 Wulfstan the Young,35 Leofwine of Ditton,36 Leofric son of Ealdred, Goda son of Wulfsige, Ælfhelm son of Ordhelm, Sidewine of Paddlesworth, Wærhelm,37 Æthelred the town port-reeve,38 and Guthwold.
If anyone attempts to turn from or break these terms, God will turn his face from him at the great judgement, so that he be cut off from the joy of the kingdom of heaven and be handed over to all the devils in Hell. Amen.
Footnotes
1 The date range corresponds to the reign of the first witness listed in the document: Ælfric, archbishop of Canterbury; see online here [accessed 15.03.18]. See also A. Campbell, Charters of Rochester (Oxford University Press, 1973), p. xxvii. The original document was copied into Textus Roffensis by the principal scribe about 1123.
2 A Chi-Rho symbol marks the beginning of the text. I’ve represented it with the Greek letters separated.
3 There is a hole in the manuscript at this point.
4 ‘Þa…’
5 ‘insegl’ (‘seal’), underlined by a later hand.
6 ‘on East’ (‘in East’), underlined by a later hand.
7 ‘on West Cent’ (‘in West Kent’), underlined by a later hand.
8 ‘scyresman’ (‘sheriff’), underlined by a later hand.
9 ‘oft’ in the document.
10 ‘East Cent ge of West Cent’ (‘East Kent and of West Kent’), underlined by a later hand.
11 There is a hole in the manuscript at this point, also affecting the line below.
12 ‘f’ omitted by mistake.
13 ‘f’ omitted by mistake.
14 ‘f’ omitted by mistake.
15 ‘s’ for ‘f’ by mistake.
16 ‘⁊ Æþelred portgerefa on byrig’ (‘and Æthelred the port-reeve in the town’), underlined by a later hand.
17 Godwine, bishop of Rochester, r. 994/5–c.1013.
18 Snodland lies along the river Medway between Rochester and Maidstone.
19 King Æthelred (Ethelred) the ‘Unready’, r. 978–1016.
20 Ælfstan, bishop of Rochester, r. before 964–994/5.
21 ‘written testimony’, translating swutelunga, a rather vague term, most likely alluding to the written land grant, i.e. the charter, or land-book, for Snodland.
22 i.e. Snodland.
23 Sheriff of Kent, presumably.
24 Witan, ‘wise men’, the king’s council in Anglo-Saxon England.
25 That is, to Rochester Cathedral.
26 This seems to be alluding to the land being alienated from Rochester Cathedral.
27 Haga, either a plot of land or a piece of enclosed land (possibly with a house and other buildings) within a town; in this case the land was within the city walls of Rochester. It seems that Leofwine gave up land he owned near the cathedral in exchange for the estate in Snodland.
28 Spelt ‘Ælfelm’ and ‘Ordelm’ in the document. The ‘-helm’ element of Old English names signifies ‘protector’.
29 Ælfric of Abingdon, archbishop of Canterbury 995–1005.
30 Christ Church, the monastery at Canterbury Cathedral.
31 St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury.
32 Misspelt as ‘Leostan’ in the document. The ‘Leof-’ element in Old English names means ‘friend’ or ‘beloved’.
33 Spelt ‘Wulfeag’ in the document.
34 Misspelt as ‘Wulstan’ in the document. The Wulf- element in Old English names means ‘wolf’.
35 Misspelt as ‘Wulstan’ in the document. See n. 19 above.
36 Misspelt as ‘Leoswine’ in the document. See n. 17 above.
37 Spelt ‘Wærelm’ in the document. See n. 13 above.
38 Reeve of Canterbury.
William I gives 100 pounds to Rochester Cathedral
William I gives one hundred pounds, shortly before his death, to the church of St Andrew, Rochester, c.10871.Textus Roffensis, ff. 210r–210v. Translated from Latin by Dr Christopher Monk.
Transcription
210r (select folio number to open facsimile)
Donum Willelmi magni regis. Willelmus2 rex Anglorum magnus, pater Uuil-
lelmi regis eiusdem gentis, Hrofensem
ęcclesiam beati Andreę in tantum dilexit,
ut imminente articulo mortis suę centum
ei libras donaret, regiam quoque tunicam, propriumque
cornu eburneum, dorsale etiam unum, cum feretro
deargentato dimitteret. Pro quo et aliis eius
multis beneficiis, nostrę ęcclesię ab eo benigne
impensis, eius anniuersarium constituimus
debere singulis annis festiue fieri.
Translation
The gift of the great King William3
William, great king of the English, father of William,4 king of the same people, esteemed so much the Rochester church of Saint Andrew that he gave to it, at the moment of his imminent death, one hundred pounds, besides bequeathing a royal tunic, a special ivory horn, and also one dossal with a silver-gilded frame.5 For this, and for his many other privileges benevolently bestowed upon our church, we established a festal anniversary to take place every year.6
Footnotes
1 This document was likely copied from an earlier original by the principal scribe of Textus Roffensis around 1123.
2 ‘Willelmus…’
3 William I (‘the Conqueror’), r. 1066–87, died 9th September 1087.
4 William II (‘Rufus’), r. 1087–1100.
5 Dossal, an altar piece, or hanging, often of cloth, placed so as to rise from the back of the church altar.
6 Presumably, the anniversary of his death.
Land for the cemetery of St Andrew’s Priory, 1115-1123
Goldwin ‘the Greek’ grants land to St Andrew’s, Rochester, for the expansion of the cemetery, between 1115–11231. Textus Roffensis, ff. 191v–192r. Translated from Latin by Dr Christopher Monk.
Goldwin ‘the Greek’ grants land to St Andrew’s, Rochester, for the expansion of the cemetery, between 1115–11231. Textus Roffensis, ff. 191v–192r. Translated from Latin by Dr Christopher Monk.
Transcription
191v (select folio number to open facsimile)
Golduuinus cognomento Grecus dedit
ęcclesię Sancti Andreę et monachis pro filio
suo ibidem facto monacho duas hagas
terrę in Rouecestra pertinentes ad Fren-
desberiam, et partem terrę regis quę
est iuxta ipsas hagas. Pręter has autem
hagas dedit et dimidiam hagam iuxta
cimiterium appendentem ad Borchstel-
lam, sed istam dimidiam hac conuenti-
one dedit, quod eam tenebit donec mo-
nachi alias hagas hinc et inde habeant
et domos auferant ad ampliandum ci-
miterium suum. Et tunc sine omni mora
uel contradictione tradet eam in manus
monachorum, uel ipse si uixerit, uel uxor
et filii eius si mortuus fuerit. Huius con-
uentionis testes sunt, Heruisus archidia-
conus, Radulfus clericus et Rodbertus filius eius,
Golduinus presbiter, Gelduinus et Rodbertus monetarii,
Gudredus filius Diringi, Stephanus filius Goduui-
ni, Vuiet filius Golduini, et alii multi.
Translation
Goldwin, of the surname Greek, gave to the church of Saint Andrew and the monks, in order for his son to become a monk at that very place, two hagas2 of land in Rochester pertaining to Frindsbury,3 and part of the king’s land which is next to these hagas. Moreover, in addition to these hagas he gave a half haga next to the cemetery at Borstal;4 however, he gave that half to the monastery for it to hold until the monks have in all respects the other hagas and remove buildings to expand its cemetery.5 And thereupon without any delay or objection he delivered it into the hands of the monks, whether he himself, or his wife or sons, lives or dies. These are the witnesses of this agreement: Harvey the archdeacon, the cleric Ralf and his son Robert, Goldwin the priest, Geldwin and Robert the moneyers, Gudred son of Diring, Stephen son of Godwin, Guy6 son of Goldwin, and many others.
Footnotes
1 The date range corresponds to the time Harvey was archdeacon of Rochester, he being the first witness named; see W. H. St John Hope, ‘The architectural history of the cathedral church and monastery of St. Andrew at Rochester’, Archaeologia Cantiana, 24 (1900), pp. 1–85, at pp. 8–9: online here [accessed 03.04.18]. The original charter was copied into Textus Roffensis by the principal scribe around 1123.
2 Haga, a piece of enclosed land (often with a house and other buildings) within a town.
3 Frindsbury lies north of Rochester, across the Medway. Evidently, Goldwin had an estate there, but also town property in Rochester connected to that estate.
4 Borstal lies south of Rochester.
5 At this time there was an expansion of monastic buildings taking place and this encroached upon the existing cemetery within Rochester’s walls. The two hagas appear to have been given by Goldwin to compensate and allow for the cemetery to be expanded. The half haga of land in Borstal, which was outside of the city, was also given to ease the situation until the two hagas could have their buildings cleared. See St John Hope, ‘The architectural history of St Andrew’s’, p. 8.
6 The name is spelt Vuiet (Wiet) in the manuscript; this may be a variant of Wyat, which itself is a form of Guy.
Land at Southgate, Rochester, 1114-23 AD
Hugh, in agreement with his wife Emma and his sons, grants land at Southgate to St Andrew’s, Rochester, Date: 1114–231. Textus Roffensis, f. 191v. Translated from Latin by Dr Christopher Monk.
Bishop Gundulf confirms Gilbert the priest's grant at Haddenham, a.1086 AD
Bishop Gundulf confirms a grant by Gilbert the priest of three hides at Haddenham in exchange for Gilbert entering the monastic life, Date: after 10861. Textus Roffensis, ff. 213r–213v. Translated from Latin and edited by Dr Christopher Monk.
Bishop Gundulf confirms a grant by Gilbert the priest of three hides at Haddenham in exchange for Gilbert entering the monastic life, Date: after 10861. Textus Roffensis, ff. 213r–213v. Translated from Latin and edited by Dr Christopher Monk.
Transcription
213r2 (select folio number to open facsimile)
De Dudicote. Gundulfus Rofensis episcopus, Rodberto Lincoliensi episcopo,
et Goisfrido uicecomiti, et omnibus fidelibus regis
Francigenis et Anglis de comitatu de Bukin-
geham, salutem. Sciatis quod Gislebertus noster clericus
de Hedenham concessit ęcclesię Rofensi Sancti Andreę
tres hidas terrę quas habuit in suo dominico in He-
denham, ea conuentione quod quando ipse uoluerit
fiet ibi monachus. Et hoc idem concessit et confirmauit
Radulfus filius suus ex toto. Et ego concessi eidem Radulfo
ęcclesiam de Hedenham cum una hida et dimidia terrę, et
duobus pratis, Coiea, et Cetemora, et concessi ei pasturam
decem boum, et omnes consuetudines que ad eandem ęcclesiam
pertinent, insuper quicquid Gislebertus tenuit in Heden-
ham, exceptis illis tribus supradictis hidis terrę. Et de ipsa ęcclesia non faciet ullum seruitium,
nisi, quod ad ęcclesiam pertinet tantum.
Translation
Concerning Dollicott3
Gundulf bishop of Rochester to Robert bishop of Lincoln,4 Geoffrey the sheriff, and all the faithful of the king, the French and the English, of the county of Buckingham, greetings. Let it be known that Gilbert our priest of Haddenham has granted to the church of Saint Andrew in Rochester three hides of land which he held as demesne in Haddenham, 5 with the agreement that when he himself wishes he will become a monk there. And that Ralf his son has granted the same and confirmed it fully. And I have granted to the same Ralf the church of Haddenham with one and a half hides of land and with two meadows, Coiea and Cetemora;6 and I have granted him pasture for ten cows and all customs which pertain to that same church,7 in addition to whatever Gilbert held in Haddenham, except those three hides of land mentioned above.
And the church itself will not create dues for service, except those pertaining to the church only.
Footnotes
1 Gilbert is recorded as the owner of these three hides of Haddenham in an entry of Domesday Book (1086): opendomesday.org/place/SP7408/haddenham [accessed 06.03.18].
2 Folio 213 is a replacement leaf, added sometime later in the twelfth century; the hand is not that of the main scribe.
3 The heading ‘De Dudicote’ alludes to the name of the three hides of land within the manor of Haddenham – a ‘sub-manor’, as William A. Strange puts it – granted by Gilbert to the church of St Andrew, Rochester. The place-name Dudicot evidently corresponds to Dollicot(t), which is recorded in the seventeenth century as a ‘field’ unit of land, and which survives as the street name Dollicott in modern day Haddenham. Dudicot (as ‘Dodecot’) is mentioned in Custumale Roffense (c.1235) as supporting 250 sheep, and the meadow there was to be mown by its tenants ‘for love and not as a duty owed’, for which they were rewarded with ‘one wether and one cheese worth 4 pence and one salt bacon and one bundle of straw’. See William A. Strange, ‘Haddenham and Cuddington: The Early History of Two Buckinghamshire Villages’, Buckinghamshire Papers 11 (2007), esp. pp. 11-12, 25, 28 (Figure Two), and 37. My thanks to William for personally communicating this information about Dudicot/Dollicott. It should be noted that ‘Concerning Dollicott’ (2024) is a correction of my previous ‘Concerning Didcot’ (2018) and the information in this present footnote (2024) is a revision of the original footnote (2018).
4 Robert Bloet (also, Bluet), bishop of Lincoln, r. 1093/4–1123.
5 ‘in demesne’, translating in dominico. ‘Demesne. […] land held for the lord’s own use rather than let or leased’: A Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases, ed. Christopher Corèdon with Ann Williams (D. S. Brewer, 2005). Dominicus, Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources ‘3c. demesne, land held for lord’s use’: logeion.uchicago.edu/index.html#dominicus [accessed 06.03.18].
6 Unidentified place-names of the two meadows; left untranslated.
7 Customs: e.g. tithings and other dues owed the church.
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