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S 1482

A.D. 833 x 839. Will of Abba, reeve, concerning his property (the only named land being at Chillenden, Kent); with endorsement detailing the arrangements made by Heregyth, his wife, for an annual render to Christ Church, Canterbury, from an estate at Challock, Kent. English

Archive:

Canterbury, Christ Church

MSS:

1. London, British Library, Cotton Augustus ii. 64 (s. ix 1; BM Facs., ii. 23)

Printed:

Hickes, Diss. Epist., p. 55 ; K, 235 ; Sweet, Reader, pp. 199-200 ; Sweet, OET, pp. 447-9 (no. 41) ; Sweet, Second Reader, pp. 212-15 (no. 25) ; B, 412 ; Earle, pp. 108-11

Comments:

Deanesly 1927, p. 4 n. 3, dates it 833 ; Campbell 1938, p. 146, authentic ; Parsons 1939, pp. 14, 23-5, genuine and contemporary ; Sisam 1953, p. 124, cited ; Stenton 1971, p. 281, oldest Kentish will ; Sawyer 1978, p. 153, cited ; Brooks 1984, pp. 147, 354 n. 60, 360 n. 70, 361 n. 76, contemporary, written in two stages by different scribes (main text and Abba's subscription, then other subscriptions and Heregyth's bequest), there may have been little lapse of time between the two transactions ; Campbell 1989, p. 35, on detail of transaction ; Kelly 1990, pp. 47-8 ; Keynes 1990, pp. 252-3 ; Faith 1997, pp. 31-2, cited ; Foot 2000, II. 89, 114 ; Lowe 2001, Appendix I.3 ; Wormald 2001, pp. 265, 266, on hereditary possession ; Sweet, Reader, p. 287 ; BM Facs., iv, p. 7, contemporary ; Harmer, SEHD, pp. 75-81, authentic, cf. p. vi ; Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 175-6, on place-names ; Pratt, Alfred, p. 21

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    • (a)
      + Ic Abba geroefa . cyðe 7 writan hate hu min willa is þæt mon ymb min ærfe gedoe æfter minum dæge . Ærest ymb min lond þe ic hæbbe 7 me God lah 7 ic æt minum hlafordum begæt . is min willa gif me God bearnes unnan wille ðæt hit foe to londe æfter me 7 his bruce mid minum gemeccan 7 sioððan swæ forð min cynn ða hwile þe God wille ðæt ðeara ænig sie þe londes weorðe sie 7 land gehaldan cunne . Gif me ðonne gifeðe sie ðæt ic bearn begeotan ne mege þonne is min willa þæt hit hæbbe min wiif ða hwile ðe hia hit mid clennisse gehaldan wile 7 min broðar Alchhere hire fultume 7 þæt lond hire nytt gedoe . 7 him man selle an half swulung an Ciollandene to habbanne 7 to brucanne wið ðan ðe he ðy geornliocar hire ðearfa bega 7 bewiotige . 7 mon selle him to ðem londe .iiii. oxan . 7 .ii. cy . 7 .l. scepa 7 ænne horn . gif min wiif ðonne hia nylle mid clennisse swæ gehaldan 7 hire liofr\e/ sie oðer hemed to niomanne ðonne foen mine megas to ðem londe 7 hire agefen hire agen . Gif hire ðonne liofre sie [an my]nster to ganganne oðða suð to faranne ðonne agefen hie twægen mine megas Alchhere 7 Aeðelwold hire . twa ðusenda 7 fon him to ðem londe . 7 agefe mon to Liminge .l. eawa . 7 .v. cy . fore hie . 7 mon selle to Folcanstane in mid minum lice .x. oxan. 7 .x. cy. 7 .c. eawa. 7 .c. swina. 7 higum ansundran .d. pending . wið ðan ðe min wiif þær benuge innganges swæ mid minum lice swæt sioððan yferran dogre swæ hwæder swæ hire liofre sie . Gif higan ðonne oððe hlaford þæt nylle hire mynsterlifes geunnan . oðða hia siolf nylle 7 hire oðer ðing liofre sie . þonne agefe mon ten hund pending inn mid minum lice me wið legerstoe 7 higum an sundran fif hund pending . fore mine sawle . 7 ic bidde 7 bebeode swælc monn se ðæt min lond hebbe ðæt he ælce gere agefe ðem higum æt Folcanstane .l. ambra maltes 7 .vi. ambra gruta. 7 .iii. wega spices 7 ceses 7 .cccc. hlafa 7 an hriðr. 7 .vi. scep . 7 swælc monn se ðe to minum ærfe foe ðonne gedele he ælcum messepreoste binnan Cent mancus goldes 7 ælcum Godes ðiowe pending . 7 to Sancte Petre min wærgeld twa ðusenda 7 Freoðomund foe to minum sweorde 7 agefe ðeræt feower ðusenda 7 him mon forgefe ðeran ðreotene hund pending 7 gif mine broðar ærfeweard gestrionen ðe londes weorðe sie þonne ann ic ðem londes . Gif hie ne gestrionen oðða him sylfum ælles hwæt sele æfter hiora dege ann ic his Freoðomunde gif he ðonne lifes bið . Gif him elles hwæt sæleð ðonne ann ic his minra swæstarsuna swælcum se hit geðian wile 7 him gifeðe bið . 7 gif þæt gesele þæt min cynn to ðan clane gewite ðæt ðer ðeara nan ne sie ðe londes weorwe sie þonne foe se hlaford to 7 ða higon æt Kristes cirican 7 hit minum gaste nytt gedoen . An ðas redenne ic hit ðider selle ðe se monn se ðe Kristes cirican hlaford sie \se/ min 7 minra erfewearda forespreoca 7 mundbora 7 an his hlaforddome \we/ bian moten.
      + Ic Abba geroefa ðis write 7 festnie mid Kristes rode tacne.

      + Ic Ciolnoð mid Godes gefe ærcebiscop ðis write 7 ðeafie 7 mid Cristes rode tacne hit festniæ
      + Ic Beagmund presbiter ðis ðeafie 7 write
      + Ic Wærhard presbiter abbas ðis ðeafie 7 write

      + Ic Aeðelhun presbiter ðis ðeafie 7 write
      + Ic Abba presbiter ðis þeafie 7 write
      + Ic Wigmund presbiter ðis write 7 ðeafie
      + Ic Iof presbiter ðis ðeafie 7 write
      + Ic Osmund presbiter ðis ðeafie 7 write

      + Ic Wealhhere diacon ðis write 7 weafie
      + Ic Badanoð diacon ðis write 7 ðeafie
      + Ic Heaberht diacon ðis write 7 þeafie
      + Ic Noðwulf subdiacon ðis write 7 ðeafie

      + Ic Wealhhere subdiacon ðis write 7 ðeafie
      + Ic Ciolwulf subdiacon ðis write 7 ðeafie

      (b)
      + Heregyð hafað ðas wisan binemned ofer hire deg 7 ofer Abban ðæm higum et Cristes cirican of ðæm londe et Cealflocan ðæt is ðonne ðritig ombra alað . 7 ðreo hund hlafa ðeara bið fiftig hwitehlafa . an weg spices 7 ceses . an ald hriðr . feower weðras . an suin oððe sex weðras . sex gosfuglas . ten hennfuglas . ðritig teapera gif hit wintres deg sie . sester fulne huniges . sester fulne butran . sester fulne saltes . 7 Heregyð bibeadeð ðem mannum ðe efter hire to londe foen . on Godes noman ðæt hie fulgere witen ðæt hie ðiss gelesten ðe on ðissem gewrite binemned is ðem higum to Cristes cirican . 7 ðæt sie simle to higna blodlese ymb twelf monað agefen . 7 se mann se to londe foe agefe hire erfehonda .xiii. pund pendinga . 7 hio forgifeð fiftene pund for ðy ðe mon ðas feorme ðy soel gelæste.
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    • Endorsements: (1) in a contemporary hand: Abban geroefan (a)rf(e)ged(a)l: his ge∂inga to Kristes cirica(n). (2) in a hand of s. xii: Testamentum Abbe cuius uxor Henhith dedit Cheafloke conventui tempore Chelnothi. Anglice. (3) in a hand of s. xiv: Anno DCCCoXXXoVo. + Ic Abba geroefa cy∂e 7 writan hate hu min willa is ˇæt mon ymb min ærfe gedoe æfter minum dæge. Ærest ymb min lond ˇe ic hæbbe, 7 me God lah, 7 ic æt minum hlafordum begæt, is min willa gif me God bearnes unnan wille, ∂æt hit foe to londe æfter me 7 his bruce mid minum gemeccan; 7 sio∂∂an swæ for∂ min cynn ∂a hwile ˇe God wille ∂æt ∂eara ænig sie ˇe londes weor∂e sie 7 land gehaldan cunne. Gif me ∂onne gife∂e sie, ∂æt ic bearn begeotan ne mege, ˇonne is min willa ˇæt hit hæbbe min wiif ∂a hwile ∂e hia hit mid clennisse gehaldan wile. 7 min bro∂ar Alchhere hire fultume 7 ˇæt lond hire nytt gedoe; 7 him man sElle an half swulung an Ciollandene to habbanne 7 to brucanne, wi∂ ∂an ∂e he ∂y geornliocar hire ∂earfa bega 7 bewiotige; 7 mon selle him to ∂em londe IIII oxan 7 II cy 7 L scEpa 7 ænne horn. Gif min wiif ∂onne hia nylle mid clennisse swæ gehaldan, 7 hire liofre sie o∂er hemed to niomanne, ∂onne foen mine megas to ∂em londe 7 hire agefen hire agen. Gif hire ∂onne liofre sie an mynster to ganganne o∂∂a su∂ to faranne, ∂onne agefen hie twægen mine mEgas Alchhere 7 Ae∂elwold hire twa ∂usenda 7 fon him to ∂em londe; 7 agefe mon to Liminge L eawa 7 V cy fore hie. 7 mon selle to Folcanstane in mid minum lice X oxan 7 X cy 7 C eawa 7 C swina 7 higum ansundran D pend', wi∂ ∂an ∂e min wiif ˇær benuge innganges swæ mid minum lice swæ sio∂∂an yferran dogre swæ hwæder swæ hire liofre sie. Gif higan ∂onne o∂∂e hlaford ˇæt nylle hire mynsterlifes geunnan, o∂∂a hia siolf nylle, 7 hire o∂er ∂ing liofre sie, ˇonne agefe mon ten hund pend' inn mid minum lice me wi∂ legerstowe, 7 higum an sundran fif hund pend' fore mine sawle. 7 ic bidde 7 bebeode swælc monn se ∂æt min lond hebbe ∂æt he ælce gere agefe ∂em higum æt Folcanstane L ambra maltes 7 VI ambra gruta 7 III wega spices 7 ceses 7 CCCC hlafa 7 an hri∂r 7 VI scep. 7 swælc monn se ∂e to minum ærfe foe, ∂onne gedele he ælcum messepreoste binnan Cent mancus goldes 7 ælcum Godes ∂iowe pend' 7 to Sancte Petre min wærgeld twa ∂usenda. 7 Freo∂omund foe to minum sweorde 7 agefe ∂eræt feower ∂usenda, 7 him mon forgefe ∂eran ∂reotene hund pending. 7 gif mine bro∂ar ærfeweard gestrionen ∂e londes weor∂e sie, ˇonne ann ic ∂em londes. Gif hie ne gestrionen o∂∂a him sylfum ælles hwæt sEle, æfter hiora dege ann ic his Freo∂omunde gif he ∂onne lifes bi∂. Gif him elles hwæt sæle∂, ∂onne ann ic his minra swæstarsuna swælcum se hit ge∂ian wile 7 him gife∂e bi∂. 7 gif ˇæt gesele ˇæt min cynn to ∂an clane gewite ∂æt ∂er ∂eara nan ne sie ∂e londes weor∂e sie, ˇonne foe se hlaford to 7 ∂a higan æt Kristes cirican 7 hit minum gaste nytt gedoen. An ∂as redenne ic hit ∂ider selle, ∂e se monn se ∂e Kristes cirican hlaford sie, 'se' min 7 minra erfewearda forespreoca 7 mundbora, 7 an his hlaforddome 'we' bian moten. + Ic Ciolno∂ mid Godes gefe ærcebiscop ∂is write 7 ∂eafie 7 mid Cristes rode tacne hit festniæ. + Ic Beagmund preost ∂is ∂eafie 7 write. + Ic Wærhard preost abbod ∂is ∂eafie 7 write. + Ic Abba geroefa ∂is write 7 festnie mid Kristes rode tacne. + Ic Ae∂elhun preost ∂is ∂eafie 7 write. + Ic Abba preost ∂is ∂eafie 7 write. + Ic Wigmund preost ∂is write 7 ∂eafie. + Ic Iof preost ∂is ∂eafie 7 write. + Ic Osmund preost ∂is ∂eafie 7 write. + Ic Wealhhere diacon ∂is write 7 ∂eafie. + Ic Badano∂ diacon ∂is write 7 ∂eafie. + Ic Heaberht diacon ∂is write 7 ∂eafie. + Ic No∂wulf subdiacon ∂is write 7 ∂eafie. + Ic Wealhhere subdiacon ∂is write 7 ∂eafie. + Ic Ciolwulf subdiacon ∂is write 7 ∂eafie. + Heregy∂ hafa∂ ∂as wisan binemned ofer hire deg 7 ofer Abban ∂æm higum et Cristes cirican of ∂æm londe et Cealflocan. ∂æt is ∂onne ∂ritig ombra ala∂ 7 ∂reo hund hlafa, ∂eara bi∂ fiftig hwitehlafa, an weg spices 7 ceses, an ald hri∂er, feower we∂ras, an suin, o∂∂e sex we∂ras, sex gosfuglas, ten hennfuglas, ∂ritig teapera, gif hit wintres deg sie, sester fulne huniges, sester fulne butran, sester fulne saltes. 7 Heregy∂ bibeade∂ ∂em mannum ∂e efter hire to londe foen, on Godes noman, ∂æt hie fulgere witen ∂æt hie ∂iss gelEsten ∂e on ∂issem gewrite binemned is ∂em higum to Cristes cirican, '7 ∂æt sie simle to higna blodlese ymb twelf mona∂ agefen'. 7 se mann se to londe foe, agefe hire erfehonda XIII pund pendinga; 7 hio forgife∂ fiftene pund for ∂y ∂e mon ∂as feorme ∂y soel gelæste.