Scragg Donald (Edited). Edgar, King of the English 959-975: New Interpretations (Pubns Manchester Centre for Anglo-Saxon Studies)

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64 SIMON KEyNES

Muchelney (S 729, dated 964), Crowland (S 741, dated 966), Chertsey (S 752,

dated 967), Westminster (S 774, dated 969), Ely (S 779, dated 970), Glaston-

bury (S 783, dated 971), Peterborough (S 787), Thorney (S 792, dated 973),

Ramsey (S 798, dated 974), and Wilton (S 799, dated 974); the notorious ‘Al-

titonantis’ charter from Worcester (S 731, dated 964); the so-called ‘Orthodox-

orum’ charters for Abingdon (S 673, dated ‘958’), Pershore (S 786, dated 972),

Worcester (S 788, dated 972), and Romsey (S 812); and a series of seemingly

‘incomplete’ charters from the Old Minster, Winchester, lacking dating-clause

and witness-lists, treated here as a single composite text (S 814–19 + 821–7).

Such charters are by no means without interest in their own right, for they

belong to the development of Edgar’s reputation, from the late tenth century

onwards, as a founder and benefactor of monasteries.

Char

ers known once to have existed, but no longer extant, are deemed to be

‘lost’, and charters of which only parts have been preserved are deemed to be

‘incomplete’. All such charters are important because their former existence has

to be borne in mind when making any judgement based on texts which happen

to have survived. For further details, see section D (pp. 79–80).

A. CHARTERS OF EDGAR AS KING OF THE MERCIANS 957–9

Charters of 958

S 674 (Pet 13), from Peterborough. AD 958 (2nd yr). Edgar, king of the English,

grants 5 hides at Orton, Hunts., to Ælfheah, his thegn. Related to S 679.

S 679 (BCS 1044), from york. AD 958 (2nd yr). Edgar, king of the English,

grants 10 hides at Sutton, Notts., to Oscytel, bishop of Dorchester. Related to

S 674.

S 667 (BCS 1041), from Chester. AD 958 (2nd yr), at Penkridge, Staffs. Edgar,

king of the Mercians, grants 17 hides at various places in Flint and Cheshire to

the community of St Werburg’s Abbey, Chester. Probably ‘improved’; but based

on a charter by Edgar’s ‘Mercian’ draftsman.

S 677 (Wells 31), from Wells. AD 958 (2nd yr). Edgar, king of the Mercians

(and of the Northumbrians and British), grants land in pago Magesætna, namely

6 hides at Staunton, Heref., to Ealhstan, his thegn (for 40 mancuses of gold).

Single sheet (probably original), written by a scribe not otherwise identiﬁed,

with formulation by Edgar’s ‘Mercian’ draftsman.

S 675 (BCS 1042), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 958. Edgar, king of the

Mercians, grants 20 hides at Wootton, Oxon, to Æthelric, his thegn.

S 678 (Abing 82), from Abingdon. AD 958. Edgar, king of the Mercians, grants

14 hides at Ducklington, Oxon, to Eanulf, his thegn. ‘Dunstan B’ formulation;

not attested by the king.

For further details, see Keynes, ‘Anglo-Saxon Charters: Lost and Found’.

CONSPECTUS OF EDGAR’S CHARTERS 65

S 676 (BCS 1037), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 958. Edgar, king of the

Mercians, grants 5 hides at Ham, Essex, to Æthelstan, his ealdorman (comes).

‘Dunstan B’ formulation; not attested by the king.

S 676a (‘Kemble’), from ?Coventry. AD 958. Edgar, king of the Mercians,

grants 3 hides at Coundon, Warwicks., to Eadwald, his thegn. ‘Dunstan B’ for-

mulation; not attested by the king.

Charters of 959

S 681 (Pet 14), from Peterborough. AD 959. Edgar, ruler of the whole provincia

Mercia,

grants […] hides at Howden and (Old) Drax, yorks., to Quen, his

matrona. Proto-’Edgar A’ formulation.

B. CHARTERS OF EDGAR AS KING OF THE ENGLISH 959–75

Charters of 959

Eadwig died on 1 October, and was buried at the New Minster, Winchester. He was suc-

ceeded by Edgar, who was then 16 years old [calculated from 943].

S 680 (BCS 1051), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 959. Edgar, ruler of the

whole of Albion, grants 10 hides at West Clere, Hants., to Ælfwine, his thegn.

Proto-’Edgar A’ formulation.

See also S 670 (Westminster), S 673 (Abingdon) and S 1293 (Westminster), in

section C.

Charters of 960

S 685 (BCS 1053), from Wilton. AD 960. Edgar, ruler of the English, grants 20

hides at Stanton (St Bernard), Wilts., to Osulf, bishop [of Ramsbury].

S 683 (BCS 1054), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 960. Edgar, king of

the whole kingdom of Britain, grants 10 hides at Itchen Stoke, Hants., to his

kinsman Brihthelm, bishop [of Winchester]. ‘Edgar A’ formulation.

S 687 (Abing 86), from Abingdon. AD 960. Edgar, ruler of the whole of Britain,

restores land at various places in Berks., Sussex and Hants. to Wulfric, his thegn

(for 120 mancuses of gold). Single sheet (original), written by ‘Edgar A’.

S 682 (Abing 85), from Abingdon. AD 960. Edgar, king of the whole of Albion,

grants 20 hides at Drayton, Berks., to Abingdon Abbey (previously given by

King Eadred to his thegn Eadwold).

S 684 (BCS 1056), from Exeter. AD 960. King Edgar grants 9 hides at Ty-

warnhayle and 2 hides at Bosowsa, Cornwall, to Eanulf, his thegn. Single sheet

(probably original), written by a scribe not otherwise identiﬁed, with ‘south-

western’ formulation.

See also S 686 (Paris, Saint-Denis), in section C.

66 SIMON KEyNES

Charters of 961

Two of the charters listed below (S 688–9), in favour of Abingdon Abbey, have to be

treated with caution; see above, p. 63.

S 690 (Abing 87), from Abingdon. AD 961. Edgar, ruler of the whole of Britain,

grants 22 hides at Ringwood, Hants., to Abingdon Abbey. Single sheet (orig-

inal), with main text written by ‘Edgar A’; dating-clause and witness-list added,

after folding, by another hand.

S 688 (Abing 88), from Abingdon. AD 961. Edgar, ruler of the whole of Britain,

grants 20 hides at Burbage, Wilts., to Abingdon Abbey. ‘Edgar A’ formulation.

(Abingdon cluster.)

S 689 (Abing 89), from Abingdon. AD 961. Edgar, king of the whole of Albion,

grants 50 hides at Hurstbourne (Tarrant), Hants., to Abingdon Abbey. (Abingdon

cluster.)

S 691 (Abing 90), from Abingdon. AD 961. Edgar, king of the English, grants 9

hides at Ardington, Berks., to Ælfric, his thegn. Attestation of Bishop Æthelwold

not possible.

S 698 (Abing 91), from Abingdon. AD 961. Edgar, ruler of the whole of Britain,

grants 3 hides at Hamstede, to Eadric, his thegn. ‘Edgar A’ formulation. Attesta-

tion of Bishop Æthelwold not possible

S 699 (BCS 1068), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 961. Edgar, king of the

English, grants 5 hides at Avington, Hants., to the Old Minster, Winchester.

S 696 (BCS 1071), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 961. Edgar, king of the

English, grants 5 hides at Ebbesborne, Wilts., to Byrnsige, his thegn. ‘Edgar A’

formulation.

S 695 (BCS 1076), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 961. Edgar, king of the

whole English region, grants 7½ hides at Easton, Hants., to his kinsman Byrh-

thelm, bishop [of Winchester].

S 693 (BCS 1077), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 961. Edgar, ruler of the

whole of Britain, grants a lease of 10 hides at Kilmeston, Hants., to Athulf, his

thegn, and two successors, with Bishop Brihthelm’s permission and in return

for a speciﬁed annual payment.

S 697 (BCS 1072), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 961. Edgar, king of the

whole island of Albion, grants 4 hides at Withiel (Florey), Somerset., to Cenulf,

his man. Single sheet (probably original), written by a scribe not otherwise

identiﬁed, with ‘south-western’ formulation.

S 692 (Bath 15), from Bath. AD 961. Edgar, king of the whole of Albion, grants

1 hide at Evesty, Somerset, to Æthelwold, his thegn. Distinctive formulation.

S 694 (Bath 14), from Bath. AD 961. Edgar, king of the whole of Albion, re-

stores 5 hides at (South) Stoke, Somerset, to St Peter’s Abbey, Bath. ‘Dunstan

B’ formulation; attested by the king. Probably spurious in this form.

Charters of 962

In 962 Ælfgar, the king’s kinsman in Devon, died, and was buried at Wilton. Charters

dated 962 can be organized into sub-groups by analysis of their witness-lists. S 705a,

700, S 703 and S 669 were attested by Ælfgar, and were thus issued before his death;

CONSPECTUS OF EDGAR’S CHARTERS 67

S 702 and S 704 were issued probably after Ælfgar’s death, but before the death of

Ealdorman Æthelwold; S 701, S 706 and S 705 were issued after the death of Ealdorman

Æthelwold, and after the appointment of his successor Æthelwine.

S 705a (‘Kemble’), from Athelney. AD 962. Edgar, king of the English people,

grants 1 hide at Ilton, Somerset, to Godwine, his satraps (for 5 pounds of silver

and gold).

S 707 (Burt 19), from Burton. AD 962. Edgar, king of the English, grants 10

hides at Hilmarton and at Littlecott, Wilts., to Wulfmær, his thegn. For formula-

tion, cf. S 1214 (in section C).

S 700 (Abing 92), from Abingdon. AD 962. Edgar, king of the whole of Britain,

grants 3 hides at Hendred, Berks., to Abingdon Abbey. ‘Edgar A’ formulation;

but possibly spurious.

S 703 (BCS 1082), from Bury St Edmunds. AD 962. Edgar, ruler of the whole

of Britain, grants 7 hides at Chelsworth, Suffolk, to Æthelﬂæd, his matrona.

Single sheet (original), written by ‘Edgar A’.

S 669 (BCS 1103), from Exeter. AD ‘951’ for ?962. Edgar, king of the whole

of Britain, grants 1 hide at Clyst (St Mary or St George), Devon, to Æthelnoth,

his man. Single sheet; spurious in this form, but with witness-list drawn from a

charter of 962.

S 702 (BCS 1085), from Westminster. AD 962. Edgar, king of the whole of

Britain, grants 10 hides at Sunbury, Middlesex, to his kinsman Ælfheah, his

ﬁdelis. Single sheet (s. x ex), modeled on a charter written by ‘Edgar A’.

S 704 (‘Kemble’), from Buckfast. AD 962. Edgar, king of the English, grants 3

perticae at Seeley (in Churchstow), Devon, to Æthel[…], his thegn. Single sheet

(probably original), written by a scribe not otherwise identiﬁed.

S 701 (Abing 93), from Abingdon. AD 962. Edgar, king of the whole of Britain,

grants a vineyard at Watchet, Somerset, and some royal dues, etc., to Abingdon

Abbey. ‘Edgar A’ formulation, in part.

S 706 (BCS 1083), of uncertain provenance (?Wilton). AD 962. Edgar, king of

the whole of Britain, grants 8 hides at Avon (in Durnford), Wilts., to Titstan, his

chamberlain (cubicularius). Single sheet (original), written by ‘Edgar A’.

S 705 (Abing 94), from Abingdon. AD 962. Edgar, king of the English, grants

20 hides at Moredon (in Rodbourne Cheney), Wilts., to Eadwine, his thegn.

See also S 811 (Winchester), S 833 (Abingdon) and S 1214 (Evesham), in

section C.

Charters of 963

In 963 Æthelwold, abbot of Abingdon, was consecrated bishop of Winchester on 29

November. Charters dated 963 can be organized into sub-groups by analysis of their

witness-lists. S 708, S 717, S 720, S 711, S 718, S 709, S 719, S 713 and S 715 were

attested by Æthelwold as abbot, or by two bishops called Byrhthelm (one of whom

would have been Æthelwold’s predecessor as bishop of Winchester), and must therefore

have been produced at a meeting or meetings held before Æthelwold’s consecration as

bishop. S 712, S 716, S 722 and S 714 were all issued after Æthelwold’s elevation to

the see of Winchester, perhaps on a later occasion in December. S 710 and S 721 have

68 SIMON KEyNES

truncated witness-lists; S 723 and S 712a have only one bishop Byrhthelm, and do not

contain attestations of any abbots.

S 708 (Abing 96), from Abingdon. AD 963. Edgar, king of the whole kingdom

of Albion, grants 4 hides at Easthall, Sussex, to Abingdon Abbey. ‘Edgar A’

formulation.

S 717 (CantCC 126), from Christ Church, Canterbury. AD 963. Edgar, king

of the whole of Britain, grants 7 hides at Vange, Essex, to Ingeram, his thegn.

Single sheet (original), written by ‘Edgar A’, with inserted bounds; endorsed

with note to the effect that Ingeram gave the charter, with the land, to Arch-

bishop Dunstan.

S 720 (Burt 20), from Burton. AD 963. Edgar, king of the English, grants 3

hides at Duddeston, Warwicks., and 3 at Ernlege, to Wulfgeat, his thegn. ‘Edgar

A’ formulation.

S 711 (Bath 16), from Bath. AD 963. Edgar, king of the whole of Britain, grants

2½ hides at Stanton (Prior), Somerset, to Ælfsige, his ‘decurion’. ‘Edgar A’

formulation.

S 718 (BCS 1114), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 963. Edgar, king of

the whole of Britain, grants 8 hides at Ambersham, Sussex, to the church of St

Andrew at Meon. ‘Edgar A’ formulation.

S 709 (Wells 32), from Wells. AD 963. Edgar, king of the whole of Britain, grants

1 hide, less ½ a pertica, at Manworthy (in Milverton), Somerset, to Ælfric, his

thegn. ‘Edgar A’ formulation.

S 719 (BCS 1120), from Wilton. AD 963. Edgar, king of the whole of Britain,

grants 3 hides at Avon (in Durnford), Wilts., to Winstan, his chamberlain (cam-

erarius). ‘Edgar A’ formulation.

S 713 (Abing 97), from Abingdon. AD 963. King Edgar grants 10 hides at

Sparsholt, 1 hide at Balking, and a mill at Hirdegrafe, Berks., to Æthelsige, his

chamberlain (camerarius). Formulation inﬂuenced by ‘Dunstan B’.

S 715 (BCS 1118), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 963. Edgar, king of the

English, grants 5 hides at Patney, Wilts., to himself. Draftsman has provided

additional computistical data in dating clause.

S 710 (Shaft 24), from Shaftesbury. AD 963. Edgar, king of the whole of Britain,

grants 5 hides at Orchard, Dorset, to Ælfsige, his thegn. ‘Edgar A’ formula-

tion.

S 721 (BCS 1104), from Glastonbury. AD 963. Edgar, king of the whole of

Albion, grants 2 hides at Ottery (St Mary), Devon, to Wulfhelm, his thegn.

‘South-western’ formulation.

S 723 (BCS 1119), from Winchester (Old Minster). AD 963 (7th yr). Edgar,

king of the whole of Britain, grants 6 hides in provincia Wrocensetna, at Plaish

(in Cardington) and at (Church and Chetwynd) Aston, Salop, to Wulfric, his

thegn. Edgar’s ‘Mercian’ draftsman.

S 712a (‘Kemble’), of uncertain provenance (?Burton). AD 963 (7th yr). King

Edgar grants 5 hides in pago Pecset, at Ballidon, Derbys., to Æthelferth (for 20

mancuses of pure gold). Edgar’s ‘Mercian’ draftsman.

S 712

(BCS 1112), from york. AD 963 (‘6th’ yr). Edgar, king of the English

people, grants 20 hides at Sherburn (-in-Elmet), yorks., to Oslac (Æslac).

CONSPECTUS OF EDGAR’S CHARTERS 69

S 716 (BCS 1113), from york. AD 963. Edgar, king of the whole of Britain,

grants 30 hides at Newbald, yorks., to Gunner, his ealdorman. ‘Edgar A’ for-

mulation.

S 722 (Abing 99), from Abingdon. AD 963. King Edgar grants 5 hides at Hocan

edisce to Wulfnoth, his thegn. ‘Edgar A’ formulation.

S 714 (Abing 98), from Abingdon. AD 963. Edgar, king of the whole of Britain,

grants 23 hides at Washington, Sussex, to Æthelwold, bishop [of Winchester].

‘Edgar A’ formulation.

See also S 1213 (Bury St Edmunds), in section C.

Charters of 964

In 964 King Edgar drove out the priests from the Old and New Minsters at Winchester,

from Chertsey and from Milton, and replaced them with monks; and he appointed

Æthelgar abbot of the New Minster, Ordberht abbot of Chertsey, and Cyneweard abbot

of Milton. S 725 was issued while Ordgar was still a thegn; S 724 was issued after his

appointment as an ealdorman.

S 727 (BCS 1127), from Romsey. AD 964. Edgar, king of the whole of Britain,

grants […] hides at (Steeple) Ashton, Wilts., to himself. Dated 964, but lacks

witness-list.

S 730 (Shaft 25), from Shaftesbury. AD 964. Edgar, king of the English, grants

5 hides at Teffont, Wilts., to Sigestan, his thegn.

S 725 (Abing 101), from Abingdon. AD 964 (5th yr). Edgar, king of the English,

and of the barbarians and gentiles, grants 10 hides at Aston (Upthorpe), Berks.,

to Ælfthryth, his consort (lateranea).

S 724 (Abing 100), from Abingdon. AD 964. Edgar, king of the English, grants

10 hides at Hendred, Berks., to Abingdon Abbey.

S 726 (BCS 1134), from Worcester. AD 964. Edgar, king of Albion, grants 2

hides at Cookley (in Wolverley), Worcs., to Byrhtnoth, his ealdorman (comes).

‘Dunstan B’ formulation; attested by the king. Note identiﬁcation of the bishops’

sees.

See also S 728 (Ghent), S 729 (Muchelney), S 731 (Worcester), in section C.

Charters of 965

In 965 King Edgar took Ælfthryth, daughter of Ealdorman Ordgar, as his queen (cf. S

724–5, dated 964). Three of the charters listed below (S 732–4) form a cluster of iden-

tical charters in favour of Abingdon Abbey, with a witness-list apparently derived from

a charter of 970, and should be treated with caution; see above, p. 63.

S 734 (Abing 102), from Abingdon. AD 965. Edgar, king of the whole of Albion,

grants 50 hides at Marcham, Berks., to Abingdon Abbey. Probably spurious.

S 732 (Abing 103), from Abingdon. AD 965. Edgar, king of the whole of Albion,

grants 5 hides at Beedon, Berks., to Abingdon Abbey. Probably spurious.

S 733 (Abing 104), from Abingdon. AD 965. Edgar, king of the whole of Albion,

grants 2 hides at Denchworth, Berks., to Abingdon Abbey. Probably spurious.

S 736 (BCS 1165), from Abbotsbury. AD 965. Edgar, monarch of the whole

island of Britain, grants 3 virgae at Cheselbourne, Dorset, to Wulfheard, his

70 SIMON KEYNES

man. Single sheet (probably original), written by a scribe not otherwise identi-

ﬁed, with ‘south-western’ formulation.

S 735 (Bath 17), from Bath.

AD 965. Edgar, king of the whole of Albion, grants

7½ hides at Stanton (Prior), Somerset, to Abbot Æscwig for St Peter’s, Bath.

‘Dunstan B’ formulation, incorporating a request for prayers; attested by the

king.

Charters of 966

In 966 Oslac succeeded to the aldormanry of Northumbria (cf. S 712, S 712a and S 716,

dated 963, and S 732–4, dated 965).

S 744 (Shaft 26), from Shaftesbury. AD 966. Edgar, king of the whole of Britain,

grants 10 hides at Up Piddle, Dorset, to Shaftesbury Abbey (the land given by

his grandmother Wynﬂæd, though the earlier charter had been lost). ‘Edgar A’

formulation.

S 738 (BCS

1176), from

Winchester (Old Minster). AD 966. Edgar, king of

the English, grants 10 hides at Newnham (Murren), Oxon, to his kinswoman

Ælfgifu, matrona. Single sheet

(probably original), written by a scribe not oth-

erwise identiﬁed, with ‘Edgar A’ formulation; witness-list based on same memo-

randum as used for S 737.

S 737 (Abing 105), from Abingdon.

AD 966. Edgar, king of the English, grants

10 hides at Linslade, Bucks., to his kinswoman Ælfgifu, matrona. ‘Edgar

A’

formulation; witness-list based on same memorandum as used for S 738, appar-

ently also used as a model for the witness-list in the Abingdon cluster of 968.

S 740 (‘Kemble’), from Muchelne

y. AD 966. Edgar, king of the whole of Albion,

grants 10 hides at Isle (Abbots), Somerset, to Ælfwold, bishop [of Sherborne

or Crediton].

S 739 (Burt 21), from Bur

ton. AD 966. Edgar, king of the whole of Albion,

grants 10 hides at Parwich, Derbys., to Ælfhelm, his thegn. Attested by Edward

(the Martyr) and Ælfthryth.

S 742 (BCS 1177), from

Glastonbury. AD 966. Edgar, king of the whole kingdom

on this side of the sea (citra mare), grants

15 hides at Buckland (Newton),

Dorset, to ‘Ethelred’ (Ælfthryth), his wife. Not in the ‘Liber Terrarum’ (below,

p. 79); entered in the ‘Great Cartulary’.

S 743 (BCS 1188), from

Glastonbury. AD 966. Edgar, king of the whole of

Albion, grants 2 hides at (Podimore) Milton, Somerset, to Glastonbury Abbey.

‘Dunstan B’ formulation; attested by the king.

S 745 (WinNM 23), from W

inchester (New Minster). AD 966. Edgar, king of the

English, afﬁrms that the community of the New Minster will follow the Rule of

St Benedict. Original (written in gold letters, in book form), with a frontispiece

showing King Edgar presenting the charter to Christ.