Source: CharterS876

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Description

King Æthelred to Abingdon Abbey; confirmation of privileges, including the right of free election of a new abbot.

Charter information
Sawyer 876
Birch ---
Kemble 684
British Academy Kelly, Abingdon No. 124
Source Used Brit_Ac
Archive(s) Abingdon
Source Information
Language Latin
Date from Source 993
Scholarly Source Dating 993

Notes

*Bond 1878, p. 7, MS 1 contemporary; Napier and Stevenson, p. 121 n., obviously authentic; Stevenson 1899, p. 42, MS 1 apparently somewhat later than 993; Stevenson 1912, p. 6 n. 17; Robinson 1918, p. 68, spurious; Watkin 1956, p. 229 and n. 47, on attestation of abbot of Malmesbury; John 1966, pp. 172, 181-209, entirely authentic; Whitelock et al. 1968, p. 24, may be genuine; Bishop 1971, p. 13, MS 1 contemporary, script similar to that in Lincoln, Cathedral Library, 182; Stenton 1971, p. 455 n. 1, on attestating abbots; HRH, p. 232, probably original, subscriptions are consistent but raise certain difficulties; Keynes 1978, p. 172 n. 5, on chrismon; Gelling, ECTV, no. 124, original; Keynes 1980, p. 11 nn 16-17, p. 27 n. 40, pp. 96, 98-101, 121, 176-7, 250-1, authentic, MS 1 original; Councils and Synods, pp. 179-82; Sawyer 1983, p. 294, on Gillingham; O'Donovan, Sherborne, p. xix n. 16, an a witness; PN Dorset, iii. 9; Dumville 1992a, p. 54 n. 96, errors and rather advanced script make it a treacherous witness; Dumville 1993, p. 135 n. 100, authenticity uncertain; Lapidge 1993, pp. 431-4, on attestation of abbot of Winchcombe; Keynes 1996, p. 33; Kelly, Abingdon, no. 124, MS 1 seems contemporary or nearly contemporary, charter was probably drawn up at Abingdon with the king's permission

Notes: There are apparently autograph crosses attached to some of the subscriptions. The witness-list has been partly revised. MS 1 is now in poor condition, and the beginning of Kemble's text is an incorrect reconstruction.

Event/Transaction List

Factoid Type Source Reference Short Description
1 Transaction S876    King Cenwulf 3 and Leo 1, pope, granted immunity to Abingdon 1.
2 Transaction S876    The kings Eadred 16, Eadwig 4, and Edgar 11, at the behest of Bishop Æthelwold 1, granted liberty to the monastery of Abingdon 1. An early grant had been made by King Cædwalla 1.
3 Transaction S876    Ealdorman Ælfric 87 to King Æthelred 32; grant of money in return for his brother's, Edwin 15's, appointment as abbot of Abingdon.
4 Transaction S876    King Æthelred 32 to Abingdon 1 Abbey; confirmation of privileges, including the right of free election of a new abbot
5 Event S876    King Æthelred 32 mentioned the [unspecified ] difficulties which he and his kingdom had faced since the death of his mentor, Æthelwold 1. The king was penitent for the decisions taken in his youth with the counsel of greedy men - Bishop Wulfgar 28, Ealdorman Ælfric 87 - and for being persuaded to infringe on the liberty of Abingdon 1 in return for money. This liberty Æthelwold had acquired for the monastery from the kings Eadred 16, Eadwig 4, and Edgar 11. A synod was conveyed in Winchester at Pentecost to renew / restore the lost liberty. Æthelred 32 here renounces the payment he accepted from Ælfric 87 in return for awarding Edwin 15, Ælfric 87's brother, the abbacy. The confirmation of the synod's conclusions was made in the oratory at Gillingham after the celebration of mass in the presence of the king, Abbot Ælfsige 81, Æthelmær 22, and Ordwulf 4, the king's uncle. Æthelred 32 gave lordship of Abingdon to Abbot Wulfgar 28; his successor was to be chosen by the brethren in accordance with
6 Event S876    King Æthelred 32, in his youth, was persuaded by Bishop Wulfgar 28 and Ealdorman Ælfric 87 to infringe upon the liberty of Abingdon 1 by accepting money from Ælfric 87 in return for his appointment of Edwin 15, Ælfric 87's brother, as abbot of the house.