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The offspring of the supreme Father, who governs both heavenly and earthly things, reigning for ever and ruling the kingdom of the world. In the year of His Incarnation 903, the 6th indiction, it befell Ealdorman Æthelfrith that all his charters of inheritance were destroyed, consumed by the ravaging of fire. Accordingly the aforesaid dux, impelled by such necessity, petitioned King Edward, and also Æthelred and Ætheflæd, who then held rulership and power over the race of the Mercians under the aforesaid king, as well also as all the leading men of the Mercians, that they should give him their consent and permission for rewriting other charters for himself.
Then they all with devoted mind unanimously gave their consent that other charters should be written for him in the same terms as the earlier ones had been written, in so far as he could relate them from memory. But if there were any which he was scarcely able to relate, this charter should be made for him as help and support, so that no one should be emboldened to assail him in a contentious manner with other charters, neither kinsman nor stranger - in the event that any man should bring forward one of the old charters which he might previously have abstracted fraudulently by theft, whether at the time of the fire itself or at any other time. for we know that all things which are wont to happen in this world, fading sometimes more quickly from the memory of mortal man, pass into oblivion, unless they are recorded in documents, in the writing of letters.
Wherefore we have thought it right and proper and entirely appropriate to make known in this charter concerning the land of 10 hides at Islington [Gisladune]: that of Cenwulf, the renowned king of the Mercians, gave it to Beornnoth, his faithful comes, for himself and for his heirs ever after him, for holding free with every appurtenance; and with the sign of the holy cross he strengthened and faithfully confirmed his grant, with woods, meadows, pastures, and all appurtenances, as a perpetual possession.
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