Full text – Anglo-Saxons aethelflaed will.
A.D. 962 x 991, probably after 975. Will of Æthelflæd, including bequest of
land at Lambourn, Cholsey and Reading, Berks., to the king; at Damerham,
Hants., to Glastonbury; at Hamme to Christ Church, Canterbury; at
Woodham, Essex, to Ealdorman Brihtnoth and her sister for life, with
reversion to St Mary’s, Barking; at Hadham, Herts., to the same, for life, with
reversion to St Paul’s, London; at Fen Ditton, Cambs., to Ely Abbey; at
Cockfield and Chelsworth, Suffolk, to the same for life, with reversion to St
Edmunds, Bedericesworth (Bury); at Fingringhoe, Essex, to the same for
life, with reversion to St Peter’s, Mersea; at Polstead, Suffolk, to the same for
life, with reversion to Stoke (? StokebyNayland,
Suffolk); at Withermarsh,
Suffolk, to Stoke; at Stratford St Mary, Lavenham, Balsdon, Suffolk, and at
Peldon, Mersea and Greenstead (near Colchester), Essex, to Ealdorman
Brihtnoth and her sister for life, with reversion to Stoke; at Elmsett, Suffolk,
to the same for life, with reversion to Edmund; at Thorpe (? Morieux,
Suffolk), to Hadleigh, Suffolk; at Wickford, Essex, to Sibriht, her kinsman;
at Hadham, Herts., to Ecgwine, her reeve; at Donyland, Essex, to Brihtwold,
her servant, to Ælfwold and Æthelmær, her priests, and to Ælfgeat, her
kinsman; and at Waldingfield, Suffolk, to Crawe, her kinswoman. English.
Archive: Bury
This is Æthelflæd?s will. First, I grant to my lord the estate at Lambourn and those at
Cholsey and at Reading, and four armlets of two hundred mancuses of gold, and four
robes and four cups and four bowls and four horses. And I pray my dear lord for the love
of God that my will may stand, and I have made no other, by God’s witness.
And I grant the estate at Damerham to Glastonbury for King Edmund’s soul and for King
Edgar’s and for mine. And I grant the estate at Ham to Christchurch at Canterbury for
King Edmund’s soul and for my soul. And I grant the estate at Woodham to the
Ealdorman Brihtnoth and my sister for their lifetime, and after their death to St Paul’s in
London as episcopal property. And I grant the estate at Ditton to Ely, to St Etheldreda
and her sisters. And I grant the two estates, Cockfield and Chelsworth, to the Ealdorman
Brihtnoth and my sister for her life; and after her death to St Edmund’s foundation at
Bedericesworth. And I grant the estate at Fingringhoe to the Ealdorman Brihtnoth and my
sister for her life; and after her death to St Peter’s church at Mersea. And I grant the estate
at Polstead to Ealdorman Brihtnoth and my sister for her life; and after her death to
Stoke. And I grant the estate at Withermarsh to Stoke after my death, and I grant to the
Ealdorman Brihtnoth and my sister for their lifetime the estate at Stratford; and after their
death I grant it to Stoke. And it is my wish that Lavenham should go to Stoke after the
ealdorman’s death and my sister’s. And I grant the estate at Balsdon to Stoke after the
ealdorman’s death and my sister’s. And I grant the estates at Peldon and at Mersea and at
Greenstead to Stoke after my death, and after the death of the Ealdorman Brihtnoth and
my sister. And I grant the estate at Elmsett to the Ealdorman Brihtnoth and my sister for
their lifetime, and after their death I grant it to Edmund. And I grant the one hide at
Thorpe to Hadleigh after my death, for my soul and the souls of my ancestors.
And I grant the ten hides at Wickford to my kinsman Sibriht after my death. And to my
reeve Ecgwine I grant the four hides at Hadham after my death, as it was settled in
former times. And I grant to my servant Brihtwold two hides in Donyland after my death.
And I grant to Æthelmær my priest two hides in Donyland after my death. And I grant
the estate at Waldingfield to my kinswoman Crawe after my death.
And I wish that half my men in every village be freed for my soul; and that half the stock
which I have be distributed in each village for my soul.
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