Illustrative Documents: Privilege of Erkenwald, Bishop of Rome, 674-93

Registrum Statutorum et Consuetudinum Ecclesiae Cathedralis Sancti Pauli Londiniensis. Originally published by Nichols and Sons, London, 1873.

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'Illustrative Documents: Privilege of Erkenwald, Bishop of Rome, 674-93', in Registrum Statutorum et Consuetudinum Ecclesiae Cathedralis Sancti Pauli Londiniensis, (London, 1873) pp. 379-380. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/st-pauls-register/pp379-380 [accessed 18 March 2024]

I. PRIVILEGIUM QUOD ATTULIT ERKENþALDUS EPISCOPUS DE ROMA. (fn. 1)

Dilectissimo nobis Erkenþaldo, Episcopo (fn. 2) Monasterii Sancti Pauli, Agatho Papa (fn. 3) servus servorum Dei. Que ad securitatem et refugium fildeliter Deo servientium pertinent sollerti cura speculatoris oportet perspicere vigilantiam, ut dum immunitati devote Deo servire cupientium prospexerit, plurimos ad bone conversationis indolem provocet. Rogas pro hoc privilegio ex Apostolica auctoritate concesso sub tuitionem hujus ac regulam perhenniter conservari, hujus postulationis probabilem ac spiritualem judicantes intentum, quod etiam maximos presules et doctores ecclesie fecisse meminimus: Statuimus atque decernimus venerabile Monasterium in Lundonia Civitate quod dedicatum est in nomine Sancti Pauli Apostoli gentium doctoris, cujus divina dignatio preesse nos voluit, ita videlicet, ut nichil de rebus Ecclesie vel materiis in cjus nomine oblatis ac consecratis ab jure venerabilis Monasterii a tua reverentia subtrahatur. Igitur pacifico tempore a Deo concesso, qui ad Episcopatus ministerium delatus fuerit, se ipsum apostolicis representet obtutibus, ut ex hoc illibatam firmitatem obtineat; si vero presbiterum, ob missarum sollempnia sibi poposcerit consecrari. Dum vero ad percipiendam laborum vicissitudinem de hoc migraverit a seculo, eligendi Episcopum licentiam soli congregationi ejusdem venerabilis Monasterii concedimus. Siquis vero hanc libertatem augere voluerit, adaugeat Omnipotens Deus sibi longevam in hoc seculo vitam, et post finem istius vite celestis regni jocunditatem. Siquis vero, quod non optamus, hujus decreti sincrafam (fn. 4) infringere temptaverit, aut aliter quam a nobis statutum est mutare studuerit, sit a consortio Christi ecclesie et a collegio omnium Sanctorum in hoc et in futuro seculo segregatus.

At the foot of fo. 2 a, in a hand nearly contemporary with the text, the following notes are written:—

Athelbertus, fundator Ecclesie Sancti Pauli London, contulit eidem Ecclesie xxiiij hidas et Tillingham.

Edwardus, filius Aluredi regis, ad peticionem Sancti Erkenwaldi, tunc Episcopi London, contulit Harling et Chingeford.

Ethelstan, filius regis Edwardi primi, contulit Sandone, Roche, Erdeleye, Luffenhale, Belchamp, Wucham, Tidwoldurcon, Runewell, Edulnesnasse, Dractone, Berns, Nesdone, Wilesdone. (fn. 5)

Edgar, filius Edmundi fratris regis Adestani, contulit Nastok.

Footnotes

  • 1. Printed from MS. L., the first leaves of which form part of the earliest bound MS. in the possession of the Dean and Chapter.
  • 2. S. Erkenwald, consecrated by Theodore (Archbishop of Canterbury) 674, died 30 April 693, or, as some say, 685. He was buried in the nave of the Cathedral, but on the 14th November, 1148, his body was removed "in orientalem ejusdem plagam."
  • 3. Agathon, Pope 678–682.
  • 4. In a nearly contemporary hand there is written at the top of fo. 3 a, "Singrafa: multorum scriptura vel caucio. Singrafum, caucio vel subscriptio cirographi." From [syggrafi], whence syngrapha, singrafa, sincrafa.
  • 5. In the Privilegium Adelstani Regis (transcribed on fo. 3 a—fo. 4 b of the same MS.) the names of the manors given by King Athelstan are these: Sandonam cum Roðe, Eardeleage cum Luffanheðe, Bylcham cum Picham, Tidpolditun, Rumpeola, Eadulfesnæsa, Drægtun, Berne, Neosdune, þillesdune.