Ernulf of Chelsfield confirms the gift of Pivindene and Godriscesdune
Ernulf de Chielsfelda (i.e. Chelsfield) confirms the gift of Pivindene and Godriscesdune, owned by ‘his man’ Ernulf de Strodes (i.e. Strood), to St Andrew’s and the monks at Rochester, with the consent of his wife Agnes and his sons, 1143. Transcription and translation from Latin of Textus Roffensis, folio 230v by Jacob Scott (pending review).
The hand is later than the original scribe’s. This gift was made with the proviso that Ernulf de Strodes’ son enter the monastic community at Rochester. The first person addressed in the document is Ascelin, Bishop of Rochester from 1142-1148.
Transcription
230v (select folio number to open facsimile)
Domino ascelino Rofensi episcopo . et Radulfo castellano . et omnibus civibus
Roucestrie . toti, que hundred de scamele. Ernulfus de chiel-
esfelda salutem. Notum uobis sit quod ego ernulfus et Agnes uxor
mea . et Symon primogenitus et heres meus . et helyas cle-
ricus et hugo miles filii mei . donationem quam ernulfus de Stro-
des homo meus sancto andree et monachis de rouecestria pro
filio suo in ecclesia rofensi ad monachatum suscepto dedit . par-
tem scilicet terre sue . que piuindene uocator . et terram illam quam
in suo dominico habebat in alio loco qui uocator Godricesdune .
liberam ab omni seruicio et quietam ęterno iure monachis eisdem
possidendam concessimus . Quod si predictus ernulfus uel aliquis
heredum aut successorum eius a solito quod michi de feudo suo
debet seruicio defecerit : a relique quam de me tenet ter-
ra exigeter . elemosina autem ab omni exactione et querela et ca-
lumnia libera permaneat . Et hanc quidem concessionem pro salute anime
mee . et uxoris . et liberorum . et patris . et matris mee . bono et deuo
to animo feci . et signo sancte crucis . + proprioque signaui
sigillo. Cuius rei testes sunt Syuuardus presbiter Symon. Hu-
go. Elyas . filii ernulfi . et Agnes uxor sua . Samson frater . Ricar-
dus nepos domini . Adalulfus miles. Willelmi dapifer. Ernulfus
dispensator. Haimo brito. Ernulfus clericus . Rainaldus secretarius
Ricardus de clouilla . Elfuuinus catere. Rodbertus filius bunde. Go-
defridus nepos goislani . Robertus cognatus clementis monachi .
et alii multi. Anno ab incarnatione domini . m . c . xl . iii . hec…
Translation
To Lord Ascelin, Bishop of Rochester, and Ralph of the Castle and to all the citizens of Rochester, to all that hundred of Scamele[?]. Salutations to Ernulf of Chielsfeld. It is well known that I Ernulf and Agnes my wife, and Simon the first-born and heir-apparent, and Helias the cleric and Hugo Miles my son, the donation which my man Ernulf of Strood gave to Saint Andrew and to the monks of Rochester for his son in the church of Rochester when he was accepted into monasticism, part of his land, called Pivindene, and that land which he had in his lordship in another place called Godricesdune. We have granted to the same monks the freedom from all service and eternal rest. But if the aforesaid Ernulf or any heirs or successors fails in the usual service which he owes to me of his fee: from the remainder that he holds of me by demand. Let the alms of others be free from all exactions and complaints and slanders. And this concession is made for the sake of my soul, and wife, and children, and my father and my mother. I did it with good and god, and with the sign of the holy cross. I signed it with my seal. To this the king's witnesses are the presbyters Symon of Syward, Hugo Elyas, son of Ernulf, and Agnes his wife, Samson his brother, Richard, the lord's nephew, Adalulf Miles, William the servant, Ernulf the steward, Hamo Brito, Ernulf the cleric, Rainald the secretary.
Richard de Clovilla, Elfwin the cook, Robert son of Bunde. Godfrey, nephew of Goislan, Robert a relative of Clement the monk, and many others. A year from the Lord's incarnation 1143. This…
