Godwine 23 (Male) I, bishop of Rochester, 994x995-c.1013x?
l x-e xi

Notes: Sometimes it is impossible to tell if we are dealing with Godwine 23 of Rochester or Godwine 28 of Lichfield. @Hart 1975, ECNE, p. 339, suggests that there were two successive bishops of this name but finds it impossible to establish the dates of the sucession. See also Handbook of British Chronology, p. 221. Cf. Godwine 47.

Factoid List

Recorded Name (2)

Goduuinus (1)

ASC (C-F) 1011 F(Lat.)

Godwine (1)

ASC (C-F) 1011 CDEF(OE)

Office (39)

Bishop (39)

ASC (C-F) 1011 CDEF(OE and Lat.)

S878 (bishop of the church of Rochester)

S879

S885 (bishop of the church of Rochester)

S888

S889

S891 (bishop of the church of Rochester)

S893

S896

S899 (bishop of the church of Rochester)

S900

S901

S902

S904

S905 (bishop of Rochester)

S906

S910

S911

S914 (bishop of the church of Rochester)

S915

S916

S917

S918

S920

S922

S923

S924

S926 (bishop of Rochester)

S926

S927

S929

S930

S931b

S1456 (bishop of Rochester)

S1218 (bishop of Rochester)

S939 (bishop of Rochester)

S1380 (bishop of the church of Rochester)

Anon.EpisList4

WilliamofMalmesbury.GestaPontificumAnglorum i.72.10

Event (42)

Adultery (1)

S901 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Ælfric 46: King Æthelred 32 to Ælfric 46, archbishop; grant of 24 hides (mansae) at Dumbleton, Gloucs., including land comprising 17 hides to the west of the river Isbourne (i.e. at Dumbleton), 2 hides in the common land at Aston Somerville, Gloucs., and 5 hides of woodland at Fleferth (? Kington near Flyford Flavell, Worcs.), in return for 50 talents. The land had been forfeited by a woman [Anonymous 927] for adultery.: S901 (1002)

Appointment/consecration/elevation/ordination of bishop (1)

Various.settlement of dispute between Godwine 23 and Leofwine 37 S1456: Godwine 23, bishop of Rochester, and Leofwine 37, Ælfheah 40's son, were reconciled at Canterbury about the estate at Snodland. When Bishop Godwine 23 succeeded to the episcopal see, by the command of his royal lord King Æthelred 32, after the death of Bishop Ælfstan 39, he found in the cathedral the very deeds which his predecessor had had and with which he laid claim to the estate. Then he set about laying claim to the estate - and durst not do otherwise for the fear of God - until the suit became known to the king. When the claim was known to him, he sent a letter and his seal to Archbishop Ælfric 46, and gave orders that he and his thegns in East Kent and West Kent should settle the dispute between them justly, weighing both claim and counterclaim. The next stage was that Bishop Godwine 23 came to Canterbury to the Archbishop, and thither came [also] Leofric 39 the sheriff and with him Abbot Ælfhun 3 and the thegns both of East Kent and West Kent - all the leading men - and there they dealt etc.: S1456 (995 x 1005)

Assistance (2)

S926 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Godwine 23: King Æthelred 32 to Godwine 23, bishop of Rochester; grant of 15 hides (mansae) at Fen Stanton and Hilton, Hunts., previously fofeited by Æthelflæd 20 for helping her exiled brother, Ealdorman Leofsige 17: S926 (1012)

Æthelred 32.S926 granting land to Godwine 23: King Æthelred 32 to Godwine 23, bishop of Rochester; grant of 15 hides (mansae) at Fen Stanton and Hilton, Hunts., previously fofeited by Æthelflæd 20 for helping her exiled brother, Ealdorman Leofsige 17: S926 (1012)

Bequeathing/will-making (4)

S889 - Æthelred 32 restoring land to Winchester, Old Minster: King Æthelred 32 to Winchester, Old Minster; restoration of a messuage (haga) in Winchester with a fishery at Bræge (Brentford, Middx.). Ælfswith 9, matrona, had promised the Winchester haga to Old Minster after her death, but the bequest had been blocked.: S889 (996)

S906 - Æthelred 32 confirming privileges and lands of Burton 1: King Æthelred 32 to Burton 1 Abbey; confirmation of privileges and lands granted by Wulfric 52 as in his will (S 1536): S906 (1004)

S911 - Æthelred 32 confirming foundation endowment of Eynsham 1: King Æthelred 32 to Eynsham 1 Abbey; confirmation of the foundation by Æthelmær 22, the endowment including (a) 30 hides (mansiunculae) at Eynsham 1 [acquired from his father Æthelweard 23 in exchange for 3 hides at Upottery, Devon; 10 at Little Compton, Warwicks.; 10 at Lawling in Latchingdon, Essex; and 13 at Scildforda]; (b) 5 hides at Shipton-on-Cherwell and the vill at Shifford, Oxon [granted by King Edgar 11 to Byrhtnoth 1, dux, and bequeathed by Leofwine 32 to Æthelmær 22]; (c) Mickleton, Gloucs. [granted by charter by King Edgar 11 to Byrhtnoth 1, and bequeathed by Byrhtnoth 1 to Æthelmær 22]; (d) 5 hides at Burton [given to Æthelmær 22 by Æthelweard 23]; (e) 1.5 hides at Marlcliff in Bidford-on-Avon and 2 at Bentley in Holt, Worcs. [among lands forfeited by Leofflæd 3, for which Æthelmær 22 gave 30 pounds to King Edgar 11]; (f) 10 hides at Yarnton, Oxon. [acquired from Godwine 34, in exchange for 5 hides at Studley, Warwicks. or Oxon., and 10 at Chesterton, Warwicks. or Oxon.]; (g) 20 hides at Esher, Surrey [granted by Beorhthelm 29, bishop, to Æthelweard, and bequeathed by Æthelweard 23 to his son, Æthelmær 22]; (h) land at Thames Ditton, Surrey (cf. S 847); and (i) Rameslege (lost, corresponds with Brede, Sussex) [bequeathed to Eynsham by Wulfin (Wulfwynn 5), Æthelmær 22's kinswoman]: S911 (1005)

S939 - Æthelred 32 confirming Æthelric 32’s will: King Æthelred 32 confirmed the will of Æthelric 32 (i.e. S 1501) and exculpated him of his conspiracy with Swein 1 because his wife [Anonymous 993] offered her marriage-gift to Canterbury, Christ Church and brought his heriot with her.: S939 (995 x 999)

Capture (1)

Anonymi 2242.capture of Ælfheah 44 and others: They [sc. Anonymi 2242] seized Ælfheah 44 and others. They permitted Ælfmær 10 to escape.: ASC (C-F) 1011 CDEF(OE and Lat.) (1011)

Charter-witnessing (34)

S1218 - Æthelric 37 and Leofwynn 2 granting land to Canterbury, Christ Church: Æthelric 37 and Leofwynn 2 to Canterbury, Christ Church; grant of land at Bocking and Mersea, Essex: S1218 (995 x 999)

S1380 - Sigeric 9 confirming grant of Wulfrun 8 to Wolverhampton: Sigeric 9, archbishop of Canterbury, confirms a grant by Wulfrun 8 for the monastery at Wolverhampton 1 of land at Upper Arley, Worcs.; Eswich (? Ashwood), Bilston, Willenhall, Wednesfield, Pelsall, Ogley, Hilton near Wall, Hatherton, Kinvaston, Hilton near Wolverhampton, and Featherstone, all in Staffs.: S1380 (994)

S878 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Wulfric 52: King Æthelred 32 to Wulfric 52, his minister; grant of 3 hides (cassati) at Abbots Bromley, Staffs.: S878 (996)

S879 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Wulfric 52: King Æthelred 32 to Wulfric 52, his minister: grant of land at Pillaton, near Penkridge, Staffs.: S879 (996)

S885 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Rochester 1: King Æthelred 32 to the bishopric of Rochester 1; restoration of 6 hides or sulungs (mansae or sulunga) at Wouldham and 1 hide (mansa) at Littlebrook, Kent, with swine-pastures in the Weald: S885 (995)

S888 - Æthelred 32 granting land to St Albans: King Æthelred 32 to St Albans Abbey; grant of 8 hides (mansae) in St Albans, comprising 4 at Burston in St Stephens and 4 at Wincelfelda (lost, also in St Stephens), and also 9 haga in the town, and 8 iugera at Westwick in St Michaels, Herts.: S888 (996)

S891 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Winchester, Old Minster: King Æthelred 32 to Winchester, Old Minster 1; restoration of 100 hides (mansae), comprising 55 at Downton and 45 at Ebbesborne, Wilts. The land had been granted by King Cenwealh 2 (cf. S 229), confirmed (?) by King Cynewulf 4, restored by King Ecgberht 10 (cf. S 275) and again by King Eadred 16 (cf. S 540) and King Edgar 11 (cf. S 819, 821).: S891 (997)

S893 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Rochester, St Andrew's: King Æthelred 32 to Rochester, St Andrew's 1 church; restitution of 6 sulungs at Bromley, Kent, with swine-pastures in the Weald: S893 (993)

S896 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Abingdon, St Mary's: King Æthelred 32 to Abingdon, St Mary's; grant of 15 hides (cassati) at South Cerney, Gloucs.: S896 (999)

S899 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Shaftesbury 1: King Æthelred 32 to Shaftesbury 1 Abbey; grant of the cenobium of Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts., with land at Bradford: S899 (1001)

S900 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Ælfhelm 8: (a) King Æthelred 32 to Ælfhelm 8, his faithful minister; grant of 5 hides (mansae) at Codicote, Herts., in return for 152 mancuses of gold. (b) Ælfhelm grants the land to St Albans: S900 (1002)

S902 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Godwine 34: King Æthelred 32 to Godwine 34, his faithful minister; grant of 10 hides (mansae) at Little Haseley, Oxon., in return for 30 mancuses of gold: S902 (1002)

S904 - Æthelred 32 granting privileges to Wherwell 1 and Heanflæd 1: King Æthelred 32 to Abbess Heanflæd 1 and Wherwell 1 Abbey; grant of privileges and confirmation of 70 hides (mansae) in the vicinity of the abbey, and grant of 60 hides (cassati) at Æthelingadene (East and West Dean, Sussex), previously belonging to Queen Ælfthryth 8. With note, dated 1008, confirming 29 messuages in Winchester to the abbey and granting 10 hides (mansae) at Bullington, Hants.: S904 (1002)

S905 - Æthelred 32 leasing land to Æthelred 35: King Æthelred 32 to Æthelred 35, his faithful man; lease, for the lives of himself and his wife [Anonymous 949], of land in Canterbury and of 6 agri outside the city, in return for 7 pounds, with reversion to Canterbury, Christ Church: S905 (1002)

S906 - Æthelred 32 confirming privileges and lands of Burton 1: King Æthelred 32 to Burton 1 Abbey; confirmation of privileges and lands granted by Wulfric 52 as in his will (S 1536): S906 (1004)

S910 - Æthelred 32 exchanging with Eadsige 10: King Æthelred 32 to Eadsige 10, his minister (gerefa in rubric); grant of 1 hide (mansa) at Seaton, Devon, in return for 100 mancuses of gold: S910 (1005)

S914 - Æthelred 32 refounding Canterbury, Christ Church: King Æthelred 32 to Canterbury, Christ Church 1; refoundation of the monastic community and confirmation of land at Eastry, Ickham, Bossington, Adisham, Appledore, Swarling, Preston, Graveney, Westwell, Chart and Farleigh, Kent; at Patching, Sussex; at Meopham and Cooling in West Kent; at Walworth, Surrey; at Risborough, Bucks.; at Lawling in Latchingdon, Essex; at Hadleigh and Monks Eleigh, Suffolk; and in Thanet: S914 (1002)

S915 - Æthelred 32 exchanging with Ælfgar 32: King Æthelred 32 to Ælfgar 32, his prepositus; grant of 8 hides (mansi) at Waltham St Lawrence, Berks., in return for 300 mancuses of gold and silver: S915 (1007)

S916 - Æthelred 32 granting land to St Albans: King Æthelred 32 to St Albans 1 Abbey; grant of land at Norton, 1 hide (mansa) at Rodanhangra and land at Oxhey, Herts., originally granted to the abbey by King Offa 7 but subsequently lost, and later forfeited to King Æthelred 32 by Leofsige 17, dux, and purchased for St Albans 1 by Archbishop Ælfric 46 and Abbot Leofric 30: S916 (1007)

S917 - Æthelred 32 granting land to unnamed minster: King Æthelred 32 to an unnamed minister [Anonymous 960] ; grant of land at an unspecified place: S917 (1007)

S918 - Æthelred 32 restoring land to Abingdon, St Mary's: King Æthelred 32 to Abingdon, St Mary's 1; restitution of 20 hides (mansi) at Moredon in Rodbourne Cheney, Wilts., and grant of a prediolum at Cricklade, Wilts.: S918 (1008)

S920 - Æthelred 32 exchanging with Wulfgeat 5 and Burton 1: King Æthelred 32 to Wulfgeat 5, abbot, and Burton 1 Abbey; grant of 2.5 hides (cassati) at Rolleston, Staffs., in exchange for the vills of Aldsworth and Arlington, Gloucs.: S920 (1008)

S922 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Morcar 2: King Æthelred 32 to Morcar 2, his minister; grant of 8 hides (manentes) at Weston upon Trent, 1 at Marley, 1 at Smalley and Kidsley, 1 at Crich, and 1 at Ingleby, Derbys.: S922 (1009)

S923 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Elemod 1: King Æthelred 32 to Elemod 1, his minister; grant of 2 hides (cassatae) at Hallam, Derbys., in return for 21 pounds of gold: S923 (1011)

S924 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Morcar 2: King Æthelred 32 to Morcar 2, his minister; grant of 5 hides (mansae) at Ufre (? Mickleover, Derbys.): S924 (1011)

S927 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Leofric 37: King Æthelred 32 to Leofric 37, his faithful minister; grant of 10 hides (cassati) at Whitchurch, Oxon., forfeited by a different Leofric 38: S927 (1012 x 1013)

S929 - Æthelred 32 granting land to Theodulf 2: King Æthelred 32 to Theodulf 2, his man; grant of 5 hides (cassati) at Burtune (? Burton Hastings, Warwicks.): S929 (1012)

S930 - Æthelred 32 exchanging with Wulfgeat 5: King Æthelred 32 to Wulfgeat 5, abbot; grant of 1.5 hides (manses) at Wetmoor, Staffs., in return for 70 pounds of gold and silver: S930 (1012)

S931b - Æthelred 32 granting land to Sigered 11: King Æthelred 32 to Sigered 11, his minister; grant of 5 hides (mansiunculae) at (East or West) Horndon, Essex: S931b (1014)

Church/monastery/minster foundation/dedication/restoration (1)

Confirmation of land/privileges (7)

S906 - Æthelred 32 confirming privileges and lands of Burton 1: King Æthelred 32 to Burton 1 Abbey; confirmation of privileges and lands granted by Wulfric 52 as in his will (S 1536): S906 (1004)

Conspiracy/intent to murder (1)

Correspondence (1)

Disputing/dispute-settling (2)

Godwine 23.S1456 leasing land to Leofwine 37: By way of dispute settlement, Bishop Godwine 23 and Leofwine 37 agreed that the latter should hold Snodland, Kent for his lifetime after which it should revert to Rochester 1: S1456 (995 x 1005)

Dowering/Morning-gifting (1)

Exile (2)

Flight (1)

Anonymi 2242.capture of Ælfheah 44 and others: They [sc. Anonymi 2242] seized Ælfheah 44 and others. They permitted Ælfmær 10 to escape.: ASC (C-F) 1011 CDEF(OE and Lat.) (1011)

Forfeiture (6)

Grant and Gift (27)