Event: Appointment/consecration/elevation/ordination of bishop, Correspondence, Disputing/dispute-settling, Journey, ReconciliationVarious.settlement of dispute between Godwine 23 and Leofwine 37 S1456

Scholarly Info
Description 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.
Year 995 x 1005
Primary Source Info

Notes:

Here it is stated in this document how Godwine 23, bishop of Rochester, and Leofwine 37, Ælfheah'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 with the suit, after the bishop had produced his evidence, until finally they humbly prayed the bishop to allow Leofwine 37 to enjoy the estate at Snodland with his blessing during his lifetime. And the bishop granted this to the gratification of all the councillors who were there assembled, and Leofwine 37 gave his solemn assurance that after his death the estate should revert uncontested to the foundation from which it was leased, and gave up the deeds relating to the estate which he had and which had been alienated from the foundation, and all the messuages which he had west of the church to the holy foundation. And the negotiators of this settlement were Abbot Ælfhun 3 and Abbot Wulfric 56 and Leofric 39 the sheriff and Siweard 1 and Wulfstan 43 of Saltwood and Ælfhelm 19, Ordhelm 9's son. And these are the witnesses who were present at this settlement, namely first Archbishop Ælfric 46 and Bishop Godwine 23 and Abbot Wulfric 56 and Abbot Ælfhun 9 and Ælfnoth 27 of Orpington and the community at Christ Church and the community at St Augustine's and the citizens of Canterbury and Leofric 39 the sheriff and Lyfing 12 of Malling and Siweard 1 and Sired 3 his brother and Leofstan 17 of Mersham and Godwine 29, Wulfheah 12's son, and Wulfstan 43 of Saltwood and Wulfstan 44 the Young and Leofwine 50 of Ditton and Leofric 28, Ealdred 62's son, and Goda 8, Wulfsige 64's son, and Ælfhelm 19, Ordhelm 5's son, and Sidewine 1 of Paddlesworth and Wærelm 1 and Æthelred 32, the reeve of Canterbury, and Guthwald 2. If anyone attempts to alter this or break this agreement, God shall avert his countenance from his at the great Judgment, so that he shall be cut off from the bliss of the kingdom of heaven and delivered over to all the devils in hell. Amen.

Persons associated with this Event:

Locations associated with this Event: