Transaction: Grant and GiftEadgifu 4.S1211 granting land to Canterbury, Christ Church 1

Scholarly Info
Description Eadgifu 4, queen, to Canterbury, Christ Church 1; grant of land at Cooling, and at Osterland, Kent, with an account of the history of these estates
Year 959
Primary Source Info
Date from Source c.959

Notes:

Eadgifu 4 informs the archbishop and the community at Christ Church how her estate at Cooling came [into] her hands. The fact is that her father left her the estate and the title deed having lawfully come into possession of them, as an inheritance from his ancestors. It came to pass that her father borrowed 30 pounds from Goda 5, and handed the estate over to him as security for the money; and Goda had it for 7 years. When it befell, about that time, that all the Kentish troops were summoned to battle at Holme [903], her father Sigehelm 4 was not willing to go to battle leaving any man's money unpaid; and he paid Goda 5 30 pounds and bequeathed the estate to his daughter Eadgifu 4, giving her the title deed. When Sigehelm 4 had fallen in battle, Goda 5 denied that the money had been repaid him and refused [to restore] the estate until 6 years later. Then Beorhtsige Dyring 1 protested constantly, until the council of that time directed Eadgifu 4 to clear her father by [an oath equivalent in value to] the sum involved; and she thereupon produced the oath at Aylesford in the presence of the whole assembly, and there cleared her father with respect to the repayment by an oath of 30 pounds. Even then she could not get possession of the estate until her friends induced King Edward 2 to declare that Goda 5 must restore the estate, if he wished to hold any land at all; and so he relinquished it. Then, in course of time, it came to pass that the king became so indignant with Goda 5, that all the deeds and lands which he possessed were declared fofeit; and then the king gave him and all his property, with deeds and with lands, to Eadgifu, to deal with as she pleased. Then she said that she dared not, for fear of God, requite him as he had deserved of her, but she restored to him all his lands, with the exception of 2 ploughlands at Osterland; but she refused to give back the title-deeds until she knew how faithfully he would behave towards her, with regard to the lands. Then King Edward 2 died and Æthelstan 18 succeeded to the throne. When Goda 5 thought he had a favourable opportunity, he made his way to King Æthelstan 18 and begged that he would intercede for him with Eadgifu 4 for the return of the title-deeds. And then the king did so. And she restored them all except the title-deed of Osterland; and he willingly abandoned that deed to her, and humbly thanked her for the rest; and moreover, with 11 others, he swore to her an oath, on behalf of those living and those yet to come, that this suit should be for ever settled. And this was done with the cognisance of King Æthelstan 18 and his councillors at Hamsey, near Lewes. And Eadgifu had the estate together with the title-deeds during the lifetime of the 2 kings who were her sons. When Eadred 16 died and Eadgifu 4 was despoiled of all her property, two of Goda 5's sons, Leofstan 7 and Leofric 10, took from Eadgifu 4 these 2 above mentioned estates at Cooling and at Osterland and told the young prince Eadwig 4, who had then been proclaimed king, that they had a juster claim to them than she. Matters stood thus until Edgar 11 obtained full power [?]. And he and his council declared that Goda 5's sons had committed wicked robbery, and declaring that the property was hers, restored it to her. Then Eadgifu 4, with the leave and cognisance of the king and all his bishops, took the deeds and gave the estates to Christ Church, and with own hands laid them upon the altar for the perpetual benefit of the community and for the repose of her soul; declaring that Christ Himself with all the heavenly host would curse to all eternity any man who should ever divert or curtail this gift. Such was the manner in which this benefaction came to the community of Christ Church.

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