Harley Ch 43 C 4

Will of Æthelflæd, including a bequest of land at Lambourn, Cholsey and Reading, Berkshire, to the king; at Damerham, Hampshire, to Glastonbury; at Hamme to Christ Church, Canterbury; at Woodham, Essex, to Ealdorman Brihtnoth and her sister for life, with reversion to St Mary’s, Barking; at Hadham, Hertfordshire, to the same, for life, with reversion to St Paul’s, London; at Fen Ditton, Cambridgeshire, to Ely Abbey; at Cockfield and Chelsworth, Suffolk, to the same for life, with reversion to St Edmunds, Bedericesworth (Bury); at Fingringhoe, Essex, to the same for life, with reversion to St Peter’s, Mersea; at Polstead, Suffolk, to the same for life, with reversion to Stoke (? Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk); at Withermarsh, Suffolk, to Stoke; at Stratford St Mary, Lavenham, Balsdon, Suffolk, and at Peldon, Mersea and Greenstead (near Colchester), Essex, to Ealdorman Brihtnoth and her sister for life, with reversion to Stoke; at Elmsett, Suffolk, to the same for life, with reversion to Edmund; at Thorpe (? Morieux, Suffolk), to Hadleigh, Suffolk; at Wickford, Essex, to Sibriht, her kinsman; at Hadham, Hertfordshire, to Ecgwine, her reeve; at Donyland, Essex, to Brihtwold, her servant, to Ælfwold and Æthelmær, her priests, and to Ælfgeat, her kinsman; and at Waldingfield, Suffolk, to Crawe, her kinswoman; 962 × 991, probably after 975 (Sawyer, no. 1494).

Will of Ælfflæd, including bequests of land at Dovercourt, Fulanpettæ (Beaumont), Alresford, Stanway, Byrton in Stanway (lost), Lexden, Essex; Elmsett and Buxhall, Suffolk, to the king; at Stoke, Suffolk; Hatfield (? Peverel, Essex), Stratford St Mary, Freston, Wiston, Lavenham, Balsdon, Polstead, Withermarsh, Suffolk; Greenstead (near Colchester), Peldon, (West) Mersea, Totham, Colne and Tey, Essex, to Stoke (? Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk); and at Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, to Christ Church, Canterbury; at Hadham, Hertfordshire, and at Tidwoldingtune (Heybridge near Maldon, Essex) to St Paul’s, London; and at Baythorn, Essex, to Barking Abbey; at Woodham, Essex, to Ælfthryth, the king’s mother, for life, with reversion to St Mary’s, Barking; at Chelsworth and Cockfield, Suffolk, to St Edmund’s Abbey; and at Nedging, Suffolk, to the same after the death of Crawe, her kinswoman; at Fingringhoe and Mersea, Essex, to the minster at Mersea; at Waldingfield, Suffolk, to St Gregory’s, Sudbury, after the death of Crawe; at Rettendon, Essex; Soham, Ditton and Cheveley, Cambridgeshire, to Ely Abbey; at Lawling, Essex, to Ealdorman Æthelmær; and at Liston, Essex, to Æthelmær; 1000 × 1002 (Sawyer, no. 1486).

The two charters are written by the same scribe, presumably later copies of originally separate documents.

Endorsed by a second scribe with the bounds of Balsdon, Withermarsh, and Polstead. Also endorsed in a 12th-century hand, ‘Ælflæd Ceorlesworde’; and in another 12th-century hand, ‘⁊ Cokefelde’.