A.D. 962 x 991, probably after 975. Will of Æthelflæd, including bequest of land at Lambourn, Cholsey and Reading, Berks., to the king; at Damerham, Hants., 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, Herts., to the same, for life, with reversion to St Paul's, London; at Fen Ditton, Cambs., 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, Herts., 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. English

Archive:

Bury St Edmunds

MSS:

1. London, British Library, Harley Charter 43 C 4 (BM Facs., iii. 35)
2. Cambridge, University Library, Ff.2.33, ff. 46v-47r (s. xiii 2)

Printed:

Wotton 1737, pp. 95-6; K, 685; Sweet, Reader, pp. 206-7; Sweet, Second Reader, pp. 231-3 (no. 44); B, 1288, ex MS 1; B, 1354, ex MS 2; Earle, pp. 364-6

Comments:

BM Facs., iv, p. 7, MS 1 is s. xi; Sweet, Reader, p. 289; Whitelock, Wills, pp. 137-41; Darlington 1955, p. 95; Hart, ECEE, no. 58, authentic; Stenton 1970, p. 35, on the reversion to St Paul's; Hart, ECE, no. 18, authentic, discusses descent of Essex estates; PN Berks., i. 162, 170, ii. 333; Gem 1978, p. 105, on Cholsey; Gelling, ECTV, no. 122 (pp. 62, 84), p. 188, authentic, with addendum p. 188; Dumville 1992, pp. 110-11 n. 263; Dumville 1993, pp. 36, 81, cited; Keynes 1993b, p. 306 n. 26, on Hadham; Pelteret 1995, pp. 123-4, 130; Abrams 1996, pp. 104-7, on bequest of Damerham; Foot 2000, II. 30, 80