Index...
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as originally published in Austin's Monthly Magazine from November 1832 to June 1939
Compiled and transcribed by R. W. Orland, 2005
I'm sincerely grateful to the Shelton family for their kind permission and encouragement to publish these works.
J. B. Shelton's post-war book A Night in Little Park Street can be viewed here (in PDF format).
Benedictine Site ExcavationsMay 1934THE FOUNDATION CHARTER OF THE MONASTERY OF THE BLESSED MARY AT COVENTRY. [1043]. (English Translation from the Latin)"I, Leofric Earl: by the advice and license of King Edward, and who hath sent his letter of Alexander the Pope to me below written, together with the seal and testimony of the other devout men as well laymen as church-men: have caused the church of Coventry to be dedicated in honour of God and St. Mary, His Mother, of St. Peter the Apostle, of St. Osburga, the Virgin, and of All Saints. "Therefore I have given these twenty-four townships (villas) together with one moiety of the township in which the church itself is situate, to the church for the service of God, and for the food and raiment of the abbot and monks serving God in the same place, to wit: - Honingham, Newenham, Chadshunt, (Bishops) Itchington, Ufton, S(o)utham (one township of that name), Grandborough, Birdingbury, Marston near the Avon, (Priors) Hardwick, Wasperton, Chesterton, So(u)tham (a second township of that name), Ryton (on Dunsmoor), half of Sowe; Marston in Gloucestershire: Salwarp in the province of Worcester, Eaton near the water called Dee in Chester province: Kilsby and Winwick, in the province of Northampton; Burbagh, Barwell, Scraptoft, and Packington in Leicester province. "Moreover I have given these townships with the moiety of the aforenamed township to this monastery with sac and soc and toll and team, with the liberty and all customs in every place, as I have held them at any time in the reign of King Edward with honour. "Therefore these witnesses to this matter have appeared, first Edward the King; Edsie, archbishop of Canterbury; Aldred, bishop of Worcester; Wulsy, bishop of Lichfield; Mannie, abbot of Evesham; Godwin, abbot of Winchcomb; Alfric, abbot of Pershore; Godwin, earl (of Wessex); Harold, earl (of East Anglia); Siward, earl (of Northumbria); Ordgar, earl (of Devonshire); Alfward (thane) of Kinderton (in Cheshire); Wawen (thane) of Wooton (in Warwickshire), and many chief persons in England whose names to mention here would be wearisome. "Therefore with all these King Edward and I have given license to this monastery in such wise as that the abbot of that same place may be subject to the king of England only. Yea and we have decreed the curse of God, and of all saints, in perpetuity, upon all those whosoever shall deprive this monastery of its liberty and our donation, or shall deliver them over to another different right and authority, contrary to the law of God. To which decree all we with one voice have said Amen, Amen." |
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