Note 320 — Chapter VII · THE NOBLE BY SERVICE.

Toward the end of the tenth century, Beorhtríc, a wealthy noble in Kent, devised land by will to various relatives. He left the king, a collar worth eighty mancuses of gold, and a sword of equal value; his heriot, comprising four horses, two of which were saddled; two swords with their belts; two hawks, and all his hounds. He further gave to the queen, a ring worth thirty mancuses of gold, and a mare, that she might be his advocate (forespræce) that the will might stand, “ðæt se cwide stondan mihte.” Cod. Dipl. No. 492. Between 944 and 946, Æðelgyfu devised lands and chattels to St. Albans, “cum consensu domini mei regis.” The king and queen had a very fair share of this spoil. Cod. Dipl. No. 410. Between 965 and 975, Ælfheáh, an ealdorman, or noble of the highest rank, and cousin of Eádgár’s queen Ælfðrýð, left lands, a good share of which went to the king and queen: the will was made, “be his cynehláfordes geþafunge,” by his royal lord’s permission, and winds up with this clause: “And the witnesses to this permission which the king granted (observe, not to the will itself, but to the king’s permission to leave the property as he did,) are Ælfðrýð the queen and others.” Cod. Dipl. No. 593. Æðelflǽd a royal lady, left lands, some of which went to the king: she says, “And ic bidde mínan leófan hláford for Godes lufun, ðæt mín cwide standan móte,”—and I beg my dear Lord, for God’s love, that this my will may stand. Cod. Dipl. No. 685. In the time of Æðelred, Wulfwaru, a lady, commences her will in these words: “Ic Wulfwaru bidde míne leófan hláford Æðelred kyning, him tó ælmyssan, ðæt ic móte beón mínes cwides wyrðe;” i. e. that I may be worthy of my right of devising by will; that I may enjoy my right of making a will. Cod. Dipl. No. 694. Ælfgyfu the queen in 1012 commences her will in similar terms: “Dis is Ælfgyfe gegurning tó hire cynehláforde. Dæt is ðæt heó hine bitt for Godes lufun and for cynescipe ðæt heó móte beón hyre cwides wyrðe.” Cod. Dipl. No. 721. Æðelstân, king Æðelred’s son, made also a will, from which I take the following passage: “Now I thank my father, with all humility, in the name of Almighty God, for the answer which he sent me on the Friday after Midsummer day, by Ælfgár Æffa’s son; that was, that he told me, upon my father’s word, that I might, by God’s leave and his, grant my realty and chattels, as I thought best, whether for spiritual or temporal ends. And the witnesses to this answer are Eádmund,” etc. Cod. Dipl. No. 722. Lastly, Ælfhelm concludes his will with these words: “Now I entreat thee, my dear lord, that my will may stand, and that thou permit not that any man should set it aside. God is my witness that I was ever obedient to thy father, to the utmost of my power, and full faithful to him both in mind and main, and have ever been faithful to thee, in full faith and full love, as God is my witness.” Cod. Dipl. No. 967.