[2] Ibid., p. 365.
[3] Ed. 1684, p. 21.
[4] Vide supra, p. 279. Cf. the fight at Jaffa, August 5, 1192.
REGENBALD, PRIEST AND CHANCELLOR
No better illustration could be given of the fact that valuable historical evidence may lurk, even in print, unknown, than the charters printed, from the Cirencester Cartulary, by Sir Thomas Phillips in Archæologia (1836).[1] One can imagine how highly prized they would have been by Mr Freeman, had he only known of their existence.
Regenbald, of whom Sir Thomas would seem never to have heard, was the first Chancellor of England.[2] Mr Freeman called him, I know not on what authority, 'the Norman chancellor of Eadward'. Whatever his nationality, it is well established that he was that king's chancellor. He occurs repeatedly in Domesday, where he is distinguished as 'Canceler', 'Presbyter', and 'de Cirencestre'. We learn also from its pages that he held land in at least three counties—Berkshire, Herefordshire, and Dorset T.R.E.—and that he seems to have received further grants from King William in his return.[3]
The three charters of which I treat are found in the Cirencester Cartulary and are in Anglo-Saxon. The first is one of King Edward's in favour of 'Reinbold min preost', and is a confirmation to him of soc and sac, toll and team, etc., as his predecessors had enjoyed it 'on Cnutes kinges daie'. The third is a notification from King William that 'ic hæbbe geunnen Regenbald minan preoste eall his lond' as 'he hit under Edƿearde hædde mine meie'. The chief points to be noticed here are that the land is granted de novo, not confirmed, and that the Conqueror speaks of Regenbald as 'minan preoste', implying that he has taken him into his service.
It is the second of these charters that is of quite extraordinary importance. I here append it in extenso as printed by Sir Thomas Phillips: