[987]. Angelsäch. Recht. p. 251. He appeals only to Brompton, whose authority is by no means conclusive.
[988]. This is Selden’s view, and Hume’s, and has been generally followed.
[989]. In anno 855.
[990]. Chronic. lib. iii.
[991]. Cod. Dipl. Nos. 270, 271, 275, 276, 1048, 1050, 1051, 1052, 1053, 1054, 1057.
[992]. The actual words are these:—“Ut decimam partem terrarum per regnum nostrum, non solum sanctis aecclesiis darem verumetiam et ministris nostris in eodem constitutis, in perpetuam libertatem habere concessimus, ita ut talis donatio fixa incommutabilisque permaneat ab omni regali servitio et omnium saecularium absoluta servitute.” These are the expressions of Nos. 270, 271, 1050, 1054; which are respectively dated at Wilton on the 22nd of April, 854, and convey grants of separate lands to the thane Wigferð, to Malmesbury church, to Glastonbury, and to the thane Hunsige, as appears by the statements in the body of the charters, as well as by the endorsements, which are to this effect:—No. 270. “Ista est libertas quam Æðelwulf rex suo ministro Wiferðe in perpetuam haereditatem habere concessit, unum cassatum in loco qui dicitur Heregearding hiwisc:” Endorsed, “Ðis seondan æs landes bêc ðe Æðelwulf cyning Wiferðe his þegne salde.”
[993]. “Totius regni mihi a Deo collati decimans rura.” Nos. 1051, 1052.
[994]. “Quando decimam partem terrarum per omne regnum meum sanctis aecclesiis dare decrevi,” etc. No. 1053. The Saxon version, whether it were the original or only a translation, gives us the true sense of this assertion: it runs thus:—“ðá ðá he teoðode gynd eall his cynerice, ðone teoðan dǽl ealra his landa, mid his witena geþeahte, into hálgum stowum,”—‘when throughout all his realm, he tithed the tenth of all his lands into holy places, by the counsel of his witan.’ There was nothing to prevent Æðelwulf from giving a tenth or a half of all his own lands to whom he pleased.
[995]. Cod. Dipl. No. 1057.
[996]. Schannat. Tradit. Fuldens. No. 452. So also in the Worcester Domesday, Hemm. 500, 501. “De eodem manerio tenet Hugo de Grentesmaisnil dimidiam hidam ad Lapeuuerte, et Baldewinus de eo; et fuit et est de soca episcopi. De hac terra per singulos annos redduntur viii denarii ad ecclesiam de Wirecestre, pro circette et recognitione terre.”