[PROFESSION OF BERHTRED.] et suæ satis fideli famosæque Doroverniæ civitatis ecclesiæ, perennem inextricabilis caritatis obedientiæque salutem optamus. Testificor coram Deo et Christo Jesu, Qui judicaturus est vivos ac mortuos, ac profiteor me una cum cæteris commilitonibus meis, Episcopis videlicet nostris, professionem meam quam illis præsentibus tibi tuæque sanctæ sedis auctoritati vestro judicio fiducialiter porrexi, in quantum Dominus donabit, ut possum fideliter, impleturum; stabilemque me esse permanentem sine aliqua dissimulatione et deceptione, tibi, venerande pater Celnod Archiepiscope, tuisque successoribus, atque tuo Metropolitano throno Dorovernensis Ecclesiæ, me semper humili devotione obedire velle profiteor usque ad finem vitæ meæ: sic etiam orthodoxam catholicam apostolicamque fidem profiteor. Suscipio etiam decreta pontificum, et sex synodos catholicas sanctorum et antiquorum virorum, et præfixam ab eis fidem ac regulam sincera devotione conservo: et per omnia sicut prædecessor meus beatæ memoriæ Eadwulfus Episcopus, cujus nos licet indigni vicem tamen gerimus, præceptis juris obedivit: tantoque humilis nostri oris documento et sanctæ sedis auctoritate subjectum me esse gaudeo, quanto me vel indoctiorem scientia vel infirmiorem meritis apud Deum et homines ab illius comparatione reminiscor. Sed hoc est unum quod a te petam et hanc requiram, ut si quid in meis actibus ineptum pravum vel incorrectum inveneris vel audieris, statim mihi pariter modum et culpæ quam egerim et poenitentiæ quam agam ostendas. Libenter enim quæ jusseris juxta vires nostras Deo juvante complere gaudebimus. In his igitur curis pastoralibus tuæ sanctæ eruditionis indigemus auxilio sæpissime, ut tua sancta admonitione nos jugiter de somno ignaviæ et torpore negligentiæ et universis periculis eripere et suscitare digneris. Ego Berhtrede Episcopus, pace confirmata omnium Dei sacerdotum Ecclesiarumque, sancta decreta canonum catholicorum et diffinitionem priorum modernorumque pontificum consentiens subscripsi. [Wharton, A. S., I. 79, from Reg. Cantuar. A. 1. fo. 238.] a Berhtred was the successor, as he tells us, of Bishop Eadulf, whose long episcopate terminates about A.D. 836. Berhtred's first attestation is that of the council of A.D. 839; and he continues to witness charters until A.D. 855. In 869 a Bishop Burgheard attests a Mercian charter of Burhred (K. C. D., CCXCIX.): the name may be intended for Berhtred, or may belong to an unknown successor. There is also an unappropriated Bishop Eadbald, or Wulfsige, in A.D. 866 (see p. 656, below). The diocese was overrun by the Danes in A.D. 873, and from this point the list of the Bishops of Lindsey is interrupted for nearly a century. b There is no clue as to the locality of the two monasteries which Berhtred represents : but it may be observed that only two abbots appear from this diocese at the council of Clovesho in D. 803. [COUNCIL "ET ASTRAN."] A.D. 839. Council of Bishops "et Astran," in which the agreements made at Kingston are confirmed. I. Anno ab Incarnatione Christi DCCC.XXX.VIIII., Indictione II., primo videlicet anno regni Ethelwlfi Regis post obitum patris sui, factum est venerabile conciliabulum omnium Episcoporum qui erant in australe parte fluminis Humbræ in loco quæ dicitur æt Astran; ibi que pro firma stabilitate hec eadem scedula adducta est, et cum signo crucis Christi ab hiis testibus roborata, quorum nomina subter prænotata cernentibus clare patescunt. Ego Ceolnoth gratia Dei, donante Domino, Archiepiscopus hanc reconciliationem iterato vice confirmans signum sanctæ crucis exaravi et in nomine Sancte Trinitatis omnibus fidelibus observandum præcipio. Signum manus Alhstani Episcopi. Signum manus Helmstanib Episcopi. [K. C. D., CCXL., from MSS. Cotton, Augustus II. 20, 21, 37; MS. Lambeth 1212, p. 394.] II. Anno ab Incarnatione Domini DCCC.XXXIX. primo videlicet anno regni Æthelwulfi Regis post obitum patris sui, factum est venerabile conciliabulum omnium Episcoporum qui erant in australi parte fluminis Humbre, in loco qui dicitur Vetustissimus, ibique pro firma stabilitate hæc eadem scedula adducta est, et cum signo sanctæ crucis Christi ab his testibus roborata, quorum nomina subter prænotata cernentibus clare patescunt. Ego Ceolnoth gratia Dei Archiepiscopus hanc reconciliationem iterato vice confirmans signum sanctæ crucis exaravi et in nomine Sanctæ Trinitatis omnibus fidelibus observandum præcipio. Ego Helmstanus Episcopus non renui. Ego Helstanus Episcopus consensi. scopus. [MERCIAN WITENAGEMOTS.] Ego Humbertus Episcopus. Ego Swichunus Epi Ego Ceolberhtus Episcopus. Ego Cuðulfus Episcopus. Ego Humbertus Episcopus. [K. C. D., MXLIV., from the Codex Wintoniensis, fo. 111.] The first of these charters, besides its importance as evidence of a council, settles the date of Ethelwulf's accession. The place at which the assembly was held cannot be identified under either the English or the Latin form. b Helmstan has succeeded Eadhun in the see of Winchester between the assembly at Wilton and the present conciliabulum and eleven out of the twelve Bishops of the southern province are present on this occasion. The Winchester document (as remarked already) seems to be a copy of the Canterbury one, and this fact, taken in conjunction with the anachronisms in the names of the attesting Bishops, makes it on the whole questionable. It is not however certainly spurious, for the copy from which it was printed by Kemble is only a transcript, and the introduction of Swithun as a Bishop may have been owing to a misreading of the name of Rethun; the second Humbert being also a misreading of Kynferth. A mere fabricator would scarcely have ventured to turn "æt Astran" into "Vetustissimus;" but it is clear that no certain judgment can be pronounced under the circumstances. A.D. 840. Mar. 28. Witenagemot of Mercia at Tamworth a under King Berhtwulf, attended by four Bishops. [K. C. D., CCXLV.] a Bishop Heabert of Worcester proved his claim to certain lands which Berhtwulf had seized, in an assembly held at Easter at Tamworth. The act is witnessed by Kynferth Bishop of Lichfield, Heabert of Worcester, Berhtred of Lindsey, and Cuthwulf of Hereford, eight duces, one abbot, and six other persons. A.D. 840. Grant of Ethelwulf to Duda, made "cum consilio et licentia Episcoporum ac Principum," at Southamptona. [K. C. D., CCXLVI.] A.D. 841. Witenagemot of Mercia at Tamworth under Berhtwulf, in which grants are made to Worcester. [K. C. D., CCXLVII. CCXLIX.a] a Both the documents referred to are printed by Kemble from the Worcester cartulary, and dated Christmas, A.D. 841: the indiction in the first is stated as "IIIa," but this is probably an error of transcription. The Bishops attesting the first are Kynferth, Heabert, and Cuthwulf; the same, with the addition of Berhtred of Lindsey, subscribe the second. third charter to Eanmund and the abbey of Breedon, bearing the same date and attested Α by the four Bishops above named, with the addition of Aldred Bishop of Leicester (K. C.D., CCXLVIII.), although derived from the same source, is marked by Kemble as spurious. The mere attestation of Bishop Aldred, whose episcopate must fall between A.D. 839 and 844, is not enough to prove this. Besides these, the grant to Worcester, K. C. D., CCLI., also dated at Tamworth in A.D. 841, may be referred to the same assembly. A.D. 841. Grant of Ethelwulf to Beornmod Bishop of Rochester, made in a Witenagemot "cum consilio et licentia Episcoporum et Principuma " [K. C. D., CCLII.] a The Bishops subscribing and consenting are Ealhstan of Sherborne, Helmstan of Winchester, and Beornmod of Rochester. VOL. III. SS [PROFESSION OF CEOLRED.] A.D. 842. Grant of Ethelwulf to his reeve Ceolmund, of land at Although the land granted is described by the King as " juris mei," and is not bestowed with the express licence and consent of the witan, the charter seems to have been issued in a Kentish witenagemot, being attested by Archbishop Ceolnoth and Bishop Beornmod, as well as by the younger King Ethelstan. Another grant of the same year made by Ethelwulf to Eanulf, "in loco celebri qui vocatur Andredeseme," may likewise have been made in the same witenagemot; the charter is signed only by the King and Archbishop, "cum multis aliis," but the consent or licence of the witan is expressed (K. C. D., CCLIII.). a A.D. 839 × 844. Profession of obedience made by Ceolred Bishop of Leicester to Ceolnoth Archbishop of Canterbury. In nomine Dei Summi et Domini nostri Jesu Christi. Ego Ceolred humilis licet indignus ad Episcopalem sedem electus Legoracensis civitatis, inprimis confiteor tibi, reverentissime pater Ceolnodi Archiepiscope, quod absque omni ambiguitate credo in Deum Patrem et Filium et Spiritum Sanctum; [Filium] natum ac passum pro humani generis redemptione et salute, Cujus potestas et imperium erat ante sæculum, et regni Ejus non erit finis; et illam rectam et catholicam fidem, quam priores patres nostri devote servaverunt, cum omni humilitate et sincera devotione, sicut prædecessores ipsa sancta sede Dorovernensis Ecclesiæ subjuncti sunt, semper servare me velle humiliter per omnia fateor. Necnon et tibi, pater beatissime Ceolnod Archiepiscope, tuisque successoribus, veredico professione profiteor stabilem obedientiæ præbere præceptum votorum meorum, sine ullo scrupulo falsi cogitationis, usque ad terminum vitæ meæ. Ego Ceolredus mea propria manu perenni signaculo sanctæ crucis Christi firmando roboravi b. [Reg. Cant. A. 1. fo. 256.] a Bishop Rethun of Leicester attests charters until A.D.839; Ceolred's name as Bishop occurs first in A.D. 844, and is found as late as A.D. 869. Between them is interposed in the ancient lists a Bishop named Aldred, whose episcopate is thus limited. Roger of Wendover, under A.D. 873, states that Aldred was deprived and Ceolred appointed in that year. This is impossible, but it is not unlikely that the statement preserves a tradition about the deposition of Aldred, which may have been one of the circumstances attending the succession of Berhtwulf as King of Mercia. b At the end of this document, in the Canterbury Register, occur the words "Promissio Aldhuni episcopi," showing that in the more ancient record the Profession of a Bishop named Aldhun followed this of Ceolred. This would be Aelhun, Bishop of Worcester, who, according to Florence, succeeded in A.D. 848. [PROFESSION OF TUNBERT.] A.D. 841 × 844. Profession of obedience made by Tunbert a Bishop of Lichfield to Archbishop Ceolnoth. PROFESSIO TUNBERTI LICIFELDENSIS EPISCOPI.-In nomine Altithroni Pii Salvatoris mundi. Cum enim omnipotens et misericors Deus, pro Sua Divina pietate gratiaque superna dispensante, ac pro maxima humani generis necessitate, periclitanti mundo per carnis materiam visibilis apparens, sanctam primitivam Catholicam Ecclesiam sacri Sui sanguinis effusione Sibi in sponsam conjunxerat, quamque per Suos sanctos doctores electosque prædicatores orthodoxam in Eum docuit fidem habere, Sanctæ Trinitatis sacramentum servare et prædicare; postea apud ecclesiasticos gradus mos inolevit ut quotienscunque alicujus provinciæ præsul ex hoc labenti sæculo ad Dei judicium pervenire contigerit, alium pro eo, quem superna clementia providere ac prædestinare ad illam Episcopalem sedem voluerit, in primis necesse est, ut suæ professionis obedientiæque libellum sincera devotaque mente puraque conscientia confirmet et offerat. Propterea ego Tunbertus, humilis Episcopus licet indignus ad Episcopalem sedem Licifeldensis Ecclesiæ ordinatus, cum omni humilitate confiteor quia cum Omnipotentis Dei auxilio, Cujus consilium voluntasque Ejus firma et incommutabilis æternaliter permanet, semper amabiliter ac rationabiliter, quam diu erit halitus in me et spiritus in naribus meis, Sanctæ Ecclesiæ Christi Doroberniæ civitatis et tibi, Celnothe Archiepiscope, tuisque successoribus quem superna majestas cum Divina auctoritate prædestinavit in regimen, fideli mente et pura cordis stabilitate totisque viribus meis semper deservire et obedire, omnibus diebus vitæ meæ, curabo; atque illam sanctam et apostolicam fidem, quam prædecessores mei digne servaverunt, cum omni humilitate et obedientia, Divina simul et humana, sicut et patres mei ipsi sanctæ sedi Dorobernensis Ecclesiæ subjuncti sunt, semper custodire me per omnia confiteor. Et quod illi ubique plebi Dei juste prædicaverunt et prædicando servaverunt, hoc prædicare et custodire non cesso, favente et volente miseratore Domino Salvatore nostro Jesu Christo. [MS. Cotton, Cleopatra E. I.; Textus Roffensis, ed. Hearne, p. 264; Reg. Cantuar. A. I. fo. 283, 288.] a Tunbert subscribes charters from A.D. 844 to 857, and, according to a note attached to the ancient lists in Florence, M. H. B. 623, survived to the reign of Alfred. This state ment is not borne out by any other evidence, and as a break in the list of the Bishops of Lichfield occurs after his name which extends to the reign of Athelstan, it is certain that some |