Edmund’s First Code, 942-6 AD

Edmund’s First Code: Textus Roffensis, ff. 44r-45r. Translated from the Old English and edited by Dr Christopher Monk.

Transcription

44r (select folio number to open facsimile)

Eadmundes cyninges _EADMUND cyning < asetnysse.
gesomnode mycelne sinoð to lundebyrig

44v

on ða halgan easterlicon tid ægðer gegodcun-
dra hada ge woroldcundra, ðær hwæs oDa, 7
wulfstan arcebisceop, 7 mænige oðre biscopas
smeagende ymbe heora saula ræd, 7 ðara ðe
him underðeodde wæron. Dæt is ærest
ðæt ða halgan hadas ðe godes folc læran scy-
lan lyfes bysne, ðæt hi heora clænnesse he-
aldan be heora hade, swa wer-hades, swa wif
hades, swa hweðer hit sy. Gif hy swa ne don
þonne syn hy ðæs wyrðe ðe on ðam canone
cwæð, ðæt is ðæt hy ðolian worold-æhta, 7
gehalgodre legerstowe, buton hy gebetan. Teoðunge we bebeodaþ ælcum cristenum men
be his cristendome, 7 cyric-sceat, > 7 ælmes
feoh, gif hit hwa don nelle, sy he amansumod. Gif hwa cristenes mannes blod ageote, ne cu-
me he na on ðas cyninges ansyne, ær he on
dæd-bote ga swa biscop him tæce, 7 his scrift
him wissige. Se ðe wið nunnan hæme, gehal-
godre legerstowe ne sy he wyrðe, bute he
gebete, ðe ma ðe manslaga, ðæt hylce we
cwædon be æwbryce. Eac we gecwædon þæt ælc
biscop bete godes hus on his agnum, 7 eac þo-
ne cyning myngige ðæt ealle godes cyrcan

45r

syn wel be-hweorfene swa us mucel þearf is.

Da ðe mansweriað, 7 lyblat wyrcað, syn hy
a fram ælcum godes dæle aworpene, buten
hy to rihtre dædbote gecyrraN.

Translation

See Translation Notes

The law of King Edmund¹

King Edmund assembled a great council² at London on the holy Eastertide, both divine and worldly ranks. Oda³ and Archbishop Wulfstan⁴ were there, and many other bishops inquiring about the counsel of their souls and of those who were subject to them.⁵

What is first is that those in holy orders fulfil an exemplary life, in order to teach God’s people; that they hold their cleanness⁶ according to their office, whether they be male or female.

If they do not do so, then they shall be treated accordingly as is stated in the rule,⁷ namely, they forfeit worldly possessions and a holy burial, unless they repent.

We command tithing for each Christian, in conformity with Christendom, and church-scot,⁸ and alms-giving. If anyone does not do this, he shall be excommunicated.

If someone sheds the blood of a Christian, he may not come into the presence⁹ of the king until he repents, just as the bishop shall teach and show him his penance.

He who has sex with a nun, he shall not be worthy of a holy burial, no more than a murderer, unless he shall repent. Such waywardness we refer to as adultery.

Also, we say that every bishop shall reform the house of God by himself; and he shall also remind the king that all of God’s church be widely spread, as is our great need.

Those who swear falsely and work sorcery, they shall be cast off forever from every portion of God, unless they turn to lawful penitence.

Footnotes

1 King Edmund ruled 939–946.

2 ‘synod’.

3 Oda, archbishop of Canterbury, 941–958.

4 Wulfstan I, archbishop of York, 931–956; not to be confused with the more famous Wulfstan, archbishop of York, 1002–1023.

5 or ‘him’, i.e. the king.

6 i.e. remain celibate.

7 ‘canon’.

8 a tax paid to the church.

9 literally, ‘face’.