Earl Aethelwold’s Will
Overview
Earl Aethelwold’s will is a 10th-century document dated to the reign of King Eadred (946-955) and found in the Codex Wintoniensis (Winchester Book), a 12th-century cartulary. Aethelwold is generally believed to be the brother of Aethelstan Half-King, Earl of East Anglia.
One of the key aspects of this will is that it is one of the earliest references to the ‘heriot,’ a death custom where a nobleman would leave his lord military equipment, including horses, swords, and shields. This custom is also found in the heroic poem Beowulf, where Beowulf begs Hrothgar to send back his coat of mail to Hygelac.
Here it is stated that King Eadred gave the estate of twelve hides at Wiley to the community at Old Minster for the provision of clothing.*
Sire, I, Earl Aethelwold, declare to my dear and royal lord King Eadred what are my wishes with regard to the estates which I have acquired from my lord. In the first place [I give] to God and to the holy foundation — the bishop and the community at the episcopal see of Winchester — the twelve hides of land at Wiley for the provision of clothing, so that they may remember me in their prayers, as I believe that they will. And to the king my heriot: four swords, four spears, four shields, four bracelets — two worth one hundred and twenty mancuses, and two worth eighty mancuses — four horses, and two silver cups. And to my brother Eadric the estates at Ogbourn, Ashdown, Cheam, and Washington. And to my brother Aethelstan the estates at Broadwater and Newton. And to Aelfsige, my brother’s son, the estate at Carcel. And to the son of my brother Aelfstan the estate at Clere. And I desire that a distribution of all the property which I hold on lease be made for the good of my soul, according to the directions which I have just given to the friends to whom I have been speaking.
*This opening line seems to be written in the hand of the 12th century chronicler.
Further Research & Sources
Harmer, Florence E. Select English Historical Documents of the Ninth and Tenth Centuries. Cambridge University Press. 1914.