the kynge had herd all that she say wolde, by-twene hem they hathe I-commund [Mis-read 'they hathen and commaund how,' in Dugd. Monast.] how and what wyse they myht brynge thys good dede to an ende. And so be they besy in goddys seruise how they myht best bylde a chyrch in the worshyp of god, and of our lady, and seynt John Baptist. Now is thys lady, dame [folio Ib(13b)] Edyue, the Abbas in her chyrche, and xxiiij. ladys with her. Of hyr too dowhtyrs, the eldeste, Dame Emme was her name, the prioras of thys hows; and Dame Hauis, the secunde dowhtyr, the secunde prioras so longe as she lyuyd. Now byn they to god commendyd, that was of þe modyr bor, that for us synners wolde fowchesafe to dye. He us graunt, yf hym plesyde, to hys Joy to come. Amen.
[[NOTE.—In the Latin copy (Exchequer MS., at top of first page of table of contents) is a notice of the foundress which the translator has omitted:—'Tempore regis Henrici primi locus iste cepit esse domus Dei in vigilia paschae per bone memorie dominam Edivam Lancelene, primam abbatissam, que domum istam rexit L. et unum annos et in senectute bona obiit in domino.']]The chartur of syr John synt Iohn of the londe of Godestowe.
About 1135. Grant to Godstow, by John of St. John, of the island called 'Godstow,' with pro|viso that the nuns should elect their own abbess at each vacancy.
THE [The Latin is printed in Monast. iv. 363.] sentence of thys dede is, how John of synt John hathe grauntyd and yeue to Edyue, fyrst Abbas of Godstowe, to all the Mynchyns of hyr congregacion, and to all hyr successours, the lande I-callyd Godstow and all thynge perteynyng ther-to, to-hole ['solidè' in the Latin.] and quietly, in perpetuall almus, for hys fadyr and modyr soule and for the soulis of the antecessours that the seyd lande fyrst gate and purchasyd, þat, aftyr the dethe of the forseyde Ediue, sholde non odyr gouerner ne Abbas be take or chose but of the same congregacion in the same plase. Thys wytnessyth Alysaunder, of lyncolne bysshop, and many odyr; and thys was confyrmyd a-fore the bysshop of Salysbury in the tyme of herry the fyrst, kynge of ynglond.
[[NOTE.—Among the witnesses are Alexander, bishop of Lincoln (1123-47), and the second Robert D'Oylly (died 1142). Roger, bishop of Salisbury (1102-39), was regent for Henry I (1100-35).]]
