In 963 Abbot Egelward (p. 84) receives a grant from K. Edgar of five estates. Separate charters of two of these estates are known—Middetone in 966, and Stoure in 968: but neither of them mentions the name of an abbot.[1] The charter of 963 on which William of Malmesbury relied must have been a composite charter and of no historical value. He found his name again, as it would appear, attached to a Privilege of Pope John: but, when this Privilege appears in some MSS of the Gesta Regum, the name given is not Egelward but Ælfward.[2] We shall find that Ælfward is the last name in the tenth-century list of abbots. After Egelward Ave are given Abbot Sigegar, who is made to rule from 965 to the end of the century, being succeeded in the year 1000 by Abbot Beorhtred. Abbot Sigegar happily we know, for he was bishop of Wells from 975 to 997. He stands last but one in the list of abbots in Tib. B. 5, which was probably drawn up in his lifetime.[3] We need not pursue William of Malmesbury's list any further. It will suffice to say that after Abbot Beorhtred he gives us Brithwi (1017), another Egelward (1027), Egelnoth (1053), and then the first Norman abbot, Turstin (1082). We may now set the list which we have constructed from the De Antiquitate side by side with the ancient list preserved in Tiberius B. 5.
| W. of M. | Tib. B. 5 |
| 670 Berthwaldus | |
| 678 Hemgisel | Hemgils |
| 705 Berwaldus | Wealhstod |
| 712 Albert | |
| 719 Echfrid | Coengils |
| 729 Cengisle | Beorhtwald |
| 745 Tumbertus | Cealdhun |
| 754 Tican | Luca |
| 760 Guban | Wiccea |
| 762 Waldunus | Bosa |
| 794 Beadewlfus | |
| 800 Mucan | Stiðheard |
| 824 Cuthlac | Herefyrð |
| 851 Elmund | Hunbeorht |
| 867 Hereferthus | Ændhun |
| 891 Stiþherd | Guðlac |
- ↑ B. C. S. 1188 and 1214.
- ↑ De Antiq., p. 84; G. R., p. 169.
- ↑ For further information as to Sigegar, or Sigar, reference may be made to The Saxon Bishops of Wells, p. 48.
