Alfred’s domboc (Af)
The largest piece of legislation issued by King Alfred of Wessex (871–899) as well as the longest legislative text issued in Old English, the Domboc comprises a preface of Mosaic and apostolic law followed by the king’s own decrees, to which has been added a code named in the text as issued by King Ine of Wessex (688–726). According to the Domboc, Alfred’s own decrees were intended to renew, amend, add to and subtract from previous legislation of Athelberht, king of Kent (560–616), Ine, and Offa, king of Mercia (757–796). Historians usually agree that the Domboc was produced late in Alfred’s reign, perhaps after 893.
It was translated into Latin c. 1100: see Quadripartitus .
Contents
Print editions
- Felix Liebermann, ed., Die Gesetze der Angelsachsen, 3 vols (Halle, 1903–1916), vol. 1, pp. 16–20, 26–89.
- A new edition is being prepared for Early English Laws by Lisi Oliver and Stefan Jurasinski.
Manuscripts
- B: Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 383, fos. 16r-23r
description & facsimiles - Dm: London, British Library, MS Cotton Domitian VIII, fos. 107r-110v
description & facsimiles - E: Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 173, fos. 33r-47r
description & facsimiles - G: London, British Library, MS Cotton Nero A.I, fos. 45r-48r
description & facsimiles - G: London, British Library, MS Cotton Nero A.I, fos. 51r-57v
description & facsimiles - H: Strood, Medway Archive and Local Studies Centre, MS DRc/R1 (Textus Roffensis), fos. 9r-24v
description & facsimiles - Nw: London, British Library, MS Additional 43703, fos. 236v-249r
description & facsimiles - R: London, British Library, MS Royal 11 B.II, fos. 118v-130v
description & facsimiles - Rs: Manchester, John Rylands University Library, MS Lat. 155, fos. 11r-17v
description & facsimiles - T: London, British Library, MS Cotton Titus A.XXVII, fos. 105v-115v
description & facsimiles