Consiliatio Cnuti (Cons Cn)
A twelfth-century translation of Cnut’s Winchester code (I–II Cn, c.1020/1), the Hundred ordinance (Hu, roughly mid-tenth-century), Be Blaserum (Blas., mid- to late-tenth century), Forfang (Forf., second half of the tenth century), and several chapters from what is conventionally known as Æthelred’s eighth code (VIII Atr, 1014). The translator has added a new prologue that identifies Cnut’s as king of the Norwegians and claims Cnut issued the law-code in order to unify the laws of the kingdom. The Consiliatio constitutes a classicizing translation of Cnut that adds little new information to its sources except for chapters on suretyship (sc. tithings) and the foraþ.
Contents
Print editions
- Felix Liebermann, ed., Die Gesetze der Angelsachsen, 3 vols (Halle, 1903–1916), vol. 1, pp. 279-371, and passim.
- --, Consiliatio Cnuti, eine Übertragung angelsächsischer Gesetze aus dem zwölften Jahrhundert (Halle, 1893).
Manuscripts
- Hr: London, British Library, MS Harley 1704, fos. 1r-7v
description & facsimiles