Anglo-Saxon Charters (pre-A.D. 900)

Browse the complete digital corpus of early English diplomas catalogued by Sawyer number and archive

A.D. 680 (? for 685). Cædwalla, king, to Wilfrid, bishop; grant of 70 hides (tributarii) at Pagham, Shripney, Charlton, Bognor, Bersted, North Bersted, Crimsham, North and South Mundham (and, in the shortened version, Slindon), all in Sussex, and to the community at St Andrew's church situated on the east of the harbour called Uedringmutha (Pagham Harbour), grant of 10 hides (tributarii) at Tangmere, Sussex. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 845 for 830. Egbert, king of Wessex and Kent, to Ætheric, minister; grant of 5 sulungs (aratra) at Warehorne and Flotham (lost), Kent, in return for 50 mancuses. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 838 (Canterbury, 19 Nov.). Æthelwulf, king of Kent, to Ceolnoth, archbishop; grant of one hide (mansio) at Eastre(a)stadelham. Latin with English bounds.

(1) A.D. 839 (Wye, Kent). Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, to Ithda or Dudda; grant of land at Canterbury. (2) Confirmation by Alfred, king of Wessex and note of purchase by Lulla from Æthelwald (A.D. 871 x 888). (3) Later note of purchase by Archbishop Dunstan and grant to St Martin's, Canterbury (A.D. 959 x 988). Latin with English.

A.D. 843 (Mereworth, Kent, 28 May). Æthelwulf, king of Wessex and Kent, to Æthelmod, his minister; grant of 10 sulungs (aratra) at (Little) Chart, Kent, with woodland and swine pastures. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 845 (Wye, Kent, 16 Nov.). Æthelwulf, king of Wessex and Kent, to Badanoth, his apparitor; grant of land near Canterbury, in return for 15 mancuses of gold. Latin.

A.D. 855 for ? 853. Æthelwulf, king of Wessex and Kent, to Ealdhere, his minister; grant of 1 sulung (aratrum) at Ulaham, Kent. Latin with bounds.

A.D. '874' ? for 844. Æthelwulf, king of Wessex and Kent, to Eadred; grant of land at Horton, near Canterbury, Kent. Latin with bounds.

c. A.D. 833 x 839, perhaps 833 x 836. Æthelwulf, king of Kent, to (Christ Church, Canterbury); confirmation of lands at Langham, Blakeburneham, Plegwingham, Ofneham; pasture in Hliossole and Ægelbertinherst; common in woods in Estcogheringdenne and Hyringdenne; land at Canterbury with meadows at Shettinge and Thanington, Kent. Latin.

Æthelberht, king, to Wulflaf, his minister; grant of 5 sulungs (aratra) at Wassingwell in exchange for 5 sulungs at Mersham, Kent, with conversion of the latter into folkland. Latin with English, bounds in Latin.

A.D. 863 (Birenefeld). (1) Æthelberht, king of Wessex and Kent, to Æthelred, minister; grant of 9 sulungs (aratra) at Mersham, Kent, in return for 400 mancuses of gold. Latin with bounds. (2) Eadwald to St Augustine's, Canterbury; grant of land at Willesborough, Kent. English.

A.D. 867 (Canterbury). Æthelred, king of Wessex and Kent, to Wighelm, presbyter; grant of a seat in the church of St Martin, with land appurtenant. Latin with bounds.

Alfred, king, and Æthelred, archbishop, to Liaba, son of Birgwine; grant of land at Ileden, Kent, in return for 25 mancuses of gold. Latin with English.

A.D. 898 (Woolmer, Hants.). Alfred, king of the Saxons, to Sighelm, dux; grant of 1 hide (manens) at Farleigh, Kent, with appurtenant meadow. Latin with English and English bounds.

A.D. 799 x 801. Pilheard, comes of Coenwulf, king of Mercia, declares that he has obtained immunities for his 30-hide estate in Middlesex, in return for 200 solidi and an annual render of 30 solidi. The land is to be free from all public renders and burdens and from fines at folk-moots, but the landowner shall still be liable to construction of bridges and fortifications and shall owe the military service of five men. Latin.

A.D. 805 x 810 (or 805 x 815). Oswulf, aldormonn, and Beornthryth, his wife, to Christ Church, Canterbury; grant of 20 sulungs at Stanhamstead (in Aldington), Kent, with confirmation by Archbishop Wulfred. English.

A.D. 845 (London, 8 Nov.). Werenberht, minister and prefectus, to Werheard, priest and abbot; exchange of 1 hide (cassatus) in Roxeth, Middx, formerly belonging to the vill at Greenford, Middx, for similar land. Latin.

(1) Ealhburg and Eadweald, and (2) Ealhhere to Christ Church (Canterbury); grant of renders from land at Burnan and at Finglesham, Kent. English.

1. Plegred declares that he has purchased from Æthelmod, dix, a half tun which previously pertained to Wilburgewellan near Canterbury (? Well near Ickham), Kent. 2. Æthelmod grants the land to Plegred. Latin and English with bounds.

A.D. 843 x 863. Lufu, ancilla Dei, to Christ Chuch, Canterbury; grant of annual render from her estate at Mongeham, Kent. English.

A.D. 858 x 866. Ealhhere to Oswig and Weahtryth; grant of land (? in Canterbury). Latin.

A.D. 867 x 870. Eadweald, son of Oshere, and Cynethryth, widow of Æthelmod, aldorman ; agreement concerning land at Chart, Kent. English.

A.D. 870 x 889. Alfred, dux, makes an agreement with Archbishop Æthelred and the community at Christ Church. Alfred receives life-use of an estate at Croydon, Surrey, in return for bequeathing an estate at Chartham, Kent, to Christ Church after his death. Old and Middle English versions.

Eardwulf to Wighelm; grant of 1 sulung and a 'yokelet' at Hamme (? Ham in Romney Marsh, Kent), in return for 120 mancuses of gold; with confirmation by Archbishop Plegmund, A.D. 890 x 923. The land had been given to Eardwulf by King Alfred. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 888 for ? 868. Cialwulf to Eanmund; grant of land in Canterbury, in return for 120 silver pence; with added note of a purchase by Æthelhere in A.D. 888. Latin.

s. ix. Alfred, aldormon, and Wærburg, his wife, declare that they have ransomed holy books from the Danish army and now wish to donate them to Christ Church, Canterbury. English.

A.D. 798 (Clofesho). Æthelheard, archbishop of Canterbury, to Cynethryth, abbess; grant of the minsters at Cookham, Berks., and at Pectanege, in exchange for 60 hides (cassati) at Fleet, 30 at Teynham and 20 at the source of the Cray, Kent. Latin.

Æthelheard, archbishop of Canterbury, recovers for Christ Church 4 sulungs (aratra) at Bishopsbourne, Kent, originally granted by Aldhun, confiscated by Offa, king of Mercia, and now restored as the result of a synodal judgement. Latin.

A.D. 811 (Canterbury, 21 April). Wulfred, archbishop, to Christ Church; grant of 3 sulungs (aratra) at Folcwining lond in the district of Eastry, 1 at Liminum and 1 at Dunwaling lond, Kent, in exchange for 4 sulungs at Bishopsbourne, Kent. The land at Liminum had been granted to Wulfred by Coenwulf, king of Mercia, in exchange for land at Yarkhill, Herefords., which Wulfred had obtained from Queen Cynethryth. The land at Bishopsbourne had been given to Christ Church by Aldhun, confiscated by King Offa, and then restored. Latin.

A.D. 813 for 808 x 813. Wulfred, archbishop of Canterbury, to Christ Church, Canterbury; grant of constitution for the familia. Latin.