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

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

A.D. 699 x 716 (Bapchild, Kent). Wihtred, king of Kent, to the churches and monasteries of Kent; grant of privileges and immunity to the churches and monasteries of Kent, with specific prohibition of lay domination over St Peter's at Upmynster, Reculver, Minster-in-Thanet, Dover, Folkestone, Lyminge, Minster-in-Sheppey and Hoo. Confirmation, dated A.D. 716, at a synod at Cloveshoh. Latin.

A.D. 805 (26 July, Acleah). Cuthred, king of Kent, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of 2 sulungs (aratra) at Hrithra leah, part of an estate of 15 hides (manentes) at Buckholt in Petham, Kent, in return for 30 mancuses. Latin.

A.D. 805 x 807. Cuthred, king of Kent, to Æthelnoth, praefectus; grant of 3 sulungs (aratra) at Eythorne, Kent, in return for 3000 pence. Latin.

A.D. 704 (13 June). Swæfred, king of Essex, and Pæogthath, comes, with the consent of Æthelred, king of Mercia, to Waldhere, bishop; grant of 30 hides (cassati) at Twickenham, Middx, with confirmation by Cenred and Ceolred, kings of Mercia. Ceolred's confirmation took place at Arcencale. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 742 (Clofeshos). Æthelbald, king of Mercia, to the Kentish churches; confirmation of privileges. Latin.

A.D. 716 x 757. Æthelbald, king of Mercia, to Wihtred, his comes, and to Ansith, Wihtred's wife; grant of 7 hides (manentes) in the regio called Geddinges (cf. Yeading), Middx. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 764 for 767. Offa, king of Mercia, to Stithberht, abbot; grant of 30 hides (manentes) between Harrow and the Lidding (Wealdstone Brook) and east of the Lidding, Middx., in exchange for 30 hides at Wicham in Ciltinne. Latin.

Offa, king of the English, to Jænberht, archbishop; grant of 5 sulungs (aratra) at Higham Upshire, Kent. Latin with bounds.

Offa, king of the English, to Jænberht, archbishop; grant of 3 sulungs (aratra) at Lydd, Kent. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 785 (Chelsea, Middx). Offa, king of Mercia, to Ealdbeorht, minister, and Selethryth, his sister; grant of 14 sulungs (aratra) at Ickham and Palmstead, Kent, with woodland in the Weald and other appurtenances. Latin.

A.D. 786 (Chelsea, Middx). Offa, king of Mercia, to Ealdbeorht, minister, and his sister, Selethryth, abbess; grant of 15 sulungs (aratra) at Ickham, Palmstead and Ruckinge, Kent, with swine-pastures, woodland and other appurtenances, including an urban tenement (vicus) at Curringtun in Canterbury. Latin with English.

A.D. 788 (Chelsea, Middx). Offa, king of Mercia, to Osberht, his minister, and Osberht's wife; grant of 1 sulung (aratrum) at Duningcland in the Eastry district, Kent. Latin.

A.D. 790 for ? 795 (London). Offa, king of the English, to Æthelheard, archbishop of Canterbury; grant of 60 hides (tributaria) at Hayes and Yeading and 30 at Twickenham, Middx. Latin.

A.D. 799 (Tamworth, Staffs.). Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Christ Church, Canterbury; restoration of 30 sulungs (aratra) at Charing, 10 at Seleberhtes cert or Bryning lond (Chart) and 4 at Humbinglond in Barham, Kent, previously seized and redistributed by King Offa. Latin.

A.D. 799 (17 July). King Coenwulf and his wife Cynegyth to Christ Church, Canterbury; grant of 4 sulungs (aratra) at Giddinge and Wootton, Kent. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 805 (Acleah). Coenwulf, king of Mercia, and Cuthred, king of Kent, to Wulfhard, priest; grant of 2 hides (manentes), equivalent to one sulung, at Swarling, Kent, and one 'yokelet' (an geocled) at Ecgheanng lond. Latin.

A.D. 808 (Tamworth, Staffs., Easter Day, 16 April). Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Eadwulf, minister; grant of 1.5 sulungs (aratra) at Cooling, Kent. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 809 (Croydon, Staffs.). Coenwulf, king of Mercia and Kent, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of 7 sulungs (aratra) at Barham, Kent, in return for 30 pounds. Confirmed at Canterbury in A.D. 810. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 811 (London, 1 August). Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of 2 sulungs (aratra) at Appincg lond in Rainham, 2 sulungs at Suithhunincg lond at Graveney near Faversham, and 2.5 hagae in Canterbury, all in Kent, in return for 126 mancuses. Latin.

Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of 1 sulung (aratrum) at Graveney and a 'yokelet' (ioclet) at Caseborne (lost) in Cheriton, Kent, in exchange for 1 sulung (equivalent to 2 manentes) at Swarling, Kent, and a 'yokelet' at Ecgheang lond. Latin.

A.D. 812 (London, 31 October). Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of 20 iugera at Ibentea in the Faversham district and a further 2 in the same area. Latin.

Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of 10 sulungs (aratra) at Bexley, Kent, with swine-pastures. Latin with English bounds.

Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of 30 iugera at Bingley's Island, Canterbury. Latin.

A.D. 814 (Bearwe, 25 November). Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of one sulung (aratrum) at Cynincges cua lond, Kent (? Kingsland (lost) in Faversham hundred), in return for 7 pounds of gold and silver. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 815 (Wychbold, Worcs., 19 March). Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of 1 hide (manens) at Seleberhting lond in the district of Faversham, Kent, in return for a ring of 23 mancuses. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 822 (Bydictun, 17 September). Ceolwulf, king of Mercia and Kent, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of 5 sulungs (aratra) at Mylentun, near Kemsing, Kent, in return for a gold ring worth 75 mancuses. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 823 (Werburgingwic, 26 May). Ceolwulf, king of Mercia and Kent, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of land in Canterbury, in return for a gold and silver vessel of 5.5 pounds. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 831 (Wychbold, Worcs.). Wiglaf, king of Mercia, to Wulfred, archbishop; grant of 5 hides (cassati) at Botwell in Hayes, Middx. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 844 x 845. Berhtwulf, king (of Mercia), to Forthred, his thegn; grant of 9 hides at Wotton Underwood, Bucks., in return for 30 mancuses and 900 shillings. English.

Burgred, king of Mercia, and Æthelswith, queen, to Wulflaf; grant of 5 hides (manentes) at Upthrop, in return for 50 mancuses of gold. The estate is to descend in the male line. Latin with English bounds.