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

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

Cenwalh, king of Wessex, to Beorhtwald, abbot; grant of 1 hide (cassatus) and two small islands, with a fishery, at Meare, Somerset. Latin.

Baldred, king, to Hæmgils, abbot, and the church of Our Lady and St Patrick, Glastonbury; grant of 12 (or 6) hides (manentes) at Pennard, Somerset. Latin with English bounds.

Centwine, king of the (West) Saxons, to Hæmgils, abbot of Glastonbury; grant of 23 hides (mansiones) near Quantock Wood and 3 hides (cassati) at Crycbeorh (probably Creechbarrow Hill, near Taunton), Somerset. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 663 for ? 693 (20 July). Ine, king of the (West) Saxons, to Hæmgils, abbot; grant of 10 hides (cassati) at Brent, Somerset. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 704 (Glastonbury). Ine, king, to the church of SS Mary and Patrick, Glastonbury; grant of freedom from secular burdens. Latin.

A.D. 705 or 706 (June). Ine, king of the Saxons, to Beorhtwald, abbot of Glastonbury; grant of 20 hides (cassati) on the river Sheppey (formerly Doulting), Somerset. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 705 or 706 (June). Ine, king (of Wessex), to Beorhtwald, abbot; grant of 20 hides (casati) by the river Tone, 20 hides (manentes) by the river Sheppey (formerly Doulting) and 20 hides west of Corscombe (? North Wootton), all in Somerset. Latin.

Ine, king (of Wessex), to the church at Glastonbury; grant of 10 hides at Brent, 10 at Sowy (cf. Middlezoy, Westonzoyland), 20 at Pilton, 20 at Doulting and 1 at Bleadney, Somerset, and confirmation of land at Meare, Beckery, Godney, Marchey, Andersey (Nyland), Lantocai (? Leigh in Street), Pennard and Pouelt (cf. Polden Hills), Somerset, with general grant of privileges and reference to dependent churches at Sowy, Middlezoy, Brent, Moorlinch, Shapwick, Street, Butleigh and Pilton. Latin.

Ine, king of Wessex, to the familia at Glastonbury; grant of 12 hides (manentes) at Sowy (cf. Othery, Middlezoy and Westonzoyland), Somerset. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 729 (Pencrik). Æthelheard, king of Wessex, and Queen Frithugyth to Coengisl, abbot, and the familia in Glastonbury minster; grant of 60 hides (manentes) at Pouholt (cf. Polden Hills, Somerset). Latin with bounds.

A.D. 745 (Glastonbury, ? 30 April). Cuthred, king of Wessex, to Glastonbury Abbey; confirmation of grants made by previous kings to Glastonbury. Latin.

Edbirtus (? Egbert), king of Wessex, to Eadgils, his minister; grant of 20 hides (mansiones) at Butleigh, Somerset. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 840 (Southampton). Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, to Duda, his minister; grant of 10 hides (cassati) at Asshedoune (cf. Ashdown Park in Ashbury, Berks.). Latin.

A.D. 842 (Andredesdune). Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, to Eanwulf, his princeps; grant of 25 hides (cassati) at Ditcheat and 5 at Lottisham, Somerset. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 854 (Wilton, Wilts., 22 April). Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, to the Church; general grant of lands and privileges with a list of the Glastonbury estates affected, namely 5 hides at Buckland Newton, Dorset; 6 at Pennard, Somerset; 1 at Cetenes felda; 6 at Cerawycombe (? Crowcombe, Somerset); 10 hides at Sowy (cf. Middlezoy, Westonzoyland), 3 at Puriton, 1.5 at Montacute (Lodegaresbergh), Somerset; 1.5 at Culmstock, 0.5 at Monk Okehampton and 0.5 at Braunton, Devon ('Second Decimation'). Latin.

Æthelred, king of Wessex, to Wulfhere, his princeps; grant of 25 hides (cassati) at Winterbourne (Monkton), Wilts. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 891 (2 Aug.). Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, to Berhtwulf, his faithful comes; grant of 12 hides (manentes) at Plush in Buckland Newton, Dorset, and 2 (? for 5) at Raddington, Somerset, in exchange for land at Sutton Poyntz, Dorset. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 680 (6 July). Hædde, bishop (of Winchester), to Hæmgils, abbot (of Glastonbury); grant of 3 hides (cassati) at Leigh in Street and 2 hides (manentes) at Meare, Somerset. Latin.

Forthhere, bishop (of Sherborne), to Ealdberht,a bbot (of Glastonbury); grant of 1 hide (cassatus) by the river Axe, near Bleadney, Somerset. Latin.

A.D. 744 (10 July). Lulla, handmaid of Christ, to Glastonbury Abbey; grant of 10 hides (manentes) at Baltonsborough, Somerset, and at Scobbanwirht' with mention of land at Lottisham and Lydford, Somerset, placed at King Æthelbald's disposal. Latin with bounds.