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 681. Æthelred, king of Mercia, to Aldhelm, abbot; grant of 15 hides (cassati) near Tetbury, Gloucs. (The rubric in MSS 1 and 2 refers to Cherletune juxta Tetteburi.) Latin.

Æthelred, king of Mercia, to Aldhelm, abbot, and his successors; grant of 30 hides (cassati) west of the highway (Long Newnton, Wilts., cf S 1038) and 15 near Tetbury, Gloucs. Latin.

A.D. 796 Ecgfrith, king of Mercia, to Cuthbert, abbot, and the brethren of Malmesbury Abbey; restitution of 35 hides (manentes) at Purton, Wilts., previously seized by King Offa, in return for 2000 silver solidi. Latin.

A.D. 682 ? for 688 (Aug.). Cædwalla, king, to the church (of Malmesbury); grant of 132 hides (cassati) on either side of the wood named Kemele (? Kemble, Gloucs.). Latin.

A.D. 688 (19 Aug.). Cædwalla, king, to Aldhelm, abbot; grant of 140 hides (manentes) on both sides of the wood called Kemele (Kemble, Gloucs.), 30 on the east side of the wood of Braydon, Wilts., and 5 at the confluence of the rivers Avon and Wylye. Latin.

Ine, king of the (West) Saxons, to Aldhelm, abbot, for the monastery of Malmesbury; grant of 45 hides (cassati), consisting of 5 hides at Garsdon, 20 and 10 hides by Corsaburn (Gauze Brook, cf. Corston) and 10 hides at Rodbourne in Malmesbury, all in Wilts. Latin.

A.D. 256 (Malmesbury). Cuthred, king of the Gewisse, to Aldhelm, abbot, and Malmesbury Abbey; grant of 10 hides (mansiones) at Wootton Bassett, Wilts. Latin.

Cynewulf, king, to Malmesbury Abbey; grant of 30 hides (manentes) at Moredon and Rodbourne, Wilts. Latin.

A.D. 844 (Winchester, 5 Nov.). Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, to the Church; grant of privileges, with particular mention of lands belonging to the church of Malmesbury at Ellendune (Wroughton), Wilts. (30 hides); Elmhamstede (15 hides); and at Wootton (10 hides), Charlton near Malmesbury (20 hides), Minety (5 hides), and Rodbourne, Wilts. (10 hides). ('First Decimation'.) Latin.

Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, to the church of St Peter, Malmesbury; grant of 10 hides (mansiones) at Dauntsey, Wilts. Latin.

A.D. 854 (Wilton, 22 April). Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, to the Church; general grant of land and privileges, with list of lands assigned to Malmesbury Abbey, namely at 35 hides at Purton, 15 at Lacock, 5 at Sutton Benger, 5 at Corston, 10 at Crudwell, Wilts.; 10 at Kemble, Gloucs.; and 1.5 at Dauntsey, Wilts. ('Second Decimation'). Latin with English.

Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, to St Peter and the familia of Malmesbury; grant of 5 hides (mansiones) at Tockenham, Wilts. Latin.

A.D. 880 ? for 855. Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, Kent, and of all the southern people of the English, to Malmesbury Abbey; grant of 5 hides (mansiunculae) at Minety, Wilts. Latin.

A.D. 871 x 899 (Malmesbury). Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, with the consent of the familia of the church of Malmesbury, to Dudig, his minister; lease, for four lives, of 4 hides (cassati) at Chelworth, near Crudwell, Wilts., with reversion to the church of Malmesbury. Latin.

Cenfrith, comes Merciorum, to Aldhelm, abbot; grant of 10 hides (cassati) at Wootton Bassett, Wilts. Latin.

A.D. 685 (iuxta vadum Berlingford, ? Burford, Oxon., 30 July). Berhtwald, king or subregulus, to Aldhelm, abbot, for the monks of Malmesbury; grant of 40 hides (cassati) at Somerford Keynes, Gloucs. Latin.

A.D. 688 (August). Baldred to Aldhelm, abbot; grant of 100 hides (manentes) near the river Avon, round the wood called Stercanlei (cf. Startley Farm in Great Somerford, Wilts.) and at Cnebbanburg, in exchange for 100 hides (cassati) east of the wood called Braydon, Wilts. Latin.

A.D. 675 (iuxta flumen Bladon, 26 Aug.). Leuthere, bishop of the Saxons, to Aldhelm, priest; grant of land at Malmesbury, Wilts., for a monastery. Latin.