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

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

Ceolwulf (II), king of Mercia, to St Mary's minster, Worcester; grant of 6 hides (cassati) at Overbury, Worcs., with villulae at Conderton and Pendock, Worcs. Latin with English bounds of Overbury.

A.D. 880 for 887. Æthelred, dux et patricius of Mercia, to the bishopric of Worcester; grant of 6 hides (mansiones) at Brightwell Baldwin and 8 at Watlington, Oxon., to pertain to the church at Readanoran (i.e. Pyrton, Oxon). Latin with English bounds and a list, in English, of six serfs formerly belonging to the royal vill at Bensington, Oxon.

(a) Æthelred, ealdorman of Mercia, with the consent of King Alfred and the whole Mercian witan, to Berkeley Abbey; grant of privileges in exchange for 12 hides at Stoke Bishop, Gloucs., and 30 gold mancuses. (b) Æthelred, ealdorman, to Cynulf, son of Ceoluht; lease, for three lives, of the land at Stoke Bishop, with reversion to the bishopric of Worcester. Latin and English with English bounds.

A.D. 884 (Hrisbyri, ? Princes Risborough, Bucks.). Æthelred, lord of the Mercians, to Æthelwulf; grant of 5 hides (manentes) at Himbleton, Worcs., with appurtenant salt-workings etc. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 883 x 911. Æthelred, dux Merciorum, to Cuthulf, minister; renewal of the grant by King Burgred of 10 hides (manentes) at Marlcliff in Cleeve Prior, Worcs., the ancient landbook having been carried off by 'pagans' (Vikings); with a note that the beneficiary later granted the land to the church of Worcester. Latin with English bounds.

Latin with English bounds.

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. 673 for ? 683 (3 Aug.). Cædwalla, king, to Wilfrid, bishop, in order to found a monastery at Selsey; grant of 55 hides (tributarii) at Selsey, Medmerry, Wittering, Itchenor, Birdham, Egesawde, Bessenheie, Brinfast and Sidlesham, with 6 hides (cassati) at Aldingbourne and Lidsey, 6 at Geinstidegate (? Westergate), 8 at (North) Mundham, 8 at [Amberley and] Houghton and 4 at Coldwaltham, all in Sussex. Latin with bounds.

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.

Ine, king, to the church of SS Peter and Paul, Winchester; restitution of 40 hides (mansae) at Alresford, Hants., previously granted by King Cenwalh. Latin with English bounds.

Ine, king of the Saxons, to Beganus (? Beaga); grant of one hide (mansa) Athom (possibly Ham, near Muchelney, Somerset) and a fishery on the river Parret. Latin with bounds in English and 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.

Ine, king of Wessex, to Froda, abbot, and the community at Muchelney; grant of 20 hides (manentes) at Ilminster, Somerset. Latin with English bounds.

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.

Æthelheard, king, to the church of SS Peter and Paul, Winchester; grant of 4 hides (mansae) at Withiel Florey, Somerset, and 3 at Cearn (probably Charmouth, Dorset), in augmentation of Queen Frithugyth's gift of land at Taunton. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 739 (10 April). Æthelheard, king, to Forthhere, bishop; grant of 20 hides (cassati) at Crediton, Devon. Latin with English bounds.

Cuthred, king, to the church of SS Peter and Paul, Winchester; grant of 10 hides (familiae) at Clere (Highclere, Hants.). Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 766 for ? 774. Cynewulf, king of Wessex, to St Andrew's minster, Wells; grant of 2 (or 11) hides (manentes) on the river Wellow, Somerset. Latin with bounds.

Cynewulf, king of the Saxons, to Bica, comes and minister; grant of 13 hides (manentes) at Little Bedwyn, Wilts. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 808 for 757 x 758. Cynewulf, king of the Saxons, to the brethren of St Peter's Minster, Bath; grant of 5 hides (mansiones) at North Stoke, Somerset. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. '761' altered to '781'. Æthelberht, king of Wessex and Kent, to Deora, bishop of Rochester; grant of land at Rochester. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 794 (Wyndingesley). Beorhtric, king of Wessex, to Wigferth, præfectus; grant of 10 hides (cassati) on the river Parret, Somerset. Latin with bounds.

Beorhtric, king, to Lulla, his princeps; grant of 10 hides (mansiones) at Crux Easton, Hants. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 773 for 833. Egbert, king of Kent, to Dunn, abbot, and the church of St Mary's (Lyminge); grant of 150 iugera at Sandtun (Sampton, lost, in West Hythe, Kent). Latin.

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

A.D. 825 (Criodantreow, 19 Aug.; Southampton, 26 Dec.). Egbert, king, to Old Minster, Winchester; grant of 15 hides (manentes) at Alton Priors, Wilts., formerly held by Burgheard, præfectus. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 825 (Creodantreow, 19 Aug.; Southampton, 26 Dec.). Egbert, king, to the minster of SS Peter and Paul (Winchester); grant of 5 hides (cassati) at (Martyr) Worthy, Hants. Latin with English bounds.

Egbert, king, to the bishopric of Winchester; grant of 30 hides (mansae) at Calbourne, Isle of Wight. Latin with English bounds.