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

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

A.D. 597 x 604. Augustine, bishop of Canterbury, to the minster of SS Peter and Paul (St Augustine's), Canterbury; grant of privileges. 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.

A.D. 677 for 687 or 688. Eorcenwold, bishop of the East Saxons, to the nunnery of Barking; grant of privileges and grant and confirmation of lands, comprising 40 hides (cassatae) at Barking and Beddanhaam (probably Barking) [given to Eorcenwald by King Suidfrid], 75 hides (manentes) at Ricingahaam, Bydinhaam, Dagenham, Angenlabeshaam and Widmundes felth (Wyfields in Great Ilford) [granted by Oedilred, cf. S 1171], and 10 hides at Childerditch [also granted by Oedilred], all in Essex; and 53 hides at Isleworth, Middx. [granted by King Æthelred (of Mercia)]; 70 hides at Battersea beside Hydaburna (the river Wandle), Surrey [granted by King Ceadwalla (of Wessex), cf. S 1248]; 1 hide iuxta London [granted by King Wulfhere (of Mercia)]; 10 hides supra vicum Londoniae [granted by Quoengyth, wife of .......aldi]; and 40 hides (cassatae) at Swanscombe and Erith, Kent [granted by King Æthelred (of Mercia)]. Latin.

A.D. 678 (London, July). Eorcenwold, bishop, to the monks of Chertsey; grant and confirmation of privileges and land. Latin.

A.D. 693 (13 June). (? Eorcenwald), bishop, to (? St Mary's, Barking); grant of 28 hides (manentes) at Battersea, 20 at Watsingaham (i.e. Washingham, lost, in Battersea) and 20 (cassatae) by Hidaburna (the river Wandle), all in Surrey. The land had been granted to him by Cædwalla, king of Wessex, and confirmed by Æthelred, king of Mercia. 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.

Statement by Ecgwine, bishop of the Hwicce, of the lands he acquired for the minster at Evesham, including the minster at Fladbury, Worcs. [obtained from King Æthelred (of Mercia) in exchange for the minster at Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwicks.]; 20 hides (mansae) at Twyford, Worcs. [granted by Osward, Æthelred's brother]; 84 hides on both banks of the river Avon [granted by Cenred, king of Mercia]; 8 hides [granted by Æthelric, adolescens]; and land at the following places: Evesham, Bengeworth, Hampton, Lenchwick, Mortun (probably for Norton), Offenham, Littleton, 'the other Littleton', Badsey, Wickhamford, Church Honeybourne, Bretforton, all in Worcs.; Willersey, Gloucs.; Weethley, Sambourne, Kinwarton, Salford Priors and Abbots Salford, Warwicks.; Ombersley, Oldberrow, Abbots Morton, Worcs.; Bourton-on-the-Water, Maugersbury, Adlestrop, (Lower) Swell, Gloucs.; Mappleborough, Warwicks.; and Childswickham, Worcs. Latin.

Statement by Ecgwine, bishop of the Hwicce, on the foundation and endowment of the minster at Evesham. The endowment included land at Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwicks., and Chadbury, Worcs., and the minster at Fladbury, Worcs. [granted by King Æthelred (of Mercia); the land at Stratford was later ceded to Æthelheard, subregulus of the Hwicce, in exchange for the restoration of Fladbury]; 84 hides (mansae) around Evesham, on both sides of the river Avon [granted by Cenred, king of Mercia, and Offa, king of the East Angles (recte Essex)]; 20 hides at Twyford, Worcs. [granted by Osward]; 8 hides [granted by Æthelric, son of King Oshere]; and 8 hides [granted by Balterius, sacerdos] Latin.

A.D. 699 x 717. Ecgwine, bishop, to Æthelheard; grant for life of Fladbury minster and its endowment of 44 hides (manentes), with reversion to the church of Worcester, in exchange for 20 hides at Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwicks. 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. 718 x 745. Wilfred, bishop of the Hwicce, to Leppa, comes, and his daughter, Beage; lease, for two lives, of 5 hides (cassati) by the river Colne (at Bibury, Gloucs.), with reversion to the see of Worcester. Latin with English bounds.

Milred, bishop of Worcester, to Æthelburh, abbess; lease, for life, of 21 hides (manentia) at Withington, Gloucs., with reversion to the church of St Peter, Worcester. The land had previously been granted by Oshere, subregulus of the Hwicce, to Dunne, famula Dei, and by Dunne to her grand-daughter Hrothwaru (cf. S 1429). Latin.

Cyneheard, bishop (of Winchester), and Cynewulf, king, to Ecgwold, abbot, and his familia at Tisbury Minster, Wilts.; confirmation of 30 hides by Fontmell Brook, Dorset, acquired by a predecessor of Ecgwold from another monastery. Latin.

A.D. 781 (Brentford, Middx). Hathored, bishop of the Hwicce, with the consent of his familia at Worcester, to Offa, king of Mercia; surrender of 90 hides (manentes) with the minster at Bath and also 30 hides (cassati) by the river Avon, in exchange for the confirmation of 30 hides at Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwicks., 38 at Sture (? Kidderminster Worcs., or Alderminster, Warwicks.), 14 (manentes) at Stour in Ismere and 12 at Bredon, Worcs., and 17 (cassati) at Hampton Lucy, Warwicks. Latin.

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. 803 (Clofesho, 6 Oct.). Deneberht, bishop, and his familia at Worcester, to Wulfheard; confirmation of his life interest in land at Inkberrow and Bradley, Worcs. Latin.

Deneberht, bishop, and his familia at Worcester, to Eanswith; lease, for life, of 2 hides (cassati) at Harvington, Worcs., with reversion to the church of Worcester. Latin.

A.D. 798 x 822. Deneberht, with the consent of the familia at Worcester, to Balthun, priest; lease, for two lives, of 6 hides (manentes) at Barnsley, Gloucs., and for three lives, of 8 hides at Colesborne, Gloucs., with reversion in each case to the church of Worcester. Latin.

A.D. (801 x 803) x (805 x 814). Ealhmund, bishop of Winchester, to Brihthelm; grant of 60 hides (cassati) at Farnham, Surrey, in exchange for 33 hides (manentes) at Wootton Rivers, Mildenhall, Froxfield and Bedwyn, Wilts., and 2 nights entertainment at Farnham every year for the bishop and his heirs, and an annual render of 10 jars of honey. If Brihthelm or any of his heirs wishes to sell the land, the church at Winchester is to be given the first option to purchase it, paying only for [40] hides. 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.

A.D. 824 (Canterbury, 23 July). Wulfred, archbishop, to Christ Church, Canterbury; grant of 5 sulungs (aratra) at Eythorne and Langdon in Eythorne, in exchange for 5 sulungs at Barham and Suithberhtincglond, Kent. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 826 (27 March, Canterbury). Wulfred, archbishop, and the familia of Minster-in-Thanet to Abbot Wernoth and the familia of St Augustine's, Canterbury; grant of 6 iugera at Doddingland (? Dandelion, lost, near Margate) in Thanet, in exchange for 6 iugera at Ealdanford, near the mouth of the river Stour, Kent. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 825 x 832. Wulfred, archbishop of Canterbury, to Christ Church, Canterbury; grant of 4 sulungs (aratra) at Sceldesforda near Wingham, Kent, plus the reversion of land given to Wulfred by Cyneheard the deacon and of a curtis within the monastery held by Dodda, monk. The curtis is to be used as an infirmary. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 833 x 870. Ceolnoth, archbishop of Canterbury, to his familia at Canterbury; grant of 2 sulungs (aratra) at Langdon, Kent. Latin.

A.D. 840 x 852. Cuthwulf, bishop, and the congregation of the church of Hereford, to Ælfstan, dux; lease, for three lives, of 4 hides (manentes) by the river Frome, Herefords., with reversion to Bromyard minster, Herefords. Latin.

A.D. 844 (? for 843). (1) Ceolred, bishop (of Leicester), to Berhtwulf, king of Mercia; grant of 14 hides (manentes) at Pangbourne, Berks., in return for the freedom of certain minsters. (2) King Berhtwulf grants the land to Æthelwulf, dux. Latin.

A.D. 849 (Glen, Leics.). Alhhun, bishop, with his familia at Worcester, to King Berhtwulf; lease, for five lives, of 5 hides (manentes) at Wearset felda, 5 (cassati) at Cofton Hackett, 5 (manentes) at Rednal in King's Norton, 2 at Wast Hill and Hopwood in Alvechurch, Worcs., and 3 at Witlafesfeld, with reversion to the church of Worcester. Latin with English bounds of Cofton Hackett.

A.D. 855 (Worcester). Alhwine (Alhhun), bishop of Worcester, to Æthelwulf, dux, and Wulfthryth, his wife; lease, for their lives, of 11 hides (cassati) at Cutsdean, Gloucs., and at Sture (? Alderminster, Worcs.), with reversion to the church of Worcester. Latin.