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

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

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. 836 (Croft, Leics.). Wiglaf, king of Mercia, to the minster at Hanbury, Worcs.; grant of privileges in return for the surrender to the king of 20 hides at Iddeshale (? Idsall, Salop.), land at Hæccaham (? Hanbury, Worcs.), 10 hides at Felda by Weoduman (? in Beanhall in Feckenham, Worcs.), and in return for the grant of 10 hides at Crowle, Worcs., to Mucel (ealdorman), son of Esne, and a gift of 600 shillings in gold to Ealdorman Sigered. Latin with English.

A.D. 840 for c. 844 x 852. Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to the church of St Mary, Evesham; grant of 10 hides (mansae) at Quinton, Warwicks.; 2 at Pebworth, Worcs.; and 5 at Mappleborough in Studley, Warwicks. Latin.

A.D. 840 (Tamworth, Staffs., Easter; Wellesbourne, Warwicks.). Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Heahberht, bishop of Worcester; restitution of land at Stoulton, Worcs.; Little Washbourne, Gloucs.; Kemerton, Worcs.; Tateringctun (? Taddington, Gloucs.); and at Codeswelle in Cutsdean, Gloucs., in return for gifts of treasure and horses to the king and queen. Latin.

A.D. 841 = 840 (Tamworth, Staffs., 25 Dec.). Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Eanmund, abbot of Bredon (? Breedon-on-the-Hill, Leics., or Bredon, Worcs.), and his community: grant of privileges, in return for 120 mancuses of pure gold and liturgical obligations. Latin.

A.D. 841 (Tamworth, Staffs.). Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Heahberht, bishop; grant of privileges for 6 hides (cassati) at Daylesford, Gloucs., in return for 3 pounds of silver. Latin.

A.D. 841 = 840 (Tamworth, Staffs., 25 Dec.). Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Heahberht, bishop, for the monks of St Mary's, Worcester; grant of one hide (mansa) at Mitton in Bredon, Worcs. Latin.

A.D. 841 = 840 (Cropthorne, Worcs., with confirmation at Tamworth, Staffs., 25 Dec.). Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Heahberht, bishop; grant of 10 hides (manentes) at Wychwood, Oxon., in return for 31 mancuses. Latin.

A.D. 844 for 848 (Repton, Derbys.). Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Abbot Eanmund and his familia in the minster at Breedon-on-the-Hill, Leics.; grant of privileges, in return for a gift of 180 mancuses in gold and 15 hides (manentes) at Stanlege (? Stanley, Derbys.) and at Bellanford (? Belford, Northants.) to the king and also the donation of a precious vessel to Humberht, princeps. Latin.

A.D. 845 = 844 (Tamworth, Staffs., Christmas). Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Heahberht, abbot, and his familia in Worcester; grant of exemption for the minster of Ufera Stretford (Stratford upon Avon, Warwicks.), assessed at 20 hides (manentes), in return for 10 pounds of silver. Latin.

A.D. 849 (Tamworth, Staffs.). Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Egbert, his minister; lease, for 5 lives, of 5 hides at Cofton Hackett, Worcs., granted to the king in S 1272. Latin.

Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to St Mary's church, Worcester; grant of 3 hides (cassati) at Grimley, Worcs. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 852 for 842 (Escantun). Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Ælfheah, princeps; grant of 12 hides (cassati) at Calmesden (or by the River Churn and at Calmesden), Gloucs. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 840 x 852. Berhtwulf, king of the Mercians, to St Mary's, Evesham; grant of 10 hides (manentes) at Willersey, Gloucs. Latin with English 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.

A.D. 840 x 848. Berhtwulf, king of Mercia, to Heahberht, bishop, and his familia at Worcester; grant of 5 hides (manentes) at Crowle, Worcs. Latin.

A.D. 855 (Oswaldesdun). Burgred, king of Mercia, to Alhhun, bishop, and his familia at Worcester; grant of privileges for 10 hides (manentes) at Ablington by the River Coln, Gloucs.; for 8 hides (cassati) at Poulton, Wilts.; for 6 hides (cassati) at Barnsley, Gloucs.; for 5 hides (manentes) at Eisey, Wilts.; and for 3 hides (manentes) at Bentley, Worcs.; in return for two bradiolae weighing 45 (or 48) mancuses. Latin.

A.D. 855 (Tamworth, Staffs.). Burgred, king of Mercia, to Alhhun (or Alhwine), bishop of Worcester; grant of privileges for the minster at Blockley, Gloucs., in return for 300 silver shillings. Latin.

A.D. 857 (Tamworth, Staffs., Easter). Burgred, king of Mercia, to Alhhun, bishop (of Worcester); grant of land at Ceolmundingchaga in London. Latin.

A.D. 862 (Wellesbourne, Warwicks.). Burgred, king of Mercia, to the church of St Peter, Gloucester; confirmation of privileges. Latin.

A.D. 864 (Bath, Somerset, 25 July). Burgred, king of Mercia, and Æthelswith, his queen, to Alhhun, bishop; grant of 5 hides (cassati) at (Water) Eaton, Oxon., in return for precious objects worth 400 shillings and 100 sicli, with provision for an annual render of 30 shillings to be paid to the church at Eynsham, Oxon. Latin.

Burgred, king of Mercia, to Wulferd; grant of 2 hides (manentes) at Seckley in Upper Arley, belonging to Wolverley, Worcs., in return for 5 hides on a single-lifetime lease, 400 silver sicli and various other items. Latin with English bounds.

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.

Ceolwulf (II), king of Mercia, to Wærferth, bishop of Worcester; grant to the diocese of exemption from the burden of feeding the king's horses and their servants, in return for liturgical services. The bishop grants to the king a four-life lease of 6 hides (manentes) at Daylesford, Gloucs., with reversion to Worcester, in return for 60 mancuses of gold. Latin.

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. 888 (Droitwich, Worcs.). Æthelred, procurator of Mercia, to Wulfgar, minister; grant of 15 hides (manentes) at Walden, Herts. Latin,

A.D. 901 (Shrewsbury). Æthelred and Æthelflæd, rulers of Mercia, to the community of the church of Much Wenlock; grant of 10 hides (cassatae) at Stanton Long and 3 hides (manentes) at Caughley in Barrow, Salop., in exchange for 3 hides (manentes) at Easthope and 5 at Patton, Salop. They also grant a gold chalice weighing 30 mancuses in honour of Abbess Mildburg. Latin.