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.

Cenwalh, king, to the see of Sherborne; grant of exemption from secular dues. Latin.

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. 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. 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.

c. A.D. 687 and 691 (Medeshamstede, i.e. Peterborough, Northants.). (a) Cædwalla, king of the (West) Saxons, to Ecgbald, abbot, and his familia; grant of 40 hides (manentes) at Hoo (ad Hebureahg insulam), Kent. (b) Swæfheard, king of Kent, to Ecgbald, abbot; grant of adjoining 20 hides at Hoo and woodland at Fercanhamstede. (c). Confirmation by Æthelred, king of Mercia. 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.

A.D. 688 (Besingahearh). Cædwalla, king of the (West) Saxons, to Cedde, Cisi and Criswa (? Crispa); grant, for the foundation of a minster, of 60 hides (cassati) at Farnham, Surrey, including 10 at Binton and 2 at Churt, Surrey, and land at Cusanweoh. 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. 687 (5 July). Ine, King of Wessex, to Hean, abbot; grant of 15 hides (cassati) at Bradfield, 15 at Bestlesforda (near Basildon), 25 at Streatley and 80 at Æaromundeslee, all in Berks. Latin.

A.D. 693 = ? 692 (30 Dec.). Ine, king of the Saxons, to Froda, abbot; grant of 40 hides (cassati) by the river Isle, and a wood called Stretmerch, Somerset. Latin.

Ine, king of the (West) Saxons, to Hean, abbot; restoration of land at Abingdon, Berks., for the construction of a minster, with an account of the early history of Abingdon Abbey, including mention of grants of land by the river Thames, at Bestlesford (near Basildon) and at Bradfield, Berks. Latin.

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 (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.

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. 704 (Everley, Wilts., 26 May). Ine, king, to the churches and monasteries (of Wessex); grant of exemption from secular burdens. Latin.

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 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 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. 688 x 690. Ine, king of Wessex, to Hean, patricius, and to Ceolswith; grant of 45 hides (cassati) at Bradfield, Bestlesford (near Basildon) and Streatley, all in Berks., for the construction of a monastery. Latin.

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.

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.