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

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

A.D. 780 (Brentford, Middx, 22 Sept.). Offa, king of Mercia, to the bishopric of Worcester; grant of 7 hides (manentes) at Cropthorne, 1 at Netherton, 2 at Elmley Castle, 1 at Kersoe in Elmley Castle, 14 at Charlton, 15 at Hampton and 10 at Bengeworth, Worcs. Latin.

Offa, king of Mercia, to Ealdred (Aeldred), his minister; grant of 20 hides (mansae) at Harmondsworth, Middx, in return for 100 mancuses of gold in a bracelet. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 781 = 780 (Tamworth, Staffs., 26 Dec.). Offa, king of Mercia, to the church of St Peter, Worcester; grant of privileges for 12 hides (manentes) at Hampton Lucy, Warwicks., and 5 at Fæhha leage, leased by Bishop Heathored and the community of Worcester to Eanburh, abbess, Offa's kinswoman, for life. Latin.

A.D. 781 = 780 (Tamworth, Staffs., 26 Dec.). Offa, king of Mercia, to the church of St Mary, Worcester; grant of 8 hides (cassati) at Icomb, Gloucs., in exchange for land at Sapey, Worcs. Latin with bounds.

Offa. king of Mercia, to Esme (Esne), comes and præfectus; grant, to him and his male heirs, of 3 hides (tributarii) at Evenlode, with reversion to the church at Evesham. Latin.

A.D. 785 (Chelsea, Middx). Offa, king of Mercia, to Ealdbeorht, minister, and Selethryth, his sister; grant of 14 sulungs (aratra) at Ickham and Palmstead, Kent, with woodland in the Weald and other appurtenances. Latin.

Offa, king of Mercia, to St Peter's, Westminster; grant of 10 hides (cassati) at Aldenham, Herts., in return for 100 mancuses of gold in a bracelet. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 786 (Chelsea, Middx). Offa, king of Mercia, to Ealdbeorht, minister, and his sister, Selethryth, abbess; grant of 15 sulungs (aratra) at Ickham, Palmstead and Ruckinge, Kent, with swine-pastures, woodland and other appurtenances, including an urban tenement (vicus) at Curringtun in Canterbury. Latin with English.

A.D. 786 or 589 for ? 779 or 789 x 790. Offa, king of Mercia, to the monks of St Mary's church, Worcester; grant of one hide (mansa) at Broadwas, Worcs. Latin and English versions with English bounds.

A.D. 787 (Acleah). Offa, king of Mercia, to Ceolnoth, abbot, and his familia in the church of St Peter (Chertsey); confirmation of privileges. Latin.

A.D. 788 (Chelsea, Middx). Offa, king of Mercia, to Osberht, his minister, and Osberht's wife; grant of 1 sulung (aratrum) at Duningcland in the Eastry district, Kent. Latin.

Offa, king of Mercia, to St Andrew's church, and the bishopric of Rochester; grant of 6 sulungs (aratra) at Trottiscliffe, Kent, with swine-pastures in the Weald. Latin with bounds.

Offa, king of Mercia, to Wærmund, bishop, and the church at Rochester; grant of 1 sulung (aratrum) at Bromhey in Frindsbury, Kent. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 789 (Chelsea, Middx). Offa, king of Mercia, to Wærmund, bishop; grant of land at Rochester. Latin with bounds.

A.D. 790 for ? 795 (London). Offa, king of the English, to Æthelheard, archbishop of Canterbury; grant of 60 hides (tributaria) at Hayes and Yeading and 30 at Twickenham, Middx. Latin.

A.D. 790 (Tamworth, Staffs., 12 April). Offa, king of Mercia, to the abbey of Saint-Denis; grant of privileges for land at London, and confirmation of land at Rotherfield, Hastings and Pevensey, Sussex. Latin.

A.D. 792 (Clofesho). Offa, king of Mercia, to the churches of Kent; confirmation and grant of privileges. Latin.

Offa, king of Mercia, to the church of St Alban; grant of privileges and of 34 hides (mansiones) at Cassio, Herts., 6 at Heanhamstede (cf. Hamstead's House, St Stephens, Herts.) and 10 at Stanmore, Middx. Latin with English and English bounds.

Offa, king of Mercia, to St Albans Abbey; grant of privileges and of 34 hides at Cassio, Herts.; 12 at Winslow, Bucks.; 10 at Fenntune with the wood called Horowudu (Horwood, Bucks.), 5 at Ligtune (? Luton, Beds.), 3 at Scylfdune, 10 at Stanmore, Middx, and 6 at Heanhamstede (cf. Hamstead's House, St Stephens, Herts.). English.

A.D. 794 (Clofeshoas). Record of the restoration by Offa, king, to Heathored, bishop of Worcester, of 5 hides (manentes) at Aust (Cliff), Gloucs., seized by Bynna, the king's comes, the bishop having brought forward a charter of King Æthelbald to prove the bishopric's title. Latin.

A.D. 795 for 792 (Æt Beranforda [? Barford, Warwicks.], 4 May). Offa, king of Mercia, to St Albans church; grant of 30 hides (manentes), consisting of 12 at Winslow, Bucks.; 3 at Scelfdune sive Baldiningcotum; 10 at Scuccan hlaw vel Fenntun (cf. Warren Farm in Horwood, Bucks.) with the wood called Horowudu (Horwood, Bucks.); and 5 at Lygetune (? Luton, Beds., or Leyton, Essex). Latin.

A.D. 793 x 796 (Clobeshoas). King Offa to Æthelmund, his minister; grant of 55 hides (cassati) at Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucs. Latin.

A.D. 765 x 792. Offa, king of Mercia, to Æthelnoth, abbot of SS Peter and Paul (St Augustine's, Canterbury); grant of 2 hides (manentes) at Beauxfield, Kent, with grazing rights in the wood called Singledge. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 777 x 779. Offa, king of Mercia, with Ealdred, subregulus of the Hwicce, to the minster and church of St Michael at Bishops Cleeve, Gloucs.; grant of 15 hides (mansiones) at Timbingctun, under Wendlesclif and north of Tyrl brook. Latin with English bounds of Wendlesclif.

A.D. 757 x 774. Offa, king of Mercia to Milred, bishop; grant of land at Wick Episcopi, Worcs. Latin with bounds in Latin and English.

A.D. 761 x 764. Offa, king of Mercia, to Sigeburga, abbess; confirmation of the exemption from ship-toll which King Æthelbald granted to Abbess Mildred (S 87). Latin.

A.D. 757 x 796 (Freoricburna, Surrey). Offa, king of Mercia, to the church at Woking, Surrey; grant of 20 hides (manentes) at Woking. Latin.

Offa, king of the English, to St Mary's minster, Worcester; grant of 5 hides (manentes) at Doughton in Tetbury, Gloucs., and 5 at Eisey in Latton, Wilts. Latin with English bounds.

A.D. 793 x 796. King Offa to (the church at) Worcester; grant of reversion of 60 hides (manentes) at Westbury-on-Trym and 10 (or 20) at Henbury, Gloucs., after the death of himself and his son Ecgfrith. Latin.

A.D. 777 x 779. Offa, king of Mercia, with Ealdred, subregulus of the Hwicce, to St Mary's Minster, Worcester; grant of 10 hides (mansiones) at Yate, Gloucs. Latin.