A.D. 796 (Bath, Somerset). Ecgfrith, king of Mercia, to Æthelmund, his princeps; grant of 3 hides (cassati) at Huntena tun. Latin.
Archive: Worcester
MSS: 1. BL Cotton Nero E. i, pt 2, 181v (s. xi)
2. BL Cotton Tib. A. xiii, 52r (s. xi1)
Printed: Hearne, Heming, pp. 108-9; K 170 ex MS 1; K 171 ex MS 2; B 277 ex MS 1; B 278 ex MS 2; Earle, pp. 64-5; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 1, nos 90-1.
Comments: Finberg, ECWM, no. 51, authentic, suggests Huntena tun lay in Gloucs. near Huntingford in Tortworth, MS 1 a poor copy of MS 2, cf. p. 37 (S 63); Sims-Williams 1975, p. 9, on reference to Bath; Abels 1988, pp. 215-16 n. 70; Sims-Williams 1990, pp. 38-9, on beneficiary.
A.D. 796 Ecgfrith, king of Mercia, to Cuthbert, abbot, and the brethren of Malmesbury Abbey; restitution of 35 hides (manentes) at Purton, Wilts., previously seized by King Offa, in return for 2000 silver solidi. Latin.
Archive: Malmesbury
MSS: 1. BL Lansdowne 417, 12v-13r (s. xiv/xv)
2. PRO E 164/24, 125v-126r (s. xiii)
3. Bodleian, Wood empt. 5, 23v-25r (s. xiii)
4. Oxford, Magdalen College, 172, 91r (s. xii)
Printed: Wharton, Anglia Sacra, ii. 25-6; K 174 ex MS 1; Hamilton, William of Malmesbury, G.P., pp. 388-9 ex MS 4; Brewer, Reg. Malm., pp. 291-2 ex MS 2; B 279 ex Brewer, Hamilton and MS 1.
Comments: Stevenson 1904, p. 201, open to grave suspicion; Darlington 1955, p. 5, authentic basis possible; Watkin 1956, p. 212 and n. 55, cited; Whitelock 1966, p. 103, highly suspicious; Finberg, ECW, no. 196, authentic; Fleming 1985, p. 252; Edwards 1988, pp. 121-3, probably authentic; Dumville 1992, p. 41 n. 57, if a forgery then a most ingenious one.
A.D. 796 (Chelsea, Middx). Ecgfrith, king of Mercia, to St Albans Abbey; grant of 10 hides (manentes) at Turville, Bucks. Latin.
Archive: St Albans
MSS: 1. Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale, 7965-73 (3723), 157r (s. xvii)
2. Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale, 7965-73 (3723), 170v (s. xvii)
3. BL Cotton Nero D. i, 149v (s. xiii)
4. BL Cotton Nero D. i, 153v (s. xiii)
Printed: Watts, Additamenta, pp. 239-40; Alford 1663, ii. 679; K 173; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), ii. 224 (no. 8); Luard, Additamenta, pp. 10-11; B 281; Baines 1981, p. 5.
Comments: PN Bucks., p. 196; Page, VCH Herts., iv. 368 n. 13, on location; Gelling, ECTV, no. 145, spurious; Baines 1981, on estate; Sawyer 1983, p. 292, on meeting-place; Keynes 1993, pp. 264, 269, on MSS 1 and 2, pp. 272-3, fabrication in part modelled on genuine charter of late 8th century; Cubitt 1995, pp. 275-6, spurious; cf. S 151.
Note: The duplicate texts in the Brussels MS (not yet printed) begin with different chrismons and were perhaps copied from separate pseudo-originals.
A.D. 796 (Chelsea, Middx). Ecgfrith, king of Mercia, to Willegoda, abbot, and St Albans Abbey; grant of 5 hides (manentes) at Pinnelesfeld (Pinesfield Farm in Rickmansworth, Herts.). Latin with English bounds.
Archive: St Albans
MSS: 1. Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale, 7965-73 (3723), 156v (s. xvii)
2. Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale, 7965-73 (3723), 170r (s. xvii)
3. BL Cotton Nero D. i, 149v (s. xiii; without bounds)
4. BL Cotton Nero D. i, 153rv (s. xiii; without bounds)
Printed: Watts, Additamenta, p. 239; Alford 1663, ii. 678-9; K 172; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), ii. 224 (no. 7); Luard, Additamenta, pp. 8-10; B 280.
Comments: Stevenson 1914, p. 702, spurious; Brooke and Keir 1975, p. 367, doubtful authenticity; Gelling, ECTV, no. 164, spurious; Sawyer 1983, p. 292, on meeting-place; Yorke 1985, p. 24; Keynes 1993, pp. 264, 269, on MSS 1 and 2, pp. 272-3, fabrication in part modelled on genuine charter of late 8th century; Kitson 1993, p. 647, on bounds; Cubitt 1995, pp. 275-6, spurious; cf. S 150.
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