19
S 110

Offa, king of the English, grants five sulungs (aratra) at Hehham (Higham Upshire), Kent, to Archbishop Jænberht. A.D. 774

Archive: Canterbury, Christ Church

+ In nomine Iesu Christi saluatoris mundi qui est et qui erat et qui uenturus est . per quem reges regunt et diuidunt regna terrarum . Sicut dispensator uniuers= terr= mihi distribuit secundum mensuram su= propri= uoluntatis ita eiusdem gratia concedente . ego Offa rex Anglorum dabo et concedo Iaenberhto archiepiscopo aliquam partem terr= in loco qui dicitur Hehham et huius terræ estimatio .v. aratrorum esse uidetur his notissimis confiniis circumcinta . a circio mæd ham . hinc per confinia Acleage . et sic iuxta wæterlea . dehinc ad Colling . sic per uiam quæ ducit ad eohinga burh in terram sancti Andre= . et sic per confinia Mersc tunes . hinc tenditur ad Bulan ham . et sic in merc fleot . et hoc predictum donum ad cumulum maioris firmitatis signo sanct= crucis Christi anno dominicæ incarnationis .dcc.lxxiiii. perstrinximus . cum sacerdotibus et senioribus populi more testium subscribendo.
+ Signum manus Offæ regis supra scripta confirmantis.
+ Signum manus Iaenberhti archiepiscopi. + Signum manus Byrhthuni episcopi.
+ Signum manus Cynethrythe reginæ + Signum manus Ceolulfi episcopi.
+ Signum manus Eadberhti episcopi. + Signum manus Botuuini abbatis.
+ Signum manus Aldberhti abbatis. + Signum manus Ætheluuoldi abbatis.
+ Signum manus Brordan principis + Signum manus Eadberhti abbatis.
+ Signum manus Berhtuuoldi principis. + Signum manus Esni. + Signum manus Eadberhti .
+ Signum manus Eadbaldi ducis + Signum manus . Boban + Signum manus Badohardi .
+ Signum manus Brordani prefecti . + Signum manus Uuigheardi + Signum manus Ciani .
+ Signum manus Folcberhti abbatis . + Signum manus Hearedi + Signum manus Suithuni.

Edition: Charters of Christ Church, Canterbury, ed. N. P. Brooks and S. E. Kelly, Anglo-Saxon Charters (The British Academy, forthcoming), no. 19. For apparatus criticus and a detailed commentary see this edition.

+ In the name of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world, Who is and Who was and Who will come [again], through Whom kings reign and divide up the kingdoms of the world. Just as the Steward of all the world has distributed to me according to the measure of His own Will through the granting of His Grace, I, Offa, king of the English, will give and grant to Archbishop Jænberht some portion of land in the place that is called Higham Upshire and the assessment of this land is seen to be of 5 sulungs surrounded by these very well-known boundaries. From the north-west of meadow farm. Hence along the boundary [of] oak wood or glade. And thus by water wood [or 'water spinney']. Hence to colling [Cooling Hill]. Thus along the way which leads to the burh of the people of Eoha, to [?'in'] the land of St Andrew [i.e., St Andrew's Rochester]. And thus via the bounds of marsh farm. From here it leads to Bula's farm. And thus to boundary creek. And this aforementioned gift we have restricted with the addition of greater validity by the mark of the holy cross of Christ in the year of the Lord's incarnation 774, together with priests and elders of the people, through the subscribing of witnesses according to custom.
+ Mark of the hand of Offa, king, confirming the things written above.
+ Mark of the hand of Jænberht, archbishop [of Canterbury]. + Mark of the hand of Beorhthun, bishop [of Lichfield].
+ Mark of the hand of Cynethryth, queen. + Mark of the hand of Ceolwulf, bishop [of Lindsey].
+ Mark of the hand of Eadberht, bishop [of Leicester]. + Mark of the hand of Botwine, abbot [of Medeshamstede].
+ Mark of the hand of Ealdberht, abbot. + Mark of the hand of Æthelwald, abbot.
+ Mark of the hand of Brorda, princeps. + Mark of the hand of Eadberht, abbot.
+ Mark of the hand of Beorhtwald, princeps. + Mark of the hand of Esne. + Mark of the hand of Eadberht.
+ Mark of the hand of Eadbald, dux. + Mark of the hand of Bobba. + Mark of the hand of Badoheard.
+ Mark of the hand of Brorda, prefectus. + Mark of the hand of Wigheard. + Mark of the hand of Cyne.
+ Mark of the hand of Folcberht, abbot. + Mark of the hand of Heardred. + Mark of the hand of Swithhun.

Translation: David A. E. Pelteret, with the translation of the bounds adapted from Charters of Christ Church, Canterbury, ed. N. P. Brooks and S. E. Kelly, Anglo-Saxon Charters (The British Academy, forthcoming), no. 19.