A.D. 670. Cenwalh, king of Wessex, to Beorhtwald, abbot; grant of 1 hide (cassatus) and two small islands, with a fishery, at Meare, Somerset. Latin.
Archive: Glastonbury
MSS: 1. Marquess of Bath, Longleat, 39, 135r (s. xiv)
2. Bodleian, Wood empt. 1, 150r (s. xiv)
3. Liber Terrarum, no. 3 (lost, cf. Abrams 1996, p. 31)
Printed: Mon. Angl., ii. 838; K 7 ex MS 2; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 47-8 (no. 86); B 25 ex K; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 1, no. 7; Watkin, Glastonbury Cart., ii. 365-6 (no. 644) ex MS 1.
Comments: HS, p. 164 n., spurious; Robinson 1921, pp. 49-53, authentic basis, but has undergone more than one modification; Turner 1950; Finberg, ECW, no. 353, authentic basis; Scott 1981, pp. 90, 187 n. 80; Carley, Glast. Chron., p. 88, identifies islands as Westhay and Godney; Edwards 1988, pp. 20-3, spurious, perhaps 10th-century fabrication partly based on S 257 and 1249; Costen 1992, p. 38, on estate; Abrams 1996, pp. 28, 31, 38, on MS sources, pp. 46-7, 124-5, probably a forgery but contains genuine 7th-century elements, p. 131, on Godney, pp. 169-71, on Meare.
A.D. 671. Cenwalh, king, to the see of Sherborne; grant of exemption from secular dues. Latin.
Archive: Sherborne
MS: BL Add. 46487, 17rv (s. xii med.)
Printed: Hearne, Collections, iii. 450 (incomplete); Thorpe, pp. 6-7 (incomplete); B 26 ex Thorpe; O'Donovan, Sherborne, no. 1.
Comments: Stevenson 1914, p. 692 n. 16, doubtful or spurious; Finberg, ECW, no. 550, spurious; Finberg 1964, p. 98, unacceptable; Edwards 1988, pp. 240-1, total fabrication; O'Donovan, Sherborne, pp. xxi, xxvii, xxix, 2-3, manifest forgery; Kelly 1990/1, pp. 88-9, may be forged on the basis of a Sherborne copy of S 245.
Cenwalh, king of Wessex, to the church of SS Peter and Paul, Winchester (Old Minster); grant of 100 hides (mansae) at Downton, Wilts. Latin with English bounds.
Archive: Winchester, Old Minster
MS: BL Add. 15350, 13v-14r (s. xii med.)
Printed: K 985; B 27; Hill 1910, pp. 51-2, with partial translation.
Comments: Stevenson 1898, p. 42, spurious, same invocation as S 729; Hill 1910, bounds include Downton, Nunton and Standlynch with detached portion at Bishopstone; Grundy, Wilts. 1919, pp. 145-8, second part of boundary clause describes Bishopstone and Stratford Tory; Darlington 1955, p. 84, spurious; Finberg, ECW, no. 195, spurious, witnesses from a Mercian charter of 793 x 796; Hart 1970/1, p. 25 (no. 25), spurious; Edwards 1988, pp. 131-2, spurious, fabricated in 10th century, most of wording duplicatedin S 275, a purported confirmation of S 229.
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.
Archive: Canterbury, Christ Church
MSS: 1. BL Cotton Aug. ii. 86 (s. x; BM Facs., iv. 2)
2. London, Lambeth Palace, 1212, pp. 384-5 (s. xiii)
3. Bodleian, Tanner 223, 8r-9r (s. xvi)
Short version
4. Cambridge, Corpus Christ College, 189, 195r (s. xii)
5. Canterbury, D. & C., Reg. P, 11v (s. xii)
6. London, Lambeth Palace, 1212, pp. 304-5 (s. xiii)
7. Bodleian, James 24, pp. 96-7 (s. xvii; incomplete)
8. Bodleian, Tanner 223, 8r (s. xvi)
Printed: Twysden, X Scriptores, cols 2207-8 ex MS 4; K 18 ex MSS 1, 6; B 50 ex K and MS 1; Earle, pp. 281-3; Ehwald, Aldhelmi Opera, pp. 510-12 ex K; Barker 1947, pp. 50-4, with translation; Morris 1995, pp. 120-2 ex B; Fleming 1997, p. 110 (no. 4) ex MS 5; Kelly, Selsey, pp. 99-101 ex MS 1.
Comments: Bond 1878, p. 7, MS 1 is 10th-century; Stevenson 1914, pp. 691-6, spurious, MS 1 written c. 975, scribe also wrote S 110 MS 1; Robinson 1921, p. 52; PN Sussex, i. 93; Barker 1947, p. 58, genuinely early; Forsberg 1950, p. 173 n., on boundary mark; John 1960, pp. 8, 64, citing Roper, genuine with interpolations; Stengel 1960, p. 70, spurious; Chaplais 1965, p. 50 n., typical forgery (= 1973, p. 31 n. 24); John 1966, p. 105, interpolated but probably basically genuine; Keynes 1980, p. 64 n. 116, 10th-century forgery; Dempsey 1982, argues for acceptability; Brooks 1984, pp. 240-3, 317, 10th-century forgery, p. 377 n. 153, on script; Edwards 1988, p. 266, citing Brooks, 10th-century fabrication; Kelly, Selsey, pp. 101-3, spurious; cf. S 232.
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.
Archive: Malmesbury
MSS: 1. BL Lansdowne 417, 9v (s. xiv/xv)
2. PRO E 164/24, 123r (s. xiii)
3. Bodleian, Wood empt. 5, 15rv (s. xiii)
Printed: Mon. Angl., i. 51, ex MS 3 (??); K 24 ex MS 1; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 258 (no. 8); Giles, Opera Aldhelmi, col. 312; Brewer, Reg. Malm., p. 283 ex MS 2; B 63 ex Brewer, K and MS 1; Morris 1995, p. 124 ex B.
Comments: Stenton 1913, p. 17, spurious; Stenton 1918, p. 438, of ill repute (= Stenton 1970, p. 52); Darlington 1955, pp. 4, 89-90, dubious with genuine elements; Watkin 1956, p. 211 and n. 21, dubious; Finberg, ECWM, no. 4, spurious, indiction points to 688; Wormald 1985, p. 25, broadly trustworthy; Edwards 1988, pp. 97-100, may be authentic, incarnation date added; cf. S 234.
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.
Archive: Selsey
MSS: 1. Chichester, W.S.R.O., Ep VI/1/1 (Liber A), 23v-24r (s. xiv)
2. Chichester, W.S.R.O., Ep. VI/1/2 (Liber B), 16r (s. xiv)
3. Chichester, W.S.R.O., Ep. VI/1/4 (Liber E), 175v (s. xiv)
4. Chichester, W.S.R.O., Ep. VI/1/6 (Liber Y), 73r (s. xiii)
5. Chichester, W.S.R.O., Ep. VI/1/6 (Liber Y), 233r (s. xv)
Printed: Mon. Angl., iii. 115 ex ? MS 2; K 992 ex MSS 1, 2; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), vi. 1162-3 (no. 1); B 64 ex MSS 1, 2; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 3, no. 8; Barker 1947, pp. 59-61, ex MS 3, with translation; Kelly, Selsey, no. 1 ex MSS 1, 2, 3, 4.
Comments: Plummer 1899, p. 11, spurious; Stevenson 1914, p. 694 nn. 24, 25; Robinson 1921, p. 52, impossible witness-list; Peckham 1927; Peckham 1928; Barker 1947, pp. 61-5; John 1960, pp. 8, 13, 37; John 1966, p. 105, probably substantially authentic; Chaplais 1968, p. 316, spurious (= 1973, p. 64); Finberg 1972, p. 436 n. 5, of questionable authority, but no reason to doubt topographical details; Brooks 1984, pp. 240-3, spurious, probably forged in 10th century; Kelly, Selsey, pp. lxii-xv, 5-13, spurious, no authentic information about early endowment, reference to Amberley is a late interpolation; cf. S 230, 1291.
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.
Archive: Peterborough
MSS: 1. London, Soc. Ant., 60, 36r-37v (s. xii)
2. Peterborough, D. & C., 1, 111v-112v (s. xiii)
3. Peterborough, D. &. C., 1, 129v-130r (s. xiii)
4. Peterborough, D. & C., 5, 22v-23v (s. xiii)
Printed: K 40 ex MS 1; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 384-5 (no. 17) ex MS 1; B 89 ex K and MS 1.
Comments: Stubbs 1861/1, p. 204, spurious; Stenton 1933, pp. 323-4, possibly a post-Conquest fabrication using a number of short, early and authentic charters (= Stenton 1970, pp. 189-91); Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 19-21, 93, on place-names, Hebureahg is Avery Farm, All Hallows and Fercanhamstede is Hamptons, near Tonbridge; Cox 1976, pp. 22, 23, 33, 35, on place-names; Whitelock 1976, pp. 143-4, on witnesses; Whitelock, EHD, p. 18 n., composite charter; Scharer 1982, pp. 84-5, fabrication; Brooks 1984, pp. 183, 205; Wormald 1985, p. 26, unreliable later copy, possibly genuine elements; Yorke 1985, pp. 20, 29, 33, on East Saxon dimensions; Edwards 1988, pp. 300-5, fabrication ultimately based on authentic 7th-century material; Kelly, St Augustine's, p. lxxix n. 27.
Note. Subscriptions have been taken from a series of contemporary records. Text may represent a conflation of information from several early charters, but no 7th-century formulation survives and the transactions may have been misrepresented.
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.
Archive: Malmesbury
MSS: 1. BL Lansdowne 417, 10rv (s. xiv/xv)
2. PRO E 164/24, 123v (s. xiii)
3. Bodleian, Wood empt 5, 16v-17v (s. xiii)
4. Oxford, Magdalen College, 172, 83rv (s. xii)
Printed: Wharton, Anglia Sacra, ii. 11; K 29 ex MS 1 and Wharton; Hamilton, William of Malmesbury, G.P., pp. 352-3 ex MS 4; Brewer, Reg. Malm., pp. 284-5 ex MS 2; B 70 ex Brewer, Hamilton, K and MS 1.
Comments: Stenton 1918, p. 438, of ill repute (= Stenton 1970, p. 52); Grundy, Gloucs., pp. 146-7; Darlington 1955, pp. 4, 90, spurious but with genuine elements; Watkin 1956, p. 211 and n. 21, dubious; Finberg, ECW, no. 185, spurious; Finberg, ECWM, no. 4A, spurious; Edwards 1988, pp. 97-100, authenticity uncertain, may represent a conflation of S 231 with a charter of Centwine.
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.
Archive: Old Minster, Winchester
MS: BL Add. 15350, 57v-58r (s. xii)
Printed: K 994; B 72; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 3, no. 9.
Translated: Whitelock, EHD, no. 58 (pp. 484-5); Manning 1970, p. 17.
Comments: Stevenson 1914, p. 703, seems to be genuine; Stenton 1918, p. 438, no conclusive exception need be taken (= Stenton 1970, p. 53); PN Surrey, pp. 178, 181; Barker 1948, p. 116 and n. 5, spurious but based on genuine original; Chaplais 1969, pp. 541-2, on formulation (= 1973, p. 106); Hart 1970/1, p. 29 (no. 97), authentic; Manning 1970; Stenton 1970, pp. 288-9; Stenton 1971, pp. 70, 101-2, treats as authentic, p. 303, cited; Gelling 1973, p. 117; Harrison 1973/1, pp. 556-7, no trace of forgery but unexpected to see Wilfrid's subscription in a charter of 688; Whitelock 1975, p. 8, on Wilfrid's subscription; Cox 1976, pp. 17, 19, 21, 39, on place-names; Harrison 1976, pp. 70-1, seems to be authentic; Rumble 1976, p. 173, grant consisted of whole of later Farnham hundred; Sawyer 1976, p. 4, on estate; Whitelock 1976, p. 144, on some witnesses; Sawyer 1978, p. 43, on royal style, pp. 143-4, on estate; Gelling, ECTV, no. 312, authentic; Whitelock, EHD, p. 484, authentic, incarnation date may be addition; Scharer 1982, pp. 138-40, based on genuine charter, but corrupt and fabricated; Wormald 1985, pp. 9-10, probably drafted by Bishop Eorcenwald, p. 25, broadly trustworthy; Edwards 1988, pp. 132-7, 163, basically authentic; Faith 1997, pp. 40, 104.
A.D. 681. 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.
Archive: Glastonbury
MSS: 1. Marquess of Bath, Longleat, Muniment 10564 (s. x?; OS Facs., ii, Marquess of Bath, 1)
2. Marquess of Bath, Longleat, 39, 168rv (s. xiv)
3. Bodleian, Wood empt 1, 183rv (s. xiv)
4. Liber Terrarum, no. 7 (lost, cf. Abrams 1996, p. 31)
Printed: Mon. Angl., ii. 839, ex MS 3; K 20 and vol. vi. 225; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), i. 48-9 (no. 90); B 61 ex K and MS 1; Earle, p. 426, bounds only; Watkin, Glastonbury Cart., ii. 471 (no. 853) ex MS 2.
Comments: HS, p. 307, spurious; Robinson 1921, p. 30 n. 2, 10th century; Grundy, Somerset, pp. 75-7, bounds are those of West Pennard; Finberg 1969, pp. 73-4, MS 1 pseudo-original, not evidence for Patrick's cult at Glastonbury in 7th century; Stenton 1971, p. 67 and n. 2, somewhat questionable, hand of MS 1 may be 11th-century, but imitating and earlier exemplar; Finberg, ECW, no. 360, authentic basis; Scott 1981, pp. 90, 198 n. 83; Wormald 1985, p. 25, unreliable later copy, possibly genuine elements; Edwards 1988, pp. 11-15, may be reworking of genuine 7th-century charter but difficult to say how much text has been revised; Costen 1992, p. 40, on estate; Rands 1992, on bounds; Abrams 1996, p. 11, on transmission of MS 1, p. 19 n. 56, on endorsement, pp. 29, 31, 35, 38, on MS sources, p. 126, MS 1 possibly 10th-century, pp. 195-8, on estate.
A.D. 682. 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.
Archive: Glastonbury
MSS: 1. Marquess of Bath, Longleat, NMR 10586, pp. 128-9 (s. xvi)
2. Liber Terrarum, no. 8 (lost, cf. Abrams 1996, p. 31)
Printed: Dickinson 1882, pp. 90-1 ex MS 1; B 62 ex Dickinson 1882.
Comments: Davidson 1884, p. 7, no internal evidence of falsity; Stevenson 1904, p. lxxvii n. 1, spurious; Robinson 1921, p. 29 n. 5; Grundy, Somerset, pp. 51-4, bounds cover whole of West Monkton and western part of Creech St Michael; Grundy 1938, further notes on bounds; Finberg, ECW, no. 361, authentic basis; Finberg 1964, p. 99, cited; Finberg 1972, pp. 389-90, Crycbeorh is Creechbarrow; Scott 1981, pp. 90, 198 n. 82; Fleming 1985, pp. 252, 256, cited; Wormald 1985, p. 25, broadly trustworthy; Edwards 1988, pp. 15-17, revised and interpolated version of apparently genuine early instrument, date 672 in B 62 is an error; Abrams 1991, p. 121, cited; Costen 1992, p. 41, on estate; Dumville 1992, p. 41 n. 56, cited; Abrams 1996, pp. 13-14, 31, 39, on MS sources, pp. 80-3, charter may not originally have referred to West Monkton, bounds presumably a later addition, pp. 99-100, on Crycbeorh, p. 231, on possible connection with S 248.
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