A.D. 699 x 709. Offa, king of Mercia (? recte of Essex), also termed subregulus, to the church of Worcester; grant of 33 hides (cassati) at Shottery, 3 at Nuthurst, Warwicks.; and 3 at Hellerelege (lost, in Kings Norton), Worcs. Latin with English bounds.
Archive: Worcester
MSS: 1. BL Cotton Nero E. i, pt 2, 184r (s. xi)
2. BL Cotton Tib. A. xiii, 107rv, omits Hellerelege (s. xi1)
3. BL Cotton Tib. A. xiii, 107v-108r, omits Nuthurst (s. xi1)
Printed: Hearne, Heming, pp. 227-9; K 55 and vol. iii. 374-5; B 123 ex MS 1; B 123A ex MS 2; B 123B ex MS 3; Earle, pp. 310-11.
Comments: Earle, p. 311, spurious; Turner 1916, p. xxxii, citing Stevenson, authentic; Grundy, Worcs. 1927, pp. 163-4, on bounds of Hellerelege; PN Worcs., p. 15; PN Warwicks., p. 239 n., on bounds; Finberg, ECWM, no. 200 and p. 182, authentic basis, donor was probably Offa of Essex; Hart, ECNE, no. 42, authentic basis; Cox 1976, pp. 22, 25, 26, 38, 43, 45, on place-names; Dyer 1980, p. 25, cf. S 1278; Hooke 1985, p. 57, on bounds and topography; Wormald 1985, p. 25, unreliable later copy, possible genuine elements; Yorke 1985, pp. 7-8, 22-3, 25-6, uses charter as evidence for royal status of Offa of Essex; Hooke 1990, pp. 58-61, on bounds of Hellerelege, solution still not definite; Sims-Williams 1990, p. 35 n. 99, citing Whitelock, may originally have been a charter of Cenred of Mercia, p. 162; Hooke 1991-2, p. 79; Lapidge 1993, p. 293 n., has some claim to be genuine; Hooke 1996, p. 106.
c. A.D. 704 x 709. See LStP 3 (S 1784). Offa, king of Essex, to Waldhere, bishop of London; grant of land at Hæmele (cf. Hemel Hempstead, Herts.).
A.D. 704 (13 June). Swæfred, king of Essex, and Pæogthath, comes, with the consent of Æthelred, king of Mercia, to Waldhere, bishop; grant of 30 hides (cassati) at Twickenham, Middx, with confirmation by Cenred and Ceolred, kings of Mercia. Ceolred's confirmation took place at Arcencale. Latin with bounds.
Archive: Canterbury, Christ Church
MS: BL Cotton Aug. ii. 82 (s. viii2 or s. ix1; BM Facs., i. 3; Ch.L.A., iii, no. 188; Wormald 1985, p. 6)
Printed: Smith, Bede, p. 749; K 52; B 111; Earle, pp. 15-17; Hall 1908, i. 6-7; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 1, no. 22.
Comments: Wanley, Catalogus, p. 262 (art. 77), apparently spurious; Bond 1878, p. 7, late 8th or early 9th century; Earle, pp. 15-16, answers Wanley's doubts; Hall 1908, i. 2; Stevenson 1914, p. 703, dubious or spurious; Stenton 1918, p. 438 n. 30, MS 1 is 9th century, early formulas but may not be authentic (= Stenton 1970, p. 53 n. 4); PN Middx, pp. 1, 2, 6, 29; Kuhn 1943, n. 31; Ch.L.A., iii, no. 188, copy, probably of the late 8th century; Stenton 1971, p. 204, cited with reference to Mercian overlordship; Whitelock 1975, p. 11, MS late 8th or early 9th century; Bischoff 1976, p. 692, agrees with Ch.L.A.; Harrison 1976, p. 70 n. 16, on Cenred's style; Gelling, ECTV, no. 191, authentic; Wormald 1983, p. 115 n. 68, p. 117 n. 77, on Mercian overlordship; Brooks 1984, pp. 141-2, 353 n. 44; Dyson and Schofield 1984, p. 292, cited; Wormald 1985, pp. 5, 10, 25, later copy, content unobjectionable, discusses formulation; Yorke 1985, pp. 22, 28, 33, 34; PN Dorset, iii. 142, cited; Hart 1992, p. 144, no reason to doubt authenticity.
A.D. c. 693 x 709. Swæfred. king (of Essex), to Fymme; grant of 30 hides (manentes) in Nazeingbury, Essex. Latin.
Archive: Barking
MS: Hatfield House, Ilford Hospital 1/6, 15v (s. xvi med.)
Printed: Bascombe 1987, p. 86, with translation p. 87.
Comments: Bascombe 1987, authentic; Lockwood 1990; Vince 1990, p. 65; Yorke 1990, p. 55.
A.D. c. 693 x 706. Swæfred, king of Essex, to Fymme; grant of 10 hides (manentes) æt Tunende obre. Latin.
Archive: Barking
MS: Hatfield House, Ilford Hospital 1/6, 15v (s. xvi med.)
Printed: Bascombe 1987, p. 86, with translation p. 87.
Comments: Bascombe 1987, authentic; Lockwood 1990; Yorke 1990, p. 55.
A.D. c. 705 x 709. See LstP 5 (S 1787). Swæfred, king of Essex, to Ingwald, bishop of London; grant of 70 hides at Dengie, Essex.
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