The Charters of the Early West Saxon Kingdom 9780860545897, 9781407318189

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The Charters of the Early West Saxon Kingdom

Heather ·Edwards

BAR British Series 198 1988

B.A.R. 5, Centremead, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 ODQ, England.

GENERAL EDITORS A.R. Hands, B.Sc., M.A., D.Phil. D.R. Walker, M.A.

BAR 198, 1988: 'The Charters of the Early W est Saxon Kingdom' © Heather Edwards, 1988 The author’s moral rights under the 1988 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act are hereby expressly asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored, sold, distributed, scanned, saved in any form of digital format or transmitted in any form digitally, without the written permission of the Publisher. ISBN 9780860545897 paperback ISBN 9781407318189 e-book DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9780860545897 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library This book is available at www.barpublishing.com

C ONTENTS

P reface

A .

B .

P age i v

W EST S AXON A RCHIVES

1

1 .

G lastonbury

1

2 .

M almesbury

7 9

3 .

W inchester

1 28

4 .

A bingdon

1 65

5 .

M uchelney

1 97

6 .

B ath

2 09

7 .

S haftesbury

28 2

8 .

S herborne

2 37

9 .

E xeter

2 54

1 0.

W ells

2 59

1.

A thelney

2 62

.

O THER A RCHIVES 1 .

C hrist C hurch, C anterbury

2 65

2 .

R ochester

2 81

3 .

S t. A ugustine 's, C anterbury

2 89

4 .

C hichester

2 91

5 .

P eterborough

3 00

6 .

W estminster

3 06

I .

W est S axon D iplomatic

3 09

A nalysis o f t he E arly W est S axon C harters

3 14

A ppendices

I I . I ndex o f

C harters

3 19

B ibliography a nd A bbreviations

3 21

G eneral I ndex

3 34

P reface

T his b ook w as o riginally p repared a s a P h.D . t hesis f or G lasgow U niversity, a nd t he r esearch o n w hich i t i s b ased w as c arried o ut d uring t hree y ears a t G lasgow a nd a f urther y ear a t t he I nstitute o f H istorical R esearch i n L ondon. I t i s n ow p ublished w ith v ery m inor r evisions, m ade w hile m y s mall d aughter s lept. T he i ntention i s t o d iscuss i n d etail a c omparatively o bscure a nd n eglected p ortion o f t he c harter e vidence f or A nglo-Saxon E ngland, t his b eing t he e arliest W est S axon c harters, a nd t o e stablish a s f ar a s p ossible w hich o f t hese t exts a re a uthentic i n w hole o r i n p art , t hus i dentifying a b ody o f v alid e vidence f or t he h istory o f t he e arly W est S axon k ingdom . N o g eneral c onclusions b ased o n t his e vidence a re o ffered h ere: Ia m n o m ore t han a m anufacturer o f b ricks, b ut I h ope t hat s ome o f t hese b ricks m ay a ssist o thers t o b uild h ouses. T he p eriod c overed i s f rom t he d ate o f t he e arliest s urvivals c . 6 70 , t o t he e nd o f t he r eign o f E cgberht i n 8 39. A ll c harters o f t his p eriod d eriving f rom t he a rchives o f r eligious e stablishments w hich w ere s ituated w ithin t he W est S axon k ingdom d uring a ll o r p art o f t he p eriod a re i ncluded. I n t he c ase o f s ome b order m onasteries t his e ntails t he i nclusion o f a n umber o f c harters w hich a re i n n o o ther r espect W est S axon. C harters f rom a rchives o utside W essex a re i ncluded o nly i f t hey s ignificantly i nvolve W est S axon p eople o r h ave s ome o ther d irect r elevance t o W essex. T wo o f t he W est S axon a rchives , G lastonbury a nd M almesbury, c ontain p apal p rivileges, a nd t hese a re a lso d iscussed. C harters a re g rouped a ccording t o t he m onastic a rchives i n w hich t hey w ere p reserved d uring m edieval t imes, d isregarding t he l ater d ispersal o f m any o f t hese a rchives . S ingle s heets o f u ncertain p rovenence a re a dded a s a ppendices t o t he a rchives t o w hich t hey s eem m ost l ikely t o h ave b elonged. T he o rder i n w hich t he W est S axon a rchives a re d iscussed i s d ictated b y t he n umbers o f e arly W est S axon c harters w hich t hey c ontain, s o t hat t he m ajor c ollections o f G lastonbury a nd M almesbury a re p laced f irst, a nd a rchives c ontaining o nly o ne o r t wo r elevant d ocuments a re a dded a t t he e nd. A rchives f rom o utside W essex a re t hen a rranged i n m uch t he s ame w ay, b ut o ther c ollections f rom K ent a re p laced a fter t hat o f C hrist C hurch, C anterbury. A s a g eneral r ule, e ach c harter i s d iscussed i ndividually, b ut t here a re a f ew c ases i n w hich c losely c onnected c harters h ave b een c onsidered j ointly, e ither i n p lace o f s eparate d iscussions o r t o s upplement t hem . A s f ar a s p ossible, e ach i ndividual d iscussion h as b een m ade c omplete i n i tself, b ut e xcessive r epetition h as b een a voided b y r eference t o e arlier a ccounts w here a ppropriate. M anuscripts o f t he c harters h ave b een c onsulted w herever p ossible. I n s ome c ases p hotocopies, m icrofilms o r f acsimiles h ave b een u sed, a nd i n a f ew i nstances i t h as b een n ecessary t o w ork f rom e ditions . A t t he h ead o f e ach d iscussion t here i s an ote o f t he m anuscript o r e dition w hich h as b een u sed a s t he m ain s ource f or t he t ext a nd f rom w hich q uotations a re t aken. C harters a re r eferred t o b y t heir n umbers i n

i v

P .H. S awyer's A nglo-Saxon C harters: A n A nnotated H andlist a nd B ibliography ( abbreviated a s S ). D ocuments s uch a s p apal p rivileges w hich a re n ot i ncluded b y S awyer a re r eferred t o b y t he b est e dition. T raditional c ounties a re u sed , d isregarding m odern l ocal g overnment u nits . T hanks a re d ue f irst a nd f oremost t o M r. P atrick W ormald f or h is e xpert a dvice a nd g uidance , h is g enerosity i n m aking t he r esults o f h is o wn w ork a vailable t o m e , h is u nfailing e nthusiasm f or t he s ubject , a nd h is e ncouragement a nd s upport t hroughout. Is hould a lso l ike t o t hank P rofessor N icholas B rooks f or h is a dvice , a ssistance a nd s upport; t he I nstitute o f H istorical R esearch f or e nabling m e t o c ontinue m y r esearch f or a n e xtra y ear; a nd D avid, F iona , J ohn , P riscilla a nd T om .

A .

1 .

W EST S AXON A RCHIVES

G LASTONBURY P age

( a)

I ntroduction

( i ) ( ii) ( iii) ( iv) ( v)

( b)

T he c artulary

3

T he L iber T errarum

3

T he 1 247 i nventory o f c harters

5

W illiam o f M almesbury

6

T he a bbatial l ist

7

T he C harters

1 0

S 2 36

B aldred, k ing ,

2 37

C entwine , k ing ,

1 249

t o H 2emgils, a bbot t o H zemgils, a bbot

1 1 1 5

H zeddi, b ishop t o H zemgils, a bbot

1 8

2 27

C oenwalh , k ing ,

2 0

2 38

I ne,

2 46

I ne , k ing ,

2 48

I ne, k ing, t o B erhtwald, a bbot

2 7

2 47

I ne , k ing ,

3 3

1 253

k ing ,

F orthere ,

t o B erhtwald, a bbot

t o H zemgils , a bbot

2 3

t o G lastonbury

2 6

t o B erhtwald, a bbot b ishop , t o E aldberht, a bbot

2 50

I ne, k ing ,

2 51

I ne,

2 53

Athilheard, k ing ,

1 410 2 57

3 4

t o G lastonbury

3 6

k ing, t o G lastonbury

3 8

L ulle, n un ,

t o G lastonbury

t o T unberht, a bbot

C uthred, k ing ,

t o G lastonbury

1

4 0 4 1 4 5

W ordings o f t he f ive m id-eighth-century c harters

4 8

T he p apal p rivilege a nd S 152 , C oenwulf, k ing , t o C ynehelm

5 2

2 70a E adburh, q ueen, t o E adgils

5 6

A ppendix 2 64

C yniwulf, k ing ,

t o B ica

5 9

( c)

T he L ost C harters

6 2

( d)

C onclusions

7 7

2

( a)

I ntroduction

( i)

T he C artulary

T here a re t wo s urviving m anuscripts o f t he G lastonbury c artulary, o f w hich t he e arlier, k nown a s t he G reat C hartulary, i s n ow m anuscript 3 9 a t L ongleat H ouse. I t w as e dited i n t he 1 940s a nd 5 0s b y D om A elred W atkin f or t he S omerset R ecord S ociety ( Watkin , G lastonbury C art.). T he o ther m anuscript w as m ade f or t he a bbot 's u se , a nd i s c alled t he S ecretum D omini, n ow B odleian W ood e mpt. 1 . T he c ontents o f t he t wo v olumes a re a lmost i dentical , a nd a c omparison s hows t hat t he S ecretum D omini i s a c opy o f t he G reat C hartulary: d ocuments c ancelled i n t he l atter a re o mitted f rom t he f ormer , a nd s cribal e rrors i n t he e arlier m anuscript a re r epeated i n t he l ater o ne , w hich a lso i ncludes m any m ore m istakes . A s at ext o f t he c artulary t he S ecretum D omini i s g reatly i nferior , a nd c onsequently W atkin p rovides a b etter e dition o f t he c harters t han B irch i n t he C artularium S axonicum i n c ases w here t he d ocuments o nly s urvive i n t he c artulary, s ince B irch o nly s aw t he S ecretum D omini. T he S ecretum D omini w as a pparently c ompleted b y 1 342-3, s ince i t i s m entioned i n t he G lastonbury F eodary, w hich d ates f rom t hat t ime ( Weaver , G lastonbury F eodary , p . 2 ), a nd t he l atest d ocument i n i t d ates f rom 1 342. T he G reat C hartulary l acks t he l ast d ocument, i ts l atest e ntry r elating t o 1 340 , a nd i t w as p robably w ritten c . 1 338-40 , t he S ecretum D omini b eing b egun a s s oon a s t he e arlier m anuscript w as c omplete . T he S ecretum D omini i s a h andsome f air c opy; t he G reat C hartulary i s q uite p lain , w ritten i n a s ingle f ourteenth-century h and w ith n o o rnamentation e xcept f or t he a ddition o f h eadings a nd c rosses i n r ed. I t a ppears t hat t he s cribe w orked f rom s ingle s heets, w hich h e r egarded a s o riginals , w here p ossible ; i n c ases w here h e w orked f rom a t ranscript , t his i s n oted : p er c opiam '. T he c ontents i nclude d ocuments r elating t o t he a bbey's r ights a nd p rivileges , f ollowed b y c harters a rranged t opographically, w ith s ome m iscellaneous a dditions a t t he e nd ( On t he d ate a nd d escription o f t he t wo m anuscripts , s ee W atkin , G lastonbury C art ., p p. i x-xii ; D avis 1 958 , n os. 4 34, 4 35). T he e states w hich a re t he s ubject o f c harters s urviving i n t he c artulary l argely c orrespond w ith t hose n amed i n D omesday B ook a s p ossessions o f G lastonbury i n 1 066 , a nd i t s eems t hat t he c artularist 's i ntention w as t o p reserve d eeds r elating t o l ands s till h eld b y t he a bbey, o ther d eeds b eing d iscarded.

( ii)

T he L iber T errarum

M anuscript R .5.33 i n t he l ibrary o f T rinity C ollege, C ambridge, c onsists o f t wo t hirteenth-century m anuscripts b ound t ogether. O ne c ontains t he a ccounts o f t he h istory o f G lastonbury b y A dam o f D omerham a nd W illiam o f M almesbury; t he o ther h as a n umber o f l ists r elating t o G lastonbury r ecords d rawn u p i n 1 247. O ne o f t hese i s h eaded ' Carte c ontente i n l ibro t errarum G lastonie ', a nd i s e vidently a l ist o f t he c ontents o f a l ost G lastonbury c artulary ( Edited b y H earne, J ohn o f G lastonbury, p. 3 70-5; d iscussed b y R obinson 1 921, p. 4-7; a nd p p 4 K eynes 1 976, p p . 1 67-86). A nother o f t he l ists i s o f t he b ooks i n t he

3

G lastonbury l ibrary, a nd t his i ncludes t he L iber T errarum ( Hearne, J ohn o f G lastonbury, p . 4 35). A n a nnotator b rought t he l ibrary c atalogue u p t o d ate i n 1 248, a dding s ome b ooks a nd d eleting o thers. H e d eleted t he L iber T errarum , w hich p robably i ndicates t hat t he b ook h ad b een d iscarded, a lthough i t i s p erhaps j ust p ossible t hat t he a nnotator f elt t hat t he b ook s hould n ot b e i n t he l ibrary c atalogue, w hich c ontains n o o ther i nternal G lastonbury r ecord, a nd d eleted i t s olely f or t hat r eason. An ote i n t he f ourteenth-century G reat C hartulary r efers t o t hree c harters w ith b ounds ' quos i n l ibro q ui d icitur L onde B ok q ui u oluerit l egere p oten t' ( Watkin, G lastonbury C art., p . 6 44), w hich t ends t o s uggest t hat t he b ook w as s till e xtant, b ut i t m ay b e t hat t he c artularist w as m erely t ranscribing a n e arlier n ote, a nd t here i s n o c lear e vidence t hat t he L iber T errarum s urvived a fter 1 248. T he c harters w hich t he f ourteenth-century c artularist t ranscribed f rom c opies m ay h ave b een t aken f rom a nother c artulary w hich s uperseded t he L iber T errarum , a nd w as i n t urn d iscarded w hen t he G reat C hartulary w as c omplete. T he d ate O f t he c ompilation o f t he L iber T errarum i s d isputed. T he l atest c harters i n i t d ate f rom t he r eign o f 2 Ethelred, a nd n one c an b e s ecurely a ssigned t o a d ate l ater t han 9 84. T he l ate t enth c entury i s t herefore t he e arliest p ossible d ate o f c ompilation , b ut i t i s n ot c ertain t hat t he v olume w as p roduced a s e arly a s t his. T he c ompiler i s k nown t o h ave o mitted s ome s urviving e arly c harters, a nd m ay s imply h ave o mitted t he l ater o nes, o f w hich i t s eems t here w ere v ery f ew . T he G reat C hartulary i ncludes o nly o ne c harter d ating f rom t he p eriod b etween t he e nd o f Athelred's r eign a nd t he C onquest, a nd t his i s a p rivilege i n K nAtr's n ame w hich i s p robably s purious ( S966), w hile W illiam o f M almesbury o nly a dds o ne o ther d ocument, a g rant o f l and b y E admund I ronside ( ECW , n o. 6 18). T here i s n o c lear e vidence t hat W illiam o f M almesbury u sed t he L iber T errarum , b ut t he c harter m aterial h e r ecords c orresponds c losely w ith t hat i n t he c ontents l ist, a nd i t i s m ost u nlikely t hat t he v olume w as n ot a vailable t o h im. D r. S imon K eynes a rgues f or a l ate e leventh-or e arly t welfth-century d ate o f c ompilation ( Keynes, 1 976, p p. 1 67-86), b ut t here a re r easons f or p ostulating a n e arlier d ate. T he b ook w as d escribed i n 1 247 a s ' vetust. s et l egibilis f , w hich t ends t o s uggest t hat i t d ated f rom a m uch e arlier p eriod. I t i ncluded m ore t han o ne g rant o f p rivileges, b ut t he ' Great P rivilege o f I ne' ( S250) i s n ot i ncluded, a nd i t i s u nlikely t hat t his w ould h ave b een o mitted i f i t h ad b een a vailable t o t he c ompiler. T he d ocument p robably d ates f rom t he c entury f ollowing t he C onquest, a nd t he f act t hat n either t his n or a ny o ther i dentifiably p ost-Conquest m aterial i s i ncluded s uggests t hat t he L iber T errarum w as p robably c ompiled b efore t he C onquest. I n t he m ost r ecent d iscussion a l ate t enth-or e arly e leventh-century d ate i s s uggested ( Lapidge 1 982b, p p. 1 67-86). T he o rder o f t he c harters i n t he l ist i s s omewhat h aphazard. T he c ompiler a ppears t o h ave b egun w ith t he i ntention o f a rranging h is m aterial i n a pproximate c hronological o rder: a ll b ut t wo o f t he f irst 3 1 c harters r elate t o t he p eriod b efore 8 00, a nd a ll s eventh-century c harters o ccur a mong t he f irst 1 3 e ntries; a mong t he r emaining 1 06 i tems, o nly s ix r elate t o t he e ighth c entury. B ut n o a ttempt s eems t o h ave b een m ade t o p ut t he f ew n inth-century a nd n umerous t enth-century c harters i nto a c hronological s equence, a nd t hese s eems t o b e i n n o p articular o rder, e xcept t hat c harters r elating t o t he s ame e states a re

4

o ften g rouped t ogether. T here w as e vidently a c omplete r eorganisation o f G lastonbury c harters b efore t he f ourteenth-century c artulary w as c ompiled. T he c harters a ppear t o h ave b een n umbered, e ither b y t he o riginal s cribe o r b y a l ater a nnotator, a s e ndorsements t o t wo e xtant c harters s tate t heir n umbers i n t he ' Landbok ' ( S236, 5 63). T hese f it t he s urviving c ontents l ist , s howing t hat i t i s a ccurate a nd c omplete. I t s hould b e n oted t hat t he f ifth i tem , m arked ' II ', c ounted a s t wo. T he e ndorsements a re t hirteenth-century, a nd t herefore a dd n othing t o o ur i nformation c oncerning t he d ate o f t he b ook. N umerous c harters i ncluded i n t he L iber T errarum w ere n ot i ncluded i n t he G reat C hartulary a nd d o n ot s urvive, a nd m any o f t hese a re r ecorded o nly i n t he l ist o f t he c ontents o f t he L iber T errarum a nd i n W illiam o f M almesbury 's D e A ntiquitate G lastonie E cclesie , d iscussed b elow . T hese t wo s ources t herefore a dd c onsiderably t o o ur k nowledge o f e arly g rants t o G lastonbury. M ost e ntries i n t he l ist n ame t he d onor, t he b eneficiary a nd t he e state, b ut t he b eneficiary o f a f ew e arly c harters i s n ot s tated. S ome e ntries a re m arked ' G ' a nd o thers ' S ' o r ' S. q ui G .', a nd a r ubric e xplains t hat t he f ormer i ndicates a d irect g rant t o G lastonbury, w hile t he l atter i s u sed f or g rants t o l aypersons, ' servientibus ', t hrough w hom t he e states w ere t ransferred t o G lastonbury. S ome e ntries h ave n either i nitial, a nd i n t hese c ases i t m ay b e t hat t he c ompiler b elieved t he l ands c oncerned n ot t o h ave b een o wned b y t he m onastery, o r t hat h e d id n ot k now h ow t he e states c ame i nto i ts p ossession . S ome o f t he g rants t o l aymen m ay h ave b een m erely d eposited a t G lastonbury f or s afe-keeping. O ne c harter i ncluded i n t he L iber T errarum n ow s urvives i n t he A bingdon c artulary ( S564 ; L T 1 09). I n m any c ases t here i s r eason t o b elieve t hat t he c harters n ot n ow e xtant w ere g enuine , b ut i t c annot b e a ssumed t hat a ll w ere: t he L iber T errarum c ontained a t l east o ne f abricated c harter ( S227; L T 3 ). T he l ost c harters r ecorded h ere a nd e lsewhere a re d iscussed i ndividually b elow . R eferences t o t he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist a re g iven i n t he f orm L T p lus t he n umber o f t he d ocument.

( iii)

T he 1 247 I nventory o f C harters

F ollowing t he d etails o f t he L iber T errarum i n t he C ambridge m anuscript i s a n i nventory o f t he c harters s urviving i n 1 247 ( Edited b y H earne , J ohn o f G lastonbury , p p. 3 75-9 ; d iscussed b y K eynes 1 976, p. p 1 67-86). T he c ompiler s pecifies w hether o r n ot t he c harters h ave s eals, a nd, a s t his i s a q uestion w hich c ould n ot a rise i n t he c ase o f c artulary c opies , i t a ppears t hat t he l ist i s o f s ingle s heets. M any c harters m entioned i n t he L iber T errarum a re n ot i n t his i nventory, p robably b ecause t hey w ere e xtant o nly i n t ranscripts i n t he L iber T errarum i tself a nd e lsewhere. T he c harters a re c lassified u nder h eadings a s f ollows ; a re t hose a ssigned t o t he l ists b y D r. K eynes ( Keynes 1 976 , V ol. 1 ):-

5

t he l etters A ppendix t o

L ist A :

g rants b y k ings t o G lastonbury o f l ands s till o wned

L ist B :

g rants b y k ings G lastonbury

L ist C :

g rants t o G lastonbury o f l ands n ot s till o wned

L ist D :

g rants b y k ings t o l aymen o f l ands w hich G lastonbury i s b elieved t o h ave o wned b ut w hich i t d oes n ot s till o wn

t o

l aymen o f

l ands

s till

o wned

b y

D etails o f i ndulgences a nd o f p ost-Conquest r oyal c harters ( with s eals) f ollow , a nd t here i s a l ist o f t hree ' ancient p rivileges ', t he s purious c harters o f I ne , E adgar a nd P atrick ( S250 , 7 83 ; B i). M ost o f t he c harters i n l ists A a nd B s urvive, w hilst m ost o f t hose i n l ists C a nd D d o n ot: t he c ompiler o f t he G reat C hartulary, a rranging h is m aterial u nder t he h eadings o f G lastonbury 's e states , n aturally o mitted t hose c harters w hich h e c onsidered t o r elate t o l ands n ot t hen o wned b y t he m onastery. T he i nventory a dds s omething t o o ur k nowledge o f e arly c harters , b ut i ts i nformation i s m ore l imited t han t hat o f t he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist, n otably i n i ts o mission o f t he n ames o f b eneficiaries i n l ists B a nd D . I ts c lassification i s u seful , a nd i t i s h elpful t o k now t hat s ingle s heets o f c ertain c harters e xisted i n t he t hirteenth c entury. R eferences t o t he i nventory b elow a re g iven i n t he f orm I C p lus t he l etter o f t he r elevant l ist a nd t he n umber o f t he i tem i n t hat l ist.

( iv)

W illiam o f M almesbury 's D e A ntiquitate G lastonie E cclesie

An ew e dition o f W illiam 's t reatise o n t he h istory o f G lastonbury h as r ecently b een p ublished, a nd i ncludes a t horough d iscussion o f t he w ork ( DA). C onsequently a d etailed a ccount o f i t h ere w ould b e s uperfluous, b ut o ne o r t wo p oints c oncerning i ts v alue a s as ource f or t he p eriod d own t o 8 39 m ay u sefully b e m ade. T he p roblem o f i nterpolation r elates m ainly t o t he e arly c hapters d ealing w ith p reS axon G lastonbury a nd w ith t he r elics w hich t he a bbey c laimed t o p ossess . T he a ccount o f t he m onastery f rom t he r eign o f C oenwalh ( c. 6 41 -c. 6 72) o nwards a ppears t o b e a lmost e ntirely W illiam 's w ork. I t i s l argely b ased o n c harters , n early a ll o f w hich w ere i n t he L iber T errarum , a lthough n ot a ppearing t here i n t he s ame o rder, s ince W illiam 's o rder i s s trictly c hronological. W illiam a dds a f ew c harters n ot r ecorded e lsewhere, a nd g ives a dditional d etails o f m any l ost c harters . H e h abitually g ives t he n ames o f a bbots c ited a s b eneficiaries o f g rants t o G lastonbury , a nd o ccasionally q uotes p art o f t he w ording o f ac harter . G rants o f p rivileges h e q uotes i n f ull , a nd i t i s t o t his p ractice t hat w e o we t he p reservation o f p ope L eo 's l etter g ranting o wnership o f G lastonbury t o C ynehelm a nd t he c onfirmatory c harter o f C oenwulf , k ing o f t he M ercians, w hich a re n ot m entioned i n a ny o ther s ource ( DA , p . 1 08 ; S 152, D A , p . 10 . S ee 1 f urther b elow). I n a ddition t o t he d ocumentation i n t he G lastonbury a rchives , W illiam e xamined a nd m ade u se o f p hysical r emains a t G lastonbury w hich d ated f rom e arlier p eriods o f t he m onastery 's h istory. T he i nformation h e o btained i n t his w ay s upplements t he d ocumentary e vidence : f or

6

e xample, i nscriptions o bscure a bbots.

o n

t ombs s ometimes c onfirm

t he

e xistence

o f

J ohn o f G lastonbury 's C ronica s ive A ntiquitates G lastoniensis E cclesie h as a lso b een r ecently e dited a nd d iscussed ( Carley , J ohn o f G lastonbury). I t a dds v irtually n othing t o W illiam 's a ccount o f t he e arly S axon p eriod , a nd c an s carcely b e c onsidered a s ource f or t he e arly h istory o f G lastonbury.

( v)

T he A bbatial L ist

O ne o f t he m anuscripts c ontaining t he ' Anglian c ollection ' o f r oyal g enealogies a nd r egnal l ists a lso i ncludes a q uantity o f W est S axon m aterial c omprising a g enealogy w hich t races t he a ncestry o f t he t hree s ons o f E adgar, a W est S axon r egnal l ist b eginning w ith C erdic a nd e nding w ith 2 Ethelred I I , a nd a u nique l ist o f n ames w ithout a h eading , w hich h as b een i dentified a s G lastonbury 's a bbatial l ist . T he m anuscript, C otton T iberius B v i n t he B ritish L ibrary, a lso c ontains l ists o f b ishops, p opes a nd e mperors a nd o ther m aterial , a nd d ates f rom t he f irst h alf o f t he e leventh c entury. I ts m edieval p rovenance w as B attle A bbey, b ut D r. D avid D umville s uggests t hat i t m ay h ave b een w ritten a t C hrist C hurch f or W inchester. T he W est S axon m aterial e vidently o riginated a t G lastonbury i n t he l ate t enth c entury ( On t he m anuscript s ee D umville 1 976, p p. 2 6-8 , 4 3; K er 1 957, n o. 1 93; P age 1 966, p . 1 2 . O n t he a bbatial l ist, s ee R obinson 1 921, p. 2 6-44 ; p D umville 1 976, p . 4 3 n . 5 ). T he i nitial l etters o f n ames i n t he v arious l ists i n t his m anuscript a re w ritten i n a lternate r ed a nd g reen , a nd i n s ome c ases, i n t he G lastonbury l ist a nd e lsewhere, t he i nitials a re w rong. I t s eems l ikely t hat t he s cribe w ho a dded t he i nitial l etters d id n ot h ave t he e xemplar b efore h im , a nd c onsequently d id n ot a lways k now w hat t he i nitial s hould b e. T he G lastonbury a bbatial l ist a ppears i n t he m anuscript o n f olio 2 3v a s s et o ut b elow , a nd a c orrected v ersion i s g iven i n c ases w here t he n ame a ppears t o b e r ecorded e rroneously. F rom a c omparison o f t his l ist w ith t he n arrative o f W illiam o f M almesbury 's D e A ntiquitate, i n w hich m any a bbots a re n amed o n t he b asis o f c harter e vidence, J . A rmitage R obinson d educed t hat t he l ist w as a t enth-century c ompilation w hose a uthor m ade n o u se o f c harters b ut ' made t he b est l ist t hat h e c ould f rom n ames w hich h e r ead o n s epulchral m onuments a nd i n t he b ook o f c ommemorations c alled t he M artyrology ' ( Robinson 1 921, 3 P . 3). T his j udgement s eems t o b e c orrect. T he l ist c annot h ave b een b egun a t G lastonbury a t a n e arly d ate a nd k ept u p t o d ate t hereafter, b ecause t he o rder o f n ames i s b adly c onfused . F or e xample, t he n ame o f B erhtwald, w ho a ttested k ing I ne 's g eneral g rant o f p rivileges i n 7 04 ( S245), f ollows t hat o f C oengils, w ho w as a ctive i n t he r eign o f I ne 's s uccessor, 2 Ethilheard ( S253), a nd T unberht, t he b eneficiary o f ac harter o f 7 44 ( S1410), i s r epresented a s t he f ourth s uccessor o f T yccea , w ho a ttests a c harter o f 7 57 ( S96). M oreover t he l ist i s n ot c omplete, s ince a n umber o f m en r ecorded a s a bbots o f G lastonbury a re n ot i ncluded i n i t, f or e xample f our e ighth-century a bbots, E aldberht, H eahfrith, G uba a nd B eaduwulf. ( These m en a ppear i n S 1253; E CW n os. 3 77, 6 32 ; S 1684 , E CW , n o. 3 90; S 1692, 1 52).

7

B .L ., C otton T iberius B v . f o .

2 3v.

H emgils p ealhstod C oengils B eorhtfald C ealdhun

( Wealdhun)

L uca

( Muca)

p i ccea

( Ticcea)

B osa

.

S ti5heard H erefyr6 H unbeorht

( Tunbeorht)

A ndhun G uelac C u red E cgwulf D unstan 2 Elfric S igegar Alf. r eard I nformation a bout t enth-century a bbots o f G lastonbury i s s o s carce t hat i t i s i mpossible t o e stablish a t w hat p oint, i f a t a ny, t he l ist b ecomes a n a ccurate a nd c omplete a bbatial l ist. T here i s n o o ther r ecord o f a n J Elfric s ucceeding D unstan ; t he n ame c ould b e am iscopying o f 2 Elfstan , b ut t he l atter i s i dentified a s a bbot o f G lastonbury o nly i n d ubious s ources. 2 Elfweard , n amed h ere a s t he s uccessor o f S igegar, w ho w as c onsecrated t o t he s ee o f W ells i n 9 75, i s n ot o therwise r ecorded a s a bbot o f G lastonbury, a lthough a n a bbot o f t his n ame d oes a ttest c harters a t t his t ime ( For t he e vidence c oncerning t enth-century a bbots s ee K nowles e t a l. 1 972, p p. 5 0-1). D r. D umville a rgues t hat t he g enealogy w hich p recedes t he a bbatial l ist i n t he m anuscript m ust d ate, i n i ts e xtant f orm , f rom 9 66 x 9 71, i .e. b etween t he b irth o f E adgar 's y oungest s on , J Ethelred ( 966 a t t he l atest), a nd t he d eath o f h is s econd s on , E admund ( 970 o r 9 71), a nd t hat t he G lastonbury l ist w as p robably c opied o r c ompiled a t t he s ame t ime, i .e. d uring t he a bbacy o f

8

S igegar, t he n ame o f Alfweard b eing a dded l ater ( Dumville 1 976, p . 4 3). T his d ating w ould a lso f it t he W est S axon r egnal l ist, i n w hich t he n ames a re n umbered o nly d own t o E adgar, s o t hat E adweard a nd " ' Ethelred a ppear t o b e a dditions. I t i s, o f c ourse, q uite p ossible t hat t he a bbatial l ist w as f irst c ompiled a t a n e arlier d ate, a nd t hat f urther n ames w ere a dded b efore i t w as c opied o ut i n t he t ime o f S igegar, b ut t he c ompilation i s n ot l ikely t o d ate f rom e arlier t han t he a bbacy o f D unstan. A ll t he m en n amed i n t he l ist d own t o D unstan a re r ecorded e lsewhere a s a bbots o f G lastonbury e xcept W ealhstod, B osa , C uthred a nd E cgwulf. I n s ome c ases t hey a re k nown o nly f rom W illiam o f M almesbury 's a ccount, b ut, a s W illiam w as w orking f rom c harters i n t he G lastonbury a rchives, i t s eems r easonable t o a ccept h is i nformation o n t his p oint. I t c annot b e a sserted t hat t he f our m en o therwise u nrecorded w ere n ot a bbots o f t he h ouse, b ut i t i s p ossible t hat t he f irst o f t hem i s t o b e i dentified w ith t he f irst h older o f t he s ee o f H ereford ( HE V . 2 3); i n a s imilar a bbatial l ist r elating t o t he m onastery a t M almesbury , t he s econd n ame i s D aniel, a nd t his c an s carcely b e a nyone b ut t he b ishop o f W inchester ( See n otes o n M almesbury b elow). T he s ource m aterial i s l ikely t o h ave b een s ome f orm o f c ommemorative r ecord, p robably e ither a L iber V itae, o r a n ecrology. S uch a r ecord w ould p rovide t he c ompiler w ith t he n ames o f a bbots b ut n ot t he d ates o f t heir a bbacies, a nd u se o f t he l atter t ype o f r ecord, i n w hich i ndividuals w ere e ntered a ccording t o t heir d ates o f d eath, c ould w ell a ccount f or t he s erious c hronological c onfusion o f t he l ist. I t a ppears t hat G lastonbury p ossessed s uch a r ecord s ince W illiam o f M almesbury m ade u se o f i t . H e l ists s everal a rchbishops a nd n umerous b ishops w hom h e r epresents a s m onks o f G lastonbury w ho w ere c hosen f rom t hat c ommunity t o b e b ishops e lsewhere. I n m any c ases h e g ives t he y ear a nd/or d ay o f t he m onth o n w hich t he i ndividual d ied. ( DA, p. p 1 36-8). T here c an b e l ittle d oubt t hat m ost o f t hese m en w ere n ever m embers o f t he G lastonbury c ommunity, b ut h ad e ntered i nto a greements o f c onfraternity w ith G lastonbury d uring t heir l ives a nd w ere c ommemorated t here a fter t heir d eaths. T he c ommemorative r ecord w hich m isled W illiam c ould a lso h ave p roved c onfusing t o t he c ompiler o f t he a bbatial l ist, w ho m ay i n c onsequence h ave i ncluded a s a bbots m en w ho i n f act n ever h eld t hat p osition a t G lastonbury. T he a bbatial l ist t herefore a ppears t o b e a t enth-century c ompilation c ontaining t he n ames o f m en c ommemorated a t G lastonbury. M any o f t hese w ere a bbots o f t he h ouse, b ut i t i s f ar f rom c ertain t hat a ll w ere, a nd s ome m en w ho d id p erform t he o ffice o f a bbot a re n ot i ncluded. T he o rder i s v ery c onfused a nd p rovides n o c hronological g uide, b ut t he a ppearance i n t his l ist o f t he n ame o f a m an r ecorded e lsewhere a s a n a bbot o f G lastonbury m ay b e c onsidered t o p rovide s ome g rounds f or c onfidence i n t he o ther r ecord i n w hich h e i s n amed.

9

( b)

T he C harters

S urviving c harters o f G lastonbury r elating t o t he p eriod d own 8 39 a re l isted b elow . D ates i n b rackets a re c orrected.

D ate

D onor

t o

B eneficiary

27 2

6 70

C oenwalh , k ing

B erhtwald, a bbot

2 36

6 81

B aldred, k ing

H aemgils , a bbot

2 37

6 82

C entwine, k ing

H aemgils, a bbot

H zeddi, b ishop

bbot H aemgils , a

1 249

( 677 o r 6 92)

2 38

( 693)

I ne , k ing

H 2emgils, a bbot

2 46

7 04

I ne, k ing

G lastonbury u nder a bbot H 2emgils

2 48

( 706)

I ne, k ing

B erhtwald, a bbot

2 47

( 706)

I ne, k ing

B erhtwald, a bbot

F orthere, b ishop

E aldberht, a bbot

1 253

( 718 o r 7 33)

2 50

7 25

I ne, k ing

G lastonbury

2 51

7 25

I ne, k ing

G lastonbury

2 53

7 29

2 Ethilheard, k ing

G lastonbury u nder a bbot C oengils

1 410

7 44

L ulle, n un

T unberht , a bbot

2 57

7 45

C uthred, k ing

G lastonbury

2 64

7 78

C yniwulf, k ing

B ica

7 98

L eo I II ,

C ynehelm , k ing

1 52 2 70a

p ope

( 798)

C oenwulf, k ing

C ynehelm , k ing

8 01

E adburh , q ueen

E adgils

A n a ccount o f t he f irst c harter i n t he l ist i s p laced a fter d iscussion o f b ishop H aeddi 's c harter , w ith w hich i t i s c onnected.

1 0

t he

S 236 ( 1)

L ongleat H ouse , m uniment 1 0564.

( 2)

L ongleat H ouse , m anuscript 3 9,

( Edition :

f o.

1 68r.

B 61)

A c harter r ecording a g rant o f l and b y ' Baldredus r ex ' t o a bbot o f G lastonbury s urvives o n a s ingle s heet a nd i n t he t wo 1 mgils m anuscripts o f t he c artulary. T he s ingle s heet i s o f m embrane, m easuring e xactly 8 4 i nches t all b y 8i nches w ide; t he c harter i s w ritten o n t he r ecto i n as ingle l arge c lear m inuscule h and, w ith n ames a nd a ttestations d istinguished b y a d ifferent s cript a nd t here a re v arious e ndorsements o n t he v erso ; t here i s n o t race o f p ricking o r r uling , b ut n umerous h oles a re p ricked r ound t he e dge o f t he d ocument , p erhaps b y s titching w hich h as s ince b een u npicked; t hree h orizontal f olds a nd o ne v ertical s how t hat t he d ocument w as f olded i n h alf t hree t imes ; i t i s n ow w orn a long t he h orizontal f olds a nd s trengthened w ith s ellotape o n t he v erso. T he m anuscript i s c onsidered t o d ate f rom t he t enth c entury ( Robinson 1 921, p . 3 0 n . 2 ; S 236). T he o nly s ignificant d ifference b etween t he t ext o f t he c harter o n t he s ingle s heet a nd t hat i n t he c artularies i s t hat t he s ize o f t he e state i s g iven i n t he f ormer a s 1 2 h ides a nd i n t he l atter a s 6 . B aldred i s a lmost c ertainly t o b e i dentified w ith t he m an o f t his n ame w ho s old a n e state t o a bbot A ldhelm o f M almesbury s ome t ime d uring t he r eign o f C entwine ( c. 6 76 -c. 6 86) ( S1170). H e i s n ot g iven t he t itle ' rex ' i n t he M almesbury c harter , b ut A ldhelm i n a l etter c alls h im ' patricius ' ( Ehwald p . 5 03), a nd t he t wo t ransactions s eem t o h ave t aken p lace a t m uch t he s ame t ime. T he e xact d ate 6 81, g iven i n t he G lastonbury c harter , c annot b e r elied u pon s ince i t i s e xpressed s olely a s a n i ncarnational y ear : t here i s n o s atisfactory e vidence t hat i ncarnational d ating w as u sed i n A nglo-Saxon c harters b efore t he e ighth c entury. ( The e arliest e xtant o riginal d ated i n t his w ay i s S 89 o f 7 36; b ut c f. H arrison 1 976, p p . 5 2-75), a nd t his d ate i s p robably a s ubstitute f or a n i ndiction , m ade b y s omeone w ho w as c opying o ut t he c harter a t am uch l ater d ate , a nd w ho m ay o r m ay n ot h ave c alculated i t c orrectly. M oreover , i ncarnational y ears i n e arly G lastonbury c harters a re o ften d emonstrably i ncorrect. B ut t he d ate s eems t o b e a pproximately r ight , s ince i t f its a ll t he p ersons m entioned. A bbot H eemgils w as t he b eneficiary o f a nother g rant i n 6 82 a nd d ied n ot l ater t han 7 04 ( S237; a bbot B erhtwald a ttests S 245 i n 7 04); b ishop H oeddi , w hose c onsent i s m entioned, w as c onsecrated d uring t he 6 70s a nd d ied i n 7 05. ( The e xact d ate o f H aeddi 's c onsecration i s u ncertain : B ede d oes n ot g ive i t , a nd t he C hronicle 's d ate , 6 76, m ay n ot b e a ccurate. S ee f urther b elow u nder S 51, a nd, f or t he d ate o f h is d eath , S 245); a nd A ldhelm , w ho a ttests w ith t he t itle ' abbas ', w as a bbot o f M almesbury b y 6 81 a nd r etained t hat p osition u ntil 7 05 ( S71; H E V 1 8). T he e xtant t ext o f t he c harter c annot b e w holly g enuine, s ince i t i ncludes t wo f eatures w hich c ould n ot h ave a ppeared i n a s eventhc entury c harter. T he f irst o f t hese i s t he s tatement t hat t he g rant i s m ade ' ad s upplementum h onorabilis e cclesie b eate M arie e t s anti P atricii '. T he e arly m onastery a t G lastonbury w as d edicated o nly t o S t. M ary, a nd t here i s n o e vidence f or t he c ult o f S t. P atrick t here

1 1

b efore t he t enth c entury. T he m an w ho d rafted t his c lause w as e vidently a cquainted w ith t he s tories o f G lastonbury 's e arly c onnection w ith S t. P atrick , s tories w hich i n f act h ad n o f oundation ( Lapidge 1 982a , p . 1 83 n . 2 4). T he s econd f eature i s a b oundary c lause c onsisting o f a p erambulation i n O ld E nglish . R eferences t o b oundaries o r v ery b rief i ndications o f t he l imits o f e states o ccur i n s ome o f t he e arliest A nglo-Saxon c harters , a nd h ave s ome e arly c ontinental 171. p arallels ( See , f or e xample , S 8, 1 164, E xamples o f e arly c ontinental p ractice a re a p rivate d eed d ating f rom R avenna c . 6 00 ( Ch . L . A ., P art 2 1, n o. 7 17); a nd a c ollection o f l ate f ifth-century V andal d eeds ( Courtois A lbertini T ablets, p assim)), b ut d etailed p erambulations d o n ot a ppear u ntil t he s econd h alf o f t he e ighth c entury, a nd w ere t hen i n L atin , O ld E nglish b ounds b eing a f urther d evelopment o f t he n inth c entury. ( The d evelopment o f d etailed b oundary c lauses i s d iscussed m ore f ully i n c onnection w ith S 264 b elow). T his c lause m ust t herefore b e a n i nterpolation o f n ot e arlier t han t he n inth c entury. O n t he o ther h and, i t d oes n ot a ppear t hat t he t ext i s a t otal f abrication. T he o bscure k ing B aldred w ould s carcely h ave b een c hosen a s d onor b y a f orger p roposing t o d raw u p a n e ntirely s purious c harter , n or i s i t l ikely t hat a f orger w ould h ave s ucceeded i n c hoosing n ames w hich w ere a ll c hronologically c onsistent. F urthermore , t he o ccurrence i n t he s urviving t ext o f e arly f ormulas s uggests t hat a g enuine e arly c harter , a nd n ot m erely a n ote o f t he f act o f B aldred 's g rant , l ies b ehind t his d ocument. T he d ating c lause e nds w ith t he w ord ' feliciter '. T his i s a lso t he c ase i n t wo o ther e arly W est S axon c harters, o ne i n t he n ame o f C eadwalla, k ing o f t he W est S axons c . 6 86 -688, d ated 6 88 , w hich a ppears t o b e ar eworking o f ag enuine c harter i ncorporating a uthentic e lements, o ne o f w hich i s t he d ating c lause ( S234); a nd a c harter o f k ing I ne ( 688-726) w hich a ppears t o b e a uthentic ( S245). T he f ormula d oes n ot o ccur i n A nglo-Saxon c harters o utside W essex, n or i n a ny l ater c harters, b ut i t i s c ommon i n L ombard c harters a nd a ppears i n s ome e arly F rankish d ocuments, a lthough i n t he l atter t he p hrase ' in d ei n omine f eliciter ' i s m ore u sual ( Schiaparelli , C od. D ip . L ongobardo , n os. 7 , 1 2, 1 6, 1 8 , e tc. O f t he e arly F rankish c harters p rinted i n f acsimile i n C h. L . A ., P arts 1 3 a nd 1 4 , ' feliciter ' o ccurs i n n os. 5 52, 5 72, 5 74 , 5 78, 5 84, 5 86 ; ' in d ei n omine f eliciter ' i n n os . 5 65-567, 5 70 , 5 73 , 5 75-577, 5 79, 5 81, 5 85, 5 88-591, 5 93). T he e vidence s uggests t hat t he e arliest W est S axon c harters s ometimes i ncluded t his f ormula , w hich w as d erived f rom t he c ontinental, e specially I talian , d eeds o n w hich A nglo-Saxon c harters w ere m odelled , b ut t hat t he p ractice w as n ot a dopted e lsewhere i n E ngland a nd w as d iscontinued i n W essex i n t he e arly e ighth c entury. A nother f eature o f t he t ext r esembling c ontinental p ractice i s t hat t he s cribe i s n amed : ' Ego H aedde e piscopus k artulam s cripsi'. I t w as n ormal f or t he s cribe o f t he l ate R oman p rivate d eed t o b e n amed, a nd t his p ractice w as c ontinued i n c ontinental c harters . ( The p ractice o f t he l ate R oman p rivate d eed i s e xemplified i n G regory 's g rant o f 5 87 t o t he m onastery o f S t. A ndrew : ' Quam l argitatis m eae p aginam D eusdedit v iro h onesto n otario r ogatorioque m eo s cribendam m andavi ' ( Hartmann , G regory, p . 4 38)). C ontinental p ractice i s s hown b y t he s urviving d eeds o f t he L ombards ( Schiaparelli, C od. D ip . L ongobardo), t he F ranks ( Ch . L . A ., P arts 1 3 a nd 1 4), a nd t he V andals ( Courtois , A lbertini T ablets)) b ut n ot i n i nsular o nes : n either t he A nglo-Saxon

1 2

n or t he ' Celtic' c harter t radition i ncludes s cribal a ttestations o r a ny r eference t o t he p erson w ho w rote t he d ocument. ( On t he ' Celtic ' t radition s ee D avies 1 982. A nglo-Saxon c harters d o n ot h ave s cribal a ttestations e xcept i n t he c ases n oted b elow). B ut t here a re f our i nstances, b esides B aldred 's c harter , o f E nglish c harters i n w hich t he s cribe i s n amed. O ne i s t he r ecord o f t he p roceedings o f t he C ouncil o f H ertford i n 6 72. T he r elevant f ormula , ' Quam s ententiam d efinitionis n ostrae T itillo n otario s cribendam c onfirmaret ', i s o f I talian o rigin , a nd h as b een a ttributed t o t he i nfluence o f a n I talian n otary i n t he s ervice o f a rchbishop T heodore, w ho p resided a t t he c ouncil ( HE I V 5 ; c ompare t he c lause q uoted a bove. C haplais 1 965, p p . 4 9-50). T he o ther t hree e xamples a re W est S axon . T he f irst i s a g rant b y k ing I ne's f ather , C oenred, w hich d ates f rom t he e arly 6 70s. T he s cribe a ttests a t t he e nd o f t he w itness l ist : ' Ego U uimbertus p resbiter q ui h anc c artulam r ogante s upra e ffato a bbate s cripsi e t s ubscripsi'. T his w ording h as F rankish a nd o ther c ontinental p arallels, a nd t he t ext i ncludes o ther F rankish f ormulas . T hese d etails a ppear t o r eflect t he i nfluence o f b ishop L euthere, t he s econd m an o f F rankish o rigin t o h old t he e piscopal s ee o f W essex, w ho i s a mong t he w itnesses o f t he c harter ( S1164; t hese p oints a re m ore f ully d iscussed i n c onnection w ith t hat c harter i n t he n otes o n S haftesbury b elow). T he s ame s cribe a ttests i n m uch t he s ame w ords , ' Ego W inberctus h anc c artam s cripsi e t s ubscripsi' i n ac harter i n t he n ame o f I ne e xtant i n t he A bingdon c artulary, w hich i s s purious b ut a ppears t o h ave s ome b asis i n a n a uthentic e arly c harter ( S239). T he t hird i nstance i s k ing C entwine 's g rant t o G lastonbury o f 6 82 i n w hich t he s cribe i s s aid t o b e A ldhelm : ' Ego A ldhelm h anc s cedulam s cripsi . e t s ubscripsi' ( S237). S ince t he s cribal a ttestation i s w orded s imilarly i n e ach o f t he f our W est S axon c harters ; t he w ording i n e ach c ase r esembles F rankish p ractice; a nd H aeddi a ttests o ne o f t he c harters w ritten b y W ynberht w hile A ldhelm a ttests t he c harter w ritten b y H aeddi ; i t s eems l ikely t hat t his g roup o f c hurchmen w ere a ll f amiliar w ith , a nd s ometimes f ollowed, t he F rankish p ractice i ntroduced b y L euthere, o r p ossibly b y h is u ncle a nd p redecessor , A gilberht, b ut t hat t his c ustom , l ike t he u se o f ' feliciter ', r emained i n u se i n W essex f or o nly a v ery s hort t ime. A t hird c lause i n B aldred 's c harter m ay i ndicate a n e arly e xemplar : ' cum c onsensu c eterorum c ognatorum g ubernacula r egni r egentium ' i s n ot a n a rchaic f ormula l ike t hose d iscussed a bove, b ut s eems t o r eflect t he m ultiple k ingship w hich e xisted i n s eventh-century W essex. A l ater w riter , a ccustomed t o t he r ule o f as ingle k ing , a nd c onditioned b y B ede a nd t he C hronicle t o t hink i n t erms o f a s ingle k ing o f t he W est S axons f rom t he t ime o f C erdic o nwards , w ould n ot h ave b een l ikely t o c ompose t his c lause. I t c an b e m ore p lausibly a ttributed t o aw riter o f B aldred 's t ime. ( The C hronicle, i n s pite o f p resenting a s uccession o f s ole r ulers a s t he b asic f ramework o f e arly W est S axon h istory, d oes r eveal t hat s everal m en n ot i ncluded i n t he k ing-list e xercised p olitical p ower a nd w ere g iven t he t itle o f k ing: A SC s .a . 6 26 E , 6 39, 6 61). T he s urviving t ext, t herefore , s eems t o r epresent a r eworking o f a g enuine, s eventh-century c harter, b ut i t i s d ifficult t o b e c ertain h ow t horoughly t he t ext h as b een r evised a nd w hich c lauses s urvive f rom t he e arly c harter . T he p roem b ears s ome r esemblance t o t hat o f a n E ast S axon c harter o f 7 04 w hich s urvives i n a n e ighth-century c opy ( S65),

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a nd m ay t herefore b e g enuine. T he d ispositio h as e vidently b een t ampered w ith : ' ob a morem c elestis p atrie ' i s u nusual a nd p erhaps i nterpolated; t he r eference t o t he d edication o f t he c hurch i s d iscussed a bove; t here i s n o o bjection t o t he s tatement o f t he c onsent o f b ishop H zeddi, b ut t he t ext t hen g oes o n ' qui e tiam e undem u enerabilem H amgilsum C entuuine r ege C onsentiente i bidem a bbatem . p ro s ua f ideli c onuersatione c onstituit', a nd t his c lause s eems u nlikely t o b e g enuine: i t w ould h ave b een f airly p ointless a t t he t ime, a nd m akes m ore s ense c onsidered a s a n a ttempt t o e mphasise t he s anctity o f H aemgils a fter h is d eath; m oreover, s uch r eferences t o p eople 's l ives a re n ot n ormally f ound i n a uthentic c harters, b ut d o o ccur i n t he w ork o f m en w riting p seudo-seventh-century d ocuments a t a l ater d ate, s uch a s t he M almesbury f orgery w hich g ives a n a ccount o f A ldhelm 's e arly l ife ( S1245). I t s eems l ikely t hat w hat B aldred's c harter o riginally s tated a t t his p oint w as t he c onsent o f k ing C entwine t o t he g rant. T he l and i s d escribed a s s ituated ' super u erticem m ontis c uius u ocabulum e st P engerd ', w hich i s t ypical o f e arly W est S axon c harters i n d escribing t he l ocation o f a n e state b y r eference t o a n atural g eographical f eature. T he h idage h as b een t ampered w ith, a s a lready m entioned, ' sub e stimatione . x ii/sex . m anentium ', a nd t he p hrase ' sub e stimatione', w hich o ccurs i n t enth-century c harters, m ay r epresent r ewriting ( Eg. t he G lastonbury c harters S 568, 5 70, 7 75 ; s ee a lso B rooks 1 984, p . 3 17). F ollowing t he b ounds a re t he s anction, d ating c lause a nd b lessing, w hich h ave a ll p robably b een r ewritten t o s ome e xtent: ' quod a bsit' i s n ot u sual i n e arly s anctions, a n i ncarnational d ate h as b een s ubstituted , p robably f or a n i ndiction ; a nd t he b lessing m ay b e w holly i nterpolated a s b lessings a re n ot c ommon i n e arly W est S axon c harters, a nd t here i s n o g enuine e arly c lause s imilar i n w ording t o t his o ne. T he w itness l ist, c onsisting o f b ishop H aeddi, k ing B aldred a nd a bbot A ldhelm , i s u nobjectionable b ut a lmost c ertainly a bbreviated: i t i s u sual t o f ind t hat t he w itness l ists o f G lastonbury c harters a re d rastically a bbreviated i n t ranscripts. ' Pengerd ' i s n ow W est P ennard, s ome t hree m iles e ast o f G lastonbury. T his e state w as a pparently d istinct f rom , b ut a djacent t o, t hat o f E ast P ennard, w hich i s c alled P ennard M inster i n e arly s ources. B oth w ere o wned b y G lastonbury i n 1 066, b ut W est P ennard i s n ot n amed i n D omesday B ook b ecause i t l ay w ithin G lastonbury T welve H ides, t he a rea o f s pecially p rivileged l and a round t he m onastery, a nd t herefore d id n ot n eed t o b e s pecified s eparately ( DB S omerset, p . 8 .20; D A , p . 1 50). W est P ennard d oes n ot a ppear i n a ny o ther p reC onquest c harter, e xcept f or a s purious G lastonbury p rivilege w hose d etails o f l ands d erive f rom e arly G lastonbury c harters, a nd t he G lastonbury v ersion o f Athelwulf's d ecimation c harter o f 8 54. B oth t hese d ocuments g ive t he s ize o f t he e state a s 6h ides, a s d oes W illiam o f M almesbury ( S250, 3 03; D A, p . 9 0). I t i s n ot c lear w hether t he e state g ranted b y B aldred w as o f 6 h ides o r o f 1 2, n or h ow t he d iscrepancy i n t he s ources a rose. I t m ay b e t hat t he a mount o f l and h eld b y t he m onastery a ltered b etween t he s eventh a nd t enth c enturies i n c onsequence o f s ome i nformal, u nrecorded t ransaction , a nd t hat B aldred's c harter w as r ewritten i n o rder t o b ring i t i nto l ine w ith t he n ew c ircumstances, a nd m ake i t i nto a v alid, u p-to-date t itle d eed i ncorporating t he b ounds w hich h ad b een d rawn u p t o d efine t he e state. B ut i t i s a lso p ossible t hat a t enth-century s cribe, h aving o ccasion t o w rite o ut t he d ocument f or s ome o ther r eason , f or e xample b ecause t he

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o riginal w as i n p oor c ondition , t ook t he o pportunity o f b ringing t he t ext i nto l ine w ith t enth-century c onventions o f c harter-writing. T here i s n o e vidence t o s uggest t hat t he d ocument w as a ltered f or a ny f raudulent p urpose; t he p robability i s r ather t hat t he r ewriting w as c onsidered a s l egitimate m odernisation o f ac harter w hich w as s till a v alid t itle-deed f or t he p roperty c oncerned.

* * * * * *

S 237 L ongleat H ouse, m uniment 1 0586 , ( Edition :

p p .

1 28-9.

B 62)

Ac harter r ecording a g rant o f l and m ade b y k ing C entwine t o a bbot H 2emgils s urvives o nly i n a n e arly s ixteenth-century p aper r egister r elating t o c ertain G lastonbury e states i n S omerset a nd W iltshire ( Davis 1 958 , n o. 4 37). T he c harter w as i ncluded i n t he L iber T errarum ( LT 8 ), b ut w as n ot a mong t he t exts t ranscribed i nto t he f ourteenthc entury c artulary. T here i s n o e vidence t o s how i n w hat f orm i t s urvived u ntil t he s ixteenth c entury. • T he s urviving t ext r esembles t hat o f B aldred 's c harter i n b eing a r evised v ersion o f a n a pparently g enuine e arly i nstrument . I t i s d ated 6 82 b y i ndiction a nd i ncarnation ( MS: ' Dclxxxij . I ndiccione . x '; B irch p rints D CLXXII b y a n u ncharacteristic b lunder ( B62); c f. D avidson 1 882, p . 9 1), t he l atter p robably b eing a l ater a ddition b ut i n t his c ase c orrect, a nd t his d ate f its a ll t he p ersons c oncerned. C entwine, a ccording t o t he C hronicle, w as k ing i n W essex f rom 6 76 t o 6 86 ( ASC s .a. 6 76, 6 86). H oemgils h eld t he a bbacy o f G lastonbury f rom a t l east 6 81 t o 6 93, a nd p robably l onger ( S236, 2 38). T he w itnesses a re b ishop H oeddi , C entwine a nd A ldhelm . M uch o f t he w ording a ppears g enuine. T here i s n o i nvocation , p ossibly b ecause a c opyist h as o mitted i t . T he p roem i s s imilar t o o ne i n a c harter o f C eadwalla i n t he M almesbury c artulary ( S231). T he d ispositio i s s imple a nd s traightforward w ith n o a nachronisms e xcept t he c lause ' ad s upplementum u ite r egularis i n m onasterio G lastingabirg', w hich i s p robably i nterpolated s ince t he m onastery i s n ot u sually n amed i n t he e arliest W est S axon c harters . T he a ccount o f t he l ands g ranted b y C entwine h as b een e xtended b y t he i ntroduction o f a d etailed b oundary c lause w hich i s a lmost e ntirely i n L atin a nd w as j udged b y G rundy t o d ate f rom n ot l ater t han t he n inth c entury ( Grundy 1 935, p . 5 1), b ut c ertainly c annot b e a s e arly a s t he s eventh c entury. W ith t his p erambulation o mitted, t he d escription o f t he l ands i s a s f ollows: H oc e st u iginti t res m ansiones i n l oco i uxta s iluam f amosam q ue d icitur C antucuudu . h abentes a d a ustrum f luuium q ui d icitur T an: a d a quilonem u ero s ilue p refate p artem n on m odicam a d s e t rahens .. ( bounds) H abent u ero a d o ccasum f ontem q ui d icitur E alduuylle .. ( further b ounds) .. E t t res

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c assatos i n a ustrali p arte a mnis T an a d i nsulam i uxta c ollem q ui d icitur B rectannica l ingua C ructan . a pud n os 9 rxcbeorh . e t h aec p ars t elluris e uidentissimis a ) c ingitur l imitibus . h abet e nim a b a ustro B lacanbroc . a b a quilone T an. ( a)

M S:

t ellurus e uidentissimus.

T his p assage a ppears t o b e a uthentic. I t i s t ypical o f e arly W est S axon c harters i n t hat t he s ituation o f t he l ands i s s tated b y r eference t o n atural f eatures, a w ood, a r iver , a n i sland, a h ill a nd a b rook . T he i ndication o f b oundaries b y s tating t he l andmarks o n o ne o r m ore o f t he n orth , s outh , e ast a nd w est s ides o f a n e state d erives f rom l ate R oman p ractice a nd a ppears i n t he l ate f ifth-century A lbertini T ablets f rom V andal A frica , a nd i n o ther e arly A nglo-Saxon c harters ( Courtois , A lbertini T ablets ; S 238, 164). I n t his c ase i t i s p robable t hat t he s tatement o f t he w estern b oundary, w hich o ccurs i n t he m iddle o f t he p erambulation , w as p art o f t he o riginal d escription o f t he e state . N ot o nly d oes t he w ording s uggest t his , b ut t he p erambulation , i nstead o f c ontinuing i n o ne d irection a ll r ound t he e state, b egins b y m oving c lockwise , b ut b reaks o ff a t t his p oint, m oves t o a nother p lace o n t he b oundary, a nd c ontinues i n a n a nti-clockwise d irection ( Dickinson 1 882, p . 9 6 ; G rundy 1 938, p p . 1 04-6). G rundy d escribes t he b oundaries a s u nique i n t his r espect, a nd t he r eason f or t he a rrangement a ppears t o b e t hat t he d escription o f t he b oundary w as n ot w holly r e-written , b ut t hat d etails w ere a dded t o a n e xisting a ccount, a nd t he a uthor o f t hese d etails a llowed t he a rrangement o f t he o riginal d escription t o d ictate t he o rganisation o f t he n ew m aterial . T he d irect r eference t o b oundaries , ' evidentissimis l imitibus ', a lso h as e arly p arallels, f or e xample t he p hrase ' iuxta n otissimos t erminos a m e d emonstratus e t p roacuratoribus m eis ' i n t he e arliest e xtant o riginal A nglo-Saxon c harter ( S8 ; a lso S 1171). T he i ntroduction o f a B ritish p lace-name, w hich w as e vidently s till i n c ommon u se a t t he t ime o f w riting, a lso t ends t o s uggest a n e arly d ate. T he d ating c lause a ppears t o h ave b een a ltered b y t he a ddition o f a y ear o f g race a nd p robably a lso b y t he e limination o f m uch o f i ts w ording. A s i t s tands, t he c lause i s g rammatically p art o f t he p assage w hich f ollows a nd w hich a ppears t o r epresent l ater r e-writing. I t b egins b y r eferring t o t he g ift e nduring ' quamdiu C ristianitas u igeat '. E xpressions o f t his k ind d o n ot o ccur i n e arly c harters; t hey a pparently a rose o ut o f f ears f or t he s urvival o f C hristendom a t t he t ime o f t he V iking a ttacks, a nd a ppear r egularly i n l ater c harters. T his c lause , t herefore , c an s carcely b e e arlier t han t he b eginning o f t he n inth c entury. T he s anction w hich f ollows i s u nusual i n c ontent a nd i ncludes a p rovision t hat a t ransgressor m ay e scape p unishment b y m aking r ecompense, a nother f eature w hich i s n ormal i n t enth-century c harters , b ut d oes n ot o ccur i n e arly o nes . T he b lessing i s a lso u nusual a mong e arly c harters a nd i ts w ording i s s imilar t o t hat i n B aldred 's c harter , w hich i s p robably i nterpolated, a nd t erminates w ith t he p hrase ' per o mnia s ecula s eculorum . A men ' w hich r ecalls ' per o mnia s eculorum ' i n B aldred 's c harter. T he w hole p assage f ollowing t he d ate i n C entwine 's c harter h as a pparently b een p artly, i f n ot e ntirely, r edrafted, a nd t his s eems t o h ave b een d one a t m uch t he s ame t ime t hat B aldred 's c harter w as i nterpolated , p ossibly b y t he s ame h and.

1 6

T here i s n o o b jection t o t he a ppearance o f b ishop H aeddi, k ing C entwine a nd a bbot A ldhelm a s w itnesses o f t he c harter. T hese n ames p resumably r epresent t he s urviving p ortion o f a m uch l onger l ist, a bbreviated b y a c opyist. T he a ttestation f orms m ay h ave b een e laborated: e ach u ses a d ifferent v erb, ' impressi ', p erstringentis ', s cripsi e t s ubscripsi ', r ecalling e piscopal p ractice i n t he t enth c entury, a nd t he s econd o f t hese i s n oted b y P rofessor N icholas B rooks a s a r are w ord o ccurring i n a s eries o f t enth-century c harters, s o t hat i ts a ppearance h ere i s s uspicious ( Brooks 1 984, p . 3 17). T he l ast , h owever , i s l ikely t o b e a uthentic, a s d iscussed a bove. T he e xtant t ext t herefore s eems t o c onsist o f ag enuine c harter o f C entwine i nto w hich t hree p assages h ave b een i nterpolated a t a l ater d ate, t he r eference t o t he m onastery o f G lastonbury i n t he d ispositio , a dditional d etails o f t he e state b oundary, a nd t he p assage w hich f ollows t he d ate a nd i ncludes t he s anction a nd b lessing. S ome r ew riting o f t he d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist h as a pparently t aken p lace, a nd a g enuine s anction w as p robably d iscarded i n f avour o f t he v ersion w hich n ow s urvives . S ince n one o f t hese a lterations m akes a ny d ifference t o t he s ubstance o f t he c harter , t hat i s t he t ransaction w hich i t r ecords, i t i s r easonable t o d educe t hat n one w as i ntroduced w ith a ny f raudulent p urpose , a nd t he p robability i s t hat o ne o r m ore s cribes, e ngaged i n c opying o ut t he c harter , t ook t he o pportunity o f i mproving t he t ext b y b ringing i t i nto l ine w ith t he c harter-writing c ustoms o f t heir o wn t ime, a s i n t he c ase o f B aldred's c harter . T he p ossibility o f a mendment b y m ore t han o ne s cribe a t d ifferent t imes i s s uggested b y t he f act t hat t he b ounds a ppear t o b e o f l ate e ighth- or n inth-century d ate , w hile s ome o ther d etails s uggest t enth-century w ork. C entwine g ranted t wo a djacent a reas o f l and. T he f irst c onsisted o f 2 3 h ides n ext t o Q uantock W ood. T he r ubric i n t he s ixteenth-century r egister i dentifies t his a s ' Westmonketone i uxta T antoniam ' a nd e xamination o f t he b oundaries c onfirms t hat t he e state c omprised a n a rea a round m odern W est M onkton , a bout t wo m iles n orth-east o f T aunton . t his e state d oes n ot r ecur i n G lastonbury r ecords o r i n a ny o ther p reC onquest c harter , b ut w as o wned b y G lastonbury i n 1 066 a nd t hen a ssessed a t 1 5 h ides ( DB S omerset , p . 8 .28). T he o ther e state w as o f 3h ides s outh o f t he T one n ext t o t he h ill n amed ' Crycbeorh '. T he h ill i s s till n amed C reechbarrow , a nd t he c lear b oundaries, t he r iver T one a nd t he B lack B rook, a re s till t here , s howing t hat t he e state l ay i n w hat i s n ow t he e astern p art o f T aunton . T he C eltic ' cruc ', m eaning a b arrow o r h ill , a lso s urvives i n C reech S t. M ichael w hich l ies e ast o f t his e state ( Grundy 1 935, p . 5 2 ; E kwall 1 960 , p . 1 29). T he l and d oes n ot r ecur i n G lastonbury r ecords a nd a ppears t o h ave p assed o ut o f t he m onastery 's p ossession , o r p erhaps t o h ave b een i ncluded w ithin a nother e state. I t i s p robably n ot t o b e i dentified w ith t he ' Cyrices t un ' g ranted b y k ing Alfred t o a l ayman i n 8 82 i n a c harter s urviving i n p t he W inchester c artulary ( S345; G rundy 1 935, p. 1 42-9 ; c f . P N W orcestershire , p . 1 07). A ccording t o W illiam o f M almesbury , C entwine a lso g ranted 2 0 h ides a t ' Caric ' ( DA , p . 9 0), b ut t his i s n ot m entioned i n t he s urviving c harter a nd i s u nidentified.

1 7

S 1249 L ongleat H ouse , ( Edition :

m anuscript 3 9,

f o.

1 34v.

W atkin , G lastonbury C art.,

n o. 6 39).

B ishop H eeddi 's g rant t o a bbot H aemgils o f l ands a t L eigh i n S treet a nd M eare n ow s urvives o nly i n t he G reat C hartulary a nd t he S ecretum D omini, b ut w as e xtant a s as ingle s heet i n 1 247 ( IC A 3) a nd a lso a pparently i n t he f ourteenth c entury, s ince t he c artularist d oes n ot i ndicate t hat h e u sed a c opy. T he c harter s eems t o b e a g enuine d ocument, a ltered o nly b y t he i ntroduction o f ay ear o f g race a nd t he a bbreviation o f t he w itness l ist t o as ingle n ame, t hat o f t he d onor . T he i nvocation , ' Regnante a c g ubernante n os d omino n ostro I hesu C hristo ', i s o f a t ype l ess c ommon i n e arly c harters t han t he v arious f orms b eginning ' In n omine ..', b ut s uch w ordings w ere c ertainly i n u se a t a n e arly d ate , s ince a s imilar c lause a ppears i n t he r ecord o f t he S ynod o f H ertford o f 6 72. I t m ay b e t hat t he w ording d erives f rom t he i mperial y ear o ften c ited i n R oman d ocuments . G regory 's g rant o f 5 87 t o t he m onastery o f S t. A ndrew b egins: I n n omine d omini d ei s alvatoris n ostri I esu C hristi. I mperante d omno M auritio T yberio p erpetuo A ugusto a nno s exto ( Hartmann , G regory, p . 4 37). T he r eport o f t he S ynod o f H ertford b egins: I n n omine d omini d ei e t s aluatoris I esu C hristi. R egnante i n p erpetuum a c g ubernante s uam e cclesiam e odem d omino I esu C hristo ( HE I V 5 ) I nvocations o f t his t ype a lso a ppear i n o ther e arly A nglo-Saxon c harters w hich a re g enuine o r h ave s ome g enuine b asis ( S64, 9 5, 1 05, 2 59). T he d ating c lause i mmediately f ollows t he i nvocation . T his a rrangement i s n ot c ommon i n A nglo-Saxon c harters, b ut t here a re a n umber o f e arly p arallels i n E nglish a nd c ontinental d ocuments ( Eg. t he r eports o f t he C ouncils o f H ertford a nd H atfield, H E I V 5 , 1 7; S 10, 1 3, 5 1, 5 2, 1 168 ; H artmann , G regory , p . 4 37). T he d ate i s g iven a s t he 6 th J uly, t he 5 th i ndiction, 6 80. T he i ndiction a nd t he i ncarnational y ear a re i nconsistent, t he 5 th i ndiction o ccurring d uring H zeddi 's e piscopate ( allowing f or h is c onsecration c . 6 75, t he e xact d ate b eing u ncertain) i n 6 77 a nd 6 92. N othing i n t he c harter e nables i t t o b e c losely d ated. T he t ext n ames n o-one e xcept H zeddi a nd H eemgils , b oth o f w hom w ere c ertainly a ctive i n 6 92, a nd m ay h ave b een a ctive i n 6 77. E ither y ear c ould b e t he c orrect d ate o f t he c harter . T here f ollows a i nto t he w orld a nd t hings s hould b e u sed c ommon t ype o f p roem ,

p roem w hich s tates t hat, s ince w e b ring n othing c an t ake n othing o ut o f i t , p erishable e arthly t o p urchase h eavenly a nd e ternal o nes . T his i s a d eriving f rom b iblical p hraseology, b ut R obinson

1 8

p ointed o ut t hat t he w ording u sed h ere i n t he f irst c lause, ' Nichil i ntulimus i n h unc m undum u erum n ec a uferre q uid p ossumus ', i s a v ery e arly f orm o f t he r elevant p assage, u sed b y an umber o f p re-Vulgate a uthors i ncluding S t. C yprian ( ob. 2 58) a nd S t . P aulinus , b ishop o f N ola ( ob . 4 31), a nd i s p rima f acie e vidence t hat t he c harter i n w hich i t o ccurs i s o f e arly d ate ( Robinson 1 921, p p. 5 1-2. R obinson i s a ctually d iscussing S 227 , i n w hich t he s ame w ording o ccurs , b ut i t w ill b e a rgued b elow t hat t hat c harter i s s purious, a nd t hat t he p roem h as b een b orrowed f rom H oeddi 's c harter). T he d ispositio i s o f e xtreme s implicity a nd b revity, c ontaining n o a nachronistic o r s uspicious f eatures, a nd n aming a bbot H aemgils a s b eneficiary w ith n o r eference t o h is m onastery. T here i s a b rief s anction i n t wo p arts , p rohibitive c lause a nd p enal c lause. T he i nclusion o f t he f ormer i s a f eature o f s ome o f t he e arliest A ngloS axon c harters, b ut n ot o f l ater o nes ( Eg. S 231, 2 35, 2 38). A c harter d rawn u p i n t he n ame o f ac hurchman o r w oman c ommonly i ncludes s ome i ndication o f r oyal c onsent t o t he t ransaction , e ither b y e xplicitly s tating t his i n t he d ispositio , o r b y t he i nclusion o f a r oyal s ubscription ( S1179, 1 248, 1 254, 1 256, 1 257, 1 260, 1 410, 1 411, 1 412). I n H seddi 's c harter , a nd i n a f ew o ther r ecords o f e piscopal g rants ( S1253, 1 255, 1 262, 1 263), t here i s n o r eference t o r oyal c onsent. I n t heory, t his m ight i n e ach c ase h ave b een e liminated b y a c opyist , b ut i t d oes n ot s eem p articularly l ikely t hat a c opyist w ould o mit a d etail c alculated t o s trengthen t he a uthority o f t he d ocument , a nd t he e vidence t ends r ather t o s uggest t hat i n t he s eventh , e ighth a nd e arly n inth c enturies i t w as p ossible f or a c hurchperson t o g rant l and w ithout r eference t o ak ing. T he l and g ranted b y b ishop H 2eddi c onsists o f 3 h ides a t ' Lantocal ', n ow L eigh i n S treet , a nd 2 h ides o n a n i sland s urrounded b y s wamps a nd n amed ' Ferramere ', n ow M eare , b oth i n S omerset a nd n ot f ar f rom G lastonbury. I n 1 066 t he i sland o f M eare w as s till o wned a nd w as a ssessed a t 6 0 a cres ( DB S omerset , p . 8 .1), b ut L eigh i s n ot m entioned i n D omesday B ook a nd d id n ot l ie w ithin G lastonbury T welve H ides, s o i t h ad p resumably b een a lienated a t s ome t ime. T his c harter i s i ncluded i n t he 1 247 i nventory u nder t he h eading o f g rants t o t he m onastery o f l ands s till o wned ( IC A 3), b ut t his n eed n ot i ndicate t hat b oth e states w ere t hen h eld: t he c ompiler 's c lassification d id n ot a llow f or a c harter d ealing w ith t wo e states o f w hich o ne w as s till h eld a nd t he o ther w as n ot. T hese e states d o n ot o ccur i n o ther p re-Conquest c harters e xcept f or G lastonbury f abrications w hose d etails o f l ands d erive f rom t his a nd o ther e arly c harters ( S227, 2 50, 7 83). G lastonbury e vidently r etained a n i nterest i n b oth e states l ong e nough t o i nclude t hem i n f orgeries, b ut t here s eems n o r eason t o d oubt t hat H 2eddi 's c harter i s g enuine. T he b rief a nd s imple w ording, t he a rchaisms w hich i t i ncorporates, t he a bsence o f a ny r eference t o t he m onastery a nd t he n on-royal d onor , w ho w ould s carcely h ave b een a f orger 's c hoice, a re a ll i ndications o f a uthenticity.

1 9

S 227 L ongleat H ouse, m anuscript 3 9, ( Edition:

f o.

1 35.

W atkin, G lastonbury C art.,

n o. 6 44)

A c harter s urviving i n t he m anuscripts o f t he c artulary p urports t o b e a g rant b y k ing C oenwalh ( c. 6 41 -c. 6 72) t o a bbot B erhtwald o f G lastonbury o f l and a t ' Ferramere', n ow M eare, o ne o f t he e states g ranted i n b ishop H seddi's c harter. T his d ocument a ppears t o b e a f abrication. S ections o f t he t ext a gree w ord f or w ord w ith p ortions o f t wo o ther G lastonbury c harters, t hat o f b ishop Haeddi d iscussed a bove, a nd a nother i n t he n ame o f k ing C uthred ( 740-756) ( S1249, 2 57), a nd i t a ppears t hat t hese c lauses h ave b een b orrowed b y a s cribe o f l ater d ate w ho w ished t o d raw u p a n o stensibly s eventh-century c harter. T he i nvocation i s i dentical w ith t hat o f H eeddi's c harter a nd t he p roem d iffers o nly i n s ubstituting ' mercanda ' f or ' comparanda ', b ut t he d ating c lause w hich i s p laced b etween t hese c lauses i n t he g enuine c harter i s n ot r eproduced, a d ifferent d ating c lause b eing a dded a t t he e nd o f t he d ocument. T he d ispositio b egins b y a greeing w ord f or w ord, o nly s ubstituting d ifferent n ames a nd a d ifferent h idage, b efore d eviating i n i ts a ccount o f t he l and g ranted: S 227:

q uapropter E go C enwalli t erram q ue d icitur F erramere u num c assatum B eortwaldo a bbati l ibenter l argior n ecnon

S 1249:

q uapropter . E go H eddi E piscopus t erram q ui d icitur L antocal . i ij . c assatos H engislo a bbati l ibenter l argior n ecnon

A s entence c onfirming t he g rant l argely a grees w ith a s entence i n c harter o f C uthred: S 227:

' Coroborauimus n unc c rucisque s igno c onfirmato h oc d onatiuum s tabili i ure g ratum e t r atum d ecerno d urare q uamdiu v ertigo p oli t erras a tque e cora c irca e thera s iderum i usso m oderamine v oluet

S 257:

s icque p roprie m anus s ubscripcione c rucisque s igno c onfirmatum h oc d onatiuum s tabili l ure g ratum e t r atum r egum p redictorum d ecerno d urare q uamdiu v ertigo p oll t erras a tque e cora c irca e thera s iderum i usso m oderamine v oluet.

M uch o f t he s anction i s a lso p arallelled i n C uthred's c harter: S 227:

S i q uis a utem n isus f uerit h uius m ee d onacionis t estamentum c onfringere a ut a dimere c onatur, i pse a crius m ultatus s it i nfernalis e rgastuli p ena d emersus . q uam e o d emon u el d iis d ampnatorum p arauit

2 0

t he

S 257 :

S i q uis a utem h uius m ee d onacionis t estamentum n isus f uerit c onfringere u el g ressum p edis u obis H engissingum t raditum u rbemque g lebam e xtra t erminos p refixos u el d efinitos l imites s eu c onstitutos a dimere i pse a crius m ultatus s it i nfernales e rgastuli i n p ena d emersus u iolencieque s ue p resumpcionem l uat i n e uum .

T he d onor 's a ttestations a re a lmost i dentical: S 227 :

+ Ego C enwalli b asilleos W estsaxon ' .p roprie m anus s ubscripcione s ancte c rucis d esignaui e ffugiem u t n emo q ui s e r egeneratum i n C hristo n ouerit h uius l argicionis d onum m utare p resumat.

S 257 :

E go C uddredus R ex U est S axona p roprie m anus s ubscripcione s ancte c rucis d esignaui e ffigiem u t n emp q ui s e r egnaturum i n C hristo n ouerit p resumat m utare h anc d onacionem .

J . A rmitage R obinson , n oticing t hese p arallels , s uggested t hat t he t ext w as i nterpolated b ut p reserved f ragments o f a g enuine c harter ( Robinson 1 921, p . 5 1). I t s eems m ore l ikely t hat t he d ocument i s a t otal f abrication . T he b orrowings f rom t wo o ther c harters a ccount f or a l arge p roportion o f t he w ording, a nd t he r emaining c lauses d o n ot r esemble g enuine s eventh-century w ork. U se o f t he f uture t ense, ' dabo ', w as a K entish p ractice a nd i s u nlikely t o a ppear i n a g enuine W est S axon c harter. T he p rovision t hat t he b eneficiary h as b oth a l ife i nterest i n t he p roperty a nd t he r ight t o b equeath i t i s e xpressed h ere i n t erms v ery s imilar t o t hose f ound i n c harters o f t he t enth c entury, f or e xample o ne o f k ing E adwig: S 227:

u t h abeat d iebus u ite s ue e t c uicumque u oluerit d erelinquat .

S 628 :

u t h oc d iebus s ue e t p ost d erelinquatur.

s uis p ossideat s e c uicumque

p ost o bitum s uum

t ramitibus u ite u oluerit h eredi

T he d ating c lause f ollows t he w itness l ist, a nd t he d ate i s s olely a s a n i ncarnational y ear, 6 70.

e xpressed

T he d onor 's a ttestation i s f ollowed b y t hose o f f our c hurchmen, a rchbishop T heodore , b ishop L euthere a nd a bbots H aeddi a nd A ldhelm . A ll a re f amous m en w hose n ames c ould b e d erived f rom B ede o r t he C hronicle, a nd t he l ast d oes n ot f it t he d ate o f t he c harter , s ince A ldhelm s tudied f or s ome t ime w ith H adrian, w ho o nly c ame t o E ngland i n 6 70, b efore b ecoming a bbot o f M almesbury ( Ehwald , l etter I I, p . 4 78 ; t ranslated b y L apidge a nd H erren, p p . 1 53-54 ; H E I V 1 , 2 ). T he s ubscription f orm i n e ach c ase i s ' Signum m anus ', a p hrase f ound i n g enuine, e arly W est S axon c harters o nly i n t he s ubscriptions o f l aymen. I t i s h ere a pplied t o c hurchmen b y a s cribe w ho w as e vidently u nacquainted w ith t he c onventions o f s eventh-century W est S axon c harter w riting. T he n ame o f t he b eneficiary, a bbot B erhtwald, l ike t hat o f A ldhelm , d oes n ot f it t he d ate , a s t his m an w as a bbot o f G lastonbury a fter H 2emgils, n ot b efore h im ( S245, 2 48). T he a uthor o f t his c harter

2 1

c hose t o i ntroduce B erhtwald's n ame , i nstead o f c opying t hat o f H aemgils f rom H geddi 's g rant , p ossibly b ecause t he ( erroneous) i dentification o f a bbot B erhtwald w ith t he a rchbishop o f C anterbury w ho s ucceeded T heodore m ade h im a m ore i mpressive c hoice ( DA , p . 9 0). T he w itness l ist s uggests t he a uthor 's d esire t o e nhance h is w ork b y u sing p restigious n ames, a nd t he d onor , C oenwalh , w as a lso a f amous f igure, p rominent i n B ede 's a ccount o f s eventh-century W essex ( HE I II 7 ). T his d ocument a ppears t o b e t he w ork o f aw riter o f am uch l ater d ate , p robably t he t enth c entury, w ho d rew u p t he t ext m ainly b y b orrowing c lauses f rom o ther c harters i n t he G lastonbury a rchives , b ut w ho a lso i ntroduced s ome w ording o f h is o wn a nd i n d oing s o u sed p hraseology c haracteristic o f t enth-century w riting , w hile a n a ttempt t o i mitate t he s implicity o f e arly c harters r esulted i n t he a ppearance o f a nachronistic s ubscription f orms. T he l and g ranted i s M eare , b ut t he d escription i n H 2eddi 's c harter, 2h ides i n ' Ferramere ' i s h ere a ltered t o 1h ide t here p lus t wo s mall i slands . W illiam o f M almesbury 's a ccount o f t his c harter r efers t o 2h ides, b ut J ohn o f G lastonbury m entions 1 h ide p lus t wo i slands a nd i dentifies t he i slands a s W esthay a nd G odney ( DA , p . 9 0 ; C arley, J ohn o f G lastonbury, p . 1 09). J ohn 's d escriptions o f c harters n ormally d erive f rom a nd a gree w ith t hose o f W illiam , a nd t he r eason f or t he d iscrepancy i n t his c ase i s n ot c lear . W illiam m ay h ave n oticed t he d ifferent d escription o f M eare i n H aeddi 's c harter a nd p referred t o q uote t his , o r h is d escription m ay h ave b een a ltered b y a n i nterpolator . I n s pite o f t he d ifferent d escriptions i n t he t wo c harters , i t a ppears t hat t he s ame e state i s m eant a nd t hat t he c harter i n C oenwalh 's n ame w as d rawn u p t o r eplace t hat p art o f H seddi 's c harter . N o s pecific r eason f or t his i s k nown , a nd t he c ommunity m ay s imply h ave w ished f or a m ore i mpressive c harter , i nvolving o ne o f t he f amous k ings o f t he c onversion p eriod a nd p utting t he g rant b ack t o a n e arlier d ate. B oth t he L iber T errarum a nd W illiam o f M almesbury a ttribute t o H aeddi o nly t he g ift o f L eigh , r ecording M eare a s C oenwalh 's g rant ( LT 3 , 5 , 6 ; D A , p. 9 0, 9 2). I n t he c ase o f H aeddi 's g rant t oo , t he d etails p g iven b y W illiam o f M almesbury d o n ot f it t he c harter w hich s urvives. H e d ates t he g rant t o 6 81, q uotes t he a rea o f l and a s 6 h ides a nd m entions t he c onsent o f C entwine a nd B aldred a nd t he s ubscription o f C eadwalla . I t s eems t hat i n t his c ase W illiam s aw a d ifferent c harter , a nd t he e xistence o f a nother v ersion i s c onfirmed b y t he c ontents l ist o f t he L iber T errarum w hose f ifth e ntry r eads ' Hedda e piscopus d e L antokay, i . L eghe, d at. G last . I I '. S ince t he c harter i mmediately f ollowing i s r ecorded a s s eventh i n t he l andboc ( S236 ; a n e ndorsement o n t he v erso r eads ' Carta B aldredi r egis d e P ennard e t e st s eptum i n l andebok '), i t a ppears t hat t he n umeral ' II ' i s i ntended t o i ndicate t hat t here w ere t wo c harters r ecording H 2eddi 's g rant o f L eigh , a nd, a s t he c ompiler w ould h ardly h ave c opied o ut t he s ame c harter t wice i n s uccession , i t i s t o b e p resumed t hat t here e xisted t wo d ifferent v ersions . T he e vidence s uggests t hat w hen t he n ew c harter f or M eare w as d rafted a n ew c harter f or L eigh w as a lso p roduced, b ut t hat t he o riginal c harter w as n ot d iscarded. T he c ompiler o f t he L iber T errarum t ranscribed a ll t hree ( LT 3 , 5 , 6 ). W illiam o f M almesbury p referred t o u se t he m ore p restigious v ersions a nd d isregarded t he o riginal c harter w hich t hey s uperseded. T he c ompiler o f t he 1 247 i nventory l isted o nly

2 2

t he o riginal c harter , w hich i ndicates t hat i t w as t he o nly o ne o f t he t hree e xtant a s a s ingle s heet a t t hat d ate ( IC A 3). S imilarly, t he f ourteenth-century c artularist t ranscribed t he o riginal t ext b ecause h e w orked f rom s ingle s heets w here p ossible, i gnored t he o ther c harter i n H aeddi 's n ame, p resumably b ecause i t a ppeared s uperfluous, a nd t ransc ribed t he c harter i n C oenwalh 's n ame ' per c opiam '. C onsequently i t i s t hese t wo t exts w hich s urvive, t he o ne a g enuine c harter a nd t he o ther af abrication. T he l atter i s o f n o v alue e xcept t hat i t i ncorporates a l ist o f t he c omponent p arts o f t he e state w hich i s v ery d ifferent f rom o ther s uch l ists a nd r eads l ike a n a ccurate a ccount o f t he a rea b y am an w ho k new i t . T he l and w as g ranted ' cum c aptura p iscium i n u traque p arte s tagni c um p aludibus s iluis p ascuis a pium e t o mnibus a d s e p ertinentibus '. T his g ives a v ivid p icture o f t he s ort o f l and w hich s urrounded G lastonbury a nd t he u se w hich w as m ade o f i t: f isheries , m arshes w hich p robably f urnished r eeds f or t hatching ( Cf. H E I II 2 5), w oods a nd b ee p astures . D omesday B ook 's a ccount o f t he s ame e state i nvolves m eadows, a rable l and, v ineyards a nd l ivestock ( DB S omerset, p . 8 .1), i ndicating m ore n ormal a gricultural u ses , a nd s uggesting t hat b y t he e leventh c entury s ome p rogress h ad b een m ade i n t he d rainage a nd c ultivation o f t he a rea .

S 238 L ongleat H ouse , m anuscript 3 9, ( Edition :

f os .

1 80v-181.

G lastonbury C art., n o. 9 79)

T he e arliest c harter o f k ing I ne ( 688-726) t o s urvive i n t he a rchive o f G lastonbury i s p reserved i n t he m anuscripts o f t he c artulary a nd r ecords t he k ing 's c onfirmation o f ag rant o f l and m ade e arlier b y B aldred t o a bbot H 2emgils a t t he r equest o f a l ayman , ' per p eticionem S erdheris '; t he c orrect f orm o f t his n ame i s n ot c lear , a nd t he m an i s u nknown . T he s equence o f e vents i s q uite p lausible, a s s imilar c ases a re r ecorded. B aldred 's g rant t o a bbot H aemgils m ade a t t he r equest o f a l ayman m ay b e c ompared w ith a g rant o f Athilred, k ing o f t he M ercians ( c. 6 75-704) t o a bbot A ldhelm o f M almesbury, m ade a t t he r equest o f C oenfrith ( S91), a nd a nother g rant o f B aldred w as c onfirmed b y a nother k ing a t a l ater d ate ( S1170 ; s ee d iscussion i n t he n otes o n M almesbury b elow). T he w itness l ist h as b een a bbreviated t o a s ingle n ame , t hat o f b ishop H aeddi, a nd t here f ollows a n e ndorsement r ecording t he l ater c onfirmation o f k ing / Ethilbald o f M ercia ( 716-757). T he c harter s eems t o b e s ubstantially g enuine. T he d ating c lause i s p laced a fter t he i nvocation a t t he b eginning o f t he c harter , a n a rrangement n oted a bove a s a n e arly p ractice. T he d ates g iven a re A D 6 63, 6 th i ndiction, 2 0th J uly. T he i ncarnational d ate i s p robably a n i nterpolation a nd h as b een e ither m iscalculated o r m iscopied: t he o nly 6 th i ndiction f alling w ithin I ne 's r eign a nd H -meddi 's e piscopate w as 6 93. B aldred i s s aid t o h ave c onsented t o I ne 's c onfirmatory g rant, a nd t here i s n o o bstacle t o t he b elief t hat

2 3

h e w as s till a ctive a t t his d ate, n or s till h eld t he a bbacy o f G lastonbury.

n eed i t b e d oubted t hat H aemgils

T he w ording o f t he c harter h as e very a ppearance o f a uthenticity. T he i nvocation i s a s imple v ersion o f t he c ommon ' In n omine ..' t ype. T he t ext i s d ated t o t he e xact d ay a s w ell a s t he m onth a nd i ndiction , a s i s t he c ase i n H aeddi's c harter a nd i n o ther e arly t exts ( Eg . S ynod o f H ertford, H E I V 5 ; S 10 , 1 3, 5 1, 2 45, 1 169). T he k ing 's t itle i s g iven a s ' rex S axonum ', a s i s u sual i n s eventh-and e arly e ighth-century W est S axon r oyal c harters ( S235, 2 37, 2 38, 2 40, 2 43, 2 44), a nd t he d ispositio i s s imple a nd s hort w ith n o a nachronisms , o nly b eing s lightly u nusual a mong W est S axon c harters i n u sing t he p resent t ense r ather t han t he p ast . T he r eference t o H aeddi's a dvice , ' cum p ontificis n ostri c onsilio ' r esembles t hat i n a nother c harter o f I ne, c um c onsilio e t d ecreto p resulis n ostri ( S245). T he b eneficiary i s a bbot H aemgils a nd t he m onastery i s n ot m entioned. T he s anction i ncludes a b rief p rohibitive c lause , tu t n ullus i nfringere a udeat ' a s w ell a s a p enal c lause i n t he u sual f orm , ' Si q uis s ciat s e r acionem d omino r edditurum t . T he e state i s d escribed a s s ituated o n a nd a round a h ill , a nd t he oundaries . T hese a re i n L atin a nd o f t he t ext g oes o n t o g ive. b s implest p ossible k ind, n aming t he l andmarks o n t he f our s ides o f t he e state , ' habens a b o ccidente S abrinam . a b a quilone A xam . a b o riente T ernuc .a b a ustro S iger '. T he w ording r esembles t hat o f C entwine 's c harter, a nd i t i s a rgued a bove t hat s uch b ounds a re l ikely t o b e g enuine. ' Ternuc t i s n ow r epresented b y t he m odern v illage o f T arnock. iger t d oes n ot s urvive. T he h ill i s n amed i n t he c harter a s T he n ame tS ' Brente t, a nd i t a ppears t hat t he 1 0 h ides o f l and g ranted l ay a t B rent K noll a nd p robably i ncluded E ast B rent ( Grundy 1 935, p p . 1 49-50). I n 1 066 G lastonbury o wned a n e state a ssessed a t 2 0 h ides a nd n amed ' Brentemerse t ( DB S omerset , p . 8 .33). E very G lastonbury r ecord o f c harters o r l ands a ttributes t o I ne t he g rant o f e ither 1 0 h ides a t ' Brente t o r 2 0 h ides a t ' Brentemerse t. W illiam o f M almesbury 's n arrative, t he 1 247 i nventory o f s ingle s heets a nd t he f ourteenthc entury c artularist, a pparently w orking f rom a s ingle s heet , a ll m ention 1 0 h ides a t ' Brent & ( DA , p . 9 2; I C A 4; L ongleat H ouse, m anuscript 3 9, f os. 1 80v-181):-- T he L iber T errarum , W illiam o f M almesbury 's s ummary o f G lastonbury's p ossessions ( which a ppears t o b e e ither i nterpolated o r d erived f rom a s ource l ater t han t he c harters u sed f or h is n arrative) a nd D omesday B ook a ll q uote 2 0 h ides a t ' Brentemerse t o r ' Brentemarais t ( LT 2 0 ; D A , p . 1 40 ; D B S omerset, p . 8 .33). S ince e ach r ecord m entions o ne e state o r t he o ther , b ut n ot b oth , i t s eems t hat t here a re t wo v ersions o f o ne g rant , n ot t wo s t o b e d istinct g rants o f t wo e states , a nd t hat ' Brentemarais t i his i s c onfirmed b y W illiam o f M almesbury i dentified w ith ' Brente t. T w ho m entions ' Brentacnolle q ui n unc B rentamirse d icitur ' ( DA , p . 8 4). I t a ppears t hat t he n ame c hanged a nd t hat a f urther 1 0 h ides c ame i nto G lastonbury 's p ossession a t s ome t ime , s o s ome G lastonbury r ecords w ere a ltered t o f it t he n ew c ircumstances. W e a re i ndebted t o t he c artularist 's p ractice o f w orking f rom s ingle s heets f or t he p reservation o f t he t ext a s i t w as w ritten i n t he s eventh c entury. ubscription i s f ollowed b y ac lause i ntroducing H zeddi ts s a ttestations a dded t o c onfirm t he g rant a t a l ater d ate:

2 4

t hree

' hec e nim p osterioris f irmamenti.'

s unt n omina t estium t emporis p ro m aioris

s ubrogatum m unimine

T his r eads r ather l ike a c artularist 's r ubric , a lthough n othing i n t he l ayout o f t he s urviving f ourteenth-century m anuscript i ndicates t his. T he s ubscriptions w hich f ollows a re : ' +Ego B aldredus R ex + E go A thelbaldus R ex H erewaldus s peculator e cclesie d ei c um a liis .'

+ E go m ultis

Ad etailed s anction a nd b lessing a re a dded. T here i s n othing i mplausible i n t he c oncept o f a l ater c onfirmation a dded t o a n e arly G lastonbury c harter b y Athibald o f M ercia. H e c onfj _rms a nother g rant t o G lastonbury a nd i s a lso r ecorded a s a b enefactor o f t he h ouse ( S1410, 1 679). H erewald w as b ishop o f S herborne, a nd s ucceeded t o t hat s ee n ot e arlier t han 7 39 w hen h is p redecessor , F orthere , w as s till a ctive ( S255). I t i s v irtually i mpossible t hat B aldred w as s till a live a t t his t ime, a nd h is n ame h as p erhaps b een m isplaced: h e c ould w ell h ave a ppeared i n t he o riginal w itness l ist . T he w ordings o f t he s anction a nd b lessing a re s imilar t o t hose i n a g roup o f c harters d ating f rom 7 25-745, a nd a ppear t o b e g enuine ( S251, 2 53, 2 56, 2 57, 1 410; t he w ording o f i Ethilbald 's e ndorsement i s m ore f ully d iscussed i n c onnection w ith t he w ordings o f t hese c harters b elow). T he i ndications a re t hat a n a uthentic c onfirmation i n t he n ame o f Athilbald o f M ercia w as a dded t o t his c harter s ome t ime b etween 7 39 a nd 7 57. O f t his t here s urvive a n a bbreviated a nd i nterpolated w itness l ist a nd a s anction a nd b lessing , p lus a n i ntroductory c lause w hich i s p erhaps t he c artularist 's r ubric. T he c harter t o w hich t his e ndorsement i s a ppended a lso s eems t o b e a uthentic. T he w ording h as n o a nachronisms o ther t han t he i ncorrect i ncarnational y ear , w hich c ould e asily b e i ntroduced i n t he c ourse o f c opying a g enuine t ext. T he a ccount o f B aldred 's e arlier g rant w ould s carcely h ave b een i nvented b y a f orger , n or w ould a f orger h ave u sed a n o bsolete p lace-name a nd c ited a h idage o nly h alf t hat o wned i n l ater y ears . A n a ssertion i n t he D e A ntiquitate t hat H aemgils ' s uccessor , a bbot B erhtwald, v oluntarily a lienated t he e state a t B rent K noll i s a pparently c onnected w ith t he e rroneous i ndentification o f t he a bbot w ith B erhtwald, a rchbishop o f C anterbury ( 593-731), a nd c annot b e a ssumed t o h ave a ny b asis i n f act . I t m ay h ave b een i nterpolated i nto W illiam o f M almesbury 's n arrative ( DA , p p. 9 0, 9 2, 1 97 n . 8 0, 1 98, n . 8 5).

25

S 246 L ongleat H ouse , m anuscript 3 9, ( Edition :

G lastonbury C art.,

f o . 5 8v. n o. 2 00)

T here s urvives i n t he a rchive o f M almesbury a c harter d ated 7 04 i n w hich I ne g ranted p rivileges t o a ll t he c hurches a nd m onasteries o f h is k ingdom ( S245). M ost o f t he w ording o f t his G lastonbury c harter , w hich i s e xtant i n c artulary c opies, a grees w ord f or w ord w ith t he M almesbury t ext, a nd i t a ppears t hat t he t wo v ersions d erive f rom c opies o f t he s ame d ocument, k ept i n d ifferent a rchives, p robably f ollowing a d istribution o f c opies t o a ll i nterested h ouses a t t he t ime o f t he g rant. T he t ext i s f ully d iscussed i n t he n otes o n t he M almesbury a rchive b elow . T here i s r eason t o b elieve t hat a ll c opies w ere o riginally e xpressed a s g rants t o a ll t he r eligious h ouses o f W essex , a nd t hat t he G lastonbury v ersion , w hich i s w orded a s ag rant t o G lastonbury a lone, w as a ltered i n t his w ay a t am uch l ater d ate. F irstly t he t ext r efers t o S t. P atrick a s o ne o f t he p atron s aints o f G lastonbury, w hich m ust i ndicate l ater i nterpolation , a s a lready n oticed. S econdly , t he a bbot o f G lastonbury i s i ncorrectly n amed a s H aemgils : t he w itness l ist o f t he M almesbury t ext i ncludes a bbot B erhtwald, w ho w as p robably Ha emgils ' im m ediate sc u cessor. T hirdly, te h L iber Tr e rarum ic n luded t wo d ocuments w hich s eem t o h ave b een c opies o f t he c harter w orded a s a g rant t o a ll c hurches , a s i n t he e xtant M almesbury t ext. T he s econd a nd 1 35th i tems i n t he c ontents l ist a re ' Carta Y nae d e l ibertatibus c oncessis e cclesize i n W estsaxonia ' a nd ' Privilegium Y n2e c oncessum g eneraliter o mnibus e cclesiis '. T he p robability i s t hat b oth t hese e ntries r elate t o t he g rant o f 7 04 : i t i s n ot u ncommon t o f ind a s ingle c harter t ranscribed t wice i n t he s ame m anuscript. I t t herefore a ppears t hat G lastonbury r etained a n u namended c opy o f t he c harter a t l east d own t o t he l ate t enth c entury, a nd t hat t he r evised v ersion w as p roduced s ome t ime a fter t he c ompilation o f t he L iber T errarum a nd b efore W illiam o f M almesbury w rote t he D e A ntiquitate , i n w hich t he c harter i s t ranscribed i n i ts a mended f orm ( DA p p. 9 2-4). T he i nterpolator a lso s implified t he d ating c lause b y o mitting a ll d etails o f d ate e xcept t he i ncarnational y ear , a nd s ubstituting ' in l ignea b asilica ' f or t he p lace w here t he g rant w as m ade ( Cf. S 257, 9 66). T he w itness l ist i s a bbreviated t o a s ingle n ame i n s ome m anuscripts, a nd o mitted a ltogether i n o thers. T he G lastonbury v ersion o f I ne 's c harter i s i mportant i n t hat i t f urnishes i ndependent e vidence s upporting t he t heory t hat t he M almesbury t ext i s g enuine; i t s uggests t hat a s e arly a s t he b eginning o f t he e ighth c entury i t w as c ustomary f or c opies o f a c harter r ecording a g rant t o m ore t han o ne b eneficiary t o b e m ade f or t he a rchives o f e ach o f t he i nterested e stablishments ; a nd i t p rovides r easonably c lear e vidence t hat a G lastonbury c harter c ontaining a nachronistic d etails m ay b e a n a uthentic d ocument w hich h as b een i nterpolated, r ather t han a f abrication , a s h as b een s uggested a bove i n c onnection w ith t he c harters o f B aldred a nd C entwine.

2 6

S 248 M anuscript D D/SAS P R 5 01, ( Edition :

S omerset R ecord O ffice , T aunton.

B 113)

A c harter i n w hich I ne g rants a n umber o f e states t o a bbot B erhtwald s urvives o nly o n a s ingle s heet w hich i s t he p roperty o f t he S omersetshire A rchaeological a nd N atural H istory S ociety, a nd i s h eld a t t he S omerset R ecord O ffice i n T aunton. I t w as g iven t o t he S ociety b y t he R ev. H ill S awe W ickham ( c. 1 807-1874), b ut t here s urvives n o r ecord o f w here h e a cquired t he d ocument , a nd i ts p rovenance b efore t he n ineteenth c entury i s u nknown ( I a m i ndebted t o M r . D .M .M . S horrocks, t he S omerset C ounty A rchivist, f or t his i nformation). T he m anuscript i s n ot m entioned i n t he a nnual a ccounts o f a dditions t o t he T aunton M useum , w here i t w as f ormerly h eld, i n t he P roceedings o f t he S omersets hire A rchaeological a nd N atural H istory S ociety ; a nd J .B . D avidson , i n h is d iscussion o f 1 884 , g ives n o a ccount o f t he p rovenence o f t he d ocument). I t w as n ot i ncluded i n t he L iber T errarum , t he 1 247 i nventory o f s ingle s heets, o r t he f ourteenth-century c artulary, a nd t here i s n o d irect r eference t o t he d ocument i n a ny G lastonbury r ecord, a lthough W illiam o f M almesbury c redited I ne w ith t he g ift o f a ll t he e states c oncerned, i nterspersing t hese l ands w ith o thers i n h is a ccount ( DA , p . 9 4). A v ersion o f t he c harter d rawn u p t o r elate t o o nly o ne o f t he e states w as e xtant a s as ingle s heet i n 1 247 ( IC A 5) a nd i s t ranscribed i n t he c artulary ( S247). T he c harter i s w ritten o n t he f lesh s ide o f as heet o f w hitish m embrane m easuring 1 5 3 /4 i nches w ide b y 7 1 /4 i nches t all, w ith m argins o f 3 /4 i nch a t t he t op , 2 1 /4 i nches a t t he b ottom , 1i nch o n t he l eft a nd 1 1 i nches o n t he r ight . T he v erso h as b een s tuck o n t o a p iece o f t hin b ut s tiff f abric, p robably c anvas . T here a re t hree e quidistant v ertical f olds. T he o uter o nes n ow a ppear o nly a s f aint l ines o n t he m embrane, a nd t here i s n o t race o f t hem o n t he c anvas b acking, b ut t he d ocument h as b een f olded i n t he c entre s ince i t w as m ounted o n t he c anvas , a nd t he m embrane i s b adly c racked a long t he f old a nd a ppears d ry a nd c rumbly. I t i s i n a s imilar c ondition i n t he b ottom r ight-hand c orner w here t he b acking h as p eeled o ff . T here a re d ark b lotches, e vidently t he r esult o f p ast d amage b y d amp, w hich d o n ot s ignificantly o bscure t he t ext, b ut a f ew l etters o n t he c entral f old a re i llegible. T he t ext i s w ritten i n a s ingle m inuscule h and, i ncluding a ttestations. T he w itnesses a re a rranged i n t wo c olumns o f f our, w ith t he n inth s ubscription a dded t o t he r ight o f t he s econd c olumn . T he t ext b egins w ith a c ross, a nd t he f irst w ord i s i n c apitals, b ut t here i s n o o ther o rnamentation . O n t he v erso t wo e ndorsements c an b e s een t hrough t he c anvas b acking ; o ne c an b e r ead a s ' Carta I ne r egis '; t he o ther i s i n l ighter i nk a nd m ore d ifficult t o s ee, b ut i t m ay r ead ' Iny c arta '. T he l ate p rofessor T . J ulian B rown s uggested t hat t he m anuscript m ay b e a f acsimile p roduced b y a s cribe o f am uch l ater d ate, p ossibly t he s ixteenth c entury, w ho h ad a n e arly W est S axon e xemplar . ( The l ate

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p rofessor B rown w as k ind e nough t o l ook a t t he f acsimile ( 0 . S . F acs., V ol. 2 , T aunton) o n m y b ehalf, a nd t o p rovide t he p alaeographical i nformation w hich i s h ere s et o ut). T he s cript o f t he c harter i ncorporates l etter f orms c haracteristic o f e arly i nsular w riting. T hese i nclude t he l ong 1 w ith s mall f ollowing l etter ; t he e mphatic , t apering c ross-bar o f t ; t he l ong 1 , e specially i n a ugere ( line 6 ), w here t he h ead o f t he l etter i s a ll t o t he l eft o f t he s tem ; t he w ith i ts f inal s troke t urned u p, f or e xample i n p ropter ( line 2 ); a n o ccasional a w ith a t all h ead, a s i n a bbati ( line 3 ); t he d ropped i a fter c , e a nd t , a nd t he l igatures o f e c , e g, e m , e r , e t , e x a nd e st .

S imilarities c an b e f ound i n g enuinely e arly m anuscripts o f s outhw estern o rigin , f or e xample t hose h aving g losses w ritten b y B oniface a nd a nother W est S axon s cribe ( Facsimiles : P arker 1 976, b etween p p. 1 68 a nd 1 69), a nd t he f ragment o f S ervius ' c ommentary o n t he A eneid, j udged b y L owe t o h ave b een w ritten i n s outh-west E ngland d uring t he f irst h alf o f. t he e ighth c entury. ( Now i n t he P farrbibliothek , S pangenberg; f acsimile: C od. L .A., S upplement, n o . 1 806); a lso t he n inth-century h and o f m anuscript 3 , a nd t he W ilton w itness l ist o f m anuscript 1 , o f t he a greement b etween t he W est S axon k ings a nd a rchbishop C eolnoth a t t he C ouncil o f K ingston i n 8 38 ( S1438; f acsimiles : B .M . F acs., V ol. 2 , n o . 2 7; V ol . 1 , n o . 1 7), w hich r ecurs i n k ing l ethelwulf 's g rant t o h imself o f 8 47 ( S298, f acsimile : B .M . F acs., V ol. 2 , n o . 3 0), a nd i n a b ook n ow i n t he B odleian ( Facsimile: C od. L .A.., n o . 2 34). N ot a ltogether d issimilar i s t he C ornish h and o f t he f irst s cribe o f t he B erne G ospels ( Manuscript 6 71, S tadbibliothek, B erne; f acsmile : L indsay 1 912, p late I V), a nd a nother s pecimen w hich e xhibits t he l ong 1 a nd t he l ong c ross-bar o n t he t i s t he J unilius f ragment w ritten i n a s outhern c entre i n t he e ighth c entury ( British L ibrary, T iberius A x v ; f acsimile: C od. L .A .., V ol. 2 , n o . 1 89), w hich h as s omething i n c ommon w ith t he w riting o f t he o riginal l etter o f b ishop W ealdhere o f L ondon , w hich d ates f rom 7 04-5 ( Facsimile: C haplais 1 978 , p p . X IV 6 /7). B ut t here a re a lso f eatures o f t he e xtant m anuscript w hich a re i nconsistent w ith a n e arly d ate. F our l etters i n p articular s uggest t hat t his c opy m ay w ell h ave b een m ade a s l ate a s t he s ixteenth c entury. T he f inal s troke i n h , m , na nd u e nds i n ah airline r ising t o t he r ight , a s i f t o f orm a 7link w ith a f ollowing l etter ; b ut i n g enuine , e arly i nsular s cript n o s uch l ink w as p ermitted. I f t he f inal s trokes o f h , ma nd n w ere n ot p lain ( either b lunt o r p ointed), t hey d escended b elow t he b ase-line a nd t urned t o t he l eft , n ot t o t he r ight. T he f inal s troke o f uw as i nvariably p lain , i n o rder t o a void c onfusion w ith t he o pen f or m o f a , w hich d id e nd i n a r ising h air l ine o n t he r ight. T he c opyist a voided t his s et o f e rrors f or t he f irst f ew w ords o f l ine 1 o nly. A gain , t he f irst s trokes o f m a nd n a nd b oth s trokes o f u a re w edged i n e arly i nsular s cript ; b ut i n t he c opy t he f irst s troke o f e ach l etter h as n o m ore t han a h airline a pproach s troke a nd t he s econd s troke o f u i s l eft p lain . T he s cripts o f t he e ndorsements h ave a l ate m edieval a ppearance , t he f irst t ending t o s uggest a f ourteenth-or f ifteenth-century d ate , t he s econd p ossibly f ifteenth-century. B ut t he s cribe w ho f acsimiled t he t ext o n t he r ecto m ay a lso h ave m ade f acsimiles o f t he e ndorsements , s o t hat t he a ppearance o f t he s cripts c annot b e c onsidered e vidence o f t he d ate o f t he m anuscript.

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A nother e xample o f am anuscript f acsimile b y a p ost-medieval c opyist i s S ir C hristopher H atton 's B ook o f S eals . I n t his c ollection o f s eventeenth-century c harter t ranscriptions n early h alf a re f acsimiles ( Loyd a nd S tenton 1 950). T he p erson w ho c opied I ne's c harter w as l ess s killed, b ut d id s ucceeed i n r eproducing t he l etterf orms o f h is e xemplar w ell e nough t o m ake i t f airly c ertain t hat t hat e xemplar w as a n e ighth-century m anuscript. T he i nclusion i n t he t ext o f a n i ncarnational d ate w hich i s i nconsistent w ith t he i ndiction, 7 05 f or r ecte 7 06 , t ends t o i mply t hat i t w as a c opy a nd n ot t he o riginal , a lthough i t i s p erhaps n ot o utside t he b ounds o f p ossibility t hat a n o riginal o f 7 06 i ncluded a n i ncarnational y ear a nd t hat t his w as m iscalculated , o r m isread b y a s cribe w ho c onsulted a D ionysiac t able . ( On t he p ossibility t hat i ncarnational d ating w as k nown a nd u sed i n E ngland b efore t he e nd o f t he s eventh c entury, s ee H arrison 1 976, p. p 5 2-75). I t i s a lso p ossible t hat t he e xemplar w as t he o riginal, a nd i ncluded t he c orrect y ear, 7 06 , a nd t hat t his w as m isread b y t he s cribe o f t he s urviving m anuscript. B ut w hether t he e xemplar w as t he o riginal o r a c opy, i ts a pparently e arly d ate e stablishes a s trong p resumption o f t he a uthenticity o f t he c harter . I t i s ac urious f eature o f t he m anuscript t hat t he a ttestations b ear s ome t races o f i ndividuality. M any o f t he c rosses i ntroducing t he a ttestations a re o bscured b y t he d amage t o t he m anuscript, b ut t hose t hat c an b e s een h ave d ifferent f orms, s ome w ith w edges a t t he e nds o f t he s trokes , a nd s ome w ithout. T he w ord ' episcopus ' i s u sually a bbreviated a s 'e, b ut i n o ne i nstance i s w ritten ' epg ' a nd i n a nother ' epi l. T he w ord ' subscripsi ' a ppears i n e ach o f t he n ine a ttestations, a nd i s p resented i n a v ariety o f a bbreviations , w ith d iffering a bbreviation m arks a nd t wo d istinct f orms o f t he l etter s . I t i s s carcely p ossible, h owever , t o i nfer t hat t he w itness's p ersonally w rote t heir s ubscriptions, s ince a utograph w itness l ists a re u nknown i n e xtant o riginal A nglo-Saxon c harters , a nd t hese d etails p robably i ndicate o nly s cribal v agaries i n t he e xemplar. T hey a re n ot e ntirely w ithout p arallel. I n t he w itness l ist o f m anuscript 1 o f t he r eport o f t he C ouncil o f K ingston i n 8 38 ( S1438) t here a re e leven a ttestations i n t he f orm ' signum m anus ', o f w hich t en a re w ritten w ith a r ounded s a nd o ne w ith a t all s ; a nd a H wiccian c harter , p ossibly o riginal, o f 7 59 h as t he t wo f orms o f su sed i nterchangeably i n t he r epeated p hrase ' consensi e t s ubscripsi nS56). T he t ext o f t he c harter s hows e very s ign o f a uthenticity. T he i nvocation i s t he o ne u sed i n G regory 's c harter f or t he m onastery o f S t . A ndrew i n 5 87 a nd o ther l ate R oman d ocuments, a nd w hich a lso o ccurs i n an umber o f t he e arliest s urviving E nglish c harters ( Stevenson 1 914, p . 7 02). T he p roem ( S65, 1 164, 169, 1 248), t he k ing 's t itle , r egnante d omino r ex ' ( S231, 2 45), t he s anction ( S238 , 2 45, 1 169 , 170 , 1 176), a nd t he b lessing ( S65, 1 248, 7 1) a re a ll s imilar i n w ording t o c lauses i n o ther a uthentic e arly c harters . O ther f eatures c ommon i n e arly t exts a re t he w ords ' cyrograph ' a nd ' singrapha ' ( S71, 2 35, 2 45, 1 248), t he a bsence o f a ny r eference t o t he m onastery r uled b y t he a bbot w ho i s n amed a s t he b eneficiary ( S238, 1 249), a nd t he g ranting o f s everal a reas o f l and i n as ingle c harter ( S243 , 1 164, 1 249).

T he

T he 4 th

d ocument i s d ated t he 4 th i ndiction , t he m onth o f J une, i ndiction o ccurred d uring I ne's r eign i n 6 91, 7 06 a nd

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7 05. 7 21.

S ince A ldhelm a ttests h ere a s b ishop , a nd h eld t he s ee o f S herborne f rom 7 05 t o 7 09 , t he c orrect d ate o f t he c harter i s a pparently 7 06, a s n oted a bove. T he b eneficiary, B erhtwald, w as a bbot o f G lastonbury f rom 7 04 t o 7 09 a nd p robably l onger . ( He w itnessed S 245 o f 7 04 a nd i s m entioned i n a l etter t o b ishop F orthere o f S herborne, w ho w as c onsecrated i n 7 09: T angl , n o. 7 ). T he w itness l ist a ppears t o d erive f rom a n ational s ynod, s ince i t c onsists o f t he a ttestations o f t he a rchbishop o f C anterbury a nd e ight b ishops . N o l ayman s ubscribes, n ot e ven t he d onor . T he n ames a re : B erhtwald, a rchbishop ( of C anterbury) H eadda , b ishop ( of L ichfield) A cca ,

b ishop ( of D unwich)

T yrctil,

b ishop ( of H ereford)

W ealdhere ,

b ishop ( of L ondon)

E cgwine , b ishop ( of W orcester) E lwine, b ishop ( ? o f M ercia) A ldhelm , b ishop ( of S herborne) D aniel ,

b ishop ( of W inchester)

I t c an b e e stablished w ith c ertainty i n s ome c ases , a nd w ith r easonable p robability i n o thers , t hat t he e piscopates o f t hese m en i ncluded t he d ate o f t he c harter. B erhtwald w as c onsecrated i n 6 93 a nd d ied i n 7 31 ( HE V 8 ; V 2 3). H eadda i s i ncluded i n t he w itness l ists o f t wo a uthentic c harters p re-dating t his o ne : a g rant o f O shere o f t he H wicce t o a n a bbess n amed C uthswith w hich i s u ndated b ut c ertainly e arlier t han I ne 's c harter s ince i ts w itnesses i nclude b ishop O ftfor , p redecessor o f E cgwine o f W orcester ; a nd t he g rant m ade t o b ishop W ealdhere b y S waefred o f E ssex a nd P aeogthath i n 7 04. H e a lso a ppears i n aw itness l ist w hich i s a ppended t o an inth-century K entish f orgery b ut w hich i tself a ppears t o b e g enuine : i t i ncludes a c omplete l ist o f s outhern b ishops p lus A cca o f H exham , a nd c ould s carcely h ave b een d rawn u p b y a f orger . T he t ext a scribes t he l ist t o t he S ynod o f C lofesho i n 7 16 , p osibly e rroneously s ince t he c harter i s i tself s purious, b ut t he w itness l ist a lso i ncludes A ldhelm 's s uccessor , F orthere , a nd c annot t herefore b e e arlier t han 7 09 ( S53 ; S 65; S 22; o n t he l ast , s ee B rooks 1 984, p p. 1 91-7). A cca o f D unwich w as o ne o f t he t wo E ast A nglian b ishops c onsecrated t o r eplace b ishop B isi w hen h e w as p revented f rom c arrying o ut h is d uties b y i ll-health ; t he d ate o f t he c onsecration i s u nknown, b ut i t w as a fter 6 73 , i n w hich y ear B isi a ttended t he S ynod o f H ertford. A cca a ttests t hree E vesham c harters ; a ll t hree a re s purious , b ut t heir a uthors a ppear t o h ave m ade u se o f a t l east o ne a uthentic w itness l ist o f 7 05 x 7 09 ( HE I V 5 ; S 79, 8 1, 175). T yrctil o f H ereford i s a mong t he w itnesses o f ag rant m ade t o t he m onastery o f B arking b y b ishop E orcenwald o f L ondon ( S1248), a nd i s r ecorded a s m aking a g rant o f l and t o E orcenwald 's s uccessor , W ealdhere, s ome t ime d uring t he r eign o f k ing C oenred o f M ercia ( 704-

3 0

7 09) ( S1785). T here i s a mple e vidence f or W ealdhere i n t he y ears p receding I ne 's c harter : h e h ad s ucceeded E orcenwald b y c . 6 94 a ccordi ng t o B ede ; h e i s t he b eneficiary o f t wo o ther g rants b esides t hose o f T yrctil a nd o f S waefred a nd P aeogthath m entioned a bove ; a nd h is l etter t o a rchbishop B erhtwald o f 7 04 x 7 05 s urvives i n i ts o riginal f orm . H e d oes n ot a ppear i n a ny r ecord r elating t o t he p eriod a fter 7 06 ( HE I V 1; S 1783 , 1 784; C haplais 1 978). E cgwine o f W orcester a ttests a H wiccian c harter o f 7 04 x 7 09 ( S1177), a nd w as s till b ishop o f t he s ee w hen 2 Ethilbald b ecame k ing o f t he M ercians i n 7 16 ( S102). ' Eluuinus ' i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith E aldwine, a lso c alled W orr , w ho s ucceeded H eadda a s b ishop o f L ichfield. C onfirmatory e vidence f or t heir j oint t enure o f t he s ee a ppears i n t he w itness l ist m entioned a bove a s o stensibly d eriving f rom t he C ouncil o f C lofesho o f 7 16 , s ince b oth H eadda a nd W orr a re i ncluded i n i t. T here h ad b een t wo b ishops o f M ercia i n t he r ecent p ast d uring W ilfrid 's s ojourn t here , a nd w ere t o b e t wo a gain i n t he n ear f uture w hen t he s ee o f L eicester w as f ounded, s o t here i s n o i nsurmountable o b jection t o t he t heory t hat t wo M ercian b ishops a ttested t his c harter ( Page 1 966, p . 5 ; H E V 2 3 a nd C olgrave, W ilfrid , c h . X LV , p . 9 2; H istoria R egum , s .a . 7 37) 7 A ldhelm a nd D aniel w ere c onsecrated i n 7 05; t he f ormer d ied i n 7 09, t he l atter s urvived u ntil c . 7 45 ( HE V 1 8 ; A SC s a 7 45). T he a rchbishop 's s ubscription i s i n t he f orm ' Ego c onsentiens s ubscripsi ', i dentical w ith t he c lerical s ubscriptions i n I ne 's g eneral g rant o f p rivileges o f 7 04 ( S245). T he b ishops a ll a ttest w ith t he w ords ' Ego s ubscripsi ', e xcept f or D aniel, w hose a ttestation i s d istinct i n w ording a s i n p osition : ' Ego D aniel . p lebi . d ei m inistrans . s ubscripsi '. T he r esemblance o f t his s ubscription t o t he c haracteristic h umility f ormula ' plebis d ei f amulus ' w hich o ccurs i n D aniel 's l etters a nd i n o ther c harters ( Tangl , n os . 2 3, 3 9, 6 4; S 253 , 2 56) s uggests t hat D aniel p ersonally w rote o r d ictated i t , a nd i t m ay b e t hat h e d rew u p t he w itness l ist o f t his c harter . I ne g ranted t o a bbot B erhtwald a t otal o f 6 5 h ides o f l and i n f our p laces : 2 0 h ides n ext t o t he r iver c alled ' Tan '; 2 0 h ides i n t he p lace c alled ' Pouelt '; 2 0 h ides o n e ither s ide o f t he r iver ' Duluting ', s tretching a s f ar a s t he v alley o f ' Corregescumb '; 5h ides o n t he w est s ide o f t hat v alley. I t h as b een s uggested t hat t he f irst e state, o n t he r iver T one i n S omerset , i s t o b e i dentified w ith W est M onkton , d escribed i n C entwine 's c harter ( S237) a s ' habentes a d a ustrum f luuium q ui d icitur T an ' ( Dickinson 1 882, p . 9 2 n . 3 ). C entwine g ranted 2 3 h ides , n ot 2 0 , b ut t here m ight h ave b een p roblems c oncerning t he e state , p ossibly d uring C eadwalla 's t akeover o f p ower i n W essex c . 6 86-688 , i nvolving t he n eed f or a r egrant o r c onfirmation o f p ossession , a nd r esulting i n a c hange i n t he a rea o f t he e state. I t i s a pparent , h owever , t hat i n l ater y ears t he c ommunity r egarded C entwine 's c harter a s t heir

3 1

e ffective t itle-deed f or W est M onkton , s ince t his d ocument s urvives i n a r evised v ersion i ncorporating t he b oundaries o f t he e state . A nd i n t he a bsence o f b oundaries o r a ny m ore d etailed a ccount o f t he e state i n I ne's c harter, i t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain o f t he i dentification . T he e state m ay h ave b een o n a nother s tretch o f t he r iver , w hich r ises n orth-west o f W iveliscombe a nd p asses n ear t o W ellington a nd t hrough T aunton b efore j oining t he P arrett n ear A thelney. W illiam o f M almesbury r efers t o t he r iver a s t he ' Tamer ' a nd m ay h ave b elieved i t IL inis ', t o b e t he T amar ( DA , p . 9 4). L ater w riters c all t he p lace a lso o ccurring a s ' Lining ' a nd ' Livig ', b ut t his p lace-name i s u nidentified ( DA , p. 9 4 n . 2 , 1 40 ; C arley , J ohn o f G lastonbury , p . p 4 8). T he s econd a rea o f l and, a lso o f 2 0 h ides , a t ' Pouelt ' i s p erhaps t o b e i dentified w ith t he ' Poholt ' r ecorded a s a g rant o f k ings 2 Ethilheard ( 726-740) a nd S igiberht ( 756-7) ( S253 , 1 680). T he i dentification i s n ot m ade b y e ither W illiam o f M almesbury o r J ohn o f G lastonbury i n . whose a ccounts t he n ame o f t he e state , w hich w as e vidently u nfamiliar, i s m isrepresented a s ' Bouelt' a nd ' Rouelt ' ( DA , p. 9 4, 1 40 ; C arley, J ohn o f G lastonbury , p . 4 8). B ut t he n ames a re p s ufficiently a like t o m ake i t p robable , a nd i t h as b een a ccepted b y m odern s cholars ( ECW , n o . 3 71; S 248 ; D A , p . 9 5). T he o ther g rants h ave d ifferent h idages a nd s uggest s ome r eorganisation o f e states i n t he a rea a nd t he n eed f or c onfirmation o f G lastonbury 's p ossession , b ut i t r emains d ifficult t o a ccount f or g rants o f 2 0 h ides i n 7 06, 6 0 i n 7 29 a nd 2 2 ( plus 6 p urchased) i n 7 56. T he e vidence s uggests t hat t he l and g ranted b y I ne w as r etained, b ut t hat t his c harter w as s uperseded b y o ther t itle-deeds. T he c harter g rants a f urther e state o f 2 0 h ides d escribed a s l and o n e ither s ide o f t he r iver ' Duluting ' e xtending a s f ar a s t he v alley w hich i s c alled ' Corregescumb '. T he r iver i s n ow c alled t he S heppey, b ut t he n ame D oulting s urvives i n av illage a bout a m ile e ast o f S hepton M allet . T he n ame ' Corregescumb ' a lso s urvives i n t he v illage o f C roscombe, b ut i t i s n ot c lear w here t he v alley o f t his n ame l ay , a s t he c harter d escription m akes i t c lear t hat t his i s d istinct f rom t he v alley o f t he S heppey i n w hich m odern C roscombe i s s ituated. A nother v ersion o f t his c harter , a lready m entioned, w as d rawn u p t o r elate t o t his e state a lone, a nd h as d etailed O ld E nglish b ounds w hich h ave e nabled t he e state t o b e i dentified a s a n a rea c omprising P ilton , C roscombe a nd S hepton M allet ( Grundy 1 953, p . 7 9). I n 1 066 G lastonbury o wned a m anor o f 2 0 h ides a t ' Doltin ', w hich i s p robably t his e state , a lthough 2 0 h ides a t P ilton w ere a lso o wned ( DB S omerset, p. 8 .23 , p 8 .20), a nd t his c ould b e t he e state i n q uestion , o r i nclude p art o f i t . I t s eems t hat t he l and w as r etained. T he 5 h ides o n t he w est s ide o f t he v alley o f ' Corregescumb ' h ave b een t entatively i dentified w ith t he 5 h ides a t N orth W ootton w hich a re m entioned a s t he g rant o f v arious k ings i n v arious G lastonbury r ecords ( Davidson 1 884, p . 1 2 ; S 248 ; S 509 ; S 1684, 1 700). T his m ay b e r ight , b ut t he c harter d escription d oes n ot a dmit o f c ertainty. I f i t i s c orrect, t he e state w as r etained b ut t he g ift a ttributed t o o ther k ings.

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T he e vidence s uggests t hat t his c harter w as e ffectively, i f n ot p hysically, d iscarded b y t he G lastonbury c ommunity i n f avour o f t he v ersion r elating o nly t o t he t hird e state, w hich i mplies t hat i t w as o f n o v alue a s a t itle-deed f or t he o ther t hree a reas. I t m ay b e t hat s ome o r a ll o f t hese o ther l ands p assed o ut o f G lastonbury 's p ossession, a nd t he c harter w ith t hem , w hich w ould a ccount f or i ts a bsence f rom o ther G lastonbury r ecords . O r i t m ay b e t hat t he p ossible i dentifications o f t he e states m entioned a bove a re c orrect; t hat t he c harter r emained a t G lastonbury b ut w as s uperseded b y o ther d ocumentation a nd t herefore v alueless, s o t hat t here w as n o r eason t o a mend i t i n a ny w ay a t a ny l ater d ate; a nd t hat t his i s w hy t he t ext a pparently s urvives v irtually a s i t w as w ritten i n 7 06. H eeddi's g rant t o a bbot H aemgils m ay b e c ompared: i t a ppears t hat r evised v ersions w ere d rawn u p , b ut t hat t he o riginal w as n ot i mmediately d iscarded, s o t hat i ts t ext n ow s urvives l argely u namended. T here s eems t o b e l ittle d oubt o f t he a uthenticity o f I ne 's c harter. T here. a re n o a nachronisms i n t he w ording, e xcept t he e rroneous i ncarnational d ate; t he w itness l ist c ould s carcely h ave b een f orged, a nd a ll p ersons i nvolved s eem t o h ave b een a ctive i n 7 06; t he t erms i n w hich t he l ands a re d escribed a re t ypical o f e arly c harters i n t hat t hey r efer c hiefly t o r ivers a nd o ther n atural f eatures, a nd a re n ot w hat a f orger w ould h ave b een l ikely t o u se; a f orger w ould n ot h ave o mitted t he n ame o f t he m onastery; a nd i t a ppears t hat t he p erson w ho w rote t he s urviving c opy o f t he c harter u sed a n e arly e xemplar, p robably d ating f rom t he e ighth c entury, a nd p erhaps t he o riginal.

S 247 L ongleat H ouse, m anuscript 3 9, ( Edition :

f os.

1 55,

W atkin , G lastonbury C art.,

1 61.

n o. 7 74)

T he c harter m entioned a bove a s a r evised v ersion o f I ne's g rant s urvives i n c artulary c opies. I t i s t ranscribed t wice i n e ach m anuscript o f t he c artulary, p robably b y a n o versight o n t he p art o f t he c artularist, a s t he t ranscripts d o n ot d iffer e xcept i n a f ew d etails. I n t he f irst, a pparently t aken f rom a s ingle s heet w hich w as p resumably t he o ne l isted i n 1 247 ( IC A 5), t he d ate i s g iven o nly a s t he y ear o f g race 7 05, a nd t here a re t wo a ttestations, 4Ego I ny s ignaui s alutifero s igno . + Ego B yarctwlad ( sic) a rchiepiscopus s ignaui'. I n t he s econd, h eaded ' Dat. p er c opiam ', t he d ating c lause i ncludes t he 4 th i ndiction a nd t he m onth o f J une, a s i n t he s urviving s ingle-sheet c harter d iscussed a bove, b ut t he i ncarnational y ear i s 7 02, p robably b ecause D CCu h as b een m isread a s D CCii; t here i s a t hird a ttestation, t hat o f b ishop H eadda ( of L ichfield); a nd m any w ords i n t he O ld E nglish b oundary c lause a re s pelled d ifferently. M ore s ignificant a re t he d ifferences b etween t his v ersion o f t he c harter a nd t hat o n t he s ingle s heet ( S248). I n t he c artulary v ersion t he n ame o f B erhtwald's m onastery i s s pecified, ' ad s anctum m onasterium G lastyngaburgh '; a s et o f d etailed O ld E nglish b ounds i s p rovided i n

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r espect e states s lightly t he d ate

o f t he 2 0 h ides o n t he r iver ' Doultying ' a nd t he o ther t hree a re o mitted; t he w ordings o f t he b lessing a nd s anction a re d ifferent ; a nd t he w itness l ist i s a mended a nd a bbreviated a nd c ited d ifferently a s d etailed a bove.

I t s eems f airly c ertain t hat t his ( S247) i s t he l ater , r evised v ersion o f t he c harter , w hile t he v ersion o n t he e xtant s ingle s heet ( S248) r epresents t he t ext a s i t w as f irst d rawn u p. A l ater w riter w ould a dd, n ot o mit, t he n ame o f t he m onastery; t he b ounds c an s carcely b e e arlier t han t he n inth c entury; a nd t he f orm o f t he s ubscriptions d oes n ot r esemble e arly p ractice a nd a ppears t o r epresent r e-writing. I t m ay b e t hat t his v ersion o f t he c harter w as p roduced b ecause t he c ommunity r equired a t itle-deed r elating s olely t o t he e state o n t he r iver S heppey. A ccording t o W illiam o f M almesbury, t he o wnership o f ' Dulting ' w as t ransferred f rom t he a bbot o f G lastonbury t o t he c ommunity i n 8 51, a nd W illiam a lso r ecords t hat k ing E adred r estored t his a nd a nother e state t o G lastonbury f ollowing a n e arlier a lienation p ( DA , p . 12, 1 18). T he t ext m ight h ave b een d rawn u p i n c onnection w ith o ne o f t hese t ransactions, o r i t m ay s imply r epresent I ne's c harter b rought u p t o d ate a t at ime w hen c hanges i n t he n ames , o rganisation o r o wnership o f t he o ther e states h ad r endered t he o riginal v ersion o bsolete . T he t ext d oes n ot c laim a nything w hich w as n ot g ranted i n I ne 's c harter, a nd c annot b e r egarded a s a f orgery, a lthough t he n ame o f t he m onastery a nd t he a ttestation o f t he d onor h ave b een i ntroduced, p robably t o s trengthen t he a uthority o f t he d ocument. T he e vidence r elating t o t he c harter i ndicates t hat a m onastic c ommunity m ight c opy o ut a c harter o n s everal d ifferent o ccasions o ver t he y ears , a nd m ight i ntroduce a lterations i n t he t ext e ach t ime i n o rder t o i mprove o r b ring u p t o d ate a r ecord w hich w as s till a v alid l egal d ocument. I t i s a pparent t hat t here e xisted, b efore t he f ourteenth-century c artulary w as c ompiled, a s ingle-sheet c opy o f I ne's c harter r elating o nly t o t he e state o n t he S heppey, a nd a c artulary c opy w hich w as s lightly d ifferent , a s w ell a s t he o riginal , o r a c opy, o f t he c harter a s i t w as f irst d rafted. I t i s p robable t hat a n umber o f d ifferent c opies w ere m ade i n m any o ther c ases w here t here d oes n ot s urvive s uch c lear e vidence f or t hem , a nd t hat t he i ntroduction o f m inor a lterations b y s uccessive c opyists a ccounts f or t he a nachronistic d etails f ound i n t he s urviving t exts o f m any c harters w hich a ppear t o b e b asically a uthentic.

S 1253 L ongleat H ouse , ( Edition :

m anuscript 3 9,

f o.

1 34v.

W atkin , G lastonbury C art ., n o. 6 40)

A v ery b rief c harter r ecording a g rant b y ' Fortere f amulus f amulorum d ei ', n ow s urvives o nly i n t he m anuscripts o f t he c artulary, b ut as ingle s heet w as e xtant i n 1 247 ( IC A 18), a nd t he s cribe o f t he

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G reat C hartulary p robably w orked f rom a s ingle s heet a s h e d oes n ot i ndicate o therwise. H owever , i t d oes n ot a ppear l ikely t hat t he s ingle s heet c ould h ave b een t he o riginal, a s t he t ext i s s o b rief a s t o s uggest t hat i t h as b een a bbreviated b y a c opyist, a nd, a s t here i s n o r eason t o s uppose t hat t he f ourteenth-century c artularist m ade a p ractice o f c urtailing c harters , e xcept p ossibly i n r espect o f w itnesses , t his m ust h ave b een t he w ork o f a n e arlier s cribe. T he t ext w hich s urvives, h owever , s eems t o b e b ased o n a n a uthentic c harter. T he d onor i s p resumably t he m an w ho s ucceeded A ldhelm a s b ishop o f S herborne i n 7 09, a ccompanied q ueen F rithugyth t o R ome i n 7 37 a nd w as s till a ctive i n 7 39 ( HE V 9 ; A SC s .a . 7 37; S 255). t he t ext i s d ated 7 12, t he f irst i ndiction , a nd t hese a re n ot c onsistent , s o t he i ncarnational d ate i s p robably a l ater a ddition a nd m iscalculated, a s s eems t o b e c ommon i n G lastonbury c harters . T he f irst i ndiction o ccurred d uring F orthere 's e piscopate i n 7 18 a nd 7 33, a nd n either d ate c an b e c onfidently r uled o ut . T he g rant i s m ade t o a n a bbot n amed E aldberht , w ho i s o therwise u nrecorded: h e i s n ot i n t he a bbatial l ist ; h e i s n amed i n n o o ther c harter ; a nd h is a ppearance i n t he 1 247 i nventory a s t he b eneficiary o f f our o ther c harters i s m erely a c areless e rror ( IC A 16-20 : o ne o f t hese c harters i s o f m uch l ater d ate , a g rant o f / Ethelred I I t o a bbot B erhtred ( S1775); a nother i s L ulle 's g rant o f 7 44 t o a bbot T unberht ( S1410); a nd t he o ther t wo a re s eventh-century g rants b y k ing C entwine a nd b ishop W ilfrid ( S1668 , 1 675). I t a ppears t hat E aldberht 's n ame i n t he i nventory d erives s olely f rom F orthere 's c harter). A n a bbot n amed C oengils i s r ecorded a s r uling t he m onastery i n t he r eign o f Athilheard, b ut t he e xact d ates o f h is a bbacy a re u nknown ( S253). I t i s t herefore i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hether E aldberht w as a p redecessor o f C oengils a nd r eceived F orthere 's g rant i n 7 18 , o r w hether h e s ucceeded C oengils s ome t ime a fter . / Ethilheard 's a ccession i n 7 26, i n w hich c ase F orthere 's c harter w ould d ate f rom 7 33. N o o ther p erson i s n amed i n t he c harter , a nd t he w itness l ist h as b een a bbreviated t o a s ingle a ttestation , t hat o f t he d onor , s o t here i s n o e vidence t o s how w hich i s t he c orrect d ate . T he c harter i s u nusual i n t hat t he e state i s s aid t o b ecome t he p ersonal p roperty o f t he a bbot , w ho m ay d ispose o f i t a s h e w ishes , ' in p ropriam s ubstanciam . h abendum d onandumque c uicumque u oluerit '. I t i s p ossible t hat t his c lause w as i ntroduced i nto t he t ext a t al ater d ate, p ossibly b y s omeone w ho w as a ttempting t o r estore t he f ull w ording o f a d rastically a bbreviated c harter , a nd w ho w as a ccustomed t o t he a ppearance o f t his s ort o f w ording i n g rants t o l aymen . B ut i t m ay b e g enuine: t here i s as imilar c lause i n ag rant t o a b ishop o f R ochester j ust o ver a c entury l ater , tu t h abeat e t p ossideat e t c uicumque u oluerit r elinquat ' ( S280); a nd t he c lause i s n o o bstacle t o t he b elief t hat t he g rant w as b oth i n i ntention a nd i n e ffect a g rant t o G lastonbury: t he m ajority o f e arly g rants, i f t heir w ordings a re i nterpreted o n a s trictly l iteral b asis, w ere m ade t o i ndividual c hurchmen, n ot t o r eligious e stablishments , b ut i t i s c lear t hat i n t his a nd o ther r espects, a s trictly l iteral i nterpretation o f c harter w ordings w ould b e m isleading. T here i s n o i nvocation o r p roem . T he h umility f ormula u sed b y t he d onor w as a lso u sed b y h is c ontemporary, D aniel, b ishop o f W inchester 1 ( Tangl , n o. 1). T he b eneficiary i s c ited a s a bbot E aldberht , a nd t here i s n o r eference t o h is m onastery, n or i s t here a ny r eference t o

3 5

r oyal c onsent , a s i n t he c ase o f b ishop H eeddi 's c harter, d iscussed a bove. T he b oundaries o f t he e state a re i ndicated v ery b riefly i n L atin, a nd a re l ikely t o b e a uthentic: t hey a re s imilar t o t he s hort, L atin b ounds g iven i n c harters o f C entwine a nd I ne, d iscussed a bove ( S237, 2 38). T he s anction , w hich t hreatens a t ransgressor w ith s eparation f rom G od a nd h is s aints, i s n ot u nlike t hose i n s ome o ther e arly W est S axon c harters ( S235, 164). T he s ingle s urviving 1 a ttestation i s q uite n ormal i n w ording. T he d ating c lause f ollows i t, w hich w as p robably n ot t he a rrangement o f t he o riginal c harter . T he e state g ranted b y b ishop F orthere c onsisted o f o ne h ide a djacent t o t he r iver ' Aesce ', n ow t he A xe, a nd e xtended ' ad p ortam q ue d icitur B ledenythe a d i nsulam p aruam e t a d e cclesiam b eati M artini c onfessoris '. T his a ccount c losely c orresponds w ith a s ection o f t he b oundary o f G lastonbury T welve H ides, a s g iven b y W illiam o f M almesbury: t he b oundary p assed a long a n a ncient w ater-course ' usque a d p ontem d e B ledenye e t s ic d iscendendo p er m edium i llius p ontis u sque a d L itleneye q ue e st d iuisa d e M artenesye ' ( DA , p . 1 50). T he ' Bledenythe ' o f t he c harter i s n ow B leadney , a nd i t a ppears t hat t he p ortam ' o f t he c harter i s am iscopying o f ' pontem '. T he ' insulam p aruam ' i s p resumably t o b e i dentified w ith ' Litleneye ', a nd t he c hurch o f S t. M artin s tood u pon a n i sland c onsequently k nown a s ' Marteneseye ', n ow M archey. C learly t he b oundary o f t he e state c oincided w ith t hat o f G lastonbury T welve H ides , a nd t he e state s eems t o h ave b een i ncluded i n t he t welve h ides, s ince t hat a rea w as s aid t o i ncorporate ' insula d e M arteneseye c um a diacensiis ' ( DA , p . 1 52). T he e state w as k nown i n l ater y ears b y t he n ame B leadney: t his n ame i s u sed i n t he c artularist 's r ubric , i n t he L iber T errarum ( LT 1) a nd i n t he 1 i nventory o f c harters ( IC A 18). A part f rom t he G lastonbury f orgery a lready m entioned, t he n ame o ccurs i n o nly o ne o ther p re-Conquest c harter, a s purious p ancarta o f W ells ( S1042), w here i ts a ppearance i s d ifficult t o a ccount f or. P osibly t he s ee o f W ells o wned a n a djacent a rea o utside t he G lastonbury b oundary, o r p erhaps a n e ntirely d ifferent a rea h ad t he s ame n ame.

S 250 L ongleat H ouse , m anuscript 3 9, ( Edition :

f os . 5 8vv.

B 142)

A c harter w hich p urports t o b e ag rant o f e xtensive p rivileges b y k ing I ne a nd i s d ated 7 25 s urvives i n b oth m anuscripts o f t he c artulary, i n W illiam o f M almesbury 's D e A ntiquitate G lastonie E cclesie a nd G esta R egum A nglorum , i n J ohn o f G lastonbury 's C ronica, a nd i n t ranscripts o f t he s ixteenth a nd s eventeenth c enturies . D ifferences b etween t he v ersions a re o f n o g reat s ignificance . T he d ocument i s a f lagrant f orgery. M uch o f t he c ontent i s c oncerned w ith p reventing e ncroachment b y t he b ishop o f W ells , ' idem e piscopus .. c um c lericis s uis q ui F ontanetum s unt ', w hose s ee w as n ot f ounded u ntil 9 09 ( Napier a nd S tevenson , n o. 7 , E HD , n o. 2 29 , B 614, 6 15). A mong t he g rants b y o ther k ings w hich I ne i s s aid t o c onfirm i s o ne w hich p ost-dates h is

3 6

r eign , / Ethilheard 's g rant o f ' Poholt '(S253), w hile a nother , C oenwalh 's a lleged g rant o f M eare , i s a f abrication w hich a lso p ost-dates t his r eign ( S227). N othing i n t he c harter s uggests t hat i t h as a ny g enuine b asis. T he w ording i s v ery l ong a nd c omplicated, b earing n o r esemblance t o e ighth-century p hraseology, a nd t he r ights a nd p rivileges c laimed f or G lastonbury g o f ar b eyond w hat a ny g enuine, e arly c harter a llows. E ncroachment b y t he b ishop o f W ells b egan i n t he t ime o f t he f irst N orman a bbot , T hurston , a nd c ontinued t o b e a p roblem t o G lastonbury f or a c entury ( DA , p . 2 ). I t s eems l ikely t hat t his c harter w as p roduced a s p art o f G lastonbury 's a ttempts t o d efend i ts r ights a nd p roperty a gainst t he b ishop, a nd t hat i t w as w ritten s ome t ime a fter t he C onquest. T he d ocument i s o f s ome v alue a s ah istorical s ource f or G lastonbury a t t hat t ime , i ncluding a c onsiderable a mount o f i nformation a bout t he c ommunity 's a ttitude t o , a nd r elations w ith , o ther p ersons, a s w ell a s d etails a bout t he m onastery, s uch a s t he p laces w here t here w ere c hurches s ub ject t o i t a nd t he a rrangements f or p roviding h ospitality t o t he b ishop o f W ells o n t he o ccasion o f h is v isits . B ut t he c harter i s n ot a h istorical s ource f or I ne 's r eign . T he w itness l ist i s p robably a c ompilation b y t he p ost-Conquest a uthor o f t he c harter . T he f irst s even n ames i n i t c ould e asily h ave b een b orrowed f rom o ther G lastonbury c harters o r n arrative s ources . I ne i s a t t he h ead o f t he l ist , f ollowed b y h is q ueen , . /Ethilburh , w hose n ame m ight h ave b een t aken f rom t he C hronicle ( ASC , s .a . 7 22). B aldred i s p resumably t he s ub-king , a ctive i n C entwine 's r eign , w ho i s n ot l ikely t o h ave b een s till a live t owards t he e nd o f I ne 's r eign , a nd w hose n ame c ould b e t aken f rom e arly G lastonbury c harters ( S236, 2 38, 1 665; E CW , n o. 3 58). . f ethilheard, d escribed a s t he q ueen 's b rother , i s p robably m eant t o b e i dentified w ith I ne 's s uccessor, w ho w as a lso a b enefactor o f G lastonbury ( S253, 1 676); t he a lleged r elationship i s p robably j ust a g uess b ased o n t he c ommon e lement i n t he t wo n ames . T hree c hurchmen f ollow , a rchbishop B erhtwald a nd b ishops D aniel a nd F orthere , w ho a ll a ppear i n o ther G lastonbury c harters a nd i n B ede a nd t he C hronicle ( S248, 2 51, 2 53, 1 253; H E V8 , 1 8, 2 3; A SC , s .a . 6 93, 7 09, 7 31). T he r emaining f ive p ersons, W aldhere p refectus , B ruta p refectus , i ethilheard, U mming p refectus a nd W inchelin c omes a re u nidentified, a nd t he s econd, f ourth a nd f ifth n ames d o n ot a ppear t o b e A nglo-Saxon p ersonal n ames a t a ll. T he s ource o f t hese n ames i s u nknown. I t s eems u nlikely t hat t his l ist h as a ny a uthentic b asis . S uspicious f eatures a re t he i nclusion o f B aldred a t a d ate w hen h e i s m ost u nlikely s till t o h ave b een a live; t he p resence o f a rchbishop B erhtwald a t w hat o therwise a ppears t o b e a n e ntirely W est S axon a ssembly; a nd t he t hree n ames w hich d o n ot a ppear t o b e g enuine A ngloS axon p ersonal n ames . T his w itness l ist r ecurs i n a c harter i n t he c artulary o f M uchelney w hich s hares t he w ording o f a nother G lastonbury c harter ( S249, c f. S 251). T he M uchelney d ocument a ppears t o b e a f abrication p roduced b y u sing G lastonbury r ecords , a nd i t s eems r easonably c ertain t hat t he l ist h as b een c opied f rom a G lastonbury r ecord i nto t he M uchelney c harter , s o t hat i ts e xistence i n a nother c artulary c annot b e c onsidered i ndependent o r c orroberative e vidence .

3 7

C harters o f t he m id-eighth c entury F our G lastonbury c harters d ating f rom t he p eriod 7 25 t o 7 56 m ay u sefully b e c onsidered i n c onjunction s ince a c omparison o f t heir w ordings r eveals e xtensive s imilarities. T hese a re :

r D ate

2 51

7 25

2 53

7 26 x 7 40

1 410

2 57

7 44

' 7 40 x 7 56

D onor

B eneficiary

I ne, k ing

G lastonbury c ommunity

Athilheard, k ing

G lastonbury c ommunity u nder a bbot C oengils

L ulle, n un

G lastonbury c ommunity u nder a bbot T unberht

C uthred, k ing

( Glastonbury)

S imilar w ordings a re a lso f ound i n Athilbald 's e ndorsement o f I ne 's g rant o f B rent K noll, a nd i n a c harter r ecording a g rant o f C uthred t o M almesbury ( S238 , 2 56). T he p arallels o f w ording a re c onsidered b elow , b ut i t m ay b e u seful f irst t o c onsider o ther a spects o f e ach c harter i ndividually.

S 251 L ongleat H ouse , m anuscript 3 9, ( Edition :

f o.

1 74

W atkin , G lastonbury C art., n o. 9 03)

T he f irst o f t his g roup o f c harters r ecords a g rant b y I ne t o t he c ommunity o f G lastonbury i n 7 25 o f a n e state a t ' Sowy ', n ow M iddlezoy i n S omerset. I t s urvives i n t he m anuscripts o f t he c artulary . T he f airly c omplex w ording o f t he t ext c ontrasts w ith t he b rief a nd s imple w ordings o f t he o ther s urviving c harters o f t he r eign , w hich t ends t o s uggest t hat t his i s a f abrication , b ut t his i mpression m ay b e m isleading. O f t he o ther c harters o f I ne, a ll t hose w hich a ppear t o b e a uthentic d ate f rom t he f irst h alf o f t he r eign, 6 88 t o 7 06 ( S238, 2 40 , 2 43, 2 44, 2 45/6, 2 48, 2 52). T he M iddlezoy c harter d ates f rom 1 9 y ears l ater t han t he l atest o f t hese, a nd t his i s a l ong t ime i n t he c ontext o f t he d evelopment o f e arly W est S axon c harters , b earing i n m ind t hat t he e arliest o f a ll e xtant c harters o f W essex d ates f rom o nly a bout 5 0 y ears b efore t his o ne ( S1164). I t i s n ot u nreasonable t hat t his c harter s hould d iffer c onspicuously f rom t he o ther e xtant c harters o f I ne, a nd h ave m ore i n c ommon w ith Athilheard 's g rant o f a f ew y ears l ater, a nd w ith o ther c harters o f t he s ucceeding r eigns. S erious c onsideration s hould t herefore b e g iven t o t he p ossibility t hat t his

3 8

c harter i s g enuine o r h as s ome g enuine b asis. T here i s n o i nvocation, p erhaps b ecause t his h as b een o mitted b y a c opyist. T he p roem b ears s ome r esemblance t o t hat i n a c harter o f Athelwulf o f o ver a c entury l ater ( S298), b ut t he w ording i s f ar m ore c omplex i n t he l ater t ext, s o t hat t he t wo v ersions s eem q uite a cceptable a s e ighth-and n inth-century w ork r espectively. I ne i s d escribed a s ' rex W estsaxonum ', a t itle c ommon i n l ater W est S axon r oyal c harters ( S253, 2 57, 2 61, 2 62), b ut n ot e arlier o nes. H is q ueen i s a ssociated w ith h im i n t he g rant: ' una c um c oniuge e t E lburge ' ( sic: t he n ame Athilburh h as e vidently b een m isread; c f. ' et E lbaldi ' f or t he n ame Athilbald i n L ulle's c harter). N one o f t he a uthentic c harters w hich d ate f rom t he f irst h alf o f t he r eign c ontains a ny r eference t o t he q ueen, b ut t he i nvolvement o f k ing Athilheard 's w ife, F rithugyth, i s a f eature o f t he e xtant c harters o f t he n ext r eign, a nd s he i s r ecorded a s m aking a g rant t o G lastonbury i n h er o wn n ame ( S253, 2 54 ( spurious b ut h aving a n a pparently g enuine w itness l ist w hich i ncludes t he q ueen), 2 55, 1 677), w hile C ynithryth, w ife o f O ff a o f M ercia, a nd E adburh , h is d aughter, w ho m arried B eorhtric, k ing o f t he W est S axons ( 786-802), a ppear i n a n umber o f l ate e ighth-century c harters ( Cynithryth : S 59, 1 10, 1 11, 1 16, 1 17, e tc.; E adburh: S 149, 2 68, 2 70a). T he r eference t o q ueen Athilburh t herefore f its e ighthc entury d evelopments. S he i s a lso m entioned i n t he C hronicle i n 7 22 a s h aving d emolished T aunton w hich I ne h ad b uilt ( ASC , s .a. 7 22). I n t he a bsence o f a ny f urther d etails, i t i s i mpossible t o i nterpret t his e vent, b ut i t t ends t o s uggest t hat Athilburh w as a p erson o f s ome p ower a nd i mportance i n W essex i n t he c losing y ears o f I ne 's r eign, a nd t his i s c onsistent w ith h er a ppearance i n a c harter o f 7 25. T he c harter i s d ated b y a n i ncarnational y ear a nd a n i ndiction w hich a gree a nd m ay b oth b e g enuine. T here f ollows a b oundary c lause i n t he f orm o f a p erambulation i n O ld E nglish, w hich i s e vidently a l ater i nterpolation, a nd t he w itness l ist h as b een a bbreviated t o t he s ubscriptions o f k ing I ne a nd b ishop F orthere, p lus t he n ote ' cum m ultis a liis'. T he c harter g rants 1 2 h ides a t ' Sowy ', i dentified a s Z oy, S omerset ( ECW , n o. 3 79; S 251). T hree p lace-names i n a n a rea a bout t en m iles s outh-east o f G lastonbury i ncorporate t his n ame, C hedzoy, W estonzoyland a nd M iddlezoy. G rundy, u sing t he b oundaries, t entatively l ocates t he e state a t M iddlezoy ( Grundy 1 935, p . 1 16; M orland 1 982, p . 2 33 s uggests t hat i t c overed a w ider a rea, i ncluding W estonzoyland a nd O thery). T he o nly o ther a ppearances o f t his e state i n p re-Conquest c harters o ccur i n t exts c onfirming G lastonbury's p ossession ( S250, 3 03, 7 83). I n 1 066 G lastonbury h eld ' Sowy ', a ssessed a t 1 2 h ides a nd i dentified b y t he t ranslator a s M iddlezoy ( DB S omerset , p . 8 .6). T he a greement w ith t he D omesday n ame a nd h ideage i s n ot a f eature s uggesting a uthenticity i n a c harter o f I ne. E arly W est S axon c harters s eldom u se t he s ame p lace-names a s l ater r ecords o r r eflect q uite t he s ame o rganisation o f l and, a nd e states a re o ften d escribed i n t erms w hich m ake i t v ery d ifficult t o e quate t hem w ith D omesday m anors. I t i s i mpossible t o a ssert t hat a c harter o f 7 25 c ould n ot u se a n ame a nd s pecify a h idage s till c urrent i n t he e leventh c entury, a nd i n S omerset, w here u sable l and i n t he e arly S axon p eriod p robably c onsisted o f i slands a mid m arshes, e states m ay h ave r etained t heir i dentities a nd h idages o ver a l ong p eriod o f t ime, b ut n evertheless t here s eems t o b e ad istinct p ossibility t hat t he d escription o f t he

3 9

l and h as b een m odernised, p robably b y t he c opyist w ho b oundary c lause.

i ntroduced

t he

S 253 B odleian W ood e mpt. ( Edition :

1 , f o .

1 52r

W atkin , G lastonbury C art., n o. 6 48)

T his c harter r ecords a g rant b y k ing Athilheard a nd q ueen F rithugyth t o t he c ommunity o f G lastonbury u nder a bbot C oengils o f a n e xtensive e state d escribed a s 6 0 h ides a t ' Pouholt '. T he i nvolvement o f t he q ueen a s a f eature o f t he e xtant c harters o f t his r eign i s m entioned a bove, a nd i s l ikely t o b e g enuine s ince i t i s s carcely p robable t hat ' copyists a t t hree d ifferent m onasteries b orrowed F rithugyth 's n ame f rom t he C hronicle. A bbot C oengils w as t he b eneficiary o f a l ost c harter o f F rithugyth , a nd a lso a ppears i n t he a bbatial l ist, i n aW inchester w itness l ist o f Athilheard 's r eign w hich a ppears t o b e g enuine a lthough a ppended t o a s purious c harter, a nd i n al etter ( S1677, 2 54; T angl , n o . 5 5; s ee a lso i bid., n o . 1 01). T here i s n o i nvocation o r p roem , a nd t hese h ave p erhaps b een o mitted b y ac opyist. Athilheard 's t itle i s ' rex W estsaxonum ', a s i n I ne 's c harter d iscussed a bove. T he c harter i s d ated 7 29 b y a n i ncarnational y ear : p robably a n i ndiction , a nd p ossibly o ther d etails , h ave b een o mitted. Ay ear o f g race c ould w ell b e a g enuine p art o f a c harter w ording a t t his d ate , a nd t he d ate g iven h ere m ay b e c orrect, b ut i t c annot b e c hecked , s o t he t ext c an o nly b e d ated w ith c ertainty t o A thilheard 's r eign , 7 26-740. T he d ocument w as w ritten ' in l oco q ui a ppelatur P encrik ', a nd a c harter o f k ing C yniwulf ( 757-786) g ranting l and t o a bbot E adwald o f M uchelney i s d ated f rom t he s ame p lace ( S261: B ates , M uchelney C artulary, p . 4 7 n . 1 ). ' Pencrik ' i s u nidentified, b ut w as p erhaps i n S omerset n ear t o t he m onasteries o f G lastonbury a nd M uchelney. T he w itness l ist a ppears a uthentic. I t h as b een a bbreviated b y t he o mission o f l aymen , t he e xtant t ext e nding w ith t he c lause ' et o mnes p rincipes c onsenserunt e t c onfirmauerunt ', b ut t he n ames w hich r emain a re u nobjectionable a s p art o f ag enuine l ist. T he n ames o f t he k ing a nd q ueen a re f ollowed b y a n a bbot n amed B eornfrith, w ho i s o therwise u nknown , a nd b ishops D aniel o f W inchester a nd F orthere o f S herborne. N o d istinction i s m ade b etween l ay a nd c lerical w itnesses i n t heir a ttestation f orms . T his m ay r epresent t he b eginning o f t he a bandonment o f t his p ractice , w hich o ccurred d uring t he e ighth c entury, o r m ay s imply b e a n i nstance o f t he u se o f t he ' Ego .. s ubscripsi ' ( or s imilar) f orm f or r oyal w itnesses , w hich o ccurs i n s ome e arly W est S axon c harters ( Eg . S 1164). D aniel 's s ubscription i ncludes b oth h is u sual h umility f ormula ' plebis d ei f amulus ' a nd t he w ord ' canonice ' w hich i s u sed e lsewhere b y h im a nd b y h is s uccessor, b ishop H unfrith ( S255, 2 59).

4 0

T he b oundaries o f t he e state f ollow t he w itness l ist. T hey a re i n L atin a nd v ery b rief, m erely s tating t he l andmarks o n t he f our s ides o f t he e state, a nd a re t herefore l ikely t o b e g enuine, a lthough t he p lacen ames h ave b een m odernised ( Grundy 1 935, P 1 . 15), a nd t he s outhern b oundary, w hich t akes t he f orm o f a p erambulation , ' ab a ustro d irimit C arswell i n C arl e t C arl u sque i n l ocum q ue d icitur C hedesie ', m ay h ave b een r e-written. T he b ounds i ndicate t hat t he l and g ranted b y Athilheard a nd F rithugyth c omprised m uch o f t he P olden H ills , a f ew m iles w est o f G lastonbury, e xtending f rom t he m odern v illage o f C hilton P olden i n t he w est t o W alton i n t he e ast ( Ibid.; E CW , n o. 3 81; M orland 1 982, p . 2 34). T he n ame ' Pouholt ' d oes n ot s urvive , a nd i n 1 066 t he a rea w as d ivided i nto t he t wo m anors o f S hapwick a nd W alton , a ssessed p a t 3 0 h ides e ach a nd b oth h eld b y G lastonbury ( DB S omerset, p. 8 .5, 8 .11). T he o bsolete p lace-name a nd d ifferent o rganisation o f t he l and i n t he c harter s uggest t hat t his i s ag enuine, e arly d ocument: a w riter o f l ater d ate w ould h ave b een l ikely t o i ntroduce d etails c orresponding w ith t hose i n D omesday B ook.

S 1410 L ongleat H ouse , m anuscript 3 9, ( Edition :

f os .

1 53v-4.

W atkin , G lastonbury C art., n o. 7 66).

T his c harter s urvives o nly i n t he t wo m anuscripts o f t he c artulary, b ut a s ingle s heet v ersion w as e xtant i n 1 247 ( IC A 19), a nd t he c artularist a pparently u sed a s ingle s heet a s h is e xemplar . T he d ocument r ecords a s ale o f l and t o G lastonbury i n 7 44 b y aw oman n amed L ulle w ith t he c onsent o f A thilbald, k ing o f t he M ercians. T he t ext p resents a r ather c onfused a ppearance, c hiefly b ecause t he d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist a re i ncorporated i nto t he d ispositio i nstead o f b eing s eparate. T here f ollows a r ather o dd b oundary c lause, a nd t hen a p assage w hich a rgues t he n eed f or a w ritten r ecord o f b oundaries t o p revent d isputes. A n e ndorsement i s a dded w hich c onfirms . / Ethilbald 's c onsent a nd i ncludes a s anction a nd b lessing, a f urther d ating c lause a nd a s econd w itness l ist h eaded b y./Ethilbald a nd i ncluding b oth M ercians a nd W est S axons . T he d onor , L ulle, i s o therwise u nknown . S he i s d escribed a s ' militancium C hristo h umilis a ncilla ', a nd w as p resumably a n un , p ossible a n a bbess . T he t ext m entions t he s ouls o f t hose j oined t o h er b y t he b onds o f a ssociations a nd n ecessities , ' pro r edempcione m ee a nime e orumque u idelicet q ui m ichi c ontribulium a c n ecessitudinum n exibus c onglutinati s unt ', a nd t his p resumably r efers t o t he o ther m embers o f h er c ommunity, t he m asculine g ender r eflecting t he f act t hat i n a d ouble m onastery t here w ere b oth m en a nd w omen . I n t he c lause a lready m entioned a s d iscussing t he n eed f or a w ritten r ecord o f b oundaries , r eference i s m ade t o t he p ossibility o f d ispute ' inter t ributarios u estros n ostrosque c olonos '. T he i mplication s eems t o b e t hat t he b oundary o f t his e state i s a lso t he b oundary b etween t he r espective l ands o f t he t wo m onasteries , a nd t his m ay i ndicate t hat

4 1

L ulle's m onastery w as n ot f ar f rom G lastonbury. T he b eneficiary i s t he c ommunity o f G lastonbury u nder a bbot T unberht . T he e xistence o f t his a bbot i s c onfirmed b y h is a ppearance i n aw itness l ist w hich s eems a uthentic a lthough a ppended t o a d ubious W inchester c harter ; h e a lso a ppears i n t he a bbatial l ist, e rroneously a s ' Hunbeorht', a nd i s c ited b y W illiam o f M almesbury a s t he b eneficiary o f t wo c harters n ot n ow e xtant, a g rant o f C uthred i n 7 45 a nd o ne o f Athilbald i n 7 46 ( S242; S 1678 , 1 679). T he t ransaction t ook p lace ' cum c onsciencia u idelicit a c r egali l icencia e ius q ui B ritainnice i nsule m onarchiam d ispensat r egalisque r egni r egimina g ubernat . A thelbaldi '. T he c laims m ade f or t he M ercian k ing h ere r esemble t hose i n h is o riginal c harter o f 7 36 : ' rex n on s olum M arcersium s ed e t o mnium p rouinciorum q uae g enerale . n omine S utangli d icuntur' a nd ' rex B rittanniae ' ( S89), s o t he c lause i s p robably g enuine. F urthermore , i t i s a pparent t hat J Ethilbald w as i nvolved i n t he a ffairs o f G lastonbury a t a bout t his t ime. H is g rant o f 7 46 i s m entioned a bove ; h e c onfirmed I ne's g rant o f l and a t B rent K noll; a nd h e i s m entioned a s a b enefactor o f t he h ouse i n a c harter o f k ing C uthred w hich c onfirms e arlier g rants ( S238, 2 57). T he C hronicle s tates t hat Athilbald o ccupied S omerton i n 7 33. I t i s n ot c ertain t hat t his i s t he S omerton i n S omerset, b ut t he p ossibility r eceives s ome s upport f rom t he G lastonbury e vidence . L ulle 's c harter i s t he f irst r ecorded G lastonbury c harter f rom t he p eriod a fter 7 33. T he f irst o f t he t wo w itness l ists i ncluded i n t his c harter r eads : c um a dstipulacione l itterarum e t i doneorum t estium . T unberti a bbatis . B osan . U rtan . W alcstodes . T idbertes . s acerdotum . e t T idan p repositi . C uthwynisque c omitis. N one o f t hese m en i s k nown e xcept t he a bbot. T he n ames B osa a nd W alcstod o ccur i n t he a bbatial l ist , b ut n either i s r ecorded e lsewhere a s a n a bbot, a nd i t m ay b e t hat t he c ompiler m isunderstood s ome c ommemorative r ecord r elating t o p riests o f G lastonbury. T he w itness l ist i s p robably g enuine: i t d oes n ot r esemble t he l ists p roduced b y f abricators o f c harters, w hich c ommonly c onsist o f f amous m en r ecorded i n t he H istoria E cclesiastica o r t he C hronicle ( Eg. S 228, 2 30); a lthough t he i ndividuals a re u nknown , t he n ames a ppear t o b e g enuine A nglo-Saxon p ersonal n ames o f a n e arly d ate , t hree o f t hem b eing s hort n ames s uch a s w ere n ot g enerally u sed i n t he t enth c entury a nd l ater, w hile C uthwine i s a lso a n e xample o f an ame w hich b ecame o bsolete , s ince n o C uth- name e xcept C uthberht c ontinued i n u se i n l ater c enturies ( Smart 1 981, p p . x iii-xv). I t a ppears t o b e a s pecifically G lastonbury w itness l ist, c hiefly c omposed o f m embers o f t he c ommunity, t o b e c ompared w ith t he C hrist C hurch w itness l ists o ccurring i n s ome c harters o f t he C anterbury a rchives ( Eg . S 1259, 1 264, 1 265, 1 438). T he t itle ' prepositus ' p robably i ndicates t hat T ida w as a n o fficial o f t he m onastery, a nd i t m ay n ot b e c oincidence t hat t he b ounds m ention a p lace n amed ' Tidanlegh '. T he l ayman C uthwine w as p erhaps c onnected w ith t he h ouse i n s ome w ay, f or e xample a s at enant o n i ts e states o r a l ocal n obleman . T he c ontent o f t he w itness l ist i s c onsistent w ith t he a pparently l ocal n ature o f t he t ransaction , w hich s eems t o h ave b een a t ransfer o f p roperty b etween n eighbouring h ouses .

4 2

T he o ther w itness l ist i s p art o f t he e ndorsement , ' pittancium ', a pparently a dded t o c onfirm Athilbald 's c onsent . T he f irst t wo n ames o n t he l ist a re Athilbald a nd C uthred. N either i s g iven a t itle, b ut t he f irst c an o nly b e t he M ercian k ing, a nd t he s econd i s p resumably t he W est S axon k ing. ' Oua s uffragator ' i s aM ercian l ayman w ho a ttests n umerous c harters o f Athilbald d uring t he p eriod 7 27-748 ( S85, 8 9, 9 1, e tc). T he n ext w itness a ppears a s ' Athellen ', a g arbled n ame w hich i s p erhaps m ost l ikely t o b e Athilhun , a nd t his m an m ay t herefore b e t he a rrogant e aldorman ' w hom C uthred f ought i n 7 50 ( ASC s .a . 7 50). H erewald w as b ishop o f S herborne i n s uccession t o F orthere, a nd a bbot D ud a ttests a c harter o f l Ethilheard i n 7 39 ( S255). ' Heortbearht a uxiliator' i s p robably _Athilbald 's b rother w ho a ttests M ercian c harters f rom 7 36 t o t he e nd o f t he r eign ( Eg. S 89, 9 4, 9 6, 1 03). T here i s n o o b jection t o a ny o f t hese n ames, a nd t he p resence o f o bscure m en r ecorded e lsewhere s trongly s uggests t hat t he l ist i s a uthentic . L ulle's c harter i s d ated t he 1 0th J uly w ith n o i ndication o f y ear , b ut t he e ndorsement i s d ated 7 44 , a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t his i s a lso t he y ear o f t he g rant s ince t he c onfirmation o f Athilbald i s n ot a l ater a ddition r eflecting c hanged c ircumstances , b ut w as e nvisaged a t t he t ime o f t he t ransaction , a s t he r eference t o i t i n t he d ispositio s hows. T he s ale w as m ade i n a c hurch d edicated t o t he a postles P eter a nd P aul. I t i s n ot e ntirely i mpossible t hat t he c hurch a t M almesbury, w hich h ad t his d edication , i s m eant , b ut i n t his c ontext i t i s p erhaps m ore l ikely t hat t his w as t he c hurch a t L ulle 's m onastery. Ab oundary c lause w hich i s s hort, i n L atin e xcept f or p lace-names, a nd n ot v ery i ntelligible, b earing n o r esemblance t o t he p ractised p erambulations o f a l ater a ge, i s l ikely t o b e g enuine. T he p assage w hich d iscusses t he n eed f or b oundaries i s i ntroduced b y t he c lause ' Hec u ero u ocabulorum s igna T omi s tilo i ndita s unt '. T his s eems t o h ave b een u nderstood b y t he c artularist, w ho g ave a c apital l etter t o ' Tomi ', t o i ndicate t he n ame o f t he s cribe, b ut ' Tomus ' c an s carcely b e a n A nglo-Saxon p ersonal n ame , a nd i t i s n ot c ertain w hat i s m eant; p ossibly t he s ense i s ' in t he s tyle o f ab ook ', i .e . i n w riting. I t i s a sserted t hat d isputes a re o f f requent o ccurrence w hen b oundaries a re n ot c learly r ecorded. T his s eems t o f it a m id-eighth-century c ontext, w hen d etailed b oundaries b egin t o a ppear i n c harters i n E ngland a nd e lsewhere, p robably b ecause t he n eed f or t hem h ad b een m ade a pparent b y t he o ccurrence o f s uch d isputes a s t his c harter m entions. T here a re s ome u nusual w ords i n t his t ext, n otably t he t itles g iven t o l aymen, ' prepositus ' i n t he f irst w itness l ist a nd s uffragator ' a nd ' auxiliator ' i n t he s econd ; a lso ' archimandrita ' u sed i n p lace o f ' abbas ' i n o ne r eference t o T unberht. ' Rus ' u sed i nstead o f ' terra ' i s a lso u nusual. B ut t he t ext a s aw hole i s r ather m ore v erbose t han n ecessary, a nd t hese w ords a re n ot i nconsistent w ith t he s tyle o f t he d ocument , w hile t he u nusual t itles f ind a n e cho i n b ishop H erewald 's ' speculator e cclesie d el ' i n l Ethilbald 's c onfirmatory w itness l ist t o I ne 's B rent K noll c harter, a nd ' rus ' i s u sed i n a K entish c harter o f 7 32 w hich i s e xtent i n c ontemporary f orm ( S23). T he a ttestation f orms i n t he s econd w itness l ist s eems s uspicious , i ncorporating s everal d ifferent v erbs o f s ubscription a nd c onfirmation a nd a c ertain a mount o f r epetition , e .g. i n C uthred 's s ubscription : 4Ego C uthred a nnuens s ubscripsi f irmauique s ubscripsi e t c onfirmaui

4 3

d euotamente '. I t s eems t hat t here i s a ccidental m iscopying h ere , p robably a lso s ome d eliberate e laboration b y s omeone c opying o ut d ocument.

a nd t he

L ulle s ells t o G lastonbury ( the p hrase ' placata p recio m uneris a ccepti e xtimplo p rolati' s eems t o i ndicate t hat a p rice h as b een p aid) a n e state o f 1 0 h ides a t ' Balteresberge e t S cobbanwirht '. T he f ormer , n ow B altonsborough , a bout 3 m iles s outh-east o f G lastonbury , o ccurs i n n o o ther p re-Conquest c harter . I t w as o wned b y G lastonbury i n 1 066 a nd w as a ssessed a t 5h ides ( DB S omerset, p . 8 .22). ' Scobbanwirht ' d oes n ot s urvive a s a p lace-name , d oes n ot a ppear i n D omesday B ook a nd i s n ot m entioned i n a ny G lastonbury r ecord o f t his c harter, a ll r eferences b eing s olely t o B altonsborough. I ts o nly o ther o ccurrence i n p reC onquest c harters i s i n a b oundary c lause o f l ater d ate, f rom w hich i t a ppears t hat t he p lace l ay i n t he n orthern p art o f B altonsborough p arish ( S292; G rundy 1 935 , p . 6 1). T he c harter g oes o n t o s ay t hat t he s ame a mount o f l and ( i.e. 1 0 h ides) a t ' Lotti . s ham ' a nd ' Ledenford ' i s r elinquished t o t he j udgement o f k ing Athilbald. T he p oint o f t his p rovision i s n ot e ntirely c lear , b ut i t m ay b e t hat t he l ands m entioned i n t his c harter h ad b een t he s ubject o f a d ispute a nd t hat a greement h ad b een r eached o ver t he o thers, b ut i t w as l eft f or d ' Ethilbald t o d ecide a bout t hese. L ottisham , a bout 2 m iles e ast o f G lastonbury, w as g ranted b y Athelwulf t o e aldorman E anwulf i n 8 42 ( S292). T he a rea w as 5 h ides, a nd 2 5 h ides a t D itcheat w ere a lso g ranted. L ottisham i s n ot m entioned i n D omesday B ook , b ut D itcheat w as o wned b y G lastonbury i n 1 066 a nd w as a ssessed a t 3 0 h ides ( DB S omerset , p . 8 .30), s o t he p robability i s t hat L ottisham w as i ncluded i n t his e state . ' Ledenford ' i s n ow L ydford , a bout 2 m iles s outh-east o f G lastonbury. I t d oes n ot r ecur i n c harters b ut w as o wned b y G lastonbury i n 1 066 a nd w as a ssessed a t 4h ides ( DB S omerset , p . 8 .4). T he o rganisation o f t hese l ands w hen t his c harter w as d rafted s eems t o h ave b een t his: o ne e state o f 1 0 h ides c omprised 5 h ides a t B altonsborough a nd 5 h ides a t ' Scobbanwirht ', w hile a nother e state o f 1 0 h ides c omprised 5 h ides a t L ottisham a nd 5 h ides a t L ydford. B ut i n 8 42 i f n ot b efore , L ottisham w as d etached f rom L ydford a nd g rouped w ith t he 2 5 h ides a t D itcheat t o f orm a n e state o f 3 0 h ides . L ydford w as l eft a s a n e state i n i tself, a s i t a ppears i n D omesday B ook. B altonsborough a lso s tands a lone i n D omesday a s a n e state o f 5 h ides, s o ' Scobbanwirht ' h as a t s ome s tage b een d etached f rom i t . A s Athelwulf 's D itcheat c harter i s t he o ne i n w hich ' Scobbanwirht ' i s n amed i n t he b oundary c lause , i t m ay b e t hat t he l and i s i ncluded i n t hat e state. O n t his b asis t he n ew o rganisation o f l ands i s : o ne e state o f 5h ides a t B altonsborough ; o ne e state o f 5 ( or 4 ) h ides a t L ydford; a nd o ne e state o f 3 0 h ides a t D itcheat i ncorporating 5 h ides a t ' Scobbanwirht ' a nd 5 h ides a t L ottisham . T hese t hree e states a ppear i n D omesday B ook a nd t his a rrangement o f t he l ands a ppears t o d ate f rom a t l east t he m id-eighth c entury. T his s eems t o b e av ery s trong a rgument i n f avour o f t he b asic a uthenticity o f L ulle 's c harter. T he d etails p roduced b y a f orger w ould h ave m atched t hose o btaining a t a l ater d ate. T he d ifferent a rrangements d escribed i n t he c harter c an o nly r epresent t he w ork o f a s cribe w riting b efore 8 42. M oreover , t he c harter d oes n ot c laim t hat

4 4

L ottisham a nd L ydford a re o wned b y G lastonbury, a s a f orger w ould d one i f h e h ad m entioned t hem a t a ll.

h ave

2 57 L ongleat H ouse , m anuscript 3 9, ( Edition :

f os .

5 8v-59.

W atkin , G lastonbury C art.,

n o.

2 01).

A c harter i n t he n ame o f k ing C uthred ( 740-756) c onfirming t he g rants o f e arlier k ings t o G lastonbury s urvives i n t he c artularies a nd i n t ranscriptions w hich W illiam o f M almesbury i ncluded i n h is D e A ntiquitate G lastonie E cclesie a nd G esta R egum ( DA , p . 1 04 ; G R , p . 4 0). T he c artularist d oes n ot m ention t hat h e u sed a c opy, b ut n o s ingles heet v ersion o f .t his c harter i s i ncluded i n t he i nventory o f 1 247. I t m ay h ave b een o mitted f rom t he i nventory b ecause i t g rants n othing n ew , b ut i s m erely a c onfirmation o f e arlier g ifts, a nd d oes n ot r eally f it a ny o f o f t he c ategories u sed. O r i t m ay b e t hat t he c artularist w orked f rom a t ranscript a nd f orgot t o s ay s o. T he t ext b egins w ith a n i nvocation o f t he c ommon ' In n omine t ype. T here i s n o p roem . T he d ispositio s tates t hat C uthred c onfirms a ll g rants o f t he f ormer k ings C entwine, B aldred, C eadwalla , I ne, 2 Ethilheard, a nd Athilbald o f M ercia , s o t hat t hey m ay e ndure f or e ver . T here f ollows a s anction a nd t hen a n a bbreviated w itness l ist. T he t hree n ames p reserved b y t he c opyist a re t hose o f C uthred, b ishop H erewald, w ho w as F orthere 's s uccessor a t S herborne, a nd a ttests o ther c harters o f t he m id e ighth c entury ( S96, 2 38 , 2 57, 2 60 , 2 61, 2 62, 2 65 , 1 256, 1 410), a nd C ombra , d escribed a s a p refectus o f t he k ing, w ho i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t hat e aldorman w ho s tood b y S igiberht l ongest a nd w as k illed b y h im a t l ast ( ASC s .a . 7 57). W illiam o f M almesbury a dds t he s ubscription o f b ishop D aniel. A fter t he w itness l ist t here i s a l ong d ating c lause w hich s tates t hat t he c harter w as p romulgated i n t he m onastery a t a c eremony i n t he w ooden c hurch i n w hich t he m onks h ad p laced a bbot H aemgils ' s arcophagus. T he y ear i s g iven o nly a s a n i ncarnational d ate, a nd t he c harter i s d ated 7 44 i n s ome m anuscripts a nd 7 45 i n o thers ( Watkin , G lastonbury C art ., p . 1 42; B 169 n . 1 6 ; D A , p . 2 00 n . 9 5); s ome m anuscripts a dd t he d ay, 3 0th A pril ( B169 n . 1 5) 7 A f ew f eatures o f t his d ocument s uggest t he p ossibility t hat i t m ay b e b asically a uthentic. O ne i s t he c orrespondence o f s ections o f i ts w ording w ith p assages i n o ther m id-eighth-century c harters, a s i s f urther d iscussed b elow . A nother i s t he f act t hat t here i s n o o bvious m otive f or f orgery. S purious c onfirmatory c harters , l ike t he f abricated p rivilege o f I ne m entioned a bove, u sually i nclude e xtensive g rants o f p rivileges . I n t his c ase n othing i s a dded t o t he e arlier g rants e xcept t hat t he s anction t hreatens n ot o nly a nyone w ho d ares t o i nfringe t he t erms o f t he c harter, b ut a lso a nyone w ho d ares :

4 5

g ressum p edis u obis H engissingum t raditum u rbemque g lebam e xtra t erminos p refixos u el d efinitos l imites s eu c onstitutos a dimere. P rofessor N icholas B rooks h as t ranslated t his c lause f or m e: B ut i f a nyone s hall h ave e ndeavoured t o d estroy t he w itness o f t his m y d onation o r t o r emove a f oot 's s tep g iven t o y ou o f t he H aemgilsingas , a nd a r ich c lod b eyond t he p refixed b ounds a nd d efined a nd c onstituted l imits .. T his d oes n ot s eem v ery l ikely t o b e e ighth-century d rafting, a nd m ay p erhaps h ave b een i nterpolated i nto t he s anction a t a l ater d ate. B ut i t d oes n ot s eem l ikely t hat t he w hole d ocument h as b een f abricated f or t he s ake o f t his p rovision , w hose p osition i n t he s anction m akes i t l ook l ike a n a fterthought. N or i s i t l ikely t hat t he d ocument w as f abricated m erely t o a dd t he a uthority o f C uthred 's n ame t o e arlier g rants , s ince h e w as n ot a p articularly f amous k ing, a nd w as n ot l ikely t o h ave b een c hosen f or s uch a p urpose. I t i s ap oint i n f avour o f t he c harter t hat t he l ist o f k ings w hose g rants a re s aid t o b e c onfirmed d oes n ot i nclude C oenwalh , s ince o ne w ould e xpect a f orger o f t enth-century o r l ater d ate , w ho w ould b e a cquainted w ith t he f abricated c harter i n C oenwalh 's n ame , t o i nclude h im i n al ist o f e arly G lastonbury b enefactors . T he l ist d oes i nclude C eadwalla , w ho i s n ot k nown t o h ave m ade a ny g rants t o G lastonbury , b ut i t i s q uite p ossible t hat t here e xisted i n t he e ighth c entury a c harter i n h is n ame o f w hich n o t race n ow s urvives . T he o nly r ecorded g rant b y d ethilbald o f M ercia t o t he m onastery i s d ated 7 46 b y W illiam o f M almesbury ( DA , p . 1 04), w hich i mplies t hat i t p ost-dates C uthred 's c harter ; b ut t his d iscrepancy i s n ot s ignificant b ecause i ncarnational d ates i n G lastonbury c harters a re s o o ften w rong t hat i t i s i mpossible t o r ely e ither o n t he d ate g iven b y W illiam f or / Ethilbald's g rant o r e ither o f t he d ates g iven i n e xtant m anuscripts o f C uthred 's c harter . M oreover , i t i s p ossible t hat l Ethilbald's n ame w as u sed i n r eference t o h is c onfirmation o f L ulle 's c harter . T he w itness l ist s eems t o b e a uthentic. A lthough t here i s n o o ther a uthentic e arly c harter r esembling t hat o f C uthred i n b eing s olely a g eneral c onfirmation o f e arlier g rants, t here a re p lenty o f r ecords o f l ater r oyal c onfirmation o f g ifts . T hese t ake t he f orm o f a n e ndorsement a dded t o t he p articular c harter c oncerned, a nd u sually c onsist o f aw itness l ist, w ith o r w ithout a n e xplanatory r ubric. T he e ndorsement i n Athilbald 's n ame a dded t o I ne's g rant o f B rent K noll i s a n e xample ( S238) a nd o thers a re t he w itness l ists h eaded b y t he M ercian k ings C oenred ( 704-709) a nd C eolred ( 709-716) w hich a re a ppended t o a n E ast S axon c harter o f 7 04 t o c onfirm s uccessive c onfirmations o f t he t ransaction ( S65), a nd O ffa 's e ndorsem ent o f ac harter o f O slac, d ux o f t he S outh S axons ( S1184). T he c ontent o f C uthred 's c harter i s c onsistent w ith t he p olitical h istory o f t he t ime . T he r eason f or a l ater c onfirmation o f a g rant w as o ften t hat p olitical p ower i n t he a rea h ad c hanged a nd a m onastic c ommunity s ought c onfirmation o f t he p ossession o f i ts e states f rom a

4 6

c onqueror w ho m ight o therwise s eize t he l ands . I t s eems l ikely t hat G lastonbury o btained C uthred 's c onfirmation o f e arlier g rants f or t his r eason . Athilbald o f M ercia a ppears t o h ave b rought S omerset u nder h is c ontrol d uring t he r eign o f Athilheard a nd r emained i n p ower t here d uring p art o f C uthred 's r eign : h e o ccupied S omerton , p robably i n S omerset, i n 7 33 ( ASC s .a. 7 33); h e c onfirmed I ne 's g rant o f B rent K noll, a nd h e a uthorised L ulle 's s ale o f B altonsborough i n 7 44. A ccording t o B ede , / Ethilbald h ad a uthority o ver a ll t he k ingdoms s outh o f t he H umber i n 7 31 ( HE V 2 3). B ut C uthred s eems t o h ave h ad s ome s uccess i n r eversing t his t rend. T he C hronicler r ecorded t hat h e f ought r esolutely a gainst / Ethilbald, a nd t he C ontinuatio B eadae s tates t hat h e r ose a gainst t he M ercian k ing a nd a gainst A ngus, k ing o f t he P icts, w ho w as e vidently i n a lliance w ith M ercia , i n 7 50 ( ASC s .a . 7 40 ; H E , p . 5 74). A nd e xtant c harters a nd r ecords o f c harters i ndicate t hat C yniwulf ( 757-786) w as t he e ffective r uler o f S omerset t hroughout h is r eign ( S261, 2 62, 2 65, 1 681-1690 ; E CW , n o. 3 90); t here i s n o f urther t race o f M ercian p ower i n t he a rea u ntil t he t ime o f O ff a ( S1692, E CW , n o. 3 97). I t s eems l ikely t hat i n t he 7 50s C uthred r estored W est S axon p ower i n S omerset, a nd t hat t he c ommunity a t G lastonbury, r eleased f rom M ercian d ominance, s ecured h is a greement t hat t hey c ould c ontinue i n p ossession o f t he e states w hich i n r ecent y ears h ad b een h eld b y p ermission o f 2 Ethilbald o f M ercia . T here i s n o r eference i n C uthred 's c harter t o n on-royal g rants , b ut i t i s l ikely t hat t hese w ere i ntended t o b e i ncluded i n t he g eneral c onfirmation . T he a uthor o f t he c harter p robably t ook t he v iew t hat s uch g rants w ere m ade b y r oyal a uthority, a nd t hat t he e states c oncerned w ere s ubsequently h eld b y r oyal p ermission , s o t hat t he t erms o f t he c harter w ould a utomatically i nclude t hem . I t i s t herefore p ossible t hat t his d ocument h as s ome b asis i n a n a uthentic c harter o f C uthred. B ut , l ike o ther G lastonbury c harters , i t s eems t o h ave b een s ubstantially r e-written . T he l ist o f t he c omponent p arts o f t he e states i s v ery u nusual : ' in u illis e t i n u icis a tque a gris a c p rediis m assis e t m aioribus '. T he t ext i ncludes t he p hrases ' pristina u rbs G lastingei' a nd ' in l ignea b asilica ', b oth o f w hich a re a mong t he i nterpolations i n t he G lastonbury v ersion o f I ne 's g rant o f p rivileges o f 7 04. T he c onfirmed g rants a re s aid t o e ndure ' quamdiu u ertigo p oll t erras a tque e cora c irca e thera s iderum i usso m oderamine u oluet ', a n u nusual w ording w hich s eems u nlikely t o b e g enuine, a nd t he d onor 's l ong a ttestation a lso s eems s uspicious. I t a ppears l ikely t hat a c opyist h as r e-drafted t he d ocument i n o rder t o i mprove a nd s trengthen i t. T here i s n o r eason w hy t he r eference t o t he s arcophagus o f a bbot H 2emgils s hould n ot b e g enuine i n a c harter d rawn u p s ome 5 0 y ears a fter h is d eath , a nd t his c lause , i n c on junction w ith o ther e vidence , t ends t o s uggest t hat H aemgils w as r egarded w ith p articular r everence a t G lastonbury f or s ome t ime a fter h is d eath . T he w ording s eems t o i ndicate t hat t he s arcophagus w as p laced i n t he c hurch a t o r a bove t he f loor l evel, r ather t han t hat i t w as b uried, a nd s uch a n a rrangement w as a s ign o f t he d ead m an 's s anctity ( Campbell 1 982, p . 8 0). M oreover , t he p resence o f t he s arcophagus w as e vidently c onsidered t he m ost n otable f eature o f t he c hurch , s ince i t w as t he o ne c hosen t o i dentify a nd d escribe i t. T he i nterpolated p assage i n B aldred 's c harter , r eferring t o H 2emgil 's a ppointment a s a bbot a nd h is f aithful

4 7

m anner o f l ife, w ould h ave b een p ointless h ad t here n ot b een s pecial r egard f or H eemgils a t G lastonbury. H e i s t he e arliest r ecorded a bbot o f t he h ouse , a nd w as p laced a t t he h ead o f t he a bbatial l ist. T he i nterpolation i n B aldred 's c harter s hows t hat i t w as t he t radition o f t he h ouse t hat h e h ad b een a ppointed b y k ing C entwine w ith t he c onsent o f b ishop H eeddi, w hich c ould w ell b e t rue. T he e vidence s uggests t hat H aemgils w as t he f ounder o f t he S axon m onastery a t G lastonbury, a nd t hat t he c ommunity, l ike m any o ther e arly r egligious c ommunities, r egarded t heir f ounder a s a s aint, b ut t hat t his c ult d ied o ut, p robably w hen i nterest i n p re-Saxon G lastonbury b ecame p rominent a nd a ttention w as t urned t o t he e arly I rish s aints .

* * * * * *

W ordings o f S 251,

2 53 ,

1 410 a nd 2 57

harters , p lus C uthred 's g rant t o M almesbury ( S256) T hese f our . c f orm a d istinct g roup b ecause o f t he c onnections b etween t heir w ordings. T he o ther W est S axon c harters d ating f rom t he p eriod 7 25-756 d o n ot b elong t o t his g roup . T he g rant o f p rivileges i n I ne 's n ame d iscussed a bove i s af abrication ( S250). Ag rant o f Athilheard a nd F rithugyth t o W inchester m ay h ave s ome a uthentic b asis, b ut s eems i n i ts e xtant f orm t o b e e ntirely t he w ork o f a l ater p eriod ( S254). T he M uchelney c harter w hich s hares t he w ording o f t he g rant b y I ne o f M iddlezoy i s a f abrication ( S249). /Ethilheard 's C rediton c harter s eems t o b e g enuine ( S255), b ut h as l ittle i n c ommon w ith t hese t exts , b elonging r ather t o t he t radition o f e xtreme s implicity w hich i s c haracterstic o f m ost e arly W est S axon c harters . T he c orrespondences b etween t hese c harters a re f requently s triking. T hey a re d escribed b elow a nd t he r elevant p assages a re q uoted i n f ull. I n t he f irst t wo c harters t he q ueen i s c ited a s d onor j ointly w ith t he k ing : S 251:

' Ini r ex W estsaxonum u na c um c oniuge e t E lburge ';

S 253 :

' Athelardus r ex W estsaxonum s imulque r egina

T he s pecified b eneficiary o f a n e arly g rant t o a m onastery i s u sually t he a bbot . I n m ost o f t hese c harters i t i s t he c ommunity, a lthough t he a bbot i s u sually n amed: S 251:

' Cristi f amilie q ue i n G lastingburg ' o mnipotenti d omino u oluntarie d euocionis o bsequium i mpendit ';

S 253:

' fami ne q ue i n m onasterio G lastingaburi , s ub r eligioso a bbate C engislo f ideli D eo f amulatur o bsequio ';

S 1410:

' fami ne q ue i n m onasterio G lastyngaburgh . s ub s implicis a rchimandrite d ispositis r egulis . T unbertes f ideli d eo f amulatur o bsequio ';

S 257:

( no b eneficiary n amed)

4 8

S 256 :

' Aldhelmo a bbati f amiliaeque a more d egenti'.

s ub

i llius

r egiminis

N one o f t hese c harters c ontains a n e xemption f rom s ecular b urdens, b ut s uch e xemptions b egan t o a ppear i n W essex a t t his t ime a nd t here i s a c lause i n f our o f t hese c harters w hich m ay r eflect t he i dea b ehind e xemptions: S 251:

' del s eruorum m ancipare i nconuulsa c ollacione f ;

u sibus

d ecreuimus ..

S 253 :

fi ta

S 1410:

fi ta u t e x h oc d ie i nconuulso i ure p refata p ossessio i psius m onasterii u sibus m ancipetur f;

S 256 :

' Sit a utem p raedicta p ossessio i psius m onasterii u sibus m äncipata d einceps i ncessabili j ugitate '.

u t e x h oc d ie i nconvulso l ure p refata p ossessio i psius m onasterii u sibus m ancipetur f ;

A p hrase i n t he M almesbury c harter 's d escription o f t he l and c losely e choes o ne o f t he G lastonbury c harters, a nd t he p hrase m ay t herefore b e g enuine h ere , a lthough i t a lso r eflects t enth-century p ractice: S 1410:

' sub . x . m anencium e stimacione c erta t axatam f;

S 256 :

' sub x m ansionum e stimatione t axatam f.

T he s anctions a re s imilar i n a ll c ases , a nd t he o ne i ncluded i n Athilbald 's c onfirmatory e ndorsement o f I ne 's B rent K noll c harter m ay a lso b e c ompared: S 251:

' Si q uis u ero c uiuslibet d ignitatis u el p otencie q uouis d einceps t empore q ualibet o ccasione. h anc i nfringere t irannica f retus p resumpcione c ollacionem t emptauerit s it a c ollegio c atholice e cclesie s eparatus f;

S 253 :

' Quapropter S i q uis q uovis d einceps t empore t irannica f retus i nsolentia s ub q ualibet o ccasione i nterrumpere a tque i n i rritum d educere i nsolubile p laciti i stius t estamentum n isus f uerit , s it a c onsorcio p iorum u ltimi e xaminis v entilabro d ispertitus r apaciumque c ollegio c onbinatus v iolencie s ue p enas l uat f ;

S 1410 :

q uapropter s i q uis q uouis d einceps t empore t irannica f retus i nsolencia q ualibet o ccasione i nterumpere . a tque i n i rritum d educere . s eu u nius i ugeris s pacium p laciti i stius t estamentum n isus f uerit s it a c onsorcio e cclesie C hristi a nathema e xtremique u entilabro e xaminis d ispertitus r apaciumque c ollegio c ombinatus u iolencie s ue p resumptionem l uat i n e uum f;

4 9

S 257 :

' Si q uis a utem h uius m ee d onacionis t estamentum n isus f uerit c onfringere i pse a crius m ultatus s it i nfernales e rgastuli i n p ena d emersus u iolencieque s ue p resumpcionem l uat i n e uum A men ':

S 256:

' Si q uis h ujus l argitionis m eae s tipem t yrannica f retus i nsolentia q ualibet o ccasione i nterrumpere a tque i n i rritum d educere n isus f uerit , s it a c onsortio p iorum u ltimi v entilabro e xaminis s equestratus r apaciumque c ollegio c ombinatus u iolentia s uae p oenas l uat ';

S 238 :

' si q uis a utem q uouis d einceps t empore h oc i nfringere t ot n obilitatis g radibus r oboratum p resumeret i us s it a c onsorcio b ene m erencium a nathema r apaciumque c ollegio a dplicitus t emeritatis s ue c ommissa l uat s ub d iris d entibus s alamandri c erberique r ettibus r eatum e xsoluat p roprium s ine f ine s emper m erens l.

T he b lessings a lso r esemble e ach o ther , a nd h ere t oo t he o f Athilbald's e ndorsement m ay b e i ncluded: S 251:

' Si q uis u ero p ia p reditus i ntencione h ec p robare a c d efendere c urauerit a mplificet d eus p orcionem e ius i n t erra u luencium ';

S 253:

' si q uis v ero b enivola p ocius p redictus i ntentione h ec p robare a c d efendere s tuduerit, v ideat b ona D omini i n t erra v ivencium ';

S 1410 :

' Qui u ero b eniuola p ocius p reditus i ntencione h ec p robare . r oborare a c d efendere s tuduerit u oti c ompos i pse a ltritoni g loriam a scultet i ndefecta p erhennitate c um f austis a gminibus a ngelorum a tque o mnium s anctorum l ;

S 257:

( none)

S 256:

' Si q uis v ero b enivola i ntencione p otius p raeditus h oc d onationem a mpliare v oluerit , v ideat o vans b ona d omini c um a ngelorum a gminibus '.

S 238 :

' si q uis u ero b eniuola i ntencione p ocius p reditus h ec e xacta d ecernit p ossideat b ona s empiterna c um b ene m erentibus '.

w ording

I n f our c ases t he d ating c lauses i ncorporate s ome s imilar p hraseology, a nd i n t hree o f t hese a c eremony a t t he a ltar i s d escribed i n m uch t he s ame t erms . S 253:

' Huius d onacionis c artula c onscripta h ac p romulgata e st ..sub p resencia r egis Athelardi ';

5 0

S 1410:

' in a bsida d edicata q uidem p atrocinio e ximiorum a postolorum P etri e t P auli s ub q uorum p resencia h uius c artule d onancionem a ltario d ei p ropria m anu . u ltronea u oluntate t radidi';

S 257:

' et e xemplar h uius l argicionis p rouulgatum e st i n p redicto c enobio s ub p resencia C uddredi r egis q uod p roprie m anus m unificentia a ltario s acro c ommendauit';

S 256:

' Exemplar h uius l argitionis p romulgatum e st .. i n p raedicto c enobio s ub p raesencia C uthredi r egis q uod p ropria m anus m unificentia v otiva v ero d evotione a ltario s acro c ommendavit'.

T he c onsent o f a b ishop i s u sually m entioned, t hat t he w ord ' episcopus' i s o nly u sed o nce:

a nd i t i s n oticeable

S 251:

' cum c onsciencia a c F ortheres';

p ontificis

S 253:

c um c onsensu n ostrorum e piscoporum D anielis a c F ortheres'; ' uenerandorumque a ntistitum D anielis a tque F ortheris';

S 1410:

c um c onsciencia Athelbaldi u enerandorumque a ntistitum t estimonio' c um c onsensu A thelbaldi r egis a tque i mperio . r euerentissimique p ontificis c onscientia H erewaldi';

S 257:

( none)

S 256:

' cum c onsensu D anihelis'.

a tque

c onsensu

u enerandi

s cientia

e ximii

p raesulis

T he o nly i nstance o f aw ording i n a l ater G lastonbury c harter w hich f urnished a c lose p arallel w ith t hose q uoted a bove i s t he s anction a nd b lessing i n a p rivilege i n t he n ame o f K nütr ( S966), a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t his d ocument i s s purious a nd t hat i ts a uthor b orrowed t hese w ordings f rom o ne o r m ore o f t hese e ighth-century c harters. T he s anction a nd b lessing o f Athelwulf's g rant t o h imself ( S298) r esemble t hose q uoted a bove, b ut a re m ore c omplex, a nd t here i s n o r eason t o s uspect f orgery i n a ny o f t he a bove c harters b ecause o f t his s imilarity, w hile Athelwulf 's c harter i s, o f c ourse, a bove s uspicion s ince i t s urvives a s a n o riginal. T he r esemblance b etween t hese c harters, c lose b ut n ot o ften e xact, t end t o s uggest t he w ork o f o ne s criptorium , p ossibly o f o ne m an, a t o ne p eriod o f t ime, r ather t han d uplication b y a f orger, w ho w ould n ot h ave c onfined h is b orrowings t o a g roup o f c harters a ll d ating f rom a p eriod o f a bout 3 0 ( possibly 2 0) y ears, a nd a ll t herefore a cceptable a s w ritten i n t he s ame s tyle. A lthough f orming a d istinct g roup, d ifferent f rom o ther c harters, t hese t exts a re n ot w ithout s imilarities t o c harters o f t he t ime i n o ther c artularies. T he d escription o f l Ethilbald i n L ulle's c harter r esembles p hrases i n Athilbald 's o wn

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c harters , a s i s n oticed i n t he d iscussion o f t his c harter a bove . A ll b ut o ne ( S257) o f t he c harters m ention t he p resence a nd s uitability o f t he w itnesses , a nd t he g rants o f I ne a nd Athilheard p lace f ar m ore e mphasis t han i s u sual o n t he s trength w hich t he c harter d erives f rom i ts w itnesses . S uch e mphasis i s a lso a f eature o f Athilheard 's C rediton c harter ( S255) a nd o f a g rant o f C uthred t o W inchester i n 7 49 ( S259). E very c harter e xcept I ne's h as a w itness l ist w hich a ppears g enuine. T he d escription o f t he e states i n t he c harters o f Athilheard a nd L ulle s uggest a uthenticity, a s d o t he n ames o f t he a bbots. I n t he c ase o f C uthred 's c onfirmation o f G lastonbury g rants t here s eems t o b e v ery l ittle m otive f or f orgery. O nly i n t he c ase o f I ne's g rant c an i t b e s aid t hat t he d onor i s t he s ort o f p erson a f orger c ould b e e xpected t o c hoose, a nd i t m ay c onfidently b e a sserted t hat n o f orger w ould h ave i nvented L ulle. T here s eems t o b e ag ood c hance t hat a ll o f t hese c harters a re b asically a uthentic, a lthough t he p ossibility o f s ome i nterpolation a nd r e-writing c annot b e r uled o ut , a nd i n s ome c ases s eems l ikely.

T he P apal P rivilege a nd S 152 D A , p p.

1 08 a nd 1 10.

A b ull i n w hich p ope L eo I II c onfirms t o k ing ' Kinelm ' p ossession o f t he m onastery o f G lastonbury a nd a ll i ts p roperties , a nd a c onfirmatory c harter i n t he n ame o f C oenwulf, k ing o f t he M ercians ( 796-821), s urvive o nly i n W illiam o f M almesbury 's D e A ntiquitate i n L atin v ersions w hich W illiam s ays a re h is o wn t ranslations o f O ld E nglish e xemplars ( DA , p p . 1 08, 10). I f t he d ocuments a re g enuine , t hey m ust o riginally h ave b een i n L atin , a nd l ater t ranslated i nto O ld E nglish , s o t he s urviving t exts a re a t t wo r emoves f rom t he o riginal w ordings. I t s eems u nlikely t hat t hese d ocuments s urvived a t G lastonbury. T here i s n o t race o f t hem i n G lastonbury r ecords : t hey a re n ot i n t he f ourteenth-century c artularies ; t hey w ere n ot i n t he L iber T errarum ; t hey w ere n ot a mong t he s ingle s heets l isted i n 1 247. T here i s , i ndeed, n o r eason t o s uppose t hat t hey w ere e ver h eld a t G lastonbury, s ince t he c ommunity w as n ot t he b eneficiary, a nd a ny c opy l eft t here w ould b e m ore l ikely t o h ave b een d estroyed t han p reserved. T he p robability i s t hat W illiam o f M almesbury i ncluded t hese d ocuments i n h is a ccount o f G lastonbury s ince t hey r elated t o G lastonbury, b ut t hat h e f ound t hem e lsewhere, a nd t he p lace w here h e i s m ost l ikely t o h ave f ound t hem i s W inchcombe : i t i s a rgued b elow t hat t he b eneficiary w as am ember o f t he M ercian r oyal f amily , a nd g rants t o h im w ould t herefore h ave b een k ept i n t he M ercian r oyal a rchive w hich w as k ept a t W inchcombe. ( On t he M ercian r oyal a rchive s ee L evison 1 946, p p. 2 495 2). W illiam o f M almesbury i ncluded s ome a ccount o f W inchcombe i n b oth t he G esta P ontificum a nd t he G esta R egum ( GP , p p . 2 94-5; G R , p p . 9 4-5, 3 74-5), a nd i t i s q uite l ikely t hat h e v isited t he m onastery a nd e xamined i ts r ecords.

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T he p apal b ull i s d ated 8 th M arch, a nd t here a re t hree i ndications o f t he y ear, a ll i nconsistent: t hird i ndiction, w hich c ould b e 7 95 o r 8 10; t hird y ear o f L eo's p apacy, w hich i s 7 98; a nd t he 2 5th y ear o f t he r eign o f C harlemagne, w hich i s 7 93. T he t ext m entions k ings E cgfrith a nd C oenwulf o f M ercia, w ho b oth a cceded i n 7 96, a nd i t g ives C harlemagne t he t itles h e h eld b efore C hristmas D ay 8 00, s o t he o nly o ne o f t he s tated d ates w hich c an p ossibly b e c orrect i s L eo 's p apal y ear, 7 98 ( 27th D ecember, 7 97 t o 2 6th D ecember, 7 98). T he e rroneous d ates a re p robably j ust s cribal e rrors. T he i ndiction s hould b e t he s ixth, a nd V I m ay h ave b een m isread a s I II. S imilarly, C harlemagne 's r egnal y ear s hould b e 3 0, a nd p erhaps X XX w as m isread a s X XV . C oenwulf's c harter i s d ated 7 97, s econd r egnal y ear. H e b ecame k ing o n t he 1 4th D ecember 7 96. ( Offa d ied o n t he 2 6th J uly 7 96; H istoria R egum s .a. 7 96. E cgfrith r uled f or 1 41 d ays : A SC s .a. 7 57), s o h is s econd r egnal y ear w as 1 4th D ecember 7 97 t o 1 3th D ecember 7 98. P robably t he i ncarnational d ate i n t his c harter s hould b e 7 98, s ince t his d ocument p ost-dates t he p apal b ull, a nd 7 98 w ill a lso f it t he r egnal y ear. / 97 m ust b e a n e rror, p erhaps r esulting f rom t he a ccidental o mission o f if rom D cc x c v iii. T his s eems m ore l ikely t han t hat t he e rror i s i n t he p apal d ocument, w hich w ould m ean t hat t ertio h ad b een a ccidentally s ubstituted f or s ecundo i n t he s tatement o f L eo's p apal y ear. T he p robability i s, t herefore, t hat b oth d ocuments d ate f rom 7 98. T he b eneficiary, ' Kinelm ' i s n ot i dentified i n e ither d ocument, b ut h is n ame a ppears t o b e C ynehelm o r C oenhelm , h e i s e vidently a M ercian s ince C oenwulf c onfirms t he p rivilege i n a n e ntirely M ercian c harter, a nd L eo's g iving h im t he t itle r ex i ndicates t hat h e i s a m ember o f t he M ercian r oyal f amily. T he i dentification w ith C oenwulf 's s on , C ynehelm , s eems r easonably c ertain. N othing i s k nown o f C ynehelm e xcept t hat h e a ttests c harters o nly d uring t he p eriod 8 03 t o 8 11 ( S40, 1 59, 1 61, 1 63-5, 1 67-8, 187, 1 260) a nd p resumably d ied s hortly 1 t hereafter, a nd t hat h e w as b uried a t C oenwulf 's f oundation o f W inchcombe w here t he l egend o f h is m artyrdom a rose ( Levison 1 946, p . 2 47; R ollason 1 983, p p. 9 -10). W illiam o f M almesbury w as a cquainted w ith t he l egend o f S t. K inelm , w hich i s p resumably w hy h e r ecords t he n ame i n t his f orm ( DA, p . 1 10). B oth o f t he d ocuments a ppear t o b e g enuine. L eo's p rivilege i ncorporates a ll t he u sual c omponents o f p apal p rivileges o f t he t ime. T here i s a n o pening p rotocol i n w hich t he p ope g reets t he b eneficiary. T his i s f ollowed b y a p roem d iscussing t he i mportance o f w ritten a postolic c onfirmations. T hen t he n arratio r efers t o C ynehelm 's r equest f or c onfirmation o f h is o wnership o f G lastonbury, a nd t he d ispositio g rants t his t o C ynehelm a nd h is s uccessors. T he s anction i s i n t hree p arts, p rohibitive c lause, p enal c lause a nd b lessing , a nd t he f inal p rotocol s ets o ut t he d ate o f t he d ocument a nd n ames o f t he o fficials w ho a uthorise i t. T he o nly c lause m issing f rom t his d ocument i s t he a ppreciatio o r a men, a nd t his w as n ot r egularly i ncluded. ( On t he w ording o f p apal b ulls, s ee P oole 1 915, p. 4 1-8). T he t wo p o fficials o f t he p apal c hancery n amed h ere b oth a ppear i n o ther d ocuments. E ustachius, p rimicerius n otariorum , i s m entioned w ith t he s ame t itle i n a l etter o f p ope L eo t o a rchbishop Athilheard d ated 8 02, a nd h e a nd P aschal b oth a uthorise a nother d ocument o f 7 98 ( B305, J affe 1 885, n o. 2 498).

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C oenwulf 's c harter c ontains n othing t o w hich e xception c ould b e t aken , a nd i ncludes d etails w hich s uggest t hat i t i s a uthentic. D ating b y r egnal y ear i s c ommon i n M ercian c harters o f t his t ime. C oenwulf 's a ttestation , ' signum s ancte c rucis i mpressi ' i s s imilar t o t hose i n o ther c harters o f t he r eign , a nd t here i s a nother i nstance o f a n a blative a bsolute i nvocation ( S153, 1 65 ; S 157). W illiam o f M almesbury h as d iscarded t he w itness l ist, b ut h e r ecords t hat i t c onsisted o f t wo a rchbishops, 9 b ishops, 1 3 a bbots a nd 6 l aymen. O f t hese h e o nly n ames t he t wo a rchbishops „ Athilheard o f C anterbury a nd H ygeberht o f L ichfield ( of Y ork a ccording t o W illiam , w ho h as o verlooked t he s hortl ived M ercian a rchiepiscopal s ee), a nd o ne a bbot, B eaduwulf o f G lastonbury, w hose n ame w as k nown t o h im b ecause t his a bbot w as t he b eneficiary o f ag rant b y O ffa i n 7 94 ( S1692). I t i s p robable t hat t his w itness l ist s ubstantially c orresponded w ith t hat o f a nother c harter w hich d ates f rom t he s ame y ear a nd s urvives a s a n o riginal : t hat l ist a lso i ncludes t he t wo a rchbishops a nd 9 b ishops, a nd t here a re 4a bbots a nd 1 1 l aymen ( S153). C ynithryth , w ho a lso a ttests t he G lastonbury c harter, m ay b e i dentified w ith r easonable p robability a s O ffa 's w idow a nd t he a bbess o f C ookham , w hile t he t wo l adies d escribed a s h er d earest k inswomen J Ethilburh a nd ' Celfled ' a re p robably O ffa 's d aughters 2 Ethilburh, a bbess o f F ladbury, a nd Alffleed ( S127, L evison 1 946, p . 2 51). I t s eems t hat t here w as a n a micable r elationship d uring C oenwulf 's r eign b etwen t he k ing a nd O ffa 's f amily: C oenwulf p resided a t t he s ynod a t w hich p ossession o f C ookham w as c onfirmed t o a bbess C ynithryth ( S1258). I t i s p ossible t hat C oenwulf a nd C ynithryth w ere r elatives. I t i s s carcely p ossible t hat t hese t wo d ocuments a re f abrications, s ince a f orger w ould n ot h ave b een a ble t o d raw u p e ither a p apal p rivilege i n c orrect p apal d iplomatic a nd a uthorised b y r ecorded m embers o f t he p apal c hancery, o r a c harter o f C oenwulf p hrased i n m any r espects l ike o ther c harters o f t he r eign a nd i nvolving a n umber o f v ery o bscure p ersons. M oreover , t here i s n o m otive f or f orgery o f t hese d ocuments , a t l east a t G lastonbury, s ince t heir p urpose , t o c onfirm o wnership o f t he m onastery b y a l ayman , w ould n ot h ave b een a pproved o f b y t he c ommunity a t a l ater d ate , a nd p robably c onferred n o b enefit o n G lastonbury a t a ny t ime. N or d oes i t s eem a t a ll l ikely t hat t he d ocuments w ere f abricated a t W inchcombe o r e lsewhere o n b ehalf o f t he M ercian r oyal f amily: t here i s n o r ecord o f a l ater M ercian c laim t o G lastonbury, w hich s uch f abrications m ight h ave b een d esigned t o s upport ; m oreover, t he M ercian r oyal f amily r emained i n p ower o nly u ntil 8 74, a nd f abrication o f d ocuments a t s uch a n e arly d ate , w hile n ot u nknown , w as p robably n ot w idespread. T he p apal p rivilege f orms p art o f a s ubstantial b ody o f c orrespondence b etween t he p apacy a nd t he M ercian m onarchy i n t he l ate e ighth c entury a nd e arly n inth . T he c orrespondence s eems t o h ave b egun i n t he r eign o f O ffa , w ho o btained p apal p ermission f or t he c reation o f a n ew a rchiepiscopal s ee a t L ichfield ( GR , p p. 8 6-9; t rans. E HD , n o . 2 04), a nd p robably s ecured c onfirmation o f h is o wnership o f m onasteries a nd t heir p roperties , a s af ormula f or a p rivilege o n t hese l ines , s urviving i n t he p apal a rchives, a ppears t o d erive f rom a p rivilege s ent t o O ffa : t he c opy o mits n ames b ut a ccidentally r etains t he n ame o f t he b eneficiary 's w ife, a nd t his i s ' Cynedridae r egine ', t he n ame o f O ffa 's q ueen ( Forester , L iber D iurnus, n o . 9 3; L evison 1 946, p . 3 0). A c lause i n t he G lastonbury p rivilege s uggests t hat E cgfrith w rote t o t he

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p ope d uring h is s hort r eign ' sicut E gfridus r ex o mnem i llam t erram d escripsit ', a nd t here s urvive e xamples o f t he c orrespondence b etween P ope L eo a nd t he M ercian r ulers , k ing C oenwulf a nd a rchbishop Athilheard: L eo c o-operated w ith C oenwulf i n a bolishing t he a rchiepiscopal s ee o f L ichfield a nd l ent h is s upport t o t he M ercian t akeover o f K ent, a nathematising t he K entish c laimant , E adberht P raen ( GR , p p. 8 6-9; B 288 ; G P , p p . 5 7-9; t rans. E HD , n os . 2 04, 2 05, 2 09). L eo a lso c onfirmed t o C oenwulf a uthority o ver v arious m onasteries a nd p rivileges f or W inchcombe ( B337) a nd i n 8 17 p ope P aschal s ent a s imilar c onfirmation ( B363). T his b ackground e ndorses t he a uthenticity o f t he G lastonbury p rivilege s ince i t f its t he c ontext o f t he p apal/Mercian r apport o f t he t ime , a nd r esembles o ther p apal c oncessions o btained b y M ercian k ings. T he d ocument i s o ne o f a n umber o f p rivileges c onfirming r oyal o wnership o f m onasteries , a nd t he c orrespondence c oncerning K ent p rovides a p arallel f or p apal e ndorsement o f M ercian i nterference i n k ingdoms o utside M ercia . I t i s i ronic t hat a rchbishop J Ethilheard i nformed t he C ouncil o f C lofesho o f 8 03 t hat p ope L eo h ad f orbidden l ay o wnership o f m onasteries ( B312). T his w as e vidently t he c hurch 's t heoretical p osition , b ut i n p ractice l ay o wnership w as a n e stablished p henomenon w hich e ven t he p apacy h ad t o a ccept. I t i s n ot s o e asy t o e stablish t he c ontext o f t hese d ocuments f rom aW est S axon p oint o f v iew . I n t he p apal d ocument t he c onsent o f k ing B eorhtric i s m entioned i n c onjunction w ith t he i nvolvement o f k ing E cgfrith , b ut t he n ature o f t hat i nvolvement i s n ot c lear . I n C oenwulf 's c harter E cgfrith i s s aid t o h ave g ranted o wnership o f G lastonbury t o C ynehelm , s o t hat t he p resent a rrangements r epresent c onfirmation o f a n e arlier a greement. O n t his b asis B eorhtric 's c onsent w as t o M ercian o wnership o f G lastonbury, a nd, a s i t i s s carcely p ossible t hat h e a greed t o s uch a s tate o f a ffairs v oluntarily, t he i mplication m ust b e t hat M ercia w as i n a p osition t o e nforce h is a greement. U nfortunately t he e vidence f or t hese y ears i s s o s canty t hat i t i s i mpossible t o e stablish w hat t he M ercian p osition w as. I n 7 94 O ffa g ranted a n e state n orth o f t he P arrett i n S omerset t o G lastonbury ( S1692), w hich m ight t end t o s uggest a M ercian t akeover o f t he a rea , b ut i t h appens t hat B eorhtric a lso m ade a g rant ( not t o G lastonbury) o f l and n orth o f t he P arrett i n t he s ame y ear , a nd h is c harter m akes n o r eference t o M ercian i nvolvement ( S267). I t i s p ossible t hat B eorhtric 's g rant w as t he e arlier o f t he t wo a nd w as f ollowed i mmediately b y aM ercian t akeover a nd O ffa 's g rant. I f t his i s t he c ase , i t s eems t hat M ercian p ower l asted o nly a f ew y ears , s ince t here w as a W est S axon g rant o f l and i n S omerset i n 8 01 ( S270a). I t m ay w ell b e t hat t here w as n o i nvasion , b ut t hat B eorhtric c eded G lastonbury t o M ercia a s p art o f a t reaty, p erhaps u nder t hreat o f i nvasion .

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S 270a L ongleat H ouse , m anuscript 3 9, ( Edition :

f o.

1 53r.

G lastonbury C art., n o. 7 62)

Ac harter r ecording a g rant o f l and t o a n o therwise u nknown l ayman n amed E adgils i n 8 01 s urvives i n c artulary c opies. T he t ext h as a r ather s trange a ppearance b ecause t he o rthography o f m any o f t he n ames i s p eculiar ; i t c ould s carcely h ave b een p roduced b y c opying , a nd t ends t o s uggest t hat a s cribe h as t aken d own t he t ext f rom d ictation a t s ome t ime. T he d onor a ppears a s ' Edbirtus R ex e odem d onante O ccidentalium S axonum '. T here w as n ever a k ing E adberht i n W essex, a nd t he d onor h as b een i dentified w ith q ueen E adburh , d aughter o f O ff a o f M ercia a nd w ife o f k ing B eorhtric ( 786-802) ( K178) o r a lternatively w ith k ing E cgberht ( 802-839) ( Watkin , G lastonbury C art., V ol. 2 , p . c xlviii ; E CW , n o . 4 01). A n umber o f c onsiderations s uggest t hat t he f irst o f t hese s uggested i dentifications i s c orrect. F irstly, t he d ate o f t he c harter l ay w ithin t he r eign o f B eorhtric , n ot t hat o f E cgberht ; i t i s g iven o nly a s a n i ncarnational y ear , b ut b y t he b eginning o f t he n inth c entury c harters w ere n ormally d ated i n t his w ay , s o t here i s n o r eal r eason t o q uestion t his d ate. S econdly, a n e ndorsement a t t he e nd o f t he c harter r eads ' Hanc c artulam r eddidit E adburgh a d e cclesiam G lastingensem l . A n a nnotator o f t he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist s uggested t hat E adburh w as t he w ife o f t he b eneficiary, E adgils: t he e ntry r eads ' Ecgbirtus d e B udeclegh d at. E adgillo q ui G .' ( i.e, w ho g ave i t t o G lastonbury), a nd t he w ords ' vel u xor ' h ave b een i nserted a bove ' qui G .' ( LT 3 8). T his i s n ot i mpossible, b ut i t s eems m ore l ikely t hat t he r eference i s t o B eorhtric 's q ueen , t hat s he w as t he d onor, a nd t hat s he g ave t he l and a nd c harter t o G lastonbury, p ossibly f ollowing t he d eath o f t he o riginal b eneficiary. T he t ext r efers t o p ossession b y E adgils a nd h is h eirs , b ut i n p ractice m any s uch g rants s eem t o h ave b een o nly t emporary o r f or o ne l ife : t here a re m any i nstances o f r epeated r oyal g rants o f t he s ame e state t o d ifferent l aymen . ( For e xample i n t he L iber T errarum). T hirdly, f ive o f t he s even w itnesses o f t his c harter a lso a ttest a c harter o f B eorhtric i n t he s ame y ear , a nd q ueen E adburh i s a lso a mong t he w itnesses o f t he l atter t ext ( S268). I t i s n ot l ikely t hat t wo w itness l ists c orresponding s o c losely c ould b elong t o d ifferent r eigns : t he n ew k ing w ould h ave h ad a n ew e ntourage, e specially s ince i t s eems l ikely t hat E cgberht d id n ot s ucceed p eacefully a s B eorhtric 's a ccepted h eir , b ut w as a r ival w ho s ecured t he k ingship b y d efeating h is p redecessor i n b attle ( ASC s .a . 8 02, 8 03). T here i s n othing i mplausible i n t he t heory t hat a W est S axon q ueen m ade a g rant o f l and. N o o ther s uch c harter s urvives, b ut t here i s a r ecord o f ac harter i n w hich I Tthilheard 's q ueen, F rithugyth , g ave a n e state t o G lastonbury ( S1677), a nd L ulle 's c harter e stablishes t hat w omen c ould a nd d id m ake g rants o r s ales o f l and, a nd h ave c harters d rawn u p i n t heir n ames ( S1410). M oreover , E adburh s eems t o h ave p layed a n a ctive a nd i mportant p art i n W est S axon a ffairs d uring B eorhtric 's r eign : s he a ttests h is c harter o f 8 01 m entioned a bove, a nd a lso a c harter o f h er b rother E cgfrith , d uring h is b rief r eign i n 7 96 ( S149); s he r epresented a n i mportant p olitical a lliance, a nd h er

5 6

a ppalling r eputation i n l ater y ears m ay p ossibly h ave h ad s ome b asis i n a g enuinely f orceful c haracter ( Stevenson , A sser, p. 1 2-14): t he p d etail o f A sser 's a ccount i s p robably a ttributable t o h ostile p ropaganda f ollowing t he a ccession o f E cgberht , w ho h ad b een t he e nemy o f h er f ather a nd h usband, b ut s uch r umours c ould s carcely h ave b een c irculated h ad s he a ctually b een a n onentity. I t m ay b e t hat E adburh 's r eputation l ed t o t he d eliberate s uppression o f h er n ame i n t his c harter , b ut, i n v iew o f t he m is-spelling o f o ther p ersonal n ames , i t i s p erhaps m ore l ikely t hat t he n ame w as a ccidentally m isrepresented b y as cribe w ho e xpected a nd a ssumed t hat t he d onor w as a m an. T here w as v irtually n o m otive f or t he f abrication o f ag rant t o a l ayman , s o t here i s a s trong p resumption t hat t he c harter h as a t l east a n a uthentic b asis . T he w ording c onfirms t hat i t i s b asically g enuine, a lthough t here s eems t o h ave b een s ome a mendment t o t he t ext i n t he c ourse o f c opying, p robably i n t he t enth c entury. T he i nvocation i s s imilar t o t hose o f t wo c harters o f B eorhtric , s urviving i n d ifferent c artularies : S 270a :

' Regnante i n p erpetuum d omino n ostro I hesu C hristo e t h ec t emporalia t erre r egna c uicumque u oluerit d ispensante';

S 267:

' Regnante i n p erpetuum d omino n ostro I esu C hristo n ec n on e t h oc s aeculum p ulchro m oderamine d ispensanti ';

S 269:

R egnante i n p erpetuum o mnipotenti d eo '

T here i s n o p roem ,

a nd t his h as p erhaps b een o mitted b y a c opyist .

T he g rant i s m ade t o ' Eadgilso m inistro m eo o b e ius a mabile 7 n C yniwulf 's g rant o f 78 t he o bsequium e t f idelem f amulatam l . I ut t he t itle b eneficiary i s d escribed a s ' comiti m eo a c m inistro l , b m inister i s m uch m ore c ommon i n t enth-century c harters t han i n e arly o nes . T he i dea b ehind t he f ollowing c lause , r eferring t o t he r ecipient 's f aithful s ervice , i s e xpressed i n d ifferent t erms i n B eorhtric 's c harters: S 267:

' Wigfrutho P raefecto m eo d ilectissimo .. q ui i ndeffessis v iribus i n n ostra v oluntate d iu h umiliter e t d iligenter l aboravit ';

S 268 :

' deuoto e t c um o mni s tudio i n n ostro a ffectu f idelissimo L ullan p rincipi';

S 269 :

' Hemele f idelissimo p rincipi m eo '.

B ut t he w ording i n t he G lastonbury c harter h as c lose p arallels i n n umerous t enth-century c harters ( Eg. t he G lastonbury c harters S 442, 4 62, 4 98, 5 04, 5 24, 5 68), a nd i t i s p ossible t hat t he w hole c lause w hich f ollows t he n ame o f t he b eneficiary r epresents l ater r edrafting. T his c harter c ontains t he e arliest W est S axon e xample o f a n i mmunity c lause w ith a ll t hree o f t he e xceptions w hich l ater b ecame c ommon. I nterpolation o f s uch a c lause i s n ot v ery l ikely, s ince i t w ould h ave t he e ffect o f r estricting t he c ommunity's r ights , a nd t he

5 7

i mmunity i s c onsistent w ith d evelopments i n W essex d uring t he e ighth a nd n inth c enturies . A n i mmunity w ith m ilitary s ervice e xcepted o ccurs i n ac harter o f B eorhtric o f 7 94 : S 267:

u t l ibertatem h abeat o mnium f iscalium n egotiorum e t o perum R egalium e t o mnium r erum q uae a d V illam R egiam p ertinent n isi a quam ( sic f or u nquam) e xpeditione s ola q uam o mnes C omites a d t utelam t otius P rouinciae e t m axime E cclesiarum D el a dire d ebent '.

H is c harter o f 8 01 r eserves m ilitary s ervice a nd t he b ridges: S 282:

o f

' Et h anc d onationem a b o mnibus t errenis d ifficultatibus l iberabo e xtra e xpeditione e t p ontis f actione'.

A gainst t his b ackground t here s eems a uthenticity o f t he G lastonbury c lause: S 270a :

c onstruction

l ittle

r eason

t o

d oubt

t he

' ab o mni r egali f isco l iberam p reter e xpeditionem e t m uniminis a tque p ontis o peracionem l ibenter i mpendo '.

T he d ating c lause i s c ombined w ith a p rohibitive c lause b eginning ' Sic p erstringens u t ..' w hich i s t he o nly f orm o f s anction i ncluded. T here h as p erhaps b een s ome a bbreviation h ere : i t i s l ikely t hat t he t ext o riginally i ncluded o ther f orms o f t he d ate b esides t he i ncarnational y ear w hich s urvives , a nd t he s anction p robably h ad a p enal c lause. T he v erb p erstringere, w hich d oes n ot o ccur i n e arly c harters b ut w as u sed i n t exts w ritten i n t he t enth c entury, i ncluding s ome f abrications , t ends t o s uggest t hat t here h as b een s ome r e-writing h ere ( S110, 2 30 , 5 60 , 5 61, 5 63, 5 64, 5 68, 5 70 , 5 82; B rooks 1 984, p . 3 17). T he a ttestations a ppear t o h ave b een a bbreviated s ince t hey c onsist o nly o f 4Ego ' w ith t he n ame a nd t itle b ut n o v erb, w hich w as a t enth-century p ractice , n ot a n e arly o ne. B ut t he n ames a nd t itles s eem t o b e g enuine . ' Cynebirt c ircumspector e cclesiarum d el ' a nd ' Whitberd e piscopus ' a re p resumably b ishops C yniberht o f W inchester a nd W igberht o f S herborne . T he f ormer i s m entioned i n t he C hronicle a s v isiting R ome w ith lEthilheard, a rchbishop o f C anterbury, i n 8 01, a nd a ppears i n c harters o f B eorhtric a nd E cgfrith o f M ercia ( ASC s .a. 8 01; S 149, 2 68 , 2 69). W igberht a ttests B eorhtric 's c harter o f 8 01 a nd v isited R ome i n 8 14 ( S268 ; A SC s .a. 8 14). F our l aymen a ttest , ' Whyfer m inister ', ' Lulla p refectus ', ' Whytbrord p refectus ' a nd ' Osmund p refectus '. T he f irst i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith e aldorman W igfrith , w ho a ppears p rominently i n t he s ources f or t his p eriod: h e a ppears i n c harters t hroughout t he r eigns o f C yniwulf a nd B eorhtric , w as o ne o f t he a vengers o f C yniwulf i n 7 86 , a nd m ay s till h ave b een a ctive i n t he r eign o f E cgberht ( S96 , 1 49, 2 61-264, 2 67-269 ; A SC s .a . 7 57; S 278). L ulla w as t he b eneficiary o f B eorhtric 's c harter o f 8 01, a nd W iohtbrord a ttests t he s ame c harter . O smund i s o therwise u nknown. T he o ther w itness o f E adburh 's g rant , ' Muca a bbas ', w as a bbot o f G lastonbury: h e a ppears i n t he a bbatial l ist ( as ' Luca '); i s m entioned b y W illiam o f M almesbury a s t he b eneficiary o f a l ost c harter o f k ing E cgberht i n 8 02, a nd a ttended t he C ouncil o f C lofesho i n 8 03 ( S1693 ; B 312).

5 8

T he b oundary c lause w hich f ollows t he w itness l ist i s i n O ld E nglish , a nd t herefore l ikely t o b e a l ater a ddition t o t he t ext , o r p ossibly a t ranslation o f aL atin c lause . B oundaries o ccur i n t wo o f B eorhtric 's e xtant c harters , b ut b oth a re i n L atin ( S267, 2 68). T he l and g ranted t o E adgils c onsisted o f 2 0 h ides a t ' Buddekaulegh ', n ow B utleigh i n S omerset. T he e state l ater c ame i nto G lastonbury 's p ossession : i t i s m entioned i n s purious p ancartae o f t he h ouse a nd w as a mong G lastonbury 's p ossessions i n 1 066 ( S250 , 7 83 ; D B S omerset , p . 8 .12). T he c harter , i n s pite o f s ome l ater r e-writing, s eems t o b e s ubstantially g enuine , a nd i s i nteresting s ince i t i s t he o nly e xtant c harter i n t he n ame o f aW est S axon q ueen, a nd i ncludes t he e arliest i nstance i n W est S axon c harters o f a n i mmunity w ith t he r eservation o f w ork o n f ortresses a s w ell a s t he c onstruction o f b ridges a nd m ilitary s ervice.

A ppendix :

S 264

B ritish L ibrary, C otton C harter V III 4 . ( Edition :

C h. L . A nt., n o. 1 94).

C yniwulf 's g rant t o t he l ayman B ica o f 1 3 h ides a t ' Bedewinde l, n ow L ittle B edwyn i n W iltshire, s urvives o nly o n a s ingle s heet o f u nknown p rovenance , n ow C otton C harter V III 4 i n t he B ritish L ibrary. T he m anuscript i s i n p oor c ondition a nd t here a re s everal l acunae i n t he t ext. I t h as s ometimes b een c onsidered a n o riginal o r c ontemporary c opy ( Birch 1 892 ; S tenton 1 918a, p . 5 7 n . 6 ; S tenton 1 971, p . 3 07 n . 1 ; p E HD , p . 4 97; C h . L . A ., P art 3 , n o . 1 94. S ee a lso R ogers 1 981, p . 2 65-6), b ut t he l ate P rofessor T . J ulian B rown d escribed i t a s c ertainly o f t enth-century d ate ; t he h orned e a nd o , t he f orm o f a a nd t he u r a bbreviation w hich r esembles a f igure 2 a re c haracteristic o f t enth-century, b ut n ot e arlier , s cripts ( Personal c omment). T he c ircumstances i n w hich t his c opy w as p roduced a re u nknown, b ut t he c harter s eems t o b e g enuine. T here i s n o m otive f or f orgery o f ag rant t o a l ayman, a nd t he e xistence o f B ica i s c onfirmed b y h is a ppearance a s t he b eneficiary o f a nother g rant b y C yniwulf o f l and a t M ildenhall i n W iltshire, n ot f ar f rom L ittle B edwyn ; t he c harter i s n ot n ow e xtant , b ut w as i ncluded i n G lastonbury 's L iber T errarum ( LT 8 4) ( S1682). T he i ndications o f d ate i n t he L ittle B edwyn c harter, 7 78 a nd t he f irst i ndiction , a re c onsistent a nd s uit t he w itness l ist. B ishops Athilmod o f S herborne a nd E cgbald o f W inchester a lso a ttest C yniwulf 's c harter o f 7 74 ( S263). F our o f t he s ix e aldormen , p refecti , w ho s ubscribe a re S cilling , Athilnoth , C eolberht a nd Athilmund. A f ifth n ame c an b e r ead a s ..' ' H emel a nd i s e vidently H emele, w hile t he s ixth i s p artly o bscured s o t hat o nly ' ... f erdes ' i s l egible, b ut i s p robably W igfrith . T he n ame o f t he l ast w itness , d escribed a s ac omes o f t he k ing , i s a lso o bscured, b ut ' F ad ..' c an b e r ead a nd t he n ame m ay p erhaps b e F aedol ( 'Haemel ..' w as r ead u nder u ltra-violet l ight , a nd

5 9

W itnesses o f c harters o f t he r eign o f C yniwulf 9 6

2 60

2 65

1 256

2 61

2 62

2 63

2 64

7 58

( 758)

7 59

7 62

( 766)

7 74

7 78

D ate

( 757)

C yniwulf, k ing

XXXXXXX IXXXXXXX

xxxxxXxxxxxx x xxx x xxxxxxxxxxxxx x

H erewald, b ishop a

XXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

C yniheard,

4XXXXXX

b ishop ' s'XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXX

Athilmod, b ishop a

x x lm

XXXXX P XXX X

x xxxxx x xxx

E cgbald, b ishop b E alhfrith Y nta E oppa

XXXXXXXXXXXX

, 4 Ethilric C erdic

X

X

X

X

X

3 1

X

X

X

X

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXYDL

XX

X

S cilling

XXXXXXX

W igfrith

X

X

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

X

H emele

XXX X

XXX X

x xxX

H eahfrith r ethilnoth l Ethilmund C eolberht F adol xxxx i ndividual a ppears a s w itness i n t he c harter x xxx

i ndividual d oes n ot a ttest t he c harter, b ut i s p resumed t o b e a ctive a t t he r elevant d ate i n v iew o f e arlier a nd l ater a ttestations

a

o f S herborne o f W inchester

F or t he s ake o f s implicity, n on-West S axon w itnesses h ave b een o mitted, a s h ave a bbots a nd p riests, o f w hom t here a re v ery f ew .

6 0

' Faed ..' w ith t he a id o f a v ideo s pectral c omparator . I s hould l ike t o t hank t he s taff o f t he M anuscript C onservation D epartment a t t he B ritish L ibrary f or t heir a ssistance). A ll o f t he l aymen e xcept F zedol a nd e aldormen C eolberht a ttest o ther c harters o f t he r eign, a nd t he n ames a ppearing h ere f it t he p attern w hich i s a pparent i f t he w hole s eries o f C yniwulf 's e xtant c harters ( all o f w hich a ppear t o b e g enuine) i s c onsidered. I t i s p ossible t o s ee h ow t he p ersonnel o f t he k ing 's e ntourage c hanges o ver t he y ears a s s ome m en d rop o ut, p robably f ollowing d eath , r etirement f rom p ublic b usiness , o r l oss o f t he k ing 's f avour , a nd a re r eplaced b y n ew e aldormen , c ounsellors o r c ompanions . T here i s n o i nvocation o r p roem , a nd t he t ext b egins w ith t he k ing 's a ttestation , w hich i s i ncorporated i nto t he d ispositio i nstead o f b eing p laced i n t he w itness l ist. T his u nusual a rrangement m ay i ndicated s ome r edrafting o f t he t ext w hen t he c opy w as m ade , a lthough i t i s d ifficult t o s ee a ny r eason f or t his , a nd i t i s n ot i mpossible t hat t he c harter w as o riginally d rawn u p i n t his w ay ( cf . S 1256). I n o ther r espects t he w ording i s q uite n ormal. I t i s b rief a nd s imple, w ith n o a nachronistic c lauses ; t he b eneficiary i s g iven t he t itles c omes a nd m inister , a nd t he e state i s g ranted t o h im a nd h is h eirs i n p erpetuity; t he d ating c lause i s o f a c ommon t ype, a s i s t he s anction , a nd t he s ubscriptions • a re i n t he f orms u sual i n e arly W est S axon c harters. T he e state i s d escribed i n ad etailed b oundary c lause i n L atin w ith O ld E nglish p lace-names. T his i s t he e arliest s urviving e xample o f s uch a d etailed p erambulation , b ut i t n eed n ot b e c onsidered u nprecendented o r s uspicious, s ince i t i s t he l ogical o utcome o f e arlier d evelopments . T here a re b rief b oundaries i n s ome o f t he e arliest e xtant W est S axon c harters, a s a lready n oted, a nd i n e very o ne o f t he c harters o f C yniwulf t here i s s ome a ttempt t o i ndicate t he p recise l ocation o f t he e state. T he i ntention a ppears t o b e t he s ame i n e ach c ase , a lthough t he m ethods v ary. D ifferent w riters n o d oubt h ad d ifferent i deas o f w hat s hould a ppear i n a c harter, a nd, m oreover , w hat t hey w rote w ould n ecessarily r eflect t he f orm i n w hich t he i nformation w as g iven t o t hem b y t he l ocal p eople w ho k new t he a rea a nd w ho a lone c ould d efine e state b oundaries . I t i s s carcely s urprising t hat t here i s n o c lear , c hronological d evelopment o f i ncreasing d etail. T he s hortest e xample o f a r eal b oundary c lause i n t he f orm o f a p erambulation a ppears i n 7 58 ( S265: t he c lause i s i n O ld E nglish , a nd m ay t herefore b e a l ater a ddition , b ut, i n v iew o f i ts b revity, i t i s p erhaps m ore l ikely t o b e a t ranslation o f ag enuine c lause o riginally d rawn u p i n L atin), a s lightly l onger o ne c . 7 66 ( S262), a nd t he f irst r eally d etailed o ne i n 7 78 i n t he p resent c harter . B ut i nterspersed w ith t hese a re c harters i n w hich d escriptions o f l ocation , w hile c learly t rying t o i mprove o n t he v ague m ethods o f e arly c harters , a re s till b rief a nd i nexact ( S260, 2 61, 2 63). I t s eems l ikely t hat p ractical d ifficulties a nd d isputes a rose a s a r esult o f t he v agueness o f e arly d escriptions o f w here e states l ay, a s i s s tated i n L ulle 's c harter, a nd t hat t he n eed t o d efine t he l and p recisely w as r ealised i n c onsequence o f s uch p roblems , a lthough t he b est m ethod o f d oing t his d id n ot i mmediately b ecome a pparent. T he p roblem w as e ventually s olved i n E ngland a nd e lsewhere b y t he i nclusion i n c harters o f d etailed a ccounts o f t he b oundaries o f e states . E arlier c harters t herefore p rovide a b ackground a gainst w hich t he b oundary c lause o f t his t ext c an

6 1

b e s een t o b e g enuine, a nd i ts a uthenticity i s f urther e stablished b y c omparison w ith l ater c harters . T wo o f t he f our w hich s urvive f rom t he r eign o f B eorhtric ( 786-802) c ontain d etailed b oundary c lauses i n L atin a nd O ld E nglish s imilar t o t his o ne, a nd t he s econd o f t hese h as b een c onvincingly s hown t o b e g enuine s ince i t b egins a nd e nds w ith a n a ncient f orm o f a p lace-name, s o t here i s n o r eason t o s uspect t he a uthenticity o f t he o thers ( S267, 2 68; S tenton 1 955, p . 2 5). T he n ame ' Bedewinde ' i s u sed i n e arly r ecords f or b oth L ittle B edwyn a nd n earby G reat B edwyn , b ut t he b oundaries s how t hat t he e state g ranted t o B ica w as L ittle B edwyn, a nd t hat t his w as d irectly a djacent t o t he e state o f G reat B edwyn ( Crawford 1 921; G rundy 1 919, p p. 1 51-5). A t t he b eginning o f t he n inth c entury t he t wo e states o f M ildenhall a nd L ittle B edwyn w hich h ad b een g ranted t o B ica w ere i n t he p ossession o f a l ayman n amed B erhthelm , w ho m ay h ave b een B ica 's h eir , a nd w ere g iven t o h im , w ith t wo o ther e states a t W ootton R ivers a nd F roxfield n ot f ar a way, t o t he s ee o f W inchester i n e xchange f or F arnham ( S1263). B y t he m id-ninth c entury, F arnham h ad r everted t o W inchester ( S1274), a nd t here i s n o e vidence t hat t he s ee r etained a ny o f B erhthelm 's f our e states. M ildenhall w as e vidently a cquired b y G lastonbury s ince t he m onastery h eld t he c harter g ranting t his e state a nd o wned t he l and i n 1 066 ( DB W iltshire , p . 7 .7). W ootton R ivers p assed i nto r oyal p ossession a nd w as h eld b y q ueen E dith i n 1 066 ( Ibid., p . 1 .15). N either L ittle B edwyn n or F roxfield o ccurs i n a ny o ther p re-conquest r ecord, a nd n either i s m entioned i n D omesday B ook. A ll o ther r eferences t o ' Bedewinde ' b efore t he C onquest r elate t o G reat B edwyn, w hich w as a r oyal p ossession: k ing J elfred o wned i t a nd b equeathed i t t o h is s on , E dward; E adgar g ranted i t t o A bingdon, b ut i t w as t aken b ack i nto r oyal p ossession a fter h is d eath , a nd w as t he p roperty o f k ing E dward i n 1 066 ( S1507; S 756, 9 37; D B W iltshire , p . 1 .2. T he ' Bedewinde' m entioned i n t he O ld E nglish e ntries i n t he B erne G ospels w as a lso p robably G reat B edwyn : o n t hese t exts s ee E HD , p . 3 83 n . 1 1). T here a ppears t o h ave b een s ome r eorganisation o f e states i n t he a rea b etween t he n inth c entury a nd t he e leventh : t he f our e states g iven b y B erhthelm t o W inchester t otalled 3 3 h ides , b ut i n 1 066 M ildenhall w as a ssessed a t 1 0 h ides a nd W ootton R ivers a t 3 0. I t i s p ossible t hat L ittle B edwyn c ame i nto G lastonbury 's p ossession w ith M ildenhall, a lthough i t i s n ot c lear w hy o ne c harter w as c opied i nto t he L iber T errarum a nd t he o ther o n t o a s ingle s heet , n or w hy t he s ingle s heet i s n ot i n t he 1 247 i nventory. T here i s n o e vidence t o s uggest w hy a c opy o f t he c harter w as r equired i n t he t enth c entury, a nd i t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hether t his c opy w as m ade a nd p reserved a t G lastonbury o r e lsewhere.

( c)

T he L ost C harters

T he l ost c harters o f w hich s ome r ecord s urvives a re l isted b elow i n c hronological o rder a s f ar a s t his c an b e a scertained. F or t hose n ot l isted b y S awyer , n umbers a re g iven f rom F inberg 's T he E arly C harters o f W essex, a nd t hese n umbers a re i n b rackets .

6 2

D ate ! -

B eneficiary

D onor

P roperty

6 01

k ing o f D umnonia

G lastonbury

5h ides a t ' Inesuutrin '

6 78

C entwine, k ing

H semgils , a bbot

6h ides a t G lastonbury

1 665

B aldred

H Gemgils, a bbot

f ishery, R . P arrett

( 358

B aldred

H aemgils ,

' Logworesbeorg '

W ilfrid, b ishop

1 666

1 667

-

C entwine,king

1 668

-

IC entwine, k ing

a bbot

W edmore C lewer i n W edmore ' Elosaneg '

1 669

C entwine, k ing

1 674

W ilfrid, b ishop

B erhtwald, a bbot

W edmore

1 675

W ilfrid, b ishop

G lastonbury

1h ide a t C lewer

1 670

I ne, k ing

B erhtwald, a bbot

f oot o f M endip

( 373)

I ne, k ing

B erhtwald , a bbot

1 672

I ne, k ing

G lastonbury

2 0 h ides a t P ilton

1 673

I ne, k ing

G lastonbury

' Ora '

( 632)

B ugu , a bbess

H eahfrith , a bbot

3h ides a t

( 377)

I ne, k ing

H eahfrith , a bbot

1h ide a nd f ishery, R . A xe

h ide a nd f ishery, ' Escford '

' Ora '

1 676

7 29

Athilheard , k ing

G lastonbury

1 0 h ides , R . T orridge

1 677

-

F rithugyth , q ueen

G lastonbury

5h ides a t B rompton

1 678

7 45 , Cuthred, k ing

T unberht, a bbot

3h ides a t ' Ure '

2 679

7 46 L /Ethilbald, k ing

T unberht ,

4h ides a t ' Jecesig'

1 680

7 56

S igiberht, k ing k ing

a bbot

T yccea , a bbot

2 h ides a t ' Poholt ' 2

Athilheard

3h ides a t ' Cedern '

1 681

- ICyniwulf,

1 682

1 - 'Cyniwulf, k ing

B ica

M ildenhall

1 683

-

C uthberht

C ulm D avy

1 684

- Cyniwulf, k ing

G uba , a bbot

5h ides a t W ootton

( 390)

-

C yniwulf, k ing

G uba , a bbot

' Huneresburg '

1 685

7 62

C yniwulf, k ing

W ealdhun , a bbot

5h ides a t ' Cumtun '

Cyniwulf, k ing

6 3

1 686

C yniwulf, k ing

' Adamtone '

1 687

C yniwulf, k ing

C ulmstock

1 688

C yniwulf, k ing

1 689

C yniwulf, k ing

' Honuton '

1 690

C yniwulf, k ing

' Mertone'

1 691 , -

C uthberht

S ulce

C ulmstock

1 692 j 794

O ffa , k ing

B eaduwulf, a bbot

1 0 h ides a t ' Eswirht '

( 397)

C ynemersforda

1

O ffa , k ing

i Ethilmund

1h ide a t H untspill

1 1 693 8 02

E cgbez .ht, k ing

G lastonbury

n ear R . T orridge

( 404) 8 24

G uthlac , a bbot

E anwulf

1h ide a t ' Brunham '

T he B ritish C harter D A ,

p . 8 8 .

W illiam o f M almesbury b egins h is a ccount o f g rants t o G lastonbury w ith o ne m ade b y ak ing o f D umnonia o f 5h ides a t ' Inesuutrin ', a t t he r equest o f a bbot W orgret . T wo s ubscriptions a re g iven i n a f orm w hich s uggests t hat t he a ctual w ording o f t he c harter i s b eing q uoted : ' Ego M auuron e piscopus h anc c artam s cripsi . E go W orgret i eusdem l oci a bbas illiam d ates t he c harter 6 01 a nd s tates t hat t he a ge o f s ubscripsi i. W t he d ocument p revented i dentification o f t he k ing, b y w hich h e p resumably m eant t hat t he c ondition o f t he m anuscript r endered t he n ame i llegible. T he d onor o f t his c harter w as c learly B ritish, a nd I neswitrin w as t he p re-Saxon n ame f or G lastonbury ( Gray 1 935, p . 4 8). T his c harter t herefore o ught t o f orm p art o f t he c orpus o f L atin c harter m aterial o riginating i n w estern B ritain , B rittany a nd I reland i n t he e arly m edieval p eriod, w hich h as r ecently b een s hown t o e mbody a d istinct c harter t radition ( Davies 1 982). B ut t he s urviving a ccount o f t he c harter s hows n one o f t he c haracteristics o f t hat t radition , a nd t wo d etails i n i t a re u nlikely t o h ave a ppeared i n a g enuine B ritish c harter . T hese a re t he s tatement o f t he a mount o f l and g ranted a s 5 h ides , ' in q uinque c assatis ', s ince l and i s n ot q uantified i n t his w ay i n B ritish c harters, a nd t he f orm o f t he s ubscriptions: B ritish w itness l ists a ppear i n t he b asic f orm ' testes s unt ' p lus a l ist o f n ames , s ometimes w ith t itles ( Ibid., p . 2 66). T he c harter s eems t o c orrespond w ith t he A nglo-Saxon r ather t han t he ' Celtic ' c onvention o f c harter w riting. C learly t his c harter , i f g enuine, c ould n ot p ossibly b elong t o t he A nglo-Saxon c harter t radition i f W illiam o f M almesbury i s e ven a pproximately r ight i n h is d ating , s ince i t p re-dates t he c onversion o f W essex a nd t he p roduction o f t he e arliest W est S axon c harters b y m any

6 4

y ears, a nd r elates t o aB ritish e stablishment a t G lastonbury b efore t he S axon m onastery w as f ounded t here . I s i t , t herefore, p ossible t hat t he c harter w as a f orgery? T he p ost-Conquest c ommunity a t G lastonbury c ertainly f abricated d ocumentary e vidence t o s upport t he c laims m ade a bout i ts e arly h istory, i n t he f orm o f t he ' Charter o f S t. P atrick ' a nd o ther i nterpolations i nto t he D e A ntiquitate. B ut t he d etails o f t his c harter d o n ot s uggest t hat i t b elongs t o t his c orpus o f f abricated m aterial. T he p ersons i nvolved a re a ll o therwise u nknown a nd t he t ransaction w hich i s r ecorded l ends n o s upport t o a ny o f t he t raditions c onnecting G lastonbury w ith e arly s aints. T here s eems t o b e v irtually n o m otive f or f orgery o f t his d ocument, a nd t he f act t hat W illiam m entions t he a ge o f t he m anuscript a nd c ould n ot r ead t he n ame o f t he d onor s uggests t hat h e s aw a v ery e arly o riginal : i t i s m ost u nusual f or W illiam t o h ave d ifficulty i n r eading a d ocument. I t m ay b e t hat t he c harter w as g enuine a nd t hat t he e xplanation f or t he u nexpectedly S axon a ppearance o f s ome o f t he d etails i n t he s urviving a ccount i s t hat W illiam o f M almesbury w as a ccustomed t o d ealing w ith A nglo-Saxon c harters, a nd t herefore f ollowed a b asically A nglo-Saxon f ormat i n r ecording t his g rant. M uch o f t he w ording i s s imply h is o wn a ccount o f t he g rant, a nd i n n o s ense a t ranscription o f t he c harter , a nd t he s ubscription f orms w hich h e a ppears t o q uote m ay b e h is o wn i mprovement o f t he s imple a ttestations o f h is e xemplar. H e a ppears t o h ave r ephrased T heodore 's s ubscription i n t he c harter i n C oenwalh 's n ame, ' Ego T heodorus s ubscripsi ' i n h is a ccount , ' Signum m anus T heodori a rchiepiscopi ' i n t he c artulary v ersion ( DA , p . 9 0, c f. S 227), a nd h is r eporting o f w itness l ists, w hich h e e vidently c onsidered u nimportant, i s o ften i naccurate ( As m ay b e s een b y c omparing h is t ranscripts o f M almesbury c harters i n t he G esta P ontificum w ith t he c artulary v ersions). T he r eference t o 5 h ides c ould r esult f rom s ubstitution o f t he f amiliar t erm ' cassati' f or a n u nfamiliar w ord s uch a s ' uncias ' o r ' modii ', w hich a re t he m easurements u sed i n t he L landaff c harters ( Davies 1 978 , p . 8 3). A nother r ecord o f a g rant b y ak ing o f D umnonia a lso r efers t o h ides : ' Gerontius r ex d edit M acuir d e .u .h idis i uxta T hamar ' ( ECDC , n o. 7 2), b ut a gain t his m ay b e as ubstitution b y as cribe a ccustomed t o t his u nit o f m easurement , o r i t m ay b e t hat t his g rant , m ade t o a S axon c ommunity, w as r ecorded i n n ormal S axon t erms . O n t he w hole, t he p robability s eems t o b e t hat t his c harter w as g enuine. T he n ames s eem o dd, b ut m ay b e m iscopied s ince t he e xemplar w as d ifficult t o r ead. T he d ubious d etails c an b e a ccounted f or , a nd m otive f or f orgery i s l acking. A rchaeological e vidence s hows t hat a p re-Saxon m onastery e xisted o n t he s ite o f G lastonbury ( Taylor 1 965-78 , p . 2 54), a nd t he s urvival o f a c harter b elonging t o i t s uggests t hat t here w as s ome s ort o f c ontinuity b etween t he B ritish a nd S axon h ouses , s ince i t s eems l ikely t hat t he d ocument w ould n ot h ave s urvived a t otal c essation o f m onastic l ife a t G lastonbury.

S 1666 L T 1 T he c harter w hich w as p laced f irst i n t he L iber T errarum i s d escribed i n t he c ontents l ist a s ' Carta K enwini d e i nsula G lastonie '. W illiam o f M almesbury a dds t hat i t w as a g rant t o a bbot H aemgils d ated 6 78 o f 6h ides w hich w ere g iven il iberas o b o mni s ervicio ' ( DA , p . 9 0).

6 5

T his l ast d etail i s s uspicious s ince n o g enuine s urviving W est S axon c harter o f t he s eventh c entury s pecifies t hat t he g rant i s i mmune f rom s ecular b urdens, a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat w hen I ne m ade a g eneral g rant o f t his p rivilege i n 7 04 ( S245) h e w as i ntroducing a m easure n ew t o W essex a nd m odelled o n K entish p ractice. I mmunities b egin t o b e s pecified i n i ndividual W est S axon c harters o nly i n t he m id-eighth c entury ( S255). I n t his i nstance t he p hrase m ay w ell r elate t o t he l ater s pecial s tatus o f G lastonbury T welve H ides , b ut i t i s n ot p roof o f f abrication, s ince i t c ould h ave b een i nterpolated i nto a g enuine c harter. S ince t he g rant i s o f G lastonbury i tself, i t w ould b e n atural t o a ssume t hat i t w as a f oundation c harter, a nd i ts p osition a t t he b eginning o f t he L iber T errarum t ends t o e ndorse t his v iew . B ut W illiam o f M almesbury s ays n othing t o s uggest t hat t his w as t he c ase, a nd i t i s n ot l ikely t hat h e w ould h ave o mitted t o m ention s uch a c ircumstance. M oreover, i n h is a ccount t his c harter f ollows t he g rant b y C oenwalh d ated 6 70 ( S227) a nd W illiam d oes n ot s uggest t hat t he e vidence p resented a ny p roblem a s i t w ould h ave d one i f C entwine's c harter h ad b een w orded a s af oundation c harter . I t t herefore a ppears t o h ave b een s imply a g rant o f l and a t G lastonbury , a nd m ay w ell h ave b een a uthentic, s ince t here s eems t o h ave v irtually n o m otive f or f orgery: o wnership o f t he a ctual s ite a nd i mmediate e nvirons o f t he m onastery i s n ot l ikely e ver t o h ave b een d isputed; t he a rea o f l and i s s mall ; a nd t he k ing m entioned a s d onor w as n ot p articularly f amous. T he g rant f its t he c ontext o f o ther e vidence . I t i s l ikely, a s W illiam s ays ( DA , p . 8 8), t hat t he p agan S axons s eized t he l ands o f B ritish m onasteries a nd t hat t hese l ands w ere r estored a fter t he c onversion . T his g rant c ould b e o ne s uch r estoration , a nd i t i s p ossible t hat t he e state i ncluded a ll o r p art o f t hat w hich w as t he s ubject o f t he B ritish c harter d iscussed a bove. T he e vidence o f a uthentic c harters , b oth e xtant a nd l ost , i s t hat t he e arliest S axon k ings t o m ake g rants t o G lastonbury w ere C entwine a nd h is c ontemporary, B aldred, a nd t hat t he e arliest a bbot o f t he S axon m onastery w as H aemgils. I t w as t he t radition o f t he h ouse t hat H aemgils w as a ppointed b y C entwine ( S236), a nd t his c ould w ell h ave b een c orrect. T his l ost c harter m ay h ave b een a n a uthentic d ocument r ecording a g rant o f l and i n t he i mmediate v icinity o f G lastonbury m ade w hen, o r s hortly a fter , t he m onastery w as f irst e stablished a s aS axon h ouse.

S 1665 L T 1 3 I C A 2 A c harter i n w hich B aldred g ranted a f ishery o n t he r iver P arrett w as i ncluded i n t he L iber T errarum a nd i s m entioned b y W illiam o f M almesbury ( DA , p . 9 0). I t w as p robably a uthentic . B aldred i s a n o bscure f igure b ut i s k nown t o h ave b een a b enefactor o f t he h ouse, a nd f abrication o f ac harter g ranting a f ishery s eems u nlikely, s ince i t a ppears t hat a t a l ater d ate s uch c harters w ere c onsidered u nimportant: n one w as t ranscribed i nto t he G reat C hartulary, a lthough i n t he p resent c ase t he d ocument e xisted a s a s ingle s heet i n 1 247 a nd w as t hen c lassified a s r elating t o p roperty s till o wned b y G lastonbury, a nd m ore t han o ne g rant o f a f ishery w as o mitted b y t he c ompiler o f t he L iber T errarum ( ECW , n os . 3 73, 3 77). T he s ituation o f t he p roperty i s u nknown. W illiam o f M almesbury, i n h is s ummary o f G lastonbury 's

6 6

p ossessions, m entions t he p lace-name ' Westwere ' ( DA , p . 1 40), b ut t his i s u nidentified. I t m ust h ave b een a t l east 1 2 m iles f rom G lastonbury, t his b eing t he d istance t o t he n earest s ection o f t he P arrett. T here s eems l ittle r eason t o d oubt t hat t his c harter r ecorded a g enuine g rant b y B aldred.

E CW 3 38 W illiam o f M almesbury i ncludes a mong t he l ands g ranted b y B aldred 1 6 h ides a t ' Logworesbeorh ', l isted i n t he s ummary o f p ossessions a s ' Loggaresbeorg, i d e st M untagu ' ( DA , p p . 9 0, 1 40). T his g rant i s r ecorded n owhere e lse, b ut t he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist m entions a g rant o f ' Logderesdone, i . M ontagu ' b y ' Tumbeard e piscopus ', p resumably t he n inth-century b ishop T unberht o f W inchester ( S1703), w hich i s u nrecorded e lsewhere. M ontacute o ccurs i n o ther G lastonbury r ecords o nly a s a p ossession o f G lastonbury a t t he t ime o f 2 Ethelwulf 's d ecimation ( S303). I t w as n ot o wned b y G lastonbury i n 1 066. B ishop T unberht's c harter w as p robably g enuine, b ecause t he G lastonbury c ommunity i s n ot l ikely t o h ave i nvented a g rant b y a b ishop o f W inchester . I t i s p ossible t hat t here w as a lso a g rant b y B aldred, b ut t he s ource o f W illiam 's i nformation i s u nknown , a nd m ay n ot h ave b een r eliable. I t i s f ar f rom c ertain t hat h e s aw a c harter o f B aldred, a nd i t i s i mpossible t o k now w hether a n a uthentic d ocument l ies b ehind t his s tatement.

S 1667 I C C l a nd S 1674 I C C 2 T wo c harters w hich s urvived a s s ingle s heets i n 1 247 b ut w ere n ot i ncluded i n t he L iber T errarum r ecord C entwine 's g rant o f ' Wethmor ', n ow W edmore , t o b ishop W ilfrid, a nd W ilfrid 's g rant o f t he s ame e state t o a bbot B erhtwald o f G lastonbury. T he i nventory a ctually n ames t he o riginal d onor a s ' Kenelm ', b ut C ynehelm o f M ercia w as n ot t he c ontemporary o f a ny b ishop n amed W ilfrid, a nd W illiam o f M almesbury s tates t hat t he d onor w as C entwine ( DA , p . 9 4). H e a lso m entions t hat t he e state w as o f 7 0 h ides a nd l ay o n a n i sland. T he m odern v illage i s a mong l ow h ills a bout 7 m iles n orth-west o f G lastonbury. T he c harters a re l isted i n t he i nventory a s r elating t o l and n ot s till o wned b y G lastonbury, a nd t his i s c onfirmed b y o ther r ecords. I n t he l ate n inth c entury t he e state b elonged t o k ing Alfred, w ho b equeathed i t t o h is e ldest s on , a nd i t a pparently c ame i nto t he p ossession o f t he s ee o f W ells l ater ( S1507; S 1042, 1 115 ; D B S omerset , p. 1 .2, 6 .15). I t a ppears t hat t he l and p assed o ut o f t he p ossession p o f G lastonbury a t a n e arly d ate, a nd t herefore t hat t here w as n o m otive f or f orgery o f t hese c harters . T he o nly r ecorded c ontact b etween C entwine a nd W ilfrid o ccurred w hen t he l atter s ought , b ut w as r efused, a sylum i n W essex a fter h is e xpulsion f rom N orthumbria b y k ing E cgfrith ( Colgrave , W ilfrid , c h . X L , p . 8 0). N o d oubt C entwine d id n ot w ish t o p rovoke t he h ostility o f h is N orthumbrian b rother-in-law b y h arbouring a N orthumbrian e xile. N othing i n t he c ourse o f e vents a t t his t ime p recludes t he p ossibility o f a micable r elations b etween C entwine a nd W ilfrid a t a n e arlier d ate , a nd t here s eems l ittle r eason t o d oubt t he a uthenticity o f t he k ing 's

6 7

c harter. W ilfrid 's l ater g rant t o a bbot B erhtwald i s a lso h ave b een g enuine.

l ikely

t o

S 1668 I C A 17 a nd S 1675 L T 1 0 I C A 20 T wo c harters l isted i n 1 247 a s g rants t o G lastonbury o f l ands s till o wned a re d escribed a s ' Cenewre r ex d e C lifwere ' a nd ' Wilferfus r ex d e C liwere. i nutilis '. T he l atter w as s till q uite l egible w hen t he L iber T errarum w as c ompiled, a nd a ppears i n t he c ontents l ist a s ' Wilfridus e piscopus d e C lifuuere. G .'. B oth c harters a re i ncluded i n t he i nventory a mong a g roup r epresented a s g rants t o a bbot E aldberht , b ut t hat g rouping i s e rroneous a nd m ay b e d isregarded. W illiam o f M almesbury c onfirms t hat W ilfrid g ranted t o G lastonbury ' villam d e C liwere i h idam ' ( DA , p . 9 4), b ut d oes n ot m ention t he o ther g rant , n or d oes t his a ppear i n t he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist . T he p robability s eems t o b e, a s h as b een s uggested, t hat t hese t ransactions w ere s imilar t o t hose i nvolving W edmore, a nd t hat t he f irst c harter w as a g rant o f C entwine t o W ilfrid ( ECW , n o . 3 63; S 1668). ' Cliwere ' i s n ow C lewer, a s mall v illage 2 m iles n orth o f W edmore. T he n ames d oes n ot o ccur e lsewhere i n G lastonbury r ecords o r p reC onquest c harters. I n 1 066 t he e state w as h eld b y t he b ishop o f C outances ( DB S omerset , p . 5 .19), a nd t he i nclusion o f t hese c harters a mong g rants o f l and s till o wned i n 1 247 w as a lmost c ertainly e rroneous. I t i s p robably b ecause t he l and w as n ot r etained b y G lastonbury t hat t he c harters h ave n ot s urvived. T hey a re l ikely t o h ave b een a uthentic.

S 1669 L T 4 T he L iber T errarum i ncluded a c harter o f C entwine g ranting ' Elosaneg ' t o al ayman , a nd W illiam o f M almesbury m entions ' Elonsanige ' i n al ist o f p laces g ranted b y k ings t o t heir f ollowers , a nd b y t hem t o G lastonbury ( DA, p . 1 44). T he p lace-name d oes n ot o ccur e lsewhere i n G lastonbury r ecords o r p re-Conquest c harters a nd i s u nidentified , a nd t he i dentity o f t he b eneficiary i s u nknown . C onsequently t he e vidence t ells u s v irtually n othing, a lthough t he c harter i s l ikely t o h ave b een g enuine s ince t here a ppears t o h ave b een n o m otive f or f orgery.

S 1670 I C A 6 A mong I ne's g rants t o a bbot B erhtwald w as o ne o f ' terra a d p edem d e M unedup '. T he c harter s urvived i n 1 247 a nd t he l and w as s aid t o b e o wned b y G lastonbury a t t hat t ime , b ut t he c harter w as n ot i ncluded i n e ither t he L iber T errarum o r t he G reat C hartulary, a nd t he g rant i s n ot m entioned b y W illiam o f M almesbury. T he c harter m ay h ave b een d isregarded e ither b ecause t he e state c ould n ot b e i dentified, o r b ecause t here w as l ater d ocumentation n aming t he e state w hich r endered t his c harter o bsolete a nd v alueless. ( It i s p ossible, f or e xample, t hat t he e state w as B atcombe, d escribed b y W illiam o f M almesbury a s ' Badecumbe i uxta m ontem d e M unidop ': D A , p . 1 52). I t i s l ikely t o h ave b een g enuine, s ince a f orger w ould h ave p rovided a c learer a ccount o f t he e state.

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E CW 3 73 A g rant o f I ne t o a bbot B erhtwald o f 1h ide a nd a f ishery a t ' Escford ' i s m entioned o nly b y W illiam o f M almesbury ( DA , p . 9 4). F inberg p lausibly s uggests t hat ' Escford ' w as a f ord o n t he r iver A xe. A g rant o f t he s ame p roperty w as a lso a ttributed t o E admund ( S1723), b ut t his m ay h ave b een c onformation o f a n e arlier g rant . T heoretically, f abrication o f I ne 's c harter i s p ossible, b ut i t s eems d oubtful w hether t he p roperty w ould j ustify t he t rouble.

S 1672 L T 9 T he L iber T errarum i ncluded a c harter o f I ne g ranting t o G lastonbury a n e state a t P ilton . T he p roblem h ere , a s a lready m entioned i n c onnection w ith e xtant c harters o f I ne, i s o f s orting o ut w hich r ecord r elates t o w hich e state. A n a uthentic c harter o f I ne g rants l ands i ncluding 2 0 h ides o n t he r iver ' Duluting ', n ow t he S heppey, a nd a l ater v ersion o f t his c harter i ncludes b ounds w hich i ndicate t hat t he e state i ncluded P ilton ( S248, 2 47). T herefore t he s ame e state m ight b e k nown a s e ither D oulting o r P ilton, a nd i t i s p ossible t hat t he g rant o f P ilton i n t he L iber T errarum a nd t he g rant o f D oulting i n t he 1 247 i nventory ( IC A 5) a re i n f act t he s ame g rant, a nd t hat e ach e ntry r elates t o t he D oulting c harter. ( As S awyer s uggests : S 1672). W illiam a ttributes t o I ne t wo s eparate g rants e ach o f 2 0 h ides a t D oulting a nd P ilton ( DA , p . 9 4), b ut t his c ould b e a n e rror a rising f rom t he u se o f t wo d ifferent n ames f or t he s ame e state. O n t he o ther h and , G lasonbury d id i n l ater y ears o wn t wo s eparate e states, e ach o f 2 0 h ides , o ne a t D oulting a nd o ne a t P ilton , a nd t hese a ppear i n D omesday B ook ( DB S omerset, p p . 8 .23, 8 .20). I t m ay b e t hat I ne g ranted b oth a nd t hat t he L iber T errarum r ecord i s o f a l ost c harter , a lthough i t i s n ot e asy t o s ee w hy t he c harter s hould h ave b een d iscarded. I t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hether t here i s a l ost c harter h ere , a nd, i f t here i s , w hether i t w as g enuine.

S 1673 L T 1 2 E CW 6 32 T he L iber T errarum i ncluded a c harter i n w hich I ne g ranted ' Oram ' t o G lastonbury. T his i s n ot r ecorded e lsewhere, b ut W illiam o f M almesbury m entions t hat a n a bbess n amed B ugu g ranted 3 h ides a t ' Ora ' t o a bbot ' Echfrid ' ( DA , p . 9 4). I n t he l ater s ummary o f G lastonbury p ossessions, b ut n ot i n W illiam 's m ain n arrative, i t i s s tated t hat B ugu 's g rant w as m ade w ith t he c onsent a nd c onfirmation o f I ne ( Ibid., p . 1 42). ' Ora ', o f w hich ' Oram ' i s p resumably a n a ccusative c ase , i s u nidentified. T he g rant o f a bbess B ugu i s l ikely t o h ave b een g enuine , s ince n o f orger w ould h ave s elected s uch a d onor . T he g rant o f I ne i s m ore d ubious. I t i s p ossible t hat a c harter i n h is n ame w as f abricated t o r eplace t hat o f B ugu , o r t hat t he c harter i ncluded i n t he L iber T errarum w as a ctually t hat o f B ugu a nd t hat i t i s m isrepresented, e ither b y a ccident o r d esign , i n t he s urviving c ontents l ist. T he a bbess B ugu i s p ossibly t o b e i dentified w ith B ugge, t he d aughter o f k ing C entwine, w ho w as a bbess o f ad ouble m onastery d uring

6 9

I ne 's r eign ( Ehwald, p p . 1 4-18), b ut t he i dentification i s f ar f rom c ertain s ince i t s eems l ikely t hat a ny w oman w ith a n ame e nding i n burh m ight h ave b een c alled b y t his s hort n ame, w hich w as t herefore p robably c ommon . I dentification w ith B oniface 's c orrespondent , a bbess H eahburh, c alled B ucge, s eems l ess l ikely ( Tangl, n os . 1 4 , 1 5, 2 7, 9 4 , 1 05, T he n ame o f t he a bbot, w hich a ppears a s ' Echfrid ' a nd 17). ' Eethfrido ' ( DA , p p. 9 4, 1 02) h as b een i nterpreted a s H eahfrith , a nd h e h as b een t entatively i dentified w ith A ldhelm 's c orrespondent o f t he s ame n ame ( Cook 1 927, p p . 3 70-1; c f . L apidge 1 982a , p . 1 80 n . 1). T he d ates f it w ell e nough , b ut t here i s i nsufficient e vidence t o p rove t he i dentification , w hich r emains m erely a p ossibility.

E CW 3 77 I ne's g rant t o a bbot H eahfrith , r ecorded o nly b y W illiam o f M almesbury, w as o f 1 h ide a nd a f ishery o n t he A xe ( DA, p . 9 4). W illiam d etails t his a s as eparate g rant f rom t he ' Escford ' o ne, m ade t o a d ifferent a bbot, a nd i t i s v irtually i mpossible, k nowing h ow c arefully W illiam w orked, t hat t his i s m erely a d uplication . L ike t he e arlier o ne, t his i s l ikely t o h ave b een a g enuine c harter.

S 1676 L T 2 9 a nd S 1693 L T 3 0 T wo c harters i n t he L iber T errarum r elated t o l and a t ' Torric ', i dentified a s a n e state i n t he v alley o f t he r iver T orridge i n D evon . T he f irst i s ag rant b y Athilheard t o G lastonbury, a nd W illiam o f M almesbury a dds t hat t he e state w as o f 1 0 h ides ( DA ., p . 1 02). T he s econd i s d escribed i n t he c ontents l ist a s a c harter o f E cgberht c oncerning t he l iberty o f t he s ame e state, a nd b y W illiam o f M almesbury a s ag rant o f 5h ides f or t he u se o f t he m onks , m ade a t t he r equest o f a bbot M uca i n 8 02 ( Ibid., p . 1 10). T he e state d oes n ot o ccur e lsewhere i n G lastonbury r ecords o r p re-Conquest c harters a nd w as n ot o wned b y G lastonbury i n 1 066. F orgery o f t itle-deeds f or s uch a r emote e state, n ot a pparently o wned a t al ater d ate , s eems i mprobable, a nd t hese c harters a re l ikely t o h ave b een g enuine. T he r eference t o a bbot M uca a lso s uggests t hat E cgberht 's c harter w as a uthentic , s ince t his i s W illiam 's o nly r eference t o t his a bbot, b ut h e i s r ecorded a s aw itness o f c harters o f 8 01 a nd 8 03 ( S270a ; B 312). E cgberht's g rant w as p robably a c onfirmation o f Athilheard 's, p erhaps a dding a n i mmunity , h ence t he r eference t o ' libertas ' i n t he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist , o r m ay h ave r estored l and w hich t he m onastery h ad l ost. I t i s a lso p ossible t hat a d ifferent , a djoining e state w as g ranted. T he d ifferent h idage c ould b e a n e rror o r m ight r epresent a c hange o f c ircumstances.

S 1677 L T 1 6 Athilheard 's q ueen , F rithugyth , i s r ecorded a s g ranting t o G lastonbury a n e state a t ' Brunamtone', i dentified a s B rompton , S omerset. T he o nly p laces o f t he n ame i n S omerset a re B rompton R alph a nd B rompton R egis, b oth f ar t o t he w est, b ut i t i s n ot i mplausible t hat F rithugyth s hould g rant l and i n t hat a rea s ince f ethilheard g ranted a n e state i n D evon . G lastonbury i s n ot r ecorded e lsewhere a s o wning t he e state , s o t here s eems t o h ave b een n o m otive f or f orgery .

7 0

A g rant b y t his q ueen i s c onsistent w ith h er r egular a ppearance i n c harters o f t his r eign, a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t he c harter g enuine.

t he w as

I n W illiam 's s ummary t he q ueen 's n ame i s g iven e rroneously a s ' Bedeswitha ' ( DA , p . 1 42). S ince t he s econd e lement o f t he n ame h as h ere b een m istranscribed a s swith, t he s ame e rror c ould h ave o ccurred e lsewhere, a nd i t m ay t herefore b e t hat a m iscopying o f F rithugyth i n s ome f orm a pproximating t o F rithuswith l ies b ehind t he m odern f orm ' Frideswide', a nd t hat F rithugyth o f W essex i s t he s aint o f O xford. B ut t his r emains o nly a p ossibility, a nd i t i s m ore l ikely t hat F rideswide w as s omeone e lse w ho d id b ear t he n ame F rithuswith . T he e lement F rith-is n ot p articularly u ncommon.

S 1678 L T 1 8 C uthred i s r ecorded a s g ranting ' Ure' t o G lastonbury. A ccording t o W illiam o f M almesbury , t he e state w as o f 3 h ides a nd t he b eneficiary w as a bbot T unberht, w ho i s a lso t he r ecipient o f L ulle's c harter ( DA , p . 1 04 ; S 1410). T he e state i s u nidentified a nd u nrecorded e lsewhere. T he c harter w as p robably g enuine. S 1679 L T 2 2 a nd 9 4 T wo e ntries i n t he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist r ead; ' 2Ethelbaldus d e S ceacescet & B radanleag .

S .'

a nd ' /Ethelbaldus d e J ecesig & B radraleah d at. G .'. T hese a ppear t o r elate t o t wo v ersions o f t he s ame d ocument. W illiam o f M almesbury g ives s ome o f t he w ording o f t he c harter, w hich h e d ates t o 7 46: e go A ethelbald, p ro r edempcione a nime m ee, T umberto, I X a nnos p residenti, e t f amilie q ue i n m onasterio G lastongabirie f ideli D eo f amulantur o bsequio l argitus s um , p recio ccc s olidorum , i iii h idas, d uobus i n c l ocis, J ecesig e t B radanleghe ( DA, p . 1 04) A g rant t o G lastonbury b y 2 Ethilbald a t t his t ime i s c onsistent w ith o ther e vidence, n otably h is c onfirmation o f L ulle's c harter o f 7 44. T unberht w as t he b eneficiary o f L ulle's g rant a nd o f t he g rant o f C uthred j ust d iscussed. T he w ording p reserved b y W illiam o f M almesbury, n otably t he c lause u nderlined a bove, s uggests t hat 2 Ethilbald's c harter b elonged t o t he g roup o f m id-eighth-century c harters j ointly d iscussed a bove. T he d escription o f t he b eneficiaries, w ho a re t he a bbot a nd c ommunity, a lso c losely r esembles t he d escriptions i n t hose c harters, a nd Athilbald's c harter, l ike L ulle's, m entions t he p rice p aid f or t he l and. T he p lace-names a re n ot m entioned e lsewhere a nd a re u nidentified, a lthough F inberg s uggests t hat ' Bradanleghe' c ould b e W est B radley, 4 m iles e ast o f G lastonbury ( ECW , n o. 6 34). I t s eems p robable t hat i Ethilbald's c harter w as g enuine.

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S 1680 L T 6 3 T he c ontents l ist o f t he L iber T errarum r ecords t hat S igiberht g ranted ' Poolt ' t o G lastonbury. W illiam o f M almesbury a dds a c onsidera ble a mount o f d etail t o t his s tatement. T he g rant w as m ade t o a bbot T yccea a nd t he m onks o f G lastonbury i n 7 54 , t he a rea o f l and w as 2 2 h ides a nd a p rice o f 5 0 g old s olidi w as p aid. T yccea a lso p urchased f rom S igiberht a f urther 6 h ides t o t he w est o f t he e state, a nd f or t his t oo 5 0 g old s olidi w ere p aid ( DA , p . 1 04). T he d ate 7 54 p resuma bly d erives f rom t he C hronicle w ith i ts t wo-year d islocation , a nd i s p robably W illiam 's d ating o f t he e vidence , i ntroduced t o c orrect w hat w ould a ppear t o h im t o b e a n e rror o r o mission i n t he c harter . T he d ate o f ag rant o f S igiberht c an o nly b e 7 56 o r 7 57. T he c harter i s l ikely t o h ave b een g enuine. S igiberht i s a n u nlikely c hoice f or a f orger. A bbot T yccea a ttests a c harter o f 7 57 a nd W illiam o f M almesbury r ead t he i nscription o n h is t omb a t G lastonbury ( S96 ; D A , p . 1 06). T he c harter e vidently r esembled o thers o f t he m id-eigh th c entury i n b eing e xpressed a s a g rant t o t he a bbot a nd h is c ommunity: t he w ording i s d ifferent h ere , ' Tican a bbati e t m onachis i n u rbe G lastingensium d egentibus', b ut t he i dea i s m uch t he s ame. T here a re a lso c ontemporary p arallels f or t he s tatement o f p rice, a nd t he a ccount o f t he p urchase o f t he o ther 6 h ides i s a n u nlikely i nvention , a lthough i t i s o dd t hat t he p rice i s t he s ame f or 6 h ides a s f or 2 2.

S 1681 L T 3 1 I C D 4 T he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist i ncludes a g rant o f l and b y C yniwulf t o a l ayman , l Ethilheard, w ho i s o therwise u nknown, w ith a n ote t hat t he b eneficiary p assed t he p roperty t o G lastonbury. W illiam o f M almesbury r ecords t he c harter a s a g rant b y A thilheard t o G lastonbury ( DA , p . 1 06), i n a ccordance w ith h is s tandard m ethod o f d ealing w ith g rants t o l aymen s urviving i n t he G lastonbury a rchives. I n t he 1 247 i nventory t he c harter i s l isted a mong g rants t o l aymen o f l ands n o l onger h eld b y G lastonbury. T he e state i s c alled ' Elenbearo ' i n t he c ontents l ist, a nd ' Cedern ' w ith t he a ddition o f ' id e st E lenbeorge ' b y W illiam . I t i s i dentified a s E lborough , a bout a m ile f rom H utton , n ear W eston-superM are. T he e state w as o wned b y G lastonbury i n 1 066 , b ut b y t he b ishop o f C outances i n 1 086 ( DB S omerset , p p . 8 .38 , 5 .11). T he a rea g ranted b y C yniwulf w as 3 h ides ( DA , p . 1 06), a nd t he e state w as a ssessed a t t he s ame a mount i n 1 086. G lastonbury e vidently r etained a n i nterest i n t his l and f or m any y ears, b ut t he c harter o f C yniwulf i s m ost u nlikely t o h ave b een f orged s ince a f orger w ould n ot h ave d rawn u p ag rant t o a l ayman . T he c harter w as t herefore p robably a uthentic.

S 1682 L T 8 4 A g rant b y C yniwulf t o t he l ayman, B ica , o f a n e state a t ' Mildenhealh ', n ow M ildenhall i n W iltshire , i s r ecorded o nly i n t he c ontents l ist o f t he L iber T errarum . W illiam o f M almesbury m ust h ave m issed i t f or s ome r eason , b ut h e m entions a c harter w hich w as p robably

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a g rant b y k ing E adgar t o a l ayman n amed E aldred a nd i ncluded 1 5 h ides a t M ildenhall, a nd w hich d oes n ot a ppear e lsewhere ( DA , p . 1 30). C ynwulf 's g rant o f M ildenhall i s d iscussed i n c onnection w ith h is o ther g rants t o B ica a bove ( S264). T he c harter w as p robably g enuine, a s f abrication o f ag rant t o a n o bscure l ayman i s u nlikely.

S 1683 L T 2 5 :

S 1687 L T 2 4 I C D 2 ;

T hree c onsecutive e ntries T errarum r ead a s f ollows:

S 1691 L T 2 6 i n t he c ontents

l ist

o f

t he

L iber

C ynwulf d e c ulum . S . I dem d e C umbe j uxta C alum d at. C uthberto . S . C uthberto d e C ulum d at. S ulco , q ui d edit G last. ' Culum ' i s n ow C ulmstock, a nd ' Cumbe ' i s C ulm D avy, b oth i n D evon . W illiam o f M almesbury d oes n ot m ention C uthberht, b ut a ttributes t o S ulce, ' Christi .a ncilla ', t he g rant t o G lastonbury o f b oth e states i n t he r eign o f C yniwulf ( DA , p . 1 06). T he o nly o ne o f t hese c harters t o s urvive a s as ingle s heet i n 1 247 w as C yniwulf 's g rant o f C ulmstock, w hich w as c lassified a s a g rant t o a l ayman o f l and n o l onger o wned. A ayman, a lso i ncluded i n t he L iber T errarum g rant o f k ing E adred t o .a l b ut n ot n ow e xtant, r elated t o ' Cumbe ' w hich i s p erhaps C ulm D avy. T his i s t he o nly o ther a ppearance o f t his n ame i n G lastonbury r ecords, a nd t he e state i s n ot m entioned i n a ny e xtant p re-Conquest c harter . C ulmstock i s n amed i n t he d ecimation c harter ( S303), b ut b y t he e leventh c entury, a nd p robably e arlier, w as c laimed b y E xeter ( S386). N either e state w as o wned b y G lastonbury i n 1 066. D own t o a nd i ncluding e ntry n o. 2 4 , t he c ompiler o f t he c ontents l ist d id n ot n ame b eneficiaries o ther t han G lastonbury. H e n amed t he l ay r ecipient o f n o. 2 5 , p robably b ecause h e s aw t hat t he o bscure d onor o f n o . 2 6 w as t he s ame p erson , s o t hat t he l atter e ntry w ould b e c larified b y n aming t he b eneficiary o f n o. 2 5. I t s eems l ikely t hat b oth o f C yniwulf 's g rants w ere t o C uthberht, s ince h e i s s aid i n n o . 2 6 t o o wn t he e state g ranted t o t he u nnamed b eneficiary, a nd b ecause t he g rants t o B ica p rovide a p arallel f or t wo g rants b y C yniwulf t o t he s ame m an o f t wo n eighbouring e states. T he a ssertion t hat S ulce g ranted t he l and t o G lastonbury c ould b e m ere a ssumption , b ut i s p erhaps l ikely t o b e r ight b ecause i t i s o therwise d ifficult t o a ccount f or t he p resence i n t he G lastonbury a rchives o f a g rant t o h er . S he w as e vidently a n un , a nd w ould n ot t herefore d eposit d ocuments a t G lastonbury f or s afe-keeping a s a l ayp erson m ight h ave d one, b ut w ould k eep t hem a t h er o wn m onastery. T he i nclusion o f C ulmstock a mong G lastonbury l ands m entioned i n t he d ecimation c harter a lso s uggests t hat t he e state d id c ome i nto t he p ossession o f G lastonbury. T he g rant o f C ulm D avy t o C uthberht c ould h ave b een a d eposit, b ut i t i s p robably m ore l ikely t hat t his r elated c harter c ame i nto G lastonbury 's p ossession w ith t he o thers , a nd t hat G lastonbury a cquired b oth e states. N one o f t his i s c ertain b ecause t he e vidence i s s o f ragmentary, a nd W illiam 's v ersion i s n ot e ntirely s upported b y t he d etails i n t he c ontents l ist. T he c harters s eem t o h ave b een a uthentic

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b ecause t here i s n o a pparent m otive f or f orgery, b ut t here r emains s ome d oubt a s t o w hat t hey s aid a nd w hat w as t he h istory o f t he e states. S 1684 L T 2 7 A c harter i n t he L iber T errarum i s d escribed a s a g rant b y C yniwulf t o G lastonbury o f 5h ides o f l and. T he e state i s n ot n amed. W illiam m entions t wo g rants b y C yniwulf t o G lastonbury o f e states o f 5 h ides ; o ne, a g rant o f ' Cumtun ' i s n o. 3 9 i n t he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist ( S1685); t he o ther i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t his c harter. I t i s a g rant t o a bbot C uba d ated 7 60 , a nd t he e state i s c alled ' Wudeton ' ( DA , p . 1 06), a n ame o f w hich t he m odern f orm i s W ootton . F inberg s uggests t hat t his m ay h ave b een N orth W ootton a bout 4m iles n orth-west o f G lastonbury, w hich w as a n e state o f 5 h ides a nd w as h eld b y G lastonbury i n 1 066 ( ECW . n o. 3 89 ; D B S omerset, p . 8 .20). A bbot C uba i s r ecorded o nly b y W illiam o f M almesbury a s t he r ecipient o f t his a nd a nother g rant ( ECW , n o . 3 90). T he c harter w as p robably g enuine. T he f act t hat i t a pparently d id n ot n ame t he e state i s a p oint i n i ts f avour, s ince i t p robably h ad t he s ort o f v ague d escription w hich i s t ypical o f g enuine e arly c harters a nd d oes n ot a ppear i n f orgeries.

E CW 3 90 T he o ther g rant t o a bbot C uba i s m entioned o nly b y W illiam a nd w as o f ' Huneresberg ' o n t he e ast b ank o f t he P arrett ( DA , p . 1 06). T he p lace-name, m odernised a s H oundsborough , w as a t o ne t ime t he n ame o f t he h undred b ut d oes n ot n ow s urvive e xcept a s H oundston . I t i s n ot m entioned e lsewhere i n G lastonbury r ecords o r p re-Conquest c harters, o r a s a n e state i n D omesday B ook . T here i s n o r eason t o t hink t hat t he l and w as o wned b y G lastonbury a t al ater d ate , o r t hat t here w as e ver a m otive f or f orgery o f a g rant r elating t o i t, a nd C yniwulf 's c harter w as p robably g enuine.

S 1685 L T 3 9 T he L iber T errarum i ncluded a c harter i n w hich C yniwulf g ranted ' Cumtone ' t o G lastonbury , a nd W illiam m entions t his a s a g rant t o a bbot W ealdhun d ated 7 62, t he a rea o f l and b eing 5 h ides ( Ibid., p . 1 06). t he m odern f orm o f t he p lace-name i s C ompton , a nd F inberg s uggests t hat t he e state m ay h ave b een C ompton D undon , a f ew m iles s outh o f G lastonbury w here t he m onastery h eld a n e state o f 5h ides i n 1 066 ( ECW , n o. 3 93; D B S omerset, p . 8 .11). T he a bbot i s i ncluded i n t he a bbatial l ist a nd t he c harter w as p robably g enuine.

S 1686 I C D 1 T he f irst c harter l isted i n t he 1 247 i nventory 's c ategory o f g rants t o l aymen o f l ands n o l onger h eld i s d escribed a s ' Cenwulf d e A ldamtone & q uibusdam a lliis '. T his i s f ollowed b y t hree o ther c harters c ited a s g rants b y t he s ame k ing, ' Idem d e ..' t wo o f w hich a re i ncluded i n t he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist, t he d onor t here b eing

7 4

n amed a s ' Cyniwulf ' a nd ' Cyneuulfus ' ( S1687, 1 681). I t t herefore a ppears t hat a ll f our c harters w ere g rants o f C yniwulf o f W essex, a nd n ot C oenwulf o f M ercia w ho m ight e qually h ave b een i ndicated b y t he n ame a s i t a ppears i n l ist D o f t he i nventory. W illiam m entions t his a nd s ome o ther c harters f rom l ist D o nly i n a p aragraph w hich f ollows t he s ummary o f G lastonbury p ossessions a nd i n w hich h e n ames v arious e states g iven t o G lastonbury w ithout d etailing t he g rants. H e t herefore a dds n othing t o t he i nformation o f t he i nventory. T he e state m ay h ave b een A lhampton , a bout 8 m iles s outhw est o f G lastonbury, w hich w as o wned b y G lastonbury i n 1 066 ( ECW , n o . 3 96 ; D B S omerset, p . 8 .30). I t i s n ot n amed e lsewhere i n G lastonbury r ecords o r p re-Conquest c harters. T here w as p robably a g enuine c harter o f C yniwulf g ranting t he e state t o a l ayman, b ut w e d o n ot k now w ho t he b eneficiary w as o r h ow G lastonbury a cquired t he l and.

S 1688 I C D 3 A nother g rant b y C yniwulf t o a n u nnamed l ayman i s i ncluded i n l ist D , a nd t he e state i s m entioned b y W illiam i n t he p aragraph r eferred t o a bove. T he e state , ' Cynemersforda ', i s u nidentified, a lthough F inberg t entatively s uggests Q uemerford i n C alne, W iltshire, o r K empsford, G loucestershire, a s p ossible i dentifications ( ECW , n o . 6 36). T he c harter m ay w ell h ave b een g enuine b ut t he s urviving i nformation i s s o l imited a s t o b e w orthless.

S 1689 L T 4 7 I n t he c ontents l ist o f t he L iber T errarum a n e ntry r eading ' Item C enwlf d e e odem S ' f ollows a n a ccount o f a g rant b y k ing E adred t o a l ayman o f l and a t ' Horutone' w hich t he b eneficiary 's h eir g ave t o G lastonbury ( S1743). I t i s n ot k nown w hich H orton t hese c harters r elated t o . T his i s t herefore a nother g rant o f a n u nidentified e state t o a n u nnamed l ayman , a nd i n t his c ase i t i s i mpossible e ven t o b e c ertain w ho t he d onor w as : i t m ay h ave b een C yniwulf o f W essex o r C oenwulf o f M ercia.

S 1690 I C B i A nother c harter w hose d onor m ay h ave b een C yniwulf o r C oenwulf i s l isted a s ' Cenwlfus d e M ertone ' a mong c harters e xtant i n 1 247 r elating t o g rants t o l aymen o f l ands s till o wned b y G lastonbury. T he g rant i s n ot m entioned b y W illiam o f M almesbury. T he e state m ay h ave b een M erton i n S urrey w hich i s t he s ubject o f e xtant G lastonbury c harters ( S551, 7 47). F inberg s uggests a s a n a lternative C ompton M artin , S omerset, w hich i s c onsiderably n earer t o G lastonbury, b ut m akes n o a ppearance i n G lastonbury r ecords a nd i s m entioned i n a s purious p ancarta o f W ells ( ECW , n o. 6 35 ; S 1042). T he i dentity o f t he b eneficiary i s n ot r ecorded, s o w e k now v irtually n othing o f t his c harter.

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S 1692 L T 2 8 A s ingle c harter o f O ffa i s l isted a mong t he c ontents o f t he L iber T errarum . I t i s r epresented t here a s a g rant t o a n u nspecified l ayman , b ut W illiam o f M almesbury r ecords i t a s ag rant t o a bbot B eaduwulf o f G lastonbury ( DA , p . 1 06), a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t he c ompiler o f t he c ontents l ist f ailed t o r ecognise t his m an a s a n a bbot. H e i s r ecorded b y W illiam a s o ne o f t he w itnesses o f C oenwulf 's c onfirmation o f p ope L eo 's p rivilege ( S152). W illiam d ates O ffa 's c harter 7 94, f our y ears b efore t he p rivilege. T he e state a ppears i n t he L iber T errarum c ontents l ist a s ' Inesuuyrth j uxta H unespulle', b ut W illiam s ays i t w as ' in E swirht x h idas ' ( DA , p . 1 06). E vidently t here i s a s cribal e rror i n o ne v ersion, b ut i t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hich , a s t he n ame d oes n ot s urvive. ' Hunespulle ', h owever, i s m odern H untspill, s everal m iles w est o f G lastonbury, n ear t o t he m outh o f t he P arrett, s o t he a pproximate l ocation o f t he e state i s k nown. I t i s n ot r ecorded e lsewhere, a nd w as a pparently n ot o wned b y G lastonbury a t a l ater d ate. T here s eems n o r eason t o d oubt t hat t he c harter w as a uthentic.

E CW 3 97 A nother c harter i nvolving O ffa a nd r elating t o a n eighbouring e state i s r ecorded o nly b y W illiam : ' Ethelmund a ssensu r egis O ffe d edit H unespulle ih idam ' ( DA , p . 1 06). A c omparison o f W illiam 's n arrative w ith e xtant c harters a nd o ther r ecords s hows t hat h e h abitually r ecorded c harters w hich w ere g rants b y k ings t o l aymen a s g rants b y t he l aymen t o G lastonbury w ith t he k ings ' c onsent. I n t his i nstance i t i s n ot i mpossible t hat Athilmund m ade a g rant t o G lastonbury , b ut i t i s f ar m ore l ikely t hat F inberg i s r ight i n a ssumi ng t hat t he c harter W illiam s aw w as a g rant b y O ffa t o Athilmund. I t i s l ikely t o h ave b een g enuine. T here w as n o m otive f or f orgery o f a g rant t o a l ayman, a nd G lastonbury d id n ot c laim t o o wn H untspill a t a l ater d ate. Athilmund i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he e aldorman o f t he H wicce, m entioned i n t he C hronicle, a nd a lso k nown f rom a n umber o f c harters ( ASC s .a. 8 02 ; S 58, 5 9, 1 39, 1 49).

E WC 4 04 W illiam o f M almesbury r ecords a s ale b y a bbot G uthlac t o E anwulf o f p art o f ah ide a t ' Brunham ' i n 8 24 ( DA , p . 1 10). T he a bbot i s i ncluded i n t he t enth-century a bbatial l ist b ut i s o therwise u nknown . E anwulf w as, o r l ater b ecame, e aldorman o f S omerset, a nd a ppears i n c harters o f t he r eign o f 2 Ethelwulf, i ncluding a G lastonbury c harter o f w hich h e i s t he b eneficiary ( ASC s .a. 8 45 ; S 292). T he l and m entioned i n t his t ransaction i s u nidentified, a lthough F inberg t entatively s uggests t hat i t m ay h ave b een B rompton R alph w hich w as h eld b y G lastonbury i n 1 066 ( ECW , n o . 4 04; D B S omerset, p . 2 5.7). T he e state w as s old t o E anwulf f or 5 00 s hillings o f w hich 2 00 w ere p aid t o t he a bbot a nd 3 00 t o t he m onks. A s t his i s ar ecord o f a n a lienation , n ot a n a cquisition , o f l and, t here i s n o m otive f or f orgery, w hich s uggests t hat t he a ccount i s l ikely t o b e a ccurate. T he s ource c ould h ave b een

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ac harter d eposited a t G lastonbury f or s afe-keeping b y E anwulf, m onastery m ay h ave a cquired t he c harter w ith t he l and.

( d)

o r

t he

C onclusions

T he c artulary o f G lastonbury, l ike o thers f rom m a jor W est S axon a bbeys , h as b een r egarded i n t he p ast w ith c onsiderable s uspicion , a s a g lance t hrough t he c omments c ollected b y S awyer w ill s how , a nd t his a ttitude s till p ersists . A s r ecently a s 1 981 t he e ditor o f t he D e A ntiquitate s tated t hat ' it i s q uite c lear t hat m any o f i ts c harters a re l ater f orgeries ', c iting t he j udgements o f e arlier s cholars i n s upport o f t his c onclusion ( DA , p p. 2 , 1 74 n . 2 0), a nd e ven m ore r ecently t wo G lastonbury c harters w hich , t here i s g ood r eason t o b elieve, a re b ased o n a uthentic m aterial a lthough i nterpolated i n t heir e xtant f orms, h ave b een d escribed a s ' patent f orgeries ' ( S236, 2 46; L apidge 1 982a , p . 1 83 n . 2 4). E xamination o f t he e arly c harters c onspicuously f ails t o p rovide j ustification f or t his v iew . O f a t otal o f 1 8 c harters s urviving f rom t he p eriod d own t o 8 39, 1 4 a re p robably s ubstantially g enuine ( S236, 2 37, 1 249, 2 38, 2 48, 1 253, 2 51, 2 53, 1 410, 2 57, 2 64, 1 52, 2 70a a nd t he p apal p rivilege, D A , p . 1 08). I n m any c ases t he t exts h ave b een a ltered o r i nterpolated , b ut i t u sually s eems t hat t his h as b een d one i n o rder t o i mprove o r m odernise t he d ocuments , a nd n ot w ith a ny f raudulent p urpose. O f t he 4 r emaining d ocuments, o ne i s a v ersion o f ag enuine p rivilege o f g eneral a pplication m ade t o r efer t o G lastonbury a lone, a nd i s t herefore s purious a s i t s tands , b ut i s m odelled o n a nd s ubstantially r eproduces t he t ext o f t he g enuine c harter , a nd a dds n othing b ut t he i mplication t hat G lastonbury w as p articularly p rivileged ( S246, c f . S 245). A nother i s ac opy o f ag enuine c harter , d rawn u p t o r elate t o o nly o ne o f a n umber o f e states o riginally g ranted a nd c annot h ave b een p roduced f or a ny f raudulent p urpose a s i t c laims n othing w hich t he g enuine c harter d oes n ot i nclude ( S247, c f. S 248). O nly t wo o f a ll t he e arly c harters a re u ndoubted f abrications ( S227, 2 50). T he l ater c harters a re n ot e xamined h ere , b ut a g lance a t t hem s uggests t hat t hey t oo f ail t o j ustify a ny g eneral c ondemnation o f t he G lastonbury a rchives . T here a re 4 5 c harters d ated t o t he p eriod b etween t he d eath o f E cgberht i n 8 39 a nd t he C onquest. O f t hese 3 0 a re g rants t o l ay-persons ( 288 , 2 92, 3 41, 3 47, 3 99, 4 26, 4 31, 42, 4 62, 4 4 72, 4 73, 4 74, 4 81, 4 98, 5 04, 5 09, 5 13, 5 24, 5 30, 5 41, 5 51, 5 55, 5 63 , 5 70 , 5 80, 6 44, 7 21, 7 42, 7 47, 7 75) a nd t herefore l ikely, a s ag roup, t o b e g enuine, a s n oted a bove, s ince m otive f or f orgery i s l acking ; a nd t here i s n o o bvious r eason f or d oubting t he a uthenticity o f s everal o f t he o thers, s o i t s eems t hat t he n umber o f f abrications i s v ery s mall. T he l ow r eputation o f a n a rchive i n w hich f abrications r epresent o nly a v ery s mall p roportion o f t he c harter m aterial i s p erhaps t o b e a cocunted f or b y t he f act t hat w hen t he G lastonbury c ommunity d id a pply i tself t o t he f abrication o f c harters, i t d id s o i n n o h alf-hearted m anner , a nd p roduced f orgeries o f t he m ost f lagrant d escription . P rominent a mong t hese i s t he n ototious ' Charter o f S t. P atrick ', r ecently d escribed a s ' superbly s purious ' ( B1; L apidge 1 982a, p . 1 83 n . 2 4), a nd t here i s as eries o f p rivileges i n t he n ames o f I ne, E admund,

7 7

E adgar, a nd K nf itr ( S250, 4 99, 7 83, 9 66). T hose o f I ne a nd E adgar a re f abrications a nd t he o ther t wo a re v ery d ubious , p robably i nterpolated i f n ot f abricated. I t i s n ot v ery s urprising t hat t hese d ocuments h ave a ttracted a ttention a nd t hat t he c ommunity a nd t he a rchive h ave b een j udged a ccordingly, b ut t he p ersistence o f t his a ttitude t o G lastonbury c asts u nfounded s uspicion o n a c onsiderable b ody o f g enuine, e arly c harters.

7 8

2 .

M ALMESBURY P age

( a)

I ntroduction

8 0

( b)

T he A bbatial L ist

8 2

( c)

T he C harters

8 4

1 245

L euthere , b ishop , t o A ldhelm ,

p riest

166

C oenfrith , c omes, t o A ldhelm , a bbot

7 1) ) Athilred, k ing, t o A ldhelm , a bbot 7 3)

8 5 8 7

9 0

169

B erhtwald, s ub-king, t o A ldhelm , a bbot

9 3

170

B aldred t o A ldhelm , a bbot

9 4

2 31) )C eadwalla , k ing, t o t he c hurch 2 34)

9 7

ope, t o A ldhelm , a bbot S ergius I , p

1 00

2 43

o W est S axon c hurches I ne, k ing, t

1 05

2 45

o W est S axon c hurches I ne, k ing, t

1 07

A ldhelm , b ishop , t o M almesbury

15

2 56

C uthred, k ing, t o M almesbury

16

2 60

C yniwulf, k ing , t o M almesbury

19

1 49

E cgfrith , k ing, t o C uthberht, a bbot

1 21

2 Ethilbald, k ing, t o E anberht, a bbot

1 24

A ppendix 9 6

( d)

C onclusions

1 26

7 9

( a)

I ntroduction

M ost o f t he e arly c harters o f M almesbury s urvive i n f our m anus cripts. T he e arliest o f t hese i s t he a utograph m anuscript o f W illiam o f M almesbury 's G esta P ontificum d ating f rom c . 1 125, M agdalen C ollege 1 72, n ow i n t he B odleian . B ook 5 o f t his w ork , d evoted t o a l ife o f A ldhelm a nd a h istory o f t he m onastery a t M almesbury, i ncluded n umerous t ranscriptions o f c harters t o i llustrate t he n arrative. T he o ther t hree m anuscripts a re c artularies o f M almesbury. T he e arliest o f t hem , B odleian W ood e mpt. 5 ( Davis 1 958 , n o. 6 41), d ating f rom t he t hirteenth c entury, i s ah andsome v olume w ritten i n al arge , c lear b ook-hand, a nd c ontains c opies o f c harters i n c hronological o rder f rom t he s eventh c entury d own t o t he r eign o f S tephen. M anuscript E 1 63/24 i n t he P ublic R ecord O ffice ( Davis 1 958 , n o. 6 44), a m anuscript o f t he l ate t hirteenth c entury , d uplicates t he c ontents o f t he e arlier v olume a nd i ncludes a q uantity o f o ther m aterial r elating t o t he p ost-Conquest p eriod. T he c ontents o f B ritish L ibrary, L ansdowne 4 17 ( Davis 1 958, n o . 6 45), d ating f rom t he l ate f ourteenth o r e arly f ifteenth c entury, a re l argely t he s ame a s t hose o f t he P ublic R ecord O ffice m anuscript. B odleian , W ood e mpt. 5 i s t he o nly o ne o f t hese m anuscripts w hich h as n ever b een e dited. A n e dition o f t he G esta P ontificum w as p roduced b y N .E .S.A . H amilton f or t he R olls S eries ( GP). T he P ublic R ecord o ffice m anuscript w as c hosen b y J .S. B rewer a s t he b asis o f h is e dition o f t he M almesbury c artulary ( Brewer , M almesbury C art.). A nd B ritish L ibrary, L ansdowne 4 17, a lthough n ever e dited i n f ull, w as u sed b y B irch i n p reparing t ranscripts o f t he M almesbury c harters f or t he C artularium S axonicum ( B). T he t hree c artularies i nclude t he s ame p reC onquest c harters i n t he s ame o rder, a nd t heir t exts c losely c orrespond. E rrors a nd o missions i n t he P ublic R ecord O ffice m anuscript r ecur i n t he B ritish L ibrary v olume . I t m ay b e t entatively s uggested t hat, a s f ar a s t he p re-Conquest c harters a re c oncerned, t he P ublic R ecord O ffice m anuscript i s a c opy o f t he B odleian m anuscript, a nd t he B ritish L ibrary m anuscript i s ac opy o f t he P ublic R ecord O ffice m anuscript, a lthough t his d oes n ot p reclude t he p ossibility t hat t he f irst c artularist 's e xemplar w as a lso a vailable t o t he s cribes o f t he l ater m anuscripts, n or t hat a ll t hree c artularists m ade s ome u se o f t he G esta P ontificum . O f t he 3 0 A nglo-Saxon c harters i n t he c artularies, 2 0 a re t ranscribed i n t he G esta P ontificum . T he o ther 1 0 s eem t o h ave b een o mitted b ecause t heir c ontent w as i ncluded i n o ther d ocuments a nd t hey w ould h ave a dded n othing t o W illiam o f M almesbury 's n arrative. O nly t wo c harters i n t he G esta P ontificum a re n ot i n t he c artularies . O ne, w hich p urports t o b e a s eventh-century g rant b y t he M ercian c omes, C oenfrith ( S1166), m ay h ave b een d isregarded b y t he f irst c artularist b ecause i t w as n ot a r oyal c harter a nd r elated t o a n e state f or w hich t here w ere r oyal c harters ( S256, 4 35). T he o ther ( S436) i s a c onflation o f t hree c harters w hich a re i n t he c artularies b ut n ot i n t he G esta P ontificum ( S415, 4 34, 4 35; E CW , n o . 2 44), s o t hat t he s ame s ubstance i s i ncluded i n a ll f our m anuscripts . W illiam o f M almesbury n ever i ncludes w itness l ists i n h is t ranscriptions, b ut g ives a b rief n ote o f t he n ames o f s ome w itnesses i n h is n arrative . S ometimes s uch a n ote r elates t o t wo o r t hree c harters o f m uch t he s ame d ate. C omparison w ith t he c artulary t exts s hows t hat W illiam 's d etails o f w itnesses a re i ncomplete , a nd t hat w here o ne l ist r elates t o m ore t han

8 0

o ne c harter, i t i s ac onflation o f t he r elevant w itness l ists, a nd d oes n ot p rovide a ccurate i nformation a bout a ny s ingle d ocument. T he t ranscripts i n t he G esta P ontificum a re s lightly a bbreviated b y t he o mission o f o dd w ords o r p hrases a nd s ometimes a w hole c lause. I n o nly o ne i nstance i s a s ubstantial p ortion o f at ext o mitted, a nd t his s eems t o h ave b een b ecause t he d ocument w as a l ater i nsertion a nd t he s pace l eft f or i t p roved t o b e i nadequate ( S256). I n m any c harters t here a re m inor d iscrepancies b etween W illiam 's t ext a nd t hat i n t he c artularies : o ne w ord i s s ubstituted f or a nother o f m uch t he s ame m eaning ; t he o rder o f w ords i s a ltered; o r t he g rammar d iffers s lightly, f or e xample i n t he t ense o f av erb. I t i s d ifficult t o d emonstrate t he o rigin o f t hese d iscrepancies, b ut p erhaps t he m ost l ikely e xplanation f or t hem i s t hat W illiam o f M almesbury h abitually i ntroduced m inor a mendments i n t he c ourse o f c opying i n o rder t o i mprove h is e xemplars. T hese a mendments n ever a ffect t he s ense o f t he d ocument s ignificantly. T he s ource m aterial u sed b y W illiam f or t he A nglo-Saxon c harters , p resumably a c ollection o f s ingle s heets o r a n e arly c artulary n ot n ow e xtant ( or b oth) w as p robably a lso t he e xemplar u sed b y t he t hirteenth-century c artularist. A ll q uotations f rom c harters i n t he d iscussions b elow a re t aken f rom B odleian, W ood e mpt 5 , w hich s eems t o p rovide t he b est a s w ell a s t he e arliest f ull t ext o f t he c harters. T he o nly e xceptions t o t his i nvolve t wo d ocuments e xtant o nly i n o ther m anuscripts . A n O ld E nglish v ersion o f a p rivilege o f p ope S ergius I t o A ldhelm ( B106) s urvives i n a c opy o f t he W est S axon t ranslation o f t he g ospels , B ritish L ibrary, C otton O tho C i , w here i t w as w ritten i n t wo o riginally b lank l eaves i n t he e leventh c entury. A nd a g rant o f l Ethilbald o f M ercia t o a n a bbot n amed E anberht ( S96) s urvives o n a s ingle s heet o f u nknown p rovenance, n ow C otton C harter V III 3 i n t he B ritish L ibrary. T hese m anuscripts a re f urther d iscussed i n c onnection w ith t he r elevant d ocuments b elow . T he c harter o f J Ethilbald i s i ncluded h ere s ince t here i s r eason t o b elieve t hat t he b eneficiary w as a bbot o f M almesbury. W ith o nly a s ingle e xception , a ll t he A nglo-Saxon c harters s urviving i n t he M almesbury a rchive r elate d irectly t o M almesbury , m ost o f t hem b eing r oyal g rants o f l and t o t he m onastery o r i ts p ersonnel. T he o ne e xception i s a g rant o f Athelred I I t o t he l ayman W enoth ( S862). I t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat t he M almesbury a rchive d id a t o ne t ime i nclude g rants t o l aymen s uch a s s urvive a mong o ther m onastic r ecords , a nd i t a ppears t hat t he c artularists d id n ot c onsider i t a ppropriate t o i nclude s uch d ocuments i n t he c artularies . I t i s p ossible t hat s ome s urviving c harters e xpressed a s g rants t o M almesbury w ere o riginally g rants t o l aymen a nd h ave b een a ltered, a nd t his p ossibility h as t o b e b orne i n m ind i n c onsidering i ndividual d ocuments . B ut t he s mall n umber o f p re-Conquest c harters p reserved a t M almesbury c ompared w ith t hose s urviving i n o ther a rchives s uch a s G lastonbury, A bingdon o r W inchester s trongly s uggests t hat t he e xtant m aterial r epresents a s election o f d ocuments p reserved b ecause t hey r elated t o M almesbury, n ot a n e ntire c ollection o f c harters a ltered t o m ake t hem r elate t o M almesbury.

8 1

( b)

T he A bbatial L ist

A l ittle-known t ext w hich h as s ome r elevance t o o ne e arly c harter, Athilbald's g rant t o a bbot E anberht, i s a l ist o f t he a bbots o f M almesbury f rom t he s eventh c entury t o t he t hirteenth. T his s urvives i n a t hirteenth-century m anuscript o f m iscellaneous m atter, B ritish L ibrary, C otton V itellius A x . I t w as e dited a nd d iscussed b y B irch i n 1 871, b ut D avid K nowles a nd h is c olleages w ere n ot a ware o f i t w hen t hey c ompiled t heir b ook o n t enth t o t hirteenth-century h eads o f r eligious h ouses ( Knowles e t a l. 1 972). T he t ext i s s et o ut b elow f rom t he m anuscript.

B .L ., C otton V itellius A x f o. S (an)c(tu)s A ldhelm(us) l Eambriht . S igibriht

.D aniel

Alpin(us)

R ob(ertus) I ohannes

.C ynebert

.2 Eyeric(us)

.I ohannes

.N ic(holaus)

.F orpere ( a)

.

. 2 Erelmod(us)

.C yneperd(us) .W ulsin(us)

.B rihtric(us)

. 2 Edulf(us)

.O sb(er)t(us)

.W lfredus

.2 E ) Pelperd(us)

.B rihtuuold(us)

. G odefrid(us)

.M egildulfus

b) .O pfelard (

c) H erered(us) 2 Elpric(us) (

.B rihtuuold(us)

1 60r

.2 Egelfard(us).

.T urold(us) . P etrus

.R ob(ertus)

.B rihelm(us)

( d)

. W arin(us)

• G regori(us) W alt(erius)

.

( a)

r ecte

F o

ere

( b)

r ecte

0 elard

( c)

r ecte

2 Elfric(us)

( d)

t he s econd a nd t hird l etters a re d oubtful.

F rom 2Elfric, w ho w as a bbot i n t he s econd h alf o f t he t enth c entury, o nwards, t he l ist a ppears t o b e v irtually c omplete a nd a ccurate ( Knowles e t a l. 1 972, p p. 5 4-56), b ut f or t he e arly p eriod i t i s v ery d eficient. O f t he t en n ames p receding 2 Elfric, o nly o ne, A ldhelm , i s q uite d efinitely t hat o f a n a bbot o f M almesbury. A s econd 2 Eambriht', i s p robably t hat o f a n e ighth-century a bbot o f t he h ouse a nd t o b e i dentified w ith t he b eneficiary o f JEthilbald 's g rant; t his i s o ne o f t he r easons f or b elieving t his c harter t o b e a g rant t o M almesbury. I t i s v irtually c ertain t hat o ne n ame i n t he l ist , D aniel, i s t hat o f a m an w ho w as n ever a bbot o f t he h ouse. T he b ishop o f W inchester ( 705 -c. 7 46) i s t he o nly r ecorded b earer o f t his n ame i n e arly W essex ( there w as a t enth-century b ishop o f C ornwall n amed D aniel, b ut h e c an s carcely b e t he p erson m eant h ere), a nd h e w as c onsecrated t o t he s ee a t t he s ame t ime a s A ldhelm b ecame b ishop o f S herborne. T he c ompiler o f t he a bbatial l ist p robably f ound t he n ame i n a l ist o f c hurchmen c ommemorated a t M almesbury i n aL iber V itae o r

8 2

n ecrology. W illiam o f M almesbury 's s tatement t hat D aniel, o n h is r etirement, b ecame a m onk a t M almesbury ( GP , p . 1 60) p robably a lso d erives f rom a c ommemorative r ecord. I f D aniel h ad e ntered i nto a n a greement o f c onfraternity w ith M almesbury, a s i s q uite l ikely, h e c ould w ell h ave b een r ecorded a s am ember o f t he c ommunity, a nd t his c ould h ave m isled b oth W illiam a nd t he c ompiler o f t he a bbatial l ist. S imilarly t he F orthere n amed i n t he l ist i s p robably A ldhelm 's s uccessor a s b ishop o f S herborne, Athilmod m ay w ell b e t he l ate e ighth-century h older o f t he s ame s ee , a nd H eathored i s p robably t he b ishop o f W orcester c ontemporary w ith Athilmod. ' Megildulfus ' s eems t o b e av ersion o f t he I rish n ame, M aildub, f rom w hich t he p lace-name M almesbury i s a pparently u ltimately d erived ( HE V 9 ; T angl , n o. 1 35; P N W iltshire, p p. 4 7-8). P erhaps M aildub, w ho m ay h ave l ived a r eligious l ife , w ith o r w ithout c ompanions , o n t he s ite b efore t he S axon m onastery w as f ounded, w as a lso c ommemorated a t M almesbury. I t i s n oticeable t hat t he a uthor o f t he a bbatial l ist w as n ot a cquainted w ith t he t heory t hat t his m an w as t he f ounder o f M almesbury ( GP , p p. 3 33-4); h e p laces ' Megildulfus ' t hird i n t he l ist a nd c onsiders A ldhelm t o h ave b een t he f irst a bbot. Athilheard m ight b e t he e ighth-century b ishop o f W inchester o r t he m an w ho w as a rchbishop o f C anterbury f rom 7 92 t o 8 05, a nd W ulfred c ould w ell b e Athilheard 's s uccessor a t C anterbury. S igiberht i s u nidentified, a nd m ay h ave b een a n o therwise u nrecorded a bbot o f M almesbury. T wo m en k nown t o h ave b een e arly a bbots o f M almesbury a re n ot i n t he l ist : E aba , m entioned i n a l etter t o L ul ( Tangl, n o. 1 35), w as a pparently a bbot i n t he e arly e ighth c entury, p ossibly A ldhelm 's i mmediate s uccessor ; C uthberht i s t he b eneficiary n amed i n a g rant t o M almesbury o f 7 96 ( S149) a nd a lso a ppears i n a w itness l ist o f 8 03 ( B312). T he i naccuracy a nd i nadequacy o f t he e arly p art o f t he a bbatial l ist s uggests t hat t he w ork i s a c ompilation p roduced p robably i n t he t enth c entury, c ertainly n ot e arlier , a nd c ontinued t hereafter . T he a uthor a ppears t o h ave h ad v ery l ittle i nformation a bout t he e arly a bbots o f t he h ouse , a nd h e p robably d rew u p t he e arly p art o f t he l ist i n m uch t he s ame w ay a s t he c ompiler o f t he v ery s imilar G lastonbury a bbatial l ist a ppears t o h ave d one, b y t aking n ames f rom c ommemorative r ecords a nd p ossibly a lso m aking u se o f o ther w ritten r ecords ( although n ot, a pparently, o f c harters) a nd o f o ral t raditions. T he f irst s ection o f t he l ist c annot b e c onsidered a s ar eliable s ource f or t he e arly a bbots o f M almesbury, b ut i t i s al ist o f n ames w hich w ere a vailable t o am an w orking a t M almesbury p robably i n t he t enth c entury, a nd w ere t hought b y h im t o b e t hose o f e arly a bbots. I n s ome c ases h e m ay h ave b een r ight. A nother a bbatial l ist f or M almesbury s urvives i n at ranscript b y T homas H earne , n ow B odleian R awlinson B 414, o f am anuscript w hich w as a pparently d estroyed b y f ire i n 1 737. T he t ranscript w as e dited b y S tubbs ( Stubbs 1 883, p. c xviii-cxix). T he a uthor o f t his l ist p e vidently w orked f rom t he G esta P ontificum : h e n ot o nly d uplicates W illiam o f M almesbury 's i nformation , b ut o ften t ranscribes c lauses w ord f or w ord. H e a lso a ppears t o h ave m ade u se o f a n e arlier c opy o f t he C ottonian l ist. H e i ncorporates s ix n ames, f rom D aniel t o Athilheard, w hich a re n ot d erived f rom t he G esta P ontificum a nd w hich c orrespond t o a s ection o f t he C ottonian l ist, a nd h e a dds s everal f urther n ames a fter t hat o f W illiam o f M almesbury 's c ontemporary, a bbot G odfrey, d own t o N icholas, d uring w hose a bbacy, 1 183-1187, t his l ist w as p resumably

8 3

c ompiled. T hese a dditional n ames a gain m atch t he r elevant s ection o f t he C ottonian l ist , b ut t hat h as a f urther t hree n ames a nd w as a pparently c ontinued a fter t he R awlinson c ompiler u sed i t. T he R awlinson l ist i s t herefore m erely a c onflation o f t wo e xtant s ources , a nd a dds n o i nformation a bout t he e arly a bbots o f M almesbury.

( c)

T he C harters

T he s urviving M almesbury c harters r elating t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39 a re l isted b elow . F or t hose n ot i ncluded b y S awyer, B irch 's n umbers a re g iven i n b rackets.

D ate

B eneficiary

D onor L euthere , b ishop

A ldhelm , p riest

6 80

C oenfrith ,

A ldhelm , a bbot

6 81

r ethilred, k ing

A ldhelm , a bbot

1 169

6 85

B erhtwald,

A ldhelm , a bbot

170

c 676 x c 686

1 245

6 75

1 166

•

c omes

7 1) 7 3) s ub-king

B aldred

A ldhelm , a bbot

C eadwalla , k ing

T he c hurch

S ergius, p ope

A ldhelm ,

2 31) 6 88 2 34) ( 105/6)

6 87 x 7 01

a bbot

2 43

7 01

I ne, k ing

A ldhelm , a bbot

2 45

7 04

I ne, k ing

W est S axon c hurches

( 114)

7 05

A ldhelm , b ishop

M almesbury

2 56

7 45

C uthred, k ing

M almesbury

2 60

7 58

C yniwulf, k ing

M almesbury

1 49

7 96

E cgfrith, k ing

C uthberht, a bbot

9 6

7 57

Athilbald, k ing

E anberht, a bbot

8 4

S 1245 B odleian, W ood e mpt. 5 , ( Edition :

f os.

1 1v-13v.

B 37)

T his c harter p urports t o r ecord a g rant o f t he m onastery a t M almesbury t o A ldhelm , t hen a p riest, b y L euthere, b ishop o f t he W est S axons, i n 6 75. T he d ocument s urvives i n t he t hree m anuscripts o f t he c artulary a nd w as t ranscribed b y W illiam o f M almesbury i n b oth t he G esta P ontificum a nd t he G esta R egum . I t a ppears t o b e a f abrication , b ut t he a uthor h as a ppended t o i t a s anction , d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist w hich m ay w ell d erive f rom a n a uthentic c harter o f t he 6 70s. T he p roem a nd d ispositio a re v ery l ong a nd e laborate , r ecalling A ldhelm 's s tyle o f w riting, a nd i n f act E hwald c onsidered t hat t his c harter s hould b e i ncluded a mong A ldhelm 's w orks ( Ehwald, p . 5 07). B ut A .S. C ook c arried o ut a d etailed e xamination o f t he p roem , s howed t hat v irtually e very . w ord i n i t w as u sed b y A ldhelm a nd t hat m any o f i ts p hrases a re a lso p aralleled i n A ldhelm 's w orks , a nd a rgued t hat t he p assage w as d rawn u p s ome t ime a fter A ldhelm 's d eath b y s omeone w ho t ook w ords a nd p hrases f rom A ldhelm 's w ritings a nd c arefully p ut t hem t ogether i n o rder t o p roduce a p iece o f A ldhelmian p rose ( Cook 1 929). C ook 's a rguments a re a ccepted b y L apidge a nd H erren ( p. 1 73). O n d iplomatic g rounds t he c harter c an s imilarly b e s hown t o b e aw ork o f l ater d ate. T he e arliest A nglo-Saxon c harters w ere u sually v ery s imple i n c ontent a nd p hraseology , r elying l argely o n f ormulas d erived f rom t he l ate R oman p rivate d eed, a nd w ere n ever w ritten i n t he p retentious, l iterary s tyle o f t his d ocument . C onsideration o f t he c ontent o f t he c harter e stablishes w ith r easonable c ertainty t hat i t i s n ot a n e laboration o f a g enuine d ocument, b ut i s b asically a f abrication . I t i s a sserted t hat A ldhelm h ad b een a m ember o f t he M almesbury c ommunity f rom c hildhood a nd r eceived h is e ducation t here. S uch d etails o f am an 's e arly l ife a re n ever i ncluded i n g enuine c harters d ating f rom h is l ifetime, a nd t his p assage m ust h ave b een w ritten a fter A ldhelm 's d eath a nd i n t he l ight o f h is f ame a s aw riter a nd t eacher . T here i s n o p arallel f or t he g rant o f a n e xisting m onastery t o a p riest i n a ny e xtant e arly c harter , a nd n o r eason t o s uppose t hat t he s uccession o f a n ew a bbot e ver i nvolved a f ormal w ritten g rant o f p roperty. G rants o f l and w ere c ertainly m ade w hen t he b eneficiaries w ere g oing t o f ound n ew m onasteries o n t he e states c oncerned ( e.g. S 235), b ut i n t his c ase i t i s m ade c lear t hat a n e xisting m onastery i s i n q uestion. T his c harter, t herefore , c annot b e d efended a s a n a uthentic , s eventh-century i nstrument, n or e ven a s h aving a ny b asis i n a g enuine c harter. B ut, n evertheless , i t d oes a ppear t hat t he a uthor o f t his t ext d id h ave b efore h im a c harter d ating f rom t he 6 70s, s ince t he w itness l ist a ppended t o t he t ext s eems t o d erive f rom s uch a c harter. T he l ist i s h eaded b y L euthere, w ho a ttests w ith h is c haracteristic h umility f ormula ' ac s i i ndignus e piscopus ' ( Cf. S 51, S ims164; W illiams 1 975 , p . 5 ). T wo a bbots f ollow : C yniberht , w ho i s p erhaps t o b e i dentified w ith t he a bbot o f ' Hreutford ' ( now R edbridge n ear S outhampton) m entioned b y B ede a s a c ontemporary o f k ing C eadwalla ( HE I V 1 6); a nd H aeddi, p resumably t he m an w ho s ucceeded L euthere a s

8 5

b ishop . T he n ext w itness i s t he p riest W ynberht , w ho a ppears i n s everal e arly c harters a nd i s l ikely t o b e t he m an w ho l ater b ecame a bbot o f N ursling ( S231, 2 39, 2 43, 164, 1 170, 1 248 ; L evison , B oniface, p . 1 4). T he o ther p riest w ho a ttests h ere, H iddi, i s o therwise u nknown , a nd t he l ast w itness w ho i s n amed H eadda a nd g iven n o t itle c annot b e s ecurely i dentified b ut m ay b e t he l ayman w ho a ttests a c harter o f C eadwalla o f 6 88 ( S235). T he f irst f our o f t hese w itnesses a lso a ttest t he c harter r ecording C oenred's g rant o f t he e arly 6 70s t o a bbot B ectun , a nd a ppear t here i n t he s ame o rder , w ith t he s ame t itles , a nd w ith s imilar , i f n ot i dentical, s ubscription f orms: S 1245:

' +Ego L eutherius a c s i i ndignus e piscopus r ogatus a f ratribus h anc d onationis c artam s ubscripsi . +E go C unibectus a bbas s ubscripsi . + E go H aeddi a bbas s ubscripsi . +E go W imberctus p resbiter : s ubscripsi .

S 1164:

' +Ego L eotherius q uamuis i ndignus e piscopus h anc c artulam d onacionis s ubscripsi . + Ego C unibertus a bbas s ubscripsi . + E go H adde a bbas s ubscripsi . +E go W imbertus p resbiter q ui h anc c artulam r ogantes s upra e ffato a bbate s cripsi e t s ubscripsi '.

T hese p arallels a re o nly e xplicable o n t he a ssumption t hat t he a uthor o f t he s purious c harter o f L euthere c opied t hese s ubscriptions f rom a g enuine c harter o riginally d rawn u p a t m uch t he s ame t ime a s C oenred 's. T he d ating c lause c ould b e t aken f rom t he s ame d ocument ; i t r eads : ' Actum p ublice i uxta f lumen B ladon . u ii . k alendas S eptembris . A nno i ncarnationis C risti . D c .l xx . u . I ncarnational d ating i s m ost u nlikely t o h ave b een u sed i n a n A ngloS axon c harter a s e arly a s 6 75, a nd t his f orm o f t he y ear m ay b e a s ubstitution f or a n i ndiction , o r s imply a n a ddition t o a c lause o riginally c ontaining n o i ndication o f t he y ear. T he r est o f t he w ording c ould b e g enuine. T he p hrase ' Actum p ublice ' o ccurs i n t wo a uthentic e arly M almesbury c harters ( S245, 1 169), w hile t he s tatements o f t he p lace a nd t he e xact d ay a re q uite u sual. T he s anction w hich i mmediately p recedes t his c lause, ' Quod s i q uis h ec s cripta i s ..', w orded i n a f airly s traightforward w ay a nd i s o f a t ype c ommon i n e arly c harters, s o i t t oo m ay b e g enuine. P atrick W ormald s uggests t hat a l onger p assage b eginning ' Sed n e f orte c ontentionis m ay b e ..' b asically a uthentic ( Wormald 1 984, p . 2 9 n . 1 4). T here i s n o e vidence f or t he c ontent o f t he c harter f rom w hich t hese c lauses w ere t aken , a nd n o r eason t o a ssume t hat t he c ontent o f t he e xtant t ext r eflects i t. T he a uthor o f t he s urviving d ocument m ay h ave d ropped t he n ame o f C oenred o r s ome o ther o bscure d onor f rom t he w itness l ist h e c opied, p referring t o u se t he n ame o f t he f amous b ishop L euthere. N or i s t here a ny c ertainty t hat t he g enuine c harter w as a g rant t o A ldhelm o r a nyone a t M almesbury: i t m ay h ave r ecorded a g ift t o s ome o ther h ouse a nd h ave c ome i nto t he p ossession o f M almesbury a t al ater d ate, j ust a s C oenred 's o nly e xtant c harter ( S1164) e ventually c ame i nto t he p ossession o f S haftesbury. E qually , t here i s n o e vidence t o s uggest t hat t he c harter i s b ased o n o ral t radition a t M almesbury, i tself o riginating i n t he r ecollection o f a ctual p atronage o f A ldhelm

8 6

b y L euthere. W illiam o f M almesbury f ound n o e vidence f or s uch p atronage a part f rom t his c harter , a nd t he i dentity o f t he b ishop w hom A ldhelm a ddressed i n al etter a s h is e arliest p atron i s u ncertain ( cf. L apidge a nd H erren , p . 1 37). T his d ocument t herefore p rovides n o i nformation a bout s eventh-century M almesbury. T he o nly p roperty g ranted b y t his c harter i s t he m onastery o f M almesbury i tself, a nd i t d oes n ot t herefore a ppear t hat t he d ocument w as d esigned, a s m any f abricated c harters w ere, t o s upport a c laim t o a n e state w hose o wnership w as i n q uestion . A dmittedly, o wnership o f t he m onastery i tself w as i n q uestion o n m ore t han o ne o ccasion : i n 1 055 H erman, b ishop o f R amsbury t ried t o t ake p ossession o f M almesbury a nd e stablish h is s ee t here, b ut t he c ommunity s uccessfully d efeated t his a ttempt ( GP , p p . 1 82-3; K nowles 1 966, p . 1 31); t hey w ere u nable t o p revent R oger , b ishop o f S alisbury f rom a nnexing t he m onastery c . 125 ( GP , p . 1 76 a nd n .3; K nowles 1 966, p . 2 75). B ut i t s eems u nlikely t hat t his d ocument w as f orged i n c onnection w ith a ny o f t hese d isputes : t he t ext i mplies t hat M almesbury w as i n t he g ift o f t he l ocal b ishop a t a v ery e arly s tage i n i ts h istory, a nd t his w ould s carcely h ave b een h elpful w hen t he c ommunity w as t rying t o r esist l ater e piscopal e ncroachment. I t s eems m ore p robable t hat t he c harter r eflects a n i nterest i n t he e arly h istory o f t he m onastery, a nd p articularly i n A ldhelm , i ts m ost f amous a bbot, a nd t hat t he a ssertion t hat A ldhelm h ad b een a m ember o f t he M almesbury c ommunity f rom a v ery e arly a ge w as i ntended t o e nhance t he s tatus a nd r eputation o f t he h ouse b y m aking i t a ppear t hat A ldhelm o wed e verything t o M almesbury, w hen t he t ruth p robably w as t hat M almesbury o wed e verything t o A ldhelm . S ince A ldhelm 's r eputation s tood s o h igh f or s o l ong, i t i s i mpossible t o j udge w hen t he c harter w as d rafted.

S 1166 B odleian, M agdalen C ollege m anuscript 1 72, ( Edition :

f o. 8 2v.

B 54)

A c harter i n w hich a M ercian l ayman n amed C oenfrith i s s aid t o g rant 1 0 h ides a t W ootton t o a bbot A ldhelm i n 6 80 i s k nown o nly f rom W illiam o f M almesbury 's t ranscription i n t he G esta P ontificum . A s s uggested a bove, i t m ay h ave b een d eliberately o mitted f rom t he c artularies b ecause i t i s n ot a r oyal g rant, a nd t he m onastery h ad o ther t itle-deeds f or t he e state. I t i s f airly c lear t hat t he d ocument h as n o a uthentic b asis. T he t ext b egins w ith a l ong a nd c omplex p roem i n a s tyle r esembling t hat o f A ldhelm w hich , l ike t he s imilar p roem d iscussed a bove, c annot b e g enuine i n a s eventh-century c harter ( Lapidge & H erren , p . 1 73). T he s ame p roem o ccurs i n s ix c harters i n t he n ame o f Athelstan d ating f rom t he 9 30s ( S407, 4 15, 4 25, 4 26, 4 34, 4 35; a lso S 436 w hich i s a c onflation o f S 415, 4 34, 4 35). O ne o f t hese i s a g rant

8 7

t o t he c ommunity a t M almesbury o f 1 0 h ides a t W ootton ( S435). T he d ispositio i n Athelstan 's c harter i s m uch l onger t han t hat i n t he d ocument i n C oenfrith 's n ame, b ut i t i ncludes a lmost e very w ord i n t he l atter. T he d ispositio o f t he c harter o f C oenfrith i s s et o ut b elow , t hose w ords w hich a lso o ccur i n Athelstan 's W ootton c harter b eing u nderlined: ' Cuius a more f elicitatis i llectus . e go C enfrithus c omes M ertiorum . q uandam t elluris p articulam u enerabili a bbati A ldhelmo . s ub e stimatione . xf . ,cassatorum . i n l oco q ui d icitur W detun . a d s eruiendum a ) d eo e t s ancto P etro i n p erpetuum i us l argitus s um . c um c onsensu d omini m ei E thelredi r egis'. ( a)

s ervienti f amilae,

S 435

M uch o f t his w ording a lso o ccurs i n t he o ther f ive c harters o f Athelstan w hich s hare t he p roem . T he e xtent o f t he d uplication i n t he C oenfrith c harter l eaves l ittle d oubt t hat t his w as d rawn u p b y a m an w ho h ad Athelstan's W ootton c harter b efore h im . T he o nly d etails w hich d o n ot d erive f rom Athelstan 's c harter, t hat i s t he n ames a nd t itles C oenfrith c omes, A ldhelm a bbas a nd Athilred r ex , h ave p resumably b een t aken f rom t he e arliest e xtant a uthentic M almesbury c harter, w hich r ecords a g rant o f l and t o a bbot A ldhelm m ade b y Athilred, k ing o f t he M ercians ( 675-704) a t t he r equest o f h is p atricius a nd p ropinquus C oenfrith , w ho a ttests w ith t he t itle c omes ( S71/73). T he d ating c lause a lso a ppears t o h ave b en t aken f rom t his t ext. Athilred's c harter s urvives i n t wo v ersions, o ne d ated 6 80, 9 th i ndiction ( which a re i nconsistent) a nd t he o ther d ated 6 81, 9 th i ndiction ( which a gree). T he c harter i n C oenfrith 's n ame i s d ated 6 80 , 8 th i ndiction: p robably t he e arlier i ncarnational d ate w as c hosen f rom t he a ppropriate v ersion o f Athilred's g rant, a nd t he i ndiction a djusted t o f it i t. O nly t wo p hrases i n t he e ntire t ext a ppear t o r epresent t he c ompiler's o wn w ork , t he t itle ' comes M ertiorum ' ( comes s tands a lone a s a t itle i n i tself i n Athilred 's c harter) a nd t he r eference t o r oyal c onsent, ' cum c onsensu d omini m ei i. B oth a re a nachronistic . T he t itles g iven t o s eventh- and e ighth-century r ulers w ho w ere n ot s trictly r eges, s uch a s s ubregulus, d ux a nd p rinceps, w ere s ometimes c ombined w ith t he n ames o f p eople o r p rovinces, b ut i n e very c ase t he m an c oncerned, a lthough h e m ight a cknowledge a r uler o f a w ider a rea a s h is k ing, w as h imself t he r uler o f t he p eople s pecified. F or e xample, t he M iddle A ngles i n t he s eventh c entury w ere w ithin t he M ercian e mpire o f P enda, b ut t hey h ad t heir o wn r uler, P enda 's s on P eada, h ence B ede r efers t o ' Middilengli s ub p rincipe P eada ' ( HE V 2 4). S imilarly, t here i s l ittle d oubt t hat T ondberht, t he f irst h usband o f S t. Athilthryth, d escribed a s ' princeps u idelicet A ustralium G yruiorum ' w as t he r uler o f t he S outh G yrwe, a lthough p robably a cknowledging t he a uthority o f s ome m ore p owerful k ing ( HE I II 2 1). ' Uhtredus d eo d onante r egulus H uicciorum ' a nd ' Aldred s ubregulus H uicciorum ' w ere e ffectively k ings o f t he H wicce a lthough t heir c harters m ention t he c onsent o f O ffa, k ing o f t he M ercians ( S58, 6 2), a nd i n t he s ame w ay B runy a nd O slac, b oth d escribed a s ' dux S uthsaxonum ' w ere r ulers o f t he S outh S axons ( S1173, 1 184). A nother e xample i s t he r uler o f S urrey w ho

8 8

w as a n e arly b enefactor o f C hertsey: ' Fritheuualdus p rovinci e S urrianorum s ubregulus R egis W lfarii M erciorum ' ( S1165). T he t itle g iven t o C oenfrith d oes n ot f it t his p attern. I t d oes n ot s pecify a p eople o r p rovince o f w hich h e w as t he r uler, b ut r efers t o t he p eople o f w hom w e k now / Ethilred w as t he k ing, C oenfrith m erely o ccupying s ome s ubordinate p osition w ithin t hat k ingdom . T he t itle i s t herefore m eaningless. T here i s n o p arallel f or i t a nd i t c an s carcely b e g enuine. R eference t o t he c onsent o f ak ing i s c ommon i n e arly c harters w hose d onors a re l aymen o r s ubordinate r ulers , b ut t he w ording i n t his d ocument i s a nachronistic i n i ncluding t he p hrase ' domini m ei ', w hich n ever o ccurs i n a uthentic e arly c harters i n c lauses r ecording r oyal c onsent. T he s ingle i nstance o f i ts o ccurrence i n at ext o f e arly d ate i s i n a c harter o f O shere o f t he H wicce w hich i s m uch i nterpolated , a nd i n w hich t his p hrase i s l ikely t o b e p art o f t he s purious m aterial ( S52). T he p hrase w as u sed i n t he t enth c entury, f or e xample i n a M almesbury c harter o f 9 01: c um l icencia d omini m ei E adwardi g loriosissimi r egis ' ( S1205). W illiam o f M almesbury q uotes a l ist o f w itnesses a pplicable t o t hree c harters, t he g rant o f C oenfrith , Athilred 's c harter m entioned a bove, a nd a nother e arly M ercian g rant b y / Ethilred 's n ephew , B erhtwald ( GP , p . 3 52, S 1166, 7 1/73, 1 169). T he l ist c onsists o f t he w itnesses o f t he c artulary v ersions o f E thilred 's c harter p lus B erhtwald. I t a ppears t hat i f t he C oenfrith c harter e ver h ad a w itness l ist, i t w as b orrowed f rom Athilred 's g rant. C oenfrith i s n ot t he s ort o f d onor o ne w ould e xpect a f abricator t o c hoose, b ut a p ossible e xplanation i s t hat t he a uthor o f t his c harter w ished t o d ate i t a s e arly a s p ossible i n M almesbury 's h istory , a nd t herefore b orrowed n ames f rom t he M almesbury c harter b earing t he e arliest d ate ( except f or t he f abrication i n L euthere 's n ame w hich m ay h ave b een f orged l ater o r c onsidered u nsuitable a s am odel f or s ome r eason). W hy C oenfrith w as m ade t he d onor r ather t han / Ethilred i s u nclear; j ust p ossibly t he i ntention w as t o m ake t his c harter d ifferent, n ot t oo o bviously b ased o n a nother. T he e state o f 1 0 h ides a t ' Wdetun ', a f airly c ommon p lace-name o f w hich t he m odern f orm i s W ootton , i s m entioned i n f our M almesbury c harters . I n a ddition t o t he o ne i n t he n ame o f C oenfrith a nd t he c harter o f Athelstan o n w hich i t s eems t o b e b ased, t here i s a p roblematical c harter i n t he n ame o f C uthred d ated 7 45 ( S256 d iscussed b elow); a nd t he e state i s a lso i ncluded i n ap ancarta i n t he n ame o f E dward t he C onfessor ( S1038) w hich i s p robably s purious a s i t s tands b ut m ay b e r egarded a s g iving s ome a ccount o f t he e states w hich M almesbury o wned o r w ished t o c laim w hen t he d ocument w as d rawn u p i n i ts e xtant f orm , p robably s ome y ears l ater t han i ts p urported d ate , 1 065. O nly i n t he l ast i s t here a ny i ndication o f t he l ocation o f t he e state : i t i s s aid t o b e ' sita i ntra s ilvam B radon ', a nd t his m akes i t f airly c lear t hat W ootton B assett, a bout 1 0 m iles e ast o f M almesbury, i s m eant . T he c umulative e vidence o f t he c harters i ndicates t hat M almesbury o wned o r a t l east c laimed t he e state, b ut i t w as h eld b y l aymen i n 1 066 a nd 1 086 ( DB W iltshire , p . 2 8.1). T here i s n o s pecific r ecord o f a d ispute , b ut i t s eems f airly c lear t hat M almesbury o wned t he l and a nd l ost i t, o r a ttempted t o c laim i t a nd f ailed, a nd t he

8 9

p robability i s t hat t he c harter i n t he n ame o f C oenfrith w as f abricated i n o rder t o s trengthen M almesbury 's c laim b y m aking i t a ppear t hat t he m onastery h ad o wned t he e state f rom a v ery e arly d ate. T his w as p resumably d one s ome t ime b etween 9 31, t he d ate o f l Ethelstan 's c harter , a nd 1 086 w hen t he D omesday s urvey e stablished t hat t he e state w as i n l ay h ands.

S 71 a nd S 73 B odleian, W ood e mpt. 5 , ( Editions :

f os .

1 3v-15r.

B 59, 5 8)

T hese t wo d ocuments d o n ot a ppear t o b e t wo d istinct c harters , b ut r ather t wo v ersions o f o ne c harter. T he w ording o f S 71 i s a lmost e xactly d uplicated i n S 73, a nd t he l atter h as s everal a dditional d etails. B oth v ersions a re i ncluded i n t he m anuscripts o f t he c artulary, b ut W illiam o f M almesbury t ranscribed o nly S 73, p resumably o mitting t he o ther t ext b ecause i t w as m erely a d uplicate, a dding n othing t o t he i nformation o f t he f uller v ersion . T he s horter t ext ( S71) r ecords a g rant o f l and m ade t o a bbot A ldhelm b y Athilred, k ing o f t he M ercians, a t t he i nstigation o f h is k insman, C oenfrith, i n 6 81. T he c harter a ppears t o b e a uthentic, a nd t his v ersion p robably p reserves t he s eventh-century w ording s ubstantially a s i t w as o riginally d rawn u p , s ubject o nly t o t he p ossible a ddition b y a l ater c opyist o f o ne o r t wo d etails . T he p roem c losely r esembles t hat i n a nother s eventh-century c harter , b ishop H aeddi 's g rant t o a bbot H aemgils o f G lastonbury ( S1249). Athilred 's t itle i s t he o ne n ormally u sed b y M ercian k ings, r ex M erciorum ', a nd C oenfrith i s d escribed a s t he k ing 's p atricius a nd p ropinquus : n either t itle i s c ommon , b ut t he f irst o ccurs i n o ther s eventh-century c ontexts, a l etter o f A ldhelm ( Ehwald, p . 5 03) a nd a c harter o f I ne ( S252), a nd a pparently w as n ot u sed b y l ater w riters ( Stenton 1 913 p . 1 2; T hacker 1 981, p . 2 20), w hile t he s econd i s u sed i n a w itness l ist o f C eolred, A thilred 's s on ( S65), s o t heir a ppearance h ere t ends t o s uggest a uthenticity, a s i ndeed d oes t he w hole r eference t o C oenfrith , s ince a f orger w ould n ot h ave b een l ikely t o i nvent s uch a f eature . 1

T he g rant i s m ade n ot o nly f or t he r elief o f t he d onor 's s oul, b ut a lso ' pro o ratione f ratrum i n M aldubesburg d eo s eruientium '. I t m ay b e t hat t his p hrase i s a l ater i nterpolation , s ince t he e arliest c harters o f W essex a nd M ercia , u nlike t hose p roduced i n t he e ast, d id n ot u sually n ame t he m onastery t o w hich t he b eneficiary b elonged. ( See e .g. S 96, 2 31, 2 38, 2 48, 164, 167, 1 168, 1 249). I t i s, o f c ourse, i mpossible t o b e c ertain a bout t he p ractice o f t hose w ho d rew u p t he e arliest M almesbury c harters , b ut t he e vidence o f t hree e arly c harters o f t he h ouse w hich d o n ot i nclude t he n ame o f t he m onastery ( S231, 1 170, 9 6) r enders i t p robable t hat t he n ame w as n ot o riginally i ncluded b ut h as b een i ntroduced i nto s ome e arly t exts a t a l ater d ate i n o rder t o m ake i t q uite c lear w ho w as t he b eneficiary.

9 0

T he s anction a nd b lessing c losely c orrespond w ith t hose i n ag rant o f I ne t o G lastonbury w hich i s a lmost c ertainly a uthentic ( S248), a nd t here a re s imilarities i n t he w ordings o f o ther e arly c harters ( S245, 1 248, 6 5). B lessings a re n ot c ommon i n t he e arly c harters o f W essex o r M ercia , b ut i t s eems t hat i n t his c ase b oth c lauses a re p robably g enuine. T he d ating c lause i ncludes t he w ord c yrographum , w hich o ccurs i n t he w orks o f A ldhelm ( Ehwald, p p. 6 2, 4 82, 4 89), a nd i n o ther e arly c harters ( S235, 1 248 ; L evison 1 946, P . 2 32 n . 4 ). T he d ate i s g iven a s a n i ncarnational y ear , 6 80 , a nd a lso a s t he 9 th i ndiction ; t hese a re i nconsistent , t he 9 th i ndiction f alling i n 6 81, a nd i t i s p robable t hat t he y ear o f g race h as b een m iscopied o r m iscalculated. T his f orm o f d ating i s i n a ny c ase m ost u nlikely t o h ave f ormed p art o f t he s eventh-century t ext , a nd h as d oubtless b een a dded b y ac opyist a t a t ime w hen i t h ad b ecome n ormal f or t his f orm o f d ating t o b e i ncluded i n c harters . T he w itness l ist s eems t o b e e ntirely a uthentic . I t c onsists o f T heodore, a rchbishop o f C anterbury ; S eaxwulf, b ishop o f t he M ercians; B osel, b ishop o f t he H wicce ; k ing J Ethilred; a nd C oenfrith . T hese m en w ere a ll c ontemporaries a nd, a s f ar a s c an b e a scertained, f it t he d ate 6 81. T heodore a rrived i n E ngland c . 6 69 a nd w as a rchbishop u ntil h is d eath c . 6 90 . S eaxwulf 's e piscopate c annot b e c losely d ated, b ut h e w as c onsecrated b y T heodore , w as a ctive a s b ishop i n 6 76-678, a nd a ppears i n a n umber o f c harters w ith k ing J Ethilred, i ncluding o ne w hich a ppears t o d ate f rom t he l ate 6 80s ( HE I V 6 ; I V 1 2; S 233 ; a lso S 1803-6). B osel a ttests a nother c harter o f 6 81 w ith T heodore a nd Athilred, a nd h eld t he s ee o f W orcester u ntil h is r etirement b ecause o f i ll-health s hortly a fter T heodore 's d eath ( S1167; H E I V 2 3). 2 Ethilred w as k ing i n M ercia f rom 6 75 t o 7 04 ( HE V 2 4). C oenfrith i s u nknown o utside t he t wo v ersions o f t his c harter a nd t he s purious d ocument i n h is n ame d iscussed a bove, b ut h is e xistence n eed n ot b e d oubted. H is i nvention i s n ot p robable a nd o ther m embers o f t he M ercian r oyal f amily a t t his t ime b ore C -alliterating n ames : 2 Ethilred 's s ister , C yniburh , h is k insman a nd i mmediate s uccessor , C oenred, a nd h is s on , C eolred ( HE I II 2 1; V 1 9). T heodore 's a ttestation i ncludes t he f ormula ' gratia d ei a rchiepiscopus ' w hich o ccurs i n m ost o f t he c harters h e a ttests ( e.g. S 7, 1 0, 1 3, 1 167), a nd t he n ame o f S eaxwulf p reserves t he a rchaic s pelling ' Saxulbus '. T he s ubscription f orms d istinguish l ay f rom c lerical w itnesses : t he a uthor o f t his d ocument, p robably w orking i n a s criptorium a t M almesbury i tself, f ollowed W est S axon p ractice i n t his r espect. T he e state g ranted i n t his c harter i s d escribed a s 1 5 h ides ' iuxta T ettan m onasterium '. T he t own w hich g rew o ut o f T etta 's m onastery i s n ow T etbury i n G loucestershire. T he e state i s n ot m entioned a s a p ossession o f M almesbury i n a ny l ater r ecord, a nd w as a pparently l ost t o t he m onastery i n t he l ate e ighth c entury, w hen i t w as s eized b y O ffa. ( See f urther u nder S 149 b elow). M almesbury p robably t ried t o r egain T etbury, a nd u se m ay h ave b een m ade o f Athilred 's c harter , b ut i t d oes n ot s eem a t a ll l ikely t hat t he c harter w as f orged f or t his p urpose, s ince i ts w ording a nd c ontent i ndicate t hat i t i s a n a uthentic s eventh-century i nstrument.

i n

T he e ntire w ording o f t his c harter ( except f or a s ingle p hrase , t remendo e xamine ', f rom t he s anction) i s d uplicated i n t he o ther

9 1

v ersion o f t he d ocument ( S73) w hich a lso i ncluded t hree a dditional c lauses . I n a ddition t o t he e state a t T etbury, t his t ext a ttributes t o Athilred t he g rant o f af urther 3 0 h ides s ituated t o t he w est o f t he h ighway, ' ab o ccidentali p arte s trate p ublice ', a nd i dentified i n t he c artularist's r ubric a s ' Newentun ', n ow L ong N ewnton n ear T etbury. S econdly, t he g rant i s s pecified a s b eing m ade t o A ldhelm 's s uccessors a s w ell a s h imself, v alid i n p erpetuity a nd f ree f rom a ll e arthly s ervices , ' et s uccessoribus e ius i n l ibertatem t errenarum s eruitutum . p erpetualiter '. A nd t hirdly, t here i s as entence r eferring t o t he c onfirmation o f t he c ontract b y t he d onor 's m aking t he s ign o f t he c ross a nd b y t he c onsent o f t he w itnesses , i n o rder t hat n o-one m ay i nfringe t he g rant a fter t he k ing 's d eath . T he o nly o ther d ifference b etween t he v ersions i s t hat t he i ncarnational y ear i s h ere g iven c orrectly a s 6 81. I t i s d ifficult t o b elieve t hat t he c lauses w hich a re p eculiar t o t his v ersion a nd w hich a re e vidently d esigned t o s trengthen t he a uthority o f t he c harter a nd i n p articular t o e mphasis i ts c ontinuing v alidity i n l atef y ears a fter t he d eaths o f t he o riginal p arties t o t he c ontract, c ould h ave b een p art o f t he o riginal w ording, s ince i t d oes n ot s eem a t a ll l ikely t hat t he l ater c opyist w ho p roduced t he o ther v ersion o f t he t ext w ould h ave c hosen t o o mit p recisely t hose c lauses w hich e nsured t hat t he d ocument w as s till a v alid t itle-deed i n h is o wn d ay. I t c an b e m ore p lausibly a ssumed t hat t he s horter v ersion r epresents t he o riginal t ext c opied o ut w ith l ittle a lteration , a nd t hat t hese c lauses h ave b een i nterpolated i nto t he t ext a t a l ater d ate. I f t he o ther c lauses p eculiar t o t his v ersion a re l ater a dditions t o t he t ext, i t s eems l ikely t hat t he e state a t L ong N ewnton h as a lso b een a dded, a nd w as n ot o riginally g ranted b y k ing Athelred. M almesbury s till o wned t he e state a t t he t ime o f t he C onquest ( S1038 ; D B W iltshire, p . 8 .8), s o i t s eems t hat t here w as n o r eason f or t his e state t o b e o mitted f rom a c opy o f t he c harter: a s i n t he c ase o f t he o ther e xtra c lauses , i t h as p robably b een a dded t o t he t ext. T he p urpose o f t he i nterpolation m ay h ave b een t o c onvert a d ocument w hich w as v alueless, s ince t he m onastery n o l onger o wned t he e state c oncerned , i nto a t itle-deed f or l and w hich w as o wned b ut f or w hich t he h ouse, f or s ome r eason , h ad n o d ocumentation . T his s eems t o h ave b een d one a t a f airly e arly d ate , b efore t he e state h ad a cquired t he n ame N ewnton , w hich i s f irst r ecorded i n D omesday B ook ( PN W iltshire , p . 6 3), b ut i t i s f ar f rom c ertain t hat M almesbury a cquired t he l and a s e arly a s t he s eventh c entury. Athilred 's g ift o f T etbury i s t he e arliest g enuine a nd d ateable g rant t o M almesbury. T he c harter e stablishes t hat t he m onastery e xisted a nd t hat A ldhelm w as i ts a bbot b y 6 81, a nd t hat t he c ommunity m aintained f riendly r elations w ith t he M ercian r oyal h ouse . I t i s n ot i mpossible t hat t he m onastery w as o riginally a M ercian f oundation . I t w as s ituated o n t he b order b etween W essex a nd M ercia , b ut t he l ine o f t he b order a t t he t ime c annot n ow b e p recisely d efined, n or , i n a ll p robability, c ould i t t hen. T he e state o n w hich t he h ouse w as f ounded c ould h ave b een t he g ift o f e ither a M ercian o r a W est S axon b enefactor. A ldhelm w as p robably a W est S axon , b ut t his i s n ot c ertain , a nd, e ven i f i t w ere , i t w ould n ot p reclude t he p ossibility t hat h e s ecured p atronage i n M ercia , a s W ilfrid d id ( Colgrave , W ilfrid,

9 2

c h .

X L ,

p . 8 0).

S 1169 B odleian , W ood e mpt. 5 , f os. ( Edition :

1 0v-11v.

B 65)

T his c harter, w hich s urvives i n t he t ranscriptions o f W illiam o f M almesbury a nd o f t he c artularists, r ecords a g rant o f l and t o A ldhelm m ade b y ak ing n amed B erhtwald w ith t he c onsent o f Athilred o f M ercia i n 6 85. T he d ocument a ppears t o b e a uthentic. E ddius, i n h is L ife o f W ilfrid ( ch . X L , p . 8 0), g ives a n a ccount o f B erhtwald: h e w as a p refectus i n M ercia , a nd t he s on o f a b rother o f k ing l Ethilred; h e w elcomed t he e xiled W ilfrid i n t he e arly 6 80s, a nd g ave h im l and o n w hich W ilfrid f ounded a s mall m onastery b efore h e w as e xpelled f rom M ercia o n t he i nstructions o f J Ethilred. I t s eems f airly c ertain t hat t his m an i s t o b e i dentified w ith t he d onor o f t he M almesbury c harter : t he d ates f it, t here i s i n e ach c ase a c onnection w ith Athilred, b oth s ources r epresent B erhtwald a s a m onastic b enefactor , a nd t he t itle ' regnante d omino r ex ' i n t he c harter f its E ddius ' i nformation t hat B erhtwald w as a m ember o f t he M ercian r oyal f amily. A ccording t o W illiam o f M almesbury ( GP , p . 3 51) h e w as n ephew o f . / Ethilred, ' ex f ratre W lferio ', b ut t his i s p robably j ust W illiam 's o wn d eduction f rom E ddius ' i nformation : i t c ould w ell b e r ight, b ut r ethilred h ad a t l east o ne o ther b rother , P eada ( HE I II 2 1). T he t ext b egins w ith a p roem a sserting t he n eed f or w ritten r ecords b ecause o f u ncertainty a bout t he f uture; p roems e xpressing m uch t he s ame i dea i n t erms n ot u nlike t hese o ccur i n an umber o f a uthentic e arly c harters o f E ssex a nd W essex ( S65, 2 44, 2 48, 1 164, 1 248 , 1 784 , 1 787, e tc.). B erhtwald 's t itle a lso h ad p arallels ( S231, 2 45, 2 48; c f. a lso S 235, 2 43). A s entence p roviding t hat t he l and i s t o b e f ree o f a ll s ecular s ervices a nd m entioning t he n ame o f t he m onastery h as p robably b een i nterpolated a t s ome l ater d ate w hen t he c harter w as b eing c opied o ut: a s n oticed a bove, t he m onastery w as n ot u sually n amed i n e arly W est S axon o r M ercian c harters ; i mmunities w ere n ot i ntroduced u ntil t he l ate e ighth c entury i n W essex f ollowing a s lightly e arlier i ntroduction i n M ercia ; a nd t his s entence r esembles t he c lauses w hich a re f ound o nly i n o ne o f t he e xtant v ersions o f i Ethilred 's c harter, a nd w hich , a s d iscussed a bove, a re p robably s purious. T he c onsent a nd c onfirmation o f i c Ethilred a re s pecified; i t i s q uite u sual f or r oyal c onsent t o b e m entioned i n a c harter w hose d onor i s a l ayman o r s ubordinate r uler ( Eg. S 236, 1 165, 167, 1 168, 1 170), a nd t he t itle h ere g iven t o 2 Ethilred , ' precellentissimum m onarchum ', r esembles t itles a pplied t o h im e lsewhere , ( S10, 1 2, 2 33 ; C olgrave, W ilfrid, c h. 8 X LIII, p . 8 ; c h . L IV , p . 16), a nd a pparently d erives f rom s imilar p hrases u sed i n l ate R oman a cta ( Hartmann , G regory , p . 3 76; S chiaparelli, C od. D ip. L ongobardo , n os. 7 , 1 6, 1 8, e tc.). T he s anction i s o f ac ommon t ype a nd t here i s n o b lessing.

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T he d ating c lause r ecords t hat t he g rant w as m ade a t as ynod h eld ' iuxta u adum B erhgford '; t here i s n o o ther e vidence f or t his s ynod a nd t he p lace c annot b e i dentified w ith c ertainty, a lthough i t m ay b e t he ' Beorhford ' w here C uthred o f W essex f ought t Ethilbald o f M ercia i n 7 52 ( ASC s .a . 7 52), i tself u nidentified. E ither o r b oth o f t hese s ites m ay p ossibly b e B urford i n O xfordshire. T he c harter i s d ated t he 3 0th J uly, t he 1 3th i ndiction , a nd t he c artularies g ive t he e rroneous i ncarnational y ear 6 35 , w hich i s p resumably a s cribal e rror , 1 h aving b een d ropped f rom D c .l xxxu : t he i ndiction f its 6 85. T he y ear o f g race i s i n a ny c ase l ikely t o b e a l ater a ddition . N o w itness l ist i s p reserved i n t he c artulary c opies . W illiam o f M almesbury p rovides a l ist o f s ix m en w ho h e s ays a re t he w itnesses o f t he c harters o f 2 Ethilred, C oenfrith a nd B erhtwald ( GP , p . 3 52; 5 73, 166, 1 169). T his c onsists o f t he f ive w itnesses o f Athilred 's c harter p lus B erhtwald, a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat W illiam c ompiled i t b y t aking t he w itness l ist o f t he f irst c harter , w hich i ncluded t he d onor o f t he s econd, a nd a dding t o i t t he d onor o f t he t hird. T here i s n o r eason t o s uppose t hat i n t he c ase o f B erhtwald 's c harter h is e xemplar i ncluded a w itness l ist. T he l and g ranted t o A ldhelm i s d escribed a s 4 0 h ides o n t he e astern b ank o f t he r iver ' Temis ', i .e. t he T hames, n ear t he f ord n amed ' Sumerford '. T his h as b een i dentified a s S omerford K eynes ( ECW , n o . 1 84 ; S tenton 1 971, p . 6 9 ; S 1169). A n e arly d oorway s urvives i n t he c hurch t here , a nd S tenton s uggested t hat t his m ight o riginally h ave b een p art o f a c hurch b uilt b y A ldhelm o n h is n ew e state ( Stenton 1 971, p . 1 51); t he T aylors , w ho d ate t he d oorway t o 6 50 x 8 00, c onfirm t hat n othing i n i ts g eneral f orm o r d etail i s i nconsistent w ith t his t heory ( Taylor 1 965-78 , p . 56). T he d escription o f t he l ocation o f t he 5 e state b y r eference t o a n a djacent r iver i s t ypical o f e arly W est S axon c harters. S omerford K eynes i s n ot m entioned i n a ny o ther p re-Conquest c harter, a nd a pparently p assed o ut o f t he p ossession o f M almesbury s ome t ime b efore t he C onquest. I t w as h eld b y al ayman i n 1 066 a nd b y t he b ishop o f L isieux i n 1 086 ( DB W iltshire , p . 6 .2). T he c harter s hows M almesbury m aintaining i ts f riendly r elations w ith k ing 2 Ethilred a nd t he M ercian r oyal h ouse , r eceiving p atronage, a nd a cquiring l ands w hich a pparently l ay i n M ercia . T he i nformation o f t his c harter a nd o f E ddius e stablishes t hat B erhtwald w as a r uler a nd l andowner o f s ome w ealth a nd p ower , b ut s ubordinate t o t he k ing, h is u ncle. L ike o ther m inor r ulers , h e w as s ometimes, b ut n ot a lways c alled a k ing ( Campbell 1 979).

* * * * * *

S 1170 B odleian , W ood e mpt 5 , ( Edition :

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1 5v-16v.

B 71)

T his c harter, w hich s urvives i n t he m anuscripts o f t he c artulary a nd i n t he G esta P ontificum , r ecords a n e xchange o f l ands b etween A ldhelm a nd B aldred, a nd a ppears t o b e a uthentic . T he t ransaction i s

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d ated t o t he p eriod c . 6 76 -c. 6 86 b y a r eference t o t he c onsent a nd c onfirmation o f k ing C entwine, a nd i t s eems f airly c ertain t hat B aldred, h ere g iven n o t itle e xcept i n t he c artularist 's r ubric w here h e a ppears a s ' Baldred R ex ', i s t o b e i dentified w ith t he m an w ho g ranted l and t o a bbot H aemgils o f G lastonbury i n 6 81 ( S236). I t w ill b e a rgued b elow t hat t he d ating c lause , w hich d ates t he d ocument t o 6 88, a nd t he w itness l ist, w hich i ncludes C entwine 's s uccessor , C eadwalla , r epresent l ater c onfirmation o f a t ransaction o riginally c oncluded d uring C entwine 's r eign . T here i s n othing u nusual o r s uspicious i n t he w ording o r c ontent o f t he d ocument. I t b egins w ith a c ommon i nvocation a nd t here f ollows a p roem w hich o ccurs i n o ther e arly c harters i ncluding t hat o f Athilred o f M ercia d iscussed a bove. T he e states a re d efined b y r eference t o a djacent n atural f eatures, i n t his c ase w oods a nd a r iver , a s i s u sual i n e arly W est S axon c harters, a nd t he c ontract i nvolved a n e qual e xchange w hereby M almesbury a lienated a s m uch l and a s i t a cquired, a n a rrangement w hich a l ater i nterpolator o r f abricator w ould s carcely h ave i nvented. T he b eneficiary i s A ldhelm , a nd h is m onastery i s n ot n amed. R oyal c onfirmation i s an ormal f eature o f e arly c harters i n t he n ames o f l aymen o r s ubordinate r ulers , a s n oticed a bove i n c onnection w ith B erthtwald 's c harter ; C entwine , m oreover , i s m entioned i n t he t ext o f t he o ther e xtant c harter o f B aldred. T he f urther r eference t o t he c onsent o f ' omnium p rincipum a c s enatorum e ius ' r esembles a c lause i n a c harter o f I ne o f 7 04 : ' principes . e t s enatores . i udices e t p atricios s ubscribere f ecimus ' ( S245). T he s anction i s o f t he m ost c ommon t ype, a nd r esembles s ome o ther e arly c harters i n s tating t hat a t ransgressor w ill r ender a ccount i n t he p resence n ot o nly o f C hrist, ' eterni i udicis ', b ut a lso o f h is a ngels ( S71, 2 45, 2 48, 1 248). T he l and g iven b y A ldhelm t o B aldred c onsisted o f 1 00 h ides e ast o f B raydon W ood. T hat w hich B aldred h anded o ver t o M almesbury i s d escribed a s 1 00 h ides a djacent t o t he r iver A von ( 'Abon '), a round t he w ood n amed ' Stelcanleag ', a nd a t ' Cnebbanburg '. T his w as p robably a s ingle t ract o f l and, n ot t hree d istinct a reas . T he n ame ' Stelcanleag' s urvives i n t he h amlet o f S tartley a f ew m iles s outh o f M almesbury a nd a bout a m ile f rom t he A von , w hile ' Cnebbanburg ' i s t entatively i dentified w ith N able 's F arm a bout 1 1 m iles a way ( PN W iltshire , p p. 7 34 ; E kwall c ited i n S 1170). T hese p lace-names d o n ot o ccur i n a ny o ther c harter, a nd t he e state c annot b e e quated w ith a ny D omesday m anor, s o t hat i t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hether M almesbury o wned i t i n l ater y ears. T his l and w as m uch n earer t o M almesbury t han t he e state e ast o f B raydon w ood, a nd i t i s p ossible t hat t he e xchange w as m ade a s p art o f a p olicy o f c onsolidating t he c ommunity 's l andholdings n ear t o t he m onastery. A ppended t o t he c harter a re a d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist w hich d ate, n ot f rom t he r eign o f C entwine, t he k ing w hose c onsent i s m entioned i n t he t ext, b ut f rom t hat o f h is s uccessor , C eadwalla . T he d ate g iven i s A ugust i n t he i st i ndiction , 6 88. T he w itness l ist s ubstantially c orresponds w ith t hat a ppended t o ac harter o f C eadwalla g ranting t o M almesbury a n e state a t K emble, G loucestershire ( S231). T he f our m en w ho a ttest t he g rant o f K emble, t hat i s b ishop 1 1 2eddi, k ing C eadwalla , t he l ayman C isi a nd a bbot W ynberht, a lso a ppear h ere i n t he s ame o rder a nd w ith t he s ame s ubscription f orms, e xcept f or t he

9 5

s ubstitution i n H oeddi 's a ttestation o f ' confirmaui' f or ' consensi '. I n B aldred 's c harter t here a re t wo f urther n ames, i ntersperesed w ith t hese , t hat o f B aldred h imself a nd W udda , w hose a ttestation f orm s uggests t hat h e i s a c lergyman , b ut w ho i s p erhaps t o b e i dentified w ith t he l ayman w ho w itnessed C eadwalla 's F arnham c harter , o f w hich C isi w as o ne o f t he b eneficiaries, i n t he s ame y ear ( S235). T he c reation o f as purious w itness l ist f or o ne o r o ther o f t hese c harters b y r eference t o t he o ther i s n ot i mpossible. B ut i t m ay w ell b e t hat i n f act t hey w ere d rawn u p o n t he s ame o ccasion . B oth a re d ated A ugust 6 88, a nd t he n ame o f W udda m ay h ave b een o mitted , e ither a ccidentally o r i n o rder t o a bbreviate , b y a c opyist o f t he K emble g rant , w hile B aldred m ay h ave b een s imilarly o mitted, o r c onversely i nterpolated i nto t he o ther l ist b y ac opyist w ho f elt t hat t he n ame o f t he d onor s hould a ppear. I t i s p robable t hat t he d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist o f 6 88 w ere a dded t o t his c harter a s e vidence o f C eadwalla 's c onfirmation o f t he t ransaction . S uch l ater c onfirmations a re n ot u ncommon , ( S34, 6 5 , 8 8, 2 38, 1 184), a nd i n t his c ase t here s urvives a b rief a ccount o f t he n egotiations g iving r ise t o i t. W illiam o f M almesbury t ranscribed a l etter w hich A ldhelm w rote t o W ynberht, d oubtless t o b e i dentified w ith t he a bbot o f N ursling a nd t he w itness o f t his c harter , t o r equest h is a ssistance i n r ecovering a n e state ( Letter X III : E hwald, p. 5 02-3; p L apidge a nd H erren, p . 7 0). T he a uthenticity o f t his l etter h as b een q uestioned ( Ehwald, p . 5 02), b ut i n f act t here s eems n o g ood r eason t o d oubt t hat i t i s g enuine, n ot l east b ecause t here i s n o m otive f or f orgery. T he l etter i s f airly c ryptic, b eing l ittle m ore t han a n ote o f i ntroduction c arried b y t he m essenger w ho w ill g ive W ynberht a f ull a ccount o f A ldhelm 's b usiness, b ut i t d oes c ontain a b rief s tatement o f t he c ase. A ldhelm 's c ommunity p urchased f rom t he p atricius B aldred a t a n a greed p rice a n a rea o f l and w hich i s d escribed a s s uitable f or t he c atching o f f ish . B ut t he k ing h as g ranted t his e state , a pparently t o s omeone e lse w ithout r eference t o t he c ommunity 's c laim , a nd A ldhelm t herefore a sks W ynberht t o i ntervene a nd e nable t he c ommunity t o r ecover a nd r etain t he e state. T here i s n o i ndication o f d ate i n t he l etter. A ldhelm 's u se o f t he h umility f ormula ' servus s ervorum d ei ' h as b een t aken t o i ndicate t hat h e w as a b ishop a t t he t ime o f w riting ( Lapidge a nd H erren, p . 1 69), b ut i t s eems l ikely t hat t his w ording w as n ot e xclusively e piscopal i n t he s eventh c entury ( see f urther u nder S 245 b elow), a nd o ther c onsiderations s uggests t hat t his l etter d ates f rom C eadwalla 's r eign , a nd r elates t o t he t ransaction r ecorded i n t he c harter o f B aldred. I t i s a r easonable a ssumption t hat t he B aldred o f t he l etter i s t o b e i dentified w ith t he B aldred o f t he c harter. T he l and d escribed a s s uitable f or f ishing c ould w ell b e t he e state a djacent t o t he A von , a nd t he i nvolvement o f W ynberht i n b oth d ocuments p rovides a f urther l ink. M oreover , t he p roblem d escribed i n A ldhelm 's l etter s uits t he c ircumstances o f C eadwalla 's r eign : h e g ained p ower i n W essex b y c onquest a nd w as t herefore i n ap osition t o m ake g rants o f l and t o h is f ollowers w ithout r eference t o t he c laims o f p revious o wners, a nd s uch g rants w ould b e e xpected b y h is c ompanions a nd e ssential t o s ecure t heir c ontinued l oyalty. H owever , t he s upport o f t he c hurch w as a lso v aluable, a nd i t m ay h ave b een o n t his a ccount t hat C eadwalla w as p ersuaded t o r estore t o M almesbury t he e state o n t he A von. H is c onfirmatory w itness l ist, a ppended t o t he c harter r ecording t he

9 6

o riginal g rant, p rovided t hat s ecure t itle t o t he e state w hich h ad h oped t o g ain b y h is l etter.

A ldhelm

I n t his c harter w e h ave f airly c lear e vidence t hat M almesbury w as i n t ouch w ith t he W est S axon a s w ell a s t he M ercian r uling e lite , a nd e n joyed a n a micable r elationship w ith e ach, b efore t he t ime o f C eadwalla. B aldred w as e vidently a W est S axon n obleman , p robably o f r oyal b lood, i n t he p osition o f ar uler s ubordinate t o C entwine. H is s tatus w as p robably c omparable w ith t hat o f B erhtwald o f M ercia, a nd, l ike B erhtwald, h e w as g iven t he t itle r ex o nly s ome o f t he t ime. C eadwalla 's o riginal s eizure o f l and o wned b y M almesbury s hould p robably n ot b e r egarded a s h aving a ny p articular s ignificance f or M almesbury 's p olitical a llegiances o r h is o wn a ttitude : h e p robably n either k new n or c ared w ho h ad f ormerly o wned t he e states b e g ranted t o h is s upporters. B ut t he i nterests o f M almesbury w ere b rought t o h is a ttention , a nd h e b ecame a b enefactor o f w hat n ow b ecame , i f i t w as n ot b efore, a W est S axon m onastery.

S 231 a nd S 234 B odleian, W ood e mpt. 5 , ( Editions :

f os .

1 5ry a nd 1 6v-17v.

B 63, 7 0)

T hese t wo t exts, l ike t he t wo t exts o f Athilred 's c harter d iscussed a bove, a ppear t o b e t wo v ersions o f a s ingle c harter r ather t han t wo d istinct d ocuments, a nd, a s i n t he o ther c ase , t he c artularists t ranscribed b oth b ut W illiam o f M almesbury p reserved o nly t he f uller v ersion . T he t ransaction r ecorded w as a g rant o f l and b y k ing C eadwalla t o M almesbury, a nd t he c harter a ppears t o b e b asically a uthentic. T he s horter t ext ( S231) h as n o s uspicious f eatures a nd, e xcept f or t he i ntroduction o f a n i ncarnational d ate, m ay w ell p reserve t he w ording o f C eadwalla 's c harter s ubstantially a s i t w as d rawn u p i n t he s eventh c entury. T here i s n o i nvocation a nd t he d ocument b egins w ith a p roem w hich r esembles t hat i n C entwine 's g rant t o a bbot H aemgils o f G lastonbury ( S237). C eadwalla 's t itle i s t he s ame o ne t hat w as u sed i n B erhtwald 's c harter , ' regnante d omino r ex '. T he g rant i s s aid t o b e m ade s imply t o t he c hurch , w ith n o r eference t o t he p articular m onastery c oncerned o r t he a bbot. T his i s u nusual b ut l ikely t o b e a uthentic s ince a l ater i nterpolator o r f orger w ould n ot h ave d rawn u p a d ocument i n t hese t erms . T he s anction h as a p rohibitive c lause a s w ell a s a p enal c lause ; t he f ormer i s a f eature o f s ome o ther e arly c harters ( S51, 2 35, 2 38, 2 40, 2 44). T he d ocument i s d ated t he f irst i ndiction , t he m onth o f A ugust, 6 82. T he i ncarnational y ear i s i ncorrect, f itting n either t he i ndiction n or t he d onor , a nd i s l ikely t o b e al ater a ddition. T he i ndiction d ates t he c harter t o t he l ast y ear o f C eadwalla 's r eign . T he w itnesses a re t he k ing h imself, b ishop H aeddi o f W inchester , a bbot

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W ynberht o f N ursling, a nd t he l ayman C isi w ho w as o ne o f t he b eneficiaries o f C eadwalla 's g rant t o F arnham i n t he s ame y ear ( S235). A ll f our m en a ppear a s w itnesses i n a g rant o f b ishop E orcenwald o f L ondon t o t he m onastery a t B arking ( S1248). T he l ist a ppears t o b e g enuine, a lthough t here i s r eason t o b elieve t hat i t h as b een a bbreviated, a s i s d iscussed a bove i n c onnection w ith a nother M almesbury c harter i n w hich t hese m en a ppear ( S1170). T he l and g ranted b y C eadwalla c onsisted o f 1 32 h ides s ituated o n e ither s ide o f t he w ood n amed ' Kemele', n ow K emble i n G loucestershire. ( The m anuscripts c learly r ead ' c .x xxii' a nd n ot ' s(cilicet) x xxii' a s p rinted b y K emble, K 24, a nd B rewer, M almesbury C art., p . 2 83). T his e state w as i ncluded a mong t he p ossessions o f M almesbury i n Athelwulf's d ecimation c harter ( S305) i n t he p ancarta w hich i s d ated 1 065 b ut p robably d ates f rom s ome y ears l ater ( S1038) a nd i n D omesday B ook ( DB W iltshire, p . 8 .7), b ut i n 1 066 i t w as a ssessed a t o nly 3 0 h ides, s o i t a ppears t hat t he m onastery r etained o nly a p ortion o f t he l and g ranted b y C eadwalla. T he e state i s u nusually l arge, b ut i t m ay w ell b e t hat C eadwalla a cquired c ontrol o f s o m uch l and b y h is m ilitary s uccesses t hat h e w as a ble t o g rant v ery e xtensive a reas t o t he c hurch, a nd t his m ay h ave b een t he m ost c onvenient w ay o f d isposing o f b order a reas. K emble i s n orth o f M almesbury a nd o f T etbury a nd S omerford K eynes, t he e states g ranted t o M almesbury b y M ercian b enefactors a f ew y ears b efore, a nd i t w as p robably p art o f M ercia b efore t he r eign o f C eadwalla . T he b order a ppears t o h ave b een s hifted t o t he n orth, s o t hat M almesbury w as b rought f irmly w ithin t he W est S axon o rbit. T he d ifferences b etween t his t ext a nd t he l onger v ersion o f t he c harter ( S234) a re m ore e xtensive t han t he d iscrepancies b etween t he t wo v ersions o f d ethilred's c harter. T he f uller v ersion b egins w ith a n i nvocation w hich i s n ot i n t he s hort t ext , a nd i t h as a m uch l onger p roem w hich a ppears t o h ave t hree c omponent p arts, t he p roem o f C eadwalla 's c harter, a l inking c lause, a nd a f urther c lause w hich l ooks l ike a c omplete p roem i n i tself ( cf. S 71, 1 249, e tc.): 1 .

' Omnia q ue u identur t emporalia s unt u identur : e terna s unt .

:e t q ue n on

2 .

' Et i terum l ibrica s eculi f ragilitas o stenditur c um p er a postolum e undem d icitur :

3 .

' Nichil i ntulimus i n h unc m undum : u erum n ec a uferre q uid p ossumus . I cciro t errenis e t c aducis e terna e t m ansura c elestis i nfule c orona c omparanda e st . '

:

T he p hrases ' pro a nime m ee r emedio e t i ndulgentia p iacolorum m eorum ' a nd ' deuota m ente' a re a dded t o t he d ispositio, a nd s everal d etails o f i ts w ording a re d ifferent. A ldhelm i s n amed a s t he b eneficiary, b ut t here i s n o r eference t o M almesbury. T he s anction, l ike t he p roem , h as s ome a ppearance o f b eing a c onflation o f t wo d istinct c lauses. A fter t he o pening w ords i t h as t wo p arallel c lauses l inked b y ' et', o f w hich o nly t he s econd o ccurs, w ith m inor d iscrepancies, i n t he s hort v ersion o f t he t ext:

9 8

1 .

' sciat s e o bstaculum i re d ei i ncurrere

.

2 .

'e t

3 .

' in u ltimo e xamine c oram C risto e t a ngelis e ius r ationem r eddere '.

T he d ating c lause i s m ore d etailed a nd d ifferent i n s ome r espects . T he i ndiction i s t he 1 3th , w hich f its 6 85, i nstead o f t he 1 st; t he y ear o f g race i s 6 88; a nd t he p hrase ' mense A ugusto ' i s h ere e laborated, k alendarum S eptembrium d ie . f eliciter '. T he w itness l ist, i n a ddition t o b ishop H aeddi a nd C eadwalla , i ncludes C eadwalla 's p redecessor , C entwine. T he e state a t K emble i s d escribed a s i n t he s horter t ext e xcept t hat t he h idage h ere i s 1 40 a nd t here i s a n a dditional c lause d efining t he l ocation o f t he l and, ' de o rientali p laga t ermini s tratarum u sque f amosum a mnem q ui d icitur T emis ', t he s treet e vidently b eing t he F osse W ay. T wo f urther e states a re a dded, 3 0 h ides e ast o f t he w ood c alled ' Bradon ', a nd 5 w here t he r ivers ' Abon ' a nd W ilig ' j oin , t he l atter m axime a d p iscationem f ratrum '. L ater w riters i dentified t he f irst o f t hese w ith M almesbury's e state o f 3 5 h ides a t P urton , a lso d escribed a s e ast o f B raydon w ood ( S1038; G P , p . 3 88; s ee f urther u nder S 149 b elow), a nd t his m ay b e c orrect. A lso , t he e state c ould h ave b een p art o f t he 1 00 h ides e ast o f B raydon w ood w hich h ad b een a lienated b y M almesbury d uring t he r eign o f C entwine ( S1170). T he e state a t t he c onfluence o f t he S alisbury A von a nd t he W ylie i s n ot o therwise r ecorded. T he r ivers m eet a t S alisbury, a nd t here i s n o o ther e vidence t o s uggest t hat M almesbury h eld l and t here a t a ny t ime. I n t his c ase a n umber o f c onsiderations s uggest t hat t hose c lauses w hich a re p eculiar t o t he f uller v ersion c annot b e d ismissed a s s imply t he e leborations o f a l ater w riter. I n t he f irst p lace, s everal o f t hem m ake n o s ignificant d ifference t o t he c ontent o f t he d ocument, a nd t here i s n o a pparent m otive f or t heir i nvention . T hese i nclude t he i nvocation, t he e xtensions t o t he p roem a nd s anction , a nd t he s ubscription o f C entwine. S econdly, s ome o f t he c lauses r eflect u sages o f t he s eventh a nd e ighth c enturies, w hich a w riter o f l ater d ate c ould s carcely h ave p roduced. T he m ost s triking i nstance o f t his i s t he a ddition o f t he w ord ' feliciter' t o t he d ating c lause : t his w as a p ractice d eriving f rom t he l ate R oman p rivate d eed w hich o ccurs i n E ngland o nly i n af ew W est S axon c harters o f t he s eventh a nd e arly e ighth c enturies, a nd w as a pparently d iscontinued a fter a bout 7 05 ( See S 236). A nother e xample i s t he c iting o f A ldhelm a s b eneficiary w ith n o m ention o f M almesbury: a l ater w riter, a ccustomed t o s eeing t he n ame o f t he m onastery i n a ny g rant t o i t w ould n ot h ave b een l ikely t o o mit t his d etail. T he d escriptions o f t he t wo e xtra e states a re a lso t ypical o f e arly w riting i n t heir o mission o f p lace-names a nd d efinition o f t he l ands b y m eans o f w oods a nd r ivers, a nd , i f t he f irst e state i s c orrectly i dentified a s P urton, i t i s p articularly s triking t hat t his n ame i s n ot u sed a nd t hat t he h idage i s d ifferent f rom t hat i n l ater r ecords. T hirdly, n o c lause i n t his t ext i s i dentifiably a nachronistic o r t ypical o f t he u sage o f a l ater p eriod. I t t herefore s eems l ikely t hat m any, i f n ot a ll , o f t he a dditional c lauses i n t his v ersion o f t he t ext o riginated i n a n e arly c harter.

9 9

B ut t he c harter m ay n ot h ave b een C eadwalla 's g rant o f K emble, s ince t wo d etails s uggest o therwise. O ne i s t he i nclusion o f C entwine's n ame i n t he w itness l ist: C entwine, w ho a bdicated a nd r etired t o a m onastery o n C eadwalla 's r ise t o p ower ( Ehwald, p p. 1 4-15), c ould s carcely a ttest a c harter o f h is s uccessor. H is n ame m ust d erive f rom s ome o ther s ource. T he o ther d etail i s t he i ndiction, 1 3th h ere , i st i n t he s hort v ersion . E rrors i n R oman n umerals a re , o f c ourse , c ommon , b ut o ne w ould n ot e xpect i t o b e m iscopied a s x iii. T he l atter p erhaps o riginated i n as eparate s ource. T hese t wo d etails w hich d o n ot f it C eadwalla 's g rant d o f it e ach o ther: t he y ear i ndicated b y t he i ndiction , 6 85, l ay w ithin C entwine's r eign . I t m ay b e v ery t entatively s uggested a s a p ossibility t hat t his t ext h as b een p roduced b y c ombining t he w ordings o f t wo c harters , C eadwalla 's g rant o f K emble a nd a c harter o f C entwine g ranting t he o ther t wo e states . T his w ould a ccount f or t he a ppearance o f d uplication i n t he p roem a nd s anction n oticed a bove. T his i s n o m ore t han o ne p ossibility. T he e vidence i s t oo d ubious a nd c onfused t o a dmit o f c ertainty.

P rivilege o f p ope S ergius I B ritish L ibrary, C otton O tho C i,

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B odleian , W ood e mpt. 5 , f os. 5 7r-60r ( Latin) ( Editions:

E dwards 1 986, p p.

1 6-19)

A b ull o f p ope S ergius I a ddressed t o A ldhelm a s a bbot o f M almesbury c onfers p rivileges o n M almesbury a nd o n a nother m onastery s ituated n ear t he r iver F rome. T he d ocument s urvives i n t wo v ersions, o ne i n O ld E nglish, a nd o ne i n L atin . T he f irst i s e xtant o nly i n a s ingle m anuscript, a n e leventh-century c opy o f t he W est S axon t ranslation o f t he g ospels , n ow C otton O tho C i i n t he B ritish L ibrary, i n w hich t he p apal p rivilege i s w ritten o n t wo o riginally b lank l eaves i n t wo h ands o f t he m id-eleventh c entury ( Ker 1 957, n o. 1 81). T he m anuscript w as b adly d amaged i n t he C ottonian f ire o f 1 731, a nd t here a re s everal l acunae i n t he t ext o f t he p rivilege. ( It h as n ot b een f ound p ossible t o r ead a ll t hat H amilton a nd B irch p rinted, b ut a n e xamination o f t he m anuscript u nder u ltra-violet a nd o ther s pecial l ights h as e nabled s ome a dditions a nd c orrections t o b e m ade t o t heir t ext. Ia m g rateful t o t he s taff o f t he S tudents ' M anuscript R oom a nd o f t he M anuscript C onservation D epartment a t t he B ritish L ibrary, w ith w hose h elp a nd c o-operation t his e xamination w as c arried o ut). T he L atin v ersion a ppears i n t he m anuscript o f W illiam o f M almesbury 's G esta P ontificum a nd i n t he t hree M almesbury c artularies . I t i s a lso w ritten , i n J oscelyn 's h and, i n t he m argin o f t he g ospel b ook b eside t he O ld E nglish v ersion , b ut K er j udges t hat J oscelyn t ook t he t ext f rom t he m anuscript o f t he G esta P ontificum . N o s urviving c opy o f t he d ocument i ncludes t he d ating c lause w hich , i f i t i s g enuine, i t m ust o riginally h ave c ontained, s o t he b ull c an o nly b e d ated t o t he p apacy o f S ergius I , 6 87-701. E arly p apal p rivileges s urviving o nly i n l ater c opies p resent

1 00

t he

s ame p roblem a s e arly A nglo-Saxon c harters n ot e xtant i n t heir o riginal f orm , t hat o f d etermining w hether t hey a re a uthentic e arly i nstruments o r l ater f orgeries. T he o nly s cholars t o h ave p ublished a n o pinion o f t his p articular d ocument a re D avid K nowles, w ho a rgued i n g eneral t erms i n f avour o f a ccepting m any o f t he s urviving d ocuments p urporting t o b e p apal p rivileges o f t he s eventh a nd e ighth c enturies, b ut d escribed t he b ull o f p ope S ergius a s l ess a uthentic i n i ts e xtant f orm t han m any o thers ( Knowles 1 966, p . 5 76), a nd L apidge a nd H erren, w ho r efer t o t he d ocument a s ' almost c ertainly s purious ' a nd a lso a s ' patently s purious ' ( Lapidge a nd H erren , p p. 1 0, 2 04 n . 2 ). I n o rder t o e xamine t he t ext i t i s n ecessary t o d etermine w hich o f t he s urviving v ersions i s t he e arlier. I n m ost d etails o f s ubstance t hey a re i dentical. T he L atin v ersion d oes n ot i nclude t he a ttestations o f I ne a nd Athilred a nd t he e ndorsement i n A ldhelm 's n ame w hich a re a ppended t o t he O ld E nglish t ext , b ut i t p robably d id i nclude t hese o riginally s ince t he L atin t ext i n t he m anuscript o f t he G esta P ontificum i s f ollowed b y a n e rasure o f h alf a p age , a nd W illiam o f M almesbury 's n arrative r eveals k nowledge o f t he e ndorsement ( GP , p. p 3 70 n . 1 a nd p . 3 74 n . 1 ). B ut t here i s o ne d etail i n w hich t he v ersions d o d iffer. A s entence i n t he O ld E nglish t ext r efers t o m ynster . r aet i s s ancte P etre a nd s ancte P aule g ehalgud . o n r am m aeran g emynde g elogud a et M eldum . ) P aet i s erum n aman M aldumes b uruh g eclypud ' ( that m onastery w hich i s d edicated t o S t. P eter a nd S t. P aul, i n t hat g lorious r emembrance s ituated a t M eldum , w hich i s c alled b y a nother n ame ' Maldumes b urh '). T he c orresponding p assage i n t he L atin r eads ' monasterium b eatorum P etri e t P auli a postolorum q uod M eldum r eligiose m emorie c ondidit . q uod e tiam n unc M eldumesburg u ocatur ' ( the m onastery o f t he b lessed a postles P eter a nd P aul, w hich M eldum o f r eligious m emory f ounded, w hich i s a lso n ow c alled ' Meldumes b urh '). S ince t hese t wo p assages d o n ot h ave t he s ame m eaning , o ne r epresenting M eldum a s a p lace, a nd t he o ther a s a p erson , i t a ppears t hat o ne i s a m istranslation o f t he o ther. T he L atin i s v ery s imple a nd c lear a nd c ould s carcely b e m isunderstood, b ut t he O ld E nglish i s r ather m ore o bscure , s o i t s eems l ikely t hat t he O ld E nglish i s t he e arlier o f t he s urviving v ersions a nd t hat t he L atin i s at ranslation o f i t , p erhaps m ade b y s omeone w ho w as n ot f luent i n O ld E nglish a nd r equired a L atin v ersion f or t hat r eason . T he t ranslation m ay h ave b een m ade b y o r o n b ehalf o f F aricius, a n I talian m onk w ho s pent s ome t ime a t M almesbury a t t he e nd o f t he e leventh c entury b efore b eing a ppointed a bbot o f A bingdon . W hile a t M almesbury, h e w rote a L ife o f A ldhelm i n w hich h e g ives a n a ccount o f t he p rivilege o f p ope S ergius i n t erms r ather s imilar t o t hose f ound i n t he L atin t ext t ranscribed b y W illiam o f M almesbury a nd b y t he M almesbury c artularists , a nd i t a ppears l ikely t hat F aricius h ad t his t ext b efore h im ( Faricius , p . 8 6). I n s upport o f t his t heory i t i s p ossible t o c ite a nother i nstance i n w hich a p apal p rivilege i s k nown t o h ave s urvived a fter t he C onquest o nly i n a n O ld E nglish t ranslation , a nd t o h ave b een t ranslated b ack i nto L atin: t he b ull o f p ope L eo I II c onferring o wnership o f t he m onastery o f G lastonbury o n t he M ercian a theling, C ynehelm , i s n ow e xtant o nly i n W illiam o f M almesbury's L atin t ext w hich W illiam s ays i s h is o wn t ranslation o f a n O ld E nglish e xemplar ( DA , p . 1 06). I t i s a lso n oticeable t hat t he s tory t hat M eldum w as t he f ounder o f M almesbury d oes n ot o ccur i n a ny s ource e arlier t han F aricius a nd W illiam , b oth o f w hom m anifestly d erived i t f rom t he L atin v ersion o f

1 01

t he p rivilege. T he m an w ho c ompiled t he e arly p art o f M almesbury 's a bbatial l ist, p robably i n t he t enth c entury , l isted A ldhelm a s t he f irst a bbot o f t he h ouse . T his t ends t o c onfirm t hat t he m onastery d id n ot p ossess a ny r ecord o f t he a lleged f ounder a t a n e arly d ate, a nd t hat t he L atin t ext m ust b e al ate t ranslation. T he L atin i s o f s ome v alue b ecause i t i s a v ersion o f t he t ext p roduced b efore t he m anuscript o f t he O ld E nglish w as d amaged, b ut t he O ld E nglish, p resumably b eing a t ranslation o f t he o riginal L atin t ext, a ppears t o b e t he e arlier a nd m ore r eliable v ersion. T he O ld E nglish t ranslation i tself p robably d oes n ot d ate f rom e arlier t han t he e nd o f t he n inth c entury, a s a p hrase i n i t , ' Angelsexena s cire', i s u nlikely t o h ave b een u sed b efore t hat d ate. T he p roem d iscusses t he m onastic w ay o f l ife i n aw ay d istinctly f lattering t o m onks, a nd f inally d eclares t hat t hey a re n ot o nly f ree f rom a ll s ecular o bligations, b ut a re w orthy o f t he g reatest h onour. T here i s n o p arallel f or t his i s a ny e xtant p rivilege o r f ormula . T he n earest t o i t a re p roems r ecorded i n t he L iber D iurnus w hich a ssert t he n eed f or s ecurity o r s tability i n m onastic l ife ( Foerster , L iber D iurnus , n os. 5 6, 8 6), a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat a p roem o f t his t ype h as b een r e-written b y a l ater i nterpolator w ho w ished t o g ive t he i mpression t hat t he p apacy s anctioned t he c laims w hich a re m ade h ere f or m onks. T he p roem i s u nlikely t o b e g enuine a s i t s tands . T he l ong a nd d etailed p assage o f e xhortation b eginning ' We m ynegiap e ow g eobro/ 7ru ..' w hich i nstructs m onks h ow t o l ive t he r egular l ife, i s s imilarly w ithout p arallel a nd p robably s purious. I t m ay w ell b e b y t he s ame h and a s t he p roem . T he r est o f t he s urviving t ext s eems l ikely t o b e a uthentic i n s ubstance. T he p ope's t itle , ' papa g odes 1 P eowa p eow ' t ranslates t he s tandard p apal f ormula ' episcopus s ervus s ervorum d el'. T he r eference t o t he r ecipient's s uccessors, ' and h is a efterfyligendum ', i s c losely p aralleled i n a p rivilege o f a c entury l ater, ' et h eredibus s uis ' ( B337), a b ull o f p ope L eo I II a ddressed t o C oenwulf o f M ercia , d efended i n L evison 1 946, p . 2 55; b ut c f. C haplais 1 968, p . 3 35), a nd m ay t herefore b e g enuine , a lthough i t i s a lso p ossible t hat i t d erives f rom t he p hrase ' in p erpetuum ' w hich w as t he u sual t ermination o f t he o pening p rotocol i n a n e arly p apal b ull ( Poole 1 915, p . 4 2), a nd w hich i s n ot o therwise r epresented i n t he s urviving t ext. S ome w ords a re l ost f rom t he n ext p hrase, ' and p ur a rwyrbum m ynstre', b ut t he L atin t ranslation ' et p er u os u enerabili u estro m onasterio ' i s p robably c lose t o t he o riginal w ording : t he o pening p rotocol o f a f ormula f or a p apal p rivilege i n t he L iber D iurnus i ncludes t he p hrase ' et p er e um i n e odem v enerabili m onasterio ' ( Foerster , L iber D iurnus , n o. 8 6). A fter t he v ery d ubious p roem a lready m entioned, t he d ocument g oes o n t o s tate t hat A ldhelm h as r equested t he p ope t o s trengthen t he m onasteries o f S t. P eter a nd S t. P aul a t M almesbury a nd o f S t. J ohn t he B aptist b y t he r iver F rome w ith a p apal p rivilege. T here i s n o o bjection t o t his a s ag enuine n arratio . T he c ontent i s f airly u sual , a nd t here a re o ther i nstances o f a s ingle p rivilege f or t wo m onasteries , a s urviving o ne f or B ermondsey a nd W oking w hose a uthenticity w as c onvincingly a rgued b y S tenton ( B133; S tenton 1 933, p. 1 85-8), a nd o ne f or R ipon a nd H exham , n ot n ow e xtant b ut m entioned p b y E ddius i n h is L ife o f W ilfrid ( Colgrave , W ilfrid , c h . L I, p . 1 06; W ormald 1 976, p p. 1 47-8).

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T he d ispositio i s p robably b asically g enuine s ince t here a re p arallels f or e ach o f i ts p rovisions. I t b egins b y s tating t hat t he m onasteries a re h enceforth t o b e u nder t he a uthority a nd p rotection o f t he a postolic s ee: 'met h i u nder r ihtum d ome . a nd b ewerunge ' pes s ylfan p e w e 1 9 eowi A u res a ldres r aes e adigan P etres a postoles a nd h is h aligan c yricean '. O ther p rivileges o f t he t ime p lace m onasteries u nder t he d irect a uthority o f t he p apacy, i ncluding t hose o f p ope A gatho f or S t. A ugustine's ( B38), a nd o f p ope C onstantine f or B ermondsey a nd W oking, a nd t he s ame p rovision i s i ncluded i n o ne o f t he f ormulas o f t he L iber D iurnus ( Foerster, L iber D iurnus , n o. 8 6). E ddius i mplies t hat t he p rivilege o btained b y W ilfrid f or h is m onasteries a t R ipon a nd H exham p laced t hese h ouses u nder t he j urisdiction o f t he p apacy, s ince h e q uotes a d ocument i n w hich W ilfrid c laimed t hat h is a ccusers s hould g o w ith h im t o R ome t o o btain j udgement ' sicut b eati p raedecessoris v estri S ergii p apae s cripta c ernebant' ( Colgrave, W ilfrid, c h. L I, p . 1 04).

T he t ext t hen g oes o n t o s et l imits t o t he r ights o f t he d iocesan b ishop a nd o ther c hurchmen i n t he m onasteries, a nd b egins b y s tating t hat n o e piscopal s ee i s t o b e f ounded t here: n a h i h uru p incga n a g esetten n anne b isceop s tol i nnon h yra c yricean '. I t s eems t hat t his w as a lso o ne o f t he p rovisions o f p ope A gatho's p rivilege f or R ipon a nd H exham , s ince E ddius a sserts t hat t he c onvers ion o f o ne o f t hese m onasteries i nto a n e piscopal s ee m eant t he l oss o f t he l iberty g ranted b y t he p ope ( Colgrave, W ilfrid, c h. X LV , p . 9 2). T he M almesbury p rivilege t hen s tates t hat t he b ishop m ay n ot c elebrate m ass i n t he m onasteries e xcept b y i nvitation o f t he a bbot a nd c ommunity: ' ob5e f ury o rq zer l aetan ' p aene b isceop m aessan s ingan b utan g yf h e p yder c yle ) g el ed o f ' p a i n a bbude a nd y aere g eferreeddenne'. T his p rovision o ccurs i n p apal f ormulas ( Foerster, L iber D iurnus , n os. 3 2, 8 6) a nd i n t he p rivilege f or S t. A ugustine 's. W hen m embers o f t he c ommunity a re t o b e o rdained a s p riests a nd d eacons, t he b ishop i s t o c arry o ut t he n ecessary c eremonies a t t he r equest o f t he c ommunity a nd w ithout p ayment: ' gyf h i n eode h abb A t o h algigenne e nigne messe p reost d iacon f or ma eode a nd eet b uton a elcum t weon h algie a ssena n b uton a elcum s cette'. T his i s s pecified a lso i n t he p rivilege f or B ermondsey a nd W oking. T he c ommunity i s t o h ave t he r ight o f e lecting i ts o wn a bbot, a nd i s t o h old a n e lection w ithout d elay w hen a n a bbot d ies, s o t hat t he r egular l ife i s n ot d isrupted b y l ack o f a n a bbot. S imilar a rrangements a re m ade b y o ther e xtant p rivileges ( B38, 1 33) a nd f reedom o f a bbatial e lection w as a mong t he p rovisions o f t he p rivilege g ranted t o B enedict

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B iscop f or M onkwearmouth a nd J arrow , w hich i s n ot n ow e xtant , w hich s ome a ccount s urvives ( Historia A bbatum , p . 3 75).

b ut

o f

T he s anction h as a ll o f t he t hree c omponent p arts w hich m ay a ppear i n t he s anctions o f p apal d ocuments, p rohibitive c lause , p enal c lause a nd b lessing ( Poole 1 915, p p. 4 5-6). T he d ating c lause a nd f inal p rotocol d o n ot s urvive. A s a lready m entioned, t he p rivilege i s f ollowed b y t he s ubscriptions o f k ings Athilred o f M ercia a nd I ne o f W essex, p lus a n e ndorsement i n t he n ame o f A ldhelm . T his a ddition i s i tself q uite a u sual f eature o f e arly p apal d ocuments : E ddius m entions t hat f ive k ings c onfirmed t he p rivilege o btained b y W ilfrid f or R ipon a nd H exham ( Colgrave , W ilfrid, c h . X LV , p . 9 2); E cgfrith c onsented t o t he t erms o f M onkwearmouth/Jarrow 's p rivilege ( Historia A bbatum , p . 3 96); C oenwulf c onfirmed t he p rivilege i ssued b y p ope L eo I II f or C ynehelm ( S152). T he p ersons n amed i n t he M almesbury d ocument w ere c ontemporaries, a nd i t i s u nderstandable t hat t his b order m onastery s hould h ave s ecured t he c onfirmation o f .t he k ings o f b oth M ercia a nd W essex. M oreover , b oth k ings a re k nown t o h ave h ad g reat r espect f or R ome. E ddius r epeatedly r efers t o 2 Ethilred 's r everence f or t he a postolic s ee ( Colgrave , 8 W ilfrid , c h . X LIII, p p. 8-90 ; c h . X LV , p . 9 2; c h . L VII, p . 1 24), a nd I ne a bdicated i n 7 26 s o t hat h e m ight r etire t o R ome ( HE V 7 ; A SC s .a . 7 26). A ldhelm 's e ndorsement s tates t hat t he k ings a greed t hat w hether t here w as p eace o r w ar b etween S axons a nd M ercians, t he m onastery w ould a lways b e i n p eace: s wa h we 'Per s wa h it w aere s wa s ibb s wa t wyrednys b etweonan S axan a nd ( Myr ..)T r aetI r t ( m b eo ( )o n s ibbe a nd p a ( ) T his w as c ertainly a v ery v aluable a greement f or M almesbury i f t he p arties o bserved i t, a nd j ust w hat t he m onastery w ould n eed a t t hat t ime. M oreover, i t i s d ifficult t o i magine a f orger p roducing s uch a c lause, a s i t w ould b e o f n o v alue i n t he d ays w hen W essex a nd M ercia w ere u nited. T he g eneral b ackground t o t he d ocument s upports t he t heory o f i ts b asic a uthenticity. N ot o nly a re s everal m onasteries o f t he t ime , i n E ngland a nd e lsewhere , k nown t o h ave o btained s imilar p rivileges , b ut s uch p rivileges w ere i n s ome c ases , a nd p robably i n a ll, s ecured b y p ersonal a pplication a t R ome. B enedict B iscop, f or e xample, r eturned f rom o ne o f h is v isits t o R ome w ith a p rivilege f or M onkwearmouth ( Historia A bbatum , p . 3 69). A ldhelm i s k nown t o h ave v isited R ome ( Ehwald, p . 4 94), a nd i t i s l ikely t hat h e w ould h ave t aken t he o pportunity o f r equesting a p rivilege f or h is m onastery. B oth t he g eneral b ackground a nd t he i nternal e vidence o f t he d ocument t herefore s uggest t hat A ldhelm d id i n f act o btain a p rivilege f or M almesbury f rom p ope S ergius I , a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t he i nterpolation o f t wo p assages d ealing w ith t he m onastic l ife i s t he o nly s ignificant a lteration w hich h as b een m ade t o t he t ext i n t he O ld E nglish t ranslation w hich s urvives . T he p rivilege o f p ope S ergius e stablishes t hat A ldhelm r uled a t l east t wo m onasteries, t hat h e s ecured p apal p rotection f or t hem , a nd t hat h e u sed h is c onnections w ith t he k ings o f W essex a nd M ercia t o

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n eutralise t he r isks i nherent i n M almesbury 's b order s ituation . H e m ay w ell h ave b een t he f ounder o f b oth h ouses: t here i s n o e vidence f or t he e xistence o f t he m onastery a t M almesbury b efore A ldhelm b ecame a bbot t here , a nd t he m onastery o n t he F rome i s l ikely t o h ave b een a d aughter-house o f M almesbury. A s a s cholar , w riter a nd t eacher , A ldhelm h as b een c ompared w ith h is c ontemporary , B ede, b ut i n h is c areer a s a p ublic f igure a nd m onastic a dministrator h e r ather r esembles B enedict B iscop. M uch o f w hat w as a chieved b y b oth t he e minent N orthumbrians c an b e p aralleled i n t he a chievements o f A ldhelm .

S 243 B odleian, W ood e mpt. 5 , f os . ( Edition :

1 7v-18r.

B 103)

Ab rief c harter i n t he n ame o f k ing I ne g rants f our a reas o f l and t o A ldhelm . T he t ext i s w ritten a lmost e ntirely i n s tandard f ormulas a nd m ay w ell b e w holly a uthentic, a lthough t he a bsence o f a p roem a nd s anction s uggests t he p ossibility o f s ome a bbreviation . T he o nly u nusual c lause i s Ic ogitans u ite e terne p remium . u erens p enas i nferni p erpetuas ', w hich i s p laced i n t he d ispositio, b ut t ends t o r ecall t he c ontent o f p roems, a nd i s i ndeed f ollowed b y t he w ord ' Iccirco '. I t m ay b e t hat t he n ame o f t he m onastery i s a l ater i nterpolation , b ut t he w ording ' ad a ugmentum m onasterii s ui q uod u ocatur M 3eldumesburg ' i s s imilar t o t hose i n e arly g rants t o E orcenwald 's f oundations o f C hertsey a nd B arking : ' ad a ugendum m onasterium q uod n uncupatur C irotesige '; ' Ad a ugmentum m onasterii t ui q uae d icitur B eddanhaam ' ( S1165, 1 171). I t m ay t herefore b e g enuine. T he c harter i s d ated 7 01, t he 1 4th i ndiction ; t hese a re c onsistent a nd i t i s p ossible t hat b oth a re a uthentic, o r t he i ncarnational y ear m ay b e al ater a ddition . T he w itness l ist c onsists o f o nly f our a ttestations a nd h as p robably b een a bbreviated b y ac opyist a t s ome t ime, b ut t here i s n o o bjection t o a ny o f t he n ames w hich r emain . T he k ing 's s ubscription i s f ollowed b y t hat o f al ayman n amed O shelm w ho i s o therwise u nknown. I t i s p ossible t hat h e w as a k insman o f t he a theling O swald w ho m ade a n u nsuccessful a ttempt t o s ecure t he W est S axon k ingship o n I ne's a bdication i n 7 26 ( ASC s .a. 7 26, 7 30). T wo c hurchmen s ubscribe, H aeddi, b ishop o f W inchester a nd W ynberht, a bbot o f N ursling . T he l atter i s s aid t o h ave d ictated t he c harter: ' Ego W inberhtus h anc d onationem d ictans s ubscripsi '. T his s ubscription m ay b e c onsidered a s o ne o f t he s mall g roup o f s cribal a ttestations i nvolving W ynberht a nd o thers w hich o ccur i n e arly W est S axon c harters ( Discussed u nder S 236 a bove), a nd i s l ikely t o b e g enuine. I ne g rants a t otal o f 4 5 h ides o f l and: 5 2 0 1 0 1 0

h ides h ides h ides h ides

' in l oco q ui d icitur I hersdune '; ' ubi r iuulus q ui u ocatur C orsaburna o ritur ' ' in a lio l oco i uxta e undem r iuulum '; ' iuxta l aticem q ui u ocatur R eodburna '.

1 05

T hese d escriptions h ave t he a ppearance o f a uthentic e arly e ighthc entury w ork . E states w hich h ave a cquired n ames o f t heir o wn a re n ot u nknown i n e arly W est S axon c harters, b ut e states d efined b y n aming a djacent n atural f eatures, o ften r ivers o r w oods, a re f ar m ore c ommon. A n a ccount o f f our e states o f w hich o nly o ne i s g iven a n ame, t he o thers b eing d efined b y r eference t o n earby s treams, i s e xactly w hat m ight b e e xpected i n aW est S axon c harter o f t his d ate, a nd n ot w hat a l ater f orger o r i nterpolator w ould h ave w ritten . M oreover, a ll t hese e states a ppear t o h ave b een a ltered i n n ame, h idage o r o rganisation i n l ater y ears, s o t hat i t w ould h ave b een p ointless, a nd p robably i mpossible, f or a l ater w riter t o h ave d rafted t hese d escriptions. ' Ihersdune' i s n ow G arsdon, a bout 2 m iles e ast o f M almesbury. I t d oes n ot r ecur i n p re-Conquest c harters a nd w as n ot o wned b y t he m onastery i n 1 066 w hen i t w as a ssessed a t 3 h ides. T his 3 -hide e state, h owever, c ame i nto M almesbury 's p ossession b y a g rant o f q ueen M atilda i n 1 081, a nd t herefore a ppears i n D omesday B ook a s t he m onastery's p roperty i n 1 086 ( Brewer , M almesbury C artulary, p. 3 26-7; D B p W iltshire , p . 8 .10). T he s tream n amed ' Corsaburna' i s n ow k nown a s t he G auze B rook. I t j oins t he A von s ome 2 m iles s outh o f M almesbury, b ut r ises s everal m iles t o t he w est, j ust n orth o f t he h amlet o f L ittleton D rew. T he 2 0h ide e state a t t he s ource o f t he G auze B rook i s n ot i dentifiable i n a ny o ther r ecord, a nd a pparently d id n ot s urvive a s a u nit. I t a ppears t o h ave p assed o ut o f M almesbury's p ossession , s ince G lastonbury o wned m ost o f t he l and i n t his a rea i n 1 066; t hese 2 0 h ides w ere p robably i ncorporated i nto G lastonbury's m anors o f L ittleton D rew ( 5 h ides) a nd G rittleton ( 30 h ides) ( DB W iltshire, p p. 5 .6, 7 .10). T he t hird e state, o f 1 0 h ides o n t he G auze B rook, p robably i ncluded t he s ite o f t he m odern v illage o f C orston, w hose n ame d erives f rom t hat o f t he s tream . C orston i s o ne o f t he e states l isted i n M almesbury's d ecimation c harter o f 8 54 a nd t he p ancarta d ated 1 065; i t w as o wned b y M almesbury i n 1 066, b ut i t w as t hen a ssessed a t 6 h ides a nd c onsidered t o b e p art o f t he m anor o f B rokenborough ( S305, 1 038; D B W iltshire , p . 8 .6). T he r emaining e state c onsisted o f 1 0 h ides o n t he s tream ' Reodburna'. I t h appens t hat t wo s treams i n W iltshire b ore t his n ame; b oth g ave r ise t o t he m odern p lace-name R odbourne; a nd b oth o ccur i n M almesbury r ecords . T his h as c aused s ome c onfusion i n s econdary s ources. O ne ' Reodburna' f ollows a c ourse v ery a pproximately p arallel t o t hat o f t he G auze B rook, j oining t he A von a bout 11m iles f urther s outh. T he o ther i s a t ributary o f t he r iver R ay, f ormerly k nown a s t he W orf, b y w hich n ame i t a ppears i n A nglo-Saxon b oundary c lauses, a nd i s j ust n orth o f S windon ; m odern R odbourne, s ometimes c alled R odbourne C heney, i s n ow a s uburb o f t hat t own ( PN W iltshire, p p. 9 , 3 2, 5 0-51). R odbourne n ear S windon i s m entioned i n t he d escription o f a n e state g iven t o M almesbury b y C yniwulf, a nd o ccurs i n D omesday B ook a s ' Redborne' ( S260 d iscussed b elow; D B W iltshire, p . 2 8.9). T he e state g ranted b y I ne w as p robably o n t he ' Reodburna' s outh o f M almesbury, j udging f rom i ts i nclusion i n ac harter w ith o ther e states i n t he a rea. I t p robably i ncluded m odern R odbourne. T his R odbourne i s

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i ncluded i n t he p ancarta d ated 1 065, t he i dentification b eing m ade c ertain b y a n a ccount o f t he l ocation o f t he e state a nd i ts g rouping w ith o ther e states i n t he a rea , t he a mount o f l and i s 1 0 h ides , a s i n I ne 's c harter. T wo o ther M almesbury c harters m ention a 1 0-hide e state a t R odbourne, a v ery d ubious p ancarta i n t he n ame o f Athelwulf, a nd a g rant o f . Athelred I t o t he m onastery ( S322, 8 41). T he h idage I s uggests t hat t hese r elate t o R odbourne s outh o f M almesbury, b ut t his c annot b e c onsidered c ertain i n t he a bsence o f a ny o ther m eans o f i dentification . T his R odbourne i s n ot m entioned i n D omesday B ook a nd m ay h ave b een i ncluded w ithin M almesbury 's 5 0-hide m anor o f B rokenborough ( with w hich i t i s g rouped i n t he p ancarta). T here s urvives a s et o f b ounds f or t he e state , b ut t his i s g rouped w ith o ther b ounds i n ag eneral c artulary a nd i s n ot a ttached t o ac harter ( S1587). T he w ording a nd c ontent o f t his d ocument s eem e qually t o t hat i t i s a g enuine c harter o f me.

i ndicate

S 245 B odleian, W ood e mpt. 5 , ( Edition :

E dwards 1 986:

f os . p. p

1 8r-19v. 1 5-16)

A c harter o f k ing I ne d ated 7 04 i n w hich h e g rants f reedom f rom a ll s ecular o bligations t o t he c hurches a nd m onasteries o f h is k ingdom s urvives i n t he G esta P ontificum a nd t he t hree c artularies . H addan a nd S tubbs i n 1 878 w ere t he f irst s cholars t o p ublish a n o pinion o f t his c harter. T hey e xcluded i t f rom t heir c ollection o f ' Councils a nd E cclesiastical D ocuments ' o n t he g rounds t hat ' it i s n ot g enuine a nd i s n ot w orth p rinting a t l ength ' ( Haddan a nd S tubbs, p . 2 47). C hadwick, h owever, a ppears t o h ave c onsidered t hat t his j udgement s hould b e q ualified i f n ot r ejected a ltogether. W riting i n 1 905 h e s aid ' This m ay b e a s purious d ocument b ut I c an s ee n o r eason f or r efusing t o b elieve t hat t he s ignatures w hich i t c ontains a re t hose o f I ne's c ouncil. I f t hey h ave b een i nvented t he a uthor m ust h ave b een a n e xpert p hilologist ' ( Chadwick 1 905, p . 2 86 n .). M ost s cholars h ave a ccepted H addan a nd S tubbs ' o pinion t hat t he c harter i s s purious, b ut f ollow C hadwick i n r egarding t he w itness l ist a s g enuine. S tenton i n 1 913 r eferred t o ' a g enuine l ist o f w itnesses a ppended t o a f orged d ocument ' ( Stenton 1 913, p . 1 6). S tevenson i n 1 914 c ited t he t ext a mong c harters w hich h e c lassified a s ' doubtful o r s purious ' ( Stevenson 1 914, p . 6 92 n . 1 6). W hitelock i n 1 951 d escribed i t a s ' a q uestionable c harter .. w hich n evertheless c ontains a g enuine l ist o f w itnesses o f 7 05-9 ' ( Whitelock 1 951, p . 2 7). T wo s cholars , h owever, h ave s uggested t hat t he c harter i tself m ay b e a g enuine t ext o f t he e arly e ighth c entury. I n T he E arly C harters o f W essex F inberg a warded t he d ocument a s ingle a sterisk , w hich p uts i t i nto t he c ategory o f c harters a vailable o nly i n l ater c opies w hose a uthenticity i s n ot i n d oubt ( ECW , n o . 3 68). A nd B rooks, i n c onnection w ith h is d efense o f t he s imilar c harter i n w hich W ihtred o f K ent g ranted p rivileges t o t he c hurches a nd m onasteries o f h is k ingdom i n

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6 99, t entatively s uggested t hat I ne 's c harter m ight b e a uthentic i n s ubstance ( Brooks 1 971, P . 7 5 n . 1 ). Ad etailed e xamination o f t he t ext s uggests t hat t hese v iews m ay w ell b e c orrect a nd t hat t he e vidence d oes n ot s upport t he c ondemnations o f t he p ast. T he a uthenticity o f t he w itness l ist i s r eally b eyond a ny r easonable d oubt. Af orger m ight h ave t aken n ames l ike I ne a nd A ldhelm f rom B ede o r f rom t he C hronicle, b ut n o f orger c ould h ave d rawn u p t he r est o f t he l ist , w hich i ncludes s everal o bscure b ut i dentifiable p eople. A bbot H agona i s k nown f rom a n umber o f c harter a ttestations ( S45, 2 33, 2 35, 1 171, 1 248), a lthough t here i s n o e vidence t o t ell u s w hich m onastery h e g overned. E adberht i s ac ommon n ame, b ut t his i s p robably t he a bbot, a nd l ater b ishop , o f S elsey , m entioned b y B ede a nd a ppearing i n o ther w itness l ists ( HE V 1 8 ; S 45 , 2 35). H aeha w as t he a bbot o f a s eventh-century f oundation a t B radfield i n B erkshire, s ome o f w hose r ecords s urvive i n a r ather g arbled f orm i n t he A bingdon a rchive ( S239, 2 41, 2 52, 1 179; C hadwick 1 905 , p . 2 85 ; S tenton 1 913, p p. 1 6-17). W intra. w as a bbot o f t he m onastery a t T isbury, m entioned a s s uch i n t he L ife o f B oniface a nd i n a c harter o f 7 59 w hich r ecounts t he t ransactions g iving r ise t o a n e arlier d ispute ( Levison , B oniface, p . 1 4 ; S 1256). A bbot W edr i s o therwise u nknown . ' Beornwald ' i s a lmost c ertainly a n e rror f or B gorhtwald, a bbot o f G lastonbury , k nown f rom t he L ife o f B oniface a nd f rom a c harter a nd a l etter ( Levison , B oniface , p . 1 4; S 248; T angl n o . 7 ). P robably t he n ame w as s pelt ' Beuruuald ', a nd t he f irst u m isread a s n . W ilgar a nd B ealwulf a re u nknown . F roda w as t he a bbot o f M uchelney, a ppearing a s b eneficiary i n c harters o f t hat 1 h ouse ( S240 , 176), a nd W itta i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he a bbot w ho a ttests t wo E vesham c harters, b oth o f w hich a re v ery d ubious t exts, b ut w hich a ppear t o h ave g enuine w itness l ists a ppended t o t hem 1 ( S54, 175). M ost o f t he l aymen a re u nknown , b ut C oen m ay b e t he w itness o f a c harter o f C eadwalla o f 6 88 ( S235) a nd B ealdhun i s p robably t he m an w ho g ranted l and t o a bbot F roda o f M uchelney i n 7 08 ( S1176). T he a ttestation f orms a re t hose c haracteristic o f e arly W est S axon c harters: a ll l aymen a ttest i n t he f orm ' Signum m anus X ', a nd a ll c hurchmen i n t he f orm ' Ego X c onsentiens s ubscripsi', w hich r epresents a v ariation o f t he m ore u sual ' consensi e t s ubscripsi ' e xcept A ldhelm w hose s ubscription i s s imilar i n s ubstance. T he o rthography s uggests a n e arly e xemplar, i n p articular t he n ame ' E bilfri5 ', w hich p reserves t he e arly f orm o f t he e lement E thil, s pelt w ith a n ia nd n ot w ith a n e a s w as c ustomary f rom t he b eginning o f t he n inth c entury ( Napier a nd p S tevenson , p . 3 8; S tevenson 1 914, p . 7 02 n . 6 6; S isam 1 932, p. 3 05, 3 25 n . 5 ). T he w itness l ist , t herefore, h as e very a ppearance o f a uthenticity. N aturally t his d oes n ot i n i tself c onfirm t hat t he c harter i s g enuine, b ecause i t i s q uite p ossible f or a n a uthentic w itness l ist t o b e a ppended t o a f abricated c harter. ( As a ppears t o h ave b een d one i n t he c ase o f a nother M almesbury c harter , S 1245 d iscussed a bove). T his i s, o f c ourse , t he i nterpretation w hich h as b een p laced o n t his d ocument i n t he p ast , b ut t here a re r easons f or t hinking t hat t he c harter i tself i s g enuine. I n t he f irst p lace, t he w itness l ist a nd t he c harter a re b oth u nusual, a nd t hey f it t ogether i n a n e ntirely l ogical a nd c onsistent m anner. T he w itness l ist i s u nusual i n i ncluding s o m any a bbots . I n t he m ajority o f e arly w itness l ists t here

1 08

a re n o a bbots a t a ll, a nd w hen a bbots d o a ttest t here a re n ormally n ot m ore t han t wo o r t hree o f t hem . T he n earest t o a p arallel f or t his a ssembly a mong e xtant w itness l ists o ccurs i n ac harter o f O ff a w hich i s a ttested b y s even a bbots ( S113). W illiam o f M almesbury m entions t hat t hirteen a bbots a ttested a c harter o f C oenwulf o f M ercia o f 7 98 ( DA , p . 1 10), b ut t his w itness l ist d oes n ot s urvive . T he c harter i s u nusual i n b eing a g eneral g rant o f p rivileges t o a ll t he c hurches a nd m onasteries o f W essex , a nd n ot a g rant t o a s ingle b eneficiary. I t s eems r easonable t hat s o m any W est S axon a bbots s hould h ave a ttended t he m eeting a t w hich t his g rant w as m ade, s o t hat t hey c ould b e i nformed o f t he n ew a rrangements w hich w ere g oing t o a ffect e very m onastery i n t he k ingdom . I f t his w itness l ist d id n ot o riginally b elong t o t his c harter, i t w ould b e a dvisable t o c onsider w hat k ind o f d ocument i t c ould h ave b een a ttached t o. I t i s d ifficult t o i magine o ne m ore a ppropriate t han t he e xtant t ext. F abrication o f t he c harter c an r eally o nly b e a rgued o n t he b asis t hat t he f orger r ecognised t hat t he w itness l ist w as u nusual a nd d eliberately d rew u p a n u nusual c harter t o s uit i t , w hich d oes n ot s eem v ery p lausible . F urthermore, i t d oes n ot s eem l ikely t hat a f orger w ould h ave d rawn u p a c harter d esigned t o b enefit a ll W est S axon m onasteries, s ince p ersons f abricating A nglo-Saxon c harters u sually d id s o i n t he i nterests o f t heir o wn p articular h ouses. T he c harter i s d ated 7 04 i n ad etailed d ating c lause w hich a ppears t o b e a uthentic . ' Eburleagh ' h as b een i dentified a s E verleigh i n W iltshire w hich i s o therwise u nrecorded i n p re-Conquest d ocuments ( PN W iltshire, p . 3 29). T he m eeting w as h eld o n t he 2 6th M ay, a nd i t w as p robably n ot f ortuitous t hat t his w as t he f east-day o f S t. A ugustine o f C anterbury ( ECW , n o. 3 68). T he i ndiction a grees w ith t he i ncarnational y ear, a nd t he a ddition o f t he w ord ' feliciter ' i s a p ractice d erived f rom t he l ate R oman p rivate d eed a nd c onfined i n E ngland t o a s mall g roup o f v ery e arly W est S axon c harters . ( On t his f ormula s ee a bove u nder S 236). T he w hole d ating c lause s eems g enuine ( subject t o t he p ossibility t hat t he i ncarnational y ear h as b een a dded b y a l ater c opyist), b ut B rooks a rgued t hat t he d ate w as i mpossible s ince A ldhelm d id n ot b ecome b ishop u ntil 7 05 ( Brooks 1 976, p . 7 5 n . 1 ), a nd W hitelock , i n a ssigning t he w itness l ist t o 7 05 x 7 09, a pparently t ook t he s ame v iew ( Whitelock 1 951, p . 2 7). T his v iew e vidently w as t hat ervus s ervorum d el ', u sed o f A ldhelm i n t his t he t erms ' presul ' a nd Is c harter, c ould o nly b e a pplied t o ab ishop. I t i s f airly c ertain t hat 7 05 i s t he c orrect d ate f or t he d eath o f b ishop H eeddi a nd t he c onsecration o f A ldhelm t o t he n ew s ee o f S herborne , t he s ingle W est S axon d iocese b eing d ivided a t t his t ime. T his i s t he d ate g iven b y B ede, w hose W est S axon i nformants i ncluded b ishop D aniel, w ho w as c onsecrated t o t he s ee o f W inchester a t t he s ame t ime , a nd P ecthelm , b ishop o f C andida C asa , w ho h ad b een a m ember o f A ldhelm 's c ommunity f or s everal y ears, a nd w ho t old B ede o f m iracles w hich h ad o ccurred a t H 2eddi 's t omb ( HE V 1 8 a nd P reface). T hese m en a re n ot l ikely t o h ave g ot t hat d ate w rong. L apidge a nd H erren a rgue ( p. 1 0) t hat t he t rue d ate o f H eeddi 's d eath a nd A ldhelm 's c onsecration w as 7 06 o n t he g rounds t hat B ede s tates t hat t he f ormer o ccurred a t t he b eginning o f t he r eign o f O sred o f N orthumbria , a nd t hat O sred a ctually b ecame k ing i n 7 06 , n ot 7 05 a s B ede s uggests . B ut t he f act r emains t hat B ede d ates O sred 's a ccession

1 09

t o 7 05 b ecause e ither h e o r h is s ource d ealt w ith t he t wo-month r eign o f E adwulf ( mentioned i n C olgrave, W ilfrid , c h . L IX , p . 1 28) b y m eans o f t hat s pecies o f d amnatio m emoriae w hich B ede h imself d escribes ( HE II 1 ), s o 7 05 i s t he d ate h e i ntends t o g ive f or H eeddi's d eath . B ut I i n a ny c ase , t he w hole q uestion o f t he N orthumbrian d ating i s i rrelevant , b ecause i t i s h ighly i mprobable t hat t he d ate o f H aeddi's d eath w as c ommunicated t o B ede a s aN orthumbrian r egnal y ear. T he N orthumbrian a nd W est S axon d ates w ere d oubtless g iven t o h im o r c alculated b y h im i ndependently, a nd a ppear t ogether i n h is n arrative o nly b ecause t hey h appened t o c oincide. B ede 's i nformation t herefore i s t hat H aeddi d ied i n 7 05. T he c ompiler o f t he A nglo-Saxon C hronicle e ntered H aeddi 's d eath u nder t he y ear 7 03 ( ASC s .a. 7 03). T he C hronicle a lso m entions t he l engths o f t he e piscopates o f H 2eddi a nd D aniel ( ASC s .a . 7 03 , 7 45), w hich s uggest t hat t he s ource w as a n e piscopal l ist f or W inchester. E piscopal l ists, t o j udge f rom s urviving e xamples , d id n ot p rovide a ny d ates ( Page 1 966), a nd t he c ompiler o f t he C hronicle p resumably c alculated t he i ncarnational d ates w hich h e c ites . I t i s c lear, h owever, t hat h is c alculations w ere e rroneous. A ccording t o B ede , t he a bdication o f Athilred, k ing o f t he M ercians, a nd t he s uccession o f C oenred t ook p lace i n 7 04 , a nd t he d eath o f H eeddi a nd d ivision o f t he W est S axon d iocese o ccurred i n t he f ollowing y ear ( HE V 2 4 ; V 1 8). T he c ompiler o f t he C hronicle t ranscribed t he e ntry r elating t o t he M ercian k ings f rom B ede 's C hronological S ummary, w hich t hus f ormed t he C hronicle 's a nnal f or 7 04 , b ut h e d ated H aeddi's d eath t o t he p receding y ear, 7 03 ( ASC s .a . 7 04, 7 03). A l etter, e xtant i n i ts o riginal f orm , w hich b ishop W ealdhere o f L ondon w rote t o B erhtwald, a rchbishop o f C anterbury, e stablishes t hat t he a ctual o rder o f e vents w as i n a ccordance w ith B ede 's a ccount , s ince i t r efers t o C oenred a s k ing i n M ercia a nd m akes i t c lear t hat a t t he t ime o f w riting t here w as o nly a s ingle b ishop i n W essex ( Wealdhere 's l etter i s e dited a nd d iscussed i n C haplais 1 978, a nd t ranslated i n E HD , n o. 1 64). T he l etter i s u ndated a nd d oes n ot t herefore c onfirm a ny a bsolute d ating o f t hese e vents, b ut i t i s c onsistent w ith B ede 's a ccount a nd t ends t o d isprove t he C hronicle 's d ating o f H aeddi's d eath . T he b alance o f p robability i s t herefore t hat A ldhelm w as c onsecrated a s b ishop i n 7 05. T he c harter, t herefore, i s d ated t o t he p eriod o f A ldhelm 's a bbacy. D o t he t erms u sed o f A ldhelm i n t he t ext c ontradict t his? I t i s f airly c lear t hat i n l ater c enturies t he t erms ' presul' a nd ' servus s ervorum d ei ' w ere u sed e xclusively o f b ishops, b ut t here i s r eason t o t hink t hat t his w as n ot t he c ase a s e arly a s 7 04. T he w ord ' presul ' i s o ften a pplied t o b ishops i n e arly s ources, b ut i s a lso u sed t hree t imes o f C olumba, w ho o f c ourse w as a n a bbot a nd n ot a b ishop , b y h is b iographer, A domnän , w riting i n t he l ate s eventh c entury ( Anderson, C olumba, p. 1 80, 26, 5 40 ; o n t he d ate o f t he L ife, p . 9 6), a nd p 2 A ldhelm u ses t he t erm o f S t. J ohn t he B aptist, o f S t. J ames, b rother o f S t. J ohn t he A postle, a nd e ven o f G od ( Ehwald , p . 2 4 l ine 1 7; p . 2 3 l ine 9 ; p . 9 7 l ine 6 ). T he w ord c ould a pparently b e u sed a t t his d ate o f a ny m an w hose c haracter o r p osition m ade h im r esponsible f or r eligious l eadership. I t h ad n ot y et a cquired t he s pecific m eaning ' bishop '. I n t his c harter t he w ord w as p robably u sed o f A ldhelm s imply b ecause h e w as t he s enior c hurchman p resent , a lthough i t m ight a lso i mply t hat b y t his t ime h e w as i n e ffect t he s enior c hurchman i n W essex : H aeddi, w ho h ad b een b ishop s ince t he m id 6 70s a nd w as n ot

10 1

p resent a t t his m eeting , m ay h ave b een i ll o r i nfirm a nd r etired f rom p ublic b usiness.

c onsequently

I t c an s imilarly b e a rgued t hat t he h umility f ormula ' servus s ervorum d el ' w as u sed a t a n e arly d ate b y c hurchmen o ther t han b ishops. T here i s aw ell-known i nstance o f i ts u sed b y G regory t he G reat w hen s till a d eacon ( Hartmann , G regory , p . 4 37), a nd A ldhelm u ses i t i n a l etter ( Ehwald, p p . 5 02-3) w hich c an b e d ated b y i ts c onnection w ith a c harter ( S1170 d iscussed a bove) t o t he r eign o f C eadwalla. A ldhelm , t herefore , u sed t he p hrase w hile h e w as a bbot o f M almesbury. A nother d etail c onfirms t hat t he c harter i s c orrectly d ated t o A ldhelm 's a bbacy. T he g rant i s m ade t o a ll c hurchmen ' qui i n p arrochia S axonum c onuersantur '. T he u sual m eaning o f t he w ord ' parrochia ' w as ' diocese ', a nd t he r eference h ere t o a s ingle d iocese m ust i mply t hat t he d ocument p redates t he d ivision o f t he W est S axon d iocese i n 7 05. ( I a m i ndebted t o D r. N icholas B rooks f or d rawing m y a ttention t o t his p oint. C eltic-Latin w riters u sed t he t erm ' parrochia ' i n a d ifferent s ense, ( Keynes a nd L apidge 1 983 , p . 2 62 n . 1 81), b ut t here i s n o r eason t o d oubt t hat ' diocese ' i s m eant i n t his d ocument). S tenton , t he o nly s cholar t o h ave p ut f orward a rguments i n s upport o f t he t heory t hat t he c harter i s f orged, s aid ' its f ormulas d o n ot o ccur i n u ndoubted t exts o f t he e ighth c entury ( Stenton 1 913 , p . 1 6 n . 1 ). T he v alidity o f a n a rgument e xpressed i n t hese t erms i s d oubtful b ecause i t i mplies t hat w riters o f e arly A nglo-Saxon c harters c ould n ever d eviate f rom c ertain f ixed, s tandardised p hrases, a nd t here i s n o r eason t o s uppose t hat t his w as t he c ase. M oreover , n othing i n t he w ording o f t his t ext a ppears a nachronistic c onsidered a s a p roduction o f t he e arly e ighth c entury. T he i nvocation i s o f at ype c ommon i n e arly c harters ( Cf . S 20, 4 5, 2 35, 1 164); s everal o ther e arly t exts h ave n o p roem ( S8, 1 0, 1 2, 2 38); t he k ing 's t itle ' regnante d omino r ex ' a lso o ccurs i n t he s ame o r a s imilar f orm i n o ther e arly c harters ( S231, 169: ' regnante d omino r ex '; S 235: ' dispensante d omino r ex 1 S axonum '; S 1179: ' dispensante d omino a bbas '); a nd t he s anction, w ith i ts r eference t o C hrist a nd t he n ine o rders o f a ngels , i s s imilar t o a n umber o f o thers ( S71, 7 3; a lso S 231, 2 48, 1 170, 1 248). T he a uthor a ppears t o h ave h ad a m uch b etter k nowledge o f L atin t han m any w riters o f e arly c harters, w hose g rammar w as n ot i nfrequently a t f ault, a nd w ho u sually a ttempted n o m ore t han t he p lain e xpression o f m eaning w ithout a lways s ucceeding i n t he a ttempt ( Chaplais 1 968, p . 3 17). T his s uperior l evel o f l atinity i s n oticeable f irstly i n t he v ocabulary u sed. S ome o f t he w ords c hosen a re l ess c ommon s ubstitutes f or t hose u sually f ound i n c harters, s uch a s p resul i nstead o f a bbas a nd s acerdos i n p lace o f p resbiter. T he w riter h ad a m uch w ider v ocabulary t han m ost c harter s cribes , a s i s s hown b y s uch w ords a s p arrochia , f iscalis, m aiestas a nd f ragilitas. T here s eems t o b e a d eliberate p olicy o f a voiding r epetition b y v arying t he v ocabulary: m onasterium a nd c enobium ; p reces a nd o rationum o ffitia. T he s tyle o f w riting m anages t o r etain a ll t he s implicity c haracteristic o f e arly c harters b ut a t t he s ame t ime t o a chieve a d egree o f e legance w holly f oreign t o t hem . T his i s d one b y m eans o f c arefully b alanced p airs o f p hrases : ' sacerdotum s uggestione e t m onachorum p etitione '; ' hanc l ibertatem e cclesiis i mpendo e t h anc p riuilegii d ignitatem m onasterio c onfero '; ' sine i mpedimento s ecularium r erum e t a bsque t ributo f iscalium n egotiorum '. I t i s n oticeable t hat t he s tyle n ever d egenerates i nto

11 1

m ere t autology. M any o f t he p hrases a re n ot s trictly n ecessary, a m uch s impler w ording m ight h ave s erved t he p urpose , a nd t he r eason f or t heir i nclusion s eems t o b e s tylistic r ather t han p ractical, b ut n evertheless e very p hrase h as i ts o wn i ndividual m eaning w hich a dds t o t he p recision o f t he d ocument. T he t ext i s t herefore r ather d ifferent f rom t he g enerality o f e arly c harters. B ut t o a ssume o n t his b asis t hat i t i s a l ater f orgery w ould b e a s implistic r ather t han a s imple e xplanation. N ot o nly a re t here o bjections t o t he t heory o f f orgery o n o ther g rounds, b ut t he w riting r eally d oes n ot r esemble l ater w ork. I t w as n ot u ntil t he t enth c entury t hat a h igh l evel o f l atinity b ecame c ommon a mong w riters o f c harters, a nd i t w as t hen a ssociated w ith a v ery c omplex a nd f lowery s tyle o f w riting. T here i s n o r esemblance t o s uch a s tyle h ere . N or d oes t he c harter b ear a ny r esemblance t o t he c omplicated t exts p roduced b y f orgers e ndeavouring t o i mitate A ldhelm 's L atin p rose s tyle ( S1245). T he a ffinity i s r ather w ith t he v ery s imple s tyle o f w riting u sual i n c harters o f t he p eriod. T he w riter o f t his t ext i mproved o n t his s tyle o f w riting b ut d id n ot d eviate f rom i t. C onsequently t he w ording i s b etter t han , r ather t han d ifferent f rom , t hat o f o ther e arly c harters, a nd s eems c onsistent w ith t he t heory t hat i t w as p roduced b y a w riter o f i ts r eputed d ate. T his v iew i s s upported b y t he u ndoubted f act t hat m any c hurchmen a nd w omen o f t his t ime w ere c ompetent L atinists, a s t he s urviving c orrespondence o f B oniface , L ull, D aniel a nd o thers s hows ( Tangl). M oreover, n early a ll t he u nusual w ords o ccurring i n t his t ext a re k nown t o h ave b een u sed b y w riters o f t his p eriod s ince t hey a ppear i n t he w orks o f b oth A ldhelm a nd B ede ( Ehwald , I ndex V erborum , p. 55-738; p 5 J ones 1 929). T he b alancing o f p airs o f p hrases i s a lso a f eature o f A ldhelm 's p rose s tyle: e xamples f rom h is w orks a re ' paternam p etitionem s alubremque s uggestionem ': ' in c atacuminarum g radu e t c ompetentium s tatu '; ' pro m e p eccatorum p ondere e t c riminum s arcina o ppresso ' ( Ehwald, p . 2 94 l ine 1 ; p . 2 60 l ine 2 0 ; p . 4 78 l ine 7 ). I t i s n ot i mpossible t hat A ldhelm h imself w rote t his c harter, b ut t here w ere n umerous o ther p eople w ho c ould h ave d one s o , i ncluding h is p upils a nd c olleagues a t M almesbury. S ince t here a re c ontemporary p arallels f or t he w riter 's l evel o f l atinity, h is v ocabulary a nd h is s tyle , t he w ording o f t he c harter i s i n n o w ay i nconsistent w ith i ts d ate. A v ersion o f t he c harter s urvives i n t he a rchive o f G lastonbury ( S246). T his i s d iscussed i n t he n otes o n G lastonbury a bove , w here i t i s a rgued t hat t he d ifferences b etween t he M almesbury a nd G lastonbury v ersions o f t he t ext a rise f rom a lterations m ade t o G lastonbury's c opy l ong a fter t he d ate o f t he c harter , a nd a ttention i s d rawn t o e vidence s uggesting t hat t he G lastonbury c harter, n ow e xpressed a s a g rant t o G lastonbury a lone, w as o riginally a g rant t o a ll t he c hurches o f W essex , a s i n t he M almesbury v ersion ( Hearne , J ohn o f G lastonbury, p. p 3 70, 3 75). I t i s n ot e ntirely i mpossible t hat t he c harter o riginally s urvived i n o nly o ne a rchive , a nd t hat c ontacts b etween M almesbury a nd G lastonbury a t al ater d ate , p erhaps i n t he t ime o f D unstan, r esulted i n a c opy b eing m ade f or t he o ther h ouse. B ut i t s eems m ore l ikely t hat c opies o f t he c harter w ere m ade a t t he t ime o f t he g rant f or a ll t he c hurches a nd m onasteries w hich b enefitted b y i t . T he a rchives o f G lastonbury a nd M almesbury, b eing t he t wo m ain c ollections o f e arly W est S axon c harters , a re j ust w here v ersions o f s uch c opies c ould b e

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e xpected t o s urvive. M oreover, t here i s c lear e vidence t hat c opies w ere m ade f or i ndividual m onasteries i n t he c ase o f a c harter o f 8 38 w hich i ncorporated a p rovision a pplicable t o an umber o f h ouses ( S1438. B rooks 1 984 , p . 3 25). I t i s j ust p ossible t hat o ne d iscrepancy b etween t he G lastonbury a nd M almesbury v ersions o f t he c harter a rises f rom i nterpolation o f t he M almesbury t ext . As entence b eginning ' Hoc u ero d ecretum ..' w hich i s n ot i n t he G lastonbury t ext, p rovides t hat t he k ing 's s uccessors s hall b e b ound b y t he t erms o f t he c ontract . T his i s n ot t he s ort o f d etail o ne w ould e xpect a l ater c opyist t o o mit, s o i t m ay b e t hat t his s entence w as n ot p art o f t he o riginal c harter w ording. R eference t o ak ing 's s uccessors i s n ot w ithout p arallel ( e.g. S 19, 2 0 , 2 1, 2 35), b ut t he e mphasis i n t his t ext i s u nusual , a nd t he a bsence o f t his p rovision f rom t he G lastonbury v ersion s eems s uspicious. F ive y ears b efore t he d ate o f ' ne ts c harter, W ihtred o f K ent g ranted p rivileges t o a ll t he c hurches o f h is k ingdom . T he c harter r ecording t his g rant s urvives i n a n umber o f m anuscripts, i ncluding a n inth-century c opy ( S20), a nd B rooks h as a rgued c onvincingly t hat t he d ocument i s g enuine ( Brooks 1 971, p . 7 5 n . 1 ). T he K entish c hurches w ere g ranted f reedom f rom a ll t ax p ayments a nd a lso f rom l oss o r i njury, ' ab o mni e xactione p ublici t ributi a tque d ispendio u el l esione l iberae s int '. T his i s s imilar t o , b ut n ot i dentical w ith, I ne's g rant , w hich p rovides f or f reedom f rom t ax p ayments a nd f rom t he b urden o f s ecular a ffairs , ' sine i mpedimento s ecularium r erum . e t a bsque t ributo f iscalium n egotiorum '. W ihtred 's l aws a lso p rovide t hat t he c hurch s hall b e f ree f rom t axation , a nd I ne's l aws f urnish s ome i nformation a bout t he t axes w hich w ere n ormally p ayable , i ncluding a d etailed a ccount o f t he f ood r ender d ue f rom t en h ides o f l and ( Wihtred 1 : A ttenborough , L aws , p . 2 4 ; I ne 7 0.1: i bid., p . 5 8). T he e xistence o f t he K entish p arallel e stablishes t hat I ne 's c harter c annot b e c onsidered a nachronistic i n c ontent , a nd i n f act t he W est S axon g rant m ay h ave b een a n i ndirect r esult o f t he K entish o ne: W est S axon c hurchmen m ay h ave h eard o f t he K entish a rrangements a nd r equested s imilar p rivileges f or t hemselves. P eace h ad b een m ade b etween t he t wo k ingdoms i n 6 94 ( ASC s .a. 6 94). T here w ere c learly c ontacts a nd e xchanges o f i deas , s ince o ne o f t he p rovisions o f W ihtred's l aws i s a lmost i dentical w ith o ne i n t he s lightly e arlier l aws o f I ne ( Wihtred 2 8: A ttenborough , L aws , p . 3 0 ; me 2 0 : i bid., p . 4 2; W hitelock , i ntroduction t o W ihtred 's l aws, E HD , p . 3 96); a nd A ldhelm , b y w hose a dvice I ne 's g rant i s s aid t o h ave b een m ade , h ad b een a s tudent a t C anterbury ( Letter I I: E hwald, p . 4 78 ; L apidge a nd H erren , p . 1 53-4), a nd m ay w ell h ave m aintained c lose c ontacts w ith c hurchmen t here. I t m ay t herefore b e c oncluded t hat a n e xamination o f t he t ext o f t he c harter o f 7 04 a nd c onsideration o f o ther r elated e vidence e stabl ish a s tong p robability t hat t he d ocument i s a n a uthentic c harter o f I ne, a nd t hat t he v ersion s urviving i n t he c artulary o f M almesbury a ccurately r eproduces t he w ording o f t he o riginal c harter, s ubject o nly t o t he p ossible i nterpolation o f a s ingle s entence. I n t his c harter, a s i n W ihtred 's g rant t o t he K entish c hurches, e xemption f rom t ax p ayments i s c learly s tated, b ut i t i s d ifficult t o b e c ertain o f t he m eaning o f t he o ther h alf o f t he i mmunity i n e ither c ase. I t m ay b e t hat W ihtred 's r eference t o f reedom f rom l oss o r i njury w as i ntended t o p rovide a n a ssurance t hat n o a ttempt w ould b e m ade t o a ttack m onasteries o r d eprive t hem o f t heir p ossessions. T he

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p urpose o f I ne's s tatement t hat c hurchmen s hould b e f ree f rom t he b urden o f s ecular a ffairs , ' sine i mpedimento s ecularium r erum ', m ay h ave b een t o g rant f reedom f rom s ecular s ervices. I t w as p robably n ot t he i ntention o f t he c harter t o r efer t o m ilitary s ervice, s ince i t w ould a lmost c ertainly h ave b een t aken f or g ranted t hat m onks w ere e ngaged i n f ighting s piritual b attles , n ot e arthly o nes . W hen B ede c omplains o f t he s hortage o f m ilitary m en f or t he d efence o f N orthumbria b ecause s o m uch l and h ad b een g ranted f or t he f oundation o f p seudo-monasteries t hat t here w as a s hortage o f e states w ith w hich t o e ndow p otential w arriors, h e i mplies t hat n o-one e xpected a ny m ilitary s ervice t o b e f urnished b y a n e state w hich h ad b een g iven t o t he c hurch . A nd o ne o f h is c riticisms o f t he l ay a bbots o f t he p seudom onasteries w as t hat t hey w ere f ree o f b oth d ivine a nd h uman s ervice , ' liberi e xinde a d ivino s imul e t h umano s ervitio ' ( Bede 's l etter t o E cgberht, P lummer 1 896 , p . 4 15). E vidently t hese m en p erformed n o d ivine s ervices b ecause t hey d id n ot l ive a t ruly m onastic l ife, b ut t hey w ere a utomatically e xempt f rom e arthly s ervice b ecause , t heoretically a t l east , t hey w ere m onks. T he i mmunity c lauses w hich b egan t o a ppear i n c harters l ater i n t he e ighth c entury, a nd w hich g ranted f reedom f rom a ll s ervices e xcept t hose o f am ilitary c haracter, m ake i t c lear t hat v arious o ther t ypes o f s ervice c ould b e r equired f rom h olders o f l and, a nd i t w as p robably t hese o ther u nspecified s ervices f rom w hich I ne r eleased t he m onasteries o f W essex. I ne's p rivilege , g ranted b y A ldhelm 's a dvice, s uggests, i n c onjunction w ith o ther e vidence , t hat A ldhelm w as a n i mportant p ublic f igure i n W essex a t t his t ime. H e w as a n e xceptionally a ble m an a nd w as p robably s ome y ears o lder t han t he k ing : h e h ad b een a bbot o f M almesbury f or o ver t wenty y ears a t t he t ime o f t his g rant ( S71 d ated 6 81), a nd h ad a ttended t he c ourt o f a t l east o ne o f I ne's p redecessors ( S235; a lso S 237). D uring t he f ollowing y ear h e u ndertook t he j ob o f c reating t he n ew s ee a nd o rganising t he n ew d iocese o f S herborne, w hich m ust h ave b een a f ar m ore d emanding t ask t han a ny w hich f aced D aniel i n s ucceeding t o t he e stablished s ee a t W inchester. T he d ecision t o s plit t he d iocese m ay w ell h ave b een t aken a t t he i nstigation o f A ldhelm . T he W est S axons' e arlier r ejection o f t he a rchbishop o f C anterbury 's o rder t o d ivide t he d iocese , w hich r esulted i n t heir e xcommunication ( Chaplais 1 978, p . 2 2), w as a lmost c ertainly d ue t o t he o pposition o f H aeddi w ho s tood t o l ose b y t he p roposed d ivision, j ust a s W ilfrid h ad o pposed a s imilar p lan i n N orthumbria ( Colgrave , W ilfrid, c h . X XIV , p p. 4 8-50). T he c hange o f p olicy o n H aeddi's d eath s uggests t hat I ne h ad f ormerly b een a cting o n t he b ishop 's a dvice a nd w as n ow i nfluenced b y n ew c ounsellers, a mong w hom A ldhelm i s l ikely t o h ave b een p rominent. H is a cceptance o f t he n ew s ee m ust i ndicate t hat h e a pproved o f t he n ew a rrangements, a nd h is s tatus a s a f ormer p upil o f t he s chool a t C anterbury, a nd t he h igh o pinion h e h ad o f t hat e stablishment ( Letter V : E hwald, p p. 4 92-3; L apidge a nd H erren , p . 1 63), r ender i t p robable t hat h e w ould h ave s upported a p roposal e manating f rom C anterbury.

* * * * * *

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A ldhelm 's a greement t o r etain t he a bbacy B odleian , W ood e mpt. 5 , f os. ( Edition:

1 9v-21v.

B 114)

T his d ocument, w hich p urports t o r ecord A ldhelm 's c onsent t o a p roposal t hat h e s hould r etain t he a bbacy o f h is m onasteries a fter h is c onsecration t o t he s ee o f S herborne, i s d escribed i n t he c artularist 's r ubric a s a l etter a nd w as o mitted b y S awyer f rom h is h andlist o f A nglo-Saxon c harters. B ut t he d ocument i s d rawn u p i n t he f orm o f a c harter , c onsisting o f p roem , d ispositio, s anction , d ate a nd w itness l ist ; a nd i t s urvives i n t he t hree m anuscripts o f t he M almesbury c artulary a nd i n t he G esta P ontificum w ith t he o ther M almesbury c harters. S o i t a ppears t hat t his t ext s hould b e c onsidered a s p art o f t he c harter m aterial r elating t o t he e arly m onastery o f M almesbury. E xamination o f t he d ocument, h owever , s uggests t hat i t i s af abrication d rawn u p m uch l ater t han i ts o stensible d ate, 7 05. T he t ext s tates t hat A ldhelm , o n h is e lection a s a b ishop, p rop osed t hat t he c ommunities o f t he m onasteries a t M almesbury , F rome a nd B radford o n A von , w hich h e h ad h itherto r uled a s a bbot, s hould e lect a n ew a bbot f or t hemselves. B ut t he m onks r esisted t his p lan , p referring t hat A ldhelm s hould r emain o fficially a bbot a s l ong a s h e l ived. T hey a sked, h owever, t hat t hey s hould b e g iven t he r ight o f c hoosing t heir o wn a bbot w ithout o utside i nterference a fter A ldhelm 's d eath . A ldhelm m ade a f ormal g rant o f t his r ight t o t he m onks a t a m eeting i n t he m onastery o f W imborne, w here C uthburh , s ister o f k ing I ne, r uled a s a bbess, a nd t he k ing a nd b ishop D aniel g ave t heir c onsent . N ot l ong a fterwards a t a s ynod o n t he r iver ' Noodr' t he a greement o f a ll a bbots o f S axon r ace w as s ecured. F ollowing t his a ccount t here i s a f airly l ong s anction; a d ating c lause g iving t he y ear a s 7 05, 3 rd i ndiction ; a nd a w itness l ist c onsisting o f b ishop D aniel, k ing I ne , a nd t he p atricius d ethilfrith. T he c ontent o f t his d ocument i s u nlike t hat o f g enuine c harters o f t he t ime. N o g enuine , e arly A nglo-Saxon c harter c onsists o f a g rant o f f ree a bbatial e lection, a lthough t his r ight w as s ometimes i ncluded i n e arly p apal p rivileges s uch a s t hat o f p ope S ergius t o M almesbury d iscussed a bove. I t i s s carcely b elievable t hat t his t ransaction s hould h ave t aken p lace a t W imborne , s ince M almesbury i s n ot k nown t o h ave h ad a ny d irect c onnection w ith t hat h ouse , a nd t here i s n o o ther r ecord o f s uch a m eeting b eing h eld a t a d ouble m onastery . M oreover, t he g ratuitous d etails o f t he a bbess o f W imborne, w hich f ind n o p arallel i n g enuine c harters, a ppear t o h ave b een b orrowed f rom t he C hronicle ( ASC s .a. 7 18). T he r iver ' Noodr' i s i dentified a s t he N adder i n W iltshire , n ow t he S alisbury A von ( PN W iltshire , p . 9 ), w hich i s m entioned i n t he b oundary c lauses o f a f ew p re-Conquest c harters f rom t he a rchives o f S haftesbury a nd W ilton ( S326, 3 64, 4 38, 6 30, 6 31). B ut t here i s n o o ther r ecord o f as ynod o n t he N adder, w hereas t he a ccounts o f E ddius a nd B ede o f t he l ife o f W ilfrid m ention a s ynod o n t he N idd i n N orthumbria a t t he b eginning o f t he r eign o f O sred ( Colgrave , W ilfrid, c h . L X , p . 1 28 ; H E V 1 9). B y r eference t o t he n orthern r ecension o f t he C hronicle, w hich d ates t he d eath o f A ldfrith o f N orthumbria p recisely t o t he 1 4th D ecember 7 05, a nd t o E ddius ' L ife o f W ilfrid, w hich i s t he o nly e xtant s ource t o m ention t he t wo-month

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r eign o f E adwulf w hich f ollowed ( ASC s .a. 7 05, D , E ; C olgrave , W ilfrid, c h . L IX , p . 1 28), i t c an b e e stablished t hat O sred 's r eign b egan i n 7 06, a nd h ence t hat t he s ynod o n t he N idd a lmost c ertainly t ook p lace i n t hat y ear. B ut a m onk a t M almesbury i s u nlikely t o h ave h ad a ccess t o a v ersion o f t he C hronicle r esembling t he e xtant m anuscripts D a nd E ; h is s ources w ould h ave i nformed h im o nly t hat A ldfrith d ied i n 7 05 ( ASC s .a . 7 05, A , B , C ; H E V 1 8 , 2 4), a nd , w hether o r n ot h e k new o f E adwulf's b rief r eign , h e w ould h ave a ssumed t hat O sred b ecame k ing i n 7 05, a nd h ence t hat t he s ynod o n t he N idd o ccurred i n t hat y ear. I t s eems l ikely t hat t here n ever w as a s ynod o n t he N adder, a nd t hat t his d etail i s b ased s olely o n t he a uthor 's k nowledge o f t he s ynod o n t he N idd d erived f rom B ede. T he w itness l ist m ight h ave s ome a uthentic b asis. T he n ames o f D aniel a nd I ne c ould e asily h ave b een l ifted f rom B ede o r t he C hronicle, b ut t he t hird n ame c annot b e a ccounted f or i n t his w ay. T here w as a l ayman n amed Athilfrith a ctive i n t he r eign o f I ne ( S239, 2 45), a nd h e i s n ot m entioned i n a ny n arrative s ource , s o i f t his n ame d oes n ot r epresent m erely a l ucky g uess o r t he b orrowing o f a s ingle o bscure n ame f rom t he l ong w itness l ist o f t he• g eneral g rant o f p rivileges o f 7 04 , i t m ust d erive f rom a n a uthentic r ecord o f I ne 's r eign w hich d oes n ot n ow s urvive. T here i s n o o ther i ndication o f a ny g enuine d ocument l ying b ehind t he s urviving t ext. N one o f t he c lauses r esemble t hose o f g enuine t exts i n w ording , a nd t he c ontent i s b asically u nlike t hat o f g enuine c harters, a nd a ppears t o d erive i ts d etails f rom n arrative s ources. T he d ocument a ppears t o b e a f abrication , a lthough i t i s p ossible t hat a p ortion o f a g enuine w itness l ist h as b een a ppended t o i t. P resumably t he p urpose o f t he d ocument w as t o c laim t he r ight o f f ree a bbatial e lection a t M almesbury w ithout o utside i nterference , a nd t o g ive t his r ight t he s upport o f A ldhelm 's a uthority.

S 256 B odleian, W ood e mpt. 5 , f os. 2 1v-23r. ( Edition :

B 170)

Ar ather u nusual t ext i n t he f orm o f ag rant t o M almesbury b y k ing C uthred d ated 7 45 i s e xtant i n t he c artularies a nd i n a n a bbreviated f orm i n t he G esta P ontificum . An umber o f c lauses f rom t his c harter a re q uoted a bove w ith s imilar c lauses f rom G lastonbury c harters o f t he m id-eighth c entury. T hese p arallels o f w ording s uggest t hat t he M almesbury c harter h as a t l east s ome b asis i n a n a uthentic g rant o f C uthred. A ccording t o t his d ocument , t he a bbot o f M almesbury i n 7 45 w as n amed A ldhelm . O ne w ould b e i nclined t o d ismiss t his m an a s t he c hronological e rror o f a f orger, w ere i t n ot f or t he f act t hat h is n ame o ccurs, w ith t hat o f C uthred , i n a nother a rchive. T hey a ppear i n a w itness l ist a ppended t o as purious c harter i n t he n ame o f I ne i n t he

16 1

W inchester c artulary. T he n ames a nd t itles f rom t he W inchester w itness l ist a re s et o ut b elow , t ogether w ith t hose f rom t he w itness l ist o f t he M almesbury c harter p lus a bbot A ldhelm w ho d oes n ot a ttest b ut i s n amed i n t he d ispositio :

S 256

S 242

D aniel, b ishop

D aniel, b ishop I ne , k ing

2 Ethilheard

Athilheard F orthere P uttock

C tu nma

C umma T unberht , a bbot H agena C uthred, k ing

C uthred, k ing

A ldhelm , a bbot

A ldhelm , a bbot l Eldhun

T he a ppearance o f a bbot A ldhelm i n t he W inchester w itness l ist c an b e i nterpreted i n t hree w ays. E ither t he n ame h as b een b orrowed b y a t welfth-century W inchester m onk f rom W illiam o f M almesbury 's a ccount o f C uthred 's g rant t o M almesbury i n t he G esta P ontificum ; o r t he n ame h as b een b orrowed f rom a n e arly r ecord r elating t o t he f irst A ldhelm ; o r t he n ame d erives f rom a n a uthentic r ecord o f t he 7 40s a nd t herefore c onfirms t hat t he a bbot d id e xist. T he f irst a lternative d oes n ot s eem a t a ll l ikely f or a n umber o f r easons. F irstly t he l ist i s n ot e ntirely s purious. T he n ames o f P uttock , w ho a ttests a c harter o f k ing 2 Ethilheard o f 7 39 r elating t o C rediton ( S255), a nd T unberht, w ho w as a bbot o f G lastonbury i n 7 44 ( S1410), w ould n ot h ave b een k nown t o a f orger a nd m ust i ndicate t hat t his w itness l ist r eproduces i n w hole o r i n p art a n a uthentic l ist o f t he 7 30s o r 7 40s. Aw riter w ho h ad s uch a l ist a vailable w ould n ot n eed t o s earch n arrative s ources f or n ames. S econdly a r eader o f t he G esta P ontificum w ould k now t hat t he A ldhelm o f C uthred 's c harter w as n ot t he f amous A ldhelm , a nd w ould t herefore h ave n o p articular r eason t o u se h is n ame. T hirdly , t he l ay w itnesses Athilheard, C umma a nd f Eldhun a re n ot m entioned i n W illiam 's a ccount o f t he M almesbury c harter, s o t he f irst t wo n ames, w hich o ccur i n t he W inchester l ist, c ould n ot b e t aken f rom t he G esta P ontificum , a nd i t i s r easonable t o s uppose t hat t he n ame o f A ldhelm d erives f rom t he s ame s ource a s t hese o ther n ames.

T he

I t i s a lso i mprobable t hat t he f irst A ldhelm 's n ame h as b een u sed. l ist e vidently d erives f rom t he 7 30s o r 7 40s , e xcept f or t he

117

i nterpolation o f I ne's n ame t o s uit t he s purious c harter, a nd t he i ntroduction o f o ne o dd n ame f rom b efore 7 05 w ould h ave b een p ointless. M oreover , i f A ldhelm I w as m eant , o ne w ould e xpect h im t o a ppear i n h is b etter-known r ole a s b ishop. T he p robability t herefore i s t hat t he n ame o f A ldhelm h as b een b orrowed, w ith t he o ther n ames i n t he W inchester l ist, f rom a c harter o f t he m id-eighth c entury. I t m ay b e t hat t he w hole l ist d erives f rom a c harter o f C uthred, a nd h as b een a ltered o nly b y t he i nterpolation o f I ne, s ome c onfusion i n t he o rder o f n ames, a nd p ossibly s ome a bbreviation. O r t he Athilheard o f t his l ist m ay b e C uthred's p redecessor , t he l ist h aving o riginated i n ac harter o f h is r eign a nd t he n ames o f C uthred a nd A ldhelm r epresenting a l ater, c onfirmatory w itness l ist, a bbreviated b y a c opyist w ho c hose t o p reserve t he n ame o f A ldhelm i n t he b elief t hat t his w as t he f amous s cholar. O n t his b asis t he Athilheard o f t he M almesbury t ext i s ad ifferent m an , b ut t he n ame i s t oo c ommon f or t his t o p resent a ny p roblem . T here i s n o r eason w hy C umma s hould n ot a ppear i n w itness l ists o f c onsecutive r eigns. T he W inchester e vidence t herefore s uggests n ot o nly t hat a bbot A ldhelm I I d id e xist , b ut a lso t hat t he n ames i n t he M almesbury w itness l ist a re a uthentic. W illiam o f M almesbury r eports a t radition t hat t he a bbot w as n ephew t o t he f irst A ldhelm ( q E , p . 3 87). T his w as d oubtless s omeone's g uess, m ade t o a ccount f or t he r ecurrence o f t he n ame, b ut i t m ay w ell b e t rue t hat t he t wo m en w ere r elatives, a s t he c oincidence i s o therwise s carcely b elievable. T he o nly o ther p ossibility i s t hat t he l ater a bbot c hose t o a dopt t he n ame o f h is i llustrious p redecessor, a nd t his d oes n ot s eem v ery l ikely. T here i s t herefore s ome r eason t o b elieve t hat t he M almesbury t ext p reserves a t l east p art o f t he w ording o f a n a uthentic c harter o f C uthred, t he n ame o f t he a bbot o f t he t ime, a nd a g enuine b ut p robably a bbreviated w itness l ist. T his g oes s ome w ay t owards e stablishing t hat t he s urviving c harter i s b asically a uthentic. T he l and g ranted b y C uthred t o M almesbury i s d escribed a s 1 0 h ides ' in l oco q ui d icitur W detun ', a nd i s p resumably t he e state a t W ootton B assett w hich i s t he s ubject o f t he f abricated c harter i n t he n ame o f C oenfrith d iscussed a bove ( S1166). B ut i t s eems u nlikely t hat t his d ocument i s a s econd f abrication d rawn u p a t t he s ame t ime a nd f or t he s ame r eason a s t he c harter o f C oenfrith . C uthred 's c harter, u nlike t hat o f C oenfrith , i s n ot b ased o n a ny o ther e xtant c harter i n t he M almesbury a rchive. N one o f t he p eople n amed i n t his c harter a ppears i n a ny o ther M almesbury c harter, a nd n one o f t he w ording i s d uplicated. C uthred 's r ather u nusual t itle, ' rex G ewisorum ', a lso o ccurs i n a c harter r ecording 2 Ethelwulf 's g rant o f T ockenham t o M almesbury ( S306), b ut t he s ame t itle a lso o ccurs i n ac harter o f C uthred 's s uccessor , C yniwulf, e xtant i n a nother c artulary ( S262), a nd c ould w ell h ave b een u sed b y e ighth-century w riters , e ither b ecause i t s till r epresented c urrent u sage , o r b ecause t hey t ook i t f rom B ede ( HE I II 7 , I V 1 6). T his i s t he o nly n oticeable i nstance o f t he r ecurrence o f ap hrase f rom C uthred 's c harter i n a nother M almesbury t ext , a nd t he e vidence s trongly s uggests t hat t his d ocument w as n ot f abricated b y t he s ame p erson o r i n t he s ame c ircumstances a s t he c harter o f C oenfrith .

1 18

S econdly, a nd a gain u nlike t he C oenfrith c harter, t his t ext c ontains n o i dentifiable a nachronisms. S ome o f t he w ording s eems d istinctly o dd : ' cogente c aritatis c athena C risti'; ' ob r ecordationem s cilicet o rationum s uarum '; ' ut i n p lenitudine e lectorum d ei c ollocatus s im '; ' sub c ontestatione s ancte t rinitatis . d apsili q uidem l ibertate e t h ylariter'; b ut n othing i n i t i s t ypical o f, o r e xclusive t o, t he u sage o f a l ater a ge. T o j udge f rom t he c harters o f L euthere a nd C oenfrith, f orgers a t M almesbury w ere n ot v ery s kilful , a nd i t i s u nlikely t hat a t enth o r e leventh-century w riter c ould h ave p roduced a d ocument s o e ntirely f ree f rom t he c haracteristics o f h is o wn t ime. T heoretically, af orger m ight h ave t aken a n a uthentic c harter o f C uthred r elating t o s ome o ther e state a nd i nterpolated i nto i t t he n ame a nd h idage o f W ootton B assett. B ut t his s eems u nlikely b ecause t he d escription o f t he e state i s o ne o f t he c lauses f or w hich t here i s a n e ighth-century p arallel, a nd i t d oes n ot s eem p robable t hat a n i nterpolator w ould h ave p reserved t his w ording . S imilarly , t here i s n o l ikelihood t hat a g rant t o s omeone e lse h as b een a ltered t o m ake i t a g rant t o M almesbury s ince t here a re r epeated a llusions t hroughout t he t ext t o t he m onastic b eneficiary, a nd a gain s ome o f t hese c lauses h ave e ighth-century p arallels. O n t he w hole, t he p robability s eems t o b e t hat t his i s a n a uthentic c harter o f C uthred. I f s o, i t s uggests t hat C uthred w as i n e ffective c ontrol o f W iltshire i n 7 45 s ince h e g ranted l and t here t o a m onastery o n t he M ercian b order, a nd n either h e n or t he M almesbury c ommunity s ecured t he a greement o f Athilbald. T his t ends t o s uggest t hat C uthred h ad a lready m ade s ome p rogress i n e stablishing W est S axon i ndependence , a lthough a n orthern c hronicler d ated h is r evolt a gainst Athilbald t o 7 50 ( Continuatio B aedae s .a. 7 50). T he d ocument a lso s uggests t hat a n a bbot o f M almesbury i n t he e ighth c entury w as a r elative of A ldhelm . T his c ircumstance carries t he i mplication t hat M almesbury d uring i ts e arliest y ears w as a f amily m onastery, a nd t hat t he h ouse a nd i ts l and w ere c onsidered t o b e f amily p roperty a nd i nherited a s s uch, a s w as t he c ase w ith c ertain o ther m onasteries o f t he t ime , f or e xample t he o ne f ounded o n t he S tour i n W orcestershire b y C yniberht in 7 36 a nd i nherited b y his s on, C eolfrith ( S89, 1 411) a nd t he h ouse i n G loucestershire l eft b y a bbess D unne t o h er g randdaughter ( S1429, 1 255).

2 60 B odleian, Wood e mpt. 5 , f o. 2 3rv. ( Edition :

B 185)

A c harter o f k ing C yniwulf g ranting l and t o t he c ommunity o f M almesbury i n 7 58 s eems t o b e e ntirely a uthentic. I t s urvives i n t he c artularies a nd t he G esta P ontificum . T here i s n o p roem o r s anction a nd t he t ext h as p erhaps b een a bbreviated b y ac opyist.

119

A n u nusual f eature o f t he w ording i s i ts r eference t o t he c onsent o f n oblemen n amed a bove , ' supra ', w hich s uggests a n u nusual l ayout o f t he o riginal w ith t he w itnesses a t t he t op , u nless i t i s m erely a s lip o f t he p en b y t he a uthor o r a c opyist. I t m ay b e t hat t he a uthor w as r eferring t o aw itness l ist d rawn u p a t t he t ime o f t he t ransaction a nd b efore t he c harter w as w ritten. H owever , t he l ayout, i f o riginally u nusual, h as b een n ormalised i n t he e xtant c artulary c opies, w ith t he w itness l ist a t t he e nd o f t he t ext . W illiam o f M almesbury, i n a ccordance w ith h is u sual p ractice, d oes n ot q uote t he w itness l ist, b ut m erely a dds a b rief n ote o f s ome n ames a nd t itles. I n o ther r espects t he w ording i s q uite n ormal, c onsisting c hiefly o f s tandard f ormulas. T he g rant i s m ade t o M almesbury, a nd t he c harter r esembles o ther m id-eighth c entury g rants t o M almesbury a nd G lastonbury i n c iting t he f amilia o f C hrist i n t he m onastery a s t he b eneficiary. T he e state i s d escribed a s s ituated a t t he c onfluence o f t wo n amed s treams a nd i n t he s urrounding a rea. T here i s a r eference t o l ocal k nowledge o f b oundaries w hich f oreshadows t he d evelopment o f b oundary c lauses l ater i n t his r eign , a nd a l ist o f t he c omponents o f t he e state , ' pascua . 1 p rata f ollows. T he d ates , 7 58 a nd t he 1th i ndiction , a re c onsistent. T he w itness l ist i s s lightly u nusual i n t hat t he o rder o f n ames m ixes u p c hurchmen a nd l aymen, b ut i t m ay b e t hat t he o riginal a rrangement h as b ecome c onfused i n c opying , p ossibly i n c onnection w ith t he n ormalisation o f l ayout s uggested a bove. T he a ttestations o f b ishops C yniheard o f W inchester a nd H erewald o f S herborne f ollow t hat o f t he k ing. B oth b ishops a ttest a c harter o f Athilbald o f M ercia o f t he p receding y ear ( S96) a nd a n umber o f l ater c harters o f C yniwulf 's r eign ( S260-2, 2 65, 1 256). T he n ext t hree w itnesses , E oppa , E alhfrith a nd a bbot H ereca , a lso a ttest Athilbald 's c harter, a nd a bbot H ereca i s m entioned i n a l etter w hich a m onk o f h is c ommunity w rote t o L ul ( Tangl n o. 1 35). E oppa a lso a ppears i n l ater c harters o f C yniwulf, w hile E alhfrith w itnesses a nother o f t he s ame y ear ( S261, 2 62, 2 65). A bbot B eorn a nd Y nta a re o therwise u nknown. T he p ractice o f d istinguishing l ay a nd c lerical w itnesses b y t heir a ttestation f orms, w hich w as u sual i n e arlier W est S axon c harters , d oes n ot a ppear h ere , a nd w as a pparently g radually d iscontinued d uring t he e ighth c entury. T he w itness l ist s eems t o b e e ntirely a uthentic, a lthough i t m ay w ell h ave b een a bbreviated. T he e state g ranted b y C yniwulf c onsisted o f 3 0 h ides a t t he c onfluence o f t wo s treams n amed ' Mearcdaeno' a nd ' Reodburna '. T hese n ames s urvive i n t he m odern p lace-names M oredon a nd R odbourne ( Not t o b e c onfused w ith R odbourne s outh o f M almesbury: s ee u nder S 243 a bove), w hich a re n ow s uburbs i n t he n orthern p art o f S windon . T here i s n o e vidence t o s uggest t hat M almesbury o wned t he l and i n l ater y ears , a nd t his e state d oes n ot s eem t o h ave s urvived a s au nit. A n e state o f 2 0 h ides a t M oredon w as g ranted t o s uccessive l aymen i n t he t enth c entury i n c harters n ow s urviving i n t he a rchives o f W inchester a nd A bingdon , a nd w as a pparently t he p roperty o f A bingdon a t t he b eginning o f t he e leventh c entury ( S486, 6 38 , 7 05, 7 63, 1 376; S 918). R odbourne d oes n ot r ecur i n p re-Conquest c harters. I n 1 066 b oth M oredon a nd R odbourne w ere i n l ay h ands a nd w ere a ssessed a t 1 0 a nd 5 h ides r espectively ( DB W iltshire, p p. 2 6.9, 2 9.6, 4 3.1; 2 8.9). S ince

t here

i s n othing s uspicious i n t he w ording o r

1 20

c ontent

o f

t his c harter, a nd n o i dentifiable m otive f or f orgery, t here s eems l ittle d oubt t hat t he d ocument i s a uthentic. T he a bsence o f a ny M ercian i nvolvement c onfirms t hat C yniwulf w as a n i ndependent k ing a nd i n c ontrol o f W iltshire a t t his d ate.

S 149 B odleian, W ood e mpt. 5 , f os . 2 3v-25r. ( Edition :

B 279)

Ac harter d ating f rom t he b rief r eign o f E cgfrith o f M ercia , 2 6th J uly t o 1 4th D ecember 7 96, s urvives i n t he c artularies a nd t he G esta P ontificum . I t r elates t o a n e state a t P urton , W iltshire , w hich h ad b een t aken f rom M almesbury b y O ffa a nd w as n ow r estored b y h is s on a t t he r equest o f B eorhtric , k ing o f t he W est S axons, a nd Athilheard, a rchbishop o f C anterbury. T he c harter h as b een r egarded w ith s uspicion ( Stevenson , A sser , p . 2 01; W hitelock, S 149), b ut i s p robably a uthentic. E cgfrith 's g rant w as m ade t o a bbot C uthberht a nd t he m onks o f M almesbury. T his a bbot i s n ot m entioned e lsewhere i n M almesbury r ecords, b ut i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he a bbot C uthberht w ho a ttended t he s ynod o f C lofesho i n 8 03 a nd a ppears i n t he r emarkable w itness l ist a ppended t o a n o riginal c harter d eriving f rom t hat c ouncil i n t he s ection r elating t o t he d iocese o f W inchester ( B312). T he a ctive i nvolvement o f B eorhtric i n t his t ransaction p robably r eflects t he f act t hat t he e state a nd t he m onastery w ere b oth i n W essex. M oreover, i t m ay b e t hat E cgfrith , a t t he b eginning o f h is r eign, w as r eady t o a ccept t he a dvice o f am an w ho w as h is b rother-in-law a nd n eighbour, h ad b een h is f ather's a lly, a nd h ad t en y ears ' e xperience o f k ingship. A rchbishop 2 Ethilheard m ay h ave b een v isiting M ercia i n t he n ormal c ourse o f h is d uties, o r m ay a lready h ave f led f rom t he K entish r evolt w hich f ollowed O ffa 's d eath . T he w itness l ist i s h eaded b y t he t wo k ings, q ueen E adburh , w ife o f B eorhtric a nd s ister o f E cgfrith , a nd t he a rchbishop . T hen t here f ollow t he n ames o f f our b ishops, a ll c onsistent w ith t he d ate o f t he c harter. C yniberht o f W inchester s ubscribed t he r eport o f t he p apal l egates i n 7 86 a nd a ttested t hree c harters o f B eorhtric's r eign , t wo o f t hem d ating f rom 8 01; i n t he s ame y ear h e a ccompanied a rchbishop Athilheard t o R ome ( EHD , n o. 1 91; S 268, 2 69, 2 70a ; A SC s .a . 8 01). D enefrith o f S herborne a ttended t he s ynod o f C lofesho i n 7 94 a nd a ttests a n o riginal c harter o f O ffa o f 7 92 x 7 96 ( S137, 1 39; t he l atter a lso d erives f rom a s ynod a t C lofesho, p ossibly t he s ame o ne). H is n ame o ccurs i n n o l ater r ecord a nd b y 8 01 h is s uccessor, W igberht , h eld t he s ee ( S268 , 2 70a). H eathored o f W orcester a ppears i n n umerous c harters, i ncluding t exts o f u ndoubted a uthenticity d ating f rom b oth b efore a nd a fter t his g rant ( Eg . S 139, 1 53). E adwulf, d escribed h ere a s b ishop e lect, w as t he s uccessor o f C eolwulf o f L indsey w ho d ied i n 7 96, a nd h e h eld t he s ee f or m any y ears ( ASC , H istoria R egum s .a . 7 96; S 153, 1 55, 1 73, 1 434, e tc.). S ix l aymen a ttest t he c harter. T he f irst f ive a re M ercians, a ll o f w hom a ttest c harters o f b oth O ffa a nd

121

C oenwulf ( S139, 1 53, 1 55, e tc.), a nd t he l ast i s t he W est S axon e aldorman W igfrith w ho w as a ctive t hroughout t he r eigns o f C yniwulf a nd B eorhtric ( S96 , 2 61, 2 64, 2 69, e tc.). T here w ere p robably o ther W est S axon l ay w itnesses w hose n ames h ave b een d ropped b y a c opyist . T his w itness l ist a ppears t o b e g enuine, a nd i ts a uthenticity i s c onfirmed b y t he c lose c orrespondence o f t he w itness l ist o f a nother c harter o f E cgfrith , s urviving i n t he W orcester c artulary ( S148). S even o f t he M almesbury w itnesses a ppear i n t he o ther l ist: t he t wo k ings , t he a rchbishop, b ishop H eathored, b ishop e lect E adwulf a nd t he l aymen B rorda a nd 2 Ethilmund . T wo o ther m en , n ot i n t he M almesbury l ist , a lso s ubscribe. T here a re n o a nachronisms i n t he w ording o f E cgfrith 's g rant t o M almesbury. T he t ext i s d ated b y a r egnal y ear a s w ell a s a n i ndiction a nd y ear o f g race , a nd r egnal y ears c ommonly o ccur i n t he c harters o f E cgfrith 's s uccessor , C oenwulf ( S153, 1 55, 1 61, e tc.). T he e state i s m ade f ree o f a ll s ecular r oyal s ervices , a s i s t he c ase i n o ther c harters o f t his p eriod ( S41, 1 65, 1 87), a nd t he p rice p aid b y M almesbury f or i t i s m entioned, w hich a gain h as c ontemporary p arallels ( S155, 2 68, 2 69, e tc.). T he e state i s d escribed a s 3 5 h ides ' in l oco q ui u ocatur a ec P iergean a b o rientali p arte s ilue q ue a ppelatur B raden ', n ow P urton i n W iltshire , a bout 8 m iles e ast o f M almesbury. T he m onastery e vidently r etained t he e state f rom t his t ime , a nd s till o wned i t i n 1 066 ( S305, 1 038; D B W iltshire, p . 8 .13). A ccording t o W illiam o f M almesbury a nd t he p ancarta d ated 1 065 , P urton w as o riginally g ranted t o M almesbury b y C eadwalla . T his s tatement i s p resumably b ased o n t he f uller a nd m ore d ubious v ersion o f C eadwalla's c harter o f 6 88 w hich i ncludes a g rant o f 3 0 h ides e ast o f B raydon w ood ( GP , p . 3 88; S 1038; S 234). I t i s f ar f rom c ertain t hat C eadwalla d id g rant t his l and, b ut t he d escription o f t he e state , w ith i ts d ifferent h idage a nd n o p lace-name , c ould w ell d erive f rom a n e arly c harter . W illiam o f M almesbury s tates t hat O ffa s eized T etbury a s w ell a s P urton a nd g ave t he f ormer t o W orcester ( GP , p . 3 88). T his s tatement p robably d erives f rom W orcester r ecords. — A l ist o f g rants t o W orcester s urviving i n a n e leventh-century c artulary o f t he h ouse , n ow B ritish L ibrary , C otton N ero E i , i ncludes O ffa's g ifts o f T etbury a nd P urton ( B1320). T etbury h ad b een g ranted t o M almesbury b y Athilred o f M ercian i n 6 81, b ut d oes n ot r ecur i n M almesbury r ecords . I t w as o wned b y a l ayman i n 1 066 ( DB G loucesters hire, p . 4 1.2). I t a ppears t hat O ffa t ook t wo e states f rom M almesbury, a nd t hat t he h ouse a ttempted t o r ecover t hem b ut o nly s ucceeded i n r egaining o ne , a nd t hat o nly o n p ayment o f a s ubstantial s um o f m oney. T hree o ther c harters o f t he l ate e ighth c entury r ecord t he s ettlement o f d isputes a rising o ut o f t he s eizing o r c laiming o f l ands b y O ffa. AW orcester d ocument o f 7 81 e xplains t hat B ath a nd s everal o ther m onasteries w ith t heir e states , t he p roperty o f W orcester, w ere c laimed b y O ffa, a nd t hat i t w as e ventually a greed t hat O ffa w ould t ake B ath a nd o ne o ther e state , w hile W orcester r etained t he o ther l ands, t his b eing a r oughly e qual d ivision o f t he p roperty ( S1257). T he m onastery o f C ookham i n B erkshire , o wned b y C hrist C hurch , C anterbury, w as f irst c laimed b y C yniwulf o f W essex, t hen s eized b y O ffa a nd r etained b y h im f or t he r est o f h is l ife . A t t he s ynod o f C lofesho i n 7 98 a rchbishop J Ethilheard f inally a greed t hat C ynithryth , a bbess o f

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C ookham ( and p robably O ffa 's w idow), s hould r etain t he m onastery, b ut s he h anded c ertain e states o ver t o h im i n e xchange ( S1258). I n 7 99 C oenwulf o f M ercia r estored t o C hrist C hurch s everal e states w hich h ad f ormerly b een s eized b y O ffa , i n c onsideration o f a p ayment o f m oney ( S155). T he s imilarity o f t he b ackground a nd c ontent o f t he M almesbury c harter t o t hose o f t he W orcester a nd C hrist C hurch d ocuments e stablishes a s trong p resumption o f t he a uthenticity o f E cgfrith 's c harter. I t i s p robable t hat t here h ad b een a d ispute b etween W orcester a nd M almesbury o ver o wnership o f b oth T etbury a nd P urton , a nd t hat t his w as s ettled b y d ivision o f t he p roperty b etween t he t wo . T he a greement r esembles t hose c oncerning B ath a nd C ookham i n i nvolving a d ivision o f p roperty b etween t he p arties, a nd i s l ike t he o ther C anterbury s ettlement i n b eing a r estoration o f p roperty t o i ts o riginal o wners i n r eturn f or a c ash p ayment . T he s ettlement o f t he d ispute c oncerning t he M almesbury e states m ay h ave r eflected a n a greement b etween B eorhtric a nd E cgfrith o n t he d emarkation o f t he W est S axon/Mercian b order . P urton , s ituated i n W iltshire d ue e ast o f M almesbury w as r estored t o t he W est S axon m onastery. T etbury, o riginally t he g rant o f a M ercian k ing a nd s ituated t o t he n orth o f t he m onastery, w as n ot g iven b ack, a nd w as p resumably r etained b y W orcester . T his w ould b e a l ogical a rrangement i f t he b order w as n ear M almesbury. T he d ate w hen O ffa t ook t hese e states f rom M almesbury i s n owhere s tated, b ut w as p erhaps d uring t he r eign o f C yniwulf, w hen O ffa d efeated t he W est S axons i n b attle a nd e xtended M ercian t erritory i n t he T hames v alley ( ASC s .a . 7 79; S 1258). I t m ay w ell b e t hat o ther s ections o f t he n orthern b order o f W essex w ere a ssailed a t t his t ime a nd o ther t erritories a nnexed. T he s ettlement o f 7 96 s uggests, h owever , t hat M ercia a greed t o g ive u p s ome p art o f t he c onquered l and, e ither l ate i n O ffa 's r eign o r a fter h is d eath .

* * * * * *

1 23

A ppendix:

S 96

B ritish L ibrary, C otton C harter V III 3 ( Edition :

B 181)

A c harter r ecording a g rant o f 2 Ethilbald, k ing o f t he M ercians, t o a n a bbot n amed E anberht s urvives o nly o n a s ingle s heet o f u nknown p rovenance. T he d ocument i s i n p oor c ondition a nd t he b eginning o f t he t ext i s l ost: o nly a f ew w ords o f t he p roem c an b e r ead, i t i s i mpossible t o t ell w hether t here w as a n i nvocation, a nd t he b eginning o f t he d ispositio i s s lightly o bscured. V arious d ates h ave b een a ssigned t o t he m anuscript. T he l atest p ublished o pinion , t hat o f K er a nd B ishop i n S awyer's h andlist, i s t hat t he d ocument i s t enth-century. P rofessor T . J ulian B rown, h owever, o bserves t hat, i f t enth-century, t he m anuscript i s a v ery g ood f ake; i t l ooks e arly, e ighth-or n inthc entury, a nd c ould b e a n o riginal ( personal c omment). T he t ext i s .n ot d ated, b ut c an b e a ssigned t o 7 57 o n t he e vidence o f t he w itness l ist w hich i s h eaded b y Athilbald o f M ercia a nd C yniwulf o f W essex: Athilbald's r eign e nded a nd C yniwulf's b egan i n t his y ear ( ASC , H istoria R egum a nd C ontinuatio B aedae, s .a. 7 57). T he e xtensive l ist o f n ames w hich f ollows c onsists o f t he l ay a nd c lerical s upporters o f t he t wo k ings, a nd i s a uthentic b eyond a ny r easonable d oubt. T hree b ishops a ttest, H erewald o f S herborne , M ildred o f W orcester a nd C yniheard o f W inchester. A ll t hree a ppear i n n umerous o ther c harters o f t he m id-eighth c entury, a nd t he C hronicle r ecords t hat C yniheard w as c onsecrated i n 7 56 a nd t hat M ildred d ied i n 7 74. T here a re 1 4 l ay w itnesses o f w hom t he f irst 8 a ppear t o b e M ercians, 5 o f t hem k nown f rom t heir a ttestations o f o ther M ercian c harters ( Headberht ( S89, 9 2, e tc.); E adbald ( S92, 1 05, e tc.); E ada ( S92); E alhmund ( S91, 9 2); E cgfrith ( S241 w hich h as a M ercian w itness l ist a ppended t o a s purious W est S axon c harter); t he o thers a re W est S axon , a ppearing i n o ther c harters o f C yniwulf ( See S 264). I n a s eparate c olumn a re l isted 5 f urther c hurchmen. A bbot T ycea i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith a bbot ' Tica ' o f G lastonbury w ho a ppears i n t he a bbatial l ist o f t hat h ouse, a nd i s n amed b y W illiam o f M almesbury a s t he b eneficiary o f a g rant b y k ing S igiberht o f W essex ( S1680; a lso p robably t he w riter o f T angl n o. 1 29). A bbot H ereca a ttests C yniwulf's g rant t o M almesbury d iscussed a bove. A bbot C yniberht i s p robably t he M ercian n oblemen w ho f ounded a m onastery o n l and a t I smere o n t he S tour i n W orcestershire , g ranted b y Athilbald i n 7 36 ( S89; 1 411; E HD , n o. 6 7). T he t wo p riests B zegloc a nd E cga a re o therwise u nknown, a lthough i t i s p ossible t hat t he l atter i s t o b e i dentified w ith E cgwald, w ho w as a bbot o f T isbury i n 7 59 ( S1256). 2 Ethilbald i s d escribed i n t he d ispositio a s ' rex n on s olum M ercensium . s ed e tiam i n c ircuitu p opulorum '. C lose p arallels f or t his w ording a re f ound i n h is o riginal c harter o f 7 36 g ranting I smere t o C yniberht: ' rex n on s olum M arcersium s ed e t o mnium p rouinciarum q ue g enerale n omine S utangli d icuntur'; a nd i n h is u ndated g rant t o l Ethilric o f t he H wicce: ' Non s olum M ercensium . s ed e t u niversarum p rovinciarum q u e c ommuni v ocabulo d icuntur . S uthengli' ( S89, 9 4). T he e state g ranted t o a bbot E anberht i s g iven n o n ame , a nd i s d efined b y r eference t o a djacent l andmarks, a w ood a nd a t umulus. S imilar d escriptions o f l and a re f ound b oth i n t he e arliest W est S axon a nd i n

1 24

i Ethilbald 's o ther c harters ( S84, 8 9). T he s anction i s o f a v ery c ommon t ype a sserting t hat a ny t ransgressor w ill r ender a ccount a t t he L ast J udgement , b ut t he w ording i n t his c harter r esembles t hat i n t he I smere c harter i n i ncluding t he w ord ' terribiliter'. T here a re n o a nachronisms i n t he w ording o f i Ethilbald's g rant , w hich i s b rief a nd s ubstantially c omposed o f c ommon f ormulas. I t a ppears t o b e w holly g enuine. T he m onastery r uled b y t he b eneficiary, a bbot E anberht, i s n ot n amed i n t his d ocument , b ut t he s ame n ame o ccurs i n M almesbury's a bbatial l ist, ' 2Eambriht', a nd t he a bbot o f M almesbury i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he r ecipient o f t his g rant ( Birch 1 871, p . 3 18; a lso W allenberg 1 931, p . 4 2). T he n ame i s n ot v ery c ommon . T he p osition o f t he n ame i n t he a bbatial l ist t ends t o s uggest t hat E anberht w as a n e arly a bbot o f t he h ouse, a nd t here i s n o e vidence t o s uggest t hat h e w as s omeone o ther t han a n a bbot o f M almesbury. C harters i nvolving k ings o f b oth W essex a nd M ercia u sually r elate t o b order s ituations, a nd i t i s n ot u nreasonable t hat a g rant t o t he b order m onastery o f M almesbury s hould h ave b een m ade a t am eeting w here b oth k ings w ere p resent t o w itness a nd c onfirm i t . A nd i t s eems t hat t he l and g ranted w as s ituated o nly a f ew m iles f rom M almesbury. T he e state i s d escribed a s 1 0 h ides ' iuxta s iluan q uam d icunt T occan S ceaga h abens i n p roximo t umulum q ui h abet n omen R eada B eorg '. T he i dentification o f ' Toccan S ceaga ' w ith T ockenham i n W iltshire w as f irst s uggested b y D r. J .K . W allenberg i n 1 931, w as e ndorsed b y F inberg i n 1 964, a nd i s n ow g enerally a ccepted ( Wallenberg 1 931, p p. 4 1-3; E CW , n o. 1 89; V CH W iltshire , p . 5n . 2 4. S 96 ; E HD , p . 1 9; S tenton 1 971, p . 2 04). T ockenham i s l ess t han 1 0 m iles f rom M almesbury, a nd o ccurs i n M almesbury r ecords . A d ubious c harter i n t he n ame o f 2 Ethelwulf r ecords a g rant o f 5h ides a t T ockenham t o M almesbury; i n 1 066 t he e state w as a ssessed a t 1 0 h ides a nd p ortions o f i t w ere h eld b y a n umber o f l aymen , o ne o f t hem h olding 5 h ides f rom t he c hurch o f M almesbury ( S306; D B W iltshire, p p. 3 0.2, 4 1.2, 6 7.20, 2 7, 3 1). T he h istory o f t he e state f rom t he t ime o f Athilbald's g rant i s u nclear , b ut t he p robability s eems t o b e t hat t he g rant o f 7 57 w as t o M almesbury w hich s ubsequently m anaged t o r etain a t l east p art o f t he e state. T his c harter h as l ong b een c onsidered e vidence o f t he s ubo rdination o f C yniwulf o f W essex t o Athilbald o f M ercia ( Stenton 1 918 , p. 5 7-8 ; S tenton 1 971, p . 2 04; E CW , p . 2 18; E HD , p . 1 9). T hree p f eatures o f t he t ext a re c ited i n s upport o f t his v iew : f irstly Athilbald's r oyal s tyle w ith i ts r eference t o t he p eoples a round M ercia ; s econdly C yniwulf's a ttestation o f J Ethilbald's g rant; a nd t hirdly t he f act t hat lEthilbald w as g ranting l and i n W essex. B ut i t i s n ot c ertain t hat t he t ext w ill s upport t he i nterpretation w hich h as b een p laced o n i t. T he p eoples w hom Athilbald c laimed t o r ule a re n ot s pecified, a nd m ay n ot h ave i ncluded t he W est S axons. C yniwulf's s ubscription p rovides n o i nformation a bout t he b alance o f p ower b etween M ercia a nd W essex. T he b eneficiary p robably t ook c are t o h ave t he c harter a ttested b y t he W est S axon k ing b ecause t he e state l ay i n W essex: C yniwulf 's r ecognition o f t he g rant w ould b e n ecessary i f t he n ew o wner w as t o b e s ecure i n h is p ossession o f i t. Athilbal es o wnership o f t he e state m ay h ave d ated f rom a t ime w hen h e d id e xercise p ower i n W essex, b ut h e c hose t o h and i t o ver t o a m onastery, a nd p robably t he W est S axon m onastery o f M almesbury . T his a ppears t o b e a

1 25

c onciliatory g esture , a nd s uggests t hat 2 Ethilbald h ad n o a ggressive i ntentions t owards W essex i n 7 57. H is a ssassination b y h is o wn m en l ater i n t he s ame y ear s uggests t hat h is p ower w as d eclining, w hich i s s carcely s urprising a fter a r eign o f 4 1 y ears . T here i s n o d irect e vidence t o t ell u s w here o r w hy t he m eeting n ow r ecorded o nly i n t he w itness l ist o f t his c harter t ook p lace. I t m ay b e r easonably a ssumed t hat s o m any e minent p ersons d id n ot a ssemble f or t he s ole p urpose o f g ranting 1 0 h ides o f l and t o a m onastery. P robably t his m eeting s hould b e r egarded a s o ne o f t he e vents i naugurating t he r eign o f C yniwulf. 2 Ethilbald m ay h ave a greed t o m eet h is n ew n eighbour a nd r ecognise h im a s k ing o f t he W est S axons f ollowing t he o verthrow o f S igiberht. I t i s n ot l ikely t hat a ny a greement b etween 2 Ethilbald a nd C uthred o r S igiberht w ould b e a utomatically a ccepted b y C yniwulf, a nd t he b eginning o f t he n ew r eign w ould i nvolve t he n eed f or n egotiations b etween t he k ings o f M ercia a nd W essex o n a ll m atters a ffecting t he r elationship b etween t heir k ingdoms. S uch n egotiations c ould w ell h ave b een c onducted b y t he m en r ecorded i n t his w itness l ist, i n w hich t he k ings a ppear t o b e a ttended b y m ost o f t heir l eading l ay a nd c lerical s upporters .

( d)

C onclusions

T here s urvive 1 3 c harters a nd o ne p apal b ull r elating t o M almesbury i n t he p eriod d own t o 7 96. T here i s n o c harter e vidence f or M almesbury f rom 7 97 t o 8 39. O f t he 1 4 e xtant d ocuments , t hree a ppear t o b e f abrications: t he g rants o f b ishop L euthere a nd t he c omes C oenfrith t o A ldhelm , a nd A ldhelm 's a greement t o r etain t he a bbacy o f h is m onasteries i n 7 05. T wo o ther c harters a ppear n ot t o b e s eparate d ocuments , b ut a re m erely r evised v ersions o f c harters o f Athilred a nd C eadwalla ( S73, 2 34). T he r emaining 9 d ocuments s eem t o b e s ubstantially g enuine, a lthough s ome a re p robably i nterpolated. I nterest i n A ldhelm 's c areer s eems t o h ave b een o ne o f t he m otives f or t wo o f t he f abricated d ocuments , a nd m ay a lso a ccount f or t he s urvival o f s o m any a uthentic c harters d ating f rom h is a bbacy. N o f oundation c harter s urvives , a nd t he d ate w hen t he m onastery w as f ounded i s u nknown , b ut i t e xisted b y 6 81 w hen Athilred o f M ercia g ranted l and t o A ldhelm . D uring t he r eign o f C entwine o f W essex, c . 6 76 - c. 6 86, M almesbury r eceived p atronage f rom b oth s ides o f t he b order, a nd i t i s n ot p ossible t o d etermine w hether i t w as a M ercian o r a W est S axon b enefactor w ho m ade t he e arliest g rant , o r w hether t he h ouse w as o riginally a M ercian o r aW est S axon e stablishment. T he e arliest c harters, h owever, t end t o s uggest t ht t he m onastery w as b asically W est S axon , s ince t heir w itness l ists c onsistently u se t he s ubscription f orm ' Signum m anus X ' f or a ll l aymen i ncluding k ings, a nd s ubscriptions o f t he ' Ego X s ubscripsi' t ype f or c hurchmen ; t his d istinction w as a W est S axon , n ot a M ercian , p ractice. A ldhelm a ppears a s a bbot i n t he e arliest c harters , a nd w as b elieved t o h ave b een t he f irst a bbot o f t he h ouse b y t he c ompiler o f t he a bbatial l ist a nd t he a uthor o f t he s purious c harter o f L euthere . I t i s a rgued a bove t hat W illiam o f M almesbury's t heory o f t he e arlier I rish f ounder-abbot, M aildub, i s a n e rror b ased o n am istranslation o f a p assage i n p ope S ergius' p rivilege . T here i s n o v alid e vidence f or

1 26

t he e xistence o f am onastery a t M almesbury b efore A ldhelm 's t ime , a nd t he p robability i s t hat h e f ounded t he h ouse. W illiam o f M almesbury r eports t he t radition t hat t he s econd a bbot A ldhelm , a ctive i n t he r eign o f C uthred, w as n ephew t o t he f irst, a nd i t m ay b e t hat M almesbury w as o riginally a f amily m onastery. I t i s n oticeable t hat t he n ames o f t he f irst f our r ecorded a bbots a lliterate: A ldhelm ( or E aldhelm), E aba , A ldhelm I I a nd E anberht. As econd m onastery a t F rome w as a lso u nder A ldhelm 's c ontrol, a nd i t i s q uite p ossible t hat t here w ere o ther m onasteries c onnected w ith M almesbury, a lthough t here i s n o e arly e vidence f or a ny o ther, u nless t he c hurch a t B radford-upon-Avon i s i nterpreted a s s uch. C eadwalla 's m ilitary s uccesses s eem t o h ave m oved t he W est S axon b order f urther n orth a nd b rought M almesbury m ore f irmly i nto t he W est S axon o rbit. F or m any y ears a fter h is r eign t he o nly r ecorded g rants t o M almesbury w ere m ade b y W est S axon d onors ; M almesbury w as e vidently i ncluded a mong t he b eneficiaries o f I ne's g eneral g rant o f p rivileges i n 7 04 ; a nd A ldhelm w as c onsecrated t o aW est S axon s ee i n 7 05. B ut A ldhelm 's e fforts d uring t he r eigns o f I ne o f W essex a nd 2 Ethilred o f M ercia t o s ecure f rom b oth r ulers a n a greement o f i mmunity f or M almesbury i n t he e vent o f w ar s uggests t hat t he m onastery w as s till e ffectively i n ab order s ituation ; a nd t his i s a lso i ndicated b y t he e vidence f or t he s econd h alf o f t he e ighth c entury, w hen g rants w ere m ade b y M ercian k ings a t m eetings a ttended b y W est S axon k ings . O nly a t t he t ime o f O ffa 's d epredations i s t here r eason t o t hink t hat M almesbury w as u nder M ercian c ontrol . A n e arlier t akeover o f t he a rea b y Athilbald i s p ossible, b ut t here i s ag ap i n t he e vidence f rom 7 06 t o 7 44. M ost o f t he s eventh- and e ighth-century c harters a re c onsistent w ith t he t heory t hat M almesbury w as a W est S axon e stablishment s ituated n ear t he b order w ith M ercia a nd u sually m aintaining a micable c ontact w ith t he M ercian r uling h ouse.

1 27

3 .

W INCHESTER P age

a )

I ntroduction

1 29

b )

T he C harters

1 30

C oenwalh, k ing,

2 35

C eadwalla , k ing,

2 42

I ne, k ing, t o W inchester

137

2 54

Athilheard, k ing,

138

2 58, 2 59 1 263

t o W inchester

1 31

2 29

riswa t o C eadda , C isi a nd C

t o W inchester

C uthred, k ing,

E alhmund ,

b ishop ,

C harters o f E cgberht:

t o W inchester

132

140

t o B erhthelm

143

I ntroduction

144

2 83

E cgberht, k ing, t o W ulfheard

148

2 73

E cgberht, k ing ,

t o W inchester

150

2 72

E cgberht, k ing ,

t o W inchester

153

2 74

E cgberht, k ing ,

t o W inchester

155

2 76

E cgberht, k ing , t o W inchester

156

2 81

E cgberht, k ing ,

157

C harters o f E cgberht :

t o W inchester S ummary

160

c )

L ost C harters

1 61

d )

C onclusions

1 63

1 28

( a)

I ntroduction

T he c artulary o f t he e piscopal s ee o f W inchester , n ow A dditional M anuscript 1 5350 i n t he B ritish L ibrary, i s k nown a s t he C odex W intoniensis a nd i s t he e arliest e xtant W est S axon c artulary, d ating f rom c . 130 x 150 . T he m anuscript a nd i ts c ontents h ave b een d escribed b riefly b y D avis a nd m ore f ully b y H art a nd R umble ( Davis 1 958, n o. 1 042; H art 1 970 ; R umble 1 981). T he c artulary i s a h andsome m anuscript w ritten i n b ook h and w ith d ecorated i nitials a nd c ontains a n e xtensive c ollection o f p re-Conquest c harters, w ith a f ew p ost-Conquest d ocuments a dded a t t he e nd. T he A nglo-Saxon c harters , o ver 2 00 d ocuments r elating t o t he p eriod f rom t he s eventh c entury t o t he e leventh , a re a rranged a ccording t o t he n ames o f t he e states c oncerned, b ut i n s ome c ases t he r esulting g roupings a re e rroneous, d ifferent p laces o f t he s ame n ame b eing g rouped t ogether . M any o f t he c harters r elate t o e states w hich a ppear n ever t o h ave b een p art o f t he W inchester e ndowment, a nd t hese w ere p resumably d eposited b y l ay o wners f or s afe-keeping a t t he e piscopal s ee ( Cf. H art 1 970 w here i t i s s uggested t hat t hese d ocuments r epresent a r oyal a rchive c onsisting o f c opies o f r oyal g rants). S ome o f t he c harters s urvive a lso o n s ingle s heets, a nd c omparison o f t he t exts s hows t hat t he t welfth-century is e xemplars a ccurately a nd f ully, e ven c artularist t ranscribed . h i ncorporating t he i nformation o f e ndorsements i nto h is r ubrics . H owever, a ll t he c harters r elating t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39 w hich a re d iscussed i ndividually b elow s urvive o nly i n t he c artulary.

1 29

( b)

T he C harters

T he extant c harters r elating t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39 a re b elow.

l isted

1 . S

2 29

D ate

c . 6 41 x c . 6 72

D onor

B eneficiary

C oenwalh , k ing

W inchester

2 35

6 88

C eadwalla , k ing

C eadda , C isi a nd C riswa

2 42

7 01

I ne, k ing

W inchester

2 54

7 37

1 Ethilheard, k ing

W inchester

2 58

7 49

C uthred, k ing

W inchester

2 59

7 49

C uthred, k ing

W inchester

E alhmund, b ishop

B erhthelm

1 263

8 01 x 8 11

2 83

8 24

ing E cgberht, k

W ulf h eard

2 73

8 25

ing E cgberht, k

W inchester

2 72

8 25

E cgberht, k ing

W inchester

2 75

8 26

ing E cgberht, k

W inchester

2 74

8 26

ing E cgberht, k

W inchester

2 76

8 26

ing E cgberht, k

W inchester

2 84

8 02 x 8 39

ing E cgberht, k

W inchester

2 81

8 38

ing E cgberht, k

W inchester

1 30

S 229 B .L .

A dditional 1 5350,

( Edition :

f os .

1 3v-14r.

B 27)

T he d ocument w hich p urports t o b e t he o ldest c harter i n t he W inchester c artulary i s a g rant o f a n e state a t D ownton i n W iltshire i n t he n ame o f C oenwalh, k ing o f t he W est S axons ( c. 6 41 -c. 6 72). I t a ppears t o b e w holly s purious. ocument w hich i s T he w ording i s h opelessly a nachronistic i n ad i ncludes p retentious s upposed t o d ate f rom t he s eventh c entury. I t ate , f or e xample i n p hraseology s uch a s w as n ot u sed a t s uch a n e arly d nnuente m oderatoris t he k ing 's t itle, ' ego C yneualc . a lti t hroni a t he w ords u sed a re i mperio r ex O ccidentalium S axonum '. S ome o f c haracteristic o f t enth-century w riting , s uch a s r us, w here a n e arly c harter w ould h ave t erra , a nd m ansae r ather t han c assati o r m anentes . T here i s a n i mmunity c lause w ith t he t hree e xceptions w hich d o n ot o ccur i n a uthentic c harters b efore t he e ighth c entury a nd o nly b ecame c ommon i n t he n inth . S imilarly t he c lause q ualifying t he s anction , ' nisi h ic d igna s atisfactione c eleriter e mendare c urauerit', i s a f eature w hich o nly o ccurs f rom t he n inth c entury o nwards . T he e state i s d efined b y m eans o f al engthy b oundary c lause i n O ld E nglish, a nd t he l and i s g ranted t o a n i nstitution , t he c hurch o f S t . P eter a nd S t. P aul a t W inchester, w hereas t he e arliest g enuine W est S axon c harters w ere n ormally w orded a s g rants t o i ndividuals . C learly t his t ext w as n ot d rafted i n t he s eventh c entury. T he e ntire w ording, e xcept f or t he w itness l ist, i s d uplicated a lmost e xactly i n a c harter p urporting t o b e E cgberht's c onfirmation o f C oenwalh 's g rant ( S275). T he O ld E nglish b ounds a lso o ccur i n a nother c onfirmatory c harter i n t he n ame o f E adred ( S540). M uch o f t he w ording o ccurs , w ithout t he b ounds , i n as purious c harter r elating t o a n a lleged g rant b y Athelwulf t o W inchester o f a nother W iltshire e state a nd t here i s s ome s imilarity o f w ording i n a nother W inchester c harter i n Athelwulf's n ame ( S312, 3 17). B ut t he o nly p arallels o f w ording f ound i n o ther a rchives a re i n c harters o f t he t enth c entury: t he r oyal t itle r esembles o ne u sed i n c harters o f E adwig s urviving a t A bingdon a nd B ath ( S607, 6 27); t he o pening c lause a lso o ccurs i n a c harter o f E adgar n ow l ost b ut f ormerly a t W estminster A bbey ( S805; c f. a lso S 657, 1 663); a nd s imilarly-worded i mmunities a ppear i n n umerous t enth-century c harters ( Eg . S 581, 6 90, 7 71). T he e vidence t herefore s uggests t hat t his d ocument w as d rawn u p i n t he t enth c entury. I t w as p robably w ritten n ot e arlier t han t he t ime o f b ishop Athelwold w hen t he r eformed c ommunity b egan t o t ake a n i nterest i n t he e arly h istory o f t he s ee ( ECW , p p. 2 14-48). A ppended t o t he c harter i s aw itness l ist i n w hich t he o nly n ame a ppropriate t o a g rant o f C oenwalh i s t hat o f t he k ing h imself. T he r est o f t he l ist i s n either W est S axon n or s eventh-century, b ut c onsists o f M ercian c hurchmen a nd l aymen a ctive i n t he c losing y ears o f O ffa 's r eign. T wo a rchbishops a ttest, Athilheard o f C anterbury w ho w as e lected i n 7 92, a nd H ygeberht, h older o f t he s hort-lived a rchiepis copal s ee o f L ichfield. T he t hree b ishops a re C eolwulf o f L indsey, w ho d ied i n 7 96 ( Historia R egum s .a. 7 96), H eathored o f W orcester a nd

1 31

U nwona o f L eicester. B rorda a nd L ulling w ere M ercian e aldormen ( S139, 1 48, 1 49, 1 53, 1 55). T he l ast w itness, ' Vibald c omes ', i s n ot s ecurely i dentified b ut m ay , a s F inberg s uggests, b e t he 1 2ynbald c omes' w ho a ttests a c harter o f 8 05 ( S161; E CW , n o. 1 95). T hese n ames h ave p resumably b een t aken f rom a n a uthentic d ocument o f 7 92 x 7 96, p robably a c harter o f O ff a o r a r ecord o f a s ynod , b ut t his d oes n ot s urvive a nd t he t ransaction r ecorded i n i t i s u nknown. T here i s n o r eason t o s uppose t hat i ts c ontent i s r eflected i n t hat o f t he e xtant c harter i n C oenwalh 's n ame ( Cf. E CW , n o . 1 95 a nd p . 2 18). D ownton w as b equeathed t o t he s ee o f W inchester b y k ing E adred , w ho d ied i n 9 55, a nd t he e state w as s till o wned a nd w as a ssessed a t 1 00 h ides, t he a mount m entioned i n t his c harter, i n 1 066 ( S1515 ; D B W iltshire , p . 2 .1). T he e arlier h istory o f t he m anor i s u nknown, a nd n one o f t he s eries o f c harters p urporting t o r ecord i ts r estoration t o W inchester, o r c onfirmation o f t he s ee's o wnership b y v arious k ings a ppears t o b e a uthentic ( S275, 3 76, 3 93, 5 40, 8 18, 8 21, 8 91). T he c harter o f C oenwalh m ay c onstitute v alid e vidence f or W inchester i n t he t enth c entury , b ut h as n o r elevance t o t he s eventh .

S 235 B .L . A dditional 1 5350, ( Edition:

f os. 5 7v-58r.

B 72)

A c harter o f C eadwalla d ated 6 88 i n w hich h e g rants a n e state a t F arnham i n S urrey t o t hree l aymen f or t he f oundation o f am onastery i s t he e arliest a uthentic c harter p reserved i n t he W inchester c artulary, p redating a ny e xtant g enuine c harter r elating d irectly t o W inchester i tself. T he b asic a uthenticity o f t he d ocument i s b eyond a ny r easonable d oubt a nd h as b een g enerally a ccepted ( Stevenson 1 914 , p . 7 03; S tenton 1 918a , p . 5 3; E CW , p . 2 16 ; S tenton 1 971, p . 7 0); S awyer 1 978 , p . 1 43 ; E CTV , n o. 3 12). S ince t he g rant w as m ade t o l aymen, t here w as n o m otive f or f orgery o f t he d ocument. T he t hree m en , C eadda , C isi a nd C riswa , w ere p robably r elatives p roposing t o e stablish a f amily m onastery. C eadda w itnessed a nother e arly S urrey c harter , F rithuwald 's g rant t o C hertsey , i n t he e arly 6 70s ( S1165). C isi a ppears i n w itness l ists w ith C eadwalla ( S231, 2 34 , 1 170, 1 248). C riswa i s o therwise u nknown . D r. M argaret G elling a rgues t hat t he l ast n ame s hould b e r ead a s C rispa, a n a cceptable O ld E nglish n ame m eaning ' curly ' w hich o ccurs i n p lacen ames ' ( ECTV , n o. 3 12). I t i s n ot e asy t o d istinguish a nd w yn i n t he h and o f t he s cribe , b ut t he c urve o f t he d ownstroke s uggests t hat w yn w as i ntended h ere , a nd t hat t he n ame s hould b e r ead a s C riswa ( 'Crisra '). T his d oes n ot , h owever , p reclude t he p ossibility t hat t he n ame a ppeared i n t he e xemplar a s ' Crispa ' a nd w as m isread b y t he t welfth-century s cribe o f t he c artulary. H e d id m iscopy a t l east o ne n ame i n t his d ocument: a bbot H agona, k nown f rom h is a ttestations o f s everal e arly c harters ( S45, 2 33, 2 45, 171, 1 248), a ppears h ere a s ' Hugon ', t he s cribe h aving a pparently m isread a n o pen a a s u . T his s uggests t hat h is e xemplar w as i n ah and o f t he e ighth c entury o r e arly

1 32

n inth c entury, a nd i s a nother i ndication o f t he a uthenticity c harter ( EHD , n o. 5 8).

o f

t he

T here i s a n e xtensive l ist o f l ay a nd c lerical w itnesses. T he k ing's n ame, w hich i s g iven a s ' Ceadwal' i n t he d ispositio , a ppears h ere a s ' Cenwal ', e vidently b y a s lip o f t he p en; t he d ate a nd w itnesses s uit C eadwalla n ot C oenwalh . T hree b ishops s ubscribe , W ilfrid o f N orthumbria , E orcenwald o f E ssex a nd H aeddi o f W essex. T hese a re f ollowed b y t hree a bbots , A ldhelm , H agona a nd E adberht o f S elsey. T here a re f our p riests , o f w hom o nly o ne , G uda, i s r ecorded e lsewhere: h e w itnessed C Edilred 's g rant t o B arking a f ew y ears l ater, a nd w as t hen d escribed a s p riest a nd a bbot ( S1171). T he s econd c olumn o f w itnesses c onsists o f n ine l aymen o f w hom f our a ppear i n o ther w itness l ists , W udda , T eoda , a nd S nocca i n c harters o f t he r eign o f C eadwalla , a nd C oen i n I ne's g eneral g rant o f p rivileges o f 7 04 ( S233, 1 170; S 245). T welve o f t he t wenty-one w itnesses a nd a ll t hree o f t he b eneficiaries o f t his c harter h ave n ames f ormed f rom o nly a s ingle n ame e lement. S uch n ames w ere l ess c ommon i n t he e ighth c entury a nd v irtually d isappear t hereafter, n ames f ormed o f t wo e lements b ecoming s tandard ( Smart 1 981, p p. x iii-xv), s o t hat a w riter o f l ater d ate c ould n ot e asily h ave d rawn u p s uch a l ist a s t his, n or w ould h e h ave k nown t he n ames o f t he v arious o bscure b ut i dentifiable m en i ncluded i n i t . T he a ttestation f orms s trictly p reserve t he d istinction o f l ay a nd c lerical w itnesses . T he w hole l ist i s c learly a uthentic . T he w ording o f t his c harter s trikingly r esembles t hat o f t wo o ther e arly g rants , t hose o f F rithuwald t o C hertsey a nd o f C Edilred t o B arking . T he p roem i s a n u nusual o ne , c losely p aralleled o nly i n F rithuwald 's c harter , b ut s imilar t o t hat i n ( Edilred 's g rant, w hich a ppears t o b e b ased o n o ne u sed b y G regory t he G reat ( Gregory's g rant o f 5 87 t o t he m onastery o f S t. A ndrea : H artmann , G regory , p p. 4 37-9); t here a re a lso s ome e choes o f t he w ording i n a g rant o f N othhelm o f S ussex t o h is s ister: S 235:

' Quocienscumque a liquid p ro o pere p ietatis C risti m embris i mpendimus n ostre a nime f ore p rodesse c redimus q uia s ua 1 111 r eddimus n on n ostra l argimur'.

S 1165:

' Quotienscunque a liqua p ro o pere p ietatis m embris C hristi i mpendimus n ostrae a nimae p rodesse c redimus . q uia s ua l iii r eddimus e t n ostra n on l argimur'.

S 1171:

' Quotiens s anctis a c u enerabilibus l ocis u estris A liquid o ff e re u idemur U estra u obis r eddimus n on n ostra l argimur'.

G regory:

S 45:

' Quotiens l audis u estrae u sibus l icet p arva q uaedam c onferimus, v estra v obis r eddimus , n on n ostra l argimur ' ' sciens m ihi i n f uturo p rodesse q uicquid m embris d e m ea p ropria p ossessione i mpendo '.

C hristi

T he s anction i ncludes b oth a p rohibitive c lause a nd a p enal c lause. T he f ormer i s a f eature o f a f ew e arly W est S axon c harters ( S240, 2 44, 1 176, 1 249), b ut t he w ording h ere c losely r esembles o nly t hat i n F rithuwald's c harter:

1 33

S 235:

' Numquam e go h eredesque m ei u llo t empore c ontra d onationis c artulam u enire t emptauerit'.

S 1165:

' Nunquam m e u llo t empore h aeredeque m eo d onacionis m eae c artulam e sse v enturis'.

h anc

c ontra h anc

T he p enal c lause i s o f ac omparatively r are t ype , b ut s imilar w ordings o ccur i n t he g rants o f F rithuwald a nd C Edilred a nd i n t he e arliest e xtant o riginal A nglo-Saxon c harter, k ing H lothere 's g rant o f 6 79 t o a bbot B erhtwald o f R eculver : S 235:

' Quod s i q uis s uperba p resumpserit i nruptione i nfrigere a ut m inuere p er t yrannidem h anc a m e a ctam d onationem s it s eparatus a b o mni s ocietate C ristiana : m anentem u ero i n s ua n ichilominus f irmitate'

S 1165:

' Quod s i q uis c ontra h anc d onacionem m eam e t c onfirmac ionem v enire t emptaverit : s it h ic s eparatus a b o mni s ocietate C hristiana e t a c oelestis r egni p articip atione p rivetur'.

S 1171:

' Si q uis c ontra h anc d onationis c artulam v enire t emptaverit a ut c orrumpere A nte o mnipotentem D eum . S ciat s e c ondemnatum e t s eparatum a b o mni s ocietate C hristian[a] Kanentemi h anc k artulam d onationis i n s ua n ihilominus f irmitate'.

S 8 :

' quisquis c ontra h anc d onationem u enire t emptauerit s it a b o mni C hristianitata s eparatus . . . m anentem h anc d onationis c hartulam i n s ua n ihilominus f irmitate'.

V ersions o f t he l ast p hrase , ' manentem u ero i n s ua n ichilominus f irmitate', o ccur i n s ome o ther s eventh-century K entish c harters ( S7, 9 , 1 0, 1 2, 1 6). T here i s a l ist o f t he c omponent p arts o f t he e state : ' Cum o mnibus a d s e p ertinentibus . c ampis . s iluis . p ratis . p ascuis . p iscariis .f luminibus . f ontanis '. T his t ype o f l ist , d erived f rom t he l ate R oman p rivate d eed, c ommonly o ccurs i n s eventh-century a nd e arly e ighth-century A nglo-Saxon c harters o f t he s outh-east ( S7, 8 , 1 0 , 4 5, 6 5, 171, e tc.), b ut n ot i n t hose o f W essex. T he c lause 165, 1 ' libertam a m e h abeatis l icenciam d onandi c ommutandi' i s s imilar t o p hrases o ccurring i n o ther e arly c harters o f S urrey a nd E ssex ( S1165: ' liberam l icenciam h abeatis '; S 65, 1 171, 1 788: ' liberam h abeatis ( habeat, h abeas) p otestatem '; a lso S 1164, a W est S axon c harter w hose d iplomatic i s c onnected w ith t hat o f E ssex: ' liberam e t f irmam h abeat p otestatem '). T his c harter i s o f t he t ype s ometimes c alled t he e pistola , t hat i s o ne i n w hich t he b eneficiaries a re a ddressed i n t he s econd p erson : e go C eadwal t erram u obis c onfero '. T his t ype o f w ording a ppears i n a t l east o ne c harter f rom e very p rovince o f A nglo-Saxon E ngland f rom w hich c harters o f t he p eriod 6 70-760 s urvive. A fter 7 60 t he w ording b ecame v ery c ommon i n K ent b ut f ell w holly o ut o f u se e lsewhere. T he n on-Kentish c harters d rafted i n t his w ay a re l isted o verleaf:

1 34

D onor

M onastery o f B eneficiary

6 72 x 6 74

F rithuwald

C hertsey

6 88

C eadwalla

F arnham

C Edilred

B arking

Athilred

L ondon

O ffa

L ondon

Athilbald

L ondon

W igheard

? ( Beorngyth 's)

Athilmod

?( Beorngyth 's)

D ate

E ssex a nd S urrey

1 165 2 35 1 171

c6 90 x 6 93

1 783

6 93 x 7 04

1 784

c7 04 x 7 09

1 788

7 16 x 7 45

M ercia

1 168

c6 72

1 167

6 81

1 799

6 74 x 7 04

M erchelm e t a l.

M uch W enlock

1 177

7 04 x 7 09

2 Ethilheard e t a l .

? ( Cuthswith 's)

1 800

7 09 x 7 16

C eolred

M uch W enlock

E anberht e t a l.

?( Headda 's)

N othhelm

? ( Nothgyth 's)

I ne

M uchelney

5 6

7 59

S ussex

4 5

6 88 x 7 05

W essex

2 40

6 93

T he s ingle W est S axon e xample i s a d ubious c harter w hich s urvives i n v ery g arbled f orm b ut p robably h as s ome a uthentic b asis .

1 35

a

I t i s f airly c lear t hat t he d iplomatic o f C eadwalla 's c harter i s t hat o f t he s outh-east r ather t han t he s outh-west , a nd t hat i ts c losest a ffinities a re w ith t he e arliest e xtant c harters o f E orcenwald 's e stablishments a t C hertsey a nd B arking . I t i s p ossible t hat t his d ocument a nd t he c harters o f F rithuwald a nd ( Edilred w ere a ll w ritten b y m embers o f E orcenwald's c ommunity . I t h as b een s uggested t hat E orcenwald w as h imself t heir a uthor ( Wormald, 1 984 , p . 9 ). C eadwalla 's c harter m ay h ave b een d rawn u p i n a s criptorium a t C hertsey o r L ondon . T he c orrespondence o f f ormula i n o ther e arly c harters a ppear t o i ndicate t hat t he t ext i s p reserved s ubstantially a s i t w as f irst d rafted. T he o nly d etail i n i t w hich c ould b e c onsidered a nachronistic i s t he i ncarnational d ate , w hich i s u nlikely t o h ave b een u sed i n a s eventh-century , A nglo-Saxon c harter ( Cf. H arrison 1 976, p p. 7 1-2). I t i s g iven a s 6 88 a nd a grees w ith t he i ndiction b ut h as p robably b een a dded t o t he t ext. T he a uthenticity o r a ccuracy o f t he i ndiction h as a lso b een d oubted, o n t he g rounds t hat t here i s n o e vidence f or W ilfrid 's p resence i n t he s outh i n 6 88 ( ECTV , n o. 3 12; S 235). B ut t his o bjection i s o f d oubtful v alidity , b ecause i t c an s carcely b e s upposed t hat w e p ossess a c omplete a ccount o f a ll W ilfrid 's t ravels a nd i t i s q uite p ossible t hat h e v isited C eadwalla i n W essex i n 6 88 . T he l and c onveyed c onsists o f 6 0 h ides a t ' Fernham ', n ow F arnham i n S urrey . O f t hese 6 0 h ides 1 0 a re a t ' Bintungom ', n ow r epresented b y B inton F arm a bout 3 m iles e ast o f F arnham ; 2a re a t ' Cert ', n ow C hurt, 5 -6 m iles s outh o f F arnham ( PN S urrey , p p. 1 78 , 1 81); a nd t he r est a re s aid t o b e i n o ther p laces h aving t heir o wn n ames, ' hoc e st C usanweoh '. I t a ppears t hat t here s hould h ave b een o ther n ames a fter ' Cusanweoh ', w hich i s u nidentified; t hey w ere p erhaps u nknown t o t he a uthor o f t he d ocument a nd n ever s upplied a fterwards ( Sawyer 1 978 , p . 1 43; E CTV , n o. 3 12). O r j ust p ossibly t hey h ave b een d ropped b y a c opyist a s u nimportant o r u nintelligible. T he e state, k nown i n l ater y ears s imply a s F arnham , h ad c ome i nto t he p ossession o f W inchester b y t he b eginning o f t he n inth c entury. I t w as t emporarily a lienated t wice: a t t he b eginning o f t he n inth c entury ( 801 x 8 11) b ishop E alhmund g ranted i t t o a l ayman i n e xchange f or o ther l ands, a nd i n 8 58 b ishop S withun g ranted i t t o k ing Athelbald f or h is l ifetime ( S1263 ; S 1274). O n b oth o ccasions p rovision w as m ade f or t he r eversion o f t he e state t o W inchester, a nd i t w as r ecovered a nd w as h eld b y t he s ee i n 1 066 ( S382, 8 18, 8 23 ; D B S urrey , p . 3 .1). A ll r ecords r elating t o F arnham d own t o 1 086 d escribe i t a s a n e state o f 6 0 h ides. I t i s v ery u nusual t o f ind t hat a n e state g ranted i n t he s eventh c entury i s i dentical i n n ame a nd h idage w ith a D omesday m anor. C harters m aking s uch c laims a re o ften s purious o r i nterpolated. I n t he p resent c ase t he c harter i s c learly a uthentic , b ut i t i s j ust p ossible t hat t he n ame o f F arnham a nd t he f igure o f 6 0 h ides h ave b een i ntroduced i nto i t a t a l ater d ate i n o rder t o m odernise t he d escription o f t he l and. T here i s n o r eason t o s uppose, h owever, t hat t he d ocument h as b een a ltered i n s ubstance. T he n ames o f B inton a nd C hurt s how t hat t he e state w as i n t he F arnham a rea, a nd i t i s p robable t hat a s ubstantial a rea w as g ranted. C eadwalla i s k nown t o h ave m ade g rants t o c hurchmen o f o ther e xtensive e states i n a reas o utside W essex w hich h e h ad a cquired b y c onquest: i nnumerable p ieces o f l and i n

1 36

S ussex t o W ilfrid f or h is m onastery a t S elsey ( Colgrave, W ilfrid, c h . X LII, p . 8 4); 3 00 h ides o n t he I sle o f W ight, a lso t o W ilfrid ( HE I V 1 6); a nd 1 00 h ides a t K emble i n G loucestershire t o M almesbury ( S231). A nd t he S urrey e state c onsisted l argely o f p oor q uality l and o f l ittle v alue ; ( the n ame C hurt a ctually m eans r ough, u ncultivated a nd o vergrown w ith g orse, b room o r b racken ( PN S urrey, p p. 1 78, 3 50)). N arrative s ources r ecord t hat C eadwalla r avaged K ent i n 6 86 a nd a gain 6 87, a nd t hat h e c onquered a nd a nnexed S ussex a nd t he I sle o f W ight ( ASC s .a . 6 86, 6 87; H E I V 1 5, 1 6). T his c harter s hows t hat h e a lso c ontrolled S urrey, a n a rea f ormerly u nder M ercian a uthority. I t w as p robably p art o f h is c onquests, a lthough i t i s a lso p ossible t hat t he a rea h ad p assed i nto W est S axon c ontrol d uring C entwine's r eign . T he p resence o f E orcenwald, w hom I ne w as l ater t o d escribe a s ' my b ishop' ( Prologue t o I ne's l aws : A ttenborough , L aws, p . 3 6), m ay i ndicate t hat C eadwalla a lso e xercised p ower i n E ssex. T he a ttestation o f W ilfrid i mmediately a fter t hat o f t he k ing t ends t o s upport E ddius ' s tatement t hat W ilfrid w as e stablished b y C eadwalla a s ' in o mni r egno s uo e xcelsum c onsiliarium ' ( Colgrave, W ilfrid, c h . X LII, p . 8 4). A nd, i f w e m ay t rust t he c harter's d ate a nd a ccept t hat W ilfrid w as w ith C eadwalla i n 6 88 , t his s uggests t hat W ilfrid w as p robably r esponsible f or p ersuading C eadwalla t o a bdicate a nd r etire t o R ome. T he t heory i s e ndorsed b y o ther c onsiderations: W ilfrid 's p osition a s c hief c ounsellor ; h is o wn h abit o f r egarding R ome a s a r efuge ; a nd h is e xperience o f v isiting R ome, w hich q ualified h im t o g ive t he k ing a ll n ecessary i nformation a nd a dvice o n t he s ubject.

* * * * * *

S 242

B .L . A dditional 1 5350, ( Edition :

f os . 2 0v-21r.

B 102)

A c harter i n t he n ame o f k ing I ne r ecords t he r estoration t o W inchester o f a n e state o f 4 0 h ides a t A lresford i n H ampshire , s aid t o h ave b een g ranted e arlier b y k ing C oenwalh . T his d ocument i n m any r espects r esembles t he D ownton c harter i n t he n ame o f C oenwalh d iscussed a bove , a nd s imilarly a ppears t o b e af abrication . T he n ame o f a f amous , e arly W est S axon k ing h as b een u sed a nd t he d ate 7 01 c hosen a ccordingly. B ut t he t ext i s r ecognisably t enthc entury i n i ts v ocabulary a nd i nflated s tyle a nd i n i ts c ontent. I t i ncludes a n i mmunity c lause w ith t he t hree u sual e xceptions a nd a s anction p roviding f or t he p ossibility o f at ransgressor m aking a mends; t he w ording o f b oth c lauses r esembles t hat o f c lauses i n c harters o f t he r eign o f E adgar ( Eg . S 689, 6 95, 6 98, 7 00). T here i s a d etailed O ld E nglish b oundary c lause , a nd t he g rant i s m ade t o t he c hurch a t W inchester. T his t ext , l ike t hat o f t he D ownton c harter, i s d uplicated a lmost w ord f or w ord i n o ther W inchester c harters w hich a lso a ppear t o b e s purious, ac harter i n t he n ame o f E cgberht r elating t o t he s ame e state a nd a g rant o f a nother e state i n t he n ame o f Athelwulf ( S284,

1 37

3 09). T he w itness l ist a ppended t o t his c harter h as a lready b een d iscussed a bove i n c onnection w ith k ing C uthred's g rant t o M almesbury ( S256). L ike t he w itness l ist a ttached t o t he D ownton c harter i n C oenwalh 's n ame, t his o ne a ppears t o h ave b een t aken f rom a d ocument w hich w as o f e arly d ate, b ut d id n ot s uit t he p retended d ate o f t he c harter t o w hich i t w as t hen a ppended. T he l ist i s h eaded b y b ishop D aniel w ho w as n ot c onsecrated t o t he s ee o f W inchester u ntil 7 05, a nd i ncludes a bbot T unberht w ho h eld t he a bbacy o f G lastonbury i n t he 7 40s, a nd a n o bscure l ayman, P uttock , w ho a ttests a c harter o f k ing 2 Ethilheard o f 7 39 ( S1678, 1 679, 1 410 ; S 255). T he p resence o f t hese m en s uggests t he u se o f a n a uthentic c harter o f t he 7 30s o r 7 40s. T he l ast t wo a ttestations, t hose o f k ing C uthred a nd a bbot A ldhelm ( II o f M almesbury), m ay r epresent l ater c onfirmation o f a c harter o f k ing 2 Ethilheard, o r i t m ay b e t hat t he w hole l ist o riginated i n a c harter o f C uthred: i t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hether t he s ubscriptions ' Signum m anus 2 Erelheardi' a nd ' Signum m anus F ortheres' a re t hose o f t he k ing w ho s ucceeded I ne a nd t he b ishop o f S herborne w ho s ucceeded A ldhelm, o r w hether t hese a re l ay s upporters o f C uthred w ho h appended t o h ave t he s ame n ames a s t he e arlier k ing a nd b ishop. T he l ist h as c learly b een t ampered w ith: t he s ubscription f orms a nd t he o rder o f n ames a ppear t o h ave b een a ltered, a nd t here h as n o d oubt b een s ome a bbreviation. B ut t he l ist c ould s carcely h ave b een d rawn u p b y a f orger, a lthough n othing i s n ow k nown o f t he c harter t o w hich i t o riginally b elonged. A lresford h ad e vidently c ome i nto t he p ossession o f W inchester b y t he l ate n inth o r e arly t enth c entury w hen b ishop D enewulf l eased i t t o a l ayman n amed _ Alfred f or h is l ifetime ( S1287). I n 9 56 k ing E adwig g ranted t he e state t o a nother l ayman, i Elfric, s aid t o b e t he s on o f Alfred, a nd o n t his o ccasion t he g rant w as w orded a s a p ermanent a lienation o f t he p roperty ( S589). H owever, W inchester r ecovered t he e state a nd o wned i t i n 1 066 w hen i t w as a ssessed a t 5 1 h ides ( DB H ampshire, p . 2 .1). I t w as p robably i n c onnection w ith t heir e fforts t o r egain A lresford a fter 9 56 t hat t he c ommunity d rew u p t he v arious s purious c harters g ranting, c onfirming o r r estoring t he e state t o t he c hurch a t W inchester, i ncluding t he f abrication i n C oenwalh 's n ame. ( There a re f our s uch c harters, S 242, 2 84, 3 75, 8 14; t he f irst t hree a re c ertainly f abricated a nd t he l ast i s d ubious. A lresford i s a lso m entioned i n t he p ancärta S 818). T here s urvives n o r eliable a ccount o f h ow W inchester o riginally a cquired t he e state.

S 254 B .L . A dditional 1 5350, ( Edition:

f os. 6 0v-61r.

B 158).

A c harter i n t he n ame o f k ing Athilheard d ated 7 37 r ecounts t hat h e w as r equested b y q ueen F rithugyth t o a ugment t he e state a t ' Tantun ', T aunton i n S omerset, w hich s he h ad g iven t o t he c hurch o f S t. P eter a nd

1 38

S t. P aul a t W inchester. H e t herefore g ranted t wo a reas o f l and, 4 h ides a t ‚pibiglea t, n ow W ithiel F lorey, a lso i n S omerset b ut m ore t han 2 0 m iles w est o f T aunton, a nd 3 h ides a t ' Cearn ' w hich i s n ot s ecurely i dentified b ut w as v alued a s a s ource o f s alt, a nd w as p robably s omewhere o n t he S omerset c oast. T hese 7 h ides h ad b een t aken f rom t heir o wners b y t he o perations o f j ustice b ecause t he o wners w ere g uilty o f t heft; o ld c harters r elating t o t he l ands w ere o f n o v alidity a nd w ere n ot t o b e o penly p roduced. T here f ollows a n i mmunity c lause w ith t he t hree u sual e xceptions, a n O ld E nglish b oundary c lause f or e ach o f t he t wo e states, a nd a w itness l ist. T his c harter i s e xtremely d ubious i n w ording a nd c ontent , b ut t he o ne p art o f i t w hich s eems t o b e b asically a uthentic i s t he w itness l ist. T his c onsists o f s ix s ubscriptions, e ach i n t he f orm ' Signum m anus' p lus a n ame a nd t itle , a nd h as e vidently b een r eworded, p ossibly i n a n a ttempt t o c opy t he s implicity o f t he e arliest c harters . B ut t here i s n o o bjection t o a ny o f t he n ames . T he s ix w itnesses a re D aniel, b ishop o f W inchester f rom 7 05 t o c . 7 45; F orthere , b ishop o f S herborne f rom 7 09 t o 7 39 a nd p erhaps s ome y ears l onger. ( The d ate o f h is d eath i s n ot r ecorded. H e l ast a ppears i n 7 39 ( S255), a nd h is s uccessor, H erewald, f irst a ppears i n 7 44 ( S1410)); k ing Athilheard ; q ueen F rithugyth ; C oengils , a bbot o f G lastonbury, w ho w as t he b eneficiary o f a g rant o f 2 Ethilheard i n 7 29 a nd a lso a ppears i n c orrespondence ( S253; T angl n o . 5 5; s ee a lso t he l ost c harter S 1677 a nd G lastonbury's a bbatial l ist, d iscussed a bove); a nd a n a bbess n amed 2 Escburh w ho i s o therwise u nknown. T he f irst f our o f t hese n ames m ight h ave b een t aken f rom t he C hronicle, b ut t he l ast t wo c ould n ot, a nd i t a ppears t hat t he a uthor o f t he e xtant d ocument b egan w ith a g enuine c harter o f Athilheard, t o w hich t his l ist b elonged. I t d oes n ot , h owever, a ppear t hat m uch, i f a ny, o f t he w ording o r c ontent o f t hat c harter s urvives i n t he t ext t o w hich t he w itness l ist i s n ow a ppended, a s t his i s s eriously a nachronistic. T he i nvocation i s a v ery u nusual w ording w hich i s n ot l ikely t o h ave b een u sed i n t he e ighth c entury: ' Domino n ostro I hesu C risto . c um c oaeterno p atro e t s piritu s ancto .i n e ternum r egnante '. T he d ate f ollows. T his i s g iven o nly a s a n i ncarnational y ear a nd a gain t he w ording i s u nusual: ' Anno e iusdem r edemptoris n ostri d ominice i ncarnationis . D cc . x xxvii'. T he y ear 7 37 m ay h ave o riginated i n t he s ame c harter a s t he w itness l ist , o r m ay h ave b een b orrowed f rom t hat a nnal i n t he C hronicle w hich m entions q ueen F rithugyth 's p ilgrimage t o R ome w ith b ishop F orthere. F inberg r ightly r emarks t hat F rithugyth i s m ost u nlikely t o h ave h anded o ver t o W inchester a n e state w hich w as s ituated i n t he h eart o f t he c omparatively n ew d iocese o f S herborne ( ECW , p . 2 17), a nd t he a ccount o f t he e states s eems t o h ave b een d rawn u p a t a m uch l ater d ate , s ince i t m akes u se o f t he t erms r us a nd m ansae w hich a re u sual i n c harters o f t he t enth c entury, n ot t hose o f t he e ighth . C onfiscation o f l and a s a p unishment f or t heft i s a f eature o f t enthI c entury l egislation ( VI 2 Ethelstan 1 : A ttenborough , L aws, p . 1 56 ; II E adgar 7 .1: R obertson , L aws, p . 2 6 ; I V E adgar I I: i bid., p . 3 6), b ut d oes n ot a ppear i n e arly l aw c odes . T he i mmunity c an s carcely b e g enuine a s e arly a s Athilheard 's r eign , a nd i ts w ording r esembles t hat f ound i n c harters o f E adgar . T he O ld E nglish b oundary c lauses a re a lso c learly o f l ater d ate. T here i s n o s anction e xcept f or t he c lause f orbidding t he p roduction o f o ld c harters r elating t o t hese e states . N othing i n t he e xtant t ext, a part f rom t he w itness l ist , s hows a ny s ign

1 39

o f d eriving f rom a n a uthentic c harter o f t he m id e ighth c entury. T he o nly o ther c harters i n w hich ' Cearn ' a ppears a re t wo s purious c onfirmatory W inchester t exts r elating t o T aunton ( S443, 8 25. T here a re s everal o ther v ery d ubious c harters r elating t o T aunton). W ithiel F lorey a ppears i n o ne o f t hese, b ut i s a lso t he s ubject o f t wo t enthc entury g rants t o l aymen , o ne b y E adwig d ated 9 56 w hich s urvives i n t he W inchester c artulary, a nd o ne b y E adgar d ated 9 61, e xtant i n t he W inchester c artulary a nd o n a c ontemporary s ingle s heet ( S443 ; S 596, 6 97). I n b oth c ases t he a mount o f l and g ranted i s 4h ides, a nd t he b ounds, a lthough n ot i dentical w ith t hose i n t he c harter i n Athilheard 's n ame, s how t hat t he s ame a rea i s m eant. T hese t wo c harters i ndicate t hat W ithiel F lorey e xisted a s a n i ndependent u nit, n ot a ttached t o ' Cearn ' o r T aunton, i n t he t enth c entury, a nd w as t hen i n r oyal o r l ay h ands . T his d oes n ot a bsolutely d isprove t he a lleged e ighth-century g rant t o W inchester, b ut c ertainly l ends i t n o s upport. T he c onclusion i n t his c ase c an o nly b e t he s ame a s t hat s uggested a bove i n c onnection w ith t he c harters i n t he n ames o f C oenwalh a nd I ne: t he s urviving 'text a ppears t o b e a f abrication , p robably o f t he t enth c entury ; t he w itness l ist i s p robably b asically a uthentic, b ut n othing i s n ow k nown o f t he c harter t o w hich i t o riginally b elonged.

S 259 a nd S 258 B .L . A dditional 1 5350, f os . ( Editions :

B 180,

13r a nd 3 3rv. 1

1 79)

T wo c harters i n t he n ame o f C uthred d ated 7 49 a nd r ecording g rants o f l and t o t he c hurch a t W inchester a re v irtually i dentical i n w ording . T he o nly s ignificant d ifference b etween t hem i s i n t heir a ccounts o f t he e states. O ne g rants 7 h ides a t ' Thruhham ' ( S259) a nd t he o ther 1 0 h ides a t H ighclere; i n t he l atter c ase a s et o f O ld E nglish b ounds i s a dded. D r. C .R . H art j udges t hat t he T hruhham c harter i s a uthentic, a nd t hat t he H ighclere c harter i s s purious, p roduced b y c opying t he t ext o f t he T hruhham c harter a t a l ater d ate ( Hart 1 970 , p . 1 3). I t w ill b e a rgued b elow t hat t his v iew i s c orrect. T here i s n o g ood r eason t o d oubt t hat t he w ording s hared b y t he t wo c harters i s t hat o f ag enuine, e ighth-century d ocument. N othing i n i t c an d efinitely b e c ondemned a s a n a nachronism , a nd s everal o f t he p hrases a re a lso f ound i n o ther c harters o f t he t ime. T he i nvocation i s o f t he a blative a bsolute t ype, ' Regnante .. d eo '. T his w as n ever a s c ommon i n e arly c harters a s t he v arious f orms b eginning ' In n omine , b ut t here a re i nstances i n c harters o f C yniwulf a nd B eorhtric ( S263, 2 65, 2 67, 2 69). T he p hrase ' terra i uris m ei ', m ore c ommon a t a m uch l ater d ate, a lso o ccurs i n c harters o f t he p receding r eigns ( S265, 2 69). T he e mphasis o n w itnesses i s p aralleled i n o ther c harters o f t he m id e ighth c entury, a nd i n p articular s ome t exts c ontain w ordings r esembling ' testes i doneos e t a dstipulatores' ( S244, 2 53, 2 67, 1 410). S imilar s ubscription f orms a re u sed b y C yniwulf o f W essex a nd i Ethilbald o f M ercia ( S96, 2 62, 2 63).

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T he d ispositio i s u nusual i n t hat t he w ord f amiliae i s u sed t o m ean h ides a nd t hat t he g rant i s m ade t o a n i nstitution , t he c hurch a t W inchester, a nd n ot t o a p erson o r p ersons: l and i s g iven ( in t he T hruhham c harter) ' iuxta m ensuram s cilicet . v ii . f amiliarum e cclesie d ei P etro e t P aulo d icate c iuitate W entana '. I t i s p osible t o p ut f orward s ome d efense o f b oth t hese f eatures . F amiliae w as r egularly u sed i n t his s ense b y B ede , w riting c . 7 31, s o t here i s n o r eal r eason w hy t he a uthor o f a c harter, w riting c . 7 49, s hould n ot h ave e mployed i t, e specially a s h e m ay h ave r ead t he H istoria E cclesiastica . B ut t he w ord i s n ot u sed t o m ean h ides i n a ny o ther c harter e xcept i n a s ingle i nstance n oticed b y F inberg, aS herborne c harter i n t he n ame o f 2 Ethelstan w hich i s i tself p robably s purious ( ECW , p p. 2 17-8 a nd n . 1 . T he S herborne c harter i s S 423, E CW , n o . 5 79). C harters e xpressed a s g rants t o c hurches r ather t han t o t heir p ersonnel a re n ot u nknown . B ishop E orcenwald 's g rant t o h is s ister 's c hurch a t B arking i s a s eventh-century e xample ; C yniwulf m ade a g rant t o t he c hurch a t S herborne , a nd m ore t han o ne S outh S axon c harter o f t he e ighth c entury i s e xpressed a s a g rant t o t he c hurch a t S elsey ( S1248, 2 63). B ut i t i s f ar m ore u sual t o f ind t hat c harters r ecord g ifts t o a n a bbot a nd/or h is c ommunity, a nd i n t he m id e ighth c entury t he w ord f amilia w as o ften u sed o f ar eligious c ommunity w hich w as t he b eneficiary o f a c harter . I t i s n ot i mpossible t hat t he t ext o f t he d ispositio i n t hese t wo W inchester c harters i s b oth a uthentic a nd a ccurately p reserved. B ut i t i s p erhaps m ore l ikely t hat t he r eceived t ext i s c orrupt, t hat t he a uthor i ntended t o u se s ome m ore u sual w ord f or h ides , s uch a s m anentes o r c assati a nd t o r epresent t he g rant a s m ade t o t he f amilia o f t he c hurch a t W inchester , a nd h ence t hat t he t ext s hould r ead, s ay ' iuxta m ensuram s cilicet . V ii . m anentium f amilie e cclesie d el'. T he e xtant t ext c ould h ave b een p roduced i f o ne w ord w ere a ccidentally o mitted, e ither o riginally o r b y a c opyist , a nd t he w ord f amilie s ubsequently a djusted b y ac opyist w ho e ither m isunderstood t he t ext o r c onsciously e mended i t . I n t he T hruhham c harter a nother w ord i s a lso u sed f or h ides, m ansae. T his i s o dd i n ac harter o f t his d ate , b ut i s i nsufficient t o c ondemn t he c harter i n t he a bsence o f o ther s uspicious f eatures . P ossibly t he w ord h as b een c arelessly s ubstituted f or a nother b y a c opyist , o r i t m ay b e a n e rroneous e xpansion o f s ome s uch a bbreviation a s m an f or m anentes. T he s anction c onsists o nly o f ap rohibitive c lause a nd m ay h ave b een a bbreviated b y a c opyist . T he p rohibitive c lause, d irected a gainst t he d onor 's s uccessors, i s i tself a n u nusual f eature i n a W est S axon c harter o f t he e ighth c entury, a nd t ends t o s uggest t hat t he d iplomatic o f W inchester h ad a ffinities w ith t hat o f t he s outh-east , s uch p arallels a s t here a re o ccurring i n c harters o f S ussex a nd K ent ( S27, 4 6 ; a lso S 50 w here a p enal c lause i s d irected a gainst t he d onor 's s uccessors . S ee a lso u nder S 235 a bove). T he d ate i s e xpressed s olely a s a n i ncarnational y ear, w hich a gain s uggests a bbreviation o f t he t ext, a nd m akes i t i mpossible t o v erify t he a ccuracy o f t he d ate g iven . T he w itness l ist i n t he H ighclere c harter c onsists o f s ix n ames , o f w hich o nly t hree a ppear i n t he T hruhham v ersion , b ut i t s eems c lear t hat t here i s o nly a s ingle l ist w hich h as b een a bbreviated m ore d rastically i n o ne i nstance t han i n t he o ther. K ing C uthred 's a ttestat ion i s f ollowed b y t hat o f H unfrith , b ishop o f W inchester , w ho s ucceeded t o t he s ee o n D aniel's r etirement d uring t he 7 40s a nd w hose

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d eath i s r ecorded i n 7 56 ( ASC s .a. 7 44, 7 56). T he t wo a bbots, Athilheard a nd C ynibald, a re o therwise u nrecorded, a s i s t he e aldorman 2 Ethilfrith. C ynric, d escribed a s ' nobiles p rosapie ' i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he C ynric, ' Westsexna B e l oeling', w ho w as k illed, a ccording t o t he C hronicle i n 7 48 ( ASC s .a. 7 48). T he n ame i s n ot c ommon, a nd i t p resents n o p articular p roblem t hat t he d ate o f t he c harter o r t he a nnal n eeds a djustment, s ince t here i s n o r eason t o h ave i mplicit f aith i n t he a ccuracy o f e ither. T he c artularist h as p reserved t hree n ames i n ar ecognisably e arly f orm , ' A thilheard', ' Cynibald' a nd 'Adilfrid', w hich s uggests a n e xemplar o f t he e ighth c entury, a nd t here i s n o r eason t o d oubt t he a uthenticity o f t he l ist. T he l and g ranted i n t he T hruhham c harter i s s aid t o c onsist o f 7 h ides o f w hich 5 a re a t T hruhham , 1 a t E ppelhyrste, a nd 1 a t H witanleage. T hese p laces w ere s ituated s ome 2 0 m iles s outh-west o f W inchester i n t he a rea w hich l ater b ecame t he N ew F orest. T he f irst t wo n ames d o n ot s urvive , b ut T hruhham w as o n t he c oast o n t he s ite o f t he m odern P ark F arm , B eaulieu, a nd E ppelhyrste i s n amed i n a m edieval c harter r elating t o B rockenhurst, a bout 7 m iles f rom P ark F arm . H witanleage s urvives i n W hitley R idge a nd o ther m inor p lace-names i n t he v icinity o f B rockenhurst ( ECW , n o. 6 ). N one o f t hese p laces o ccurs i n a ny o ther p re-Conquest c harter, a nd o f t he t hree o nly T hruhham o ccurs i n D omesday B ook. I n 1 066 i t w as a ssessed a t a t otal o f 8 h ides, o f w hich 2 3 -- w ere h eld b y t he b ishop o f W inchester a nd t he r est 2 b y v arious l aymen ( DB H ampshire, p p . N F2.2, 3 .7, 6 .2, 9 .21, 2). B y 1 086 i t h ad b een e ngulfed b y t he F orest. T here s eems t o b e n o r eason t o d oubt t hat t he a ccount i n t his c harter o f t he l ands g ranted b y C uthred i s a uthentic, a nd t hat s ome, b ut n ot a ll, o f t he p roperty w as l ater a lienated. T he T hruhham c harter t herefore a ppears t o b e a uthentic. I n t he o ther c harter t he g rant i s o f 1 0 h ides o f l and ' quam s olicole C leran . n ominant', a nd a s et o f O ld E nglish b ounds i s i ncluded, w hich e nables t he e state t o b e i dentified a s H ighclere i n H ampshire , s ome 2 0 m iles n orth o f W inchester ( Crawford 1 922, p p. 7 5-6). b oundary c lauses i n O ld E nglish d o n ot o ccur i n c harters a s e arly a s t he r eign o f C uthred, n or d o e ighth-century c harters n ormally r efer t o e states a s ' land w hich t he i nhabitants c all X '; t his w as a n inth- and t enth-century h abit. T hese c lauses a ppear t o h ave b een b orrowed f rom a c harter o f E adred d ated 9 55 w hich g rants 1 0 h ides o f l and ' quam s olicole n ominant . C learan' a nd i ncludes a b oundary c lause v irtually i ndentical w ith t hat i n t he c harter o f C uthred ( S565). I t a ppears t hat t he H ighclere c harter i s a f abrication, p roduced b y c opying o ut t he a uthentic c harter o f C uthred b ut s ubstituting d etails o f a d ifferent e state b orrowed f rom a nother t ext. E adred 's c harter o f 9 55 g ranted H ighclere t o b ishop Alfsige o f W inchester a nd t o t hree h eirs o f h is, t he e state t hen t o r evert t o t he m onks o f W inchester. B ishop 2 Elfsige's w ill a ccordingly p rovided f or t he i nheritance o f t his e state b y t hree m embers o f h is f amily ( S1491). B ut i n 9 59, t he y ear a fter t he b ishop's d eath , E adgar g ranted t he e state t o a l ayman, e vidently d isregarding t he c laims o f b oth Alfsige's k in a nd t he m onks o f W inchester ( S680). I t i s n oticeable t hat a n ew s et o f b ounds w as d rawn u p o n t his o ccasion: t he s ame a rea i s e nclosed, b ut e vidently t he a uthor o f t his c harter d id n ot h ave a ccess t o W inchester's d ocumentation . W inchester u ltimately r ecovered

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t he e state a nd i t w as h eld b y t he m onks i n 1 066 ( DB H ampshire, p . 3 .7). I t w as p robably i n c onnection w ith t heir e fforts t o r ecover i t s ome t ime b etween 9 59 a nd 1 066 t hat s purious t itle-deeds f or H ighclere w ere p roduced: t he g rant i n C uthred's n ame; a c onfirmatory c harter d ated t o t he e arly t enth c entury; a nd a lso p robably t he r estoration c harter i n t he n ame o f E adgar ( S383, 8 19).

S 1263 B .L .

A dditional 1 5350,

( Edition :

f o. 5 8r.

B 324)

A b rief a nd r ather u nusual c harter r ecords a n e xchange o f l ands b etween b ishop E alhmund o f W inchester a nd a l ayman n amed B erhthelm . T he s urving t ext h as n o p roem , s anction, d ate o r w itness l ist, a nd m ay w ell h ave b een a bbreviated. I t c an b e d ated o nly t o t he e piscopate o f E alhmund, w hich i tself c annot b e d ated v ery c losely. E alhmund a pears i n c harters o nly d uring t he p eriod 8 03 t o 8 05 ( S1260 ; B 310, 3 12; S 40, 4 1, 1 61), b ut m ay h ave h eld t he s ee s ome y ears l onger t han t his : t he l atest a ttestations o f h is p redecessor , C yniberht, o ccur i n 8 01 ( S268, 2 70a), a nd h is s uccessor, W igthegn, f irst a ppears i n 8 11 ( S167, W inchcombe's f oundation c harter, w hich i s d ubious i n d etails b ut o f w hich i t c an a t l east b e s aid t hat i ts w itness l ist s eems t o b elong t o i ts d ate. W igthegn 's n ext a ttestation o ccurs i n a c harter o f 8 14 e xtant i n c ontemporary f orm , S 173). T he c harter c an t herefore o nly b e d ated 8 01 x 8 11 ( Finberg ( ECW , n o. 1 97) a nd S awyer ( S1263) d ate i t 8 01 x8 05, o n w hat e vidence i s u nclear). B ishop E alhmund g ranted t o B erhthelm 6 0 h ides a t F arnham , p resumably t he s ame a rea o f l and w hich C eadwalla g ranted f or t he f oundation o f am onastery i n 6 88. H e r eceived i n e xchange 3 3 h ides i n f our p laces, ' id e st . W dutun . M ildanhald . F orscan f eld . B edewinde'. ' Mildanhald' i s i dentified a s M ildenhall, W iltshire, w hich d oes n ot a ppear i n a ny o ther e xtant p re-Conquest c harter, b ut w as g ranted b y k ing C yniwulf t o t he l ayman B ica i n ac harter n ow l ost ( S1682). T he n ame ' Bedewinde' i s u sed i n p re-Conquest s ources f or b oth G reat B edwyn a nd L ittle B edwyn, b oth s ituated o nly a f ew m iles f rom M ildenhall; b ut i t s eems l ikely t hat L ittle B edwyn i s m eant h ere b ecause t his e state w as a lso g ranted b y C yniwulf t o B ica ( S264). M ildenhall a nd L ittle B edwyn w ere t herefore b oth i n t he p ossession o f B ica i n t he l ate e ighth c entury, a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t he ' Mildanhald ' a nd ' Bedewinde ' w hich w ere i n t he p ossession o f B erhthelm a t t he b eginning o f t he n inth c entury w ere t he s ame e states. B erhthelm w as p robably a r elative a nd h eir o f B ica. An umber o f p laces o n t he m odern m ap b ear t he n ame W ootton w hich d erives f rom t he O ld E nglish ' Wdutun ', b ut t his o ne i s p robably W ootton R ivers i n W iltshire , a f ew m iles a way f rom M ildenhall a nd L ittle B edwyn, a nd s imilarly ' Forscan f eld' i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he W iltshire F roxfield, w hich i s i n t he s ame a rea , a nd n ot w ith t he H ampshire F roxfield. N either W ootton R ivers n or F roxfield o ccurs i n a ny o ther p re-Conquest c harter. N one o f t hese f our p laces i s c onnected w ith W inchester i n a ny o ther r ecord, a nd n one w as o wned b y

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t he b ishop i n 1 066. T his e stablishes a s trong p resumption o f t he a uthenticity o f b ishop E alhmund's c harter, s ince t here w as n o m otive f or i ts f orgery. I t a ppears t hat W inchester d id n ot i ntend t o l ose s ight o f t he e state a t F arnham . W inchester r eceived f rom B erhthelm l and t otalling 3 h ides b ut h anded o ver 6 0 h ides. O f t hese 6 0, s ays t he t ext , 2 4 a re 3 e xtra. P resumably t his f igure s hould b e 2 7, a nd x xiii iis a m iscopying o f x xvii. F rom t his p art o f t he l and t he b ishop r eserves t he r ight t o c ertain d ues, p roduce a nd m aintenance f or t wo n ights a nd t en j ars o f h oney e very y ear. M oreover, a ll t he l ands m entioned i n t he c harter a re t o r emain s ubject t o W inchester, ' Possessio u ero a mborum n obis s ubiugantur'. A nd i f B erhthelm o r a ny o f h is h eirs d ecides t o s ell F arnham , n otice o f t his i s t o b e g iven f irst t o t he b ishop o f W inchester w ho w ill r elease 6 0 h ides f or a s uitable p ayment , t he r emaining 2 0 h ides t o b e g iven b ack w ithout p ayment, ' ab e o . l x . m anentes d igno p retio p lacabili s oluantur c eteri . x x .I nsoluti s ine p retio r addantur'. A gain t he f igures d o n ot m ake s ense, a nd l x i s p erhaps a m iscopying o f x l, t he i ntention b eing t o p rovide t hat a ll 6 0 h ides w ill r evert t o W inchester, b ut t hat p ayment w ill b e m ade f or o nly 4 0 o f t hem . F arnham d id r evert t o W inchester , a nd w as i n t he p ossession o f t he s ee i n 8 58 w hen b ishop S withun l eased i t t o k ing 2 Ethelbald ( S1274). T here a re f ew r esemblances b etween t he w ording o f t his c harter a nd t hose o f o ther c harters o f t he t ime , b ut t his s eems t o b e o nly b ecause t he c ontent o f t he t ext i s s o u nusual a nd s o m any o f t he s tandard c lauses a re m issing. N othing i n t he w ording a ppears a nachronistic, a nd t here i s n o t race o f t he t enth-century u sages w hich c ommonly b etray W inchester f orgeries. I t i s o dd t hat t he c hurch a t W inchester i s d escribed a s d edicated t o S t. P eter i nstead o f t o S t. P eter a nd S t. P aul, b ut p ossibly t he o ther n ame h as b een a ccidentally o mitted b y a c opyist. T here s eems t o b e n o g ood r eason t o d oubt t hat t he c harter i s g enuine. I t i s o f i nterest i n t hat i t p rovides m ore d etails o f t he t erms o f t he c ontract t han a re u sually m entioned i n a c harter. C onsidered i n c onjunction w ith o ther e vidence, i t a lso e nables t he h istory o f t he e states a t F arnham , M ildenhall a nd L ittle B edwyn t o b e t raced o ver a p eriod o f y ears.

C harters o f E cgberht:

I ntroduction

T he s tudy o f K entish a nd M ercian c harters o f t he f irst h alf o f t he n inth c entury i s r endered c omparatively e asy a nd f ruitful b y w hat m ay b e t ermed, i n t he c ontext o f e arly A nglo-Saxon c harter s tudies, a n a bundance o f s urviving m aterial w hich, m oreover, i ncludes a f air p roportion o f c ontemporary m anuscripts. U nfortunately t he s ituation i s q uite d ifferent w ith r egard t o W est S axon c harters i n t he s ame p eriod. T he c harters o f E cgberht, k ing o f t he W est S axons 8 02-839, a re a t l east a s d ifficult t o a ssess a s t hose o f a ny o f h is p redecessors b ecause o f t he d earth o f e xtant m aterial. S awyer l ist 1 4 c harters i n t he n ame o f E cgberht, a nd t he a greement b etween t he W est S axon k ings a nd t he a rchbishop o f C anterbury i n 8 38 m ay b e c ounted a s a f ifteenth c harter

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o f t he r eign ( S271-284; S 1438); t he c harter o f b ishop E alhmund d iscussed a bove, w hich d ates f rom e ither t he l ast t wo y ears o f B eorhtric's r eign o r t he f irst y ears o f E cgberht's, i s t he o nly o ther e xtant W est S axon c harter o f t he p eriod. O f t hese 1 6 c harters, 5 r elate t o K entish e states ( or i n s ome c ases p rivileges) a nd K entish b eneficiaries ( S271, 2 79, 2 80, 2 82, 1 438); t hey w ere a pparently d rafted i n K ent a nd, w here g enuine, s how t he c haracteristic K entish d iplomatic o f t he p eriod, s o t hat t heir u tility f or p urposes o f c omparison w ith p urely W est S axon d ocuments i s s trictly l imited. O nly t wo o f t he r emaining 1 c harters d o n ot s urvive a t W inchester, a nd o f t hese o ne i s u nusual i n c ontent, b eing a c onfirmation a nd n ot a g rant, w hile t he o ther i s p robably a f abrication ( S277; S 278). T here i s t herefore n o y ardstick b y w hich t he W inchester c harters m ight b e j udged. A ll s urviving c harters o f E cgberht a re d ated t o t he p eriod 8 238 39, s o t hat t here i s a g ap o f n early a q uarter o f a c entury b etween t he e arliest . o f t hese a nd t he l atest c harters o f B eorhtric's r eign. B ishop E alhmund's c harter, b rief, a typical, a nd l acking i n s o m any s tandard c lauses, d oes l ittle t o b ridge t his g ap, a nd, s ince n othing i s k nown o f t he d evelopment o f W est S axon d iplomatic d uring t he f irst h alf o f E cgberht's r eign, i t i s d ifficult t o k now w hat t o e xpect i n t he c harters o f t he s econd h alf. C omparison w ith c harters o f t he r eign o f 2 Ethelwulf i s s ometimes h elpful, b ut s eldom c onclusive, s ince m ore t han a t hird o f t he e xtant c harters o f J ethelwulf, a nd a ll b ut o ne o f t hose t hat s urvive i n c ontemporary f orm , a re e ffectively K entish d ocuments, a nd m uch o f t he m aterial i s d ubious. I n v iew o f t hese d ifficulties, t he c onclusions o ffered b elow c oncerning t he b lock o f 8 c harters i n t he n ame o f E cgberht w hich s urvive i n t he W inchester c artulary s hould b e c onsidered o nly a s t entative. T here i s a c onsiderable a mount o f d uplication i n t he w ordings a nd c ontent o f t hese 8 c harters. T his c an b e s hown m ost c learly i n t abular f orm . T he f irst t able b elow s hows t he w itnesses o f t he 8 d ocuments .

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x

x

M onnede

x

x

x

W ehhelm

,

_ L ist f rom S 446

x

C eolnoth , e tc.

x

S ynod o f 8 39

x

N otes 1 .

a -bishop o f W inchester ;

b -bishop o f S herborne

2 .

W itheard i n S 273 i s p robably a m iscopying o f W ulf h eard

3 .

T he d uplication o f B urhheard i n S 272 i s p robably a ccidental.

1 46

T he w itness l ist o f S 283 a ppears t o b e i ndependent, a s d oes t hat o f S 281. S 273 m ay r epresent a n i ndependent l ist , o r t his m ight b e a n a bbreviated v ersion o f t he l ist w hich a ppears i n t he o ther f ive t exts . T he 8 c harters t herefore s hare n o m ore t han f our w itness l ists . As imilar c onclusion e merges i f t he d ating c lauses a re c ompared.

2 83

2 73 ( 1)

( 2) ( 3)

C re

O mt

A dl

C re

A D

9 24

8 25

R egnal y ear

2

2 75

( 1) 1 (2) P lace

I ndiction

2 72

O mt

O mt

8 25

2 6 4

3

3

2 3

M onth

A ug

D ay

1 9t

D ec

A ug

D ec

2 6

1 9

2 6

F east d ay

2 74

8 26 4

2 4

2 4

'1 4

1 4

8 26

2 76

O mt

C in U et

8 26

8 38 8 39

4 1 0

4 2 4

1l e

S te p hel

' Ducatus '

1 4

N otes 1 .

S 284 h as n o d ating c lause a nd i s t herefore o mitted f rom t his t able

2 .

T he a bbreviated p lace-names a re: A d C re

l- 'Ac l eah ' -. ' Creodantreow '

O mt

' Omtune '

C in

' Cingestun '

U et

' Uetustissimus ', r ecte

e t A stran '

S 283 i s i ndependent, a s i s S 281. At hird d ating c lause , t he t wo-part c lause i nvolving b oth A ugust a nd D ecember 8 25, a ppears i n S 273 a nd S 272. T he o ther t hree t exts a ppear t o s hare t he s ame d ating c lause , w hich i s a lso d uplicated i n S 272. T he o bscure 1 4th ' ducatus ' m entioned i n t hree o f t hese c lauses i s p erhaps c onnected w ith t he e rroneous r egnal y ear i n t he f ourth . Q uite w hat t he a uthor h ad i n m ind i s n ot c lear, b ut i t c an s carcely b e a c oincidence t hat 2 4 -14 = 1 0. I t t herefore a ppears t hat t he 8 c harters c ontain o nly f our l ots o f d ating

1 47

i nformation. T he r est o f t he w ording i n s ome o f t hese c harters w hole o r i n p art w ordings f ound i n o ther t exts.

S W ording / / i n S

d uplicates

i n

2 83

2 73

2 72

2 75

2 74

2 76

2 84

2 81

-

2 72/6

2 73/6

2 29

-

2 72/3

2 42

1 438

T he t exts o f S 275 a nd S 284 a re s purious, a pparently d rawn u p i n t he t enth c entury, a nd S 273 a nd S 276 s hare t he s ame w ording, w hich i s a lso t he b asis o f S 272, s o t hat t here a re o nly f our p ossibly a uthentic w ordings a mong t he 8 c harters . T he e vidence o f t hese v arious d uplications e stablishes a t l east a n a p riori a ssumption t hat n ot a ll t he e xtant c harters i n E cgberht's n ame a re a uthentic, a nd s uggests t hat s ome o f t hem a re f abrications p roduced b y b orrowing c lauses f rom o ther c harters . T wo o f t hem m ay, i ndeed, b e s ummarily d ismissed. S 275 c onsists o f t he w ordings o f t he s purious D ownton c harter i n t he . name o f C oenwalh d iscussed a bove , v aried o nly b y t he u se o f E cgberht's n ame a nd a r eference t o t he e arlier g rant o f C oenwalh , p lus a d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist w hich o ccur i n o ther c harters a s d etailed a bove. T he t ext w as a pparently d rafted i n t he t enth c entury a nd i s f ull o f w ords a nd c lauses a nachronistic i n a d ocument o f s upposedly e arly n inth-century d ate . T he d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist h ave p resumably b een b orrowed f rom a nother c harter a nd i ntroduced h ere i n o rder t o d ate t he t ext t o E cgberht's r eign . I n t he s ame w ay S 284 d uplicates t he w ording o f t he s purious g rant o f A lresford i n I ne's n ame a nd i ncludes t he s ame w itnesses a s S 275 a nd o ther c harters . T his t ext t oo a ppears t o h ave b een w ritten i n t he t enth c entury. T hese t wo c harters s eem t o b e f abrications . T he o ther c harters i n E cgberht's n ame a re d iscussed i ndividually b elow .

S 283 B .L .

A dditional 1 5350,

( Edition :

f os . 3 9v-40r

B 377)

O n t he e vidence o f t he i nformation t abulated a bove , t his c harter s eems t he o ne m ost l ikely t o b e g enuine s ince i ts w ording, d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist a re a ll i ndependent. M oreover , i t i s t he o nly o ne o f t he 8 c harters w hich i s n ot a g rant t o W inchester : t his i s a g rant t o t he l ayman W ulfheard, a nd t his c ircumstance e stablishes a p resumption o f t he b asic a uthenticity o f t he t ext s ince t here i s n o m otive f or f orgery. M uch o f t he d ocument a ppears t o b e a uthentic. O nly a s ingle p hrase i n t he d ispositio , ' largiflua d el e t d apsili m anu ', i s s uspect,

1 48

r esembling t enth-century p hraseology; t he r est o f t he c lause s eems t o b e g enuine. T he k ing's t itle i s n ormal f or t his t ime , ' Occidentalium S axonum r ex'; t he b eneficiary i s d escribed a s E cgberht's p refectus, a t itle c ommonly a pplied t o e ighth-and n inth-century e aldormen; t he e state h as n o n ame o f i ts o wn b ut i s s aid t o b e a djacent t o, a nd o n e ither s ide o f, t he r iver ' Meone', n ow t he M eon i n H ampshire ; a nd t he r eferences t o l ocal i nhabitants, ' ubi i ncole a ppellant M eone', ' iuxta e stimationem i ncolarum i n m odum x xiiorum m anentium ', a re a cceptable i n a n inth-century c harter ( Cf. S 292: ' ubi r uricoli a ppellant L ottisham '). T he r est o f t he c lause c onsists o f f ormulas c ommon i n e arly c harters. T here i s n o i mmunity o r s anction, w hich p erhaps i ndicates s ome a bbreviation b y a c opyist . T he d ocument i s d ated f rom ' ac l eah ', b ut i t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hich O akley i s m eant. T he d ate i s g iven a s 9 24, t he s econd i ndiction , t he 2 3rd y ear o f E cgberht's r eign . T he i ncarnational y ear i s p resumably a s lip o f t he p en a nd s hould b e 8 24 w hich f its t he o ther d etails. R egnal y ears a re c ommonly s tated i n e arly n inth-century c harters ( Eg. S 161, 1 63, 1 88, 1 438). T he w itnesses a re t he k ing , t he t wo W est S axon b ishops a nd f ive l aymen w ho a re a ll g iven t he t itle p refectus a nd w ere d oubtless e aldormen . T he b ishops a re W igthegn, d escribed a s ' episcopus c iuitate W entane', a nd E alhstan, ' electus i n e piscopatum S cireburnensis'. W igthegn h ad s ucceeded E alhmund p robably b y 8 11 a nd c ertainly b y 8 14, a nd h is d eath i s e ntered i n t he C hronicle u nder 8 36 ( S167, 1 73 ; A SC s .a. 8 36). T he C hronicle a lso s tates t hat b ishop E alhstan d ied i n 8 67 a fter a n e piscopate o f 5 0 y ears, w hich c ontradicts t he i nformation o f t his c harter . I t m ar b e t hat t he a ttestations o f t he b ishops i n t his c harter h ave b een e laborated b y a l ater w riter , s ince i t w as n ot u sual, a lthough n ot w ithout p arallel. ( The o ne u ndoubted p arallel i s t he r emarkable s ynodal w itness l ist o f 8 03: B 312), f or s ees t o b e s pecified. B ut e ven i f t his h as b een d one, i t s eems u nlikely t hat ' electus i n e piscopatum ' h as b een s ubstituted m erely a s a v ariant f or e piscopus , s ince t he p erson r esponsible c ould s carcely b e u naware t hat t he m eaning w as t hereby a ltered. T he p hrase t herefore s eems l ikely t o b e g enuine. M oreover, i t i s n oticeable t hat t here w as n o b ishop o f S herborne a t t he C ouncil o f C lofesho o n t he 3 0th O ctober 8 24 ( S1433, 1 434): p ossibly t his d ate f ell b etween t he d eath o f b ishop W igberht a nd t he c onsecration o f E alhstan. I t i s n ot i mpossible t hat t he c harter i s a t f ault , b ut t he p robability s eems t o b e t hat E alhstan w as e lected i n 8 24 a nd d ied c . 8 67 a fter a n e piscopate o f a bout 4 3 y ears, t he C hronicle's r ound n umber o f y ears b eing a n i naccuracy a lthough b ased o n a g enuinely l ong e piscopate. T he f irst l ay w itness i s B erhthelm , w ho i s p resumably t o b e i dentified w ith t he m an w ho e xchanged l ands w ith b ishop E alhmund s everal y ears e arlier. B urhheard i s k nown o nly f rom h is a ttestations o f 7 o f t he 8W inchester c harters o f E cgtberht. W ulfheard, t he b eneficiary o f t his g rant , w as o ne o f t he m en s ent b y E cgberht t o c onquer K ent i n t he f ollowing y ear , a nd d ied i n 8 40 a fter e njoying a v ictory a gainst t he V ikings a t S outhampton -w hich m ay i ndicate t hat h e w as e aldorman o f H ampshire ; h e a ttests s everal c harters o f E cgberht e xtant a t W inchester a nd e lsewhere , a nd w as w ith Athelwulf a t W ilton a fter E cgberht's d eath i n 8 39 ( ASC s .a. 8 25, 8 40; f or W inchester c harters s ee t he t able i n t he t ext ; a lso S 270, 2 71, 2 78, 2 80 ( not a ll

1 49

o f w hich a re a uthentic); a nd S 1438). H un i s k nown o nly f rom h is a ttestations o f s everal o f t he W inchester c harters o f E cgberht. H iotomann i s o therwise u nknown. T he l ast o f t hese n ames w ould n ot h ave b een k nown t o a f orger, a nd t he b orrowing o f B erhthelm 's n ame f rom b ishop E alhmund's ( undated) c harter s eems u nlikely. T he w hole w itness l ist a ppears t o b e g enuine , a s d oes m uch o f t he t ext o f t he c harter. T here h as h owever, b een s ome i nterpolation. T he p roem o therwise o ccurs o nly i n c harters o f t he t enth c entury ( S450, 5 02, 5 30, 5 59, 6 04, 68), 6 a nd t he l ong O ld E nglish b oundary c lause i s d escribed b y W hitelock a s c ertainly o f l ater d ate ( S283). T he e state c onsists o f 2 2 h ides o n e ither s ide o f t he r iver M eon. A ccording t o G rundy, t he b ounds i ndicate t hat t he a rea c omprised p ortions o f t he m odern p arishes o f P rivett, F roxfield a nd E ast M eon ( Grundy 1 926, p . 1 95). An umber o f o ther c harters r elate t o M eon o r t he r iver M eon, b ut n one i ncludes t he s ame h idage o r b ounds o r r elates t o q uite t he s ame a rea ( S269, 4 17, 6 19, 7 54, 8 11; o n t he b oundaries a nd t he p roblems t hey p resent s ee G rundy 1 926, p p. 1 92-230), s o t hat i t i s i mpossible t o t race t he h istory o f t his e state. I n 1 066 E ast M eon w as a n e xtensive m anor o f 7 2 h ides, b ut o f t his a rea W inchester h eld o nly 6 h ides a nd 1v irgate; t he b ishop a lso h eld 2 0 h ides a t W est M eon ( DB H ampshire, p. 1 .16, 2 .13, 2 .11). M otive f or f orgery o f t his c harter p c annot b e d emonstrated, b ut t he e state p resumably e xisted a s a u nit w hen t he b oundary c lause w as w ritten ( or m odernised), p erhaps i n t he t enth c entury. T he c harter w as p robably w ritten o ut i n i ts e xtant f orm a t t hat t ime. U se w as e vidently m ade o f a n a uthentic c harter o f E cgberht, a nd t here i s n o r eason t o d oubt t hat t his w as a g rant o f l and t o e aldorman W ulfheard. B ut i t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain t hat t hat c harter o riginally r elated t o t he e state o n t he r iver M eon, g iven t he u ndoubted e vidence o f o ther t exts t hat t he W inchester c ommunity m ade a p ractice o f c ombining g enuine c harter w ordings w ith d etails o f e states f or w hich t hey w anted t itle d eeds.

S 273 B .L .

A dditional 1 5350,

( Edition:

f os. 9 1v-92r.

B 389)

T his c harter r ecords a g rant b y E cgberht t o t he m onastery o f S t. P eter a nd S t. P aul o f 5h ides a t W orthy i n H ampshire. Ag lance a t t he t ables a bove w ill s how t hat t he b ulk o f t he t ext i n t his c harter i s d uplicated i n a nother o f t he W inchester c harters i n E cgberht's n ame, w hile t he d ating c lause r ecurs i n a t hird. T he d ocument w hich s hares t he w ording s hares i ts w itness l ist a nd d ating c lause w ith o ther c harters a nd a ppears t o c ontain l ittle t hat c ould b e i ndependent; t he o ne w hich s hares t he d ate a lso d uplicates a nother d ating c lause f ound i n o ther t exts, a nd h as t herefore c learly b een t ampered w ith . T he w itness l ist o f t he W orthy c harter h as s ome a ppearance o f i ndependence. T hese f actors t end t o s uggest t hat t his c harter m ay b e b asically i ndependent , t he d uplications e leswhere r epresenting b orrowings f rom t his d ocument.

1 50

T he t ext b egins w ith a v ery c ommon i nvocation o f a ncient o rigin, a nd t here i s n o p roem . A s ubstantial s ection o f t he d ispositio i s d uplicated i n a c harter o f B eorhtric: S 273:

' Ego E cgberhtus r egali f retus d ignitate d e t erra q uam p recessores m ei a tque p ropinqui i ure m ichi h ereditario p ossidendam r eliquerunt . a liquam p ortionem t erre m onasterio s anctorum a postolorum P etri e t P auli p ro r emedio a nime m ee p erpetualiter i mpendere l argitus s um '.

S 269:

' ego B eorhtricus r egali f retus d ignitate d e t erra i uris m ei q uam p redecessores m ei a tque p ropinqui m ichi l ure h ereditario p ossidendam r eliquerunt a liquam p ortionem H emele f idelissimo p rincipi m eo s empiternaliter p ossidendam l argitus s um '.

T his w ording h as s ome a ppearance o f h aving b een b orrowed b y t he a uthor o f t he c harter o f E cgberht, w hose i ntroduction o f t he s uperfluous w ord ' terre' a fter ' aliquam p ortionem ' s uggests t hat h e d id n ot f ully u nders tand t he s entence h e w as t ranscribing. B ut i t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hether t his b orrowing w as t he w ork o f a n inth-century a uthor o f a g enuine c harter o f E cgberht u sing a s lightly e arlier c harter f or g uidance , o r t hat o f a f orger o f m uch l ater d ate. B eorhtric's c harter n ow s urvives i n t he A bingdon c artulary, b ut r elates t o l and i n H ampshire a nd i nvolves a l ay b eneficiary, s o i t c ould w ell h ave b een w ritten o riginally i n t he s criptorium a t W inchester, o r p erhaps d eposited t here b y a l ay o wner f or s afe-keeping b efore b eing m oved t o A bingdon . O r t here m ight h ave b een a nother, s imilar c harter o f B eorhtric a t W inchester. T he e vidence i s i nconclusive. T here a re, h owever, s ome g rounds f or a rguing t hat t he w ording o f t he c harter o f E cgberht i s g enuine. T he d ispositio c ontinues, a fter t he w ording q uoted a bove , w ith a l ist o f t he c omponents o f t he p roperty i n f airly n ormal t erms, a nd r efers t o ' antiquitatis s tatuta a d e am p ertinentibus', w hich r ecalls a p hrase i n t he a pparently a uthentic c harter o f E cgberht n ow e xtant i n t he c artulary o f S haftesbury, ' iuxta a ntiquam c onscripcionem ' ( S277). T here f ollows a n i mmunity w hose c ontent a nd w ording h ave s ome p arallel i n c harters o f t he t ime. T he i ntroductory p hrase a ugere a mplificarique e lemosinam ' r esembles t he w ording o f t he i mmunity i n o ne o f B eorhtric's c harters, ' ad a ugmentum h ujus D onationis e t a d E leemosynam a nimae m eae' ( S267). T he i mmunity i s g ranted ' except° e xpeditione e t p ontis f actione ', a nd a nother c harter o f B eorhtric h as t he s ame t wo e xceptions e xpressed i n t he s ame w ords, ' extra e xpeditione e t p ontis f actione', w hile a c harter o f Athelwulf w hich i s e xtant i n c onte iporary f orm a nd t herefore o f u nquestionable a uthenticity c ontains a n i mmunity w ith t he s ame t wo e xceptions ( S268, 2 98 ; B rooks 1 976, p . 8 1). T he l ast p hrase , ' quod o mni p lebi c ommune e st' i s o f a t ype n ot u ncommon i n M ercian a nd W est S axon c harters o f t his p eriod, f or e xample ' quod o mni p opulo n ecesse e st' i n ac harter o f O ffa, a nd ' quod o mni p opulo c ommunis e st' i n o ne o f Athelwulf ( S139, 2 92). T he O ld E nglish b oundary c lause w hich f ollows t he i mmunity i s t he s ingle f eature o f t his d ocument w hich c an s carcely b e g enuine i n a c harter o f t his d ate. I t h as p resumably b een a dded l ater, o r m ay

1 51

r epresent a m odernised v ersion o f a n a uthentic, e arly n inth-century b oundary c lause. I ts p resence d oes n ot , o f c ourse, p rejudice t he p ossible a uthenticity o f t he c harter , s ince O ld E nglish b ounds w ere c ommonly a dded t o g enuine e arly c harters w hich l acked t hem . A nd t he f act t hat t his i s t he s ingle f eature o f t his t ext w hich c ould n ot b e g enuine i s a n ot i nconsiderable a rgument i n f avour o f t he a uthenticity o f t he d ocument, s ince a f orger o f l ater d ate i s n ot l ikely t o h ave b een a ble t o s ave h imself s o e ntirely f rom a nachronism . T he b lessing a nd s anction a re u nobjectionable a nd e nd w ith t he q ualification ' nisi s atisfactione a nte e mendauerit', w hich i s u nparalleled i n e arlier a uthentic W est S axon c harters b ut i s n ormal i n l ater o nes, a nd o ccurs o ften e nough i n K entish a nd M ercian c harters f rom t he l ate e ighth c entury o nwards ( Eg. 5 40, 1 49; B 312) t o e ncourage t he s upposition t hat i t i s g enuine h ere. T here f ollows a v ery r emarkable d ating c lause w hich s tates t hat t he f irst d raft o f t his c harter w as m ade d uring m ilitary s ervice w hen E cgberht, ' rex G euuissorum ' m oved a gainst t he B ritons a t a p lace c alled ' Creodantreop ! ( i.e. C reoda's t ree, u nidentified) o n t he 1 9th A ugust 8 25, t he 3 rd i ndiction, i n t he p resence o f w itnesses w hose n ames a re w ritten ' in f ronte h uius c artule f ; t he c harter w as t hen w ritten a t ' Omtune', t hat i s S outhampton, o n t he 2 6th D ecember. I nvention o f a ll t his d etail i s m ost i mprobable, a nd n othing i n t he c lause s uggests f orgery: ' rex G euuissorum ', a s m entioned e lsewhere , w as a t itle o ccasionally u sed i n g enuine W est S axon c harters ; ' Creodantreop ' i s n ot o therwise r ecorded, a nd t he n ame w ould p robably n ot h ave b een a vailable t o a f orger; t he i ndications o f d ate a re c onsistent w ith e ach o ther a nd w ith t he w itnesses, a nd t he r eference t o t he n ames o f t he w itnesses a ppearing o n t he f ront o f t he c harter c an o nly i ndicate t hat t he a uthor w as w riting o n a s ingle s heet, t his c lause e vidently b eing p laced o n t he v erso . T he i nformation o f t his c lause d oes n ot c oincide w ith ( and c ould n ot h ave b een b orrowed f rom) t hat o f t he c hronicle f or t he y ear 8 25 -misdated 8 23 i n a ll s urviving m anuscripts . T he C hronicle r eports t hat t here w as a b attle b etween t he B ritons a nd t he m en o f D evon a t ' Gafolforda', n ow G alford i n D evon ; t hat E cgberht d efeated B eornwulf o f M ercia a t ' Ellendune' o n t he s ite o f t he m odern t own o f W roughton i n W iltshire; a nd t hat E cgberht s ent Athelwulf a nd o ther W est S axon l eaders t o K ent w here t hey d rove o ut k ing B ealdred a nd c onquered t he s outh-east. I t i s n ot c ertain t hat W hitelock w as c orrect i n r egarding t he d etails i n t his c harter a s r elating t o t he G alford c ampaign ( See S 273 a nd h er f ootnote t o t he C hronicle's a nnal , E HD , p . 1 85 n . 4 ). I f E cgberht f ought t hat b attle i t i s o dd t hat t he C hronicle d oes n ot s ay s o, a nd o dd t hat h is a rmy c onsisted o nly o f t he m en o f D evon . I t w ould b e m ore n atural t o i nterpret t he C hronicle's a ccount a s i ndicating t hat t he m en o f D evon w ere l ed b y t heir e aldorman , i n w hich c ase t he i nformation o f t he c harter r elates t o a s eparate c ampaign. T his i s n ot i mplausible. T he o utcome o f t he b attle o f G alford i s n ot s tated. I f i t w ere aW est S axon d efeat, t he r esulting s ituation o n t he s outhw estern b order m ay w ell h ave b een c ritical, n ecessitating a f urther c ampaign l ed b y E cgberht h imself. T he w itness l ist c onsists o f t he k ing, b ishops W igthegn o f W inchester a nd E alhstan o f S herborne, a nd t hree e aldormen, M onnede, B urhheard a nd ' Witheard', t he l ast p robably b eing a m iscopying o f W ulfheard. A s t he t able a bove s hows, a ll t hese m en a ppear i n aw itness l ist a ppended t o f ive o ther c harters, b ut t he o mission o f s ome o ther

1 52

n ames f rom t hat l ist a nd t he m iscopying o f o ne n ame , w hich d oes n ot o ccur e lsewhere , s uggest t hat t his l ist m ay b e i ndependent . T here i s n o o bjection t o a ny o f t he n ames w hich i t c ontains . M onnede , t he o nly w itness w ho d oes n ot a lso a ttest t he M eon c harter d iscussed a bove, a ppears a lso i n aw itness l ist w hich s eems t o b e g enuine a lthough a ppended t o a d ubious c harter o f E cgberht i n t he T extus R offensis, a nd h e w as a t W ilton w ith Athelwulf i n 8 39 ( S271, 1 438). B ishop E alhstan a nd e aldorman W ulfheard w ere a mong t he l eaders o f t he e xpedition t o K ent i n 8 25, w hich c annot t herefore h ave o ccurred a t t he s ame t ime a s t he B ritish c ampaign . I t m ay b e t hat t he a nnexation o f K ent d id n ot o ccur i n 8 25 a t a ll. R oger o f W endover , w hose c hronology o f t he e vents o f E cgberht's r eign d iffers f rom t hat o f t he C hronicle a nd m ay b e d erived f rom a nother ( possibly M ercian) s ource , d ates i t t o 8 27 ( Coxe, R oger o f W endover, s .a. 8 27). T he e vidence o f t his c harter c annot b e s aid t o a fford a ny g rounds f or d eciding b etween t he t wo d ates . T he e state w hich i s t he s ubject o f t his c harter i s i dentified b y G rundy a s M artyr W orthy s ome 3 m iles f rom W inchester ( Grundy 1 926, p . 1 82). T wo l ater c harters b oth s urviving i n t he W inchester c artulary a nd b oth r ather d ubious, r ecord g rants o f l and o r p rivileges a t M artyr W orthy t o l aymen , b ut i n n either c ase d oes t he h idage o r b oundary c lause a gree w ith t hose i n t he c harter o f E cgberht , t he e states b eing o f 3a nd 8 h ides r espectively ( S304, 3 51). I n 1 066 W inchester o wned M artyr W orthy w hich w as t hen a ssessed a t 3 h ides ( DB H ampshire , p . 3 .13). I t i s ap oint i n f avour o f t his c harter t hat i ts i nformation a bout t he e state d iffers f rom w hat a ppears i n l ater d ocumentation a nd h ence , p resumably, f rom w hat a f orger w ould h ave w ritten. T he p robability s eems t o b e t hat t his c harter i s s ubstantially g enuine, p ossibly a ltered o nly b y t he a ddition o r p erhaps t he m odernisation, o f t he b oundary c lause. B ut , i n v iew o f t he e xtensive r ewriting o f t he c harters i n E cgberht's n ame i n t his c artulary , t he p ossibility t hat t his c harter w as o riginally a g rant t o s ome o ther b eneficiary, o r r elated t o s ome o ther e state , c annot b e r uled o ut . I t d oes , h owever , s eem v ery l ikely t hat t he d ating c lause s hould b e a ccepted a s p art o f a n a uthentic t ext o f 8 25, a nd v alid h istorical e vidence f or t he r eign o f E cgberht.

S 272 B .L . A dditional 1 5350, ( Edition :

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B 390)

T his c harter, w hich p urports t o r ecord a g rant o f l and a t A lton P riors i n W iltshire t o W inchester d oes n ot a ppear t o h ave a ny a uthentic b asis, a nd i s p robably a f abrication p roduced l argely b y b orrowing c lauses f rom o ther d ocuments. T he t ext b egins w ith a l engthy p roem w hich h as n o c lose p arallel a mong e xtant c harters b ut h as e very a ppearance o f b eing a p roduction o f t he t enth c entury. T he d ocument t hen i ncorporates v irtually t he w hole

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w ording o f t he d ispositio , i mmunity, s anction a nd d ating c lause f rom t he W orthy c harter d iscussed a bove i nto a m uch l onger a nd m ore c omplex t ext i n w hich e very c lause i s e laborated a nd w hich i s a nachronistic b oth i n i ts p hraseology a nd i n i ts r epeated r eferences t o t he ' uetus m onasterium ', a n ame w hich t he e stablishment d id n ot a cquire u ntil t he f oundation o f N ew M inster i n t he e arly t enth c entury. A f urther d ating c lause i s a dded, c ontradicting t he f irst,this b eing t he c lause w hich a lso o ccurs i n t hree o ther c harters i n E cgberht's n ame, w hile t he w itness l ist w hich f ollows a ppears a lso i n t he s ame t hree c harters a nd i n a f ourth ( see t ables a bove). T he o nly p ortions o f t his t ext w hich c ould b e g enuine n inth-century w ork a re a ll d uplicated i n o ther W inchester c harters o f E cgberht, w hile t he p ortions w hich a re i ndependent a ppear t o h ave b een d rafted n ot e arlier t han t he t enth c entury, a nd t he a llusions t o t he O ld M inster e stablish w ith a bsolute c ertainty t hat t he c harter d id n ot a cquire i ts p resent f orm b efore t he t enth c entury. T he s econd d ating c lause s tates t hat t he t ransaction w as c oncluded i n 8 26, t he 4 th i ndiction , t he 2 4th y ear o f E cgberht's r eign, a nd t he 1 4th o f h is ' ducatus'. T he f irst t hree o f t hese i ndications a re c onsistent; t he m eaning o f t he l ast i s o bscure, a s i s d iscussed a bove , a nd s hould p robably b e i nterpreted a s a n e laboration a dded t o a c lause p robably g enuine i n i tself a nd o riginally f orming p art o f a n a uthentic c harter. A s imilar c onclusion i s s uggested b y t he w itness l ist. T he n ame o f E cgberht i s f ollowed b y t hose o f t hree b ishops, W igthegn o f W inchester, E alhstan o f S herborne, a nd H erefrith, a lso o f W inchester. T he i nformation o f t his l ist t hat t wo b ishops o f W inchester w ere a ctive a t t he s ame t ime i s n ot w ithout s ome d egree o f c orroboration i n o ther s ources. A ccording t o t he C hronicle, b ishops W igthegn a nd H erefrith b oth d ied i n 8 36, a nd H erefrith 's p rofession o f f aith w as a ddressed t o a rchbishop W ulfred w ho d ied i n 8 32 ( Richter 1 973, n o. 1 4); i f t hese t wo s ources a re a ccurate a nd r eliable, t here w ere t wo b ishops f or a t l east f our y ears. T here i s n o o ther c harter e vidence f or t he s ituation: H erefrith a ppears o nly i n t he W inchester c harters w hich i nclude t his w itness l ist, a nd W igthegn a ttests n o r eliable c harter l ater t han 8 26. T he r emainder o f t he l ist c onsists o f s ix l aymen. B urhheard, W ulf h eard, H un a nd M onnede a re d iscussed i n c onnection w ith o ther w itness l ists a bove. A s econd m an n amed B urhheard i s p robably n ot a nother i ndividual b ut s imply t he a ccidental r epetition o f t he s ame n ame. T he l ast w itness, e aldorman W ehhelm , i s k nown o nly f rom t he c opies o f t his l ist . * There s eems n o g ood r eason t o d oubt t hat t he l ist w as o riginally a ppended t o a g enuine c harter o f t he l atter p art o f E cgberht's r eign, p robably b etween 8 24 ( the p robable d ate o f E alhstan's e lection) a nd 8 32 ( the l atest p ossible d ate f or H erefrith 's c onsecration). I t m ay w ell b e t hat t he d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist o riginated i n t he s ame d ocument. O ne c ircumstance m entioned i n t he d ispositio o f t his c harter m ay h ave s ome b asis i n f act. T his i s a n e arlier g rant o f t he e state b y E cgberht t o t he p refect B urhheard, u pon w hose d eath w ithout i ssue t he l eading m en i n W essex j udged t hat t he l and s hould r evert t o E cgberht. T he a ccount o f t he r eversion t o E cgberht s eems d ubious, b ut t he g rant t o B urhheard i s u nlikely t o h ave b een i nvented, i ndeed t he w hole a ccount r eads l ike t he a ttempt o f a n o ver-anxious f orger t o r econcile a n a ctual g rant t o B urhheard w ith t he g rant t o W inchester w hich h e w ished t o e stablish. T here a re n o g rounds f or a rguing t hat a ny o f t he

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t ext o f E cgberht's c harter t o B urhheard s urvives i n t he e xtant d ocument, a nd t he a ppearance o f B urhheard, a live a nd w ell, i n t he w itness l ist o nly s erves t o c onfirm t hat t his c harter i s a p atchwork i ncorporating c lauses f rom v arious d ocuments. T he e state w hich i s t he s ubject o f t his c harter c onsists o f 1 5 h ides a t ' 2E 1 2eltune', n ow A lton P riors i n W iltshire . I t i s m entioned i n o nly t wo o ther p re-Conquest d ocuments , a nd t hese a re b oth p reserved i n t he C odex W intoniensis i mmediately a fter t his c harter . T he f irst, w hich i s a dded v irtually a s a n e ndorsement t o t he c harter i n E cgberht's n ame , i s a n O ld E nglish d ocument o f t he e leventh c entury a nd r ecords t hat b ishop S tigand a nd h is c ommunity a t O ld M inster l eased t wo h ides a t A lton P riors a nd a s mall a mount o f l and e lsewhere t o W ulfric f or t wo l ives ( S1403). M otive f or f orgery o f s uch a d ocument i s l acking , a nd i t i s p robably g enuine, a lthough D omesday B ook d oes n ot m ention W ulfric's i nterest, l isting A lton P riors, a ssessed a t 2 0 h ides i n 1 066 , a s t he p roperty o f t he b ishop o f W inchester ( DB W iltshire, p . 2 .4). T he o ther p re-Conquest d ocument , a lso p robably g enuine, i s t he w ill o f C eolwyn , w idow o f O smod, r ecording h er b equest o f 1 5 h ides a t A lton P riors , f ormerly o wned b y h er h usband, t o t he c hurch a t W inchester ( S1513). T he e state i s d etailed i n a l engthy O ld E nglish b oundary c lause i ndentical t o t hat i ncorporated i nto t he c harter o f E cgberht . T he p robability s eems t o b e t hat W inchester a cquired A lton P riors b y C eolwyn 's b equest, a nd p erhaps a t t he s ame t ime a cquired t he t itle d eed f or t he p roperty w hich w as a g rant b y E cgberht t o t he e aldorman B urhheard, f rom w hom t he e state h ad p resumably p assed b y s ale o r i nheritance t o O smod. T he c ommunity l ater f abricated t he c harter o f E cgberht b y c ombining t he d etails o f t he l and f rom C eolwyn 's w ill w ith c lauses f rom o ther c harters , e laborated t o p roduce t he i nflated s tyle a dmired i n t he t enth c entury, a nd a r eference d esigned t o r econcile t his d ocument w ith t he g rant t o B urhheard. T he s tatement o f t hat g rant s eems t o b e t he o nly p iece o f g enuine i nformation p eculiar t o t his c harter. S ome o f t he c lauses i ncoporated i nto i t p robably o riginally f ormed p art o f g enuine c harters o f E cgberht's r eign , b ut t his d ocument s eems t o b e a f abrication .

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T his c harter r ecords E cgberht 's g rant t o W inchester o f a n e state a t C albourne o n t he I sle o f W ight. I ts w ording i s s ingular a nd n ot r eadily i dentifiable a s t he s tyle o f a ny p articular p eriod, b ut i t i s d ifficult t o b elieve i n i t a s a n a uthentic t ext o f t he e arly n inth c entury. T he g rant i s s aid t o b e m ade f or t he s ake, i nter a lia , o f t he r elief o f t he k ing 's s oul a nd t he s ouls o f a ll C hristian K ings o f t he r ace o f t he A ngles ( 'gentis A nglorum ') w ho l ived b efore h im , a nd o f t hose w ho a re t o l ive a fter h im . U se o f t he w ord A ngli i n a n e arly n inth-century c harter c ould o nly i mply t hat t he i ntention w as t o i nclude e arlier k ings o f a ll A nglo-Saxon k ingdoms . T his i s s carcely

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probable, and the passage is much more likely to have been drafted in the days when there was a king of the English who could look back to earlier kings of the English, i.e. not earlier than the tenth century. The sanction immediately follows the dispositio and consists of a prohibitive clause and penal clause, both worded with unusual emphasis. There is also a blessing but this is separated from the sanction by an immunity without exceptions which states that the land is to be subject to no-one but the bishop of Winchester. This is the third time Winchester is named in the document. There is a fairly brief Old English boundary clause, and a dating clause which agrees with those in three other Winchester charters in its references to 826 and the 3rd indiction, but includes no 'ducatus' and wrongly cites Ecgberht's regnal year as the 10th. As mentioned above, the 'ducatus' may represent an attempt to reconcile this error with more accurate information about &gberht's reign. Conversely, this error may derive from an attempt to explain the 'ducatus'. The probability seems to be that the dating clause is genuine, although corrupt in its extant forms. The witness list is the same as that in the charter just discussed (S272), except that there is no repetition of Burhheard's name here, and Ealhstan is misrepresented as a layman. Calbourne is not mentioned in any other pre-Conquest charter, but the boundary clause which appears in this document is also transcribed on the preceding folio of the cartulary where the land is said to belong to the estate of Downton in Wiltshire (S1581). In 1066 Calbourne was the only manor on the Isle of Wight owned by the bishop of Winchester (DB Hampshire, p. IOW 2.1). The estate was then of 32 hides, and the area may well have been much the same as that of the 30 hides detailed in this charter. The unusual nature of the wording, the reference to earlier kings of the Angli and the emphasis on Winchester and on religious sanctions all combine to render this a suspicious document, more likely to be a fabrication of perhaps the tenth century than a genuine ninth-century charter. It may have been fabricated because Winchester owned Calbourne but had no title deed for it. The dating clause and witness list seem basically authentic although somewhat corrupt, but the charter in which they originated may not have been a grant of Calbourne to Winchester.

****** S276 B.L. Additional 15350, fos. 102v-103r. (Edition:

B393)

This document records a grant by Ecgberht to Winchester of an estate at Droxford in Hampshire. Every part of its wording is duplicated in at least one other Winchester charter. The invocation, dispositio and immunity are virtually identical with those in the Martyr Worthy charter (S273), the only significant difference being the substitution of a different estate. The same text forms the basis of 156

t he A lton P riors c harter ( S272), a nd t he s anction h ere i s v ery c lose i n w ording t o t he s anction o f t hat d ocument. T he c harter i s d ated 8 26 b y ac lause w hich o ccurs i n t wo o ther c harters a nd i n as lightly d ifferent f orm i n a t hird ( see t able); i n t his a nd o ne o ther c ase ( S275) a n a dditional d etail d ates t he c harter f rom ' Omtune', w hich i s p robably l ifted f rom t he 8 25 d ating c lause w hich o ccurs i n t wo c harters ( S272, 2 73). T he w itness l ist i ncludes t he n ames w hich a ppear i n f our o ther W inchester c harters ( see t able), b ut h as b een m ade m uch m ore e xtensive b y t he i nclusion o f m any n ames b orrowed f rom t he w itness l ist o f a nother c harter w hich i s g rouped w ith t his o ne i n t he c artulary, a g rant o f Athelstan t o h is s ister E adburh i n 9 39 ( S446). Athelstan 's c harter a lso r elates t o D roxford a nd t he O ld E nglish b ounds i n i t a re i dentical w ith t hose i n t he c harter o f E cgberht, a lthough t he h idage i s d ifferent, 1 7 h ides i n Athelstan 's g rant, 2 0 i n E cgberht's . A t hird W inchester c harter r elates t o D roxford, E adwig 's g rant o f 9 56 t o Athelhild ( S600). T his i s a lso a g rant o f 2 0 h ides, b ut t he b ounds a re d ifferent f rom t hose i n t he o ther t wo c harters a nd a re v ery b rief. I n 1 066 t he e state w as o wned b y W inchester a nd a ssessed a t 1 6 h ides ( DB H ampshire, p . 3 .9). T he f act t hat n o p art o f t his c harter i s i ndependent a nd t hat i t i ncludes u ndoubted b orrowings f rom a c harter o f l ater d ate r elating t o t he s ame e state s uggest t hat i t i s a f abrication p roduced e ntirely b y t aking c lauses f rom o ther c harters. i t m ay b e t hat t he c ommunity w ished t o h ave a d irect g rant o f a n e state f or w hich t he o nly g enuine d ocumentation c onsisted o f g rants t o l aywomen.

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T he l ast o f t he 8 c harters i n t he n ame o f E cgberht r ecords a g rant t o W inchester o f l and a t S halfleet o n t he I sle o f W ight a nd i s d ated f rom K ingston , S urrey, i n 8 38. AC anterbury c harter w hich s urvives i n t hree c ontemporary m anuscripts r ecords t hat a c ouncil a ttended b y a rchbishop C eolnoth a nd n umerous b ishops a nd b y t he W est S axon k ings E cgberht a nd Athelwulf a nd a ll t heir l eading m en , w as h eld a t K ingston i n 8 38, a nd t hat a t t his m eeting d isagreements b etween t he k ings a nd t he a rchiepiscopal s ee w ere r esolved, p eace w as r estored, a nd a n e state w hose o wnership h ad b een i n q uestion w as r estored t o C hrist C hurch ( S1438). S everal c lauses i n t he W inchester c harter a re a lmost i dentical w ith c lauses i n t he C anterbury t ext . T he f irst p art o f t he c harter i s, h owever, a lmost e ntirely i ndependent . A fter a n i nvocation o f a c ommon t ype a nd a b rief p roem a sserting t he n eed f or w ritten r ecords, t he d ispositio s tates t hat E cgberht ' gratia d el O ccidentalium S axonum r ex ' h as g ranted a p ortion o f l and o f h is o wn h ereditary p roperty i n t he I sle o f W ight, c omprising 4 0 h ides ' e t S cealdan F leote '. T he w ording i s s imple a nd s traightf orward, m uch o f i t c onsisting o f s tandard f ormulas, a nd c ontaining

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n othing w hich c ould n ot a ppear i n a n a uthentic n inth-century d ocument, a nd v irtually n othing i n c ommon w ith t he C anterbury c harter . I t s hould b e n oted t hat t he d ispositio c ontains n o i ndication t hat t he t ransa ction w as a nything o ther t han a s imple g rant , o r t hat a ny d ispute l ay b ehind i t: t he p oint i s o f s ome s ignificance i n a ssessing t he r emainder o f t he t ext. T he n ext c lause s tates t hat t he c ontract i s s ubject t o t he c ondit ion t hat f riendship i s h enceforth t o s ubsist b etween Athelwulf a nd b ishop E adhun o f W inchester a nd h is c ommunity. T he w ording a lmost e xactly d uplicates t hat i n t he C anterbury c harter , t he o nly s ignificant d ifferences b eing t he s ubstitution o f ' 2E8elpulfus f ilius m eus ' f or n os i psi n ostrique h eredes', a nd o f r eferences t o W inchester f or r eferences t o C hrist C hurch. T here f ollows a c urious s anction w hich p rovides t hat a ny a ct o f h ostility o n t he p art o f a ny h older o f t he s ee o f W inchester w ill r esult i n t he c ancellation o f t he g rant a nd r estoration o f t he e state t o t he W est S axon k ing. T his c lause d oes n ot c losely c orrespond w ith a nything i n t he C anterbury c harter , b ut i s p erhaps c onnected w ith a p assage i n t hat d ocument w hich u rges t hat t here s hould b e n o f urther d isputes a nd t hat p eace s hould p revail: t he t wo c lauses s hare a f ew w ords a nd p hrases a nd t heir i nspiration s eems t o b e m uch t he s ame. F ollowing t his s anction i s as tatement t hat t wo c opies o f t he d ocument a re t o b e m ade , o ne f or t he b ishop a nd o ne f or t he k ings t o b e k ept ' cum h ereditatis e orum s cripturis '. T he w ording d uplicates t he C anterbury w ording e xcept f or a djustment t o m ake t his v ersion a pply t o t he b ishop o f W inchester i nstead o f t he a rchbishop o f C anterbury. E very w ord o f t he W inchester d ating c lause i s d uplicated i n t he C anterbury c harter, b ut t he l atter i ncludes a n i ndiction a nd d ay o f t he w eek w hile t he f ormer g ives t he d ate o nly a s ay ear o f g race , a nd t he s tatement d ating t he c harter f rom K ingston o ccurs i n t he C anterbury c harter n ot i n t he d ating c lause b ut i n t he i ntroductory p assage w hich g ives a n a ccount o f t he c ouncil: i t i s f airly c lear t hat t he w ording d oes n ot r epresent a ccidentally i dentical d rafting b ut h as b een c opied f rom o ne d ocument i nto t he o ther, s ince b oth v ersions i nclude t he s ame g rammatical e rror , ' in i lla f amosa l oco ' ( This h as b een f irst t ranscribed t hen c orrected b y t he t welfth-century c artularist). T he W inchester d ocument t hen c ontains a n i tem c onspicuous b y i ts a bsence f rom a ll m anuscripts o f t he C anterbury c harter, t his b eing t he K ingston w itness l ist. I t c onsists o f t he a ttestations o f a rchbishop C eolnoth , k ings E cgberht a nd Athelwulf a nd b ishops E alhstan o f S herborne , B eornmod o f R ochester , E adhun o f W inchester a nd C ynered o f S elsey. T wo f urther n ames a re a dded , b ishop H elmstan , w ho w as E adhun 's s uccessor a t W inchester , a nd S withun , d escribed a s d eacon. T hese t wo n ames e vidently r epresent s ome t ampering w ith t he l ist a t a l ater d ate , b ut i t n eed n ot b e d oubted t hat t he l ist i s b asically a uthentic . I t i s c onsistent w ith t he C anterbury c harter's a ccount o f t he a ttendance a t t he c ouncil a nd w ith t he w itness l ist o f t he R ochester c harter o f 8 38 w hich p robably r elates t o t he s ame c ouncil , o r p erhaps a m eeting o f t he s ame a ssembly o n a nother d ay ( S281). A ll p ersons c oncerned f it t he d ate.

t o

T he r ecord o f t he C anterbury a greement w as t aken f or c onfirmation t wo m eetings i n 8 39 a fter t he d eath o f E cgberht, o ne a W est S axon

1 58

a ssembly a t W ilton a nd t he o ther a n e piscopal s ynod a t A stra . T here i s n o t race i n t he W inchester c harter o f t he W ilton e ndorsement a nd w itness l ist, b ut t he A stra e ndorsement i s d uplicated e xactly, e xcept t hat t he i ndiction i s o mitted a nd t he p lace-name i s g iven a s ' Uetustissimus ', w hich B irch p lausibly e xplains a s a n a ccidental m ist ranscription o f 'e t A stran ' b y a s cribe w ho m isread t he o pen a o f a n inth-century e xemplar a s u ( B423, p . 5 94 n . 2 ). A n a bbreviated v ers ion o f t he A stra w itness l ist f ollows, a nd h ere t oo t he n ame o f S withun h as b een i nterpolated i nto t he W inchester v ersion . I f t he W inchester c harter i s c onsidered g enuine , t he i mplication m ust b e t hat a fter t he c ouncil o f K ingston t he s ame m an d rew u p c harters o n b ehalf o f t he c ommunities o f C hrist C hurch a nd W inchester, a nd t hat b oth c harters w ere l ater t aken t o t he s ynod o f A stra f or c onfirmation . T his s eems i mprobable f or v arious r easons . F irstly s uch c ollaboration b etween t wo s ees i s u nparalleled a nd i nherently u nlikely. S econdly, t he d uplicated m aterial l argely r elates t o t he e nding o f a d ispute a nd t he a greement o f f uture f riendship w hich w ere t he b asis o f t he C hrist C hurch c ontract: t he e xhortation t o e ternal p eace a nd f riendship, t he p rohibition o f f uture d isputes a nd t he r epeated w ord r econciliatio s uit t his c ontext b ut a re w holly i nappropriate i n t he W inchester d ocument w hich a ppears t o r elate t o as imple g rant o f l and. S imilarly t he p rovision t hat a c opy i s t o b e p rovided f or t he W est S axon k ings i s l ogical i n t he C anterbury c harter w here b oth s ides h ad s omething t o g ain f rom t he a greement, b ut i nappropriate i n t he W inchester c harter. A c ontemporary w riter w ould s carcely h ave i ntroduced a ll t hese i rrelevant p rovisions i nto a c harter; t hey a re m ore p lausibly e xplained a s t he w ork o f af orger o f l ater d ate w ho b orrowed w ordings f rom t he m aterial a vailable t o h im a nd d id n ot h ave s o m uch m aterial o f t he r ight d ate t hat h e c ould d iscard w hat w as i nappropriate . T hirdly, i t s eems a c oincidence t hat b oth d ocuments s hould h ave b een t aken t o t he s ynod o f A stra f or c onfirmation a nd t here i s n o a pparent r eason w hy c onfirmation o f t he s traightforward g rant r ecorded i n t he W inchester c harter s hould h ave b een n eeded. T he w ord r econciliatio r ecurs h ere i n C eolnoth 's a ttestation , i mplying , i f t he c harter w ere g enuine, t hat i rrelevant m aterial w as i ntroduced i nto t he t ext o n a nother o ccasion s ome 1 2 m onths a fter t his w as f irst d one . I t i s s impler t o a ssume t hat a ll t he d uplicated m aterial , i ncluding t his e ndorsement, w as b orrowed b y o ne w riter w ho c onsistently f ailed t o e liminate t his w ord. A f orger a t W inchester w ould n ot h ave h ad a ccess t o t he C hrist C hurch a rchive. B ut t he C anterbury t ext s tates t hat a c opy o f t he c harter w as m ade f or t he W est S axon r oyal a rchive. T hat a rchive w as p robably k ept a t a c hurch, j ust a s t he M ercian r oyal a rchive w as h oused a t W inchcombe ( Levison 1 946, p p. 2 49-52), a nd W inchester i s a t l east a s l ikely a c andidate a s a ny o ther. M oreover, t he f act t hat t he o riginal m anuscript o f Athelwulf's g rant t o h imself, p resumably p art o f t he W est S axon r oyal a rchive , w as a t W inchester i n t he s eventeenth c entury ( Finberg 1 969, p . 1 1; C haplais 1 965, p . 5 7) l ends s ome s upport t o t he t heory t hat t he a rchive w as a t W inchester i n e arlier y ears. T here i s t herefore a d istinct p ossibility t hat t he t ext o f t he C anterbury c harter w as a vailable t o a l ater w riter a t W inchester , a nd, m oreover, t he W est S axon c opy o f t he c harter m ay w ell h ave i ncluded t he K ingston w itness l ist, a nd t herefore h ave b een t he s ource f or t his a s w ell a s f or a ll t he d uplicated m aterial. O n t his b asis i t m ay b e s uggested a s

1 59

p robable t hat t his d ocument w as p roduced i n t he s ame w ay a s s everal o ther c harters o f E cgberht a t W inchester, b y t ransposing s ections f rom a g enuine c harter i nto a d ocument w hich i s i tself a f abrication ( Cf. B rooks 1 984 , p . 3 54 n . 5 9). T wo o bjections t o t he t heory , of f abrication a re t hat t here a re n o a nachronisms i n t he w ording e xcept f or t he n ames a dded t o t he w itness l ists, a nd t hat n o m otive f or f orgery c an b e d emonstrated. I t i s u nusual f or w riters t o b e w holly s uccessful i n a voiding t he p hraseology o f t heir o wn t imes w hen d rawing u p c harters p urporting t o b e o f m uch e arlier d ate , a nd t he f act t hat t he d ispositio o f t his c harter i s b oth i ndependent a nd w holly u nobjectionable i n i ts w ording i s a p oint i n f avour o f t he c harter . T he e state a t S halfleet i s n ot m entioned i n a ny o ther p re-Conquest c harter a nd w as n ot o wned b y W inchester i n 1 066 o r 1 086, s o t here i s n o e vidence o utside t his c harter t hat t he s ee e ver h ad a n i nterest i n i t. T his d oes n ot, o f c ourse , p reclude t he p ossibility t hat W inchester o wned t he l and a t o ne t ime b ut l ost i t b efore t he C onquest. I t i s e xtremely d ifficult t o j udge t his c harter . O n t he w hole , i t s eems m ost l ikely t hat i t i s a f abrication , b ut t his c annot b e r egarded a s a nything m ore t han a p robability. T his i s u nfortunate b ecause t he d ocument w ould c onstitute e xtremely i nteresting e vidence i f i t w ere p ossible t o b e c ertain e ither t hat i t i s g enuine o r t hat i t i s f abricated . O ne c lause w hich s hould p robably b e r egarded a s a uthentic i n e ither c ase i s t he s anction d irected a gainst t he b ishop: t his i s u nlikely t o h ave b een i nvented a t W inchester. I t w as p robably w ritten i n t he n inth c entury, e ither a s p art o f ag enuine W inchester c harter , o r a s p art o f t he o riginal v ersion o f t he C hrist C hurch a greement, b eing t oned d own b y t he a uthor o f t he s urviving r ecensions.

C harters o f E cgberht:

S ummary

T here i s c lear e vidence i n t he s urviving d ocuments f or e xtensive t ampering, i nvolving t he c ombining o f s ections f rom d ifferent s ources t o c reate w holly s purious d ocuments, a nd i n p articular t he i nterpolat ion o f d etails o f e states b orrowed f rom l ater d ocuments i nto w ordings o riginating i n e arly n inth-century c harters . C onsequently i t i s i mpossible t o r ely u pon a ny o f t hese c harters a s a d ocument o f b asic a uthenticity p reserving t he r ecord o f ag enuine t ransaction ; i t m ay b e t hat t he t ransaction i s m ythical i n e very s ingle c ase. H owever, i t i s a lso f airly c lear t hat e lements f rom g enuine c harters o f E cgberht's r eign a re i ncorporated i nto t hese d ocuments. T he w itness l ists c an o nly d erive f rom a uthentic c harters o f t he r eign , a nd t he p robability i s t hat t hose s ections o f t he e xtant t exts w hich a ppear t o b e g enuine, n inth-century d rafting d erive f rom t he s ame c harters a s t he w itness l ists . F rom t he e vidence o f t he s urviving c harters , t he f ormer e xistence o f t hree a uthentic i nstruments o f E cgberht's r eign c an b e p ostulated:

1 60

( c)

1 .

A g rant o f E cgberht t o W ulfheard d ated 8 24 w hose w ording, i ncluding t he d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist , i s s ubs tantially p reserved i n S 283. T he g rant m ay h ave b een o f t he e state b y t he r iver M eon , b ut t his c annot b e c onsidered c ertain. T he w itness l ist o f t his c harter s hould p robably b e a ccepted a s c orrecting t he C hronicle's d ating o f t he e lection o f E alhstan , b ishop o f S herborne.

2 .

Ac harter o f 8 25, m uch o f w hose w ording i s p reserved i n S 273. T he t ransaction r ecorded i s u nknown. T he w itness l ist p rovides e vidence f or a n o therwise u nrecorded c ampaign o f E cgberht a gainst t he B ritons.

3 .

A g rant o f E cgberht t o B urhheard, p robably o f l and a t A lton P riors , d ated 8 26. T he w itness l ist a nd d ating c lause p reserved i n S 272 a nd o ther e xtant c harters p robably b elong t o t his d ocument, b ut t he r est o f t he w ording d oes n ot s urvive .

L ost C harters

G rants o f l and t o W inchester w ere a mong t he d etails i ncorporated i nto a b rief c hronicle e vidently w ritten a t W inchester a nd k nown a s t he A nnales M onasterii d e W intonia ( Edited b y H .R . L uard f or t he R olls S eries i n 1 865: L uard, W inchester A nnals . T he f ollowing a ccount o f t he c hronicle , i ts d ate a nd t he e xtant m anuscripts i s b ased o n t he e ditor's i ntroduction). T he c hronicle , a s p reserved i n am anuscript o f t he l ate t hirteenth o r e arly f ourteenth c entury, B ritish L ibrary, C otton D omitian A x iii, c overs t he p eriod 5 19-1277, b ut t he p ortion r elating t o t he p eriod d own t o 1 066 i s c opied w ith a f ew a dditions f rom a s lightly e arlier m anuscript , C orpus C hristi C ollege , C ambridge , 39, 3 a nd s ome o f t he w riter 's r eferences t o h is o wn t imes s uggest t hat t he c hronicle m ay h ave b een f irst w ritten d uring t he r eign o f H enry I I , t he l ater p ortion r epresenting a c ontinuation b y o ne o r m ore l ater w riters . T he w ork m ay t herefore d ate f rom m uch t he s ame t ime a s t he c artulary. G rants r elating t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39 m entioned i n t he A nnals a re l isted i n t he t able o n t he f ollowing p age. W here t he r elevant c harters s urvive , S awyer 's n umbers a re g iven. C omparison o f t his l ist w ith t he s urviving c harters s hows t hat t he a nnalist ( or h is s ource) d isregarded g rants t o b eneficiaries o ther t han W inchester, a nd a lso t ended t o i gnore c onfirmatory c harters r elating t o e states o f w hich h e h ad a lready r ecorded t he g rant. ( For e xample, h e l ists D ownton a nd A lresford a s g rants o f C oenwalh a nd m akes n o r eference t o t he e xtant c harters i n t he n ame o f E cgberht r elating t o t hese e states , S 275 , 2 84). H e i ncludes a n umber o f g rants n ot m entioned i n a ny e xtant c harter , a nd t herefore c learly h ad s ome s ource o ther t han t he C odex W intoniensis; t he s ource m ay h ave b een a n e arlier c artulary, a c ollection o f s ingle s heets , o r m erely a l ist o f b enefactions t o W inchester .

1 61

I t i s h ighly u nlikely t hat a ny o f t he l isted g rants b y C oenwalh h as a ny f oundation i n f act. A ll t he e states c oncerned w ere p art o f W inchester 's D omesday e ndowment a nd t he s ubject o f l ater c harters ( DB H ampshire, p p. 3 .1, 2 .1, 3 .13 ; D B W iltshire. p . 2 .1; C hilcomb, S 325 , 3 76, e tc.; D ownton, S 275, 3 93, e tc .; A lresford, S 242, 2 84 , e tc.; W orthy , S 273, 3 51, e tc.), a nd C oenwalh , r ecorded b y B ede a s t he f irst W est S axon k ing t o e stablish a n e piscopal s ee a t W inchester ( HE I II 7 ), w as a n o bvious c hoice o f d onor f or W inchester f orgers . O nly o ne o f t he f our g rants i s r epresented b y as urviving c harter , a nd t hat i s a f abrication . T he o ther s tatements a re p robably b ased o n s imilar s purious d ocuments, o r p ossibly o n t he r eferences t o g rants b y C oenwalh w hich a re i ncorporated i nto d ubious l ater c harters r elating t o a ll t hese e states ( Chilcomb, S 376 , 8 17, 8 21; D ownton, S 275; A lresford, S 242, 2 84 ; W orthy , S 309). T he a lleged g rant b y E cgberht o f B eddington i n S urrey m ight h ave t aken p lace; t he e state w as c ertainly o wned b y W inchester a t t he b eginning o f t he t enth c entury w hen b ishop D enewulf l eased i t t o k ing E dward ( S1444). B ut t he e vidence i s f ar f rom s ufficient t o e stablish s uch a g rant: t he a nnalist's s tatement m ay b e b ased o n a f abricated o r i nterpolated c harter r esembling t he e xtant W inchester c harters o f E cgberht, o r m ight d erive f rom t he r eference i n ac onfirmatory c harter i n t he n ame o f E adgar t o g rants b y e arlier k ings i ncluding E cgberht ( S815).

D onor

A nnal

E states

S

6 39

C oenwalh

C hilcomb, H ampshire D ownton , W iltshire A lresford, H ampshire W orthy, H ampshire

6 83

I ne

Y averland, I OW , 3 0 h ides B rading, I OW , 5 0 h ides

7 21

F rithugyth Athilheard

T aunton , S omerset 7a dditional h ides

2 54 2 54

7 35

C uthred

' Muleburna ', I OW , 4 0 h ides ' Banewada ', I OW , 2 5 h ides W hippingham , I OW , 2 2 h ides ID ruca l ( i.e . ' Thruhham ') H ighcleere

2 59 2 58

8 28

E cgberht

C albourne , I OW , 3 0 h ides S halfleet , I OW , 4 2 h ides D roxford, H ampshire W orthy, H ampshire A lton P riors, W iltshire B eddington , S urrey

2 74 2 81 2 76 2 73 2 72 -

1 62

29 2 -

-

T he o ther e arly g rants m entioned b y t he a nnalist b ut n ot r ecorded i n s urviving c harters a re t hose b y I ne a nd C uthred o f l ands o n t he I sle o f W ight. N one o f t he p lace-names i nvolved o ccurs i n a ny p re-Conqest c harter , a nd n one o f t he e states i s r ecorded e lsewhere a s a p ossession o f W inchester, s o m otive f or f orgery c annot b e d emonstrated. T he I sle o f W ight w as c onquered a nd c ontrol o f i ts l and s eized b y C eadwalla i n t he 6 80s, a nd i t r emained w ithin t he d iocese o f W inchester e ven a fter t he c reation o f t he S outh S axon s ee a t S elsey ( HE I V 1 6 , V 2 3), s o g rants o f e states t here b y e ighth-century k ings o f W essex t o W inchester a re q uite p lausible. I t i s n oticeable t hat t he a nnalist i ncludes h idages o nly f or l ands o n t he I sle o f W ight, a nd i n t he c ase o f S halfleet t he f igure d iffers f rom t hat i n t he e xtant c harter. I t s eems l ikely t hat h e w as u sing a s eparate s ource f or t ransactions r elating t o t he I sle o f W ight , b ut t here i s n o e vidence t o s uggest w hat t his s ource w as . T he s tatements o f g rants i n t he a nnals a re e xtremely b rief, i ncluding n o m ore d etail t han i s g iven i n t he l ist a bove a nd f urnishing n o d irect e vidence t hat t he w riter w orked f rom c harters . I t i s p ossible t hat W inchester d id a t o ne t ime p ossess c harters i n w hich I ne a nd C uthred g ranted t hese e states , a nd t hat t hese c harters w ere a uthentic, b ut t he e vidence c annot b e s aid t o e stablish m ore t han a p ossibility.

( d)

C onclusions

1 5 c harters i n t he W inchester c artulary p urport t o d ate f rom t he p eriod d own t o t he e nd o f E cgberht 's r eign . O f t hese o nly f our a ppear t o b e g enuine: D etails 2 35

C eadwalla g rants F arnham t o C eadda , C isi a nd C riswa

2 59

C uthred g rants T hruhham t o W inchester

1 263 2 83 T here p lace ,

B ishop E alhmund e xchanges l ands w ith B erhthelm E cgberht g rants l and o n t he r iver M eon t o W ulf h eard a re i ndications t hat c ertain o ther t ransactions m ay h ave a lthough t he e vidence f or t hese i s f ar f rom c onclusive :

E CW 1

I ne g rants Y averland a nd B rading ,

E CW 4

C uthred g rants M uleburna , t o W inchester

S 272

E cgberht g rants A lton P riors t o B urhheard.

t aken

I OW , t o W inchester

B anewada a nd W hippingham ,

I OW ,

O nly i n t he c ase o f F arnham i s i t p ossible t o b e c ertain t hat l and n ot r ecorded a s a d irect g rant t o W inchester c ame i nto i ts p ossession w ithin t his p eriod. W inchester's o nly r ecorded a cquisitions o f l and d own t o 8 39 a re t herefore 6 0 h ides a t F arnham , S urrey, a nd 7 h ides a t T hruhham , H ampshire . T he s ee m ay a lso h ave a cquired e states t otalling 1 67 h ides o n t he I sle o f W ight.

1 63

T here a re r ecords i n t he c artularies o f W ilton , E vesham a nd N ew M inster , W inchester , o f g rants o f l and o n t he I sle o f W ight , b ut n one o f t hese i s e arlier t han t he m id-tenth c entury ( S543 , 8 42, 1 662-3). O nly O ld M inster c laimed t o h ave a cquired l ands t here a t a n e arly d ate. T he o nly o ther s ource o f i nformation a bout t he e arly h istory o f t he i sland i s B ede w ho h as i nformation i ndependent o f E ddius ( HE I V 1 6). A fter c onquering t he i sland, C eadwalla g ranted a q uarter o f i t , c omprising 3 00 h ides, t o W ilfrid. T he l and w as h anded o ver b y W ilfrid t o h is n ephew B eornwine, w ho w as a ppointed m issionary t o t he I sle o f W ight a nd w as g iven a p riest, H iddila , t o a ssist h im . T he m ission t o t he I sle o f W ight i s n ot h eard o f a gain, t he o nly r ecorded c onversions b eing t he w ork o f a bbot C yniberht o f R edbridge o n t he m ainland, b ut B ede s tates t hat t he i sland w as b rought w ithin t he d iocese o f W inchester i n t he t ime o f D aniel, a nd i t a fterwards r emained u nder t he j urisdiction o f t he s ee. I t m ay b e t hat t he e states r ecorded a s g rants t o W inchester h ad e arlier b een a mong t hose o wned b y B eornwine's m ission, a nd h ad r everted t o t he W est S axon r oyal f amily o n t he f ailure o f t he m ission , b eing t hen r estored t o t he c hurch i n t he f orm o f g rants t o t he s ee . C uthred 's g rant o f T hruhham i s, h owever , t he o nly t ransaction o f t he p eriod w hich c an b e a ccepted w ith a ny c onfidence a s ad irect r oyal g rant t o W inchester. T he c harter e vidence d oes n ot t herefore s uggest t hat W inchester w as o f a ny g reat i mportance i n t his p eriod. I t i s , h owever , q uite p ossible t hat W inchester r eceived a s ubstantial e ndowment i n t he s eventh c entury w hen t he s ee w as f irst p ermanently e stablished t here , a nd F inberg p oints o ut t hat a fter t he d ivision o f t he d iocese i n 7 05, t he f irst p riority o f I ne a nd h is s uccessors m ust h ave b een t o p rovide f or t he n ew s ee ( ECW , p . 2 17). T hese c onsiderations m ay a ccount f or t he m eagre a cquisitions b y W inchester d uring t he e ighth a nd e arly n inth c enturies.

1 64

4 .

A BINGDON

P age a )

I ntroduction

1 66

b )

T he C harters

1 66

1 603

C eadwalla t o A bingdon

1 67

I ne t o H aeha a nd C eolswith

1 68

H 2cha t o C eolswith

1 70

2 39

I ne t o H aeha

1 72

2 41

I ne t o H aeha

1 74

Athilbald t o A bingdon

1 77

2 69

B eorhtric t o H emele

1 79

2 68

B eorhtric t o L ulla

1 83

1 66

C oenwulf t o A bingdon

1 85

1 84

C oenwulf t o A bingdon

1 87

1 83

C oenwulf t o A bingdon

1 89

2 78

E cgberht t o A bingdon

1 93

2 52 179

9 3

c )

C onclusions

1 95

1 65

( a)

I ntroduction

T he p re-Conquest c harters o f A bingdon s urvive p rincipally i n t wo m edieval c artularies a nd a f ew s ingle s heets, a ll p art o f t he C otton c ollection i n t he B ritish L ibrary. T he c artularies a re a lso c hronicles i n w hich a n arrative c hiefly r elating t o t he h istory o f t he m onastery, i s i llustrated b y t he c harters w hich a re t ranscribed ( Davis 1 958, n os . 3a nd 4 ; K eynes 1 980, p . 1 0 ; S tenton 1 913 , p p. 1 -2 ; S tevenson , A bingdon C hron ., p p. v -xv). T he d ocuments i n t he e arlier m anuscript, C otton C laudius C i x , r elate t o t he p eriod f rom t he s eventh c entury t o t he nd t he c ollection a ppears t o h ave b een m ade a t t he l atter d ate ; 160s, a t he e xtant m anuscript i s u sually c onsidered t o b e a c opy o f t he e arly t hirteenth c entury. T he o ther m anuscript , C otton C laudius B v i, w ritten i n a h and o f t he l ate t hirteenth c entury, i ncorporates a r evised a nd e xpanded n arrative a nd m any m ore c harters , a lthough a f ew c harters i n t he e arlier m anuscript a re o mitted . T he s cribe o f t he l ater c artulary e vidently d id n ot u se t he e arlier v olume a s h is e xemplar f or t he c harters, s ince h is t ranscriptions a re f requently f uller a nd m ore a ccurate t han t hose o f t he e arlier s cribe. F or t he p eriod d own t o 8 39 t he n arratives o f t he c hronicle-cartularies a re o f l ittle v alue, c onsisting o f i nformation f rom t he A nglo-Saxon C hronicle , i nferences d rawn f rom t he c harters, a nd t raditions w hich m ay h ave h ad n o b asis i n f act a nd c annot b e r elied u pon. I t i s o nly t he c harters t hemselves w hich a re p otential e vidence f or t he e arly p eriod. T he A bingdon c hronicle-cartulary w as e dited f or t he R olls S eries i n 1 858 b y J . S tevenson ( Stevenson , A bingdon C hron.), w hose t ext i s b ased o n t he l ater m anuscript, a s p roviding a b etter v ersion o f t he c harters, b ut i ncorporates d ifferent r eadings f rom t he e arlier v olume. A r ather b etter e dition o f t he c harters i s p rovided b y B irch , w ho w as a lso a ble t o w ork f rom b oth m anuscripts. I n 1 913 S tenton p ublished a n a ccount o f t he p re-Conquest h istory o f A bingdon w hich i ncluded d iscussions o f s everal i ndividual c harters a nd s howed h ow t he c harters c ould b e u sed a s e vidence f or t he m onastery i tself a nd m ore g enerally f or t he h istory o f t he p eriod ( Stenton 1 913). T his i s s till a v ery u seful p iece o f w ork, a nd t he p resent d iscussion i s g reatly i ndebted t o i t.

( b)

T he C harters

T he c harters s urviving i n t he a rchive o f A bingdon o r o therwise c onnected w ith t he h ouse a nd r elating t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39 a re l isted b elow .

1 66

D ate

D onor

B eneficiary

1 603

( 685 x 6 88)

C eadwalla, k ing

A bingdon

2 52

( 688 x 7 04)

I ne ,

H aeha a nd C eolswith

179

( 705 x 7 26)

H peha , a bbot

C eolswith

2 39

( 705 x 7 26)

I ne, k ing

H aeha , a bbot

2 41

( 688 x 7 26)

I ne, k ing

H aeha , a bbot

9 3

( 709 x 7 37)

Athilbald, k ing

A bingdon

2 69

( 786 x 7 94)

B eorhtric, k ing

H emele

2 68

8 01

B eorhtric, k ing

L ulla

1 66

( 811 x 8 16)

C oenwulf, k ing

A bingdon

1 84

( 806 x 8 21)

C oenwulf, k ing

A bingdon

1 83

8 21

C oenwulf, k ing

A bingdon

2 78

8 35

E cgberht, k ing

A bingdon

k ing

S 1603 B .L . C otton C laudius C i x, f o . ( Edition:

1 05r.

B 844)

T he e arlier c artulary i ncludes a b rief L atin p assage w hich , a ccording t o t he C artularist 's n arrative , i s t he l atter p art o f a c harter o f C eadwalla r elating t o 2 0 h ides a t A bingdon. T his w as d ismissed b y S tenton a s ' certainly s purious' ( Stenton 1 913, p . 9 ), a nd ar ather f uller d iscussion b y M argaret G elling e ntirely s upports t his c onclusion a nd e stablishes t hat t he a lleged s eventh-century f ragment i s m erely a ' ghost c harter' ( ECTV , n os . 1 42, 6 4). T he c artularist 's r ubric s tates t hat C eadwalla g ave 2 0 h ides a t A bingdon t o G od a nd t he m onks s erving G od t here. T he p assage w hich f ollows, a nd p urports t o b e p art o f C eadwalla 's c harter , r ecords t hat t he w ood n amed 'Adeleahing ' a nd a lso ' Colmonora ' a nd ' Geatescum ' b elong t o t he 2 0 h ides w hich t he d onor h imself h as m easured p artly b y r iding a nd p artly b y s ailing, a nd t here f ollows a s anction w hich i ncludes p rovision f or a t ransgressor t o m ake a mends . O f t he t hree p lace-names o nly C olmonora s urvives . I t i s n ow C umnor i n B erkshire , a nd i s t he s ubject o f ad ubious c harter i n t he n ame o f E adgar d ated 9 68

1 67

g ranting t he l and t o A bingdon ( S757). I t w as s till o wned b y t he i n 1 066 ( DB B erkshire , p p. 7 .1, 4 , 5 ).

a bbey

As purious c harter i n t he n ame o f E adred ( S567) i ncludes a s et o f O ld E nglish b ounds w hich a re p receded b y ah eading s tating t hat t hey r elate t o a n a rea o f 2 0 h ides a t A bingdon g iven t o t he m onastery b y C eadwalla , a nd f ollowed b y a p assage i n O ld E nglish w hich i s t he c ounterpart o f t he L atin t ext s aid t o d erive f rom C eadwalla 's c harter . T his p assage, w ith i ts a ccount o f t raversing t he e state , c learly b elongs w ith t he d etailed b oundary c lause , a nd t herefore c annot d erive f rom a c harter o f t he s eventh c entury w hen s uch c lauses w ere u nknown . T he s anction i s o f a t ype n ot n ormally u sed s o e arly. T he a lleged f ragment o f a c harter o f C eadwalla t herefore a ppears t o b e , a s D r. G elling h as a rgued, a L atin t ranslation o f t he O ld E nglish p assage w hich w as p robably d rawn u p n ot e arlier t han t he t enth c entury. T his p assage i ndicated t hat s omeone a t A bingdon e ither b elieved o r i nvented a s tory t hat C eadwalla g ranted 2 0 h ides a t A bingdon i tself t o t he h ouse. T here i s n o r eason t o b elieve , h owever , t hat t his s tory h ad a ny f oundation. • C eadwalla 's n ame a ppears i n s ome o ther A bingdon c harters, a ll o f t hem s purious, a nd h e i s u sually c ited a s t he d onor o f A bingdon i tself ( S241 i n t he v ersion i n M S C otton C laudius C i x; S 93, 1 83, 5 67, 6 58 , 6 73). I t d oes n ot a ppear t hat t he u se o f h is n ame s erved a ny p ractical p urpose , a nd i t p robably j ust r eflects t he d esire o f t he c ommunity a t A bingdon a fter A thelwold's r efoundation o f t he h ouse t o t race i ts h istory b ack t o t he e arly y ears o f C hristianity i n E ngland a nd c onnect i t w ith t he f amous k ings m entioned b y B ede .

S 252 B .L ., C otton C laudius C i x, f o. ( Edition :

1 05v.

B 74)

A c harter i n t he n ame o f I ne s urviving o nly i n t he e arlier c artulary a ppears t o b e b asically a uthentic a lthough a f ew a nachronistic d etails s uggest s ome l ater i nterpolation . S tenton 's d iscussion o f t he c harter i ncludes a n umber o f h elpful p oints ( Stenton 1 913 , p p. 1 2-14), b ut h e r egarded t he d ocument a s r elating t o A bingdon i tself, a nd t here i s r eason t o t hink t hat t his w as n ot t he c ase, b ut t hat t his a nd o ther d ocumentation r elating t o a nother m onastery c ame i nto A bingdon 's p ossession a t a l ater d ate. T he s urviving t ext h as n o i nvocation o r p roem , n o s anction o r b lessing a nd n o d ating c lause. I t m ay b e t hat t he c harter h as b een a bbreviated b y ac opyist, b ut e qually t he d ocument m ay h ave b een d rawn u p i n t his v ery b rief f orm o riginally. T here a re a n umber o f o ther 1 i nstances o f n otably b rief c harters o f e arly d ate ( Eg. S 1167, 168 , 1 249, 1 253), a nd t he c lauses w hich s urvive a re t hemselves v ery s uccinct.

1 68

T he d ispositio r ecords t hat I ne, ' rex W estsaxonum ' g ranted 4 5 h ides o f l and i n t hree p laces t o ' Hean p atricio e t C eolswite' f or t he f oundation o f a m onastery. ' Hean ' i s t he o blique f orm o f H oeha ; p atricius, a s i s d iscussed e lsewhere , w as a t itle u sed o f n oblemen i n t he s eventh a nd e ighth c enturies . T his m an s hould p robably b e i dentified w ith t he ' HGeha a bbas' w ho a ttests I ne's g eneral g rant o f p rivileges i n 7 04 ( S245); h e p resumably b ecame a bbot o f t he h ouse w hose f oundation i s e nvisaged i n t his c harter . S ince H aeha i s s till a l ayman a t t he t ime o f t his t ransaction , t he c harter m ust d ate f rom 6 88 x 7 04. T he p ersonal n ame C eolswith i s n ot o therwise r ecorded, a nd i s m ost u nlikely t o h ave b een i nvented. T he s ingle d ubious d etail i n t he d ispositio i s t he W est S axon r oyal t itle; a t t his d ate i t w as u sually ' rex S axonum ' o r s imply ' rex ', a nd t he t itle i n t his c harter h as p robably b een i ntroduced i nto t he t ext a t a l ater d ate. T he d ocument i ncludes u sefully b e q uoted i n f ull: 1 .

2 . 3 .

t hree

l ots

o f

a ttestations

w hich

m ay

' Cui d onationi t estes a ffuerant E bba . Athilbald . e t E adfrith f ilius I ddi e t c um i ussione e piscoporum C edde G ermani

pinfridi

' Ego T heodorus s eruus d el a rchiepiscopus c onsensi e t s ubscripsi

T here a re a n umber o f r easons f or c onsidering t he f irst l ot o f w itnesses t o b e g enuine. N one o f t he f our p ersons m entioned h ere i s o therwise r ecorded ( unless , a s i s n ot i mpossible , E adfrith i s t o b e i dentified w ith t he M ercian p rinceps o f t his n ame w ho a ttests a c harter o f 6 75 x 6 97: S 1806), a nd t heir i nvention i s u nlikely a s i t w ould s erve n o p urpose . T he s pelling ' 2Ethilbald ' i ndicates a s eventh- or e ighth-century e xemplar. T he n ames E bba a nd I ddi a re o f t he o nee lement t ype c ommon a t t his d ate b ut w hich h ad b ecome o bsolete b y t he t enth c entury, a nd I ddi i s o therwise u nrecorded e xcept i n p lace-names ( Stenton 1 913, p . 1 3 a nd n . 1 ). T he w ording o f t he c lause d iffers f rom t he c onventional w itness l ist o f a n A nglo-Saxon c harter , a nd r ather r esembles t he t ype o f w ording u sed i n e arly W elsh c harters ( Davies 1 982, p p. 2 63-4), b ut t here a re s ome p arallels i n A nglo-Saxon d ocuments o f e arly d ate ( S1802, 1 805, 1 806), s o i t s eems p ossible t ht w itness l ists w ere d rawn u p i n t his f orm i n s ome o f t he e arliest A nglo-Saxon c harters, b ut t hat t he p ractice v ery q uickly f ell i nto d isuse. T he l ist o f b ishops a ppears t o b e a n i nterpolation. N o h older o f a n E nglish s ee a ctive d uring t he r eign o f I ne b ore a ny o f t hese t hree n ames , a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t hey h ave b een b orrowed f rom t he M ercian e piscopal l ist: i n t he m id s eventh c entury t he s ee w as h eld c onsecutively b y J aruman, C had a nd W ynfrith, w ho a ppear i n t he e arliest e xtant m anuscript o f t he e piscopal l ists a s ' Gearomon C eadda pynfrib ' ( Page 1 966, p . 5 ). T heodore 's s ubscription i s a lso l ikely t o b e a l ater a ddition: h e w as a v ery f amous m an w hose n ame w ould h ave b een r eadily a vailable t o a f orger , a nd i t s eems m ost u nlikely t hat t he s ame d ocument c ould h ave c ontained b oth h is f orm o f s ubscription a nd t he v ery d ifferent o ne i ntroducing t he l ay w itnesses . S tenton s ums u p a ll f our c lerical a ttestations a s ' an u nhappy a ddition f or p urposes o f e mbellishment'.

1 69

T he r emaining s entence o f t he c harter s tates t hat E adfrith s on o f I ddi h ad f irst g ranted t he l and o n t he a ltar i n t he c hurch w hich w as b uilt t here . T he i nvention o f t his e arlier t ransaction i s h ighly u nlikely, a nd t he r eference t o a c eremony a t a n a ltar i s p aralleled i n t hree c harters o f t he m id-eighth c entury ( S256, 2 57, 1 410). T he c eremony m ay h ave r esembled t he o ne m entioned i n s ome e arlier c harters w hich i nvolved p lacing a s od f rom t he l and c onveyed o n a c opy o f t he g ospels ( S1164, 1 804, 1 805, 1 806. B ut c f. S 1165 w here k ing W ulf h ere i s s aid s imply t o h ave p laced h is h and o n t he a ltar). T he l and i s s aid t o b e s ituated ' in B radanfelda e t B estlesforda . e t a lia q ue n ominatur S tretlea '. T hese p laces a re n ow B radfield, B asildon a nd S treatley i n B erkshire , w ithin a f ew m iles o f e ach o ther a nd s ome 1 5 m iles f rom A bingdon . A ll t hree r ecur i n o ne o r m ore o f t he g roup o f e arly c harters c onnected w ith t his o ne w hich s urvive i n t he A bingdon a rchive a nd a re d iscussed b elow . B radfield w as i n l ay h ands 2 i n t he 9 90s a nd i n 1 066 ( S1454; D B B erkshire , p . 2.2). B asildon o ccurs i n aW inchester r ecord a mong l ands g iven t o k ing Alfred b y b ishop D enewulf i n e xchange f or o thers, a nd w as i n l ay h ands i n 1 066 ( S354; D B B erkshire, p . 1 .8). T he c ourse o f e vents m ay b e r econstructed a s f ollows. E adfrith o wned t he 4 5 h ides o f l and a nd g ave o r s old t hem t o H E 'eha a nd C eolswith f or t he f oundation o f am onastery. E vidently t here w as a lready a c hurch o n t he e state a t t he t ime o f t his g rant; p ossibly t here h ad b een a n e arlier r eligious e stablishment o n t he s ite . I ne e ither c onfirmed t he g rant o r r estored t he l and a fter i t h ad b een t aken f rom t he o wners f or s ome r eason , a nd a m onastery w as e stablished t here o f w hich H a eha b ecame a bbot . S ome t ime l ater t he d ocumentation r elating t o t his m onastery c ame i nto t he p ossession o f A bingdon , p robably b ecause t hat h ouse a cquired t he e states, a lthough t here i s n o d irect e vidence t hat A bingdon e very o wned a ny p art o f t he l and w hich i s t he s ubject o f t his c harter. T he m onastery a t B radfield m ay h ave c ome u nder A bingdon 's c ontrol, o r m ay h ave c eased t o e xist, o r m ay h ave b een a p redecessor o f A bingdon i tself, t he c ommunity m oving t o a nother s ite. T he l ands s ubsequently p assed o ut o f A bingdon 's p ossession, p erhaps d uring t he p eriod p receding t he e ffective r efoundation b y fEthelwold.

S 1179 B .L ., C otton C laudius C i x, ( Edition :

f os .

1 05v-106r.

B 29)

A b rief c harter i n t he n ame o f a bbot H a eha s urvives i n b oth c artularies a nd i s d escribed i n t he c artularists' r ubrics a s Heeha 's t estament '. S tenton d ismissed t he d ocument o n t he g rounds t hat i t b ears n o r esemblance t o a uthentic A nglo-Saxon w ills ( Stenton 1 913, p . 9 ), b ut i n f act t he w ord t estamentum d oes n ot n ecessarily m ean ' will ' ( ECWM , p . 2 01 n . 1 ), a nd m oreover t he a uthenticity o f a d ocument i s n ot a ffected b y ar ubric a dded t o i t b y a c artularist a t am uch l ater d ate. T he d ocument i s i n f act a c harter r ecording a g rant o f l and w hich i s

1 70

a pparently o f c onsideration .

i mmediate

e ffect,

a nd a s

s uch

i t

d eserves

s erious

H aeha g rants l ands a t B radfield a nd e lsewhere t o h is s ister C ille w ith r eversion t o h imself i f s till l iving a t h er d eath , o therwise t o ' istud m onasterium '. T he l ast p hrase e vidently r efers b ack t o ' Bradanfeld ', a nd t herefore i mplies t hat t he m onastery w as b uilt o n t he B radfield e state. T here i s n o d ating c lause , b ut t he c onfirmation o f k ing I ne a nd b ishop D aniel i s m entioned , s o t he c harter m ust d ate f rom 7 05 x 7 26, t hat i s b etween t he c onsecration o f D aniel a nd t he a bdication o f I ne . I t i s r easonable t o s uppose t hat H aeha 's s ister i s t o b e i dentified w ith t he j oint b eneficiary o f I ne 's g rant , a nd t hat C ille i s t he h ypocoristic f orm o f C eolswith ( Stenton 1 913 , p . 1 3). T he e xistence o f t wo w holly d ifferent v ersions o f t he n ame s trongly s uggests t hat t here a re t wo b asically a uthentic d ocuments: i f o ne o f t he c harters w ere f orged a nd t he n ame b orrowed f rom t he o ther , i t w ould a ppear i n t he s ame f orm i n b oth . ' Hean ', c onversely, a ppears h ere e rroneously a s an ominative , b ut t his m ay b e j ust t he e rror o f a p ostC onquest c opyist w ho w as a ccustomed t o s eeing t he n ame i n t his f orm a nd d id n ot f ully u nderstand O ld E nglish d eclensions. T here i s a nother e arly i nstance o f a g rant o f l and b y am an t o h is s ister ( S45), a nd o ther i nstances o f c harters p roviding f or r eversion t o r eligious h ouses o ccur f rom t he e arly e ighth c entury o nwards ( S1254, 1 09, e tc.). T he d ispositio m entions t hat t he g rant r elates t o ap ortion o f t he l and q ue m ihi e x m unificentia p arentum m eorum q ui r egni g ubernacula p otiri n oscuntur i n p otestate c oncessa f uerat'. T he w ording r ecalls a p hrase i n a n i nterpolated s eventh-century G lastonbury c harter r eferring t o t he c onsent o f ' ceterorum c ognatorum g ubernacula r egni r egentium ' ( S236) w hich e ncourages t he s upposition t hat b oth c lauses a re g enuine. T he r eference h ere i s p resumably t o I ne, a nd i mplies t hat H aeha w as a m ember o f t he r oyal f amily, b ut i t i s p ossible t hat E adfrith i s a lso m eant a nd t hat a ll t hree m en w ere r elated. N othing i n t he w ording o f t he c harter a ppears a nachronistic. H a eha 's t itle ' dispensante d omino a bbas ' r esembles r oyal t itles u sed i n e arly c harters ( S235, 1 169, 2 31); t he c lause ' cum a diacentibus n ec m inus a liis s icut i nfra s ignatum e st l ocis ' i s n ot u nlike o ne i n a c harter o f C eadwalla , ' ceteros ä utem p ropriis l ocis e t n ominibus a dsignantur' ( S235); t he s anction i s i n q uite u sual t erms , a nd t he i nclusion o f t he w itnesses ' n ames i n t he b ody o f t he t ext , a nd n ot a t t he e nd w ith i ndividual s ubscriptions, i s p aralleled i n t he g rant o f I ne t o Ha eha a nd C eolswith a nd e lsewhere ( S252, 1 410 ; a nd i n ' Celtic ' c harters , s ee D avies 1 978). T he c harter g rants a t otal o f 1 83 h ides o f l and c onsisting o f 4 8 h ides a t ' Bradanfeld ', n ow B radfield; 5 5 a t ' Escesdune ', i .e . A shdown , w hich w as a n e arlier n ame f or t he B erkshire D owns ; a nd 8 3 a t ' 2Earmundeslea ', a n ame w hich h as b een i nterpreted a s d enoting a l arge a rea i n B erkshire i ncluding A ppleton , E aton , B essels L eigh ( which b efore t he f ifteenth c entury w as s imply L eigh, a nd p erhaps r epresents a n a bbreviated f orm o f 'Aäromundeslea ') a nd p ossibly s ome o ther p arishes ( PN B erkshire , V ol. 1 , p p. 2 -3 ; V ol. 2 , p. 42-4). T he p 4 s tated t otal n umber o f h ides i s 3h ides s hort o f t he a ctual s um o f t he t hree e states, a nd p erhaps t he B radfield e state s hould b e a n a rea o f 4 5 h ides a s i n I ne 's c harter. B radfield i s d iscussed a bove. I n 8 40 Athelwulf g ranted 1 0 h ides o n A shdown t o a l ayman ( S288), b ut i t i s

171

i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hether t his l and w as p art o f t he 5 5 h ides g iven t o C ille . A shdown i s n ot n amed i n D omesday B ook. 'Aaromundeslea' o ccurs o nly i n t his c harter a nd o ther A bingdon d ocuments c onnected w ith i t ( S183, 2 39, 6 73). I n 1 066 A bingdon h eld B essels L eigh w hich w as a ssessed a t 1h ide ; A ppleton a nd E aton w ere h eld b y a l ayman ( DB B erkshire, p p. 7 .20; 3 3.6, 7 ). E vidently n either t he n ame n or t he l arge e state o f. s urvived i n l ater . Aaromundeslea y ears, a nd t he n ame a ppears t o h ave b een a n a ncient o ne w hich w ould n ot h ave b een k nown t o a f orger. N or i s i t l ikely t hat a f orged c harter w ould h ave t aken t he f orm o f a g rant t o C ille w ith r eversion t o H eeha o r B radfield, a nd t he d ocument i s p robably s ubstantially a uthentic. T he e vidence r elating t o H aeha i ndicates t hat h e b ecame a bbot o f t he m onastery h e f ounded a t B radfield. I t i s n ot c lear w hat r ole h is s ister p layed, b ut i t m ay b e t hat s he w as a lso a m ember o f t he c ommunity a nd t hat t he e stablishment w as a f amily m onastery o f t he t ype t o w hich B ede o bjected ( Bede's L etter t o E cgberht: P lummer 1 896, p. p 4 13-7). L ater w riters s ometimes a ssumed t hat C eolswith w as a n a bbess, b ut s he i s n ot , g iven t his t itle i n e ither o f t he t wo a uthentic c harters i n w hich s he i s n amed. T he p urpose o f t his g rant a ppears t o h ave b een t o e nsure p rovision f or h er o ut o f t he B radfield e states i n t he e vent o f h er s urviving H eeha, b ut t he w ording s uggests t hat t he t ransaction t ook i mmediate e ffect,.and t he a rrangement m ay h ave b een m ade b y i l ha a t t he e nd o f h is l ife ( Cf. t he d eath-bed g rant o f D unne, S 1429).

S 239 B .L .,

C otton C laudius C i x,

( Edition:

f o.

1 05v.

B 100)

A c harter i n t he n ame o f I ne, e xtant i n t he e arlier c artulary, a ppears t o b e a c omposite w ork i ncorporating n ames a nd o ther d etails b orrowed f rom a n umber o f g enuine e arly c harters, a nd i s i tself p robably a f abrication. T his i nterpretation i s s uggested f irst b y t he f act t hat t he t ransaction r ecorded h ere d uplicates t hat i n t he o ther c harter o f I ne d iscussed a bove : t he k ing g rants t o H eeha l ands i n f our p laces, 1 5 h ides a t B radfield, 1 5 a t B asildon, 2 5 a t S treatley a nd 8 0 a t J Earomundeslea . I t i s t herefore s carcely p ossible t hat b oth d ocuments a re g enuine . T he d ifferent h idages h ere p erhaps r eflect t he o rganisat ion o f t he e states a t a l ater d ate, w hile t he f ourth e state h as p robably b een b orrowed f rom t he c harter r ecording H aeha 's g rant t o C eolswith . I ne's t itle a ppears h ere e xactly a s i n t he o ther c harter i n h is n ame, ' rex W estsaxonum ', a nd t he b eneficiary i s d escribed i n a f orm o f w ords w hich r eads r ather o ddly, ' Dispensante e nim d omino H ean a bbati', a nd w hich a ppears t o b e b orrowed f rom t he t itle u sed i n H aeha 's o wn c harter.

i s

T he d ocument i s d ated t he 5 th J uly, t he 1 2th i ndiction, 6 87. I t p robably n ot s ignificant t hat t he i ncarnational d ate f its n either

172

t he r eign o f I ne n or t he i ndiction, s ince y ears o f g race w ere o ften i nterpolated i nto a uthentic e arly c harters w hich l acked t hem . A m ore s erious i nconsistency i s t he p resence i n t he w itness l ist o f . Athilred, k ing o f t he M ercians, w ho a bdicated i n 7 04 , a nd D aniel, b ishop o f W inchester, w ho w as c onsecrated i n 7 05. T hese m en c ould n ot a ppear t ogether, a nd t heir n ames i ndicate t hat t here h as a t l east b een s ome t ampering w ith t he t ext. A nother f eature w hich t ends t o s uggest f orgery i s t he e mphasis o n s trengthening t he d ocument s o t hat i t m ay l ast f or e ver: ' Que s cilicet d onationes u t f irmius a c t enatius r eliquum d urarent i n e uum . e tiam c oram s ummis p ontificibus i d e st B rihtwallo a rchiepiscopo e t D aniele e piscopo p eracte s unt'; ' Porro u t f irmior p refate d onationis l argitio i nextricabili t enacitate i ugiter s eruaretur . e tiam t estes a diunximus q uorum n omina s ubter t enentur i nserta '. S ome d etails o f t his t ext d o n ot d erive f rom e ither o f t he a uthentic c harters d iscussed a bove, b ut d o s eem t o h ave o riginated i n a g enuine e arly c harter, a nd t herefore s uggest t hat a t hird g enuine r ecord w as a vailable t o t he c ompiler o f t his d ocument. A c lause d escribing h ow s ods f rom t he e states w ere p laced o n a b ook h eld b y a rchbishop B erhtwald a nd b ishop D aniel c an s carcely d erive f rom t he s imple r eference t o a g ift m ade a t a n a ltar i n t he g enuine c harter o f I ne d iscussed a bove, a nd r esembles c lauses i n o ther e arly c harters, e specially t he e arliest e xtant W est S axon c harter, C oenred's g rant t o a bbot B ectun: S 239:

c espites h orum s uper p osui';

S 1164:

e arundem s upradictarum c espites p ro a mpliore f irmitate e uangelium s uper p osui'

( See a lso S 1804,

1 805,

l ocorum

p ro a mpliore f irmitate l ibro

1 806).

T he n ames o f k ings I ne a nd "Ethilred, a rchbishop B erhtwald a nd b ishop D aniel m ight h ave b een t aken f rom B ede o r t he C hronicle, b ut t here a re t wo o ther s ubscriptions w hich d o n ot a ppear t o d erive f rom n arrative s ources a nd c ould h ave o riginated i n o ne o r m ore e arly c harters. O ne i s o f a l ayman n amed_/Ethilfrith w ho i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he w itness o f I ne's g eneral g rant o f p rivileges o f 7 04 a nd o f a nother c harter w hich i s a f abrication b ut w hose a uthor p erhaps m ade u se o f a g enuine w itness l ist o f I ne's r eign ( S245; B 114). T he o ther s hould b e c ompared w ith a s ubscription i n t he c harter o f C oenred m entioned a bove: S 239:

' Ego

W inberctus

h anc

c artam

s cripsi e t s ubscripsi';

S 1164:

' Ego W imbertus p resbiter q ui h anc c artulam s upra e ffato a bbate s cripsi e t s ubscripsi'.

r ogantes

S uch s cribal a ttestations, i nvolving a bbot W ynberht o f N ursling a nd o thers, a re c onfined t o a s mall g roup o f W est S axon c harters d ating

1 73

f rom t he p eriod 6 70-682 a nd s urviving i n d ifferent a rchives ( See S 236). T he p resence o f t his w ording h ere c an o nly b e e xplained o n t he a ssumption t hat i t a ppeared i n a g enuine, e arly W est S axon c harter u sed b y t he a uthor o f t his t ext. I t m ay b e t hat s everal o ther c lauses i n t he e xtant d ocument d erive f rom t he s ame c harter. S ome o f t he w ording i s q uite u nobjectionable i n i tself a nd d oes n ot d uplicate a nything i n t he t wo g enuine c harters d iscussed a bove. T he d ating c lause , a part f rom t he i ncarnational y ear , m ight b e g enuine a nd w ould s uggest t hat a c harter o f 6 84, 6 99 o r p ossible 7 14 w as u sed. N othing i n t his c harter i s o f i dentifiably t enth-century o r l ater d ate, a nd i t m ay b e t hat i t i s a f orgery p roduced f airly e arly, p ossibly a t t he m onastery o f B radfield i tself. T he l ast s entence o f t he d ocument, w hich s tates t hat t he l and i s s ubject t o t he c hurch o f S t. M ary a t A bingdon, c ould h ave b een a dded l ater. I t a ppears, h owever, t hat t he d ocument i s b asically a f abrication, p robably i ntended a s a n i mproved v ersion o f t he g enuine c harter o f I ne , a nd, i n i ts e xtant f orm , a s A bingdon 's t itle-deed f or t he B radfield e states . S ome p arts o f t he s urviving t ext a ppear t o d erive f rom a n a uthentic e arly c harter w hich i s n ot n ow e xtant: t he a ccount o f t he c eremony a t a n a ltar, p art o f t he w itness l ist, t he d ating c lause, a nd p erhaps s ome o ther d etails o f t he w ording. B ut t he c hief c ontent o f t he c harter c oncerned i s u nknown.

* * * * * *

S 241 B .L .,

C otton C laudius B v i, f o. 6 rv.

( Edition :

B 101)

T his d ocument i s c ertainly a f abrication. I t c ontains a c omplicated a nd r ather i ncoherent n arrative w hich r ecounts s everal g rants o f l and a nd v arious o ther t ransactions. I t i ncludes a n umber o f p hrases w hich w ould n ever h ave a ppeared i n a s eventh-century c harter, s uch a s ' terram r ei p ublice r estituit' a nd ' Ine m onarcus S axonie', a nd e nds w ith a w itness l ist h eaded b y I ne a nd i ncluding b ishop D aniel, b ut o therwise c onsisting o f t he e ntourage o f ,Athilbald o f M ercia. N evertheless, t he t ext i s o f s ome v alue s ince i t a ppears t hat t his c harter, l ike t he p revious o ne, i s b ased t o s ome e xtent o n a uthentic e arly d ocuments, s ome o f w hich d o n ot s urvive. I t m ay r epresent a n a ttempt t o w rite a n a ccount o f t he e arly h istory o f A bingdon. T he d ocument s urvives i n b oth c artularies, b ut t he v ersions d iffer i n t hat t he e arlier m anuscript b egins i ts a ccount w ith t he n ame o f ' Ceadwalla r ex W estsaxonum ' w hile t he l ater o ne q uotes t he n ame o f ' Ine r ex S axonum '. T he f irst p art o f t he n arrative r ecounts t hat C eadwalla o r I ne r estored t o a bbot H aeha a n e state o f 1 73 h ides a t A bingdon w hich h ad p reviously b een g ranted t o H aeha a nd h is s ister, a bbess C ille, b y k ing C issa. B ut I ne t ook t he l and b ack i nto p ublic o wnership b ecause n o m onastery h ad y et b een b uilt, a nd s ubsequently r estored i t t o H eeha a nd C eolswith f or t he f oundation o f am onastery. W hether t he f irst n ame i s I ne o r C eadwalla m akes a s ubstantial d ifference t o t he s ense o f

1 74

t his n arrative. I f C eadwalla i s t he c orrect r eading, t here w ere t hree g rants o f t he s ame l and t o t he s ame b eneficiaries, o ne b y C issa , t he n ext b y C eadwalla f ollowing s ome l oss o r c onfiscation o f w hich n o m ention i s m ade h ere, a nd t he t hird b y I ne f ollowing a s econd c onfiscation. T he n arrative m akes m uch b etter s ense i f t he f irst n ame i s I ne's. O n t his b asis i t s eems t hat t he a uthor b egins b y r eferring t o I ne's r estoration o f t he l and, t hen d igresses t o e xplain t he b ackground t o t his, t he g rant b y C issa, d elay i n c onstructing t he m onastery a nd c onfiscation b y I ne o f t he e state , b efore r e-stating I ne's r estoration i n m ore d etail. I t s eems l ikely t hat t his m ore p lausible a ccount r epresents t he a uthor's i ntentions, a nd t hat t he l ater c artulary's r eading o f t he f irst n ame i s t he c orrect o ne . T he f act t hat i t i s t he l ater c artulary w hich g ets t he k ing 's t itle r ight e ndorses t his v iew , a s d oes t he f act t hat t he l ater c artulary p rovides a b etter t ext o f s ome o ther c harters. T he a ccount o f I ne's r estoration o f t he e state t o H aeha a nd h is s ister i s c learly b ased o n t he e xtant f oundation c harter d iscussed a bove, w hich i tself r efers t o a n e arlier g rant a nd u ses t he t erm ' reddidi'; a nd i t a ppears t hat u se w as a lso m ade o f H aeha 's g rant t o C eolswith, w hich w ould i nform t he c ompiler o f t heir r elationship a nd p rovide t he s hort f orm o f C eolswith 's n ame w hich i s u sed h ere. S o f ar t he t ext i s f airly s imple, b ut t he n ext s ection i s m ore d ifficult t o u nderstand. T his t akes t he f orm o f a f irst-person n arrative b y a n u nnamed m an w ho i s s aid t o h ave a ppointed a bbot o f t he n ew m onastery a t A bingdon b y Haeha w ho h imself b ecame a m onk. B ut l ess t han f ive y ears a fter t aking h is m onastic v ows, H aeha d esired t o b e r eleased f rom t hem , a nd h e ( or p ossibly I ne - the t ext i s s o u ngrammatical a nd i ncoherent t hat i t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain w ho i s m eant) s uddenly t ook t he p roperty b y h ereditary r ight. T he a bbot t herefore g ave b ack t o H aeha ( or I ne, o r b oth) a n umber o f p roperties w hich t he t ext d etails a nd w hich m ay b e l isted a s f ollows: 1 .

T he e state a lready m entioned, t he m onasteries b uilt o n i t;

t hat i s 1 73 h ides a t A bingdon,

2 .

2 0 h ides o n t he e ast b ank o f t he T hames ( 'Tamise i) g iven a bbot b y C uthred r egulus, 2ethilred o f M ercia a nd I ne.

3 .

1 0 h ides a t B asildon ( 'Bestlesford') a nd 1 00 a t B radfield ( 'Bradenfeld') w here t he a bbot h as b uilt a m onastery, g iven b y I ne a nd C oenred.

t o

p lus

t he

T he t otal n umber o f h ides i s s aid t o b e 2 73: i t i s d ifficult t o a ccount f or t his a s a s cribal e rror, s o t he a uthor's m athematics i s p robably a t f ault. T he n arrative e nds b y s tating t hat t he a bbot t hen r eleased H zeha f rom h is m onastic v ows i n t he p resence o f b ishop a bbot A ldhelm , W intra , a nd a ll t he m onastic c ommunity. S tenton i nterpreted t his a ccount o f H aeha 's r eturn t o l ay l ife a s a f urther e xplanation o f t he e vents l eading u p t o t he c onfiscation o f t he l ands b efore ' ne ts r estoration ( Stenton 1 913, p . 1 4). T his i s n ot w hat t he t ext s ays: t he i ntroductory w ord ' Deinde ' s uggests t hat t hese e vents f ollowed I ne's r egrant o f t he l and; t here i s r eference t o m onasteries h aving b een b uilt, w hereas t he c onfiscation w as s aid t o h ave o ccurred b ecause n o m onastery h ad y et b een c onstructed; a nd

1 75

H aeha 's r eturn t o l ay l ife s eems t o b e i ntended a s t he l ast i n t he c hronological s equence o f e vents. H owever , t he c onfusion o f t he t ext a nd t he a uthor's e vident i nability t o w rite a p iece o f c oherent L atin p rose m ake i t i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hat h e i ntended t o c onvey, a nd S tenton 's v iew o f t he m atter c ould b e c orrect . I t d oes a t l east h ave t he m erit o f m aking t he d ocument a s aw hole r easonably e xplicable a s m erely a r ecital o f e vents c ulminating i n ag rant o f l and f or t he f oundation o f A bingdon . Am onk o f t he h ouse w ho h ad t he a uthentic f oundation c harter b efore h im , a nd w ished t o r econcile i t w ith o ther e vidence o r b eliefs , m ight w ell h ave p roduced s uch a d ocument . I t i s l ess e asy t o a ccount f or t he d ocument i f t he a uthor i ntended w hat t he t ext a ctually s ays : t hat t he f ounder r eturned t o l ay l ife a fter l ess t han f ive y ears f rom t he d ate o f t he f oundation , a nd t hat t he m onastery i tself a nd a c onsiderable a mount o f l and w ere t hen t ransferred i nto l ay o wnership. I t i s i mpossible t o i magine w hy a nyone a t A bingdon s hould h ave t aken s uch p ains t o r ecord t his n arrative, w hether i t w ere t rue o r f alse . T he s tory r eflects s o l ittle c redit o n t he m an w ho w as a pparently b elieved t o h ave b een , a nd w as c ertainly r epresented a s , A bingdon 's f ounder , a s t o s uggest t hat i t c ould n ot h ave b een i nvented a nd m ust b e a uthentic . B ut i n s ome d etails t he a ccount c an a ctually b e d isproved : H a ha d id n ot b ecome a m onk u nder a nother m an 's a uthority b ut w as a bbot h imself, a s i s s hown b y h is a ttestation i n t his c apacity o f a n a uthentic c harter i ndependent o f A bingdon r ecords ( S245); a nd h is g rant t o h is s ister , m ade w hen h e w as a bbot a nd a ttested b y b ishop D aniel, i ndicates t hat h e d id n ot l eave c lerical l ife d uring H aeddi's e piscopate . N o c onclusion c an b e o ffered h ere a s t o w hether t he a ccount h as a ny b asis i n f act, o r w hy a nd i n w hat c ircumstances i t w as w ritten o ut i n t he s urviving d ocument. S ome d eductions c an b e m ade, h owever , o n t he b asis o f c ertain d etails i n t he t ext, a bout s ome o f t he m aterials u sed b y t he c ompiler. T he w itness l ist c onsists o f t he n ames o f k ing I ne, k ing . Athilbald, b ishop D aniel a nd n ine l aymen. F ive o f t hese a re u nknown , b ut t he o ther f our , S tronglic, O ba , S elred a nd A ldberht , a ttest c harters o f Athilbald ( Stronlic : S 94, 1 02; O ba : S 85-9, 9 1, 9 4, e tc .; S elred: S 87; A ldberht: S 95). I t t herefore a ppears p robable t hat t he l ist d erives f rom a c harter o f Athilbald a nd h as b een a ltered o nly b y t he a ddition o f t wo n ames t o s uit a c harter o f I ne. 2 ethilbald 's c harter d oes n ot s urvive a nd t here i s n o e vidence t o s uggest w hat i t s aid, b ut i t m ay w ell h ave b een a g rant t o t he m onastery o f B radfield : t his h ouse , l ike M almesbury, w as n ear t he W est S axon/Mercian b order , a nd m ay h ave r eceived p atronage f rom b oth k ingdoms. U se o f a n a uthentic e arly W est S axon c harter i s s uggested b y t he i nclusion o f ap roem a sserting t he n eed f or w ritten r ecords w hich a lso o ccurs i n t he e arliest e xtant W est S axon c harter , C oenred's g rant t o B ectun , a nd a n umber o f o ther e arly W est S axon a nd E ast S axon c harters ( S1164, 48, 6 5, 1 784, e tc.). T he d ating c lause c ould w ell b e 169, 2 b asically g enuine ( cf. S 248), a nd t he n ames o f C oenred ( in a n e arly s pelling), b ishop H aeddi, a bbot A ldhelm a nd W intra , p resumably t o b e i dentified w ith t he a bbot o f T isbury, m ay a lso b e t aken f rom o ne o r m ore e arly c harters. I t i s q uite p ossible t hat a ll t hese d etails p lus t he c onveyancing c eremony a nd s cribal a ttestation p reserved i n t he o ther s purious c harter i n I ne's n ame d iscussed a bove , d erive f rom a s ingle e arly W est S axon c harter , p erhaps a g rant o f C oenred, a nd

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a pparently r esembling C oenred 's s ingle s urviving c harter. T he p lace-names B asildon a nd B radfield a re d oubtless d erived f rom t he a uthentic f oundation c harter o f B radfield d iscussed a bove. T he r eference t o a n e state a t A bingdon m erely r eflects t he e vident c onfusion o f B radfield r ecords w ith A bingdon r ecords a t A bingdon i n l ater y ears, a nd n eed n ot b e p resumed t o d erive f rom a ny a uthentic e arly d ocument. T he e state o n t he T hames c annot b e i dentified i n t he a bsence o f o ther d etails o f i ts s ituation , b ut c ould w ell h ave b een g ranted t o B radfield i n a n e arly c harter a vailable t o t he c ompiler o f t his t ext . T he d onors a re c ited a s s ub-king C uthred, . /Ethilred o f M ercia a nd I ne. I ne w as c ertainly a b enefactor o f B radfield a nd JEthilred m ay w ell h ave b een a lso , a s h e w as o f M almesbury , o r a lternatively h is n ame m ay h ave b een b orrowed f rom t he C hronicle. C uthred, n ephew o f k ing C oenwalh , e xercised a uthority o ver a n e xtensive a rea o f t he B erkshire D owns a nd d ied, a ccording t o t he C hronicle , i n 61 ( ASC s .a. 6 39, 6 48, 6 61). I f h e w as r eally a b enefactor o f 6 B radfield, t hen t he h ouse w as f ounded a t av ery e arly d ate , l ong b efore I ne g ranted l and t o H eeha ' ad c onstruendum m onasterium '. W hile t his c annot b e s aid t o b e w holly i mpossible, i t s eems m ore l ikely t hat C uthred's n ame h as b een t aken f rom t he C hronicle , c hosen b ecause o f h is c onnection w ith B erkshire. T he e arly k ing n amed C issa m entioned i n t his c harter i s u nknown o utside A bingdon r ecords. H e m ay h ave b een a n e arly r uler, c omparable w ith s uch m en a s C uthred, a nd k nown t o t he a uthor o f t his d ocument f rom a g enuine e arly c harter, b ut t he e vidence i s t oo v ague a nd s uspect f or c ertainty. I dentification w ith t he l ayman C isi w ho a ppears i n an umber o f e arly c harters ( S231, 2 35, 170, 1 248) i s n ot i mpossible. T his d ocument f urnishes e vidence f or t he f ormer e xistence o f e arly W est S axon a nd M ercian c harters, p robably r ecording g rants o f l and t o H aeha 's m onastery a t B radfield. O ther i nformation a bout t he h ouse a nd t he p eople c onnected w ith i t w hich i s p eculiar t o t his d ocument, f or e xample t he a ssertion t hat C eolswith w as a n a bbess , c annot b e r elied u pon . T he u se o f t he B radfield r ecords a nd t he n ame o f t he B radfield f ounder t o p rovide a h istory o f t he f oundation o f A bingdon s trongly s uggests t hat t here w ere n o a uthentic e arly r ecords r elating t o A bingdon i tself a nd h ence t hat t hat m onastery w as n ot f ounded u ntil a l ater d ate. I t a ppears, h owever , t hat t he A bingdon c ommunity w ished t o t race t he h istory o f t heir h ouse b ack t o t he 7 th c entury, a nd t he p urpose o f t his d ocument w as p robably t o a nnex B radfield 's h istory a s w ell a s i ts e states.

S 93 B .L ., C otton C laudius B v i, ( Edition :

f o.

1 3r.

B 155)

Ac urious c harter w hich s urvives i n b oth c artularies s eems t o h ave b een i ntended b y i ts a uthor t o b e r egarded a s a c harter o f , 4Ethilbald o f M ercia , b ut t he d ocument b ears n o r esemblance t o a uthentic e ighth

1 77

c entury t exts a nd a ppears t o b e af abrication , a lthough d etails i n i t m ay d erive f rom g enuine e arly r ecords.

o ne

o r

t wo

T he d ocument b egins w ith a v ery l ong p roem w hich m ight h ave f ormed p art o f a t enth-century c harter b ut c ould s carcely h ave b een d rafted i n t he e ighth c entury, a nd t his i s f ollowed b y a s tatement t hat i t i s j udged u seful t o s et o ut t he a mount o f l and o wned b y t he m onastery o f S t. M ary a t A bingdon r uled b y a bbot C umma. T he p ossessions o f t he a bbey a re t hen s ummarised i n t wo p arts: l ands w est o f t he T hames t otalling 2 50 h ides a re s aid t o h ave b een g iven b y t he W est S axon k ings C issa , C eadwalla a nd I ne ; a nd t he M ercian k ings.,Ethilred , C uthred a nd C oenred a re s aid t o h ave g iven l ands e ast o f t he T hames t otalling 2 74 h ides. ( This f igure a ppears o nly i n t he l ater c artulary. I n C otton C laudius C i x t he f igure d enoting t he n umber o f h ides h as b een e rased a nd w as e vidently d ifferent, a s t here i s s pace f or o nly t wo t o t hree d igits). Ag rant b y k ing , /Ethilbald t o t he m onastery i s t hen r eported i n t he t hird p erson , t he e states b eing a t W atchfield a nd G inge i n B erkshire , a nd h e i s a lso s aid t o c onfirm a ll t he g rants o f e arlier k ings . T here i s n o s anction o r d ating c lause a nd t he w itness l ist f ollows. N either t he w ording n or t he c ontent o f t his t ext r esemble t hose o f a uthentic c harters o f. d e dEthilbald o r o ther e arly k ings . T he a uthor a pparently m ade u se o f t he s ame t raditions o r d ocumentation a s t he a uthor o f t he f abrication i n I ne's n ame j ust d iscussed. H e e vidently d id n ot k now w ho C uthred a nd C oenred w ere a nd g uessed t hat t hey w ere M ercian k ings: t he w riter o f a g enuine c harter o f }Ethilbald i s u nlikely t o h ave b een s o i gnorant o f e arlier M ercian r ulers . A bbot C umma i s n ot o therwise k nown a nd h is n ame m ay h ave b een t aken f rom a c harter, b ut t his i s n ot c ertain , a nd t here i s n o e vidence f or t he d ate a t w hich h e l ived. T he w itness l ist m ay h ave s ome a uthentic b asis . I t c onsists o f t he s ubscriptions o f. nd f our b ishops p lus a c onfirmatory ./Ethilbald a e ndorsement b y k ing 2 Ethilheard o f W essex. K ing A thilbald 's a ttestat ion a ppears t o b e e ither s purious o r m uch r e-written , s ince i t g ives h is t itle a s ' Britannie A nglorum m onarcus ', a nd r ecords h is c onfirmat ion o f t he g rants o f e arlier k ings . T he b ishops a re D aniel o f W inchester, W orr o f L ichfield, F orthere o f S herborne a nd W ealhstod o f H ereford. A ll f our a re m entioned b y B ede i n h is l ist o f b ishops a ctive i n 7 31 ( HE V 2 3), b ut W orr i s t here g iven h is o ther n ame, E aldwine, w hich m akes i t u nlikely t hat t he n ames h ave b een b orrowed f rom B ede's a ccount. B ishop D aniel's u sual h umility f ormula , ' plebi d ei f amulus ', i s u sed, a nd t he s ubscription f orms o f a ll f our b ishops , a s t hey a ppear i n t he l ater c artulary ( in t he o ther m anuscript t he s ubscriptions h ave b een e laborated a nd e ach b ishop a ttests w ith a d ifferent v erb i n t enthc entury s tyle), a re u nobjectionable e xcept t hat F orthere 's i ncludes t he p hrase ' in B anesinga u illa i ubente r ege', w hich a ppears c urious i n a n a ttestation a nd h as p erhaps b een b orrowed f rom a d ating c lause. T hese f our a ttestations m ay w ell d erive f rom a g enuine c harter o f 7 09 x 7 37, t hat i s b etween F orthere 's c onsecration a nd W orr's d eath ( HE V 1 8, A SC s .a. 7 09; H istoria R egum s .a. 7 37), b ut i t i s n ot c ertain t hat t his w as a c harter o f 2 Ethilbald; i t m ay h ave b een a g rant b y s ome o ther d onor o r t he r ecord o f t he p roceedings o f a s ynod. dethilheard 's

s ubscription , w hich i s p reserved o nly i n t he

1 78

l ater

c artulary, s tates t hat h e c onfirms t he a bove g rant w ith h is c ompanions w ho a re n amed b elow ' in e xpedicione u ltra f luuium S abrina a duersus B ritonum g entem '. T he n ames o f t he c ompanions a re n ot p reserved. T his w ording i s p robably g enuine: i t i s s imilar t o a d ating c lause o f t he r eign o f E cgberht s aid t o b e w ritten ' in h oste q uando E cgberhtus r ex G euuissorum m ouet c ontra B rittones' ( S272, 2 73), a f orger w ould p robably n ot h ave r eferred t o t he n ames o f t he k ing 's c ompanions s ince h e w ould n ot h ave k nown t hem ; a nd t here i s n othing a nachronistic i n t he w ording. T he s ubscription p robably o riginated i n t he s ame d ocument a s t he e piscopal a ttestations. I t p rovides e vidence o f a n o therwise u nrecorded c ampaign o f Athilheard a gainst t he W elsh ( of W ales , n ot C ornwall), a n e vent w hich i s s omewhat s urprising s ince t he e xtent o f . Athilbald 's p ower r ather s uggests t hat M ercia s tood b etween W essex a nd W ales. I t m ay b e t hat t he e xpedition w as a j oint W est S axon a nd M ercian o peration , s uch a s s eems t o h ave o ccurred i n C uthred 's r eign ( ASC s .a. 7 43), i n w hich c ase t he d ocument a ttested m ay w ell h ave b een a c harter o f Athilbald. I t i s q uite p ossible t hat t he n ame o f Athilbald, t he f our e piscopal a ttestations a nd t he e ndorsement b y Athilheard p reserved i n t his d ocument, a nd t he l ist o f l aymen a ppended t o t he f abrication i n I ne's n ame d iscussed a bove , a ll o riginated i n a n a uthentic c harter o f Athilbald's r eign. T he t wo e states r ecorded i n t his c harter a s g ifts o f _ e dEthilbald a re 2 6 h ides a t ' Wachenesfeld ', n ow W atchfield, a nd 1 0 h ides ' iuxta r iuum G eenge', n ow G inge . B oth e states w ere p art o f A bingdon 's D omesday e ndowment a nd w ere a ssessed a t 2 0 a nd 1 0 h ides r espectively i n 1 066 ( DB B erkshire, p. 7 .36, 7 .45). W atchfield o ccurs a lso i n a p s purious A bingdon p ancarta ( S183) a nd w as t he s ubject o f a g rant b y 2 Ethelstan t o a l ayman d ated 9 31 n ow i n t he A bingdon a rchive ( S413), w hich s uggests t hat t he l and w as a cquired b y A bingdon i n t he t enth o r e leventh c entury, a nd t hat t he r eference t o W atchfield i n t his c harter w as i ntended a s e vidence t hat t he m onastery h ad o wned t he e state f or l onger t han w as a ctually t he c ase . G inge a ppears i n a n umber o f c harters , a ll o f w hich s eem t o b e s purious a nd w ere a pparently d esigned t o p rovide a s equence o f r ecords f rom t he 8 th c entury o nwards s upporting A bingdon 's c laim t o t he e state ( S166 , 1 83, 5 67, 5 83 , 6 73). I t i s n ot i mpossible t hat W atchfield a nd G inge w ere b oth a cquired b y A bingdon a t a n e arly d ate b ut t his d ocument c annot b e c onsidered e vidence o f a ny s uch a cquisitions, s ince i t a ppears t o b e a f abrication. I t p robably p reserves p art o f t he w itness l ist o f a n a uthentic 8 th c entury c harter, b ut i ts c ontent c annot b e p resumed t o r eflect t he c ontent o f t hat c harter i n a ny w ay.

S 269 B .L ., C otton C laudius B v i, f o . ( Edition:

1 0v.

B 258)

A c harter r ecording a n e xchange o f l ands b etween k ing B eorhtric a nd e aldorman H emele s urvives o nly i n t he l ater c artulary. T here i s n o

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g ood r eason t o d oubt i ts a uthenticity. T he d ocument i s u ndated b ut c an b e a ssigned t o t he p eriod 7 86-794, t hat i s f rom t he a ccession o f B eorhtric t o t he l atest p ossible d ate f or t he d eath o f b ishop A thilmod o f S herborne w ho a ttests: h is s uccessor , D enefrith , f irst a ppears i n 7 94 ( S137; a lso S 139, 1 49). I t i s t herefore p robable t hat t his i s t he e arliest e xtant c harter o f t he r eign , t he o thers d ating f rom 7 94 a nd 8 01 ( S267, 2 68, 2 70a). T he w ording i s s imple a nd s traightforward w ith n o a nachronisms , a nd i ncorporates a n umber o f p hrases c losely r esembling p hrases u sed i n o ther c harters o f t he t ime . T he a blative a bsolute t ype o f i nvocation b ecame m uch m ore c ommon f rom t he l ate e ighth c entury o nwards, a nd o ccurs i n t wo o ther c harters o f t he r eign : S 269:

' Regnante i n p erpetuum o mnipotenti D eo ';

S 267:

' Regnante i n p erpetuum D omino n ostro I esu C hristo ..';

S 270a :

' Regnante i n p erpetuum d omino n ostro I hesu C hristo

B eorhtric's r oyal t itle r esembles t hose i n h is o ther c harters i n n ot n aming t he p eople r uled a s w as u sual: S 269:

r egali f retus d ignitate ';

S 267:

' Rex i stius P rovincialis';

S 268 :

' rex r egni r egimonia d ispensans '.

R eference t o t he l oyalty o f a l ay b eneficiary i s a lso B eorhtric's c harters :

..'.

t wo

a

s urviving

f eature

S 269:

' Hemele f idelissimo p rincipi m eo ';

S 267:

' Wigfrutho P raefecto m eo d ilectissimo l ubens a dmodum l argior q ui i ndefessis u iribus i n n ostra u oluntate d iu h umiliter e t d iligenter l aborauit';

S 268:

' deuoto e t c um o mni s tudio i n n ostro a ffectu f idelissimo L ullan p rincipi'.

o f

T he p hrase i ntroducing t he l and g iven b y t he b eneficiary i n e xchange r ecalls t hat i n a nother c harter r elating t o a n e xchange o f l ands: S 269:

' pro u ice a lterius a gri';

S 1263:

' in u icissitudinem a lterius a gelluli'.

T he k ing 's a ttestation , w hich S tenton c ondemned a s a nachronistic ( 1913, p . 2 9), r esembles s everal o thers o f t his t ime i n r eferring t o c onfirmation w ith t he s ign o f t he c ross ( S264, 2 67, 2 68 , e tc.), a nd s ome o f t he s ame w ords a re u sed i n a nother c harter o f B eorhtric: S 269:

' propriis l itterarum c aracteribus r oboraui . e t s ingrafa c rucis c onfirmaui';

1 80

S 268:

' in i us p roprium c um a uctoritate h arum l itterarum e t c irographorum a st i nfra c aractarum t estium t radendo f irmiter s igno a lme c rucis d onabo e t r obarabo '.

T he i ndications a uthentic.

a re

t hat t he w ording o f

t his

c harter

i s

e ntirely

T he w itness l ist s imilarly a ppears t o b e g enuine, a lthough i t i s n ot e ntirely e xplicable . F ollowing B eorhtric's a ttestation a re t hose o f t he t wo W est S axon b ishops, . / Ethilmod o f S herborne a nd C yniberht o f W inchester; b oth w ere c onsecrated d uring C yniwulf's r eign; Athilmod 's l ast d ateable a ppearance w as i n 7 89 ; C yniberht w as s till a ctive i n 8 01 ( B250; S 1430; S 268, 2 70a). T he r emaining w itnesses a re l aymen. H emele , t he b eneficiary o f t his c harter , h ad b een a ctive s ince 7 62, t hat i s f or a t l east 2 4 y ears a t t he t ime o f t his t ransaction ( S261-4 a nd 1 08). H e i s d escribed e lsewhere a s a p refectus a nd i n t his d ocument a s p rinceps a nd p atricius , t he l atter a r ather u nusual t itle a t s o l ate a d ate ; h e w as a pparently a n e aldorman, a nd i t i s u nlikely t hat a ny o f t hese t itles w as i ntended t o i ndicate a nything m ore . H is p resence h ere i s e vidence o f s ome c ontinuity o f p ower a mong n oblemen d uring t he r eigns o f C yniwulf a nd B eorhtric . W orr , a lso a n e aldorman , a ttests B eorhtric's c harter o f 8 01 a nd d ied t he f ollowing y ear ( S268 ; A SC s .a. 8 02). B eornfrith i s o therwise u nknown b ut i s g iven t he t itle p refectus a nd i s l ikely t o h ave b een a nother o f t he W est S axon e aldormen . W igfrith , l ike H emele, w as a l eading m an i n C yniwulf's t ime a nd c ontinued i n p ower u nder B eorhtric. H is c areer s panned t he t wo r eigns, 7 57-801, a nd h e i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he t hegn w ho w as a mong t he a vengers o f C yniwulf i n 7 86 ( S96, 1 49, 2 61-4, 2 67-8 , 2 70a ; A SC s .a. 7 57). T he n ext s ubscription r eads ' Signum m anus L unlinges s ubreguli '. I f t his m an i s aW est S axon, h e i s o therwise u nrecorded u nless , a s i s p ossible, h e i s t o b e i dentified w ith t he e aldorman L ulla w ho w as t he b eneficiary o f B eorhtric's g rant o f 8 01 a nd a ttested q ueen E adburh 's c harter i n t he s ame y ear ( S268 , 2 70a). A nother p ossible i dentification i s w ith a M ercian n amed L ulling w ho a ppears i n f our w itness l ists o f t he 7 90s ( S139, 1 49, 1 55, 2 29): a micable c ontacts b etween W essex a nd M ercia d uring t he r eign o f B eorhtric a re w ell a ttested, a nd i t i s n ot i mplausible t hat L ulling m ight h ave c ome t o t he W est S axon c ourt a s a m essenger a nd m ight h ave a ttended a m eeting a t w hich h is m essage w as d iscussed a nd o ther b usiness w as t ransacted. O n a ny i nterpretation t he t itle s ubregulus i s e xtremely o dd, a s t here i s n o r eason t o b elieve t hat a nyone i n W essex o r M ercia h eld t his t itle a t s o l ate a d ate , e xcept f or r ulers o f p eople s uch a s t he H wicce o r S outh S axons w hose p redecessors h ad b een r eges b ut w ho w ere n ow w ithin t he M ercian o rbit ; a nd s uch a r uler i s u nlikely t o h ave a ttested a W est S axon c harter i n t he m iddle o f al ist o f l aymen. A s econd a ttestation b y W igfrith , i dentical w ith t he f irst, s hould p robably b e r egarded a s a n a ccidental d uplication r ather t han e vidence f or a nother i ndividual o f t his n ame. T he l ast w itness, W ingbald c omes , l ike L ulling , i s u nknown i f a W est S axon b ut p ossibly t o b e i dentified w ith a M ercian : am an w ith t he s ame t itle a nd p robably t he s ame n ame a ppears i n M ercian w itness l ists o f t he 7 90s a nd o f 8 05 ( S229: ' Vibald c omes '; S 161: ' Wynbald c omis '), a nd m ight h ave a ccompanied L ulling t o W essex.

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T he v ariety o f t itles u sed i n t his l ist i s u nusual, a nd n ot a ll t he p eople i nvolved c an b e s atisfactorily i dentified o r e xplained, b ut n othing i n t he t ext l ooks l ike t he w ork o f af orger a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t he w hole l ist i s g enuine. T he p ractice o f d istinguishing l ay a nd c lerical w itnesses d oes n ot a ppear h ere a nd s eems t o h ave g radually d ied o ut d uring t he e ighth c entury. B erorhtric g rants t o H emele a n e state w hich i s a t f irst d escribed s imply a s 3 6 h ides . A s entence a dded a t t he e nd o f t he d ocument s tates t hat a p ortion o f t his l and c omprising 2 6 h ides i s s ituated ' iuxta H issaburnam ', a s tream n ame w hich s urvives i n t he m odern p lace n ame H urstbourne i n H ampshire. T he r emaining 1 0 h ides a re n ot i dentified, a nd t here i s n o b oundary c lause o r o ther d escription o f t he e state a t H urstbourne. H emele g ives i n e xchange a n a rea o f 3 4 h ides ' iuxta f lumen q uod a ppelatur M eonea', t hat i s b y t he r iver M eon i n H ampshire, a n e state w hich H emele h as p urchased f rom k ing C yniwulf. T his l and i s s imilarly u ndefined a nd a nd c annot b e e quated w ith a ny o f t he e states a t M eon m entioned i n o ther c harters . I t i s p ossible t hat t he 3 6 h ides a t H urstbourne w ere p art o f a l arger e state a t H urstbourne T arrant w hich w as t he s ubject o f ad ispute i n t he 1 0th c entury. A c harter o f 2 Ethelred I r ecords t hat h e g ranted c ertain e states t o A bingdon i n I c ompensation f or t he l oss o f 3e states a t H urstbourne, B edwyn a nd B urbage w hich h ad b een g ranted t o t he h ouse b y E adgar b ut s eized a nd r estored t o r oyal o wnership a fter h is d eath ( S937). T he t hree c harters w hich r ecord E adgar's g rants t o A bingdon o f H urstbourne , B edwyn a nd B urbage ( S688, 6 89, 7 56) w ere d efended b y W hitelock o n t he g rounds t hat f orgery w ithin a bout 3 0 y ears o f t he p urported d ates w as s carcely p racticable a nd t hat f ormulas f rom t hese c harters r ecur i n c harters o f P ershore a nd W inchester ( EHD , i ntroduction t o n o. 1 23). H owever, s imilar c onsiderations a pply t o t he o rthodoxorum s eries o f c harters , a nd K eynes h as c onvincingly a rgued t hat m ost o f t hese a re f orged ( Keynes 1 980, p p. 9 9-100), s o t here r emains a d istinct p ossibility t hat c harters w ere f orged a t A bingdon i n c onnection w ith t he d ispute o ver H urstbourne, B edwyn a nd B urbage. H owever i t s carcely s eems p ossible t hat B eorhtric 's H urstbourne c harter w as f orged i n c onnection w ith t his d ispute a s t here a re s o m any r easons f or c onsidering i t t o b e a uthentic : i ts w ording h as n o a nachronisms a nd i ncludes s everal r esemblances t o o ther c harters o f t he t ime ; t he w itness l ist c ould s carcely h ave b een i nvented; a f orger w ould n ot h ave b een l ikely t o d raw u p a c harter w hich r ecorded a n e qual e xchange o f l ands, n or w ould t here h ave b een a ny p oint i n i nventing t he e arlier p urchase f rom C yniwulf. I t a lso s eems i mprobable t hat t he n ame o f H urstbourne h as b een s ubstituted f or a nother p lace-name , s ince o ne w ould e xpect t hat t he h idage w ould b e a ltered t o f it: t he c harter i n E adgar's n ame r efers t o 5 0 h ides, a nd i t i s d ifficult t o b elieve t hat a nother c harter w hich b egins b y m entioning 3 6 h ides a nd t hen s pecifies t hat o nly 2 6 o f t hese a re a t H urstbourne, c ould h ave b een d esigned a t t he s ame t ime t o c laim t he s ame e state . M oreover , t here i s n o e arly c harter i n t he A bingdon a rchive r elating t o B edwyn o r B urbage , a nd i f B eorhtric's c harter h ad b een f orged o r a ltered, o ne w ould t end t o e xpect s imilar f orgeries r elating t o t hese o ther e states. T he t ruth a bout A bingdon 's c laims t o t he 3 e states r emains o bscure, b ut t he p robability s eems t o b e t hat B eorhtric's c harter , a lthough i t p robably c ame i nto A bingdon 's p ossession a s a t itle-deed w hen t hey a cquired

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H urstbourne, a nd m ay p ossibly h ave b een u sed t o s upport c laim t o t he e state, w as n ot d rawn u p f or t hat p urpose, g enuine c harter o f t he 8 th c entury.

A bingdon 's b ut i s a

* * * * * *

S 268 B .L ., C otton C laudius B v i, ( Edition:

f os. 7 v-8r.

B 282)

A s econd c harter o f B eorhtric a lso e xtant o nly i n A bingdon 's l ater c artulary, r ecords a s ale o f l and t o e aldorman L ulla i n 8 01. T his p resents a v ery d ifferent a ppearance f rom t hat o f t he e arlier d ocument , b eing m uch l onger a nd w ritten i n a v erbose s tyle w hich c ontrasts w ith t he s implicity o f t he g rant t o H emele, b ut t here i s g ood r eason t o a rgue t hat t he c harter i s b asically g enuine a nd i t m ay b e t hat t he w hole t ext i s a uthentic. T he d ocument b egins w ith a l ong i ncludes a f ew u nnecessarily l ong p hrases, t o t he p rice p aid b y t he b eneficiary:

i nvocation; t he d ispositio s uch a s t he c lause r elating

' quam e x s ua p ropria f acultate i n p ecunia c omprobata e t b eneplacita a dquirendo p lenissimo p recio a n obis c omparauit'; t he d ating c lause i ncludes a r egnal y ear, e xpressed a s ' nostri r egalis i mperii . a b a lto c aelorum c ulmine c oncessi'; a nd t he s anction a nd b lessing a re o f a l ength u sually a ssociated w ith t enth-century c harters. T his v erbosity m ay b e t he r esult o f s ome e laboration o f t he t ext a t a l ater d ate , b ut t here i s a d istinct p ossibility t hat i t i s g enuine. N one o f t he c lauses h as a ny c lose p arallel i n c harters o f l ater d ate o r i ncludes a ny s pecific p hrase c haracteristic o f l ater w riting a nd n ot u sed e arlier. S ome o f t he p hrases f rom t his d ocument q uoted a bove i n t he d iscussion o f B eorhtric's e arlier c harter a s r esembling t hose i n o ther c harters o f t he t ime a re a mong t he n oticeably w ordy p assages. A nd i t i s i n t he l engthy s anction t hat t here o ccurs t he r eferences t o t he p lacing o f t he w itnesses 's n ames ' in m argine i stius p agelle', w hich S tenton n oticed a s a n u nusual a rrangement w hich n o f orger w ould h ave i nvented ( Stenton 1 955, p . 2 6). T he s tyle o f w riting u sed i n c harters b ecame m ore e xpansive d uring t he n inth c entury, a nd t his c harter s hould p robably b e s een a s a n e arly i nstance o f t hat p rocess. T he

c harter i s d ated 8 01,

t he 9 th i ndiction a nd t he

1 2th

r egnal

y ear. T he l ast i s w rong a nd s hould b e t he 1 5th : F inberg s uggests t hat x u h as b een m iscopied a s x ii ( ECW , n o. 9 ). T he w itness l ist a ppears t o c onsist o f a ll t he l eading p ersons i n W essex a t t his d ate , t he k ing a nd q ueen, t he t wo b ishops, a nd s even l aymen, e ach w ith t he t itle p rinceps, w ho p robably r epresent t he f ull c omplement o f W est S axon e aldormen . Q ueen E adburh a ppears i n o ther c harters i ncluding o ne o f w hich s he i s t he d onor a nd w hich w as i ssued i n t he s ame y ear a s t his c harter a nd h as av ery s imilar w itness l ist ( S270a). T he b ishops a re C yniberht o f

1 83

W inchester a nd W igberht o f S herborne, t he l atter h aving s ucceeded D enefrith s ome t ime b etween 7 96 a nd 8 01. O f t he l aymen, W orr a nd W igfrith a re d iscussed i n c onnection w ith B eorhtric's e arlier c harter a bove; W eohstan w as e aldorman o f W iltshire a nd d ied i n b attle a gainst t he H wicce t he f ollowing y ear ( ASC s .a. 8 02); W iohtbrord a nd L ulla , t he b eneficiary, a re k nown o nly f rom t heir a ppearances i n t his c harter a nd E adburh 's; _Asc a nd E alhmund a re o therwise u nknown. T he l ist a ppears t o b e e ntirely a uthentic. B eorhtric s ells t o L ulla a n e state o f 1 0 h ides a t ' Eastun ', i dentified a s C rux E aston i n H ampshire. T he e state i s d efined b y m eans o f a l ong b oundary c lause i n L atin w hich r esembles t hose i n C yniwulf's l ast c harter a nd a nother c harter o f t his r eign ( S264, 2 67), a nd w hose a uthenticity h as b een c onvincingly a rgued o n t he g rounds t hat t he p lace-name w ith w hich i t b egins a nd e nds w as o bsolete b y t he t enth c entury a nd c ould n ot h ave b een r esurrected b y a f orger ( Stenton 1 955, p . 2 6). T he e state i s s aid t o b e f ree f rom a ll e arthly s ervices e xcept m ilitary s ervice a nd t he b uilding o f b ridges a nd t his c lause i s p robably g enuine s ince i t f its t he d evelopments o f t he r eign: B eorhtric's c harter o f 7 94 h as a n i mmunity e xcluding o nly m ilitary s ervice, a nd E adburh 's c harter h as a ll t hree e xceptions w hich l ater b ecame u sual ( S267, . 270a). M oreover , c harters o f E cgberht a nd Athelwulf h ave i mmunities r esembling t his o ne ( S273, 2 98). C rux E aston i s m entioned i n o nly t wo o ther p re-Conquest c harters, b oth A bingdon d ocuments . O ne i s a s purious p ancarta i n t he n ame o f C oenwulf o f M ercia ( S183); t he o ther i s t he H urstbourne c harter i n t he n ame o f E adgar m entioned a bove w hose a uthenticity i s v ery d oubtful ( S689). T his i ncludes a s et o f b ounds f or C rux E aston a lthough t he e state i s n ot o therwise m entioned i n t he t ext. T he b ounds a re i n O E a nd a re s horter t han t hose i n B eorhtric's c harter, b ut s ome o f t he l andmarks a re t he s ame , a nd t he s ame a rea i s p robably e nclosed. I f t he c harter o f E adgar h ad a ny a uthentic b asis, i t m ight b e t hat H urstbourne T arrant a nd C rux E aston w ere a cquired a t t he s ame t ime a nd r ecorded i n t he s ame c harter, t he t wo c harters o f B eorhtric a lso b eing h anded o ver a s t itle-deeds . B ut i t s eems r ather m ore l ikely t hat a f abricator a t t he t ime o f t he H urstbourne d ispute r eferred t o t he o nly g enuine d ocumentation A bingdon h ad f or t hat e state , B eorhtric's c harter, a nd i n d oing s o a lighted o n t he C rux E aston c harter a nd i ncluded t he b ounds o f t his e state f or g ood m easure. I n ah istorically-minded h ouse t he t wo c harters o f B eorhtric c ould w ell h ave b een s tored o r r ecorded t ogther: o nly o ne c harter s eparates t hem i n t he e xtant c artulary. T he e vidence i s c onsistent w ith, a nd i ndeed s uggests, t he t heory t hat B eorhtric's C rux E aston c harter i s a uthentic, a nd t he d ocument i tself s eems g enuine, t he e vidence o f t he w itness l ist a nd b oundary c lause a ppearing f airly c onclusive. T he w hole c harter i s p robably a uthentic.

1 84

S 166 B .L .,

C otton C laudius C i x,

( Edition :

f os.

1 06v-107v.

B 352)

T he f irst o f t hree c harters i n t he n ame o f C oenwulf o f M ercia s urvives o nly i n t he e arlier c artulary. I t r elates t o t wo g roups o f e states o f w hich t he f irst i s s aid t o b e g ranted, a pparently b y t he k ing a nd t he m onks o f A bingdon j ointly, t o a bbot H raethun o f A bingdon a s h is o wn p ersonal p roperty, a nd t he s econd i s d escribed a s r edeemed b y t he a bbot, b y m eans o f a p ayment i n m oney a nd l ands, f rom t he h ands o f s trangers. T he c ontent o f t his c harter w ith i ts l ists o f e states i s v ery d ubious, b ut s everal f eatures o f t he t ext s uggest t hat t he e xtant d ocument i s b ased o n a n a uthentic c harter o f C oenwulf. T he t ext r emembles o ther c harters o f t his r eign i n b eginning w ith a d ating c lause w hich i ncludes a r egnal y ear ( S163, 1 68, 1 69, e tc.). T he d ates a re i nconsistent, 8 11 ( which w as t he 1 5/16th r egnal y ear) a nd t he 1 9th r egnal y ear ( which w as 8 15/6); p robably o ne o f t he f igures h as a ccidentally b een m iscopied, b ut n othing i n t he c harter i ndicates w hich o ne. T he t ransaction i s s aid t o h ave t aken p lace a t t he s ynod o f ' Celichy t 5', t hat i s C helsea , a nd t his d etail i s l ikely t o b e g enuine a s t here i s e vidence t hat s everal s ynods w ere h eld t here ( ASC s .a . 7 87; S 106, 1 430; B 358). A p hrase r ecording C oenwulf's m otive f or t he t ransaction h as p arallels i n o ther l ate 8 th/early 9 th c entury M ercian c harters: S 166:

n on s olum p ro a nime m ee s ed p ro t otius g entis M erciorum s alute';

S 155:

' pro m ea p erpetua s alute e t p ace a c u ictoria a micissimae M erciorum p lebis';

S 190:

' pro m e 7 p ro t otum g entem M erciorum '.

T he c harter's r eferences t o i mmunity ' a g rauitudine c omitum e t a d urissima s eruitute r egum ' a nd ' ab o mni s eruitute m agno u el m odico r egum . p rincipum . e piscoporum ' s imilarly r esemble p rovisions i n o ther c harters o f t he t ime ( S168, 1 86, 1 80), a nd t here a re p arallels f or t he g ranting o f a n i mmunity w ithout e xceptions ( S165, 1 69, 1 87). T he w itness l ist c onsists o f o nly t wo n ames, C oenwulf a nd W ulf r ed, a rchbishop o f C anterbury ( 805-832). T hese a re q uite a cceptable a s a n a bbreviated s ynodal w itness l ist a nd f it a ny o f t he p ossible d ates o f t he c harter. T his d ocument c onstitutes t he o nly e vidence t hat H r2ethun w as a bbot o f A bingdon ( Hraethun 's c areer i s d iscussed b y S tenton 1 913, p. 2 7-8). A ccording t o A bingdon t radition , h e w as a p b ishop i n M ercia u ntil d riven f rom h is s ee, w hen h e t ook r efuge a t A bingdon a nd e ventually b ecame a bbot t here. I n f act h is c areer s eems t o h ave t aken a m ore c onventional f orm . H e w as a n a bbot i n 8 14, a nd b y 8 16 h ad b een c onsecrated a s b ishop o f L eicester, i n w hich c apacity h e c ontinued t o a ct f or m any y ears ( S173, 1 77; P age 1 966, p . 5 ; R ichter 1 973, n o. 1 0; S 180, 1 438, e tc.). T he f act t hat e xtant r ecords o f e ighth-and n inth-century A bingdon a re p redominantly M ercian r enders i t q uite p ossible t hat a n a bbot o f t his h ouse w as a ppointed t o a M ercian

1 85

s ee, a nd t he c hronology o f H reethun 's c areer i s c onsistent w ith h is a ppearance a s a bbot i n t his c harter. H is n ame m ay w ell t herefore b e a n a uthentic f eature o f t he t ext , a lthough s ome d oubt n ecessarily r emains: h is n ame c ould h ave b een b orrowed f rom a c ommemorative r ecord , a nd t he p hrase ' pro e ius a mabili p ecunia a c d euotione q uam e rga n os g erebat' i s o f a t ype c ommonly f ound i n g rants t o l aymen . T he e states n amed i n t his c harter a re l isted i n t he t able b elow :

F irst G roup

M odern N ame

E bbanduna

A bingdon

W yr5e

L ongworth

A clea

O akley

N or5tuna

N orton

P unningstoce

H ides

3 10 1 0

C ounty

B erkshire t i ?

1 8

? ?

-

S econd G roup

S unningwellan

S unningwell

1 5

E atune

E aton

1 0

S andforda

D ry S andford

1 0

D enceswyr5e

D enchworth

G oseie

G oosey

C ulanham

C ulham

G ainge

G inge

1 0

L echamstede

L eckhamstead

1 0

B erkshire t t i t

3 0

I O xfordshire B erkshire f l

O f t he f irst g roup O akley, N orton a nd P unningstoce d o n ot r ecur i n A bingdon r ecords a nd n one o f t hese t hree c an b e s atisfactorily i dentified, t he p lace-names O akley a nd N orton r ecurring i n s everal c ounties. L ongworth w as g ranted b y E adwig t o a l ayman i n 9 58 i n a c harter e xtant i n t he A bingdon a rchive; i t i s a lso n amed i n t wo s purious c onfirmatory c harters o f A bingdon r elating t o v arious e states, a nd w as o wned b y t he m onastery i n 1 066 ( S654 ; S 567, 6 73 ; D B B erkshire , p . 7 .39). A ll o f t he s econd g roup ( but n one o f t he f irst) a lso a ppear i n a nother d ubious p ancarta i n C oenwulf 's n ame ( S183), a nd t hree o f t hem , G oosey, C ulham a nd G inge, a lso o ccur i n o ther s purious c harters

1 86

c laiming t hese e states f or A bingdon ( Coosey: S 567, 6 73 ; C ulham : S 184; G inge: S 93, 5 67, 6 73). D enchworth , C ulham a nd L eckhamstead w ere i n l ay h ands i n t he t enth c entury ( Denchworth : S 529, 6 57, 6 87; C ulham : S 460 ; L eckhamstead : S 491, 6 65, 1 404), a nd D enchworth a nd G inge a re t he s ubjects o f t enth-century g rants t o A bingdon ( Denchworth : S 733; G inge : S 583). S unningwell , D ry S andford, G inge a nd L eckhamstead w ere i ncluded i n A bingdon 's D omesday e ndowment ( DB B erkshire , p p. 7 .11, 7 .9, 7 .45, 4 6, 7 .14). I t i s s carcely p ossible t hat t his c harter i s g enuine a s i t s tands. T here i s n o a uthentic i nstance o f a p ancarta o f t he e arly n inth c entury, a nd t he p robability i s t hat a g enuine c harter o f C oenwulf, w hich m ay o r m ay n ot h ave o riginally r elated t o A bingdon, h as b een a dapted a t a l ater d ate t o c reate a r ecord o f e states w hich t he m onastery w as b elieved t o o wn o r w hich i t w ished t o c laim . S uch c harters a s t his m ay h ave b een d rawn u p i n c onnection w ith e fforts t o r e-establish t he h ouse a nd a cquire p roperties f or i t i n t he t enth c entury.

S 184 D ugdale 1 817,

p . 5 14, n o . 7 .

A c harter i n t he n ame o f C oenwulf o f M ercia r ecording a g rant o f l and a t C ulham i n O xfordshire t o A bingdon w as n ot i ncluded b y e ither o f t he c artularists b ut s urvives i n a n i nspeximus c opy i n t he C harter a nd P atent R olls a nd i s a lso t ranscribed i n a f ourteenth-century m anus cript , C hatsworth 7 1 E . T he d ocument s eems t o b e af abrication . M uch o f t he w ording a ppears t o h ave b een d rafted i n t he t enth c entury. T he l and i s d escribed a s ' quandam r un s m ei p ortionem , i d e st, q uindecim m ansas i n l oco q ui a r uricolis n uncupatur C ullanhamme'; t he w ords r us, m ansa a nd n uncupare a re a ll c haracteristic o f t enthc entury w riting . T he e state i s g ranted ' cum o mnibus u tilitatibus a d e ar n p ertinentibus, t am i n m agnis q uam i n m odicis r ebus ', t he l ast p hrase i s v ery c ommon i n t he t enth-century c harters , a nd u tilitatibus a lso s eems t o b e at enth-century u sage ( S619, 6 38, e tc.; S 622). T he l ist o f t he c omponents o f t he e state i s u nusual i n i ncluding ' derivativis q ue c ursibus a quarum ', a p hrase w hich r ecurs i n a c harter o f E adgar ( S715). T he i mmunity b egins ' Sit a utem p raedictum j us l iberum a b o mni r egali o bstaculo ..', a w ording c ommon i n t enthc entury c harters ( S619, 6 04, 7 15, e tc.). T he s anction i s d uplicated a lmost w ord f or w ord i n c harters o f E adgar e xtant a t A bingdon a nd e lsewhere ( S701, 7 17, 7 18, e tc.). T he d ating c lause b egins ' Karaxata e st a utem c artula ..' w hich i s aw ording u sed r egularly i n t enthc entury c harters. O ther s ections o f t he t ext, w hile n ot i dentifiable s tylistically a s t he w riting o f a l ater a ge , a re r evealed a s s purious b y t heir c ontent. C oenwulf i s s aid t o m ake t he g rant a t t he r equest o f h is s isters ' Keneswyth e t B urgevilde ' w ho c hose t o b e b uried a t t he m onastery o f A bingdon. T his s entence i s e vidently c onnected w ith a

1 87

s tory t old i n t he n arrative o f t he c hronicle-cartulary : C oenwulf's s isters ( who a re n ot n amed h ere) d ecided, w ith h is p ermission , t o r emain u nmarried i n o rder t o s erve G od, a nd C oenwulf g ave t hem C ulham w ith r eversion t o A bingdon w here t hey w ere t o b e b uried , t he e state b eing s ubject t o t he a bbot o f A bingdon a nd f ree f rom a ll o ther a uthority ( Stevenson , A bingdon C hron., V ol. 1 , p p. 1 8-20). I t i s p ossible t hat t his s tory o riginated i n ag enuine c harter o f C oenwulf, n ot n ow e xtant, g ranting l and t o w omen n amed C yneswith a nd B urhhild, w ho m ay h ave b een h is s isters , b ut t he r eference i n t he p resent c harter w as p robably a dded b y aw riter o f l ater d ate w ho k new t he s tory, o r a v ersion o f i t, a nd u sed i t t o p rovide s ome l ocal c olour. M embers o f C oenwulf's f amily a re i n f act m ore l ikely t o h ave b een b uried a t W inchcombe. T he l and i s s aid t o b e f ree n ot o nly f rom t he e xactions o f k ings a nd t heir m inistri b ut a lso f rom t hose o f b ishops a nd t heir o fficiales, a nd i ts i nhabitants a re t o b e s ubject t o n o-one b ut t he a bbot o f A bingdon . T his d iffers n oticeably f rom t he u sual c ontent o f i mmunities i n c harters o f C oenwulf, a nd i ts e mphasis o n t he a bbot's a uthority, w hich i s a lso a f eature o f t he c hronicle-cartulary's n arrative o f C oenwulf 's s isters , t ends t o s uggest t he p reoccupations o f a l ater a ge. T he c harter i s d ated i nconsistently 8 21 ( that i s t he 2 5th o r 2 6th r egnal y ear) a nd egnal y ear ( that i s 8 06/7). M iscopying o f 1th r e ither f igure s eems u nlikely a s t he d iscrepancies a re s o l arge , a nd o ne o f t hem m ay h ave b een m iscalculated b y aw riter o f l ater d ate . S ome o f t he w itnesses c ould n ot a ppear i n a n a uthentic c harter o f C oenwulf 's n ame. C yniberht, b ishop o f W inchester, d ied n ot l ater t han 8 03 ( B312, a ttested b y h is s uccessor); O da w as b ishop o f R amsbury i n t he t enth c entury ( Page 1 966, p p. 1 4, 2 4; S 407, e tc.); W orr, b ishop o f L ichfield, d ied i n 7 37 ( Historia R egum s .a . 7 37); t wo o ther w itnesses , ' Wyothrican p rimicer(ius)' a nd ' Willap n ot(arius)' a ppear t o h ave b een b orrowed f rom a p apal d ocument a s t hese t itles w ere u sed i n t he p apal c hancery b ut n ot i n E ngland ( Except t hat t he r eport o f t he C ouncil o f H ertford i n 6 72 w as w ritten b y ' Titillo n otario ': H E I V 5 ). T he o ther f our n ames a re q uite a cceptable i n a c harter o f C oenwulf: t he k ing h imself; q ueen Alfthryth ( 'Eldreda '); t he k ing 's s on , C ynehelm ( 'Kenelmus'); a nd b ishop W igberht o f S herborne . M oreo ver, w hile t he n ames o f C oenwulf a nd W igberht m ight h ave b een b orrowed f rom n arrative s ources, a nd C ynehelm c ould w ell b e k nown t o aw riter o f l ater d ate b ecause o f t he c ult o f ' St. K enelm ', t he n ame o f A2fthryth a lmost c ertainly o riginated i n a c harter o f C oenwulf's r eign . T his, h owever, i s t he o nly d etail i n t he e xtant t ext o f w hich t his c an b e s aid . Af ew c lauses, s uch a s t he i nvocation a nd t he r eference t o t he c onsent o f w itnesses, c onsist o f s tandard f ormulas w hich c ontinued i n u se o ver a l ong p eriod o f t ime a nd c ould t herefore h ave b een e mployed e qually b y aw riter o f C oenwulf's t ime o r af orger . B ut n o f eature o ther t han t he q ueen 's n ame c an b e d escribed a s p eculiar t o, o r c haracteristic o f, t he e arly n inth c entury, a nd t he a nachronisms a nd o ddities d etailed a bove a ccount f or m ost o f t he t ext . F urthermore , t he f act t hat t he i dentifiably t enth-century p ortions o f t he c harter i nclude t he a ccount o f t he e state s trongly s uggests t hat t he a uthor d id n ot b egin w ith a g rant b y C oenwulf o f t his l and, s ince h e w ould t hen p resumably h ave c opied o ut t he t ext b efore h im , a t l east i n p art, r ather t han d eliberately o bliterate e very w ord o f i t b y r e-writing. T he o ther c harter i n C oenwulf's n ame d iscussed a bove a ppears t o b e

1 88

b ased o n a n a uthentic c harter , a nd t he n ame o f t he q ueen m ay h ave b een b orrowed f rom t hat d ocument . T he p resent c harter, h owever , a ppears t o b e af abrication. T he e state a t C ulham i s n amed i n b oth t he s purious p ancartae i n t he n ame o f C oenwulf a nd i s a lso t he s ubject o f a g rant b y k ing E admund t o h is k inswoman 2 Elfhild i n 9 40, n ow s urviving i n t he A bingdon c artulary ( S166, 1 83, 4 60). C ulham i s n ot n amed i n D omesday B ook, a nd i t i s n ot c ertain w hether A bingdon a cquired t he l and w ith t he c harter o r w hether t he l atter w as d eposited b y a l ay p erson f or s afekeeping. N or i s a nything k nown o f t he h istory o f t he e state b efore E admund 's g rant . T he c harter i n C oenwulf's n ame s uggests t hat A bingdon w ished t o e stablish a c laim t o t he e state i n t he t enth c entury o r l ater , b ut t he d ocument p rovides n o e vidence f or t he n inth c entury.

S 183 B .L ., C otton C laudius B v i, f os. 9 v-10r. ( Edition :

B 366)

A g eneral g rant o f p rivileges t o A bingdon i ncorporating a l ong l ist o f e states o wned b y t he h ouse s urvives i n b oth c artularies . T he d ocument a ppears t o b e s purious a s i t s tands a lthough b ased o n a n a uthentic c harter o f C oenwulf. T he d ating c lause i s p laced a t t he b eginning o f t he d ocument i mmediately a fter t he i nvocation a nd i ncludes a n i ndiction ( 13th) a s w ell a s a n i ncarnational y ear, w hile a r egnal y ear ( 25th) i s m entioned a t t he b eginning o f t he d ispositio . A ll t hree a re c onsistent a nd d ate t he d ocument t o t he l ast y ear o f C oenwulf 's r eign, 8 21. T he s pelling o f t he k ing 's n ame i n t he d ispositio , ' Coenulfus e, s uggests a n e arly e xemplar. T he o pening c lauses o f t he t ext t herefore h ave e very a ppearance o f a uthenticity . A nother s ection o f t he e xtant t ext s imilarly a ppears t o d erive f rom a g enuine c harter o f t he r eign ; t he w ording o f t he i mmunity r esembles t hat i n a uthentic c harters o f C oenwulf 's s uccessors , i ncluding o ne d ocument w hich d ates f rom t he f ollowing y ear: S 183:

n ec r ex s uum p astum r equirat u el h abentes h omines q uos n os d icimus f estigmen n ec e os q ui a ccipitres p ortant u el f alcones u el c aballos d ucunt s iue c anes ':

S 186:

' liberabo a b o mni s ervitute s ecularium r erum a p astu r egis e piscopis p rincipum s eu p refectum e xactorum d ucorum c anorum v el e quorum s eu a ccipitrum a b r efectione e t h abitu i llorum o mnium q ui d icuntur f aestingmen ';

S 190 :

' liberabo a p astu r egis 7 p rincipum 7 a b o mni c onstructione r egalis v ille e t ad ifficultate i lla q uam n os s axonice f eastingmenn d icimus';

S 207:

' liberam a p astu o mnium a cciptrum e t f alconum

1 89

O ther p arts o f t he c harter , h owever, a ppear d ubious. C oenwulf i s s aid t o g rant p rivileges t o A bingdon a t t he r equest o f p ope L eo a nd b ishop H raethun. T here h ad b een c orrespondence b etween C oenwulf a nd p ope L eo II e arlier i n t he r eign r egarding t he a bolition o f t he I a rchiepiscopal s ee o f L ichfield a nd o ther m atters , a nd L eo i ssued p rivileges f or m onasteries w ith w hich C oenwulf w as c onnected ( See t he d iscussion o f D A , p p. 1 08-10). I t w as b elieved a t A bingdon i n t he l ate t enth c entury t hat C oenwulf , L eo a nd H r 2ethun w ere a ll i nvolved i n t he s ecuring o f p rivileges f or A bingdon ( S876 ; S tenton 1 913 , p . 8 ). B ut t he t ransaction r eported i n t his c harter s eems t o b e b ased o n k nowledge o r t raditions o f t his b ackground, a nd n ot o n a ctual e vents : p ope L eo d ied i n 8 16 a nd c ould n ot t herefore b e a ctively i nvolved i n a c ontract o f 8 21; n or i s i t l ikely t hat t he p ope w hould h ave r equested t he k ing t o g rant p rivileges -the r equest w ould h ave b een m ade b y t he k ing t o t he p ope. H raethun w as c ertainly l iving a t t his t ime, b ut i t i s n ot v ery l ikely t hat h e w ould h ave b een a cting o n b ehalf o f a c ommunity o f w hich h e w as n o l onger a m ember a nd w ould a ctually h ave b een c ited a s j oint b eneficiary: ' Rethunum u enerabilem e piscopum u t s ibimet u el s uis p ropinquis s eu i psa f amilia q ue h abitat i n m onasterio q ue s ita e st i n A bbandune '. B ishops a re n ot e lsewhere c ited i n a uthentic e arly c harters a s i f s till e ffectively h eads o f t he h ouses t hey h ad r uled a s a bbots. T he i mmunity m onastery,

i s s aid t o a pply t o a ll t he e states

c um r ebus m obilibus e t i nmobilibus i n i gnotis i n m odicis e t i n m agnis'.

n otis

o wned

b y

t he

c ausis e t

I n a uthentic c harters o f t his p eriod s uch p hrases w ere u sually u sed, n ot o f p roperty, b ut o f t he o bligations f rom w hich i mmunities w ere g ranted: S 173 :

S 180: S 190 :

' liberabo p redictam m agnis v el m odicis';

t erram a n otis

s ervitutibus m odicis e t m agnis , Tl iberamus i gnotis'.

a

m odicis

e t

c ausis 7 i gnotis a

n otis i gnotis';

am agnis

c ausis a n otis

T he w ording o f t his c harter t herefore s eems s uspect, a dapted f rom a g enuine c harter.

p erhaps

e t

i neptly

E xceptions f rom t he i mmunity a re s tated i n u nusual t erms, a nd t he o bligation o f m ilitary s ervice i s r estricted t o ' Expeditionem c um . x ii . u asallis e t c um t antis s cutis '. B rooks h as p ut f orward a t entative d efense o f t his p rovision o n t he g rounds t hat ' it s uggests a p rimitive a rmy a nd i s m ore l ikely t o b e t he w ork o f ap re-Conquest t han a 1 2thc entury f orger ( cited i n E CTV , n o. 1 8). M oreover , t here i s a s imilar p rovision i n a nother d ocument o f t his r eign : a n e ndorsement a dded t o a c harter o f O ffa ( S106) i n 8 01 r efers t o a n o bligation o f m ilitary s ervice w hich i s l imited t o 5m en ( Gillingham 1 981, p . 6 2). T his

1 90

d etail m ay t herefore b e g enuine. B ut m uch o f t he w ording o f t his c harter d oes n ot r esemble t hat o f a uthentic c harters o f t he p eriod, a nd a ppears m ore l ikely t o r epresent t he w ork o f af orger . T here i s n o w itness l ist.

2 5 e states a re n amed i n t his c harter a s t he p roperty o f A bingdon i n 8 21. O f t hese 1 5 w ere i n t he p ossession o f t he m onastery i n t he t enth a nd/or e leventh c entury, a nd 1 o f t he 1 5 c an b e s hown t o h ave c ome i nto A bingdon 's p ossession i n t he t enth o r e leventh c entury. C harney, W atchfield, L eckhamstead, B oxford a nd W elford a re t he s ubjects o f t enth-century g rants t o l ay b eneficiaries r ecorded i n c harters s urviving i n t he A bingdon a rchive a nd w ere o wned b y A bingdon i n 1 066 ( S651; S 413; S 491; S 577, 6 87, 7 61; S 552, 6 22. D B B erkshire, p p. 7 .40, 3 6, 1 4 , 1 3); t he r ecords o f g rants t o l aymen w ere p robably a cquired w ith t he e states. K ennington , C umnor, G inge , D enchworth , C rux E aston a nd H inskey w ere a ll g ranted t o A bingdon i tself d uring t he t enth c entury, a nd t he f irst t hree w ere s till o wned i n 1 066 ( S1292, 7 57, 5 83, 7 33, 6 89, 6 63. D B B erkshire, p p. 7 .11, 1 , 4 , 4 5). S unningwell, D ry S andford, G oosey a nd B essels L eigh w ere a ll A bingdon p roperties i n 1 066, b ut t he d ates w hen t hese w ere a cquired a re u nknown ( DB B erkshire , p. 7 .11, 9 , 2 3, 2 0). T he r emaining 1 0 e states c annot b e s hown t o h ave p b een t he p roperty o f A bingdon a t a ny t ime. N one o f t hem w as o wned b y A bingdon i n 1 066 o r 1 086. F ernham , S hrivenham , B ourton, W ickham , S peen, P oughley a nd T rindlaeh a ppear i n n o o ther p re-Conquest c harter . E aton o ccurs i n o nly o ne o ther c harter , t he o ther p ancarta i n t he n ame o f C oenwulf d iscussed a bove ; a nd C ulham a nd W ootton w ere g ranted t o l ay b eneficiaries i n t enth-century c harters w hich s urvive i n t he A bingdon a rchive, b ut m ay s imply h ave b een d eposited t here f or s afe-keeping ( S460, 8 58). I t i s u nlikely t hat A bingdon w ould h ave a ttempted a t a ny t ime a fter 1 086 t o l ay c laim t o s o m any e states w hich d id n ot a ppear a s p art o f t he m onastery 's e ndowment i n D omesday B ook, a nd t his c harter , t herefore, w as p robably d rawn u p i n i ts p resent f orm a t s ome e arlier d ate . I t i s n ot, h owever, p robable t hat i t w as w ritten a s e arly a s t he n inth c entury. T here i s n o a uthentic e xample o f a c omparable p ancarta a t s uch a n e arly d ate, a nd t he l ands l isted h ere s eem t o r elate t o t he m onastery's e ndowment a s i t s tood i n t he t enth c entury. I t i s n ot i mpossible t hat s ome o f t he e states a cquired i n t he t enth a nd e leventh c enturies h ad a ctually b een o wned b y A bingdon i n e arlier y ears a nd a lienated i n t he d ays o f t he m onastery 's d ecline, b ut i t i s s carcely c redible t hat o f 2 5 e states p urporting t o r epresent A bingdon 's e arly n inth-century e ndowment, 1 5 s hould h ave b een r ecovered a c entury o r m ore l ater a fter p assing t hrough r oyal, a nd i n m any c ases a lso l ay , h ands, a nd s hould a ll h ave t he s ame n ames i n 8 21 a s t hey d id i n l ater c enturies. T his c harter s eems t o b e s purious a s i t s tands, a nd t he t ransaction i t p urports t o r ecord, a g eneral g rant o f p rivileges f or a ll t he e states o wned b y A bingdon i n 8 21, i s a lmost c ertainly i maginery. T he a uthor d oes s eem t o h ave b ased h is w ork o n a n a uthentic c harter o f C oenwulf, b ut t he o riginal c ontent o f t hat c harter i s n ow u nknown. I t m ay h ave b een a g rant o f i mmunity, a s B rooks s uggests ( ECTV , n o. 1 8), o r m ay h ave b een g rant o f l and t o A bingdon o r s ome

1 91

M odern N ame

E state

C ulanhom

C ulham , O xfordshire

C henigtun

K ennington

H engesteseig

H inksey

C umanora

C umnor

E armundel2eh

( ?)

E atun

E aton

S uniggayelle

S unningwell

S ondford

D ry S andford

› dtun

W ootton

G 2eging

G inge

D eincesru l 2

D enchworth

C eornei

C harney

G ooseg

G oosey

F 2erhom

F ernha i n

pethenesfeld

W atchfield

S criuenanhom

S hrivenham

B urgtuum

B ourton

L aehhamstede

L eckhamstead

B oxora

B oxford

p ielingford

W elford

W icham

W ickham

S pene

S peen

y ohanlaeh

P oughley

B essels L eigh

T rindlzeh E astun

C rux E aston , H ampshire

T he e states a re i n B erkshire u nless o therwise s tated

o ther b eneficiary.

S 278 B .L ., C otton C laudius B v i, ( Edition :

f os.

1 1v-12v.

B 413)

A c harter i n t he n ame o f E cgberht o f W essex r ecording a g rant o f p roperty a nd p rivileges t o A bingdon i s c ertainly s purious a s i t s tands, a nd s eems u nlikely t o h ave a ny a uthentic b asis , a lthough a f ew d etails i n i t m ay d erive f rom a n a uthentic c harter. S ome p arts o f t he t ext a re d uplicated a lmost w ord f or w ord i n t he s econd p ancarta i n t he n ame o f C oenwulf d iscussed a bove ( S183). T he i nvocation i s t he s ame a nd t he d ating c lause i s w orded i n t he s ame w ay a lthough t he a ctual d ates a re d ifferent . Ar egnal y ear i s g iven i n t he d ispositio , t he s ame p hrase b eing u sed, ' anno i mperii n ostri '. T he i mmunity i s d uplicated i n t he p assage w hich b egins ' Et s ic m andamus ..' a nd e nds ' ... c um s implo p recio c omponat ', a nd t he s anction a lso a grees w ord f or w ord. T his c harter i s d ated 8 35, 1 4 y ears l ater t han t he d ate g iven i n t he c harter o f C oenwulf. I t c annot b e s aid t o b e i mpossible t hat s omeone d rawing u p ac harter i n 8 35 u sed a c harter o f 8 21 a s am odel, b ut e vidence f or t his s ort o f p ractice a t t his d ate i s l acking, a nd i t s eems m ore l ikely t hat a w riter o f m uch l ater d ate h as b orrowed t hese c lauses f rom o ne c harter w hile f abricating t he o ther. P arallels f or t hese c lauses o ccur, a s d etailed a bove , i n M ercian c harters, w hich t ends t o s uggests t hat t hey o riginated i n ac harter o f C oenwulf. B ut , i f A bingdon w ere a M ercian m onastery a t t his d ate a s t he e vidence t ends t o s uggest, a c harter o f E cgberht w ritten t here w ould p robably r eflect M ercian p ractice, j ust a s n inth-century c harters w ritten i n K ent f ollow t he t raditions o f K entish d iplomatic, i rrespective o f w hether t he d onors w ere K entish , M ercian o r W est S axon ( Brooks 1 984, p p. 3 27-330). I t i s t herefore i mpossible t o b e c ertain w here t hese c lauses o riginated. F ollowing t he d uplicated i mmunity a re s everal m ore c lauses d etailing o bligations f rom w hich t he b eneficiary i s t o b e i mmune a nd s etting o ut h ow t he p rofits o r j ustice a re t o b e d istributed. T here i s n o p arallel f or t his p assage i n a ny g enuine e arly c harter , a nd i t a ppears t o b e e ntirely s purious. S tenton a rgued t hat t he p assage w as t he w ork o f a p ost-Conquest w riter o n t he g rounds t hat t he p hrase tP retium q uoque s anguinis p eregrinorum i d e st w ergeld ' m ust h ave b een w ritten b y s omeone a cquainted w ith t he N orman c oncept o f m urder ( Stenton 1 913, p . 3 0). B ut i t s eems p ossible t hat t he r eference i s b ased o n A nglo-Saxon l aw : t he l aws o f I ne , f or e xample, p rovide f or t he d ivision o f t he w ergild o f af oreigner w ho i s s lain b etween t he k ing a nd a nother i nterested p arty , w ho m ight b e a n a bbot o r a bbess ( Laws o f I ne, 2 3, 2 3.1, 2 3.2: A ttenborough , L aws , p . 4 2). T he d ocument m ay t herefore h ave b een d rawn u p i n i ts p resent f orm b efore t he C onquest, a lthough i t c an s carcely d ate f rom t he r eign o f E cgberht.

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A f ew f eatures o f t he c harter c ould b e a uthentic a nd s uggest t he p ossibility t hat t he c ompiler m ade u se o f a g enuine c harter o f E cgberht; b ut n one o f t hese c an b e s aid t o e stablish t he u se o f s uch a c harter b eyond d oubt. A ll t he s tatements o f d ate a re c onsistent a nd i ndicate 8 35. T he g rant i s s aid t o h ave b een m ade a t D orchester a t E aster a nd c onfirmed a t C hristmas, w hich i s n ot a l ikely i nvention , a nd r esembles a d ating c lause o f E cgberht's r eign p reserved a t W inchester, w hich r ecords t he c ompletion o f a c ontract i n t wo s tages, 1 9th A ugust a nd 2 6th D ecember ( S272, 2 73). T he w itness l ist a ppears t o b e s ubstantially g enuine a nd f its t his d ate . T he w itnesses a re E cgberht h imself; Athelwulf, d escribed a s ' filius r egis '; b ishops E alhstan o f S herborne , H rzethun o f L eicester a nd C ynered o f S elsey; a bbots W ulflaf a nd E adwald w ho a re o therwise u nknown ; a nd e aldormen W ulfheard w ho d ied i n 8 40, O smod w ho d ied i n 8 36, a nd W igfrith w ho w as a ctive f rom 7 57 o nwards ( ASC s .a. 8 40, 8 36; S 96), a nd w ho , a lone o f t hese w itnesses , c ould n ot a ppear i n a c harter o f t his d ate , u nless a nother W igfrith , o therwise u nrecorded, i s m eant. T he r est o f t he l ist a ppears t o b e a uthentic. A f orger c ould h ave b orrowed m any o f t hese n ames f rom t he C hronicle; b ishop H reethun w as k nown t o A bingdon t radition ; a nd t he t wo a bbots m ight h ave b een t aken f rom a c harter o f s ome o ther p eriod. B ut b ishop C ynered a ppears i n n o n arrative s ource , a nd w as c ertainly a ctive a t t his d ate : h e w as c onsecrated n ot l ater t han 8 24 a nd w as a t t he s ynod a et A stran i n 8 39 ( S1434, 1 438). H is n ame t herefore s trongly s uggests t hat t he l ist i s s ubstantially g enuine a nd d erives f rom a n a uthentic c harter o f c . 8 35. T his m ay h ave b een a c harter o f E cgberht, b ut t here a re o ther p ossibilities, f or e xample t hat t he c ompiler a dapted a s ynodal w itness l ist, o r t hat t he w itness l ist w as a ppended t o a M ercian c harter t o r ecord E cgberht's c onfirmation o f a n e arlier t ransaction. T he d ispositio r ecords t hat E cgberht g rants ' monasterium i llud M ercham q uinquaginta m anentium a d A bbendune'. I f t he a uthor's i ntent ion w ere t o d escribe M archam , B erkshire , a s am onastery, t his w ould b e a p oint i n f avour o f t he c harter, a s i t i s n ot r ecorded a s s uch e lsewhere a nd s uch a d etail i s n ot l ikely t o h ave b een i nvented. B ut t he L atin i s n ot c lear, a nd i t m ay b e t hat t he p hrase w as i ntended t o r efer t o A bingdon . A ll t hat i s k nown f or c ertain a bout t he e arly h istory o f M archam i s t hat i t w as g ranted t o A bingdon b y E adgar i n 9 65 a nd w as s till o wned b y t he m onastery i n 1 066 ( S734; D B B erkshire , p . 7 .17). T he s tory o f ag rant b y E cgberht t o A bingdon r ecurs i n a s purious c harter i n t he W inchester c artulary ( S358). T his d ocument i ncorporates a n arrative s tating t hat E cgberht p urchased 5 0 h ides a t H urstbourne ( Hampshire) f rom b ishop H reethun ( MS ' Abelred u no e piscopo ' f or ' a R ethuno e piscopo '; F inberg 1 964, p . 1 34) a nd h is f amilia a t A bingdon , a nd g ave i n e xchange 5 0 h ides a t M ercham ; E cgberht b equeathed H urstbourne t o Athelwulf, a nd h e l eft i t t o _ Alfred f or l ife w ith r eversion t o W inchester ; E dward t he E lder i s n ow s aid t o c onfirm W inchester 's o wnership. A nother s purious W inchester c harter p rovides a r ather d ifferent a ccount o f t he e arlier h istory o f t he e state a t H urstbourne, b ut a grees w ith t he f irst i n a sserting t hat W inchester a cquired t he l and f rom Alfred ( S354). I t a ppears t hat t he p urpose o f t hese t wo c harters w as t o s trengthen W inchester 's c laim t o H urstbourne,

1 94

p robably H urstbourne P riors w hich t he c ommunity Alfred a nd w hich t hey s till h eld i n 1 066 ( S1507; 3 .6).

d id a cquire f rom D B H ampshire , p .

T he n arrative o f t he f irst c harter a lso s eems d esigned t o e stablish t hat A bingdon d id n ot h ave a c laim t o t he l and, w hich t ends t o s uggest t hat s ome c laim o n A bingdon 's p art h ad b een m ade. A bingdon a cquired H urstbourne T arrant f rom E adgar i n 9 61, a nd h eld i t u ntil c . 9 75 w hen i t w as t aken b ack i nto r oyal p ossession ( S689, 9 37). B oth H urstbournes a ppear i n p re—Conquest d ocuments s imply a s ' Hissaburna ', a nd i t m ay b e t hat s ome c onfusion h ad a risen a s t o w ho o wned w hat. T he a uthor o f t he f irst W inchester c harter, w ho c ited b ishop H raethun a s t he h ead o f t he A bingdon c ommunity w as e vidently a cquainted w ith i naccurate A bingdon t raditions c oncerning t his m an . A nd c lose c ontacts b etween A bingdon a nd W inchester c an r easonably b e p ostulated d uring j ust t he p eriod w hen A bingdon o wned H urstbourne T arrant, s ince a t t hat t ime t he c ommunity o f n ewly r eformed O ld M inster c onsisted o f m onks f rom A bingdon ( Winterbottom , T hree S aints, p . 4 4). I t s eems p ossible t hat A bingdon 's a cquisition o f M archam i n 9 65 w as c onnected w ith t he s ettlement o f a d ispute w ith W inchester c oncerning H urstbourne, A bingdon p erhaps r eceiving M archam i n c onsideration o f g iving u p a ny c laim t o H urstbourne P riors. U nfortunately t he e vidence p rovides n o c lear i nformation a bout t he e arlier h istory o f M archam , b ut i t t ends t o s uggest t hat t he a lleged g rant o f E cgberht w as d esigned t o s upport a l ater c laim , j ust a s W inchester 's s purious H urstbourne c harters s eem t o h ave b een . Ag rant b y E cgberht t o A bingdon i s n ot i mpossible : s uch a g rant m ight h ave b een m ade d uring t he b rief p eriod o f E cgberht's m ilitary s uccesses a gainst M ercia . B ut t his c harter c an s carcely b e c ited a s e vidence f or E cgberht's r eign.

( c)

C onclusions

W hat p urports t o b e t he o ldest e xtant A bingdon c harter , t he f ragment i n t he n ame o f C eadwalla , a ppears t o b e w holly s purious a nd m ay b e d isregarded. T he r emaining c harters r elating t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39 f all i nto t hree d istinct g roups . F irstly c harters o f t he l ate s eventh o r e arly e ighth c entury, s ome o f t hem s purious , w hich r epresent t he d ocumentation o f am onastery a t B radfield i n B erkshire , s ome 1 5 m iles f rom A bingdon. S econdly, t wo c harters r ecording g rants b y B eorhtric o f W essex t o l aymen , w hich a re e vidence f or t he h istory o f W essex a nd t he d evelopment o f c harter—writing i n t hat r eign , b ut h ave n othing t o d o w ith A bingdon i n t his p eriod . A nd f inally f our c harters o f t he e arly n inth c entury, a ll s purious a s t hey s tand, b ut a ll p urporting t o r elate t o A bingdon i tself a nd r epresenting t he h ouse a s a M ercian e stablishment. T he e vidence o f t he f irst g roup o f c harters e stablishes t hat F i l eha , a W est S axon n obleman c ontemporary w ith I ne a nd p ossibly a k insman o f t he k ing , e stablished a m onastery o n a n e state o f 4 5 h ides c omprising B radfield , B asildon a nd S treatley i n B erkshire , a nd l ater k nown s imply a s B radfield. T he l and w as g iven i nitially b y t he o bscure E adfrith , s on o f I ddi, b ut l ater r estored o r c onfirmed b y I ne. 1 1eha b ecame a bbot o f h is n ew f oundation , w hich m ay h ave b een a f amily m onastery a s h is s ister , C eolswith , a pparently a l aywoman, w as j oint

1 95

o wner o f t he e state. T he m onastery w as f ounded s ome t ime b etween 6 88 a nd 7 04 , a nd t here i s s ome r eason t o b elieve t hat i t r eceived f urther g rants o f l and f rom C eonred , t he f ather o f I ne, a nd f rom k ing Athilred o f M ercia , a nd p ossibly a lso f rom Athilbald o f M ercia . S ituated n ear t he b order, i t m ay w ell h ave r eceived p atronage f rom b oth k ingdoms, a s t he e arly M almesbury d id. T here i s n o e vidence f or t he e xistence o f t he h ouse l ater t han t he e arly e ighth c entury, a lthough i t i s, o f c ourse , q uite p ossible t hat i t s urvived f or m any m ore y ears . M embers o f t he A bingdon c ommunity, a ttempting a t m uch l ater d ates t o w rite t he h istory o f t heir h ouse, a ssumed t hat t he B radfield d ocumentation r elated t o A bingdon i tself, a nd r epresented H eeha a s A bingdon 's f ounder. T he f act t hat t hey d id s o s uggests t hat t he d ocumentation w as t he e arliest t hey p ossessed, a nd t hat t here w ere n o c harters o f t his p eriod r elating t o A bingdon . T here i s n o e vidence f or am onastery a t A bingdon a s e arly a s t he s eventh o r e ighth c entury. T he f our c harters d ated t o t he e arly n inth c entury a ppear t o b e b ased o n o ne o r m ore a uthentic M ercian c harters o f t his p eriod. B ecause o f t he d ubious n ature o f t he e xtant t exts, a ny c onclusions b ased o n t hem c an o nly b e r egarded a s p ossibilities . T he c harters d o n ot e stablish a ny c ertainties , b ut t hey s uggest t hat t he m onastery a t A bingdon w as f ounded n ot l ater t han 8 16 , t hat H reethun , l ater b ishop o f L eicester , w as a bbot o f t he h ouse , a nd t hat i t w as a M ercian e stablishm ent . T his i s c onsistent w ith o ther e vidence f or t he a rea i n t his p eriod. I n 7 79 O ffa c aptured B ensington f rom C yniwulf o f W essex, a nd h e a lso a nnexed C ookham a nd m any o ther t owns, p robably a t m uch s ame 7 t ime ( ASC s .a . 79 ; S 1258). Ac harter o f 8 44 i ndicates t hat k ing B erhtwulf o f M ercia ' c ontrolled B erkshire a t t hat d ate ( S1271), a nd t he s hire w as p robably p art o f M ercia t hroughout t he f irst h alf o f t he n inth c entury, e xcept d uring E cgberht's b rief c onquest o f M ercia . I f t he m onastery e xisted b efore t he p eriod o f O ffa 's v ictories a gainst C yniwulf, i t w as p robably a W est S axon f oundation w hich l ater b ecame a M ercian h ouse , f ollowing t he c hange o f p ower i n t he a rea . B ut t here i s n o e vidence f or s uch e arlier e xistence , a nd t he h ouse m ay h ave b een f ounded b y M ercians i n t he l ate e ighth o r e arly n inth c entury. T he o nly a bsolutely i ncontrovertible e vidence f or i ts e xistence b efore t he t ime o f Athelwold i s Alfric's d escription o f t he ' monasteriolum n eglectum a c d estitutum ' ( Winterbottom , T hree S aints , p . 4 0) o n t he s ite a t A bingdon w here t he h ouse w as r efounded.

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5 .

M UCHELNEY

P age a )

I ntroduction

198

b )

harters T he C

1 98

S 2 40 2 44 176 1

c )

Ine, k ing, t o F roda , a bbot I ne, k ing ,

t o B eaga , m onk

198 201

B ealthun t o F roda, a bbot

204

2 49

I ne , k ing ,

204

2 61

C yniwulf, k ing , t o E adwald, a bbot, a nd M uchelney

t o F roda , a bbot a nd M uchelney

C onclusions

206

2 07

1 97

( a)

I ntroduction

T he p re-Conquest c harters o f t he S omerset m onastery o f M uchelney s urvive i n a c artulary o f t he l ate t hirteenth c entury ( Davis 1 958, n o. 6 85), a nd t he l atest o f t hem , ac harter o f Athelred I d ated 9 95 I ( S884), a lso s urvives a s a n o riginal . T he c artulary a nd t he s ingles heet c harter o f Athelred c ame t o l ight a t S avernake P ark t owards t he e nd o f t he l ast c entury, a nd t he c harters w ere e dited i n 1 899 f or t he S omerset R ecord S ociety b y t he R ev. E .H . B ates, w ho d ealt w ith a ll p ost-Conquest d ocuments, a nd M r . W .H . S tevenson , w ho w as r esponsible f or t he 9 p re-Conquest t exts ( Bates , M uchelney C art.). T he c artulary w as p urchased s everal y ears a go b y t he B ritish L ibrary w here i t i s n ow A dditional M anuscript 5 6488. T he s ingle-sheet c harter o f " ' Ethelred i s i n t he S omerset R ecord O ffice a t T aunton . T he m ain t ext o f t he c artulary, b eginning w ith 7 o f t he p reC onquest c harters a nd e nding w ith d ocuments r elating t o t he A ssize o f 1 280, i s w ritten b y a s ingle s cribe i n ac lear b ook-hand w ith r ubrics a dded i n r ed . T wo f urther e arly c harters a re a dded a t t he e nd o f t he m anuscript b y ad ifferent s cribe ( S244 , 1 176), a nd t here a re s ome o ther m iscellaneous a dditions. T he m edieval b inding s urvives, b ut s ome g atherings a re p artly d etached f rom i t, a nd t he c artulary i s a t p resent c lassified b y t he B ritish L ibrary a s a n u nbound m anuscript . T he t ext o f 2 Ethelred 's c harter d oes n ot d iffer s ignficantly i n t he c artulary v ersion ( Bates , M uchelney C art., p . 4 5 n . 1 ), s o i t a ppears t hat t he c artularist c opied h is e xemplars w ith r easonable a ccuracy.

( b)

T he C harters

T he M uchelney l isted b elow.

D ate

c harters r elating t o t he p eriod d own

D onor

t o

8 39

a re

B eneficiary

2 40

6 93

I ne, k ing

F roda , a bbot

2 44

7 02

I ne, k ing

B eaga, m onk

176 1

7 08

B öalthun

F roda , a bbot

2 49

7 25

I ne, k ing

F roda , a bbot,

1261

7 62

C yniwulf, k ing

E adwald, a bbot, a nd M uchelney

a nd M uchelney

S 240 B .L .,

A dditional 5 6488,

( Edition :

f os . 5 v-6r.

B ates , M uchelney C art., n o. 5 )

T his c urious d ocument i s n ot s imply a c harter b ut a ccount o f a c harter i n w hich t he t ext i s q uoted

1 98

i s a a fter

l ater s ome

i ntroductory m aterial. I t s eems l ikely t hat t he a uthor o f t his c omposite d ocument d id h ave a n a uthentic e arly c harter b efore h im , a nd t hat a s ubstantial p art o f t he t ext h e p resents i s a uthentic. T he d ocument b egins w ith a p assage r esembling a p roem w hich a sserts t he n eed f or w ritten r ecords, a nd t hen d educes f rom t his t hat i t i s n ecessary, ' gubernante d omino a tque i ubente p ontifice n ostro P eodi', t o c onfirm t he g rant m ade b y k ing I ne, ' rogante p atricio s uo U sibuco p recioque d ato ', t o a bbot F roda o f 4 0 h ides o f l and . T here f ollows a r ubric i ntroducing t he q uoted t ext o f t he c harter ; t he l atter i s d ated 6 93. T he a uthor m akes n o c laim t hat a ny p art o f t he i ntroductory p assage a ctually f orms p art o f I ne's c harter, a nd m uch o f i t i s c learly w ork o f a l ater d ate. T he ' proem ' i s u nlike t he l iteracy p roem c ommon a mong t he e arliest c harters, a nd o f c ourse m uch o f t he c ontent c ould n ot h ave o riginated i n a c harter. B ut t he a uthor 's b rief s ummary o f t he t ransaction m ay w ell p reserve s ome o f t he w ording a s w ell a s t he c ontent o f ac harter o f I ne. T he n ame o f t he p atricius i s b lundered a nd i t i s i mpossible t o d educe w hat n ame t he s urviving f orm i s b ased o n , b ut t he r eference t o h is r equest i s p robably g enuine a s t here i s a p arallel i n a nother s eventh-century c harter: S 240:

r ogante p atricio s ui U sibuco ';

S 71:

r ogatus a p atricio m eo e t p ropinquo m eo C enfritho'.

T he t itle p atricius i s u sed b y o ther e arly w riters ( e.g. S 252; E hwald, p . 5 03), b ut a pparently f ell o ut o f u se b y t he n inth c entury ( Stenton 1 913 , p . 1 2; T hacker 1 981, p . 2 20). T he r eference t o a p rice b eing p aid i s u nusual i n a n e arly W est S axon c ontext, b ut t here a re p arallels i n e arly c harters f rom e astern E ngland ( S9, 1 785). A bbot F roda 's n ame c ould h ave b een b orrowed f rom a nother c harter i n t he M uchelney a rchive ( S1176), b ut c ould w ell b e g enuine; h e i s r ecorded a s a bbot i n 7 04 a nd 7 08 ( S245, 1 176), a nd i t i s q uite p lausible t hat h e s hould h ave b een a ppointed b y 6 93. T he d escription o f t he e state i s p recisely w hat c ould b e e xpected i n a n e arly c harter: ' id e st a liquam p artem t erre i n q uadraginta c asatos '. A nother d etail w hich m ight d erive f rom I ne's c harter i s t he n ame o f t he b ishop, 9 Peodi l . T he t ext a ctually c onnects h im w ith t he l ater c onfirmation , n ot t he o riginal t ransaction , b ut t he a uthor p robably d id n ot i ntend t hat t he c onfirmation s hould a ppear t o d ate f rom h is o wn t ime , w hich m ay w ell h ave b een h undreds o f y ears a fter t he d ate o f I ne's c harter, a nd h e w ould s carcely h ave p roduced t his b lundered n ame f orm i f h is i ntention w as t o r efer t o ab ishop w ho w as a c ontemporary o f h is o wn . T he n ame c ould w ell d erive f rom a s ubscription o r r eference t o e piscopal c onsent i n I ne 's c harter. S tevenson s uggested t hat t he n ame w as m eant f or T heodore ( Bates, M uchelney C art., p . 4 6 n . 1 ), b ut i t s eems m ore l ikely t hat i t w as H aeddi: c apital l etters a re o ften d ifficult t o r ead i n a n u nfamiliar h and ; a n a rchaic h alf-uncial c apital H c ould l ook v ery l ike a t horn ; a nd i t i s l ikely t hat H seddi w ould h ave b een n amed i n a c harter o f I ne d ating f rom 6 93. T he t ext w hich i s p resented a s t he a ctual w ording o f I ne 's c harter a ppears t o b e l argely g enuine . I t b egins b y a ddressing t he b eneficiary

1 99

i n t he s econd p erson , ' Ego t ibi h anc t erram d onans i mpendo '. T his u sage w as c onfined o utside K ent t o a s mall g roup o f v ery e arly c harters ( see S 235) a nd i s m ore l ikely t o b e a n a uthentic f eature o f a s eventhc entury c harter t han a f orger's i nvention . T he r eference t o t he l ove o f e ternal l ife i s s imilar t o p hrases i n t wo o ther e arly c harters : S 240 : S 236 : S 1787:

p ro u ite e terne a more'; ' ob a morem c elestis p atrie '; p ro s pe r emunerationis

e ternae ';

' pro a more o mnipotentis d ei'. T he c lause r elating t o t he b eneficiary's r ights o ver t he p roperty a lso h as s imilarities t o c lauses i n o ther e arly c harters s urviving i n t he M uchelney a rchive a nd e lsewhere , a nd a ll t hese c lauses a ppear t o d erive u ltimately f rom a f ormula u sed i n G regory 's g rant o f 5 87 ( Hartmann , G regory, p . 4 37): S 240:

G regory : S 1168:

S 244 :

u t s ubiecta s it d ominio g ubernacionis t ue e t s ubdita i uxta m orem p riuilegii a tque p ossessio m onachorum i ure p erpetuo '; ' habeat,

t eneat, p ossideat,

' ut h abeas . t eneas . i ure d ominio . t am t uo q uam m onasterii t ui'; e t a d e um l ure s ect

[ sic,

' habeat i pse i n d n 'eo [ sic , S 65:

S 1176:

i ure d ominioque s uo';

f or s uo o r p erpetuo?]

p ertinet';

f or d ominio?] p otestates p roprie';

' in d ominio s upra d icti E piscopi p ossidendum p erpetuale j ure t radidimus'; h abeat i n p roprio d ominio '.

T here f ollows a b rief s anction i n t he f orm o f a p rohibitive c lause, p roviding t hat t he d onor's s uccessors s hall n ot i nfringe t he g rant; p rohibitive c lauses o ccur i n s everal e arly c harters ( S231, 2 35, 1 249, e tc.). Am ore d etailed a ccount o f t he s ituation o f t he l and i s t hen p rovided, t he e state b eing d efined b y m eans o f a djacent g eographical f eatures, a r iver , a s treet a nd a w ood . T he e state i tself i s g iven n o n ame, a nd t he w hole d escription i s j ust w hat m ight b e e xpected i n a s eventh-century c harter. T he l and i s s aid t o e xtend u sque a d f ines q uos a ntiquitus p riscis t emporibus p riores n ostri d esignando f ixerunt'. T his m ay r epresent t he t hought o f t he l ater c ompiler , o r i t m ight b e g enuine; i t i s n ot u nlike t he r eferences i n e arly K entish c harters t o ' notissimos t erminos' ( S8, 1 9). T he d ate i s g iven a s 6 93, 6 th i ndiction , 3 rd o f t he K alends o f J anuary, i .e. 3 0th D ecember. T he d ates a re c onsistent a nd s uit a c harter o f I ne i nvolving b ishop H aeddi. T he i ncarnational d ate h as p robably b een a dded t o t he t ext a t s ome l ater t ime , b ut i t s eems t o b e c orrect . A f urther s anction i n t he f orm o f a p enal c lause i s a dded a fter t he d ate ; i ts p osition m akes i t l ook l ike a n a fterthought. N o w itness l ist i s p reserved. V ery l ittle o f t he w ording o f t he c harter i s u nacceptable

2 00

a s s eventh-century w ork. T he d escription o f t he e state e xplains t hat t he t otal o f 4 0 h ides c onsists o f t wo p ieces o f l and ; o ne , o f 3 7 h ides, i s s ituated ' in p laga o rientali a r ipa f luminis Y le e t e x u traque p arte u ie p ublice '; t he r emaining 3 h ides a re ' in p arte o ccidentali f luminis Y le c um s ilua q ue d icitur S tretmerch '. F inberg s uggested t hat t his e state w as I sle A bbots, a nd m entioned i n s upport o f t his t heory t hat t he p arish i ncluded a d etached a rea o f w oodland, t he S tretmerch o f t he t ext ( ECW , n o. 3 65). O ther c onsiderations, h owever, o perate a gainst t his i dentification . T he m odern v illage o f I sle A bbots l ies t o t he w est o f t he r iver I sle , a s d id t he w hole o f a n e state o f 1 0 h ides a t I sle A bbots w hich w as g ranted t o a l ayman b y E adgar i n 9 66 a nd d efined i n t he r elevant c harter b y d etailed b ounds ( S740; d efended b y S tenton 1 955, p. 1 5-16). I t s eems u nlikely t hat t he e state o f I sle A bbots p c ould e ver h ave c onsisted o f 3 7 h ides e ast o f t he r iver a nd o nly 3 t o t he w est. T he u ia p l iblica o f t he c harter i s p robably t he F osse W ay o f w hich a s ection r uns v ery r oughly p arallel t o t he I sle , a t o ne p oint w ithin a bout 4 m iles o f t he r iver. I t i s i mpossible t o p inpoint a n a rea o f l and w hich l ies e ast o f t he r iver I sle a nd o n e ither s ide o f t he F osse W ay: a s ubstantial t ract o f c ountry c ould b e t ranscribed i n t hese t erms . O ne p ossible i dentification i s w ith I lminster, a n e state w hich w as t he s ubject o f ad ispute b etween M uchelney a nd l ay c laimants i n t he t enth c entury ( S884) a nd w as o wned b y t he m onastery i n 1 066 ( DB S omerset, p . 9 .3). T he 2 0-hide e state o wned i n l ater y ears d id n ot e xtend a s f ar e ast a s t he F osse W ay ( Grundy 1 935, p p. 1 38-42), b ut a 4 0-hide e state o wne 'd e arlier m ight h ave d one s o . I f t he e state w ere I lminster, t he e xtant ' confirmation ' o f I ne's g rant m ight h ave b een p roduced t o s upport M uchelney 's c laim a t t he t ime o f t he d ispute ( although t he a bsence o f a ny e xplicit r eference t o I lminster r enders t his d oubtful), b efore a m ore s ophisticated f orgery w as d rawn u p , a pparently w ith G lastonbury's h elp ( S249, d iscussed b elow). B ut t his i s o nly o ne p ossibility. T he e state c ould w ell h ave b een e lsewhere , a nd a nother p ossible e xplanation f or t he i ntroductory p assage a dded t o t he c opy o f t his c harter i s t hat t he o riginal w as d amaged a nd p artly i llegible, s o t hat t he c opyist s upplemented t he t ext w ith s ome c lauses o f h is o wn. I t d oes , h owever , a ppear l ikely t hat m uch o f t he e xtant t ext i s a t ranscript o f a n a uthentic c harter o f I ne , t he e arliest t o s urvive i n t he M uchelney a rchive.

S 244 B .L ., A dditional 5 6488, f o . 6 3r. ( Edition :

B ates, M uchelney C art., n o.

1 06)

Ac harter i n t he n ame o f k ing I ne i s o ne o f t wo e arly A nglo-Saxon c harters a dded a t t he e nd o f t he c artulary b y a nother s cribe. T he f irst s cribe m ay h ave c onsidered t he p roperty g ranted i n t hese t wo d ocuments t oo i nsignificant t o j ustify t heir i nclusion : o ne r elates t o

2 01

a f ishery ( S1176), t he o ther t o as ingle h ide o f l and p lus a f ishery ( S244). I t a ppears l ikely t hat b oth a re s ubstantially g enuine. I ne's g rant i s s aid t o h ave b een m ade t o ' fratri B egano '. O ld E nglish p ersonal n ames e nding i n a w ere s ometimes L atinised a s anus, a nd ' Begano ' i s p robably d erived f rom a p ersonal n ame , B eaga ( Stevenson i n B ates , M uchelney C art., p . 9 6 n . 1 ). T he n ame d oes n ot o ccur i n u ncompounded f orm e lsewhere , b ut t he s ame n ame o r a f eminine f orm o f i t a ppears t o b e t he f irst e lement o f t he p lace-name ' Beaganhangran ', n ow B inegar i n S omerset ( Hearne , J ohn o f G lastonbury , p . 3 73; E kwall 1 960 , p . 4). T he o bscurity o f t he b eneficiary i s a p oint i n f avour o f t he 4 c harter. T he t ext i s h eaded b y a c urious r ubric. T he s cribe a ppears f irst t o h ave w ritten ' Libertas a ht'; h e t hen e rased ' aht' a nd w rote a bove t he e rasure ' ahtbegonis p ossessio '. S tevenson p ointed o ut t hat t his r ubric a ppears t o d erive f rom a n O ld E nglish e ndorsement w hich t he s cribe f ailed t o u nderstand: ' aht' m eans p ossession o r p roperty, a nd ' begonis' i s n o d oubt a b lundered f orm o f t he b eneficiary's n ame ( Bates , M uchelney C art ., p . 9 6 n . 1 ). T he r ubric r esembles t he s ort o f e ndorsement f ound o n t he v erso o f a s ingle-sheet c harter , r ather t han a c artularist's h eading, a nd s uggests t hat t he c harter w as c opied f rom a s ingle s heet. M ost o f t he w ording o f t he c harter a ppears t o b e g enuine, b ut t he t ext i s c orrupt i n p laces . T he p roem i s av ersion o f o ne w hich a sserts t he n eed f or w ritten r ecords a nd i s f airly c ommon a mong e arly c harters ( S65, e tc.). T he k ing 's t itle a ppears a s ' Saxonorum 164, 169, r egnum ' ( sic), p resumably a m iscopying o f ' Saxonum r ex '; t he u nusual f orm ' Saxanorum ' o ccurs e lsewhere i n t his c artulary i n t he w ork o f b oth t he f irst s cribe ( S240) a nd t his o ne ( S1176), a nd i t m ay b e t hat t he p ractice o f t he f irst s cribe i nfluenced t hat o f t he s econd. T he l and i s d escribed a s ' aliquam t erre i n l oco q ui d icitur A thom u nam m ansam '. O ne w ould t end t o e xpect ' aliquam t erre p ortionem ' ( or p artem) a nd ' id e st u nam ..', b ut i t i s p ossible t hat t he t ext w as o riginally d rafted a s i t s tands . ' Athom ' d oubtless d erives f rom ' eet H am ', a s t he e ditor s uggests . T he t erm m ansa w as n ot n ormally u sed a s e arly a s t his b ut i s p robably j ust a m iscopying o f m anentem , w hich m ay h ave b een a bbreviated i n t he e xemplar. T he b eneficiary's r ights o ver t he p roperty a re e xpressed i n w hich a re n ot e ntirely u sual b ut m ay w ell b e g enuine: e t a d e um i ure s ect'

t erms

( sic) p ertinet'

' hanc e nim d onacionem q uam l ibenter c ontuli e i h abeat i pse i n d n 'eo ( sic) p otestates ( sic) p roprie '. P ossibly s ect' i s am iscopying o f s uo o r p erpetuo , o r , a s t he e ditor s ugests , s eculari ; d n 'eo s hould p erhaps b e i nterpreted a s d ominio ; t he e ditor s uggests d ominico ; p otestates h as s ome a ppearance o f h aving b een c orrected i n t he m anuscript t o p otestatis. T hese c lauses a ppear t o b e g enuine s ince t hey h ave e arly p arallels q uoted a bove ( under S 240). T he s anction i ncludes a p rohibitive c lause a s w ell a s a p enal c lause , t he f ormer b eing a f eature o f an umber o f e arly c harters . T he

2 02

c harter i s d ated 7 02, 1 5th i ndiction . T hese a gree , b ut t he f ormer m ay h ave b een a dded t o t he d ocument . T he s cribe h as n ot p reserved a ny s ubscriptions, s o t here i s n o m eans o f c hecking t he d ate. I t c ould w ell b e c orrect , b ut t he o ther 1 5th i ndiction i n I ne 's r eign , 7 17, c annot b e r uled o ut. F ollowing t he d ating c lause a re b oundaries w hich h ave p resumably b een a dded t o t he c harter, b ut i t m ay b e t hat t he a ddition w as m ade a s e arly a s t he e ighth o r n inth c entury, s ince t he c lause i s v ery b rief a nd p artly i n L atin. T he p lace-name H am i s n ot u ncommon, a nd t he b ounds a re o f l ittle h elp i n i dentifying t he e sate; t here a re o nly f our l andmarks , t ranslated b y t he e ditor a s t he r ed l ea , t he l and b oundary, a d itch a nd ( possibly) a f en . T he l ikeliest c andidate i s p robably H am a bout a m ile s outh-east o f M uchelney, a s h as b een s uggested ( Stevenson i n B ates, M uchelney C art., p . 9 6 n . 3 ; E CW , n o. 3 67). T he d escription o f t he p roperty c ontinues ' cum p arte f luminis p edrit a d p escandum ', a nd t his t ends t o e ndorse t he i dentification a s H am i s o nly a bout a m ile f rom t he r iver P arrett. O ther i nstances o f e arly c harters g ranting f isheries a re m entioned i n G lastonbury r ecords : t he s eventh-century k ing B aldred g ranted a f ishery o n t he r iver P arrett t o a bbot H aemgils ( S1665), a nd I ne m ade t wo g rants e ach c onsisting , l ike h is g rant t o M uchelney, o f a s mall a rea o f l and p lus a f ishery ( DA , p . 9 4 ; E CW , n os . 3 73, 3 77). T he c harters d o n ot s urvive a nd w ere p erhaps d iscarded a s u nimportant, a s i t s eems t hat t he M uchelney c harters n early w ere . S eventh-century g rants t o M almesbury a lso i ncluded f isheries ( S234; E hwald, p . 5 03). I t t herefore a ppears t hat t here i s n o f oundation f or S tevenson 's s uggestion t hat t he g rant o f t he r iver i s a n a rgument a gainst a uthenticity ( Bates , M uchelney C art , p . 9 6 n . 2 ). I t i s i n f act a p oint i n f avour o f t he c harter. T he c ontent a nd w ording o f t his c harter s eem e qually t o i ndicate t hat i t i s a uthentic . T he s urviving t ext i s i ll-copied a nd c orrupt i n p laces , a nd i t i s t empting t o s uggest t hat t he s cribe w as w orking f rom a n e arly e xemplar , p erhaps i n p oor c ondition , w hich h e h ad d ifficulty i n d eciphering, r ather t han t hat t he e rrors r eflect m ere c arelessness , e specially a s t he o ther d ocument w ritten o ut b y t his s cribe s hows n o s ign o f c arelessness i n c opying ( S1176). H owever , t he l atter e xplanat ion c annot b e r uled o ut . T here a ppears t o b e n o d eliberate i nterpolation e xcept f or t he a ddition o f a n i ncarnational y ear a nd b rief b oundary c lause , a nd t he o nly o mission s eems t o b e t he w itness l ist. B eaga w as p resumably a m onk o f M uchelney, a nd t he g rant i ndicates t hat i ndividual m embers o f a r eligious c ommunity i n e arly W essex c ould a nd d id o wn p rivate p roperty.

* * * * * *

2 03

S 1176 B .L ., A dditional 5 6488, f o. 6 2v. ( Edition :

B ates , M uchelney C art., n o.

1 05)

T he o ther c harter a dded t o t he c artulary b y t he s econd s cribe i s a nother g rant o f a f ishery o n t he P arrett m ade b y t he l ayman B ealthun t o a bbot F roda o f M uchelney i n 7 08 . T his d ocument a ppears t o b e e ntirely a uthentic. B ealthun a nd a bbot F roda b oth a ppear i n t he w itness l ist o f I ne's g eneral g rant o f p rivileges o f 7 04 , e xtant i n t he M almesbury a rchive ( S245). T he f act t hat t he d onor i s v ery o bscure b ut a ttested e lsewhere a s a ctive a t t his t ime i s a s trong a rgument i n f avour o f t he c harter's a uthenticity. A bbot F roda i s n amed i n t wo o ther c harters o f M uchelney ( S240, 2 49); h is m onastery i s n ot m entioned i n t his t ext . T here i s n o w itness l ist, b ut a s entence p laced b efore t he s anction r eads ' Aldelmus e piscopus e t . Yny r ex S axanorum g entis p rop[r]iis + m anibus s ignum c rucis + s ubscripserunt'. B oth A ldhelm a nd I ne f it t he d ate o f t he c harter, a nd i t m ay b e t hat t his w ording i s g enuine a s i t s tands. T here a re o ther e xamples o f e arly c harters i n w hich t he w itnesses a re g rouped t ogether i nstead o f b eing s et o ut w ith i ndividual s ubscriptions ( S252, 1 410 , 1 803, 1 806). B ut i t i s a lso q uite p ossible t hat t he w ording r epresents a c opyist's a bbreviation o f a c onventional w itness l ist; t his w ould a ccount f or t he u nusual r oyal t itle. T he r est o f t he w ording i s e ntirely n ormal a nd c onsists l argely o f f ormulas c ommon i n e arly c harters . T here i s c onsiderable r esemblance t o t he c harter r ecording I ne's g rant t o t he m onk B eaga , a s i s t o b e e xpected i n t wo d ocuments p resumably d rawn u p i n t he s ame s criptorium o nly 6 y ears a part . T he d ate i s g iven a s b oth a n i ncarnational y ear a nd a n i ndiction. T he f ormer m ay b e al ater a ddition t o t he t ext b ut i s l ikely t o b e c orrect s ince i t i s s o n ear t he d ate o f B ealthun 's o ther r ecorded a ppearance. T he p roperty g ranted i s d escribed a s fa liquam p artem f luminis P edrete a d c apturam p issium q ui u ocatur S wynwere '. I ts p recise l ocation i s u nknown . A s i n t he c ase o f I ne's g rant t o B eaga , b oth c ontent a nd w ording a ppear t o i ndicate t hat t his c harter i s g enuine, t he o nly p ossible a lterations t o t he e ighth-century t ext b eing t he a lteration a nd a bbreviation o f t he w itness l ist a nd t he a ddition o f a n i ncarnational y ear.

S 249 B .L ., A dditional 5 6488, f o. ( Edition : T he p urports

l rv.

B ates , M uchelney C art., n o . 1 ) c harter w hich i s p laced f irst i n t he M uchelney t o r ecord a g rant b y I ne o f 2 0 h ides a t I lminster

2 04

c artulary t o a bbot

F roda o f M uchelney i n 7 25. T he w ording d uplicates t hat o f a G lastonbury c harter ( S251) e xcept t hat t he e state a nd b eneficiary a re d ifferent a nd t hat t he w itness l ist o f t he G lastonbury c harter i s a bbreviated t o t wo n ames , i n a ccordance w ith t he u sual G lastonbury p ractice o f e liminating m ost s ubscriptions, w hile t he M uchelney c harter h as a l onger l ist . O ther d escrepancies a re v ery m inor a nd p robably r epresent o nly t he v agaries o f d ifferent c opyists . I t i s a rgued a bove t hat t he G lastonbury c harter m ay b e s ubstantially a uthentic, b ut i t i ncludes a d etailed, O ld E nglish b oundary c lause w hich c ould n ot h ave b een d rawn u p a s e arly a s 7 25. T he M uchelney d ocument a lso i ncludes a n O ld E nglish b oundary c lause , a nd i t i s n oticeable t hat t he d uplication o f w ording e xtends t o t he p hrase i ntroducing t he b ounds a nd t he f irst w ord o f t he O ld E nglish p assage , ' Et h ec s unt t erritoria . E rest ..'. T he w ording i s c ommon a nd i t i s n ot i mpossible t hat t he d uplication h ere i s a ccidental, t he b oundary c lauses b eing a dded i ndependently t o t wo a uthentic c harters d rawn u p o n t he s ame o ccasion. B ut i t s eems m ore l ikely t hat t his d etail i ndicates t hat o ne o f t hese c harters h as b een c opied f rom t he o ther a fter a b oundary c lause h ad b een i nterpolated i nto t he f irst , a nd t hat o ne o f t hem i s t herefore a f abrication. T here a re r easons f or s uggesting t hat t he M uchelney c harter i s l ikely t o b e t he s purious o ne . F irstly i t i s p rovided w ith a w itness l ist w hich a ppears t o b e f abricated. I t c onsists o f b ishop F orthere , a nd 5 m en d escribed a s p refecti, ' Welhere ', ' Bruta ', ' Adelard f rater r egine', ' Adelherd ' a nd ' Vmming '. T hese w itnesses r ecur i n s ome m anus cripts o f a f abricated G lastonbury c harter i n t he n ame o f I ne, a nd t hey a re d iscussed i n c onnection w ith t hat c harter a bove ( S250). I t i s u nlikely t hat t he l ist h as a ny a uthentic b asis. I f t his w itness l ist w ere d erived f rom t he G lastonbury c harter w hich s hares t he w ording o f t his o ne , t his w ould s uggest t hat b oth d ocuments s hould b e r egarded w ith e xtreme s uspicion. B ut i t m ay b e t hat t he M uchelney c harter w as f abricated b y c opying t he G lastonbury t ext a fter t he w itness l ist o f t he l atter h ad b een a bbreviated t o t he t wo n ames o f I ne a nd F orthere , a nd t hat w itnesses w ere t herefore b orrowed f rom t he f abricated g rant o f p rivileges . M oreover t he w itness l ist i s i ntroduced b y a w ording p eculiar t o t he M uchelney c harter w hich u ses t he v erb c araxare , c ommon i n t enth-century c harters b ut n ot e arly o nes . T he b eneficiaries o f t he M uchelney c harter a re a bbot F roda a nd h is f amilia . I t i s n ot p articularly l ikely t hat F roda , r ecorded a s a bbot o f M uchelney f rom 6 93 t o 7 08, w as s till a ctive i n t his c apacity i n 7 25, a lthough t his i s f ar f rom i mpossible. H is n ame h as p erhaps b een b orrowed f rom a uthentic c harters p reserved a t M uchelney. T he e state s aid t o b e g ranted c onsisted o f 2 0 h ides a t ' Yleminister ', n ow I lminster s ituated s everal m iles s outh-west o f M uchelney n ear t he r iver I sle. T he n ame a nd h idage a gree w ith t hose o f M uchelney 's D omesday m anor ( DB S omerset, p . 9 .3), p lace-names a nd h idages i n a uthentic s eventh- and e ighth-century c harters s eldom c orrespond w ith t hose i n D omesday B ook. B ut a m uch m ore s ignificant c ircumstance i s t hat I lminster w as t he s ubject o f a d ispute b etween M uchelney a nd c ertain l aymen i n t he t enth c entury. T here i s a n a ccount o f t his i n t he o riginal c harter o f ' Ethelred I I p reserved w ith t he c artulary ( S884, w ritten b y a s cribe o f

2 05

C hrist C hurch, C anterbury: C ampbell, 1 982, P . 2 00). M uchelney h ad g ranted a l ease o f I lminster f or a t erm o f t hree l ives . A t s ome t ime d uring t his p eriod t he l easeholders a ttempted t o c laim t he e state a s t heir o wn h ereditary p roperty, a nd p roduced a c harter i n s upport o f t heir c laim . T he c ase w as a pparently h eard f ormally a t a s ynod o r o ther m eeting , a nd a n a ssembly o f b ishops a nd n oblemen d ismissed t he l easeholders' c laim , c onfirming t hat t he M uchelney c ommunity w ere t he r ightful o wners . Athelred i n 9 95 c onfirms t hat t he e state i s r estored t o t he m onastery. T he p robability s eems t o b e t hat t he I lminster c harter i n I ne's n ame i s af abrication p roduced t o s upport M uchelney 's c laim t o t he e state a t t he t ime o f t he d ispute . I t a ppears t hat t he c ommunity s ought t he h elp o f i ts w ealthy a nd p restigious n eighbour-monastery, w hose p ersonnel w ere n o d oubt m ore e xperienced i n h andling d isputes c oncerning l and s ince t heir e ndowment w as s o m uch m ore e xtensive t han M uchelney 's. T he c harter w as a pparently p roduced b y b orrowing a w ording f rom o ne G lastonbury c harter a nd a s election o f w itnesses f rom a nother , a nd a dding a n a bbot t aken f rom e arly M uchelney c harters a nd a d escription o f t he e state i n a ccordance w ith t enthc entury c ircumstances , a nd i ncluding a d etailed O ld E nglish b oundary c lause i n a ccordance w ith t enth-century p ractice . I t i s h ighly u nlikely t hat t he d ocument h as a ny a uthentic f oundation.

S 261 B .L .,

A dditional 5 6488, f o. 6 rv.

( Edition :

B ates , M uchelney C art., n o. 6 )

T he l atest M uchelney c harter t o s urvive f rom t he p eriod d own 8 39 i s a g rant o f C yniwulf, k ing o f t he W est S axons, d ated 7 62. a ppears t o b e e ntirely a uthentic.

t o I t

T he c harter i s v ery b rief a nd i ncludes n o p roem o r s anction ; i t i s p ossible t hat t here h as b een s ome a bbreviation b y ac opyist , b ut t his i s f ar f rom c ertain. E arly c harters c onspicuous f or t heir b revity o ccur i n s everal a rchives, a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat i n f act m any w ere o riginally d rafted i n v ery s uccinct t erms . T he w ording i s w holly u nobjectionable. T he k ing 's t itle , ' rex O ccidentalium S axonum ', i s n ormal f or a c harter o f t his d ate. T he g rant, l ike s ome o thers o f t he e ighth c entury, i s m ade t o t he c ommunity o r e stablishment a s w ell a s t o t he a bbot: ' ad m onasterium q uod d icitur M ichelnie . E dwaldo a bbati' ( Cf. S 253, 2 56, 1 410). A bbot E adwald i s n ot o therwise r ecorded. T he e state i s d efined b y r eference t o n atural g eographical f eatures, a s i s c ommon i n e arly A nglo-Saxon c harters, i n t his c ase t wo r ivers a nd a h ill. T he d ate i s e xpressed a s a n i ncarnational y ear, 7 62, a nd a s t he 1 5th i ndiction; t hese a re c onsistent a nd b oth a re p robably g enuine. T he c harter i s d ated f rom ' Pentric ', w hich i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith ' Pencrik ' f rom w hich a G lastonbury c harter i s d ated ( S253; S tevenson i n B ates , M uchelney C art ., p . 4 7 n . 1 ). I n h is t ranscription o f t his c harter, u nlike t hose o f t he

2 06

e arlier

d ocuments, t he s cribe h as p reserved w hat i s p robably a f ull w itness l ist, a nd t he l ist h as e very a ppearance o f a uthenticity. T he k ing 's a ttestation i s f ollowed b y t hose o f t he t wo W est S axon b ishops, H erewald o f S herborne a nd C yniheard o f W inchester, a nd t here a re s even l aymen w ho p robably r epresent t he f ull c omplement o f W est S axon e aldormen: S cilling, H emele , C erdic , H eahfrith ( his n ame i s a ccidentally m iscopied a s ' Heaheahfrithes '), E oppa , W igfrith . A ll o f t hese m en a ppear i n o ther c harters o f t he r eign a nd f it t he p attern w hich e merges i f t he w itness l ists o f a ll t he c harters o f C yniwulf's r eign a re c onsidered j ointly. T he a ttestation f orm i n e very c ase i s ' Signum m anus X ', w hich c ould w ell b e a uthentic a t t his d ate a nd s uits t he s implicity o f t he r est o f t he c harter. T he d escription o f t he e state r eads ' octo c asatos i nter d uo f lumina . E arn . e t Y le . e t a b o ccidente h abet m ontem q ui d icitur D uun M eten '. T he r iver E arn i s n ow k nown a s t he F ivehead, w hich j oins t he I sle s ome 4 m iles s outh—west o f M uchelney. F inberg p lausibly s uggested t hat ' Duun M eten ' w as t o b e i dentified w ith D ommett M oor , w hose l ocation s uits t he i nformation o f t he c harter ( ECW , n o. 3 98). T he e state t herefore l ay s omewhere w ithin t he r ough t riangle o f l and b ounded b y t he t wo r ivers a nd t he m oor . T he o nly e state i n t his a rea o therwise r ecorded a s t he p roperty o f M uchelney i s I sle A bbots n ear t he c onfluence o f t he r ivers, w here l ands t otalling 6 4 h ides w ere a cquired a fter t he C onquest ( DB S omerset , p . 9 .4, 5 ). T he r eference i n t his c harter t o D ommett M oor t ends t o s uggest t hat a n a rea f urther s outh m ay b e m eant, b ut t he e state c annot b e p recisely l ocated o r n amed. T here s eems t o b e e very r eason t o b elieve -t hat C yniwulf's i s e ntirely a uthentic .

( c)

c harter

C onclusions

O f f ive s urviving c harters d ated t o t he e arly p eriod, o nly o ne ( S249) a ppears t o b e s purious . A nother ( S240) s urvives o nly i n a n u nusual f orm a nd h as c ertainly b een r e—written t o s ome e xtent , b ut i s p robably b asically g enuine . T he o ther t hree a ppear t o b e a uthentic 1 ( S244, 176, 2 61). T he o ne s purious c harter a ppears t o h ave b een p roduced w ith t he h elp o f G lastonbury i n o rder t o d efeat a n a ttempt t o d eprive M uchelney o f o ne o f i ts e states. T here a ppears t o h ave b een n o g eneral p olicy a t M uchelney o f s upporting t he c ommunity 's c laims t o i ts l ands b y m eans o f f abricated t itle d eeds , n or o f u sing c harters t o i llustrate t he h istory o f t he h ouse o r c laim f or i t a ny p articular a ntiquity. O f t he f our l ater c harters o ne i s c ertainly a uthentic ( S884) a nd t wo o thers p robably a uthentic ( S455, 7 40). O nly t he g rant o f p rivileges i n t he n ame o f E adgar ( S729) r eally s eems s uspicious, s ince i t s hares m uch o f t he w ording o f t he o rthodoxorum c harters . T he a rchive m ay t herefore b e r egarded a s s ubstantially h onest a nd r eliable. T he d ate o f t he f oundation o f M uchelney i s n ot r ecorded, b ut t he m onastery e xisted p robably b y 6 93 ( S240) a nd c ertainly b y 7 04 ( S245, 1 176). T he e arly c harters a fford o nly t wo g limpses o f t he h ouse, o ne d uring t he p eriod 6 93 ( ?) t o 7 08 w hen F roda w as a bbot a nd I ne w as a b enefactor, a nd t he o ther i n 7 62 w hen C yniwulf g ranted l and t o a bbot E adwald. T he h istory o f M uchelney d uring t he r est o f t he e arly p eriod

2 07

i s u nknown, b ut t here e merges f rom t he w hole a rchive a nd t he D omesday e ndowment a p icture o f a s mall a nd u nsophisticated e stablishment , n ever v ery w ealthy, a nd p robably a lways o vershadowed b y i ts p restigious n eighbour.

2 08

P age 6 .

B ATH

a )

I ntroduction

2 10

b )

T he C harters

2 10

S

c )

168

W igheard t o B eorngyth , a bbess

2 11

167

Athilmod t o B eorngyth , a bbess, a nd F olcburh

2 14

168 a nd 1 167 -Relationship a nd A uthenticity

2 16

5 1

O sric , k ing ,

2 18

2 65

C yniwulf, k ing , t o t he m onks o f B ath

t o B erta , a bbess

2 23

2 27

C onclusions

2 09

( a)

I ntroduction

T he p re-Conquest c harters o f B ath s urvive i n ac artulary o f t he s econd h alf o f t he t welfth c entury, n ow C orpus C hristi C ollege , C ambridge , 1 11 ( Davis 1 958, n o. 2 3). T he v olume i s w ritten i n a c lear b ook-hand w ith l arge , c oloured i nitials. T wo c harters , o ne o f t he s eventh c entury a nd o ne o f t he t enth ( S1168, 6 10), a re a lso t ranscribed i n as ixteenth-century m anuscript , B ritish L ibrary , L ansdowne 8 63 , t he o thers a re e xtant o nly i n t he c artulary. B irch d id n ot s ee t his m anuscript, a nd t he t exts o f t he B ath c harters i n t he C artularium S axonicum a re s imply r eprints o f K emble 's e dition, w hich i ncluded m any i naccuracies. T he o nly s atisfactory e dition o f m ost o f t hese c harters i s t hat p repared b y W . H unt f or t he S omerset R ecord S ociety i n 1 893, w hich i s b ased o n a t ranscript o f t he m anuscript. T he e arliest c harters o f B ath w ere d iscussed b y P atrick S ims-Williams i n 1 975, a nd t he p resent d iscussion i s i ndebted t o h is w ork, a lthough n ot a ll o f h is j udgements o f t he c harters c an b e a ccepted. T hree o f t he c harters i n t he B ath c artulary a re d ated t o t he l ate s eventh c entury a nd a re g rants t o a bbesses w hose m onasteries c annot b e i dentified w ith a ny c onfidence . O ne i s ag rant t o B ath d ating f rom t he m id-eigth c entury. T he r emainder r elate t o t he p eriod 9 31 t o 1 066. T he e xtensive g ap i n t he B ath e vidence f rom t he m id-eighth c entury t o t he m id-tenth c entury i s p artly f illed b y e vidence s urviving e lsewhere a nd r elating t o t he o wnership o f t he m onastery d uring t he e arlier p art o f t his p eriod.

( b)

T he C harters

T he b elow :

f our

D ate 168 1

6 71/2

e xtant e arly c harters i n t he B ath

D onor

a rchive

a re

l isted

B eneficiary

W igheard

B eorngyth, a bbess

5 1

6 75

ö sric , k ing

B erta , a bbess

167 1

6 80

Athilmod

B eorngyth , a bbess, a nd F olcburh

2 65

7 58

C yniwulf, k ing

T he m onks o f B ath

T he c harters o f W igheard a nd Athilmod a re d iscussed f irst , t hey a re c onnected. E ach o f t he t wo i s d escribed s eparately, t hen q uestions o f t heir r elationship a nd a uthenticity a re c onsidered.

2 10

a s t he

S 1168 C ambridge , C orpus C hristi C ollege, 1 11, ( Edition:

p . 5 9

H unt, B ath C arts., n o. 6 )

T his c harter r ecords a g rant o f l and b y W igheard, w ho i s g iven n o t itle a nd w as p resumably a l ayman, t o a n a bbess n amed B eorngyth a nd t o h er m onastery, w hich i s n ot n amed. T he g rant w as m ade w ith t he c onsent o f W ulfhere, k ing o f t he M ercians, a nd i s d ated t o t he 1 4th y ear o f h is r eign. A ppended t o t he c harter a re a s econd d ating c lause i nconsistent w ith t he f irst, a nd a w itness l ist w hich i ncludes W ulfhere's b rother a nd s uccessor , Athilred. I n o rder t o d ate t he c harter i t i s n ecessary t o d ate t he r eign o f W ulfhere . T he C hronicle p rovides a s imple a nd s chematic a ccount o f t he M ercian k ings o f t he s econd h alf o f t he s eventh c entury : 6 55:

P enda d ied a nd P eada s ucceeded;

6 57:

P eada d ied a nd W ulfhere s ucceeded;

6 75:

W ulfhere d ied a nd 2 Ethilred s ucceeeded.

T his a ppears t o b e b ased o n aM ercian k inglist r eading P enda . P eada . W ulfhere . l Ethilred, u sed i n c onjunction w ith t he i nformation o f B ede 's c hronological s ummary t hat P enda d ied i n 6 55 a nd W ulfhere i n 6 75 a fter a r eign o f 1 7 y ears ( HE V 2 4). T he r eality w as n ot s o s traightf orward. O n t he d eath o f P enda a t t he b attle o f t he W inwaed, O swiu o f N orthumbria t ook c ontrol o f M ercia a nd r uled i t f or 3 y ears. H e g ave P enda 's s on , P eada , w ho w as h is o wn s on-in-law , t he k ingship o f t hat p art o f M ercia w hich l ay s outh o f t he T rent, b ut P eada w as m urdered a t E aster 6 56, w hereupon O swiu a pparently r uled t he w hole k ingdom t hrough h is e aldormen u ntil t hree y ears a fter P enda 's d eath , w hen a n umber o f M ercian e aldormen l ed a s uccessful r ebellion , p ut a n e nd t o N orthumbrian p ower i n M ercia , a nd e stablished t he y oung W ulfhere a s k ing ( HE I II , 2 4). B ede 's i nformation t herefore i s t hat W ulfhere r eigned f rom 6 58 t o 6 75. O n t his b asis h is 1 4th r egnal y ear w ould b e 6 71/2. I t i s n ot i mpossible t hat t hose c alculating W ulfhere 's r egnal y ears t ook t he v iew t hat h e h ad b een t he r ightful k ing o f M ercia f rom t he t ime o f P eada 's, o r e ven o f P enda 's d eath , a nd c alculated a ccordi ngly. T here i s, o f c ourse , e vidence f or t his s ort o f p ractice i n A nglo-Saxon E ngland ( HE I II 1 ). B ut t here i s n o d irect e vidence t hat t his w as d one i n t he c ase o f W ulfhere's r eign . E xtant M ercian k inglists r ecognise P eada a nd a ssign t o P enda 's t hree s ons r eigns t otalling 4 7 y ears, t wo y ears s hort o f t he a ctual p eriod o f t ime f rom P enda 's d eath i n 6 55 t o t he a bdication o f 2 Ethilred i n 7 04 ( Dumville 1 975, p p. 3 3, 3 6), s uggesting t hat t wo y ears o f N orthumbrian r ule w ere n ot a dded t o a ny r eign b ut w ere s imply d isregarded. T he c orrect d ate o f t he c harter i s t herefore l ikely t o b e 6 71 o r 6 72, a lthough a d ate 2 3 y ears e arlier c annot b e r uled o ut. O n e ither i nterpretation t he d ocument, i f g enuine, i s o ne o f t he e arliest s urviving A nglo-Saxon c harters, a nd p robably t he e arliest o f a ll.

211

T he o nly o ther c harter t o s urvive f rom t he r eign o f W ulfhere i s t he g rant o f F rithuwald t o a bbot E orcenwald o f C hertsey, w hich d ates f rom a y ear o r t wo l ater ( S1165). T his i s a ttested b y a m an n amed W igheard w ho i s d escribed a s a s ubregulus , a nd i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he d onor o f t he B ath c harter. A bbess B eorngyth i s k nown o nly f rom h er a ppearances i n t his c harter a nd t he o ne c onnected w ith i t. T he s pelling o f h er n ame, ' Berguidi' w ith u i f or i h as b een n oticed a s a n e arly f eature ( Sims-Williams 1 975, p . 3 ). T he w ording o f t he c harter i ncludes c lauses p aralleled i n s ome o f t he e arliest s urviving A nglo-Saxon d ocuments a nd a lso i n e arly c ontinental t exts . T he d ate i s p laced a t t he b eginning o f t he d ocument , i s g iven a s a r egnal y ear, a nd i s i ntroduced b y a n a blative a bsolute c onstruction. S uch c lauses o ccur i n I talian d eeds f rom a t l east t he t ime o f G regory t he G reat; t hey a re r are i n E ngland, b ut a n e xample a ppears i n t he r eport o f t he C ouncil o f H atfield i n 6 80 : S 1168:

' Regnante W lfero r ege . a nno . x iiii . r egni s ui';

G regory 's g rant t o S t. A ndrew 's o f 5 87 ( Hartmann, G re. g ory , ' Imperante d omno s exto ';

M auritio

T yberio

p erpetuo

p p. 4 37-9):

A ugusto a nno

C ouncil o f H atfield ( HE I V 1 7): ' Imperantibus d ominis p iissimis n ostris H umbronensium , a nno d ecimo r egni e ius ..';

E cgfrido

r ege

L ombard d eed o f 7 13 ( Schiaparelli, C od . D ip. L ongobardo , n o . 1 6): r egnante d omino n ostro L iutprand r ege , a nno f ilicissimi r egni . e ius

v iro

e xcelentissimo

T he b eneficiary i s a ddressed i n t he s econd p erson , w hich i s a f eature o f s ome o f t he e arliest A nglo-Saxon c harters , b ut q uickly d ied o ut e xcept i n K ent w here i t b ecame t he s tandard p ractice ( see S 235). T he w ording s tates t hat t he g rant i s m ade n ot o nly t o t he a bbess b ut a lso t o h er m onastery ; s imilar w ordings o ccur i n G regory's g rant o f 5 87, a nd i n t he o ldest e xtant o riginal A nglo-Saxon c harter , H lothere 's g rant o f 6 79: S 1168 :

G regory :

S 8:

' tibi B ernguidi m onasterio t uo';

u enerabili

a bbatisse

. e t

m onasterio s anti A ndreae .. i n q uo e st r everendissimus a bbas e t p er e um i n e odem m onasterio '; ' tibi B ercuald

p er t e

M aximianus v enerabili

.t uoque m onasterio '.

T he d escription o f t he b eneficiary's r ights o ver t he e state e arly p arallels : S 1168 :

' ut h abeas . t eneas . i ure d ominio . t am m onasterii t ui u indices a c d efendas';

2 12

a lso

t uo q uam

h as

G regory:

' habeat , t eneat , p ossideat, i ure p erpetuum v endicat a c d efendat';

P rivate d eed f rom R avenna , c . 6 00 ( CH . L .A.,

d ominioque s ui i n

P art X XI ,

n o . 7 17):

' habeant , t eneant, p ossedeant , i uri d ominioque m ore , q uo v oluerit i n p erpetuo v indicent a tque d efendant '; S 8:

' teneas p ossideas d efendant '.

t u

p osterique

t ui

i nperpetuum

M uch o f t he s anction i s e xpressed i n n ormal t erms , s tating t hat a t ransgressor w ill r ender a ccount o n t he d ay o f j udgement . T he a dditional c lause , ' et c ondempnatum e sse c um i psis q ui a d s inistram i turi s unt ', i s u nusual, b ut t he r eference t o a m alefactor b eing c ondemned i s n ot w ithout p arallel ( S8, 1 171). T here c an b e l ittle d oubt t hat t he w ording o f t he c harter i s e ntirely g enuine. T he s econd d ating c lause a nd t he w itness l ist d o n ot a ppear t o h ave b een p art o f t his c harter o riginally. T he d ate g iven h ere i s t he m onth o f O ctober i n t he 9 th i ndiction. D uring W ulf h ere 's r eign t he 9 th i ndiction o ccurred o nly i n 6 66, w hich d oes n ot f it t he r egnal y ear. T he w itness l ist c ontains f our n ames: a rchbishop T heodore , b ishops P utta a nd B osel ( the m anuscript a ctually d escribes P utta e rroneously a s a rchbishop) a nd k ing Athilred. T he 9 th i ndiction o ccurred d uring t he e piscopate o f T heodore a nd t he r eign o f 2 Ethilred i n 6 80/1; t he i ndictional y ear b egan i n S eptember, a nd t he c harter i s d ated O ctober , s o t he c orrect d ate i s O ctober 6 80, a nd n ot 6 81 a s i s s ometimes s tated ( S1167; E HD , n o. 5 7; S ims-Williams 1 975, p . 3 ). T he o ther t wo w itnesses a lso f it t his d ate . P utta w as b ishop o f R ochester u ntil 6 76, w hen Athilred o f M ercia r avaged K ent a nd d estroyed t he s ee, w hereupon P utta t ook r efuge i n M ercia a nd b ecame t he f irst b ishop o f t he M zegonszete ( HE I V 1 2; P age 1 966, p . 6 ). T he d ate o f h is d eath i s n ot r ecorded, b ut h is s uccessor , T yrctil, f irst a ppears i n w itness l ists w hich p robably d ate f rom t he 6 90s ( S53, 1 248). B osel w as t he f irst h older o f t he s ee o f W orcester ( Page 1 966, p . 6 ), a nd a ppears i n a nother w itness l ist w hich d ates f rom 6 81 ( S71). H e r etired i n c onsequence o f i ll-health c . 6 90 ( HE I V 2 3). T he p hrase ' gratia d ei t w hich w as c haracteristic o f T heodore ( HE I V 1 7; S 10, 1 3, 7 1), i s h ere u sed i n a ll f our s ubscriptions: p ossibly T heodore d ictated h is o wn a ttestation , a nd t he o thers w ere t hen d rafted i n t he s ame t erms. T here s eems n o r eason t o d oubt t hat t his w itness l ist i s a uthentic , t hat t he d ating c lause b elongs w ith i t , a nd t hat b oth d erive f rom a n o therwise u nrecorded M ercian c ouncil. T he l and g ranted b y W igheard c onsisted o f 4 0 h ides ' in l oco q ui a ppellatur S lepi'. A t entative i dentification w ith I slip i n O xfordshire i s u sually m ade i n c onsideration o f t he f act t hat t he o ther e xtant g rant t o a bbess B eorngyth w as o f l and o n t he C herwell ( Stenton 2 1 935, p . 25; W hitelock c ited i n S 1168), a nd D r. G elling h as a dded f urther g rounds f or t he i dentification b y p ointing o ut t hat I slip i s a t t he c onfluence o f t he r ivers C herwell a nd R ay, a nd t hat t he l atter w as f ormerly t he G iht, a n ame w hich a ccounts f or t he f irst e lement i n I slip ( ECTV , n o. 2 58). T he e arly h istory o f t his e state i s n ot o therwise

2 13

r ecorded. 5 h ides a t I slip w ere h eld b y a l aywoman i n 1 066 ( DB O xfordshire, p . 5 5.1) a nd f our W estminster d ocuments w hich a re d ated t o t he r eign o f E dward t he C onfessor , b ut s ome i f n ot a ll o f w hich a re p ost-Conquest f orgeries, c laim t hat W estminster o wned I slip ( S1040 , 1 043 , 1 147, 1 148). S tenton a ssumed t hat B eorngyth 's m onastery w as n ear O xford b ecause t he e states g ranted t o i t w ere i n t hat a rea ( Stenton 1 935, p . 25). 2 S ims-Williams a ssumed t hat i t w as a t B ath b ecause t he d ocuments s urvive i n t he B ath c artulary ( Sims-Williams 1 975, p . 3a nd n . 3 ). B ut i n f act t here i s n o g ood r eason t o a ssume t hat t he m onastery w as i n t he i mmediate v icinity o f t wo e states w hich i t a cquired ; a nd a n umber o f e arly c harters s urvive i n t he c artularies o f m onasteries o ther t han t he o nes t hey o riginally r elated t o , f or e xample t he B radfield d ocumentat ion i n t he A bingdon c artularies d iscussed a bove , a nd t he g rant o f C oenred t o a bbot B ectun w hich i s i n t he S haftesbury c artulary ( S1164), w hile t he f act t hat B ath w as a c ommunity o f m en i n t he m id-eighth c entury ( S265) t ends t o o perate a gainst, a lthough i t d oes n ot d isprove , t he i dentification w ith B ath . I t m ust b e c oncluded t hat n othing i s k nown o f t he l ocation o f B eorngyth 's m onastery e xcept t hat i t w as i n M ercia . S ince t he h ouse w as r uled b y a n a bbess i t w as p resumably a d ouble m onastery.

S 1167 C ambridge , C orpus C hristi C ollege, 1 11, ( Edition :

H unt , B ath C arts.,

p. 6 0-1. p

n o. 8 )

T he o ther g rant t o t he m onastery o f B eorngyth w as m ade b y Athilmod w ith t he c onsent o f k ing Athilred . 2 Ethilmod i s o therwise k nown o nly f rom h is a ppearance a s aw itness i n a nother s eventh-century c harter e xtant i n t he B ath c artulary, t he g rant o f O sric d iscussed b elow ( S51). A s econd b eneficiary i s n amed h ere. T he g rant i s m ade t o a bbess B eorngyth a nd t o a nother l ady n amed F olcburh w hose s tatus i s n ot m entioned, b ut w ho w as p erhaps p rioress o r B eorngyth 's a ppointed s uccessor. H er n ame i ndicates t hat s he w as F rankish , a nd h er p resence a t B eorngyth 's m onastery h as b een n oticed a s a n i nstance o f t he m ovement, a ttested e lsewhere , o f F rankish r eligious t o E ngland i n t he s econd h alf o f t he s eventh c entury a nd e vidence o f t he c ontacts w ith F rankia w hich w ere i mportant f or t he d evelopment o f t he c hurch i n E ngland ( Campbell 1 971; S ims-Williams 1 975). T he w ording o f t his c harter s ubstantially d uplicates t hat W igheard 's, b ut t here a re a f ew d ifferences. T he i nvocation i s n ot s ame a lthough i t i s o f t he s ame t ype ; Athilmod 's c harter a dds p hrase ' pro r emedio a nime m ee ' a nd t here i s a n a dditional c lause a t e nd r eferring t o t he s trengthening o f t he c harter b y t he a ddition t he w itnesses ' s ubscriptions. T here i s n o r eason t o d oubt a uthenticity o f t hese c lauses, a nd t he l ast h as e arly p arallels:

2 14

o f t he t he t he o f t he

S 1167:

' Et u t h ec d onatio m ea i n s ua f irmitate p ersistat : s ubter p ropria m anu s ignum s ancte c rucis f ed i . e t T heodorum s anctissimum a rchiepiscopum u t s ubscriberet r ogaui . S imul e t Agelredum r egem u t s ubscriberet r ogaui . ' ;

G regory's g rant o f 5 87: e t t estes u t s ubscriberent ,

r ogavi ';

P rivate d eed f rom R avenna , c . 6 00: s ubter p ropria m anu p ro i gnorantia l itterarum s ignum v enerabilem s anctae c rucis f eci, e t t estibus a m e r ogitis o ptuli s uscribendam '; S 8:

m anentem . h anc d onatio i s c hartulam i n s ua n ihilominus f irmitate e t p ro c onfirmatione e ius m anu p ropria s ignum s anctae c rucis e xpressi e t t estes u t s ubscriberent r ogavi';

S 1165:

e t u t h aec c artula d onacionis m ee e t c onfirmacionis s it f irma s tabilis e t i nconcussa : t estes u t s ubscriberent r ogavi';

B ecause t wo b eneficiaries a re n amed h ere , t he p ronouns a nd v erbs a re p lural : p er u os : m onasterio u estro ; u t h abeatis '; e tc .; e xcept t hat t he s ingular t ibi i s r etained a t t he f irst p oint w here s trictly a p lural s hould h ave b een u sed : ' dono t ibi B ernguidi . u enerabili a bbatisse . e t F olcburgi '. T he v erbs t enere a nd d efendere , w hich a dd l ittle o r n othing t o t he s ense, a re n ot i ncluded i n t he s entence r elating t o t he b eneficiaries' r ights o ver t he l and; m oreover t he w ord t am i s e rroneously o mitted a nd t he g enitive ' monasterii t ui' i s a ltered t o t he d ative ' monasterio u estro ', m aking n onsense o f t he w ording s ince q uam i s m eaningless i n t he a bsence o f t am : S 1168:

u t h abeas . t eneas . l ure d ominio . t am m onasterii t ui u indices a c d efendas';

S 1167:

u t h abeatis i ure u estro u indicetis'.

d ominioque u estro

( Whitelock 's t ranslation o f S 1167, E HD , n o . 5 7, c orruption o f t he t ext a t t his p oint).

t uo

q uam

.q uam m onasterio

t akes n o a ccount o f t he

T here i s n o e quivalent h ere o f t he f irst d ating c lause o f W igheard 's c harter. T he s econd d ating c lause o ccurs i n t he s ame t erms a nd t he w itness l ist i s t he s ame e xcept t hat t he d onor , 2 Ethilmod, i s i ncluded; t he o rder o f t he n ames i s a ltered ; a nd t here a re s light v ariations, n one a ppearing s ignificant, i n t he w ording o f t he a ttestations. T here i s n o r eason t o d oubt t hat t he w itness l ist i s a n o riginal a nd i ntegral p art o f t his t ext, a nd t hat 2 Ethilmod 's c harter m ay b e d ated O ctober 6 80. T he l and g ranted i s d escribed a s 2 0 h ides ' iuxta f lumen a ppelatur C eruelle ', i .e . t he C herwell. T his c annot b e e quated

2 15

q uod w ith

a ny o ther e state m entioned i n p re-Conquest d ocuments, a nd i ts p recise l ocation i s u nknown , b ut i t w as p robably n ear t he e state a t I slip a nd p erhaps a djacent t o i t , s o t hat t he t wo e states f ormed a s ingle b lock o f l and.

S 1168 a nd S 1167 -Relationship a nd A uthenticity V arious v iews h ave b een t aken o f t hese t wo c harters . S tenton c ited b oth d ocuments a s s eventh-century c harters a nd m entioned i n s upport o f t he a uthenticity o f Athilmod 's g rant t hat ' the w ords o f g ift r un i n t he s econd p erson a nd t he f ormulas a re a ncient ' ( Stenton 1 918a, p . 5 1 n . 4 ; 1 935, p . 2 25). W hitelock s imilarly a ccepted b oth c harters, r emarking t hat Athilmod's c harter s hares f ormulas f ound i n e arly K entish o riginals a nd t hat t here s eems t o b e n o m otive f or f abrication. S he c ites W igheard's c harter a s t he e arliest g enuine A nglo-Saxon c harter e xtant i n ac artulary v ersion , w hich p re-dates t he e arliest o riginals b y s ome y ears , b ut s tates t hat i ts w itness l ist h as b een c opied f rom Athilmod 's c harter ( EHD , n o . 5 7 a nd p . 3 75). H art r egards W igheard's c harter a s a f abrication p roduced b y c opying Athilmod 's b ut p erhaps b ased o n ag enuine t ransaction r ecorded i n a l ist o f b enefactors ; Athilmod's c harter h e c onsiders a uthentic ( ECEE , n o. 2 ). S ims-Williams a lso a ccepts 2 Ethilmod 's c harter a s g enuine a nd r egards W igheard 's a s a f abrication b ased o n i t , c iting i n s upport o f t his v iew t he i nternal i nconsistencies o f t he l atter, a nd s uggesting t hat i t w as i ntended t o b e a g eographically m ore s pecific v ersion o f t he C herwell g rant a nd w as p erhaps d rawn u p a t t he s ynod h eld a t B ath i n 8 64 w hen B urgred, k ing o f t he M ercians, g ranted a n e state a t E aton ( on t he C herwell n ot f ar f rom I slip) t o b ishop A lhwine o f W orcester . ' If B urgred w as i n f act d isposing o f s ome B ath e states a long t he C herwell, t his m ight b e t he o ccasion f or f abricating t he I slip c harter i n i ts p resent f orm ' ( Sims-Williams 1 975, p . 3 a nd n . 2 ; S 210). G elling l ists i Tthilmod 's c harter a s g enuine a nd W igheard 's a s i nterpolated b ut a ccepts t he p ossibility t hat t he l atter i s a f abrication ( ECTV , n os. 2 58 , 2 59). N o-one h as e ver a rgued t hat b oth c harters a re f abricated , a nd i t s eems r easonably c ertain t hat t he w ording t hey s hare, w ith i ts e arly f ormulas , i s a uthentic, s eventh-century w ork, s o t hat a t l east o ne o f t he d ocuments m ust b e s ubstantially g enuine . T he o ther p oint w hich s eems r easonbly c ertain i s t hat o ne o f t hese c harters w as m odelled o n t he o ther, s ince t here c ould n ot o therwise b e s uch e xtensive d uplication o f w ording. O n t he b asis o f t hese t wo a ssumptions, t hree p ossible a lternative e xplanations f or t he t wo c harters m ay b e s uggested: 1 .

2 .

Athilmod's c harter i s g enuine a nd W igheard 's b ased o n i t. W igheard 's c harter i s b ased o n i t:

g enuine a nd 2 Ethilmod 's

2 16

a

f abrication

a f abrication

3 .

B oth c harters a re g enuine a nd t he a uthor o f J Ethilmod 's, w riting i n 6 80, u sed t he e arlier d ocument f or g uidance. T hese h ypotheses a re c onsidered i n t urn b elow .

I t i s f ar f rom c ertain t hat t he d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist o f l ater d ate w hich a re a ppended t o W igheard 's c harter a re r ightly r egarded a s e vidence o f f abrication o r i nterpolation . D r . B rooks h as s uggested t he p ossibility t hat t he c artularist 's e ye j umped t o t he w rong c harter a t t his p oint ( Cited i n E CTV , n o. 2 58). B ut p erhaps a m ore l ikely e xplanation i s t hat t he w itness l ist a ppended t o if thilmod's c harter i n 6 80 t o r ecord JEthilred's c onsent w as a t t he s ame t ime a ppended t o W igheard 's c harter t o r ecord Athilred 's c onfirmation o f t he e arlier t ransaction . T here a re p lenty o f e xamples o f w itness l ists o f l ater d ate b eing a dded t o a uthentic c harters a s e vidence o f c onfirmation. I n p articular , o ne m ay c ite t he M almesbury c harter d ating f rom t he r eign o f C entwine ( S1176) t o w hich a d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist o f t he r eign o f C eadwalla w ere a dded, p robably o n t he o ccasion o f ag rant o f C eadwalla t o M almesbury ( 5231). T he o riginal w itness l ist o f W igheard's c harter ( if i t h ad o ne) m ight h ave b een d iscarded w hen t he 6 80 l ist w as a dded, o r d ropped l ater b y a c opyist. T he i nclusion o f t he d ating c lause a nd w itness l ist o f 6 80 i s n ot, t herefore , i nconsistent w ith t he t heory t hat t he c harter i s g enuine. M oreover, t here a re s erious o bstacles t o t he t heory o f f abrication. F irstly, t he d onor i s k nown t o h ave b een l iving a t a bout t he t ime o f t his g rant , a nd h is n ame w ould n ot h ave b een k nown t o a f orger. H art g ets r ound t his d ifficulty b y p ostulating a l ist o f b enefactors , b ut t here i s n o e vidence f or s uch a l ist , a nd t his t heory d oes n ot r esolve s ome o f t he o ther p roblems. S econdly, t he f irst d ating c lause h as n o e quivalent i n Athilmod 's c harter a nd i t i s h ighly u nlikely t hat t hat d ocument e ver c ontained s uch a c lause s ince i t h as a n a dequate d ating c lause o f i ts o wn, a nd t he p ractice o f d rawing u p a c harter w ith t wo d ating c lauses w as n ever a dopted i n E ngland ( except i n t he c ase o f t he r eport o f t he C ouncil o f H ertford, H E I V 5 , a nd t here t he t wo c lauses d o n ot p rovide d ifferent i nformation). I t d oes n ot t herefore a ppear t hat t his c lause d erives f rom t he o ther c harter a nd a f orger c ould s carcely h ave i nvented a c lause a greeing i n c ontent , w ording a nd p osition w ith l ate R oman e xamples . T hirdly, i t s eems i mprobable t hat a f abricator c opying t he w ording o f t he o ther c harter w ould h ave c hosen t o o mit t he n ame o f F olcburh, t hereby i ncurring t he n eed t o a lter s everal v erbs a nd p ronouns f rom p lural t o s ingular. A nd t here a re t wo d etails w hich t end t o s uggest t hat i n f act t he a lteration w as m ade t he o ther w ay r ound, i .e. t hat t he a uthor o f Athilmod 's c harter w as c opying W igheard 's a nd c hanging s ingulars t o p lurals. T he f irst i s t he s ingular t ibi, w here u obis i s s trictly r equired, b efore t he b eneficiaries a re n amed; i t c ould w ell b e t hat a t t his s tage t he w riter h ad n ot y et r ealised t hat t he d ifferent c ontent o f t he l ater c harter n ecessitated a n a djustment o f t he w ording. T he s econd i s t he o mission o f t am . T his c ould b e m erely a c opyist's e rror ; b ut i t i s p erhaps m ore l ikely t hat t he m istake a rose w hen Athilmod 's c harter w as w ritten, a nd w as m ade b y am an w hose e xemplar r ead t am t uo a nd w ho w as c oncentrating o n t he n eed t o c hange t uo t o u estro . T he d ative m onasterio u estro w as p robably i ntroduced l ater b y a c opyist w ho w as t rying t o m ake s ense o f t he c orrupt p assage. T he v erbs t enere a nd d efendere m ay a lso h ave b een o mitted b y t he a uthor o f 2Ethilmod 's

2 17

c harter, w ho p robably s aw t hem a s m ere t autology. C omparison w ith o ther e arly d ocuments s hows, h owever, t hat i n u sing t hese w ords t he a uthor o f W igheard 's c harter w as e mploying a ncient f ormulas a nd t hat t his d ocument p reserves a b etter t ext o f t he s hared w ording t han Athilmod 's c harter. I t i s t herefore e xtremely d ifficult t o a ccount f or W igheard 's c harter a s a f abrication , a nd t he i ndications a re t hat t he d ocument i s g enuine a nd t hat 2 Ethilmod 's c harter w as m odelled o n i t. I t i s e qually d ifficult t o s ubstantiate t he t heory t hat Athilmod 's c harter i s f orged. I t m ay b e t heoretically p ossible , b ut i t i s d istinctly i mprobable, t hat a f orger b orrowed t he n ame o f a n o bscure l ayman f rom o ne c harter a nd t hat o f a n o bscure a bbess f rom a nother, a nd c ontrived t o p roduce a p erfectly a cceptable w itness l ist b y u sing t he i nformation o f B ede , p ossibly i n c onjunction w ith t he C hronicle o r s et o f e piscopal l ists. I t i s s impler a nd m ore p lausible t o a ccept t hat t hese n ames a re a ll p art o f t he c ontent o f a g enuine c harter. T here i s n o k nown s ource f rom w hich t he n ame o f F olcburh c ould h ave b een d erived b y a f orger , a nd i t w ould h ave b een p ointless i n a f abrication t o i ntroduce t his n ame a nd t hus n ecessitate t he a djustment o f t he w ording f rom s ingular t o p lural. T he s entence r eferring t o t he a ttestations o f t he w itnesses d oes n ot o ccur i n W igheard 's c harter a nd a ppears e ntirely a uthentic, c onsisting c hiefly o f e arly f ormulas . A w riter o f l ater d ate w ould p robably h ave d escribed t he e state i n c learer t erms. T his c harter h as g enerally b een c onsidered a uthentic , a nd i t s eems t hat t his v iew i s c orrect. I f b oth c harters a re g enuine, a s s eems t o b e t he c ase , t he i mplication i s t hat t he a uthor o f _ Z Ethilmod's c harter, w riting i n 6 80 , u sed W igheard 's c harter a s am odel. T his d oes n ot s eem i mprobable. W riters o f l ater c enturies , t he h eirs t o a l ong t radition o f c harterw riting, a ppear t o h ave f ound n o d ifficulty i n d rafting i ndividual c harters s ubstantially i ndependently. Aw riter i n M ercia i n 6 80 , l ess t han 2 5 y ears a fter t he a ccession o f t he f irst C hristian k ing o f t he M ercians, m ay w ell h ave h ad n o e xperience o f w riting c harters , a nd h ave b een g lad t o m ake h is t ask e asier b y c opying a w ording a lready u sed. I t t herefore a ppears t hat b oth c harters s hould b e a ccepted a s g enuine a nd t hat W igheard 's i s p robably t he e arliest e xtant E nglish c harter.

S 51 C ambridge , C orpus C hristi C ollege, 1 11, ( Edition :

p p. 5 9-60

H unt , B ath C arts., n o. 7 )

T his d ocument p urports t o b e B ath 's f oundation c harter a nd r ecords a g rant b y ak ing O sric t o a n a bbess n amed B erta o f 1 00 h ides a t B ath f or t he f oundation o f am onastery o f w omen. T he s urviving t ext i s m uch i nterpolated b ut s eems t o p reserve e lements o f a g enuine c harter.

2 18

T he d ating c lause i s p laced a t t he b eginning o f t he c harter a nd t here i s o nly o ne p arallel f or i ts w ording a mong A nglo-Saxon c harters : S 51:

' Regnante a c g ubernante r egimonia r egni O srici r egis . a nno r ecapitulationis D ionisii . I d e st a b I ncarnatione d omini n ostri I hesu C risti s excentesimo s eptuagesimo s exto . I ndictione . i iii ta . M ense N ouembrio . u iii ° . I dus n ouembrio . ';

S 52:

' Regnante i mperpetuum a c g ubernante d omino n ostro s alvatore s aecula u niversa. A nno r ecapitulationis D ionisi i d e st a b i ncarnatione C hristi s excentessimo . o ctuagessimo i ndictione s exta r evoluta

T he s econd q uotation i s f rom a W orcester c harter r ecording a g rant o f k ing O shere t o F rithuwald, a m onk o f b ishop W infrith . M uch o f t he s urviving t ext i s c ertainly s purious, b ut i t m ay b e t hat t his c harter , l ike O sric 's, p reserves s ome d etails f rom a n a uthentic d ocument. S trictly s peaking, t he d ates o f O sric 's c harter a re i nconsistent. T he f ourth i ndiction b egan o n t he i st S eptember 6 75, a nd t herefore i ncluded N ovember 6 75 b ut n ot N ovember 6 76. I n o rder t o r econcile t he d ates i t h as t o b e a ssumed t hat t he w riter i gnored t he d ifferent y earb eginnings o f t he i ndictional a nd i ncarnational s ystems , a nd i t i s l ikely t hat t his i s p recisely w hat h e d id, s ince t he e vidence o f o ther d ocuments s uggests t hat t his w as n ormal A nglo-Saxon p ractice. I f d ocuments b earing b oth i ndictional a nd i ncarnational y ears a nd s pecifying a d ate b etween S eptember a nd D ecember, i .e. t hat p ortion o f t he y ear w hich i s a ffected b y t he d ifferent y ear-beginnings , a re e xamined, i t i s i nvariably f ound t hat t he d ates c an b e r econciled o nly o n t he a ssumption t hat t he a uthor i gnored t he d ifferent y ear-beginnings a nd b egan b oth t he i ndiction a nd t he i ncarnational y ear o n t he s ame d ay. S everal e xamples o f t his c an b e c ited: 1 .

B ede 's a ccount o f t he S ynod o f H ertford ( HE I V 5 ) B ede d ates t he s ynod 2 4th S eptember, i st i ndiction , A D 6 73. T he f irst i ndiction r an f rom i st S eptember 6 72 t o 3 1st A ugust 6 73, s o 2 4th S eptember i n t he f irst i ndiction f ell i n 6 72. A D 6 73 r an f rom w hat w e w ould n ow c all 2 5th D ecember 6 72 t o 2 4th D ecember 6 73, s o 2 4th S eptember o f A D 6 73 f ell i n 6 73. H ence t he d ating o f t he e vent i s i nconsistent. B ut t he d ates c an b e r econciled i f t he f irst i ndiction i s b egun o n 2 5th D ecember 6 72, w hich w ould r esult i n ad ate f or t he s ynod o f 2 4th S eptember 6 73; o r i f A D 6 73 i s b egun o n i st S eptember 6 72, w hich w ould d ate t he s ynod t o 2 4th S eptember 6 72.

2 .

B ede's a ccount o f t he S ynod o f H atfield ( HE I V 1 7) B ede d ates t he s ynod 1 7th S eptember, 8 th i ndiction , A D 6 80. T he 8 th i ndiction w as i st S eptember 6 79 t o 3 1st A ugust 6 80, 1 7th S eptember o f t he 8 th i ndiction f ell i n 6 79, n ot i n 6 80.

2 19

s o

3 .

G rant o f O ffa t o B redon ( S116) 2nd S eptember; 3 rd i ndiction; 2

4 .

C ouncil o f C lofesho ( B312 , e tc.) 1 2th O ctober;

5 .

7 80.

ndiction; 8 03. 1th i

G rant o f C oenwulf t o a rchbishop W ulfred ( S177) 2 5th N ovember; 7 th i ndiction; 8 14.

6 .

G rant o f C eolwulf t o a rchbishop W ulfred ( S186) 1 7th S eptember;

1 5th i ndiction; 8 22.

T he q uestion r emains w hich y ear-beginning w as u sed. T here i s c lear e vidence , f or t his i n c onnection w ith t he c ouncil h eld a t C lofesho o n t he 1 2th O ctober , 1 1th i ndiction , 8 03. I n o ne o f t he s urviving d ocuments d eriving f rom t his c ouncil ( S1431) t he d ate i s a lso g iven a s ' v f eria ', i .e. T hursday, a nd t he 1 2th O ctober w as a T hursday i n 8 03 , n ot 8 02, h ence t he y ear-beginning u sed w as t hat o f t he i ncarnational y ear, 2 5th D ecember. I t i s p ossible, h owever , t hat t he u sual p ractice w as d ifferent a t a n e arlier d ate. I f t he d ating c lause o f O sric's c harter, i ncluding t he i ncarnational y ear , w ere d rafted i n t he s eventh c entury , i t i s l ikely t hat t he i ndiction , b eing t he l onger-established a nd m ore f amiliar f orm o f d ating, w as u sed a s t he b asis o f t he a uthor 's c alculations, a nd t hat h e b egan t he y ear o n t he i st S eptember , s o t hat t he d ate o f t he c harter w ould b e , i n m odern t erms , 6 th N ovember , 6 75. H owever , i t i s f ar f rom c ertain t hat i ncarnational d ating w as u sed i n E ngland i n t he s eventh c entury. T here i s n o c lear e vidence t hat i t w as. H arrison a rgued t hat t he i ncarnational d ates i n t he t wo c lauses q uoted a bove w ere a mong t he a uthentic s eventh-century e lements p reserved i n t hese t wo c harters, o n t he g rounds t hat t he e xplanation o f i ncarnational d ating b y r eference t o D ionysius s uited a n e arly d ate w hen t his s ytem w as n ew a nd u nfamiliar ( Harrison 1 976, p p. 6 7-8). B ut t here a re c onsiderations w hich o perate a gainst t his t heory. F irstly t he d ates o f O shere's c harter d o n ot a gree, 6 80 b eing t he 8 th i ndiction , n ot t he 6 th , a nd H arrison 's s uggestion t hat t his i s m erely a s cribal e rror i s u nconvincing . S econdly b oth c harters c ontain a c onsiderable a mount o f u ndoubtedly s purious m aterial, a nd t his l essens a ny b elief w hich m ight b e p laced i n a ny u nusual f eature o f t heir w ordings : s uch f eatures a re m ore l ikely t o b e p art o f t he i nterpolated m aterial t han g enuine s eventh-century w ork . T hirdly i t i s f ar f rom c ertain t hat t hese c harters a re i ndependent o f o ne a nother . O shere 's c harter s urvives i n t he W orcester c artulary, a nd i n t he l ate e ighth c entury B ath w as o wned b y t he s ee o f W orcester a nd w as o ne o f t he p roperties w hose o wnership w as t he s ubject o f a d ispute b etween O ffa a nd W orcester, r esolved i n 7 81 w hen B ath p assed i nto O ffa 's p ossession ( S1257). I t m ay b e t hat i ncarnational d ates w ere a dded t o b oth c harters a t W orcester i n t he e ighth c entury. T he o pening c lause o f O sric's c harter w ith i ts u nfinished a blative a bsolute a nd r eference t o O sric's r eign s uggests t hat t he c harter w as o riginally d ated b y a r egnal y ear, p erhaps i ntroduced b y a n a blative a s i n W igheard's

20 2

c harter. T he i ndiction, m onth a nd d ay a re l ikely t o b e g enuine a nd t he w itness l ist a lso p rovides s ome e vidence f or t he d ate . T he c onclusion r emains t he s ame , t hat t he d ate o f t he d ocument i s 6 th N ovember 6 75. F ollowing t he d ating c lause i s a l engthy p roem w hich b ears n o r esemblance t o g enuine s eventh-century p roems i n e ither c ontent o r w ording a nd a ppears t o b e e ntirely s purious. I t r efers t o t he e nding o f t he p agan r eligion a nd t he f ounding o f a n e piscopal s ee t o s pread t he n ew f aith , a nd s tates t hat f urther r eligious h ouses a re n ow t o b e f ounded i n t he f orm o f m onasteries, s ome f or m en a nd s ome f or w omen: c enobilia e tiam l oca s parsim u irorum . s parsimque u irginum d eo f amulantium e rigenda s tatuimus '. T he a uthor o f t his c lause s eems t o a ssume t hat m onasteries f or w omen a re e ntirely s eparate f rom t hose f or m en, a n a ssumption w hich d oes n ot s uit s eventh-century c ircumstances w hen t he d ouble m onastery w as t he n ormal t ype o f e stablishment f or f emale r eligious i n E ngland. M oreover , e arly A nglo-Saxon w riters t ended n ot t o u se t he t erm u irgines i n r eferring t o n uns , s ince a t t his p eriod m any A nglo-Saxon n uns w ere w idows a nd s ome w ere w ives s eparated f rom t heir h usbands ( Lapidge a nd H erren , p p. 5 4-5). T he s ee m entioned i n t he p roem i s n ot n amed, b ut s ince O sric, t he d onor , i s r ecorded a s a k ing o f t he H wicce ( as i s d etailed b elow) a nd B ath i s s aid, i n t he H istoria B rittonum , t o b e i n t he l and o f t he H wicce ( Historia B rittonum , p . 8 1; C ampbell 1 982, p p. 4 0-1), p resumably t he H wiccian s ee o f W orcester i s m eant. T he p urpose o f t his c lause w as p erhaps t o s uggest t hat B ath w as a H wiccian e stablishment a nd c losely c onnected w ith t he s ee o f W orcester f rom t he t ime o f i ts f oundation , a nd m oreover t hat i t w as f ounded a t s uch a n e arly d ate a s t o h ave p layed a p art i n t he c onversion o f t he A nglo-Saxons. T he d ispositio i s p robably b ased o n t hat o f a g enuine c harter r ecording a g rant o f k ing O sric t o a bbess B erta . A n O sric s ubregulus w ho a ttests F rithuwald 's g rant t o C hertsey ( S1165) i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he d onor o f t he B ath c harter, a nd B ede m entions O sric a s ak ing o f t he H wicce a ctive i n t he 6 80s ( HE I V 2 3). T he b eneficiary i s n amed a s ' Bertane a bbatisse '; t he o blique c ase d erives f rom B erta , n ot B ertana a s i s s ometimes a ssumed. T he n ame m ay b e F rankish , s o a bbess B erta , w ho i s o therwise u nrecorded, p erhaps c ame o ver t o E ngland i n m uch t he s ame c ircumstances a s F olcburh ( Sims-Williams 1 975, p . 2 ). H er n ame i s n ot l ikely t o h ave b een i nvented, b ut p robably d erives f rom ag enuine s eventh-century r ecord. I t a ppears , h owever , t hat t he t ransaction w hich i s t he s ubject o f t he e xtant t ext i s s purious a nd h as b een s ubstituted f or w hatever w as i n t he g enuine c harter u sed b y t he c ompiler. O sric g rants ' centum m anentes q ui a diecent c iuitati q ue u ocatur h at B athu . t ribuens a d c onstruendum m onasterium s anctarum u irginum '. T he e xceptionally l arge a nd r ound n umber o f h ides i s s uspicious . T he w ord ' tribuens ' i s r edundant: a s eventh-century w riter w ould s imply h ave p ut ' ad c onstruendum m onasterium '. T he ' monasterium s anctarum u irginum ' b elongs t o t he s ame o rder o f i deas a s t he ' Cenobilia e tium l oca s parsim u irorum . s parsimque u irginum ' o f t he p roem . M oreover i t i s n ot u sual t o f ind t hat a n a bbot o r a bbess i s a lready o n t he s cene w hen a n e state i s g ranted f or t he f oundation o f am onastery ( S89, 2 35, 2 52, 2 55; b ut c f. S 53). T he c onclusion s eems t o b e t hat O sric 's c harter h as b een a dapted t o c onvert i t i nto a f oundation c harter f or B ath . I t w as p robably n ot a f oundation c harter o riginally a nd B erta 's m onastery w as

21 2

p robably n ot a t B ath . A s m entioned a bove , B ath w as a m onastery o f m en i n t he m id-eighth c entury, a nd i s t herefore u nlikely t o h ave b een a d ouble m onastery i n t he l ate s eventh c entury . I f O sric 's c harter i s c orrectly d ated t o 6 75 , B erta 's h ouse c annot b e i dentified w ith t he o ne r uled b y a bbess B eorngyth f rom c . 6 71 t o 6 80 . I t c an o nly b e s uggested t hat B erta 's m onastery w as s omewhere i n t he p rovince o f t he H wicce. M uch o f t he w ording o f t he d ispositio i s u nusual a lthough n othing i n i t c an d efinitely b e i dentified a s t he u sage o f a l ater a ge. I t h as p robably b een s ubstantially r ewritten. I t i s f ollowed b y a s anction c onsisting o f p rohibitive c lause a nd p enal c lause. T he f irst i s r ather u nusual i n w ording a nd p robably s purious a lthough i t c ould b e b ased o n a g enuine c lause . T he s econd i s p robably a uthentic a s i t r esembles t he s anction o f ag enuine c harter o f t he 6 70s, C oenred 's g rant t o B ectun ( S1164 ; S ims-Williams 1 975, p . 5 ). T he w itness l ist a ppears t o b e g enuine a nd a pparently d erives f rom a s ynod. T he n ame o f t he d onor i s f ollowed b y t hat o f 2 Ethilred, k ing o f t he M ercians. T hen a rchbishop T heodore a ttests a nd f our b ishops f ollow . L euthere's e piscopate c annot b e d ated w ith a ny c ertainty, b ut h e w as b ishop o f t he W est S axons i n t he 6 70s ( HE I II 7 ). W ilfrid o f Y ork i s n ot o therwise r ecorded a s v isiting M ercia a t t his d ate , b ut i s q uite l ikely t o h ave m ade f requent v isits t o t he m onasteries h e f ounded o n l ands g ranted b y W ulf h ere ( Colgrave , W ilfrid , c h . X IV , p . 3 0) i n t he p eriod b efore h is e xpulsion f rom N orthumbria b y k ing E cgfrith l ed t o h is a lienation f rom t he M ercian r oyal f amily. ' Hedda ' m ust b e H aeddi o f W essex , L euthere 's s uccessor , a s n o o ther b ishop r ecorded a s a ctive i n t he 6 70s b ore t his n ame. H is p resence i mplies t hat h e w as c onsecrated i n L euthere 's l ifetime a nd t hat b oth w ere a ctive a t t he s ame t ime. T his i s u nusual b ut n ot e ntirely w ithout p arallel. B ishop H eadda o f M ercia a nd h is s uccessor, b ishop W orr , a re b oth i ncluded i n t wo w itness l ists o f t he e arly e ighth c entury a nd w ere a pparently a ctive a t t he s ame t ime ( S22, 2 48; t he f ormer i s s purious, b ut t he w itness l ist w hich i s s aid t o d erive f rom t he C ouncil o f C lofesho i n 7 16 a ppears g enuine). E orcenwald o f L ondon a nd S eaxwulf o f M ercia w ere c onsecrated a s b ishops b y T heodore n ot l ong a fter t he C ouncil o f H ertford i n 6 72 ( HE I V 6 ). T he f ormer w as s till a ctive i n t his c apacity d uring t he e arly p art o f ' ne ts r eign ( Attenborough , L aws, p . 3 6). S eaxwulf a ttests Athilmod 's c harter o f 6 80 ( S1167). T here a re f our l ay w itnesses , B aldred , O swald , ' Gadfrith ' a nd l Ethilmod. T he f irst m ay b e t he W est S axon r ex o r p atricius w ho w as a ctive i n t he r eign o f C entwine a nd r ecorded a s a b enefactor o f G lastonbury a nd M almesbury ( S236, 1 170). O swald i s o therwise r ecorded o nly i n a n e xtremely d ubious c harter p urporting t o r ecord g rants o f Athilred o f M ercia t o t he b rothers O sric a nd O swald o f l ands a t G loucester a nd P ershore , a nd O sric 's f oundation o f t he m onastery a t G loucester ( S70). L ittle f aith c an b e p laced i n t ihs d ocument , b ut i t m ay b e b ased u ltimately o n s ome a uthentic r ecord, a nd i t i s q uite p ossible t hat O swald w as O sric 's b rother. I t n eed n ot b e d oubted a t l east t hat h e w as a r elative a nd m ember o f t he H wiccian r oyal f amily. ' Gadfrith ' i s n ot r ecorded e lsewhere a s ap ersonal n ame, a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t his i s am iscopying o f E adfrith. H e i s p erhaps t o b e i dentified w ith t he p rinceps w ho a ppears i n a nother c harter w ith k ing Athilred a nd b ishop S eaxwulf ( S1806). Athilmod i s o therwise k nown o nly a s t he d onor o f t he g rant t o a bbess B eorngyth d iscussed a bove.

2 22

T he a ttestation f orms a re a ll a cceptable. T hose o f T heodore a nd L euthere i nclude t he c haracteristic p hrases ' gratia d el' a nd ‚a csi nd O sric 's, w ith i ts r elative c lause, b ears s ome r esemblance i ndignus t a t o t hat o f t he d onor i n C oenred 's c harter: S 51:

' signum m anus O srici r egis q ui h anc c artam f ieri r ogauit';

d onationis

S 1164:

' Ego C oinredus q ui h anc c artulam d onacionis m ee p er o mnia i n m anu p ropria s ignaui e t a d r oborandum f idelibus t estibus t radidi '.

I t a ppears t hat t he c ompiler o f t he s urviving t ext m ade u se o f a c harter o f 6 75 r ecording a g rant b y O sric , k ing o f t he H wicce , t o a bbess B erta, p resumably o f l and. T his c harter w as p robably d ated b y r egnal y ear, i ndication , m onth a nd d ay, i n a c lause p laced a t t he b eginning o f t he d ocument a nd p erhaps i ntroduced b y t he s ort o f a blative a bsolute w ording f ound i n I talian c harters f rom t he s ixth c entury o nwards. I ts s anction a nd w itness l ist s eem t o b e p reserved i n t he e xtant t ext , a nd s uggest t hat i n s ome r espects t he d iplomatic o f O sric's c harter r esembled t hat o f C oenred 's. T he t ransaction s eems t o h ave b een a greed a t a n e piscopal s ynod, p robably h eld i n M ercia. I t i s t empting t o a ssociate t he s ubstantially i nterpolated a nd r ewritten d ocument n ow s urviving w ith t he d ispute b etween t he s ee o f W orcester a nd k ing O ffa o ver t he o wnership o f B ath i n t he l ate e ighth c entury. A c harter c laiming t hat B ath w as f ounded b y aH wiccian k ing s hortly a fter t he c reation o f t he s ee a t W orcester, a nd a s p art o f t he s ame p rocess o f s preading C hristianity i n t he s eventh-century p rovince o f t he H wicce, w ould p robably h ave b een h elpful t o W orcester 's c ase i n 7 81. B ut t he p roem a nd t he w ording o f t he d ispositio s uggest t he i deas o f a l ater a ge , a nd i t s carcely s eems p ossible t hat t hey c ould h ave b een d rafted a s e arly a s t he e ighth c entury, a lthough i t m ay b e t hat t he r ecords o f B ath w ere h eld a t W orcester i n t he e ighth c entury a nd t hat a n i ncarnational d ate w as a dded t o t he c harter a t t hat t ime . T he c harter s eems t o h ave r eached i ts f inal f orm m uch l ater, a nd w as p erhaps m erely d esigned a s a n i mpressive f oundation c harter c laiming f or B ath a g reater a ntiquity t han i t c ould r ightly l ay c laim t o, a nd a r ole i n t he c onversion o f E ngland i n t he s eventh c entury.

S 265 C ambridge, C orpus C hristi C ollege , ( Edition :

11, 1

p. 7 7-8. p

H unt, B ath C arts ., n o. 1 9)

Ag rant o f l and b y C yniwulf, k ing o f t he W est S axons ( 757-786), i s p robably t he e arliest e xtant c harter a ctually r elating t o B ath . T he g rant i s s aid t o b e m ade t o ' fratribus i n m onasterio s ancti P etri q uod s itum e st i n c iuitate e t B athum ', a nd t his w ording i s p robably g enuine. T here i s n o c ontemporary p arallel f or t he u se o f t he w ord f ratres i n d escribing t he b eneficiaries o f a c harter, b ut s everal o ther

23 2

W est S axon c harters o f t he m id-eighth c entury a re w orded a s g rants t o c ommunities, a nd n ot j ust t o h eads o f c ommunities. S ome r efer t o t he f amilia o f t he m onastery ( S251, 2 53 , 2 56, 2 60 , 1 410), o thers t o t he m onastery o r c hurch i tself: ' ad m onasterium q uod d icitur M ichelnie ' ( S261); ' Scireburnensi e cclesie ' ( S263). T he B ath c artulary c ontains a n umber o f c harters r ecording g rants t o l aymen ( S476, 5 08 , 5 93, e tc.), s o t here w as a pparently n o g eneral p olicy o f c onverting a ll c harters i nto g rants t o B ath , a lthough t he e xample o f O sric's c harter s hows t hat t his c ould b e d one o n o ccasions. T he p robability s eems t o b e t hat t he w ording i s g enuine, a nd t hat C yniwulf 's g rant w as m ade t o B ath ; a nd t he f act t hat t he e state c oncerned w as n ear B ath , a s d etailed b elow , t ends t o e ndorse t his t heory. T he r est o f t he w ording a lso a ppears t o b e a uthentic, c onsisting l argely o f s tandard f ormulas. T he k ing 's t itle i s ' rex S axonum ', t he f orm u sually u sed b y e arlier k ings a nd s till c ommon i n t he e ighth c entury . T he s anction p rovides t hat a m alefactor w ill b e c ursed; t his i s u nusual i n aW est S axon c ontext , b ut o ccurs i n K entish a nd M ercian c harters o f t he t ime ( S29, 3 0, 3 3, 5 5, 1 05). Ab lessing i s i ncluded; t his t oo i s u nusual, b ut t here i s a p arallel i n a nother c harter o f t he r eign ( S263). T he c harter i s d ated b y a n i ncarnational y ear a lone t o t he i mpossible d ate 8 08. T he w itness l ist e stablishes t hat t he d ocument d ates f rom 7 57 x 7 60 , t hat i s b etween t he a ccession o f C yniwulf a nd t he d eath o f a rchbishop C uthberht, a nd i t i s p robable t hat t he c orrect d ate o f t he c harter i s 7 58 , D cc l uiii b eing m iscopied a s D ccc . u iii ( ECW , n o . 3 88). T he g rant w as e vidently m ade a t as ynod s ince t he s ubscription o f C yniwulf i s f ollowed b y t hose o f 1 1 c hurchmen , r epresenting a n a ssembly o f m ost o f t he l eading c hurchmen s outh o f t he H umber. T he c lerical w itnesses a re: C uthberht, a rchbishop o f C anterbury ( 740-760) T orthelm ,

b ishop o f L eicester ( 737-764)

C yniheard, E anfrith ,

b ishop o f W inchester ( 756- ) b ishop o f E lmham

H erewald, b ishop o f S herborne E cgwulf, b ishop o f L ondon ( 745- ) M ilred, A cca,

b ishop o f W orcester ( 745-774)

b ishop o f H ereford

E aldwulf, b ishop o f L indsey ( 750-765) E ardwulf , B otwine,

b ishop o f R ochester a bbot o f M edeshamstede.

M ost, a lthough n ot a ll , o f t hese m en c an b e s hown t o h ave b een a ctive a t t he d ate o f t he c harter . T he d ates q uoted a bove a re t aken f rom t he

24 2

C hronicle a nd t he H istoria R egum , a nd c harter e vidence h elps i n s ome c ases . C yniheard o f W inchester a ppears i n l ate c harters o f C yniwulf's r eign ( S261, 2 62, 1 256). H erewald o f S herborne a ttests b oth e arlier a nd l ater c harters ( S96, 2 61, e tc.). E cgwulf o f L ondon w itnesses a c harter o f t he 7 60s ( S143). E ardwulf o f R ochester a ppears i n e arlier a nd l ater c harters ( S1429, 3 4, e tc.). T here a re s ix l ay w itnesses , o ne o f w hom i s O ffa , k ing o f t he M ercians, a nd m ost o f t he o thers a lso s eem t o b e M ercian . T he f irst, E ata , a nd t he l ast, E adbald, b oth a ttest w ith Athilbald i n 7 57 ( S96) a nd w ith O ffa i n l ater c harters ( S58, 1 05, 1 08, 1 40, e tc.). E alhfrith i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he W est S axon l ayman w ho a ttests w ith C yniwulf i n 7 57 a nd 7 58 ( S96, 2 66). D iera i s o therwise u nrecorded, a nd E aldberht i s k nown o nly f rom h is a ttestation o f a H wiccian c harter o f 7 57 w hich i s d ubious b ut p robably b ased o n a uthentic m aterials, a nd w hose w itness l ist a lso i ncludes O ffa , E ata a nd p robably E adbald ( S55). T he k ings , t he a rchbishop a nd t he b ishops a ll a ttest i n af orm o f w ord b ased o n t he f ormula ' Ego X c onsensi '. T he l aymen a nd t he a bbot a ttest i n t he f orm ' Signum m anus X '. T he s ubscriptions t herefore s ubstantially c orrespond w ith e arly W est S axon p ractice , a nd a re c onsistent w ith a d ate i n t he m id-eighth c entury w hen t his p ractice w as g radually d ying o ut. O ne n ame p reserves a n e arly o rthography : a bbot B otwine a ppears a s ' Bootwine', a nd t o r epresent a l ong v owel b y d oubling i t w as a n e arly p ractice ( Stenton 1 933, p . 1 91 n . 2 ). T he w itness l ist a ppears t o b e g enuine , b ut i t i s n ot c lear h ow i t s hould b e i nterpreted . A ll t he n ames m ay d erive f rom o ne m eeting, o r O ffa 's a ttestation, a nd a lso p erhaps t hose o f o ther M ercians, m ay h ave b een a dded a t a l ater d ate . T he a ttestations a re a rranged i n t he s urviving M S a s f ollows : p . 7 7) C yniwulf, k ing C uthberht, a rchbishop T orthelm ,

b ishop

H ereward, b ishop

C yniheard, b ishop

E cgwulf, b ishop

E anfrith ,

M ildred, b ishop

b ishop

. 78) A cca, b ishop

B otwine,

A ldwulf,

E ata

D iera

A lhfrith

A ldberht

b ishop

E ardwulf,

b ishop

O ffa , k ing

a bbot

E adbald

I t s eems l ikely t hat t he t hird c olumn o n p age 7 8 b egins o ne l ine l ower t han t he o ther t wo s olely b ecause t he a ttestations o f a bbot B otwine ,

2 25

b eing l onger b y t he i nclusion o f at itle t han t hose o f t he l aymen, l eft i nsufficient s pace f or t he t hird c olumn t o b egin o n t hat l ine . O n t his b asis t he o rder i n w hich t he n ames o n p age 7 8 s hould b e r ead a ppears t o b e: d own c olumn 1t o R ardwulf, d own c olumn 2 , d own c olumn 3 , a nd O ffa 's n ame l ast. I t h as b een i nferred t hat O ffa d id n ot a ttend t he s ynod a t w hich C yniwulf m ade t his g rant, b ut t hat h e c onfirmed t he t ransaction a t al ater d ate ( Wormald 1 983 , p . 1 17), a nd t his m ay w ell b e c orrect , b ut p roblems r emain . T he a pparent m ixture o f M ercian a nd W est S axon l ay w itnesses s uggests a j oint m eeting; t he f act t hat t here i s o nly o ne l ay s upporter o f C yniwulf n amed i mplies t hat t he l ist h as p robably b een a bbreviated; a nd t he a rrangement o f a ttestations i n t he e xtant c artulary c opy m ay n ot r eproduce t hat i n t he c artularist 's e xemplar . H ence t he c ircumstances a nd t iming o f O ffa 's c onfirmation o f t he g rant m ust r emain i n d oubt. T he l and g ranted b y C yniwulf t o t he m onks o f B ath i s d escribed a s 5h ides a t ' Norpstoc ', n ow N orth S toke , S omerset, s ituated t o t he n orth o f t he r iver A von a nd n ot f ar f rom B ath . B oundaries o f t he e state a re g iven: t hese a re b rief b ut a re i n O ld E nglish a nd p laced a t t he e nd o f t he c harter , a fter t he w itness l ist, s o i t s eems l ikely t hat t hey a re a l ater a ddition , a lthough i t i s n ot i mpossible t hat a c lause o riginally p art o f t he c harter a nd w ritten i n L atin h as b een t ranslated. T he e state i s n ot m entioned i n a ny o ther p re-Conquest c harter a nd w as n ot o wned b y B ath i n 1 066 o r 1 086. T he p robability s eems t o b e t hat t his i s a n a uthentic c harter o f C yniwulf p reserved w ith o nly m inor a lterations: t he a ccidental m iscopying o f t he d ate a nd p ossible e limination o f a n i ndiction; s ome a bbreviation o f t he w itness l ist a nd a lteration o f t he o rder o f n ames; a nd t he a ddition o f a b rief b oundary c lause. T he d ocument e stablishes t hat a m onastery w as i n e xistence a t B ath i n 7 58 a nd t hat t his w as a c ommunity o f m en, a nd w as p robably u nder W est S axon c ontrol a t t his t ime. I n 7 81 a d ispute b etween t he s ee o f W orcester a nd O ffa , k ing o f t he M ercians, c oncerning o wnership o f an umber o f m onasteries a nd e states w as s ettled o n t he b asis t hat O ffa t ook c ontrol o f t he m onastery a t B ath a nd a ll i ts l ands t otalling 9 0 h ides, p lus a f urther 3 0 h ides s outh o f t he A von w hich t he s ee o f W orcester h ad b ought f rom C yniwulf o f W essex , w hile W orcester r etained a ll t he o ther p roperties i n q uestion , t otalling 1 11 h ides, a nd w as a llowed f reedom f rom t he o bligation o f f ood-rent o n t hese l ands f or a p eriod o f t hree y ears ( S1257). T he a greement r esembles o ther d ispute s ettlements o f t he p eriod i n b eing a r oughly e qual d ivision o f t he p roperty i n q uestion b etween t he p arties, b ut i t s eems l ikely t hat O ffa s ecured t he p roperty h e r eally w anted, a nd t hat B ath w as i mportant t o h im f or s trategic r easons ( Sims-Williams 1 975, p . 9 i ncludes r eferences t o e arlier d iscussions; W ormald 1 983, p . 1 16); B ath w as o n t he b order b etween M ercia a nd W essex. T he e state a t N orth S toke ' included L ittle D own C amp, a f ort w ith o bvious m ilitary p ossibilities f our m iles f rom B ath o n t he n orth s ide o f t he A von ' ( Sims-Williams 1 975, p . 9 ), w hile O ffa 's a cquisition o f t he 3 0-hide e state s outh o f t he A von, w hich p robably l ay n ear B ath, g ave h im c ommand o f b oth s ides o f t he r iver . T he a greement o f 7 81 t herefore c onsiderably s trengthened O ffa 's p osition o n t he s outhern b order o f h is k ingdom .

26 2

I t i s i mprobable t hat t hese d evelopments w ere f oreseen b y C yniwulf w hen h e g ranted N orth S toke t o B ath i n 7 58 o r w hen h e s old t he 3 0-hide e state t o W orcester ( cf. W hitelock , E HD , n o. 7 7): h e c an s carcely h ave w ished t o s ee t he M ercian k ing e stablished i n a s trong p osition o n t he b order. P robably t here h ad b een a c hange i n t he e ffective p olitical p ower i n t he a rea b etween 7 58 a nd 6 81. A fter t he l atter d ate B ath s eems t o h ave r emained t he p roperty o f t he M ercian k ings f or m any y ears : E cgfrith i n 7 96 a nd B urgred i n 8 64 d ated c harters f rom B ath ( S148, 2 10). B ut n o c harters f rom t his p eriod s urvive i n t he B ath c artulary; t he n ext g enuine c harter a fter C yniwulf 's o f 7 58 i s a g rant o f E admund d ated 9 41 ( S476).

( c)

C onclusions

T he h istory o f t he m onastery a t B ath i s o f i nterest i n m uch t he s ame w ay a s t hat t he B erkshire m onastery o f C ookham ( S1258), i n t hat c hanges o ccurred i n t he o wnership o f t he h ouse o ver a p eriod o f t ime , f rom w hich m ay b e d educed f luctuations i n t he p olitical p ower i n t he a rea. I t a ppears c ertain t hat C yniwulf o f W essex w as e ffectively i n c ontrol o f t he a rea i n 7 58 a nd a lso a t t he t ime w hen h e s old l and t o W orcester, b ut W est S axon p ower m ay h ave b een s hort-lived. A ccording t o t he a ccount o f t he d ispute b etween W orcester a nd O ffa o f M ercia , O ffa c laimed B ath a nd o ther m onasteries o n t he g rounds t hat t hey w ere t he i nheritance o f h is p redecessor, k ing 2 Ethilbald. O ffa 's c laims s eem t o h ave b een o f v ery d oubtful v alidity, b ut i t s hould p robably b e a ccepted t hat B ath h ad f ormerly b een c ontrolled b y Athilbald , a s s ome o f t he o ther e stablishments c oncerned, f or e xample I smere ( S89), c ertainly h ad. T he e vidence t herefore s uggests t hat Athilbald r uled a n a rea e xtending a t l east t o t he A von ; t hat C yniwulf w as a ble t o b ring t he r iver a nd s ome l and b eyond i t i nto t he W est S axon s phere t owards t he e nd o f Athilbald 's r eign o r p erhaps a fter h is d eath ; b ut t hat M ercian p ower w as r estored b y O ffa , p robably s ome t ime b efore 7 81, s ince B ath w as o wned b y t he s ee o f W orcester b efore O ffa s ecured c ontrol o f i t. F or t he r emainder o f t he e arly p eriod B ath r emained i n M ercian h ands. T he e arlier h istory o f t he m onastery i s e ntirely u nknown . I t m ay w ell b e t hat i t w as o riginally a W est S axon h ouse a nd f irst c ame w ithin t he M ercian k ingdom a s ar esult o f 2 Ethilbald 's m ilitary s uccesses , o r i t m ay h ave b een f ounded a s aM ercian e stablishment. I t w as p robably b ecause o f i ts b asically M ercian o rientation f rom t he l ate e ighth c entury o nwards t hat B ath a cquired s ome M ercian e states a nd t he d ocumentation r elating t o t hem . T hese r ecords p rovide t he s ole e vidence f or t he e xistence o f t wo s eventh-century d ouble m onasteries , b oth p robably h aving F rankish p ersonnel, o ne , t he m onastery o f a bbess B erta , p robably s ituated s omewhere i n t he p rovince o f t he H wicce , a nd t he o ther , t he m onastery o f a bbess B eorngyth a nd h er c olleague F olcburh , l ocated s omewhere i n M ercian t erritory a nd p ossibly i n t he O xford a rea . T he h istory o f t hese e stablishments i s u nknown, a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t hey d id n ot s urvive f or v ery l ong. I t i s p robable t hat t here w ere m any s uch e arly m onasteries o f w hich n o r ecord s urvives a t a ll, a nd, a s S tenton a rgued, i t m ay w ell b e t hat S t . F rideswide o f O xford w as o riginally a bbess F rithuswith , f ounder o f o ne s uch e stablishment ( Stenton 1 935).

27 2

7 .

S HAFTESBURY

P age

( a)

I ntroduction

2 29

( b)

T he C harters

2 29

1 164

C oenred t o B ectun, a bbot

1 256

C yniheard, b ishop , settlement o f d ispute

2 77

( c)

E cgberht, k ing,

t o Beornwyn e t a l

C onclusions

29 2

234

2 35

28 2

( a)

I ntroduction

T he m onastery a t S haftesbury w as f ounded b y k ing Alfred a s a h ouse o f n uns , h is d aughter , Athelgifu, w as a ppointed a bbess, a nd t he k ing e ndowed t he h ouse b oth w ith l ands a nd w ith o ther k inds o f p roperty ( Stevenson , A sser , c h. 9 8, p . 8 5). I n s ubsequent y ears t he m onastery p rospered. I t m aintained i ts c onnections w ith t he r oyal f amily, a cquired t he r elics o f m ore t han o ne r oyal s aint , a nd s ecured a n e xtensive e ndowment o f l and. B y 1 066 i t w as t he w ealthiest n unnery i n t he c ountry ( Keynes a nd L apidge 1 983, p . 2 72 n . 2 37). T he c artulary o f S haftesbury, n ow B ritish L ibrary, H arley 6 1, d ates f rom t he e arly f ifteenth c entury , a nd c ontains a c ollection o f r oyal c harters p lus s ome o ther d ocuments r elating t o t he p eriod f rom 8 t he s eventh c entury t o t he f ifteenth ( Davis 1 958, n o. 85). N early a ll t he p re-Conquest d ocuments a re g rants b y k ings, m any o f t hem t o l ay b eneficiaries, a nd t he m ajority d ate f rom t he t enth c entury. H owever, t he c artulary p reserves s even d ocuments r elating t o t he p eriod b efore t he h ouse w as .f ounded ( S1164, 1 256, 2 77, 3 26, 3 29, 3 34, 3 42), a nd t he f irst t hree o f t hese r elate t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39. T he e arly c harters a re e dited f rom t he m anuscript b y B irch, w hose t exts a re s ubstantially a ccurate.

( b)

T he C harters T he t hree e arly c harters a re: D ate

D onor

1 164

( 669 x 6 75)

1 256 2 77

B eneficiary

C oenred

B ectun, a bbot

7 59

C yniheard, b ishop

S ettlement o f d ispute

8 33

E cgberht, k ing

B eornwyn e t a l.

T he f irst t wo d ocuments a re c onnected a nd a re d iscussed j ointly b elow .

S 1164 a nd S 1256 B .L ., H arley 6 1, ( Editions :

B 107,

f os. 1 9v-20r. 1 86)

I n t he e arly 6 70s C oenred, p resumably t he f ather o f I ne, g ranted a n umber o f e states t o a n a bbot n amed B ectun . T he a bbot's s uccessor, C atwali, s old o ne o f t hese e states , c onsisting o f 3 0 h ides n ear t he r iver F ontmell i n D orset , t o a bbot W intra o f T isbury , a nd d rew u p a c harter r ecording t his t ransaction w hich h e h anded o ver t o W intra . B ut h e r etained C oenred 's c harter b ecause t his w as h is m onastery's t itled eed f or v arious o ther e states. A fter t he d eaths o f t he p arties a nd w itnesses t o t his c ontract , a d ispute a rose b etween t he t wo m onasteries c oncerning o wnership o f t he F ontmell e state , t he c hief c ause o f t he d ispute a pparently b eing t hat B ectun 's h ouse s till h ad, i n C oenred's

29 2

c harter, a pparent e vidence o f t heir o wnership o f t he e state . T he d ispute w as s ettled i n 7 59 b y b ishop C yniheard o f W inchester a nd o ther l eading W est S axons w ho c onfirmed T isbury i n p ossession o f t he e state. T he s ettlement p rovided, a mong o ther t hings, t hat e xcerpts f rom C oenred 's c harter w ere t o b e m ade a nd h anded o ver t o T isbury w ith t he c harter r ecording t he s ettlement , o ther d ocumentation b eing r epudiated. A bbot C atwali's c harter d oes n ot s urvive a nd w as p robably a mong t he r ejected d ocuments . B ut C oenred's c harter a nd b ishop C yniheard 's a ccount o f t he s ettlement o f t he d ispute s urvive i n t ranscripts i n t he S haftesbury c artulary . T he e xtant t ext o f C oenred 's c harter , a lthough i t i ncludes a r eference t o e states i n t he p lural ' earumdem s upradictarum ', a ctually m entions o nly t he F ontmell e state , a nd i t m ay b e i nferred t hat t he S haftesbury t ranscript d erives f rom t he a bbreviated c opy m ade f or T isbury, i n w hich i t w ould b e l ogical t o m ention o nly t his e state . I t a ppears t hat t he m onastery a t T isbury h ad c eased t o e xist b y t he e arly t enth c entury, a nd i ts p roperties r everted t o t he r oyal f amily, w ho l ater g ranted s ome o f t hem t o S haftesbury. 2 Ethelstan g ranted F ontmell M agna i n 9 32 ( S419) a nd m ay a lso h ave g iven T isbury t o t he h ouse ; t he l atter w as t aken b ack i nto r oyal p ossession b y E admund, b ut l ater r estored t o S haftesbury b y E adwig , a ccording t o a c harter i n w hich 2 Ethilred I I c onfirms E adwig's g rant ( S850). B oth e states w ere h eld b y S haftesbury i n 1 066 ( DB D orset , p . 1 9.4 ; D B W iltshire , p . 1 2.2). C oenred 's c harter a nd t he r elated e ighth-century t ext, u nlike m ost e arly W est S axon c harters, h ave a ttracted a f air a mount o f a ttention , a nd m ost s cholars h ave c oncluded t hat t hey a re g enuine. S tenton m entioned t he e arly s pelling ' Coinredus', a nd t he d efinition o f t he e state b y r eference t o an eighbouring r iver w hich i s c haracteristic o f e arly c harters, a nd p ointed o ut t hat t he p hrase ' beate m emorie', u sed o f b ishop L euthere w ho a lso a ttests, c ould h ave b een a dded b y ac opyist ( Stenton 1 918b, p . 2 59). L evison s uggested t hat ' beate m emorie' c ould h ave b een a dded i n 7 59 o r m ight h ave b een p art o f t he o riginal t ext s ince t here i s s ome r eason t o b elieve t hat t his p hrase w as u sed o f l iving p ersons. H e a lso d rew a ttention t o t he a ncient c onveyancing p ractice, i nvolving t he p lacing o f s ods f rom t he l ands o n a c opy o f t he G ospels ; a nd t o t he F rankish e lements i n t he w ording, t he p hrase ' et h oc q uod r epetit : u endicare n on u aleat' a t t he e nd o f t he s anction , a nd t he n aming o f t he s cribe , a nd a ttributed t hese t o t he i nfluence o f t he F rankish b ishop L euthere w ho, h e s uggested , m ight h ave d ictated t he c harter ( Levison 1 946, p p. 2 26-8). T o t hese p oints W hitelock a dded t hat t here a re c orrespondences w ith a uthentic e arly c harters, f or e xample t he p roem r ecurs e lsewhere , a nd t here i s n o a pparent m otive f or f orgery; a nd s he w as a ble t o i dentify a ll t he w itnesses o f C oenred's c harter a nd s ome o f t he m en i nvolved i n t he l ater t ransactions ( EHD , n o. 5 5). C haplais, h owever, c onsiders t he a uthenticity o f t hese d ocuments t o b e d oubtful. H e a ccepts L evison 's a rgument t hat ' beate m emorie' c ould b e u sed o f l iving p ersons, b ut r egards t he o ther u nusual f eatures a s s uspicious . L evison 's t heory t hat L euthere d rafted t he c harter d oes n ot e xplain w hy i t f ollows A nglo-Saxon p ractice i n s ome r espects a nd F rankish p ractice i n o thers . T he e xtant t ranscript o f C oenred 's c harter i s s aid t o d erive f rom a n ' insertion ', t he a ncestor o f i nspeximus c opies, a nd t here i s n o e vidence o f t his p ractice i n E ngland

2 30

a s e arly a s 7 59 a lthough i t i s a ttested o n t he c ontinent i n t he l atter p art o f t he e ighth c entury. I t i s ' disturbing ' t hat p arts o f t he w ording o f t he t wo S haftesbury c harters r ecur i n t wo c harters o f S t. A ugustine' s : S 1164:

S 9:

e x m eredie e piscopi';

h abet

t erram

b eate

m emorie

L eotheri

' qui ze s upradicta t erra c onjuncta e st t errae q uam sanct2e .. d onasse c ognoscitur'.

m emorise L otharius q uondam r ex

S 1256:

s ubtraxit t ar nen e t d onacionis p rime l itteras t erra i n d e q uam d iu a ltercacio e rat e t p resens l ibellum e go d iscripsi ';

S 1182:

e t u t n ulla e sset i nposterum d e h ac c ontentio h oc i psum i n l ibello p rimae d onationis m eae f aciendum d escripsi'.

P hrases s imilar t o t he ' donare d ecreuerim ' o f C oenred 's c harter o ccur i n o ther e arly t exts ( S243, 169, 1 170), a nd s cribal a ttestations b y W ynberht r ecur i n t wo c harters ( S243, 2 39), o f w hich t he s econd i s u ndoubtedly s purious a s i t s tands . C haplais c oncludes t hat ' In v iew o f a ll i ts v aried c onnections t he C oenred c harter i s b ound t o r aise d oubts.' ( Chaplais 1 965, p p. 5 5-6). C haplais' a rguments s carcely s eem t o j ustify a ny s erious s uspicion o f t hese c harters . C oenred 's g rant m ight h ave b een d ictated b y L euthere i f h e h ad b een i n E ngland l ong e nough t o b ecome f amiliar w ith A nglo-Saxon u sages w hile s till r ecalling, a nd i n s ome r espects p referring, F rankish p ractice. B ut p erhaps a m ore l ikely e xplanation o f t he m ixture o f e lements i n t his d ocument i s t hat i t w as w ritten b y a n A nglo-Saxon , p ossibly W ynberht w ho m ight w ell h ave b een b oth a uthor a nd s cribe , a nd t hen t he t wo F rankish c lauses w ere a dded , o ne a t t he e nd o f t he t ext a nd t he o ther a t t he e nd o f t he w itness l ist, o n t he i ntructions o f L euthere w ho w as t he s enior c hurchman p resent a t t he t ime o f t he t ransaction a nd c ould w ell h ave c hecked t he c harter. T his i s t he e arliest o f t he W est S axon c harters i ncorporating s cribal a ttestations, a nd L euthere 's v iews c ould h ave b een r esponsible f or t he c ontinuation o f t his p ractice f or a f ew y ears b y W ynberht a nd o thers. T he f act t hat o ne o f t he d ocuments c oncerned i s s purious a s i t s tands d oes n ot p rejudice t he a uthenticity o f t he o thers, a nd t he s cribal a ttestation i s a lmost c ertainly a n a uthentic e lement i n t he c harter c oncerned ( S239). S ome o f C haplais ' p oints t end r ather t o s upport t han t o w eaken t he d ocuments . T he f act t hat c harters w ere b eing p reserved b y ' insertion ' o n t he c ontinent i n t he s econd h alf o f t he e ighth c entury e ncourages t he b elief t hat t he E nglish e xample o f 7 59 i s a uthentic . T he r ecurrence o f s imilar w ordings i n o ther e arly c harters i s a lso a n a rgum ent i n f avour o f a uthenticity. A dmittedly, t he s imilar d escriptions o f t he e states q uoted a bove f rom S 1164 a nd S 9 d o r epresent a r ather o dd c oincidence , b ut t he c hief e lement o f t his c oincidence, t hat t he e arly W est S axon b ishop a nd t he e arly K entish k ing b ore t he s ame n ame , i s a ttested b eyond d oubt , a nd i t i s d ifficult t o i magine a ny r eason f or t ampering w ith t he t ext i n e ither c ase. B oth w ordings a re p robably a uthentic, a s a re t hose i n t he l ater c harters, w here t he s imilarity i s

2 31

n ot s triking. N othing i n t he w ording o f C oenred's c harter i s i dentifiable a s a n a nachronism , m uch o f t he t ext c onsists o f c ommon f ormulas w hich a re e xactly w hat m ight b e e xpected i n as eventh-century c harter, a nd t here a re p arallels i n o ther e arly c harters f or s everal f eatures o f t he t ext. T he p roem r ecurs i n an umber o f e arly c harters e xtant i n v arious a rchives ( e.g . S 65, 2 48, 1 248, 1 787). I t i s n ormal i n t he e arliest c harters o f w estern E ngland f or a n a bbot o r a bbess t o b e c ited a s t he b eneficiary w ithout t he m onastery b eing n amed ( e.g . S 248, 168, , 176 177), a nd a lso f or t he s ituation o f t he l and t o b e s tated b y r eference 1 t o a n a djacent w ater-course ( e .g . S 243, 2 48, 2 60, 167). T here a re o ther e xamples o f c harters i n w hich a n umber o f e states a re g ranted i n a s ingle d ocument ( e.g . S 45, 2 43, 2 48, 1 248), a nd o ther i nstances o f r eferences t o t he a ncient c onveyancing c eremony w hich i nvolved p lacing a s od f rom t he l and o n a c opy o f t he G ospels ( S1804, 1 805, 1 806; a lso S 239 - p robably a g enuine d etail i n ac harter s purious a s i t s tands). T he c lause d efining t he b eneficiary 's r ights i n a s eries o f g erunds i s n ot p recisely f i aralleled b ut s ome s imilar w ordings o ccur : S 1164:

' ita u t a b h ac d ie t enendi . h abendi . p ossidendi i n o mnibus l iberam e t f irmam h abeat p otestatem f;

S 65:

fl iberam

S 45:

h abeat p otestatem a gendi q uodcumque v oluerit f;

u t p ossidendo t eneas f;

S 235:

fl ibertam

am e h abeatis l icenciam d onandi c ommutandi f;

S 1177:

Tu t i n t ua p otestate s it h abendi e t d onandi c uicumque v olueris '.

T he s anction i s o f at ype w hich i s n ot v ery c ommon , b ut t here a re e arly p arallels:

s ome

S 1164:

' imprimis i ram d ei i ncurrat a l iminibus s ancte e cclesie e t s eparatus f;

S 235:

' sit s eparatus a b o mni s ocietate C hristiana ';

S 236 :

' sciat s e i ram e t i ndignationem e terni i udicis i ncursurum f ;

S 251:

' sit a c ollegio c atholice e cclesie s eparatus f.

T he d onor 's a ttestation w ith i ts r elative c lause r esembles o ne i n a n e arly H wiccian c harter ( S51), a nd L euthere 's s ubscription i ncorporates h is u sual h umility f ormula ( cf. S 51, 1 245). T he e ntire w ording a ppears t o b e a uthentic. N o d ate i s g iven i n t he t ext , a nd t he d ocument c an o nly b e d ated b y m eans o f t he w itness l ist. T he C hronicle's d ating o f L euthere's e piscopate i s s uspect -it a ppears t o b e w rong o n t he d ate o f H eeddi 's d eath ( see u nder S 245) -but t he f igure o f s even y ears f or t he l ength o f h is e piscopate ( ASC s .a . 6 70) c ould w ell d erive f rom a v ery e arly s ource a nd b e c orrect. H e w as c onsecrated b y T heodore ( HE I II 7 ), t herefore n ot e arlier t han 6 69. T he e vidence o f O sric fs g rant t o

2 32

a bbess B erta ( S51) s uggests t hat H eeddi , w ho a ttests C oenred 's c harter a s a bbot , w as c onsecrated a s b ishop b y 6 75. C oenred 's c harter s hould t herefore p robably b e d ated 6 69 x 6 75. T he l and i s d escribed a s s ituated ' de a quilone r iuus n omine F untamel e x m eredie h abet t erram b eate m emorie L eotheri '. W hitelock t ranslates ' north o f t he s tream .. i t h as o n t he s outh t he l and o f B ishop L euthere ', i mplying t hat b oth l andmarks a re t o t he s outh o f t he e state ( EHD , n o. 5 5). B ut t he i nterpretation s uggested b y F inberg a nd C haplais s eems p referable: t he r iver l ay t o t he n orth a nd t he b ishop 's l and t o t he s outh ( ECW , n o. 5 51; C haplais 1 965, p . 5 5). I t s eems r easonable t o a ssume t hat t he w riter w ho d efined t he l ocation o f t he e state b y t wo c lauses b eginning ' de a quilone' a nd ' ex m eredie ' r espectively i ntended t o g ive n orthern a nd s outhern b oundaries. A s s uggested a bove , t he 1 5-hide e state o f F ontmell M agna l ater o wned b y S haftesbury p robably r epresented p art o f t he e state g ranted b y C oenred. S tenton s ays t his c harter i s e vidence f or t he r egion o f W essex i n w hich I ne 's f aMily w as b ased ( Stenton 1 918b, p . 2 59), b ut t he i nformat ion a vailable t o u s s carcely s upports s uch a n i nference. T he e state m entioned i n t he s urviving v ersion o f C oenred 's c harter w as o nly o ne o f an umber o riginally g ranted, a nd w e h ave n o m eans o f k nowing w here t he o thers l ay . T hey m ay h ave b een s ome d istance a way f rom t he o ne w hose l ocation w e k now . A lso, t he o ccurrence o f C oenred 's n ame i n t he A bingdon r ecords ( S93, 2 41), s uggests t he p ossibility t hat h e w as i n a p osition t o g rant l and i n t he n orth a s w ell a s t he s outh o f W essex. S imilarly t he p osition o f t he e state d oes n ot e nable B ectun 's m onastery t o b e l ocated. T his e state w as t he s ingle o ne o f a ll t hose g ranted b y C oenred t hat t he m onks d isposed o f, a nd i t i s q uite l ikely t hat i t w as t he f urthest f rom t heir m onastery, t he s ale b eing p art o f s ome r ationalisation o f t heir e ndowment. T hey a re u nlikely t o h ave b een w illing t o s ell a n e state w hich f ormed p art o f ab lock o f p roperty i n t he i mmediate v icinity o f t heir h ouse. C oenred i s g iven n o t itle i n t his c harter, b ut t his i s n ot n ecessarily a n i ndication t hat h e d id n ot h ave r oyal s tatus. A nother e arly W est S axon n obleman, B aldred, i s s tyled r ex i s o ne c harter ( S236) a nd g iven n o t itle i n a nother ( S1170), a nd s imilarly t he M ercian n oblem an W igheard a ppears i n o ne s ource a s s ubregulus ( S1165) a nd i n a nother w ithout a t itle ( S1168). I n a S outh S axon c harter d ated 6 92 ( the d ate i s n ot b eyond d ispute: i t i s g iven o nly a s a n i ncarnational y ear a nd c annot b e v erified) C oenred a ttests a s ' Rex W estsaxonum ' a nd I ne i s g iven n o t itle ( S45). I n t he p rologue t o I ne 's l aws, I ne i s d escribed a s k ing o f t he W est S axons a nd C oenred i s g iven n o t itle. C oenred 's l ater s tatus i s d iscussed e lsewhere ( see S 45), b ut a t t he t ime o f t he g rant t o a bbot B ectun i t s eems l ikely t hat h e w as o ne o f t hose m inor r ulers w ho m ight b e g iven v arious t itles, r ex , s ubregulus , p atricius , p rinceps, o r n o t itle a t a ll ( Campbell 1 979). B ishop C yniheard 's c harter o f 7 59 a lso s eems l ikely t o b e g enuine. I nvention o f i ts d etailed n arrative i s s carcely p robable, a nd t here s eems t o h ave b een n o m otive f or i t : S haftesbury a cquired t he e state f rom k ing Athelstan a nd p ossessed a c harter r ecording h is g rant ( S419), s o i ts t itle t o t he l and d id n ot d epend o n T isbury 's f ormer t itle, w hich i s w hat C yniheard 's c harter e stablishes. T he d ocument 's c ontent n aturally p recluded t he u se o f s tandard f ormulas , s o t hat t he

2 33

a uthenticity o f t he w ording c annot b e d emonstrated b y c ontemporary p arallels. T here a re , h owever, o ther i nstances o f t he p ractice o f p roviding a d etailed n arrative o f t he o rigin a nd p rogress o f ad ispute , a s w ell a s r ecording t he s ettlement t erms ( e.g . S 1258, 1 429), a nd o ne d etail o f t he w ording o f w hich t here i s ap arallel i s t he i ncorporation o f C yniheard 's a ttestation a t t he b eginning o f t he d ocument i nstead o f i n t he w itness l ist; C yniwulf's a ttestation i s s imilarly p laced i n a nother c harter o f t he r eign: S 1256:

' c l IG H oc s ignum e go C yniheardus i ndignus e piscopus . i mpressi a d c onfirmandum r oborandamque h anc c artulam q uam ..';

S 264 :

4 H oc s ignum s uprascriptum s acrosantae c rucis c risti i n n omine s anctae t rinitatis . E go C ynefulf r ex S axonum p ropria m anu e xpraessi a d c onfirmandam d onationem m unificentiee m eae q uam

T he a bbreviated w itness l ist, c onsisting o f k ing C yniwulf, b ishop H erewald o f S herborne a nd t wo l aymen , S cilling a nd C erdic , i s q uite a cceptable. I t s hould b e m entioned t hat t he e rror o f y resbiter f or p refectus i n t he l ast t wo s ubscriptions, s ometimes a ttributed t o t he c artularist, i s i n f act t he e ditor's: t he m anuscript g ives t he t itles a s 2 1 ..

S 277 B .L ., H arley 6 1, f os. ( Edition :

1 7v-18r.

B 410)

T he t hird e arly d ocument i n t he S haftesbury c artulary i s ac harter i n t he n ame o f E cgberht, k ing o f t he W est S axons, c onfirming o wnership o f a n e state. T he c harter s eems t o b e g enuine. T he s ubject o f t he c harter i s a n e state o f 1 0 h ides a t 1 2ennland', n ow W oolland i n D orset, t he i nheritance o f t hree s isters n amed B eornwyn, Alfflaed a nd W alenburh . T he t ext e xplains t hat t he t itle d eeds f or t his l and w ere l ost, a nd t herefore t he p resent t estimonii c artula w as d rawn u p t o c onfirm t he h eiresses i n p ossession . O riginally e ach o f t he t hree o wned o ne-third o f t he e state. B ut t hey l ater i nherited s ome f urther l ands a nd a n ew d ivision w as m ade. B eornwyn w ent t o D umnonia a nd a ccepted a s h er s hare o f t he t otal i nheritance a n e state a t ' Derentunehomm ', n ow D artington i n D evon , r elinquishing h er s hare o f t he e state a t W oolland t o t he o ther t wo w ho t hen d ivided i t b etween t hem . I nvention o f t his n arrative b y a f orger s carcely s eems p robable. A s et o f b ounds i n O ld E nglish i s p rovided. T his i s l ikely t o b e a l ater a ddition t o t he t ext, o r p ossible a l ater t ranslation o f a c lause o riginally d rawn u p i n L atin. T he c harter i s d ated f rom t he r oyal v ill a t ' Dornwerecestre ', i .e. D orchester, 8 33, 1 2th i ndiction,

2 34

t he f east o f S t. S tephen, i .e. 2 6th D ecember. T his c lause a ppears a uthentic. O ther c harters o f t he t ime a re d ated f rom r oyal r esidences ( e.g. S 280, 1 438), a nd o ne o f t he d ating c lauses p reserved i n t he W inchester s eries o f d ocuments i n E cgberht 's n ame r efers t o t he f east o f S t. S tephen ( S272). T he d ates a re i nconsistent a nd c annot b e r econciled m erely b y a djustment o f t he y ear-beginnings: A D 8 33 r an f rom ( in m odern t erms) 2 5th D ecember 8 32 t o 2 4th D ecember 8 33, s o t hat S t. S tephen 's d ay f ell o n t he 2 6th D ecember 8 32; t he 1 2th i ndiction w as i st S eptember 8 33 t o 3 1st A ugust 8 34, S t. S tephen 's d ay b eing 2 6th D ecember 8 33. T he p robability s eems t o b e t hat t here i s a s cribal e rror h er , a nd t he m ost l ikely o ne i s i n t he A D d ate, D .c cc . x xxiii b eing a m iscopying o f D .c cc . x xiv. O n t his b asis t he c orrect d ate o f t he c harter w ould b e 2 6th D ecember 8 33. T he w itness l ist h as b een a bbreviated , a s i s u sual i n t his c artulary, b ut t he t wo r emaining s ubs criptions, t hose o f k ing E cgberht a nd b ishop E alhstan o f S herborne, f it t he d ate a nd a re q uite a cceptable a s t he f irst t wo a ttestations o f a n a uthentic l ist. M uch o f t he w ording o f t his d ocument i s n aturally d ifferent f rom t hat o f t he u sual g rant o f l and o r p rivileges, s ince t he c ontent i s s o d ifferent, b ut n othing i n i t a ppears a nachronistic e xcept t he O ld E nglish b oundary c lause. I n p laces w here t he c ontent o f t he c harter i s n ormal, t he u sual f ormulas a re e mployed, f or e xample i n t he r oyal t itle, t he r eference t o t he c onsent a nd a dvice o f b ishops a nd p rincipes , t he d ating c lause a nd s anction. T he l ater h istory o f t he e state a t W oolland i s n ot c lear. T he c artularist's r ubric a ppears t o c laim t hat t he l and w as o wned b y S haftesbury, It erre e cclesie s ancti E dwardi d e S haftone', a nd i t w ould b e r easonable t o a ssume t hat t he c harter c ame i nto t he m onastery 's p ossession w ith t he e state , b ut t here i s n o o ther e vidence o f S haftesbury 's o wnership. T he o nly o ther p re-Conquest c harter i n w hich W oolland i s n amed i s a v ery s uspicious p ancarta o f M ilton A bbey, w hich m ay i n f act b ei a p ost-Conquest f abrication , a nd w hich c laims 5 h ides a t W oolland ( S391), a nd i n D omesday B ook t he e state, a ssessed a t 5 h ides, i s l isted a s t he p roperty o f M ilton A bbey ( DB D orset , p . 1 2.10). P ossibly S haftesbury h ad o wned t he e state e arlier b ut l ost i t b efore t he C onquest. I t a ppears t hat t he c harter o f E cberht i s a n a uthentic n inthc entury d ocument, a ltered o nly b y t he i ntroduction o f ab oundary c lause a nd t he a bbreviation o f t he w itness l ist, i t i s o ne o f v ery f ew g enuine c harters o f t his r eign a nd i s i nteresting i n t hat i t g ives a n a ccount o f t he i nheritance o f l and w ithin a f amily a nd o f t he a rrangem ents m ade b y t he h eiresses.

( c)

C onclusions

C oenred a ppears i n t he g rant t o a bbot B ectun a s am inor r uler i n W essex a round 6 70. T he e xtent o f h is p ower i s u nknown , b ut t hat h e w as am an o f c onsiderable s tatus a nd i nfluence i s s uggested f irstly b y t he p resence o n t his o ccasion o f s ome o f t he l eading c hurchmen i n W essex , a nd s econdly b y t he f act t hat C oenred, a lthough h e p robably d id a cknowledge t he a uthority o f s ome o ther k ing , m akes n o r eference i n t his c harter t o a ny n eed f or t he c onsent o f a n o verlord t o h is g rant.

2 35

I t i s p ossible t hat t he p ower o f t he f amily g radually i ncreased f rom t his t ime u ntil 6 88 , b ut p erhaps m ore l ikely t hat C oenred a nd I ne w ere s till v ery m inor r ulers u ntil t hey t ook a dvantage o f t he p ower v acuum l eft b y C eadwalla 's a bdication a nd s ecured s upreme p ower i n W essex, p robably d efeating o ther c ontenders. T he e xtent o f C eadwalla 's m ilitary s uccesses a nd t he a bsence o f s ub-kings f rom t he r ecords o f h is r eign t end t o g ive t he i mpression t hat a t t his t ime p ower w as c oncentrated i n t he h ands o f o ne m an -as B ede a sserted ( HE I V 1 2). B ut C oenred e vidently r etained a s ufficient p ower b ase t hroughout C eadwalla 's r eign t o e nable h is f amily t o e stablish t hemselves a s s upreme r ulers i n 6 88. ( On C oenred s ee f urther u nder S 45). T he t wo c harters r elating t o F ontmell c onstitute t he s ole e vidence f or B ectun 's m onastery. T he s econd r ecorded a bbot o f t he h ouse, C atwali, i s u nusual i n h aving a B ritish n ame a nd m ay h ave b een B ritish i n o rigin ( EHD , n o. 5 5). I t s eems l ikely t hat a nother a bbot o f t his h ouse i s a mong t he u nidentified a bbots w ho a ttest I ne's g eneral g rant o f p rivileges o f 7 04 ( S245). B ishop C yniheard 's c harter p rovides a n e arly a ccount o f t he s ettlement o f a d ispute. T he p rocedure i n t his i nstance i s n ot o ut o f l ine w ith t hat o f s ome o ther e arly d ispute s ettlements i n t hat t he c ase w as d iscussed a t a m eeting o f t he k ing, t he b ishops a nd o ther l eading m en; t itle d eeds w ere u sed b y t he p arties t o s upport t heir c laims; t he s ettlement s eems t o h ave b een a c ompromise, o n t he a ssumption t hat t he c ash p ayment m entioned w as m ade b y T isbury t o B ectun 's h ouse, a nd n ot s imply a d ecision i n f avour o f o ne p arty. C yniheard 's c harter p rovided t hat, w hen t his a ccount, a nd t he c opy o f t he o riginal g rant w hich i t i ncorporated, h ad b een d rawn u p , c ertain o ther d ocuments r elating t o t he e state w ere r ejected. T here i s a s imilar p rovision i n E cgberht's c onfirmation o f t he o wnership o f W oolland b y B eornwyn a nd h er s isters. T he o riginal d ocumentation w as l ost, a nd i f i t s hould b e f ound a nd s hould c ontradict a nything i n t he n ew c harter, i t i s t o b e r epudiated. I t w as p robably n ormal p ractice t o p rovide f or t he c ancellation o f s uperseded r ecords b y s tating i n t he n ew a ccount t hat t hey w ere n o l onger v alid. T he D evon e state a t D artington w hich B eornwyn t ook a s h er s hare o f t he p roperty i s s ituated n o f urther w est t han C rediton b ut a l ong w ay s outh o f i t. T hat a W est S axon w oman i nherited t his e state, o wned i t, a nd a pparently w ent t o l ive t here , m ay b e c onsidered a n i ndication t hat W est S axon p ower w as f airly f irmly e stablished i n t hat a rea b y t he l atter p art o f E cgberht's r eign.

2 36

8 .

S HERBORNE

P age ( a)

I ntroduction

2 38

( b)

T he C harters

2 40

S 2 28

C oenwalh, k ing, t o S herborne

2 40

2 63

C yniwulf, k ing , t o S herborne

2 41

( c)

L ost C harters

2 43

( d)

C onclusions

2 52

2 37

( a)

I ntroduction

T here i s g ood r eason t o b elieve t hat a m onastery w as e stablished b y t he W est S axons a t S herborne i n t he s eventh c entury , b ut t he c onnection b etween t his e stablishment a nd t he m edieval a bbey o f S herborne i s s omewhat t enuous, s ince t he c hurch a t S herborne w as s ubjected t o a n umber o f c hanges o f s tatus b etween t he e ighth a nd t welfth c enturies. I n 7 05 t he s ingle W est S axon d iocese w as d ivided a nd a n e piscopal s ee w as e stablished a t S herborne ( HE V 1 8). I n t he 1 070s t he s ee w as m oved t o S alisbury , S herborne r emaining a s a d ependent p riory. I n 1 122 t his p riory w as a malgamated w ith H orton a bbey, a nd S herborne w as g ranted t he s tatus o f a n a bbey w ith H orton a s a d ependent p riory, a nd w as m ade i ndependent o f t he s ee o f S alisbury ( Williams 1 968 , p p. 4 0-2 ; K nowles e t a l. 1 972 , p . 7 0). T here w ere a lso c hanges i n t he d iocese a dministered b y S herborne d uring i ts p eriod a s a n e piscopal s ee. T he h uge d iocese c reated i n 7 05 w as d ivided c . 9 09 i nto t hree p arts, a nd n ew s ees w ere e stablished a t C rediton i n D evon a nd a t W ells i n S omerset ; S herborne 's d iocese w as r educed t o a n a rea r oughly e quivalent t o D orset. A t m uch t he s ame t ime t he e astern d iocese w as d ivided i nto t wo, a nd a n ew s ee c reated a t R amsbury i n W iltshire, W inchester b eing l eft w ith a r educed a rea ( Napier a nd S tevenson , n o. 7 ; E HD , n o. 2 29; G R , V ol . I , p . 1 40 n . 3 a nd V ol. I I , p p. l v-lvii). I n 1 058 t he d ioceses o f S herborne a nd R amsbury w ere u nited, w ith t he s ee a t S herborne ( Williams 1 968 , p . 4 0). T he a malgamations o f 1 058 a nd 122 n aturally i ncreased t he 1 e ndowment o f t he h ouse, b ut i t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat t he d ivision o f t he d iocese i n t he e arly t enth c entury a nd t he r emoval o f t he s ee t o S alisbury , l eaving S herborne a s a d ependent p riory a nd e ventually a n i ndependent e stablishment , i nvolved t he l oss o f m any e states a nd, i n a ll p robability, o f t he r elevant d ocumentation . T he c umulative e ffect o f a ll t hese o fficial c hanges, i n a ddition t o t he v icissitudes w hich b eset a ny r eligious e stablishment o ver t he y ears, m ust b e b orne i n m ind w hen d ocuments d rawn u p, c opied o r c ompiled a fter t he C onquest, a nd r elating t o t he s ee o f S alisbury o r t he a bbey o f S herborne w ith H orton, a re u sed a s s ources o f i nformation a bout t he e arly m onastery a t S herborne. T he c artulary o f S herborne i s a t welfth-century c ompilation r elati ng t o t he e ndowment o f S herborne a bbey a nd i ts d ependent p riory a t H orton. I t f orms t he f irst p art o f am anuscript, n ow B ritish L ibrary A dditional 4 6487, w hose s econd s ection c onsists o f l iturgical t exts ( Davis 1 958, n o. 8 92). T he w hole m anuscript i s h andsomely w ritten a nd o rnamented a nd i s b ound i n h eavy w ooden b oards, t he t op o ne b earing t races o f h aving o nce b een r ichly o rnamented. A mong t he c ontents a re p apal d ocuments r elating t o a d ispute b etween S herborne a bbey a nd t he b ishop o f S alisbury i n 1 145, a nd i t h as b een p lausibly s uggested t hat t he m anuscript w as p roduced s hortly a fter t his d ate , t he s ecular d ocuments p articularly t hose r elating t o t he d ispute, b eing c ombined w ith l iturgical m aterial i n a p recious b inding i n o rder t o p reserve a nd p rotect t hem , a nd t hus t o p rovide t he a bbey w ith a m eans o f d efense a gainst f urther i nterference b y t he b ishop ( Wormald 1 957, p p . 1 06-9). I n c onsequence o f am odern r ebinding ( within t he m edieval

2 38

b oards)

t he o rder o f f olios w as b adly c onfused, a nd p aper l eaves w ere i nserted b etween f olios. T he m anuscript h as s ince b een r ebound, t he p aper i nterleaving r emoved a nd t he c orrect o rder r estored ( Wormald 1 957, p . 1 02 ; B arnie 1 968). T he c harters a re g rouped i n c ategories r elated t o t heir c ontent, g rants o f p rivileges b eing l isted s eparately f rom g rants o f l ands, a nd t he d ocuments d eriving f rom t he H orton a rchive b eing p laced a t t he e nd. N one o f t he p re-Conquest c harters s urvives i n a ny o ther m anuscript , a lthough o ne S herborne d ocument w hich i s n ot i n t he c artulary s urvives e lsewhere ( S1383). F our o f t he H orton c harters a re g rants t o l aypersons ( S601, 9 10, 9 69, 9 98), b ut a ll t he S herborne d ocuments r elate d irectly t o t he h ouse , a nd t he m ajority a re r oyal g rants. I t a ppears t hat t here h as b een r igorous s election o f d ocuments a t s ome s tage, o nly r oyal g rants t o t he h ouse b eing r etained, p lus a f ew d ocuments i nitiated b y t he c ommunity, o r a lternatively t hat c harters h ave b een r ewritten w here n ecessary t o m ake t hem c onform t o t his p attern . P ossibly b oth m ethods w ere e mployed. T he e states r ecorded i n t he s urviving c harters a s d irect r oyal g rants t o S herborne c oincide a lmost e xactly w ith t hose e states a mong t he b ishop o f S alisbury 's p ossessions w hich a re d escribed i n D omesday B ook a s b eing f or t he p rovision o f t he m onks a t S herborne ( see t able b elow). H alstock m ay h ave b een a n a ccidental o mission f rom D omesday B ook. I t w as o wned b y S herborne i n t he t welfth c entury, b eing m entioned w ith o ther e states i n p apal b ulls ( e.g. H oltzmann 1 930-52, V ol . II, p p. 1 37-8 , n o. 1 3; D ugdale 1 817, V ol. I , p p. 3 38-9, n o. 5 ), I a nd t he n inth-century m onasteriunculus a t H alstock m ay w ell h ave b een a c ell o f S herborne, s o t hat t he g rant t o i ts d eacon, E adberht ( S290),

E state

G rant

D B D orset I L L

S herborne

3 .1

O sborne

3 .2

8 13

T hornford

3 .3

5 16

B radford A bbas

3 .4

4 22

O ver C ompton

3 .5

S talbridge

3 .6

S talbridge W eston

3 .7

C orscombe

3 .8

9 33, 9 75

S toke A bbot

3 .9

2 95 ( ?)

4 23

2 90

! Halstock L yme

2 63

( 2.5)

2 39

P ancarta S 895

w as i n e ffect a g rant t o S herborne. L yme i s l isted i n D omesday B ook a s a p ossession o f t he b ishop o f S alisbury. S imon K eynes h as r emarked i n c onnection w ith t his a nd o ther c artularies w hich p resent a s imilar h istory o f t heir e states o n t he i nherent i mprobability t hat v irtually t he w hole o f ah ouse's D omesday e ndowment w as a cquired b y d irect r oyal g rant ( Keynes 1 980 , p p. 9 -10), a nd t his c onsideration p rovides f urther g rounds f or s uspecting t hat c harters i n t his c artulary m ay h ave b een i nterpolated. I n p articular, i t i s q uite l ikely t hat c harters r ecordi ng g rants t o l ay b eneficiaries h ave b een c onverted i nto g rants t o S herborne, a nd t his p ossibility h as t o b e b orne i n m ind i n c onsidering a ny i ndividual c harter.

( b)

T he C harters

T wo d ocuments i n t he S herborne c artulary r elate t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39:

D ate

D onor

B eneficiary

2 28

6 71

C oenwalh, k ing

S herborne

2 63

7 74

C yniwulf, k ing

S herborne

T here a lso s urvives a l ist o f g rants t o S herborne, s ome r epresented b y e xtant c harters, b ut m any n ot o therwise r ecorded, a nd s everal o f t hese g rants r elate t o t he e arly p eriod. T he l ist i s e dited a nd d iscussed b elow .

S 228 B .L ., A dditional 4 6487, f o. 1 7ry ( Edition :

B 26)

T he d ocument w hich p urports t o b e t he o ldest c harter i n t he S herborne c artulary i s a g rant o f p rivileges i n t he n ame o f C oenwalh, k ing o f t he W est S axons, d ated 6 71. N one o f t he p rinted e ditions i ncludes t he w itness l ist w hich i s a s f ollows: +E go C oenuualh r ex h ec o mnia c onfirmans p ropria m anu s ignum c rucis s ubscripsi. +E go W lfhere r ex s imiliter c orroborans s ignum c rucis i mpressi. +E go L aurentius a rchiepiscopus h ec s imiliter c orroborando s ignum c rucis s ubscripsi. +S ignum m anus H ugg p rincipis. + S ignum m anus R omani a bbatis. T his c harter a ppears t o b e a t otal f abrication . I t c ontains s erious c hronological e rrors: t he g rant i s s aid t o b e m ade b y C oenwalh t o t he e piscopal s ee o f S herborne , ' sedi p ontificale S cireburnensis e cclesie', w ith t he c onsent o f a rchbishop L aurence. C oenwalh r eigned f rom c . 6 41 t o c . 6 72 ( ASC s .a. 6 41, 6 72), S herborne d id n ot b ecome a n e piscopal s ee u ntil 7 05 ( HE V 1 8), a nd a rchbishop L aurence d ied c . 6 19 ( HE I I 7 ).

2 40

T here i s n o i ndication t hat t he w itness l ist h as a ny a uthentic b asis. T he f irst t hree n ames i n i t m ight h ave b een t aken f rom B ede ( HE II 7 ; I II 2 4, e tc.; I I 4 -6), a nd t he n ame R omanus m ight a lso h ave b een I b orrowed f rom t he s ame s ource ( HE I I 8 , 2 0 ; I II 2 5), a lthough n o a bbot o f t his n ame i s r ecorded. ' Hugg ' d oes n ot a ppear t o r epresent a g enuine A nglo-Saxon p ersonal n ame a nd i ts o rigin i s u nknown ; t he n ame d oes n ot r ecur i n S herborne r ecords. T he a ttestation f orms a re n ot t hose u sual i n t he e arliest W est S axon c harters, n or i s t he o rder o f n ames u sual s ince a l ayman p recedes a n a bbot. T he p resence o f W ulfhere o f M ercia i s o dd a nd i nexplicable. T he w hole l ist a ppears t o b e f orged. T he t ransaction r ecorded i n t he c harter i s a lso a nachronistic. C oenwalh i s s aid t o g rant p erpetual a nd u nqualified f reedom f rom a ll f iscal a nd s ecular d ues. P rovisions o f t his k ind d o n ot a ppear i n g enuine W est S axon c harters o f t he s eventh c entury , t he e arliest g rant o f p rivileges b y aW est S axon k ing b eing t hat o f I ne i n 7 04 ( S245), w hich p robably r esulted f rom t he s imilar K entish g rant o f 6 99 ( S20). C oenwalh 's a lleged g rant i s r ecorded i n t he t ext t hree t imes o ver i n d ifferent w ords: o mnium f iscalium a c s ecularium r erum s iue o perum s iue t ributum e t c unctorum n egotiorum s eu i n m agnis s eu i n m odicis p er o mne m odum u niuersaliter s it l ibera ' ' De o mnibus q uoque c uris e t c ausis s ecularibus ' a b u niuersis g rauitudinibus e t s ecularium h ominum t urbinibus h ec e adem e cclesia c um t ota t erre e t p ossessione i llius s emper i nmunis e t s ecura p ermaneat'. T his s ort o f o ver-emphasis s uggests t he w ork o f a f orger e ndeavouring t o s trengthen t he a uthority o f ad ocument w hich h e k nows t o b e w ithout f oundation. T he w ording o f t he c harter b ears n o r esemblance t o g enuine s eventh-century p hraseology. I t s eems c lear t hat t his d ocument i s a t otal f abrication p roviding n o e vidence f or t he e arly p eriod.

S 263 B .L ., A dditional 4 6487, f os . ( Edition:

1 3v-14v

B 224)

Ac harter r ecording a g rant o f l and m ade b y C yniwulf, k ing o f t he W est S axons, t o t he c hurch o f S herborne a t t he r equest o f b ishop Athilmod a ppears t o b e g enuine. I t i s d ated 7 74 b y a n i ncarnational y ear a lone, a n i ndiction m ay h ave b een o mitted b y a c opyist a t s ome t ime, a lthough t his w as n ot t he u sual p ractice o f t he t welfth-century c artularist. T here i s n o r eason t o d oubt t he d ate , w hich i s c onsistent w ith t he w itness l ist. B ishops J Ethilmod o f S herborne a nd E cgbald o f W inchester a ppear i n n o e arlier d ocument , b ut a lso a ttest t he o nly

2 41

s urviving l ater c harter o f C yniwulf i n 7 78 ( S264). T he s ix l aymen a ll a ttest o ther c harters o f t he r eign a nd a re d escribed e lsewhere a s p refecti, i .e. e aldormen . T he w ording i s f airly b rief a nd u ncomplicated, a s i s u sual i n c harters o f C yniwulf. T he i nvocation i s c losely p aralleled b y o ne i n a c harter o f B eorhtric: S 263 :

' Regnante i mperpetuum d omino n ostro I hesu C risto . e t h oc s eculum i usto m oderamine d ispensanti ';

S 267:

' Regnante i n p erpetuum D omino n ostro J esu C hristo n ec n on e t h oc s aeculum p ulchro m oderamine d ispensanti';

T he p roem i s n ot a ltogther d issimilar f rom t hat i n a nother c harter o f t he r eign ( S262). T he c harter i s u nusual i n h aving a b lessing b ut n o s anction , b ut t his n eed n ot b e c onsidered s uspicious s ince a nother c harter o f C yniwulf h as a b lessing ( S265) a nd t wo o thers h ave n o s anction ( S260, 2 61). T he k ing 's s ubscription i s o f t he c ommon t ype r eferring t o c onfirmation b y t he s ign o f t he c ross, a nd t he o ther a ttestation f orms d o n ot s trictly d istinguish l ay f rom c lerical w itnesses, w hich i s w hat o ne m ight e xpect a t t his d ate. C ertain d etails o f t he w ording s uggest t hat t his c harter m ay s afely b e a ccepted a s a g rant t o S herborne, a nd n ot a g rant t o a l ay b eneficiary l ater i nterpolated. C yniwulf i s s aid t o m ake t he g rant u enerabilis e piscopi m ei e xortationibus i Ethelmodi i nstructus s aluberrimis'. T his w ould s carcely b e a ppropriate t o a ny o ther b eneficiary, a nd i s w ithout p arallel i n o ther S herborne c harters, w hich t ends t o s uggest t hat i t i s a uthentic a nd n ot t he w ork o f a f orger. M oreover, o ne o f t he p urposes o f g ranting t his p roperty, a s tretch o f r iver b ank w here s alt w ould b e o btained, w as ' ut i n d iuinis o fficiorum u sibus h aberetur ' w hich i s c onsistent w ith a n e cclesiastical b eneficiary. T he p roperty i s d escribed a s 1h ide o f l and o n t he w est b ank o f t he r iver ' Lim ', n ow t he L yme i n D orset , n ot f ar f rom t he m outh o f t he r iver a nd e xtending t o a p lace o wned b y t he c hurch o f S herborne; s alt i s p rocured t here f or v arious p urposes, a s a c ondiment f or f ood a nd f or u se i n t he d ivine o ffices. T his a ccount, a lthough u nusual, i s n ot a nachronistic: a K entish c harter o f 7 32, e xtant a s a n o riginal, s pecifies t hat t he l and c oncerned i s g ranted f or t he s ake o f t he s alt w hich c an b e p rocured t here ( S23). N o b oundary c lause i s i ncluded, p ossibly b ecause s uch c lauses h ad n ot y et b ecome a s tandard p art o f W est S axon c harter-writing , o nly b eing i ntroduced d uring t his r eign ; b ut a lso p robably b ecause t he n ature a nd s ituation o f t he p roperty g ranted h ere w as s uch t hat n o m ore d etailed a cocunt o f i ts b oundaries c ould u sefully b e p rovided. T he e state i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith o ne a t ' Lym ' o wned b y t he b ishop o f S alisbury i n 1 066, w hich w as n ot a ssessed f or g eld b ut w here t here w as l and f or o ne p lough a nd t he o ccupants i ncluded f ishermen ( DB D orset, p . 2 .5). T his w as n ot a mong t he e states s aid t o b e h eld b y t he b ishop f or t he p rovision o f t he m onks o f S herborne , b ut s eems t o h ave b een h anded o ver t o S herborne w hen t he h ouse b ecame i ndependent o f t he s ee , s ince i t i s i ncluded a mong S herborne e states m entioned i n p apal b ulls o f t he t welfth c entury ( Holtzmann 1 930-52, V ol. I II , p p. 1 37-8; n o. 1 3; D ugdale 1 817, V ol. I ,

2 42

p p . 3 38-340, n os. 5 , 6 ). T here s eems n o r eason t o d oubt t hat C yniwulf's g rant t o S herborne o f l and o n t he r iver L yme i s a s ubstantially a uthentic d ocument o f t he e ighth c entury.

( c)

L ost C harters

T here s urvives i n am anuscript o f t he l ate f ourteenth c entury, B ritish L ibrary , C otton F austina A i i, a l ist o f r oyal b enefactors o f S herborne a nd t he l ands t hey g ranted. T he o nly e dition , t hat o f D ugdale ( 1817 , V ol. I , p . 3 37), h as s ome e rrors a nd o missions, s o a n ew e dition i s p rovided b elow . F ollowing t his i s av ersion o f t he l ist r eorganised i nto c hronological o rder, w ith t he e states i dentified w here p ossible a nd a n ote o f t he n umbers g iven t o t hese g rants i n m odern h andlists. I t i s f airly c lear t hat t he s cribe w ho w rote t he s urviving l ist w as n ot w orking f rom c harters o r c opies o f c harters , b ut w as t ranscribi ng a n e xisting l ist. T his i s s uggested b y t he f act t hat t he m ajority o f t he c harters i n t he f ourteenth-century l ist a re n ot i n t he t welfthc entury c artulary, a nd c onfirmed b y t he a ccidental r epetition o f ' Tauistoke d e ', w hich s ems t o b e t he e rror o f am an w ho m omentarily l ost h is p lace i n t he t ext h e w as c opying. T he e arliest p ossible d ate f or t he c ompilation o f t he l ist i n i ts e xtant f orm i s 1 035, t his b eing t he d ate o f t he l atest t ransaction m entioned, K nütr 's r estoration o f C orscombe. B ut t he e ntries r elating t o _ Athelred I I a nd K nütr m ight h ave b een a dded t o a l ist c ompiled i n t he r eign o f E adgar , w hose g rant o f O borne i s t he s econd i tem . S ince t he l ist a ppears t o r elate e xclusively t o S herborne, a nd o nly a s ingle W iltshire e state i s m entioned, i t p robably p re-dates t he u nion w ith t he W iltshire s ee o f R amsbury i n 1 058. T he o riginal p urpose o f t he l ist i s u nknown, b ut i t m ight b e a r ecord o f t he c ontents o f a n e arly c artulary, l ater d iscarded, a s i s a n ot d issimilar l ist o f g rants t o G lastonbury ( Hearne, J ohn o f G lastonbury, p. 3 70-5 ; C ar p t ee c ontentee i n l ibro t errarum G lastoniee). T he l ist w as s tudied c omparatively r ecently b y F inberg , w ho c orrected s ome o f D ugdale 's r eadings, i dentified m any o f t he e states, i ncluded t he g rants i n h is h andlists o f e arly c harters, a nd d iscussed t hem i n c onjunction w ith t he s imilar G lastonbury e vidence i n h is a rticle o n ' Sherborne, G lastonbury a nd t he e xpansion o f W essex ' ( Finberg 1 951). F inberg c haracteristically t ends t o a ssume r ather t han a rgue a uthenticity, b ut, a s i n o ther c ases, e xamination o f t he e vidence o ften e ndorses h is a pparently i nstinctive j udgements. A l ist o f c harters d rawn u p n ot e arlier t han t he s econd h alf o f t he t enth c entury m ay w ell i nclude a p roportion o f f abricated o r i nterpolated d ocuments, a nd i ndeed t he c harter r elating t o E adgar 's g rant o f O borne i s i tself a d ubious t ext , i ncluding a n umber o f w itnesses o f m uch e arlier d ate w ho w ere a pparently b orrowed f rom

2 43

a nother c harter ( S813; R obinson 1 921, P . 4 3; R obertson, C harters, p . 3 49). A nd, s ince t he m ajority o f t hese t exts d o n ot s urvive, a ny j udgement c oncerning t heir a uthenticity c an o nly b e t entative. M oreover, t he l isted c harters, l ike t hose i ncluded i n t he c artulary, a re s uspect b ecause t hey a re a ll d irect r oyal g rants t o S herborne, a nd i t m ay b e t hat s ome o f t hem w ere o riginally g rants b y o ther d onors t o o ther b eneficiaries, a nd h ave r e-written i n t he f orm w hich w as a pparently p referred f or t he S herborne a rchives. N evertheless i t i s p ossible i n s ome c ases t o c ite e vidence s uggesting t hat e arly c harters r ecorded i n t his l ist w ere g enuine d ocuments. T he f irst p oint t o b e c onsidered i s t he d ivision o f t he d iocese c . 9 09. I t s eems l ogical t o a ssume t hat t he i nitial e ndowment o f t he n ew s ees a t C rediton a nd W ells w as e ffected b y d ividing S herborne's e ndowment b etween t he t hree s ees, a nd t hat t his w ould h ave b een d one b y a llocating t o e ach s ee t he l ands w hich l ay i n i ts o wn d iocese. A c ertain a mount o f e vidence s uggests t hat t his i s i ndeed w hat h appened. S ix S omerset e states a ppear t o h ave b een t he p roperty o f S herborne b efore t he d ivision a nd t o h ave c ome i nto t he p ossession o f W ells. W ellow , a ccording t o t he C ottonian l ist, w as g ranted b y k ing C yniwulf t o S herborne, a nd i s t he s ubject o f a n e xtant g rant o f C yniwulf t o W ells, w hich m ay b e a n a mended v ersion o f t he S herborne c harter ( S262). C ongresbury w as g ranted b y Alfred t o A sser ( Stevenson, A sser, c h. 8 1, p p. 6 7-8) a nd w as e vidently c laimed l ater b y W ells s ince i t i s i ncluded i n a s purious p ancarta o f t hat h ouse ( S1042), a lthough i t w as o wned b y H arold i n 1 066 ( DB S omerset, p . 1 .21). W ellington, W est B uckland a nd B ishops L ydeard w ere . a lso g ranted t o A sser, a nd t he c harter a ppears t o h ave b een h anded o ver t o W ells w ith t he e states s ince i t s urvives i n t he W ells a rchive ( S380). T hese e states a re a lso m entioned i n t he p ancarta , a s i s C hesterblade, w hich a ppears i n t he C ottonian l ist a s a g rant b y E cgberht t o S herborne. W ellington a nd B ishops L ydeard w ere o wned b y W ells i n 1 066 ( DB S omerset, p p. 6 .7, 8 ). W ellow , W est B uckland a nd C hesterblade a re n ot m entioned i n D omesday B ook . T he p robability s eems t o b e t hat t hese s ix e states w ere o wned b y S herborne a nd w ere h anded o ver t o W ells w hen t he n ew S omerset s ee w as c reated. S imilarly t here i s e vidence s uggesting t he t ransfer o f C ornish e states f rom S herborne t o C rediton. T wo r elated t enth-century d ocum ents g ive s ome a ccount o f t he h istory o f t hree e states a t P awton, C aellwic a nd L awhitton . T he f irst o f t hese i s aC rediton r ecord i n t he f orm o f a n O ld E nglish l etter f rom a n u nnamed a rchbishop, e vidently D unstan, t o k ing Athelred I I, w hich h as b een d escribed a s a n o riginal w ith s ome i nterpolations, w hich d o n ot a ffect t he s tatements r egarding t he C ornish e states ( S1296 ; N apier a nd S tevenson, p p. 1 02-110; E HD , n o. 2 29, C haplais 1 966b, 1 6-19). A ccording t o t his l etter, E cgberht g ranted t he t hree e states t o S herborne, a nd t hey w ere a ssigned t o C rediton w hen t hat s ee w as c reated b ecause t he p eople o f t he a rea h ad b een d isobedient t o t he W est S axons; t he l ands w ere l ater t ransferred t o a nother n ew s ee, t hat o f S t. G ermans i n C ornwall. T he o ther d ocument i s a L atin s tatement c oncerning t he d ivision o f t he W est S axon d ioceses c . 9 09 a nd s urvives i n a n umber o f m anuscripts, o ne o f t hem t enth-century, i n v arious W est S axon a rchives ( B614; G R , V ol. 1 , p . 1 40 n . 3 a nd V ol. I I , p p. l y-lyii; E HD , p . 8 93). T his m akes n o r eference t o t he e arly g rant t o S herborne o r t he l ater t ransfer t o S t. G ermans, b ut s tates, a fter i ts a ccount o f t he c onsecration o f t he n ew b ishops,

2 44

B ritish L ibrary ,

C otton F austina A i i,

E xplicit d e E piscopis S cirboniencibus

f o.

2 5

.

I ncipiunt n omina r egum e iusdem e cclesie f undatorum .

K enewalk r ex d edit L anprobi d e .c . h ydis . E dgarus r ex d edit W oburnham d e . u .h idis . A thulfus r ex d edit B radford C erdel e t A lgerstoke e t G etemynster ( de) . u . h idas d e x xxui . h idis e t N utherburie e t E thelbaldinghaM 'Athertus r ex d edit l ibertatem d e .C . x l h idis . e t C ernel d e x ij . h idis e t T auistoke d e .u iij . h idis e t S tapulbrige d e .x x .h idis e t C uniton d e u iij . h idis . K enefulfus r ex d edit P idel d e .u .h idis e t L ym d e .j .h ida . E t ( ---Tauistoke d e) C uthredus r ex d edit i n L ydene . x ij . h idas . e t C oruscumbe d e x h idis e t a put M enedip . x xu . h idas . K enefulfus . r ex d edit S narstok d e .u j .h idis e t T alre d e .u iij . h idis e t W egencesfunte e t A ueltone d e x xx . h idis e t C rutesdune d e x xxuj . h idis . e t W ytecumbe e t W lueue . O ffa r ex d edit P oterne c um p ertinencijs s uis . E gbertus r ex d edit i uxta C ernel . x . h idas e t P ower d e .u ij . h idis i uxta f lumen q uod d icitur W och .e t .x .i uxta P edridune . e t A lbambruth . d e i ij . h idis .E t i n H enangre . x ij . h idas . e t K elk . x ij . h idas . E t R os e t M acor d e .x uiij . h idis . E t i n C hesterbled . x . h idas e t i n W i rArod . x u .h idas . S igeberhtus r ex d edit B oselingtone d e . U . h idgs E t i n E st C anne . u ij . h idas . I ne r ex d edit i uxta P redian . u ij .h idas . E t C onbusburie d e x x h idis . G erontius r ex d edit M acuir d e . u . h idis i uxta T hamar . E thelredus r ex d edit A tforde e t C lethangre E thelredus r ex d edit e t r estituit C orescumbam i n o blatum e t p ostea C unitus e um r estituit.

N ote: O rthography a nd p unctuation a re a s i n t he m anuscript. p roper n ames a re g iven c apital l etters ; o ther c apitals a re a s i n m anuscript.

A ll t he

A bbreviations a re s ilently e xpanded. ( ) i ndicates d eletion b y s ubp unctuation ; ( ---) i ndicates d eletion .ß y d rawing a l ine t hrough t he w ord; a n a sterisk i s p laced b eneath l etters w hich c annot b e r ead w ith c onfidence.

2 45

R oyal B enefactors o f t he C hurch o f S herborne

D onor

C oenwalh

I ne

H ides

1 00

7 2 0

E state N ame i n L ist

M odern P lace-Name

L anprobi

S herborne

i uxta P redian C onbusburie

P riddy? C ongresbury

M acuir i uxta T hamar

M aker

i n L ydene C oruscumbe a put M enedip

v alley o f t he r iver L idden C orscombe t he M endip h ills o r t he v alley w hich d ivides t hem

f r G eraint

C uthred

S igiberht

C yniwulf

5

1 2 1 0 2 5

5 7

B oselingtone E st C anne

5 1 6 8

P idel L ym S narstok T alre W egencesfunte A ueltone C rutesdune W ytecumbe W lueue

W hitcombe W ellow

P oterne

P otterne

1 0 7

i uxta C ernel P ower i uxta f lumen quod d icitur W och

1 0 4 1 2 1 2

i uxta P edridune A lbambruth H enangre K elk R os M acor C hesterbled W inurod

b y t he r iver C erne b y t he r iver B rit, i n t he a rea o f P owerstock a nd N orth a nd S outh P oorton b y t he r iver P arrett

3 0 3 6

O ffa

E gberht

1 8 1 0 1 5

p art o f C ann?

iddle b y t he r iver P yme b y t he r iver L ooke b y t he r iver H A lton P ancras

2 46

H enegar K ilkhampton R oseland M aker C hesterblade

S

C ounty

1

E CW

D orset

5 49

S omerset S omerset

3 72

E CDC

I

C ornwall

7 2

D orset D orset S omerset

54 5 55 5 3 86

? D orset

56 5 ”

D orset D evon/Dorset ? D orset ? D orset ? D orset S omerset

2 63

2 62

58 5 5 62 6 38 59 5 5 60 6 39 5 61 3 95

W iltshire

1 92

D orset D orset

5 63 5 64

S omerset? ? D evon C ornwall C ornwall C ornwall S omerset ?

6 41 4 02

I

7 7 4

i

I

4 03 6 40

2 47

H ides

D onor

Athelwulf 3 1 5

2 Ethelberht

5

E adgar

J Ethelred

K nütr

( Note:

1 40 1 2 . 8 2 0 8

E state N ame i n L ist

M odern P lace-Name

B radford C erdel A lgerstoke G etemynster N utherburie E thelbaldingham

B radford A bbas? b y t he r iver C erne? H alstock Y etminster N etherbury

p rivileges C ernel T auistoke S tapulbridge C uniton

b y t he r iver C erne T awstock? T avistock? S talbridge N ether/Over C ompton

W oburnham

O borne

A tforde C lethangre C orescumbam C orescumbam

C layhanger C orscombe C orscombe

C orescumbam

C orscombe

T he m odern p lace-names a re d erived f rom : ( 1) ( 2) ( 3) ( 4) ( 5) ( 6) ( 7)

E kwall 1 960; E kwall 1 928; F agersten 1 933; E CDC ; E CW ; F inberg 1 951; P N D evon .)

2 48

C ounty

E CW

D orset D orset D orset D orset D orset

5 68

E CDC

2 90 5 69

3 33 D orset D evon D orset D orset

5 70 1 3 5 71 5 72

D orset

8 13

6 11

D evon D orset D orset

9 33

6 17

D orset

9 75

6 23

1 4

t hat t he t hree e states w ere h anded o ver t o t he b ishop o f C rediton s o t hat h e m ight v isit t he p eople o f C ornwall a nnually a nd c orrect t heir e rrors. T he m otives f or g iving t he e states t o C rediton s uggested i n t hese r ecords s ound r ather m ore l ike m otives f or t he f oundation o f t he n ew s ee. T he t ransfer o f e states s hould p robably b e i nterpreted a s p art o f a r ationalisation o f e ndowments f ollowing t he c reation o f t he n ew d ioceses. N one o f t he t hree e states i s m entioned i n S herborne r ecords. P awton a nd L awhitton w ere h eld b y t he b ishop o f E xeter i n 1 066 ( DB C ornwall, p p. 2 .4, 9 ). C aellwic i s n ot s ecurely i dentified ( Callington w as s uggested b y N apier a nd S tevenson, p . 1 07, a nd a ccepted b y C haplais 1 966b, p . 1 7; b ut t his i dentification w as r ejected b y P icken 1 956-8 , p p. 2 25-6, a nd h is a rguments a re a ccepted b y F inberg, E CDC , n o. 7 6 a nd W hitelock, E HD , p . 8 93 n . 3 . A n a lternative i dentification w ith K elly i n E gloshayle w as s uggested b y H enderson 1 925, p . 5 7). T he C ottonian l ist m entions a g rant b y E cgberht t o S herborne o f a nother s outh-western e state, H enegar i n C ulmstock, D evon, a nd t his t oo s eems t o h ave b een t ransferred t o C rediton. T he b oundary c lause o f a s purious E xeter c harter r elating t o C ulmstock m entions ' heanhangran ' ( S386), a nd H enegar w as p robably i ncluded i n E xeter's D omesday m anor o f C ulmstock ( DB D evon, p . 4 16). T he C ottonian l ist i tself ( as f ar a s i ts e states c an b e i dentified) r epresents S herborne a s r eceiving o nly D orset e states i n t he t enth a nd e leventh c enturies, w ith t he s ingle e xception o f Athelred's g rant o f C layhanger i n D evon . T he s urviving S herborne c harters p resent t he s ame p icture, a gain w ith a s ingle e xception, t he e state a t H olcombe R ogus, a lso i n D evon a nd o nly a bout 3 m iles f rom C layhanger ( S1422, 1 474). T he D omesday e ndowment o f t he b ishop o f S alisbury c onsisted o f 2 25 h ides i n D orset ( DB D orset, p p. 2 .1-6 a nd 2 .1-18), 2 67 h ides i n W iltshire ( DB W iltshire, p p. 2 .1-5 a nd 3 2.2), t wo e states i n S omerset, b oth a cquired a fter t he c onquest ( DB S omerset, p p . 3 .1-2), a nd a f ew l ands i n B erkshire a nd O xfordshire ( DB B erkshire, p p. 3 .1-2; D B O xfordshire, p . 4 .1). T his p resumably r epresents a S herborne e ndowment c onsisting e xclusively o f l ands i n D orset a nd a R amsbury e ndowment c onsisting a lmost e ntirely o f l ands i n W iltshire. T here i s t herefore s ome r eason t o b elieve t hat a fter t he d ivision o f t he d iocese c . 9 09, S herborne's e ndowment w as r estricted t o l ands w hich l ay i n D orset, a nd t he i mplication i s t hat t he h ouse w ould h ave h ad n o i nterest i n e states l ying o utside D orset a nd n o m otive f or f orgery o f t itle-deeds t o s uch e states. C onsequently i t w ould b e d ifficult t o a rgue t hat t hose e ntries i n t he C ottonian l ist w hich r elate t o g rants o f l and i n C ornwall, D evon, S omerset a nd W iltshire m ade b efore t he t enth c entury w ere b ased o n s purious c harters, s ince i t d oes n ot a ppear t hat S herborne h ad a ny r eason t o f abricate s uch d ocum ents a fter t he d ivision o f t he d iocese, w hile f orgery o f a c onsidera ble n umber o f c harters a t a n e arlier d ate i s n ot v ery p robable. O n t his b asis i t c an b e a rgued t hat t he f ollowing g rants i n t he l ist a re p robably a uthentic o r a t l east h ave s ome a uthentic b asis: I ne's g rants o f t wo e states i n S omerset; t he g ift o f M aker i n C ornwall b y k ing G eraint o f D umnonia ; C uthred 's g rant o f l and o n t he M endip H ills; C yniwulf 's g ift o f W ellow i n S omerset; t he g rant o f P otterne i n W iltshire m ade b y O ffa ; a nd E cgberht's g rants o f H enegar i n D evon, K ilkampton, R oseland a nd M aker i n C ornwall a nd C hesterblade i n S omerset. O f t hese, t he o nly o nes w hich t here i s a ny r eason t o d oubt

2 50

a re I ne's g rant o f C ongresbury, s ince i t a ppears t hat S herborne a cquired t his e state i n A sser 's t ime a nd a m uch e arlier g rant i s s lightly s uspect; a nd t he g rant o f P otterne, s ince i t s eem i nherently u nlikely t ht O ff a w ould h ave o wned l and i n s outh W iltshire a nd g ranted i t t o ac hurch i n D orset. A n e ighth-century g rant o f t he l and i s n ot i mplausible: i t w as o wned b y t he b ishop o f S alisbury i n 1 066 ( DB W iltshire , p . 3 .1), a nd m ight h ave b een t ransferred f rom S herborne t o R amsbury i n 9 09, b eing b rought b ack i nto S herborne's p ossession w hen t he s ees w ere u nited i n 1 058. B ut p erhaps O ffa 's n ame h as b een s ubstituted a t s ome t ime f or t hat o f a nother d onor; i f t he t rue d onor w ere a c omparatively o bscure m an, h is n ame m ight s imply h ave b een m isread o r m ight h ave b een a ltered d eliberately t o c onvert t he c harter i nto a r oyal g rant. A nother c onsideration s uggesting t he a uthenticity o f an umber o f g rants i s t hat s everal e states a re d escribed i n v ague t erms, o ften b y r eference t o a djacent r ivers, a nd i t i s i mpossible t o e quate t he l ands w ith e states r ecorded l ater . T his i s t ypical o f g enuine, e arly W est S axon c harters a nd i s n ot a c haracteristic o f f orgeries . T his i mplies t hat g enuine c harters l ie b ehind t he r ecords o f g rants o f l and b y I ne ' iuxta P redian '; b y G eraint a t 'Macuir i uxta T hamar'; b y C uthred ' in L ydene ' a nd ' aput M enedip '; a nd b y E cgberht ' iuxta C ernel ', a t ' Power i uxta f lumen q uod d icitur W och ' a nd ' iuxta P edridune '. O ther a rguments c an b e a dduced i n s upport o f c ertain i ndividual g rants i n t he l ist. T he f irst r ecords C oenwalh 's g rant o f 1 00 h ides a t ' Lanprobi'. T he p lace-name c ombines t he C eltic p refix ' llan ' ( church) w ith t he n ame o f t he e arly s aint a nd m artyr, P robus, w hose n ame a lso o ccurs i n aC ornish p lace-name w hich i s n ow s imply P robus ( Ekwall 1 960, p . 3 74). F inberg p lausibly s uggests t hat t he c hurch o f S t. P robus w hich g ave i ts n ame t o t he e state g ranted b y C oenwalh i s t o b e i dentified w ith t he c hurch o f S t. P robus m entioned i n t he p apal b ulls o f 145 a nd 163 a s o ne o f t he c hurches a t S herborne: 145 1 1 1 ' Propeschirche e t s tocland '; 163 - 'Ecclesiam s anctae M ariae 1 M agdalenae s itam i uxta c astrum S herborne , c um c apellis s ancti M ichaelis e t s ancti P robi, e t o mnibus p ertinentiis s uis '; a nd t herefore t hat L anprobi w as a n e arlier n ame f or S herborne i tself ( Finberg 1 951, p . 9 8). U se o f aB ritish p lace-name i s m ore l ikely i n ag enuine s eventhc entury t ext t han i n a l ater f orgery , s o t he n ame i tself i s a n i ndication t hat t his r ecord i s b ased o n a g enuine g rant b y C oenwalh o f a n e state a t S herborne ( not n ecessarily o f 1 00 h ides: t his f igure i s r ather t oo l arge a nd r ound t o b e b elieved). T his m ust h ave b een i n e ffect t he f oundation c harter o f t he S axon m onastery , b ut , l ike m ost f oundation c harters, i t d oes n ot s urvive. T he r eason i n t his c ase m ay h ave b een t hat t he n ame L anprobi w as e ntirely f orgotten, a nd t he c harter e ventually d iscarded b ecause n o-one c ould i dentify t he e state c oncerned . T here i s n o e vidence i n t he s urviving c harter i n C oenwalh 's n ame, d iscussed a bove, o f a ny a uthentic b asis w hich m ight d erive f rom t he g rant o f L anprobi. T here a re t wo i nstances i n w hich t he n ame o f t he d onor s uggests t hat t he c harters u sed b y t he c ompiler o f t he l ist w ere g enuine . T hese a re t he g rants o f ' Gerontius ' ,i .e. G eraint, k ing o f t he C ornish, a nd o f S igiberht. G eraint i s k nown a s t he r ecipient o f a l etter f rom A ldhelm ( Ehwald, p p . 4 80-6), a nd h is n ame o ccurs i n t he C hronicle w hen I ne m ade w ar o n h im ( ASC s .a. 7 10), b ut h is n ame w ould p robably n ot

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h ave b een u sed b y a f orger b ecause g rants m ade b y t he C ornish k ings w ould h ave b een o f n o v alidity a fter t he W est S axon c onquest o f t he a rea. M any o f t he e states w hich E cgberht s eized a nd d istributed w ere p robably h eld b y r ight o f c harters i ssued b y t he C ornish k ings, b ut t hese w ould n ot h ave a vailed t heir o wners. M oreover, S herborne p ossessed a c harter i n E cgberht's n ame, a lso i n t he l ist, g ranting t his s ame e state, M aker o n t he T amar e stuary, s o G eraint's c harter w as s uperfluous a nd c an b e a ccounted f or o nly o n t he b asis t hat i t w as g enuine. A f orgery i n t he n ame o f S igiberht i s n ot i mpossible, b ut i t s eems u nlikely, s ince a f orger w ould p robably n ot h ave c hosen t o m ake u se o f t he n ame o f a k ing w ho r uled o nly f or a y ear a nd o f w hom n othing i s r ecorded b ut h is i ll-deeds a nd d isasters ( ASC s .a. 7 57). H is g rant o f ' Boselingtone' a nd ' Est C anne', t he f ormer u nidentified a nd t he l atter p robably p art o f C ann i n D orset, i s t herefore p robably a uthentic. T he o nly k ing b esides G eraint w ho i s s aid t o h ave g ranted e states i n C ornwall i s E cgberht, a nd t hese g ifts a re c onsistent w ith o ther e vidence w hich s uggests t hat C ornwall w as t o s ome e xtent c onquered d uring h is r eign a nd m uch o f t he l and s eized. T he C hronicle r ecords t hat E cgberht r avaged C ornwall i n 8 15 a nd d efeated a c oalition o f C ornish a nd V ikings i n 8 38 . T he l etter o f D unstan m entioned a bove r efers t o E cgberht's c onquest o f C ornwall a nd a sserts t hat h e g ranted t o t he c hurch a t enth o f t he l ands h e t hus a cquired, d istributing t hem t o i ndividual c hurches a s h e s aw f it. T he i dea t hat E cgberht g ranted a t enth o f t he l and o f C ornwall m ay b e a r ationalisation o f w hat a ctually o ccurred, p erhaps i nfluenced b y k nowledge o f A thelwulf's d ecimation, b ut i t i s c lear t hat E cgberht d id m ake g rants o f C ornish l and t o t he c hurch, a s D unstan g oes o n t o n ame t he t hree e states g iven t o S herborne. N one o f t hese i s m entioned i n t he C ottonian l ist, b ut t he l etter a nd t he l ist a gree i n r ecording g rants b y E cgberht t o S herborne o f C ornish e states, a nd i t s eems p robable t hat t he r ecords a re a ll o f g enuine t ransactions. T wo o f t he g rants a ttributed t o C yniwulf i n t he l ist c an b e e quated w ith s urviving c harters. O ne i s t he g rant o f L yme d iscussed a bove, a nd t he o ther i s t he g rant o f ' Wlueue', m odern W ellow , av illage s outh o f B ath , w hich i s p robably r epresented b y t he c harter i n w hich C yniwulf g rants 1 h ides o f l and n ear t he r iver ' Weluue ', t o t he c hurch o f S t. A ndrew a t W ells ( S262). I t a ppears l ikely t hat t he c harter a nd e state w ere t ransferred t o W ells w hen t he n ew s ee w as c reated t here, a nd i t m ay b e t hat t he c harter w as r e-written a s a g rant t o W ells, h aving o riginally b een a g rant t o S herborne, o r p ossibly t o a l ayman. I t i s r eally i mpossible t o f orm a ny j udgement o f t he a uthenticity o f t he o ther g rants i n t he l ist. N o d oubt k ings d id m ake g rants t o S herborne o f e states i n D orset, a nd s ome e ntries o f t his d escription a re p robably b ased o n g enuine c harters, b ut i t w ould b e u nsafe t o a ssume a uthenticity i n e very c ase.

( d)

C onclusions

O n t he b asis o f t he c onclusions r egarding a uthenticity o f c harters a nd r ecords o f c harters w hich a re s et o ut a bove, a t entative s ketch o f s omething o f t he e arly h istory o f t he c hurch a t S herborne m ay b e

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a ttempted. T he S axon m onastery s eems t o h ave b een f ounded o n a n e state n ear t he C ornish b order w hich w as g ranted b y C oenwalh . A B ritish c hurch, a nd p ossibly a lso a m onastery, d edicated t o S t. P robus a lready s tood o n t he s ite , w hich w as p resumably c hosen p artly b ecause i t w as a lready c onsecrated. T he s tate o f t he B ritish e stablishment a t t he t ime i s u nknown. I t m ay h ave c onsisted o f d erelict b uildings o r m ay h ave b een a f lourishing r eligious c ommunity, b ut i n e ither c ase i t i s l ikely t hat t he S axon m onastery w as i n e ffect a n ew f oundation o wing l ittle t o t he e arlier e stablishment, a s W est S axon c hurchmen a re n ot l ikely t o h ave b een c ontent t o f ollow B ritish p ractice: t he e vidence o f B ede ( HE I I 2 ) a nd A ldhelm ( Ehwald, p p. 4 80-6) s uggests t hat t here w as l ittle l ove l ost b etween B ritish a nd E nglish c hurchmen. A t s ome p oint t he c hurch o f S t. P robus w as r elegated t o a s econdary r ole, a nd a n ew c hurch d edicated t o S t. M ary M agdalene w as b uilt a s t he m ain m onastic c hurch. T his m ay h ave c ontributed t o t he d ecline o f t he B ritish p lace-name L anprobi, w hich w as e ventually s uperseded b y t he E nglish s tream n ame S herborne. T he c ommi lnity p resumably h ad s ome a micable c ontact w ith t he C ornish k ingdom , a s i t r eceived a g rant o f l and f rom G eraint, b ut i t m ay b e t hat t his g rant w as m ade b efore t he W est S axon a dvance t o t he w est h ad b rought a bout d irect c onflicts w ith t he C ornish . T here i s i nsufficient e vidence' t o d educe h ow S herborne w as a ffected b y t he C ornish w ars o f I ne a nd C yniwulf o r w hat r ole i t p layed. T hat i t w as i nvolved i n s ome w ay i s i ndicated b y t he w ording o f t he g rant o f C yniwulf w hich s urvives a t W ells w hich m entions h arassment o f t he C ornish a s t he m otive f or t he g rant. S herborne i s o ne o f m any W est S axon m onasteries w hich w ere e stablished i n b order p ositions, a nd t his t oo m ay s uggest t hat t he c ommunities h ad s ome a ctive p art t o p lay i n t he W est S axon a dvance, p erhaps b y c onsolidating n ewly a cquired a reas, a lthough i t i s a lso p ossible t hat t hese s ites w ere g ranted f or m onasteries b ecause l and w as m ore r eadily a vailable i n o utlying a reas. T he m onastery b ecame a s ee i n 7 05. T here i s n o e vidence t o s uggest t hat i t w as p articularly i mportant b efore t his d ate, a nd t he r eason f or t he c hoice o f S herborne a s t he s ee m ay h ave b een p urely g eographical: i t i s f airly c entral i n t he w estern h alf o f W essex. N o r eference t o A dlhelm 's e piscopate s urvives i n S herborne r ecords. T he d iocese, l arge t o b egin w ith, b ecame m uch b igger b y E cgberht 's c onquest o f C ornwall, a nd S herborne a cquired a n umber o f C ornish e states a s w ell a s b eing c onfirmed i n p ossession o f t he o ne a cquired e arlier f rom G eraint. T he f act t hat 2 Ethelstan l ater c onquered C ornwall ( GR , V ol. I , p . 1 48) i s a n i ndication t hat t he a rea w as n ot w holly s ubdued i n E cgberht's r eign, a nd i t i s i mpossible t o j udge h ow f ar t he b ishops o f S herborne i nvolved t hemselves w ith t he B ritish p arts o f t heir e xtensive d iocese. T he e normous d iocese a nd w idely s cattered e states w ere r etained u ntil t he r eorganisations o f t he e arly t enth c entury.

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9 .

( a)

E XETER

I ntroduction

T he a rchive o f t he s ee o f E xeter i ncorporates d ocumentation r elating t o t hree e arlier e stablishments, t he m onastery o f E xeter , t he s ee o f C rediton , a nd t he s ee o f S t. G ermans. T he h istory o f t he f irst o f t hese i s v ery o bscure. T here w as a m onastery a t E xeter i n t he l ate s eventh c entury w hen B oniface w as s ent t here a s a c hild o blate ( Levison , B oniface, p . 6 ), b ut t here i s n o e vidence t o s how w hether t here w as a ny c ontinuity b etween t his e stablishment a nd t he m onastery w hich e xisted a t E xeter i n t he l ate t enth a nd e leventh c enturies. T here w as a n a rchival d isaster a t t his h ouse i n 1 003 w hen i ts c harters w ere d estroyed b y f ire i n t he c ourse o f aD anish a ttack o n E xeter ( S954; E CDC , p . 1 0; C haplais, 1 966, P . 4 ). A ttempts w ere m ade i n t he l ater e leventh c entury t o r estore s omething o f t his a rchive b y d rawing u p v ersions o f s ome o f t he l ost c harters ( ECDC , p . 1 0), b ut, i f t he m onastery h ad r etained d ocuments r elating t o t he s eventh-century h ouse k nown t o B oniface , t hese w ere i rrecoverably l ost. T here s urvives n o c harter e vidence r elating t o am onastery a t E xeter i n t he s eventh t o n inth c enturies. A n e piscopal s ee w as f ounded a t C rediton c . 9 09 w hen t he W est S axon d ioceses w ere d ivided, a nd c ontinued t here u ntil 1 050 w hen b ishop L eofric s ecured p ermission f or t he r emoval o f t he s ee t o E xeter . C rediton 's d iocese h ad b een d ivided c . 9 29 a nd a n ew s ee e stablished a t S t. G ermans i n C ornwall, w hich l asted t heoretically u ntil 1 050, b ut s eems t o h ave b een d ependent o n C rediton d uring m uch, i f n ot a ll , o f t his p eriod. T he d ioceses w ere c ombined a t t he t ime o f t he m ove f rom C rediton t o E xeter ( Chaplais 1 966, p . 9 ). T he a rchives o f C rediton a nd S t . G ermans w ere p resumably t ransferred t o E xeter i n 1 050 , a nd w ould t herefore h ave b een u naffected b y t he d estruction o f E xeter r ecords i n 1 003. N early a ll t he p re-Conquest c harters o f t his a rchive s urvive o n s ingle s heets , m any o f t hem d ating f rom t he e leventh c entury , a lthough t here a re a f ew c harters o f e arlier d ate e xtant o n c ontemporary m anuscripts. S everal o f t he c harters a lso s urvive i n m edieval t ranscripts. A f ew o f t he E xeter c harters a re i n t he C rawford C ollection, n ow a t t he B odleian , a nd f or t hese N apier a nd S tevenson p rovide b etter e ditions t han B irch, a s w ell a s d etailed n otes . M ore r ecently C haplais h as p rovided a n e xtremely u seful d iscussion o f t he E xeter c harters ( Chaplais 1 966).

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( b)

T he C harter

S 255 B odleian, E ng. h ist. ( Edition:

a2 , n o.

1

N apier a nd S tevenson , n o. I )

O nly a s ingle c harter f rom t he a rchive o f E xeter r elates t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39 , t his b eing a g rant i n t he n ame o f 2 Ethilheard, k ing o f t he W est S axons ( 726-740) d ated 7 39 i n w hich a n e state a t C rediton i s g iven t o b ishop F orthere o f S herborne f or t he f oundation o f a m onastery. T he d ocument p resents a n umber o f p roblems , a nd i s c ertainly n ot e ntirely a uthentic a s i t s tands. I n t he m ost r ecent d iscussion, t hat o f C haplais ( 1966, p . 1 0), t he c harter i s r egarded w ith c onsiderable s uspicion . T here a ppear t o b e g enuine e lements, b ut i t i s n ot e asy t o d etermine h ow f ar t he t ext o f ag enuine c harter o f 2 Ethilheard i s r eproduced i n t he s urviving v ersion. I t m ay b e b est t o b egin w ith t hat p art o f t he c harter w hich s eems m ost l ikely t o b e g enuine -the w itness l ist . T he k ing 's a ttestation p reserves a n e arly s pelling o f h is n ame w ith i i n t he f irst s yllable: ' Abilhardi' ( Napier a nd S tevenson , p . 3 8). C uthred, w ho a ttests s econd, a fter t he k ing b ut b efore t he q ueen, a nd w ithout a ny t itle , i s p robably l ethilheard 's s uccessor . Q ueen F rithugyth a lso a ppears i n t he o ther t wo s urviving w itness l ists o f t his r eign ( S253, 2 54), a d etail w hich s uggests t he a uthenticity o f a ll t hree , s ince c opyists a t t hree s eparate e stablishments a re n ot l ikely t o h ave t hought o f i nterpolating h er n ame. T he b ishops a re D aniel o f W inchester, w ho w as c onsecrated i n 7 05 a nd r etired i n t he 7 40s, a nd F orthere o f S herborne w ho w as c onsecrated i n 7 09 a nd d oes n ot a ppear a t a ny d ate l ater t han t hat o f t his c harter. I f t his w itness l ist i s c orrectly d ated t o 7 39, i t i mplies t hat q ueen F rithugyth a nd b ishop F orthere r eturned f rom t heir j ourney t o R ome i n 7 37 ( ASC s .a.). T his i s q uite p lausible , s ince i t i s c lear t hat n ot e very t raveller t o R ome a t t his p eriod w as p roposing t o r emain t here; m any p ersons w ent o n p ilgrimage o r t o t ransact b usiness a nd t hen r eturned h ome ( Napier a nd S tevenson , p p. 3 9-41). T he n ext w itness , n amed H erefrith a nd g iven t he t itle p refectus , w as p resumably a W est S axon e aldorman ; h e i s n ot o therwise r ecorded. A bbot D udd a lso a ttests a G lastonbury c harter o f 7 44 ( S1410) a nd i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he r ecipient o f a l etter o f B oniface, ' Dilecto f ilio D uddo a bbati ' ( Tangl, n o. 3 4). E aldorman E cgfrith i s o therwise u nknown. E aldorman P uttoc a ppears i n a nother w itness l ist e xtant i n t he W inchester c artulary a nd a pparently d ating f rom t he s econd q uarter o f t he e ighth c entury ( S242). T he a ttestation f orms a re t hose u sual i n e arly W est S axon c harters , d istinguishing l ay f rom c lerical w itnesses . M oreover , b ishop D aniel's a ttestation i ncludes t he w ord ' canonice ', a s i s a lso t he c ase i n Athilheard 's G lastonbury c harter ( S253). I t i s s carcely p ossible t hat t his w itness l ist c ould h ave b een p roduced b y af orger: i ts c orrespondences w ith o ther w itness l ists o f t he t ime, i nclusion o f o bscure p ersons a ttested i n o ther a rchives, a nd t otal a bsence o f a nachronisms o f e ither c ontent o r w ording, i ndicate t hat i t i s e ntirely g enuine, w hich i mplies t hat t he a uthor o f t his d ocument h ad a n a uthentic c harter o f 2 Ethilheard b efore h im .

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I t r emains t o c onsider t o w hat e xtent , i f a t a ll, t he t ext w hich s urvives r eproduces t he t ext o f l ethilheard 's c harter. O ne s ection w hich i s c ertainly w ork o f am uch l ater d ate i s t he l ong , O ld E nglish b oundary c lause, a nd t his i s g enerally r ecognised a s a n a ddition t o t he c harter. T he c lause i mmediately f ollowing t he b ounds i s v ery d ubious : t his i s a n i mmunity f rom r oyal a nd s ecular o bligations w ith t he s ingle e xception o f m ilitary s ervice: ' Huic a utem t erre h anc l ibertatem a ugebo e t f irmiter c onstituo . u t o mnium c ausarum f iscalium . e t r erum r egalium a c s ecularium o perum s it i nmunis . s empiternaliterque s ecura . n isi t antum e xpeditionalium r erum '. T his c lause h as b een r egarded a s g enuine ( Finberg 1 969, p . 6 2; B rooks 1 971, p . 8 0). F inberg p ointed o ut i ts r esemblance t o t he n ext e arliest i mmunity i n aW est S axon c harter w hich a ppears i n ag rant o f B eorhtric d ated 7 94 a nd , s imilarly h as t he s ingle e xception o f m ilitary s ervice. B ut C haplais r egards t he i mmunity w ith s uspicion ( Chaplais 1 966, p . 1 0), a nd i n f act i t s eems u nlikely t hat t he c lause c ould b e a uthentic . T here i s am ajor g ap i n t ime b etween 7 39 a nd 7 94; n o o ther c harter d ating f rom t he r eigns . o f Athilheard , C uthred o r C yniwulf c ontains a n i mmunity; a nd t he o ccurrence o f o ne i solated i mmunity a s e arly a s t his s eems v ery u nlikely . I t i s m ore p lausible t o s uppose t hat g rants o f i mmunity t o i ndividual h ouses w ere i ntroduced i nto W est S axon c harterw riting i n i mitation o f M ercian p ractice d uring t he r eign o f B eorhtric , t he a lly a nd s on-in-law o f O ffa o f M ercia, t his b eing w hat t he e vidence, o ther t han t he E xeter c harter , s uggests ( on t he M ercian e vidence , s ee B rooks 1 971). M oreover , t wo l ater E xeter c harters, a n o riginal o f 9 94 ( S880) a nd a v ery d ubious c onfirmation o f p rivileges p urporting t o d ate f rom t he r eign o f K nütr ( S954), c ontain i mmunities a greeing i n s ubstance w ith t his o ne a nd s ubject t o t he s ame s ingle e xception; t he p hraseology i s n ot t he s ame, a lthough s everal o f t he s ame w ords a re u sed. I n t he c ontext o f t hese t wo c harters i t m ay b e p lausibly s uggested t hat t he i mmunity w as i ntroduced i nto t his t ext b y a w riter o f m uch l ater d ate. I n b oth S 880 a nd S 954 t he i mmunity i s i mmediately f ollowed b y a b lessing a nd s anction , a nd t his i s a lso t he c ase i n t he c harter o f Athilheard . T his t ends t o s uggest t hat t he w hole p assage i s s purious, a nd i t m ay b e t hat t his i s t he c ase. I n t he l ater c harters t he w ordings a re m uch l onger a nd m ore c omplicated , b ut a f orger m ight d eliberately t ry t o i mitate t he s implicity o f e arlier w riting . O n t he o ther h and , t he w ordings o f t he b lessing a nd s anction a re n ot e ntirely u nlike t hose i n JEthilheard 's G lastonbury c harter ( S253), s o i t m ay b e t hat t hese c lauses a re a uthentic o r h ave s ome a uthentic b asis. T he d ating c lause , w hich f ollows t he s anction a nd i mmediately p recedes t he w itness l ist , s eems g enuine, a nd d ates t he c harter 7 39, t he 7 th i ndiction , t he 1 0th A pril. T he i ncarnational d ate a nd i ndiction a gree a nd b oth m ay b e a uthentic, o r i t i s p ossible t hat t he f ormer h as b een a dded b y ac opyist. T he i nvocation i s a v ery c ommon o ne w hich c ould e qually b e t he w ork o f a n e arlier o r l ater w riter. T he p roem h as p arallels i n o ther e arly W est S axon c harters ( S231, 2 37), a nd i s p robably a g enuine p art o f 2 Ethilheard 's c harter. T he d ispositio i s n ot e asy t o j udge. T he k ing 's n ame i s n ot s pelt h ere i n t he e arly f orm f ound i n t he w itness

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l ist. H is t itle i s s imply r ex , w hich i s q uite u sual , a s i s t he p hrase ' ad c onstruendum m onasterium '. T he l and i s d escribed a s ' xx c assatos i n l oco u bi d icitur C ridie '; e states g ranted i n e arly W est S axon c harters d o n ot c ommonly h ave p lace-names o f t heir o wn, b ut i t c annot b e s aid t hat t his c ould n ot o ccur. T he f act t hat t he n umeral x x h as b een w ritten o ver a n e rasure ( Chaplais 1 966, p . 1 0) t ends t o s uggest t hat t he s cribe w as c opying a n e arlier c harter, w hich w as l ater a ltered t o f it c hanged c ircumstances. T he d ispositive w ords ' impendere c uraui' a re u nobjectionable. T he p hrase ' cum c ommoditatibus c unctis i n e a c onsistentibus' i s o dd a nd h as n o c lose p arallels i n e ither g enuine e arly W est S axon c harters o r t he l ater c harters o f t he E xeter a rchive . T his i s a lso t rue o f t he r emaining c lause w hich s tates t hat w itnesses h ave s ubscribed s o t hat n o-one m ay i nfringe t he g rant , b ut t here a re o ther i nstances o f p rohibitive c lauses ( S231, 2 59, 1 249, e tc.) a nd p arallels f or t he e mphasis o n w itnesses ( S251, 2 53, 2 59). N othing i n t he d ispositio c an d efinitely b e c ondemned a s a nachronistic, b ut i t d oes s eem d istinctly p ossible t hat t here h as b een s ome r e-writing o f t his c lause. A ccording t o t he e xtant t ext , k ing Athilheard g ranted t o b ishop F orthere a n e state o f 2 0 h ides i n t he p lace c alled ' Cridie', t hat i s C rediton , f or t he f oundation o f am onastery. T he i nterpolated n umeral x r eplaced o ne w hich t ook u p l ess s pace o n t he l ine, a nd t herefore w as x p robably i n t he r anges 1 -6 o r 1 0-11 ( unless i t w as 1 o r cw hich i s n ot i mpossible). T he h istory o f t he m onastery w hose f oundation i s e nvisaged h ere i s e ntirely u nknown, t he n ext r ecorded e vent c oncerning C rediton b eing t he f oundation o f a n e piscopal s ee t here w hen t he S herborne d iocese w as d ivided i n t he e arly t enth c entury. A n e arly g rant t o t he b ishop o f S herborne s eems e ntirely p lausible i n t he l ight o f t his l ater d evelopment: t he c hoice o f C rediton f or t he n ew s ee m ight h ave b een d ictated p artly b y t he f act t hat t he b ishop o f S herborne o wned a n e state t here a nd t hat t here w as a lready a c onsecrated s ite , p robably a c hurch a nd o ther m onastic b uildings, a nd p erhaps s till a r eligious c ommunity. T he b ishop o f E xeter's D omesday m anor o f C rediton c onsisted o f 1 5 h ides a t C rediton p lus a f urther 3 h ides a t N ewton . T here h ad a pparently b een a d ispute o ver N ewton a t t he t ime o f t he D omesday s urvey: t he a ccount o f t his e state o riginally s tated o nly t hat t he b ishop c laimed t he l and, b ut t his w as l ater a ltered t o s tate t hat h e o wned i t ; a nd i t i s e xplained t hat b ishop O sbern p roduced c harters p roving t hat h is c hurch h ad o wned t he l and b efore t he r eign o f E dward t he C onfessor, a nd a lso t hat t here h ad b een a s uit c oncerning t his e state d uring k ing W illiam 's r eign, a nd t hat b ishop O sbern h ad a t t hat t ime p roved h is r ight t o i t ( DB D evon , p . 4 15). I t s eems v ery l ikely t hat t he s urviving e leventh-century s ingle-sheet v ersion o f t he c harter o f 2 Ethilheard w as a mong t he d ocuments p roduced b y t he b ishop o f E xeter i n s upport o f h is c laim , a nd i t m ay w ell b e t hat t he d ocument w as a ctually d rawn u p f or t his p urpose . T his c harter w ould c ertainly h ave s upported t he b ishop 's c ase s ince N ewton i s i ncluded i n t he a rea d efined b y t he l ong b oundary c lause ( Finberg 1 969, p p. 6 4-5). H owever , i t c ould s carcely b e a rgued t hat t he c harter w as f abricated f or u se i n t his d ispute: a f abricated t itle-deed f or N ewton w ould n ot h ave t aken t he f orm o f ag rant b y k ing 2 Ethilheard t o b ishop F orthere o f S herborne o f a n e state a t C rediton f or t he f oundation o f am onastery. I t s eems m ore p lausible t hat a n a uthentic c harter i n t hese t erms w as c opied o ut

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w ith s ome i mprovements o f w ording a nd t he a ddition o f a b oundary c lause w hich d efined t he e state a nd m ade i t c lear t hat N ewton w as i ncluded i n i t. O wnership o f C rediton i tself c ould h ardly h ave b een d isputed, a nd t here s eems t o h ave b een n o m otive f or i nvention o f t he t ransaction w hich i s r ecorded i n t his c harter. T he l ack o f m otive f or f orgery, p lus t he f act t hat t he w itness l ist c ould s carcely h ave b een i nvented a nd t hat s ome o ther c lauses a ppear g enuine, s uggest t hat Athilheard's c harter i s b asically a uthentic, b ut h as b een s ubjected t o s ome i nterpolation a nd r e-writing i n t he e leventh c entury i n c onnection w ith a ffairs o f t hat t ime. T he d ocument e stablishes t hat W est S axon p ower w as e stablished a s f ar w est a s C rediton i n t he r eign o f l Ethilheard, a lthough h ow f irmly i t w as e stablished i s n ot c lear. T he e vidence r elating t o t he c hildhood o f B oniface s uggests a n e ffective W est S axon p resence i n t he a rea i n t he l ate s eventh c entury, b ut Athelstan's a ction i n e xpelling t he B ritish f rom E xeter ( GR, p . 1 48) m ay b e a n i ndication t hat W est S axon p ower w as s till n ot e ntirely s ecure i n t he t enth c entury. P ossibly t he n ew m onastery a t C rediton w as i ntended t o a ssist i n t he c onsolidation o f W est S axon p ower i n a p recariously-held b order a rea. T he p resence o f C uthred i n t he w itness l ist i s i nteresting. H is g enealogy a nd b ackground a re e ntirely u nknown, b ut t his c harter s uggests t hat h e w as a s upporter, i f n ot a r elative, o f Athilheard, a nd p ossibly t he k ing's i ntended s uccessor. T he w itness l ist a lso e stablishes t hat F rithugyth a nd F orthere r eturned f rom t heir j ourney t o R ome.

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1 0.

W ELLS

( a)

I ntroduction

W hen t he d iocese o f S herborne w as d ivided i nto t hree i n t he e arly t enth c entury, a n ew e piscopal s ee w as c reated a t W ells t o a dminister a d iocese w hich p robably a pproximated t o t he c ounty o f S omerset ( 51296 ; B 614). W hether a m onastery a lready e xisted a t W ells a t t hat t ime i s n ot c ertain. T he o nly r ecord o f ar eligious e stablishment a t W ells a t a n e arlier d ate i s t he c harter o f C yniwulf d iscussed b elow ( S262), a nd t here i s s ome r eason t o b elieve t hat t he c hurch o f W ells h as b een s ubs tituted f or a nother b eneficiary i n t his d ocument .

* * * * * *

T he p re-Conquest d ocuments o f W ells s urvive p rincipally i n t wo g eneral c artularies , L iber A lbus I , w hich d ates f rom t he m id-thirteenth c entury, a nd L iber A lbus I I , w ritten c . 1 500 ( Davis 1 958, n os. 1 003, 1 006). I t s eems l ikely t hat a s ubstantial p roportion o f t he 1 6 s urviving d ocuments a re b asically a uthentic . O nly 6 o f t hem ( S380, 1 113, 1 115-6, 1 042, 1 240) r elate t o e states h eld b y W ells i n 1 066. O f 115-6, 1 t he 1 6 d ocuments, 9 a re w rits a nd 8 o f t hese ( S1111-3, 163, 1 240-1) a re j udged b y H armer t o b e a uthentic. O ne o f t he e arlier d ocuments ( S677) s urvives a s a n o riginal ; a nother ( S380) i s a g rant t o b ishop A sser o f S herborne -not t he b eneficiary a f orger a t W ells w ould h ave c hosen.

* * * * * *

( b)

T he C harter

S 262 W ells C athedral L ibrary, L iber A lbus I I, ( Edition :

f os . 4 04v-405r ( photocopy)

B 200)

T he o nly c harter i n t he W ells a rchive r elating t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39 i s a g rant b y k ing C yniwulf t o W ells o f l and b y t he r iver W ellow i n S omerset. I t s eems l ikely t hat m uch o f t his d ocument i s a uthentic , b ut t hat t here h as b een s ome i nterpolation. T he c harter i s t ranscribed i n a bbreviated v ersions i n t wo s eventeenth-century v olumes o f m iscellaneous m aterial , B ritish L ibrary L ansdowne 4 47 a nd S ociety o f A ntiquaries 1 28. T hese m anuscripts s hare s everal r eadings w hich d iffer f rom t hose i n t he W ells c artulary. I n s ome c ases i t m ay b e t hat t he s eventeenth-century m anuscripts p reserve b etter r eadings, t he W ells t ext b eing m iscopied. F or e xample , ' Cum c onsensu e piscoporum a tque s atrapum m eorum ' m akes s ense a lthough t he

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w ord i s u nusual , w hereas t he W ells r eading a ppears w rong, ' Cum c onsensu e piscoporum a tque s acrarum m eorum '. I t s eems l ikely, h owever , t hat t he h idage i s i ncorrect i n t he l ater m anuscripts: t hey r ead ' undecim ' w here t he W ells m anuscript r eads ' ii', a nd i t s eems t hat a R oman n umeral h as b een c arelessly r ead a s a n A rabic n umeral. A ll t he e ditions o f t his c harter ( B200, K 115 a nd D ugdale 1 817, v ol . I I, p . 2 85, n o. 1 ) a nd t he t ranslation ( EHD , n o . 7 0) r eflect t he r eadings o f t he s eventeenth-century m anuscripts w here t hese d iffer f rom t he W ells t ext , i ncluding t he l arger h idage. N one o f t he e ditions n otices t he d ifferent W ells r eadings, a nd n one p rovides a v ery a ccurate t ranscript o f a ny m anuscript. I t c annot b e s aid t hat t here i s a s atisfactory e dition o f t his c harter. C yniwulf's g rant o f l and i s s aid t o b e m ade t o ' dei a postolo a tque m inistro s ancto A ndreo .. a d a ugmentum m onasterii q uod s itum e st i uxta f ontaneo m agno q ui u ocitant W ielea . u t e o d iligentius i n e cclesia s ancte A ndree a postoli d eo s oli d eserviant'. T he w ording i s u nusual i n t hat t he n amed b eneficiary i s t he p atron s aint o f t he c hurch . T here i s n o p arallel f or t his a mong e arly W est S axon c harters, i n w hich t he b eneficiary i s c ommonly a n a bbot o r a bbess , s ometimes a r eligious c ommunity, a nd o ccasionally ( e.g . S 261, 2 63) a c hurch , b ut n ever a p atron s aint a lthough t his m ay h ave b een a ' Celtic' p ractice ( Wormald 1 984, p . 1 7). T he w ording s uggests i nterpolation a nd a nother r eason f or s uspecting t his i s t hat t he l ist o f g rants t o S herborne d iscussed a bove i ncludes ' Kenefulfus r ex d edit W lueue' ( no h idage i s s tated). I t i s n ot l ikely t hat C yniwulf m ade t wo g rants o f W ellow , o ne t o S herborne a nd o ne t o W ells, a nd t here i s g ood r eason t o b elieve, a s d iscussed a bove , t hat e states w ere t ransferred f rom S herborne t o W ells w ith t heir d ocumentation i n t he e arly t enth c entury w hen t he s ee o f W ells w as e stablished. T he p robability s eems t o b e t hat C yniwulf's c harter w as o riginally a g rant t o S herborne , w as t ransferred t o W ells w ith t he e state , a nd w as t here a mended a t s ome t ime t o c onvert i t i nto a g rant t o W ells. I t i s n ot c lear w hen o r w hy t his w as d one . I t w as e vidently n ot s tandard p ractice a t W ells t o c onvert c harters i nto g rants t o t he s ee: a nother S herborne c harter, a g rant t o b ishop A sser ( S380), s urvives i n t he W ells a rchive u naltered, a s d o v arious g rants t o l aymen ( S527, 5 79, 7 09). J ust p ossibly t he c harter w as a ltered i n c onnection w ith e fforts t o r ecover a n e state w hich a ppears t o h ave p assed o ut o f W ells' p ossession. T he l and c onsisted o f 2h ides ( accepting t he e arliest r eading) ' prope f luuium q ue d icitur W eluue'. T he n ame W ellow s urvives i n a v illage s ome 4 -5 m iles s outh o f B ath, a nd t he e state w as p resumably i n t his a rea, b ut G rundy w as u nable t o i dentify a ny o f t he l andmarks i n t he b oundary c lause ( Grundy 1 935, p p. 1 97-8), t he n ame W ellow d oes n ot o ccur i n D omesday B ook , a nd i t i s i mpossible t o a scertain w hether t he e state i s t o b e e quated w ith t he l and ' e t W elewe ' b equeathed b y k ing 2 Elfred t o h is e ldest d aughter ( S1507), o r t he 3 1 h ides ' set W elewestoce', n ow R adstock a bout 3 m iles f rom W ellow a nd o n t he s ame r iver, g iven b y k ing 2 Ethelred I I t o t he c hurch o f B ath ( S854), a nd i n l ay h ands i n 1 066 ( DB S omerset, p . 5 .47). T he e state g ranted b y C yniwulf c annot b e i dentified w ith a ny l and o wned b y W ells i n 1 066, a nd i t a ppears t hat t he p roperty p assed o ut o f t he s ee 's p ossession s ome t ime b etween c . 9 09 a nd 1 066.

2 60

A part f rom t he i nterpolation o f a d ifferent b eneficiary, t he c harter a ppears t o b e a uthentic . T he d escription o f t he e state a s a djacent t o ar iver i s t ypical o f e arly W est S axon c harters , a nd t he b oundary c lause , w hich i s i n L atin w ith O ld E nglish p lace-names , r esembles o thers i n c harters o f t his r eign a nd t he n ext ( S264, 2 67, 2 68). T he p roem i s n ot e ntirely u nlike t he o nly o ther p roem p reserved i n ac harter o f t his r eign , C yniwulf 's g rant t o S herborne ( S263). M uch o f t he w ording h as a n e ntirely n ormal, a nd e ven o ld-fashioned a ppearance : t he s anction w ith i ts r eference t o a ngels, t he d ating c lause w hich u ses t he w ord s ingrapha , a nd t he w itness l ist i n w hich r oyal a nd c lerical a ttestations a re d istinct f rom t hose o f t he l ay w itnesses, r ecall t he u sages o f e arlier r eigns ( S71, 2 48 , e tc.). T he t itle u sed i n C yniwulf's s ubscription i s ' Gewisorum r ex ', w hich w as a lso u sed o ccasionally b y e arlier a nd l ater W est S axon k ings ( S256, 3 06). T he w itness l ist a ppears t o r epresent a n a ssembly o f a ll t he l eading m en i n W essex : t he k ing; b ishops H erewald o f S herborne a nd C yniheard o f W inchester ; a nd s even m en w ith t he t itle p refectus, w ho a re a lmost c ertainly t he f ull c omplement o f W est S axon e aldormen. A ll o f t hese m en a lso a ttest C yniwulf 's g rant t o M uchelney i n 7 62 ( S261). T he p resent c harter i s d ated i nconsistently 7 66 a nd t he 1 2th i ndiction : t he l atter o ccurred d uring C yniwulf 's r eign i n 7 59 a nd 7 74. E ither o f t hese d ates i s p ossible, b ut i t i s p erhaps m ore l ikely a s W hitelock s uggests, t hat t he i ndiction i s m iscopied, x ii f or i ii , a nd t hat t he c orrect d ate i s 7 66 ( EHD , n o. 7 0). A n u nusual f eature o f t he w ording i s t hat t he g rant i s s aid t o h ave b een m ade ' quod u erbo d olendum e st p ro a lique u exacione i nimicorum n ostrorum C ornubiorum g entis'. T he w ording i s a mbiguous, b ut i t i s h ardly l ikely t hat a W est S axon k ing w ould r egret h aving h arassed t he C ornish ( cf. E CW , n o. 3 94), s o t he w riter's i ntention w as p resumably t o c ite h arassment 2 1 t he C ornish a s a r eason f or t he g rant . T he c lause 1 i s p robably a uthentic : C yniwulf n o d oubt h oped t hat t he p rayers o f t he m onks o f ( probably) S herborne o r ( possibly) W ells f or a b enefactor o f t heir c hurch w ould a ssist i n h is w ars o n t he s outh-west b order o f h is k ingdom . T he c harter's i nformation a grees w ith t hat o f t he C hronicle , w hich m entions t hat C yniwulf f ought a gainst t he B ritons ( ASC , s .a. 7 57), a nd t here a re t wo o ther i nstances o f r eferences i n c harters t o W est S axon c ampaigns a gainst t he B ritish ( S93, 2 73). I t s eems t hat t his c harter s hould b e a ccepted a s a n a uthentic g rant b y C yniwulf t o S herborne i n 7 66, l ater t ransferred w ith t he e state t o t he n ew s ee o f W ells a nd t here a ltered t o m ake i t a ppear t o b e a d irect r oyal g rant t o W ells, p ossibly i n c onnection w ith a n a ttempt t o r etain o r r ecover t he e state.

2 61

1. 1

A THELNEY

( a)

I ntroduction

T he m onastery o f A thelney w as f ounded b y k ing Alfred o n t he i sland a mid t he S omerset m arshes w hich h ad e arlier b een t he b ase f or h is r aids a gainst t he V ikings a t t he t ime w hen h is f ortunes w ere a t t heir l owest e bb. J ohn t he O ld S axon w as a ppointed a bbot, a nd t he c ommunity c onsisted o f m onks b rought f rom a broad, s ince , a ccording t o A sser , t he E nglish n obility w ere n ot p repared t o a dopt t he m onastic l ife. T here w ere a lso F rankish c hild o blates w ho w ere t o b e t rained s o t hat t hey m ight c ontinue t he m onastic l ife t here . A sser's a ccount o f a n a ttempt o n t he l ife o f t he a bbot m ay i ndicate t hat t his r emote c ommunity o f e xiles w as i n g eneral n ot a h appy o ne , a nd i t n ever s eems t o h ave b ecome a l arge o r p rosperous h ouse , a s Alfred 's o ther f oundation o f S haftesbury d id. I t w as o ne o f t he p oorest o f t he W est S axon m onasteries a t t he t ime o f t he D omesday s urvey, n eighbouring G lastonbury b eing t he r ichest. I t s eems l ikely t hat A thelney , l ike M uchelney, w as c onstantly o vershadowed a nd r estricted b y i ts p owerful n eighbour ( on t he f oundation a nd h istory o f t he h ouse s ee S tevenson , A sser, c h . 9 2-7, p p. 7 9-85; t ranslated i n K eynes a nd L apidge 1 983, p. p 1 02-5, a lso p p. 3 6, 2 71; K nowles 1 966, p p. 3 3, 1 02). T he A thelney c artulary w as i n t he p ossession o f S ir W illiam W yndham o f O rchard W yndham , S omerset , i n 1 735, b ut i s n ow l ost. F ortunately t here s urvives a t ranscript m ade i n t he e ighteenth c entury b y t he R ev. G . H arbin ; f ormerly i n t he P hillips c ollection , i t i s n ow t he p roperty o f D r. D . R ogers, c /o t he B odleian L ibrary ( Davis 1 958 , n o. 1 5; B ates, A thelney C art., p . 1 15). T he t ranscription i s b ound i n t wo s mall q uarto v olumes . T he f irst 3 2 p ages a re m issing f rom t he f irst v olume , a nd t he s urviving t ext b egins w ith t he w itness l ist o f a c harter o f 2 Elfred ( S1605). S everal c harters m ay b e l ost, b ut i t i s a lso p ossible t hat m any o f t he m issing p ages c ontained i ntroductory m aterial. T he h andwriting i s c lear a nd l egible a nd t he t ranscript p robably r eflects t he m edieval t ext w ith s ubstantial a ccuracy, a lthough i t d isplays f eatures c ommonly a ssociated w ith n ineteenth-century e ditions, s uch a s m odernised p unctuation a nd t he f requent s ubstition o f a e f or e , v f or u , a nd j f or i . T he c harters a re g rouped a ccording t o t he e states c oncerned, s o t hat t he s even p re-Conquest c harters ( plus t he Alfredian w itness l ist) a re i nterspersed a mong l ater d ocuments . T he l atest d ocument i ncluded d ates f rom 1 455, a nd i s n o. 2 7 o f 2 46 e ntries l isted b y B ates, s o i t a ppears t hat t he l ost c artulary w as c ompiled n ot e arlier t han t he s econd h alf o f t he f ifteenth c entury. T he v olume o f M uchelney a nd A thelney c harters e dited b y t he R ev. E .H . B ates i ncludes o nly t ranslations o f t he A thelney c harters, n ot e ditions. O f t he s even s urviving p re-Conquest c harters , K emble e dited o nly t he l ast t wo ( S921, 9 79 ; K 1306, 1 324); B irch d id n ot s ee H arbin 's t ranscript o f t he c artulary, a nd e dited o nly t he s ingle c harter w hich s urvives i n o ther m anuscripts ( S343 ; B 545); F inberg p rovided e ditions o f t his c harter a nd o f t hree o thers n ot p reviously e dited ( S267, 3 43, 4 32, 6 52; E CW , n os. 3 98, 4 15, 4 36, 4 83); t he f irst o f t hese h as b een c hecked a gainst a p hotocopy o f t he m anuscript, a nd i s e ntirely a ccurate. T he r emaining p re-Conquest c harter w hich i s a ' Celtic ' r ather t han a n A nglo-Saxon d ocument ( S1207; D avis 1 982, p . 2 60 a nd n .

2 62

8 ),

( b)

h as b een e dited r ecently b y P adel ( 1979,

P .

4 3).

T he C harter

S 267 D r. D . R ogers,

( Edition :

c /o T he B odleian L ibrary, P hillips 4 810, ( photo-copy)

p p. 8 4-8

E CW , n o. 3 98)

T he e arliest c harter s urviving i n t he A thelney a rchive , a nd t he o nly o ne r elating t o t he p eriod d own t o 8 39, i s a g rant o f l and m ade b y B eorhtric, k ing o f t he W est S axons ( 786-802), t o t he l ayman W igfrith i n 7 94. T he d ocument a ppears t o b e s ubstantially g enuine. T he b eneficiary a ttests o ther c harters o f t his a nd t he p receding r eign ( S96, 2 61, 2 69, 2 70a , e tc.) a nd i s p robably t o b e i dentified w ith t he m an m entioned i n t he C hronicle a s o ne o f t hose w ho a venged t he d eath o f C yniwulf i n 7 86 ( ASC , s .a. 7 57). N o w itness l ist s urvives , a nd n o p erson o ther t han t he d onor a nd t he b eneficiary i s n amed i n t he e xtant t ext. T he d ate i s g iven o nly a s a n i ncarnational y ear a nd c annot b e c hecked, b ut i ncarnational d ating w as u sual a t t his p eriod, a nd t here i s n o r eason t o s uppose t hat t he d ate o f t he c harter i s n ot c orrect . T he w ording o f t he c harter a ppears u nobjectionable a nd c ontains a n umber o f r esemblances t o o ther c harters o f t he r eign . T hese a re q uoted a bove i n t he d iscussions o f S 270a ( Glastonbury), S 268 a nd S 269 ( Abingdon). T he i mmunity i s s ubject t o o nly o ne e xception , m ilitary s ervice , a nd i s p laced a t t he e nd o f t he d ocument, a fter t he d ating c lause , r eference t o a ttestations, a nd s ingle s urviving s ubscription , w hich i s t hat o f t he d onor. B oth t he p osition o f t he c lause a nd i ts w ording , ' Ego q uoque B reorhtricus a d a ugmentum h ujus D onationis m ake i t l ook l ike a n a fterthought, a nd t his s eems q uite c onsistent w ith i ts b eing a uthentic , s ince i t i s a lmost c ertainly t he e arliest e xtant i mmunity c lause i n aW est S axon c harter ( apart f rom I ne 's g rant o f p rivileges o f 7 04 , S 245), a nd i t a ppears t hat i mmunities w ere b eing i ntroduced i n W essex a t t his t ime. P robably t he c harter w as d rafted o riginally w ithout a n i mmunity c lause , a s w as n ormal i n W essex d own t o t his t ime , a nd t hen s omeone a cquainted w ith t he d evelopment o f i mmunity c lauses i n M ercia s uggested t hat t his c lause b e a dded ( on t he i mmunity s ee B rooks 1 971, p p. 8 0-2). T he l and g ranted t o W igfrith i s d escribed a s 1 0 h ides ' in a quilonari p laga f luminis P edride' a nd i s d efined b y a d etailed b oundary c lause i n L atin a nd O ld E nglish w hich r esembles c lauses i n o ther c harters o f t his a nd t he p receding r eign ( e .g . S 264, 2 68), a nd i s p robably a uthentic a lthough t he p lace-names a ppear t o h ave b een m odernised, a s i s o ften t he c ase w ith e arly b oundary c lauses. T he c artularist's r ubric r efers t o t he e states a s ' terra i n H amme ', a nd t he

2 63

c harter i s g rouped w ith d ocuments r elating t o H amme, n ow H amp a djoining B ridgwater s outh o f t he r iver P arrett; t he b ounds, m oreover, a ppear t o d escribe a n e state s outh o f t he r iver, b ut t hese i ndications a re i nconsistent w ith t he r eference i n t he d ispositio t o l and o n t he n orth b ank ( ECW , n o. 3 98, n . 2 ). C artularists w ere n ot a lways c ompletely a ccurate i n t heir i dentification o f e states a nd c onsequent g rouping o f c harters ( the W inchester c artulärist, f or e xample, w as n ot), a nd t his c onsideration p lus t he i nternal i nconsistencies o f t he t ext m ake i t i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hether t he l and g ranted b y B eorhtric w as a t H amp o r e lsewhere. H amp w as o wned b y A thelney i n 1 066, a nd t hen a ssessed a t 1h ide ( DB S omerset, p . 1 0.4); t he c harter o f B eorhtric m ay o r m ay n ot h ave b een a cquired a s a t itle d eed f or t his e state. B eorhtric's c harter a ppears t o b e a uthentic a nd f orms p art o f t he e vidence f or t he i ntroduction o f i mmunities a nd d etailed b oundary c lauses i nto W est S axon c harters d uring t he s econd h alf o f t he e ighth c entury.

2 64

B .

1 .

O THER A RCHIVES

C HRIST C HURCH , C ANTE RBURY

.

P age

( a)

I ntroduction

( b)

T he C harters

2 30 1 610 1 08

2 66

C eadwalla , k ing, t o W ilfrid , b ishop

2 66

C eadwalla , k ing ,

2 67

t o C hrist C hurch

O ffa , k ing, t o O swald, b ishop

2 67

2 Ethilheard, a rchbishop , t o C ynithryth , a bbess

2 72

2 82

E cgberht , k ing, t o 2 Ethelric

2 73

2 70

E cgberht , k ing ,

2 75

1 258

t o D unn , a bbot

3 23 ) ), ethelwulf, k ing, t o C hrist C hurch 1 623 ) 2 86 1 438

( c)

2Ethelwulf, k ing, t o C eolnoth, a rchbishop E cgberht a nd 2 Ethelwulf t o C eolnoth , a rchbishop

C onclusions

2 77

2 78 2 79

2 80

2 65

( a)

I ntroduction

T he e arly h istory a nd d ocumentation o f t he s ee o f C anterbury h ave b een s o r ecently a nd s o w ell d iscussed b y N icholas B rooks ( 1984) t hat a ny g eneral a ccount h ere w ould b e s uperfluous . N or w ould t here b e a ny p oint i n d uplicating h is d iscussions o f t hose c harters w hich h e h as e xamined i n d etail. I n t hese c ases o nly b rief s ummaries a re p rovided b elow . O ther c harters a re d iscussed m ore f ully.

( b)

T he C harters

T he C hrist C hurch c harters w hich h ave , r elevance t o e arly W essex a re l isted b elow .

D ate

D onor

o r p urport t o

h ave ,

s ome

B eneficiary

2 30

6 80

C eadwalla , k ing

W ilfrid , b ishop

1 610

6 87

C eadwalla , k ing

C hrist C hurch

1 08

7 72

O ffa , k ing

O swald , b ishop

1 258

7 98

i Ethilheard, a rchb.

C ynithryth , a bbess

2 82

( 830)

E cgberht, k ing

. A Ethelric

2 70

( 833)

E cgberht , k ing

D unn , a bbot

3 23

( 833 x 8 36)

i Ethelwulf, k ing

C hrist C hurch

1 623

( 833 x 8 58)

2 Ethelwulf, k ing

C hrist C hurch

2 86

8 38

2 Ethelwulf

C eolnoth ,

a rchb .

1 438

8 38

E cgberht & 2 Ethelwulf

C eolnoth , a rchb.

S 230 ( Edition :

B 50)

B rooks h as p resented t horoughly c onvincing a rguments t hat t his c harter a nd t he r elated S elsey c harter w hich s urvives i n t he C hichester a rchive ( S232) w ere f abricated i n t he 9 50s i n c onnection w ith a d ispute b etween t he s ee o f S elsey a nd a l ayman , C anterbury p roviding a ssistance t o S elsey a nd b eing g iven l ands i n r eturn ( Brooks 1 984 , p. 2 40-3, p 3 17). T hese c harters t herefore h ave n othing t o d o w ith e arly W essex, a nd w ill n ot b e f urther c onsidered h ere .

2 66

S 1610 ( Edition:

B 69)

A nother d ocument p urporting t o b e ag rant o f C eadwalla o f W essex i s a lso s purious a s i t s tands . T he j oint d onor i s q ueen C ynigyth, a nd h er h usband i s n amed i n t he d isposito a s C eadwalla , i n ac orroborative c lause a s C oenwalh, a nd i n a nother v ersion o f t he g rant a s C oenwulf o f M ercia ( S156). B rooks p resents r easons f or b elieving t hat t hese n ames a re g uesses m ade b y m en w orking f rom a n e arly c harter i n p oor c ondition i n w hich t he n ame o f t he d onor c ould n ot b e r ead, a nd t hat t his d onor a ctually w as W ihtred, k ing o f K ent ( Brooks 1 984, p p. 1 02-3). T he g enuine e arly c harter o n w hich t he s purious d ocuments a ppear t o b e b ased w as a w holly K entish c harter, a nd h as n o r elevance t o e arly W essex.

S 108 L ambeth P alace , ( Edition :

1 212, p p. 3 87-8 ( microfilm)

B 208)

Ag rant b y k ing O ffa o f M ercia t o b ishop O swald o f S elsey o f l and i n S ussex s urvives o nly i n a t hirteenth-century C anterbury c artulary. I t i s n ot c lear w hy t his s hould b e t he c ase. T he c harter r elates t o t he s ee o f S elsey , w hich w as m oved t o C hichester a fter t he C onquest, a nd w hose r ecords s urvive i n t he a rchive o f C hichester . B exhill, t he e state w hich i s t he s ubject o f t his d ocument , w as n ever o wned b y C hrist C hurch : i t w as h eld b y t he b ishop o f S elsey i n 1 066 ( DB S ussex , p . 9 .11), a nd w as s eized s hortly a fter t he C onquest b y t he C ount o f E u , w hose f amily r etained i t u ntil 1 148 w hen i t w as r estored t o t he b ishop o f C hichester w ho t hen r etained i t u ntil t he s ixteenth c entury ( VCH S ussex , V ol. 9 , p . 17). T he c ircumstances i n w hich t he c harter o f O ffa c ame i nto t he p ossession o f C hrist C hurch a re u nknown. T he d ocum ent s eems t o b e e ntirely a S elsey r ecord. O ffa 's c harter h as s ome c onnection w ith W essex s ince i t i s a ttested b y k ing C yniwulf. T he t ext p resents a n umber o f p roblems a nd h as c ertainly b een i nterpolated, b ut m ay b e b ased o n a n a uthentic, e ighth-century c harter. T his i s o ne o f an umber o f c harters i n w hich O ffa i s s tyled ' rex A nglorum '. N one o f t hese c harters i nspires m uch c onfidence , a nd i t m ay b e t hat t he t itle i s t he w ork o f al ater w riter i n e very c ase . T he t hree o ther C anterbury c harters w hich u se t he t itle s urvive o n t enthc entury s ingle s heets a nd a re a ll i nterpolated ( S110 , 1 11, 1 32; B rooks 1 984, p p. 3 19-21). O f t he f ive W orcester c harters, t hree a ppear t o b e s purious ( S104, 1 21, 1 45), a nd e ach o f t he o ther t wo s urvives i n t wo v ersions, o nly o ne o f w hich i ncludes t he t itle ( S109, 1 46). T he s ingle C hichester c harter i s o f d oubtful v alidity ( S1178), a nd a n a lleged g rant o f O ffa t o S t . D enis i s c ertainly s purious ( S133). S tenton 's

2 67

a cceptance o f t he t itle w as b ased o n ab elief t hat t he t hree t enthc entury C anterbury c harters w ere c ontemporary m anuscripts ( Stenton 1 918a , p p. 6 0-4). B rooks, w hile r ecognising t he d ubious n ature o f t he e vidence, i s i nclined t o a dmit t he p ossibility t hat t he t itle i s a uthentic i n v iew o f t he f requency o f i ts a ppearance i n c harters o f t he 70s a nd 7 80s ( Brooks 1 984, p . 1 13). W ormald i s m ore s uspicious o f i t 7 ( Wormald 1 983, p p. 1 10-11). I t i s n ot i mpossible t hat t he s tyle i s a n a uthentic f eature o f t he p resent t ext, b ut i t m ust b e c onsidered v ery d oubtful. T here i s n o d oubt t hat t he t ext o f t his c harter i s i nterpolated, i f n ot e ntirely s purious, s ince i t i ncludes a s eries o f p assages i n O ld E nglish w hich c ould n ot h ave o riginated i n a n a uthentic c harter o f O ffa . T he f irst o f t hese g ives d etailed b oundaries f or t he e state a t B exhill g ranted b y O ffa ; t he s econd d etails s everal f urther a reas o f l and, s aid t o b e t he g avel-land a ppurtenant t o B exhill ; a nd t he t hird a nd f ourth p rovide b ounds f or t wo o f t hese a dditional a reas . T here i s n o i nstance o f a n O ld E nglish b oundary c lause w hich c ould r easonably b e a ccepted a s a n o rignal a nd i ntegral p art o f ac harter o f O ffa, a nd t he O ld E nglish p assages i ncluded h ere a re c learly w ork o f a l ater d ate . W hen t he O ld E nglish p assages a re d iscarded, t he t ext w hich r emains i s f airly b rief a nd ( apart f rom t he r oyal t itle) c ontains n o n otable a nachronism . S everal o f i ts c lauses a re s imilar t o c lauses i n o ther c harters r elating t o S ussex ( S45, 4 8-50, 1 178, 183); a ll o f 1 t hese s urvive i n t he a rchive o f C hichester e xcept S 50 w hich i s p reserved i n t he s ame C anterbury c artulary a s S 108, a nd a ll a re d atable t o t he s econd h alf o f t he e ighth c entury e xcept S 45 w hich i s d ated 6 92. T he p arallels a re d etailed b elow .

P roem S 108:

' Omne q uod s ecundum p resens s eculum a gitur u ix u sque a d m ortem s ufficit . q uod u ero p ro e terna u ita a gatur . e ciam p ost m ortem p ermanet i n e ternum . I dcirco i ntenta m entis p rouidentia u nicuique c ogitandum c onsiderandumque e st . q uatenus l abentibus h uius s eculi p ossessionibus m ansuras c elestium p romissionum d iuciis o bteneat . ';

S 1178:

' Omnia q uae s ecundum p raesens s 2eculum l aboramus v ix u sque a d m ortem s ufficit . q uod v ero p ro e terna v ita a gatur u tique p ost m ortem c onservatur . ';

S 1183:

' Nos q uidem p raesentis u itee c aducam c eleritatem c onsiderantes . i dcirco u nicuique i ntenta m entis p rovidentia c ognitandum e st . u t a liquid p ro r edemptione a nimee s uae a gat q uamdiu v ixerat i n h oc s aeculo '.

D ispositive w ords S 108:

' inperpetuam a ttribuo p ossessionem ';

S 49:

' in p erpetuam a ttribuo p ossessionem ';

2 68

a ttribuo' o ccurs a lso i n S 43 a nd i n c harters o f O ffa w ith S ussex, S 113, 1 43.

n ot

c onnected

F oundation o f am onastery S 108:

' ad c onstruendum i n e a m onasterium '

S 48, 5 0:

i dentical t o S 108.

T hese p arallels o f w ording i n o ther c harters d ating f rom m uch t he s ame t ime a nd p ossibly d rawn u p i n t he s ame s criptorium s uggest t hat t he c harter o f O ffa m ay w ell b e b asically a uthentic , e specially a s t here a re n o s uch p arallels i n c harters o f t he C hichester a rchive d ating f rom a l ater p eriod. T he p arallels o f w ording i n t he s eventhc entury c harter ( S45) a re d etailed a nd d iscussed b elow u nder C hichester, w here i t i s a rgued t hat t he c lauses c oncerned a re g enuine i n O ffa 's c hartev a nd i nterpolations i n t he e arlier d ocument . O n t his b asis t he d uplication i s n ot a s uspicious f eature o f O ffa 's c harter, i n w hich t he w ordings a ppear t o b e a uthentic. A c lause l isting t he c omponents o f t he e state f ollows t he f irst t wo i nterpolated O ld E nglish p assages, a nd o riginally p robably f ollowed t he n ame ' Bixlea '. T he c lause i s t ypical o f S outh S axon c harters o f t he t ime ( cf. S 49, 1 184, e tc .). T here f ollows a n i mmunity w ithout e xceptions w hich i s o f v ery d oubtful v alidity. T here i s n o p arallel f or i t i n S outh S axon c harters o f t he p eriod, a nd s imilar c lauses i n O ffa 's c harters a re f ew ( S116, 1 20, 1 23), n one o ccurring i n at ext o f u ndoubted a uthenticity. I t i s p rovided t hat t he e state w ill r evert t o t he s ee o f S elsey a fter t he d eath o f t he n amed b eneficiary, b ishop O swald; t his c ould b e g enuine o r c ould b e t he w ork o f a l ater w riter w ho w ished S elsey 's r ight t o t he p roperty t o b e m ore e xplicitly s tated. T he d ating c lause i s i n n ormal t erms a nd t he i ncarnational y ear 7 72 f its t he 1 0th i ndiction ; t he c harter i s a lso d ated 1 5th A ugust . S ome o f t he w ording o f t he e xtant v ersion o f t his c harter i s c ertainly s purious, a nd s ome d etails, n otably t he r oyal t itle, a re d oubtful, b ut i t m ay w ell b e t hat m uch o f t he t ext i s t hat o f a n a uthentic c harter o f O ffa w hich h as b een i nterpolated a t al ater d ate. O ffa i s s aid t o g rant t o b ishop O swald o ne e state o f 8 h ides a t ' Bixlea ', n ow B exhill o n t he S ussex c oast. T he O ld E nglish p assage d escribing t he ' gavel-land' a dds a f urther 2 0 h ides t o t his . I n 1 066 B exhill w as o wned b y b ishop ' Alric ', t hat i s Athelric o f S elsey, a nd w as t hen a ssessed a t 2 0 h ides ( DB S ussex, p . 9 .11). O f t he p laces n amed i n t he l ist o f ' gavel-land ', o nly o ne i s m entioned i n D omesday B ook , t his b eing C rowhurst w hich w as n ot o wned b y t he s ee o f S elsey ( DB S ussex , p. 8 .13, 9 .13). I n t he c harter C rowhurst i s l isted a s a n p e state o f 8h ides . T he D omesday a ssessment o f B exhill t herefore e quals t he t otal h idage o f t he c harter l ess t he h idage o f t he o ne a rea w hich h ad p assed o ut o f S elsey 's p ossession b y t he t ime o f t he C onquest . T he p robability i s t hat t he D omesday m anor i ncluded a ll t he p laces m entioned i n t he c harter e xcept C rowhurst , a nd t hat t he O ld E nglish p assage l isting t he a dditional a reas w as a dded t o t he t ext a t s ome t ime b efore t he C onquest i n o rder t o b ring t he d ocument i nto l ine w ith l ater c ircumstances.

2 69

N either B exhill o r a ny o f t he o ther p laces n amed i n t he c harter a ppears i n a ny o ther p re-Conquest c harter , b ut t here i s ap iece o f p reC onquest e vidence w hich m ay h ave a b earing o n t his g rant : i n 7 71 O ffa i s r eported a s h aving s ubdued t he p eople o f H astings ( Historia R egum s .a.). H astings i s o nly a bout 6 m iles a long t he c oast f rom B exhill, a nd i t i s p robable t hat B exhill l ay w ithin t he H astings t erritory , w hich w as a s eparate e ntity f rom S ussex ( EHD , p . 2 44, n . 5 ; W ormald 1 983, p . n . 7 6). I t m ay b e t hat O ffa , i n h is g rant t o b ishop 17 O swald o f 7 72, w as d isposing o f p art o f t he l and a cquired b y h is c onquest o f t he y ear b efore . Ag rant b y O ffa o f a n e state i n t his a rea i n 7 72 s eems e minently p lausible, a nd t he a ccount o f t he l and m akes m ore s ense i f i t i s r egarded a s ag enuine g rant o f 8 h ides l ater b rought u p t o d ate b y r eference t o a dditional a reas t han i f i t i s s upposed t o b e af abrication. A r emarkable w itness l ist i s a ppended t o t his c harter. T he w itnesses a re l isted b elow , i dentified a nd d ated w here p ossible , a nd w ith s ome r eference t o o ther e vidence f or t he p erson c oncerned w here t his m ay b e h elpful: O ffa, k ing o f t he M ercians ( 757-796). E cgberht , k ing o f K ent; h is e xtant c harters ( S34-7) e stablish t hat w as a ctive f rom 7 65 t o 7 79.

h e

nenberht , a rchbishop o f C anterbury ( 765-792). C yniwulf, k ing o f t he W est S axons ( 757-786). E adberht, b ishop o f L eicester; c onsecrated i n 7 64 ( Historia R egum s .a.); a ttended t he s ynod o f B rentford i n 7 81 ( S1257), O swald ,

b ishop o f S elsey ;

a ttests c harters o f 7 65 a nd 7 70 ( S48, 4 9).

S igheah, b ishop o f L ondon ( MS R igheah); a ppears i n n o o ther c harter , b ut i s r ecorded i n t he e piscopal l ist ( Page 1 966, p . 4 ); h is p red ecessor a ttests i n 7 66 ( S107); h is s uccessor w as a t B rentford i n 7 81. D eora , b ishop o f R ochester ; t he b eneficiary o f t hree o f k ing E cgberht 's c harters ( S35-7); w as a t t he s ynod o f B rentford. O swald, d ux o f t he S outh S axons ; u nknown , b ut p ossibly t he ' Osiai rex a nd ' Osa ' o f t wo c harters o f E aldwulf, r ex a nd d ux o f S ussex, d ated b y S awyer c . 7 65 ( S50) a nd 7 72 x 7 87 ( S1183). O smund, d ux o f t he S outh S axons ; p robably t he k ing o f S ussex w ho g rants i n 7 65 a nd 7 70 ( S48, 4 9). 2 Elfweald, d ux ( ?) o f t he S outh S axons ; u nknown b ut p ossibly ' 2Elhwald r ex ' o f k ing E aldwulf 's c harter o f c . 7 65 ( S50). O slac ,

d ux o f t he S outh S axons ;

d onor o f a c harter o f 7 80 ( S1184).

2 70

m ade

t he

B otwine , a bbot o f M edeshamstede ; 1 14, e tc.). E ata , M ercian l ayman ( S65,

a ctive a t l east f rom 7 65 t o 7 79

( S34,

1 07, e tc.).

H eahberht, u nknown u nless t he k ing o f K ent w ho E cgberht o f K ent a nd O ffa ( S34, 3 7, 1 05).

a ttests

c harters

o f

B rorda B erhtwald M ercian l aymen ( S105,

1 07,

1 18,

e tc .)

E sne H withyse B aldred, u nknown. B ryne ,

( ?) M ercian l ayman ( S144).

S tithberht, u nknown u nless t he M ercian a bbot ( S106). C yne ,

u nknown u nless t he M ercian l ayman C lan ( S110, p . 9 5 n . 3 0).

E aldred,

( ?) K entish l ayman ( S29).

L ulling ,

( ?) S outh S axon l ayman ( S50).

11; B arker 1

1 947,

B erht, u nknown. B yrnhere, u nknown. T ota ,

u nknown , u nless a m ember o f b ishop O swald 's f amilia b ishop o f S elsey ( Page 1 966, p . 4 ; B 250).

S cira , u nknown; b ut B irch s uggests ' tota s cira ', p . 2 96 n . 2 ), ( ?) o f t he H astingas.

a nd

l ater

t he w hole s hire ( B208,

H emele , p refectus, W est Sa xon l ayman, a ctive 7 62-786 ( S261-4, 2 69).

T he s uggested i dentifications o f s ome o f t he u ntitled w itnesses a re o nly v ery t entative , a nd i t m ay b e t hat t here a re s everal o therwise u nrecorded p ersons h ere . I t i s s carcely w ithin t he b ounds o f p ossibility t hat a f orger c ould h ave k nown t he n ames o f a ll t hese p ersons a nd d rawn u p t his l ist , a nd t he l ist m ay c onfidently b e a ccepted a s a uthentic . M oreover, a ll d atable p ersons f it t he d ate o f t he c harter, 7 72. T he s urviving v ersion o f O ffa's c harter m ay b e d ivided i nto t hree p arts: f irstly t he O ld E nglish p assages w hich a re c ertainly o f l ater d ate ; s econdly t he L atin t ext d own t o t he w itness l ist , w hich a ppears t o b e g enuine b ut i s n ot b eyond q uestion a nd i n w hich t he r ather d ubious r oyal t itle a nd i mmunity s uggest t he p ossbility o f s ome r ewriting ; a nd t hirdly t he w itness l ist i tself, w hich i s a uthentic

2 71

b eyond a ny r easonable d oubt a nd m arred o nly b y o ne o r t wo m inor c opyist's e rrors . I t t herefore s eems v ery l ikely t hat O ffa d id g rant 8 h ides a t B exhill t o b ishop O swald i n 7 72 a nd q uite p ossible t hat t his w as p art o f t he r ecently c onquered H astings t erritory . A nd i t s eems r easonably c ertain t hat t he m eeting r ecorded b y t he w itness l ist d id t ake p lace. I t i s ar easonable a ssumption t hat t his m eeting, a ttended b y t he k ings o f M ercia , W essex a nd K ent , t he r ulers o f S ussex, t he a rchbishop o f C anterbury, f our b ishops a nd n umerous o ther p ersons, w as n ot c onvened f or t he s ole p urpose o f w itnessing a g rant o f l and. T here m ust h ave b een o ther b usiness w hich w as o f f ar g reater i mportance a t t he t ime , b ut w hich, u nlike t he c onveyance o f l and, d id n ot g ive r ise t o a ny w ritten r ecord, a nd c onsequently t here c an b e n o c ertainty a bout t he m ain p urpose o f t his e xtraordinary a ssembly -extraordinary b ecause t here i s n o p arallel i n t he s urviving r ecords o f e arly A nglo-Saxon E ngland f or a p eaceful m eeting o f t he k ings o f t hree i ndependent k ingdoms. T he d egree o f i ndependence o f M ercia e njoyed b y E cgberht o f K ent i s a s ubject o f c ontroversy , b ut h is t itle a nd p osition i n t his l ist s uggest t hat h is s tatus w as d istinctly d ifferent f rom t hat o f t he d uces w ho w ere n ow t he l eading m en o f S ussex. A s n oted a bove, t his m eeting o ccurred t he y ear a fter O ffa 's c onquest o f t he p eople o f H astings. I t a lso s eems t o h ave m ore o r l ess c oincided w ith t he d emise o f S ussex a s a n i ndependent k ingdom : k ings o f t he S outh S axons a ppear i n m ost o f t he S outh S axon c harters p red ating t his d ocument , b ut i n n one o f t hose w hich p ost-date i t ( except p ossibly S 50 w hich i s u ndated b ut c ould d ate f rom c . 7 90, b ut i s i n a ny c ase a d ubious t ext s haring m uch o f t he w ording o f S 48 a nd h aving a n o dd w itness l ist). T he a ttendance a t t he m eeting o f 7 72 r epresents t he p olitical l eaders o f S ussex a nd o f i ts t hree n eighbouring k ingdoms p lus t heir s upporters a nd r epresentatives o f t he c hurch . P ossibly t he f ate o f S ussex a nd H astings w ere d iscussed a nd s ome p artition o f t erritory a greed. T he e vidence f or O ffa 's e ffective p ower i n t hese a reas a nd t he p reponderance a t t his m eeting o f M ercian a nd M ercian-dominated p articipants s uggest t hat W essex i s l ikely t o h ave g ained v ery l ittle.

S 1258 L ambeth P alace, ( Edition :

1 212, p p. 3 12-13 ( microfilm)

B 291)

T his c harter , e xtant i n at welfth-century C anterbury m anuscript ( register P ) a s w ell a s t he t hirteenth-century L ambeth P alace m anuscript , a nd a lso i n as ixteenth-century t ranscript ( B .L ., C otton C laudius D i i) d erives f rom t he C ouncil o f C lofesho o f 7 98 , a ttended b y 2 Ethilheard, a rchbishop o f C anterbury; C oenwulf, k ing o f t he M ercians ; C ynithryth , a bbess o f C ookham a nd p robably O ffa 's w idow ; a nd m any o thers . T here h ad b een a l ong d ispute o ver o wnership o f C ookham , w hich w as f inally r esolved a t t his c ouncil o n t he b asis t hat C ynithryth w as c onfirmed i n p ossesion o f t he m onastery a nd i ts e states w hile C hrist

2 72

C hurch g ave u p i ts c laim b ut r eceived s ome o ther p roperty i n c ompensation . A s w ell a s d etailing t he s ettlement t erms, t he t ext g ives a n e xtended a ccount o f t he c ourse o f t he d ispute w hich l asted m any y ears a nd i nvolved s everal s eparate t ransactions. T his d ocument h as b een a ccepted a s a uthentic b y S tenton ( 1913, p p. 2 4-5; 1 955, p. 1 3-14) b y W hitelock , w ho p rovides a d iscussion a nd p t ranslation ( EHD , n o. 7 9); b y G elling, w ho g ives a r esume o f t he e vents d escribed i n t he t ext ( ECTV , n o. 1 6); a nd b y B rooks, w ho f urnishes a m ore d etailed a ccount o f t he c ontent o f t he c harter ( Brooks 1 984 , p p. 1 03-4). I t d oes n ot a ppear t hat a ny d oubt o f t he c harter 's a uthenticity c an r easonably b e e ntertained, a nd t herefore n o a ttempt w ill b e m ade t o d iscuss a uthenticity h ere, n or t o p rovide a f ull a ccount o f t he c ontent, s ince t his i s r eadily a vailable i n t he m odern w orks c ited a bove. T he c hief i mportance o f t he d ocument l ies i n i ts a ccount o f t he s uccessive c hanges o f o wnership o f t he m onastery a t C ookham d uring t he s econd h alf o f t he e ighth c entury, s ince f rom t his n arrative f luctuat ions i n p olitical p ower i n t he u pper T hames V alley c an b e d educed. I t i s a pparent t hat 2 Ethilbald o f M ercia c ontrolled t his a rea a nd t hat i t w as a nnexed a fter h is d eath i n 7 57 b y C yniwulf o f W essex, b ut l ater t aken b ack i nto M ercian c ontrol b y O ffa, p robably i n 7 79 w hen h e d efeated C yniwulf a t B ensington , w hich i s n ot f ar f rom C ookham ( ASC s .a . 79). T he i nformation o f t he c harter b oth c onfirms a nd a dds t o 7 t hat o f t he C hronicle. I t i s a lso a pparent f rom t his a ccount t hat t he p ower a nd i nfluence o f t he a rchbishop o f C anterbury w ere s omewhat l imited. B oth C yniwulf a nd O ffa s eized p roperty w hich r ightfully b elonged t o t he a rchiepiscopal s ee a nd r etained i t i n d isregard o f p rotests f rom C anterbury. C yniwulf i s s aid t o h ave r estored t he t itled eeds o f C ookham t o C anterbury e ventually b ecause h e r epented o f h is c onduct, b ut i n f act h is a ction p robably d erived , n ot f rom p enitence, b ut f rom t he f act t hat h e n o l onger h eld t he m onastery a nd i ts d eeds w ere o f n o f urther v alue t o h im . M oreover , t he s ettlement t erms p ermanently a lienated f rom C anterbury t he p roperty w hich s uccessive a rchbishops h ad r epeatedly t ried t o r ecover. I t a ppears t hat e ffective p ower l ay w ith k ings , n ot w ith t he c hurch.

S 282 0 .S. F acs., V ol. I , n o. 7 ( Edition :

B 396)

Ac harter i n t he n ame o f k ing E cgberht o f W essex g ranting l and t o a l ayman n amed Athelric s urvives o nly o n a s ingle s heet o f e leventhc entury d ate i n t he a rchive o f C anterbury. B rooks s tates t hat i t i s n ot a uthentic, w ithout o ffering a ny a rguments i n s upport o f t his v iew , b ut a ccepts t he w itness l ist a s g enuine a nd d ating f rom 8 30 ( Brooks 1 984 , p p . 1 62, 3 58 n . 4 2). I t s eems q uite p ossible, h owever, t hat t he e xtant t ext i s s ubstantially a uthentic.

2 73

T he d ate i s p laced a t t he b eginning o f t he d ocument i mmediately a fter t he i nvocation a nd i s g iven a s 8 45, t he 8 th i ndiction . T he i ncarnational y ear i s i mpossible s ince i t l ay o utside E cgberht 's r eign, a nd h as e vidently b een m iscopied o r m iscalculated. E rroneous i ncarnat ional d ates o ccur f requently i n t he c harters o f t his a rchive a nd n eed n ot b e c onsidered t o p rejudice t he a uthenticity o f a ny i ndividual t ext. T he e ighth i ndiction o ccurred i n E cgberht's r eign i n 8 15 a nd 8 30 . T he w itness l ist s uggests t hat t he s econd o f t hese i s t he c orrect d ate . T he a ttestation o f E cgberht i s f ollowed b y t hat o f Athelwulf, w ho i s g iven t he t itle ' rex C antrariorum '; h e c an s carcely h ave a cquired t his t itle b efore t he e xpulsion o f B aldred, k ing o f K ent , i n t he 8 20s ( ASC s .a. 8 25 ; C oxe , R oger o f W endover , s .a. 8 27). W ulf r ed , a rchbishop o f C anterbury, a nd B eornmod, b ishop o f R ochester, b oth h ad l ong e piscopates i ncluding b oth t he p ossible d ates o f t his c harter ( ASC s .a. 8 04, 8 05, 8 32; S 280). E alhstan o f S herborne, h owever , w as n ot c onsecrated a s e arly a s 8 15: h e w as a ppointed, a ccording t o t he C hronicle, i n 8 17, p robably i n f act i n 8 24 ( S283). A rchdeacon C yneheard i s p erhaps t o b e i dentified w ith t he d eacon o f t his n ame w ho a ttests i n 8 24 a nd 8 25 ( S1266, 1 436 ; s ee a lso S 1268 o f u ncertain d ate). T hree l aymen a ttest : o f t he f irst n ame o nly t he i nitial H c an b e r ead; t he s econd i s D udda , w ho d ied i n 8 36 ( ASC s .a.); a nd t he l ast i s C ynehelm w ho i s n ot o therwise k nown. T he w itness l ist t herefore d ates f rom n ot e arlier t han t he m id-820s a nd n ot l ater t han 8 32, a nd i t s eems l ikely t hat t he c orrect d ate o f t he c harter i s 8 30. T he l and g ranted t o 2 Ethelric ( who i s n ot o therwise r ecorded) c onsists o f 5 p loughlands a t 1 2erahorna ', n ow W arehorne i n K ent, a nd ' Flothammas ', u nidentified a nd o therwise u nrecorded, b ut a lso p robably i n K ent. W arehorne w as i n t he p ossession o f C hrist C hurch i n t he e leventh c entury a nd w as a ssessed a t 1p loughland i n 1 066 ( S1047, 1 465, 1 640; D B K ent , p . 3 .19). I t i s a p oint i n f avour o f t his c harter t hat t he a mount o f l and s tated d oes n ot a gree w ith t he D omesday a ssessment a nd t hat t he a ccount o f t he l and i ncludes t he u nknown F lotham , w hich a nyone f orging a t itle-deed f or W arehorne w ould h ave h ad n o r eason t o i ntroduce. T his c harter , r elating t o aK entish e state , w as e vidently d rawn u p i n K ent, p robably a t C anterbury, a nd s ubstantially f ollows n ormal p atterns o f n inth-century K entish d iplomatic: t here i s n o p roem ; E cgberht's t itle i s ' rex O ccidentalium S axonum n ecnon e t C antuariorum '; t he d ispositive v erbs a re ' dabo e t c oncedo '; t he b eneficiary's r ights a re e xpressed i n g erunds , ' ad h abendum e t p ossidendum f eliciterque i n d ies e ius p erfruendum ..' ( Brooks 1 984, p p. 3 27-8). M oreover , t here a re p arellels i n K entish c harters o f t he f irst h alf o f t he n inth c entury f or t he p lacing o f t he d ate a t t he b eginning o f t he t ext ( S188, 1 434, 1 436); t he r eference t o t he p rovince i n w hich t he l and i s s ituated ( S186, 1 87, 1 88); t he i mmunity w ithout e xceptions ( S165, 2 80, 3 23); t he c lause ' quamdiu c ristiana f ides i n t erra s eruatur' ( S323); t he r eference t o t he w itnesses ' consentientibus a c s cribentibus ' ( S186, 1 88, 1 438); a nd t he w ording o f t he d onor's a ttestation ( S188, 2 89, 3 23). T here o ccur s anctions w hich a re n ot e ntirely d issimilar ( S187, 1 88), a nd t he a dditional c lauses ' nisi a nte d igna s atisfactione a emendare u oluerit ' a nd ' manente . h ac c artula i n s ua n ihilominus f irmitate r oborata ' a re c ommon ( S187, 2 79, e tc.).

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T he o nly d etail w hose a uthenticity s eems v ery d oubtful i s a c lause , m ostly i n O ld E nglish , w hich i s p laced a t t he e nd o f t he d ocument a fter t he w itness l ist a nd s tates t hat E cgberht s old t he l and t o Athelric i n r eturn f or a p ayment o f 5 0 m ancusae , a nd a dds b rief b oundaries. T his r eads l ike a l ater e ndorsement r ather t han a n i ntegral p art o f t he c harter, a nd i ts i nformation c annot b e r elied u pon . O therwise t he f orms p art o f t he r Ethelwulf 's s tatus W est S axon k ings a nd

c harter a ppears t o b e s ubstantially g enuine, a nd c harter e vidence f or W est S axon p ower i n K ent, a s k ing o f K ent, a nd t he r elationship b etween t he a rchbishop W ulf r ed i n 8 30.

S 270 B .L ., C otton A ugustus I I, n o . ( Edition :

1 02

B 411)

A c harter s urviving o n a s ingle s heet o f u ncertain d ate r ecords a g rant o f l and, p artly f or s alt , m ade b y ak ing n amed E cgberht t o a bbot D unn o f L yminge i n 7 73. T he t ransaction i s s ubstantially d uplicated i n a n o riginal c harter o f k ing _Athilberht o f K ent d ated 7 32 ( S23), a nd i t s eems t hat t he a lleged g rant o f E cgberht i s as purious v ersion o f t he c harter o f 7 32, a nd o f n o v alidity. I t i s n ot e ntirely c lear w hich k ing t he a uthor o f t his d ocument i ntended t o r efer t o . T he d ate 7 73 s uggests E cgberht I I o f K ent; t he w itness l ist, w hich i ncludes a rchbishop C eolnoth a nd o ther c hurchmen a ctive i n t he n inth c entury, s uggests E cgberht o f W essex. T he r oyal s tyle ' rex C antie n ecnon e t a liarum g entium ' i s u nparalleled a nd s uits n either k ing ; i t i s p resumably t he w ork o f af orger w ho c onfused t he t wo. T he p roperty g ranted i n e ach o f t hese c harters s eems t o s ame a lthough t he w ording i s d ifferent:

b e

S 270:

c entum q uinquaginta i ugera .. i n l oco q ui d icitur S andtun . e t i n e odem l oco s alicoquenda i uxta l iminae . e t i n s ilua u bi d icitur a ndred c entum u iginti p laustra a d c oquendum s al ',

S 23 :

q uarta p ars a ratri u nius i uxta L iminaee s ail c oquendo a ccommoda '; c entum x x p laustra o nusta d e l ignis a d c oquendum s al '; c entum j ugera e iusdem r un s i n l oco q ui d icitur S andtun '.

t he

A ccording t o S tenton, t he 1 50 a cres o f o ne a ccount e qual t he q uarter p loughland p lus 1 00 a cres o f t he o ther ( Stenton 1 918a , p . 6 5 n . 8 ). T here i s ab rief b oundary c lause g iving l andmarks o n t he f our s ides o f t he e state w hich i s i dentical i n e ach c ase. I n b oth c harters t he g rant

2 75

i s s aid t o b e m ade ' non p ro p ecunia s ed p ro r emedio a nimae m eae'. t he b eneficiary a ppears t o b e t he s ame a bbot: S 270 :

' ad a eclesiam b eatae g enetricis d el e t d omini I hesu C risti e t D unne a bb' s uisque s ociis';

S 23:

it uo

a bba p resbyter

A nd

n ostri

D un .. e t e cclesiae b eatae M ariee '.

T he c hief c ontent o f t he c harter i n t he n ame o f E cgberht t herefore d uplicates t hat o f 2 Ethilberht's c harter, a nd a ppears t o h ave b een b orrowed f rom i t. T he w itness l ist i s a nachronistic. I t b egins w ith s everal n ames w hich c ould h ave o riginated i n a c harter o f t he r eign o f E cgberht o f W essex: k ing E cgberht; C eolnoth, a rchbishop o f C anterbury ( 833-870); b ishops B eornmod o f R ochester , E alhstan o f S herborne a nd C ynered o f S elsey ( the c areer o f t he l ast i s n ot d atable, b ut h e w as a ctive i n 8 39: S 1438); a nd t he l aymen O smod, w ho d ied i n 8 36 ( ASC s .a .) a nd W ulfheard w ho d ied i n 8 40 ( ASC s .a.). T he r emaining n ames , a lthough t heir p resence i n a l ist o f 8 33 x 8 36 c annot b e s hown t o b e i mpossible , p robably d erive f rom a s lightly l ater s ource : E anwulf a nd B ofa w ere c ompanions o f 2 Ethelwulf, f irst a ppearing i n 8 38 a nd 8 39 r espectively ( S280, 2 87); a n a bbot D rihtnoth i s n ot o therwise r ecorded, b ut i t m ay w ell b e t hat t his m an i s t o b e i dentified w ith t he p riest o f t his n ame w ho a ttests i n 8 41 ( S291); s urviving a ttestations o f a bbot F reodoric d ate f rom t he 8 40s ( S293, 1 439); t he d eacon H eahberht d oes a ppear i n t he 8 30s, b ut a lways i n w itness l ists c onsisting o f t he C hrist C hurch c ommunity ( S1438, 1 482, e tc.); B eornmod a nd H eahnoth a re o therwise u nknown; O shere , E alhhere a nd L ulla w ere c ompanions o f Athelwulf ( S287, 2 99, e tc.). T he w itness l ist a ppears t o b e a c ompilation , s ome o f t he n ames d eriving f rom a d ocument o f t he 8 30s b ut o thers m ore l ikely t o h ave o riginated i n a s ource o f t he 8 40s. T he o ddities a nd a nachronisms o f t his d ocument , i n c onjunction w ith t he f act t hat t he t ransaction a nd s ome o f t he w ording a re d uplicated i n a n e arlier, g enuine c harter s uggest t hat t his i s a f abrication b ased o n t he c harter o f Athilberht I I o f K ent . T he l ater h istory o f t he l and i s u nknown. S andtun i s i dentified w ith S ampton, n ow l ost , i n W est H ythe, K ent , a nd d oes n ot o ccur i n p re-Conquest s ources o utside t hese t wo c harters o r i n D omesday B ook , s o t he m otive f or t he f orgery i s n ot c lear . J ust p ossibly t he i ntention w as t o s trengthen t he c laim o f L yminge, o r C anterbury, t o t he l and a t s ome t ime a fter t he W est S axon a nnexation o f K ent b y m aking i t a ppear t hat t he p roperty w as a cquired b y t he a uthority o f E cgberht , k ing o f t he W est S axons, r ather t han b y t hat o f a n e arly K entish k ing.

* * * * * *

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S 323 a nd S 1623 S 323 :

E dition B 407

S 1623:

L ambeth P alace 1 212,

p . 3 19-20 ( microfilm) p

E dition B 408 A g rant o f v arious p roperties t o C hrist C hurch m ade b y 2 Ethelwulf i n h is c apacity a s k ing o f K ent w ith t he c onsent o f E cgberht, k ing o f t he W est S axons , s urvives i n t wo C anterbury c artularies o f t he t hirteenth c entury, R egisters A a nd E ( Davis 1 958, n os. 1 69, 1 68). T he c harter s eems t o b e g enuine a nd w as a ccepted a s s uch b y B rooks ( 1984, p . 1 45 a nd n . 5 4). S 1623 i s a nother v ersion o f t he s ame g rant, v ery m uch a bbreviated, m aking l ittle a ttempt t o r eproduce t he w ording o f t he f ull v ersion , a nd a pparently i ntended a s ab rief s ummary o f t he t ransa ction. T here s urvive s imilar s hort v ersions o f v arious o ther C anterbury c harters ( S155, 1 60, 2 86, 1 438, e tc.). T he t ext i ncludes n o d ate e xcept i n t he s hort v ersion w here a n i ncarnational y ear o f 8 32 i s s tated a nd i n t he r ubric a t t he h ead o f t he f uller v ersion w hich m entions 8 41. T hese d ates s eem t o r epresent g uesswork b y c artulari ts a nd n either c an b e c orrect . A rchbishop C eolnoth, w ho a ttests , w as n ot c onsecrated u ntil 8 33 ( ASC s .a.), a nd t he c onsent o f E cgberht, k ing o f t he W est S axons, t o t he g rant i s s tated, s o t he c harter d ates f rom h is r eign , i .e . n ot l ater t han 8 39. T he d eath o f a nother w itness, t he l ayman D udda , i s r ecorded i n 8 36 ( ASC s .a.), s o t he c harter a pparently d ates f rom c . 8 33 x c . 8 36. A thelwulf a ppears i n t hree o ther c harters a s k ing o f K ent ( S279, 2 82, 2 86) a nd o ne o f t hese, l ike t he p resent d ocument, i s ag rant m ade b y 2 Ethelwulf i n t his c apacity w ith t he c onsent o f E cgberht ( S286). T hree o f t he c harters i nclude a n i mmunity w ithout e xceptions ( S282, 2 86, 3 23), a nd t wo o f t hem r efer t o a s ituation c ontinuing a s l ong a s t he C hristian f aith s urvives ( S282, 3 23). T he a ccount o f t he p roperty g ranted i n t his c harter h as s ome e choes i n Y Ethelwulf's o ther g rant ( S286); a s imilar l ist o f t he c omponents o f t he p roperty i s g iven; b oth u se t he t erm i ugera i n i ndicating t he s ize o f a n a rea o f l and; b oth m ention c attle a nd r ights o f c ommon p asture; b oth p rovide b rief d etails o f b oundaries i n O ld E nglish ; t he a uthenticity o f t he b oundary c lause i n t he o ther c harter i s p erhaps d oubtful, b ut i n t he p resent t ext t hese a re n ot p resented a s a c ontinuous p assage , b ut o ccur a s s eparate p hrases w hich h ave s ome a ppearance o f b eing u sed b ecause t he a uthor's L atinity w as n ot e qual t o h is t ask; t his i s c onsistent w ith a n e arly n inth-century d ate w hen L atinity a t C hrist C hurch w as a t a l ow e bb. T he t ext i s u nusual i n h aving n o s anction , b ut i t c ontains n o i dentifia ble a nachronism a nd i s p robably s ubstantially, i f n ot e ntirely, g enuine. T he i dentity o f t he b eneficiary i s n ever e xplicitly s tated, b ut i t i s c learly a r eligious c ommunity s ince t he d onor a sks f or t he p rayers o f t he c ongregation, a nd m ay b e a ssumed t o b e C hrist C hurch . T his i s n ot a d etail w hich a f orger w ould h ave o mitted . T he w itness l ist h as b een a bbreviated t o t hree s ubscriptions, t hose o f JEthelwulf, a rchbishop C eolnoth a nd D udda , p lus a n ote t hat t here w ere m any o thers. T he t hree s urviving n ames a re q uite a cceptable a nd t he a ttestation

2 77

f orms n ormal. J Ethelwulf g rants a c ollection o f p roperties i ncluding p astures , m eadows, w oods, l ivestock a nd a v iii a t C anterbury . T he a ccount i ncludes m any p lace-names w hich d o n ot n ow s urvive . T he s hort v ersion o f t he c harter i ncludes a s lightly d ifferent a ccount i ncluding a f ew a dditional p lace-names, b ut p robably r elates t o e xactly t he s ame a reas o f l and. T he r ubric o f t he f uller v ersion r efers t o t he p roperty a s ' Ebbeni', t hat i s E bony o n t he I sle o f O xney, a nd B rooks s ums u p t he g rant a s r elating t o ' a w hole c omplex o f e states o n t he e dge o f t he W eald a nd i n R omney M arsh ' ( Brooks 1 984, p . 1 45). T he a mounts o f l and a re n ot s pecified e xcept i n t he c ase o f t he v iii a t C anterbury. N either E bony n or O xney i s n amed i n D omesday B ook, n or c an a ny o f t his g roup o f e states b e i dentified w ith l ater m anors . T his i s a p oint i n f avour o f t he c harter , s ince i t s eems t hat t here w as n o m otive f or f orging a g rant o f t his p roperty. T his c harter s eems t o i ndicates t hat Athelwulf h ad o ther s ons o f W est S axon k ings r uler o f t his a nnexed p rovince

b e g enuine a nd, w ith o ther e vidence , t he t itle k ing o f K ent i n t he 8 30s , a s d id i n l ater y ears, a nd t hat h e a cted a s u nder t he o verall a uthority o f E cgberht.

S 286 L ambeth P alace , ( Edition :

1 212, p . 3 92 ( microfilm)

B 419, 4 20)

T he o ther e xtant c harter r ecording a g rant m ade b y. ./Ethelwulf a s k ing o f K ent a lso s urvives i n l ong a nd s hort v ersions, t he f ormer i n a t hirteenth-century C hrist C hurch c artulary a nd t he l atter c opied i n a n umber o f m anuscripts o f t he t welfth c entury a nd l ater . , e4E thelwulf g rants l and n ear L yminge t o a rchbishop C eolnoth. T he c harter s eems t o b e g enuine a nd i s a ccepted a s s uch b y B rooks ( 1984, p . 1 45). T he d ocument i s d ated b y i ncarnational y ear, i ndiction , d ay o f t he w eek a nd d ay o f t he m onth , a ll o f t hese a re c onsistent a nd i ndicate t he 1 9th N ovember 8 38. T here i s a n e arly n inth-century p arallel f or s uch d etailed d ating ( S1431). T he w itness l ist a ppears t o b e a uthentic a nd i s c onsistent w ith t he d ate . I t c ontains t he s ubscriptions o f J Ethelwulf, a rchbishop C eolnoth , t he l ayman H ereberht a nd s everal m en d escribed a s a bbots, p riests a nd d eacons . M ost o f t hese w itnesses a ppear i n o ther l ists d ated t o t his p eriod a nd e vidently c onsisting i n w hole o r i n p art o f m embers o f t he C hrist C hurch c ommunity ( S287, 1 438, 1 482). C eolwulf, d escribed h ere a s d eacon s hould p robably b e i dentified w ith t he s ubdeacon w ho a ppears i n t hese o ther l ists : h e m ay h ave b ecome a d eacon , o r h is t itle m ay h ave b eeen m iscopied. T he d eacon D uduc i s n ot o therwise r ecorded, a nd i t m ay b e t hat t he t itle g iven t o h im i s w rong , a s t here w as a l ayman o f t his n ame i n . Athelwulf's e ntourage ( S271, 2 89, 3 15, e tc.).

2 78

T he w ording i ncludes a n O ld E nglish b oundary c lause w hich m ay b e a l ater a ddition o r t ranslation : b oundary c lauses w ere c ertainly b eing d rawn u p w ithin a d ecade o f t his g rant ( S298), b ut t he e vidence s uggests t hat i n K ent b ounds w ere s till b eing w ritten i n L atin a t t his t ime ( S186-8, 2 79, 2 93, 2 97). T he r est o f t he w ording i s p robably a uthentic . R esemblances t o Athelwulf 's s lightly e arlier g rant t o C hrist C hurch ( S323) a re n oted a bove. T here a re n o i dentifiable a nachronisms, a nd s everal o f t he f ormulas a re t ypical o f C anterbury c harters o f t his t ime , f or e xample t he s eries o f g erunds d efining t he b eneficiary's p owers o ver t he e state , ' Ad h abendum e t p ossidendum p erfruendum d ereliquendum ' a nd t he s anction ( Brooks 1 984, p p. 3 289 ). 2 Ethelwulf g rants t o a rchbishop C eolnoth o ne m ansio a t ' Eastrestadelham ' a nd 7 i ugera a djacent t o t he c hurch o f S t. M ary a t L yminge. T he n ame E astrestadelham d oes n ot s urvive , b ut i t s eems p robable t hat t his a rea o f l and l ay n ear t o t he o ther, p ossibly a djacent t o i t, a nd t hat a ll t he l and w as i n t he v icinity o f L yminge. I t i s i mpossible t o b e c ertain w hether t his e state i s t o b e e quated i n w hole o r i n p art w ith C hrist C hurch 's D omesday m anor o f L yminge ( DB K ent, p . 2 .26); t he l atter i s l ikely t o h ave i ncluded t he a ctual s ite o f t he m onastery a t L yminge. T he d ocument s eems t o b e a uthentic a nd m ay b e r egarded a s p art o f t he e vidence f or t he W est S axons i n K ent i n t he 8 30s, t heir r elations hip w ith C hrist C hurch, a nd l Ethelwulf 's s tatus a s k ing o f K ent.

S 1438 B .L ., C otton A ugustus I I , 2 0, 2 1 a nd 3 7. ( Editions :

B 421;

s hort v ersion B 422)

T his i mportant c harter s urvives i n t hree c ontemporary m anuscripts , a ll o f w hich m ay b e r egarded a s o riginals, a nd i n f ull o r s hort v ersions i n v arious l ater m anuscripts. I t r ecords a n umber o f t ransactions r eflecting f inal a greement b etween t he W est S axon k ings E cgberht a nd 2 Ethelwulf o n o ne h and a nd a rchbishop C eolnoth a nd h is c ommunity o n t he o ther, c oncerning m ore t han o ne s ource o f d ispute . T he d ocument i s c onsidered i n d etail b y B rooks w ho p rovides a d escript ion o f t he c ontemporary m anuscripts a nd a p lausible r econstruction o f t he c ircumstances i n w hich t hey w ere w ritten ( Brooks 1 984 , p p. 3 23-5), a nd d iscusses t he c ontent o f t he c harter, t he i mplications o f t he v arious t ransactions i nvolved, a nd t he i mportance o f t he d ocument a s e vidence f or t he h istory o f t his p eriod a nd i n p articular f or t he r elationship b etween t he W est S axon k ings a nd t he s ee o f C anterbury ( pp. 1 45-7). N o d iscussion o f t his c harter w ill t herefore b e o ffered h ere .

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( c)

C onclusions

T he t wo c harters p urporting t o d ate f rom t he r eign o f C eadwalla ( S230, 1 610) a re b oth s purious a nd p rovide n o i nformation a bout e arly W essex. O ne o f t he c harters i n t he n ame o f E cgberht a lso a ppears t o b e f orged ( S270). T he r emaining c harters d escribed a bove a ll s eem t o b e g enuine i n w hole o r i n p art. T he t wo e arliest ( S108, 1 258) t ell u s s omething o f t he r elations b etween W essex a nd t he k ingdoms o n i ts b orders i n t he r eign o f C yniwulf, a lthough t he f irst o f t hese c harters i s r ather m ore i ntriguing t han i nformative. T he r emaining c harters r elate t o K ent i n t he 8 30s w hen W est S axon p ower h ad b een e stablished i n t he a rea b y k ing E cgberht . T he s ubject h as b een d ealt w ith b y B rooks a nd w ill n ot t herefore b e d iscussed h ere.

2 80

2 .

R OCHESTER

P age

( a)

I ntroduction

2 82

( b)

T he C harters

2 82

S

( c)

2 71

2 82

2 80

2 85

C onclusions

2 88

2 81

( a)

I ntroduction

R ochester i s o ne o f t he t wo a rchives w hich h ave s o f ar b een e dited i n t he n ew s eries o f A nglo-Saxon c harters w hich i s b eing p roduced u nder t he a uspices o f t he B ritish A cademy ( Campbell, R ochester C art .), a nd t he e ditor p rovides a u seful i ntroduction t o t he m aterial . T he c artulary i n w hich m ost o f t he c harters s urvive h as a lso b een p ublished i n f acsimile w ith a n i ntroductory a ccount ( Sawyer , T extus R offensis). T he a vailability o f t hese f airly r ecent w orks p recludes t he n ecessity f or a n a ccount o f t he a rchive h ere.

( b)

T he C harters

O nly t wo R ochester c harters c laim t o r elate d irectly t o e arly W essex, t hese b eing t wo g rants t o t he s ee i n t he n ame o f E cgberht, k ing o f t he W est S axons, b oth d ated t o t he p eriod o f W est S axon r ule i n K ent.

S

D ate

2 71

( 828)

E cgberht , k ing

S t. A ndrew 's, R ochester

2 80

8 38

E cgberht, k ing

B eornmod, b ishop

D onor

B eneficiary

S 271 S awyer, T extus R offensis , ( Edition :

f os.

1 37r-138v.

C ampbell , R ochester C art., n o.,

1 8)

A c harter w hich p urports t o r ecord a g rant o f p rivileges t o R ochester m ade b y k ing E cgberht i n t he 8 20s s urvives o nly i n t he T extus R offensis. T he d ocument s eems t o b e af abrication . E cgberht i s d escribed i n b oth t he d ispositio a nd t he w itness l ist a s ' rex A nglorum '. H e i s n ot g iven t his t itle i n a ny o ther r ecord , a nd i t i s h ighly u nlikely t hat i t c ould b e g enuine . I t w as p robably i ntroduced i nto t his d ocument i n t he t enth c entury w hen i t w as t he u sual r oyal s tyle . T here i s a r eference t o t he k ing 's s on , i Ethelwulf, q uem r egem c onstituimus i n C antia '. I t i s t rue t hat i T ithelwulf w as m ade k ing o f K ent , b ut t here i s n o o ther e xample o f s uch a s tatement. J Ethelwulf s imply a ppears e lsewhere w ith t he a ppropriate t itle, a nd t his e xplantion o f h is p osition s eems a l ittle d ubious . T he d ispositive v erb d isplays a n e arly s pelling, ' donabi' f or d onaui ', b ut i s n evertheless s uspect b ecause a t R ochester i n t his p eriod d ispositive v erbs a re a lways i n t he p resent o r f uture t ense . T he o nly p arallels f or t his f orm a mong R ochester c harters a re a K entish g rant o f 7 38 ( S27) a nd a n o riginal o f 9 87 ( S864). T he p ast t ense i s u nlikely t o b e g enuine i n aR ochester c harter o f t he e arly n inth c entury. T he

i mmunity

g ranted

i n t his c harter

2 82

i ncorporates

a

d etailed

w ording s etting o ut t he p articular o bligations f rom w hich a ll t he R ochester e states a re t o b e f reed . T hese o bligations i nclude t he p rovision o f h ospitality t o t he k ing a nd h is l eading m en, a nd t o p ersons i n c harge o f h orses a nd h ounds o r h awks a nd f alcons, a nd t o t he m en k nown a s f aestingmen , w ho w ere p erhaps r oyal s ervants n ormally e ntitled t o c laim l odgings i n d istricts w here t hey h ad b usiness ( EHD , n o . 8 3, p . 5 15 n . 1 ). I mmunities d etailing t hese o bligations a re a f eature o f M ercian c harters o f t he m id-ninth c entury. T he e arliest i s a g rant o f k ing C oenwulf t o A bingdon d ated 8 21, i nterpolated b ut p robably a uthentic a t l east a s f ar a s t his p assage i s c oncerned ( S183), a nd a s imilar w ording o ccurs i n ac harter o f t he f ollowing y ear i n w hich k ing C eolwulf g rants l and i n K ent t o a rchbishop W ulf r ed ( S186 o riginal). I mmunities o f t he s ame b asic t ype b ut w ith v arying a mounts o f d etail o ccur d uring t he r eigns o f W iglaf a nd B erhtwulf ( S188, 1 90, 1 271), a nd t he l atest i nstance i s i n ac harter o f k ing B urgred d ated 8 55 ( S207). T he R ochester i mmunity a nd s ome o f t he s imilar o nes a re q uoted b elow : S 271:

u t o mnes a gros s int l ivera a b o mni r egali s eruitio . a p astu r egum e t p rincipum . d ucum e t p refectum e xactorumque .a b e quorum e t f alconum a ccipitrumque e t c anum a cceptione . e t i llorum h ominum r efectione q uod n os f estingmenn n ominamus a p arafrithis . e t a b o mnibus d ifficultatibus r egalis u el s ecularis s eruitutis n otis e t i gnotis . c um f urls c omprehensione i ntus e t f oris m aioris m inorisue . p reter p ontis c onstructione e t e xpeditione . e ternaliter l iberata p ermaneat . ';

S 183 :

u t n ullus s uperueniat h ominum s uperbia i nflatus . n ec r ex s uum p astum r equirat u el h abentes h ominum q uos n os d icimus f testingmen n ec e os q ui a ccipitres p ortant u el f alcones u el c aballos d ucunt s iue c anes ':

S 186 :

' insuper e tiam h anc p redictam t erra i n l iberabo . a b o mni s eruitute s ecularium r erum a _ p astu r egis e piscopis p rincipum . s eu p refectum e xactorum . d ucorum . c anorum u el e quorum s eu a ccipitrum a b r efectione e t h abitu i llorum o mnium q ui d icuntur f a estingmen a b o mnibus l aboribus o peribus . e t o neribus . s iue d ifficultatibus . q uit p lus m inuere n umerabo u el d ico . a b o mni g rauitatibus m agioribus m inoriis . n otis i gnotis u ndique l iberata p ermaneat i n a efum n isi i s q uattuor c ausis q ue n unc n ominabo . e xpeditione c ontra p aganos o stes . e t p ontes c onstructione s eu a rcis m unitione u el d estructione ';

S 1271:

u t s int l iberati a p astu p rincipum e t ad ifficultate l ila q uot n os S axonice d icimus f estigmen n ec h omines i lluc m ittant q ui o sceptros v el f alcones p ortant a ut c anes a ut c abellos d ucunt s ed s int l iberati p erpetualiter i n e vum ';

2 83

S 207:

' liberam a p astu o mnium a ccipitrum e t f alconum i n M ercensium e t o mnium v enatorum r egis v el p rincipis . s imiliter e t p astu h ominum i llorum q uos s axonice n ominamus . a lhfaereld e t h eora f aesting . e t e alra a ngelcynnes m onna . e t lVeodigra r ee d e f aestinge . t am n obilium q uam i gnobilium . i storum o mnium s int l iberati'.

T his t ype o f w ording s eems t o h ave b een a M ercian p henomenon , i ntroduced i nto K entish c harter w riting d uring t he p eriod o f M ercian r ule i n K ent. T here i s n o o bvious r eason w hy i t s hould n ot h ave c ontinued i n u se a fter t he W est S axons g ained c ontrol o f K ent , b ut i n f act t his d oes n ot s eem t o h ave h appened. W ith t he s ingle e xception o f t he R ochester c harter i n t he n ame o f E cgberht , t here i s n o i mmunity o f t his t ype i n a ny K entish c harter o f E cgberht o r 2 Ethelwulf, a nd a mong c harters o f o ther a reas t here i s o nly o ne i nstance o f s uch a w ording i n a c harter i n t he n ame o f aW est S axon k ing, t his b eing t he d ubious g rant o f p rivileges t o A bingdon i n t he n ame o f E cgberht i n w hich t he i mmunity a grees Sw ord f or w ord w ith t hat o f ac harter o f k ing C oenwulf o f M ercia a nd h as p robably b een b orrowed f rom i t ( S278 , c f. S 183). T he e vidence t herefore s uggests t hat s uch i mmunities w ere a lways M ercian, a nd t hat t his p assage c annot b e r egarded a s a n a uthentic p art o f a c harter o f E cgberht o f W essex. T here f ollows a p assage w hich i s e vidently d esigned t o s trengthen t he a uthority o f t he c harter a nd r efers t o b ishop B eornmod , S t . A ndrew a nd S t. P aulinus, a nd t he t ext i ncludes b oth a b lessing a nd a s anction. I t i s i mpossible t o d emonstrate t hat e ither o f t hese i s a nachronistic i n ac harter o f E cgberht, b ut t he n earest t o p arallels f or t he w ordings o ccur i n c harters o f A thelwulf o f t he l ate 8 30s a nd e arly 8 40s ( S287 — b lessing; S 291, 2 93 — s anction). I t s eems l ikely t hat t his t ext i s a c ompilation i n w hich a n i mmunity f rom a M ercian c harter ( perhaps d ating f rom t he p eriod o f M ercian r ule i n K ent) i s c ombined w ith t he n ame o f E cgberht o f W essex; ar oyal t itle w hich c ame i nto u se i n t he t enth c entury ; t he r eservation o f e xceptions w hich d o n ot o therwise o ccur i n R ochester c harters b efore 8 50 ( S299; B rooks 1 984, p . 3 29); a nd a b lessing a nd s anction w hich p robably d erive f rom a c harter o f 2 Ethelwulf's r eign. T he i mmunity i s s aid t o b e a pplicable t o a ll R ochester e states, s o t hat t he c harter p urports t o r ecord a g eneral g rant o f p rivileges t o t he s ee m ade i n t he e arly y ears o f W est S axon r ule i n K ent . T he d ocument i s p robably a f abrication w ith n o a uthentic b asis. T he d ating c lause i s w orded q uite n ormally, b ut t he d ates a re i nconsistent, 8 23 a nd t he 6 th i ndiction. T he l atter o ccurred d uring E cgberht's r eign i n 8 13 a nd 8 28. W hitelock p lausibly s uggests t hat t he y ear s hould b e 8 28 a nd t hat u h as b een a ccidentally o mitted f rom D ccc . x xuiii b y ac opyist ( cited i n S 271). T his s eems m ore l ikely t han t hat t he y ear 8 23 h as b een b orrowed f rom t he C hronicle, a s S tenton i mplied ( 1918a , p . 6 5 n . 7 ), s ince t he c lause i s f ollowed b y s everal a ttestations a pparently d erived f rom a W est S axon c harter o f c . 8 25 x 8 32, a nd i t m ay w ell b e t hat t he d ating c lause a nd t hese s ubscriptions o riginated i n t he s ame c harter. T he w itnesses a re k ing E cgberht, 2 Ethelwulf d escribed a s r ex , a rchbishop W ulf r ed ( 805-832), b ishops W igthegn o f W inchester , E alhstan o f S herborne a nd B eornmod o f

2 84

R ochester , a nd f our l aymen w ho a re a ll r ecorded e lsewhere , a s a ctive d uring E cgberht 's r eign , W ulfheard ( S280, 2 83; A SC s .a . 8 40), M onnede ( S273, e tc.), O smod ( ASC s .a. 8 36), a nd D udda ( S282, 3 23; A SC s .a. 8 36). P recise d ating o f t he c areers o f t he l aymen i s n ot p ossible, b ut i t d oes s eem l ikely t hat a ll t hese m en w ere a ctive i n 8 28. T he w ording o f E cgberht's s ubscription i s a cceptable a part f rom t he t itle ' rex A nglorum ', a nd t he o ther m en a ttest i n t he f orm ' consensi e t s ubscripsi'. T here f ollows a f urther s eries o f w itnesses , d istinguished f rom t he f irst b y i ncluding n o s ubscription w ordings b ut c onsisting s imply o f al ist o f n ames w ith c rosses . M ost o f t hese m en s eem t o h ave b een a ctive a t a l ater d ate t han 8 28. A ldred i s u nknown u nless h e i s t o b e i dentified w ith a w itness o f ac harter o f k ing t Ethelberht o f 8 60 ( S327). Athelwulf a nd Athelheard h ad b egun t o a ttest b efore t he e nd o f E cgberht's r eign ( S280), b ut t hey a re k nown c hiefly a s s upporters o f Athelwulf, w hile O shere , D uduc , B oba a nd E alhhere a re o therwise r ecorded o nly i n t his r ole ( S287, 2 89, 1 438, e tc.). T he r emaining w itness , S igesteb, d oes n ot a ppear i n a ny o the rc harter, b ut h e i s p erhaps t o b e i dentified w ith a C anterbury m oneyer, ' Sigestef', w ho s truck c oins f or E cgberht i n t he l ate 8 20s ( Blunt 1 957, p. 4 68-72). p T here i s a p ossible p arallel f or t he a ttestation o f a c harter b y a m oneyer: am an n amed O smund a ppears w ith k ing J Ethelwulf i n t he W ilton w itness l ist o f 8 39 a ppended t o t he K ingston a greement o f 8 38 ( S1438), a nd t here w as a m oneyer o f t his n ame w ho s truck c oins a t C anterbury d uring m ost o f 2 Ethelwulf's r eign ( Dolley a nd S kaare , 1 961, p p. 7 0-3). T he w itness l ist t herefore a ppears t o b e a c onflation o f t wo l ists, o ne d eriving f rom a c harter o f t he r eign o f E cgberht, p erhaps o f 8 28, a nd t he o ther o riginating i n a c harter o f .Athelwulf. I t s eems c lear t hat t he c ompiler o f t his d ocument m ade u se o f a uthentic n inth-century r ecords, a nd e lements f rom t hese s urvive i n t he d ocument h e p roduced, b ut t his d ocument i tself a ppears t o b e a f abrication.

* * * * * *

S 280 B .L ., C otton C harter v iii, 3 0. ( Edition :

C ampbell , R ochester C art., n o.

1 9)

Ac harter i n w hich k ing E cgberht g rants l and t o b ishop B eornmod o f R ochester i n 8 38 s urvives o n a s ingle s heet o f t he l ate t enth c entury a nd i n t he T extus R offensis. C onsidered i ndependently, t he d ocument s eems t o b e s ubstantially g enuine , b ut a c ertain a mount o f c ircumstant ial e vidence r enders i t r ather s uspect. T his e vidence i s f urther c onsidered b elow , b ut f irst t he t ext w ill b e e xamined. T he c harter i s e xtremely b rief a nd i s u nusual i n h aving n o s anction. I t m ay w ell b e, a s t he e ditor s uggests, t hat i t h as b een a bbreviated ( Campbell , R ochester C art ., p . x xiii). E cgberht's t itle i s g iven s imply a s r ex, w hich i s u nusual a t t his d ate, b ut m ay i tself b e

2 85

a n i nstance o f a bbreviation, a nd s imilarly Athelwulf a ppears a s r ex w here o ne m ight e xpect r ex C antie o r r ex C antuariorum . T he w itness l ist c onsists o nly o f n ames a nd t itles, w ith n o f uller a ttestation f orms ; t his w as a t enth-century p ractice a nd o ccasionally a ppears i n c opies o f e arlier d ocuments ( e.g. S 291), e vidently b y a bbreviation o f t he o riginal w ording . T he t ext f ollows s tandard R ochester d iplomatic o f t he t ime i n u sing t he d ispositive v erb ' dabo ', i n d escribing t he b eneficiary 's r ights o ver t he e state i n a c lause b eginning ' ut h abeat e t p ossideat nd i n i ncluding a n i mmunity w ithout e xceptions ..'; a ( Brooks 1 984, p. 3 28-9). T here i s a nother i nstance o f a g rant b y p E cgberht i n w hich t he c onsent o f 2 Ethelwulf i s s pecified ( S279). I t a ppears t hat, w hile s ome c lauses m ay h ave b een o mitted o r s hortened b y a c opyist, t he w ording w hich s urvives i s b asically a uthentic. T he s urviving c opies p reserve a n e arly s pelling o f t he k ing 's n ame , ' Ecgbearhtus ', a nd a lso s ome o ther i nstances o f a rchaic o rthography , ' debotissimo ' f or d euotissimo ; ' serbitia ' f or s eruitia ; h ad ' bica ' f or u ica . T hese s uggest t hat t he t enth-century c opyist h ad a n e arly e xemplar. T here a re t wo d ating c lauses: t he f irst , p laced i mmediately a fter t he i nvocation, d ates t he c harter 8 38, i st i ndiction, w hich a re c onsistent a nd b oth p robably g enuine ; t he s econd, p laced n ear t he e nd o f t he t ext, b eings i n t he u sual R ochester m anner , ' Scripta e st ..', a nd s tates t he p lace w here t he c harter w as w ritten. T here a re p arallels i n K entish c harters o f t he e arly n inth c entury f or t he i nclusion o f t wo d ating c lauses ( S40, 1 63, 1 88), a nd b oth a re l ikely t o b e a uthentic. A ccording t o t he s econd o f t hese c lauses , t he c harter w as w ritten a t t he r oyal v ill n amed ' Frericburna '. A n e arlier c harter d ated f rom t he s ame p lace s tates t hat i t w as i n S urrey ( S144: C ampbell , R ochester C art., p . 6 4 u nder F rericburna). T he w itness l ist i nforms u s t hat t he a ssembly w hich m et a t F rericburna i n 8 38 c onsisted o f k ings E cgberht a nd Athelwulf; a rchbishop C eolnoth ; b ishops B eornmod o f R ochester , E alhstan o f S herborne , E adhun o f W inchester, C ynered o f S elsey a nd C eolberht o f L ondon ; a nd s ix l aymen , W ulfheard, A thelwulf, E anwulf, H ereberht , 2 gthelwulf a nd Athelheard, o f w hom t he f irst f ive a re g iven t he t itle d ux . T here i s i ndependent e vidence n ot o nly t hat m any o f t hese m en w ere a ctive a t t his t ime, b ut t hat a t l east s ome o f t hem a ttended a m eeting a t a r oyal r esidence i n S urrey i n 8 38 . T he C anterbury r ecord, e xtant i n t hree c ontemporary m anuscripts, o f t he c ouncil h eld a t K ingston , S urrey , i n 8 38 d oes n ot i nclude a w itness l ist d eriving f rom t hat m eeting, b ut d oes m ention t hat i t w as a ttended b y a rchbishop C eolnoth , n umerous b ishops, k ings E cgberht a nd Athelwulf a nd a ll t heir l eading m en ( S1438). M oreover , a W inchester c harter w hich m ay i tself b e s purious b ut w hich c learly d erives f rom a g enuine c harter r elating t o t he c ouncil o f K ingston ( S281), c ontains a n a bbreviated w itness l ist c onsisting o f t he f irst s even n ames a ppearing i n t he R ochester t ext. T he i ndications a re t hat t he s ame a ssembly m et a t F rericburna a nd a t K ingston , p erhaps m oving f rom o ne r oyal r esidence t o a nother a nd c onducting b usiness a t e ach. O r i t m ay b e t hat F rericburna i s t o b e i dentified w ith K ingston a nd t hat o ne w riter u sed t he o ld s tream n ame w hile o thers r eferred t o t he p lace b y t he p hrase c yninges t un w hich g ave r ise t o t he m odern n ame .

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T he s ix l aymen n amed i n t he R ochester c harter m ay r easonably b e a ssumed t o h ave b een a mong t he l ay s upporters o f t he W est S axon k ings a t K ingston. M oreover, f our o f t hem , W ulf h eard, 2 Ethelwulf, E anwulf a nd } Ethelheard, a ttended k ing J Ethelwulf a t W ilton i n 8 39 w hen h e c onfirmed t he K ingston a greement ( S1438). W ulfheard a ssisted Athelwulf i n t he t akeover o f K ent i n t he 8 20s ( ASC s .a. 8 25) a nd w as a lso i nvolved i n t he s truggle a gainst t he v ikings i n t he 8 40s ( ASC s .a. 8 40), a s w ere E anwulf ( ASC s .a. 8 45) a nd H ereberht ( ASC s .a. 8 41). T he s econd 2 Ethelwulf m ay b e a n a ccidental d uplication, o r t here c ould h ave b een a s econd e aldorman w ho b ore t his c ommon n ame. T he o rder i n w hich t he w itnesses a ttest i s p erfectly n ormal, a lthough i n u sing C ampbell 's e dition t his h as t o b e d educed b y c areful r eading o f t he f ootnotes. T his w itness l ist h as e very a ppearance o f a uthenticity. E cgberht i s s aid t o g rant 4 p loughlands, a ratra , o f l and a t ' Snoddingland ' a nd ' Holanbeorge ', n ow S nodland a nd H olborough, w hich a re s ituated c lose t ogether a nd a bout 5 m iles f rom R ochester. S ome f urther p roperty i s d etailed i n ac lause w hich i s p laced a t t he e nd o f t he t ext i mmediately a bove t he w itness l ist -a m ill o n t he s tream a t H olborough, t he r ight t o g ather w ood, s wine p astures i n f our p laces, a nd a v illage n ear R ochester . T he e ditor r egards t his a s a l ater a ddition ( Campbell , R ochester C art., p . x xiii), a nd h e i s p robably r ight . T he p lacing o f t he i nformation i s d ifficult t o a ccount f or o n a ny o ther a ssumption ; i t s eparates t he r eference t o t he w itnesses' n ames f rom t he a ctual s ubscriptions, a nd i t f orms a n on-sequitur w hich m akes n o s ense g rammatically. I t i s n ot i mpossible t hat t his w as a n a fterthought a dded b y t he o riginal s cribe w hen t he c harter w as f irst d rawn u p, b ut i t m ay h ave b een a ppended t o t he c harter m uch l ater. T his c lause m ust b e c onsidered d ubious, b ut t he r est o f t he t ext s eems a uthentic a nd i t i s s carcely p ossible t hat t he w itness l ist w as i nvented. H owever, a s m entioned a bove , t here a re c ertain c onsiderations w hich r ender t his c harter r ather s uspect . I n t he f irst p lace, i t h as b een s uggested f airly r ecently t hat t he h igh r eputation w hich t he R ochester a rchive h as l ong e njoyed m ay n ot i n f act b e j ustified. S imon K eynes a rgues t hat t he o verall p icture p resented b y t he p re-Conquest c harters o f R ochester, w hich i s o f aD omesday e ndowment s ubstantially a cquired b y d irect r oyal g rant , m uch o f i t i n t he e ighth a nd n inth c enturies, i s s carcely p ossible , a nd t hat t here m ust h ave b een a c ertain a mount o f t ampering w ith t he e vidence t o p roduce t his p icture; i t m ay b e t hat i n s ome c ases a uthentic c harters h ave b een t ranscribed w ith o nly t he n ame o f t he e state c hanged ( Keynes 1 976, p. 1 87-93). p K eynes' a rguments s eem c onvincing , a nd m ean t hat a ll R ochester c harters a re s uspect, s ince t he s ort o f i nterpolation w hich m ay h ave t aken p lace i s v irtually u ndetectable , a nd t he f act t hat t he g eneral p attern i s i mplausible g ives n o i ndication o f w hich i ndividual c harters h ave b een a ltered. A nother c onsideration , o f p articular r elevance t o t he c harter o f E cgberht, i s t hat t here w as a d ispute o ver o wnership o f S nodland i n t he l ate t enth c entury. T he e state w as b equeathed t o R ochester b y al ayman n amed 2 Elfhere i n t he m id t enth c entury, a nd t he d isputa, w hich c ontinued a lmost t o t he e nd o f t he c entury, a rose o ut o f e fforts b y v arious m embers o f Alfhere 's f amily t o s ecure t he l and f or t hemselves, r epudiating o r i gnoring R ochester's c laims ( for d etailed a ccounts s ee

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S 1456-7, 1 511; W hitelock, W ills, p p. 1 28-9 ; C ampbell , R ochester C art., p. x-xxi a nd a f orthcoming p aper o n d ispute s ettlement b y C .P . p x W ormald). F requent r eference i s m ade i n t he s urviving a ccounts t o t he u se o f t he t itle d eeds f or S nodland. O n t he f ace o f i t, a g rant b y E cgberht w as i rrelevant t o t he d ispute , s ince R ochester 's t itle t o t he e state o riginated i n / Elf h ere's b equest. B ut E cgberht's c harter s urvives o n as ingle s heet o f l ate t enth-century d ate, a nd i t s eems o verwhelmingly l ikely t hat t his m anuscript w as w ritten a t t hat t ime f or u se i n t he d ispute ( Keynes 1 976, p p. 2 04-5), a nd t herefore t hat e vidence o f a g rant b y E cgberht w as c onsidered h elpful t o R ochester. O ne m ay c ompare t he W inchester a rchive i n w hich t he c hurch 's t itle t o m any o f i ts e states i s s upported b y c harters p urporting t o r ecord s uccessive g rants b y s everal k ings o ver a p eriod o f c enturies . T he e ditor s uggests t hat t he e state g ranted b y E cgberht w as p roba bly n ot t he s ame a s t he o ne w ith w hich t he d ispute w as c oncerned , s ince t he l atter w as s till i n p rivate h ands i n •t he t enth c entury ( Campbell , R ochester C art, p . x x). B ut t his i mplies t hat t he c opying o f t his c harter a t j ust t he t ime o f t he d ispute w as p ure c oincidence , w hich s eems u nlikely. . In t he r ecords o f t he d ispute , t he e state i s c alled s imply S nodland; t he a rea i s n ot s tated, a nd t here a re n o b ounds. I n 1 066 S nodland w as o wned b y R ochester a nd a ssessed a t 6 s ulungs ( DB K ent , p . 4 .9). T his m anor m ay w ell h ave i ncorporated t he s maller e state a t S nodland a nd H olborough s aid t o b e g ranted b y E cgberht. H olborough i s n ot m entioned i n D omesday B ook . I t i s t he s ubject o f a c harter r ecording a g rant b y Athelwulf t o b ishop B eornmod i n 8 41 o f 2p loughlands ( S289). T his m ight r elate t o a n a djacent a rea a nd b e s upplementary t o E cgberht 's g rant . O r a n i nterpolator , c onverting E cgberht's c harter i nto a t itle d eed f or S nodland, m ay h ave t hought i t u seful a lso t o n ame t he n earby e state o f H olborough , a nd m ay h ave b orrowed t his n ame f rom Athelwulf's c harter. I t s eems v ery l ikely t hat t his d ocument i s a t l east b ased o n a n a uthentic c harter o f E cgberht a nd t hat t he t ext a nd w itness l ist a re s ubstantially g enuine. B ut i t i s q uite p ossible t hat t he c harter o riginally r ecorded a d ifferent t ransaction , a nd t hat t he n ame o f t he b eneficiary a nd/or o f t he e state h ave b een i nterpolated i n t he s urviving c opy. T he c harter m ay a t l east b e a ccepted a s e vidence o f t he m eeting h eld a t F rericburna i n S urrey i n 8 38.

( c)

C onclusions

T here s eems l ittle d oubt t hat t hese t wo c harters a re b oth b ased a t l east i n p art o n a uthentic c harters o f E cgberht, b ut t here i s n o c ertainty a bout t he c ontent o f t hese s ources . T hey m ay h ave b een g rants t o l ay b eneficiaries o r t o o ther c hurches, o f l ands w hich l ater c ame i nto R ochester's p ossession w ith t he r elevant d ocumentation , o r t hey m ay h ave b een g rants w holly i rrelevant t o R ochester a nd m erely d eposited t here f or s afe k eeeping. T here i s n o c lear e vidence f or p atronage o f R ochester b y t he W est S axon r ulers o f K ent d uring E cgberht's r eign, b ut i t m ay b e t hat h e d id g rant S nodland a nd H olborough t o t he s ee.

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3 .

S T . A UGUSTINE 'S, C ANTERBURY

( a)

I ntroduction

T he a bbey o f S t. A ugustine's, C anterbury, w as o ne o f t he o ldest r eligious e stablishments i n E ngland, b eing f ounded a s t he m onastery o f S t. P eter a nd S t. P aul b y S t. A ugustine. T he c harters i n i ts a rchive p urporting t o d ate f rom t he e arly s eventh c entury, h owever, a re s purious ( Levison 1 946, p p. 1 74-233), t he e arliest a uthentic c harters d ating f rom t he l ate s eventh c entury ( S10, e tc.). T he p rincipal m anuscripts c ontaining t he c harters o f S t. A ugustine 's a re t wo c artularies, n ow B ritish L ibrary , C otton J ulius D i i a nd P ublic R ecords O ffice, E 164/27, e ach w ritten i n s uccessive h ands o f t he t hirteenth a nd f ourteenth c enturies ( Davis 1 958 , n os. 1 92 , 1 95). I n b oth c ases t he s ection c ontaining t he p re-Conquest c harters d ates f rom t he t hirteenth c entury. I t w as r emarked i n 1 915 t hat t hese v olumes h ave n ever b een c ritically e xamined ( Turner 1 915, p . x v), a nd t his i s s till t he c ase. I t i s n ot c lear w hich i s t he e arlier m anuscript, o r w hat i s t he r elationship b etween t hem , a nd a d etailed e xamination o f t he c artularies i s b eyond t he s cope o f t he p resent w ork .

( b)

T he C harter

S 279 B .L ., C otton J ulius D i i, f o. ( Edition :

1 32rv.

B 852)

O nly o ne c harter i n t he a rchive o f S t. A ugustine's r elates t o e arly W essex, t his b eing a g rant o f l and m ade b y E cgberht i n 8 36 t o C iaba, ac lerk o f S t. A ugustine's, w ith r eversion t o t he h ouse. T he d ocument s urvives i n t he t wo t hirteenth-century c artularies , a nd a ppears t o b e g enuine. T he w ording i s q uite n ormal a nd u ses s everal f ormulas m entioned b y B rooks a s t ypical o f n inth-century C anterbury d iplomatic: t he d ispositive v erbs ' dabo e t c oncedo '; t he u sual s eries o f g erunds d efining t he b eneficiary's r ights o ver t he p roperty; t he i mmunity w ith t hree e xceptions; a nd t he d ating c lause b eginning ' Actum e st ' ( Brooks 1 984, p p. 3 28-9). T he k ing 's t itle i s ' rex O ccidentalium S axonum ' a nd h ere, a s i n o ther c harters o f t he 8 30s, Athelwulf i s d escribed a s k ing o f K ent ( cf. S 282 , 2 86, 3 23). T he b oundary c lause i s i n L atin, a s i s t he c ase i n o ther K entish c harters o f t he t ime ( S187, 2 93, 2 97, e tc.), a nd l ike s ome o thers r efers t o c ommon p asture f or c attle ( S286 , 3 23). T he d ate i s g iven a s a n i ncarnational y ear a nd a n i ndication; t hese a re c onsistent a nd b oth a re p robably g enuine. I n o ne m anuscript ( Cotton J ulius D i i) t he l ast s entence o f t he c harter r efers t o w itnesses ' quorum h ic n omina s ubterius i n c edula p robabiliter c ontinentur'; n o w itness l ist i s t ranscribed. T he o ther m anuscript ( P .R.O ., E 1 64/27) o mits t he w ord p robabiliter a nd a dds t wo

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s ubscriptions i n t he n ames o f E cgberht ( his n ame i s a ctually o mitted b ut h is t itle i s g iven) a nd 2 Ethelwulf; t he w ordings o f t hese s ubscriptions a re q uite n ormal a nd t hey a ppear a uthentic. I t h as b een s uggested t hat t he w ord p robabiliter m ay h ave b een i ntroduced b y t he c opyist t o w arn r eaders t hat t he t ranscript o f t he w itness l ist w as o f d oubtful a ccuracy, p robably b ecause t he e xemplar w as i n p oor c ondition ( Turner 1 915, p . x xxiii). H e t hen p resumably d ecided t hat a t ranscript c ould n ot e ven b e a ttempted. T he a bsence o f t he w ord f rom t he o ther m anuscript l ends s ome s upport t o t his t heory, a s d oes t he o mission o f E cgberht's n ame f rom t he s ubscription i n t his m anuscript, w hich m ay i ndicate t hat t his c opyist a lso f ound t he e xemplar d ifficult t o r ead. T he t erm c edula s uggests t hat t he w itness l ist w as w ritten o n a s eparate p iece o f m embrane ( cf. S 163, 2 93), a nd i t m ay w ell b e t hat t his w as n o l onger c learly l egible. T he l and g ranted, o r r ather s old, t o C iaba, w ho p aid 1 00 m ancusae f or i t, i s d escribed a s o ne a ratrum i n t he p lace c alled ' Scirdun' w hich d oes n ot r ecur i n p re-Conquest c harters a nd r emains u nidentified. T he c harter p rovides t hat t he l and i s t o b e h eld b y C iaba f or h is l ifetime a nd i s t hen t o p ass i nto t he p ossession o f S t. A ugustine's. T he t ext m entions t hat t his e state f ormerly b elonged t o t he r oyal v ill a t C anterbury. M otive f or f orgery o f ag rant o f t his e state c annot b e d emonstrated, n or i s a f orger l ikely t o h ave i nvented t he o bscure c lerk C iaba, w ho i s n ot o therwise r ecorded. T he c ontent a nd t he w ording s eem a like t o i ndicate t hat t he d ocument i s a uthentic. T his c harter f orms p art o f t he e vidence f or t he t akeover o f K ent b y t he W est S axons d uring t he l atter p art o f E cgberht's r eign . I t s hows Athelwulf h aving t he t itle k ing o f K ent a nd r uling t he a rea j ointly w ith h is f ather. T he a greement t o t ransfer a p ortion o f l and f rom t he r oyal p roperty i nto t he p ossession o f aK entish c leric w as p robably p art o f t he p rocess o f s ecuring t he s upport o f t he c hurch i n K ent f or t he W est S axon r oyal h ouse, a lso a pparent i n t ransactions w ith C hrist C hurch . I t a ppears b oth h ere a nd i n C hrist C hurch d ocumentation t hat i ndividual m embers o f a r eligious c ommunity c ould p ossess p ersonal p roperty w hich m ight a mount t o c onsiderable w ealth.

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4 .

C HICHESTER

( a)

I ntroduction

W hen i t w as d ecided i n t he e arly e ighth c entury t hat t he p rovince o f t he S outh S axons, h itherto i ncluded i n t he W est S axon d iocese, s hould h ave a b ishop o f i ts o wn, t he e piscopal s ee w as e stablished a t S elsey w here a m onastery, f ounded b y W ilfrid, h ad a lready e xisted f or s ome 2 0 t o 3 0 y ears. E adberht, a bbot o f t he m onastery, w as c onsecrated a s f irst b ishop o f t he s ee ( HE V 1 8). F ollowing h is e piscopate a nd t hat o f h is s uccessor, E olla , t here w as a v acancy, s o t hat i n 7 31 t he b ishop o f W inchester w as o nce m ore r esponsible f or t he S outh S axons ( HE V 2 3), b ut i n 7 33 S igifrith w as c onsecrated t o t he s ee o f S elsey ( Historia R egum , s .a .). T his w as n ot t he l ast v acancy t o o ccur a t S elsey, b ut t here s eems t o b e n o d oubt o f t he b asic c ontinuity o f t he e stablishment f rom t he t ime o f W ilfrid's f oundation o nwards. S hortly a fter t he C onquest t he s ee w as m oved t o C hichester a s p art o f ag eneral p olicy o f r elocating r emote o r r ural s ees i n m ore c onvenient, u rban s ituations ( Stenton 1 971, p . 6 66). T he p re-Conquest c harters s urviving i n t he a rchive o f C hichester a re t herefore p rimarily ( perhaps e xclusively) t he r ecords o f t he m onastery a nd s ee o f S elsey. T wo e arly c harters r elating t o S ussex s urvive i n t he a rchive o f C hrist C hurch , C anterbury ( S50, 1 08). O therwise a ll d ocuments w hich m ay b e d escribed a s S outh S axon c harters a re i ncluded a mong t he C hichester r ecords. M ost o f t hese c harters s urvive i n a c artulary w hich w as m ade f or W . R eade, b ishop o f C hichester 1 368-1385. T his i s n ow M anuscript E p. V I/1/2 i n t he W est S ussex R ecord O ffice a t C hichester ( Davis 1 958, n o. 2 35). A f ew c harters a lso s urvive i n o ther m edieval m anuscripts, a nd t here a re t wo s ingle s heets, o ne o f t he t enth c entury, t he c harter c oncerned b eing a v ery d ubious d ocument d ated t o t he e arly e ighth c entury ( S43) a nd t he o ther a n o riginal o f t he l ate e ighth c entury ( S1184 : R ogers 1 981). I n t he l atter c ase t he a ccuracy o f t he c artularist's t ranscription c an b e c hecked v ery e asily b y c omparing t he t wo e ditions p rovided b y B irch , o ne f rom t he s ingle s heet a nd t he o ther f rom t he c artulary ( B1334, 2 37). D iscrepancies b etween t he t wo t exts a re v ery m inor, a nd t he o nly n otable a lteration m ade i n t he f ourteenthc entury t ranscript i s t he a bbreviation o f t he w itness l ists. I t t herefore a ppears t hat t he c artularist c opied h is e xemplar w ith s ubstantial a ccuracy, a s f ar a s t his c an b e d educed f rom t he e vidence o f a s ingle d ocument.

( b)

T he C harters

O nly t wo o f t he e arly c harters i n t his a rchive a re, o r c laim t o b e, o f d irect r elevance t o W essex. T he f irst o f t hese p urports t o b e a g rant o f C eadwalla t o b ishop W ilfrid i n 6 83 ( sic) o f S elsey a nd v arious o ther e states f or t he f oundation o f am onastery ( S232). T his d ocument i s m entioned a bove i n c onnection w ith t he r elated C anterbury c harter ( S230). B rooks h as e stablished t hat b oth a re t enth-century

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f abrications h aving n o a uthentic b asis a nd n o r elevance t o e arly W essex, a nd t he C hichester d ocument w ill n ot t herefore b e f urther d iscussed h ere.

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S 45 W est S ussex R ecord O ffice, E p. V I/1/2, f o. ( Edition :

1 6v.

( photocopy)

B 78)

T he o ther c harter i s ag rant b y N othhelm , k ing o f t he S outh S axons , t o h is s ister N othgyth o f l ands f or t he f oundation o f a m onastery, a nd i s d ated 6 92. T he d ocument i s o f i nterest f rom a W est S axon p oint o f . v iew b ecause o f t he W est S axons w ho a ppear i n i ts w itness l ist. T he t ext p resents s ome p roblems b ut i s p robably b asically a uthentic. I t s urvives o nly i n t he f ourteenth-century c artulary. M uch o f t he w ording o f t he c harter a ppears t o b e g enuine. T he k ing's t itle , ' Rex S uthsaxonum ', h as p arallels i n o ther e arly S outh S axon c harters w hich a ppear t o b e b asically a uthentic ( S42, 4 6; a lso ' dux S uthsaxonum ' i n S 1173). T here i s ac lause w hich n oticeably e choes ap roem f ound i n t hree e arly c harters o f s outh-east E ngland:S 45 :

' sciens m ihi i n f uturo p rodisse q uicquid c risti m enbris d e m ea p ropria p ossessione i mpendo ';

S 235 :

' Quocienscumque a liquid p ro o pere p ietatis c risti m enbris i mpendimus n ostre a nime f ore p rodesse c redimus q uia s ua i lli r eddimus n on n ostra l argimur';

s ee a lso S 1165,

1 171.

I n N othhelm 's c harter, a s i n C eadwalla 's g rant o f F arnham a nd s everal o ther v ery e arly c harters, t he b eneficiary i s a ddressed i n t he s econd p erson, ' tibi N othgide s orori' ( see S 235). T he d ispositive w ords ' libenter d abo' a re p robably g enuine: c f. ' libenter c oncedo' ( S1173), ' dabo' ( S42). T he c lause l isting t he c omponents o f t he e state s eems t o h ave b een a s tandard f eature o f e arly S outh S axon c harter-writing ( cf. S 42, 4 6, 184, e tc.). T he a ttestation f orms a re s imple a nd p robably g enuine ( cf. S 46, 1 184). H owever, t here i s r eason t o b elieve t hat t he t ext h as b een i nterpolated. T he c lause w hich b egins b y r eferring t o t he i ntention o f f ounding a m onastery a nd t he s anction a re b oth c losely p aralleled i n a nother S elsey c harter o f s ome 8 0 y ears l ater, O ffa's g rant t o b ishop O swald:-

292

S 45:

' ad c onstruendum i n e a m onasterium b asilicamque e rigendam . q ue d iuinis l audibus e t s anctorum h onoribus . s eruire u ideatur .I d e st x xxiii . c assatos i n l ocis q ui a ppellatur h oc e st i n L ydeseye

S 108:

' ad c onstruendum i n e a m onasterium . b asilicamque a ugendam . q ue d iuinis l audibus . e t s anctorum h onoribus s eruire u ideatur . i mperpetuam a ttribuo p ossessionem . I d e st . u iii c assatos i n l oco q ui a ppellatur . B ixlea '.

S 45:

' Si q uis h anc d onacionem a ttributam t ibi . i n m aximo a liquo u el i n m odico m inuere a usus s it : s ciat s e i n d istricto o mnipotentis d ei i udicio p enam p resumpcionis s ue i ncurrere';

S 108:

' Si q uis h anc d onacionem a m e a ttributam i n m aximo u el i n m odico a liquando i mminuere a usus s it . s ciat s e i n d istricto o mnipotentis d el i udicio p enam p resumpcionis s ue i ncurrere . e t o b a uditu m alo l iberari'.

T he r esemblances h ere, f irst n oticed b y B arker ( 1947, P . 9 4 n . 1 ), a re s o c lose a s t o r ender i t e xtremely l ikely t hat t hese c lauses h ave b een c opied f rom o ne o f t hese c harters i nto t he o ther. T here a re n o p arallels f or t hese w ordings e lsewhere, e ither i n s eventh-century c harters o r i n c harters o f O ffa 's t ime, s o i t i s d ifficult t o d emonstrate c onclusively i n w hich o f t he t wo c harters t he c lauses a re m ore l ikely t o h ave o riginated, b ut i t s eems i mprobable t hat t hey c ould b e a uthentic p arts o f N othhelm 's c harter. T hey d o n ot r ead l ike s eventh-century w ork. T he e arliest c harters w ere c ommonly b rief a nd s imple, r elying h eavily o n s tandard, o ften a ncient, f ormulas , a nd t he f ormula i nvariably u sed i n t he e arliest f oundation c harters w as s imply ' ad c onstruendum m onasterium '. T he s anctions o f s eventh-century c harters n ormally c onsist o f v ariations o n a f ew b asic f ormulas, n one o f w hich a ppears i n t he w ording q uoted a bove. M oreover, t here i s a d istinct n on-sequitur i n t he t ext o f N othhelm 's c harter, a nd t his o ccurs i n t he f irst p assage q uoted a bove, i mmediately a fter t he w ord a ppellatur', t hat i s a t t he p oint w here t he d uplication o f w ording e nds . T his s uggests t hat a c lause h as b een i nterpolated a nd t hat t he c ompiler h as f ailed t o m ake t he n ecessary a djustment t o t he o riginal w ording. I t i s n oticeable t hat i f t he w hole o f t he d uplicated p assage f rom ' ad c onstruendum ' t o ' appellatur' i s o mitted, t he t ext r eads q uite l ogically a nd g rammatically, s ubject o nly t o t he i nsertion a t s ome p oint o f t he w ord c assatos. O n t he w hole, t he p robability s eems t o b e t hat t he d uplicated c lauses a re s purious i n N othhelm 's c harter, a nd h ave b een a dded a t s ome t ime t o a n a uthentic b ut v ery b rief ( possibly a bbreviated) c harter, w ith a v iew t o p roducing a m ore s ubstantial a nd i mpressive d ocument. W e h ave n o m eans o f k nowing w hether N othhelm 's c harter o riginally i ncluded a s anction o r a ny r eference t o t he f oundation o f am onastery.

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T he d ating c lauses i n t he t wo c harters a lso c losely c orrespond, a nd t his m ay b e t he p art o f t he b orrowed m aterial i n N othhelm 's c harter, b ut t he w ording i s t oo c ommon f or t his t o b e c ertain. ( The s ame m ay b e s aid o f s everal o ther v ery c ommon p hrases o ccurring i n b oth t exts). T he d ating c lause c an s carcely b e g enuine a s i t s tands, s ince i t d ates N othhelm 's g rant o nly b y a n i ncarnational y ear. I t m ay b e t hat t his d ate, 6 92, h as b een a dded t o a n o riginally u ndated c harter, o r i t m ay h ave b een s ubstituted f or a n i ndiction. T he l atter s eems m ore l ikely, s ince t he d ate s uits t he w itness l ist ( see b elow), a nd a w riter o f l ater d ate w ould h ave h ad d ifficulty i n d ating t his c harter s o a ccurately. T he i mpression g iven b y t he w ording i s, t herefore, t hat N othhelm 's c harter i s b asically a uthentic, b ut t hat i t h as b een i nterpolated a t a l ater d ate; a nd i t m ay b e t hat s ome d etails, s uch a s a n i ndiction a nd p erhaps o ther d ating i nformation, h ave b een d ropped. O ther c onsiderations s uggest t hat t he s urviving d ocument i s b ased o n a g enuine s eventh-century c harter. T he k ing's f ull n ame, N othhelm , i s r ecorded o nly i n t he d ispositio o f t his c harter. I n t he w itness l ist h e i s c alled ' Nunna ( MS N uma) R ex S ussaxonum ', a nd i t i s a s N unna t hat h e a ppears e lsewhere: i n a nother c harter w hich m ay b e b asically a uthentic ( S42) a nd i n t he C hronicle ( ASC s .a. 7 10). F orgers m aking u se o f h is n ame c alled h im N unna ( S43, 4 4). T he f ull n ame i s p robably a n a uthentic d etail p reserved i n t his c harter. M oreover, t he u se o f t he f ull n ame i n t he d ispositio a nd o f t he h ypocoristic f orm i n t he w itness l ist s uggests t hat t hese s ections o f t he d ocument w ere d rawn u p q uite i ndependently, w hich i s c onsistent w ith w hat w e k now o f e arly c harter-writing. T he b eneficiary o f t he c harter, N othhelm 's s ister N othgyth, i s o therwise u nknown a nd n ot l ikely t o h ave b een i nvented. T he w itness l ist h as e very a ppearance o f a uthenticity. F ollowing N unna's a ttention i s t hat o f ' Wattus R ex', p resumably a nother S outh S axon r uler. T hese t wo k ings a lso a ttest B runy's c harter ( S1173), b ut t he p ossibility e xists t hat t heir n ames h ave b een b orrowed f rom t his d ocument. ( Another w itness l ist, a ppended t o t he s purious c harter S 43, c onsists e ntirely o f n ames w hich o ccur i n N othhelm 's c harter a nd h ave a lmost c ertainly b een b orrowed f rom i t. T his c annot b e r egarded a s e vidence f or a ny o f t he p ersons c oncerned.) T he n ext t wo w itnesses a re ' Coenredus R ex W estsaxonum ' a nd I ne w ho i s g iven n o t itle. T he f ormer i s p resumably I ne's f ather, a nd t his i s t he o nly o ccasion o n w hich h e a ppears a s k ing. T here i s n o p arallel f or t he u se o f t he t itle r ex W est S axonum s o e arly, t he u sual s tyle o f aW est S axon k ing a t t his t ime b eing r ex S axonum , b ut t he m ore s pecific t itle w as d oubtless u sed h ere b ecause i t w as n ecessary t o d istinguish t he W est S axon f rom t he S outh S axon k ing. T he s pelling o f C oenred's n ame i s c onsistent w ith a n e arly e xemplar. T hree c hurchmen f ollow , ' Eaedd' e piscopus', w ho i s p robably E adberht, f irst h older o f t he s ee o f S elsey; a bbot A ldhelm o f M almesbury; a nd a bbot H agona, w ho i s k nown f rom s everal o ther a ttestations ( S235, 2 45, e tc.). T he t itles o f t he f irst t wo a re i nconsistent a ccording t o t he i nformation o f B ede, w ho d ates t he c onsecration o f A ldhelm a s b ishop o f S herborne b efore t hat o f E adberht, a bbot o f S elsey, a s b ishop o f t hat c hurch w hen i t b ecame a n e piscopal s e ( HE V 1 8). I t s eems l ikely t hat E adberht a ctually a ttested a s

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a bbot, a nd t hat a c opyist, t o w hom h e w as w ell-known a s f ounder o f t he s ee , a ltered t he t itle e ither t hrough a bsent-mindedness o r u nder t he i mpression t hat h e w as c orrecting a n e rror i n h is e xemplar. O ther n ames h ave p robably b een o mitted b y t he c artularist, b ut t he a bbreviated l ist w hich s urvives h as e very a ppearance o f a uthenticity. T he l ist m ay b e d ated t o t he p eriod b etween t he a bdication o f C eadwalla a nd t he c onsecration o f A ldhelm , 6 88 x 7 05. T he d ate s tated i n t he t ext, 6 92, c annot b e v erified, b ut i s q uite l ikely t o b e c orrect. N othhelm i s r ecorded a s k ing i n 7 10 a nd 7 14 ( ASC s .a . 7 10; S 42 -again t he d ate o f t his c harter c annot b e v erified), a nd a r eign o f 2 2 y ears i s n ot a t a ll i mplausible. C oenred 's o ther d atable a ppearances a re a s am inor W est S axon r uler i n t he p eriod 6 69 x 6 75 ( S1164), a nd a s o ne o f t hose i nvolved i n t he p roduction o f I ne's l aws w hich c an b e d ated t o 6 88 x 6 94. T he l and g iven t o N othgyth i s s aid t o t otal 3 3 h ides , d etailed f ollows :-

a s

1 2 h ides a t L ydesey a nd A ldyngborne ; 1 0 h ides a t L enstedegate ; 1 h ides a t M ondehame; 1 2h ides o n t he e ast b ank ; 3h ides o n t he w est b ank . M ost e ditors h ave a mended t he t otal f igure o f h ides t o 3 8 t o f it t he t otal o f t he s eparate a reas l isted ( K995, B 78, E HD , n o. 5 9), b ut a nother m ethod o f r econciling t he f igures h as b een s uggested, a nd t his s eems p referable: t he t otal f igure o f 3 3 h ides i s c orrect a nd r efers o nly t o t he f irst t hree a reas l isted; t he l ast t wo a re e xplanatory c lauses r elating t o M ondehame , p robably i ncorporating t he m iscopying o f u a s i i a nd u i a s i ii ( Barker 1 947, p . 7 1 n . 5 ). T his i nterpretation m akes b etter s ense o f t he l ast t wo i tems i n t he l ist w hich w ould o therw ise b e e ntirely o bscure . I t s hould b e m entioned t hat t he p lace-names i n t his c harter a re s pelt w rongly i n a ll t he m odern e ditions ( K995, B 78 , B arker 1 947, n o. I V), a nd L enstedegate ( as G enstedegate) a lso i n W hitelock 's t ranslation ( EHD , n o. 5 9) a nd S awyer's h andlist ( S45). T he r eason f or t his s eems t o b e t hat K emble a djusted t he s pelling t o b ring i t i nto l ine w ith t hat i n a nother c harter i n w hich t he s ame p laces a re m entioned ( S232), a nd o ther e ditions a re b ased o n h is. D ugdale ( 1817, V ol. V I, p . 1 165, n o. 3 ) p resents s ubstantially a ccurate v ersions o f t he n ames. T he f irst t wo p laces a re n ow L idsey a nd A ldingbourne; t he t hird i s t entatively i dentified w ith W estergate i n A ldingbourne; a nd t he l ast i s M undham . T hese a re a ll i n S ussex, w ithin 3 -4 m iles o f e ach o ther a nd l ess t han 1 0 m iles f rom S elsey. A ldingbourne a nd M undham w ere a mong t he e states w hich w ere t he s ubject o f ad ispute b etween t he b ishop o f S elsey a nd t he l ayman 2 Elfsige i n t he m id t enth c entury ( S1291), a nd a ll f our o f t he p lace-names i n N othhelm 's c harter a re i ncluded i n t he l ist o f e states c laimed f or S elsey i n t he C hichester c harter w hich w as f abricated i n c onnection w ith t he t enth-century d ispute ( S232). T he

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q uestion a rises w hether t he s ubstance o f N othhelm 's c harter a ltered i n t he t enth c entury t o s upport S elsey's c laims.

h as

b een

I t i s a rgued a bove t hat t he s urviving t ext i s i nterpolated. T he d ocument h as a lso b een a ltered b y t he a ddition o f a s purious e ndorsement i n w hich N othgyth i s r epresented a s h anding o ver a ll t he l ands s he h as r eceived t o b ishop W ilfrid ( S1172). T his w as e vidently i ntended t o p rovide a n e xplicit a ssertion o f S elsey's t itle t o t he e states, a nd i t w as p robably d one a t t he t ime o f t he d ispute, w hen f abrications i n t he f orm o f g rants t o W ilfrid w ere p roduced ( S230, 2 32). B ut i t i s a lso p ossible t hat t he e ndorsement w as f orged a t s ome o ther t ime: W ilfrid w as t he f ounder o f S elsey, a nd h is n ame c ould h ave b een u sed o n m ore t han o ne o ccasion. I t i s p ossible t hat t he e states n amed i n N othhelm 's c harter w ere o riginally d ifferent, a nd t hat t hose i n t he s urviving t ext w ere i ntroduced i nto t he d ocument i n t he t enth c entury i n c onnection w ith t he d ispute, b ut c ertain c onsiderations s uggest t hat i n f act t his i s u nlikely. F irstly, i t i s d ifficult t o s ee w hat p urpose w ould h ave b een s erved b y a n a dditional t itle d eed f or j ust a f ew o f t he p roperties c oncerned. S econdly, t he h idages i n N othhelm 's c harter d o n ot a gree w ith t hose i n t he s purious c harter o f C eadwalla, a s t hey w ould p robably h ave d one i f t he d etails ' o f t he e states i n t he t wo d ocuments h ad b een d rawn u p a t t he s ame t ime a nd f or t he s ame p urpose, a lthough i t i s t o b e n oted t hat t he h idages i n S 232 h ave b een a djusted t o p roduce t he f igure o f 8 7 h ides w hich E ddius m entions a s g ranted t o W ilfrid ( Brooks 1 984, p . 2 40). T hirdly, t he p lace-names L idsey a nd W estergate d o n ot a ppear i n e ither t he a t ithentic d ispute c harter ( S1291) o r i n D omesday B ook, w hich t ends t o s uggest t hat b y t he t enth c entury t hese a reas w ere i ncluded w ithin t he e state o f A ldingbourne, w hich i n 1 066 w as a ssessed a t 3 6 h ides ( DB S ussex, p . 3 .3). I f t his a ssumption i s c orrect, i t f ollows t hat t hese n ames c ould n ot h ave b een i ntroduced i nto N othhelm 's c harter b y a t enth-century w riter, w ho w ould n ot h ave k nown t hem a s s eparate e ntities, b ut m ust h ave b een b orrowed b y t he a uthor o f S 232 f rom s ome e arlier r ecord, p resumably N othhelm 's c harter. I t i s n ot i mplausible t hat e states n amed i n a n a uthentic e arly c harter o f t he S elsey a rchive s hould a ppear i n t he r ecords o f a d ispute w hich s eems t o h ave i nvolved a l arge p roportion o f S elsey's p roperties, a nd o ther a pparently a uthentic c harters ( S42, 4 6, 4 03) r elate t o e states w hich w ere i nvolved i n t he d ispute a nd/or a re n amed i n t he f abricated c harters. W hen e very a spect o f t his d ocument h as b een c onsidered, i t a ppears o verwhelmingly l ikely t hat t he s urviving t ext i s b ased o n a n a uthentic c harter r ecording a g rant b y k ing N othhelm t o h is s ister, a nd a ttested b y t he w itnesses w hose n ames a re p reserved -and p robably a lso b y m any m ore. I t i s c lear t hat t he c harter h as b een i nterpolated, b ut t he e xtent o f t he i nterpolation i s n ot c ertain. I t s eems l ikely t hat t he s ubstance o f t he d ocument h as n ot b een a ltered: t hat m uch o f t he w ording i s p reserved, t he t ransaction i s g enuine, a nd t he a dded p assages s erve o nly t o p ad o ut t he t ext a nd t o s tate S elsey's c laim t o t he p roperty. T hese a lterations m ay o r m ay n ot h ave b een m ade i n c onnection w ith u se o f t his c harter t o s upport S elsey's c laims i n t he t enth-century d ispute. B ut t here d oes r emain a p ossibility t hat t here h as b een m ore t horough f alsification o f t he r ecord, a nd t hat t he p roperty g ranted t o N othgyth w as n ot t hat r ecorded i n t he s urviving

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v ersion o f t he c harter. W hether t he m eeting r ecorded i n t his d ocument t ook p lace i n S ussex o r W essex o r o n t he b order i s n ot c lear, b ut t he t ransaction i s e ntirely a n i nternal S outh S axon a ffair, a nd i ndeed a f amily m atter. T he p resence o f t he W est S axon k ings c annot s trictly b e s aid t o c onfirm , b ut i s a t l east c onsistent w ith, B ede's a ssertion t hat C eadwalla r uled S ussex w ith a r od o f i ron a nd t hat I ne t hen c ontinued t o d o s o f or m any y ears ( HE I V 1 5). N othhelm ( 'Nunna') f ought a gainst t he C ornish a s I ne's a lly i n 7 10 ( ASC s .a.; t he n orthern r ecension 's g uess t hat N unna w as I ne's k insman m ay b e d isregarded; s uch g uesswork i s c ommonly i ntroduced t o a ccount f or o bscure p ersons), w hich m ay i ndicate t hat I ne s till h ad p ower o ver t he S outh S axon a t t hat t ime. W hen C eadwalla f irst c onquered S ussex h e k illed t he k ing , Athilwalh. N othhelm a pparently b ecame k ing o f t he S outh S axons d uring t he p eriod o f W est S axon d ominance, a nd p resumably s ecured t his p osition b y v irtue o f h is w illingness t o c o-operate w ith t he W est S axons. I t s eems l ikely t hat h is N -alliterating f amily f ell f rom p ower w hen W est S axon r ule i n S ussex e nded. T he k ings a nd d uces w ho s ucceeded n early a ll h ad v owel-alliterating n ames ( S46, 4 8, 184, 1 e tc.), a nd i t m ay b e t hat t hey b elonged t o t he o ld S outh S axon r oyal d ynasty w hich C eadwalla h ad d efeated i n t he p erson o f l Ethilwalh.

*

*

*

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*

A ccording t o t his d ocument, C oenred w as k ing o f t he W est S axons. W hitelock d oubted t hat t he t itle w as a c orrect a nd v alid p art o f t he t ext ( EHD, n o. 5 9), b ut i t w ould b e a v ery o dd e rror. A dmittedly, a t l east o ne t itle i n t his w itness l ist i s a lmost c ertainly w rong, a nd a dmittedly c opyists v ery f requently i ntroduce e rrors, b ut e ven a m edieval s cribe d id n ot n ormally t ransfer a r oyal t itle f rom a f amous k ing t o h is o bscure s upporter. M oreover, i t i s a f act, a nd a f act p robably u nknown t o l ater c opyists o f t his c harter, t hat i n s ome r espects C oenred w as t he s enior m an: n ot o nly w as h e t he o lder m an, h e w as I ne's f ather; a nd t heir r elative p ositions i n t his d ocument s uggest a m uch m ore n ormal s ituation f or a f ather a nd s on t han t hat i ndicated b y t he p rologue t o I ne's l aws. T hese c onsiderations s uggest t hat t he t itle s hould p robably b e a ccepted a s g enuine. C oenred t hen, a ccording t o t his c harter, w as k ing o f t he W est S axons a nd I ne w as h is s upporter. B ut t he i ncontrovertible e vidence o f t he l aws i s t hat I ne w as k ing o f t he W est S axons a nd C oenred h is s upporter ( Attenborough , L aws, p . 3 6). T he t wo s ources m ight b e r econciled b y a ssuming t hat t he c harter i s c orrectly d ated 6 92; t hat C oenred s ucceeded C eadwalla a s k ing, r uled f or 4 -5 y ears a nd t hen a bdicated i n f avour o f I ne; a nd t hat t he l aws p ostdate t he c harter a nd t he a bdication ( which t hey c ould d o, t he l atest p ossible d ate f or t he l aws b eing 6 94). B ut t his t heory i s n ot c onsistent w ith t he f act t hat C oenred w as n ot i ncluded i n t he W est S axon k ing-list. A ccording t o s urviving k ing-lists, I ne s ucceeded C eadwalla ( EHD , n o. 1 , p . 1 47); a lso t he u npublished l ist i n B .L ., C otton T iberius B v , f o. 2 2r); a nd t he s ame s tatement i s m ade i n t he C hronicle, w hich i s p robably b ased c hiefly o n k ing-lists ( ASC s .a. 6 88) a nd b y B ede, w ho k new n othing o f I ne e xcept h is a ccession, a bdication a nd r etirement t o R ome, a nd w hose

2 97

i nformation a ppears t o d erive u ltimately f rom k ing-lists ( HE V 7 ). T he e vidence o f t he S outh S axon c harter t herefore a ppears t o c ontradict t hat o f t he W est S axon s ources. I t i s p ossible, h owever, t o s uggest a t heory w hich w ould r econcile t his a pparent c ontradiction. I n t he S outh S axon c harter b oth C oenred a nd I ne a re p laced i n t he w itness l ist w ith r oyal p ersonages a nd b efore b ishops. I t m ay b e d educed t hat C oenred a nd I ne w ere t he r ulers o f W essex. I n t he p rologue t o t he l aws, I ne r efers t o t he a dvice o f h is f ather: b oth m en w ere a ctive i n t he p roduction o f t he l aw c ode. I n a s purious A bingdon c harter ( S241) w hose a uthor c learly h ad a ccess t o s ome g enuine e arly r ecords, C oenred a nd I ne a re m entioned a s m onastic b enefactors, a nd t heir g rant w as m ade j ointly: ' Ini e t C onred s imul d ederunt'. A ll t hree p ieces o f e vidence s ay t he s ame t hing: C oenred a nd I ne a cted i n p artnership; t here w ere i n e ffect t wo k ings o f W essex. I f w e m ay t rust t he d ate o f t he S outh S axon c harter, a nd g uess t hat t he l aw c ode d ates f rom n ot l ater t han t he s ame y ear, t his s ituation c ontinued u ntil 6 92. D own t o t hat d ate I ne a ppears o nly w ith C oenred. F rom 6 93 o nwards h e a cted a lone ( S238, 2 40, e tc.). T his t heory d oes n ot c ontradict t he e vidence o f t he k ing-lists. T he k ing-lists o nly r ecognise o ne k ing -but k ing-lists o nly e ver r ecognise o ne k ing a t a t ime, i rrespective o f t he t rue s ituation, a nd i t i s n ow g enerally a ppreciated j ust w hat c omplicated a rrangements, w hat m ultiple k ingships, u surpations, f oreign i nterventions a nd o ther a larums a nd e xcursions t his v ery s imple f orm o f r ecord c onceals. T he f act t hat t he k ing-lists s ay t here w as o nly o ne k ing i n W essex i s n o o bstacle a t a ll t o t he b elief t hat t here w ere i n e ffect t wo. O f t he t wo i t w as I ne w ho w as r epresented a s k ing o f t he W est S axons i n o fficial W est S axon s ources, t he k ing-list a nd t he l aws. S ince f ather a nd s on w ere o n f riendly t erms a nd w orking t ogether, t his c an o nly h ave b een t he v oluntary d ecision o f C oenred. T here i s n o d irect e vidence t o s how w hy t his w as d one, b ut a h ypothesis w hich a ccounts f or i t c an b e t entatively s uggested. C oenred w as a ctive a s a m inor r uler i n W essex i n t he e arly 6 70s ( S1164), a nd i s n ot r ecorded a s a ctive l ater t han t he e arly 6 90s. H e w as c learly n ot a y oung m an i n 6 88 w hen h is f amily a cquired s upreme p ower i n W essex, a nd i n A ngloS axon t erms h e m ay h ave b een a n o ld m an ( Manchester 1 983, p. 8 -9). p P ossibly h is s tate o f h ealth w as n ot g ood. H e m ay h ave h ad r eason t o b elieve t hat h is r eign w ould n ot b e a l ong o ne, a nd t his m ay b e t he k ey t o t he d ecision h e a ppears t o h ave t aken. A k ing n aturally w ishes h is s on t o s ucceed h im , a nd i t i s c lear t hat s trenuous e fforts w ere m ade b y A nglo-Saxon k ings t o a chieve t his r esult. O ffa o f M ercia, f or e xample, h ad h is s on c onsecrated a s k ing i n h is o wn l ifetime, a nd i t m ay h ave b een p artly f or t his r eason t hat E cgberht o f W essex a ppointed h is s on a s k ing o f t he c onquered p rovince o f K ent. I t s eems p ossible t hat C oenred, a m ature m an w ith a g rown u p s on, a dopted t he e xpedient o f m aking h is s on k ing i n t he f irst p lace. D uring h is o wn l ifetime t his p robably m ade l ittle d ifference, h e a nd I ne w orking t ogether a nd r uling j ointly, b ut o n h is d eath i t m eant t hat I ne s imply c ontinued a s k ing. T here w as n o o fficial e nd o f ar eign; n o s truggle t o s eize t he v acant k ingship; n o f action-fight w hich t he k ing's s on m ight o r m ight n ot w in. C oenred, i n s hort, a ppears t o h ave t ransferred h is p roperty i nto t he n ame o f h is s on i n o rder t o a void

2 98

d eath d uties, a nd t his p lan, i f p lan i t w ere,

s eems t o h ave w orked.

I t i s n ot v ery s urprising t hat t he S outh S axon a uthor o f N othhelm 's c harter s hould h ave b een u nacquainted w ith t his a rrangement, s ince, a ccording t o t he h ypothesis a dvanced a bove, i t w as r eally a f ormality r elating t o W est S axon i nternal a ffairs. C oenred a nd I ne w ere t he W est S axon r ulers, a nd t he S outh S axon w riter n ot u nnaturally g ave t he p recedence a nd t he f ormal t itle t o t he o lder m an.

2 99

5 .

P ETERBOROUGH

( a)

I ntroduction

T he m onastery a t M edeshamstede, l ater P eterborough, w as o ne o f t he f ew A nglo-Saxon m onasteries w hich p ossessed i ncontrovertible e vidence o f t heir f oundation i n t he s eventh c entury, t he e stablishment o f t he h ouse b y S eaxwulf, l ater b ishop o f t he M ercians, b eing m entioned b y B ede ( HE I V 6 ). M oreover, t he a rchive o f t he h ouse r etained c opies o f a n umber o f d ocuments, a pparently g enuine, d ating f rom t he e arly y ears o f i ts h istory ( S1803-6), a lthough t he c ommunity a lso f abricated d ocuments p urporting t o r elate t o t he e arly p eriod ( e.g. S 68). T he e arly c harters o f P eterborough s urvive p rincipally i n t wo c artularies o f w hich t he e arlier, d ating f rom t he t welfth c entury, i s n ow t he S ociety o f A ntiquaries' m anuscript 6 0 ( Davis 1 958, n o. 7 54); t he l ater m anuscript d ates f rom t he m id-thirteenth c entury a nd i s t he p roperty o f t he P eterborough D ean a nd C hapter, t heir m anuscript I , k nown a s t he R egister o f R obert o f S waffham ( Davis 1 958, n o. 7 57). T his m anuscript i s n ow d eposited i n t he U niversity L ibrary a t C ambridge, b ut a p hotocopy i s r etained a t P eterborough . S ome c harters a re a lso t ranscribed i n a t hird c artulary, P eterborough D ean a nd C hapter's m anuscript 5 , t he B ook o f C harters o f H enry P ytchley t he Y ounger, d ating f rom t he m id-thirteenth c entury ( Davis 1 958, n o. 7 56), n ow d eposited a t C ambridge. A ll o f t he P eterborough c harters r elating t o t he e arly p eriod w ere d iscussed b y S tenton i n h is a rticle o n ' Medeshamstede a nd i ts c olonies' ( Stenton 1 933), w hich i s s till e xtremely u seful a nd t o w hich t he f ollowing d iscussion i s i ndebted.

( b)

T he C harter

S 233 L ondon, S ociety o f A ntiquiaries' m anuscript 6 0, ( Edition :

f os.

3 6r-37v.

B 89)

T he o nly P eterborough c harter o f r elevance t o e arly W essex s urvives i n t ranscriptions i n t he t hree c artularies m entioned a bove. B irch 's e dition i s s ubstantially a ccurate, a nd h is p aragraphs r eflect t he d ivisions i n t he e arliest m anuscript. W hitelock r ightly r emarks t hat t he s entences i n b rackets p laced a t t he h eads o f t wo o f t he w itness l ists a re a dditions o f n o v alidity, n ot a ppearing i n a ny m anuscript ( quoted i n S 233), b ut B irch i s c orrect i n p resenting f ive d istinct l ists. T he w ord ' Medeshamstede' i n a bbot H eadda 's s ubscript ion i s, a s t he e ditor i ndicates, a l ater a ddition i n a d ifferent h and, a nd s hould n ot b e r egarded a s a v alid p art o f t he t ext. T he c harter i s a c urious, c omposite d ocument w hich b egins a s a g rant o f C eadwalla t o a n a bbot c alled E cgbald o f l and a t H oo i n K ent, a nd t hen g oes o n t o d escribe t he c onfirmation o f t his g rant b y f our

3 00

o ther k ings, S ighere o f E ssex, S wzefheard o f K ent, W ihtred o f K ent a nd Athilred o f M ercia , t he c onfirmation o f S w zefheard e xtending t o i nclude a f urther g rant o f a n a rea o f l and a djacent t o t hat g ranted b y C eadwalla. S tatements r elating t o t he p olitical h istory o f t he p eriod l ink t hese g rants a nd c onfirmations t o f orm a c ontinuous n arrative. A ppended t o t he c harter a re a n umber o f w itness l ists i ncluding t he n ames o f a ll t hese k ings. I t i s f airly c lear t hat o f t his d ocument o nly t he s ubscriptions a nd p erhaps a f ew p hrases i n t he t ext c an p ossibly r epresent a uthentic, s eventh-century w ork. T he n arrative p assages h ave n o p arallel i n a uthentic, e arly c harters, a nd t hose p arts o f t he t ext w hich b asically f ollow a c onventional p attern, s uch a s t he f irst s ection r ecording t he g rant o f C eadwalla, w hich c ontains a n i nvocation , p roem , d ispositio a nd s anction, a re w orded i n a s tyle b earing n o r esemblance t o t hat o f g enuine, e arly c harters, a nd t otally l acking t he s tandard f ormulas u sed b y e arly w riters. I t i s p ossible t hat t he s ubstance o f a n a uthentic c harter o r c hartprs i s e mbodied i n t he e xtant t ext, b ut i f s o t here h as b een v ery t horough r e-writing a t a m uch l ater d ate. I n s pite o f t he v ery d ubious n ature o f t he t ext, i t i s v irtually c ertain t hat t his d ocument i s u ltimately b ased o n a uthentic s eventhc entury m aterial, s ince t he w itness l ists c ould n ot p ossibly h ave b een i nvented b y a f orger. T he l ists o f n ames a re s et o ut b elow, w ith t he i ndividuals i dentified w here p ossible a nd, i n t he c ase o f c omparatively o bscure p ersons, s ome r eference t o o ther e vidence.

1 .

C EADWALLA, k ing o f t he W est S axons ( c. 6 86-688) T heodore,

a rchbishop o f C anterbury ( 669-690)

E orcenwald,

b ishop o f L ondon

B erhtwald, a bbot o f R eculver ( b ishop o f C anterbury H agona, W est S axon a bbot ( S45,

2 .

693)

2 35,

2 45,

( HE V 8 ; S 8);

171). 1

S ICHERE, k ing o f t he E ast S axons ( HE I II 3 0) E adberht, W est S axon l ayman ( S235) G ebred,

K entish l ayman ( S8,

1 0,

1 8)

E gera ( unknown) S nocca , W est S axon l ayman ( S235) T eoda, W est S axon l ayman ( S235) C uffa ( unknown).

3 01

l ater

a rch-

3 .

S W AFHEARD,

E ast S axon k ing r uling K ent ( HE V 8 ;

S 1 0,

1 1)

S ebbi, k ing o f t he E ast S axons H adrian, a bbot o f S t. P eter a nd S t. P aul's, C anterbury H uduc ( unknown) E alhweard ( unknown) S ighere ( unknown) Ha ecci ( unknown).

4 .

W IHTRED, k ing o f K ent G ebmund,

b ishop o f R ochester

B erhtwald, a bbot o f R eculver B eornheard, K entish l ayman ( S8, H aecci ( unknown,

1 0)

b ut s ee l ist 3 )

I sheard ( unknown) E alhweard ( unknown,

5 .

b ut s ee l ist 3 ).

2 ETHILRED, k ing o f t he M ercians ( 675-704) S eaxwulf, b ishop o f L ichfield E adwald, M ercian l ayman ( S75-7) W ealdhere, M ercian l ayman ( S75) H aelric ( unknown) C illi, M ercian l ayman ( S76-7) T eoda ( unknown u nless t he W est S axon l ayman o f l ist 2 ) E tenca ( unknown) H eadda, a bbot ( ? o f B redon; S 1803-5) H elmwulf ( unknown).

N o n ame i n a ny o f t hese l ists c an b e a nd t he m ajority o f t hese m en c an b e s hown t he s ame t ime. S everal o f t hem a re v ery r ecorded o nly i n c harters w hich s urvive i n

3 02

s hown t o b e a nachronistic, t o h ave b een a ctive a t m uch o bscure a nd a re o therwise o ther a rchives, t o w hich n o-

o ne a t P eterborough i s l ikely t o h ave h ad a ccess. T here c an b e n o s erious d oubt t hat t hese w itness l ists a re s ubstantially g enuine a nd d ate f rom t he l ate 6 80s o r e arly 6 90s. I t i s t herefore w orthwhile t o c onsider t o w hat e xtent t he s ubstance o f o ne o r m ore a uthentic c harters m ay s urvive i n t he e xtant t ext. T he f irst t ransaction r ecorded i s C eadwalla 's g rant t o a bbot E cgbald o f 4 0 h ides o f l and ' ubi H ogh n uncupatur a d H ebureahg i nsulam p ertingentes '. T he a bbot a ppears a s aw itness i n a n e arly E ast S axon c harter ( S1171). T he e state i s i dentified a s H oo i n K ent. T his g rant i s q uite p lausible: C eadwalla r avaged K ent i n 6 86 a nd 6 87 ( ASC s .a.), a nd m ay w ell h ave e xercised p ower t here l ong e nough t o m ake g rants o f t he l and h e h ad a nnexed, a s h e d id i n S urrey ( S235, 1 248). M oreover, a t ransaction i nvolving a W est S axon k ing, a n E ast S axon a bbot a nd a K entish e state w ould a ccount f or t he p resence i n t he f irst t wo w itness l ists o f m en f rom W essex, E ssex a nd K ent. S ince b oth l ists c ontain t his m ixture, i t s eems l ikely, a s W hitelock s uggested ( quoted i n S 233), t hat t he c artularist w as m istaken i n s eparating t hese t wo l ists, t hat t hey a re i n f act a s ingle l ist, a nd t hat k ing S ighere a ttested C eadwalla's c harter. T his a ssumption i nvolves t he r ejection o f t he n ext s tatement i n t he t ext, w hich i s t hat S ighere a dded h is c onfirmat ion a t a l ater d ate. T his s tatement i tself m ay d erive f rom t he m istaken d ivision o f t he w itness l ist. K ing S w2efheard, a n E ast S axon a nd s on o f S ebbi, w ho e xercised p ower i n a t l east p art o f K ent, i s s aid t o c onfirm t he e arlier g rant a nd a lso t o h ave e xtended i t b y g ranting 2 0 h ides o f l and a djacent t o t he e state a t H oo a nd a lso s ix h ides i n a nother p lace c alled ' Fercanhamstede', o f v alue f or i ts w oodlands. I t i s q uite u sual t o f ind t hat t he c onfirmation o f a l ater k ing h as b een a ppended t o a c harter, a nd t his o ften t akes t he f orm o f a ttestations, s ometimes a c omplete w itness l ist ( e.g. S 65). M oreover, s uch c onfirmations w ere p articularly n ecessary i n a reas w here p olitical p ower h ad c hanged a nd o wners o f e states d oubted w hether t he g rants o f e arlier r ulers w ould b e r ecognised b y t he n ew k ings. T his a ppears t o h ave b een t he s ituation i n K ent: W est S axon p ower i n t he s outh-east s eems t o h ave b een s hortl ived, a nd o ther ' reges d ubii v el e xterni' t ook o ver, i ncluding t he E ast S axon S waefheard. A bbot E cgbald m ay w ell h ave t aken t he p recaut ion o f s ecuring h is e ndorsement o f C eadwalla 's c harter. O n t he o ther h and, i t i s n ot u sual t o f ind t hat s uch l ater c onfirmations i ncorporate a dditional g rants: o ne w ould e xpect s uch a g rant t o b e m ade i n a s eparate c harter. T his c onsideration s uggests t he p ossibility t hat t he c ompiler o f t he s urviving d ocument h ad b efore h im a s eparate c harter r ecording S weefheard's g rant a nd c ontaining t he w itness l ist h eaded b y t his k ing, a nd t hat h e c ombined t his w ith C eadwalla's c harter, p roducing a c omposite r ecord ( as w as s uggested b y S tenton 1 933, p . 1 90). T he t ext t hen g oes o n t o n arrate t he s uccessive c onfirmations o f W ihtred o f K ent a nd Athilred o f M ercia . T hese a re q uite p lausible i n t hemselves. B ede r ecords t hat t he K entish r oyal f amily w as r estored t o p ower i n t he p erson o f W ihtred ( HE I V 2 6), a nd c harters p rovide c onfirmatory e vidence o f W ihtred's r ule ( S15, 1 9, 2 0, e tc.). H is c onfirmatory w itness l ist m ay h ave b een a ppended t o C eadwalla's c harter, o r S waefheard's c harter, o r a c harter o f C eadwalla c onfirmed

3 03

b y S waefheard. 2 Ethilred t oo i s r ecorded a s h aving a uthority i n K ent ( S10, 1 2), a nd c ould a lso h ave e ndorsed a bbot E cgbald's t itle-deed, a lthough o ne w ould r ather e xpect t hat h is e ndorsement p receded t hat o f W ihtred a s h is p eriod o f p ower i n K ent a ppears t o h ave d one. T here i s a n a uthentic e arly c harter w hich h as t wo c onfirmatory w itness l ists a ppended t o i t ( S65), a nd t here s eems t o b e n o p articular r eason w hy a nother c harter s hould n ot h ave h ad t hree o r f our s uch l ists a dded, w hile t he r apid c hanges i n p olitical p ower i n K ent i n t he 6 80s a nd 6 90s d o r ender s uch s uccessive c onfirmations q uite p lausible. T here i s n o p arallel f or s uch a n a ccumulation o f w itness l ists i n o ne c harter, b ut i t c annot b e s aid t o b e i mpossible. T here a re, h owever, o ther p ossibilities. I t h as a lready b een s uggested t hat t here m ay h ave b een a s econd c harter i n t he n ame o f S waefheard. I t m ay b e t hat t he w itness l ists h eaded b y W ihtred a nd 2Ethilred a ctually d erive f rom s eparate c harters i ssued i n t he n ames o f t hese k ings. I f t he c ompiler o f t his d ocument h ad b efore h im c harters o f t hese k ings g ranting l ands n ot t hen o wned b y P eterborough, o r p erhaps n o l onger i dentifiable, h e c ould h ave d ecided t o d iscard t hese d ocuments a nd u se t heir w itness l ists t o a dd a uthority t o t he t itle-deed f or H oo. M oreover, i t i s p ossible t hat n o g enuine c harter u sed b y t he c ompiler r eferred t o H oo, a nd t hat h e c onverted o ne o r m ore c harters r elating t o o ther e states i nto a t itle-deed f or t his l and. I n t he a bsence o f t he o riginal w ording, t here c an b e n o c ertainty a bout t he a uthenticity o f t he c ontent o f t his c harter. T he m onastery r uled b y a bbot E cgbald i s n ot n amed i n t he t ext. I t m ight h ave b een M edeshamstede, b ut t his i s m erely o ne p ossibility, a nd c ertain c onsiderations t end t o o perate a gainst i t. E cgbald i s o therw ise r ecorded o nly i n a n E ast S axon c ontext, a nd t he i nitial t ransaction r ecorded h ere i nvolves W est S axons, E ast S axons a nd p eople b ased i n K ent, b ut n ot M ercians. T his t ends t o s uggest t hat E cgbald's m onastery w as i n E ssex, t he d onor a nd t he e state a ccounting f or W est S axon a nd K entish i nvolvement. M oreover, i t s eems u nlikely t hat C eadwalla w ould h ave m ade a g rant o f l and t o aM ercian m onastery. A nd t here a re p lenty o f i nstances o f c harters s urviving i n t he a rchives o f m onasteries o ther t han t hose t o w hich t hey o riginally r elated. T he c harter o r c harters o n w hich t his d ocument i s b ased m ay h ave b een h anded o ver t o M edeshamstede w ith t he l and. T he h istory o f t he e state a t H oo i s o bscure. A c harter i n t he n ame o f W ihtred o f K ent ( S22) l ists H oo a mong K entish m onasteries, a nd S tenton a ccepted t his a s e vidence f or a s eventh-century m onastery a t H oo ( Stenton 1 933, p . 1 90 n . 2 ). H owever, B rooks h as s hown t hat t he c harter i n q uestion i s a n inth-century f orgery ( Brooks 1 984, p p. 1 917 ), s o i t c annot b e r egarded a s s upplying a ny e vidence f or t he s eventh c entury. W hat i t d oes t ell u s i s t hat t here w as a m onastery a t H oo i n t he n inth c entury. T his c ircumstance, c onsidered i n c onjunction w ith t he f act t hat P eterborough h ad a n umber o f ' cells' o r ' colonies ' f orming a f amily o f m onasteries ( discussed i n S tenton 1 933), a nd t he f act t hat t he c harter r ecording C eadwalla's g rant o f H oo s urvives i n t he P eterborough a rchive, s trongly s uggests t hat t he m onastery a t H oo w as a c ell o f P eterborough, a s S tenton t hought ( 1933, p . 1 90 n . 2 ). A dmittedly t his c onclusion i s n ot s upported b y a ny i ncontrovertible e vidence l inking H oo w ith P eterborough : t he c harter w hich l ists H oo a mong P eterborough 's e states ( S68) i s a f abrication, a nd i ts a uthor

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a ppears t o h ave b orrowed t he n ame o f H oo f rom C eadwalla's c harter; s imilarly t he t welfth-century P eterborough h istorian, H ugh C andidus, w ho i ncluded E cgbald i n a l ist o f a bbots o f P eterborough, p robably t ook t he n ame f rom t his c harter ( Stenton 1 933, p . 1 90); i n 1 066 t he m anor o f H oo w as h eld b y E arl G odwin ( DB K ent, p . 5 .93). H owever, t he c ircumstantial e vidence s eems s ignificant, a nd i t m ay b e t entatively s ugggested t hat t he e arly h istory o f H oo w as a s f ollows: t he e state c ame i nto t he p ossession o f t he c hurch i n c onsequence o f C eadwalla's g rant t o E cgbald, a nd w as i nitially p art o f t he e ndowment o f E cgbald's m onastery, w hich w as p robably i n E ssex. L ater i t w as t ransferred, w ith t he r elevant d ocumentation, i nto t he p ossession o f M edeshamstede, a nd a m onastery w as f ounded t here, t his b eing o ne o f t he g roup o f m onasteries a ttached t o M edeshamstede. T he m onastery a t H oo w as e stablished n ot l ater t han t he e arly n inth c entury a nd d isappeared b efore t he C onquest. T here a re o ther p ossibilities, f or e xample t hat a m onastery w as f ounded a t H oo a s a c ell o f E cgbald's h ouse b efore t he e state w as t ransferred t o M edeshamstede, o r t hat E cgbald's h ouse w as i tself a c ell o f M edeshamstede, s o t hat t here w as a c onnection b etween H oo a nd M edeshamstede f rom t he t ime o f C eadwalla 's g rant. T he e vidence d oes n ot e nable t he h istory o f t he e state a nd t he m onastery t o b e r econstructed w ith a ny c ertainty. I t h as b een s uggested t hat E cgbald w as h imself a bbot o f H oo ( EHD, n o. 6 0 , p . 4 87, n . 9 ), a nd h ence t hat C eadwalla's c harter w as a f oundat ion c harter ( Brooks 1 984, p . 1 83). N othing i n t he s urviving t ext s upports t his t heory, a nd t he f act t hat t he g rant w as m ade t o a n a bbot i s a s trong a rgument a gainst i t, s ince t here w as n ot u sually a n a bbot o n t he s cene w hen l and w as g ranted ' ad c onstruendum m onasterium '. E ven w hen l and w as g ranted t o a n i ndividual w ho f ully i ntended t o b ecome h ead o f t he n ew m onastery, t hat i ndividual d id n ot c laim a bbatial s tatus a t t he t ime o f t he g rant ( e.g. S 89, 2 52). T he o ne e xception i s t he H wiccian g rant t o a bbess C uthswith ( S53), b ut i n t his c ase i t i s p ossible t hat s he w as p roposing t o f ound a d aughter-house o f a n e xisting m onastery ( cf. S 1803; a lso S 255). I t r emains h ighly u nlikely t hat C eadwalla's c harter w as o riginally a f oundation c harter. T he P eterborough c harter s erves t o c onfirm t he r eality o f C eadwalla 's p ower i n t he s outh-east, b ut s uggests, i n c onjunction w ith o ther e vidence, t hat W est S axon p ower i n t he a rea w as v ery s hort-lived.

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6 .

W ESTMINSTER

( a)

I ntroduction

T he m onastery a t W estminster m ay h ave b een f ounded a t a n e arly d ate, b ut t here i s n o r eliable e vidence o f t his. I t c ertainly e xisted i n t he t enth c entury, b ut w as n ot a n otably w ealthy o r p restigious h ouse u ntil i ts v irtual r efoundation b y E dward t he C onfessor ( Harmer, W rits, p. 2 86-7). T he a rchive o f t he h ouse i ncludes 2 0 c harters a nd p w rits o n s ingle s heets. M odern s cholars j udge t hat m ost i f n ot a ll o f t hese a re c opies o f l ater d ate , n ot o riginals, a nd i n m any c ases t he t exts h ave b een i nterpolated o r a re w holly s purious. O nly t wo d ocuments ( S124, 1 248) p urport t o d ate f rom a p eriod e arlier t han t he t enth c entury: e vidently t he W estminster c ommunity m ade n o s erious a ttempt t o c laim g reat a ntiquity f or t heir e stablishment.

( b)

T he C harter

S 1248 0 .S. F acs, V ol. ( Edition :

I , W estminster , I

N o. 1 .

B 82)

T he s ingle c harter i n t he W estminster a rchive w hich h as s ome r elevance t o e arly W essex s urvives o nly o n as ingle s heet, W estminster A bbey M uniments, N o. 1 , w ritten i n t he e leventh c entury. B irch 's e dition i s b etter t han t he m ore r ecent o ne b y H art ( ECEE , p. 1 35-6) p s ince t he l atter i s i ncomplete a nd i ncludes s ome e rrors . H owever, t he t ext h as b een s ubstantially e lucidated b y H art ( ECEE , p p. 1 36-41), a nd h is t horough d iscussion r enders a d etailed a ccount o f t he c harter h ere s uperfluous, s o o nly a b rief s ummary i s p rovided, i ncorporating o ne o r t wo p oints w hich a re o ffered a s a dditions t o H art's d iscussion . T he e xtant t ext p resents a n umber o f p roblems: t he i dentities o f t he d onor a nd b eneficiary a re o bscured b y d eletions i n t he m anuscript; t here a re i nternal i nconsistencies, n ot a ll o f t he w itnesses b eing a ctive a t t he s ame d ate ; a nd t here i s c lear e vidence o f s ome i nterpolation, s ince t he c harter i s d ated 6 93 b ut i ncludes a n O ld E nglish b oundary c lause w hich i s c ertainly o f m uch l ater d ate. H art e stablishes b y c onvincing a rguments t hat t he d ocument i s s ubstantially g enuine; t hat t he d onor w as E orcenwald, b ishop o f L ondon, a nd t he b eneficiary t he d ouble m onastery a t B arking ; a nd t hat t he w itness l ist i s af usion o f t wo l ists, o ne b asically W est S axon a nd d ating f rom t he r eign o f C eadwalla , w ho a ttests, a nd t he o ther b asically M ercian a nd d ating f rom 6 93. O ne w itness w hom H art f ailed t o i dentify, ' Eadgar e lectus', w as p robably b ishop-elect o f L indsey ( HE I V 1 2). T he a rrangement o f t he s ubscriptions o n t he m anuscript, o bscured i n b oth B irch 's a nd H art's e ditions, i s c onsistent w ith t he t heory t hat t here a re a ctually t wo s eparate l ists . T he n ames a re a rranged t hus:-

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E orcenwald, W ilfrid, H aeddi,

b ishop

b ishop b ishop

Athilred, k ing H agona, H ooc,

C eadwalla, k ing

a bbot

W ynberht,

p riest

C isi

E adberht H eadda,

B erhtwald, a rchbishop

b ishop

T yrctil, E adgar,

a bbot

B rihtmaer, b ishop

b ishop

W ealdhere, b ishop

b ishop-elect

W ecca

E admund, b ishop-elect

T idbald, a bbot

C otta,

a bbot

T his l ist f alls q uite n aturally i nto t wo h alves, w hich a re c onfused o nly b y t wo t hings: f irstly t he d isplacement o f k ing _Athilred, w ho i s i ncluded i n t he w rong p art o f t he l ist; a nd s econdly t he s cribe's f ailure t o i ndicate, b y a s pace o r a ny o ther m ethod, t he s eparation o f t he t wo p arts. W hen t hese e rrors a re r ectified, t wo w itness l ists a ppear, e ach i nternally c onsistent a s f ar a s t his c an b e c hecked, a nd i n a ccordance w ith H art's t heory:-

1 .

E orcenwald,

b ishop o f L ondon

W ilfrid, b ishop o f Y ork . Heeddi, b ishop o f W inchester H agona, a bbot

C eadwalla, k ing o f W essex

H ooc,

W ynberht, a bbot o f N ursling

p riest

E adberht

C isi

2 . Athilred, k ing o f M ercia

B erhtwald, a rchbishop o f C anterbury

H eadda, b ishop o f L ichfield

B rihtmeer, b ishop

T yrctil,

W ealdhere,

b ishop o f H ereford

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b ishop o f L ondon

E adgar,

E admund,

b ishop-elect o f L indsey

C otta,

W ecca

b ishop-elect

a bbot

T idbald, a bbot

T he l and g ranted b y b ishop E orcenwald t o B arking l ay i n S urrey a nd p robably f ormed a s ingle b lock o f l and, a lthough t hree c omponent a reas a re l isted, 2 8 h ides a t B attersea, 2 0 a t W ashingham , a l ost v illage j ust s outh o f B attersea, a nd 2 0 o n t he w est b ank o f t he n earby r iver W andle. T he s ingle s et o f b ounds p robably d efines t he w hole a rea ( PN S urrey, p. 1 2-13). A ccording t o t he t ext, t he e state w as g iven t o p E orcenwald b y k ing C eadwalla a nd l ater c onfirmed b y k ing 2 Ethilred, a nd a nother c harter w hich s ummarises g rants t o B arking l ists t he l and a s C eadwalla 's g ift ( S1246). T he e state w as a cquired b y W estminster s hortly a fter t he C onquest ( DB S urrey, p . 6 .1). H art s uggests t hat E orcenwald's c harter w as o riginally d rawn u p i n t he 6 80s w ith t he W est S axon w itness l ist, a nd t hat a r evised v ersion w as p roduced w hen Athilred c onfirmed t he t ransaction i n 6 93, t he d ate b eing a ltered ( or a dded), r eference t o Athilred's c onfirmation i ntroduced a nd t he s econd w itness l ist a ppended. T his s eems t o b e c orrect. T he d ocument s uggests t hat C eadwalla e xercised p ower i n S urrey, b ut t hat a fter h is d eath t he a rea w as b rought b ack u nder M ercian c ontrol. T he f irst p oint i s c onfirmed b y t he F arnham c harter ( S235), a nd o ther c harters c onfirm t hat 2 Ethilred o f M ercia w as i n p ower i n s outh-east E ngland i n t he p eriod f ollowing C eadwalla's d eath: h is c onsent i s m entioned i n K entish c harters ( S10, 1 2); h e g ranted l and i n M iddlesex t o b ishop W ealdhere o f L ondon ( S1783); a nd a nother c harter o f t he s outh-east, s urviving i n t he P eterborough a rchive a nd r elating t o l and i n K ent, s uggests t hat p ower w as h eld s uccessively b y C eadwalla o f W essex a nd 2 Ethilred o f M ercia ( S233).

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A PPENDIX I :

W EST S AXON D IPLOMATIC

C onclusions r egarding t he d iplomatic o f e arly W est S axon c harters a re b ased o n t hose c harters w hich t here i s r eason t o b elieve w ere d rafted i n s criptoria i n W essex, a nd w hich a re j udged t o b e s ubstantially a uthentic , b ut i t c annot b e r egarded a s c ertain t hat e very f ormula c ited b elow i s ag enuine f eature o f t he c harter i n w hich i t a ppears. T his a ccount i s m odelled o n a r ecent a ccount o f n inthc entury d iplomatic ( Brooks 1 984 , p p. 3 27-30).

I nvocation I n t he p eriod d own t o 7 45 t here a re 1 2 c harters w ith n o i nvocation i n t he e xtant t ranscripts, 1 2 i nstances o f t he ' In n omine ..' t ype o f w ording ( S1164, 7 1/73, 170 , 2 34, 2 38, 2 43, 2 44, 2 45, 2 48, 176), a nd o nly o ne o ccurrence o f t he a blative a bsolute t ype ' Regnante ..' ( S1249). D uring t he r emainder o f t he p eriod t he a blative a bsolute o ccurs i n e ight c harters ( S258, 2 65, 2 63, 2 69, 2 67, 2 70a , 1 263, 2 83), t he ' In n omine ..' t ype i n s ix ( S260, 2 61, 2 62, 2 68, 2 73, 2 77) a nd o nly t wo c harters a re w ithout i nvocations ( S1256, 2 64).

P roem T he m ost c ommon p roem , w hich o ccurs f rom t he e arly 6 80s t o t he e nd o f t he e ighth c entury a nd i s i n s even o f t he 1 0 e arliest e xtant W est S axon c harters, c ontrasts t he t ransitory n ature o f e arthly t hings w ith t he p ermanance o f h eavenly t hings , ' terrenis a c c aducis e terna e t m ansura m ercanda s unt ' a nd v ariants ( S71/73, 2 37, 1 170, 1 249, 2 31, 2 34, 2 55, 2 62, 2 63, 2 67). S everal o f t hese p roems i ncorporate a b iblical q uotation a sserting t hat w e b ring n othing i nto t he w orld a nd t ake n othing o ut o f i t , ' Nichil i ntulimus wo o thers T he r emaining t hree o f t he e arliest 1 0 c harters a nd t nclude t he w hich d ate f rom t he b eginning o f t he e ighth c entury i 1 169, 2 44, ' literacy ' p roem , ' solus s ermo s ufficeret ( S1164, 2 36 2 48). S everal c harters f rom 6 93 o nwards h ave n o p roem .

R oyal T itle D own t o 7 60 k ings o f t he W est S axons a re n ormally d escribed s imply a s ' rex ' ( S236, 2 31, 2 34, 2 45, 2 48, 2 55, 2 59, 2 60) o r a s ' rex S axonum ' ( S237, 2 38, 2 40 , 2 43, 2 44, 2 65), t he t itle o ften b eing a ccompanied b y t he p hrase ' regnante d omino'. T hese f orms o ccasionally r ecur l ater, b ut a fter 7 60 t he m ore u sual s tyle w as ' rex O ccidentalium S axonum ' ( S261, 2 62, 2 70a -for ' regina '?, 2 83, 2 77). ' Rex G ewissorum ' w as u sed i n af ew i nstances f rom 7 45 o nwards ( S256, 2 62, 2 73).

3 09

D ispositive W ords T he m ajority o f c harters a re e xpressed i n t he p ast t ense, b ut t here a re s everal i nstances o f p resent t enses ( S236, 1 249, 2 38, 2 40, 2 45, 2 53, 2 59, 2 67, 2 70a) a nd t wo o f f uture t enses ( S262, 2 68). Aw ide v ariety o f v erbs i s u sed a nd n one c an b e s pecified a s t he ' normal' W est S axon f ormula, b ut ' largitus s um ' o ccurs t hroughout t he p eriod ( S71, 2 37, 2 56, 2 61, 2 69, 2 83, 2 73) a nd ' decreueram ' o r id ecreui t w ith a n i nfinitive i s c ommon d own t o t he b eginning o f t he e ighth c entury 1 1 ( S1164, 169, 170, 2 31, 2 34, 2 43; a lso S 251). E xpressions w hich c ombine t wo v erbs a re o ften u sed: ' donans i mpendo' ( S238, 2 40); ' uideor c ontulisse' ( S248); ' impendere c uraui' ( S255), e tc.

P ertinence C lause W est S axon c harters o f t he s eventh a nd e ighth c enturies d o n ot c ommonly s pecify t hat t he l and i s g ranted ' cum o mnibus a d s e p ertinentibus', b ut t here i s o ne i solated i nstance o f t his a bout t he b eginning o f t he e ighth c entury ( S252) a nd t wo . c lauses o f t his b asic t ype o ccur i n c harters o f C yniwulf: ' necnon e t u illam c ui s ubiacent p ascue . p rata . a rida . i rrigua . s imul e t s iluestria l oca ' ( S260); ' cum o mnibus q uae -manuscript d amaged ( S264). T he c lause b egins t o a ppear r egularly o nly i n t he n inth c entury ( S268, 2 83, 2 73, 2 77).

T he P owers T he e arliest e xtant W est S axon c harter s pecifies t he b eneficiary's p owers o ver t he e state i n a n ' ut' c lause i ncorporating a s eries o f g erunds ( S1164). T hereafter t here i s s eldom a ny r eference t o p owers f or m any y ears, o nly o ne o ther s eventh-century e xample , ' et a d e um i ure s ect' ( sic) p ertinet' ( S244) a nd t hree o f t he e arly e ighth c entury w hich u se a g erundive c onstruction ( S1179, 1 253, 2 51). F rom 7 78 o nwards t he b eneficiary's p owers a re u sually s tated, i n m ost c ases i n t he f orm o f a s eries o f g erunds, a lthough o ther t ypes o f w ording o ccur ( S264, 2 69, 2 67, 2 68, 2 83, 2 73).

E states a nd B oundaries T wo m ethods o f s pecifying t he l and w hich i s t he s ubject o f a c harter a re e mployed: t he n ame o f t he e state m ay b e g iven f ollowing a p hrase s uch a s ' in l oco q ui d icitur'; o r t he s ituation o f t he e state m ay b e d efined b y r eference t o a djacent l andmarks, c ommonly n atural f eatures s uch a s w ater-courses, w oods a nd h ills. T he l atter m ethod p redominates i n t he s eventh c entury, b ut t hereafter b oth f orms o ccur, t he u se o f n ames f or e states b eing t he m ore c ommon - but p erhaps r eflecting m odernisation o f t he t ext i n s ome i nstances. I n s ome c harters d ealing w ith g roups o f e states, n ames a re g iven t o s ome l ands w hile o thers a re d escribed b y m eans o f l andmarks ( S1249, 2 43, 2 48), w hich t ends t o s uggest t hat t he t wo m ethods d o n ot r epresent d ifferent s tyles o f c harter w riting, b ut s imply r eflect t he f act o f w hether t he u nit o f l and h ad a n ame o r n ot.

3 10

L andmarks o n t wo o r m ore s ides o f t he e state a re s ometimes s pecified, g iving a n a ppearance o f r udimentary b ounds; t his o ccurs i n c harters o f t he s eventh c entury ( S1164, 2 37, 2 34, 2 38) a nd o f t he r eign o f C yniwulf ( S260, 2 61). I n t he s ame r eign t he e arliest d etailed p erambulations a ppear, i n L atin w ith O ld E nglish p lace-names ( S262, 2 64). B oundary c lauses o f t his t ype c ontinued i n u se d uring t he r eign o f B eorhtric ( S267, 2 68) a nd p robably t hroughout t his p eriod, a lthough W est S axon e vidence f or E cgberht's r eign i s l acking.

I mmunities a nd R eservations T he f irst a ppearance i n W essex o f i mmunity f rom s ecular o bligations i s i n I ne 's g eneral g rant t o t he c hurches o f 7 04 ( S245), b ut i mmunities r elating t o s pecific g rants o f l and d o n ot o ccur u ntil t he r eign o f B eorhtric ( S267, 2 70a, 2 68). D ifferent r eservations a re m entioned, a nd t he c lause d oes n ot s eem t o h ave b ecome s tandardised i n t his p eriod. T here i s o nly o ne i nstance o f t he i nclusion o f a ll t hree o f t he r eservations w hich l ater b ecame s tandard ( S270a), a nd a n e xample o f E cgberht's r eign i ncludes o nly t wo ( S273).

S anction P rohibitive c lauses o ccur i n h alf o f t he s urviving a uthentic c harters o f t he p eriod d own t o 7 10. M ost a re o f g eneral a pplication , b eginning tu t n ullus ..' ( S1249, 2 31, 2 34, 2 38, 2 44, 1 176), b ut t hree a re m ore s pecific, t he c lause b eing d irected a gainst r oyal a nd l ay p ower ( S73) o r t he d onor 's s uccessors ( S240, 2 45). A fter 7 10 o nly t wo p rohibitive c lauses a ppear, b oth r eferring t o t he d onor's s uccessors ( S259, 2 70a). P enal c lauses o ccur m uch m ore f requently t hroughout t he p eriod, a nd b y f ar t he m ost c ommon w ording a sserts t hat a t ransgressor w ill .. r ender a ccount a t t he l ast j udgement, ' sciat s e r ationem r edditurum ' ( S71, 1 169, 2 45, 2 62, e tc.). A nother t ype o f p enal c lause w hich o ccurs t hroughout t he p eriod t hreatens s eparation f rom t he c hurch o r t he c ommunion o f s aints ( S1164, 1 253, 2 51, 2 53, 1 410, 2 56, 2 68, 2 77). At hird f ormula , f ound o nly i n s eventh-century c harters, s ays t hat a m alefactor w ill i ncur t he a nger o f G od ' iram d ei i ncurrat' ( S1164, 2 36, 2 34) o r t he g uilt o f s acrilege ( S237). Aw ording c onfined t o m id e ighth-century c harters a sserts t hat a t ransgressor w ill p ay t he p enalty o f h is c rime ' penas l uat' ( S253, 2 55, 1 410, 2 56). T wo o ther c lauses s ay h e w ill b e c ursed o r e xcommunicated ( S265, 2 77). I t i s n ot u ncommon t o f ind t wo o r m ore f ormulas c ombined i n o ne s anction ( S1164, e tc.). D own t o 7 10 o nly f our c harters c ontain b lessings; a ll f our r efer t o G od i ncreasing t he b enefactor's s hare i n t he b ook o f l ife o r s imply i n e ternal l ife, ' augeat d eus ( S71/73, 2 36, 2 37, 2 48). I n l ater y ears b lessings b ecome m ore u sual, b ut s till o ccur i n l ess t han h alf o f t he e xtant a uthentic t exts . F ormulas s imilar t o t hose i n t he e arlier c harters a ppear ( S251, 2 55, 2 63, 2 73), a nd t here a re a f ew i nstances o f d ifferent w ordings ( S253, 1 410 , 2 56, 2 65, 2 68).

3 11

D ating C lause T he d ating c lause i s p laced a t t he b eginning o f t he t ext i n o nly t wo c harters, b oth o f t he s eventh c entury ( S1249, 2 38), a nd e lsewhere o ccurs t owards t he e nd, u sually p receding t he w itness l ist. T he m ost c ommon w ording, w hich o ccurs t hroughout t he p eriod, i s ' Scripta e st ' ( S71, 2 31, 2 44, 2 48, 2 63, 2 83, e tc.). ' Actum e st ..' o ccurs i n t he s eventh c entury ( S1169, 2 43, 2 45), ' Acta e st ..' i n t he e arly e ighth c entury ( S1253, 2 55), a nd ' Et h ec a cta s unt t hereafter ..' ( S259, 2 60, 2 64). A f ew o ther w ordings o ccur i n i solated i nstances.

W itness L ist N early a ll w itnesses' n ames a re p resented i n o ne o f t wo b asic f orms , ' Signum m anus X ', o r a s entence b eginning ' Ego ..' a nd e nding w ith o ne o r m ore v erbs, o ften ' consensi e t s ubscripsi'. D own t o t he e arly e ighth c entury d onors a lways a ttest i n t he f orm ' Signum m anus' e xcept i n t he c ase o f t he e arliest e xtant c harter w here C oenred a ttests i n t he ' Ego ..' s tyle ( S1164). F rom 7 25 t o 7 62 b oth w ordings a re u sed ( 'Ego' S 251, 2 53, 2 56, 2 59, 2 65; ' Signum ' S 255, 2 60, 2 61). T hereafter o nly t he ' Ego' f orm a ppears. C hurchmen a lways a ttest i n t he ' Ego' f orm u ntil c . 7 50. T hereafter b oth f orms o ccur ( 'Ego' S 262, 2 66, 2 70a, 2 68, 2 83, 2 77; ' Signum ' S 1256, 2 61, 2 69, 2 73; b oth S 260, 2 63). L aymen s ubscribe a s ' Signum m anus X ' t hroughout t he p eriod w ith o nly t wo e xceptions ( S1170 -W udda ; S 270a). T he e ffect o f t hese u sages i s t o g ive w itness l ists o f t he p eriod d own t o c . 7 50 a n a ppearance o f d istinguishing t hose m en w ho w ere l iterate a nd c ould w rite t heir o wn s ubscriptions, ' Ego .. s ubscripsi', t hese b eing c hiefly c lerics, f rom t he i lliterate, l aymen a nd m ost k ings, w ho c ould o nly m ake t he s ign o f t he c ross. F rom c . 7 50 t his d istinction a ppears i n s ome c harters, i s p artly r etained i n o thers a nd i s o ften w holly a bandoned, a nd i t a ppears t hat p ractice i n t his r espect b ecame m ore f lexible. I t c annot b e i nferred f rom t he d istinction m ade i n t he e arly p eriod t hat s ubscriptions o r c rosses w ere a ctually w ritten b y i ndividual w itnesses. T he e vidence o f o riginals f rom s outh-east E ngland s uggests t hat i n E ngland a ttestations w ere a lways w ritten o ut b y o ne s cribe. T he d istinction s hould p robably b e r egarded m erely a s a c onvention, c omparable w ith t he f requent a ssertion t hat a w itness s ubscribed ' manu p ropria ' w hen i n f act h e d id n ot.

C aveat I t s hould b e e mphasised t hat t he s urviving e vidence i s v ery l imited a nd v ery f ragmentary, a nd t hat c ertainty o n t he q uestion o f a uthenticity i s i n m any c ases i mpossible t o a chieve. P atterns a ppeari ng i n t he s urviving e vidence c ould b e m isleading, a nd g eneralisations a re h ere l argely a voided f or t hat r eason. T he f ormulas o f t he c harters a re v aried a nd t here i s n o s ingle d iplomatic p ractice o f w hich i t c ould b e s aid t hat i t m ust a ppear i n a t ext i f t he c harter c oncerned i s t o b e c onsidered g enuine. N o d istinct d iplomatic t raditions w ithin W essex

3 12

a re d iscernable. I t c annot b e s aid, f or e xample, t hat t here w ere ( or w ere n ot) s eparate c harter w riting t raditions b ased o n d iocesan s criptoria a t W inchester a nd S herborne; w e s imply d o n ot h ave e nough c harters d eriving f rom b oth d ioceses a t a ny o ne t ime t o e nable t he c omparison t o b e i nstituted.

3 13

A PPENDIX I I:

A NALYSIS O F T HE E ARLY W EST S AXON C HARTERS

A ll t he c harters d iscussed i n d etail a bove a re h ere d ivided i nto f our c ategories a ccording t o t he e xtent o f t heir g enuine c ontent. S uch a c lassification u navoidably o ver-simplifies t he p osition, a nd s hould b e c onsidered o nly i n c onjunction w ith t he a rguments a nd j udgements p resented a bove. T he c ategories u sed a re :-

I .

C harters p reserved a s o riginals o r c ontemporary c opies.

I. I

C harters p reserved o nly i n l ater c opies o f w hich t he e xtant t ext a ppears t o b e e ntirely, o r a lmost e ntirely, a uthentic, a lthough i n s ome i nstances a bbreviated.

II. I

C harters p reserved o nly i n l ater c opies c ontaining a m ixture o f a uthentic a nd s purious m aterial:

I V.

( a)

w ith a p reponderance o f a uthentic e lements;

( b)

w ith a p reponderance o f s purious e lements.

F abrications o f n o v alue a s e vidence f or t he p eriod.

( For a s imilar b ut f uller c lassification, i ncluding t he e arly o f o ther A nglo-Saxon k ingdoms, s ee W ormald 1 984, p p. 2 4-6).

( A)

W EST S AXON A RCHIVES

1 .

G lastonbury I. I

S 1249, 2 48,

1 253, D A p .

1 08, S 152, 2 64.

IIa . I

S 236, 2 37, 2 38, 2 46, 2 47, 2 51, 2 53,

IIb. I

S 257.

I V .

S 227, 2 50.

3 14

1 410 , 2 70a.

c harters

2 .

3 .

4 .

5 .

6 .

M almesbury I .

S 96.

I I.

S 1170, 2 31, 2 43, 2 45, 2 60 , 1 49.

I IIa.

S 71, 7 3, 1 169, 2 34 , B 106 , S 256.

I IIb.

S 1245.

I V .

S 1166 , B 114.

W inchester I I .

S 235, 259, 1 263.

Ina .

S 283, 2 73.

I IIb.

S 242, 254, 258, 2 75, 2 84, 2 72, 2 74, 2 76, 2 81.

I V .

S 229.

A bingdon I I .

S 1179, 2 69, 2 68.

I IIa .

S 252.

I IIb.

S 239, 2 41, 9 3, 1 66, 183, 2 78.

I V .

S 1603, 1 84.

M uchelney I I .

S 244, 1 176, 2 61.

Ina .

S 240.

I IIb.

S 249.

B ath I I .

S 1168, 1 167, 2 65.

I IIa . S51.

7 .

S haftesbury I I.

S 1164, 1 256, 2 77.

8 .

9 .

S herborne I. I

S 263 .

I V .

S 228.

E xeter I IIa.

1 0 .

W ells l ila.

1 1.

S 255.

S 262.

A thelney I . I

S 267.

( B)

O THER A RCHIVES

1 .

C hrist C hurch , Can terbury

2 .

3 .

I .

S 1438 .

I. I

S 1258, 3 23.

IIa . I

S 108, 2 82, 2 86.

I IIb.

S 1610.

I V .

S 230, 2 70.

R ochester Ina .

S 280 .

IIb. I

S 271.

S t. A ugustine 's , C anterbury I I.

S 279.

3 16

4 .

5 .

C hichester I IIa .

S 45.

I V .

S 232.

P eterborough I IIb.

6 .

S 233.

W estminster I IIa.

S 1248.

3 17

T OTALS

A rchive ( A)

I IIb

9 6 2

1 1

I V

T otal

W est S axon

G lastonbury M almesbury W inchester A bingdon M uchelney B ath S haftesbury S herborne E xeter W ells A thelney

( B)

I IIa

1

6 6 3 3 3 3 3 1

1

1 1 1

2 2 1 2

9 6

1

1

1 1

1 8 1 6 1 5 1 2 5 4 3 2

1 1 1

O ther

C hrist C hurch R ochester S t. A ugustine's C hichester P eterborough W estminster

1

2

3 1

2

1

1

1

1

2

3 2

2 8

1 1

2 1 3 2

6 2

9 2 1 2

1 1

9 4 9 4

T he c learest c onclusion t o e merge f rom t his s tudy i s t hat a l arge p roportion o f t hese c harters a re s ubstantially g enuine, f ar m ore t han h as u sually b een a ssumed, a nd t hat v ery f ew a re w holly v alueless, s o t hat t he c harters f urnish a q uite c onsiderably b ody o f e vidence f or t he e arly W est S axon k ingdom .

3 18

I NDEX O F C HARTERS T he r eferences a re t o t he m ain d iscussion o f e ach c harter w hich i s c onsidered i n d etail. L ost c harters a re n ot i ncluded.

A rchive 4 5 5 1 7 1 7 3 9 3 9 6 1 08 1 49 1 52 1 66 1 83 1 84 27 2 28 2 29 2 2 30 2 31 2 32 2 33 2 34 2 35 2 36 2 37 2 38 2 39 2 40 2 41 2 42 2 43 2 44 2 45 2 46 2 47 2 48 2 49 2 50 2 51 2 52 2 53 2 54 2 55 2 56 2 57 2 58 2 59 2 60 2 61 2 62

C hichester B ath M almesbury M almesbury A bingdon M almesbury C hrist C hurch M almesbury G lastonbury A bingdon A bingdon A bingdon G lastonbury S herborne W inchester C hrist C hurch M almesbury C hichester P eterborough M almesbury W inchester G lastonbury G lastonbury G lastonbury A bingdon M uchelney A bingdon W inchester M almesbury M uchelney M almesbury G lastonbury G lastonbury G lastonbury M uchelney G lastonbury G lastonbury A bingdon G lastonbury W inchester E xeter M almesbury G lastonbury W inchester W inchester M almesbury M uchelney W ells

EM .t . 2 92 2 18 9 0 9 0 1 77 1 24 2 67 1 21 5 2 1 85 1 89 1 87 2 0 2 40 1 31 2 66 9 7 2 91 3 00 9 7 1 32 1 1 1 5 2 3 1 72 1 98 1 74 1 37 1 05 2 01 1 07 2 6 3 3 2 7 2 04 3 6 3 8 1 68 4 0 1 38 2 55 16 1 4 5 1 40 1 40 1 19 2 06 2 59

3 19

A rchive

Iggf _

2 63 2 64 2 65 2 67 2 68 2 69 2 70 2 70a 2 71 2 72 2 73 2 74 2 75 2 76 2 77 2 78 2 79 2 80 2 81 2 82 2 83 2 84 2 86 3 23 164 1 166 167 1 168 169 1 170 176 1 179 1 245 1 248 1 249 1 253 1 256 1 258 1 263 1 410 1 438 1 603 1 610 1 623

S herborne G lastonbury B ath A thelney A bingdon A bingdon C hrist C hurch G lastonbury R ochester W inchester W inchester W inchester W inchester W inchester S haftesbury A bingdon S t. A ugustine's R ochester W inchester C hrist C hurch W inchester W inchester C hrist C hurch C hrist C hurch S haftesbury M almesbury B ath B ath M almesbury M almesbury M uchelney A bingdon M almesbury W estminster G lastonbury G lastonbury S haftesbury C hrist C hurch W inchester G lastonbury C hrist C hurch A bingdon C hrist C hurch C hrist C hurch

2 41 5 9 23 2 2 63 1 83 1 79 2 75 5 6 2 82 1 53 1 50 1 55 1 48 1 56 2 36 1 93 2 89 2 85 1 57 2 73 1 48 1 48 2 78 2 77 29 2 8 7 2 14 2 11 9 3 9 4 2 04 1 70 8 5 3 06 1 8 3 4 29 2 2 72 1 43 4 1 2 79 1 67 2 67 2 77

1 05/6 14 1

M almesbury M almesbury

1 00 15 1

D A p. 1 08, p a nd 1 10

G lastonbury

5 2

3 20

B IBLIOGRAPHY A ND A BBREVIATIONS

A nderson , C olumba : A domnan 's L ife o f C olumba , A nderson ( 1961).

e d. A .O. a nd M .O .

A rnold, S ymeon o f D urham : S ymeon o f D urham , O pera O mnia , e d. T . A rnold, R olls S eries , V ol. 7 5 ( 1882-5). A SC:

A nglo-Saxon C hronicle, E HD n o.

A SE :

A nglo-Saxon E ngland.

1 .

A ttenborough , L aws : T he L aws o f t he E arliest E nglish K ings e d. & t rans. F .L . A ttenborough ( Cambridge, 1 922).

B :

W . d e G . B irch , C atularium S axonicum , 3v ols .

( 1885-99).

B arker, E .E ., 1 947: ' Sussex A nglo-Saxon C harters ', S ussex A rchaeol ogical C ollections, V ol. 8 6, p p. 4 2-101. B arrie, M .A .F ., 1 968 : ' The b inding o f t he S herborne C hartulary', T he B ritish M useum Q uarterly, V ol. 3 2, p p. 9 6-8. B ates , A thelney C art.: T wo C artularies o f t he B enedictine A bbeys o f M uchelney a nd A thelney i n t he C ounty o f S omerset, e d. E .H . B ates, S omerset R ecord S ociety , V ol. 1 4 ( 1899). B ates, M uchelney C art.:

s ee B ates, A thelney C art.

B irch , W . d e G ., 1 871: ' On t he s uccession o f t he a bbots o f M almesbury', J ournal o f t he B ritish A rchaeological A ssociation , V ol. 2 7, p p. 3 14-342. B irch , W . d e G ., 1 892: T he A nglo-Saxon C harter o f O slac, D uke o f t he S outh S axons , A D 7 80. B lair, P .H ., 1 950 : ' The M oore M emoranda o n N orthumbrian h istory', T he E arly C ultures o f N orth-West E urope , e d. C . F ox a nd B . D ickins ( Cambridge), p p. 2 45-257. B lunt , C .E ., 1 957: ' The c oinage o f E cgbeorht, k ing o f W essex 8 02-839 ', B ritish N umismatic J ournal, V ol. 2 8, p p. 4 67-76. B lunt, C .E., 1 961: ' The c oinage o f O ff a ', A nglo-Saxon C oins, e d. R .H .M . D olley, p p. 3 9-62. B lunt, e t a l., 1 963: C .E . B lunt, C .S.S. L yon a nd B .H .I.H . S tewart, ' The c oinage o f s outhern E ngland 7 96-840 ', B ritish N umismatic J ournal, V ol. 3 2, p p . 1 -74. B .M . F acs .: E .A . B ond, F acsimiles o f A ncient C harters i n t he B ritish M useum , 4V ols . ( 1873-8).

3 21

B rentnall, H .C., 1 948: ' Bedwyn i n t he t enth c entury', W iltshire A rchaeological a nd N atural H istory M agazine , V ol. 5 2, p p. 3 60-8. B rewer, M almesbury C art.: R egistrum M almesburiense, T he R egister o f M almesbury A bbey, V ol. 1 , e d. J .S . B rewer, V ol. 2 , e d . J .S . B rewer a nd C .T . M artin, R olls S eries, V ol. 7 2 ( 1879-80). B rooks, N .P ., 1 971: ' The d evelopment o f m ilitary o bligations i n e ighth-and n inth-century E ngland', E ngland B efore t he C onquest, e d. P . C lemoes a nd K . H ughes ( Cambridge), p p. 6 9-84 . B rooks, N .P ., 1 974: ' Anglo-Saxon C harters: t he w ork o f t he l ast t wenty y ears ', A SE , V ol. 3 ., p p. 2 11-31. B rooks, N .P ., 1 984: ( Leicester).

T he E arly H istory o f t he C hurch o f C anterbury

C ampbell, 2 Ethelweard: 1 962).

T he C hronicle o f 2 Ethelweard, e d. A . C ampbell

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3 22

C haplais, P ., 1 968: ' Some e arly A nglo-Saxon d iplomas o n s ingle s heets: o riginals o r c opies?', J ournal o f t he S ociety o f A rchivists, V ol. 3 , p p. 3 15-36. C haplais, P ., 1 969: ' Who i ntroduced c harters i nto E ngland? T he c ase f or A ugustine ', J ournal o f t he S ociety o f A rchivists , V ol. 3 , p. 5 26-542. p C haplais, P ., 1 973: ' La c hancellerie r oyal A nglaise d es o rigines a u r egne d e J ean s ans T erre ', I nternational C ongress o f D iplomatic, B udapest. C haplais, P ., 1 978: ' The l etter o f b ishop W ealdhere o f L ondon t o a rchbishop B rihtwold o f C anterbury: t he e arliest o riginal ' letter c lose ' e xtant i n t he w est', C haplais 1 981, p p. X IV 3 -24. C haplais, P .,

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3 23

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AS hort

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D B O xfordshire : D omesday B ook V olume 1 4 O xfordshire , e d . C . C aldwell ( Chichester 1 978). D B S omerset: D omesday B ook V olume 8 S omerset, e d. C . a nd F . T horn ( Chichester 1 980). D B S urrey: D omesday B ook V olume 3 S urrey, e d. J . M orris ( Chichester 1 975). D B S ussex : D omesday B ook V olume 2 S ussex, e d. J . M orris ( Chichester 1 976). D B W iltshire: D omesday B ook V olume 6 W iltshire, e d. C . a nd F . T horn ( Chichester 1 979).

3 24

D ickinson , F .H ., 1 882: ' West M onkton c harter', P roceedings o f t he S omersetshire A rchaeological a nd N atural H istory S ociety, V ol. 8 , P art 2 , p p. 8 9-98. D olley, R .H .M ., a nd S kaare, K ., 1 961: ' The c oinage o f . Athelwulf, k ing o f t he W est S axons 8 39-858 ', A nglo-Saxon C oins , e d. R .H .M . D olley, p. 6 3-76. p D ugdale, W ., 1 817: M onasticon A nglicanum , n ew e dition b y J . C aley, H . E llis a nd B . B andinel , V ol. 1 . D umville, D .N ., 1 976: ' The A nglian c ollection o f r oyal g enealogies a nd r egnal l ists ', A SE , V ol. 5 , p p. 2 3-50. D umville, D .N., 1 977: ' Kingship, g enealogies a nd r egnal l ists', E arly M edieval K ingship , e d. P .H . S awyer a nd I .N. W ood ( Leeds), p p. 7 21 04.

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3 25

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3 26

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3 28

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3 29

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30 3

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' Pre-Conquest H erefordshire', S tenton 1 970, p p.

S tenton, F .M ., 24-33. 2

1 935:

' St. F rideswide a nd h er t imes ', S tenton 1 970, p p.

S tenton, F .M ., ( Oxford).

1 955:

T he L atin C harters o f t he A nglo-Saxon P eriod ,

S tenton , F .M .,

1 971:

A nglo-Saxon E ngland ( third e dition , O xford).

S tephens, J .N., 1 977: 6 2, p p. 1 -14.

' Bede 's E cclesiastical H istory', H istory , V ol.

S tevenson, A bingdon C hron .: C hronicon M onasterii d e A bingdon , S tevenson , R olls S eries , V ol. 2 ( 1858).

e d. J .

S tevenson, A sser: A sser 's L ife o f K ing A lfred, e d. W .H . S tevenson ( Oxford 1 959). S tevenson, W .H ., 1 914: ' Trinoda n ecessitas', E nglish H istorical R eview , V ol. 2 9, p p. 6 89-703. S tubbs, W ., 1 883: C hronicles o f t he R eigns o f E dward I a nd E dward I I, V ol. I I, R olls S eries, V ol. 7 6.

T angl: D ie B riefe D es H eiligen B onifatius u nd L ullus , e d. M . T angl, M GH , E pistolae S electae I ( Berlin 1 916).

3 31

T aylor, C .S., 1 900 : ' Bath , M ercian a nd W est S axon ', T ransactions o f t he B ristol a nd G loucestershire A rchaeological S ociety, V ol. 2 3, p. 1 29-61. p T aylor, H .M . a nd J ., ( Cambridge). T essier, G .,

1 962:

1 965-78:

A nglo-Saxon A rchitecture , 3V ols.

D iplomatique R oyale F ra rwaise ( Paris).

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U ddholm , M arculf:

V CH :

M arculf's F ormulary,

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T he V ictoria H istory o f t he C ounties o f E ngland.

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1 975 :

1 931:

E arly M edieval H istory ( Oxford).

K entish P lace-Names, U ppsala U niversitats

W atkin, G lastonbury C art.: T he G reat C hartulary o f G lastonbury, e d. A . W atkin , S omerset R ecord S ociety , V ols. 5 9, 6 3, 6 4 ( 1947, 1 952, 1 956). W eaver, G lastonbury F eodary: AF eodary o f G lastonbury A bbey, e d. F .W . W eaver, S omerset R ecord S ociety , V ol. 2 6 ( 1910). W ells , B .W ., 1 891: ' Eddi's L ife o f W ilfrid', E nglish H istorical R eview , V ol. 6 , p p. 5 35-50. W hitelock, D ., W illiams , A .,

1 951: 1 968 :

T he A udience o f B eowulf ( Oxford). AH istory o f D orset ,

32 3

V ol.

II , I

V CH .

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' Aldhelm 's p rose s tyle a nd i ts o rigins ', A SE ,

W interbottom , T hree S aints : W interbottom ( Toronto ,

T hree L ives o f E nglish S aints , 1 972).

e d. M .

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T he C harter

W ormald, F ., 1 934: E nglish K alendars B efore A D 1 100, H enry B radshaw S ociety, V ol. 7 2 . W ormald, F ., 1 957: ' The S herborne " Chartulary ", F ritz S axl 1 890-1948 , AV olume o f M emorial E ssays f rom h is F riends i n E ngland, e d . D .J . G ordon, p p. 1 01-19 .

Y oung, G .M .,

1 934:

T he O rigin o f t he W est-Saxon K ingdom ( Oxford).

33 3

G ENERAL I NDEX

A bingdon ,

5 ,

1 20,

1 51,

1 65-196,

2 33, 2 83-284

A cca, b ishop o f D unwich , 3 0-31 A cca ,

b ishop o f H ereford,

2 24-225

' Adamtone', 7 4-75 tAarm undeslea t ,

Aldhun ,

1 71-172

17

Alfflaed, d aughter o f O ffa, 5 4 i Elfflaed , W est S axon l aywoman, Alfthryth , w ife o f C oenwulf, / Elfwald , " ' Esc,

2 34

1 88

S outh S axon l ayman, 2 70

1 84

Ascburh , a bbess,

1 39

4 4E thelheard, 2 85-286 " ' Ethelred I I, k ing o f E ngland, 4 , 7 ,

1 98, 2 05-206, 2 43

Athelric, 2 73-275 18, 2 Ethelwulf, k ing o f t he W est S axons, 1 4, 3 9, 5 1, 6 7, 9 8, 1 31, 1 37, 1 45-146, 1 49, 1 51, 1 57-159, 1 84, 1 94, 2 45, 2 48, 2 74-279, 2 82, 2 84, 2 86, 2 90 . Athelwulf, 2 85-286 Athilbald, Athilbald, 8 1-82, 2 73

1 69 k ing o f t he M ercians, 2 3, 2 5, 3 1, 3 8, 4 1-47, 4 9, 5 1, 7 1, 9 4, 1 20, 1 24-126, 1 35, 1 40, 1 74 , 1 76-179, 1 96, 25, 27, 2 2

A thilburh, w ife o f I ne, 3 7, 3 9, 4 8 Athilburh , a bbess o f F ladbury, 5 4 l Ethilfrith ( 704),

15-116, 1

Athilfrith ( 749),

1 42

1 73

Athilheard, k ing o f t he W est S axons, 3 7-38 , 4 0-41, 4 5, 4 8, 5 0-52, 7 0 , 1 38-140, 1 62, 1 78-179, 2 55-258

34 3

Athilheard, a bbot , 2 Ethilheard, 2 72-273

1 42

a rchbishop o f

C anterbury, 5 3-55, 5 8, 8 3,

1 21-122,

1 31,

J Ethilheard ( early 8 th c entury), 3 7, 2 05 Athilheard ( mid-8th c entury), 7 2,

1 17-118

2 Ethilhun, 4 3 Athilmod, b ishop o f S herborne, 5 9-60, 8 2-83, Athilmod,

1 80-181, 2 41-242

1 35, 2 10, 2 14-218, 2 22

_ Aihilmund, e aldorman o f t he H wicce, 7 6 i Ethilmund, 5 9-60,

1 22

2 Ethilnoth , 5 9-60 1 / Ethilred, k ing o f M ercians, 2 3, 8 8-95, 9 7, 1 01, 1 04, 10, 1 26-127, 1 35, 1 73, 1 75, 1 77-178 , 1 96, 2 11, 2 13-214, 2 22, 3 01-304, 3 07-308 . . 2 Ethilric , 6 0, 2 07 Athilwalh, k ing o f t he S outh S axons, 2 97 A ldhelm , a bbot o f M almesbury , b ishop o f S herborne, 1 1, 1 3-15, 1 7, 2 1, 2 3, 3 0-31, 4 9, 8 0-119, 1 26-127, 1 75-176, 2 04, 2 51, 2 53, 2 94-295 A ldhelm I I, a bbot o f M almesbury, 1 16-119, A ldingbourne, 2 95-296 A lhampton, 7 4-75 A lresford, 1 37-138, 1 48, 1 61-162 A lton P ancras, 2 45-246 A lton P riors, 1 53-155, 1 57, 1 61, 1 64-165 A ppleton, 1 71-172 A shdown , 1 71-172 A stra, 1 58 A thelney, 2 62-264

B aegloc, p riest, 1 24

3 35

1 27,

1 38

B aldred, k ing o f K ent ,

2 74

B aldred, W est S axon s ub-king, 9 4-97, 2 03, 2 22, 2 33 B aldred,

2-23 , 1-17, 2

2 5, 3 7, 4 5, 4 7-48 ,

6-67, 6

2 71

B altonsborough, 4 4 ' Banewada ',

1 62-63

B arking, 9 8,

1 05,

B asildon, B ath ,

1 70,

1 33,

1 72,

1 22-123,

1 35-136,

1 75,

1 77,

1 41, 3 06-308

1 95

2 09-227

B attersea , 3 08 B eaduwulf, a bbot o f G lastonbury, 7 , 5 4, 7 6 B eaga , m onk, B ealthun ,

2 02-203

1 08,

2 04

B ealwulf, a bbot,

1 08

B ectun , a bbot, 8 6, B eddington ,

1 62

B ensington ,

1 96,

1 73, 2 14, 2 22, 2 29-233, 2 35-236

2 73

B eorhtric, k ing o f t he W est S axons, 5 5-59, 1 95, 2 42, 2 56, 2 63-264, 3 11 B eorn, a bbot,

1 21-123,

1 45,

1 20

B eornfrith, a bbot, 4 0 B eornfrith,

1 81

B eorngyth , a bbess,

1 35, 2 11-215, 2 22, 2 27

B eornheard, 3 02 B eornmod, b ishop o f R ochester ,

1 58, 2 74, 2 76, 2 84-286

B eornmod, 2 76 B eornwyn , 2 34, 2 36 B erht,

2 71

B erhthelm , 6 2,

1 43-144,

1 46,

1 49-150,

36 3

1 63

1 51,

1 79-184,

B erhtwald, M ercian s ub-king, 8 9, 9 3-95, 9 7 B erhtwald , a bbot o f G lastonbury, 7 -9, 2 0-22, 2 5-34, 6 7-69,

1 08

B erhtwald, a rchbishop o f C anterbury, 2 2, 2 5, 3 0-31, 3 3, 3 7, 3 01-302, 3 07 B erhtwald, M ercian l ayman, 2 71 B erta , a bbess,

2 18-223,

27, 2 33 2

B essels L eigh,

1 71-172,

1 91-192

B exhill, 2 67-272 B ica , 5 9-62, 7 2-73,

1 43

B ishops L ydeard,.244 B isi, b ishop o f t he E ast A ngles, 3 0 B leadney, 3 6 B oba , 2 76, 2 85 B ootwine, a bbot o f M edeshamstede ,

24-225, 2 71 2

B osa, p riest, 4 2 B osel,

b ishop o f W orcester , 9 1, 2 13

' Boselingtone t , 2 45-246, 2 52 B ourton,

1 91-192

B oxford,

1 91-192

B radfield,

1 70-177,

B radford A bbas,

2 39, 2 45, 2 48

B radford o n A von, B rading,

1 95-196, 2 14

15, 1 27

1 62-163

B radley, 7 1 B raydon W ood, 9 5, 9 9,

1 22

B rent K noll, 2 4, 3 8, 4 6 B rihtmaer, b ishop, 3 07 B rokenborough,

1 06-107

B rompton , 7 0

3 37

10, 1

1 73,

B rorda,

1 22,

' Brunham ',

1 32,

2 71

7 6

B ruta ,

3 7, 2 05

B ryne,

2 71

B ugu, a bbess, 6 9-70 B urbage,

1 82

B urford, 9 4 B urhheard,

1 46,

1 49,

1 52,

1 54-156,

1 61,

1 63

B utleigh, 5 8 B yrnhere ,

2 71

' Caellwic', C albourne ,

2 44, 2 50 1 55-156,

1 64

C allington, 2 50 C ann , 2 45-246 C atwali, a bbot, 2 29-230, 2 36 C eadda,

1 32,

1 63

C eadwalla, k ing o f t he W est S axons, 1 2, 1 5, 2 2, 3 1, 4 5, 9 5-100, 1 22, 1 26-127, 1 32-137, 1 63-164 , 1 67-168, 1 71, 1 74-175, 1 78, 2 17, 2 36, 2 67, 2 80, 2 91-292, 2 95-297, 3 00-308 ' Cearn ',

1 08, 1 95,

1 39-140

C edd, b ishop,

1 69

C entwine, k ing o f t he W est S axons, 6 9, 9 5, 9 7, 9 9, 1 37, 2 17, 2 22

1, 1

1 3-17, 2 2,

2 4 , 3 1, 4 5, 4 7,

C eolberht, b ishop o f L ondon , 2 86 C eolberht, 5 9-60 C eolnoth, a rchbishop o f C anterbury,

1 46,

C eolred, k ing o f t he M ercians, 4 6, 9 0-91, C eolswith ,

1 69-177,

1 95-196

38 3

1 57-158, 2 75-279, 2 86 1 35

6 5-

C eolwulf, k ing o f M ercia ,

2 83

C eolwulf,

b ishop o f L indsey,

C eolwulf,

s ub-deacon, 2 78

C erdic, 6 0,

2 07,

C had , b ishop, C harney,

1 21,

1 31

2 34

1 69

1 91-192

C hertsey,

1 33, 1 35

C hesterblade, C hichester, C hilcomb,

2 44-246, 2 50

2 91-299

1 62

C hilton P olden, 4 1 C hrist C hurch, C anterbury, 7 ,

1 22,

1 57-160 , 2 65-280

C iaba , c lerk, 2 89-290 C ille, s ee C eolswith C illi, 3 02 C isi , 9 5-96, 9 8,

1 32, 1 63,

C issa , W est S axon s ub-king, C layhanger,

1 77, 3 07 1 74-175,

1 77-178

2 45, 2 48, 2 50

C lewer, 6 8 C oen ,

1 08,

1 33

C oenfrith , 2 3, 8 0, 8 7-91, 1 18-119,

1 26, 1 99

C oengils, a bbot o f G lastonbury, 7 -9, 3 5, 3 8, 4 0, 4 8, C oenred, f ather o f I ne, 1 3, 8 6, 1 73, 1 75-178, 2 33, 2 35-236, 2 94-295, 2 97-299, 3 12

1 39

1 96, 2 14, 2 22-223,

292

C oenred, k ing o f t he M ercians, 3 1, 4 6, 9 1, 1 10 C oenwalh, k ing o f t he W est S axons, 6 , 2 0-23, 4 6, 1 61-162, 2 40-241, 2 45-246, 2 51, 2 53, 2 67

1 31-132,

1 37,

1 48,

C oenwulf, k ing o f t he M ercians, 6 , 5 3-55, 7 5, 1 93, 2 20, 2 67, 2 72-273, 2 83-284

1 04,

1 23,

1 84-

C ompton D undon, 7 4

39 3

1 02,

1 09,

C ongresbury, 2 44-246, 2 51 C ookham ,

1 96, 2 27,

1 22-123,

2 72-273

C orscombe, 2 39, 2 43, 2 45-248 C orston ,

1 06

C otta, a bbot, 3 07-308 C rediton, 2 38, 2 44-250, C reechbarrow ,

2 54, 2 55-258

1 7

C reech S t. M ichael,

1 7

C rispa ( Criswa),.132,

1 63

C roscombe, 3 1-32 C rowhurst, 2 69 C rux E aston ,

1 84 ,

1 91-192

C uffa, 3 01 C ulham ,

1 86-189,

1 91-192

C ulm D avy, 7 3 C ulmstock, 7 3, 2 50 C umbra, 4 5 C umma, a bbot o f A bingdon , C umma , C umnor,

1 78

17-118 1 1 67-168,

1 91-192

C uthberht, a bbot o f M almesbury, 8 3,

1 21

C uthberht, a rchbishop o f C anterbury ,

24-225 2

C uthberht, 7 3 C uthburh , a bbess o f W imborne,

15 1

C uthred, k ing o f t he W est S axons, 2 0-21, 3 8, 4 2-43, 4 5-48, 5 1-52 , 8 9, 9 4, 1 16-119, 1 26, 1 38, 1 40-143, 1 62-164, 1 79, 2 45-246, 2 55-256, 2 58 C uthred, W est S axon s ub-king, C uthswith , a bbess, 3 0,

1 75,

1 77-178

1 35, 3 05

3 40

7 1, 2 50,

C uthwine , 4 2 C yne , 2 71 C yneheard, a rchdeacon , 2 74 C ynehelm , s on o f C oenwulf, 6 , 5 2-55,

1 01, 1 04,

1 88

C ynehelm , 2 74 ' Cynemersforda ', 7 5 C ynered, b ishop o f S elsey, C ynibald, a bbot,

1 58, 1 94, 2 76, 2 86

1 42

C yniberht, a bbot.of I smere,

1 24

C yniberht, a bbot o f R edbridge, 8 5-86,

1 64

C yniberht, b ishop o f W inchester, 5 8, 1 21, 1 43, 1 81, 1 83-184, 1 88 C yniheard, b ishop o f W inchester, 6 0, 2 33-234, 2 36, 2 61

1 20-121, 1 24, 2 07, 2 24-225,

2 30,

C ynithryth , a bbess o f C ookham , 3 9, 5 4, 1 22, 2 72-273 1 C yniwulf, k ing o f t he W est S axons, 4 0, 4 7, 5 7, 5 9-62, 7 2-75, 19-126, 1 40-141, 1 82, 1 84 , 1 96, 2 06-207, 2 23-227, 2 34, 2 41-243, 2 45-246, 2 50, 2 52-253, 2 56, 2 59-261, 2 63, 2 67, 2 70, 2 73, 2 80, 3 10-311 C ynric, W est S axon

e theling,

1 42

D aniel, b ishop o f W inchester, 9 , 3 0-31, 3 5, 3 7, 4 0, 4 5, 8 2-83, 1 09-110, 14-117, 1 38-139, 1 64, 1 71, 1 73-174, 1 76, 1 78, 2 55 D artington, 2 34, 2 36 D enchworth, 1 86-187, 1 91-192 D enefrith, b ishop o f S herborne, 1 21, 1 80, 1 84 D eora , b ishop o f R ochester, 2 70 D iera , 2 25 D itcheat, 4 4 D orchester ,

1 94, 2 34

D oulting , 3 1-32, 3 4, 6 9 D ownton,

1 31-132,

1 37, 1 48,

1 56,

1 61-162

3 41

Drihtnoth, abbot, 276 Droxford, 156-157, 164 Dry Sandford, 186-187, 191-192 Dudd, abbot, 43, 255 Dudda, 274, 277, 285 Duduc, 278, 285 Dunn, abbot of Lyminge, 275-276 Eaba, abbot of Malmesbury, 83, 127 Eada, 124 Eadbald, 124, 225 Eadberht, bishop of Leicester, 270 Eadberht, bishop of Selsey, 108, 291, 294-295 Eadberht, West Saxon layman, 301, 307 Eadburh, wife of Beorhtric, 39, 55-59, 121, 181, 183-184 Eadfrith, Mercian layman, 222 Eadfrith, West Saxon layman, 169-171, 195 Eadgar, king of England, 6-9, 73, 243 Eadgar, bishop of Lindsey, 306-308 Eadgils, 55-59 Eadhun, bishop of Winchester, 146, 158, 286 Eadmund, bishop, 307-308 Eadmund Ironside, 4 Eadwald, abbot of Muchelney, 40, 206-207 Eadwald, abbot, 194 Eadwald, 302 Eadwulf, bishop of Lindsey, 121-122 Ealdberht, abbot of Glastonbury, 7, 35 342

E aldberht, M ercian l ayman, 1 76 E aldberht,

25 2

E aldred ( 772),

2 71

E aldred ( post-839), 2 85 E aldwine,

b ishop o f L ichfield, 3 0-31,

E aldwulf,

b ishop o f L indsey, 1 20, 2 25

E alhhere,

2 76,

2 85

E alhmund,

b ishop o f W inchester ,

E alhmund, W est S axon l ayman ,

E alhstan, 2 35,

1 88, 2 22

24-225 2

E alhfrith , 6 0,

E alhmund, M ercian l ayman,

1 78,

1 36,

1 43-145,

1 46,

1 49,

1 24 1 52-154,

E alhweard, 3 02 E anberht, a bbot o f M almesbury, 8 1-82, b ishop o f E lmham ,

1 24-127

24-225 2

E anwulf, 7 6-77, 2 76, 2 87 E ardwulf,

b ishop o f R ochester,

24-225 2

E ast B rent, 2 4 E ast M eon,

1 50

E ast P ennard, E ata , E aton, E bba ,

25, 2

1 4

2 71

1 71-172,

1 86,

1 91-192

1 69

E bony, 2 78 E cga,

p riest,

1 63

1 84

b ishop o f S herborne, 2 74, 2 76, 2 84, 2 86

E anfrith ,

1 49,

1 24

E cgbald,

b ishop o f W inchester, 5 9-60,

E cgbald,

a bbot, 3 00 , 3 03-305

3 43

2 41

1 56,

1 58,

1 61,

1 94 ,

E cgberht , k ing o f t he W est S axons, 7 0 , 1 31, 1 37, 1 44-163, 1 84, 1 93-196, 2 34-236, 2 45-246, 2 50, 2 52-253, 2 73-280, 2 82-290, 2 98 , 3 11 E cgberht, k ing o f K ent, 2 70 , 2 72, 2 75 E cgfrith , k ing o f t he N orthumbrians, 6 7,

1 04

E cgfrith , k ing o f t he M ercians, 5 3-56, 5 8,

1 21-123, 2 27

E cgfrith , W est S axon l ayman, 2 55 E cgfrith , M ercian l ayman,

1 24

E cgwine, b ishop o f W orcester, 3 0-31 E cgwulf, b ishop o f L ondon , 2 24-225 E gera, 3 01 E lborough , 7 2 ' Elosaneg ', 6 8 E oppa, 6 0 ,

1 20 , 2 07

E orcenwald, b ishop o f L ondon, 3 0-31, 9 8, 3 01, 3 06-308

1 33, 1 36-137,

' Escford ', 6 9 E sne,

2 71

E tenca , 3 02 E ustace ,

p apal n otary, 5 3

E verleigh ,

1 09

E xeter , 2 54-258

F aedol, 5 9-60 F arnham , 6 2, F ernham ,

1 32,

1 35-136,

1 63, 2 92, 3 08

1 91-192

' Flotham ',

2 74

F olcburh, n un , 2 14-215, F ontmell,

1 43-144,

2 17-218, 2 27

29-233 2

3 44

1 41,

2 12, 2 22,

F orthere , 1 39,

b ishop o f S herborne, 3 0 , 3 4-36, 3 7, 3 9-40, 8 2-83, 1 78, 2 05, 2 55-258

F reodoric, a bbot,

17,

1 38-

2 76

' Frericburna ', 2 86, 2 88 F rithugyth , w ife 1 62, 2 55

o f

E thilheard, 3 5, 3 9-41, 4 8, 5 6,

F rithuswith ( Frideswide),

s aint, 7 1,

F rithuwald,

21 2

1 33-136,

2 12,

F roda , a bbot o f M uchelney, F rome,

1 00-105,

15, 1

G arsdon ,

1 38-139,

27 2

1 99, 2 04-205, 2 07

1 27

F roxfield, H ampshire , 6 2, F roxfield, W iltshire,

1 08,

7 0-71,

1 50

1 44

1 06

G ebmund, b ishop o f R ochester, 3 02 G ebred, 3 01 G eraint, k ing o f t he C ornish, 6 5, 2 45-246, 2 50-253 G inge,

1 78-179,

G lastonbury, G oosey,

1 86-187,

1 -78,

1 86-187,

1 01,

12-113, 1

16, 2 05-208, 2 22, 2 43, 2 62 1

1 91-192

G reat B edwyn , 6 1-62, G rittleton,

1 91-192

1 82

1 06

G uba , a bbot o f G lastonbury, 7 , 7 4 G uda , a bbot,

1 33

G uthlac, a bbot o f G lastonbury, 8 , 7 6

H adrian , a bbot, H eecci,

2 1, 3 02

3 02

H eeddi, b ishop o f W inchester, 1 1-15, 1 7-24, 4 8, 8 5-86, 9 0, 9 5-99, 1 09-111, 1 14, 1 33, 1 75-176, 1 99-200, 2 22, 2 32, 3 07

3 45

1 05,

H aeha , a bbot o f B radfield,

1 08,

1 69-177,

1 95-196

H aelric, 3 02 H aemgils, a bbot o f G lastonbury, 8 -26, 4 5-48, 6 5-66, 9 0 , 9 5, 9 7, 2 03 H agona, a bbot,

1 08 ,

1 32, 2 94, 3 01, 3 07

H alstock, 2 39, 2 45, 2 48 H am ,

2 02-203

R amp , 2 63-264 H astings, 2 70, H eadda ,

2 72

b ishop o f L ichfield, 3 0-31, 3 3, 2 22, 3 07

H eadda, a bbot o f M edeshamstede, 3 00, 3 02 H eadda , 8 6 H eahberht, 2 71, 2 76 H eahfrith , a bbot o f G lastonbury, 7 , 6 9-70 H eahfrith, 6 0, 2 07 H eahnoth , 2 76 H eordberht, b rother o f iTthilbald, 4 3,

1 24

H eathored, b ishop o f W orcester, 8 2-83,

1 21-122,

H elmstan, b ishop o f W inchester,

1 31

1 58

H elmwulf, 3 02 H emele, 5 9-60,

1 79-183, 2 07, 2 71

H enegar, 2 45-246, H ereberht,

2 50

2 78, 2 87

H ereca, a bbot,

1 20,

1 24

H erefrith , b ishop o f W inchester , H erefrith , W est S axon l ayman, H erewald, b ishop o f S herborne, 2 34, 2 61 H iddi,

1 46,

1 54

2 55 2 5, 4 3 , 4 5, 6 0,

p riest, 8 6

3 46

1 20,

1 24, 2 07,

24-225, 2

H ighclere,

H inksey,

1 40-143,

1 62

1 91-192

H istomann ,

1 46,

1 50

H lothere, k ing o f K ent,

1 34

H olborough, 2 87-288 H olcombe R ogus,

2 50

H oo, 3 00, 3 03-305 H ooc, p riest, 3 07 H orton ,

7 5, 2 38

H oundsborough, 7 4 H raethhun, b ishop o f L eicester,

1 85-186,

1 90 ,

1 94,

1 96

H uduc, 3 02 ' Hugg ', H un,

2 40-241

1 46,

1 50,

1 54

H unfrith , b ishop o f W inchester, 4 0,

1 41

H untspill, 7 6 H urstbourne,

1 82-183,

H urstbourne P riors, H urstbourne T arrant, H withyse,

1 94

1 95 1 82,

1 84,

1 95

2 71

H ygeberht, a rchbishop o f L ichfield, 5 4,

1 31

I aenberht, a rchbishop o f C anterbury, 2 70 I ddi ,

1 69-170,

I lminster,

2 01,

1 95 2 04-206

I ne, k ing o f t he W est S axons, 4 , 6 -7, 2 3-34, 3 6-40, 4 5, 4 7-48, 5 1-52, 6 8-70, 9 0-91, 1 01, 1 04-117, 1 27, 1 35, 1 37-138, 1 48, 1 62-163, 1 681 70, 1 72-178, 1 95-196, 1 99-207, 2 22, 2 33, 2 35-236, 2 45-246, 2 502 51, 2 53, 2 94-295, 2 97-299

3 47

' Inesuutrin ', 6 4 I sheard, 3 02 I sle A bbots, 2 01, 2 07 I slip, 2 13-216 J aruman, b ishop,

1 69

' Jececig ', 7 1

K elly i n E gloshayle, 2 50 K emble, 9 5, 9 8-100, K ennington ,

1 37

1 91-192

K ilkhampton , 2 45-246, 2 50 K ingston , 2 9,

1 57-159, 2 86

K nütr, k ing o f E ngland, 4 , 5 1, 2 43

L aurence , a rchbishop o f C anterbury, 2 40-241 L awhitton , 2 44 , L eckhamstead,

2 50

1 86-187,

L eigh i n S treet, L eo I II ,

1 91-192

1 8-19, 2 2

p ope, 6 , 5 3-55,

L euthere , b ishop,

1 3,

1 01-102,

2 1, 8 5-87,

1 04, 1 26,

L idsey, 2 95-296 L ittle B edwyn, 5 9-62, L ittleton D rew , L ondon ,

1 43-144

1 06

1 35-136

L ong N ewnton, 9 2 L ongworth ,

1 86

L ottisham , 4 4-45 L ulla ( 801),

5 8,

1 81,

1 83-184

3 48

1 90 23, 2 30-232 2

L ulla ( post-839),

2 76

L ulle, n un, 3 8 , 4 1-44, 4 6-47, 5 1-52, 5 6 L ulling, M ercian l ayman, L ulling ,

1 32,

1 81

2 71

L ydford, 4 4-45 L yme , 2 39-240, L yminge ,

M aker,

2 42-243

2 76, 2 78-279

2 45-246, 2 50, 2 52

M almesbury , 2 6 , 3 8 , 4 3, 4 8, 7 9-127, 1 37, 2 22 M archam ,

1 94-195

M ärchey, 3 6 M artyr W orthy,

1 53, 1 56

M auuron , b ishop, 6 4 M eare,

1 8-20, 2 2-23

M eildulf ( Maildub, M eldum), 8 2-83,

1 01,

1 26

M endip, 6 8 , 2 50 M erchelm ,

1 35

' Mertone ', 7 5 M iddlezoy, 3 8-39 M ildenhall, 5 9, 6 2, 7 2-73,

1 43-144

M ildred, b ishop o f W orcester, M onnede ,

1 46,

1 24, 2 24-225

1 52-154, 2 84

M ontacute, 6 7 M oredon ,

1 20

M uca , a bbot o f G lastonbury, 8 -9, 5 8, 7 0 M uchelney, 3 7, M uch W enlock ,

1 35,

1 97-208 , 2 61-262

1 35

3 49

' Muleburna ',

1 62-163

M undham , 2 95

N able's F arm , 9 5 N etherbury , 2 45, 2 48 N ether C ompton , 2 45, 2 48 N ewton , 2 57-258 N orth S toke, 2 26-227 N orth W ootton, 3 2, 7 4 N orton , 1 86 N othgyth ,

1 35, 2 92-297

N othelm , k ing o f t he S outh S axons,

1 35, 2 92-297

N unna , s ee N othhelm

O akley , 1 49, O ba, 4 3,

1 86

1 76

O borne, 2 43, 2 45, 2 48 edilred,

1 33-136

O ffa , k ing o f t he M ercians, 4 6-47, 5 3-55, 7 6, 8 8, 9 1, 1 09, 1 27, 1 35, 1 51, 1 90, 1 96, 2 19-220 , 2 23, 2 25-227, 2 45-246, 2 56, 2 67-273, 2 92-293, 2 98 O ftfor, b ishop, 3 0 ' Ora ', 6 9 O sborne, 2 39 O shelm ,

1 05

O shere , r uler o f t he H wicce, 3 0 , 8 9, 2 19-220 O shere, 2 76, 2 85 O slac, d ux o f t he S outh S axons, 4 6, 8 8, 2 70 O smod, 1 94, 2 76, 2 85

3 50

1 21-123, 2 50-251,

O smund,

S outh S axon l ayman,

2 70

O smund, 5 8 O sred, k ing o f t he N orthumbrians, O sric, k ing o f t he H wicce,

1 09-110

2 18-223,

2 32

O swald, b ishop o f S elsey , 2 67-272, 2 92 O swald,

a etheling o f t he H wicce,

22 2

O swald, S outh S axon l ayman, 2 70 O thery ,

3 9

O ver C ompton, 2 39,

2 45, 2 48

P aeogthath , 3 0-31 P aschal,

p apal n otary, 5 3

P atrick ,

s aint, 6 ,

6 1-12, 2

P awton , 2 44, 2 50 P eterborough , 3 00-305, 3 08 P ilton , 6 9 ' Poholt ', 3 1-32, 4 0-41, 7 2 P olden H ills, 4 1 P otterne, 2 45-246, 2 50-251 P oughley,

1 91-192

P owerstock , 2 46 P riddy,

2 45-246

P rivett, 1 50 P robus, 2 51 ' Punningstoce ', P urton, 9 9, P utta,

1 86

1 21-123

b ishop, 2 13

P uttock ,

17,

1 38,

2 55

3 51

Q uantock W ood,

1 7

R adstock, 2 60 R ochester, 2 81-288 R odbourne,

1 06-107

R odbourne ( Cheney),

1 06,

1 20

' Romanus ', a bbot, 2 40-241 R ome ,

1 04,

1 37,

1 39, 2 55, 2 97

R oseland, 2 45-246,

2 50

S t. A ugustine's, 2 31, 2 89 S alisbury, 9 9,

2 38-239

S cilling, 5 9-60 , 2 07, 2 34 ' Scirdun ', 2 90 ' Scobbanwirht', 4 4 S eaxwulf,

b ishop o f L ichfield, 9 1, 2 22, 3 00, 3 02

S ebbi, k ing o f t he E ast S axons, 3 02-303 S elred,

1 76

S elsey,

1 37,

1 41, 1 63, 2 66-267, 2 91-292,

2 96

S erdhere, 2 3 S ergius I , p ope, 8 1, S haftesbury, S halfleet,

1 00-105,

1 51, 2 14 ,

1 57,

1 26

28-236 2

1 60,

1 62-163

1 39,

1 41, 2 37-253, 2 57, 2 59-261

S hapwick, 4 1 S herborne, S hrivenham ,

14 , 1

1 91-192

S igesteb, 2 85 S igiberht, k ing o f t he W est S axons, 4 5, 7 2, 1 26, 2 45-246,

3 52

2 51-252

S igihere, k ing o f t he E ast S axons,

3 01, 3 03

S igihere, 3 02 S igheah, b ishop o f L ondon , 2 70 S nocca ,

1 33, 3 01

S nod1and,

2 87-288

S omerford K eynes, 9 4, 9 8 S omerton , 4 2, 4 7 S peen ,

1 91-192

S talbridge , 2 39, 2 45, 2 48 S talbridge W eston,

2 39

S tartley, 9 5 S tithberht,

2 71

S toke A bbot, 2 39 S treatley,

1 70,

1 72,

1 95

S tronglic, 1 76 S ulce, n un, 7 3 S unningwell,

1 86-187,

1 91-192

S w2efheard, 3 01-304 S waefred, k ing o f t he E ast S axons, 3 0-31 S withun , b ishop o f W inchester,

T aunton, 3 9,

1 36,

1 58-159

1 38-140, 1 62

T awstock , 2 45,

2 48

T avistock , 2 45, 2 48 T eoda,

1 33, 3 01-302

T etbury, 9 1-92, 9 8,

1 22-123

T ette, a bbess o f T etbury, 9 1

3 53

T heodore, a rchbishop 2 32, 3 01

o f C anterbury,

1 3, 2 1, 9 1,

1 69,

1 99,

2 13,

T hornford, 2 39 ' Thruhham ',

1 40-143,

1 62-163

T ida, 4 2 T idbald, a bbot, 3 07-308 T idberht , p riest, 4 2 T isbury , 2 29-230, 2 33, 2 36 T ockenham ,

18, 1

1 25

T orthelm , b ishop o f L eicester, 2 24-225 ' Trindl2eh l , 1 91-192 T unberht, a bbot o f G lastonbury, 7 -9, 3 8, 4 2-43, 4 8, 7 1, 1 17, 1 38 T unberht, b ishop o f W inchester, 6 7 T yccea , a bbot o f G lastonbury, 7 -9, 7 2, T yrctil, b ishop o f H ereford, 3 0-31,

2 13, 3 07

U htred, s ub-king o f t he H wicce , 8 8 U mming, 3 7, 2 05 U nwona , b ishop o f L eicester,

1 32

' Ure ', 7 1 U rta, p riest, 4 2 ' Usibucus l , 1 99

' Vibald ',

1 32, 1 81

W alenburh , 2 34 W alton , 4 1 W arehorne,

1 24

2 74

W ashingham , 3 08

3 54

2 23,

W atchfield,

1 78-179,

1 91-192

W att, k ing o f t he S outh S axons, 2 94 W ealdhere ,

b ishop o f L ondon , 3 0-31, 1 10, 3 07-308

W ealdhere, M ercian l ayman , 3 02 W ealdhere , 3 7, 2 05 W ealdhun , a bbot o f G lastonbury, 8 -9, 7 4 W ealhstod,

b ishop o f H ereford, 8 -9,

1 78

W ealhstod, p riest, 4 2 W ecca , m onk , 3 07-308 W edmore , 6 7 W edr, a bbot,

1 08

W ehhelm ,

1 46, 1 54

W elford,

1 91-192

W ellington , 2 44 W ellow , 2 44-246, 2 50 , 2 52, 2 59-261 W ells, 3 6-37,

2 38, 2 44 ,

2 52,

2 59-261

W eohstan, 1 84 W est B uckland, 2 44 W ester g ate , W est M eon,

2 95-296 1 50

W estminster, 3 06-308 W est M onkton,

1 7, 3 1

W estonzoyland, 3 9 W est P ennard, W hippingham , W hitcombe, W ickham ,

1 4 1 62-163

2 45-246

1 91-192

W igberht, b ishop o f S herborne, 5 8,

1 84,

3 55

1 88

W igfrith , 5 8-60, W igheard,

1 22, 1 80-181,

1 84,

1 94, 2 07, 2 63-264

1 35, 2 10-218, 2 20, 2 33

W igthegn , b ishop o f W inchester, W ihtred, k ing o f K ent,

1 07,

1 43,

1 46, 1 49, 1 52,

1 54, 2 84

13, 2 67, 3 01-304

W ilfrid, b ishop o f Y ork , 3 1, 6 7-68, 9 2-93, 1 03, 1 14, 1 33 , 2 22, 2 91, 2 96, 3 07 W ilgar, a bbot, W ilton ,

1 36-137,

1 08

1 59

W inchcombe, 5 2-55,

1 88

W inchelin , 3 7 • W inchester , 7 , 1 14, 1 20 , 1 28-164, 1 94, 2 35 W ingbald, s ee V ibald

-

W intra , a bbot o f T isbury, 1 08, 1 75-176, 2 29 W iohtbrord, 5 8 , 1 84 W ithiel F lorey, 1 39-140 W itta , a bbot, 1 08 W oolland, 2 34-236 W ootton, 1 91-192 W ootton B assett, 8 9-90 , 1 18 W ootton R ivers, 6 2,

1 43

W orcester, 2 20 , 2 23, 2 26-227, 2 67 W orgret, a bbot o f G lastonbury, 6 4 W orr , b ishop , s ee E aldwine W orr,

1 81, 1 84

W orthy, 1 50,

1 62

W udda, 9 6,

1 33, 3 12

W ulfheard,

1 46, 1 48-150, 1 52-154, 1 61, 1 63, 1 94 , 2 76, 2 85, 2 87

W ulfhere, k ing o f t he M ercians,

2 11-212, 2 22, 2 40-241

3 56

1 64,

W ulflaf, a bbot,

1 94

W ulfred, a rchbishop o f C anterbury, 8 3 , W ynberht , a bbot o f N ursling ,

1 69,

2 19

1 62-163

Y etminster, 2 45, 2 48 Y nta, 6 0,

1 85, 2 20, 2 74 , 2 83-284

1 3, 8 6, 9 5-96, 9 8 ,

W ynfrith , b ishop o f L ichfield,

Y averland,

1 54,

1 20

3 57

1 05,

1 73, 2 31, 3 07