A.D. 781 = 780 (Tamworth, Staffs., 26 Dec.). Offa, king of Mercia, to the church of St Peter, Worcester; grant of privileges for 12 hides (manentes) at Hampton Lucy, Warwicks., and 5 at Fæhha leage, leased by Bishop Heathored and the community of Worcester to Eanburh, abbess, Offa's kinswoman, for life. Latin

Archive:

Worcester

MSS:

1. Lost original
2. London, British Library, Cotton Tiberius A. XIII, ff. 1-118, ff. 103v-104r (s. xi 1)
3. London, British Library, Cotton Tiberius A. XIII, ff. 119-200, f. 174r-v (s. xi 2)
4. London, British Library, Cotton Vitellius C. IX, f. 129r (s. xvii; incomplete; from lost original)

Printed:

Hearne, Heming, pp. 219-21, 385-87, ex MSS 2, 3; Hearne, Heming, p. 554, ex MS 4; K, 141, ex MSS 2, 3; B, 239, ex K and MSS 2, 3

Comments:

Stenton 1955, p. 74 n. 1, cited; Davies 1972, p. 469, spurious elements; Finberg 1972, p. 414, cited; Hart, ECNE, no. 48, p. 81, authentic, Eanburh perhaps abbess of Bath; Fæhha leage is the Fachanlea of S 1310 and the Faccanlea of S 1318, located in the vicinity of Teddington; Gelling 1978, p. 14, on Fæhha leage; Scharer 1982, pp. 251-2, not genuine in present form; Sims-Williams 1990, pp. 139 n. 110, 163-4, on date, background, Eanburh's house may have been at Hampton Lucy; Whybra 1990, p. 42; Hooke 1999, p. 23

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    Old Text

    • Hamtun 7 Fehha leah. + In nomine domini nostri Jhesu Christi . Ego Offa Dei dono rex Merciorum dignum duxi ut aliquid quamvis minus dignum pro absolutione animæ meæ ex perceptione terrigenis regni ad utilitatem ecclesiasticæ libertatis tribuerer . Idcirco terram . xvii . manentium . Hoc est in Homtune . xii . in Fæhha leage quinque quam videlicet terram Ha∂oredus humilis episcopus . omnisque congregatio simul cum eo in Uuegernensium . dederunt propinquæ meæ Eanburgæ . abbatissæ . tempore dierum illis possidendam . Ego quoque augere curabo sicut dixi pro remedio animæ meæ et pro spe supernæ remunerationis in sede regali sedens die secundo n[a]t[ivitatis] domini . id est . eo die quo primicerii martyrum beati Stephani nativitas celebratur ; In Tamouuor∂ie . Consentientibus mecum . episcopis . atque principibus meis quorum infra signa et nomina pro firmitatis stabilimento litteris notabo . privilegium libertatis ecclesiasticæ terræ illius libenter subscribens perdonabo . ut sit omni tributo regalium operationum refectionumque in perpetuum libera . tantum ut Deo omnipotenti et ecclesiæ sancti Petri quæ sita est in Uuegerna civitate sit subjecta . + Ego . Offa Christo concedente rex privilegium libertatis præscripti telluris manu propria pro confirmatione signo sanctæ crucis munio . + Ego . Cyneˇry∂ Deo donante regina . Merciorum consensi et subscripsi . + Ego . Eadberhtus . episcopus . consensi et subscripsi . + Ego . Hygeberhtus episcopus . consensi et subscripsi . + Ego . Haˇoredus . episcopus . consentiens subscripsi . + Signum . manus Brondani . principis . + Signum . manus Berhtuualdi . principis . + Signum . manus Eadbaldi . principis . Conscripta est hæc cartula libertatis et testimonium privilegionis anno ab incarnatione Christi . dcclxxxi . indictione quarta die natali sancti Stephani martyris .