S 96

A.D. 757. Æthelbald, king of Mercia, to Eanberht, abbot; grant of 10 hides (cassati) near the wood called Toccan sceaga (Tockenham, Wilts.) and the tumulus called Reada beorg. Latin

Archive:

uncertain (possibly Malmesbury)

MSS:

1. London, British Library, Cotton Charters viii. 3 (s. viii 2; BM Facs., iv. 3; Ch.L.A., iii. no. 193)

Printed:

K, 100; B, 181; Earle, pp. 283-4, in part; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 1, no. 44

Comments:

BM Facs., iv, p. 7, 9th century; B, 181, suggests Toccan sceaga is Tickenhurst, Kent; Stenton 1913, p. 23 n. 1, accepted as Æthelbald's last charter; Stenton 1918, p. 443, treats as authentic and discusses witness-list, rejects Birch's identification (= Stenton 1970, pp. 57-8); Robinson 1921, p. 37, original; Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 41-3, suggests connection with Tockenham, Wilts.; Darlington 1955, p. 5 n. 24, accepts Wallenberg's suggestion; Watkin 1956, p. 229, cited, Eanberht cannot have been abbot of Malmesbury; Ch.L.A., iii, no. 193, copy written c. 800; Finberg, ECW, no. 189, authentic, agrees with Tockenham identification, Readabeorg is probably the tumulus on Waite Hill; John 1966, p. 52, on royal style; Stenton 1971, pp. 204, 287, cited; Vollrath-Reichelt 1971, pp. 140-5; Bischoff 1976, p. 692, MS 1 later copy; Whitelock, EHD, p. 19, cited; Scharer 1982, pp. 182-4, authentic; Wormald 1985, p. 25, original or early copy; Edwards 1988, pp. 124-6, citing T.J. Brown, could be original; Scharer 1988, pp. 57, 60, 61, on royal style; Sims-Williams 1990, pp. 225-8, charter is probably of Malmesbury provenance if not origin, discusses witness-list; Foot 1991, p. 175, on abbot Tica/Wiccea; Dumville 1992, p. 82, non-contemporary copy

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    • ... <d>ubitanter conuenit de his q...... <c>ommunicando tribuere . m....... ibus tanto plura cotidie ....os f....e ceter..... a Deo constat accepisse ... <Quapro>pter ego <Æthilbald> rex non solum Mercensium . sed etiam in circuitu populorum . quibus me diuina dispensatio sine meritorum suffragio preesse uoluit uenerabili seruo Dei Eanberhttae abbati agrum .x. cassatorum in dominium Christi ecclesiae pro redemptione animae meae . et pro expiatione facinorum meorum libenter concedens largior . Est autem terra illa iuxta siluam quam dicunt Toccan sceaga . habens in proximo tumulum qui habet nomen Reada beorg . quem etiam agrum cum siluis et prateis et omnibus ad eum pertinentibus commodis supra nominato seruo Dei . benigno animo concedo . Si quis uero hanc donationem uiolare temptauerit . sciat se in tremendo examine totius mundi Deo uniuersorum iudici terribiliter rationem redditurum. + Ego Æthilbald rex propriam donationem pro Christo factam signo sacratissimae crucis firmabo. + Ego Cynulf rex Uuest Saxsorum consensiens et subscribo + Manus Hereuualdi episcopi + Manus Milredi episcopi + Manus Cyneheardi episcopi + Manus Forthere + Manus Heardberhti + Manus Eadbaldi + Manus Eadan + Manus Uuadan + Manus Ealhmundi + Manus Cuutferthi + Manus Ecgfrithi + Manus Scillingis + Manus Æt\h/elricis + Manus Eoppan + Manus Uuigerthi + Manus Ealhferthi + Manus Ceardici + Manus . Tyccean abbatis + Manus Herecan . abbatis + Manus Cyneberhti . abbatis + Manus Begloci . bresbiteri + Manus . Ecggan . bresbiteri
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    Translation

    • Wherefore I, Æthelbald, king, not only of the Mercians but also of the neighbouring peoples over whom Divine dispensation wished me to rule without judgment on my merits, freely granting bestow on the servant of God, Abbot Eanberht, land of 10 hides, into the control of the church of Christ, for the salvation of my soul and for the atonement of my misdeeds. That land is near the wood they call Tockenham, having nearby the tumulus that has the name Rada beorg, which land I grant with beneficent intent also with woods and meadows and all benefits belonging to it to the above-mentioned servant of God. If anyone should attempt to harm this gift, let him know that he will fearfully render account in the terrible examination of the whole world by God, the Judge of all. + I, Æthelbald, king, will confirm my own gift made for Christ with the mark of the very sacred cross. + I, Cynewulf, king of the West Saxons, agreeing also subscribe + Hand of Herewald, bishop [of Sherborne] + Hand of Milred, bishop [of Worcester] + Hand of Cyneheard, bishop [of Winchester] + Hand of Forthhere + Hand of Heardberht + Hand of Eadbald + Hand of Eada + Hand of Wada + Hand of Ealhmund + Hand of Cuthfrith + Hand of Ecgfrith + Hand of Scilling + Hand of Æthelric + Hand of Eoppa + Hand of Wigfrith + Hand of Ealhfrith + Hand of Cerdic + Hand of Tycca, abbot + Hand of Hereca, abbot + Hand of Cyneberht, abbot + Hand of Bægloc, priest + Hand of Ecgga, priest
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    Old Text

    • Endorsement: Reada beorg . . . . . . [d]ubitanter conuenit de his q . . . . . . . . . . [c]ommunicando tribuere . m . . . . . . ibus tanto plura cotidie . . . . . . os f . . e ceter . . . a Deo constat accepisse . [Quapro]pter ego Æthilbald rex non solum Mercensium . sed etiam in circuitu populorum quibus me divina dispensatio sine meritorum suffragio præesse voluit venerabili servo Dei Eanberhttæ abbati agrum . x . cassatorum in dominium Christi æcclesiæ pro redemptione animæ meæ . et pro expiatione facinorum meorum libenter concedens largior . est autem terra illa juxta silvam quam dicunt Toccan sceaga . habens in proximo tumulum qui habet nomen Reada beorg . quem etiam agrum cum silvis et prateis et omnibus ad eum pertinentibus commodis supranominato servo Dei . benigno animo concedo , si quis vero hanc donationem violare temptaverit . sciat se in tremendo examine totius mundi Deo universorum judici terribiliter rationem redditurum . + Ego Æthilbald rex propriam donationem pro Christo factam signo sacratissimæ crucis firmabo . + Ego Cynulf rex Uuest Saxsorum consensiens et subscribo . + Manus Hereuualdi episcopi . + Manus Milredi episcopi . + Manus Cyneheardi episcopi . + Manus Forthere . + Manus Heardberhti . + Manus Eadbaldi . + Manus Eadan . + Manus Uuadan . + Manus Ealhmundi . + Manus Cuutferthi . + Manus Ecgfrith . + Manus Scillingis . + Manus Æt'h'elricis . + Manus Eoppan . + Manus Uuigferthi . + Manus Ealhferthi . + Manus Ceardici . + Manus . Tyccæan abbatis . + Manus Herecan . abbatis . + Manus Cyneberhti . abbatis . + Manus Bægloci . [a]bbatis . + Manus . Ecggan . [a]bbatis .