S 11
c. A.D. 690. Swæfheard (Suabertus), king of Kent, to Æbba, abbess (of Minster-in-Thanet); grant of 2 sulungs (aratra) in Sturry and 3 at Bodsham, Kent. Latin.
Archive: Canterbury, St Augustine's
MSS: 1. Cambridge, Trinity Hall, 1, 49rv (s. xv)
2. BL Cotton Jul. D. ii, 102r (s. xiii)
3. PRO E 164/27, 77v (s. xiii)
Printed: Lewis 1736, p. 58, ex MS 1; K 15 ex MS 1; Hardwick, Elmham, pp. 234-5, ex MS 1; B 41 ex MS 1; Kelly, St Augustine's, no. 41, ex MSS 1, 2, 3.
Comments: Turner 1915, pp. xxxiv-vi, xxxviii-ix, authentic; Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 9-10, on place-names; Cox 1976, pp. 30, 42, on place-names; Whitelock 1976, p. 143, on witnesses and date; Scharer 1982, pp. 83-4, not entirely genuine in present form; Wormald 1985, p. 25, broadly trustworthy; Yorke 1985, pp. 21-2, on donor; Kelly, St Augustine's, pp. 147-9, essentially authentic.
In nomine saluatoris. Ego Suabertus rex Cantuariorum, miserationum Domini memor quas erga me exercuit, ideo ergo rectum iudicaui ut pro eterna salute anime mee atque meorum aliquid munusculum Domino impenderem, id est terram que sita est in Sturige .ii. aratrorum atque .iii. aratrorum in loco qui dicitur Botdesham monasteriali potestati atque regulariter uiuentibus subicerem. Quod hodierna die Domino auxiliante compleui dedique uenerabili abbatisse Eabbe ut ibi seruientium Deo preces protelentur atque pro uita mea sine defectu in conspectu Dei effundantur. Et ad confirmationem donationis istius signum sancte crucis expressi necnon et principes meos ut similiter facerent rogaui sicque fecerunt, ut si aliquis ausu nefarie temeritatis aliquid ex ea auferre uel minuere uoluerit, nouerit se alienatum a Deo in resurrectione iustorum.
+ Signum Suaberti regis.
+ Signum Gumberti.
+ Signum Æcci.
+ Ego Oswynus rex consensi et subscripsi.