S 111
A.D. 774. Offa, king of the English, to Jænberht, archbishop; grant of 3 sulungs (aratra) at Lydd, Kent. Latin with bounds.
Archive: Canterbury, Christ Church
MSS: 1. BL Stowe Ch. 4 (s. x2; OS Facs., iii. 4)
2. Canterbury, D. & C., Reg. A, 138r (s. xiii)
3. Canterbury, D. & C., Reg. E, 40r (s. xiii)
4. BL Add. 4548, 41r-43r (s. xviii)
5. BL Stowe 853, 6rv (s. xvii)
6. London, Lambeth Palace, 1212, p. 401 (s. xiii)
7. Bodleian, Tanner 223, 11v (s. xvi)
Printed: Twysden, X Scriptores, col. 2213 ex MS 8; K 122 ex MSS 2, 3, 6; B 214 ex K and MSS 1, 6; B 215 ex MS 11; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 1, no. 59; Fleming 1997, p. 119 (no. 8) ex MS 10.
Comments: Stenton 1918, p. 446 and n. 64, original, discusses royal style (= Stenton 1970, p. 60 and n. 6); Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 55-6, on place-names; Ward 1943, p. 24; Wright 1950, p. 389, MS 1 in a hand of c. 1000; Stenton 1971, p. 207, cited; Vollrath-Reichelt 1971, p. 172; Sawyer 1978, p. 101, MS 1 10th-century; Scharer 1982, pp. 228-31, spurious; Wormald 1983, p. 110, suspect but probably not complete fabrication, discusses royal style; Brooks 1984, pp. 112, 114, 320, later forgery but bounds and witness-list probably from an early document, MS 1 s. x2 or x/xi; Brooks 1988, pp. 95, 98-100, on topography, forger used 8th-century charter; Fleming 1997, p. 94, comment on short version.
Endorsements:
(1) To Hlidum
(2) Offa Rex dedit Ianberto archiepiscopo et ecclesiæ Christi terram trium aratrorum on hlidum
(3) Lyden in marisco de Romenal
+ In nomine Jhesu salvatoris mundi qui est et qui erat et qui venturus est . per quem reges regunt et dividunt regna terrarum . Sicut dispensator universæ terræ mihi distribuit sæcundum mensuram suæ propriæ voluntatis ita ejusdem gratia concedente . Ego Offa rex totius Anglorum patriæ dabo et concedo Iaenberto archiepiscopo ad æcclesiam Christi aliquam partem terræ trium aratrorum . quod Cantianice dicitur threora sulunga in occidentali parte regionis quæ dicitur Merscuuare . ubi nominatur ad Hlidum .
Et huius terræ sunt hæc territoria . mare in oriente et aquilone . et ab austro terra regis aduui . ubi nominant denge mersc usque in lapidem adpositum in ultimo terræ . et in occidente et aquilone confinia regis ad bleccing .
Et hoc prædictum donum in perpetuum largitum qui averterit a possessione æcclesiæ Christi avertat a se Christus misericordiam suam . manente hac cartula nihilominus in sua firmitate . Ad cujus cumulum firmitatis signum sanctæ crucis Christi anno dominicæ incarnationis . dcclxx moiiii . inpressimus cum sacerdotibus et senioribus populi more testium subscribendo .
+ Signum manus Offæ regis suprascripta confirmantis .
+ Signum manus Iaenberhti archiepiscopi .
+ Signum manus Cynethrythe reginæ .
+ Signum manus Eadberhti episcopi .
+ Signum manus Aldberhti abbatis .
+ Signum manus Brordan principis .
+ Signum manus Berhtuuoldi principis .
+ Signum manus Eadbaldi ducis .
+ Signum manus Brordan prefecti .
+ Signum manus Folcberhti abbatis .
+ Signum manus Uuigheardi .
+ Signum manus Byrhthuni episcopi .
+ Signum manus Ceolulfi episcopi .
+ Signum manus Botuuini abbatis .
+ Signum manus Atheluuoldi abbatis .
+ Signum manus Aldberhti abbatis .
+ Signum manus Esni .
+ Signum manus Eadberhti .
+ Signum manus Boban .
+ Signum manus Badohardi .
+ Signum manus Cian .
+ Signum manus Hearedi .
+ Signum manus Suithhuni .
Lide.
Anno dominicæ Incarnationis . dcclxxiiii .
Ego Offa Rex concedo partem terræ in marisco . ubi dicitur Hlide . ad opus familiæ Christi id est monachorum . qui in ecclesia Christi quæ sita est in Dorobernia civitate Jamberto archiepiscopo ejusdem civitatis rogante pro salute animæ meæ liberam ab omni seculari servicio . et fiscali tributo . exceptis expedicione . arcis constructione et pontis . Siquis huic donacioni nostræ contradixerit ; perpetuo anathemate subjaceat .