| Description | From: [Ordlaf]
To: [Edward the Elder, king of England]
Æthelhelm Higa claimed 5 hides of land at Fonthill [Wiltshire] from Helmstan, after Helmstan stole Æthelred's belt. Helmstan asked the writer to intercede for him with King Alfred and the writer and others (named) were appointed to mediate in the dispute. Helmstan proved his right to the land with title deeds ('bocon'). Details of the previous history of the estate. The parties were reconciled at Old Wardour [Wiltshire] and Helmstan was allowed to give the oath. The writer promised to help Helmstan obtain justice if he gave him the land. Helmstan gave the oath and the suit was concluded. Subsequently he gave the land, with its title deeds, to the writer, who allowed him to hold the lands for life, provided he kept out of disgrace.
About 1½ or 2 years later, Helmstan stole some oxen at Fonthill and drove them to Chicklade [Wiltshire]. The reeve, Eanwulf son of Peneard, confiscated Helmstan's property for the king, because Helmstan was the king's man but Ealdorman Ordlaf retained his estate at Fonthill, because Helmstan only had it on loan. The king outlawed Helmstan but he appealed to him with a seal (a sealed certificate on an oath?) brought from King Alfred's tomb and the king quashed his outlawry and forfeiture but Ordlaf retained Fonthill. . Endorsed: Æthelhelm Higa withdrew his case when the king was at Warminster, in the presence of six named witnesses. The writer asks the king to confirm the proceedings which have given him his title to the lands. No date. [Date: handwriting.] Original no date [899x924]. [Date: Edward the Elder's dates. Balance of opinion summarised in the electronic Sawyer, cited below, suggests 910s or 920s.] [Names of writer and addressee supplied from Whitelock, cited below. This document is known as the Fonthill Letter.]
Endorsed with a note that Æthelhelm Higa withdrew from the suit when the king was at Wardour [Wiltshire], with names of witnesses to his withdrawal, in contemporary hand and note that the document is useless ('Inutile') in 12th cent hand. |