| Order Number | CCA-DCc/ChAnt/E/206 |
| Title | Grant (copy) |
| PreviousNumbers | Red Book 13 (20th c) |
| Date | [late 11th century] |
| 25 Mar 0937x24 Mar 0938 |
| Description | From: Æthelstan, king of the whole island of Britain
To: the minster ('monasterium') of Exeter
A messuage ('mansura') called at Topsham [Devon]. The land is to remain free from all taxes, except common labour. The grant is made for the king's soul. Anathema clause. Old English boundary clause. The boundary runs from 'toppesor' along the River Exe to 'nearan team pol', along the Exe and from the Exe to the small lake, from the lake along the Exe again and to the 'uferan team pol', along the Exe stream to the pool, from the pool along the old highway to 'dyran treowe', then south to 'wynford', along the stream to 'wyndeles cumb', to the pear tree ('tha pyrian'), then along the dike on the way, east along the way to the corner of the dike, along the dike to Clyst, and along the stream back to 'toppesor'. Also 1 yardland at 'æschyrste' which belongs to the hide at Topsham, of which the boundary runs from 'æschyrste' to 'æscwylles lace', along the highway, from the highway south until it reaches 'gyrdehritgces forda', from there along the stream to 'wungyfe fordan' then west along the highway to the head of 'æsc willes lace'. No date. [Date: handwriting.] Original dated 937.
Balance of opinion summarised in the Electronic Sawyer, cited below, is that this is a forgery.
Witnesses: Eadmund, Ætheling ('indolis clito'); Wulfhelm; Ælfheah; Æthelgar; Howel, 'regulus'; Wulgar, ealdorman ('dux'); Ælfhere, ealdorman ('dux'); Æhelstan, ealdorman ('dux'); Athelwold, thane (minister'); Ælfric, thane (minister'); Wulfsige, thane (minister'); Odda, thane (minister')
Endorsed 'toppeshammes boc' in late 11th cent hand, 'Reg' aethlstani de topesha' in 12th cent hand and 'Ethelstan de Topp'sham' and 'Topesham' in late 13th cent hands. |
| Extent | 1 doc |
| Physical Description | Parchment, 1m, slightly torn along a middle fold line, dirty |
| Language | Latin; Old English |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| Open |
| Copies | Digitised |
| Related Material | Another version: CCA-DCc-ChAnt/T/37
Other versions listed in the Electronic Sawyer, cited below |
| Publication Note | Calendared in S E Kelly (ed) The Electronic Sawyer (http://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/chartwww/eSawyer.99/
eSawyer2.html - consulted Jul 2004) as S433
Transcribed with translation and facsimile in Lieut-Gen J Cameron, with translations by W Basevi Sanders, Facsimiles of Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts, part i (Ordnance Survey, Southampton, 1878) as no 14
Transcribed in W De G Birch, Cartularium Saxonicum, vol ii (London, 1887), pp428-9, as no 721 .
Discussed in P Chaplais, The Authencitiy of the Royal Anglo-Saxon Diplomas of Exeter, Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research vol 39 (1966), p6
Noted in Historical Manuscripts Commission Fifth Report (London, 1876), Appendix, p456
Transcribed in J M Kemble, 'Codex Diplomaticus Aevi Saxonici', vol ii (London, 1840), pp204-5, as no 369 .
Discussed in P Chaplais, The Authencitiy of the Royal Anglo-Saxon Diplomas of Exeter, Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research vol 39 (1966), p6 .
Noted in Historical Manuscripts Commission Fifth Report (London, 1876), Appendix, p456 |