| Description | From: Ethelbert, king of the West Saxons and Kent
To: Ethelred, thane ('minister') and prince ('princeps')
9 [changed from 8] ploughlands in Mersham, lying with the River Stour to south and west, as far as 'blacanrithe' and Eadweald's book-land ('bocland') at Brabourne ('bradeburnan') to norh and east. Also ½ a ploughland lying with the River Stour to east, which lies as far as the border of Garulf, the king's thane, at Mersham, a saltpan or 'sealternsteall' [Seasalter in Whitstable] with the cottage ('cota') belonging to it in a place called Harwich in Whitstable, 4 carts of the king's wood as specified, pastures for pigs, called 'denbera' in the saxon tongue, at Huson [in Tenterden], Haffenden [in High Halden], 'herbedingdenn' [possibly 'Bardinden' (lost) in Bethersden], 'pafingdenn' [possibly Engeham in Woodchurch], 'widefingdenn' [possibly Witherden in Headcorn] and Bletchenden [in Headcorn]. 40 weys ('statera') of cheese of 'mersce' are to be rendered at Mersham, also 40 lambs and 40 sheep's fleeces . Witnessed by Ethelbearht the king; Ethe[l]red the ealdorman ('dux'); Ethe[l]red the king's son; Dryhtweald the ealdorman ('dux'); Mucel the thane ('minister'); Heahmund and Heremod the priests ('presbiter'); Garulf, Eastmund, Wulfred, Wigstan, Ecgferth, Ealdred, Sigenoth, Elfstan, Wighelm and Piahtred, thanes ('minister'); Ciolnoth, archbishop of Canterbury; Deimund and Biarnulf, priest-abbots ('presbiter abbas'); Ethelweard, Nothheard, Osmund, Iab, Wighelm and Tida, priests ('presbiter'); Biarnheah and Osulf, archdeacons; Ealhstan (untitled); Sigefreth, archdeacon; Diarweald and Sefreth, subdeacons; and Osmund, Dudda, Beagmund, Osweald, Lulla, Oba, Lulla, Hunfreth, Lulla, Eadulf, Osbearht, Wealdhelm, Ealdhere, Diara, Garulf, Elric, Dudda and Ethel[w]ulf, untitled . Endorsed (in Old English) by Eadwold, giving land at Willesborough to St Augustine's Abbey (c. 871?), and an entertainment ('refectio') of 2 days may be redeemed by 30 silver pennies ('argentius'). For this Ethelred has paid 400 mancuses of purest gold. Dated 863, no month.
Given at 'birenefeld' (unidentified).
Place names as identified in Wallenberg, cited below.
Witnesses: Ethelberht, king; Ethered, ealdorman ('dux'); Ethered, the king's son; Dryhtweald, ealdorman ('dux'); Mucel, thane ('minister'); Heahmund, priest ('presbyterium'); Heremod, priest ('presbyterium'); Garulf, thane ('minister'); Eastmund, thane ('minister'); Wulfred, thane ('minister'); Wigstan, thane ('minister'); Ecgreth, thane ('minister'); Ealdred, thane ('minister'); Sigentoh, thane ('minister'); Elfstan, thane ('minister'); Wighlem, thane ('minister'); Piahtred, thane ('minister'); Ceolnoth, archbishop of Canterbury; Deimund, priest abbot ('presbyter abbas'); Biarnulf, priest abbot ('presbyter abbas'); Ethelweald, priest ('presbyter'); Notheard, priest ('presbyter'); Osmund, priest ('presbyter'); Iab, priest ('presbyter'); Wighelm, priest ('presbyter'); Tida, priest ('presbyter'); Biarnheah, priest ('presbyter'); Osulf, priest ('presbyter'); Ealhstan, priest ('presbyter'); Sigefreth, archdeacon ('archidiaconus'); Diarweald, subdeacon ('subdiaconus'); Sefreth, subdeacon ('subdiaconus'); Osmund; Dudda; Beagmund; Osweald; Lulla; Oba; Lulla; Hunfreth; Lulla; Eadulf; Osbearht; Wealdhelm; Ealdhere; Diara; Garulf; Elric; Dudda
At the end of the witness list is a grant from Eadwald to St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury ('augustines higum'), of land at Willesborough for their table ('beode'). The grant is made for the benefit of Eadwald's soul.
Endorsed with description and note that the document is in Latin in 12th cent hands and 'merseham' in early medieval hand. |