Biography of King Sigered of Essex -825

Charter S165. 811. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the eternal reign of the same God and our Lord Jesus Christ. I, Coenwulf, by the grace of God, King of the Mercians, grant to the venerable man, Bishop Beornmod, land of my domain, that is, about three plowlands, on the southern side of the city called Rochester, so that he may have and possess it, and I grant him the right to transfer it to whomever he wishes, either during his lifetime or after his death, for eternity.

The boundaries of this land are well known: to the east, the public road; to the south, Wuldaham; to the west, the river Medway; to the north, Mearateag. If anyone attempts to infringe upon or diminish this donation, let them know that they will have to answer before the tribunal of the eternal judge unless they first make amends to God and man.

And let the aforementioned land be free from all royal and secular services. Additionally, I grant the rights to the commons at Otanhyrst, Fraecinghyrst, Sceorfesstede, Crangabyras, Wihtherincfaladsto, and Haeseldaen.

In nomine domini nostri Iesu Christi . Regnante in perpetuum eodem deo et domino nostro Iesu Christo . Ego Coenwulf gratia dei rex Merciorum . Uiro uenerabili Beornmodo episcopo . Trado terram iuris mei id est quasi tria aratra . ad meridianam plagam ciuitatis quae dicitur . Hrofescester [Map] . Ut habeat et possideat et cuicumque uoluerit illo uiuente seu moriente æternaliter tradendam concedo . Sunt autem huius telluris termini notissimi ab oriente uia puplica a meridiae Uuldaham . ab occidente flubius Meduwege ab aquilone Mearateag, Siquis hanc donationem meam infringere aut minuere temptauerit sciat se rationem redditurum ante tribunal aeterni iudicis nisi prius deo et hominibus digne emendauerit . Et praedicta terra sit libera ab omni regali et saeculari seruitio . Adiectis denberis in commune saltu . Otanhyrst . et Fraecinghyrst . Sceorfesstede . Crangabyras . Wihtherincfaladsto . et Haeseldaen .

Ego Coenwulf rex Merciorum hanc donationem meam signo sancte crucis Christi confirmaui .

Ego Wulfred archiepiscopus consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Deneberht episcopus consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Aeðelwulf episcopus consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Sigered rex consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Aelbðryð regina consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Heardberht dux consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Beornmod episcopus consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Beornnoð dux consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Cynehelm dux consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Eadberht dux consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Cyneberht propinquo regis consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Coenwald propinquo regis consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Quoenðryð filia regis consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Eanberht dux consensi et subscripsi .

Ego Aeðelheah consensi et subscripsi .

Scripta est autem haec kartula anno dominicae incarnationis . dccc axi a . indictione . iiii a . His testibus consentientibus et subscribentibus .

A.D. 811. Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Beornmod, bishop; grant of 3 sulungs (aratra) to the south of Rochester [Map] (at Borstal), Kent, with appurtenant swine-pastures in the Weald. Latin with bounds.

Archive: Rochester

MSS: 1. BL Cotton Ch. viii. 31 (s. ix1; BM Facs., ii. 10)

Note 2. London, Soc. Ant., 175, 186r (s. xviii)

Note 3. Maidstone, Kent Archives Office, DRc/R1 (Textus Roffensis), 136v-137r (s. xii1; facsimile)

Note 4. Maidstone, Kent Archives Office (Liber Temporalium), 4r (s. xiv)

Printed: Hearne, Textus Roffensis, pp. 96-7; Thorpe, Reg. Roff., pp. 21-2; K 198; B 339; Campbell, Rochester, no. 17.

Comments: Bond 1878, p. 7, MS 1 a later imitation; Stevenson 1914, p. 697 n. 41, contemporary; Wallenberg, KPN, pp. 121-4, on place-names; Stenton 1970, p. 131 n. 2, contemporary; Campbell, Rochester, p. xiv, later than 811 but not significantly so, rather suspicious in form, p. xvi, refers to Borstal (cf. endorsement), p. xxiii, authentic; Witney 1976, pp. 235-6, on swine-pastures; Dumville 1987, p. 11.

Notes: Written in stages by two co-operating scribes, the first responsible for the main text and witness-list, the second for alterations, the addition of the names of swine-pastures and the dating clause.A.D. 811. Coenwulf, king of Mercia, to Beornmod, bishop; grant of 3 sulungs (aratra) to the south of Rochester (at Borstal), Kent, with appurtenant swine-pastures in the Weald. Latin with bounds.