S 120
A.D. 781 = 780 (Tamworth, Staffs., 26 Dec.). Offa, king of Mercia, to the church of St Peter, Worcester; grant of privileges for 12 hides (manentes) at Hampton Lucy, Warwicks., and 5 at Fæhha leage, leased by Bishop Heathored and the community of Worcester to Eanburh, abbess, Offa's kinswoman, for life. Latin.
Archive: Worcester
MSS: 1. Lost original
2. BL Cotton Tib. A. xiii, 103v-104r (s. xi1)
3. BL Cotton Tib. A. xiii, 174rv (s. xi2)
4. BL Cotton Vitell. C. ix, 129r (s. xvii; incomplete; ex 1)
Printed: Hearne, Heming, pp. 219-21, 385-87 ex MSS 2, 3, p. 554 ex MS 4; K 141 ex MSS 2, 3; B 239 ex K and MSS 2, 3.
Comments: Stenton 1955, p. 74 n. 1, cited; Davies 1972, p. 469, spurious elements; Finberg 1972, p. 414, cited; Hart, ECNE, no. 48, authentic, Eanburh perhaps abbess of Bath, p. 81, Fæhha leage is the Fachanlea of S 1310 and the Faccanlea of S 1318, located in the vicinity of Teddington; Gelling 1978, p. 14, on Fæhha leage; Scharer 1982, pp. 251-2, not genuine in present form; Sims-Williams 1990, p. 139 n. 110, on date, pp. 163-4, on background, Eanburh's house may have been at Hampton Lucy.
Hamtun 7 Fehha leah.
+ In nomine domini nostri Jhesu Christi . Ego Offa Dei dono rex Merciorum dignum duxi ut aliquid quamvis minus dignum pro absolutione animæ meæ ex perceptione terrigenis regni ad utilitatem ecclesiasticæ libertatis tribuerer . Idcirco terram . xvii . manentium . Hoc est in Homtune . xii . in Fæhha leage quinque quam videlicet terram Haðoredus humilis episcopus . omnisque congregatio simul cum eo in Uuegernensium . dederunt propinquæ meæ Eanburgæ . abbatissæ . tempore dierum illis possidendam . Ego quoque augere curabo sicut dixi pro remedio animæ meæ et pro spe supernæ remunerationis in sede regali sedens die secundo n[a]t[ivitatis] domini . id est . eo die quo primicerii martyrum beati Stephani nativitas celebratur ; In Tamouuorðie . Consentientibus mecum . episcopis . atque principibus meis quorum infra signa et nomina pro firmitatis stabilimento litteris notabo . privilegium libertatis ecclesiasticæ terræ illius libenter subscribens perdonabo . ut sit omni tributo regalium operationum refectionumque in perpetuum libera . tantum ut Deo omnipotenti et ecclesiæ sancti Petri quæ sita est in Uuegerna civitate sit subjecta .
+ Ego . Offa Christo concedente rex privilegium libertatis præscripti telluris manu propria pro confirmatione signo sanctæ crucis munio .
+ Ego . Cyneþryð Deo donante regina . Merciorum consensi et subscripsi .
+ Ego . Eadberhtus . episcopus . consensi et subscripsi .
+ Ego . Hygeberhtus episcopus . consensi et subscripsi .
+ Ego . Haþoredus . episcopus . consentiens subscripsi .
+ Signum . manus Brondani . principis .
+ Signum . manus Berhtuualdi . principis .
+ Signum . manus Eadbaldi . principis .
Conscripta est hæc cartula libertatis et testimonium privilegionis anno ab incarnatione Christi . dcclxxxi . indictione quarta die natali sancti Stephani martyris .