S 222
A.D. 883 x 911. Æthelred, dux Merciorum, to Cuthulf, minister; renewal of the grant by King Burgred of 10 hides (manentes) at Marlcliff in Cleeve Prior, Worcs., the ancient landbook having been carried off by 'pagans' (Vikings); with a note that the beneficiary later granted the land to the church of Worcester. Latin with English bounds.
Archive: Worcester
MSS: BL Cotton Tib. A. xiii, 147rv (s. xi2)
Printed: Hearne, Heming, pp. 326-8; K 304 and vol. iii. 398-9; B 537; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 2, no. 38; Hooke 1990, p. 155, bounds only.
Comments: Grundy, Worcs. 1927, pp. 52-4, on bounds; PN Warwicks., p. 202 n. 1, on bounds; Robertson, Charters, p. 296, not completely reliable; Ker 1948, pp. 59, 67-8, untrustworthy; Drögereit 1952, p. 63 n. 23, doubtful; Stenton 1971, p. 259 n. 2, cannot be genuine in its present form, the inclusion of subscriptions of King Burgred and Queen Æthelswith has implications for Æthelred's status; Finberg, ECWM, no. 270, authentic basis, present text not a charter but a memorandum of the renewed grant, cf. no. 259; Keynes 1980, p. 32 n. 53; Hook 1990, pp. 155-8, on bounds, estate is in Cleeve Prior; Keynes 1993/2, p. 312 and n. 50, not genuine in received form but circumstantial details cannot be wholly invented.
De Mearnan clife .
Px In nomine domini nostri Jhesu Christi Athelred Deo adjuvante Merciorum dux hanc cartam Cuthulfo ministro regis pro illa terra Marnan clive id est . x . manentium fieri concessit quam terram Cered propinquus illius Cuthulfi cum mille siclis a Burhredo rege Merciorum adquisivit . ac post mortem suam suæ uxori Uuerthrythe ad optinendam donavit . Tunc ille Cuthulf a præfata muliere Romam cupienti pergere in presentia Uuerfrithi episcopi omniumque optimatum provinciæ Huuicciorum cum probabili pecunia comparavit . Sed ille Athelred præfata Uuerthrythe sub juramento affirmante supradictæ terræ libellum a paganis arreptum esse cum consensu omnium Merciorum senatorum alium scribere jussit . Ut ille Cuthul'f' illa terra ut sibi placeret perhenniter perfrueretur et cui donare vellet sine impedimento ullius personæ licentiam haberet . Ipse vero post modum divino provocatus instinctu . hanc eandem terram æcclesiæ Uuigrecestre pro salute et remedio aninaæ suæ donavit .
Ðis synd þa land gemæru æt mearnan clyfe . x . hida . þæt is þonne ærest of turf hlawan in þone holen weg . Of þam holan wege innon afene þæt hit . cymeþ wiþ ufan wearroces yge . 7 se mæd hom þær to . þæt swa up on þone lytlan hlauw . Of þam hlawe on þa mær dic . Of þære dic on bradan wege . Ondlang weges innan þæt sic . Ondlang þæs sices innon þone þyrs pyt . Of þæm pytte innan pidewællan . Of pidwælla[n] æfter 'þam' wege to þam uferan heafdan . þæt æfter heafdan æft in turf hlawen .
Et hic infra nomina testium conscripta liquescunt .
Ego Burhred rex Merciorum hanc libertatem præscriptam mea manu consensi et subscripsi .
Ego Ethelsuuyht regina consensi .
Ego Werefrið episcopus consensi .
Ego Æþelred dux consensi .
Ego Alhhelm dux .
Ego Eadnoð dux consensi .
Ego Ælfred dux .
Ego Uulfsige minister .
Ego Wifrið minister .