S 102

A.D. 716 x 717. Æthelbald, king of Mercia, to the church of Worcester; grant of land south of the river Salwarp, Worcs., at Lootwic and Coolbeorg, for the construction of salt works, in exchange for salt works north of the same river. Latin.

Archive: Worcester

MSS: BL Cotton Tib. A. xiii, 196v-197r (s. xi2)

Printed: Hearne, Heming, pp. 442-3; K 67; Thorpe, p. 15; B 137; Earle, pp. 19-20; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 1, no. 26.

Translated: Whitelock, EHD, no. 64 (p. 489).

Comments: HS, p. 280, genuine; Stenton 1913, p. 23 n. 1; Turner 1916, p. xxxii, citing Stevenson, genuine; Stenton 1918, p. 439 n. 31, probably genuine (= Stenton 1970, p. 53 n. 5); Forsberg 1950, pp. 155-6; Dyer and Clarke 1969, p. 28; Finberg, ECWM, no. 206, authentic; Cox 1976, pp. 19, 34, 38, 45, on place-names; Whitelock, EHD, p. 489, treats as authentic; Hooke 1981/1, pp. 135, 148, on salt industry; Scharer 1982, pp. 162-3, probably authentic; Wormald 1985, p. 25, broadly trustworthy; Hooke 1990, pp. 25-6, on estate; Sims-Williams 1990, p. 141 n. 122, genuine; Lapidge 1993, p. 292 n., has some claim to be genuine.

De Lotvvic et de Colhylle.

In nomine domini Jhesu .

Ego Æðilbald ex divina dispensatione Mercensium rex rogatus a sancta familia Christi consistenti in loco cui nomen est Wigranceastre aliquam agelli partem in qua sal confici solet ad meridianam plagam fluminis quod dicunt Saluuerpe , in loco qui dicitur Lootwic et Coolbeorg , ad construendos tres casulos et sex caminos , pro redemptione animæ meæ in voluntariam possidendi libertatem concedens donabo sex alios a supradicta Christi familia caminos in duobus casulis in quibus similiter sal conficitur vicarios accipiens ad aquilonalem videlicet partem fluminis memorati cui vocabulum est Saluuerpe . Hanc autem mutuam vicissitudinem idcirco fecisse nos constat , quia utrisque nobis magis aptum esse visum est .

Hanc autem libertatem ego Æðelbaldus . rex Merciorum . signo sanctæ crucis confirmabo .
Ego Eguuinus episcopus .
Ego Wilfridus dux .
Ego Æþeluuard dux .
Ego Stronglic dux .
Ego Sigberhtus minister .
Ego Eadberht minister .
Ego Oba minister .
Ego Eadwlf minister .