S 1184

A.D. 780 (Selsey). Oslac, dux of the South Saxons, to the church of St Paul; grant of land at Earnley, Sussex, and Tielæsora; with confirmation by Offa, king of Mercia, A.D. 787 x 796. Latin.

Archive: Selsey

MSS: 1. Chichester, West Sussex R.O., Cap. 1/17/2 (s. viii2; BA Facs., 2; Ch.L.A., iv, no. 236; Birch 1892; Heron-Allen 1911, plate 27; Making of England, p. 203 (no. 157), face only; Kelly, Selsey, pl. I, opp. p. 64)
2. Chichester, West Sussex R.O., Ep. VI/1/2 (Liber B), 18r (s. xiv)

Printed: Mon. Angl., iii. 116 ex MS 2; K 1012 ex MS 2; Mon. Angl. (rev. edn), vi. 1163 (no. 6); B 237 ex MS 2; B 1334 ex MS 1; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 3, no. 24; Barker 1947, p. 96-7 (no. 15) ex MS 1, with translation; Ancient Charters, Introduction ex MS 1, with translation; Rogers 1981, p. 258, in part; Kelly, Selsey, no. 11.

Translated: Whitelock, EHD, no. 76 (pp. 504-5); Heron-Allen 1911, pp. 119-20.

Comments: Gibbons 1860, p. 76, on ineffectual search for MS 1; Birch 1892, on MS 1 and its discovery; Parsons 1939, pp. 22-5, on endorsements; Barker 1947, pp. 97-8; Stenton 1955, pp. 37-8; Bruckner 1965, pp. 24, 27, 40, 42 n. 160, p. 45, on script etc.; John 1966, p. 25, cited; Ch.L.A., iv, pp. xvi, xvii, xviii, xxiii, on script etc., no. 236, contemporaneous, very probably original; Chaplais 1968, pp. 333-5, MS 1 original, written on leaf discarded from psalter (= 1973, pp. 85-6); Stenton 1970, p. 130, MS 1 original, discusses Offa's confirmation; Stenton 1971, p. 211; Bischoff 1976, pp. 692-3, on script; Sawyer 1978, p. 102, cited; Whitelock, EHD, p. 504, MS 1 contemporary; Rogers 1981; Scharer 1982, pp. 260-1; BA Facs., p. 3, MS 1 original; Making of England, pp. 202-3 (no. 157); Kelly, Selsey, pp. 48-53, MS 1 original.

A. Chichester, D.R.O., Cap. I/17/2: single sheet, parchment, s. viii2, half-uncial (main charter) and minuscule (confirmation), 153 x 217 mm., three horizontal and three vertical folds.
Endorsements:
(1) (s. viii2) Earnaleah et Tieles ora (inverted);
(2) (s. viii2) confirmation as printed below;
(3) Earneleah et Teles ora;
(4) Oslaci ducis Suthsaxonum;
(5) D D .

Regnant[e] in perpetuum Domino nostro Iesu Christo ac gubernante . Eg[o] Oslac dux Suthsaxorum aliquam terrE partem pro remedio animE meae uenerabile ecclesiE sancti Pauli apostoli libenter concede id est duo nominibus Earnaleach TiEles ora cum omnibus ad eum pertinentibus rebus campis siluis . Anno ab incarnatione Domini .dccl.xxx. factum est in loco que appellatur Siolesaei +

+ Ego Oslac hanc donationem propria manuml subscripsi .
+ Ego Gislhere episcopus consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Ealduulf consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Ælbuuald consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego UuErmund consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Beornnoð consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Uuerfrið consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Uuiohstan consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Beffa consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Bealðheard consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Aeðelmund consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Beornheard consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Beorhtnoð consensi et subscripsi

+ Sic et regalis omnis dignitas dicit Si quis uero hoc decretum irritum facere [t]err[an]ico [fre]tus [potentu] uiolenter [tempt]agerit nouerit se tremendo cunctorum examine coram Christo rationem redditurum et habere partem cum Iuda traditorem Domini nostri in inferno inferiore.

+ Ego Offa Deo donante rex Merciorum + hanc supradictam terram iuxta petitionem Uuehthuni episcopi Suðsaxorum conroborans subscribo ac dominicæ crucis inpræssione confirmabo
+ Ego Cyneðryð regina consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Egcfrið rex Merciorum consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Brorda prefectus consensi et subscripsi
+ Ego Unuuano episcopus consensi et subscripsi

Hoc rite peractum in loco quae nuncupatur Yrtlinga burg