S 1272

A.D. 849 (Glen, Leics.). Alhhun, bishop, with his familia at Worcester, to King Berhtwulf; lease, for five lives, of 5 hides (manentes) at Wearset felda, 5 (cassati) at Cofton Hackett, 5 (manentes) at Rednal in King's Norton, 2 at Wast Hill and Hopwood in Alvechurch, Worcs., and 3 at Witlafesfeld, with reversion to the church of Worcester. Latin with English bounds of Cofton Hackett.

Archive: Worcester

MSS: BL Cotton Tib. A. xiii, 3r-4r (s. xi1)

Printed: Hearne, Heming, pp. 5-8; K 250 and vol. iii, 391-2; B 455 (1).

Comments: PN Worcs., p. 332, on bounds; Grundy, Worcs. 1927, pp. 54-60, on bounds; PN Warwicks., p. xvii, cited; Wilson 1959, pp. 302-4, on the language; PN Oxon., i. 30, on detail of bounds; Finberg, ECWM, no. 254, authentic, and addendum, p. 238, on bounds; Finberg 1972, p. 495, on detail of bounds; PN Berks., ii. 356; Hart 1977, p. 60 n. 1, on bounds; Gelling 1981, p. 7, on Alvechurch; Hooke 1982, on bounds of Coftune; Hooke 1983, p. 12 and map p. 13, on bounds; Hooke 1985, pp. 139, 174, on estate; Hooke 1990, pp. 135-42, on bounds and place-names.

Notes: In the second part of the document (S 199), King Berhtwulf regrants Cofton Hackett to a thegn.

+ Status namque saeculi praesentis lubricus et instabilis variis rerum perturbationibus atque procellis fluctivagi adinstar maris conquatitur atque perturbatur . Quia modo prospera et laeta nobis temporum serenitates adrident . Modo vero tristia et adversa rerum fata mortalium mentes huc illucque vertendo jactant . Ideoque pernecessarium est litterarum serie decreta nostra omnia firmiter commendare . Ne forte temporum curriculis aut labentium rerum eventis posteris ex memoria patrum labentur procedentium condicta .

Qua de re ego Alhhunus episcopus cum mea familia in Weogerna civitate pro nostra defensione donamus Berhtwulfo regi aliquam partem telluris nostri . Hoc est in Wearset felda . v . manentium . Et on coftune æt þæm ham stalle . v . cassatorum on wreodan hale . v . manentium . 7 in alio loco in weorset hylle . et in hopwuda duorum manentium . Similiter in tertio loco . iii . manentes . Id est nominatus witlafes feld . In quinque dierum hominum spatium . Ut habeant 7 perfruant cum justitia 7 post numera dierum illorum sine aliqua dissensione 7 sine conflictu reddatur ad supra dictam aecclesiam in Weogerna civitate . Et illi dabant terram illam ea tamen condicione ut ipse rex firmius amicus sit episcopo prefato . 7 familia ejus in omnibus bonis eorum . Quam in terrarum possessione tam in libertate illorun usquam conscripte . Et nec ipse nec heredes ejus umquam aliquam aliquid in illis bonis quae ad Weogernessem ecclesiam recte pertinent . aut ante datis aut in posteris aliquis amicorum dare vellet . Numquam presumant minuere . sed semper cum amicis augentibus 7 defendentibus illius aecclesiae bonum augere 7 defendere et adjuvare . 7 numquam minuere nec minuentibus plus consentirent . 7 hos terminos pertinent ad Coftune .

Primum Tomsetna gemære 7 pencer se't'na foran rehtes gæt in wærburge rode deinde ad risc hylle bi ðaem earðlande fore weardum . sic in stræt mere . Tunc in hæðleage sceagan ðær he ðynnest is of stræt mere . Deinde in hæðleage wællan . sic in midlestan dene . Tunc ufan in blacan mere . deinde in ceolferðes mor . ðæt ymbe ceolferðes æcer utan ðæt ufan in colle . suuae andlang st'r'eames in wiððan weorðing . ðonan in heodenes sceagan fore weardne andlang riðges . swa weardne andlang riðges . swa in ða Twislihtran biricean be suðan Coenberhtes græfe . ðæt ofer mearðes hrycg ðueres . 7 ðonon in wiðing mere . ðæt ut wið hopwudes wica . ðonne ondlanges ðæs heagan ðæt ufan be eamban erne suðan . ðæt ufan in haran eapolderne ðonan ufan in crawan broc . swa to pendan æt ðonon up in ænne wiðing . a bi Twige ðæt hit cymeð To Wermundes erne westan sua ymbe Crawan hyll utan ðæt hit cymeð to ðam gemyðum ðaet up be ðam gemænan lande in hæð beorh midde weardne . 7 ðonne in scir burnan ðonan in readan sloe sua in mære broc ðonan wið heort solwe ðonne wið rah gelega ðonon in ane linde Byrnhelmes gemære . 7 cyninges 7 Eadbaldes sua in anne æsc . 7 ðonne ut in Creodan ac . sue in Tyes mere . ðaet ðonan ut ofer ðæt hæð in babban faelinge . sue to Wylheardes Trie ond lang ðaes holan weges . ðonne ut ofer ðaet hæð wið cybles weorðiges suðeweardes . ðæt ðær foran rehtes in ða rode ðonan eft in hæðleage wyllan .

Gesta est autem huius reconciliationis kartula anno dominicæ Incarnationis . dccco . xlo . viiiio . Indictione . vero . xiio . in loco qui nominatur aet glenne Coram his Testibus Cum signo sancte crucis Christi fixerunt quorum hic nomina notantur .

+ Ego Alhhun episcopus huis decreta 7 concordia nostra consentiendo subscribo .
+ Alhmund pr' consen' 7 sub' .
+ Wulfheard pr' consen' 7 sub' .
+ Ceolmund pr' consen' 7 sub' .
+ Ceolberht pr' consen' 7 sub' .
+ Eadwulf pr' consen' 7 sub' .
[+] Ecgberht pr' consen' 7 sub' .
+ Daegheh pr' consen' 7 sub' .
+ Putta praepositus consen' .
+ Eadberht diaconus cons' .