S 219
A.D. 884 (Hrisbyri, ? Princes Risborough, Bucks.). Æthelred, lord of the Mercians, to Æthelwulf; grant of 5 hides (manentes) at Himbleton, Worcs., with appurtenant salt-workings etc. Latin with English bounds.
Archive: Worcester
MSS: Somers Ch. 9 (lost)
Printed: Smith, Bede, p. 771 ex MS; K 1066 from Smith; B 552 ex Smith; Pierquin, Recueil, pt 3, no. 59.
Translated: Jones 1958, pp. 87-8.
Comments: Wanley, Catalogus, p. 302, no. 9, MS of suspect age and authenticity; Smith, Bede, p. 771, suspicious; PN Bucks., p. 171 n.; Grundy, Worcs. 1927, pp. 147-51, on bounds; Parsons 1934; Forsberg 1950, p. 211, on bounds; Davies 1972, p. 470, on a formula; Finberg, ECWM, no. 265, authentic; Hooke 1981/1, pp. 136, 149, on details of saltworkings; Sawyer 1983, p. 296, on meeting-place; Hooke 1990, pp. 129-34, on bounds; Hart 1992, p. 460 n. 19, citing Gelling, meeting-place may be Risborough, Herefords.
+ Regnante in perpetuum domino nostro Jesu Christo . Ejusdemque autem Incarnationis dccc o . lxxx o . iiii . Indictione vero secunda . Ego Aeþelred divina largiente gratia principatu 7 dominio gentis Merciorum subfultus donatione trado Aeðelwulfo terram v . manentium in loco qui dicitur . Hymeltun . hanc autem supradictam terram cum omnibus ad eam pertinentibus . Id est silvis . pratis . pascuis . salisque coctionibus . Id est vi . vascula possint præparari salva libertate sine aliquo tributo dominatoris gentis prædicte sine ducum Judicumve 7 præsidum . Id est statione sine in oneratione plaustrorum nisi solo illi qui huic prædicte terre Hymeltune dominus existat . Cum testimonio 7 consensu ipsorum damus quorum hic nomina inferius scripta cernuntur : . Hæc supradictæ optimatum gentis Merciorum gubernante Aeþelredo duce .
Acta est in Hrisbyri ubi tunc ipsorum conventio publica fuerunt conloquentes sibi invicem de necessariis gentis prædictæ statutis . Obsecrantes omnes ævi sequentis cujuslibet dictionibus homines per tremendum distructi justique judicis examen ut hæc traditio sive in terra prædicta sive in vico salis absque omni censu atque tributo perpetualiter libera permaneant . Et si quis id quod non optamus corrumpendo foederaverit . Sciat se rationem redditurum in die judicii coram Deo 7 angelis ejus nisi prius digna satisfactione emendare curaverit . Testium autem consentientium et scribentiam nomina hæc sunt : .
Ego Æðelred Merciorum gentis ducatum gubernans confirmare 7 subscribere curavi: .
Wulfred Episcopus consensi 7 subscripsi : .
Ego Werfriþ Episcopus consensi 7 subscripsi: .
Deorlaf Episcopus consensi : .
Aþelwald ealdorman .
Aeðulf ealdorman .
Beornaþ aldorman .
Aeþelferþ ealdorman .
Alhhelm aldorman .
Eardwulf .
Elfwald .
Eadnoþ .
Aelfred .
Aeþelmund .
Ðis sindon ða land gemæro ærest on ðane blacan pyt of ðan pytte þæt upon þæt eaþland eal swa ðe oxa went þæt hit cymeþ on ðone mær hege to graftune þæt in þæt æscbed of ðæm æscbedde þæt on ðrim gerum ðanane on ðone holan weg of ðan wege to ðæs bisceopes wuda þæt in dic weg . of ðam wege in ðone lytlan graf ðonene in ða ealdan dic . ðonene þæt in grobbes dene . ðanene on ða portstræt of ðan wege in mærford of ðan forda in hnutfen . of ðan fenne in eald cotan þæt to graf hrygce . of ðan hrygce in ðane wic weg of ðan wege on uffan lege . of ðære lege on lytlan broc ðanene on hymel broc andlang broces þæt op of ðan broce in Egcbyrhttigc croft þæt upward be ðan croft in ða stræt æt ipwæl hylle æfter stræte in hennuc ðanene in rugan mædewan of rugen mædewan þæt eft on ðone blacan pyt : .