Ten sulungs at Stoke in Hoo

King Eadberht I of Kent grants ten sulungs at Stoke in Hoo to St Andrew’s, Rochester; Æthelberht II of Kent confirms this, 738. Translation from Latin of Textus Roffensis, folios 119v-120v by Jacob Scott (pending review).

A sulung was a unit of land = approx. 240 fiscal acres.

Transcription

119v (select folio number to open facsimile)

De stokes quę antiquitus uocabatur
+ IN nomine andscohesham;
domini dei nostri iesu christi ego eadberht rex can-
tuariorum donaui aliquam partem terrę pro reme-
dio animę meę atque indulgentia delictorum
meorum episcopatui beati andreę apostoli ac ue-
nerabile uiro ealdulfo eius ęcclesię antistiti
in regione quę uocatur hohg in loco qui
dicitur, andscohesham id est decem arat>rm
iuxta aestimationem prouinciae eiusdem huius

120r

uero terrę possessionem ita predicto episcopo largitus
sum cum omnibus ad eum pertinentibus id est campis
siluis pratis piscariis salsilagine, atque omnibus
utensilibus eius iuxta notos terminos consti-
tutos hoc quoque pręcipimus ut nullus presu-
mat propinquorum eorum uel successorum eorum hanc do-
nationem meam minuere infringere quoquomodo Si quis uero quod non credimus contra preceptum meum huic do-
natione mea e malibolo animo contraire tempta-
uerit, sciat se in die iudicii rationem deo red-
diturum manentem ta-
men hanc cartulam nichilominus in sua fir-
mitate si quis uero magis defendere au-
gere uoluerit, addat deus bona eius in terra
uiuentium Hanc quoque donationem meam ego
eadberht rex cantuariorum propria manu
confirmaui et signum sanctę crucis infixi te-
stes quoque idoneos commites meos confir-
mari et subscribere feci. Ego uilbaldus
commites meos confirmari et subscribere
feci Ego dimheahac comites meos confir-
mari et scribere feci. Ego hosberht commi-
tes meos confirmari et scribere feci. Ego nothbalth commites meos confirmari
et scribere feci. Ego banta commites meos

120v

confirmari et scribere feci. Ego ruta commi-
tes meos confirmari et scribere feci. Ego
tidbalth >comites meos< confirmare et scribere feci.

Translation

Concerning Stoke, formerly called Andscohesham:

+ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our God, I, Eadberht King of Kent, have given a portion of the land for the relief of my soul and the indulgence of my offenses in the episcopate of the blessed Andrew the Apostle and I stood before a venerable man, Bishop Ealdulf of that church in the country which is called Hohg in the place which is called Andscohesham, that is, ten plowshares according to the valuation of the property of this same province, and I gave the possession of this land to the aforesaid bishop, with all those belonging to it, namely plains of wood, meadows, salty fisheries, and all its utensils, according to the known boundaries. We also order that no one of their kinsfolk or of their successors presume to infringe or diminish this gift to weaken my soul in any way.

But if anyone should attempt to counteract this gift of mine with an evil-minded soul, which we do not believe contrary to my precept, let him know that in the day of God’s judgment he will render an account but this charter is by no means in its firmness if one any one wishes to increase its defense, may God increase his goods on earth in the land of the living. This also is my donation Eadberht king of Kent, by my own hand, with the sign of the holy cross, you will allow also my fit witnesses to be confirmed and made.

I, Wilbald, commit my acts to be confirmed and signed.

I, Wilbald, commit my acts to be confirmed and signed.

I, Hosberht commit my things to be assured and I have done it in writing.

I, Notthbalth commit my things to be assured and I have done it in writing.

I, Banta, commited to confirm and subscribed.

I, Rota, confirmed and subscribed.

I, Tidbalth >my companions< confirmed and subscribed.