A sulung at Bromhey, 789

King Offa of Mercia grants a sulung at Bromhey to Bishop Wærmund and the church at Rochester (789). Translation from Latin of Textus Roffensis, folios 132r-133r by Jacob Scott (pending review).

Campbell, no. 14. The text begins with a green display initial ‘I’ and is marked by a large, black cross in the left margin.

Transcription

132r (select folio number to open facsimile)

Item de bromgehege. + IN nomine domini nostri iesu christi >saluatoris<. Si ea quę secundum
decreta canonum ac statuta synodalia salu-
briter definiuntur, quamuis sermo solus ad te-
stimonium sufficere possit, at tamen ob incer-
tam futurorum temporum conditionem firmissimis
scripturarum indiciis et cautionem cyrographis

132v

sunt roboranda. Quoniam quidem sepe ex ignorantia, sepe
quod est execrabilius ex improbitate contingit,
ut denegatio rerum uere et recte gestarum
nascatur. Qua propter ego offa rex merciorum tibi
uuaermundo antistiti necnon et ęcclesię quae
sita est in castro quod nominatur hrofescaester
trado terram unius aratri ubi nominatur broom-
geheg cum certissimis terrę huius limitibus,
quę habet ab oriente uuiodafleot, a meridie
uero fons quidam et fossa circumdata, et ex inde
sepis quędam, itemque fossata ab occidente et no-
tis signis designatur, ab aquilone mariscem uo-
cabulo scaga, quam etiam circumfluit iaegnlaad.
Hanc autem terram tibi tradendam et possiden-
dam et ęcclesię usui mancipandam, quam tu iure
gubernas concedo. Si quis uero successorum meorum uel
principum hanc donationem meam immutare
temptauerit, sit anathema maranatha usque
dum dominus ueniat qui iudicaturus est orbem
terrę in aequitate. Hanc cartulam signaculo cru-
cis christi confirmare uolens proprio manu necnon
et alios religiosos adhibui testes quorum nomina
infra adnotentur. Actum anno dominicae incar-
nationis dcclxxxix. in loco ubi dicitur celchyð.

133r

+ Ego offa rex merciorum hanc supradictam do-
nationem meam signo sanctę crucis christi roboraui.
+ Ego iaenberhtus gratia dei archiepiscopus consensi
et subscripsi. + Ego hygeberht archiepiscopus sub-
scripsi. + Ego ceoluulf episcopus subscripsi. + Ego
heardraed episcopus subscripsi. + Ego unuuona
episcopus subscripsi. + Ego cyneberht episcopus subscri-
psi. + Ego ealghearhd episcopus subscripsi.
+ Ego eadgar episcopus subscripsi. + Ego ealgmund
abbas subscripsi. + Ego beonna abbas subscripsi.
+ Signum manus ecgfrithi regis merciorum. + Si-
gnum manus berhtuualdi. + Signum manus ead-
baldi. + Signum manus brordan. + Signum manus
aethilheardi. + Signum manus ceolmundi. + Si-
gnum manus ubban. + Signum manus heaberhti.
+ Signum manus forðredi. + Signum manus uuigcgan.
+ Signum manus ceolheardi.

Translation

Likewise concerning Bromhey:

+ In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ >savior<. If those things which are beneficially defined according to the decrees of the canons and synodal statutes, although speech alone may be sufficient for evidence, yet, on account of the uncertain future condition of the times, must be strengthened with the most solid evidence of the Scriptures and a bill of crypts[?].

Since, indeed, it often happens from ignorance, that which is more execrable from dishonesty occurs, so that the denial of things truly and rightly may arise. For which reason I shot the king of the Mercians, to you Waermundo the bishop and to the church which is situated in the castle which is named Rochester I hand over the land of one plow where it is named Broomgeheg with certain limits of this land, which has on the east uuiodafleot, on the south a certain spring and ditch surrounded and it is denoted some fences, and likewise ditches on the west and north denoted by signs, from the north marsh by the name of Scaga, which also flows around Iagnlaad.

This land is to be handed over to you, to be possessed, and to be handed over to the use of the church, which you are rightfully governer. But if any of my successors or princes should attempt to change this gift of mine, let him be accursed until he comes as the lord who will judge the world in justice. It was my desire to confirm this document with the seal of the cross of Christ in my own hand, as well as other religious witnesses whose names are to be recorded below. Enacted in the year of our Lord's Incarnation 789 in the place which is called Celchyð.

+ I, Offa, king of Mercia, have validated my gift with the sign of the holy cross of Christ.

+ I, Jaenbert, archbishop by the grace of God, agreed and signed.

+ I, Hygeberht, archbishop, subscribed.

+ I, Ceoluulf, bishop, subscribed.

I, Bishop Heardraed subscribed.

+ I, Bishop Unuuona, subscribed. + I, Bishop Cyneberht subscribed. + I, Bishop Ealghearhd subscribed.

+ I, Bishop Edgar subscribed.

+ I, Abbot Ealgmund, subscribed.

+ I, Abbot Beonna subscribed.

+ Signed by the hand of Egfrith, king of the Mercians.

+ Signed by the hand of Berhtwaldi. Signed by the hand of Eadbald.

+ Signed by the hand of Brordan. Signed by the hand of Aethilheard.

+ Signed by the hand of Ceolmund.

+ Signed by the hand of Ubban.

+ Signed by the hand of Heaberht. Signed by the hand of Forðred.

+ Signed by the hand of Wigcgan. Signed by the hand of Ceolheard.