The origin of charters

Question 1

Who is pro-Theodore and who pro-Augstine? (9 Scholars all together)

Answer 1

Theodore:

• W.H. Stevenson
• Levison
• Keynes
• Lapidge
• Cubbitt
• and Whitelock

Augustine:

• Chaplais
• Kelly
• Kemble

Question 2

Primary sources need to cite (7)

Answer 2

• Bede
• Papyrus
• Script and Ismere charter
• Aethelbert’s law code
• Hlothere’s charter of 679
• Cubbit on dialogue
• Eddius Stephanus in the Life of St. Wilfrid

Question 3

Bede on introduction…

Answer 3

• Bede says how Theodore was the first bishop the English consented to obey
• Wrote 731

Question 4

Script as evidence for the introduction of charters

Answer 4

• The use of uncial is syptomatic of it being a church led initative, as it is a posh ecclesastical script and not utilitarian.
• The Ismere charter from 736 is still in uncial , so uncial used then. Whereas uncial isn’t in continental charters.
• And is also used for the Hlothere charter.

Question 5

What does Chaplais argue

Answer 5

• Chaplais argued that charters were introduced by St Augustine; as by the end of the 7th century there are already differences between the diplomas, whereas if Theodore had introduced them recently there would have been uniformity in the 7th century and that Theodore would have informed this.
• • So he goes earlier, and naturally ends up at St Augustine
• Supported by law of athelbert
• Says that if they were introduced in the 670s then they’d be uniform

Question 6

Kelly’s argument

Answer 6

Kelly then argued that the earlier ones were written on papyrus, for which there are Merovingian parallels- but these would have lasted a while; so why wouldn’t people later have copied them down.

Question 7

Æthelbert’s law code

Answer 7

We know they used written evidence before this as we have Æthelbert’s law code- but in vernacular

Question 8

Evidence that supports St Augustine

Answer 8

• Papyrus in bog
• Æthelbert’s law code
• Theodore was a greek speaker

Question 9

Papyrus

Answer 9

• Bog in Ireland of psalter with a papyrus wrapper- previously thought that there was no papyrus in the early Middle Ages Britian– supports Kelly

Question 10

Contrary to kelly, what does Whitelock say

Answer 10

Whitelock states that there is no evidence that papyrus was ever used in this country, and points out it would be odd that churchmen of subsequent generations did not copy out of piety the papyrus charters of their earliest benefactors onto permanent material.

Question 11

Issue with Theodore himself perhaps?

Answer 11

Theodore was a Greek speaker, not Latin. But then there could have been other people who does it for him. Lapidge emphasises the importance of Theodore

Question 12

Who was Theodore?

Answer 12

Theodore of Tarsus (602 – 19 September 690) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 668 to 690,
– best known for his reform of the English Church and establishment of a school in Canterbury.

Question 13

Discuss Synod of Hertford

Answer 13

Theodore conducted a survey of the English church, appointed various bishops to sees that had lain vacant for some time,[and then called the Synod of Hertford (673) to institute reforms concerning the proper calculation of Easter, episcopal authority, the regular convening of subsequent synods, and other matters
- Preserved in Bede

Question 14

W.H. Stevenson… and main Theodore argument

Answer 14

• Stevenson wrote in 1890s and argued that Theodore introduced them and saw them as successors to the late Roman private deed and that Theodore was the unifying agent in this. The context of this was church councils, and you’d expect to see the written word used to protect the interests of the church.
• Stevenson and Levinson proposed that before the arrival of Theodore in 669 grants of land were made orally and accompanied by a symbolic action, asuch as placing some earth from the granted land onto an alter
• Then they say that Theodore brought over the italian charter form, based on that the italian private deed

Question 15

Keynes…

Answer 15

pro-theodore, bottom line is that there is just no evidence for the earlier period

Question 16

• Charter by Hlothere of Kent

Answer 16

• Grant of land in Surrey and Thanet to Abot Beorhtwald, Reculver
• Dated to 679 is the earliest charter in contemporary form, and cartulary versions do not begin more than a few years before this date
• Earliest surviving original sheet
• We do have earlier examples of charters by Hlothere but that are in cartulary form

Question 17

Whitelock’s general view

Answer 17

Although donations to the church were definitely made before this time, the innovation lay in drawing up a document to record the act.

Question 18

What does Kemble argue– pro-Aug.

Answer 18

• Kemble argues that writing and scribal training came with St Augustine in the late 6th century and reasons therefore that charters were already being written by the time Theodore arrived and that he did not introduce them
  … seems a weird argument to me

Question 19

Introduce AS diplomas

Answer 19

• The first time we see Anglo-Saxon diplomas is the 670s and this is when the earliest survive from.
• There are none from the earlier period of any credibility, although there are some forgeries
• Issue is presented in the literature as a choice between St Augustine and Theodore

Question 20

Cubbit PS on dialogue

Answer 20

• The canons of the council of Hertford are preceeded by a dialogue representing Theodore’s speech to the assembled bishops and their response. The incorporation of direct speech is common in both papal and greek conciliar proceedings, which often take on the role of a dramatic report.

Question 21

Theodre and continent

Answer 21

Theodore brought over the Italian Charter Form, based on the Italian Private Deed. This means that early Anglo-Saxon charters are quite unlike Continental equivalents outside of Italy. Early Kentish charters reflect Italian private deeds and differ significantly from Frankish charters, both private and royal.

Question 22

Eddius Stephanus in the Life of St. Wilfrid

Answer 22

Eddius Stephanus in the Life of St. Wilfrid has some evidence for written charters in
Northumbria, made before the arrival of Theodore:
He describes the grants of land with terminology reminiscent of charter-excerpts, such as
“For the remedy of his soul” and “Land of 10 tribute