Fonthill Letter

Suggestions that the manuscript that now survives is a later copy has been criticised by Keynes, on the grounds that the text contains two separate scribal hands.

Helmstan's crimes began with his stealing a belt from Aethelred which initially leads to the dispute as Aethelhelm Higa can then claim the land should be forfeited to him.

According to Keynes the story began in the last year or so of King Alfred’s reign, when Helmstan stole a belt belonging to a certain Aethelred.

The importance of remaining 'oath-worthy' was therefore lost for Helmstan, and his later conviction for cattle stealing brought up his previous crime and required Ordlaf to become involved.

It was Ordlaf's involvement that brought in Alfred, as an inconsequential piece of land would never largely require his personal attention.

This links to a treatise from the reign of King Edgar, the importance of proof of possession is greater than the one who attempts to claim the land.

Helmstan never regained Fonthill but, after Alfred's death and swearing an oath at his grave, Edward reversed his outlawry and granted him some property.

An endorsement on the letter after it had been folded is then added, describing Higa's withdrawal from his suit against the bishop, but the exact nature of this is unknown.

However, historians now place great emphasis on the lessons it teaches about the working of Anglo-Saxon law and legal practices.

It first received attention from Kentish antiquary William Somner, and the letter's text first appeared in print in the 1840 publication of John Mitchell Kemble's Codex Diplomaticus.

It also shows the importance of kindred ties within Anglo-Saxon society as highlighted by the consistent support offered by Ordlaf for his godson Helmstan.