The Bayham cartulary is in the British Library (BL Cotton Otho A.ii). There is currently no publication of this cartulary, but Sussex Record Society have commissioned Marie Tranchant to produce a volume in the near future.
The cartulary was severely damaged by a fire in 1731 – of its original 90 folios, only 79 are now present.
Dugdale transcribed part of the cartulary before the fire damage occurred and published several charters in his Monasticon Anglicanum (1682). The twenty-one charters published are listed in the table below:
| I | The charter of its foundation, by Ralph de Dene. (Otham foundation charter) |
| II | Another charter of the aforementioned Ralph of Dene |
| III | Charter of Robert de Dene, of the lands in Telleton |
| IV | Confirmation of Geoffrey of Sackeville |
| V | Charter of Ela de Sackeville, concerning the transfer of the seat of the abbey from Otham to Bayham |
| VI | Another charter of the same Ela on the transfer of the see of the aforesaid abbey |
| VII | Gilbert of Aquila’s charter |
| VIII | Charter of Robert de Turnham |
| IX | Another Charter of the aforementioned Robert of Turnham |
| X | Charter of Stephen of Turnham |
| XI | Charter of Walkelin Maminot, of the land of Brockley, which he gave to Nicholas of Turnham |
| XII | Robert de Turnham’s charter |
| XIII | Geoffrey of Say’s charter |
| XIV | Charter of Juliana, countess of Brockley |
| XV | Also the confirmation of Geoffrey de Say, of the church of Greenwich |
| XVI | Charter of Richard Earl of Clare, of pannage |
| XVII | Confirmation of John as King of England |
| XVIII | Another charter of the aforementioned John, King of England, confirming the grants of many donors. |
| XIX | A charter of King Edward II, confirming various concessions to the abbot and canons of Bayham |
| XX | Charter of William de Bugele made to the canons of Otham (later transferred to Bayham) concerning certain lands in the sea of Pevensey |
| XXI | Abstract of the ministers of the year 18, Henry VIII in the chapter house of Westminster |
The cartulary includes the foundation charters for Otham (I) and Brockley (XIV) and also includes the grant by Ela de Sackville of Bayham to the canons of Otham. This is reproduced below:
An approximate translation of this would be:
Let those present and future know that I, Ela de Sackville, daughter of Ralph de Dene, in my widowhood and in my legal capacity, in view of divine piety, have granted to the abbot and canons of Otham, because of the great and intolerable poverty of the place of Otham, that they transfer the seat of the abbey from Otham to Bayham, which is called Beaulieu; without prejudice to the reverence and dignity of advocacy which they are bound to show to me and my heirs, both in life and in death. Furthermore, I confirm to the same canons all the gifts which my father gave them; namely the whole lordship of Otham, with the chapel; and the land of Dudinton, and of Thorne. Wherefore I will, that I have the whole land of Telleton, with the men and other possessions thereof, which Rob. de Dene my brother gave them; to be held and held free and quiet from all service and secular exaction, which pertain to me or to my heirs; save the service of the lord king. But this grant I have made here for my own safety, and for the souls of my ancestors and successors, that the aforesaid canons may have and hold all the aforesaid lands, with all their appurtenances, free and quiet from all service and secular exaction. I have also confirmed to the same canons to minister perpetually. de Ponte, ‘Wandr. de Curtellis, Walter de Hanley, Reginald de Clifton, Hugh and Reginald de Fokintan, Randulf de Haye, Geoffrey de Sancto Leodegario, Ralph de Sancto Brigid, Martin son of Henry, Simon de Trusseville, and many others. These witnesses are: …etc;