'In some of the Coyns of King Offa publish’d by Sr Andr. Fountaine is SCI PETRI wch were Peter pence coyn’d by King Offa. On three of them is a sword which neither Sr Andrew nor Mr Thwaites can tell ye meaning of. I believe it was put by K. Offa to shew his civil authority; or perhaps there might be some Jarrs between him and the Pope, & that might cause the King to stand up for his Prerogative, tho’ afterwards I believe he repented....'
(Hearne 1885, vol. 2, p. 42; Burnett 2020b, pp. 1610-11)