JO

XI.

JOHN OF BROMPTON.

JOHN OF BROMPTON was Abbot of Jorvaulx, in Yorkshire, under Henry VI., and cannot therefore be the writer of this chronicle, which, from internal evidence, is of the thirteenth century. It is called by his name because at the end of the MS. (in the Library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge) a footnote states it to be his (i.e. as owner). The chronicle starts from the mission of Augustine, and begins with separate outlines of the histories of Kent, Essex, East Anglia, Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria, and Sussex, consecutively; going on to deal with that of 'the Kings of All England,' to the death of Richard Cœur de Lion. It embodies the Codes of Ina, Alfred (including his treaty with Guthrum), Edward the Elder, Athelstan, Edmund, Edgar, Ethelred, and Canute.

This chronicle makes use of Asser, Malmesbury, and other earlier authorities, but differs so notably in the sequence of events (especially in the Danish campaigns of Alfred) that the writer either had access to some independent source, now lost, or thought himself a historical redactor of the type with which the Higher Criticism of the present day has familiarized usequal to rearranging the components of previous histories through the crucible of his own inner consciousness. No third explanation is possible; for he was evidently very far from a careless writer.

His chronicle is printed by Twysden in his 'Decem Scriptores' (1652).

CONTENTS.

JOHN OF BROMPTON.

§ 1. Having thus in part, though by no means fully, treated of the Kings and Princes who reigned in British1 days, and had dominion over diverse provinces (some succeeding by hereditary right, and some coming into possession through conquest), let us now briefly turn our attention to those from whom the Kings of all England had their first beginning. And let us go back to the noble and stout warrior Ethelbrict [Egbert], on whom we have already touched, amongst the Kings of Wessex.

§ 2. In Wessex he was born and bred, and was a hero mighty and warlike. But King Brithrich, who then reigned in Wessex, through jealousy of him, brake forth into such mad hatred that he conspired his death. But, when he spied the malice of the monarch, he went off into France, and there dwelt, until the aforesaid King departed this life. After the death of the King, however, the men of Wessex called him back into England, and crowned him for their King. Then, gathering his host, made he no small slaughter amongst the kinglets who stood against him; staying not his hand from war for 28 years together. These others being at length overthrown, crushed, and subdued, in manly wise gat he him the sway of all this realm. And after the warfare was ended, nine years reigned he in peace: closing his days in the 38th year and 6th month of his reign. And his body was brought for burial to Wynton [Winchester].

2

§ 3. And thereafter was Ethelwolf, the son of Egbert who, in early life, had been Bishop of Wynton, forced, for lack of other heirs, to take upon himself the crown. In his days did Almighty God bring in folk most cruel, who spared neither age nor sex, Dacians [Danes] to wit, and Goths, Norwegians and Swedes, Vandals and Frisians, who from the beginning of this reign, even unto the coming of William, Duke of Normandy, wasted England. § 4. This King Ethelwolf made over to God and Holy Church every tenth hide of land throughout all Wessex, free from all secular service, for feeding and clothing the poor and needy and

1 This is the earliest example of that loose use of the word British,' as equivalent to Ancient English,' which in popular use continued even into the nineteenth century.

2 For the real events here travestied, see Introductory Sketch, Chapter II.

the sick. Afterwards he went off to Rome, and made over to God and St. Peter, every year, from every house in all England, one penny; which, at this day, are commonly called Peter-pence. And he himself, of pure and heartfelt devotion to God, offered the first penny. None the less, did he afterwards, every year, make over to the Roman Church 300 talents; to wit, 100 for the lighting of St. Peter's, 100 for the lighting of St. Paul's, and 100 for the use of the High Pontiff. And after lingering for a whole year in the Roman Court, as he returned through France, he took to wife Judith, daughter of Charles the Bald, of whom he begat five sons, namely, Ethelbald, his firstborn, Ethelbert, the second, Ethelred, the third, Alured [Alfred], the fourth, and Adlestan [Athelstan], the fifth, who died in youth.'

§ 5. [The chronicle goes on to tell at great length the occasion of the Danish conquest of Northumbria, a tale similar to that concerning the Moorish invasion of Spain; and copies from Roger of Wendover (with acknowledgments, for a wonder) his dramatic version of the fall of East Anglia and the martyrdom of St. Edmund: and continue as follows:]

§ 6. After the slaughter of King Edmund, his brother Edwold, forsaking the delights of this world, for the ill luck that had befallen his brother and himself, took upon him the life of a hermit, on bread and water only, near the monastery of Carnelia [Cerne Abbey] in Dorset, beside that clear well which, of old, St. Augustine by his prayers made to spring forth, that he might baptize the folk therein.

§ 7. And thus was East Anglia brought under the Danes. And Ingwar returned to his brother Hubbe in Northumbria; and over East Anglia reigned first after Edmund a certain Dane named Godrim [Guthrum]. And on his way back he destroyed the Abbey of the holy maidens of Ely, and the nuns that served God therein did he either cruelly slay or savagely drive forth. But the aforesaid Godrim was that Dane who made and sanctioned laws along with King Alfred.

§ 8. Anno Domini 869. The Danes went further, and brought under all Northumbria, and slew them that dwelt therein. And having there set wardens, they came into the realm of the Mercians, even unto Notyngham (which in Latin is called Domus Spelun

1 None of these were children of Judith, and Athelstan was the eldest. See Introduction.

2 Ely was actually destroyed in the Great Danish raid of 870.

carum), and there for a whole year went into winter quarters. And there did Burred, the King, or Duke, of the Mercians, meet them, with the support and aid of his brother-in-law Ethelred, King of Wessex. And, inasmuch as the heathen, safe within the stronghold, refused battle, and the English could not breach the wall, peace was made on either side, and the Kings departed homeward. And the heathen sought again York, where they remained one whole year.

§ 9. In this year the city Alclud [Carlisle], so renowned of old, which is at the western end of the famous Wall [of Hadrian], was utterly blotted out by the Danes. And afterwards, leaving Mercia and Northumbria, they came, wasting the country, and destroying churches and monasteries, even unto Lincoln. And having taken and sacked it, and wasted all Holland and all Lindesey,' they passed over into East Anglia, and wintered at Thetford.

§ 10. Meanwhile the aforesaid Ethelbert, King of the West Saxons, who less than five years had worn the crown of the whole realm and reigned, ended this life, and is buried at Winchester. And thereupon did Ethelred, a man devoted to God and

dear to all around, succeed to the kingdom.

§ 11. Meanwhile the heathen host of the Dacians from Thetford, leaving East Anglia, under the leadership of Ingwar and Hubbe, as aforesaid, laying waste all towns and monasteries as they went, and harrying the country far and wide along their path, came into Wessex, even unto Reading. And there, on the third day of their coming, two of their chiefs, sallying forth after booty, were cut to pieces at Engelfelde. And, four days after, the West Saxons fell upon them, and made of the Danes no little slaughter. Danes burst forth from their stronghold, and slew Ethelwulf, the Chieftain of Berkshire, and forced the English to fall back.

Yet did the

§ 12. Stirred by this shame, the English, after four days again, with their King, Ethelred, made them ready to battle against the Dacian King, Oseg by name, at Asschedon, which, being interpreted, signifies Ass Hill, or else Ash Hill. Now the King of Dacia had come with two Kings from overseas, and five Earls, and very many warriors. And he parted his host in twain; and the one part kept he for himself and the other Kings, and the other part gave he to the Earls. Likewise did King Ethelred part his

1 These are the southern and northern districts of Lincolnshire.