that king Bertric unwittingly tasted of the poison, though the queen intended to give it to the young man only, but the king took it too quickly, and so both perished. 7 Bertric therefore being dead, the queen could remain no longer among the West-Saxons, but sailed beyond the sea with immense treasures, and went to the court of the great and famous Charles, king of the Franks. As she stood before the throne, and offered him money, Charles said to her, "Choose, Eadburga, between me and my son, who stands here with me." She replied, foolishly, and without deliberation, "If I am to have my choice, I choose your son, because he is younger than you." At which Charles smiled and answered, "If you had chosen me, you would have had my son; but as you have chosen him, you shall not have either of us." 8 However, he gave her a large convent of nuns, in which, having laid aside the secular habit and taken the religious dress, she discharged the office of abbess during a few years; for, having been violated by a lay-man of her own nation, and expelled from Simeon 9 King Ætheluulf lived two years, after his return from Rome; during which among many other good deeds of this present life, reflecting on his departure according to the way of all flesh, that his sons might not quarrel unreasonably after their father's death, he ordered a letter of inheritance to be written, in which he ordered that his kingdom should be divided between his two eldest sons, Æthelbald and Æthelbert, his private inheritance between his sons, his daughter, and his relations, and the money which he left behind him, between his sons and nobles, and for the good of his soul. 4 And when he [ETHELWOLF] had kept her [JUDITH] two years. The most merciful king Ethelwlf lived two years after he set out for the city of Romulus. Among other good deeds of this present life, to which he gave his royal mind, he meditated before-hand on his own death, and, that his sons might not quarrel after he had departed this life, he composed an epistle in an elegant style, wherein he gave away all the things which belonged to himself. For the benefit of his soul, then, which he studied to promote in all things from the first flower of his youth, he directed through all his hereditary dominions, that one poor man in ten, either native or foreigner, should be supplied with meat, drink, and clothing, by his successors, until the day of judgment; supposing, however, that the country should still be inhabited both by men and cattle, and should not become deserted. He com manded also a large sum of money, namely, three hundred mancuses, to be carried every year to Rome for the good of his soul, to be distributed in the following manner: namely, a hundred mancuses in honour of St Peter, specially to buy oil for the lights of the church of that apostle on Easter eve, and also at the cock-crow a hundred mancuses in honour of St Paul, for the same purpose of buying oil for the church of St Paul the apostle, to light the lamps on Easter eve and at the cock-crow; and a hundred mancuses for the universal apostolic pontiff. Ethelwerd 856 "In decem manentibus" is the "in decem mansis," which is less intelligible, expression of Asser. of Simeon. (9) A. 857. BURG CHARTERS IN 857. 1. RED of Mercia. April 18, subscribed also by "Ethelswith regina," and others. II, 63. (10) A. 858. 2 And about two years after But when king Ethelwulf was Lastly, after a year king he came from France he died, and his body lies at Winches dead, Athulf died, and his body reposes in the city of Win chester. And then was completed the fiftieth year from the beginning of king Egbyrht's reign. HERE ENDS THE THIRD BOOK, AND THE PROLOGUE OF THE FOURTH BOOK HERE BEGINS. THREE BOOKS ARE NOW FINISHED, AND IT REMAINS TO GUIDE MY PEN TO THE FOURTH, IN WHICH 858 10 Florence For the benefit of his soul, then, which he studied to promote in all things from the first flower of his youth, he directed through all his hereditary dominions, that one poor man in ten, either native or foreigner, should be supplied with meat, drink, and clothing, by his successors, until the day of judgment; supposing, however, that the country should still be inhabited both by men and cattle, and should not become deserted. He commanded also a large sum of money,namely 300 mancuses of pennies yearly to be carried to Rome for the good of his soul, to be distributed in the following manner: namely, an hundred mancuses in honour of St Peter, specially to buy oil for the lights of the church of that apostle on Easter eve, and also at the cock-crow : : a hundred mancuses in honour of St Paul, for the same purpose, and 100 mancuses for the universal apostolic pontiff. (16) 857. (17) 858. 11 When king Ethelwulf was dead, on the ides of January [JAN. 13] and was buried at Winchester, The ANNALS say that he was Essex). 6 He had first been bishop at buried at Stæningham [Steyning in necessity compelling it, he Essays was made king; and, having 4 MATT. WESTM. The same year died Cedda bishop of Hereford, to whom succeeded Albert. When, therefore, the glorious king Ethelwulf was dead, Saron Chronicle Asser 5 And then Ethelwulf's two sons succeeded to the kingdom; Æthelbald to the kingdom of the West-Saxons; and Ethelbryht to the kingdom of the Kentish-men, and to the kingdom of the East-Saxons and to Surrey and to the kingdom of the South-Saxons. His son Æthelbald, contrary to God's prohibition and the dignity of a Christian, contrary also to the custom of all the pagans, ascended his father's bed, and married Judith, daughter of Charles, king of the Franks, and drew down much infamy upon himself from all who heard of it. Ethelwerd 858 ALSO WILL BE FOUND GREATER AND MAY GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO IS Meanwhile after the death of king Athulf, his sons were raised to the kingdom, namely Ethelbald over the Western Angles, and Æthelbyrht over the men of Kent, and the Eastern, Southern, and Midland Angles. 6 And then Æthelbald reign- During two years and a half When five years were com of licentiousness after his father he held the government of the West-Saxons. ANNALS. ANNO 859. This year it began to freeze two days before the calends of December [Nov. 29] and ended on the nones of April [AP. 5]. In the year of our Lord's incarnation 860, which was the twelfth from king Ælfred's birth, died Ethelbald, and was buried at Sherborne. His brother Ethelberht, as was fitting, joined Kent, Surrey, and Sussex also to his In his days a large army of pleted, CHARTERS IN 859. PLEGRED subscribed also by Ethelwulf rex." "Ethelbeald fili. regis," and others. 11, 66. king Ethelbald died, and his brother Æthelbyrht succeeded to the possessions of both. In his days a large fleet of pagans came to land, and |