Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

He was beloved by his father and mother, and even by all
the people, above all his brothers, and was educated alto-
gether at the court of the king. As he advanced through
the years of infancy and youth, his form appeared more
comely than that of his brothers; in look, in speech, and in
manners he was more graceful than they. His noble
nature implanted in him from his cradle a love of wisdom
above all things; but, with shame be it spoken, by the un-
worthy neglect of his parents and nurses, he remained
illiterate even till he was twelve years old or more; but he
listened with serious attention to the Saxon poems which he
often heard recited, and easily retained them in his docile
memory. He was a zealous practiser of hunting in all its
branches, and hunted with great assiduity and success; for
skill and good fortune in this art, as in all others, are among
the gifts of God, as we also have often witnessed.
On a certain day, therefore, his mother was showing him
and his brothers a Saxon book of poetry which she held in
her hand, and said, "Whichever of you shall the soonest
learn this volume shall have it for his own." Stimulated
by these words, or rather by the Divine inspiration, and
allured by the beautifully illuminated letter at the beginning
of the volume, he spoke before all his brothers, who, though
his seniors in age, were not so in grace, and answered,
"Will you really give that book to one of us, that is to say,
to him who can first understand and repeat it to you?" At
this his mother smiled with satisfaction, and confirmed what
she had before said. Upon which the boy took the book
out of her hand, and went to his master to read it, and in
due time brought it to his mother and recited it.
After this he learned the daily course, that is, the cele
bration of the hours, and afterwards certain psalms, and
several prayers, contained in a certain book which he kept
day and night in his bosom, as we ourselves have seen, and
carried about with him to assist his prayers, amid all the
bustle and business of this present life. But sad to say!
he could not gratify his most ardent wish to learn the liberal
arts, because, as he said, there were no good readers at that
time in all the kingdom of the West-Saxons.
This he confessed, with many lamentations and sighs, to
have been one of his greatest difficulties and impediments
in this life, namely, that when he was young and had the
capacity for learning, he could not find teachers; but, when
he was more advanced in life, he was harassed by so many
diseases unknown to all the physicians of this island, as well
as by internal and external anxieties of sovereignty, and by
continual invasions of the pagans, and had his teachers and
writers also so much disturbed, that there was no time for
reading. But yet among the impediments of this present
life, from infancy up to the present time, and, as I believe,
even until his death, he continued to feel the same insatiable
desire of knowledge, and still aspires after it.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

He was beloved by his father and mother, and even by all the people, above all his brothers, and was educated altogether at the court of the king. As he advanced through the years of infancy and youth, his form appeared more comely than that of his brothers; in look, in speech, and in manners he was more graceful than they. But, with shame be it spoken, by the unworthy neglect of his parents and nurses, he remained illiterate even till he was twelve years old or more; but he listened with serious attention to the Saxon poems which he often heard recited, and easily retained them in his docile

memory.

He practised hunting in all its

branches, with great assiduity and success;
as in all the other
gifts of God.

On a certain day, therefore, his mother was showing him
and his brothers a Saxon book of poetry, which she held in
her hand, and said, "Whichever of you shall the soonest
learn this volume shall have it for his own." Stimulated
by these words, or rather by the Divine inspiration, and
allured by the beautifully illuminated letter at the beginning
of the volume, he spoke before all his brothers, who though
his seniors in age, were not so in grace, and answered,
"Will you really give that book to one of us, that is to say,
to him who can first understand and repeat it to you?" At
this his mother smiled with satisfaction, and confirmed what
she had before said. Upon which the boy took the book
out of her hand, and went to his master to read it, and in
due time brought it to his mother and recited it.
After this he learned the daily course, that is, the cele-
bration of the hours and afterwards certain psalms, and
several prayers, contained in a certain book which he kept
day and night in his bosom, and

carried about with him to assist his prayers, amid all the bustle and business of this present life. But sad to say! he could not gratify his most ardent wish to learn the liberal arts, because, as he said, there were no good readers at that time in all the kingdom of the West-Saxons.

Essays

Simeon

heavenly doctrines; he was loved from his cradle by his father and mother with a wonderful love beyond all his brothers. Lastly, as his stature encreased during his youthful age, his form seemed more comely than his other brothers, and he shone alike remarkable in his counte nance and in his graceful speech. As the stag thirsts for the water, so did he thirst that his inmost soul should be satiated, and his bosom be imbued with heavenly learning. But, oh shame! by the carelessness of his parents and attendants he remained illiterate even to the twelfth year of his age. The glorious young man and future king studied day and night to learn the Saxon poems, and was easy to be taught, industrious in the art of hunting, and incomparable

in every perfection. On a certain day, therefore, his worthy mother was showing him and his brothers a Saxon book of poetry, which she held in her hand, and said, "Whichever of you shall the soonest learn this volume shall have it for his own." Stimulated by the Divine inspiration, and allured by the beautifully illuminated letter at the beginning of the volume, he answered his mother," Will you really give that book? At that his mother smiled with satisfaction, and confirmed what she had before said. Upon which the boy took the book out of her hand, and went to his master, shewed the book and read it, his teacher shewing him how to read it, and in due time brought it to his

mother and recited it. His mother gave boundless thanks to the goodness of the Saviour, seeing that the grace of God was in the mind of her child.

After this inflamed with the divine love, he learned certain psalms, and the daily course, that is, the celebration of the hours, contained in a certain book which he kept day and night in his bosom, and carried about with him.

5

Saxon Chronicle

Asser

Ethelwerd 866

A. 867.

Here the army went from East-Anglia over Humbermouth to Eoforwic-chester [YORK] in North-humbria.

And there was much dissension among that people, and they had cast out their king Osbryht, and had taken to themselves a king, Ælla, of unkingly blood; but late in the year they resolved that they would fight against the army; and therefore they gathered a large force, and sought the army at the town of York, and stormed the town, and some of them got

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 867, which was the nineteenth of the life of the aforesaid king Alfred, the army of pagans before mentioned removed from the East-Angles to the city of York, which is situated on the north bank of the river Humber.

At that time a violent discord arose, by the instigation of the devil, among the inhabitants of Northnmberland; as always is used to happen among a people who have incurred the wrath of God. For the Northumbrians at that time, as we have said, had expelled their lawful king Osbert, and appointed a certain tyrant named Ella, not of royal birth, over the affairs of the kingdom; but when the pagans approached, by divine Providence, and the union of the nobles for the common good, that discord was a little appeased, and Osbert and Ella uniting their resources, and assembling an army, marched to York. The pagans fled at their approach, and attempted to defend themselves within the walls to the city. The Christians, perceiving their flight and the terror they were in, determined to

pursue them into the town and destroy its walls; which they succeeded in doing; for that city was not surrounded at that time with firm or strong walls and

After one year that army, leaving the eastern parts, crossed the river Humber into Northumberland to the city of Evorac, which is now commonly called the city of Eoferwic [YORK].

For there was then a great civil dissension between the inhabitants of that land, and they were so enraged that they also expelled their king Osbyrht from his seat; and having confirmed their resolves, they chose an obscure person for their king; and after some delay they turned their thoughts to raise an army and repulse those who were advancing. They collected together no small bodies of troops, and reconnoitred the enemy: their rage was

[blocks in formation]

At that time a violent discord arose, by the instigation of the devil, among the inhabitants of Northumberland; as always is used to happen among a people who have incurred the wrath of God. For the Northumbrians at that time, as we have said, had expelled their lawful king Osbriht, and appointed a certain tyrant named Ella, not of royal birth, over the affairs of the kingdom; but when the pagans approached, by divine Providence, and the union of the nobles for the common good, that discord was a little appeased, and Osbriht and Ella uniting their resources, and assembling an army, marched to York. The pagans fled at

[blocks in formation]

CHARTERS IN 867.

ETHELRED

their approach, and attempt- of Wessex, at Canterbury, subscrib

ed to defend themselves within the walls of the city. The Christians, perceiving their flight and the terror they were in, determined to destroy the walls of the town, which they succeeded in doing; for that city was not surrounded at that time with firm or strong walls, and

ed by forty others. II, 83.

At the same time a great discord was kindled between the people of Northumberland, and most aptly; for he who

loves hatred shall find it. For the Northumbrians at that time, had expelled their lawful king Osbert,

and appointed a certain tyrant named Ella, over the affairs of the kingdom; but when the pagans approached, by divine Providence, and the union of the nobles for the common good, that discord was a little appeased, and Osbert and Ella uniting their resources, and assembling an army, marched to York. The pagans fled at their approach, and the Christians perceiving their flight and the terror they were in, proved themselves stronger than they.

Saron Chronicle

within, and there was an excessive slaughter made of the North-humbrians, some within some without, and the kings were both slain: and the remainder made

peace with the army.

BROMPTON.

"King Osbert, during a residence at York, went out one day to hunt in a forest not far distant from the city, and on his return called at the house

of Bruern Brocard, one of his principal nobles, to refresh himself, after

the fatigues of the day. Bruern, knowing nothing of the king's coming, was gone down to the sea-side to secure the coast against pirates : and his wife, who was a lady of incomparable beauty, and adorned with all the accomplishments which belong to her sex, entertained the king at dinner with due hospitality and splendour. Osbert was charmed with her beauty and her behaviour: as soon as dinner was over, he pretended some secret business of great importance, and, attended to the door by some of his own servants, who were privy to his design, he led her to a private apartment, where he treated her with violence, and committed a shameful breach of the faith which had been reposed in him. Having thus had his will, he returned to York, whilst the lady, whom he

[blocks in formation]

Asser

when the Christians had made a breach as they had purposed, and many of them had entered into the town, the pagans, urged by despair and necessity, made a fierce sally upon them, slew them, routed them, and cut them down on all sides, both within

and without the walls. In that battle fell almost all the Northumbrian warriors, with both the kings and a multitude of nobles; the remainder, who escaped, made peace with the pagans.

had abused, lamented so bitterly, that her face was sore with weeping. Her husband, upon his return, asked the cause of so sudden a change, and such unusual sadness: upon which she told him all that had happened to her by the violence of the king. When she had finished the story, her husband comforted her, and bade her not to afflict herself, since he assured her, that because she had told him the truth, he would not love her less than he had done before; and, by God's good pleasure, would revenge both himself and her for the wrong which had been done them.

[blocks in formation]

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 868, which was the twentieth of king Alfred's life,

The aforesaid revered king Alfred, but at that time occupying a subordinate station, asked and obtained in marriage a noble Mercian lady, daughter of Ethelred, surnamed Mucil,* earl of the Gaini.† The mother of this lady was line of named Edburga, of the royal Mercia, whom we have often seen with our own eyes a few years before her death.

She was a venerable lady,

[blocks in formation]

excited they joined battle, a miserable slaughter took place on both sides, and the kings were slain. Those of them who were left made peace with the hostile army.

Immediately after this he sent for all his relations and friends, to whom he revealed the affront which had been put upon him, and his intention to take speedy vengeance for the same. To this they all consented, and approving his design, took horse, and rode with him to York. The king, when he saw him, invited him in civil terms to draw near; but Bruern, having all his relations at

his back, defied the king, and renounced his allegiance, giving up all his lands and whatsoever else he held of him. This done, without any more words, Bruern withdrew, making no stay at all at court. Taking leave of his friends, he sailed straightway into Denmark, where he made a complaint to Codrin, king of the country, of the affront offered to him and his wife by Osbert, and desired his speedy suecour, that he might be in a condition to take vengeance for the injury. Codrin and the Danes were rejoiced at this event, which gave them a sufficient excuse to invade England, that they might avenge the wrongs of Bruern, who was descended from their blood."

In the same year died Eanulf, duke of Somerset ; also bishop Ealhstan, fifty years after his succession to the bishopric, in the diocese called Sherborne. There also his body

now reposes; and that of the above-named duke in the monastery called Glaston→ bury.

After one year therefore, the

ANNALS. ANNO 868. A great famine.

* i. e. MICKLE, the BIG.' + Hence GAINSBOROUGH.

and after the decease of her husband, she remained many years a widow, even till her own death.

« PreviousContinue »