Saron Chronicle Asser that king Beorhtric 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. Beorhtric therefore being dead, the queen could remain no longer among the 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, Eadburgh, 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." heard from many who saw bly died. his soul. Of this prudent Simeon 856 Florence Hantingdon 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 the monastery by king Charles's order, she at last brought her life to an end in poverty and misery. 9 King Ætheluulf lived two 4 And when he (ETHELWOLF] The most merciful king years, after his return from had kept her (Judith) two Ethelwlf lived two years after Rome; during which among years. he set out for the city of many other good deeds of this Romulus. present life, reflecting on his Among other good deeds of departure according to the this present life, to which he way of all flesh, that his sons gave his royal mind, he medimight not quarrel unreason tated before-hand on his own ably after their father's death, death, and, that his sons might he ordered a letter of not quarrel after he had inheritance to be written, in departed this life, he comwhich he ordered that his posed an epistle in an elegant kingdom should be divided style, wherein he gave away between his two eldest sons, all the things which belonged Æthelbald and Æthelbert, to himself. 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. Saron Chronicle " in derem Asser Ethelwerd 856 read or wish to hear my work, 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 # "In decem manentibus" is the native or foreigner, should be expression of Asser. mansis," which is less intelligibie, He com- every year purpose of and a (9) A. 857. CHARTERS IN 857. 1. BURGRED of Mercia. April 18, subscribed also by Ethelswith regina," and others. II, 63. (10) A. 858. dead, and his body lies at Winches ter. 3 And he reigned eighteen years and a half.i Lastly, after a year king Athuif 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. a I Here follows (as paragraph 4 according to the figures) the gerie. alogy given at page 6. HERE ENDS THE THIRD BOOK, THREE BOOKS ARE NOW FINISHED, 858 Florence for the same purpose, and 100 mancuses for the universal apostolic pontift. He com He also commanded that 300 mancuses should be carried to Rome for the redemption of his soul ; 100 to the gate of St Peter especially to buy oil, 100 in honor of St Paul, and 100 for the universal apostolic pope. MATT. WESTM. The same year died Cedda bishop of Hereford, to whom succeeded Albert. (16) 857. (17) 858. 5 He was removed from When, therefore, the glorious 11 When king Ethelwulf was among men, and was buried king Ethelwulf was dead, dead,* on the ides of January at Winchester. [Jan. 13] and was buried at Winchester, 6 He had first been bishop at Winchester, but, on the + The ANN ALS say that he was death of Egbrict his father, buried at Stæningham (Steyning in necessity compelling it, he Essex). was made king; and, having after him. Saron Thronicle Asser Ethelwerd 858 ALSO WILL BE FOUND GREATER AND THE ORIGIN OF OUR OP READ THEM. WITH YOU. AMEN! dom; 5 And then Æthelwulf's two Meanwhile after the death sons succeeded to the king of king Athulf, his sons were Æthelbald to the king raised to the kingdom, namely dom of the West-Saxons; and Ethelbald over the Western Æthelbryht to the kingdom of Angles, and Æthelbyrht over the Kentish-men, and to the the men of Kent, and the kingdom of the East-Saxons Eastern, Southern, and Midand to Surrey and to the king land Angles. dom of the South-Saxons. His son Æthelbald, contrary CHARTERS IN 858. ÆTIL BERHT king of Kent. II, 64. himself from all who heard of it. 6 And then Æthelbald reign. During two years and a half When five years were comed five years. I of licentiousness after his pleted, father he held the government 1 Here follows par. 7, given at of the West-Saxons. note * in page 18. A. 859. ANNALS. ANNO 859. This year it CHARTERS IN 859. PLEGRED subscribed also by “ Ethelwulf rex." * Ethelbeald tili, regis," and others. II, 66. king Ethelbald died, A. 860. In the year of our Lord's inHere died king Æthelbald carnation 860, which was the and his body lies at Sher- twelfth from king Ælfred's burne. birth, died Æthelbald, and was And Æthelbryht His succeeded to all the realm of brother Æthelberht, as was his brother, and he held it in fitting, joined Kent, Surrey, goodly concord and in great and Sussex also to his tranquillity. dominion. and his brother Æthelbyrht succeeded to the possessions of both. And in his days In his days a large army of in his days a large fleet of a large fleet came to land, pagans, came up from the pagans came to land, and |