Saron Chronicle

Asser 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. 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 celebration 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.

a

1

a

866 Florence

Huntingdon

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 He was beloved by his father and mother, and even by all remarkable in his countethe people, above all his brothers, and was educated alto- nance and in his graceful gether at the court of the king. As he advanced through speech. As the stag thirsts the years of infancy and youth, his form appeared more for the water, so did he thirst comely than that of his brothers; in look, in speech, and in

that his inmost soul should manners he was more graceful than they.

be satiated, and his bosom But, with shame be it spoken, by the un

be imbued with heavenly worthy neglect of his parents and nurses, he remained learning. But, oh shame! illiterate even till he was twelve years old or more ; but he by the carelessness of his listened with serious attention to the Saxon poems which he parents and attendants he often heard recited, and easily retained them in his docile remained illiterate even to memory.

the twelfth year of his age. He practised hunting in all its

The glorious young man and branches, with great assiduity and success ;

future king studied day and as in all the other

night to learn the Saxon gifts of God.

poems, and was easy to be On a certain day, therefore, his mother was showing him taught, industrious in the art and his brothers a Saxon book of poetry, which she held in of hunting, and incomparable her hand, and said, “ Whichever of you shall the soonest

in every perfection. learn this volume shall have it for his own." Stimulated On a certain day, therefore, by these words, or rather by the Divine inspiration, and his worthy mother was showallured by the beautifully illuminated letter at the beginning ing him and his brothers a of the volume, he spoke before all his brothers, who thougħ Saxon book of poetry, which his seniors in age, were not so in grace, and answ

aswered, she held in her hand, and Śr Will you really give that book to one of us, that is to say, said,

“ Whichever of you to him who can first understand and repeat it to you?" At shall the soonest learn this this his mother smiled with satisfaction, and confirmed what volume shall have it for his she had before said. Upon which the boy took the book

Stimulated by the out of her hand, and went to his master to read it, and in Divine inspiration, and allur

due time brought it to his mother and recited it. ed by the beautifully illumiAfter this he learned the daily course, that is, the cele- nated letter at the beginning bration of the hours and afterwards certain psalms, and of the volume, he answered several prayers, contained in a certain book which he kept his mother, “ Will day and night in his bosom, and

give that book?' At that carried about with him to assist his prayers, amid all the his mother smiled with satisbustle and business of this present life. But sad to say! faction, and confirmed what he could not gratify his most ardent wish to learn the liberal she had before said. Upon arts, because, as he said, there were no good readers at that which the boy took the book time in all the kingdom of the West-Saxons. 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. Essays

5

OWO.

you really

Saron Chronicle

Asser

Ethelwerd

866

A. 867.
Here the army went from In the year of our Lord's After one year that army,
East-Anglia over Humber- incarnation 867, which was leaving the eastern parts,
mouth to Eoforwic-chester the nineteenth of the life of crossed the river Humber
[York] in North-humbria. the aforesaid king Alfred, into Northumberland to the

the army of pagans before city of Evorac, which is now
mentioned removed from the commonly called the city of
East-Angles to the city of Eoferwic (YORK).
York, which is situated on
the north bank of the river

Humber.

a

And there was much dis- At that time a violent discord For there was then a great sension among that people, arose, by the instigation of civil dissension between the and they had cast out their the devil, among the inhabi- inhabitants of that land, and king Osbryht, and had taken tants of Northnmberland; they were so enraged that to themselves a king, Ælla, as always is used to happen they also expelled their king of unkingly blood ; but late among a people who have Osbyrht from his seat ; and in the year they resolved that incurred the wrath of God. having confirmed their rethey would fight against the For the Northumbrians at solves, they chose an obscure army; and therefore they that time, as we have said, person for their king; and gathered a large force, and had expelled their lawful after some delay they turned sought the army at the town king Osbert, and appointed their thoughts to raise an of York, and stormed the a certain tyrant named Ælla, army and repulse those who town, and some of them got not of royal birth, over the were advancing. They collec

867

Florence

Huntingdon

Simeon O happy race of men ! ( prudent king! you carry the key of wisdom, you love wisdom, and shall be wise, doing judgment and justice upon the earth! Clerks, attend and see how your king carries the book in his bosom day and night, whilst you neither know nor wish to know the law of God. The same man, when he became king, lamented to himself that he had not been educated in

the liberal arts.

867. The army of pagans before In the second year of king In the year 867, the 19th mentioned removed from the Adelred, the aforesaid army, from the birth of king Elfred, East-Angles to the city of led by Hinguar and Ubba, the aforesaid army

of

pagans York, which is situated on came into Northumbria at removed from the Eastern the north bank of the river Eoverwic [York];

Angles to the city of York, Humber.

which lies on the northern bank of the river Humber.

a

At that time a violent discord

and there

At the same time a great disarose, by the instigation of

was among the people of that cord was kindled between the the devil, among the inhabi- country a great discord, with people of Northumberland, tants of Northumberland; the usual treachery, because and most aptly; for he who as always is used to happen they had cast off their king

loves hatred shall find it. among a people who have Osbrict, and had received for the Northumbrians at incurred the wrath of God. another king, a degenerate

that time, For the Northumbrians at man named Ellan : and had expelled their lawful king that time, as we have said, therefore, having slowly come

Osbert, had expelled their lawful to an agreement, and assem

and appointed certain king Osbriht, and appointed bled an army, they came to tyrant named Ælla, over the a certain tyrant named Ælla, Eoverwic (YORK], in which affairs of the kingdom; but not of royal birth, over the the pagan army was; and, when the pagans approached, affairs of the kingdom ; but having broken down the wall by divine Providence, and when the pagans approached, they rushed in and fought the union of the nobles for by divine Providence, and

an

Saron Chronicle

Asser

Ethelwerd 867 within, and there was when the Christians had excited : they joined battle, excessive slaughter made of made a breach as they had a miserable slaughter took the North-humbrians, some purposed, and many of them place on both sides, and the within some without, and had entered into the town, kings were slain. Those of the kings were both slain : the pagans, urged by despair them who were left made and the remainder made and necessity, made a fierce peace with the hostile army. peace with the army. sally upon them, slew them, Immediately after this he sent for

routed them, and cut them all his relations and friends, to whom BROMPTON.

down on all sides, both within he revealed the affront which had “ King Osbert, during a residence and without the walls.

been put upon him, and his intenat York, wentout one day to bunt in

tion to take speedy vengeance fur In that battle fell almost all the same. a forest not far distant from the city,

To this they all consenand on his return called at the house the Northumbrian warriors, ted, and approving his design, took of Bruern Brocard, one of his princi- with both the kings and a

horse, and rode with him to York. pal nobles, to refresh himself, after

The king, when he saw him, invited the fatigues of the day. Bruern,

multitude of nobles; the him in civil terms to draw near ; but knowing nothing of the king's com- remainder, who escaped, his back, defied the king, and re

Bruern, having all his relations at ing, was gone down to the sea-side

made peace with the pagans. to secure the coast against pirates :

nounced his allegiance, giving up

all his lands and whatsoever else and his wife, who was a lady of in

he held of him. comparable beauty, and adorned with

This done, withall the accomplishments which be. had abused, lamented so bitterly, that

out any more words, Bruern withlong to her sex, entertained the king her face was sore with weeping. Her

drew, making no stay at all at court. at dinner with due hospitality and

husband, upon his return, asked the Taking leave of his friends, he sailed splendour. Osbert was charmed with

cause of so sudden a change, and straightway into Denmark, where her beauty and her behaviour: as

such unusual sadness : upon which he made a complaint to Codrin, soon as dinner was over, he pretend

she told him all that had happened king of the country, of the affront ed some secret business of great imto her by the violence of the king.

offered to him and his wife by portance, and, attended to the door When she had finished the story, her

Osbert, and desired his speedy sucby some of his own servants, who

husband comforted her, and bade cour, that he might be in a condiwere privy to his design, he led her

her not to afflict herself, since he tion to take vengeance for the injury. to a private apartment, where he

assured her, that because she had Codrin and the Danes were rejoiced treated her with violence, and comtold him the truth, he would not love

at this event, which gave them a mitted a shameful breach of the faith her less than he had done before :

sufficient excuse to invade Engwhich had been reposed in him. and, by God's good pleasure, would

land, that they might avenge the Having thus had his will. he return

revenge both himself and her for the wrongs of Bruern, who was descended to York, whilst

ed from their blood."
lady, whom he
wrong which had been done them.

In the same year died Eanulf, And the same year bishop In the same year, Ealhstan, Ealhstan, fifty years after his

duke of Somerset; also bishop Ealchstan died ; and he had bishop of the church the bishopric of Shireburne Sherborne, went the way of in the diocese called Sher

of succession to the bishopric, fifty years, and his body lies all flesh, after he had hon- borne. There also his body there in the town. ourably ruled his see four years, and he was buried at

now reposes; and that of

the above-named duke in the Sherborne.

monastery called Glaston

bury.

a

A. 868.

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

life.
'The aforesaid revered
king Alfred, but at that time
occupying subordinate
station, asked and obtained ANNALS. ANNO 868.

A great

famine. in marriage a noble Mercian CHARTERS IN 868. 1. ETHEL

lady, daughter of Æthelred, RED king of Wessex &c. II, 86. .. CIALULF: subscribed by “ Æthered surnamed Mucil,* earl of rex" and others.

* i. e. MickLE,' the Big.' IÍ, 87.

the Gaini.t BURGRED of Mercia, August 1, subscribed by Ethelredus rex WestThe mother of this lady was

3.