887 Florence Huntingdon Simeon 887. In the following year, the 6 In the year of our Lord's The above mentioned army, leaving the bridge at incarnation 887, the 39th army of the pagans, leaving Paris, went up the Seine as from the birth of the illusthe city of Paris uninjured, because they could not other- Marne as far as Cadzi, and said army, leaving that city of far as the Marne, and up the trious king Elfred, the aforewise provide for themselves, they dwelt there and in Paris, came to the Seine, sailed up the Ionne* two years. thence to the mouth of the river Seine under the bridge, river called the Materre and until they reached the mouth then to a place called Caziei, of the river Materne i. e. a royal vill : in which [Marne); where they left place they wintered a whole the Seine, and, following for a long time the course Noticed more fully by the other of the Marne, at length, but not without much labour, they arrived at a place called Chezy, i. e. a royal vill, where . they wintered one year. year. chroniclers : see in 888. Asser Saron Chronicle Ethelwerd 887 And then was that kingdom appointed, and the kingdom The kingdom was then didivided into five, and five was split into five parts ; but vided into five, and so many kings were consecrated there- the principal rank in the kings in the same: but all to. This, however, was done kingdom justly and deserv- things are done by the perby permission of Earnulf: edly devolved on Earnulf, mission of King Earnulf, and and they said that they would save only that he committed they promised to be all under hold it from his hand, because an unworthy offence against his subjection, because they none of them on the father's his uncle. The other four were not like him, descended side was born thereto except kings promised fidelity and from the paternal stock; him alone. Earnulf then obedience to Earnulf, as was dwelt in the land east of the proper; for none of these Rhine: and Rothulf then four kings was hereditary on succeeded to the middle king- his father's side in his share dom, and Oda to the western of the kingdom, as was Earpart, and Beorngar and nulf; therefore, though the Witha to the land of the five kings were appointed Lombards and to the lands immediately on the death of on that side of the mountain : Charles, yet the empire reand that they held in great mained in the hands of discord, and fought two Earnulf. general battles, and oft and Such, then, was the division many times laid waste the of the kingdom ; Earnulf re and he lived after this on the land, and each repeatedly ceived the countries on the side of the river drove out the other. east of the river Rhine; Rhine. Hroththwlf [lopulf] thé But Hrodulf occupied the inner parts of the kingdom ; middle parts of the kingdom, Oda the western part; Beorn- Odda the western parts, and gar and Witha [Guido), Beorngar with Vuitha held Lombardy, and those coun- the kingdom of the Lombards tries which are in that part from the division of the Jovian of the mountains; but they mountain [Mount ST did not keep these large do BERNARD). There they minions in peace, for they began a civil war; people twice fought a pitched battle, assailed people; the lands of and often mutually ravaged both were continually disturbtheir kingdoms, and drove ed, nor was there any hope each other out of their of quiet. dominions. The same year, in which the And that same year that the In the same year in which barbarians had settled on the army went up beyond the that (pagan] army left Paris bridge of Paris, duke Æthelbridge at Paris, alderman and went to Chezy, Æthel- helm received no small part Æthelhelm carried the alms helm, earl of Wiltshire, car- of the money paid from the of the West-Saxons and of ried 'to Rome the alms of diocese of the English by the king Ælfred to Rome. king Ælfred and of the king for the people, and Saxons. went to Rome. ea stern In the same year also Ælfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, so often before mentioned, by divine inspiration, began, on one and the same day, to read and to interpret; but that I may explain this more fully to those who are ignorant, I will relate the cause of this long delay in beginning. On a certain day we were both of us sitting in the king's chamber, talking on all kinds of subjects as usual, and it happened that I read to him a quotation out of a certain book. He heard it attentively with both his ears, and addressed me with a thoughtful mind, showing me at the same moment a book which he carried in his bosom, wherein the daily courses and psalms, and prayers which he had read in his youth, were written, and he commanded me to write the same quotation in that book. Hearing this, and perceiving Simeon 887 Florence Huntingdon appointed, and the kingdom was split into five parts; but the principal rank in the About this time by the kingdom justly and deserv- factiousness of Ernulf, five edly devolved on Arnulf, kings were made in France. save only that he committed an unworthy offence against his uncle. The other four kings promised fidelity and obedience to Arnulf, as was proper; for none of these four kings was hereditary on his father's side in his share of the kingdom, as was Arnulf ; therefore, though the five kings were appointed immediately on the death of Charles, yet the empire remained in the hands of Arnulf, Such then was the division of the kingdom ; Arnulf received the countries on the east of the river Rhine ; Herothulf [Rodulf] the inner parts of the kingdom ; Oda the western part; Beorngar and Witha [Guido), Lombardy, and those countries which are in that part of the mountains; but they did not keep these large dominions in peace, for they twice fought a pitched battle, and often mutually ravaged their kingdoms, and drove each other out of their dominions. Athel- Saxons. In the same year also Ælfred 8 At this time, also, Elfred king of the Anglo-Saxons king of the Saxons inspired so often before mentioned, by divine inspiration, began, on by the gift of God, was able one and the same day, to read and to interpret. to read and interpret the sacred writings. Saron Chronicle Asser and devout desire of studying the words of divine wisdom, I gave, though in secret, boundless thanks to Almighty God, who had implanted such a love of wisdom in the king's heart. But I could not find any empty space in that book wherein to write the quotation, for it was already full of various matters; wherefore I made a little delay, principally that I might stir up the bright intellect of the king to a higher acquaintance with the divine testimonies. Upon his urging me to make haste and write it quickly, I said to him, " Are you willing that I should write that quotation on some leaf apart? For it is not certain whether we shall not find one or more other such extracts which will please you ; and if that should so happen, we shall be glad that we have kept them apart." “ Your plan is good,” said he, and I gladly made haste to get ready a sheet, in the beginning of which I wrote what he bade me; and on that same day, I wrote therein, as I had anticipated, no less than three other quotations which pleased him; and from that time we daily talked together, and found out other quotations which pleased him, so that the sheet became full, aud deservedly so; according as it is written, “ The just man builds upon a moderate foundation, and by degrees passes to greater things.” Thus, like a most productive bee, he flew here and there, asking questions as he went, until he had eagerly and unceasingly collected many various flowers of divine Scripture, with which he thickly stored the cells of his mind. Now when that first quotation was copied, he was eager at once to read, and to interpret in Saxon, and then to teach others; even as we read of that happy robber, who recognized his Lord, aye, the Lord of all men, as he was hanging on the blessed cross, and saluting him with his bodily eyes only, because elsewhere he was all pierced with nails, cried, " Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom ! for it was only at the end of his life that he began to learn the rudiments of the Christian faith. But the king, inspired by God, began to study the rudiments of divine Scripture on the sacred solemnity of St Martin (Nov. 11), and he continued to learn the flowers collected by certain masters, and to reduce them into the form of one book, as he was then able, although mixed one with another, until it became almost as large as a psalter. This book he called his ENCHIRIDION or Manual (HAND-BOOK], because he carefully kept it at hand day and night, and found, as he told me, no small consolation therein. But as has already been written by a certain wise man, of watchful minds are they whose pious care It is to govern well, so must I be watchful, in that I just now drew a kind of comparison or similarity, though in dissimilar manner, between that happy robber and the king; for the cross is hateful to every one, wherever there is suffering. But what can he do, if he cannot save himself or escape thence? or by what art can he remain there and improve his cause? He must therefore, whether he will or no, endure with pain and sorrow that which he is suffering. Now the king was pierced with many nails of tribulation, though placed in the royal seat; for from the twentieth year of his age to the present year, which is his 45th,* he has been constantly afflicted with most severe attacks of an unknown complaint, so that he has not a moment's ease either * This must consequently have been written in A. D. 893. 887 Florence Huntingdon Simeon Namely on the holy feast day of St Martin bishop of Tours. Now the king was pierced with many nails of tribulation ; g He was though placed in the royal seat; for from the twentieth year afflicted with many tribulaof his age, as we have said, to his 45th and more, he was tions of this world, notwithconstantly afflicted with most severe attacks of an un- standing that he was placed known complaint, so that he had not a moment's ease either in kingly power. from suffering the pain which it causes, or from the gloom |