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

6 He had first been bishop at Winchester, but, on the death of Egbrict his father,

buried at Stæningham [Steyning in necessity compelling it, he

Essex).

Essays

was made king; and, having married a wife, he begat four sons, who were all kings

after him.

MATT. WESTM. The same year died Cedda bishop of Hereford, to whom succeeded Albert.

When, therefore, the glorious king Ethelwulf was dead,

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
GAIN, AND THE ORIGIN OF OUR
RACE IS MORE CLEARLY INDI-
CATED. AND, ALTHOUGH I MAY
SEEM TO SEND YOU A LOAD OF
READING, DEAREST SISTER OF MY
DESIRE, DO NOT JUDGE ME HARSH-
LY, BUT AS MY WRITINGS WERE
IN LOVE TO YOU, SO MAY YOU
READ THEM.
AND MAY GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO IS
PRAISED BOTH IN TRINITY AND
IN UNIPOTENCE, EVER PRESERVE
YOU UNDER THE SHADOW OF HIS
WINGS, AND YOUR COMPANIONS
WITH YOU. AMEN!
HERE ENDS THE PROLOGUE.
CHAP. I.-OF THE REIGN OF THE
SONS OF KING ATHULF, NAMELY
ETHELBALD AND ETHELBYRHT.

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.

of licentiousness after his father he held the government

of the West-Saxons.

pleted,

CHARTERS IN 859. PLEGRED subscribed also by "Ethelwulf rex." "Ethelbeald fili. regis," and others. II, 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

Saron Chronicle

and the crews stormed Winchester. And alderman Osric with the men of Hampshire, and alderman Ethelwulf with the men of Berkshire, fought against the army, and put them to flight, and had possession of the place of slaughter.

Asser

sea, and attacked and destroyed the city of Winchester. As they were returning laden with booty to their ships, Osric, earl of Hampshire, with his men, and earl Æth elwulf, with the men of Berkshire, confronted them bravely; a severe battle took place, and the pagans were slain on every side; and, finding themselves unable to resist, they took flight like women, and the Christians were masters of the place of death.

1. ETHEL

CHARTERS IN 860. BERHT of Wessex, subscribed also by "Ethelred filius regis," and others. II, 68. 2. ÆTHELBALD king of Wessex, signed also by "Ethelberht rex, "Judith regis filius [sic MS.]," and others. 11, 69. 3. A third charter, subscribed by "THELBEARHT rex,", "Ethelred fili. regis," "Elfræd fili. regis," and otbers, without a date, is givenfin II, 70, as belonging to either 860, 861, or 862.

(2) A. 861.

CHARTERS IN 861: none.

(1) A. 862.

(3) Here died S. Swithun thǝ bishop.

As St Swithin is such a well-known personage, the following notice of him by MATTHEW of WESTMINSTER, may amuse some of my readers.

"In the year of Grace 862, Saint Swithin, bishop of the city of Winchester, departed to the Lord. This holy man, whilst he still lived, was the possessor of many virtues, but was most famous for mildness and humility. It happened once, that this servant of God was sitting by chance with the workmen at Winchester bridge, that his presence

might stir them into activity: when lo, a woman carrying eggs for sale passed by on her way to the city. The workmen all ran round her, making fun, as men of that kind often do, and broke all her eggs for her. When the news of this shameful deed and the poor woman's complaint reached the bishop's ears, he sighed at her loss, and moved to kindness, made the sign of the cross over the broken eggs, whereby they all became whole again. Of the humble-mindedness of this holy man, it is a memorable example, that, as often as he was about to dedicate a new church-building, he always went thither on foot, and not on a horse or in a carriage, however long the journey might be. And that this might not furnish ridicule to the ignorant, or be set down by the proud for vain glory, he used to withdraw himself from the sight of men, and travel al

ways by night. He was a lover of solitary holiness and thought that he should sacrifice his interests to any external show. At length, when he was on the point of bidding farewell to this present life, he commanded his domestics, on their obedience to his episcopal authority, to bury his body outside the church, where it might be trodden under the feet of passers-by, and wetted by the dew from heaven. His successor in the bishopric was Ealferth, a man sufficiently learned in church matters, who for some time had wisely fulfilled the duties for his predecessor:

(5) A. 863.

6) A. 864. 8 Here the heathen ariny sat down in Thanet, and made peace with the men of Kent, and the men of Kent promised them money for the peace; and during the peace

2 In the year of our Lord's incarnation 864, the pagans wintered in the isle of Thanet, and made a firm treaty with the men of Kent, who promised them money for adhering to their covenant; but

their

After four years, from the death of king Æthelbald, the pagans strengthen position in the isle of Thanet, and promise to be at peace with the men of Kent, who on their part prepare money

Simeon

ing from the sea, assaulted and destroyed the city of Winchester. But when the aforesaid army was on its way back to the ships, loaded with booty, Osric the worthy leader of the men of Hampshire, came up with his people, and the good earl Ethelwlf with the men of Berkshire, manfully met them with an immense army, and joining battle, the pagans were slain on all sides by the English, who were aided by the angelic spirits.

And when the dreadful enemies were unable to stand any longer for their wounds, a great multitude cruelly fell, others hid themselves among the thick bushes, and some like women, took to flight. The English, with fortune smiling upon them, were mas ters of the field of death.