ordained,1 for any honour or place on earth, save it were by stress of need. Whereto he said, 'Well, if this is too much for thee, grant me at least the half of thy service, so as to be six months of the year with me, and as much in Britain [Wales].' To this I answered, that I could not promise even thus much, in careless courtesy [suaviter], without advice of my friends. However, when I saw that he really wanted my service (though I could not think why), I promised that I would come back to him that day six months (if I were alive) and bring him such answer as might be best for me and mine, and satisfactory to himself. And as he took this answer well, I pledged me to return at the appointed time, and, three days later, rode off and made my way back to my own land. $96. But, when departed from him, I was seized, in the city of Winchester, by a grievous fever, which, for a twelve-month and a week, vexed me day and night, insomuch that I despaired even of life. And, when I came not unto him at the set time, according to promise, he sent me a note [indiculum] to hasten my journey, and asking wherefore I stayed it. But, as I could not ride unto him, I sent back another note, to show the cause of my stay, and answer that, if I might be recovered of that sickness, I was ready to carry out my promise. Then, when the sickness left me, by the counsel and licence of all our folk [sc., the monks and chapter of St. David's], for the good of that holy place and of all that dwell therein, I pledged my service to the King, even as I had promised, on these terms, that for six months a year I should abide with him (six months on end, if I might, or three months in Britain and three again in Saxony); and that, on this principle [rudimentum], the interests of St. David might every way be furthered, to the best of my power. $97. For our folk hoped that, if I came in this wise to the knowledge and friendship of the King, they might have the less hurt and vexation at the hands of King Hemid, who oft-times harried the abbey and diocese [parochiam] of St. David's. For at that time, and long before, all the realms of South Wales [dexteralis Britanniæ] belonged, as they do still, to King Alfred. Hemid, in fact, with all the folk of Demetia [South Wales], had put themselves under the King's sway, for the violence of the six sons of Rodri.3 Howel also, the son of Rhys, King of Gleguising,* and Brochmail and Fernail, sons of Maurice, King of Gwent, of their own will sought unto the King, that he would be their Lord and Protector -driven thereto by the tyrannical violence of Ethelred, Lord of the Mercians." Helised, too, the King of Brecon, through force of these same sons of Rodri, of himself besought the King's suzerainty. Yea, and Anaraut, the son of Rodri, with his brethren, left, in the end, the friendship of the Northumbrians' (from which they never got good but harm), Le., made priest. The tonsure was given at his profession as a monk. Hemid, King of South Wales, died 892 (Petrie, Annales Cambriæ,' p. 836). 3 King of North Wales, died 877 (Ann. Camb.,' p. 836). 5 Ibid. Alfred's son-in-law. • Districts of Monmouthshire. and earnestly sought the friendship of the King, and came in to him. By the King he was received with honour, and taken as his godson at the Bishop's hand in Confirmation, and enriched with many a gift. And he, on his part, submitted him to the Lordship of the King, on this troth, that in all things he would obey the Royal will, even as Ethelred and the Mercians. Neither was it for nought that all these gained the King's friendship. For they who were fain of more power and land found the same; they who loved money, money; they who would have friendship, friendship ; they who would have both, both. For all had the King's love and ward and protection on every side-wheresoever the King and his folk could protect themselves. § 98. When, therefore, I came unto him, in the town-royal called Leonaford,1 I was received by him with all worship. And in that place I abode with him at court for 8 months, wherein I read unto him whatsoever books he would, such as we had at hand. For this is his own most special wont, despite of every hindrance, mental or bodily, either to read books to himself or to listen to others reading, day and night. And though I often besought his leave to go home, yet could I no way obtain it. And when I had at last made up my mind absolutely to demand leave, he called me to him, at twilight on Christmas Eve, and handed me two documents, wherein was an accurate inventory of all things in two monasteries, which in Saxon are called Amesbury [Amgresbyri] and Banwell. And that same day he made over to me those two monasteries, with everything in them, also a pall of silk, very precious, and incense as much as a strong man might carry, adding these words: 'This small gift do I make you; not that I mean it to be the last, nor the best in store for you.' (And he did afterwards unexpectedly give me Exeter, with all the diocese thereof in Saxony and in Cornwall; besides daily gifts beyond count, of every kind of earthly wealth, which it were long to reckon up here, and tedious to my readers. But let none think that I here make mention of these gifts for any vain glory, or lust of greater honour. For I call God to witness that I do it for no such end; but that I may make it clear to them that know him not how profuse is his liberality.) Then at once gave he me leave to ride to those two monasteries, so well furnished with all good things, and thence to return home. § 99. In the year of our Lord's Incarnation 886, the 35th [38th] of Alfred's age, the oft-mentioned host again fled the realm, and came into the land of the West Franks. Into the river called Seine did they steer their ships, and far up against the stream; and came to the city of Paris and there wintered and wrought them a stronghold, on a bend in the river, hard by the bridge, so that they stayed the towns-folk from crossing thereby. For that city lieth in the midst of the river, on a little island. For a whole year on end besieged they that city; but, by the mercy and grace of God, and the manful desence of the townsmen, never could they break in. 1 Linford, in Berkshire. $100. In the same year Alfred, King of the Anglo-Saxons, worshipfully restored the city of London, after the burning of the place and the massacre of the folk thereof, and made men to dwell therein, and made it over the wardship of Ethelred, Alderman of Mercia. And to this King did all, both Angles and Saxons, who before were scattered far and wide or were in bondage to the Heathen, freely come in and bowed them to his sway. § 101. [In the same year there arose at Oxford a grievous and shameful feud between Grimbald and those men of great learning, whom he had brought thither with him, and the old schoolmen whom he found there, who, at his coming, utterly refused to embrace the rules, customs, and methods of lecturing, which this same Grimbald instituted. For three years there had been dissension between them, nothing much; but yet the privy hate, which afterwards burst forth in most atrocious wise, was clear as daylight. And to appease it, did King Alfred the Conqueror, whom a message of complaint from Grimbald had let know of this feud, himself come to Oxford, that he might put an end to this controversy. And himself took he infinite trouble in hearing the case and the complaints brought on either side. § 102. The head and front of the contention lay in this. The old schoolmen contended that, before Grimbald came to Oxford, letters had flourished there more or less, even though the scholars were, as at that time, fewer than of old, many having been driven out by the savage and cruel Heathen. Moreover they proved and showed, and that by undisputed witness of the ancient Annals, that the ordinances and institutions of the place had been sanctioned by many a pious and learned man (such as St. Gildas, Melkin, Nennius, Kentigern, and others), who all passed lettered lives there, and bare rule therein in all peace and happiness and concord. Also that St. Germanus had come to Oxford, and stayed there half a year, when he went through Britain to preach against the Pelagian heresy, and was wonderfully pleased with the aforesaid ordinances and institutions. 103. The King, with unheard-of lowliness, heard out both sides with the utmost care, giving them again and again salutary advice and exhortation to keep the peace and agree together. Then departed he, thinking that both sides would submit them to his counsel and embrace his precepts. Grimbald, however, took it badly, and went off at once to the Abbey newly founded by Alfred at Winchester, and finally took the trouble to transfer to Winchester the tomb, wherein he proposed that his bones should be laid, after his course here was run, and which had been made under the chancel of St. Peter's at Oxford. For this church, in sooth, Grimbald himself had built from the very foundation, of stone polished with the utmost care.] §104. In the year of our Lord's Incarnation 887, the 36th [39th] of the age of King Alfred, the oft-named Heathen host left the city of Paris All this is a fraudulent insertion. See p. 47. untaken, and (inasmuch as no other way was open to them) rowed their fleet through the bridge and up the Seine, till they came to the mouth of the river Marne [Materra]. There left they the Seine, and turned up the Marne, and rowed up it, with no small toil, till they came to a place called Chezy [Caziei], which is a town-royal, and there wintered they one whole year. And, the year after, they made their way into the mouth of the river Yonne [Iona], and did great hurt to those parts. And there abode they one year. § 105. In that same year Charles, King of the Franks, went the way of all flesh. But Arnulf, his nephew, had driven him from the kingdom six weeks ere he died. And, so soon as ever he was dead, forthwith five Kings were set up, and the realm was cut up into five shares. Nevertheless the chief seat of the kingship came to Arnulf, as was meet and right, save only for his unworthy sin against his uncle. Moreover the other four Kings pledged their faith and obedience to Arnulf, as was fitting; for none of those four was heir to the kingdom on the father's side, but Arnulf only. Thus were five Kings set up, so soon as ever Charles was dead; but the Empire abode with Arnulf. Thus, then, was the kingdom divided; Arnulf had the realms east of the Rhine; Rudolf [Hrothwlf] the midmost part of the kingdom; Oda the West; Beorngar and Guy [Witha] Lombardy, and those parts which are on that side of the mountain [the Alps]. Yet did they not hold these realms, as they were, in peace. For twice they met in stricken field, and oft wasted the realm, each in turn. And either drave the other from the kingdom. § 106. In the same year, too, that the host left the city of Paris and came to Chézy, Ethelhelm, the Alderman of Wiltshire, took to Rome the alms of King Alfred and of the Saxons. 107. In this year did Alfred, King of the Anglo-Saxons, first begin by Divine inspiration on one and the self-same day both to read and to interpret. But that I may explain this more fully I will relate the cause of this late beginning. It came to pass on a certain day we were both sitting in the King's chamber, conversing on all kinds of subjects, as was our wont. And it chanced that I recited to him a quotation [testimonium] from a certain book. He heard it attentively, with both his ears, and pondered it deeply in his heart. Then suddenly showing me a book which he carried in his bosom, wherein were written the Daily Courses and Psalms and Prayers which he had read from his youth up, he bade me write therein that same quotation. Hearing this and perceiving his willing wit and his devout eagerness for Divine Wisdom, then gave I, though silently, boundless thanks to Almighty God, raising my hands towards Heaven, that He had implanted in my King's heart such devotion to Wisdom. § 108. But I could not find any empty space in the book wherein to write the quotation, for it was already quite full of many a matter. Wherefore I made some small tarrying, chiefly thereby to stir up the bright intelligence of the King. And when he urged me to make haste and write it speedily, I said unto him, 'Wilt thou that I should write it on a separate leaf? For it is not certain but that we may yet find another such extract, or even more, that may please you. And should that so be we shall be glad to have kept them separate.' Try that plan,' he replied. Then gladly did I haste to make ready a sheet [quaternio], at the beginning whereof I wrote the extract even as he bade. And that self-same day I wrote also on that sheet no less than three more quotations at his bidding, even as I had foretold. And every day after, as we talked, did we find other like pleasing passages, till the sheet became quite full. And rightly too. For it is written: 'The just buildeth on a small foundation, and, little by litte, passeth on to more? § 109. Even as a busy bee rangeth far and wide searching through the wilds [gronnios], even so did he ever eagerly get together many a flowret of the Divine Scriptures, with which he filled to overflowing the cells of his heart. . . For so soon as that first testimony was written down, he set himself on the spot to read and interpret it in the Saxon tongue, and then to begin many others. § 110. And as we are taught by the happy thief who acknowledged Jesus Christ, his Lord and ours, even as He hung beside him on that adorable gibbet the holy Cross (for in lowly prayer he bent on Him only his bodily eyes, seeing that otherwise he might not worship, so transfixed with nails was he, and humbly cried 'Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom'), and first began on the very gallows [gabulo] to learn the rudiments of the Christian Faith; so, in like manner (though in the very different position of a royal throne), did Alfred, by Divine inspiration, first take upon him to begin the learning of Holy Scripture on the Feast of St. Martin. § III. And these flowrets, gathered from all fields, learnt he from many a master and set them in one book, as he might, one with another, by no regular plan, till it grew by degrees to the size of a Psalter. And this volume he called his Encheiridion, or Manual, or Handbook, because he kept it at hand both night and day, and drew therefrom, as he would say, no small comfort. § 112. But (even as it is written by a certain sage: 'Watchful their minds, who rule with pious care') I see that I must be on my guard, inasmuch as I have just made a comparison between that happy thief and my King. For everyone hateth a gibbet, and everywhere it is loathed. But what can a man do, if he may not avoid the same, nor yet flee, nor yet by any device better his case if he fleeth not? Needs must he, will he, nill he [velit, nolit]. with woe and sadness endure the pain. § 113. Even so was the King pierced by the nails of many a sorrow, King though he was. For from 20 years of age to 45 (which he is now [893]) he has been incessantly worn down by the grievous attacks of an unknown malady; so that he has never known one quiet hour, wherein |