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III.

ETHELWERD.

HIRD in order amongst our authorities for the life of Alfred comes the work of Patricius Consul Fabius Quæstor Ethelwerdus,' who composed a chronicle from the Creation to A.D. 975, and dedicated it to his relative Matilda, like himself of the English bloodroyal. His prologue tells us that she was lineally descended from Alfred, being the grand-daughter of the great Emperor Otho, who married a daughter of Edward the Elder. He adds that he himself was great-grandson to Ethelwald Clito, the nephew who was set aside that Alfred might ascend the throne. Matilda, who was the wife of Obizzo, Count of Milan, died in 1011. It is therefore not improbable that Ethelwerd is the noble of that name mentioned as having fallen fighting by the side of his kinsman Edmund Ironside in the terrible battle of Assingdon, A.D. 1016, which made Canute King of England.

Ethelwerd writes in Latin of the vilest kind, and takes his facts mostly from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, but very inaccurately, and with a few entries peculiar to himself. The only ancient MS. of his work perished in the fire of 1731, along with so many other of the Cottonian Collection. It was transcribed for Saville's 'Scriptores post Bedam' (1596), and has been re-edited by Petrie. This chronicle is divided into books and chapters, the entries relating to Alfred being

found at the close of the third and the beginning of the fourth book.

Ethelwerd, however, almost never gives a date, merely referring to an event as so many years or months after such another event, so that his chronology is apt to be confused. His most valuable contribution to our period is his very spirited account of the campaign of 894, which reads as if it came out of some old ballad.

ETHELWERD.

BOOK III.

CHAPTER III.

Of the sway of Athulf1 and his deeds.

§ 1. After the death of Egbert, came Athulf to his father's throne, and gave to his son Ethelstan2 the realms of Kent and Essex and Surrey and Sussex. ... Also King Ethelwulf sent his son Alfred to Rome, in the days of our Lord Pope Leo, who hallowed him to King, and stood his Godfather, even as at this day we are wont to take little children at the Bishop's hand and to call them our own. After Easter, in that year [853], King Ethelwulf gave his daughter in marriage to King Burghred.

§ 2. Again, after a year, the heathen wintered in Sheppey. In the same year [855] King Athulf gave a tenth of all that he had as the Lord's lot, and the same wont set he throughout all his realm. This year went he forth to Rome with great pomp, and there abode he twelve months. At his home-coming to his own land, Charles, King of the Franks, gave him his daughter in wedlock, and he brought her home with him [856]. King Athulf died one year after he came back [858], and his body resteth in the city of Winchester. And then was fulfilled the fiftieth year since King Egbert took the kingship.3

BOOK IV.

CHAPTER 1.

Of the reigns of the sons of King Athulf, namely Ethelbald and Ethelbyrht.

Meanwhile, after the death of King Athulf, his sons sat on his throne, to wit, Ethelbald over the West Angles and Ethelbyrht over Kent, as well as over the East, South, and Middle Angles. When five years were fulfilled, King Ethelbald died [860], and his brother Ethelbyrht took on his power along with his own. In his days came there to land a mighty heathen fleet, and wasted the royal city which is called Winton. Then was their onset stayed by Osric, Chief of the province of Hamtun-shire, I.., Ethelwulf. The spelling throughout Ethelwerd's chronicle is exceedingly lax.

Afterwards St. Neot; see p. 17.

This entry is wrong; Egbert became King in the year 800.

I.e., Wessex.

Essex, Sussex, Middlesex. It is noteworthy that Ethelwerd uses the word 'Angle' as equivalent to 'Saxon,' but never vice versa.

and Athulf, Chief of Berkshire. Followed a fight; and these chieftains put the heathen to flight and won the day. Then four years after the death of Ethelbald the heathen make them a stronghold in the Isle of Thanet [864], and plight their troth to the men of Kent to be at peace with them, who on their part make ready a fee-boot, lacking wit to foresee what should come. But the Danes break their troth, and stealing forth privily by night lay waste all the Eastern coasts of Kent. Then after one year King Ethelbald died [866], and his body lieth in peace in the minster called Scireburne [Sherborne].

CHAPTER II.

Of the reign of King Ethelred.

§ 1. Then did Ethelred follow in the kingship, after the death of his brother Ethelbyrht. And in the same year [866] did the fleets of the tyrant Igware reach the land of the Angles, and they wintered among the East Angles. There they pile their arms, mount on horses, and make peace with the folk. Then, after a year [867], that host left the Eastern shores, and crossed Humber, and went forward into the province of Northumbria, as far as the city Evoraca, now called Eoferwic [York]. There chanced, at that time, to be a grievous civil discord among the folk of that part; for so mad were they that they drave from his rightful seat their King Osbyrht; and with fixed purpose of heart they one and all choose some nameless churl for their King. Yet, after long tarrying. they turn their mind to the need of taking up arms against the inrushing foe. Each King collects no small force ; already do they mark the foe at a halt within their dykes; but, alas, they kindle in turn each other's rage; on both sides is there fell slaughter, and both Kings fall on the spot. They who were left of either side now make peace with the foemen's host.

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§2. Then, after another year [868], did the Heathen host, whose coming we have just told, fix their camp at Nottingham and there wintered; and Burghed, King of Mercia, with his Witan, was fain to let them stay there unhurt. But, at the year's end [869], this host removed to York, and there did they again camp for the winter.

3. After staying one year [870], they removed yet again, passed through Mercia to the realm of the East Angles, and took up their abode for the winter at Thetford. Against this host did King Edmund hold out for a short space; but they slew him there, and his body lieth buried at a place called Beadorices-wyrthe. The barbarians indeed won the day, but at the cost of their King's life, for Iwar died that same year. . . .

§4. In the course of the next year [871] the aforesaid host of the barbarians marched on to Reading; for this most impious crew were keenly eager to attack the West Saxons. So that, within three days of

their coming, their two chieftains were proudly prancing about on horseback, though naturally unskilled in the art of riding, and, forgetful of their seamanship, went galloping over the fields and through the woods. . . . But Ethelwulf the Alderman was a match for them. Though small was his band, yet bare they brave hearts and hardy breasts; they aim their shafts, they turn the foe, they joy in abundant spoil.

§ 5. At length, four days after this fight, cometh up King Ethelred with his host; nor may it be told what fight rageth, and how fiercely, between them: first one side, then the other, presseth on with their spears in unbroken order; the noble Ethelwulf falls, who so late had the victory ; and at the last the barbarians gain the mastery. The body of the aforenamed chief is carried off by stealth, and taken into the land of Mercia, to a place called Northworthige, but in the Danish tongue Derby.

§ 6. Again, after four days, King Ethelred, with his brother Alfred, met in arms with the whole heathen host at Aescesdune [Ashdown]. Fell was the slaughter on either hand, but King Ethelred at the last won the palm of victory. . . . And, so to speak, all the best of the barbarian youth fell there; and never before nor since has such slaughter been heard tell of throughout the whole time that Saxons have held Britain. . . . § 7. Yet, after fourteen days, was their courage renewed, and they fought at a place called Basingon. Soon cross they swords; little by little the barbarians begin to hold their own; each side hopes to win; the King's troops are cheated; the cunning foemen hold the stronger ground, and get them the victory, yet without its spoils.

§ 8. Once again, after two months, the aforesaid King Ethelred, with his brother Alfred, renews the fight at Merton against the whole heathen host, and many are there slain on either hand, and the barbarians gain the palm of victory. ... Lastly, in the year following the aforesaid fight, after Easter, King Ethelred, from whose lineage I am sprung, departed this life.

$.9. And now, my beloved cousin Matilda, I will begin to set forth my subject more clearly for you . . . and begin my tale with the sons of Athulf. There were five brothers; the first was Ethelstan, who shared the kingdom with his father; the second was Ethelbald, King of the West Angles; the third Ethelbyrht, King of Kent; the fourth Ethelred, who was my grandfather's grandfather; the fifth Alfred, who held the whole sway after all the others, and he also was your grandfather's grandfather..

CHAPTER III.

Of the reign of King Alfred.

§ 1. After these things Alfred gat the sway over all the lands of Britain, when his brothers were dead, for he was the last of all the sons of Athulf. A countless host came that summer to Reading, and eagerly