but to bring to light events lying concealed in the confused mass of antiquity. In consequence, rejecting vague opinions, I have studiously sought for chronicles far and near, though I confess I have scarcely profited anything by this industry; for, perusing them all, I still remained poor in information, though I ceased not my researches as long as I could find anything to read. However, what I have clearly ascertained concerning the four kingdoms, I have inserted in my First Book, in which I hope truth will find no cause to blush, though perhaps a degree of doubt may sometimes arise. I shall now trace the monarchy of the West Saxon kingdom, through the line of successive princes, down to the coming of the Normans which, if any person will condescend to regard with complacency, let him in brotherly love observe the following rule: "If before, he knew only these things, let him not be disgusted because I have inserted them; if he shall know more, let him not be angry that I have not spoken of them;" but rather let him communicate his knowledge to me while I yet live, that, at least, those events may appear in the margin of my history, which do not occur in the text.

THE SECOND BOOK OF WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY'S HISTORY OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND.

BOOK IL

§ 106. My former volume terminated where the four kingdoms of Britain were consolidated into one. Egberht, the founder of this sovereignty, grand-nephew of king Ina by his brother Inegild,' of high rank in his own nation, and liberally educated, had been conspicuous among the West Saxons from his childhood. His uninterrupted course of valour begat envy; and as it is almost naturally ordained that kings should regard with suspicion whomsoever they see growing up in expectation of the kingdom, Brihtric, as before related, jealous of his rising character, was meditating how to destroy him. Egbirht, seeing this, escaped to Offa, king of the Mercians. While Offa concealed him with anxious care, the messengers of Brihtric arrived, demanding the fugitive for punishment and offering money for his surrender. In addition to this, they solicited his daughter in marriage for their king, in order that the nuptial tie might bind them in perpetual amity. In consequence Offa, who would not give way to hostile threats, yielded to flattering allurements, and Egbirht, passing the sea, went into France; a 1 Ecgberht was the son of Ealhmund, king of Kent, who was the son of Eafa, son of Eoppa, son of Ingild, the brother of Ini, king of Wessex. See § 116. * See § 43.

3 Offa could have had no immediate influence upon the expulsion of Brihtric, he having died A. D. 794.

The Saxon Chronicle states that, before Ecgberht was king, Offa of Mercia and Beorhtric of Wessex drove him into France for three years. Sax. Chron. A.D. 836.

2

circumstance which I attribute to the counsels of God, that a man destined to so great a kingdom might learn the art of government from the Franks; for this people has no competitor among all the western nations in military skill or polished manners. This illtreatment Egbirht used as a whetstone with which to rub off the rust of indolence,' to quicken the energy of his mind, and to adopt foreign customs, far differing from his native barbarism. On the death therefore of Brihtric, having returned to Britain, invited by frequent messages from his friends, he ascended the throne, at the earnest wish of his country, in the year of our Lord's incarnation eight hundred, and in the thirty-fourth year of the reign of Charles the Great of France, who survived this event twelve years. In the meantime Egbirht, when he had acquired the regard of his subjects by his affability and kindness, first manifested his power against those Britons who inhabit that part of the island which is called Cornwall; and having subjugated them, he proceeded to make the Northern Britons,* who are separated from the others by an arm of the sea, tributary to him. While the fame of these victories struck terror into the rest, Bernulf king of the Mercians, aiming at something great, and supposing it would redound to his glory, if he could remove the terror of others by his own audacity, proclaimed war against Egbirt. Deeming it disgraceful to retreat, Egbirt met him with spirit, and coming into action, Bernulf fled, being completely overthrown. This battle took place at Hellendun, A. D. 826.3 Elated with this success, the West Saxon extending his views, in

3

1 Horace, Ars Poet. 304.

• Malmesbury has fallen into error (following however the Saxon Chronicle) in fixing the accession of Egbert to the year 800, whereas it did not occur until A. D. 802, in which year, as we know from undoubted authority, Brihtric died. The information here given respecting the reign of Charlemagne is, of itself, sufficient to detect the error, and at the same time to correct it. See Pagi, A. D. 802, $ 19, 20. The commencement of the reign of Charlemagne is usually dated from the 24th September, A. D. 768, when he succeeded to a portion of the French monarchy; consequently the thirty-fourth year of his reign was completed in September 802, the year in which Ecgberht undoubtedly ascended the throne. He died on the 28th January, 814, having, as Malmesbury observes, survived Ecgberht's accession twelve years. See § 43.

3 According to the Saxon Chronicle, Ecgberht spread devastation in West Wales from east to west, A. D. 813. Matthew of Westminster assigns the year 808 to the conquest of Cornwall by Ecgberht.

The Saxon Chronicle, Florence of Worcester, and others, place this event in the year 828. He seems to have made a vigorous effort to bring into subjection the various Celtic inhabitants who still remained in Britain, and his efforts were probably extended over many successive years. Hence the variations in the chronology of the annalists.

5 MSS. A. D. E. M. support the text; 824, L; 825, C; Saville (probably a misprint) 806. The battle of Ellandune was fought A. D. 824, as one MS. correctly reads. The MS. followed in the text not only dates this battle two years later than the best authorities, but makes it also subsequent to an event which, even according to the statement in the text, it must have preceded. The subjugation of Kent by Ecgberht in 824 is there stated to have taken place in the twentyfourth year of his reign; but according to the more correct computation, which places the commencement of Ecgberht's reign in January 802, the defeat of Beornwulf of Mercia, and the expulsion of Baldred from the throne of Kent, must both have occurred in the twenty-second year of Ecgberht's reign, A. D. 824. Malmes. bury, however, adopting the year 800 as the date of Ecgberht's accession, incorrectly, though consistently with his statement, probably wrote and considered 824 to be the twenty-fourth regnal year of Ecgberht.

the heat of victory, sent his son Ethelwulf, with Alstan bishop of Shireburn and a chosen band, into Kent, for the purpose of adding to the West Saxon dominions that province, either grown indolent through long repose, or terrified by the fame of his valour.

§ 107. These commanders observed their instructions effectually: passing through every part of the country, and driving Baldred its king, with very little difficulty, beyond the river Thanies, they subjugated to his dominion, in the twenty-fourth year of his reign, Kent, Surrey, the South Saxons, and the East Saxons, who had formerly been under the jurisdiction of his predecessors. Not long after, the East Angles, animated by the support of Egbirht, killed, by successive stratagems, Bernulf and Ludecan, kings of the Mercians.1 The cause of their destruction was the perpetual incursions which they made, with their usual insolence, on the territories of others. Withlaf their successor, first driven from his kingdom by Egbirt, and afterwards admitted as a tributary prince, augmented the West Saxon sovereignty. In the same year the Northumbrians perceiving that themselves only remained, and were a conspicuous object, and fearing lest he should pour out his long-cherished anger on them, at last, though late, gave hostages and yielded to his power.' Thus possessed of all Britain, the rest of his life, a space of nine years, passed quietly on, except that, nearly in his latter days, a piratical band of Danes making a descent, disturbed the peace of the kingdom. So changeable is the lot of human affairs, that he who first singly governed all the Angles, could derive but little satisfaction from the obedience of his countrymen, while a foreign enemy was perpetually harassing himself and his descendants. Against these invaders the forces of the Angles making a stand, Fortune no longer flattered the king with her customary favours, but deserted him in the contest; for when, during the greater part of the day, he had almost secured the victory, he lost the battle as the sun declined; however, by the favour of darkness, he escaped the disgrace of being conquered. In the next action, with a small force, he totally routed an immense multitude. At length, after a reign of thirty-seven years and seven months,' he departed this

4

1 Beornwulf was slain A. D. 825, and Ludeca in the same year.

2 Wiglaf, being expelled by Ecgberht A. D 827, was restored in the following year, but held his kingdom only as tributary to the crown of Wessex.

Ecgberht led an army to Dore against the Northumbrians, and they there offered him obedience and allegiance, A. D. 827. See the Saxon Chronicle and Florence of Worcester under this year. Some additional particulars are given by Matthew of Westminster, but whence derived, or how far entitled to acceptance, is doubtful.

• Ecgberht was crowned king of Britain, in a great council held at Winchester, A. D. 829, by general consent of the whole nation. The annals of Winchester (Dom. A. 13) state that he there ordered that Britain should thereafter be called England, and they who had been before denominated Jutes, or Saxons, should for the future be called Englishmen. 5 See the Sax. Chron. A.D 833.

At the battle of Hengston, in Cornwall, fought A D. 835. See the Sax.

Chron. ad an.

7 This is taken from the Saxon Chronicle, A. D. 836. See, however, the charter of king Ecgberht (Cod. Dip. Ævi Sax. No. ccxl. p. 318), dated A. D. 838, and confirmed by his son Ethelwulf A. D. 839, which year is described as the first of his reign after his father's death. If the length of Ecgherht's reign be correctly stated here and in the Saxon Chronicle, his death could not have happened before

life, and was buried at Winchester; leaving an ample field of glory for his son, and declaring that he must be happy, if he was careful not to destroy, by the indolence natural to his race, a kingdom which he himself had consolidated with such consummate industry.

2

Of King Ethelwulf.

3

§108. In the year of our Lord's incarnation eight hundred and thirty-seven,' Ethelwulf (whom some call Athulf), the son of Egbirht, came to the throne, and reigned twenty years and five months. He was mild by nature, and infinitely preferred a life of tranquillity to dominion over many provinces; and finally, content with his paternal kingdom of the West Saxons, he bestowed all the rest which his father had subjugated on his son Ethelstan, of whom it is not known when' or in what manner he died. He assisted Burhred, king of the Mercians, with an army against the Britons, and highly exalted him by giving him his daughter in marriage. He both personally and by his generals' frequently overcame the piratical Danes, who were traversing the whole island and infesting the coast with sudden descents, although, according to the chance of war, he himself experienced great and repeated calamities; London and almost the whole of Kent being laid waste. Yet these disasters were ever checked by the alacrity of the king's advisers, who suffered not the enemy to trespass with impunity, but fully avenged themselves on them by the effect of their united counsels. For he possessed at that time two most excellent prelates, the blessed Swithun of Winchester,' and Alstan of Shireburn,1o who perceiving the king to be of a heavy and sluggish disposition, perpetually stimulated him by their admonitions to the knowledge of governing. August, A. D. 839. Simeon of Durham assigns thirty-six years only to the reign of Ecgberht, and Florence of Worcester states that he died in the thirty-seventh year of his reign. It is probable that these fluctuations originate in the uncertainty which prevailed as to the year in which this monarch's reign had its beginning. See p. 84, note 2.

The date of the accession of Ethelwulf depends of course upon that which may be assigned to the decease of his predecessor.

In this computation Malmesbury probably includes the period that Ethelwulf reigned during his father's life. The Saxon Chronicle assigns only eighteen years and a half to his reign (though here the MSS. vary in a remarkable manner); and this period being reckoned from his accession in August 839, would place his death rightly in the year 858. According to Florence of Worcester, he died upon the 13th of January. See that authority, p. 213.

Ethelstan was made king of Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex, by his father, in 839.

4 He was certainly dead before the return of his father Ethelwulf from Rome, as at that time the districts usually assigned to the king's eldest son passed into the hands of Ethelbald.

5 The incidents respecting Burhred occurred A. D. 853.

The marriage of Ethelswitha occurred after Easter of this year; the nuptials were celebrated at Chippenham. See Florence of Worcester, A. D. 853, and Asser, p. 445. 7 See the Sax. Chron. under the years 845 and 851.

8 This happened, according to the Saxon Chronicle, in the year 851; but, after the Danes had passed the Thames into Surrey, Ethelwulf with an army met and defeated them at Ockley.

St. Swithun was appointed by king Ecgberht preceptor to his son Ethelwulf He became bishop of Winchester in 838, and died on 2d July, 862. See Florence ad an.

10 Ealhstan was bishop of Sherborne in 817, and died in 867.

Swithun, disgusted with earthly, trained his master to heavenly pursuits; Alstan, knowing that the business of the kingdom ought not to be neglected, continually inspirited him against the Danes, himself furnishing the exchequer with money, as well as regulating the army. Any peruser of the Annals' will find many affairs of this kind both entered on with courage, and terminated with success, through his means. He held his bishopric fifty years, happy in living for so long a space in the practice of good works: I should readily commend him had he not been swayed by worldly avarice, and usurped what belonged to others, when by his intrigues he seized the monastery of Malmesbury to his own use. We feel the mischief of this shameful conduct even to the present day, although the monastery has baffled all similar violence from the time of his death till now, when it has fallen again into like difficulty. Thus the accursed passion of avarice corrupts the human soul, and forces men, though great and illustrious in other respects, into hell.'

§ 109. Confiding in these two supporters for the good management of the foreign and domestic concerns of his kingdom, Ethelwulf, after the subjugation of his enemies, turned to the establishment of God's worship, and granted the tenth of every hide of land within his kingdom to the servants of Christ, free from all tribute, exempt from all services." But how small a portion is this of his glory! Having settled his kingdom, he went to Rome, and there offered to St. Peter that tribute which England pays to this day," before pope Leo the fourth, who had also, formerly, honourably received, and anointed as king, Elfred his son, whom Ethelwulf had sent to him. Continuing there one whole year, he nobly repaired the school of the Angles, which, according to report, was first founded by Offa, king of the Mercians, and had been burnt down some time back. Returning home through France. he married Judith,' daughter of Charles king of the Franks.

1 See Sax. Chron. A. D. 823-825.

8

Roger, bishop of Salisbury, seized it in like manner to his own use A. D. 1118, and held it till his death, 1139. 3 Virg. Æn. iii. 56.

4 See the charter itself, § 114.

5 The Rome-scot, or Peter's pence, is here evidently alluded to as the tribute yet paid to Rome by England. Its origin and application are obscure. The grant appears to have been made after Ethelwulf's return to England. See Asser, p. 448. This grant is supposed by Spelman to have been made in a general council of the nation.

Pope Leo having died 17th July, Ethelwulf's visit to him and the grant here mentioned must have occurred before that date.

This was probably towards the end of the year 854.

Matthew of Westminster (A.D. 727) states that the English school at Rome was founded by Ini, king of Wessex, with the consent and approbation of pore Gregory. Of this institution it is believed there is no early authentic account. The Angle-School was a quarter near St. Peter's, where the English pilgrims at Rome resided; it was destroyed by fire, according to the Saxon Chronicle, in 816; but the conflagration here referred to is probably that mentioned by Anastasius (Ap. Labb. Concil. viii. 6) as having taken place in the Saxon street at Rome soon after the accession of Leo IV. It probably remained in an unfinished state until the arrival of Ethelwulf.

• Ethelwulf's marriage with Judith, daughter of Charles le Chauve, took place at the palace of Verberie on the 1st (or the 7th) of October, 856. See Linier's Hist. Genealog. de France, p. 25.