England Before the Norman ConquestLongmans, Green and Company Limited, 1926 - 334 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
according aldorman Alfred Angles Annals archbishop army battle Bede Bede's began bishop body Britain British Britons brother brought Cæsar called Canterbury Century chief Christ Christian Chronicle church commanded continued Danes death died earl East Edward Edwin enemy England English Extract faith father fell fight followed force fought gave Gildas give given hand Harold heathen held History holy island Kent king king's kingdom land later laws learned letters live London lord manuscript marched Mercians night North Northumbria Offa peace period preach present priests prince promised received record reign remained river Roman Rome ruled Saxons sent shillings ships side slain slaughter slew succeeded taken things thou took town unto victory Wessex West whole winter written York
Popular passages
Page 80 - The Barbarians drive us to the sea. The sea drives us back to the Barbarians. Between these arise two sorts of death. We are either slaughtered or drowned.
Page 36 - Our greatest advantage in coping with tribes so powerful is that they do not act in concert. Seldom is it that two or three states meet together to ward off a common danger. Thus, while they fight singly, all are conquered. Their sky is obscured by continual rain and cloud. Severity of cold is unknown. The days exceed in length those of our part of the world; the nights are bright, and in the extreme north so short that between sunlight and dawn you can perceive but a slight distinction. It is said...
Page 159 - Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona ; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Page 297 - Now the battle began. The Englishmen made a hot assault upon the Northmen, who sustained it bravely. It was no easy matter for the English to ride against the Northmen on account of their spears ; therefore they rode in a circle around them. And the fight at first was but loose and light, as long as the Northmen kept their order of battle ; for although the English rode hard against the Northmen, they gave way again immediately, as they could do nothing against them. Now, when the Northmen thought...
Page 214 - Pastoralis, and in English the Shepherd's Book, sometimes word by word, sometimes sense by sense, as I learnt it from Plegmund my archbishop, and from Asser my bishop, and from Grimbold my mass-priest, and from John my mass-priest.
Page 43 - A double peril thus alarmed the Britons, while the courage of the Romans revived ; and feeling sure of safety, they now fought for glory. In their turn they rushed to the attack, and there was a furious conflict within the narrow passages of the gates till the enemy were routed. Both armies did their utmost, the one for the honour of having given aid, the other for that of not having needed support. Had not the flying enemy been sheltered by morasses and forests, this victory would have ended the...
Page 214 - When I remembered how the knowledge of Latin had formerly decayed throughout England, and yet many could read English writing, I began, among other various and manifold troubles of this kingdom, to translate into English the book which is called in Latin Pastoralis...
Page 227 - Mighty the Mercian, Hard was his hand-play, Sparing not any of Those that with Anlaf, Warriors over the Weltering waters Borne in the bark's-bosom, Drew to this island — Doom'd to the death.
Page 213 - I cannot recollect even a single one south of the Thames when I succeeded to the kingdom.
Page 42 - We know most of its harbours and approaches, and that through the intercourse of commerce. One of the petty kings of the nation, driven out by internal faction, had been received by Agricola, who detained him under the semblance of friendship till he could make use of him. I have often heard him say that a single legion with a few auxiliaries could conquer and occupy Ireland...