Saron Chronicle Asser Ethelwerd 856 that king Beorhtric unwittingly tasted of the poison, though the queen intended to give it to the young man only, but the king took it too quickly, and so both perished. Beorhtric therefore being dead, the queen could remain no longer among the Saxons, but sailed beyond the sea with immense treasures, and went to the court of the great and famous Charles, king of the Franks. As she stood before the throne, and offered him money, Charles said to her, "Choose, Eadburgh, between me and my son, who stands here with me." She replied, foolishly, and without deliberation, "If I am to have my choice, I choose your son, because he is younger than you." At which Charles smiled and answered, "If you had chosen me, you would have had my son; but as you have chosen him, you shall not have either of us." However, he gave her a large convent of nuns, in which, Of this prudent 856 Florence Huntingdon Simeon that king Bertric unwittingly tasted of the poison, though the have either of us." 8 However, he gave her a large convent of nuns, in which, an end in poverty and misery. 9 King Ætheluulf lived two years, after his return from Rome; during which among many other good deeds of this present life, reflecting on his departure according to the way of all flesh, that his sons might not quarrel unreasonably after their father's death, he ordered a letter of inheritance to be written, in which he ordered that his kingdom should be divided between his two eldest sons, Æthelbald and Æthelbert, his private inheritance between his sons, his daughter, and his relations, and the money which he left behind him, between his sons and nobles, and for the good of his soul. 4 And when he [ETHELWOLF] years. The most merciful king tated before-hand on his own Saron Chronicle (9) Α. 857. Asser read or wish to hear my work. For the benefit of his manded also a large sum of every year to Rome for the good of his Ethelwerd 856 * "In decem manentibus" is the "in decem expression of Asser. mansis," which is less intelligible, of Simeon. (10) Α. 858. 2 And about two years after But when king Ethelwulf was Lastly, after a year king he came from France he died, and his body lies at Winches ter. 3 And he reigned eighteen years and a half. † Here follows (as paragraph 4 according to the figures) the genealogy given at page 6. dead, Athulf died, and his body reposes in the city of Win chester. And then was completed the fiftieth year from the beginning of king Egbyrht's reign. HERE ENDS THE THIRD AND THE PROLOGUE OF THE THREE BOOKS ARE NOW FINISHED, 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, 5 He was removed from among men, and was buried at Winchester. 6 He had first been bishop at Winchester, but, on the death of Egbrict his father, 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, 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 ANN ALS say that he was buried at Stæningham [Steyning in necessity compelling it, he Essex]. Essays 4 Saron Thronicle 5 And then Æthelwulf's two sons succeeded to the kingdom; Æthelbald to the kingdom of the West-Saxons; and Æthelbryht to the kingdom of the Kentish-men, and to the kingdom of the East-Saxons and to Surrey and to the kingdom of the South-Saxons. Asser 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 6 And then Æthelbald reign- During two years and a half When five years were com ed five years.‡ ↑ Here follows par. 7, given at note in page 18. A. 859. A. 860. Here died king Æthelbald and his body lies at Sher of licentiousness after his father he held the government of the West-Saxons. ANNALS. ANNO 859. This year it began to freeze two days before the calends of December [Nov. 29] and ended on the nones of April [AP. 5). In the year of our Lord's incarnation 860, which was the twelfth from king Ælfred's birth, died Æthelbald, and was buried at Sherborne. His ALSO WILL BE FOUND GREATER READ THEM. AND MAY GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO IS WITH YOU. AMEN! Meanwhile after the death CHARTERS IN 858. ETHILBERHT king of Kent. II, 64. burne. And Æthelbryht succeeded to all the realm of his brother, and he held it in goodly concord and in great tranquillity. And in his days brother Æthelberht, as was In his days a large army of a large fleet came to land, pagans, came up from the pleted, CHARTERS IN 859. PLEGRED subscribed also by " Ethelwulf rex." "Ethelbeald fili. regis," and others. 11, 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 |