 INTRODUCTION This work is ascribed on its own internal authority to Assur, who is said to have been Bishop of St. David's of Sherbourne, or of Exeter, in the time of King Alfred. Though most of the public events recorded in this book are to be found in the Saxon Chronicle, yet for many interesting circumstances in the life of our great Saxon King we are indebted to this biography alone. But as if no part of history is ever to be free from suspicion or from difficulty, a doubt has been raised concerning the authenticity of this work. Note C. Wright's Biographia Literaria Anglo-Saxonica, page 405. Dr. Lindgard, however, in his recent work on the history and antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church, volume 2, pages 424-428, has replied to Mr. Wright's objections and vindicated the authenticity of Assur's life. There is also another short treatise called the Annals of Assur, or the Chronicle of St. Naot, different from the present. It is published in volume 3 of Gael and Fells' Collection of Historians, and it has been suspected by a living writer that both of these works are to be looked upon as compilations of a later date. The arguments upon which this opinion is founded are drawn principally from the abrupt and incoherent character of the work before us, but we have neither time nor space to enter further into this question. As the work has been edited by Petri, so has it been here translated, and the reader taking it upon its own merits will find therein much of interest about our glorious King, meaning whom he will lament with me that all we know is so little, so unsatisfying. J.A. Giles. End of introduction. Part 1, Section 1 of the Life of King Alfred This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Life of King Alfred, by Assur, Bishop of Sherbourne, translated by J.A. Giles. Part 1, Section 1. The Life of King Alfred, from A.D. 849 to A.D. 887. Part 1. In the year of our Lord's incarnation, 849, was born Alfred, King of the Anglo-Saxons, of the royal village of Wanating, in Berkshire, which country has its name from the wood of Barak, where the box-tree grows most abundantly. His genealogy is traced in the following order. King Alfred was the son of King Ethelwulf, who was the son of Egbert, who was the son of Elmond, was the son of Eapa, who was the son of Eoppa, who was the son of Ingild. Ingild and Ina, the famous king of the West Saxons, were two brothers. Ina went to Rome, and there, ending this life honorably, entered the heavenly kingdom to reign there forever with Christ. Ingild and Ina were the sons of Coenred, who was the son of Kaelwald, who was the son of Kudam, who was the son of Cuthwin, who was the son of Kaellyn, who was the son of Kinrich, who was the son of Crayoda, who was the son of Kurtig, who was the son of Alessa, who was the son of Gawis, from whom the Britons name all that nation, Gegwis, who was the son of Bronn, who was the son of Beldeg, who was the son of Woden, who was the son of Frithawald, who was the son of Freilaf, who was the son of Frithawulf, who was the son of Finn of Godwulf, who was the son of Gaiot, which Gaiot, the Pagans, long worshipped as a god. No. Gegwis, the Gawissa, generally understood to be the West Saxons. End of note. Sedulius makes mention of him in his metrical Paschal poem, as follows. When Gentile poets with their fictions, vain and tragic language and bombastic strain to their god, Gaiot, comic, deity, loud praises, sing, etc. Gaiot was the son of Tatwa, who was the son of Beol, who was the son of Skeldi, who was the son of Heramod, who was the son of Itamon, who was the son of Hathra, who was the son of Guala, who was the son of Bedwig, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamek, who was the son of Methuzelem, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Malalakai, who was the son of Canion, who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam. The mother of Alfred was named Asberga, a religious woman, noble both by birth and by nature. She was daughter of Oslak, the famous butler of King Ethelwulf, which Oslak was a goth by nation, descended from the goths and juts of the seed, namely of Stuf and Wittgar, two brothers and counts, who, having received possession of the Isle of Wight from their uncle, King Kurtig, and his son, Kinrich, their cousin, slew the few British inhabitants whom they could find in that island at a place called Gwittgaraburg, for the other inhabitants of the island had either been slain or escaped into exile. Note, Gwittgaraburg, Karrisbrook, as may be conjectured from the name, which is a combination of Wight and Karraburg. End of note. In the year of our Lord's incarnation, 851, which was the third after the birth of King Alfred, Carol, Earl of Devon, fought with the men of Devon against the Pagans at a place called Wigamburg, and the Christians gained the victory. And that same year the Pagans first wintered in the island called Shepi, which means the sheep isle, and is situated in the river Thames between Essex and Kent, but is nearer to Kent than to Essex. This has in it a fine monastery. The same year also a great army of the Pagans came with 350 ships to the mouth of the river Thames and sacked Doroburnia, which is the city of the Cantuarians, and also the city of London, which lies on the north bank of the river Thames on the confines of Essex and Middlesex. But yet that city belongs in truth to Essex, and they put to flight Bertwulf King of Mercer with all the army which he had led out to oppose them. After these things the aforesaid Pagan host went into Surrey, which is a district situated on the south bank of the river Thames, and to the west of Kent. And Ethelwulf, king of the west Saxons, and his son Ethelbald with all their army fought a long time against them at a place called Ackley, that is, the Oak Plain, and there after a lengthened battle which was fought with much bravery on both sides, the greater part of the Pagan multitude was destroyed and cut to pieces so that we never heard of their being so defeated either before or since in any country in one day, and the Christians gained an honorable victory and were triumphant over their graves. In the same year King Ethelstan, son of King Ethelwulf and Earl Alhara, slew a large army of Pagans in Kent at a place called Sandwich, and took nine ships of their fleet. The others escaped by flight. In the year of our lord's incarnation, 853, which was the fifth of King Alfred, were read King of the Merchants, sent messengers, and prayed Ethelwulf, king of the west Saxons, to come and help him in reducing the midland Britons, who dwell between Mercia and the western sea, and who struggled against him most immoderately. So without delay, King Ethelwulf, having received the embassy, moved his army in advanced with King Borhred against Britain, and immediately on entering that country he began to ravage it, and having reduced it under subjection to King Borhred, he returned home. Note. This is one of the few instances in the work in which the name Britannia applied to Wales. End of note. In the same year, King Ethelwulf sent his son Alfred above named to Rome, with an honorable escort, both of nobles and commoners. Pope Leo IV at that time presided over the Apostolic Sea, and he anointed for King Leo IV said Alfred, and adopted him as his spiritual son. The same year also Earl Alhara, with the men of Kent, and Illuda, with the men of Surrey, fought bravely and resolutely against an army of the Pagans in the island, which is called in the Saxon tongue, Tenet, but Room in the British language. The battle lasted a long time, and many fell on both sides and also were drowned in the water, and both the Earls were there slain. In the same year also, after Easter, Ethelwulf, King of the West Saxons, gave his daughter to Borhred, King of the Merchants, and the marriage was celebrated royally at the Royal Ville of Chippenham. In the year of our Lord's incarnation, 855, which was the seventh after the birth of the aforesaid King, Edmund, the most glorious King of the East Angles, began to reign on the eighth day before the Callens of January, that is, on the birthday of our Lord, in the 14th year of his age. In this year also died Lothair, the Roman Emperor, son of the pious Louis Augustus. In the same year, the aforesaid venerable King Ethelwulf released the tenth part of his kingdom from all royal service and tribute, and with a pen never to be forgotten, offered it up to God, the one and the three in one, in the cross of Christ, for the redemption of his own soul and of his predecessors. In the same year he went to Rome, with much honor, and taking with him his son the aforesaid King Alfred for a second journey thither, because he loved him more than his other sons, he remained there a whole year, after which he returned to his own country, bringing with him Judith, daughter of Charles the King of the Franks. In the meantime, however, whilst King Ethelwulf was residing beyond the sea, a base deed was done, repugnant to the morals of all Christians, in the western part of Selwood. For King Ethelwald, son of King Ethelwulf, and Alstan, Bishop of the Church of Sherbourne, with Aonwulf, Earl of the District of Summerton, are said to have made a conspiracy together that King Ethelwulf, on his return from Rome, should never again be received into his kingdom. This crime, unheard of in all previous ages, is ascribed by many to the Bishop and Earl alone as resulting from their councils. Many also ascribe it solely to the insolence of the King, because that King was pertenacious in this matter, and in many other perversities as we have heard related by certain persons, as also was proved by the result of that which follows. For as he was returning from Rome, his son aforesaid, with all his counsellors, or as I ought to say his conspirators, attempted to perpetrate the crime of repulsing the King from his own kingdom. But neither did God permit the deed, nor would the nobles of all Saxony consent to it. For to prevent this irremediable evil to Saxony of a son warring against his father, or rather of the whole nation carrying on civil war, or, either on the side of the one or the other, the extraordinary mildness of the father, seconded by the consent of all the nobles, divided between the two, the kingdom which had hitherto been undivided. The eastern parts were given to the father and the western to the son, for where the father ought by just right to reign, there his unjust and obstinate son did reign, for the western part of Saxony is always preferable to the eastern. When Ethelwulf, therefore, was coming from Rome, all that nation, as was fitting, so delighted in the arrival of the old man, that if he permitted them they would have expelled his rebellious son Ethelbal, with all his counsellors, out of the kingdom. But he, as we have said, acting with great clemency and prudent counsel, so wished things to be done the kingdom might not come into danger. And he placed Judith, daughter of King Charles, whom he had received from his father by his own side on the regal throne, without any controversy or enmity from his nobles, even to the end of his life, contrary to the perverse custom of that nation. For the nation of the west Saxons do not allow a queen to sit beside the king, nor to be called a queen, but only the king's wife. Which stigma the elders of that land say arose from a certain obstinate and malevolent queen of the same nation, who did all things so contrary to her lord and to all the people, that she not only earned for herself exclusion from the royal seat, but also entailed the same stigma upon those who came after her. For in consequence of the wickedness of that queen, all the nobles of that land swore together that they would never let any king reign over them who should attempt to place a queen on the throne by his side. And because, as I think, it is not known to many whence this perverse and detestable custom arose in Saxony, contrary to the custom of all the Theotician nations, it seems to me right to explain a little more fully what I have heard from my lord Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, as he also had heard it from many men of truth, who in great part recorded that fact. There was in Mercia in recent times a certain valiant king who was feared by all the king's and neighboring states around. His name was Offa, and it was he who had the great rampart made from sea to sea between Britain and Mercia. His daughter, named Ed Berger, was married to Bertric, king of the West Saxons, who immediately, having the king's affections and the control of almost all the kingdom, began to live tyrannically like her father, and to execrate every man whom Bertric loved, and to do all things hateful to God and man, and to accuse all she could before the king, and so to deprive them insidiously of their life or power, and if she could not obtain the king's consent, she used to take them off by poison, as is ascertained to have been the case with a certain young man beloved by the king, whom she poisoned, finding that the king would not listen to any accusation against him. It is said moreover that King Bertric unwittingly tasted of the poison, though the queen intended to give it to the young man only, and so both of them perished. Bertric, therefore, being dead, the queen could remain no longer among the West Saxons, but sailed beyond the sea with immense treasures, and went to the court of the great and famous Charles, the king of the Franks. As she stood before the throne and offered him money, Charles said to her, Choose, Ed Berger, 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, having laid aside the secular habit and taken the religious dress, she discharged the office of Abbas during a few years. For, as she is said to have lived irrationally in her own country, so she appears to have acted still more so in that country. For, being convicted of having had unlawful intercourse with a man of her own nation, she was expelled from the monastery by King Charles' order, and lived a vicious life of reproach in poverty and misery until her death, so that at last, accompanied by one slave only, as we have heard from many who saw her, she begged her bread daily at Pavia, and so, miserably, died. Now King Ethelwulf 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 will or letter of instructions to be written, in which he ordered that his kingdom should be divided between his two eldest sons, his private inheritance between his sons, his daughters, and his relations, and the money which he left behind him between his sons and nobles, and for the good of his soul. Of this prudent policy we have thought fit to record a few instances out of many for posterity to imitate, namely, such as are understood to belong principally to the needs of the soul. For the others, which relate only to human dispensation, it is not necessary to insert in this work, lest prolixity should create disgust in those who read or wish to hear my work. For the benefit of his soul then, which he studied to promote in all things from 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 three hundred mancasses, to be carried to Rome for the good of his soul, to be distributed in the following manner. Namely, a hundred mancasses in honor 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 mancasses in honor of St. Paul for the same purpose of buying oil for the church of St. Paul, the apostle, to light the lamps on Easter Eve and at the Cock-Crow, and a hundred mancasses for the universal apostolic Pontiff. But when King Ethelwulf was dead and buried at Stemrugam, his son Ethelbald, 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. Note, Stemrugam. Ingram supposes this to be Stonehenge. Stanningham, however, is the common reading which Camden thinks is staining in Sussex. The Saxon Chronicle, A.D. 855 states that Ethelwulf was buried in Winchester. End of note. During two years and a half of licentiousness after his father, he held the government of the West Saxons. End of Part 1, Section 1. Part 1, Section 2 of the Life of King Alfred. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Life of King Alfred by Asser, Bishop of Sherbourne. Translated by J.A. Giles. Part 1, Section 2. In the year of our Lord's Incarnation 856, which was the eighth after Alfred's birth, the second year of King Charles III, and the 18th year of the reign of Ethelwulf, King of the West Saxons, Humbert, Bishop of the East Angles, anointed with oil and consecrated as King, the glorious Edmund, with much rejoicing and great honor in the royal town called Burva, in which at that time was the royal seat, in the fifteenth year of his age, on a Friday, the 24th moon, being Christmas Day. In the year of our Lord's Incarnation 860, which was the twelfth of King Alfred's age, died Ethelbald, King of the West Saxons, and was buried at Sherbourne. His brother Ethelbert, as was fitting, went Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, also to his dominion. In his days a large army of pagans came up from the sea and attacked and destroyed the city of Winchester. As they were returning laden with booty to their ships, Osric, Earl of Hampshire, with his men, and Earl Ethelwulf, with the men of Berkshire, confronted them bravely. A severe battle took place, and the pagans were slain on every side and, finding themselves unable to resist, took to flight like women, and the Christians obtained a triumph. Ethelbert governed his kingdom five years in peace with the love and respect of his subjects, who felt deep sorrow when he went the way of all flesh. His body was honorably interred at Sherbourne by the side of his brothers. In the year of our Lord's incarnation in 864, the pagans wintered in the Isle of Thanot and made a firm treaty with the men of Kent, who promised them money for adhering to their covenant. But the pagans, like cunning foxes, burst from their camp by night and setting at nought their engagements and spurning at the promised money which they knew was less than they could get by plunder, and ravaged all the eastern coast of Kent. In the year of our Lord's incarnation in 866, which was the eighteenth of King Alfred, Ethelred, brother of Ethelbert, King of the West Saxons, undertook the government of the kingdom for five years. And the same year a large fleet of pagans came to Britain from the Danube and wintered in the kingdom of the eastern Saxons, called in Saxon East Anglia. And there they became principally an army of cavalry. But to speak in nautical phrase I will no longer commit my vessel to the power of the waves and of its sails or keeping off from land steer my roundabout course through so many calamities of wars and series of years, but will return to that which first prompted me to this task. That is to say, I think it right in this place, briefly, to relate as much as has come to my knowledge about the character of my revered Lord Alfred, King of the Anglo-Saxons, during the years that he was an infant and a boy. He was loved by his father and mother, and even by all the people above all his brothers, and was educated altogether at the court of the king. As he advanced through the years of infancy and youth, his form appeared more comely than that of his brothers. In look, in speech and in manners, he was more graceful than they. His noble nature implanted in him from his cradle a love of wisdom above all things. But, with shame be it spoken, by the unworthy neglect of his parents and nurses, he remained illiterate, even till he was twelve years old or more. But he listened with serious attention to the Saxon poems which he often heard recited and easily retained them in his docile memory. He was a zealous practiser of hunting in all its branches and hunted with great assiduity and success, for skill and good fortune in this heart, as in all others, are among the gifts of God, as we also have often witnessed. On a certain day, therefore, his mother was showing him and his brother a Saxon book of poetry which she held in her hand, and said, Whichever of you shall soonest learn this volume shall have it for his own. Note. His mother. We must understand this epithet as denoting his mother-in-law, Judith, rather than his own mother, who was dead in AD 856 when Alfred was not yet seven years old. When his father brought Judith from France, Alfred was thirteen years old. End of note. Stimulated by these words, or rather by the divine inspiration, and allured by the beautifully illuminated letter at the beginning of the volume, he spoke before all his brothers, who though his seniors in age were not so in grace, and answered, Will you really give that book to one of us, that is to say, to him who can first understand and repeat it to you? At this his mother smiled with satisfaction and confirmed what she had before said, upon which the boy took the book out of her hand and went to his master to read it, and in due time brought it to his mother and recited it. After this he learned the dally course, that is, the celebration of the hours, and afterwards certain psalms and several prayers contained in a certain book which he kept day and night in his bosom, as we ourselves have seen, and carried about with him to assist his prayers amid all the bustle and busyness of this present life. But sad to say, he could not gratify his most ardent wish to learn the liberal arts, because, as he said, there were no good readers at that time in all the kingdom of the West Saxons. This he confessed, with many lamentations and sighs to have been one of his greatest difficulties and impediments in this life, namely, that when he was young and had the capacity for learning, he could not find teachers. But when he was more advanced in life, he was harassed by so many diseases unknown to all the physicians of this island, as well as by internal and external anxieties of sovereignty and by continual invasions of the pagans, and had his teachers and writers also so much disturbed that there was no time for reading. But yet, among the impediments of this present life, from infancy up to the present time, and, as I believe, even until his death, he continued to feel the same insatiable desire of knowledge, and still aspires after it. In the year of our Lord's Incarnation 867, which was the 19th of the life of the aforesaid King Alfred, the army of pagans before mentioned removed from the East Angles the city of York, which is situated on the north bank of the river Humber. At that time a violent discord arose by the instigation of the devil among the inhabitants of Northumberland, as always is used to happen among a people who have incurred the wrath of God. For the Northumbrians at that time, as we have said, had expelled their lawful King Osbert, and appointed a certain tyrant not of royal birth over the affairs of the kingdom. But when the pagans approached by divine providence and the union of the nobles for the common good, that discord was a little appeased, and Osbert and Iella uniting their resources and assembling an army marched to York. The pagans fled at their approach and attempted to defend themselves within the walls of the city, but the Christians, perceiving their flight and the terror they were in, determined to destroy the walls of the town, which they succeeded in doing. For that city was not surrounded at that time with firm or strong walls, and when the Christians had made a breach as they had purposed, and many of them had entered into the town, the pagans urged by despair and necessity made a fierce sally upon them, slew them, routed them, on all sides, both within and without the walls. In that battle fell almost all the Northumbrian warriors with both the kings and a multitude of nobles. The remainder who escaped made peace with the pagans. In the same year, Alstan, Bishop of the Church of Sherbourne, went the way of all flesh after he had honourably ruled his sea for years, and he was buried at Sherbourne. In the year of our lord's incarnation, 868, which was the 20th of King Alfred's life, there was a severe famine. Then the aforesaid revered King Alfred, but at that time occupying a subordinate station, asked and obtained in marriage a noble Mercian lady, daughter of Athelred, surnamed Musil, Guyini. Note. Musil, this nobleman, occurs as a witness, Musil looks to many Mercian charters dated from AD 814 to 866. The Guyini, inhabitants of Gainesborough. End of note. The mother of this lady was named Edburger, seen with our own eyes a few years before her death. She was a venerable lady, and after the decease of her husband she remained many years a widow even till her own death. In the same year, the above-named army of pagans, leaving Northumberland, invaded Mercia and advanced to Nottingham, which is called in the British tongue Tingo Cobolk, but in Latin, the House of Caves, and they wintered there that same year. Immediately on their approach, Bored, king of Mercia and all the nobles of that nation sent messengers to Athelred, king of the West Saxons and his brother Alfred, suppliantly and treating them to come and aid them in fighting against the aforesaid army. Their request was easily obtained, for the brothers, as soon as promised, assembled an immense army from all parts of their dominions, and entering Mercia came to Nottingham all eager for battle. And when the pagans defended by the castle refused to fight and the Christians were unable to destroy the wall, peace was made between the Mercians and pagans, and the two brothers, Athelred and Alfred, returned home with their troops. In the year of our lord's incarnation 869, which was the 21st of King Alfred's life, there was a great famine and mortality of men and a pestilence among the cattle, and the aforesaid army of the pagans galloping back to Northumberland went to York, and there passed the winter. In the year of our lord's incarnation 870, which was the 22nd of King Alfred's life, the above-named army of pagans passed through Mercia into East Anglia and wintered at Thetford. In the same year, Edmund, King of the East Angles fought most fiercely against them. But lamentable to say, the pagans triumphed. Edmund was slain in the battle and the enemy reduced all that country to subjection. In the same year, Kelnoth, Archbishop of Canterbury went the way of all flesh and was buried peaceably in his own city. In the year of our lord's incarnation 871, which was the 23rd of King Alfred's life, the pagan army of hateful memory left the East Angles and entering the kingdom of the West Saxons came to the royal city called Reading, situated on the south bank of the Thames in the district called Berkshire. And there, on the third day after their arrival, a great part of the army scoured the country for plunder while the others made a ramp part between the rivers Thames and Kennet on the right side of the same royal city. They were encountered by Ethel Wolf, Earl of Berkshire with his men at a place called Engelfield. Both sides fought bravely and made long resistance. No. Engelfield Green is about four miles from Windsor. End of note. At length one of the pagan earls was slain and the greater part of the army destroyed upon which the rest saved themselves by flight and the Christians gained the victory. Four days afterwards Ethelred, King of the West Saxons and his brother Alfred united their forces and marched to Reading where on their arrival they cut to pieces the pagans outside the fortifications. But the pagans nevertheless sallied out from the gates and a long and fierce engagement ensued. At last, grief to say, the Christians fled. The pagans obtained the victory and the aforesaid Earl Ethel Wolf was among the slain. Roused by this calamity the Christians in shame and indignation within four days assembled all their forces and again encountered the pagan army at a place called Ashdoom which means Hill of the Ash note. Aston in Berkshire. End of note. The pagans had divided themselves into two bodies and began to prepare defenses for they had two kings and many earls so they gave the middle part of the army to the two kings and the other part to all their earls which the Christians, perceiving divided their army also into two troops and also began to construct defenses. But Alfred, as we have been told by those who were present and would not tell it untruth marched up promptly with his men to give them battle. For King Ethelred remained a long time in his tent in prayer hearing the mass and said that he would not leave it till the priest had done or abandoned the divine protection of men. And he did so too which afterwards availed him much with the Almighty as we shall declare more fully in the sequel. Now, the Christians had determined that King Ethelred with his men should attack the two pagan kings but that his brother Alfred with his troops should take the chance of war against the two earls. Things being so arranged the king remained a long time in prayer and the Christians came up rapidly to fight. Then Alfred, though possessing a subordinate authority could no longer support the troops of the enemy unless he retreated or charged upon them without waiting for his brother. At length he bravely led his troops against the hostile army as they had before arranged but without awaiting his brother's arrival for he relied in the divine councils and forming his men into a dense phalanx and rushed on at once to meet the foe. But here I must inform those who are ignorant of the fact that the field of battle was not equally advantageous to both parties. The pagans occupied the higher ground and the Christians came up from below. There was also a single thorn tree of strutted growth but we have ourselves never seen it. Around this tree the opposing armies came together with loud shouts from all sides the one party to pursue their wicked course, the other to fight for their lives, their dearest ties in their country. And when both armies had fought long and bravely, at last the pagans by the divine judgment were no longer able to bear the attacks of the Christians and having lost a great part of their army took to a disgraceful flight. One of their two kings and five earls were there slain, together with many thousand pagans who fell on all sides covering with their bodies the whole plain of Ashtun. There fell in that battle King Bagsak, Earl Sidrac the Elder and Earl Sidrac the Younger, Earl Osborne, Earl Fren and Earl Harald and the whole pagan army pursued its flight not only until night but until the next day even until they reached the stronghold from which they had sallied. The Christians followed slaying all they could reach until it became dark. After fourteen days had elapsed King Ethelred with his brother Alfred again joined their forces and marched to Basing to fight with the pagans. The enemy came together from all quarters to test, gained the victory. After this battle another army came from beyond the sea and joined them. The same year after Easter the aforesaid King Ethelred having bravely, honorably and with good repute governed his kingdom five years through much tribulation went the way of all flesh and was buried in Wimborn Minster where he awaits the coming of the Lord for his resurrection with the just. The same year the aforesaid Alfred who had been up to that time only of secondary rank whilst his brothers were alive now by God's permission undertook the government of the whole kingdom amid the acclimations of all the people and if he had chosen he might have done so before whilst his brother above named was still alive he surpassed all his brothers and moreover was warlike and victorious in all his wars and when he had reigned one month almost against his will for he did not think he could alone sustain the multitude and ferocity of the pagans though even during his brother's lives he had borne the woes of many he fought a battle with a few men and on very unequal terms against all the army of the pagans at a hill called Wilton on the south bank of the river Wiley from which river the whole of that district is named and after a long and fierce engagement the pagans seeing the danger they were in and no longer able to bear the attack of their enemies turned their backs and fled but oh shame to say they deceived their two audacious pursuers and again rallying victory let no one be surprised that the Christians had but a small number of men for the Saxons had been worn out by eight battles in one year against the pagans of whom they had slain one king, nine dukes and innumerable troops of soldiers besides endless skirmishes both by night and by day in which the oft named Alfred and all his chieftains were engaged without rest or cessation against the pagans how many thousand pagans fell in these numberless skirmishes God alone knows over and above those who were slain in the eight battles above mentioned in the same year the Saxons made peace with the pagans on condition that they should take their departure and they did so in the year of our lord's incarnation 872 the 24th of king Alfred's life the above named army of pagans went to London and there wintered the mercyans made peace with them in the year of our lord's incarnation 873 the 25th of king Alfred the above named army leaving London went into the country of the Northumbrians and there wintered in the district of Lindsay and the mercyans again made treaty with them end of part one section two part one section three of the life of king Alfred this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the life of king Alfred by Asser Bishop of Sherbourne translated by J.A. Giles part one section three in the year of our lord's incarnation 874 the 26th since the birth of king Alfred the army before so often mentioned left Lindsay and marched to Mercia where they wintered at Repton also they compelled Burred king of Mercia against his will to leave his kingdom and go beyond the sea to Rome in the 22nd year of his reign he did not long live after his arrival but died there and was honorably buried in the school of the Saxons in St. Mary's church where he awaits the lord's coming and the first resurrection with the just the pagans also after his expulsion subjected the whole kingdom to their dominion but by a most miserable arrangement gave it into the custody of a certain foolish man named Cale Wolf one of the king's ministers on condition that he should restore it to them whenever they should wish to have it again and to guarantee this agreement he gave them hostages and swore that he would not oppose their will but be obedient to them in every respect in the year of our lord's incarnation 875 which was the 27th of King Alfred the above-named army leaving Repton divided into two bodies one of which went with health Dana into Northumbria and having wintered there near the Tyne reduced all Northumberland to subjection they also ravaged the Picts and the Strathclydencians note Strathclyde Britons end of note the other division with Gothron, Osketel and Anwion three kings of the pagans went to a place called Grantabridge and there wintered note Cambridge end of note in the same year King Alfred fought a battle by sea against six ships of the pagans one of them the rest escaped by flight in the year of our lord's incarnation 876 being the 28th year of King Alfred's life the aforesaid army of the pagans leaving Grantabridge by night entered a castle called Wareham where there is a monastery of holy virgins between the two rivers Fram and Trent in the district which is called Dorngurs but in Saxon Thornsatta placed in a most secure situation except that it was exposed to danger on the western side from the nature of the ground with this army Alfred made a solemn treaty to the effect that they should depart out of the kingdom and for this they made no hesitation to give as many hostages as he named also they swore an oath over the Christian relics which with King Alfred were next in veneration after the deity himself that they would depart speedily from the kingdom note they swore oaths to Alfred on the holy ring says the Saxon Chronicle the most solemn manner of swearing among the Danes and other northern nations was by their arms Olaf's Magnus section 2 end of note but they again practiced their usual treachery and carrying nothing for the hostages or their oaths they broke the treaty and sallying forth by night slew all the horsemen that the king had round him and turning off into Devin to another place called in Saxon Exorchester but in British which means in Latin the city of the X situated on the eastern bank of the river Wise they directed their course suddenly toward the South Sea which divides Britain and Gaul and there past the winter in the same year Half Dana, king of those parts divided out the whole country of Northumberland between himself and his men and settled there with his army in the same year Rallo with his followers penetrated into Normandy this same Rallo Duke of the Normans whilst wintering in old Britain or England at the head of his troops enjoyed one night a vision revealing to him the future see more of this Rallo in the annals note it is necessary to inform the reader that many passages of this work are modern interpolations made in the old manuscript by a later hand the annals referred to in the text are supposed not to be a genuine work of Asser end of note in the year 877 the Pagans on the approach of autumn partly settled in Exeter and partly marched for plunder into Mercia the number of that disorderly crew increased every day so that if 30,000 of them were slain in one battle others took their places to double the number then King Alfred commanded boats and galleys that is long ships to be built throughout the kingdom in order to offer battle by sea to the enemy as they were coming on board of these he placed seamen and appointed them to watch the seas meanwhile he went himself to Exeter where the Pagans were wintering and having shut them up within the walls laid siege to the town he also gave orders to his sailors to prevent them from obtaining any supplies by sea and his sailors were encountered by a fleet of 120 ships full of armed soldiers who were come to help their countrymen as soon as the kings men knew that they were fitted with pagan soldiers they leaped to their arms and bravely attacked those barbaric tribes but the Pagans who had now for almost a month been tossed and almost wrecked among the waves of the sea fought vainly against them their bands were discomforted in a moment and all were sunk and drowned in the sea at a place called Sawanawick note swanwich in Dorsetshire end of note in the same year the army of Pagans leaving Warram partly on horseback and partly by water arrived at Sawanawick where 120 of their ships were lost and King Alfred pursued their land army as far as Exeter there he made a covenant with them and took hostages that they would depart note this is a mere repetition of the proceeding see a former note in this page end of note the same year in the month of August that army went into Mercia and gave part of that country to one Cale Wolf a weak-minded man and one of the king's ministers the other part they divided among themselves in the year of our Lord's incarnation 878 which was the 30th of King Alfred's life the army above mentioned left Exeter and went to Chippenham a royal villa situated in the west of Wilchere and on the eastern bank of the river which is called in British the Avon there they wintered and drove many of the inhabitants of that country beyond the sea by the force of their arms and by want of the necessaries of life they reduced almost entirely to subjection all the people of that country at the same time the above named Alfred king of the west Saxons with a few of his nobles and certain soldiers and vassals used to lead an unquiet life among the woodlands of the country of Somerset in great tribulation for he had none of the necessaries of life except what he could forage openly or stealthily by frequent sallies from the pagans or even from the Christians under the rule of the pagans and as we read in the life of Saint Neot at the house of one of his cowherds note the woodlands Athelney a morass formed by the conflux of the Thone and Parrot end of note but it happened on a certain day that the country woman wife of the cowherd was preparing some loaves to bake and the king sitting at the hearth made ready his bow and arrows and other war-like instruments the unlucky woman aspiring the cakes burning at the fire ran up to remove them and rebuking the brave king exclaimed can they mine the caxman and dosen siem burn I am bound these eat them fast enough as soon as tis the turn note note the original hear is in Latin verse and may therefore be rendered into English verse but such as every housewife in summer such here would understand end of note the blundering woman little thought that it was king Alfred who had fought so many battles against the pagans and gained so many victories over them but the almighty not only granted to the same glorious king victories over his enemies but also permitted him to be harassed by them to be sunk down by adversities and depressed by the lowest state of his followers to the end that he might learn that there is one lord of all things to whom every knee doth bow and in whose hand are the hearts of kings who puts down the mighty from their seat and exalteth the humble who suffers his servants when they are elevated at the summit of prosperity to be touched by the rod of adversity that in their humility they may not despair of God's mercy and in their prosperity they may not boast of their honors but may also know to whom they owe all the things which they possess we may believe that the calamity was brought upon the king of Forsed because at the beginning of his reign when he was a youth and influenced by youthful feelings he would not listen to the petitions which his subjects made to him for help in their necessities or for relief from those who oppressed them but he repulsed them from him and paid no heed to their requests this particular gave much annoyance to the holy man Saint Naot who was his relation and often foretold to him in the spirit of prophecy that he would suffer great adversity on this account but Alfred neither attended to the reproof of the man of God nor listened to his true prediction wherefore seeing that a man's sins must be corrected either in this world or the next the true and righteous judge was willing that his sin should not go unpunished in this world to the end that he might spare him in the world to come from this cause therefore the aforesaid Alfred often fell into such great misery that sometimes none of his subjects knew where he was or what had become of him in the same year the brother of Hingwar and Helfdana with 23 ships after much slaughter of the Christians came from the country of Demetia where he had wintered and sailed to Devon where with 1200 others he met with a miserable death being slain while committing his misdeeds by the king's servants before the castle of Kinweth into which many of the king's servants with their followers had fled for safety Naot the brother of Hingwar and Helfdana probably was a sanguinary Illuba Demetia or South Wales end of note the pagans seeing that the castle was altogether unprepared and unfortified except that it had walls in our own fashion determined not to assault it because it was impregnable and secure on all sides except on the eastern as we ourselves have seen the castle blockaded thinking that those who were inside would soon surrender either from famine or want of water for the castle had no spring near it but the result did not fall out as they expected for the Christians before they began to suffer from want inspired by heaven judging it much better to gain victory or death attacked the pagans suddenly in the morning down in great numbers slaying also their king so that few escaped to their ships and there they gained a very large booty amongst other things the standard called raven for they say that the three sisters of Hingwar and Huba daughters of Lodobrock wove that flag and got it ready in one day they say moreover that in every battle wherever that flag went before them if they were to gain the victory a live crow would appear flying on the middle of the flag but if they were doomed to be defeated it would hang down motionless and this was often proved to be so the same year after Easter King Alfred with a few followers made for himself a stronghold in a place called Athelnae and from thence sallied with his vassals and the nobles of Somersetshire to make frequent assaults upon the pagans also in the seventh week after Easter he rode to the stone of Egbert which is in the eastern part of the wood which is called Selwood which means in Latin Silhuwa Magna the Great Wood but in British Coyt Mor stone of Egbert now called Brickston Deverell in Wiltshire Selwood Selwood Forest extended from Frome to Borum and was probably much larger at one time end of note here he was met by all the neighboring folk of Somersetshire and Wiltshire and Hampshire who had not for fear of the pagans fled beyond the sea and when they saw the king alive after such great tribulation they received him as he deserved with joy and acclamations and encamped there for one night when the following day dawned the king struck his camp and went to Oakley where he encamped for one night note or igly supposed to be laid now Westbury Wiltshire the next morning he removed to Eddington and there fought bravely and perseveringly against all the army of the pagans whom with divine help he defeated with great slaughter and pursued them flying to their fortification immediately he slew all the men and carried off all the booty that he could find without the fortress which he immediately laid siege to and when he had been there 14 days the pagans driven by famine cold fear and last of all by despair asked for peace on the condition that they should give the king as many hostages as he pleased but should receive none of him in return in which form they had never before made a treaty with anyone the king hearing that took pity upon them and received such hostages as he chose after which the pagans swore moreover that they would immediately leave the kingdom and their king gothrun promised to embrace Christianity and receive baptism at king Alfred's hands all of which articles he and his men fulfilled as they had promised for after seven weeks gothrun king of the pagans with thirty men chosen from the army came to Alfred at a place called Aller near Athelene and their king Alfred receiving him as his son by adoption raised him up from the holy laver of baptism on the eighth day at a royal villa named Wedmore where the holy chism was poured upon him note Wedmore is four miles and three quarters from Axe Bridge where the king had promised to embrace at sheer in the Saxon Chronicle AD 878 it is said that gothrun was baptized at Aller and his chism loosing was at Wedmore the chismel was a white linen cloth put on the head at the administration of baptism which was taken off at the exploration of eight days end of note after his baptism he remained twelve nights with the king who, with all his nobles gave him many fine houses in the year of our lord's incarnation 879 which was the 31st of king Alfred the aforesaid army of pagans leaving Chippenham as they had promised went to Chirenchester which is called in British Kare Kori and is situate in the southern part and there they remained one year note wikii inhabitants of Gloucester Worcester and part of Warwickshire end of note in the same year a large army of pagans sailed from foreign parts into the river Thames and joined the army which was already in the country they wintered at Fulham near the river Thames in the same year ships of the sun took place between three o'clock and the evening but nearer to three o'clock in the year of our lord's incarnation 880 which was the 32nd of king Alfred the above named army of pagans left Chirenchester and went among the east angles where they divided out the country and began to settle the same year the army of pagans which had wintered at Fulham at the island of Britain and sailed over the sea to the eastern part of France where they remained a year at a place called Yent in the year of our lord's incarnation 881 which was the 33rd of king Alfred's life the aforesaid army went higher up into France and the French fought against them and after the battle the pagans obtained horses and became an army of cavalry in the year of our lord's incarnation 882 the 34th of king Alfred's life the above named army steered their ships up into France by a river called the Mez and there wintered one year in the same year Alfred king of the Anglo-Saxons fought a battle by sea against the pagan fleet of which he captured two ships having slain all who were on board and the two commanders of two other ships with all their crews distressed by the battle and the wounds which they had received laid down their arms and submitted to the king in the year of our lord's incarnation 883 which was the 35th of king Alfred's life the aforesaid army went up the river called Scald to a convent of nuns called Conda and there remained a year in the year of our lord's incarnation 884 which was the 36th of king Alfred's life the aforesaid army divided into two parts one body of them went into east France and the other coming to Britain entered Kent where they besieged a city called in Saxon Rochester and situated on the eastern bank of the river Medway before the gate of the town the pagans suddenly erected a strong fortress but yet they were unable to take the city because the citizens defended themselves bravely until king Alfred came up to help them with a large army then the pagans abandoned their fortress and all their horses which they had brought with them out of France and leaving behind them in the fortress the greater part on the arrival of the king fled immediately to their ships and the Saxons immediately seized on the prisoners and horses left by the pagans and so the pagans compelled by stern necessity returned the same summer to France in the same year Alfred king of the Anglo-Saxons led his fleet full of fighting men out of Kent to the country of the east angles for the sake of plunder and when they had arrived at the mouth of the river store immediately 13 ships of the pagans met them prepared for battle a fierce fight ensued and all the pagans after a brave resistance were slain all the ships with all their money were taken note for the sake of plunder this expression paints in strong colors the unfortunate and divided state of England at this period for it shows that the Danes had settled possession of parts of it in fact all traces of the heptarchy or ancient division of the island into provinces did not entirely disappear until some years after the Norman conquest the river store not the river store in Kent but the store which divides Essex from Suffolk Lombard fixes the battle at Harwich Haven end of note after this while the royal fleet were reposing the pagans who lived in the eastern part of England assembled their ships met the same royal fleet at sea in the mouth of the same river and after a naval battle the pagans gained the victory end of part one section three part two section one of the life of King Alfred this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the life of King Alfred by Asser, Bishop of Sherbourne translated by J.A. Giles part two section one the life of King Alfred from A.D. 849 to A.D. 887 part two in the same year also Carloman king of the western Franks whilst hunting a wild boar was miserably killed by a large animal of that species which inflicted a dreadful wound on him with its tusk his brother, Louis the third who had been king of the Franks died the year before these two brothers were sons of Louis, king of the Franks who had died in the year above mentioned in which the eclipse of the sun took place and it was he whose daughter Judith was given by her father's wish in marriage to Ethelwolf, king of the west Saxons in the same year also a great army of the pagans came from Germany into the country of the ancient Saxons called in Saxon Al Saxum note or old Saxons end of note to oppose them the said Saxons and Friesons joined their forces and fought bravely twice in that same year in both those battles the Christians with the merciful aid of the lord obtained the victory in the same year also Charles king of the Almains received with universal consent all the territories which lie between the Terenian sea and that gulf which runs between the old Saxons and the Gauls except the kingdom of Armorica that is lesser Britain this Charles was the son of king Louis who was brother of Charles king of the Franks father of the aforesaid queen Judith these two brothers were sons of Louis but Louis was the son of the great the ancient and wise Charlemagne who was the son of Pepin in the same year Pope Martin of blessed memory went the way of all flesh it was he who in regard for Alfred king of the Anglo-Saxons and at his request freed the school of the Anglo-Saxons resident at Rome from all tribute and tax he also sent many gifts on that occasion among which was no small portion of the holy and venerable cross on which our lord Jesus Christ was suspended for the general salvation of mankind in the same year also the army of pagans which dwelt among the east angles disgracefully broke the peace which they had concluded with king Alfred wherefore to return to that from which I digressed that I may not be compelled by my long navigation to abandon the port of rest which I was making for I propose as far as my knowledge will enable me to speak of life and character and just conduct of my lord Alfred king of the Anglo-Saxons after he married the above named respected lady of mercy and race his wife and with God's blessing I will dispatch it succinctly and briefly as I promised that I may not offend the delicate minds of my readers by prolixity in relating each new event his nuptials were honorably celebrated in mercy among innumerable multitudes of people of both sexes and after continual feasts both by night and by day he was immediately seized in the presence of all the people by sudden and overwhelming pain unknown to all the physicians for it was unknown to all who were then present and even to those who daily see him up to the present time which, sad to say, is the worst of all that he should have protracted it so long from the twentieth to the fortieth year of his life and even more than that through the space of so many years from what caused so great a malady arose for many thought and this was occasioned by the favor and fascination of the people who surrounded him others by some spite of the devil who is ever jealous of the good others from an unusual kind of fever he had this sort of severe disease from his childhood but once, divine providence so ordered it, that when he was on a visit to Cornwall for the sake of hunting and had turned out of the road he would rest the body of St. Gurir and now also St. Niat rests there for King Alfred was always from his infancy a frequent visitor of holy places for the sake of prayer and almsgiving he prostrated himself for private devotion and after some time spent therein he entreated of God's mercy that in his boundless clemency he would exchange the torments of the malady which then afflicted him another lighter disease but with this condition that such disease should not show itself outwardly in his body lest he should be an object of contempt and less able to benefit mankind for he had great dread of leprosy or blindness or any such complaint as makes men useless or contemptible when it afflicts them note St. Gurir St. Gurir's church was at ham stroke in Cornwall St. Niat an interesting account of St. Niat will be found in Gorham's history and antiquities of Inesbury and St. Niat's end of note when he had finished his prayers he proceeded on his journey and not long after he felt within him that by the hand of the Almighty he was healed according to his request of his disorder and that it was entirely eradicated although he at first had even this complaint in the flower of his youth by his devout and pious prayers and supplications to Almighty God for if I may be allowed to speak briefly but in a somewhat preposterous order of his zealous piety to God in the flower of his youth before he entered the marriage state he wished to strengthen his mind in the observance of God's commandments for he perceived that he could with difficulty abstain from gratifying his carnal desires and because he feared the anger of God if he should do anything contrary to his will he used often to rise in the morning at the cockroach and go to pray in the churches and at the relics of the saints there he prostrated himself on the ground and prayed that God in his mercy would strengthen his mind still more in his service by some infirmity such as he might bear but not such as would render him imbecile and contemptible in his worldly duties and when he had often prayed with much devotion to this effect after an interval of some time Providence vouchsafe to afflict him with the above-named disease which he bore long and painfully for many years and even despaired of life until he entirely got rid of it by his prayers but sad to say it was replaced as we have said at his marriage by another which incessantly tormented him night and day from the 20th to the 44th year of his life but if ever by God's mercy he was relieved from this infirmity for a single day or night yet the fear and dread of malady never left him but rendered him almost useless as he thought for every duty whether human or divine the sons and daughters which he had by his wife above mentioned were Ethel-Fled the eldest after whom came Edward then Ethel-Giva then Ethel-Switha then Ethel-Word besides those who died in their infancy one of whom was Edmund his marriage was united to Ethered Earl of Mercia Ethel-Giva also was dedicated to God and submitted to the rules of a monastic life Ethel-Word the youngest by the divine councils and the admirable prudence of the king was consigned to the schools of learning where with the children of almost all the nobility of the country and many also who were not noble he prospered under the diligent teachers books in both languages namely Latin and Saxon were both read in the school they also learned to write so that before they were of an age to practice manly arts namely hunting in such pursuits as befit noblemen they became studious and clever in the liberal arts Edward and Ethel-Switha were bred up in the king's court and received great attention today they continue to this day with the love of all about them and showing affability and even gentleness towards all both natives and foreigners and in complete subjection to their father nor among their other studies which appertain to this life in our fit for noble youths or they suffered to pass their time idly and unprofitably without learning liberal arts for they have carefully learned the Psalms and Saxon books and are continually in the habit of making use of books in the meantime the king during the frequent wars and other trammels of this present life the invasions of the pagans and his own daily infirmities of body continued to carry on the government and to exercise hunting in all its branches to teach his workers in gold in artificers of all kinds his falconers, hawkers and dog keepers to build houses majestic and good beyond the precedence of his ancestors by his new mechanical inventions to recite the Saxon books and especially to learn by heart the Saxon poems and to make others learn them and he alone never desisted from studying most diligently to the best of his ability he attended the mass and other daily services of religion he was frequent in Psalms singing and prayer at the hours both of the day and the night he also went to the churches as we have already said in the nighttime to pray secretly and unknown to his courtiers he bestowed alms and largeses on both natives and foreigners of all countries he was affable and pleasant to all and curiously eager to investigate things unknown many Franks Frisons Gauls Pagans Britons Scots and Armoricans noble and ignoble submitted voluntarily to his dominion and all of them according to their nation and deserving were ruled, loved, honored and enriched with money and power moreover the king was in the habit of hearing the divine scriptures read by his own countrymen and he chanted so happened in company with foreigners and he attended to it with sedulity and solicitude his bishops too in all ecclesiastics his earls and nobles, ministers and friends were loved by him with wonderful affection and their sons who were bred up in the royal household were no less dear to him than his own he had them instructed in all kinds of good morals things never ceased to teach them letters night and day but as if he had no consolation in all these things and suffered no other annoyance either from within or without yet he was harassed by daily and nightly affliction that he complained to God and to all who were admitted to his familiar love that almighty God had made him ignorant of divine wisdom and of the liberal arts emulating the pious, the wise and wealthy Solomon king of the Hebrews who at first despising all present glory and riches asked wisdom of God and found both namely wisdom and worldly glory as it is written seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you but God who is always the inspector of the thoughts of the mind within and the instigator of all good intentions and the most plentiful aider that good desires may be formed for he would not instigate a man to good intentions unless he also amply supplied that which the man justly and properly wishes to have instigated the king's mind within as it is written I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me avail himself of every opportunity to procure co-editors in his good designs to aid him in his strivings after wisdom that he might attain to what he aimed at and like a prudent bird which rising in summer with the early morning from her beloved nest steers her rapid flight through the uncertain tracks of ether and descends on the manifold and varied flowers of grasses, herbs and shrubs assaying that which pleases most that she may bear it to her home so did he direct his eyes afar and seek without that which he had not within namely in his own kingdom but God at that time as some consolation to the king's benevolence yielding to his complaint sent certain lights to illuminate him namely whereofrith bishop of the church of Worcester a man well versed in divine scripture who by the king's command first turned the books of the dialogues of Pope Gregory and Peter his disciple from Latin into Saxon and sometimes putting sense for sense interpreted them with clearness and elegance after him was Plegmund a mercy by birth archbishop of the church of Canterbury a venerable man and endowed with wisdom also and wereowulf his priests and chaplains mercyans by birth and erudite these four had been invited out of mercy by king Alfred who exalted them with many honors and powers in the kingdom of the west Saxons besides the privileges which archbishop Plegmund and bishop wereofrith enjoyed in mercy by their teaching and wisdom the king's desires increased unceasingly and were gratified night and day whenever he had leisure he commanded such men as these to read books to him for he never suffered himself to be without one of them wherefore he possessed a knowledge of every book though of himself he could not yet understand anything of books for he had not yet learned to read anything but the king's commendable avarice could not be gratified even in this he was beyond the sea to gall to procure teachers and he invited from thence Grimbald, priest and monk a venerable man and good singer adorned with every kind of ecclesiastical discipline and good morals and most learned in holy scripture note Grimbald was provost of saint omer's end of note he also obtained from thence John priest and monk a man of most energetic talents and learned in all kinds of literary science and skilled in many other arts note John had been connected with the monastery of Corby end of note by the teaching of these men the king's mind was much enlarge and he enriched and honored them with much influence in these times I also came into Saxony out of the furthest coasts of western Britain and when I had proposed to go to him through many intervening provinces I arrived in the country of the Saxons who live on the right hand which in Saxon is called Sussex under the guidance of some of that nation and there I first saw him in the royal vill which is called Dean note East Dean or Deane and West Dean are two villages near Chichester there are also other villages of the same name near Eastbourne end of note he received me with kindness and among other familiar conversation he asked me eagerly to devote myself to his service and become his friend to leave everything which I possessed on the left or western bank of the Severn and he promised he would give more than an equivalent for it I replied that I could not in cautiously and rashly promise such things for it seemed to me unjust that I should leave those sacred places in which I had been bred, educated and crowned and at last ordained for the sake of any earthly honor and power unless by compulsion note crowned this expression alludes to the Tonsher after gone by those who became clerks for a description of the Ecclesiastical Tonsher see Bede's Ecclesiastical History page 160 end of note upon this he said if you cannot exceed to this at least let me have your service in part spend six months of the year with me here and the other six in Britain to this I replied I could not even promise that easily or hastily without the advice of my friends at length however, when I perceived that he was anxious for my services though I knew not why, I promised him that if my life was spared I would return to him after six months with such reply as should be agreeable to him as well as advantageous to me and mine with this answer he was satisfied and when I had given him a pledge to return at the appointed time that day we left him and returned on horseback towards our own country after our departure a violent fever seized me in the city of Winchester where I lay for twelve months and one week, night and day without hope of recovery at the appointed time therefore I could not fulfill my promise of visiting him and he sent messengers to hasten my journey and to inquire the cause I was unable to ride to him I sent a second messenger to tell him the cause of my delay and assure him that if I recovered from my infirmity I would fulfill what I had promised my complaint left me and by the advice and consent of all my friends for the benefit of that holy place and of all who dwelt therein I did as I had promised to the king and devoted myself to his service on the condition that I should remain with him six months in every year either continuously, if I could spend six months with him at once or alternately, three months in Britain and three in Saxony note the original Latin continues et ila adiur et tur per rudimenta sancti degui in omnicausa tamen pro viribus which I do not understand and therefore cannot translate end of note for my friends hope that they should sustain less tribulation and harm from King Hemaid who often plundered that monastery and the parish of St. Deguus and sometimes expelled the prelates as they expelled Archbishop Novus my relation and myself if in any manner I could secure the notice and friendship of the king note King Hemaid a petty prince of South Wales St. Deguus or St. Dewey probably by the parish of St. Deguus is meant the diocese of St. David's hence it is said that Alfred gave to Asser the whole parish omnis parochia of Exeter Archbishop Novus Archbishop of St. David's end of note end of note end of part 2 section 1 part 2 section 2 of the life of King Alfred this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the life of King Alfred by Asser Bishop of Sherbourne translated by J. A. Giles part 2 section 2 at that time and long before all the countries on the right hand side of Britain belong to King Alfred and still belong to him for instance, King Hemaid with all the inhabitants of the region of Demetia compelled by the violence of the six sons of Rotary had submitted to the dominion of the king Howell also King of Glegeising and Brockmaill and Fernmaill sons of Morick, kings of Gwent compelled by the violence and tyranny of Earl Ethered and of the Mercians of their own accord sought King Alfred that they might enjoy his government and protection from him against their enemies Hela said also son of Tendir, King of Brecken compelled by the force of the same sons of Rotary of his own accord sought the government of the aforesaid king and Anaroud, son of Rotary with his brother at length abandoning the friendship of the Northumbrians from which he received no good but harm came into King Alfred's presence and eagerly sought his friendship the king received him honorably, received him as his son by confirmation from the bishops hand and presented him with many gifts thus he became subject to the king with all his people on the same condition that he should be obedient to the king's will in all respects in the same way as Ethered with the Mercians nor was it in vain that all these princes gained the friendship of the king for those who desired to augment their worldly power obtained power those who desired money gained money those who desired his friendship or both money and friendship succeeded in getting what they wanted but all of them gained his love and guardianship and defense from every quarter even as the king with his men could protect himself when therefore I had come into his presence at the Royal Ville called Leona Ford I was honorably received by him and remained that time with him at his court eight months during which I read to him whatever books he liked and such as he had at hand for this is his most usual custom both night and day amid his many other occupations of mind and body either himself to read books or to listen whilst others read them and when I frequently asked his leave to depart and could in no way obtain it at length when I had made up my mind for all means to demand it he called me to him at twilight on Christmas Eve and gave me two letters in which was a long list of all the things which were in two monasteries called in Saxon, Ambersbury and Banwell and on that same day he delivered to me those two monasteries with all the things that were in them and a silken pole of great value and a load for a strong man of incense adding these words that he did not give me these trifling presents because he was unwilling hereafter to give me greater for in the course of time he unexpectedly gave me Exeter with all the diocese which belonged to him in Saxony and in Cornwall besides gifts every day without number in every kind of worldly wealth it was too long to enumerate here lest they should make my reader tired but let no one suppose that I have mentioned these presents in this place for the sake of glory or flattery or to obtain greater honor I call God to witness that I have not done so but that I might certify to those who are ignorant how profuse he is in giving he then at once gave me permission to ride to those two rich monasteries and afterwards to return to my own country in the year of our Lord's incarnation 886 which was the 38th since the birth of Alfred the army so often before mentioned again fled the country and went into the country of the western Franks directing their ships to the river called the Seine and sailed up it as far as the city of Paris and there they wintered camp they besieged that city a whole year as far as the bridge that they might prevent the inhabitants from making use of it for the city is situated on a small island in the middle of the river but by the merciful favor of God and the brave defense of citizens the army could not force their way inside the walls in the same year Alfred king of the Anglo-Saxons after the burning of the cities and the slaying of the people honorably rebuilt the city of London and made it again habitable he gave it into the custody of his son-in-law Ethered Earl of Mercia to which king all the angles and Saxons who before had been dispersed everywhere or were in captivity with the pagans voluntarily turned and submitted themselves to his dominion the whole of this paragraph concerning Oxford is thought to be an interpolation because it is not known to have existed in more than one manuscript copy end of note in the same year there arose a foul and deadly discord at Oxford between Grimbald with those learned men whom he had brought with him and the old scholars whom he had found there who on his arrival refused altogether to embrace the laws, modes and forms of prelection instituted by the same Grimbald during three years there had been no great dissension between them but there was a secret enmity which afterwards broke out with great atrocity clearer than the light itself to appease this quarrel that invincible king Alfred having been informed of the strife by a messenger from Grimbald went to Oxford to put an end to the controversy and endured much trouble in hearing the arguments and complaints which were brought forwards on both sides the substance of the dispute was this the old scholars contended that literature had flourished at Oxford before the coming of Grimbald although the number of scholars was smaller than an ancient time because several had been driven away by the cruelty and tyranny of the pagans they also proved and showed by the undoubted testimony of ancient annals that the orders and institutions of that place had been sanctioned by certain pious and learned men as for instance by St. Gildus, Melchynus Neneus, Kentagern and others who had all grown old there in literature and happily administered everything there on record and also that St. Germanus had come to Oxford and stopped there half a year at the time when he went through Britain to preach against the Pelagian heresy he wonderfully approved of the customs and institutions above mentioned the king with unheard of humility listened to both sides carefully and exhorted them again and again with pious and wholesome positions to cherish mutual love and concord he therefore left them with this decision that each party should follow their own council and preserve their own institutions Grimbal, displeased at this immediately departed to the monastery at Winchester which had been recently founded by King Alfred and ordered a tomb to be carried to Winchester in which he proposed after this life stones should be laid in the vault which had been made under the chancel of St. Peter's Church in Oxford which church the same Grimbal have built from its foundations of stone polished with great care note, Hyde Abbey end of note in the year of our Lord's incarnation 887 which was the 39th of King Alfred's life the above mentioned Army of the Pagans leaving the city of Paris uninjured because they could not succeed against it sailed up the river Seine under the bridge until they reached the mouth of the river Materne where they left the Seine and following for a long time the course of the Marne at length but not without much labor they arrived at a place called Chezzi a Royalville where they wintered one year in the following year they entered the mouth of the river Iona Ianna not without doing much damage to the country and there remained one year in the same year Charles King of the Franks went the way of all flesh but Arnolf his brother's son six weeks before he died had expelled him from his kingdom after his death five kings were appointed and the kingdom was split into five parts but the principal rank in the kingdom justly and deservedly devolved on Arnolf save only that he committed an unworthy offense against his uncle the other four kings promised fidelity and obedience to Arnolf as was proper for none of these four kings was hereditary on his father's side in his share of the kingdom as was Arnolf therefore though the five kings were appointed immediately on the death of Charles yet the empire remained in the hands of Arnolf such then was the division of the kingdom Arnolf received the countries on the east of the river Rhine Rodolf the inner parts of the kingdom Oda the western part Bjorn Gar and Guido Lombardy and those countries which are in that part of the mountains but they did not keep these large dominions in peace for they twice fought a pitched battle often mutually ravaged their kingdoms and drove each other out of their dominions in the same year in which that pagan army left Paris and went to Chezzy Ethel Helm, Earl of Wiltshire carried to Rome the alms of King Alfred and of the Saxons in the same year Alfred king of the Anglo-Saxons so often before mentioned by divine inspiration began on one and the same day to read and to interpret but that I may explain this more fully to those who are ignorant I will relate the cause of this long delay in beginning on a certain day we were both of us sitting in the king's chamber talking on all kinds of subjects as usual and it happened that I read to him a quotation out of a certain book he heard it attentively with both his ears and addressed me with a thoughtful mind showing me at the same moment a book which he carried in his bosom wherein the daily courses and psalms and prayers which he had read in his youth were written and he commanded me to write the same quotation in that book hearing this and perceiving his ingenuous benevolence and devout desire of studying the words of divine wisdom I gave though in secret boundless thanks to Almighty God who had implanted such a love of wisdom in the king's heart but I could not find any empty space in that book wherein to write the quotation for it was already full of various matters wherefore I made a little delay principally that I might stir up the bright intellect of the king to a higher acquaintance with the divine testimonies upon his urging me to make hasten write it quickly I said to him are you willing that I should write that quotation on some leaf apart for it is not certain whether we shall not find one or more other such extracts which will please you and if that should so happen we shall be glad that we have kept them apart your plan is good said he and I gladly made haste to get ready a sheet in the beginning of which I wrote and on that same day I wrote therein as I had anticipated no less than three other quotations which pleased him and from that time we daily talked together and found out other quotations which pleased him so that the sheet became full and deservedly so according as it is written the just man builds upon a moderate foundation and by degrees passes to greater things thus like a most productive be he flew here and there asking questions as he went until he had eagerly and unceasingly collected many various flowers of divine scriptures with which he thickly stored the cells of his mind now when that first quotation was copied he was eager at once to read and to interpret in Saxon and then to teach others even as we read of that happy robber who recognized his Lord I the Lord of all men as he was hanging on the Blessed Cross and saluting him with his bodily eyes only because elsewhere he was all pierced with nails, cried Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom for it was only at the end of his life that he began to learn the rudiments of the Christian faith but the king, inspired by God began to study the rudiments of divine scripture on the sacred solemnity of Saint Martin November 11 and he continued to learn the flowers collected by certain masters and to reduce them into the form of one book as he was then able although mixed one with another until it became almost as large as a salter this book he called his N. Caridian or manual because he carefully kept it at hand day and night and found as he told me no small consolation therein but as has already been written by a certain wise man of watchful minds are they whose pious care it is to govern well so must I be watchful in that I just now drew a kind of comparison or similarity though in dissimilar manner between that happy robber and the king for the cross is hateful to everyone wherever there is suffering but what can he do if he cannot save himself or escape thence or by what art can he remain there and improve his cause he must therefore whether he will or no endure with pain and sorrow that which he is suffering now the king was pierced with many nails of tribulation though placed in the royal seat in the present year which is his 40th he has been constantly afflicted with the most severe attacks of an unknown complaint so that he has not a moment's ease either from suffering the pain which it causes or from the gloom which is thrown over him by the apprehension of its coming note this must consequently have been written in A.D. 888 end of note the constant invasions of foreign nations by which he was continually harassed by land and sea without any interval of quiet or a just cause of disquiet what shall I say of his repeated expeditions against the pagans his wars and incessant occupations of government of the daily embassies sent to him by foreign nations from the Tyrrhenian sea to the farthest end of Ireland note the conjectures that we ought to read Hyberiae Spain and not Hyberniae Ireland in this passage end of note for we have seen and read letters accompanied with presents which were sent to him by Amel the patriarch of Jerusalem what shall I say of the cities and towns which he restored and of others which he built where none had been before of the royal halls and chambers wonderfully erected by his command with stone and wood of the royal vills constructed of stone removed from their old site and handsomely rebuilt by the king's command in more fitting places besides the disease above mentioned he was disturbed by the quarrels of his friends who would voluntarily endure little or no toil though it was for the common necessity of the kingdom but he alone sustained by the divine aid like a skillful pilot strove to steer his ship laden with much wealth into the safe and much desired harbor of his country though almost all his crew were tired and suffered them not to faint or hesitate though sailing amid the manifold waves and eddies of this present life for all his bishops earls, nobles favorite ministers and prefects who next to God and the king had the whole government of the kingdom as his fitting continually received from him instruction, respect exhortation and command nay at last when they were disobedient and his long patience was exhausted he would reprove them severely and censure at pleasure their vulgar folly and obstinacy and in this way he directed their attention to the common interests of the kingdom but owing to the sluggishness of the people these admonitions of the king were either not fulfilled or were begun late at the moment of necessity and so ended less to the advantage of those who put them in execution for I will say nothing of the castles which he ordered to be built but which being begun late were never finished because the hostile troops broke in upon them and in tendency and as often happened the thwarters of the royal ordinances repented when it was too late and blushed at their non-performance of his commands I speak of repentance when it is too late on the testimony of scripture whereby numberless persons have had cause for too much sorrow when many insidious evils have been wrought but though by these means sad to say they may be bitterly afflicted and roused to sorrow by the loss of fathers wives, children, ministers servant men, servant maids and furniture and household stuff what is the use of hateful repentance when their kinsmen are dead and they cannot aid them or redeem those who are captive from captivity for they are not able even to assist those who have escaped as they have not been aware with to sustain even their own lives they repented therefore when it was too late and grieved at their incautious neglect of the king's commands and they praised the royal wisdom with one voice and tried with all their power to fulfill what they had before refused namely concerning the erection of castles and other things generally useful to the whole kingdom End of Part 2, Section 2