commendable avarice could not be gratified even in this, he sent
messengers beyond sea to Gaul, to procure teachers, and invited from
thence Grimbald,[193] priest and monk, a venerable man and excellent
singer, learned in every kind of ecclesiastical discipline and in
holy Scripture, and adorned with all virtues. He also obtained from
thence John,[194] both priest and monk, a man of the keenest intellect,
learned in all branches of literature, and skilled in many other arts.
By the teaching of these men the king’s mind was greatly enlarged, and
he enriched and honored them with much power.
=79. Asser’s Negotiations with King Alfred.=[195]--At that time I also
came to Wessex, out of the furthest coasts of Western Wales; and when I
had proposed to go to him through many intervening provinces, I arrived
in the country of the South Saxons, 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 Dene.[196] He received me with kindness,
and, among other conversation, besought me eagerly to devote myself to
his service and become his friend, and to leave for his sake everything
which I possessed on the northern and western side of the Severn,
promising he would give me more than an equivalent for it, as in fact
he did. I replied that I could not incautiously and rashly promise such
things; for it seemed to me unjust that I should leave those sacred
places in which I had been bred and educated, where I had received the
tonsure, and had at length been ordained, for the sake of any earthly
honor and power, unless by force and compulsion. Upon this he said:
‘If you cannot accede to this, at least grant me half your service:
spend six months with me here, and six in Wales.’ To this I replied: ‘I
could not easily or rashly promise even that without the approval of
my friends.’ At length, however, when I perceived that he was really
anxious for my services, though I knew not why, I promised him that,
if my life were spared, I would return to him after six months, with
such a 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, on the fourth day we rode
away from him, and returned to my own country. After our departure, a
violent fever seized me in the city of Cærwent,[197] where I lay for
twelve months and one week, night and day, without hope of recovery.
When at the appointed time, therefore, I had not fulfilled my promise
of visiting him, he sent letters to hasten my journey on horseback to
him, and to inquire the cause of my delay. As I was unable to ride to
him, I sent a reply to make known to him the cause of my delay, and
assure him that, if I recovered from my illness, I would fulfil what
I had promised. My disease finally left me, and accordingly, by the
advice and consent of all my friends, for the benefit of that holy
place and of all who dwelt therein, I devoted myself to the king’s
service as I had promised, the condition being that I should remain
with him six months every year, either continuously, if I could spend
six months with him at once, or alternately, three months in Wales and
three in Wessex. It was also understood that he should in all ways
be helpful to St. Davids, as far as his power extended.[198] For my
friends hoped by this means to sustain less tribulation and harm from
King Hemeid--who often plundered that monastery and the parish of
St. Davids, and sometimes expelled the bishops who ruled over it, as
he did Archbishop Nobis, my relative, and on occasion myself, their
subordinate--if in any way I could secure the notice and friendship of
the king.
=80. The Welsh Princes who submit to Alfred.=[199]--At that time, and
long before, all the countries in South Wales belonged to King Alfred,
and still belong to him. For instance, King Hemeid, with all the
inhabitants of the region of Dyfed,[200] restrained by the violence
of the six sons of Rhodri,[201] had submitted to the dominion of the
king. Howel also, son of Ris, King of Glywyssing,[202] and Brochmail
and Fernmail, sons of Mouric, kings of Gwent,[203] compelled by the
violence and tyranny of Ealdorman Æthelred and of the Mercians, of
their own accord sought out the same king,[204] that they might enjoy
rule and protection from him against their enemies. Helised, also,
son of Teudubr, King of Brecknock, compelled by the violence of the
same sons of Rhodri, of his own accord sought the lordship of the
aforesaid king; and Anarawd, son of Rhodri, with his brothers, at
length abandoning the friendship of the Northumbrians, from whom he had
received no good, but rather harm, came into King Alfred’s presence,
and eagerly sought his friendship. The king received him with honor,
adopted him as his son by confirmation from the bishop’s hand,[205] and
bestowed many gifts upon him. Thus he became subject to the king with
all his people, on condition that he should be obedient to the king’s
will in all respects, in the same way as Æthelred and the Mercians.
=81. How Alfred rewards Submission.=[206]--Nor was it in vain that
they all 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 acquired his friendship;
those who wished more than one secured more than one. But all of them
had his love and guardianship and defense from every quarter, so far as
the king, with all his men, could defend himself. When therefore I had
come to him at the royal vill called Leonaford,[207] 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, of such as
he had at hand; for this is his peculiar and most confirmed habit, both
night and day, amid all his other occupations of mind and body,[208]
either himself to read books, or to listen to the reading of others.
And when I frequently had sought his permission to return, and had
in no way been able to obtain it, at length, when I had made up my
mind by all means to demand it, he called me to him at twilight on
Christmas Eve, and gave me two letters in which was a manifold list of
all the things which were in the two monasteries which are called in
Saxon Congresbury and Banwell[209]; and on that same day he delivered
to me those two monasteries with everything in them, together with a
silken pallium of great value, and of incense a load for a strong man,
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 the whole diocese
which belonged to him in Wessex and in Cornwall, besides gifts every
day without number of every kind of worldly wealth; these it would be
too long to enumerate here, lest it should weary my readers. 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 was in giving. He then at once gave
me permission to ride to those two monasteries, so full of all good
things, and afterwards to return to my own.
=82. The Siege of Paris.=[210]--In the year of our Lord’s incarnation
886, which was the thirty-eighth of King Alfred’s life, the army so
often mentioned again fled the country, and went into that of the West
Franks. Entering the river Seine with their vessels, they sailed up it
as far as the city of Paris; there they wintered, pitching their camp
on both sides of the river almost to the bridge, in order that they
might prevent the citizens from crossing the bridge--since the city
occupies a small island in the middle of the stream. They besieged the
city for a whole year, but, by the merciful favor of God, and by reason
of the brave defense of the citizens, they could not force their way
inside the walls.
=83. Alfred rebuilds London.=[211]--In that same year Alfred, King of
the Anglo-Saxons, after the burning of cities and massacres of the
people, honorably rebuilt the city of London, made it habitable, and
gave it into the custody of Æthelred, Ealdorman of Mercia. To this
king[212] all the Angles and Saxons who hitherto had been dispersed
everywhere, or were in captivity with the heathen,[213] voluntarily
turned, and submitted themselves to his rule.[214]
=84. The Danes leave Paris.=[215]--In the year of our Lord’s
incarnation 887, which was the thirty-ninth of King Alfred’s life,
the above-mentioned army of the heathen, leaving the city of Paris
uninjured, since otherwise they could get no advantage, passed under
the bridge and rowed their fleet up the river Seine for a long
distance, until they reached the mouth of the river Marne; here they
left the Seine, entered the mouth of the Marne, and, sailing up it for
a good distance and a good while, at length, not without labor, arrived
at a place called Chézy, a royal vill, where they wintered a whole
year. In the following year they entered the mouth of the river Yonne,
not without doing much damage to the country, and there remained one
year.
=85. Division of the Empire.=[216]--In that same year Charles,[217]
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 the
kingdom. Immediately after his death five kings were ordained, and
the kingdom was split into five parts; but the principal seat of the
kingdom justly and deservedly fell to Arnolf, were it not that he had
shamefully sinned against his uncle. The other four kings promised
fidelity and obedience to Arnolf, as was meet; for none of these four
kings was heir to the kingdom on his father’s side, as was Arnolf;
therefore, though the five kings were ordained immediately upon the
death of Charles, yet the Empire remained to Arnolf. Such, then, was
the division of that realm; Arnolf received the countries to the east
of the river Rhine; Rudolf the inner part of the kingdom[218]; Odo the
western part; Berengar and Wido, Lombardy, and those countries which
are on that side of the mountain. But they did not keep such and so
great dominions in peace among themselves, for they twice fought a
pitched battle, and often mutually ravaged those kingdoms, and drove
one another out of their dominions.
=86. Alfred sends Alms to Rome.=[219]--In the same year in which
that army left Paris and went to Chézy,[220] Æthelhelm, Ealdorman of
Wiltshire, carried to Rome the alms of King Alfred and of the Saxons.
=87. Alfred begins to translate from Latin.=[221]--In that same year
also the oft-mentioned Alfred, King of the Anglo-Saxons, by divine
inspiration first began, on one and the same day, to read and to
translate; but that this may be clearer to those who are ignorant, I
will relate the cause of this long delay in beginning.
=88. Alfred’s Manual.=[222]--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. While he was listening to it attentively with both ears, and
pondering it deeply with his inmost mind, he suddenly showed me a
little book[223] which he carried in his bosom, wherein were written
the daily course, together with certain Psalms and prayers which he
had read in his youth, and thereupon bade me write the quotation in
that book. Hearing this, and perceiving in part his active intelligence
and goodness of heart, together with his devout resolution of studying
divine wisdom, I gave, though in secret, yet with hands uplifted to
heaven, boundless thanks to Almighty God, who had implanted such
devotion to the study of wisdom in the king’s heart. But since I could
find no blank space in that book wherein to write the quotation, it
being all full of various matters, I delayed a little, chiefly that
I might stir up the choice understanding of the king to a higher
knowledge of the divine testimonies. Upon his urging me to make haste
and write it quickly, I said to him, ‘Are you willing that I should
write that quotation on some separate leaf? Perhaps we shall find one
or more other such which will please you; and if that should happen,
we shall be glad that we have kept this by itself.’ ‘Your plan is
good,’ said he; so I gladly made haste to get ready a pamphlet of four
leaves, at the head of which I wrote what he had bidden me; and that
same day I wrote in it, at his request, and as I had predicted, no less
than three other quotations which pleased him. From that time we daily
talked together, and investigated the same subject by the help of other
quotations which we found and which pleased him, so that the pamphlet
gradually became full, and deservedly so, for it is written, ‘The
righteous man builds upon a moderate foundation, and by degrees passes
to greater things.’[224] Thus, like a most productive bee, flying far
and wide, and scrutinizing the fenlands, he eagerly and unceasingly
collected various flowers of Holy Scripture, with which he copiously
stored the cells of his mind.[225]
=89. Alfred’s Handbook.=[226]--When that first quotation had been
copied, he was eager at once to read, and to translate into Saxon,
and then to teach many others--even as we are assured concerning that
happy thief who recognized the Lord Jesus Christ, his Lord, aye, the
Lord of all men, as he was hanging on the venerable gallows of the
holy cross, and, with trustful petition, casting down of his body no
more than his eyes, since he was so entirely fastened with nails that
he could do nothing else, cried with humble voice, ‘O Christ, remember
me when thou comest into thy kingdom!‘[227]--since it was only on the
cross that he began to learn the elements of the Christian faith.[228]
Inspired by God, he began the rudiments of Holy Scripture on the sacred
feast of St. Martin.[229] Then he went on, as far as he was able, to
learn the flowers[230] collected from various quarters by any and all
of his teachers, and to reduce them into the form of one book, although
jumbled together, until it became almost as large as a psalter. This
book he called his Enchiridion[231] or Handbook,[232] because he
carefully kept it at hand day and night, and found, as he then used to
say, no small consolation therein.
=90. Illustration from the Penitent Thief.=[233]--But, as it was
written by a wise man,[234]
Of watchful minds are they whose pious care
It is to govern well,
I see that I must be especially watchful, in that I just now drew a
kind of comparison, though in dissimilar manner,[235] between the
happy thief and the king; for the cross is hateful to every one in
distress.[236] But what can he do, if he cannot dislodge himself or
escape thence? or in what way can he improve his condition by remaining
there? He must, therefore, whether he will or no, endure with pain and
sorrow that which he is suffering.
=91. Alfred’s Troubles.=[237]--Now the king was pierced with many
nails of tribulation, though established in the royal sway; for from
the twentieth year of his age to the present year, which is his
forty-fifth,[238] he has been constantly afflicted with most severe
attacks of an unknown disease, so that there is not a single hour in
which he is not either suffering from that malady, or nigh to despair
by reason of the gloom which is occasioned by his fear of it. Moreover
the constant invasions of foreign nations, by which he was continually
harassed by land and sea, without any interval of quiet, constituted a
sufficient cause of disturbance.
What shall I say of his repeated expeditions against the heathen, his
wars, and the incessant occupations of government? Of the daily ...
of the[239] nations which dwell on[240] the Tyrrhene[241] Sea to the
farthest end of Ireland? For we have seen and read letters, accompanied
with presents, which were sent to him from Jerusalem by the patriarch
Elias.[242] What shall I say of his restoration of cities and towns,
and of others which he built where none had been before? of golden and
silver buildings,[243] built in incomparable style under his direction?
of the royal halls and chambers, wonderfully erected of stone and
wood at his command? of the royal vills constructed of stones removed
from their old site, and finely rebuilt by the king’s command in more
fitting places?
Not to speak of the disease above mentioned, he was disturbed by
the quarrels of his subjects,[244] who would of their own choice
endure little or no toil for the common need of the kingdom. He
alone, sustained by the divine aid, once he had assumed the helm of
government, strove in every way, like a skilful pilot, to steer[245]
his ship, laden with much wealth, into the safe and longed-for harbor
of his country, though almost all his crew were weary, suffering them
not to faint or hesitate, even amid the waves and manifold whirlpools
of this present life. Thus his bishops, earls, nobles, favorite
thanes, and prefects, who, next to God and the king, had the whole
government of the kingdom, as was fitting, continually received from
him instruction, compliment, exhortation, and command; nay, at last, if
they were disobedient, and his long patience was exhausted, he would
reprove them severely, and censure in every way their vulgar folly and
obstinacy; and thus he wisely gained and bound them to his own wishes
and the common interests of the whole kingdom. But if, 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,
because they were not carried through, did not redound to the advantage
of those who put them in execution--take as an example the fortresses
which he ordered, but which are not yet begun or, begun late, have not
yet been completely finished--when hostile forces have made invasions
by sea, or land, or both, then those who had set themselves against
the imperial orders have been put to shame and overwhelmed with vain
repentance. I speak of vain repentance on the authority of Scripture,
whereby numberless persons have had cause for sorrow when they have
been smitten by great harm through the perpetration of deceit. But
though by this means, sad to say, they may be bitterly afflicted, and
roused to grief by the loss of fathers, wives, children, thanes, man
servants, maid servants, products, and all their household stuff, what
is the use of hateful repentance when their kinsmen are dead, and they
cannot aid them, or redeem from dire captivity those who are captive?
for they cannot even help themselves when they have escaped, since they
have not wherewithal to sustain their own lives. Sorely exhausted by a
tardy repentance, they grieve over their carelessness in despising the
king’s commands; they unite in praising his wisdom, promising to fulfil
with all their might what before they had declined to do, namely, in
the construction of fortresses, and other things useful to the whole
kingdom.
=92. Alfred builds two Monasteries.=[246]--Concerning his desire and
intent of excellent meditation, which, in the midst both of prosperity
and adversity, he never in any way neglected, I cannot in this place
with advantage forbear to speak. For, when he was reflecting, according
to his wont, upon the need of his soul,[247] he ordered, among the
other good deeds to which his thoughts were by night and day[248]
especially turned, that two monasteries should be built, one of them
being for monks at Athelney.[249] This is a place surrounded by
impassable fens and waters on every hand, where no one can enter but by
boats, or by a bridge laboriously constructed between two fortresses,
at the western end of which bridge was erected a strong citadel, of
beautiful work, by command of the aforesaid king. In this monastery
he collected monks of all kinds from every quarter, and there settled
them.
=93. Monasticism was decayed.=[250]--At first he had no one of his own
nation, noble and free by birth, who was willing to enter the monastic
life, except children, who as yet could neither choose good nor reject
evil by reason of their tender years. This was the case because for
many years previous the love of a monastic life had utterly decayed in
that as well as in many other nations; for, though many monasteries
still remain in that country, yet no one kept the rule of that kind of
life in an orderly way, whether because of the invasions of foreigners,
which took place so frequently both by sea and land, or because that
people abounded in riches of every kind, and so looked with contempt on
the monastic life. On this account it was that King Alfred sought to
gather monks of different kinds in the same monastery.
=94. Monks brought from beyond Sea.=[251]--First he placed there
John[252] the priest and monk, an Old Saxon by birth, making him abbot;
and then certain priests and deacons from beyond sea. Finding that he
had not so large a number of these as he wished, he procured as many as
possible of the same Gallic race[253]; some of whom, being children, he
ordered to be taught in the same monastery, and at a later period to be
admitted to the monastic habit. I have myself seen there in monastic
dress a young man of heathen birth who was educated in that monastery,
and by no means the hindmost of them all.
=95. A Crime committed at Athelney.=[254]--There was a crime committed
once in that monastery, which I would <not>,[255] by my silence,
utterly consign to oblivion, although it is an atrocious villainy, for
throughout the whole of Scripture the base deeds of the wicked are
interspersed among the reverend actions of the righteous, like tares
and cockle among the wheat. Good deeds are recorded that they may be
praised, imitated, and emulated, and that those who pursue them may be
held worthy of all honor; and wicked deeds, that they may be censured,
execrated, and avoided, and their imitators be reproved with all odium,
contempt, and vengeance.
=96. The Plot of a Priest and a Deacon.=[256]--Once upon a time,
a certain priest and a deacon, Gauls by birth, of the number of
the aforesaid monks, by the instigation of the devil, and roused
by jealousy, became so embittered in secret against their abbot,
the above-mentioned John, that, after the manner of the Jews, they
circumvented and betrayed their master. For they so wrought upon two
hired servants of the same Gallic race that in the night, when all men
were enjoying the sweet tranquillity of sleep, they should make their
way into the church armed, and, shutting it behind them as usual, hide
themselves there, and wait till the abbot should enter the church
alone. At length, when, as was his wont, he should secretly enter the
church by himself to pray, and, bending his knees, bow before the holy
altar, the men should fall upon him, and slay him on the spot. They
should then drag his lifeless body out of the church, and throw it down
before the house of a certain harlot, as if he had been slain whilst
on a visit to her. This was their device, adding crime to crime, as it
is said, ‘The last error shall be worse than the first.’[257] But the
divine mercy, which is always wont to aid the innocent, frustrated in
great part the evil design of those evil men, so that it did not turn
out in all respects as they had planned.