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The Life and Times of Alfred the Great

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The Life and Times of Alfred the Great THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ALFRED THE GREAT a PLUMMEU HENRY FROWDE, M.A. PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD LONDON, EDINBURGH NEW YORK THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ALFRED THE GREAT BEING THE FORD LECTURES FOR 1901 BY CHARLES PLUMMER, M.A. FELLOW AKD CHAPLAIN OF CORPUS CHIilSTI COLLEG.5.' GrrOtD WITH AN APPENDIX OXFORD AT THE CLARENDON PRESS 1902 [AU rights reserved'] n OXFORD PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS BY HORACE HART, M.A. PKINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY SPBECKELS TO THE Rev. JOHN EARLE, M.A. \WLINSOXIAN PROFESSOR OF ANGLO-SAXON IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD THESE LECTURES ARE AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY HIS FRIEND AND FORMER PUPIL THE AUTHOR 102055 PREFACE The present work contains the lectures delivered by me on the Ford foundation in Michaelmas Term, 1901. The lectures are printed substantially as they were delivered, with the exception that certain passages which were shortened or omitted in delivery owing" to want of time are now given in full. In the notes will be found the authorities and arguments on which the conclusions of the text are based. The notes occupy a rather large proportion of the book, because I wished to spare my audience, as far as possible, the discussion of technical details. I have not thought it necessary to recast the form of the lectures. The personal style of address^ naturally employed by a lecturer to his audience, is retained in addressing the larger audience to which I now appeal. The objects which I have aimed at in the lectures are sufficiently explained at the beginning and end of the lectures themselves, and need not be further enlarged on here. In many ways the lectures would no doubt have been improved, if I had been able to make use of Mr. Stevenson^s long-expected edition of Asser. On the other hand there may be advantages in the fact that Mr. Stevenson and myself have worked in perfect independence of one another. I am sorry that I have had to speak unfavourably of some of the recent Alfred literature which has come under my notice. I am a little jealous for the honour of English viii PREFACE historical scholarship ; and I am more than a little jealous that the greatest name in English history should be con- sidered a theme on which any one may try his prentice hand. It suggests the possibility of adding a new chapter to what I have called 'that ever-lenj'thenin"' treatise De "^ casibus illustrium uirorum (p. I7^>). I have, as usual, to thank all the officials of the Clarendon Press, especially my friend Mr. C. E. Doble, for the interest and care which they have bestowed upon the work ; and I must also thank the Delegates for so kindly undertaking the publication of it. The help which I have received in reference to various points is acknowledged in the book itself. For the map I am indebted to the skill of ^Ir. B. V. Darbishire. In the Dedication I have tried to express the gratitude which I owe for the friendship and intellectual sympathy of some quarter of a century. Finally I would record my great obligations to the electors to the Ford Lectureship for the distinguished honour which they did me in appointing me to the post without any solicitation on my part. Corpus Christi College, OxFORr>. March lo, 1902. i CONTENTS TAGE Dedication , v Preface vii List of Abbkeviations ....... x Key to Names on Map xii Introductory i Lecture L The Sources 5 Lecture IL The Sources {continued) 31 Lecture IlL The Life of Alfred prior to his Accession to the Throne 69 Lecture IY. Alfred's Campaigns against the Danes ; Civil Administration -97 Lecture V. Civil xidministration {continued) ; Education ; Lit eraiy Works > . 130 Lecture YL Literary ^Yorks {continued); Summary and Conclusion 166 Appendix. Sermon on the Death of Queen Yictoria . 205 Addenda 214 Index 215 Map of Alfred's Campaigns .... To face 2)- i ; LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AA, SS. = Acta Sanctorum, the great Bollandist Collection. Ang. Sac. = Anglia Sacra, ed. Wharton. = ; Ann. Camb. Annales Cambriae, M.H. B. R. S. ; and (more correctly) in Y Cymmrodor, vol. ix. Ann. Wint. = Annales Wintonienses, R. S. Asser. The edition in M. H. B. has been chiefly used, the pages of Wise's edition being given in brackets ; a new edition by Mr. W. II. Stevenson is expected shortly. Bede. For the Latin Text of the Hist. Eccl. my own edition is referred to ; for the Anglo-Saxon Translation Miller's edition, E. E. T. S., i> generally referred to, though Schipper's edition, Bibliothek d. angelsiichsischen Prosa, is occasionally cited. Birch = Birch, Cartularium Saxonicum. 'Blostman' or ' Blooms '= Alfred's translation of the Soliloquies of St. Augustine ; for editions see pp. 128, 194. Boethius, Alfred's translation of, ed. Sedgefield, with Modern English rendering by the same ; both at the Clarendon Press. Bromton = Chronicon Johannis Bromton in vol. i of Twysden's Decern Scriptores. J. Brut = Brut y Tj'wysogion, M. H. B. ; R. S. ; al-o ed. Gwenogfryn Evans in vol. ii of the Rod Book of Hergest. Capgrave = Capgrave's Chronicle of England, ed. Hingeston, K. S. C. E., see Green. Chron., see Sax. Chron. Cura Pastoralis = Pope Gregory's treatise on the Pastoral Care Alfred's translation, ed. Sweet, E. E. T. S. Diet. Christ. Biog. = Dictionary of Christian Biography. Diet. Nat. Biog. = Dictionary of National Biogra]ihy. Ducango = Ducange, Glossarium mediae et intiniao Latinitatis, 4to, 1884-7. E. E. T. S. = Early Englisli Text Society. E. II. S. = English Historical Society. Essays. For tlie work quoted by this title, fice p. 6 note. E.T. = English Translation. Ethelw. = Etlulwerdi Chronica, ed. M. II. B. Flor. ^ Florence of Worcester, ed. Thorpe, E. U.S. ; also in M. H. B. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xi Graimar = Lestorie des Engles solum Gefifrei Gaimar, ed. Martin, 2 vols., E. S. ; also in M. H. B. G. P. = William of Malmesbury, Gesta Pontificum, ed. Hamilton, R. S. G. R. = Gesta Regum, see W. M. Green, C. E. = J. R. Green, The Conquest of England. H. E. = Historia Ecclesiastica, see Bede. H. H. = Henry of Huntingdon, ed. T. Arnold, R. S. Ingulf = Ingulfi Historia Croylandensis, in Fulman's Scriptores, vol. i. K. C. D. = Kemble, Codex Diplomaticus Aeui Saxonici, 6 vols., E. H. S. Lajamon = Lasamon's Brut, ed. Sir F. Madden, 3 vols., 1847. Lib. de Hyda = Liber Monasterii de Hyda, ed. Edwards, R. S. M. H. B. = Monumenta Historica Britannica, vol. i (all published). Migne, Pat. Lat. = Migne, Patrologia Latina. Muratori = Muratori, Scriptores Rerum Italicarum. Orosius, Alfred's Translation of, ed. Sweet, E.E.T.S. Pertz = Scriptores Rerum Germanicarum, folio series. R. S. =-- Rolls Series. R. W. = Roger of Wendover, ed. Coxe, E. H. S. Sax. Chron. = Saxon Chronicle ; except where otherwise indicated, my own edition is referred to. S. C. H. = Stubbs' Constitutional History, cabinet edition, 3 vols., 1874-8. Schmid, Gesetze = Die Gesetze der Angelsachsen, von Dr. Reinhold Schmid, 1858. S. D. = Simeon of Durham, ed. T. Arnold, R. S. (For the meaning of the symbols S. D.' and S. D.^, see p. 32 note,) Soliloquies, see Blostman. Thorn = Chronica Gul. Thorn, in Twysden, Decern Scriptores. W. M. = William of Malmesbury ; except where otherwise stated the Gesta Regum is meant ; ed. Stubbs, R. S, Wiilker, Grundriss = Grundriss der angelsachsischen Literatur, von R. Wulker, 1885. KEY TO THE NAMES ON THE MAP Ash down Hwiccas Parts of Worcester- ^ffelinga-ig Athelney sliire and Gloucestershire Apuldcr Appledore Iglea Leigh ^\rx Cyniiit Kenny Castle Legacenster Chester Basingas Basing Limenemu])a Mouth of Beamfleot Benflect Lyrane Bearnicscir Berksliire Lindisse Lindsey Bedanford Bedford Lundenburh London Brecheiniog (see Index) Lyge R. Lea Brycg Bridgenorth Menevia St. Davids Buttingtun Buttington Mores-ig Mersea CaBginesham Keynsham Meretun Marton Cantwaraburh Canterbury Middeltun King's Milton Cent Kent Myne Morcia Cieeceaster Chichester Ox na ford Oxfoid Cippenham Chippenham Pedride R. Parrett Cirence.ister Cirencester Readingas Reading Cornwealas Cornwall Sffifern R. Severn Cruland Croyland Sandwic Sandwich Cynete R. Kennet Sceaftesburh Shaftesbury Defenaa Devon Sceoburh Shoebury Dorsfeto Dorset Scireburne Sherborne Snotingaham Dyfed (see Index) Nottingham SturemuSa Mouth of East Engle East Anglia the East Seaxe Essex Stour Sumorsneto Ecgbryhtesstan Brixton Somerset Sui^rige Surrey Deverill Su(5seaxo Englafcld Sussex Englcfield Swanawic Etliandun Edington Swan age S weal we R. Swale Exa n coaster Exeter Tomes R. Foarnliam Thames F;irnhani Tenet Fullanham Fulham Thanet Turces-ig Torksey Gleaweceastor Gloucester l^oodford Thetford Glewissig (see p. 44) Use R. Ouse Grantebrycg Cambridge Wfetlingastr.'et Wat ling Guilou R. Wylyo Street Gwent (see Index) Wanating Wa ntage Hamtun Southampton Wenge R. Wye Hamtunscir Hanipshiro Wo r ham Wn roll am Ilroopedun Kcpton West Seaxe Wessex Ilroftvscoastor Rochester We))mor Wedmore To foLcev. turemq f8-ig snemiqi»a \l histiti THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ALFRED THE GREAT , * " •* " • * ? \ ' 4. L J J -> 1 J -' INTRODUCTORY § I. I TiiusT you will not think it inappropriate if [ begin these lectures by paying my humble tribute o£ •everence and gratitude to the memory of the great his- ;orian who, since my appointment to this post of Ford^s uecturer, has been taken from us. I believe that to him am very largely indebted for the honour of appearing )efore you to-day ^ ; and if that were so^ it would only be )f a piece with the many acts of kindness and encourage- nent which he showed me ; encouragement sometimes ouched in that humorous form which he loved, and which vas occasionally misunderstood by those who had not, like limself, the saving gift of humour. It is not easy to neasure the greatness of his loss.
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