THE LIFE AND TIMES
OF
ALFRED THE GREAT
C. PLUMMER
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 AND CHAPLAIN OF CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD
WITH AN APPENDIX
OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
1902
[All rights reserved]
OXFORD
PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
BY HORACE HART, M.A.
PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
TO THE
Rev. JOHN EARLE, M.A.
RAWLINSONIAN PROFESSOR OF ANGLO-SAXON
IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
THESE LECTURES
ARE AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
BY HIS
FRIEND AND FORMER PUPIL
THE AUTHOR
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 historical scholarship; and I am more than a little jealous that the greatest name in English history should be considered 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-lengthening treatise De casibus illustrium uirorum’ ([p. 178]).
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 Mr. 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, Oxford,
March 10, 1902.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| Dedication | [v] |
| Preface | [vii] |
| List of Abbreviations | [x] |
| Key to Names on Map | [xii] |
| Introductory | [1] |
| Lecture I. The Sources | [5] |
| Lecture II. The Sources (continued) | [31] |
| Lecture III. The Life of Alfred prior to his Accession to the Throne | [69] |
| Lecture IV. Alfred’s Campaigns against the Danes; Civil Administration | [97] |
| Lecture V. Civil Administration (continued); Education; Literary Works | [130] |
| Lecture VI. Literary Works (continued); Summary and Conclusion | [166] |
| Appendix. Sermon on the Death of Queen Victoria | [205] |
| Addenda | [214] |
| Index | [215] |
| Map of Alfred’s Campaigns | [To face p. 1] |
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. H. 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., is generally referred to, though Schipper’s edition, Bibliothek d. angelsächsischen 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 Decem Scriptores.
Brut = Brut y Tywysogion, M. H. B.; R. S.; also ed. J. Gwenogfryn Evans in vol. ii of the Red Book of Hergest.
Capgrave = Capgrave’s Chronicle of England, ed. Hingeston, R. 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.
Dict. Christ. Biog. = Dictionary of Christian Biography.
Dict. Nat. Biog. = Dictionary of National Biography.
Ducange = Ducange, Glossarium mediae et infimae Latinitatis, 4to, 1884-7.
E. E. T. S. = Early English Text Society.
E. H. S. = English Historical Society.
Essays. For the work quoted by this title, [see p. 6 note].
E. T. = English Translation.
Ethelw. = Ethelwerdi Chronica, ed. M. H. B.
Flor. = Florence of Worcester, ed. Thorpe, E. H. S.; also in M. H. B.
Gaimar = Lestorie des Engles solum Geffrei Gaimar, ed. Martin, 2 vols., R. 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.
Laȝamon = Laȝamon’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.¹ and S. D.², [see p. 32 note].)
Soliloquies, see Blostman.
Thorn = Chronica Gul. Thorn, in Twysden, Decem Scriptores.
W. M. = William of Malmesbury; except where otherwise stated the Gesta Regum is meant; ed. Stubbs, R. S.
Wülker, Grundriss = Grundriss der angelsächsischen Literatur, von R. Wülker, 1885.
KEY TO THE NAMES ON THE MAP
| Æscesdun | Ashdown |
| Æðelinga-ig | Athelney |
| Apulder | Appledore |
| Arx Cynuit | Kenny Castle |
| Basingas | Basing |
| Beamfleot | Benfleet |
| Bearrucscir | Berkshire |
| Bedanford | Bedford |
| Brecheiniog | [(see Index)] |
| Brycg | Bridgenorth |
| Buttingtun | Buttington |
| Cæginesham | Keynsham |
| Cantwaraburh | Canterbury |
| Cent | Kent |
| Ciceceaster | Chichester |
| Cippenham | Chippenham |
| Cirenceaster | Cirencester |
| Cornwealas | Cornwall |
| Cruland | Croyland |
| Cynete | R. Kennet |
| Defenas | Devon |
| Dorsæte | Dorset |
| Dyfed | [(see Index)] |
| East Engle | East Anglia |
| East Seaxe | Essex |
| Ecgbryhtesstan | Brixton Deverill |
| Englafeld | Englefield |
| Ethandun | Edington |
| Exanceaster | Exeter |
| Fearnham | Farnham |
| Fullanham | Fulham |
| Gleaweceaster | Gloucester |
| Glewissig | [(see p. 44)] |
| Grantebrycg | Cambridge |
| Guilou | R. Wylye |
| Gwent | [(see Index)] |
| Hamtun | Southampton |
| Hamtunscir | Hampshire |
| Hreopedun | Repton |
| Hrofesceaster | Rochester |
| Hwiccas | Parts of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire |
| Iglea | Leigh |
| Legaceaster | Chester |
| Limenemuþa | Mouth of Lymne |
| Lindisse | Lindsey |
| Lundenburh | London |
| Lyge | R. Lea |
| Menevia | St. Davids |
| Meres-ig | Mersea |
| Meretun | Marton |
| Middeltun | King’s Milton |
| Myrce | Mercia |
| Oxnaford | Oxford |
| Pedride | R. Parrett |
| Readingas | Reading |
| Sæfern | R. Severn |
| Sandwic | Sandwich |
| Sceaftesburh | Shaftesbury |
| Sceoburh | Shoebury |
| Scireburne | Sherborne |
| Snotingaham | Nottingham |
| Sturemuða | Mouth of the Stour |
| Sumorsæte | Somerset |
| Suðrige | Surrey |
| Suðseaxe | Sussex |
| Swanawic | Swanage |
| Swealwe | R. Swale |
| Temes | R. Thames |
| Tenet | Thanet |
| Turces-ig | Torksey |
| Þeodford | Thetford |
| Use | R. Ouse |
| Wætlingastræt | Watling Street |
| Wanating | Wantage |
| Weage | R. Wye |
| Werham | Wareham |
| West Seaxe | Wessex |
| Weþmor | Wedmore |
SOUTHERN BRITAIN, to illustrate Alfred’s Campaigns. To face p. 1.
Darbishire & Stanford, Limited. The Oxford Geographical Institute.