[113] Offa died July 26, 796, and Ecgfrith died in the middle of December in the same year, after a reign of 141 days.
[114] In each of these two cases the new king was, in this year 796, most unexpectedly raised to the throne from a comparatively poor position, in which he had married a wife of his own position. Alcuin fears that they will be tempted to cast off the early wife and take some lady more fitted for a throne.
[115] This prophecy was not fulfilled. It was not till nine years after the date of this letter that Eardwulf was expelled from the kingdom.
[116] Prov. xx. 28.
[117] Ps. xxiv. 10, Vulgate; xxv. 10, A. V.; xxv. 10, Psalter.
[118] Haddan and Stubbs, iii. 521, from William of Malmesbury, G. R. i. 4.
[119] A mancus was more than one-third of a pound, but that conveys no real idea to the modern mind of its actual value.
[120] Gesta Regum, i. 4.
[121] Haddan and Stubbs, Councils, iii. 483. The names stand as follows: “+ Ego Offa Rex Dei dono propriam donationis libertatem signo sanctæ crucis confirmo. + Ego Ecgferth, filius Regis, consensi. + Signum Hygeberhti Archiepiscopi. + Signum Ceolulfi Episcopi. + Signum Æthelheardi Archiepiscopi.” Followed by eight bishops and three abbats.
[122] It has already been noted that Alcuin found it very difficult to shed tears.