Nu we sceolan herian heofon-rices weard, metodes mihte, and his mod-ge-thonc, wera wuldor-fæder! swa he wundra ge-hwæs, ece dryhten, oord onstealde. He ærest ge-scéop ylda bearnum heofon to hrófe, halig scyppend! tha middan-geard mon-cynnes weard, ece dryhten, æfter teode, firum foldan, frea ælmihtig! Now we shall praise the guardian of heaven, the might of the creator, and his mind's thought, the glory-father of men! how he of all wonders, the eternal lord, formed the beginning. He first created for the children of men heaven as a roof, the holy creator! them the world the guardian of mankind the eternal lord, produced afterwards, the earth for men, the almighty master!

PASSAGE REPEATED BY BEDE ON HIS DEATH-BED.

Bede: died 735.

For tham ned-fere neni wirtheth thances suotera thonne him thearf sy, to ge-hicgeune er his heonon-gange hwet his gaste godes othe yveles efter deathe heonon demed weorthe. Before the necessary journey no one becomes more prudent in thought than is needful to him, to search out before his going hence what to his spirit of good or of evil after his death hence will be judged.

EXTRACT FROM THE SAXON CHRONICLE—Tenth Century.

Tha feng Ælfred Æthelwulfing to West-Seaxna rice; and thæs ymb ænne monath gefeaht Ælfred cyning with ealne thone here lytle werode æt Wiltoune, and hine lange on dæg geflymde, and tha Deniscan ahton wæl-stowe geweald. And thæs geares wurdon nigon folcgefeoht gefohten with thone here on tham cyne-rice be suthan Temese, butan tham the him Ælfred, and ealdormen, and cyninges thegnas oft rada onridon the man na ne rimde. And thæs geares wæron of-slegene nigon eorlas, and an cyning; and thy geare namon West-Seaxan frith with thone here. Then took Alfred, son of Ethelwulf to the West Saxon's kingdom; and that after one month fought Alfred king against all the army with a little band at Wilton, and them long during the day routed and then the Danes obtained of the battle-field possession. And this year were nine great battles fought with the army in the kingdom to the south of the Thames, besides those in which Alfred, and the alder-men, and the king's thanes oft inrode—against which one nothing accounted. And this year were slain nine earls and one king; and this year made the West-Saxons peace with the army.

EXTRACT FROM THE SAXON GOSPELS—Eleventh Century.

LUCÆ, Cap. I. v. 5-10. 5. On Herodes dagum Iudea cyninges, wæs sum sacerd on naman Zacharias, of Abian tune: and his wif wæs of Aarones dohtrum, and hyre nama wæs Elizabeth. LUKE, Chap. I. v. 5-10. 5. In the days of Herod the king of Judea, there was a certain priest by name Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6. Sothlice hig wæron butu rihtwise beforan Gode, gangende on eallum his bebodum and rihtwisnessum, butan wrohte. 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord without blame.
7. And hig næfdon nan bearn, fortham the Elizabeth wæs unberende; and hig on heora dagum butu forth-eodon. 7. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren; and they in her days were both of great age.
8. Sothlice wæs geworden tha Zacharias hys sacerdhades breac on his gewrixles endebyrdnesse beforan Gode, 8. And it befell that when Zacharias should do the office of the priesthood in the order of his course before God,
9. Æfter gewunan thæs sacerdhades hlotes, he eode that he his offrunge sette, tha he on Godes tempel eode. 9. After the custom of the priesthood he went forth by lot, to burn incense when he into God's temple went.
10. Eall werod thæs folces wæs ute gebiddende on thære offrunge timan. 10. And all the multitude of the people were without praying at the time of incense.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Fæder ure, thu the eart on heofenum; si thin nama gehalgod; to-becume thin rice; geweordhe thin willa on eorthan, swa swa on heofenum. Urne ge dæghwamlican hlaf syle us to-dæg; and forgyf us ure gyltas, swa swa we forgidfadh urum gyltendum; and ne gelæde thu us on costnunge, ac alys us of yfle, etc. Father our, thou who art in heaven; be thine name hallowed; let come thine kingdom; let be done thine will on earth, so as in the heavens. Our also daily bread give thou us to-day; and forgive thou to us our debts, so as we forgive our debtors; and not lead thou us into temptations, but deliver thou us from evil, etc.