1B9.6.4

page 104

2

III.

    
3ða wæs æfter ðissum þætte Agustinus Breotone
4ærcebiscop gehalgade twegen biscopas: oðer wæs Mellitus
5haten, oðer Iustus.
6þone Mellitum he sende Eastseaxum to bodigenne godcunde
7lare, þa seondon Temese streame tosceadne
8from Centlonde & to eastsæ geðeodde.
9Is heora aldorburg nemned Lundenceaster, on ofere geseted
10þæs foresprecenan streames; ond seo is monigra
11folca ceapstow of londe & of sæ cumendra.
12In þære þeode wæs in þa tid Sæberht cyning,
13æðelberhtes swustorsunu & his hera.
14ða onfeng Eastseaxna þeod soðfæstnisse word & Cristes
15geleafan þurh Mellitus lare þæs biscopes.
16þa heht æðelberht cyning in Lundenceastre cirican
17getimbran, & þa gehalgian Sancti Pauli þæm apostoli,
18þæt he in ðære stowe biscopsetl hæfde & his
19æfterfylgend.
20þone Iustum he in Cent sylfre to biscope gehalgode to
21Hrofesceastre.
22Seo is from Cantwarena byrig on feower & twentigum mila
23westrihte.
24In þære ceastre eac swylce æðelberht cyning heht cirican
25getimbran & þa gehalgian Sancte Andreæ þæm apostoli.
26Ond se cyning æghwæðerum þissa biscopa his gyfe sealde &
27boclond & ahte, him to brucanne mid heora geferum.
28After þissum þa forðferde Gode se leofa fæder Agustinus: &
29his lichoma wæs ute bebyrged neah cirican
30þara eadigra apostola Petrus & Paulus, þe we ær
31gemyndgodon.
32forðon heo þa gyta næs fullice geworht ne gehalgod.
33Sona þæs þe

page 106

34heo gehalgad wæs, þa dyde mon his lichoman
35in; & in þære cirican norðportice wæs bebyrged gedæftlice.
36In þæm eac swilce ealra þara æfterfylgendra ærcebiscopa
37lichoman sindon bebyrgede, buton twegra, þæt
38is þeodoris & Berhtwaldes.
39heora lichoman syndon in þære circan seolfre gesette,
40forðon in þone forecwedenan portic ma ne meahte.
41Is wel neah in middre þære miclan cirican wigbed geseted &
42þæt on Sancte Gregorius naman gehalgod.
43In ðæm æghwylce Sæternes dæge from þære stowe
44mæssepreost heora gemynde & forðfore mid mæssesonge
45mærsode syndon.
46Is awriten in Sancte Agustinus byrgenne þisses gemetes
47gewrit: Her resteð domne Agustinus se æresta
48ærcebiscop Contwarena burge, se geara hider from þæm
49eadigan Gregoriæ þære Romaniscan burge biscope
50sended wæs, & from Gode mid wundra weorcnesse awreðed
51wæs.
52æðelberht cyning & his þeode from deofulgilda ongonge to
53Cristes geleafan he gelæde, & on sibbe gefylldum
54dagum his þegnunge forðfered wæs, ðy dæge septima
55Kalendas Iunias in þæs ylcan cyninges rice.
56

IIII.

    
57æfter Agustini fyligde in biscophade Laurentius, þone he
58forðon bi him lifigendum gehalgode, þy læs
59him forðferendum se steall swa neowre cirican ænige hwile
60buton heorde taltrigan ongunne.
61Onhyrede he on þon þa bysene þæs ærestan heordes Godes
62cirican Sancte Petres þæs apostoles, þa he
63æt Rome ærest Cristes cirican staðolode: is sægd þæt he
64Clementem him to fultome godcundre lare &
65him to æfterfylgende gehalgade.
66þa he ða Laurentius ærcebiscophade onfeng, ða ongon
67fromlice þa staðolas þære cyrican, þe he eaðelice
68alegde geseah, ecan; & to forðspownisse gedefre
69heannisse mid gelomlicre stefne haligre trymnisse
70& lare & mid singalum bysenum arfæstre wyrcnesse he ongon
71hean & miclian.
72Nales þæt an þæt he gemæne dyde þære neowan cirican,
73þe of Ongolcynne gesomnod wæs, ac swilce eac þara
74ealdra biggengena Bretta & Scotta.
75Forðon he ongeat þæt heo on monegum þingum Godes cirican
76ungeþwærodon, ond ealra swiðust þæt heo þa
77symbelnesse

page 108

78Eastrana & þone dæg þære drihtenlecan
79æriste ne weorðodon mid rihtre tide.
80Wrat he & sende ærendgewrit to him: bæd heo & halsade, þæt
81heo in annesse sibbe & in gehælde rihtra
82Eastrana geþwærede mid þa Cristes cirican, seo geond ealne
83middangeard togoten is.
84Ac þeah þe he þas þing dyde, hu swiðe him speow, nu gen
85þas ondweardan tide, þa ilcan þeowas cyðað.
86ðissum tidum cwom Mellitus Lundenceastre biscop to Rome bi
87þæm nedþearflicum intingan Ongolcirican.
88Ond he ða wæs smeagende mid þone apostolican papan
89Bonefatio, se wæs feorða biscop þære Romaniscan
90burge from Sancti Gregorii.
91Ond he ða ðes ilca papa seonoð gesomnode Eotolwara biscopa;
92& he wæs endebyrdlice settende bi muneca
93life & bi heora stilnesse.
94Wæs þes seonoð þy eahteðan geare Uocatis rices þæs
95caseres.
96& Mellitus betweoh hy æt þæm seonoðe sæt. & þa ðing,
97þe ðær regollico gedemed wæron, mid his aldorlicnesse
98mid Cristes rode tacne wrat & fæstnode.
99ond eft hwearf to Breotone, & þa mid hine Ongolciricum to
100healdanne awriten brohte ætgædre mid þæm
101ærendgewritum, þe se ilca papa Gode þam leofan
102ærcebiscope Laurentie & eallum his geferum & æðelberhte
103cyninge & ealre Ongolþeode sende, to frofre & to
104trymnisse rihtes lifes.
105

V.

    
106þa wæs ymb syx hund wintra & syxteno winter from Drihtnes
107menniscnesse, þæt wæs ymb an & twentig wintra,
108þæs Agustinus mid his geferum to læranne Ongolþeode
109sended wæs, þætte æðelberht Contwara cyning
110æfter þæm willendlecan rice, þæt he syx & fiftig
111wintra wuldorlice hæfde, ond þa to þam heofonlican
112rice mid gefean astag.
113Wæs he se ðridda cyning in Ongolþeode cyningum þæt allum
114suðmægþum weold & rice hæfde oð Humbre stream.
115Hæfde ærest þisses gemetes rice ælle Suðseaxna cyning.
116Se æftera wæs Ceawlin haten Westseaxna cyning.
117Se þridda wæs, swa we ær cwædon, æðelbehrt Contwara
118cyning.
119Feorða wæs Rædwold Eastengla cyning: fifta Eadwine
120Norðanhymbra cyning, se hæfde rice ofer ealle Breotone
121buton Contwarum anum.
122Swelce he

page 110

123eac Monige Bretta ealond, þa seondon geseted betweoh
124Ibernia, Scotlond & Breotone, Ongolcynnes rice underþeodde.
125Syxta wæs Oswald, Norðanhymbra cyning se betsta & se
126cristenesta , se þissum ilcum gemærum rice hæfde.
127Seofoða wæs Osweo his broðor, se eac swylce Peohta þeode &
128Scotta of miclum dæle geeode, & to gafolgyldum gesette.
129þa forðferde æðelberht cyning æfter an & twentegum wintra
130þæs þe he fulwihte & Cristes geleafan onfeng,
131ond in cirican þara eadigra apostola Petrus & Paulus in
132Sancte Martinus portice bebyrged wæs;
133& þær eac Beorhte seo cwen bebyrged is.
134Se cyning betweoh þa oðer god, þe he his leodum þurh
135geþeaht gefremede, eac swylce rihtra doma gesetenisse
136mid snotera geþeahte gesette æfter Romana bysene, &
137þa heht on Englisc gewritan: þa nu gena
138oð þis mid him hæfde & haldne syndon.
139In þæm he ærest sette hu mon þæt betan scolde, se ðe
140oðþe cirican eahte oðþe biscopes oþðe oðerra hada
141mid stale afyrde.
142Wolde he ðam gescyldnesse gegearwian, þe he heora lare
143onfeng.
144Wæs þes ilca æðelbehrt Eormanrices sunu; þæs fæder wæs
145Octa haten; þæs fæder wæs Oeric; wæs his freonama
146æsc, from þæm syðþan Contwara cyningas wæron
147æscingas nemnde.
148þæs æsces fæder wæs se Hengest, se ðe wæs ærest
149latteow & heretoga Ongolcynnes in Breotone, swa we
150ær beforan sægdon.
151þa wæs æfter æðelbehrtes forðfore, Eadbald his sunu feng
152to ðam rice, ond he sona micle wonunge &
153æwerdlan wæs þære mærwan cyrican weaxnisse.
154Forðon nales þæt aan þæt he Cristes geleafan onfon ne
155wolde, ac swylce eac unalyfedre forlegenesse
156& egeslicre wæs besmiten, swa þæt he eode to his fæder
157wife.
158For æghwæðrum þissa mana he intingan sealde þæm, þæt
159heo hwurfe to þære ærran unclænnisse, þa ðe under
160his fæder rice oðþe mid þy cynelecan fultome oððe
161his ege clænnisse reht & Cristes geleafon onfengon.
162Ne þæm treowleasan cyninge þære uplecan þrea sweopon
163gewon wæron, þæt he þurh þa geclænsed & gereht
164beon sceolde; forðon he gelomlice mid wedenheortnesse
165modes & þæs unclænan gastes inswogennisse þrycced wæs.

page 112

166Swelce eac toætecte þisse gedrefnisse storm Sæberhtes deað
167Eastseaxna cyninges.
168Forðon þa he wæs þa ecan riceo secende, forlet he þæs
169hwilenlecan rices yrfeweardas his suna ðry.
170þa ongunnon heo sona openlice deofolgildum þeowian, þe
171monnum þuhte þæt heo hwæthwugu forlæten hæfde
172bi þæm fæder lifiendum.
173ond heo freo lefnesse sealdon deofolgyld to bigongenne þam
174folcum, þe him underþeodde wæron.
175Mid þy heo þa gesegon þone biscop mæssan onsymbelnesse
176mærsian in Godes cirican & þæm folce husl syllan,
177wæron heo mid elreorde dysignesse onblawne.
178Cwædon to him: Forhwon ne recst þu us þone hwitan hlaf,
179þone þu sealdest Saban ussum fæder nemdon heo
180hine swa & nu gena folce in cirican sylest?
181Ondswarede se biscop him: Gif ge willað onþwegene beon
182ðy halwendan wellan fulwihtes bæðes, swa eower
183fæder aðwegen wæs, þonne magon ge eac swylce þæs
184halgan hlafes dælneomende beon, swa he dælneomende wæs.
185Gif þonne ge lifes bæð forhycgað, ne magon ge ænige
186þinga lifes hlafe onfon.
187Cwædon heo: Ne willað we in þæt bæð gongan, forðon we
188weotan þæt we þæs þearfe nabbað; ac hwæðre we
189willað mid þy hlafe gereorde beon.
190Mid þy heo oft & geornlice from him monode wæron, þæt
191þæt Nænigenænige þinga beon meahte, þæt hy buton
192þære halgan geclæsnunge fulwihtes bæðes þæm halgan
193hlafe gemænsumede, þa æt neahstan wæron heo mid
194hatheortnesse onstyrede.
195Cwædon him to: Gif þu ne wilt us geðafian in swa æðelicum
196þinge, þe we biddað, ne meaht þu in usse
197mægðe ne ussum gemanan wunian.
198& dreofon hine onweg, & heton þæt he mid his geferum of
199heora rice gewite.
200þa he onweg adrifen wæs, cwom he to Cent, sohte & smeade mid
201Laurentio & Iusto his efnbiscopum, hwæt
202him be ðyssum þingum to donne wære.
203Ond þa to ræde fundon mid gemænre geþeahte, þæt him
204selre & gehæledre wære, þæt heo ealle hwurfon to
205heora eðle & þær mid freo mode Drihtne þeowede, þonne
206heo betweoh þa elreordan & þa wiðfeohtend
207Cristes geleafan leng buton wæstme sæton.
208ða geweoton ærest ofer sæ twegen biscopas Mellitus & Iustus
209& cwomon in on dælas Gallia rices, & gestihtedon
210þæt heo þær wolden þære wisan ende gebidan.
211Ac þa arleasan cyningas nales micelre

page 114

212tide, æfter þon þe
213heo þone soðfæstnisse bodan from him adrifon,
214þæt heo deofla bigængum freolice þeowedon.
215Ac heo wæran cumene wið Westseaxna þeode to gefeohte, &
216ealle ætgædre gehruron & ofslegene wæron mid
217heora compweorode.
218Ond þeah ðe heora alderas forlorene wæren, ne meahte þæt
219folc þa gen gereaht beon, þætte ær to manum
220getogen wæs, ne eft geceed beon to hluttornisse geleafan
221ne to Godes lufan.
222

VI.

    
223Mid ðy he ða Laurentius se ærcebiscop þa oðre biscopas
224his geferan fylgan wolde & Breotone forlætan ,
225ða heht he in þære seolfan nihte, þa he on morne
226feran wolde, in cirican þara eadigra apostola
227Petrus & Paulus, bi þære we gelomlice sægdon, him streowne
228gegearwian, þæt he hine gerestan meahte.
229Ond þa ærest longe nihtes in halgum gebedum wæs, & his
230tearas geat, & his bene to Gode sende for þære
231cirican stealle; & geswenced & werig gesette þa his leomu
232to restenne & hwæthwugo onslepte.
233ða æteawde him sona se eadgesta aldor þara apostola Sanctus
234Petrus, & hine micelre tide þære deahlan
235neahte mid grimmum swingum swong & þreade.
236ond hine wæs frignende mid þa apostolican þearlwisnesse,
237forhwon he þæt Godes eowde forlætan wolde,
238þætte he him bead to healdanne, oðþe þa gesettan
239Cristes scep in middum wulfum hwylcum heorde he
240fleonde forlete.
241Cwæð him eac to: Wære þu ofergeotende minre bysne, hwæt
242ic fore Cristes cneohtum, þa he me in tacnunge
243his lufan bebead, bende & swingan & carcern & monige
244geswencednesse & æt neahstan þone seolfan
245deað & rode deað from ungeleafsumum & Cristes feondum ic
246þrowade & aræfnde, þæt ic mid Criste gesigefæsted wære?
247þa wæs he se Cristes þeow Laurentius mid þæs apostoles
248swingum & trymnessum swiðe gebylded.
249cwom sona on marne to þam cyninge, & his hrægl onwrag & him
250eawde, mid hu miclum swingum he þread & witnod wæs.
251þa wundrade he swiðe, & ahsode hwylc mon to ðæs gedyrstig
252wære, þæt he swa miclum were swilc witu dyde.
253þa he ða se cyning gehyrde & oncneow, þætte he se biscop
254fore his hælo intingan from Cristes

page 116

255apostole
256swa micele tintregu & witu þrowade, þa wæs he swiðe
257forht geworden, & him swiðe ondred ond sona
258towearp al þa bigong þara deofolgelda, þa he ær beeode,
259& forlet þa unrihtwifunge & Cristes geleafan
260onfeng; ond se biscop hine gefulwade.
261& sona in eallum þingum þære cirican eahtum & godum
262freoðode & fultemede, swa he fyrmest meahte.
263Ond he swelce eac sende ærendwrecan in Gallia rice, & heht
264ham laþian þa biscopas Mellitum & Iustum;
265& he het freolice to heora biscopscire ham hweorfan.
266& heo ymb an ger ham hwurfon ðæs þe heo ær of Breotone
267ferdon.
268Iustus hwearf to Hrofesceastre, þær he ær biscop wæs.
269Mellitum þone biscop Lundenwaran onfon ne woldon, ac ma
270lufodon þæt heo þeowedan heora deofolgelda biscopum.
271Ond heo Eadbaldes þæs cyninges worda ne gemdon, forðon his
272rice ne wæs ofer heo, swa swa his fæder hæfde.
273Hwæðre he mid his þeode mid Contwarum, seoðþan he to
274Drihtne gecerred wæs, þæm godcundan bebodum þeowode
275& hearsumede.
276þæs gen to tacne is, þæt he het in Sancte Petres mynstre
277cirican getimbran in are þære eadigan fæmnan
278Sancta Marian, ða eft Mellitus on hyre noman gehalgode,
279þa he wæs ærcebiscop.
280

VII.

    
281In ðisses cyninges rice se eadiga ærcebiscop Sanctus
282Laurentius forðferde, & þæt heofonlice rice gestah;
283& in circan & in mynstre þæs eadigan apostoles Sancte
284Petres bii his foregengan Sancte Agustine
285bebyrged wæs þy feorðan dæge nonarum Februarium.
286æfter þæm Mellitus, se wæs ær Lundenceastre biscop, feng
287to þam biscopseðle Contwara burge cirican
288ðridda biscop from Sancte Agustine.
289Wæs Iustus se biscop þa gen lifigende & reahte þa
290gesomnunge æt Hrofesceastre.
291Ond heo begen mid micle gemænne & gewinne Ongolciricean
292heoldon & reahton.
293Wæs he Mellitus mid lichoman untrymnesse mid fotadle swiðe
294gehefigad; ac hwæðre halgum gongum his
295modes he glædlice all eorðlic þing wæs oferhleapende, ond
296symle mid his mode wæs flegende þa heofonlecan
297to lufienne & to biddenne & to secenne.
298Wæs he lichomlicre gebyrde æðeles cynnes, ac mid modes
299heanisse micle æðelra.

page 118

300Sculon we ane cyðnesse his mægenes secgan, þæt we his
301oðer mægen þy eað ongytan magon.
302Gelomp sumre tide, þæt seo ceaster Contwara burge þurh
303ungemænne synna wearð fyre onbærned.
304& þæt fyr & þæt leg swiðe weox & miclade, & him nænig
305mon mid wætra onweorpnesse wiðstondan meahte;
306& micel dæl þære ceastre wæs fornumen.
307ða for se wallenda leg & hine brædde to þam biscope, þa
308getreowde he in godcundne fultom, þær se mennesca
309wan wæs; heht his þegnas hine selfne beran ongean
310þæm fyre & asettan, þær se leg & seo frecnis mæst wæs.
311ond untrum ongon þurh his gebed þa frecenisse þæs
312fyres onweg adrifan, þætte ær seo trume hond
313strongra monna þurh micel gewin don ne meahte .
314& se wind sona, se ðe ær suðan bleow & þa bærnnisse in
315þa burg strægd, hine norðan awearp ond þa bærnnisse
316ut ofbegde; & sona eallinga þurh his gebed þæt fyr
317acwan & adwæsced wæs.
318Ond forðon þe se Godes wer stronglice innon born mid þy
319fyre godcundre lufan, & oft stormas & hreonisse
320þara werigra gasta from his seolfes sceðenisse & his
321geferena mid his gelomelicum gebedum &
322trymenissum scilde & wiðsceaf, wæs þæt þæs wyrðe, þæt
323he wið þam middangeardlicum windum & legum swiðan
324meahte, þy læs heo him & his freondum sceðeden.
325Onu þes halga biscop, æfter þon þe he fif winter þa
326cirican heold & reahte in Eadbaldes rice leorde
327to heofonum, & bebyrged wæs mid his fædrum in þæm oft
328cwedenan mynstre & cirican Sancte Petres þy
329eahteðan dæge Calendarum Maiarum .
330þæm sona æfterfylgde Iustus in biscophade, se wæs æt
331Hrofesceastre ær biscop.
332& he ðære cirican for hine oðerne biscop gehalgode, Romanus
333wæs haten, forðon he aldorlicnisse onfeng
334from Bonefatio þam papan, þæt he biscopas hadian moste.
335

VIII.

    
336þære tide eac swylce Norðanhymbra þeod mid heora cyninge
337Eadwine Cristes geleafan onfeng, þe him Paulinus
338bodade se halga biscop & lærde.
339þæm cyninge þære onfongennisse Cristes

page 120

340geleafan & þæs
341heofonlecan rices eac swelce on healsunge, geweox
342meaht eorðlices rices, swa þæt , þætte nænig
343Ongolcynna ær him, eall Breotono gemæro on anweald
344onfeng, ða ðe oððe heora męgþe Ongolcynnes oðþe
345Bretta eardodon: all þæt he on anwald onfeng.
346ge eac Monige swelce Bretta ealond Ongolcynnes rice
347underþeodde, swa we ær beforan sægdon.
348ðisse þeode, þæt is Norðanhymbrum, wæs se æresta
349intinga to onfonne Cristes geleafan, þætte se foresprecena
350heora cyning Edwini wæs mid mægsibbe geþeoded
351Contwara cyningum.
352onfeng he þonan wiife æþelbeorge, æðelberhtes dohtor
353þæs cyninges, seo oðre noman wæs Tate haten.
354þa he ærest his ærendwrecan sende to Eadbolde hire
355breðer, se wæs þa Contwara cyning, & þisse fæmnan
356gemanan bæd & wilnade, ondswarede he þæt þæt alyfed
357nære, þætte cristeno fæmne hæðnan men to wiife
358seald wære, þy læs se geleafa & þa geryno þæs
359heofonlecan cyninges mid þæs cyninges gemanan aidlad
360wære, se ðe þæs soðan cyninges bigong ne cuðe.
361þa ða ærendwrecan eft Eadwine sægdon þas word, þa gehet
362he sona þæt he noht wiðerweardes don wolde
363þæm cristenan geleafan, þe seo fæmne beeode, ac þæt heo
364moste þone geleafan & bigong hire æfestnisse
365mid eallum hire geferum, þe heo mid cwomen, þy cristnan
366þeawe lifian & þone wel healdan.
367Ne he ne wiðsoc þæt he seolfa eac þa ilcan æfestnisse
368underfenge, gif wise witan þæt funde þæt heo
369haligra gemeted beon meahte.
370þa wæs seo fæmne gehaten, & æfter fæce Eadwine onsended.
371Ond æfter þon þe heo ær funden hæfdon, wæs gehalgod to
372biscope Gode se leofa wer Sanctus Paulinus,
373se mid heo feran scolde, to ðon þæt he þa fæmnan & hire
374geferan æghwæðer ge mid þa mærsunge heofonlicra
375geryna ge mid his dæghwamlicre lare trymede, þæt heo
376in þam gemanan þara hæðenra besmiten ne wære.
377Wæs he Paulinus to biscope gehalgod from Iusto þam
378ærcebiscope þy twelftan dæge Calendarum Augustarum .
379ða cwom he mid þa foresprecenan fæmnan to Eadwini þæm
380cyninge, swa swa he wære gesið licumlicre gegaderunge.
381ac he ma mid ealle his mode beheold, þæt he þa þeode, þe
382he gesohte, to ongytenisse þæs soðan Godes
383& to Cristes geleafan þurh his lare gecegde.
384Mid þy he ða

page 122

385se biscop in þa mægðe cwom mid þære
386fæmnan, þa wonn he swiðe, þæt he æghwæðer ge his feran,
387þa ðe mid him cwomon, þurh Drihtnes gife geheolde
388þæt heo ne asprunge from heora geleafan, &
389gif he hwylce meahte þara hæðenra, þæt he þurh his
390lare to Cristes geleafan gecerde.
391Ac swa se apostol cwæð, þeah ðe he micelre tide wunne in
392his lare, þætte God þa mood þara ungeleafsumra
393ablænde, þy læs him scine seo onlihtnes Cristes
394godspelles & his wuldres.
395ða wæs þy æfteran geare, cwom sum monn in Norðanhymbra
396mægðe; wæs his noma Eomær.
397Wæs he sended from Westseaxna cyninge, se wæs haten
398Cwichelm, þæt he scolde Eadwine þone cyning somed
399ge rice ge lif beneoman.
400Hæfde he & wæg mid hine twiecge handseax geættred, þæt
401gif seo wund to lyt genihtsumode to þæs cyninges
402deaðe, þæt þæt attor gefultmade.
403Cwom he to þam cyninge þy ærestan Eastordæge bii
404Deorwentan þære ea, þær wæs þa cyninges aldorbold.
405þa eode he inn, swa swa he his hlafordes ærendo secgan
406scolde.
407Ond mid þy he þa geswippre muþe licetende ærend wreahte
408& lease fleosewade, þa astod he semninga,
409& getogene þy wæpne under his sceate, ræsde on þone
410cyning.
411þa þæt þa Lilla geseah, se cyninges þegn him se holdesta,
412næfde he scyld æt honda, þæt he þone cyning
413mid scyldan meahte: sette þa his lichoman betweoh beforan
414þam stynge.
415& þurhstong þone cyninges þegn & þone cyning gewundade.
416þa wæs sona æghwonan mid wæpnum ymbheped.
417Hwæt þa gena oðerne cyninges þegn in þæm ungerecce, se
418wæs Forðhere haten, mid þy manfullan wæpne acwealde.
419þa wæs þære ilcan neahte þære halgan Eastrena, cende seo
420cwen dohtor þæm cyninge, þære noma wæs Eanflæd.
421Mid þy þe he ða se ilca cyning in þæs biscopes
422ondweardnesse þoncunge dyde his Godum for þære deahter,
423þe him acenned wæs, ongegn þon ongon se biscop
424þoncunge don Drihtne Criste ond þam cyninge cyþan,
425þæt he þæt mid his benum æt him onfenge, þæt heo seo
426cwen gesund & buton hefigum sare þæt bearn
427cende.
428þa se cyning þis gehyrde, þa ongon he lustfullian þæs
429biscopes wordum, & geheht hine sylfne deofolgildum
430wiðsacan; & þæt he wolde Cristes ðeowdom geceosan,

page 124

431gif he him lif & sige forgefe on þæm gewinne,
432þe he gehogad hæfde wið þam cyninge, from þæm þe se
433myrðra ær sended wæs, se þe hine gewundade.
434Ond þa ilcan his dohtor to gehalgienne Criste þam biscope to
435wedde gesealde, þæt he þæt gehat gelæstan wolde.
436Seo wæs gefulwad þy halgan dæge æt Pentecosten ærest
437monna of Norðanhymbra þeode, mid endleofan fæmnan
438oðrum of þære cwene hyrede; heo wæs twelfta.
439þære tide eac wæs se cyning gehæled from þære wunde,
440þe him ær gedon wæs.
441þa gesomnode he his fyrd wið Westseaxum & þider cwom; &
442sona þæs þe he on heo feaht, wæron him ealle
443his fynd gecyðede, þa þe ær ymb his feorh syredon.
444& he þa sume ofslog, sume on onweald onfeng; & he sigefæst
445swa eft ham ferde.
446Nales þæt sona þæt innstæpe & ungeþeahtenlice þæm
447gerynum onfon wolde þæs Cristenan geleafan, þeah
448þe þæt wære, þæt ofer þæt deofolgeldum ne þeowode,
449seoðþan he hine to Cristes þeowdome gehatenne hæfde.
450Ac he ærest geornlice aa of tide æghwæðer ge from þæm
451arwyrðan were Sancte Paulini þæt riht leornade
452þæs halgan geleafan.
453ge eac mid his ealdormonnum, þa ðe he wiseste & snottroste
454wiste, þæt he gelomlice mid him þeahtode
455& sohte, hwæt be þissum þingum to donne wære.
456Ge eac he seolfa, mid þy þe he wæs in gecynde se gleawesta
457mon, oft longe ana sæt swigende muðe, ac
458mid inneweardre heortan monig mid hine sprecende smeade,
459hwæt him selest to donne wære & hwylce æfæstnis
460him to healdenne wære.

461B9.6.6

page 252

462

INCIPIT LIBER QUARTUS ISTORIAE GENTIS ANGLORUM.

463

I.

    
464Þy gemyndgadan gere þære foresprecenan sunnan
465asprungennisse & hræðe sona þæs æfterfylgendan wooles
466& moncwilde, ðy geare Deosdedit se sexta ærcebiscop
467Contwaraburge cirican forðferde þy ærran dæge
468iduum Iuliarum .
469Swelce eac Erconberht Contwara cyning þy ylcan monðe
470ond dæge forðgeleorde, & his riices eðel forlet
471Ecgberhte his suna, þæt he hæfde & heold anes wonðe
472twentig wintra.
473þa blon micelre tiide se biscopdom, ða wæs sended to Rome
474from Ecgberhte & from Osweo Norðanhymbra
475cyninge Wigheard mæssepreost, swa swa we in þisse ærran bec
476feaum wordum forecwædon.
477Wæs se mon in ciriclecum þeodscipum of Ongolcynne wel
478gelæred.
479Swylce hy eac þa cyningas begen ætgædre sendon þæm
480apostolican papan micle gife on monegum goldfatum
481& seolforfatum: ond bædon, þæt he Wigheard Ongolcynnes
482ciricum to ærcebiscope gehalgode.
483ða he ða to Rome cwom, þa wæs in þa tid Uitalius papa
484þæs apostolican seðles aldorbiscop.
485æfter þon þe he þone intingan his siðfætes þæm
486apostolican papan gecyðed hæfde, þa æfter medmicelre
487tide se Wigheard & lytestne alle his geferan, þa ðe mid him
488cwomon, þy ofercumendan woole fordilgade
489wæron & forðgeleorde.
490ða hæfde se apostolica papa geþeaht be þissum þingum &
491georne sohte, hwelcne ærcebiscop he onsendan
492meahte Ongolðeode ciricum.

page 254

493ða wæs in Niridano þæm mynstre, þæt is unfeor þære
494byrig Neapoli in Campanie þære mægðe, Adrianus abbud.
495Wæs se mon in halgum gewreotum & in mynsterlecum þeodscipum
496& in ciriclecum wel gelæred, & weorðlice
497getyd ge in Lædenisc gereorde ge in Grecisc.
498þa het se papa þone mon to him gelaðian, & heht þæt he
499biscophade onfenge & to Breotone ferde.
500þa ondswarede he him & cwæð, þæt he wære swa micles
501hades unwyrðe; & cwæð þæt he meahte oðerne getæcnan,
502þe biscophada wyrðra wære ge on gelærednesse ge on
503his lifes gegearnunge ge on gedefre eldo.
504Tæhte þa þam biscope in þæm neahnunnmynstre sumne gedefne
505munuc, þæs noma wæs Andreas.
506Ac ða wiðstod his lichomlic untrymnes, þæt he biscop beon
507ne meahte.
508Eft se papa nedde þone abbud Adrianus, þæt he biscophade
509onfenge.
510þa bæd he hine eldenne & fyrstes, hwæðer he æfter fæce
511meahte oðerne findan, þe mon to biscope hadian meahte.
512Wæs in þa tid sum munuc in Rome, se wæs cuð Adriane
513þæm abbude, þæs noma wæs Theodorus.
514Se wæs acenned in Tarso Cilicio: wæs se mon ge in
515weoruldgewreotum, ge in godcundum, ge in Grecisc
516ge in Læden wel gelæred; & he gecoren wæs in his þeawum &
517arwyrðre ældo, þæt is þæt he hæfde syx &
518syxtig wintra.
519þeosne mon Adrianus se abbud þæm papan cyðde, & sægde
520þæt he to biscope gehalgad beon meahte: & he þæt geþafode.
521Ond hwæðre þis aræddon betweonum him, þæt he se abbud
522his latteow beon sceolde in Breotone, forþon
523þe he ær twiga þa dælas Gallia rices fore missenlecum
524intingum geferde & gesohte, & forþon þe him
525se weg þæs siðfætes genoh cuð wæs, & eac swylce þæt he
526wæs in his agnum geferscipe wel gemonnad.
527ond þonne gen eac þætte he scolde his fultemend beon in
528godcundre lare, ond þæt he geornlice bihealdan
529scolde, þæt he nowiht wiðerweardes þære
530soðfæstnesse þæs geleafan Greca þeawe in Ongolcynnes
531cirican inn gelædde, þe he ofer beon sceolde.
532þa wæs he ærest to subdiacone gehalgad; & þa baad feower
533monað, oððæt him feax geweoxe, þæt he to preoste
534bescoren beon meahte, forþon þe he ær sceare hæfde
535eastleoda þeawe Sancte Paule þæs apostoles.
536þa wæs he gehalgad

page 256

537from Uitalio þæm papan to biscope ymb
538syx hund wintra & eahta & syxtig wintra from
539Drihtnes menniscnesse, þy seofeðan dæge & þy
540drihtenlecan Kalendarum Aprelium .
541& swa ætgædre mid Adriano þam abbude in Sexta Kalendas
542Junias wæs to Breotone onsended.
543þa ferdon heo ætgædre ærest to Masilia & þonon þurh
544Arela lond, þæt heo cwomon to Iohanne þæm ærcebiscope
545þære ceastre; & him sealdon Uitalianus gewrit þæs
546papan, þæt heo mon mid are onfenge.
547& he swa dyde; hæfde heo mid micelre are mid him, oðþæt
548Ebrinus se ealdormon him spede & leafnesse
549sealde to ferenne, swa hwider swa heo woldon.
550ða ferde Theodorus se biscop to ægelberhte biscope
551Parissiorum, bi þæm we beforan sægdon; ond from
552him fremsumlice wæs onfongen, & micle tid mid him wel gehæfd
553wæs.
554Adrianus ferde ærest to Emme Senonum & æfter þam to
555Pharaonem Mælda biscopum, & longe mid him wel gehæfd wæs.
556Forþon hy nedde se towearda winter, þæt heo stille
557wunedon, swa hwær swa heo meahten.
558þa ðæt þa cuðe ærendwrecan sægdon Ecgberhte þæm
559cyninge, þætte se biscop wære in Froncna rice, þone
560þe hy Osweo bædon from þam Romaniscan biscope, ða sende
561he sona Reðfrið his gerefan þider, þæt he
562scolde hine fetigan & to him gelædan.
563þa he þa þider cwom, þa nom he Theodor biscop mid
564Ebrinus leafnesse þæs ealdormonnes, & hine gelædde
565to þam porte, þe is nemned Cwæntwic.
566þær hine gestod sumu untrymnis, & he þær fæc gewunade; &
567sona swa he trumian ongon, swa eode he in
568scip & ferde to Breotone.
569Ebrinus se ealdormon genom Adrianum þone abbud & on fæstene
570hæfde, forþon he resade, þæt he hæfde
571caseres ærendo sumo to Breotone cyningum wið Froncna rice,
572þæs he ða micle gemenne hæfde .
573Ac þa he þa soðlice onget & onfand, þæt hit swa ne wæs,
574swa he resade, þa onlesde he hine & let feran
575æfter þam biscope.
576Ond sona þæs þe he to him cwom, þa sealde he him Sancte
577Petres mynster, þær þæra ærcebiscopa liic
578bebyrged seondon, swa swa we ær beforan sægdon.
579Forþon se apostolica papa bebead Theodore biscope, þa he
580from him ferde, þæt he him on his biscopscire
581gerisne stowe foresege & salde, in þære he mid his
582geferum wunian meahte.

page 258

583þa cwom he Theodor biscop to his cirican in Contwara burg
584þy æfteran geare halgunge ðy syxtan dæge
585Kalendarum Iuniarum .
586& he lifde on biscophade aan & twentig wintra & þreo monað &
587syx & twentig daga.
588

II.

    
589Ond he sona ðurhferde eall Breotone ealond, swa hwyder ymb
590swa Ongolþeode drohtedon & wunedon; & he
591lustlice from eallum onfongen wæs, & his word geornlice
592geherdon.
593Ond he rehte endebyrdnesse lifes æteawde, & rihte Eastran to
594weorðianne lærde.
595Ond him Adrianus se abbud mid ferde, & to eallum rehte
596fultemade.
597Wæs he ærest ærcebiscopa, þæt him eall Ongolcyn hyrnesse
598geþafode.
599Ond forðon heo begen wæron ge se biscop ge se abbud, swa swa
600we ær cwædon, wel gelæred ge on godcundum
601gewreotum ge in weoruldcundum, ond heo gesomnodon micelne
602þreat discipula; & heo betweoh halige
603bec & ciriclicne þeodscipe in metercræft & in tungolcræft
604& in grammaticcræft tydon & lærdon.
605Wæs þæt sweotol tacn, þætte heora discipulas wæron wel
606gelærde ge in Grecisc gereorde ge in Lædenisc;
607ond him þa swa cuðe wæron swa heora agen, þe heo in
608fedde wæron.
609Ne wæron her æfre, seoþðan Ongolcyn Breotone gesohte,
610gesæligran tide ne fægeran.
611Wæron her stronge cyningas & wel cristne ond eallum
612ellreordum cynnum ut in miclum ege; ond ealra willa
613hleonade to geheranne þa gefean þæs heofonlecan rices.
614ond swa hwelce men swa swa wilnadon þæt heo in halgum
615leorningum tyde wæron, heo hæfdon gearwe magistras,
616þa ðe heo lærdon & tydon.
617Swylce eac sonas to singenne in circan, ða ðe oððæt in
618Cent anre menn cuðon, of þære tide ongunnon
619men leornian þurh ealle cirican Ongolcynnes.
620Ond ærest, buton Iacobe þæm songere bi þæm we beforan ær
621sægdon, wæs songes magister Norðanhymbra cirican
622ædde haten, þæs freo noma wæs Steffanus.
623Wæs se asponen from Cent from Wilferðe þæm arwyrðan
624biscope, se ærest betweoh biscopum, þa ðe of Ongolþeode
625wæron, regollicne þeaw to lifgenne Ongolcynnes
626ciricum sægde & lærde.
627þa ferde Theodor biscop geond ealle Ongolcynnes mægðe, &

page 260

628biscopas halgode in gelimplecum stowum.
629Ond þa þing, þe he unfulfremed gemette, mid heora fultume
630he ða rehte & bette.
631Betweoh þon, þa he Ceddan biscop mid wordum þreade, þæt
632he rihtlice gehalgad ne wære, þa ondsworede
633he eaðmodre stefne: Gif þu þæt wast, þæt ic unrehtlice
634biscophade onfeng, ic lustlice from þære þegnunge
635gewite, forþon ic þy hade mec seolfne næfre wyrðne
636demde.
637Ac for intingan hersumnesse ic haten geþafode, þæt ic þone
638had underhnah, þeah ðe ic unwyrðe wære.
639þa he ða gehyrde þa eaðmodnesse his ondsware, cwæð he
640þæt he þone biscophad forlætan ne scolde.
641Ac he eft his hadunge mid ciriclice rihte gefylde.
642In þa tid Deosdedit se biscop forðferde; & Contwara burge
643biscop soht & sended wæs to hadienne.
644Ond Willferð biscop eac swylce of Breotone in Gallia rice to
645hadienne sended wæs.
646He ða eac in Cent mæssepreostas & diaconas hadode, oðþæt
647þe Theodor ærcebiscop to his seðle cwom.
648Sona þæs ðe he cwom to Hrofesceastre, & forðferdum
649Damiano þam biscope se biscophad longe blon, þa
650gehadode he sumne mon, se wæs ma in ciriclecum þeodscipum &
651in lifes bylwitnesse gelæred, þon he from
652wære in worulde þingum, þæs noma wæs Putta.
653Wæs he swiðost in cirican songcræft getyd Romanisce þeawe,
654þone he geleornade from Sancte Gregories
655discipulum.
656

III.

    
657In ða tid wæs in Mercna mægðe Wulfhere cyning.
658ða forðferdum Gearomonne biscope bæd he Theodor biscop,
659þæt he him & his leodum biscop funde & sealde,
660þa ne wolde he him neowne biscop halgian, ac bæd Osweo
661Norðanhymbra cyning, þæt he him Ceaddan
662gehalgodne biscop sealde, se ða in his mynstre, þæt is in
663Læstinge, in stillnesse liifde.
664þegnade Wilferð biscop þone biscophad in Eoforwicceastre &
665eac swylce in eallum Norðanhymbrum ge eac
666in Peohtum, swa Osweoes rice wæs þæs cyninges.
667Ond forþon þeaw wæs þæm ilcan arwyrðan biscope, þæt he
668þæt weorc þæs halgan godspelles, ma þurh his
669fota gong gefremede, þonne on horse ride, heht hine Theodor
670biscop ridan, þær him se weg lengra gelumpe.
671& he swiðe wið þon wonn for geornfulnesse & for lufan

page 262

672þæs aarfæstan gewinnes.
673þa nedde se ærcebiscop hine swiðe, þæt he ridan scolde,
674swa hwyder swa ðæs þearf wære, & efne æt nehstan
675mid his seolfes hondum up on hors hof; forþon he ðone
676mon micelne & haligne gemette in his lifes geearnungum.
677ða onfeng Ceadda biscopdom Mercna þeode ætgædre &
678Lindesfearena; ond he sona æfter bisene haligra fædra
679in micelre fulfremednesse lifes þone biscophad heold &
680þegnade.
681Sealde him & geaf Wulfhere se cyning fiftig hida in Lindisse
682him mynster on to getimbrenne in þære
683stowe þe is nemned æt Bearwe.
684In þæm mynstre nu gen oð to dæge þa sweðe awuniað
685regollices lifes, þe he þær gesette.
686Hæfde he bisceopseðl in þære stowe, þe geceged is
687Liccedfeld, þær he forðferde & bebyrged is.
688þær gen to dæge seðel is Mærcna mægðe þara
689æfterfylgendra biscopa.
690Getimbrede he eac sundorwic noht feor from þære cirican, bi
691ðæm he deagolice mid feaum broðrum, þæt
692is seofonum oðþo eahtum, he gewunade, þæt he him gebæd,
693& his bec rædde, swa oft swa he from þæm gewinne
694þære þegnunge godcundre lare æmetig wæs.
695þa he ða in þære mægðe tu ger & þridda healf þa
696cirican wuldorlice heold & rehte, ða cwom seo tid,
697þe uplican dome stihtigende, bi þære spriceð Eclesiastes
698seo boc: Tempus mittendi lapides et tempus
699colligendi: þætte tid wære stanas to sendenne & tid to
700somnienne.
701þa cwom micel wæl & moncwild godcundlice sended, þæt þurh
702lichoman deað þa lifigendan stanas þære
703cirican of eorðlicum seþlum to þæm heofonlican timbre
704gebær.
705Mid þy þa monige of þære gesomnunge þæs ilcan arwyrðan
706biscopes of lichoman alædde wæron, þa cwom his
707tid, þæt he scolde of middangearde to Drihtne feran.
708þa gelomp sume dæge, þæt he wæs in þæm foresprecenan
709wicum mid ane breðer wuniende, þæs noma wæs Owine.
710His oðre geferan fore gelimplicum intingum hwurfon to cirican
711in þæt mynster.
712Wæs he se ilca Oowine munuc micelre geearnunge mon, & mid
713hlutre ingehygde þæs uplecan edleanes wæs
714iu middangeard forlætende; & he wæs þurh all meodum &
715Gode gecoren; ond him Drihten synderlice his
716deagolnisse onwrah.
717Cwom he mid æðelþryþe of Eastenglum; ond he wæs hire
718þegna

page 264

719& huses & hire geferscipes ofer all aldormon.
720ða Godes geleafa þa weox & haat wæs, þa þohte he þæt he
721sceolde worulde wiðsacan, & þæt unaswundenlice swa gedyde.
722& hine middangeardes þingum to þon ongyrede & genacodade,
723þæt he eal forlet, þa ðe he hæfde, nemne
724his anfealdne gegyrelan, ond cwom to Læstinga ea to þæm
725mynstre þæs aarwyrðan biscopes.
726Bær him æxe & adosan on honda; tacnode in þon, þæt he
727nales to idelnesse, swa sume oðre, ac to gewinne
728in þæt mynster eode; & þæt seolfe eac swylce mid
729dædum gecyðde.
730Ond forþon þe he lyt genihtsumade in smeaunge & in leornunge
731haligra gewreota, he þy ma mid his hondum
732wonn & worhte þa þing, þe nydþearfleco wæron.
733þæs is to tacne, þæt he mid þone biscop in þæm
734foresprecenan wicum for his arwyrðnesse & for his
735geornfullnesse betweoh þa broðor wæs hæfd.
736ðonne heo inne heora leornunge & heora becrædon beeodon,
737þonne wæs he ute wyrcende, swa hwæt swa
738þearf gesegen wæs.
739ða he þa sume dæge hwæthwugu swelces ute dyde, & his
740geferan to byrig to cirican eodon, swa heo gelomlice
741dydon, ond se biscop ana in þære cirican oðþo in
742becrædinge oððo in gebedum geornful wæs, þa
743geherde he semninga, swa swa he eft æfter þon sægde, þa
744swetestan stefne & þa fægrestan singendra
745& blissiendra of heofonum oð eorðan astigan.
746ða stefne & þone song he cwæð þæt he ærest geherde from
747eastsuðdæle heofones, þæt is from heanisse
748þære winterlecan sunnan upgonge, & þonon to him
749sticcemælum nealecton, oðþæt he bicwom to þeacan þære
750cirican, þe se biscop in wæs; & ingongende ealle
751gefylde, & in ymbhwyrfte ymbsealde.
752Ond he þa geornlice his mod aðenede in þa þing ðe he
753gehyrde.
754þa geherde he eft, swa swa healfre tide fæce, of hrofe
755þære ilcan cirican up astigan þone ilcan blissesong,
756& þy ylcan wege, þe he ær cwom, upp oð
757heofonas mid unasecgendre swetnesse eft hweorfan.
758ða wunade he ðær sum fæc tide wundriende & wafiende, & mid
759behygdige mode þohte & smeade, hwæt þa þing beon sceolde.
760ða ontynde se biscop þæt eaghþyrel þære cirican & mid
761his honda slog tacen, swa swa his gewuna wæs,
762gif hwylc mon ute wære, þæt he in to him eode.

page 266

763ða eode he sona in to him.
764Cwæð he se biscop him to: Gong hræðe to cirican, & hat ure
765seofon broðor hider to me cuman: & þu eac swelce mid wæs.
766þa heo þa to him cwomon, þa monade he heo ærest, þæt heo
767betweonan him þæt mægen lufan & sibbe & betweohn
768eallum Godes monnum geornlice heolde; ond eac swelce
769þa gesetenesse þæs regollican þeodscipes,
770þe hy from him geleornodon & on him gesegon, oðþe in
771þara forðgeleoredra fædra dædum oðþe godcundum
772gemete, þæt heo þa ungewergedre geornfulnisse fylgden
773& læsten.
774æfter þon he underþeodde & him sægde, þæt se dæg
775swiðe neah stode his forðfore, & þus cwæð: Se leofa
776cuma & se lufiendleca, se ðe gewunade ure broðor neosian,
777se cwom swelce to dæge to me & mec of worulde cegde & laðode.
778Forðon ge þonne nu eft hweorfað to cirican & biddað ure
779broðor, þæt heo mine forðfore mid heora gebedum
780& benum Drihtne bebeoden, ond swelce eac heora seolfra
781forðfore, þære tide is uncuð, þæt heo
782gemynen mid wæccenum & gebedum & mid godum forecuman.
783Mid þy he ða þas word & þyses gemetes monig to him
784sprecende wæs, & heo onfongenre his bletsunge swiðe
785unrote ut from him eodon, ða hwearf se ana eft in to
786him, se ðe þone heofonlican song gehyrde,
787& hine eaðmodlice on eorðan astreahte fore þone biscop; &
788þus cwæð: Min fæder, mot ic þe ohtes ahsian.
789Cwæð he: Ahsa þæs þu wille.
790þa cwæð he: Ic þa la halsie & bidde fore Godes lufan,
791þæt þu me gesecge hwæt se song wære blissiendra,
792þe ic gehyrde of heofonum cumendra ofer þas cirican ond
793æfter tide eft hweorfendra to heofonum.
794Ondswarede he se biscop: Gif þu songes stefne gehyrde & þu
795heofonlic weorod ongete ofer us eac cuman,
796ic ðe bebeode on Drihtnes noman, þæt þu þæt nænegum
797men cyðe, ne secge ær minre forðfore.
798Ic þe soðlice secgo, þætte þæt wæron engla gastas þe
799þær cwomon, þa me to þam heofonlecan medum cegdon
800& laðodon, þa ic symle lufade & wilnade.
801Ond æfter seofon dagum heo eft hweorfende & cumende me
802gehehton; & me þonne mid him lædan woldon.
803þæt wæs swa soðlice mid dæd gefylled, swa him to cweden
804wæs.
805þa wæs he sona gehrinen lichomlicre untrymnesse, & seo
806dæghwamlice weox & hefigade; & þa ðy seofoþan

page 268

807dæge, swa him gehaten wæs, æfter þon þe his forðfore
808getrymede mid onfongennesse þæs Drihtenlecan
809lichoman & blodes, þætte seo halige sawl wæs onlesed from
810þæs lichoman hefignessum, & mid engla latteowdome
811& geferscipe, swa riht is to gelyfanne, þa ecan
812gefean & þa heofonlecan eadignesse gestah & gesohte.
813Is þæt hwelc wundor, þeah ðe he þone dæg his deaðes
814oðþe ma þone Drihtnes dæg bliðe gesege, þone he
815symle sorgende bad, oð þæt he cwome?
816Forðon betweohn monige geearnunge his mægena in
817forhæfednesse & in eaðmodnesse & in godcundre lare
818& in gebedum & in wilsumlicre þearfeðnisse & eac oðerra
819mægena, þæt he wæs swa swiðe Drihtnes ege
820underþeoded ond swa swiðe his þara nehstena dogra gemyndig
821in eallum his weorcum, þætte swa swa me
822sum broðor sægde of þæm þe me in wreotum cyde & lærde, &
823se wæs in mynstre & in his lareowdome afeded
824& gelæred; wæs his noma Trumberht; sægde he gif he æt
825leorninga sæte oððe elles hwæt dyde, gif
826semninga mare blæd windes astah, þæt he sona instæpe
827Drihtnes mildheortnesse gecegde & þa miltse bæd monna cynne.
828Gif þonne swiðra wind aras, þonne tynde he his bec &
829forþleat in his ondwlitan & geornlice in his gebede
830hleoðrade: ond þonne he gen, gif strengra storm &
831genip swiðor þreade, & legete & þunorrade
832eorðan & lyfte brægden & fyrhten, þonne eode he to cirican
833& bighigdelice in gebedum & on sealmsonge
834fæste moode awunade, oððæt þære lyfte smyltnis eft
835hwearf & cwom.
836Mid þy hine frugnon & ascodon his geferan, for hwon he þis
837dyde, ondswarode he: Ac ge ne leornodon:
838Quia intonuit de celo dominus et altissimus dedit uocem
839suam: misit sagittas suas et dissipauit
840eos, fulgora multiplicauit et conturbauit eos: ðætte
841Drihten hleoðrað of heofonum & se hehsta seleð
842his stefne; he sendeð his stræle & heo toweorpeð:
843legetas gemonigfealdað & heo gedrefeð.
844Forþon Drihten lyfte ontyneð, windas weceð, legetas
845sceotað of heofonum & hleoðrað, þæt he eorðbigengan
846awecce hine to ondrædanne; þæt he heora heortan in
847gemynd gecege þæs toweardan domes; þæt he
848heora oferhygd toweorpe & geþyrstignesse drefe, to heora mode
849gelæddre þære forhtiendan tide, hwonne
850he, heofonum & eorðan byrnendum,

page 270

851toweard sy in heofones
852wolcnum in micelre meahte & þrymme to demanne cwice & deade.
853Forþon us gedafenað, þæt we his heofonlicre monunge mid
854gedefenlice ege & lufan ondswarige; þætte,
855swa he lyft onstyrge ond his hond swa swa us to sleanne
856beotiende æteaweð, ne hwæðre nu gyt slæð, þæt
857we sona cleopien & bidden his mildheortnesse, &
858geondsmeage ða deagolnesse usse heortan & geclæsnien
859þa unsyfernesse uncysta, & bihigdelice don, þæt we
860næfre ne geearnien þæt we slegene beon scylon.
861Geþwærað eac swylce þære onwrigenesse & þære gesegene
862þæs foresprecenan broðor bi forðfore þisses biscopes
863& eac þæt word þæs arwyrðan fæder Ecgberhtes,
864bi þæm we beforan sægdon.
865Se geo ær mid þone ilcan Ceaddan in Hibernia Scotta ealonde,
866begen in geoguðe, in munuclife in gebedum
867& in forhæfdnesse & in leornunge haligra gewrita Gode
868lifdon.
869Ac he Ceadda eft æfter fæce in his eðel hwyrfde in
870Breotone; se Ecgberht þær in elþeodignesse fore
871Godes noman awunode oð his lifes ende.
872Mid þy ða æfter longre tiide cwom to him of Breotone
873fore neosunge intingan se halgesta wer & se forhæfdesta,
874Hygebald hatte, se wæs abbud in Lindesse, þa
875spræcon heo be liife haligra fædra, swa swa
876halige men gedafonode, & þæt eac onhyrgan wolden.
877Betweoh þa cwom gemynd þæs arwyrðan biscopes Ceaddan.
878þa cwæð he Ecgberht: Ic wat sumne mon in þissum ealonde nu
879gena in lichoman lifigende, mid þy se wer
880of middangearde leorde, þæt he geseah Ceaddan sawle his
881broðor mid engla weorude of heofonum astigan:
882& gefetedon his sawle & mid him genoman & eft hweorfan to
883þam heofonlecan rice.
884Hwæðer he þæt bi him seolfum cwæde þe bi oðrum men
885hwelcum, þæt us is uncuð.
886Hwæðre þa swa micel wer hit gecwæð, we weotan þæt
887hit soð wæs.
888þa forðferde Ceadda þy syxtan dæge Nonarum Martiarum :
889& wæs ærest bibyrged bi Sancta Marian cirican.
890Ac æfter fæce, þær getimbrede cirican þæs eadgan aldores
891þara apostola Sancte Petres, þa wæron in
892þa his ban geseted.
893In æghwæðre þara stowa gewuniað to tacnunge his mægenes
894& halignisse gelomlecu wundor hælo geworden
895beon.
896þæs is to tacne, þætte neowan sum gebræcseoc man, mid þy
897he þurh monige stowe dwoliende orn & ferde,
898þa bicwom he þider on æfenne, ne weotendum oððo ne
899gemændum

page 272

900þæm heordum þære stowe, & þær ealle
901neaht wæs restende: & þa on morne gehælde witte aras & ut
902eode.
903þa wundredon ealle menn & on þæt gefegon, hwylc wundor
904þær hælo þurh Drihtnes gife æteawde & geworden wæs.
905Is ofer his byrgenne stowe treowgeweorc on gelicnesse
906medmicles huses geworht mid hrægle gegyrwed.
907þonne is on þæm medmicel þyrel geworht, þurh þæt
908gewuniað þa men, þa ðider for intingan wilsumnisse
909cumað, heora hond insendan & dæl þære moldan þonon
910neoman.
911Mid þy heo þa in wæter sendað & untrumum monnum & neatum
912to byrgenne sellað, & heo sona from hefignesse
913þære untrumnesse generede beoð, & þær gefean þære
914willendan gesynta onfoð.
915In þæs biscopes stowe gehalgode Theodor biscop Wynnferð
916godne wer & gemetfæstne, se fore wæs in þegnunge
917biscophades, swa swa his foregengan, Mercna mægðe &
918Middelengla & Lindesfarona; in eallum þæm
919Wulfhere, se ða gena lifiende wæs, riices onweald hæfde.
920Wæs se Wynnferð of þæs biscopes geferscipe, þæm he eft
921æfterfylgde, ond under him diaconðegnunge micelre
922tide brucende wæs.

923B9.6.7

page 418

924

XII.

    
925Sona þæm erestan tidum, þes ða lareowas cuomon in
926Fresena lond, & Willbrod from ðem cyninge lefnesse
927onfeng þæt he ðær læran moste, þa wolde he hredlice
928to Rome cuman, þa wes bisscop ðæs apostolican
929seðles Sergius papa, þæt he wolde mid his læfnesse &
930mid his blætsunge þæt willsume weorc onginnan
931& gefyllan þem ðiodum godspel to læranne.
932Ond somod he willnade from him onfon þera eadigra apastola
933reliquias & Cristes martira, þæt mid þy
934he diofolgeld towurpe & cirican timbrede & rærde in

page 420

935þære ðiode þe he lærde, ðæt he ðer gearwe hefde
936haligra reliquias in to settenne, & he gerisenlice
937meahte in ðara haligra aare syndrige stowe gehwylce
938haligra halgian, þe hiora reliquias þær in weran.
939Swylce ec monige oðre intingan he sohte & willnade oððe
940þer leornian oððe þanon onfon.
941In ðem eallum mid ðy he willfegen wes gefremed, he eft
942hwearf to codcundre laare.
943þære tiide þa broðor, ða ðe in Fresum weran mid hine in
944ðere þegnunge ðes Godes wordes, gecuron hio
945of hiora riime gemetfæstne monn in his þeaum & monþuerne
946heortan Swiðberht, þæt se him gehalgad were to bisscope.
947Sendon hine þa to Breotene & for hiora bene se aarwyrða
948bisscop Willferð hine gehalgade, se wes in
949þa tiid of his æðele adrifen & in Mercna lande folgade,
950ond forðon þe in ða tiid Contweara nefdan
951bisscop.
952Wes Theodor bisscop forðfered, & Berhwald his efterfylgend
953þa get ne cuom to his bisscopseðle, forðon
954he wes ofer sæ sended to hadienne.
955ða Swiðberht hefde bisscophade onfongen, þa ferde he eft of
956Breotene & efter medmicelum fece he gewat
957to ðere þeode Boruchtuarorum, & monige hiora þurh his
958lare to soðfestnesse wege gecerde.
959Ah ða aefter noht longre tiide sio ilce þiod wes oferwunnen
960from Ealdseaxum; & ða geleafsuman menn,
961þa ðe Godes worde onfengon, weran wide todrifene.
962Ond se bisscop mid his geferum sumum sohte Pipiin Froncna
963cyning; & him ða geerendade Bliðryð his
964cuen, þet he him wunesse stowe gesealde in sumum ealonde bi
965Riine, þet is on hiora gereorde geceged
966& nemned In Litore, in ðem he mynster getimbrede, þet nu
967gen oðð þis agon his erfeweardas.
968& he þer sum fec in forhebbendum liife lifde & ðer his
969deagas geendade.
970Efter ðon þe hie þa sum gear codcunde lare lærdon in
971Fresena riice, þa ðe mid hine cuomon, þa sende
972Pipin mid ealra hiora geþafunge þone arwyrðan wer
973Willbrord to Roome to Sergie þem papan, ond bæd
974þæt he hine Fresna ðeode to ercebiscope gehalgade.

page 422

975& he swa dyde swa he bæd.
976Wæs he gehadod in circan þære halgan fæmnan & martires
977Sancte Cecilian þy dæge, ðe hire gemynddæg wes;
978& se papa hine nemde freonaman Clemens.
979& sona þæs þe he gehaadad wæs, þet is æfter feowertene
980dagum, þes ðe he in Romeburh cuom, þet he hine
981eft sende to his bisscopseðle.
982Salde him & forgeaf Piipin bisscopseðl in his þere meran
983byrig, sio alde worde þere þiode is nemned
984Wiltaburg; Galleas nemnað Traiectum; we cueðað
985ættreocum.
986Bi ðære se arwyrða bisscop ciirican getimbrede & feorr &
987wide Godes word ymbe Cristes geleafan bodade
988& lærde; & monige wes cegende from hæðnesse gedwolan
989hiora liifes.
990& he monig mynster & cirican in ðæm londe getimbrede; ond
991æfter fæce monige oðre bisscopas þer gesette
992& gehalgade of þara broðra riime, þa ðe mid hine
993oððe aæfter him cuomon codcunde lare to bodienne;
994þara monige forðgeleordon in Drihten.
995Ah he Willbrord, þe se papa Clemens nemde, longe aeldo &
996arwyrðe he hefde; six & ðritig wintra in
997bisscophade liifde, ond efter monigfealdum gewinnum
998heofonlices comphades to meordum þes uplican edleanes
999becuom to aare.
1000

XIII.

    
1001ðassum tidum gemyndelic wundar & ealdum wundrum geliic in
1002Breotene wæs geworden.
1003Forðon ðe to awehtnesse lifgendra monna of saule deaðe sum
1004mon wes sum faec dead & eft to life lichoman
1005aras & monig ðing gemyndewyrðe segde, þa he
1006geseah, þara sume we her hredlice areccan & aasecgan
1007& aawritan willað.
1008Uues sum hioscipes fæder & higina aldor in ðeodlonde
1009Norðanhymbra, ðet is geceged In Cununingum; liifde
1010he aefestlice his liif mid his heorde.
1011ða wearð he licumlicre untrumnesse gehrinen & gestonden; &
1012seo deghwemlice weox, oððet he to ðem ytemestan
1013dege gelæded wes, & in forewearde neaht forðferde.
1014Ah in dagunge he eft acuicode & semninga up heh asæt; ond
1015ealle þa ðe æt his lichoman woepende sæton
1016mid unmæte ege geslægene weron & utflugon butan his
1017wiif an, ðe hine swiðust lufade, sio an hinne

page 424

1018aawunade, þeh ðe hio swiðe forht were & beofiende.
1019ða frefrede he hio & cueð: Ne welle þu ðe ondredan,
1020forðon þe ic soðlice from deaðe aaras & eam eft
1021forlæten mid monnum liifgan, nales hweðre þy liife
1022þe ic ær liifde, ah swiðe ungelice of ðisse tiide
1023me is to lifigenne.
1024Ond ða sona aaras & eode to ðære cirican þes tunes & oð
1025lutterne dæg in gebede stod.
1026Ond sona æfter þon ealle his æahte in þreo todælde; enne
1027dæl he his wiife sealde, oðerne his bearnum,
1028þone þriddan, þe him gelomp, he instepe þearrfum
1029gedelde: & æfter medmiclum fæce all weoruldþing
1030forleorte & to Mailros ðem mynstre cuoom, þet is of ðem
1031mestan dæle mid ymbebegnesse Tuede streames betyned.
1032& he þer Godes þiohade & scare onfeng, & in dygle
1033aancorstowe ęode, þe se abbud him foreseah; & þer
1034oð ðone dæg his deaðes in swa micelum gedrehtnessum &
1035forhefdnessum modes & lichoman aheardade &
1036awunade, þette menn mehtan ongeotan, þæt he monig ðing ge
1037egslice ge willsumlice geseh, þe oðre meoðon,
1038þeh ðe sio tunge swigade, þet his liif wes
1039sprecende .
1040Sægde he þys gemete ðætte he geseah, & cueð: Leohte
1041gesihðe & onsione & berhte gegerelan wes, se ðe
1042me lædde.
1043Eodon wiit suigiende, þes ðe me ðuhte & gesegn wes, ongen
1044norðeast rodor, swa sunnan upgong bið æt middum sumere.
1045Mid ðy wit ða hwiile eodan, bicuomon wit to sumere
1046dene, sio wæs micelre brædo & deopnese & ungeaendadre
1047længe; wes unc on ða wynstran healfe geseted.
1048Oðer dæl wæs wallendum lægum full suiðe egesfullice ,
1049oðer wes nohte þon læs unaarefndlice cele hægles & snawes.
1050Wes gehweðer manna saula full, þa wrixendlice on tua healfe
1051gesegene weeran, swa swa mid unmætnesse
1052miceles stormes, worpene beon.
1053þonne hio þæt mægn þere unmetan hætton aarefnan ne
1054mehtan, þonne stældan heo eft earmlice in middel
1055þæs unmætan ciles.
1056& mid þy heo ðær nænige reste gemetan mihtan, þonne
1057stældon heo eft in middan þæs byrnendan fyres
1058& ðæs unadwæscedan leges.
1059Mid þy heo ða þæs ungesælgan wrixles feor & wide, swa
1060geseon meahton, butan fyrstmearce ænigre

page 426

1061ræste
1062mid þa unriman mængo sweartra gasta þreste wæron,
1063þa ongan ic þencan, & wende þæt hit hel wære,
1064be ðam tintregum unaræfnendlicum ic oft sæcgan herde.
1065þa ondswarede he minum geðohte se min latteow, se ðe me
1066foreeode, & þus cwæð: Nis ðis seo hel, swa
1067ðu talest & wenest.
1068Mid þy ic ða wæs mid þisse ongryslican wæferseone swiðe
1069gefyrhted & gebreged, þa lædde he me styccemælum
1070forð on fyran lond.
1071þa geseah ic sæmninga beforan unc onginnan ðeostrian ða
1072stowe & miclum þeostrum all gefylled.
1073Mid ðy wit ða in ða þeostro ineodon, & heo styccemælum
1074swa micel & swa ðicco wæron, þæt ic noht geseon
1075meahte, nemne þæt seo ansien scan & þa hrægl leoht
1076wæron, se ðe mæc lædde.
1077& mid ðy wit ða forðgongende wæron under ðæm scuan
1078þære ðeostran nihte, ða æteowdan sæmninga beforan
1079unc monige heapas sweartra lega, ða wæron up astigende
1080swa swa of miclum seaðe, & eft wæron fallende
1081& gewitende in ðone ilcan seað.
1082Mid ðy ic ða ðyder gelæded wæs, ða ne wiste ic sæmninga
1083hwær min latteow becom; & he mec forlet in
1084middum þæm þeostrum ond ðære ongrislican gesihðe.
1085& mid ðy þa ilcan heapas þara fyra butan blinne hwilum upp
1086astigon in heanesse, hwilum niðer gewiton
1087in ða niolnesse ðæs seaðes, geseah ic & sceawade.
1088ealle ða heanesse þara upastigendra lega fulle wæron monna
1089gasta, þa on onlicnesse upastigendra yselena
1090mid rece, hwilum in heanesse beoð up worpene, hwilum
1091eft togenum ðara fyra ðearsmum wæron eft
1092aslidene in neolnesse & in grund.
1093Swelce eac unaræfnedlic fullness wæs mid þæs fyres þrosme
1094uppawallende, & ealle ða stowe ðara þiostra gefylde.
1095Mid ðy ic ða longe þær forht stod, & me wæs uncuð, hwæt
1096ic dyde oðþe hwider ic eode oðþe hwelc ende
1097me come, ða geherde ic sæmninga micelne swæg me on
1098bæcling unmætes wopes & earmlices, swelce eac
1099micel gehled & ceahetunge swa swa ungelæredes folces &
1100biosmriendes gehæftum heora feondum.
1101þa he ða se sweg me near wæs & to me becom, þa geseah ic
1102mænigo þara wergra gasta v manna saula grornende
1103& heofende teon & lædan on midde þa þeostra, & heo on

page 428

1104ðon swiðe blissedon & ceahheton.
1105þara manna sum wæs, þæs ðe ic gewiton meahte, bescoren
1106preost, sum wes læwde, sum wæs wifmon.
1107Tugon heo ða wergan gastas & niðer mid geweotan in midde ða
1108niolnesse ðæs byrnendan leges.
1109Mid ðy heo ða fir gewiten wæron, & ic ðone wop þara manna
1110& þone hleahtor þara diofla sweotolice geheran
1111ne meahte, hwæðre ic ðone sweg ða gena gemengedne
1112in earum hæfde.
1113Betwioh ðas þing ða upp comon sume ðara þiostra gasta of
1114ðere niolnesse, & of ðære witestowe, & mec
1115utan ymbsaldon.
1116Hæfdon heo fyrene eagan & full fyr of heora muðe & of heora
1117nasum wæron ut blawende; ond fyrene tangan
1118him on handa hæfdon, & mæc nerwdon, & me tobeotedon,
1119þæt heo mid þam gegripan woldon, & in ða forwyrd sendan.
1120Ond þeah ðe heo mec swa bregdan & fyrhton, ne dorston heo
1121mec hwæðre ongehrinan.
1122Mid ðy ic ða wæs æghwonan mid ðam feondum ymbsald & mid
1123ða blindnesse þara ðeostra utan betyned,
1124ða ahof ic mine eagan upp & locade hider & geond, hwæðer me
1125ænig fultum toweard wære, ðæt ic gehæled beon meahte.
1126þa æteowde me æfter þæm wege, þe ic ær com on, betwioh
1127ða þeostra swa beorht scinende steorra.
1128& ðæt leoht wæs weaxende mare & mare, & hraðe to me wæs
1129efstende; & sona ðæs ðe hit me nealehte,
1130ða wæron tostencte & onwæg flugon ealle ða awergdan
1131gastas, ða ðe me ær mid heora tangan tobeotodan.
1132Wæs ðæt se min latteow, se ðe mec lædde.
1133þa cerde he ða sona on ða swiðran hond, & mec ongon lædan
1134suðeast on ðon roðor, swa swa on wintre sunne upp gongeð.
1135þa wære wit sona of ðam þeostrum abrogdene, & he mec
1136lædde in fægernesse smoltes leohtes.
1137Mid ðy he mec ða in openum leohte lædde, þa geseah ic
1138beforan unc þone mæstan weall, þæs længo on twa
1139healfe ne his heanesse ænig ende gesen wæs.
1140þa ongan ic wundrian, for hwon wit to þam walle eodan, mid
1141ðy ic on him nænige duru ne eahþyrl ne
1142uppastignesse onhwonan on ænge halfe geseon meahte.
1143Mid ðy wit ða becoman to ðam walle, þa sona instæpe, ne
1144wat ic

page 430

1145hwelcre endebyrdnesse, wæron wit on
1146his heanesse on ðam walle ufonweardum.
1147& þa geseah ic ðær þone rumestan feld & þone fægerestan,
1148& se wæs eall swetnesse anre full growendra blostmena.
1149Ond seo wundrigende swetnesse þæs miclan swicces sona ealle
1150ða fullnessa þæs fullan ofnes & þæs þeostran,
1151þe mec ær ðurhseah , onwæg aflemde.
1152Ond swa micel leoht & beorhtnes ealle þa stowe geondscan,
1153þæt he ealles dæges beorhtnisse oðþe ðære
1154middæglican sunnan sciman wæs beorhtre gesewen.
1155Wæron on ðissum felda unrime gesomnunge hwitra manna &
1156fægra & monig seðel gefeondra wæroda & blissigendra .
1157Mid ðy he mec ða lædde betwih midde ða þreatas þara
1158gesæligra woruda, þa ongan ic þencan & me huru
1159þuhte, þæt þær wære heofona rice, be ðam ic oft sæcgan
1160herde.
1161þa ondswarode he minum geðohte & cwæð: Nis ðis, cwæð
1162he, heofona rice, swa swa ðu talest & wenest.
1163Mid ðy wit ða wæron forðgongende & oferferdon þas
1164wunenesse þara eadigra gasta, þa geseah ic beforan
1165unc micle maran gefe leohtes & beorhtnesse þonne ic ær
1166geseah, in ðære ic eac swylce þa swetestan
1167stæfne geherde Godes lof singendra.
1168Swylce eac of ðære stowe swa micel swetnes wundorlices
1169stænces wæs onsended, þæt sio swætnis, þe ic
1170ær bregde & me micel þuhte, in ða witgemetnisse þæs
1171æfteran leohtes & beorhtnesse wæs lytel & medmicel gesæwen.
1172Swylce eac swelce þæt leoht & seo biorhtnes þæs
1173blostmiendan feldes wæs medmicel gesewen in ðære stowe
1174wynsumnesse.
1175Mid ðy ic unc wende inngongende bion, þa somninga se min
1176latteow gestod & butan eldenne wæs eft his
1177gong cerrende: & mec eft lædde ðy selfan wæge, ðe wit
1178ær coman.
1179Mid ðy wit ða eft hwerfende becoman to ðan bliðan
1180wunenessum ðara hwittra gasta & fægra, cwæð he to
1181me: Wast ðu hwæt ðas þing ealle seon, ðe þu
1182sceawadest & gesawa?
1183Andswarode ic him: Nese, cwæð ic, ne wat ic heo.
1184Cwæð he: Seo stow þær seo denu wæs ðe þu gesawe
1185wallende lege & strongum celum egeslice beon, þæt is
1186seo stow, in ðære siondon to ademanne & to clænsienne
1187þæra manna saula, þa ðe eldende wæran to andettenne
1188& to betenne

page 432

1189heora synna & mandæda, þa hio
1190gefremedan: & hwæðre æt nehstan in ða seolfan
1191tid heora deaðes to reowe geflugon, & swa of lichoman eodon.
1192þa hwæðre, forðon þe heo andetnesse & hreowe in þam
1193seolfan deaðe hæfdon, ealle in domes dæge to heofona
1194rice becumað; & monige eac swylce lifigendra manna bene
1195& gebeda & ælmesse & fæsten & ealra
1196swiðust mæssesong gefultumeð, þæt heo ær domes dæge
1197generede beoð.
1198& wite ðu þæt se legfamblawenda seað & se fula, þone ðu
1199gesawe, þæt wæs helle tintreges muð, in ðone
1200swa hwelc mon swa ænige siðe in befalleð, næfre he
1201þonan in ecnisse genered bið.
1202Sio blostmberende stow þonne, in ðære þu ðæt fægreste
1203weorud in giogoðhadnesse gesawe scinan & wynsumian,
1204þæt is seo stow, in ðære beoð onfangne
1205soðfæstra saula, ða þe on godum wiorcum of lichoman
1206gongað, & hwæðre ne beoð swa micelre fullfremednesse,
1207þæt hio sona sion to heofona rice gelædde.
1208Ealle ða hwæðre in domes dæge to Cristes gesihðe & to
1209gefean þæs heofonlican rices ingongað.
1210Forðon swa hwelc swa in eallum worde & wiorce & in geðohte
1211fullfremede beoð, sona ðæs ðe of lichoman
1212gongað, becumað to ðam heofonlican rice.
1213To ðæs rices nioweste belimpeð sio stow, þær ðu þone
1214sweg ðæs weðan songes mid ðy swicce þære swetnisse
1215geherdest, & þa beorhtnesse þæs miclan leohtes
1216gesawa.
1217Ac ðu þonne, forðon þu nu scealt eft to lichoman hweorfan
1218& eft betwih mannum lifgan, gif ðu ðine dæde
1219& þeawas & þin word in rihtnesse & in bilewitnisse
1220geornlice haldan wilt, þonne onfehstu æfter
1221deaðe þa wunenesse stowe betwih ða blissiendan weorud þara
1222eadigra gasta, ðe ðu nu nehst gesawe & sceawadest.
1223Ond eac wite ðu, þa ic sume tid fram ðe gewat, to ðon ic
1224ðæt dyde, þæt ic wolde geahsian & gewitan
1225hwæt be ðe beon scolde.
1226Mid ðy he ða to me cwæð, þæt ic eft to lichoman hweorfan
1227scolde, þa wæs ic ðæs swiðe wundrigende &
1228onscuniende & me lað wæs.
1229Forðon þe ic lustfullede þære stowe swetnesse & wlite,
1230ðe ic ðær geseah, & eac somod þara gemænan
1231& eadignesse brucan, ðe ic on ðære stowe sceawade.
1232& ic hwæðre minne lateow

page 434

1233ne dorste owiht biddan.
1234Ah nu betwihn ðas ðing, ne wat ic hwelcre ændebyrdnisse, ic
1235mec nu geseo betwih monnum lifigan.
1236ða ðing & eac oðero, ðe se Dryhtnes wer geseah, nales
1237eallum monnum æhwer suongrum & heora liifes
1238ungemendum sæcgan wolde; ah ðæm anum, ða ðe oðþe for
1239ege tinterigo afyrhte wæron, oðþe mid hyhte þara
1240ecra gefeana & eadignesse lustfulledon, þæm he wolde mid
1241arfæstnesse lufan ða þing cyðan & sæcgan.
1242Wæs sum munuc & mæssepreost in nehnesse his cetan
1243eardigende, þæs noma wæs Hamgels, & þone hæd mid
1244godum dædum efenlice heold; se eft in Ibernia þæm ealonde
1245þære ytmestan eldo his lifes in ancorsetle
1246mid medmicle hlafe & cealdan wætre awreðede.
1247þa gelomlice wæs inngongende to ðam ilcan were & þurh his
1248geornfulle frygenisse fram him geherde hwilice
1249ðing ðe he geseah ða he wæs lichoman ongerwed.
1250þurh þæs onwriginesse & gesegene eac swylce ða feoo ðe we
1251her writon to usse cyðþe becuoman.
1252Sægde he eac swylce his gesihðe Aldfriðe ðæm cyninge, se
1253wæs in halgum gebedum se gelæredesta; & he
1254swa lustlice & swa geornfullice wæs fram him gehered, þæt
1255he in ðæt gemyndgade mynster mid his bene
1256inngedon wæs & inn munuchade bescoren.
1257Ond þonne he se cynng in ða dælas ðæs londes becom, þæt
1258he gelomlice wæs to him gongende þæt he wolde
1259his word & his sægene geheran.
1260In ðæm mynstre wæs in ða tid æfestes lifes & gemetfæstes
1261liifes abbud & mæssepreost æðelwald haten,
1262se efter ðon eft ðæt biscopsetl efenwyrðum dædum his
1263hades ðære cirican æt Lindesfearona ea sæt & heold.
1264Onfæng he se Godes mon in ðæm ilcan mynstre dehle stowe
1265wunenesse, þæt he ðær meahte freolslice in
1266singalum gebedum his sceppende heran & ðeowigan.
1267Ond forðon seo seolfe stow on ofer ðæs streames wæs
1268geseted, wæs his gewuna for ðære miclan lufan his
1269lichoman clænsunge, þæt he gelomlice inn ðone stream
1270eode & ðær in sealmsonge & in gebedum stod
1271& fæste awunode hwilum oð

page 436

1272midden sidan, hwilum oð ðone
1273sweoran; & hiene in ðæm streame sæncte & defde,
1274swa longe swæ he gesegen wæs þæt he aræfnan meahte.
1275& þonne he ðonan gongende wæs to londe, næfre he ða his
1276wætan hræl & þa cealdan forlætan wolde, oðþæt
1277hio eft of his seolfes lichoman gewermedon & adrugedon.
1278Mid ðy þe in midwintres tide, ymb hiene flowendum þæm
1279sticcum halfbrocenra iisa, ða he seolfa oft
1280gebræc & gescende, þæt he stowe hæfde in ðæm streame to
1281standenne oðþe hiene to bisæncenne, cwædon
1282him men to, þa ðæt gesawon: Hwæt þæt is wundor, broðor
1283Dryhthelm wæs ðæt þæs weres nama þæt ðu swa
1284micle reðnesse celes ænge rehte aræfnan meaht:
1285ondswarode he bilwitlice, forðon þe he wæs bilwitre
1286gleawnisse & gemetfæstre gecynde mon, & cwæð: Caldran ic
1287geseah.
1288Ond mid ðy heo cwædon: þæt is wundor, þæt ðu swa ræðe
1289forhæfdnisse & swa hearde habban wilt: ondswarode
1290he him: Heardran & hræðþran ic geseah.
1291& he swa oð þone dæg his gecænenisse of middangearde mid
1292ungeswencedlice luste heofonlicra goda þone
1293ealdan lichoman his betwihn dæghwæmlice fæsteno swæncte
1294& temede; & he monegum mannum ge in wordum
1295ge on his lifes bisene on hælo wæs.