Ælfric’s Life Of St.Edmund

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Ælfric’s life of St.Edmund

126 Some very learnt monk came from the south over the sea from Saint Benedict’s
in the days of the king Æthelredand taught the archbishop
Dunstan three years before he died, and the monk was called Abbo.
Then they came into conversation until Dunstan explained about Saint Edmund,
130 just as Edmund’sswordbearer explained it to King Æthelstan, when
Dunstan was a young man and the swordbearer was old. Then
the monk composed all the narrative in one book and afterwards, when
the book came to uswithin few years, we translated it into
English, just as it remains hereafter. Then the monk Abbo
135 returned home within two years to his monastery and became immediately
abbot in the same place.Edmund the blessed, king of East Anglia, was wise, honourable
and always honoured the almighty God with noble habits.
He was humble and virtuous and thus remained resolute
140 that hewouldn’t turn to shameful sins, nor did he turn away from his good practices, however he was always mindful to his true doctrine,
“Are you set to be a leader? Don’t lift up yourself but be among people as ifyou were one of them.”
145 He was generous to the beggar and widows just as a father and always guided his
people with benevolence to the righteousness and he punished the cruel
and livedblessedly in true faith.

Then it happened at last that the Danish people went with
their Viking fleet ravaging and striking far and wide throughout the land just as their custom is. On that ship werethe first leaders Hinwar
150 and Hubba, guided by the devil and landed in Northumbria
with spears and destroyed the land and slain the people.
Then Hinwar returned to the East with ships andHubba remained behind
in Northumbria, conquering with cruelty.
Hinwar came rowing to East Anglia, in the year in which
155 the prince Ælfred was twenty one years old, who later became West...