that we can presume as to its real date is that it probably
refers to the state of peace subsequent to the treaty of
Wedmore in 878. Afterwards, under the date of 886,
occurs the famous passage describing the quarrel that arose
at Oxford between Grimbald and his companions who had
come there with him, and the old scholastics of the town.
It was natural to suppose that these companions included
that John already mentioned ; and such is the inference
drawn in the Hyde annals, a. 886, according to which,
Lib. monast. anno secundo adventus sancti Grimbaldi in Angliam,
el E V Edtvards, iucepfa est universitas Oxoniae, . . . legentibus . . . Grim-
baldo and others, the list ending with in geometria et astro-
nomia docente loanne monacho et collega sancti Grimbaldi.
Since, however, the passage in Asser relating to Oxford is
known to be a modern interpolation, and since the Book of
Hyde is a production not earlier than Edward the Third s
reign, the evidence on this head may be wisely ignored.
It is only necessary to add that one certain witness to the
connexion shown by the passage first quoted from Asser,
remains in king Alfred s preface to his translation of saint
Gregory s Pastoral Care, which he says he learned P of
Plegmund my archbishop, and of Asser my bishop, and of
Grimfold my mass-priest, and of John my mass-priest.
2. At a long interval from the mention of the arrival of the two scholars, and in what is <i regarded as a quite dis- timct section of his book, Asser relates, a. 887, Alfred s foundation of the monastery of Athelney, and r describes its first abbat :
Primitus lohannem presbyterum monachum, scilicet Eald- saxonem genere, abbatem constituit; dcinde ultramarines presbyteros quosdam et diaconos ; ex quibus, cum nee adhuc tantum numerum quantum vellet haberet, comparavit etiam quamplurimos eiusdem gentis Gallicae, ex quibus quosdam infantes in eodem monasterio edoceri imperavit et subsequent! tempore ad monachicum habitum sublevari.
Asser proceeds to relate the attempted murder of abbat John by the servants of two Gaulish monks in the house.
