Source Problems in English History
the same year, Charles the younger succeeded to
the sovereignty of all the western parts of Gaul,
extending as far as the Tyrrhenian Sea, and, if I
may say so, to all the dominions of his great grand-
5father, except the province of Amorica. His father
was Louis, brother of the middle Charles, whose
daughter Ethelwulf, king of the Angles, had mar-
ried. And these two were sons of Louis, and he
was the son of Charlemagne, and he was the son of
10Pepin. In the same year the blessed Pope Marinus departed, who gave liberty to the school of the Angles which now exists at Rome by the foresight of King Alfred, and he sent as a present a part of the thrice-blessed cross of Christ, in whom the salva-
15tion of the world shines forth. In the course of the same year, the aforesaid pestilential horde broke their agreement, and assailed King Alfred with their weapons. Then, after a year, they sought the lower parts of Gaul, and settled themselves permanently
20near the river Seine for the winter. Meanwhile the city of London was fortified by King Alfred — a man whom the cruelty of civil discord could never sub- due by either ingenuity or assault; all men hailed him as their deliverer, especially the Saxons, with
25the exception, however, of the barbarians, and those who were then held as captives under their power. Also, after his armament there was strengthened, Ethered was appointed leader by the aforesaid king
as the guardian of the citadel.
30
