[106] Prov. xviii. 19. The Vulgate and the Septuagint versions give the force of the passage in Alcuin’s sense. The Authorised Version gives, “A brother offended _is harder to be won_ than a strong city.” The Revised Version agrees exactly with the A.V. [107] Gildus, in Alcuin. [108] It may be supposed that Offa was engaged in building an abbey church at St. Albans. William of Malmesbury says of the church built by Offa in honour of St Alban (_Gesta Regum_, i. 4): “The relics of St. Alban, at that time buried in obscurity, he had reverently taken up and placed in a shrine decorated to the fullest extent of royal munificence with gold and jewels; a church of most beautiful workmanship was there erected, and a society of monks assembled.” The black stones may have been wanted for pavements. [109] Pope Hadrian I. He died December 27, 795, having held the Papacy for twenty-three years, with great distinction, at a most important time in its history. [110] Simeon of Durham, under the year 795. [111] This would naturally mean Ireland at that time, but it is far from clear that Ireland is meant. [112] Isa. i. 4. [113] Offa died July 26, 796, and Ecgfrith died in the middle of December in the same year, after a reign of 141 days. [114] In each of these two cases the new king was, in this year 796, most unexpectedly raised to the throne from a comparatively poor position, in which he had married a wife of his own position. Alcuin fears that they will be tempted to cast off the early wife and take some lady more fitted for a throne. [115] This prophecy was not fulfilled. It was not till nine years after the date of this letter that Eardwulf was expelled from the kingdom. [116] Prov. xx. 28. [117] Ps. xxiv. 10, Vulgate; xxv. 10, A. V.; xxv. 10, Psalter. [118] Haddan and Stubbs, iii. 521, from _William of Malmesbury_, G. R. i. 4. [119] A mancus was more than one-third of a pound, but that conveys no real idea to the modern mind of its actual value. [120] _Gesta Regum_, i. 4. [121] Haddan and Stubbs, _Councils_, iii. 483. The names stand as follows: “+ Ego Offa Rex Dei dono propriam donationis libertatem signo sanctæ crucis confirmo. + Ego Ecgferth, filius Regis, consensi. + Signum Hygeberhti Archiepiscopi. + Signum Ceolulfi Episcopi. + Signum Æthelheardi Archiepiscopi.” Followed by eight bishops and three abbats. [122] It has already been noted that Alcuin found it very difficult to shed tears. [123] “Ceolmund the duke,” “Ceolmund the minister,” often appears in the Mercian documents of the time. [124] Simeon of Durham, under the year 779, has the entry, Duke Aldred, the slayer of King Ethelred, was slain by Duke Thorhtmund in revenge for his lord. [125] This amounts to an official representation of the three great powers, the West Saxons, the Mercians, and the Northumbrians. [126] Haddan and Stubbs, iii. 486. [127] An Irishman. [128] From 784 to 819. [129] Haddan and Stubbs, iii. 487. [130] We know nothing certain of this person.