And as the members feel a concern for each other, and when even one rejoices they rejoice with it, or if even one suffer all the other members sympathize with it, we again earnestly and specially commend him to your Royal Highness and to your most provident goodness, that he may be always permitted, with unfettered authority, without any gainsaying, to teach and to carry into effect whatever he may discover to be fit and useful for the honor of the Church and the instruction of your people, according to the authority of the canons and the custom of our Church, lest, haply--which God forbid!--any one, under the instigation of the devil, being moved by the impulse of spite and malevolence, should excite controversy or raise sedition against him. But should this happen, it will be your duty then to make special provision against this, and by all means to discourage by your royal censure all such persons, if they should chance to show themselves, and check barbaric rudeness by the curb of your authority; and it will be his duty always to consult for the salvation of the people committed to his pastoral skill, and rather to draw all men after him by love than to drive them by fear. May you, most illustrious, most religious, and most invincible king, ever rejoice and flourish in Christ the Lord of lords. FOOTNOTES [1] Based on the _Chronicle_ under 855. [2] MS. _Cudam_. So always, but see the _Chronicle_. [3] Bede, _Eccl. Hist._ 3. 7: ‘The West Saxons, formerly called Gewissae.’ Plummer comments in his edition, 2. 89: ‘It is probably connected with the “visi” of “Visigoths,” meaning “west,” and hence would indicate the western confederation of Saxon tribes; ... “Gewis” is probably an eponymous hero manufactured out of the tribe-name.’ The _gw_ of _Gegwis_ is a Welsh peculiarity (Stevenson). [4] MS., Stev. _Seth_ (but Stevenson suggests _Sceaf_ in his variants, referring to the _Chronicle_ under 855). [5] MS. _Cainan_, but see Gen. 5. 12 in R. V. [6] Partly from the _Chronicle_, but the whole account of Alfred’s father and mother is original. [7] From the _Chronicle_ under 530 and 534. [8] Unidentified. [9] From the _Chronicle_. [10] Possibly Wigborough, in the parish of South Petherton in Somersetshire (Stevenson). [11] Minster in Sheppey, founded by St. Sexburh in the seventh century; it disappeared during the Danish ravages (Stevenson). [12] From the _Chronicle_. [13] MS. _Cantwariorum civitatem_; Chron. _Cantwaraburg_. [14] Based upon the _Chronicle_. [15] Stevenson is inclined to reject this customary identification with Oakley, in Surrey. [16] The source--the _Chronicle_--says: ‘And there made the greatest slaughter among the heathen army that we have heard reported to the present day.’ [17] From the _Chronicle_. [18] Mainly from the _Chronicle_. [19] The ‘North Welsh’ of the _Chronicle_. [20] Based upon the _Chronicle_. [21] MS. _in regem_. [22] MS. _infantem_.