(41) So I understand the word. Gibson, from Wheloc, says--"in aetatis vigore;" a fact contradicted by the statement of almost every historian. Names of places seldom occur in old MSS. with capital initials. (42) i.e. the feast of the Holy Innocents; a festival of great antiquity. (43) i.e. the secular clergy, who observed no rule; opposed to the regulars, or monks. (44) This poetical effusion on the coronation, or rather consecration, of King Edgar, as well as the following on his death, appears to be imitated in Latin verse by Ethelwerd at the end of his curious chronicle. This seems at least to prove that they were both written very near the time, as also the eulogy on his reign, inserted 959. (45) The following passage from Cotton Tiberius B iv., relating to the accession of Edward the Martyr, should be added here-- In his days, On account of his youth, The opponents of God Broke through God's laws; Alfhere alderman, And others many; And marr'd monastic rules; Minsters they razed, And monks drove away, And put God's laws to flight-- Laws that King Edgar Commanded the holy Saint Ethelwold bishop Firmly to settle-- Widows they stript Oft and at random. Many breaches of right And many bad laws Have arisen since; And after-times Prove only worse. Then too was Oslac The mighty earl Hunted from England's shores. (46) Florence of Worcester mentions three synods this year; Kyrtlinege, Calne, and Ambresbyrig. (47) Vid. "Hist. Eliens." ii. 6. He was a great benefactor to the church of Ely. (48) This was probably the veteran historian of that name, who was killed in the severe encounter with the Danes at Alton (Aethelingadene) in the year 1001. (49) i.e. at Canterbury. He was chosen or nominated before, by King Ethelred and his council, at Amesbury: vid. an. 994. This notice of his consecration, which is confirmed by Florence of Worcester, is now first admitted into the text on the authority of three MSS. (50) Not the present district so-called, but all that north of the Sea of Severn, as opposed to West-Wales, another name for Cornwall. (51) See a more full and circumstantial account of these events, with some variation of names, in Florence of Worcester. (52) The successor of Elfeah, or Alphege, in the see of Winchester, on the translation of the latter to the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury. (53) This passage, though very important, is rather confused, from the Variations in the MSS.; so that it is difficult to ascertain the exact proportion of ships and armour which each person was to furnish. "Vid. Flor." an. 1008.