Stelle In diebus autem illis Ecfrithus rex...; (Vita Wilfridi (709 - 720), ch. 19 (p. 40-42)) [34]

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ID 34
Text Vita Wilfridi (709 - 720) Stephen of Ripon
Quotation In diebus autem illis Ecfrithus rex religiosus cum beatissima regina Aethildrythe, cuius corpus vivens ante impollutum post mortem incorruptum manens adhuc demonstrat, simul in unum Wilfritho episcopo in omnibus oboedientes facti, pax et gaudium in populis et anni frugiferi victoriaeque in hostes, Deo adiuvante, subsecutae sunt. (...) Nam in primis annis eius tenero adhuc regno populi bestiales Pictorum feroci animo subiectionem Saxonum despiciebant et iugum servitutis proicere a se minabant; congregantes undique de utribus et folliculis aquilonis innumeras gentes, quasi formicarum greges in aestate de tumulis verrentes aggerem contra domum cadentem minuebant. Nam, quo audito, rex Ecgfrithus, humilis in populis suis, magnanimus in hostes, statim equitatui exercito praeparato, tarda molimina nesciens, sicut Iudas Machabeus in Deum confidens, parva manu populi Dei contra inormem et supra invisibilem hostem cum Beornheth audaci subregulo invasit stragemque immensam populi subruit, duo flumina cadaveribus mortuorum replentes, ita, quod mirum dictu est, ut, supra siccis pedibus ambulantes, fugientium turbam occidentes persequebantur: et in servitutem redacti, populi usque ad diem occisionis regis captivitatis iugo subiecti iacebant.
Translation Now in those days, the pious King Ecgfrith, and his most blessed Queen Aethilthryth (whose body, still remaining uncorrupted after death, shows that it was unstained before, while alive) were both obedient to Bishop Wilfrid in all things, and there ensued, by the aid of God, peace and joy among the people, fruitful years and victory over their foes. (...) For in his early years, while the kingdom was still weak, the bestial tribes of the Picts had a fierce contempt for subjection to the Saxon and threatened to throw off from themselves the yoke of slavery; they gathered together innumerable tribes from every nook and corner in the north, and as a swarm of ants in the summer sweeping from their hills heap up a mound to protect their tottering house. When King Ecgfrith heard this, lowly as he was among his own people and magnanimous towards his enemies, he forthwith got together a troop of horsemen, for he was no lover of belated operations; and trusting in God like Judas Maccabaeus and assisted by the brave sub-king, Beornhaeth, he attacked with his little band of God's people an enemy host which was vast and moreover concealed. He slew an enormous number of the people, filling two rivers with corpses, so that, marvellous to relate, the slayers, passing over the rivers dry foot, pursued and slew the crowd of fugitives; the tribes were reduced to slavery and remained subject under the yoke of captivity until the time when the king was slain. (Trans. Colgrave, pp. 41-3)
Quotation source ch. 19 (p. 40-42)
Temporal Coverage 671 - 673
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Spatial Coverage Objects
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