A Letter by the father of St. Alfred the Great

 

 

 

St. Alfred the Great, my Great Grandfather

This letter by St. Alfred's father, explains why things are the way they are, even though he his speaking of England.


"For nearly 350 years we and our fathers have dwelt in this most beautiful land, and never before has such a terror appeared in Britain, such as the one that we are suffering from this pagan nation.  Nor was it thought that a ship would attempt such a thing.  Behold the church of Saint Cuthbert, splattered with the blood of the priests of God, plundered of all its treasures, a place more venerable than anywhere in Britain is given over to pagan nations for pillaging. . . the heritage of the Lord has been given over to a people who are not his own.  And where the praise of the Lord once was, now is only the games of pagans.  The holy feast has been turned into a lament." King Aethelred, King of Northumbria to the Court of Charlemagne