Alfred was intent on improving the quality of learning in Wessex by recruiting learned priests and monks. These scholars came from Mercia, as well as Grimbald a monk from St Bertin’s in Flanders and John who may have come from Germany.
Alfred started to translate works from Latin, in his
preface to his translation of Gregory’s Pastoral Care addressed to all of his
bishops Alfred writes how at this time of peace that free-born young men should
learn ‘English writings properly’ and those that wanted to learn further and
advance in the clergy should learn Latin.
A number of books were translated of
which Alfred is believed to be primarily responsible for, including the
first fifty Psalms. The king wished a number of books to be available to revival
of learning these were a rather eclectic mix which may have been as a result of
the King’s personal taste include amongst Augustine’s Soliloquies of which a
passage was deliberately altered and the Leechbook of Bald which was a
collection of 88 medical recipes and
cures for a range of ailments. The translation and distribution of these texts
in a period of ten years is substantial cultural achievement of Alfred’s reign.
The establishment of a school to improve the learning and
in particular literacy of not just his own children but also sons of important
men and children from poorer backgrounds was an key element of Alfred’s
revival of learning. This was perhaps as Alfred believed literate royal
officials might lead to improved organisation and administration, something that
was lacking when he succeeded to the throne. Despite continuing to rely on oral
communication over time there was a rise in written documents for administration
purposes. It could be argued that Alfred’s policy led to wider acknowledgement
for the importance of literacy.
The commissioning of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle by Alfred
recording the West Saxon monarchy and biography of his life by Asser (Life of
King Alfred), which was destroyed by fire in 1731 (luckily there were
transcripts made of it), gives an insight into the reign of this influential king.
A copy of Alfred's translation of Pope Gregory I's
'Pastoral Care', a book on the role of the clergy
Public domain
