Chapter III, Extracts from the Writings of King Alfred Summary and Analysis

In 893, Asser informs the reader that the Bishop Werferth of Worcester translated Pope Gregory's Dialogues into English for King Alfred. The surviving translation of the Dialogues into Old English does not have his name on it, but is probably his. The Dialogues are one of the first works that Alfred had translated. Werforth's work would eventually be distributed to church centers in the kingdom. Alfred wrote a prose introduction. In the preface, Alfred claims that God told him to have heavenly works recorded and translated in order to give him spiritual consolation during earthly tribulations.

Alfred translated works for himself as well, the first of which was Pope Gregory's Pastoral Care. It probably dates to 890. The work focuses on the spiritual and intellectual traits that...