I have been
reading the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle on and off for a bit, and I found this
benediction for one of the kings who passed away interesting, because of how it
speaks to some of the issues of our own day. We read,
“A.D.
959. This year died King Edwy, on the calends of October; and Edgar his brother
took to the government of the West-Saxons, Mercians, and Northumbrians. He was
then sixteen years old. It was in this year he sent after St. Dunstan, and gave
him the bishopric of Worcester; and afterwards the bishopric of London.
In
his days it prosper'd well;
and
God him gave,
that
he dwelt in peace
the
while that he lived.
Whate'er
he did,
whate'er
he plan'd,
he
earn'd his thrift.
He
also rear'd God's glory wide,
and
God's law lov'd,
with
peace to man,
above
the kings that went before
in
man's remembrance.
God
so him sped,
that
kings and earls
to
all his claims submissive bow'd;
and
to his will without a blow
he
wielded all as pleased himself.
Esteem'd
he was
both far and wide in distant lands;
because
he prized
the
name of God,
and
God's law traced,
God's
glory rear'd,
both
far and wide,
on
every side.
Wisely
he sought in council
oft
his people's good,
before
his God,
before
the world.
One
misdeed he did,
too
much however,
that
foreign tastes
he
loved too much;
and
heathen modes
into
this land he brought too fast;
outlandish
men hither enticed;
and
to this earth attracted
crowds
of vicious men.
But
God him grant,
that
his good deeds be
weightier
far than his misdeeds,
to
his soul's redemption
on
the judgment-day.[1]
Well, isn’t
that interesting?
Firstly,
observe how important honouring God was to the ancient English people. Many
Australians and Englishmen have forgotten how bound up in Christianity our
culture has been for well over a thousand years. They commend this king for
loving God, loving justice, and seeking to honour God’s ways in his kingdom.
Give us a king who would do this. Give us leaders who would do this.
But they have
a serious issue with one of his tendencies.
“One
misdeed he did,
too
much however,
that
foreign tastes
he
loved too much;
and
heathen modes
into
this land he brought too fast;…”
Now isn’t
this familiar?
This is like
so many of our leaders today in our nation. I have had this conversation with
many people, and I think a big part of our country's problem, and the problem
with our nation’s leadership, is that they scorn the Australian way, the
Australian lifestyle, and the Australian population. Many of our leaders wished
we were more like Europe, more like Asia, or more like America, just as long as
we were less like our heritage. It is like they are embarrassed to be
Australians.
They submit
our laws to foreign agreements. They submit our car standards to European
standards that have nothing to do with the Australian climate and needs. They in
every way, appear to favour the ways of foreign nations, foreign identities and
foreign ways of doing things.
I suspect
King Edwy did this to a much smaller degree than our modern leaders. But it is
interesting to see this problem brought up in the book about the heritage of
our kings and to see how ancient people’s chafed under this same sort of behaviour.
If only we had leaders who were proud to be Australian, and did not think that Australia needed to be changed beyond all recognition. After all, if we are such a terrible people, why do so many others want to live here?
List of References
[1] Anonymous.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (p. 41). Neeland Media LLC. Kindle Edition.
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