Introduction
King Edgar (r. 959-975) was crowned at Bath in 973 after a frustrating delay while St Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, satisfied himself that Edgar, a tearaway in his youth, had acquired sufficient maturity. That Edgar had now grown to be a king of great power and glory would have been acknowledged even by Kenneth II, King of Scots — through gritted teeth.
SHORTLY afterwards, he sailed round the north coast of Britain with a large fleet and landed at Chester. He was met, as he had given orders, by eight tributary kings,* - namely, Kenneth, king of the Scots, Malcolm, king of the Cumbrians, Maccus, king of several isles, and five others, named Dufnal, Siferth, Huwal, Jacob, and Juchil, who swore fealty and bound themselves to military service by land and sea. Attended by them, king Edgar one day went on board a boat, and while they plied the oars, he took the helm, and steered skilfully down the course of the river Dee, and followed by his whole retinue of earls and nobles pursued the voyage from the palace to the monastery of St John the Baptist. Having paid his devotions there, he returned to the palace with the same pomp. He is reported to have said to his nobles as he entered the gates, that any successor of his might truly boast of being king of England when he should receive such honours, with so many kings doing him homage.
* Earlier authorities, such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, give the number as six and do not name them. The names are, however, historically plausible.
* In more modern terms, the eight princes were: Kenneth II, King of Scots; Malcolm, King of Strathclyde; Maccus mac Arailt, King of the Isles; Malcolm’s father, Dyfnwal; Siferth or Giferth, possibly Maccus’s brother Gofraid; Howel and Jacob (Iago), whom Edgar had compelled to share the government of Gwynedd; and Juchil (Jekyll), whom Roger of Wendover (?-1236) gives as a ruler of Westmorland.
Précis
Following his coronation in 973, King Edgar of England went to Chester to hold council with the princes subject to him. He prevailing on them to row him from his palace up the Dee to the monastery of St John the Baptist, and on his return remarked that future Kings of England would be proud to be shown such honour. (60 / 60 words)
Following his coronation in 973, King Edgar of England went to Chester to hold council with the princes subject to him. He prevailing on them to row him from his palace up the Dee to the monastery of St John the Baptist, and on his return remarked that future Kings of England would be proud to be shown such honour.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, besides, despite, if, may, ought, whether, who.
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Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Helm. Isle. Noble.
2 Fealty. Round. Such.
3 Afterward. Any. Might.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Fleet. 2. Order. 3. Board. 4. Coast. 5. Down.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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