The Archbishop was a man of undoubted ability, but his learning has been overshadowed by his namesake Elfric the Grammarian, whose works in the Anglo-Saxon language are prodigious. He also had been a monk at Abingdon, and later was "monk and mass-priest at Cerne," and later Abbot of Eynsham. He taught that particular theology and doctrine to the Anglo-Saxons hat five hundred years afterwards was stated by the Reformers to be the Theology and Doctrine of the Church of England, and it certainly was accepted as such in his own day. This man appears to have the better claim to the title of "Saint" than the Archbishop, but contemporary writers do certainly also speak of the Archbishop's ability as being remarkable. He died in November, 1005, and was buried first at Abingdon, but during the reign of Canute his body was translated to Canterbury.
His will, in Anglo-Saxon and Latin, is given at length by Thorpe in his Diplomatarium Anglicum Aevi Saxonici, p. 549; it is from the Cotton MS. Claud, B. vi. fol. 103, and Claud, C. ix. fol. 125 verso.
"✠ Here is made known how Archbishop Aelfric has ordered his testament. That is, first; for his soul-shot, he has bequeathed to Christ Church the land at Wells, and at Bourn and at Risborough. And he has bequeathed to his Lord his best ship and the sailing gear thereto, and 60 helms and 60 coats of mail. And he has desired, if it were his Lord's will to confirm to St. Alban's the land at Kingbury, and himself to take again that at Eadilfington. And he has bequeathed the land at Dumbleton to Abingdon; and to Aelfnoth III hides thereof, for his day, and afterwards with the other, to Abingdon; and x oxen and ii men he has bequeathed to him; and let them follow the lordship to which the land belongs. And he has bequeathed the land at Wallingford, which he bought to Celeweard, and after his day to Cholsey. And he has bequeathed to St. Alban's the land at Tewin, and let stand the agreements between the Abbot and Ceolric, which were before agreed on with the Archbishop; that is that Ceolric have the part of the land which he has for his day, and also the part which the Archbishop let him have for his money, that was seven and a half hides, for V pounds and L manucuses of gold; and after his day, let it go altogether to St. Alban's. And their agreements were, that Oseney, after Ceolric's day, should also go thither. And the land in London which he bought with his money, he has bequeathed to St. Alban's; and all his books he has also bequeathed thither; and his tent. And he has bequeathed that the money held by anyone be received and first every loan be paid, and afterwards there be found for his heriot what should be necessary. And one ship he has given to the
