There were many others of high rank in the west to the right and left of these again at the long tables.
Indeed, there was but one whom I missed in all the gathering.

My old friend Aldhelm was gone.

He died in the last year, after having been Bishop of Sherborne for a little while.

I missed him sorely, as did every man who knew him.
I do not think that if one searched all England through there could have been found a more noble looking group than that at Ina's high table.

It is well known that our king and queen were beyond all others for royalty of look and ways, and I will venture to say that neither of the ealdormen had their equals, save in Nunna, anywhere.
But it is not my word only, for it was a common saying, that Owen seemed most royal next to the king himself.