 Its importance is not limited to the historical information it provides , however . It is just as important a source for the early development of English . The Peterborough Chronicle changes from the standard Old English literary language to early Middle English after 1131 , providing some of the earliest Middle English text known . Howe notes , in " Rome : Capitol of Anglo @-@ Saxon England " , that many of the entries indicate that Rome was considered a spiritual home for the Anglo @-@ Saxons , Rome and Roman history being of paramount importance in many of the entries ; he cites the one for AD 1 , for instance , which lists the reign of Octavian Augustus before it mentions the birth of Christ . 
