In the year 871 the crown of England rested upon a young prince of twenty-three, the youngest of four brothers, but one whose wisdom and valor fitted him to be the defender of his country. This prince was Alfred, most justly surnamed the Great. From early childhood he had given promise of future greatness. When only eight years old he went with his father, King Ethelwulf, on a pilgrimage to Rome.

Rome, the queen city of the World, had lost much of her. ancient splendor. The barbarian had paced her streets and despoiled her glory. Yet in Alfred's time, her beautiful Coliseum, her noble Capitol, her Amphitheatre, her palaces and columns and gateways, were far more perfect than they are at the present day. Child though he was, the splendor of the papal court and of the imperial city made a deep impression on his mind, as he contrasted it with the almost barbarous rudeness of his own land.

857.

oil

In those days the Bishop of Rome had taken the title of Pope [Papa], and claimed to be the head of the Christian world. With his own hand he poured the sacred upon the head of the child Alfred, thus anointing him the future king of England. The pope performed this ceremony in imitation of the ancient custom of the Jewish law. And surely since the days when the High Priest Samuel anointed the young David king over Israel, never was there a better prince set apart by the anointing oil than Alfred of England.

One day, after his return to his own country, his mother, Osburgha, was reading to her children a Saxon poem, from one of the illuminated or richly painted books of that day. The boys admired the book. "I will give it," said the mother, "to him among you who shall first learn to read it." The elder brothers gave up the prize which was to be won at such a cost, but Alfred sought a teacher, learned to read AngloSaxon, and was rewarded with the book.

Years had passed by since the anointing oil had been poured by the pope upon Alfred's head. He had seen his three brothers in quick succession mount the throne, and now they were all dead, and the kingdom had faller

to him. The Danes had made it a legacy little to be coveted, for, with the exception of the kingdom of Wessex, they were the real masters of England.

One of Alfred's first acts was to build a few vessels. With these, the daring pirates were met on the sea, and in two naval battles the English triumphed. The Danes, however, were not disheartened: they came in still greater numbers, and after many battles, King Alfred was obliged to flee.

878.

He sought refuge in a lonely spot in Somersetshire, known still as Athelney, or Prince's Island. One day, whilst lodging in the cottage of a peasant, he was told to watch some oaten bread which the wife of the peasant was baking on the hearth. The king, whose sad heart was dwelling on the troubles of his realm, forgot his trust. When the woman came in, and found her loaves burning, she scolded well the negligent stranger, exclaiming, "You man! you will not turn the bread you see burning, but you will be glad enough to eat it." Little thought the good woman that she was scolding her king.

Alfred remained but a few months in his retreat at Athelney. Disguising himself as a minstrel or gleeman, in that ever-welcome character he entered the Danish camp. Whilst amusing the chiefs with song and story, he observed their numbers and noted their idle security.

He then returned to his followers, and gathering around him at his trysting-place in Selwood Forest a band of truehearted men, he met the Danes at Ethandune, on the banks of the river Avon, and gained a complete victory.

The Danes asked for peace. Alfred was as wise as he was brave. He knew that though he should fight battle after battle with these heathen Danes, yet they would come again in greater numbers, and make England a continual battle-field. If, on the other hand, he could induce them to become Christians, and to settle peaceably in the country (for there was land enough and to spare, for both Dane and Saxon), then they might not only become good subjects, but help to drive away other tribes of their fierce countrymen.

These terms Alfred proposed to the Danish king, Guthrum, after the battle of Ethandune. They were accepted. Guthrum received Christian baptism, King Alfred answering for him at the font. To the Danes was granted that large portion of eastern England which they had overrun. It was then called Danelagh, or the country under the law of the Dane.

For a time the land had rest. The king gathered around him learned men, and began those improvements which, more than his battles, have gained him the title of Great. But not yet was he to lay aside the warrior. At the end of twelve years Guthrum had died. Some of his Danes had broken their promises of peace, and welcomed to England new hosts of their plundering countrymen. Then came the famous seaking, Hastings, with a fleet of two hundred and fifty vessels, and for three years the Raven of Denmark, borne on the standard of this bold chief, was the terror of every province of England At length, however, English valor prevailed, and the defeated and dispirited Hastings sailed away to other lands.

893

Only four years remained to the life of Alfred, but they were glorious years for England. He divided the kingdom into counties. He established justice and order in the land, and made the laws so respected, that it is said bracelets and jewels might be hung up on the highway, and no man would dare to touch them. He taught his people to build better houses, and better churches. To his court he invited learned and good men from all countries.

He entertained geographers and navigators, and gained a knowledge of other lands. Hearing of a Christian colony on the coast of Hindoostan, he sent thither an English bishop to visit them. This long and perilous overland journey was accomplished, and India first heard of that distant isle, which, ere a thousand years had gone by, was to become her ruler. The worthy bishop brought home rich treasures of spices and gems, and thereby India's products first became known to the Anglo-Saxon.

King Alfred established schools, and provided for the

instruction of his people. The world-renowned University of Oxford looks back with gratitude to this good king as its liberal benefactor, if not its founder. He did much to improve the language of his subjects. Hitherto nearly all the books had been written in Latin, which few of the people could read. Alfred ordered "all good and useful books" to be translated into English. He was himself a scholar, and translated the Book of Psalms, and other portions of God's word. A more precious legacy could hardly have been left by a ruler to his subjects.

Alfred divided his time into three portions. Eight hours were given to the affairs of the state, eight to study and devotion, and eight to sleep, exercise, and refreshment. Clocks and watches were unknown, and to supply their place, Alfred invented time-candles. These were made of wax, notched at regular intervals, and indicated by their burning the flight of the hours. The wind coming in through the doors and windows, "and the numerous chinks in the walls of the palace," caused his candles to flare, whereupon Alfred provided for their protection a lantern of transparent horn.

It is pleasant to dwell upon the graces and virtues of England's noblest monarch. When we remember that, amid all the cares of government, and labors of study, he was suffering from a painful disease, which his physicians could neither understand nor cure, still more wonderful will appear the brightness of his character. Nor shall we deem it strange, that through a thousand years his name has lived in the memories and affections of men, as Alfred the Great. In the year 901, at the age of fifty-three, this good man and great sovereign was laid in his tomb in the monastery of Winchester, leaving behind him a name which shall be had in "everlasting remembrance."

901.

QUESTIONS.-Who ascended the English throne in 871?-When had he visited Rome?--What objects there had attracted his admiration? What ceremony was performed by the pope ?-Relate the anecdote of Alfred's learning to read.

What was the condition of England when Alfred ascended the throne?-State the result of his first encounters with the Danes.Relate the story of the king and the oaten bread.-What encouraged him to try another encounter with the Danes ?-Where did this encounter take place?-What was the result of it ?—On what terms did Alfred offer peace to the Danes ?-How were they received by Guthrum?-What was the result?-Give an account of a Danish invasion later in this reign.

State some of the benefits bestowed by Alfred upon his people.— How was a knowledge of India obtained during Alfred's reign?— What was done by Alfred for the promotion of education ?—What book did he translate?-How did he divide and regulate his time?— What circumstance greatly enhances the merit of his labors?—When did he die ?-Where was he buried?

CHAPTER V.

ENGLAND UNDER THE DANES.

THE SUCCESSORS OF ALFRED-ETHELRED THE UNREADY-THE DANE KINGS -EDWARD THE CONFESSOR.

EDWARD, the son, and Athelstane, Edmund, and Edred, the grandsons of Alfred, proved themselves worthy successors of such a sovereign. They put down insurrections in the Danelagh, taking many towns from those restless Danes, and obliging them to dwell quietly in their own border. Athelstane fought with the Welsh, and made them pay tribute of gold and silver, of hawks and hounds. He was the first Saxon sovereign who took the title of King of England. Even the great Alfred had only styled himself "King of the WestSaxons."

950.

At the end of fifty years the Danes of the Danelagh had no more their own royal ruler. Their country was no longer one great kingdom of Northumbria, but was divided into the provinces which still bear the names of Yorkshire,