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ALFRED THE GREAT

THOMAS HUGHES

Ri char d Cl ay and Sons, Li mi t ed,

l ondon and bungav.

Par t I . pr i nt ed Oct ober , 1869. Par t I I . pr i nt ed November , 1865. Par t I I I . pr i nt ed

December , 1S69. Vol ume j nade np f r om Par t s, 1869 t o \ Zyi . Fi r st r epr i nt ed as a

Vol ume 1871. Repr i nt ed \ ?, Ti , 1874, 1877, 1881, 1S87, 1891, i 8g8, i gor

CONTENTS.

PAGE

PREFACE '

CHAPTER I .

OF KI NGS AND KI NGSHI P 7

CHAPTER I I .

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO ' 5

CHAPTER I I I .

CHI LDHOOD 32

CHAPTER I V.

CNI HTHOOD 44

CHAPTER V.

THE DANE 5^

CHAPTER VI .

THE FI RST WAVE 68

CHAPTER VI I .

ALFRED ON THE THRONE ^C

b

i v CONTENTS.

Page 2 of 174

CHAPTER VI I I .

pa( ; b

THE SECOND WAVE 9I

CHAPTER I X.

ATHELNEY l OO

CHAPTER X.

ETHANDUNE 1 14

CHAPTER XI .

RETROSPECT , . . . . I 27

CHAPTER XI I .

THE ki ng' s BOARD OF WORKS 1 36

CHAPTER XI I I .

THE ki ng' s WAR OFFI CE AND ADMI RALTY I 47

CHAPTER XI V.

THE ki ng' s l aws 159

CHAPTER XV.

THE ki ng' s j ust i ce 173

CHAPTER XVI .

THE ki ng' s EXCHEQUER 189

CHAPTER XVI I .

THE ki ng' s CHURCH 2OO

CHAPTER XVI I I .

THE ki ng' s FRI RNDS 112

CONTENTS. V

CHAPTER XI X.

PAGE

THE ki ng' s nei ghbour s 228

CHAPTER XX.

THE ki ng' s f oe 24O

CHAPTER XXI .

t he t hi r d wave 250

CHAPTER XXI I .

t he ki ng' s home . 267

Page 3 of 174

CHAPTER XXI I I .

THE KI NG AS AUTHOR 278

CHAPTER XXI V.

THE ki ng' s deat h AND WI LL 3OI

CHAPTER XXV.

THE ki ng' s successor s 3' '

CHAPTER XXVI .

THE END OF THE WHOLE MATTER. . . . . . . ^^ \ ^

LI ST OF I LLUSTRATI ONS.

J- AGB

MAP OF ENGLAND ABOUT A. D. l OOO AND AT THE PRESENT

TI ME f r ont i spi ece

KI NG ALFRED AT THE BATTLE OF ASHDOWN . . . t o f ace 76

SEDULOUSLY BENT ON ACQUI RI NG LEARNI NG I 77

PREFACE.

The ear l y ages of our count r y' s hi st or y have been

st udi ed, and wr i t t en and r e- wr i t t en, wi t h a car e and

abi Ht y whi ch have l ef t not hi ng t o desi r e. Ever y

sour ce f r om whi ch l i ght coul d be dr awn has been

expl or ed by emi nent schol ar s, and pr obabl y al l t he

f act s whi ch wi l l ever be known have been now ascer -

t ai ned. Kembl e, Pal gr ave, and Thor pe have been

succeeded by Pear son and Fr eeman, whose gr eat

abi l i t y and i ndust r y ever y st udent of t hose t i mes,

however humbl e, must be abl e t o r ecogni se, and t o

whom t he pr esent wr i t er i s anxi ous t o expr ess hi s

deep obl i gat i ons. Thanks t o t hei r l abour s, whoever

t akes f or hi s subj ect any por t i on of our ear l y nat i onal

hi st or y wi l l f i nd hi s t ask one of compar at i ve ease.

And of al l t hat ear l y hi st or y t he l i f e and t i mes of

Al f r ed ar e, beyond al l quest i on, t he most absor bi ng

i n i nt er est . The st or y has been wr i t t en many t i mes,

f r om di f f er ent poi nt s of vi ew, by nat i ves and f or ei gner s;

f r om Si r John Spel man, t he f i r st edi t i on of whose Li f e

of Al f r ed was publ i shed i n 1709, t o Dr . Paul i , whose

s. u VI I I . B

2 PREFACE.

most admi r abl e and exhaust i ve wor k i s not yet ei ght een

year s ol d. That book was wr i t t en " by a Ger man f or

Ger mans, " as we l ear n f r om t he pr ef ace. I t s pl an,

Dr . Paul i t el l s us, was concei ved at Oxf or d, i n Novem-

ber 1 848, " at a t i me when Ger man hear t s t r embl ed,

as t hey had sel dom done bef or e, f or t he pr eser vat i on

of t hei r Fat her l and, and especi al l y f or t he cont i nuance

of t hose st at es whi ch wer e dest i ned by Heaven f or

Page 4 of 174

t he pr ot ect i on and suppor t of Ger many. "

Happi l y no Ger man need now t r embl e f or t he

pr eser vat i on of hi s Fat her l and, but t he pr obl ems whi ch

1848 st ar t ed st i l l awai t an answer . The r evol ut i onar y

spur whi ch was t hen gi ven t o t he i nt el l ect ual and

pol i t i cal act i vi t y of Chr i st endom has as yet done l i t t l e

beyond doomi ng cer t ai n condi t i ons of pol i t i cal and

soci al l i f e, and awakeni ng a ver } ^ genui ne and wi de-

spr ead l ongi ng f or some bet t er and hi gher l i f e f or

nat i ons t han has ever yet been r eal i zed.

The pol i t i cal ear t hquake of 1848, t hen, l ed Dr .

Paul i t o t ake so deep an i nt er est i n t he st r uggl es and

l i f e- wor k of Ki ng Al f r ed, t hat he coul d not r est unt i l

he had pl aced a pi ct ur e of t hem bef or e hi s Ger man

f el l ow- count r ymen, f or t hei r st udy, war ni ng, and en-

cour agement . The Ger man st udent f el t t hat some-

how t hi s st or y woul d pr ove of val ue t o t hose i n hi s

Fat her l and who wer e st r uggl i ng f or some sol i d gr ound

upon vv^hi ch t o pl ant t hei r f eet , i n t he mi dst of t he

t hr oes of t he l ast gr eat Eur opean cr i si s. A l i ke con-

vi ct i on has l ed me t o at t empt t he same wor k, an

PREFACE. 3

Engl i shman f or Engl i shmen, i n a cr i si s whi ch seems

l i kel y t o pr ove at l east as ser i ous as t hat of 1848.

For t he event s of t he l ast f ew year s — one may

per haps say mor e par t i cul ar l y of t he l ast { q. \ n mont hs

— have f or ced on t hose who t hi nk on such subj ect s at

al l , t he pr act i cal need of exami ni ng once mor e t he

pr i nci pl es upon whi ch soci et y, and t he l i f e of nat i ons,

r est . How ar e nat i ons t o be saved f r om t he t yr anny

or domi nat i on of ar bi t r ar y wi l l , whet her of a Caesar

or a mob ? i s t he pr obl em bef or e us, and one whi ch

i s becomi ng dai l y mor e t hr eat eni ng, demandi ng an

answer at t he per i l of nat i onal l i f e. Fr ance f or t he

moment i s t he count r y wher e t he quest i on pr esses

most ur gent l y. Ther e t he most democr at i c of Eur o-

pean peopl es seemed t o have gi ven up her i deal

commonweal t h i n despai r , and I mper i al i sm or

C?esar i sm had come out most nakedl y, i n t hi s

gener at i on, under our own eyes. The Emper or of

t he Fr ench has shown Chr i st endom, bot h i n pr act i ce

by hi s gover nment , and t heor et i cal l y i n hi s wr i t i ngs,

what t hi s I mper i al i sm i s, upon what i t st ands. The

answer , mat ur i ng now t hese sevent een year s, has

come i n a shout f r om a whol e peopl e, t hor oughl y

r oused at l ast , " Away wi t h i t ! I t i s under mi ni ng

soci et y, i t i s dest r oyi ng mor al i t y. Br ave, si mpl e, honest

l i f e i s becomi ng, i f i t has not al r eady become, i m-

possi bl e under i t s shadow. Away wi t h t hi s, at once,

and f or ever , l et what wi l l come i n i t s pl ace ! "

But when we anxi ousl y l ook f or what i s t o come

B 2

4 PREFACE.

i n i t s pl ace i n Fr ance, we ar e baf f l ed and depr essed.

We seem t o be gazi ng onl y i nt o t he hur l y- bur l y of

Page 5 of 174

dr i vi ng cl oud and heavi ng sea, i n whi ch as yet no

t r ace of f i r m l and i s vi si bl e. The cr y f or " mi ni s -

t er i al r esponsi bi l i t } ^" or " gover nment by t he maj o-

r i t y, " seems f or t he moment t o expr ess t he best

mi nd of t he nat i on. Al as ! has not Loui s Napol eon

shown us how l i t t l e wor t h l i es i n such r emedi es . ' '

Responsi bi l i t y t o whom } — To no per son at al l , I

pr esume t he answer woul d be, but t o t he maj or i t y

of t he nat i on, who ar e t he sour ce of al l power ,

whose wi l l i s t o be done what ever i t may be. But

t he Emper or of t he Fr ench woul d acknowl edge such

r esponsi bi l i t y, woul d mai nt ai n t hat hi s own gover n-

ment i s f ounded on i t , t hat he i s t he ver y i ncar -

nat i on of " gover nment by t he maj or i t y ; " and one

cannot but own t hat he has at l east pr oved how

easi l y such phr ases may be t ur ned t o t he benef i t

of hi s own I mper i al i sm.

The pr obl em has been showi ng i t sel f , t hough not

i n so ur gent a f or m, i n Engl and, i n t he l at e di scus -

si ons as t o t he House of Lor ds. That par t of our

machi ner y f or gover nment has been so near l y i n

conf l i ct wi t h t he nat i onal wi l l as t o r ouse a host of

quest i ons. What pr i nci pl e wor t h pr eser vi ng does

t hi s House of Lor ds r epr esent t I s i t compat i bl e

wi t h gover nment by t he maj or i t y } Does not i t s

exi st ence i nvol ve a const ant pr ot est agai nst t he i dea

t hat t he peopl e ar e t he sour ce of al l power . ' ' I s

PREFACE. (

such a pr ot est endur abl e, i f t he machi ner y f or gover n-

i ng, i n so compl i cat ed a st at e of soci et y as our s, i s

t o wor k smoot hl y ?

Her e, agai n, one has hear d l i t t l e beyond angr y

decl amat i on ; but t he di scussi on has shown t hat t he

t i me i s come when we Engl i sh can no l onger st and by

as i nt er est ed spect at or s onl y, but i n whi ch ever y one

of our own i nst i t ut i ons wi l l be si f t ed wi t h r i gour , and

wi l l have t o show cause f or i t s exi st ence. I n ever y

ot her nat i on of Chr i st endom t he same r est l essness

exi st s, t he same f er ment i s goi ng on ; and under

many di f f er ent f or ms, and by many di f f er ent r oads,

t he same end i s sought — t he del i ver ance f r om t he

domi ni on of ar bi t r ar y wi l l , t he est abl i shment of some

or der i n whi ch " r i ght eousness shal l be t he gi r dl e of

t he l oi ns, and t r ut h t he gi r dl e of t he r ei ns, " of who-

ever wi el ds t he sover ei gn power amongst t he nat i ons

of t he ear t h.

As a hel p i n t hi s sear ch, t hi s l i f e of t he t ypi cal

Engl i sh Ki ng i s her e of f er ed, not t o hi st or i cal st u-

dent s, but t o or di nar y Engl i sh r eader s. The wr i t er

has not at t empt ed, and i s not compet ent t o t ake par t

i n, t he di scussi on of any of t he deepl y i nt er est i ng

cr i t i cal , ant i quar i an, and phi l ol ogi cal quest i ons whi ch

cr oss t he pat h of ever y st udent of Angl o- Saxon

hi st or y, and whi ch have been so abl y handl ed by t he

aut hor s al r eady r ef er r ed t o, and many ot her s. As a

pol i t i ci an, bot h i n and out of t he House of Commons,

he has had t o exami ne f or hi msel f f or many year s

6 PREFACE.

Page 6 of 174

t he act ual gr ound upon whi ch t he pol i t i cal l i f e of t he

Engl i sh nat i on st ands, t hat he mi ght sol ve f or hi s

own i ndi vi dual gui dance, accor di ng t o t he best l i ght

he coul d get , t he most pr act i cal of al l quest i ons f or a

publ i c man, — what l eader he shoul d suppor t ? what

r ef or ms he shoul d do hi s best t o obt ai n ? Bor n i n

Al f r ed' s own count y, and havi ng been f r om chi l dhood

f ami l i ar wi t h t he spot s whi ch hi st or y and t r adi t i on

associ at e wi t h some of t he most cr i t i cal event s of t he

gr eat Ki ng' s l i f e, he has r eached t he same concl usi on

as Dr . Paul i by a di f f er ent pr ocess. He has l ear nt t o

l ook upon t he Saxon Ki ng as t he t r ue r epr esent at i ve

of t he nat i on i n cont r ast t o t he gr eat Caesar , so near l y

hi s cont empor ar y, whose ai m was t o wel d t oget her

al l nat i ons and t r i bes i n one l i f el ess empi r e under hi s

own scept r e. That empi r e of Char l emagne has been

exal t ed of l at e as t he begi nni ng of al l t r ue or der f or

Eur ope and Amer i ca. I f t hi s wer e so, i t woul d be

i ndeed a wast e of t i me t o dwel l on t he l i f e and wor k

of Al f r ed. I f , however , pr eci sel y t he cont r ar y be

t r ue, i t must be wor t h whi l e t o f ol l ow as f ai t hf ul l y as

we can t he si mpl e honest l i f e of t he gr eat Saxon

Ki ng, endeavour i ng t o ascer t ai n upon what gr ound

i hat l i f e and wor k of t he ni nt h cent ur y st ood, and

whet her t he same gr ound abi des i n t he ni net eent h f or

al l nat i ons, al i ke f or t hose who have vi si bl e ki ngs and

t hose who ar e wi t hout t hem.

THE LI FE

OF

ALFRED THE GREAT.

CHAPTER I .

OF KI NGS AND KI NGSHI P.

" We come now t o t he l ast f or m of her oi sm, t hat

whi ch we cal l * Ki ngshi p, ' — The Commander over

men ; he t o whose wi l l our wi l l s ar e t o be sub-

or di nat ed, and l oyal l y sur r ender t hemsel ves and f i nd

t hei r wel f ar e i n doi ng so, may be r eckoned t he most

i mpor t ant of gr eat men. " " I n al l sect i ons of Engl i sh

l i f e t he God- made ki ng i s needed, i s pr essi ngl y de-

manded i n most , i n some cannot l onger wi t hout per i l

as of conf l agr at i on be di spensed wi t h. " So spoke,

t went y year s ago, t he t eacher , pr ophet , seer — cal l

hi m what you wi l l — who has i n many ways moved

mor e deepl y t han any ot her t he hear t s of t hi s gene-

r at i on. Has not t he consci ence of Engl and r esponded

t o t he wor ds . - ' Have not most of us f el t t hat i n some

shape — not per haps i n t hat whi ch he pr eaches — what

Page 7 of 174

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

Mr . Car l yl e cal l s " ki ngshi p " i s, i n f act , our gr eat need;

t hat wi t hout i t our moder n l i f e, however f ul l f or t he

wel l - t o- do amongst us of al l t hat can i nt er est , st i mu-

l at e, gr at i f y our i nt el l ect s, passi ons, appet i t es, i s a

poor and mean t hi ng, ever get t i ng poor er and meaner .

Yes, t hi s cr y, t o whi ch Mr . Car l yl e f i r st gave voi ce

i n our day, has been goi ng up f r om al l sect i ons of

Engl i sh soci et y t hese many year s, i n sad, f i er ce, or

pl ai nt i ve accent s. The poet most pr of oundl y i n

sympat hy wi t h hi s t i me cal l s f or

" A st r ong st i l l man i n a bl at ant l and,

What ever you name hi m what car e I ,

Ar i st ocr at , aut ocr at , democr at , one

Who can r ul e and dar e not l i e. "

The newest school of phi l osophy pr eaches an

" or gani zed r el i gi on, " an hi er ar chy of t he best and

abl est . I n an i nar t i cul at e way t he conf essi on r i ses

f r om t he masses of our peopl e, t hat t hey t oo f eel on

ever y si de of t hem t he need of wi se and st r ong

gover nment — of a wi l l t o whi ch t hei r wi l l may l oyal l y

submi t — bef or e al l ot her needs; have been gr opi ng

bl i ndl y af t er i t t hi s l ong whi l e ; begi n t o know t hat

t hei r dai l y l i f e i s i n dai l y per i l f or want of i t , i n t hi s

count r y of l i mi t ed l and, ai r , and wat er , and pr act i cal l y

unl i mi t ed weal t h.

But Democr acy, — how about Democr acy } We had

t hought a cr y f or i t , and not f or ki ngs, God- made or

of any ot her ki nd, was t he char act er i st i c of our t i me.

Cer t ai nl y ki ngs such as we have seen t hem have not

gai ned or deser ved much r ever ence of l at e year s, ar e

not l i kel y t o be cal l ed f or wi t h any gr eat ear nest -

OF KI NGS AND KI NGSHI P.

ness, by t hose who f eel most need of gui dance, and

del i ver ance, i n t he mi dst of t he bewi l der i ng condi t i ons

and sur r oundi ngs of our t i me and our l i f e.

Twent y year s ago t he f r amewor k of soci et y went

al l t o pi eces over t he gr eat er par t of Chr i st endom,

and t he ki ngs j ust r an away or abdi cat ed, and t he

peopl e, l ef t pr et t y much t o t hemsel ves, i n some pl aces

made bl i nd wor k of i t . Sol vent and wel l - r egul at ed

soci et y caught a gl i mpse of t hat same " bi g bl ack

democr acy, " — t he monst er , t he Fr ankenst ei n, as t hey

hol d hi m, at any r at e t he gr eat undeni abl e f act of our

t i me, — a gl i mpse of hi m movi ng hi s huge l i mbs about ,

uneasi l y and bl i ndl y. Then, mai nl y by t he hel p of

br oken pl edges and bayonet s, t he so- cal l ed ki ngs

managed t o get t he gyves put on hi m agai n, and t o

shut hi m down i n hi s under gr ound pr i son. That was

t he sum of t hei r wor k i n t he l ast gr eat Eur opean

cr i si s ; not a t hankwor t hy one f r om t he peopl e' s

poi nt of vi ew. However , soci et y was supposed t o be

saved, and t he " par t y of or der " so cal l ed br eat hed

f r eel y. No; f or t he 1848 ki nd of ki ng t her e i s sur el y

Page 8 of 174

no audi bl e demand anywher e.

Her e i n Engl and i n t hat year we had our l ot h ol

Apr i l , and must er of hal f a mi l l i on speci al const abl es

of t he comf or t abl e cl asses, wi t h much j ubi l at i on over

such must er , and mut ual congr at ul at i ons t hat we

wer e not as ot her men, or even as t hese Fr enchmen,

Ger mans, and t he l i ke. Taken f or what i t was wor t h,

l et us admi t t hat t he j ubi l at i ons di d not l ack some

sor t of j ust i f i cat i on. The l ot h of Apr i l must er may

be per haps accept ed as a si gn t hat t he r ever ence

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

f or t he const abl e' s st af f has not qui t e di ed out yet

amongst us. But l et no one t hi nk t hat f or t hi s r eason

Democr acy i s one whi t l ess i nevi t abl e i n Engl and

t han on t he Cont i nent ; or t hat i t s sur e and st eady

advance, and t he l ongi ng f or i t s comi ng, whi ch al l

t hought f ul men r ecogni se, however l i t t l e t hey may

sympat hi se wi t h t hem, i s t he l east i ncompat i bl e wi t h

t he equal l y mani f est l ongi ng f or what our peopl e i nt end

by t hi s much- wor shi pped and much- hat ed name.

For what does Democr acy mean t o us Engl i sh i n

t hese year s ? Si mpl y an equal chance f or al l ; a f ai r

f i el d f or t he best men, l et t hem st ar t f r om wher e t hey

wi l l , t o get t o t he f r ont ; a cl ear ance out of sham

gover nor s, and of unj ust pr i vi l ege, i n ever y depar t -

ment of human af f ai r s. I t cannot be t oo of t en

r epeat ed, t hat t hey who suppose t he bul k of our

peopl e want l ess gover nment , or f ear t he man who

" can r ul e and dar e not l i e, " know l i t t l e of t hem.

Ask any r epr esent at i ve of a popul ar const i t uency,

or ot her man wi t h t he means of j udgi ng, what t he

peopl e ar e r eady f or i n t hi s di r ect i on. He wi l l

t el l you t hat , i n spi t e per haps of al l he can say

or do, t hey zvi l l go f or compul sor y educat i on, t he

or gani zat i on of l abour ( i ncl udi ng t her ei n t he shar p

ext i nct i on of abl e- bodi ed pauper i sm) , t he ut i l i zat i on

of publ i c l ands, and ot her r ef or ms of an equal l y

deci ded char act er . That f or t hese pur poses t hey

desi r e mor e gover nment , not l ess ; wi l l suppor t wi t h

ent husi asm measur es, t he ver y t hought of whi ch t akes

away t he br eat h and l oosens t he knees of or di nar y

pol i t i ci ans ; wi l l r al l y wi t h l oyal t y and t r ust f ul ness t o

OF KI NGS AND KI NGSHI P.

men who wi l l under t ake t hese t hi ngs wi t h cour age

and si ngl eness of pur pose.

But admi t al l t hi s t o be so, yet why t al k of ki ngs

and ki ngshi p ? Why t r y t o f i x our at t ent i on on t he

l ast ki nd of per sons who ar e l i kel y t o hel p ? Ki ngs

have become a cast e, sacr ed or not , as you may

happen t o hol d, but at any r at e a mar kedl y separ at e

cast e. I s not t hi s a dar keni ng of counsel , a usi ng of

t er ms whi ch do not r eal l y expr ess your meani ng ?

Democr at s we know : Tr i bunes of t he peopl e we

Page 9 of 174

know. When t hese ar e t r ue and si ngl e- mi nded, t hey

ar e t he men f or t he wor k you ar e t al ki ng of . To do

i t i n any t hor ough way, i n any way whi ch wi l l l ast ,

you must have men i n r eal sympat hy wi t h t he masses.

Tr ue. But what i f t he speci al f unct i on of t he ki ng

i s pr eci sel y t hi s of sympat hy wi t h t he masses . ' ' Our

bi bl i cal t r ai ni ng sur el y woul d seem t o t each t hat

i t i s. When al l peopl e ar e t o bow bef or e t he ki ng,

al l nat i ons t o do hi m ser vi ce, i t i s because " he shal l

del i ver t he poor when he cr i et h, t he needy al so, and

hi m t hat hat h no hel per . " When t he ki ng pr ays f or

t he j udgment s and r i ght eousness of God, i t i s i n or der

t hat " he may j udge Thy peopl e accor di ng unt o r i ght ,

and def end t he poor . " When t he ki ng si t s i n j udg-

ment , t he r eason of hi s sent ence, whet her of appr oval

or condemnat i on, t ur ns upon t hi s same poi nt of

sympat hy wi t h t he poor and weak, — " I nasmuch as

ye have done i t , or not done i t , t o t he l east of t hese

my br et hr en. " Fr om one end t o t he ot her of t he

Bi bl e wc ar e f ace t o f ace wi t h t hese wor ds, " ki ng" and

" ki ngdom ; " f r om t he f i r st wor d t o t he l ast t he same

12 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

i dea of t he ki ng' s wor k, t he ki ng' s f unct i ons, r uns

t hr ough hi st or y, poem, par abl e, st at ut e, and bi nds

t hem t oget her . The ki ng f i l l s at l east as l ar ge a

space i n our sacr ed books as i n Mr . Car l yl e' s ; t he

wr i t er s seem t o t hi nk hi m, and hi s wor k qui t e as

necessar y t o t he wor l d as Mr . Car l yl e does.

To t hose who l ook on t he Hebr ew scr i pt ur es as mer e

anci ent Asi an r ecor ds, whi ch have been l ucki l y pr e-

ser ved, and ar e per haps as val uabl e as t he Tal mud or

t he Vedas, t hi s pecul i ar i t y i n t hem wi l l seem of l i t t l e

moment . To t hose who bel i eve ot her wi se — who hol d

t hat t hese same scr i pt ur es cont ai n t he r evel at i on of

God t o t he f ami l y of manki nd so f ar as wor ds can

r eveal Hi m — t he f act i s one whi ch deser ves and must

cl ai m t hei r most ser i ous t hought . I f t hey desi r e t o be

honest wi t h t hemsel ves, t hey wi l l not pl ay f ast and

l oose wi t h t he wor ds, or t he i deas ; wi l l r at her f ace

t hem, and gr udge no ef f or t t o get at what r eal mean-

i ng or f or ce l i es f or t hemsel ves i n t hat whi ch t he

Bi bl e says as t o ki ngs and ki ngdoms, i f i ndeed

any be l ef t f or us i n A. D. 1869. As a hel p i n t he

st udy we may t ake t hi s agai n f r om t he aut hor

al r eady quot ed : — " The onl y t i t l e wher ei n I wi t h

conf i dence t r ace et er ni t y, i s t hat of ki ng. He car r i es

wi t h hi m an aut hor i t y f r om God, or man wi l l never

gi ve i t hi m. Can I choose my own ki ng . ? I can

choose my own Ki ng Popi nj ay and pl ay what f ar ce

or t r agedy I may wi t h hi m : but he who i s t o be

my r ul er , whose wi l l i s t o be hi gher t han my wi l l ,

was chosen f or me i n heaven. Nei t her except i n

such obedi ence t o t he heaven- chosen i s f r eedom so

OF KI NGS AND KI NGSHI P. 13

much as concei vabl e. " Wor ds of ver y st ar t l i ng i m-

por t t hese, no doubt ; but t he l onger we who accept

Page 10 of 174

t he Hebr ew scr i pt ur es as books of t he r evel at i on of

God t hi nk on t hem, t he mor e we shal l f i nd t hem

sober and t r ut hf ul wor ds. At l east t hat i s t he bel i ef

of t he pr esent wr i t er , whi ch bel i ef he hopes t o make

cl ear er i n t he cour se of t hi s wor k t o t hose who car e

t o go al ong wi t h hi m.

And now f or t he wor d " ki ng, " f or i t i s wel l t hat

we shoul d t r y t o under st and i t bef or e we appr oach

t he l i f e of Di e nobl est Engl i shman who ever bor e i t ,

" Cyni ng, by cont r act i on ki ng, " says Mr . Fr eeman,

" i s evi dent l y cl osel y connect ed wi t h t he wor d Cyn,

or Ki n. The connexi on i s not wi t hout an i mpor t ant

meani ng. The ki ng i s t he r epr esent at i ve of t he

r ace, t he embodi ment of i t s nat i onal bei ng, t he

chi l d of hi s peopl e and not t hei r f at her . " Anot her

emi nent schol ar . Si r F. Pal gr ave, der i ves ki ng f r om

" Cen, " a Cel t i c wor d si gni f yi ng t he head. " The

commander of men, " says Mr . Car l yl e, " i s cal l ed

Rex, Regul at or , Roi : our own name i s st i l l bet t er

— Ki ng, Konni ng, whi ch means Can- ni ng, abl e man. "

And so t he abl est schol ar s ar e at i ssue over t he

wor d, whi ch woul d seem t o be t oo bi g t o be t i ed

down t o ei t her def i ni t i on. Sur el y, what ever t he t r ue

et ymol ogy may be, t he i deas — " r epr esent at i ve, "

" head, " " abl est " — do not cl ash, but woul d r at her seem

necessar y t o one anot her t o br i ng out t he f ul l mean-

i ng of t he wor d. " The r epr esent at i ve of t he r ace, t he

embodi ment of i t s nat i onal bei ng, " must be i t s " head, "

shoul d be i t s " abl est , i t s best man. " At any r at e

14 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

t hey wer e gat her ed up i n hi m whose Hf e we must

now t r y t o f ol l ow: " Engl and' s her dman, " " Engl and' s

dar l i ng, " " Engl and' s comf or t , " as he i s st yl ed by t he

ol d chr oni cl er s. A t housand year s have passed si nce

Al f r ed was st r uggl i ng wi t h t he mi ght y wor k appoi nt ed

f or hi m by God i n t hi s i sl and. What t hat wor k -

was, how i t was done, what por t i on of i t r emai ns

t o t hi s day, i t wi l l be our t ask and our pr i vi l ege

t o consi der .

CHAPTER I I .

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

* * For o, t housand year s i n Thy si ght ar e but as yest er day, seei ng i t h

past as a wat ch i n t he ni ght .

The Engl and upon whi ch t he chi l d Al f r ed f i r st l ooked

out must , however , det ai n us f or a shor t t i me. And

at t he t hr eshol d we ar e met wi t h t he f act t hat t he

names of hi s bi r t hpl ace, Wanat i ng ( Want age) ; of t he

shi r e i n whi ch i t l i es, Ber r oc- shi r e ( Ber kshi r e) ; of

t he di st r i ct st r et chi ng al ong t he chal k hi l l s above

i t , Ashdown ; of t he nei ghbour i ng vi l l ages, such as

Uf f i ngt on, Ashbur y, Ki ngst on- Li sl e, Compt on, &c. ,

r emai n unchanged. The Engl and of a t housand

year s ago was di vi ded t hr oughout i nt o shi r es,

Page 11 of 174

hundr eds, t i t hi ngs, as i t r emai ns t o t hi s day. Al -

most as much mi ght unt i l l at el y have been sai d

of t he l anguage. At l east t he wr i t er , when a boy,

has hear d an abl e Angl o- Saxon schol ar of t hat day

mai nt ai n, t hat i f one of t he chur l s who f ought at

Ashdown wi t h Al f r ed coul d have r i sen up f r om hi s

br eezy gr ave under a bar r ow, and wal ked down t he

hi l l i nt o Uf f i ngt on, he woul d have been under st ood

wi t hout di f f i cul t y by t he peasant r y. That gener at i on

i 6 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

has passed away, and wi t h t hem much of t he r acy

ver nacul ar whi ch so char med t he Angl o- Saxon ant i -

quar y t hi r t y year s ago. But l et us hear one of t he

most emi nent of cont empor ar y Engl i sh hi st or i ans on

t he gener al quest i on. " The mai n di vi si ons of t he

count r y, " wr i t es Mr . Fr eeman, " t he l ocal names of t he

vast mass of i t s t owns and vi l l ages, wer e f i xed when

t he Nor man came, and have sur vi ved wi t h but l i t t l e

change t o our own day. . . . He f ound t he Engl i sh

nat i on occupyi ng subst ant i al l y t he same t er r i t or y,

and al r eady exhi bi t i ng i n i t s l aws, i t s l anguage, i t s

nat i onal char act er , t he most essent i al of t he f eat ur es

whi ch i t st i l l r et ai ns. I nt o t he Engl i sh nat i on, whi ch

he t hus f ound al r eady f or med, hi s own dynast y and

hi s own f ol l ower s wer e gr adual l y absor bed. The

conquer ed di d not become Nor mans, but t he con-

quer or s di d become Engl i shmen. " Gr and, t ough,

much- endur i ng ol d Engl i sh st ock, wi t h al l t hy i m-

per vi ousness t o i deas, t hy Phi l i st i ni sm, af f l i ct i ng t o

t he chi l dr en of l i ght i n t hese l at t er days, t hy obdur at e,

nay pi g- headed, r ever ence f or ol d f or ms out of whi ch

t he l i f e has f l own, adher ence t o ol d ways whi ch have

become l i t t l e bet t er t han sl oughs of despond, what

man i s t her e t hat can cl ai m t o be chi l d of t hi ne whose

pul se does not qui cken, and hear t l eap up, at t he

t hought } Who has not at t he ver y bot t om of hi s

soul f ai t h i n t hy f ut ur e, i n t hy power t o st and f ast i n

t hi s t i me of r evol ut i ons, whi ch i s upon and bef or e

t hee and al l nat i ons, as t hou hast st ood t hr ough many

a dar l : day of t he Lor d i n t he l ast t housand year s 1

But t hough t he di vi si ons of t he count r y, and t he

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO. 17

names, r emai n t he same, or near l y so, we must not f or -

get t he gr eat super f i ci al change whi ch has t aken pl ace

by t he cl ear ance of t he f or est t r act s. These spr ead,

a t housand year s ago, over ver y l ar ge di st r i ct s i n al l

par t s of Engl and. I n t hese f or est s t he dr oves of swi ne,

whi ch f or med a consi der abl e por t i on of t he weal t h, and

whose f l esh f ur ni shed t he st apl e f ood, of t he peopl e,

wander ed, f eedi ng on acor ns and beech- mast . Her e,

t oo, t he out l aws, who abounded i n t hose unset t l ed

t i mes, f ound shel t er and saf et y ; and t hey wer e used

al i ke by Saxon and Dane f or ambush and st r onghol d.

Chr i st i an monks, escapi ng f r om t he sack of t hei r

abbeys and cat hedr al s, and car r yi ng har dl y- saved

r el i cs, f l ed t o t hem, and of t en l i ved i n t hem f or year s ;

and heat hen bands, beat en and har d pr essed by

Al f r ed or hi s al der men, coul d of t en f oi l t hei r pur suer s,

Page 12 of 174

and l i e hi dden i n t hei r shade, unt i l t he Saxon sol di er y

had gone home t o t hei r har vest , or t hei r sowi ng. The

sudden bl ows whi ch t he Danes seem al ways t o have

been abl e t o st r i ke i n t he begi nni ng of t hei r cam-

pai gns wer e made possi bl e by t hese gr eat t r act s of

f or est , t hr ough whi ch t hey coul d st eal wi t hout not i ce.

Ther e wer e a f ew gr eat t r unk r oads, such as Wat l i ng

St r eet , whi ch r an f r om London t o Chest er , and t he

I ckeni l d Way, t hr ough Ber ks, Wi l t s, and Somer set -

shi r e, and hi ghways or t r acks connect i ng vi l l ages and

t owns. These seem t o have been numer ous and

popul ous; and i n t hem and t he monast er i es, bef or e

Al f r ed' s t i me, t r ades had begun t o f l our i sh. We even

f i nd t hat t her e must have been ski l f ul j ewel l er s and

weaver s i n Wesscx ; wi t ness t he vessel s i n gol d and

S. L. VI I I . Q

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

si l ver - gi l t , and si l k dr esses and hangi ngs, whi ch hi s

f at her and he car r i ed t o Rome as pr esent s t o t he

Pope, and Al f r ed' s j ewel , f ound i n 1693 i n Newt on

Par k, near At hel ney, and now i n t he Ashmol ean

Museum. The l ands i mmedi at el y adj oi ni ng t owns,

monast er i es, and t he houses of al der men and t hegns

wer e wel l cul t i vat ed, and pr oduced cer eal s i n abun-

dance, and or char ds and vi neyar ds seem t o have been

much car ed f or . The st at e of t he count r y, however ,

i s best summed up by Kembl e : — " On t he nat ur al

cl ear i ngs of t he f or est , or on spot s pr epar ed by man

f or hi s own uses ; i n val l eys bounded by gent l e

accl i vi t i es whi ch pour ed down f er t i l i zi ng st r eams ; or

on pl ai ns whi ch her e and t her e r ose cl ot hed wi t h

ver dur e above sur r oundi ng mar shes; sl owl y, and st ep

by st ep, t he war l i ke col oni st s adopt ed t he habi t s and

devel oped t he char act er of peacef ul agr i cul t ur i st s.

The t owns whi ch had been spar ed i n t he f i r st r ush of

war gr adual l y became deser t ed and sl owl y cr umbl ed

t o t he soi l , beneat h whi ch t hei r r ui ns ar e yet f ound

f r om t i me t o t i me, or upon whi ch shapel ess masses

yet r emai n t o mar k t he si t es of a ci vi l i zat i on whose

bases wer e not l ai d deep enough. Al l over Engl and

t her e soon exi st ed a net wor k of communi t i es, t he

pr i nci pl e of whose bei ng was separ at i on as r egar ded

each ot her , t he most i nt i mat e uni on as r espect ed t he

i ndi vi dual member s of each. Agr i cul t ur al not com-

mer ci al , di sper sed not cent r al i zed, cont ent wi t hi n

t hei r own l i mi t s, and l i t t l e gi ven t o wander i ng, t hey

r el i nqui shed i n a gr eat degr ee t he habi t s and f eel i ngs

whi ch had uni t ed t hem as mi l i t ar y advent ur er s, and

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO. 19

t he spi r i t whi ch had achi eved t he conquest of an

empi r e was now sat i sf i ed wi t h t he car e of mai nt ai n-

i ng i nvi ol at e a Ht t l e peacef ul pl ot , suf f i ci ent f or t he

cul t i vat i on of a f ew si mpl e househol ds. "

Bi shop Wi l f r i d, a cent ur y bef or e, had i nst r uct ed t he

Sout h Saxons i n i mpr oved met hods of f i shi ng, and

t hey wer e ener get i c hunt er s, so t hat t hei r t abl es wer e

Page 13 of 174

wel l pr ovi ded wi t h l i ght er del i caci es, t hough as a

peopl e t hey pr ef er r ed heavy and st r ong meat s and

dr i nks. Thei r meal s wer e f r equent , at whi ch t he

boi l ed and baked meat s wer e handed r ound t o t he

guest s on spi t s, each hel pi ng hi msel f as he had a

mi nd. The heavy f eedi ng was f ol l owed by heavy

car ousi ngs of mead and al e ; and, f or r i ch peopl e,

wi ne, and " pi gment , " a dr i nk made of wi ne, honey,

and spi ces, and " mor at , " a dr i nk of mul ber r y- j ui ce

and honey. Har per s and mi nst r el s pl ayed and sang

whi l e t he dr i nki ng went on, pr ovi di ng such i nt el l ect ual

f ood as our f at her s car ed t o t ake, and j uggl er s and

j est er s wer e r eady, wi t h t hei r t umbl i ngs of one ki nd

or anot her , when t he guest s wear i ed of t he per f or m-

ances of t he hi gher ar t i st s.

Song- cr af t was at t hi s t i me l ess cul t i vat ed i n Eng-

l and, except by pr of essor s, t han i t had been a hundr ed

year s bef or e. Then ever y guest was expect ed t o t ake

hi s t ur n, and i t woul d seem t o have been somewhat of

a di sgr ace f or a man not t o be abl e t o si ng, or r eci t e

some ol d Teut oni c bal l ad t o musi c. Thus we f i nd

i n t he cel ebr at ed st or y of Cr edmon, t ol d i n Bede' s

" Eccl esi ast i cal Hi st or y, " t hat t hough he had come

t o f ul l age he had never l ear nt any poet r y, " ancf

C 2

20 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

t her ef or e at ent er t ai nment s, when i t had been

deemed f or t he sake of mi r t h t hat al l i n t ur n shoul d

si ng t o t he har p, he woul d r i se f or shame f r om t he

t abl e when t he har p appr oached hi m, and go out . "

The r est of t he st or y i s so char act er i st i c of t he t i mes

t hat we may wel l al l ow Bede t o f i ni sh i t i n t hi s pl ace.

" One t i me when he had done t hi s, and l ef t t he house

of t he ent er t ai nment , he went t o a neat st al l of whi ch

he had char ge f or t he ni ght , and t her e set hi s l i mbs

t o r est , and f el l asl eep. Then a man st ood by hi m i n

a dr eam and hai l ed hi m by name, and sai d, ' Caedmon,

si ng me somet hi ng. ' Then answer ed he, ' I cannot

si ng anyt hi ng, and t her ef or e I went out f r om t he

ent er t ai nment and came hi t her f or t hat I coul d not

si ng. ' But t he man sai d, ' Ho" wever , t hou canst si ng

t o me. ' Caedmon asked t hen, ' What shal l I si ng ? '

and t he man answer ed, ' Si ng me Cr eat i on. ' When

he had r ecei ved t hi s answer , t hen began he at once

t o si ng i n pr ai se of God t he Cr eat or ver ses and

wor ds whi ch he had never hear d. Thi s was t he

begi nni ng: —

" ' Now l et us pr ai se

Tl i e keeper of heaven' s ki ngdom,

Tl i e Cr eat or ' s mi ght ,

And t he t hought of Hi s mi nd,

The wor ks of t he Wor l d- Fat her —

How of al l wonder s

He was t he begi nni ng.

Page 14 of 174

The hol y Cr eat or

Fi r st shaped heaven

A r oof f or ear t h' s chi l dr en ;

Then t he Cr eat or ,

The keeper of manki nd,

4 THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

The Et er nal Lor d,

The Al mi ght y Fat her ,

Af t er war ds made t he ear t h

A f ol d f or men. '

Then ar ose he f r om sl eep, and al l t hat he sl eepi ng

had sung he hel d f ast i n hi s memor y, and soon added

t o t hem many wor ds as of a song wor t hy of God.

Then came he on t he mor r ow t o t he t own- r eeve who

was hi s al der man, and t ol d hi m of t he gi f t he had

got t en, and t he t own- r eeve t ook hi m t o t he abbess

( St . Hi l da) , and t ol d her . Then she or der ed t o gat her

al l t he wi se men, and bade hi m i n t hei r pr esence t el l

hi s dr eam and si ng t he song, t hat by t he doom of

t hem al l i t mi ght be pr oved what i t was, and whence

i t came. Then i t seemed t o al l , as i ndeed i t was, t hat

a heavenl y gi f t had been gi ven hi m by t he Lor d hi m-

sel f . Then t hey r el at ed t o hi m a hol y speech, and

bade hi m t r y t o t ur n t hat i nt o sweet song. And when

he had r ecei ved i t he went home t o hi s house, and

comi ng agai n on t he mor r ow sang t hem what t hey

had r el at ed t o hi m i n t he sweet est voi ce. " So

Caedmon was t aken by Abbess Hi l da i nt o one of her

monast er i es, and t her e sang " t he out goi ng of I sr ael ' s

f ol k f r om t he l and of t he Egypt i ans, and t he i ngoi ng

of t he Land of Pr omi se, and of Chr i st ' s i ncar nat i on

and suf f er i ngs and ascensi on, and many ot her spel l s

of Hol y Wr i t . But he never coul d compose anyt hi ng

of l easi ng or of i dl e song, but t hose onl y whi ch

bel onged t o r el i gi on, and became a pi ous t ongue

t o si ng. "

The cowher d get t i ng hi s i nspi r at i on, and car r yi ng

22 LI FE OF ALFRED THE ORE A T.

i t at once t o hi s t own- r eeve ; t he r ef er ence t o t he

sai nt l y abbess ; t he conf er ence of t he wi se men of t he

nei ghbour hood t o pass t hei r doom on t he occur r ence ;

and t he consequent r et i r ement of Csedmon f r om t he

wor l d, and devot i on t o t he cul t i vat i on of hi s gi f t under

t he shadow of t he Chur ch, f or m a pi ct ur e of one cor ner

of Engl and, a t housand year s ago, whi ch may hel p

us t o under st and t he condi t i ons of l i f e amongst our

ancest or s i n sever al r espect s. For one t hi ng i t br i ngs

us di r ect l y i nt o cont act wi t h t he Chur ch — i n t hi s

ni nt h cent ur y t he most obvi ous and i mpor t ant f act i n

Engl and, as i n ever y ot her count r y of Chr i st endom.

Chur ches have been di vi ded i nt o t hose t hat audi bl y

pr each and pr ophesy ; t hose t hat ar e st r uggl i ng t o

Page 15 of 174

pr each and pr ophesy, but cannot yet ; and t hose t hat

ar e gone dumb wi t h ol d age, and onl y mumbl e de-

l i r i um pr i or t o di ssol ut i on. Thi s woul d l ook l i ke an

exhaust i ve di vi si on at f i r st si ght , but yet t he Engl i sh

Chur ch, at t he t i me of Al f r ed' s bi r t h, woul d scar cel y

f al l under ei t her cat egor y.

Up t o t he begi nni ng of t he ni nt h cent ur y t he

hi st or y of t he Chur ch i n Engl and had been one of

ext r aor di nar y act i vi t y and ear nest ness. She had not

onl y compl et ed her wor k of conver si on wi t hi n t he

i sl and, and est abl i shed cent r es f r om whi ch t he hi ghest

educat i on and ci vi l i zat i on t hen at t ai nabl e f l owed out

on al l t he Teut oni c ki ngdoms, f r om t he Engl i sh

Channel t o t he Fr i t h of For t h, but had al so sent

f or t h a number of such mi ssi onar i es as St . Boni f ace,

such schol ar s as Al cui n, t o hel p i n t he est abl i shment

of t hei r Mast er ' s ki ngdom on t he Cont i nent .

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO. 23

The sor t of wor k whi ch she was st i l l doi ng i n

Engl and, i n t he ei ght h cent ur y, may be gat her ed

f r om t he aut hent i c account s of t he l i ves of such men

as St . Cut hber t , who i s sai d t o have been Al f r ed' s

pat r on sai nt , whi ch may easi l y be separ at ed f r om

t he mi r acul ous l egends wi t h whi ch t hey ar e l oaded.

St . Cut hber t f r om hi s boyhood had devot ed hi msel f

t o monast i c l i f e, and had r i sen t o be r ect or of hi s

monast er y, when some gr eat epi demi c passed over

t he nor t her n count i es.

" Many t hen, i n t hat t i me of gr eat pest i l ence,

pr of aned t hei r pr of essi on by unr i ght eous doi ngs,

and — negl ect i ng t he myst er i es of t he hol y f ai t h i n

whi ch t hey had been i nst r uct ed — hast ened and

cr owded t o t he er r i ng cur es of i dol at r y, as i f t hey

coul d war d of f t he chast i sement sent by God t hei r

maker by magi c or char ms, or any secr et of devi l -

cr af t . To cor r ect bot h t hese er r or s, t he man of God

of t en went out of hi s monast er y, and somet i mes on

a hor se, at ot her t i mes on hi s f eet , came t o t he pl aces

l yi ng r ound, and pr eached and t aught t o t he er r i ng

t he way of st eadf ast ness i n t he t r ut h. I t was at t hat

t i me t he cust om wi t h f ol k of t he Engl i sh ki n t hat

when a mass pr i est came i nt o a t own t hey shoul d al l

come t oget her t o hear God' s wor d, and woul d gl adl y

hear t he t hi ngs t aught and eager l y f ol l ow by deeds

t he wor ds t hey coul d under st and. Now t he hol y

man of God, Cut hber t , had so much ski l l and

l ear ni ng, and so much l ove t o t he di ' ^i ne l or e whi ch

he had begun t o t each, and such a l i ght of angel i c

l ooks shone f r om hi m, t hat none of t hose pr esent

24 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

dur st hi de t he secr et s of t he hear t f r om hi m, but al l

openl y conf essed t hei r deeds, and t hei r acknowl edged

si ns bet t er ed wi t h t r ue r epent ance, as he bade. He

was wont chi ef l y t o go t hr ough t hose pl aces and t o

pr each i n t hose haml et s whi ch wer e hi gh up on

r ugged mount ai ns, f r i ght f ul t o ot her s t o vi si t , and

whose peopl e by t hei r pover t y and i gnor ance hi n-

der ed t he appr oach of t eacher s. These hi ndr ances he

Page 16 of 174

by pi ous l abour and gr eat zeal over came, and went

out f r om t he monast er y of t en a whol e week, some-

t i mes t wo or t hr ee, and of t en, al so, f or a whol e mont h

woul d not r et ur n home, but abode i n t he wi l d pl aces,

and cal l ed and i nvi t ed t he unl ear ned f ol k t o t he

heavenl y l i f e bot h by t he wor d of hi s l ove and by

t he wor k of hi s vi r t ue. "

Thus t eachi ng t he poor i n t he hi ghest mat t er s, and

al so showi ng t hem wi t h hi s own hands how t o t i l l

and sow — " i t bei ng t he wi l l of t he Heavenl y Gi ver

t hat cr ops of gr ai n shoul d be up- gr owi ng" i n wast e

pl aces, — and how t o f i nd and husband wat er , Cut h-

ber t , and such pr i est s as he, spent t hei r l i ves. But a

change had passed over t he Chur ch i n t he l ast f i f t y

year s. The Bedes and Al cui ns had di ed out , and

l ef t no successor s. Lear ni ng was gr ossl y negl ect ed,

and t he sl ot hf ul cl er gy had al l owed t hi ngs t o come

t o such a pass t hat Al f r ed i n hi s yout h coul d f i nd

no mast er sout h of t he Thames t o t each hi m Lat i n.

Even t he st udy of t he Scr i pt ur es was ver y negl i gent l y

per f or med, and t he educat i on of t he peopl e was no

l onger car ed f or at al l . Bi shop Eal st an, sol di er and

st at esman, had succeeded t he Al cui ns ; and St .

J

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO. 25

Swi t hi n, bent on advanci ng t he i nt er est s of Rome,

t he St . Boni f aces and St . Cut hber t s.

St i l l , however , t he Chur ch i n Wessex, i f not

audi bl y pr eachi ng and pr ophesyi ng, was ver y f ar

f r om havi ng gone dumb wi t h ol d age. She had

wi t hi n her t he seeds of st r engt h and gr owt h, f or

Rome had not l ai d her hand heavi l y on t he west er n

i sl and. The advi ce gi ven by Pope Gr egor y t o

St . August i ne, i n answer t o t he quest i ons of t he

l at t er as t o t he cust oms whi ch shoul d be i nsi st ed on

i n t he new Chur ch, had been on t he whol e f ai t hf ul l y

f ol l owed. " I t seems good and i s mor e agr eeabl e t o

me, " wr i t es t he gr eat st at esman- pope, " t hat what so-

ever t hou hast f ound, ei t her i n t he Roman Chur ch, or

i n Gaul , or i n any ot her , t hat was mor e pl easi ng t o

Al mi ght y God, t hou shoul dst car ef ul l y choose t hat ,

and set i t t o be hel d f ast i n t he Chur ch of t he Engl i sh

nat i on, whi ch now yet i s new i n f ai t h. For t he t hi ngs

ar e not t o be l oved f or pl aces, but t he pl aces f or good

t hi ngs. Ther ef or e, what t hi ngs t hou choosest as

pi ous, good, and r i ght f r om each of sundr y Chur ches,

t hese gat her t hou t oget her , and set t l e i nt o a cust om

i n t he mi nd of t he Engl i sh nat i on. " And agai n as t o

uncanoni cal mar r i ages, whi ch ar e t o be r esi st ed but not

puni shed wi t h deni al of t he Communi on, " f or at t hi s

t i me t he Hol y Chur ch cor r ect s some t hi ngs t hr ough

zeal , bear s wi t h some t hr ough mi l dness, over l ooks

some t hr ough consi der at i on ; and so bear s and over -

l ooks t hat of t en by bear i ng and over l ooki ng she checks

t he opposi ng evi l . "

And t he pol i cy had answer ed i n many ways.

Page 17 of 174

26 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Engl and had st i l l t he i nest i mabl e boon of ser vi ces

i n her own t ongue, and a cl er gy who wer e not cel i -

bat e. So t he Chur ch had pr osper ed, and t he l and

was f ul l of nobl e chur ches, abbeys, monast er i es ;

but t he eccl esi ast i cs had not emanci pat ed t hemsel ves

f r om t he ci vi l gover nor , and t hei r per sons and pr o-

per t y wer e answer abl e t o hi m f or br each of t he l aws

of t he r eal m. Mor t mai n had not yet become t he

" dead hand; " and whi l e Chur ch l ands wer e at l east

as wel l t i l l ed and car ed f or as t hose of ki ng or t hegn,

and sent t hei r equal quot a of f i ght i ng men t o t he f i el d

( of t en l ed by such bi shops as Eal st an of Sher bor ne,

whom Al f r ed must have known wel l i n hi s yout h) .

Chur ch est abl i shment s wer e t he r ef uge f or t housands

of men and women, t he vi ct i ms of t he wi l d war s of

t hose wi l d t i mes, t he seat s of such l i t t l e l ear ni ng as

was t o be f ound i n t he l and, and t he chi ef pl aces i n

whi ch wor ki ng i n met al s, and weavi ng, and ot her

manual i ndust r i es coul d be l ear ned or successf ul l y

pr act i sed.

Yet pagan t r adi t i ons st i l l t o some ext ent hel d

t hei r own. For i nst ance, t he descent of t he r oyal

r ace of Cer di c, f r om whi ch Al f r ed spr ung, f r om t he

ol d Teut on gods, i s as car ef ul l y t r aced by Bi shop

Asser and ot her chr oni cl er s up t o " Woden, who

was t he son of Fr i t hewal de, who was t he son of

Tr eal af , who was t he son of Fr i t hawul f , who was

t he son of Get a, whom t he Pagans wor shi pped

as a god ; " as t he f ur t her st eps whi ch car r y t he

l i ne on up t o " Sceaf t he son of Noah, who was

bor n i n t he Ar k. " Pagan r i t es and cer emoni es^

1

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO. 27

modi f i ed i n many ways, but cl ear l y t r aceabl e t o t hei r

or i gi n, wer e common enough. St i l l t he t wo cent ur i es

and upwar ds si nce St . August i ne' s t i me had done

t hei r wor k. Engl and was not onl y i n name a Chr i s -

t i an count r y, but a l i vi ng f ai t h i n Chr i st had ent er ed

i nt o, and was pr act i cal l y t he deepest and st r ongest

f or ce i n, t he nat i onal l i f e. The condi t i ons of f ai t h

and wor shi p amongst t he West Saxons, and gener al l y

t he r el at i ons of hi s peopl e wi t h t he I nvi si bl e, i f not

whol l y sat i sf act or y, wer e yet of a hopef ul ki nd f or

a young pr i nce of t he r oyal r ace of Cer di c.

I n ot her depar t ment s of human l i f e i n Wessex t he

out l ook had al so much of hopef ul ness i n i t , as wel l as

deep causes of anxi et y, f or Al f r ed, as he gr ew up i n

hi s f at her ' s cour t . That cour t was a mi gr at or y one.

The Ki ng of t he West Saxons had no f i xed home.

Wher ever i n t he ki ngdom t he need was sor est , t her e

was hi s pl ace ; and so f r om Kent t o Devonshi r e,

f r om t he Wel sh Mar ches t o t he I sl e of Wi ght , we

f i nd hi m movi ng backwar ds and f or war ds, wher ever

a r ai d of Br i t ons or Danes, t he consecr at i on of a

Page 18 of 174

chur ch, a. quar r el bet ween t wo of hi s al der men, t he

assembl y of hi s Gr eat Counci l , mi ght cal l hi m. The

gover nment l i es i ndeed heavi l y on hi s shoul der s.

He must be t he f i r st man i n f i ght , i n counci l , i n

wor shi p, i n t he chase. Tr ue he can do no i mper i al

act , cannot make a l aw, i mpose a t ax, cal l out an

ar my, or make a gr ant of f ol kl and, wi t hout t he sanc -

t i on of hi s wi t an ; but i n al l t hi ngs t he i ni t i at i ve i s

wi t h hi m, and wi t hout hi m t he wi t an i s power l ess.

That f amous Counci l , common t o al l t he Teut oni c

28 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

t r i bes, had by t hi s t i me amongst t he West Saxons

l ost i t s or i gi nal char act er of a gat her i ng of al l f r eemen.

Pr obabl y no one bel ow t he r ank of t hegn at t ended t he

meet i ngs of t he wi t an i n t he t i me of Et hel wul f . The

t hegn was, however , si mpl y an owner of l and, and so

a seat i n t he Gr eat Counci l was i n f act open t o any

cheor l , even i t woul d seem t o any t hr al l who coul d

ear n or wi n as hi s own f i ve hi des of l and, a chur ch, a

ki t chen, a bel l - house, and a bur ghat e seat .

The possessi on of l and, t hen, was t he f i r st obj ect

wi t h t he Engl i shman of t he ni nt h, as i t i s wi t h t he

Engl i shman of t he ni net eent h cent ur y. At t hat t i me

t he gr eat er par t of t he ki ngdom was st i l l f ol kl and.

bel ongi ng t o t he nat i on, and onl y al i enabl e by t he

ki ng and hi s wi t an. When, however , any por t i on of

t he common i nher i t ance was so al i enat ed, t he gr ant ee

hel d of no f eudal l or d, not even of t he ki ng. As a

r ul e, t he l and became hi s i n a sense i n whi ch, t heor et i -

cal l y at l east , no man has owned an acr e i n Engl and

si nce t he Nor man Conquest . Subj ect onl y t o mar ch-

i ng t o meet i nvasi on, and t he maki ng and r est or i ng

of r oads and br i dges, t he Saxon f r eehol der hel d

hi s l and st r ai ght f r om t he Maker of i t .

But i t i s not onl y i n t he case of t he common or

f ol kl and t hat a st r ong t i nge of what woul d now be

cal l ed soci al i sm mani f est s i t sel f i n t he l i f e of our f or e-

f at her s. Teut oni c l aw, as Mr . Kembl e has shown,

bases i t sel f on t he f ami l y bond. The communi t y i n

whi ch he i s bor n and l i ves, t he gui l d t o whi ch he

has bound hi msel f , t he mast er whom he ser ves, ar e

r esponsi bl e f or t he mi sdoi ngs of t he ci t i zen cr af t s -

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO. 29

man, ser vant . The wor l d- ol d quest i on, " Am I my

br ot her ' s keeper ?" was answer ed wi t h emphasi s i n t he

af f i r mat i ve her e i n Engl and a t housand year s back.

I ndeed t he r esponsi bi l i t y was car r i ed i n some di r ec -

t i ons t o st r ange l engt hs, f or i t seems t hat i f a man

shoul d " f or t hr ee ni ght s ent er t ai n i n hi s house a mer -

chant or st r anger , and shoul d suppl y hi m wi t h f ood,

and t he guest so r ecei ved shoul d commi t a cr i me, t he

host must br i ng hi m t o j ust i ce or answer f or i t . " On

t he ot her hand, so j eal ous wer e our f at her s of vaga-

bonds i n t he l and, t hat " i f a st r anger or f or ei gner

shoul d wander f r om t he hi ghway, and t hen nei t her

cal l out nor sound hor n, he i s t o be t aken f or a t hi ef

and ki l l ed, or r edeemed by f i ne, " f or i n t r ut h t her e ar e

Page 19 of 174

so many pagan Danes, and ot her di sr eput abl e per sons,

. scat t er ed up and down t he l and, t hat soci et y must

pr ot ect i t sel f i n a summar y manner .

Thi s i t di d by l aws whi ch, up t o Al f r ed' s t i me,

wer e admi ni st er ed under t he ki ng by al der men.

These gr eat of f i cer s pr esi ded over shi r es, or smal l er

di st r i ct s, and hel d an aut hor i t y whi ch, under weak

ki ngs, amount ed al most t o i ndependence. The

of f i ces wer e her edi t ar y, and no speci al t r ai ni ng,

or educat i on of any ki nd, was r equi r ed of t he

hol der s. Si mpl e as t he code of Ki ng I na was,

such j udges wer e not compet ent t o admi ni st er i t ;

and Al f r ed, when at l engt h he had t i me f or t hem,

f ound t he most sear chi ng r ef or ms r equi r ed i n t hi s

depar t ment .

Thi s code of I na, t he one i n f or ce i n Wessex, was

mai nl y a l i st of penal t i es f or mur der , assaul t s, r ob-

30 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

ber i es, i nj ur i es t o f or est s and cat t l e. I t cont ai ned

al so pr ovi si ons as t o t he t r eat ment of sl aves, who

f or med a consi der abl e por t i on of ' t he popul at i on.

They wer e f or t he most par t Wel sh, and ot her

pr i soner s of war , or men who had been sent enced

t o ser vi t ude. The l aws wer e enf or ced by f i ne or

cor por al puni shment , i mpr i sonment bei ng unknown

i n t he ear l i er codes. Such as t hey wer e, t he l aws

of t he Angl o- Saxons wer e at l east i n t hei r own

mot her t ongue, and coul d be under st ood by t he

peopl e. I n t he ki ng' s and al der men' s cour t s, as

wel l as i n chur ch and at t he al t ar , t he Engl i shman

was abl e t o pl ead and pr ay i n hi s own l anguage,

a st r ong pr oof of t he vi gour of t he nat i onal l i f e,

af t er maki ng al l owance f or al l t he advant ages of

i nsul ar posi t i on, and f or t unat e acci dent .

We may not e al so t hat t hese i sl ander s ar e si ngu-

l ar l y j ust t o t hei r women, f ar mor e so t han t hei r de-

scendant s on ei t her si de of t he At l ant i c have come t o

be af t er t he l apse of a t housand year s. Mar r i ed women

coul d sue and be sued, and i nher i t and di spose of

pr oper t y of al l ki nds. Women coul d at t end t he shi r e-

gemot , even t he wi t ena- gemot — coul d si t , t hat i s, on

vest r i es, or i n par l i ament — and wer e pr ot ect ed by

speci al l aws i n mat t er s wher e t hei r weakness of body

woul d ot her wi se pl ace t hem at a di sadvant age. Our

f at her s acknowl edged, and pr act i cal l y enf or ced, t he

equal i t y of t he " spi ndl e hal f " and t he " spear - hal f "

of t he human f ami l y.

Above t he ser vi l e cl ass, or t he t hr al l s, t he nat i on

was di vi ded br oadl y i nt o " eor l " and " cheor l , " al l of

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO. 31

whom wer e f r eemen, t he f or mer gent l y bor n, and pos -

sessi ng pr i vi l eges of pr ecedence, whi ch gat her sur el y

enough r ound cer t ai n f ami l i es i n r aces amongst whom

bi r t h i s r ever enced.

Page 20 of 174

Under such condi t i ons of l i f e t hen our West Saxon

f at her s wer e l i vi ng i n t he mi ddl e of t he ni nt h cent ur y

A st ol i d, somewhat heavy peopl e, ent i r el y di vor ced

f r om t hei r ol d wander i ng pr opensi t i es, and set t l i ng

down, t oo r api dl y per haps, i nt o pl oddi ng, money-

maki ng habi t s, i n count r y and t own and cl oi st er ,

but capabl e of bl azi ng up i nt o whi t e bat t l e heat , and

of f i ght i ng wi t h unt am cabl e st ubbor nness, when t hei r

chur ches, or homes, or f l ocks ar e t hr eat ened ; capabl e

al so, not unf r equent l y, of r ar e her oi sm and sel f

sacr i f i ce when a cal l t hey can under st and comes t o

t hem. A nat i on capabl e of gr eat t hi ngs under t he

hand of a t r ue ki ng; .

CHAPTER I I I .

CHI LDHOOD,

I n t he year 849, when Al f r ed was bor n at t he r oyal

bur gh of Want age, t he youngest chi l d of ^ t hehvul f

and Osber ga, t he Ki ng of t he West Saxons had

al r eady est abl i shed hi s aut hor i t y as l or d over t he

ot her Teut oni c ki ngdoms i n Engl and. Unt i l t he

t i me of Egber t , t he f at her of ^ t hel wul f , t hi s over -

l or dshi p had shi f t ed f r om one st r ong hand t o anot her

amongst t he r ei gni ng pr i nces, each of whom, as occa-

si on ser ved, r ose and st r ove f or t he di gni t y of br et -

wal da, as i t was cal l ed. Now i t woul d be hel d by a

Mer ci an, t hen by a Nor t humbr i an, and agai n by a ki ng

of East Angl i an or Kent i sh men. But when, i n t he

year 800, t he same i n whi ch t he Emper or Char l e-

magne was cr owned by t he Pope, t he Gr eat Counci l

of Wessex el ect ed t he ^ t hel i ng Egber t ki ng of t he

West Saxons, al l such cont ent i on came t o an end.

For Egber t , exi l ed f r om hi s own l and by t he br et -

wal da, Of i f a of Mer ci a, had spent t hi r t een year s i n t he

ser vi ce of Char l emagne, and had l ear ned i n t hat school

how t o consol i dat e and gover n ki ngdoms. He r ei gned

t hi r t y- seven year s i n Engl and, and at hi s deat h al l t he

l and owned hi m as over - ki ng, t hough t he Nor t hum-

CHI LDHOOD.

br i ans, Mer ci ans, and East Angl i ans st i l l kept t hei r

own ki ngs and gr eat counci l s, who gover ned wi t hi n t hei r

own bor der s as Egber t ' s men. I n Egber t ' s l at er char -

t er s he i s cal l ed Ki ng of t he Engl i sh, and t he name of

Angl i a was by hi m gi ven t o t he whol e ki ngdom.

I t i s sai d t hat t he l ast br et wal da and f i r st ki ng of

al l Engl and f el t uneasy f or ebodi ngs as t o t he dest i ny

of hi s ki ngdom when he was l eavi ng i t t o hi s son and

successor . Et hel wul f , f r om hi s yout h up, had been of

a st r ongl y devot i onal t ur n, and was t oo much under

t he i nf l uence of t he cl er gy t o pl ease hi s f at her . He

woul d pr obabl y have f ol l owed hi s nat ur al bent , and

ent er ed hol j ' - or der s, but t hat Egber t had no ot her

Page 21 of 174

son. So as ear l y as 828 he had been made Ki ng of

Kent , and soon af t er war ds mar r i ed Osber ga, t he

daught er of hi s cup- bear er Osl ac. Ther e i n Kent ,

under t he eye of Egber t , he r ei gned f or t en year s, not

ot her wi se t han cr edi t abl y, maki ng head agai nst t he

Dani sh pi r at es, who wer e al r eady appear i ng al most

year l y on t he coast , i n a manner not unwor t hy of hi s

gr eat f at her and st i l l gr eat er son. I ndeed, i f he was

swayed mor e t han hi s f at her l i ked by chur chmen, t he

i nf l uence of Eal st an, t he sol di er - bi shop of Sher bor ne,

woul d seem t o have been as power f ul wi t h hi m as t hat

of t he l ear ned and non- combat ant Bi shop S wi t h i n of

Wi nchest er , af t er war ds sai nt . Nor di d cour age or

ener gy f ai l hi m af t er he had succeeded t o Egber t ' s

t hr one, f or we f i nd hi m i n t he next f ew year s com-

mandi ng i n per son i n sever al pi t ched bat t l es wi t h t he

Danes, t he most i mpor t ant of whi ch was f ought i n

851 at a pl ace i n Sur r ey whi ch t he chr oni cl er s cal l

S. L. VI I I .

)

34 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

Ac l ea ( t he oak pl ai n) , and whi c h i s s t i l l named

Oc k l ey . The v i l l age l i es a f ew mi l es s out h of Dor k -

i ng, under Lei t h Hi l l , f r om whi c h pr obabl y Et hel -

wul f ' s s c out s mar k ed t he l ong l i ne of Pagans , and

s i gnal l ed t o t he Ki ng t hei r wher eabout s . They wer e

mar c hi ng s out h, al ong t he ol d Roman r oad, t he

r emai ns of whi c h may s t i l l be s een near t he bat t l e -

f i el d, heav y wi t h t he s poi l s of London, i t i s s ai d, par t

of whi c h c i t y t hey had s uc c eeded i n s ac k i ng. Et hel -

wul f f el l on t hem f r om t he hi gher gr ound, and

s ev er el y def eat ed t hem, r ec ov er i ng al l t he s poi l .

Agai n, a l i t t l e l at er i n t he s ame y ear , at Sandwi c h

i n Kent , and af t er t hat Wes s ex was s c ar c el y t r oubl ed

wi t h t hem f or ei ght y ear s . So now Et hel wul f had

l ei s ur e t o t ur n hi s t hought s t o a pi l gr i mage t o Rome,

whi c h he had had i t i n hi s mi nd t o mak e ev er s i nc e

he had been on t he t hr one. But t wo y ear s pas s ed and

s t i l l he was not r eady t o s t ar t , and i n 853 Buhr ed, k i ng

of Mer c i a, appl i ed t o hi r n as hi s ov er - l or d f or hel p

agai ns t t he Wel s h. Then Et hel wul f mar c hed hi ms el f

agai ns t t he Wel s h wi t h Buhr ed, and pur s ued t hei r k i ng,

Roder i c Mawr , t o Angl es ey , wher e he ac k nowl edged

Et hel wul f as hi s ov er - l or d, who r et ur ni ng i n t r i umph

t o Wes s ex , t her e at t he r oy al bur gh of Chi ppenham

gav e hi s daught er Et hel s wi t ha t o Buhr ed as hi s wi f e.

Bei ng t hus hi nder ed hi ms el f f r om s t ar t i ng on hi s

pi l gr i mage, Et hel wul f i n t hat s ame y ear s ent hi s

y oung s on Al f r ed, of whom he was al r eady mor e f ond

t han of hi s el der s ons , t o Rome, wi t h an honour abl e

es c or t . Ther e t he boy of f i v e was r ec ei v ed by Leo I V.

as hi s s on by adopt i on, and, i t woul d s eem, anoi nt ed

I

CHI LDHOOD. 35

Page 22 of 174

hi m k i ng of t he Wes t Sax ons . The f ac t i s r ec or ded

bot h i n t he Sax on Chr oni c l e and i n t hat of As s er , who

upon s uc h a poi nt woul d pr obabl y hav e t he Ki ng' s

own aut hor i t y . Whet her a s t ep s o c ont r ar y t o al l

Engl i s h c us t om was t ak en by Et hel wul f ' s r eques t , i n

or der t o f ound a c l ai m t o t he s uc c es s i on f or hi s

f av our i t e s on, i s unk nown. I n any c as e, no s uc h

s pec i al c l ai m was ev er ur ged by Al f r ed hi ms el f

Leo was no unwor t hy s pi r i t ual f at her t o s uc h a

boy . He was bus y at t hi s t i me wi t h t he enc l os ur e of

t he quar t er of t he Vat i c an, t he r es t or at i on of t he ol d

wal l s and f or t i f i c at i ons , and t he ar mi ng and i ns pi r i t i ng

of t he Romans . Moor i s h pi r at es had been l at el y i n

t he s ubur bs of t he Et er nal Ci t y , and had pr of aned

t he t ombs of t he Apos t l es St . Pet er and St . Paul .

What wi t h pagan Danes i n t he nor t her n s eas , and

Moor s i n t he Medi t er r anean, t he c oas t s of Chr i s t endom

had l i t t l e r es t a t hous and y ear s ago, and i t behov ed

ev en t he Hol y Fat her t o l ook t o hi s f i ght i ng gear

and appl i anc es .

How l ong Al f r ed s t ay ed at Rome on t hi s oc c as i on

i s unc er t ai n ; but i f t he opi ni on whi c h woul d s eem t o

be gai ni ng gr ound amongs t s t udent s i s c or r ec t

— t hat

he di d not r et ur n, but wai t ed t he ar r i v al of Et hel -

wul f t wo y ear s l at er — we mus t gi v e up t he wel l -

k nown s t or y of hi s ear ni ng t he book of Sax on poems

f r om hi s mot her .

Thi s i s r el at ed by As s er as hav i ng happened when

he was t wel v e y ear s ol d or mor e, whi c h i s c l ear l y

i mpos s i bl e, as hi s mot her Os ber ga mus t hav e been

dead bef or e 856, when hi s f at her mar r i ed J udi t h, as

D 2

36 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

we s hal l hear pr es ent l y . Howev er , t he t al e i s t hus

t ol d by t he ol d c hr oni c l er , t he per s onal f r i end of

Al f r ed : " On a c er t ai n day , hi s mot her was s howi ng

hi m and hi s br ot her s a book of Sax on poet r y whi c h

s he hel d i n her hand, and s ai d, ' Whi c hev er of y ou

s hal l f i r s t l ear n t hi s book s hal l hav e i t f or hi s own. '

Mov ed by t hes e wor ds , or r at her by a di v i ne i ns pi r a-

t i on, and al l ur ed by t he i l l umi nat ed l et t er s , he s pok e

bef or e hi s br ot her s , who t hough hi s s eni or s i n y ear s

wer e not s o i n gr ac e, and ans wer ed, ' Wi l l y ou

r eal l y gi v e t hat book t o t he one of us who c an f i r s t

under s t and and r epeat i t t o y ou. - * '

Upon whi c h hi s

mot her s mi l ed and r epeat ed what s he had s ai d. So

Al f r ed t ook t he book f r om her hand and went t o

hi s mas t er t o r ead i t , and i n due t i me br ought i t

agai n t o hi s mot her and r ec i t ed i t . "

Now Al f r ed, one r egr et s t o r emar k , bef or e hi s f i r s t

j our ney t o Rome, c oul d s c ar c el y hav e been ol d

enough t o get by hear t a book of poems , t hough

he mi ght hav e done s o af t er hi s r et ur n, and bef or e hi s

s ec ond j our ney i n hi s f at her ' s t r ai n.

Page 23 of 174

Thi s happened i n 855. Bef or e s t ar t i ng, Et hel wul f ,

by c har t er s i gned i n t he pr es enc e of t he bi s hops

Swi t hi n and Eal s t an, gav e one- t ent h of hi s l and

t hr oughout t he k i ngdom f or t he gl or y of God and

hi s own et er nal s al v at i on ; or , as s ome c hr oni c l er s s ay ,

r el eas ed one- t ent h of al l l ands f r om r oy al s er v i c e and

t r i but e, and gav e i t up t o God. I n t hat s ame y ear

we may al s o not e t hat an ar my of t he Pagans f i r s t

s at ov er wi nt er i n t he I s l e of Sheppey .

A br i ght br av e boy , f ul l of t he f ol k - l or e of hi s own

CHI LDHOOD. 37

peopl e, wi t h a mi nd of r ar e power and s ens i t i v enes s

and doc i l e, l ov i ng, r ev er ent s oul , c r os s i ng Fr anc e i n t he

t r ai n of a k i ng, and t hat k i ng hi s own f at her — ent er -

t ai ned now at t he c our t of t he gr ands on of Char l e-

magne, now at t he c as t l es of war r i or nobl es , now by -

pr el at es whos e r eput at i on as l ear ned men i s s t i l l al i v e

— t r av er s i ng t he gr eat Al ps , and t hr ough t he gar den

of t he wor l d appr oac hi ng onc e agai n t he Et er nal Ci t y ,

r enewi ng t he memor i es of hi s c hi l dhood amongs t i t s

r ui ns and s hr i nes and pal ac es , under t he s k y of

I t al y — one c annot but f eel t hat s uc h an epi s ode i n

hi s y oung l i f e mus t hav e been f ul l of f r ui t f or hi m

upon whom wer e s o s oon t o r es t t he bur den of a l i f e

and deat h s t r uggl e wi t h t he mos t t er r i bl e of f oes ,

and of r ai s i ng a s l ot hf ul and s t ol i d nat i on out of

t he dar k nes s and ex haus t i on i n whi c h t hat s t r uggl e

had l ef t t hem ?

And what a y ear was t hi s of A. D. 855 f or a y oung

pr i nc e wi t h open mi nd and qui c k ey e t o s pend i n

Rome ! Hi s godf at her , t he br av e ol d Pope Leo, on

hi s deat hbed, dead pr obabl y bef or e t he ar r i v al of t he

Sax on pi l gr i ms ; t he el ec t i on and i naugur at i on of Bene -

di c t t he Thi r d, wi t hout appeal t o or c ons ul t at i on wi t h

t he Emper or Lot hai r e, s wi f t l y f ol l owi ng — as s wi f t l y

f ol l owed by pr ot es t of s ai d Emper or , r i ot s , and t he

f l i ght and s peedy r et ur n i n t r i umph of Benedi c t t o

t he c hai r of St . Pet er ; t he i l l nes s and deat h of

Lot hai r e hi ms el f , t he whi s per ed s t or i es of t he s t r uggl e

f or hi s c or ps e bet ween t he dev i l s and t he s t ar t l ed but

undaunt ed monk s of Pr ui m { c i r c ui ns t ant i bus c or pus

ej us t r aJ i i c t det r ai n v i dc r et ur , s c d monac hi s or a/ i t i bas

38 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

dc s mones s unt f at i gat i ) ; t he ent r anc e of y oung I mpe -

r at or Lewi s — al l t hes e t hi ngs Al f r ed mus t hav e

s een and hear d wi t h hi s own ey es and ear s i n t hat

ev ent f ul y ear .

Meant i me whet her Pope or Emper or , c l er i c al or

i mper i al par t y , wer e upper mos t f or t he moment , we

may be s ur e t hat t he Engl i s hmen wer e r ec ei v ed and

t r eat ed wi t h al l honour . For Et hc l wul f , bes i des t he

homage and r ev er enc e of an ent hus i as t i c pi l gr i m,

br ought wi t h hi m c os t l y gi f t s , a c r own f our pounds i n

wei ght , t wo di s hes , t wo f i gur es , al l of pur e gol d, ur ns

s i l v er - gi l t , s t ol es and r obes of r i c hes t s i l k i nt er wov en

Page 24 of 174

wi t h gol d. Al l t hes e, wi t h muni f i c ent s ums of out -

l andi s h c oi n, t hi s k i ng wi t h a name whi c h no Roman

c an wr i t e or s peak , br i ngs f or t he hol y f at her and St .

Pet er ' s s hr i ne. Bef or e hi s depar t ur e, t oo, he has

r ebui l t and r e- endowed t he Sax on s c hool s , and

pr omi s ed 300 mar k s y ear l y f r om hi s r oy al r ev enues ,

100 eac h f or t he f i l l i ng of t he Eas t er l amps on t he

s hr i nes of St . Pet er and St . Paul wi t h f i nes t oi l , 100

f or t he pr i v at e pur s e of t hei r s uc c es s or .

I t was not t i l l af t er Eas t er i n t he nex t y ear t hat

t he r oy al pi l gr i m t ook t hought of hi s peopl e i n t he

f ar wes t , and t ur ned hi s f ac e homewar ds , ar r i v i ng

i gai n at t he c our t of Char l es t he Bal d i n t he ear l y

s ummer of 856. Thr ough t he l ong v i s t a of y ear s we

c an s t i l l get a br i ght gl eam or t wo of l i ght upon t hat

c our t i n t hos e s ame day s .

^ Di d he al s o s ee t he el ev at i on or at t empt ed el ev at i on of Pope J oan

t o t he papac y ? I t i s a papal l egend t l i at an Engl i s hwoman by des c ent

and J oan by name, was el ec t ed on t he deat h of I . eo I V.

CHI LDHOOD. 39

Not wi t hs t andi ng t he t r oubl es whi c h wer e pr es s i ng

on hi s k i ngdom f r om t he Danes and Nor t hmen on

hi s c oas t s ; f r om t ur bul ent nephew Pepi n, wi t h i nf i del

Sar ac ens f or al l i es , on t he s out h ; f r om di s l oy al nobl es

i n Aqui t ai ne i t s el f ,

— t he c our t of Char l es t he Bal d

was at onc e s t at el y and magni f i c ent , and t he c ent r e

of al l t hat c oul d be c al l ed hi gh c ul t ur e out s i de of

Rome. Char l es hi ms el f , l i k e Et hel wul f , was under t he

i nf l uenc e of pr i es t s , who i n f ac t r ul ed f or hi m. But

t he head of t hem, Hi nc mar . Ar c hbi s hop of Rhei ms ,

was bef or e al l t hi ngs a s t at es man and a Fr enc hman,

who woul d mai nt ai n j eal ous l y hi s s ov er ei gn' s aut hor i t y

and t he l i ber t i es of t he nat i onal Chur c h ; c oul d ev en

on oc c as i on r ebuk e popes f or at t empt ed i nt er f er enc e

wi t h t he t empor al af f ai r s of di s t ant k i ngdoms , whi c h

" k i ngs c ons t i t ut ed by God per mi t bi s hops t o r ul e i n

ac c or danc e wi t h t hei r dec r ees . "

Bot h k i ng and mi ni s t er wer e gl ad t o gat her

s c hol ar s and men of not e and pi et y r ound t hem ;

and at Compi egne, or Ver ber i e, i n t hes e mont hs ,

Al f r ed mus t hav e c ome t o k now at any r at e Gr i m-

bal d, and J ohn Er i gena, t he f or mer ( i f not bot h) of

whom, i n af t er y ear s , at hi s i nv i t at i on, c ame ov er t o

l i v e wi t h hi m- and t eac h t he Engl i s h. J ohn, an I r i s h-

man by adopt i on, i f not by bi r t h, was i n f ac t at t hi s

t i me mas t er of t he s c hool of t he pal ac e, or , as we

s houl d s ay , t ut or t o t he r oy al f ami l y . I n t he s c hool -

r oom Al f r ed mus t hav e been wel c omed by J udi t h,

a beaut i f ul and c l ev er gi r l of f our t een y ear s of age

or t her eabout s ; and Char l es , t he boy - k i ng of Aqui -

t ai ne, s c ar c el y ol der t han hi ms el f , l at el y s ent home

40 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

f r om t hos e par t s by t he nobl es . They t her e, we may

f anc y , r eadi ng and t al k i ng wi t h J ohn t he I r i s hman

on many s ubj ec t s . He, f or hi s par t , f or t he moment ,

Page 25 of 174

at t he i ns t i gat i on of Hi nc mar , i s engaged i n di s c us -

s i on wi t h Abbot Pas c as i us , who i s t r oubl i ng t he mi nds

of t he or t hodox wi t h s pec ul at i ons as t o t he nat ur e

and manner of t he pr es enc e of Chr i s t i n t he Hol y

Euc har i s t ; wi t h t he Ger man monk Got t es c hal k , who

i s i nv i t i ng al l per s ons t o c ons i der t he doc t r i ne of

f r ee- wi l l wi t h a v i ew t o i t s f i nal s et t l ement t o t he

s at i s f ac t i on of t he good f ol k . J ohn, t he I r i s hman,

i s r eady enough t o do Hi nc mar ' s bi ddi ng, does i n

f ac t do bat t l e wi t h bot h Pas c as i us and Got t es c hal k ,

but s eems l i k el y t o f i nal l y s et t l e not hi ng of c on-

s equenc e i n r el at i on t o t hes e c ont r ov er s i es , as he

( not , we s houl d i magi ne, t o t he s at i s f ac t i on of

Ar c hbi s hop Hi nc mar ) pr ov es t o be a s t r enuous

mai nt ai ner of t he r i ght of pr i v at e j udgment , and

human r eas on, i ns t ead of an or t hodox def ender of

t he f ai t h.

Al f r ed mus t hav e been r ous ed unpl eas ant l y f r om

hi s s t udi es i n t he s c hool of t he pal ac e, by t he news

t hat hi s f at her i s about t o mar r y t he y oung J udi t h,

hi s f el l ow- pupi l . Thi s i l l - s t ar r ed bet r ot hal t ak es

pl ac e i n J ul y , and on Oc t ober i s t , at t he pal ac e of

Ver bc r i c , t he mar r i age bet ween t he Sax on k i ng of

s i x t y and upwar ds , and t he Fr enc h gi r l of f our t een, i s

c el ebr at ed wi t h gr eat magni f i c enc e, Hi nc mar hi ms el f

of f i c i at i ng. The r i t ual us ed on t he oc c as i on i s s ai d t o

be s t i l l ex t ant . J udi t h was pl ac ed by her hus band' s

s i de and c r owned queen.

I

CHI LDHOOD. 41

The news of whi c h c r owni ng was l i k e t o hav e

wr ought s or e t r oubl e i n Engl and, f or t he Gr eat Counc i l

of Wes s ex had made a l aw i n t he f i r s t y ear of Ki ng

Egber t ' s r ei gn, t hat no woman s houl d be c r owned

queen of t he Wes t Sax ons . Thi s t hey di d bec aus e

of Eadbur gha, t he wi f e of Beor ht r i c , t he l as t k i ng.

She bei ng a woman of j eal ous and i mper i ous t emper

had mi x ed poi s on i n t he c up of War r , a y oung nobl e,

her hus band' s f r i end, of whi c h c up he di ed, and t he

k i ng hav i ng par t ak en of i t , di ed al s o. And Eadbur gha

f l ed, f i r s t t o Char l emagne, who pl ac ed her ov er a

c onv ent . Ex pel l ed f r om t henc e s he wander ed away

t o I t al y , and di ed beggi ng her br ead i n t he s t r eet s of

Pav i a. The Wes t Sax ons t her ef or e s et t l ed t hat t hey

woul d hav e no mor e queens . So when Et hel bal d, t he

el des t l i v i ng s on of t he Ki ng, who had been r ul i ng i n

Engl and i n hi s f at her ' s abs enc e, hear d of t hi s c r own -

i ng, he t ook c ouns el wi t h Eal s t an t he bi s hop, and

Eanwul f t he gr eat al der man of Somer s et , and i t i s

c er t ai n t hat t hey and ot her nobl es met and bound

t hems el v e- s t oget her by a s ec r et oat h i n t he f or es t ot

Sel wood — t he gr eat wood, s i l v a magna, or Coi t mawr ,

as we l ear n f r om As s er , t he Br i t i s h c al l ed i t . Whet her

t he obj ec t of t hei r oat h was t he det hr onement of

Ki ng Et hel wul f i s not k nown, but i t may wel l be t hat

i t was s o, f or on hi s r et ur n he f ound hi s peopl e i n t wo

par t s , t he one r eady t o f i ght f or hi m, and t he ot her f or

hi s s on.

Page 26 of 174

But Et hel wul f wi t h al l hi s f ol l y was a good man,

and woul d not br i ng such evi l on hi s ki ngdom. So

l i e par t ed i t wi t h hi s son, he hi msel f r et ai ni ng Kent

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

and t he cr own l ands, and l eavi ng Wessex t o Et hel -

bal d. The men of Kent had made no such l aw as

t o women, and t her e Judi t h r ei gned as queen wi t h

her husband f or t wo year s.

Then t he ol d Ki ng di ed, and, t o t he hor r or and

scandal of t he whol e r eal m, Judi t h hi s wi dow was i n

t he same year mar r i ed t o Et hel bal d, " cont r ar y t o

God' s pr ohi bi t i on and t he di gni t y of a Chr i st i an,

cont r ar y al so t o t he cust om of al l t he Pagans. " Thi s

Et hel bal d, not wi t hst andi ng t he scandal and hor r or ,

car r i es t he mat t er wi t h a hi gh hand hi s own way. A

bol d, bad man, f or whose speedy r emoval we may be

t hankf ul , i n vi ew of t he t i mes whi ch ar e so soon

comi ng on hi s count r y.

Let us her e f i ni sh t he st r ange st or y of t hi s pr i ncess,

t hr ough whom al l our sover ei gns si nce Wi l l i am t he

Conquer or t r ace t hei r descent f r om t he Emper or

Char l emagne. She l i ved i n Engl and f or yet t wo

year s, t i l l t he deat h of Et hel bal d, i n 86c, when, sel l i ng

al l her possessi ons her e, she went back t o her f at her ' s

cour t . Fr om t hence she el oped, i n def i ance of her

f at her , but wi t h t he conni vance of her young br ot her

Lewi s, wi t h Bal dwi n Br as- de- f er , a Fl emi sh nobl e.

The young coupl e had t o j our ney t o Rome t o get

t hei r mar r i age sanct i oned, and make t hei r peace wi t h

Pope Ni chol as I . , t o whom t he enr aged Char l es had

denounced her and her l over . Judi t h, however , seems

t o have had as l i t t l e t r oubl e wi t h hi s Hol i ness as

wi t h al l ot her men, and r et ur ned wi t h hi s absol u-

t i on, and l et t er s of commendat i on t o her f at her .

Char l es t her eupon made her husband Count of

CHI LDHOOD. 43

Fl ander s, and gave hi m al l t he count r y bet ween

t he Schel d, t he Sambr e, and t he sea, " t hat he

mi ght be t he bul war k of t he Fr ank ki ngdom agai nst

t he Nor t hmen. "

Thi s t r ust Bal dwi n f ai t hf ul l y per f or med, bui l di ng t he

f or t r ess of Br uges, and r ul i ng Fl ander s manf ul l y f or

many year s. And our Al f r ed, t hough, we may be sur e,

much shocked i n ear l y year s at t he doi ngs of hi s young

st epmot her , must have shar ed t he f at e of t he r est of hi s

sex at l ast , f or we f i nd hi m gi vi ng hi s daught er El f r i da

as wi f e t o Bal dwi n, second Count of Fl ander s, t he

el dest son of Judi t h. Fr om t hi s Bal dwi n t he Second,

and Al f r ed' s daught er El f r i da, t he Conquer or ' s wi f e

Mat i l da came, t hr ough whom our sover ei gns t r ace t hei r

descent f r om Al f r ed t he Gr eat . And so t he f i gur e

of f ai r , f r ai l , f asci nat i ng Judi t h f l i t s acr oss Engl i sh

Page 27 of 174

hi st or y i n t hose ol d year s, t he woman who next t o

hi s own mot her must have had most i nf l uence on

our gr eat ki ng.

CHAPTER I V.

CNI HTHOOD.

" Wher ewi t hal shal l a young man cl eanse hi s way ?

Even by r ul i ng hi msel f af t er Thy wor d. "

The quest i on of quest i ons t hi s, at t he most cr i t i cal

t i me i n hi s l i f e f or ever y chi l d of Adam who ever

gr ew t o manhood on t he f ace of our pl anet ; and so

f ar as human exper i ence has yet gone, t he answer

of answer s. Ot her answer s have been, i ndeed, f or t h-

comi ng at al l t i mes, and never sur el y i n gr eat er

number or st r anger gui se t han at t he pr esent t i me :

" Wher ewi t hal shal l a young man cl eanse hi s way?"

Even by r ul i ng hi msel f i n t he f ai t h " t hat human

l i f e wi l l become mor e beaut i f ul and mor e nobl e i n

t he f ut ur e t han i n t he past . " Thi s wi l l be f ound

enough " t o st i mul at e t he f or ces of t he wi l l , and

pur i f y t he soul f r om base passi on, " ur ge, wi t h a zeal

and abi l i t y of whi ch ever y Chr i st i an must desi r e t o

speak wi t h deep r espect , mor e t han one school of

our ni net eent h cent ur y mor al i st s.

" Wher ewi t hal shal l a young man cl eanse hi s

way. ?" Even by r ul i ng hi msel f on t he f ai t h, " t hat

i t i s pr obabl e t hat God exi st s, and t hat deat h i s not

t he end of l i f e; " or agai n, " t hat t hi s i s t he onl y

CNI HTHOOD. 45

wor l d of whi ch we have any knowl edge at al l . "

Ei t her of t hese cr eeds, says t he phi l osopher of t he

cl ubs, i f hel d di st i nct l y as a dogma and consi st ent l y

act ed on, wi l l be f ound ' ^ capabl e of pr oduci ng pr ac -

t i cal r esul t s on an ast oni shi ng scal e. " So one woul d

t hi nk, but scar cel y i n t he di r ect i on of per sonal hol i -

ness, or ener gy. Meant i me, t he answer of t he Hebr ew

psal mi st , 3, 000 year s ol d, or t her eabout s, has gone

st r ai ght t o t he hear t of many gener at i ons, and I t ake

i t wi l l scar cel y car e t o make way f or any sol ut i on

l i kel y t o occur t o moder n sci ence or phi l osophy.

Yes, he who has t he wor d of t he l i vi ng God t o r ul e

hi msel f by — who can f al l back on t he st r engt h of Hi m

who has had t he vi ct or y over t he wor l d, t he f l esh,

and t he devi l — may even i n t hi s st r ange di sj oi nt ed

t i me of our s car r y hi s manhood pur e and unsul l i ed

t hr ough t he deat h- gr i ps t o whi ch he must come wi t h

" t he l ust of t he f l esh, t he l ust of t he eye, and t he

pr i de of l i f e. " He who wi l l t ake t he wor l d, t he f l esh,

and t he devi l by t he t hr oat i n hi s own st r engt h, wi l l

f i nd t hem shr ewd wr est l er s. Wel l f or hi m i f he

escape wi t h t he st ai n of t he f al l s whi ch he i s t oo

sur e t o get , and can r i se up st i l l a man, t hough

beat en and shamed, t o meet t he same f oes i n new

shapes i n hi s l at er year s. New shapes, and ever mor e

Page 28 of 174

vi l e, as t he year s r un on. " Thr ee sor t s of men my

soul hat et h, " says t he son of Si r ach, " a poor man

t hat i s pr oud, a r i ch man t hat i s a l i ar , and an ol d

adul t er er t hat doat et h. "

We may bel i eve t he Gospel hi st or y t o be a f abl e, but

who amongst us can deny t he f act , t hat each son of

46 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

man has t o go f or t h i nt o t he wi l der ness — f or us, " t he

wi l der ness of t he wi de wor l d i n an at hei st i c cent ur y" —

and t her e do bat t l e wi t h t he t empt er as soon as t he

whi sper has come i n hi s ear : " Thou t oo ar t a man ;

eat f r eel y. Al l t hese t hi ngs wi l l I gi ve t hee. "

Amongst t he Angl o- Saxons t he per i od bet ween

chi l dhood and manhood was cal l ed " cni ht hood, " t he

wor d " cni ht " si gni f yi ng bot h a yout h and a ser vant .

The l i vi ng connexi on bet ween cni ht hood and ser vi ce

was never mor e f ai t hf ul l y i l l ust r at ed t han by t he

young Saxon pr i nce, t hough he had al r eady l ost t he

f at her t o whom al one on ear t h hi s ser vi ce was due.

The young nobl es of Wessex of Al f r ed' s t i me f or t he

most par t l ear nt t o r un, l eap, wr est l e, and hunt , and

wer e much gi ven t o hor se- r aci ng and t he use of ar ms ;

but beyond t hi s, we know f r om Al f r ed hi msel f , t hat

nei t her t hei r f at her s or t hey had much car e t o go.

Doubt l ess, however , her e and t her e wer e cl er i cal men,

l i ke Bi shop Wi l f r i d i n t he pr evi ous cent ur y, t o whom

nobl es sent t hei r sons t o be t aught by hi m ; and when

f ul l - gr own, " t o be dedi cat ed t o God i f t hey shoul d

choose i t , or ot her wi se t o be pr esent ed t o t he ki ng

i n ' f ul l ar mour . " I t i s not pr obabl e t hat Al f r ed ever

had t he advant age of such t ui t i on, as he makes no

ment i on of i t hi msel f We do not know exact l y

how or when he l ear nt t o r ead or wr i t e, but t he

st or y of how he met t he young man' s f oes i n t he hey -

day of hi s yout h and st r engt h comes t o us i n Bi shop

Asser ' s l i f e, pr eci sel y enough, t hough i n t he l anguage

and cl ot hi ng of a f ar - of f t i me, wi t h whi ch we ar e l i t t l e

i n sympat hy. I t seems bet t er , however , t o l eave i t

CNI HTHOOD. 47

as i t st ands. Any at t empt t o r emove what we shoul d

cal l t he mi r acul ous el ement out of i t woul d pr obabl y

t ake away al l l i f e wi t hout r ender i ng i t t he l east mor e

cr edi bl e t o r eader s of t o- day.

As he advanced t hr ough t he year s of i nf ancy and

yout h, hi s f or m appear ed mor e comel y t han t hose of

hi s br ot her s, and i n l ook, speech, and manner s he was

mor e gr acef ul t han t hey. He was al r eady t he dar l i ng

of t he peopl e, who f el t t hat i n wi sdom and ot her

qual i t i es he sur passed al l t he r oyal r ace. Al f r ed t hen

bei ng a yout h of t hi s f ai r pr omi se, whi l e t r ai ni ng hi m-

sel f di l i gent l y i n al l such l ear ni ng as he had t he

means of acqui r i ng, and especi al l y i n hi s own mot her

t ongue, and t he poems and songs whi ch f or med t he

chi ef par t of Angl o- Saxon l i t er at ur e, was not unmi nd-

f ul of t he cul t ur e of hi s body, and was a zeal ous pr ac -

Page 29 of 174

t i ser of hunt i ng i n al l i t s br anches, and hunt ed w' i t h

gr eat per sever ance and success. Ski l l and good f or t une

i n t hi s ar t , as i n al l ot her s, t he good Bi shop her e adds,

ar e amongst t he gi f t s of God, and ar e gi ven t o men

of t hi s st amp, as we our sel ves have of t en wi t nessed.

But bef or e al l t hi ngs he was wi shf ul t o st r engt hen

hi s mi nd i n t he keepi ng of God' s commandment s ;

and, f i ndi ng t hat t he car nal desi r es and pr oud and

r ebel l i ous t hought s whi ch t he devi l , who i s ever

j eal ous of t he good, i s apt t o br eed i n t he mi nds

of t he young, wer e l i kel y t o have t he mast er y

of hi m, he used of t en t o r i se at cock - cr ow i n t he

ear l y mor ni ngs, and r epai r i ng t o some chur ch, or

hol y pl ace, t her e cast hi msel f bef or e God i n pr ayer

t hat he mi ght do not hi ng cont r ar y t o Hi s hol y

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

v/ i l l . But f i ndi ng hi msel f st i l l har d best ed, he began

at such t i mes t o pr ay as he l ay pr ost r at e bef or e

t he al t ar , t hat God i n Hi s gr eat mer cy woul d

st r engt hen hi s mi nd and wi l l by some si ckness, such

as woul d be of use t o hi m i n t he subdui ng of hi s

body, but woul d not show i t sel f out war dl y or r ender

hi m power l ess or cont empt i bl e i n wor l dl y dut i es, or

l ess abl e t o benef i t hi s peopl e. For Ki ng Al f r ed f r om

hi s ear l i est year s hel d i n gr eat dr ead l epr osy, and

bl i ndness, and ever y di sease whi ch woul d make a

man usel ess or cont empt i bl e i n t he conduct of af f ai r s.

And when he had of t en and wi t h much f er vour

pr ayed t o t hi s ef f ect , i t pl eased God t o af f l i ct hi m wi t h

a ver y pai nf ul di sease, whi ch l ay upon l i i m wi t h l i t t l e

r espi t e unt i l he was i n hi s t went i et h year .

At t hi s age he became bet r ot hed t o her who was

af t er war ds hi s wi f e, El swi t ha, t he daught er of

Et hel r ed, t he Ear l of t he Gai ni i n Mer ci a, whom

t he Engl i sh named Muci l , because he was gr eat

of body and ol d i n wi sdom. Al f r ed, t hen at t hat

t i me bei ng on a vi si t t o Cor nwal l f or t he sake of

hunt i ng, t ur ned asi de f r om hi s spor t , as hi s cust om

of t en was, t o pr ay i n a cer t ai n chapel i n whi ch was

bur i ed t he body of St . Guer i r . Ther e he ent r eat ed

God t hat He woul d exchange t he si ckness wi t h

whi ch he had been up t o t hat t i me af f l i ct ed f or

some ot her di sease, whi ch shoul d i n l i ke manner not

r ender hi m usel ess or cont empt i bl e. And so, f i ni sh-

i ng hi s pr ayer s, he got up and r ode away, and soon

af t er per cei ved wi t hi n hi msel f t hat he was made

whol e of hi s ol d si ckness.

CNI HTHOOD. 49

So hi s mar r i age was cel ebr at ed i n Mcr ci a. t c

whi ch came gr eat number s of peopl e, and. t her e

was f east i ng whi ch l ast ed t hr ough t he ni ght as wel l

as by day. I n t he mi dst of whi ch r evel r y Al f r ed

was at t acked by sudden and vi ol ent pai n, t he cause

of whi ch nei t her t hey who wer e t hen pr esent , nor

Page 30 of 174

i ndeed any physi ci an i n af t er year s, coul d r i ght l y

ascer t ai n. At t he t i me, however , some bel i eved t hat

i t was t he mal i gnant enchant ment of some per son

amongst t he guest s, ot her s t hat i t was t he speci al

spi t e of t he devi l , ot her s agai n t hat i t was t he ol d

si ckness come back on hi m, or a st r ange ki nd of f ever .

I n any case f r om t hat day unt i l hi s f or t y - f our t h year ,

i f not st i l l l at er , he was subj ect t o t hi s same si ckness,

whi ch f r equent l y r et ur ned, gi vi ng hi m t he most acut e

pai n, and, as he t hought , maki ng hi m usel ess f or ever y

dut y. But how f ar t he Ki ng was f r om t hi nki ng r i ght l y

i n t hi s r espect , t hose who r ead of t he bur dens t hat

wer e l ai d on hi m, and t he wor k whi ch he accompl i shed,

can best j udge f or t hemsel ves.

We must r et ur n, however , t o t he deat h of Et hel -

wul f , whi ch happened, as we hear d above, A. D. 858.

That ki ng, wi t h a vi ew, as he supposed, t o pr event

st r i f e af t er hi s deat h, had i nduced t he West Saxon

vvi t an t o agr ee t o t he pr ovi si ons of hi s wi l l , and t o

si gn i t by some of t hei r f or emost men. These pr o-

vi si ons wer e, t hat Et hel bal d hi s el dest sur vi vi ng son,

who had r ebel l ed agai nst hi m, shoul d r emai n ki ng of

Wessex, and, i f he shoul d di e chi l dl ess, shoul d be

succeeded by hi s t wo youngest br ot her s, Et hel r ed and

Al f r ed, i n successi on; whi l e Et hcl ber t , t he second son,

s. L. vni . E

50 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

shoul d be ki ng of Kent , Sussex, and Sur r ey, wi t h no

r i ght of successi on t o t he gr eat er ki ngdom. Thus even

i n hi s deat h Et hel wul f was pr epar i ng t r oubl e f or hi s

count r y, f or t he ki ngdom of Kent coul d not now have

been separ at ed f r om Wessex wi t hout war , nor was i t

l i kel y t hat Et hel ber t woul d accept hi s excl usi on f r om

t he gr eat er successi on. Hi s est at es and ot her pr oper t y

t he Ki ng di vi ded bet ween hi s chi l dr en, pr ovi di ng t hat

hi s l ands shoul d never l i e f al l ow, and t hat one poor

man i n ever y t en, whet her nat i ve or f or ei gner , of t hose

who l i ved on t hem, shoul d be mai nt ai ned i n meat ,

dr i nk, and cl ot hi ng by hi s successor s f or ever .

Fr om 858 t hen, af t er t hei r f at her ' s deat h, Et hel r ed

and Al f r ed l i ved i n Kent wi t h t hei r br ot her Et hel ber t

unt i l 860, when Ki ng Et hel bal d di ed, and hi s wi dow

Judi t h r et i r ed t o Fr ance. Upon t hi s event , had t he

younger br ot her s been sel f - seeker s, or had ei t her ot

t hem i nsi st ed on t he r i ght of successi on, gi ven t o

t hem by t he wi l l of t hei r f at her , and sanct i oned by

t he wi t an, t he sout h of Engl and woul d have seen war s

of successi on such as t hose whi ch r aged on t he Cont i -

nent dur i ng t hat same cent ur y bet ween t he descend-

ant s of Char l emagne. Then Wessex and Kent must

have f al l en an easy pr ey t o t he pagan host s whi ch

wer e al r eady gat her i ng f or t he onsl aught , as happened

i n Nor t humbr i a and East Angl i a. But at t hi s j unct ur e

t he r oyal r ace of Cer di c wer e f r ee f r om such ambi -

t i ons, and Et hel r ed and Al f r ed al l owed Et hel ber t t o

ascend t he t hr one of Wessex, and cont i nued t o l i ve

wi t h hi m. He di ed i n Z66, af t er a peacef ul and

honour abl e r ei gn of near l y si x year s, and t her e was

Page 31 of 174

CNI HTHOOD. 51

gr i ef t hr oughout t he l and, say t he chr oni cl er s, when

he was bur i ed i n Sher bor ne mi nst er . Never t hel ess

we cannot but not e t hat i n 864 he had al l owed a

pagan ar my t o est abl i sh t hemsel ves i n t he I sl e of

Thanet wi t hout opposi t i on, and i n 860 had l ef t t he

gl or y of avengi ng t he pl under of Wi nchest er by

anot her r ovi ng band t o Osr i c al der man of Hant s,

and Et hel wul f al der man of Ber ks. I t was hi gh t i me

t hat t he scept r e of t he West Saxons shoul d pass

i nt o st r onger hands, f or wi t hi n a f ew mont hs of t he

accessi on of Et hcl r cd t he gr eat host under Hi nguar

and Hubba l anded i n East Angl i a, whi ch was never

af t er war ds cast out of t he r eal m, and f or so many

year s t axed t he whol e st r engt h of t he sout her n ki ng-

doms under t he l eadi ng of Engl and' s gr eat est ki ng.

Al f r ed was now Cr own Pr i nce, next i n successi on

t o t he t hr one under t he wi l l of hi s f at her , whi ch had

been accept ed by t he wi t an. Under t he same wi l l he

was al so ent i t l ed i n possessi on t o hi s shar e of cer t ai n

r oyal domai ns and t r easur es, whi ch wer e t her eby

devi sed t o Et hel bal d, Et hel r cd, and hi m, i n j oi nt

t enancy. He had al r eady wai ved hi s r i ght t o any

pr esent shar e of t hi s her i t age once, on t he accessi on

of Et hcl ber t t o t he West Saxon ki ngdom. Now t hat

t he br ot her near est t o hi msel f i n age has succeeded

he appl i es f or a par t i t i on, and i s r ef used. The whol e

of t hese t r ansact i ons ar e so char act er i st i c of t he

t i mes and t he man, t hat we must pause yet f or a f ew

moment s over t hem. Wc have hi s own car ef ul , and

t r anspar ent l y t r ut hf ul , account of t hem, i n t he r eci t al s

t o hi s wi l l , whi ch r un as f ol l ow.

E 2

52 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

" I , Al f r ed, by God' s gr ace ki ng, and wi t h t he

counsel of Et hel r ed Ar chbi shop, and al l t he wi t an of

t he West Saxons wi t ness, have consi der ed about my

soul ' s heal t h, and about my i nher i t ance, t hat God

and my el der s gave me, and about t hat i nher i t ance

whi ch Ki ng Et hel wul f my f at her bequeat hed t o us

t hr ee br ot her s, Et hel bal d, Et hel r ed, and me, and

whi ch of us soever wer e l ongest l i ver t hat he shoul d

t ake i t al l . But when i t came t o pass t hat Et hel bal d

di ed, Et hel r ed and I , wi t h t he wi t ness of al l t he

West Saxon wi t an, our par t di d gi ve i n t r ust t o

Et hel ber t t he ki ng our br ot her , on t he condi t i on

t hat he shoul d del i ver i t back t o us as ent i r e as i t

t hen was when we di d make i t over t o hi m ; as he

af t er war ds di d ( on hi s deat h) bot h t hat whi ch he t ook

by our j oi nt gi f t and t hat whi ch he hi msel f had

acqui r ed. When i t happened t hat Et hel r ed succeeded,

t hen pr ayed I hi m bef or e al l our nobl es t hat we t wo

t he i nher i t ance mi ght di vi de, and he woul d gi ve t o

me my shar e. Then sai d he t o me t hat he mi ght not

easi l y di vi de, f or t hat he had at many di f f er ent t i mes

Page 32 of 174

f or mer l y t aken possessi on. And he sai d, bot h of our

j oi nt pr oper t y and what he had acqui r ed, t hat af t er

hi s days he woul d gi ve i t t o no man r at her t han t o

me, and I was t her ewi t h at t hat t i me wel l sat i sf i ed. "

Why shoul d a young pr i nce ot her wi se occupi ed i n

t he t r ai ni ng of hi s i mmor t al soul , and wr est l i ngs

wi t h pr i nci pal i t i es and power s, t ake mor e account

now of t hi s i nher i t ance . - * Let i t r est t hen as i t i s.

" But i t came t o pass t hat we wer e al l despoi l ed by

t he heat hen f ol k. Then we consul t ed concer ni ng" our

CNI HTHOOD. 53

chi l dr en ( Al f r ed by t hi s t i me havi ng mar r i ed) t hat

t hey woul d need some suppor t t o be gi ven by us out

of t hese est at es as t o us had been gi ven. Then wer e

we i n counci l at Swi nbeor g, when we t wo decl ar ed i n

t he pr esence of t he West Saxon nobl es, t hat whi ch-

soever of us t wo shoul d l i ve l ongest shoul d gi ve t o

t he ot her ' s chi l dr en t hose l ands whi ch we our sel ves

had acqui r ed, and t hose t hat Et hel wul f t he ki ng gave

t o us t wo whi l e Et hel bal d was l i vi ng, except t hose

whi ch he gave t o us t hr ee br ot her s. And we gave

each t o ot her secur i t y t hat t he l ongest l i ver of us

shoul d t ake l and and t r easur e and al l t he possessi ons

of t he ot her , except t hat par t whi ch ei t her of us t o

hi s chi l dr en shoul d bequeat h. "

I n whi ch sad t angl e, whi ch no man can unr avel ,

t he i nher i t ance quest i on r est s at t he deat h of Ki ng

Et hel r ed i n 871. Ther e i s t he agr eement i ndeed

but what does i t mean ? Al f r ed wi l l not hi msel f

deci de i t . Her e i s t he Gr eat Counci l of t he West

Saxons. Let t hem say whet her or no he can deal

wi t h t hi s par t of t he r oyal i nher i t ance, or t o whom i t

of r i ght bel ongs. " So when t he Ki ng di ed, " Al f r ed

goes on, " no man br ought t o me t i t l e- deed, or

evi dence t hat i t was t o be ot her wi se t han as we had

so agr eed bef or e wi t nesses, yet hear d I of i nher i t ance

sui t s. Wher ef or e br ought I Et hel wul f t he ki ng' s

wi l l bef or e our counci l at Langadene, and t hey r ead

i t bef or e al l t he West Saxon wi t an. And af t er i t was

r ead, t hen pr ayed I t hem al l f or my l ove — and gave

t o t hem my t r ot h t hat I never woul d bear i l l - wi l l t o

none of t hem t hat shoul d speak r i ght — t hat none of

54 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

t hem woul d negl ect , f or my l ove nor f or my f ear , t o

decl ar e t he common r i ght , l est any man shoul d say

t hat I had excl uded my ki nsf ol k whet her ol d or

young. And t hey t hen al l f or r i ght pr onounced, and

decl ar ed t hat t hey coul d concei ve no mor e r i ght f ul

t i t l e nor hear of such i n a t i t l e- deed ; and t hey sai d,

' I t i s al l del i ver ed i nt o t hy hand, wher ef or e t hou

mayest bequeat h and gi ve i t , ei t her t o a ki nsman, or

a st r anger as may seem best t o t hee. ' "

Page 33 of 174

Thi s counci l at Langadene was hel d most pr o-

babl y bet ween t he year s 880 and 885, af t er Al f r ed

had t r i umphed over al l hi s enemi es, and was deep

al r eady i n hi s gr eat soci al r ef or ms. Under t he sanc -

t i on t her e gi ven he di st r i but es t hi s par t of t he r oyal

i nher i t ance, as wel l as hi s own pr oper t y, by hi s wi l l ,

whi ch we shal l have t o consi der i n i t s own pl ace.

Thus t hen we get a second r esul t of Al f r ed' s

cni ht hood. We have al r eady seen hi m cur bi ng suc-

cessf ul l y t he unr ul y passi ons of hi s yout h ; payi ng

wi l l i ngl y wi t h heal t h and bodi l y comf or t t o wi n t hat

vi ct or y, si nce i t can be won by hi m at no l ower

pr i ce. At t he deat h of Et hel bal d, and agai n of

Et hel ber t , af t er he had gr own t o manhood and must

have been consci ous of hi s power t o manage l ands and

men, we now f i nd hi m st andi ng asi de at once, and

al l owi ng t wo el der br ot her s i n successi on t o keep hi s

. shar e of t he j oi nt her i t age. He at l east wi l l gi ve no

exampl e i n t he hi ghest pl aces of t he r eal m of st r i f e

about vi si bl e t hi ngs, wi l l make any sacr i f i ce of l ands

or goods so t hat he mai nt ai n peace and br ot her l y

l ove i n hi s own f ami l y.

CNI HTHOOD. 55

The t empt er we may see has l ed t hi s son of man

i nt o t he wi l der ness wi t hout much success. The

whi sper " Take and eat " has met wi t h a br ave

" Depar t , Sat an, " f r om t hese r oyal l i ps. Engl and

may now l ook hopef ul l y f or t r ue ki ngshi p and l eadi ng

f r om hi m who has al r eady l ear ned t o r ul e l i ke a ki ng

i n t he t empl e of hi s own body and spi r i t .

We may not i ce f or a t hi r d poi nt t hat i n t hese

year s of hi s cni ht hood Al f r ed has gat her ed t oget her

t he ser vi ces of t he hour s { cel ebr at i ones Ji or ar i mi ) , wi t h

many of t he Psal ms — whet her wr i t t en by hi msel f or

not we cannot t el l , pr obabl y not — but f or mi ng a smal l

manual , or handbook, whi ch he al ways car r i es i n hi s

bosom, and whi ch wi l l be f ound hel pf ul t o hi m i n

many days of sor e t r i al .

Wi t h such gar ni t ur e t hen of one ki nd or anot her ,

gat her ed t oget her i n t hese ear l y year s, t he young

cr own pr i nce st ands l oyal l y by t he si de of t he young

ki ng hi s br ot her , l ooki ng f r om t hei r west er n home

over an Engl and al r eady gr owi ng dar k under t he

shadow of a t r emendous st or m. When i t bur st s,

wi l l i t spend i t sel f on t hese Nor t humbr i an and East

Angl i an coast s and ki ngdoms, or shal l we t oo f eel i t s

r age ? These must have been anxi ous t hought s f or

t he young pr i nce, quest i oni ngs t o whi ch t he answer

was becomi ng mont h by mont h pl ai ner and cl ear er

at t he t i me of hi s mar r i age. Wi t hi n some si x

weeks of t hat cer emony he was al r eady i n ar ms i n

Mer ci a. Bef or e t he bi r t h of hi s f i r st chi l d he was hi m-

sel f ki ng, and ni ne pi t ched bat t l es had been f ought i n

hi s own ki ngdom of Wessex under hi s l eader shi p.

CHAPTER V.

Page 34 of 174

THE DANE.

" The Jay of t he Lor d comct l i , i t i s ni gh at hand ; a day of dar k^ esi

and of gl oomi ness, a day of cl ouds and of t hi ck dar kness, as t he

mor ni ng spr ead 7i f on t he mount ai ns: a gr eat peopl e and a st r ong; t her e

hat h not been ever t he l i ke, nei t her shal l be any mor e af t er i t , even t o

t he year s of i na7i y gener at i ons"

A STRANGE at mospher e of wi l d l egend sur r ounds

t he gr oup of t r i bes who, f r om t he shor es of t he

Bal t i c and t he gr eat Scandi navi an peni nsul a, as

wel l as f r om Denmar k, i n t hi s ni nt h cent ur y f el l

upon al l coast s of Engl and ; at f i r st swoopi ng

down i n smal l mar audi ng bands i n t he summer

mont hs, pl under i ng t owns, vi l l ages, and homest eads,

and di sappear i ng bef or e t he wi nt er st or ms ; t hen

comi ng i n ar mi es headed by ki ngs and j ar l s, set t l i ng

i n l ar ge di st r i ct s of t he nor t h and east , and f r om

t hence car r yi ng f i r e and swor d t hr ough t he hear t of

Mer ci a and Wessex. They ar e of t he same st ock

wi t h t he West Saxons and Jut es t hemsel ves, and

speak a ki ndr ed l anguage. Thei r ki ngs al so cl ai m

descent f r om Woden. The descr i pt i on of Taci t us

appl i es t o t hem as wel l as t o t hei r br ot her sea-

r over s, who, f our cent ur i es bef or e t hem, came over

THE DANE.

57

under Hengi st and Hor sa, i nf l i ct i ng pr eci sel y t hat

whi ch t hei r descendant s ar c now t o endur e, and

dr i vi ng t he ol d Br i t i sh st ock back mi l e by mi l e f r om

t he Kent i sh and Sussex downs t o t he Wel sh moun-

t ai ns and t he Land' s End.

Thr ee cent ur i es ear l i er , t he Ar t hur of Br i t i sh l egend

had f ought t he Saxons i n t he ver y di st r i ct s whi ch

a yet gr eat er Engl i sh ki ng i s now t o hol d agai nst

as t er r i bl e odds. These Nor t hmen, Scandi navi ans,

Danes, l i ke t he Saxons, el ect t hei r ki ngs and

chi ef s, nobl e l i neage and val our bei ng t he qual i f i -

cat i ons f or t he ki ngl y of f i ce. Af f ai r s of moment

ar e deci ded by gener al assembl i es, i n whi ch t he

ki ngs speak f i r st , and t he r est i n t ur n as t hey ar e

emi nent f or val our , bi r t h, and under st andi ng. Di s -

appr oval i s si gni f i ed by a mur mur , appr oval by t he

cl ashi ng of spear s, f or t hey come t o t hei r assembl i es

ar med. The ki ng sur r ounds hi msel f by a br ave

and numer ous band of compani ons i n ar ms, hi s

gl or y i n peace and saf et y i n war . I t i s di shonour -

abl e t o t he ki ng not t o be f i r st i n f i ght , i t i s

i nf amy f or hi s i nt i mat e comr ades and f ol l ower s t o

sur vi ve hi m i n bat t l e. But t he power of t he ki ng i s

not unl i mi t ed ; he set s an exampl e of val our r at her

t han commands. The chi ef s have di f f er ent r anks

accor di ng t o hi s j udgment , and amongst hi s f ol l ower s

t her e i s t he keenest emul at i on who shal l st and f or e-

Page 35 of 174

most i n hi s f avour . They woul d r at her ser ve f or

wounds t han pl ough and wai t t he har vest , f or i t seems

t o t hem t he par t of a dast ar d t o ear n by t he sweat

of t he br ow what may be gai ned by t he gl or y of t he

58 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

swor d. Thei r women, t oo, ar e hel d i n t he same hi gh

est i mat i on as t hose of t he Saxons, and f or t he most

par t accompany t hem i n t hei r wander i ngs, and shar e

t hei r danger s and gl or i es.

To such a pol i t i cal and soci al or gani zat i on we must

add a r el i gi ous f ai t h second t o none i nvent ed by man,

not except i ng t hat of Mahomet , i n i t s power of con-

secr at i ng val our , and i nspi r i ng men wi t h cont empt of

pai n and deat h. The i dea of a uni ver sal f at her ,

t he cr eat or of sky and ear t h, and of manki nd, t he

gover nor of al l ki ngdoms, t hough f ound i n t he Edda,

has by t hi s t i me f aded out f r om t he popul ar f ai t h.

Woden i s now t he chi ef f i gur e i n t hat wei r d my -

t hol ogy — " wuct an, " t he power of movement , soon

changi ng i nt o t he god of bat t l es, " who gi vet h vi ct or y,

who r eani mat es war r i or s, who namet h t hose who ar e

t o be sl ai n. " Thi s Woden had been an i nspi r ed

t eacher , as wel l as a conquer or , gi vi ng r unes t o t hese

wi l d Nor t hmen, a Scandi navi an al phabet , and songs

of bat t l e. A t eacher as wel l as a sol di er , he had

l ed t hem f r om t he shor es of t he Bl ack Sea ( so

t hei r t r adi t i ons t ol d) t o t he f i or ds of Nor way, t he

f ar shor es of I cel and. Depar t ed f r om amongst hi s

peopl e, he has dr awn t hei r hear t s af t er hi m, and

l i ves t her e above i n Asgar d, t he gar den of t he gods.

Her e i n hi s own gr eat hal l , Val hal l a, t he hal l of

Odi n, he dwel l s ; i n t hat hal l of her oes, i nt o whi ch

t he " Val kyr s, " or " chooser s of t he sl ai n, " shal l l ead

t he br ave, even i nt o t he pr esence of Odi n, t her e

t o f east wi t h hi m. Thi s r ewar d f or t he br ave who

di e i n bat t l e ; but f or t he cowar d ? He shal l be

THE DANE. 59

t hr ust down i nt o t he r eal m of Hel a, deat h, whence

he shal l f al l t o Ni f hl ei m, obl i vi on, ext i nct i on, whi ch

i s bel ow i n t he ni nt h wor l d.

Round t he cent r al f i gur e of Woden cl ust er ot her

gods. Chi ef of t hese, Bal der t he sun god, whi t e,

beaut i f ul , beni gnant , who di es young — and Thor t he

t hunder god, wi t h t er r i bl e smi t i ng hammer and awf ul

br ows, engaged mai nl y i n expedi t i ons i nt o Jot un

l and, a chaot i c wor l d, t he r esi dence of t he gi ant s or

devi l s, " f r ost , " " f i r e, " " t empest , " and t he l i ke. Thor ' s

at t endant i s " Theal f i , " manual l abour . I n hi s ex -

pl oi t s t he t hunder god i s l i ke Samson, f ul l of

unwi el dy st r engt h, si mpl i ci t y, r ough humour .

Ther e i s a t r ee of l i f e t oo i n t hat unseen wor l d,

I gdr asi l , wi t h i t s r oot s i n Hel a, t he ki ngdom of deat h,

at t he f oot of whi ch si t t he t hr ee " Nomas, " t he past ,

pr esent , and f ut ur e. Al so t he Scal ds hav^ e a vi si on of

supr eme st r uggl e of t he gods and Jot uns, a day of

Page 36 of 174

t he Lor d, as t he ol d Hebr ew seer s woul d cal l i t ,

endi ng i n a " Twi l i ght of t he gods, " a si nki ng down

of t he cr eat ed uni ver se, wi t h gods, Jot uns, and i n-

exor abl e Ti me her sel f , i nt o dar kness — f r om whi ch

shal l t her e not i n due cour se i ssue a new heaven

and new ear t h, i n whi ch a hi gher god and supr eme

j ust i ce shal l at l ast r ei gn . ?

Under t he sway of such a f ai t h, and of t hei r l ust

of wi l d advent ur e, pr essed f r om behi nd by t eemi ng

t r i bes ever pushi ng west war d, l ur ed on i n f r ont by t he

set t l ed coast s of Engl and and Fr ance, r i ch al r eady i n

f l ocks and her ds, i n vi l l age, t own, and abbey, each

st andi ng i n t he mi dst of f er t i l e and wel l - t i l l ed di st r i ct s,

6o LI FE OF ALFRED- THE GREA T.

but sur r ounded by f or est s wel l adapt ed t o cover t he

ambush or r et r eat of i nvader s, t he sea- ki ngs and t hei r

f ol l ower s swept out year af t er year f r om t he bays

of Denmar k and t he f i or ds of Nor way, cr ossi ng t he

nar r ow nor t her n seas i n t hei r l i ght hal f - decked boat s,

t o spoi l , and sl ay, and r evel i n " t he pl ay of swor ds,

t he cl ash of spear and buckl er , " " when t he har d i r on

si ngs upon t he hi gh hel met s. " I n t he deat h- hymn

of Regner Lodbr og ar e some t hi r t y st anzas — each one

begi nni ng, " We f ought wi t h swor ds, " and descr i bi ng

t he j oy of some par t i cul ar bat t l e — whi ch t r ace t he

car eer of t he ol d Nor seman f r om t he di st ant Got h-

l and, up t he Vi st ul a, acr oss Eur ope, i n t he Nor t h-

umbr i an l and, t he i sl es of t he sout h, t he I r i sh pl ai ns,

t i l l he makes an end : " When i n t he Scot t i sh gul f s,

I gai ned l ar ge spoi l s f or t he wol ves. We f ought wi t h

swor ds. Thi s f i l l s me st i l l wi t h j oy, because I know

a banquet i s pr epar i ng by t he f at her of t he gods.

Soon i n t he hal l of Odi n we shal l dr i nk mead out of

t he skul l s of our f oes. K br ave man shr i nks not at

deat h ; I shal l ut t er no r epi ni ng wor ds as I appr oach

t he pal ace of t he gods. . . . The f at es ar e come f or

me. Odi n hat h sent t hem f r om t he habi t at i on of t he

gods. I shal l quaf f f ul l gobl et s among t he gods. The

hour s of my l i f e ar e number ed ; I di e l aughi ng. " Such

ar e t he l ast wor ds whi ch t he Scal ds put i nt o t he

mout h of t he gr i m ol d sea- ki ng, dyi ng i n t or ment

i n t he ser pent - t ower of El l a, t o whom t r adi t i on poi nt s

as t he f at her of t he t wo l eader s of t he f i r st gr eat

Dani sh i nvasi on of Engl and, t he t er r i bl e wave whi ch

br oke on t he East Angl i an shor es i n t he year t hat

THE DANE. 6i

Et hel r ed came t o t he t hr one. The deat h- hymn may-

be of uncer t ai n or i gi n, but at l east i t i s a genui ne and

char act er i st i c Ber si r ki r hymn ; and i f Lodbr og wer e

not t he f at her of Hi nguar and Hubba, t hey woul d

seem, at any r at e, t o have been f i l l ed wi t h hi s spi r i t .

I n 851 a band of Danes had f i r st wi nt er ed i n Eng-

l and, i n t he I sl e of Thanet , and agai n i n 855 anot her

band wi nt er ed i n t he I sl e of Sheppcy ; but t hese wer e

smal l bodi es, at t empt i ng no per manent set t l ement ,

and easi l y di sl odged. Thi s i nvasi on t owar ds t he end

Page 37 of 174

of Z66 was of a f ar di f f er ent char act er . A gr eat ar my

of t he Pagans, t he Saxon Chr oni cl e r ecor ds, now came

over and t ook up wi nt er quar t er s among t he East

Angl es, who woul d seem at f i r st t o have made some

ki nd of t r uce wi t h t hem, and even t o have f ur ni shed

t hem wi t h pr ovi si ons and hor ses. At any r at e, f or

t he moment t he Pagans made no at t ack on East

Angl i a, but ear l y i n 867 cr ossed t he Humber and

swooped down upon Yor k ci t y, whi ch t hey sur pr i sed

and t ook.

Ther e was ci vi l war al r eady i n Nor t humbr i a at t hi s

t i me bet ween Osber t t he ki ng, and El l a, a man not of

r oyal bl ood, whom t he Nor t humbr i ans had pl aced on

t he t hr one. Osber t , i t i s sai d, had out r aged t he wi f e

of one of hi s nobl es, Br uer n Br ocar d by name, who

r ecei ved hi m hospi t abl y whi l e her husband was away

at t he coast on t he ki ng' s busi ness, wat chi ng f or

pi r at es. What ever t he cause, t he ci vi l f eud r aged so

f i er cel y t hat t he Danes wer e i n t he ver y hear t of t he

ki ngdom bef or e a bl ow was st r uck i n i t s def ence. Now

at l ast , ur ged by t he Nor t humbr i an nobl es. Osber t

62 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

and El l a made peace, j oi ned t hei r f or ces, and wi t hoi i t

del ay mar ched on Yor k. The pagan ar my f el l back

bef or e t hem even t o t he ci t y wal l s, whi ch t he Chr i st i ans

at once t r i ed t o st or m, and wer e par t i al l y successf ul .

A desper at e f i ght t ook pl ace wi t hi n and wi t hout t he

wal l s, endi ng i n t he ut t er def eat of t he Chr i st i ans and

t he deat hs of Osber t , El l a, and a cr owd of nobl es.

The r emai nder of t he peopl e made peace wi t h t he

ar my, whose descendant s ar e pr obabl y st i l l l i vi ng i n

and r ound t he ci t y of Yor k. At l east t hei r mar k i s

t her e t o t hi s day i n t he st r eet of Goodr amgat e, cal l ed

af t er Gudr um or Goodr um, whom Hi nguar and Hubba

l ef t as t hei r deput y t o hol d down t he ci t y and di st r i ct .

For t he r emai nder of t hi s year t he ar my l ay qui et ,

exhaust ed no doubt by t hat Yor k f i ght , and wai t i ng

f or r ei nf or cement s f r om Denmar k. At t hi s j unct ur e,

whi l e t he bl ack cl oud i s gat her i ng i n t he nor t h,

Eal st an, t he f amous war r i or - bi shop of Sher bor ne, goes

t o hi s r est i n peace, l eavi ng t he young ki ng and

pr i nce, t he gr andsons of hi s ol d l i ege l or d, Egber t ,

who had pi cked hi m out f i f t y year s bef or e, wi t h no

wi ser counsel l or or br aver sol di er t o st and by t hem i n

t hi s hour of need.

Ear l y i n 868 Al f r ed j our neys i nt o Mer ci a t o wed

El swi t ha, t he daught er of Et hel r ed Muci l , as we

have al r eady hear d. Scar cel y can he have r eached

Wessex and i nst al l ed hi s wi f e at Want age, or el se-

wher e, when messenger s i n hot hast e summon t he

ki ng and hi m t o t he hel p of t hei r br ot her - i n- l aw,

Buhr ed, ki ng of Mer ci a. The pagan ar my i s upon

hi m. St eal i ng over swi f t l y and secr et l y, " l i ke f oxes, "

THE DANE.

f r om Nor t humbr i a, t hr ough f or est and wast e, as i s

Page 38 of 174

t hei r wont , t hey have st r uck at once at a vi t al par t

of anot her Saxon ki ngdom, and st or med Not t i ngham

t own, whi ch t hey now hol d. Et hel r ed and Al f r ed

wer e soon bef or e Not t i ngham wi t h a f or ce dr awn

f r om al l par t s of Wessex, eager f or bat t l e. But t he

wi l y pagan hol ds hi m f ast i n cast l e and t own, and

t he wal l s ar e hi gh and st r ong. The ki ng and pr i nce

wat ch i n vai n out si de. Soon t hei r t r oops, hast i l y

must er ed, must get back f or har vest . They mar ch

sout h r el uct ant l y, not , however , bef or e a peace i s

made bet ween t hei r br ot her - i n- l aw and t he Pagans,

under whi ch t he l at t er r et ur n t o Yor k, wher e t hey

l i e qui et f or t he whol e of 869.

But t hi s year al so br ought i t s own t r oubl es t o

af f l i ct ed Engl and — a gr eat f ami ne and mor t al i t y

amongst men, and a pest among cat t l e. Such t i mes

can al l ow smal l l ei sur e t o a young pr i nce who car r i es

i n hi s bosom t hat handbook i n whi ch t he Psal ms and

ser vi ces of t he hour s ar e wr i t t en, and who has r esol ved

f or hi s par t t o be a t r ue shepher d of hi s peopl e, a

ki ng i ndeed, but one who wi l l r ul e under t he eye,

and i n t he name of t he Ki ng of ki ngs.

The next year ( 870) i s one f ul l of sor r ow, and of

gl or y, f or Chr i st i an Engl and. I t wi t nesses t he ut t er

dest r uct i on of anot her Saxon ki ngdom, adds one

wor t hy Engl i sh name t o t he cal endar of sai nt s,

sever al t o t he r ol l of our her oes st i l l r emember ed,

and a whol e peopl e t o t he gl or i ous l i st of t hose who

have di ed swor d i n hand and st eadf ast t o t he l ast ,

f or f ai t h and f at l i cr l and.

64 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

I n t he l at e summer , one di vi si on of t he pagan ar my

l eavi ng Yor k t ake t o t hei r shi ps, and, cr ossi ng t he

Humber , f al l on Li ndesey ( now Li ncol nshi r e) , and

pl under and bur n t he monast er y of Bar deney. The

young Al gar , al der man of t he shi r e, t he f r i end of

Et hel r ed and Al f r ed, spr i ngs t o ar ms, and cal l s out

t he br ave men of t he Fens. They f l ock t o hi s st andar d,

t he r i ch cl oi st er s of t he di st r i ct sendi ng t hei r f ul l

quot a of f i ght i ng men under l ay br ot her Tol y, of

Cr oyl and Abbey. On t he 21st of Sept ember , St .

Maur i ce' s Day, t he Chr i st i an host f el l on t he Pagans

at Kest even, and i n t hat f i r st f i ght t hr ee ki ngs wer e

sl ai n, and Al gar pur sued t he Pagans t o t he ent r ance

of t hei r camp.

But hel p f or t he vanqui shed was at hand. The

ot her di vi si on of t he Pagans, i n whi ch wer e now f i ve

ki ngs — Gut hr um, Bagsac, Oskyt al , Hal f dene, and

Amund — and t he j ar l s Hi nguar and Hubba, Fr ene,

and t he t wo Si dr ocs, mar chi ng over l and t hr ough

Mer ci a, ar r i ve on t he f i el d. Al gar , Tol y, and t hei r

comr ades, now f ear f ul l y over mat ched, r ecei ve t he

Hol y Sacr ament i n t he ear l y mor ni ng, and st and

t her e t o Avi n or di e. Al gar commands t he cent r e of

t he Chr i st i an bat t l e, Tol y and Mor car t he r i ght wi ng,

Osgot of Li ndesey and Har di ng of Rehal ( we cannot

spar e t he names of one of t hem) t he l ef t . The Pagans,

havi ng bur i ed t hei r sl ai n ki ngs, hur l t hemsel ves on t he

Chr i st i an host , and t hr ough t he l ong day Al gar and

hi s men st and t oget her and beat back wave af t er wave

of t he sea- ki ngs' onsl aught . At l a. st t he Chr i st i ans,

Page 39 of 174

decei ved by a f ei gned r et r eat , br eak t hei r sol i d r anks

THE DANE. 65

and pur sue. Then comes t he end. The Pagans

t ur n, st and, and sur r ounded and out number ed, Al gar ,

Tol y, and t hei r men di e wher e t hey had f ought , and

a handf ul of yout hs onl y escape of al l t he Chr i st i an

host t o car r y t he f ear f ul news t o t he monks of

Cr oyl and. The pur suer s ar e on t hei r t r ack. Cr oy -

l and i s bur nt and pi l l aged bef or e t he t r easur es can

be car r i ed t o t he f or est s.

Four days l at er Medeshamst ed ( Pet er bor ough)

shar es t he same f at e; soon af t er war ds Hunt i ngdon

and El y ; and i n al l t hose f ai r shi r es scar cel y man,

woman, or chi l d r emai n t o haunt l i ke ghost s t he

homes whi ch had been t hei r s f or gener at i ons. The

pagan host , l eavi ng t he desol at e l and a wi l der ness

behi nd t hem, t ur n sout h- east and make t hei r head-

quar t er s at Thet f or d. Edmamd, ki ng of t he East

Angl i ans, a j ust and r i ght eous r ul er , ver y dear t o hi s

peopl e — no war r i or , i t woul d seem, hi t her t o, but one

who can at l east do a br ave l eader ' s par t — he now

ar ms and f i ght s f i er cel y wi t h t he Pagans, and i s sl ai n

by t hem, wi t h t he gr eat er par t of hi s f ol l ower s, near

t he vi l l age of Hoxne. Tr adi t i on says t hat t he ki ng

was t aken al i ve, and, r ef usi ng t o pl ay t he r enegade,

was t i ed t o a t r ee, and shot t o deat h, af t er under goi ng

dr eadf ul t or t ur es. Hi s head was st r uck of f , and t he

cor pse l ef t f or wol f or eagl e, whi l e hi s mur der er s

f el l on t own and vi l l age, and mi nst er and abbey,

t hr oughout al l t hat was l ef t of East Angl i a, so t hat

t he f ew peopl e who sur vi ved f l ed t o t he f or est s f or

shel t er .

Never t hel ess, a monk or t wo f r om Cr oyl and, and

S. L. vi Jl . Y'

66 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

ot her f ai t hf ul men of t he east er n count i es, managed t o

st eal out of t hei r hi di ng- pl aces and t ake up t he sl ai n

body and sever ed head of t hei r good Ki ng Edmund.

" They embal med hi m wi t h myr r h and sweet spi ces,

wi t h l ove, pi t y, and al l hi gh and awf ul t hought s, con-

secr at i ng hi m wi t h a ver y st or m of mel odi ous, ador i ng

admi r at i on and sun- dyed shower s of t ear s ; j oyf ul l y,

yet wi t h awe ( as al l deep j oy has somet hi ng of t he

awf ul i n i t ) , commemor at i ng hi s nobl e deeds and god-

l i ke wal k and conver sat i on whi l e on ear t h. Ti l l at

l engt h t he ver y Pope and car di nal s at Rome wer e

f or ced t o hear of i t ; and t hey summi ng up as cor r ect l y

as t hey wel l coul d wi t h ' Advocat us Di abol i ' pl eadi ng. s,

and t hei r ot her f or ms of pr ocess, t he gener al ver di ct

of manki nd decl ar ed : t hat he had i n ver y f act l ed a

her o' s l i f e i n t hi s wor l d, and bei ng now gone, was

gone, as t hey concei ved, t o God above, and r eapi ng

hi s r ewar d t her e. " So Ki ng Edmund was canoni zed,

Page 40 of 174

and hi s body ent ombed i n St . Edmund' s shr i ne, wher e

a spl endi d abbey i n due t i me r ose over i t , some poor

f r agment s of whi ch may st i l l be seen i n t he t own of

Bur y St . Edmunds.

Al as f or East Angl i a ! t her e was no one t o t ake

Edmund' s pl ace, t o pl ay t he par t f or t he east er n

count i es whi ch Al f r ed pl ayed f or Wessex a f ew year s

l at er . Edwol d, t he br ot her of Edmund, on whom t he

dut y l ay, " seei ng t hat a har d l ot had f al l en on hi msel f

and hi s br ot her , r et i r ed t o t he monast er y of Car nel i a

i n Dor set shi r e, near a cl ear wel l whi ch St . August i ne

had f or mer l y br ought out of t he ear t h by pr ayer t o

bapt i ze t he peopl e i n. And t her e he l ed a her mi t ' s

THE DANE. 67

l i f e on br ead and wat er . " So East Angl i a r emai ned

f or year s a heat hen ki ngdom, wi t h Gut hr um, t he most

power f ul and l at est comer of t he pagan l eader s, f or

ki ng. I n t he dr ead pause of t he f ew wi nt er mont hs of

870- 71 we may f ancy t he br ave young ki ng of t he West

Saxons and t he Et hel i ng Al f r ed war ni ng al der man

and ear l , bi shop and mi t r ed abbot , and t hegn, t hr ough-

out Wessex, t hat t hei r t ur n had now come. Ther e

was not hi ng t o del ay t he i nvader s f or an hour bet ween

Thet f or d and t he Thames. Thei r shi ps woul d be i n

t he r i ver , and t hei r hor semen on t he nor t h bank, i n t he

ear l y spr i ng. Then t he l ast i ssue woul d have t o be

t r i ed bet ween Chr i st i an and Pagan, Saxon and Dane,

f or st akes of whi ch not even Al f r ed coul d est i mat e

t he wor t h t o Engl and and t he wor l d.

CHAPTER VI .

THE FI RST WAVE.

" Bhs. ed be t he Lor d my sl r ci i i ^t h, who t cachet h my hands t o war , and my

f i nger s t o f i ght . ' ' '

Chr i st mas 870- 71 must have been a t i me of i nt ense

anxi et y t o t he whol e Chr i st i an peopl e of Wessex.

The young- Ki ng had i ndeed shown hi msel f al r eady

a pr ompt and ener get i c l eader i n hi s mar ch t o

Not t i ngham at t he cal l of hi s br ot her - i n- l aw. But , un-

l ess per haps i n t he ski r mi shes out si de t hat bel eaguer ed

t own i n t he aut umn of 869, he had never seen bl ows

st r uck i n ear nest ; had never l ed and r al l i ed men

under t he t r emendous onset of t he Ber si r ki r . Al f r ed,

t hough al r eady t he dar l i ng of t he peopl e, had even

l ess exper i ence t han Et hel r ed, who was at l east f i ve

year s ol der . He was st i l l a ver y young man, ski l l ed

i n t he chase, and i nur ed t o danger and har dshi p, so

f ar as hunt i ng and manl y exer ci ses of al l ki nds coul d

make hi m so, but as much a novi ce i n act ual bat t l e as

Davi d when he st ood bef or e Saul , r uddy and of a f ai r

compl exi on, but r eady i n t he st r engt h of hi s God, who

had del i ver ed hi m f r om t he paw of t he l i on and t he

Page 41 of 174

paw of t he bear , t o go up wi t h hi s sl i ng and st one and

f i ght wi t h t he Ber si r ki r of hi s day. And t hi s gene-

THE FI RST WAVE. 69

r at i on of t l i e West Saxons, who wer e now t o meet

i n supr eme l i f e- and- dcat h conf l i ct such ki ngs as

Gut hr um and Bagsac, suchj ar l s as Hi nguar and Si dr oc,

" t he anci ent one of evi l da} - s, " and t hei r f ol l ower s —

t r i ed war r i or s f r om t hei r yout h up — wer e much i n t he

same case as t hei r young l eader s. The l ast bat t l e of

any mar k i n Wessex had been f ought el even year s

back, i n 860, when a pagan host " came up f r om t he

sea" and st or med and sacked Wi nchest er . Osr i c al der -

man of Hampshi r e, and Et hel wul f al der man of Ber k -

shi r e, as we have al r eady hear d, caught t hem on t hei r

r et ur n t o t hei r shi ps l aden wi t h spoi l , and af t er a har d

f i ght ut t er l y r out ed t hem, r escued al l t he spoi l , and

had possessi on of t he pl ace of deat h. Of t hi s Al der -

man Et hel wul f we shal l hear agai n speedi l y, but Osr i c

woul d seem t o have di ed si nce t hose Wi nchest er days.

A. t any r at e we have no m. ent i on of hi m, or i ndeed of

any ot her known l eader except Et hel wul f , i n al l t hat

st or m of bat t l e whi ch now sweeps down on t he r i ch

ki ngdom, and i t s st ol i d but i ndomi t abl e sons.

I n t hese days when our wi se gener at i on, wei ghed

down wi t h weal t h and i t s handmai d vi ces on t he one

hand, and exhi l ar at ed by some t i ny st eps i t has

managed t o make on t he t hr eshol d of physi cal know-

l edge of var i ous ki nds on t he ot her , woul d seem t o be

bent on i gnor i ng i t s Cr eat or and God al t oget her — or

at l east of ut t er l y denyi ng t hat He has r eveal ed, or

i s r eveal i ng Hi msel f , unl ess i t be t hr ough t he l aws of

Nat ur e — one of t he commonest demur r er s t o Chr i s -

t i ani t y has been, t hat i t i s no f ai t h f or f i ght er S; f or t he

men who have t o do t he r oughest and har dest wor k

70 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

f or t he wor l d. I f ear t hat some sect i ons of Chr i st i ans

have been t oo r eady t o al l ow t hi s demur r er , and f al l

back on t he Quaker doct r i nes ; admi t t i ng t her eby

t hat such " Gospel of t he ki ngdom of heaven " as t hey

can f or t hei r par t hear t i l y bel i eve i n, and l i ve up t o,

i s af t er al l onl y a poor cash- gospel , and cannot bear

t he dust and di nt , t he gl ar e and hor r or , of bat t l e- f i el ds.

Those of us who hol d t hat man was sent i nt o t hi s

ear t h f or t he expr ess pur pose of f i ght i ng — of uncom-

pr omi si ng and unendi ng f i ght i ng wi t h body, i nt el l ect ,

spi r i t , agai nst whomsoever or what soever causet h or

maket h a l i e, and t her ef or e, al as ! t oo of t en agai nst

hi s br ot her man — woul d, of cour se, have t o gi ve up

Chr i st i ani t y i f t hi s wer e t r ue ; nay, i f t hey di d not

bel i eve t hat pr eci sel y t he cont r ar y of t hi s i s t r ue, t hat

Chr i st can cal l t hem as pl ai nl y i n t he dr um beat i ng

t o bat t l e, as i n t he bel l cal l i ng t o pr ayer , can and wi l l

be as sur el y wi t h t hem i n t he shock of angr y host s a. g

i n t he gat her i ng bef or e t he al t ar . But wi t hout ent er -

i ng f ur t her i nt o t he gr eat cont r over sy her e, I woul d

ask r eader s f ai r l y and cal ml y t o consi der whet her al l

t he gr eat est f i ght i ng t hat has been done i n t he wor l d

Page 42 of 174

has not been done by men who bel i eved, and showed

by t hei r l i ves t hat t hey bel i eved, t hey had a di r ect

cal l f r om God t o do i t , and t hat He was pr esent wi t h

t hem i n t hei r wor k. And f ur t her ( as I cheer f ul l y own

t hat . t hi s t est woul d t el l as much i n f avour of Mahomet

as of Cr or r nvcj l , Gust avus Adol phus, John Br own)

whet her , on t he whol e, Chr i st i an nat i ons have not

pr oved st r onger i n bat t l e t han any ot her s. I woul d

not pr ess t he poi nt unf ai r l y, or over l ook such f act s as

THE FI RST WAVE. 71

t he r oot i ng out of t he Br i t i sh by t hese ver y West

Saxons when t he l at t er wer e Pagans ; al l I mai nt ai n

i s, t hat f r om t he t i me of whi ch we ar e speaki ng t o t he

l ast gr eat ci vi l war i n Amer i ca, f ai t h i n t he const ant

pr esence of God i n and ar ound t hem has been t he

suppor t of t hose who have shown t he st r ongest hear t s,

t he l east l ove of ease and l i f e, t he l east f ear of deat h

and pai n.

But we ar e wander i ng f r om t he West Saxon ki ng-

dom and our her o i n t hose ear l y days of t he year

871. The Chr i st i ans wer e not kept l ong i n suspense.

As soon as t he f r ost had br oken up, Dani sh gal l eys

wer e beat i ng up t he Thames, and Dani sh hor semen

st eal i ng t hei r way acr oss Her t f or dshi r e and Bucki ng-

hamshi r e. The ki ngs Bagsac, Hal f dene, and Gut h-

r um, j ar l s Osber n, Fr ene, Har al d, t he t wo Si dr ocs,

and pr obabl y Hi nguar , l ed t he pagan host i n t hi s t hei r

gr eat est ent er pr i se on Br i t i sh soi l . Swi f t l y, as was

t hei r wont , t hey st r uck at a vi t al poi nt , and sei zi ng

t he del t a whi ch i s f or med by t he j unct i on of t he

Thames and Kennet , cl ose t o t he r oyal bur gh of

Readi ng, t hr ew up ear t hwor ks, and ent r enched t hem-

sel ves t her e. Whet her t hey al so t ook t he t own at

t hi s t i me i s not cl ear f r om t he Chr oni cl es, but most

l i kel y t hey di d, and i n any case her e t hey had al l

t hey want ed i n t he shape of a st r onghol d, a f or t i f i ed

camp i n whi ch t hei r spoi l s and t he women and

wounded coul d be l ef t , and by whi ch t hei r shi ps coul d

l i e. Any r eader who has t r avel l ed on t he Gr eat

West er n Rai l way has cr ossed t he ver y spot , a f ew

hundr ed yar ds east of t he st at i on. The pr esent

LI FE OF ALFRED THE ORE A T.

r acecour se must have been wi t hi n t he Dani sh

l i nes.

Two days suf f i ced f or r est and t he f i r st necessar y

wor ks, and on t he t hi r d a l ar ge par t of t he ar my st ar t ed

on a pl under i ng and expl or i ng expedi t i on under t wo

of t hei r j ar l s. At Engl ef i el d, a vi l l age st i l l bear i ng

t he same name, some si x mi l es due west of Readi ng,

i n t he val e of Kennet — wher e t he pr esent count y

member l i ves i n a house whi ch Queen Bess vi si t ed

mor e t han once — t hey came acr oss Al der man Et hel -

wul f , wi t h such of t he Ber kshi r e men as he had been

abl e hast i l y t o gat her i n t hese f ew days. The Chr i s -

t i ans wer e much f ewer i n number , but t he br ave

Et hel wul f l ed t hem st r ai ght t o t he at t ack wi t h t he

Page 43 of 174

wor ds, " They be mor e t han we, but f ear t hem not .

Our Capt ai n, Chr i st , i s br aver t han t hey. " The news

of t hat f i r st encount er must have cheer ed t he Ki ng

and Al f r ed, who wer e busy gat her i ng t hei r f or ces

f ur t her west , f or Et hel wul f sl ew one of t he j ar l s and

dr ove t he pl under er s back t o t hei r ent r enchment s

wi t h a gr eat sl aught er . The Saxon Chr oni cl e says

t hat one of t he Si dr ocs was t he j ar l sl ai n at Engl e-

f i el d ; but t hi s coul d scar cel y be, as t he same aut hor i t y,

suppor t ed by Asser , gi ves bot h t he Si dr ocs on t he

deat h- r ol l of Ashdown. Four days af t er war ds Et hel -

r ed and Al f r ed mar ch suddenl y t o Readi ng wi t h a

l ar ge f or ce, and sur pr i se and cut t o pi eces a number

of t he Pagans who wer e out si de t hei r ent r enchment s.

Then, whi l e t he Saxons wer e pr epar i ng t o encamp,

ki ngs and j ar l s r ushed out on t hem wi t h t hei r whol e

power , and t he t i de of bat t l e r ol l ed backwar ds and

THE FI RST WAVE. 73

f or war ds over t he l ow meadows out si de t he r oyal

bur gh, vi ct or ^ - - i ncl i ni ng now t o one si de, now t o t he

ot her . I n t he end, af t er gr eat sl aught er on bot h si des,

t he Saxons gave way, and t he young ki ng and hi s

br ot her f el l back f r om Readi ng, l eavi ng t he body of

t he br ave and f ai t hf ul Et hel wul f among t he dead.

I t i s sai d t hat t he Pagans dr agged i t t o Der by. What

mat t er ! The st r ong soul had done i t s wor k, and

gone t o i t s r ewar d. Smal l need of t ombs f or t he

bodi es of t he br ave and f ai t hf ul — of such men t he

whol e l and and t he hear t s of i t s peopl e i s t he t omb.

A f ew l i nes i n a l at er chr oni cl er have her e decei ved

even so acut e and accur at e a wr i t er as Dr . Paul i , who

says t hat Et hel r ed and Al f r ed wer e pur sued f r om

Readi ng f i el d as f ar as Twyf or d, and cr ossed t he

Thames at a f or d near Wi ndsor , whi ch was unknown

t o t he Danes. Had t hi s r eal l y been so, t hey must

have gone due east , away f r om al l t hei r r esour ces,

and, t he bat t l e havi ng been f ought on t he sout h bank

of t he Thames, must have cr ossed i nt o Mcr ci a,

l eavi ng t he whol e of Wessex open t o t he pagan host .

Dr . Paul i , and t he aut hor i t i es he has f ol l owed, goi ng

on t hi s hypot hesi s, ar e at a l oss as t o t he scene of

t he next gr eat bat t l e, t hat of Asccsdune, not knowi ng

appar ent l y t hat t her e i s a di st r i ct of t hat name i n

Ber kshi r e, at t he west er n end of t he count y, on t he

summi t of t he chal k hi l l s whi ch r un t hr ough t he

count y as a backbone f r om Gor i ng t o Swi ndon.

Tr adi t i on agr ees wi t h t he descr i pt i on of t he f i el d i n

t he ol dest chr oni cl er s i n mar ki ng t hi s Ashdown as t he

spot wher e t l i e gr eat f i ght was f ought . Et hel r ed and

74 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Al f r ed t hen f el l back wi t h t hei r br oken bands al ong

t he sout h bank of t he Thames west war d, unt i l t hey

st r uck t he hi l l s, and t hen st i l l back al ong t he anci ent

t r ack known as t he Ri dgeway, past I l sl ey and past t he

r oyal bur gh of Want age, Al f r ed' s bi r t hpl ace, f r om

whi ch t hey pr obabl y dr ew t he r ei nf or cement s whi ch

j ust i f i ed t hem i n t ur ni ng t o bay on t he f our t h day

Page 44 of 174

af t er t he di sast er at Readi ng. The Pagans wer e on

t hei r t r ack wi t h t hei r whol e host ( except Ki ng

Gut hr um and hi s men) , i n t wo di vi si ons ; one com-

manded by t he t wo ki ngs Bagsac and Hal f dene, t he

ot her by t he j ar l s. Et hel r ed, on per cei vi ng t hi s

di sposi t i on of t he enemy, di vi ded hi s f or ces, t aki ng

command hi msel f of t he di vi si on whi ch was t o act

agai nst t he ki ngs, and gi vi ng t he ot her t o Al f r ed.

Each si de t hr ew up hast y ear t hwor ks, t he r emai ns of

whi ch may be seen t o t hi s day on at l east t hr ee spot s

of t he downs, t he hi ghest poi nt of whi ch i s Whi t e

Hor se Hi l l ; and al l of whi ch, accor di ng t o ol d maps,

ar e i ncl uded i n t he di st r i ct known as Ashdown.

That hi ghest poi nt had been sei zed by t he Pagans,

and her e t he opposi ng host s r est ed by t hei r wat ch-

f i r es t hr ough t he col d Mar ch ni ght . We may f ancy

f r om t he one camp t he song of Regner Lodbr og

begui l i ng t he ni ght wat ches : — " We f ought wi t h

swor ds ! Young men shoul d mar ch up t o t he conf l i ct

of ar ms. Man shoul d meet man and never gi ve

gr ound. I n t hi s hat h ever st ood t he nobl eness of t he

war r i or . He who aspi r es t o t he l ove of hi s mi st r ess

shoul d be daunt l ess i n t he cl ash of ar ms. " I n t he

ot her camp we know t hat by one f i r e l ay a yout h who

THE FI RST WAVE. 75

car r i ed i n hi s bos,

when Mer ci a had r i sen t o new l i f e under her gr eat

br ot her ' s r ul e. Thr ough t hese same mont hs Gut hr um,

Oskyt al , and t he r est , ar e wi nt er i ng at Rept on,

af t er dest r oyi ng t her e t he cl oi st er wher e t he ki ngl y

l i ne of Mer ci a l i e ; di st ur bi ng per haps t he bones of

t he gr eat Of f a, whom Char l emagne had t o t r eat as

an equal .

Nei t her of t he pagan ki ngs ar e i ncl i ned at t hi s

t i me t o set t l e i n Mer ci a ; so, cast i ng about what

t o do wi t h i t , t hey l i ght on " a cer t ai n f ool i sh man, "

a ki ng' s t hane, one Ceol wul f , and set hi m up as

a sor t of Ki ng Popi nj ay. Fr om t hi s Ceol wul f t hey

t ake host ages f or t he payment of year l y t r i but e

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

( t o be wr ung out of t hese poor Mer ci ans on pai n

of det hr onement ) , and f or t he sur r ender of t he

ki ngdom t o t hem on what ever day t hey woul d

have i t back agai n. Foohsh ki ng' s t hanes, t ur ned

i nt o Ki ng Popi nj ays by Pagans, and l ef t t o pl ay at

gover nment on such t er ms, ar e not pl easant or pr of i t -

abl e obj ect s i n such t i mes as t hese of i , ooo year s

si nce — or i ndeed i n any t i mes f or t he mat t er of t hat .

So l et us f i ni sh wi t h Ceol wul f , j ust not i ng t hat a year

or t wo l at er hi s pagan l or ds seem t o have f ound

much of t he spoi l of monast er i es, and t he pi cki ngs

of ear l and chur l , of f ol kl and and bookl and, st i cki ng

t o hi s f i nger s, i nst ead of f i ndi ng i t s way t o t hei r

cof f er s. Thi s was f ar f r om t hei r meani ng i n set -

t i ng hi m up i n t he hi gh pl aces of Mer ci a. So t hey

Page 45 of 174

j ust st r i p hi m, and t hr ust hi m out , and he di es i n

beggar y.

Thi s t hen i s t he wi nt er ' s wor k of t he gr eat pagan

ar my at Rept on, Al f r ed wat chi ng t hem and t hei i

wor k doubt l ess wi t h keen eye — not wi t hout mi sgi vi ngs

t oo at t hei r number s, swol l en agai n t o t er r i bl e pr o-

por t i ons si nce t hey sai l ed away down Thames af t ei

Wi l t on f i gl i t . I t wi l l t ake year s yet bef or e t he gaps

i n t he f i ght i ng st r engt h of Wessex, l ef t by t hose ni ne

pi t ched bat t l es, and ot her smal l er f i ght s, wi l l be f i l l ed

by t he cr op of yout hs passi ng f r om chi l dhood t o man-

hood. An anxi ous t hought t hat f or a young ki ng.

The Pagans, however , ar e not yet r eady f or anot her

t hr ow f or Wessex ; and so when Mer ci a i s sucked dr y

f or t he pr esent , and wi l l no l onger sui t abl y mai nt ai n

so gr eat a host , t hey agai n sever . Hal f dene, who

ALFRED ON THE THRONE. 8g

woul d seem t o have j oi ned t hem r ecent l y, t akes a

l ar ge par t of t he ar my away wi t h hi m nor t hwar ds.

Set t l i ng hi s head- quar t er s " by t he r i ver Tyne, he sub-

dues al l t he l and, and " of t t i mes spoi l s t he Pi ct s and

t he St r at hcl yde Br i t ons. " Amongst ot her hol y pl aces

i n t hose par t s, Hal f dene vi si t s t he I sl e of Li ndi sf ar ne,

hopi ng per haps i n hi s pagan soul not onl y t o commi t

or di nar y sacr i l ege i n t he hol y pl aces t her e, whi ch i s

ever y- day wor k f or t he l i ke of hi m, but even t o l ay

i mpi ous hands on, and t o t r eat wi t h i ndi gni t y, t he

r emai ns of t hat hol y man, St . Cut hber t , of whom

we have al r eady hear d, and who has become i n due

cour se pat r on and guar di an sai nt of hunt er s, and of

t hat scour ge of Pagans, Al f r ed t he West Saxon.

I f such wer e hi s t hought , he i s di sappoi nt ed of hi s

sacr i l ege ; f or Bi shop Ear dul f and Abbot Eadr ed — •

devout and st r enuous per sons — havi ng t i mel y war ni ng

of hi s appr oach, car r y away t he sai nt ed body f r om

Li ndi sf ar ne, and f or ni ne year s hi de wi t h i t up and

down t he di st r act ed nor t her n count i es, now her e, now

t her e, movi ng t hat sacr ed t r easur e f r om pl ace t o

pl ace unt i l t hi s bi t t er ness i s over past , and hol y per sons

and t hi ngs, dead or l i vi ng, ar e nc l onger i n danger ,

and t he bodi es of sai nt s may r est saf el y i n f i xed

shr i nes ; t he pagan ar mi es and di sor der l y per sons of

al l ki nds havi ng been conver t ed, or suppr essed, i n t he

meant i me. For whi ch good deed, t he r oyal Al f r ed

( i n whose cal endar St . Cut hber t , pat r on of hunt smen,

st ands ver y hi gh) wi l l sur el y war ml y bef r i end t hem

her eaf t er , when he has set t l ed hi s account s wi t h many

per sons and t hi ngs. Fr om t he t i me of t hi s i ncui si on

90 LI FE OF ALFRED THE ORE A T.

of Hal f dene, Nor t humbr i a may be consi der ed once

mor e a set t l ed st at e ; but a Dani sh, not a Saxon one.

The r est and gr eat er par t of t he ar my, under

Gut hr um, Oskyt al , and Amund, on l eavi ng Rept on,

st r i ke sout h- east , t hr ough what was Landl or d Ed-

mund' s count r y, t o Cambr i dge, wher e, i n t hei r usual

heat hen way, t hey pass t he wi nt er of 875.

Page 46 of 174

I

CHAPTER VI I I .

THE SECOND WAVE.

The downf al l , exi l e, and deat h of hi s br ot her - i n- l aw

i n 874 must have war ned Al f r ed, i f he had any need

of war ni ng, t hat no t r eat y coul d bi nd t hese f oemen,

and t hat he had not hi ng t o l ook f or but t he same

measur e as soon as t he pagan l eader s f el t t hemsel ves

st r ong enough t o met e i t out t o hi m and Wessex.

I n t he f ol l owi ng year we accor di ngl y f i nd hi m on t he

al er t , and t aki ng act i on i n a new di r ect i on. These

heat hen pi r at es, he sees, f i ght hi s peopl e at t er r i bl e

advant age by r eason of t hei r command of t he sea.

Thi s enabl es t hem t o choose t hei r own poi nt of

at t ack, not onl y al ong t he sea- coast , but up ever y

r i ver as f ar as t hei r l i ght gal l eys can swi m ; t o r et r eat

unmol est ed, at t hei r own t i me, whenever t he f or t une

of war t ur ns agai nst t hem ; t o br i ng r ei nf or cement s of

men and suppl i es t o t he scene of act i on wi t hout f ear

of hi ndr ance. Hi s Saxons have l ong si nce gi ven up

t hei r seaf ar i ng habi t s. They have become bef or e al l

t hi ngs an agr i cul t ur al peopl e, dr awi ng al most ever y -

t hi ng t hey need f r om t hei r own soi l . The f ew f or ei gn

t ast es t hey have ar e suppl i ed by f or ei gn t r ader s.

However , i f Wessex i s t o be made saf e, t he sea-

92 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

ki ngs must be met on t hei r own el ement ; and so, wi t h

what expendi t ur e of pat i ence and money, and encou-

r agi ng wor ds and exampl e we may easi l y conj ect ur e,

t he young ki ng get s t oget her a smal l f l eet , and hi m-

sel f t akes command of i t . We have no cl ue t o t he

poi nt on t he sout h coast wher e t he admi r al of t went y -

f i ve f i ght s hi s f i r st naval act i on, but know onl y t hat

i n t he summer of 875 he i s cr ui si ng wi t h hi s f l eet , and

meet s seven t al l shi ps of t he enemy. One of t hese he

capt ur es, and t he r est make of l " af t er a har d f i ght — no

smal l encour agement t o t he sai l or ki ng, who has t hus

f or anot her year saved Saxon homest eads f r om devas -

t at i on by f i r e and swor d.

The second wave of i nvasi on had now at l ast

gat her ed wei ght and vol ume enough, and br oke on

t he ki ng and peopl e of t he West Saxons. The year

SyG was st i l l young when t he whol e pagan ar my,

whi ch had wi nt er ed at and about Cambr i dge, mar ched

t o t hei r shi ps, and put t o sea. Gut hr um was i n com-

mand, wi t h t he ot her t wo ki ngs, Anket el and Amund,

as hi s l i eut enant s, under whom was a host as f or mi d-

abl e as t hat whi ch had mar ched acr oss Mer ci a t hr ough

f or est and wast e, and sai l ed up t he Thames f i ve year s

bef or e, t o t he assaul t of Readi ng. Ther e must have

been some f ew days of har assi ng suspense, f or we

Page 47 of 174

cannot suppose t hat Al f r ed was not awar e of t he

movement s of hi s t er r i bl e f oes. Pr obabl y hi s new

f l eet cr ui sed of f t he sout h coast on t he wat ch f or

t hem, and al l up t he Thames t her e wer e gl oomy

wat chi ngs, and f or ebodi ngs of a r epet i t i on of t he evi l

days of 871. But t he suspense was soon over . Passi ng

THE SECOND WAVE. 93

by t he Thames' mout h, and t hr ough Dover St r ai t s,

t he pagan f l eet sai l ed, and west war d st i l l past many

t empt i ng har bour s and r i ver s' mout hs, unt i l t hey

came of f t he coast of Dor set shi r e. Ther e t hey l and

at War eham, and sei ze and f or t i f y t he neck of l and

bet ween t he r i ver s Fr ome and Pi ddl e, on whi ch st ood,

when t hey l anded, a f or t r ess of t he West Saxons and

a monast er y of hol y vi r gi ns. For t r ess and monast er y

f el l i nt o t he hands of t he Danes, who set t o wor k at

once t o t hr ow up ear t hwor ks and ot her wi se f or t i f y

a space l ar ge enough t o cont ai n t hei r ar my, and al l

spoi l br ought i n by mar audi ng bands f r om t hi s

hi t her t o unpl under ed count r y. Thi s f or t i f i ed camp

was soon ver y st r ong, except on t he west er n si de,

upon whi ch Al f r ed shor t l y appear ed wi t h a body of

hor semen, and such ot her t r oops as coul d be gat her ed

hast i l y t oget her . The det achment s of t he Pagans,

who wer e al r eady out pi l l agi ng t he whol e nei ghbour -

hood, f el l back appar ent l y bef or e hi m, concent r at i ng

on t he War eham camp. Bef or e i t s out wor ks Al f r ed

paused. He i s t oo exper i enced a sol di er now t o r i sk

at t he out set of a campai gn such a di sast er as t hat

whi ch he and Et hel r ed had sust ai ned i n t hei r at t empt

t o assaul t t he camp at Readi ng i n 871. He i s j ust

st r ong enough t o keep t he Pagans wi t hi n t hei r l i nes,

but has no mar gi n t o spar e. So he si t s down bef or e

t he camp, but no bat t l e i s f ought , nei t her he nor

Gut hr um car i ng t o br i ng mat t er s t o t hat i ssue. Soon

negot i at i ons ar e commenced, and agai n a t r eat y i s

made.

On t hi s occasi on Al f r ed woul d seem t o have t aken

94 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T

speci al pai ns t o bi nd hi s f ai t hl ess f oe. Al l t he hol y

r el i cs whi ch coul d be pr ocur ed f r om hol y pl aces i n

t he nei ghbour hood wer e br ought t oget her , t hat he

hi msel f and hi s peopl e mi ght set t he exampl e of

pl edgi ng t hemsel ves i n t he most sol emn manner

known t o Chr i st i an men. Then a hol y r i ng or

br acel et , smear ed wi t h t he bl ood of beast s sacr i f i ced

t o Woden, was pl aced on a heat hen al t ar . Upon

t hi s Gut hr um and hi s f el l ow ki ngs and ear l s swor e

on behal f of t he ar my t hat t hey woul d qui t t he Ki ng' s

count r y and gi ve host ages. Such an oat h had never

been swor n by Dani sh l eader on Engl i sh soi l bef or e.

I t was t he most sol emn known t o t hem. They woul d

seem al so t o have swor n on Al f r ed' s r el i cs, as an

ext r a pr oof of t hei r si ncer i t y f or t hi s once, and t hei r

host ages " f r om amongst t he most r enowned men i n

t he ar my " wer e dul y handed over . Al f r ed now

r el axed hi s wat ch, even i f he di d not wi t hdr aw wi t h

Page 48 of 174

t he mai n body of hi s ar my, l eavi ng hi s hor se t o see

t hat t he t er ms of t he t r eat y wer e per f or med, and t o

wat ch t he War eham camp unt i l t he depar t ur e of t he

pagan host . But nei t her oat h on sacr ed r i ng, nor

t he r i sk t o t hei r host ages, wei ghed wi t h Gut hr um

and hi s f ol l ower s when any advant age was t o be

gai ned by t r eacher y. They st eal out of t he camp by

ni ght , sur pr i se and mur der t he Saxon hor semen,

sei ze t he hor ses, and st r i ke acr oss t he count r y, t he

mount ed men l eadi ng, t o Exet er , but l eavi ng a suf f i -

ci ent gar r i son t o hol d War eham f or t he pr esent .

They sur pr i se and get possessi on of t he west er n

capi t al , and t her e set t l e down t o pass t he wi nt er .

THE SECOND WA VE. 95

Rol l o, f i er cest of t he vi ki ngs, i s sai d by Asser t o

have passed t he wi nt er wi t l i t hem i n t hei r Exet er

quar t er s on hi s way t o Nor mandy ; but whet l i cr t he

gr eat r obber hi msel f wer e her e or not , i t i s cer t ai n

t hat t he channel swar med wi t h pi r at e f l eet s, who coul d

put i n t o War eham or Exet er at t hei r di scr et i on, and

f i nd a saf e st r onghol d i n ei t her pl ace f r om whi ch t o

car r y f i r e and swor d t hr ough t he unhappy count r y.

Al f r ed had vai nl y endeavour ed t o over t ake t he

mar ch t o Exet er i n t he aut umn of ^^ 6, and f ai l i ng i n

t he pur sui t , had di sbanded hi s own t r oops as usual ,

al l owi ng t hem t o go t o t hei r homes unt i l t he spr i ng.

Bef or e he coul d be af oot agai n i n t he spr i ng of 877

t he i nai n body of t he Pagans at Exet er had made

t hat ci t y t oo st r ong f or any at t empt at assaul t , so

t he Ki ng and hi s t r oops coul d do no mor e t han be-

l eaguer i t on t he l and si de, as he had done at War e-

ham. But Gut hr um coul d l augh at al l ef f or t s of hi s

gr eat ant agoni st , and wai t i n conf i dence t he sur e di s -

bandi ng of t he Saxon t r oops at har vest - t i me, so

l ong as hi s shi ps hel d t he sea.

Suppl i es wer e soon r unni ng shor t i n Exet er , but t he

Exe was open, and communi cat i ons goi ng on wi t h

War eham. I t i s ar r anged t hat t he camp t her e shal l be

br oken up, and t he whol e gar r i son wi t h t hei r spoi l

shal l j oi n head- quar t er s. 120 Dani sh t var - gal l eys ar e

f r ei ght ed, and beat down channel , but ar c baf i l ed by

adver se wi nds f or near l y a mont h. The} ' and al l t hei r

suppl i es may be l ooked f or any day i n t he Exe when

t hewi nd changes. Al f r ed, f r om hi s camp bef or e Exet er ,

sends t o hi s l i t t l e f l eet t o put t o sea. He cannot hi m-

96 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

sel f be wi t h t hem as i n t hei r f i r st act i on, f or he knows

wel l t hat Gut hr um wi l l sei ze t he f i r st moment of hi s

absence t o sal l y f r om Exet er , br eak t he Saxon l i nes,

and scat t er hi s ar my i n r ovi ng bands over Devonshi r e,

on t hei r way back t o t he east er n ki ngdom. The

Saxon f l eet put s out , manned i t sel f , as some say,

par t l y wi t h sea- r obber s, hi r ed t o f i ght t hei r own

peopl e. However manned, i t at t acks br avel y a por -

t i on of t he pi r at es. But a mi ght i er power t han t he

f l eet f ought f or Al f r ed at t hi s cr i si s. Fi r st a dense

f og, and t hen a gr eat st or m came on, bur st i ng on t he

sout h coast wi t h such f ur y t hat t he Pagans l ost no

Page 49 of 174

l ess t han l OO of t hei r chi ef shi ps of f Swanage ; as

mi ght y a del i ver ance per haps f or Engl and — t hough

t he memor y of i t i s near l y f or got t en — as t hat whi ch

began i n t he same seas 700 year s l at er , when Dr ake

and t he sea- ki ngs of t he i 6t h cent ur y wer e hangi ng

on t he r ear of t he Spani sh Ar mada al ong t he Devon

and Dor set coast s, whi l e t he beacons bl azed up al l

over Engl and, and t he whol e nat i on f l ew t o ar ms.

The dest r uct i on of t he f l eet deci ded t he f at e of t he

si ege of Exet er . Once mor e negot i at i ons ar e opened

by t he Pagans ; once mor e Al f r ed, f ear f ul of dr i vi ng

t hem t o ext r emi t i es, l i st ens, t r eat s, and f i nal l y accept s

oat hs and mor e host ages, acknowl edgi ng pr obabl y i n

sor r ow t o hi msel f t hat he can f or t he moment do no

bet t er . And on t hi s occasi on Gut hr um, bei ng caught

f ar f r om home, and wi t hout suppl i es or shi ps, " keeps

t he peace wel l , " movi ng as we conj ect ur e, wat ched

j eal ousl y by Al f r ed, on t he shor t est l i ne acr oss Devon

and Somer set t o some f or d i n t he Avon, and so acr oss

THE SECOND VVA VE. 97

i nt o Mer ci a, wher e he ar r i ves dur i ng har vest , and

bi l l et s hi s ar my on Ceohvul f , campi ng t hem f or t he

wi nt er about t he ci t y of Gl ost er . Her e t hey r un

up hut s f or t hemsel ves, and make some pr et ence o\

per manent set t l ement on t he Sever n, di vi di ng l ar ge

t r act s of l and amongst t hose who car ed t o t ake t hem.

The campai gns of Si yG- y ar e gener al l y l ooked upon

as di sast r ous ones f or t he Saxon ar ms, but t hi s vi ew

i s cer t ai nl y not suppor t ed by t he chr oni cl er s. I t i s

t r ue t hat bot h at War eham and Exet er t he Pagans

br oke new gr ound, and secur ed t hei r posi t i ons, f r om

whi ch no doubt t hey di d sor e damage i n t he nei gh-

bour i ng di st r i ct s ; but we can t r ace i n t hese year s

none of t he ol d ost ent at i ous dar i ng, and t hi r st f or

bat t l e wi t h Al f r ed. Whenever he appear s t he pi r at e

bands dr aw back at once i nt o t hei r st r onghol ds, and,

exhaust ed as gr eat par t of Wessex must have been

by t he const ant st r ai n, t he West Saxons show no

si gns yet of f al l i ng f r om t hei r gal l ant ki ng. I f he can

no l onger col l ect i n a week such an ar my as f ought at

Ashdown, he can st i l l , wi t hout much del ay, br i ng t o

hi s si de a suf f i ci ent f or ce t o hem t he Pagans i n and

keep t hem behi nd t hei r r ampar t s.

But t he nat ur e of t he ser vi ce was t el l i ng sadl y on

t he r esour ces of t he ki ngdom sout h of t he Thames.

To t he Saxons t her e came no new l evi es, whi l e f r om

t he nor t h and east of Engl and, as wel l as f r om over

t he sea, Gut hr um was ever dr awi ng t o hi s st andar d

wander i ng bands of st ur dy Nor t hmen. The most

i mpor t ant of t hese r ei nf or cement s came t o hi m f r om

an unexpect ed quar t er t hi s aut umn. We have not

S. I . . VI I I . U

98 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

hear d f or some year s of Hubba, t he br ot her of I l i n-

Page 50 of 174

guar , t he younger of t he t wo vi ki ngs who pl anned

and l ed t he f i r st gr eat i nvasi on i n 868. Per haps he

may have r esent ed t he ar r i val of Gut hr um and ot her

ki ngs i n t he f ol l owi ng year s, t o whom he had t o gi ve

pl ace. What ever may have been t he cause, he seems

t o have gone of f on hi s own account , car r yi ng wi t h hi m

t he f amous r aven st andar d, t o do hi s appoi nt ed wor k

i n t hese year s on ot her coast s under i t s omi nous shade.

Thi s " war - f l ag whi ch t hey cal l r aven " was a sacr ed

obj ect t o t he Nor t hmen. When Hi nguar and Hubba

had hear d of t he deat h of t hei r f at her , Regner Lodbr og,

and had r esol ved t o avenge hi m, whi l e t hey wer e cal l i ng

t oget her t hei r f ol l ower s, t hei r t hr ee si st er s i n one day

wove f or t hem t hi s war - f l ag, i n t he mi dst of whi ch was

por t r ayed t he f i gur e of a r aven. Whenever t he f l ag

went bef or e t hem i nt o bat t l e, i f t hey wer e t o wi n t he

day t he sacr ed r aven woul d r ouse i t sel f and st r et ch i t s

wi ngs but i f def eat awai t ed t hem t he f l ag woul d hang

r ound i t s st af f " , and t he bi r d r emai n mot i onl ess. Thi s

v/ onder had been pr oved i n many a f i ght , so t he wi l d

Pagans who f ought under t he st andar d of Regner ' s

chi l dr en bel i eved. I t was a power i n i t sel f , and

Hubba and a st r ong f l eet wer e wi t h i t .

They had appear ed i n t he Br i st ol Channel i n t hi s

aut umn of ' ^J' J, and had r ut hl essl y sl aught er ed and

spoi l ed t he peopl e of Sout h Wal es. Her e t hey pr opose

t o wi nt er ; but , as t he count r y i s wi l d mount ai n f or t he

most par t , and t he peopl e ver y poor , t hey wi l l r emai n

no l onger t han t hey can hel p. Al r eady a l ar ge pai t

of t he ar my about Gl ost er ar e get t i ng r est l es. s. The

THE SECOND WA VE. 99

st or y of t hei r mar ch f r om Devonshi r e, t hr ough r i ch

di st r i ct s of Wessex yet unpl under ed, goes r ound

amongst t he new- comer s. Gut hr um has no power ,

pr obabl y no wi l l , t o keep t hem t o t hei r oat hs. I n t he

ear l y wi nt er a j oi nt at t ack i s pl anned by hi m and

Hubba on t he West Saxon t er r i t or y. By Chr i st mas

t hey ar e st r ong enough t o t ake t he f i el d, and so i n

mi d- wi nt er , shor t l y af t er Twel f t h- ni ght , t he camp at

Gl ost er br eaks up, and t he ar my " st ol e away t o

Chi ppenham, " r ecr ossi ng t he Avon once mor e i nt o

Wessex, under Gut hr um. The f l eet , af t er a shor t

del ay, cr oss t o t he Devonshi r e coast , under Hubba, i n

t hi r t y war - shi ps.

And now at l ast t he cour age of t he West Saxons

gi ves way. The sur pr i se i s compl et e. Wi l t shi r e i s at

t he mer cy of t he Pagans, who, occupyi ng t he r oyal

bur gh of Chi ppenham as head- quar t er s, over r un t he

whol e di st r i ct , dr i ve many of t he i nhabi t ant s " beyond

t he sea f or want of t he necessar i es of l i f e, " and r educe

t o subj ect i on al l t hose t hat r emai n. Al f r ed i s at hi s

post , but f or t he moment can make no head agai nst

t hem. Hi s own st r ong hear t and t r ust i n God ar c

l ef t hi m, and wi t h t hem and a scant y band of f ol l ower s

he di sappear s i nt o t he f or est of Sel wood, whi ch t hen

st r et ched away f r om t he conf i nes of Wi l t shi r e f or

t hi r t y mi l es t o t he west . East Somer set , now one of

t he f ai r est and r i chest of Engl i sh count i es, was t hen

f or t he most par t t hi ck wood and t angl ed swamp, but

Page 51 of 174

mi ser abl e as t he l odgi ng i s i t i s wel come f or t he t i me

t o t he Ki ng. I n t he f i r st mont hs of SyS, Sel wood

For est hol ds i n i t s r ecesses t he hope of Engl and.

H 2

CHAPTER I X.

ATHELNEY.

" Behol d a Ki ng shal l r ei gn i n r i ght eousness, and pr i nces shal l r ul e i n

Judgment . Ai i da man shal l be as an hi di ng- pl ace f r om t he i vi nd, and

a cover t f r om t he t empest ; as r i ver s of wat er i n a dr y pl ace, as t he

shado7v of a gr eat r ock i n a wear y l and. "

At f i r st si ght i t seems har d t o account f or t he sudden

and compl et e col l apse of t he West Saxon power i n

Januar y 878. I n t he campai gn of t he l ast year Al f r ed

had been successf ul on t he whol e, bot h by sea and

l and. He had cl ear ed t he soi l of Wessex f r om t he

enemy, and had r educed t he pagan l eader s t o sue

humbl y f or t er ms, and t o gi ve what ever host ages he

demanded. Yet t hr ee mont hs l at er t he si mpl e cr oss -

i ng t he Avon and t aki ng of Chi ppenham i s enough,

i f we can bel i eve t he chr oni cl er s, t o par al yse t he

whol e ki ngdom, and t o l eave Al f r ed a f ugi t i ve, hi di ng

i n Sel wood For est , wi t h a mer e handf ul of f ol l ower s

and hi s own f ami l y. But t her e i s no doubt or di s -

cr epancy i n t he account s. The Saxon Chr oni cl e says,

i n i t s shor t cl ear st yl e, t hat t he ar my st ol e away t o

Chi ppenham dur i ng mi d- wi nt er , af t er Twel f t h- ni ght ,

and sat down t her e ; " and many of t he peopl e t hey

dr ove beyond t he sea, and of t he r est t he gr eat er par t

A THELNE V. l oi

t hey subdued and f or ced t o obey t hem, except Ki ng

Al f r ed ; and he wi t h a smal l band wi t h di f f i cul t y

r et r eat ed t o t he woods and t he f ast nesses of t he

moor s. " Asser and t he r est mer el y expand t hi s

st at ement i n one f or m or anot her , l eavi ng t he mai n

f act s — t he compl et e success of t he bl ow, and t he

i nabi l i t y of Al f r ed at t he moment t o war d i t of f , or

r et ur n i t , or r ecover f r om i t — al t oget her unquest i oned.

Some wr i t er s have t hought t o account f or i t by

t r ansposi ng a passage f r om Br ompt on, nar r at i ng

obscur el y a bat t l e at Chi ppenham, and anot her at a

pl ace cal l ed Abendune, i n bot h of whi ch Al f r ed i s

def eat ed. Thi s occur s i n Br ompt on i n t he year 8/ 1,

and, bei ng cl ear l y out of pl ace t her e, has been sei zed

on t o hel p out t he di f f i cul t y i n t he year 878.

But t her e does not appear t o be t he l east gr ound

f or t aki ng t hi s l i ber t y wi t h Br ompt on' s t ext , nor even,

i f t her e wer e, i s he a suf f i ci ent l y sound aut hor i t y t o

r el y upon f or any f act whi ch i s not t o be f ound i n t he

Saxon Chr oni cl e, or Asser . Nor i ndeed i s t her e need

Page 52 of 174

of any such expl anat i on when t he f act s come t o be

car ef ul l y exami ned.

I n t he f i r st pl ace, t hi s wi nt er i nr oad on Chi ppenham

was made at a t i me of year when even t he vi ki ngs

and t hei r f ol l ower s wer e usual l y at r est . Gut hr um

and hi s host f el l upon t he Wi l t shi r e and Somer set shi r e

men when t hey wer e qui t e unpr epar ed, and bef or e

t hey had had t i me t o hi de away t hei r wi ves and

chi l dr en or any pr ovi si on of cor n or beast s. Then t he

count r y was al r eady exhaust ed. The Pagans, i t i s

t r ue, had not yet vi si t ed t hi s par t of Wessex, but t he

I 02 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

dr ai n of men must have been f el t her e, i n t he l ast

ei ght year s, as wel l as f ur t her east and sout h. We

r emar k, t oo, t hat t hese West Saxons ar e t he near est

nei ghbour s of t he Mer ci ans, amongst whom a con-

si der abl e body of t he Danes had been now set t l ed f or

some year s. Pagani sm was r i f e agai n at Gl ost er , and

no gr eat har m seemed t o come of i t . These pagan

set t l er s, t hough i nsol ent and over bear i ng, st i l l l i ved

si de by si de wi t h t he Saxon i nhabi t ant s ; di d not

at t empt t o dr i ve t hem out or ext er mi nat e t hem ; l ef t

t hem some por t i on of t hei r wor l dl y goods. On t he

ot her hand, what hope i s t her e i n f i ght i ng agai nst a

f oe who has not hi ng t o l ose but hi s l i f e, whose number s

ar e i nexhaust i bl e. Mi ght i t not be bet t er t o make

any t er ms wi t h t hem, such, f or i nst ance, as our Mer -

ci an br et hr en have made . - * Thi s young ki ng of our s

cannot pr ot ect us, has spent al l hi s t r easur e i n f or mer

war s, has l i t t l e i ndeed l ef t but hi s name. Who i s

Al f r ed } and what i s t he r ace of Cer di c . ' ' Know ye

not t hat we ar e consumed }

Her e, f or t he f i r st t i me, i n ' ^ ' ] ^, we f i nd t r aces of

t hi s ki nd of demor al i zat i on and of di sl oyal t y t o t hei r

ki ng and l and on t he par t of a por t i on of hi s peopl e ;

and t he st r ong and pat i ent soul of Al f r ed must have

been wr ung by an angui sh such as he had not yet

known, as he hear d f r om hi s hi di ng- pl ace of t hi s

apost asy. Her e t hen our gr eat ki ng t ouches t he

l owest poi nt i n hi s hi st or y. So f ar as out war d ci r -

cumst ances go, humi l i at i on can i ndeed har dl y go f ur t her

t han t hi s. Ar e we t o bel i eve t he st or y t hat he had

ear ned and pr epar ed t hat humi l i at i on f or hi msel f i n

ATHELNEY. 103

t hose f i r st f ew year s of hi s r ei gn bet ween t he aut umn

of 872, when t he camp at Readi ng br oke up, and t he

ear l y spr i ng of 876, when t he pagan f l eet appear ed of f

War eham ? The f or m i n whi ch t hi s st or y comes down

t o us i s i n i t sel f suspi ci ous. I t r est s mai nl y on t he

aut hor i t y of t he " Li f e of St . Neot , " a wor k of t he

next cent ur y, t he aut hor of whi ch i s not known ; but

onl y t hus much about hi m, t hat he was a monk bent

on exal t i ng t he char act er and hi st or y of hi s sai nt ,

wi t hout much car e at whose expense t hi s was t o be

Page 53 of 174

done. The passage i n Asser , appar ent l y conf i r mi ng

t he st at ement , i s r egar ded by al l t he best schol ar s as

spur i ous, and i ndeed commences wi t h a r ef er ence t o

t he " Li f e of St . Neot , " so t hat i t coul d not possi bl y

be of t he same dat e as t he r est of Asser ' s book, whi ch

was wr i t t en dur i ng t he Ki ng' s l i f et i me. " The

Al mi ght y, " so t he anonymous aut hor wr i t es, " not

onl y gr ant ed t o t hi s gl or i ous ki ng vi ct or i es over hi s

enemi es, but al so al l owed hi m t o be har assed by t hem,

and wei ghed down by mi sf or t unes and by t he l ow

est at e of hi s f ol l ov/ er s, t o t he end t hat he mi ght l ear n

t hat t her e i s one Lor d of al l t hi ngs t o whom ever y

knee must bow, and i n whose hand ar e t he hear t s of

ki ngs ; who put s down t he mi ght y f r om t hei r seat , and

exal t s t hem of l ow degr ee ; who suf f er s Hi s ser vant s,

when t hey ar e at t he hei ght of good f or t une, t o be

t ouched by t he r od of adver si t y, t hat i n t hei r humi l i t y

t hey may not despai r of God' s mer cy, and i n t hei r

pr osper i t y may not boast of t hei r honour s, but may

al so know t o whom t hey owe al l t hey have. One

may t her ef or e bel i eve t hat t hese mi sf or t unes wer e

I 04' LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

br ought on t he Ki ng because i n t he begi nni ng of hi s

r ei gn, when he was a yout h and swayed by a yout h' s

i mpul ses, he woul d not l i st en t o t he pet i t i ons whi ch

hi s subj ect s made t o hi m f or hel p i n t hei r necessi t i es,

or f or r el i ef f r om t hei r oppr essor s, but used t o dr i ve

t hem f r om hi m and pay no heed t o t hei r r equest s.

Thi s conduct gave much pai n t o t he hol y man St .

Neot , who was hi s r el at i on, and of t en f or et ol d t o hi m

i n t l i e spi r i t of pr ophecy t hat he woul d suf f er gr eat

adver si t y on t hi s account . But Al f r ed nei t her at t ended

t o t he pr oof of t he man of God, nor l i st ened t o hi s

soot hsayi ng. Wher ef or e, seei ng t hat a man' s si ns

must be puni shed, ei t l vor i n t hi s wor l d or t he next ,

t he t r ue and r i ght eous Judge wi l l ed t hat hi s si n shoul d

not go unpuni shed i n t i ns wor l d, t o t he end t hat He

mi ght spar e hi m i n t he wor l d t o come. For t hi s cause,

t her ef or e. Ki ng Al f r ed of t en f el l i nt o such gr eat mi ser y

t hat somet i mes none of hi s subj ect s knew wher e he

was or what had become of hi m. "

So wr i t es t he monki sh hi st or i an, upon whose st at e-

ment one r emar ks, t hat i n t he onl y pl ace wher e i t

can be t est ed i t i s not accur at e. The one occasi on on

whi ch Al f r ed f el l i nt o such mi ser y t hat hi s subj ect s

di d not know wher e he was, was i n t hi s Januar y of

878. We know t hat f or many year s bef or e hi s acces -

si on he was anxi ousl y bent on acqui r i ng knowl edge,

and i n di sci pl i ni ng hi msel f f or hi s wor k i n l i f e, what -

ever i t mi ght be. Pat i ence, humi l i t y, and ut t er f or -

gct f ul ness of sel f , t he t r ue r oyal qual i t i es, shi ne out

t hr ough ever y wor d and act of hi s l i f e wher ever we

can get at t hem. I ndeed, I t hi nk no one can be

ATHELNEY. 105

f ami l i ar wi t h t he aut hent i c r ecor ds of hi s wor ds and

wor ks and bel i eve t hat he coul d ever have al i enat ed

hi s peopl e by ar r ogance, or i mpat i ence, or super -

Page 54 of 174

ci l i ousness. Hi s woul d seem t o be r at her one of t hose

r ar e nat ur es whi ch mar ch t hr ough l i f e wi t hout hast e

and wi t hout f al t er i ng ; bear i ng al l t hi ngs, hopi ng al l

t hi ngs, endur i ng al l t hi ngs, but never r est i ng bef or e

t he evi l whi ch i s goi ng on al l r ound hi m, and of

whi ch he i s consci ous i n hi s own soul . He may

i ndeed have al i enat ed some nobl es and of f i ci al per -

sons i n hi s ki ngdom, by cur bi ng vi gor ousl y, and at

once, t he power s of t he al der men and r eeves. I n-

deed, i t i s sai d, t hat i n one of t hose year s he hanged

as many as f or t y- f our r eeves f or unj ust j udgment s,

even f or st r et chi ng t he Ki ng' s pr er ogat i ve agai nst

sui t or s. No doubt , al so, hi s demands on t he peopl e

gener al l y f or mi l i t ar y ser vi ce, t he bui l di ng of shi ps,

and r est or i ng of f or t i f i ed pl aces, wer e bur densome,

and may have caused some di scont ent . But t her e

i s no t r ust wor t hy evi dence, t hat I have been abl e

t o f i nd, of any di saf f ect i on, nor does i t need t he

suggest i on of any such cause t o account f or t he

event s of t he wi nt er of ' ^' j ' ^.

So much t hen f or t he monki sh t r adi t i on of Al f r ed' s

ar r ogant yout h and i t s r esul t s. I t cannot be passed

over , but must be r ead by t he l i ght of hi s l at er l i f e

and wor k, as we have i t i n mi nut e det ai l .

The Ki ng t hen di sappear s i n Januar y %" ] % f r om t he

eyes of Saxon and Nor t hmen, and we must f ol l ow

hi m, by such l i ght as t r adi t i on t hr ows upon t hese

mont hs, i nt o t he t hi cket s and mar shes of Sehvood I t

i o6 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

i s at t hi s poi nt , as i s nat ur al enough, t hat r omance

has been most busy, and i t has become i mpossi bl e

t o di sent angl e t he act ual f act s f r om monki sh l egend

and Saxon bal l ad. I n happi er t i mes Al f r ed was i n

t he habi t hi msel f of t al ki ng over t he event s of hi s

wander i ng l i f e pl easant l y wi t h hi s cour t i er s, and t her e

i s no r eason t o doubt t hat t he f oundat i on of most of

t he st or i es st i l l cur r ent r est s on t hose conver sat i ons of

t he t r ut h- l ovi ng Ki ng, not ed down by Bi shop Asser

and ot her s.

The best known of t hese i s, of cour se, t he st or y of

t he cakes. I n t he dept hs of t he Saxon f or est s t her e

wer e al ways a f ew neat - her ds and swi ne- her ds, scat -

t er ed up and down, l i vi ng i n r ough hut s enough, we

may be sur e, and occupi ed wi t h t he car e of t he cat t l e

and her ds of t hei r mast er s. Amongst t hese i n Sel -

wood was a neat - her d of t he Ki ng, a f ai t hf ul man, t o

whom t he secr et of Al f r ed' s di sgui se was ent r ust ed,

and who kept i t even f r om hi s wi f e. To t hi s man' s

hut t he Ki ng came one day al one, and, si t t i ng hi m-

sel f down by t he bur ni ng l ogs on t he hear t h, began

mendi ng hi s bow and ar r ows. The neat - her d' s wi f e

had j ust f i ni shed her baki ng, and havi ng ot her house-

hol d mat t er s t o at t end t o, conf i ded her l oaves t o t he

Ki ng, a poor t i r ed- l ooki ng body, who mi ght be gl ad

of t he war mt h, and coul d make hi msel f usef ul by

t ur ni ng t he bat ch, and so ear n hi s shar e whi l e she

got on wi t h ot her busi ness. But Al f r ed wor ked away

at hi s weapons, t hi nki ng of anyt hi ng but t he good

housewi f e' s bat ch of l oaves, whi ch i n due cour se wer e

Page 55 of 174

not onl y done, but r api dl y bur ni ng t o a ci nder . At

A THELNE V. 107

t hi s moment t he neat - her d' s wi f e comes back, and

f l yi ng t o t he hear t h t o r escue t he br ead, cr i es out ,

" ^D' r at t he man ! never t o t ur n t he l oaves when you

see t hem bur ni ng. Vze war r ant you r eady enough

t o eat t hem when t hey' r e done. " But besi des t he

Ki ng' s f ai t hf ul neat - her d, whose name i s not pr eser ved,

t her e ar e ot her chur l s i n t he f or est , who must be

Al f r ed' s comr ades j ust now i f he wi l l have any. And

even her e he has an eye f or a good man, and wi l l

l ose no oppor t uni t y t o hel p one t o t he best of hi s

power . Such an one he f i nds i n a cer t ai n swi ne- her d

cal l ed Denewul f , whom he get s t o know, a t hought f ul

Saxon man, mi ndi ng hi s char ge t her e i n t he oak -

woods. The r ough chur l , or t hr al l , we know not

whi ch, has gr eat capaci t y, as Al f r ed soon f i nds out ,

and desi r e t o l ear n. So t he Ki ng goes t o wor k upon

Denewul f under t he oak t r ees, when t he swi ne wi l l

l et hi m, and i s wel l sat i sf i ed wi t h t he r esul t s of hi s

t eachi ng and t he pr ogr ess of hi s pupi l , as wi l l appear

i n t he sequel .

But i n t hose mi ser abl e days t he commonest neces -

sar i es of l i f e wer e har d enough t o come by f or t he

Ki ng and hi s f ew compani ons, and f or hi s wi f e and

f ami l y, who soon j oi ned hi m i n t he f or est , even i f

t hey wer e not wi t h hi m f r om t he f i r st . The poor

f or est er s cannot mai nt ai n t hem, nor ar c t hi s band

of exi l es t he men t o l i ve on t he poor . So Al f r ed

and hi s comr ades ar e soon out f or agi ng on t he

bor der s of t he f or est , and get t i ng what subsi st ence

t hey can f r om t he Pagans, or f r om t he Chr i st i ans

who had submi t t ed t o t hei r yoke. So we may

i o8 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

i magi ne t hem dr aggi ng on l i f e t i l l near East er , when

a gl eam of good news comes up f r om t he west , t o

gl adden t he hear t s, and st r engt hen t he ar ms, of t hese

poor men i n t he dept hs of Sel wood.

Soon af t er Gut hr um and t he mai n body of t he

Pagans moved f r om Gl ost er , sout hwar ds, t he Vi ki ng

Hubba, as had been agr eed, sai l ed wi t h t hi r t y shi ps

of war f r om hi s wi nt er quar t er s on t he Sout h Wel sh

coast , and l anded i n Devon. The news of t he

cat ast r ophe at Chi ppenham, and of t he di sappear ance

of t he Ki ng, was no doubt al r eady known i n t he

west ; and i n t he f ace of i t Odda t he al der man cannot

gat her st r engt h t o meet t he Pagan i n t he open f i el d.

But he i s a br ave and t r ue man, and wi l l make no

t er ms wi t h t he spoi l er s ; so, wi t h ot her f ai t hf ul t hegns

of Ki ng Al f r ed and t hei r f ol l ower s, he t hr ows hi m-

sel f i nt o a cast l e or f or t cal l ed Cynwi t h, or Cynni t ,

t her e t o abi de what ever i ssue of t hi s busi ness God

shal l send t hem. Hubba, wi t h t he war - f l ag Raven,

and a host l aden wi t h t he spoi l of r i ch Devon val es,

appear i n due cour se bef or e t he pl ace. I t i s not

st r ong nat ur al l y, and has onl y " wal l s i n our own

Page 56 of 174

f ashi on, " meani ng pr obabl y r ough ear t hwor ks. But

t her e ar e r esol ut e men behi nd t hem, and on t he

whol e Pl ubba decl i nes t he assaul t , and si t s down

bef or e t he pl ace. Ther e i s no spr i ng of wat er , he

hear s, wi t hi n t he Saxon l i nes, and t hey ar e ot her wi se

whol l y unpr epar ed f or a si ege. A f ew days wi l l

no doubt set t l e t he mat t er , and t he swor d or sl aver y

wi l l be t he por t i on of Odda and t he r est of Al f r ed' s

men ; meant i me t her e i s spoi l enough i n t he camp

ATHELNEY. 109

f r om Devonshi r e homest eads, whi ch br ave men can

r evel i n r ound t he war - f l ag Raven, whi l e t hey wat ch

t he Saxon r ampar t s. Odda, however , has qui t e ot her

vi ews t han deat h f r om t hi r st , or sur r ender . Bef or e

any st r ess comes, ear l y one mor ni ng, he and hi s

whol e f or ce sal l y out over t hei r ear t hwor ks, and f r om

t he f i r st " cut down t he pagans i n gr eat number s: "

840 war r i or s ( some say 1, 200) , wi t h Hubba hi msel f ,

ar e sl ai n bef or e Cynni t f or t ; t he r est , f ew i n number ,

escape t o t hei r shi ps. The war - f l ag Raven i s l ef t i n

t he hands of Odda and t he men of Dev^ on.

Thi s i s t he news whi ch comes t o Al f r ed, Et hel not h

t he al der man of Somer set , Denewul f t he swi ne- her d,

and t he r est of t he Sel wood For est gr oup, some t i me

bef or e East er . These men of Devonshi r e, i t seems,

ar e st i l l st aunch, and r eady t o per i l t hei r l i ves agai nst

t he pagan. No doubt up and down Wessex, t hr ashed

and t r odden out as t he nat i on i s by t hi s t i me, t her e

ar e ot her good men and t r ue, who wi l l nei t her cr oss

t he sea, or t he Wel sh mar ches, or make t er ms wi t h

t he Pagan ; some spr i nkl i ng of men who wi l l yet

set l i f e at st ake, f or f ai t h i n Chr i st and l ove of

Engl and. I f t hese can onl y be r al l i ed, who can say

what may f ol l ow . - ' So, i n t he l engt heni ng days of

spr i ng, counci l i s hel d i n Sel wood, and t her e wi l l

have been East er ser vi ces i n some chapel , or her -

mi t age, i n t he f or est , or , at any r at e, i n some qui et

gl ade. The " day of days" wi l l sur el y have had

i t s voi ce of hope f or t hi s poor r emnant . Chr i st i s

r i sen and r ei gns ; and i t i s not i n t hese heat hen

Danes, or i n al l t he Nor t hmen who ever sai l ed acr oss

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

t he sea, t o put back Hi s ki ngdom, or ensl ave t hose

whom He has f r eed.

The r esul t i s, t hat , f ar away f r om t he east er n

boundar y of t he f or est , on a r i si ng gr ound — hi l l i t

can scar cel y be cal l ed — sur r ounded by danger ous

mar shes f or med by t he l i t t l e r i ver s Thone and Par r et ,

f or dabl e onl y i n summer , and even t hen danger ous

t o al l who have not t he secr et , a smal l f or t i f i ed

camp i s t hr own up under Al f r ed' s eye, by Et hel not h

and t he Somer set shi r e men, wher e he can once agai n

r ai se hi s st andar d. The spot has been chosen by t he

Ki ng wi t h t he ut most car e, f or i t i s hi s l ast t hr ow. He

Page 57 of 174

names i t t he Et hel i ng' s ei g or i sl and, " At hel ney. "

Pr obabl y hi s young son, t he Et hel i ng of Engl and,

i s t her e amongst t he f i r st , wi t h hi s mot her and hi s

gr andmot her Eadbur gha, t he wi dow of Et hel r ed

Muci l , t he vener abl e l ady whom Asser saw i n l at er

year s, and who has now no count r y but her daught er ' s.

Ther e ar e, as has been r eckoned, some t wo acr es of

har d gr ound on t he i sl and, and ar ound vast br akes of

al der - bush, f ul l of deer and ot her game.

Her e t he Somer set shi r e men can keep up const ant

communi cat i on wi t h hi m, and a smal l ar my gr ows

t oget her . They ar e soon st r ong enough t o make

f or ays i nt o t he open count r y, and i n many ski r mi shes

t hey cut of f par t i es of t he Pagans, and suppl i es.

" For , even when over t hr own and cast down, " says

Mal mesbur y, " Al f r ed had al ways t o be f ought wi t h ;

so t hen, when one woul d est eem hi m al t oget her wor n

down and br oken, l i ke a snake sl i ppi ng f r om t he

hand of hi m who woul d gr asp i t , he woul d suddenl y

ATHELNEY. i i i

f l ash out agai n f r om hi s hi di ng- pl aces, r i si ng up t o

smi t e hi s f oes i n t he hei ght of t hei r i nsol ent conf i dence,

and never mor e har d t o beat t han af t er a f l i ght . "

But i t was st i l l a t r yi ng l i f e at At hehi ey. Fol l ower s

came i n sl owl y, and pr ovender and suppl i es of al l

ki nds ar e har d t o wr i ng f r om t he Pagan, and har der

st i l l t o t ake f r om Chr i st i an men. One day, whi l e i t

was yet so col d t hat t he wat er was st i l l f r ozen, t he

Ki ng' s peopl e had gone out " t o get t hem f i sh or

f owl , or some such pur veyance as t hey sust ai ned

t hemsel ves wi t hal . " No one was l ef t i n t he r oyal

hut f or t he moment but hi msel f , and hi s mot her - i n-

l aw Eadbur gha. The Ki ng ( af t er hi s const ant wont

whensoever he had oppor t uni t y) was r eadi ng f r om t he

Psal ms of Davi d, out of t he Manual whi ch he car r i ed

al ways i n hi s bosom. At t hi s moment a poor man

appear ed at t he door and begged f or a mor sel of

br ead " f or Chr i st Hi s sake. " Wher eupon t he Ki ng,

r ecei vi ng t he st r anger as a br ot her , cal l ed t o hi s

mot her - i n- l aw t o gi ve hi m t o eat Eadbur gha r epl i ed

t hat t her e was but one l oaf i n t hei r st or e, and a l i t t l e

wi ne i n a pi t cher , a pr ovi si on whol l y i nsuf l f i ci ent f or

hi s own f ami l y and peopl e. But t he Ki ng bade her

never t hel ess t o gi ve t he st r anger par t of t he l ast l oaf ,

whi ch she accor di ngl y di d. But when he had been

ser ved t he st r anger was no mor e seen, and t he l oaf

r emai ned whol e, and t he pi t cher f ul l t o t he br i m.

Al f r ed, meant i me, had t ur ned t o hi s r eadi ng, over

whi ch he f el l asl eep, and dr eamt t hat St , Cut hber t

of Li ndi sf ar ne st ood by hi m, and t ol d hi m i t was he

who had been hi s guest , and t hat God had seen hi s

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

af f l i ct i ons and t hose of hi s peopl e, whi ch wer e now

about t o end, i n t oken wher eof hi s peopl e woul d

Page 58 of 174

r et ur n t hat day f r om t hei r expedi t i on wi t h a gr eat

t ake of f i sh. The Ki ng awaki ng, and bei ng much

i mpr essed wi t h hi s dr eam, cal l ed t o hi s mot her - i n- l aw

and r ecount ed i t t o her , who t her eupon assur ed hi m

t hat she t oo had been over come wi t h sl eep, and had

had t he same dr eam. And whi l e t hey yet t al ked

t oget her on what had happened so st r angel y t o

t hem, t hei r ser vant s come i n, br i ngi ng f i sh enough, as

i t seemed t o t hem, t o have f ed an ar my.

The monki sh l egend goes on t o t el l t hat on t he

next mor ni ng t he Ki ng cr ossed t o t he mai nl and i n a

boat , and wound hi s hor n t hr i ce, whi ch dr ew t o hi m

bef or e noon 500 men. What we may t hi nk of t he

st or y and t he dr eam, as Si r John Spel man says, " i s

not her e ver y much mat er i al , " seei ng t hat whet her we

deem i t nat ur al or super nat ur al , " t he one as wel l as

t he ot her ser ves at God' s appoi nt ment , by r ai si ng or

dej ect i ng of t he mi nd wi t h hopes or f ear s, t o l ead

man t o t he r esol ut i on of t hose t hi ngs wher eof He has

bef or e or dai ned t he event . "

Al f r ed, we may be sur e, was r eady t o accept and

be t hankf ul f or any hel p, l et i t come f r om whence i t

mi ght , and soon af t er East er i t was becomi ng cl ear

t hat t he t i me i s at hand f or mor e t han ski r mi shi ng

expedi t i ons. Thr ough al l t he nei ghbour i ng count i es

wor d i s spr eadi ng t hat t hei r her o ki ng i s al i ve, and on

f oot agai n, and t hat t her e wi l l be anot her chance

f or br ave men er e l ong of meet i ng once mor e t hese

scour ges of t he l and, under hi s l eadi ng.

ATHELNEY. 113

A popul ar l egend i s f ound i n t he l at er chr oni cl er s

whi ch r el at es t hat at t hi s cr i si s of hi s f or t unes, Al f r ed,

not dar i ng t o r el y on any evi dence but t hat of hi s

own senses as t o t he number s, di sposi t i on, and di sci -

pl i ne of t he pagan ar my, assumed t he gar b of a

mi nst r el , and wi t h one at t endant vi si t ed t he camp of

Gut hr um. Her e he st ayed, " showi ng t r i cks and

maki ng spor t , " unt i l he had penet r at ed t o t he Ki ng' s

t ent s, and l ear ned al l t hat he wi shed t o know. Af t er

sat i sf yi ng hi msel f as t o t he chances of a sudden

at t ack, he r et ur ns t o At hcl ney, and, t he t i me havi ng

come f or a gr eat ef f or t , i f hi s peopl e wi l l but make i t ,

sends r ound messenger s t o t he al der men and ki ng' s

t hegns of nei ghbour i ng shi r es, gi vi ng t hem a t r yst

f or t he sevent h week af t er East er t he second week

i n May.

CHAPTER X.

ETHAN DUNE.

* ' Unt o whom Judas answer ed. I t i s no har d mat t er f or many t o be shut

up i n t he hands of a f ew : and wi t h t he God of heaven i t i s al l one t o

Page 59 of 174

del i ver zui t h a gr eat mi dt i t i i de or a smal l company.

" For t he vi ct or y of bat t l e st andet h not i n t he mul t i t ude of an host , but

st r engt h comet hf r om heaven.

" They come agai nst us i n much P' r i de and i ni qui t y, t o dest r oy us, and

our wi ves and chi l dr en, and t o spoi l us.

" But we f i ght f or our l i ves and our l azus. ^'

On or about t he I 2t l i of May, 8yS, Ki ng Al f r ed l ef t

hi s i sl and i n t he gr eat wood, and hi s wi f e and chi l dr en

and such househol d gods as he had gat her ed r ound

hi m t her e, and came publ i cl y f or t h amongst hi s peopl e

once mor e, r i di ng t o Egber t ' s st one ( pr obabl y Br i xt on) ,

on t he east of Sel wood, a di st ance of 26 mi l es. Her e

met hi m t he men of t he nei ghbour i ng shi r es — Odda,

no doubt , wi t h hi s men of Devonshi r e, f ul l of cour age

and hope af t er t hei r r ecent t r i umph ; t he men of

Somer set shi r e, under t hei r br ave and f ai t hf ul Al der -

man Et hel not h ; and t he men of Wi l t s and Hant s,

such of t hem at l east as had not f l ed t he count r y

or made submi ssi on t o t he enemy. " And when

t hey saw t hei r ki ng al i ve af t er such gr eat t r i bul a-

t i on, t hey r ecei ved hi m, as he mer i t ed, wi t h j oy and

ETHANDUNE. 115

accl amat i on. " The gat her i ng had been so car ef ul l y

pl anned by Al f r ed and t he nobl es who had been

i n conf er ence or cor r espondence wi t h hi m at At hel ney,

t hat t - he Saxon host was or gani zed, and r eady f or

i mmedi at e act i on, on t he ver y day of must er . Whet her

Al f r ed had been hi s own spy we cannot t el l , but i t

i s pl ai n t hat he knew wel l what was passi ng i n t he

pagan camp, and how necessar y swi f t ness and secr ecy

wer e t o t he success of hi s at t ack.

Local t r adi t i ons cannot be much r el i ed upon f or

event s whi ch t ook pl ace a t housand year s ago, but

wher e t her e i s cl ear l y not hi ng i mpr obabl e i n t hem

t hey ar e at l east wor t h ment i oni ng. We may not e,

t hen, t hat accor di ng t o Somer set shi r e t r adi t i on, f i r st

col l ect ed by Dr . Gi l es ( hi msel f a Somer set shi r e man,

and one who, besi des hi s Li f e of Al f r ed and ot her

excel l ent wor ks bear i ng on t he t i me, i s t he aut hor of

t he " Har mony of t he Chr oni cl er s, " publ i shed by t he

Al f r ed Commi t t ee i n 1852) , t he si gnal f or t he act ual

gat her i ng of t he West Saxons at Egber t ' s St one was

gi ven by a beacon l i ght ed on t he t op of St our t on Hi l l ,

wher e Al f r ed' s Tower now st ands. Such a beacon

woul d be hi dden f r om t he Danes, who must have been

encamped about West bur y, by t he r ange of t he Wi l t -

shi r e hi l l s, whi l e i t woul d be vi si bl e t o t he west over

t he l ow count r y t owar ds t he Br i st ol Channel , and

t o t he sout h f ar i nt o Dor set shi r e.

Not an hour was l ost by Al f r ed at t he pl ace of

must er . The bands whi ch came t oget her t her e wer e

composed of men wel l used t o ar ms, each band under

i t s own al der man, or r eeve. The smal l ar my he had

I 2

Page 60 of 174

i i 6 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

hi msel f been di sci pl i ni ng at At hel ney, and t r ai ni ng i n

ski r mi shes dur i ng t he l ast f ew mont hs, woul d f or m a

r el i abl e cent r e on whi ch t he r est woul d have t o f or m

as best t hey coul d. So af t er one day' s hal t he. br eaks

up hi s camp at Egber t ' s St one and mar ches t o ^ Egl ea,

now cal l ed Cl ay Hi l l , an i mpor t ant hei ght , command-

i ng t he val e t o t he nor t h of West bur y, whi ch t he

Dani sh ar my wer e now occupyi ng. The day' s mar ch

of t he ar my woul d be a shor t f i ve mi l es. Her e t he

annal s r ecor d t hat St . Neot , hi s ki nsman, appear ed

t o hi m, and pr omi sed t hat on t he mor r ow hi s mi s-

f or t unes woul d end.

Ther e ar e st i l l t r aces of r ude ear t hwor ks r ound t he

t op of Cl ay Hi l l , whi ch ar e sai d t o have been t hr own

up by Al f r ed' s ar my at t hi s t i me. I f t her e had been

t i me f or such a wor k, i t woul d undoubt edl y have been

a wi se st ep, as a f or t i f i ed encampment her e woul d

have ser ved Al f r ed i n good st ead i n case of a r e-

ver se. But t he f ew hour s dur i ng whi ch t he ar my

hal t ed on Cl ay Hi l l woul d have been qui t e t oo shor t

t i me f or such an under t aki ng, whi ch, mor eover , woul d

have exhaust ed t he t r oops. I t i s mor e l i kel y t hat t he

ear t hwor ks, whi ch ar e of t he ol dest t ype, si mi l ar t o

t hose at Whi t e Hor se Hi l l , above Ashdown, wer e

t her e l ong bef or e Al f r ed' s ar r i val i n May 878. Af t er

r est i ng one ni ght on Cl ay Hi l l , Al f r ed l ed out hi s men

i n cl ose or der of bat t l e agai nst t he pagan host , whi ch

l ay at Et handune. Ther e has been much doubt

amongst ant i quar i es as t o t he si t e of Et handune, but

Dr . Gi l es and ot her s have at l engt h est abl i shed t he

cl ai ms of Edi ngt on, a vi l l age seven mi l es f r om Cl ay

ETHANDUNE. wj

Hi l l , on t he nor t h- east t o be t he spot wher e t he

st r engt h of t he second wave of pagan i nvasi on was

ut t er l y br oken, and r ol l ed back weak and hel pl ess

f r om t he r ock of t he West Saxon ki ngdom,

Si r John Spel man, r el yi ng appar ent l y onl y on t he

aut hor i t y of Ni chol as Har pesf el d' s " Eccl esi ast i cal

Hi st or y of Engl and, " put s a speech i nt o Al f r ed' s

mout h, whi ch he i s supposed t o have del i ver ed bef or e

t he bat t l e of Edi ngt on. He t el l s t hem t hat t he gr eat

suf f er i ngs of t he l and had been yet f ar shor t of what

t hei r si ns had deser ved. That God had onl y deal t

wi t h t hem as a l ovi ng Fat her , and was now about t o

succour t hem, havi ng al r eady st r i cken t hei r f oe wi t h

f ear and ast oni shment , and gi ven hi m, on t he ot her

hand, much encour agement by dr eams and ot her wi se.

That t hey had t o do wi t h pi r at es and r obber s, who

had br oken f ai t h wi t h t hem over and over agai n ; and

t he i ssue t hey had t o t r y t hat day was, whet her Chr i st ' s

f ai t h, or heat heni sm, was hencef or t h t o be est abl i shed

i n Engl and.

Ther e i s no t r ace of any such speech i n t he Saxon

Page 61 of 174

Chr oni cl e or Asser , and t he one r epor t ed does not

r i ng l i ke t hat of Judas Maccabeus. That Al f r ed' s

soul was on f i r e t hat mor ni ng, on f i ndi ng hi msel f once

mor e at t he head of a f or ce he coul d r el y on, and

bef or e t he enemy he had met so of t en, we may be

sur e enough, but shal l never know how t he f i r e

ki ndl ed i nt o speech, i f i ndeed i t di d so at al l . I n

such supr eme moment s many of t he st r ongest men

have no wor d t o say — keep al l t hei r heat wi t hi n.

Nor have we any cl ue t o t he number s who f ought

I i 8 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

on ei t her si de at Et handune, or i ndeed i n any of

Al f r ed' s bat t l es. I n t he Chr oni cl es t her e ar e onl y a

f ew vague and gener al st at ement s, f r om whi ch l i t t l e

can be gat her ed. The most pr eci se of t hem i s t hat i n

t he Saxon Chr oni cl e, whi ch gi ves 840 as t he number

of men who wer e sl ai n, as we hear d, wi t h Hubba

bef or e Cynui t f or t , i n Devonshi r e, ear l i er i n t hi s same

year . Such a deat h- r ol l , i n an act i on i n whi ch onl y a

smal l det achment of t he pagan ar my was engaged,

woul d l ead t o t he concl usi on t hat t he ar mi es wer e f ar

l ar ger t han one woul d expect . On t he ot her hand, i t

i s di f f i cul t t o i magi ne how any l ar ge bodi es of men

coul d f i nd subsi st ence i n a smal l count r y, whi ch was

t he seat of so devast at i ng a war , and i n whi ch so much

l and r emai ned st i l l unr ecl ai med. But what ever t he

power of ei t her si de amount ed t o we may be qui t e

sur e t hat i t had been exer t ed t o t he ut most t o br i ng

as l ar ge a f or ce as possi bl e i nt o l i ne at Et handune.

Gut hr um f ought t o pr ot ect Chi ppenham, hi s base oi

oper at i ons, some si xt een mi l es i n hi s r ear , and al l t he

accumul at ed pl under of t he busy mont hs whi ch had

passed si nce Twel f t h Ni ght ; and i t i s cl ear t hat hi s

men behaved wi t h t he most desper at e gal l ant r y. The

f i ght began at noon ( one chr oni cl er says at sunr i se,

but t he di st ance makes t hi s i mpossi bl e unl ess Al f r ed

mar ched i n t he ni ght ) , and l ast ed t hr ough t he

gr eat er par t of t he day. War ned by many pr evi ous

di sast er s, t he Saxons never br oke t hei r cl ose or der ,

and so, t hough gr eat l y out number ed, hur l ed back

agai n and agai n t he onsl aught s of t he Nor t hmen.

At l ast Al f r ed and hi s Saxons pr evai l ed, and smot e

ETHANDUNE. 119

hi s pagan f oes wi t h a ver y gr eat sl aught er , and pur -

sued t hem up t o t hei r f or t i f i ed camp on Br at t on Hi l l

or Edge, i nt o whi ch t he gr eat body of t he f ugi t i ves

t hr ew t hemsel ves. Al l who wer e l ef t out si de wer e

sl ai n, and t he gr eat spoi l was al l r ecover ed. The

camp may st i l l be seen, cal l ed Br at t on Cast l e, wi t h i t s

doubl e di t ches and deep t r enches, and bar r ow i n t he

mi dst si xt y yar ds l ong, and i t s t wo ent r ances guar ded

by mounds. I t cont ai ns mor e t han t went y acr es, and

commands t he whol e count r y si de. Ther e can be

l i t t l e doubt t hat t hi s camp, and not Chi ppenham,

whi ch i s si xt een mi l es away, was t he l ast r ef uge of

Gut hr um and t he gr eat Nor t her n ar my on Saxon

Page 62 of 174

soi l .

So, i n t hr ee days f r om t he br eaki ng up of hi s l i t t l e

camp at At hel ney, Al f r ed was once mor e ki ng of al l

Engl and sout h of t he Thames ; f or t hi s ar my of

Pagans shut up wi t hi n t hei r ear t hwor ks on Br at t on

Edge" ar e l i t t l e bet t er t han a br oken and di sor der l y

r abbl e, wi t h no suppl i es and no chance of succour

f r om any quar t er . Never t hel ess he wi l l make sur e of

t hem, and above al l wi l l guar d j eal ousl y agai nst any

such mi shap as t hat of %' j 6, when t hey st ol e out of

War eham, mur der ed t he hor semen he had l ef t t o

wat ch t hem, and got away t o Exet er . So Br at t on

Camp i s st r i ct l y besi eged by Al f r ed wi t h hi s whol e

power .

Gut hr um, t he dest r oyer , and now t he Ki ng, of East

Angl i a, t he st r ongest and abl est of al l t he Nor t hmen

who had ever l anded i n Engl and, i s now at l ast f ai r l y

i n Al f r ed' s power . At Readi ng, War eham, Exet er .

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

he had al ways hel d a f or t i f i ed camp, on a r i ver easi l y

navi gabl e by t he Dani sh war - shi ps, wher e he mi ght

l ook f or speedy succour , or whence at t he wor st he

mi ght hope t o escape t o t he sea. But now he, wi t h

t he r emai ns of hi s ar my, ar e shut up i n an i nl and f or t

wi t h no shi ps on t he Avon, t he near est r i ver , even i f

t hey coul d cut t hei r way out and r each i t , and no

hopes of r ei nf or cement s over l and. Hal f dene i s t he

near est vi ki ng who mi ght be cal l ed t o t he r escue, and

he, i n Nor t humbr i a, i s f ar t oo di st ant . I t i s a mat t er

of a f ew days onl y, f or f ood r uns shor t at once i n t he

besi eged camp. I n f or mer yea, r s, or agai nst any ot her

enemy, Gut hr um woul d pr obabl y have pr ef er r ed t o

sal l y out , and cut hi s way t hr ough t he Saxon l i nes, or

di e swor d i n hand as a son of Odi n shoul d. Whet her

i t wer e t hat t he wi l d spi r i t i n hi m i s t hor oughl y

br oken f or t he t i me by t he unexpect ed def eat at

Et handune, or t hat l ong r esi dence i n a Chr i st i an l and

and cont act wi t h Chr i st i an subj ect s have shaken hi s

f ai t h i n hi s own gods, or t hat he has l ear nt t o measur e

and appr eci at e t he st r engt h and nobl eness of t he man

he had so of t en decei ved, at any r at e f or t he t i me

Gut hr um i s subdued. At t he end of f our t een days he

sends t o Al f r ed, sui ng humbl y f or t er ms of any ki nd ;

of f er i ng on t he par t of t he ar my as many host ages as

may be r equi r ed, wi t hout aski ng f or any i n r et ur n ;

once agai n gi vi ng sol emn pl edges t o qui t Wessex f or

good ; and, above al l , decl ar i ng hi s own r eadi ness t o

r ecei ve bapt i sm. I f i t had not been f or t he l ast pr o-

posal , we may doubt whet her even Al f r ed woul d have

al l owed t he r ut hl ess f oes wi t h whom he and hi s peopl e

ETHANDUNK.

had f ought so of t en, and wi t h such var yi ng success, t o

escape now. Over and over agai n t hey had swor n t o

hi m, and br oken t hei r oat hs t he moment i t sui t ed

Page 63 of 174

t hei r pur pose ; had gi ven host ages, and l ef t t hem t o

t hei r f at e. I n al l Engl i sh ki ngdoms t hey had now f or

t en year s been dest r oyi ng and pi l l agi ng t he houses of

God, and sl ayi ng even women and chi l dr en. They

had dr i ven hi s si st er ' s husband f r om t he t hr one of

Mer ci a, and had gr i evousl y t or t ur ed t he mar t yr

Edmund. I f ever f oe deser ved no mer cy, Gut hr i ' m

and hi s ar my wer e t he men.

When Davi d smot e t he chi l dr en of Moab, he

" measur ed t hem wi t h a l i ne, cast i ng t hem down t o

t he gr ound ; even wi t h t wo l i nes measur ed he t o put

t o deat h, and wi t h one f ul l l i ne t o keep al i ve. " When

he t ook Rabbah of t he chi l dr en of Ammon, " he

br ought f or t h t he peopl e t hat wer e t her ei n, and put

t hem under saws and under har r ows of i r on and under

axes of i r on, and made t hem pass t hr ough t he br i ck -

ki l n. " That was t he ol d Hebr ew met hod, even under

Ki ng Davi d, and i n t he ni nt h cent ur y Chr i st i ani t y had

as yet done l i t t l e t o sof t en t he ol d heat hen cust om of

" woe t o t he vanqui shed. " Char l emagne' s pr osel y-

t i zi ng campai gns had been as mer ci l ess as Mahomet ' s.

But t her e i s about t hi s Engl i sh ki ng a di vi ne pat i ence,

t he r ar est of al l vi r t ues i n t hose who ar e set i n hi gh

pl aces. He accept s Gut hr um' s pr of f er ed t er ms at

once, r ej oi ci ng over t he chance of addi ng t hese f i er ce

heat hen war r i or s t o t he Chur ch of hi s Mast er , by an

act of mer cy whi ch even t hey must f eel . And so t he

r emnant of t he ar my ar c al l owed t o mar ch out of t hei r

122 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

f or t i f i ed camp, and t o r ecr oss t he Avon i nt o Mer ci a,

not qui t e f i ve mont hs af t er t he day of t hei r wi nt er

at t ack, and t he sei zi ng of Chi ppenham. The Nor t her n

ar my went away t o Ci r encest er , wher e t hey st ayed over

t he wi nt er , and t hen r et ur ni ng i nt o East Angh' a set t l ed

down t her e, and Al f r ed and Wessex hear no mor e of

t hem. Never was t r i umph mor e compl et e or bet t er

desei ved ; and i n al l hi st or y t her e i s no i nst ance of

mor e nobl e use of vi ct or y t han t hi s. The West Saxon

ar my was not at once di sbanded. Al f r ed l ed t hem

back t o At hel ney, wher e he had l ef t hi s wi f e and

chi l dr en ; and whi l e t hey ar e t her e, seven weeks af t er

t he sur r ender , Gut hr um, wi t h t hi r t y of t he br avest of

hi s f ol l ower s, ar r i ve t o make good t hei r pl edge.

The cer emony of bapt i sm was per f or med at Wed-

mor e, a r oyal r esi dence whi ch had pr obabl y escaped

t he f at e of Chi ppenham, and st i l l cont ai ned a chur ch.

Her e Gut hr um and hi s t hi r t y nobl es wer e swor n i n,

t he sol di er s of a gr eat er t han Woden, and t he whi t e

l i nen cl ot h, t he si gn of t hei r new f ai t h, was bound

r ound t hei r heads. Al f r ed hi msel f was godf at her t o

t he vi ki ng, gi vi ng hi m t he Chr i st i an name of At hel -

st an ; and t he chr i sm- l oosi ng, or unbi ndi ng of t he

sacr ament al cl ot hs, was per f or med on t he ei ght h day

by Et hel not h, t he f ai t hf ul Al der man of Somer set shi r e.

Af t er t he r el i gi ous cer emony t her e st i l l r emai ned t he

t ask of set t l i ng t he t er ms upon whi ch t he vi ct or s and

vanqui shed wer e her eaf t er t o l i ve t oget her si de by si de

i n t he same i sl and ; f or Al f r ed had t he wi sdom, even

i n hi s enemy' s humi l i at i on, t o accept t he accompl i shed

f act , and t o acknowl edge East Angl i a as a Dani sh

Page 64 of 174

ETHANDUNE. 123

ki ngdom. The Wi t enagemot had been summoned t o

Wedmor e, and was si t t i ng t her e, and wi t h t hei r advi ce

t he t r eat y was t hen made, f r om whi ch, accor di ng t o

some hi st or i ans, Enghsh hi st or y begi ns.

We have st i i l t he t ext of t he t wo document s whi ch

t oget her cont ai n Al f r ed and Gut hr um' s peace, or t he

Tr eat y of Wedmor e ; t he f i r st and shor t er bei ng

pr obabl y t he ar t i cl es hast i l y agr eed on bef or e t he

capi t ul at i on of t he Dani sh ar my at Chi ppenham, t he

l at t er t he f i nal t er ms set t l ed bet ween Al f r ed and hi s

wi t an, and Gut hr um and hi s t hi r t y nobl es, af t er mat ur e

del i ber at i on and conf er ence at Wedmor e, but not f or m-

al l y execut ed unt i l some year s l at er .

The shor t er one, t hat made at t he capi t ul at i on, r uns

as f ol l ows : —

ALFRED AND GUTHRUM' S PEACE.

" Thi s i s t he peace t hat Ki ng Al f r ed, and Ki ng

Gut hr um, and t he wi t an of al l t he Engl i sh nat i on

and al l t he peopl e t hat ar e i n East Angl i a, have al l

or dai ned and wi t h oat hs conf i r med, f or t hemsel ves

and t hei r descendant s, as wel l f or bor n as unbor n,

who r eck of God' s mer cy, or of our s.

" Fi r st , concer ni ng our l and boundar i es. These

ar e up on t he Thames, and t hen up on t he Lea, and

al ong t he Lea unt o i t s sour ce, t hen st r ai ght t o Bed-

f or d, t hen up t he Ouse t o Wat l i ng St r eet .

" Then t her e i s t hi s : i f a man be sl ai n we r eckon

al l equal l y dear , Engl i sh and Dane, at ei ght hal f

mar ks of pur e gol d, except t he chur l who dwel l s on

gavel l and and t hei r l ei si ngs ; t hey ar c al so equal l y

124 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

dear at 200 shi l l i ngs. And i f a ki ng' s t hane be

accused of mansl aught er , i f he desi r e t o cl ear hi msel f

l et hi m do so bef or e t wel ve ki ng' s t hanes. I f any

man accuse a man who i s of l ess degr ee t han ki ng' s

t hane, l et hi m cl ear hi msel f wi t h el even of hi s equal s

and one ki ng- ' s t hane. And so i n ever y sui t whi ch

may be f or mor e t han f our mancuses ; and i f he dar e

not , l et hi m pay f or i t t hr eef ol d as i t may be val ued.

Of War r ant or s.

" And t hat ever y man know hi s war r ant or , f or men,

and f or hor ses, and f or oxen.

" And we al l or dai ned, on t hat day t hat t he oat hs

wer e swor n, t hat nei t her bondman nor f r eeman mi ght

go t o t he ar my wi t hout l eave, nor any of t hem t o us.

But i f i t happen t hat any of t hem f r om necessi t y wi l l

have t r af f i c wi t h us, or we wi t h t hem, f or cat t l e or

goods, t hat i s t o be al l owed on t hi s wi se : t hat

host ages be gi ven i n pl edge of peace, and as evi dence

wher eby i t may be known t hat t he par t y has a cl ean

Page 65 of 174

book. "

By t he t r eat y Al f r ed i s t hus est abl i shed as ki ng of

t he whol e of Engl and sout h of t he Thames ; of al l t he

ol d ki ngdom of Essex sout h of t he Lea, i ncl udi ng

London, Her t f or d, and St . Al bans ; of t he whol e of t he

gr eat ki ngdom of Mer ci a, whi ch l ay t o t he west of

Wat l i ng St r eet , and of so much t o t he east as l ay sout h

of t he Ouse. That he shoul d have r egai ned so much

pr oves t he st r ai t s t o whi ch he had br ought t he

Nor t her n ar my, who woul d have t o gi ve up al l t hei r

ETHANDUNE. 125

new set t l ement s r ound Gl ost er , That he shoul d have

r esi gned so much of t he ki ngdom whi ch had acknow-

l edged hi s gr andf at her , f at her , and br ot her s as over -

l or ds, pr oves how f or mi dabl e hi s f oe st i l l was, even

i n def eat , and how t hor oughl y t he nor t h- east er n par t s

of t he i sl and had by t hi s t i me been set t l ed by

t he Danes.

The r emai nder of t he shor t t r eat y woul d seem

si mpl y t o be pr ovi si onal , and i nt ended t o set t l e t he

r el at i ons bet ween Al f r ed' s subj ect s and t he ar my

whi l e i t r emai ned wi t hi n t he l i mi t s of t he new Saxon

ki ngdom. Many of t he sol di er s woul d have t o br eak

up t hei r homes i n Gl ost er shi r e ; and, wi t h t hi s vi ew,

t he hal t at Ci r encest er i s al l owed, wher e, as we have

al r eady hear d, t hey r est unt i l t he wi nt er . Whi l e t hey

r emai n i n t he Saxon ki ngdom t her e i s t o be no di s -

t i nct i on bet ween Saxon and Dane. The wer e- gi l d, or

l i f e- r ansom, i s t o be t he same i n each case f or men of

l i ke r ank ; and al l sui t s f or mor e t han f our mancuses

( about t went y- f our shi l l i ngs) ar e t o be t r i ed by a j ur y

of peer s of t he accused. On t he ot her hand, onl y

necessar y communi cat i ons ar e t o be al l owed bet ween

t he Nor t her n ar my and t he peopl e ; and wher e t her e

must be t r adi ng, f ai r and peacef ul deal i ng i s t o be

ensur ed by t he gi vi ng of host ages. Thi s l ast pr o-

vi si on, and t he cl ause decl ar i ng t hat each man shal l

know hi s war r ant or , i nser t ed i n a f i ve- cl ause t r eat y,

wher e not hi ng but what t he cont r act i ng par t i es must

hol d t o be of t he ver y f i r st i mpor t ance woul d f i nd

pl ace, i s anot her cur i ous pr oof of t he car e wi t h whi ch

our ancest or s, and al l Ger mani c t r i bes, guar ded agai nst

126 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

soci al i sol at i on — t he doct r i ne t hat one man has no-

t hi ng t o do wi t h anot her — a doct r i ne whi ch t he gr eat

body of t hei r descendant s, under t he l eadi ng of

Schul t ze, Del i t zsch, and ot her s, seem l i kel y t o r epu-

di at e wi t h equal emphasi s i n t hese l at t er days, bot h

i n Ger many and Engl and.

Thus, i n Jul y 878, t he f oundat i ons of t he new

ki ngdom of Engl and wer e l ai d, f or new i t undoubt -

edl y became when t he t r eat y of Wedmor e was si gned.

The Dani sh nat i on, no l onger st r anger s and enemi es,

Page 66 of 174

ar c r ecogni sed by t he hei r of Cer di c as l awf ul owner s of

t he f ul l hal f of Engl and. Havi ng achi eved whi ch r esul t ,

Gut hr um and t he r est of t he new conver t s l eave t he

Saxon camp and r et ur n t o Ci r encest er at t he end of

t wel ve days, l oaded wi t h such gi f t s as i t was st i l l i n

t he power of t hei r conquer or s t o best ow : and Al f r ed

was l ef t i n peace, t o t ur n t o a gr eat er and mor e

ar duous t ask t han any he had yet encount er ed.

CHAPTER XI .

RETROSPECT.

• • I Vhal soei i r i s br ought on t hee t al e checr j ul l y, and be f at i et i t when t nou

ar t changed t o a l o7u est at e. For gol d i s t r i ed i n t he f i r e, and accept -

abl e vi ei i i n t he f ur nace of adver si t y. "

The gr eat Dani sh i nvasi on of Engl and i n t he ni nt h

cent ur y, t he hi st or y of whi ch we have j ust concl uded,

i s one of t hose f act s whi ch meet us at ever y t ur n i n

t he l i f e of t he wor l d, r ai si ng agai n and agai n t he

deepest of al l quest i ons. At f i r st si ght i t st ands out

si mpl y as t he t r i umph of br ut e f or ce, cr uel t y, and

anar chy, over ci vi l i zat i on and or der . I t was emi nent l y

successf ul , f or t he gr eat er par t of t he ki ngdom r e-

mai ned subj ect t o t he i nvader s. I n i t s pr ogr ess al l

such ci vi l i zat i on as had t aken r oot i n t he l and was f or

t he t i me t r odden out ; whol e di st r i ct s wer e depopul at ed ;

l ands t hr own out of cul t i vat i on ; chur ches, abbeys,

monast er i es, t he houses of nobl es and peasant s, r azed

t o t he gr ound ; l i br ar i es ( such as t hen exi st ed) and

wor ks of ar t r ut hl essl y bur nt and dest r oyed. I t t hr ew

back al l Al f r ed' s r ef or ms f or ei ght year s. To t he

poor East Angl i an, or West Saxon chur l or monk

who had been l i vi ng hi s qui et l i f e t her e, honest l y and

i n t he f ear of God, accor di ng t o hi s l i ght s, — t o hi m

hi di ng away i n t he swamps of t he f or est , amongst t he

128 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

swi ne, r unni ng wi l d now f or l ack of her dsmen, and

t hi nki ng bi t t er l y of t he sack of hi s home, and mur der

of hi s br et hr en, or of hi s wi f e and chi l dr en by r ed-

handed Pagans, t he heavens woul d i ndeed seem t c

be shut , and t he ear t h del i ver ed over t o t he power s

of dar kness. Woul d i t not seem so t o us, i f we wer e

i n l i ke case ? Have we any f ai t h whi ch woul d st and

such a st r ai n as t hat ?

Who shal l say f or hi msel f t hat he has ? and yet

what Chr i st i an does not know, i n hi s hear t of hear t s,

t hat t her e i s such a f ai t h, f or hi msel f and f or t he

wor l d — t he f ai t h whi ch must have car r i ed Al f r ed

t hr ough t hose f ear f ul year s, and st r engt hened hi m t o

bui l d up a new and bet t er Engl and out of t he r ui ns

t he Danes l ef t behi nd t hem ? For , har d as i t must

be t o keep al i ve any bel i ef or hope dur i ng a t i me

when al l ar ound us i s r eel i ng, and t he power s of

Page 67 of 174

evi l seem t o be l et l oose on t he ear t h, when we l ook

back upon t hese " days of t he Lor d " t her e i s no t r ut h

whi ch st ands out mor e cl ear l y on t he f ace of hi st or y

t han t hi s, t hat t hey al l and each have been wor ki ng

t owar ds or der and l i f e, t hat " t he messenger s of deat h

have been i ndeed messenger s of r esur r ect i on. "

I n t he case of our f at her s, i n t he Engl and of a

t housand year s ago, we have not t o go f ar t o l ear n

what t he Danes had t o do f or t hem. Ther e i s no need

t o accept t he st at ement s of l at er wr i t er s as t o t he

condi t i on of t he Saxons and Angl es at t he t i me of

t he i nvasi on. Hoveden, af t er dwel l i ng on t he war s

whi ch wer e so common bet ween t he sever al ki ngdoms

i n t he ei ght h and ear l y par t of t he ni nt h cent ur i es,

RETROSPECT. 129

sums up, t hat i n pr ocess of t i me al l " vi r t ue had so

ut t er l y di sappear ed i n t hem t hat no nat i on what -

soever mi ght compar e wi t h t hem f or t r eacher y and

vi l l any ; " and i n John Har dyng' s r hymed Chr oni cl e

we f i nd :

" Thus i n def aut e of l a we and peace conser ved

Common pr of yt e was wast ed and devour ed,

Par ci al pr of yt e was sped and obsen' ed,

And Venus al so was commonl y honour ed —

Among t hem was common, as t he car t e waye,

Ryot , r obber y, oppr essyon, ni ght and daye. "

Such pi ct ur es ar e, no doubt , ver y hi ghl y col our ed, and

t her e i s not hi ng i n cont empor ar y wr i t er s t o j ust i f y

t hem ; nor can we bel i eve t hat a nat i on i n so ut t er l y

r ot t en a st at e woul d have met t he Danes as t he

Angl es and West Saxons di d. But wi t hout goi ng

f ar t her t han Al f r ed' s own wr i t i ngs, and t he Saxon

Chr oni cl e and Asser , whi ch cont ai n, af t er al l , t he

whol e of t he evi dence at f i r st hand whi ch i s l ef t t o us,

we may see cl ear l y enough t hat t he nat i on, i f not

gi ven over t o " r i ot , r obber y, and oppr essi on, ni ght and

day, " was set t l i ng on i t s l ees. The count r y had be-

come r i ch f or t hose t i mes under t he l ong and vi gor ous

r ul e of Egber t , and t he peopl e wer e busy and ski l f ul

i n gr owi ng cor n, and mul t i pl yi ng f l ocks and her ds,

and heapi ng up si l ver and gol d. But t he " common

pr of yt e " Avas mor e and mor e negl ect ed, as " par ci al

pr of yt e, " i ndi vi dual gai n, came t o be t he chi ef obj ect

i n men' s eyes. Then t he hi gher l i f e of t he nat i on

began t o be under mi ned. The l aws wer e unj ust l y

i nt er pr et ed and admi ni st er ed by her edi t ar y al der men,

S. I - VI I I . K

I 30 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

who by degr ees became al most i ndependent of t he

ki ng i n t hei r own shi r es and di st r i ct s, i n al l mat t er s

not di r ect l y af f ect i ng hi s per sonal pr er ogat i ve. The

r el i gi ous or der s, who had been t he pr ot ect or s and

i nst r uct or s of t he peopl e, wer e t ai nt ed as deepl y as

t he l ai t y wi t h t he same sel f - seeki ng spi r i t . Al f r ed, i n

Page 68 of 174

hi s pr ef ace t o Gr egor y' s past or al , speaks sor r owf ul l y

of t he wi se men who wer e f ound f or mer l y t hr oughout

t he Engl i sh r ace, bot h of t he spi r i t ual and secul ar

condi t i on — how t he ki ngs, and t hey who t hen had t he

gover nment of t he f ol k, " obeyed God and Hi s mes -

senger s, and mai nt ai ned t hei r peace, t hei r cust oms,

and t hei r gover nment at home, and al so i ncr eased

t hei r count r y abr oad, and sped wel l bot h i n war and

wi sdom " — how t he r el i gi ous or der s wer e " ear nest ,

bot h about doct r i ne and l ear ni ng, and t he ser vi ces of

God, so t hat men f r om abr oad sought i nst r uct i on i n

t hi s l and, whi ch we must now get f r om t hem i f we

woul d have i t . " I n Et hel wul f ' s r ei gn bot h evi l s must

have gr own r api dl y, f or he was car el ess of hi s secul ar

dut i es, and l ef t al der man, and r eeve, and sher i f f mor e

and mor e t o f ol l ow t hei r own ways, whi l e he f ost er ed

t he wor st t endenci es of hi s cl er gy, encour agi ng t hem

t o become mor e and mor e pr i est s and keeper s of t he

consci ence, and l ess shepher ds and i nst r uct or s of t he

peopl e. So r el i gi on was bei ng separ at ed f r om mor al i t y,

and t he i nner and spi r i t ual l i f e of t he nat i on was

consequent l y dyi ng out , and t he peopl e wer e f al l i ng

i nt o a dul l , mechani cal habi t of mi nd. Thei r r el i gi on

had become chi ef l y a mat t er of cust om and r out i ne ;

and, as a sur e consequence, a sensual and gr ovel l i ng

RETROSPECT. 131

l i f e was spr eadi ng t hr ough al l cl asses. Soon mat er i al

decay woul d f ol l ow, i f i t had not al r eady begun ; f or

heal t hy, manl y ef f or t , honest and pat i ent di ggi ng and

del vi ng, pl ant i ng and bui l di ng, i s not t o be had out

of man or nat i on whose consci ence has been put t o

sl eep. When t he cor n and wi ne and oi l , t he si l ver

and t he gol d, have become t he mai n obj ect of wor shi p

— t hat whi ch men or nat i ons do above al l t hi ngs desi r e

— sham wor k of al l ki nds, and shor t cut s, by what we

cal l f i nanci ng and t he l i ke, wi l l be t he means by whi ch

t hey wi l l at t empt t o gai n t hem.

When t hat st at e comes, men who l ove t hei r count r y

wi l l wel come Dani sh i nvasi ons, ci vi l war s, pot at o

di seases, cot t on f ami nes, Feni an agi t at i ons, what ever

cal ami t y may be needed t o awake t he hi gher l i f e

agai n, and bi d t he nat i on ar i se and l i ve.

That such vi si t at i ons do come at such t i mes as a

mat t er of f act i s as cl ear as t hat i n cer t ai n st at es of

t he at mospher e we have t hunder st or ms. The t hunder -

st or m comes wi t h per f ect cer t ai nt y, and as par t of a

nat ur al and f i xed or der . We ar e al l agr eed upon t hat

now. We al l bel i eve, I suppose, t hat t her e i s an or der ,

— t hat t her e ar e l aws whi ch gover n t he physi cal wor l d,

asser t i ng t hemsel ves as much i n st or m and ear t hquake

as i n t he successi on of ni ght and day, of seed- t i me

and har vest . We who ar e Chr i st i ans bel i eve t hat or der

and t hose l aws t o pr oceed f r om God, t o be expr es -

si ons of Hi s wi l l . Do we not al so bel i eve t hat men

ar e under a di vi ne or der as much as nat ur al t hi ngs .

*

t hat t her e i s a l aw of r i ght eousness f ounded on t l i c

wi l l of God, as sur e and abi di ng as t he \ di \ v of

K 2

Page 69 of 174

132 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

gr avi t at i on ? t hat t hi s l aw of r i ght eousness, t hi s di vi ne

or der , under whi ch human bei ngs ar e l i vi ng on t hi s

ear t h, must and does asser t and vi ndi cat e i t sel f t hr ough

and by t he act s and l i ves of men, as sur el y as t he

di vi ne or der i n nat ur e asser t s i t sel f t hr ough t he agency

of t he i nvi si bl e power s i n ear t h and sea and ai r ?

Sur el y Chr i st i ani t y, what ever el se i t t eaches, at any

r at e assur es us of t hi s. And when we have made t hi s

f ai t h our own, when we bel i eve i t , and not mer el y

bel i eve t hat we bel i eve i t , we have i n our hand t he

cl ue t o al l human hi st or y. Myst er i es i n abundance

wi l l al ways r emai n. We may not be abl e t o t r ace t he

wor ki ngs of t he l aw of r i ght eousness i n t he conf usi ons

and bewi l der ment s of our own day, or t hr ough t he

dar kness and mi st whi ch shr ouds so much of t he l i f e

of ot her t i mes and ot her r aces. But we know t hat i t

i s t her e, and t hat i t has i t s gr ound i n a r i ght eous wi l l ,

whi ch was t he same a t housand year s ago as i t i s

t o- day, whi ch ever y man and nat i on can get t o know ;

and j ust i n so f ar as t hey know and obey whi ch wi l l

t hey be f oundi ng f ami l i es, i nst i t ut i ons, st at es, whi ch

wi l l abi de.

I f we want t o t est t hi s t r ut h i n t he most pr act i cal

manner , we have onl y t o t ake any quest i on whi ch has

t r oubl ed, or i s t r oubl i ng, st at esmen and r ul er s and

nat i ons, i n our own day. The sl aver y quest i on i s t h- e

gr eat est of t hese, at any r at e t he one whi ch has been

most pr omi nent l y bef or e t he wor l d of l at e. I n t he

di vi ne or der t hat i nst i t ut i on was not r ecogni sed, t her e

was no pl ace at al l set apar t f or i t ; on t he cont r ar y, He

on whose wi l l t hat or der r est s had sai d t hat He came

RETROSPECT. 133

t o br eak ever y yoke. And so sl aver y woul d gi ve our

ki ndr ed i n Amer i ca no r est , j ust as i t woul d gi ve us

no r est i n t he f i r st t hi r t y year s of t he cent ur y. The

nat i on, desi r i ng t o go on l i vi ng i t s l i f e, maki ng money,

subdui ng a cont i nent ,

" Pi t chi ng new st at es as ol d- wor l d men pi t ch t ent s, "

t r i ed ever y pl an f or get t i ng r i d of t he " i r r epr essi bl e

negr o" quest i on, except t he onl y one r ecogni sed i n

t he di vi ne or der — t hat of maki ng hi m f r ee. The

abl est and most moder at e men, t heWebst er s and Cl ays,

t hought and spoke and wor ked t o keep i t on i t s l egs.

Mi ssour i compr omi ses wer e agr eed t o, " Mason and

Di xon' s l i nes" l ai d down, j oi nt commi t t ees of bot h

Houses — at l ast even a " cr i si s commi t t ee, " as i t was

cal l ed — i nvent ed pl an af t er pl an t o get i t f ai r l y out of

t he way by any means except t he onl y one whi ch t he

et er nal l aw, t he l aw of r i ght eousness, pr escr i bed. But

He whose wi l l must be done on ear t h was no par t y t o

Mi ssour i compr omi ses, and Mason and Di xon' s l i ne

was not l ai d down on Hi s map of Nor t h Amer i ca.

Page 70 of 174

And t her e never wer e want i ng men who coul d r e-

cogni se Hi s wi l l , and denounce ever y compr omi se,

ever y endeavour t o set i t asi de, or escape f r om

i t , as a " covenant wi t h deat h and hel l . " Despi sed

and per secut ed men — Gar r i sons and John Br owns — •

wer e r ai sed up t o f i ght t hi s bat t l e, wi t h t ongue and

pen and l i f e' s bl ood, t he weak t hi ngs of t hi s wor l d t o

conf ound t he mi ght y ; men who coul d l ook br avel y i n

t he f ace t he whol e power and st r engt h of t hei r nat i on

i n t he f ai t h of t he ol d pr ophet : " Associ at e your sel ves

134 J^JFE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

and ye sl i al l be br oken i n pi eces ; gat her your sel ves

t oget her and i t shal l come t o nought , f or God i s wi t h

us. " And at l ast t he t hunder st or m br oke, and when

i t cl ear ed away t he l aw of r i ght eousness had asser t ed

i t sel f once agai n, and t he nat i on was del i ver ed.

And so i t has been, and i s, and wi l l be t o t he end

of t i me wi t h al l nat i ons. We have al l our " i r r e-

pr essi bl e " quest i ons of one ki nd or anot her , mor e or

l ess ur gent , r i si ng up agai n and agai n t o t or ment and

baf f l e us, r ef usi ng t o gi ve us any peace unt i l t hey have

been set t l ed i n accor dance wi t h t he l aw of r i ght eous -

ness, whi ch i s t he wi l l of God. No cl ever handl i ng of

t hem wi l l put t hem t o r est . Such wor k wi l l not l ast .

I f we have wi sdom and f ai t h enough amongst us t o

ascer t ai n and do t hat wi l l , we may set t l e t hem f or

our sel ves i n cl ear ski es. I f not , t he cl ouds wi l l gat her ,

t he at mospher e gr ow heavy, and t he st or m br eak i n

due cour se, and t hey wi l l be set t l ed f or us i n ways

whi ch we l east expect or desi r e, f or i t i s " t he Lor d' s

cont r over sy. "

I n due cour se! per haps; but what i f t hi s due cour se

means l i f et i mes, cent ur i es . ' ' Al as ! t hi s i s i ndeed t he

cr y whi ch has been goi ng up f r om t he poor ear t h t hese

t housands of year s —

" The pr i est s and t he r ul er s ar e swi f t t o wr ong,

And t he mi l l s of God ar e sl ow t o gr i nd. "

How l ong, O Lor d, how l ong } The pr eci se t i mes

and seasons man shal l never know on t hi s ear t h.

These t he Lor d has kept i n Hi s own power . But

cour age, my br ot her ! Can we not see, t he bl i ndest

RETROSPECT. 135

of us, t hat t he mi l l s ar e wor ki ng swi f t l y, at l east i n our

day ? Thi s i s no age i n whi ch shams or unt r ut hs,

whet her ol d or new, ar e l i kel y t o have a qui et t i me or

a l ong l i f e of i t . I n al l depar t ment s of human af f ai r s

— r el i gi ous, pol i t i cal , soci al — we ar e t r avel l i ng f ast , i n

Engl and and el sewher e, and under t he hand and

gui dance, be sur e, of Hi m who made t he wor l d, and

i s abl e and wi l l i ng t o t ake car e of i t . Onl y l et us

qui t our sel ves l i ke men, t r ust i ng t o Hi m t o put down

what soever l ovet h or maket h a l i e, and i n Hi s own

t i me t o est abl i sh t he new ear t h i n whi ch shal l dwel i

r i o^ht eousness.

Page 71 of 174

CHAPTER XI I .

THE ki ng' s boar d OF WORKS.

" Except Che Lor d bui l d I he hcmse, t hei r l abour i s but l ost t hat bui l d. "

" Except t he Lor d keep t he ci t y, t he wat chman wakct h but i n vai n. ' "

I t i s scar cel y possi bl e t o exagger at e t he amount and

di f f i cul t y of t he wor k whi ch l ay bef or e Al f r ed t her e

at Wed mor e, when he had at l ast got f ai r l y r i d of

Gut hr um and t he ar my, and was abl e t o t hi nk about

somet hi ng el se t han pr ompt f i ght i ng. The wi t an

was assembl ed t her e, and may pr obabl y have coun-

sel l ed t hei r ki ng on many par t s of t hat wor k. We

onl y know, t hat t hey consi der ed and passed t he

Tr eat y of Wedmor e, and f or f ei t ed t he l ands of cer t ai n

nobl es who had been f al se t o t hei r oat hs of al l e-

gi ance. The counci l woul d not have r emai ned si t t i ng

a day l onger t han t hey coul d hel p, as i t must have

been al r eady get t i ng t owar ds har vest - t i me. They

l ef t t hei r ki ng, st i l l young i n year s, but ol d i n expe-

r i ence and t hought f ul ness, t o set about hi s wor k of

bui l di ng up t he nat i on agai n as best i t mi ght pl ease

hi m

We cannot doubt t hat wi t h At hel ney and Et handune

f r esh i n hi s mi nd, and Gut hr um' s ar my st i l l undi s -

banded at Ci r encest er , hi s f i r st t hought and car e wi l l

THE KI NG' S BOARD OF I VORKS. 137

have been of t he def ence of t he r eal m f or t he f ut ur e,

and one of hi s f i r st act s t o commence t he r est or at i on

of t he f or t s and st r ong pl aces. Dr . Gi l es poi nt s out

t he st r i ki ng cont r ast i n t hese ear l y war s bet ween t he

Saxons and Danes i n t hei r ski l l i n t he er ect i on and

use of f or t i f i cat i ons. Thr ough t he whol e of t hese

war s t he f or mer seem scar cel y ever abl e t o hol d a t own

or f or t , i f we except Cynui t ; whi l e t he Danes never

l ose one. At t he begi nni ng of each year of t he war

t he chr oni cl er s r el at e monot onousl y, how t he Pagans

sei ze some t own or st r ong pl ace, such as Not t i ngham,

Readi ng, Exet er , Chi ppenham, appar ent l y wi t hout

di f f i cul t y, cer t ai nl y wi t h no ser i ous del ay ; but when

once t hey ar e i n i t t hey ar c never di sl odged by f or ce.

I n t he same way, none of t hei r f or t i f i ed camps, such

as t hat at War eham, wer e ever t aken ; and t he r e-

mai ns at Uf i i ngt on Cast l e and Br at t on Cast l e show

how ski l f ul t hey wer e i n t hese mi l i t ar y ear t hwor ks, and

what f or mi dabl e pl aces t he cr est s of hi l l s on t he open

downs became under t hei r hands. Al f r ed never l ost

a hi nt , f or he had a mi nd t hor oughl y humbl e, and

t her ef or e open t o t he r ecept i on of new t r ut h ; so i n

set t i ng t o wor k t o r est or e t he f or t s whi ch had been

dest r oyed or damaged, we may be sur e he pr of i t ed

by t he l essons of t he gr eat st r uggl e. At what t i me,

or i n what or der , t he r est or at i on t ook pl ace, we have

no hi nt . I n t hi s, as i n al most al l par t s of Al f r ed' s

wor k, we onl y know t he r esul t s. How ef f i ci ent l y i t

Page 72 of 174

was done, however , bet ween t he peace of VVedmor e

and t he next gr eat war , whi ch br oke out i n S93, we

may gat her f r om t he f act t hat t he gr eat l eader of

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

t hat i nvasi on, Hast i ng, was never abl e t o t ake an

i mpor t ant t own or st r onghol d.

That t er r i bl e vi ki ng, who f or year s had been t he

scour ge of t he Fr ench coast s, was i n t hi s same

aut umn of 879 at Ful ham. Dr . Paul i , who has r e-

mar kabl e sagaci t y i n suggest i ng what t he shor t vague

not i ces i n t he Chr oni cl es r eal l y mean, t hi nks t hat

Hast i ng had been wi t h Gut hr um bot h at Et han-

dune and Chi ppenham, and f r om t hence accom-

pani ed t he beat en ar my t o Ci r encest er . That af t er

t he r et ur n of t he Dani sh ki ng and hi s t hi r t y nobl es

f r om t hei r bapt i sm at Wedmor e, he l ef t t he ar my,

t aki ng wi t h hi m hi s own f ol l ower s, and al l t hose of

t he ar my who r ef used t o become Chr i st i ans, and wi t h

t hese sai l ed r ound t he sout h coast , and up t he Thames

t o Ful ham. On t he ot her hand, af t er such a l esson

of t he power wi el ded by Al f r ed, and hi s capaci t y

as a l eader , one must doubt whet her so abl e a com-

man. der as Hast i ng woul d have been r eady at once

t o open anot her campai gn i n Wessex. The Saxon

Chr oni cl e si mpl y says t hat " a body of pi r at es dr ew

t oget her , and sat down at Ful ham on t he Thames; "

Asser , t hat " a l ar ge ar my of Pagans sai l ed f r om

f or ei gn par t s i nt o t he r i ver Thames, and j oi ned t he

ar my whi ch was al r eady i n t he count r y. " On t he

whol e, i t seems mor e pr obabl e t hat Hast i ng, or

whoever was t he l eader of t he Danes who wi nt er ed

at Ful ham i n t hi s year , came f r om abr oad, and was

j oi ned t her e by t he wi l d spi r i t s f r om Gut hr um' s ar my,

t he r esol ut e Pagans and pi r at es t o whom peacef ul l i f e

was t hor oughl y di st ast ef ul . The gr eat er par t of t hai

THE KI NGS BOARD OF WORKS. 139

ar my cer t ai nl y never l ef t Ci r encest er t i l l t he next

spr i ng, and r emai ned f ai t hf ul t o t he t er ms of t he

Tr eat y of Wedmor e. So t he Danes at Ful ham,

seei ng no chance of r ousi ng t hei r count r ymen t o

anot her at t empt on Al f r ed' s cr own and ki ngdom, and

wi t nessi ng t hr ough t he aut umn and wi nt er mont hs

t he vi gour wi t h whi ch t he Ki ng was pr ovi di ng f or t he

def ence of t he count r y, sai l ed away t o Ghent . And

f r om t hi s t i me, f or upwar ds of f our pr eci ous year s, no

band of Pagans l anded on Engl i sh soi l , and t he

whol e l and had r est , and Ki ng Al f r ed l ei sur e t o t ur n

t o al l t he gr eat r ef or ms t hat he had i n hi s mi nd.

So, f or one t hi ng, t he r ebui l di ng and st r engt heni ng

of t he f or t r esses al l al ong t he coast coul d now go on

wi t hout hi ndr ance. The whol e of t he bookl and of

Engl and was hel d subj ect t o t he bui l di ng of br i dges

and f or t r esses, and mar chi ng agai nst an enemy, so

t hat t he whol e manhood of t he ki ngdom mi ght have

been at once t ur ned upon t hi s wor k. But Al f r ed

had l ear ned i n t he f i r st year s of hi s r ei gn t hat hi s

Page 73 of 174

peopl e woul d not wel l bear f or ci ng ; mor eover , he had

new i deas on t he subj ect of bui l di ng ; was f eel i ng hi s

way t owar ds t he subst i t ut i on of st one f or wood- wor k,

and i mpor t i ng t he most ski l l ed masons t o be f ound

on t he Cont i nent t o i nst r uct hi s own peopl e. I n hi s

scr i pt ur al r eadi ngs, t oo, he wi l l have become ac -

quai nt ed wi t h t he st or y of Sol omon' s bui l di ngs ; how

t hat wi sest of monar chs, by t he f or ced l abour on hi s

magni f i cent publ i c wor ks, exhaust ed t he ener gi es and

al i enat ed t he af f ect i ons of hi s peopl e, an exampl e t o

be car ef ul l y avoi ded by a Chr i st i an ki ng. Such of t he

! 4o LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

st r ong pl aces, t hen, on t he coast and el sewher e as

bel onged t o t he Ki ng hi msel f , r ose st eadi l y wi t hout

hast e and wi t hout pause f r om t hei r r ui ns, wi t h al l t he

ne^ vest i mpr ovement s whi ch t he best f or ei gn wor kmen,

or t he exper i ence of t he l at e war , coul d suggest . At

f i r st i t di d not f ar e so wel l wi t h t hose whi ch had t o

be ent r ust ed t o ot her s, and not hi ng can gi ve us a mor e

vi vi d i mpr essi on of t he dead wei ght of i ndi f f er ence

and st upi di t y whi ch Al f r ed had t o cont end agai nst

i n hi s ear l y ef f or t s t han t he passage i n Asser whi ch

speaks of t hi s busi ness, of r est or i ng t hese f or t i f i ed

pl aces. I t occur s under t he year ^Zj , by whi ch t i me

i t i s pl ai n, f r om t he end of t he passage, t hat t he Ki ng

had t r i umphed over al l hi s di f f i cul t i es, and had i nspi r ed

t he of f i cer s i n al l par t s of hi s ki ngdom wi t h some of

hi s own spi r i t and ener gy. " What shal l I say, "

wr i t es hi s f ai t hf ul f r i end, " of t he ci t i es and t owns

whi ch he r est or ed, and of ot her s whi ch he bui l t wher e

none had been bef or e . ' ' of t he r oyal hal l s and chamber s

wonder f ul l y er ect ed by hi s command, wi t h wood and

st one ? of t he r oyal r esi dences, const r uct ed of st one,

r emoved f r om t hei r ol d si t es, and handsomel y r ebui l t

under hi s di r ect i on i n mor e sui t abl e pl aces .

' " pr obabl y

wher e t hey wer e l ess open t o assaul t s, such as t hose

whi ch had t aken Readi ng and Chi ppenham. " Besi des

t he di sease above ment i oned, he was di st ur bed by t he

quar r el s of hi s f r i ends, who woul d vol unt ar i l y under go

l i t t l e or no t oi l , t hough i t wer e f or t he common need

of t he ki ngdom ; but he al one, sust ai ned by t he ai d of

Heaven, l i ke a ski l f ul pi l ot st r ove t o st eer hi s shi p l aden

wi t h much weal t h i nt o t he saf e and much- desi r ed

THE KI NG' S BOARD OF WORKS. 141

har bour , t hough al most al l hi s cr ew wer e t i r ed, and

suf f er ed t hem not t o f ai nt , or hesi t at e, t hough sai l i ng

ami dst t he mani f ol d waves and eddi es of t hi s pr esent

l i f e. For al l hi s bi shops, ear l s, nobl es, f avour i t e

mi ni st er s and pr ef ect s, who, next t o God and t he ki ng,

had t he whol e gover nment of t he ki ngdom, as i s

f i t t i ng, cont i nual l y r ecei ved f r om hi m i nst r uct i on,

r espect , exhor t at i on, and command — nay, at l ast , when

t hey cont i nued di sobedi ent , and hi s l ong pat i ence was

exhaust ed, he woul d r epr ove t hem sever el y, and

censur e t hei r vul gar f ol l y and obst i nacy ; and t hus

he di r ect ed t hei r at t ent i on t o hi s own wi l l , and t o t he

common i nt er est s of t he ki ngdom. Owi ng, however ,

t o t he sl uggi shness of hi s peopl e, t hese admoni t i ons of

t he Ki ng wer e ei t her not f ul f i l l ed, or begun l at e i n t he

hour of need, and so f el l out t he l ess t o t he advant age

Page 74 of 174

of t hose who execut ed t hem. For I wi l l say not hi ng

of t he cast l es whi ch he or der ed t o be bui l t , but whi ch,

bei ng begun l at e, wer e never f i ni shed, because t he

enemy br oke i n upon t hem by sea and l and, and, as

of t en f el l out , t he t hwar t er s of t he Ki ng' s wi l l r epent ed

when i t was t oo l at e, and wer e ashamed at t hei r non-

per f or mance of hi s commands. I speak of r epent ance

when i t i s t oo l at e, " t he good Bi shop i ndi gnant l y con-

t i nues, " on t he t est i mony of Scr i pt ur e, by whi ch i t

appear s t hat number l ess per sons have had cause f or

t oo much sor r ow af t er many i nsi di ous evi l s have

come t o pass. But t hough by t hese means, sad t o

say, t hey may be bi t t er l y af f l i ct ed and r oused t o

sor r ow by t he l oss of f at her s, wi ves, chi l dr en, mi ni st er s,

ser vant - men, ser vant - mai ds, and f ur ni t ur e and house-

142 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

hol d st uf f , what i s t he use of hat ef ul r epent ance, when

t hei r ki nsmen ar e dead, and t hey cannot ai d t hem, or

r edeem t hose who ar e capt i ve f r om capt i vi t y ? f or

t hey ar e not abl e even t o assi st t hose who have

escaped, as t hey have not wher ewi t h t o sust ai n even

t hei r own l i ves. They r epent ed, t her ef or e, when i t

was t oo l at e, and gr i eved at t hei r i ncaut i ous negl ect of

t he Ki ng' s commands, and pr ai sed t he Ki ng' s wi sdom

wi t h one voi ce, and t r i ed wi t h al l t hei r power t o f ul f i l

v/ hat t hey had bef or e r ef used ; t hat i s t o say, t he

er ect i on of cast l es, and ot her t hi ngs gener al l y usef ul

t o t he whol e ki ngdom, "

A vi vi d pi ct ur e, t r ul y, of t he st at e of t hi ngs i n

Engl and a t housand year s ago, f or al l of whi ch mi ght

we not wi t hout much r esear ch f i nd par al l el s enough

i n our own day ? One woul d f ai n hope t hat we ar e

not al t oget her wi t hout some equi val ent i n l at e year s

f or t hat pat i ent , never - f al t er i ng pr essur e of t he Ki ng,

somet i mes l i ght i ng up i nt o scat hi ng r epr oof of t he

" vul gar f ol l y and obst i nacy " of many of t hose t hr ough

whom he has t o wor k. I t i s r ef r eshi ng t o f i nd a

bi shop f ai r l y r oused by t hese squabbl es — t hi s un-

r easoni ng sl uggi shness of men v/ ho cal l ed t hemsel ves

t he Ki ng' s f r i ends, and shoul d have been doi ng t he

wor k he had appoi nt ed t hem — denounci ng t he r epent -

ance of such, af t er t he mi schi ef has been done, as

" hat ef ul , " not a wor t hy act at al l , or one l i kel y t o

deser ve t he appr obat i on of God or t he Ki ng, i n t hi s

bi shop' s j udgment

The r ef er ence t o t he " br eaki ng i n of t he enemy by

l and and sea" upon t he unf i i ' i sl i cd f or t i f i cat i ons, must

THE KI NGS BOARD OF WORKS. 143

poi nt t o t he year s bet ween 872 and 878 ; f or f r om t he

dat e of t he peace of Wedmor e no st r ong pl ace of t he

Saxons was t aken dur i ng Al f r ed' s l i f e. I t was not

unt i l 885 t hat t he Nor t hmen even vent ur ed on any

descent i n f or ce on t he coast of Engl and. I n t hat

year t he ar my whi ch had gat her ed r ound t he band of

ol d heat hen r over s who f ol l owed Hast i ng f r om Ful -

ham t o Ghent i n t he spr i ng of 880, and had been

r avagi ng t he banks of t he Meuse and t he Schel dt ever

si nce, af t er wi nt er i ng at Ami ens, at l ast br oke i n t wo.

Page 75 of 174

One hal f , under a l eader whose name has not come

down t o us, t ook t o t hei r shi ps, and, i n t hei r ol d f or m,

st ol e up t he Thames and Medway, and made a sudden

dash at Rochest er . But now f or t he f i r st t i me t hey

wer e compl et el y f oi l ed i n t hei r f i r st onsl aught . They

coul d not st or m t he pl ace, whi ch was wel l f or t i f i ed

and gal l ant l y hel d, so t hey t hr ew up st r ong wor ks

bef or e t he gat es, i n hopes of t aki ng t he t own by f ami ne

or st or m bef or e succour coul d ar r i ve. I n t hi s, how-

ever , t hey wer e soon undecei ved. Al f r ed appear ed

pr ompt l y i n Kent at t he head of a st r ong f or ce, and,

wi t hout awai t i ng hi s at t ack, t he Danes f l ed t o t hei i

shi ps, l eavi ng gr eat spoi l whi ch t hey had br ought

wi t h t hem f r om Fr ance, i ncl udi ng a number of hor ses

and pr i soner s, i n t hei r f or t i f i ed camp bef or e Rochest er

Gat e. And so t hey bet ake t hemsel ves t o Fr ance agai n,

havi ng f ound t hi s vi si t t o Engl and ver y deci dedl y

unpr of i t abl e.

We may f ai r l y concl ude t hen, t hat by t he year

885 t hose pr ovoki ng bi shops, ear l s, nobl es, f avour i t e

mi ni st er s, and pr ef ect s, had come t o t hei r senses.

144 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

and had l ear nt t o obey t hei r ki ng' s commands, and

t o see t hat t her e was good r eason f or anyt hi ng he

mi ght set t hem t o , wor k on. Thus, as t he f r ui t of

year s of pat i ent and st eady pr essur e, at l ast Al f r ed

has hi s f or t s i n or der , a chai n of t hem al l r ound t he

sout her n coast some say, and hi s r oyal r esi dences and

l ar ger t owns f or t he most par t suf f i ci ent l y pr ot ect ed

agai nst sudden at t ack, so f ar as wal l s and di t ches wi l l

secur e t hem. London onl y st i l l l i es i n a mi ser abl y

def encel ess st at e, al l t he best par t s i n r ui ns, t he

r espect abl e i nhabi t ant s f l ed acr oss seas or i nt o

Wessex ; and onl y a wi l d, l awl ess popul at i on, t he

sweepi ngs of many nat i ons and t r i bes, l ef t t o haunt

t he r i ver si de, pi cki ng up a pr ecar i ou- s l i vi ng, no one

can t el l how, and r eady t o j oi n any band of mar auder s

who mi ght be maki ng use of t he deser t ed houses.

The gr eat ci t y whi ch had been al most abl e t o st and

al one, and asser t i t s i ndependence of Mer ci a or of any

over l or d, ever si nce Et hel wul f ' s t i me, has f al l en t o be

a mer e col ony of ' l ong- shor e men, gat her i ng r ound

changi ng bands of pi r at es. The ci t y has been Al f r ed' s

ever si nce t he Tr eat y of Wedmor e, and he has been

no doubt car ef ul l y consi der i ng what can be done, and

pr epar i ng t o deal wi t h i t ; but i t i s an ar duous and ex -

pensi ve under t aki ng, and has t o wai t t i l l mor e pr ess -

i ng bui l di ng oper at i ons — par t i cul ar l y t he necessai y

coast def ences — have been compl et ed.

At l engt h i n 886 al l hi s pr epar at i ons ar e made, and

he mar ches on London wi t h a suf f i ci ent f or ce t o deal

wi t h such or gani zed bands of Nor t hmen as mi ght f or

t he t i me be hol di ng i t , and wi t h t he ' l ong- shor e popu-

THE KI NG' S BOARD OF JVORKS. 145

l at i on. Et hel wer d' s Chr oni cl e speaks of a si ege, and

Hunt i ngdon' s of a * gr eat f or ce of Danes, ' who f l ed

when t he pl ace was i nvest ed ; but t he Saxon Chr oni cl e

and Asser cont ai n no hi nt , ei t her of a si ege, or of any

Page 76 of 174

or gani zed f or ce wi t hi n t he ci t y. I t i s pr obabl e t her e-

f or e t hat London submi t t ed t o Al f r ed at once wi t hout

a bl ow. Her e, i n what had been even i n Roman

t i mes t he gr eat commer ci al capi t al of Engl and, hi s

spl endi d or gani zi ng t al ent s had f ul l scope dur i ng t he

year . The account s i n t he best aut hor i t i es agr ee

ent i r el y as t o t hi s wor k of S?>6. They ar e shor t and

gr aphi c. " I n t hi s year Al f r ed, Ki ng of t he West

Saxons, af t er t he bur ni ng of ci t i es and sl ayi ng of t he

peopl e, honour abl y r ebui l t t he ci t y of London, and

made i t agai n habi t abl e. He gave i t i nt o t he cust ody

of hi s son- i n- l aw Et hel r ed, al der man of Mer ci a ; t o

whi ch ki ng al l t he Angl es and Saxons who bef or e

had been di sper sed ever ywher e, or wer e i n bondage

under t he Pagans, vol unt ar i l y t ur ned, and submi t t ed

t hemsel ves t o hi s domi ni on. " The f or ei gn masons

and mechani cs, of whom Al f r ed by t hi s t i me had

l ar ge number s i n hi s r egul ar pay, made swi f t wor k

wi t h t he r ebui l di ng of London ; and wi t hi n a f ew

year s, under Et hel r ed' s r ul e, t he ci t y had r egai ned

i t s ol d pr e- emi nence. Saxons, Angl es, and Danes

t hr onged t o i t i ndi scr i mi nat el y, t he l at t er occupyi ng

t hei r own quar t er s. A col ony of t hem set t l ed on t he

sout her n si de of t he r i ver , and bui l t Sout hwar k ( Syd

vi r ke, t he sout her n f or t i f i cat i on) , wher e one of t he

pr i nci pal t hor oughf ar es, Tool ey St r eet ( a cor r upt i on

of St . Ol ave' s St r eet ) , st i l l bear s t he name of t he

s. L. vi n. L

146 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

pat r on sai nt of Nor way. On t he nor t her n si de of

t he Thames al so, t o t he west of t he ci t y, t hey est a-

bhshed anot her set t l ement , i n whi ch was t hei r chi ef

bur i al - pl ace, and named i t St . Cl ement Danes. We

may r eckon t he r ebui l di ng and r eset t l ement of London

as t he cr owni ng act of t he Ki ng' s wor k as a r est or er

of t he f enced ci t i es of hi s r eal m, and have now t o

f ol l ow hi m, as wel l as t he conf used mat er i al s at our

command wi l l al l ow us, i n ot her depar t ment s no l ess

di f f i cul t t o handl e t han t hi s of t he Boar d of Wor ks,

i n whi ch hi s wi se and unf l aggi ng ener gy was br i ngi ng

or der out of chaos, and economi zi ng and devel opi ng

t he gr eat r esour ces of hi s ki ngdom.

CHAPTER XI I I .

THE ki ng' s war OFFI CE AND ADMI RALTY.

" And I t ook t he chi ef of your t r i bes, wi se men and known, and made t han

heads oz>er you, capt ai ns over hundr eds, and capt ai ns over f i f t i es, and

capt ai ns over t ens, and of f i cer s amongst your t r i bes. ' "

The r est or at i on of al l t he ol d f or t r esSv; s of t he ki ng-

dom, and t he bui l di ng of a number of f r esh ones,

t hough appar ent l y t he wor k whi ch Al f r ed t hought

of f i r st , and pr essed on most vi gor ousl y, was af t er

al l onl y a r ef or m of second- r at e i mpor t ance com-

par ed wi t h t he r econst r uct i on and per manent or ga-

ni zat i on of hi s ar my and navy. Thi s al so he t ook

i n hand at once, goi ng st r ai ght t o t he r oot of t he

mat t er , as i ndeed was al ways t he habi t wi t h t hi s

ki ng, hi s whol e nat ur e bei ng of a t hor oughness whi ch

woul d never al l ow hi m t o wor k onl y on t he sur f ace.

Page 77 of 174

I t i s by no means easy t o under st and t he mi l i t ar y

or gani zat i on of t he West Saxons bef or e Al f r ed' s

r ei gn, i f i ndeed t hey had anyt hi ng t hat may be

cal l ed an or gani zat i on. That ever y f r eeman was

l i abl e t o a cal l t o ar ms whenever t he count r y was

t hr eat ened by an enemy, or t he ki ng was bent on

i nvadi ng hi s nei ghbour ' s t er r i t or y — and t hat t he ki ng

had no f or ce of hi s own, but was i n t he hands of hi s

al der men and ear l s, and obl i ged t o r el y on what f or ce

L 2

14. 8 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

t hey coul d br i ng t oget her — t hi s seems cl ear enough,

but unf or t unat el y we have no means of knowi ng wi t h

any accur acy how t he cal l was made, what wer e t he

penal t i es f or di sobeyi ng i t , or t he condi t i ons of ser vi ce

i n t he f i el d, — whet her t he sol di er r ecei ved pay and

r at i ons, or had t o suppor t hi msel f . So f ar as we can

gat her f r om t he meagr e account s of t he war s i n

Et hel wul f ' s and Et hel r ed' s r ei gn, and of Al f r ed' s

ear l y campai gns, as soon as danger t hr eat ened t he

her edi t ar y al der man of t he shi r e near est t he poi nt

of at t ack summoned al l f r eehol der s wi t hi n hi s j ur i s -

di ct i on, and t ook t he f i el d at once, whi l e t he ki ng,

t hr ough t hei r al der men, gat her ed t r oops i n ot her

shi r es, and br ought t hem up t o t he scene of act i on

as f ast as he coul d. Thus i n 86 1 t he Al der men

Osr i c and Et hel wul f , wi t h t he men of Hant s and

Ber ks, f el l at once upon t he pi l l ager s of Wi nchest er

wi t hout wai t i ng f or Ki ng Et hel ber t ; and agai n Et hel -

wul f , t en year s l at er , i n 871, f i ght s t he bat t l e of

Engl ef i el d wi t h t he f i r st di vi si on of t he Dani sh ar my

f r om Readi ng, onl y t hr ee days af t er t he ar r i val of

t he Pagans, bef or e Et hel r ed and Al f r ed can come

up. Mor e i nst ances mi ght be ci t ed, i f needed, t o

show t hat ei t her t he penal t i es on sl ackness i n comi ng

t o must er wer e ver y shar p, or t hat t he zeal of t he

West Saxons f or f i ght i ng was of t he st r ongest . As a

r ul e, t he men of t he shi r e mi ght evi dent l y be r el i ed

on t o meet t he f i r st br unt of at t ack. I t i s equal l y

cl ear t hat t hese l evi es coul d not be depended upon

f or any l engt hened t i me. They dwi ndl ed away af t er

a f ew weeks, or mont hs, on t he appr oach of har vest ,

JVAT^ OFFI CE AND ADMI RALTY. 149

or t he f ai l ur e i n suppl i es, or zeal . I n shor t , t he

syst em was pr act i cal l y, t o a gr eat ext ent , a vol unt ar y

one, and ver y • uncer t ai n i n i t s oper at i on, t hr owi ng

al t oget her unf ai r bur dens now on t hi s di st r i ct , now

on t he ot her , as t he Pagans gai ned a f or t i f i ed posi t i on

i n Ber kshi r e, Dor set shi r e, or Wi l t shi r e.

Dur i ng hi s ear l y campai gns Al f r ed must have seen

t he di sadvant age at whi ch he and t he West Saxons

wer e pl aced by t hi s haphazar d syst em, and have

gr adual l y mat ur ed t he changes whi ch he was now

abl e t o i nt r oduce. These wer e somewhat as f ol -

l ow. The whol e f i ght i ng st r engt h of t he ki ngdom was

di vi ded i nt o t hr ee par t s or compani es. Of t hese, one

company was cal l ed out , Asser says, and r emai ned

Page 78 of 174

on dut y, " ni ght and day, f or one mont h, af t er whi ch

t hey r et ur ned t o t hei r homes, and wer e r el i eved by

t he second company. At t he end of t he second

mont h, i n t he same way, t he t hi r d company r el i ev^ed

t he second, who r et ur ned t o t hei r homes, wher e t hey

spent t wo mont hs, " unt i l t hei r t ur n f or ser vi ce came

r ound agai n. No mi l i t ar y ser vi ce was r equi r ed of

any man beyond t hr ee mont hs i n t he year , so t hat

dur i ng t he t hr ee wi nt er mont hs nei t her of t he t hr ee

mi l i t ar y compani es was on dut y. Of t he company

on dut y f or t he t i me bei ng, a por t i on was t ol d of f f or

t he def ence of t he pr i nci pal f or t r esses, and t he r e-

mai nder const i t ut ed a body- guar d or st andi ng ar my,

movi ng about under ar ms wi t h t he Ki ng and cour t .

Thi s at l east i s t he account whi ch has come down

t o us, but i t i s obvi ousl y i ncompl et e or i ncor r ect . I t

«s qui t e i mpossi bl e t hat a t hi r d of t he f i ght i ng st r engt h

I 50 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

of t he whol e ki ngdom coul d have been const ant l y

mai nt ai ned under ar ms by Al f r ed. For , what ever

may have been t he case i n t he t i mes of hi s f at her

and br ot her s, t her e can be l i t t l e doubt t hat he bot h

mai nt ai ned and pai d hi s sol di er s. Thi s appear s f r om

hi s own wr i t i ngs, as wel l as f r om t he chr oni cl er s. Af t er

decl ar i ng t hat he had never much year ned af t er

ear t hl y power , t he Ki ng goes on ( i n t he i nt er pol a-

t i on i n t he sevent eent h chapt er of hi s t r ansl at i on of

Boet hi us) : " Never t hel ess I was desi r ous of mat er i al s

f or t he wor k whi ch I was commanded t o per f or m ;

t hat i s, t hat I mi ght honour abl y and f i t l y exer ci se

I he power whi ch was ent r ust ed t o me. Mor eover , no

man can show any ski l l , or exer ci se or cont r ol any

power , wi t hout t ool s and mat er i al s; t hat i s, of ever y

cr af t t he mat er i al s wi t hout whi ch man cannot exer -

ci se t he cr af t . Thi s, t hen, i s a ki ng' s mat er i al , and

hi s t ool s t o r ei gn wi t h — t hat he have hi s l and wel l

peopl ed. He must have bead- men and sol di ens

and wor kmen ; wi t hout t hese t ool s no ki ng can show

hi s cr af t . Thi s i s al so hi s mat er i al t hat he must

have as wel l as t he t ool s — pr ovi si on f or t he t hr ee

cl asses. Thi s i s t hen t hei r pr ovi si on ; l and t o l i ve on,

and pay, and weapons, and meat , and al e, and cl ot hes,

and what soever i s necessar y f or t he t hr ee cl asses.

He cannot wi t hout t hese pr eser ve t he t ool s, or wi t h-

out t he t ool s accompl i sh any of t hose t hi ngs whi ch

he i s commanded t o per f or m. Ther ef or e I was

desi r ous of mat er i al s wher ewi t h t o exer ci se t he

power , t hat my wor k and t he r epor t t her eof shoul d

not be f or got t en or hi dden. For ever y cr af t and

W^^ A" OFFI CE A AW ADMI RALTY. 151

ever y power soon becomes ol d, and i s passed over

i n si l ence, i f i t be wi t hout wi sdom. Because what so-

evei i s done t hr ough f ol l y no one can ever r eckon f or

cr af t . Thi s I wi l l now t r ul y say, t hat whi l e I have

l i ved I have st r i ven t o l i ve wor t hi l y, and af t er my

l i f e t o l eave t o t he men who wer e af t er me my

memor y i n good wor ks. "

Page 79 of 174

I coul d not t ouch t he passage wi t hout quot i ng i t

whol e ; f or , whi l e t r eadi ng on danger ous gr ound, i t

seems t o me t o vi ndi cat e " ki ng- cr af t " as Al f r ed

under st ood and pr act i sed i t , and t o t hr ow a gl eam

of l i ght on hi s br ave and pi ous l i f e whi ch we cannot

spar e, " Ki ng- cr af t " i n t he mout h of James I .

meant t he pr of essi onal cl ever ness of t he sover ei gn —

t hat cunni ng, a subst i t ut e f or cour age, by whi ch he,

as ki ng, coul d gai n hi s sel f i sh ends and exal t hi s

of f i ce, as he under st ood i t . A cont empt i bl e, not t o

say hat ef ul meani ng, whi ch t he phr ase has r et ai ned

ever si nce i n Engl and. Al f r ed' s i dea of ki ngcr af t

i s " a wor k whi ch he i s commanded t o per f or m, "

whi ch i t i s woe t o hi m i f he f ai l i n per f or mi ng. The

t wo i deas ar e as wi de apar t as t he char act er and

wor k of t he t wo ki ngs.

But t he evi dence does not r est on t hi s passage.

Asser , speaki ng of t he di vi si on whi ch t he Ki ng made

of hi s i ncome, says t hat one- t hi r d of t he par t whi ch he

devot ed t o secul ar pur poses went t o pay hi s sol di er s

and mi ni st er s ; and Fl or ence, t hat " he gave t he f i r st

por t i on of hi s i ncome year l y t o hi s sol di er s. " Now,

however hi ghl y we may be i ncl i ned t o r eckon Al f r ed' s

i ncome, i t i s qui t e i mpossi bl e t o suppose t hat one-

152 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

si xt h of i t coul d have f ound weapons, meat , al e, and

cl ot hes, as wel l as pay, f or anyt hi ng l i ke a t hi r d of

hi s avai l abl e f or ce. I t i s pr obabl e, t hen, t hat onl y a

smal l par t of t he company whose t ur n i t mi ght be

f or act i ve ser vi ce wer e act ual l y cal l ed out , and kept

under ar ms, ei t her wi t h t he cour t , or i n t he f or t r esses.

These wer e pai d by t he Ki ng, whi l e t he r emai nder

of t he company wer e not pai d, unl ess t hey t oo wer e

act ual l y cal l ed out , t hough dur i ng t hei r mont h t hey

wer e no doubt const ant l y exer ci sed, and kept i n r eadi -

ness t o must er at any moment .

I t i s not , however , of much i mpor t ance, even i f i t

wer e possi bl e t o ascer t ai n t he pr eci se det ai l of Al f r ed' s

mi l i t ar y r ef or ms. The essence and r esul t of t hem i s

cl ear enough ; namel y, t hat he had al ways a f ul l

t hi r d of hi s whol e f or ce r eady t o act agai nst an

enemy at a moment ' s not i ce, and t hat t he bur dens

of mi l i t ar y ser vi ce wer e equal l y di st r i but ed over t he

whol e ki ngdom.

Si de by si de wi t h t he f or t i f i cat i ons of hi s coast -

t owns, and t he r e- or gani zat i on of ' hi s l and- f or ces, t he

Ki ng pushed on wi t h ener gy t he const r uct i on of such

a navy as woul d enabl e hi m t o beat t he Nor t hmen

on t hei r own el ement . We have seen t hat , ear l y

i n hi s f i r st shor t i nt er val of peace, he was busy

wi t h t hi s wor k, havi ng no doubt even t hen sat i sf i ed

hi msel f t hat hi s ki ngdom coul d onl y be ef f ect ual l y

def ended by sea. I n 875 he put s t o sea f or t he

f i r st t i me, and f i ght s hi s f i r st naval bat t l e wi t h suc -

cess, t aki ng one of t he sea- ki ng' s shi ps. Thi s w' i l i

have gi ven hi m a model upon whi ch t o i mpr ove

JVA/ ^ OFFI CE AND ADMI RALTY. 153

Page 80 of 174

t he bui l d of hi s own shi ps. He accor di ngl y, i n 877,

" commands boat s and l ong shi ps t o be bui l t t hr ough-

out t he ki ngdom, i n or der t hat he mi ght of f er bat t l e

by sea t o t he enemy as t hey wer e comi ng, and on

boar d of t hese he pl aced seamen, and appoi nt ed

t hem t o wat ch t he seas. " The r esul t of t hi s wi se

f or esi ght was t he dest r uct i on of t he Dani sh f l eet

of f Swanage, on i t s way t o t he r el i ef of Exet er .

But t he West Saxon shi ps wer e no bet t er t han

t he enemy' s, unt i l Al f r ed' s pr act i cal sagaci t y and

geni us f or mechani cs wer e br ought t o bear on shi p,

bui l di ng. The pr eci se year i n whi ch t he gr eat r econ-

st r uct i on of hi s f l eet was made i s not ascer t ai nabl e.

The Saxon Chr oni cl e pl aces i t as l at e as S97, but

i t wi l l be conveni ent t o not i ce i t her e whi l e we ar e

on t he subj ect . The vessel s t hen whi ch, af t er much

st udy of t he mat t er , he or der ed t o be bui l t , wer e

t wi ce as l ong and hi gh as t hose of t he Danes, and

had f or t y, si xt y, or i n some i nst ances even a l ar ger

number of oar s. They wer e al so, i t i s sai d, swi f t er

and st eadi er t han t he ol der vessel s, as wel l as l onger

and hi gher , and " wer e shapen nei t her l i ke t he Fr i si an

nor t he Dani sh, but so as i t seemed t o t he Ki ng t hey

woul d be most ef f i ci ent . " Al f r ed' s gal l eys ar e per -

haps l ess puzzl i ng t han t he Gr eek t r i r eme ; at t he

same t i me i t i s not easy t o i magi ne how t he account

i n t he Chr oni cl e can be cor r ect . Gal l eys woul d

nat ur al l y be sl ower i n pr opor t i on t o t hei r hei ght ,

t hough of cour se much mor e f or mi dabl e as f i ght i ng-

vessel s. The West Saxon was not a seaf ar i ng man ;

at best was onl y i ncl i ned t o go on boar d shi p f or

154 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

some def i ni t e and i mmedi at e pi ece of f i ght i ng, and

t he Ki ng' s r egul ar f l eet was manned by sai l or s of

many t r i bes, — Fr i si ans, Fr anks, Br i t ons, Scot s, Ar mo-

r i cans ; even pagan Danes, who t ook ser vi ce wi t h

hi m. And al l t hese, of what ever r ace, " accor di ng

t o t hei r mer i t s, wer e r ul ed, l oved, honour ed, and

enr i ched by Al f r ed. " And i n t hi s depar t ment , as i n

hi s mi l i t ar y r ef or ms, r esul t s at once and abundant l y

j ust i f i ed hi s sagaci t y, f or he was never badl y wor st ed

i n a sea- f i ght , and t owar ds t he end of hi s r ei gn hi s

f l eet had swept t he coast s of Engl and cl ear of t he

sea- r over s.

Wi t hi n t wo year s af t er t he peace of Wedmor e t he

f l eet was r eady t o go t o sea, and i t was not a day t oo

soon. At no f or mer t i me, i ndeed, wer e t he west er n

coast s of Eur ope mor e t er r i bl y scour ged by t he Nor t h-

men. The gr eat empi r e of Char l emagne, br oken i nt o

weak f r agment s, was over r un by t hem. The ar my

t hat had so r ecent l y l ef t Ful ham under t he l eader -

shi p of Hast i ng, r ei nf or ced by const ant ar r i val s f r om

Nor way and Denmar k, had l ef t Ghent i n 88 1, and

l ai d wast e t he banks of t he Meuse and t he Schel dt .

They wer e even now pr essi ng sout hwar ds, and t hr eat -

eni ng Par i s and Ami ens. I t i s a t i me f or vi gi l ance

and pr ompt act i on i f t he new ki ngdom i s t o be con-

sol i dat ed i n peace. One smal l squadr on of t he Nor t h-

men, sweepi ng sout h, t ur n t owar ds t he Engl i sh coast s

i n t he hope of pl under , i n t he summer of 882, and

f i nd t he Ki ng r eady f or t hem. Al f r ed hi msel f goes

Page 81 of 174

t o meet t hem ; and of t he f our Dani sh vessel s t wo

wer e t aken f i ght i ng and al l hands ki l l ed, and t he

I VAR OFFI CE AND ADMI RALTY. 155

commander s of t he r emai ni ng t wo sur r ender ed af t er

a desper at e r esi st ance, " They wer e sor el y di st r essed

and wounded, " t he Chr oni cl e r emar ks, " bef or e t hey

sur r ender ed. "

But t he f i r st occasi on on whi ch t he new or gani za-

t i on of t he f or ces of t he ki ngdom was put t o any

sever e t est was not unt i l t hr ee year s l at er , when t he

at t empt on Rochest er , al r eady ment i oned, was made.

To under st and t he i mpor t ance of i t , we must go back

t o t he t i me when Gut hr um At hel st an cr ossed t he

Mer ci an bor der s, under sol emn pl edges t o set t l e

qui et l y down as undi sput ed ki ng of East Angl i a,

under nomi nal al l egi ance, i ndeed, t o hi s gr eat con-

quer or , but pr act i cal l y as t he equal sover ei gn of a

f r i endl y but i ndependent ki ngdom. Unl ucki l y f or

t he good r esol ut i ons of t he new conver t , t her e was a

t empt er at hi s el bow. One I sembar t , a near r el at i ve

of Car l oman, ki ng of t he West er n Fr anks, had been

exi l ed by t hat monar ch, and had ser ved wi t h Gut hr um

i n hi s l ast i nvasi on of Wessex. He i s bound f or hi s

own count r y, wher e t her e ar e al l manner of chances

i n t hese t i mes f or r ebel s ; and t he ki ng of East Angl i a,

unabl e t o r esi st t he scent of bat t l e and t he chances

of pl under , accompani es hi m wi t h a f or ce. Af t er a

shor t car eer of at r oci t i es, Gut hr um At hel st an i s de-

f eat ed i n a bat t l e near Sancour t , and r et ur ns t o East

Angl i a, havi ng, on t he one hand, r oused Al f r ed' s

suspi ci ons, and on t he ot her r est or ed hi s own r el at i ons

wi t h Hast i ng and t he Nor t her n bands. Dur i ng t he

next year or t wo set t l ement s of pi r at es ar e al l owed

t o est abl i sh t hemsel ves on t he East Angl i an coast s,

156 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

and bef or e 885 sever al of t he host ages gi ven t o Al f r ed

af t er t he bat t l e of Et handune had di ed, and t hei r

pl aces r emai ned unf i l l ed. I n shor t , t her e ar e t he

gr avest r easons f or Al f r ed t o doubt t he good f ai t h,

or t he good- wi l l , of Gut hr um At hel st an and hi s

peopl e.

At t hi s cr i si s came t he Dani sh descent on Kent

and si ege of Rochest er , abandoned pr eci pi t at el y by

t he i nvader s on t he pr ompt advance of Al f r ed, They

f l ed t o t hei r shi ps and made of f , some back t o t he

Fr ench coast , and ot her s acr oss t he Thames t o Essex.

Her e t hey f ound shel t er and assi st ance i n Bemf l eet

and ot her pl aces, whi ch had become l i t t l e bet t er t han

nest s of heat hen pi r at es, wi t hout any hi ndr ance, i f not

wi t h t he open sanct i on, of t he ex - vi ki ng, now Chr i s-

t i an ki ng of East Angl i a. Al f r ed' s pat i ence i s now

f ai r l y exhaust ed, and, r esol ved t o gi ve hi s f ai t hl ess

al l y a sever e l esson, he gat her s a f l eet at once i n t he

Medway, put s t r oops on boar d, and sends t hem af t er

t he l ast di vi si on of t he i nvader s, wi t h or der s t o r et al i at e,

or , as Asser put s i t , " f or t he sake of pl under . " The

Page 82 of 174

West Saxon f l eet soon f el l i n wi t h si xt een Dani sh

vessel s, f ol l owed t hem up t he St our , and, af t er a har d

f i ght , t ook t he whol e of t hem, and put t he cr ews t o

t he swor d. Had t he Ki ng hi msel f been on boar d,

t he success woul d most l i kel y have been compl et e.

As i t was, t he pi r at e communi t i es of t he East Angl i an

coast hast i l y got t oget her anot her f l eet , wi t h whi ch

t hey at t acked t he Ki ng' s f l eet at t he mout h of t he

r i ver " whi l e t hey wer e r eposi ng, " and gai ned some

advant age over t hem.

I I

I VA/ i OFFI CE AND ADMI RALTY. 157

The Saxon Chr oni cl e and Asser bot h add t o t he

occur r ences of t he year t hat " t he ar my whi ch dwel t

i n East Ai i gl i a di sgr acef ul l y br oke t he peace whi ch

t hey had concl uded wi t h Ki ng Al f r ed. " Dr . Paul i

al so not i ces a vi si t of Rol l o t o East Angl i a at t hi s

same t i me, t he gr eat vi ki ng havi ng qui t t ed t he si ege

of Par i s t o answer t he summons of hi s ol d comr ade

i n ar ms. But t he Engl i sh chr oni cl er s ar e si l ent on

t he subj ect , and i t woul d seem t hat t he cl oud passed

away wi t hout f ur t her host i l i t i es. Al f r ed had ever y

r eason t o be sat i sf i ed wi t h t he f i r st t r i al and pr oof of

hi s r e- or gani zed f l eet and ar my, and had r ead t he

peopl e of t he East Angl i an coast a l esson whi ch t hey

woul d not l i ght l y f or get . Gut hr um At hel st an, f or hi s

par t , may have ei t her r epent ed of hi s bad f ai t h, and

r esol ved t o amend and l i ve qui et l y, as we may hope,

or had come t o t he concl usi on, al one or i n consul t a-

t i on wi t h Rol l o, t hat t her e i s not hi ng but sur e and

speedy def eat t o be gai ned by an open r upt ur e wi t h

Al f r ed. I n any case he t ook no act i ve st ep t o avenge

t he i nvasi on of hi s ki ngdom, or t o r et al i at e, and f r om

t hat t i me l i ved peaceabl y t o t he day of hi s deat h

i n 890.

" A Pr i nce, t hen, " says Machi avel l i ( cap. xi v. ) , " i s t o

have no ot her desi gn, nor t hought , nor st udy but war

and t he ar t s and di sci pl i nes t her eof : f or i ndeed t hi s

i s t he onl y possessi on wor t hy of a pr i nce, and i s of so

much i mpor t ance t hat i t not onl y pr eser ves t hose t hat

ar e bor n pr i nces i n t hei r pat r i moni es, but advances

men of pr i vat e condi t i on t o t hat honour abl e degr ee. "

To whi ch sayi ng t hose who l east admi r e t he gr eat

158 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

I t al i an wi l l agr ee t o t hi s ext ent , t hat t he ar t s and

di sci pl i nes of war shoul d f or m t he mai n obj ect of a

pr i nce' s st udy unt i l he has made hi s count r y as saf e

agai nst f or ei gn at t ack as i t can be made wi t hout

dwar f i ng t he nat i on' s l i f e. Thi s i s what Al f r ed di d

f or hi s ki ngdom and peopl e, bet ween t he peace of

Wedmor e and t he aut umn of 885. Hi s r ewar d was

pr of ound peace f or ei ght mor e j ^ear s.

I

Page 83 of 174

CHAPTER XI V. .

THE ki no' s l aws.

" Gi ve t he ki ng Thy j udgment s, God, and Thy r i ght eousness unt o t he

ki ng' s son.

" Then shal l he j udge Thy peopl e accor di ng t o t he r i ght , and def ei ul

t he poor . "

The ki ng' s next wor k af t er put t i ng hi s ki ngdom i n

a st at e of def ence, and t o t he best of hi s abi Ht y

ensur i ng hi s peopl e a saf e count r y t o l i ve i n, i s t o

gi ve t hem l aws f or t he or der i ng and gover ni ng of

t hei r l i ves.

Thi s busi ness of l ayi ng down r ul es as t o how hi s

Engl i sh peopl e shal l be gover ned seems one of al t o-

get her st ar t l i ng sol emni t y and i mpor t ance t o Al f r ed ;

and i s, i ndeed, not a busi ness whi ch i t i s desi r abl e t hai

any ki ng, or par l i ament , or ot her per sons or bodi es,

shoul d under t ake l i ght l y. I t woul d be i nst r uct i ve t o

i nqui r e car ef ul l y how much of t he t r oubl e and mi ser y

whi ch has come upon t he l and si nce hi s t i me has been

caused by t he want of Al f r ed' s spi r i t i n t hi s mat t er

of l aw- maki ng. We have had at one t i me or anot her ,

dur i ng t he past t housand year s, as t er r i bl e exper i ence

as most nat i ons of what st r ong men, or st r ong cl asses

of men, can do i n t he way of maki ng l aws t o asser t

i 6o LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

t hei r own wi l l s. The l aws i mposi ng al l sor t s of r el i -

gi ous di sabi l i t i es, t he combi nat i on l aws, t he cor n

l aws, ar e onl y some of t he best known i nst ances of

at t empt s i n t hi s di r ect i on. The St at ut e- book i s not

yet cl ear of t hem, and who can hope t hat we have

seen t hei r end, t hough j ust at pr esent t her e i s happi l y

no cl ass st r ong enough t o i mpose i t s own wi l l on t he

nat i on. ? Our si ns j ust now i n t hi s mat t er of l aw-

maki ng ar e r at her t hose of i ndi f f er ence, or cowar di ce.

Hand- t o- mout h l egi sl at i on, as i t has been cal l ed — a

desi r e t o r i de of f on si de i ssues, not t o meet our

di f f i cul t i es f ai r l y i n t he f ace, but r at her t o do such

t empor ar y t i nker i ng as wi l l j ust t i de over t he i mme-

di at e cr i si s — i s our t empt at i on.

Her e, i ndeed, i n our l aw- maki ng, as i n al l ot her

depar t ment s of human l i f e, t he l oss of f ai t h i n God

i s bear i ng i t s f r ui t , and t aki ng al l ner ve and t one out

of our syst em. For t hat l oss must be f at al t o al l

hi gh i deal , and wi t hout a hi gh i deal no peopl e wi l l

ever have or make good l aws. Al f r ed has l ef t us no

doubt as t o hi s. Ther e i s an or der l ai d down f r om

ever l ast i ng f or t he gover nment of manki nd, so he

bel i eves, whi ch i s t he expr essi on of t he wi l l of God,

and t o whi ch man has t o conf or m. He hi msel f f i nds

i t about hi s pat h, and about hi s bed, est abl i shed

al r eady on ever y si de of hi m. He has become awar e

of i t gr adual l y, by t he exper i ence of hi s own l i f e,

t hr ough hi s own f ai l ur es and successes. He has

been educat ed by t hese i nt o t he knowl edge t hat he,

Page 84 of 174

t he Ki ng, i s hi msel f under a gover nment , even t he

gover nment of Hi m whose l aws t he mat er i al uni ver se,

THE KI NGS LA J VS. i 6i

al l cr eat ed t hi ngs, obey, but whose hi ghest empi r e i s

i n t he hear t s and wi l l s of men. Rul i ng and maki ng

l aws ar e no l i ght mat t er t o one who has made t hi s

di scover y ; he can exer ci se nei t her f unct i on accor di ng

t o hi s own pl easur e or capr i ce, or f or hi s own ends.

Hi s one ai m as a l aw- maker must be, t o r ecogni se

and decl ar e t hose et er nal l aws of God — as a r ul er , t o

br i ng hi s own l i f e, and t hat of hi s peopl e, i nt o

accor dance wi t h t hem.

Comi ng, t hen, t o hi s t ask wi t h t hi s vi ew, we f i nd

Al f r ed' s code, or " Al f r ed' s dooms, " as t hey ar e cal l ed,

st ar t i ng wi t h an al most l i t er al t r anscr i pt of t he Deca-

l ogue, The onl y var i at i ons of any moment ar e, t hat

t he second commandment i s omi t t ed i n i t s r i ght

pl ace, and st ands as t he t ent h ( i n t he wor ds of t he

23d ver se of t he 20t h of Exodus) , " Wor k not t hou

f or t hysel f gol den gods or si l ver , " and t hat i n t he

f our t h t he Saxon t ext r uns, " I n si x days Chr i st

wr ought t he heavens and ear t h and al l shapen t hi ngs

t hat i n t hem ar e, and r est ed on t he sevent h day : and

f or t hat t he Lor d hal l owed i t . " The subst i t ut i on of

Chr i st f or t he Lor d her e i s char act er i st i c of t he Ki ng.

I mmedi at el y af t er t he t en commandment s come se-

l ect i ons f r om t he Mosai c code, chi ef l y f r om t he 21st ,

22d, and 23d chapt er s of Exodus, ver y sl i ght l y

modi f i ed.

The most i mpor t ant var i at i ons ar e as f ol l ow : —

Exodus xxi . Al f r ed' s Dooms.

1. Now t hese ar e t he j udgment s i i . These ar e t he dooms t hat

whi ch t hou shal t set bef or e t hem. t hou shal t set t hem ; — I f any one

2. I f t houbuy a Hebr ew sei - vant , buy a Chr i st i an bondsman, be he

S. L. Vl l l . Jj J

l 62

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

si x year s he shal l ser ve, and i n

t he sevent h he shal l go out f r ee

f or not hi ng.

3. I f he came i n by hi msel f , he

shal l go out by I i i msel f : i f he wer e

mar r i ed, t hen hi s wi f e shal l go out

wi t h hi m.

4. I f hi s mast er have gi ven hi m

a wi f e, and she have bor n hi m

Page 85 of 174

sons or daught er s ; t he wi f e and

her chi l dr en shal l be her mast er ' s,

and he shal l go out by hi msel f

5. And i f t he ser vant shal l

pl ai nl y say, I l ove my mast er , my

wi f e, and my chi l dr en ; I wi l l not

go out f r ee :

6. Then hi s i t i ast er shal l br i ng

hi m unt o t he j udges ; he shal l al so

br i ng hi m unt o t he door , or unt o

t he door post , and hi s mast er shal l

bor e hi s ear t hr ough wi t h an awl ,

and he shal l ser ve hi m f or ever .

bondsman t o hi m si x year s, t he

sevent h be he f r ee unbought . Wi t h

such cl ot hes as he went i n, wi t h

such go he out . I f he hi msel f

have a wi f e, go she out wi t h hi m.

I f , however , t l i e l or d gave hi m a

wi f e, go she and her bai r n t he

l or d' s. I f t hen t he bondsman

say, I wi l l not go f r om my l or d,

nor f r om my wi f e, nor f r om my

bai r n, nor f r om my goods, l et

t hen hi s l or d br i ng hi m t o t he

chur ch door , and dr i l l t hr ough

hi s ear wi t h an awl , t o wi t ness

t hat he be ever t hencef or t h a

bondsman.

The dooms cont i nue an al most l i t er al t r anscr i pt

of t he 2 1st chapt er of Exodus, wi t h t he except i on

of t he 17t h ver se, whi ch i s omi t t ed. The sl i ght

modi f i cat i ons of t he Hebr ew Law i n t he f i r st ver ses

of t he 2 2d chapt er ar e agai n char act er i st i c.

Exodus xxi i .

1. I f a man shal l st eal an ox or

a sheep and ki l l i t , or sel l i t , he

shal l r est or e f i ve oxen f or an ox,

and f our sheep f or a sheep

2. I f a t hi ef be f ound br eaki ng

up, and be smi t t en t hat he di e,

t her e shal l no bl ood be shed f or

hi m.

3. I f t he sun be r i sen upon

Al f r ei i ' s Dooms.

24. I f any one st eal anot her ' s

ox, and sl ay or sel l hi m, gi ve he

t wo f or i t , and f our sheep f or one.

I f he have not what he may gi ve,

be he hi msel f sol d f or t he f ee.

Page 86 of 174

25. I f a t hi ef br eak a man' s

house by ni ght and be t her e sl ai n,

be he not gui l t y of mansl aught er .

I f he doet h t hi s af t er sunr i se he i s

THE KI NGS LAWS. 163

hi m, t her e shal l be bl ood shed gui l t y of mansl aught er , and hi m-

f or hi m ; f or he shoul d make f ul l sel f shal l di e, unl ess he di d i t oi

r est i t ut i on ; i f he have not hi ng, necessi t y. I f wi t h hi m be f ound

t hen shal l he be sol d f or hi s t hef t . al i ve wl i at he bef or e st ol e, l et hi m

4. I f t he t hef t be cer t ai nl y f ound pay f or i t t wof ol d.

i n hi s hand al i ve, whet her i t be 26. I f any man har m anot her

ox, or ass, or sheep, he shal l man' s vi neyar d, hi s acr es, or any

r est or e doubl e. of hi s l ands, l et hi m make boot as

5. I f a man shal l cause a f i el d, men val ue i t .

or a vi neyar d, t o be eat en, and

shal l put i n hi s beast , and shal l

f eed i n anot her man' s f i el d ; of t he

best of hi s own f i el d, and of t he

best of hi s own vi neyar d, shal l he

make r est i t ut i on.

To t he 8t h ver se, t r eat i ng of pr oper t y ent r ust ed

t o anot her , Al f r ed' s dooms add, " I f i t wer e Hve

cat t l e, and he say t hat t he ar my t ook i t , or t hat i t

di ed of i t sel f , and he have v. ' i t ness, he need not pay

f or i t . I f he have no wi t ness, and t hey bel i eve hi m

not , l et hi m t hen swear . " We shal l see t hat t he

obl i gat i on of an oat h, whi ch had no sanct i on at t ached

t o i t appar ent l y by West Saxon l aw t i l l now, i s

ver y car ef ul l y enf or ced i n a l at er par t of t he code.

Al f r ed' s dooms t hen omi t f r om t he 7t h t o t he 15t h

ver se of t he chapt er i ncl usi ve, t aki ng al l t he r est ;

wi t h t he var i at i on, however , as t o pl edges, t hat t he

Saxons ar e t o r et ur n a man' s pl edged gar ment bef or e

sunset onl y " i f he have but one wher ewi t h t o cover

hi m. "

The 3d and 6t h ver ses of t he 23d chapt er ar c a

puzzl e t o t he Ki ng, so he subst i t ut es dooms i n hi s

own l anguage, whi ch ar e cer t ai nl y cl ear er t han t he

Hebr ew ones.

M 2

164

LI FE UF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Exodus xxi i i . 3, 6.

Page 87 of 174

3, Nei t her shal t t hou count e-

nance a poor man i n hi s cause.

6. Thou shal t not wr est t he

j udgment of t hy poor i n hi s cause.

Al f r ed' s Dooms.

43. Doom t l i ou ver y evenl y ;

doom t hou not one doom t o t he

weal t hy, anot her t o t he poor ; nor

one doom t o t he mor e l oved, ot her

t o t he mor e l oat hed doom t hou not .

Al f r ed adopt s t he next t hr ee ver ses i n t he f ol l owi ng

f or m : —

Exodus xxi r i . 7, 8, 9.

7. Keep t hee f ar f r om a f al se

mat t er , and t he i nnocent and

r i ght eous sl ay t hou not , f or I wi l l

not j ust i f y t he wi cked.

8. And t hou shal t t ake no gi f t ;

f or t he gi f t bl i ndet h t he wi se,

and per ver t et h t he wor ds of t he

r i ght eous.

9. Al so t hou shal t not oppr ess a

st r anger , f or ye know t he hear t of

a st r anger , seei ng ye wer e st r anger s

i n t he l and of Egypt .

Al f r ed' s Dooms.

44. Shun t hou aye l easi ngs.

45. A soot h f ast man and gui l t -

l ess, sl ay t hou hi m never .

46. Take t hou never meed

moni es, f or t hey bl i nd f ul l of t vt ' i se

men' s t hought s, and t ur n asi de

t hei r wor ds.

47. To t he st r anger and comer

f r om abr oad, meddl e t hou not

wi t h hi m, nor oppr ess t hou hi m

wi t h no unr i ght .

Then, omi t t i ng- al l t he r est of t he Levi t i cal l aw as

gi ven i n t hi s par t of Exodus, as t o cul t i vat i on of t he

l and, t he sabbat i cal year , sacr i f i ces, and f east s, t he

dooms end wi t h : —

48. Swear ye never t o heat hen gods, nor i n not l i i ng cal l ye t o t hem.

Page 88 of 174

The ol d Odi n wor shi p i s not yet qui t e ext i nct i n

Wessex.

Havi ng f i ni shed hi s ext r act s f r om Exodus, i n al l

f or t y- ei ght dooms, t he Ki ng pr oceeds : —

" These ar e t he dooms t hat t he Al mi ght y God

hi msel f spake t o Moses, and bade hi m t o hol d ; and

THE KI NGS LAWS. 165

when t he Lor d' s onl y- begot t en Son, our God, t hat i s,

Chr i st t he heal er , on mi ddl e ear t h came, He sai d t hat

He came not t hese dooms t o br eak, nor t o gai nsay,

but wi t h al l good t o do, and wi t h al l mi l d- hear t edness

and l owl y- mi ndedness t o t each t hem. Then af t er Hi s

t hr oes, er e t hat Hi s apost l es wer e gone t hr ough al l t he

wor l d t o t each, and whi l e yet t hey wer e t oget her ,

many heat hen nat i ons t ur ned t hey t o God. Whi l e

t hey al l t oget her wer e, t hey send er r and- doer s t o

Ant i och, and t o Syr i a, Chr i st ' s l aw t o t each. When

t hey under st ood t hat t hey sped not , t hen sent t hey

an er r and- wr i t i ng t o t hem. " Then f ol l ows ver bat i m

James' epi st l e f r om t he Jer usal em counci l t o t he

Chur ch at Ant i och ; af t er whi ch Al f r ed agai n goes

on : " That ye wi l l t hat ot her men do not t o you, do

ye not t hat t o ot her men. Fr om t hi s one doom a

man may t hi nk t hat he shoul d doom ever y one

r i ght l y ; he need keep no ot her doom- book. Let

hi m t ake heed t hat he doom t o no man t hat he

woul d not t hat he doom t o hi m, i f he sought doom

over hi m. "

So f ar i t woul d seem t hat t he Ki ng has no doubt ,

or need of consul t at i on wi t h any one. These ar e,

i n hi s vi ew, t he dooms whi ch t he Al mi ght y God

hi msel f has gi ven t o t he ki ng and peopl e of Engl and,

as wel l as t o t he Hebr ews of ol d. The r emai ni ng

dooms st and on di f f er ent gr ound. They ar e such as

have been or dai ned by hi s f or ef at her s and t hei r wi se

men, wi t h such addi t i ons and var i at i ons as he and hi s

wi se men appr ove. They ar e i nt r oduced t hus : —

" Si nce t hat t i me, i t happened t hat many nat i ons

i 66 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

t ook t o Chr i st ' s f ai t h, and t her e wer e many synods

t hr ough al l t he mi ddl e ear t h gat her ed, and eke

t hr oughout t he Engl i sh r ace t hey t ook t o Chr i st ' s

f ai t h t hr ough hol y bi shops, and ot her wi se men.

They t hen set f or t h, f or t hei r mi l d- hear t edness, t hat

Chr i st t aught as t o al most ever y mi sdeed, t hat t he

wor l dl y l or ds mi ght , wi t h t hei r l eave, wi t hout si n, f or

t he f i r st gui l t , t ake t hei r f ee boot whi ch t hey t hen ap-

poi nt ed, except f or t r eason agai nst a l or d, t o whi ch

t hey dur st not decl ar e any mi l d- hear t edness, f or t hat

t he Al mi ght y God doomed none t o t hem t hat

sl i ght ed Hi m, nor Chr i st , God' s Son, doomed none

t o hi m t hat sol d Hi m t o deat h, and He bade t o

l ove a l or d as hi msel f " Never t hel ess, Al f r ed and

hi s wi t an, by t he 4t h ar t i cl e of t hei r code, modi f y

Page 89 of 174

t hi s of t he synods, and pl ace t he ki ng and l or ds on

t he same f oot i ng as ot her f r eemen, by r ecogni si ng

t he ki ng' s and l or ds' wer e- gi l d. " They t hen, " t he

pr ef ace goes on, " i n many synods set a boot f or

many mi sdeeds of men ; and i n many books t hey

wr ot e her e one doom, t her e anot her .

" I t hen, Al f r ed t he Ki ng, gat her ed t hese t oget her ,

and bade t o wr i t e many of t hese t hat our f or ef at her s

hel d, t hose t hat t o me seemed good : and many of

t hose t hat seemed not good I set asi de wi t h my

wi t an' s counci l , and i n ot her wi se bade t o hol d t hem ;

f or t hat I dur st not vent ur e much of mi ne own t o

set i n wr i t i ng, f or t hat i t was unknown t o me what

of t hi s woul d be accept abl e t o t hose t hat came af t er

us. But t hose t hat I met wi t h, ei t her i n my ki nsman

I na' s days, or i n Of f a' s, ki ng of Mer ci a, or i n Et hel

THE KI NGS LAWS. 167

br yt e' s, t hat f i r st of t he Engl i sh r ace t ook bapt i sm,

t hose t hat seemed t o me t he r i ght est I gat her ed t hem

her ei n, and l et t he ot her s al one. I t hen, Al f r ed, Ki ng

of t he West Saxons, showed t hese t o al l my wi t an,

and t hey t hen sai d t hat t hey al l seemed good t o t hem

t o hol d. "

Then f ol l ow t he col l ect ed dooms, appr oved by

Al f r ed and hi s wi t an, f r om ot her sour ces, and " I na' s

dooms " by t hemsel ves, at t he end of t he code. We

have onl y r oom f or a f ew of t hose whi ch best

i l l ust r at e t he habi t s and soci et y of t he t i me.

OF OATHS AND OF PLEDGES.

" I t i s most needf ul t hat ever y man war i l y hol d hi s

oat h and hi s pl edge. I f any man i s f or ced t o ei t her

of t hese i n wr ong, ei t her t o t r eacher y agai nst a l or d,

or ot her unr i ght hel p, i t i s bet t er t o bel i e t han t o

f ul f i l . I f he, however , pl edge what i t i s r i ght f or

hi m t o f ul f i l , and bel i e t hat , l et hi m gi ve wi t h l owl y -

mi ndedness hi s weapon and hi s goods t o hi s f r i ends

t o hol d, and be f or t y ni ght s i n pr i son i n a ki ng' s

t own, and suf f er t her e as t he bi shop assi gns hi m ;

and l et hi s ki nsmen f eed hi m i f he hi msel f have no

meat . I f he have no ki nsmen, or no f ood, l et t he

ki ng' s r eeve f eed hi m. I f one shoul d compel hi m,

and he el se wi l l not , i f t hey bi nd hi m l et hi m f or f ei t

hi s weapons and i nher i t ance. I f one sl ay hi m, l et

hi m l ye wi t hout amends. I f he f l ee out er e t he t i me,

and one t ake hi m, l et hi m be f or t y ni ght s i n pr i son,

as he shoul d at f i r st . I f , however , he escape, l et hi m

be l ooked on as a r unaway, and be excommuni cat e

l 68 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

of al l Chr i st ' s chur ches. I f , however , anot her man

be hi s sur et y, l et hi m make boot f or t he br each of

sur et yshi p as t he l aw may di r ect , and f or t he pl edge-

br eaki ng as hi s conf essor may shr i ve hi m. "

I t i s i n t hi s doom t hat i mpr i sonment i s f i r st men-

Page 90 of 174

t i oned i n t he Saxon l aws. The doom f or t r eason t o

whi ch Al f r ed r ef er s i n hi s pr ef ace as t he unpar -

donabl e si n, and whi ch i n f act modi f i es t hat st ar t l i ng

asser t i on, i s, —

OF TREACHERY AGAI NST A LORD.

" I f any one i s t r eacher ous about t he ki ng' s l i f e

by hi msel f , or by pr ot ect i ng out l aws, or t hei r men. be

he l i abl e i n hi s l i f e, and i n ai l t hat he owns. I f he

wi l l pr ove hi msel f t r ue, l et hi m do i t by t he ki ng' s

wer e- gi l d. I n l i ke manner we al so appoi nt f or al l

r anks, bot h chur l and ear l . He t hat i s t r eacher ous

about hi s l or d' s l i f e, be he l i abl e i n hi s l i f e and al l

t hat he owns, or by hi s l or d' s wer e pr ove hi m t r ue. "

Sanct uar y i n chur ches i s car ef ul l y r egul at ed, and

" chur ch- f r i t h " est abl i shed ; t hat i s t o say, i f a man

seek sanct uar y f or any cr i me whi ch has not come

t o l i ght , and conf ess i t i n God' s name, " be i t hal f

f or gi ven. "

The set t l ement of t he boot f or of f ences agai nst

women f or m a pr omi nent par t of t he code. Fr om one

of t hese dooms ( 8) i t woul d seem t hat a nun mi ght be

mar r i ed wi t h t he l eave of t he ki ng or t he bi shop, as

a f i ne of 120 shi l l i ngs ( hal f t o go t o t he ki ng, and

hal f t o t he bi shop and t he l or d of t he convent ) i s

i nf l i ct ed f or t aki ng her wi t hout such l eave.

THE KI NGS LAWS. i 6g

The car e whi ch our f or ef at her s t ook t o enf or ce t he

r esponsi bi l i t y of t he sever al sect i ons of soci et y f or

t hei r i ndi vi dual member s, may be wel l i l l ust r at ed

by t he dooms as t o " ki nl ess men. " " I f a man

ki nl ess of f at her ' s ki n f i ght , and sl ay a man, t hen

i f he have mot her ' s ki n, l et t hem f i nd a t hi r d of t he

wer e, hi s gui l d br et hr en a t hi r d, and f or a t hi r d l et

hi m f l ee. I f he have no mot her ' s ki n, l et hi s gui l d

br et hr en pay hal f , and f or hal f l et hi m f l ee. I f a

man sl ay a ki nl ess man, l et hal f hi s wer e be pai d

t o t he ki ng, hal f t o hi s gui l d br et hr en. "

The scal e by whi ch t he di f l er ent cl asses of soci et y

wer e assessed may be gat her ed f r om t he doom f or

housebr eaki ng ( 40) , by whi ch bur gl ar y i n t he ki ng' s

house i s f i xed at one hundr ed and t went y shi l l i ngs,

i n an ar chbi shop' s ni net y shi l l i ngs, a bi shop' s or

al der man' s si xt y shi l l i ngs, a t wel ve hynde man' s

t hi r t y shi l l i ngs, a si x hynde man' s f i f t een shi l l i ngs,

a chur l ' s f i ve shi l l i ngs ; t he boot bei ng i n each i n-

st ance doubl e i f t he of f ence i s commi t t ed " whi l e t he

ar my i s out , " or dur i ng Lent . I n l aws of ear l i er dat e

t he same penal t i es had been f i xed f or of f ences agai nst

t he ki ng and agai nst bi shops. Now t he ki ng has

est abl i shed hi s supr emacy i n ever y way.

I t has been sai d t hat Al f r ed and hi s wi t an f i r st

est abl i shed a syst em of ent ai l i n Engl and. Ther e i s

no f oundat i on f or t hi s st at ement except t he doom,

t hat i f a man have i nher i t ed book - l and " he must not

gi ve i t f r om hi s ki n, i f t her e be wr i t i ng or wi t ness

t hat i t was f or bi dden by t hose t hat f i r st gai ned i t ; "

a somewhat sl ender gr ound f or t he t heor y.

Page 91 of 174

f 7o LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

But t he st r angest gl i mpse whi ch we get t hr ough

t hese l aws of t he st at e of soci et y of a t housand year s

si nce i s i n t he doom as t o f euds. I t i s t oo l ong t o

quot e, but i n subst ance amount s t o t hi s: a man who

has a f eud wi t h anot her may not f i ght hi m, i f he

f i nds hi m at home, wi t hout f i r st demandi ng r i ght

of hi m ; even t hen, he may not f i ght hi m f or seven

days i f he wi l l r emai n wi t hi n. I f he come upon hi m

abr oad unawar es, he may f i ght hi m i f he wi l l not

gi ve up hi s weapons ; i f he wi l l , t hen he must " hol d

hi m t hi r t y ni ght s and war n hi s f r i ends of hi m "

( pr obabl y t hat t hey may r ansom hi m, but t hi s i s

not st at ed) . A man may f i ght f or hi s l or d, and a

l or d f or hi s man, wi t hout f eud. He may al so f i ght

f or hi s bor n ki nsman wi t hout f eud, except agai nst

hi s l or d, " t hat we al l ow not . " He may al so wi t hout

f eud f i ght any man whom he f i nds i nsul t i ng hi s wi f e,

daught er , si st er , or mot her .

Hol i days, or Massday Fest i val s, ar e pr ovi ded f or

al l f r eemen ; t wel ve days at Yul e, " and t he day t hat

Chr i st over came t he devi l , and St . Gr egor y' s day

( pr obabl y because of Al f r ed' s r ever ence f or Pope

Gr egor y) , and a f or t ni ght at East er , St . Pet er ' s and

St . Paul ' s days, " i n har vest t he f ul l week bef or e St .

Mar y' s mass, Al l - Hal l ows day, and f our Wednesdays

i n t he f our Ember Weeks. Ser f s or " t heow men, "

however , do not f ar e so wel l , bei ng l ef t t o " what ever

any man gi ve t hem f or God' s name. "

No l ess t han t hi r t y- t hr ee dooms ar e gi ven up t o

t he val ui ng of wounds of al l ki nds, t he boot s r angi ng

f r om t wo shi l l i ngs f or a f i nger - nai l , t o ei ght y shi l l i ngs

THE KI NG' S LAWS. 171

f or an ar m, and one hundr ed shi l l i ngs f or t he t endons

of t he neck. A man gui l t y of sl ander shal l l ose

hi s t ongue, or pay f ul l wer e- gi l d.

Amongst t he dooms of " I na my ki nsman, " whi ch

ar e appended t o Al f r ed' s, we may not e t hat as t o

wor ki ng on Sundays. I f a t heow wor k on Sunday

by hi s l or d' s or der , t he l or d must pay t hi r t y shi l l i ngs

f or wi t e ; i f wi t hout hi s l or d' s or der , " l et hi m pay

hi de gi l d, " or , i n ot her wor ds, be f l ogged. I f a f r ee-

man wor k wi t hout hi s l or d' s or der , he must f or f ei t

hi s f r eedom, or pay si xt y shi l l i ngs, and a pr i est must

f or f ei t doubl e.

A chance of escape i s l ef t , however , f or t he t heow

who has become l i abl e t o " hi de gi l d " under t he

doom on " Chur ch scot s: " " I f any man f or f ei t

hi s hi de and r un i nt o a chur ch, l et t he swi ngei ng

( whi ppi ng) be f or gi ven hi m. "

For t he pr ot ect i on of f or est s i t i s enact ed, t hat i f

any man bur n a t r ee i n a wood and i t be f ound out ,

" l et hi m pay f ul l wi t e of si xt y shi l l i ngs, because f i r e i s

a t hi ef ; ^^ but , i f any one f el l many t r ees i n a wood,

Page 92 of 174

" l et hi m pay f or t hr ee t r ees, each wi t h t hi r t y i di i i l l i ngs.

He need not pay f or mor e of t hem, however many

t her e mi ght be, because t Ji e axe i s an i nf or mer , not a

t hi ef But i f any one cut down a t r ee under whi ch

t hi r t y svv^ i ne may st and, l et hi m pay si xt y shi l l i ngs wi t e. "

The doom agai nst l ur ki ng i n secr et pl aces, al r eady

not i ced, i s r e- enact ed i n a modi f i ed f or m : i f any f ar -

comi ng man, or st r anger , j our ney t hr ough a wood out

of t he hi ghway, and nei t her shout nor bl ow hor n, he

may be sl ai n.

172 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

By such dooms, t hen, di d t he Ki ng and hi s wi t an

endeavour t o wel d i nt o t he ever yday Hf e of a r ude

peopl e, accust omed t o set t l e al l di sput es and di f f i -

cul t i es by f r ee f i ght i ng, t hat one gover ni ng doom

of t he whol e code, " That ye wi l l t hat ot her men

do not t o you, do ye not t hat t o ot her men. " I t may

be i mpossi bl e t o suppr ess a smi l e at t he st r ange

company i n whi ch t he gol den r ul e f i nds i t sel f i n t he

code of Al f r ed and hi s wi se men. The t ask was by

no means an easy one, and t hey have, at any r at e,

t he cr edi t of put t i ng i t di st i nct l y f or war d and doi ng

t hei r best upon i t . Have any of our l aw- maker s

f r om t hat t i me t o t hi s ai med at a hi gher i deal , or

wor ked i t out mor e honest l y accor di ng t o t hei r

l i ght s } I f so, l et t hem cast t he f i r st st one at " Al f r ed' s

dooms. "

Mr . Thor pe supposes t hat t he same code, wi t h t he

dooms of Of f a, i nst ead of t hose of I na, appended,

was passed by t he wi t an of Mer ci a, and put i n f or ce

i n t hat count r y. The code was al so modi f i ed f or t he

new Dani sh ki ngdom of East Angl i a.

CHAPTER XV.

THE ki ng' s j ust i ce.

* And he set j udges t n t / i e l and, t hr oi i gJi out al l t he f enced ci t i es, ci t y by

ci t y, and sai d t o t hem, Take heed what ye do : f or ye j udge not f or

man, but f or t he Lor d, and He i s wi t h you i n t he j udgment "

The one speci al char act er i st i c of Engl i shmen ( i n-

dubi t abl e and i ndi sput abl e t i l l of l at e) , r ever ence

f or l aw and t he const abl e' s st af f , i f i t had ever

t aken r oot at al l i n t he count r y bef or e Al f r ed' s t i me,

had di sappear ed dur i ng t he l i f e- and- deat h st r uggl e

wi t h t he Nor t hmen. When " t he ar my " l ef t Mer ci a,

and went t o set t l e i n t hei r own count r } ^, t he st at e

of t hi ngs whi ch t hey l ef t behi nd t hem i n Wessex

was l awl ess t o t he l ast degr ee. The sever e penal t i es

pr ovi ded i n Al f r ed' s l aws f or br awl i ng i n t he ki ng' s

hal l , or bef or e al der men i n t he mot e, f or di st ur bi ng

t he f ol k- mot e by weapon dr awi ng, f or f i ght i ng i n

t he houses of f r eemen or chur l s, show what a pass

t hi ngs had come t o.

On t he ot her hand, i t i s equal l y cl ear t hat t hi s

r eadi ness t o appeal t o t he st r ong hand on al l occa-

Page 93 of 174

si ons was not al t oget her wi t hout j ust i f i cat i on, f or t he

or di nar y t r i bunal s wer e f al l en i nt o ut t er di sr eput e,

scar cel y even at t empt i ng t o do j ust i ce bet ween man

174 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

and man. The al der men of t he shi r es, her edi t ar y

r ul er s, r esponsi bl e i ndeed t o t he Ki ng, but f or most

pr act i cal pur poses i ndependent , wer e t he chi ef j udges,

as wel l as t he chi ef execut i ve of f i cer s, of t he ki ngdom.

They had syst emat i cal l y negl ect ed, and so had be-

come ut t er l y i ncompet ent t o f ul f i l , t hei r j udi ci al dut i es.

Ther e was scar cel y an al der man who coul d r ead t he

t ext of t he wr i t t en l aws i n hi s own l anguage, or who

had any but t he most super f i ci al acquai nt ance wi t h

t he common l aw, whi ch was even t hen a pr eci ous

i nher i t ance of t he t r i bes of t he gr eat Ger man st ock.

These j udi ci al dut i es had consequent l y f al l en i nt o

t he hands of t hei r ser vant s, " vi ce- domi ni , " and ot her

i nf er i or of f i cer s. How t hese and ot her s car r i ed mat t er s,

and what sor t of j ust i ce t he peopl e got under t hem,

we may conj ect ur e f r om t he st at ement i n Andr ew

Home' s " Mi r oi r des Just i ces, " t hat Al f r ed had t o

hang f or t y- f our of t hem f or scandal ous conduct on

t he j udgment - seat . One Cad wi ne was t hus hanged,

because on t he t r i al of Hachwy f or hi s l i f e he f i r st

put hi msel f on t he j ur y, and t hen, when t hr ee of

t he j ur y wer e st i l l f or f i ndi ng a ver di ct of not gui l t y,

r emoved t hese and subst i t ut ed t hr ee ot her s, agai nst

whom he gave Hachwy no r i ght of chal l enge, aad

sent enced hi m t o deat h on t hei r ver di ct . Anot her ,

Fr eber ne, was hanged f or sent enci ng Har pi n t o deat h

when t he j ur y wer e i n doubt , and woul d not f i nd a

ver di ct of gui l t y; and Segnar , because he condemned

El f e t o deat h af t er he had been acqui t t ed. Dr .

Paul i and ot her s have doubt ed t hi s evi dence, deemi ng

' j uch measur es absol ut el y i nconsi st ent wi t h Al f r ed' s

THE KI NG' S JUS TI CE. 1 7 5

char act er , and i t i s cer t ai nl y di f f i cul t t o bel i eve t hat

he woul d have so puni shed men f or mi st akes, as i s

t he case wi t h some of t he f or t y - f our cases ci t ed i n

t he " Mi r oi r des Just i ces. " But I own i t seems t o

me t hat Cadwi ne and Fr eber ne most t hor oughl y

deser ved hangi ng, and t hat Al f r ed was j ust t he ki ng

t o have gi ven t hem t hei r deser t s. Unf or t unat el y,

t he t r eat i se whi ch he i s sai d t o have wr i t t en " asr ai nst

unj ust Judges, " and hi s " r epor t s of cases i n hi s t i me"

{ act a vi agi st r at i i m si i or i i ui ) , whi ch A\ ' er e ext ant i t

seems i n Edwar d I V. ' s r ei gn, ar e l ost . We can get

no near er t he t r ut h, t her ef or e, on t hi s par t i cul ar

quest i on, but have t he best evi dence as t o t he

t hor ough r ef or m whi ch he i nt r oduced i n t he whol e

admi ni st r at i on of j ust i ce.

The f i r st and most i mpor t ant of hi s r ef or ms was,

t he sever ance of t he execut i ve and j udi ci al f unct i ons.

Eut even t hi s st ep was t aken wi t hout hast e, or i n-

j ust i ce of any ki nd. I t was onl y af t er pat i ent si f t i ng,

and ver y gr adual l y, t hat t he al der men and ear l s wer e

super seded. The har d- handed, t r ucul ent , ol d war r i or s,

Page 94 of 174

who had st ood so st out l y by hi m t hr ough many a

har d day' s f i ght i ng, wer e dear t o t he Ki ng, and wer e

t r eat ed by hi m wi t h t he ut most consi der at i on. He

woul d gi ve t he chi ef s who had l ed men at Ashdown,

and Wi l t on, and Et handune, ever y chance ; woul d

spend hi msel f i n t he ef f or t t o make t hem equal t o t hei r

dut i es ; woul d al l ow t hem t o do anyt hi ng, except

i nj ust i ce t o God' s poor , and hi s. For , as Asser t es -

t i f i es, " he showed hi msel f a mi nut e i nvest i gat or of

t he t r ut h i n al l hi s j udgment s, and t hi s especi al l y

176 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

f or t he sake of t he poor , t o whose i nt er est s, day and

ni ght , among ot her dut i es of t hi s l i f e, he was ever

wonder f ul l y at t ent i ve. For i n t he whol e ki ngdom

t he poor besi de hi m had f ew or no pr ot ect or s. For

al l t he power f ul and nobl e men of t he nat i on had

t ur ned t hei r t hought s t o wor l dl y r at her t han t o

heavenl y t hi ngs, and each was bent mor e on hi s own

pr of i t t han on t he publ i c good. "

Ther e i s, i n t he same aut hor , a ver y char act er i st i c

account of Al f r ed' s endeavour t o educat e hi s al dei -

men and ear l s as j udges, whi ch i s f or us f ul l of

humour , al most r eachi ng pat hos. Al f r ed, i n al l t he

ear l y year s of hi s r ei gn, was i n t he habi t of i nqui r i ng

" i nt o al most al l t he j udgment s whi ch wer e gi ven i n hi s

absence t hr oughout al l hi s r eal m, whet her t hey wer e

j ust or unj ust . I f he per cei ved t her e Avas i ni qui t y

i n t hose j udgment s, he woul d summon t he j udges,

ei t her hi msel f , or t hr ough hi s f ai t hf ul ser vant s, and

a. sk t hem mi l dl y why t hey had j udged so unj ust l y —

whet her t hr ough i gnor ance or mal evol ence, whet her

f or t he l ove or f ear of any, or hat r ed of ot her s, or ,

al so, f or t he desi r e f or money. " What happened i n

t he l at t er case Asser does not t el l us, but t he " Mi r oi r

des Just i ces" may suggest . I f , however , " t he j udges

acknowl edged t hat t hey had gi ven such j udgment s

because t hey knew no bet t er , he woul d di scr eet l y and

CQoder at el y r epr ove t hei r i nexper i ence and f ol l y i n

such wor ds as t hese : * I wonder , t r ul y, at your r ash-

ness, t hat , wher eas by God' s f avour and mi ne you

have occupi ed t he r ank and of f i ce of t he wi se, you

have negl ect ed t he st udi es and l abour s of t he wi se.

Sedi t i ousl y bent on ac t hat i t had

wor t h i n i t f or ot her and di f f er ent t i mes.

CHAPTER XVI .

THE ki ng' s exchequer .

" He becomei h poor t hat deai dh ' vi l h a sl ack hand, but t he hand of t he

di l i gent i nakct h r i ch.

" Let t hy f ount ai ns he di sper sed abr oad, and r i ver s oj wat er s t n t he

st r eet s.

" The l i ber al soul shal l be t nade f at , and he t hat i vat er ct h shal l be

Page 95 of 174

' wat er ed al so hi msel f . "

Of al l t he di f f i cul t quest i ons whi ch meet t he st udent

of Ki ng Al f r ed' s l i f e and t i mes, t her e i s none mor e

puzzl i ng t han t hi s of hi s exchequer . We have

al r eady passed i n r evi ew a por t i on of t he wor k whi ch

he managed t o per f or m, and much yet r emai ns f or us

t o gl ance at . We know t hat he r ebui l t t he f or t r esses,

cr eat ed a navy composed of shi ps of a mor e cost l y

ki nd t han had yet been i n use, and r c - or gani zed hi s

ar my so as const ant l y t o have one- t hi r d of t he f r ee-

men capabl e of car r yi ng ar ms r eady f or i mmedi at e

ser vi ce, and on f ul l pay. Our own exper i ence t el l s

us t hat t hese ar e t hr ee as cost l y under t aki ngs as

any whi ch a r ef or mi ng ki ng coul d t ake i n hand.

Wher e t hen di d t he necessar y f unds come f r om }

The r ebui l di ng of f or t r esses, and mar chi ng agai nst

an enemy i n t he f i el d, wer e i ndeed, as we have seen,

i go LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

t wo of t he t hr ee dut i es t o whi ch al l l and gr ant ed t o

i ndi vi dual s was subj ect ; but t hi s r ul e woul d scar cel y

seem t o have i ncl uded such f or t r esses as wer e r oyal

pr oper t y. These, whi ch wer e undoubt edl y ver y nu-

mer ous, t he Ki ng pr obabl y r ebui l t at hi s own char ges.

I n t he same way, t he mi l i t ar y ser vi ce whi ch f r eemen

wer e bound t o r ender di d not i ncl ude gar r i son dut y,

or t he t hr ee mont hs' year l y t r ai ni ng under ar ms,

whi ch Al f r ed enf or ced af t er t he f i r st gr eat i nvasi on of

Wessex. The r econst r uct i on of t he f l eet , t oo, was an

unusual expense, whi ch must pr obabl y have f al l en on

t he Ki ng al most excl usi vel y. Mr . Pear son says, " The

chur ch, t he ar my, t he f l eet , t he pol i ce, t he poor - r at es,

t he wal l s, br i dges, and hi ghways of t he count r y, wer e

al l l ocal expenses, def r ayed by t i t hes, by per sonal

ser vi ce, or by cont r i but i ons among t he gui l ds. " But

t hi s st at ement can scar cel y r ef er t o so ear l y a t i me as

t he ni nt h cent ur y ; and Al f r ed' s own wor ds, and t he l ast

and most aut hent i c por t i on of Asser ' s l i f e, l ead t o t he

i nt " er ence t hat much of t he mi l i t ar y cost of al l ki nds

was bor ne by t he Ki ng hi msel f . To t he out l ay f or

t hese pur poses, we must add t he mai nt enance of hi s

cour t , i n a st yl e of magni f i cence qui t e unusual bef or e

hi s t i me ; t he payment of t he ar my of ski l l ed ar t i f i cer s

whi ch he col l ect ed, and of hi s ci vi l of f i cer s and mi n-

i st er s ; t he ent er t ai nment of st r anger s ; hi s f or ei gn

embassi es ; hi s school s, t he eccl esi ast i cal est abl i sh-

ment s whi ch he f ounded, endowed, or assi st ed ; and t he

r el i ef of t he poor . These must have amount ed t o ver y

l ar ge sums annual l y ; whi l e we shoul d have expect ed

t hat t he sour ces of t he Ki ng' s weal t h woul d have been

THE KI NGS EXCHEQUER. 19)

al most dr i ed up by t he l ong and devast at i ng war s,

Al f r ed i ndeed hi msel f st at es, i n t he pr eambl e t o hi s

wi l l , t hat he and hi s f ami l y had been despoi l ed of

gr eat par t of t hei r weal t h " by t he heat hen f ol k. " The

f act , however , r emai ns, t hat al l t hese t hi ngs wer e done

out of t he Ki ng' s r evenues, and t her e i s no hi nt i n

Page 96 of 174

chr oni cl er , or l aw, or char t er , t hat he ever oppr essed

hi s peopl e by any such exact i ons, l egal or i l l egal , as

have gener al l y been enf or ced by magni f i cent monar chs,

f r om Sol omon downwar ds.

To meet t hi s expendi t ur e, t he Ki ng' s i ncome was

der i ved f r om t hr ee sour ces : publ i c r evenue, cr own

l ands, and hi s pr i vat e pr oper t y. The publ i c r evenue

ar ose f r om sever al sour ces, amongst whi ch we may

r eckon pr obabl y dues i n t he nat ur e of cust oms, pay -

abl e by mer chant s at t he sever al por t s of t he ki ng-

dom, and t ol l s payabl e by per sons t r adi ng at t he

ki ng' s mar ket s, t hough t he aut hent i c not i ces of t he

payment of any such i n Al f r ed' s t i me ar e ver y meagr e.

Then t he ki ng succeeded t o t he l ands of t hose who

di ed ki nl ess, and pr obabl y t o t hei r goods i f t hey wer e

i nt est at e. Tr easur e- t r ove al so bel onged t o hi m. But

f ar mor e i mpor t ant t han t hese must have been t he

r evenue der i ved f r om t he wer e- gi l d, and ot her f i nes

i mposed by t he l aws f or damage t o per son and

pr oper t y.

The car e wi t h whi ch t hese " boot s " ar e f i xed i n

Al f r ed' s l aws, i n whi ch t he det ai l s of t he compensa-

t i ons awar ded i n such cases occupy t he gr eat er par t

of t he code, woul d i ndi cat e t he r evenue f r om t hem t o

have been consi der abl e. I t wi l l have been l ar gest t oo

192 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

at t he t i me when i t was most needed, i n t he f i r st

year s of peace, bef or e t he ol d vi ol ent habi t s of t he

peopl e had gi ven way under t he even and st r ong

admi ni st r at i on of t he Ki ng. But even of t hi s r evenue

t he Ki ng onl y got a por t i on. For i nst ance, t he wer e-

gi l d or compensat i on f or mansl aught er was ( i t seems)

di vi si bl e i nt o t hr ee por t i ons : t he f i r st par t onl y, or

" f r i t h- boot , " was pai d t o t he Ki ng f or t he br each of hi s

peace; t he second par t , or " man- boot , " went t o t he l or d

as compensat i on f or t he l oss of hi s man ; wher e t he

dead man had no l or d, or was a f or ei gner , t wo- t hi r ds

went t o t he Ki ng : t he t hi r d par t , cal l ed " mag " ( or

t r i be) boot , or " er n gi l d " was pai d t o t he dead man' s

f ami l y, as compensat i on f or t he i nj ur y caused t o t hem

by hi s l oss. Of t he r emai ni ng boot s, i t i s pr obabl e

t hat t he Ki ng got a l ess shar e of t hose i nf l i ct ed f or

i nj ur i es t o t he per son not endi ng f at al l y, as t he cl ai m

of t he suf f er er i n such cases woul d be par amount t o

any ot her ; whi l e of t hose i nf l i ct ed f or such of f ences

as per j ur y, sl ander , br awl i ng, he woul d pr obabl y t ake

t he gr eat er par t . St i l l , on t he most ext r avagant

est i mat e, t he i ncome ar i si ng f r om al l t hese sour ces

must have been ver y t r i f l i ng when compar ed wi t h t he

r oyal out goi ngs.

The cr own l ands pr oper wer e no doubt of consi der -

abl e ext ent and val ue, but t her e i s l i t t l e evi dence

t o show of what t hey consi st ed. Readi ng, Dene,

and Leonaf br d, ar e r oyal bur ghs ment i oned i n t he

Chr oni cl es whi ch ar e not i ncl uded amongst Al f r ed' s

devi ses, and wer e pr obabl y cr own l ands. Al f r ed' s

own l ands or f ami l y est at es, of whi ch he was absol ut e

THE KI NGS EXCHEQUER. 193

Page 97 of 174

owner , and abl e t o di spose by hi s wi l l , must have been

ver y ext ensi ve. He had est at es i n ever y shi r e i n

Wessex, except t hat por t i on of Gl ost er shi r e whi ch

was i ncl uded i n t he ol d West Saxon ki ngdom. Per -

haps, however , at t he dat e of hi s wi l l t he whol e of

Gl ost er shi r e mi ght have been handed over t o Et hel r ed

t he Al der man of Mer ci a, and t he r oyal est at es t her e

gi ven as par t of Et hel swi t ha' s dower . The r oyal pr o-

per t i es l ay most t hi ckl y i n Wi l t s, Hant s, and Somer set ,

i n whi ch t hr ee shi r es we f i nd upwar ds of t went y spe-

ci f i ed i n t he wi l l . Lands i n Kent and Sussex ar e al so

devi sed, so t hat t her e was no par t of t he new ki ngdom

i n whi ch Al f r ed was not a l ar ge pr opr i et or . But how

t hese l ands wer e cul t i vat ed, what par t of t he pr oduce

was sol d, and what f or war ded i n ki nd t o meet t he

consumpt i on of t he cour t , and of t hat host of sol di er s

and mechani cs f or whom t he Ki ng under t ook t o f i nd

br ead and meat and beer , as one of t he most i m-

por t ant of hi s r oyal f unct i ons, t her e i s no evi dence

t o show.

But i f we can do l i t t l e but conj ect ur e mor e or l ess

conf i dent l y as t o t he sour ces or amount of Al f r ed' s

r evenue, we know i n r emar kabl e det ai l how he spent

i t , f r om t he account gi ven i n what Dr . Paul i and

ot her s consi der t he most aut hent i c par t of Asser ' s l i f e.

The good bi shop' s pr eambl e t o t hi s por t i on of hi s

wor k t el l s how t he Ki ng, af t er t he bui l di ng and

endowi ng of hi s monast er i es at At hel ney and Shaf t es -

bur y, began t o consi der " what mor e he coul d do t o

augment and show f or t h hi s pi et y. That whi ch he

had begun wi sel y, and t hought f ul l y concei ved f or

194 TJFE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

t he publ i c good, he adher ed t o wi t h equal l y bene-

f i ci al r esul t , f or he had hear d i t out of t he book of

t he l aw t hat t he Lor d had pr omi sed t o r est or e hi m

t enf ol d, and he knew t hat t he Lor d had kept Hi s

pr omi se, and had act ual l y r est or ed hi m t enf ol d.

Encour aged by whi ch exampl e, and wi shi ng t o out do

hi s pr edecessor s i n such mat t er s, he vowed humbl y

and f ai t hf ul l y t o devot e t o God hal f hi s ser vi ces bot h

day and ni ght , and al so hal f of al l hi s weal t h, such

as l awf ul l y and j ust l y came annual l y i nt o hi s posses -

si on. And t hi s vow, as f ar as human j udgment can

di scer n, he ski l f ul l y and wi sel y endeavour ed t o f ul f i l .

But t hat he mi ght , wi t h hi s usual caut i on, avoi d t hat

whi ch Scr i pt ur e war ns us agai nst , ' i f you of f er ar i ght ,

but do not di vi de ar i ght , you si n, ' he consi der ed how

he mi ght di vi de ar i ght t hat whi ch he had vowed t o

God ; and as Sol omon had sai d, ' t he hear t or counsel

of t he ki ng i s i n t he hand of God, ' he or der ed wi t h

wi se f or esi ght , whi ch coul d come onl y f r om above,

t hat hi s of f i cer s shoul d f i r st di vi de i nt o t wo par t s t he

r evenues of ever y year . When t hi s di vi si on was made

he assi gned t he f i r st hal f t o wor l dl y uses, and or der ed

t hat one- t hi r d of i t shoul d be pai d t o hi s sol di er s,

and al so t o hi s mi ni st er s and nobl es who dwel t at

cour t , wher e t hey di schar ged di ver s dut i es ; f or so t he

Ki ng' s househol d was ar r anged at al l t i mes i nt o t hr ee

cl asses. Hi s at t endant s wer e t hus wi sel y di vi ded i nt o

t hr ee compani es, so t hat t he f i r st company shoul d be

on dut y at cour t f or one mont h, ni ght and day, at

t he end of whi ch t i me t hey r et ur ned t o t hei r homes

Page 98 of 174

?j nd wer e r el i eved by t he second company. At t he

THE KI NGS EXCHEQUER. 195

end of t he second mont h, i n t he same way, t he t hi r d

company r el i eved t he second, who r et ur ned t o t hei r

homes, wher e t hey spent t wo mont hs, unt i l t hei r t ur n

f or ser vi ce came agai n. The t hi r d company al so gave

pl ace t o t he f i r st , i n t he same way, and al so spent

t wo mont hs at home. Thus was t he t hr eef ol d di vi si on

of t he compani es ar r anged at al l t i mes i n t he r oyal

househol d. To t hese, t her ef or e, was pai d t he f i r st

of t he t hr ee por t i ons, t o each accor di ng t o t hei r

r espect i ve di gni t i es and ser vi ces ; t he second t o t he

wor kmen whom he had col l ect ed f r om ever y nat i on,

and had about hi m i n l ar ge number s, men ski l l ed i n

ever y ki nd of const r uct i on ; t he t hi r d por t i on was

assi gned t o f or ei gner s, who came t o hi m out of ever y

nat i on f ar and near ; whet her t hey asked money of

hi m or not he cheer f ul l y gave t o each wi t h wonder f ul

muni f i cence, accor di ng t o t hei r r espect i ve mer i t s, as

i t i s wr i t t en, ' God l ovet h a cheer f ul gi ver . ' "

" But t he second par t of hi s r evenues, whi ch came

year l y i nt o hi s possessi on, and was i ncl uded i n t he

r ecei pt s of t he exchequer , as we ment i oned above,

he gave wi t h r eady devot i on t o God, or der i ng hi s

mi ni st er s t o di vi de i t car ef ul l y i nt o f our par t s. The

f i r st par t was di scr eet l y best owed on t he poor of ever y

nat i on t hat came t o hi m, and on t hi s subj ect he sai d

t hat , as f ar as human j udgment coul d guar ant ee, t he

advi ce of Pope Gr egor y shoul d be f ol l owed, ' Gi ve

not much t o whom you shoul d gi ve l i t t l e, nor l i t t l e t o

whom much, nor somet hi ng t o whom not hi ng, nor

not hi ng t o whom somet hi ng. ' The second of t he

f our por t i ons was gi ven t o t he t wo monast er i es whi ch

O 2

196 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

he had bui l t , and t o t ho55e who t her ei n dedi cat ed

t hemsel ves t o God' s ser vi ce. The t hi r d por t i on was

assi gned t o t he school s whi ch he had st udi ousl y

col l ect ed t oget her , consi st i ng of many of t he nobi l i t y

of hi s own nat i on. The f our t h por t i on was f or t he

use of al l t he nei ghbour i ng monast er i es i n al l Saxony

and Mer ci a, and al so dur i ng some year s, i n t ur n, t o

t he chur ches and ser vant s of God dwel l i ng i n Br i t ai n,

Cor nwal l , Gaul , Ar mor i ca, Nor t humbr i a, and some-

t i mes al so i n I r el and ; accor di ng t o hi s means he

ei t her di st r i but ed t o t hem bef or ehand, or af t er war ds,

i f l i f e and success shoul d not f ai l hi m, " meani ng,

pr obabl y, t hat t he Ki ng, when he was i n f unds, made

hi s donat i ons t o monast er i es at t he begi nni ng of t he

f i nanci al year — i f ot her wi se, at t he end.

The r oundabout way i n whi ch t he ol d chur chman

and schol ar t hus put s bef or e us t he pi ct ur e of hi s

t r ut h- l ovi ng f r i end and ki ng, pr eachi ng economy and

or der t o hi s peopl e by exampl e, br i ngs i t home t o us

bet t er t han any moder n par aphr ase. Asser sees t he

good wor k goi ng on under hi s eyes, t he or der l y and

wi se muni f i cence, and t he wel l - r egul at ed i ndust r y of

Page 99 of 174

t he Ki ng' s househol d, gi vi ng t one t o al l t he house-

hol ds i n t he r eal m; nobl es and ki ng' s t hegns, j ust i ces,

of f i cer s, and sol di er s, comi ng up mont h by mont h,

and r et ur ni ng t o t hei r own shi r es, wi ser and br aver

and t hr i f t i er men f or t hei r cont act wi t h t he wi sest

and br avest and t hr i f t i est Engl i shman. Ever yt hi ng

pr osper s wi t h hi m ; f or al l hi s out l ay, Asser sees and

wr i t es : " t he Lor d has r est or ed hi m t enf ol d. "

Rul er s and wor ker s t he l i ke of t hi s ki ng ar e i ndeed

I

I

THE KI NGS EXCHEQUER. 197

: i pt t o get l ar ge r et ur ns. The t hi ngs of t hi s wor l d

acknowl edge t hei r mast er , and pour i nt o hi s l ap f ul l

measur e, heaped up, and r unni ng over . But t he t en-

f ol d r et ur n br i ngs i t s own danger wi t h i t , and t oo

of t en t he vi si bl e t hi ngs bi nd t he st r ong man. " Thi s

i s al so vani t y, yea, i t i s a sor e t r avai l . . . . When goods

i ncr ease, t hey ar e i ncr eased t hat eat t hem ; and what

good i s t her e t o t he owner s t her eof savi ng t he behol d-

i ng of t hem wi t h t hei r eyes. . . . Al l t he l abour of

man i s f or hi s mout h, and yet t he appet i t e i s n<^t

f i l l ed. . . Ther e i s an evi l whi ch I have seen under

t he sun, and i t i s common among men. A man t o

whom God hat h gi ven r i ches, weal t h, and honour , so

t hat he want et h not hi ng f or hi s soul of al l t hat he

desi r et h, yet God gi vet h hi m not power t o eat t her eof ,

but a st r anger eat et h i t : t hi s i s vani t y, and i t i s an evi l

di sease. " So mour ns t he wi se ki ng who has bowed

bef or e t he " t enf ol d r et ur n, " and f or whom hi s weal t h

has become a mer e dr ear y bur den.

I f we woul d l ear n how t he Saxon ki ng kept t he

domi ni on whi ch t he Hebr ew ki ng l ost over t he t hi ngs

whi ch " t he Lor d was r est or i ng hi m t enf ol d, " we shal l

per haps get t he key best f r om hi msel f " Lor d, " Al f r ed

wr i t es i n hi s Angl o- Saxon adapt at i on f r om St . Au-

gust i ne' s " Bl ossom Gat her i ngs, " " Thou who hast

wr ought al l t hi ngs wor t hy, and not hi ng unwor t hy . .

t o Thee I cal l , whom ever yt hi ng l ovet h t hat can l ove,

bot h t hose whi ch know what t hey l ove, and t hose

whi ch know not what t hey l ove : Thou who ar t t he

Fat her of t hat Son who has awakened and yet wakens

us f r om t he sl eep of our si ns, and war net h us t hat we

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

come t o Thee. For ever y one f al l s who f l ees f r om

Thee, and ever y one r i ses who t ur ns t o Thee, ant ]

ever y one st ands who abi des i n Thee, and he di es

who al t oget her f or sakes Thee, and he qui ckens who

comes t o Thee, and he l i ves i ndeed who t hor oughl y

abi des i n Thee. Thou who hast gi ven us t he power

Page 100 of 174

t hat we shoul d not despond i n any t oi l , nor i n Tvay

i nconveni ence, as i s no wonder , f or Thou wel l r ul est ,

and makest us wel l ser ve Thee. . . . Thou hast wel l

t aught us t hat we may under st and t hat t hat was

st r ange t o us and t r ansi t or y whi ch we l ooked on as

our own — t hat i s, wor l dl y weal t h ; and Thou hast al so

t aught us t o under st and t hat t hat i s our own whi ch

we l ooked on as st r ange t o us — t hat i s, t he ki ngdom

of heaven, whi ch we bef or e di sr egar ded. Thou who

hast t aught us t hat we shoul d do nought unl awf ul ,

hast al so t aught t hat we shoul d not sor r ow t hough our

subst ance waned t o us. . . . Thou hast l oosed us f r om

t he t hr al dom of ot her cr eat ur es, and al ways pr epar est

et er nal l i f e f or us, and pr epar est us al so f or et er nal

l i f e. . . , Hear me, Lor d, Thy ser vant ! Thee al one

I l ove over al l ot her t hi ngs ! Thee I seek ! Thee

I f ol l ov/ ! Thee I am r eady t o ser ve ! Under Thy

gover nment I wi sh t o abi de, , f or Thou al one r ei gnest . "

A st r ange, i ncompr ehensi bl e, even exasper at i ng

ki nd of man, t hi s ki ng, t o t he t emper and under st and-

i ng of our day, whi ch r esent s vehement l y t he ex-

pr essi on of any such f ai t h as hi s. How of t en dur i ng t he

l ast f ew year s have we not hear d i mpat i ent or con-

t empt uous pr ot est s agai nst t he wel l - meani ng per haps,

but shal l ow, and of t en vul gar , per sons who ar e ashamed

THE KI NG' S EXCHEQUER. 199

or af r ai d of doubt , and i nsi st on' usi ng t hi s sor t of

pr eci se l anguage about mat t er s whi ch wi l l not bear i t ,

of whi ch not hi ng cer t ai n i s, or can be, known. But

t hey ar e f or t he most par t poor cr eat ur es ( when not

par sons, and t her ef or e t i ed t o t hei r pr of essi onal shi b-

bol et hs) , f ool s or bi got s, usel ess f or t hi s wor l d and i n

t hei r r el at i ons wi t h vi si bl e t hi ngs, wher e we can t est

t hem, what ever t hey may be as t o any ot her , of whi ch

nei t her t hey or we can know anyt hi ng. Do any of

our best i nt el l ect s, st at esmen, schol ar s, sci ent i f i c men

— any of t hose who l ead t he t hought and do t he

wor k of our t i me — t al k t hus . ?

But t hi s st r ai ght f or war d, pr act i cal Engl i sh ki ng,

t he har dest wor ker pr obabl y who ever l i ved i n t hese

i sl ands, who was t he f i r st st at esman, schol ar , sci ent i f i c

man, of hi s day — who f ought mor e pi t ched bat t l es t han

he l i ved year s, and t r i umphed over t he most f or -

mi dabl e l eader s Eur ope coul d pr oduce i n t hose wi l d

t i mes — who r e- or gani zed, and put new l i f e i nt o, ever y

i nst i t ut i on of hi s count r y, and yet at t ended t o ever y

det ai l of busi ness l i ke a common mer chant — i s pr e-

ci sel y t he man who ought t o have been f r ee f r om t hi s

ki nd of super st i t i on. I t i s a har d sayi ng i n t he

mout h of such a r ul er of men, t hi s of " Under Thy

gover nment I wi sh t o abi de, f or Thou al one r ei gnest . "

Thi s can scar cel y r ef er t o t he " t endency by whi ch al l

men st r i ve t o f ul f i l t he l aw of t hei r bei ng. " What dor -

i t m. ean ?

CHAPTER XVI I .

Page 101 of 174

THE KI NGS CHURCH.

" h not t he Lor d your God wi t h you ? and hat h He not gi ven you r est on

ever y si de ? Now set your hear t and your soul t o seek t he Lo- r d your

God : ar i j e, t l i ei - ef or e, and bui l d ye t he sanct uar y of t he Lor d God. "

" By t he end of t he sevent h cent ur y, " says Mr . Fr ee-

man, " t he i ndependent i nsul ar Teut oni c Chur ch had

become one of t he br i ght est hght s of t he Chr i st i an

f i r mament . " The sad change whi ch had come over

her i n t he f i r st hal f of t he ni nt h cent ur y has al r eady

been not i ced. She had ent i r el y ceased t o be a mi s -

si onar y chur ch, and even i n t he mat t er of l ear ni ng

had so det er i or at ed, t hat Al f r ed hi msel f wr i t es i n hi s

[ M' cf ace t o t he Angl o- Saxon ver si on of Gr egor y' s

Past or al Car e: " So cl ean was l ear ni ng now f al l en of i j

amongst t he Engl i sh r ace, t hat t her e wer e ver y f ew on

t hi s si de t he Humber who wer e abl e t o under st and

t hei r ser vi ce i n Engl i sh, or even t o t ur n a wr i t t en

l et t er f r om Lat i n i nt o Engl i sh, and I t hi nk t hat t her e

wer e not many beyond t he Humber . So f ew t her e

wer e of t hem, t hat I cannot t hi nk of even one on

t he sout h of t he Thames when I f i r st t ook t o t he

ki ngdom. " At t he same t i me Al f r ed al so r emember s

t hat when he was young he had seen, " er e al l wi t hi n

^hem was l ai d wast e and bur nt up, how t he chur ches

THE KI NGS CHURCH.

t hr oughout al l t he Engl i sh r ace st ood f i l l ed wi t h

t r easur es and books, al so a gr eat mul t i t ude of God' s

ser vant s, t hough t hey knew ver y l i t t l e use of t hose

books, f or t hat t hey coul d not under st and anyt hi ng

of t hem. "

At t he t i me of whi ch Al f r ed i s wr i t i ng, t he begi n-

ni ng of hi s own r ei gn, i t woul d seem t oo t hat t he cl ass

f r om whi ch hi t her t o t he super i or cl er gy, t he monks

and canons of t he cat hedr al s and abbeys, had been

r ecr ui t ed, had ceased t o suppl y a suf f i ci ent number t o

f i l l up vacanci es. Thei r pl aces wer e bei ng f i l l ed by

i he par ochi al cl er gy, or mass pr i est s, who wer e of a

much l ower cl ass soci al l y. For t he monks, wi t h t he

except i on of f or ei gner s ( of whom t her e had al ways been

^ome i n ever y consi der abl e monast i c i nst i t ut i on) , wer e

as a r ul e of t he nobl e cl ass, whi l e t he mass pr i est s

wer e t aken f r om t he cl ass of ccor l s, who wer e st i l l

i ndeed an i ndependent yeomanr y, and owner s of t hei i

own l and, but i n ot her r espect s l i t t l e r emoved f r om

t he ser vi l e cl ass. That t hi s l ack of candi dat es f oi

or der s was f el t bef or e t he f i r st i nvasi on appear s f r om

ci n i nci dent whi ch happened i n t he year 870, j ust

bef or e t he f i r st gr eat i nvasi on of Wessex and Al f r ed' s

accessi on, and consequent l y bef or e any cat hedr al or

abbey i n Wessex had been pl under ed or bur nt . I n

t hat year , Ceol not h, Ar chbi shop of Cant er bur y, di ed,

and " Ki ng Et hel r ed and Al f r ed hi s br ot her t ook

Et hel r ed, Bi shop of Wi nchest er , and appoi nt ed hi m

Ar chbi shop, because f or mer l y he had been a monk of

t hat same mi nst er of Cant er bur y. " Now i n Ceol not h' s

t i me t her e had i n one year been a gr eat mor t al i t y

Page 102 of 174

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

m Cant er bur y amongst t he monks, so t hat f i ve onl y

wer e l ef t f or t he wor k of t he Cat hedr al . He was ob-

l i ged t her ef or e t o br hi g i n some of " t he pr i est s of hi s

vi l l s, t hat t hey shoul d hel p t he f ew monks who sur -

vi ved t o do Chr i st ' s ser vi ce, because he coul d not so

r eadi l y f i nd monks who woul d of t hemsel ves do t hat

ser vi ce. " Never t hel ess Ceol not h had been al ways

anxi ous t o get r i d of t he mass pr i est s, and t he chr oni cl er

r epor t s hi m as havi ng sai d, " So soon as God shal l gi ve

peace t o t hi s l and, ei t her t hese pr i est s shal l be monks,

or f r om el sewher e I wi l l pl ace wi t hi n t he mi nst er as

many monks as may do t he ser vi ce of t hemsel ves. "

The speech was mor e pr obabl y Et hel r ed' s, who at

any r at e, as soon as he was est abl i shed i n t he Ar ch-

bi shopr i c, t ook counsel how he mi ght expel t he cl er ks

t hat wer e t her ei n. Thi s however he coul d not ef f ect ,

" f or t hat t he l and was much di st r essed by f r equent

bat t l es, and t her e was war f ar e and sor r ow al l hi s t i me

over Engl and, so t hat t he cl er ks r emai ned wi t h t he

monks, " and he di ed i n 888 wi t hout havi ng accom-

pl i shed hi s obj ect .

Thi s st at e of t hi ngs was of cour se made f ar wor se

by t he wai . That whi ch was now t he West Saxon

ki ngdom cont ai ned at l east f i ve di oceses, besi des t hat

of Cant er bur y ; of t hese Wi nchest er , Sher bor ne, Wel l s,

wer e t he chi ef , al l of whi ch had been t r aver sed and

pl under ed at one t i me or anot her . The mat er i al

pr osper i t y had f ol l owed t he hi gher l i f e of t he Chur ch,

and t her e was as much need of r est or i ng t he mer e

out war d f r amewor k of chur ches and monast er i es, as

t l i at of ci t y wal l s and f or t i f i cat i ons.

THE KI NG' S CHURCH. 203

To t hi s t he Ki ng t ur ned hi s at t ent i on soon af t er t he

peace of Wed mor e. We have hear d al r eady t hat of

t he hal f of hi s r evenue whi ch he dedi cat ed t o r el i gi ous

uses, one- f our t h was expended on t he t wo monast er i es

of hi s own f oundat i on, and anot her f our t h on t he

monast er i es i n Wessex and t he ot her Engl i sh ki ng-

doms. The er ect i on of t hese t wo monast er i es was t he

f i r st eccl esi ast i cal wor k he t ook i n hand. The one f or

monks was bui l t at At hel ney, i n f ul f i l ment of a vow

whi ch he had made t her e dur i ng hi s r esi dence on t he

i sl and. A br i dge " l abor i ousl y const r uct ed " was now

t hr own over t he mor ass, at t he west er n end of whi ch

was er ect ed a st r ong t ower of beaut i f ul wor k, t o guar d

t he appr oach. The monast er y and out bui l di ngs occu-

pi ed t he whol e i sl and, and bei ng bui l t bef or e t he Ki ng

had col l ect ed hi s ar my of ar t i sans, was of wood, t he

chur ch smal l , and suppor t ed on f our st r ong pi l l ar s of

wood, and sur r ounded by f our smal l er cel l s or chancel s.

But i t was easi er t o bui l d t he monast er y t han t o f i l l

i t as t he Ki ng woul d wi sh i t f i l l ed. " At f i r st , " says

Asser , " he had no one of hi s own nat i on, nobl e and

f r ee by bi r t h, who was wi l l i ng t o ent er t he monast i c

l i f e, except chi l dr en, who coul d nei t her choose good

or avoi d evi l , i n consequence of t hei r t ender year s.

Page 103 of 174

For dur i ng many pr evi ous year s, t he l ove of a mo-

nast i c l i f e had ut t er l y decayed f r om t hat nat i on, as

wel l as f r om many ot her nat i ons, t hough many

monast er i es r emai ned i n t he count r y. As yet no one

di r ect ed t he r ul e of t hat ki nd of l i f e i n a r egul ar way,

f or what r eason I cannot say, ei t her f r om t he i nvasi ons

of f or ei gner s, whi ch t ook pl ace so f r equent l y bot h by

204 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

sea and l and, or because t hat peopl e abounded i n

dches of ever y ki nd, and so l ooked wi t h cont empt on

t he monast i c l i f e. " Al f r ed was consequent l y at once

dr i ven abr oad, not onl y f or l ear ned monks who wer e

abl e t o occupy hi gh pl aces, and t o i nst r uct t hose who

shoul d i nst r uct hi s peopl e i n al l ki nds of l ear ni ng, but

even f or t he or di nar y br et hr en. For At hel ney he got

as f i r st Abbot , John, pr i est and monk, an ol d Saxon

by bi r t h, and soon af t er hi m, cer t ai n monks and

deacons f r om beyond t he sea. But t he monast er y

f i l l ed so sl owl y, t hat t he Ki ng was soon dr i ven t o

pr ocur e " as many as he coul d of t he Gal l i c nat i on. "

Of t hese, some wer e chi l dr en, f or whom as wel l as

f or nat i ves a school was est abl i shed at At hel ney, and

t hey wer e t aught t her e. Asser hi msel f had seen a

yout h of pagan bi r t h who had been educat ed i n t he

monast er y, and was of gr eat pr omi se.

Al f r ed' s second monast er y was one f or nuns, bui l t

by t he east er n gat e of t he t own of Shaf t esbur y, The

f i r st abbess was Et hel gi va, hi s second daught er , who

must have been pl aced i n t hat posi t i on whi l e al most

a chi l d, unl ess, i ndeed, t he monast er y was not bui l t

t i l l a much l at er per i od t han Asser i ndi cat es. I n

any case, t her e seems t o have been no di f f i cul t y i n

f i ndi ng nuns amongst t he Saxon nobl es, f or many

nobl e l adi es became bound by t he r ul es of monast i c

l i f e, and ent er ed t he convent at Shaf t esbur y wi t h t he

Ki ng' s daught er . Besi des an or i gi nal endowment of

l ands, t hese t wo l oundat i ons wer e per manent l y sus -

t ai ned by one- ei ght h par t of t he r oyal r evenues.

One ot her monast er y Al f r ed appear s t o have com-

THE KI NGS CHURCH.

menced at Wi nchest er , cal l ed t he new monast er y

whi ch was t he l at est and most magni f i cent of hi s

eccl esi ast i cal bui l di ngs. I t was i nt ended as hi s bur i al -

pl ace, but was not f i ni shed at t he t i me of hi s deat h.

The chapel was so near t he cat hedr al chur ch of

Wi nchest er , t hat t he chant i ng of one choi r coul d be

hear d i n t he ot her bui l di ng, whi ch seems t o have

caused much bi t t er ness bet ween t he bi shop and abbot

and t hei r r espect i ve st af f s. To t hi s may be at t r i but ed

t he har d t er ms i mposed by t he bi shop on Edwar d

t he el der , Al f r ed' s son and successor , who, bei ng

anxi ous t o compl et e hi s f at her ' s wor k, and t o add

sui t abl e of f i ces t o t he new monast er y, was char ged

by t he bi shop a mar k of gol d f or ever y f oot of l and

he was obl i ged t o buy. These ar e Al f r ed' s onl y

eccl esi ast i cal f oundat i ons, t hough he was a muni f i cent

Page 104 of 174

benef act or of ot her s, such as Sher bor ne and Dur ham

cat hedr al s, and t he abbeys of Gl ast onbur y and Wi l t on,

and appr opr i at ed one- ei ght h of hi s i ncome f or di st r i -

but i on t o any t hat had need.

But t he bui l di ng, r est or i ng, and mai nt ai ni ng t he

out er f abr i c of chur ches, monast er i es, and abbeys, was

onl y t he easi est par t of t he Ki ng' s wor k. The di s -

ci pl i ne and ser vi ces of t he Chur ch, and t he habi t s

and manner s of monks and pr i est s, had f al l en i nt o

l ament abl e conf usi on. To r est or e t hese, Al f r ed

sear ched hi s own and nei ghbour i ng ki ngdoms, and

gat her ed r ound hi m a band of l ear ned and pi ous

chur chmen, of whom he was abl e t o speak wi t h

honour abl e pr i de t owar ds t he end of hi s l i f e : " I t i s

unknown how l ong t her e may be so l ear ned bi shop?

2o6 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

as, t hank God, ar e now ever ywher e. " We shal l have

t o not i ce t hese f r i ends of t he Ki ng by t hemsel ves ;

her e i t i s onl y necessar y t o say t hat t hey t aught i n t he

school s, t r ansl at ed books, r est or ed Chur ch di sci pl i ne,

pr esi ded i n synods, al l under t he Ki ng' s eye, and so r e-

st or ed t he char act er of t he Chur ch of Engl and, t hat

once agai n " t he cl er gy wer e zeal ous i n l ear ni ng and

i n t eachi ng, and i n al l t hei r sacr ed dut i es, and peopl e

came f r om f or ei gn count r i es t o seek i nst r uct i on. "

One of t he f i r st ef f ect s of t hi s r evi val was t o at t r act

t he not i ce and appr oval of t he Pope Mar t i nus, who,

ci t her i n t he year 882 or ' ^Z' i ) , sent an embassy t o Al f r ed

wi t h pr esent s, i ncl udi ng " a par t of t he r ood on whi ch

Chr i st suf f er ed. " The Ki ng i n r et ur n, i n 883, sent

pr esent s t o t he Pope by t he hands of Si ghel m and

At hel st ane, t wo of hi s nobl es, who al so pr esent ed t he

sui t of t hei r Ki ng and peopl e, t hat t he Saxon school s

at Rome, whi ch wer e suppor t ed by t he bount y of hi s

f at her Et hel wul f , and i n t he chur ch at t ached t o whi ch

Buhr ed, hi s unhappy br ot her - i n- l aw, was bur i ed, mi ght

be f r eed f r om al l t ol l and t r i but e. Mar t i nus gr ant ed

t he r equest , and di ed i n t he next year . But hi s deat h

does not seem t o have af f ect ed Al f r ed' s r el at i ons wi t h

t he head of t he Chur ch. I n many subsequent year s

Engl i sh embassi es t o Rome ar e ment i oned, t hose, f or

i nst ance, of Et hel hel m, Al der man of Wi l t s i n ^ ^y, and

Beocca i n 888, wi t h whom j our neyed t he wi dowed

Et hel swi t ha, Al f r ed' s si st er , f or mer l y t he l ady of

Mer ci a, t o make her gr ave wi t h her husband. She

never r eached Rome, but di ed on t he j our ney at Pavi a.

I ndeed, t he not e i n t he Saxon Chr oni cl e f or t he year

THE KI NGS CHURCH. 207

889, " i n t hi s year t her e was no j our ney t o Rome, ex -

cept t hat Ki ng Al f r ed sent t wo cour i er s wi t h l et t er s, "

woul d l ead t o t he i nf er ence t hat an embassy was

r egul ar l y sent i n or di nar y year s t o car r y t he of f er -

i ngs of t he Ki ng and peopl e t o t he shr i ne of St . Pet er .

Beyond t hi s i nt er change of cour t esi es, however , and

t he annual gi f t s, i t does not appear t hat t he r el at i ons

bet ween t he Pope and t he Engl i sh Chur ch became at

Page 105 of 174

al l mor e i nt i mat e i n Al f r ed' s t i me. I n some r espect s,

undoubt edl y, he asser t ed hi s aut hor i t y over t he na-

t i onal Chur ch, and hi s super i or i t y t o i t s hi ghest

mi ni st er . ?, mor e deci dedl y t han any of hi s pr ede-

cessor s. I n hi s l aws, t he second commandment was

vi r t ual l y r est or ed t o t he Decal ogue ; t he Ki ng' s wer e-

gi l d was made hi gher t han an ar chbi shop' s, r ever si ng

t he ol der l aw : t he f i ne f or br eaki ng t he Ki ng' s bai l

was f i ve pounds' wei ght of coi n ; f or br eaki ng an

ar chbi shop' s bai l , t hr ee pounds onl y : f or br eaki ng

i nt o t he Ki ng' s house, 120 shi l l i ngs ; i nt o an ar ch-

bi shop' s, ni net y. Agai n, t he way i n whi ch t he Ki ng

addr esses and empl oys hi s bi shops, car r yi ng t hem

about wi t h hi m, and usi ng t hem as t r ansl at or s of

t he Scr i pt ur es, or of any ot her wor k whi ch he desi r es

t o put wi t hi n r each of hi s peopl e, shows t hat he

cl ai med t hem as hi s of f i cer s, and t hat t hey acknow-

l edged hi s aut hor i t y. I t i s sai d t hat he l ef t al l t he

sees of Wessex vacant f or t he l ast year s of hi s r ei gn,

and onl y under t he car e of t he Ar chbi shop of Cant er -

bur y, and t hat t he Pope di d not even r emonst r at e

wi t h hi m, but on hi s deat h t hr eat ened hi s successor

wi t h excommuni cat i on unl ess t hey wer e f i l l ed up.

2o8 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

Fr om t hi s f act Spel man ar gues t hat Al f r ed' s " l i f e

and ways wer e not pl easi ng t o t he f at her s at Rome. "

But t hi s st at ement does not r est on any t r ust wor t hy

aut hor i t y, and i t seems f ar mor e pr obabl e t hat Al f r ed

l i ved on excel l ent t er ms wi t h cont empor ar y popes.

They, f or t hei r par t , seem t o have wi sel y f ol l owed

t he l i ber al pol i cy i ndi cat ed i n Gr egor y' s answer s t o

Sai nt August i ne, and t o have al l owed t he Chur ch

i n t he di st ant i sl and t o devel op i n i t s own way

On t he ot her hand, t he Ki ng evi dent l y ent er t ai ned

and expr essed on al l occasi ons, ver y r eal and deep

r ever ence f or t he acknowl edged head of t he Chur ch,

and wor ked i n such nobl e and per f ect har mony

wi t h hi s own bi shops, t hat no quest i ons seem ever

t o have ar i sen i n hi s r ei gn whi ch coul d br i ng t he

spi r i t ual and t empor al power s i nt o col l i si on. H??

own humbl e and ear nest pi et y, and scr upul ous obser -

vance of al l t he or di nances of t he Chur ch, uni t ed wi t h

ext r aor di nar y f i r mness and power of r ul i ng men, no

doubt cont r i but ed t o t hi s happy r esul t .

And so St at e and Chur ch wor ked i n har mony si de

by si de, exer ci si ng a concur r ent j ur i sdi ct i on of a ver y

r emar kabl e ki nd. Ever y cr i me was puni shabl e bot h

by t he ci vi l and spi r i t ual t r i bunal s. The Ki ng and

wi t an, or t he j udge and j ur y, or homage ( as t he case

mi ght be) , puni shed t he of f ender f or t he damage he

had done t o hi s f el l ow- ci t i zens, or t o t he common-

weal t h, by f i nes, or mut i l at i on, or i mpr i sonment . But

t he cr i mi nal was not t hus f ul l y di schar ged. The mor al

si n r emai ned, wi t h whi ch t he St at e di d not pr of ess t o

deal , but l ef t i t t o t he spi r i t ual power s, ai ded by t he

THE KI NGS CHURCH. 209

pr ovi si ons of t he code. Accor di ngl y, f or ever y cr i me

t her e was al so a penance, t o be f i xed by bi shop or

pr i est . I n shor t , Al f r ed and hi s wi t an bel i eved t hat

Page 106 of 174

si n mi ght be r oot ed out by ext er nal sanct i ons,

penal t i es af f ect i ng body and goods. The Chur ch,

t hey t hought , was t he pr oper aut hor i t y, t he power

whi ch coul d do t hi s wor k f or t he commonweal t h, and

accor di ngl y t o t he Chur ch t he dut y was ent r ust ed.

Looked at wi t h t he exper i ence of anot her 1, 000

year s, t he wonder i s, not t hat t he at t empt di d not

succeed, but t hat i t wor ked even f or a gener at i on or

so wi t hout br i ngi ng t he t wo power s i nt o t he f i er cest

conf l i ct . The si ngl eness of mi nd and hear t , and

ear nest ness of Al f r ed, must have i nspi r ed i n gr eat

measur e hi s al der men, j udges, bi shops, al l men i n

r esponsi bl e of f i ces. So he coul d put f or t h hi s i deal ,

si mpl y and squar el y, and expect al l Engl i shmen t o

endeavour t o r eal i ze t hat — wi t h r esul t s even t her e^ and

t hen of a ver y sur pr i si ng ki nd. For t hr ough t he mi st s

of 1, 000 year s we do her e act ual l y see a peopl e t r yi ng,

i n a somewhat r ude and uncout h way, but st i l l

honest l y, t o f ound t hei r dai l y l i f e on t he hi ghest i deal

t hey coul d hear of — on t he di vi ne l aw as t hey acknow-

l edged i t — of doi ng as t hey woul d be done by.

Rome was not t he onl y or t he most di st ant f or ei gn

Chur ch t o whi ch Al f r ed sent embassi es. He had

made a vow, bef or e t he t aki ng and r ebui l di ng of

London, t hat , i f he shoul d be successf ul i n t hat under -

t aki ng, he woul d send gi f t s t o t he Chr i st i an chur ches

i n t he f ar East , of whi ch uncer t ai n r umour s and t r a-

di t i ons st i l l spoke t hr oughout Chr i st endom. The

S. L. VI I I . p

2I O LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

apost l es St . Thomas and St . Bar t hol omew had

pr eached t he Gospel i n I ndi a and f ounded t hese

chur ches, i t was sai d, and i t was t o t hem t hat Al f r ed,

i n per f or mance of hi s vow, despat ched t he same Si g-

hel m and At hel st an who wer e t he bear er s of hi s gi f t s

and l et t er s t o Pope Mar t i nus. They woul d seem,

i ndeed, t o have gone on f r om Rome i n t he year 883,

by what r out e we know not , or how l ong t hey wer e

upon t hei r mi ssi on, or how t hey sped, save onl y t hat

t hey came back t o t hei r Ki ng, br i ngi ng gr eet i ngs

f r om t hose di st ant br et hr en, and gi f t s of pr eci ous

st ones and spi ces i n r et ur n f or hi s al ms. These

Al f r ed di st r i but ed amongst hi s cat hedr al s, i n some of

whi ch t hey wer e pr eser ved f or cent ur i es. Such was

t he f i r st i nt er cour se bet ween Engl and and t he gr eat

empi r e whi ch has si nce been commi t t ed t o her i n t he

East . St . Thomas' Chr i st i ans ar e st i l l t o be f ound i n

Mal abar and el sewher e.

Asser al so ment i ons l et t er s and pr esent s sent by

Abel , t he pat r i ar ch of Jer usal em, t o hi s ki ng. I t does

not appear , however , t hat Al f r ed sent any embassy t o

t he Hol y Land. Dr . Paul i suggest s t hat t hese gi f t s

mi ght have been br ought t o Engl and by t he sur vi vor

of t hr ee Scot ch pi l gr i ms, whose names a r omant i c

l egend connect s wi t h t he Engl i sh ki ng. Dunst ane,

Macbet h, and Macl i nman, wer e t he t hr ee Chr i st i ans

i n quest i on, who, despai r i ng, i t woul d seem, of t he

Chur ch i n t hei r own count r y, put t o sea i n a f r ai l

Page 107 of 174

boat , pat ched t oget her wi t h ox- hi des and car r yi ng a

week' s pr ovi si ons, and l anded on t he coast of Cor n-

wai l . Fr om t hence t hey made t hei r way t o Al f r ed' s

THE KI NG' S CHURCH.

cour t , and wer e hospi t abl y ent er t ai ned by hi m, as

hi s wont was, and f or war ded on t hei r j our ney, f r om

whi ch one of t hem onl y r et ur ned.

Asser speaks al so, i n gener al l anguage, of dai l y

embassi es sent t o t he Ki ng by f or ei gn nat i ons, " f r om

t he Tyr r heni an Sea t o t he f ar t hest end of I r el and. "

Of t hese, however , we have no cer t ai n account , but

enough r emai ns t o show how t he spi r i t of Al f r ed

year ned f or i nt er cour se wi t h Chr i st i ans i n al l par t s of

t he known wor l d, and how t he f ame of hi s r i ght eous

gover nment , and of hi s r est or ed Chur ch, was goi ng

f or t h, i n t hese year s of peace, t o t he ends of t he ear t h.

But t he gr eat est wor k of t hat Chur ch, as of al l t r ue

chur ches, was t he educat i on of t he peopl e at home.

Besi des t he school s at t ached t o hi s f oundat i ons of

At hel ney and Wi nchest er , Al f r ed est abl i shed many

school s f or t he l ai t y i n di f f er ent par t s of hi s ki ngdom.

One was at t ached t o t he cour t , and i n i t t he chi l dr en

of hi s nobl es, mi ni st er s, and f r i ends wer e educat ed

wi t h hi s own chi l dr en, and " wer e l oved by hi m wi t h

wonder f ul af f ect i on, bei ng no l ess dear t o hi m t han

hi s own, " They wer e educat ed car ef ul l y i n good

mor al s, and i n t he st udy of t hei r own l anguage, t he

Ki ng hi msel f const ant l y super i nt endi ng, and t aki ng

par t i n t he t eachi ng. To use hi s own wor ds, he was

desi r ous " t hat al l t he f r ee- bor n yout h of hi s peopl e

who had t he means shoul d per sever e i n l ear ni ng so

l ong as t hey had no ot her dut i es t o at t end t o, nn^ i )

t hey coul d r ead t he Engl i sh Scr i pt ur es wi t h f l uency,

and such as desi r ed t o devot e t hemsel ves t o t he

ser vi ce of t he Chur ch mi ght be t aught Lat i n. "

P 2

CHAPTER XVI I I .

THE KI NGS FRI ENDS.

"

/ 4j t he j udge of t Ji e peopl e i s hwi sel f , so ar e hi s oncer s : ana' what mat t t ht

r ul er of I ke ci t y i s, Mi ch ar e al l t hey t hat di vel l t her ei n. "

We have al r eady i nci dent al l y come acr oss sever al of

t he st at esmen and eccl esi ast i cs who wer e si ngl ed out

and empl oyed by Al f r ed, and must now endeavour t o

make some cl oser acquai nt ance wi t h t he men t hr ough

whom t he gr eat r ef or m of t he Engl i sh nat i on was

wr ought out under t he gr eat ki ng. Unf or t unat el y, t he

memor i al s of t hem ar e scant y, f or t hey wer e a set of

not abl e wor ker s, wor t hy of al l honour , and of t he

at t ent i ve and r espect f ul r egar d even of t he ni net eent h

Page 108 of 174

cent ur y. They wer e of al l r aces whom t he Ki ng coul d

get at , and of al l r anks. Pr i nce, nobl e, or peasant , r ough

ski pper , or st udi ous monk, or cunni ng cr af t sman, i t

was t he same t o hi m. The man who coul d do hi s

wor k, t hi s was al l he car ed f or , and, when he had

f ound hi m, set hi m f or t hwi t h t o do i t , wi t h what ever

pr omot i on, pr ecedence, or ot her mat er i al suppor t

mi ght best hel p hi m.

John, t he ol d Saxon, somet i mes cal l ed John of

Cor vey, pr i est and monk, a st er n di sci pl i nar i an and

cour ageous per son, we have al r eady hear d of as f i r st

THE KI NGS FRI ENDS. 213

Abbot of At hel ney, havi ng al so t he super i nt endence

of t he t heol ogi cal school at t ached t o t he Ki ng' s

monast er y t her e. Al f r ed hi msel f has st udi ed under

hi m, and so has come t o di scer n t he man' s f acul t y.

For he was t he Ki ng' s mass- pr i est whi l e At hel ney

was bui l di ng, and hel ped hi m i n t he t r ansl at i on of

" The Hi nds' Book " ( Gr egor y' s past or al ) i nt o t he

Engl i sh t ongue. Abbot John had a di f f i cul t , even a

per i l ous t i me of i t t her e, i n t he l i t t l e i sl and, r emot e

f r om men, hemmed i n by swamp and f or est , wher e

hi s monks have no or char ds or gar dens t o t i l l , and hi s

boys no pl aygr ound. The Ki ng' s pi et y, and l ove of

hi s pl ace of r ef uge, have f or once out wei ghed hi s

sagaci t y, or he had not chosen t he i sl and f or such

pur poses. Engl i shmen cannot be got t o l i ve t her e,

and t he Fr anks and ot her s ar e j eal ous of t hei r abbot .

Br oodi ng over i t i n t hat sol i t ude, at l ast a pr i est and

deacon and t wo monks, al l Fr anks, pl ot hi s mur der .

John t he Abbot goes const ant l y at mi dni ght t o pr ay

bef or e t he hi gh al t ar by hi msel f So t he pl ot t er s br i be

t wo f or ei gn ser vi ng- men t o hi de i n t he chur ch ar med,

and t her e sl ay hi m ; af t er whi ch t hey wer e t o dr ag out

t he body, and cast i t bef or e t he house of a cer t ai n

woman of evi l r eput e. The men on t he ni ght appoi nt ed

accor di ngl y r ushed on t he ol d man as he was kneel i ng

bef or e t he al t ar . But he, hear i ng t hei r appr oach, " bei ng

a man of br ave mi nd, and as we have hear d not un-

acquai nt ed wi t h t he ar t of sel f - def ence, i f he had not

been t he f ol l ower of a bet t er cal l i ng, " r ose up bef or e

he was wounded, and st r ove wi t h t hem, shout i ng out

t hat t hey wer e devi l s. The monks, al ar med by t he

214 J- JFE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

cr i es, r ush i n i n t i me t o car r y t hei r abbot of f badl y

wounded, t he conspi r at or s mi ngl i ng t hei r t ear s wi t h

t hose of t he ot her monks. I n t he conf usi on t he

assassi ns escape f or t he moment , but i n t he end al l

t hose concer ned wer e t aken and put i n pr i son, " wher e

by var i ous t or t ur es t hey came t o a di sgr acef ul end. "

Not hi ng mor e i s known of Abbot John' s t r oubl es

or successes, and we may hope t hat he got hi s

monast er y and school i nt o wor ki ng or der , and l i ved

peaceabl y t her e f or t he r est of hi s days.

Page 109 of 174

When a boy, Al f r ed, t r avel l i ng acr oss Fr ance wi t h hi s

f at her , had become acquai nt ed, amongst ot her emi nent

schol ar s, wi t h Gr i mbal d, a pr i est ski l l ed i n musi c, and

l ear ned i n Hol y Scr i pt ur e, and i n al l doct r i ne and

di sci pl i ne of t he Chur ch. He has r i sen si nce t hat

t i me t o t he di gni t y of Pr ovost of St . Omer s, wi t hi n t he

j ur i sdi ct i on of Ful k, Ar chbi shop of Rhei ms. To t hi s

pr el at e Al f r ed sends an embassy bot h of eccl esi ast i cs

and l aymen, bear i ng pr esent s, and pr ayi ng t hat Gr i m-

bal d may be al l owed t o come t o Engl and, t o assi st i n

bui l di ng up and r est or i ng t he Chur ch t her e. The

answer i s st i l l ext ant . Addr essi ng " t he most Chr i st i an

Ki ng of t he Engl i sh, " Ful k, " Ar chbi shoj ) of Rhei ms

and t he ser vant of t he ser vant s of God, " congr at ul at es

Al f r ed on t he success of hi s t empor al ar ms, and hi s zeal

f or enl ar gi ng t he Chur ch by spi r i t ual weapons. The

Ar chbi shop pr ays i ncessant l y t hat God wi l l mul t i pl y

peace t o t he Ki ng' s r eal m i n hi s days, and t hat t he

eccl esi ast i cal or der s ( " whi ch have, as ye say, i n many

ways f al l en away, whet her by t he const ant i nr oads of

heat hen men, or because t he t i mes ar e f eebl e by age.

THE KI NGS FRI ENDS. 215

or t hr ough t he negl ect of bi shops, or i gnor ance of t he

i nf er i or cl er gy" ) may by hi s di l i gence be r ef or med,

ennobl ed, ext ended. The Ar chbi shop acknowl edges,

has evi dent l y been el at ed by, t he Ki ng' s desi r e t o i m-

por t doct r i ne and di sci pl i ne f r om t he seat of Sai nt

Remi gi us, " whi ch, we ar e const r ai ned t o boast , has

al ways excel l ed i n wor shi p and doct r i ne al l ot her

Fr ench chur ches. " Amongst ot her pr esent s ( f or whi ch

gr at ef ul t hanks) " ye have sent us nobl e and ver y

st aunch hounds, t hough car nal , f or t he cont r ol l i ng of

t hose vi si bl e wol ves, wi t h gr eat abundance of whi ch,

amongst ot her scour ges, a j ust God has af f l i ct ed our

l and ; aski ng of us i n r et ur n hounds, not car nal but

spi r i t ual , not such, however , as t hose of whi ch t he

pr ophet has sai d ' many dogs, not abl e t o bar k, ' but

such as shal l know wel l how f or t hei r Lor d t o bay i n

ear nest { magnos l at r at i i s f wi der e) , t o guar d Hi s f l ock

wi t h most vi gi l ant wat chf ul ness, and t o dr i ve f ar away

t hose most cr uel wol ves of uncl ean spi r i t s, who ar e

t he bet r ayer s and devour er s of soul s. Out of such

spi r i t ual wat chdogs ye have si ngl ed out and asked

f r om us one of t he name of Gr i mbal d, pr i est and

monk, t o whom t he uni ver sal Chur ch bear s r ecor d,

she who has nour i shed hi m f r om hi s chi l dhood i n

t he t r ue f ai t h, advanci ng hi m af t er her manner t o t he

di gni t y of t he pr i est hood, and pr ocl ai mi ng hi m sui t ed

t o t he hi ghest eccl esi ast i cal honour , and wel l f i t t ed t o

t each ot her s. Thi s same man has been a most f ai t hf ul

coadj ut or t o us, and we cannot wi t hout sor e af f l i ct i on

suf f er hi m t o be par t ed f r om us by so vast a space of

l and and sea. But char i t y t aket l i no not e of sacr i f i ce,

2i 6 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T

nor f ai t h of i nj ur y, nor can any ear t hl y di st ance keep

apar t t hose whom t he chai n of a t r ue af f ect i on j oi ns.

Wher ef or e we gr ant t hi s r equest of your s most wi l l -

Page 110 of 174

i ngl y. " Such i s t he r epl y, much abr i dged, of t he

wor t hy Ar chbi shop, evi dent l y a Chr i st i an pr el at e wi t h

l ar ge l ei sur e, some sense of humour , and a copi ous

epi st ol ar y gi f t , who i s i mpr essed i n hi s cont i nent al

di ocese wi t h t he vi gour and gr eat ness of hi s cor r e-

spondent , and " desi r es t hat hi s r oyal st at e, pi et y, and

val our may cont i nue t o r ej oi ce and abound i n Chr i st ,

t he Ki ng of ki ngs and Lor d of l or ds. "

Gr i mbal d, t hus i nt r oduced, r emai ns at f i r st by

Al f r ed' s si de as one of hi s mass- pr i est s, assi st i ng

t he Ki ng i n hi s t r ansl at i ons. Af t er war ds he becomes

pr of essor of di vi ni t y i n one of t he new school s,

pr obabl y at Oxf or d, and t hen abbot of t he new

monast er y at Wi nchest er . Ther e has been much

l ear ned cont r over sy as t o Gr i mbal d' s connexi on wi t h

Oxf or d, i n consequence of an i nt er pol at i on i n one

of t he ear l y manuscr i pt s of Asser ' s l i f e, whi ch pur -

por t s t o gi ve an account of a vi ol ent quar r el whi ch

soon ar ose bet ween Gr i mbal d and t he schol ar s whom

he f ound t her e, and who r ef used t o submi t t o t he

" l aws, modes, and f or ms of pr el ect i on, " whi ch he

desi r ed t o i nt r oduce. Thei r own, t hey mai nt ai ned,

had been est abl i shed and appr oved by many l ear ned

and pi ous men, not abl y by St . Ger manus, who had

come t o Oxf or d, and st opped t her e f or hal f a year

on hi s way t o pr each agai nst t he her esi es of Pel agi us,

The st r i f e r an so hi gh t hat t he Ki ng hi msel f went t o

Oxf or d at Gr i mbal d' s summons, and " pnr i nr ' =' d much

THE KI NGS FRI ENDS. 217

t r oubl e " i n hear i ng t he ar gument s on bot h si des

Havi ng l i st ened " wi t h unhear d of humi l i t y, t he Ki ng

exhor t ed t hem, wi t h pi ous and whol esome admo-

ni t i on, t o cher i sh mut ual l ove and concor d, and

deci ded t hat each par t y shoul d f ol l ow t hei r own

counsel and keep t hei r own i nst i t ut i ons. " The whol e

st or y i s pr obabl y t he i nvent i on of a l at er cent ur y,

when t he cl ai ms of t he t wo gr eat uni ver si t i es t o

pr i or i t y of f oundat i on wer e war ml y di scussed. Ther e

i s no pr oof t hat Oxf or d exi st ed as a pl ace of edu-

cat i on bef or e Al f r ed' s t i me, nor i s i t cer t ai n t hat

he f ounded school s t her e, t hough t he " Annal s of

Wi nchest er , " and ot her anci ent and r espect abl e au-

t hor i t i es, so asser t , and t hat he bui l t and endowed

t hr ee col l eges, " t he gr eat er hal l , t he l esser hal l , and

t he l i t t l e hal l " of t he uni ver si t y, of whi ch hal l s Uni -

ver si t y Col l ege i s t he l i neal sur vi vor . " Gr i mbal d' s

cr ypt , " however , may st i l l be seen under t he chancel

of St . Pet er ' s Chur ch, t he ol dest i n Oxf or d, and i t

seems mor e t han pr obabl e t hat i n some of t he manu-

scr i pt s of Asser ' s l i f e, now l ost , t her e was an account

of t he bui l di ng of t he or i gi nal chur ch on t hi s si t e

by Gr i mbal d, and i t s consecr at i on by t he Bi shop ol

Dor chest er . The pr esent chur ch and cr ypt ar e un-

doubt edl y of l at er dat e, but t he t r adi t i on i s st r ong

enough t o suppor t t he ar gument s of t he l ear ned.

Those who ar e i nt er est ed i n t he cont r over sy wi l l

f i nd i t el abor at el y summed up i n Si r J. Spel man' s

Thi r d Book. I n any case, i t i s cer t ai n t hat Al f r ed

had a mi nt at Oxf or d, even i f he f ounded no

school s t her e.

Page 111 of 174

2i 8

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Of Engl i sh chur chmen, Pl egmund, Al f r ed' s Ar ch-

bi shop of Cant er bur y, a Mer ci an by bi r t h, i s t he

most di st i ngui shed — sai d i ndeed t o have been t he

f i r st man of hi s t i me " i n t he sci ence of hol y l ear ni ng. "

He escaped f r om t he sack of hi s monast er y at t he

t i me of t he Dani sh i nvasi on of Mer ci a, i n 876, and

l i ved as a her mi t i n an i sl and f our and a hal f mi l es

f r om Chest er f or f our t een year s, t i l l sought out by

A- l f r ed and pr omot ed t o t he pr i macy i n 890, on t he

deat h of Ar chbi shop Et hel r ed. I t i s mor e pr obabl e,

however , t hat he was const ant l y wi t h Al f r ed much

ear l i er t j i an t hi s, f or he i s speci al l y named as hi s

i nst r uct or , and sel dom qui t t ed t he Cour t t i l l af t er

hi s l or d' s deat h. He went , however , t o Rome i n

891 t o be consecr at ed by Pope For mosus ; and agai n

a second t i me, af t er t he body of For mosus had been

di si nt er r ed and t hr own i nt o t he Ti ber by St ephen hi s

successor , t o be r e- consecr at ed. He sur vi ved Al f r ed

f or t went y- t hr ee year s, and seems t o have r ul ed t he

Engl i sh Chur ch wi sel y, t i l l hi s own deat h.

Anot her Mer ci an who was much consul t ed by

Al f r ed, and who appear s t o have f r equent l y vi si t ed

hi m i n Wessex, was Wer f r i t h, Bi shop of Wor cest er ,

t o whom t he Ki ng' s cel ebr at ed pr ef ace t o Gr egor y' s

" Past or al Car e" i s addr essed, and who, by Al f r ed' s

desi r e, t r ansl at ed t he Di al ogues of t he same Pope i nt o

Saxon. He was t he f or emost hel per of Al der man

Et hel r ed and hi s wi f e, t he Lady of Mer ci a, Et hel f l eda,

Al f r ed' s daught er , and a vi gor ous or gani zer and go-

ver nor of t he t hi ngs and per sons of t hi s wor l d ; r eady,

however , as a l oyal son of hol y Chur ch t o ext end t he

THE KI NGS FRI ENDS. 219

r i ght s of t he see of Wor cest er whenever oppor t uni t y

mi ght of f er . A most char act er i st i c i nst ance of t hi s

i nst i nct of Bi shop Wer f r i t h' s occur s i n t he r epor t of a

si t t i ng of t he Mer ci an wi t an, f i r st t r ansl at ed by Dr .

PauH f r om t he Saxon. I t i s, i n f act , t he r epor t of an

i mpor t ant par Hament ar y debat e of 1, 000 year s back,

cur i ous as a cont r ast t o a Hansar d' s debat e of t o- da} -

i n mor e ways t han one. I t can scar cel y be abr i dged

wi t hout damage, and i s as f ol l ows : —

" I n t he name of Chr i st our Lor d and Savi our .

Af t er ei ght hundr ed and ni net y- si x year s had passed

si nce Hi s bi r t h, i n t he f our t eent h I ndi ct i on, t he Eal der -

man Et hel r ed summoned t he Mer ci an wi t an, bi shops,

nobl es, and al l hi s f or ces, t o appear at Gl ost er ;

and t hi s he di d wi t h t he knowl edge and appr obat i on

of Ki ng Al f r ed. Ther e t hey t ook counsel t oget her

how t hey mi ght t he most j ust l y gover n t hei r com-

muni t y bef or e God and t he wor l d, and many men,

cl er gy as wel l as l ai t y, consul t ed t oget her r espect i ng

t he l ands, and many ot her mat t er s whi ch wer e l ai d

bef or e t hem. Then Bi shop Wer f r i t h spoke t o t he

assembl ed wi t an, and decl ar ed t hat al l f or est l and

whi ch bel onged t o Wuduceast r e, and t he r evenues

of whi ch Ki ng Et hel bal d once best owed on Wor cest er

f or ever , shoul d hencef or t h be hel d by Bi shop Wer -

f r i t h f or wood and past ur e ; and he sai d t hat t he

Page 112 of 174

r evenue shoul d be t aken par t l y at Bi sl ege, par t l y at

Aef eni ngas, par t l y at Scor r anst ane, and par t l y at

Thor nbyr i g, accor di ng as he chose. Then al l t he

wi t an answer ed t hat t he Chur ch must make good

her r i ght as wel l as ot her s. Then Et hel wal d ( Eal der -

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

man ?) spoke : he woul d not oppose t he r i ght , t he

Bi shops Al dber ht and Al hun had al r eady negot i at ed

her eon, he woul d at al l t i mes gr ant t o each chur ch

her al l ot t ed por t i on. So he benevol ent l y yi el ded t o

t he bi shop' s cl ai m, and commanded hi s vassal Ecgl af

t o depar t wi t h Wul f hun, t he pr i est of t he pl ace

( Gl ost er ? — pr oper l y, t he i nhabi t ant of t he pl ace) .

And he caused al l t he boundar i es t o be sur veyed by

t hem, as he r ead t hem i n t he ol d books, and as Ki ng

Et hel bal d had f or mer l y mar ked t hem out and gr ant ed

t hem. But Et hel wal d st i l l desi r ed f r om t he bi shops

and t he di ocese, t hat t hey shoul d ki ndl y al l ow hi m

and hi s son Al hmund t o enj oy t he pr of i t s of t he l and

f or l i f e ; t hey woul d hol d i t onl y as a l oan, and no

one mi ght depr i ve t hem of any of t he r i ght s of

past ur e, whi ch wer e gr ant ed t o hi m at Langanhr ycge

at t he t i me when God gave hi m t he l and. And

Et hel wal d decl ar ed t hat i t woul d be al ways agai nst

God' s f avour f or any one t o possess i t but t he l or d of

t hat chur ch t o whom i t had been r el i nqui shed, wi t h

t he except i on of Al hmund ; and t hat he, dur i ng hi s

l i f e, woul d mai nt ai n t he same f r i endl y spi r i t of co-

oper at i on wi t h t he bi shop. But i f i t ever happened

t hat Al hmund shoul d cease t o r ecogni se t he agr ee-

ment , or i f he shoul d be pr onounced unwor t hy t o

keep t he l and, or t hi r dl y, i f hi s end shoul d ar r i ve,

t hen t he l or d of t he chur ch shoul d ent er i nt o posses -

si on, as t he Mer ci an wi t an had deci ded at t hei r

assembl y, and poi nt ed out t o hi m i n t he books. Thi s

t ook pl ace wi t h t he concur r ence of t he Eal der man

Et hel r ed, of Et hel f l eda, of t he Eal der men Et hul f ,

THE KI NGS FRI ENDS.

Et hel f er t h, and Al hhel m, of t he Pr i est s Ednot h,

El f r aed, Wer f er t h, and Et hel wal d, of hi s own ki ns -

men, Et hel st an and Et hel hun, and Hkewi se of Al h-

mund hi s own son. And so t he pr i est of t he pl ace

and Et hel wal d' s vassal r ode over t he l and, f i r st t o

Gi nnet hl aege and Roddi mbeor g, t hen t o Smececumb

and Senget l ege, t hen t o Hear danl ege al so cal l ed

Dr yganl eg, and as f ar as Li t t l e Naegl esl ege and t he

l and of Et hel f er t h. So Et hel wal d' s men poi nt ed out

t o hi m t he boundar i es as t hey wer e def i ned and

shown i n t he anci ent books. "

To Bi shop Wer f r i t h' s zeal and abi l i t y i t i s most

pr obabl y owi ng t hat t he r eact i on t owar ds pagani sm

i n Mer ci a, whi ch f ol l owed t he Dani sh occupat i on,

made l i t t l e pr ogr ess. Al l t r aces of i t seem t o have

di sappear ed bef or e Al f r ed' s deat h, when Cent r al Eng-

l and had become as sound as Sout her n Engl and.

Page 113 of 174

The onl y nat i ve of Wessex who woul d seem t o

have won a pl ace f or hi msel f i n t hat l i t t l e band of

r ef or mi ng chur chmen was Denewul f , Bi shop of Wi n-

chest er , an honour ed and f ai t hf ul counsel l or of t he

Ki ng, who i s commonl y supposed t o be t he neat - her d

wi t h whom Al f r ed became acquai nt ed i n 878, i n

Schvood For est . I f t hi s be so, he coul d scar cel y have

been a whol l y uneducat ed man even t hen, as Al f r ed

r equi r ed schol ar shi p i n hi s bi shops, and Denewul f was

consecr at ed bef or e t he end of 881. The st or y r est s

pr i nci pal l y on t he aut hor i t y of t he Chr oni cl e of

Fl or ence of Wor cest er , compi l ed t owar ds t he end

of t he el event h cent ur y.

But t he f r i end of Al f r ed' s of whom we know most i s

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Asser Menevensi s, a Wel sh monk, t he aut hor of t he

Li f e so of t en quot ed ; and who, dur i ng t he l ast

si xt een or sevent een year s of hi s l i f e, was t he most

i nt i mat e f r i end and advi ser of t he Ki ng. Somewher e

about t he year 884 Asser was ei t her summoned by

Al f r ed, or came of hi s own accor d, f r om t he monas -

t er y of St . Davi d' s, on " t he f ur t hest west er n coast of

Wal es, " t o t he r oyal r esi dence at Dene, i n Sussex,

wher e Al f r ed was t hen st ayi ng wi t h hi s cour t . I t

woul d seem t hat t he Wel sh pr i nce, Hemei d, who had

swor n al l egi ance t o Al f r ed t o obt ai n pr ot ect i on agai nst

t he si x sons of Rot r i , was i n t he habi t of pl under i ng

t he monast er y, and had r ecent l y dr i ven Novi s, Ar ch-

bi shop of St . Davi d' s, Asser ' s ki nsman, out of hi s

di ocese. Novi s and hi s ki nsman wi l l no doubt have

r easoned, t hat a ki ng f ami l i ar wi t h t he par abl es

woul d be wr ot h at such conduct i n a f el l ow- ser vant :

and t hat he who was so bent on est abl i shi ng mo-

nast er i es as school s and r ef uges f or l ear ni ng i n hi s

own ki ngdom, wi l l not suf f er t hi s ki nd of doi ngs

by one whom he i s pr ot ect i ng. Whet her summoned

or not , Asser was r ecei ved wi t h open ar ms by t he

Ki ng, who knew hi m f or a l ear ned and pi ous man,

and at once admi t t ed hi m t o f ami l i ar i nt er cour se.

Soon t he Ki ng began t o pr ess hi m ear nest l y t o

devot e hi msel f t o hi s ser vi ce, and t o gi ve up al l he

possessed on t he west bank of t he Sever n, pr omi si ng

t o r ecompense hi m ampl y i n hi s own domi ni ons.

" I r epl i ed, " Asser cont i nues, " t hat I coul d not wi t h-

out t hought , and r ashl y, pr omi se such t hi ng. s, f or i t

seemed t o me wr ong t o l eave t hose sacr ed pl aces

THE KI NG' S FRI ENDS. 223

wher e I had been br ed and educat ed, and had r e-

cei ved t he t onsur e and or di nat i on, f or t he sake of any

ear t hl y honour or pr omot i on. Upon t hi s he sai d,

' I f you cannot al t oget her accede t o my r equest ,

at l east l et me have your ser vi ce i n par t ; spend si x

mont hs of t he year wi t h me, and t he ot her si x i n

Wal es. ' I answer ed t hat I coul d not even pr omi se

t hi s hast i l y, wi t hout t he advi ce of my f r i ends. But at

l engt h, when I saw t hat he was ver y anxi ous f or my

Page 114 of 174

ser vi ce ( t hough I know not why) , I pr omi sed t hat i f

my l i f e wer e spar ed I woul d come back i n si x mont hs

wi t h such a r epl y as woul d be wel come t o hi m, as wel l

as advant ageous t o me and my f r i ends. Wi t h t hi s

answer he was cont ent , and when I had gi ven hi m a

pl edge t o r et ur n at t he appoi nt ed t i me, on t he f our t h

day I l ef t hi m, and r et ur ned on hor seback t owar ds my

own count r y. Af t er my depar t ur e I was st r i cken by

a vi ol ent f ever at Wi nchest er , wher e I l ay f or a year

and a week, ni ght and day, wi t hout hope of r ecover y,

At t he appoi nt ed t i me, t her ef or e, I coul d not r edeem

my pl edge of r et ur ni ng t o hi m, and he sent messenger s

t o hast en my j our ney and ask t he cause of t he del ay.

As I was unabl e t o r i de t o hi m I sent a messenger t o

t el l hi m t he cause of t he del ay, and t o assur e hi m t hat

i f I r ecover ed I woul d f ul f i l what I had pr omi sed. So

when my si ckness l ef t me, by t he advi ce of al l my

f r i ends, f or t he benef i t of our hol y pl ace and of al l who

dwel t t her ei n, I di d as I had pr omi sed t he Ki ng, and

devot ed mysel f t o hi s ser vi ce on condi t i on t hat I

shoul d r emai n wi t h hi m si x mont hs i n ever y year ,

ei t her cont i nuousl y, i f I coul d spend si x mont hs i n

224 LI FE OF A LI RED THE GREAT.

ever y year wi t h hi m cont i nuousl y, or al t er nat el y, t hr ee

mont hs i n Wal es, and t hr ee i n Engl and. " Asser

accor di ngl y went t o t he cour t at Leonaf or d, wher e t he

Ki ng r ecei ved hi m honour abl y, and he r emai ned ei ght

mont hs, " dur i ng whi ch I r ead t o hi m what ever books

he l i ked, and such as we had at hand ; f or t hi s i s hi s

r egul ar cust om bot h ni ght and day, ami d hi s many

ot her occupat i ons of mi nd and body, ei t her hi msel f t o

r ead books or t o l i st en whi l e ot her s r ead t hem. "

Asser , however , f i nds t hat t he si x mont hs' compact

i s l i kel y t o be f or got t en, and r emi nds t he Ki ng of i t

f r equent l y. " At l engt h, when I had made up my

mi nd t o demand l eave t o go home, he cal l ed me t o

hi m at t wi l i ght , on Chr i st mas eve, and gave me t wo

document s i n whi ch was a l ong l i st of al l t he t hi ngs

whi ch wer e i n t wo monast er i es, cal l ed i n Saxon

Angusbur y and Banwel l , and at t hat same t i me

del i ver ed t o me t hose t wo monast er i es wi t h al l t hose

t hi ngs whi ch wer e i n t hem, and a si l ken pal l of gr eat

val ue, and a l oad of i ncense as much as a st r ong man

coul d car r y, addi ng t hat he di d not gi ve me t hese

t r i f l i ng pr esent s because he was unwi l l i ng her eaf t er t o

gi ve me gr eat er ; f or i n cour se of t i me he unexpect edl y

gave me Exet er , wi t h al l t he chur ch pr oper t y whi ch

bel onged t o hi m t her e and i n Cor nwal l , besi des dai l y

gi f t s wi t hout number , of ever y ki nd of wor l dl y weal t h,

whi ch i t woul d be t oo l ong t o r ecount l est I shoul d

wear y my r eader s. But l et no one suppose t hat I

have ment i oned t hese pr esent s her e f or t he sake of

gl oi y or f l at t er y, or t o obt ai n gr eat er honour . I cal l

God t o wi t ness t hat I have not done so, but t hat I

THE KI NGS FRI ENDS. 225

mi ght t est i f y t o t hose who ar e i gnor ant how l i ber al he

i s i n gi vi ng. He t hen at once gave me l eave t o r i de

t o t hese monast er i es, and t hen t o r et ur n t o my own

count r y. " So Asser was i nst al l ed as a sor t of bi shop

i n par t i bus t o hi s own count r ymen i n Cor nwal l . So

Page 115 of 174

at l east we ar e dr i ven t o conj ect ur e, f or t he see

of Exet er was not const i t ut ed f or anot her cent ur y,

nor was he made Bi shop of Sher bor ne t i l l t he deat h

of Wul f si g i n t he year 900, t hough Al f r ed st yl es hi m

bi shop, and hi s name i s at t ached t o char t er s as bi shop

f or many year s bef or e t hat dat e. We shal l have t o

r et ur n t o t he good bi shop' s r emi ni scences when we

t r eat of t he Ki ng' s pr i vat e and l i t er ar y l i f e.

The ot her eccl esi ast i cs who wor ked i n t hat nobl e

band of t he Ki ng' s hel per s, such as Et hel st an and

Wer ewul f of Mer ci a, ar e scar cel y mor e t han names t o

us, unl ess we except Joannes Er i gena, or Scot us, an

I r i shman by bi r t h, who i s sai d by some t o have t aken

r ef uge wi t h t he Ki ng. That Al f r ed when a boy had

known John at t he cour t of Char l es t he Bal d, wher e

he was t ut or t o Judi t h and her br ot her s, we have

al r eady hear d, and may be sur e t hat he woul d have

been anxi ous t o obt ai n t he hel p of so emi nent a

schol ar and t hi nker . Mor eover , John t he Scot , who

has been cal l ed t he f at her of t he Real i st s, and had

st udi ed i n t he East and at At hens, may wel l have

needed an asyl um at t hi s t i me. He had wr i t t en

wor ks on t he Euchar i st , and on pr edest i nat i on, whi ch

had br ought hi m i nt o t r oubl e wi t h t he aut hor i t i es of

t he Chur ch, and had not onl y r ef used t o di st i ngui sh

r el i gi on f r om phi l osophy, on t he gr ound t hat bot h

S. L. VI I I . Q

226 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

had t he same end — t he sear ch f or t r ut h ; but had

act ual l y mai nt ai ned t hat al l aut hor i t y i s der i ved f r om

r eason, and t hat aut hor i t y whi ch i s not conf i r med b} ^

r eason i s of no val ue. At t he same t i me hi s f amous

r et or t t o Char l es — who had asked hi m si t t i ng at meat

what separ at es a Scot and a sot { qui d i nt er est i nt er

Scot ui n et sot nni ) — " t he t abl e onl y " { ui ei t sa t ant nvi ) ,

may have made t he Fr ench cour t an undesi r abl e

r esi dence. St i l l , had he come t o Engl and, Asser had

s?i r el y speci al l y not i ced hi m amongst Al f r ed' s hel per s

and f r i ends.

Of l aymen a l ong l i st mi ght be gi ven, f r om Et hel r ed

of Mer ci a, t o Ot her e and Wul f st an, hi s sea capt ai ns, t he

account of whose voyages i n t he Nor t h Sea i s i nt er -

pol at ed by Al f r ed i n hi s t r ansl at i on of Or osi us. But

beyond t hei r names, and of f i ces i n t he Ki ng' s house-

hol d, t her e i s l i t t l e t o t el l of t hem, t hough enough

r emai ns t o wi t ness t o t he t r ut h of Asser ' s el oquent

st at ement , t hat " he woul d avai l hi msel f of ever y

openi ng t o pr ocur e hel per s i n hi s gr eat desi gns, t o ai d

hi m i n hi s st r i vi ngs af t er wi sdom ; and l i ke a pr udent

bi r d, whi ch, r i si ng i n ear l y mor ni ng f r om her l oved

nest , st eer s her swi f t f l i ght t hr ough t he uncer t ai n t r act

of ai r , and descends on t he mani f ol d and var i ed f l ower s

of gr ass, her b, and shr ub, t r yi ng t hat whi ch pl eases

most , t hat she may bear i t t o her home, so di d he

di r ect hi s eyes af ar , and seek abr oad t hat whi ch he

had not at home wi t hi n hi s own ki ngdom. "

At t he same t i me, t hough he gat her ed r ound

hi m compet ent men of al l nat i ons and al l cal l i ngs,

Page 116 of 174

whei evcr he coul d f i nd t hem, Al f r ed was si ngu-

THE KI NGS FRI ENDS. 227

l ar l y i ndependent of t hem. He had no i ndi spen-

sabl e of f i cer s. The wor k whi ch went on so busi l y

dur i ng t hose year s of peace, and was t r ansf or mi ng

t he l i f e of al l sout her n Engl and, was hi s own wor k.

He was not onl y t he i nspi r er , but i n a ver y r eal sense

t he doer of i t , and t her e i s no name of bi shop, sol di er ,

or j ur i st , whi ch can make good a cl ai m t o anyt hi ng

mor e t han honour r ef l ect ed f r om t hei r gr eat Ki ng.

I n al l hi st or y i t woul d be har d t o f i nd a mor e st r i ki ng

exampl e of what one mnn may do f or a nat i on i n t he

cour se of a shor t l i f et i me.

CHAPTER XI X.

THE KI NGS NEI GHBOURS.

^' Al l ki ngs shal l f al l down bef or e Ji i m : al l nat i ons shal l do hi m ser vi ce.

' ^ For he shal l del i ver t he poor when he cr i et h : t he needy al so, and hi m

t hat l i al h no hel per . ' ' ' '

The t empt at i on t o over - gover n i s apt t o beset r ul er s

who have t he i nt ense l ove of or der , and geni us f or

or gani zi ng, whi ch di st i ngui shed Al f r ed. I t i s not easy

f or such men t o r ecogni se t he wor t h of nat i onal or

l ocal habi t s and cust oms, or t o r esi st t he t empt at i on

of i mposi ng t hei r own l aws and met hods upon r aces

whi ch come under t hei r i nf l uence, and Chr i st endom has

suf f er ed gr i evousl y, and i s st i l l suf f er i ng, f r om such

at t empt s t o cr ush out nat i onal l i f e. The sur r oundi ngs

of Al f r ed wer e pr eci sel y t hose most l i kel y t o have

pr ompt ed such a pol i cy. I n t he year s of r est whi ch

f ol l owed t he peace of Wedmor e t he West Saxon

ki ngdom i ncr eased i n weal t h and power so r api dl y

as compl et el y t o over shadow i t s weaker nei ghbour s.

One af t er anot her t hey sought t he pr ot ect i on of

Al f r ed, and i n no case was such pr ot ect i on r ef used,

or any at t empt made t o f ast en on t hem t he West

Saxon code of l aws, or t o super sede t he nat i ve

gover nment .

The ol d enemi es of t he Saxons and Angl es, t he

THE KI NG' S NEI GHBOURS. 229

Br i t ons, who had been f or ced back i nt o t he Wel sh

mount ai ns, had mai nt ai ned t hei r i ndependence agai nst

such ki ngs as Of f a and Egber t . Ther e had been

const ant war s on t he mar shes. Of t en def eat ed and

i nvaded, t he Cel t i c t r i bes had al ways cl osed up be-

hi nd t he r et r eat i ng Saxon ar mi es. They had r ef used

al l al l egi ance, and hel d l i t t l e peaceabl e i nt er cour se

wi t h t hei r st r onger nei ghbour s. I n t he l ast of t he

Page 117 of 174

Saxon i nvasi ons, Ki ng Et hel wul f had penet r at ed t o

t he I sl e of Angl esea, and humbl ed Rot r i Mawr ( t he

gr eat Roder i ck) , whi l e Al f r ed was a chi l d. I n

r evenge, t he Wel sh had sympat hi sed wi t h and as -

si st ed t he Dane, and had ser i ousl y added t o t he

per i l of t he gr eat st r uggl e of hi s manhood.

Rot r i Mawr had l ef t si x sons, t ur bul ent men f r om

t hei r yout h up, of whom t he l eader , pr obabl y t he

el dest , was Anar ant , who had become t he f r i end and

al l y of t he Nor t humbr i an Danes of Hal f dene' s ar my.

The hand of t hese br et hr en was heavy on t he ot her

Wel sh pr i nces i n t hose di st ur bed year s. Hemci d,

pr i nce of Demet i a, t he di st ur ber of t he pr el at es and

monast er y of St . Davi d' s — t o appeal agai nst whose

f r equent pl under i ngs Asser made hi s pi l gr i mage f r om

t hat qui et sanct uar y i n " t he ext r emest west er n coast s

of Br i t t ai n " — was t he f i r st t o open negot i at i ons wi t h

Al f r ed. He and hi s peopl e wer e dr i ven t o t hi s appeal

by t he vi ol ence of t hei r nor t her n nei ghbour s, t he si x

sons of Rot r i : so t hey submi t t ed t hemsel ves t o t he

domi ni on of t he Ki ng, and obt ai ned hi s pr ot ect i on.

Then Hel l oed t he son of Tendyr , t he ki ng or chi ef

of t he " Br echei noc " Wel sh, occupyi ng t he pr esent

230 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

count y of Br ecknock and nei ghbour i ng di st r i ct s of

Cent r al Wal es, came i n and made hi s submi ssi on, t o

pr ot ect hi s peopl e f r om t he same t ur bul ent nei gh-

bour s. Fur t her sout h, Howel l t he son of Rhys, and

Br ochmai l and Fer nmai l , t he t wo sons of Mour i c,

who bet ween t hem hel d r ul e over al l t he t r i bes i n-

habi t i ng Mor ganwy and Gwent by t he Sever n, and

whose count r y mar ched wi t h t hat of Et hel r ed of

Mer ci a, appeal ed f r om t hat ener get i c vi cer oy t o Ki ng

Al f r ed, and pl aced t hemsel ves under hi s pr ot ect i on.

They accused t he Ki ng' s son- i n- l aw of vi ol ence and

t yr anny ; and we may r eadi l y under st and t hat P^t hel -

r cd' s not i ons of gover nment wer e of a ki nd whi ch

woul d be l i kel y t o br i ng about f r equent col l i si ons wi t h

hi s nei ghbour s on t he opposi t e bank of t he Sever n.

Al l of t hese " gai ned t he l ove and guar di anshi p " of

t he gr eat Ki ng of t he West Saxons, " and def ence

f r om ever y quar t er , even as t he Ki ng wi t h hi s men

coul d pr ot ect hi msel f " So at l ast Anar ant , t he son

of Rot r i , wi t h hi s f i ve br ot her s, f i ndi ng t hat t hei r

occupat i on was gone, and t hat t he shi el d of t he gr eat

Ki ng was cast over al l t hei r br ot her pr i ncel i ngs and

t hei r possessi ons, " abandoni ng t he f r i endshi p of t he

Nor t humbr i ans, f r om whi ch t hey had r ecei ved har m

onl y, came i nt o Ki ng Al f r ed' s pr esence and eager l y

sought hi s f r i endshi p. " Thi s was at once accor ded t o

t hem al so. They wer e honour abl y ent er t ai ned at cour t ,

and Anar ant was " made Al f r ed' s son by conf i r ma-

t i on f r om t he bi shop' s hands, " and l ef t f or hi s own

count r y l oaded wi t h many gi f t s. The same t er ms of

al l egi ance wer e i mposed on l i i m as on Et hel r ed of

THE KI NGS NEI GHBOURS.

Mcr ci a : and so, bef or e t he year 884, t he whol e

Page 118 of 174

of Wal es was br ought under Al f r ed' s sway ; t he

i nt er t r i bal war s and pl under l ngs ceased, and t he

count r y enj oyed peace, and t he pr i nces t he f r i end-

shi p of t hei r gr eat nei ghbour , and hi s assi st ance i n

al l ways i n t he i mpr ovement of t hei r own peopl e.

Thus t he ol d wounds wer e cl osed f or t he t i me, and

t he t wo nat i ons set t l ed down i n unaccust omed peace,

Cel t and Saxon si de by si de, af t er upwar ds of f our

cent ur i es of f i er ce and di sast r ous war f ar e. The peace

was of shor t dur at i on, but i t l ast ed t i l l af t er Al f r ed' s

deat h.

The near r el at i onshi p bet ween t he peopl e of t he

ki ngdoms of Mer ci a and Wessex, and t he ol d r i val r y

bet ween t hei r r oyal houses, must have made t he t ask

of est abl i shi ng sat i sf act or y r el at i ons bet ween t hem,

now t hat t he supr emacy of t he l at t er had been

t hor oughl y est abl i shed, even mor e di f f i cul t t han i n

t he case of Nor t h Wal es. The memor i es of Penda

and Of i f a, of many bat t l es won on West Saxon soi l —

even of t r i but e pai d and al l egi ance owned — must

st i l l have been f r esh i n Mer ci a. But Buhr ed had

l ef t no chi l dr en, and t he most power f ul of t he

Mer ci an nobl es was devot ed t o Al f r ed. Thi s was

Et hel r ed, t he ear l of t he Angl i an t r i be of Hwi ccas,

who wer e set t l ed i n t he east er n par t s of Wor cest er -

shi r e and Her ef or dshi r e, and had been t he chi ef

bul war k agai nst t he Wel sh. We do not know any-

t hi ng of hi s ear l i er hi st or y, and cannot conj ect ur e

t her ef or e how so br ave and abl e a man, at t he head

of a t r i be i nur ed t o t he const ant war f ar e of t l i c

232 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

mar ches, made no head agai nst Gut hr um and t he

pagan ar my at t he t i me of t he Dani sh occupat i on

of Mer ci a. At any r at e he had not f or f ei t ed t he

conf i dence and goodwi l l of Al f r ed, f or i n t he year 880,

t he same i n whi ch t he Danes f i nal l y l ef t t hei r camp

at Ci r encest er and r et i r ed i nt o East Angl i a, Et hel r ed

was appoi nt ed al der man of Mer ci a, and acknow-

l edged al l egi ance t o Al f r ed. We have a char t er of

t hat year si gned by hi m i n t hat capaci t y, t o whi ch

i s appended Al f r ed' s si gnat ur e as hi s over - l or d : " I

Al f r ed, Ki ng, have consent ed and subscr i bed. " I n

l i ke manner , i n t he year ^^ " ^ i , a gi f t of chur ch l ands

by Al der man Et hel r ed bear s t he endor sement , " I

Al f r ed conf i r m t hi s gi f t wi t h t he si gn of t he hol y

cr oss. "

But t her e i s st r onger pr oof of t he est eem i n whi ch

Et hel r ed was hel d by hi s ki ng, i n t he f act t hat he

became t he husband of Et hel f l eda, Al f r ed' s el dest

daught er . The dat e of t he mar r i age cannot be

ascer t ai ned, as no not i ce of t he event occur s i n

t he Chr oni cl es. But even i n t hose t i mes, when gi r l s

wer e mar r i ed at f ar ear l i er ages t han now, i t coul d

scar cel y have happened bef or e 882, f or Al f r ed hi m-

sel f was onl y mar r i ed i n t he aut umn of ^6' ^ . But ,

bot h bef or e and af t er hi s mar r i age, t he same ener gy

i n hi s gover nment and l oyal t y t o hi s ki ng seems

t o have di st i ngui shed Et hel r ed. Mer ci a had i t s own

wi t an, whi ch was summoned mor e f r equent l y t han

t hat of Wessex. I t was pr esi ded over by Et hel r ed,

and set t l ed al l quest i ons connect ed wi t h t he i nt er nal

af f ai r s of t he ki ngdom, subj ect onl y t o Al f r ed' s

Page 119 of 174

THE KI NGS NEI GHBOURS. 233

appr oval . I n t he r epor t of t he sessi on of t he wi t an

i n 896, al r eady gi ven, we f i nd t he expr ess st at e-

ment t hat i t was summoned " wi t h t he knowl edge

and appr obat i on of Ki ng Al f r ed ; " but nei t her t hen,

nor i n t he ear l i er sessi ons of 883 and 886, i s t her e

any t r ace of hi s f ur t her i nt er f er ence. Mer ci a was

l ef t t o devel op i t sel f i n i t s own way, and under i t s

own l aws. We have, unf or t unat el y, no copy of t he

code whi ch Al f r ed caused t o be pr epar ed f or t he

si st er ki ngdom, but t he best Angl o- Saxon schol ar s

agr ee i n hol di ng, t hat t he i nst i t ut es of Of f a wer e

embodi ed i n i t , as we have seen t hat " I na' s dooms "

wer e i ncor por at ed i n t he West Saxon code.

The wi sdom of t hi s pol i cy may be gat her ed f r om

r esul t s. The Saxon and Angl i an ki ngdoms r e-

mai ned di st i nct , but cl osel y conf eder at ed, and t he

di f f er ences of l anguage and cust om di ed out r api dl y,

t hus pr epar i ng t he way f or a st i l l cl oser uni on

Dur i ng Et hel r cd' s l i f e Mer ci a was consol i dat ed and

st r engt hened ; and t he Wel sh on t he one si de, and

t he East Angl i ans on t he ot her , f el t a mast er ' s

hand. On hi s deat h, i n gi o, London and Oxf or d

wer e at once i ncor por at ed i n t he West Saxon ki ng

dom, and t he r emai nder of Mer ci a ni ne year s l at er ,

on t he deat h of Et hel f l eda.

I n l i ke manner Al f r ed' s r el at i ons wi t h t he new

and enl ar ged ki ngdom of East Angl i a ar e char ac -

t er i sed at once by pr udence and good f ai t h. Unt i l

t he out br eak of anot her war t he boundar i es of

Gut hor m At hel st an' s ki ngdom, as set t l ed by t he f i r st

shor t t r eat y of Wedmor e, w er e scr upul ousl y r espect ed.

234 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

No at t empt was made t o r ecover ei t her Essex on

t he sout h, or any of t hat par t of Mer ci a whi ch l ay

t o t he nor t h and east of Wat hng St r eet . The onl y

act of sover ei gnt y, on t he par t of Al f r ed, was t he

i nt r oduct i on i nt o East Angl i a of a code of l aws

si mi l ar i n essence t o t he West Saxon code, but at

t he same t i me car ef ul l y r ecogni si ng and r espect i ng

di f f er ences spr i ngi ng f r om cust om and r ace. Thi s

code, i n f act , i s t he enl ar ged t r eat y of Wedmor e, t o

whi ch r ef er ence has been al r eady made.

I n t he f or m i n whi ch i t has come down t o us i t i s

cal l ed t he t r eat y of Edwar d and Gut hor m, and may

possi bl y have been f or mal l y agr eed t o af t er Al f r ed' s

deat h by Edwar d hi s son and Gut hor m I I . , who i s

sai d t o have come t o t he East Angl i an t hr one i n

905, However t hi s may be, t her e can be no doubt

t hat t he subst ance of t he code was i n f or ce bef or e

t he deat h of Gut hor m At hel st an i n 890, f or t he pr e-

ambl e begi ns : " These ar e t he dooms whi ch Ki ng

Al f r ed and Ki ng Gut hor m chose, " and decl ar es t hat

t he same had been r epeat edl y r at i f i ed bet ween t he

Saxons and Danes. The di f f er ences bet ween t he t wo

codes ar e gr eat er i n appear ance t han r eal i t y. Thus

t he code f or t he Dani sh ki ngdom has one doom onl y

Page 120 of 174

i n subst i t ut i on f or t he whol e Decal ogue, and t he

gr eat er par t of t he Lcvi t i cal l aws, whi ch ar e set out

i n t he West Saxon code. Thi s sweepi ng doom

decl ar es t hat " t he peopl e shal l l ove one God onl y,

and zeal ousl y r enounce ever y ki nd of heat hendom. "

The r emai nder of t he code i s t aken up wi t h decl ar a-

t i ons of r i ght , and l i st s of penal t i es, f ounded on t he

THE KI NG' S NEI GHBOURS. 235

same pr i nci pl es, and i nf l i ct ed f or t he same cl asses of

of f ences, as t hose i n Al f r ed' s dooms. The doubl e

l i abi l i t y of ever y l aw- br eaker t o t he t empor al and

spi r i t ual power — t he necessi t y f or maki ng amends t o

t he Chur ch, as wel l as t o t he Cr own and t he ki n of

t he i nj ur ed man — i s enf or ced t hr oughout . I n t he

same way t he r i ght s of t he sever al cl asses of soci et y

ar e val ued accor di ng t o t he amount of t hei r pr oper t y;

but i n each case t he di vi si on of r ace i s al so r ecogni sed,

t he Saxon payi ng " wer e " and " wi t e, " t he Dane

" l ahsl i t . " The onl y di f f er ence of not e i s, t he gr eat er

amount of pr ot ect i on whi ch t he Dani sh code endea-

vour s t o t hr ow over pr i est s and f or ei gner s. Thus

Ar t i cl e XI I . enact s t hat " i f any man wr ong an eccl e-

si ast i c, or f or ei gner , as t o money or l i f e, t he ki ng, or

ear l , or bi shop shal l be t o hi m i n pl ace of a ki nsman ;

and l et boot be st r i ct l y made accor di ng as t he deed

may be, t o Chr i st , and t o t he ki ng ; or l et Ji i m

avenge t he deed ver y deepl y who i s ki ng among

t he peopl e. " Thi s di st i nct i on may have ar i sen, f r om

t he necessi t y of shi el di ng Chr i st i an cl er gy, i n t hose

par t s wher e t he maj or i t y of t he peopl e wer e st i l l

Pagans, who r emember ed t he sack and bur ni ng of

t he monast er i es ; and f r om t he desi r e of Al f r ed t o

encour age i nt er cour se bet ween hi s own i mmedi at e

subj ect s and t he East Angl i ans.

Af t er a f ew r est l ess year s, endi ng i n t he out -

br eak of 8S5, when Al f r ed' s f l eet cr ossed f r om

Rochest er t o avenge t he br each of peace by t he sea-

f ar i ng por t i on of Gut hor m At hel st an' s peopl e, t hat

pr i nce seems t o have kc^j t f ai t h wi t h hi s over - l or d, and

236 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

t o have l i ved qui et l y at home. Whet her hi s conver -

si on was si ncer e or not we cannot t el l ; but cer t ai nl y,

under t he i nf l uence of t he t r eat y - code, and t he i nt er -

cour se wi t h t he nei ghbour i ng ki ngdoms, and wi t h t he

r emnant s of t he ol d Angl i an st ock whi ch r emai ned

wi t hi n t hei r bor der s, t he Danes, who dwel t i n al l t he

cent r al count i es bor der i ng on Wat l i ng St r eet , became

a Chr i st i an peopl e. I n 890 Gut hor m At hel st an di ed,

and was bur i ed at Thet f or d, He was succeeded by

one Eohr i c, a Nor t hman, under whom t he Danes

set t l ed on t he coast s of Nor f ol k, Suf f ol k, and Essex

appear t o have r et ur ned t o t hei r ol d pi r at i cal habi t s, i f

not t o heat heni sm, and t o have made common cause

wi t h Hast i ng i n hi s gr eat i nvasi on of Engl and. But

even af t er t he def eat of t he l ast gr eat vi ki ng t he pol i cy

of Al f r ed r emai ned unchanged. Wi t h t he except i on

of t he west er n por t i on of Essex, whi ch he i ncor po-

Page 121 of 174

r at ed i n Mer ci a f or t he pr ot ect i on of London, t he

boundar i es of East Angl i a wer e l ef t as t hey had been

set t l ed by t he t r eat y of Wedmor e.

The Nor t humbr i an ki ngdom can scar cel y be

r eckoned amongst t he nei ghbour s of Wessex, but

even t her e Al f r ed' s i nf l uence was acknowl edged.

Af t er t he deat h of Hal f dene, Gut hr i d, sai d t o have

been a son of Har di canut e, ki ng of Denmar k, suc -

ceeded. He was a Chr i st i an, and became t he f i r m

al l y of Al f r ed, who assi st ed hi m i n t he r est or at i on of

t he Chur ch of Dur ham, and cont r i but ed, out of t hat

ei ght h of hi s i ncome whi ch was set apar t f or t hese

pur poses, t o t he needs of ot her chur ches and ser vant s

of God dwel l i ng i n Nor t humbr i a. Unbr oken peace

THE KI NGS NEI GHBOURS. 237

was mai nt ai ned bet ween t he t wo ki ngdoms dur i ng al l

Al f r ed' s days,

Kent and Sussex wer e mer e appanages of Wessex

bef or e Al f r ed came t o t he t hr one, but had not unt i l

now been t hor oughl y i ncor por at ed. Thi s was now

done. I nst ead of a cadet of t he r oyal f ami l y of

Cer di c r ul i ng as ki ng i n one or t he ot her of t hem, as

Et hel wul f and At hel st an had done, t hey wer e now

pl aced under Al f r ed' s al der men, and wer e subj ect , no

doubt , t o t he same bur dens, and ent i t l ed t o t he same

pr i vi l eges, as Wi l t shi r e or Ber kshi r e. At t he same

t i me l ocal t r adi t i ons and cust oms wer e r espect ed,

such as gavel ki nd, whi ch r emai ns i n Kent t o t hi s

day.

Thus t he Ki ng l i ved, i n per f ect ami t y wi t h hi s nei gh-

bour s, and wi t hout a t hought of abusi ng hi s super i or

st r engt h. No sol di er of Al f r ed' s ever dr ew swor d

except i n def ence of hi s own home and count r y. He

even put a check on hi s ener get i c son- i n- l aw Et hcl r cd

of Mer ci a, when hi s hand was begi nni ng t o be f el t t oo

heavi l y by t he peopl e of Nor t h Wal es. No gr eat

sol di er had ever mor e pl ausi bl e pr et ext s f or despoi l i ng

hi s nei ghbour s. Al l hi s boundar i es t owar ds t he nor t h

and east want ed r ect i f yi ng, and occasi ons f or quar r el

wi t h t he East Angl i ans, and Wel sh, and Nor t hum-

br i ans wer e never f ar t o seek. But i n hi s eyes st r engt h

and power wer e si mpl y t r ust s, t o be used by t hei r

possessor s f or t he benef i t of t he weak. Thi s was hi s

r eadi ng of t he wi l l and meani ng of t he Ki ng who

commanded hi m, and he act ed on i t wi t h a si ngl e

mi nd, exer ci si ng a f or bear ance and moder at i on i n hi s

238 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

war s, negot i at i ons, and t r eat i es, f or whi ch i t woul d be

har d t o f i nd a par al l el .

I ndeed, one i s at t i mes i ncl i ned t o be i mpat i ent of

hi s gr eat pat i ence ; t o t hi nk t hat f or hi s peopl e' s sake

hi s hand shoul d have been heavi er upon Gut hor m and

Hast i ng, when t hey wer e i n hi s power ; t o wi sh t hat

he had not l ef t t he t ask of i ncor por at i ng al l Engl and

Page 122 of 174

i n one ki ngdom t o hi s successor s. We ar e al l t empt ed

i n our secr et hear t s t o bel i eve t hat t he gr eat I t al i an

was r i ght i n put t i ng mer cy, cour t eousness, t r ut hf ul -

ness, i n t he cat egor y of l uxur i es whi ch pr i nces can

onl y af f or d t o use wi t h t he most guar ded moder at i on.

" The pr esent manner of l i vi ng, " Machi avel l i wr i t es

( cap. xi v. ) , " i s so di f f er ent f r om t he way t hat ought t o

be t aken, t hat he who negl ect s what i s done t o f ol l ow

what ought t o be done, wi l l sooner l ear n how t o r ui n

t han how t o pr eser ve hi msel f . For a t ender man, and

one t hat desi r es t o be honest i n ever yt hi ng, must needs

r un a gr eat hazar d among so many of a cont r ar y

pr i nci pl e. Wher ef or e i t i s necessar y f or a pr i nce t hat

i s wi l l i ng t o subsi st t o har den hi msel f , and l ear n t o be

good or ot her wi se accor di ng t o t he exi genci es of hi s

af f ai r s. " And agai n ( cap. xi x. ) , " How honour abl e i t i s

f or a pr i nce t o keep hi s wor d, and act r at her wi t h

i nt egr i t y t han cr af t , I suppose ever y one under st ands.

Never t hel ess exper i ence has shown i n our t i mes t hat

t hose pr i nces who have not pi nned t hemsel ves up t o

t hat punct ual i t y and pr eci seness have done gr eat

t hi ngs, and by t hei r cunni ng and subt l et y not onl y

ci r cumvent ed and pi er ced t he br ai ns of t hose wi t h

whom t hey had t o deal , but have over come and been

THE KI NGS NEI GHBOURS. 239

t oo har d f or t hose who have been so super st i t i ousl y

exact . Nor was t her e ever any pr i nce t hat want ed

l awf ul pr et ence t o j ust i f y hi s br each of pr omi se. And

men ar e so si mpl e i n t hei r t emper , and so submi ssi ve

t o t hei r pr esent necessi t i es, t hat he t hat i s neat and

cl eanl y i n hi s col l usi ons shal l never want peopl e t o

pr act i se t hem upon. A pr i nce, t her ef or e, i s not

obl i ged t o have al l t he f or ement i oned good qual i t i es

i n r eal i t y, but i t i s necessar y t o have t hem i n appear -

ance ; nay, I wi l l be bol d t o af f i r m, t hat havi ng t hem

act ual l y, and empl oyi ng t hem on al l occasi ons, t he} -

ar e ext r emel y pr ej udi ci al . Wher eas, havi ng t hem

onl y i n appear ance, t hey t ur n t o bet t er account . I t i s

honour abl e t o seem mi l d, and mer ci f ul , and cour t eous,

and r el i gi ous, and si ncer e, and i ndeed t o be so, pr o-

vi ded your mi nd be so r ect i f i ed and pr epar ed, t hat

you can act qui t e cont r ar y on occasi on. "

But t he mor e at t ent i vel y we st udy Al f r ed' s l i f e, t he

mor e cl ear l y does t he pr act i cal wi sdom of hi s met hods

of gover nment j ust i f y i t sel f by r esul t s. Of . st r ong

pr i nces, wi t h mi nds " r ect i f i ed and pr epar ed " on t he

Machi avel l i an model , t he wor l d has had mor e t han

enough, who have won ki ngdoms f or t hemsel ves, and

used t hem f or t hemsel ves, and so l ef t a bi t t er i n-

her i t ance t o t hei r chi l dr en and t hei r peopl e. I t i s

wel l t hat , her e and t her e i n hi st or y, we can poi nt t o

a ki ng whose r ei gn has pr oved t hat t he hi ghest

success i n gover nment i s not onl y compat i bl e wi t h,

but dependent upon, t he hi ghest Chr i st i an mor al i t y.

CHAPTER XX.

THE KI NG S FOE.

Page 123 of 174

" Fr cnuar di t css i s i n hi s hear t , he devi set h vi i schi ej eont i mi al l y ; he smvet h

di scor d.

" Tl i er ef or e shal l hi s cal ami t y come suddenl y ; suddenl y shal l he be hr ohen

wi t hout r emedy. "

I n t he mi ddl e of hi s gr eat r ef or ms, when al l Engl and

was t hr i l l i ng wi t h new l i f e, and or der and l i ght wer e

begi nni ng t o penet r at e i nt o t he most out - of - t he- way

comer s of t he ki ngdom, t he war - cl oud gat her ed agai n,

and Al f r ed had once mor e t o ar m. I t was agai nst

t he ol d enemy, " t he ar my, " as t he chr oni cl er s st yl e i t

— what was l ef t of i t , at l east , af t er t hr ee year s of

pr ecar i ous f i ght i ng and pl under i ng i n Fr ance and

Fl ander s, wi t h a huge accessi on of r ecr ui t s f r om

t he wi l d spi r i t s of al l t he t r i bes whose st r uggl es wer e

di st r act i ng Eur ope. The anxi et y wi t h whi ch t he

Engl i sh wat ched t hei r ol d f oes appear s f r om t he

car e wi t h whi ch t hei r doi ngs ar e not ed year by year

i n t he Saxon Chr oni cl e. Pl egmund, or whoever

was t he edi t or , had cl ear l y an uneasy f eel i ng t hat

Al f r ed and hi s r eal m had not seen t he l ast of t hem.

So we hear how t hey went up t he Meuse, and pl un-

der ed f r om t he Meuse t o t he Schel dt , and f r om t hence

THE KI NGS FOE. 241

cr ossed t o Ami ens i n 884, t he year t hat Pope Mar t i n

of bl essed memor y di ed. I n t he next year Char l es

t he Bal d was ki l l ed by a wi l d boar whi l e hunt i ng, and

hi s deat h was t he si gnal f or r enewed act i vi t y amongst

t he Nor t hmen. Anot her gr eat f l eet and ar my of Pagans

now came f r om Ger many i nt o t he count r y of t he Ol d

Saxons, and wer e t her e def eat ed i n t wo bat t l es. We

have al r eady seen how a di vi si on of " t he ar my " i n t he

same year t r i ed t hei r f or t une i n Kent , and went back

t o t he Cont i nent wi ser and poor er pi r at es.

I n ' i %6 " t he ar my, " r euni t ed agai n, sai l ed and

mar ched up t he Sei ne, and l ai d si ege t o Par i s, or r at her

t o t he i sl and on whi ch l ay al l t hat was l ef t of t he ci t y.

For a whol e year t he Nor t hmen l ay about Par i s, but

" by t he mer ci f ul f avour of God, and t he br ave def ence

of t he ci t i zens, coul d never f or ce t hei r way i nsi de t he

wal l s. " I ndeed, i t woul d seem t hat t hey never wr est ed

t he br i dge f r om t he besi eged. At t he end of a year

t he si ege was abandoned, and " t he ar my, " passi ng

under t he br i dge, whi ch t hey had f ai l ed t o dest r oy or

t ake, went up t he Sei ne t o i t s j unct i on wi t h t he Mar ne,

and t hen up t hat r i ver as f ar as Chezy, wher e t hey

f or med one of t hei r f or t i f i ed camps. I n t he f ol l owi ng

year , on t he deat h of Char l es ( nephew of Char l es t he

Bal d) , t he unhappy ki ngdom of t he Fr anks was br oken

i nt o f i ve por t i ons, Ar nul f hi s nephew, who had i n f act

usur ped t he t hr one i n t he l ast f ew weeks of hi s uncl e' s

l i f e, keepi ng t he Rhi ne pr ovi nces, wi t h t he nomi nal t i t l e

of Emper or . The new ki ngs wer e soon quar r el l i ng,

and, as t he Saxon Chr oni cl e r ecor ds, " hel d t hei r l ands

i n gr eat di scor d, and f ought t wo gener al bat t l es, and

Page 124 of 174

s. L. vni . R

242 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

of t and many t i mes l ai d wast e t he count r y, and each

r epeat edl y dr ove out t he ot her . "

Thus t he descendant s, l egi t i mat e and i l l egi t i mat e,

of Char l emagne f ought over t he shr eds of hi s monst er

empi r e, exhaust i ng i t s st r engt h i n t hei r sel f i sh st r uggl es

( " bat t l es of t he ki t es and cr ows, " as Mi l t on cont emp-

t uousl y summed up t he hi st or y of si mi l ar doi ngs on

t he smal l er ar ena of Engl and, amongst t he Saxon

pr i nces i n t he pr evi ous cent ur y) , whi l e, on ever y

f r ont i er , Sar acens, Hungar i ans, and Scandi navi ans wer e

hemmi ng i t i n, and cut t i ng i t shor t . I n t he ver y hear t

of i t a host of Nor t hmen wer e hol di ng t he r i chest

por t i ons, and car r yi ng r api ne and i nsul t t o t he gat es

of t he ci t y wher e, onl y f i f t y year s bef or e, t he Pa-

l adi ns of Char l emagne had been hol di ng t hei r gr eat

pageant s.

The mi ser i es of t he next f ew year s i n t hose f ai r

\ ands ar e scar cel y t o be par al l el ed i n moder n hi st or y.

I n 891, however , Ar nul f had est abl i shed hi s own

aut hor i t y i n t he Rhi ne pr ovi nces, and was abl e t o

gat her a st r ong ar my of East er n Fr anks, Saxons, and

Bavar i ans, and l ead t hem agai nst t he common enemy.

Af t er some r ever ses, he sur pr i sed t he Danes i n t he

nei ghbour hood of Louvai ne, and def eat ed t hem so

si gnal l y t hat t he Low Count r i es wer e cl ear ed of t hem

al t oget her , and suf f er ed no f ur t her , except f r om occa-

si onal f l yi ng vi si t s of a f ew gal l eys. The r emnant s of

t he br oken bands f l ed sout hwar d, at t r act ed t owar ds

" t he ar my " of Hast i ng, who was now hol di ng t he

t own of Ami ens, and l i vi ng on t he nei ghbour i ng di s -

t r i ct s, hi vi ng def eat ed Odo, t he ki ng of t he West er n

THE KI NG' S FOE. 243

Fr anks, i n sever al at t empt s t o di sl odge hi m. Anot her

year of Dani sh occupat i on br ought a t er r i bl e f ami ne

on t he whol e count r y, and ef f ect ed t hat i n whi ch

Ki ng Odo had f ai l ed. Hast i ng coul d hol d Ami ens

no l onger , and moved wi t h " t he ar my " t o t he coast ,

encampi ng about Boul ogne ; t o whi ch pl ace al so gr avi -

t at ed t he r emai ns of t he host whi ch had escaped f r om

Louvai ne, and no doubt al l t he r ascal dom of t he

empi r e. I t i s pr obabl e t hat Hast i ng' s communi ca-

t i ons wi t h hi s count r ymen on t he Nor f ol k and Suf f ol k

coast s had never been i nt er r upt ed, and t hat t he ol d

pi r at e knew wel l how r i ch and pr osper ous t he i sl and

had become si nce he had sai l ed away f r om Ful ham

some t hi r t een year s bef or e. He knew al so somet hi ng

of t he st r engt h and t emper of t he Ki ng whom, he

woul d have t o meet t her e, and, had a choi ce been open

t o hi m, woul d doubt l ess have pr ef er r ed some ot her

vent ur e. But behi nd hi m l ay a f ami ne- st r i cken l and ;

r ound hi m a l ar ger must er of r eckl ess f i ght er s t han

any he had yet l ed ; bef or e hi m, wi t hi n si ght , at

an easy day' s sai l , t he shor es of a l and on whi ch no

host i l e f oot had been pl ant ed f or ei ght l ong year s.

So t her e, on t he cl i f f s above Boul ogne, Hast i ng, l i ke

a l eader of t he same t ype i n t he f i r st year s of t hi s

Page 125 of 174

ni net eent h cent ur j ' ' , pl anned t he i nvasi on of Al f r ed' s

ki ngdom, and wai t ed f or a f avour abl e aut umn wi nd

t o car r y over hi s f l eet .

Such ar e, br i ef l y, t he det ai l s whi ch we gat her f r om

t he chr oni cl er s of t he event s whi ch pr eceded, and

br ought about , t he t hi r d gr eat i nvasi on whi ch Al f r ed

had t o meet .

K 2

244 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Hi s gr eat ant agoni st i n t hi s l ast war was al r eady i n

t he decl i ne of l i f e, and had gr own gr ey i n cr i me. Of

al l t he l eader s of t he host s of heat hen Nor t hmen, who

wer e t he scour ge of West er n Eur ope i n t he ni nt h

cent ur y, he st ands out as t he most r ut hl ess and f al se,

as wel l as one of t he abl est and most successf ul .

" The wor st man t hat ever was bor n, and who has

done most har m i n our age, " i s t he summar y of hi s

char act er and car eer i n t he ol d Fr ench chr oni cl er —

" Le pl us mal hor n qui une nasqui st ,

E qui al si ecl e pl us mal f i st . "

We know somet hi ng al r eady of hi s l at er l i f e si nce

879. The st or y of hi s ear l i er doi ngs owes pr obabl y

much of i t s r omance t o t he r hymi ng chr oni cl er s who

sung of hi s at r oci t i es, but i s cl ear enough i n gener al

out l i ne t o cl ai m a pl ace i n hi st or y, and a moment ' s

at t ent i on f r om t hose who woul d r i ght l y appr eci at e

our her o- ki ng.

The gr eat and i ndeci si ve bat t l e of Font enoy near

Auxer r e, wher e t he gr andsons of Char l emagne br ought

t hei r r i val cl ai ms t o t he deci si on of t he swor d i n t he

year 841, exhaust ed t he empi r e, and l ef t i t open t o

t he onsl aught s of t he Nor t hmen, and t he f r eeboot er s

of al l r aces who swel l ed t hei r r anks. Wi t hi n f i ve

year s of t hat gr eat sl aught er a f or mi dabl e ar my of

t hese mar auder s wer e al r eady i n t he hear t of Fr ance,

and had sacked and bur nt t he t own of Amboi se, and

pl under ed t he di st r i ct bet ween t he Loi r e and Cher .

About t he year of Al f r ed' s bi r t h t hey l ai d si ege t o

Tour s, f r om whi ch t hey wer e r epul sed by t he gal l ant r y

of t he ci t i zens, assi st ed by t he mi r acul ous ai d of

THE KI NGS FOE. 245

Sai nt Mar t i n. I t i s at t hi s si ege t l i at Hast i ng f i r st

appear s as a l eader .

Hi s bi r t h i s uncer t ai n. I n some account s he i s sai d

t o have been t he son of a peasant of Tr oyes, t he

capi t al of Champagne, and t o have f or swor n hi s

f ai t h, and j oi ned t he Danes i n hi s ear l y yout h, f r om an

i nher ent l ust of bat t l e and pl under . I n ot her s he i s

cal l ed t he son of t he j ar l At t c. But , what ever hi s

or i gi n, by t he mi ddl e of t he cent ur y he had est abl i shed

hi s t i t l e t o l ead t he Nor t her n hor des i n t hose f i er ce

f or ays whi ch hel ped t o shat t er t he Car l ovi ngi an Empi r e

Page 126 of 174

t o f r agment s. Af t er t he r et r eat f r om Tour s he and t he

Vi ki ng Bi or n — sur named " Cot e de Fer " f r om an i r on

pl at e whi ch was sai d t o cover t he onl y vul ner abl e par t

of hi s body — est abl i shed t hemsel ves i n a f or t i f i ed

camp on t he Sei ne, and f r om t hence pl under ed t he

whol e of t he nei ghbour i ng count r y, unt i l i t was t oo ex -

haust ed t o mai nt ai n t hem l onger . When t he banks of

t he Sei ne wer e exhaust ed, t he l eader s separ at ed, and,

whi l e Bi or n pushed up t he r i ver agai n. Hast i ng put out

t o sea, ent er ed t he Loi r e, and est abl i shed a camp on

a mar shy i sl and not f ar f r om i t s mout h. Her e he

r emai ned f or some t i me, f ul f i l l i ng hi s mi ssi on whi l e

anyt hi ng was l ef t t o pl under . When t he l and was bar e,

l eavi ng t he despoi l ed pr ovi nces he agai n put t o sea,

and, sai l i ng sout hwar ds st i l l , pushed up t he Tagus and

Guadal qui ver , and r avaged t he nei ghbour hoods of

Li sbon and Sevi l l e. But no set t l ement i n Spai n was

possi bl e at t hi s t i me. The Peni nsul a had l at el y had f or

Cal i ph Abdal r ahman t he Second, cal l ed El I Mouzaf f er ,

" Tl i e Vi ct or i ous, " and t he vi gour of hi s r ul e had made

246 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

t he Ar abi an ki ngdom i n Spai n t he most ef f i ci ent

power f or def ence i n Eur ope. Hast i ng soon r ecoi l ed

f r om t he Spani sh coast s, and r et ur ned t o hi s ol d

haunt s.

The l eader s of t he Danes i n Engl and, t he Si dr ocs

and Hi nguar and Hubba, had, as we have seen, a'

speci al del i ght i n t he dest r uct i on of chur ches and

monast er i es, mi ngl i ng a f i er ce r el i gi ous f anat i ci sm

wi t h t hei r t hi r st f or bat t l e and pl under . Thi s exceed-

i ng bi t t er ness of t he Nor t hmen may be f ai r l y l ai d i n

gr eat measur e t o t he account of t he t hi r t y year s of

pr osel yt i si ng war f ar e, whi ch Char l emagne had waged

i n Saxony, and al ong al l t he nor t her n f r ont i er of hi s

empi r e. The bol dest spi r i t s amongst al l t hose Ger man

t r i bes, who scor ned t o t ur n r enegades at t he swor d' s

poi nt , had dr i f t ed away nor t hwar ds wi t h a t r adi t i on of

deepest hat r ed t o t he Cr oss, and t he f or ms of ci vi l i zat i on

whi ch i t car r i ed i n i t s wake. The t i me f or vengeance

came bef or e one gener at i on had di ed out , and t he

f ai r est pr ovi nces of t he empi r e wer e now payi ng, by

t he bur ni ng of chur ches, t he sack of abbeys, t he

dest r uct i on of l i br ar i es, and t he bl ood of t hei r chi l dr en,

f or t he mer ci l ess pr osel yt i si ng of t he i mper i al ar mi es.

The br ood of so- cal l ed r el i gi ous war s have br ought

mor e i l l s on t he poor ol d wor l d t han al l ot her s t hat

have ever been hat ched on her br oad and pat i ent bosom

— a br ood t hat never mi sses comi ng home t o r oost .

Hast i ng seems t o have been f i l l ed wi t h a doubl e

por t i on of t hi s spi r i t , whi ch he had i ndul ged t hr ough-

out hi s car eer i n t he most i nvet er at e hat r ed t o pr i est s

and hol y pl aces. I t was pr obabl y t hi s, coupl ed wi t h

THE KI NGS FOE. 247

a cer t ai n wear i ness — commonpl ace mur der and sacr i -

l ege havi ng gr own t ame, and l ost t hei r char m — whi ch

i nci t ed hi m t o t he most dar i ng of al l hi s expl oi t s, a

Page 127 of 174

di r ect at t ack on t he head of Chr i st endom, and t he

sacr ed ci t y.

Hast i ng t hen, about t he year 860, pl anned an at t ack

on Rome, and t he pr oposal was wel l r ecei ved by hi s

f ol l ower s. Sai l i ng agai n r ound Spai n, and pi l l agi ng

on t hei r way bot h on t he Spani sh and Moor i sh coast s,

t hey ent er ed t he Medi t er r anean, and, st eer i ng f or

I t al y, l anded i n t he bay of Spezzi a, near t he t own

of Luna. Luna was t he pl ace wher e t he gr eat quar r i es

of t he Car r ar a mar bl e had been wor ked ever si nce

t he t i mes of t he Cassar s. The ci t y i t sel f was, i t i s

sai d, i n gr eat par t bui l t of whi t e mar bl e, and t he

candoi t i a i nceui a Lhj ke decei ved Hast i ng i nt o t he

bel i ef t hat he was act ual l y bef or e Rome : so he sat

down bef or e t he t own whi ch he had f ai l ed t o sur pr i se.

The hope of t aki ng i t by assaul t was soon abandoned,

but Hast i ng obt ai ned hi s end by gui l e. Fei gni ng a

mor t al i l l ness, he sent messages t o t he ci t i zens of f er i ng

t o l eave al l hi s accumul at ed pl under t o t he Chur ch i f

t hey woul d al l ow hi s bur i al i n consecr at ed gr ound.

The of f er was accept ed, and a pr ocessi on of Nor t hmen,

bear i ng and f ol l owi ng t he bi er of Hast i ng, was admi t t ed

wi t hi n t he wal l s. The r i t es of t he Chur ch wer e dul y

per f or med, but , at t he moment when t he body was

about t o be l ower ed i nt o t he gr ave, Hast i ng spr ang

f r om t he bi er , and, sei zi ng a swor d whi ch had been

conceal ed near hi m, sl ew t he of f i ci at i ng bi shop. Hi s

f ol l ower s f oi md t hei r ar ms at t he same moment ; t he

248 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

pr i est s wer e massacr ed, t he gat es t hr own open, and

t he ci t y t aken and spoi l ed. Luna never r ecover ed i t s

ol d pr osper i t y af t er t he r ai d of t he Nor t hmen, and i n

Dant e' s t i me had f al l en i nt o ut t er decay. But Hast i ng' s

car eer i n I t al y ended wi t h t he sack of Luna; and,

gi vi ng up al l hope of at t acki ng Rome, he r e- embar ked

v/ i t h t he spoi l of t he t own, t he most beaut i f ul of t he

women, and al l yout hs who coul d be used as sol di er s or

r ower s. Hi s f l eet was wr ecked on t he sout h coast s of

Fr ance on i t s r et ur n west war d, and al l t he spoi l l ost ;

but t he devi l had wor k yet f or Hast i ng and hi s men,

Vv^ ho got ashor e i n suf f i ci ent number s t o r ecompense

t hemsel ves f or t hei r l osses by t he pl under of Pr ovence.

I n t hese par t s he r emai ned unt i l 863. I n t hat year

he r ecei ved an embassy f r om Char l es t he Bal d, headed

by t he Abbot of St . Deni s, and agr eed t o r ecei ve

bapt i sm f or a l ar ge sum of money, and t he cessi on t o

hi m i n f ee of t he di st r i ct of Char t r es, whi ch he was t o

hol d as t he ki ng' s vassal . He seems now t o have

l i ved qui et l y t i l l t he year d>y6, when he j oi ned t he

ar my whi ch Char l es t he Si mpl e was sendi ng agai nst

Rol l o. Hast i ng under t ook a mi ssi on t o t he camp of

hi s br ot her pi r at e on t he banks of t he Eur e, bear i ng

t he ki ng' s of f er of f i ef s, and a per manent set t l ement

t o t he Dani sh l eader and hi s ar my. Hi s mi ssi on

was unsuccessf ul , and f i ndi ng hi msel f suspect ed of

f oul deal i ng, and i n consequent danger , on hi s r et ur n

t o t he Fr ench ar my, he l ef t hi s adopt ed home, and

r et ur ned t o hi s ol d l i f e. How he had spent t he

i nt er veni ng year s we have par t l y hear d al r eady.

Page 128 of 174

Gut hr um, hi s ol d compani on i n ar ms, di ed i n 890,

THE KI NGS FOE. 249

and a f eel i ng of r est l essness and r ebel l i on agai nst

t he st eady, const ant pr essur e of t he or der l y ki ngdom

of t hei r l i ege l or d was cr eepi ng t hr ough t he coast s of

East Angl i a whi ch wer e most r emot e f r om Al f r ed' s

bor der . Eohr i c was ei t her unabl e, or unwi l l i ng, t o

r est r ai n t he seaf ar i ng por t i on of hi s peopl e; and so

t he encour agement was gi ven t o Hast i ng and " t he

ar my " whi ch br ought t hem ei ght een mont hs l at er t o

t he hi l l s above Boul ogne, and cost Engl and and

Al f r ed t hr ee year s of war

CHAPTER XXI .

THE THI RD WAVE.

' Associ at e your sel ves, and yc shal l be br oken i n pi eces ; gat her your sei va

t oget her , and' i t shal l eome t o nought : f or God i s - wi i h us. "

I n t he aut umn of 893 t he gr eat ar my br oke up f r om

i t s Boul ogne camp. Hast i ng had now mat ur ed al l

hi s pl ans, and col l ect ed a f l eet l ar ge enough t o t r ans -

por t t he whol e of hi s t r oops acr oss t he nar r ow sea.

The shi ps, Et hel wer d says, wer e bui l t at Boul ogne ;

at any r at e t hey wer e pr ocur ed by some means i n

such abundance, t hat when t he ar my embar ked, " t hey

came over i n one passage, hor ses and al l . " The

f i r st det achment , f i l l i ng 250 . shi ps, wer e sent on by

Hast i ng t o sei ze t he near est poi nt . They st eer ed

st r ai ght acr oss t he Channel , and l anded wi t hout oppo-

si t i on at t he mout h of t he l i t t l e r i ver Rot her , about

seven mi l es west of Dungeness. The Chr oni cl es cal l

t he r i ver Li men ( or Lymne) ; but t he posi t i on of

Appl edor e, t he undoubt ed si t e of t he f i r st Dani sh

camp of t hi s year , on t he banks of t he Rot her , seems

t o deci de t he quest i on as t o t he i dent i t y of t he

st r eam up whi ch " t hey t owed t hei r shi ps f or f our

mi l es, t o t he bor der s of t he Andr eds Weal d. " Thi s

was a f or est , 120 mi l es l ong, and t hi r t y mi l es i n

TFI L THI RD WAVE. 251

br eadt h, st r et chi ng f r om Romney Mar sh t o t he east er n

par t of Hampshi r e, Her e t he Danes st or med a smal l

f or t gar r i soned by a f ew chur l i sh men, and, wi t hout

encount er i ng f ar t her r esi st ance, f i xed upon Appl edor e

as t he si t e f or a per manent camp, whi ch t hey f or t h-

wi t h set t o wor k t o est abl i sh.

Hast i ng hi msel f was not l ong af t er t hem. He

sai l ed wi t h hi s own i mmedi at e f ol l ower s, i n ei ght y

shi ps, passed up t he Channel , r ound t he Nor t h

For el and, and i nt o t he East Swal e, t he br anch of t he

Page 129 of 174

Medway whi ch separ at es t he I sl e of Sheppey f r om t he

mai nl and. Some t en mi l es up t he Swal e a l i t t l e cr eek -

r uns sout h, on whi ch t he mar ket - t own of Mi l t on, cel e-

br at ed f or i t s nat i ve oyst er s, now st ands. Thi s i s, no

doubt , t he Mi ddl et on of t he Saxon Chr oni cl e, wher e

Hast i ng new " wr ought hi msel f a st r ong f or t r ess. "

Remai ns of f or t i f i cat i ons i n t he nei ghbour i ng mar shes

ar e st i l l poi nt ed out as t he wor k of t he Danes. Bet ween

t he t wo camps, whi ch woul d be some t went y - si x mi l es

apar t as t he cr ow f l i es, l ay t he Andr eds Weal d, of f er -

i ng i mmedi at e shel t er i n t he event of a r ever se t o

ei t her wi ng of t he ar my, and di r ect communi cat i on

wi t h t he camp of t hei r comr ades. Thr ough t he r e-

cesses of t he gr eat wood t hey coul d penet r at e west -

war d i nt o t he hear t of Wessex, and appr oach wi t hi n

a f ew mi l es of Wi nchest er or Readi ng wi t hout qui t t i ng

cover . Bot h camps wer e est abl i shed on t he banks

of r i ver s, navi gabl e t o t he Dani sh gal l eys, so t hat , i f

t he wor st came, t her e wer e al ways means of r et r eat

f or any who mi ght escape. Thi s posi t i on was a \ ' Qxy

f or mi dabl e one, and admi r abl y chosen f or t he ends

252 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

Hast i ng had i n vi ew. The st r engt h of t he camps

t hemsel ves i s pr oved by t he f act , t hat Al f r ed nevet

at t empt ed t o st or m ei t her of t hem.

The Ki ng was now i n hi s f or t y- f i f t h year , and had

l ear nt much i n t he war s of hi s yout h and ear l y man-

hood. As we mi ght expect , t he t act i cs and met hod of

def ence adopt ed by hi m i n hi s mat ur e year s of f er a

mar ked cont r ast t o t he i mpet uous gal l ant r y of hi s

ear l y campai gns. Hi s f i r st act seems t o have been, t o

send hi s son Edwar d, wi t h some l i ght t r oops, t o t he

nei ghbour hood of t he t wo camps, mor e f or t he pur -

pose of wat chi ng t han f i ght i ng ; hi s next , t o st r engt hen

t he gar r i sons of hi s f or t s. Then, put t i ng hi msel f at

t he head of t hat por t i on of hi s subj ect s whose t ur n i t

was f or mi l i t ar y ser vi ce, he mar ched i nt o Kent , and

t ook up a st r ong posi t i on, f r om whence he coul d best

wat ch bot h t he camps. The name of t he pl ace wher e

Al f r ed l ai d out hi s camp i s not gi ven i n any chr oni cl er .

Possi bl y i t was act ual l y i n t he Andr eds Weal d, and

had no name, f or i t i s descr i bed ( by Fl or ence of

Wor cest er ) as " a pl ace nat ur al l y ver y st r ong, because

i t was sur r ounded on al l si des by wat er , hi gh r ocks,

and over hangi ng woods. " And now at once t he val ue

of t he Ki ng' s ar my r ef or ms became cl ear . The Danes

f el t t he pr esence of a f oe st r onger and bet t er di sci -

pl i ned t han t hemsel ves, whose vi gi l ance was unceasi ng.

The wat chi ng ar my never dwi ndl ed, and t he i nvader s

dar ed not l eave t hei r ent r enchment s except i n smal l

bands. These, however , wer e act i ve and mi schi evous.

They st ol e out f or pl under " al ong t he weal d i n bands

and t r oops, by whi chever bor der was f or t he t i me wi t h-

THE THI RD WAVE. 253

out f or ces. " Then t he al ar m woul d be gi ven by t he

Et hel i ng Edwar d, and t he mar auder s wer e " sought out

by bands f r om t he Ki ng' s ar my, or f r om t he bur ghs. "

Page 130 of 174

Thus a desul t or y war f ar e cont i nued " al most ever y

day, ei t her by day or ni ght , " as t he Saxon Chr oni cl e

descr i bes i t , unt i l t he t heat r e of war i s suddenl y and

compl et el y changed, and t he head- quar t er s of bot h

si des, and t he scene of oper at i ons, pass over t o t he

nor t h of t he Thames.

I t was now near l y a year f r om Hast i ng' s l andi ng,

and no hel p had come t o hi m as yet f r om t he Danes

set t l ed i n East Angl i a and Nor t humbr i a. I t i s cl ear

t hat he had been i nt r i gui ng wi t h t hem, f or Al f r ed had

had t o exact a r enewal of t hei r oat hs, and even t o t ake

f r esh host ages f r om t he East Angl es. Now, as t he

desul t or y war dr agged on, week af t er week, and mont h

af t er mont h, t he Danes of t he nor t her n ki ngdom got

mor e r est l ess and exci t ed, and Hast i ng, hopi ng much

f r om t hi s r eki ndl i ng of t he ol d r ace- hat r ed, and seei ng

no chance of doi ng anyt hi ng mor e i n hi s pr esent

posi t i on, r esol ved t o abandon hi s t wo camps on t he

sout h of t he Thames, and cr oss i nt o East Angl i a.

He had never vent ur ed yet out of hi s f or t i f i ed camps

i n f or ce, but , now t hat t he change of base had been

det er mi ned on, i t was wor t h whi l e pl ayi ng f or a l ar ge

st ake. Accor di ngl y, Hast i ng sent of f hi s shi ps t o a

r endezvous at Bemf l eet , on t he Essex coast , and,

st ar t i ng wi t h t he whol e of hi s l and- f or ces, pushed by

Al f r ed' s camp, t hr ough t he f or est , and i nt o Hamp-

shi r e, wher e he met one of hi s mar audi ng par t i es,

l aden wi t h spoi l . Wi t h t hi s boot y, and what he coul d

254 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

gat her hi msel f i n hi s r api d mar ch, he now t ur ned

nor t hwar ds, hopi ng t o get t o t he f or ds of t he Thames

bef or e Al f r ed coul d over t ake hi m. I n t hi s he was

di sappoi nt ed. The Ki ng and t he Et hel i ng Edwar d

caught t he Dani sh ar my at Far nham, and f or ced t hem

t o f i ght . I n t hi s f i r st gener al act i on of t he war t he

Saxons wer e compl et el y vi ct or i ous. Hast i ng' s ar my

l ost t he whol e of t hei r pl under , and t he hor ses t hey

had br ought wi t h t hem f r om Fr ance. One of t hei r

ki ngs ( Dr . Paul i suggest s Bi or n) was desper at el y

wouni kd, and hi s condi t i on i mpeded t hei r f l i ght . They

made good t hei r r et r eat t o t he Thames, however ; but ,

ei t her f r om pani c or want of knowl edge, st r uck i t at a

pl ace wher e t her e was no f or d, and, besi des t he gr eat

sl aught er at Far nham, number s of t hem wer e l ost i n

cr ossi ng t he r i ver . The f i r st r al l y t hey made was i n

an i sl and, at t he j unct i on of t he Thames and Col nc,

cal l ed Thor ney I sl and. Her e Hast i ng hal t ed, and hi s

shi ps pr obabl y br ought hi m suppl i es, and t he br oken

bands of hi s ar my j oi ned hi m. But Al f r ed was on hi s

t r ack, and i n a shor t t i me t he i sl and was compl et el y

i nvest ed by Saxon t r oops. I t had t hus become onl y

a quest i on of days. I f t he bl ockade coul d have been

mai nt ai ned, Hast i ng and t he ar my must have been

soon at Al f r ed' s mer cy. Unhappi l y t he besi eged,

by t he ai d of t hei r shi ps, wer e bet t er suppl i ed t han

t he besi eger s ; and, mor eover , t he t i me of ser vi ce of

t he ar my whi ch f ought at Far nham had expi r ed, and

t he r el i ef s had t o be br ought up at t hi s cr i t i cal

i noment . Al f r ed was hi msel f engaged i n br i ngi ng up

t he r el i evi ng f or ce, when news r eached hi m whi ch

Page 131 of 174

THEi THI RD WAVE. 255

i nduced hi m at once t o change t he whol e of hi s pl ans,

and t o abandon f or t he t i me t he hope of cr ushi ng hi s

f oe once f or al l i n Thor ney I sl and.

Al t hough Hast i ng had suf f er ed so sever el y i n hi s

mar ch and f l i ght , t he sagaci t y whi ch pr ompt ed t he

movement was at once j ust i f i ed. Scar cel y had t he

beat en ar my appear ed t o t he nor t h of t he Thames

when t he Danes of t he east coast , f r om Essex t o

Nor t humber l and, unabl e any l onger t o r esi st t he

cont agi on of bat t l e, br oke i nt o open host i l i t y, and

r ushed t o t he ai d of t hei r r obber br et hr en. They

hast i l y gat her ed a l ar ge f l eet , whi ch sai l ed at once

f or t he sout her n coast s of Wessex, f or t he pur pose of

cr eat i ng a di ver si on, and r ai si ng t he bl ockade of

Hast i ng at t he mout h of t he Col ne. A hundr ed of

t hese shi ps pushed up t he Exe, whi l e f or t y mor e

made t hei r way r ound ( t he Saxon Chr oni cl e says " by

t he nor t h" ) i nt o t he Br i st ol Channel . Each f l eet car r i ed

an ar med f or ce besi des t he cr ews ; and Exet er i n t he

sout h, and some f or t r ess on t he nor t h coast of Devon-

shi r e, wer e f or mal l y i nvest ed. Thi s was t he news

whi ch r eached Al f r ed on hi s mar ch t owar ds Essex,

and i t had al l t he ef f ect whi ch Hast i ng had l ooked

f or . Al f r ed at once r esol ved t o mar ch west war d

hi msel f . The Sout her n Wel sh who dwel t i n Cor nwal l

mi ght f ol l ow t he exampl e of t he East Angl i ans and

Nor t humbr i ans, and j oi n t he i nvader s, and t he whol e

r eal m be i n a bl aze agai n, as i t was i n 879. I n any

case he coul d not l eave Somer set and Wi l t s, pr o-

babl y t he r i chest and most popul ous par t s of t he

whol e of Wessex, and t hose i n whi ch hi s own

2S6 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

pr oper t y was chi ef l y si t uat e, open t o at t ack f r om

t he west .

The bl ockade of Thor ney I sl and was t her ef or e

abandoned at once, and Hast i ng, wi t h t he wr ecks of

t he t wo ar mi es whi ch had gar r i soned t he camps of

Appl edor e and Mi l t on, escaped t o Bemf l eet . Her e he

f ound hi s shi ps l yi ng, and hi s wi f e and sons, and t he

heavy baggage of hi s ar my, al r eady occupyi ng t he

ol d f or t i f i cat i ons whi ch had been t hr own up t her e by

some Dani sh l eader , i f not by hi msel f , ni ne year s

bef or e. Hi s r anks wer e soon r ecr ui t ed, by bands of

Danes f r om t he out l yi ng par t s of t he ki ngdom. He

l ost no t i me i n hi s t r enches, but st ar t ed at once on

a pl under i ng expedi t i on i nt o Mer ci a.

Bef or e st ar t i ng by f or ced mar ches f or t he west ,

Al f r ed had di vi ded hi s f or ces, and sent a st r ong body,

under t he command pr obabl y of hi s son Edwar d, who

had gr eat l y di st i ngui shed hi msel f i n Far nham f i ght ,

t o r ei nf or ce Et hel r ed, who was hol di ng London wi t h

t he Mer ci an t r oops. That abl e and ener get i c l eader

i mmedi at el y pl anned an at t ack on t he camp at

Bemf l eet , i n accor dance wi t h t he wi shes of t he

ci t i zens of London, who coul d not br ook t he const ant

Page 132 of 174

menace of such a hor net s' nest i n t hei r i mmedi at e

nei ghbour hood. So Et hel r ed mar ched suddenl y upon

Bemf l eet camp, and^ f or t he f i r st t i me i n t hese war s,

t he Danes wer e t hor oughl y beat en behi nd t hei r own

f or t i f i cat i ons, and i n a posi t i on of t hei r own choosi ng.

The camp was st or med, and al l t he boot y f ound t her e

t aken, and amongst t he pr i soner s wer e t he wi f e and

t wo sons of Hast i ng. Ther e i s a passage i n t he

THE THI RD WAVE. 257

Saxon Chr oni cl e, and i n Fl or ence of Wor cest er , t o t he

ef f ect t hat t hese boys had shor t l y bef or e been sent

as host ages t o Al f r ed, who had caused t hem t o be

bapt i zed, he and Et hel r ed act i ng as t hei r sponsor s,

af t er whi ch t hey had been sent back t o t hei r f at her .

And now agai n Al f r ed r est or ed t hem and t hei r mot her

t o hi s f ai t hl ess enemy, but t he spoi l was shar ed

amongst t he ci t i zens of London and Et hel r ed' s

gar r i son. The Dani sh f l eet was al so capt ur ed at

Bemf l eet , and al l t he ser vi ceabl e vessel s wer e t aken

t o London or Rochest er , whi l e t he r emnant wer e

br oken up or bur nt . Hast i ng' s means of r et r eat wer e

t hus dest r oyed, but t he di sast er onl y seems t o have

br aced t he ner ves of t he ol d pi r at e f or gr eat er ef f or t s.

He r et ur ned t o t he nei ghbour hood of Bemf l eet , col -

l ect ed t he r emnant s of t he ar my, r ecei ved l ar ge r e-

i nf or cement s agai n f r om East Angl i a, and ent r enched

anot her camp at Shobur y, some t en mi l es east of i ns

f or mer posi t i on. Fr om t hence he mar ched out at t he

head of anot her st r ong f or ce, al ong t he nor t her n

bank of t he Thames, and t hen up t he Sever n val l ey,

t hus car r yi ng f i r e and swor d i nt o t he hear t of

Et hel r ed' s own count r y. Hi s i nt ent i on may have been

t o r el i eve t he Dani sh f or ces i n Devonshi r e, and t o cut

Al f r ed of f f r om hi s suppl i es and base. I f so, he was

qui ckl y and compl et el y f oi l ed. Et hel r ed hast ened

down t o t he t hr eat ened di st r i ct , and sent summonses

t o al l t he nei ghbour i ng ki ng' s al der men and t hanes.

The vi gour and al acr i t y of t he r esponse ar e ver y

mar ked. " Then Et hel r ed, " t he Saxon Chr oni cl e says,

' and Et hel hc l m t he al der man ( of Wi l t s ) , and Et her -

s . L. v i i i . g

258 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

not h t he al der man ( of Somer s et ) , and t he k i ng' s

t hanes who wer e t hen at home i n t he f or t i f i ed pl ac es ,

gat her ed f or c es f r om ev er y t own eas t of t he Par r et ,

and as wel l wes t as eas t of Sel wood, and al s o nor t h of

t he Thames , and wes t of t he Sev er n, and al s o s ome

par t of t he Nor t h Wel s h peopl e. " Has t i ng was now

i n t he di s t r i c t wher e Gut hr um had at t empt ed a s et t l e -

ment , and whi c h had been t he s c ene of t he c ampai gn

of Et handune. The c ount r y k new wel l what t o ex -

pec t f r om t he t ender mer c i es of t he Dane, and r os e as

one man, wi t hout a t hought of t he es t abl i s hed c our s es ,

or whos e t ur n i t mi ght be f or t he r egul ar t hr ee mont hs '

s er v i c e. Has t i ng met t he r i s i ng by t ur ni ng nor t h -

war ds , abandoni ng al l hope of penet r at i ng Wes s ex .

He mi ght l ook f or mor e enc our agement , at l eas t f or

l es s ent hus i as m of r es i s t anc e, on t he Nor t h Wel s h

Page 133 of 174

bor der : s o he made no hal t t i l l he r eac hed But t i ngt on

i n Mont gomer y s hi r e, on t he bank s of t he Sev er n,

wher e he ent r enc hed hi ms el f and wai t ed f or Et hel r ed.

But t i ngt on i s a bor der par i s h ; Of f a' s dy k e, whi c h r uns

t hr ough i t , i s s t i l l t he boundar y bet ween Shr ops hi r e

and Mont gomer y s hi r e. Ther e ar e s ev er al ear t hwor k s

s t i l l t o be s een i n t he nei ghbour hood, and s ome t hi r t y

y ear s ago a v as t depos i t of human bones was di s c o

v er ed i n di ggi ng t he f oundat i ons of t he s c hool s t her e,

near t he par i s h c hur c h.

Et hel r ed on hi s ar r i v al di v i ded hi s f or c es , s o t hat he

mi ght wat c h bot h bank s of t he Sev er n, and bes et

Has t i ng' s c amp v er y s t r ai t l y , s o t hat no s uc c our s or

s uppl i es c oul d r eac h t he bes i eged. " When t hey

had now s at t her e many week s on bot h s i des t he

THE THI RD WAVE. 259

r i v er , " t he Chr oni c l e t el l s us , " t hen wer e t he enemy di s -

t r es s ed f or want of f ood, and hav i ng eat en a gr eat par t

of t hei r hor s es , bei ng t hen s t ar v ed wi t h hunger , t hey

went out agai ns t t he men who wer e enc amped on t he

eas t bank of t he r i v er , and f ought agai ns t t hem. And

t he Chr i s t i ans had t he v i c t or y . And Or deh, a k i ng' s

t hane, and many ot her k i ng' s t hanes wer e s l ai n, and of

t he Dani s h men t her e was v er y gr eat s l aught er made.

And t hat par t whi c h got away t henc e was s av ed by

f l i ght . "

Has t i ng s av ed hi ms el f by c r os s i ng t he Mer c i an

bor der ov er Wat l i ng St r eet , f al l i ng bac k on a par t of

Eas t Angl i a f ar r emov ed f r om Al f r ed' s i nf l uenc e, and

whi c h had s t ubbor nl y r es i s t ed al l but t he s embl anc e

of Chr i s t i ani t y . Ei t her t he enc our agement whi c h he

f ound her e, i n t he s hape of r ec r ui t s and s y mpat hy ,

t empt ed hi m t o r enew t he s t r uggl e i n t he nor t h of

Mer c i a, or he may hav e t hought t hat hi s bes t c hanc e

of s uc c our i ng hi s al l i es i n Dev ons hi r e l ay i n pi er c i ng

t o t he wes t c oas t at s ome poi nt wher e hi s gr eat f l eet ,

al r eady i n t hos e s eas , c oul d f et c h hi m of f , and l and

hi m on t he s hor es of t he Br i s t ol Channel . At any

r at e, af t er r emov i ng t he Dani s h women and c hi l dr en,

and al l t hei r pos s es s i ons , and s uc h s hi ps as wer e l ef t

t hem, f r om Shobur y t o t he i s l and of Mer s ea — at t he

mout h of t he Bl ac k wat er , a f ew mi l es s out h of Col -

c hes t er , a s af er s pot , and t went y mi l es f ur t her f r om

London — and c ommi t t i ng t he pr ot ec t i on of t he s et t l e-

ment t o t he Eas t Angl i ans of t hos e par t s , now hi s

open al l i es , Has t i ng went bac k agai n wi t h a f r es h

ar my , " at one s t r et c h, day and ni ght " s ay s t he Sax on

S 2

26o LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Chr oni c l e, and appear ed s uddenl y bef or e Ches t er .

The r oy al t own was not s ur pr i s ed, and was hel d by

a s t r ong gar r i s on ; s o Has t i ng s wept t he c ount r y of

c at t l e, k i l l ed t he f ewpeopl e he f ound out s i de t he wal l s ,

eat up or des t r oy ed al l t he c r ops , whi c h wer e s t i l l

s t andi ng i n t he l at e aut umn, and t hen, af t er t wo day s ,

r et i r ed i nt o t he peni ns ul a of Wi r r al , and t her e went

i nt o wi nt er quar t er s . Al f r ed meanwhi l e had c ompel l ed

Page 134 of 174

t he Danes t o r ai s e t he s i eges of Ex et er and t he

f or t r es s i n Nor t h Dev on, and had dr i v en t hem t o

t hei r s hi ps ; but as t he f l eet s t i l l hung about t he c oas t s

of Dev ons hi r e and Sout h Wal es ( Cor nwal l ) , he di d

not t hi nk i t s af e t o l eav e t he f ar wes t f or t he pr es ent ,

bei ng no doubt wel l s at i s f i ed wi t h t he r epor t s whi c h

r eac hed hi m of t he v i gor ous way i n whi c h Has t i ng had

been met when he t hr eat ened Cent r al Wes s ex . So

t he Ki ng wi nt er ed i n Dev ons hi r e.

The f i r s t ev ent f ul y ear of t he war was now ended,

and on ev er y s i de t he enor mous i nc r eas e of power i n

t he nat i on c ons equent on Al f r ed' s r ul e had pr ov ed

i t s el f . The pagan ar my had not onl y been out f ought ,

as i n pas t y ear s at As hdown and Et handune, but out -

mar c hed and out manoeuv r ed by Al f r ed and Et hel r ed,

and t he Sax on and Mer c i an l ev i es . They had not t ak en

a s i ngl e pl ac e of any i mpor t anc e, whi l e one of t hei r

ent r enc hed c amps had been s t or med, and f our ot her s

abandoned. The i s s ue c oul d not be doubt f ul , unl es s

s ome gr eat r ei nf or c ement s c ame t o Has t i ng f r om

ov er t he s ea ; but t he ol d pi r at e was s t i l l at t he head

of a f or mi dabl e ar my , and had opened up a good

r ec r ui t i ng gr ound on t he eas t c oas t s . Ther e was no

THE THI RD WAVE. 261

r oom f or c ar el es s nes s or f ool har di nes s i n t he c omi ng

s pr i ng.

The c ampai gn of 895 was pr obabl y opened by

Et hel r ed, or s ome Mer c i an ear l , who made a s uc c es s -

f ul das h at Has t i ng i n t he Wi r r al peni ns ul a, and

c ar r i ed of f al l t he s t or e of c at t l e and pr ov i s i on whi c h

he had ac c umul at ed, f or t he Sax on Chr oni c l e not i c es

t hi s l os s as t he r eas on why he br ok e up hi s c amp

t her e. So t he Danes t ook t he f i el d, and, av oi di ng

Ches t er and Mer c i a f or t he t i me, mar c hed i nt o Nor t h

Wal es . Her e, bef or e Et hel r ed c oul d c ome at t hem,

t hey c ol l ec t ed a l ar ge boot y i n t he v al l ey s , and t hen

r et r eat ed i nt o Nor t humbr i a, " f ear i ng, " s ay s Fl or enc e,

" t o r et ur n t hr ough Mer c i a. " Dr . Paul i gat her s , f r om

an obs c ur e pas s age i n Et hel war d' s Chr oni c l e, t hat on

hi s mar c h s out hwar ds Has t i ng was i nt er c ept ed by

Et hel not h at St amf or d, and t hat a bat t l e was f ought

t her e. I n any c as e, i n t he c our s e of t he s ummer or

aut umn, t he mai n body of t he Danes ar r i v ed s af el y

i n t he i s l e of Mer s ea, and r ec ei v ed t hei r women and

c hi l dr en f r om t he s af e- k eepi ng of t hei r Eas t Angl i an

al l i es .

Her e t hey wer e j oi ned i n t he aut umn by t he f l eet

and t he r emai ns c f t he ar my whi c h had been i n

Dev ons hi r e. Foi l ed at al l poi nt s by Al f r ed hi ms el f ,

and dr i v en t o t hei r s hi ps , t hey had s ai l ed out of t he

Ex e, and on t hei r v oy age eas t war d had made a s udden

des c ent on t he Sus s ex c oas t near Chi c hes t er . But t he

gar r i s on and c i t i z ens t ur ned out and f ought t hem, " s l ay -

i ng many hundr eds , and t ak i ng s ome of t hei r s hi ps . "

But Has t i ng was not y et beat en, and, bef or e Al f r e( ^

262 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Page 135 of 174

had t i me t o or gani z e an at t ac k on Mer s ea, put al l on

boar d hi s f l eet and s ai l ed bol dl y up t he Thames and

t he Lea, and onc e mor e f or t i f i ed hi ms el f i n a s t r ong

c amp on t he l at t er r i v er , onl y t went y mi l es f r om

London. And s o t he s ec ond y ear of t he war ended.

896 opened wi t h a r ev er s e t o t he Sax on ar ms .

Enc our aged by t he s uc c es s of t he at t ac k on t he

Bem f l eet c amp t wo y ear s bef or e, and per haps by t he

ex pl oi t of t he c i t i z ens of Chi c hes t er i n t he l as t

aut umn, t he men of London and t hei r gar r i s on

mar c hed out t o at t ac k Has t i ng i n hi s c amp on t he

Lea, wi t hout wai t i ng t he ar r i v al of Al f r ed or Et hel r ed.

They wer e beat en by t he Danes , and r et r eat ed on

London, wi t h t he l os s of f our k i ng' s t hanes . The

Ki ng now c ame up, and es t abl i s hed hi ms el f bet ween

Has t i ng' s c amp and t he c i t y , t o pr ot ec t t he peopl e

whi l e t hey r eaped t hei r c r ops . Whi l e enc amped f or

t hi s pur pos e, Al f r ed, r i di ng one day al ong t he r i v er ,

di s c ov er ed a pl ac e wher e t he s t r eam mi ght be eas i l y

di v er t ed or obs t r uc t ed, s o t hat i t woul d be i mpos s i bl e

f or t he Danes t o pas s down i t wi t h t hei r f l eet . He

s et t o t he wor k at onc e, and at t he s ame t i me began

t o bui l d t wo f or t s , one on eac h s i de of t he Lea, at

t he poi nt he had s el ec t ed f or di v er t i ng t he s t r eam.

Has t i ng di d not wai t f or t he c at as t r ophe. Conf i di ng

t he women and c hi l dr en agai n t o t he c ar e of t he Eas t

Angl i ans , and abandoni ng hi s c amp and f l eet , he

mar c hed away agai n nor t h- wes t , and es t abl i s hed hi m-

s el f f or t he wi nt er near Br i dgnor t h ( Cwat br i dge) i n

Shr ops hi r e, di s t anc i ng t he f or c e whi c h Al f r ed s ent i n

pur s ui t . The Londoner s t ook pos s es s i on of t he c amp

THE THI RD WAVE. 263

and f l eet i n gr eat t r i umph. Thos e s hi ps whi c h t hey

c oul d not br i ng away wer e bur nt , and al l whi c h wer e

" s t al wor t h " t hey br ought down t o London. And s o

ended t he t hi r d and l as t y ear of Al f r ed' s l as t war .

I n t he s pr i ng of 897 Has t i ng br ok e up hi s l as t

c amp on Engl i s h s oi l . Hi s ar my was now c ompos ed

of Nor t humbr i an and Eas t Angl i an Danes , as wel l as

of hi s f ol l ower s who had embar k ed f r om Boul ogne

t hr ee y ear s bef or e. The f or mer mar c hed bac k t o

t hei r own homes , whi l e Has t i ng, wi t h t he r emai ns of

hi s own f ol l ower s , f el t hi s way bac k t o s ome pl ac e on

t he eas t c oas t . Her e t he women and c hi l dr en r e-

j oi ned t hem, and t he baf f l ed pi r at e l eader , get t i ng

t oget her s hi ps enough t o c ar r y hi m and hi s f or t unes ,

" went s out hwar d ov er s ea t o t he Sei ne. "

" Thank s be t o God ! " t he Chr oni c l e s ums up, " t he

ar my had not ut t er l y br ok en down t he Engl i s h nat i on :

but dur i ng t hos e t hr ee y ear s i t was muc h mor e br ok en

down by t he mor t al i t y whi c h r aged amongs t c at t l e

and amongs t men ; and mos t of al l by t hi s , t hat many

of t he mos t emi nent of t he Ki ng' s s er v ant s i n t he l and

di ed dur i ng t he t hr ee y ear s , s ome of whom wer e —

Swi t hul f , bi s hop of Roc hes t er , and Ceol mund, al der -

man of Kent , and Beor t hul f , al der man of Hant s , and

Eal her d, bi s hop of Dor c hes t er , and Eadul f t he k i ng' s

t hane i n Sus s ex , and Beor nwul f t he wi c r ec v c of

Page 136 of 174

Wi nchest er , and Ecgul f t he ki ng' s hor se- t hane, and

many al so besi des t hese, t hough I have named t he

most f amous. " A goodl y l i st of men who coul d i l l be

spar ed ; most of t hem, t oo, we may not e, of f i cer s i n t he

di st r i ct s whi ch had bor ne t he l ) r unt of t he i nvasi on.

264 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

The ember s of t he f i r e whi ch Hast i ng had ki ndl ed

coi i t i nued t o smoul der af t er he had l ef t t he i sl and.

Hi s Nor t humbr i an and East Anghan al l i es coul d not

at once gi ve up t he exci t ement of t he r over ' s l i f e,

whi ch was br ed i n t hei r bl ood, and of whi ch t hey had

now agai n t ast ed af t er so many year s of abst i nence.

They wer e chi ef l y dwel l er s by t he sea, and now, aban-

doni ng al l at t empt s at i nl and war f ar e, f i t t ed out smal l

squadr ons of t hei r swi f t vessel s, cal l ed " oescs, " and i n

t hese cr ui sed of f t he sout her n coast s of Wessex, i n-

f l i ct i ng much l ocal damage, and gr eat l y exasper at i ng

Al f r ed and hi s peopl e. I n t he cour se of t he aut umn

Al f r ed' s new gal l eys swept t he whol e of t hese ma-

r auder s of f t he sea, capt ur i ng t went y of t hei r " oescs "

at one t i me or anot her . But t he onl y det ai l ed account

we have of an act i on bet ween t he Ki ng' s shi ps and t he

pi r at es suggest s r at her t hat t he Danes st i l l r et ai ned

t hei r mast er y as sai l or s, and t hat Al f r ed and hi s new

shi ps, wi t h t hei r mot l ey cr ews, onl y pr evai l ed agai nst

t hem by sheer wei ght and super i or number s.

The st or y i s i n t he Saxon Chr oni cl e as f ol l ows : — '

" Some t i me i n t he same year t her e came si x shi ps t o

Wi ght , and t her e di d much har m, as wel l as i n Devon

and el sewher e al ong t he sea- coast . Then t he Ki ng com-

manded ni ne of hi s new shi ps t o go t hi t her , and t hey

bl ockaded t he passage f r om t he por t t o t he out er sea.

Then went t he pi r at es wi t h t hr ee of t hei r shi ps out

agai nst t hem ; and t hr ee l ay i n t he upper par t of t he

por t dr y, and t he cr ews wer e gone out of t hem on

shor e. Then t he Ki ng' s shi ps t ook t wo of t he t hr ee

shi ps at t he out f ^r por t , and ki l l ed t he cr ews, and t he

THE THI RD WAVE. 265

ot her shi p escaped. I n t hat al so al l t he men wer e

ki l l ed except f i ve, and i t escaped because t he Ki ng' s

shi ps got agr ound. They i ndeed wer e agr ound ver y

di sadvant ageousl y, f or t hr ee l ay on t hat si de wher e

t he Dani sh shi ps wer e agr ound, and al l t he r est upon

t he ot her si de, so t hat no one of t hem coul d get t o

t he ot her s. But when t he wat er had ebbed many

f ur l ongs f r om t he shi ps, t hen t he Dani sh men went

f r om t hei r t hr ee shi ps t o t he ot her t hr ee whi ch wer e

l ef t by t he t i de on t hei r si de, and f ought agai nst t hem

t her e. " " Then mi ght you have seen, " says t he

Chr oni cl e of Hunt i ngdon, " t he Engl i sh peopl e of

t he si x shi ps l ooki ng at t he bat t l e, and unabl e t o

bear t hem hel p, beat i ng t hei r br east s wi t h t hei r hands,

and t ear i ng t hei r hai r wi t h t hei r nai l s" — a gr i m

l i t t l e pi ct ur e of t he doi ngs of t he ancest or s of t he

Bl akes and Nel sons. " Ther e wer e sl ai n Lucumon,

t he ki ng' s r eeve, and Wul f hear d t he Fr i si an, and

Abbae t he Fr i si an, and Et hel her e t he Fr i si an, and

Et hel f er t h t he ki ng' s neat her d ; and of al l t he

men, Fr i si ans and Engl i sh, 72, and of t he Dani sh

Page 137 of 174

men, 120. Then, however , t he f l ood- t i de came t o

t he Dani sh shi ps bef or e t he Engl i sh coul d get t hei r s

of f : t hey t her ef or e r owed away. Never t hel ess, t hey

wer e so damaged t hat t hey coul d not r ow r ound

Sussex ; and t her e t he sea cast t wo of t hem on shor e,

and t he cr ews wer e l ed t o t he Ki ng at Wi nchest er ;

and he commanded t hem t o be t her e hanged. And

t he men who wer e i n t he si ngl e shi p came t o East

Angl i a sor el y wounded. "

I t appear s t hat Al f r ed al so hanged al l t hat f el l i nt o

266 Li f e of ALFRED THE GREA T.

hi s hands of t he cr ews of t he r emai nder of t he t went y

pi r at e vessel s. Some of hi s bi ogr apher s ar e i ncHned

t o gl oss, or ext enuat e, t he Ki ng' s sever i t y i n t hese l ast

deal i ngs wi t h t he pi r at es. I t seems t o me t he most

wi se and mer ci f ul cour se he coul d have t aken. The

war was now vi r t ual l y at an end, and i t was necessar y

t o i mpr ess upon t he l oose seaf ar i ng popul at i on of

Nor t humbr i a and East Angl i a t hat t hey coul d onl y

cont i nue i t i n smal l mar audi ng excur si ons on t hei r

own account at t he per i l of t hei r necks. That t he

Ki ng, at t hi s t r i umphant cr i si s of hi s l i f e, as wel l as

on ever y ot her occasi on, was l eni ent t o hi s f oes, and

scr upul ousl y car ef ul t o act up t o t he hi gh st andar d he

had set hi msel f , i s abundant l y cl ear by t he f act t hat

he exact ed no penal t y what ever f r om Nor t humbr i a,

and f r om East Angl i a onl y annexed a cor ner of Essex.

I t woul d have been easy f or hi m and Et hel r ed t o have

mar ched f r om Wat l i ng St r eet t o t he For t h, and t he

Dani sh under - ki ngs wer e pr act i cal l y at hi s mer cy.

But t hey, and t he bul k of t hei r peopl e, had t aken no

act i ve par t wi t h Hast i ng, and t he Ki ng woul d not

puni sh t hem f or want of power t o cont r ol t he most

t ur bul ent of t hei r peopl e, i n such t i mes, and under

3uch t empt at i ons. So t her e was no r eckoni ng f or t he

past ; onl y, as t hey coul d not hi nder t hei r nomi nal

subj ect s f r om t ur ni ng pi r at es, t he Ki ng must r ead a

l esson t o such per sons. That of Wi nchest er was

enough. Ther e i s no hi nt of any f ur t her pi r acy dur i ng

Al f r ed' s r ei f f n.

CHAPTER XXI I .

THE ki ng' s home.

" Bl essed i s t he man t hai dot h medi t at e good t hi ngs i n wi sdom.

" He shal l pi t ch hi s t ent ni gh unt o her , and shal l l odge i n a l odgi r . g wher t

good t hi ngs ar e.

" He shal l get hi s chi l dr en under her shel t er , and shal l l odge t i nder Jher

br anches. "

We may now t ake l eave of t he Ki ng' s publ i c l i f e.

Al l t hat can be t ol d — at l east al l t hat t he pr esent

wr i t er has t o t el l of i t — l i es behi nd us. How unsat i s-

f act or y t he pi ct ur e i s at t he best ; how i ndi st i nct l y

most of t he per sons st and out f r om behi nd t he mi st s

of a t housand year s ; how necessar y i t has been at

ever y st ep t o hesi t at e as t o t he cour se and meani ng

Page 138 of 174

of event s ; how many quest i ons of gr ave i mpor t ance

r emai n scar cel y st at ed, and al t oget her unsol ved, no

one can f eel mor e st r ongl y t han he does. At t he

same t i me, unl ess t he at t empt has whol l y f ai l ed, he

must have i n some sor t made cl ear f or hi s r eader s t he

f i gur e of a ki ng who, havi ng by hi s own ener gy, and

by hi s per sonal char act er and geni us, won f or hi msel f

a posi t i on such as no man of t he Engl i sh r ace ever

had bef or e, or has ever had si nce, never used, or t hought

of usi ng, hi s st r engt h and wi sdom on hi s own behal f ,

or f or hi s own sel f i sh pur poses — a ki ng, i n shor t ,

268 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

who yi el ded hi msel f t o do t he wor k t o whi ch God

had cal l ed hi m, si mpl y and t hor oughl y, never l osi ng

t he consci ousness t hat he was hi msel f under command.

We have st i l l , however , t o gat her up such f r agment s

as ar e l ef t of t he home- l i f e of Al f r ed, and t o gl ance

at t he wor k i n whi ch, af t er al l , he pr obabl y most

del i ght ed — hi s wr i t i ngs and t r ansl at i ons.

Al f r ed, as we know, had no set t l ed home. We f i nd

hi m now i n one count y, now i n anot her , at one of t he

r oyal r esi dences, whi ch wer e i ndeed so numer ous t hat

we can onl y suppose t he accommodat i on at many of

t hem t o have been of t he r oughest and si mpl est de-

scr i pt i on. The or di nar y houses of t he Saxon nobl es

consi st ed of a l ar ge cent r al hal l , wi t h chapel and

r ooms f or t he f ami l y at t ached, and out houses f or t he

ser vant s and f ol l ower s gr ouped r ound t hem. The

whol e of t hese bui l di ngs wer e of wood up t o Al f r ed' s

t i me, and t her e wer e no deep moat s or mi l i t ar y

def ences of any ki nd. The ki ng' s r esi dences di f f er ed

onl y i n si ze f r om t hose of t he nobi l i t y ; but Al f r ed

must have needed much mor e r oom t han any of

hi s pr edecessor s, as hi s cour t became ver y l ar ge.

For ei gner s of al l nat i ons f l ocked t o i t , f or whom

speci al and l i ber al pr ovi si on was made i n t he di st r i -

but i on of hi s i ncome ; and, besi des hi s of f i cer s of st at e,

he had al ways i n at t endance a st r ong body of t r oops,

and a number of ski l l ed ar t i sans and mechani cs.

The i mpor t ance whi ch he at t ached t o t he i mpr ove-

ment of hi s own r esi dences, and of t he ar chi t ect ur e of

hi s chur ches and ot her publ i c bui l di ngs, i s shown by

t he l ar ge pr opor t i on of hi s i ncome whi ch, as we have

THE KI NGS HOME. 269

seen, was devot ed t o bui l di ng pur poses. But not wi t h-

st andi ng al l hi s ef f or t s, and t he magni f i cence of many

of hi s new bui l di ngs, compar ed wi t h any t hen known

i n Engl and, t he quar t er s i n whi ch t he r oyal house-

hol d l i ved wer e of t en r ough pl aces enough, as we

know i nci dent al l y f r om t he hi st or y of hi s most cel e-

br at ed i nvent i on — t he hor n- l ant er n. At t he t i me t hat

he made t he di vi si on of hi s year l y i ncome i n t he

manner we have hear d, Al f r ed al so r esol ved t o of f er

t o God no l ess of t he ser vi ce of hi s mi nd and body

t han of hi s wor l dl y weal t h. " He accor di ngl y made a

vow t o consecr at e hal f of hi s t i me t o God' s ser vi ce ;

and t hi s vow, so f ar as hi s i nf i r mi t y woul d al l ow, he

Page 139 of 174

per f or med wi t h al l hi s mi ght , by ni ght and day.

But i nasmuch as he coul d not equal l y di st i ngui sh t he

l engt h of t he hour s by ni ght , on account of t he dar kness,

and al so of t ent i mes of t he day on account of t he st or ms

and cl ouds, he began t o consi der by what means,

wi t hout any uncer t ai nt y, r el yi ng on t he mer cy of God,

he mi ght di schar ge t he t enor of hi s vow t i l l hi s deat h

Af t er much t hought on t hese t hi ngs, he at l engt h hi t

on a shr ewd i nvent i on. He commanded hi s chapl ai ns

t o suppl y wax of suf f i ci ent quant i t y and qual i t y, and

had i t wei ghed i n such a manner t hat when t her e was

so much of i t i n t he scal es as woul d equal t he wei ght of

sevent y- t wo pence, he caused t he chapl ai ns t o make

si x candl es t her eof , of equal l engt h ; so t hat each

candl e mi ght have t wel ve di vi si ons mar ked acr oss i t .

By t hi s pl an, t her ef or e, t hose si x candl es bur ned f or

t went y- f our hour s — a ni ght and day — wi t hout f ai l ,

bef or e t he sacr ed r el i cs of many of God' s el ect , whi ch

270 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

al ways accompani ed hi m wher ever he went . But

somet i mes t hey woul d not cont i nue bur ni ng a whol e

day and ni ght , t i l l t he same hour t hat t hey wer e

l i ght ed on t he pr evi ous eveni ng, f r om t he vi ol ence of

t he wi nd, whi ch bl ew wi t hout i nt er mi ssi on t hr ough t he

door s and wi ndows of t he chur ches, t he f i ssur es at t he

di vi si ons i n t he pl anki ngs of t he wal l s, or t he t hi n

canvas of t he t ent s. When, t her ef or e, t he candl es

bur ned out and f i ni shed t hei r cour se bef or e t he pr oper

t i me, t he Ki ng consi der ed by what means he coul d

shut out t he wi nd ; and so, by a usef ul and cunni ng

i nvent i on, he had a l ant er n beaut i f ul l y const r uct ed i n

wood and whi t e ox- hor n, whi ch, when ski l f ul l y pl aned

t i l l i t i s t hi n, i s no l ess t r anspar ent t han a vessel of

gl ass. Thi s l ant er n, t her ef or e, was wonder f ul l y made

of wood and hor n, as we bef or e sai d ; and by ni ght a

candl e was put i nt o i t , whi ch shone as br i ght l y wi t hout

as wi t hi n, and was not ext i ngui shed by t he wi nd ; f or

t he openi ng of t he l ant er n was al so cl osed up, accor d-

i ng t o t he Ki ng' s command, by a door of hor n. By t hi s

cont r i vance t hese si x candl es, l i ght ed i n successi on,

l ast ed t went y- f our hour s — nei t her mor e nor l ess ; and

when t hese wer e ext i ngui shed, ot her s wer e l i ght ed. "

Hi s t ast e and geni us f or sci ence, and f or mechani cs,

ar e ment i oned i n sever al chr oni cl er s, but t her e i s no

descr i pt i on l ef t of any ot her i nvent i on of hi s. Asser ,

i n a passage whi ch sums up hi s ever yday mode of

l i f e, says : " Dur i ng t he f r equent war s and ot her

t r ammel s of t hi s pr esent l i f e, t he i nvasi ons of t he

Pagans, and hi s own dai l y i nf i r mi t i es of body, he

cont i nued t o car r y on t he gover nment , and t o exer ci se

THE KI NGS HOME. 271

hunt i ng i n al l i t s br anches ; t o t each hi s wor ker s i n

gol d and ar t i f i cer s of al l ki nds, hi s f al coner s, hawker s,

and dog- keeper s ; t o bui l d houses maj est i c and good

beyond al l t he pr ecedent s of hi s ancest or s by hi s

new mechani cal i nvent i ons ; t o r eci t e t he Saxon

books, and especi al l y t o l ear n by hear t t he Saxon

poems, and t o make ot her s l ear n t hem ; and he al one

never desi st ed f r om st udyi ng t o t he best of hi s abi l i t y.

Page 140 of 174

He at t ended t he mass, and ot her dai l y ser vi ces of

r el i gi on ; he was f r equent i n psal m- si ngi ng and pr ayer

at t he hour s bot h of day and ni ght . He al so went t o

t he chur ches i n t he ni ght - t i me t o pr ay secr et l y, and

unknown t o hi s cour t i er s ; he best owed al ms and

l ar gesses on nat i ves and f or ei gner s of al l count r i es ;

he was af f abl e and pl easant t o al l , and cur i ousl y eager

t o i nvest i gat e t hi ngs unknown. "

That par t of t he above st at ement whi ch speaks of

t he Ki ng' s t eachi ng hi s wor ker s i n gol d has r ecei ved

cur i ous i l l ust r at i on f r om t he f amous j ewel f ound at

Newt on Par k, near At hel ney, i n 1693, and whi ch i s

now i n t he Ashmol ean Museum at Oxf or d. The j ewel

consi st s of a f i gur e hol di ng a f l ower i n each hand,

and composed of bl ue, gr een, r ed, and whi t e enamel ,

l et i nt o gol den cel l s. The set t i ngs and back of t he

j ewel ar e of pur e gol d, t he l at t er bei ng chased i n a

gr acef ul pat t er n. I t i s about hal f an i nch t hi ck, and

r ound t he out si de r uns t he scr ol l , " Al f r ed had me

wor ked " — " Al f r ed mec heht gewyr can " — st amped

on t he gol d edge.

The above descr i pt i on, f r om t he pen of t he i n-

t i mat e f r i end who was at hi s si de dur i ng al l t he

272 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

l at er year s of peace, hel ps us t o pi ct ur e t o our -

sel ves t he l i f e whi ch t he Ki ng l i ved i n hi s gr eat

cour t — hal f camp, hal f ci t y — whi ch moved about al l

t he sout ner n count i es, st i mul at i ng i ndust r y, and over -

awi ng out l aws and l awl ess men on t he one hand, and

exer ci si ng on t he ot her a cl ose and sever e cont r ol

over t he act s of al der men and sher i f f s, and t he

deci si ons of j udges. I n t he mi dst of t hi s home of

wor k, and wi t h t he exampl e of t he chi ef , and most

di l i gent , wor ker al ways bef or e t hei r eyes, hi s f ami l y

gr ew up r ound hi m.

I n hi s pr i vat e l i f e t he Ki ng seems t o have been as

happy as he deser ved t o be. Of Queen Et hel swi t ha

we know not hi ng, except t hat she was t he f ai t hf ul

consor t of her husband, and bor e hi m many chi l dr en.

The ear l y t r ai ni ng of t hese must have been her chi ef

wor k, and how admi r abl y i t was per f or med may be

i nf er r ed f r om t he r esul t s. Ever y chi l d of Al f r ed

t ur ned out wel l . The gi r l s of t he r oyal f ami l y wer e

t r ai ned i n al l ki nds of womanl y wor k ; t he f our

daught er s of Edwar d t he El der , who must have been

br ought up i n Et hel swi t ha' s househol d, havi ng been

speci al l y di st i ngui shed f or t hei r gr eat assi dui t y and

ski l l i n spi nni ng, weavi ng, and needl ewor k. And t he

pr ocesses used i n t hese ar t s wer e by no means si mpl e.

Bi shop Adhel m speaks, even i n hi s t i me, of webs

f or med " wi t h t hr eads of pur pl e and var i ous ot her

col our s woven i n wi t h t he shut t l e, t hr own f r om one

si de t o t he ot her , t her eby f or mi ng a var i et y of

di f f er ent col our s and f i gur es, each i n i t s own pr oper

compar t ment kni t t oget her wi t h exqui si t e ar t . "

THE KI NG' S HOME. 273

Page 141 of 174

The hi gher educat i on, of gi r l s as wel l as boys, went

on i n t he school s at t ached t o t he cour t under Al f r ed' s

own eye. Pr obabl y hi s own daught er s wer e at l east

as wel l t aught as Queen Edgi t ha i n t he next cent ur y,

who was of t en seen by I ngul phus i n hi s boyhood,

when hi s f at her was i n t he pal ace, as he came f r om

school . " When I have met her she woul d exami ne

r t i e i n my l ear ni ng, and f r om gr ammar woul d pr oceed

t o l ogi c, whi ch she al so under st ood, concl udi ng wi t h

me i n most subt l e ar gument ; t hen causi ng one of her

at t endant mai ds t o pr esent me wi t h a pi ece of money,

I was di smi ssed t o t he l ar der , wher e I was sur e t o get

somet hi ng t o eat . " Et hel swi t ha sur vi ved her husband,

and di ed at t he cour t of her son i n 905.

The el dest chi l d, Et hel f l eda, bor n i n t he f i r st year

of her f at her ' s r ei gn, when t he Danes wer e i n Readi ng

camp, was mar r i ed ver y ear l y t o t he gal l ant Et hel r ed,

t he Al der man of Mer ci a, Al f r ed' s " pr i nceps mi l i t i ae, "

as he i s somet i mes cal l ed. She shar ed t he gover nment

wi t h her husband, as Lady of Mer ci a, and af t er hi s

deat h r ul ed gal l ant l y i n t he cent r e of Engl and, con-

sol i dat i ng and st r engt heni ng t he Mer cr ah f r ont i er s,

agai nst t he Wel sh on one si de, and t he R^ st Angl i ans

on t he ot her .

Thei r second daught er was Et hel geda, who became

abbess of t he gr eat monast er y at Shaf t esbur y, whi ch

t he Ki ng bui l t soon af t er t he peace of Wedmor e.

Her r esi dence t her e may pr obabl y account f or t he

speci al at t achment whi ch Al f r ed showed t o t he t own,

whi ch he r ebui l t as ear l y as a. d. 880, i f we may

accept t he evi dence of Wi l l i am of Mal mesbur y, He

274 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

ment i ons i n hi s chr oni cl e t hat he had seen a st one

whi ch was dug out of t he ol d wal l s i n hi s t i me, and

whi ch bor e t he i nscr i pt i on, " A. D. 880, Al f r edus Rex

f eci t hanc Ur bem, r egni sui 8' . "

The t hi r d daught er , El f r i da, or El f r i t h, became t he

wi f e of Bal dwi n of Fl ander s, t he el dest son of Judi t h,

Al f r ed' s ol d pl ayf el l ow, who had scandal i zed Chr i st i an

Engl and i n t he t i me of hi s boyhood by her successi ve

mar r i ages wi t h hi s f at her and br ot her . How or when

t he r econci l i at i on bet ween t hem t ook pl ace we do not

know.

The boys wer e Edwar d, af t er war ds Ki ng Edwar d

t he El der , and Et hel vvar d. Et hel war d, t he younger

son, showed a t ur n f or st udy, and, " by t he di vi ne

counsel s and pr udence of t he Ki ng, was consi gned t o

t he school s of l ear ni ng, wher e, wi t h t he chi l dr en of

al most al l t he nobi l i t y of t he count r y, and many al so

who wer e not nobl e, he pr osper ed under t he di l i gent

car e of hi s t eacher s. " Whi l e Et hel war d t hen was

sent t o Oxf or d ( or what ever was t he l eadi ng school

of Engl and) , Edwar d seems never t o have got beyond

t he school whi ch was at t ached t o hi s f at her ' s cour t .

Asser st at es t hat he and El f r i t h wer e br ed up i n t he

Ki ng' s cour t , " and cont i nue t her e t o t hi s day " ( pr o-

babl y about A. D. Z' ^' ] ) , addi ng i n wor ds whi ch cl ear l y

Page 142 of 174

appl y t o bot h t he boys, t hough Et hel war d' s name i s

not ment i oned. He cont i nues: " They had t he l ove of

al l about t hem, and showed af f abi l i t y and gent l eness

t o al l , bot h nat i ves and f or ei gner s, and wer e i n com-

pl et e subj ect i on t o t hei r f at her . Nor amongst t hei r

ot her st udi es whi ch per t ai n t o t hi s l i f e, and ar e f i t f or

THE KI NGS HOME. 275

nobl e yout hs, ar e t hey suf f er ed t o pass t hei r t i me i dl y

and unpr of i t abl y wi t hout l ear ni ng t he l i ber al ar t s ; f or

t hey have car ef ul l y l ear ned t he Psal ms and Saxon

books, especi al l y t he Saxon poems, and ar e con-

t i nual l y i n t he habi t of maki ng use of books. "

But Edwar d i nher i t ed al l hi s f at her ' s vi gour and

cour age, as wel l as hi s ki ndl y cour t esy, and was ad-

di ct ed t o, and no doubt encour aged by Al f r ed i n, t he

pr act i ce of mar t i al spor t s, and hunt i ng. Ther e i s a

r omant i c st or y whi ch connect s hi s f i r st mar r i age wi t h

a hunt i ng expedi t i on. Tur ni ng asi de f r om hi s spor t

t o vi si t an ol d woman who had been hi s nur se, he

f ound l i vi ng wi t h her a gi r l of gr eat beaut y, named

Edgi na. She was t he daught er of a shepher d, ac -

cor di ng t o Wi l l i am of Mal mesbur y and Br ompt on,

but at any r at e was of l owl y bi r t h, and had dr eamt

t hat t he moon shone out of her body so br i ght l y

t hat i t i l l umxi nat ed al l Engl and. She had t ol d t he

dr eam t o t he ol d nur se, who had adopt ed her , and

now t he Et hel i ng came t o make t he dr eam t r ue.

Ther e has been much di scussi on whet her t hey wer e

mar r i ed, but t he bet t er opi ni on seems t o be t hat

t hey wer e. I n any case, t hei r son At hel st an was

r ecogni sed by Al f r ed as hi s gr andson when qui t e a

chi l d, and ent r ust ed t o Et hel r ed and Et hel f l eda t o

br i ng up. When ol d enough t o be br ought t o cour t ,

hi s guar di ans pr esent ed hi m t o Al f r ed, who was so

pl eased wi t h t he boy' s l ook and manner , t hat he

" bl essed hi m f or ki ng af t er hi s son Edwar d, " and

gave hi m a pur pl e r obe, a bel t set wi t h j ewel s, and a

Saxon swor d i n a gol den sheat h.

T 2

276 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Edgi na di ed ear l y, and Edwar d had a l ar ge f ami l y

by t wo ot her wi ves, of whom t hr ee daught er s mar r i ed

t he most power f ul cont i nent al pr i nces : Edgi t ha, t he

Emper or Ot ho I . ; Edgi va, Char l es t he Si mpl e ; and

Et hi l da, Hugo t he Gr eat , Duke of Bur gundy and

Neust r i a, t he r i val of t he Car l ovi ngi an l i ne of

Pr anki sh ki ngs.

Reader s must f i l l up f or t hemsel ves t he pi ct ur e of

t he Engl i sh l i f e r ound t he gr eat Ki ng; and a cheer f ul

and heal t hy l i f e i t must have been, wf t h i t s r egul ar

wor k i nt er sper sed wi t h t he wel l - kept Sai nt s' days

and Sundays, on whi ch no bondman coul d be made

t o wor k wi t hout t her eby gai ni ng a r i ght t o hi s

f r eedom. The di scomf or t of t hei r houses was l i t t l e

f el t by a har dy r ace, and, whi l e t hei r usef ul car pent r y

Page 143 of 174

was of t he r udest ki nd, t hei r or nament al f ur ni t ur e

compr i sed ar t i cl es i nl ai d wi t h t he pr eci ous met al s,

and candl est i cks and gobl et s and mi r r or s of wr ought

si l ver , and hangi ngs of al l br i ght col our s. The

descr i pt i ons whi ch have r eached us of t he dr esses

and ways of t he peopl e go f ar t o pr ove t hat Engl and

was mer r y Engl and a t housand year s ago. Men and

women al i ke del i ght ed i n br i ght col our s. The men,

i n peace t i me, wor e a t uni c of wool or l i nen, wi t h

sl eeves t o t he wr i st s, and gi r ded r ound t he wai st , and

t hose who coul d af f or d t hem, br acel et s and r i ngs.

The women wor e dr esses of l i nen or wool , of t en

or nament ed wi t h embr oi der y ; and si l k hoods wi t h

l ong' pendant s, mant l es, gi r dl es, cuf f s, and r i bands,

wer e al so not unknown t o t hem. Thei r or nament s

wer e head- bands, neckl aces, br acel et s, and r i ngs, many

THE KI NGS HOME. 277

of whi ch wer e of f i ne wor kmanshi p, and enamel l ed

wi t h gems. Thei r hai r was dr essed wi t h cur l i ng i r ons,

and wi t h gr eat car e ; l ong cur l s bei ng t he mar k of

a f r ee woman. Even t he cl er gy wer e addi ct ed t o

col our ed gar ment s and or nament s, whi ch dr ew down

on t hem, and on t he peopl e, t he sever e censur es of

st er n eccl esi ast i cs such as St . Boni f ace, who decl ar ed

t hat t he vai n showi ness i n t he dr ess of hi s peopl e

announced t he comi ng of Ant i chr i st .

Gl eemen, post ur e mast er s, and j uggl er s wer e

al ways at hand t o si ng and t umbl e f or t he amuse-

ment of r i ch and poor dur i ng meal s and i n t he

eveni ngs ; and hunt i ng, and hawki ng, and swor d and

buckl er pl ay, and hor se- r aci ng, f i l l ed up t he i nt er val s

of mor e ser i ous busi ness. I n shor t , i n t he i mmedi at e

nei ghbour hood of t he Cour t , t he l i f e of al l but t he

Ki ng, and hi s bi shops, and i mmedi at e at t endant s,

must have passed i n a r ound of st r enuous wor k

and r ough and heal t hy spor t , wel l cal cul at ed t o

devel op t he power s of hi s vi gor ous, i f somewhat

i ndol ent peopl e.

CHAPTER XXI I I .

THE KI NG AS AUTHOR. '

" The l i ps of t he r i i ^Ji t eoi i s f eed many : but f ool s di e f or want

of wi sdom. "

I t i s i mpossi bl e t o accept as l i t er al l y t r ue Asser s

st at ement , t hat i t was not unt i l t he year 887 t hat

Al f r ed began, on t he same day, t o r ead and i nt er pr et .

That he coul d wr i t e as wel l as r ead when, a boy,

char t er s bear i ng hi s si gnat ur e as ear l y as 862, i n t he

f or m, " I , Al f r ed, br ot her t o t he Ki ng, have consent ed

and subscr i bed, " cl ear l y pr ove. I t was pr obabl y,

however , i n t he mont h of November 887 t hat he

began t hat ser i es of books f or hi s peopl e whi ch f or m,

af t er al l , hi s most endur i ng monument . But f or

Al f r ed' s wor ks t he Angl o- Saxon spoken i n t he ni nt h

cent ur y mi ght never have r eached us at al l . When

he was a boy t he l i t er at ur e of hi s mot her - t ongue

Page 144 of 174

consi st ed of a f ew poems, such as t hose of C^dmon

and Adhel m, sung by t he peopl e, and handed

down f r om f at her t o son, f or even Bede had wr i t t en

hi s gr eat wor k i n Lat i n. When Al f r ed di ed he l ef t

al l t hose of hi s peopl e who coul d r ead ver si ons of

t he best hi st or i cal , phi l osophi cal , and r el i gi ous wor ks

whi ch t he t i mes af f or ded i n t hei r own mot her - t ongue.

THE KI NG AS A UTHOR. 279

Not wi t hst andi ng t he evi dence f r om t he sever al pr e-

f aces t o t he wor ks t hemsel ves, and f r om t he pas -

sages i nt er pol at ed i n t he t ext , whi ch cont ai n di r ect

r ef er ences t o hi msel f , and coul d scar cel y have been

wr i t t en by any ot her per son, i t i s al most beyond

bel i ef t hat he coul d have t r ansl at ed, par aphr ased, and

adapt ed al l t he books whi ch ar e gener al l y at t r i but ed

t o hi m. The pr essur e of publ i c busi ness of al l ki nds

i n t he l ast f i f t een year s of hi s l i f e, and t he i nt er r up-

t i on of t he i nvasi on of Hast i ng, whi ch must have put

a st op t o hi s l i t er ar y wor k al t oget her f or t hr ee year s,

make i t al most a physi cal i mpossi bi l i t y ; and we ar e

dr i ven t o t he concl usi on t hat Pl egmund, Asser , and

hi s chapl ai ns must have done gr eat par t of t he wor k

under hi s i mmedi at e di r ect i on and super vi si on. The

wi sdom and br eadt h of hi s vi ews wi l l be seen best

by a shor t not i ce of t he most cel ebr at ed of t he

wor ks whi ch he l ef t t o hi s peopl e. But t he most

f i t t i ng i nt r oduct i on t o t hese wi l l be t he account

gi ven by Asser of t he i nt er vi ew whi ch at l ast t ur ned

t he Ki ng t o l i t er ar y wor k.

" On a cer t ai n day, " t he Bi shop wr i t es, " we wer e

bot h si t t i ng i n t he Ki ng' s chamber , t al ki ng on al l

ki nds of subj ect s as usual , and i t happened t hat I r ead

t o hi m a quot at i on out of a cer t ai n book. He hear d

i t at t ent i vel y wi t h bot h hi s ear s, and addr essed me

wi t h a t hought f ul mi nd, showi ng me at t he same

moment a book whi ch he car r i ed i n hi s bosom, wher ei n

t he dai l y cour ses, and psal ms, and pr ayer s whi ch he

had r ead i n hi s yout h wer e wr i t t en, and he com-

manded me t o wr i t e t he same quot at i on i n t hat book.

28o LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Hear i ng t hi s, and per cei vi ng hi s i ngenuous benevo-

l ence, and devout desi r e of st udyi ng t he wor ds of

di vi ne wi sdom, I gave, t hough i n secr et , boundl ess

t hanks t o Al mi ght y God, who had i mpl ant ed such

a l ove of wi sdom i n t he Ki ng' s hear t . But I coul d

not f i nd any empt y space i n t hat book wher ei n t o

wr i t e t he quot at i on, f or i t was al r eady f ul l of var i ous

mat t er s ; wher ef or e I made a l i t t l e del ay, pr i nci pal l y

t hat I mi ght st i r up t he br i ght i nt el l ect of t he Ki ng

t o a hi gher acquai nt ance wi t h t he di vi ne t est i moni es.

Upon hi s ur gi ng me t o make hast e and wr i t e i t

qui ckl y, I sai d t o hi m, ' Ar e you wi l l i ng t hat I shoul d

wr i t e t hat quot at i on on some l eaf apar t ? For i t i s

not cer t ai n whet her we shal l not f i nd one or mor e

ot her such ext r act s whi ch wi l l pl ease you ; and i f t hat

shoul d so happen, we shal l be gl ad t hat we have kept

t hem apar t ' ' Your pl an i s good, ' sai d he ; and I

Page 145 of 174

gl adl y made hast e t o get r eady a sheet , i n t he begi n-

ni ng of whi ch I wr ot e what he bade me ; and on t hat

sam^e day I wr ot e t her ei n, as I had ant i ci pat ed, no

l ess t han t hr ee ot her quot at i ons whi ch pl eased hi m ;

and f r om t hat t i me we dai l y t al ked t oget her , and

f ound out ot her quot at i ons whi ch pl eased hi m, so t hat

t he sheet became f ul l , and deser vedl y so ; accor di ng

as i t i s wr i t t en, ' The j ust man bui l ds upon a mode-

r at e f oundat i on, and by degr ees passes t o gr eat er

t hi ngs. ' Thus, l i ke a most pr oduct i ve bee, he f l ew

her e and t her e, aski ng quest i ons as he went , unt i l he

had eager l y and unceasi ngl y col l ect ed many var i ous

f l ower s of di vi ne Scr i pt ur e wi t h whi ch he t hi ckl y

st or ed t he cel l s of hi s mi nd.

THE KI XG AS A UTHOR. 281

" Now when t hat f i r st quot at i on was copi ed, he was

eager at once t o r ead, and t o i nt er pr et i n Saxon, and

t hen t o t each ot her s. The Ki ng, i nspi r ed by God,

began t o st udy t he r udi ment s of di vi ne Scr i pt ur e on

t he sacr ed sol emni t y of St . Mar t i n [ Nov. 11] , and

he cont i nued t o l ear n t he f l ower s col l ect ed by cer t ai n

mast er s, and t o r educe t hem i nt o t he f or m of one

book, as he was t hen abl e, al t hough mi xed one wi t h

anot her , unt i l i t became al most as l ar ge as a psal t er .

Thi s book he cal l ed hi s Enchi r i di on or Manual

[ Handbook] , because he car ef ul l y kept i t at hand

day and ni ght , and f ound, as he t ol d me, no smal l

consol at i on t her ei n. "

Thi s handbook i s unf or t unat el y l ost , and t he onl y

aut hent i c not i ces of i t s cont ent s ar e t wo passages i n

Wi l l i am of Mal mesbur y' s " Li f e of Bi shop Al dhel m. "

Fr om t hese i t woul d seem t hat t he handbook was not

a mer e commonpl ace book of passages copi ed f r om

t he books of f amous aut hor s, but t hat Al f r ed was

hi msel f gat her i ng i n i t mat er i al s f or a hi st or y of hi s

count r y. The f i r st passage ci t ed mer el y cor r ect s a

st at ement t hat Bi shop Al dhel m was t he nephew oi

Ki ng I na. The second r el at es how " Ki ng Al f r ed

ment i ons, t hat a popul ar song whi ch was st i l l sung i n

t he st r eet s was composed by Al dhel m ; addi ng t he

r eason why such a man occupi ed hi msel f wi t h t hi ngs

whi ch appear t o be f r i vol ous. The peopl e at t hat

t i me bei ng hal f bar bar i ans, and car i ng ver y l i t t l e about

chur ch cer mons, used t o r un home as soon as mass

had been chant ed. For t hi s r eason t he hol y man

woul d st and on a br i dge whi ch l eads f r om t he t own

282 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

t o t he count r y, and woul d meet t hem on t hei r way

home hke one whose pr of essi on i s t he ar t of si ngi ng.

Havi ng done so mor e t han once, he obt ai ned t he

f avour of t he peopl e, who f l ocked r ound hi m. Mi xi ng

by t hi s devi ce by and by t he wor ds of Hol y Scr i pt ur e

wi t h hi s pl ayf ul songs, he l ed t he peopl e back t o a

pr oper l i f e. Wher eas, i f he had pr ef er r ed t o act

sever el y, and by excommuni cat i on, he woul d never

have gai ned anyt hi ng by i t . " Thi s one speci men of

t he handbook whi ch r emai ns t o us must hei ght en our

Page 146 of 174

r egr et at t he l oss of t he r emai nder .

THE HI STORY OF OROSI US.

The most ar duous of al l t he Ki ng' s l i t er ar y l abour s

must have been t he r epr oduct i on of " The Uni ver sal

Hi st or y of Paul us Or osi us" i n Angl o- Saxon, f or

Al f r ed' s wor k can scar cel y be cal l ed a t r ansl at i on,

He abr i dges, par aphr ases, or enl ar ges at di scr et i on,

of t en l eavi ng out whol e chapt er s, and i n pl aces i n-

ser t i ng ent i r el y new mat t er . The scope of t he wor k i s

summed up by i t s aut hor i n a passage of t he f or t y -

t hi r d chapt er of t he l ast book ( whi ch Al f r ed has

omi t t ed) i n whi ch he addr esses hi s f r i end St . Augus -

t i ne, Bi shop of Hi ppo. " I have now set out , " wr i t es

Or osi us, " by t he hel p of Chr i st , and i n obedi ence

t o your desi r e, O most bl essed f at her August i ne, t he

l ust s and puni shment s of si nf ul men, t he conf l i ct s

of t he ages, and t he j udgment s of God, f r om t he

begi nni ng of t he wor l d t o t he pr esent t i me ; t hat i s

t o say, f or 5617 year s. " Thi s hi st or y had t he hi ghest

THE KI NG AS A UTHOR. 283

r eput e i n Al f r ed' s t i me, and f or cent ur i es af t er war ds,

t hough i t i s not a compi l at i on whi ch woul d now

i nt er est any but cur i ous r eader s.

Or osi us was bor n i n Spai n about A. D. 380, at Tar -

r agona, and, l i ke t he gr eat maj or i t y of t he most

act i ve i nt el l ect s of hi s day, t ook Or der s ear l y i n l i f e.

The i dea of t he Uni ver sal Hi st or y was suggest ed t o

hi m by St . August i ne, who appr eci at ed t he i ndust r y

and abi l i t y of t he young Spani sh pr i est , and wi shed

f or hi s hel p i n t he wor k whi ch he was hi msel f

engaged upon. Thi s was hi s t r eat i se " De ci vi t at e

Dei , " i nt ended t o r ef ut e t he scandal ous asser t i ons

of pagan Romans, t hat Chr i st i ani t y had i nj ur ed man-

ki nd r at her t han benef i t ed t hem. These wr i t er s

f ounded t hei r ar gument on t he mi sf or t unes whi ch

had bef al l en t he Empi r e, and par t i cul ar l y on t he

r ecent sack of Rome by Al ar i c ( A. D. 410) . Al l

t hese t hey at t r i but ed t o Chr i st i ani t y, mai nt ai ni ng

t hat , si nce Chr i st ' s comi ng t her e had been no pr os -

per i t y or vi ct or i es f or Rome, whose gl or y and empi r e

had mi ser abl y decl i ned. I n hi s " Ci t y of God "

August i ne was hi msel f showi ng, f r om t he hi st or y

of t he Chur ch, t hat t he wor l d was t he bet t er f or

Revel at i on. Havi ng come al r eady t o hi s t ent h book,

t he good Bi shop seems t o have become consci ous

of a weak poi nt i n hi s l i ne of def ence. I n or der

t o pr ove hi s case, t he wor l d as wel l as t he Chur ch

must be cal l ed as a wi t ness ; and Or osi us under t ook

t hi s par t of t he t ask by hi s desi r e.

The young Spani ar d had al r eady pr oved hi msel f

an abl e penman i n a comment ar y on t he ner esi es

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

of Pr i sci l l i an and Or i gen. August i ne' s opi ni on of

hi m appear s i n t he l et t er of i nt r oduct i on wi t h whi ch,

Page 147 of 174

i n A. D. 415, he sent hi m t o St Jer ome, who was t hen

Hvi ng at Bet hl ehem pr epar i ng hi s t r ansl at i on of t he

Scr i pt ur es, whi ch has si nce become t he Vul gat e. Not -

wi t hst andi ng hi s successf ul comment ar y, i t woul d

seem t her e wer e poi nt s as t o t he nat ur e and or i gi n

of t he soul on whi ch Or osi us was not sur e of hi s

own gr ound. August i ne, wi t h t he ut most f r ankness,

admi t s hi s own i nabi l i t y t o cl ear t hem up, and so

sends t he young man on t o t he gr eat est l i vi ng

schol ar , wr i t i ng of hi m, " Behol d t her e has come t o

me a godl y young man, i n cat hol i c peace a br ot her ,

i n age a son, i n r ank a co- pr esbyt er , Or osi us by

name — of act i ve t al ent s, r eady el oquence, ar dent

i ndust r y, l ongi ng t o be i n God' s house a vessel

usef ul f or di spr ovi ng f al se and dest r uct i ve doct r i nes,

whi ch have dest r oyed t he soul s of t he Spani ar ds

mor e gr i evousl y t han t he swor ds of t he heat hen t hei r

bodi es. He has hast ened hi t her f r om t he shor e of

t he ocean, hopi ng t o l ear n f r om me what ever of

t hese mat t er s he wi shed t o know ; but he has not

r eaped t he f r ui t of hi s l abour . Fi r st I desi r ed hi m

not t o t r ust t oo much t o f ame r espect i ng me ; next

I t aught hi m what I coul d, and what I coul d not

I t ol d hi m wher e he mi ght l ear n, and advi sed hi m

t o come t o you. As he has wi l l i ngl y acceded t o

my advi ce, or command, I have asked hi m on hi s

l eavi ng you t hat he woul d come t o us on hi s way

home. " On hi s r et ur n t o Af r i ca, Or osi us compi l ed

hi s Hi st or y of t he Wor l d f r om Adam t o Al ar i c, dedi -

THE KI NG AS A UTHOR. 285

eat i ng i t t o St . August i ne. I t must have been a

wor k of ext r aor di nar y l abour , havi ng r egar d t o t he

oppor t uni t i es and mat er i al s at hi s command, but i s

now onl y i nt er est i ng as a cur i osi t y. Mi ndf ul of t he

obj ect of St . August i ne, Or osi us spr i nkl es hi s nar r a-

t i on her e and t her e wi t h mor al Chr i st i an sent i ment s,

as when he comes t o Busi r i s sacr i f i ci ng st r anger s :

" I woul d now t hat t hose woul d answer me who say

t hat t hi s wor l d i s now wor se under Chr i st i ani t y t han

i t was under heat hendom. Wher e i s t her e now i n

any par t of Chr i st endom t hat men need dr ead

amongst t hemsel ves t o be sacr i f i ced t o any gods. ' "

or agai n when speaki ng of Phal ar i s' bul l : " Why do

men compl ai n of t hese Chr i st i an t i mes, and say t hat

t hey ar e wor se t han f or mer t i mes, when t hough t hey

wer e wi t h t hose ki ngs doi ng evi l at t hei r desi r e, t hey

mi ght yet f i nd no mer cy f r om t hem . - ' But now

ki ngs and emper or s, " t hough a man si n agai nst t hei r

wi l l , yet , f or l ove of God, gr ant f or gi veness accor di ng

t o t he degr ee of gui l t . " For t he r est , t he Hi st or y

r ambl es about f r om count r y t o count r y, i n a gossi pi ng,

unconnect ed manner ; and, t hough pr obabl y t he best

account of human af f ai r s avai l abl e t o Al f r ed, woul d

scar cel y det ai n us but f or t he addi t i ons whi ch he

has made t o t he t ext .

Of t hese, by f ar t he most r emar kabl e ar e t he

account s of t he Nor t her n voyages of Ot her e and

Wul f st an, t wo of Al f r ed' s sea- capt ai ns. Or osi us' f i r st

book i s devot ed t o t he geogr aphy of t he wor l d, and

gi ves t he boundar i es of t he t hr ee cont i nent s, and some

descr i pt i on of t he count r i es and peopl e who i nhabi t

Page 148 of 174

286 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

t hem, unt i l he comes t o t he Swedes. Then Al f r ed

abr upt l y l eaves t he t ext of Or osi us, havi ng hi msel f

somet hi ng much mor e sat i sf act or y as t o t hose Nor t her n

par t s t o set bef or e hi s peopl e. " Ot her e t ol d hi s l or d,

Ki ng Al f r ed, " he br eaks i n, " t hat he dwel t nor t hwar d

of al l t he Nor t hmen. He sai d t hat he dwel t i n t he

l and t o t he nor t hwar d, al ong t he west sea ; he sai d,

however , t hat t hat l and i s ver y l ong nor t h f r om t hence,

but i t i s al l wast e except i n a f ew pl aces wher e t he

Fi ns her e and t her e dwel l , f or hunt i ng i n t he wi nt er ,

and i n t he summer f or f i shi ng i n t hat sea. " Then

f ol l ows t he descr i pt i on of Ot her e' s f amous Nor t her n

voyage, on whi ch he st ar t ed wi t h t he t r ue i nst i nct s of

an expl or er , wi shi ng t o know how f ar t he l and ext ended

t o t he Nor t h, and whet her any one l i ved on t he ot her

si de of t he wast e. The descr i pt i on i s mi nut e of t he

number of days' sai l whi ch t he ol d Nor t hman made,

but wher e he went pr eci sel y has puzzl ed al l t he

schol ar s who have ever exami ned t he quest i on t o

deci de. I t seems cl ear , however , t hat he act ual l y sai l ed

r ound t he Nor t h Cape, and down i nt o t he Whi t e Sea,

and t hat Al f r ed means t o i ncl ude t he whol e of Eur ope

nor t h of t he Danube i n t he wor d Ger mani a. The onl y

peopl e Ot her e f i nds i n Scandi navi a ar e, t he Fi ns, and

Beor mas: t he f or mer l et t i ng t hei r l ands l i e wast e, and

subsi st i ng on f i shi ng, f owl i ng, and hunt i ng ; t he l at t er

havi ng wel l - cul t i vat ed l ands. Ot her e f ound i n t hese

par t s whal es wi t h " ver y nobl e bones i n t hei r t eet h, "

some of whi ch he br ought t o t he Ki ng, and shi p- r opes

made of t hei r hi des. But he t hought l i t t l e of t hi s

speci es of whal e, as he cal l s t hem, havi ng f ar bet t er

THE KI NG AS A UTHOR. 2S7

whal e- hunt i ng i n hi s own count r j ' - , wher e t he whal es

ar e most of t hem f i f t y el l s l ong. Of t hese, he sai d, he

and f i ve ot her s had ki l l ed si xt y i n t wo days.

Ot her e t ol d hi s ki ng f ur t her of hi s own home i n

" t he shi r e cal l ed Hal gol and, " and how he had 600

t ame r ei ndeer of hi s own, si x of whi ch wer e decoy -

deer , ver y val uabl e. Al f r ed adds t hat he was one of

t he f i r st men of t hat count r y, " but had not mor e t han

t went y hor ned cat t l e, and t went y sheep, and t went y

swi ne ; and t he l i t t l e t hat he pl oughed, he pl oughed

wi t h hor ses. " But t he weal t h of Ot her e and t he

ot her gr eat men of t hose par t s, t he Ki ng adds, comes

f or t he most par t f r om r ent pai d by t he Fi ns — f or

what does not appear , so we may suppose t hat i t was

f or per mi ssi on t o l i ve, and hunt , and f i sh. Thi s r ent

" i s i n ski ns of ani mal s, and bi r ds' f eat her s, and i n

whal ebone, and i n shi ps' r opes made of whal es' hi de,

and of seal s. " Ever y man pays accor di ng t o hi s bi r t h :

" t he best bor n, i t i s sai d, pay t he ski ns of f i f t een

mar t ens, and f i ve r ei ndeer s, and one bear - ski n, t en

amber s of f eat her s, a bear ' s or ot t er ' s ski n kyr t l e, and

t wo shi p- r opes, each si xt y el l s l ong, "

Wul f st an' s voyage f r om Sl eswi g t o t he mout h of t he

Vi st ul a f ol l ows, wi t h gossi p wor t hy of Her odot us as t o

t he Est honi ans, or i nhabi t ant s of East l and, who l i ved

at t he j unct i on of t he " El bi ng" wi t h t hat r i ver : —

" East l and i s ver y l ar ge, and t her e ar e i n i t many

Page 149 of 174

t owns, and i n ever y t own a ki ng ; and t her e i s al so

gr eat abundance of honey and f i sh ; and t he ki ng

and t he r i chest men dr i nk mar es' mi l k, and t he poor

and t he sl aves dr i nk mead. They have many con-

t est s amongst t hemsel ves ; and t her e i s no al e br ewed

288 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GI ^EAT.

among t he Est honi ans, f or t her e i s mead enough. "

These Est honi ans, Al f r ed not es f r om Wul f st an, have

t he st r angest cust oms wi t h r espect t o bur i al s and suc -

cessi ons. The bodi es of dead men ar e kept unbur nt as

l ong as possi bl e by t he r el at i ves, accor di ng t o t hei r

weal t h ; ki ngs and ot her gr eat peopl e l yi ng i n st at e

f or hal f a year . They ar e abl e t o manage t hi s because

among t he Est honi ans " t her e i s a t r i be whi ch can

pr oduce col d, and so t he dead i n whom t hey pr oduce

t hat col d l i e ver y l ong t her e and do not put r ef y ;

and i f any one set s t wo vessel s f ul l of al e or wat er ,

t hey cont r i ve t hat one shal l be f r ozen, be i t summei

or be i t wi nt er . " I t i s t hi s di scover y whi ch enabl es

t he f uner al s of gr eat men t o be post poned f or l ong

i nt er val s, accor di ng t o t he r i ches of t he deceased.

Al l t he whi l e t he body i s above gr ound t her e ar e

dr i nki ng and spor t s, whi ch l ast t i l l t he day of bur i al

or bur ni ng, as t he case may be. " On t hat day t hey

di vi de t he dead man' s pr oper t y i nt o f i ve or si x por -

t i ons, accor di ng t o val ue, and pl ace i t out , t he l ar gest

por t i on about a mi l e f r om t he dwel l i ng wher e t he

dead man l i es, t hen anot her , t hen a t hi r d, and so

on t i l l i t i s al l l ai d wi t hi n t he mi l e. Then al l t he

nei ghbour s wi t hi n f i ve or si x mi l es who have swi f t

hor ses, meet and r i de t owar ds t he pr oper t y ; and he

who has t he swi f t est hor se comes t o t he f i r st and

l ar gest por t i on, and so each af t er ot her t i l l t he whol e

i s t aken ; and he t akes t he l east por t i on who t akes

t hat whi ch i s near est t he dwel l i ng : and t hen ever y

one r i des away wi t h t he pr oper t y, and t hey may have

i t al l ; and on t hi s account swi f t hor ses ar e t her e

excessi vel y dear , " — as we shoul d conj ect ur e.

THE KI NG AS AUTHOR. 289

But al t hough such account s of t he cust oms and

habi t s of t he peopl e amongst whom hi s capt ai ns went

ar e dul y set down by Al f r ed, hi s mai n obj ect i n t hi s

par t of t he wor k i s t o l ay down t he geogr aphy of

Ger many, t he cr adl e of hi s own r ace, as accur at el y as

possi bl e. The l ongest of t he ot her addi t i ons by Al f r ed

t o hi s aut hor ' s t ext i s t he descr i pt i on of a Roman

t r i umph ; but t her e ar e a gr eat number of smal l er

addi t i ons, such as t he r ef er ence t o t he cl i mat e of

I r el and, whi ch Al f r ed says i s war mer t han t hat of

Engl and, and t he f i xi ng of t he spot wher e C?esar

cr ossed t he Thames at Wal l i ngf or d. Agai n, he omi t s

const ant l y what ever i n hi s j udgment was i mmat er i al ,

t hus i n al l ways ai mi ng t o make hi s boo' k as usef ul as

possi bl e f or t hose whom i t was hi s chi ef ai m i n al l hi s

l i t er ar y wor k t o r ai se and i nst r uct .

BEDE' S " ECCLESI ASTI CAL HI STORY"

Page 150 of 174

The next i mpor t ant wor k whi ch bear s t he Ki ng' s

name i s t he t r ansl at i on of Bede' s " Eccl esi ast i cal Hi s -

t or y of t he Engl i sh Nat i on. " Bede was " mass - pr i est

of t he monast er y of t he bl essed apost l es Pet er and

Paul , whi ch i s at Wer e Mout h, " and hi s f amous hi st or y

ext ends f r om t he l andi ng of Jul i us Caesar t o t he year

731, when Keol wul f — t o whom t he book i s dedi cat ed

as one " ver y car ef ul of ol d men' s wor ds and deeds, and

most of al l of t he gr eat men of our nat i on " — was

ki ng of Nor t humbr i a. I n t hat t i me of peace " many

i n t he ki ngdom of Nor t humbr i a, bot h nobl e and

i gnobl e, year n mor e, " Bede t el l s hi s ki ng, " t o gi ve

S. L. VI I I . U

290 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

t hemsel ves and t hei r chi l dr en t o monast er i es and t o

God' s ser vi ce, t han t hey exer ci se wor l dl y war f ar e.

What end t he t hi ng i s t o have, t he comi ng age wi l l

see and behol d. " We have par t l y seen what came of

i t a cent ur y l at er . Al f r ed t r eat ed t he Eccl esi ast i cal

Hi st or y i n t he same manner as he had t r eat ed Or osi us;

f r eel y omi t t i ng, and abr i dgi ng ; and cor r ect i ng when

hi s own knowl edge as a West Saxon was mor e accu-

r at e t han t hat of t he vener abl e mass- pr i est , who had

pr obabl y never wander ed f i f t y mi l es f r om t he monas -

t er y at Wer e Mout h.

BOETHI US.

The " Consol at i ons of Phi l osophy, " whi ch Al f r ed

al so t r ansl at ed, f or ms a st r i ki ng cont r ast t o t he t wo

hi st or i cal wor ks al r eady not i ced. Gi bbon cal l s i t " a

gol den book, not unwor t hy t he l ei sur e of Pl at o or

Tul l y; " and Dr . Hook, " t he handbook of t he Mi ddl e

Ages, f or al l who uni t ed pi et y wi t h phi l osophy ; " and

i t has had t wo ot her i l l ust r i ous Engl i sh t r ansl at or s —

Chaucer and Queen El i zabet h.

Boet hi us was a pi ous and l ear ned Roman senat or ,

who was consul A. D. 487, t wo year s bef or e t he i nva-

si on of I t al y by Theodor i c t he Ost r ogot h. For many

year s he cont i nued i n f avour at cour t , and l i ved t o see

t he consul at e of hi s sons. But he i ncur r ed t he anger

of Theodor i c f or an at t ack on t he Ar i an her esy, and

f or t he bol dness wi t h whi ch he mai nt ai ned t he anci ent

r i ght s of t he senat e, and was bani shed f r om Rome,

and i mpr i soned at Pavi a. Her e, bef or e hi s execut i on,

A. D. 526, he wr ot e t he " Consol at i ons, " i n t he f or m of

THE KI NG AS A UTHOR. 291

a di al ogue bet ween hi msel f , or hi s mi nd, and Wi sdom,

or Reason. The bur den of t he wor k i s, t hat ever y

f or t une i s good f or men, whet her i t seem good t o

t hem or evi l , and t hat we ought wi t h al l our power t o

i nqui r e af t er God ever y man accor di ng t o t he measur e

of hi s under st andi ng, a phi l osophy whi ch Al f r ed' s

whol e l i f e i l l ust r at ed, and whi ch he was nat ur al l y

anxi ous t o i mpr ess upon hi s peopl e.

Page 151 of 174

Ther e i s a shor t pr ef ace t o t he Ki ng' s ver si on, whi ch

i s hel d by Dr . Paul i t o be t he wor k of some ot her

hand ; but i f not by Al f r ed, i t i s f ul l of t he manl i ness

and humi l i t y whi ch di st i ngui shed hi m, and expl ai ns

so wel l t he met hod of al l hi s l i t er ar y wor k, t hat i t

cannot be omi t t ed her e : —

" Ki ng Al f r ed was t r ansl at or of t hi s book, and

t ur ned i t f r om book- Lat i n i nt o Engl i sh, as i t i s now

done. Somet i mes he set wor d by wor d, somet i mes

meani ng by meani ng, as he t he most pl ai nl y and most

cl ear l y coul d expl ai n i t , f or t he var i ous and mani f ol d

wor l dl y occupat i ons whi ch of t en busi ed hi m bot h i n

mi nd and i n body. The occupat i ons ar e t o us ver y

di f f i cul t t o be number ed whi ch i n hi s days came

upon t he ki ngdom whi ch he had under t aken, and yet

when he had l ear ned t hi s book, and t ur ned i t f r om

t he Lat i n i nt o t he Engl i sh l anguage, he af t er war ds

composed i t i n ver se, as i t i s now done. And he now

pr ays, and f or God' s name i mpl or es ever y one of t hose

who l i st t o r ead t hi s book, t hat he woul d pr ay f or hi m,

and not bl ame hi m, i f he mor e r i ght l y under st and i t

t han he coul d. For ever y man must , accor di ng t o

t he measur e of hi s under st andi ng, and accor di ng t o

U 2

292 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

hi s l ei sur e, speak t hat whi ch he speaket h, and do t hat

whi ch he doet h. "

Ther e i s ext ant a t r ansl at i on of Boet hi us i nt o Saxon

ver se, as ment i oned i n t hi s pr ef ace, but i t woul d seem,

i n t he j udgment of t he best schol ar s, not t o have been

t he wor k of Al f r ed.

GREGORY' S PASTORAL.

Gr egor y' s " Past or al Car e " was al so t r ansl at ed

by t he Ki ng; t o i t i s pr ef i xed t he i nt r oduct i on

addr essed by hi m t o Bi shop Wer ef i - Jt h, f r om whi ch

quot at i ons have been al r eady made. I t commences

wi t h a descr i pt i on of t he sad decay of l ear ni ng i n

Engl and, and an exhor t at i on t o t he Bi shop t hat he,

who i s at l ei sur e f r om t he t hi ngs of t hi s wor l d, wi l l

best ow t he wi sdom whi ch God has gi ven hi m wher e-

ever he i s abl e t o best ow i t . " Thi nk what puni sh-

ment shal l come upon us on account of t hi s wor l d,

when we have not our sel ves l oved i t i n t he l east

degr ee, or enabl ed ot her men so t o do. We have had

t he name al one of Chr i st i ans, and ver y f ew of t he

vi r t ues. When I t hen cal l ed t o mi nd al l t hi s, t hen I

r emember ed how I saw, er e t hat al l i n t hem was l ai d

wast e and bur nt up, how t he chur ches t hr oughout al l

t he Engl i sh r ace st ood f i l l ed wi t h t r easur es and books,

and al so a gr eat mul t i t ude of God' s ser vant s; but t hey

knew ver y l i t t l e use of t hose books, f or t hat t hey coul d

not under st and anyt hi ng of t hem, because t hey wer e

not wr i t t en i n t hei r own l anguage, such as t hey our

el der s spoke. " The Ki ng goes on t o wonder why t hose

good and wi se men, who l oved wi sdom t hemsel ves,

Page 152 of 174

THE KI NG AS A UTHOR. 2^

and got weal t h and l ef t i t , had never been wi l l i ng t o

t ur n any of t he books t hey knew so wel l i nt o t hei r

own l anguage. But he soon answer ed hi msel f t hat

t hey must have l ef t i t undone of set pur pose, t hat

t her e mi ght be mor e wi sdom and knowl edge of

l anguages i n t he l and. However , he wi l l do what

he can now t o r emedy al l t hi s. " Wher ef or e I t hi nk

i t bet t er , i f i t al so appear s so t o you, t hat we t wo

shoul d t r ansl at e some books, whi ch ar e t he most

necessar y f or al l men t o under st and ; t hat we shoul d

t ur n t hese i nt o t hat t ongue whi ch we al l can know,

and so br i ng i t about , as we ver y easi l y may, wi t h

God' s hel p, i f we have r est , t hat al l t he yout h t hat

now i s among t he Engl i sh r ace, of f r ee men, t hat have

pr oper t y, so t hat t hey can appl y t hemsel ves t o t hese

t hi ngs, may be commi t t ed t o ot her s f or t he sake of

i nst r uct i on, so l ong as t hey have no power f or any

ot her empl oyment s, unt i l t he t i me t hat t hey may

know wel l how t o r ead Engl i sh wr i t i ng. Let men

af t er war ds f ur t her t each t hem Lat i n, t hose whom

t hey ar e wi l l i ng f ur t her t o t each, and whom t hey wi sh

t o advance t o a hi gher st at e.

" When I t hen cal l ed t o mi nd how t he l ear ni ng of

t he Lat i n t ongue bef or e t hi s was f al l en away t hr ough-

out t he Engl i sh r ace, t hough many knew how t o r ead

wr i t i ng i n Engl i sh ; t hen began I , among ot her unl i ke

and mani f ol d busi nesses of t hi s ki ngdom, t o t ur n i nt o

Engl i sh t he book t hat i s named i n Lat i n ' Past or al i s/

and i n Engl i sh t he ' Hi nd' s book, ' one- whi l e wor d

f or wor d, anot her - whi l e meani ng f or meani ng, so f ar

as I l ear ned i t wi t h Phl egmund r ay ar chbi shop, and

294 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

wi t h Asser my bi shop, and wi t h Gr i mbol d my mass-

pr i est , and wi t h John my mass- pr i est Af t er I had

t hen l ear ned t hem, so t hat I under st ood t hem, and so

t hat I mi ght r ead t hem wi t h t he f ul l est compr ehensi on,

I t ur ned t hem i nt o Engl i sh, and t o each bi shop' s see

i n my ki ngdom wi l l send one, and on each i s an ' aest el , '

t hat i s of t he val ue of f i f t y mancuses, and I bi d, i n

God' s name, t hat no man undo t he sest el f r om t he

books, nor t he books f r om t he mi nst er . I t i s unknown

how l ong t her e may be so l ear ned bi shops as now,

t hank God, ar e ever ywher e. For t hi s, I woul d t hat t hey

al ways shoul d be at t hei r pl ace, unl ess t he bi shop wi l l

have t hem wi t h hi m, or t hey be anywher e l ent , or

some one wr i t e ot her s by t hem. "

Ther e ar e sever al manuscr i pt copi es of t he " Past or al

Car e " i n Angl o- Saxon i n t he publ i c l i br ar i es of t he

count r y, whi ch ar e supposed t o be some of t hose r e-

f er r ed t o i n Al f r ed' s i nt r oduct i on as havi ng been sent

by hi m as pr esent s t o hi s bi shops. The aest el , wor t h

f i f t y mancuses, whi ch accompani ed each copy, has

di sappear ed. Al f r ed, t o j udge f r om t he car e wi t h

whi ch he pr ovi ded f or i t s ci r cul at i on, pl aces mor e

val ue on t hi s t han on any ot her of hi s wor ks. To us

i t i s, per haps, t he l east val uabl e, bei ng occupi ed chi ef l y

wi t h t he di f f i cul t y and i mpor t ance of t he t eacher ' s or

pr i est ' s of i i ce, t he danger of f i l l i ng i t unwor t hi l y, and

t he dut y of al l who ar e t hor oughl y compet ent t o

Page 153 of 174

under t ake i t t o do so, bear i ng i n mi nd t hat he who i s

hi msel f under t he domi ni on of evi l habi t s makes a

bad i nt er cessor f or , or t eacher of , ot her men.

THE KI NG AS AUTHOR. 295

BLOSSOM GATHERI NGS FROM ST. AUGUSTI NE.

The " sayi ngs whi ch Ki ng Al f r ed gat her ed" out of

t he wr i t i ngs of St . August i ne ar e per haps t he most

i nst r uct i ve of al l hi s wor ks, as t hey show best wher e

hi s nat ur al bent car r i ed hi m, and what he hi msel f

val ued most , and desi r ed most t o gi ve t o hi s peopl e.

Hi s own por t i on of t he wor k consi st s of some t hr ee

cl auses of i nt r oduct or y mat t er . These begi n so ab-

r upt l y, t hat i t i s supposed t hat some sent ences ar e

l ost . Al f r ed descr i bes hi msel f as i n a wood f ul l of

comel y t r ees, f i t f or j avel i ns and st ud shaf t s, and

hel ves t o al l t ool s, and bay t i mber s and bol t t i mber s.

" I n ever y t r ee I saw somet hi ng, " t he Ki ng wr i t es,

" whi ch I needed at home, t her ef or e I advi se ever y

one who i s abl e, and has many wai ns, t hat he t r ade

t o t he same wood wher e I cut t he st ud shaf t s, and

t her e f et ch mor e f or hi msel f , and l oad hi s wai n wi t h f ai r

r ods, t hat he may wi nd many a neat wal l , and set

many a comel y house, and bui l d many a f ai r t own of

t hem ; and t her eby may dwel l mer r i l y and sof t l y, so

as I now yet have not done. But He who t aught me,

t o whom t he wood was agr eeabl e, he may make mc t o

dwel l mor e sof t l y i n t hi s t empor ar y cot t age, t he whi l e

t hat I am i n t hi s wor l d, and al so i n t he ever l ast i ng home

whi ch He has pr omi sed us t hr ough St . August i ne, and

St . Gr egor y, and St . Jer ome, and t hr ough many ot her

hol y f at her s ; as I bel i eve al so t hat f or t he mer i t s of

al l t hese He wi l l make t he way mor e conveni ent t han

i t was bef or e, and especi al l y enl i ght en t he eyes of my

mi nd, so t hat I may sear ch out t he r i ght way t o t he

296 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

ever l ast i ng home and t he ever l ast i ng gl or y, and t he

ever l ast i ng r est whi ch i s pr omi sed us t hr ough t hose

hol y f at her s. May i t be so ! " Then he r ever t s t o hi s

or i gi nal i dea of wor ki ng i n a wood. " I t i s no wonder

t hough men swi nk i n t i mber wor ki ng, and i n t he car -

r yi ng and t he bui l di ng : but ever y man wi shes, af t er

he has bui l t a cot t age on hi s l or d' s l ease by hi s hel p,

t hat he may somet i mes r est hi m t her ei n, and hunt ,

and f owl , and f i sh, and use i t ever y way under t he

l ease, bot h on wat er and on l and, unt i l t he t i me t hat

he ear n book- l and and ever l ast i ng her i t age t hr ough

hi s l or d' s mer cy. So do t he weal t hy Gi ver , wl i o wi el ds

bot h t hese t empor ar y cot t ages and t he et er nal homes.

May He who shaped bot h, and wi el ds bot h, gr ant me

t hat I be meet f or each, bot h her e t o be pr of i t abl e

and t hi t her t o come ! " Ther e i s somet hi ng ver y t ouch-

i ng i n t hi s openi ng, i n whi ch Al f r ed al l ows hi s f ancy

t o pl ay r ound t he i dea of a woodman, l i ke one of hi s

own chur l s, cut t i ng t i mber f or hi s house and hi s

weapons, and bui l di ng on hi s l or d' s l and, i n t he hope

Page 154 of 174

of one day r eal i zi ng t he obj ect of ever y Saxon man' s

ambi t i on, a per manent dwel l i ng, bookl and of hi s own ;

and i n t he si de- gl ance at hi s own l i f e of i ncessant

t oi l , and l ongi ng f or a home wher e a man may dwel l

" mer r i l y and sof t l y" i n summer and wi nt er , " so as I

now yet have not done. " I t i s onl y a gl ance whi ch l i e

al l ows hi msel f , and t hen t he st r ong f i ght er t ur ns back t o

hi s wor k, t r ust i ng t hat He who has shaped and wi el ds

bot h l i ves may gr ant hi m " bot h her e t o be pr of i t abl e

and t hi t her t o come. " One mor e shor t passage i n

t r oduces hi s gat her i ngs t o t hose f or whom t hey wer e

THE KI NG AS AUTHOR. 297

made. " August i ne, Bi shop of Car t hage, " he wr i t es,

" wr ought t wo books about hi s own mi nd. The books

ar e cal l ed ' Sol i l oqui or um, ' t hat i s, of hi s mi nd' s musi ng

and doubt i ng, how hi s r eason answer ed hi s mi nd

when hi s mi nd doubt ed about anyt hi ng, or wi shed

t o know anyt hi ng whi ch i t coul d not under st and

bef or e. "

The " bl ossom gat her i ngs " al l bear upon t he

pr obl em wi t h whi ch Al f r ed t hen opens t hem, by t he

quot at i on of St . August i ne' s sayi ng, " t hat hi s mi nd

went of t en aski ng of and sear chi ng out var i ous and

r ar e t hi ngs, and most of al l about hi msel f , what he

was : whet her hi s mi nd and hi s soul wer e mor t al and

per i shi ng, or ever l i vi ng and et er nal ; and agai n about

hi s good, what i t was, and what good i t wer e best f or

hi m t o do, and what evi l t o avoi d. "

THE KI NG' S PROVERBS,

The l ast of t he wor ks at t r i but ed t o Al f r ed whi ch

need be speci al l y ment i oned, i s t he col l ect i on of pr o-

ver bs, or sayi ngs, i n ver se and pr ose, f ound amongst

t he Cot t on manuscr i pt s. I t i s a compi l at i on of much

l at er dat e t han t he ni nt h cent ur y, wr i t t en i n a br oken

di al ect , bet ween t he or i gi nal Saxon and Engl i sh. The

compi l er has put t oget her some t hi r t y - one st anzas

and par agr aphs, each of whi ch begi ns, " Thus quot h

Al f r ed, Engl and' s comf or t , " or " Engl and' s her dsman, "

or " Engl and' s dar l i ng, " and t he col l ect i on i s pr ef aced

by a shor t not i ce i n ver se of t he occasi on on whi ch

t he sayi ngs ar e supposed t o have been spoken.

29S LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

" At Si f f or d t her e sat e many t hanes,

Many bi shops, many l ear ned,

Wi t h ear l s, and awf ul kni ght s ;

Ther e was Ear l Al f r i ch ver y l ear ned i n t he l aw ;

Ther e al so was Al f r ed, Engl and' s her dsman,

Engl and' s dar l i ng ;

He was ki ng of Engl and, he t aught t hem,

Al l who coul d hear hi m.

How t hey shoul d l ead t hei r l i ves.

Page 155 of 174

Al f r ed was a ki ng of Engl and, t hat was ver y st r ong.

He was bot h ki ng and schol ar , he l oved wel l God' s wor k ;

He was wi se and advi sed i n hi s t al k ;

He was t he wi sest man t hat was i n al l Engl and. "

Thi s i nt r oduct i on woul d seem t o poi nt t o some

par t i cul ar wi t an, hel d pr obabl y at Seaf or d, or Shi f -

f or d, near Bampt on, i n Oxf or dshi r e, t he t r adi t i on of

whi ch was st i l l f r esh. Ther e i s no ment i on i n t he

Saxon Chr oni cl e, or el sewher e, of an) ^ such assembl y,

but some of t he sayi ngs bear a st r ong r esembl ance

t o par t s of Al f r ed' s wr i t i ngs, and may have been

accur at el y handed down and r epor t ed. A speci men

or t wo wi l l be enough. The openi ng sayi ng r uns : —

" Thus quot h Al f r ed, Engl and' s comf or t :

Oh t hat you woul d now l ove and l ong af t er your Lor d !

He woul d gover n you wi sel y.

That you mi ght have honour i n t hi s wor l d

And yet uni t e your soul s t o Chr i st . "

Then come a ser i es of i nst r uct i ons t o ki ngs and

of f i cer s of st at e, on t he educat i on of young men and

chi l dr en, and on t he use of weal t h, i n whi ch t he

Ki ng, speaki ng t o hi s nobl es and t o hi s chi l dr en,

enf or ces t he di r ect r esponsi bi l i t y of al l men t o Chr i st ,

and t he wor t hl essness of weal t h unl ess di scr eet l y used,

THE KI NG AS A UTHOR. 299

— ol d i deas enough, a t housand year s ago, and as

needf ul of r epet i t i on t hen as now.

" Thus quot h Al f r ed, Engl and' s comf or t ; t he ear l

And t he At hel i ng ar e under t he ki ng,

To gover n t he l and accor di ng t o l aw ;

The pr i est and t he kni ght must bot h al i ke j udge upr i ght l y ;

For as a man sows

So shal l he r eap,

And ever y man' s j udgment comes home t o hi m t o hi s own door s. "

I n al most t he l ast of t he ser i es, t he Ki ng addr esses

hi s son :

" Thus quot h Al f r ed : My dear son, si t t hou now

besi de me, and I wi l l del i ver t hee t r ue i nst r uct i on.

My son, I f eel t hat my hour i s near , my f ace i s pal e,

my days ar e near l y r un. We must soon par t . I

shal l t o anot her wor l d, and t hou shal t be l ef t al one

wi t h al l my weal t h. I pr ay t hee, f or t hou ar t my

dear chi l d, st r i ve t o be a f at her and a l or d t o t hy

peopl e ; be t hou t he chi l dr en' s f at her , and t he wi dow' s

f r i end ; comf or t t hou t he poor and shel t er t he weak,

and wi t h al l t hy mi ght r i ght t hat whi ch i s wr ong.

And, my son, gover n t hysel f by l aw, t hen shal l t he

Lor d l ove t hee, and God above al l t hi ngs shal l be t hy

r ewar d. Cal l t hou upon Hi m t o advi se t hee i n al l

t hy need, and so He shal l hel p t hee t he bet t er t o

compass t hat whi ch t hou woul dest . "

Besi des t he wor ks al r eady ment i oned, t her e i s a

l ong l i st of or i gi nal wr i t i ngs and t r ansl at i ons at t r i -

but ed t o Al f r ed. Of t he f or mer , Spel man gi ves t en,

i ncl udi ng " sel ect i ons f r om t he l aws of t he Gr eeks,

Br i t ons, Saxons, and Danes, " and or i gi nal t r eat i ses

Page 156 of 174

300 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

" agai nst unj ust j udges, " on " t he uncer t ai n f or t unes

of ki ngs, " and " t he act s of magi st r at es, " and " a

manual of medi t at i ons. " Of t he l at t er , t he " Di a-

l ogues of Pope Gr egor y, " and t r ansl at i ons of par t s of

t he Scr i pt ur es, ar e t he onl y wor ks of hi s as t o whi ch

t her e i s anyt hi ng l i ke a concur r ence of t est i mony, and

i t i s mor e t han pr obabl e t hat t he f or mer was t he wor k

of Bi shop Wer ef r i t h under Al f r ed' s super vi si on. An

ol d manuscr i pt hi st or y of El y i s t he aut hor i t y f or t he

st at ement t hat he t r ansl at ed t he whol e of t he Ol d

and New Test ament s i nt o Saxon ; but t he bet t er

opi ni on seems t o be, t hat t he Psal ms wer e t he onl y

por t i ons of t he Scr i pt ur es whi ch he under t ook t o

t r ansl at e, and t hat he was at wor k on hi s Saxon

Psal t er at t he t i me of hi s deat h.

t

CHAPTER XXI V.

THE KI NG S DEATH AND WI LL.

" A good l i f e hat h f ei o year s, hut a good name endur ct h f or ever . "

" Honour abl e age i s not t hat whi ch st andet h i n l engt h of t i me, nor t hai

i s measur ed by number of year s.

The wor l d' s har dest wor ker s and nobl est benef act or s

have r ar el y been l ong- l i ved. The const ant wear and

st r ess of such a l i f e as Al f r ed' s must t el l i t s t al e, and

t he wonder i s, not t hat he shoul d have br oken down

so soon, but t hat he shoul d have bor ne t he st r ai n

so l ong.

I n t he f i f t y- f our t h year of hi s age, " si x days bef or e

Al l - Hal l owmass, " or on t he 26t h of Oct ober , 901,

" di ed Al f r ed, t he son of Et hel wul f . He was ki ng

over t he whol e Engl i sh nat i on, except t hat par t whi ch

was under t he domi ni on of t he Danes, and he hel d

t he ki ngdom a year and a hal f l ess t han t hi r t y year s,

and t hen Edwar d, hi s son, succeeded hi m. " Such i s

t he si mpl e account of t he gr eat Ki ng' s endi ng i n t he

Saxon Chr oni cl e. I t under st at es t he l engt h of hi s

r ei gn by a year . Fl or ence and t he ot her chr oni cl er s

t el l us not hi ng mor e, except t hat hi s body was bur i ed

i n t he new monast er y at Wi nchest er , whi ch he had hi m-

sel f f ounded, and whi ch hi s son was dest i ned t o f i ni sh.

302 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

We know nei t her t he pl ace or cause of hi s deat h ;

and t her e i s some di sput e as t o hi s bur i al - pl ace.

Some of t he chr oni cl er s name t he chur ch of St . Pet er ;

ot her s, t he New Mi nst er monast er y. The conf l i ct i ng

account s ar e r econci l ed by a st or y, t hat t he canons of

Page 157 of 174

t he cat hedr al chur ch, f r om j eal ousy of Gr i mbal d and

t he monks of t he new monast er y, decl ar ed t hat t he

spi r i t of Al f r ed coul d not r est , but mi ght be seen

wander i ng at ni ght wi t hi n t hei r pr eci nct s ; wher eupon

Edwar d at once r emoved hi s f at her ' s cof f i n t o t he

monast er y. I n t he t i me of Henr y I . when t he abbey

of New Mi nst er was r emoved t o Hyde f r om t he

i mmedi at e nei ghbour hood of t he cat hedr al , Al f r ed' s

r emai ns wer e car r i ed wi t h t hem, and t her e r est ed t i l l

t he Ref or mat i on, when t he r oyal t ombs wer e br oken

open at t he di ssol ut i on of t he monast er y. But t he

" pi ous Dr . Ri char d Fox, " bi shop of Wi nchest er , had

t he r emai ns of t he ki ngs col l ect ed car ef ul l y and put

i nt o chest s of l ead, wi t h i nscr i pt i ons on each of t hem,

showi ng whose bones wer e wi t hi n ; and t he chest s wer e

pl aced, under hi s super vi si on, on t he t op of a wal l of

r ar e wor kmanshi p, whi ch he was bui l di ng t o encl ose

t he pr esbyt er y of t he cat hedr al . Her e t he dust of t he

gr eat Ki ng r est ed t i l l t he t aki ng of Wi nchest er by

t he Par l i ament ar y t r oops, under Si r Wi l l i am Wal l er ,

on t he 14t h of December , 1642. The Pur i t an sol di er s,

amongst ot her out r ages, t hr ew down and br oke open

Bi shop Fox' s l eaden chest s, and scat t er ed t he cont ent s

al l over t he cat hedr al . When t he f i r st exci t ement of

t he t r oops had cool ed down, what wer e l ef t of t he

bones of our ear l y ki ngs wer e r ever ent l y col l ect ed,

THE KI NG' S DEA TH AND WI LL. 303

and car r i ed t o Oxf or d and " l odged i n a r eposi t or y

bui l di ng next t he publ i c l i br ar y. "

The count r y had enj oyed such pr of ound peace f or

t he f our year s pr ecedi ng t he Ki ng' s deat h, t hat f or

t wo of t hem t he Saxon Chr oni cl e has no ent r y at al l ,

and onl y ment i ons t he deat hs of t he Al der man of

Wi l t shi r e, and t he Bi shop of London, i n 898. I n

Si meon' s Chr oni cl e i t i s st at ed t hat Bi shop Ear dul f ,

who had car r i ed t he r emai ns of St . Cut hber t about

f or ni ne year s t hr ough t he nor t her n count i es, hi di ng

f r om Ki ng Hal f dene' s r obber t r oops, and who had at

l ast been abl e t o deposi t t hem i n a shr i ne of hi s own

cat hedr al , di ed i n t he same year wi t h Al f r ed. I t i s

pl easant t o know t hat our " most nobl e mi ser of hi s

t i me " must have seen of t he t r avai l of hi s soul and

been sat i sf i ed i n t hose l ast year s. Hi s gr i evous di sease

had abat ed i n hi s f or t y- f i f t h year , and he cl osed hi s

eyes on peace at home and abr oad, i n chur ch and

st at e, abundance i n t he f i el d and i n t he st al l , and

or der and j ust i ce est abl i shed i n ever y cor ner of hi a

ki ngdom : " Hi s name shal l endur e under t he sun

amongst t he post er i t i es, and al l t he peopl e shal l pr ai se

hi m. "

The l ast monument of hi s j ust i ce and pat r i ot i sm

i s hi s wi l l , of whi ch happi l y a per f ect copy was pr e-

ser ved i n t he ar chi ves of t he abbey of New Mi nst er .

The openi ng r eci t al s have been al r eady quot ed.

They show how anxi ous he was t hat t he memor y

of t he agr eement bet ween hi msel f and hi s br ot her

shoul d be kept al i ve ; and now, i n pur suance of t hat

agr eement , he devi ses ei ght manor s t o - ^t hel i ne, t he

304 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

Page 158 of 174

el der son of hi s br ot her Et hel war d ; and t o Et hel wal d,

t he younger , t he manor s of Gui l df or d, Godal mi ng,

and St eyni ng. The pr i nci pal par t of hi s l ands i n

Wi l t s and Somer set shi r e, i ncl udi ng t he f amous r oyal

bur gh of Wedmor e, he l eaves t o Edwar d, coupl ed

wi t h a t ouchi ng r ef er ence t o some ar r angement whi ch

he had made at some t i me wi t h hi s t enant s at Ched-

dar : " And I am a pet i t i oner t o t he f ami l i es at Ceodr e,

t hat t hey wi l l choose hi m ( Edwar d) on t he condi -

t i ons t hat we had f or mer l y expr essed. " Al l hi s

ot her chi l dr en have gi f t s of manor s, and t o hi s wi f e

he l eaves t he manor s of Want age, Lambour n, and

Et handune. The f i el d of Ashdown i s scar cel y t hr ee

mi l es f r om Lambour n, and may wel l have been i n-

cl uded i n t hat manor . I f t hi s be so, t he Ki ng l ef t

t o hi s f ai t hf ul hel pmat e, hi s bi r t hpl ace, and t he scenes

of hi s t wo gr eat vi ct or i es.

Hi s per sonal t y i s al so di st r i but ed j ust l y and muni -

f i cent l y. To each of hi s sons he l eaves 5( X) pounds ;

t o hi s wi f e and daught er s, l OO pounds each. To each

of hi s al der men and hi s nephews, l OO mancuses ; and

t o Et hel r ed, a swor d of t he val ue of l OO mancuses.

Li ke l egaci es ar e l ef t t o Ar chbi shop Et hel r ed, and t o

Bi shops Wer ef r i t h and Asser . Then t ur ni ng t o hi s

ser vant s and t he poor , he bequeat hs " 200 pounds f or

t hose men t hat f ol l ow me, t o whom I now at East er -

t i de gi ve money, " t o be di vi ded bet ween t hem af t er

t he manner t hat he had up t o t hi s t i me di st r i but ed

t o t hem. " Al so, " he cont i nues, " l et t hem di st r i but e

f or me, and f or my f at her , and f or t he f r i ends t hat

he i nt er ceded f or , and I i nt er cede f or , 200 pounds, —

THE KI NG' S DEATH AND WI LL. 305

50 t o t he mass- pr i est s over al l my ki ngdom, 50 t o

t he poor mi ni st er s of God, 50 t o t he di st r essed poor ,

50 t o t he chur ch t hat I shal l r est at . And I know

not cer t ai nl y whet her t her e be so much money; nor

I know not but t hat t her e may be mor e, but so I

suppose. I f i t be mor e, be i t al l common t o t hem

t o whom I have bequeat hed money. And I wi l l t hat

my al der men, and counci l l or s, be al l t her e t oget her

and so di st r i but e i t . "

He t hen decl ar es t hat i n f or mer t i mes, when he

had mor e pr oper t y and mor e r el at i ons, he had made

ot her wi l l s whi ch he had bur ned, al l at l east t hat he

coul d r ecover . I f any of t hese shoul d be f ound, l et

i t st and f or not hi ng. And he wi l l s t hat al l t hose

who ar e i n possessi on of any of t he l ands di sposed

of by hi s f at her ' s wi l l shoul d f ul f i l t he i nt ent i ons

t her e expr essed t he soonest t hey may, and t hat i f any

debt of hi s r emai ns out st andi ng hi s r el at i ons shoul d

pay i t .

Then f ol l ows t he passage on t he st r engt h of whi ch

Al f r ed i s ci t ed as t he aut hor of ent ai l s i n Engl and :

" And I wi l l t hat t he men t o whom I have gi ven my

book- l ands do not gi ve i t f r om my ki ndr ed af t er t hei r

day, but I wi l l t hat i t go unt o t he hi ghest hand t o me

unl ess any one of t hem have chi l dr en, t hen i t i s t o

me most agr eeabl e t hat i t go t o t hat i ssue on t he

mal e si de so l ong as any be wor t hy. My gr andf at her

gave hi s l ands t o t he spear si de, not t o t he spi ndl e

Page 159 of 174

si de. Wher ef or e i f I have gi ven t o any woman what

he had acqui r ed, t hen l et my r el at i ons r edeem i t , i f

t hey wi l l have i t , whi l e she i s l i vi ng ; i f ot her wi se, l et

S. I - VI TI . X

3o6 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

i t go af t er t hei r day as we have det er mi ned. Foi

t hi s r eason I or dai n t hat t hey pay f or i t , because

t hey wi l l succeed t o my est at es, whi ch I may gi ve

ei t her t o t he spi ndl e si de or t he spear si de, as I

wi l l . "

Last l y, he i s mi ndf ul of t he sl aves on hi s l ands,

whose condi t i on he had gr eat l y i mpr oved, but whom

he had not been abl e ent i r el y t o f r ee. " And I

beseech, i n God' s name, and i n Hi s sai nt s' , t hat none

of my r el at i ons do obst r uct none of t he f r eedom ot

t hose I have r edeemed. And f or me t he West Saxon

nobl es have pr onounced as l awf ul , t hat I may l eave

t hem f r ee or bond, whet her I wi l l . But I , f or God' s

l ove and my soul ' s heal t h, wi l l t hat t hey be mast er s

of t hei r f r eedom and of t hei r wi l l ; and I , i n t he l i vi ng

God' s name, ent r eat t hat no man do not di st ur b t hem,

nei t her by money exact i on, nor by no manner of

means, t hat t hey may not choose such man as t hey

wi l l . And I wi l l t hat t hey r est or e t o t he f ami l i es at

Domer ham t hei r l and deeds and t hei r f r ee l i ber t y,

such mast er t o choose as may t o t hem be most

agr eeabl e, f or my sake, and f or Et hel f l eda' s, and f or

t he f r i ends t hat she di d i nt er cede f or , and I do i nt er -

cede f or . " These Domer ham f ami l i es of chur l s woul d

seem t o have dwel t on some est at e i n whi ch t he l ady

of Mer ci a was j oi nt l y i nt er est ed wi t h her f at her .

" And l et t hem " ( my r el at i ons and benef i ci ar i es) " seek

al so wi t h a l i vi ng pr i ce f or my soul ' s heal t h, as i t may

be and i s most f i t t i ng, and as ye t o f or gi ve me shal l

be di sposed. "

These ar e t he l ast wor ds whi ch " Engl and' s Shep-

THE KI NG' S DEATH AND WI LL. 307

her d " l ef t t o hi s count r y. I t i s no easy t ask f or any

one who has been st udyi ng hi s l i f e and wor ks t o set

r easonabl e bounds t o t hei r r ever ence, and ent husi asm,

f or t he man. Lest t he r eader shoul d t hi nk my est i -

mat e t ai nt ed wi t h t he pr over bi al weakness of bi o-

gr apher s f or t hei r her oes, l et t hem t ur n t o t he wor ds

i n whi ch t he ear l i est , and t he l ast of t he Engl i sh hi s -

t or i ans of t hat t i me, sum up t he char act er of Al f r ed.

Fl or ence of Wor cest er , wr i t i ng i n t he cent ur y af t er

hi s deat h, speaks of hi m as " t hat f amous, war l i ke, vi c -

t or i ous ki ng; t he zeal ous pr ot ect or of wi dows, schol ar s,

or phans, and t he poor ; ski l l ed i n t he Saxon poet s ;

af f abl e and l i ber al t o al l ; endowed wi t h pr udence,

f or t i t ude, j ust i ce, and t emper ance ; most pat i ent under

t he i nf i r mi t y whi ch he dai l y suf f er ed ; a most st er n i n-

qui si t or i n execut i ng j ust i ce ; vi gi l ant and devot ed i n

t he ser vi ce of God. " Mr . Fr eeman, i n hi s " Hi st or y

of t he Nor man Conquest , " has l ai d down t he por -

t r ai t i n bol d and l ast i ng col our s, i n a passage as

t r ut hf ul as i t i s el oquent , whi ch t hose who ar e f ami l i ar

Page 160 of 174

wi t h i t wi l l be gl ad t o meet agai n, whi l e t hose who

do not know i t wi l l be gr at ef ul t o me f or subst i -

t ut i ng f or any poor wor ds of my own.

" Al f r ed, t he unwi l l i ng aut hor of t hese gr eat changes,

i s t he most per f ect char act er i n hi st or y. He i s a

si ngul ar i nst ance of a pr i nce who has become a her o

of r omance, who, as such, has had count l ess i magi nar y -

expl oi t s at t r i but ed t o hi m, but t o whose char act er

r omance has done no mor e t han j ust i ce, and who

appear s i n exact l y t he same l i ght i n hi st or y and i n

f abl e. No ot her man on r ecor d has ever so t hor oughl y

X Z

3o8 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

uni t ed al l t he vi r t ues bot h of t he r ul er and of t he

pr i vat e man. I n no ot her man on r ecor d wer e so

many vi r t ues di sf i gur ed by so l i t t l e al l oy. A sai nt

wi t hout super st i t i on, a schol ar wi t hout ost ent at i on, a

war r i or al l whose war s wer e f ought i n t he def ence of

hi s count r y, a conquer or whose l aur el s wer e never

st ai ned by cr uel t y, a pr i nce never cast down by adver -

si t y, never l i f t ed up t o i nsol ence i n t he day of t r i umph

— t her e i s no ot her name i n hi st or y t o compar e wi t h

hi s. Sai nt Lewi s comes near est t o hi m i n t he uni on

of a mor e t han monast i c pi et y wi t h t he hi ghest ci vi l ,

mi l i t ar y, and domest i c vi r t ues. Bot h of t hem st and

f or t h i n honour abl e cont r ast t o t he abj ect super st i t i on

of some ot her r oyal sai nt s, who wer e so sel f i shl y

engaged i n t he car e of t hei r own soul s t hat t hey

r ef used ei t her t o r ai se up hei r s f or t hei r t hr one, or t o

st r i ke a bl ow on behal f of t hei r peopl e. But even i n

Sai nt Lewi s we see a di sposi t i on t o f or sake an i mme-

di at e spher e of dut y f or t he sake of di st ant and un-

pr of i t abl e, however pi ous and gl or i ous, under t aki ngs.

The t r ue dut i es of t he Ki ng of t he Fr ench cl ear l y l ay

i n Fr ance, and not i n Egypt or Tuni s. No such

char ge l i es at t he door of t he gr eat Ki ng of t he West

Saxons. Wi t h an i nqui r i ng spi r i t whi ch t ook i n t he

whol e wor l d, f or pur poses al i ke of sci ent i f i c i nqui r y

and of Chr i st i an benevol ence, Al f r ed never f or got t hat

hi s f i r st dut y was t o hi s own peopl e. He f or est al l ed

our own age i n sendi ng expedi t i ons t o expl or e t he

Nor t her n Ocean, and i n sendi ng al ms t o t he di st ant

Chur ches of I ndi a ; but he nei t her f or sook hi s cr own,

l i ke some of hi s pr edecessor s, nor negl ect ed hi s dut i es,

THE KI NG' S DEATH AND WI LL. 309

l i ke some of hi s successor s. The vi r t ue of Al f r ed, Hke

t he vi r t ue of Washi ngt on, consi st ed i n no mar vel l ous

di spl ays of super human geni us, but i n t he si mpl e,

st r ai ght f or war d di schar ge of t he dut y of t he moment .

But Washi ngt on, sol di er , st at esman, and pat r i ot , l i ke

Al f r ed, has no cl ai m t o Al f r ed' s f ur t her char act er s

of sai nt and schol ar . Wi l l i am t he Si l ent , t oo, has

not hi ng t o set agai nst Al f r ed' s l i t er ar y mer i t s ; and i n

hi s car eer , gl or i ous as i t i s, t her e i s an el ement of

i nt r i gue and chi caner y ut t er l y al i en t o t he nobl e si m-

pl i ci t y of bot h Al f r ed and Washi ngt on. The same

uni on of zeal f or r el i gi on and l ear ni ng wi t h t he hi ghest

gi f t s of t he war r i or and t he st at esman i s f ound, on a

Page 161 of 174

wi der f i el d of act i on, i n Char l es t he Gr eat . But even

Char l es cannot aspi r e t o t he pur e gl or y of Al f r ed.

Ami dst al l t he spl endour of conquest and l egi sl at i on,

we cannot be bl i nd t o an al l oy of per sonal ambi t i on,

of per sonal vi ce, t o occasi onal unj ust aggr essi ons and

occasi onal act s of cr uel t y. Among our own l at er

pr i nces, t he gr eat Edwar d al one can bear f or a

moment t he compar i son wi t h hi s gl or i ous ancest or .

And, when t r i ed by such a st andar d, even t he gr eat

Edwar d f ai l s. Even i n hi m we do not see t he same

wonder f ul uni on of gi f t s and vi r t ues whi ch so sel dom

meet t oget her ; we cannot acqui t Edwar d of occa-

si onal act s of vi ol ence, of occasi onal r eckl essness as t o

means ; we cannot at t r i but e t o hi m t he pur e, si mpl e,

al most chi l dl i ke di si nt er est edness whi ch mar ks t he

char act er of Al f r ed. "

Let Wor dswor t h, on behal f of t he poet s of Engl and

compl et e t he pi ct ur e.

3JO LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

" Behol d a pupi l of t he monki sh gown,

The pi ous Al f r ed, ki ng t o j ust i ce dear !

Lor d of t he har p and l i ber at i ng spear ;

Mi r r or of pr i nces ! I ndi gent r enown

Mi ght r ange t he st ar r y et her f or a cr own

Equal t o hi s deser t s, who, l i ke t he year ,

Pour s f or t h hi s bount y, l i ke t he day dot h cheer ,

And awes l i ke ni ght , wi t h mer cy- t emper ed f r own.

Ease f r om t hi s nobl e mi ser of hi s t i me

No moment st eal s ; pai n nar r ows not hi s car es —

Though smal l hi s ki ngdom as a spar k or geni .

Of Al f r ed boast s r emot e Jer usal em,

And Chr i st i an I ndi a, t hr ough her wi de- spr ead cl i me,

1; : sacr ed conver se gi f t s wi t h Al f r ed shar eK. "

I I

CHAPTER XXV.

THE ki ng' s successor s.

" A good man l eavet h an i nher i t ance unt o hi s chi l dr ei Us chi l dr en. "

The deat h of Al f r ed was t he si gnal f or a r evol t of

hi s younger nephew Et hel wal d, agai nst t he deci si on

of t he wi t an, who named Edwar d as hi s f at her ' s suc -

cessor . Et hel wal d was a r eckl ess, vi ol ent man, who

had scandal i zed t he nat i on by t aki ng t o wi f e a nun,

" wi t hout t he Ki ng' s l eave, and agai nst t he Bi shop' s

command. " He sei zed t he r oyal cast l es of Wi mbor ne

and Chr i st chur ch, and i n t he f or mer t he Chr oni cl e

t el l s us, " sat down wi t h t hose who had submi t t ed t o

hi m, and had obst r uct ed al l t he appr oaches t owar ds

hi m, and sai d t hat he woul d do one of t wo t hi ngs — or

t her e l i ve, or t her e l i e. But , not wi t hst andi ng t hat , he

st ol e aAr ay by ni ght and sought t he ar my i n Nor t h-

umbr i a, who r ecei ved hi m as t hei r over - l or d, and

became obedi ent t o hi m. "

Page 162 of 174

Thi s ef f or t of Et hel wal d onl y pr oved t he soundness

of t he f oundat i ons of t he ki ngdom whi ch Al f r ed had

l ai d. The Pr et ender f l ed f r om Wessex and Mer ci a

wi t hout bei ng abl e t o br eak t he peace, and was not

hear d of agai n f or t wo year s. I n 904, however , he

came wi t h a f l eet of Nor t hmen t o Essex, and a por t i on

312 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

of t he Dani sh peopl e t her e submi t t ed t o hi m. The

next year he was st r ong enough t o at t ack hi s cousi n,

and penet r at ed t hr ough Mer ci a t o t he Thames, whi ch

he cr ossed at Cr i ckl ade, and commi t t ed some depr e-

dat i ons i n Ber kshi r e. Edwar d was not i n t i me t o

cat ch hi m i n Wessex, and so f ol l owed hi m wi t h a

. st r ong f or ce acr oss Wat l i ng St r eet , i nt o East Angl i a,

and t her e over r an " al l t he l and bet ween t he di kes

and t he Ouse, as f ar nor t h as t he f ens. " Not havi ng

been abl e t o br i ng Et hel wal d t o an act i on, Edwar d

t ur ned sout h agai n, and, bei ng i n an enemy' s count r y,

and i n f ace of a st r ong ar my, " pr ocl ai med t hr ough

hi s whol e f or ce t hat t hey shoul d al l r et ur n t oget her .

Then t he Kent i sh men r emai ned t her e behi nd, not -

wi t hst andi ng hi s or der s, and seven messenger s he

had sent t o t hem ; " and, Et hel wal d f al l i ng on t hem,

a gener al act i on was br ought on, i n whi ch t he l oss on

bot h si des was ver y gr eat , but on t he Dani sh si de bot h

Et hel wal d, and Eohr i c ki ng of East Angl i a, wer e

sl ai n, and soon af t er war ds Edwar d made peace wi t h

t he East Angl es and Nor t humbr i ans.

Et hel r ed of Mer ci a di ed i n 910, and London and

Oxf or d wer e i ncor por at ed i n Wessex. I n t he next

year t he Danes br oke t he peace agai n, r el yi ng pr o-

babl y on t he weakness of a woman' s r ul e i n Mer ci a.

But t he l ady of Mer ci a pr oved as f or mi dabl e an enemy

as her l or d. I n concer t wi t h her br ot her she not onl y

dr ove t he Danes out of her own boundar i es, but won

f r om t hem, and made saf e, one st r onghol d af t er

anot her i n t he mi dl and count i es. Thus i n 913,

whi l e Edwar d i nvaded Essex, and t ook and f or t i f i ed

THE KI NG' S SUCCESSORS. 313

Her t f or d, " Et hel f l eda, l ady of t he Mer ci ans, went

wi t h al l t he Mer ci ans t o Tamwor t h, and t her e bui l t

a f or t r ess ear l y i n t he summer ; and, bef or e Lammas,

anot her at St af f or d. "

Agai n, i n 915, she f or t i f i es Cher bur y, War bur t on,

and Runcor n ; i n 916, def eat s t he Wel sh, and st or ms

Br ecknock ; and i n 917, " God hel pi ng her , got pos -

sessi on of t he f or t r ess whi ch i s cal l ed Der by, and al l

t hat owed obedi ence t her et o : and t her e wi t hi n t he

gat es wer e sl ai n f our of her t hanes, whi ch caused her

much sor r ow. " Edwar d i n t he meanwhi l e was st eadi l y

ext endi ng hi s f r ont i er , and gai ni ng t he al l egi ance of

many Dani sh nobl es, such as Thur kyt el , t he ear l , who

" sought t o hi m t o be hi s l or d, and al l t he capt ai ns,

and al most al l t he chi ef men who owed obedi ence t o

Bedf or d, and al so many of t hose who owed obedi ence

t o Nor t hampt on. " The l ady of Mer ci a di ed i n 918 at

Tamwor t h, when t he whol e of Mer ci a came t o Edwar d,

whose ni ece El f wi na, t he onl y chi l d of Et hel r ed and

Page 163 of 174

Et hel f l eda, came t o her uncl e' s cour t i n Wessex.

Thus t he ki ngdom gr ew under hi s hand, di st ur bed

f r equent l y by r ai ds of t he Wel sh and Danes, but on

t he whol e st eadi l y and sur el y. The Nor t h Wel sh

sought hi m t o t hei r over - l or d i n 922, and i n 924 " t he

Ki ng of t he Scot s, and t he whol e nat i on of t he Scot s,

and al l t hose who dwel t i n Nor t humbr i a, chose hi m

f or f at her and f or l or d. "

I n t he next year he di ed, and At hel st an was el ect ed

by t he wi t an, and consecr at ed at Ki ngst on. Dunst an,

who was f at ed t o br i ng such mi ser y on t he r oyal

f ami l y, and on t he nat i on, was bor n i n t he same year .

314 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

For f i f t een year s At hel st an r ul ed wi t h vi gour and

success, ext endi ng st i l l t he Engl i sh f r ont i er s. He

gave t he Sout h Br i t ons t he Tamar i nst ead of t he Exe

as t hei r boundar y, and occupi ed Nor t humbr i a hi msel f

af t er Si gt r i c, t he ki ng, had deser t ed hi s Saxon wi f e

Edi t h, At hel st an' s si st er . I n 937, Scot s, Danes, Wel sh,

and a gr eat host f r om I r el and, l ed by Anl af , a son of

Si gt r i c by a f or mer mar r i age, made a desper at e ef f or t

t o shake of f t he over - l or dshi p of At hel st an. Anl af

l anded i n t he Humber , and af t er ef f ect i ng a j unct i on

wi t h hi s al l i es, l ai d si ege t o Yor k, whi ch was hel d f or

At hel st an. The si ege was r ai sed by t he news of

At hel st an' s cr ossi ng t he Humber on hi s mar ch t o t he

r el i ef of t he nor t her n capi t al , and soon af t er war ds t he

bat t l e of Br umby, near Bever l ey, was f ought , i n whi ch

t he al l i es wer e ut t er l y def eat ed and f i ve ki ngs sl ai n.

The vi ct or y was so compl et e, and of so gr eat si gni -

f i cance, t hat even t he Saxon Chr oni cl e br eaks away

f r om i t s usual sever e mat t er - of - f act f or m i nt o a song

of t r i umph. A spi r i t ed poem, descr i bi ng t he bat t l e,

and si ngi ng t he pr ai ses of At hel st an, and hi s young

br ot her Edmund t he Et hel i ng, i s gi ven f or t he year

937. The r i ng of i t i s l i ke t he deat h- song of Regner

Lodbr og, as i t t el l s how

" West Saxons onwar d That t hey i n war ' s wor ks

Thr oughout t he day The bet t er men wer e

I n bands I n t he bat t l e- st ead

Pur sued t he f oot st eps At t he meet i ng of spear s,

Of t he l oat hed nat i ons. That t hey on t he sl aught er f i el d

* * ♦ Wi t h Edwar d' s of f spr i ng pl ayed. ' "

They had no cause t o l augh

THE KI NG' S SUCCESSORS. 315

and how

Page 164 of 174

" Ki ng and Et hel i ng And t he gr ey beast

Bot h t oget her Wol f of t he wood.

Thei r count r y sought , Car nage gr eat er has not been

West Saxon l and ; I n t hi s i sl and

Leavi ng behi nd t hem. Ever yet ,

The cor ses t o devour . Of peopl e sl ai n

The yel l ow ki t e. By edge of swor d ;

The swar t hy r aven As books us t el l ,

Wi t h homed ni b. Ol d wr i t er s.

And dusky ' pada, ' Si nce f r om t he East hi t her

Er ne whi t e- t ai l ed, . Angl es and Saxons

Gr eedy war - hawk, ' Came t o l and. "

Edmund t he Et hel i ng succeeded hi s br ot her i n 940,

and on hi s deat h i n 946, Edr ed, t he youngest of t he

sons of Edwar d, was el ect ed ki ng ; Edwi and Edgar ,

t he sons of Edmund, bei ng st i l l mi nor s. Bot h of t hese

gr andsons of Al f r ed pur sued t hei r f at her ' s pol i cy, and

Edr ed f i nal l y annexed Nor t humbr i a, and di vi ded i t

i nt o shi r es, over whi ch he set hi s own ear l s. He di ed

i n 955.

Thus f or t wo gener at i ons Al f r ed' s descendant s i n-

her i t ed hi s cour age and abi l i t y, and car r i ed on wi t h

si gnal success one par t of hi s wor k. To quot e Wor ds -

wor t h' s sonnet s once mor e : —

" The r ace of Al f r ed covet gl or i ous pai ns

When danger s t hr eat en, danger s ever new,

Bl ack t empest s bur st i ng, bl acker st i l l i n vi ew !

But manl y sover ei gnt y i t s hol d r et ai ns :

The r oot si ncer e, t he br anches bol d t o st r i ve

Wi t h t he f i er ce t empest . "

Ther e i s, unf or t unat el y, l i t t l e pr oof of t he t r ut h of

t he beaut i f ul concl udi ng l i nes, —

3i 6 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

" Whi l e wi t hi n t he r ound

Of t hei r pr ot ect i on gent l e vi r t ues t hr i ve ;

As of t , mi d some gr een spot of open gr ound

Wi de as t he oak ext ends i t s de^ vy gl oom

The f ost er ed hyaci nt hs spr ead t hei r pur pl e bl oom. "

Rat her i t woul d seem t hat i n t hat hal f cent ur y,

dur i ng whi ch Engl and had become one vast camp,

t he l ear ni ng and t he ar t s of peace whi ch Al f r ed had

so wi sel y and nobl y f ost er ed wer e f ast sl i ppi ng away

f r om t he peopl e ; and cor r upt i ons had agai n cr ept i nt o

monast er i es and convent s ( enr i ched r api dl y by t he

r ace of devout war r i or pr i nces) , whi ch r ender ed neces -

sar y t he r ef or ms of Dunst an and Bi shop Et hel wal d

on t he one hand, and l ed t o t he di sast r ous col l i si ons

bet ween Chur ch and St at e on t he ot her . But we ar e

not concer ned wi t h t he l at er hi st or y, and i t i s onl y

not i ced t hus f ar t o show t hat t he Ki ng' s exampl e

Page 165 of 174

cont i nued t o i nspi r e hi s son and son' s sons.

CHAPTER XXVI .

THE END OF THE WHOLE MATTER.

' ^ Hear t her ef or e, ye ki ngs, and under st and ; l ear n, ye t hat be j udgei

of t he ends of t he eat i h,

" For / l ower i s gi ven you of t he Lor d, and sover ei gnt y f r om t he Hi ghest ,

who shal l t r y your wor ks, and sear ch out your counci l s! ' ' '

The r eader s of t hi s ser i es ar e speci al l y i nvi t ed t o l ook

at t he men and event s whi ch ar e br ought bef or e t hem

f r om a r el i gi ous poi nt of vi ew. That i s t he cent r al

i dea of t he books, and t he wr i t er s may f ai r l y assume

t hat t he publ i c t hey ar e addr essi ng i s a Chr i st i an

publ i c. The cont r over sy whi ch has ar i sen agai n i n

our t i me, and i s deepl y st i r r i ng men' s mi nds, as t o t he

f oundat i ons of our f ai t h — t he quest i on whet her Chr i s-

t i ani t y i s or i s not t r ue — does not di r ect l y concer n us

her e. That cont r over sy must al ways be one of deep

i nt er est , even t o Chr i st i ans who t ake no par t i n i t .

We ought t o wel come wi t h al l our hear t s t he sear ch-

i ng scr ut i ny, whi ch st udent s and phi l osopher s of al l

Chr i st i an nat i ons, and of al l shades of bel i ef , whet her

Chr i st i an or not , ar e engaged upon, as t o t he f act s on

whi ch our f ai t h r est s. The mor e t hor ough t hat

scr ut i ny i s, t he bet t er shoul d we be pl eased We

may not whol l y agr ee wi t h t he l ast posi t i on whi ch

31 8 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

t he abl est i nvest i gat or s have l ai d down, t hat unl ess

t he t r ut h of t he hi st or y of our Lor d — t he f act s of Hi s

l i f e, deat h, r esur r ect i on, and ascensi on — can be pr oved

by or di nar y hi st or i cal evi dence, appl i ed accor di ng t o

t he most appr oved and l at est met hods, Chr i st i ani t y

must be gi ven up as not t r ue. We know t hat our

own cer t ai nt y as t o t hese f act s does not r est on a

cr i t i cal hi st or i cal i nvest i gat i on, whi l e we r ej oi ce t hat

such an i nvest i gat i on shoul d be made by t hose who

have l ei sur e, and who ar e compet ent f or i t . At t he

same t i me, as we al so know t hat t he met hods and

pr i nci pl es of hi st or i cal i nvest i gat i on ar e const ant l y

i mpr ovi ng, and bei ng bet t er under st ood, and t hat

t he cr i t i cs of t he next gener at i on wi l l wor k, i n al l

human l i kel i hood, at as gr eat an advant age i n t hi s

i nqui r y over t hose who ar e now engaged i n i t , as our

ast r onomer s and nat ur al phi l osopher s enj oy over

Newt on and Fr ankl i n — and as new evi dence may

t ur n up any day whi ch may gr eat l y modi f y t hei r con-

cl usi ons — we cannot suppose t hat t her e i s t he l east

chance of t hei r set t l i ng t he cont r over sy i n our t i me.

Nor , even i f we t hought t hem l i kel y t o ar r i ve at

def i ni t e concl usi ons, can we consent t o wai t t he r esul t

of t hei r i nvest i gat i ons, i mpor t ant and i nt er est i ng as

t hese wi l l be. Gr ant i ng t hen cheer f ul l y, t hat i f t hese

f act s on t he st udy of whi ch t hey ar e engaged ar e not

f act s — i f Chr i st was not cr uci f i ed, and di d not r i se

f r om t he dead, and ascend t o God Hi s Fat her — t her e

Page 166 of 174

has been no r evel at i on, and Chr i st i ani t y wi l l i nf al l i bl y

go t he way of al l l i es, ei t her under t hei r assaul t s or

t hose of t hei r successor s — t hey must par don us i f

THE END OF THE WHOLE MATTER. 319

even at t he cost of bei ng t hought and cal l ed f ool s f oi

our pai ns, we del i ber at el y el ect t o l i ve our l i ves on

t he cont r ar y assumpt i on. I t i s usel ess t o t el l us t hat

we know not hi ng of t hese t hi ngs, t hat we can know

not hi ng unt i l t hei r cr i t i cal exami nat i on i s over ; we

can onl y say, " Exami ne away; but we do know some-

t hi ng of t hi s mat t er , what ever you may asser t t o t he

cont r ar y, and mean t o l i ve on t hat knowl edge. "

But whi l e we cannot suspend our j udgment on t he

quest i on unt i l we know how t he cr i t i cs and schol ar s

have set t l ed i t , we must do j ust i ce, bef or e passi ng on,

t o t he si ngl e- mi ndedness, t he r ever ence, t he r esol ut e

desi r e f or t he t r ut h bef or e al l t hi ngs, wher ever t he

sear ch f or i t may l and t hem, whi ch char act er i ses

many of t hose who ar e no l onger of our f ai t h, and ar e

engaged i n t hi s i nqui r y, or have set i t asi de as hope-

l ess, and ar e wor ki ng at ot her t asks. The gr eat

advance of nat ur al sci ence wi t hi n t he l ast f ew year s,

and t he devot i on wi t h whi ch many of our abl est and

best men ar e t hr owi ng t hemsel ves i nt o t hi s st udy, ar e

cl ear i ng t he ai r i n al l t he hi gher br anches of human

t hought , and maki ng possi bl e a nat i on, and i n t he

end a wor l d, of t r ut hf ul men — t hat bl essedest r esul t ol

al l t he st r ange conf l i ct s and pr obl ems of t he age,

whi ch t he wi sest men have f or eseen i n t hei r most hope-

f ul moods. I n t hi s gr and movement even t hose who

ar e nomi nal l y, and bel i eve t hemsel ves t o be r eal l y,

agai nst us, ar e f or us ; al l at l east who ar e t r ut hf ul

and pat i ent wor ker s. For t hem, t oo, t he spi r i t of al l

t r ut h, and pat i ence, and wi sdom i s l eadi ng ; and t hei r

st r i vi ngs and vi ct or i es — ay, and t hei r backsl i di ngs

320 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

and r ever ses — ar e maki ng cl ear er day by day t hat

r evel at i on of t he ki ngdom of God i n nat ur e, t hr ough

whi ch i t woul d seem t hat our gener at i on, and t hose

whi ch ar e t o f ol l ow us, wi l l be l ed back agai n t o t hat

hi gher r evel at i on of t he ki ngdom of God i n man.

Leavi ng t hen on one si de t he cr i t i cal and hi st or i cal

' nqui r y, and st ar t i ng f r om t he assumpt i on of t he t r ut h

of r evel at i on as commonl y under st ood amongst us,

and t hat Chr i st r eal l y was what He cl ai med t o be,

how does t hi s bear on t he quest i on f r om whi ch we

st ar t ed, — t he ki ngshi p and gover nment of t he nat i ons

and peopl e of t he wor l d i n whi ch we ar e l i vi ng ?

I n or der t o answer t he quest i on t o any good pur pose

f or Engl i shmen, we must ascer t ai n, i f possi bl e, what t he

common f ai t h of Engl i sh Chr i st i ans i s ; and t o do t hi s

we may f ai r l y t ur n, i n t he f i r st pl ace, t o t he Chur ch of

Engl and, whi ch even yet speaks wi t h some aut hor i t y.

Her f or mul ar i es and t eachi ng have st ood now f or t hr ee

hundr ed year s as t he expr essi on of t he f ai t h of t he

Engl i sh nat i on. Thi s i s gat her ed up f or or di nar y

per sons i n t he Book of Common Pr ayer , whi ch has

Page 167 of 174

been i n const ant use, on one day at l east , i n ever y

week, of ever y year , i n ever y par i sh i n t he l and. We

al l know t hat , besi des t he f or ms of pr ayer cont ai ned

i n t hat book, whi ch ar e common t o al l days, t her e ar e

speci al pr ayer s and ser vi ces f or each week, and f or

each f est i val , i nt ended t o di r ect t he mi nd of t he

nat i on i n t he act of wor shi p t o some par t i cul ar si de of

t he t r ut h whi ch t he Chur ch t eaches. Ref er r i ng t o

t hese, we f i nd i n t he ser vi ces f or al l t hose seasons

whi ch we, i n common wi t h t he r est of Chr i st endom,

THE END OF THE WHOLE MATTER. 321

est eem most hol y, one const ant decl ar at i on as t o t he

pr esent act ual exi st ence of t he ki ngdom of Chr i st ,

occur r i ng over and over agai n. Thus, on t he f i r st day

of t he Chr i st i an year , Advent Sunday, we pr ay t hat we

may cast away t he wor ks of dar kness, and r i se t o t he

l i f e i mmor t al , " t hr ough Hi m who l i vet h and r ei gnet h

wi t h Thee and t he Hol y Ghost , now and ever . " On

t he Thi r d Sunday i n Advent , i n t he col l ect addr essed

di r ect l y t o Chr i st hi msel f , we pr ay t hat we may be

f ound an accept abl e peopl e " i n Thy si ght , who l i vest

and r ei gnest wi t h t he Fat her and t he Hol y Spi r i t ,

ever one God, wor l d wi t hout end. " On Chr i st mas

Day t he same f or m occur s, and we ar e agai n t est i f y -

i ng t hat Chr i st " l i vet h and r ei gnet h. " I n t he col l ect

f or t he Si xt h Sunday af t er Epi phany we speak of

" Hi s et er nal and gl or i ous ki ngdom, " wher e He " l i vet h

and r ei gnet h. " And so agai n and agai n, at t he'

begi nni ng of Lent , t hr ough East er Week, on t he

Day of Ascensi on, t he Sunday af t er Ascensi on, Whi t -

sunday, Tr i ni t y Sunday, we ar e st i l l i n t he same

key, r epeat i ng t he same conf essi on, and decl ar i ng

i n t he most sol emn manner , t hat Chr i st t he - Son

of God has act ual l y set up Hi s ki ngdom i n t hi s

wor l d, and i s, now and al ways, " l i vi ng and r ei gni ng "

i n i t .

I n t he same ser i es of ser vi ces t he Chur ch of Engl and

pl aces bef or e t he peopl e, day af t er day, and week af t er

week, l essons and passages f r om t he Ol d Test ament ,

f or t hei r gui dance and i nst r uct i on, and t hese ar e

associ at ed wi t h passages f r om t he New Test ament

sel ect ed appar ent l y f or t he expr ess pur pose of showi ng,

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

t hat t he ol d covenant i s not cancel l ed, but f ul f i l l ed

• and made per f ect i n t he new. By t hi s met hod we

Engl i sh chur chmen have set bef or e us i n our chi l d-

hood, and kept bef or e us al l our l i ves, t hat wonder f ul

pi ct ur e of a nat i on r ul ed di r ect l y by God hi msel f ,

and pr osper i ng, or f al l i ng i nt o mi ser y and conf usi on,

pr eci sel y as t hey acknowl edge or r ef use t o acknow-

l edge t hi s r ul e whi ch t he Jewi sh hi st or y cont ai ns.

What ever gover nment t hey set up f or t hemsel ves, t he

same r esul t s f ol l ow. Ki ngs, pr i est s, j udges, what ever

men succeed t o, or usur p, or ar e t hr ust i nt o power ,

come i mmedi at el y under t hat et er nal gover nment

whi ch t he God of t he nat i on has est abl i shed, and t he

or der of whi ch cannot be vi ol at ed wi t h i mpuni t y.

Page 168 of 174

Ever y r ul er who i gnor es or def i es i t saps t he nat i onal

l i f e and pr osper i t y, and br i ngs t r oubl e on hi s count r y,

somet i mes swi f t l y, but al ways sur el y. Ther e i s t he

per pet ual pr esence of a Ki ng, wi t h whom r ul er s

and peopl e must come t o a r eckoni ng i n ever y

nat i onal cr i si s and convul si on, and who i s no l ess

pr esent when t he cour se of af f ai r s i s qui et and

pr osper ous. The gr eat est and wi sest men of t he

nat i on ar e t hose i n whom t hi s f ai t h bur ns most

st r ongl y. El i j ah' s sol emn openi ng, " As t he Lor d

l i vet h, bef or e whom I st and; " Davi d' s pl eadi ng,

" Whi t her shal l I go t hen f r om Thy pr esence, or

whi t her shal l I go f r om Thy Spi r i t . ' ' " — hi s conf essi on

t hat i n heaven or hel l , or t he ut t er most par t s of

t he sea, " t her e al so shal l Thy hand l ead, and Thy

r i ght hand shal l gui de me, " — ar e onl y wel l - known

i nst ances of a uni ver sal consci ousness whi ch never

I I

THE END OF THE WHOLE MATTER. 323

whol l y l eaves t he men or t he nat i on, however much

t hey may st r uggl e t o get r i d of i t .

The Engl i sh Chur ch t hus f or ces on t he not i ce of her

member s t he const ant pr esence of God i n t he ol d

wor l d, and t he r eal i t y of Hi s gover nment of t he

nat i ons, even of t hose whi ch wer e i gnor ant of Hi m.

She l abour s t o make cl ear t o t hem t he sacr edness of

t he mat er i al ear t h, and t he t r ut h t hat not onl y on t he

hi l l of Zi on, but i n t he deser t , on t he gr eat wat er s, i n

t he ci t y, as wel l as i n t he hear t s and mi nds of men,

t her e was al ways a Di vi ne pr esence dwel l i ng. Then,

t hr ough t hat unbr oken ser i es of ser vi ces t o whi ch

r ef er ence has been made al r eady, she decl ar es t hat

t hi s pr esence has not l ef t t he ear t h, i s not dwel l i ng

l ess wi t h us Engl i sh t han wi t h t he ol d Hebr ews, but

has come near er t o us si nce t he Son of God t ook f l esh,

and r eveal ed t o men t hat Ki ng and Fat her under

whose gover nment t hey ar e l i vi ng, and decl ar ed t hat

He woul d be wi t h t hem al ways, even t o t he end of

t he wor l d.

Thi s bel i ef i n t hi s Di vi ne gover nment of t he nat i ons,

whi ch i s t hus wr ought i nt o t he whol e t eachi ng and

conf essi on of t he Engl i sh Chur ch, i s pr obabl y hel d by

al l sect s of nonconf or mi st s amongst us. What ever t hei r

doct r i nes may be as t o el ect i on and r epr obat i on, or any

of t he ot her t housand and one shi bbol et hs by whi ch

men' s f ai t h i s t est ed, and t oo sor el y t r i ed, t her e i s not

one of t hem pr obabl y whi ch, speaki ng aut hoi " i t at i vel y

and del i ber at el y, woul d not admi t t hat Chr i st i s

" l i vi ng and r ei gni ng, " not onl y i n t he i nvi si bl e, but

her e i n t he vi si bl e wor l d, and t hat al l r ul er s and

Y 2

324 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

gover nment s ar e di r ect l y subj ect , and r esponsi bl e,

t o Hi m.

Page 169 of 174

Tur ni ng f r om t he Chur ch t o t he nat i on, f r om

t eachi ng and t heor y t o l i f e and pr act i ce, we f i nd at

ever y st ep of our hi st or y t he most st r i ki ng conf i r ma-

t i on of t hi s wi t ness. The r evol t agai nst al l vi si bl e

ear t hl y aut hor i t y i n spi r i t ual t hi ngs, whi ch had been

smoul der i ng f or cent ur i es, br oke out i n Engl and, as

el sewher e, at t he t i me of t he Ref or mat i on. Once f or

al l , t he nat i on t hen decl ar ed t hat t hey woul d have no

man st andi ng i n t he pl ace of t he Ki ng and Lor d of t hei r

soul s, and assumi ng t o di spense wi t h Hi s l aws ; t hat

t hey wer e not and woul d not be r esponsi bl e t o any

vi car of Chr i st , but onl y t o God hi msel f ; and Pope

and pr i est s, and al l who suppor t ed t hem, must be

t aught t hi s i n t he most di r ect and t hor ough manner .

The Engl i sh Ki ng was t he t r ue r epr esent at i ve of t he

nat i on i n t hi s pr ot est and r evol t ; and t he mor al sense

and consci ence of t he nat i on was behi nd hi m. And

so i t was sol emnl y decl ar ed by t he Act of Supr emacy,

t hat " f or t he i ncr ease of vi r t ue i n Chr i st ' s r el i gi on

wi t hi n t hi s r eal m of Engl and, t he Ki ng our sover ei gn

Lor d, hi s hei r s and successor s ki ngs of t hi s r eal m,

shal l be t he onl y supr eme head on ear t h of t he Chur ch

of Engl and. " Thi s di r ect r esponsi bi l i t y of t he nat i on,

and of t he Ki ng as t he nat i on' s r epr esent at i ve, t o God,

was t he r oot i dea and pr i nci pl e of t he Ref or mat i on

i n Engl and. The Tudor pr i nces ( wi t h t he except i on

of cour se of Queen Mar y) i n t hei r best moods acknow-

l edged i t , and act ed on i t ; and, whi l e t hey di d so, al l

went wel l . Whenever t hey or t hei r successor s f or got

THE END OF THE WHOLE MATTER. 325

i t , agai n and agai n i n t he i nt er veni ng 300 year s, i t

has had t o asser t i t sel f , of t en i n t he most unl ooked- f or

ways, and by t he st r angest wi t nesses. And so i t

st ands i n cur own day, t he i nher i t ance of many

gener at i ons, as f r esh, as cl ear , as st r ong as ever — a

r ock agai nst whi ch chur ches and sect s may dash

t hemsel ves, but whi ch nei t her t hey, nor al l t he power s

of ear t h, can shake.

Had our ki ngs and r ul er s r ecogni sed t hat one gr eat

pr i nci pl e of t he Ref or mat i on, t hat t her e can be no

spi r i t ual aut hor i t y on ear t h wi t h t he power t o di s -

pense wi t h God' s l aw, and bi nd and l oose man' s

consci ences, t he ot her gr eat r evol t mi ght never have

come at al l . But t he Ref or mat i on had t o do i t s

wor k i n due cour se, i n t empor al as wel l as spi r i t ual

t hi ngs, i n t he vi si bl e as i n t he i nvi si bl e wor l d ; f or

t he St uar t pr i nces asser t ed i n t empor al mat t er s t he

power s whi ch t he Pope had cl ai med i n spi r i t ual .

They, t oo, woul d acknowl edge t he sanct i t y of no l aw

above t he wi l l of pr i nces — woul d vi ndi cat e, even wi t h

t he swor d and scaf f ol d, t hei r own power t o di spense

wi t h l aws. So t he second gr eat r evol t and pr ot est

of t he Engl i sh nat i on came, agai nst al l vi si bl e ear t hl y

sover ei gnt y i n t hi ngs t empor al . Pur i t ani sm ar ose,

and Char l es went t o t he bl ock, and t he pr ocl amat i on

went f or t h t hat hencef or t h t he nat i on woul d have

no Ki ng but Chr i st ; t hat He was t he onl y possi bl e

Ki ng f or t he Engl i sh nat i on f r om t hat t i me f or t h, i n

t empor al as wel l as spi r i t ual t hi ngs, and t hat Hi s

ki ngdom had act ual l y come. The nat i onal consci ence

was not wi t h t he Pur i t ans as i t had been wi t h Henr y

Page 170 of 174

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

at t he t i me of t he Ref or mat i on, but t he deepest par t

of t hei r pr ot est has hel d i t s own, and gai ned st r engt h

ever si nce, f r om t hei r day t o our s. The r ehgi ous

sour ce and or i gi n of i t was, no doubt , t hr ust asi de

at t he Revol ut i on, but t he sagaci ous st at esmen of

1688 wer e as cl ear as t he sol di er s of I r et on and

Ludl ow i n t hei r r esol ve, t hat no human wi l l shoul d

over r i de t he l aws and cust oms of t he r eal m. So

t hey t oo, r equi r ed of t hei r sover ei gns t hat t hey

shoul d " sol emnl y pr omi se and swear t o gover n t he

peopl e of t hi s ki ngdom of Engl and, and t he do-

mi ni ons t her et o bel ongi ng, accor di ng t o t he st at ut es

i n Par l i ament agr eed on, and t he l aws and cust oms

of t he same ; . . . t hat t hey wi l l t o t hei r power cause

l aw and j ust i ce i n mer cy t o be execut ed i n al l t hei r

j udgment s ; . . . t hat t hey wi l l t o t he ut most of t hei r

power mai nt ai n t he l aws of God, t he t r ue pr of essi on

of t he Gospel , and t he Pr ot est ant r ef or med r el i gi on

est abl i shed by l aw. " The same pr ot est i n a f ar di f -

f er ent f or m came f or t h agai n at t he gr eat cr i si s at

t he end of t he ei ght eent h cent ur y, when t he r evo-

l ut i onar y l i t er at ur e of Fr ance had set Eur ope i n a

bl aze, and t he i dea of t he r i ght s of man had shr unk

back, and mer ged i n t he wi l l of t he mob. Agai nst

t hi s asser t i on of t hi s f or m of sel f - wi l l agai n t he

Engl i sh nat i on t ook r esol ut e gr ound. They had

st r i ven f or a l aw whi ch was above popes and ki ngs,

t o whi ch t hese must conf or m on pai n of suppr essi on.

They st r ove f or i t now agai nst mob l aw, agai nst

popul ar wi l l openl y avowi ng i t s own omni pot ence,

and maki ng t he t yr ant ' s cl ai m t o do what was r i ght

THE EXD OF THE I V HOLE MATTER. 327

i n i t s own eyes. And so t hr ough our whol e hi st or y

t he same t hr ead has r un. The nat i on, of t en con-

f usedl y and wi t h st ammer i ng accent s, but st i l l on

t he whol e consi st ent l y, has bor ne t he same wi t ness

as t he Chur ch, t hat as God i s l i vi ng and r ei gni ng

t her e must be a l aw, t he expr essi on of Hi s wi l l , at

t he f oundat i on of al l human soci et y, whi ch pr i est s,

ki ngs, r ul er s, peopl e, must di scover , acknowl edge,

obey.

The ol d quest i on i s comi ng up agai n f or deci si on al l

over Eur ope. Wi t h us i t i s nar r owed t o a si ngl e and

si mpl e i ssue. Ther e ar e sever al ways of put t i ng i t

amongst us, but t he r esul t seems t o be much t he same.

Whet her by t hose who of f er us as a subst i t ut e f or God,

" a col l ect i ve humani t y i nt o whi ch we ar e al l t o be ab-

sor bed, " or by t hose who t each t hat t he peopl e i s " t he

col l ect i ve i nt er pr et er of t he wi l l of God, " t he ol d f ai t h

i s openl y set asi de, and we ar e t ol d t hat i nf al l i bi l i t y

i s at l ast f ound f or men, and r esi des i n t he maj or i t y.

Such doct r i nes nat ur al l y out r age t he hi st or i cal cl ai m-

ant of i nf al l i bi l i t y on ear t h. Looki ng out at t he

uni ver sal f er ment of Chr i st endom, Pi us I X. ( i n hi s

Encycl i cal Let t er of Dec. 8, 1864) denounces t hose

" who dar e t o publ i sh t hat t he wi l l of t he peopl e,

mani f est ed by what t hey cal l publ i c opi ni on, or by

Page 171 of 174

ot her means, const i t ut es t he supr eme l aw, i ndependent

of al l Di vi ne or human l aw, and t hat , i n pol i t i cal

or der , event s whi ch have been accompl i shed, by t hat

ver y r eason t hat t hey ar e accompl i shed, have t he f or ce

of r i ght . " The al t er nat i ve whi ch t he Pope woul d

pr opose i s one whi ch we i n Engl and need not di scuss ;

328 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

but we ar e bound, at our per i l , and shal l be dr i ven m

our t i me, t o consi der , whet her we ar e pr epar ed t o

acknowl edge col l ect i ve humani t y, or publ i c opi ni on,

or any ot her abst r act i on, as t he supr eme j udge and

ki ng of our nat i on, and of al l nat i ons. We may

despi se t he pr esent advocat es of soci al democr acy,

and a " conf eder at e r epubl i c of Eur ope, " and make

mer r y over t hei r sayi ngs and doi ngs at t hei r conven-

t i ons i n Swi t zer l and and el sewher e, but t her e i s no

man Vv^ ho knows what i s r eal l y goi ng on i n Engl and

but wi l l admi t , t hat t her e wi l l have t o be a ser i ous

r eckoni ng wi t h t hem at no ver y di st ant day.

Chr i st i ans, t hen, may acknowl edge at once t hat , as a

r ul e, and i n t he l ong r un, t he deci si on of t he peopl e of a

count r y, f ai r l y t aken, i s l i kel y t o be r i ght , and t hat t he

wi l l of t he peopl e i s l i kel y t o be mor e j ust and pat i ent

t han t hat of any per son or cl ass. No one can honest l y

l ook at t he hi st or y of our r ace i n t he l ast quar t er of

a cent ur y, t o go no f ur t her back, and not gl adl y admi t

t he wei ght of evi dence i n f avour of t hi s vi ew. Ther e

i s no gr eat quest i on of pr i nci pl e whi ch has ar i sen i n

pol i t i cs her e, i n whi ch t he gr eat mass of t he nat i on has

not been f r om t he f i r st on t hat whi ch has been at l ast

acknowl edged as t he r i ght si de. I n Amer i ca, t o t ake

t he one gr eat exampl e, t he at t i t ude of t he Nor t her n

peopl e f r om f i r st t o l ast , i n t he gr eat ci vi l war , wi l l

make pr oud t he hear t s of Engl i sh- speaki ng men as

l ong as t hei r l anguage l ast s.

The r eal publ i c opi ni on of a nat i on, expr essi ng i t s

deepest convi ct i ons ( as di st i ngui shed f r om what i s

or di nar i l y cal l ed publ i c opi ni on, t he f i r st cr y of pr o-

THE END OF THE UHOLE MATTER. 329

f essi onal pol i t i ci ans and j our nal i st s, whi ch usual l y

goes wr ong) , i s undoubt edl y ent i t l ed t o ver y gr eat

r espect . But , af t er maki ng al l f ai r al l owances, no

honest man, however war m a democr at he may be,

can shut hi s eyes t o t he f act s whi ch st ar e hi m i n t he

f ace at home, i n our col oni es, i n t he Uni t ed St at es,

and r ef use t o acknowl edge t hat t he wi l l of t he maj or i t y

i n a nat i on, ascer t ai ned by t he best pr ocesses yet

known t o us, i s not al ways or al t oget her j ust , or

consi st ent , or st abl e ; t hat t he del i ber at e deci si ons of

t he peopl e ar e not unf r equent l y t ai nt ed by i gnor ance,

or passi on, or pr ej udi ce.

Ar e we, t hen, t o r est cont ent ed wi t h t hi s ul t i mat e

r egal power , t o r esi gn our sel ves t o t he i nevi t abl e, and

admi t t hat f or us, her e at l ast i n t hi s ni net eent h cen-

t ur y, t her e i s not hi ng hi gher or bet t er t o l ook f or ;

and i f we ar e t o have a ki ng at al l , i t must be ki ng

peopl e or ki ng mob, accor di ng t o t he mood i n whi ch

Page 172 of 174

our sect i on of col l ect i ve humani t y happens t o be ?

Sur el y we ar e not pr epar ed f or t hi s any mor e t han t he

Pope i s. Many of us f eel t hat Tudor s, and St uar t s,

and Ol i ver Cr omwel l , and cl i ques of Whi g or Tor y

ar i st ocr at s, may have been bad enough ; but t hat any

t yr anny under whi ch Engl and has gr oaned i n t he

past has been l i ght by t he si de of what we may come

t o, i f we ar e t o car r y out t he new pol i t i cal gospel

t o i t s l ogi cal concl usi on, and sur r ender our sel ves t o

gover nment by t he count i ng of heads, pur e and si mpl e.

But i f we wi l l not do t hi s, i s t her e any al t er nat i ve,

si nce we r epudi at e per sonal gover nment , but t o f al l

back on t he ol d Hebr ew and Chr i st i an f ai t h, t hat t he

LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

nat i ons ar e r ul ed by a l i vi ng, pr esent , i nvi si bl e Ki ng,

whose wi l l i s per f ect l y r i ght eous and l ovi ng, t he same

yest er day, t o- day, and f or ever ? I t i s besi de t he

quest i on t o ur ge t hat such a f ai t h t hr ows us back on

an i nvi si bl e power , and t hat we must have vi si bl e

r ul er s. Of cour se we must have vi si bl e r ul er s, even

af t er t he advent of t he " conf eder at e soci al r epubl i c of

Eur ope. " When t he whol e peopl e i s ki ng i t must have

vi cer oys l i ke ot her monar chs. But i s publ i c opi ni on

vi si bl e . ' ' Can we see " col l ect i ve humani t y" . ' ' I s i t

easi er f or pr i nces or st at esmen — f or any man or men

upon whose shoul der s t he gover nment r est s — t o ascer -

t ai n t he wi l l of t he peopl e t han t he wi l l of God . ' '

Anot her consi der at i on meet s us at once, and t hat i s,

t hat t hi s bel i ef i s assumed i n our pr esent pr act i ce.

Not t o i nsi st upon t he dai l y usage i n al l Chr i st i an

pl aces of wor shi p and f ami l i es t hr oughout t he l and,

t he Par l i ament of t he count r y opens i t s dai l y si t t i ngs

wi t h t he most di r ect conf essi on of t hi s f ai t h whi ch wor ds

can expr ess, and pr ays — addr essi ng God, and not

publ i c opi ni on, or col l ect i ve humani t y — " Thy ki ng-

dom come. Thy wi l l be done. " Sur el y i t wer e bet t er

t o get r i d of t hi s sol emn usage as a pi ece of cant ,

whi ch must demor al i ze t he r epr esent at i ves of t he

nat i on, i f we mean not hi ng par t i cul ar by i t , and ei t her

r ecast our f or m of pr ayer , subst i t ut i ng " t he peopl e, "

or what el se we pl ease, f or " God, " or l et t he whol e

busi ness al one, as one whi ch i s past man' s under -

st andi ng. I f we r eal l y bel i eve t hat a nat i on has no

means of f i ndi ng out God' s wi l l , i t i s hypocr i t i cal and

cowar dl y t o go on pr ayi ng t hat i t may be done.

THE END OF THE WHOLE MATTER. r , i

That wi l l may be unj ust , unl ovi ng, var i abl e, f or

anyt hi ng we know; and as honest men and ci t i zens

we cannot wi sh, or ask, t hat our count r y may be r ul ed

by i t .

But i t wi l l be sai d, assumi ng al l t hat i s asked, what

pr act i cal di f f er ence can i t possi bl y make i n t he gover n-

ment of nat i ons ? Admi t as poi nt edl y as you can, by

pr of essi on and by wor shi p, and honest l y bel i eve, t hat

Page 173 of 174

a Di vi ne wi l l i s r ul i ng i n t he wor l d, and i n each nat i on,

what wi l l i t ef f ect ? Wi l l i t al t er t he cour se of event s

one i ot a, or t he act s of any gover nment or gover nor ?

Woul d not a Neapol i t an Bour bon be j ust as r eady t o

make i t hi s wat chwor d as an Engl i sh Al f r ed ? Mi ght

not a commi t t ee of publ i c saf et y pl acar d t he scaf f ol d

wi t h a decl ar at i on of t hi s f ai t h ? I t i s a cont ent i on

f or a shadow.

I s i t so ? Does not ever y man r ecogni se i n hi s

own l i f e, and i n hi s obser vat i on of t he wor l d ar ound

hi m, t he enor mous and r adi cal di f f er ence bet ween

t he t wo pr i nci pl es of act i on, and t he r esul t s whi ch

t hey br i ng about ? What man do we r eckon wor t hy

of honour , and del i ght t o obey and f ol l ow — hi m who

asks when he has t o act , what wi l l A, B, and C say

t o t hi s? or hi m who asks, i s t hi s r i ght , t r ue, j ust ,

i n har mony wi t h t he wi l l of God ? Don' t we despi se

our sel ves when Ave gi ve way t o t he f or mer t endenc) ' ,

or , i n ot her wor ds, when we admi t t he sover ei gnt y

of publ i c opi ni on ? Don' t we f eel t hat we ar e i n

t he r i ght and manl y pat h when we f ol l ow t he l at t er ?

And i f t hi s be t r ue of pr i vat e men, i t must hol d

i n t he case of t hose who ar e i n aut hor i t y.

332 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

Those r ul er s, what ever name t hey may go by, who

t ur n t o what const i t uent s, l eagues, t he pr ess ar e

sayi ng or doi ng, t o gui de t hem as t o t he cour se t hey

ar e t o f ol l ow, i n t he f ai t h t hat t he wi l l of t he maj o-

r i t y i s t he ul t i mat e and onl y possi bl e ar bi t er , wi l l

never del i ver or st r engt hen a nat i on however ski l f ul

t hey may be i n occupyi ng i t s best pl aces.

Al l t he si gns of our t i me t el l us t hat t he day of

ear t hl y ki ngs has gone by, and t he advent t o power

of t he gr eat body of t he peopl e, t hose who l i ve by

manual l abour , i s at hand. Al r eady a consi der abl e

per cent age of t hem ar e as i nt el l i gent and pr ovi dent

as t he cl asses above t hem, and as capabl e of con-

duct i ng af f ai r s, and admi ni st er i ng l ar ge i nt er est s suc -

cessf ul l y. I n Engl and, t he co- oper at i ve movement ,

and t he or gani zat i on of t he t r ade soci et i es, shoul d be

enough t o pr ove t hi s, t o any one who has eyes, and i s

open t o convi ct i on. I n anot her gener at i on t hat num-

ber wi l l have i ncr eased t enf ol d, and t he sover ei gnt y

of t he count r y wi l l vi r t ual l y pass i nt o t hei r hands.

Upon t hei r pat r i ot i sm and good sense t he f or -

t unes of t he ki ngdom, of whi ch Al f r ed l ai d t he deep

f oundat i ons a t housand year s ago, wi l l depend as

di r ect l y and absol ut el y as t hey have ever depended

on t he wi l l of ear t hl y ki ng or st at esman. I t i s vai n

t o bl i nk t he f act t hat democr acy i s upon us, t hat

" new or der of soci et y whi ch i s t o be f ounded by

l abour f or l abour , " and t he onl y t hi ng f or wi se men

t o do i s t o l ook i t i n t he f ace, and see how t he

shor t i nt er veni ng year s may be used t o t he best

advant age. Happi l y f or us, t he t ask has been al r eady

THE END OF THE WHOLE MATTER. 333

begun i n ear nest . Our soundest and wi sest pol i t i cal

t hi nker s ar e al l engaged upon t he gr eat and i nevi t abl e

Page 174 of 174

change, whet her t hey dr ead, or exul t i n, t he pr ospect .

Thus f ar , t oo, t hey al l agr ee, t hat t he gr eat danger of

t he f ut ur e l i es i n t hat ver y r eadi ness of t he peopl e t o

act i n gr eat masses, and t o get r i d of per sonal and

i ndi vi dual r esponsi bi l i t y, whi ch i s t he char act er i st i c

of t he or gani zat i ons by whi ch t hey have gai ned, and

secur ed, t hei r pr esent posi t i on. Nor i s t her e any

di f f er ence as t o how t hi s danger i s t o be met . Our

f i r st ai m must be t o devel op t o t he ut most t he sense

of per sonal and i ndi vi dual r esponsi bi l i t y.

But how i s t hi s t o be done .

' To v/ hom ar e men

wi el di ng gr eat power s t o be t aught t hat t hey ar e

r esponsi bl e . ' ' I f t hey can l ear n t hat t her e i s st i l l a

Ki ng r ul i ng i n Engl and t hr ough t hem, whom i f t hey

wi l l f ear t hey need f ear no ot her power i n ear t h or

heaven, whom i f t hey can l ove and t r ust t hey wi l l

want no ot her gui de or hel per , al l wi l l be wel l , and we

may l ook f or a r ei gn of j ust i ce i n Engl and such as she

has never seen yet , what ever f or m our gover nment

may t ake. But , i n any case, t hose who hol d t he

ol d f ai t h wi l l st i l l be sur e, t hat t he or der of God' s

ki ngdom wi l l not change. I f t he ki ngs of t he ear t h

ar e passi ng away, because t hey have never acknow-

l edged t he or der whi ch was est abl i shed f or t hem,

t he condi t i ons on whi ch t hey wer e set i n hi gh pl aces,

t hose who succeed t hem wi l l have t o come under

t he same or der , and t he same condi t i ons. When t he

gr eat body of t hose who have done t he har d wor k of

t he wor l d, and got l i t t l e enough of i t s wages hi t her t o

334 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

—t he r eal st uf f of whi ch ever y nat i on i s composed —

have ent er ed on t hei r i nher i t ance, t hey may sweep

away many t hi ngs, and make shor t wor k wi t h t hr one?

and ki ngs. But t her e i s one t hr one whi ch t hey cannot

pul l down — t he t hr one of r i ght eousness, whi ch i s over

al l t he nat i ons ; and one Ki ng whose r ul e t hey cannot

t hr ow of f — t he Son of God, and Son of Man, who

wi l l j udge t hem as He has j udged al l ki ngs and al l

gover nmen<- s bef or e t hem.

THE END.

RI CHARD CLAY AND SONS, LI MI TED, LONDON AND BUNGAY.