page1 of 174 - our favourite books the great… · f r om di f f er ent poi nt s of vi ew, by nat i...

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

Page1 of 174

CHAPTER VI I I .

pa( ; bTHE SECOND WAVE 9I

CHAPTER I X.

ATHELNEY l OO

CHAPTER X.

ETHANDUNE 1 14

CHAPTER XI .

RETROSPECT , . . . . I 27

CHAPTER XI I .

THE k i ng' s BOARD OF WORKS 1 36

CHAPTER XI I I .

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

CHAPTER XI V.

THE k i ng' s l aws 159

CHAPTER XV.

THE k i ng' s j ust i ce 173

CHAPTER XVI .

THE k i ng' s EXCHEQUER 189

CHAPTER XVI I .

THE k i ng' s CHURCH 2OO

CHAPTER XVI I I .

THE k i ng' s FRI RNDS 112

CONTENTS. V

CHAPTER XI X.

PAGE

THE k i ng' s nei ghbour s 228

CHAPTER XX.

THE k i ng' s f oe 24O

CHAPTER XXI .t he t hi r d wave 250

CHAPTER XXI I .t he k i ng' s home . 267

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CHAPTER XXI I I .

THE KI NG AS AUTHOR 278

CHAPTER XXI V.

THE k i ng' s deat h AND WI LL 3OI

CHAPTER XXV.

THE k i ng' s successor s 3' '

CHAPTER XXVI .

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

LI ST OF I LLUSTRATI ONS.

J- AGBMAP 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 76SEDULOUSLY BENT ON ACQUI RI NG LEARNI NG I 77

PREFACE.

The ear l y ages of our count r y ' s hi s t or y have beenst udi ed, and wr i t t en and r e- wr i t t en, wi t h a car e andabi Ht y whi ch have l ef t not hi ng t o desi r e. Ever ysour ce f r om whi ch l i ght coul d be dr awn has beenexpl or ed by emi nent schol ar s, and pr obabl y al l t hef 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 beensucceeded by Pear son and Fr eeman, whose gr eatabi 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 owhom t he pr esent wr i t er i s anxi ous t o expr ess hi sdeep obl i gat i ons. Thanks t o t hei r l abour s, whoevert akes f or hi s subj ect any por t i on of our ear l y nat i onalhi s t 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 s t or y t he l i f e and t i mes ofAl f r ed ar e, beyond al l quest i on, t he most absor bi ngi 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 s t edi t i on of whose Li f eof 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 eenyear s ol d. That book was wr i t t en " by a Ger man f orGer 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 onof t hei r Fat her l and, and especi al l y f or t he cont i nuanceof t hose st at es whi ch wer e dest i ned by Heaven f or

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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 hepr eser vat i on of hi s Fat her l and, but t he pr obl ems whi ch1848 st ar t ed st i l l awai t an answer . The r evol ut i onar yspur whi ch was t hen gi ven t o t he i nt el l ect ual andpol i t i cal act i v i t y of Chr i s t endom has as yet done l i t t l ebeyond doomi ng cer t ai n condi t i ons of pol i t i cal andsoci 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 ornat 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 andl i f e- wor k of Ki ng Al f r ed, t hat he coul d not r est unt i lhe had pl aced a pi c t ur e of t hem bef or e hi s Ger manf 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 sFat her l and who wer e st r uggl i ng f or some sol i d gr oundupon vv^hi ch t o pl ant t hei r f eet , i n t he mi dst of t het hr oes of t he l ast gr eat Eur opean cr i s i s. A l i ke con-vi c t 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 s i s whi ch seemsl 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 mayper 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 atal l , t he pr act i cal need of exami ni ng once mor e t hepr i nc i 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 annyor domi nat i on of ar bi t r ar y wi l l , whet her of a Caesaror a mob ? i s t he pr obl em bef or e us, and one whi chi s becomi ng dai l y mor e t hr eat eni ng, demandi ng ananswer at t he per i l of nat i onal l i f e. Fr ance f or t hemoment i s t he count r y wher e t he quest i on pr essesmost 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 dealcommonweal t h i n despai r , and I mper i al i sm orC?esar i sm had come out most nakedl y, i n t hi sgener at i on, under our own eyes. The Emper or oft he Fr ench has shown Chr i st endom, bot h i n pr act i ceby 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. Theanswer , mat ur i ng now t hese sevent een year s, hascome i n a shout f r om a whol e peopl e, t hor oughl yr oused at l ast , " Away wi t h i t ! I t i s under mi ni ngsoci et y , i t i s dest r oyi ng mor al i t y. Br ave, si mpl e, honestl 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

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dr i vi ng c l oud and heavi ng sea, i n whi ch as yet not r ace of f i r m l and i s v i s i 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 bestmi nd of t he nat i on. Al as ! has not Loui s Napol eonshown 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 , Ipr esume t he answer woul d be, but t o t he maj or i t yof 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. Butt he Emper or of t he Fr ench woul d acknowl edge suchr 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 onecannot but own t hat he has at l east pr oved howeasi l y such phr ases may be t ur ned t o t he benef i tof hi s own I mper i al i sm.

The pr obl em has been showi ng i t sel f , t hough noti 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 ourmachi ner y f or gover nment has been so near l y i nconf l i c t wi t h t he nat i onal wi l l as t o r ouse a host ofquest i ons. What pr i nc i pl e wor t h pr eser v i ng doest hi s House of Lor ds r epr esent t I s i t compat i bl ewi t h gover nment by t he maj or i t y } Does not i t sexi st ence i nvol ve a const ant pr ot est agai nst t he i deat 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 st o wor k smoot hl y ?

Her e, agai n, one has hear d l i t t l e beyond angr ydecl amat i on ; but t he di scussi on has shown t hat t het i me i s come when we Engl i sh can no l onger st and byas i nt er est ed spect at or s onl y , but i n whi ch ever y oneof our own i nst i t ut i ons wi l l be s i f t ed wi t h r i gour , andwi l l have t o show cause f or i t s exi st ence. I n ever yot her nat i on of Chr i s t endom t he same r est l essnessexi st s, t he same f er ment i s goi ng on ; and undermany 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 hedomi ni on of ar bi t r ar y wi l l , t he est abl i shment of someor der i n whi ch " r i ght eousness shal l be t he gi r dl e oft 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 onsof 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 calEngl 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 erhas not at t empt ed, and i s not compet ent t o t ake par ti n, t he di scussi on of any of t he deepl y i nt er est i ngcr i t i cal , ant i quar i an, and phi l ol ogi cal quest i ons whi chcr oss t he pat h of ever y s t udent of Angl o- Saxonhi st or y, and whi ch have been so abl y handl ed by t heaut hor s al r eady r ef er r ed t o, and many ot her s. As apol i t i c i 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.

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t he act ual gr ound upon whi ch t he pol i t i cal l i f e of t heEngl i sh nat i on st ands, t hat he mi ght sol ve f or hi sown i ndi v i dual gui dance, accor di ng t o t he best l i ghthe coul d get , t he most pr act i cal of al l quest i ons f or apubl i c man, — what l eader he shoul d suppor t ? whatr ef or ms he shoul d do hi s best t o obt ai n ? Bor n i nAl f r ed' s own count y, and havi ng been f r om chi l dhoodf ami l i ar wi t h t he spot s whi ch hi s t or y and t r adi t i onassoci at e wi t h some of t he most cr i t i cal event s of t hegr eat Ki ng' s l i f e, he has r eached t he same concl us i onas Dr . Paul i by a di f f er ent pr ocess. He has l ear nt t ol ook upon t he Saxon Ki ng as t he t r ue r epr esent at i veof t he nat i on i n cont r ast t o t he gr eat Caesar , so near l yhi s cont empor ar y, whose ai m was t o wel d t oget heral l nat i ons and t r i bes i n one l i f el ess empi r e under hi sown scept r e. That empi r e of Char l emagne has beenexal t ed of l at e as t he begi nni ng of al l t r ue or der f orEur ope and Amer i ca. I f t hi s wer e so, i t woul d bei ndeed a wast e of t i me t o dwel l on t he l i f e and wor kof Al f r ed. I f , however , pr eci sel y t he cont r ar y bet 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 aswe can t he si mpl e honest l i f e of t he gr eat SaxonKi ng, endeavour i ng t o ascer t ai n upon what gr oundi hat l i f e and wor k of t he ni nt h cent ur y s t ood, andwhet her t he same gr ound abi des i n t he ni net eent h f oral l nat i ons, al i ke f or t hose who have v i s i bl e ki ngs andt 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 hatwhi ch we cal l * Ki ngshi p, ' — The Commander overmen ; 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 ndt hei r wel f ar e i n doi ng so, may be r eckoned t he mosti mpor t ant of gr eat men. " " I n al l sect i ons of Engl i shl i f e t he God- made k i 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 las 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 lhi m what you wi l l — who has i n many ways movedmor 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 espondedt o t he wor ds . - ' Have not most of us f el t t hat i n someshape — not per haps i n t hat whi ch he pr eaches — what

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LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREA T.

Mr . Car l y l e cal l s " k i 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 hewel 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 apoor 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 y l e f i r st gave voi cei n our day, has been goi ng up f r om al l sect i ons ofEngl i sh soci et y t hese many year s, i n sad, f i er ce, orpl ai nt i ve accent s. The poet most pr of oundl y i nsympat 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 , oneWho 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 andabl est . I n an i nar t i cul at e way t he conf essi on r i sesf r om t he masses of our peopl e, t hat t hey t oo f eel onever y s i de of t hem t he need of wi se and st r onggover nment — of a wi l l t o whi ch t hei r wi l l may l oyal l ysubmi t — bef or e al l ot her needs; have been gr opi ngbl i ndl y af t er i t t hi s l ong whi l e ; begi n t o know t hatt 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 scount r y of l i mi t ed l and, ai r , and wat er , and pr act i cal l yunl i mi t ed weal t h.

But Democr acy, — how about Democr acy } We hadt hought a cr y f or i t , and not f or k i ngs, God- made orof 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 k i ngs such as we have seen t hem have notgai ned or deser ved much r ever ence of l at e year s, ar enot l i kel y t o be cal l ed f or wi t h any gr eat ear nest -


ness, by t hose who f eel most need of gui dance, anddel i ver ance, i n t he mi dst of t he bewi l der i ng condi t i onsand 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 wental l t o pi eces over t he gr eat er par t of Chr i st endom,and t he k i ngs j ust r an away or abdi cat ed, and t hepeopl e, l ef t pr et t y much t o t hemsel ves, i n some pl acesmade bl i nd wor k of i t . Sol vent and wel l - r egul at edsoci et y caught a gl i mpse of t hat same " bi g bl ackdemocr acy, " — t he monst er , t he Fr ankenst ei n, as t heyhol d hi m, at any r at e t he gr eat undeni abl e f act of ourt 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 ofbr oken pl edges and bayonet s, t he so- cal l ed ki ngsmanaged t o get t he gyves put on hi m agai n, and t oshut hi m down i n hi s under gr ound pr i son. That wast he sum of t hei r wor k i n t he l ast gr eat Eur opeancr i si s ; not a t hankwor t hy one f r om t he peopl e' spoi nt of vi ew. However , soc i et y was supposed t o besaved, and t he " par t y of or der " so cal l ed br eat hedf r eel y. No; f or t he 1848 ki nd of ki ng t her e i s sur el y

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no audi bl e demand anywher e.

Her e i n Engl and i n t hat year we had our l ot h olApr i l , and must er of hal f a mi l l i on speci al const abl esof t he comf or t abl e cl asses, wi t h much j ubi l at i on oversuch must er , and mut ual congr at ul at i ons t hat wewer 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 somesor t of j ust i f i cat i on. The l ot h of Apr i l must er maybe per haps accept ed as a si gn t hat t he r ever ence


f or t he const abl e' s s t af f has not qui t e di ed out yetamongst us. But l et no one t hi nk t hat f or t hi s r easonDemocr acy i s one whi t l ess i nevi t abl e i n Engl andt han on t he Cont i nent ; or t hat i t s sur e and st eadyadvance, and t he l ongi ng f or i t s comi ng, whi ch al lt hought f ul men r ecogni se, however l i t t l e t hey maysympat hi se wi t h t hem, i s t he l east i ncompat i bl e wi t ht he equal l y mani f est l ongi ng f or what our peopl e i nt endby 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 nt hese year s ? Si mpl y an equal chance f or al l ; a f ai rf i el d f or t he best men, l et t hem st ar t f r om wher e t heywi l l , t o get t o t he f r ont ; a c l ear ance out of shamgover nor s, and of unj ust pr i v i l ege, i n ever y depar t -ment of human af f ai r s . I t cannot be t oo of t enr epeat ed, t hat t hey who suppose t he bul k of ourpeopl 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 hepeopl e ar e r eady f or i n t hi s di r ect i on. He wi l lt el l you t hat , i n spi t e per haps of al l he can sayor do, t hey zvi l l go f or compul sor y educat i on, t heor gani zat i on of l abour ( i nc l udi ng t her ei n t he shar pext i nct i on of abl e- bodi ed pauper i sm) , t he ut i l i zat i onof publ i c l ands, and ot her r ef or ms of an equal l ydeci ded char act er . That f or t hese pur poses t heydesi r e mor e gover nment , not l ess ; wi l l suppor t wi t hent husi asm measur es, t he ver y t hought of whi ch t akesaway t he br eat h and l oosens t he knees of or di nar ypol i t i c i ans ; wi l l r al l y wi t h l oyal t y and t r ust f ul ness t o


men who wi l l under t ake t hese t hi ngs wi t h cour ageand s i ngl eness of pur pose.

But admi t al l t hi s t o be so, yet why t al k of k i ngsand k i ngshi p ? Why t r y t o f i x our at t ent i on on t hel ast ki nd of per sons who ar e l i kel y t o hel p ? Ki ngshave become a cast e, sacr ed or not , as you mayhappen t o hol d, but at any r at e a mar kedl y separ at ecast e. I s not t hi s a dar keni ng of counsel , a usi ng oft 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

Page8 of 174

know. When t hese ar e t r ue and s i ngl e- mi nded, t heyar e t he men f or t he wor k you ar e t al k i ng of . To doi 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 ngi s pr ec i sel y t hi s of sympat hy wi t h t he masses . ' ' Ourbi bl i cal t r ai ni ng sur el y woul d seem t o t each t hati t i s . When al l peopl e ar e t o bow bef or e t he k i ng,al l nat i ons t o do hi m ser vi ce, i t i s because " he shal ldel i ver t he poor when he cr i et h, t he needy al so, andhi m t hat hat h no hel per . " When t he ki ng pr ays f ort he j udgment s and r i ght eousness of God, i t i s i n or dert 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 s i t s i n j udg-ment , t he r eason of hi s sent ence, whet her of appr ovalor condemnat i on, t ur ns upon t hi s same poi nt ofsympat hy wi t h t he poor and weak, — " I nasmuch asye have done i t , or not done i t , t o t he l east of t hesemy br et hr en. " Fr om one end t o t he ot her of t heBi bl e wc ar e f ace t o f ace wi t h t hese wor ds, " k i ng" and" k i ngdom ; " f r om t he f i r s t wor d t o t he l ast t he same

12 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

i dea of t he k i ng' s wor k, t he ki ng' s f unct i ons, r unst hr ough hi s t or y, poem, par abl e, s t at ut e, and bi ndst hem t oget her . The ki ng f i l l s at l east as l ar ge aspace i n our sacr ed books as i n Mr . Car l y l e' s ; t hewr i t er s seem t o t hi nk hi m, and hi s wor k qui t e asnecessar y t o t he wor l d as Mr . Car l y l e does.

To t hose who l ook on t he Hebr ew scr i pt ur es as mer eanci ent Asi an r ecor ds, whi ch have been l uck i l y pr e-ser ved, and ar e per haps as val uabl e as t he Tal mud ort 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 emoment . To t hose who bel i eve ot her wi se — who hol dt hat t hese same scr i pt ur es cont ai n t he r evel at i on ofGod t o t he f ami l y of manki nd so f ar as wor ds canr eveal Hi m — t he f act i s one whi ch deser ves and mustcl ai m t hei r most ser i ous t hought . I f t hey desi r e t o behonest wi t h t hemsel ves, t hey wi l l not pl ay f ast andl oose wi t h t he wor ds, or t he i deas ; wi l l r at her f acet 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 heBi bl e says as t o ki ngs and ki ngdoms, i f i ndeedany be l ef t f or us i n A. D. 1869. As a hel p i n t hest udy we may t ake t hi s agai n f r om t he aut horal r eady quot ed : — " The onl y t i t l e wher ei n I wi t hconf i dence t r ace et er ni t y , i s t hat of k i ng. He car r i eswi t h hi m an aut hor i t y f r om God, or man wi l l nevergi ve i t hi m. Can I choose my own ki ng . ? I canchoose my own Ki ng Popi nj ay and pl ay what f ar ceor t r agedy I may wi t h hi m : but he who i s t o bemy 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 nsuch 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 s t ar t l i ng i m-por t t hese, no doubt ; but t he l onger we who accept

Page9 of 174

t he Hebr ew scr i pt ur es as books of t he r evel at i on ofGod t hi nk on t hem, t he mor e we shal l f i nd t hemsober and t r ut hf ul wor ds. At l east t hat i s t he bel i efof t he pr esent wr i t er , whi ch bel i ef he hopes t o makecl ear er i n t he cour se of t hi s wor k t o t hose who car et 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 hatwe shoul d t r y t o under st and i t bef or e we appr oacht 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 ev i 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 antmeani ng. The ki ng i s t he r epr esent at i ve of t her ace, t he embodi ment of i t s nat i onal bei ng, t hechi l d of hi s peopl e and not t hei r f at her . " Anot heremi nent schol ar . Si r F. Pal gr ave, der i ves k i ng f r om" Cen, " a Cel t i c wor d s i gni f y i ng t he head. " Thecommander of men, " says Mr . Car l y l e, " i s cal l edRex, Regul at or , Roi : our own name i s s t 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 hewor d, whi ch woul d seem t o be t oo bi g t o be t i eddown t o ei t her def i ni t i on. Sur el y , what ever t he t r ueet ymol ogy may be, t he i deas — " r epr esent at i ve, "" head, " " abl est " — do not c l ash, but woul d r at her seemnecessar 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 heembodi 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 mustnow t r y t o f ol l ow: " Engl and' s her dman, " " Engl and' sdar l i ng, " " Engl and' s comf or t , " as he i s st yl ed by t heol d chr oni c l er s. A t housand year s have passed si nceAl f r ed was st r uggl i ng wi t h t he mi ght y wor k appoi nt edf or hi m by God i n t hi s i s l and. What t hat wor k -was, how i t was done, what por t i on of i t r emai nst o t hi s day, i t wi l l be our t ask and our pr i v i l eget o consi der .

CHAPTER I I .

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

* * For o, t housand year s i n Thy s i ght ar e but as yest er day, seei ng i t hpast 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 ookedout must , however , det ai n us f or a shor t t i me. Andat t he t hr eshol d we ar e met wi t h t he f act t hat t henames of hi s bi r t hpl ace, Wanat i ng ( Want age) ; of t heshi r e i n whi ch i t l i es, Ber r oc- shi r e ( Ber kshi r e) ; oft he di s t r i c t st r et chi ng al ong t he chal k hi l l s abovei t , Ashdown ; of t he nei ghbour i ng v i l l ages, such asUf 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 housandyear s ago was di v i ded t hr oughout i nt o shi r es,

Page10 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 dof 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 daymai nt ai n, t hat i f one of t he chur l s who f ought atAshdown wi t h Al f r ed coul d have r i sen up f r om hi sbr eezy gr ave under a bar r ow, and wal ked down t hehi l l i nt o Uf f i ngt on, he woul d have been under st oodwi 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 acyver 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 hemost emi nent of cont empor ar y Engl i sh hi st or i ans ont he gener al quest i on. " The mai n di vi si ons of t hecount r y, " wr i t es Mr . Fr eeman, " t he l ocal names of t hevast mass of i t s t owns and vi l l ages, wer e f i xed whent he Nor man came, and have sur vi ved wi t h but l i t t l echange t o our own day. . . . He f ound t he Engl i shnat 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 snat i onal char act er , t he most essent i al of t he f eat ur eswhi ch i t st i l l r et ai ns. I nt o t he Engl i sh nat i on, whi chhe t hus f ound al r eady f or med, hi s own dynast y andhi s own f ol l ower s wer e gr adual l y absor bed. Theconquer 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 s t i ni sm, af f l i ct i ng t ot 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 cht he l i f e has f l own, adher ence t o ol d ways whi ch havebecome l i t t l e bet t er t han s l oughs of despond, whatman i s t her e t hat can c l ai m t o be chi l d of t hi ne whosepul se does not qui cken, and hear t l eap up, at t het hought } Who has not at t he ver y bot t om of hi ssoul f ai t h i n t hy f ut ur e, i n t hy power t o s t and f ast i nt hi s t i me of r evol ut i ons, whi ch i s upon and bef or et hee and al l nat i ons, as t hou hast st ood t hr ough manya dar l : day of t he Lor d i n t he l ast t housand year s 1But 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 c i al change whi ch has t aken pl aceby 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 s t r i ct s i n al lpar 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, andwhose 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 edt i mes, f ound shel t er and saf et y ; and t hey wer e usedal i ke by Saxon and Dane f or ambush and st r onghol d.Chr i s t i an monks, escapi ng f r om t he sack of t hei rabbeys and cat hedr al s , and car r yi ng har dl y - savedr 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 byAl f r ed or hi s al der men, coul d of t en f oi l t hei r pur suer s,

Page11 of 174

and l i e hi dden i n t hei r shade, unt i l t he Saxon sol di er yhad gone home t o t hei r har vest , or t hei r sowi ng. Thesudden bl ows whi ch t he Danes seem al ways t o havebeen 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 off 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 ngSt r eet , whi ch r an f r om London t o Chest er , and t heI 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 andt owns. These seem t o have been numer ous andpopul ous; and i n t hem and t he monast er i es, bef or eAl f r ed' s t i me, t r ades had begun t o f l our i sh. We evenf i nd t hat t her e must have been sk i l f ul j ewel l er s andweaver s i n Wesscx ; wi t ness t he vessel s i n gol d and

S. L. VI I I . Q


si l ver - gi l t , and si l k dr esses and hangi ngs, whi ch hi sf at her and he car r i ed t o Rome as pr esent s t o t hePope, and Al f r ed' s j ewel , f ound i n 1693 i n Newt onPar k, near At hel ney, and now i n t he Ashmol eanMuseum. 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 hegnswer e wel l cul t i vat ed, and pr oduced cer eal s i n abun-dance, and or char ds and v i neyar ds seem t o have beenmuch 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 alcl ear i ngs of t he f or est , or on spot s pr epar ed by manf or hi s own uses ; i n val l eys bounded by gent l eaccl i v i t i es whi ch pour ed down f er t i l i z i ng st r eams ; oron pl ai ns whi ch her e and t her e r ose c l ot hed wi t hver dur e above sur r oundi ng mar shes; sl owl y, and st epby st ep, t he war l i ke col oni st s adopt ed t he habi t s anddevel oped t he char act er of peacef ul agr i cul t ur i s t s .The t owns whi ch had been spar ed i n t he f i r s t r ush ofwar gr adual l y became deser t ed and s l owl y cr umbl edt o t he soi l , beneat h whi ch t hei r r ui ns ar e yet f oundf r om t i me t o t i me, or upon whi ch shapel ess massesyet r emai n t o mar k t he si t es of a c i v i l i zat i on whosebases wer e not l ai d deep enough. Al l over Engl andt her e soon exi s t ed a net wor k of communi t i es, t hepr i nc i pl e of whose bei ng was separ at i on as r egar dedeach ot her , t he most i nt i mat e uni on as r espect ed t hei ndi v i 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 nt hei r own l i mi t s, and l i t t l e gi ven t o wander i ng, t heyr el i nqui shed i n a gr eat degr ee t he habi t s and f eel i ngswhi ch had uni t ed t hem as mi l i t ar y advent ur er s, and


t he spi r i t whi ch had achi eved t he conquest of anempi r e was now sat i sf i ed wi t h t he car e of mai nt ai n-i ng i nv i ol at e a Ht t l e peacef ul pl ot , suf f i c i ent f or t hecul 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 heSout h Saxons i n i mpr oved met hods of f i shi ng, andt hey wer e ener get i c hunt er s, so t hat t hei r t abl es wer e

Page12 of 174

wel l pr ov i ded wi t h l i ght er del i caci es, t hough as apeopl e t hey pr ef er r ed heavy and st r ong meat s anddr i nks. Thei r meal s wer e f r equent , at whi ch t heboi l ed and baked meat s wer e handed r ound t o t heguest s on spi t s , each hel pi ng hi msel f as he had ami nd. The heavy f eedi ng was f ol l owed by heavycar 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 ceand honey. Har per s and mi nst r el s pl ayed and sangwhi l e t he dr i nk i ng went on, pr ovi di ng such i nt el l ect ualf ood as our f at her s car ed t o t ake, and j uggl er s andj est er s wer e r eady, wi t h t hei r t umbl i ngs of one ki ndor 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 s t 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 edyear s bef or e. Then ever y guest was expect ed t o t akehi s t ur n, and i t woul d seem t o have been somewhat ofa di sgr ace f or a man not t o be abl e t o si ng, or r eci t esome ol d Teut oni c bal l ad t o musi c. Thus we f i ndi 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 comet o f ul l age he had never l ear nt any poet r y, " ancf

C 2


t her ef or e at ent er t ai nment s, when i t had beendeemed f or t he sake of mi r t h t hat al l i n t ur n shoul dsi ng t o t he har p, he woul d r i se f or shame f r om t het 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 s t i c of t he t i mest 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 houseof t he ent er t ai nment , he went t o a neat s t al l of whi chhe had char ge f or t he ni ght , and t her e set hi s l i mbst o r est , and f el l asl eep. Then a man st ood by hi m i na 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 cannotsi ng anyt hi ng, and t her ef or e I went out f r om t heent er t ai nment and came hi t her f or t hat I coul d notsi ng. ' But t he man sai d, ' Ho" wever , t hou canst si ngt o me. ' Caedmon asked t hen, ' What shal l I s i ng ? 'and t he man answer ed, ' Si ng me Cr eat i on. ' Whenhe had r ecei ved t hi s answer , t hen began he at oncet o si ng i n pr ai se of God t he Cr eat or ver ses andwor ds whi ch he had never hear d. Thi s was t hebegi nni ng: —

" ' Now l et us pr ai se

Tl i e keeper of heaven' s k i 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.

Page13 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 hA f ol d f or men. '

Then ar ose he f r om sl eep, and al l t hat he s l eepi nghad sung he hel d f ast i n hi s memor y, and soon addedt 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 whowas hi s al der man, and t ol d hi m of t he gi f t he hadgot 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 heral l t he wi se men, and bade hi m i n t hei r pr esence t el lhi s dr eam and s i ng t he song, t hat by t he doom oft hem al l i t mi ght be pr oved what i t was, and whencei t came. Then i t seemed t o al l , as i ndeed i t was, t hata 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, andbade hi m t r y t o t ur n t hat i nt o sweet song. And whenhe had r ecei ved i t he went home t o hi s house, andcomi ng agai n on t he mor r ow sang t hem what t heyhad r el at ed t o hi m i n t he sweet est voi ce. " SoCaedmon was t aken by Abbess Hi l da i nt o one of hermonast er i es, and t her e sang " t he out goi ng of I sr ael ' sf ol k f r om t he l and of t he Egypt i ans, and t he i ngoi ngof t he Land of Pr omi se, and of Chr i st ' s i ncar nat i onand suf f er i ngs and ascensi on, and many ot her spel l sof Hol y Wr i t . But he never coul d compose anyt hi ngof l easi ng or of i dl e song, but t hose onl y whi chbel onged t o r el i gi on, and became a pi ous t onguet o si ng. "

The cowher d get t i ng hi s i nspi r at i on, and car r y i 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 hesai nt l y abbess ; t he conf er ence of t he wi se men of t henei 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 hewor l d, and devot i on t o t he cul t i vat i on of hi s gi f t undert he shadow of t he Chur ch, f or m a pi ct ur e of one cor nerof Engl and, a t housand year s ago, whi ch may hel pus t o under st and t he condi t i ons of l i f e amongst ourancest or s i n sever al r espect s. For one t hi ng i t br i ngsus di r ect l y i nt o cont act wi t h t he Chur ch — i n t hi sni nt h cent ur y t he most obvi ous and i mpor t ant f act i nEngl and, as i n ever y ot her count r y of Chr i s t endom.Chur ches have been di vi ded i nt o t hose t hat audi bl ypr each and pr ophesy ; t hose t hat ar e st r uggl i ng t o

Page14 of 174

pr each and pr ophesy, but cannot yet ; and t hose t hatar 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 anexhaust i ve di vi si on at f i r s t s i ght , but yet t he Engl i shChur ch, at t he t i me of Al f r ed' s bi r t h, woul d scar cel yf 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 hehi st or y of t he Chur ch i n Engl and had been one ofext r aor di nar y act i v i t y and ear nest ness. She had notonl y compl et ed her wor k of conver si on wi t hi n t hei sl and, and est abl i shed cent r es f r om whi ch t he hi ghesteducat i on and c i v i l i zat i on t hen at t ai nabl e f l owed outon al l t he Teut oni c k i ngdoms, f r om t he Engl i shChannel t o t he Fr i t h of For t h, but had al so sentf or t h a number of such mi ss i 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 shmentof t hei r Mast er ' s k i ngdom on t he Cont i nent .


The sor t of wor k whi ch she was st i l l doi ng i nEngl and, i n t he ei ght h cent ur y, may be gat her edf r om t he aut hent i c account s of t he l i ves of such menas St . Cut hber t , who i s sai d t o have been Al f r ed' spat r on sai nt , whi ch may easi l y be separ at ed f r omt 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 ft o monast i c l i f e, and had r i sen t o be r ect or of hi smonast er y, when some gr eat epi demi c passed overt 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 nwhi ch t hey had been i nst r uct ed — hast ened andcr owded t o t he er r i ng cur es of i dol at r y , as i f t heycoul d war d of f t he chast i sement sent by God t hei rmaker 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 Godof t en went out of hi s monast er y, and somet i mes ona hor se, at ot her t i mes on hi s f eet , came t o t he pl acesl yi ng r ound, and pr eached and t aught t o t he er r i ngt he way of st eadf ast ness i n t he t r ut h. I t was at t hatt i me t he cust om wi t h f ol k of t he Engl i sh ki n t hatwhen a mass pr i est came i nt o a t own t hey shoul d al lcome t oget her t o hear God' s wor d, and woul d gl adl yhear t he t hi ngs t aught and eager l y f ol l ow by deedst he wor ds t hey coul d under st and. Now t he hol yman of God, Cut hber t , had so much ski l l andl ear ni ng, and so much l ove t o t he di ' ^ i ne l or e whi chhe had begun t o t each, and such a l i ght of angel i cl ooks shone f r om hi m, t hat none of t hose pr esent


dur st hi de t he secr et s of t he hear t f r om hi m, but al lopenl y conf essed t hei r deeds, and t hei r acknowl edgedsi ns bet t er ed wi t h t r ue r epent ance, as he bade. Hewas wont chi ef l y t o go t hr ough t hose pl aces and t opr each i n t hose haml et s whi ch wer e hi gh up onr ugged mount ai ns, f r i ght f ul t o ot her s t o vi si t , andwhose 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

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by pi ous l abour and gr eat zeal over came, and wentout 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 hwoul 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 heheavenl y l i f e bot h by t he wor d of hi s l ove and byt he wor k of hi s v i r t ue. "

Thus t eachi ng t he poor i n t he hi ghest mat t er s, andal so showi ng t hem wi t h hi s own hands how t o t i l land sow — " i t bei ng t he wi l l of t he Heavenl y Gi vert hat cr ops of gr ai n shoul d be up- gr owi ng" i n wast epl 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 achange had passed over t he Chur ch i n t he l ast f i f t yyear s. The Bedes and Al cui ns had di ed out , andl ef t no successor s. Lear ni ng was gr ossl y negl ect ed,and t he s l ot hf ul cl er gy had al l owed t hi ngs t o comet o such a pass t hat Al f r ed i n hi s yout h coul d f i ndno 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 yper f or med, and t he educat i on of t he peopl e was nol onger car ed f or at al l . Bi shop Eal st an, sol di er andst at esman, had succeeded t he Al cui ns ; and St .

J


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 notaudi bl y pr eachi ng and pr ophesyi ng, was ver y f arf r om havi ng gone dumb wi t h ol d age. She hadwi t hi n her t he seeds of s t r engt h and gr owt h, f orRome had not l ai d her hand heavi l y on t he west er ni sl and. The advi ce gi ven by Pope Gr egor y t oSt . August i ne, i n answer t o t he quest i ons of t hel at t er as t o t he cust oms whi ch shoul d be i nsi s t ed oni n t he new Chur ch, had been on t he whol e f ai t hf ul l yf ol l owed. " I t seems good and i s mor e agr eeabl e t ome, " wr i t es t he gr eat s t at esman- pope, " t hat what so-ever t hou hast f ound, ei t her i n t he Roman Chur ch, ori n Gaul , or i n any ot her , t hat was mor e pl easi ng t oAl 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 shnat i on, whi ch now yet i s new i n f ai t h. For t he t hi ngsar e not t o be l oved f or pl aces, but t he pl aces f or goodt hi ngs. Ther ef or e, what t hi ngs t hou choosest aspi 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 omi n t he mi nd of t he Engl i sh nat i on. " And agai n as t ouncanoni cal mar r i ages, whi ch ar e t o be r esi st ed but notpuni shed wi t h deni al of t he Communi on, " f or at t hi st i me t he Hol y Chur ch cor r ect s some t hi ngs t hr oughzeal , bear s wi t h some t hr ough mi l dness, over l ookssome 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 checkst he opposi ng ev i l . "

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

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Engl and had st i l l t he i nest i mabl e boon of ser v i cesi 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 andwas 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 vesf 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 awsof 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 eastas 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 housandsof men and women, t he v i c t i ms of t he wi l d war s oft hose wi l d t i mes, t he seat s of such l i t t l e l ear ni ng aswas t o be f ound i n t he l and, and t he chi ef pl aces i nwhi ch wor ki ng i n met al s , and weavi ng, and ot hermanual i ndust r i es coul d be l ear ned or successf ul l ypr act i sed.

Yet pagan t r adi t i ons st i l l t o some ext ent hel dt hei r own. For i nst ance, t he descent of t he r oyalr ace of Cer di c, f r om whi ch Al f r ed spr ung, f r om t heol d Teut on gods, i s as car ef ul l y t r aced by Bi shopAsser and ot her chr oni c l er s up t o " Woden, whowas t he son of Fr i t hewal de, who was t he son ofTr eal af , who was t he son of Fr i t hawul f , who wast he son of Get a, whom t he Pagans wor shi ppedas a god ; " as t he f ur t her st eps whi ch car r y t hel i ne on up t o " Sceaf t he son of Noah, who wasbor n i n t he Ar k. " Pagan r i t es and cer emoni es^

1


modi f i ed i n many ways, but cl ear l y t r aceabl e t o t hei ror i gi n, wer e common enough. St i l l t he t wo cent ur i esand upwar ds s i nce St . August i ne' s t i me had donet 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 v i ng f ai t h i n Chr i s t had ent er edi nt o, and was pr act i cal l y t he deepest and st r ongestf or ce i n, t he nat i onal l i f e. The condi t i ons of f ai t hand wor shi p amongst t he West Saxons, and gener al l yt he r el at i ons of hi s peopl e wi t h t he I nvi si bl e, i f notwhol l y sat i sf act or y, wer e yet of a hopef ul ki nd f ora 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 heout l ook had al so much of hopef ul ness i n i t , as wel l asdeep causes of anxi et y, f or Al f r ed, as he gr ew up i nhi 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 k i ngdom t he need was sor est , t her ewas 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 , wef i nd hi m movi ng backwar ds and f or war ds, wher evera r ai d of Br i t ons or Danes, t he consecr at i on of a

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chur ch, a. quar r el bet ween t wo of hi s al der men, t heassembl y of hi s Gr eat Counci l , mi ght cal l hi m. Thegover nment l i es i ndeed heavi l y on hi s shoul der s.He must be t he f i r s t man i n f i ght , i n counci l , i nwor shi p, i n t he chase. Tr ue he can do no i mper i alact , cannot make a l aw, i mpose a t ax, cal l out anar my, or make a gr ant of f ol k l 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 swi 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


t r i bes, had by t hi s t i me amongst t he West Saxonsl 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 hemeet i ngs of t he wi t an i n t he t i me of Et hel wul f . Thet hegn was, however , s i mpl y an owner of l and, and soa seat i n t he Gr eat Counci l was i n f act open t o anycheor l , even i t woul d seem t o any t hr al l who coul dear n or wi n as hi s own f i ve hi des of l and, a chur ch, aki 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 ectwi t h t he Engl i shman of t he ni nt h, as i t i s wi t h t heEngl i shman of t he ni net eent h cent ur y. At t hat t i met he gr eat er par t of t he k i ngdom was st i l l f ol k l and.bel ongi ng t o t he nat i on, and onl y al i enabl e by t heki ng and hi s wi t an. When, however , any por t i on oft he common i nher i t ance was so al i enat ed, t he gr ant eehel d of no f eudal l or d, not even of t he k i ng. As ar 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 andsi 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 ngof r oads and br i dges, t he Saxon f r eehol der hel dhi 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 orf ol kl and t hat a s t r ong t i nge of what woul d now becal 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 nwhi ch he i s bor n and l i ves, t he gui l d t o whi ch hehas bound hi msel f , t he mast er whom he ser ves, ar er esponsi bl e f or t he mi sdoi ngs of t he ci t i zen cr af t s -


man, ser vant . The wor l d- ol d quest i on, " Am I mybr ot her ' s keeper ?" was answer ed wi t h emphasi s i n t heaf 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 manshoul 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 hehost must br i ng hi m t o j ust i ce or answer f or i t . " Ont 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 gnershoul d wander f r om t he hi ghway, and t hen nei t hercal l out nor sound hor n, he i s t o be t aken f or a t hi efand k i l l ed, or r edeemed by f i ne, " f or i n t r ut h t her e ar e

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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 mustpr 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 k i ng by al der men.These gr eat of f i cer s pr es i ded over shi r es, or smal l erdi s t r i c t s , and hel d an aut hor i t y whi ch, under weakki ngs, amount ed al most t o i ndependence. Theof 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 k i nd, was r equi r ed of t hehol 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 s t 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 sdepar t ment .

Thi s code of I na, t he one i n f or ce i n Wessex, wasmai nl y a l i st of penal t i es f or mur der , assaul t s, r ob-


ber i es, i nj ur i es t o f or est s and cat t l e. I t cont ai nedal so pr ov i s i ons as t o t he t r eat ment of sl aves, whof 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 herpr i soner s of war , or men who had been sent encedt o ser v i t ude. The l aws wer e enf or ced by f i ne orcor por al puni shment , i mpr i sonment bei ng unknowni n t he ear l i er codes. Such as t hey wer e, t he l awsof t he Angl o- Saxons wer e at l east i n t hei r ownmot her t ongue, and coul d be under st ood by t hepeopl e. I n t he ki ng' s and al der men' s cour t s , aswel l as i n chur ch and at t he al t ar , t he Engl i shmanwas 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 v i 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 ofi 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 s i 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 s i de of t he At l ant i c have come t obe af t er t he l apse of a t housand year s. Mar r i ed womencoul d sue and be sued, and i nher i t and di spose ofpr oper t y of al l k i nds. Women coul d at t end t he shi r e-gemot , even t he wi t enagemot — coul d si t , t hat i s, onvest r i es, or i n par l i ament — and wer e pr ot ect ed byspeci al l aws i n mat t er s wher e t hei r weakness of bodywoul d ot her wi se pl ace t hem at a di sadvant age. Ourf at her s acknowl edged, and pr act i cal l y enf or ced, t heequal 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 c l ass, or t he t hr al l s , t he nat i onwas di v i ded br oadl y i nt o " eor l " and " cheor l , " al l of


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 yenough r ound cer t ai n f ami l i es i n r aces amongst whombi r t h i s r ever enced.

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Under such condi t i ons of l i f e t hen our West Saxonf at her s wer e l i v i ng i n t he mi ddl e of t he ni nt h cent ur yA st ol i d, somewhat heavy peopl e, ent i r el y di vor cedf r om t hei r ol d wander i ng pr opensi t i es, and set t l i ngdown, 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 az i ng up i nt o whi t e bat t l e heat , andof f i ght i ng wi t h unt am cabl e st ubbor nness, when t hei rchur ches, or homes, or f l ocks ar e t hr eat ened ; capabl eal so, not unf r equent l y, of r ar e her oi sm and sel fsacr i f i ce when a cal l t hey can under st and comes t ot hem. A nat i on capabl e of gr eat t hi ngs under t hehand 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 oyalbur gh of Want age, t he youngest chi l d of ^ t hehvul fand Osber ga, t he Ki ng of t he West Saxons hadal r eady est abl i shed hi s aut hor i t y as l or d over t heot her Teut oni c ki ngdoms i n Engl and. Unt i l t het 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 heramongst 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 aMer ci an, t hen by a Nor t humbr i an, and agai n by a ki ngof East Angl i an or Kent i sh men. But when, i n t heyear 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 lof Wessex el ect ed t he ^ t hel i ng Egber t k i ng of t heWest 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 heser vi ce of Char l emagne, and had l ear ned i n t hat schoolhow t o consol i dat e and gover n k i ngdoms. He r ei gnedt hi r t y- seven year s i n Engl and, and at hi s deat h al l t hel 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 rown k i ngs and gr eat counci l s, who gover ned wi t hi n t hei rown 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 ofAngl 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 s t k i ng ofal l Engl and f el t uneasy f or ebodi ngs as t o t he dest i nyof hi s ki ngdom when he was l eavi ng i t t o hi s son andsuccessor . Et hel wul f , f r om hi s yout h up, had been ofa s t r ongl y devot i onal t ur n, and was t oo much undert he i nf l uence of t he cl er gy t o pl ease hi s f at her . Hewoul d pr obabl y have f ol l owed hi s nat ur al bent , andent er ed hol j ' - or der s, but t hat Egber t had no ot her

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son. So as ear l y as 828 he had been made Ki ng ofKent , and soon af t er war ds mar r i ed Osber ga, t hedaught 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, notot her wi se t han cr edi t abl y , maki ng head agai nst t heDani sh pi r at es, who wer e al r eady appear i ng al mostyear l y on t he coast , i n a manner not unwor t hy of hi sgr eat f at her and st i l l gr eat er son. I ndeed, i f he wasswayed mor e t han hi s f at her l i ked by chur chmen, t hei 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 hatof t he l ear ned and non- combat ant Bi shop S wi t h i n ofWi nchest er , af t er war ds sai nt . Nor di d cour age orener gy f ai l hi m af t er he had succeeded t o Egber t ' st 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 heDanes, t he most i mpor t ant of whi ch was f ought i n851 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 . )


Acl ea ( t he oak pl ai n) , and whi ch i s s t i l l namedOckl ey. The v i l l age l i es a f ew mi l es sout h of Dor k -i ng, under Lei t h Hi l l , f r om whi ch pr obabl y Et hel -wul f ' s scout s mar ked t he l ong l i ne of Pagans, andsi gnal l ed t o t he Ki ng t hei r wher eabout s. They wer emar chi ng sout h, al ong t he ol d Roman r oad, t her emai ns of whi ch may st i l l be seen near t he bat t l e-f i el d, heavy wi t h t he spoi l s of London, i t i s sai d, par tof whi ch ci t y t hey had succeeded i n sacki ng. Et hel -wul f f el l on t hem f r om t he hi gher gr ound, andsever el y def eat ed t hem, r ecover i ng al l t he spoi l .Agai n, a l i t t l e l at er i n t he same year , at Sandwi chi n Kent , and af t er t hat Wessex was scar cel y t r oubl edwi t h t hem f or ei ght year s. So now Et hel wul f hadl ei sur e t o t ur n hi s t hought s t o a pi l gr i mage t o Rome,whi ch he had had i t i n hi s mi nd t o make ever s i ncehe had been on t he t hr one. But t wo year s passed andst i l l he was not r eady t o s t ar t , and i n 853 Buhr ed, ki ngof Mer c i a, appl i ed t o hi r n as hi s over - l or d f or hel pagai nst t he Wel sh. Then Et hel wul f mar ched hi msel fagai nst t he Wel sh wi t h Buhr ed, and pur sued t hei r k i ng,Roder i c Mawr , t o Angl esey, wher e he acknowl edgedEt hel wul f as hi s over - l or d, who r et ur ni ng i n t r i umpht o Wessex, t her e at t he r oyal bur gh of Chi ppenhamgave hi s daught er Et hel swi t ha t o Buhr ed as hi s wi f e.

Bei ng t hus hi nder ed hi msel f f r om st ar t i ng on hi spi l gr i mage, Et hel wul f i n t hat same year sent hi syoung son Al f r ed, of whom he was al r eady mor e f ondt han of hi s el der sons, t o Rome, wi t h an honour abl eescor t . Ther e t he boy of f i ve was r ecei ved by Leo I V.as hi s son by adopt i on, and, i t woul d seem, anoi nt ed

I

CHI LDHOOD. 35

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hi m k i ng of t he West Saxons. The f act i s r ecor dedbot h i n t he Saxon Chr oni c l e and i n t hat of Asser , whoupon such a poi nt woul d pr obabl y have t he Ki ng' sown aut hor i t y . Whet her a st ep so cont r ar y t o al lEngl i sh cust om was t aken by Et hel wul f ' s r equest , i nor der t o f ound a cl ai m t o t he successi on f or hi sf avour i t e son, i s unknown. I n any case, no suchspeci al c l ai m was ever ur ged by Al f r ed hi msel f

Leo was no unwor t hy spi r i t ual f at her t o such aboy. He was busy at t hi s t i me wi t h t he encl osur e oft he quar t er of t he Vat i can, t he r est or at i on of t he ol dwal l s and f or t i f i cat i ons, and t he ar mi ng and i nspi r i t i ngof t he Romans. Moor i sh pi r at es had been l at el y i nt he subur bs of t he Et er nal Ci t y , and had pr of anedt he t ombs of t he Apost l es St . Pet er and St . Paul .What wi t h pagan Danes i n t he nor t her n seas, andMoor s i n t he Medi t er r anean, t he coast s of Chr i st endomhad l i t t l e r est a t housand year s ago, and i t behovedeven t he Hol y Fat her t o l ook t o hi s f i ght i ng gearand appl i ances.

How l ong Al f r ed st ayed at Rome on t hi s occasi oni s uncer t ai n ; but i f t he opi ni on whi ch woul d seem t obe gai ni ng gr ound amongst s t udent s i s cor r ect — t hathe di d not r et ur n, but wai t ed t he ar r i val of Et hel -wul f t wo year s l at er — we must gi ve up t he wel l -known st or y of hi s ear ni ng t he book of Saxon poemsf r om hi s mot her .

Thi s i s r el at ed by Asser as havi ng happened whenhe was t wel ve year s ol d or mor e, whi ch i s c l ear l yi mpossi bl e, as hi s mot her Osber ga must have beendead bef or e 856, when hi s f at her mar r i ed Judi t h, as

D 2


we shal l hear pr esent l y . However , t he t al e i s t hust ol d by t he ol d chr oni c l er , t he per sonal f r i end ofAl f r ed : " On a cer t ai n day, hi s mot her was showi nghi m and hi s br ot her s a book of Saxon poet r y whi chshe hel d i n her hand, and sai d, ' Whi chever of youshal l f i r st l ear n t hi s book shal l have i t f or hi s own. 'Moved by t hese wor ds, or r at her by a di vi ne i nspi 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 spokebef or e hi s br ot her s, who t hough hi s seni or s i n year swer e not so i n gr ace, and answer ed, ' Wi l l your eal l y gi ve t hat book t o t he one of us who can f i r stunder st and and r epeat i t t o you. - * ' Upon whi ch hi smot her smi l ed and r epeat ed what she had sai d. SoAl f r ed t ook t he book f r om her hand and went t ohi s mast er t o r ead i t , and i n due t i me br ought i tagai 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 tj our ney t o Rome, coul d scar cel y have been ol denough t o get by hear t a book of poems, t houghhe mi ght have done so af t er hi s r et ur n, and bef or e hi ssecond j our ney i n hi s f at her ' s t r ai n.

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Thi s happened i n 855. Bef or e st ar t i ng, Et hel wul f ,by char t er si gned i n t he pr esence of t he bi shopsSwi t hi n and Eal st an, gave one- t ent h of hi s l andt hr oughout t he ki ngdom f or t he gl or y of God andhi s own et er nal sal vat i on ; or , as some chr oni cl er s say,r el eased one- t ent h of al l l ands f r om r oyal ser vi ce andt r i but e, and gave i t up t o God. I n t hat same yearwe may al so not e t hat an ar my of t he Pagans f i r s tsat over wi nt er i n t he I s l e of Sheppey.

A br i ght br ave 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 sensi t i venessand doci l e, l ov i ng, r ever ent soul , cr ossi ng Fr ance i n t het r ai n of a ki ng, and t hat k i ng hi s own f at her — ent er -t ai ned now at t he cour t of t he gr andson of Char l e-magne, now at t he cast l es of war r i or nobl es, now by -pr el at es whose r eput at i on as l ear ned men i s st i l l al i ve— t r aver s i ng t he gr eat Al ps, and t hr ough t he gar denof t he wor l d appr oachi ng once agai n t he Et er nal Ci t y ,r enewi ng t he memor i es of hi s chi l dhood amongst i t sr ui ns and shr i nes and pal aces, under t he sky ofI t al y — one cannot but f eel t hat such an epi sode i nhi s young l i f e must have been f ul l of f r ui t f or hi mupon whom wer e so soon t o r est t he bur den of a l i f eand deat h st r uggl e wi t h t he most t er r i bl e of f oes,and of r ai s i ng a sl ot hf ul and st ol i d nat i on out oft he dar kness and exhaust i on i n whi ch t hat s t r uggl ehad l ef t t hem ?

And what a year was t hi s of A. D. 855 f or a youngpr i nce wi t h open mi nd and qui ck eye t o spend i nRome ! Hi s godf at her , t he br ave ol d Pope Leo, onhi s deat hbed, dead pr obabl y bef or e t he ar r i val of t heSaxon pi l gr i ms ; t he el ect 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 consul t at i on wi t ht he Emper or Lot hai r e, swi f t l y f ol l owi ng — as swi f t l yf ol l owed by pr ot est of sai d Emper or , r i ot s, and t hef l i ght and speedy r et ur n i n t r i umph of Benedi ct t ot he chai r of St . Pet er ; t he i l l ness and deat h ofLot hai r e hi msel f , t he whi sper ed st or i es of t he st r uggl ef or hi s cor pse bet ween t he devi l s and t he st ar t l ed butundaunt ed monks of Pr ui m { c i r cui nst ant i bus cor pusej us t r aJ i i c t det r ai n vi dcr et ur , scd monachi s or a/ i t i bas


dcsmones sunt f at i gat i ) ; t he ent r ance of young I mpe-r at or Lewi s — al l t hese t hi ngs Al f r ed must haveseen and hear d wi t h hi s own eyes and ear s i n t hatevent f ul year . ^

Meant i me whet her Pope or Emper or , c l er i cal ori mper i al par t y, wer e upper most f or t he moment , wemay be sur e t hat t he Engl i shmen wer e r ecei ved andt r eat ed wi t h al l honour . For Et hc l wul f , besi des t hehomage and r ever ence of an ent husi ast i c pi l gr i m,br ought wi t h hi m cost l y gi f t s , a cr own f our pounds i nwei ght , t wo di shes, t wo f i gur es, al l of pur e gol d, ur nssi l ver - gi l t , st ol es and r obes of r i chest si l k i nt er woven

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wi t h gol d. Al l t hese, wi t h muni f i cent sums of out -l andi sh coi n, t hi s ki ng wi t h a name whi ch no Romancan wr i t e or speak, br i ngs f or t he hol y f at her and St .Pet er ' s shr i ne. Bef or e hi s depar t ur e, t oo, he hasr ebui l t and r e- endowed t he Saxon school s, andpr omi sed 300 mar ks year l y f r om hi s r oyal r evenues,100 each f or t he f i l l i ng of t he East er l amps on t heshr i nes of St . Pet er and St . Paul wi t h f i nest oi l , 100f or t he pr i vat e pur se of t hei r successor .

I t was not t i l l af t er East er i n t he next year t hatt he r oyal pi l gr i m t ook t hought of hi s peopl e i n t hef ar west , and t ur ned hi s f ace homewar ds, ar r i v i ngi gai n at t he cour t of Char l es t he Bal d i n t he ear l ysummer of 856. Thr ough t he l ong v i s t a of year s wecan st i l l get a br i ght gl eam or t wo of l i ght upon t hatcour t i n t hose same days.

^ Di d he al so see t he el evat i on or at t empt ed el evat i on of Pope Joant o t he papacy ? I t i s a papal l egend t l i at an Engl i shwoman by descentand Joan by name, was el ect ed on t he deat h of I . eo I V.

CHI LDHOOD. 39

Not wi t hst andi ng t he t r oubl es whi ch wer e pr essi ngon hi s ki ngdom f r om t he Danes and Nor t hmen onhi s coast s ; f r om t ur bul ent nephew Pepi n, wi t h i nf i delSar acens f or al l i es, on t he sout h ; f r om di sl oyal nobl esi n Aqui t ai ne i t sel f , — t he cour t of Char l es t he Bal dwas at once st at el y and magni f i cent , and t he cent r eof al l t hat coul d be cal l ed hi gh cul t ur e out si de ofRome. Char l es hi msel f , l i ke Et hel wul f , was under t hei nf l uence of pr i est s, who i n f act r ul ed f or hi m. Butt he head of t hem, Hi ncmar . Ar chbi shop of Rhei ms,was bef or e al l t hi ngs a st at esman and a Fr enchman,who woul d mai nt ai n j eal ousl y hi s sover ei gn' s aut hor i t yand t he l i ber t i es of t he nat i onal Chur ch ; coul d evenon occasi on r ebuke popes f or at t empt ed i nt er f er encewi t h t he t empor al af f ai r s of di st ant ki ngdoms, whi ch" k i ngs const i t ut ed by God per mi t bi shops t o r ul e i naccor dance wi t h t hei r decr ees. "

Bot h ki ng and mi ni s t er wer e gl ad t o gat herschol 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 hese mont hs,Al f r ed must have come t o know at any r at e Gr i m-bal d, and John Er i gena, t he f or mer ( i f not bot h) ofwhom, i n af t er year s, at hi s i nvi t at i on, came over t ol i ve wi t h hi m- and t each t he Engl i sh. John, an I r i sh-man by adopt i on, i f not by bi r t h, was i n f act at t hi st i me mast er of t he school of t he pal ace, or , as weshoul d say, t ut or t o t he r oyal f ami l y . I n t he school -r oom Al f r ed must have been wel comed by Judi t h,a beaut i f ul and c l ever gi r l of f our t een year s of ageor t her eabout s ; and Char l es, t he boy - k i ng of Aqui -t ai ne, scar cel y ol der t han hi msel f , l at el y sent home


f r om t hose par t s by t he nobl es. They t her e, we mayf ancy, r eadi ng and t al k i ng wi t h John t he I r i shmanon many subj ect s. He, f or hi s par t , f or t he moment ,

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at t he i nst i gat i on of Hi ncmar , i s engaged i n di scus -si on wi t h Abbot Pascasi us, who i s t r oubl i ng t he mi ndsof t he or t hodox wi t h specul at i ons as t o t he nat ur eand manner of t he pr esence of Chr i s t i n t he Hol yEuchar i st ; wi t h t he Ger man monk Got t eschal k, whoi s i nvi t i ng al l per sons t o consi der t he doct r i ne off r ee- wi l l wi t h a vi ew t o i t s f i nal set t l ement t o t hesat i s f act i on of t he good f ol k . John, t he I r i shman,i s r eady enough t o do Hi ncmar ' s bi ddi ng, does i nf act do bat t l e wi t h bot h Pascasi us and Got t eschal k,but seems l i kel y t o f i nal l y set t l e not hi ng of con-sequence i n r el at i on t o t hese cont r over si es, as he( not , we shoul d i magi ne, t o t he sat i s f act i on ofAr chbi shop Hi ncmar ) pr oves t o be a st r enuousmai nt ai ner of t he r i ght of pr i vat e j udgment , andhuman r eason, i nst ead of an or t hodox def ender oft he f ai t h.

Al f r ed must have been r oused unpl easant l y f r omhi s s t udi es i n t he school of t he pal ace, by t he newst hat hi s f at her i s about t o mar r y t he young Judi t h,hi s f el l ow- pupi l . Thi s i l l - st ar r ed bet r ot hal t akespl ace i n Jul y , and on Oct ober i st , at t he pal ace ofVer bcr i c, t he mar r i age bet ween t he Saxon ki ng ofsi x t y and upwar ds, and t he Fr ench gi r l of f our t een, i scel ebr at ed wi t h gr eat magni f i cence, Hi ncmar hi msel fof f i c i at i ng. The r i t ual used on t he occasi on i s sai d t obe st i l l ext ant . Judi t h was pl aced by her husband' ssi de and cr owned queen.

I

CHI LDHOOD. 41

The news of whi ch cr owni ng was l i ke t o havewr ought sor e t r oubl e i n Engl and, f or t he Gr eat Counci lof Wessex had made a l aw i n t he f i r st year of Ki ngEgber t ' s r ei gn, t hat no woman shoul d be cr ownedqueen of t he West Saxons. Thi s t hey di d becauseof Eadbur gha, t he wi f e of Beor ht r i c , t he l ast ki ng.She bei ng a woman of j eal ous and i mper i ous t emperhad mi xed poi son i n t he cup of War r , a young nobl e,her husband' s f r i end, of whi ch cup he di ed, and t heki ng havi ng par t aken of i t , di ed al so. And Eadbur ghaf l ed, f i r st t o Char l emagne, who pl aced her over aconvent . Expel l ed f r om t hence she wander ed awayt o I t al y, and di ed beggi ng her br ead i n t he st r eet s ofPavi a. The West Saxons t her ef or e set t l ed t hat t heywoul d have no mor e queens. So when Et hel bal d, t heel dest l i v i ng son of t he Ki ng, who had been r ul i ng i nEngl and i n hi s f at her ' s absence, hear d of t hi s cr own-i ng, he t ook counsel wi t h Eal st an t he bi shop, andEanwul f t he gr eat al der man of Somer set , and i t i scer t ai n t hat t hey and ot her nobl es met and boundt hemsel ve- s t oget her by a secr et oat h i n t he f or est otSel wood — t he gr eat wood, s i l va magna, or Coi t mawr ,as we l ear n f r om Asser , t he Br i t i sh cal l ed i t . Whet hert he obj ect of t hei r oat h was t he det hr onement ofKi ng Et hel wul f i s not known, but i t may wel l be t hati t was so, f or on hi s r et ur n he f ound hi s peopl e i n t wopar t s , t he one r eady t o f i ght f or hi m, and t he ot her f orhi s son.

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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 ev i l on hi s ki ngdom. Sol i e par t ed i t wi t h hi s son, he hi msel f r et ai ni ng Kent


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 ast o women, and t her e Judi t h r ei gned as queen wi t hher husband f or t wo year s.

Then t he ol d Ki ng di ed, and, t o t he hor r or andscandal of t he whol e r eal m, Judi t h hi s wi dow was i nt he same year mar r i ed t o Et hel bal d, " cont r ar y t oGod' 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 sEt 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. Abol d, bad man, f or whose speedy r emoval we may bet hankf ul , i n vi ew of t he t i mes whi ch ar e so sooncomi 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 s i nce Wi l l i am t heConquer or t r ace t hei r descent f r om t he Emper orChar l emagne. She l i ved i n Engl and f or yet t woyear s, t i l l t he deat h of Et hel bal d, i n 86c, when, sel l i ngal l her possessi ons her e, she went back t o her f at her ' scour t . Fr om t hence she el oped, i n def i ance of herf at her , but wi t h t he conni vance of her young br ot herLewi 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 gett hei r mar r i age sanct i oned, and make t hei r peace wi t hPope Ni chol as I . , t o whom t he enr aged Char l es haddenounced her and her l over . Judi t h, however , seemst o have had as l i t t l e t r oubl e wi t h hi s Hol i ness aswi 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 weent he Schel d, t he Sambr e, and t he sea, " t hat hemi ght be t he bul war k of t he Fr ank k i ngdom agai nstt 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 hef or t r ess of Br uges, and r ul i ng Fl ander s manf ul l y f ormany 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 youngst epmot her , must have shar ed t he f at e of t he r est of hi ssex at l ast , f or we f i nd hi m gi vi ng hi s daught er El f r i daas wi f e t o Bal dwi n, second Count of Fl ander s, t heel 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 eMat i l da came, t hr ough whom our sover ei gns t r ace t hei rdescent f r om Al f r ed t he Gr eat . And so t he f i gur eof 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

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hi st or y i n t hose ol d year s, t he woman who next t ohi s own mot her must have had most i nf l uence onour gr eat k i ng.

CHAPTER I V.

CNI HTHOOD.

" Wher ewi t hal shal l a young man c l 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 calt i me i n hi s l i f e f or ever y chi l d of Adam who evergr ew t o manhood on t he f ace of our pl anet ; and sof ar as human exper i ence has yet gone, t he answerof 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 ernumber or s t 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 humanl i f e wi l l become mor e beaut i f ul and mor e nobl e i nt he f ut ur e t han i n t he past . " Thi s wi l l be f oundenough " t o s t i mul at e t he f or ces of t he wi l l , andpur i f y t he soul f r om base passi on, " ur ge, wi t h a zealand abi l i t y of whi ch ever y Chr i st i an must desi r e t ospeak wi t h deep r espect , mor e t han one school ofour ni net eent h cent ur y mor al i st s.

" Wher ewi t hal shal l a young man cl eanse hi sway. ?" Even by r ul i ng hi msel f on t he f ai t h, " t hati t i s pr obabl e t hat God exi st s, and t hat deat h i s nott 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 hecl ubs, i f hel d di st i nct l y as a dogma and consi st ent l yact 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 dt 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 ewpsal mi st , 3, 000 year s ol d, or t her eabout s, has gonest r ai ght t o t he hear t of many gener at i ons, and I t akei t wi l l scar cel y car e t o make way f or any sol ut i onl 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 v i ng God t o r ul ehi msel f by — who can f al l back on t he st r engt h of Hi mwho has had t he v i c t 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 edt i me of our s car r y hi s manhood pur e and unsul l i edt 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 hepr 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 lf i nd t hem shr ewd wr est l er s. Wel l f or hi m i f heescape wi t h t he st ai n of t he f al l s whi ch he i s t oosur e t o get , and can r i se up st i l l a man, t houghbeat en and shamed, t o meet t he same f oes i n newshapes i n hi s l at er year s. New shapes, and ever mor e

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vi l e, as t he year s r un on. " Thr ee sor t s of men mysoul hat et h, " says t he son of Si r ach, " a poor mant hat i s pr oud, a r i ch man t hat i s a l i ar , and an ol dadul t er er t hat doat et h. "

We may bel i eve t he Gospel hi s t or y t o be a f abl e, butwho amongst us can deny t he f act , t hat each son of


man has t o go f or t h i nt o t he wi l der ness — f or us, " t hewi l der ness of t he wi de wor l d i n an at hei s t 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 hewhi 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 weenchi l dhood and manhood was cal l ed " cni ht hood, " t hewor d " cni ht " s i gni f yi ng bot h a yout h and a ser vant .The l i v i ng connexi on bet ween cni ht hood and ser vi cewas never mor e f ai t hf ul l y i l l ust r at ed t han by t heyoung Saxon pr i nce, t hough he had al r eady l ost t hef 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 hemost par t l ear nt t o r un, l eap, wr est l e, and hunt , andwer 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 hatnei 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 c l er i cal men,l i ke Bi shop Wi l f r i d i n t he pr ev i ous cent ur y, t o whomnobl es sent t hei r sons t o be t aught by hi m ; and whenf ul l - gr own, " t o be dedi cat ed t o God i f t hey shoul dchoose i t , or ot her wi se t o be pr esent ed t o t he k i ngi n ' f ul l ar mour . " I t i s not pr obabl e t hat Al f r ed everhad t he advant age of such t ui t i on, as he makes noment i on of i t hi msel f We do not know exact l yhow or when he l ear nt t o r ead or wr i t e, but t hest 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 shopAsser ' s l i f e, pr eci sel y enough, t hough i n t he l anguageand c l 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 ei n sympat hy. I t seems bet t er , however , t o l eave i t

CNI HTHOOD. 47

as i t s t ands. Any at t empt t o r emove what we shoul dcal l t he mi r acul ous el ement out of i t woul d pr obabl yt ake away al l l i f e wi t hout r ender i ng i t t he l east mor ecr 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 andyout h, hi s f or m appear ed mor e comel y t han t hose ofhi s br ot her s, and i n l ook, speech, and manner s he wasmor e gr acef ul t han t hey. He was al r eady t he dar l i ngof t he peopl e, who f el t t hat i n wi sdom and ot herqual i t i es he sur passed al l t he r oyal r ace. Al f r ed t henbei 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 hemeans of acqui r i ng, and especi al l y i n hi s own mot hert ongue, and t he poems and songs whi ch f or med t hechi 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 -

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t i ser of hunt i ng i n al l i t s br anches, and hunt ed w' i t hgr eat per sever ance and success. Ski l l and good f or t unei 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 menof t hi s s t 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 s t r engt henhi 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 andr ebel l i ous t hought s whi ch t he devi l , who i s everj eal ous of t he good, i s apt t o br eed i n t he mi ndsof t he young, wer e l i kel y t o have t he mast er yof hi m, he used of t en t o r i se at cock - cr ow i n t heear l y mor ni ngs, and r epai r i ng t o some chur ch, orhol y pl ace, t her e cast hi msel f bef or e God i n pr ayert 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 beganat such t i mes t o pr ay as he l ay pr ost r at e bef or et he al t ar , t hat God i n Hi s gr eat mer cy woul dst r engt hen hi s mi nd and wi l l by some si ckness, suchas woul d be of use t o hi m i n t he subdui ng of hi sbody, but woul d not show i t sel f out war dl y or r enderhi m power l ess or cont empt i bl e i n wor l dl y dut i es, orl ess abl e t o benef i t hi s peopl e. For Ki ng Al f r ed f r omhi s ear l i est year s hel d i n gr eat dr ead l epr osy, andbl i ndness, and ever y di sease whi ch woul d make aman 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 vourpr 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 ha ver y pai nf ul di sease, whi ch l ay upon l i i m wi t h l i t t l er 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 wasaf t er war ds hi s wi f e, El swi t ha, t he daught er ofEt hel r ed, t he Ear l of t he Gai ni i n Mer c i a, whomt he Engl i sh named Muci l , because he was gr eatof body and ol d i n wi sdom. Al f r ed, t hen at t hatt i me bei ng on a v i s i t t o Cor nwal l f or t he sake ofhunt i ng, t ur ned asi de f r om hi s spor t , as hi s cust omof t en was, t o pr ay i n a cer t ai n chapel i n whi ch wasbur i ed t he body of St . Guer i r . Ther e he ent r eat edGod t hat He woul d exchange t he si ckness wi t hwhi ch he had been up t o t hat t i me af f l i ct ed f orsome ot her di sease, whi ch shoul d i n l i ke manner notr 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 soonaf t er per cei ved wi t hi n hi msel f t hat he was madewhol 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 cwhi ch came gr eat number s of peopl e, and. t her ewas f east i ng whi ch l ast ed t hr ough t he ni ght as wel las by day. I n t he mi dst of whi ch r evel r y Al f r edwas at t acked by sudden and vi ol ent pai n, t he causeof whi ch nei t her t hey who wer e t hen pr esent , nor

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i ndeed any physi c i an i n af t er year s, coul d r i ght l yascer t ai n. At t he t i me, however , some bel i eved t hati t was t he mal i gnant enchant ment of some per sonamongst t he guest s, ot her s t hat i t was t he speci alspi t e of t he devi l , ot her s agai n t hat i t was t he ol dsi ckness come back on hi m, or a s t r ange k i 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 epai n, and, as he t hought , maki ng hi m usel ess f or ever ydut y. But how f ar t he Ki ng was f r om t hi nk i ng r i ght l yi n t hi s r espect , t hose who r ead of t he bur dens t hatwer 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 v i ew, as he supposed, t o pr eventst r i f e af t er hi s deat h, had i nduced t he West Saxonvvi t an t o agr ee t o t he pr ov i s i ons of hi s wi l l , and t osi gn i t by some of t hei r f or emost men. These pr o-vi s i ons wer e, t hat Et hel bal d hi s el dest sur vi v i ng son,who had r ebel l ed agai nst hi m, shoul d r emai n ki ng ofWessex, and, i f he shoul d di e chi l dl ess, shoul d besucceeded by hi s t wo youngest br ot her s, Et hel r ed andAl f r ed, i n successi on; whi l e Et hc l ber t , t he second son,

s. L. vni . E


shoul d be k i ng of Kent , Sussex, and Sur r ey, wi t h nor i ght of successi on t o t he gr eat er ki ngdom. Thus eveni n hi s deat h Et hel wul f was pr epar i ng t r oubl e f or hi scount r y , f or t he ki ngdom of Kent coul d not now havebeen separ at ed f r om Wessex wi t hout war , nor was i tl i kel y t hat Et hel ber t woul d accept hi s excl usi on f r omt he gr eat er successi on. Hi s est at es and ot her pr oper t yt he Ki ng di vi ded bet ween hi s chi l dr en, pr ov i di ng t hathi s l ands shoul d never l i e f al l ow, and t hat one poorman i n ever y t en, whet her nat i ve or f or ei gner , of t hosewho 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 edand Al f r ed l i ved i n Kent wi t h t hei r br ot her Et hel ber tunt i l 860, when Ki ng Et hel bal d di ed, and hi s wi dowJudi t h r et i r ed t o Fr ance. Upon t hi s event , had t heyounger br ot her s been sel f - seeker s, or had ei t her ott hem i nsi st ed on t he r i ght of successi on, gi ven t ot hem by t he wi l l of t hei r f at her , and sanct i oned byt he wi t an, t he sout h of Engl and woul d have seen war sof 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 musthave f al l en an easy pr ey t o t he pagan host s whi chwer e al r eady gat her i ng f or t he onsl aught , as happenedi n Nor t humbr i a and East Angl i a. But at t hi s j unct ur et 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 oascend t he t hr one of Wessex, and cont i nued t o l i vewi t h hi m. He di ed i n Z66, af t er a peacef ul andhonour abl e r ei gn of near l y si x year s, and t her e was

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CNI HTHOOD. 51

gr i ef t hr oughout t he l and, say t he chr oni cl er s, whenhe was bur i ed i n Sher bor ne mi nst er . Never t hel esswe cannot but not e t hat i n 864 he had al l owed apagan ar my t o est abl i sh t hemsel ves i n t he I sl e ofThanet wi t hout opposi t i on, and i n 860 had l ef t t hegl or y of avengi ng t he pl under of Wi nchest er byanot her r ov i 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 met hat t he scept r e of t he West Saxons shoul d passi nt o st r onger hands, f or wi t hi n a f ew mont hs of t heaccessi on of Et hc l r cd t he gr eat host under Hi nguarand Hubba l anded i n East Angl i a, whi ch was neveraf t er war ds cast out of t he r eal m, and f or so manyyear s t axed t he whol e st r engt h of t he sout her n k i ng-doms under t he l eadi ng of Engl and' s gr eat est k i ng.

Al f r ed was now Cr own Pr i nce, next i n successi ont o t he t hr one under t he wi l l of hi s f at her , whi ch hadbeen accept ed by t he wi t an. Under t he same wi l l hewas al so ent i t l ed i n possessi on t o hi s shar e of cer t ai nr oyal domai ns and t r easur es, whi ch wer e t her ebydevi sed t o Et hel bal d, Et hel r cd, and hi m, i n j oi ntt enancy. He had al r eady wai ved hi s r i ght t o anypr esent shar e of t hi s her i t age once, on t he accessi onof Et hc l ber t t o t he West Saxon ki ngdom. Now t hatt he br ot her near est t o hi msel f i n age has succeededhe appl i es f or a par t i t i on, and i s r ef used. The whol eof t hese t r ansact i ons ar e so char act er i st i c of t het i mes and t he man, t hat we must pause yet f or a f ewmoment s over t hem. Wc have hi s own car ef ul , andt r anspar ent l y t r ut hf ul , account of t hem, i n t he r eci t al st o hi s wi l l , whi ch r un as f ol l ow.

E 2


" I , Al f r ed, by God' s gr ace ki ng, and wi t h t hecounsel of Et hel r ed Ar chbi shop, and al l t he wi t an oft he West Saxons wi t ness, have consi der ed about mysoul ' s heal t h, and about my i nher i t ance, t hat Godand my el der s gave me, and about t hat i nher i t ancewhi ch Ki ng Et hel wul f my f at her bequeat hed t o ust hr ee br ot her s, Et hel bal d, Et hel r ed, and me, andwhi ch of us soever wer e l ongest l i ver t hat he shoul dt ake i t al l . But when i t came t o pass t hat Et hel bal ddi ed, Et hel r ed and I , wi t h t he wi t ness of al l t heWest Saxon wi t an, our par t di d gi ve i n t r ust t oEt hel ber t t he k i ng our br ot her , on t he condi t i ont hat he shoul d del i ver i t back t o us as ent i r e as i tt hen was when we di d make i t over t o hi m ; as heaf t er war ds di d ( on hi s deat h) bot h t hat whi ch he t ookby our j oi nt gi f t and t hat whi ch he hi msel f hadacqui 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 wot he i nher i t ance mi ght di v i de, and he woul d gi ve t ome my shar e. Then sai d he t o me t hat he mi ght noteasi l y di vi de, f or t hat he had at many di f f er ent t i mes

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f or mer l y t aken possessi on. And he sai d, bot h of ourj oi nt pr oper t y and what he had acqui r ed, t hat af t erhi s days he woul d gi ve i t t o no man r at her t han t ome, 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 nt he t r ai ni ng of hi s i mmor t al soul , and wr est l i ngswi t h pr i nci pal i t i es and power s, t ake mor e accountnow 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 byt 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 hatt hey woul d need some suppor t t o be gi ven by us outof t hese est at es as t o us had been gi ven. Then wer ewe i n counci l at Swi nbeor g, when we t wo decl ar ed i nt 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 ot he ot her ' s chi l dr en t hose l ands whi ch we our sel veshad acqui r ed, and t hose t hat Et hel wul f t he ki ng gavet o us t wo whi l e Et hel bal d was l i v i ng, except t hosewhi ch he gave t o us t hr ee br ot her s. And we gaveeach t o ot her secur i t y t hat t he l ongest l i ver of usshoul d t ake l and and t r easur e and al l t he possessi onsof t he ot her , except t hat par t whi ch ei t her of us t ohi 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 ngEt hel r ed i n 871. Ther e i s t he agr eement i ndeedbut what does i t mean ? Al f r ed wi l l not hi msel fdeci de i t . Her e i s t he Gr eat Counci l of t he WestSaxons. Let t hem say whet her or no he can dealwi t h t hi s par t of t he r oyal i nher i t ance, or t o whom i tof r i ght bel ongs. " So when t he Ki ng di ed, " Al f r edgoes on, " no man br ought t o me t i t l e- deed, orevi dence t hat i t was t o be ot her wi se t han as we hadso agr eed bef or e wi t nesses, yet hear d I of i nher i t ancesui t s . Wher ef or e br ought I Et hel wul f t he ki ng' swi l l bef or e our counci l at Langadene, and t hey r eadi t bef or e al l t he West Saxon wi t an. And af t er i t wasr ead, t hen pr ayed I t hem al l f or my l ove — and gavet o t hem my t r ot h t hat I never woul d bear i l l - wi l l t onone of t hem t hat shoul d speak r i ght — t hat none of


t hem woul d negl ect , f or my l ove nor f or my f ear , t odecl ar e t he common r i ght , l est any man shoul d sayt hat I had excl uded my ki nsf ol k whet her ol d oryoung. And t hey t hen al l f or r i ght pr onounced, anddecl ar ed t hat t hey coul d concei ve no mor e r i ght f ult 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 houmayest bequeat h and gi ve i t , ei t her t o a ki nsman, ora st r anger as may seem best t o t hee. ' "

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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 edhad t r i umphed over al l hi s enemi es, and was deepal 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 s t r i but es t hi s par t of t he r oyali 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' scni 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 ngwi l l i ngl y wi t h heal t h and bodi l y comf or t t o wi n t hatvi c t or y, si nce i t can be won by hi m at no l owerpr i ce. At t he deat h of Et hel bal d, and agai n ofEt hel ber t , af t er he had gr own t o manhood and musthave been consci ous of hi s power t o manage l ands andmen, we now f i nd hi m st andi ng asi de at once, andal 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 noexampl e i n t he hi ghest pl aces of t he r eal m of st r i f eabout v i s i bl e t hi ngs, wi l l make any sacr i f i ce of l andsor goods so t hat he mai nt ai n peace and br ot her l yl 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 mani nt o t he wi l der ness wi t hout much success. Thewhi 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 andmay now l ook hopef ul l y f or t r ue k i ngshi p and l eadi ngf r om hi m who has al r eady l ear ned t o r ul e l i ke a ki ngi 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 heseyear s of hi s cni ht hood Al f r ed has gat her ed t oget hert he ser vi ces of t he hour s { cel ebr at i ones Ji or ar i mi ) , wi t hmany of t he Psal ms — whet her wr i t t en by hi msel f ornot we cannot t el l , pr obabl y not — but f or mi ng a smal lmanual , or handbook, whi ch he al ways car r i es i n hi sbosom, and whi ch wi l l be f ound hel pf ul t o hi m i nmany days of sor e t r i al .

Wi t h such gar ni t ur e t hen of one k i nd or anot her ,gat her ed t oget her i n t hese ear l y year s, t he youngcr own pr i nce st ands l oyal l y by t he si de of t he youngki ng hi s br ot her , l ooki ng f r om t hei r west er n homeover an Engl and al r eady gr owi ng dar k under t heshadow 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 EastAngl i an coast s and ki ngdoms, or shal l we t oo f eel i t sr age ? These must have been anxi ous t hought s f ort he young pr i nce, quest i oni ngs t o whi ch t he answerwas becomi ng mont h by mont h pl ai ner and c l ear erat t he t i me of hi s mar r i age. Wi t hi n some si xweeks of t hat cer emony he was al r eady i n ar ms i nMer 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 k i ng, and ni ne pi t ched bat t l es had been f ought i nhi s own k i ngdom of Wessex under hi s l eader shi p.

CHAPTER V.

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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^esiand of gl oomi ness, a day of c l ouds and of t hi ck dar kness, as t hemor ni ng spr ead 7i f on t he mount ai ns: a gr eat peopl e and a st r ong; t her ehat 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 ot he year s of i na7i y gener at i ons"

A STRANGE at mospher e of wi l d l egend sur r oundst he gr oup of t r i bes who, f r om t he shor es of t heBal t i c and t he gr eat Scandi navi an peni nsul a, aswel l as f r om Denmar k, i n t hi s ni nt h cent ur y f el lupon al l coast s of Engl and ; at f i r st swoopi ngdown i n smal l mar audi ng bands i n t he summermont hs, pl under i ng t owns, v i l l ages, and homest eads,and di sappear i ng bef or e t he wi nt er st or ms ; t hencomi ng i n ar mi es headed by ki ngs and j ar l s, set t l i ngi n l ar ge di st r i ct s of t he nor t h and east , and f r omt hence car r yi ng f i r e and swor d t hr ough t he hear t ofMer ci a and Wessex. They ar e of t he same st ockwi t h t he West Saxons and Jut es t hemsel ves, andspeak a k i ndr ed l anguage. Thei r k i ngs al so cl ai mdescent f r om Woden. The descr i pt i on of Taci t usappl 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 c t i ng pr eci sel y t hatwhi ch t hei r descendant s ar c now t o endur e, anddr i vi ng t he ol d Br i t i sh s t ock back mi l e by mi l e f r omt 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 egendhad f ought t he Saxons i n t he ver y di s t r i c t s whi cha yet gr eat er Engl i sh k i ng i s now t o hol d agai nstas 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 k i ngs andchi 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 k i ngl y of f i ce. Af f ai r s of momentar e deci ded by gener al assembl i es, i n whi ch t heki ngs speak f i r st , and t he r est i n t ur n as t hey ar eemi nent f or val our , bi r t h, and under st andi ng. Di s -appr oval i s s i gni f i ed by a mur mur , appr oval by t hecl ashi ng of spear s, f or t hey come t o t hei r assembl i esar med. The ki ng sur r ounds hi msel f by a br aveand numer ous band of compani ons i n ar ms, hi sgl or y i n peace and saf et y i n war . I t i s di shonour -abl e t o t he k i ng not t o be f i r s t i n f i ght , i t i si nf amy f or hi s i nt i mat e comr ades and f ol l ower s t osur vi ve hi m i n bat t l e. But t he power of t he ki ng i snot unl i mi t ed ; he set s an exampl e of val our r at hert han commands. The chi ef s have di f f er ent r anksaccor di ng t o hi s j udgment , and amongst hi s f ol l ower st her e i s t he keenest emul at i on who shal l st and f or e-

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most i n hi s f avour . They woul d r at her ser ve f orwounds t han pl ough and wai t t he har vest , f or i t seemst o t hem t he par t of a dast ar d t o ear n by t he sweatof t he br ow what may be gai ned by t he gl or y of t he


swor d. Thei r women, t oo, ar e hel d i n t he same hi ghest i mat i on as t hose of t he Saxons, and f or t he mostpar t accompany t hem i n t hei r wander i ngs, and shar et 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 mustadd 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 ofpai 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 hegover nor of al l k i 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 , soonchangi ng i nt o t he god of bat t l es, " who gi vet h v i c t or y,who r eani mat es war r i or s, who namet h t hose who ar et o be s l ai n. " Thi s Woden had been an i nspi r edt eacher , as wel l as a conquer or , gi vi ng r unes t o t hesewi l d Nor t hmen, a Scandi navi an al phabet , and songsof bat t l e. A t eacher as wel l as a sol di er , he hadl ed t hem f r om t he shor es of t he Bl ack Sea ( sot hei r t r adi t i ons t ol d) t o t he f i or ds of Nor way, t hef ar shor es of I cel and. Depar t ed f r om amongst hi speopl e, he has dr awn t hei r hear t s af t er hi m, andl 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 ofOdi n, he dwel l s ; i n t hat hal l of her oes, i nt o whi cht he " Val kyr s, " or " chooser s of t he sl ai n, " shal l l eadt he br ave, even i nt o t he pr esence of Odi n, t her et o f east wi t h hi m. Thi s r ewar d f or t he br ave whodi 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, whencehe shal l f al l t o Ni f hl ei m, obl i v i on, ext i nct i on, whi chi 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 c l ust er ot hergods. 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 het hunder god, wi t h t er r i bl e smi t i ng hammer and awf ulbr ows, engaged mai nl y i n expedi t i ons i nt o Jot unl and, a chaot i c wor l d, t he r esi dence of t he gi ant s ordevi l s, " f r ost , " " f i r e, " " t empest , " and t he l i ke. Thor ' sat 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 ofunwi el dy st r engt h, si mpl i c i 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 k i 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 v i s i on ofsupr eme st r uggl e of t he gods and Jot uns, a day of

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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 nk i ng downof 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 chshal l t her e not i n due cour se i ssue a new heavenand new ear t h, i n whi ch a hi gher god and supr emej 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 ustof wi l d advent ur e, pr essed f r om behi nd by t eemi ngt r i bes ever pushi ng west war d, l ur ed on i n f r ont by t heset t l ed coast s of Engl and and Fr ance, r i ch al r eady i nf l ocks and her ds, i n vi l l age, t own, and abbey, eachst andi ng i n t he mi dst of f er t i l e and wel l - t i l l ed di s t r i c t 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 heambush or r et r eat of i nvader s, t he sea- ki ngs and t hei rf ol l ower s swept out year af t er year f r om t he baysof Denmar k and t he f i or ds of Nor way, cr ossi ng t henar 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 s l ay, and r evel i n " t he pl ay of swor ds,t he c l ash of spear and buckl er , " " when t he har d i r onsi ngs upon t he hi gh hel met s. " I n t he deat h- hymnof Regner Lodbr og ar e some t hi r t y s t anzas — each onebegi nni ng, " We f ought wi t h swor ds, " and descr i bi ngt he j oy of some par t i cul ar bat t l e — whi ch t r ace t hecar eer of t he ol d Nor seman f r om t he di s t 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 s l 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 hswor ds. Thi s f i l l s me st i l l wi t h j oy, because I knowa 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 oft he skul l s of our f oes. K br ave man shr i nks not atdeat h ; I shal l ut t er no r epi ni ng wor ds as I appr oacht he pal ace of t he gods. . . . The f at es ar e come f orme. Odi n hat h sent t hem f r om t he habi t at i on of t hegods. I shal l quaf f f ul l gobl et s among t he gods. Thehour s of my l i f e ar e number ed ; I di e l aughi ng. " Suchar e t he l ast wor ds whi ch t he Scal ds put i nt o t hemout h of t he gr i m ol d sea- k i ng, dyi ng i n t or menti n t he ser pent - t ower of El l a, t o whom t r adi t i on poi nt sas t he f at her of t he t wo l eader s of t he f i r st gr eatDani sh i nvasi on of Engl and, t he t er r i bl e wave whi chbr 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 andchar act er i s t i c Ber s i r ki r hymn ; and i f Lodbr og wer enot t he f at her of Hi nguar and Hubba, t hey woul dseem, 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 s t wi nt er ed i n Eng-l and, i n t he I s l e of Thanet , and agai n i n 855 anot herband wi nt er ed i n t he I s l e of Sheppcy ; but t hese wer esmal 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

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of Z66 was of a f ar di f f er ent char act er . A gr eat ar myof t he Pagans, t he Saxon Chr oni cl e r ecor ds, now cameover and t ook up wi nt er quar t er s among t he EastAngl es, who woul d seem at f i r st t o have made someki nd of t r uce wi t h t hem, and even t o have f ur ni shedt hem wi t h pr ovi si ons and hor ses. At any r at e, f ort he moment t he Pagans made no at t ack on EastAngl i a, but ear l y i n 867 cr ossed t he Humber andswooped down upon Yor k ci t y , whi ch t hey sur pr i sedand t ook.

Ther e was c i v i l war al r eady i n Nor t humbr i a at t hi st i me bet ween Osber t t he k i ng, and El l a, a man not ofr oyal bl ood, whom t he Nor t humbr i ans had pl aced ont he t hr one. Osber t , i t i s sai d, had out r aged t he wi f eof one of hi s nobl es, Br uer n Br ocar d by name, whor ecei ved hi m hospi t abl y whi l e her husband was awayat t he coast on t he k i ng' s busi ness, wat chi ng f orpi r at es. What ever t he cause, t he ci vi l f eud r aged sof i er cel y t hat t he Danes wer e i n t he ver y hear t of t heki ngdom bef or e a bl ow was st r uck i n i t s def ence. Nowat l ast , ur ged by t he Nor t humbr i an nobl es. Osber t


and El l a made peace, j oi ned t hei r f or ces, and wi t hoi i tdel ay mar ched on Yor k. The pagan ar my f el l backbef or e t hem even t o t he c i t y wal l s, whi ch t he Chr i st i ansat 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 hewal l s , endi ng i n t he ut t er def eat of t he Chr i s t i ans andt 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 hear my, whose descendant s ar e pr obabl y st i l l l i v i ng i nand r ound t he c i t y of Yor k. At l east t hei r mar k i st her e t o t hi s day i n t he st r eet of Goodr amgat e, cal l edaf t er Gudr um or Goodr um, whom Hi nguar and Hubbal ef t as t hei r deput y t o hol d down t he c i t y and di s t r i c t .

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 ngf 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 c l 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, goest o hi s r est i n peace, l eavi ng t he young k i ng andpr 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 nowi ser counsel l or or br aver sol di er t o s t and by t hem i nt 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 wedEl swi t ha, t he daught er of Et hel r ed Muci l , as wehave al r eady hear d. Scar cel y can he have r eachedWessex 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 heki ng and hi m t o t he hel p of t hei r br ot her - i n- l aw,Buhr ed, k i ng of Mer ci a. The pagan ar my i s uponhi 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

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t hei r wont , t hey have st r uck at once at a v i t al par tof anot her Saxon ki ngdom, and st or med Not t i nghamt own, whi ch t hey now hol d. Et hel r ed and Al f r edwer e soon bef or e Not t i ngham wi t h a f or ce dr awnf r om al l par t s of Wessex, eager f or bat t l e. But t hewi l y pagan hol ds hi m f ast i n cast l e and t own, andt he wal l s ar e hi gh and st r ong. The ki ng and pr i ncewat ch i n vai n out si de. Soon t hei r t r oops, hast i l ymust er ed, must get back f or har vest . They mar chsout h r el uct ant l y , not , however , bef or e a peace i smade 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 heyl 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 oaf f l i ct ed Engl and — a gr eat f ami ne and mor t al i t yamongst men, and a pest among cat t l e. Such t i mescan al l ow smal l l ei sur e t o a young pr i nce who car r i esi n hi s bosom t hat handbook i n whi ch t he Psal ms andser vi ces of t he hour s ar e wr i t t en, and who has r esol vedf or hi s par t t o be a t r ue shepher d of hi s peopl e, aki 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 ofgl or y, f or Chr i st i an Engl and. I t wi t nesses t he ut t erdest r uct i on of anot her Saxon ki ngdom, adds onewor 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 whohave 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.


I n t he l at e summer , one di v i s i on of t he pagan ar myl eavi ng Yor k t ake t o t hei r shi ps, and, cr ossi ng t heHumber , f al l on Li ndesey ( now Li ncol nshi r e) , andpl under and bur n t he monast er y of Bar deney. Theyoung Al gar , al der man of t he shi r e, t he f r i end ofEt hel r ed and Al f r ed, spr i ngs t o ar ms, and cal l s outt he br ave men of t he Fens. They f l ock t o hi s s t andar d,t he r i ch cl oi st er s of t he di s t r i c t sendi ng t hei r f ul lquot a of f i ght i ng men under l ay br ot her Tol y, ofCr 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 Pagansat Kest even, and i n t hat f i r s t f i ght t hr ee ki ngs wer esl ai n, and Al gar pur sued t he Pagans t o t he ent r anceof t hei r camp.

But hel p f or t he vanqui shed was at hand. Theot her di v i s i on of t he Pagans, i n whi ch wer e now f i veki ngs — Gut hr um, Bagsac, Oskyt al , Hal f dene, andAmund — 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 oughMer ci a, ar r i ve on t he f i el d. Al gar , Tol y, and t hei rcomr ades, now f ear f ul l y over mat ched, r ecei ve t heHol y Sacr ament i n t he ear l y mor ni ng, and st andt her e t o Avi n or di e. Al gar commands t he cent r e oft he Chr i s t 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 cannotspar e t he names of one of t hem) t he l ef t . The Pagans,havi ng bur i ed t hei r s l ai n k i ngs, hur l t hemsel ves on t heChr i s t i an host , and t hr ough t he l ong day Al gar andhi s men st and t oget her and beat back wave af t er waveof t he sea- ki ngs' onsl aught . At l a. st t he Chr i st i ans,

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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 Paganst ur n, s t 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 , anda handf ul of yout hs onl y escape of al l t he Chr i s t i anhost t o car r y t he f ear f ul news t o t he monks ofCr 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 canbe 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 ngdonand 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 hehomes whi ch had been t hei r s f or gener at i ons. Thepagan host , l eavi ng t he desol at e l and a wi l der nessbehi 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, k i ng of t he EastAngl i ans, a j ust and r i ght eous r ul er , ver y dear t o hi speopl e — no war r i or , i t woul d seem, hi t her t o, but onewho can at l east do a br ave l eader ' s par t — he nowar ms and f i ght s f i er cel y wi t h t he Pagans, and i s s l ai nby t hem, wi t h t he gr eat er par t of hi s f ol l ower s, neart he v i l l age of Hoxne. Tr adi t i on says t hat t he ki ngwas t aken al i ve, and, r ef us i 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 ngdr eadf ul t or t ur es. Hi s head was st r uck of f , and t hecor pse l ef t f or wol f or eagl e, whi l e hi s mur der er sf 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 hatt he f ew peopl e who sur v i ved f l ed t o t he f or est s f orshel t er .

Never t hel ess, a monk or t wo f r om Cr oyl and, and

S. L. vi Jl . Y'


ot her f ai t hf ul men of t he east er n count i es, managed t ost eal out of t hei r hi di ng- pl aces and t ake up t he s l ai nbody 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 s t or m of mel odi ous, ador i ngadmi 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 heawf 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 atl engt h t he ver y Pope and car di nal s at Rome wer ef or ced t o hear of i t ; and t hey summi ng up as cor r ect l yas 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 c tof manki nd decl ar ed : t hat he had i n ver y f act l ed aher o' s l i f e i n t hi s wor l d, and bei ng now gone, wasgone, as t hey concei ved, t o God above, and r eapi nghi s r ewar d t her e. " So Ki ng Edmund was canoni zed,

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and hi s body ent ombed i n St . Edmund' s shr i ne, wher ea spl endi d abbey i n due t i me r ose over i t , some poorf r agment s of whi ch may st i l l be seen i n t he t own ofBur y St . Edmunds.

Al as f or East Angl i a ! t her e was no one t o t akeEdmund' s pl ace, t o pl ay t he par t f or t he east er ncount i es whi ch Al f r ed pl ayed f or Wessex a f ew year sl at er . Edwol d, t he br ot her of Edmund, on whom t hedut y l ay, " seei ng t hat a har d l ot had f al l en on hi msel fand hi s br ot her , r et i r ed t o t he monast er y of Car nel i ai n Dor set shi r e, near a cl ear wel l whi ch St . August i nehad f or mer l y br ought out of t he ear t h by pr ayer t obapt 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 nedf or year s a heat hen k i ngdom, wi t h Gut hr um, t he mostpower f ul and l at est comer of t he pagan l eader s, f orki ng. I n t he dr ead pause of t he f ew wi nt er mont hs of870- 71 we may f ancy t he br ave young k i ng of t he WestSaxons and t he Et hel i ng Al f r ed war ni ng al der manand 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 ewas not hi ng t o del ay t he i nvader s f or an hour bet weenThet f or d and t he Thames. Thei r shi ps woul d be i nt he r i ver , and t hei r hor semen on t he nor t h bank, i n t heear l y spr i ng. Then t he l ast i ssue woul d have t o bet r i ed bet ween Chr i s t i an and Pagan, Saxon and Dane,f or s t akes of whi ch not even Al f r ed coul d est i mat et 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 s l r ci i i ^ t h, who t cachet h my hands t o war , and myf i nger s t o f i ght . ' ' '

Chr i s t mas 870- 71 must have been a t i me of i nt enseanxi 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 eadya pr ompt and ener get i c l eader i n hi s mar ch t oNot 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 s i de t hat bel eaguer edt own i n t he aut umn of 869, he had never seen bl owsst r uck i n ear nest ; had never l ed and r al l i ed menunder t he t r emendous onset of t he Ber si r k i r . Al f r ed,t hough al r eady t he dar l i ng of t he peopl e, had evenl ess exper i ence t han Et hel r ed, who was at l east f i veyear s ol der . He was st i l l a ver y young man, sk i l l edi n t he chase, and i nur ed t o danger and har dshi p, sof ar as hunt i ng and manl y exer ci ses of al l k i nds coul dmake hi m so, but as much a novi ce i n act ual bat t l e asDavi d when he st ood bef or e Saul , r uddy and of a f ai rcompl exi on, but r eady i n t he st r engt h of hi s God, whohad del i ver ed hi m f r om t he paw of t he l i on and t he

Page40 of 174

paw of t he bear , t o go up wi t h hi s sl i ng and st one andf i ght wi t h t he Ber s i 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 meeti n supr eme l i f e- and- dcat h conf l i c t such k i ngs asGut hr um and Bagsac, suchj ar l s as Hi nguar and Si dr oc," t he anci ent one of ev i 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 hesame case as t hei r young l eader s. The l ast bat t l e ofany mar k i n Wessex had been f ought el even year sback, i n 860, when a pagan host " came up f r om t hesea" 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 rr et ur n t o t hei r shi ps l aden wi t h spoi l , and af t er a har df i ght ut t er l y r out ed t hem, r escued al l t he spoi l , andhad 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 cwoul d seem t o have di ed s i 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 ofany ot her known l eader except Et hel wul f , i n al l t hatst or m of bat t l e whi ch now sweeps down on t he r i chki 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 gheddown wi t h weal t h and i t s handmai d v i ces on t he onehand, and exhi l ar at ed by some t i ny st eps i t hasmanaged 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 bebent on i gnor i ng i t s Cr eat or and God al t oget her — orat l east of ut t er l y denyi ng t hat He has r eveal ed, ori s r eveal i ng Hi msel f , unl ess i t be t hr ough t he l aws ofNat 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 hemen who have t o do t he r oughest and har dest wor k


f or t he wor l d. I f ear t hat some sect i ons of Chr i st i anshave been t oo r eady t o al l ow t hi s demur r er , and f al lback on t he Quaker doct r i nes ; admi t t i ng t her ebyt hat such " Gospel of t he k i ngdom of heaven " as t heycan 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 beart 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 sear 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 ormaket h a l i e, and t her ef or e, al as ! t oo of t en agai nsthi s br ot her man — woul d, of cour se, have t o gi ve upChr i s t i ani t y i f t hi s wer e t r ue ; nay, i f t hey di d notbel i eve t hat pr ec i sel y t he cont r ar y of t hi s i s t r ue, t hatChr i s t can cal l t hem as pl ai nl y i n t he dr um beat i ngt o bat t l e, as i n t he bel l cal l i ng t o pr ayer , can and wi l lbe as sur el y wi t h t hem i n t he shock of angr y host s a. gi 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 dask r eader s f ai r l y and cal ml y t o consi der whet her al lt he gr eat est f i ght i ng t hat has been done i n t he wor l d

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has not been done by men who bel i eved, and showedby t hei r l i ves t hat t hey bel i eved, t hey had a di r ectcal l f r om God t o do i t , and t hat He was pr esent wi t ht hem i n t hei r wor k. And f ur t her ( as I cheer f ul l y ownt hat . t hi s t est woul d t el l as much i n f avour of Mahometas 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 notpr oved st r onger i n bat t l e t han any ot her s. I woul dnot 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 WestSaxons when t he l at t er wer e Pagans ; al l I mai nt ai ni s, t hat f r om t he t i me of whi ch we ar e speaki ng t o t hel ast gr eat ci vi l war i n Amer i ca, f ai t h i n t he const antpr esence of God i n and ar ound t hem has been t hesuppor 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 hand 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 year871. 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 eyswer e beat i ng up t he Thames, and Dani sh hor semenst eal i ng t hei r way acr oss Her t f or dshi r e and Bucki ng-hamshi r e. The k i 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 rgr eat est ent er pr i se on Br i t i sh soi l . Swi f t l y, as wast hei r wont , t hey st r uck at a vi t al poi nt , and sei z i ngt he del t a whi ch i s f or med by t he j unct i on of t heThames and Kennet , cl ose t o t he r oyal bur gh ofReadi 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 att hi s t i me i s not cl ear f r om t he Chr oni c l es, but mostl i kel y t hey di d, and i n any case her e t hey had al lt hey want ed i n t he shape of a s t r onghol d, a f or t i f i edcamp i n whi ch t hei r spoi l s and t he women andwounded coul d be l ef t , and by whi ch t hei r shi ps coul dl i e. Any r eader who has t r avel l ed on t he Gr eatWest er n Rai l way has cr ossed t he ver y spot , a f ewhundr 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 shl i nes.

Two days suf f i ced f or r est and t he f i r s t necessar ywor ks, and on t he t hi r d a l ar ge par t of t he ar my st ar t edon a pl under i ng and expl or i ng expedi t i on under t woof t hei r j ar l s. At Engl ef i el d, a vi l l age st i l l bear i ngt he same name, some s i x mi l es due west of Readi ng,i n t he val e of Kennet — wher e t he pr esent count ymember l i ves i n a house whi ch Queen Bess vi si t edmor 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 beenabl 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 aveEt hel wul f l ed t hem st r ai ght t o t he at t ack wi t h t he

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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 newsof t hat f i r st encount er must have cheer ed t he Ki ngand Al f r ed, who wer e busy gat her i ng t hei r f or cesf ur t her west , f or Et hel wul f s l ew one of t he j ar l s anddr ove t he pl under er s back t o t hei r ent r enchment swi t h a gr eat sl aught er . The Saxon Chr oni c l e sayst hat one of t he Si dr ocs was t he j ar l s l 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 hedeat 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 al ar ge f or ce, and sur pr i se and cut t o pi eces a numberof t he Pagans who wer e out s i 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 epower , 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 oyalbur gh, vi ct or ^ - - i ncl i ni ng now t o one s i de, now t o t heot her . I n t he end, af t er gr eat sl aught er on bot h s i des,t he Saxons gave way, and t he young ki ng and hi sbr ot her f el l back f r om Readi ng, l eavi ng t he body oft 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. Whatmat t er ! The st r ong soul had done i t s wor k, andgone t o i t s r ewar d. Smal l need of t ombs f or t hebodi es of t he br ave and f ai t hf ul — of such men t hewhol 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 vedeven so acut e and accur at e a wr i t er as Dr . Paul i , whosays t hat Et hel r ed and Al f r ed wer e pur sued f r omReadi ng f i el d as f ar as Twyf or d, and cr ossed t heThames at a f or d near Wi ndsor , whi ch was unknownt o t he Danes. Had t hi s r eal l y been so, t hey musthave 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 bankof 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 ngon t hi s hypot hesi s, ar e at a l oss as t o t he scene oft he next gr eat bat t l e, t hat of Asccsdune, not knowi ngappar ent l y t hat t her e i s a di st r i ct of t hat name i nBer kshi r e, at t he west er n end of t he count y, on t hesummi t of t he chal k hi l l s whi ch r un t hr ough t hecount 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 nt he ol dest chr oni cl er s i n mar ki ng t hi s Ashdown as t hespot wher e t l i e gr eat f i ght was f ought . Et hel r ed and


Al f r ed t hen f el l back wi t h t hei r br oken bands al ongt he sout h bank of t he Thames west war d, unt i l t heyst r uck t he hi l l s, and t hen st i l l back al ong t he anci entt r ack known as t he Ri dgeway, past I l s l ey and past t her oyal bur gh of Want age, Al f r ed' s bi r t hpl ace, f r omwhi ch t hey pr obabl y dr ew t he r ei nf or cement s whi chj ust i f i ed t hem i n t ur ni ng t o bay on t he f our t h day

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af t er t he di sast er at Readi ng. The Pagans wer e ont hei r t r ack wi t h t hei r whol e host ( except Ki ngGut hr um and hi s men) , i n t wo di vi si ons ; one com-manded by t he t wo k i ngs Bagsac and Hal f dene, t heot her by t he j ar l s. Et hel r ed, on per cei vi ng t hi sdi sposi t i on of t he enemy, di v i ded hi s f or ces, t aki ngcommand hi msel f of t he di vi si on whi ch was t o actagai nst t he k i 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 ofwhi ch may be seen t o t hi s day on at l east t hr ee spot sof t he downs, t he hi ghest poi nt of whi ch i s Whi t eHor se Hi l l ; and al l of whi ch, accor di ng t o ol d maps,ar e i nc l uded i n t he di s t r i c t 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 ancyf r om t he one camp t he song of Regner Lodbr ogbegui l i ng t he ni ght wat ches : — " We f ought wi t hswor ds ! Young men shoul d mar ch up t o t he conf l i ctof ar ms. Man shoul d meet man and never gi vegr ound. I n t hi s hat h ever s t ood t he nobl eness of t hewar r i or . He who aspi r es t o t he l ove of hi s mi st r essshoul d be daunt l ess i n t he cl ash of ar ms. " I n t heot 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 c i a had r i sen t o new l i f e under her gr eatbr 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 oy i ng t her e t he cl oi st er wher e t he ki ngl yl i ne of Mer ci a l i e ; di st ur bi ng per haps t he bones oft he gr eat Of f a, whom Char l emagne had t o t r eat asan equal .

Nei t her of t he pagan ki ngs ar e i ncl i ned at t hi st i me t o set t l e i n Mer ci a ; so, cast i ng about whatt o do wi t h i t , t hey l i ght on " a cer t ai n f ool i sh man, "a k i ng' s t hane, one Ceol wul f , and set hi m up asa sor t of Ki ng Popi nj ay. Fr om t hi s Ceol wul f t heyt ake host ages f or t he payment of year l y t r i but e


( t o be wr ung out of t hese poor Mer c i ans on pai nof det hr onement ) , and f or t he sur r ender of t heki ngdom t o t hem on what ever day t hey woul dhave i t back agai n. Foohsh ki ng' s t hanes, t ur nedi nt o Ki ng Popi nj ays by Pagans, and l ef t t o pl ay atgover 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 ssi 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 yearor t wo l at er hi s pagan l or ds seem t o have f oundmuch of t he spoi l of monast er i es, and t he pi ck i ngsof ear l and chur l , of f ol kl and and bookl and, s t i ck i ngt o hi s f i nger s, i nst ead of f i ndi ng i t s way t o t hei rcof 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

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j ust st r i p hi m, and t hr ust hi m out , and he di es i nbeggar y.

Thi s t hen i s t he wi nt er ' s wor k of t he gr eat paganar my at Rept on, Al f r ed wat chi ng t hem and t hei iwor k doubt l ess wi t h keen eye — not wi t hout mi sgi vi ngst 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 eiWi l t on f i gl i t . I t wi l l t ake year s yet bef or e t he gapsi n t he f i ght i ng st r engt h of Wessex, l ef t by t hose ni nepi t ched bat t l es, and ot her smal l er f i ght s, wi l l be f i l l edby 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 k i ng.

The Pagans, however , ar e not yet r eady f or anot hert hr ow f or Wessex ; and so when Mer c i a i s sucked dr yf or t he pr esent , and wi l l no l onger sui t abl y mai nt ai nso 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 al 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 andt he St r at hc l yde Br i t ons. " Amongst ot her hol y pl acesi n t hose par t s, Hal f dene vi si t s t he I sl e of Li ndi s f ar ne,hopi ng per haps i n hi s pagan soul not onl y t o commi tor di nar y sacr i l ege i n t he hol y pl aces t her e, whi ch i sever y- day wor k f or t he l i ke of hi m, but even t o l ayi mpi ous hands on, and t o t r eat wi t h i ndi gni t y, t her emai ns of t hat hol y man, St . Cut hber t , of whomwe have al r eady hear d, and who has become i n duecour se pat r on and guar di an sai nt of hunt er s, and oft 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 ssacr 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 ngof hi s appr oach, car r y away t he sai nt ed body f r omLi ndi sf ar ne, and f or ni ne year s hi de wi t h i t up anddown t he di st r act ed nor t her n count i es, now her e, nowt her e, movi ng t hat sacr ed t r easur e f r om pl ace t opl ace unt i l t hi s bi t t er ness i s over past , and hol y per sonsand t hi ngs, dead or l i v i 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 xedshr i nes ; t he pagan ar mi es and di sor der l y per sons ofal l k i nds havi ng been conver t ed, or suppr essed, i n t hemeant 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 hemher eaf t er , when he has set t l ed hi s account s wi t h manyper sons and t hi ngs. Fr om t he t i me of t hi s i ncui s i on

90 LI FE OF ALFRED THE ORE A T.

of Hal f dene, Nor t humbr i a may be consi der ed oncemor 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, underGut 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 usualheat hen way, t hey pass t he wi nt er of 875.

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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 awi n 874 must have war ned Al f r ed, i f he had any needof 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 samemeasur e as soon as t he pagan l eader s f el t t hemsel vesst 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 heal er t , and t aki ng act i on i n a new di r ect i on. Theseheat hen pi r at es, he sees, f i ght hi s peopl e at t er r i bl eadvant 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 ofat t ack, not onl y al ong t he sea- coast , but up ever yr i ver as f ar as t hei r l i ght gal l eys can swi m ; t o r et r eatunmol est ed, at t hei r own t i me, whenever t he f or t uneof war t ur ns agai nst t hem ; t o br i ng r ei nf or cement s ofmen and suppl i es t o t he scene of act i on wi t hout f earof hi ndr ance. Hi s Saxons have l ong si nce gi ven upt hei r seaf ar i ng habi t s. They have become bef or e al lt 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 gnt 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-


ki ngs must be met on t hei r own el ement ; and so, wi t hwhat 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 k i 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 hepoi 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 hati n t he summer of 875 he i s cr ui si ng wi t h hi s f l eet , andmeet s seven t al l shi ps of t he enemy. One of t hese hecapt ur es, and t he r est make of l " af t er a har d f i ght — nosmal l encour agement t o t he sai l or k i ng, who has t husf 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 astgat her ed wei ght and vol ume enough, and br oke ont he k i ng and peopl e of t he West Saxons. The yearSyG 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 chedt 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 oughf or est and wast e, and sai l ed up t he Thames f i ve year sbef or e, t o t he assaul t of Readi ng. Ther e must havebeen some f ew days of har assi ng suspense, f or we

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cannot suppose t hat Al f r ed was not awar e of t hemovement s of hi s t er r i bl e f oes. Pr obabl y hi s newf l eet cr ui sed of f t he sout h coast on t he wat ch f ort hem, and al l up t he Thames t her e wer e gl oomywat chi ngs, and f or ebodi ngs of a r epet i t i on of t he ev i ldays 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 manyt empt i ng har bour s and r i ver s' mout hs, unt i l t heycame of f t he coast of Dor set shi r e. Ther e t hey l andat War eham, and sei ze and f or t i f y t he neck of l andbet 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 anda monast er y of hol y v i r gi ns. For t r ess and monast er yf el l i nt o t he hands of t he Danes, who set t o wor k atonce t o t hr ow up ear t hwor ks and ot her wi se f or t i f ya space l ar ge enough t o cont ai n t hei r ar my, and al lspoi l br ought i n by mar audi ng bands f r om t hi shi t her t o unpl under ed count r y. Thi s f or t i f i ed campwas soon ver y s t 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 ofhor semen, and such ot her t r oops as coul d be gat her edhast 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 ngon t he War eham camp. Bef or e i t s out wor ks Al f r edpaused. He i s t oo exper i enced a sol di er now t o r i skat t he out set of a campai gn such a di sast er as t hatwhi ch he and Et hel r ed had sust ai ned i n t hei r at t emptt o assaul t t he camp at Readi ng i n 871. He i s j ustst 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 s i t s down bef or et he camp, but no bat t l e i s f ought , nei t her he norGut hr um car i ng t o br i ng mat t er s t o t hat i ssue. Soonnegot i at i ons ar e commenced, and agai n a t r eat y i smade.

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 yr el i cs whi ch coul d be pr ocur ed f r om hol y pl aces i nt he nei ghbour hood wer e br ought t oget her , t hat hehi msel f and hi s peopl e mi ght set t he exampl e ofpl edgi ng t hemsel ves i n t he most sol emn mannerknown t o Chr i st i an men. Then a hol y r i ng orbr acel et , smear ed wi t h t he bl ood of beast s sacr i f i cedt o Woden, was pl aced on a heat hen al t ar . Upont hi s Gut hr um and hi s f el l ow k i ngs and ear l s swor eon behal f of t he ar my t hat t hey woul d qui t t he Ki ng' scount r y and gi ve host ages. Such an oat h had neverbeen 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 dseem al so t o have swor n on Al f r ed' s r el i cs, as anext r a pr oof of t hei r si ncer i t y f or t hi s once, and t hei rhost ages " f r om amongst t he most r enowned men i nt he ar my " wer e dul y handed over . Al f r ed nowr el axed hi s wat ch, even i f he di d not wi t hdr aw wi t h

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t he mai n body of hi s ar my, l eavi ng hi s hor se t o seet hat t he t er ms of t he t r eat y wer e per f or med, and t owat ch t he War eham camp unt i l t he depar t ur e of t hepagan host . But nei t her oat h on sacr ed r i ng, nort he r i sk t o t hei r host ages, wei ghed wi t h Gut hr umand hi s f ol l ower s when any advant age was t o begai ned by t r eacher y. They st eal out of t he camp byni 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 hemount ed men l eadi ng, t o Exet er , but l eavi ng a suf f i -c i 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 ncapi 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 ohave passed t he wi nt er wi t l i t hem i n t hei r Exet erquar t er s on hi s way t o Nor mandy ; but whet l i cr t hegr eat r obber hi msel f wer e her e or not , i t i s cer t ai nt hat t he channel swar med wi t h pi r at e f l eet s, who coul dput i n t o War eham or Exet er at t hei r di scr et i on, andf i nd a saf e st r onghol d i n ei t her pl ace f r om whi ch t ocar 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 hemar ch t o Exet er i n t he aut umn of ^^6, and f ai l i ng i nt 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 877t he i nai n body of t he Pagans at Exet er had madet hat ci t y t oo st r ong f or any at t empt at assaul t , sot 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 sgr 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, sol 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 heExe was open, and communi cat i ons goi ng on wi t hWar eham. I t i s ar r anged t hat t he camp t her e shal l bebr oken up, and t he whol e gar r i son wi t h t hei r spoi lshal l j oi n head- quar t er s. 120 Dani sh t var - gal l eys ar ef r ei ght ed, and beat down channel , but ar c baf i l ed byadver se wi nds f or near l y a mont h. The} ' and al l t hei rsuppl i es may be l ooked f or any day i n t he Exe whent 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-


sel f be wi t h t hem as i n t hei r f i r st act i on, f or he knowswel l t hat Gut hr um wi l l sei ze t he f i r s t moment of hi sabsence 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 ov i ng bands over Devonshi r e,on t hei r way back t o t he east er n ki ngdom. TheSaxon 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 ownpeopl 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 hef l eet f ought f or Al f r ed at t hi s cr i s i s. Fi r st a densef og, and t hen a gr eat s t or m came on, bur st i ng on t hesout h coast wi t h such f ur y t hat t he Pagans l ost no

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l ess t han l OO of t hei r chi ef shi ps of f Swanage ; asmi ght y a del i ver ance per haps f or Engl and — t hought he memor y of i t i s near l y f or got t en — as t hat whi chbegan i n t he same seas 700 year s l at er , when Dr akeand t he sea- k i ngs of t he i 6t h cent ur y wer e hangi ngon t he r ear of t he Spani sh Ar mada al ong t he Devonand Dor set coast s, whi l e t he beacons bl azed up al lover 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 hesi ege of Exet er . Once mor e negot i at i ons ar e openedby t he Pagans ; once mor e Al f r ed, f ear f ul of dr i v i ngt hem t o ext r emi t i es, l i st ens, t r eat s, and f i nal l y accept soat hs and mor e host ages, acknowl edgi ng pr obabl y i nsor r ow t o hi msel f t hat he can f or t he moment do nobet t er . And on t hi s occasi on Gut hr um, bei ng caughtf ar f r om home, and wi t hout suppl i es or shi ps, " keepst he peace wel l , " movi ng as we conj ect ur e, wat chedj eal ousl y by Al f r ed, on t he shor t est l i ne acr oss Devonand 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 c i a, wher e he ar r i ves dur i ng har vest , andbi l l et s hi s ar my on Ceohvul f , campi ng t hem f or t hewi nt er about t he ci t y of Gl ost er . Her e t hey r unup 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 v i di ng l ar get 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 uponas di sast r ous ones f or t he Saxon ar ms, but t hi s vi ewi s cer t ai nl y not suppor t ed by t he chr oni c l er s. I t i st r ue t hat bot h at War eham and Exet er t he Pagansbr oke new gr ound, and secur ed t hei r posi t i ons, f r omwhi ch no doubt t hey di d sor e damage i n t he nei gh-bour i ng di s t r i c t s ; but we can t r ace i n t hese year snone of t he ol d ost ent at i ous dar i ng, and t hi r s t f orbat t l e wi t h Al f r ed. Whenever he appear s t he pi r at ebands 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 beenby t he const ant s t r ai n, t he West Saxons show nosi gns yet of f al l i ng f r om t hei r gal l ant k i ng. I f he canno l onger col l ect i n a week such an ar my as f ought atAshdown, he can st i l l , wi t hout much del ay, br i ng t ohi s s i de a suf f i c i ent f or ce t o hem t he Pagans i n andkeep 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 ont 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 ev i es, whi l e f r omt he nor t h and east of Engl and, as wel l as f r om overt he sea, Gut hr um was ever dr awi ng t o hi s st andar dwander i ng bands of st ur dy Nor t hmen. The mosti mpor t ant of t hese r ei nf or cement s came t o hi m f r oman unexpect ed quar t er t hi s aut umn. We have not

S. I . . VI I I . U


hear d f or some year s of Hubba, t he br ot her of I l i n-

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guar , t he younger of t he t wo vi ki ngs who pl annedand l ed t he f i r st gr eat i nvasi on i n 868. Per haps hemay have r esent ed t he ar r i val of Gut hr um and ot herki ngs i n t he f ol l owi ng year s, t o whom he had t o gi vepl ace. What ever may have been t he cause, he seemst o have gone of f on hi s own account , car r yi ng wi t h hi mt he f amous r aven st andar d, t o do hi s appoi nt ed wor ki 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 edobj ect t o t he Nor t hmen. When Hi nguar and Hubbahad 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 ngt oget her t hei r f ol l ower s, t hei r t hr ee s i s t er s i n one daywove f or t hem t hi s war - f l ag, i n t he mi dst of whi ch waspor t r ayed t he f i gur e of a r aven. Whenever t he f l agwent bef or e t hem i nt o bat t l e, i f t hey wer e t o wi n t heday t he sacr ed r aven woul d r ouse i t sel f and st r et ch i t swi ngs but i f def eat awai t ed t hem t he f l ag woul d hangr ound i t s s t af f " , and t he bi r d r emai n mot i onl ess. Thi sv/ onder had been pr oved i n many a f i ght , so t he wi l dPagans who f ought under t he st andar d of Regner ' schi l dr en bel i eved. I t was a power i n i t sel f , andHubba 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 s t ol Channel i n t hi saut umn of ' ^J ' J , and had r ut hl ess l y s l aught er ed andspoi l ed t he peopl e of Sout h Wal es. Her e t hey pr oposet o wi nt er ; but , as t he count r y i s wi l d mount ai n f or t hemost par t , and t he peopl e ver y poor , t hey wi l l r emai nno l onger t han t hey can hel p. Al r eady a l ar ge pai tof 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 chdi s t r i c t s of Wessex yet unpl under ed, goes r oundamongst 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 heear l y wi nt er a j oi nt at t ack i s pl anned by hi m andHubba on t he West Saxon t er r i t or y. By Chr i s t mast hey ar e st r ong enough t o t ake t he f i el d, and so i nmi d- wi nt er , shor t l y af t er Twel f t h- ni ght , t he camp atGl ost er br eaks up, and t he ar my " s t ol e away t oChi ppenham, " r ecr ossi ng t he Avon once mor e i nt oWessex, under Gut hr um. The f l eet , af t er a shor tdel ay, cr oss t o t he Devonshi r e coast , under Hubba, i nt hi r t y war - shi ps.

And now at l ast t he cour age of t he West Saxonsgi ves way. The sur pr i se i s compl et e. Wi l t shi r e i s att he mer cy of t he Pagans, who, occupyi ng t he r oyalbur gh of Chi ppenham as head- quar t er s, over r un t hewhol e di s t r i c t , dr i ve many of t he i nhabi t ant s " beyondt he sea f or want of t he necessar i es of l i f e, " and r educet o subj ect i on al l t hose t hat r emai n. Al f r ed i s at hi spost , but f or t he moment can make no head agai nstt hem. Hi s own st r ong hear t and t r ust i n God ar cl ef t hi m, and wi t h t hem and a scant y band of f ol l ower she di sappear s i nt o t he f or est of Sel wood, whi ch t henst r et ched away f r om t he conf i nes of Wi l t shi r e f ort hi r t y mi l es t o t he west . East Somer set , now one oft he f ai r est and r i chest of Engl i sh count i es, was t henf or t he most par t t hi ck wood and t angl ed swamp, but

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mi ser abl e as t he l odgi ng i s i t i s wel come f or t he t i met o t he Ki ng. I n t he f i r st mont hs of SyS, Sel woodFor 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 nJudgment . Ai i da man shal l be as an hi di ng- pl ace f r om t he i v i nd, anda 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 heshado7v of a gr eat r ock i n a wear y l and. "

At f i r s t s i ght i t seems har d t o account f or t he suddenand compl et e col l apse of t he West Saxon power i nJanuar y 878. I n t he campai gn of t he l ast year Al f r edhad been successf ul on t he whol e, bot h by sea andl and. He had cl ear ed t he soi l of Wessex f r om t heenemy, and had r educed t he pagan l eader s t o suehumbl y f or t er ms, and t o gi ve what ever host ages hedemanded. 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 c l er s, t o par al yse t hewhol e k i ngdom, and t o l eave Al f r ed a f ugi t i ve, hi di ngi n Sel wood For est , wi t h a mer e handf ul of f ol l ower sand 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 c l 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 oChi 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 heydr 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 ngAl f r ed ; and he wi t h a smal l band wi t h di f f i cul t yr et r eat ed t o t he woods and t he f ast nesses of t hemoor s. " Asser and t he r est mer el y expand t hi sst at ement i n one f or m or anot her , l eavi ng t he mai nf act s — t he compl et e success of t he bl ow, and t hei nabi l i t y of Al f r ed at t he moment t o war d i t of f , orr 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 byt r ansposi ng a passage f r om Br ompt on, nar r at i ngobscur el y a bat t l e at Chi ppenham, and anot her at apl ace cal l ed Abendune, i n bot h of whi ch Al f r ed i sdef 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 zedon 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 oundf or t ak i 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 c i ent l y sound aut hor i t y t or el y upon f or any f act whi ch i s not t o be f ound i n t heSaxon Chr oni c l e, or Asser . Nor i ndeed i s t her e need

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of any such expl anat i on when t he f act s come t o becar ef ul l y exami ned.

I n t he f i r s t pl ace, t hi s wi nt er i nr oad on Chi ppenhamwas made at a t i me of year when even t he vi ki ngsand t hei r f ol l ower s wer e usual l y at r est . Gut hr umand hi s host f el l upon t he Wi l t shi r e and Somer set shi r emen when t hey wer e qui t e unpr epar ed, and bef or et hey had had t i me t o hi de away t hei r wi ves andchi l dr en or any pr ovi si on of cor n or beast s. Then t hecount r y was al r eady exhaust ed. The Pagans, i t i st r ue, had not yet v i s i 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 astei ght year s, as wel l as f ur t her east and sout h. Wer emar k, t oo, t hat t hese West Saxons ar e t he near estnei 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 orsome year s. Pagani sm was r i f e agai n at Gl ost er , andno gr eat har m seemed t o come of i t . These paganset t l er s, t hough i nsol ent and over bear i ng, st i l l l i vedsi de by s i de wi t h t he Saxon i nhabi t ant s ; di d notat t empt t o dr i ve t hem out or ext er mi nat e t hem ; l ef tt hem some por t i on of t hei r wor l dl y goods. On t heot her hand, what hope i s t her e i n f i ght i ng agai nst af oe who has not hi ng t o l ose but hi s l i f e, whose number sar e i nexhaust i bl e. Mi ght i t not be bet t er t o makeany 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 scannot pr ot ect us, has spent al l hi s t r easur e i n f or merwar s, has l i t t l e i ndeed l ef t but hi s name. Who i sAl f r ed } and what i s t he r ace of Cer di c . ' ' Know yenot 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 oft hi s ki nd of demor al i zat i on and of di sl oyal t y t o t hei rki 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 havebeen wr ung by an angui sh such as he had not yetknown, as he hear d f r om hi s hi di ng- pl ace of t hi sapost asy. Her e t hen our gr eat k i ng t ouches t hel owest poi nt i n hi s hi s t or y. So f ar as out war d c i r -cumst ances go, humi l i at i on can i ndeed har dl y go f ur t hert han t hi s . Ar e we t o bel i eve t he st or y t hat he hadear 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 umnof 872, when t he camp at Readi ng br oke up, and t heear l y spr i ng of 876, when t he pagan f l eet appear ed of fWar eham ? The f or m i n whi ch t hi s st or y comes downt o us i s i n i t sel f suspi c i ous. I t r est s mai nl y on t heaut hor i t y of t he " Li f e of St . Neot , " a wor k of t henext cent ur y, t he aut hor of whi ch i s not known ; butonl y t hus much about hi m, t hat he was a monk benton exal t i ng t he char act er and hi s t or y of hi s sai nt ,wi t hout much car e at whose expense t hi s was t o be

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done. The passage i n Asser , appar ent l y conf i r mi ngt he st at ement , i s r egar ded by al l t he best schol ar s asspur i ous, and i ndeed commences wi t h a r ef er ence t ot he " Li f e of St . Neot , " so t hat i t coul d not possi bl ybe of t he same dat e as t he r est of Asser ' s book, whi chwas wr i t t en dur i ng t he Ki ng' s l i f et i me. " TheAl mi ght y, " so t he anonymous aut hor wr i t es, " notonl y gr ant ed t o t hi s gl or i ous k i ng vi ct or i es over hi senemi 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 owest at e of hi s f ol l ov/ er s, t o t he end t hat he mi ght l ear nt hat t her e i s one Lor d of al l t hi ngs t o whom ever yknee must bow, and i n whose hand ar e t he hear t s ofki ngs ; who put s down t he mi ght y f r om t hei r seat , andexal 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 bet ouched by t he r od of adver si t y , t hat i n t hei r humi l i t yt hey may not despai r of God' s mer cy, and i n t hei rpr osper i t y may not boast of t hei r honour s, but mayal so know t o whom t hey owe al l t hey have. Onemay 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 sr ei gn, when he was a yout h and swayed by a yout h' si mpul ses, he woul d not l i st en t o t he pet i t i ons whi chhi 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 vet 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 mi n t l i e spi r i t of pr ophecy t hat he woul d suf f er gr eatadver si t y on t hi s account . But Al f r ed nei t her at t endedt o t he pr oof of t he man of God, nor l i s t ened t o hi ssoot hsayi ng. Wher ef or e, seei ng t hat a man' s si nsmust 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 s i n shoul dnot go unpuni shed i n t i ns wor l d, t o t he end t hat Hemi 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 yt hat somet i mes none of hi s subj ect s knew wher e hewas or what had become of hi m. "

So wr i t es t he monki sh hi s t 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 tcan be t est ed i t i s not accur at e. The one occasi on onwhi ch Al f r ed f el l i nt o such mi ser y t hat hi s subj ect sdi d not know wher e he was, was i n t hi s Januar y of878. 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 sc i 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 outt hr ough ever y wor d and act of hi s l i f e wher ever wecan 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 andwor ks and bel i eve t hat he coul d ever have al i enat edhi s peopl e by ar r ogance, or i mpat i ence, or super -

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ci l i ousness. Hi s woul d seem t o be r at her one of t hoser ar e nat ur es whi ch mar ch t hr ough l i f e wi t hout hast eand wi t hout f al t er i ng ; bear i ng al l t hi ngs, hopi ng al lt hi ngs, endur i ng al l t hi ngs, but never r est i ng bef or et he evi l whi ch i s goi ng on al l r ound hi m, and ofwhi ch he i s consci ous i n hi s own soul . He mayi ndeed have al i enat ed some nobl es and of f i c i al per -sons i n hi s k i ngdom, by cur bi ng v i gor ousl y, and atonce, 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 hangedas 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 nstsui t or s. No doubt , al so, hi s demands on t he peopl egener al l y f or mi l i t ar y ser v i 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 ei s no t r ust wor t hy evi dence, t hat I have been abl et o f i nd, of any di saf f ect i on, nor does i t need t hesuggest i on of any such cause t o account f or t heevent 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' sar r ogant yout h and i t s r esul t s. I t cannot be passedover , but must be r ead by t he l i ght of hi s l at er l i f eand 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 heeyes of Saxon and Nor t hmen, and we must f ol l owhi m, by such l i ght as t r adi t i on t hr ows upon t hesemont 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 omancehas been most busy, and i t has become i mpossi bl et o di sent angl e t he act ual f act s f r om monki sh l egendand Saxon bal l ad. I n happi er t i mes Al f r ed was i nt he habi t hi msel f of t al k i ng over t he event s of hi swander i ng l i f e pl easant l y wi t h hi s cour t i er s, and t her ei s no r eason t o doubt t hat t he f oundat i on of most oft he st or i es s t i l l cur r ent r est s on t hose conver sat i ons oft he t r ut h- l ov i ng Ki ng, not ed down by Bi shop Asserand ot her s.

The best known of t hese i s, of cour se, t he st or y oft he cakes. I n t he dept hs of t he Saxon f or est s t her ewer e al ways a f ew neat - her ds and swi ne- her ds, scat -t er ed up and down, l i v i ng i n r ough hut s enough, wemay be sur e, and occupi ed wi t h t he car e of t he cat t l eand 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 owhom 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' shut t he Ki ng came one day al one, and, s i t t i ng hi m-sel f down by t he bur ni ng l ogs on t he hear t h, beganmendi ng hi s bow and ar r ows. The neat - her d' s wi f ehad 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 heKi ng, a poor t i r ed- l ooki ng body, who mi ght be gl adof t he war mt h, and coul d make hi msel f usef ul byt ur ni ng t he bat ch, and so ear n hi s shar e whi l e shegot on wi t h ot her busi ness. But Al f r ed wor ked awayat hi s weapons, t hi nk i ng of anyt hi ng but t he goodhousewi f e' s bat ch of l oaves, whi ch i n due cour se wer e

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not onl y done, but r api dl y bur ni ng t o a c i nder . At

A THELNE V. 107

t hi s moment t he neat - her d' s wi f e comes back, andf l y i 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 yousee t hem bur ni ng. Vze war r ant you r eady enought o eat t hem when t hey ' r e done. " But besi des t heKi 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 beAl f r ed' s comr ades j ust now i f he wi l l have any. Andeven her e he has an eye f or a good man, and wi l ll ose no oppor t uni t y t o hel p one t o t he best of hi spower . Such an one he f i nds i n a cer t ai n swi ne- her dcal l ed Denewul f , whom he get s t o know, a t hought f ulSaxon 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 notwhi 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 uponDenewul f under t he oak t r ees, when t he swi ne wi l ll et hi m, and i s wel l sat i sf i ed wi t h t he r esul t s of hi st eachi ng and t he pr ogr ess of hi s pupi l , as wi l l appeari 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 heKi ng and hi s f ew compani ons, and f or hi s wi f e andf ami l y, who soon j oi ned hi m i n t he f or est , even i ft hey wer e not wi t h hi m f r om t he f i r st . The poorf or est er s cannot mai nt ai n t hem, nor ar c t hi s bandof ex i l es t he men t o l i ve on t he poor . So Al f r edand hi s comr ades ar e soon out f or agi ng on t hebor der s of t he f or est , and get t i ng what subsi s t encet hey can f r om t he Pagans, or f r om t he Chr i s t i answho 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 , whena gl eam of good news comes up f r om t he west , t ogl adden t he hear t s, and st r engt hen t he ar ms, of t hesepoor 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 hePagans moved f r om Gl ost er , sout hwar ds, t he Vi k i ngHubba, as had been agr eed, sai l ed wi t h t hi r t y shi psof war f r om hi s wi nt er quar t er s on t he Sout h Wel shcoast , and l anded i n Devon. The news of t hecat ast r ophe at Chi ppenham, and of t he di sappear anceof t he Ki ng, was no doubt al r eady known i n t hewest ; and i n t he f ace of i t Odda t he al der man cannotgat 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 not er ms wi t h t he spoi l er s ; so, wi t h ot her f ai t hf ul t hegnsof 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 Godshal 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 notst r ong nat ur al l y, and has onl y " wal l s i n our own

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f ashi on, " meani ng pr obabl y r ough ear t hwor ks. Butt her e ar e r esol ut e men behi nd t hem, and on t hewhol e Pl ubba decl i nes t he assaul t , and si t s downbef or e t he pl ace. Ther e i s no spr i ng of wat er , hehear s, wi t hi n t he Saxon l i nes, and t hey ar e ot her wi sewhol l y unpr epar ed f or a s i ege. A f ew days wi l lno doubt set t l e t he mat t er , and t he swor d or s l aver ywi l l be t he por t i on of Odda and t he r est of Al f r ed' smen ; 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 canr evel i n r ound t he war - f l ag Raven, whi l e t hey wat cht he Saxon r ampar t s. Odda, however , has qui t e ot hervi ews t han deat h f r om t hi r s t , or sur r ender . Bef or eany st r ess comes, ear l y one mor ni ng, he and hi swhol e f or ce sal l y out over t hei r ear t hwor ks, and f r omt 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 s l 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 nt 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 ht 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 mebef or e East er . These men of Devonshi r e, i t seems,ar e st i l l s t aunch, and r eady t o per i l t hei r l i ves agai nstt he pagan. No doubt up and down Wessex, t hr ashedand t r odden out as t he nat i on i s by t hi s t i me, t her ear e ot her good men and t r ue, who wi l l nei t her cr osst he sea, or t he Wel sh mar ches, or make t er ms wi t ht he Pagan ; some spr i nk l i ng of men who wi l l yetset l i f e at s t ake, f or f ai t h i n Chr i s t and l ove ofEngl and. I f t hese can onl y be r al l i ed, who can saywhat may f ol l ow . - ' So, i n t he l engt heni ng days ofspr i ng, counci l i s hel d i n Sel wood, and t her e wi l lhave been East er ser v i 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 etgl ade. The " day of days" wi l l sur el y have hadi t s voi ce of hope f or t hi s poor r emnant . Chr i s t i sr i sen and r ei gns ; and i t i s not i n t hese heat henDanes, or i n al l t he Nor t hmen who ever sai l ed acr oss


t he sea, t o put back Hi s ki ngdom, or ensl ave t hosewhom He has f r eed.

The r esul t i s , t hat , f ar away f r om t he east er nboundar y of t he f or est , on a r i s i ng gr ound — hi l l i tcan scar cel y be cal l ed — sur r ounded by danger ousmar 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 oust o al l who have not t he secr et , a smal l f or t i f i edcamp i s t hr own up under Al f r ed' s eye, by Et hel not hand t he Somer set shi r e men, wher e he can once agai nr ai se hi s s t andar d. The spot has been chosen by t heKi ng wi t h t he ut most car e, f or i t i s hi s l ast t hr ow. He

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names i t t he Et hel i ng' s ei g or i s l 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 s t , wi t h hi s mot her and hi sgr andmot her Eadbur gha, t he wi dow of Et hel r edMuci l , t he vener abl e l ady whom Asser saw i n l at eryear 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 ofhar d gr ound on t he i s l and, and ar ound vast br akes ofal 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 antcommuni cat i on wi t h hi m, and a smal l ar my gr owst oget her . They ar e soon st r ong enough t o makef or ays i nt o t he open count r y, and i n many ski r mi shest 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, " saysMal 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 ndown and br oken, l i ke a snake s l i ppi ng f r om t hehand 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 s i ng up t osmi 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 scame i n s l owl y, and pr ovender and suppl i es of al lk i nds ar e har d t o wr i ng f r om t he Pagan, and har derst i l l t o t ake f r om Chr i st i an men. One day, whi l e i twas yet so col d t hat t he wat er was st i l l f r ozen, t heKi ng' s peopl e had gone out " t o get t hem f i sh orf owl , or some such pur veyance as t hey sust ai nedt hemsel ves wi t hal . " No one was l ef t i n t he r oyalhut 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 wontwhensoever he had oppor t uni t y) was r eadi ng f r om t hePsal ms of Davi d, out of t he Manual whi ch he car r i edal ways i n hi s bosom. At t hi s moment a poor manappear ed at t he door and begged f or a mor sel ofbr ead " f or Chr i s t 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 smot her - i n- l aw t o gi ve hi m t o eat Eadbur gha r epl i edt hat t her e was but one l oaf i n t hei r st or e, and a l i t t l ewi ne i n a pi t cher , a pr ov i s i on whol l y i nsuf l f i c i ent f orhi s own f ami l y and peopl e. But t he Ki ng bade hernever 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 beenser ved t he st r anger was no mor e seen, and t he l oafr 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, overwhi ch he f el l asl eep, and dr eamt t hat St , Cut hber tof Li ndi s f ar ne st ood by hi m, and t ol d hi m i t was hewho had been hi s guest , and t hat God had seen hi s


af f l i ct i ons and t hose of hi s peopl e, whi ch wer e nowabout t o end, i n t oken wher eof hi s peopl e woul d

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r et ur n t hat day f r om t hei r expedi t i on wi t h a gr eatt ake of f i sh. The Ki ng awaki ng, and bei ng muchi mpr essed wi t h hi s dr eam, cal l ed t o hi s mot her - i n- l awand r ecount ed i t t o her , who t her eupon assur ed hi mt hat she t oo had been over come wi t h s l eep, and hadhad t he same dr eam. And whi l e t hey yet t al kedt oget her on what had happened so st r angel y t ot hem, t hei r ser vant s come i n, br i ngi ng f i sh enough, asi 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 henext mor ni ng t he Ki ng cr ossed t o t he mai nl and i n aboat , and wound hi s hor n t hr i ce, whi ch dr ew t o hi mbef or e noon 500 men. What we may t hi nk of t hest or y and t he dr eam, as Si r John Spel man says, " i snot her e ver y much mat er i al , " seei ng t hat whet her wedeem i t nat ur al or super nat ur al , " t he one as wel l ast he ot her ser ves at God' s appoi nt ment , by r ai s i ng ordej ect i ng of t he mi nd wi t h hopes or f ear s, t o l eadman t o t he r esol ut i on of t hose t hi ngs wher eof He hasbef or e or dai ned t he event . "

Al f r ed, we may be sur e, was r eady t o accept andbe t hankf ul f or any hel p, l et i t come f r om whence i tmi ght , and soon af t er East er i t was becomi ng c l eart hat t he t i me i s at hand f or mor e t han sk i r mi shi ngexpedi t i ons. Thr ough al l t he nei ghbour i ng count i eswor d i s spr eadi ng t hat t hei r her o k i ng i s al i ve, and onf oot agai n, and t hat t her e wi l l be anot her chancef or br ave men er e l ong of meet i ng once mor e t hesescour 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 c l er swhi ch r el at es t hat at t hi s cr i s i 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 sown 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 ami nst r el , and wi t h one at t endant vi si t ed t he camp ofGut hr um. Her e he st ayed, " showi ng t r i cks andmaki ng spor t , " unt i l he had penet r at ed t o t he Ki ng' st ent s, and l ear ned al l t hat he wi shed t o know. Af t ersat i s f y i ng hi msel f as t o t he chances of a suddenat t ack, he r et ur ns t o At hcl ney, and, t he t i me havi ngcome 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' st hegns of nei ghbour i ng shi r es, gi vi ng t hem a t r ystf or t he sevent h week af t er East er t he second weeki 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

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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 thi s i s l and i n t he gr eat wood, and hi s wi f e and chi l dr enand such househol d gods as he had gat her ed r oundhi m t her e, and came publ i c l y f or t h amongst hi s peopl eonce mor e, r i di ng t o Egber t ' s s t one ( pr obabl y Br i x t on) ,on t he east of Sel wood, a di s t ance of 26 mi l es. Her emet 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 ageand hope af t er t hei r r ecent t r i umph ; t he men ofSomer 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 yor made submi ss i on t o t he enemy. " And whent 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 ypl anned by Al f r ed and t he nobl es who had beeni 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 ori mmedi at e act i on, on t he ver y day of must er . Whet herAl f r ed had been hi s own spy we cannot t el l , but i ti s pl ai n t hat he knew wel l what was passi ng i n t hepagan camp, and how necessar y swi f t ness and secr ecywer 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 orevent s whi ch t ook pl ace a t housand year s ago, butwher e t her e i s cl ear l y not hi ng i mpr obabl e i n t hemt 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 stcol 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 herexcel l ent wor ks bear i ng on t he t i me, i s t he aut hor oft he " Har mony of t he Chr oni cl er s, " publ i shed by t heAl f r ed Commi t t ee i n 1852) , t he si gnal f or t he act ualgat her i ng of t he West Saxons at Egber t ' s St one wasgi 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 beaconwoul d be hi dden f r om t he Danes, who must have beenencamped 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 overt he l ow count r y t owar ds t he Br i st ol Channel , andt 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 ofmust er . The bands whi ch came t oget her t her e wer ecomposed of men wel l used t o ar ms, each band underi t s own al der man, or r eeve. The smal l ar my he had

I 2

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i i 6 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

hi msel f been di sc i pl i ni ng at At hel ney, and t r ai ni ng i nski r mi shes dur i ng t he l ast f ew mont hs, woul d f or m ar el i abl e cent r e on whi ch t he r est woul d have t o f or mas best t hey coul d. So af t er one day' s hal t he. br eaksup 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 heDani sh ar my wer e now occupyi ng. The day ' s mar chof t he ar my woul d be a shor t f i ve mi l es. Her e t heannal s r ecor d t hat St . Neot , hi s ki nsman, appear edt 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 het op of Cl ay Hi l l , whi ch ar e sai d t o have been t hr ownup by Al f r ed' s ar my at t hi s t i me. I f t her e had beent i me f or such a wor k, i t woul d undoubt edl y have beena wi se st ep, as a f or t i f i ed encampment her e woul dhave 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 myhal t ed on Cl ay Hi l l woul d have been qui t e t oo shor tt i me f or such an under t ak i ng, whi ch, mor eover , woul dhave exhaust ed t he t r oops. I t i s mor e l i kel y t hat t heear t hwor ks, whi ch ar e of t he ol dest t ype, s i mi l ar t ot hose at Whi t e Hor se Hi l l , above Ashdown, wer et her e l ong bef or e Al f r ed' s ar r i val i n May 878. Af t err est i ng one ni ght on Cl ay Hi l l , Al f r ed l ed out hi s meni n cl ose or der of bat t l e agai nst t he pagan host , whi chl ay at Et handune. Ther e has been much doubtamongst ant i quar i es as t o t he s i t e of Et handune, butDr . Gi l es and ot her s have at l engt h est abl i shed t hecl ai ms of Edi ngt on, a v i 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 hest r engt h of t he second wave of pagan i nvasi on wasut t er l y br oken, and r ol l ed back weak and hel pl essf r om t he r ock of t he West Saxon k i ngdom,

Si r John Spel man, r el yi ng appar ent l y onl y on t heaut hor i t y of Ni chol as Har pesf el d' s " Eccl es i ast i calHi st or y of Engl and, " put s a speech i nt o Al f r ed' smout h, whi ch he i s supposed t o have del i ver ed bef or et he bat t l e of Edi ngt on. He t el l s t hem t hat t he gr eatsuf f er i ngs of t he l and had been yet f ar shor t of whatt hei r s i ns had deser ved. That God had onl y deal twi t h t hem as a l ovi ng Fat her , and was now about t osuccour t hem, havi ng al r eady st r i cken t hei r f oe wi t hf ear and ast oni shment , and gi ven hi m, on t he ot herhand, 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, whohad br oken f ai t h wi t h t hem over and over agai n ; andt he i ssue t hey had t o t r y t hat day was, whet her Chr i st ' sf ai t h, or heat heni sm, was hencef or t h t o be est abl i shedi n Engl and.

Ther e i s no t r ace of any such speech i n t he Saxon

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Chr oni c l e or Asser , and t he one r epor t ed does notr i ng l i ke t hat of Judas Maccabeus. That Al f r ed' ssoul was on f i r e t hat mor ni ng, on f i ndi ng hi msel f oncemor e at t he head of a f or ce he coul d r el y on, andbef or e t he enemy he had met so of t en, we may besur e enough, but shal l never know how t he f i r eki ndl ed i nt o speech, i f i ndeed i t di d so at al l . I nsuch supr eme moment s many of t he st r ongest menhave no wor d t o say — keep al l t hei r heat wi t hi n.

Nor have we any c l ue t o t he number s who f ought

I i 8 LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

on ei t her s i de at Et handune, or i ndeed i n any ofAl f r ed' s bat t l es. I n t he Chr oni cl es t her e ar e onl y af ew vague and gener al s t at ement s, f r om whi ch l i t t l ecan be gat her ed. The most pr eci se of t hem i s t hat i nt he Saxon Chr oni c l e, whi ch gi ves 840 as t he numberof men who wer e s l ai n, as we hear d, wi t h Hubbabef or e Cynui t f or t , i n Devonshi r e, ear l i er i n t hi s sameyear . Such a deat h- r ol l , i n an act i on i n whi ch onl y asmal l det achment of t he pagan ar my was engaged,woul d l ead t o t he concl us i on t hat t he ar mi es wer e f arl ar ger t han one woul d expect . On t he ot her hand, i ti s di f f i cul t t o i magi ne how any l ar ge bodi es of mencoul d f i nd subsi s t ence i n a smal l count r y , whi ch wast he seat of so devast at i ng a war , and i n whi ch so muchl and r emai ned st i l l unr ec l ai med. But what ever t hepower of ei t her s i de amount ed t o we may be qui t esur e t hat i t had been exer t ed t o t he ut most t o br i ngas 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 oioper at i ons, some si xt een mi l es i n hi s r ear , and al l t heaccumul at ed pl under of t he busy mont hs whi ch hadpassed si nce Twel f t h Ni ght ; and i t i s cl ear t hat hi smen behaved wi t h t he most desper at e gal l ant r y. Thef i ght began at noon ( one chr oni cl er says at sunr i se,but t he di s t ance makes t hi s i mpossi bl e unl ess Al f r edmar ched i n t he ni ght ) , and l ast ed t hr ough t hegr eat er par t of t he day. War ned by many pr evi ousdi sast er s, t he Saxons never br oke t hei r c l ose or der ,and so, t hough gr eat l y out number ed, hur l ed backagai 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 lor Edge, i nt o whi ch t he gr eat body of t he f ugi t i vest hr ew t hemsel ves. Al l who wer e l ef t out si de wer esl ai n, and t he gr eat spoi l was al l r ecover ed. Thecamp may st i l l be seen, cal l ed Br at t on Cast l e, wi t h i t sdoubl e di t ches and deep t r enches, and bar r ow i n t hemi dst s i x t y yar ds l ong, and i t s t wo ent r ances guar dedby mounds. I t cont ai ns mor e t han t went y acr es, andcommands t he whol e count r y si de. Ther e can bel 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 ofGut hr um and t he gr eat Nor t her n ar my on Saxon

Page61 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 ecamp at At hel ney, Al f r ed was once mor e ki ng of al lEngl and sout h of t he Thames ; f or t hi s ar my ofPagans shut up wi t hi n t hei r ear t hwor ks on Br at t onEdge" ar e l i t t l e bet t er t han a br oken and di sor der l yr abbl e, wi t h no suppl i es and no chance of succourf r om any quar t er . Never t hel ess he wi l l make sur e oft hem, and above al l wi l l guar d j eal ousl y agai nst anysuch mi shap as t hat of %' j 6, when t hey st ol e out ofWar eham, mur der ed t he hor semen he had l ef t t owat ch t hem, and got away t o Exet er . So Br at t onCamp i s s t r i c t l y besi eged by Al f r ed wi t h hi s whol epower .

Gut hr um, t he dest r oyer , and now t he Ki ng, of EastAngl i a, t he st r ongest and abl est of al l t he Nor t hmenwho had ever l anded i n Engl and, i s now at l ast f ai r l yi n Al f r ed' s power . At Readi ng, War eham, Exet er .


he had al ways hel d a f or t i f i ed camp, on a r i ver easi l ynavi gabl e by t he Dani sh war - shi ps, wher e he mi ghtl ook f or speedy succour , or whence at t he wor st hemi ght hope t o escape t o t he sea. But now he, wi t ht he r emai ns of hi s ar my, ar e shut up i n an i nl and f or twi t h no shi ps on t he Avon, t he near est r i ver , even i ft hey coul d cut t hei r way out and r each i t , and nohopes of r ei nf or cement s over l and. Hal f dene i s t henear est v i k i ng who mi ght be cal l ed t o t he r escue, andhe, i n Nor t humbr i a, i s f ar t oo di st ant . I t i s a mat t erof a f ew days onl y, f or f ood r uns shor t at once i n t hebesi eged camp. I n f or mer yea, r s , or agai nst any ot herenemy, Gut hr um woul d pr obabl y have pr ef er r ed t osal l y out , and cut hi s way t hr ough t he Saxon l i nes, ordi e swor d i n hand as a son of Odi n shoul d. Whet heri t wer e t hat t he wi l d spi r i t i n hi m i s t hor oughl ybr oken f or t he t i me by t he unexpect ed def eat atEt handune, or t hat l ong r es i dence i n a Chr i st i an l andand cont act wi t h Chr i st i an subj ect s have shaken hi sf ai t h i n hi s own gods, or t hat he has l ear nt t o measur eand appr eci at e t he st r engt h and nobl eness of t he manhe had so of t en decei ved, at any r at e f or t he t i meGut hr um i s subdued. At t he end of f our t een days hesends t o Al f r ed, sui ng humbl y f or t er ms of any k i nd ;of f er i ng on t he par t of t he ar my as many host ages asmay 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 orgood ; and, above al l , decl ar i ng hi s own r eadi ness t or 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 haveal 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 y i ng success, t oescape now. Over and over agai n t hey had swor n t ohi m, and br oken t hei r oat hs t he moment i t sui t ed

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t hei r pur pose ; had gi ven host ages, and l ef t t hem t ot hei r f at e. I n al l Engl i sh ki ngdoms t hey had now f ort en year s been dest r oyi ng and pi l l agi ng t he houses ofGod, and sl ay i ng even women and chi l dr en. Theyhad dr i ven hi s si st er ' s husband f r om t he t hr one ofMer ci a, and had gr i evousl y t or t ur ed t he mar t yrEdmund. I f ever f oe deser ved no mer cy, Gut hr i ' mand 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 ot he gr ound ; even wi t h t wo l i nes measur ed he t o putt o deat h, and wi t h one f ul l l i ne t o keep al i ve. " Whenhe t ook Rabbah of t he chi l dr en of Ammon, " hebr ought f or t h t he peopl e t hat wer e t her ei n, and putt hem under saws and under har r ows of i r on and underaxes 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 underKi ng Davi d, and i n t he ni nt h cent ur y Chr i st i ani t y hadas 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 z i ng campai gns had been as mer c i l ess as Mahomet ' s.But t her e i s about t hi s Engl i sh k i ng a di vi ne pat i ence,t he r ar est of al l v i r t ues i n t hose who ar e set i n hi ghpl aces. He accept s Gut hr um' s pr of f er ed t er ms atonce, r ej oi ci ng over t he chance of addi ng t hese f i er ceheat hen war r i or s t o t he Chur ch of hi s Mast er , by anact of mer cy whi ch even t hey must f eel . And so t her emnant of t he ar my ar c al l owed t o mar ch out of t hei r


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 erat t ack, and t he sei zi ng of Chi ppenham. The Nor t her nar my went away t o Ci r encest er , wher e t hey st ayed overt he wi nt er , and t hen r et ur ni ng i nt o East Angh' a set t l eddown t her e, and Al f r ed and Wessex hear no mor e oft hem. Never was t r i umph mor e compl et e or bet t erdesei ved ; and i n al l hi s t or y t her e i s no i nst ance ofmor e nobl e use of v i c t or y t han t hi s . The West Saxonar my was not at once di sbanded. Al f r ed l ed t hemback t o At hel ney, wher e he had l ef t hi s wi f e andchi l dr en ; and whi l e t hey ar e t her e, seven weeks af t ert he sur r ender , Gut hr um, wi t h t hi r t y of t he br avest ofhi 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 es i dence whi ch had pr obabl y escapedt 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 el i nen c l ot h, t he si gn of t hei r new f ai t h, was boundr ound t hei r heads. Al f r ed hi msel f was godf at her t ot he v i k i ng, gi v i 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 hesacr ament al c l ot hs, was per f or med on t he ei ght h dayby 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 het ask of set t l i ng t he t er ms upon whi ch t he v i ct or s andvanqui shed wer e her eaf t er t o l i ve t oget her si de by s i dei n t he same i sl and ; f or Al f r ed had t he wi sdom, eveni n hi s enemy' s humi l i at i on, t o accept t he accompl i shedf act , and t o acknowl edge East Angl i a as a Dani sh

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ETHANDUNE. 123

ki ngdom. The Wi t enagemot had been summoned t oWedmor e, and was si t t i ng t her e, and wi t h t hei r advi cet he t r eat y was t hen made, f r om whi ch, accor di ng t osome hi st or i ans, Enghsh hi s t or y begi ns.

We have st i i l t he t ext of t he t wo document s whi cht oget her cont ai n Al f r ed and Gut hr um' s peace, or t heTr eat y of Wedmor e ; t he f i r st and shor t er bei ngpr obabl y t he ar t i c l es hast i l y agr eed on bef or e t hecapi t ul at i on of t he Dani sh ar my at Chi ppenham, t hel at t er t he f i nal t er ms set t l ed bet ween Al f r ed and hi swi t an, and Gut hr um and hi s t hi r t y nobl es, af t er mat ur edel 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 unsas 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 ngGut hr um, and t he wi t an of al l t he Engl i sh nat i onand al l t he peopl e t hat ar e i n East Angl i a, have al lor dai ned and wi t h oat hs conf i r med, f or t hemsel vesand 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. Thesear e up on t he Thames, and t hen up on t he Lea, andal 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 s l ai n we r eckonal l equal l y dear , Engl i sh and Dane, at ei ght hal fmar ks of pur e gol d, except t he chur l who dwel l s ongavel l and and t hei r l ei s i ngs ; t hey ar c al so equal l y


dear at 200 shi l l i ngs. And i f a k i ng' s t hane beaccused of mansl aught er , i f he desi r e t o cl ear hi msel fl et hi m do so bef or e t wel ve k i ng' s t hanes. I f anyman accuse a man who i s of l ess degr ee t han ki ng' st hane, l et hi m cl ear hi msel f wi t h el even of hi s equal sand one k i ng- ' s t hane. And so i n ever y sui t whi chmay be f or mor e t han f our mancuses ; and i f he dar enot , 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 hswer e swor n, t hat nei t her bondman nor f r eeman mi ghtgo 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 lhave t r af f i c wi t h us, or we wi t h t hem, f or cat t l e orgoods, t hat i s t o be al l owed on t hi s wi se : t hathost ages be gi ven i n pl edge of peace, and as evi dencewher eby i t may be known t hat t he par t y has a c l ean

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book. "

By t he t r eat y Al f r ed i s t hus est abl i shed as ki ng oft he whol e of Engl and sout h of t he Thames ; of al l t heol d k i ngdom of Essex sout h of t he Lea, i ncl udi ngLondon, Her t f or d, and St . Al bans ; of t he whol e of t hegr eat k i ngdom of Mer c i a, whi ch l ay t o t he west ofWat l i ng St r eet , and of so much t o t he east as l ay sout hof t he Ouse. That he shoul d have r egai ned so muchpr oves t he st r ai t s t o whi ch he had br ought t heNor 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 haver esi gned so much of t he k i 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, eveni n def eat , and how t hor oughl y t he nor t h- east er n par t sof t he i s l and had by t hi s t i me been set t l ed byt he Danes.

The r emai nder of t he shor t t r eat y woul d seemsi mpl y t o be pr ov i s i onal , and i nt ended t o set t l e t her el at i ons bet ween Al f r ed' s subj ect s and t he ar mywhi l e i t r emai ned wi t hi n t he l i mi t s of t he new Saxonki ngdom. Many of t he sol di er s woul d have t o br eakup 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 haveal r eady hear d, t hey r est unt i l t he wi nt er . Whi l e t heyr emai n i n t he Saxon k i 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, orl i f e- r ansom, i s t o be t he same i n each case f or men ofl 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 yof peer s of t he accused. On t he ot her hand, onl ynecessar y communi cat i ons ar e t o be al l owed bet weent he Nor t her n ar my and t he peopl e ; and wher e t her emust be t r adi ng, f ai r and peacef ul deal i ng i s t o beensur ed by t he gi vi ng of host ages. Thi s l ast pr o-vi s i on, and t he c l ause decl ar i ng t hat each man shal lknow 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 musthol d t o be of t he ver y f i r s t i mpor t ance woul d f i ndpl ace, i s anot her cur i ous pr oof of t he car e wi t h whi chour ancest or s, and al l Ger mani c t r i bes, guar ded agai nst


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 eatbody of t hei r descendant s, under t he l eadi ng ofSchul 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 hi n Ger many and Engl and.

Thus, i n Jul y 878, t he f oundat i ons of t he newki 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,

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ar c r ecogni sed by t he hei r of Cer di c as l awf ul owner s oft 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 heSaxon camp and r et ur n t o Ci r encest er at t he end oft wel ve days, l oaded wi t h such gi f t s as i t was st i l l i nt he power of t hei r conquer or s t o best ow : and Al f r edwas l ef t i n peace, t o t ur n t o a gr eat er and mor ear 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 nouar 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 s i t y. "

The gr eat Dani sh i nvasi on of Engl and i n t he ni nt hcent 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 nt he l i f e of t he wor l d, r ai s i ng agai n and agai n t hedeepest of al l quest i ons. At f i r s t s i ght i t st ands outsi mpl y as t he t r i umph of br ut e f or ce, cr uel t y, andanar chy, over c i v i l i zat i on and or der . I t was emi nent l ysuccessf ul , f or t he gr eat er par t of t he k i ngdom r e-mai ned subj ect t o t he i nvader s. I n i t s pr ogr ess al lsuch ci vi l i zat i on as had t aken r oot i n t he l and was f ort 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 azedt o t he gr ound ; l i br ar i es ( such as t hen exi st ed) andwor ks of ar t r ut hl ess l y bur nt and dest r oyed. I t t hr ewback al l Al f r ed' s r ef or ms f or ei ght year s. To t hepoor East Angl i an, or West Saxon chur l or monkwho had been l i v i ng hi s qui et l i f e t her e, honest l y andi n t he f ear of God, accor di ng t o hi s l i ght s, — t o hi mhi di ng away i n t he swamps of t he f or est , amongst t he


swi ne, r unni ng wi l d now f or l ack of her dsmen, andt hi nk i ng bi t t er l y of t he sack of hi s home, and mur derof 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 cbe shut , and t he ear t h del i ver ed over t o t he power sof dar kness. Woul d i t not seem so t o us, i f we wer ei n l i ke case ? Have we any f ai t h whi ch woul d st andsuch a st r ai n as t hat ?

Who shal l say f or hi msel f t hat he has ? and yetwhat 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 hewor l d — t he f ai t h whi ch must have car r i ed Al f r edt hr ough t hose f ear f ul year s, and st r engt hened hi m t obui l d up a new and bet t er Engl and out of t he r ui nst he Danes l ef t behi nd t hem ? For , har d as i t mustbe t o keep al i ve any bel i ef or hope dur i ng a t i mewhen al l ar ound us i s r eel i ng, and t he power s of

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evi l seem t o be l et l oose on t he ear t h, when we l ookback upon t hese " days of t he Lor d " t her e i s no t r ut hwhi ch st ands out mor e c l ear l y on t he f ace of hi s t or yt han t hi s , t hat t hey al l and each have been wor k i ngt owar ds or der and l i f e, t hat " t he messenger s of deat hhave 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 at housand year s ago, we have not t o go f ar t o l ear nwhat t he Danes had t o do f or t hem. Ther e i s no needt o accept t he st at ement s of l at er wr i t er s as t o t hecondi t i on of t he Saxons and Angl es at t he t i me oft he i nvasi on. Hoveden, af t er dwel l i ng on t he war swhi ch wer e so common bet ween t he sever al ki ngdomsi 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 " v i r t ue had sout 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 andvi l l any ; " and i n John Har dyng' s r hymed Chr oni c l ewe f i nd :

" Thus i n def aut e of l a we and peace conser vedCommon 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, andt her e i s not hi ng i n cont empor ar y wr i t er s t o j ust i f yt hem ; nor can we bel i eve t hat a nat i on i n so ut t er l yr ot t en a st at e woul d have met t he Danes as t heAngl es and West Saxons di d. But wi t hout goi ngf ar t her t han Al f r ed' s own wr i t i ngs, and t he SaxonChr oni c l e and Asser , whi ch cont ai n, af t er al l , t hewhol e of t he ev i dence at f i r s t 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 notgi ven over t o " r i ot , r obber y, and oppr essi on, ni ght andday, " 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 v i gor ousr ul e of Egber t , and t he peopl e wer e busy and ski l f uli n gr owi ng cor n, and mul t i pl y i ng f l ocks and her ds,and heapi ng up si l ver and gol d. But t he " commonpr of yt e " Avas mor e and mor e negl ect ed, as " par ci alpr of yt e, " i ndi v i dual gai n, came t o be t he chi ef obj ecti n men' s eyes. Then t he hi gher l i f e of t he nat i onbegan t o be under mi ned. The l aws wer e unj ust l yi nt er pr et ed and admi ni s t 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 heki ng i n t hei r own shi r es and di st r i ct s, i n al l mat t er snot di r ect l y af f ect i ng hi s per sonal pr er ogat i ve. Ther el i gi ous or der s, who had been t he pr ot ect or s andi nst r uct or s of t he peopl e, wer e t ai nt ed as deepl y ast 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

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hi s pr ef ace t o Gr egor y' s past or al , speaks sor r owf ul l yof t he wi se men who wer e f ound f or mer l y t hr oughoutt he Engl i sh r ace, bot h of t he spi r i t ual and secul arcondi t i on — how t he k i ngs, and t hey who t hen had t hegover 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 easedt hei r count r y abr oad, and sped wel l bot h i n war andwi 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 v i ces ofGod, so t hat men f r om abr oad sought i nst r uct i on i nt hi s l and, whi ch we must now get f r om t hem i f wewoul d have i t . " I n Et hel wul f ' s r ei gn bot h evi l s musthave gr own r api dl y, f or he was car el ess of hi s secul ardut i es, and l ef t al der man, and r eeve, and sher i f f mor eand mor e t o f ol l ow t hei r own ways, whi l e he f ost er edt he wor st t endenci es of hi s c l er gy, encour agi ng t hemt o become mor e and mor e pr i est s and keeper s of t heconsci ence, and l ess shepher ds and i nst r uct or s of t hepeopl 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 wasconsequent l y dy i ng out , and t he peopl e wer e f al l i ngi nt o a dul l , mechani cal habi t of mi nd. Thei r r el i gi onhad 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 c l asses. Soon mat er i aldecay woul d f ol l ow, i f i t had not al r eady begun ; f orheal t hy, manl y ef f or t , honest and pat i ent di ggi ng anddel vi ng, pl ant i ng and bui l di ng, i s not t o be had outof man or nat i on whose consci ence has been put t osl eep. When t he cor n and wi ne and oi l , t he si l verand 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 k i nds, and shor t cut s, by what wecal l f i nanci ng and t he l i ke, wi l l be t he means by whi cht hey wi l l at t empt t o gai n t hem.

When t hat s t at e comes, men who l ove t hei r count r ywi l l wel come Dani sh i nvasi ons, ci vi l war s, pot at odi seases, cot t on f ami nes, Feni an agi t at i ons, what evercal ami t y may be needed t o awake t he hi gher l i f eagai n, and bi d t he nat i on ar i se and l i ve.

That such v i s i t at i ons do come at such t i mes as amat t er of f act i s as cl ear as t hat i n cer t ai n st at es oft 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 anat ur al and f i xed or der . We ar e al l agr eed upon t hatnow. 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 s t or m and ear t hquakeas i n t he successi on of ni ght and day, of seed- t i meand har vest . We who ar e Chr i s t i ans bel i eve t hat or derand 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 menar e under a di v i 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 cwi l l of God, as sur e and abi di ng as t he \ di \ v of

K 2

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gr avi t at i on ? t hat t hi s l aw of r i ght eousness, t hi s di v i neor der , under whi ch human bei ngs ar e l i v i ng on t hi sear t h, must and does asser t and v i ndi cat e i t sel f t hr oughand by t he act s and l i ves of men, as sur el y as t hedi v i ne or der i n nat ur e asser t s i t sel f t hr ough t he agencyof 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 anyr at e assur es us of t hi s . And when we have made t hi sf ai t h our own, when we bel i eve i t , and not mer el ybel i eve t hat we bel i eve i t , we have i n our hand t hecl ue t o al l human hi s t or y. Myst er i es i n abundancewi l l al ways r emai n. We may not be abl e t o t r ace t hewor ki ngs of t he l aw of r i ght eousness i n t he conf us i onsand bewi l der ment s of our own day, or t hr ough t hedar kness and mi st whi ch shr ouds so much of t he l i f eof ot her t i mes and ot her r aces. But we know t hat i ti 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 st 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 lt hey be f oundi ng f ami l i es, i nst i t ut i ons, st at es, whi chwi 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 calmanner , we have onl y t o t ake any quest i on whi ch hast r oubl ed, or i s t r oubl i ng, st at esmen and r ul er s andnat i ons, i n our own day. The sl aver y quest i on i s t h- egr eat est of t hese, at any r at e t he one whi ch has beenmost pr omi nent l y bef or e t he wor l d of l at e. I n t hedi v i ne or der t hat i nst i t ut i on was not r ecogni sed, t her ewas no pl ace at al l set apar t f or i t ; on t he cont r ar y, Heon 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 s l aver y woul d gi ve ourki ndr ed i n Amer i ca no r est , j ust as i t woul d gi ve usno r est i n t he f i r s t t hi r t y year s of t he cent ur y. Thenat i on, desi r i ng t o go on l i v i 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 enegr o" quest i on, except t he onl y one r ecogni sed i nt he di v i ne or der — t hat of maki ng hi m f r ee. Theabl 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 andDi xon' s l i nes" l ai d down, j oi nt commi t t ees of bot hHouses — at l ast even a " cr i s i s commi t t ee, " as i t wascal l ed — i nvent ed pl an af t er pl an t o get i t f ai r l y out oft he way by any means except t he onl y one whi ch t heet er nal l aw, t he l aw of r i ght eousness, pr escr i bed. ButHe whose wi l l must be done on ear t h was no par t y t oMi ssour i compr omi ses, and Mason and Di xon' s l i newas not l ai d down on Hi s map of Nor t h Amer i ca.

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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 omi t , as a " covenant wi t h deat h and hel l . " Despi sedand 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 andpen and l i f e' s bl ood, t he weak t hi ngs of t hi s wor l d t oconf ound t he mi ght y ; men who coul d l ook br avel y i nt he f ace t he whol e power and st r engt h of t hei r nat i oni 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 vest oget her and i t shal l come t o nought , f or God i s wi t hus. " And at l ast t he t hunder st or m br oke, and wheni t c l ear ed away t he l aw of r i ght eousness had asser t edi 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 endof 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 orl ess ur gent , r i s i ng up agai n and agai n t o t or ment andbaf f l e us, r ef usi ng t o gi ve us any peace unt i l t hey havebeen 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 oft 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 oascer t ai n and do t hat wi l l , we may set t l e t hem f orour sel ves i n cl ear sk i es. I f not , t he c l ouds wi l l gat her ,t he at mospher e gr ow heavy, and t he st or m br eak i ndue cour se, and t hey wi l l be set t l ed f or us i n wayswhi ch we l east expect or desi r e, f or i t i s " t he Lor d' scont r over sy. "

I n due cour se! per haps; but what i f t hi s due cour semeans l i f et i mes, cent ur i es . ' ' Al as ! t hi s i s i ndeed t hecr y whi ch has been goi ng up f r om t he poor ear t h t heset 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 ec i se t i mesand 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 . Butcour 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 ourday ? 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 ora 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 , soc i al — we ar e t r avel l i ng f ast , i nEngl and and el sewher e, and under t he hand andgui dance, be sur e, of Hi m who made t he wor l d, andi s abl e and wi l l i ng t o t ake car e of i t . Onl y l et usqui t our sel ves l i ke men, t r ust i ng t o Hi m t o put downwhat soever l ovet h or maket h a l i e, and i n Hi s ownt i me t o est abl i sh t he new ear t h i n whi ch shal l dwel ir i o^ht eousness.

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CHAPTER XI I .

THE k i 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 c i 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 anddi f f i cul t y of t he wor k whi ch l ay bef or e Al f r ed t her eat Wed mor e, when he had at l ast got f ai r l y r i d ofGut hr um and t he ar my, and was abl e t o t hi nk aboutsomet hi ng el se t han pr ompt f i ght i ng. The wi t anwas 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. Weonl y know, t hat t hey consi der ed and passed t heTr eat y of Wedmor e, and f or f ei t ed t he l ands of cer t ai nnobl 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 nga day l onger t han t hey coul d hel p, as i t must havebeen al r eady get t i ng t owar ds har vest - t i me. Theyl 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 ofbui l di ng up t he nat i on agai n as best i t mi ght pl easehi m

We cannot doubt t hat wi t h At hel ney and Et handunef 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 s t 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 s t act s t o commence t he r est or at i onof t he f or t s and st r ong pl aces. Dr . Gi l es poi nt s outt he st r i k i ng cont r ast i n t hese ear l y war s bet ween t heSaxons and Danes i n t hei r ski l l i n t he er ect i on anduse of f or t i f i cat i ons. Thr ough t he whol e of t hesewar s t he f or mer seem scar cel y ever abl e t o hol d a t ownor f or t , i f we except Cynui t ; whi l e t he Danes neverl ose one. At t he begi nni ng of each year of t he wart he chr oni c l er s r el at e monot onousl y, how t he Paganssei 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 houtdi f f i cul t y, cer t ai nl y wi t h no ser i ous del ay ; but whenonce 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, suchas 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 showhow ski l f ul t hey wer e i n t hese mi l i t ar y ear t hwor ks, andwhat f or mi dabl e pl aces t he cr est s of hi l l s on t he opendowns became under t hei r hands. Al f r ed never l osta hi nt , f or he had a mi nd t hor oughl y humbl e, andt her ef or e open t o t he r ecept i on of new t r ut h ; so i nset t i ng t o wor k t o r est or e t he f or t s whi ch had beendest r oyed or damaged, we may be sur e he pr of i t edby t he l essons of t he gr eat s t 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 haveno hi nt . I n t hi s, as i n al most al l par t s of Al f r ed' swor k, we onl y know t he r esul t s. How ef f i c i ent l y i t

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was done, however , bet ween t he peace of VVedmor eand t he next gr eat war , whi ch br oke out i n S93, wemay gat her f r om t he f act t hat t he gr eat l eader of


t hat i nvasi on, Hast i ng, was never abl e t o t ake ani mpor t ant t own or s t r onghol d.

That t er r i bl e v i k i ng, who f or year s had been t hescour ge of t he Fr ench coast s, was i n t hi s sameaut 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 vaguenot i ces i n t he Chr oni cl es r eal l y mean, t hi nks t hatHast 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 ert he r et ur n of t he Dani sh ki ng and hi s t hi r t y nobl esf r om t hei r bapt i sm at Wedmor e, he l ef t t he ar my,t ak i ng wi t h hi m hi s own f ol l ower s, and al l t hose oft he ar my who r ef used t o become Chr i st i ans, and wi t ht hese sai l ed r ound t he sout h coast , and up t he Thamest o Ful ham. On t he ot her hand, af t er such a l essonof t he power wi el ded by Al f r ed, and hi s capaci t yas 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 oncet o open anot her campai gn i n Wessex. The SaxonChr oni c l e s i mpl y says t hat " a body of pi r at es dr ewt 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 omf or ei gn par t s i nt o t he r i ver Thames, and j oi ned t hear my whi ch was al r eady i n t he count r y . " On t hewhol e, i t seems mor e pr obabl e t hat Hast i ng, orwhoever was t he l eader of t he Danes who wi nt er edat Ful ham i n t hi s year , came f r om abr oad, and wasj 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 ewas 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 nextspr i ng, and r emai ned f ai t hf ul t o t he t er ms of t heTr 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 oanot her at t empt on Al f r ed' s cr own and k i ngdom, andwi t nessi ng t hr ough t he aut umn and wi nt er mont hst he v i gour wi t h whi ch t he Ki ng was pr ov i di ng f or t hedef ence of t he count r y, sai l ed away t o Ghent . Andf r om t hi s t i me, f or upwar ds of f our pr eci ous year s, noband of Pagans l anded on Engl i sh soi l , and t hewhol e l and had r est , and Ki ng Al f r ed l ei sur e t o t ur nt 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 ngof t he f or t r esses al l al ong t he coast coul d now go onwi t hout hi ndr ance. The whol e of t he bookl and ofEngl and was hel d subj ect t o t he bui l di ng of br i dgesand f or t r esses, and mar chi ng agai nst an enemy, sot hat t he whol e manhood of t he k i ngdom mi ght havebeen at once t ur ned upon t hi s wor k. But Al f r edhad l ear ned i n t he f i r s t year s of hi s r ei gn t hat hi s

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peopl e woul d not wel l bear f or c i ng ; mor eover , he hadnew i deas on t he subj ect of bui l di ng ; was f eel i ng hi sway t owar ds t he subst i t ut i on of s t one f or wood- wor k,and i mpor t i ng t he most sk i l l ed masons t o be f oundon t he Cont i nent t o i nst r uct hi s own peopl e. I n hi sscr 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 ; howt hat wi sest of monar chs, by t he f or ced l abour on hi smagni f i cent publ i c wor ks, exhaust ed t he ener gi es andal i enat ed t he af f ect i ons of hi s peopl e, an exampl e t obe car ef ul l y avoi ded by a Chr i s t i an k i 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 asbel onged t o t he Ki ng hi msel f , r ose st eadi l y wi t houthast e and wi t hout pause f r om t hei r r ui ns, wi t h al l t hene^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 . Atf i r st i t di d not f ar e so wel l wi t h t hose whi ch had t obe ent r ust ed t o ot her s, and not hi ng can gi ve us a mor evi v i d i mpr essi on of t he dead wei ght of i ndi f f er enceand st upi di t y whi ch Al f r ed had t o cont end agai nsti n hi s ear l y ef f or t s t han t he passage i n Asser whi chspeaks of t hi s busi ness, of r est or i ng t hese f or t i f i edpl aces. I t occur s under t he year ^Zj , by whi ch t i mei t i s pl ai n, f r om t he end of t he passage, t hat t he Ki nghad t r i umphed over al l hi s di f f i cul t i es, and had i nspi r edt he of f i cer s i n al l par t s of hi s ki ngdom wi t h some ofhi 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 ownswhi ch he r est or ed, and of ot her s whi ch he bui l t wher enone had been bef or e . ' ' of t he r oyal hal l s and chamber swonder f ul l y er ect ed by hi s command, wi t h wood andst 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 tunder hi s di r ect i on i n mor e sui t abl e pl aces . ' " pr obabl ywher e t hey wer e l ess open t o assaul t s , such as t hosewhi ch had t aken Readi ng and Chi ppenham. " Besi dest he di sease above ment i oned, he was di s t ur bed by t hequar r el s of hi s f r i ends, who woul d vol unt ar i l y under gol i t t l e or no t oi l , t hough i t wer e f or t he common needof t he ki ngdom ; but he al one, sust ai ned by t he ai d ofHeaven, l i ke a sk i l f ul pi l ot st r ove t o st eer hi s shi p l adenwi 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, andsuf f er ed t hem not t o f ai nt , or hesi t at e, t hough sai l i ngami dst t he mani f ol d waves and eddi es of t hi s pr esentl i f e. For al l hi s bi shops, ear l s, nobl es, f avour i t emi ni s t er s and pr ef ect s, who, next t o God and t he k i ng,had t he whol e gover nment of t he k i ngdom, as i sf 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 , whent hey cont i nued di sobedi ent , and hi s l ong pat i ence wasexhaust ed, he woul d r epr ove t hem sever el y , andcensur e t hei r vul gar f ol l y and obst i nacy ; and t hushe di r ect ed t hei r at t ent i on t o hi s own wi l l , and t o t hecommon i nt er est s of t he k i ngdom. Owi ng, however ,t o t he sl uggi shness of hi s peopl e, t hese admoni t i ons oft he Ki ng wer e ei t her not f ul f i l l ed, or begun l at e i n t hehour of need, and so f el l out t he l ess t o t he advant age

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of t hose who execut ed t hem. For I wi l l say not hi ngof 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 heenemy br oke i n upon t hem by sea and l and, and, asof t en f el l out , t he t hwar t er s of t he Ki ng' s wi l l r epent edwhen 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 ancewhen 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 tappear s t hat number l ess per sons have had cause f ort oo much sor r ow af t er many i nsi di ous ev i l s havecome t o pass. But t hough by t hese means, sad t osay, t hey may be bi t t er l y af f l i ct ed and r oused t osor 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-


hol d st uf f , what i s t he use of hat ef ul r epent ance, whent hei r k i nsmen ar e dead, and t hey cannot ai d t hem, orr edeem t hose who ar e capt i ve f r om capt i vi t y ? f ort hey ar e not abl e even t o ass i s t t hose who haveescaped, as t hey have not wher ewi t h t o sust ai n event hei r own l i ves. They r epent ed, t her ef or e, when i twas t oo l at e, and gr i eved at t hei r i ncaut i ous negl ect oft he Ki ng' s commands, and pr ai sed t he Ki ng' s wi sdomwi 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 lv/ hat t hey had bef or e r ef used ; t hat i s t o say, t heer ect i on of cast l es, and ot her t hi ngs gener al l y usef ult o t he whol e ki ngdom, "

A v i v i d pi c t ur e, t r ul y, of t he st at e of t hi ngs i nEngl and a t housand year s ago, f or al l of whi ch mi ghtwe not wi t hout much r esear ch f i nd par al l el s enoughi n our own day ? One woul d f ai n hope t hat we ar enot al t oget her wi t hout some equi val ent i n l at e year sf 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 oughwhom he has t o wor k. I t i s r ef r eshi ng t o f i nd abi shop f ai r l y r oused by t hese squabbl es — t hi s un-r easoni ng s l uggi shness of men v/ ho cal l ed t hemsel vest he Ki ng' s f r i ends, and shoul d have been doi ng t hewor 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 odeser ve t he appr obat i on of God or t he Ki ng, i n t hi sbi shop' s j udgment

The r ef er ence t o t he " br eaki ng i n of t he enemy byl and and sea" upon t he unf i i ' i s l 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 hedat e of t he peace of Wedmor e no st r ong pl ace of t heSaxons was t aken dur i ng Al f r ed' s l i f e. I t was notunt i l 885 t hat t he Nor t hmen even vent ur ed on anydescent i n f or ce on t he coast of Engl and. I n t hatyear t he ar my whi ch had gat her ed r ound t he band ofol 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 beenr avagi ng t he banks of t he Meuse and t he Schel dt eversi nce, af t er wi nt er i ng at Ami ens, at l ast br oke i n t wo.

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One hal f , under a l eader whose name has not comedown 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 suddendash at Rochest er . But now f or t he f i r s t t i me t heywer e compl et el y f oi l ed i n t hei r f i r st onsl aught . Theycoul d not s t or m t he pl ace, whi ch was wel l f or t i f i edand gal l ant l y hel d, so t hey t hr ew up st r ong wor ksbef or e t he gat es, i n hopes of t ak i ng t he t own by f ami neor 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 edpr ompt l y i n Kent at t he head of a s t 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 ishi ps, l eavi ng gr eat spoi l whi ch t hey had br oughtwi t h t hem f r om Fr ance, i ncl udi ng a number of hor sesand pr i soner s, i n t hei r f or t i f i ed camp bef or e Rochest erGat e. And so t hey bet ake t hemsel ves t o Fr ance agai n,havi ng f ound t hi s v i s i t t o Engl and ver y deci dedl yunpr of i t abl e.

We may f ai r l y concl ude t hen, t hat by t he year885 t hose pr ovoki ng bi shops, ear l s, nobl es, f avour i t emi ni s t er s, and pr ef ect s, had come t o t hei r senses.


and had l ear nt t o obey t hei r ki ng' s commands, andt o see t hat t her e was good r eason f or anyt hi ng hemi ght set t hem t o , wor k on. Thus, as t he f r ui t ofyear s of pat i ent and st eady pr essur e, at l ast Al f r edhas hi s f or t s i n or der , a chai n of t hem al l r ound t hesout her n coast some say, and hi s r oyal r esi dences andl ar ger t owns f or t he most par t suf f i c i ent l y pr ot ect edagai nst sudden at t ack, so f ar as wal l s and di t ches wi l lsecur e t hem. London onl y st i l l l i es i n a mi ser abl ydef encel ess st at e, al l t he best par t s i n r ui ns, t her espect abl e i nhabi t ant s f l ed acr oss seas or i nt oWessex ; and onl y a wi l d, l awl ess popul at i on, t hesweepi ngs of many nat i ons and t r i bes, l ef t t o hauntt he r i ver s i de, pi cki ng up a pr ecar i ou- s l i v i ng, no onecan t el l how, and r eady t o j oi n any band of mar auder swho mi ght be maki ng use of t he deser t ed houses.The gr eat c i t y whi ch had been al most abl e t o s t andal one, and asser t i t s i ndependence of Mer ci a or of anyover l or d, ever si nce Et hel wul f ' s t i me, has f al l en t o bea mer e col ony of ' l ong- shor e men, gat her i ng r oundchangi ng bands of pi r at es. The ci t y has been Al f r ed' sever si nce t he Tr eat y of Wedmor e, and he has beenno doubt car ef ul l y consi der i ng what can be done, andpr 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 ycoast 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, andhe mar ches on London wi t h a suf f i c i ent f or ce t o dealwi t h such or gani zed bands of Nor t hmen as mi ght f ort 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 c l e speaks of a s i ege, andHunt i ngdon' s of a * gr eat f or ce of Danes, ' who f l edwhen t he pl ace was i nvest ed ; but t he Saxon Chr oni cl eand Asser cont ai n no hi nt , ei t her of a si ege, or of any

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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 houta bl ow. Her e, i n what had been even i n Romant i mes t he gr eat commer ci al capi t al of Engl and, hi sspl endi d or gani zi ng t al ent s had f ul l scope dur i ng t heyear . The account s i n t he best aut hor i t i es agr eeent i r el y as t o t hi s wor k of S?>6. They ar e shor t andgr aphi c. " I n t hi s year Al f r ed, Ki ng of t he WestSaxons, af t er t he bur ni ng of ci t i es and s l ayi ng of t hepeopl e, honour abl y r ebui l t t he ci t y of London, andmade i t agai n habi t abl e. He gave i t i nt o t he cust odyof hi s son- i n- l aw Et hel r ed, al der man of Mer ci a ; t owhi ch k i ng al l t he Angl es and Saxons who bef or ehad been di sper sed ever ywher e, or wer e i n bondageunder t he Pagans, vol unt ar i l y t ur ned, and submi t t edt hemsel ves t o hi s domi ni on. " The f or ei gn masonsand mechani cs, of whom Al f r ed by t hi s t i me hadl ar ge number s i n hi s r egul ar pay, made swi f t wor kwi t h t he r ebui l di ng of London ; and wi t hi n a f ewyear s, under Et hel r ed' s r ul e, t he c i t y had r egai nedi t s ol d pr e- emi nence. Saxons, Angl es, and Danest hr onged t o i t i ndi scr i mi nat el y , t he l at t er occupyi ngt hei r own quar t er s. A col ony of t hem set t l ed on t hesout her n si de of t he r i ver , and bui l t Sout hwar k ( Sydvi r ke, t he sout her n f or t i f i cat i on) , wher e one of t hepr i nc i pal t hor oughf ar es, Tool ey St r eet ( a cor r upt i onof St . Ol ave' s St r eet ) , s t i l l bear s t he name of t hes. L. vi n. L


pat r on sai nt of Nor way. On t he nor t her n s i de oft he Thames al so, t o t he west of t he c i t y, t hey est a-bhshed anot her set t l ement , i n whi ch was t hei r chi efbur i al - pl ace, and named i t St . Cl ement Danes. Wemay r eckon t he r ebui l di ng and r eset t l ement of Londonas t he cr owni ng act of t he Ki ng' s wor k as a r est or erof t he f enced c i t i es of hi s r eal m, and have now t of ol l ow hi m, as wel l as t he conf used mat er i al s at ourcommand wi l l al l ow us, i n ot her depar t ment s no l essdi 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 ngor der out of chaos, and economi zi ng and devel opi ngt he gr eat r esour ces of hi s ki ngdom.

CHAPTER XI I I .

THE k i 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 hanheads oz>er you, capt ai ns over hundr eds, and capt ai ns over f i f t i es, andcapt 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 houghtof f i r s t , and pr essed on most v i gor ousl y, was af t eral 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 ooki n hand at once, goi ng st r ai ght t o t he r oot of t hemat t er , as i ndeed was al ways t he habi t wi t h t hi ski ng, hi s whol e nat ur e bei ng of a t hor oughness whi chwoul d never al l ow hi m t o wor k onl y on t he sur f ace.

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I t i s by no means easy t o under st and t he mi l i t ar yor gani zat i on of t he West Saxons bef or e Al f r ed' sr ei gn, i f i ndeed t hey had anyt hi ng t hat may becal l ed an or gani zat i on. That ever y f r eeman wasl i abl e t o a cal l t o ar ms whenever t he count r y wast hr eat ened by an enemy, or t he ki ng was bent oni nvadi ng hi s nei ghbour ' s t er r i t or y — and t hat t he ki nghad no f or ce of hi s own, but was i n t he hands of hi sal 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 hany accur acy how t he cal l was made, what wer e t hepenal t i es f or di sobeyi ng i t , or t he condi t i ons of ser v i cei n t he f i el d, — whet her t he sol di er r ecei ved pay andr at i ons, or had t o suppor t hi msel f . So f ar as we cangat her f r om t he meagr e account s of t he war s i nEt hel wul f ' s and Et hel r ed' s r ei gn, and of Al f r ed' sear l y campai gns, as soon as danger t hr eat ened t heher edi t ar y al der man of t he shi r e near est t he poi ntof at t ack summoned al l f r eehol der s wi t hi n hi s j ur i s -di c t i on, and t ook t he f i el d at once, whi l e t he k i ng,t hr ough t hei r al der men, gat her ed t r oops i n ot hershi r es, and br ought t hem up t o t he scene of act i onas f ast as he coul d. Thus i n 86 1 t he Al der menOsr i c and Et hel wul f , wi t h t he men of Hant s andBer ks, f el l at once upon t he pi l l ager s of Wi nchest erwi 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 ofEngl ef i el d wi t h t he f i r st di v i s i on of t he Dani sh ar myf r om Readi ng, onl y t hr ee days af t er t he ar r i val oft he Pagans, bef or e Et hel r ed and Al f r ed can comeup. Mor e i nst ances mi ght be c i t ed, i f needed, t oshow t hat ei t her t he penal t i es on s l ackness i n comi ngt o must er wer e ver y shar p, or t hat t he zeal of t heWest Saxons f or f i ght i ng was of t he st r ongest . As ar ul e, t he men of t he shi r e mi ght ev i dent l y be r el i edon t o meet t he f i r s t br unt of at t ack. I t i s equal l ycl ear t hat t hese l evi es coul d not be depended uponf or any l engt hened t i me. They dwi ndl ed away af t era 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 hesyst em was pr act i cal l y, t o a gr eat ext ent , a vol unt ar yone, and ver y • uncer t ai n i n i t s oper at i on, t hr owi ngal t oget her unf ai r bur dens now on t hi s di s t r i ct , nowon t he ot her , as t he Pagans gai ned a f or t i f i ed posi t i oni 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 seent he di sadvant age at whi ch he and t he West Saxonswer e pl aced by t hi s haphazar d syst em, and havegr adual l y mat ur ed t he changes whi ch he was nowabl 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 k i ngdom wasdi v i ded i nt o t hr ee par t s or compani es. Of t hese, onecompany was cal l ed out , Asser says, and r emai ned

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on dut y, " ni ght and day, f or one mont h, af t er whi cht hey r et ur ned t o t hei r homes, and wer e r el i eved byt he second company. At t he end of t he secondmont h, i n t he same way, t he t hi r d company r el i ev^edt he second, who r et ur ned t o t hei r homes, wher e t heyspent t wo mont hs, " unt i l t hei r t ur n f or ser vi ce camer ound agai n. No mi l i t ar y ser v i ce was r equi r ed ofany man beyond t hr ee mont hs i n t he year , so t hatdur i ng t he t hr ee wi nt er mont hs nei t her of t he t hr eemi l i t ar y compani es was on dut y. Of t he companyon dut y f or t he t i me bei ng, a por t i on was t ol d of f f ort 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 s t 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 downt 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 ymai nt ai ned under ar ms by Al f r ed. For , what evermay have been t he case i n t he t i mes of hi s f at herand br ot her s, t her e can be l i t t l e doubt t hat he bot hmai nt ai ned and pai d hi s sol di er s. Thi s appear s f r omhi s own wr i t i ngs, as wel l as f r om t he chr oni cl er s. Af t erdecl ar i ng t hat he had never much year ned af t erear 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 ofBoet hi us) : " Never t hel ess I was desi r ous of mat er i al sf 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 c i seI he power whi ch was ent r ust ed t o me. Mor eover , noman can show any sk i l l , or exer ci se or cont r ol anypower , wi t hout t ool s and mat er i al s; t hat i s , of ever ycr 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 , andhi s t ool s t o r ei gn wi t h — t hat he have hi s l and wel lpeopl ed. He must have bead- men and sol di ensand wor kmen ; wi t hout t hese t ool s no ki ng can showhi s cr af t . Thi s i s al so hi s mat er i al t hat he musthave as wel l as t he t ool s — pr ovi si on f or t he t hr eecl 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 c l ot hes,and what soever i s necessar y f or t he t hr ee c l 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 chhe i s commanded t o per f or m. Ther ef or e I wasdesi r ous of mat er i al s wher ewi t h t o exer ci se t hepower , t hat my wor k and t he r epor t t her eof shoul dnot 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 overi 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 orcr af t . Thi s I wi l l now t r ul y say, t hat whi l e I havel i ved I have st r i ven t o l i ve wor t hi l y , and af t er myl i f e t o l eave t o t he men who wer e af t er me mymemor y i n good wor ks. "

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I coul d not t ouch t he passage wi t hout quot i ng i twhol e ; f or , whi l e t r eadi ng on danger ous gr ound, i tseems t o me t o vi ndi cat e " ki ngcr af t " as Al f r edunder st ood and pr act i sed i t , and t o t hr ow a gl eamof l i ght on hi s br ave and pi ous l i f e whi ch we cannotspar e, " Ki ngcr 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 sof f i ce, as he under st ood i t . A cont empt i bl e, not t osay hat ef ul meani ng, whi ch t he phr ase has r et ai nedever si nce i n Engl and. Al f r ed' s i dea of k i ngcr af ti 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. Thet wo i deas ar e as wi de apar t as t he char act er andwor k of t he t wo k i 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 madeof hi s i ncome, says t hat one- t hi r d of t he par t whi ch hedevot ed t o secul ar pur poses went t o pay hi s sol di er sand mi ni s t er s ; and Fl or ence, t hat " he gave t he f i r stpor 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' si ncome, i t i s qui t e i mpossi bl e t o suppose t hat one-


si x t h of i t coul d have f ound weapons, meat , al e, andcl ot hes, as wel l as pay, f or anyt hi ng l i ke a t hi r d ofhi s avai l abl e f or ce. I t i s pr obabl e, t hen, t hat onl y asmal l par t of t he company whose t ur n i t mi ght bef or act i ve ser v i ce wer e act ual l y cal l ed out , and keptunder 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 nderof t he company wer e not pai d, unl ess t hey t oo wer eact ual l y cal l ed out , t hough dur i ng t hei r mont h t heywer 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 twer e possi bl e t o ascer t ai n t he pr ec i se det ai l of Al f r ed' smi l i t ar y r ef or ms. The essence and r esul t of t hem i scl ear enough ; namel y, t hat he had al ways a f ul lt hi r d of hi s whol e f or ce r eady t o act agai nst anenemy at a moment ' s not i ce, and t hat t he bur densof mi l i t ar y ser vi ce wer e equal l y di st r i but ed over t hewhol e k i ngdom.

Si de by s i 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 heKi ng pushed on wi t h ener gy t he const r uct i on of sucha navy as woul d enabl e hi m t o beat t he Nor t hmenon t hei r own el ement . We have seen t hat , ear l yi n hi s f i r s t shor t i nt er val of peace, he was busywi t h t hi s wor k, havi ng no doubt even t hen sat i sf i edhi msel f t hat hi s ki ngdom coul d onl y be ef f ect ual l ydef ended by sea. I n 875 he put s t o sea f or t hef i r st t i me, and f i ght s hi s f i r s t naval bat t l e wi t h suc -cess, t ak i ng one of t he sea- k i ng' s shi ps. Thi s w' i l ihave gi ven hi m a model upon whi ch t o i mpr ove

JVA/ ^ OFFI CE AND ADMI RALTY. 153

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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 k i ngdom, i n or der t hat he mi ght of f er bat t l eby sea t o t he enemy as t hey wer e comi ng, and onboar d of t hese he pl aced seamen, and appoi nt edt hem t o wat ch t he seas. " The r esul t of t hi s wi sef or es i ght was t he dest r uct i on of t he Dani sh f l eetof 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 hant he enemy' s, unt i l Al f r ed' s pr act i cal sagaci t y andgeni 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 c l e pl aces i t as l at e as S97, buti t wi l l be conveni ent t o not i ce i t her e whi l e we ar eon t he subj ect . The vessel s t hen whi ch, af t er muchst udy of t he mat t er , he or der ed t o be bui l t , wer et wi ce as l ong and hi gh as t hose of t he Danes, andhad f or t y , si xt y, or i n some i nst ances even a l ar gernumber of oar s. They wer e al so, i t i s sai d, swi f t erand st eadi er t han t he ol der vessel s, as wel l as l ongerand hi gher , and " wer e shapen nei t her l i ke t he Fr i si annor t he Dani sh, but so as i t seemed t o t he Ki ng t heywoul d be most ef f i c i 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 hesame t i me i t i s not easy t o i magi ne how t he accounti n t he Chr oni cl e can be cor r ect . Gal l eys woul dnat 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


some def i ni t e and i mmedi at e pi ece of f i ght i ng, andt he Ki ng' s r egul ar f l eet was manned by sai l or s ofmany t r i bes, — Fr i s i 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 hhi m. And al l t hese, of what ever r ace, " accor di ngt o t hei r mer i t s , wer e r ul ed, l oved, honour ed, andenr i ched by Al f r ed. " And i n t hi s depar t ment , as i nhi s mi l i t ar y r ef or ms, r esul t s at once and abundant l yj ust i f i ed hi s sagaci t y, f or he was never badl y wor st edi n a sea- f i ght , and t owar ds t he end of hi s r ei gn hi sf l eet had swept t he coast s of Engl and c l ear of t hesea- r over s.

Wi t hi n t wo year s af t er t he peace of Wedmor e t hef l eet was r eady t o go t o sea, and i t was not a day t oosoon. At no f or mer t i me, i ndeed, wer e t he west er ncoast 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 oweak f r agment s, was over r un by t hem. The ar myt 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 omNor way and Denmar k, had l ef t Ghent i n 88 1, andl 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 anceand 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 si n t he hope of pl under , i n t he summer of 882, andf i nd t he Ki ng r eady f or t hem. Al f r ed hi msel f goes

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t o meet t hem ; and of t he f our Dani sh vessel s t wower e t aken f i ght i ng and al l hands k i 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 era desper at e r es i s t ance, " They wer e sor el y di s t r essedand wounded, " t he Chr oni c l e r emar ks, " bef or e t heysur 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 k i ngdom was put t o anysever e t est was not unt i l t hr ee year s l at er , when t heat 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 backt o t he t i me when Gut hr um At hel s t an cr ossed t heMer ci an bor der s, under sol emn pl edges t o set t l equi 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 af r i endl y but i ndependent ki ngdom. Unl ucki l y f ort he good r esol ut i ons of t he new conver t , t her e was at empt er at hi s el bow. One I sembar t , a near r el at i veof Car l oman, ki ng of t he West er n Fr anks, had beenexi l ed by t hat monar ch, and had ser ved wi t h Gut hr umi n hi s l ast i nvasi on of Wessex. He i s bound f or hi sown count r y , wher e t her e ar e al l manner of chancesi n t hese t i mes f or r ebel s ; and t he k i ng of East Angl i a,unabl e t o r es i s t t he scent of bat t l e and t he chancesof pl under , accompani es hi m wi t h a f or ce. Af t er ashor t car eer of at r oc i 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 EastAngl i a, havi ng, on t he one hand, r oused Al f r ed' ssuspi ci ons, and on t he ot her r est or ed hi s own r el at i onswi t h Hast i ng and t he Nor t her n bands. Dur i ng t henext year or t wo set t l ement s of pi r at es ar e al l owedt o est abl i sh t hemsel ves on t he East Angl i an coast s,


and bef or e 885 sever al of t he host ages gi ven t o Al f r edaf t er t he bat t l e of Et handune had di ed, and t hei rpl aces r emai ned unf i l l ed. I n shor t , t her e ar e t hegr avest r easons f or Al f r ed t o doubt t he good f ai t h,or t he goodwi l l , of Gut hr um At hel s t an and hi speopl e.

At t hi s cr i s i s came t he Dani sh descent on Kentand s i ege of Rochest er , abandoned pr eci pi t at el y byt he i nvader s on t he pr ompt advance of Al f r ed, Theyf l ed t o t hei r shi ps and made of f , some back t o t heFr 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 s t ance i n Bemf l eetand ot her pl aces, whi ch had become l i t t l e bet t er t hannest s of heat hen pi r at es, wi t hout any hi ndr ance, i f notwi t h t he open sanct i on, of t he ex - v i k i 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 nowf ai r l y exhaust ed, and, r esol ved t o gi ve hi s f ai t hl essal l y a sever e l esson, he gat her s a f l eet at once i n t heMedway, put s t r oops on boar d, and sends t hem af t ert 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

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West Saxon f l eet soon f el l i n wi t h si xt een Dani shvessel s, f ol l owed t hem up t he St our , and, af t er a har df i ght , t ook t he whol e of t hem, and put t he cr ews t ot 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 ancoast hast i l y got t oget her anot her f l eet , wi t h whi cht hey at t acked t he Ki ng' s f l eet at t he mout h of t her i ver " whi l e t hey wer e r eposi ng, " and gai ned someadvant age over t hem.

I I

I VA/ i OFFI CE AND ADMI RALTY. 157

The Saxon Chr oni c l e and Asser bot h add t o t heoccur r ences of t he year t hat " t he ar my whi ch dwel ti n East Ai i gl i a di sgr acef ul l y br oke t he peace whi cht hey had concl uded wi t h Ki ng Al f r ed. " Dr . Paul ial so not i ces a vi si t of Rol l o t o East Angl i a at t hi ssame t i me, t he gr eat vi ki ng havi ng qui t t ed t he s i egeof Par i s t o answer t he summons of hi s ol d comr adei n ar ms. But t he Engl i sh chr oni cl er s ar e si l ent ont he subj ect , and i t woul d seem t hat t he c l oud passedaway wi t hout f ur t her host i l i t i es. Al f r ed had ever yr 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 ofhi s r e- or gani zed f l eet and ar my, and had r ead t hepeopl e of t he East Angl i an coast a l esson whi ch t heywoul d not l i ght l y f or get . Gut hr um At hel st an, f or hi spar t , may have ei t her r epent ed of hi s bad f ai t h, andr 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 andspeedy def eat t o be gai ned by an open r upt ur e wi t hAl f r ed. I n any case he t ook no act i ve st ep t o avenget he i nvasi on of hi s k i ngdom, or t o r et al i at e, and f r omt hat t i me l i ved peaceabl y t o t he day of hi s deat hi n 890.

" A Pr i nce, t hen, " says Machi avel l i ( cap. x i v. ) , " i s t ohave no ot her desi gn, nor t hought , nor st udy but warand t he ar t s and di sc i pl i nes t her eof : f or i ndeed t hi si s t he onl y possessi on wor t hy of a pr i nce, and i s of somuch i mpor t ance t hat i t not onl y pr eser ves t hose t hatar e bor n pr i nces i n t hei r pat r i moni es, but advancesmen 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


I t al i an wi l l agr ee t o t hi s ext ent , t hat t he ar t s anddi sci pl i nes of war shoul d f or m t he mai n obj ect of apr i nce' s st udy unt i l he has made hi s count r y as saf eagai nst f or ei gn at t ack as i t can be made wi t houtdwar f i ng t he nat i on' s l i f e. Thi s i s what Al f r ed di df or hi s k i ngdom and peopl e, bet ween t he peace ofWedmor e and t he aut umn of 885. Hi s r ewar d waspr of ound peace f or ei ght mor e j ^ear s.

I

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CHAPTER XI V. .

THE k i 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 k i ng' s next wor k af t er put t i ng hi s ki ngdom i na st at e of def ence, and t o t he best of hi s abi Ht yensur i ng hi s peopl e a saf e count r y t o l i ve i n, i s t ogi ve t hem l aws f or t he or der i ng and gover ni ng oft hei r l i ves.

Thi s busi ness of l ayi ng down r ul es as t o how hi sEngl 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 haiany k i 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 oi nqui r e car ef ul l y how much of t he t r oubl e and mi ser ywhi ch has come upon t he l and si nce hi s t i me has beencaused by t he want of Al f r ed' s spi r i t i n t hi s mat t erof 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 enceas most nat i ons of what s t r ong men, or st r ong cl assesof 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 nl aws, ar e onl y some of t he best known i nst ances ofat t empt s i n t hi s di r ect i on. The St at ut e- book i s notyet c l ear of t hem, and who can hope t hat we haveseen t hei r end, t hough j ust at pr esent t her e i s happi l yno cl ass st r ong enough t o i mpose i t s own wi l l on t henat 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 s l at i on, as i t has been cal l ed — adesi r e t o r i de of f on s i de i ssues, not t o meet ourdi 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 sucht 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 s i 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 herdepar t ment s of human l i f e, t he l oss of f ai t h i n Godi s bear i ng i t s f r ui t , and t ak i ng al l ner ve and t one outof our syst em. For t hat l oss must be f at al t o al lhi gh i deal , and wi t hout a hi gh i deal no peopl e wi l lever have or make good l aws. Al f r ed has l ef t us nodoubt as t o hi s . Ther e i s an or der l ai d down f r omever l ast i ng f or t he gover nment of manki nd, so hebel 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 ndsi t about hi s pat h, and about hi s bed, est abl i shedal r eady on ever y si de of hi m. He has become awar eof 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 hasbeen educat ed by t hese i nt o t he knowl edge t hat he,

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t he Ki ng, i s hi msel f under a gover nment , even t hegover 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 si n t he hear t s and wi l l s of men. Rul i ng and maki ngl aws ar e no l i ght mat t er t o one who has made t hi sdi scover y ; he can exer ci se nei t her f unct i on accor di ngt 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 seand decl ar e t hose et er nal l aws of God — as a r ul er , t obr i ng hi s own l i f e, and t hat of hi s peopl e, i nt oaccor dance wi t h t hem.

Comi ng, t hen, t o hi s t ask wi t h t hi s v i ew, we f i ndAl 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 hatt he second commandment i s omi t t ed i n i t s r i ghtpl ace, and st ands as t he t ent h ( i n t he wor ds of t he23d ver se of t he 20t h of Exodus) , " Wor k not t houf or t hysel f gol den gods or si l ver , " and t hat i n t hef our t h t he Saxon t ext r uns, " I n si x days Chr i stwr ought t he heavens and ear t h and al l shapen t hi ngst hat i n t hem ar e, and r est ed on t he sevent h day : andf or t hat t he Lor d hal l owed i t . " The subst i t ut i on ofChr i s t f or t he Lor d her e i s char act er i s t 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 s l i ght l ymodi f i ed.

The most i mpor t ant var i at i ons ar e as f ol l ow : —

Exodus xx i . 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 hatwhi 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 s t i an bondsman, be heS. L. Vl l l . J j J

l 62


si x year s he shal l ser ve, and i nt he sevent h he shal l go out f r eef or not hi ng.

3. I f he came i n by hi msel f , heshal l go out by I i i msel f : i f he wer emar r i ed, t hen hi s wi f e shal l go outwi t h hi m.

4. I f hi s mast er have gi ven hi ma wi f e, and she have bor n hi m

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sons or daught er s ; t he wi f e andher 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 lpl ai nl y say, I l ove my mast er , mywi f e, and my chi l dr en ; I wi l l notgo out f r ee :

6. Then hi s i t i ast er shal l br i nghi m unt o t he j udges ; he shal l al sobr i ng hi m unt o t he door , or unt ot he door post , and hi s mast er shal lbor 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 s i x year s, t hesevent h be he f r ee unbought . Wi t hsuch cl ot hes as he went i n, wi t hsuch go he out . I f he hi msel fhave 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 awi f e, go she and her bai r n t hel or d' s. I f t hen t he bondsmansay, 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 mybai r n, nor f r om my goods, l ett hen hi s l or d br i ng hi m t o t hechur ch door , and dr i l l t hr oughhi s ear wi t h an awl , t o wi t nesst hat he be ever t hencef or t h abondsman.

The dooms cont i nue an al most l i t er al t r anscr i ptof t he 2 1st chapt er of Exodus, wi t h t he except i onof t he 17t h ver se, whi ch i s omi t t ed. The sl i ghtmodi f i cat i ons of t he Hebr ew Law i n t he f i r s t ver sesof t he 2 2d chapt er ar e agai n char act er i s t i c.

Exodus xx i i .

1. I f a man shal l s t eal an ox ora sheep and k i l l i t , or sel l i t , heshal 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 ngup, and be smi t t en t hat he di e,t her e shal l no bl ood be shed f orhi 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 ' sox, and s l ay or sel l hi m, gi ve het 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.

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25. I f a t hi ef br eak a man' shouse by ni ght and be t her e s l 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 oir 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 oundt 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 anyr 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 lf eed i n anot her man' s f i el d ; of t hebest of hi s own f i el d, and of t hebest of hi s own v i neyar d, shal l hemake 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 edt o anot her , Al f r ed' s dooms add, " I f i t wer e Hvecat t l e, and he say t hat t he ar my t ook i t , or t hat i tdi ed of i t sel f , and he have v. ' i t ness, he need not payf or i t . I f he have no wi t ness, and t hey bel i eve hi mnot , l et hi m t hen swear . " We shal l see t hat t heobl i gat i on of an oat h, whi ch had no sanct i on at t achedt o i t appar ent l y by West Saxon l aw t i l l now, i sver 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 hver se of t he chapt er i ncl us i ve, t ak i 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 heSaxons ar e t o r et ur n a man' s pl edged gar ment bef or esunset onl y " i f he have but one wher ewi t h t o coverhi m. "

The 3d and 6t h ver ses of t he 23d chapt er ar c apuzzl e t o t he Ki ng, so he subst i t ut es dooms i n hi sown l anguage, whi ch ar e cer t ai nl y c l ear er t han t heHebr ew ones.

M 2

164

LI FE UF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Exodus xx i i i . 3, 6.

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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 hej 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 heweal t hy, anot her t o t he poor ; norone doom t o t he mor e l oved, ot hert 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 ngf or m : —

Exodus xx i r i . 7, 8, 9.

7. Keep t hee f ar f r om a f al semat t er , and t he i nnocent andr i ght eous s l ay t hou not , f or I wi l lnot 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 her i ght eous.

9. Al so t hou shal t not oppr ess ast r anger , f or ye know t he hear t ofa s t r anger , seei ng ye wer e st r anger si 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, s l ay t hou hi m never .

46. Take t hou never meedmoni es, f or t hey bl i nd f ul l of t v t ' i semen' s t hought s, and t ur n as i det hei r wor ds.

47. To t he st r anger and comerf r om abr oad, meddl e t hou notwi t h hi m, nor oppr ess t hou hi mwi t h no unr i ght .

Then, omi t t i ngal l t he r est of t he Levi t i cal l aw asgi ven i n t hi s par t of Exodus, as t o cul t i vat i on of t hel and, t he sabbat i cal year , sacr i f i ces, and f east s, t hedooms 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.

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The ol d Odi n wor shi p i s not yet qui t e ext i nct i nWessex.

Havi ng f i ni shed hi s ext r act s f r om Exodus, i n al lf 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 Godhi msel f spake t o Moses, and bade hi m t o hol d ; and


when t he Lor d' s onl y- begot t en Son, our God, t hat i s,Chr i s t t he heal er , on mi ddl e ear t h came, He sai d t hatHe 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 ednessand l owl y- mi ndedness t o t each t hem. Then af t er Hi st hr oes, er e t hat Hi s apost l es wer e gone t hr ough al l t hewor 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 et hey al l t oget her wer e, t hey send er r and- doer s t oAnt i och, and t o Syr i a, Chr i st ' s l aw t o t each. Whent hey under st ood t hat t hey sped not , t hen sent t heyan er r andwr i t i ng t o t hem. " Then f ol l ows ver bat i mJames' epi s t l e f r om t he Jer usal em counci l t o t heChur ch at Ant i och ; af t er whi ch Al f r ed agai n goeson : " That ye wi l l t hat ot her men do not t o you, doye not t hat t o ot her men. Fr om t hi s one doom aman may t hi nk t hat he shoul d doom ever y oner i ght l y ; he need keep no ot her doom- book. Lethi m t ake heed t hat he doom t o no man t hat hewoul d not t hat he doom t o hi m, i f he sought doomover 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 Godhi 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 ngdooms st and on di f f er ent gr ound. They ar e such ashave been or dai ned by hi s f or ef at her s and t hei r wi semen, wi t h such addi t i ons and var i at i ons as he and hi swi 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 s t ' s f ai t h, and t her e wer e many synodst hr ough al l t he mi ddl e ear t h gat her ed, and eket hr oughout t he Engl i sh r ace t hey t ook t o Chr i s t ' sf 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 hatChr i s t t aught as t o al most ever y mi sdeed, t hat t hewor l dl y l or ds mi ght , wi t h t hei r l eave, wi t hout s i n, f ort 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 cht hey dur st not decl ar e any mi l d- hear t edness, f or t hatt he Al mi ght y God doomed none t o t hem t hatsl i ght ed Hi m, nor Chr i s t , God' s Son, doomed nonet o hi m t hat sol d Hi m t o deat h, and He bade t ol ove a l or d as hi msel f " Never t hel ess, Al f r ed andhi s wi t an, by t he 4t h ar t i c l e of t hei r code, modi f y

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t hi s of t he synods, and pl ace t he k i ng and l or ds ont he same f oot i ng as ot her f r eemen, by r ecogni s i ngt he k i ng' s and l or ds' wer e- gi l d. " They t hen, " t hepr ef ace goes on, " i n many synods set a boot f ormany mi sdeeds of men ; and i n many books t heywr 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 shel d, t hose t hat t o me seemed good : and many oft hose t hat seemed not good I set as i de wi t h mywi 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 oset i n wr i t i ng, f or t hat i t was unknown t o me whatof t hi s woul d be accept abl e t o t hose t hat came af t erus. But t hose t hat I met wi t h, ei t her i n my ki nsmanI na' s days, or i n Of f a' s, k i ng of Mer ci a, or i n Et hel


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 hemher ei n, and l et t he ot her s al one. I t hen, Al f r ed, Ki ngof 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 hemt o hol d. "

Then f ol l ow t he col l ect ed dooms, appr oved byAl f r ed and hi s wi t an, f r om ot her sour ces, and " I na' sdooms " by t hemsel ves, at t he end of t he code. Wehave onl y r oom f or a f ew of t hose whi ch besti 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 soat h and hi s pl edge. I f any man i s f or ced t o ei t herof 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 of ul f i l . I f he, however , pl edge what i t i s r i ght f orhi 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 endst o hol d, and be f or t y ni ght s i n pr i son i n a ki ng' st own, and suf f er t her e as t he bi shop assi gns hi m ;and l et hi s k i nsmen f eed hi m i f he hi msel f have nomeat . I f he have no k i nsmen, or no f ood, l et t heki 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 thi s weapons and i nher i t ance. I f one s l ay hi m, l ethi 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 mbe 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 manbe hi s sur et y, l et hi m make boot f or t he br each ofsur 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-

Page89 of 174

t i oned i n t he Saxon l aws. The doom f or t r eason t owhi ch Al f r ed r ef er s i n hi s pr ef ace as t he unpar -donabl e s i n, and whi ch i n f act modi f i es t hat s t ar t l i ngasser 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 eby hi msel f , or by pr ot ect i ng out l aws, or t hei r men. behe l i abl e i n hi s l i f e, and i n ai l t hat he owns. I f hewi l l pr ove hi msel f t r ue, l et hi m do i t by t he ki ng' swer e- gi l d. I n l i ke manner we al so appoi nt f or al lr anks, bot h chur l and ear l . He t hat i s t r eacher ousabout 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 lt 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 manseek sanct uar y f or any cr i me whi ch has not comet o l i ght , and conf ess i t i n God' s name, " be i t hal ff or gi ven. "

The set t l ement of t he boot f or of f ences agai nstwomen f or m a pr omi nent par t of t he code. Fr om oneof t hese dooms ( 8) i t woul d seem t hat a nun mi ght bemar r i ed wi t h t he l eave of t he k i ng or t he bi shop, asa f i ne of 120 shi l l i ngs ( hal f t o go t o t he ki ng, andhal f t o t he bi shop and t he l or d of t he convent ) i si nf l i ct ed f or t ak i 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 her esponsi bi l i t y of t he sever al sect i ons of soci et y f ort hei r i ndi v i dual member s, may be wel l i l l ust r at edby t he dooms as t o " ki nl ess men. " " I f a manki nl ess of f at her ' s k i n f i ght , and sl ay a man, t heni f he have mot her ' s k i n, l et t hem f i nd a t hi r d of t hewer e, hi s gui l d br et hr en a t hi r d, and f or a t hi r d l ethi m f l ee. I f he have no mot her ' s ki n, l et hi s gui l dbr et hr en pay hal f , and f or hal f l et hi m f l ee. I f aman s l ay a ki nl ess man, l et hal f hi s wer e be pai dt 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 ywer e assessed may be gat her ed f r om t he doom f orhousebr eaki ng ( 40) , by whi ch bur gl ar y i n t he k i ng' shouse 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 oral der man' s si xt y shi l l i ngs, a t wel ve hynde man' st hi r t y shi l l i ngs, a s i 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 hear my i s out , " or dur i ng Lent . I n l aws of ear l i er dat et he same penal t i es had been f i xed f or of f ences agai nstt he k i ng and agai nst bi shops. Now t he k i ng hasest 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 stest abl i shed a syst em of ent ai l i n Engl and. Ther e i sno 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 notgi ve i t f r om hi s ki n, i f t her e be wr i t i ng or wi t nesst 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.

Page90 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 ought hese l aws of t he st at e of soci et y of a t housand year ssi nce i s i n t he doom as t o f euds. I t i s t oo l ong t oquot e, but i n subst ance amount s t o t hi s : a man whohas a f eud wi t h anot her may not f i ght hi m, i f hef i nds hi m at home, wi t hout f i r s t demandi ng r i ghtof hi m ; even t hen, he may not f i ght hi m f or sevendays i f he wi l l r emai n wi t hi n. I f he come upon hi mabr oad unawar es, he may f i ght hi m i f he wi l l notgi ve up hi s weapons ; i f he wi l l , t hen he must " hol dhi 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 snot s t at ed) . A man may f i ght f or hi s l or d, and al or d f or hi s man, wi t hout f eud. He may al so f i ghtf or hi s bor n ki nsman wi t hout f eud, except agai nsthi s l or d, " t hat we al l ow not . " He may al so wi t houtf eud f i ght any man whom he f i nds i nsul t i ng hi s wi f e,daught er , s i s t er , or mot her .

Hol i days, or Massday Fest i val s, ar e pr ovi ded f oral l f r eemen ; t wel ve days at Yul e, " and t he day t hatChr i s t 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 PopeGr egor y) , and a f or t ni ght at East er , St . Pet er ' s andSt . 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 Wednesdaysi 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 everany 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 ot he val ui ng of wounds of al l k i nds, t he boot s r angi ngf 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 endonsof t he neck. A man gui l t y of sl ander shal l l osehi s t ongue, or pay f ul l wer e- gi l d.

Amongst t he dooms of " I na my k i nsman, " whi char e appended t o Al f r ed' s, we may not e t hat as t owor ki ng on Sundays. I f a t heow wor k on Sundayby hi s l or d' s or der , t he l or d must pay t hi r t y shi l l i ngsf or wi t e ; i f wi t hout hi s l or d' s or der , " l et hi m payhi 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 thi s f r eedom, or pay s i x t y shi l l i ngs, and a pr i est mustf or f ei t doubl e.

A chance of escape i s l ef t , however , f or t he t heowwho has become l i abl e t o " hi de gi l d " under t hedoom on " Chur ch scot s: " " I f any man f or f ei thi 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 fany 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 sa t hi ef ; ^^ but , i f any one f el l many t r ees i n a wood,

Page91 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 manyt her e mi ght be, because t Ji e axe i s an i nf or mer , not at hi ef But i f any one cut down a t r ee under whi cht hi r t y svv^ i ne may st and, l et hi m pay s i x t y shi l l i ngs wi t e. "

The doom agai nst l ur k i ng i n secr et pl aces, al r eadynot 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 outof t he hi ghway, and nei t her shout nor bl ow hor n, hemay be sl ai n.


By such dooms, t hen, di d t he Ki ng and hi s wi t anendeavour t o wel d i nt o t he ever yday Hf e of a r udepeopl 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 doomof t he whol e code, " That ye wi l l t hat ot her mendo not t o you, do ye not t hat t o ot her men. " I t maybe i mpossi bl e t o suppr ess a smi l e at t he st r angecompany i n whi ch t he gol den r ul e f i nds i t sel f i n t hecode of Al f r ed and hi s wi se men. The t ask was byno 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 ngt hei r best upon i t . Have any of our l aw- maker sf r om t hat t i me t o t hi s ai med at a hi gher i deal , orwor ked i t out mor e honest l y accor di ng t o t hei rl i ght s } I f so, l et t hem cast t he f i r st s t one at " Al f r ed' sdooms. "

Mr . Thor pe supposes t hat t he same code, wi t h t hedooms of Of f a, i nst ead of t hose of I na, appended,was passed by t he wi t an of Mer c i a, and put i n f or cei n t hat count r y . The code was al so modi f i ed f or t henew Dani sh ki ngdom of East Angl i a.

CHAPTER XV.

THE k i 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 byci t y, and sai d t o t hem, Take heed what ye do : f or ye j udge not f orman, 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 s t 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 encef or l aw and t he const abl e' s s t af f , i f i t had evert 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 ewi t h t he Nor t hmen. When " t he ar my " l ef t Mer c i a,and went t o set t l e i n t hei r own count r } ^ , t he st at eof t hi ngs whi ch t hey l ef t behi nd t hem i n Wessexwas l awl ess t o t he l ast degr ee. The sever e penal t i espr ovi ded i n Al f r ed' s l aws f or br awl i ng i n t he ki ng' shal l , or bef or e al der men i n t he mot e, f or di st ur bi ngt he f ol k- mot e by weapon dr awi ng, f or f i ght i ng i nt he houses of f r eemen or chur l s , show what a passt 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 sr eadi ness t o appeal t o t he st r ong hand on al l occa-

Page92 of 174

si ons was not al t oget her wi t hout j ust i f i cat i on, f or t heor 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


and man. The al der men of t he shi r es, her edi t ar yr ul er s, r esponsi bl e i ndeed t o t he Ki ng, but f or mostpr 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 het ext of t he wr i t t en l aws i n hi s own l anguage, or whohad any but t he most super f i c i al acquai nt ance wi t ht he common l aw, whi ch was even t hen a pr eci ousi nher i t ance of t he t r i bes of t he gr eat Ger man st ock.These j udi c i al dut i es had consequent l y f al l en i nt ot he hands of t hei r ser vant s, " v i ce- domi ni , " and ot heri 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 ewHome' s " Mi r oi r des Just i ces, " t hat Al f r ed had t ohang f or t y- f our of t hem f or scandal ous conduct ont 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 stput hi msel f on t he j ur y, and t hen, when t hr ee oft 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 nstwhom he gave Hachwy no r i ght of chal l enge, aadsent 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 hwhen t he j ur y wer e i n doubt , and woul d not f i nd aver di ct of gui l t y ; and Segnar , because he condemnedEl 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 ev i 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 hathe woul d have so puni shed men f or mi st akes, as i st he case wi t h some of t he f or t y - f our cases ci t ed i nt he " Mi r oi r des Just i ces. " But I own i t seems t ome t hat Cadwi ne and Fr eber ne most t hor oughl ydeser ved hangi ng, and t hat Al f r ed was j ust t he k i ngt 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 nstunj ust Judges, " and hi s " r epor t s of cases i n hi s t i me"{ act a v i agi st r at i i m s i i or i i ui ) , whi ch A\ ' er e ext ant i tseems i n Edwar d I V. ' s r ei gn, ar e l ost . We can getno near er t he t r ut h, t her ef or e, on t hi s par t i cul arquest i on, but have t he best evi dence as t o t het hor ough r ef or m whi ch he i nt r oduced i n t he whol eadmi ni s t 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 s t 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 s i f t i ng,and ver y gr adual l y, t hat t he al der men and ear l s wer esuper seded. The har d- handed, t r ucul ent , ol d war r i or s,

Page93 of 174

who had st ood so st out l y by hi m t hr ough many ahar d day' s f i ght i ng, wer e dear t o t he Ki ng, and wer et r eat ed by hi m wi t h t he ut most consi der at i on. Hewoul 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 dspend hi msel f i n t he ef f or t t o make t hem equal t o t hei rdut i es ; woul d al l ow t hem t o do anyt hi ng, excepti 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 oft he t r ut h i n al l hi s j udgment s, and t hi s especi al l y


f or t he sake of t he poor , t o whose i nt er est s, day andni ght , among ot her dut i es of t hi s l i f e, he was everwonder f ul l y at t ent i ve. For i n t he whol e k i ngdomt he poor besi de hi m had f ew or no pr ot ect or s. Foral l t he power f ul and nobl e men of t he nat i on hadt ur ned t hei r t hought s t o wor l dl y r at her t han t oheavenl y t hi ngs, and each was bent mor e on hi s ownpr 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 s t i caccount 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 ofhumour , al most r eachi ng pat hos. Al f r ed, i n al l t heear 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 sabsence t hr oughout al l hi s r eal m, whet her t hey wer ej ust or unj ust . I f he per cei ved t her e Avas i ni qui t yi 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, anda. 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 herf 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 nt he l at t er case Asser does not t el l us, but t he " Mi r oi rdes Just i ces" may suggest . I f , however , " t he j udgesacknowl edged t hat t hey had gi ven such j udgment sbecause t hey knew no bet t er , he woul d di scr eet l y andCQoder at el y r epr ove t hei r i nexper i ence and f ol l y i nsuch 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 youhave occupi ed t he r ank and of f i ce of t he wi se, youhave 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 hadwor t h i n i t f or ot her and di f f er ent t i mes.

CHAPTER XVI .

THE k i ng' s exchequer .

" He becomei h poor t hat deai dh ' v i 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

Page94 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 udentof Ki ng Al f r ed' s l i f e and t i mes, t her e i s none mor epuzzl i ng t han t hi s of hi s exchequer . We haveal r eady passed i n r ev i ew a por t i on of t he wor k whi chhe managed t o per f or m, and much yet r emai ns f or ust 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 yki nd t han had yet been i n use, and r c - or gani zed hi sar 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 eser vi ce, and on f ul l pay. Our own exper i ence t el l sus t hat t hese ar e t hr ee as cost l y under t aki ngs asany whi ch a r ef or mi ng k i 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 nstan 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 oi ndi v i dual s was subj ect ; but t hi s r ul e woul d scar cel yseem t o have i ncl uded such f or t r esses as wer e r oyalpr 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 eemenwer 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 ofWessex. The r econst r uct i on of t he f l eet , t oo, was anunusual expense, whi ch must pr obabl y have f al l en ont he Ki ng al most exc l usi vel y . Mr . Pear son says, " Thechur 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 eal l l ocal expenses, def r ayed by t i t hes, by per sonalser vi ce, or by cont r i but i ons among t he gui l ds. " Butt hi s st at ement can scar cel y r ef er t o so ear l y a t i me ast he ni nt h cent ur y ; and Al f r ed' s own wor ds, and t he l astand most aut hent i c por t i on of Asser ' s l i f e, l ead t o t hei nt " er ence t hat much of t he mi l i t ar y cost of al l k i ndswas bor ne by t he Ki ng hi msel f . To t he out l ay f ort hese pur poses, we must add t he mai nt enance of hi scour t , i n a s t y l e of magni f i cence qui t e unusual bef or ehi s t i me ; t he payment of t he ar my of ski l l ed ar t i f i cer swhi 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 s t r anger s ; hi s f or ei gnembassi es ; hi s school s, t he eccl es i ast i cal est abl i sh-ment s whi ch he f ounded, endowed, or ass i s t ed ; and t her el i ef of t he poor . These must have amount ed t o ver yl ar ge sums annual l y ; whi l e we shoul d have expect edt 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 s t at es, i n t he pr eambl e t o hi swi l l , t hat he and hi s f ami l y had been despoi l ed ofgr eat par t of t hei r weal t h " by t he heat hen f ol k . " Thef act , however , r emai ns, t hat al l t hese t hi ngs wer e doneout of t he Ki ng' s r evenues, and t her e i s no hi nt i n

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chr oni c l er , or l aw, or char t er , t hat he ever oppr essedhi s peopl e by any such exact i ons, l egal or i l l egal , ashave 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 wasder i ved f r om t hr ee sour ces : publ i c r evenue, cr ownl ands, and hi s pr i vat e pr oper t y . The publ i c r evenuear ose f r om sever al sour ces, amongst whi ch we mayr 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 heki ng' s mar ket s, t hough t he aut hent i c not i ces of t hepayment 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 whodi ed ki nl ess, and pr obabl y t o t hei r goods i f t hey wer ei nt est at e. Tr easur e- t r ove al so bel onged t o hi m. Butf ar mor e i mpor t ant t han t hese must have been t her evenue der i ved f r om t he wer e- gi l d, and ot her f i nesi mposed by t he l aws f or damage t o per son andpr oper t y.

The car e wi t h whi ch t hese " boot s " ar e f i xed i nAl 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 tof t he code, woul d i ndi cat e t he r evenue f r om t hem t ohave been consi der abl e. I t wi l l have been l ar gest t oo


at t he t i me when i t was most needed, i n t he f i r s tyear s of peace, bef or e t he ol d vi ol ent habi t s of t hepeopl e had gi ven way under t he even and st r ongadmi ni s t r at i on of t he Ki ng. But even of t hi s r evenuet 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 v i s i 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 speace; t he second par t , or " man- boot , " went t o t he l or das compensat i on f or t he l oss of hi s man ; wher e t hedead man had no l or d, or was a f or ei gner , t wo- t hi r dswent t o t he Ki ng : t he t hi r d par t , cal l ed " mag " ( ort r i be) boot , or " er n gi l d " was pai d t o t he dead man' sf ami l y, as compensat i on f or t he i nj ur y caused t o t hemby hi s l oss. Of t he r emai ni ng boot s, i t i s pr obabl et hat t he Ki ng got a l ess shar e of t hose i nf l i c t ed f ori nj ur i es t o t he per son not endi ng f at al l y , as t he cl ai mof t he suf f er er i n such cases woul d be par amount t oany ot her ; whi l e of t hose i nf l i c t ed f or such of f encesas per j ur y, s l ander , br awl i ng, he woul d pr obabl y t aket he gr eat er par t . St i l l , on t he most ext r avagantest i mat e, t he i ncome ar i s i ng f r om al l t hese sour cesmust have been ver y t r i f l i ng when compar ed wi t h t her 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 dencet o show of what t hey consi s t ed. Readi ng, Dene,and Leonaf br d, ar e r oyal bur ghs ment i oned i n t heChr oni c l es whi ch ar e not i ncl uded amongst Al f r ed' sdevi ses, and wer e pr obabl y cr own l ands. Al f r ed' sown l ands or f ami l y est at es, of whi ch he was absol ut e

THE KI NGS EXCHEQUER. 193

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owner , and abl e t o di spose by hi s wi l l , must have beenver y ext ensi ve. He had est at es i n ever y shi r e i nWessex, except t hat por t i on of Gl ost er shi r e whi chwas i nc l 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 ofGl ost er shi r e mi ght have been handed over t o Et hel r edt he Al der man of Mer ci a, and t he r oyal est at es t her egi 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 sodevi sed, so t hat t her e was no par t of t he new ki ngdomi n whi ch Al f r ed was not a l ar ge pr opr i et or . But howt hese l ands wer e cul t i vat ed, what par t of t he pr oducewas sol d, and what f or war ded i n k i nd t o meet t heconsumpt i on of t he cour t , and of t hat host of sol di er sand mechani cs f or whom t he Ki ng under t ook t o f i ndbr 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 ev i dencet o show.

But i f we can do l i t t l e but conj ect ur e mor e or l essconf i dent l y as t o t he sour ces or amount of Al f r ed' sr evenue, we know i n r emar kabl e det ai l how he spenti t , f r om t he account gi ven i n what Dr . Paul i andot 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 swor k t el l s how t he Ki ng, af t er t he bui l di ng andendowi 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 oaugment and show f or t h hi s pi et y. That whi ch hehad 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 c i al r esul t , f or he had hear d i t out of t he book oft he l aw t hat t he Lor d had pr omi sed t o r est or e hi mt enf ol d, and he knew t hat t he Lor d had kept Hi spr 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 dohi s pr edecessor s i n such mat t er s, he vowed humbl yand f ai t hf ul l y t o devot e t o God hal f hi s ser vi ces bot hday and ni ght , and al so hal f of al l hi s weal t h, suchas 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 candi 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 hatwhi 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 s i n, ' he consi der ed howhe mi ght di vi de ar i ght t hat whi ch he had vowed t oGod ; and as Sol omon had sai d, ' t he hear t or counselof t he ki ng i s i n t he hand of God, ' he or der ed wi t hwi 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 s t di vi de i nt o t wo par t s t her evenues of ever y year . When t hi s di v i s i on was madehe assi gned t he f i r st hal f t o wor l dl y uses, and or der edt 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 s t er s and nobl es who dwel t atcour t , wher e t hey di schar ged di ver s dut i es ; f or so t heKi ng' s househol d was ar r anged at al l t i mes i nt o t hr eecl asses. Hi s at t endant s wer e t hus wi sel y di vi ded i nt ot hr ee compani es, so t hat t he f i r s t company shoul d beon dut y at cour t f or one mont h, ni ght and day, att he end of whi ch t i me t hey r et ur ned t o t hei r homes

Page97 of 174

?j nd 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 dcompany r el i eved t he second, who r et ur ned t o t hei rhomes, wher e t hey spent t wo mont hs, unt i l t hei r t ur nf or ser vi ce came agai n. The t hi r d company al so gavepl ace t o t he f i r s t , i n t he same way, and al so spentt wo mont hs at home. Thus was t he t hr eef ol d di v i s i onof t he compani es ar r anged at al l t i mes i n t he r oyalhousehol d. To t hese, t her ef or e, was pai d t he f i r stof t he t hr ee por t i ons, t o each accor di ng t o t hei rr espect i ve di gni t i es and ser v i ces ; t he second t o t hewor 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 never y k i nd of const r uct i on ; t he t hi r d por t i on wasassi gned t o f or ei gner s, who came t o hi m out of ever ynat i on f ar and near ; whet her t hey asked money ofhi m or not he cheer f ul l y gave t o each wi t h wonder f ulmuni f i cence, accor di ng t o t hei r r espect i ve mer i t s, asi 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 cameyear l y i nt o hi s possessi on, and was i nc l uded i n t her 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 smi ni s t er s t o di vi de i t car ef ul l y i nt o f our par t s . Thef i r st par t was di scr eet l y best owed on t he poor of ever ynat i on t hat came t o hi m, and on t hi s subj ect he sai dt hat , as f ar as human j udgment coul d guar ant ee, t headvi ce of Pope Gr egor y shoul d be f ol l owed, ' Gi venot much t o whom you shoul d gi ve l i t t l e, nor l i t t l e t owhom much, nor somet hi ng t o whom not hi ng, nornot hi ng t o whom somet hi ng. ' The second of t hef our por t i ons was gi ven t o t he t wo monast er i es whi ch

O 2


he had bui l t , and t o t ho55e who t her ei n dedi cat edt hemsel ves t o God' s ser vi ce. The t hi r d por t i on wasassi gned t o t he school s whi ch he had st udi ousl ycol l ect ed t oget her , consi st i ng of many of t he nobi l i t yof hi s own nat i on. The f our t h por t i on was f or t heuse of al l t he nei ghbour i ng monast er i es i n al l Saxonyand Mer ci a, and al so dur i ng some year s, i n t ur n, t ot 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 heei 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, madehi s donat i ons t o monast er i es at t he begi nni ng of t hef 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 chmanand schol ar t hus put s bef or e us t he pi c t ur e of hi st r ut h- l ov i ng f r i end and k i ng, pr eachi ng economy andor der t o hi s peopl e by exampl e, br i ngs i t home t o usbet t er t han any moder n par aphr ase. Asser sees t hegood wor k goi ng on under hi s eyes, t he or der l y andwi se muni f i cence, and t he wel l - r egul at ed i ndust r y of

Page98 of 174

t he Ki ng' s househol d, gi v i 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 averand t hr i f t i er men f or t hei r cont act wi t h t he wi sestand br avest and t hr i f t i est Engl i shman. Ever yt hi ngpr osper s wi t h hi m ; f or al l hi s out l ay, Asser sees andwr 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 k i ng ar e i ndeed

I

I


: i pt t o get l ar ge r et ur ns. The t hi ngs of t hi s wor l dacknowl edge t hei r mast er , and pour i nt o hi s l ap f ul lmeasur 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 ooof t en t he v i s i bl e t hi ngs bi nd t he st r ong man. " Thi si s al so vani t y, yea, i t i s a sor e t r avai l . . . . When goodsi ncr ease, t hey ar e i ncr eased t hat eat t hem ; and whatgood 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 ofman i s f or hi s mout h, and yet t he appet i t e i s n<^ tf i l l ed. . . Ther e i s an evi l whi ch I have seen undert he sun, and i t i s common among men. A man t owhom God hat h gi ven r i ches, weal t h, and honour , sot hat he want et h not hi ng f or hi s soul of al l t hat hedesi r et h, yet God gi vet h hi m not power t o eat t her eof ,but a s t r anger eat et h i t : t hi s i s vani t y , and i t i s an ev i ldi sease. " So mour ns t he wi se ki ng who has bowedbef or e t he " t enf ol d r et ur n, " and f or whom hi s weal t hhas become a mer e dr ear y bur den.

I f we woul d l ear n how t he Saxon k i ng kept t hedomi ni on whi ch t he Hebr ew k i ng l ost over t he t hi ngswhi ch " t he Lor d was r est or i ng hi m t enf ol d, " we shal lper haps get t he key best f r om hi msel f " Lor d, " Al f r edwr 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 hastwr 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 hosewhi ch know not what t hey l ove : Thou who ar t t heFat her of t hat Son who has awakened and yet wakensus f r om t he s l eep of our si ns, and war net h us t hat we


come t o Thee. For ever y one f al l s who f l ees f r omThee, 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 eswho al t oget her f or sakes Thee, and he qui ckens whocomes t o Thee, and he l i ves i ndeed who t hor oughl yabi des i n Thee. Thou who hast gi ven us t he power

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t hat we shoul d not despond i n any t oi l , nor i n Tvayi 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 lt aught us t hat we may under st and t hat t hat wasst r ange t o us and t r ansi t or y whi ch we l ooked on asour own — t hat i s , wor l dl y weal t h ; and Thou hast al sot aught us t o under st and t hat t hat i s our own whi chwe l ooked on as st r ange t o us — t hat i s , t he k i ngdomof heaven, whi ch we bef or e di sr egar ded. Thou whohast 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 oursubst ance waned t o us. . . . Thou hast l oosed us f r omt he t hr al dom of ot her cr eat ur es, and al ways pr epar estet er nal l i f e f or us, and pr epar est us al so f or et er nall i f e. . . , Hear me, Lor d, Thy ser vant ! Thee al oneI l ove over al l ot her t hi ngs ! Thee I seek ! TheeI f ol l ov/ ! Thee I am r eady t o ser ve ! Under Thygover 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 ngki nd of man, t hi s k i 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 hel 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 ns i s t on' us i ng t hi s sor t ofpr 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. Butt hey ar e f or t he most par t poor cr eat ur es ( when notpar 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 nt hei r r el at i ons wi t h vi si bl e t hi ngs, wher e we can t estt hem, what ever t hey may be as t o any ot her , of whi chnei t her t hey or we can know anyt hi ng. Do any ofour 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 hewor 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 hesei sl ands, who was t he f i r s t st at esman, schol ar , sci ent i f i cman, of hi s day — who f ought mor e pi t ched bat t l es t hanhe 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 dt i mes — who r e- or gani zed, and put new l i f e i nt o, ever yi nst i t ut i on of hi s count r y, and yet at t ended t o ever ydet 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 ski nd of super st i t i on. I t i s a har d sayi ng i n t hemout h of such a r ul er of men, t hi s of " Under Thygover 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 lmen 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 .

Page100 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 onever y s i de ? Now set your hear t and your soul t o seek t he Lo- r d yourGod : 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 hadbecome one of t he br i ght est hght s of t he Chr i s t i anf i r mament . " The sad change whi ch had come overher i n t he f i r s t hal f of t he ni nt h cent ur y has al r eadybeen 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 nghad 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 ' sPast or al Car e: " So cl ean was l ear ni ng now f al l en of i jamongst t he Engl i sh r ace, t hat t her e wer e ver y f ew ont hi s si de t he Humber who wer e abl e t o under st andt hei r ser vi ce i n Engl i sh, or even t o t ur n a wr i t t enl et t er f r om Lat i n i nt o Engl i sh, and I t hi nk t hat t her ewer e not many beyond t he Humber . So f ew t her ewer e of t hem, t hat I cannot t hi nk of even one ont he sout h of t he Thames when I f i r s t t ook t o t heki ngdom. " At t he same t i me Al f r ed al so r emember st 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 ht r easur es and books, al so a gr eat mul t i t ude of God' sser vant s, t hough t hey knew ver y l i t t l e use of t hosebooks, f or t hat t hey coul d not under st and anyt hi ngof 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 assf r om whi ch hi t her t o t he super i or cl er gy, t he monksand canons of t he cat hedr al s and abbeys, had beenr ecr ui t ed, had ceased t o suppl y a suf f i c i ent number t of i l l up vacanci es. Thei r pl aces wer e bei ng f i l l ed byi he par ochi al c l er gy, or mass pr i est s , who wer e of amuch l ower cl ass soci al l y . For t he monks, wi t h t heexcept 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 eas a r ul e of t he nobl e cl ass, whi l e t he mass pr i est swer e t aken f r om t he c l ass of ccor l s , who wer e st i l li ndeed an i ndependent yeomanr y, and owner s of t hei iown l and, but i n ot her r espect s l i t t l e r emoved f r omt he ser vi l e c l ass. That t hi s l ack of candi dat es f oior der s was f el t bef or e t he f i r s t i nvasi on appear s f r omci n i nc i dent whi ch happened i n t he year 870, j ustbef or e t he f i r s t gr eat i nvasi on of Wessex and Al f r ed' saccessi on, and consequent l y bef or e any cat hedr al orabbey i n Wessex had been pl under ed or bur nt . I nt 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 ookEt hel r ed, Bi shop of Wi nchest er , and appoi nt ed hi mAr chbi shop, because f or mer l y he had been a monk oft hat same mi nst er of Cant er bur y. " Now i n Ceol not h' st i me t her e had i n one year been a gr eat mor t al i t y

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m Cant er bur y amongst t he monks, so t hat f i ve onl ywer 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 svi 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 s t ' s ser v i ce, because he coul d not sor eadi l y f i nd monks who woul d of t hemsel ves do t hatser vi ce. " Never t hel ess Ceol not h had been al waysanxi ous t o get r i d of t he mass pr i est s, and t he chr oni cl err epor t s hi m as havi ng sai d, " So soon as God shal l gi vepeace 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 asmany monks as may do t he ser v i ce of t hemsel ves. "The speech was mor e pr obabl y Et hel r ed' s , who atany 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 c l er kst 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 equentbat t l es, and t her e was war f ar e and sor r ow al l hi s t i meover Engl and, so t hat t he c l er ks r emai ned wi t h t hemonks, " 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 seby t he wai . That whi ch was now t he West Saxonki ngdom cont ai ned at l east f i ve di oceses, besi des t hatof 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 andpl under ed at one t i me or anot her . The mat er i alpr 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 eout war d f r amewor k of chur ches and monast er i es, ast 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 hepeace of Wed mor e. We have hear d al r eady t hat oft he hal f of hi s r evenue whi ch he dedi cat ed t o r el i gi oususes, one- f our t h was expended on t he t wo monast er i esof hi s own f oundat i on, and anot her f our t h on t hemonast 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 hef i r st ecc l esi ast i cal wor k he t ook i n hand. The one f ormonks was bui l t at At hel ney, i n f ul f i l ment of a vowwhi ch he had made t her e dur i ng hi s r esi dence on t hei sl and. A br i dge " l abor i ousl y const r uct ed " was nowt hr own over t he mor ass, at t he west er n end of whi chwas er ect ed a st r ong t ower of beaut i f ul wor k, t o guar dt he appr oach. The monast er y and out bui l di ngs occu-pi ed t he whol e i s l and, and bei ng bui l t bef or e t he Ki nghad col l ect ed hi s ar my of ar t i sans, was of wood, t hechur ch smal l , and suppor t ed on f our s t r ong pi l l ar s ofwood, 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 li t as t he Ki ng woul d wi sh i t f i l l ed. " At f i r st , " saysAsser , " he had no one of hi s own nat i on, nobl e andf r ee by bi r t h, who was wi l l i ng t o ent er t he monast i cl i f e, except chi l dr en, who coul d nei t her choose goodor avoi d ev i l , i n consequence of t hei r t ender year s.

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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, aswel l as f r om many ot her nat i ons, t hough manymonast er i es r emai ned i n t he count r y . As yet no onedi r ect ed t he r ul e of t hat k i 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 onsof f or ei gner s, whi ch t ook pl ace so f r equent l y bot h by


sea and l and, or because t hat peopl e abounded i ndches of ever y ki nd, and so l ooked wi t h cont empt ont he monast i c l i f e. " Al f r ed was consequent l y at oncedr i ven abr oad, not onl y f or l ear ned monks who wer eabl e t o occupy hi gh pl aces, and t o i nst r uct t hose whoshoul d i nst r uct hi s peopl e i n al l k i nds of l ear ni ng, buteven f or t he or di nar y br et hr en. For At hel ney he gotas f i r s t Abbot , John, pr i est and monk, an ol d Saxonby bi r t h, and soon af t er hi m, cer t ai n monks anddeacons f r om beyond t he sea. But t he monast er yf i l l ed so s l owl y, t hat t he Ki ng was soon dr i ven t opr 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 asf or nat i ves a school was est abl i shed at At hel ney, andt hey wer e t aught t her e. Asser hi msel f had seen ayout h of pagan bi r t h who had been educat ed i n t hemonast 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 tby t he east er n gat e of t he t own of Shaf t esbur y, Thef i r st abbess was Et hel gi va, hi s second daught er , whomust have been pl aced i n t hat posi t i on whi l e al mosta chi l d, unl ess, i ndeed, t he monast er y was not bui l tt i l l a much l at er per i od t han Asser i ndi cat es. I nany case, t her e seems t o have been no di f f i cul t y i nf i ndi ng nuns amongst t he Saxon nobl es, f or manynobl e l adi es became bound by t he r ul es of monast i cl i f e, and ent er ed t he convent at Shaf t esbur y wi t h t heKi ng' s daught er . Besi des an or i gi nal endowment ofl 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 ywhi ch was t he l at est and most magni f i cent of hi seccl 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 ofWi nchest er , t hat t he chant i ng of one choi r coul d behear d i n t he ot her bui l di ng, whi ch seems t o havecaused much bi t t er ness bet ween t he bi shop and abbotand t hei r r espect i ve st af f s . To t hi s may be at t r i but edt he har d t er ms i mposed by t he bi shop on Edwar dt he el der , Al f r ed' s son and successor , who, bei nganxi ous t o compl et e hi s f at her ' s wor k, and t o addsui t abl e of f i ces t o t he new monast er y, was char gedby t he bi shop a mar k of gol d f or ever y f oot of l andhe was obl i ged t o buy. These ar e Al f r ed' s onl yeccl esi ast i cal f oundat i ons, t hough he was a muni f i cent

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benef act or of ot her s, such as Sher bor ne and Dur hamcat 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 heout er f abr i c of chur ches, monast er i es, and abbeys, wasonl 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 sand manner s of monks and pr i est s, had f al l en i nt ol ament abl e conf us i on. To r est or e t hese, Al f r edsear ched hi s own and nei ghbour i ng k i ngdoms, andgat her ed r ound hi m a band of l ear ned and pi ouschur chmen, of whom he was abl e t o speak wi t hhonour abl e pr i de t owar ds t he end of hi s l i f e : " I t i sunknown 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 havet 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 heschool 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 hatonce agai n " t he cl er gy wer e zeal ous i n l ear ni ng andi n t eachi ng, and i n al l t hei r sacr ed dut i es, and peopl ecame 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 s t ef f ect s of t hi s r evi val was t o at t r actt 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 edwi t h pr esent s, i ncl udi ng " a par t of t he r ood on whi chChr i s t suf f er ed. " The Ki ng i n r et ur n, i n 883, sentpr esent s t o t he Pope by t he hands of Si ghel m andAt hel st ane, t wo of hi s nobl es, who al so pr esent ed t hesui t of t hei r Ki ng and peopl e, t hat t he Saxon school sat Rome, whi ch wer e suppor t ed by t he bount y of hi sf at her Et hel wul f , and i n t he chur ch at t ached t o whi chBuhr ed, hi s unhappy br ot her - i n- l aw, was bur i ed, mi ghtbe f r eed f r om al l t ol l and t r i but e. Mar t i nus gr ant edt he r equest , and di ed i n t he next year . But hi s deat hdoes not seem t o have af f ect ed Al f r ed' s r el at i ons wi t ht he head of t he Chur ch. I n many subsequent year sEngl i sh embassi es t o Rome ar e ment i oned, t hose, f ori nst ance, of Et hel hel m, Al der man of Wi l t s i n ^ ^y, andBeocca i n 888, wi t h whom j our neyed t he wi dowedEt hel swi t ha, Al f r ed' s s i s t er , f or mer l y t he l ady ofMer ci a, t o make her gr ave wi t h her husband. Shenever 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 c l e f or t he year

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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 wasr 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 , andt he annual gi f t s, i t does not appear t hat t he r el at i onsbet ween t he Pope and t he Engl i sh Chur ch became at

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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 ghestmi ni s t 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 wasvi 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 ngt he ol der l aw : t he f i ne f or br eaki ng t he Ki ng' s bai lwas f i ve pounds' wei ght of coi n ; f or br eaki ng anar chbi shop' s bai l , t hr ee pounds onl y : f or br eaki ngi 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 ngaddr esses and empl oys hi s bi shops, car r yi ng t hemabout wi t h hi m, and usi ng t hem as t r ansl at or s oft he Scr i pt ur es, or of any ot her wor k whi ch he desi r est o put wi t hi n r each of hi s peopl e, shows t hat hecl 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 hesees 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 ewi t h hi m, but on hi s deat h t hr eat ened hi s successorwi t h excommuni cat i on unl ess t hey wer e f i l l ed up.


Fr om t hi s f act Spel man ar gues t hat Al f r ed' s " l i f eand 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 hyaut hor i t y , and i t seems f ar mor e pr obabl e t hat Al f r edl 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 owedt he l i ber al pol i cy i ndi cat ed i n Gr egor y ' s answer s t oSai nt August i ne, and t o have al l owed t he Chur chi n t he di st ant i s l and t o devel op i n i t s own wayOn t he ot her hand, t he Ki ng evi dent l y ent er t ai nedand expr essed on al l occasi ons, ver y r eal and deepr 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 monywi t h hi s own bi shops, t hat no quest i ons seem evert o have ar i sen i n hi s r ei gn whi ch coul d br i ng t hespi r i t ual and t empor al power s i nt o col l i s i 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 hext r aor di nar y f i r mness and power of r ul i ng men, nodoubt 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 s i deby si de, exer ci si ng a concur r ent j ur i sdi c t i on of a ver yr emar kabl e ki nd. Ever y cr i me was puni shabl e bot hby t he ci vi l and spi r i t ual t r i bunal s. The Ki ng andwi t an, or t he j udge and j ur y, or homage ( as t he casemi ght be) , puni shed t he of f ender f or t he damage hehad 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 . Butt he cr i mi nal was not t hus f ul l y di schar ged. The mor alsi n r emai ned, wi t h whi ch t he St at e di d not pr of ess t odeal , 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 met her e was al so a penance, t o be f i xed by bi shop orpr i est . I n shor t , Al f r ed and hi s wi t an bel i eved t hat

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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 powerwhi ch coul d do t hi s wor k f or t he commonweal t h, andaccor 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, 000year s, t he wonder i s, not t hat t he at t empt di d notsucceed, but t hat i t wor ked even f or a gener at i on orso wi t hout br i ngi ng t he t wo power s i nt o t he f i er cestconf l i c t . The s i ngl eness of mi nd and hear t , andear nest ness of Al f r ed, must have i nspi r ed i n gr eatmeasur e hi s al der men, j udges, bi shops, al l men i nr 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 oendeavour t o r eal i ze t hat — wi t h r esul t s even t her e^andt hen of a ver y sur pr i si ng k i nd. For t hr ough t he mi st sof 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 s t i l lhonest l y, t o f ound t hei r dai l y l i f e on t he hi ghest i dealt hey coul d hear of — on t he di v i 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 s t ant f or ei gnChur ch t o whi ch Al f r ed sent embassi es. He hadmade a vow, bef or e t he t aki ng and r ebui l di ng ofLondon, t hat , i f he shoul d be successf ul i n t hat under -t ak i ng, he woul d send gi f t s t o t he Chr i st i an chur chesi 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 hadpr eached t he Gospel i n I ndi a and f ounded t hesechur 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 s t an who wer e t he bear er s of hi s gi f t sand 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 eupon t hei r mi ss i on, or how t hey sped, save onl y t hatt hey came back t o t hei r Ki ng, br i ngi ng gr eet i ngsf r om t hose di st ant br et hr en, and gi f t s of pr ec i ousst ones and spi ces i n r et ur n f or hi s al ms. TheseAl f r ed di st r i but ed amongst hi s cat hedr al s , i n some ofwhi ch t hey wer e pr eser ved f or cent ur i es. Such wast he f i r st i nt er cour se bet ween Engl and and t he gr eatempi r e whi ch has si nce been commi t t ed t o her i n t heEast . St . Thomas' Chr i s t i ans ar e st i l l t o be f ound i nMal abar and el sewher e.

Asser al so ment i ons l et t er s and pr esent s sent byAbel , t he pat r i ar ch of Jer usal em, t o hi s ki ng. I t doesnot appear , however , t hat Al f r ed sent any embassy t ot he Hol y Land. Dr . Paul i suggest s t hat t hese gi f t smi ght have been br ought t o Engl and by t he sur v i vorof t hr ee Scot ch pi l gr i ms, whose names a r omant i cl 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 ansi n quest i on, who, despai r i ng, i t woul d seem, of t heChur ch i n t hei r own count r y , put t o sea i n a f r ai l

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boat , pat ched t oget her wi t h ox- hi des and car r y i ng aweek' s pr ov i s i 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, ashi s wont was, and f or war ded on t hei r j our ney, f r omwhi ch one of t hem onl y r et ur ned.

Asser speaks al so, i n gener al l anguage, of dai l yembassi es sent t o t he Ki ng by f or ei gn nat i ons, " f r omt 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 , butenough r emai ns t o show how t he spi r i t of Al f r edyear ned f or i nt er cour se wi t h Chr i st i ans i n al l par t s oft he known wor l d, and how t he f ame of hi s r i ght eousgover nment , and of hi s r est or ed Chur ch, was goi ngf 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 uechur 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 ofAt hel ney and Wi nchest er , Al f r ed est abl i shed manyschool 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 enof hi s nobl es, mi ni st er s, and f r i ends wer e educat edwi t h hi s own chi l dr en, and " wer e l oved by hi m wi t hwonder f ul af f ect i on, bei ng no l ess dear t o hi m t hanhi s own, " They wer e educat ed car ef ul l y i n goodmor al s, and i n t he st udy of t hei r own l anguage, t heKi ng hi msel f const ant l y super i nt endi ng, and t aki ngpar t i n t he t eachi ng. To use hi s own wor ds, he wasdesi r ous " t hat al l t he f r ee- bor n yout h of hi s peopl ewho had t he means shoul d per sever e i n l ear ni ng sol 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 heser 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 J i e peopl e i s hwi sel f , so ar e hi s oncer s : ana' what mat t t htr 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 nc i dent al l y come acr oss sever al oft he st at esmen and eccl esi ast i cs who wer e si ngl ed outand empl oyed by Al f r ed, and must now endeavour t omake some c l oser acquai nt ance wi t h t he men t hr oughwhom t he gr eat r ef or m of t he Engl i sh nat i on waswr ought out under t he gr eat k i ng. Unf or t unat el y, t hememor i al s of t hem ar e scant y, f or t hey wer e a set ofnot abl e wor ker s, wor t hy of al l honour , and of t heat t ent i ve and r espect f ul r egar d even of t he ni net eent h

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cent ur y. They wer e of al l r aces whom t he Ki ng coul dget at , and of al l r anks. Pr i nce, nobl e, or peasant , r oughski pper , or s t udi ous monk, or cunni ng cr af t sman, i twas t he same t o hi m. The man who coul d do hi swor k, t hi s was al l he car ed f or , and, when he hadf ound hi m, set hi m f or t hwi t h t o do i t , wi t h what everpr omot i on, pr ecedence, or ot her mat er i al suppor tmi ght best hel p hi m.

John, t he ol d Saxon, somet i mes cal l ed John ofCor vey, pr i est and monk, a st er n di sc i pl i nar i an andcour 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 endenceof t he t heol ogi cal school at t ached t o t he Ki ng' smonast er y t her e. Al f r ed hi msel f has st udi ed underhi 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 neywas 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 heEngl i sh t ongue. Abbot John had a di f f i cul t , even aper i l ous t i me of i t t her e, i n t he l i t t l e i s l and, r emot ef r om men, hemmed i n by swamp and f or est , wher ehi s monks have no or char ds or gar dens t o t i l l , and hi sboys no pl aygr ound. The Ki ng' s pi et y, and l ove ofhi s pl ace of r ef uge, have f or once out wei ghed hi ssagaci t y, or he had not chosen t he i s l and f or suchpur 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 anddeacon 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 aybef or e t he hi gh al t ar by hi msel f So t he pl ot t er s br i bet 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 s l ay hi m ; af t er whi ch t hey wer e t o dr ag outt he body, and cast i t bef or e t he house of a cer t ai nwoman of ev i l r eput e. The men on t he ni ght appoi nt edaccor di ngl y r ushed on t he ol d man as he was kneel i ngbef or e t he al t ar . But he, hear i ng t hei r appr oach, " bei nga 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 notbeen t he f ol l ower of a bet t er cal l i ng, " r ose up bef or ehe was wounded, and st r ove wi t h t hem, shout i ng outt 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 ywounded, t he conspi r at or s mi ngl i ng t hei r t ear s wi t ht hose of t he ot her monks. I n t he conf us i on t heassassi ns escape f or t he moment , but i n t he end al lt hose concer ned wer e t aken and put i n pr i son, " wher eby 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 esor successes, and we may hope t hat he got hi smonast er y and school i nt o wor ki ng or der , and l i vedpeaceabl y t her e f or t he r est of hi s days.

Page108 of 174

When a boy, Al f r ed, t r avel l i ng acr oss Fr ance wi t h hi sf at her , had become acquai nt ed, amongst ot her emi nentschol ar s, wi t h Gr i mbal d, a pr i est ski l l ed i n musi c, andl ear ned i n Hol y Scr i pt ur e, and i n al l doct r i ne anddi sci pl i ne of t he Chur ch. He has r i sen si nce t hatt i me t o t he di gni t y of Pr ovost of St . Omer s, wi t hi n t hej ur i sdi ct i on of Ful k, Ar chbi shop of Rhei ms. To t hi spr el at e Al f r ed sends an embassy bot h of ecc l es i ast i csand 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 ass i s t i nbui l di ng up and r est or i ng t he Chur ch t her e. Theanswer i s s t i l l ext ant . Addr essi ng " t he most Chr i s t i anKi ng of t he Engl i sh, " Ful k, " Ar chbi shoj ) of Rhei msand t he ser vant of t he ser vant s of God, " congr at ul at esAl f r ed on t he success of hi s t empor al ar ms, and hi s zealf or enl ar gi ng t he Chur ch by spi r i t ual weapons. TheAr chbi shop pr ays i ncessant l y t hat God wi l l mul t i pl ypeace t o t he Ki ng' s r eal m i n hi s days, and t hat t heeccl esi ast i cal or der s ( " whi ch have, as ye say, i n manyways f al l en away, whet her by t he const ant i nr oads ofheat hen men, or because t he t i mes ar e f eebl e by age.


or t hr ough t he negl ect of bi shops, or i gnor ance of t hei 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 ntRemi gi us, " whi ch, we ar e const r ai ned t o boast , hasal ways excel l ed i n wor shi p and doct r i ne al l ot herFr ench chur ches. " Amongst ot her pr esent s ( f or whi chgr at ef ul t hanks) " ye have sent us nobl e and ver yst aunch hounds, t hough car nal , f or t he cont r ol l i ng oft hose v i s i 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 ourl and ; aski ng of us i n r et ur n hounds, not car nal butspi r i t ual , not such, however , as t hose of whi ch t hepr ophet has sai d ' many dogs, not abl e t o bar k, ' butsuch as shal l know wel l how f or t hei r Lor d t o bay i near nest { magnos l at r at i i s f wi der e) , t o guar d Hi s f l ockwi t h most v i gi l ant wat chf ul ness, and t o dr i ve f ar awayt hose most cr uel wol ves of uncl ean spi r i t s, who ar et he bet r ayer s and devour er s of soul s. Out of suchspi r i t ual wat chdogs ye have s i ngl ed out and askedf r om us one of t he name of Gr i mbal d, pr i est andmonk, 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 nt he t r ue f ai t h, advanci ng hi m af t er her manner t o t hedi gni t y of t he pr i est hood, and pr oc l ai mi ng hi m sui t edt o t he hi ghest eccl es i ast i cal honour , and wel l f i t t ed t ot each ot her s. Thi s same man has been a most f ai t hf ulcoadj ut or t o us, and we cannot wi t hout sor e af f l i c t i onsuf f er hi m t o be par t ed f r om us by so vast a space ofl 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 keepapar 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 -

Page109 of 174

i ngl y . " Such i s t he r epl y , much abr i dged, of t hewor t hy Ar chbi shop, ev i dent l y a Chr i st i an pr el at e wi t hl ar ge l ei sur e, some sense of humour , and a copi ousepi st ol ar y gi f t , who i s i mpr essed i n hi s cont i nent aldi 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, andval our may cont i nue t o r ej oi ce and abound i n Chr i s t ,t he Ki ng of k i 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 byAl f r ed' s si de as one of hi s mass- pr i est s, assi st i ngt he Ki ng i n hi s t r ansl at i ons. Af t er war ds he becomespr 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 newmonast er y at Wi nchest er . Ther e has been muchl ear ned cont r over sy as t o Gr i mbal d' s connexi on wi t hOxf or d, i n consequence of an i nt er pol at i on i n oneof 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 v i ol ent quar r el whi chsoon ar ose bet ween Gr i mbal d and t he schol ar s whomhe 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 hedesi 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 nedand pi ous men, not abl y by St . Ger manus, who hadcome t o Oxf or d, and st opped t her e f or hal f a yearon 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 oOxf or d at Gr i mbal d' s summons, and " pnr i nr ' =' d much


t r oubl e " i n hear i ng t he ar gument s on bot h si desHavi ng l i st ened " wi t h unhear d of humi l i t y, t he Ki ngexhor 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, anddeci ded t hat each par t y shoul d f ol l ow t hei r owncounsel and keep t hei r own i nst i t ut i ons. " The whol est 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 opr i or i t y of f oundat i on wer e war ml y di scussed. Ther ei 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 hathe f ounded school s t her e, t hough t he " Annal s ofWi 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 endowedt hr ee col l eges, " t he gr eat er hal l , t he l esser hal l , andt he l i t t l e hal l " of t he uni ver s i 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' scr ypt , " however , may st i l l be seen under t he chancelof St . Pet er ' s Chur ch, t he ol dest i n Oxf or d, and i tseems 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 accountof t he bui l di ng of t he or i gi nal chur ch on t hi s s i t eby Gr i mbal d, and i t s consecr at i on by t he Bi shop olDor 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 ongenough 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 lf i nd i t el abor at el y summed up i n Si r J. Spel man' sThi r d Book. I n any case, i t i s cer t ai n t hat Al f r edhad a mi nt at Oxf or d, even i f he f ounded noschool s t her e.

Page110 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 hemost di st i ngui shed — sai d i ndeed t o have been t hef 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 het i me of t he Dani sh i nvasi on of Mer c i a, i n 876, andl i ved as a her mi t i n an i s l and f our and a hal f mi l esf r om Chest er f or f our t een year s, t i l l sought out byA- l f r ed and pr omot ed t o t he pr i macy i n 890, on t hedeat 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 muchear l i er t j i an t hi s, f or he i s speci al l y named as hi si nst r uct or , and sel dom qui t t ed t he Cour t t i l l af t erhi s l or d' s deat h. He went , however , t o Rome i n891 t o be consecr at ed by Pope For mosus ; and agai na second t i me, af t er t he body of For mosus had beendi s i nt er r ed and t hr own i nt o t he Ti ber by St ephen hi ssuccessor , t o be r e- consecr at ed. He sur vi ved Al f r edf or t went y- t hr ee year s, and seems t o have r ul ed t heEngl 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 byAl f r ed, and who appear s t o have f r equent l y vi s i t edhi 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' sdesi r e, t r ansl at ed t he Di al ogues of t he same Pope i nt oSaxon. He was t he f or emost hel per of Al der manEt hel r ed and hi s wi f e, t he Lady of Mer c i 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


r i ght s of t he see of Wor cest er whenever oppor t uni t ymi ght of f er . A most char act er i s t i c i nst ance of t hi si nst i nct of Bi shop Wer f r i t h' s occur s i n t he r epor t of asi t t i ng of t he Mer c i 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 ani 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 dgedwi 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 passedsi 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 onof Ki ng Al f r ed. Ther e t hey t ook counsel t oget herhow 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 ngt he l ands, and many ot her mat t er s whi ch wer e l ai dbef or e t hem. Then Bi shop Wer f r i t h spoke t o t heassembl ed wi t an, and decl ar ed t hat al l f or est l andwhi ch bel onged t o Wuduceast r e, and t he r evenuesof whi ch Ki ng Et hel bal d once best owed on Wor cest erf 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

Page111 of 174

r evenue shoul d be t aken par t l y at Bi s l ege, par t l y atAef eni ngas, par t l y at Scor r anst ane, and par t l y atThor nbyr i g, accor di ng as he chose. Then al l t hewi t an answer ed t hat t he Chur ch must make goodher r i ght as wel l as ot her s. Then Et hel wal d ( Eal der -


man ?) spoke : he woul d not oppose t he r i ght , t heBi shops Al dber ht and Al hun had al r eady negot i at edher eon, he woul d at al l t i mes gr ant t o each chur chher al l ot t ed por t i on. So he benevol ent l y yi el ded t ot he bi shop' s cl ai m, and commanded hi s vassal Ecgl aft 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 byt hem, as he r ead t hem i n t he ol d books, and as Ki ngEt hel bal d had f or mer l y mar ked t hem out and gr ant edt hem. But Et hel wal d st i l l des i r ed f r om t he bi shopsand t he di ocese, t hat t hey shoul d k i ndl y al l ow hi mand hi s son Al hmund t o enj oy t he pr of i t s of t he l andf or l i f e ; t hey woul d hol d i t onl y as a l oan, and noone mi ght depr i ve t hem of any of t he r i ght s ofpast ur e, whi ch wer e gr ant ed t o hi m at Langanhr ycgeat t he t i me when God gave hi m t he l and. AndEt hel wal d decl ar ed t hat i t woul d be al ways agai nstGod' s f avour f or any one t o possess i t but t he l or d oft hat chur ch t o whom i t had been r el i nqui shed, wi t ht he except i on of Al hmund ; and t hat he, dur i ng hi sl 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 happenedt 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 okeep 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 c i an wi t an had deci ded at t hei rassembl y, and poi nt ed out t o hi m i n t he books. Thi st ook pl ace wi t h t he concur r ence of t he Eal der manEt 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 k i ns -men, Et hel s t 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 aceand Et hel wal d' s vassal r ode over t he l and, f i r st t oGi nnet hl aege and Roddi mbeor g, t hen t o Smececumband Senget l ege, t hen t o Hear danl ege al so cal l edDr yganl eg, and as f ar as Li t t l e Naegl es l ege and t hel and of Et hel f er t h. So Et hel wal d' s men poi nt ed outt o hi m t he boundar i es as t hey wer e def i ned andshown 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 mostpr obabl y owi ng t hat t he r eact i on t owar ds pagani smi n Mer c i 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 havedi 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.

Page112 of 174

The onl y nat i ve of Wessex who woul d seem t ohave won a pl ace f or hi msel f i n t hat l i t t l e band ofr 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 heKi ng, who i s commonl y supposed t o be t he neat - her dwi t h whom Al f r ed became acquai nt ed i n 878, i nSchvood For est . I f t hi s be so, he coul d scar cel y havebeen a whol l y uneducat ed man even t hen, as Al f r edr equi r ed schol ar shi p i n hi s bi shops, and Denewul f wasconsecr at ed bef or e t he end of 881. The st or y r est spr i nc i pal l y on t he aut hor i t y of t he Chr oni c l e ofFl or ence of Wor cest er , compi l ed t owar ds t he endof 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


Asser Menevensi s, a Wel sh monk, t he aut hor of t heLi f e so of t en quot ed ; and who, dur i ng t he l astsi x t een or sevent een year s of hi s l i f e, was t he mosti nt i mat e f r i end and advi ser of t he Ki ng. Somewher eabout t he year 884 Asser was ei t her summoned byAl 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 ofWal 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 twoul d seem t hat t he Wel sh pr i nce, Hemei d, who hadswor n al l egi ance t o Al f r ed t o obt ai n pr ot ect i on agai nstt he s i x sons of Rot r i , was i n t he habi t of pl under i ngt 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 sdi ocese. Novi s and hi s ki nsman wi l l no doubt haver easoned, t hat a ki ng f ami l i ar wi t h t he par abl eswoul 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 sown k i ngdom, wi l l not suf f er t hi s k i nd of doi ngsby one whom he i s pr ot ect i ng. Whet her summonedor not , Asser was r ecei ved wi t h open ar ms by t heKi 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 odevot e hi msel f t o hi s ser vi ce, and t o gi ve up al l hepossessed on t he west bank of t he Sever n, pr omi s i ngt 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 tseemed 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 anyear 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 xmont hs of t he year wi t h me, and t he ot her s i x i nWal es. ' I answer ed t hat I coul d not even pr omi set hi s hast i l y, wi t hout t he advi ce of my f r i ends. But atl engt h, when I saw t hat he was ver y anxi ous f or my

Page113 of 174

ser vi ce ( t hough I know not why) , I pr omi sed t hat i fmy l i f e wer e spar ed I woul d come back i n si x mont hswi t h such a r epl y as woul d be wel come t o hi m, as wel las advant ageous t o me and my f r i ends. Wi t h t hi sanswer he was cont ent , and when I had gi ven hi m apl edge t o r et ur n at t he appoi nt ed t i me, on t he f our t hday I l ef t hi m, and r et ur ned on hor seback t owar ds myown count r y . Af t er my depar t ur e I was st r i cken bya v i ol ent f ever at Wi nchest er , wher e I l ay f or a yearand 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 edeemmy pl edge of r et ur ni ng t o hi m, and he sent messenger st 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 ot el l hi m t he cause of t he del ay, and t o assur e hi m t hati f I r ecover ed I woul d f ul f i l what I had pr omi sed. Sowhen my s i ckness l ef t me, by t he advi ce of al l myf r i ends, f or t he benef i t of our hol y pl ace and of al l whodwel t t her ei n, I di d as I had pr omi sed t he Ki ng, anddevot ed mysel f t o hi s ser vi ce on condi t i on t hat Ishoul 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 s i 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 eemont hs i n Wal es, and t hr ee i n Engl and. " Asseraccor di ngl y went t o t he cour t at Leonaf or d, wher e t heKi ng r ecei ved hi m honour abl y, and he r emai ned ei ghtmont hs, " dur i ng whi ch I r ead t o hi m what ever bookshe l i ked, and such as we had at hand ; f or t hi s i s hi sr egul ar cust om bot h ni ght and day, ami d hi s manyot her occupat i ons of mi nd and body, ei t her hi msel f t or 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 ' compacti s l i kel y t o be f or got t en, and r emi nds t he Ki ng of i tf r equent l y. " At l engt h, when I had made up mymi nd t o demand l eave t o go home, he cal l ed me t ohi m at t wi l i ght , on Chr i s t mas eve, and gave me t wodocument s i n whi ch was a l ong l i s t of al l t he t hi ngswhi ch wer e i n t wo monast er i es, cal l ed i n SaxonAngusbur y and Banwel l , and at t hat same t i medel i ver ed t o me t hose t wo monast er i es wi t h al l t hoset hi ngs whi ch wer e i n t hem, and a si l ken pal l of gr eatval ue, and a l oad of i ncense as much as a st r ong mancoul d car r y, addi ng t hat he di d not gi ve me t heset r i f l i ng pr esent s because he was unwi l l i ng her eaf t er t ogi ve me gr eat er ; f or i n cour se of t i me he unexpect edl ygave me Exet er , wi t h al l t he chur ch pr oper t y whi chbel onged t o hi m t her e and i n Cor nwal l , besi des dai l ygi 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 dwear y my r eader s. But l et no one suppose t hat Ihave ment i oned t hese pr esent s her e f or t he sake ofgl oi y or f l at t er y, or t o obt ai n gr eat er honour . I cal lGod t o wi t ness t hat I have not done so, but t hat I


mi ght t est i f y t o t hose who ar e i gnor ant how l i ber al hei s i n gi v i ng. He t hen at once gave me l eave t o r i det o t hese monast er i es, and t hen t o r et ur n t o my owncount r y. " So Asser was i nst al l ed as a sor t of bi shopi n par t i bus t o hi s own count r ymen i n Cor nwal l . So

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at l east we ar e dr i ven t o conj ect ur e, f or t he seeof 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 hof Wul f si g i n t he year 900, t hough Al f r ed st yl es hi mbi shop, and hi s name i s at t ached t o char t er s as bi shopf or many year s bef or e t hat dat e. We shal l have t or et ur n t o t he good bi shop' s r emi ni scences when wet 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 ecc l esi ast i cs who wor ked i n t hat nobl eband of t he Ki ng' s hel per s, such as Et hel st an andWer ewul f of Mer ci a, ar e scar cel y mor e t han names t ous, unl ess we except Joannes Er i gena, or Scot us, anI r i shman by bi r t h, who i s sai d by some t o have t akenr ef uge wi t h t he Ki ng. That Al f r ed when a boy hadknown John at t he cour t of Char l es t he Bal d, wher ehe was t ut or t o Judi t h and her br ot her s, we haveal r eady hear d, and may be sur e t hat he woul d havebeen anxi ous t o obt ai n t he hel p of so emi nent aschol ar and t hi nker . Mor eover , John t he Scot , whohas been cal l ed t he f at her of t he Real i st s, and hadst udi ed i n t he East and at At hens, may wel l haveneeded an asyl um at t hi s t i me. He had wr i t t enwor ks on t he Euchar i s t , and on pr edest i nat i on, whi chhad br ought hi m i nt o t r oubl e wi t h t he aut hor i t i es oft he Chur ch, and had not onl y r ef used t o di s t i ngui shr 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


had t he same end — t he sear ch f or t r ut h ; but hadact ual l y mai nt ai ned t hat al l aut hor i t y i s der i ved f r omr 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 amousr et or t t o Char l es — who had asked hi m s i t t i ng at meatwhat separ at es a Scot and a sot { qui d i nt er est i nt erScot 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 er es i dence. St i l l , had he come t o Engl and, Asser hads?i r el y speci al l y not i ced hi m amongst Al f r ed' s hel per sand f r i ends.

Of l aymen a l ong l i st mi ght be gi ven, f r om Et hel r edof Mer c i a, t o Ot her e and Wul f st an, hi s sea capt ai ns, t heaccount 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. Butbeyond 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 enoughr emai ns t o wi t ness t o t he t r ut h of Asser ' s el oquentst at ement , t hat " he woul d avai l hi msel f of ever yopeni ng t o pr ocur e hel per s i n hi s gr eat desi gns, t o ai dhi m i n hi s st r i v i ngs af t er wi sdom ; and l i ke a pr udentbi r d, whi ch, r i s i ng i n ear l y mor ni ng f r om her l ovednest , s t eer s her swi f t f l i ght t hr ough t he uncer t ai n t r actof ai r , and descends on t he mani f ol d and var i ed f l ower sof gr ass, her b, and shr ub, t r yi ng t hat whi ch pl easesmost , t hat she may bear i t t o her home, so di d hedi r ect hi s eyes af ar , and seek abr oad t hat whi ch hehad 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 oundhi m compet ent men of al l nat i ons and al l cal l i ngs,

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whei evcr he coul d f i nd t hem, Al f r ed was s i ngu-


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 ydur i ng t hose year s of peace, and was t r ansf or mi ngt 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 senset 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 ngmor 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 k i ngexampl e of what one mnn may do f or a nat i on i n t hecour se of a shor t l i f et i me.

CHAPTER XI X.

THE KI NGS NEI GHBOURS.

^ ' Al l k i ngs shal l f al l down bef or e J i i m : al l nat i ons shal l do hi m ser v i ce.' ^ For he shal l del i ver t he poor when he cr i et h : t he needy al so, and hi mt 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 swho have t he i nt ense l ove of or der , and geni us f oror gani z i ng, whi ch di s t i ngui shed Al f r ed. I t i s not easyf or such men t o r ecogni se t he wor t h of nat i onal orl ocal habi t s and cust oms, or t o r es i s t t he t empt at i onof i mposi ng t hei r own l aws and met hods upon r aceswhi ch come under t hei r i nf l uence, and Chr i s t endom hassuf f er ed gr i evousl y , and i s s t i l l suf f er i ng, f r om suchat t empt s t o cr ush out nat i onal l i f e. The sur r oundi ngsof Al f r ed wer e pr ec i sel y t hose most l i kel y t o havepr ompt ed such a pol i cy. I n t he year s of r est whi chf ol l owed t he peace of Wedmor e t he West Saxonki ngdom i ncr eased i n weal t h and power so r api dl yas 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 ofAl 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 WestSaxon code of l aws, or t o super sede t he nat i vegover 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 shmount ai ns, had mai nt ai ned t hei r i ndependence agai nstsuch ki ngs as Of f a and Egber t . Ther e had beenconst ant war s on t he mar shes. Of t en def eat ed andi nvaded, t he Cel t i c t r i bes had al ways c l osed up be-hi nd t he r et r eat i ng Saxon ar mi es. They had r ef usedal l al l egi ance, and hel d l i t t l e peaceabl e i nt er cour sewi t h t hei r st r onger nei ghbour s. I n t he l ast of t he

Page116 of 174

Saxon i nvasi ons, Ki ng Et hel wul f had penet r at ed t ot he I sl e of Angl esea, and humbl ed Rot r i Mawr ( t hegr eat Roder i ck) , whi l e Al f r ed was a chi l d. I nr evenge, t he Wel sh had sympat hi sed wi t h and as -si s t ed t he Dane, and had ser i ousl y added t o t heper i l of t he gr eat st r uggl e of hi s manhood.

Rot r i Mawr had l ef t s i x sons, t ur bul ent men f r omt hei r yout h up, of whom t he l eader , pr obabl y t heel dest , was Anar ant , who had become t he f r i end andal 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 herWel 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 andmonast er y of St . Davi d' s — t o appeal agai nst whosef r equent pl under i ngs Asser made hi s pi l gr i mage f r omt hat qui et sanct uar y i n " t he ext r emest west er n coast sof Br i t t ai n " — was t he f i r st t o open negot i at i ons wi t hAl f r ed. He and hi s peopl e wer e dr i ven t o t hi s appealby t he vi ol ence of t hei r nor t her n nei ghbour s, t he si xsons of Rot r i : so t hey submi t t ed t hemsel ves t o t hedomi 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 k i ng or chi efof t he " Br echei noc " Wel sh, occupyi ng t he pr esent


count y of Br ecknock and nei ghbour i ng di st r i ct s ofCent r al Wal es, came i n and made hi s submi ss i on, t opr 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, andBr 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, andwhose count r y mar ched wi t h t hat of Et hel r ed ofMer ci a, appeal ed f r om t hat ener get i c vi cer oy t o Ki ngAl 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 v i ol ence andt 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 k i nd whi chwoul d be l i kel y t o br i ng about f r equent col l i s i ons wi t hhi 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 " oft he gr eat Ki ng of t he West Saxons, " and def encef r om ever y quar t er , even as t he Ki ng wi t h hi s mencoul d pr ot ect hi msel f " So at l ast Anar ant , t he sonof Rot r i , wi t h hi s f i ve br ot her s, f i ndi ng t hat t hei roccupat i on was gone, and t hat t he shi el d of t he gr eatKi ng was cast over al l t hei r br ot her pr i ncel i ngs andt hei r possessi ons, " abandoni ng t he f r i endshi p of t heNor t humbr i ans, f r om whi ch t hey had r ecei ved har monl y, came i nt o Ki ng Al f r ed' s pr esence and eager l ysought hi s f r i endshi p. " Thi s was at once accor ded t ot 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 owncount r y l oaded wi t h many gi f t s. The same t er ms ofal 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

Page117 of 174

of Wal es was br ought under Al f r ed' s sway ; t hei nt er t r i bal war s and pl under l ngs ceased, and t hecount 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 nal 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, andt 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 ourcent ur i es of f i er ce and di sast r ous war f ar e. The peacewas of shor t dur at i on, but i t l ast ed t i l l af t er Al f r ed' sdeat h.

The near r el at i onshi p bet ween t he peopl e of t heki ngdoms of Mer ci a and Wessex, and t he ol d r i val r ybet ween t hei r r oyal houses, must have made t he t askof est abl i shi ng sat i s f 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 beent hor oughl y est abl i shed, even mor e di f f i cul t t han i nt he case of Nor t h Wal es. The memor i es of Pendaand 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 — mustst i l l have been f r esh i n Mer c i a. But Buhr ed hadl ef t no chi l dr en, and t he most power f ul of t heMer ci an nobl es was devot ed t o Al f r ed. Thi s wasEt 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 efbul 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 et her ef or e how so br ave and abl e a man, at t he headof a t r i be i nur ed t o t he const ant war f ar e of t l i c


mar ches, made no head agai nst Gut hr um and t hepagan ar my at t he t i me of t he Dani sh occupat i onof Mer c i a. At any r at e he had not f or f ei t ed t heconf 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 campat Ci r encest er and r et i r ed i nt o East Angl i a, Et hel r edwas 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 oft hat year s i gned by hi m i n t hat capaci t y, t o whi chi s appended Al f r ed' s si gnat ur e as hi s over - l or d : " IAl f r ed, Ki ng, have consent ed and subscr i bed. " I nl i ke manner , i n t he year ^^ " ^ i , a gi f t of chur ch l andsby Al der man Et hel r ed bear s t he endor sement , " IAl f r ed conf i r m t hi s gi f t wi t h t he s i gn of t he hol ycr oss. "

But t her e i s st r onger pr oof of t he est eem i n whi chEt hel r ed was hel d by hi s ki ng, i n t he f act t hat hebecame t he husband of Et hel f l eda, Al f r ed' s el destdaught er . The dat e of t he mar r i age cannot beascer t ai ned, as no not i ce of t he event occur s i nt he Chr oni c l es. But even i n t hose t i mes, when gi r l swer e mar r i ed at f ar ear l i er ages t han now, i t coul dscar 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 gyi n hi s gover nment and l oyal t y t o hi s ki ng seemst o have di s t i ngui shed Et hel r ed. Mer ci a had i t s ownwi t an, whi ch was summoned mor e f r equent l y t hant hat of Wessex. I t was pr es i 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 nalaf f ai r s of t he ki ngdom, subj ect onl y t o Al f r ed' s

Page118 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 ani 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 edgeand 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 eany t r ace of hi s f ur t her i nt er f er ence. Mer c i a wasl ef t t o devel op i t sel f i n i t s own way, and under i t sown l aws. We have, unf or t unat el y, no copy of t hecode whi ch Al f r ed caused t o be pr epar ed f or t hesi s t er ki ngdom, but t he best Angl o- Saxon schol ar sagr ee i n hol di ng, t hat t he i nst i t ut es of Of f a wer eembodi 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 omr 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 hedi 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 c l oser uni onDur i ng Et hel r cd' s l i f e Mer c i a was consol i dat ed andst r engt hened ; and t he Wel sh on t he one s i de, andt he East Angl i ans on t he ot her , f el t a mast er ' shand. On hi s deat h, i n gi o, London and Oxf or dwer e at once i ncor por at ed i n t he West Saxon ki ngdom, 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 newand 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 lt he out br eak of anot her war t he boundar i es ofGut hor m At hel st an' s k i ngdom, as set t l ed by t he f i r stshor t t r eat y of Wedmor e, w er e scr upul ousl y r espect ed.


No at t empt was made t o r ecover ei t her Essex ont he sout h, or any of t hat par t of Mer ci a whi ch l ayt o t he nor t h and east of Wat hng St r eet . The onl yact of sover ei gnt y, on t he par t of Al f r ed, was t hei nt r oduct i on i nt o East Angl i a of a code of l awssi mi l ar i n essence t o t he West Saxon code, but att he same t i me car ef ul l y r ecogni si ng and r espect i ngdi f f er ences spr i ngi ng f r om cust om and r ace. Thi scode, i n f act , i s t he enl ar ged t r eat y of Wedmor e, t owhi 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 scal l ed t he t r eat y of Edwar d and Gut hor m, and maypossi bl y have been f or mal l y agr eed t o af t er Al f r ed' sdeat h by Edwar d hi s son and Gut hor m I I . , who i ssai d t o have come t o t he East Angl i an t hr one i n905, However t hi s may be, t her e can be no doubtt hat t he subst ance of t he code was i n f or ce bef or et he deat h of Gut hor m At hel s t an i n 890, f or t he pr e-ambl e begi ns : " These ar e t he dooms whi ch Ki ngAl f r ed and Ki ng Gut hor m chose, " and decl ar es t hatt he same had been r epeat edl y r at i f i ed bet ween t heSaxons and Danes. The di f f er ences bet ween t he t wocodes ar e gr eat er i n appear ance t han r eal i t y. Thust he code f or t he Dani sh k i ngdom has one doom onl y

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i n subst i t ut i on f or t he whol e Decal ogue, and t hegr eat er par t of t he Lcvi t i cal l aws, whi ch ar e set outi n t he West Saxon code. Thi s sweepi ng doomdecl 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 s t 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 c t ed f or t he same cl asses ofof f ences, as t hose i n Al f r ed' s dooms. The doubl el i abi l i t y of ever y l aw- br eaker t o t he t empor al andspi r i t ual power — t he necessi t y f or maki ng amends t ot he Chur ch, as wel l as t o t he Cr own and t he ki n oft he i nj ur ed man — i s enf or ced t hr oughout . I n t hesame way t he r i ght s of t he sever al cl asses of soci et yar 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 eramount 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. ThusAr t i c l 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, orear 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 c t l y made accor di ng as t he deedmay be, t o Chr i st , and t o t he k i ng ; or l et Ji i mavenge t he deed ver y deepl y who i s ki ng amongt he peopl e. " Thi s di s t i nct i on may have ar i sen, f r omt he necessi t y of shi el di ng Chr i st i an cl er gy, i n t hosepar t s wher e t he maj or i t y of t he peopl e wer e st i l lPagans, who r emember ed t he sack and bur ni ng oft he monast er i es ; and f r om t he desi r e of Al f r ed t oencour age i nt er cour se bet ween hi s own i mmedi at esubj 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 omRochest 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 hatpr i nce seems t o have kc^ j t f ai t h wi t h hi s over - l or d, and


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 her emnant s of t he ol d Angl i an st ock whi ch r emai nedwi t hi n t hei r bor der s, t he Danes, who dwel t i n al l t hecent r al count i es bor der i ng on Wat l i ng St r eet , becamea Chr i s t i an peopl e. I n 890 Gut hor m At hel s t an di ed,and was bur i ed at Thet f or d, He was succeeded byone Eohr i c, a Nor t hman, under whom t he Danesset t l ed on t he coast s of Nor f ol k, Suf f ol k , and Essexappear t o have r et ur ned t o t hei r ol d pi r at i cal habi t s, i fnot t o heat heni sm, and t o have made common causewi t h Hast i ng i n hi s gr eat i nvasi on of Engl and. Buteven af t er t he def eat of t he l ast gr eat v i k i ng t he pol i cyof Al f r ed r emai ned unchanged. Wi t h t he except i onof t he west er n por t i on of Essex, whi ch he i ncor po-

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r at ed i n Mer c i a f or t he pr ot ect i on of London, t heboundar i es of East Angl i a wer e l ef t as t hey had beenset 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 ber eckoned amongst t he nei ghbour s of Wessex, buteven 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 havebeen 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 mal l y of Al f r ed, who assi s t ed hi m i n t he r est or at i on oft he Chur ch of Dur ham, and cont r i but ed, out of t hatei ght h of hi s i ncome whi ch was set apar t f or t hesepur poses, t o t he needs of ot her chur ches and ser vant sof God dwel l i ng i n Nor t humbr i a. Unbr oken peace


was mai nt ai ned bet ween t he t wo ki ngdoms dur i ng al lAl f r ed' s days,

Kent and Sussex wer e mer e appanages of Wessexbef or e Al f r ed came t o t he t hr one, but had not unt i lnow been t hor oughl y i ncor por at ed. Thi s was nowdone. I nst ead of a cadet of t he r oyal f ami l y ofCer di c r ul i ng as ki ng i n one or t he ot her of t hem, asEt hel wul f and At hel s t an had done, t hey wer e nowpl aced under Al f r ed' s al der men, and wer e subj ect , nodoubt , t o t he same bur dens, and ent i t l ed t o t he samepr i vi l eges, as Wi l t shi r e or Ber kshi r e. At t he samet 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 sday.

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 orst r engt h. No sol di er of Al f r ed' s ever dr ew swor dexcept i n def ence of hi s own home and count r y. Heeven put a check on hi s ener get i c son- i n- l aw Et hcl r cdof Mer c i a, when hi s hand was begi nni ng t o be f el t t ooheavi l y by t he peopl e of Nor t h Wal es. No gr eatsol di er had ever mor e pl ausi bl e pr et ext s f or despoi l i nghi s nei ghbour s. Al l hi s boundar i es t owar ds t he nor t hand east want ed r ect i f y i ng, and occasi ons f or quar r elwi 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 hand power wer e si mpl y t r ust s, t o be used by t hei rpossessor s f or t he benef i t of t he weak. Thi s was hi sr eadi ng of t he wi l l and meani ng of t he Ki ng whocommanded hi m, and he act ed on i t wi t h a si ngl emi nd, exer c i s i ng a f or bear ance and moder at i on i n hi s


war s, negot i at i ons, and t r eat i es, f or whi ch i t woul d behar d t o f i nd a par al l el .

I ndeed, one i s at t i mes i nc l i ned t o be i mpat i ent ofhi s gr eat pat i ence ; t o t hi nk t hat f or hi s peopl e' s sakehi s hand shoul d have been heavi er upon Gut hor m andHast i ng, when t hey wer e i n hi s power ; t o wi sh t hathe had not l ef t t he t ask of i ncor por at i ng al l Engl and

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i n one ki ngdom t o hi s successor s. We ar e al l t empt edi n our secr et hear t s t o bel i eve t hat t he gr eat I t al i anwas 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 canonl 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 v i ng, " Machi avel l i wr i t es( cap. x i v . ) , " i s so di f f er ent f r om t he way t hat ought t obe t aken, t hat he who negl ect s what i s done t o f ol l owwhat ought t o be done, wi l l sooner l ear n how t o r ui nt han how t o pr eser ve hi msel f . For a t ender man, andone t hat desi r es t o be honest i n ever yt hi ng, must needsr un a gr eat hazar d among so many of a cont r ar ypr i nc i pl e. Wher ef or e i t i s necessar y f or a pr i nce t hati s wi l l i ng t o subsi st t o har den hi msel f , and l ear n t o begood or ot her wi se accor di ng t o t he ex i genci es of hi saf f ai r s . " And agai n ( cap. x i x . ) , " How honour abl e i t i sf or a pr i nce t o keep hi s wor d, and act r at her wi t hi 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 hatt hose pr i nces who have not pi nned t hemsel ves up t ot hat punct ual i t y and pr ec i seness have done gr eatt hi ngs, and by t hei r cunni ng and subt l et y not onl yci r cumvent ed and pi er ced t he br ai ns of t hose wi t hwhom t hey had t o deal , but have over come and been


t oo har d f or t hose who have been so super st i t i ousl yexact . Nor was t her e ever any pr i nce t hat want edl awf ul pr et ence t o j ust i f y hi s br each of pr omi se. Andmen ar e so si mpl e i n t hei r t emper , and so submi ssi vet o t hei r pr esent necessi t i es, t hat he t hat i s neat andcl eanl y i n hi s col l us i ons shal l never want peopl e t opr act i se t hem upon. A pr i nce, t her ef or e, i s notobl i ged t o have al l t he f or ement i oned good qual i t i esi 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 hemact 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 hemonl y i n appear ance, t hey t ur n t o bet t er account . I t i shonour abl e t o seem mi l d, and mer c i 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 hatyou 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 hemor e cl ear l y does t he pr act i cal wi sdom of hi s met hodsof gover nment j ust i f y i t sel f by r esul t s . Of . s t r ongpr i nces, wi t h mi nds " r ect i f i ed and pr epar ed " on t heMachi avel l i an model , t he wor l d has had mor e t hanenough, who have won ki ngdoms f or t hemsel ves, andused 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 swel l t hat , her e and t her e i n hi st or y, we can poi nt t oa k i ng whose r ei gn has pr oved t hat t he hi ghestsuccess 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 s t i an mor al i t y .

CHAPTER XX.

THE KI NG S FOE.

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" Fr cnuar di t css i s i n hi s hear t , he devi set h v i 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 andwas t hr i l l i ng wi t h new l i f e, and or der and l i ght wer ebegi nni ng t o penet r at e i nt o t he most out - of - t he- waycomer s of t he k i 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 nstt he ol d enemy, " t he ar my, " as t he chr oni c l 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 ofpr ecar i ous f i ght i ng and pl under i ng i n Fr ance andFl ander s, wi t h a huge accessi on of r ecr ui t s f r omt he wi l d spi r i t s of al l t he t r i bes whose st r uggl es wer edi st r act i ng Eur ope. The anxi et y wi t h whi ch t heEngl i sh wat ched t hei r ol d f oes appear s f r om t hecar e wi t h whi ch t hei r doi ngs ar e not ed year by yeari n t he Saxon Chr oni cl e. Pl egmund, or whoeverwas t he edi t or , had c l ear l y an uneasy f eel i ng t hatAl 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 nof bl essed memor y di ed. I n t he next year Char l est he Bal d was ki l l ed by a wi l d boar whi l e hunt i ng, andhi s deat h was t he s i gnal f or r enewed act i v i t y amongstt he Nor t hmen. Anot her gr eat f l eet and ar my of Pagansnow came f r om Ger many i nt o t he count r y of t he Ol dSaxons, and wer e t her e def eat ed i n t wo bat t l es. Wehave al r eady seen how a di v i s i on of " t he ar my " i n t hesame year t r i ed t hei r f or t une i n Kent , and went backt 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 andmar ched up t he Sei ne, and l ai d si ege t o Par i s, or r at hert o t he i s l 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 c i f ul f avour of God, and t he br ave def enceof t he ci t i zens, coul d never f or ce t hei r way i ns i de t hewal l s . " I ndeed, i t woul d seem t hat t hey never wr est edt he br i dge f r om t he besi eged. At t he end of a yeart he s i ege was abandoned, and " t he ar my, " passi ngunder t he br i dge, whi ch t hey had f ai l ed t o dest r oy ort 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 heyf or med one of t hei r f or t i f i ed camps. I n t he f ol l owi ngyear , on t he deat h of Char l es ( nephew of Char l es t heBal d) , t he unhappy ki ngdom of t he Fr anks was br okeni nt o f i ve por t i ons, Ar nul f hi s nephew, who had i n f actusur ped t he t hr one i n t he l ast f ew weeks of hi s uncl e' sl i f e, keepi ng t he Rhi ne pr ovi nces, wi t h t he nomi nal t i t l eof Emper or . The new k i ngs wer e soon quar r el l i ng,and, as t he Saxon Chr oni c l e r ecor ds, " hel d t hei r l andsi n gr eat di scor d, and f ought t wo gener al bat t l es, and

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s. L. vni . R


of t and many t i mes l ai d wast e t he count r y , and eachr 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 erempi 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 k i t es and cr ows, " as Mi l t on cont emp-t uousl y summed up t he hi s t or y of si mi l ar doi ngs ont he smal l er ar ena of Engl and, amongst t he Saxonpr i nces i n t he pr ev i ous cent ur y) , whi l e, on ever yf r ont i er , Sar acens, Hungar i ans, and Scandi navi ans wer ehemmi ng i t i n, and cut t i ng i t shor t . I n t he ver y hear tof i t a host of Nor t hmen wer e hol di ng t he r i chestpor t i ons, and car r y i ng r api ne and i nsul t t o t he gat esof 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 eatpageant 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 ownaut hor i t y i n t he Rhi ne pr ov i nces, and was abl e t ogat her a st r ong ar my of East er n Fr anks, Saxons, andBavar 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 henei ghbour hood of Louvai ne, and def eat ed t hem sosi gnal l y t hat t he Low Count r i es wer e cl ear ed of t hemal t oget her , and suf f er ed no f ur t her , except f r om occa-si onal f l y i ng v i s i t s of a f ew gal l eys. The r emnant s oft 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 het own of Ami ens, and l i v i ng on t he nei ghbour i ng di s -t r i ct s, hi v i 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 heryear of Dani sh occupat i on br ought a t er r i bl e f ami neon t he whol e count r y, and ef f ect ed t hat i n whi chKi ng Odo had f ai l ed. Hast i ng coul d hol d Ami ensno 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 omLouvai ne, and no doubt al l t he r ascal dom of t heempi 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 kcoast s had never been i nt er r upt ed, and t hat t he ol dpi r at e knew wel l how r i ch and pr osper ous t he i s l andhad become si nce he had sai l ed away f r om Ful hamsome t hi r t een year s bef or e. He knew al so somet hi ngof t he st r engt h and t emper of t he Ki ng whom, hewoul d have t o meet t her e, and, had a choi ce been opent o hi m, woul d doubt l ess have pr ef er r ed some ot hervent ur e. But behi nd hi m l ay a f ami nest r i cken l and ;r ound hi m a l ar ger must er of r eck l ess f i ght er s t hanany he had yet l ed ; bef or e hi m, wi t hi n s i ght , atan easy day ' s sai l , t he shor es of a l and on whi ch nohost 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 kea l eader of t he same t ype i n t he f i r s t year s of t hi s

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ni net eent h cent ur j ' ' , pl anned t he i nvasi on of Al f r ed' ski ngdom, and wai t ed f or a f avour abl e aut umn wi ndt 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 omt he chr oni c l er s of t he event s whi ch pr eceded, andbr ought about , t he t hi r d gr eat i nvasi on whi ch Al f r edhad t o meet .

K 2


Hi s gr eat ant agoni st i n t hi s l ast war was al r eady i nt he decl i ne of l i f e, and had gr own gr ey i n cr i me. Ofal l t he l eader s of t he host s of heat hen Nor t hmen, whower e t he scour ge of West er n Eur ope i n t he ni nt hcent 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 hasdone most har m i n our age, " i s t he summar y of hi schar act er and car eer i n t he ol d Fr ench chr oni c l er —

" Le pl us mal hor n qui une nasqui st ,E qui al s i ec l 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 nce879. The st or y of hi s ear l i er doi ngs owes pr obabl ymuch of i t s r omance t o t he r hymi ng chr oni cl er s whosung of hi s at r oc i t i es, but i s cl ear enough i n gener alout l i ne t o cl ai m a pl ace i n hi s t or y, and a moment ' sat t ent i on f r om t hose who woul d r i ght l y appr eci at eour her o- ki ng.

The gr eat and i ndeci s i ve bat t l e of Font enoy nearAuxer r e, wher e t he gr andsons of Char l emagne br oughtt hei r r i val c l ai ms t o t he deci s i on of t he swor d i n t heyear 841, exhaust ed t he empi r e, and l ef t i t open t ot he onsl aught s of t he Nor t hmen, and t he f r eeboot er sof al l r aces who swel l ed t hei r r anks. Wi t hi n f i veyear s of t hat gr eat s l aught er a f or mi dabl e ar my oft 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, andpl under ed t he di s t r i c t 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 oTour s, f r om whi ch t hey wer e r epul sed by t he gal l ant r yof 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 s i ege t l i at Hast i ng f i r s tappear 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 dt o have been t he son of a peasant of Tr oyes, t hecapi t al of Champagne, and t o have f or swor n hi sf ai t h, and j oi ned t he Danes i n hi s ear l y yout h, f r om ani nher ent l ust of bat t l e and pl under . I n ot her s he i scal l ed t he son of t he j ar l At t c . But , what ever hi sor i gi n, by t he mi ddl e of t he cent ur y he had est abl i shedhi 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 cef or ays whi ch hel ped t o shat t er t he Car l ov i ngi an Empi r e

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t o f r agment s. Af t er t he r et r eat f r om Tour s he and t heVi k i ng Bi or n — sur named " Cot e de Fer " f r om an i r onpl at e whi ch was sai d t o cover t he onl y vul ner abl e par tof hi s body — est abl i shed t hemsel ves i n a f or t i f i edcamp on t he Sei ne, and f r om t hence pl under ed t hewhol 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 oft 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 outt o sea, ent er ed t he Loi r e, and est abl i shed a camp ona mar shy i s l and not f ar f r om i t s mout h. Her e her emai ned f or some t i me, f ul f i l l i ng hi s mi ss i on whi l eanyt 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 andGuadal qui ver , and r avaged t he nei ghbour hoods ofLi sbon and Sevi l l e. But no set t l ement i n Spai n waspossi bl e at t hi s t i me. The Peni nsul a had l at el y had f orCal i ph Abdal r ahman t he Second, cal l ed El I Mouzaf f er ," Tl i e Vi c t or i ous, " and t he vi gour of hi s r ul e had made


t he Ar abi an k i ngdom i n Spai n t he most ef f i c i entpower f or def ence i n Eur ope. Hast i ng soon r ecoi l edf r om t he Spani sh coast s, and r et ur ned t o hi s ol dhaunt s.

The l eader s of t he Danes i n Engl and, t he Si dr ocsand 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 andmonast er i es, mi ngl i ng a f i er ce r el i gi ous f anat i c i smwi 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 ngr eat measur e t o t he account of t he t hi r t y year s ofpr osel y t i s i ng war f ar e, whi ch Char l emagne had wagedi n Saxony, and al ong al l t he nor t her n f r ont i er of hi sempi r e. The bol dest spi r i t s amongst al l t hose Ger mant r i bes, who scor ned t o t ur n r enegades at t he swor d' spoi nt , had dr i f t ed away nor t hwar ds wi t h a t r adi t i on ofdeepest hat r ed t o t he Cr oss, and t he f or ms of ci vi l i zat i onwhi ch i t car r i ed i n i t s wake. The t i me f or vengeancecame bef or e one gener at i on had di ed out , and t hef ai r est pr ovi nces of t he empi r e wer e now payi ng, byt he bur ni ng of chur ches, t he sack of abbeys, t hedest 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 y t i s i 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 oughtmor e i l l s on t he poor ol d wor l d t han al l ot her s t hathave 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 epor 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 sand 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 chi nc i t ed hi m t o t he most dar i ng of al l hi s expl oi t s , a

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di r ect at t ack on t he head of Chr i st endom, and t hesacr ed ci t y .

Hast i ng t hen, about t he year 860, pl anned an at t ackon Rome, and t he pr oposal was wel l r ecei ved by hi sf ol l ower s. Sai l i ng agai n r ound Spai n, and pi l l agi ngon 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 orI t al y , l anded i n t he bay of Spezzi a, near t he t ownof Luna. Luna was t he pl ace wher e t he gr eat quar r i esof t he Car r ar a mar bl e had been wor ked ever si ncet he t i mes of t he Cassar s. The c i t y i t sel f was, i t i ssai d, i n gr eat par t bui l t of whi t e mar bl e, and t hecandoi t i a i nceui a Lhj ke decei ved Hast i ng i nt o t hebel i ef t hat he was act ual l y bef or e Rome : so he satdown 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 ak i 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 amor t al i l l ness, he sent messages t o t he c i t i zens of f er i ngt o l eave al l hi s accumul at ed pl under t o t he Chur ch i ft 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 edwi t hi n t he wal l s. The r i t es of t he Chur ch wer e dul yper f or med, but , at t he moment when t he body wasabout t o be l ower ed i nt o t he gr ave, Hast i ng spr angf r om t he bi er , and, sei zi ng a swor d whi ch had beenconceal ed near hi m, s l ew t he of f i c i at i ng bi shop. Hi sf ol l ower s f oi md t hei r ar ms at t he same moment ; t he


pr i est s wer e massacr ed, t he gat es t hr own open, andt he c i t y t aken and spoi l ed. Luna never r ecover ed i t sol d pr osper i t y af t er t he r ai d of t he Nor t hmen, and i nDant e' s t i me had f al l en i nt o ut t er decay. But Hast i ng' scar eer i n I t al y ended wi t h t he sack of Luna; and,gi v i ng up al l hope of at t acki ng Rome, he r e- embar kedv/ i t h t he spoi l of t he t own, t he most beaut i f ul of t hewomen, and al l yout hs who coul d be used as sol di er s orr ower s. Hi s f l eet was wr ecked on t he sout h coast s ofFr 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 c i ent number s t o r ecompenset 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 yearhe r ecei ved an embassy f r om Char l es t he Bal d, headedby t he Abbot of St . Deni s, and agr eed t o r ecei vebapt i sm f or a l ar ge sum of money, and t he cessi on t ohi m i n f ee of t he di s t r i c t of Char t r es, whi ch he was t ohol d as t he k i ng' s vassal . He seems now t o havel i ved qui et l y t i l l t he year d>y6, when he j oi ned t hear my whi ch Char l es t he Si mpl e was sendi ng agai nstRol l o. Hast i ng under t ook a mi ss i on t o t he camp ofhi s br ot her pi r at e on t he banks of t he Eur e, bear i ngt he k i ng' s of f er of f i ef s , and a per manent set t l ementt o t he Dani sh l eader and hi s ar my. Hi s mi ss i onwas unsuccessf ul , and f i ndi ng hi msel f suspect ed off oul deal i ng, and i n consequent danger , on hi s r et ur nt o t he Fr ench ar my, he l ef t hi s adopt ed home, andr et ur ned t o hi s ol d l i f e. How he had spent t hei nt er veni ng year s we have par t l y hear d al r eady.

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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 nstt he st eady, const ant pr essur e of t he or der l y k i ngdomof t hei r l i ege l or d was cr eepi ng t hr ough t he coast s ofEast Angl i a whi ch wer e most r emot e f r om Al f r ed' sbor der . Eohr i c was ei t her unabl e, or unwi l l i ng, t or est r ai n t he seaf ar i ng por t i on of hi s peopl e; and sot he encour agement was gi ven t o Hast i ng and " t hear my " whi ch br ought t hem ei ght een mont hs l at er t ot he hi l l s above Boul ogne, and cost Engl and andAl 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 vat 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 omi t s Boul ogne camp. Hast i ng had now mat ur ed al lhi 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 nsuch abundance, t hat when t he ar my embar ked, " t heycame over i n one passage, hor ses and al l . " Thef i r st det achment , f i l l i ng 250 . shi ps, wer e sent on byHast i ng t o sei ze t he near est poi nt . They st eer edst 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 , aboutseven mi l es west of Dungeness. The Chr oni cl es cal lt he r i ver Li men ( or Lymne) ; but t he posi t i on ofAppl edor e, t he undoubt ed si t e of t he f i r s t Dani shcamp of t hi s year , on t he banks of t he Rot her , seemst o deci de t he quest i on as t o t he i dent i t y of t hest r eam up whi ch " t hey t owed t hei r shi ps f or f ourmi l es, t o t he bor der s of t he Andr eds Weal d. " Thi swas 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 npar t of Hampshi r e, Her e t he Danes st or med a smal lf or t gar r i soned by a f ew chur l i sh men, and, wi t houtencount er i ng f ar t her r esi st ance, f i xed upon Appl edor eas 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. Hesai l ed wi t h hi s own i mmedi at e f ol l ower s, i n ei ght yshi ps, passed up t he Channel , r ound t he Nor t hFor el and, and i nt o t he East Swal e, t he br anch of t he

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Medway whi ch separ at es t he I s l e of Sheppey f r om t hemai 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 , nodoubt , t he Mi ddl et on of t he Saxon Chr oni c l e, wher eHast 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 shesar e st i l l poi nt ed out as t he wor k of t he Danes. Bet weent he t wo camps, whi ch woul d be some t went y - s i x mi l esapar 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 oei t her wi ng of t he ar my, and di r ect communi cat i onwi 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 na f ew mi l es of Wi nchest er or Readi ng wi t hout qui t t i ngcover . Bot h camps wer e est abl i shed on t he banksof r i ver s, navi gabl e t o t he Dani sh gal l eys, so t hat , i ft he wor st came, t her e wer e al ways means of r et r eatf or any who mi ght escape. Thi s posi t i on was a \ ' Qxyf or mi dabl e one, and admi r abl y chosen f or t he ends


Hast i ng had i n vi ew. The st r engt h of t he campst hemsel ves i s pr oved by t he f act , t hat Al f r ed nevetat 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 hadl 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 ofdef ence adopt ed by hi m i n hi s mat ur e year s of f er amar ked cont r ast t o t he i mpet uous gal l ant r y of hi sear l y campai gns. Hi s f i r s t act seems t o have been, t osend hi s son Edwar d, wi t h some l i ght t r oops, t o t henei 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 hent he gar r i sons of hi s f or t s. Then, put t i ng hi msel f att he head of t hat por t i on of hi s subj ect s whose t ur n i twas f or mi l i t ar y ser v i ce, he mar ched i nt o Kent , andt ook up a st r ong posi t i on, f r om whence he coul d bestwat ch bot h t he camps. The name of t he pl ace wher eAl f r ed l ai d out hi s camp i s not gi ven i n any chr oni c l er .Possi bl y i t was act ual l y i n t he Andr eds Weal d, andhad no name, f or i t i s descr i bed ( by Fl or ence ofWor cest er ) as " a pl ace nat ur al l y ver y st r ong, becausei t was sur r ounded on al l s i des by wat er , hi gh r ocks,and over hangi ng woods. " And now at once t he val ueof t he Ki ng' s ar my r ef or ms became c l ear . The Danesf 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 v i gi l ance was unceasi ng.The wat chi ng ar my never dwi ndl ed, and t he i nvader sdar ed not l eave t hei r ent r enchment s except i n smal lbands. 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 bandsand 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 heEt hel i ng Edwar d, and t he mar auder s wer e " sought outby bands f r om t he Ki ng' s ar my, or f r om t he bur ghs. "

Page129 of 174

Thus a desul t or y war f ar e cont i nued " al most ever yday, ei t her by day or ni ght , " as t he Saxon Chr oni c l edescr i bes i t , unt i l t he t heat r e of war i s suddenl y andcompl et el y changed, and t he head- quar t er s of bot hsi des, and t he scene of oper at i ons, pass over t o t henor 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 Danesset t l ed i n East Angl i a and Nor t humbr i a. I t i s cl eart hat he had been i nt r i gui ng wi t h t hem, f or Al f r ed hadhad t o exact a r enewal of t hei r oat hs, and even t o t akef r esh host ages f r om t he East Angl es. Now, as t hedesul t or y war dr agged on, week af t er week, and mont haf t er mont h, t he Danes of t he nor t her n ki ngdom gotmor e r est l ess and exci t ed, and Hast i ng, hopi ng muchf r om t hi s r ek i ndl i ng of t he ol d r ace- hat r ed, and seei ngno chance of doi ng anyt hi ng mor e i n hi s pr esentposi t i on, r esol ved t o abandon hi s t wo camps on t hesout 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 campsi n f or ce, but , now t hat t he change of base had beendet er mi ned on, i t was wor t h whi l e pl ayi ng f or a l ar gest ake. Accor di ngl y, Hast i ng sent of f hi s shi ps t o ar 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 byAl 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


gat her hi msel f i n hi s r api d mar ch, he now t ur nednor t hwar ds, hopi ng t o get t o t he f or ds of t he Thamesbef or e Al f r ed coul d over t ake hi m. I n t hi s he wasdi sappoi nt ed. The Ki ng and t he Et hel i ng Edwar dcaught t he Dani sh ar my at Far nham, and f or ced t hemt o f i ght . I n t hi s f i r st gener al act i on of t he war t heSaxons wer e compl et el y vi ct or i ous. Hast i ng' s ar myl ost t he whol e of t hei r pl under , and t he hor ses t heyhad br ought wi t h t hem f r om Fr ance. One of t hei rki ngs ( Dr . Paul i suggest s Bi or n) was desper at el ywouni kd, and hi s condi t i on i mpeded t hei r f l i ght . Theymade 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, s t r uck i t at apl ace wher e t her e was no f or d, and, besi des t he gr eatsl aught er at Far nham, number s of t hem wer e l ost i ncr ossi ng t he r i ver . The f i r st r al l y t hey made was i nan i s l and, at t he j unct i on of t he Thames and Col nc,cal l ed Thor ney I s l and. Her e Hast i ng hal t ed, and hi sshi ps pr obabl y br ought hi m suppl i es, and t he br okenbands of hi s ar my j oi ned hi m. But Al f r ed was on hi st r ack, and i n a shor t t i me t he i s l and was compl et el yi nvest ed by Saxon t r oops. I t had t hus become onl ya quest i on of days. I f t he bl ockade coul d have beenmai nt ai ned, Hast i ng and t he ar my must have beensoon 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 hant he besi eger s ; and, mor eover , t he t i me of ser vi ce oft he ar my whi ch f ought at Far nham had expi r ed, andt he r el i ef s had t o be br ought up at t hi s cr i t i cali noment . Al f r ed was hi msel f engaged i n br i ngi ng upt he r el i evi ng f or ce, when news r eached hi m whi ch

Page130 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 sf 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 smar ch and f l i ght , t he sagaci t y whi ch pr ompt ed t hemovement was at once j ust i f i ed. Scar cel y had t hebeat en ar my appear ed t o t he nor t h of t he Thameswhen t he Danes of t he east coast , f r om Essex t oNor t humber l and, unabl e any l onger t o r esi st t hecont agi on of bat t l e, br oke i nt o open host i l i t y , andr ushed t o t he ai d of t hei r r obber br et hr en. Theyhast i l y gat her ed a l ar ge f l eet , whi ch sai l ed at oncef or t he sout her n coast s of Wessex, f or t he pur pose ofcr eat i ng a di ver s i on, and r ai si ng t he bl ockade ofHast i ng at t he mout h of t he Col ne. A hundr ed oft hese shi ps pushed up t he Exe, whi l e f or t y mor emade t hei r way r ound ( t he Saxon Chr oni c l e says " byt he nor t h" ) i nt o t he Br i s t ol Channel . Each f l eet car r i edan ar med f or ce besi des t he cr ews ; and Exet er i n t hesout 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 newswhi 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 ookedf or . Al f r ed at once r esol ved t o mar ch west war dhi msel f . The Sout her n Wel sh who dwel t i n Cor nwal lmi ght f ol l ow t he exampl e of t he East Angl i ans andNor t humbr i ans, and j oi n t he i nvader s, and t he whol er eal m be i n a bl aze agai n, as i t was i n 879. I n anycase 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 hewhol 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 omt he west .

The bl ockade of Thor ney I sl and was t her ef or eabandoned at once, and Hast i ng, wi t h t he wr ecks oft he t wo ar mi es whi ch had gar r i soned t he camps ofAppl edor e and Mi l t on, escaped t o Bemf l eet . Her e hef ound hi s shi ps l y i ng, and hi s wi f e and sons, and t heheavy baggage of hi s ar my, al r eady occupyi ng t heol d f or t i f i cat i ons whi ch had been t hr own up t her e bysome Dani sh l eader , i f not by hi msel f , ni ne year sbef or e. Hi s r anks wer e soon r ecr ui t ed, by bands ofDanes f r om t he out l y i ng par t s of t he ki ngdom. Hel ost no t i me i n hi s t r enches, but s t ar t ed at once ona pl under i ng expedi t i on i nt o Mer c i 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 s t r ong body,under t he command pr obabl y of hi s son Edwar d, whohad gr eat l y di s t 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 ht he Mer ci an t r oops. That abl e and ener get i c l eaderi mmedi at el y pl anned an at t ack on t he camp atBemf l eet , i n accor dance wi t h t he wi shes of t heci t i zens of London, who coul d not br ook t he const ant

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menace of such a hor net s' nest i n t hei r i mmedi at enei ghbour hood. So Et hel r ed mar ched suddenl y uponBemf 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 ownf 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 et aken, and amongst t he pr i soner s wer e t he wi f e andt wo sons of Hast i ng. Ther e i s a passage i n t he


Saxon Chr oni c l e, and i n Fl or ence of Wor cest er , t o t heef f ect t hat t hese boys had shor t l y bef or e been sentas host ages t o Al f r ed, who had caused t hem t o bebapt 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 hert o hi s f ai t hl ess enemy, but t he spoi l was shar edamongst t he c i t i zens of London and Et hel r ed' sgar r i son. The Dani sh f l eet was al so capt ur ed atBemf l eet , and al l t he ser vi ceabl e vessel s wer e t akent o London or Rochest er , whi l e t he r emnant wer ebr oken up or bur nt . Hast i ng' s means of r et r eat wer et hus dest r oyed, but t he di sast er onl y seems t o havebr 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 enchedanot her camp at Shobur y, some t en mi l es east of i nsf or mer posi t i on. Fr om t hence he mar ched out at t hehead of anot her s t r ong f or ce, al ong t he nor t her nbank 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 ofEt hel r ed' s own count r y. Hi s i nt ent i on may have beent o r el i eve t he Dani sh f or ces i n Devonshi r e, and t o cutAl f r ed of f f r om hi s suppl i es and base. I f so, he wasqui ck l y and compl et el y f oi l ed. Et hel r ed hast eneddown t o t he t hr eat ened di st r i ct , and sent summonsest o al l t he nei ghbour i ng k i ng' s al der men and t hanes.The v i gour and al acr i t y of t he r esponse ar e ver ymar ked. " Then Et hel r ed, " t he Saxon Chr oni c l e says,

' and Et hel hc l m t he al der man ( of Wi l t s) , and Et her -s. L. vi i i . g


not h t he al der man ( of Somer set ) , and t he ki ng' st hanes who wer e t hen at home i n t he f or t i f i ed pl aces,gat her ed f or ces f r om ever y t own east of t he Par r et ,and as wel l west as east of Sel wood, and al so nor t h oft he Thames, and west of t he Sever n, and al so somepar t of t he Nor t h Wel sh peopl e. " Hast i ng was nowi n t he di st r i ct wher e Gut hr um had at t empt ed a set t l e-ment , and whi ch had been t he scene of t he campai gnof Et handune. The count r y knew wel l what t o ex -pect f r om t he t ender mer c i es of t he Dane, and r ose asone man, wi t hout a t hought of t he est abl i shed cour ses,or whose t ur n i t mi ght be f or t he r egul ar t hr ee mont hs 'ser vi ce. Hast 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 Wessex.He mi ght l ook f or mor e encour agement , at l east f orl ess ent husi asm of r esi st ance, on t he Nor t h Wel sh

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bor der : so he made no hal t t i l l he r eached But t i ngt oni n Mont gomer yshi r e, on t he banks of t he Sever n,wher e he ent r enched hi msel f and wai t ed f or Et hel r ed.But t i ngt on i s a bor der par i sh ; Of f a' s dyke, whi ch r unst hr ough i t , i s st i l l t he boundar y bet ween Shr opshi r eand Mont gomer yshi r e. Ther e ar e sever al ear t hwor ksst i l l t o be seen i n t he nei ghbour hood, and some t hi r t yyear s ago a vast deposi t of human bones was di scover ed i n di ggi ng t he f oundat i ons of t he school s t her e,near t he par i sh chur ch.

Et hel r ed on hi s ar r i val di v i ded hi s f or ces, so t hat hemi ght wat ch bot h banks of t he Sever n, and besetHast i ng' s camp ver y s t r ai t l y, so t hat no succour s orsuppl i es coul d r each t he besi eged. " When t heyhad now sat t her e many weeks on bot h si des t he


r i ver , " t he Chr oni c l e t el l s us, " t hen wer e t he enemy di s -t r essed f or want of f ood, and havi ng eat en a gr eat par tof t hei r hor ses, bei ng t hen st ar ved wi t h hunger , t heywent out agai nst t he men who wer e encamped on t heeast bank of t he r i ver , and f ought agai nst t hem. Andt he Chr i s t i ans had t he vi ct or y. And Or deh, a k i ng' st hane, and many ot her k i ng' s t hanes wer e sl ai n, and oft he Dani sh men t her e was ver y gr eat s l aught er made.And t hat par t whi ch got away t hence was saved byf l i ght . "

Hast i ng saved hi msel f by cr ossi ng t he Mer ci anbor der over Wat l i ng St r eet , f al l i ng back on a par t ofEast Angl i a f ar r emoved f r om Al f r ed' s i nf l uence, andwhi ch had st ubbor nl y r esi st ed al l but t he sembl anceof Chr i st i ani t y . Ei t her t he encour agement whi ch hef ound her e, i n t he shape of r ecr ui t s and sympat hy,t empt ed hi m t o r enew t he st r uggl e i n t he nor t h ofMer ci a, or he may have t hought t hat hi s best chanceof succour i ng hi s al l i es i n Devonshi r e l ay i n pi er ci ngt o t he west coast at some poi nt wher e hi s gr eat f l eet ,al r eady i n t hose seas, coul d f et ch hi m of f , and l andhi m on t he shor es of t he Br i s t ol Channel . At anyr at e, af t er r emovi ng t he Dani sh women and chi l dr en,and al l t hei r possessi ons, and such shi ps as wer e l ef tt hem, f r om Shobur y t o t he i s l and of Mer sea — at t hemout h of t he Bl ackwat er , a f ew mi l es sout h of Col -chest er , a saf er spot , and t went y mi l es f ur t her f r omLondon — and commi t t i ng t he pr ot ect i on of t he set t l e-ment t o t he East Angl i ans of t hose par t s, now hi sopen al l i es, Hast i ng went back agai n wi t h a f r eshar my, " at one st r et ch, day and ni ght " says t he Saxon

S 2

26o LI FE OF ALFRED THE GREAT.

Chr oni c l e, and appear ed suddenl y bef or e Chest er .The r oyal t own was not sur pr i sed, and was hel d bya st r ong gar r i son ; so Hast i ng swept t he count r y ofcat t l e, k i l l ed t he f ewpeopl e he f ound out si de t he wal l s,eat up or dest r oyed al l t he cr ops, whi ch wer e st i l lst andi ng i n t he l at e aut umn, and t hen, af t er t wo days,r et i r ed i nt o t he peni nsul a of Wi r r al , and t her e wenti nt o wi nt er quar t er s. Al f r ed meanwhi l e had compel l ed

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t he Danes t o r ai se t he si eges of Exet er and t hef or t r ess i n Nor t h Devon, and had dr i ven t hem t ot hei r shi ps ; but as t he f l eet st i l l hung about t he coast sof Devonshi r e and Sout h Wal es ( Cor nwal l ) , he di dnot t hi nk i t saf e t o l eave t he f ar west f or t he pr esent ,bei ng no doubt wel l sat i s f i ed wi t h t he r epor t s whi chr eached hi m of t he vi gor ous way i n whi ch Hast i ng hadbeen met when he t hr eat ened Cent r al Wessex. Sot he Ki ng wi nt er ed i n Devonshi r e.

The f i r st event f ul year of t he war was now ended,and on ever y si de t he enor mous i ncr ease of power i nt he nat i on consequent on Al f r ed' s r ul e had pr ovedi t sel f . The pagan ar my had not onl y been out f ought ,as i n past year s at Ashdown and Et handune, but out -mar ched and out manoeuvr ed by Al f r ed and Et hel r ed,and t he Saxon and Mer ci an l ev i es. They had not t akena s i ngl e pl ace of any i mpor t ance, whi l e one of t hei rent r enched camps had been st or med, and f our ot her sabandoned. The i ssue coul d not be doubt f ul , unl esssome gr eat r ei nf or cement s came t o Hast i ng f r omover t he sea ; but t he ol d pi r at e was st i l l at t he headof a f or mi dabl e ar my, and had opened up a goodr ecr ui t i ng gr ound on t he east coast s. Ther e was no


r oom f or car el essness or f ool har di ness i n t he comi ngspr i ng.

The campai gn of 895 was pr obabl y opened byEt hel r ed, or some Mer ci an ear l , who made a success -f ul dash at Hast i ng i n t he Wi r r al peni nsul a, andcar r i ed of f al l t he st or e of cat t l e and pr ovi s i on whi chhe had accumul at ed, f or t he Saxon Chr oni c l e not i cest hi s l oss as t he r eason why he br oke up hi s campt her e. So t he Danes t ook t he f i el d, and, avoi di ngChest er and Mer ci a f or t he t i me, mar ched i nt o Nor t hWal es. Her e, bef or e Et hel r ed coul d come at t hem,t hey col l ect ed a l ar ge boot y i n t he val l eys, and t henr et r eat ed i nt o Nor t humbr i a, " f ear i ng, " says Fl or ence," t o r et ur n t hr ough Mer ci a. " Dr . Paul i gat her s, f r oman obscur e passage i n Et hel war d' s Chr oni c l e, t hat onhi s mar ch sout hwar ds Hast i ng was i nt er cept ed byEt hel not h at St amf or d, and t hat a bat t l e was f oughtt her e. I n any case, i n t he cour se of t he summer oraut umn, t he mai n body of t he Danes ar r i ved saf el yi n t he i s l e of Mer sea, and r ecei ved t hei r women andchi l dr en f r om t he saf e- keepi ng of t hei r East Angl i anal l i es.

Her e t hey wer e j oi ned i n t he aut umn by t he f l eetand t he r emai ns c f t he ar my whi ch had been i nDevonshi r e. Foi l ed at al l poi nt s by Al f r ed hi msel f ,and dr i ven t o t hei r shi ps, t hey had sai l ed out of t heExe, and on t hei r voyage east war d had made a suddendescent on t he Sussex coast near Chi chest er . But t hegar r i son and ci t i zens t ur ned out and f ought t hem, " s l ay -i ng many hundr eds, and t aki ng some of t hei r shi ps. "But Hast i ng was not yet beat en, and, bef or e Al f r e( ^


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had t i me t o or gani ze an at t ack on Mer sea, put al l onboar d hi s f l eet and sai l ed bol dl y up t he Thames andt he Lea, and once mor e f or t i f i ed hi msel f i n a st r ongcamp on t he l at t er r i ver , onl y t went y mi l es f r omLondon. And so t he second year of t he war ended.

896 opened wi t h a r ever se t o t he Saxon ar ms.Encour aged by t he success of t he at t ack on t heBem f l eet camp t wo year s bef or e, and per haps by t heexpl oi t of t he ci t i zens of Chi chest er i n t he l astaut umn, t he men of London and t hei r gar r i sonmar ched out t o at t ack Hast i ng i n hi s camp on t heLea, wi t hout wai t i ng t he ar r i val 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 onLondon, wi t h t he l oss of f our k i ng' s t hanes. TheKi ng now came up, and est abl i shed hi msel f bet weenHast i ng' s camp and t he ci t y , t o pr ot ect t he peopl ewhi l e t hey r eaped t hei r cr ops. Whi l e encamped f ort hi s pur pose, Al f r ed, r i di ng one day al ong t he r i ver ,di scover ed a pl ace wher e t he st r eam mi ght be easi l ydi ver t ed or obst r uct ed, so t hat i t woul d be i mpossi bl ef or t he Danes t o pass down i t wi t h t hei r f l eet . Heset t o t he wor k at once, and at t he same t i me begant o bui l d t wo f or t s, one on each s i de of t he Lea, att he poi nt he had sel ect ed f or di ver t i ng t he st r eam.Hast i ng di d not wai t f or t he cat ast r ophe. Conf i di ngt he women and chi l dr en agai n t o t he car e of t he EastAngl i ans, and abandoni ng hi s camp and f l eet , hemar ched away agai n nor t h- west , and est abl i shed hi m-sel f f or t he wi nt er near Br i dgnor t h ( Cwat br i dge) i nShr opshi r e, di s t anci ng t he f or ce whi ch Al f r ed sent i npur sui t . The Londoner s t ook possessi on of t he camp


and f l eet i n gr eat t r i umph. Those shi ps whi ch t heycoul d not br i ng away wer e bur nt , and al l whi ch wer e" s t al wor t h " t hey br ought down t o London. And soended t he t hi r d and l ast year of Al f r ed' s l ast war .

I n t he spr i ng of 897 Hast i ng br oke up hi s l astcamp on Engl i sh soi l . Hi s ar my was now composedof Nor t humbr i an and East Angl i an Danes, as wel l asof hi s f ol l ower s who had embar ked f r om Boul ognet hr ee year s bef or e. The f or mer mar ched back t ot hei r own homes, whi l e Hast i ng, wi t h t he r emai ns ofhi s own f ol l ower s, f el t hi s way back t o some pl ace ont he east coast . Her e t he women and chi 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 ngt oget her shi ps enough t o car r y hi m and hi s f or t unes," went sout hwar d over sea t o t he Sei ne. "

" Thanks be t o God ! " t he Chr oni cl e sums up, " t hear my had not ut t er l y br oken down t he Engl i sh nat i on :but dur i ng t hose t hr ee year s i t was much mor e br okendown by t he mor t al i t y whi ch r aged amongst cat t l eand amongst men ; and most of al l by t hi s , t hat manyof t he most emi nent of t he Ki ng' s ser vant s i n t he l anddi ed dur i ng t he t hr ee year s, some of whom wer e —Swi t hul f , bi shop of Rochest er , and Ceol mund, al der -man of Kent , and Beor t hul f , al der man of Hant s, andEal her d, bi shop of Dor chest er , and Eadul f t he ki ng' st hane i n Sussex, and Beor nwul f t he wi cr ecvc of

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Wi nchest er , and Ecgul f t he ki ng' s hor se- t hane, andmany al so besi des t hese, t hough I have named t hemost f amous. " A goodl y l i st of men who coul d i l l bespar ed ; most of t hem, t oo, we may not e, of f i cer s i n t hedi st r i c t s whi ch had bor ne t he l ) r unt of t he i nvasi on.


The ember s of t he f i r e whi ch Hast i ng had ki ndl edcoi i t i nued t o smoul der af t er he had l ef t t he i s l and.Hi s Nor t humbr i an and East Anghan al l i es coul d notat 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 hadnow 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 lsquadr ons of t hei r swi f t vessel s, cal l ed " oescs, " and i nt 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 ngAl f r ed and hi s peopl e. I n t he cour se of t he aut umnAl 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 accountwe have of an act i on bet ween t he Ki ng' s shi ps and t hepi r at es suggest s r at her t hat t he Danes st i l l r et ai nedt hei r mast er y as sai l or s, and t hat Al f r ed and hi s newshi ps, wi t h t hei r mot l ey cr ews, onl y pr evai l ed agai nstt hem by sheer wei ght and super i or number s.

The st or y i s i n t he Saxon Chr oni c l e as f ol l ows : — '" Some t i me i n t he same year t her e came s i x shi ps t oWi ght , and t her e di d much har m, as wel l as i n Devonand 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 heybl 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 outagai nst t hem ; and t hr ee l ay i n t he upper par t of t hepor t dr y, and t he cr ews wer e gone out of t hem onshor e. Then t he Ki ng' s shi ps t ook t wo of t he t hr eeshi ps at t he out f ^ r por t , and k i l l ed t he cr ews, and t he


ot her shi p escaped. I n t hat al so al l t he men wer eki l l ed except f i ve, and i t escaped because t he Ki ng' sshi ps got agr ound. They i ndeed wer e agr ound ver ydi sadvant ageousl y, f or t hr ee l ay on t hat si de wher et he Dani sh shi ps wer e agr ound, and al l t he r est upont he ot her s i de, so t hat no one of t hem coul d get t ot he ot her s. But when t he wat er had ebbed manyf ur l ongs f r om t he shi ps, t hen t he Dani sh men wentf r om t hei r t hr ee shi ps t o t he ot her t hr ee whi ch wer el ef t by t he t i de on t hei r s i de, and f ought agai nst t hemt her e. " " Then mi ght you have seen, " says t heChr oni c l e of Hunt i ngdon, " t he Engl i sh peopl e oft he s i x shi ps l ooki ng at t he bat t l e, and unabl e t obear 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 ml i t t l e pi ct ur e of t he doi ngs of t he ancest or s of t heBl akes and Nel sons. " Ther e wer e sl ai n Lucumon,t he k i ng' s r eeve, and Wul f hear d t he Fr i si an, andAbbae t he Fr i si an, and Et hel her e t he Fr i s i an, andEt hel f er t h t he ki ng' s neat her d ; and of al l t hemen, Fr i s i ans and Engl i sh, 72, and of t he Dani sh

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men, 120. Then, however , t he f l ood- t i de came t ot he Dani sh shi ps bef or e t he Engl i sh coul d get t hei r sof f : t hey t her ef or e r owed away. Never t hel ess, t heywer e so damaged t hat t hey coul d not r ow r oundSussex ; 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. Andt he men who wer e i n t he s i ngl e shi p came t o EastAngl 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 ypi r at e vessel s. Some of hi s bi ogr apher s ar e i ncHnedt o gl oss, or ext enuat e, t he Ki ng' s sever i t y i n t hese l astdeal i ngs wi t h t he pi r at es. I t seems t o me t he mostwi se and mer c i f ul cour se he coul d have t aken. Thewar was now v i r t ual l y at an end, and i t was necessar yt o i mpr ess upon t he l oose seaf ar i ng popul at i on ofNor t humbr i a and East Angl i a t hat t hey coul d onl ycont i nue i t i n smal l mar audi ng excur s i ons on t hei rown account at t he per i l of t hei r necks. That t heKi ng, at t hi s t r i umphant cr i s i s of hi s l i f e, as wel l ason ever y ot her occasi on, was l eni ent t o hi s f oes, andscr upul ousl y car ef ul t o act up t o t he hi gh st andar d hehad set hi msel f , i s abundant l y cl ear by t he f act t hathe 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 havemar ched f r om Wat l i ng St r eet t o t he For t h, and t heDani 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 noact i ve par t wi t h Hast i ng, and t he Ki ng woul d notpuni sh t hem f or want of power t o cont r ol t he mostt ur bul ent of t hei r peopl e, i n such t i mes, and under3uch t empt at i ons. So t her e was no r eckoni ng f or t hepast ; onl y, as t hey coul d not hi nder t hei r nomi nalsubj ect s f r om t ur ni ng pi r at es, t he Ki ng must r ead al esson t o such per sons. That of Wi nchest er wasenough. Ther e i s no hi nt of any f ur t her pi r acy dur i ngAl f r ed' s r ei f f n.

CHAPTER XXI I .

THE k i 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 esentwr 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 c t ur e i s at t he best ; how i ndi s t i nct l ymost of t he per sons st and out f r om behi nd t he mi st sof a t housand year s ; how necessar y i t has been atever y s t ep t o hesi t at e as t o t he cour se and meani ng

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of event s ; how many quest i ons of gr ave i mpor t ancer emai n scar cel y s t at ed, and al t oget her unsol ved, noone can f eel mor e st r ongl y t han he does. At t hesame t i me, unl ess t he at t empt has whol l y f ai l ed, hemust have i n some sor t made c l ear f or hi s r eader s t hef i gur e of a k i ng who, havi ng by hi s own ener gy, andby hi s per sonal char act er and geni us, won f or hi msel fa posi t i on such as no man of t he Engl i sh r ace everhad bef or e, or has ever had s i nce, never used, or t houghtof us i ng, hi s s t 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 k i ng, i n shor t ,


who y i el ded hi msel f t o do t he wor k t o whi ch Godhad cal l ed hi m, s i mpl y and t hor oughl y, never l os i ngt 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 sas ar e l ef t of t he home- l i f e of Al f r ed, and t o gl anceat t he wor k i n whi ch, af t er al l , he pr obabl y mostdel 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 ndhi m now i n one count y, now i n anot her , at one of t her oyal r es i dences, whi ch wer e i ndeed so numer ous t hatwe can onl y suppose t he accommodat i on at many oft hem t o have been of t he r oughest and s i mpl est de-scr i pt i on. The or di nar y houses of t he Saxon nobl esconsi st ed of a l ar ge cent r al hal l , wi t h chapel andr ooms f or t he f ami l y at t ached, and out houses f or t heser vant s and f ol l ower s gr ouped r ound t hem. Thewhol e of t hese bui l di ngs wer e of wood up t o Al f r ed' st i me, and t her e wer e no deep moat s or mi l i t ar ydef ences of any k i nd. The k i ng' s r esi dences di f f er edonl y i n s i ze f r om t hose of t he nobi l i t y ; but Al f r edmust have needed much mor e r oom t han any ofhi 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 whomspeci 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 es i dences, and of t he ar chi t ect ur e ofhi s chur ches and ot her publ i c bui l di ngs, i s shown byt 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 manyof hi s new bui l di ngs, compar ed wi t h any t hen knowni 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 weknow 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 hathe made t he di v i s i on of hi s year l y i ncome i n t hemanner we have hear d, Al f r ed al so r esol ved t o of f ert o God no l ess of t he ser vi ce of hi s mi nd and bodyt han of hi s wor l dl y weal t h. " He accor di ngl y made avow t o consecr at e hal f of hi s t i me t o God' s ser v i 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

Page138 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 hel 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 msand c l ouds, he began t o consi der by what means,wi t hout any uncer t ai nt y , r el y i 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 hAf t er much t hought on t hese t hi ngs, he at l engt h hi ton a shr ewd i nvent i on. He commanded hi s chapl ai nst o suppl y wax of suf f i c i ent quant i t y and qual i t y , andhad i t wei ghed i n such a manner t hat when t her e wasso much of i t i n t he scal es as woul d equal t he wei ght ofsevent y- t wo pence, he caused t he chapl ai ns t o makesi x candl es t her eof , of equal l engt h ; so t hat eachcandl 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 ort 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


al ways accompani ed hi m wher ever he went . Butsomet i mes t hey woul d not cont i nue bur ni ng a whol eday and ni ght , t i l l t he same hour t hat t hey wer el i ght ed on t he pr ev i ous eveni ng, f r om t he v i ol ence oft he wi nd, whi ch bl ew wi t hout i nt er mi ssi on t hr ough t hedoor s and wi ndows of t he chur ches, t he f i ssur es at t hedi v i s i ons i n t he pl anki ngs of t he wal l s , or t he t hi ncanvas of t he t ent s. When, t her ef or e, t he candl esbur ned out and f i ni shed t hei r cour se bef or e t he pr opert i me, t he Ki ng consi der ed by what means he coul dshut out t he wi nd ; and so, by a usef ul and cunni ngi nvent i on, he had a l ant er n beaut i f ul l y const r uct ed i nwood and whi t e ox - hor n, whi ch, when ski l f ul l y pl anedt i l l i t i s t hi n, i s no l ess t r anspar ent t han a vessel ofgl ass. Thi s l ant er n, t her ef or e, was wonder f ul l y madeof wood and hor n, as we bef or e sai d ; and by ni ght acandl e was put i nt o i t , whi ch shone as br i ght l y wi t houtas wi t hi n, and was not ext i ngui shed by t he wi nd ; f ort he openi ng of t he l ant er n was al so c l osed up, accor d-i ng t o t he Ki ng' s command, by a door of hor n. By t hi scont r i vance t hese s i 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 ; andwhen 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 sc i 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 nodescr 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 ofl i f e, says : " Dur i ng t he f r equent war s and ot hert r ammel s of t hi s pr esent l i f e, t he i nvasi ons of t hePagans, and hi s own dai l y i nf i r mi t i es of body, hecont i nued t o car r y on t he gover nment , and t o exer c i se


hunt i ng i n al l i t s br anches ; t o t each hi s wor ker s i ngol d and ar t i f i cer s of al l k i nds, hi s f al coner s, hawker s,and dog- keeper s ; t o bui l d houses maj est i c and goodbeyond al l t he pr ecedent s of hi s ancest or s by hi snew mechani cal i nvent i ons ; t o r eci t e t he Saxonbooks, and especi al l y t o l ear n by hear t t he Saxonpoems, and t o make ot her s l ear n t hem ; and he al onenever desi s t ed f r om st udyi ng t o t he best of hi s abi l i t y.

Page139 of 174

He at t ended t he mass, and ot her dai l y ser vi ces ofr el i gi on ; he was f r equent i n psal m- s i ngi ng and pr ayerat t he hour s bot h of day and ni ght . He al so went t ot he chur ches i n t he ni ght - t i me t o pr ay secr et l y, andunknown t o hi s cour t i er s ; he best owed al ms andl 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 eagert o i nvest i gat e t hi ngs unknown. "

That par t of t he above st at ement whi ch speaks oft he Ki ng' s t eachi ng hi s wor ker s i n gol d has r ecei vedcur i ous i l l ust r at i on f r om t he f amous j ewel f ound atNewt on Par k, near At hel ney, i n 1693, and whi ch i snow i n t he Ashmol ean Museum at Oxf or d. The j ewelconsi 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 hej ewel ar e of pur e gol d, t he l at t er bei ng chased i n agr acef ul pat t er n. I t i s about hal f an i nch t hi ck, andr ound t he out si de r uns t he scr ol l , " Al f r ed had mewor ked " — " Al f r ed mec heht gewyr can " — st ampedon 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


l at er year s of peace, hel ps us t o pi c t 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 eatcour t — hal f camp, hal f c i t y — whi ch moved about al lt 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, andexer c i s i ng on t he ot her a c l ose and sever e cont r olover t he act s of al der men and sher i f f s, and t hedeci s i ons of j udges. I n t he mi dst of t hi s home ofwor k, and wi t h t he exampl e of t he chi ef , and mostdi l i gent , wor ker al ways bef or e t hei r eyes, hi s f ami l ygr 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 ashappy as he deser ved t o be. Of Queen Et hel swi t hawe know not hi ng, except t hat she was t he f ai t hf ulconsor 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 efwor k, and how admi r abl y i t was per f or med may bei nf er r ed f r om t he r esul t s . Ever y chi l d of Al f r edt ur ned out wel l . The gi r l s of t he r oyal f ami l y wer et r ai ned i n al l k i nds of womanl y wor k ; t he f ourdaught er s of Edwar d t he El der , who must have beenbr ought up i n Et hel swi t ha' s househol d, havi ng beenspeci al l y di s t i ngui shed f or t hei r gr eat ass i dui t y andski l l i n spi nni ng, weavi ng, and needl ewor k. And t hepr 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 websf or med " wi t h t hr eads of pur pl e and var i ous ot hercol our s woven i n wi t h t he shut t l e, t hr own f r om onesi de t o t he ot her , t her eby f or mi ng a var i et y ofdi f f er ent col our s and f i gur es, each i n i t s own pr opercompar t ment kni t t oget her wi t h exqui s i t e ar t . "

THE KI NG' S HOME. 273

Page140 of 174

The hi gher educat i on, of gi r l s as wel l as boys, wenton i n t he school s at t ached t o t he cour t under Al f r ed' sown eye. Pr obabl y hi s own daught er s wer e at l eastas 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 omschool . " When I have met her she woul d exami ner t i e i n my l ear ni ng, and f r om gr ammar woul d pr oceedt o l ogi c, whi ch she al so under st ood, concl udi ng wi t hme i n most subt l e ar gument ; t hen causi ng one of herat 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 getsomet hi ng t o eat . " Et hel swi t ha sur v i 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 s t yearof her f at her ' s r ei gn, when t he Danes wer e i n Readi ngcamp, 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 nmentwi t h her husband, as Lady of Mer c i a, and af t er hi sdeat 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 anson t he ot her .

Thei r second daught er was Et hel geda, who becameabbess of t he gr eat monast er y at Shaf t esbur y, whi cht he Ki ng bui l t soon af t er t he peace of Wedmor e.Her r es i dence t her e may pr obabl y account f or t hespeci 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 mayaccept t he ev i dence of Wi l l i am of Mal mesbur y, He


ment i ons i n hi s chr oni c l e t hat he had seen a st onewhi ch was dug out of t he ol d wal l s i n hi s t i me, andwhi ch bor e t he i nscr i pt i on, " A. D. 880, Al f r edus Rexf ec i 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 hewi 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 s t i anEngl and i n t he t i me of hi s boyhood by her successi vemar r i ages wi t h hi s f at her and br ot her . How or whent he r econci l i at i on bet ween t hem t ook pl ace we do notknow.

The boys wer e Edwar d, af t er war ds Ki ng Edwar dt he El der , and Et hel vvar d. Et hel war d, t he youngerson, showed a t ur n f or st udy, and, " by t he di vi necounsel s and pr udence of t he Ki ng, was consi gned t ot he school s of l ear ni ng, wher e, wi t h t he chi l dr en ofal most al l t he nobi l i t y of t he count r y, and many al sowho wer e not nobl e, he pr osper ed under t he di l i gentcar e of hi s t eacher s. " Whi l e Et hel war d t hen wassent t o Oxf or d ( or what ever was t he l eadi ng schoolof Engl and) , Edwar d seems never t o have got beyondt he school whi ch was at t ached t o hi s f at her ' s cour t .Asser s t at es t hat he and El f r i t h wer e br ed up i n t heKi 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 c l ear l y

Page141 of 174

appl y t o bot h t he boys, t hough Et hel war d' s name i snot ment i oned. He cont i nues: " They had t he l ove ofal l about t hem, and showed af f abi l i t y and gent l enesst 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 rot her s t 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


nobl e yout hs, ar e t hey suf f er ed t o pass t hei r t i me i dl yand unpr of i t abl y wi t hout l ear ni ng t he l i ber al ar t s ; f ort hey have car ef ul l y l ear ned t he Psal ms and Saxonbooks, 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 v i gour andcour age, as wel l as hi s k i ndl y cour t esy, and was ad-di c t ed t o, and no doubt encour aged by Al f r ed i n, t hepr act i ce of mar t i al spor t s, and hunt i ng. Ther e i s ar omant i c st or y whi ch connect s hi s f i r st mar r i age wi t ha hunt i ng expedi t i on. Tur ni ng asi de f r om hi s spor tt o vi si t an ol d woman who had been hi s nur se, hef ound l i v i ng wi t h her a gi r l of gr eat beaut y, namedEdgi 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 eamtt hat t he moon shone out of her body so br i ght l yt hat i t i l l umxi nat ed al l Engl and. She had t ol d t hedr eam t o t he ol d nur se, who had adopt ed her , andnow 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 emar r i ed, but t he bet t er opi ni on seems t o be t hatt hey wer e. I n any case, t hei r son At hel st an wasr ecogni sed by Al f r ed as hi s gr andson when qui t e achi l d, and ent r ust ed t o Et hel r ed and Et hel f l eda t obr 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 sopl 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, " andgave hi m a pur pl e r obe, a bel t set wi t h j ewel s, and aSaxon swor d i n a gol den sheat h.

T 2


Edgi na di ed ear l y , and Edwar d had a l ar ge f ami l yby t wo ot her wi ves, of whom t hr ee daught er s mar r i edt he most power f ul cont i nent al pr i nces : Edgi t ha, t heEmper or Ot ho I . ; Edgi va, Char l es t he Si mpl e ; andEt hi l da, Hugo t he Gr eat , Duke of Bur gundy andNeust r i a, t he r i val of t he Car l ov i ngi an l i ne ofPr anki sh ki ngs.

Reader s must f i l l up f or t hemsel ves t he pi c t ur e oft he Engl i sh l i f e r ound t he gr eat Ki ng; and a cheer f uland heal t hy l i f e i t must have been, wf t h i t s r egul arwor k i nt er sper sed wi t h t he wel l - kept Sai nt s ' daysand Sundays, on whi ch no bondman coul d be madet o wor k wi t hout t her eby gai ni ng a r i ght t o hi sf r eedom. The di scomf or t of t hei r houses was l i t t l ef el t by a har dy r ace, and, whi l e t hei r usef ul car pent r y

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was of t he r udest k i nd, t hei r or nament al f ur ni t ur ecompr i sed ar t i c l es i nl ai d wi t h t he pr ec i ous met al s ,and candl est i cks and gobl et s and mi r r or s of wr oughtsi l ver , and hangi ngs of al l br i ght col our s. Thedescr i pt i ons whi ch have r eached us of t he dr essesand ways of t he peopl e go f ar t o pr ove t hat Engl andwas mer r y Engl and a t housand year s ago. Men andwomen 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 hsl eeves t o t he wr i s t s , and gi r ded r ound t he wai st , andt 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 enor nament ed wi t h embr oi der y ; and si l k hoods wi t hl 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 swer e head- bands, neckl aces, br acel et s , and r i ngs, many


of whi ch wer e of f i ne wor kmanshi p, and enamel l edwi 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 ofa f r ee woman. Even t he cl er gy wer e addi ct ed t ocol our ed gar ment s and or nament s, whi ch dr ew downon t hem, and on t he peopl e, t he sever e censur es ofst er n eccl esi ast i cs such as St . Boni f ace, who decl ar edt hat t he vai n showi ness i n t he dr ess of hi s peopl eannounced t he comi ng of Ant i chr i s t .

Gl eemen, post ur e mast er s, and j uggl er s wer eal ways at hand t o s i 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 heeveni ngs ; and hunt i ng, and hawki ng, and swor d andbuckl er pl ay, and hor se- r ac i ng, f i l l ed up t he i nt er val sof mor e ser i ous busi ness. I n shor t , i n t he i mmedi at enei ghbour hood of t he Cour t , t he l i f e of al l but t heKi 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 kand r ough and heal t hy spor t , wel l cal cul at ed t odevel op t he power s of hi s v i gor ous, i f somewhati ndol ent peopl e.

CHAPTER XXI I I .

THE KI NG AS AUTHOR. '

" The l i ps of t he r i i ^J i t eoi i s f eed many : but f ool s di e f or wantof 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 sst at ement , t hat i t was not unt i l t he year 887 t hatAl 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 hef or m, " I , Al f r ed, br ot her t o t he Ki ng, have consent edand 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 hebegan 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 orAl f r ed' s wor ks t he Angl o- Saxon spoken i n t he ni nt hcent ur y mi ght never have r eached us at al l . Whenhe was a boy t he l i t er at ur e of hi s mot her - t ongue

Page143 of 174

consi st ed of a f ew poems, such as t hose of C dmonand Adhel m, sung by t he peopl e, and handeddown f r om f at her t o son, f or even Bede had wr i t t enhi s gr eat wor k i n Lat i n. When Al f r ed di ed he l ef tal l t hose of hi s peopl e who coul d r ead ver s i ons oft he best hi st or i cal , phi l osophi cal , and r el i gi ous wor kswhi 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 ectr ef er ences t o hi msel f , and coul d scar cel y have beenwr i t t en by any ot her per son, i t i s al most beyondbel i ef t hat he coul d have t r ansl at ed, par aphr ased, andadapt ed al l t he books whi ch ar e gener al l y at t r i but edt o hi m. The pr essur e of publ i c busi ness of al l k i ndsi 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 puta 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 edr i ven t o t he concl us i on t hat Pl egmund, Asser , andhi s chapl ai ns must have done gr eat par t of t he wor kunder hi s i mmedi at e di r ect i on and super vi si on. Thewi sdom and br eadt h of hi s v i ews wi l l be seen bestby a shor t not i ce of t he most cel ebr at ed of t hewor ks whi ch he l ef t t o hi s peopl e. But t he mostf i t t i ng i nt r oduct i on t o t hese wi l l be t he accountgi ven by Asser of t he i nt er vi ew whi ch at l ast t ur nedt 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 ebot h si t t i ng i n t he Ki ng' s chamber , t al ki ng on al lk i nds of subj ect s as usual , and i t happened t hat I r eadt o hi m a quot at i on out of a cer t ai n book. He hear di t at t ent i vel y wi t h bot h hi s ear s, and addr essed mewi t h a t hought f ul mi nd, showi ng me at t he samemoment a book whi ch he car r i ed i n hi s bosom, wher ei nt he dai l y cour ses, and psal ms, and pr ayer s whi ch hehad 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 v i ng hi s i ngenuous benevo-l ence, and devout desi r e of s t udyi ng t he wor ds ofdi v i ne wi sdom, I gave, t hough i n secr et , boundl esst hanks t o Al mi ght y God, who had i mpl ant ed sucha l ove of wi sdom i n t he Ki ng' s hear t . But I coul dnot f i nd any empt y space i n t hat book wher ei n t owr i t e t he quot at i on, f or i t was al r eady f ul l of var i ousmat t er s ; wher ef or e I made a l i t t l e del ay, pr i nc i pal l yt hat I mi ght st i r up t he br i ght i nt el l ect of t he Ki ngt o a hi gher acquai nt ance wi t h t he di v i ne t est i moni es.Upon hi s ur gi ng me t o make hast e and wr i t e i tqui ck l y , I sai d t o hi m, ' Ar e you wi l l i ng t hat I shoul dwr i t e t hat quot at i on on some l eaf apar t ? For i t i snot cer t ai n whet her we shal l not f i nd one or mor eot her such ext r act s whi ch wi l l pl ease you ; and i f t hatshoul d so happen, we shal l be gl ad t hat we have keptt hem apar t ' ' Your pl an i s good, ' sai d he ; and I

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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 hatsam e day I wr ot e t her ei n, as I had ant i c i pat ed, nol 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 , andf ound out ot her quot at i ons whi ch pl eased hi m, so t hatt he sheet became f ul l , and deser vedl y so ; accor di ngas 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 ert hi ngs. ' Thus, l i ke a most pr oduct i ve bee, he f l ewher e and t her e, ask i ng quest i ons as he went , unt i l hehad eager l y and unceasi ngl y col l ect ed many var i ousf l ower s of di vi ne Scr i pt ur e wi t h whi ch he t hi ckl yst 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 waseager at once t o r ead, and t o i nt er pr et i n Saxon, andt 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 v i ne Scr i pt ur e ont he sacr ed sol emni t y of St . Mar t i n [ Nov. 11] , andhe cont i nued t o l ear n t he f l ower s col l ect ed by cer t ai nmast er s, and t o r educe t hem i nt o t he f or m of onebook, as he was t hen abl e, al t hough mi xed one wi t hanot 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 handday and ni ght , and f ound, as he t ol d me, no smal lconsol at i on t her ei n. "

Thi s handbook i s unf or t unat el y l ost , and t he onl yaut hent i c not i ces of i t s cont ent s ar e t wo passages i nWi 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 nota mer e commonpl ace book of passages copi ed f r omt he books of f amous aut hor s, but t hat Al f r ed washi msel f gat her i ng i n i t mat er i al s f or a hi s t or y of hi scount r y . The f i r s t passage ci t ed mer el y cor r ect s ast at ement t hat Bi shop Al dhel m was t he nephew oiKi ng I na. The second r el at es how " Ki ng Al f r edment i ons, t hat a popul ar song whi ch was st i l l sung i nt he st r eet s was composed by Al dhel m ; addi ng t her eason why such a man occupi ed hi msel f wi t h t hi ngswhi ch appear t o be f r i vol ous. The peopl e at t hatt i me bei ng hal f bar bar i ans, and car i ng ver y l i t t l e aboutchur ch cer mons, used t o r un home as soon as masshad been chant ed. For t hi s r eason t he hol y manwoul d st and on a br i dge whi ch l eads f r om t he t own


t o t he count r y, and woul d meet t hem on t hei r wayhome 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 hef avour of t he peopl e, who f l ocked r ound hi m. Mi x i ngby t hi s devi ce by and by t he wor ds of Hol y Scr i pt ur ewi t h hi s pl ayf ul songs, he l ed t he peopl e back t o apr oper l i f e. Wher eas, i f he had pr ef er r ed t o actsever el y, and by excommuni cat i on, he woul d neverhave gai ned anyt hi ng by i t . " Thi s one speci men oft he handbook whi ch r emai ns t o us must hei ght en our

Page145 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 smust have been t he r epr oduct i on of " The Uni ver salHi st or y of Paul us Or osi us" i n Angl o- Saxon, f orAl 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 ssummed 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 hasomi 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 esOr osi us, " by t he hel p of Chr i s t , and i n obedi encet o your desi r e, O most bl essed f at her August i ne, t hel ust s and puni shment s of si nf ul men, t he conf l i c t sof t he ages, and t he j udgment s of God, f r om t hebegi nni ng of t he wor l d t o t he pr esent t i me ; t hat i st o say, f or 5617 year s. " Thi s hi s t or y had t he hi ghest


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 nowi 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 mostact 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 s t or y was suggest ed t ohi m by St . August i ne, who appr eci at ed t he i ndust r yand abi l i t y of t he young Spani sh pr i est , and wi shedf or hi s hel p i n t he wor k whi ch he was hi msel fengaged upon. Thi s was hi s t r eat i se " De ci vi t at eDei , " i nt ended t o r ef ut e t he scandal ous asser t i onsof pagan Romans, t hat Chr i s t 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 sf ounded t hei r ar gument on t he mi sf or t unes whi chhad bef al l en t he Empi r e, and par t i cul ar l y on t her ecent sack of Rome by Al ar i c ( A. D. 410) . Al lt hese t hey at t r i but ed t o Chr i st i ani t y , mai nt ai ni ngt hat , s i nce Chr i s t ' s comi ng t her e had been no pr os -per i t y or v i c t or i es f or Rome, whose gl or y and empi r ehad 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 s t or yof t he Chur ch, t hat t he wor l d was t he bet t er f orRevel 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 ousof a weak poi nt i n hi s l i ne of def ence. I n or dert o pr ove hi s case, t he wor l d as wel l as t he Chur chmust be cal l ed as a wi t ness ; and Or osi us under t ookt 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 fan abl e penman i n a comment ar y on t he ner esi es


of Pr i sci l l i an and Or i gen. August i ne' s opi ni on ofhi m appear s i n t he l et t er of i nt r oduct i on wi t h whi ch,

Page146 of 174

i n A. D. 415, he sent hi m t o St Jer ome, who was t henHvi ng at Bet hl ehem pr epar i ng hi s t r ansl at i on of t heScr i pt ur es, whi ch has s i nce become t he Vul gat e. Not -wi t hst andi ng hi s successf ul comment ar y, i t woul dseem t her e wer e poi nt s as t o t he nat ur e and or i gi nof t he soul on whi ch Or osi us was not sur e of hi sown 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 c l ear t hem up, and sosends t he young man on t o t he gr eat est l i v i ngschol ar , wr i t i ng of hi m, " Behol d t her e has come t ome 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 byname — of act i ve t al ent s, r eady el oquence, ar denti ndust r y, l ongi ng t o be i n God' s house a vesselusef 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 dsmor e gr i evousl y t han t he swor ds of t he heat hen t hei rbodi es. He has hast ened hi t her f r om t he shor e oft he ocean, hopi ng t o l ear n f r om me what ever oft hese mat t er s he wi shed t o know ; but he has notr eaped t he f r ui t of hi s l abour . Fi r st I desi r ed hi mnot t o t r ust t oo much t o f ame r espect i ng me ; nextI t aught hi m what I coul d, and what I coul d notI t ol d hi m wher e he mi ght l ear n, and advi sed hi mt o come t o you. As he has wi l l i ngl y acceded t omy advi ce, or command, I have asked hi m on hi sl eavi ng you t hat he woul d come t o us on hi s wayhome. " On hi s r et ur n t o Af r i ca, Or osi us compi l edhi s Hi st or y of t he Wor l d f r om Adam t o Al ar i c, dedi -


eat i ng i t t o St . August i ne. I t must have been awor k of ext r aor di nar y l abour , havi ng r egar d t o t heoppor t uni t i es and mat er i al s at hi s command, but i snow onl y i nt er est i ng as a cur i osi t y . Mi ndf ul of t heobj ect of St . August i ne, Or osi us spr i nk l 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 c i ng st r anger s :" I woul d now t hat t hose woul d answer me who sayt hat t hi s wor l d i s now wor se under Chr i st i ani t y t hani t was under heat hendom. Wher e i s t her e now i nany par t of Chr i s t endom t hat men need dr eadamongst 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 domen compl ai n of t hese Chr i s t i an t i mes, and say t hatt hey ar e wor se t han f or mer t i mes, when t hough t heywer e wi t h t hose k i ngs doi ng evi l at t hei r desi r e, t heymi ght yet f i nd no mer cy f r om t hem . - ' But nowki ngs and emper or s, " t hough a man s i n agai nst t hei rwi l l , yet , f or l ove of God, gr ant f or gi veness accor di ngt o t he degr ee of gui l t . " For t he r est , t he Hi st or yr 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 bestaccount of human af f ai r s avai l abl e t o Al f r ed, woul dscar cel y det ai n us but f or t he addi t i ons whi ch hehas made t o t he t ext .

Of t hese, by f ar t he most r emar kabl e ar e t heaccount s of t he Nor t her n voyages of Ot her e andWul f s t an, t wo of Al f r ed' s sea- capt ai ns. Or osi us' f i r stbook i s devot ed t o t he geogr aphy of t he wor l d, andgi ves t he boundar i es of t he t hr ee cont i nent s, and somedescr i pt i on of t he count r i es and peopl e who i nhabi t

Page147 of 174


t hem, unt i l he comes t o t he Swedes. Then Al f r edabr upt l y l eaves t he t ext of Or osi us, havi ng hi msel fsomet hi ng much mor e sat i s f act or y as t o t hose Nor t her npar 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 dof al l t he Nor t hmen. He sai d t hat he dwel t i n t hel 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 heFi 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. " Thenf ol l ows t he descr i pt i on of Ot her e' s f amous Nor t her nvoyage, on whi ch he st ar t ed wi t h t he t r ue i nst i nct s ofan expl or er , wi shi ng t o know how f ar t he l and ext endedt o t he Nor t h, and whet her any one l i ved on t he ot hersi de of t he wast e. The descr i pt i on i s mi nut e of t henumber 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 heschol ar s who have ever exami ned t he quest i on t odeci de. I t seems cl ear , however , t hat he act ual l y sai l edr 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 openor t h of t he Danube i n t he wor d Ger mani a. The onl ypeopl e Ot her e f i nds i n Scandi navi a ar e, t he Fi ns, andBeor mas: t he f or mer l et t i ng t hei r l ands l i e wast e, andsubsi st i ng on f i shi ng, f owl i ng, and hunt i ng ; t he l at t erhavi ng wel l - cul t i vat ed l ands. Ot her e f ound i n t hesepar 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 opesmade of t hei r hi des. But he t hought l i t t l e of t hi sspeci 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 esar e most of t hem f i f t y el l s l ong. Of t hese, he sai d, heand f i ve ot her s had k i l l ed si xt y i n t wo days.

Ot her e t ol d hi s k i 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 600t ame r ei ndeer of hi s own, s i x of whi ch wer e decoy -deer , ver y val uabl e. Al f r ed adds t hat he was one oft he f i r st men of t hat count r y , " but had not mor e t hant went y hor ned cat t l e, and t went y sheep, and t went yswi ne ; and t he l i t t l e t hat he pl oughed, he pl oughedwi t h hor ses. " But t he weal t h of Ot her e and t heot her gr eat men of t hose par t s, t he Ki ng adds, comesf or t he most par t f r om r ent pai d by t he Fi ns — f orwhat does not appear , so we may suppose t hat i t wasf or per mi ss i 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 nwhal 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 sk i ns of f i f t eenmar t ens, and f i ve r ei ndeer s, and one bear - ski n, t enamber s of f eat her s, a bear ' s or ot t er ' s ski n kyr t l e, andt wo shi p- r opes, each si xt y el l s l ong, "

Wul f s t an' s voyage f r om Sl eswi g t o t he mout h of t heVi st ul a f ol l ows, wi t h gossi p wor t hy of Her odot us as t ot he Est honi ans, or i nhabi t ant s of East l and, who l i vedat 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

Page148 of 174

t owns, and i n ever y t own a ki ng ; and t her e i s al sogr eat abundance of honey and f i sh ; and t he ki ngand t he r i chest men dr i nk mar es ' mi l k , and t he poorand t he s l 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 s t an, havet 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 asl ong as possi bl e by t he r el at i ves, accor di ng t o t hei rweal t h ; k i ngs and ot her gr eat peopl e l y i ng i n s t at ef or hal f a year . They ar e abl e t o manage t hi s becauseamong t he Est honi ans " t her e i s a t r i be whi ch canpr oduce col d, and so t he dead i n whom t hey pr oducet 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 summeior be i t wi nt er . " I t i s t hi s di scover y whi ch enabl est he f uner al s of gr eat men t o be post poned f or l ongi 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 edr i nk i ng and spor t s , whi ch l ast t i l l t he day of bur i alor bur ni ng, as t he case may be. " On t hat day t heydi v i 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 gestpor t i on about a mi l e f r om t he dwel l i ng wher e t hedead man l i es, t hen anot her , t hen a t hi r d, and soon 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 henei ghbour s wi t hi n f i ve or s i x mi l es who have swi f thor ses, meet and r i de t owar ds t he pr oper t y ; and hewho has t he swi f t est hor se comes t o t he f i r st andl ar gest por t i on, and so each af t er ot her t i l l t he whol ei s t aken ; and he t akes t he l east por t i on who t akest hat whi ch i s near est t he dwel l i ng : and t hen ever yone r i des away wi t h t he pr oper t y, and t hey may havei t al l ; and on t hi s account swi f t hor ses ar e t her eexcessi 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 andhabi t s of t he peopl e amongst whom hi s capt ai ns wentar e dul y set down by Al f r ed, hi s mai n obj ect i n t hi spar t of t he wor k i s t o l ay down t he geogr aphy ofGer many, t he cr adl e of hi s own r ace, as accur at el y aspossi bl e. The l ongest of t he ot her addi t i ons by Al f r edt o hi s aut hor ' s t ext i s t he descr i pt i on of a Romant r i umph ; but t her e ar e a gr eat number of smal l eraddi t i ons, such as t he r ef er ence t o t he c l i mat e ofI r el and, whi ch Al f r ed says i s war mer t han t hat ofEngl and, and t he f i x i ng of t he spot wher e C?esarcr ossed t he Thames at Wal l i ngf or d. Agai n, he omi t sconst 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 aspossi bl e f or t hose whom i t was hi s chi ef ai m i n al l hi sl i t er ar y wor k t o r ai se and i nst r uct .

BEDE' S " ECCLESI ASTI CAL HI STORY"

Page149 of 174

The next i mpor t ant wor k whi ch bear s t he Ki ng' sname 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 estof t he monast er y of t he bl essed apost l es Pet er andPaul , whi ch i s at Wer e Mout h, " and hi s f amous hi st or yext ends f r om t he l andi ng of Jul i us Caesar t o t he year731, when Keol wul f — t o whom t he book i s dedi cat edas one " ver y car ef ul of ol d men' s wor ds and deeds, andmost of al l of t he gr eat men of our nat i on " — waski ng of Nor t humbr i a. I n t hat t i me of peace " manyi n t he ki ngdom of Nor t humbr i a, bot h nobl e andi 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


t hemsel ves and t hei r chi l dr en t o monast er i es and t oGod' 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 lsee and behol d. " We have par t l y seen what came ofi t a cent ur y l at er . Al f r ed t r eat ed t he Eccl esi ast i calHi 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 whenhi 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 hadpr 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 edal so t r ansl at ed, f or ms a st r i k i ng cont r ast t o t he t wohi st or i cal wor ks al r eady not i ced. Gi bbon cal l s i t " agol den book, not unwor t hy t he l ei sur e of Pl at o orTul l y ; " and Dr . Hook, " t he handbook of t he Mi ddl eAges, f or al l who uni t ed pi et y wi t h phi l osophy ; " andi 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 manyyear s he cont i nued i n f avour at cour t , and l i ved t o seet he consul at e of hi s sons. But he i ncur r ed t he angerof Theodor i c f or an at t ack on t he Ar i an her esy, andf or t he bol dness wi t h whi ch he mai nt ai ned t he anci entr 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


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 yf or t une i s good f or men, whet her i t seem good t ot hem or evi l , and t hat we ought wi t h al l our power t oi nqui r e af t er God ever y man accor di ng t o t he measur eof hi s under st andi ng, a phi l osophy whi ch Al f r ed' swhol e l i f e i l l ust r at ed, and whi ch he was nat ur al l yanxi ous t o i mpr ess upon hi s peopl e.

Page150 of 174

Ther e i s a shor t pr ef ace t o t he Ki ng' s ver s i on, whi chi s hel d by Dr . Paul i t o be t he wor k of some ot herhand ; but i f not by Al f r ed, i t i s f ul l of t he manl i nessand humi l i t y whi ch di st i ngui shed hi m, and expl ai nsso wel l t he met hod of al l hi s l i t er ar y wor k, t hat i tcannot be omi t t ed her e : —

" Ki ng Al f r ed was t r ansl at or of t hi s book, andt ur ned i t f r om book- Lat i n i nt o Engl i sh, as i t i s nowdone. Somet i mes he set wor d by wor d, somet i mesmeani ng by meani ng, as he t he most pl ai nl y and mostcl ear l y coul d expl ai n i t , f or t he var i ous and mani f ol dwor l dl y occupat i ons whi ch of t en busi ed hi m bot h i nmi nd and i n body. The occupat i ons ar e t o us ver ydi f f i cul t t o be number ed whi ch i n hi s days cameupon t he ki ngdom whi ch he had under t aken, and yetwhen he had l ear ned t hi s book, and t ur ned i t f r omt he Lat i n i nt o t he Engl i sh l anguage, he af t er war dscomposed i t i n ver se, as i t i s now done. And he nowpr ays, and f or God' s name i mpl or es ever y one of t hosewho l i s t 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 tt han he coul d. For ever y man must , accor di ng t ot he measur e of hi s under st andi ng, and accor di ng t o

U 2


hi s l ei sur e, speak t hat whi ch he speaket h, and do t hatwhi ch he doet h. "

Ther e i s ext ant a t r ansl at i on of Boet hi us i nt o Saxonver 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 beent 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 edby t he Ki ng; t o i t i s pr ef i xed t he i nt r oduct i onaddr essed by hi m t o Bi shop Wer ef i - J t h, f r om whi chquot at i ons have been al r eady made. I t commenceswi t h a descr i pt i on of t he sad decay of l ear ni ng i nEngl 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 lbest 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 eastdegr ee, or enabl ed ot her men so t o do. We have hadt he name al one of Chr i s t i ans, and ver y f ew of t hevi r t ues. When I t hen cal l ed t o mi nd al l t hi s, t hen Ir emember ed how I saw, er e t hat al l i n t hem was l ai dwast e and bur nt up, how t he chur ches t hr oughout al lt 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 heyknew ver y l i t t l e use of t hose books, f or t hat t hey coul dnot under st and anyt hi ng of t hem, because t hey wer enot wr i t t en i n t hei r own l anguage, such as t hey ourel der s spoke. " The Ki ng goes on t o wonder why t hosegood and wi se men, who l oved wi sdom t hemsel ves,

Page151 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 ot ur n any of t he books t hey knew so wel l i nt o t hei rown l anguage. But he soon answer ed hi msel f t hatt hey must have l ef t i t undone of set pur pose, t hatt her e mi ght be mor e wi sdom and knowl edge ofl anguages i n t he l and. However , he wi l l do whathe can now t o r emedy al l t hi s . " Wher ef or e I t hi nki t bet t er , i f i t al so appear s so t o you, t hat we t woshoul d t r ansl at e some books, whi ch ar e t he mostnecessar y f or al l men t o under st and ; t hat we shoul dt 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 hGod' s hel p, i f we have r est , t hat al l t he yout h t hatnow i s among t he Engl i sh r ace, of f r ee men, t hat havepr oper t y, so t hat t hey can appl y t hemsel ves t o t heset hi ngs, may be commi t t ed t o ot her s f or t he sake ofi nst r uct i on, so l ong as t hey have no power f or anyot her empl oyment s, unt i l t he t i me t hat t hey mayknow wel l how t o r ead Engl i sh wr i t i ng. Let menaf t er war ds f ur t her t each t hem Lat i n, t hose whomt hey ar e wi l l i ng f ur t her t o t each, and whom t hey wi sht 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 oft 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 eadwr i t i ng i n Engl i sh ; t hen began I , among ot her unl i keand mani f ol d busi nesses of t hi s k i ngdom, t o t ur n i nt oEngl 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, ' onewhi l e wor df or wor d, anot her - whi l e meani ng f or meani ng, so f aras I l ear ned i t wi t h Phl egmund r ay ar chbi shop, and


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 hadt hen l ear ned t hem, so t hat I under st ood t hem, and sot 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 seei n my k i 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 nGod' s name, t hat no man undo t he sest el f r om t hebooks, nor t he books f r om t he mi nst er . I t i s unknownhow 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 heyal ways shoul d be at t hei r pl ace, unl ess t he bi shop wi l lhave t hem wi t h hi m, or t hey be anywher e l ent , orsome 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 alCar e " i n Angl o- Saxon i n t he publ i c l i br ar i es of t hecount 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 sentby hi m as pr esent s t o hi s bi shops. The aest el , wor t hf i f t y mancuses, whi ch accompani ed each copy, hasdi sappear ed. Al f r ed, t o j udge f r om t he car e wi t hwhi ch he pr ov i ded f or i t s c i r cul at i on, pl aces mor eval ue on t hi s t han on any ot her of hi s wor ks. To usi t i s , per haps, t he l east val uabl e, bei ng occupi ed chi ef l ywi t h t he di f f i cul t y and i mpor t ance of t he t eacher ' s orpr i est ' s of i i ce, t he danger of f i l l i ng i t unwor t hi l y , andt he dut y of al l who ar e t hor oughl y compet ent t o

Page152 of 174

under t ake i t t o do so, bear i ng i n mi nd t hat he who i shi msel f under t he domi ni on of evi l habi t s makes abad i nt er cessor f or , or t eacher of , ot her men.


BLOSSOM GATHERI NGS FROM ST. AUGUSTI NE.

The " sayi ngs whi ch Ki ng Al f r ed gat her ed" out oft he wr i t i ngs of St . August i ne ar e per haps t he mosti nst r uct i ve of al l hi s wor ks, as t hey show best wher ehi s nat ur al bent car r i ed hi m, and what he hi msel fval 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 eecl 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 el ost . Al f r ed descr i bes hi msel f as i n a wood f ul l ofcomel y t r ees, f i t f or j avel i ns and st ud shaf t s , andhel 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 yone who i s abl e, and has many wai ns, t hat he t r adet o t he same wood wher e I cut t he st ud shaf t s, andt her e f et ch mor e f or hi msel f , and l oad hi s wai n wi t h f ai rr ods, t hat he may wi nd many a neat wal l , and setmany a comel y house, and bui l d many a f ai r t own oft hem ; and t her eby may dwel l mer r i l y and sof t l y, soas 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 odwel l mor e sof t l y i n t hi s t empor ar y cot t age, t he whi l et hat I am i n t hi s wor l d, and al so i n t he ever l ast i ng homewhi ch He has pr omi sed us t hr ough St . August i ne, andSt . Gr egor y, and St . Jer ome, and t hr ough many ot herhol y f at her s ; as I bel i eve al so t hat f or t he mer i t s ofal l t hese He wi l l make t he way mor e conveni ent t hani t was bef or e, and especi al l y enl i ght en t he eyes of mymi nd, so t hat I may sear ch out t he r i ght way t o t he


ever l ast i ng home and t he ever l ast i ng gl or y, and t heever l ast i ng r est whi ch i s pr omi sed us t hr ough t hosehol y f at her s. May i t be so ! " Then he r ever t s t o hi sor i gi nal i dea of wor k i ng i n a wood. " I t i s no wondert hough men swi nk i n t i mber wor k i 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 erhe 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 hel ease, bot h on wat er and on l and, unt i l t he t i me t hathe ear n book- l and and ever l ast i ng her i t age t hr oughhi s l or d' s mer cy. So do t he weal t hy Gi ver , wl i o wi el dsbot 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 met hat I be meet f or each, bot h her e t o be pr of i t abl eand 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 ancyt o pl ay r ound t he i dea of a woodman, l i ke one of hi sown chur l s, cut t i ng t i mber f or hi s house and hi sweapons, and bui l di ng on hi s l or d' s l and, i n t he hope

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of one day r eal i z i ng t he obj ect of ever y Saxon man' sambi 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 ncessantt 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 Inow yet have not done. " I t i s onl y a gl ance whi ch l i eal l ows hi msel f , and t hen t he st r ong f i ght er t ur ns back t ohi s wor k, t r ust i ng t hat He who has shaped and wi el dsbot h l i ves may gr ant hi m " bot h her e t o be pr of i t abl eand t hi t her t o come. " One mor e shor t passage i nt r oduces hi s gat her i ngs t o t hose f or whom t hey wer e


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 booksar e cal l ed ' Sol i l oqui or um, ' t hat i s, of hi s mi nd' s musi ngand doubt i ng, how hi s r eason answer ed hi s mi ndwhen hi s mi nd doubt ed about anyt hi ng, or wi shedt o know anyt hi ng whi ch i t coul d not under st andbef or e. "

The " bl ossom gat her i ngs " al l bear upon t hepr obl em wi t h whi ch Al f r ed t hen opens t hem, by t hequot at i on of St . August i ne' s sayi ng, " t hat hi s mi ndwent of t en aski ng of and sear chi ng out var i ous andr ar e t hi ngs, and most of al l about hi msel f , what hewas : whet her hi s mi nd and hi s soul wer e mor t al andper i shi ng, or ever l i v i ng and et er nal ; and agai n abouthi s good, what i t was, and what good i t wer e best f orhi 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 chneed 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 amongstt he Cot t on manuscr i pt s. I t i s a compi l at i on of muchl at er dat e t han t he ni nt h cent ur y, wr i t t en i n a br okendi al ect , bet ween t he or i gi nal Saxon and Engl i sh. Thecompi l er has put t oget her some t hi r t y - one st anzasand par agr aphs, each of whi ch begi ns, " Thus quot hAl 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 acedby a shor t not i ce i n ver se of t he occasi on on whi cht 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.

Page154 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 k i 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 somepar 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 ofwhi ch was st i l l f r esh. Ther e i s no ment i on i n t heSaxon Chr oni c l e, or el sewher e, of an) ^ such assembl y,but some of t he sayi ngs bear a st r ong r esembl ancet o par t s of Al f r ed' s wr i t i ngs, and may have beenaccur at el y handed down and r epor t ed. A speci menor 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 dAnd yet uni t e your soul s t o Chr i s t . "

Then come a ser i es of i nst r uct i ons t o k i ngs andof f i cer s of s t at e, on t he educat i on of young men andchi l dr en, and on t he use of weal t h, i n whi ch t heKi 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 s t ,and t he wor t hl essness of weal t h unl ess di scr eet l y used,


— ol d i deas enough, a t housand year s ago, and asneedf 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 lAnd 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 sowsSo 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 esseshi s son :

" Thus quot h Al f r ed : My dear son, si t t hou nowbesi 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 . Ishal l t o anot her wor l d, and t hou shal t be l ef t al onewi t h al l my weal t h. I pr ay t hee, f or t hou ar t mydear chi l d, s t r i ve t o be a f at her and a l or d t o t hypeopl e ; be t hou t he chi l dr en' s f at her , and t he wi dow' sf 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 heLor d l ove t hee, and God above al l t hi ngs shal l be t hyr ewar d. Cal l t hou upon Hi m t o advi se t hee i n al lt hy need, and so He shal l hel p t hee t he bet t er t ocompass 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 al 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 nc l 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

Page155 of 174


" agai nst unj ust j udges, " on " t he uncer t ai n f or t unesof ki ngs, " and " t he act s of magi st r at es, " and " amanual 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 oft he Scr i pt ur es, ar e t he onl y wor ks of hi s as t o whi cht her e i s anyt hi ng l i ke a concur r ence of t est i mony, andi t i s mor e t han pr obabl e t hat t he f or mer was t he wor kof Bi shop Wer ef r i t h under Al f r ed' s super v i s i on. Anol d manuscr i pt hi st or y of El y i s t he aut hor i t y f or t hest at ement t hat he t r ansl at ed t he whol e of t he Ol dand New Test ament s i nt o Saxon ; but t he bet t eropi ni on seems t o be, t hat t he Psal ms wer e t he onl ypor t i ons of t he Scr i pt ur es whi ch he under t ook t ot r ansl at e, and t hat he was at wor k on hi s SaxonPsal 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 haii s measur ed by number of year s.

The wor l d' s har dest wor ker s and nobl est benef act or shave r ar el y been l ong- l i ved. The const ant wear andst 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, andt he wonder i s , not t hat he shoul d have br oken downso soon, but t hat he shoul d have bor ne t he st r ai nso l ong.

I n t he f i f t y- f our t h year of hi s age, " s i x days bef or eAl 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 ngover t he whol e Engl i sh nat i on, except t hat par t whi chwas under t he domi ni on of t he Danes, and he hel dt he k i 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 st he s i mpl e account of t he gr eat Ki ng' s endi ng i n t heSaxon Chr oni c l e. I t under st at es t he l engt h of hi sr ei gn by a year . Fl or ence and t he ot her chr oni cl er st el l us not hi ng mor e, except t hat hi s body was bur i edi 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.


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 c l 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 c t i ngaccount s ar e r econci l ed by a st or y, t hat t he canons of

Page156 of 174

t he cat hedr al chur ch, f r om j eal ousy of Gr i mbal d andt he monks of t he new monast er y, decl ar ed t hat t hespi r i t of Al f r ed coul d not r est , but mi ght be seenwander i ng at ni ght wi t hi n t hei r pr eci nct s ; wher euponEdwar d at once r emoved hi s f at her ' s cof f i n t o t hemonast er y. I n t he t i me of Henr y I . when t he abbeyof New Mi nst er was r emoved t o Hyde f r om t hei mmedi at e nei ghbour hood of t he cat hedr al , Al f r ed' sr emai ns wer e car r i ed wi t h t hem, and t her e r est ed t i l lt he Ref or mat i on, when t he r oyal t ombs wer e br okenopen 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 , hadt he r emai ns of t he ki ngs col l ect ed car ef ul l y and puti 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 epl aced, under hi s super vi si on, on t he t op of a wal l ofr ar e wor kmanshi p, whi ch he was bui l di ng t o encl oset he pr esbyt er y of t he cat hedr al . Her e t he dust of t hegr eat Ki ng r est ed t i l l t he t aki ng of Wi nchest er byt 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 openBi shop Fox' s l eaden chest s, and scat t er ed t he cont ent sal l over t he cat hedr al . When t he f i r s t exci t ement oft he t r oops had cool ed down, what wer e l ef t of t hebones 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 ybui 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 ort he f our year s pr ecedi ng t he Ki ng' s deat h, t hat f ort wo of t hem t he Saxon Chr oni c l 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 ofWi l t shi r e, and t he Bi shop of London, i n 898. I nSi 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 aboutf or ni ne year s t hr ough t he nor t her n count i es, hi di ngf r om Ki ng Hal f dene' s r obber t r oops, and who had atl ast been abl e t o deposi t t hem i n a shr i ne of hi s owncat hedr al , di ed i n t he same year wi t h Al f r ed. I t i spl easant t o know t hat our " most nobl e mi ser of hi st i me " must have seen of t he t r avai l of hi s soul andbeen sat i sf i ed i n t hose l ast year s. Hi s gr i evous di seasehad abat ed i n hi s f or t y - f i f t h year , and he cl osed hi seyes on peace at home and abr oad, i n chur ch andst at e, abundance i n t he f i el d and i n t he st al l , andor der and j ust i ce est abl i shed i n ever y cor ner of hi aki ngdom : " Hi s name shal l endur e under t he sunamongst t he post er i t i es, and al l t he peopl e shal l pr ai sehi m. "

The l ast monument of hi s j ust i ce and pat r i ot i smi 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 ec i t al s have been al r eady quot ed.They show how anxi ous he was t hat t he memor yof t he agr eement bet ween hi msel f and hi s br ot hershoul d be kept al i ve ; and now, i n pur suance of t hatagr eement , he devi ses ei ght manor s t o - ^ t hel i ne, t he


Page157 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 nc i pal par t of hi s l ands i nWi l t s and Somer set shi r e, i ncl udi ng t he f amous r oyalbur gh of Wedmor e, he l eaves t o Edwar d, coupl edwi t h a t ouchi ng r ef er ence t o some ar r angement whi chhe 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 sot her chi l dr en have gi f t s of manor s, and t o hi s wi f ehe l eaves t he manor s of Want age, Lambour n, andEt handune. The f i el d of Ashdown i s scar cel y t hr eemi 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 tt o hi s f ai t hf ul hel pmat e, hi s bi r t hpl ace, and t he scenesof 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 eachof hi s al der men and hi s nephews, l OO mancuses ; andt 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 oBi shops Wer ef r i t h and Asser . Then t ur ni ng t o hi sser vant s and t he poor , he bequeat hs " 200 pounds f ort 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 v i ded bet ween t hem af t ert he manner t hat he had up t o t hi s t i me di st r i but edt o t hem. " Al so, " he cont i nues, " l et t hem di s t r i but ef or me, and f or my f at her , and f or t he f r i ends t hathe 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 ot 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 knownot cer t ai nl y whet her t her e be so much money; norI know not but t hat t her e may be mor e, but so Isuppose. I f i t be mor e, be i t al l common t o t hemt o whom I have bequeat hed money. And I wi l l t hatmy al der men, and counci l l or s, be al l t her e t oget herand 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 hehad mor e pr oper t y and mor e r el at i ons, he had madeot her wi l l s whi ch he had bur ned, al l at l east t hat hecoul d r ecover . I f any of t hese shoul d be f ound, l eti t st and f or not hi ng. And he wi l l s t hat al l t hosewho ar e i n possessi on of any of t he l ands di sposedof by hi s f at her ' s wi l l shoul d f ul f i l t he i nt ent i onst her e expr essed t he soonest t hey may, and t hat i f anydebt of hi s r emai ns out st andi ng hi s r el at i ons shoul dpay i t .

Then f ol l ows t he passage on t he st r engt h of whi chAl f r ed i s c i 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 mybook- l ands do not gi ve i t f r om my k i ndr ed af t er t hei rday, but I wi l l t hat i t go unt o t he hi ghest hand t o meunl ess any one of t hem have chi l dr en, t hen i t i s t ome most agr eeabl e t hat i t go t o t hat i ssue on t hemal e si de so l ong as any be wor t hy. My gr andf at hergave hi s l ands t o t he spear s i de, not t o t he spi ndl e

Page158 of 174

si de. Wher ef or e i f I have gi ven t o any woman whathe had acqui r ed, t hen l et my r el at i ons r edeem i t , i ft hey wi l l have i t , whi l e she i s l i v i ng ; i f ot her wi se, l et

S. I - VI TI . X


i t go af t er t hei r day as we have det er mi ned. Foit hi s r eason I or dai n t hat t hey pay f or i t , becauset hey wi l l succeed t o my est at es, whi ch I may gi veei t her t o t he spi ndl e s i de or t he spear s i de, as Iwi 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 whomhe had not been abl e ent i r el y t o f r ee. " And Ibeseech, i n God' s name, and i n Hi s sai nt s ' , t hat noneof my r el at i ons do obst r uct none of t he f r eedom ott hose I have r edeemed. And f or me t he West Saxonnobl es have pr onounced as l awf ul , t hat I may l eavet hem f r ee or bond, whet her I wi l l . But I , f or God' sl ove and my soul ' s heal t h, wi l l t hat t hey be mast er sof t hei r f r eedom and of t hei r wi l l ; and I , i n t he l i v i ngGod' 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 ofmeans, t hat t hey may not choose such man as t heywi l l . And I wi l l t hat t hey r est or e t o t he f ami l i es atDomer 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 mostagr eeabl e, f or my sake, and f or Et hel f l eda' s, and f ort 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 dseem t o have dwel t on some est at e i n whi ch t he l adyof Mer c i 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) " seekal so wi t h a l i v i ng pr i ce f or my soul ' s heal t h, as i t maybe and i s most f i t t i ng, and as ye t o f or gi ve me shal lbe di sposed. "

These ar e t he l ast wor ds whi ch " Engl and' s Shep-


her d " l ef t t o hi s count r y. I t i s no easy t ask f or anyone who has been st udyi ng hi s l i f e and wor ks t o setr 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 dsi 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 erhi s deat h, speaks of hi m as " t hat f amous, war l i ke, v i c -t or i ous k i 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 undert he i nf i r mi t y whi ch he dai l y suf f er ed ; a most s t er n i n-qui si t or i n execut i ng j ust i ce ; v i gi l ant and devot ed i nt he ser vi ce of God. " Mr . Fr eeman, i n hi s " Hi s t or yof 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 ast r ut hf ul as i t i s el oquent , whi ch t hose who ar e f ami l i ar

Page159 of 174

wi t h i t wi l l be gl ad t o meet agai n, whi l e t hose whodo 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 asi ngul ar i nst ance of a pr i nce who has become a her oof 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 err omance has done no mor e t han j ust i ce, and whoappear s i n exact l y t he same l i ght i n hi st or y and i nf abl e. No ot her man on r ecor d has ever so t hor oughl y

X Z


uni t ed al l t he vi r t ues bot h of t he r ul er and of t hepr i vat e man. I n no ot her man on r ecor d wer e somany vi r t ues di sf i gur ed by so l i t t l e al l oy. A sai ntwi t hout super st i t i on, a schol ar wi t hout ost ent at i on, awar r i or al l whose war s wer e f ought i n t he def ence ofhi s count r y , a conquer or whose l aur el s wer e neverst 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 s t or y t o compar e wi t hhi s . Sai nt Lewi s comes near est t o hi m i n t he uni onof a mor e t han monast i c pi et y wi t h t he hi ghest c i v i l ,mi l i t ar y, and domest i c vi r t ues. Bot h of t hem st andf or t h i n honour abl e cont r ast t o t he abj ect super st i t i onof some ot her r oyal sai nt s, who wer e so sel f i shl yengaged i n t he car e of t hei r own soul s t hat t heyr ef used ei t her t o r ai se up hei r s f or t hei r t hr one, or t ost r i ke a bl ow on behal f of t hei r peopl e. But even i nSai 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 ak i ngs.The t r ue dut i es of t he Ki ng of t he Fr ench c l ear l y l ayi n Fr ance, and not i n Egypt or Tuni s. No suchchar ge l i es at t he door of t he gr eat Ki ng of t he WestSaxons. Wi t h an i nqui r i ng spi r i t whi ch t ook i n t hewhol e wor l d, f or pur poses al i ke of sc i ent i f i c i nqui r yand of Chr i st i an benevol ence, Al f r ed never f or got t hathi s f i r st dut y was t o hi s own peopl e. He f or est al l edour own age i n sendi ng expedi t i ons t o expl or e t heNor t her n Ocean, and i n sendi ng al ms t o t he di s t antChur 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,


l i ke some of hi s successor s. The vi r t ue of Al f r ed, Hket he v i r t ue of Washi ngt on, consi st ed i n no mar vel l ousdi spl ays of super human geni us, but i n t he s i 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 keAl f r ed, has no cl ai m t o Al f r ed' s f ur t her char act er sof sai nt and schol ar . Wi l l i am t he Si l ent , t oo, hasnot hi ng t o set agai nst Al f r ed' s l i t er ar y mer i t s ; and i nhi s car eer , gl or i ous as i t i s , t her e i s an el ement ofi 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 c i t y of bot h Al f r ed and Washi ngt on. The sameuni on of zeal f or r el i gi on and l ear ni ng wi t h t he hi ghestgi f t s of t he war r i or and t he st at esman i s f ound, on a

Page160 of 174

wi der f i el d of act i on, i n Char l es t he Gr eat . But evenChar 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 s l 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 v i ce, t o occasi onal unj ust aggr essi ons andoccasi onal act s of cr uel t y. Among our own l at erpr i nces, t he gr eat Edwar d al one can bear f or amoment 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 eatEdwar d f ai l s. Even i n hi m we do not see t he samewonder f ul uni on of gi f t s and vi r t ues whi ch so sel dommeet t oget her ; we cannot acqui t Edwar d of occa-si onal act s of vi ol ence, of occasi onal r eck l essness as t omeans ; we cannot at t r i but e t o hi m t he pur e, s i mpl e,al most chi l dl i ke di si nt er est edness whi ch mar ks t hechar act er of Al f r ed. "

Let Wor dswor t h, on behal f of t he poet s of Engl andcompl 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, k i 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 enownMi ght r ange t he st ar r y et her f or a cr ownEqual 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 meNo moment s t 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 s t i an I ndi a, t hr ough her wi de- spr ead c l 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 k i 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 s i gnal f or a r evol t ofhi s younger nephew Et hel wal d, agai nst t he deci si onof 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, v i ol ent man, whohad scandal i zed t he nat i on by t ak i 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' scommand. " He sei zed t he r oyal cast l es of Wi mbor neand Chr i s t chur ch, and i n t he f or mer t he Chr oni cl et el l s us, " sat down wi t h t hose who had submi t t ed t ohi m, and had obst r uct ed al l t he appr oaches t owar dshi m, and sai d t hat he woul d do one of t wo t hi ngs — ort her e l i ve, or t her e l i e. But , not wi t hst andi ng t hat , hest 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, andbecame obedi ent t o hi m. "

Page161 of 174

Thi s ef f or t of Et hel wal d onl y pr oved t he soundnessof t he f oundat i ons of t he k i ngdom whi ch Al f r ed hadl ai d. The Pr et ender f l ed f r om Wessex and Mer ci awi t hout bei ng abl e t o br eak t he peace, and was nothear d of agai n f or t wo year s. I n 904, however , hecame wi t h a f l eet of Nor t hmen t o Essex, and a por t i on


of t he Dani sh peopl e t her e submi t t ed t o hi m. Thenext 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 c i a t o t he Thames, whi chhe cr ossed at Cr i ck l 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 ocat 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 kesand t he Ouse, as f ar nor t h as t he f ens. " Not havi ngbeen abl e t o br i ng Et hel wal d t o an act i on, Edwar dt 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 oughhi 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 hehad 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 onbot h si des was ver y gr eat , but on t he Dani sh s i de bot hEt hel wal d, and Eohr i c k i ng of East Angl i a, wer esl ai n, and soon af t er war ds Edwar d made peace wi t ht 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 andOxf or d wer e i ncor por at ed i n Wessex. I n t he nextyear 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 enemyas her l or d. I n concer t wi t h her br ot her she not onl ydr ove t he Danes out of her own boundar i es, but wonf r om t hem, and made saf e, one st r onghol d af t eranot 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 c i ans, wentwi t h al l t he Mer c i ans t o Tamwor t h, and t her e bui l ta 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 msBr 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 lt hat owed obedi ence t her et o : and t her e wi t hi n t hegat es wer e sl ai n f our of her t hanes, whi ch caused hermuch sor r ow. " Edwar d i n t he meanwhi l e was st eadi l yext endi ng hi s f r ont i er , and gai ni ng t he al l egi ance ofmany 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 oBedf or d, and al so many of t hose who owed obedi encet o Nor t hampt on. " The l ady of Mer c i a di ed i n 918 atTamwor 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

Page162 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 s t ur bedf r equent l y by r ai ds of t he Wel sh and Danes, but ont he whol e st eadi l y and sur el y . The Nor t h Wel shsought hi m t o t hei r over - l or d i n 922, and i n 924 " t heKi 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 mf 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 edby 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 oyalf ami l y, and on t he nat i on, was bor n i n t he same year .


For f i f t een year s At hel st an r ul ed wi t h vi gour andsuccess, ext endi ng st i l l t he Engl i sh f r ont i er s. Hegave t he Sout h Br i t ons t he Tamar i nst ead of t he Exeas t hei r boundar y, and occupi ed Nor t humbr i a hi msel faf t er Si gt r i c , t he ki ng, had deser t ed hi s Saxon wi f eEdi t h, At hel s t 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 ofSi gt r i c by a f or mer mar r i age, made a desper at e ef f or tt o shake of f t he over - l or dshi p of At hel st an. Anl afl anded i n t he Humber , and af t er ef f ect i ng a j unct i onwi t h hi s al l i es, l ai d s i ege t o Yor k, whi ch was hel d f orAt hel st an. The si ege was r ai sed by t he news ofAt hel st an' s cr ossi ng t he Humber on hi s mar ch t o t her el i ef of t he nor t her n capi t al , and soon af t er war ds t hebat t l e of Br umby, near Bever l ey, was f ought , i n whi cht he al l i es wer e ut t er l y def eat ed and f i ve k i ngs sl ai n.The v i c t or y was so compl et e, and of so gr eat s i gni -f i cance, t hat even t he Saxon Chr oni cl e br eaks awayf r om i t s usual sever e mat t er - of - f act f or m i nt o a songof t r i umph. A spi r i t ed poem, descr i bi ng t he bat t l e,and s i ngi ng t he pr ai ses of At hel s t an, and hi s youngbr ot her Edmund t he Et hel i ng, i s gi ven f or t he year937. The r i ng of i t i s l i ke t he deat h- song of RegnerLodbr 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

Page163 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 s l and

Leavi ng behi nd t hem. Ever yet ,The cor ses t o devour . Of peopl e s l 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 hesons of Edwar d, was el ect ed k i ng ; Edwi and Edgar ,t he sons of Edmund, bei ng st i l l mi nor s. Bot h of t hesegr andsons of Al f r ed pur sued t hei r f at her ' s pol i cy, andEdr ed f i nal l y annexed Nor t humbr i a, and di vi ded i ti nt o shi r es, over whi ch he set hi s own ear l s. He di edi 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 hsi 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 nsWhen 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 v i 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 veWi 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 oft 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 oundOf 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 oundWi de as t he oak ext ends i t s de^vy gl oomThe 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 hadso wi sel y and nobl y f ost er ed wer e f ast sl i ppi ng awayf r om t he peopl e ; and cor r upt i ons had agai n cr ept i nt omonast er i es and convent s ( enr i ched r api dl y by t her 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 don t he one hand, and l ed t o t he di sast r ous col l i s i onsbet ween Chur ch and St at e on t he ot her . But we ar enot concer ned wi t h t he l at er hi st or y, and i t i s onl ynot i ced t hus f ar t o show t hat t he Ki ng' s exampl e

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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 k i 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 ookat t he men and event s whi ch ar e br ought bef or e t hemf r om a r el i gi ous poi nt of v i ew. That i s t he cent r ali dea of t he books, and t he wr i t er s may f ai r l y assumet hat t he publ i c t hey ar e addr essi ng i s a Chr i s t i anpubl i c. The cont r over sy whi ch has ar i sen agai n i nour t i me, and i s deepl y s t i r r i ng men' s mi nds, as t o t hef 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 usher e. That cont r over sy must al ways be one of deepi nt er est , even t o Chr i s t 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 lChr i s t i an nat i ons, and of al l shades of bel i ef , whet herChr i s t i an or not , ar e engaged upon, as t o t he f act s onwhi ch our f ai t h r est s. The mor e t hor ough t hatscr ut i ny i s , t he bet t er shoul d we be pl eased Wemay 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 esst he t r ut h of t he hi st or y of our Lor d — t he f act s of Hi sl i f e, deat h, r esur r ect i on, and ascensi on — can be pr ovedby or di nar y hi s t or i cal ev i dence, appl i ed accor di ng t ot he most appr oved and l at est met hods, Chr i s t i ani t ymust be gi ven up as not t r ue. We know t hat ourown cer t ai nt y as t o t hese f act s does not r est on acr i t i cal hi st or i cal i nvest i gat i on, whi l e we r ej oi ce t hatsuch an i nvest i gat i on shoul d be made by t hose whohave l ei sur e, and who ar e compet ent f or i t . At t hesame t i me, as we al so know t hat t he met hods andpr i nc i pl es of hi s t or i cal i nvest i gat i on ar e const ant l yi mpr ovi ng, and bei ng bet t er under st ood, and t hatt he cr i t i cs of t he next gener at i on wi l l wor k, i n al lhuman l i kel i hood, at as gr eat an advant age i n t hi si nqui r y over t hose who ar e now engaged i n i t , as ourast r onomer s and nat ur al phi l osopher s enj oy overNewt on and Fr ankl i n — and as new evi dence mayt 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 eastchance 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 atdef i ni t e concl usi ons, can we consent t o wai t t he r esul tof t hei r i nvest i gat i ons, i mpor t ant and i nt er est i ng ast hese wi l l be. Gr ant i ng t hen cheer f ul l y , t hat i f t hesef act s on t he st udy of whi ch t hey ar e engaged ar e notf act s — i f Chr i st was not cr uci f i ed, and di d not r i sef r om t he dead, and ascend t o God Hi s Fat her — t her e

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has been no r evel at i on, and Chr i s t i ani t y wi l l i nf al l i bl ygo t he way of al l l i es, ei t her under t hei r assaul t s ort 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 oiour pai ns, we del i ber at el y el ect t o l i ve our l i ves ont he cont r ar y assumpt i on. I t i s usel ess t o t el l us t hatwe know not hi ng of t hese t hi ngs, t hat we can knownot hi ng unt i l t hei r cr i t i cal exami nat i on i s over ; wecan 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 hecont 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 hequest i on unt i l we know how t he cr i t i cs and schol ar shave 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 edesi r e f or t he t r ut h bef or e al l t hi ngs, wher ever t hesear ch f or i t may l and t hem, whi ch char act er i sesmany of t hose who ar e no l onger of our f ai t h, and ar eengaged 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 eatadvance of nat ur al sc i 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 andbest men ar e t hr owi ng t hemsel ves i nt o t hi s st udy, ar ecl ear i ng t he ai r i n al l t he hi gher br anches of humant hought , and maki ng possi bl e a nat i on, and i n t heend a wor l d, of t r ut hf ul men — t hat bl essedest r esul t olal l t he st r ange conf l i c t 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 whoar 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 uland pat i ent wor ker s. For t hem, t oo, t he spi r i t of al lt r ut h, and pat i ence, and wi sdom i s l eadi ng ; and t hei rst r i v i ngs and v i c t or i es — ay, and t hei r backsl i di ngs


and r ever ses — ar e maki ng c l ear er day by day t hatr evel at i on of t he k i ngdom of God i n nat ur e, t hr oughwhi ch i t woul d seem t hat our gener at i on, and t hosewhi ch ar e t o f ol l ow us, wi l l be l ed back agai n t o t hathi gher r evel at i on of t he ki ngdom of God i n man.

Leavi ng t hen on one s i 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 hof 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 west ar t ed, — t he ki ngshi p and gover nment of t he nat i onsand peopl e of t he wor l d i n whi ch we ar e l i v i ng ?

I n or der t o answer t he quest i on t o any good pur posef or Engl i shmen, we must ascer t ai n, i f possi bl e, what t hecommon f ai t h of Engl i sh Chr i s t i ans i s ; and t o do t hi swe may f ai r l y t ur n, i n t he f i r s t pl ace, t o t he Chur ch ofEngl 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 eehundr ed year s as t he expr essi on of t he f ai t h of t heEngl i sh nat i on. Thi s i s gat her ed up f or or di nar yper sons i n t he Book of Common Pr ayer , whi ch has

Page166 of 174

been i n const ant use, on one day at l east , i n ever yweek, of ever y year , i n ever y par i sh i n t he l and. Weal l know t hat , besi des t he f or ms of pr ayer cont ai nedi n t hat book, whi ch ar e common t o al l days, t her e ar especi al pr ayer s and ser vi ces f or each week, and f oreach f est i val , i nt ended t o di r ect t he mi nd of t henat i on i n t he act of wor shi p t o some par t i cul ar si de oft he t r ut h whi ch t he Chur ch t eaches. Ref er r i ng t ot hese, we f i nd i n t he ser vi ces f or al l t hose seasonswhi ch we, i n common wi t h t he r est of Chr i st endom,


est eem most hol y, one const ant decl ar at i on as t o t hepr esent act ual ex i s t ence of t he k i ngdom of Chr i s t ,occur r i ng over and over agai n. Thus, on t he f i r s t dayof t he Chr i st i an year , Advent Sunday, we pr ay t hat wemay cast away t he wor ks of dar kness, and r i se t o t hel i f e i mmor t al , " t hr ough Hi m who l i vet h and r ei gnet hwi t h Thee and t he Hol y Ghost , now and ever . " Ont he Thi r d Sunday i n Advent , i n t he col l ect addr esseddi r ect l y t o Chr i s t hi msel f , we pr ay t hat we may bef ound an accept abl e peopl e " i n Thy s i ght , who l i vestand 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 masDay 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 ectf 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 hand 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 heDay 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 samekey, r epeat i ng t he same conf essi on, and decl ar i ngi n t he most sol emn manner , t hat Chr i s t t he - Sonof God has act ual l y set up Hi s ki ngdom i n t hi swor l d, and i s , now and al ways, " l i v i 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 andpl aces bef or e t he peopl e, day af t er day, and week af t erweek, 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 eassoci at ed wi t h passages f r om t he New Test amentsel ect ed appar ent l y f or t he expr ess pur pose of showi ng,


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 weEngl 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 ulpi c t 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 hesame r esul t s f ol l ow. Ki ngs, pr i est s , j udges, what evermen 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 nmentwhi ch t he God of t he nat i on has est abl i shed, and t heor der of whi ch cannot be vi ol at ed wi t h i mpuni t y.

Page167 of 174

Ever y r ul er who i gnor es or def i es i t saps t he nat i onall 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 heper pet ual pr esence of a Ki ng, wi t h whom r ul er sand peopl e must come t o a r eckoni ng i n ever ynat i onal cr i s i s and convul s i on, and who i s no l esspr esent when t he cour se of af f ai r s i s qui et andpr osper ous. The gr eat est and wi sest men of t henat i on ar e t hose i n whom t hi s f ai t h bur ns mostst r ongl y. El i j ah' s sol emn openi ng, " As t he Lor dl i vet h, bef or e whom I s t and; " Davi d' s pl eadi ng," Whi t her shal l I go t hen f r om Thy pr esence, orwhi t her shal l I go f r om Thy Spi r i t . ' ' " — hi s conf essi ont hat i n heaven or hel l , or t he ut t er most par t s oft he sea, " t her e al so shal l Thy hand l ead, and Thyr i ght hand shal l gui de me, " — ar e onl y wel l - knowni nst ances of a uni ver sal consci ousness whi ch never

I I


whol l y l eaves t he men or t he nat i on, however mucht 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 hermember s t he const ant pr esence of God i n t he ol dwor l d, and t he r eal i t y of Hi s gover nment of t henat i ons, even of t hose whi ch wer e i gnor ant of Hi m.She l abour s t o make c l ear t o t hem t he sacr edness oft he mat er i al ear t h, and t he t r ut h t hat not onl y on t hehi l l of Zi on, but i n t he deser t , on t he gr eat wat er s, i nt he c i 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 chr ef er ence has been made al r eady, she decl ar es t hatt hi s pr esence has not l ef t t he ear t h, i s not dwel l i ngl ess wi t h us Engl i sh t han wi t h t he ol d Hebr ews, buthas come near er t o us s i 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 underwhose gover nment t hey ar e l i v i ng, and decl ar ed t hatHe woul d be wi t h t hem al ways, even t o t he end oft he wor l d.

Thi s bel i ef i n t hi s Di v i 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 andconf essi on of t he Engl i sh Chur ch, i s pr obabl y hel d byal l sect s of nonconf or mi st s amongst us. What ever t hei rdoct r i nes may be as t o el ect i on and r epr obat i on, or anyof t he ot her t housand and one shi bbol et hs by whi chmen' 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 notone of t hem pr obabl y whi ch, speaki ng aut hoi " i t at i vel yand del i ber at el y, woul d not admi t t hat Chr i st i s" l i v i ng and r ei gni ng, " not onl y i n t he i nv i si bl e, buther e i n t he v i s i bl e wor l d, and t hat al l r ul er s and

Y 2


gover nment s ar e di r ect l y subj ect , and r esponsi bl e,t o Hi m.

Page168 of 174

Tur ni ng f r om t he Chur ch t o t he nat i on, f r omt eachi ng and t heor y t o l i f e and pr act i ce, we f i nd atever y s t ep of our hi s t or y t he most st r i k i ng conf i r ma-t i on of t hi s wi t ness. The r evol t agai nst al l v i s i bl eear t hl y aut hor i t y i n spi r i t ual t hi ngs, whi ch had beensmoul der i ng f or cent ur i es, br oke out i n Engl and, asel sewher e, at t he t i me of t he Ref or mat i on. Once f oral l , t he nat i on t hen decl ar ed t hat t hey woul d have noman st andi ng i n t he pl ace of t he Ki ng and Lor d of t hei rsoul s , and assumi ng t o di spense wi t h Hi s l aws ; t hatt hey wer e not and woul d not be r esponsi bl e t o anyvi car of Chr i st , but onl y t o God hi msel f ; and Popeand pr i est s , and al l who suppor t ed t hem, must bet 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 henat i on i n t hi s pr ot est and r evol t ; and t he mor al senseand consci ence of t he nat i on was behi nd hi m. Andso 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 onwi t hi n t hi s r eal m of Engl and, t he Ki ng our sover ei gnLor 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 chof 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 nc i pl e of t he Ref or mat i oni n Engl and. The Tudor pr i nces ( wi t h t he except i onof 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 lwent wel l . Whenever t hey or t hei r successor s f or got


i t , agai n and agai n i n t he i nt er veni ng 300 year s, i thas had t o asser t i t sel f , of t en i n t he most unl ooked- f orways, and by t he st r angest wi t nesses. And so i tst ands i n cur own day, t he i nher i t ance of manygener at i ons, as f r esh, as c l ear , as s t r ong as ever — ar ock agai nst whi ch chur ches and sect s may dasht hemsel ves, but whi ch nei t her t hey, nor al l t he power sof ear t h, can shake.

Had our k i ngs and r ul er s r ecogni sed t hat one gr eatpr i nc i pl e of t he Ref or mat i on, t hat t her e can be nospi 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' sconsci ences, t he ot her gr eat r evol t mi ght never havecome at al l . But t he Ref or mat i on had t o do i t swor k i n due cour se, i n t empor al as wel l as spi r i t ualt hi ngs, i n t he vi si bl e as i n t he i nvi si bl e wor l d ; f ort he St uar t pr i nces asser t ed i n t empor al mat t er s t hepower s whi ch t he Pope had c l 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 awabove t he wi l l of pr i nces — woul d v i ndi cat e, even wi t ht he swor d and scaf f ol d, t hei r own power t o di spensewi t h l aws. So t he second gr eat r evol t and pr ot estof t he Engl i sh nat i on came, agai nst al l v i s i bl e ear t hl ysover 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 oc l amat i onwent f or t h t hat hencef or t h t he nat i on woul d haveno Ki ng but Chr i s t ; t hat He was t he onl y possi bl eKi ng f or t he Engl i sh nat i on f r om t hat t i me f or t h, i nt empor al as wel l as spi r i t ual t hi ngs, and t hat Hi ski ngdom had act ual l y come. The nat i onal consci encewas not wi t h t he Pur i t ans as i t had been wi t h Henr y

Page169 of 174


at t he t i me of t he Ref or mat i on, but t he deepest par tof t hei r pr ot est has hel d i t s own, and gai ned st r engt hever si nce, f r om t hei r day t o our s. The r ehgi oussour ce and or i gi n of i t was, no doubt , t hr ust as i deat t he Revol ut i on, but t he sagaci ous st at esmen of1688 wer e as cl ear as t he sol di er s of I r et on andLudl ow i n t hei r r esol ve, t hat no human wi l l shoul dover r i de t he l aws and cust oms of t he r eal m. Sot 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 hepeopl 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 esi n Par l i ament agr eed on, and t he l aws and cust omsof t he same ; . . . t hat t hey wi l l t o t hei r power causel aw and j ust i ce i n mer cy t o be execut ed i n al l t hei rj udgment s ; . . . t hat t hey wi l l t o t he ut most of t hei rpower mai nt ai n t he l aws of God, t he t r ue pr of essi onof t he Gospel , and t he Pr ot est ant r ef or med r el i gi onest 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 s i s att 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 abl aze, and t he i dea of t he r i ght s of man had shr unkback, and mer ged i n t he wi l l of t he mob. Agai nstt hi s asser t i on of t hi s f or m of sel f - wi l l agai n t heEngl i sh nat i on t ook r esol ut e gr ound. They hadst 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 nstpopul ar wi l l openl y avowi ng i t s own omni pot ence,and maki ng t he t yr ant ' s c l 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 yt 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 ont he whol e consi st ent l y, has bor ne t he same wi t nessas t he Chur ch, t hat as God i s l i v i ng and r ei gni ngt her e must be a l aw, t he expr essi on of Hi s wi l l , att 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 lover Eur ope. Wi t h us i t i s nar r owed t o a si ngl e andsi mpl e i ssue. Ther e ar e sever al ways of put t i ng i tamongst 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 hecol 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 hi s openl y set asi de, and we ar e t ol d t hat i nf al l i bi l i t yi s at l ast f ound f or men, and r es i 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 heuni ver sal f er ment of Chr i st endom, Pi us I X. ( i n hi sEncycl 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

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ot her means, const i t ut es t he supr eme l aw, i ndependentof al l Di vi ne or human l aw, and t hat , i n pol i t i calor der , event s whi ch have been accompl i shed, by t hatver y r eason t hat t hey ar e accompl i shed, have t he f or ceof r i ght . " The al t er nat i ve whi ch t he Pope woul dpr opose i s one whi ch we i n Engl and need not di scuss ;


but we ar e bound, at our per i l , and shal l be dr i ven mour t i me, t o consi der , whet her we ar e pr epar ed t oacknowl 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 andki ng of our nat i on, and of al l nat i ons. We maydespi 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 makemer 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 noman Vv^ho knows what i s r eal l y goi ng on i n Engl andbut wi l l admi t , t hat t her e wi l l have t o be a ser i ousr eckoni ng wi t h t hem at no ver y di st ant day.

Chr i s t i ans, t hen, may acknowl edge at once t hat , as ar ul e, and i n t he l ong r un, t he deci si on of t he peopl e of acount 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 hewi l l of t he peopl e i s l i kel y t o be mor e j ust and pat i entt han t hat of any per son or cl ass. No one can honest l yl ook at t he hi s t or y of our r ace i n t he l ast quar t er ofa cent ur y, t o go no f ur t her back, and not gl adl y admi tt he wei ght of evi dence i n f avour of t hi s vi ew. Ther ei s no gr eat quest i on of pr i nc i pl e whi ch has ar i sen i npol i t i cs her e, i n whi ch t he gr eat mass of t he nat i on hasnot been f r om t he f i r st on t hat whi ch has been at l astacknowl edged as t he r i ght s i de. I n Amer i ca, t o t aket he one gr eat exampl e, t he at t i t ude of t he Nor t her npeopl e f r om f i r st t o l ast , i n t he gr eat c i v i l war , wi l lmake pr oud t he hear t s of Engl i sh- speaki ng men asl 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 sdeepest convi ct i ons ( as di s t i ngui shed f r om what i sor 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 c i ans and j our nal i s t s , whi ch usual l ygoes wr ong) , i s undoubt edl y ent i t l ed t o ver y gr eatr espect . But , af t er maki ng al l f ai r al l owances, nohonest 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 hef 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 yi n a nat i on, ascer t ai ned by t he best pr ocesses yetknown t o us, i s not al ways or al t oget her j ust , orconsi st ent , or st abl e ; t hat t he del i ber at e deci si ons oft 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 er egal power , t o r es i gn our sel ves t o t he i nevi t abl e, andadmi 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 k i ng at al l , i t must be ki ngpeopl e or k i ng mob, accor di ng t o t he mood i n whi ch

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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 hePope 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 yar i st ocr at s, may have been bad enough ; but t hat anyt yr anny under whi ch Engl and has gr oaned i n t hepast has been l i ght by t he si de of what we may comet o, i f we ar e t o car r y out t he new pol i t i cal gospelt o i t s l ogi cal concl usi on, and sur r ender our sel ves t ogover 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 lback on t he ol d Hebr ew and Chr i st i an f ai t h, t hat t he


nat i ons ar e r ul ed by a l i v i ng, pr esent , i nv i si bl e Ki ng,whose wi l l i s per f ect l y r i ght eous and l ov i ng, t he sameyest er day, t o- day, and f or ever ? I t i s besi de t hequest i on t o ur ge t hat such a f ai t h t hr ows us back onan i nvi si bl e power , and t hat we must have v i si bl er ul er s. Of cour se we must have vi si bl e r ul er s, evenaf t er t he advent of t he " conf eder at e soci al r epubl i c ofEur ope. " When t he whol e peopl e i s k i ng i t must havevi cer oys l i ke ot her monar chs. But i s publ i c opi ni onvi s i bl e . ' ' Can we see " col l ect i ve humani t y" . ' ' I s i teasi er f or pr i nces or s t at esmen — f or any man or menupon 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 anpl 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 ngswi t h t he most di r ect conf essi on of t hi s f ai t h whi ch wor dscan expr ess, and pr ays — addr essi ng God, and notpubl 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 ert 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 henat i on, i f we mean not hi ng par t i cul ar by i t , and ei t herr 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 ebusi 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 nomeans of f i ndi ng out God' s wi l l , i t i s hypocr i t i cal andcowar 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 oranyt hi ng we know; and as honest men and c i t i zenswe cannot wi sh, or ask, t hat our count r y may be r ul edby i t .

But i t wi l l be sai d, assumi ng al l t hat i s asked, whatpr 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, bypr of essi on and by wor shi p, and honest l y bel i eve, t hat

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a Di v i 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 sone 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 omake i t hi s wat chwor d as an Engl i sh Al f r ed ? Mi ghtnot a commi t t ee of publ i c saf et y pl acar d t he scaf f ol dwi t h a decl ar at i on of t hi s f ai t h ? I t i s a cont ent i onf or a shadow.

I s i t so ? Does not ever y man r ecogni se i n hi sown l i f e, and i n hi s obser vat i on of t he wor l d ar oundhi m, t he enor mous and r adi cal di f f er ence bet weent he t wo pr i nc i pl es of act i on, and t he r esul t s whi cht hey br i ng about ? What man do we r eckon wor t hyof honour , and del i ght t o obey and f ol l ow — hi m whoasks when he has t o act , what wi l l A, B, and C sayt 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 seour 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 yof publ i c opi ni on ? Don' t we f eel t hat we ar e i nt 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 di n t he case of t hose who ar e i n aut hor i t y .


Those r ul er s, what ever name t hey may go by, whot ur n t o what const i t uent s, l eagues, t he pr ess ar esayi ng or doi ng, t o gui de t hem as t o t he cour se t heyar 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 lnever del i ver or st r engt hen a nat i on however ski l f ult hey may be i n occupyi ng i t s best pl aces.

Al l t he s i gns of our t i me t el l us t hat t he day ofear t hl y k i ngs has gone by, and t he advent t o powerof t he gr eat body of t he peopl e, t hose who l i ve bymanual l abour , i s at hand. Al r eady a consi der abl eper cent age of t hem ar e as i nt el l i gent and pr ov i dentas 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 beenough t o pr ove t hi s, t o any one who has eyes, and i sopen 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 yof t he count r y wi l l v i 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 deepf oundat i ons a t housand year s ago, wi l l depend asdi r ect l y and absol ut el y as t hey have ever dependedon t he wi l l of ear t hl y ki ng or st at esman. I t i s vai nt 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 byl abour f or l abour , " and t he onl y t hi ng f or wi se ment o do i s t o l ook i t i n t he f ace, and see how t heshor t i nt er veni ng year s may be used t o t he bestadvant age. Happi l y f or us, t he t ask has been al r eady


begun i n ear nest . Our soundest and wi sest pol i t i calt hi nker s ar e al l engaged upon t he gr eat and i nevi t abl e

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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 oft he f ut ur e l i es i n t hat ver y r eadi ness of t he peopl e t oact i n gr eat masses, and t o get r i d of per sonal andi ndi v i dual r esponsi bi l i t y , whi ch i s t he char act er i st i cof t he or gani zat i ons by whi ch t hey have gai ned, andsecur ed, t hei r pr esent posi t i on. Nor i s t her e anydi f f er ence as t o how t hi s danger i s t o be met . Ourf i r st ai m must be t o devel op t o t he ut most t he senseof per sonal and i ndi v i dual r esponsi bi l i t y .

But how i s t hi s t o be done . ' To v/ hom ar e menwi el di ng gr eat power s t o be t aught t hat t hey ar er esponsi bl e . ' ' I f t hey can l ear n t hat t her e i s st i l l aKi ng r ul i ng i n Engl and t hr ough t hem, whom i f t heywi l l f ear t hey need f ear no ot her power i n ear t h orheaven, whom i f t hey can l ove and t r ust t hey wi l lwant no ot her gui de or hel per , al l wi l l be wel l , and wemay l ook f or a r ei gn of j ust i ce i n Engl and such as shehas never seen yet , what ever f or m our gover nmentmay t ake. But , i n any case, t hose who hol d t heol d f ai t h wi l l st i l l be sur e, t hat t he or der of God' ski ngdom wi l l not change. I f t he k i ngs of t he ear t har 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 undert he same or der , and t he same condi t i ons. When t hegr eat body of t hose who have done t he har d wor k oft he wor l d, and got l i t t l e enough of i t s wages hi t her t o


—t he r eal s t 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 sweepaway many t hi ngs, and make shor t wor k wi t h t hr one?and k i ngs. But t her e i s one t hr one whi ch t hey cannotpul l down — t he t hr one of r i ght eousness, whi ch i s overal l t he nat i ons ; and one Ki ng whose r ul e t hey cannott hr ow of f — t he Son of God, and Son of Man, whowi l l j udge t hem as He has j udged al l k i ngs and al lgover nmen<- s bef or e t hem.

THE END.

RI CHARD CLAY AND SONS, LI MI TED, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

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