lous, and because it is at variance with the generally received history of the same individual-if they are the same-who figures as the principal actor in the narrative. The legend, as it appears in the chronicle of John Brompton, from which it was copied by Matthew of Westminster, is as follows:

"There was a man of royal birth in the kingdom of Denmark, named Lodbroc, who had two sons, Hinguar and Hubba. This man embarked one day with his hawk in a small boat, to catch ducks and other wild fowls on the adjoining sea coasts and islands. A terrible storm at length arose, by which Lodbroc was carried away, and tossed for several days over every part of the Ocean. After numberless perils, he was cast ashore on the coast of Norfolk, near the village of Redham. Here he was found having his hawk alone for his companion, and presented to king Edmund. That monarch, struck with the manly beauty of his form, retained him at his court, and heard from his own mouth the recital of his adventures. He was then associated with Berne the king's huntsman, and indulged in all the pleasures of the chase, for in the exercises both of hunting and hawking he was remarkably graceful, and succeeded in capturing both birds and beasts according as he had a mind. This, however, produced jealousy in the mind of Berne the huntsman, who one day, as they were going out together hunting, set upon Lodbroc unawares, and having foully slain him, buried his body in the thickets of the forest. But Lodbroc was the master of a small dog of the harrier species, which he had nourished from its birth, and which loved him much. When Berne the huntsman returned home with the other hounds, this little dog remained alone with its master's

body. In the morning the king asked what had become of Lodbroc; to which Berne replied, that he had parted from him yesterday in the wood, and had not seen him since. At that moment the harrier entered the hall, and went round, wagging its tail, and fawning on the whole company, and especially on the king. When he had eaten his fill, he again left the hall this occurred repeatedly, until some one at last followed the dog to see where he went, and, having found the body of Lodbroc, they told the story to the king. The affair was now diligently enquired into, and when the truth was at last discovered, the huntsman was exposed on the sea without oars in the boat which had belonged to Lodbroc. In a few days he was cast ashore in Denmark, and brought before the sons of Lodbroc; who putting him to the torture, demanded him what had become of their father, to whom they knew the boat belonged. To this Berne replied, that their father Lodbroc had fallen into the hands of Edmund king of East-Anglia, by whose orders he had been put to death.”

The story ends with the invasion of England, accompanied by those circumstances of rapine and bloodshed which we know from authentic history to have occurred in 866, the year in which Ethelred succeeded to the throne of Wessex.

It will, perhaps, never be ascertained, how far we may trust the stories above related as the principal motives which induced the Danes at this time to invade England on a larger scale than before. But it has been observed, that the story of Lodbroc is differently told by authentic historians. According to the most credible accounts, Regner Lodbroc, a Danish chieftain, and a man of extraordinary talents and

valour, was about this time induced by circumstances to extend his expeditions beyond the limits of the Baltic, to which the piracies of his countrymen had previously been for the most part confined. The adventurous sea-king spread terror over all the islands of the northern ocean. He even carried his ravages into the interior of France, as far as Paris, which he took by storm, and ransomed for a large payment of money. At last this free-booter was overcome by the very means which he fancied would elevate him above all his fellows. He had ordered some ships of a larger size than usual to be constructed, without considering that his men would be unable to navigate them through the narrow seas and on the sloping beaches, where their descents upon the land were effected. These vessels were wrecked upon the coast of England, and Regner, with a small band of men, forgetting that they had lost the means of securing their plunder, commenced their usual career of devastation. Ella, king of Northumberland, marched to meet him. The invaders, after a fierce resistance, were overcome, and Regner made prisoner. The unhappy captive was placed by his captor in a dungeon, where he was slowly stung to death by snakes ©.

When the news of Regner's death reached Denmark, his sons, two of whom were Hinguar and Ubba, swore to avenge him. The bands of Scandinavia tuned their harps to the praises of the fallen hero: his actions were chaunted throughout the islands of the north, and the death-song of Regner Lodbroc, a curious remnant of Scandinavian verse, which has

Saxo Gram. p. 176. Sora 1654. Pet. Olaus, apud Langbeck, p. 111. Hafniæ 1772.

come down to our own times, animated his countrymen to battle and to vengeance d

On the subject of this Scandinavian warrior, see particularly Turner's Hist. of the Anglo-Saxons, book iv. ch. iii. and the authorities there quoted.

CHAP. VIII.

THE PARENTAGE AND EARLY LIFE OF KING ALFRED-HIS EDUCATION -STORY OF THE BOOK OF POEMS-IS AFFLICTED WITH A SEVERE DISEASE.

THE Chroniclers have delighted to trace the lineage of ALFRED THE GREAT into those early times of obscurity, where the dispassionate historian declines to follow them. He was the fourth son of Ethelwolf, and grandson of Egbert, through whom his pedigree ascended to Woden, and from thence upwards through twenty-three generations, to Adam". The juvenile years of Alfred were, no doubt, occupied with the sports and recreations which generally engage the minds of children. The first circumstance which has been recorded of him, is his journey to Rome, as we have already described it, in the company of Swithun bishop of Winchester: he was hardly seven years old, when he again made the journey in his father's company; and it has been remarked by a modern historian", whose opinions generally deserve attention from their soundness, whilst his writings are charac

This pedigree, according to Asser, Florence, and Simeon, is as follows: Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahaleel, Enoch, Methusalem, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Bedwig, Huala, Hathra, Itermod, Heremod, Sceldwea, Beaw, Catwa, Geata, Fingodwolf, Frithwolf, Frealaf, Frithowalde, Woden, Beldeg, Brond, Gewis, Elesa, Cerdic, Creoda, Cynric, Ceaulin, Cuthwine, Cutha, Ceolwalde, Coenred, Ingild brother of Ine, Eoppa, Eafa, Elmund, Egbert, Ethelwolf.

b S. Turner, Hist. of the Anglo-Saxons.