Second period of Alfred's life-England enjoys comparative tran- quillity during fifteen years, from 878 to 893.-Alfred's power more extensive than before the Danish invasions-His endeavours to amend the condition of his people--He invites Plegmund, Werfrith, Ethelstan, and Werwolf out of Mercia, Asser out of Alfred's navy-His general officers-and fortresses-His admoni- tions to build castles neglected-Of the cities which he built or restored-The King's zeal for religion--His hearing the Scriptures- Builds monasteries at Athelney, Shaftesbury, the new minster at Winchester-Alfred's children-their education-The school for the sons of the nobility-No Universities in those times-Supposition Alfred's avocations as described by Asser reviewed-Hunting and falconry-Working in gold and silver-Architecture-Services of religion and private devotion-Devotes half his time to God-He makes wax lights to measure time-Invents lanterns-His love of books—All learning confined to the Latin tongue--Alfred learns Latin-His literary works-His Enchiridion or Manual-Preface to Gregory's Pastoral Care-Translation of Boethius-Translation of Orosius, &c-Voyages of Othther and Wulfstan-Alfred's foreign Saxon laws of Ethelbert, Ina, Withred, and Offa-Alfred compiles a code-Examples of his laws quoted-His strict administration of justice-Numerous appeals to him from the inferior courts-His mode of reprimanding and teaching his ignorant judges-His seve- rity in punishing the corrupt-His reforms in the administration of counties, hundreds, and tithings-Institution of judges and Hasting, foiled on the continent, suddenly invades Eugland in 893— He forms two entrenched camps in Kent, at Appledore and Milton-Alfred fortifies a position between the two camps— Battle of Farnham-Alfred besieges the Danes in Mersey-Island, but is called off to defend Exeter-Danish camp taken-Hasting's wife and children made prisoners, but released-Hasting fortifies Bemfleet and Shobury in Essex-The Danes cross England to Buttington-Siege and battle of Buttington-The Danes, defeated, escape to Essex-They again cross England to Chester-Ravage Wales, and return to Essex-They encamp on the Lea-Alfred obstructs their navigation-The Danes retire to Quatbridge in The East Anglian and Northumbrian Danes continue to infest the southern coast.-Sea fight between six Danish and nine English ships near the Isle of Wight-Tranquillity restored to England- Mortality both of men and cattle-Alfred ends his days in peace on II. Alfred's Proverbs, in Saxon. III. Description of Alfred's Gem. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ALFRED THE GREAT. CHAP. I. INTRODUCTION-SLOW PROGRESS OF MIGRATIONS BY SEA-SAXON INVASION OF BRITAIN-SEVEN SAXON KINGDOMS-THEIR SEPARATE EXISTENCE FROM ABOUT A.D. 500 To 800- -THEIR DISCORDS. THE Ocean, placed by Nature as a barrier between the nations of the earth, presented, in ancient times, a formidable impediment to the migratory tendencies of mankind. The newly-discovered country, which is divided by the sea from the old-established habitations of the human race, has many a chance of defending its liberties, in the difficulty with which a large fleet, capable of conveying a sufficient number of invaders, can be constructed, or the stores be procured with which they are to be maintained. This may account for the disproportion, which we observe between those migrations which have been conducted by land, and others which have necessarily taken place by sea. Whilst Gaul, Italy, Spain, and Greece, have been at different times overrun, and their destruction threatened, by millions of Goths, Gauls, Huns, and other northern 37 B barbarians, the island of Britain, protected by the friendly Ocean, has never at any time been subjected to the invasion of a mighty army, capable at one stroke of crushing its liberties, and extirpating its ancient inhabitants. It has, rather, been harassed for centuries by small bodies of pirates, and other plunderers, coming in such a number of vessels as their means could provide them with; and in this manner its population has, two or three times within the period of authentic history, gradually been displaced by new-comers. When Julius Cæsar, the earliest civilized invader of Britain, first reached our shores, he found all the south of the island occupied by Belgic tribes, akin to those which lined the opposite coasts of the continent, from the Seine, nearly, to the Elbe. As Cæsar has no where made mention of a diversity of language or of manners, as coming within the range of his own observation, it is probable-and the tone of his narrative makes it almost certain that the Belgic tribes occupied a very large part of Britain, certainly much more of it than that to which Cæsar's own operations were confined. History does not inform us when the Belgæ first began to encroach on the land of Britain; and it is useless to conjecture, where we have not a single fact to form the basis of the enquiry. But we shall be safe in referring the first arrival of Belgians to an early date, because we find, that the more recent changes which Britain has experienced, and of which history furnishes the details, were only effected after a long and painful series of wars and rebellions between the natives and their invaders. Thus, when the Romans had left Britain, and its inhabitants resumed the exercise of their ancient liberty, the Saxon tribes, which, even under the Roman dominion, had apparently marked out this island as their future conquest, began to press with greater energy to effect its subjugation. Yet a hundred and fifty years still intervened before they gained secure possession of that part of the island which is now called England, and two large provinces of it, namely, Cumberland and Cornwall, remained many years longer in the occupation of the Britons. At what period the Saxon adventurers first began to commit depredations on the south coasts of Britain, and what time elapsed before they established their dominion in the island, it is not the province of this work to relate. But it is of great importance to our present purpose to shew, that the Saxon commonwealth in Britain never enjoyed, for more than a few years at a time, repose from intestine war or foreign invasion. In fact, the Saxon monarchs, who were most distinguished for their bravery and patriotism, can be regarded in no other point of view than as serving, by a continued struggle against wars and difficulties, to uphold and maintain a state not yet settled on a firm and lasting basis. A hundred and fifty years after the first landing of Hengist and Horsa, we find seven Saxon kingdoms established in South Britain. And it is worthy of remark, that the kings of these petty states often regarded one another with more jealousy than the British chiefs, who still maintained independence in Wales, Cumberland, and Cornwall. This fact seems to go far to confirm the theory, that there was less dissimilarity both of language and manners between the Saxons and Britons, than prevails at the present day between their |