on the latter, we trust that we may be pardoned for being somewhat diffuse.

According to Galfridus de Fontibus, in his De Pueritia Sancti Edmundi, supposed to have been written about the year 1150, Edmund was the son of Alkmund, a Saxon King, by his Queen Siware. He was born at Noremburgh, the capital of his father's dominions, in the year 841. His birth was the fulfilment of a prediction. Alkmund, who was distinguished by valour, wisdom, and piety, went upon a pilgrimage to Rome, and, whilst performing his devotions, a brilliant sun was observed to display its glories on his breast. A prophetess interpreted this to be a happy omen, and promised Alkmund a son, whose fame should extend over the whole world. Edmund, the promised wonder, was born the same year. Some time afterwards, Offa, a relation of Alkmund's, who was then King of East Anglia, having no child to inherit his dignities, resolved upon a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and there, by devotional exercises, to supplicate the blessings of an heir. In his way to the Holy Land, he visited Alkmund, who entertained him with the warmth of affection, and the splendour of royalty. Delighted with the pleasing manners and estimable qualities of the youthful Edmund, he, on his departure, presented him with a valuable ring. Accept," said he, "my dear Edmund, this pledge of my regard, and memorial of an unalterable attachment, the result of your assiduous attentions. With pleasure I acknowledge your kindness, and,

by the providence of God, it shall not want a proper reward."-Offa proceeded on his journey, arrived at Jerusalem, and performed his religious exercises, the object of his pilgrimage. On his return, he was taken ill; and, apprehending his dissolution to be near, he convoked his council to deliberate on the regal succession. "My relation, the King of Saxony's son," said he, addressing himself to the assembly, "is not unknown to you: that accomplished and elegant prince I earnestly recommend as my successor, and your future sovereign." Thus saying, he presented to them his royal signet, to be delivered to Edmund as a token of his appointment.-The funeral solemnities of Offa having been celebrated, his nobles hastened to Saxony to deliver the royal mandate, and to solicit Edmund to accept the vacant crown. On their arrival, Alkmund convened his bishops and nobles, to whom he declared the purpose of the embassy. In concurrence with the unanimous recommendation of the council, it was determined that Edmund should avail himself of the offer. Alkmund accordingly appointed a nobleman of distinguised wisdom and integrity to be his guardian and counsellor; selecting also twenty of his own knights, and the same number of Offa's East Anglian nobles, to see the will of the deceased carried into effect. Every necessary arrangement having been made, Edmund, amidst the tears and blessings of his royal parents, took leave, and sailed for East Anglia. As soon as he reached the shores of his new domini

ons, he is said to have knelt on the beach, in grateful praise to heaven for past mercies, and devout prayer for future protection; and, as though prodigies were to be ever his attendants, we are told that five-or, as some say, twelve-springs of sweet water immediately flowed from the dry and sandy soil, whence the royal stranger offered up his devotions. Upon the same spot, in grateful remembrance of the omen, he afterwards built the town named Hunstanton.

Edmund does not appear to have assumed the regal dignity immediately on his arrival; as he spent the following year in studious retirement, in the ancient city of Attleborough, in Norfolk. Instead of examining the laws of the state which he was about to govern, and making himself acquainted with the customs, manners, and interests of the people, whose happiness was shortly to be entrusted to his care, the perverted and perverting genius of the age induced him to employ the twelve months of his seclusion in committing to memory the Psalter. The book which he was supposed to have used upon the occasion was said afterwards to have been preserved in Bury Abbey, with religious veneration; and a very curious ancient psalter, still to be seen in the library of St. James's Church, is thought by some antiquaries to be that very book. It seems not at all improbable, that the young and ductile mind of Edmund at that time received the improper bias, which afterwards unfitted him for the government of

a state, in times of war and peril. During his retirement, a faction appears to have disputed his right of succession. An assembly of the people was therefore convoked, in which the question of appointing a sovereign was solemnly discussed. Humbert, the venerable bishop, by his eloquence, by producing the royal signet, and by calling forth as witnesses the twenty East Anglian knights, succeeded in convincing the assembly of the justice, propriety, and necessity of confirming Offa's appointment; and, in consequence, the nobles, attended by a concourse of joyful people, immediately conducted the young prince into Suffolk, and invested him with the insignia of sovereignty. The place of his corronation seems not to have been precisely ascertained; but the weight of evidence is in favour of Bury. Of the time, there is no doubt. "The most glorious King Edmund began his reign the 25th Dec. A. D. 855, and was crowned and anointed King of East Anglia, by Humbert, Bishop of Hulm, on the following Christmas Day, A. D. 856; having then completed the 15th year of his age."

During the reign of this prince, who, notwithstanding the unbounded praises which have been heaped upon his memory by the monks, appears to have partaken more of the peaceful nature of a philosopher, than of the warlike character of a hero, the greater part of Britain bled beneath the merciless sword of the Danes. Chance, and a roving spirit, seem first to have led these savages to our

shores. A wandering Danish pirate reached the Maese, in the early part of the sixth century; but his enterprise was single, and unsuccessful; and it was not until the year 787, that the Anglo Saxons were molested by any of that nation. A small body of Danes then landed in the kingdom of Wessex; and, when the magistrate of the place questioned them concerning their enterprise, and summoned them to appear before the King (Brithric) and explain their intentions, they killed him, and fled to their ships. In 793, they made a descent on Holy Island, on the coast of Northumberland, plundering the monastery, and killing, or carrying away the monks. They repeated their visit there, in the following year, when one of their leaders perished. From that time, till the reign of Egbert, they are not mentioned. Increasing in power, and extending the range of their hostilities, they, in 838, ravaged East Anglia, Kent, and Lindesey, in Lincolnshire. In 851, for the first time, they ventured to winter in the Isle of Thanet; and, from that period, they seem to have formed the design of fixing themselves in the country. -Soon afterwards, the celebrated leader, Ragnar Lodbrog, makes his appearance in history. The generally received story relating to this commander, and his two sons, Inguar and Hubba, the successful invaders of East Anglia, as handed down to us by the monkish writers, is, in substance as follows.

Lodbrog, Lothbroc, or Lothbrocus, King of Denmark, endeavoured to stimulate the ambition of his