ancient paganism; by what means it was propagated; the story of the martyrs, confessors, and saints; something of what it had done for themselves, and something of the condition of the Christian world in England before the invasion by the Danes. It is something, even for us, to understand the necessity for making such a work popular. The book, moreover, is not simply an ecclesiastical history: it introduces many temporal subjects, and contains much information on the settlement and partition of England. Alfred in his version omits many parts as not likely to be of interest to his people. Thus he omits the account of the relation between the Church of York and the State, while he includes all that is said of the Kingdom of Wessex. Doubt has been thrown upon this version as Alfred's work, but it is referred to as such only a hundred years after his death.

The book called the "Blooms" is remarkable from many points of view; it contains not only an adaptation of St. Augustine's "Soliloquies and his Epistle to Paulina in the "Vision of God," but many extracts from Augustine's "City of God," from Gregory and from Jerome, with passages which appear to be comments of the king himself. Now, there is a passage in Asser, where the biographer speaks of a manual compiled at the king's desire.

"On a certain day we were both of us sitting in the king's chamber, talking on all kinds of subjects, as usual, and it happened that I read to him a quotation out of a certain book. He heard it attentively with both ears, and addressed me with a

thoughtful mind, showing me at the same moment a book which he carried in his bosom, wherein the daily courses and psalms and prayers which he had read in his youth were written, and he commanded me to write the same quotation in that book. Hearing this, and perceiving his ingenuous benevolence and devout desire of studying the words of Divine wisdom, I gave, though in secret, boundless thanks to Almighty God, who had implanted such a love of wisdom in the king's heart. But I could not find any empty space in that book wherein to write the quotation, for it was already full of various matters; wherefore, I made a little delay, principally that I might stir up the bright intellect of the king to a higher acquaintance with the Divine testimonies. Upon his urging me to make haste and write it quickly, I said to him, 'Are you willing that I should write that quotation on some leaf apart? For it is not certain whether we shall not find one or more other such extracts which will please you; and if that should so happen, we shall be glad that we have kept them apart.'Your plan is good,' said he, and I gladly made haste to get ready a sheet, in the beginning of which I wrote what he bade me; and on that same day I wrote therein, as I had anticipated, no less than three other quotations which pleased him; and from that time we daily talked together, and found out other quotations which pleased him, so that the sheet became full, and deservedly so; according as it is written, The just man builds upon a moderate foundation, and by degrees passes to greater things.' Thus, like a most productive bee, he flew here and there, asking questions as he went, until he had eagerly and unceasingly collected many various flowers of Divine Scriptures, with which he thickly stored the cells of his mind.

"Now, when the first quotation was copied, he

was eager at once to read it, and to interpret in Saxon, and then to teach others; even as read of that happy robber, who recognized his Lord-aye, the Lord of all men-as He was hanging on the blessed Cross, and, saluting Him with his bodily eyes only, because elsewhere he was all pierced with nails, cried, 'Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!' for it is only at the end of his life that he began to learn the rudiments of the Christian faith. But the king, inspired by God, began to study the rudiments of Divine Scripture on the sacred solemnity of St. Martin (Nov. II), and he continued to learn the flowers collected by certain masters, and to reduce them into the form of one book, as he was then able, although mixed one with another, until it became almost as large as a psalter. This book he called his Enchiridion,' or 'Manual,' because he carefully kept it at hand day and night, and found, as he told me, no small consolation therein."

Is the book of "Blooms" this manual? It seems quite possible, and even probable. I repeat the suggestion because it is one which may profitably be followed up. If it is the truth, then we have not only the king's favourite passages from the authors whom he studied-to know this is to know the mind of the man-but also the observations and remarks which he makes upon them.

In the preface to this book Alfred describes himself as in a wood full of comely trees.

"In every tree I saw something which I needed at home, therefore I advise every one who is able, and has many wains, that he trade to the same wood where I cut the stud-shafts, and there fetch more for himself, and load his wain with fair rods,

that he may wind many a neat wall, and set many a comely house, and build many a fair town of them; and thereby may dwell merrily and softly so as now I have not yet done. But He who taught me, to whom the wood belonged, (?) may He make me to dwell more softly in this temporary cot, the while I am in this world, and also in the everlasting home which He has promised us through St. Austin, St. Gregory, and St. Jerome, and through many other holy Fathers; as I believe, also, for the merits of all these, He will make the way more plain than it was before, and especially enlighten the eyes of my mind, so that I may search out the right way to the everlasting home and the everlasting glory and the everlasting rest which is promised us through those holy Fathers. May it be so!

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It is no wonder though men sink in timberworking, and in the carrying and building; but every man wishes, after he has built a cottage on his lord's lease by his help, that he may sometimes rest him therein, and hunt, and fowl, and fish, and use in every way under the lease, both on water and on land, until that he earn bookland and everlasting heritage through his lord's mercy.

"So do the Wealthy Giver who wields both these temporary cottages and the eternal homes! May He who shaped both, and wields both, grant me that I be meet for each, both here to be profitable and thither to come ! "

It

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle certainly owed. more than mere encouragement to the king. The very words of Alfred are, it is claimed, to be found in that part which concerns the wars. is historically certain that Plegmund carried on the Chronicle, perhaps also he began it. As is well known, it is the principal authority-in

M

many cases the sole authority-for the events described. If we were deprived of the AngloSaxon Chronicle there would be great gaps in our history quite impossible to be filled up.

In the course of time many other works were attributed to Alfred. Some of these were really his. Such is the king's "Book of Martyrs. There were also attributed to him a collection of Proverbs, a version of Æsop, a treatise on Falconry, and many other things. We have, however, quite enough of Alfred's genuine remains without adding doubtful or apocryphal works. They show a mind always active, always at work for the advancement of his people. His four principal works are deliberately designed each to fill its own place and to perform its own duty. The Bishop of Bristol sums up the four divisions.

"For generar history, and for history and geography relating to their own race on the Continent of Europe, he chose Orosius; for mental study, the Consolation' of Boethius; for realization of the true principles of the life and work of religion, the 'Pastoral Care;' for the Church history of the English people, of course the great and priceless book of the Venerable Bede."

Let me on this subject quote the words of Mr. Frederick Harrison (Bowker's "Alfred the Great"):

"It is in his own writings that we come to love Alfred best. No ruler of men has left us so pellucid a revelation of his own soul. As in 'Meditations' of Aurelius and the Psalms of David, there is given to men the outpourings of his aspirations