soon issuing from his retreat, he defeated the Northmen, and at length concluded a peace by which their most powerful chief became in fact king of the eastern part of the country, but also adopted Christianity, and swore to assist in the defence of the land against all new assailants, an engagement which was but indifferently observed. The main body of the spoilers, however, withdrew, and although he had to repel another attack in 885, Alfred now found leisure not only for valuable literary labours, but to repair the ravages of war, and to form or remodel those admirable political institutions for which his name is still reverenced'.

The year 893 witnessed a fresh return of the Northmen, but they were vigorously withstood, and at length expelled, and to secure his coasts the king constructed ships better able to cope with those of the enemy than any that had been before seen in England, and is thus regarded as the founder of the royal navy. Alfred's few remaining years were passed in apparent tranquillity, and he died on the 26th October, 901.

Beside other children, who require no particular mention, Alfred left,-Edward, his successor; Ethelfleda, who as "lady of the Mercians" acted a conspicuous part; Elfrida, married to Baldwin II. count of Flanders'; and Ethelgina, who became abbess of Shaftesbury.

A.D. 871. Alfred defeated by the Northmen at Wilton. Nine other battles are fought in the country

› See p. 155.

He was the son of Judith, the step-mother of Alfred, and was the ancestor of Matilda, the first Norman queen of England.

south of the Thames, in which the invaders appear to have been victorious, as the West Saxons make peace with them.

A.D. 872. The Northmen take up their winter quarters in London; the Mercians make peace with them. Cameleac consecrated bishop of Llandaff by the archbishop of Canterbury.

We see from this that the spiritual supremacy of England extended at this period at least over the southeastern part of Wales (Gwent), and it is probable that political power accompanied it, as when this bishop was captured by the Northmen in 918, he was, we are told by the Saxon Chronicle, ransomed by Edward the Elder, for 40 pounds of silver".

The Northmen from Ireland ravage the west of Scotland, but are defeated near the Clyde by Constantine II.

A.D. 873. The Northmen penetrate into Northumbria, and take up their winter quarters at Torksey, in Lincolnshire; the people make peace with them.

A.D. 874. The Northmen drive out Burgred of Mercia, and make Ceolwulf, "an unwise king's thane," king in his place. Burgred goes to Rome.

A.D. 875. Halfdane, a Northman, ravages Northumbria, and also spoils the Picts and the Strathclyde Britons.

The bishop's see and the body of St. Cuthbert removed to Chester-le-Street.

Guthrum besieges Grantabridge (Cambridge).

* See p. 106.

b

Burgred died at Rome shortly after, and was buried in the church of the English college there.

Alfred defeats a fleet of seven ships, capturing one, and putting the rest to flight.

66

A.D. 876. The Northmen besiege Wareham. Alfred makes peace with them, when they swear oaths to him on the holy ring, which they never before would do to any nation," to leave the kingdom. Their horsemen, however, take possession of Exeter.

Halfdane apportions the lands of Northumbria among his followers.

Anglesey ravaged by the Ostmen, and Roderic the Great slain.

Rollo and the Northmen overrun Neustria (Normandy). A.D. 877. The Northern fleet is wrecked at Swanawic (Swanage).

Alfred captures Exeter.

The Northmen apportion Mercia.

A.D. 878. The Northmen suddenly invade Wessex, in January, and take possession of the country; "and many of the people they drove beyond sea, and of the remainder the greater part they subdued and forced to obey them, except King Alfred; and he, with a small band, with difficulty retreated to the woods and to the fastnesses of the moors."

Hubba, the brother of Halfdane, lands in Devonshire, but is defeated and killed, "and there was taken the war flag which they called Ravend."

с

Antiquaries differ as to the meaning of this passage. It seems probable that the Northmen, in their oath, referred to a great ring of silver, or orichalc, which Arngrim Jonas says was preserved in a temple in Iceland, and which was smeared with blood of victims when they swore to the observance of matters of religion or public law.

It is remarkable that the Northern sagas do not mention this celebrated flag, to which magical powers were ascribed. Professor Worsaae, from a laborious investigation of all the available authori

"And after this, at Easter, King Alfred, with a small band, constructed a fortress at Athelneye, and from this fortress, with that part of the men of Somerset which was nearest to it, from time to time they fought against the army!."

ties, is of opinion that it was a small triangular banner, fringed, bearing a black raven on a blood-red field.

Athelney, once an island, is now a marshy tract between the rivers Tone and Parret, near Langport, in the southern part of Somersetshire.

A very beautiful specimen of gold enamelled work is preserved

Alfred's Jewel, obverse.

Profile.

in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, which is commonly known by the name of Alfred's jewel, as it bears his name, and was found in 1693 in the immediate neighbourhood of his retreat. It is of filagree work, inclosing a piece of rock-crystal, under which appears a figure in enamel, which has not been satisfactorily explained. The ground is of a rich blue, the face and arms of the figure white, the dress principally green, the lower portion partly of a reddish brown. The inscription is "Aelfred mec heht gevvrcan" (Alfred ordered me to be made).

The Saxon Chronicle gives no particulars of Alfred's residence in Athelney, but Asser relates the well-known tale of the cakes suffered to burn whilst he prepared his weapons, and also tells us that it was in consequence of tyrannical conduct on his part, and neglect of the reproof of his kinsman St. Neot, that the king was so utterly forsaken by his subjects.

THE ANGLO-DANES.

Alfred leaves his retreat in May. He defeats the Northmen at Ethandun (Edington, near Westbury), and besieges them in their fortress.

The Northmen surrender after a fourteen days' siege, and give hostages. Guthrum" and some thirty men, who were of the most distinguished in the army," are baptized; Guthrum has Alfred for his godfather, and receives the name of Athelstan.

Alfred makes a peace with the Northmen, ceding to them a large portion of territory, thus limited:"first, concerning our land boundaries: up on the Thames, and then up on the Lea, and along the Lea unto its source, then right to Bedford, and then up the Ouse into Watling Street."

By this formal cession of so large a tract, as well as the loss of what Halfdane already possessed, and held apparently only by the sword, the sole monarchy esta. blished by Egbert scarcely fifty years before may be re

The other provisions of this treaty declare: "if a man be slain, we estimate all equally dear, English and Danish, at eight half marks of pure gold," and at 200 shillings each for the Saxon ceorl and the Danish liesing or freeman; settle modes of trial, and the warranty "for men, for horses, and for cattle," and regulate the intercourse between the two armies and their followers.