XIV. An English Translation of King Alfred's Anglo-Saxon Version of the Historian Orosius; with two fac-similes of MSS.: by the Rev Dr Bosworth 9 XV. King Alfred's Version of Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation; literally translated from the original Anglo-Saxon: by 199 XVI. King Alfred's Anglo-Saxon Version of Boethius, translated into English: by the Rev. S. Fox: with a fac-simile of one of the MSS. Vol. III (forming the second part of Vol. II). 417 XVIII. An Essay on the Geography of King Alfred the Great, taken from his Anglo-Saxon Version of Orosius; containing Alfred's Description of Europe in the Ninth Century, and his account of the Voyages of Ohthere and Wulfstan XX. A modern English Version of King Alfred's Blossom-Gatherings from XXI. The Laws of King Alfred the Great: by the Rev. Dr Giles XXII. King Alfred's Preface to the Anglo-Saxon Version of Gregory's J. A. GILES, general editor, Perivale Rectory, Harrow, NW: May 1, 1858. PREFACE. Two years have now passed since a public meeting was held in the town of Wantage, on the 25th of October 1849, to celebrate the Jubilee or thousandth year since the birth of king Alfred the Great. At that festival, twenty thousand of our fellow-countrymen were met together, and the whole town presented an appearance of mirth and holiday. A select number of one hundred persons dined together at the Alfred's Head, and their chairman was Charles Eyston esq. of Hendred House, near Wantage, a true English gentleman and both in heart and name a thorough AngloSaxon. At that meeting, attended by guests from every part of England, and from America-that hopeful mother of future Anglo-Saxons, as well as from Germany, that ancient cradle of our common race, surrounded with banners of every hue, with trophies, legends and memorials, it was declared to the world that the name of Alfred, who on that spot first saw the light, should not be forgotten. At that meeting it was resolved: That a JUBILEE EDITION of the WORKS OF King Alfred THE GREAT, with copious literary, historical, and pictorial illustrations, should be immediately undertaken, to be edited by the most Essays b competent Anglo-Saxon scholars who might be willing to combine for such a purpose. This noble design immediately revived the hopes which all English, and indeed all Anglo-Saxon, scholars had so long entertained, that they might at last see the valuable writings of the great king, whom Old England called her Hero and her Darling, united into one collection, worthy of their author, and of the people who owe to him their arts, arms, and civilization. It is well known that some of the learned societies, which are engaged in investigating the early history and antiquities of this country, and in publishing the most valuable documents and records of every description, had repeatedly taken into consideration such a plan; that a few of the first and most profound scholars in Saxon history and literature had intended to do the same; and that transcripts of several of Alfred's works had been made by various persons, and were actually almost ready for the press. Owing, however, to various circumstances, which it is unnecessary here to detail, neither societies nor private individuals had been able to carry this design into execution. What, however, public societies and private persons have failed to do, is now on the verge of accomplishment, after the revolution of one of those eras which often inspire mankind to feelings that otherwise would have slumbered. The Jubilee Edition might have been offered to the public without any preliminary observations whatever; for the works themselves would have told their own story, and sufficiently have indicated the mind of their great author. But, as many of our readers were before, possibly, ignorant even of the fact that King Alfred has left behind him numerous writings in the Saxon or Old English language, it may not be lost time to notice them in this preface with such remarks as may serve to point out the circumstances which give to them their value and render them so interesting to all Englishmen. The first peculiarity of King Alfred's writings is the remarkable fact that they are all written in the old English language. This circumstance alone places them above both praise and blame. In the ninth century, when all the rest of Europe was dark as night, and the light of the mind seemed on the point of being extinguished among men for ever, there was found, in England, a man |