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clad in pontifical robes, who warned him of his duties. and added: "O Alfred, Christ who hath beheld the uprightness of thine heart endeth even now thy troubles. For to-morrow shall there come to thee strong helpers, by whose aid shalt thou overthrow thine enemies." Then said the King, "Who art thou?" And he said, "I am Cuthbert. am that pilgrim who was yesterday here, to whom thou gavest bread. Thee and thine take I beneath my care.

Remember this when it shall be well with thee."

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Thus, by the encouragement and monition of St. Cuthbert did the Most Christian King quit his lurking den, and by a device of rare wit, in the garb of a minstrel did he enter the Danish tents; and having spied out all he desired to see, turned him again to Athelney."

§ 18. Special interest thus attaches to the fact that at Athelney should have been found the only personal relic of Alfred, his famous 'jewel,' now in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. This is a sort of gold locket, some 2 inches long, the front being of crystal, through which is seen the figure of a man, rudely designed in gold and various coloured enamel. Though the design is rude, the workmanship is exquisite, and is a striking testimony to the much-praised skill of the English goldsmiths at this period. Round the edge of the locket (which is about half an inch thick) runs the inscription, in letters of pierced gold, AELFREDMECHEHTGEWYRCAN (Alfred had me worked). The figure has been variously thought to be intended either for our Lord, or the Pope, or St. Peter, or St. Cuthbert, or St. Neot, or it may be Alfred himself. It is scarcely likely that the jewel dates from the time when he was in hiding at Athelney. It more probably formed part of the treasure belonging to the monastery which he there founded as a thank-offering after the tempest which drove him to shelter passed away.

1.Book of Hyde.'

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Danish defeat in Devon-The Magic Standard-Rising of WessexDecisive battle of Ethandune-Surrender of Chippenham-Baptism of Guthrum-Peace of Wedmore-Its results-Alfred's restoration of London.

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HE first gleam of returning sunshine came from the West. Now that King Alfred had neither land nor hope the Lord looked down from heaven upon the remnant of His people.' A pirate fleet of twenty-three ships, which had wintered in South Wales,' with much slaughter of Christians and burning of monasteries,' crossed the Bristol Channel, and at the vernal equinox poured 'like fierce wolves' into Devonshire. Almost at their landing, however, a sudden rally of the men of Devon cut off the entire force, at Kinwith near Bideford. The Hubba Stone, a huge barrow amongst the sandhills by the estuary (now swept away by the tide), enshrined for eight centuries the name and the bones of the pirate chief here slaughtered. And there was taken their war-flag which they called The Raven '-a magic banner, held in the utmost reverence by the Northmen; for they say that the three daughters of Lodbrok [the father of Hubba] wove it, and that in one day. They say, moreover, that in every fight, whensoever that flag went before them, the Raven in the midst thereof, if they were fated to win the day, would seem to flutter as it were alive; but were their doom to be worsted, then would it droop still and lifeless. And oft was this well proven.' We are reminded of the Athenian Owlet at Salamis.1

1 Aristophanes, Wasps.' 10S5.

§ 2. And, indeed, with the capture of this banner the spell of the long succession of Danish victories was now at last broken, and English hearts began to take courage. Alfred's sallies from Athelney were no longer mere foraging raids, but incessant attacks upon the flying parties of the Danish host, so effectual, and rousing such a spirit of local resistance, that the invaders were forced to concentrate. The country, being thus cleared, rose en masse, and it was 'the whole folk of Somersetshire and Wiltshire and Hampshire who, at Whitsuntide, 878, greeted with joy and acclaim the King whom all had thought dead. This was at Egbert's Stone [Brixton], on the border of Selwood or Mucelwood' Forest, which being interpreted is in Latin Silva Magna, but in British Coitmawr.'

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§ 3. And Alfred was not the man to let such a chance slip. That very day, while the enthusiasm roused by his reappearance was at its height, 'at peep of dawn roused he the camp,' and led, no small band this time but a mighty army,' against the foe. Two days more, and he had met them at Ethandune [Edington, near Westbury, in Wiltshire for the decisive battle, on which hung the fate of England. The numbers on either side seem to have been about equal. Doubtless the Danes were the better armed, being professional soldiers, while the English were only a land-sturm. But, on the other hand, the former were doubtless as dispirited by the sudden turn of events as the latter were encouraged. § 4. The event is thus graphically described by Simeon of Durham:

'With the first bright rays of the rising sun, did the King alike and all the flower of his folk beclothe themselves in their war-gear-with the threefold breastplate, to wit, of Faith, and of Hope, and of the Love of God. Arising thereafter from the ground, boldly did they challenge the combat, trusting full surely in the mercy and loving-kindness of the Creator, and safe-guarded, as with a rampart, by the presence of their King, whose face shone even then with light as it had been the face of an angel.

All the long day did the two peoples fight; and far off might you hear the shouting and the crash of arms. And

He who in His might beholdeth all things, beheld also the inmost wish of His King on earth, and granted him his heart's desire-the prayers and the aid of the powers of heaven. Thus at length laid he low his foes, and gat him the victory, giving thanks to his heavenly Saviour with joy of heart.'

5. From other sources we learn that the supernatural aid on which Alfred's heart was thus set was that of the dear brother and counsellor of whom death had the year before deprived him, St. Neot. We read that ere his departure the saint had promised that as he had been Alfred's spiritual guide in life, so should that spiritual guidance and wardship still abide with him. Thy guide have I been ever; thee and thine will I lead on.' 'I will be thy captain, I will be thy champion; thou shalt be glad and rejoice in me.' 'Lo, I will go before thy banner'; 'thine enemies shall perish at my presence."

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§ 6. And now the King was persuaded that this promise was being fulfilled. With the eye of ardent faith he beheld the blessed spirit of his brother leading on the Christian banners to the onset, signifer et prævius '-'See ye not?' he exclaimed to his men; 'see ye not? That is indeed Neotus, Christ's glorious servant, Christ's unconquered soldier, and through him is the victory even now given to our hands.'

$ 7. The Danes, in fact, were utterly worsted, and sent flying back, in headlong rout and with heavy loss, to their entrenched camp at Chippenham. Here they at once found themselves completely invested by the pursuing English, who 'with blow on blow followed hard after them,' and wholly unprovisioned for a siege; for every living thing without the stronghold, flocks and herds and horses and all, caught we and took'ere they could be brought in. Neither assault nor sally seems to have been made. Alfred knew that the enemy must shortly surrender unless they cut their way out; and this they were too demoralized by defeat even to attempt. Thus we only read of exultation on the one side, and craven dejection on the other. Then did the King and his hosts

1 'Chronicle of St. Neot.'

stand by, all smiling with joy of heart; but the remnant of the foe cried ever aloud for sorrow of heart, and for bitter hunger, and for cold, and for mighty dread. "Mercy," do they implore," mercy," "mercy and peace"-they who had ever been enemies unto peace, of direst mood."1

§ 8. And to peace, after a fortnight, they were admitted; on conditions which show to what a strait they had been brought.

First, they were to give the King as many hostages as he pleased, receiving none in return, 'in which form they had never before made treaty with anyone." 2

Secondly, they were immediately to depart the kingdom. Thirdly, their leader Guthrum was to become a Christian and receive baptism without delay.

§ 9. On these terms the humiliated Danes left Chippenham, and betook themselves to Cirencester, over the Mercian border. And a few weeks later Guthrum did indeed present himself for baptism; when Alfred, as his godfather, gave him the Christian name of Athelstane, after the sainted brother whose warnings and whose promises had alike been so signally fulfilled in Guthrum's attack and Guthrum's defeat.

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§ 10. And thus did King Alfred receive him for his own son by adoption.' And his chrisom-loosing3 was at Wedmore, on the eighth day, when the holy chrism was poured upon him. And after did he abide yet twelve nights.' And his spiritual father gave unto him many a fair gift—yea, and unto all his comrades, as many as were fain to receive the Christian faith.'

The chrisom was the white robe worn by the newly-baptized for the first week of their Christian life. Its loosing' was marked at this date by the chrism,' i.e., the Confirmation of the candidates. It would seem that along with Guthrum some, at least, of the thirty best and greatest of his host' who attended him were also baptized.

§ 11. This baptismal visit of Guthrum to Alfred was a

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''Crism-lising,' A.S. Chronicle, which Asser renders crismatis solutio. As nothing else is known of this ceremony, I believe there is here a cenfusion between chrism and chrisom. Special regulations as to the putting off of the chrisom were issued by Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury, A.1). 735.

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