SAXON RACE OF KINGS.

25

Danes, who yet retained the savage and piratical habits of their ancestors.

3. They began their irruptions into England during the reign of Egbert. In the reign of Ethelwolf, his son, they became more formidable. Landing from their little vessels, they scattered themselves over the face of the country in small parties, making spoil of everything that came in their way-goods, cattle, and people.

4. If opposed by a superior force, they retreated to their boats, and, sailing off, invaded some distant quarter, where they were not expected. All England was kept in continual alarm; nor durst the people of one part go to the assistance of another, lest their own families and possessions should be exposed to the fury of the ravagers. 5. The harassed state of the country did not hinder the king from making a pilgrimage to Rome, taking with him his youngest son, Alfred, not yet six years old. Ethelwolf was a weak and superstitious prince, and the clergy of England took advantage of the opportunity to obtain a grant of a tenth part, called a tithe, of the produce of land.

6. During the reigns of Ethelbald, Ethelbert, and Ethelred, sons of Ethelwolf, who in succession governed England, the Danes continued their piratical incursions. The last of these princes was killed in battle against them, in the year 871, and was succeeded by his youngest brother, Alfred, who was one of the best and greatest kings that ever reigned in England.

7. Alfred, like the young Saxons in general, was brought up in so much ignorance, that he was not even taught to read; but when he was about twelve years old, his mother one day showed him and his brothers a book of Saxon poetry, which was beautifully written and ornamented, and told them that she would give it to the one who should soonest learn to peruse it.

8. Alfred applied himself with so much ardor, that in a very short time he was able to read the poem to the queen, who gave it to him as his reward. From this time he took the greatest delight in study; but he had two great difficulties to struggle with; one was, that there were so few books to be had; and the other, that there were so few people among the Saxons who could teach him anything.

9. Notwithstanding all these obstacles, he soon became one of the most learned men of his time. Even when he was king, he always carried a book in the bosom of his robe, that whenever he had a spare moment he might be able to profit by it; and thus, without neglecting any of his duties, he acquired a very extensive knowledge.

10. His time was divided into three equal parts; one-third was devoted to religion and to study, another third to sleep and refreshment, and the other to the affairs of his kingdom. As there were no clocks or watches in use in England, Alfred contrived to measure time by the burning of candles.

troubled the Saxons? 3, 4. What is said of the irruptions of the Danes? 5. What did Ethelwolf do? What of his character? 6. Who succceded him? When i alfred begin to reign? 7, 8. What of Alfred's learning? 9. What instance of his regard for

30

ADVENTURES OF ALFRED.

11. These candles were painted in rings of different breadths and colors-so many colors as he had things to attend to-and thus he knew by the burning of these candles when he had been employed long enough about any one thing. But he found that when the wind blew upon his candles they burnt quicker; and so, to remedy the inconvenience, he invented lanterns to put them in.

CHAPTER XII.

More about Alfred.-His various Adventures.-He subdues the Danes.

1. ALFRED was twenty-two years old when he succeeded his brother Ethelred. During the first eight years of his reign, he suffered continual persecution from the Danes, who at one time obtained almost entire possession of the kingdom, and Alfred was obliged to conceal himself.

2. It was now very difficult for him to procure provisions, but he still retained his charitable disposition. One day, as he sat reading in

improvement? 10. How was his time divided? How did he measure time? 11. Desering his candles.

XII-1. What of the first years of the reign of Alfred? 2, 3. What story is related

ADVENTURES OF ALFRED.

31

his hut, whilst Elswitha, his wife, was employed in her domestic concerns, a poor pilgrim knocked at the door and begged they would give him something to eat.

3. The bumane king called to Elswitha, and asked her to give the poor man part of what was in the house. The queen, having but a single loaf of bread, brought it to Alfred to show him how slender their store was. But he was not to be deterred from his charitable purpose, and cheerfully gave to the poor man one-half of the loaf.

4. The better to conceal himself, Alfred at one time assumed the disguise of a servant, and hired himself to a cow-herd. One day, when he was in the cottage trimming his bow and arrows, the old man's wife, who did not know that he was the king, told him to watch some cakes that were baking by the fire.

5. Alfred, who had many other things to think of, forgot to turn them at the proper time, and they were all spoiled. The old woman was very angry with him, and told him he was a lazy fellow, who would eat the cakes, though he would not take the trouble to turn them.

6. At length an occurrence took place, which revived, in some degree, the spirit of the Saxons. A Saxon noble, being besieged in his castle by a renowned Danish general, made a sally upon the enemy, and put them to rout. The Danish general himself was killed, and the Raven, a consecrated standard in which the Danes placed great confidence, was taken.

Be

7. Alfred was glad to see the valor of his people returning. fore summoning them to assemble in arms, he resolved to learn by

of his charity? 4. 5. How did he disguise himself? What anecdote is related of him? 6. What revived the spirit of the English? 7, 8. What did Alfred do to obtain a know

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ALFRED SUBDUES THE DANES.

persona. observation the exact strength of the enemy, that he might judge of the probability of success.

8. Disguising himself as a harper, he entered the Danish camp. When Guthram, the general of the Danes, heard him play and sing, he was so much pleased with him, that he made him stay for sonie days in the camp, supposing him to be some poor minstrel.

9. Alfred made good use of his eyes all this time. He observed that the Danes, not supposing that the English could muster another army strong enough to attack them, were quite off their guard, and were dancing and singing, and thought of nothing but amusing themselves.

10. The king, having gained all the knowledge he wanted, slipped out of the camp, and throwing off all disguises, summoned his faithful subjects to meet him near Salwood Forest. The English, who had believed their beloved monarch to be dead, received the summons with great gladness, and joyfully resorted to the appointed place.

11. Alfred did not allow their ardor to cool, but led them against the enemy, who were completely defeated. Instead of killing, or making slaves of the prisoners, as was often done in that barbarous age, he permitted them, upon their becoming Christians, and promising to live honestly, to remain in England. They established themselves in East Anglia, and Northumberland; but they and their descendants proved very troublesome subjects.

ledge of the condition of the Danes? 9. What did he observe in the Danish camp? 10. What measure did he in consequence adopt? 11. What was his success? What did he do with his prisoners?

About the Architecture of the Anglo-Saxons.

1. AFTER the victory over Guthram, England enjoyed many years of peace and tranquillity. These were devoted by Alfred to repairing the mischief which had been done by the Danes. The churches and monasteries, as they contained the greatest riches, so they had been the first objects of attack and destruction.

2. To repair these might seem no very difficult matter, for most of them were built of wood, and covered with thatch. Stones were only used in building castles, and strong places of defence. When the Saxons came into Britain, they found a great many beautiful palaces, baths, churches, and other buildings of stone, which had been erected by the Romans.

3. Some of them were built with so much solidity that they would have remained to this day, if they had not been wilfully destroyed. This was done by the Saxons, who made it a rule to destroy every town or castle that they took, instead of preserving it for their

own use.

4. They had been accustomed to live in wretched hovels, made of earth, or wood, and covered with straw, or the branches of trees; nor did they much improve their knowledge of architecture for 200 years after their arrival in Britain.

5. Towards the close of the seventh century, there lived two clergymen, Wilfrid, a famous bishop of York, and Benedict, founder of the monastery of Weremouth, who were great travellers. During their frequent visits to Rome, they had acquired some taste for architecture, and resolved to attempt an improvement of the taste of their Saxon countrymen.

6. "In the year 674," says Bede, "Benedict crossed the sea and brought with him a number of masons, in order to build the church of his monastery of stone, after the Roman manner, of which he was a great admirer. When the work was far advanced, he sent agents into France, to procure glass-makers, to glaze the windows of his church and monastery.

7. "These not only performed the work required of them, but taught the English the art of making glass for windows, lamps, drinking-vessels, and other uses." The ancient Britons, indeed, were acquainted with this art, but the Saxons had never before acquired it.

8. This stone building with glass windows was an object of great curiosity and admiration, but did not find many imitators. When Alfred resolved to rebuild his ruined churches and monasteries, and to adorn his cities with stone buildings, he was obliged to send to foreign countries for workmen.

XIII.-1. What had been the objects of Danish destruction? 2. Wha of the use of stone for building? 3. What of the Roman buildings? 4. What of the early architec ture of the Saxons? 5. Who introduced the use of stone? 6. 7. What other art was