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level their fury against England. A small body of them at first landed on the coast, with a view to learn the state of the country; and, having committed some depredations, fled to their ships for safety. 2. About seven years after this first attempt, they made a descent upon the kingdom of Northumberland, where they pillaged a monastery, but their fleet being shattered by a storm, they were defeated by the inhabitants, and put to the sword. It was not till about five years after the accession of Egbert 3, that their invasions became truly formidable. From that time they continued with unceasing ferocity, until the whole kingdom was reduced to a state of the most distressing bondage ".

3. Though often repulsed, they always obtained their end of spoiling the country, and carrying the plunder away. It was their method to avoid coming, if possible, to a general engagement; but, scattering themselves over the face of the country, they carried away, indiscriminately, as well the inhabitants themselves, as all their moveable possessions.

4. At length, however, they resolved upon making a settlement in the country; and, landing on the Isle of Thanet, stationed themselves there. In this place they kept their ground, notwithstanding a bloody victory gained over them by Eth'elwolf. The reign of Eth'elbald, his successor, was of no long continuance; however, in a short space, he crowded together a number of vices sufficient to render his name odious to posterity.

5. This prince was succeeded by his brother Eth'elred, a brave commander, but whose valour was insufficient to repress the Danish incursions. In these exploits he was always assisted by his younger brother, Alfred, afterwards surnamed the Great, who sacrificed all private resentment to the public good, having been deprived by the king of a large patrimony. 6. It was during Eth'elred's reign that the Danes, penetrating into Mercia, took up their winter quarters at Nottingham; from whence the king attempting to dislodge them, received a wound in the battle, of which he died, leaving his brother Alfred the inheritance of a kingdom that was now reduced to the brink of ruin.

7. The Danes had already subdued Northumberland and East Anglia, and had penetrated into the very heart of Wessex. The Mercians were united against Alfred; the dependence upon the other provinces of the empire was but precarious; the lands lay uncultivated, through fear of continual incursions; and all the

3 Egbert was the first sole monarch in England.

Nothing could be more dreadful than the manner in which these fierce barbarians carried on their incursions; they spared neither age nor sex, and each commander urged the soldiers to inhumanity. One of their celebrated chieftains, named Oliver, gained, from his dislike to the favourite amusement of his soldiers, (that of tossing children on the points of their spears) the contemptuous surname of Burnakal, or " The Preserver of Children."

churches and monasteries were burnt to the ground. In this terrible situation of affairs, nothing appeared but objects of terror, and every hope was lost in despair. 8. The wisdom and virtues of one man alone were found sufficient to bring back happiness, security, and order; and all the calamities of the times found redress from Alfred.

9. This prince seemed born not only to defend his bleeding country, but even to adorn humanity. He had given very early instances of those great virtues which afterwards gave splendour to his reign; and was anointed by Pope Leo as future king, when he was sent by his father, for his education, to Rome. On his return from thence, he became every day more the object of his father's fond affections; and that perhaps was the reason why his education was at first neglected. He had attained the age of twenty before he was made acquainted with the lowest elements of literature; but hearing some Saxon poems read, which recounted the praise of heroes, his whole mind was roused, not only to obtain a similitude of glory, but also to be able to transmit that glory to posterity. 10. Encouraged by the queen his mother, and assisted by a penetrating genius, he soon learned to read these compositions, and proceed from thence to a knowledge of Latin authors, who directed his taste, and rectified his ambition. He was scarcely come to the throne when he was obliged to oppose the Danes, who had seized Wilton, and were exercising their usual ravages on the country around. 11. He marched against them with the few troops he could assemble on a sudden, and a desperate battle was fought, to the disadvantage of the English. But it was not in the power of misfortune to abate the king's diligence, though it repressed his power to do good. He was in a little time enabled to hazard another engagement; so that the enemy, dreading his courage and activity, proposed terms of peace, which he did not think proper to refuse. 12. They, by this treaty, agreed to relinquish the kingdom; but instead of complying with their engagements, they only removed from one place to another, burning and destroying wherever they

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In the reign of Egbert: Earls Osmond and Dudda. Bishops Wigfurth and

Wilton is the county town of Wiltshire, though Salisbury is now its principal place.

Herefurth. In the reigns of Ethelbald and Ethelbert: Swithun, bishop of Winchester. Osryck, Earl of Hampton. Lambert and Ethelhard, archbishops of Canterbury. In the reign of Ethelred: Osbricht and Ella, Northumbrian princes, who were killed while bravely opposing the Danes.

Questions for Examination.

1. What enemies disturbed the tranquillity which England enjoyed after the union of the seven Saxon kingdoms?

What mode of warfare was practised by the Danes?

2. What loss did the Danes suffer by sea?

3. What did the Danes carry away?

4. Where did they at length establish themselves?

5. Who succeeded Ethelbald?

By whom was Ethelred assisted?

6. What was the cause of Ethelred's death? and to whom did he leave the kingdom?

7. What was the cause of the lands remaining uncultivated?

9. What is related of Alfred's youth and early disposition?

11. What was the success of this prince against the Danes?

12. In what manner did the Danes observe their treaty with Alfred?

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SECTION II.

"Replete with SOUL, the monarch stood alone,
And built, on freedom's basis, England's throne;
A legislator, parent, warrior, sage,

"-DIBDIN.

He died, The light of a benighted age."

1. Con'tinent, s. a portion of land containing | 16
several kingdoms, not separated by the
sea. In this place it signifies France,
Italy, Spain, and Germany.

2. Defee'tion, s. abandoning the king, or re-
volting against him.

3. Con'fluence, s. the joining of rivers.

10. Su'pine, a. careless, inattentive.

For aging, part. seeking about for food, etc. 12. Font, s. a vessel, in which the water for baptism is contained.

Thames (Tems), s. the finest river in Great Britain; it rises in Gloucestershire, passes through London, and falls into the British Channel.

University, s. a public school for the superior parts of learning.

17. Refec'tion, s. refreshment after fatigue. Rhet'oric, s. the art of speaking with eloquence.

1. (A.D.877.) ALFRED, thus opposed to an enemy whom no stationary force could resist, and no treaty could bind, found himself unable to repel the efforts of those ravagers who from all quarters invaded him. New swarms of the enemy arrived every year upon the coast, and fresh invasions were still projected. Some of his subjects, therefore, left their country, and retired into Wales', or fled to the continent. Others submitted to the conqueror, and purchased their lives by the sacrifice of their freedom. 2. In this universal defection, Alfred vainly attempted to remind them of the duty they owed their country and their king; but, finding his remonstrances ineffectual, he was obliged to give way to the wretched necessity of the times. Accordingly, relinquishing the ensigns of his dignity, and dismissing his servants, he dressed himself in the habit of a peasant, and lived for some time in the house of a herdsman, who had been entrusted with the care of his cattle. 3. In this manner, though abandoned by the world, and fearing an enemy in every quarter, still he resolved to continue in his country, to catch the slightest occasion for bringing it relief. In his solitary retreat, which was in the county of Somerset, at the confluence of the rivers Parret and Thone, he amused himself with music, and supported his humble lot with the hopes of better fortune. 4. It is said, that one day, being commanded by the herdsman's wife, who was ignorant of his quality, to take care of some cakes which were baking by the fire, he happened to let them burn, on which she severely upbraided him for neglect. Previous to his retirement, Alfred had concerted measures for assembling a few trusty friends, whenever an opportunity should offer of annoying the enemy, who were in possession of the whole country. 5. This chosen band, still faithful to their monarch, took shelter in the forests and marshes of Somerset, and from thence made occasional irruptions upon straggling parties of the enemy. Their success in this rapacious and dreary method of living encouraged many more

1 Wales consists of twelve counties in the West of England, annexed to it by Edward the First.

3

to join their society, till at length sufficiently augmented, they repaired to their monarch, who had by that time been reduced by famine to the last extremity 2.

6. Meanwhile Ubba, the chief of the Danish commanders, carried terror over the whole land, and now ravaged the country of Wales without opposition. The only place where he found resistance was in his return from the castle of Kenwith, into which the earl of Devonshire had retired with a small body of troops. 7. This gallant soldier, finding himself unable to sustain the siege, and knowing the danger of surrendering to a perfidious enemy, was resolved, by one desperate effort, to sally out and force his way through the besiegers, sword in hand. The proposal was embraced by all his followers; while the Danes, secure in their numbers, and in their contempt of the enemy, were not only routed with great slaughter, but Ubba, their general, was slain.

8. This victory once more restored courage to the dispirited Saxons; and Alfred, taking advantage of their favourable disposition, prepared to animate them to a vigorous exertion of their superiority. He soon, therefore, apprized them of the place of his retreat, and instructed them to be ready with all their strength at a minute's warning. 9. But still none was found who would undertake to give intelligence of the forces and posture of the enemy. Not knowing, therefore, a person in whom he could confide, he undertook this dangerous task himself. In the simple dress of a

shepherd, with his harp in his hand, he entered the Danish camp, tried all his musical arts to please, and was so much admired, that he was brought even into the presence of Guthrum, the Danish prince, with whom he remained some days. 10.He there remarked the supine security of the Danes, their contempt of the English,

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2 Among numerous anecdotes related of Alfred by the old English historians, the following affords a striking illustration of his benevolence :-" It happened one day during the winter (of his seclusion), which proved uncommonly severe, that he had sent all his attendants out to endeavour to procure fish, or some kind of provisions; so difficult was the enterprise esteemed, that the king and queen only were excused from the employment. When they were gone, the king, as was his custom, whenever he had an opportunity, took

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