ENGLAND. 



591 



I!;-tory. 



Is compel- 

 led to sub- 

 mit to the 

 Danes, and 

 retires in 

 disguise. 



Enters the 

 Danish 



Jtrrovers hi 

 throne. 



A.D. 893. 



His death. 

 A.D. ol. 



the superior numbers of the enemy. He continued, 

 however, to harass them with such vigour, that they 

 at last sued for peace, and agreed to evacuate the king- 

 dom. But this, and several other similar treaties, were 

 no sooner sworn to than violated ; and the Danes being 

 continually reinforced by fresh bands from Denmark, 

 became so powerful, that, after various struggles, the 

 English submitted, in despair, and Alfred was obliged 

 to seek safety in disguise. He retired to Somersetshire, 

 and attached himself as a servant to a neat-herd, wait- 

 ing in anxious solicitude for a favourable opportunity 

 to resume his former dignity, and to bring deliverance 

 to his country. Leaving this retreat, he secured him- 

 self, with a few followers, in the isle of JEthelingay, at 

 the confluence of the rivers Thone arid Parrel, which 

 was rendered almost inaccessible by the forests and 

 morasses with which it was surrounded. From this 

 place he made frequent and unexpected attacks upon 

 the Danes, who often felt, but knew not who gave the 

 blow. Here he remained a twelvemonth, when infor- 

 mation was brought him, that the Earl of Devonshire, 

 who had been besieged by the Danes, in the castle of 

 Kinwith, had routed the enemy, killed Hubba their 

 chief, and taken the famous rcafen, or enchanted stand- 

 ard. 



Alfred, animated by the success of his countrymen, 

 was eager to encourage them by his presence ; but being 

 unable to procure any correct intelligence respecting the 

 situation of the enemy, he resolved first to penetrate the 

 Danish camp, which he did in the disguise of a harper. 

 He found them indulging in indolence and careless se- 

 curity, and, having ascertained their numbers, and the 

 strength of their position, he rejoined his followers. He 

 then summoned his friends to meet him at Selwood 

 fore-t, I'r. .in whence he led them again.t the Danes. 

 Filled with surprise at the unexpected appearance of an 

 English army, and with terror at the name of Alfred, 

 they matlu but a feeble resistance, and implored the 

 clemency of the conqueror. Alfred allowed them to 

 settle in Kast Anglia ar.<! Northumberland, but stipu- 

 lated, that they should imiiicli.itely tml'i ic ( .', 

 nity. The Danes submitted, and (iuthrum tin ir r : iff, 

 at luptism, was received by Alfred a. his .-idcpu-d son, 

 under the name of Athelstn The more turbulent, 

 with Hastings at their head, retired to Handera, in 

 quest of plunder, and ravaged for a time the northern 

 province* of France. 



I, shaken by so many violent convulsions, now 

 enjoyed a state of tranquillity ; and Alfred improved this 

 per od in regulating the internal administration of the 

 kingdom, nnd providing for its future security. He re- 

 built ;.nd >.tro.i7?y fortified the city of London, repaired 

 the ruined cities, and raised castles and fortresses in dif- 

 ferent jxirts of the country. He established a regular 

 militia, and built a fleet of 120 ships, which he station- 

 ed upon the coast, to prevent the approach of the pira- 

 tical Danes. For several years the kingdom was secu- 

 red from the ravages of these restless barbarians, until 

 Hastings returned with a formidable army, and landed 

 in Kent. Alfred listened to the assistance of his peo- 

 ple, and, after a long and arduous struggle, completely 

 cleared the country of its invader*, and ruled, in full 

 tranquillity, during the remainder of his life. I le died 

 in the 30th year of his reign, in the full strength of his 

 faculties, and vigour of hi* age, an ornament and a 

 UtMUtt to the country which he governed. He may 

 lx- considered as the greatest warrior, legislator, and 

 scholar of the age in which he lived ; and he deservedly 



attained the appellation of Alfred the Great, and the 

 title of the founder of the English monarchy. For a 

 more particular account of his character and exploits, 

 see the artic'e ALFRED. 



Edward, the oldest surviving son of Alfred, and de- 

 nominated the Elder, as being the first monarch of that 

 name that sat upon the English throne, inherited the 

 kingdom and military genius of his father. His reign, 

 from beginning to end, was a continued but a success- 

 ful struggle against the Northumbrians and Danes. He 

 had scarcely taken possession of his father's sceptre, 

 when his claim to the throne was disputed by his cou- 

 sin Ethelwald, who was the son of king Ethelbert, the 

 elder brother of Alfred. Ethelwald having brought 

 over the Northumbrians and Danes to his party, made 

 an irruption into Gloucester, Oxfcid, and Wilts, where 

 they exercised their usual ravages, and escaped with 

 their booty before the king could assemble an army to 

 oppose them. Edward, however, overran and ravaged 

 \nglia in revenge; but the Kentish men, when 

 their sovereign retired, remained behind, in expectation 

 of more plunder, *ml took up their quarters at Bury. 

 Here they were attacked by the rebels ; but made such 

 a vigorous resi.-t;:nce, that Ethelwald fell in the action. 

 Though freed from a dangerous rival, his exertions were 

 still demanded to compel the subjection of the North- 

 umbrians, who, assisted by the Danes of Mercia, com- 

 mitted their devastations in the very heart of the king- 

 dom. He routed them at Tetenhall, Temsford, and 

 Mulclon, and, at length, reduced them under his domi- 

 nion He improved the defence of his kingdom, by 

 fortifying the principal cities. He forced the East 

 Angles to swe;>r allegiance to him; expelled the two 

 rival princes of Noithumberland; subjected several 

 tribes of the Britons; and even obliged the Scots to 

 givt- him marks of submission. It is said that he de- 

 rived considerable assistance, in his enterprizes, from 

 the activity and prudence of his sister Ethelfleda, who 

 was widow of the Earl of Mercia, and who retained the 

 government of that province after her husband's death. 

 This princess w:is distinguished for her masculine en- 

 dow nients, and disdaining the occupations of domestic 

 life, employed her talents in directing the affairs of the 

 cabinet or the field. She died before her brother, who, 

 during the remainder of his life, held the government 

 of Mercia. Edward reigned 24 years, and Athclstan, 

 his natural son, succeeded to the throne. 



The unsettled state of the kingdom required the ma- 

 ture age and abilities of Atheist, n, in preference to the 

 youth and inexperience of the legitimate children of 

 Edward ; and he found little difficulty in maintaining 

 his pretensions. Some discontents attended his acces- 

 sion ; but his authority w.-is soon so firmly established, 

 as to allow him to direct his attention to more distant 

 objects. He marched into Northumberland, to provide 

 against the future insurrections of the Danes. He found 

 them impatient of the English yoke; but, in order the 

 better to secure their ullejj iance. he conferred upon Sith- 

 ric, a Danish nobleman, the title of king, and gave him 

 his Mhter F.ditha in marriage. On the death of Sithric, 

 however, which happened soon after, his two sons An- 

 laf and Godfrid, by a former wife, seized upon the 

 sovereignty ; but Athelstan soon compelled them to fly, 

 when the former took shelter in Ireland, and the other 

 found protection from Constantine king of Scotland. 

 C'onstantine thus incurred the displeasure of the Eng- 

 lish monarch, who demanded of him to surrender up 

 his guest. Constantine at first consented ; but, detest- 



History. 



Edward the 

 Elder. 



Defeat* the 

 Northum- 

 briar.s and 

 Danes. 



Is merer*. 

 ed by AtheJ- 

 stan. 



A. D. 92*. 



