ENGLAND. (CIVIL HISTORY.) 



cessful Inroads of the Danes. The English depended 

 so much on the beneficial effects of Ethelwolf s devo- 

 tions, that they had neglected the ordinary means of 

 defence ; besides, the different kingdoms of the hep- 

 tarchy, though subjected to one sovereign, were far 

 from being pleased with their constrained union ; and 

 each of them connived at the mischief done to the 

 rest, hoping that thus they might soon recover their 

 independence. Ethered died in 871. 



Alfred, who succeeded to the throne, was brother 

 to Ethered, and fourth son of Ethelwolf. He had 

 accompanied his father in his pilgrimage to Rome, 

 but was willing to have other merits than such a pil- 

 grimage could bestow. He applied with much suc- 

 cess, to all the learning then known, while he exer- 

 cised himself in such warlike occupations as might 

 qualify him to take an active part against the enemies 

 of his country. The success of his application was 

 soon visible in the general prosperity of his reign ; 

 for, though at first frequently vanquished, the acti- 

 vity of his mind continually pointed out to him new 

 resources, and the solidity of his judgment enabled 

 him to make the best use of them. He drove the 

 Danes from the island, and took such measures as, 

 for some time, prevented their return. He rectified 

 the errors of domestic government, and, in all things, 

 consulted the true interests of his people. The cha- 

 racter of Alfred is drawn in colours so shining, that 

 the truth of the picture is liable to suspicion. He 

 appears, indeed, to have been a good and great 

 prince ; but while his faults, which, in common with 

 all men he must have possessed, have been entirely 

 concealed ; his virtues have, perhaps, been some- 

 what exaggerated. He died in 901, leaving his 

 kingdom to Edward the Elder, his second son. 



The commencement of Edward's reign was dis- 

 turbed by the pretensions of Ethelwald, son of Ethel- 

 bert, Alfred's elder brother. At length, however, 

 the usurper fell in an engagement. Edward di- 

 rt cted his arms against those Danes, who, during 

 former reigns, had been permitted to settle in the 

 island, but who were generally much inclined to pro- 

 mote disturbance. In his contests with them, as well 

 as with those who continued to infest his territories 

 from without, he was generally successful, without 

 being able to gain, such a decisive advantage as 

 might prevent the future incursions of that restless 

 people. Edward reigned twenty-four years. 



Athelstan, his natural son, who succeeded to the 

 throne in 925, continued hostilities with the Danes, 

 and, like his father, was generally successful when 

 he could bring them to a fair battle, but never was 

 able effectually to "urb their power. Constantine, 

 the Scottish king, refused to give up a Danish prince 

 who had taken shelter in his dominions ; for this 

 offence he was attacked by Athelstan. According 

 to the English historians, the Scottish monarch was, 

 on this occasion, forced to do homage for his king- 

 dom. The Scottish historians contradict this asser- 

 tion. Neither of the parties pretend to prove what 

 they affirm. The truth is, the practice of one mon- 

 arch or chieftain doing homage to another, for cer- 

 tain portions of their possessions, was in these days 

 not uncommon. Some of the kings of England did so to 

 those of France, for certain provinces in that country, 

 and the probability is, that some of the Scottish kings 

 may have similarly done homage for the debateabie 

 portions of their territory, without inferring universal 

 submission. 



Edmund, in 941, succeeded his brother Athelstan. 

 He had reigned only five years, when he was mur- 

 dered by a robber at a public dinner. 



Edmund was succeeded by his brother Edred, a 

 pious prince, who made Dunstan, better known by 

 the name of St Dunstan, treasurer ; and governed 



his kingdom entirely by the monk's counsels. The 

 saint did not prove an excellent minister. His 

 most important undertaking was the establishment 

 of the celil>acy of the clergy. 



Edwy, who succeeded Edred, had good reason to 

 regret the power wliich the clergy had obtained 

 under his predecessor. He had married Elgiva, his 

 second or third cousin, contrary to the will of some 

 of the dignitaries of the church, and contrary to the 

 precepts of the canon law. Such was the power of 

 the monks, and such their daring insolence, that 

 they caused the queen to be taken from the palace by 

 force. They disfigured her face with hot irons, and 

 sent her into Ireland. Seizing an opportunity of 

 escaping, she returned to England, and was hasten- 

 ing to her husband, when she was intercepted by the 

 ecclesiastics, and put to death. Edwy, to avence 

 his quarrels with the monks, required from Dunstan 

 an account of his conduct while treasurer. Dunstan, 

 who had expected that his sanctity would have 

 screened him from all such demands, refused to com- 

 ply. Edwy banished him, but the saint's influence 

 was not diminished. He induced one half of Edwy's 

 subjects to rebel, and to set up in opposition to him 

 his brother Edgar. Dunstan returned, and fomented 

 the rebellion, till the death of Edwy gave Edgar 

 possession of the whole kingdom. 



Edgar, who, through the influence of Dunstan, 

 had been raised to a throne, during the life of his 

 brother, was directed in his government chiefly by the 

 saint's advice, even when he became sole sovereign 

 of the kingdom. He was, consequently, much in 

 favour with the monks : and though, in every respect, 

 his life was uncommonly licentious, they thought 

 proper quietly to indulge him in all his excesses. 

 For forcing a nun from a convent, and enjoying her 

 by violence, his penance was to forbear wearing his 

 crown for seven years. Edgar, notwithstanding his 

 vices, governed with vigour and with prudence ; and 

 he took such measures for the defence of his kingdom, 

 that he enjoyed peace during the greater part of his 

 reign. In 957, he was succeeded by his son Edward. 



This prince, generally known by the name of Ed- 

 ward the Martyr, was, even more than his father, 

 under the guidance of the monks. During his 

 reign, the regular clergy obtained a complete victory 

 over the seculars, two bodies between which the 

 most violent contests had long subsisted. The vic- 

 tory was obtained chiefly by the abilities of Dunstan, 

 who, for that purpose, affected to work many mira- 

 cles. The succession of Edward had been opposed 

 by Ethelred, son of Edgar by Elfrida ; and, to make 

 way for her son, Edward was put to death by Elfrida's 

 order, while he visited her at her own house. 



Ethelred now succeeded without opposition ; but, 

 as he was still a minor, the government was feebly 

 conducted, and the Danes, who, by degrees, had 

 obtained many settlements in the best part of the 

 country, showed an evident intention of obtaining 

 the sovereignty of the whole. In this they were 

 assisted by the renewed invasions of their country- 

 men. The degenerate English courtiers endeav- 

 oured, by giving the Danes money, to prevent their 

 destructive ravages. The consequence was what 

 might have been expected, they returned only (he 

 more suddenly. Animosities between the English 

 and the Danes who had settled among them, became 

 daily more violent, and a general massacre of the 

 latter is said to have been projected, but it is not pro- 

 bable that ever it was executed. Many cruelties, how- 

 ever,were exercised upon them; but this circumstance, 

 instead of intimidating the Danes, and rendering their 

 incursions less frequent, only stimulated them to more 

 decisive attempts. Sweyn invaded the kingdom 

 with a powerful army. Ethelred was compelled to 

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