V. BERNICIA, embracing Northumberland and the southeastern counties of Scotland, founded by Ida in 547.

VI. DEIRA, embracing the eastern side of England from the Humber to the Tees, founded by Ella in 560. The two lastmentioned states were united in 617, and called NORTHUMBRIA. VII. EAST ANGLIA, embracing Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, and part of Bedfordshire, founded about 571 by Uffa.

VIII. MERCIA, embracing the central district of England from the Thames to the Humber, and from the Severn to the Fens, founded by Crida in 586.

The invaders consisted mainly of three Teutonic tribes-the JUTES, the ANGLES, and the SAXONS proper. The first of these, according to the current opinion, came from Jutland; the second from the present duchy of Sleswick; and the last from a small district between the Elbe and the Rhine. It was from the Angles that our country ultimately received the name of Angle-land, or England.

Several of the native British chiefs distinguished themselves in their opposition to the Saxon invaders. By far the most noted of these was Prince Arthur, whose exploits have been commemorated in our earlier romances. In the heroic legends relative to this prince there is much that is evidently fabulous, but we have no reason to doubt his existence. Natanleod and Urien, also, bravely but unavailingly defended their country against the Saxon foe.

Some writers suppose that before the consolidation of the Octarchy under Egbert, there was generally one or other of the Saxon kings who had a superiority over the rest, and was, on that account called Bretwalda (ruler or emperor of Britain). The venerable Bede mentions seven princes with this titleElla, of Sussex; Ceawlin, of Wessex; Ethelbert, of Kent; Redwald, of East Anglia; and Edwin, Oswald, and Oswio, of Northumbria.

It was under the third of these that Christianity was first preached to the Saxons in England. All the invading tribes

were heathens; their religion consisting partly in hero-worship, and partly in veneration for celestial objects. The names of their divinities are preserved in the terms employed to designate the days of the week-the Sun, Moon, Tiue, Woden or Odin, Thor, Freya, and Sæter. The originator of the mission to Britain was Pope Gregory, who, some time before he ascended the papal throne, had chanced to see a number of youthful slaves, belonging by birth to the nations of the Angles, in whom he became so interested, that, when pope, he despatched Augustine, with forty monks, to attempt their conversion (597). Ethelbert was induced by them to renounce his gods, and embraced Christianity; and to his liberality and piety the erection of the first church at Canterbury was owing. Nearly a hundred years, however, elapsed before Christianity became the religion of all the Saxon kingdoms.

Ethelbert issued the earliest code of Saxon laws which are extant. We also possess those of Ina, King of Wesssx, who flourished a century later. Two other sovereigns, Penda and Offa, of Mercia, were especially noted for their martial prowess.

About the beginning of the ninth century the kingdom of Wessex became the most powerful of the Saxon states; and EGBERT, who succeeded to the rulership in 800, by a course of conquest subdued the other states, though he allowed East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria to be governed by tributary kings. Egbert died in 836.

ETHELWULF, his son, reigned from 836 to 856. His reign is principally remarkable for the ravages of the Danes, or Northmen, who first troubled our coasts in 787. These pirates were led by vikingr, or sea-kings, who were mostly the younger sons of chieftains in Scandinavia and the adjacent countries, where, according to the rule of succession, the eldest son inherited his father's patrimony. In consequence the other sons maintained themselves by plundering the coasts of adjacent territories.

ETHELBALD, Son of Ethelwulf, reigned from 856 to 860. He caused great scandal to his subjects by espousing Judith, his

youthful stepmother; but he at last yielded to the advice of Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, and renounced the iniquitous alliance.

ETHELBERT, brother of Ethelbald, reigned from 860 to 866. While he occupied the throne, the Danes stormed Winchester, but were afterwards defeated (860). In the north of England, a body of the invaders, under the famous Ragnar Lodbrog, was vanquished, and Ragnar himself was cast into a pit, where he was stung to death by venomous serpents (865).

ETHELRED, brother of his predecessor, reigned from 866 to 871. During the whole of his reign the country was harassed by the Northmen, who put to death Ella, King of Northumbria, and Edmund, King of East Anglia. They ravaged their territories, as well as Mercia, and in 871 entered Wessex. Four battles were fought before Ethelred's death, in two of which the invaders were victorious.

ALFRED, the brother of Ethelred, reigned from 871 to 901. He was born at Wantage, in Berkshire, and at an early age distinguished himself by his love of learning. In the first year of his reign he fought several battles with the Danes, who shortly after evacuated Wessex, and fixed their quarters in Mercia. In 876 he made peace with them, but they quickly broke the treaty, and so harassed him, that he was obliged to abandon the government, and secretly retired to a small island called Athelney, in Somersetshire, accompanied by a few devoted followers (878). He took up his abode in the cottage of a cowherd, whose wife was ignorant of his rank. On one occasion she sharply rebuked him, because, while trimming his bow and arrows, he had neglected to look after the cakes which were burning on the hearth. "You will be glad enough to eat the bread when done," said she," though you will not turn it when you see it burning." After a time, he and his subjects recovered their spirits, and attacked and defeated the Danes at ETHANDUNE; and Gothrun, the leader, with thirty of his most distinguished followers, agreed to be baptized. Gothrun and his soldiery now

returned to East Anglia, and for several years Alfred's dominions enjoyed comparative peace.

During this interval, the king took various steps to improve the condition of the country. He augmented his navy, fortified several important posts, and organized a force which should be instantly ready to oppose the descent of the Northmen. He framed a code of salutary laws, adopted effectual means for securing the proper administration of justice, promoted learning and piety among his subjects, and himself translated "Bede's Ecclesiastical History," ""The History of Orosius," and other books, into the Saxon tongue. He found opportunities for these varied occupations by carefully adjusting his time, which he divided into three equal parts: one-third was given to sleep, exercise, and refreshment; another to the duties of his station; and the remainder to works of devotion and charity. Of him more than of most men it might be said, that he was "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

In those days no method of accurately ascertaining the time was known, and Alfred accordingly invented a plan for the purpose. Candles were made of such a size that three inches were burned in every hour; and, to prevent the flame from being affected by the draught of air, they were enclosed in a lantern of transparent horn.

In 893 the renowned vikingr Hastings invaded England, and for about four years the contest continued between him and Alfred; but at last the Northmen broke up their army, and went over the sea to the Seine. Alfred died six days before All-Hallows-mass, October 28th, 901, and was buried at Winchester.

EDWARD THE ELDER, son of Alfred, reigned from 901 to 924. His cousin Ethelwald opposed his accession, but he was recognized by the council of the ñation; and Ethelwald, who allied himself with the Danes, was slain in 905. Edward was ably assisted by his sister Ethelfleda, who governed Mercia till her death (920). His reign was very prosperous; and such were

his power and renown, that the Princes of Wales, Scotland, and Northumbria did homage to him as "their father and lord."

ATHELSTAN, the eldest, and probably illegitimate, son of Edward, reigned from 924 to 941. Two years after his accession he seized Northumbria, on the death of Sihtric, who had married his sister. Anlaf, one of the sons of the deceased monarch, later in the reign, organized a great confederacy against him, in which he was aided by Constantine, King of Scotland; but Athelstan defeated his enemies in the battle of BRUNANBURH, in which five sea-kings, seven jarls (earls), and a countless number of Danish soldiers were slain (937). Athelstan claimed the title of King of all Britain, and so great was his influence, that several continental sovereigns sought alliances by marriage with his sisters. One of the latter espoused Charles the Simple, of France, and bore a son, Louis, who, from his long residence in England at his uncle's court, was afterwards called Louis D'Outremer (from beyond the sea).

EDMUND, the brother of Athelstan, reigned from 941 to 946. His brief reign was mainly devoted to the subjugation of the Northumbrians, who, on the death of Athelstan, threw off the yoke. He was slain in his own Hall at Pucklechurch, in Gloucestershire, by an outlaw named Leof.

EDRED, brother of his predecessor, reigned from 946 to 955. He completely subdued the Northumbrians, who had chosen Eric, a Dane, for their sovereign; and from that time their country ceased to be a kingdom, and was governed by an earl (954). Dunstan, Abbot of Glastonbury, exercised great influence over Edred, and to his charge the affairs of the realm were largely entrusted.

EDWY (the son of Edmund), who was passed over on his father's death on account of his childhood, succeeded his uncle, and reigned from 955 to 959. At his coronation feast he quarrelled with Dunstan, who had insulted both him and his queen; and the abbot was banished from the kingdom. A