angelic face, and it becomes such to be the heirs of heaven." He was also informed that they were from the province of Deira, and in allusion to this observed, "Truly are they de irâ, withdrawn from wrath to the mercy of Christ."

5. ETHELBERT's queen was a Christian princess, and, through her influence, Augustin and his monks were very successful in their missionary labours. Sebert, king of Essex, followed his uncle Ethelbert in embracing Christianty, and founded churches on sites afterwards chosen for Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral. Most of the cities founded by the Romans now fell into decay, being deserted by their old residents, and neglected by the roving Saxons, who were far behind the Romanized Britons in the arts of civilization. Architecture began to revive towards the close of the 7th century; and the timber-built, thatchcovered churches, which had been erected by the first Saxon converts, were now superseded by edifices of stone. In the year 700 the tax called Peter's Pence was established by Ina, king of Wessex.

Pilgrimages to Rome were at this time very frequent. On one of these Ina erected a school there for the education of Saxon scholars; and, after his return, he raised a tax of one penny on every house in his dominions for its support. Ethelwulf (840) extended the tax all over England; and, as it was paid on St. Peter's day, it was called Peter's Pence. This tax continued to be paid, with some few intermissions, until it was abolished by Henry VIII. A.d. 1534.

6. To prevent the inroads of the Welsh, a rampart was erected by Offa the Terrible (757-796), king of Mercia, from the mouth of the Dee to that of the Severn. But continual irruptions were made in spite of this, and the border counties of Wales were the scene of incessant warfare and bloodshed.

7. Eminent Men.-Cædmon, a monk of Whitby (680), the author of several great poems. Theodore, of Canterbury (670), the founder of an English school, in which Greek and Latin were taught. Bede (672735), a monk of Bishop Wearmouth, the author of a Church History of England, and the translator of St. John's Gospel into Saxon.

IV. BRITAIN UNDER THE SAXONS AND DANES. From Accession of Egbert to Death of Harold. A.D. 800 to A.D. 1066.

1. EGBERT. By marriage, conquest, and hereditary right, the kingdoms of the Heptarchy gradually became fused into one, and in 827 we find Egbert, king of Wessex, acknowledged as liege lord over the whole of England, with the exception of Cumbria.

Egbert is generally spoken of as the first king of England, but this is scarcely true. He always styled himself King of the West Saxons, and the kingdoms, which he subdued, were allowed to retain their own sovereigns and local governments. Athelstan has most right to the title of first king of England.

This reign is chiefly remarkable for the commencement of the ravages of the Norsemen. They first visited the coast of England in 787, but in small numbers. In the reign of Egbert they came over in large hosts, and continued to do so for about two centuries afterwards. That monarch successfully repulsed them, and gave them a severe defeat at Hengesdown, Cornwall, A.D. 835. He died the year after, and was succeeded by Ethelwulf.

The Norse were nearly allied to the Anglo-Saxons. They consisted of three great peoples-the Danes, who came from the peninsula, which now bears the name of Jutland, the Norse Proper, or Norwegians, and the Swedes. Of these, the Danes were the chief invaders of England.

2. ETHELWULF (836-858) was the eldest surviving son of Egbert. He had been educated for the church, and was ill-suited for the office of king. The Northmen now invaded the kingdom annually, and in 851 they wintered here. Canterbury and London were plundered by them; but a disastrous defeat, which they soon after suffered, again checked them for a short time. Ethelwulf married Osberga, a descendant of Cerdic, and had four sons by her, Ethelbald, Ethelbert. Ethelred, and Alfred. To the last of these he destined the succession to the throne; and, when only five years of age, the young prince was sent to Rome to be

anointed by the pope. Ethelwulf himself went on a pilgrimage to Rome shortly after, and stayed there ten months. On his way home he married Judith, daughter of the celebrated French king Charles the Bold. At this time she was only twelve years of age. This marriage greatly offended his subjects; and the preference shown to Alfred led the elder brothers to revolt against their father, who was compelled to purchase peace by resigning Wessex to his eldest son. He died A.D. 858.

Ethelwulf rebuilt the School of Ina, which had been burnt down, extended the tax of Peter's Pence all through his dominions, and confirmed the payment of tithes to the clergy.

3. ETHELBALD succeeded his brother. He was a brave prince, and in the late reign had greatly distinguished himself. He married Judith, his stepmother, but, advised by Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, afterwards separated from her.

Swithun had been tutor and chancellor to Ethelwulf. According to tradition he gave orders before his death that his body should not be buried in the cathedral among the rich, but in the churchyard among the poor. His wish was complied with, but at his canonization it was proposed to remove his body, and bury it under the high altar; and a day (July 15th) was fixed on for the purpose. When the day arrived a tremendous storm commenced, which did not cease for forty days. The design of removing the body was consequently abandoned, but the circumstance gave rise to a foolish belief, still held amongst the ignorant, that if it rains on St. Swithun's day there will be bad weather for the ensuing forty days.

4. ETHELBERT ascended the throne on the death of his brother, A.D. 860, and reigned six years, during which period he was perpetually engaged in struggling with the Danes.

In 844 Regnar Lodbrog, a famous Norse pirate, was wrecked off Northumbria, and captured by the people who lived on the coast. He was cruelly tortured by them, and then put to death. News of this event soon reached his countrymen, and hosts of them prepared to avenge his fate. They sailed under the command of Lodbrog's three sons, and landed in East Anglia. From thence they departed to Northumbria, where,

after committing many acts of cruelty, they founded a Danish kingdom, which lasted till the time of Athelstan. They next overran Mercia, and established themselves in most of the chief towns scattered over the valley of the Trent. These towns were long afterwards known as the Danish burghs. The Fen Country was next invaded, and, as this district was full of religious houses, the heathen Danes evinced their hatred for Christianity by burning them down and putting their inmates to the sword. In East Anglia another Danish kingdom was set up, and the Northmen now came into collision with Wessex.

5. ETHELRED ascended the throne A.D. 866, and, with his brother Alfred, at once prepared for a severe struggle. Numerous battles were fought with the Danes, and in 871 he received a mortal wound in an engagement at Merton in Surrey.

6. ALFRED THE GREAT succeeded to the crown, and bravely continued the contest. He was born A.D. 849 at Wantage in Berkshire, and received part of his education from his father's counsellor, Swithun.

He did not learn to read until 12 years of age, when his stepmother induced him to do so by offering a beautifully illuminated book to the first of her step-sons who should learn to read it. From this time he was much attached to learning, and even when king always kept a book at hand to be studied in leisure moments.

At first his government was arbitrary, and his conduct frequently blameworthy, but his troubles taught him wisdom and piety. From 871 to 877 a continuous struggle was kept up between the Danes and West Saxons: the latter, then growing weary of the contest, gradually deserted their sovereign, and submitted to their conquerors. Alfred was now obliged to become a fugitive, and for two years was an outlaw in his own kingdom. During this period he found a place of concealment in the Isle of Athelney.

Athelney was a small island situated between the rivers Tone and Parret on one side, and a morass on the other. Here (it is said) Alfred hired himself to a shepherd. One day whilst trimming his arrows by the fire-side, he was told by his master's wife to watch some cakes that were baking by the fire. He, however, forgot all about them, and allowed them

to burn. For this neglect the old housewife severely scolded him, and told him that he was ready enough to eat the cakes, but too lazy to turn them.

About two centuries ago a beautifully engraved gold ornament was found at Athelney, which had formerly belonged to Alfred, and which still bore the inscription, "Alfred caused me to be made." It is now to be seen at Oxford.

7. A few of his followers discovered his retreat, and with their assistance he fortified a camp on the island, and again commenced warfare with the Danes. The people of Devonshire still remained faithful to him, and succeeded in repulsing the Danes. This encou

raged him, and soon after he obtained such a decisive victory over the latter, that they were obliged to submit to any terms he chose to impose on them. A treaty was then concluded between Alfred and the Danish leader Guthrun; and, according to its stipulations, Alfred was to rule over Wessex, Sussex, Kent, and Mercia; and Guthrun with another Danish prince over the rest of England. It was also stipulated that the Danes should become Christians, and settle down peaceably in the district allotted to them.

Their territory was afterwards known as Danelagh. Alfred placed Mercia under the government of an Earl, who had married his daughter Ethelfrida, the celebrated "Lady of Mercia."

England now remained for some years undisturbed by the Danes; and Alfred occupied himself in repairing the mischiefs which had been wrought during the war, in strengthening his fortresses, in reforming the laws, and in encouraging learning. A militia was organized, and a navy equipped; so that he was well prepared for any future invasion. In 893 England was again devastated by the Danes under a renowned leader named Hastings. They continued their ravages for about five years, but met with so many disastrous losses that they were glad to leave the island, and seek plunder elsewhere.

On one occasion the wife and children of Hastings were made prisoners, but Alfred immediately released them, saying that he did not make war with women and children.