THE
LIFE
OF
ALFRED
,
OR
,
ALVRED
.
THE
light
of
the
Lawes
of
this
vertuous
&
magnanimous
Prince
,
drawne
from
the
first
and
best
patterne
of
all
Lawes
,
did
not
onely
minister
the
occasion
of
compiling
a
Treatise
to
be
hereto
annexed
,
but
a
just
encouragement
with
my
unworthy
and
unpolish't
Pensil
to
limbe
out
the
life
of
him
,
who
(
though
he
died
seven
hundred
thirty
three
yeares
since
)
doth
by
the
moderne
practise
and
imitation
of
his
Lawes
and
Government
still
live
:
To
speak
sufficiently
(
as
one
saith
)
of
so
noble
a
Prince
I
must
truly
say
,
that
tota
vita
luctamen
,
all
his
life
was
a
perpetuall
warfare
against
the
enemies
either
of
outward
,
or
inward
peace
,
men
,
or
vices
.
And
in
this
short
breviary
of
his
life
,
I
intend
not
any
long
discourse
of
the
various
and
troublesome
affaires
of
his
twenty
eight
yeares
raigne
:
but
what
concernes
his
valour
,
vertue
,
and
religion
,
his
pious
and
memorable
deeds
,
his
orderly
(
in
the
times
of
war
and
disorder
)
course
and
method
of
a
well
disposed
government
.
This
good
King
who
is
stiled
by
one
the
Mirror
of
Princes
,
by
another
,
Moses
his
imitator
,
was
the
Grand-childe
of
Egbert
,
who
first
gave
this
Kingdome
the
name
of
England
,
and
the
fourth
and
youngest
son
of
Aethelwolphe
by
the
Lady
Ogburgh
.
In
his
child-hood
he
was
a
carefull
observer
,
and
celebrator
of
peculiar
houres
in
prayers
,
and
service
of
God
,
and
so
dextrously
studious
,
that
he
had
many
Psalmes
and
Prayers
by
heart
,
which
afterwards
being
gathered
into
a
booke
,
he
did
continually
night
and
day
carry
about
with
him
in
his
bosome
,
as
his
inseparable
companion
,
and
as
a
supply
or
provision
for
the
worship
of
God
,
amidst
the
manifold
changes
of
those
times
:
he
was
a
sedulous
frequenter
,
and
visitor
of
holy
places
,
Etiam
ab
infantia
,
senior
virtutibus
quàm
annis
Aethelwolphe
Pope
Leo
the
fourth
,
who
(
as
if
divining
and
presaging
his
future
fortune
and
succession
to
his
fathers
Crown
)
did
in
the
yeare
of
Christ
eight
hundred
fifty
five
,
annoint
him
a
King
in
the
presence
of
his
Father
(
saith
Rossus
,
)
and
it
was
about
the
time
that
Lewis
the
second
succeeded
Lotharius
Aethelwolphe
not
many
yeares
after
his
return
from
Rome
died
,
and
his
three
elder
sonnes
Ethelbald
,
Ethelbert
,
and
Etheldred
successively
raigned
,
and
dying
left
the
Kingdome
distracted
by
continuall
conflicts
with
the
Danes
;
and
Alfred
having
faithfully
served
his
brothers
,
as
Viceroy
,
in
each
of
their
sev●ral
raignes
survived
,
and
in
the
twenty
second
yeare
of
his
age
,
and
the
nineteenth
yeare
of
the
Emperour
succeeded
in
Danish
King
having
▪
the
fresh
supply
and
aide
of
Guthrun
,
and
other
Danish
Leaders
,
(
Viceroyes
at
least
)
did
both
by
Sea
and
Land
continually
exercise
this
gracious
Prince
in
a
defensive
warfare
;
but
not
without
some
perillous
imbroylements
,
he
did
inforce
them
to
the
treatie
of
a
second
Exeter
;
Alfred
approached
them
in
such
wise
,
and
so
fiercely
encountred
them
,
as
that
they
were
enforced
to
deliver
pledges
for
performance
of
their
former
agreement
of
departure
:
for
no
oathes
would
serve
to
binde
the
consciences
of
those
lawlesse
Miscreants
.
Hence
they
departed
and
drew
into
Mercia
;
and
having
usurped
the
government
of
the
Kingdome
from
the
River
of
Thames
forward
;
no
termes
,
nor
tyes
of
truce
could
containe
them
from
continuall
incursions
,
and
invasions
upon
this
noble
Prince
:
under
the
conduct
of
Guthrun
(
called
by
some
Gurmund
.
)
The
remnant
of
those
disbanded
Atheists
mustered
up
themselves
,
and
about
the
first
yeare
of
his
raigne
invaded
the
Countrey
of
West-saxia
,
and
pitched
their
Tents
about
Chipnam
in
Wiltshire
,
where
they
infested
the
whole
Countrey
▪
and
so
overlaid
King
Alfred
Hampton
,
Wilts
and
Somerset
.
In
this
distresse
,
one
of
his
greatest
Courts
for
residence
,
was
an
Iland
now
knowne
by
the
name
of
Athelney
,
in
the
County
of
Aethelingarg
▪
(
that
is
,
)
Nobilium
insula
,
so
termed
,
by
reason
of
the
Kings
abode
,
and
the
concourse
of
his
Nobles
unto
him
:
this
place
is
as
famous
to
us
for
the
shelter
of
Alfred
from
the
Danish
pursuit
,
as
the
Minturnian
fens
were
to
the
Romanes
for
Marius
his
covert
from
the
persecution
of
Sylla
:
In
this
place
hee
lived
poorely
disguised
in
a
Cowheards
house
,
(
some
would
have
it
in
the
service
of
Denwulphus
a
Hogheard
;
)
Being
excellent
in
musicke
and
songes
,
he
oftentimes
in
the
habit
and
posture
of
a
common
minstrill
,
did
insinuate
himselfe
in
the
Danish
Campe
,
where
his
plausible
carriage
and
skill
,
gained
a
freedome
of
accesse
and
passage
in
the
company
of
their
Princes
at
Banquets
and
other
meetings
;
and
thereby
he
discovered
their
conditions
,
and
all
their
martiall
counsels
and
designes
.
By
this
prudent
and
politique
course
,
being
now
furnished
and
prepared
not
onely
to
prevent
,
but
to
surprize
his
enemies
;
(
Dolus
an
virtus
,
quis
in
hoste
requirat
?
)
He
returnes
to
hi●
comfortlesse
company
,
and
unmasking
himselfe
,
and
the
Danish
designes
,
doth
with
comfort
cheere
them
up
;
and
with
a
refreshed
power
and
strength
,
he
suddenly
issued
forth
,
and
gave
a
fierce
assault
upon
the
secure
and
carelesse
company
of
the
Danes
who
were
then
frollicking
in
their
Tents
,
and
Somno
vinoque
sepulti
;
he
put
such
a
great
number
of
them
to
the
sword
,
that
the
poore
remainder
of
them
were
utterly
disbanded
and
discomfited
,
and
inforc't
to
a
shameful
flight
for
the
safeguard
of
their
lives
.
This
victorious
surprizall
gave
a
sure
overture
and
hope
to
King
Alfred
of
regaining
his
imbroyled
Monarchie
;
and
so
weakened
and
dishe●●tned
the
Pagan
Rebels
,
that
●hey
could
never
recollect
sufficient
courage
,
or
companie
to
renew
any
fresh
encounter
against
the
SAXON
forces
,
who
had
gathered
greater
strength
unto
them
.
In
this
Isle
(
whether
before
or
after
his
victory
it
much
matters
not
)
King
Alfred
had
built
a
kind
of
Castle
or
Fortresse
to
receive
him
and
his
Nobles
upon
returne
from
their
sallies
and
encounters
during
his
warres
in
those
parts
.
About
a
yeare
after
that
memorable
overthrow
,
viz.
Anno
eight
hundred
seventy
nine
,
in
a
battell
at
Kinwich
in
Devon
,
Halden
,
Guthrun
their
new
King
upon
the
death
of
their
other
Leaders
,
with
thirty
Noble
men
and
almost
all
his
people
,
received
baptisme
in
the
new
built
Castle
of
Athelney
,
where
King
Alfred
was
God-father
to
him
,
&
gave
him
the
name
of
Athelstane
;
and
upon
a
confederation
betweene
them
,
Alfred
did
assigne
unto
him
the
Provinces
of
the
Eastang'es
and
Northumberland
,
In
the
Charter
,
or
muniment
of
this
truce
;
that
his
Kingdome
might
bee
free
from
the
Danish
incroachments
,
he
thus
bounded
his
Kingdome
.
Primo
ditionis
nostrae
fines
ad
Thamesin
fluvium
evehuntor
,
&c.
Let
the
bounds
of
our
Dominion
reach
unto
the
River
of
Thames
,
and
thence
forward
unto
the
River
of
Lee
,
and
Lermouth
(
this
passeth
through
Ware
,
Waltham
,
and
Stratford
;
)
then
let
them
reach
straight
to
Bedford
;
and
last
of
all
being
extended
through
the
River
Isis
,
let
them
end
in
Watling-street
.
Afterwards
,
certaine
Comitiall
Lawes
and
Ordinances
(
Alfred
no
doubt
was
the
prime
mover
of
This
adjured
league
quieted
the
civill
discords
of
the
Danes
and
Saxons
for
the
space
of
foure
years
,
untill
the
twelfth
yeare
of
Alfreds
raign
.
And
afterwards
the
continuall
inrode
of
the
stragling
unbaptized
Danes
,
issuing
out
of
France
and
other
places
(
who
like
Aegyptian
Locusts
vexed
that
Easterne
part
of
the
Land
)
gave
this
good
King
little
time
of
intermission
from
a
vigilant
provision
for
defensiue
warres
;
untill
not
without
a
holy
testamentary
preparation
,
hee
surrendred
both
life
and
Crown
,
in
the
eight
&
twenty
yeare
of
his
happy
raigne
.
And
yet
I
must
not
so
soon
bring
him
to
his
grave
;
I
said
at
first
he
lived
,
and
still
doth
live
,
the
Characters
of
that
life
which
are
his
vertues
,
and
never-dying
well-done
deeds
:
It
is
my
willingnesse
,
more
than
my
ablenesse
to
expresse
;
I
will
rather
hazard
my
inabilities
for
such
an
enterprize
to
the
censorious
opinion
of
this
age
,
than
leave
his
exemplary
goodnesse
unpublished
to
the
world
.
In
the
flower
of
his
youth
(
a
time
most
subject
to
entertaine
pleasure
and
delights
)
before
hee
married
his
wife
(
who
was
Aelswida
daughter
of
Etheldred
Earle
of
Mercia
;
)
he
was
so
chary
of
a
chast
and
continent
course
of
life
,
and
so
studious
He
was
the
first
lettered
Prince
in
this
Kingdome
,
since
it
had
its
nomination
of
England
,
and
had
the
happinesse
to
be
disciplined
under
the
care
of
Plegmundus
,
Eremite
▪
in
the
Island
of
Chester
,
called
to
be
a
Tutor
to
this
noble
Prince
;
who
at
that
time
found
the
number
of
Learned
men
to
bee
so
scarce
and
few
,
by
reason
of
the
continuall
devastations
of
warres
(
which
are
alwayes
incompatible
with
lawes
and
literature
)
as
that
with
incessant
sighs
and
groanes
he
would
not
Asser
(
as
himselfe
affirmeth
)
abode
with
the
King
in
his
Court
by
the
space
of
eight
moneths
before
his
returne
to
Wales
;
in
which
time
he
constantly
read
divers
bookes
unto
him
:
for
(
saith
he
)
it
was
his
custome
both
night
and
day
,
amidst
all
other
impediments
both
of
mind
and
bodie
to
be
ever
versed
in
reading
books
himselfe
,
or
hearing
them
read
by
others
;
and
tooke
a
great
felicity
to
translate
bookes
,
especially
meetre
,
into
the
vulgar
(
then
Saxon
)
tongue
,
and
commanded
others
to
do
the
like
,
wherby
he
acquired
such
perfection
therein
,
as
that
the
Art
of
Poësie
was
much
honoured
,
by
ascribing
to
him
the
title
of
Poet.
This
religious
Monarch
out
of
his
immoderate
thirst
of
the
Artes
and
liberall
Sciences
,
modestly
conceiving
the
want
thereof
in
himselfe
,
to
be
more
than
it
was
,
did
apply
the
greater
care
for
the
education
of
his
children
:
In
which
charge
,
Asser
being
recalled
from
Wales
had
the
principal
imployment
,
and
was
vouchsafed
the
name
of
Schoolemaster
to
his
children
,
being
two
sonnes
and
three
daughters
by
his
one
,
and
only
Queene
.
No
lesse
tender
was
he
in
the
trayning
up
and
tutoring
of
the
children
of
his
Nobility
under
the
same
masters
,
and
in
the
same
method
of
discipline
.
For
the
perpetuall
propagation
of
learning
,
he
revived
and
repaired
the
old
,
and
erected
,
and
endowed
new
Schooles
and
Colledges
,
as
so
many
seed
plots
,
and
nurseries
of
Religion
and
vertue
.
Some
write
that
he
did
first
institute
the
Vniversity
of
Oxford
:
the
institution
of
that
famous
Achademie
was
doubtlesse
long
before
:
but
if
vivification
and
redemption
from
oblivion
and
ruine
,
be
proportionable
to
a
worke
of
creation
;
it
is
not
a
graine
in
the
ballance
,
who
should
deserve
the
greatest
honour
of
that
renowned
Seminary
,
either
the
first
founder
,
or
Alfred
the
refounder
.
For
amidst
the
many
mournefull
demolitions
of
stately
monuments
by
the
Danish
and
Saxon
warres
,
Oxford
had
her
deplorable
part
and
sufferance
,
in
the
exile
of
her
Muses
in
her
houses
and
structures
;
All
,
by
warres
,
laid
wast
,
and
even
with
the
dust
,
little
or
nothing
left
to
demonstrate
what
her
former
beauty
had
beene
,
save
onely
the
Monasterie
of
S.
Frideswide
.
For
repairing
the
wasts
and
spoiles
of
that
sacred
place
,
Alfred
bestirres
himselfe
;
and
there
for
the
studies
of
Divinity
,
Philosophy
and
other
Artes
,
did
raise
up
the
fabrick
of
three
magnificent
Colledges
then
called
by
the
name
of
his
schooles
,
one
for
divinity
,
another
for
Philosophy
,
and
a
third
for
Grammer
;
one
of
which
three
is
now
knowne
by
the
name
of
Vniversity
Colledge
.
In
this
revived
Seminary
he
designed
and
appointed
severall
Readers
and
Professors
,
to
whom
hee
allotted
large
and
liberall
stipends
.
The
first
divinity
Mr.
Lytes
Geneal
.
of
Charles
the
bald
Emperour
and
King
of
France
,
whom
he
married
upon
his
second
returne
from
Rome
)
a
man
of
admired
learning
;
to
whose
forwardnes
and
direction
in
the
reëdification
of
this
ancient
Nursery
,
that
place
did
owe
a
special
part
of
her
being
.
Asser
as
propense
and
This
worke
of
restitution
An.
Dom.
874.
And
doubtlesse
it
could
not
be
presently
finished
,
and
furnished
;
the
government
thereof
began
to
flourish
betweene
the
yeares
882.
&
883
▪
about
which
time
Grimbald
was
made
in
the
presence
of
that
victorious
Prince
,
the
first
Chancellor
of
that
Vniversity
;
to
make
this
worke
more
absolute
,
he
obtained
the
grant
of
many
▪
priviledges
unto
the
schollers
of
this
place
from
Martin
the
As
hee
was
every
way
royall
and
magnificent
in
this
ever
blessed
act
of
restauration
;
so
he
was
studious
in
the
preservation
therof
in
peace
and
concord
:
a
great
dissension
and
perillous
,
about
the
yeare
886
,
arose
amongst
the
schollers
:
the
parties
in
this
faction
were
Grimbald
,
and
such
learned
men
as
he
brought
thither
with
him
,
and
the
old
schollers
,
who
had
their
abode
there
at
the
time
of
Grimbalds
comming
&
refused
to
subscribe
to
,
or
obey
the
lawes
,
rules
,
and
forme
of
discipline
instituted
and
prescribed
by
him
:
for
the
space
of
three
yeares
the
controversie
was
not
visibly
great
,
but
a
lurking
and
intestine
hatred
,
which
now
taking
vent
,
made
its
way
with
the
greater
fury
and
fiercenesse
,
Iamque
faces
&
Saxa
volant
,
furor
arma
ministrat
;
it
grew
so
great
and
dangerous
,
that
none
could
appease
it
,
but
a
Regall
Arbiter
,
who
being
certified
of
it
,
upon
the
complaint
of
Grambald
,
hastens
thither
to
accord
the
controversie
,
and
(
saith
the
Author
)
summos
Oxonii
flores
Alured
fert
iste
priores
.
That
schooles
of
learning
might
not
be
unfurnished
of
studious
Colleagues
,
hee
made
a
law
or
decree
,
wherby
he
straightly
charged
all
the
free
men
of
the
Kingdome
,
who
were
owners
of
two
hides
of
Land
at
the
least
,
(
being
such
a
portion
of
land
as
For
the
better
promotion
These
and
other
his
edifices
by
his
owne
former
kinde
of
structure
were
most
spacious
,
sumptuous
,
and
glorious
,
beyond
all
the
platformes
and
presidents
of
his
ancestors
.
And
because
,
To
every
thing
(
saith
Salomon
)
there
is
a
season
,
and
a
time
to
every
purpose
vnder
the
heaven
;
and
,
jactura
temporis
preciosissima
,
it
was
the
glory
of
his
first
invention
,
to
proportion
out
a
certitude
of
time
,
in
all
his
best
and
choisest
actions
.
The
use
of
Clocks
and
Watches
being
not
then
invented
;
hee
cast
the
naturall
day
,
consisting
of
twenty
foure
houres
,
into
three
parts
;
and
having
solemnely
devoted
the
best
and
choisest
part
of
his
time
to
the
service
of
God
;
he
apportioned
the
spaces
of
the
day
,
by
a
great
wax
light
or
Tapor
which
was
placed
in
his
Chappell
or
Oratory
,
divided
into
three
equall
distances
,
and
measured
his
time
by
the
burning
thereof
,
whereof
he
had
notice
by
his
wax-keeper
or
officer
appointed
for
that
purpose
;
according
to
this
threefold
proportion
of
time
,
he
allotted
eight
hours
for
prayer
,
studie
,
and
writing
,
eight
in
the
service
of
his
body
,
for
his
sleepe
and
sustenance
,
and
eight
in
the
affaires
of
his
estate
,
which
as
farre
as
humane
judgement
could
discerne
,
his
infirme
body
,
and
casualties
of
that
mutable
time
permit
,
he
most
accuratly
studied
to
performe
;
and
for
the
better
admeasurement
of
time
for
his
subjects
and
common
people
,
six
wax
candles
were
appointed
for
every
twenty
foure
houres
,
and
the
use
of
Lanthornes
first
invented
by
him
,
to
preserve
their
due
time
of
burning
.
The
prime
motive
of
that
invention
was
upon
this
ground
:
the
Churches
then
were
of
so
poore
and
per
frequentes
parietum
rimulas
;
insomuch
,
that
the
ingenious
Prince
,
was
put
to
the
practise
of
his
dexterity
:
and
upon
that
occasion
,
by
an
apt
composture
of
thin
hornes
in
wood
,
he
taught
us
the
mystery
of
making
a
Lanthorne
:
hee
And
in
the
league
betweene
de
immunitate
Templi
,
ca.
2.
and
by
another
de
sacrarum
aedium
immunitate
,
By
the
latter
;
if
a
man
pursued
by
his
enemie
did
flie
to
the
Temple
,
no
man
might
take
him
away
,
(
à
nemine
abstrahitor
)
by
the
space
of
seven
dayes
,
if
hee
were
able
to
live
for
hunger
,
&
viam
vinon
apperuerit
;
other
,
and
great
immunities
the
King
there
granteth
to
the
Church
;
but
with
this
caution
unicuique
templo
religiose
ab
Episcopo
consecrato
hanc
pacem
concedimus
,
&c.
Every
Church
must
be
first
haliowed
by
the
Bishop
before
it
could
be
capable
of
such
a
freedome
;
whence
a
grave
and
learned
Civilian
As
this
Princely
piety
did
inlarge
it selfe
,
in
maintenance
of
the
rites
and
ceremonies
of
the
Church
,
the
necessary
and
divine
dues
and
duties
to
the
Altar
,
(
Tithes
)
being
the
just
alimony
of
the
painefull
ministery
;
as
also
in
the
immunitis
of
Gods
houses
,
so
was
it
munificently
extended
,
to
the
needfull
supportations
of
those
consecrated
bodies
,
the
materiall
temples
themselves
.
It
was
not
long
ere
he
cured
,
and
closed
up
those
parietum
rimulas
,
the
crannies
and
chinks
of
those
crackt
and
crazed
houses
,
with
the
expence
of
his
owne
estate
.
About
Anno
892.
Not
without
long
seizing
,
and
many
doubtfull
skirmishes
,
he
recovered
the
Citie
of
London
out
of
the
hands
of
the
Danes
;
restored
it
to
its
former
liberties
,
repaired
the
ruines
,
and
committed
the
custody
thereof
to
Ethelred
Duke
of
Mercia
,
who
maried
the
Lady
Elfed
his
eldest
daughter
.
And
doubtlesse
the
Churches
in
London
,
and
elsewhere
,
had
a
principall
interest
in
his
pious
and
prudent
provision
for
restauration
,
and
reparation
.
And
if
the
first
fabrick
of
the
Temple
of
St.
Paul
(
which
was
about
210.
yeares
after
his
raigne
,
The
revenewes
of
his
Kingdome
,
he
was
as
studious
to
husband
,
as
his
time
;
which
,
that
he
might
the
better
ascertaine
,
and
know
his
own
,
&
(
which
is
the
best
part
of
thrift
)
confine
his
expences
,
unto
the
provent
of
his
estate
:
he
enjoyned
a
generall
The
one
halfe
of
his
wealth
,
he
faithfully
&
devoutly
resolved
to
bestow
in
the
service
of
him
whom
he
ever
served
:
but
to
avoid
the
guilt
of
violating
that
caution
of
sacred
Scripture
,
Si
recte
offeras
,
recte
autem
1
That
part
for
Gods
service
;
he
commands
a
quadruple
subdivision
,
to
bee
exactly
and
carefully
made
?
The
first
part
whereof
was
to
bee
distributed
to
the
poore
of
each
nation
,
wherin
his
hand
was
ever
open
to
cast
his
bread
upon
the
waters
:
his
bounty
and
almes-deeds
were
not
circumscribed
at
home
,
but
liberally
dispersed
abroad
,
and
not
onely
to
those
of
his
owne
and
neighbouring
nations
;
but
to
others
of
forreigne
and
remote
parts
,
as
if
hee
should
have
therein
said
,
Tros
Tiriusque
mihi
nullo
discrimine
habetur
.
In
the
yeare
888
:
hee
2
The
second
part
was
allotted
to
his
Monasteries
,
for
the
support
and
maintenance
of
them
.
3
The
third
part
was
sequestred
,
and
appropriated
for
the
benefit
,
and
indowment
of
his
great
Schoole
,
or
Academie
at
Oxford
which
hee
had
stored
with
many
Students
.
4
The
fourth
he
laid
aside
as
a
portion
for
all
the
bordering
Monasteries
,
in
Brittaine
,
Fraunce
,
Ireland
,
and
other
places
.
The
other
moytie
of
his
estate
,
he
did
wholly
addict
to
the
service
of
the
secular
affaires
which
he
carefully
commanded
to
bee
tripartited
.
1
Whereof
the
first
part
was
yearely
conferred
on
those
of
his
military
imployment
,
whom
he
highly
esteemed
;
as
also
upon
his
meniall
officers
,
and
Ministers
,
who
garded
his
person
,
and
guided
his
Court
;
and
being
lifted
into
a
trinall
Company
,
each
of
them
wayted
a
moneth
by
turnes
,
and
then
had
two
moneths
recession
for
their
ease
and
dis●●●ch
of
their
owne
affair●●
▪
2
T●●
second
part
on
the
Masters
and
Workemen
of
his
Fabrickes
,
whom
he
had
in
great
numbers
procured
,
selected
,
and
sent
for
out
of
many
nations
.
The
third
portion
he
reserved
,
for
reliefe
of
strangers
,
whom
,
the
deserved
fame
of
his
vertue
,
goodnesse
,
and
bountie
,
drew
out
of
all
parts
to
admire
him
,
and
(
whether
they
sought
and
asked
it
,
or
not
)
to
bee
partakers
of
his
liberall
largesse
,
which
to
every
one
according
to
their
dignitie
and
desert
,
hee
did
aboundantly
dispose
.
In
all
this
(
if
vertue
and
piety
were
hereditary
)
hee
might
justly
challenge
a
descent
therof
from
Aethelwolphe
his
father
a
Prince
more
affected
to
devotion
,
than
Action
,
who
being
a
Subdeacon
,
was
by
the
dispensation
of
Pope
Leo
,
afterwards
made
King
,
and
gave
the
tenth
of
his
kingdomes
tribute
(
with
exemption
of
regall
service
)
to
maintaine
the
ministery
of
God
,
and
his
Church
.
And
in
his
last
journey
to
Rome
,
did
confirme
Adde
unto
Alfreds
then
unmatchable
pietie
,
his
royall
gratitude
,
which
(
ingratitude
being
the
worst
of
vices
,
)
is
the
best
of
vertues
;
Asser
makes
ample
relation
of
his
munificence
,
to
him
after
his
eight
moneths
abode
in
his
Court
,
yet
with
his
excuse
,
Non
ideo
se
dedisse
parva
illa
,
quòd
sequenti
tempore
nollet
dare
majora
,
which
promise
hee
made
good
shortly
after
,
in
bestowing
the
Bishopricke
of
Sherborne
upon
him
in
the
yeare
873.
His
old
Host
of
Athelnry
He
was
not
so
carefull
in
apportioning
his
estate
and
time
,
as
he
was
in
disposing
the
local
government
of
his
now
setled
Monarchie
(
the
league
betweene
him
and
Guthrun
being
so
firmely
established
,
)
and
before
he
could
not
doe
it
:
he
did
all
things
stato
&
statuto
tempore
,
a
president
for
all
Princes
,
yea
,
and
for
all
persons
,
in
imitation
of
Iethro
his
councell
to
Moses
.
He
was
the
first
,
that
reduced
this
confused
Kingdome
into
an
orderly
rule
of
subordinate
And
observing
the
old
rule
of
Divide
&
impera
,
did
divide
this
land
into
Shires
,
hundreds
,
and
tythings
;
respectively
appointing
the
prepositure
of
them
to
severall
Officers
and
Ministers
,
now
called
Sherifs
,
Constables
,
and
Tythingmen
.
But
no
government
could
bee
without
Lawes
;
and
herein
Moses
is
still
his
ensample
,
who
having
first
selected
his
wisemen
,
and
placed
such
to
be
rulers
over
thousands
,
hundreds
,
fifties
,
and
tens
:
then
and
not
before
,
Iura
dabat
populo
,
hee
gave
laws
to
the
people
from
Alfred
,
with
a
religious
majesty
begins
his
Lawes
,
Loquutus
est
Dominus
ad
Mosem
hos
sermones
,
&c.
&
cites
all
the
decalogue
,
and
then
proceeds
with
the
Lawes
comprised
in
the
21
,
22
and
part
of
the
23
Chapters
of
Exodus
:
all
which
,
and
the
confirmation
of
these
,
with
the
Lawes
of
King
Inus
and
other
his
Ancestors
,
I
have
He
caused
a
booke
containing
Decreta
judiciorum
,
collected
by
King
Ethelbert
,
to
bee
written
in
the
Saxon
characters
,
which
the
injury
of
times
hath
utterly
suppressed
.
Lawes
without
execution
are
but
Vmbratiles
,
cloudes
without
raigne
,
shadowes
without
substance
;
hee
was
therefore
prepared
jus
sacere
,
as
well
as
jus
dicere
.
He
was
not
sparing
to
administer
justice
,
and
to
dispose
of
affaires
of
most
weight
in
his
owne
person
;
Taediosus
,
or
,
As
curious
he
was
in
reviewing
almost
all
the
judgements
,
decrees
&
sentences
,
rendred
in
his
absence
throughout
his
whole
kingdome
,
where
he
found
any
ignorant
,
malevolent
,
or
corrupt
deviation
from
the
line
of
Iustice
:
he
was
discreetly
quick
in
his
reprehensions
,
with
a
nimium
admiror
vestram
hanc
insolentiam
,
&c.
Hee
was
a
most
ready
composer
of
differences
which
commonly
arose
betweene
his
subjects
,
both
noble
and
plebeian
at
their
comitiall
centuriate
,
and
other
assemblies
in
his
severall
Counties
.
And
because
there
is
so
neere
a
conjunction
and
coherence
betweene
the
body
and
the
mind
,
Langueat
illius
,
fessus
ut
iste
malis
:
and
the
best
cure
and
comfort
of
either
,
is
the
alternate
intermixture
of
some
delights
either
in
objects
,
or
actions
.
Amidst
the
tempests
of
And
thus
hee
measured
the
paces
of
his
earthly
pilgrimage
,
w
●h
in
the
twenty
eight
yeare
of
his
raigne
he
cheerefully
resigned
,
leaving
behind
him
Elswich
his
sorrowfull
Queene
,
who
survived
him
foure
yeares
;
Edward
senior
heire
apparant
to
his
Fathers
valour
and
vertues
,
aswell
as
to
his
Crowne
:
Ethelward
,
his
second
sonne
(
but
youngest
childe
)
to
whom
by
his
Will
he
devised
great
revenewes
in
the
County
of
South-hampton
,
Somerset
,
and
Devon
;
a
good
part
whereof
the
Cathedrall
Church
of
Wels
,
built
,
or
begun
by
his
Ancestor
K.
Ine
doth
now
enjoy
.
He
also
left
behind
him
three
daughters
Elfleda
,
Ethelgeda
▪
and
Elfrtde
:
hee
was
buried
in
Saint
Peters
Church
at
Winchester
,
but
removed
thence
,
and
buried
by
the
new
Kings
direction
in
the
Monastery
there
being
one
of
his
owne
edefices
.
His
armes
are
to
be
seene
Latebras
quaerunt
ubi
delitescant
;
they
flye
much
,
because
they
want
the
use
of
feet
,
and
thence
are
called
Apodes
.
It
was
the
case
of
Alfred
,
who
in
the
winter
of
the
Danish
pursuit
and
persecution
,
was
forced
latebras
quaerere
,
ubi
delitesceret
,
and
was
kept
in
such
continuall
agitation
,
the
former
part
of
his
raigne
,
that
he
could
not
make
use
for
any
setled
station
or
abode
.
His
Epitaphe
is
the
Epitome
of
his
life
,
which
the
happinesse
of
thankefull
times
have
dedicated
to
him
as
a
monument
of
his
eternall
fame
,
and
here
followeth
out
of
the
workes
of
a
modern
Chronographer
.
Nobilitas
inimica
tibi
probitatis
honorem
(
Armi
potens
Alfred
)
dedit
,
probitasque
laborem
,
Perpetuumque
labor
nomen
:
immixta
dolori
Gaudia
semper
erant
,
spes
semper
mixta
timori
▪
Si
modò
,
victor
eras
,
ad
crastina
bella
pavebas
,
Si
modò
victus
eras
,
in
crastina
bella
parabas
,
Cui
vestes
sudore
jugi
,
cui
sicca
cruore
,
Tincta
jugi
,
quantum
sit
onus
regnare
,
probarunt
;
Non
fuit
immensi
quisquam
per
climata
mundi
,
Cui
tot
in
adversis
vel
respirare
liceret
,
Nec
tamen
aut
ferro
contritus
ponere
ferrum
,
Aut
gladio
potuit
vitae
finisse
labores
.
Iam
post
transactos
regni
vitaeque
labores
,
Christus
ei
fit
vera
quies
,
sceptrumque
perenne
.
Englished
by
Mr.
Flemming
.
Nobility
by
birth
to
thee
(
O
Alfred
)
strong
in
armes
.
Of
goodnesse
hath
thy
honor
given
,
That
famous
Academie