The Northmen, called Danes by the English, had made many attacks on the coasts of England. Now they came in armies to take the land for homes. As they were heathen they took the riches from the churches and slew the priests. They captured place after place, driving the English before them, until the greater part of England fell into their hands. Young Alfred, king of Wessex, finally forced them to stop. While he drove them back some distance, he could not make them leave England. ALFRED THE GREAT [Sidenote: =Childhood of Alfred=] =301. Alfred the Boy.= Alfred was born in 849. His mother was a good woman who gave much time and care to her children. Alfred learned early to read and to love books. A story is told of how Alfred won a beautiful book as a prize from his mother for learning to read it sooner than the other children. He spent much time in learning about wise men, in order to become wise himself. [Sidenote: =Alfred fights the Danes=] As he grew older he found other serious work to do. He aided his brother Ethelred, king of Wessex, to give battle to the Danes, who were moving south. In one battle Alfred led the English "with the rush of a wild boar," and defeated the Danes. Later the Danes drove them back and killed the English king. Alfred now became king of Wessex (871). [Sidenote: =The story of the cakes=] =302. Alfred as King.= Soon after Alfred became king his army was beaten and his men fled. With a little band of followers he hid in the marshes and there built a fort on an island. A story is told of how he was lost while wandering alone, and asked for shelter at the hut of a herdsman. The good wife told him to watch some cakes on the fire while she was busy. Alfred was bending his bow and arrows, and forgetting the cakes, let them burn. When she came back and saw the burnt cakes the good wife scolded the king. "Can't you mind the cakes, man? And don't you see them burn? I'm bound you'll eat them fast enough, As soon as 'tis the turn." Of course she did not know he was the king or she would not have scolded him. [Sidenote: =Makes a treaty with the Danes=] The next spring Alfred raised a large army, drove the Danes back, and forced them to make peace. By this treaty, and another later one, the Danes were given that part of England north and west of the river Thames. Alfred and his people ruled over the country south of them. The land of the Danes was called "Danelagh." They soon settled down to till the soil. Years later they became Christians and intermarried with the English. To protect England from other sea-rovers, Alfred now built many ships, and thus became the father of the English navy. The army was also made larger. Later, Vikings again reached the shores of England, but Alfred's navy beat them off. Peaceful times now gave Alfred a chance to help his people in other ways. [Illustration: STATUE OF ALFRED AT WINCHESTER]