ALFRED THE GREAT [Illustration: KING ALFRED’S JEWEL] [Illustration: BRITAIN IN TIME OF ALFRED] Alfred the Great CONTAINING Chapters on his Life and Times BY MR. FREDERIC HARRISON, THE LORD BISHOP OF BRISTOL PROFESSOR CHARLES OMAN, SIR CLEMENTS MARKHAM THE REV. PROFESSOR EARLE, SIR FREDERICK POLLOCK AND THE REV. W. J. LOFTIE; ALSO CONTAINING AN INTRODUCTION BY SIR WALTER BESANT AND A POEM BY THE POET LAUREATE EDITED, WITH PREFACE, BY ALFRED BOWKER MAYOR OF WINCHESTER 1897-98 ‘_This will I say—that I have sought to live worthily the while I lived, and after my life to leave to the men that come after me a remembering of me in good works._’ LONDON ADAM & CHARLES BLACK 1899 TO Her Majesty the Queen BY GRACIOUS PERMISSION THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED THE SPOTLESS KING I Some lights there be within the Heavenly Spheres Yet unrevealed, the interspace so vast: So through the distance of a thousand years Alfred’s full radiance shines on us at last. II Star of the spotless fame, from far-off skies Teaching this truth, too long not understood, That only they are worthy who are wise, And none are truly great that are not good. III Of valour, virtue, letters, learning, law, Pattern and prince, His name will now abide, Long as of conscience Rulers live in awe, And love of country is their only pride. IV But with His name four other names attune, Which from oblivion guardian Song may save; Lone Athelney, victorious Ethandune, Wantage his cradle, Winchester his grave. ALFRED AUSTIN. PREFACE Now that we are fast approaching the one thousandth anniversary of the death of our greatest sovereign of the past—“King Alfred,” whom it is the laudable desire of many of Her Majesty’s subjects and others to commemorate fittingly—this book, which bears the king’s name, and is written in honour of the king, and is intended to present what is known of the king’s achievements and his claim on the gratitude and love of the English-speaking race, would hardly seem to demand a preface.