But with all his faults and failings, Offa was a great, an illustrious character! The stain, the indelible stain of the pure and high-minded Ethelbert’s blood must remain to deface his memory; yet cannot it annihilate the brilliant talents that the Mercian king displayed in war--the nobleness and independence of spirit that could not, for an instant, brook an alien interference--the humanity he showed in bestowing burial on the bodies of his enemies slain in battle[26]--his personal humility when in the height of prosperity[27]--his judgment and affection in associating with himself in the government of the kingdom his noble and pious son--his admirable policy in restoring to the conquered kings of Wessex and of Deira their respective realms, and of binding them to his interests by giving them his daughters in marriage--his systematic enforcement of the majesty of the law[28]--his knowledge of human nature in ordaining regular insignia of royalty[29]--or his early patriotism and unflinching valour that wrested from the tyrant rebel the empurpled crown, and wreathed for the diadem a garland of victory to grace his own commanding brow![30] [Footnote 26: V. Vita Offæ Secundi.] [Footnote 27: “As a conqueror over all his enemies triumphantly after ten years’ wars abroad returned he to his own kingdome, neither puffed with pride, nor suffering his title to be enlarged according to his conquests.”--_Speed’s Chronicle._] [Footnote 28: Alcuin bears this testimony to Offa’s laws not long after his death: “Vos quoque omnem gentem Merciorum admoneatis ut _mores bonos et modestos et castros_ diligenter observent, quos beatæ memoriæ Offa illis instituit.” _Ex Epist. Albini ad quendam Anglum patritii ord. virum. Leland’s Collect. vol. 1. p. 402._] [Footnote 29: “He was not neglectiue of regall state,” by the report of the Ligger booke of St. Alban’s, which saith, “that in regard of his great prerogatiue, and not of any pride, _he first_ instituted and commanded, that even in times of peace also, himselfe and his successors in the crowne should, as he passed through any cities, have trumpetters going and sounding before them, to shew that the person of the king should breed both feare and honor in all which either see him or heare him.” _Speed’s Chronicle, p. 345._] [Footnote 30: The death of Offa took place at Offa-leia, or Off-ley. _Speed says 29th July, 794. Ingr. Sax. Chron. A. D. 794. Mailros. 796. Matth. West. 797._]