History of the Anglo-Saxons, from the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest: Second Edition — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
History of the Anglo-Saxons, from the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest: Second Edition
John Stuart Mill · en
Miserable state of England when Alfred ascended the throne of
Wessex--He is disheartened by the rapid arrival of the Danes
--Enters into a treaty with them, and they abandon Essex--The
Danes occupy London--Burrhed, king of Mercia, retires to Rome
--The Danes now masters of all England, excepting Wessex--
Alfred destroys their ships--Again enters into treaty with them
--He encounters them at sea--Treaty at Exeter--His strange
conduct at Chippenham--Vindication of the character of Alfred
--His conduct during retirement--Alfred the Great in the
cowherd's hut--Discovery of his retreat--His skirmishes with
the Danes--Odin, the earl of Devonshire, captures the magical
banner of Hubba, the sea-king--Alfred and his followers fortify
their island retreat--Poverty of the great Saxon king p. 179
CHAPTER XXII.
ALFRED THE GREAT.
Alfred in disguise visits the Danish camp near Westbury in
Wiltshire--His interview with Godrun, the sea-king--Alfred
musters the Saxon forces at Selwood forest--The arrival of his
followers described--His preparation for battle--Description
of the combat--Defeat of the Danes--Alfred besieges the
Danish encampment--Surrender of Godrun--Policy and generosity
of Alfred the Great--Peaceful appearance of England--Landing
of Hastings, the famous sea-king--Alfred increases his navy--
Character of Hastings, the sea-king, the most skilful of all the
Danish invaders--Alfred marches his army between the Danish
forces--His masterly generalship--Hastings offers to quit the
kingdom--His treachery--Is again conquered by Alfred--The
Danes of East Anglia and Northumbria rise up against Alfred--
The wife and children of Hastings are taken prisoners by Alfred,
and discharged with presents--After many struggles the Danes
are at last defeated--Hastings quits England--Death of Alfred
the Great p. 192
CHAPTER XXIII.
CHARACTER OF ALFRED THE GREAT.
His boyhood--Early love of poetry--Self-cultivation--Wisdom
displayed in his conduct with the Danes--Difficulties under
which he pursued his labour--His patronage of literary men
--Method of study--Summary of his works--He reforms the
Saxon nobles--Divides his time--Various purposes to which he
appropriates his revenue--His invention for marking the hours
--Cultivates an acquaintance with foreign countries--His
severity in the administration of justice--Establishment of a
rigid system of police--His laws--Intellectual character of
Alfred the Great p. 199
CHAPTER XXIV.
EDWARD THE ELDER.