857. He succeeded his father, and notwithstanding he opposed him for honouring the emperor Charles's daughter with being his queen, after his death, contrary to all laws, took her for his own wife. This reign was remarkable for no event of moment, nor for any action worth recording, except being brought to a sense of his fault in marrying his step-mother,

for which he was obliged to make his peace with the priests, by donations to monasteries, abbeys, and other religious foundations.

He reigned about two years and a half, and left his whole kingdom to his brother Ethelbert. He died December 20th, 860, and was buried at first at Sherborne in Dorsetshire, but removed to Salisbury.

860. Succeeded his brother, both by his father's as well as his brother's appointment. He was crowned January 860-1.

861. This year the Danes renewed their invasions, and as they had so long kept from hence, there were no preparations to repulse their attacks. They landed at Southampton.

862. They burnt Winchester, but were checked in their devastation. Soon after they again landed in the isle of Thanet, and were preparing to ravage the country, to prevent which Ethelbert gave them a sum of money. As soon as they had received the money they pillaged the country, destroying all with fire and sword.

863. They landed again in the isle of

Thanet, where they wintered, and in the spring made their incursions.

Ethelbert gave them money to quit the land, which they no sooner had received, but they made inroads into Kent, and destroyed all before them with fire and sword.

865. Ethelbert levied an army to intercept them, but his preparations occasioned them hastily to embark with their plunder.

866. Ethelbert died, having reigned six years, during which time history affords but few events besides the invasions of the Danes. He was buried near his brother, at Sherborne, leaving behind him two sons, Adhelm and Ethelward.

866. The third son of Ethelwolf, succeeded to the crown, in whose reign the Danes committed great ravages through the whole kingdom.

867. The Danes in particular ravaged the monasteries of their most valuable effects, and multitudes of nuns were exposed to their lust. To prevent the like at Coldingham, in the county of March in Scotland, the abbess and nuns cut off their noses and upper lips, to screen themselves from the outrages they were threatened with, for which the Danes set fire to the monastery, and the nuns were all burnt in it. They set fire to the city of York (869); and murdered Edmund, titular king of the

East Angles (870), the place of whose burial is since called St. Edmund's Bury. They destroyed the monasteries of Bradney, Crowland, Peterborough, Ely, and Huntingdon.

871. Ethelred overthrew the Danes at Assendon, which was the greatest loss the Danes had ever met with in England. He had nine set battles with the Danes in one year, and was wounded between Abingdon and Wallingford in Berkshire, which occasioned his death, April 27th, 872. He was buried at Winborne in Dorsetshire, and left two sons and one daughter.

In this reign happened a great plague.

872. Fourth son of Ethelwolf, succeeded his brother in the twenty-second year of his age, was crowned at Winchester, and is distinguished by the title of Alfred the

Great, at whose coronation was first used the ceremony of crowning and anointing. He was born at Wantage in Berks, 849, and was obliged to take the field against

the Danes within one month after his coronation, at Wilton in Wilts, with various success, but at length defeated them.

$76. The Danes divided their army; one part seized on Exeter, where they wintered, and the other went to Northumberland. Alfred defeated them at Exeter, but they again made head against him at Chippenham, where he was worsted, and soon after at Bristol, where he recovered strength, and attacked them in camp, at Abingdon in Berkshire. He fought seven battles with them the same year.

877. Another succour of Danes arrived, and Alfred was obliged to disguise himself and enter in the service of a shepherd, in the isle of Aldersey, in the county of Somerset.

$78. In the disguise of a musician, he discovered the careless way in which the Danes lived, and collecting his scattered friends, attacked and defeated them.

He compelled their king Guthrum, with thirty of the chiefs of the army, and divers of the common soldiers, to be baptized, and forced them to retire out of the kingdom.

879. Alfred built Shaftsbury. 881. The Welsh princes did homage to Alfred.

883. Joannes Scotus Erigæna died. S86. The English under the direction of Alfred built ships for their security.

He rebuilt the city of London, which had been burnt and destroyed by the Danes, about the year 839.

There was at this time hardly a layman that could read English, or a priest that understood Latin in Britain.

He restored learning in the university of Oxford and partly founded it.

Alfred was invested by Ethelred with the dignity and title of an earl, the first of that title being titular.

889. The Danes returned, but were again repulsed.

890. Alfred divided the kingdom into counties, hundreds, and tythings.

He introduced the method of building with brick and stone; and was the first that divided time by candles made of wax,

marked with lines which served for so many hours; and to prevent the wind from making them burn unsteadily, he invented the expedient of inclosing them in lanthorns.

891. The first land tax levied in England.

892. The Danes arrived again with 250 ships, and harrassed the land.

893. The Danes, with 300 sail of ships, invaded England again, under one Hastings, and were encountered at sea by the ships lately built by king Alfred; whereupon peace ensued.

894. Tythes were established for the maintenance of the clergy.

S97. A plague happened this year, which raged throughout the land for three years, and destroyed many great men and ministers of state as well as others.

The Danes came up the Thames, and by small boats went up the river Lea, and built a fortress at Ware, but king Alfred turned the course of the river, and left the ships dry, which obliged the Danes to remove.

900. King Alfred died at Farringdon in Berkshire, October 28th, in the twentyfourth year of his reign, and was buried at Winchester. He had by his first queen, two sons and a daughter; by his second queen, two sons and five daughters; and by his third and last queen, he had two sons and two daughters.

He is said to have fought fifty-six set battles with the Danes by sea and land. The year he died he formed a body of laws, afterwards made use of by Edward the Confessor. He obliged his nobles to bring up their children to learning, and to induce them thereto, he admitted none into office unless they were learned.

He conferred the honour of knighthood upon his grandson Athelstan, who appears to be the first knight ever made by any of our English monarchs.

This prince took a survey of all England, the rolls whereof were lodged at Winchester; from which model Doomsdaybook was afterwards made by William the Conqueror, but with more exactness.

900. Eldest son of king Alfred, succeeded his father, and was crowned at Kingston upon Thames. In the beginning of his reign, Ethelwold, the son of Ethelred, his father's eldest brother, laid claim to the crown; but being overpowered, he fled to the Danes, who acknowledged him for king

of England, and fought several battles with Edward on his behalf.

904. Elfleda, the king's sister, signalized herself in making head against the Danes, she was no less remarkable for her wisdom than her courage.

905. A battle was fought near Bury,

Wells made a bishop's see. 907. A treaty with the Danes. 908. A great frost in England, most of the rivers frozen up for two months. 910. The Danes landed again, and were repulsed with considerable loss.

911. Leolin, prince of Wales, did homage to Edward for his principality.

916. This king improved the university of Cambridge, confirmed their former privileges, and granted them others: he enlarged his dominions, reducing the Danes, the Scots, and the Welsh, to his obedience. 917. The Danes landed again, and having ravaged the country, returned home with the plunder.

918. This year there happened a violent storm at Cambridge.

The princess Elfleda died at Tamworth in Staffordshire, and was buried in the porch of the monastery at Gloucester, which she and her husband, the king of Mercia had founded. It is said, that in respect of the cities built, castles fortified, and the armies conducted by her, few men could equal her in wisdom, courage, and conduct.

919. Another invasion of the Danes, when they were routed, and sued for peace. 920. An army from Ireland landed in Wales, and advanced to Chester, but were repulsed with great loss.

925. Edward died in the twenty-fourth year of his reign, at Farringdon in Berkshire, and was buried near his father. He built and repaired several castles and towns, viz. in 918 he built two castles at Bucking

built one at Bedford on the south of the river; in 920 he repaired and fortified Malden in Essex; in 921 he did the same at Towcester in Northamptonshire, Wigmore in Herefordshire, Colchester in Essex, and Huntingdon; in 922 he built a castle at Stamford in Lincolnshire; in 923 he repaired Thelwall in Cheshire, and Manchester; in 924 he built the town of Nottingham, on the north side of the Trent, and also one near Bakewell in Derbyshire. A frost which lasted thirteen weeks and froze the Thames.

Edward had three wives; the first named Egwina, a shepherd's daughter, by whom he had three children; Athelstan who succeeded him, Alfred who died soon after his brother's coronation, and a daughter called Editha. By his second wife Edward had two sons and six daughters; Elsward the eldest died a few days after his father, at Oxford; Edwin, who afterwards came to a tragical end. Of the six daughters, the eldest, Elfleda, was abbess of Rumsey in Hampshire; Ogina, the second, was married to Charles the Simple, king of France; Edilda, the third, died a nun; Ediltha, the fourth, married the earl of Paris; Edgitha, the fifth, was wife of Otho emperor of Germany; and Edgiva, the youngest, was married to Lewis the Blind, king of Provence. By his third wife, Edgiva, Edward had two sons and two daughters; Edmund and Edred, the two sons, were afterwards kings of England; Edburga, the eldest daughter, was a nun, and her sister Thyra was the wife of Gorman III. king of Denmark.

925. Succeeded, being Edward's eldest son, and was crowned at Kingston upon Thames by Athelm archbishop of Canterbury, with far greater magnificence than usual.

A plot was formed to seize Athelstan, which was discovered and prevented.

926. The Danes settled in England revolted, but by Athelstan immediately attacking them, before they had collected their strength, they were subdued, and Athelstan to prevent farther bloodshed, pardoned the revolters, and gave his sister in marriage to Sithric king of Northumberland, who dying soon after, Athelstan seized all that kingdom.

927. Athelstan had an interview with Constantine the King of Scotland, to persuade him to deliver up Godfrid, a Danish

prince, and for that end proposed meeting him at Dacre castle in Cumberland, during which time Godfrid escaped, and Athelstan, after admitting Constantine's excuses for the scape of the Danish prince, obliged him and the king of Cumberland who was present with him, to do homage for their kingdoms.

928. Athelstan destroyed the castle of York for having sheltered Godfrid.

929. Athelstan returned to England, and Anlaff, a Danish prince, brother of Godfrid who had fled to Ireland, returned to Scotland, and induced Constantine, who was disgusted with Athelstan for his haughty behaviour to him at Dacre, to embark in concert with him to recover Northumberland.

932. Athelstan commenced a war with Hoel, king of Wales.

933. Constantine sent forces to assist the Welsh.

934. Athelstan marched into Wales, and giving Hoel battle, obtained a complete victory, but restored him his dominions. 935. Athelstan marched against Scotland, but concluded a peace with Constantine and restored him all the places he had taken.

936. A fresh war in the north, and Athelstan expelled the Scots out of Cumberland. 937. A severe frost in England, which lasted 120 days; it began December 22.

938. Constantine of Scotland renewed the war, and received assistance from Anlaff of Ireland.

At the instigation of a courtier, Athelstan condemned his brother Edwin to be exposed in a boat without oars, out of which the prince leapt into the sea and was drowned. The king felt remorse for his conduct, and to avert the vengeance of God, built Middleton abbey in Dorsetshire, and soon after ordered his adviser of the murder to be beheaded.

He defeated the united forces of the Danes and Scots, and made the princes of Wales tributary to him. Soon after, on their making submission, he restored them to their estates. He escaped being assasinated in his tent (938), which he revenged by attacking his enemy, when five petty sovereigns, twelve dukes, and an army who came to the assistance of Anlaff of Ireland, were slain; which battle was fought near Dunbar in Scotland.

He caused the Bible to be translated into the Saxon, which was then the mother tongue.

Murder was punished in this reign by pecuniary fines. Guy, earl of Warwick, is said to have encountered Colebrand the Danish giant in this reign, and killed him.

911. King Athelstan died at Gloucester, without issue, October 17th, and was buried at Malmsbury, having reigned fifteen years and some months.

941. The fifth son of Edward, and brother and heir to Athelstan, succeeded to the crown, being about eighteen years of age, and was crowned at Kingston.

Abingdon abbey built.

943. Anlaff returned from Ireland, and having seized Northumberland, advanced to Chester, where he met Edmund, who agreed with him to divide England.

944: Disturbances in the north suppressed, and Edmund compelled the contending princes to be baptized, himself standing godfather.

A storm in London that blew down 1500 houses.

945. He gave Cumberland and Westmoreland to Malcolm, king of the Scots, for his assistance against the Danes.

Croyland abbey, in Lincolnshire, rebuilt, and in it were set up the first tuneable bells in England.

946. Edmund made the first law, that whoever robbed or stole any thing should be put to death.

948. He was killed in the seventh year of his reign, by one Leolf, a great robber, May 26th, whom he had banished. This man presuming to appear before him at the festival of St. Augustine, in Puckle church, Gloucestershire, the king himself seized him; whereupon Leolf stabbed him to the heart with a short dagger he had concealed, and was himself cut in pieces by the company. King Edmund was buried at Glastonbury, where Dunstan was abbot.

948. The sixth son of Edward, succeeded his brother Edmund, and was crowned at Kingston, although Edmund left two sons, Edwin and Edgar, infants.

919. He founded the bishop's see at St. Germain's, afterwards removed to Crediton, and from thence to Exeter.

The Danes harrassed the land, and attacked the person of the king, but were defeated and again forgiven.

The Northumbrian Danes attempted a revolt, but were surprised by Edred; soon after they recalled Anlaff and recovered

that kingdom, but his subjects again obliged him to retire, and Northumberland was reduced to a province by Edred, who treated the natives with great severity, and wasted their country for many miles.

950. In his return he was suddenly attacked by the Danes, whom he again defeated and returned into Northumberland, where the Danes submitted to his mercy.

951. Dunstan, abbot of Glastonbury, gained high credit with the king, who submitted even to receive discipline from his hands. Edred rebuilt Glastonbury abbey,

959. Surnamed the Peaceable, brother and heir of Edwy, succeeded to the crown, being about sixteen years of age, and was crowned at Kingston, and again at Bath in 973.

He increased the royal navy to 360 ships, maintained the dominion of the narrow seas, and reigned in greater splendor than any of his predecessors: he built Ramsey abbey, and forty-seven other monasteries in different parts of the kingdom.

Abingdon abbey built.

960. He made severe laws to punish corrupt magistrates, but his attachment to the monks contributed to his great fame.

He was so liberal to the monks, that Croyland abbey in Lincolnshire had treasure to the amount of £10,000 beside holy vessels and shrines.

Soon after he came to the crown he recalled Dunstan, whom he made archbishop of Canterbury and bishop of Worcester, he also managed the vacant bishoprick of London, and the pope made him his legate, when he again endeavoured (964) to establish the monks, who bestowed on him every encomium.

969. Edgar ordered the isle of Thanet

to be laid waste for insulting his laws. In the early part of his reign he took a nun by force out of a convent, and after debauching her, refused to restore her.

970. He married Elfrida, whose husband he murdered.

975. He died in the thirty-second year of his age, and the seventeenth of his reign, and was buried in the abbey of Glastonbury. Among other laws, he enacted one to suppress excessive drinking, ordaining pegs to be placed in drinking cups, with penalties to any one who should presume to drink deeper than the mark; and imposed on the princes of Wales a tribute of wolves' heads, that for three years amounted to 300 each year, which extirpated them, and the tribute ceased. He obliged eight tributary princes to row him in a barge on the river Dee, in 960, when he made a visit from Chester to the monastery of St. John Baptist.

He left two sons and a daughter; Edward, his eldest son, was born of a concubine, and his youngest, Ethelard, was the son of Elfrida; Editha, his daughter, was a nun and afterwards canonized. He exhausted the treasury in building monasteries.

975. Eldest son to king Edgar, succeeded his father, being but twelve years of age; he was crowned by Dunstan at Kingston upon Thames.

In this reign the controversies between the regular and the secular clergy ran high: the laity took part with the seculars (976), dispossessed the monks, and brought in the

secular priests and their wives, by force of

arms.

978. A national synod assembled at Colne in Wiltshire, and declared in favour of the regular clergy, who were restored to their possessions by the help of some pious frauds, in those days called miracles.

979. King Edward was murdered (May