You CHA P. IX. The 878. burning, and said to the king in her rage: to the It is stated, that he afterwards munificently re- His muniwarded the peasant, whose name was Denulf. He ficence observed him to be a man of capacity; he recom- peasant. mended him to apply to letters, and to assume the ecclesiastical profession. He afterwards made him bishop of Winchester." THE homely taunts of this angry rustic must have sounded harshly to the yet haughty king: but he was now levelled to her condition, or rather he was even more destitute than herself; for he was dependent on the bounty of her poverty, and had no asylum but in her humble cottage. All the honours and all the pleasures of his life had vanished like a dream: self-reproach, if he had only suffered himself to be surprised, and more poignant feelings, if his personal misconduct had driven his subjects to desert him in the hour of need, concurred to aggravate his distress. In the solitude of his retreat, and amid its penury and mortifications, it was natural that he should be pensive and melancholy, and yet improved. It is in its distresses that arrogance learns to know its folly; that man perceives his 8 Matt. West. 330. ? Malmsb. 242. Flor. Wig. 318. As Florence of Worcester mentions this elevation of Denulf, p. 318., he ought not to have been mentioned as an evidence against the incident as stated by Asser; yet Dr. Whitaker unguardedly so produces him, p. 239. Matt. West. 332. in 909. Sax. Chron. 102. Denulf died bishop of Winchester IV. 878. BOOK individual insignificance, discerns the importance of others to his well-being and even existence, and feels the necessity and the comfort of believing or hoping that there exists a Protector more powerful than himself. Humility, urbanity, philanthropy, decorum, and self-coercion, all the virtues which are requisite to produce the good-will of our species, are among the offspring which nature has allotted to adversity, and which the wise and good have in every age adopted in their eclipse. The sequel of Alfred's reign, which was a stream of virtue and intelligence, attests that his fortunate humiliation disciplined his temper, softened his heart, increased his piety, and enlightened his understanding." His mind was too powerful and too intelligent, either to remain inactive or to fail of discerning the best means of emancipating the country from its barbaric invaders. 10 HIS subsequent measures to regain his throne, and to surround it with its natural and impregnable bulwark, the confidence of his people, were judicious and exemplary. And an auspicious incident occurred at this juncture to excite both their courage and his own perseverance. UBBо, who, with his brothers Ingwar and Half 10❝I honour solitude, the meditating sister of society, and often her legislator, who converts the experience or active life into principles, and its passions into nutritious juices." Herder's Outlines of the Philosophy of the History of Man, p.511. Eng. ed. 1800. 11 Asser's reflection at this period of Alfred's life seems to allude to his previous imperfections. He says he was afflicted, "that he might know that there exists one Lord of all to whom every knee must bow; in whose hands are the hearts of kings; who deposes the mighty from their seat, and exalts the humble," p. 31. IX. 878. Ubbo's at shire. den, had conducted the fatal fleet to England, to CHA P. avenge the death of their father, and who had distinguished himself in the massacre at Peterborough, and who was now the only survivor of those children tack in of Ragnar Lodbrog who had afflicted England, Devonhad been harassing the Britons in South Wales, where he had wintered. After much of that slaughter, which always attended their invasions, he returned with twenty-three ships to the English Channel. Sailing by the north of Devonshire, the castle of Kynwith 12 attracted his notice, where many of the king's thegns had embraced the protection of the Earl of Devon. The place was unprovided with subsistence. It had no stronger fortification than a Saxon wall 13; but Ubbo found that its rocky situation made it impregnable against all assault, except at the eastern point. He also remarked that no water was near it, and consequently that a short siege would reduce the inhabitants to every misery of thirst and famine. He preferred the certain victory of a blockade to a bloody attack, and surrounded it with his followers. ODUN saw the extent of his distress, and the inevitable certainty on which the pagans calculated; and determined on a vigorous sally. It was bravely executed. While the dawn was mingling with the darkness, Odun pierced at once to the tent of Ubbo, slew him and his attendants, and turning on the 12 Risdon places this castle near Apledore; it is called Henney Castle. 1 Gough's Camden, p. 40. 13 Asser seems to treat Saxon fortifications with some contempt; for he says, that it was omnino immunitam nisi quod mænia nostro more erecta solum modo haberet, p. 32. He says he had seen this castle himself. IV. 878. BOOK affrighted host, destroyed the largest part; a few reached their vessels and escaped. An immense booty rewarded the victors, among which the capture of their magical standard, the famous Reafan, was to the eye of ignorant superstition a more fatal disaster than even Ubbo's death, and their destructive defeat. 14 Exertions WHEN Easter had passed, Alfred, now twentyeight years of age, began to execute a new plan of operations. The place of his retreat, as already described, was peculiarly fitted to be made a military post of the most defensible nature, and the king fortified it as his place of safety. 15 THE fullest account of the exertions of Alfred, of Alfred during his seclusion in this little island 16 is that left discovered by the Abbot of Croyland. before he himself to his people. "THE king, overwhelmed with the disgrace of poverty and dejection, and instead of his royal palace, being confined to a vile hovel, was one day casually recognised by some of his people, who, 14 Asser, 32. The Sax. Chron. makes the number of the slain 840. Flor. Wig. 1200, p. 316. Asser describes the raven as a banner woven by Ubbo's three sisters, the daughters of Ragnar Lodbrog, in one noon-tide. It was believed that the bird appeared as if flying when the Danes were to conquer, but was motionless when they were to be defeated. Asser adds, et hoc sæpe probatum est, p. 33. He might have said that nothing was easier to be contrived. Bartholin has collected some traditions concerning such standards, and the raven's prophetic powers, p. 472-480. 15 Dr. Whitaker's account of the present state of this place, of the existing traditions there, and of his own feelings and belief, are worth reading. See his St. Neot. 16 A jewel of gold, enamelled like a bulla or amulet, to hang round the neck, circumscribed, Alfɲeb meg heht gepyncan, i.e. Alfred ordered me to be made, was found here. It is now in the Ashmolean Museum. 1 Gough's Camden, 70. It is engraved in that work, p. 59. and elsewhere. IX. being dispersed, and flying all around, stopped CHA P. where he was. An eager desire then arose both in the king and his knights to devise a remedy for their fugitive condition. "IN a few days they constructed a place of defence as well as they could; and here recovering a little his strength, and comforted by the protection of his few friends, he began to move in warfare against his enemies. His companions were very few in number, compared with the barbarian multitude; nor could they on the first day, or by their first attacks, obtain any advantages: yet they neither quitted the foe nor submitted to their defeats; but, supported by the hope of victory, as their small number gradually increased, they renewed their efforts, and made one battle but the preparation for another. "SOMETIMES Conquerors, and sometimes conquered, they learnt to overcome time by chances, and chance by time. The king, both when he failed and when he was successful, preserved a cheerful countenance, and supported his friends by his example." 17 To this natural and intelligible account, we may add, from Asser, that the only land-access to their little island was by one bridge, on which by great labour they raised two defensive towers, or, as we should now call them, tétes du pont. From this fortified retreat, with his noble vassals in Somersetshire, he was continually assaulting the Danes. 16 THE same incidents are implied in the brief narrative of Matthew of Westminster. "While the king remained alone with the herdsman, there came 17 MS. Claud. A. 5. p. 157. 18 Asser, Vit. p. 60. 878. |