Danes could not make them to set aside, so that they might act in unison against the common enemy. About this time there arrived upon the coast some twenty thousand Danes, by far the largest number that had ever issued from the north; these, after spending the winter in collecting horses, and gaining over to their side some of the most unquiet of the Northumbrians, attacked Ella, the king of Northumbria, whom they very cruelly put to death. They then pushed their forces as far south as Nottingham, of which they took possession. Burrhead, king of Mercia, aided by Ethelred and his younger brother Alfred, besieged the town, and compelled the Danes to retire to York. Every month brought fresh accession to the Danish army, which crossed the Humber, laying waste Lincolnshire and East Anglia, which they subdued, and placed Guthrum one of their chiefs upon the throne. They then turned their forces into Wessex, taking the town of Reading, but here they were completely routed by Ethelred. Shortly after this, at the battle of Merton, Ethelred received a mortal wound, of which he died a few days afterwards, leaving the crown to Alfred his brother. ALFRED THE GREAT. 871 to 901. A SAXON SHIP OF THE NINTH CENTURY. Alfred succeeded to the throne of his brother at the age of 22; he was born at Wantage, in Berkshire, in the year 849. While a mere child of six years, he so endeared himself to both his parents, that they sent him to Rome, to receive the blessing of Pope Leo, who anointed him as the future king of England. He attained the age of twelve before he was able to read, but hap. pening to hear his step-mother, Judith, reading some very beautiful Saxon poems, which recounted the praise of heroes, he became inspired with a desire to learn to read, so he placed himself under a tutor, and was so studious and diligent, that he was soon enabled to make an acquaintance with Latin authors. ALFRED THE GREAT. For many years, Alfred found it impossible to make any headway against the Danes, and after several actions, he was compelled to conclude a peace with them, which gave the greater portion of England to the Danes, while Alfred confined himself strictly to the territory of Wessex. Now the Saxon kings had protected the shores of England by vessels of war, and it remained for Alfred to lay the foundation of our British Navy in 875, by equiping a small fleet which was often victorious, but on land the Danes were too strong for him. At last the contest was looked upon as hopeless; his followers left him, and he was compelled, after assuming many disguises, to seek an asylum in the Isle of Athelney, in Somersetshire, living in a Swineherd's cottage. An incident in his life here is well known. He was left to mind the cakes upon the hearth, while the swineherd's wife was absent, and in thinking out schemes for the relief of his unhappy country, he quite forgot the cakes, and let them burn, receiving a scolding for his reward. In this retreat, he stayed for some time, secretly gathering a little army together, until when he thought that there was a chance of success, he attacked the Danes in the neighbourhood of Chippenham, and completely routed them. His foes were now glad to sue for peace; and a treaty was made by which they were 878 allowed to settle in East Anglia and Northumbria. The king having now rest from his enemies, applied himself to the improvement of his country. He compiled a code of laws; established a militia, and made his naval arrangements so perfect, that it was with difficulty the sea-rovers could effect a landing on the coast. After thirteen years of peace, another invasion of the Danes, under their great sea-king, Hastings, took place. But Alfred bad made England a different country during the period of peace which she had enjoyed his wise plans were now to bear fruit; and the Danes found themselves, at the end of a three years' struggle, driven from the land. Alfred died after an eventful reign of nearly thirty years, and was buried at Winchester. When this great king began his reign, England resounded with the din of arms from shore to shore; the Danes were ever ravaging its field, and laying waste its towns: when he died, he left to his successor, a peaceful and happy people. EDWARD THE ELDER.-901 to 925. Edward was the eldest son of Alfred. Edward and his sister, who ruled in Mercia, erected strong forts to protect the frontier against the Danes.-The king died in 925, and was succeeded by his son Athelstan. ATHELSTAN.-925 to 940. Athelstan added Northumbria to his dominions; and received the submission of the kings of the Scots, Welsh, and Cumbrians. A powerful league was formed against him in the north, and Anlaf, son to the late king of Northumbria, entered the Humber with a great fleet. He landed; but was soon met 938 by the king at Bunanburgh, and completely defeated. Athelstan died in 941. EDMUND I.-940 to 946. Edmund I., surnamed the Magnificent, succeeded his brother Athelstan. Edmund was stabbed by a robber named Leol, in 946, and was succeeded by his brother Edred. EDRED.-946 to 955. Edred, son of Edward the Elder, ascended the throne in 946. This king was entirely under the influence of Dunstan, abbot of Glastonbury, and died in 955. EDWY.-955 to 958. Edwy was the eldest son of Edmund, and nephew of Edred. He married the beautiful Elfgiva, from whom he was afterwards divorced, as it was considered they were too nearly related. The king died either of grief, or was assassinated in 958. EDGAR.-958 to 975. At Edgar was styled the Pacific, as during his reign, the country enjoyed the blessings of peace. His coronation, which did not take place until 973, was marked with great splendour. Chester, he received the homage of eight kings, as "Emperor of Albion," and was afterwards rowed by them in his barge down the river Dee.-He died in 975. EDWARD II.—(The Martyr).-975 to 979. Edward II., a youth of 13 years, when he mounted the throne, was the oldest son of Edgar, and is memorable only for his tragic end. He was stabbed by order of his cruel stepmother. ETHELRED II.—(The Unready.)—979 to 1016. Edward was succeeded by his half-brother, Ethelred II. The Danes, who had not troubled England since the days of Athelstan, once more flocked to our coasts. At length the Danish king, Sweyn, assisted by his son Canute, to avenge the cruel death of the king's sister Gunhilva-who had been slain during a general massacre of the Danish population in England-invaded Britain, and drove Ethelred from the throne, who fled into Normandy. On the death of Sweyn, which occurred in a short time afterwards, Ethelred was recalled, and reigned until his death in 1016. EDMUND II.-(Ironside.)-1016. When Edmund came to the throne, much of the country was already in the hands of Canute; and after several battles had been fought, it was agreed that the country should be divided, Canute taking Mercia and Northumbria, and Edmund the rest of England. In the same year, Edmund was murdered at Oxford, and Canute then became king of the whole land. THE DANISH KINGS. CANUTE THE GREAT.-1016 to 1035. Canute was the son of Sweyn, king of Denmark, who was himself king of England for a few weeks in 1013. King of England, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, he was the most powerful monarch in Europe at that time. He divided England into four governments, viz: Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia and Northumbria; of Wessex, he took charge himself, and appointed governors ver the other. After a prosperous reign, he died in 1035. HAROLD I.-1035 to 1040. Canute was succeeded in the throne of England by his son Harold, surnamed Harefoot; who after a brief reign died in 1040. HARDICANUTE.-1040 to 1042. Hardicanute succeeded his half-brother Harold. He died through intemperance, and was the last king of the Danish line in England. THE SAXON LINE RESTORED. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR.-1042 to 1066. Edward, the son of Ethelred, and half-brother of Edmund Ironside, succeeded to the throne. Edward was childless: the next heir to the throne was Edgar Atheling, a boy of ten years of age, of whose claims, however, not much notice was taken, and all eyes were turned to Harold as their future sovereign. The king died in January, 1066. HAROLD II.-1066. Harold, the last of the Saxon kings, ascended the throne on the death of the Confessor: but his claims were opposed by William, Duke of Normandy, to whom, it was said Edward had promised the crown. William at once prepared to invade England; and in the month of September, Duke William landed on the coast of Sussex with an army of 60,000 men. NORMAN PERIOD. WILLIAM I.-(The Conqueror). In the autumn of 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, in by Harold, the English king. The battle began at day-break, and both armies fought very bravely till the evening, when an arrow struck Harold through the brain. His two brave brothers were He afterwards built a also killed, and William became victor. William's next step was to seize the castle of Dover, (in Kent), as a place of safety for his army, and as being near France. He then set |