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〃Yes；〃 the father replied； 〃it is the unhappy divisions
between the Saxon kingdoms which have enabled the Danes
to get so firm a footing in the land。 Our only hope now lies
in the West Saxons。 Until lately they were at feud with Mercia；
but the royal families are now related by marriage； seeing
that the King of Mercia is wedded to a West Saxon princess；
and that Alfred； the West Saxon king's brother and heir to
the throne； has lately espoused one of the royal blood of
Mercia。 The fact that they marched at the call of the King of
Mercia and drove the Danes from Nottingham shows that
the West Saxon princes are alive to the common danger of
the country； and if they are but joined heartily by our people
of East Anglia and the Mercians； they may yet succeed in
checking the progress of these heathen。 And now； Edmund；
as we see no hope of any general effort to drive the Danes
off our coasts； 'tis useless for us to lurk here longer。
I propose to…morrow； then； to journey north into Lincolnshire；
to the Abbey of Croyland； where； as you know； my brother
Theodore is the abbot； there we can rest in peace for a time；
and watch the progress of events。 If we hear that the people
of these parts are aroused from their lethargy； we will come
back and fight for our home and lands； if not； I will no longer
stay in East Anglia； which I see is destined to fall piecemeal
into the hands of the Danes； but we will journey down to
Somerset； and I will pray King Ethelbert to assign me lands
there； and to take me as his thane。〃
While they had been thus talking Egbert had been broiling
the eels and wild ducks over the fire。 He was a freeman；
and a distant relation of Edmund's father； Eldred； who was
an ealdorman in West Norfolk； his lands lying beyond
Thetford； and upon whom； therefore； the first brunt of the
Danish invasion from Mercia had fallen。 He had made a
stout resistance； and assembling his people had given battle
to the invaders。 These； however； were too strong and numerous；
and his force having been scattered and dispersed； he
had sought refuge with Egbert and his son in the fen country。
Here he had remained for two months in hopes that some
general effort would be made to drive back the Danes； but
being now convinced that at present the Angles were too
disunited to join in a common effort； he determined to
retire for a while from the scene。
〃I suppose； father；〃 Edmund said； 〃you will leave your
treasures buried here？〃
〃Yes；〃 his father replied； 〃we have no means of transporting
them； and we can at ally time return and fetch them。
We must dig up the big chest and take such garments as we
may need； and the personal ornaments of our rank； but the
rest； with the gold and silver vessels； can remain here till we
need them。〃
Gold and silver vessels seem little in accordance with
the primitive mode of life prevailing in the ninth century。
The Saxon civilization was indeed a mixed one。 Their mode
of life was primitive； their dwellings； with the exception of
the religious houses and the abodes of a few of the great
nobles； simple in the extreme； but they possessed vessels of
gold and silver； armlets； necklaces； and ornaments of the same
metals； rich and brightly coloured dresses； and elaborate bed
furniture while their tables and household utensils were of
the roughest kind； and their floors strewn with rushes。 When
they invaded and conquered England they found existing the
civilization introduced by the Romans； which was far in advance
of their own； much of this they adopted。 The introduction of
Christianity further advanced them in the scale。
The prelates and monks from Rome brought with them
a high degree of civilization； and this to no small extent the
Saxons imitated and borrowed。 The church was held in much
honour； great wealth and possessions were bestowed upon it；
and the bishops and abbots possessed large temporal as well
as spiritual power； and bore a prominent part in the councils
of the kingdoms。 But even in the handsome and well…built
monasteries； with their stately services and handsome vestments；
learning was at the lowest ebbso low； indeed； that
when Prince Alfred desired to learn Latin he could find no
one in his father's dominions capable of teaching him； and
his studies were for a long time hindered for want of an
instructor； and at the time he ascended the throne he was
probably the only Englishman outside a monastery who was able
to read and write fluently。
〃Tell me； father；〃 Edmund said after the meal was concluded；
〃about the West Saxons； since it is to them； as it seems；
that we must look for the protection of England against the
Danes。 This Prince Alfred； of whom I before heard you speak
in terms of high praise； is the brother； is he not； of the king？
In that case how is it that he does not reign in Kent； which I
thought； though joined to the West Saxon kingdom； was always
ruled over by the eldest son of the king。〃
〃Such has been the rule； Edmund； but seeing the
troubled times when Ethelbert came to the throne； it was
thought better to unite the two kingdoms under one crown
with the understanding that at Ethelbert's death Alfred should
succeed him。 Their father； Ethelwulf； was a weak king； and
should have been born a churchman rather than a prince。
He nominally reigned over Wessex； Kent； and Mercia； but
the last paid him but a slight allegiance。 Alfred was his
favourite son； and he sent him； when quite a child； to Rome
for a visit。 In 855 he himself； with a magnificent retinue； and
accompanied by Alfred； visited Rome； travelling through the
land of the Franks； and it was there； doubtless； that Alfred
acquired that love of learning； and many of those ideas； far
in advance of his people； which distinguish him。 His mother；
Osburgha； died before he and his father started on the
pilgrimage。 The king was received with much honour by the
pope； to whom he presented a gold crown of four pounds
weight； ten dishes of the purest gold； a sword richly set in
gold； two gold images； some silver…gilt urns； stoles bordered
with gold and purple； white silken robes embroidered with
figures； and other costly articles of clothing for the
celebration of the service of the church； together with rich
presents in gold and silver to the churches； bishops； clergy；
and other dwellers in Rome。 They say that the people of Rome
marvelled much at these magnificent gifts from a king of a
country which they had considered as barbarous。 On his way
back he married Judith； daughter of the King of the Franks；
a foolish marriage； for the king was far advanced in years
and Judith was but a girl。
〃Ethelbald； Ethelwulf's eldest son； had acted as regent
in his father's absence； and so angered was he at this marriage
that he raised his standard of revolt against his father。
At her marriage Judith had been crowned queen； and this
was contrary to the customs of the West Saxons； therefore
Ethelbald was supported by the people of that country； on
his father's return to England； however； father and son met；
and a division of the kingdom was agreed upon。
〃Ethelbald received Wessex； the principal part of the
kingdom； and Ethelwulf took Kent； whi