49. Architectural Works of Alfred.

"In his own palaces," says Asser, "farms, and country seats, of which he had a large number, the king set a laudable example to his neglected earls and thanes; his architectural taste was lavishly displayed in the restorations and new creations, which his genius called forth in that department. These works were doubtlessly well known to his contemporaries, but the details of them have perished, or have never been written. The greatest works of man fall into obscurity, and become utterly unknown, when those who saw them with their own eyes, and were dazzled by their brilliancy, have omitted to record those facts, which alone can preserve the memory of them to posterity. What shall I say," continues Asser, "of the cities and towns which he restored, and of others which he built where none had been before? of the royal halls and chambers, wonderfully erected, by his command, with stone and wood? of his royal vills constructed of stone, removed from their old sites, and handsomely rebuilt, by the king's command, in more fitting places?" These palaces are enumerated in a future note, containing a translation of King Alfred's will.

50. Division of the King's Household.

The king's household was at all times arranged in three classes. His attendants were most wisely distributed into three companies, so that the first company should be on duty at court for one month, night and day, at the end of which time they returned to their homes, and were relieved by the second company. At the end of the second month, the third company, in the same way, relieved the second, who also returned to their homes, where they spent two months, until their services were again wanted. The third company gave place to the first in the same manner, and also spent two months at home. Such was the threefold division of the companies arranged at all times in the royal household.

Spelman expresses himself on this subject as follows:"I should conjecture that the king, for his more honourable attendance, took this course in point of royalty and state, there being (as it then stood with the state) very few men of quality fit to stand before a king, who by their fortunes or dependency were not otherwhere besides engaged; neither was there in those times any great assurance to be had of any man, unless he was one of such condition, whose service, when the king was fain to use one month in the

quarter, it was necessary for the commonwealth, that he should remit them the other two months unto their own occasions. Neither used he this course with some of his officers only, (as there are those that understand it to have been a course taken only with those of his guard,) but with all his whole attendance; neither used he it for a time only, but for his whole life, as Ingulfus expressly tells us; and I little doubt but that the use at court at this day, of officers and quarter-waiters, had the first beginning even from this invention of the king's."

51. Vide Note 24.

52. Alfred's skill in Jewellery, and description of his Gem. The art of working in gold and silver was a favourite subject for the king's taste and patronage. A beautiful specimen of workmanship occurs in his jewel, which has already been mentioned; and if we are to understand literally his biographer's assertion, that the king himself taught the artist to execute such works as this, it considerably augments our respect for the master-mind, which not only entered upon so many different callings, but succeeded so completely in them all. The working in gold and silver must however be interpreted to comprehend a vast extent of art and science. The mere manufacture of a bracelet, or any other ornament of the person, will hardly describe the full operation of this art; the inlaying and setting of precious stones, enamelling in all its branches, and the decorative branches of carving and gilding, may all be included in the name, and the introduction or improvement of these elegant embellishments to the residences of the king and his nobles, must have not only improved the taste, but have added to the comforts of his countrymen.

"I know not," says Spelman, "why we may not conjecture, that the king (being by the return of his EastIndian ship stored with many eastern stones, and by his especial industry upon that occasion provided also of workmen) probably fell upon the composing of an imperial crown, which, though not of the form, that by way of distinction we at this day call imperial, yet it was of a more august and imperial form than had been formerly of use in this kingdom. For in the arched room in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey, where the ancient regalia of this kingdom are kept, upon a box, (which is the cabinet to the ancientest crown,) there is (as I am informed) an inscription

to this purpose: Hæc est principalior corona cum qua coronabantur reges Elfredus, Edwardus, &c. And the crown (which to this purpose were worth the observing) is of a very ancient work, with flowers adorned with stones of somewhat a plain setting. This by the inscription appearing to have been made by him, and that when he was become universal king of the Heptarchy; in which respect, and for the value of the jewels, (then and long after very rare in these parts,) as also for the venerable esteem which (for the original and author) succeeding ages have ever had of it, it seems deservedly to be accounted the most principal crown.” The gem formerly worn by King Alfred, and now preserved in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, is made of pure gold, containing coloured stones, cased in a remarkably thick crystal, in perfect preservation, and only looks a little dull and dingy, for the great length of time that has passed over it. The length of the gem is about two inches, and it is about half an inch thick. Round the edge are engraved the words ALFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN, (Alfred had me worked) in pierced gold letters. The narrow end of the gem, at which the first and last words of this inscription meet, is formed into the head of a griffin, the national emblem of the Saxons, having in its mouth a strong gold rivet, to which a chain was doubtlessly attached; and its flat form indicates that it must have been worn on the breast dependent from the chain that passed round the neck, in a way similar to ornaments which are still worn by kings and queens on state occasions.

The back of the gem is quite flat, and ornamented with a flower, wrought in gold, without stones.

The front or principal face of the relic is smaller than the back, in consequence of the edge sloping inwards a little all round, so that the words engraved on it do not stand upright, a contrivance probably adopted for the purpose of giving more effect to the front of the jewel, and making it stand out in stronger relief. The back-ground is composed of a blue stone, on which appears a human figure clothed in the green Saxon military vest or tunic, and girt with a belt, from which a strap for a sword depends towards the left side. The figure is seated on the throne, with a cyne-helm or crown on its head, and on either hand he holds a sceptre, branching out over the shoulders into fleurs de lis.

Learned men differ in their opinion: some of them pretend that the figure in the gem was a type of Alfred as king; and others assert that it represents Jesus Christ, or St.

Cuthbert, patron of King Alfred, who assisted him in distress; but the opinion of the Rev. Dr. Silver, of St. John's College, Oxford, formerly Anglo-Saxon Professor, seems to have the preponderance. According to his view, the figure was an image of the king himself, and symbolical of his kingly office; and the two sceptres designate the spiritual and temporal authority which were united in the king's

hands.

53. Political Levers of Rulers.

We perceive that King Alfred employed one of the first levers of rulers to attain his purposes; and to acquire the services of others, without making any real sacrifice, farther than flattering their ambition. The other lever also used by princes for the same purpose, (and at an equally little expense,) and which Philip II. and other tyrants so effectively practiced, is fear-a means which Alfred did not neglect, but which, be it said to his glory, he did not, like so many of his descendants and other sovereigns, abuse.

That Alfred knighted his grandson is not astonishing, since the nearest relations of monarchs are always the first distinguished by that dignity. History informs us that queens and empresses generally knighted their favourites; but of the most distinguished men, not one was ever proud enough to refuse that distinction, even from the hands of a

woman.

54. Universal Geni, and Manual Occupations of Princes.

Nature very seldom produces geni capable of successfully practising so many different avocations; but as we possess sufficient examples in ancient and modern history, and especially in Michael Angelo, Goethe, Frederick the Great, Napoleon, &c. of men who cultivated many different sciences, and naturally excelled in some more than in others, we cannot wonder that Alfred was likewise gifted with those qualities. What is, however, most to be admired, and what we seldom find united in such universal geni, is the tranquillity of mind that such a man must have possessed, to occupy himself so extensively and regularly with those different branches of arts and sciences; and practise them under the very clash of weapons, and amidst the troubles and desolation spread by constant warfare.

The custom that every sovereign should practice one manual occupation, has been preserved in some countries until the end of the last century; the higher sense of that

custom being probably, that they should not forget that they descend from the people; forming a striking contrast with the usurped expression, that they obtain their power from the grace of God.

55. Alfred's Zeal for Religion.

We must remind the reader that Haller was a philosopher, and lived in the time of Voltaire, Rousseau, &c.; and that the Atheism which reigned on the continent of Europe at that epoch, can alone excuse his expression.

Alfred's zeal for religion is described as follows by Dr. Giles:

"For the last hundred and fifty years preceding the reign of Alfred, and following the death of Venerable Bede, a great change, and not for the better, had been gradually passing over the Anglo-Saxon mind. In literature and religion, which in those days were inseparably united, the zeal which was kindled in the time of Venerable Bede, and fostered by his own bright example, had long waxed cold; no name of importance occurs during that long period; and when Alfred came to the throne, it was not the least pressing of the arduous duties that devolved on him, to raise his subjects from the inglorious apathy into which they had fallen on all that regarded their intellectual and moral culture." It was for this object above all others that Alfred had gathered from every side those pious and learned churchmen, whose names and virtues have been already enumerated.

56. Division of Alfred's Revenues.

He assigned the first half of his revenue to worldly purposes, and ordered that one-third of this half should be paid to his soldiers and his ministers, the nobles who resided at his court, where they discharged various duties for the king's household was at all times arranged in three classes. To these attendants was paid :—the first of the three portions aforesaid, to each according to their respective dignities and peculiar service; the second was for the payment of the operatives, whom he had collected out of every nation, and kept about him in large numbers, men skilled in every of construction; the third portion was assigned to foreigners, who came to him out of every nation far and near; whether they asked money of him or not, he cheerfully gave to each with a wonderful munificence in proportion to their respective merits, according to what is written, "God loveth a cheerful giver."

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