TENTH CENTURY.
47
I
quested, that he thought of banithing it some- there that it might not be destroyed or lost, he tells a friend he may prehaps lend him, when he comes to see him, but he will not trust it to the messenger who had been sent for it, though a moni, and trustworthy, because he was travelling on foot. Again, he requests a friend to apply in his own name to an abbot of a monastery, to have a copy made otSuetoniut ; for, he adds, " in this part of the world, the work is no where to be found."
In this century, in the famous monastery of loua, there seems to have been no other work, even of the fathers, than one of the writings of Cbrysostom. Of all the schools or seminaries of the sixth century, none excelled, in the studv of the Scripture, the monastery of Iona,or IcolnAill, an island of the Hebrides, " once the Ittminary of the Caledonian regions," (as Dr. Johnson calb it) " whence savage clans, and roving barbarians derived the benefits of knowledge, and the bless- ings of religion." loua continued to be the seat of learning for ages. Columba, the founder of this monastery, was of royal extraction, and born at Gartan, in the county of Tyrconnel, in Ireland, in the year 521. He died on the 9th of June, 597, in the 77th year of his age.
900, Oct. 28. ZKa^ Alfred the Great. "This Minor of Princes," and darling of the English, was not inferior to Charlemagne, and infinitely his superior in piety and suavity of manners, ascended the throne in 872. born when his country was involved in the most profound dark- ness, uid deplorable confusion ; and when learn- ing was considered rather as a reproach, than an honour, to a prince ; he was not taught to know one letter from. another till he was above twelve years of age, when a book was put into his hand by a kind of accident, more than by prenous de- Mgn. Judith, hLs stepmother, was sitting one day, surrounded by her family, with a book of Saxon poetry in her hands. With a happy judgment, she proposed it as a gift to him who would soon- est leam to read it. The elder princes thought the reward inadequate to the task, and retired &om the field of emulation. But the mind of Albed, captivated by the prospect of information, and pleased with the beauty of the writing, and the ftlendonrof the illuminations, inquired if she actually intended to give it to the person who would soonest leam it. ■ His mother repeating the pnnaise with a smile of joy at the question, he took the book, found out an instmctor, and learned to read it ; recited it to her, and received it for his reKard. It is said, that he imbibe<l such a passion fiir reading, that he never stirred abroad without a hook in his bosom. He founds and endowed schools (among otheis Oxford) and brought teach- ers of learning from all parts of the world, pur- chased books, ordered the bible to be translated into the Anglo-Saxon, undertaking the version of the psalms himself, but did not live to complete it, and in short, encouraged education and learo- bg equally by precept and example. No sove- ^ign ever studied the public interest more than Alfred. He semes to have considered his life but
as a tmst to be used for the benefit of his people ; and his plans for their welfare, were intelligent and great. He fought their battles, regulated the administration of justice, compiled a body of laws, corrected the abuses of the realm, extended their commeice, relations, and knowledge, by an em- bassy to India. To him Englishmen are indebted for the TRIAL BY JURV, for die foundation of the COMMON LAW, for the division of the kingdom, into HUNDREDS and tithinos; and the sentiments expressed by him in his will, will never be forgotten: "It is just that the English
SHOULD FOR EVER REMAIN FREE AS THEIR OWN
THOUGHTS." Alfred reigned twenty-nine years, and was buried at Winchester.
After the death of Alfred, England again re- lapsed into its former, or rather a worse, state of ignorance and barbarism, and so continued the remainder of the century, including clergy as well as laity ; then followed an invasion and con- quest of the Danes, accompanied, like that of the Saxons, with the destructions of the monas- teries, seminaries, and libraries, and a total sus- pension of the study of every art or science but that of war. It is really painful to reflect, that, in the course of two or three hundred years, we meet with very little worthy of being recorded. Like travellers in the deserts of Arabia, we often see nothing for a long time together, but barren sands ; and if we now and then come to a verdant spot, though that spot is extremely beautiful, compared with the dreary prospect around it, yet it partakes of the sterility of the soil by which it Ls encompassed.
During his reign, and under his influence and encouragement, there flourished several learned men, who assisted him in liis noble undertakings, and deserve to be mentioned with honour. He is said to have founded the university of Oxford at the request of St. Neot, who, together with Grimbald, was appointed professor of divinity. Grimbald had been invited from abroad, in con- sequence of his great reputation for literature ; and is spoken of by all wnters as a person of very illustrious character and merit.
In Alfred we may behold what amazing effects may be produced, by the genius and abilites of one man. Such was the influence he had upon the nation, that, in a few years, it was transform- ed into quite another people. The English, from being cowardly, poor, despicable, and ignorant, became brave, rich, respectable, and comparatively speaking, knowing and polite; but they were govemed by a prince who was almost a prodigy in every respect; and we must travel through several centuries, before we shall find a character on which we can expatiate with equal pleasure, and which does so much honour to human nature.
940, Oct. 17. Died Athelston, the grandchild of Alfred, and the first King of die English. He was a prince of uncommon learning for the age in which he lived, bountiful, wite, and affable, was distinguished by the tides of " conqueror " and " faithful," and left behind him a name of great renown, respected and beloved both at home aod
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