V V y , D o r h e w ould know tha t pins for fe ma l e w ea r a re S tlll ws and i h e E as t o f a ll s z es u i e d e n t to n d Sin . i n as va rious vi , m a i , p G . a n r two I sh ould lik e to l en a nd o f th e most ea u i u o rms wi e er , gth , b t f l f , th v y — nter v ew th e one e a ora on o f a rt a nd a in the wa c ea trinketrv po i i l b ti th t, y h p W nc es er ns a re o ten to b e seen for sa e in the sh ni 5 a ddress a t i h t Si mila r pi f l O p w i e in the d w R e en —s ree a nd the u r n on-a rca d T uncomforta bl o s o f g t t t B li gt e . he e ex ce en e mo o o f the wo rd in oes to ro e t a one of th ll t v ery ty l gy p g p v h t the r es is. ni fie d it i s n end ed not on for th Millena ry p o v th a rticl e si g by i t ly e m ere h ea c a u se but the a rt st c a d orn n o f w ha ve b een t e h d m echani l i i i g omen ” i ve suffic en it e n the sa me w ord a s n to e m ro d er a ve rece d i t b i g pi k , b i “ of nc th e a n e r ca or i na e om th e o o i i d i d ; i , i ll th u fr B k f h , p t b p g y or h is own view il umina ed ini ia l in bl a c e e ma nu scri t icca rs to f , l t t k l tt r p p ” ” d a n em ro dere c o a r c es m x ed ea . ill b i d ; i l i fl a t h d y, ll p k , ” & a c u re . a c etifi ed e et l es i , c , a nd i n L a in as to its rob ab e use v g b p t t p l ” m ere to a in and in G ree oec il e c om a re d ewe i s not p g , , ( he Alfre j l p t k P p Pic cad ill the a in ed orc a nd in Sa nscri ecas , , and c rc l r , ) p is true i u a ” y P t P h t ” ” e e a nd eca la s a dorned . a w p , j l , a e th e onour to b e Sir ou r mos o ed e ? I h v h , , y t b i nt ser a n v t,

s Da 1901 . G E R G E St. Pih ta y, O

L W e TH E A LFR E D JE WE .

TO TH E E DITOR OF THE TIME S . w ere oo enou to r n ‘ Si — S om e wee s a go you g d g i - n k h p t ‘ m rz r 8 me uox q g 1 mi lena is g p m m se and now a the two letters f ro y lf , th t l ry n is n O ene our co umns o over and you ha v e a ga i p d y l th El s c er to it once l 0 oetq n w erm me to re nquu Jewe s3 q subject I trust you ill p it f ’ in our ssue of to La d H u ins s sugges ion i more . y gg t y a e een the ea o so- ca led ewe may b d da t a th j y, h t l l h v h ex e b ut wi a r ea r uede for emale wea is n w, d y e no s p of a in , E ecun m, p p f r ll h l b m , a r e enou mmoo sq; no i i muc a s th e soc e is nea r g g ei e on inas 8 dS01 d m a m na t , h k t ly l h er s of t a size for m o O omen; p, V ea enc a nd a pin )0 J to hold an ordina ry l d p il , h t ons x e K msseoeu q dus sd be mons rous. u f enin an a rmen wou d sn smees ast g y g t l t no 1 0 ssele f a eprsq ; ewe was the an e o us M c on en ion a th e j d ’ ’ Keuoru t t th t l h l t u p y Sa IG lIII e p, i t e r e B ir woo wi mu c ‘ ' su se 8 1101 r was met y Sir G o g d d se ueci sse ui q p ointe b th h fiu e mo o of th e sseu s g a a nd c a ssi cal a s to th e g ue ur a q u O rient , 01 r lea rning, l l ty l y u eur zoo e to b e ca st a e fo r p re erei ernu d ewe w i e I was allowe d ig d [ wor j l , h l t u u a nr sseu Su mord i e r n rom a of Pro 1 rp to off er a n o ini on di i g e u ds sumi ng p ff f th t o orxq ed p i r u omes gq t In our re or of th e E a r e a nd ere it wa s e . eu uu emp fessor l , th l f y p t u o i saem ee t F i o rea ha ro esso Sk 0 s se e , e d a t Winc ester I d f s fii unoo i tem 3 q proce ings h t t P r r q e eroos el w c A re wa s u uo q m [ h e i n ca e d a n oest , d asoru i m spoke of t th g ll hi h lf IIO i ‘ CtIIO Jd s wit his moreunu oe go l ente to certa n B s o sa id to ha ve pres d i i h p h u s su cmi e - eur g of th e srrc<) p v p ” o sa a one so u i on oo s a nd he wen on t y u esei d em b k , t th t l t 0 0 A no e a sq q 1 r stel was an in ica o , sri d mys er was a the ce d eu ger pe ewel t y th t t r nem ss m j m) ra n E h ans more u ni on. S ir Jo eu a e q ez jr d t i s see me d to b e h is O i rei eurmoo go m q an h p h it was th e n sse oons n d y r e d m c on en i on a dern sseu ia [ g istinctl suppo t y t t th t us r ue er sn n in out to the u oo o) fiuo p n p d nd e of a oin er for o g p , q hea (I said ha l ) p t p i t r 1 0 00 e e o Kerri J 5 mm , s p ea c e . 1 der th e line w ic h e h ad r d m ga es rea h h h 5 t m m em 01 9 e wit out o e r “ f ein sa t u on and d em o is d ' us 3 0 A er s s Ac id , q t b g p l h h pp 0 su e H p u m ac or to an o scur no od emos n ounc it of re it is sa isf e y e 10 ga rm tun y ply , t t y b b m er a ll or es ma nta ning a a to find two such a uth iti i i th t ft ra l t one and a t i t is now gene hi s vi ew wa s the righ th l y

H en ro e F wd . ry , M A . P ublisher to the University o f Ox ford London E d nbu h a nd New Y o k , i rg , r

J 3 MA ME W ith Illustra tio ns Pl; i [ a

m dr c u i

8 T03 q H UO ? VII J 3 W 3 L 3 H T

J B MAMB 4 0 B R US H B TAR ACIB Z HT| W

An H istorica l E ssa y

le M r D. ohn E a . A . L L J , ,

R ec o of Swa nswick eben a of W e s t r , Pr d ry ll R a wlinsonia n Professor of Anglo - Sa x on in the University of Ox ford

W ith Illustrations a nd Ma p

At the Cla rendon Press

m dcccc i Ox ford Printed a t the Cla rendon Press

B H o a ce H a t M. A . y r r , P rinter to the University H 3 3 4 1

MK 7 3 0 8 El i PR E FA CE

T is full fifty years since I began to contem plate the Alfred Jewel wi th a wonder and

e A t e u t e t. t c riosi y which b cam a habi l ng h , in the tte t t e the ue tt tu e la r half of ha p riod , vag a i d o f enqu iry began to point in a definite dirce t n to e t u e t t e e io , and xhibi s sc p ibili y of d v lop

e t u e e o f e e m n s gg sting promis possibl discov ry .

te u nt t I one Promp d by s ch a icipa ions , day v entured to express a wish to the Principal o f Hertford College that he wou ld exercise his well- known graphic talent upon the Alfred

e e a nd e e e e r o f J w l , mak som nlarg d d awings h it suitable fo r a Public Lectu re . T e resu lt was that h e gave me a beau tifu l set o f colou red drawings of the Jewel in variou s a spects edmir ably calcu la ted for exhibition in the L ec tu re vi Prefa ce

he . u e u e e to e t Room Th s q ipp d , I was abl mak

u e t e te e e tt t e s bj c mor in lligibl and mor a rac iv , i a nd I lectu red upon it the oftener . As t has not been my wont to write my lectures out in

u it the e e e fo r me e e f ll, was all mor n c ssary on v ry new occasion to make a fresh stu dy of the Jewel . In this recurring process new lights rose a t wide

te t e ew me to e te in rvals of im , and dr on d vo more thought to the obj ect a nd to the times associated with it ; and I fou nd more than

e the e e I had look d for in d sign, and mor

t t u e u bu t the (I hink) han I sho ld hav fo nd, for generous aid so readily extended to me by

Dr . Boyd .

It fte u e tu e e e e was a r s ch a l c r d liv r d in May,

1 8 t t the ea t u e e te 99, ha I had gr and n xp c d pleas ure of a proposal from the Delegates of the e o e i Pr ss t mak a book of t. I was able to e t t rO o sa l t ut acc p his p p wi ho misgiving, because I was satisfied that I had a solid interpretation to offer— one which had been slowly m atured and scrupulou sly tested by Prefa ce e e e e the o ld t e e v ry m ans in my pow r . All h ori s had come to nothing : there was not o ne o f them that cou ld b e seriou sly advocated as resting upon e vidence ei ther in history o r in

e he tu e f t common s ens and t na ral r ason o hings .

so u a s t u t In saying m ch his , I am only acco n ing fo r e ne to e t the t not my r adi ss acc p ask , and by any means prej udging the general verdict upon

e u the validity of my argum nt. In this arg ment I s eek to establish the intima te relation of the Jewel wi th the history and the mind a nd the e e o f e e not ee p rson of Alfr d W ss x, ind d

e t e t te t bu t as a sci n ifically d mons ra d fac , as a well- founded and abundantly supported proba bili e e e t t t u ty. I hav no d sir ha his concl sion shou ld b e admitted wi thou t a complete a nd rigid scru tiny .

' In the carrying ou t of this undertaking I have receive d we lcome and mu ch - needed help from many qu arte rs . The s ubj ect is one that calls for illustration by maps and drawings ; and I desire to express my since re acknowledge Prefa ce

e C e o f e ments to Mr . Alfr d A . lark W lls for

u n n a rticu his fo r drawi gs , amo g which I will p la rly mention his characte ristic landscape of

e e t e e th Isl of A h ln y . The map o f Athelney and the lands adjacent is very ingenio usly devised for exhibiting the contrast between the low level of the moorland and the contours o f the rising country around ; it is expressive and intelligible a t a glance a nd for this excellent illu stration my acknowledge

Da rbi hire e a e d o e . s . m nts r ue t Mr . B rnhard V

e a re du e to e . My h arty thanks Mr . Charl s H Read of the British Museum for the ample in formation h e kindly a fib rded me concerning the gold rings of the Saxon period which a re in his

e f e d partment. Also o r th permission which he gave (as Secretary o f the Society o f Antiqu aries) to transfer to th ese pages their engraving from the o f e t e t ee u e Book K lls , and also h ir hr fig r s

the uee thelswith of gold ring of q n E E . To those gentlemen of Somerset who have aided me with local information and hospitali ty ’ Y refzzce

e u e e u e to and p rsonal g idanc , I hav good ca s b e e r t u . e tt u always g a f l Major Barr , j nior, of

e the ne the e t e e Mor don , ow r of Isl of A h ln y, took me over the ground in a manne r tha t is

e a ee e to e e e u e me to v ry gr abl r m mb r, and ca s d see the historical sites of his country with every

It wa s u e fi advantage . nd r his au spic es that I rst ’ realized the fu ll impor t of Alfred s fort a t

u e a nd t e e t Boro gh Bridg , wha a sp aking obj c

it e a i 1 8 6 e t . ee t l sson c r inly is I had s n in y , n b ut I had ot adequately appreciated it.

e T revelia o f Midelne From Mr . C ly n y Place I learnt mu ch that was usefu l to me concern ing the history and present conditions o f the

o f e et H e h os it moorlands Som rs . was my p able friend and companion ove r the country o n either side of the Parrett in the circle o f Lang

t f t t to u e . e por , and rom ha Boro gh Bridg Und r his guidance I revisi ted Aller (pronounced

e e e e u t e t its e Oll r), and r n w d acq ain anc wi h sacr d

- t fte te f t u e . associa ions , a r an in rval of or y fo r y ars In 1 8 y6 I was conducted by an o ld Oriel friend P reface

t the R ev. e e who was my hos , Jam s Col man, then Cu rate o f the parish in which Athelney is situated ; he subsequ ently became Vica r o f

Cheddar and Prebendary of Wells . When

e te e u the e e t fte so I n r d pon pr s n work, a r

te it e t . long an in rval, was wi h Mr Col man tha t I began to make enqu iries for local in formation . To Sir Alexander Acl a nd Hood I am indebted fo r e e i t t g n alog cal and opographical informa ion, a nd particu larly for some new light on the

t the e e the t t e e his ory of J w l , now for firs im mad

The t te e t he u t o f public . s a m n in t man scrip

. e e e e a t Mr Thomas Palm r, which is pr s rv d Fair ’ e t t the e e du u is new te fi ld , ha J w l was g p, a i m

the u t e the e to in circ ms anc s of discov ry, which

t t t e e I a tach impor an vid ntial weight. I have also to thank Sir Cu thbert Slade o f

M a unsel u te e , for his co r sy in answ ring my e u e e e te t con nq iri s , g n alogical and rri orial,

e the e c rning Slad family .

he . . . e the t t ee e t On Mr C F B ll , Assis an K p r of

Prefa ce convince the reader only as fully as I am

e e t t to t con convinc d mys lf, ha is say, wi h a victio n e no to t b u t which mak s claim finali y, li es Open to correction in case of new light o r

ette use o f o ld t et e e t e e b r da a ; y which n v r h l ss, in the mean time and for the main issu es of the e u e e e ee t nq iry, r ach s a d gr of probabili y whereby all dou bt and uncertainty is practically e u e xcl d d . TABLE OF CO NTE NTS

CHAPTE R I

DE SCRI PT ION O F T H E ALFRE D JE W E L

The pla ce of its d eposit Structura l deta ils o f the Jewel The na me of Alfred upo n it Qq estion wha t this na m e impo rts Oth er perso ns bea ring this nam e The perfection of the Jewel suggested doubt The firm eme o eo e H icke judg nt f Dr . G rg s e e t e ess the uest on must be e in N v r h l , q i k pt throughout this E ssa y

CHAPTE R

1 0— 2 1 T H E E PIGRAPH o x LE GE ND .

The fo rms of the lettering The Synta x of the S entence ( I ) a s to coll oca tion ( z)usa ge of wo rds x iv Cca tea ts

( 3)flex iona l construction (4) a ctiv e a nd pa ssive structure Oth e r time- indications in the E pigraph ’ Q ota tion from Alfred s Prologue to his Pa rtora lir Simila rity between the Prologue a nd the E pigraph

CHAPTE R III

E ARLY S PE CULAT IONS ABOUT IT S DE SIGN A ND MANN E R O F U SE 2 2— 3 0

T he E poch of th e Disco ve ry— The Roy a l Society The perso ns who first were conversa nt with the new found Object— C olonel N a tha niel P a lmer H a ns oa ne— The t s useum Dr . Sl Bri i h M o e H a e s E a of o R b rt rl y, fir t rl Oxf rd s u s e no ce of the ewe — Fir t p bli h d ti J l Dr . Willia m Musgra ve ’ H ickes s T/aera a ra ; Variety o f Opinio ns a bout the Jewel Fra ncis W ise— Sa muel Pegge un a n Mr. Philip D c

St eo a nd St. ut e . N t C hb rt Abortiv eness o f these a tt empts Cantea ts x v

CHAPTE R IV

’ BISH O P CLI FFORD S T H E ORY

Bishop Cl i ffo rd ’ The ha ndle of a choir - ma ster s wa nd Identica l with the aestel Given by Alfred to Athelney Abbey a nd th ere kept ’ to H enry VIII s time This theo ry ina pplica bl e to the Jewel But perh aps a pplica bl e to the aestel Th eo ry of sceptre- tip

CHAPTE R v

A JE W E L IN T H E CROW N 4 4— yo

Form convenient for er ection in the helm et Tra nsforms the helm et into a Coronet The minor jewel fro m Minste r Lovel ’ so n a nd . G rifiiths Dr . Wil Dr ( E ota tions from Beowulf a nd Laga mo n The Crown Of ( k een Victo ria Contents

CHAPTE R VI

’ T H E BOA R S HE AD

’ Dive rsity of Opinion a bout the a nima l s hea d Testimony undesigned The wild boa r in the h elmet wota tions from the Beow ulf ’ ’ The oa s H ea a t ( een s o e e o B r d Q C ll g , Oxf rd ’ Religious o rigin of the B oa r s H ea d a s a Crest

CHAPTE R VII

T H E FIGURE IN E NAM E L AND T H E E NGRAV E D PL ATE AT T H E B ACK O F IT 6 1 — 9 1

O ur Chief Pro bl em is A figure ha rd to cha ra cteriz e 6 1

Divi sion o f this Chapte r 6 7. E namelling a s a n a rtistic industry ' E na mel cloiwnnee 63 e e a nt s ec mens a cco n t f o La ba rte 6 . Chi f xt p i rdi g M . 4. h e o T e E nam lled Ouche o f Mr . R a ch Smith 68

E na me cha m /efvée id l p . Contents xvii

Obscurity Of the histo ry of ena melling Philostratus E na mell ed horse- gea r The Symbolism of the ica ncula a nd its Source The Book of K ells Rel a tions Of Alfre d with Iri sh tra vell ers 7 8 The Tufa 7 9 ’ E vidence for the E na mel s being a n insula r p1 oduct 80 All egori ca l engra ving on the ba ck pla te 8 1 D ua listic theory O f Sir Francis P a lgra ve 8 3 n n 8 The broth ers Joh a nd Philip Dunca 4. Unity of thought in the Jewel 86 ’ ’ o his a tora lzr 8 ff Alfr ed s E pil ogue t P s 7 . S umma ry Of this Ch apte r 90

CHAPTE R VIII

ALFRE D IN SOME RSE T BE Y OND PE D R IDA 9 2 - 1 3 2

’ The centra l episode of Alfred s ca reer Suddenness Of the surpri ze a t Chippenh a m Apprehension Of atta ck on north coa st of VVea lcyn Alhsta n sho of e o ne , bi p Sh rb r Meditatio ns of king Alfred b xviii

D a nish inva sion of W essex Pl a cable temper of the W est W elsh H ostility of the North Wel sh ’ Alfred s disguise The Jewel must be buri ed S elwood Story of Denewulf H ingston Down The D a nes in E x eter The D anes at Cynwit The politica l import of Pedrida Selwoodshire

The Tra nspedridan dial ect The D evonia n u The Pixi es ’ Somerset in Alfred s da y Subsidence of the l a nd E lm- trees R ed D eer ’ L el a nd s Itinera ry E tymology Of Pedrida British policy Of Wessex ’ Aldh elm s l etter to G erontius H is little church a t Bra dfo rd-on- Avo n A ssociations o f Gl a stonbury ’ A sser s L ife of A lfred T he Fort a t Ath el ney Brixton Deveril

X X Contents

CHAPTE R X PAGE GOLD R INGS CONTE M PORANE OUS

The E na me le uc e of oa c m t l d O h Mr . R h S i h The Ring O f Alhstan The pla ce O f its discovery ’ The Ring of Alfred s fa th er The pl a ce a nd ma nner of its discovery ’ The Ring of Alfred s sister The ma nner of its discovery The Ring of E thred Runes intermix ed with Roma n l etteri ng The a rtist bea rs a S axo n name

CH APTE R X I

— SOM E CLOSING R E FLE CTIONS r y7 I 7 4

Fine workmanship no longer a n Obj ection E a rly cumulation o f evidence E vidence a dded since Rejected th eories The Cynehelm th eory The unity Of the work mak es for Alfred O f W essex I 6o O utline O f thc Symbolism Contents

My surpriz e a t the l atent mea ni ngs The fondness of king Alfred for imagery h m T e Si il e Of the Wa ggon I 63 The Jewel ill ustr a ted by the Writings of king Alfred I65' The Jewel proba bly reco rds a Crisis 1 66 At what E po ch d esigned ? Double process of investiga tion ’ D ate of Alfred s return from Rome The nature O f Proba bl e E vidence Co nclusions from the a bove da ta

APPE NDICE S

E I The st u she ot ce of the e APP ND X A . Fir p bli d N i Alfr d ewe to 2 a nd 1 J l ( pp. 5 7 5

a d t ut e to a nd E DI e t n S . . o . 1 APP N X B . St N C hb rt ( pp 7 7

E DIX The TW O- Sce e u e in the Book o A PP N C . ptr d Fig r f

K ells to 8 ( p . 7 )

E DIX The t s n the E na me e APP N D . Bri i h Origi Of ll d u e to 1 Fig r ( p . 9 )

E DIX E t e ne e to 1 1 APP N . A h l y Abb y ( p . 5 )

E D I th ewton u h to I N X o c . APP F . N r N Ch r ( p 39)

IX The P esentat on O f the e ewe to APPE ND G . r i Alfr d J l

the n ers of or to 1 0 and x 1 . U iv ity Oxf d ( pp . 4 45 ) 94 x x ii

LIST OF ILLUSTR ATIONS

PAG E

The fre ewe in fou a s ects w t se a a te u e of Al d J l r p , i h p r Fig r E na mel F rontirpiece The Inscription o n the Jewel I T he Minster Lov el J ewel Illumina tion fro m the Book of K ellr The I sl e Of A thelney Fa irfield H ouse Inscription on the Ring o f fE thelwulf The Ring of {E thelwulf

The n ( een fE thelswith the ez Ri g Of k , b il I nscription within the Ring O f ( k een fE thclswith The Ring Of ( b een fE thelswith sh owing nie llo

’ Inscription on fE ifired s Ring

The ewe ont and a c J l , Fr B k S culptured Bosses found a t Ath elney Abbey Tower of North Newto n Church Ma p of the Isle Of Athelney

CH APTE R I

DE SCRIPTION O F TH E ALFRE D JE WE L

H E subject o f this E ssay is preserved in the e u eu ee Ashmol an M s m, which has b n its home fo r a period o f time now approaching I e e t e u e two hundred years . t is th r ins all d nd r

glass in such a manner that every side o f it is It plainly exhibited to the eye o f the visi tor . bears an inscription in conspicuous lettering ’ which sets forth that by Alfred s order it was B 7. Tloe A lfred jewel

e t the u u it mad , and his is gro nd pon which is

known as TH E ALFRE D JE W E L . The Alfred Jewel has been compared to a tt e e no t u t u the tte ba l dor , n r ly for ma r of shape ; but the wide diversity o f size makes the ee u u The e t e e comparison s m incongr o s . x r m length of the Jewel is a very small fraction unde r two inches and a half ; its greatest width is j ust one inch and a fifth ; its thickness barely half an inch . It contains a sitting Figure enamelled on a plate of gold which is protected in front by o f t a t the a slab rock crys al , and back by a gold plate engraved ; the whole enshrined in a golden frame of delicately executed filigree The tu e e t u the work . pic r is visibl hro gh t the e e the e e rock crys al , making obv rs of J w l ; while the reverse is formed by the gold plate which is a t the back of the enamelled te t la te e e e pla . Upon his gold p is ngrav d an all gorica l design . Both these su rfaces (obverse e e e a re fla t but e e t e t and r v rs ) , in v ry o h r par of the e e the u e u e J w l s rfac is ro nd d . Th e rounded contours may b e likened to ’ e o f e e e e thos a pig on s gg. If w imagin a longi

The A l e e el 4. fr d j w

u the m e perhaps walrus ivory . Aro nd ping sid s runs a legend

PP AE LF R E D ME I: H E H T E E W Y R E A N

me ordered ma ke and this legend starts from the narrowest point o f the e ni the t- e oval, b gin ng on righ hand sid and r unning round to the corresponding point on the e t so t t it e e the l f , ha ncircl s oval com letel u the t e t to p y, r nning in con rary dir c ion t t t we a re our n ha wi h which familiar in coi s, a re e e t to t ee which r dd from l f righ , as ind d e e the o f the t e w r also coins nin h c ntury . Some have dou bted whether the owner o f the e e the u e o f e e It J w l was famo s Alfr d W ss x . has been urged that the name o f ZE L FR E D in the E pigraph is not o f itself adequate proof o f the t it u t b e tte t t t fac , and m s admi d ha his e i o t e f is literally tru . And t is n sup r luou s to t out the e u e e o f u e poin incons q nc s ch r asoning, fo r it has actu ally been advanced in s eriou s e ue Pe f r u t. e t u o e arg m n Sam l gg , an an iq ary u te te Arcba olo ia t e e ee p , wro in g ii as if h r had b n b ut one eminent person o f the name o f Alfred ‘ Th ere is no doubt b ut this K emfiluov was Description of tbe A lfred jewel y

e the e t o f the e t [E lfred onc prop r y gr a King , notwithstanding the goodness of the work which has been an obj ection to its a uthenticity ; fo r ’ the king s name is expressly mentioned in the ’ inscription . There were many persons o f that e the u e the e nam in co rs of Saxon p riod, and the name was not confined to men born after his t e t e e e e e o f t e im , for h r w r p rsons his nam who e e men o f te e w r mark among his con mporari s, one o f whom (to sa y the least) was certainly e his s nior . ’ e t u e 86 2 e Wh n Swi h n di d, in (in Alfr d s u tee t e u e the See o f fo r n h y ar), his s cc ssor in LFR E D Winchester was named ZE . A contemporary of position and intelligence and of great wealth was that fE LFR E D who re deemed from heathen hands a noble volu me of the e e e it e Gosp ls , and conv y d by a sol mn deed of gift in his own name and that of his e to the t e of t u wif bro h rhood Chris Ch rch, Can 1 terbur t u e the Codex Aa rea r y . Tha vol m is ,which

1 — m n Thi s rema rka ble d ocument begins thus >X< In no i e m n n st Ihe t Ic ZE LPR E D a ldo rmon a nd do i i o ri su Chris i . ’ W erburg min gefera begeta n B“ a s béc aet haednum herg e m id ’ a nc e claene feo B“ eet “Boune waes mid claene o e a nd daet r g ld , wit deodan for G odes lufa n and for uncre saul e tSea rf o nd 6 The A lfred jewel

is now in the Royal Library a t Stockholm . The o f t e the u e t t Will his Alfr d, who in co rs of ha ’ u e t t e e E lfred du x one o f doc m n s yl s hims lf , is th 1 e most precious relics o f Saxon antiquity . ’ few e te the e t the A y ars af r king s d a h, e e 0 6 the e t o f Chronicl r cords , in 9 , d a h an e ee e o f t Alfr d, who was R v Ba h . It ha s been argued that wi th such facts before us the ownership of the Alfred Jewel mu st b e a tte o f u e t t for we t t it ma r nc r ain y, only know ha

was ordered by a person o f the name of Alfred . Su ch arguments may sometimes be heard from e e a re e t t e to e e t p rsons whos Opinions n i l d r sp c , b u t I am no t aware that any one has u nder taken to reason o ut and maintain this view in e t e we tte a pu blish d wri ing. And p rhaps if a nd e to the e the e e e we sha ll see w ll whol of vid nc , forh on 6 c wit nolda n “Beet h a s ha lga n beoc lencg in h aere a s n < n he na m e f r o es h eh enes e wu a den. >I I t o ou L rd J u st e a e ma n a nd W erbur m conso t ur Chri . I Alfr d ld r g y r p c ase t ese oo s at a ea t en ost w t our c ea n mone h d h b k h h h i h l y , ’ tha t is to say with clea n go ld ; a nd tha t we two did for God s o e a nd for the enefit of our sou s a nd for a t we wou l v b l , th ld ’ t s o h no tha t these holy book sh uld long er lie in het enesse . '

c Ca rtula ria m Sa x onzcam NO . 6 . Bir h , , 34 1 ' m ode Di lom ti a s O ta a za m e e x a c N . 1 c Ca r l r K bl , C p , 3 7 ; Bir h ,

Sa x onica m N O . 8 E a e L a nd Cha rters . 1 2 . , 5 5 ; rl , , p 5 Description of the A lfred jewel 7 no cause to marvel a t the unanimi ty o f authors in accepting this Jewel as a personal possession ’ o f e s e e u e e e king Alfr d , and (in som m as r , div rs ly estimated) as a product o f his own artistic e n d sig . It no t the e t e b ut t e is nam by i s lf, his nam taken in connexion with the richness and costli e the t the t u t u e u t n ss Of work, wi h ho gh f l ing n i y o f its e e t t the d vic and composi ion, and wi h symbolic m eanings which must be assigned to certain parts o f the structu re — such evidences t e e e t e t e te as h s , again combin d wi h c r ain x rnal e e e e the t the vid nc s, nam ly, locali y in which e e u ffi t e e t J w l was fo nd, and any a ni i s appar n in the above data with the career or exploits the o r t te t te of king, wi h his charac r and as s, e the e ue t e we o ur wh n own rship is q s ion d, find selves face to face with an accumu lation o f evi dence varying in qu ality and requ iring to b e

’ j u dged by the delicate and sensitive standard e e e e of probability . In pr s nc of such a probl m we should not neglect the impressions and ex pressed opinions o f persons whose instincts have been cultiva ted in the sphere of s uch proba li i bi t es. s The A lfred jewel

e e H ickes 1 e t e u t G org , in m n ions som do b in t e ffi u t the e ut g cri ics , whos di c l y lay in b a y and perfection of the work . They could no t understand how su ch artistic work could proceed

m - the e fro Anglo Saxon artists in ninth c ntury . B u t e he e the e e t o f the for hims lf, add d, m r sigh e e ee e u t t t J w l had b n no gh, and ha from his firs View of it he had neve r doubted that it was a personal possession of the great king Alfred 1 Wh en an elaborate piece o f workmanship like the Alfred Jewel is presented to the experienced t e e e o f e H ickes mind and prac is d y a man lik , the e e e t u u vid nc is rapidly, almos nconscio sly, te the t e n e e to u sif d, and probabili i s co v rg a foc s, so as to produce a conviction which seems like e f e e a simpl appreh ension o the senses . I w lcom ’ H ickes s expression o f confidence as a confirma t o f t t ion ha which I have experienced myself. B ut while I am entirely free from uncertainty I qu ite recognize the reasonableness of the u t th t e the do b , and I know a (logically sp aking)

1 ‘ oad O ificium autem ta m e e a ns u em est et Qr p , l g q id id erfectum ut e us a nt u atem in u um voca ndi do ctis p , i iq it d bi no nnullis o cca sionem dederit ets E l redi e s hoc m , i f r gi Oli ’ u sse ecu um ex uo mum nun ua m u a . f i p li , q pri vidi, q d bit vi '

L in ua rza n Vetera m Se tentriona lza rn Thesa urus vol. . g p , i , p ' P escrzptlon of the A lfred jewel 9 u n t t ncertainty is there . And I k ow also ha many of my readers will entertain it and will look more o r l ess dubio usly upon the assu mption f e e e e o t t t tte . e t c r ain y in his ma r And , ind d , h r is a certain advantage in having to reckon with t e t tt tu e o f d u the his sc p ical a i d min , insom ch as presence of doubt has a stimulating effec t in furnishing the discourse with a determinate aim he e t t t e t . It set me on t and dir c ion will al r , ha I may not miss any incidental chance ofa reflec tion tending to assu re those who wou ld be gratified to think that we do indeed possess a relic t te te t the e t in ima ly associa d wi h p rson, and wi h

the o f F E D K O F W E SSE x . mind, AL R , ING CH A PTE R I I

TH E E PIGRAPH O R LE GE ND

W E mu st now consider and see what we can e h the cue l arn from t e E pigraph . This was whereby B ickes introdu ced the Jewel into the

u e t o f Dirrerta tio E irtola rir t e e arg m n his p , and h r gave us the cream o f the discussions which h a d been developed in the space o f twelve years h e t t from t e discovery . Obs rving ha in a Saxon e comm inscription which Dr . Hans Sloan had u

i a s o 2 n c ted to the Philosophica lTra n a cti ns (NO . 4 7 )

two ette o f - u e only l rs Anglo Saxon form occ rr d, the the he ee e to e e C and G , proc d d d scrib and discu ss the Jewel in all the points of View which up to that time had occupied the attention o f the The to e t curiou s . forms which h adver ed e e the u e e a re w r ang lar C and G, which how v r t e E t e e ra h r pigraphic han Saxonic forms . Th s

I2. The A lfred jewel beginnings were fii rther back ; the taste for Frankish fashions having been introduced by t e E c b erht e e his grandfa h r g , who had pass d y ars o f a e u t exile t the Cou rt o f Charlemagn . Do b less the movement grew u nder the influence o f l e not te e b ut A fr d, who only had visi d Rom , in all probability had resided there for some years . If now passing from the alphab etic characters we e the t t e te e we consid r syn ax of his s n nc , shall find that it varies so widely from ou r habits o f speech a t the present time as to fu rnish some t e e u e of the te e e hing lik a m as r in rv ning p riod, and as it we re to render some accou nt o f the e o f L et u s e laps a thousand years . b gin by translating the sentence verbally with the i um of e et the e f e min m chang , r aining s l sam t e e e t the words in h ir mod rn guis . On his plan ‘ ’ sentence will run thu s : Alfred me hight work ; where the baldness o f the diction exhibi ts roughly the gulf there is between this E pigraph

ou r e e t u e . E E n and pr s n sag ach word is glish, b u t the sentence is far from being so . This great contrast is the resu l t o f a combination o f u e it b e e e t u h e ca s s, and may r solv d in o fo r c i f The E pigraph or L egend 1 3

movements which have slowly operated during he te t long in rval . ( 1 )A change has taken place in the collocation e te e The e o f words in forming a s n nc . govern d pronoun stands in a place where it is no w inadmissible : the present habit o f the language ‘ ’ requ ires that the pronou n me shou ld come e e e in after its gov rning v rb . If we mak this e we see t t the e te e chang , shall ha s n nc will ‘ e e t e e e E t u : e b com a rifl mor lik nglish, h s Alfr d e ’ hight work m . (2 )Anothe r movement is that which in process e e the f o f time tak s plac in u sage o words . There is a fashion in the choice o f words fo r the t o f o u r e t t f clo hing id as , and ha ashion e et es u fitfii ll b u t chang s som im capricio sly and y, for the most part so slowly and gradually that it takes an era of time to make the change u u a re e to t conspic o s . Words liabl his kind of te t n u e ee t e u t al ra io in vario s d gr s, and his in q ali y Of change is observable even in a sentence o f

u . The e H E H T h ht u e fo r words v rb , ig , has nd r gone so grea t a change o f sense that to the general reader it is a pt to be u nintelligible ]l

1 s is e e a ne in m E n lish hilolo 2 0 . Thi bri fly xpl i d y g P gy, 7 1 T e A e 4. h lfred jew l

But e t e te e e t the whil his v rb has al r d gr a ly, ‘ ’ i e te e tt e . t t v rb work has al r d li l S ill, has te e it e the t fo r al r d, and is no long r righ word i s t place . The remaining two words have in usage un e n ME C d rgone no cha ge a t all . The pronou n has su ffered alteration in form by dropping a nt bu t it u te u e consona , is absol ly nchang d in it i b te s t . ee t e t applica ion Ind d, may s a d as e e t t u a re a g n ral law, ha prono ns as a class among the slowes t of words to admit semantic n cha ge . Never theless there is a group o f words which a re t e u e e t s ill mor nchang abl in significa ion, and e e a e he e E te e th s r t Prop r Nouns . x rnal chang s o f t e t but not the te form h y do admi , in rnal

e e he e fE L FR E D th e change of s ns . T nam is e e t the e o f his e b ut form pr val n on coinag r ign, t e e a re t t u JE L FR E D JE L B R E D h r varia ions, h s , , E L FR E D F E E E D t e e th e A F E D , L R ; and h r is form L R , which has become established in modern E nglish in consequence o f the fact that o u r earliest popu lar histories O f the king were e e t u e d riv d from La in books, in which lang ag his name was commonly spelt ALFR E DUS. B u t The E pigraph or L egend 1 5 whatever changes may pass over the Visible e e e t t o f the t e e te t r pr s n a ion word, h r is no al ra ion possible in the relation b etween this word and the memory of that royal person whose proper name 1t was . If now we remove the words that have uffe e e t e u t tute t e s r d a s man ic chang , and s bs i hos a t the e e t t e ee t tu which pr s n im s m mos na ral , ‘ the sentence will take this form : Alfred ’ ordered make me ; and thu s it approaches another step towards the present manner o f ou r speech . (3 ) The third movement to b e noticed is that from the flex iona l to the phrasal method of t The G E W Y R CAN flex iona l syn ax . word is a

e the t e - AN e the o f the v rb, las syllabl , , b ing sign fini t e t the t t in iv mood, and indica ing syn ac ical t te e function o f hat word in the sen nc . By slow e ee t et t e o u t o f u se d gr s his m hod of syn ax f ll , and another way came up o f expressing the

f he e - A a same fu nction . Instead o t syllabl N t ’ the end o f the e tt e ‘to set v rb, a li l word , , was e e the e t the e efi ect o f ex b for v rb , wi h sam If we pressing the infinitive mood . now add this change to the other modifications o f o u r 1 6 The A lf red jewel

e te e we it e e e s n nc , shall bring consid rably n ar r to u e t ee t u : e e e to c rr n sp ch, h s Alfr d ord r d ’ e me But t it t et to e u e mak . s ill wan s som hing r d c it into the shape which we can recognize as modern E nglish . (4)The fou rth and last change which we must note in the habits of ou r speech is the great e te the e e t u x nsion of passiv v rb, and par ic larly e t e e in th infini iv mood . Many infinitiv phrases which were once cast in the Active have been e to the e e u chang d Passiv , and a ling ring s rvival of the active formu la may b e observed to have e e e t e ee t a p cu liar and xc p ional air . W f l his in ’ the e ( The e no t to ee phras , r ason is far s k . A more familiar example may b e seen on the

boards of the hou se agents . Some of these ’ ( u e to let e t e efe boards say Ho s , whil o h rs pr r ’ ‘ u e to be let the one e Ho s , is hom ly and t e E the t e em na iv nglish, o h r is modish and r inds s o f he te The e ut t u t schoolmas r . sam a hori y will u e us to o ur e e u to te g id bring L g nd p da , and stamp ou r version with the mint of the nine ‘ teenth e tu t u : e e e me to c n ry, h s Alfr d ord r d ’ b e e mad . In the above analysis it has been necessary The E pigraph or L egend I7

to depart in som e meas ure from the course o f natu re by exhibiting in succession a group o f changes which a re due to processes more or e e u u l ss simu ltan ous . This acc m lation ofgra dua l e u e e u e t e t chang s f rnish s a m as r , par ly sci n ific, t e t e t o f the e te t t par ly s n im n al, wid in rval ha separates u s from the time when this E pigraph was curiou sly woven in golden filigree by the l ucky artist who executed the design o f the e ing nious prince . Bu t the E pigraph has time- indications which r a e closer and more defini te . There a re featu res e e te o f the e o f t e which , b sid s lling laps im , do also in some sense indicate the point o f time ; fea tu res in virtue o f which this L egend may be e t d t The said to sugg s proximately its o wn a e . ’ two ‘M E C H E H T a re the words archaic forms, o ne o f e e the t e e which is n v r, and o h r rar ly, fou nd in the prose o f the tenth centu ry ; indeed ME C they were both archaic in the ninth . had e e to M E t u e u te giv n plac , and ( ho gh l ss absol ly) H E H T to H E T b ut the Older forms were still a t the e e o f the et E e s rvic po , and pigraphy has som i e share in poetic privilege . Indeed t would s em that in the time o f Alfred ME C was consciou sly 1 8 The A lfred jewel

e used as an archaic cu riosi ty . Ther is a gold ring which I take to b e contemporaneou s with ou r e e it e E h t J w l, and b ars an nglis inscrip ion in I e which M E C occu rs twice . t will b e describ d e 1 b low . It would b e to o mu ch to sa y that th e forms M E C H E H T e e te te b u t t e cer conv y a d fini da , h y ta inl fit e t the t e o f e b u t y w ll wi h im Alfr d , and ( for that vague licence o f E pigraphy) they might e ven b e said to s uggest the ninth century as the latest probable date O f a work with which they a re n ide tified . It is worthy o f notice tha t H E H T occ urs in ’ t e e e o f e t ano h r pi c Alfr d s indi ing, which I will introdu ce here no t only for the sake of the e u ti e e b ut e u e old r d plica v v rb, also b ca s the e e e to the u ent passag is g rman arg m , and f e imports an illu stration o a compreh ensiv kind. ’ The king prefixed to his version o f Gregory s Pa stora l Ca re a preface in pros e and a prologue e e he e e e wa s u t the in v rs . T pros pr fac abo main purpose of his work ; the poetical pro ue e t t te tte the u t t log d al wi h li rary ma rs, a hori y o f te t the t the his x , his ory of his copy,

1 ha e C pt r x .

The A lfred jewel

m onna mOdw ele ost of men the most m n - c g , i d ri h ,

‘ m aerBu fr st a nd w est a m e . m ge aego . id d ir d

‘ SiiSSa n min on B u glise At length into E nglish

E lfred k yning Alfred the king

a w ende W orda eh w elc e e wo o f me wen e g , v ry rd d d ,

a nd me h is w riterum a nd m e to hi s writers

‘ sende suiSa nd nO I S ; south a nd north he did send ;

h eb t h im sw elcra m a more ord ered of such

‘ b ren a n b i Saere b isene the co to n g , by py bri g ,

‘ Saet h e h is biscepu m th a t he to his bishops senda n m ea h te : might be a bl e to send

‘ forE ae m h i h is sume Sorften for so me o f t em nee e it , h d d

5 a tie Leedensp ra ce such a s o f La tin

‘ laeste chE on e tt e now. . v ry li l did k

In the last six lines o f this little poem a new attitude is taken up ; the book i tself becomes the e e et t ho w Ai L FR E D the t sp ak r, and s s for h was rans

t he e e H E H T e e la or, how ord r d ( )mor copi s of his to be e for e t t t u . ransla ion mad , and wha p rpos In e t u e the ue u te m n ioning p rpos , prolog comm nica s The E pigraph or L egend

et e the e e e e the som hing b yond L g nd, which l av s pu rpose and signification of the design shro uded f . B u t o r the e t we e in symbolism r s , if analyz t e e six e we the e t e h s lin s, shall find h ar and cor of them to b e essentially identical wi th the L egend on the Jewel

A E LFR E D ME I: H E H T G E W Y R E A N CH A PTE R I I I

E ARLY SPE CULATIONS ABOUT ITS DE SIGN AND MANNE R OF USE

T H E finding of the Alfred Jewel chanced upon a remarkable time in the intellectual life of he E It he t e e t t . t nglish na ion was im of Dryd n, e f e ft t e e e t e D o , Swi , Chris oph r Wr n, B n l y, Lord

e e t . te Som rs , Sir Isaac N w on, Addison In li ra e e e tu r the coming man was Al xand r Pope . The cardinal event o f that period was the t tut the et 1 6 6 o the ins i ion of Royal Soci y in , f The m t year o the Res toration . os conspicuous bent o f the intellectu al world was in the direc t n o f e e C the e t o f io physical sci nc , and gr a work interpreting nature was performed by the E nglish o f that a ge as it had never be fore been performed in any a ge by any nation This was the

1 i a ca u a H stor c . . M l y , y, iii De a nd Ma e o se sign . nn r f U pe riod in which a na tional Observatory was e stablished a t Greenwich To this period e the e e e o f e the b long ch mical discov ri s Boyl , t n e e e e the bo a ical r s arch s of Sloan , and classi fica i f e e e t e t t ons o Ray . In v ry d par m n of e e e u u e t it the knowl dg nq iry was ro s d, and wi h eni u o f t e e e e t e e e g s h ory, whos mov m n s w r som t e t e B ut t te e im s has y and rratic . his nd ncy was gradually cou nterac ted by the deepening con viction that sou nd knowledge mu st b e based on e u e t the ee u eu car f l obs rva ion, and n d ofm s ms e be e e The e u eu b gan to r cogniz d . Ashmol an M s m

u t the e t o f 1 6 8 was b il by Univ rsi y Oxford , in 3 , ’ to receive E lias Ashmole s collection o f cu riosi t e the f t o f te t i s, orma ion which had origina d wi h the Tradescants . The architect was Sir Christo e e t et e it t e o f new ph r Wr n . Al og h r was a im e a nd ne id as w institutions .

e the e e u 1 6 it e Wh n J w l was fo nd , in 9 3 , f ll into the hands o f persons who belonged both socially and intellectu ally to the foremost ranks . Th e first recorded owner was Colonel Nathaniel e o f Fa irfield u e the e the Palm r, Ho s , in r gion of a t e t e Qu nto cks. Of his hou s and his family som he ni e particu lars will be related in t nth chapt r . The A lfred jewel

The first notice o f the Jewel was published e e o f the by Dr . Hans Sloan , a F llow Royal et e e t tu hiloso Soci y, min n as physician, na ral p

e t u . H e e e te e e t ph r, and an iq arian was l c d S cr ary o f t t et 1 6 the e the ha Soci y in 9 3 , y ar in which e e he Jewel was fou nd . Wh th r by reason o f t new cloud o f political and religious trou ble which brooded ove r the land in the latte r years o f e o r te e u e so it wa s Jam s II, from wha v r ca s , that the Philosophica l Tra nsa ctions had been u e e the t six e t e e e s sp nd d for pas y ars, and h y w r e u t te the new e et who r s sci a d by S cr ary, was e e n e hims lf an activ co tribu tor . This r mark e e to e t a e e he e abl man liv d a gr a g , and wh n di d,

1 2 n et - e e u eu in 7 y , in his in y s cond y ar, his m s m wa s u t the e e t t u r bo gh by Gov rnm n , and his p chase was the origin of the Bri tish Mu seum ; for u ntil the middle of the eighteenth centu ry th e idea o f a national library and museu m had never been entertained in E ngland . The e Act e t 2 6 G eo sam of Parliam n ( . II) which directed the pu rchase o fthe Sloane museum also directed the pu rchase o f the Harleian collection of manuscripts which had been made e t e t E o f f e by Rob r Harl y, firs arl Ox ord, whos Design a nd M a nner of Use name is also memorable in the study of the Alfred Jewel ; fo r it was from an engraving fu rnished e t e e by Rob r Harl y, and mad from a drawing o f t t the t o f the t ee u e his own, ha firs hr fig r s in ’ s E s la ris H ickes s Di serta tio pi to was printed . The first pu blished notice o f the Jewe l a p P o T pea red in the hilos phica l ra nsa ctions (N O . 2 4 7 it t u e in and was con rib t d by Dr . William u e e o f N ew o e e M sgrav , F llow C ll g , physician in t e e e o f the London, and an ac iv m mb r Royal

et u t 1 0 o f Anti uita tes B ri Soci y, and a hor ( 7 9) g ’ - H e e H ta nno Beégica . also contribut d to ickes s Thesa urus the second a nd third figu res o f the a re e e e 1 Jewel which th r engrav d . These were the eminent persons who prepared the material for th e elaborate account which H ickes ( 1 7 0 7 ) gave o f the Alfred Jewel in the

e T es s Fo r the u t first Volum of his h a uru . min iae o f the description h e was particu larly indebted to e u e e to e Harl yand M sgrav , who app ar hav ee t a t Fa irfield u e b n occasional visi ors Ho s . The first impression which prevailed as to its e n u se t t it m be u e d sig and was ha ight an am l t. ’ u e t . Bu t This was Dr . M sgrav s firs Opinion

1 Appendix A . The A lfred jewel afterwards he followed B ickes in supposing it wa s e t to o r o f t te a p ndan a chain collar s a , and H ickes even says (b ut here he mu st be simply repeating the expressions o f his informants) that th e cross- pin in the socket s eems adapted to such a u se . ’ The boar s snout is developed into a tu bu lar e u e et t - nding which f rnish s a sock wi h a cross pin, manifestly asking a peg o r (as artisans speak) a ste rt and when this observation was matu rely

e te it e e te two e e e : 1 t t appr cia d, g n ra d inf r nc s ( ) ha there was no provision for attachment answering to the above theory ; a nd (2)that in the position h t e e t e u e u u . imagin d, pic r wo ld hang psid down These criticisms Opened the way for new O b ser va tions new e e The t u and conj ctu r s . an iq ary Hearne interpre ted the Jewel a s if it were designed to b e fixed a t the extremity of a e on u t e roll r which a man scrip was roll d, as a su itable ornament fo r some ceremoniou s pre e e e s nta tion. B ut this hypothesis negl ct d the fac t that the Jewel is made wi th an obverse and e e e t e e it a r v rs , a fron and a back, which r nd rs quite u nfit for su ch a posi tion as Hearne had e to i assign d t.

The A lfred jewel

mos t probable he wou ld s end a book and a t u to t t e e h e t s yl s bo h hos plac s, and if did, his j ewel in my opinion bids fair to b e the handle o r upper par t o f the stylus which was presented by him to the Hou se o f Athelney where it was ’ u fo nd . the t e et e Collinson, his orian of Som rs shir in a passage to b e quoted below (chapter e te it u et t ix), d signa s an am l , and his was probably the way in which it was u su ally regarded in the e ee t e O t Pe e the t e ight n h c ntury . T his gg (in ar icl

te e e e : u e ci d abov )obj ct d as follows Dr . M sgrav e t u t it t be u et b ut onc ho gh migh an Am l , Alfred never ran (that we know Of) into su ch e ’ vaniti s . to the n etee t e tu Passing now in n h c n ry,

. P u t ue the Mr hilip D ncan, in his Ca alog of m e u eum e the t e t t Ash ol an M s , advanc d h ory ha it might have been mounted on the top o f a t ff te the e o f e e s a (af r mann r a Roman agl ), and that it was carried into battle as a standard to e the u e animat co rag of warriors . This e u te u o f te so tt e e e xq isi bijo , ma rials bri l as nam l t e e te web e and crys al, cas d in a d lica of gold n ee t e te the filigr , looks s rang ly inappropria for Design a nd M a nner of Use 2 9 fu ry of ba ttle and the interchange o f hard knocks . And indeed this th eory was never suggested to its au thor by the reason o r probability of the t b u t e t te t a t t t hing, by c r ain x s which ha t e e e ette e teem t t e a re im w r in b r s han h y now, e e the St e t e e sp cially hagiography of . N o , wh r in it was said o f this saint tha t he went before the u king in war, carrying a palm and g iding him to t to the - e u e vic ory, all which palm b aring fig r the E e e e to e t in nam l s em d corr spond . And his also explains Why tha t figure was suppos ed to

e e e t St. e t r pr s n N o . e e H ickes e In lik mann r, was carri d away by a passage in pseu do - Ingulph to abandon his first and best interpreta tion o f the enamelled u e to a t the e t t it e Fig r , and dop id a ha may hav ee e e to e e e t S ut e t 1 b n int nd d r pr s n t. C hb r All these speculations on the design and u se o f the e e a re u t f t r J w l nsa is ac o y and, con sidering the eminence and ability of the pro u e t e the t o f te po nd rs, s rang ly poor in craf in r reta tion If t u e a e e th p . his s rpriz s us in an g wh n e o f men e e so u e e we u minds w r m ch awak n d, sho ld n B Appe dix . 3 0 The A lfred jewel remember that the new movement was chie fly in the e t o f e e t t tt e dir c ion physical sci nc , and ha li l progress had a s yet been made in the analysis o f hu man history and the science of historical

cri ticism . From these abortive a ttempts a t interpreta t we t e t t t u e te ion, ga h r ha his sing larly labora phenomenon o f a Jewel had the effect o f s etting c uriosi ty and imagination awork in the minds o f t e te te it t t e hos who con mpla d , and ha som t e e e e t te e e t o f h ory, how v r pr cipi a , b cam a sor e e t t te u t b e e n c ssi y . To his ca gory m s add d a e e e t e tu e it ee e mor r c n conj c r , which , as proc d d u e u e it wa s e t from a highly hono r d so rc , as p rsis e t u t t ue o ut it n ly and circ ms an ially arg d , and as ee e e te e te has b n wid ly acc p d, d mands a chap r t e by i s lf. CH A PTE R IV

BISHOP CLIFFORD ’S THE ORY ‘

T H E theories abou t the Alfred Jewel which e ee t e t e t e to the u e hav b n no ic d hi h r o, b long cr d attempts a t interpretation which were evoked by the s u rprize of the strange discovery in the e e o f the e e tee t e last d cad s v n n h c ntu ry . W e come now to a new theory which was broach ed ou r o wn t e ff in im by Bishop Cli ord, in his In a ugural Address a s President o f the Somersetshire

ae et 1 8 e the u Arch ological Soci y in 7 7 , wh n Ann al f e a Meeting o that Soci ty was held t Bridgwate r . This theory demands a fu ller attention than any

1 l a m ose H u ffo secon son of the se en h Wi li J ph gh Cli rd , d v t a on ffo of u e wa s the oman a o c s o B r Cli rd Ch dl igh , R C th li bi h p ifton f om 1 8 t 1 888 H e wa s a mem e of the of Cl r 5 7 o . b r o me set c aeo o ca a nd a u a H s o oc e a nd S r Ar h l gi l N t r l i t ry S i ty , s for ma ny y ea rs a consta nt a ttend a nt a t the yea rly m eeting .

In 1 8 he wa s es en of the o c e . H is o ua 7 7 Pr id t S i ty bit ry , by ’

a non H o mes is in vol. the oc et s ocee n s. C l , xxxix Of S i y Pr di g The A lfred jewel

o f the e t e u e it e fe t for going, firs , b ca s b ars mani s t e o f tu e t u t b ut u t e e u e ok ns ma r r ho gh , f r h r, b ca s there is mu ch c urious material woven into its f e i e e e t t ue . abric, which giv s ind p nd n val If only for the single fact that it introdu ces a new ’ e t o f the e t aastel it u t xplana ion probl ma ic , o gh e the e f e e It to qu ick n int rest o ev ry r ader . will be better o n all accounts that the ideas of the a uthor be presented in his o wn words

Amongst the a rticles of church furniture used in the middle ’ a es e uent ment o n is ma e of a cu a nto um or g , fr q i d B li C r ,

o st es In the e a 1 2 2 7. t e e we e e t suc st e ch ir a v . y r h r r igh h a v s ‘ i n the trea sury of S a lisbury Cathedra l . The sta ves a t

a nte u at e a w es . oc hurch o our C rb ry C h dr l ( rit Dr R k, C f Fa thers vol we e a s c a s t e we e cu ous in the , . ii) r ri h h y r ri , ea H e es a st of them a nd a mon t em a re y r giv li , g h a cu de co nu cum ca itibus eburneis — ou sta es of IV b li r , p f r v horn with ivory ha ndl es; others were a dorned with gold a nd s e a nd e ous to nes The use t ese sta es wa s to ilv r pr ci s . Of h v ena ble the C a ntor or ma ster of the choir to point out to the s n e s a nd to the ea e s t e a ces in the oo a nd so i g r r d r h ir pl b k, prevent the m a nuscripts a nd their illumina tions being soiled

the touc n e s. en the essons we e e a the by h Of fi g r Wh l r r d, choirma ster not only pointed out the spot wh er e the l esson commence but a n e necessa the sta ff to the ecto d, h d d , if ry , l r, t he u e i e hi on the nes in ea n th a might s t to guid s eye a l g li r di g . This precaution wa s not o nly observed with rega rd to those ea u u um na te o umes use for the c u c se ces b tif lly ill i d v l d h r h rvi , f ’ Bishop Clif ord s Theory 3 3

but was e ua not mo e 5 0 e u e in the ca se of o o s q lly , if r , r q ir d b k w os hich were intended for the use of the g enera l public . M t rea d ers required to use their fing ers to a ssist their eyes in o ow n the nes a a ct ce w ic a owe wou not f ll i g li , pr i h h , if ll d, ld on so l the m a nusc ts but in cou se o f t m e o te a e ly i rip , r i bli r t e w en oo we e nten e for u u e them . Th erefor h b ks r i d d p blic s it wa s customa ry to pla ce by th em a sma ll sta ff or po inter for the use of the ea e e en a s in mo e n a s a a e r d r, v d r d y p p r knife forms o ne of the ordina ry a rticles of furniture on a n m a n nst n e t es tt e ta es or libr a ry ta ble . I y i a c s h e li l s v o n e s we e nse te in the n n of the oo s t emse es p i t r r i r d bi di g b k h lv , something a fter the fa shion i n which pencils a re inserted

- in mo d ern pock et books. I ma y seem to be wid ely depa rting from Alfred a nd from t e ne but ou w l soon e ce e the ert nenc of t ese A h l y , y i l p r iv p i y h

ema s. e a s ou now muc to encoura e ea n n r rk Alfr d, y k , did h g l r i g a mon st his su ects a nd he wa s es ec a a n ous at use u g bj , p i lly xi th f l wo s s ou be t a ns ate nto E n s a nd co i es of t em rk h ld r l d i gli h , p h be a an e in u c a ces w e e a ll m t a n a ccess to rr g d p bli pl , h r igh g i t m n e he a d r a d them . T o encoura ge this good a nd noble work by his ex a mpl e he eca me mse a n aut o . And he t us esc es in b hi lf h r h d rib , the e a ce w c he w ote to the oo he t a ns ate the pr f hi h r b k r l d, steps he took ‘ to sta rt wh a t I ma y ca ll the first public r ea ding ’ ‘ in E n a n en refl ected he sa s how the now gl d Wh I , y , k e e of the at n ton ue ha d a l en awa t ou hout E n a n l dg L i g f l y hr g gl d, t ou ma n st new how to ea E n s w n e a n h gh y ill k r d gli h riti g, I b g in the midst of divers a nd ma nifold a ffa irs of this kingdom to tu n nto E n s t oo of e o the ea t r i gli h his b k ( St . Gr g ry Gr ) ' w c in a t n is na me Pa stora lzs a nd in E n s The hi h L i d , gli h, ’ H erdsma n s Booh so met mes wo for wo d a nd somet mes ; i rd r , i

“ " I D The A e e 34. lf r d jew l sense for sense e en a s ha d een ta u t Ple mund m , v I b gh by g y c s o a nd sse m sho a nd m a m a ss Ar hbi h p, A r y Bi p, Gri b ld y M

- est a nd o n m a ss P est. fte ha d ea ne of Pri , J h y M ri A r I l r d t em how m t est un e sta n it tu ne it nto E n s . h I igh b d r d , I r d i gli h ’ And w sen a co to e e s o s see in m n om I ill d py v ry bi h p y ki gd , n i e oo t e e i n a es el i e a sta ff of the a d n a ch b k h r s a t ( . . ) ( ’ a ue of 0 m a ncusses a nd comma n in o s na me v l ) 5 ; I d, G d , : t a t no ma n ta e the sta fl om the oo nor the oo om h k fr b k , b k fr the m nste see n that we now not how on t e e sha i r, i g k l g h r ll

be suc ea ne s o s a s now t a n G od t e e be . h l r d bi h p , , h k , h r Therefor e I comma nd that th ese rema in a lway s in th eir a ces un ess the s o a e t em w th him e t e to en pl , l bi h p h v h i i h r l d ’ so mew e e or to ha e ot e co es m e om t em a . h r , v h r pi d fr h ’

H e e then we a e the ex a nat on of f e s em . It r , , h v pl i Al r d g is the ha n e o f a oo - sta ff or o nte w c e t ose a t dl b k p i r hi h, lik h a nte u a nd e sew e e wa s ma e of o n w c ha s C rb ry , l h r , d h r ( hi h e s e the a n e tse e n o f ec ous a nd u a e p ri h d), h dl i lf b i g pr i d r bl mate a s The nsc t on on it ea s w tne s t a t it wa s ri l . i rip i b r i s h ’ ’ ma e e s o e Aelfred ha d me wo e a nd t s d by Alfr d rd r, rk d ; hi ci cumsta nce ta en i n con unct on w t the cost ness of its r , k j i i h li mate a a nd the ea ut of its e ecut on ma es it in the ri l b y x i , k highest d egree prob a ble th at it is one of those aestels whi ch f e sa s we e wo e his o e a nd nse e in the Al r d y r rk d by rd r, i rt d ’ presentatio n copies of hi s tra nsla tion of The H erdsma n s Book a nd whi c we e a ue at 0 ma nca sses or ta n the , h r v l d 5 , ( ki g

a ue of the mancus at s. 6d. 1 8 1 s. a a e sum for v l 7 ) £ 5 , l rg o th se d ays. But so how ca me t i s em to be foun i n t s ne ou if , h g d hi ighb r ’ hood ? Alfred presented o ne to ea ch bishop s see in his ’ n om a nd t e e wa s no sho s see in t ose a s in ki gd , h r bi p h d y hese a s nea t a n e ne in o s e ou e o se . Y w t p rt r r h Sh rb r , D r t hir ill

3 6 The A lfred jewel

hen s te the shmo ea n useum a t O x fii rd in the W I vi i d A l M , month of u was s own the cou teous u a to J ly , I h by r C r r, by ’ the s e of fre s ewe a sma e s ec men of a nc ent o id Al d j l, ll r p i i g ld ’ smith s work whi ch wa s dug up a few y ea rs a go a t Minster

o e in fo sh e on the s te of a n a nc ent a e . It L v l, Ox rd ir , i i bb y ’ is sma e t a n e s em but e the a tte it is ll r h Alfr d g , , lik l r, ’ n - f e evide tly the h a ndle o f a rea ding sta ff. The h a ndle o Alfr d s staff wa s m a de of a size tha t might be conveniently gra sped in the ha nd ; the one from Minste r Lovel wa s intended to be he etwee t n e a nd t m It is sma e a nd ld b n he fi g r hu b. ll r ess cost but the wo ma nsh of the o is so i e the l ly , rk ip g ld l k l a rger one of Alfred a s a lmost to suggest its being the work

Of the sa me ma n.

u ff e e us Th s Bp . Cli ord would fain p rsuad to see in our Jewel the costly handle of a pointing f t s tave . This satisfies the requ irem ent o he et et fit i i fo r sock and riv , which is a prov s on the e fi e e Th e ue t ins rtion of a n stav . only q s ion a t this point that could be raised in opposition et e the et no t too to t is, wh h r sock is small admi a stave of u sefu l thickness for the purpose e t he o f cont mpla ed . And as t author this theory has applied it equally to the Minster e e e t e ti In e Lov l j w l, his Obj c on gains forc , as the rod that could be inserted in that little j ewel would be o f very doubtfu l s er vice as a

pomter. ’ Bishop Cliford s Theory 37

B ut when we conside r the common elements in the design and workmanship o f these two e e we a re e e to e e t the t e j w ls, comp ll d r j c h ory

that they were intended as handles to pointers . t o f e e e e And first o f the design . Bo h th s j w ls

” e e e e e e u hav an obv rs and a r v rs , which in s ch an instrument wou ld no t only be u nnecessary u e n b u t ute e e t and nm ani g, absol ly inconv ni n e a u and d trimental . Both of them re Obvio sly designed to gratify th e eye ; as objects to b e displayed in positions which they a re to adorn the and bea utify . The Alfred Jewel contains tu e o f e e e e pic r a man in nam l, fram d in gold n ee e t t e t filigr , glaz d wi h crys al , and back d wi h a plate o f gold cu riously engraved ; the whole composition plainly dictates which side is to b e foremost a nd which end is to b e u ppermost when it is fixed in the position fo r which it e ’ b e e . ff e is int nd d Bp. Cli ord s th ory cannot

accommodated to these conditions . SO much fo r the design : now as to the te t t e e ma rials and workmanship . In bo h of h s j ewels the oute r su rface is filigree work of ve ry fine textu re ; can it b e imagined that this agrees with the suggested u se of a handle to 38 The A lf red jewel

’ te et e we e the a choirmas r s wand , wh h r consid r implied defacement o f the finest goldsmith ’s ’ the t to the u work, or galling fric ion m sician s > hand . B ut besides appropriateness of design and a the e et t e t workm nship , r is y ano h r condi ion to b e t e one t t e sa isfi d, and which his h ory can only mee t by means o f a roundabou t and t e o f arbi trary hypothesis . Any in erpr tation the e e to b e t t u t e J w l, sa isfac ory, m s harmoniz natu rally and spontaneously wi th the Alfredia n associations of the spot o n which it was found .

B . ff e t t he e ed p Cli ord has f l his, and has mploy

an elaborate machinery to meet it. The place of the find is o ne that na tu rally s ugges ts direct and immediate connexion with the goings and n the e it e e comi gs of king hims lf, for li s n ar the centre of tha t region in which he spent some months of acu te effort in the mos t cri tical j unc tu re of his diversified and adventuro us life . If O u r interpretation harmonize with the associa t a re e to the t t u ions which link d spo , and hro gh the t to the e e t t e t spo J w l, probabili y is s r ng h ened while the interest is heightened ; b ut wha t possibility is there o f bringing these ’ Bishop Cli/ford 5 39

? associa tions to bear upon a costly book- pointer t so e t t e te it t If any hing x ravagan xis d, migh b e preserved in the treas u ry o f the minste r or in the book- room o f the cloister ; bu t it cou ld have no place abou t the person of a u t e t u f gi iv king and a s r ggling warrior . Accord ingly the author o f this theory is compelled to detach the inte rpretation from the personal t the a nd to e t u his ory of king, r s his sol tion o f the problem upon a highly specu lative assumption combined wi th the chances and vicissitudes o f a late r a ge . The a u thor o f this theory has to fa ce the inevi table question— O n the supposition that the e e e is the e o f - te Alfr d J w l handl a book poin r, ho w do yo u accou nt fo r its being found in the neighbou rhood o f Athelney ? In preparing to e t u e t he et e e answ r his q s ion, f ch s a wid compass, enclosing In his sweep the literary achievements o f the e e e tu e o f the fte king, and s v n c n ri s a r ’ e H e e e tim . b gins by recalling Alfr d s acknow led ements to Ple mund e g g , Ass r, Grimbald, t e e t t o f and John, for h ir h lp in his ransla ion ’ e Pa stora l Ca re he e te the Gr gory s , and r ci s ’ king s statement that h e wou ld send a copy o f 4 0 The A lfred jewel

’ the t t to e see t ransla ion ach bishop s , and wi h ‘ each book an aestel wor th 5 0 manc a sses . It is ’ an essential part of his theory that the ‘aestel

- te t t e was a book poin r wi h a cos ly handl , and moreove r that the Alfred Jewel was one of thes e ’ e a t handles . Bu t there was no bishop s se or ne t e e the e e t e a t e e ar A h ln y, n ar s b ing Sh rborn how then did this relic find its way to Newton Park by Athelney > The answer is that John ’ the Priest became abbot of Alfred s foundation a t t e e t t t e e b e e e A h ln y, and ha h r can no r asonabl doub t that Alfred gave the book and ‘aestel no t to Ple mund e b ut t t he only g and Ass r, ha also e te e his u t to x nd d bo n y Grimbald and John, his two other collaborators 1 SO the Alfred Jewel having th us arrived a t Athelney as the handle o f - te e u e e e t e e a book poin r, was r ligio sly pr s rv d h r u nt the t e o f e e it u e il im H nry VIII, wh n was b ri d to t ette t e the u e tu e awai b r im s , and in co rs of na r n forgotten . My obj ection to this is ot that it t e but t t it u te to its is imagina iv , ha is ill s i d u e e u e it ee e u u p rpos , b ca s is n dl ssly c mbro s, and

1 This m a chinery for bringing the ha culus ca ntoris to Athelney wa s first employ ed in the interest o f the stylus

eo . See 8 Pe e in A rcha olo ia uote a o e i n th ry . gg g ii, q d b v h c a pter iii . ’ Bishop Clij hrd s Theory 4 1 becau se the Jewel can b e trace d to Athelney by a mu ch simpler and more obviou s process . B u t while I find it impossible to admit ’ C ff e te et t o f he Bp . li ord s th ory as an in rpr a ion t e e e ee t t t e a u te Alfr d J w l, s ing ha his r lic bsol ly refuses to b e classed with the decorated handles the ha cu li ca ntorum u t t t the Of , I m s add ha ‘ ’ question of the x stel s tands apart. I am by no m eans prepared to maintain that the ex planation of tha t problem which I have recently offered in Afl red the G rea t is preferabl e to ’ B . C ff e e e ffi t b e p li ord s . Th r is a clos a ni y tween the two explanations ; they both rest upon a common basis in the ancient gloss ‘ ’ Indica torium mstel. te ete the indica , I in rpr d torium to b e t u e fl a t a ligh slab , m ch lik a u e to b e u t to e r l r , which was bro gh b ar across ’ the e so to u e the e e e e pag as g id r ad r s y , and e u e t fo r e The p rhaps f rnish a r s his fing rs . Latin termwould fit a pointer as well as fla t u e e ette It a r l r, and p rhaps b r . may therefore well b e that in the endeavour to ff te et the e e B . in rpr J w l , p Cli ord has inci dentally explained tha t problema tical obj ect which king Alfred sent as a fitting a ccom The A lfred j ewel

pa niment with each o f the presentation copies ’ e o f e Pa st ra Ca e The o f his v rsion Gr gory s o l r . remark that the pointer might b e fitted to the volu me by an arrangement like that now in common u se for attaching a pencil to a no te u t t b e e t to e t book m s , I hink, f l add a c r ain

pe rs u asive concreteness to his s uggestion . Only ‘ ‘ t en the aestel - te t h , if was a book poin r wi h t e t t e e t no t a cos ly handl , ha handl was c r ainly f e te the e o f the e e e ashion d af r mann r Alfr d J w l, or o f its natu ral associate the minor j ewel of Minster Lovel — it was no t fashioned wi th e e e e obv rs and rev rs . A subsequent interpretation by L lewellynn e tt e e the eli ua r J wi , app ar d in K g y for t e 1 8 vo l 6 6 e Oc ob r, 7 9, . xx, p . Many, and v ry u u e u e ee the c rio s as w ll as vario s, hav b n con jectures as to the use o r origin of this remark e e e o f the u e te e to b e abl j w l, and fig r in nd d e rese te u it b u t it not t e r p n d pon , is wor h whil to e e t e he e e t . T t to h r r p a h m probabili y, my t t it e the e o f mind, is ha simply form d h ad e t e t t u t it t e a sc p r , and ha j s possibly migh hav been u ltima tely given by Alfred to the head o f the te u e e to b e u e monas ry fo nd d by hims lf, s d

CH A PTE R V

A JE WE L IN TH E CROWN

T H E Alfred Jewel is so made as to require ’ a small stem o r ‘s tert fo r its fixtu re when in It t e ff t e te u se . o o t ap rs a sock , which is adap d to e e e te it e r c iv a small s m, and is only wh n e rected on such a stem that the Figure in enamel H o we will appear in a natu ral position . w can accommodate it with such a fu nction as will cor e o t e e O f desi n> E e t r spond t h s indica tions g . vid n ly ’ no t o n the to o f t - e e e no r p a s andard b ar r s pol , o n the to o f a t u a t the utt- end o f p s il s, nor b ’ - I e a mu sic master s wand . t is moreover evid nt that the stem was a permanent fixtu re in the et t u the et e t sock , for al ho gh sock is now mp y, t du e to the e hi o f the te his is p ris ng s m, as appears from the fact that the cross- pin is ete The te t e e e n et . ot riv d s m was h r for m allic, A jewel in the Crown 4 7 bu t e u t e e of som hard organic s bs anc , p rhaps u O ur e t e to e walr s ivory . probl m h n is discov r e t e e e e t fu r a plac in which his J w l , p rman n ly nished t u te ou b e so e e te wi h s ch a s m, c ld r c d e e te as to discharg som appropria function . That function can hardly b e other than personal e t the e it t b e d cora ion, and plac in which migh e e e he e et t e r ct d is t h lm of h warrior . I imagine then that a hollow bead ran round ’ the e et the e t the e king s h lm , along rim n x for e t t e the e e t e o f the h ad, and ha ov r v ry c n r brow there was a rou nd orifice in the upper slope o f the e tte to e e e the te b ad, fi d r c iv ivory s m of the e e t t e e t t J w l , and ha wh n fix d in his posi ion it wou ld hav e minor j ewels similarly fixed on e t e e b u t t t t one u b e the i h r sid , ha his wo ld central piece a nd the richest j ewel in the crown o a o r corone t. F r this m gnificent Jewel wou ld have the effect o f converting the helmet into t the t vita l e e a crown, ransforming mos pi c of defensive armou r into th e chief o f royal insignia u t e for p blic occasions of s at . That the rudiment o f the crown was derived o the e et a t e t o ur e e fr m h lm , l as among p opl , seems to be indica ted by the Anglo- Saxon 4 6 The A lfred jewel

‘ ’ t t e e e e G Y E word ha pr c d d crown , nam ly, N

H E M e e e et. L , which m ans R gal H lm This word is the only E nglish representa tive of the idea be fore the Romanic word was domestica ted ‘ e i e t among u s. The term crown mad ts n rance te the u e t a t t its af r Norman Conq s , firs in original t A b e ee the La in form CORON , as may s n in

te o b ou h u we con mporary Chronicle f Peter or g . Th s read u nder the date 1 0 8 7 : H er se cyng baer his CORONA and heo ld his hired on W incea stre to 7 E a stra n ‘ e the e 1am , This y ar king wor his Crown and held his Court a t Winchester for the ’ E astertide . B ut the na tive word was no t quickly e e e 6 we a re u . the e t n 1 0 8 s p rs d d In n x a nal, , informed that the king wore his Crown three times every year priwa he ba r his C Y NE - H E LM e ’ elce geare . The explanation now Offe red of the use and function of the Alfred Jewel is confirmed by comparison with a minor jewel in the e e its u t t e ue sam glass cas , which for ill s ra iv val

‘ has been placed by the Keeper of the Ashmolean u eu ne the e e M s m ar Alfred J w l . In workman ship it is so similar that it might well be (as B ff t e o f the e p . Cli ord said) from h hand sam

front and central jewel o f a mino r

4 8 The A lfred jewel

o e centu ry . The finder bro ught it t a jew ller in f e e t t the e t Ox ord , who, appr h nding ha Obj c was one e t u t e it of mor han ordinary c riosi y, carri d to n t e e e t o f t e e Dr . Wilso , h n Pr sid n Trini y Coll g , e e t ae t the an min n arch ologis , and man who o f all men in Oxford a t that time was the most capable o f estimating a find o f this natu re 1 The interest which he took in it wa s shared with ffi t te e Dr . Gri hs, who was af rwards Ward n of e e et e one t Wadham Coll g , and (wh h r by or bo h) it e e te to the e u eu The was pr s n d Ashmol an M s m . te o f t e ent e not e to b e e e da his v do s app ar r cord d , but u e it u t e e e the t e I s ppos m s hav happ n d in fif i s . That gold ornaments were proper fo r the

e et we t e e the Beowu h lm , ga h r from a passag in lf, e is t t o f a po m which now, I hink, among cri ics e ete e to e n to the prov d comp ncy, allow d b lo g

e t e tu . e e u te igh h c n ry Wh n B ow lf, af r slaying the e t u e he ut o ff Dragon, li s fa ally wo nd d , p s the chief pieces of his armou r with the insignia 1 Spe aking of the a rchaeologists in Oxford fifty yea rs a o a m not o ett n n ee cou not o et o n g , I f rg i g, i d d I ld f rg , J h

H en a e C . B . the u e a nd tea c e his time in ry P rk r, , g id h r Of much a ntiqua ria n knowledge of grea t va lue to the histori a n mo re especially in wha tever co ncerned ecclesi a stica l o r o mes c a c e t e H e m e d ti r hit c ur . wa s for a ny yea rs Ke per of the s m e n m A h ol a Museu . ' A jewel in the Crown 4 9s o f t e t t e u Wi la f royal y , and b s ows h m pon g , his fa l ithfii Thane and the natu ral heir to his throne . In the poetic description we perceive that the insignia a re largely blended with the body. u t t the e et te e armo r, and ha h lm is charac riz d by its golden decoration

2 8 1 0 2 8 1 0 Dyde hi m of healse Ungea ring his neck hring gyldenne of the go lden ring pi oden prist-hydig the coura geous C a ptain

e ne esea lde on his a ne confe e it p g g , Th rr d , geongum gar-W iga n; on the ga lla nt youth ;

o - fa ne elm the o - a n t e m a so g ld h h , g ld pr k h l l , beah 0 nd byrna n ; the coll a r a nd the byrnie ;

’ o t m we hét hine brfica n well. saying : Bro k he ll ! It wou ld be easy to collect examples from te e bu t one t e la r romanc s, I will add only , ak n ’ f a A . 1 2 0 0 o from L a g mon s description ( D . ) king Arthu r putting his armou r on

H e m he set on ha fde H e m he set on ea l l h d , hash of stel e high of steel

eer on wes m on imston e eon wa s man a em- stone p i 3 , th r y g

1 bi o n ll en e w t o . a l mid golde g . a circl d i h g ld

1 ’ L a a mon s Brut ed. a en vol. 11 . 6 . g , M dd , , p 4 4 The A lfred jewel

The position which I have imagined fo r the Alfred Jewel wou ld represent the cumulative effect o f the two chie f and central gems in the o f i een T A e the e t , Crown Q i VIC ORI , nam ly gr a Sapphire of Charles II and the great Ru by of E dward the Black Prince 1

1 The E n lish R e a lia a en o . 1 g g , by Cyril D v p rt , p 5 . CH A PTE R V I

T H E BOAR’S H E AD

T H E R E is a featu re in the Alfred Jewel which appears to support the theory propo unded in ’ the t te . e the e las chap r I m an Boar s H ad, which is so wrought into the composition o f the e e to e e e t u te e en pi c as r pr s n a s bordina , or v e e e t to the t u e h a s rvil , r la ion sain ly Fig r whic ee t u the is s n hro gh window of crystal . Abou t the creatu re indicated by this h ead e ee e f I th re has b n som diversity o opinion . t has ee e the e e e t o f b n spok n of as h ad of a s rp n , fish t e t o f all it a , of a dolphin, and s rang s , has e e been called the head o f a griffin . Of th s notions the last is the one that has been Oftenest i h N O e e te et t t e t u . r p a d, and y is mos abs rd u t the riflin ee u e e do b g has b n vario sly d scrib d , never theless it is generally agreed that the head

E 7. T e $7 . he A lfred j wel

o f this fabu lou s ani mal is either tha t of an e e r t f agl o tha o a lion . e e e Many y ars ago, as I happ n d, in company t L iddon to b e the e t e wi h Dr . , passing n ranc

— of the Ashmolean Mu seum the Old . original bu ilding by the Sheldoni a n Thea tre— I asked

him whe ther he had ever seen the Alfred Jewel . H e no t he e te e t had , and manif s d som alacri y we e t It tu t to and w n in . was na rally my par a ct the it t showman, and I did wi h a will, which u e e te e te t e set was q ick n d by an in r s d mo iv . I t e t e e e e e t e e t for h all my b s x g sis of v ry par , xc p ’ o ne— I le ft the animal s head u nnoticed . The o ld dou b t abou t the na tu re o f this head had ee e e t e e a nd t b n r c n ly r viv d, I lay in wai for t f tes timony undesigned . I had the sa is action o f e e te t e h aring my companion r mark in rroga iv ly, ’ That appears to b e a boar s head P Between th e wild boar and the helmet there e te e e n e t xis d a clos and r cog iz d associa ion, as is

e tte te the B eowu o ur e w ll a s d by lf, which is chi f e the e a e eut t t voic from h roic g ofT onic an iqu i y . In the cou rse o f that poem the re a re no less than five passages in which this habi tual associa t o f e The t ion ideas s tands ou t promin ntly . firs ’ The Boa r s H ea d y3

passage is where Be owulf and his companions have reached the Da nish coast a nd stepped

e a nd e e t the t- a en ashor parl y d wi h coas w rd , and Obtained his a pprova l Of their visit and his ’ ffe o f u a e to t C u t O r g id nc Hro hgar s o r . As t e set t on t e l the et h y for h h ir march in and, po notice s the play of the su nlight glancing from the boar - figures on their h elmets

3 0 1 3 0 1

G ewiton hi m pa fera n Forth on the ma rch th ey fa red

— flota st e bad -the oa e e os n ill , fl t r r p i g, scomo e on saia e we a n o n her ca e d l , ri g bl ,

sid-t med sci the w e- osome s p, id b d hip,

on nc e asst a t a nc o a s . a r f . h r f t

E oferlic scionon Boa r- figures shone

Ofer hleor-berga n over the ch eek - pla tes ;

gehroden gold e a s chequered with gold fah a nd fyr- heard defia nt a nd fi re- ha rd

e we rd heo ld. the a ow e t wa f rh a e f rr k p rd .

The second passage occu rs in the cou rse o f the o f H naef h e te the Lay , whic is ins r d among ’ festivi ties that follow Beowulf s success against y4 The A lf red jewel

e e e u the t e Gr nd l, as b ing s ng by mins r l in ’ the t the t e e Hrothgar s hall . In s ory of Lay h r t t t e the u is a figh , and ha is follow d by b rning o f the e e e the et t e the d ad, and h r po no ic s e arms which a re consumed with their own rs . the t u t t the t In shor q o a ion which follows, coa of e the e et mail is call d a sark, and h lm is te its e t indica d by cr s , which was a boar of hard iron plated with gold

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 a t j7 a m si de wa s At the pla ce of the pile

eh - gesyne wa s pla in to behold swat-fab s rce the sa oo - sta ne y , rk bl d i d ,

swin ea l- en the l e sw ne-c est gyld , gi d d i r , — cofe i en ea . the a of on r r h rd bo r ha rd ir .

The third passage presents us with an inci dental description O f the terrors o f a hand- to t et ee e it hand figh b w n arm d champions , and pictu res a trial of strength between the tough s teel o f the flashing sword and the hard iron o f the boa r on the helmet

$6 The A lfred jewel

s nce eweoriSa d a ll its sum tuous a a i g , p rr y , befa ngen fr ea-wra snum fringed with lordly filigree

— swa hine fyrn da gum a s in fa r- awa y d ays

’ worhte wa na - smitS wea on- sm t twa s w ou ht p , by p i h r g ,

wundrum teode a nd won ous t dr ly digh , besette swin- licum beset with figures swine-like

pa t hi ne siiSiSa n no th at on it ever since brond né bea dO- meca s no bra nd or bla de o f wa r

n m n h d a n we t te. bitan e ea hto . a y po r o bi

These closing lines recall the remarkable e tu e e he t t the [E stii passag of Taci s, wh r says ha E t e e te the t e o f the ( s honians) v n ra mo h r gods, and that they wear figures of the wild boar as the e em o f her u t a nd t t t obser mbl c l , ha his vance alone su flices without arms offensive o r defensive to make her votary feel s ecu re even the t e e e 1 in mids of n mi s . The t e o f the be e t e mo h r gods may id n ifi d, a t e t te e u te t E the or l as proxima ly q a d , wi h FRIG , t e e e u e consor Of Wod n, whos nam s rviv s in

1 M tre ehm u n n a m d venera tur . I sig e superstitionis fo rma s a prorum gesta nt : id pro a rmis o mniq ue tutela securum dea ’ lto em i cu r et a m nte ostes ra stat. G erma n a . i i r h p , 4 5 ’ The Boa r s H ea d 7 7

- the t o f th e ee E D E G . six h day w k, Friday, FRIG A su rvival of her cu lt is seen in the fes tive ’ e e the e 18 e t u c r mony of Boar s H ad, which k p p ’ ieen s e e t in Coll g , Oxford, adding a mys ic Q ' f incident to the mirth o Christmas .

a u a defero C p t pri , m Reddens l a ud es Do ino.

’ The oa s ea in a n in b r h d h d br g I,

With ga rla nds gay a nd rosema ry .

O ur fifth example occu rs in a passage emi nentl te t the e a e e y charac ris ic of h roic g , wh n the institu tions of monarchy rested upon the e h personal devotion of th thane to t e king. This relation is one of great historical cou se q uence ; it was to grow into the later institu tion o f knighthood ; it had been matured by tha t immemorial tradition o f sacred confidence and fidelity between the war- chie f and his companion e tu in arms, which is signaliz d by Taci s in words to t e e t he e familiar h mod rn his orian . T passag which I am ab ou t to qu ote exhibits this devotion ete a c e u f the e f t t. o he e in concr B ow l , h ro po m, etu e u e fu e tu e has r rn d s cc ss l from his adv n r , and he is fulfilling his first duty by rendering a 5 8 The A lf red jewel

t to H la c ee repor yge his king . His sp ch is closing with mention of rich guerdon he had e e e m the w he e e e r c iv d fro king hom had d liv r d, e t son o f t e h e nam ly, Hro hgar, Halfdan and h n produ ces the noblest o f these prizes as a dutiful ffe to e e t tute o ring his lord . This sc n cons i s a frame to o u r last instance o f the boar—figure ’ as the most signal feature in a warrior s head gear

2 1 4 5 2 1 4 5

Swa se peod kyning So in fa ir customs lived

peawum lyfde ; the imperia l king ;

mea lles ic 17 a m lea num nor Of fitting guerdon I

forloren ha fde wa s au t o o n , gh f rl r ,

ma gnes méde of meed for service

a c he m e ma mas eaf ea m t t n s he a e d g , y , igh y hi g g v ,

’ sunu H ealfdenes H a a n s son , did lfd ,

m lfe m o n inne sy s dom yself with a l to plea se ;

azi ic 7 6 eo n- c ni n w c to ee a e nce 1 1 , b r y g, hi h I th , br v pri ,

n a n w lle c o ce do n bri g y , by h i bri g ,

éstum e wa n in w n oma e g y . illi g h g .

G én is ca ll a t 17 6 All mywea lth proceed s

lissa gelong of thy good lo rd ship : ’ The Boa r s H ea d 5 9

ic lyt h a fo no r is my lot to h a ve hea fo d- mi a nsma n of c e a ccount g , ki hi f , ” nefne H elac ec I i n H ela c but t ee ! yg h k g yg , h

H et ha in bera n Then ba d e he in to bea r

ea for ea d - se n the w - oa c est h g , ild b r r ,

’ hea do- stea ne e m the e m in t so p h l , h l figh high,

i e b rna n the oa ma - coat a h r y , h ry il gr y , gfih -sweord geatolic the swo rd seigneuria l

gyd a fter wra c a nd he sa id with a l

Mé his hild e- sceorp To me this battl e- h a rness

H rO fir sca e H ot a r a e n ld r hg g v , snotra fen e the sa ent m ona c ec g l pi r h S .

In the evidence above given we see indica tions that this traditional choice of the wild a fo r e t t u t bo r a cr s was of high an iq i y, and had its e u e t e t a nd ou r origin in a r ligio s s n im n , i e e he fou rth passage ( 1 4 4 9 H.) c rtainly conv ys t ide a that the armou rer who wrought a t the fu r nitu re o f the h elmet did so with a mind still u nder the spell of the o ld persuasion that a mystic sanction clu ng to the figure o f the wild 60 The A lfred jewel

u e it fo r its t e- u e boar, and q alifi d im hono r d ’ post as guardian of the warrior s h ead . ’ In the Alfred Jewel the Boar s Head appears to

e u e u t : one u e e t discharg a do bl f nc ion s bs rvi n , as affording a base or pedestal to the frame of the e efli the t e e e et sacr d gy ; o h r s rvil , as a sock for the shaft whereby the elaborate and composite design is to b e fixed in its des tined place . CH APTE R VII

TH E FIGURE IN E NAME L AND TH E E NGRAVE D PLATE AT TH E BACK OF IT

B UT the vital problem of the Alfred Jewel e e e e i s e is in th enam ll d Figur . Of t m aning t e e e ee ue e u e t e h r hav b n g ss s and s gg s ions, som e e e L a ba rte u r asonabl , som wild ; M . co ld only ’ sa it e e e t u e to te e . y, r pr s n s a fig r hard charac riz u e e t o f e u te This Fig r is manif s ly a r ligio s charac r, i e e f u o f and t is th c ntre and oc s the whole . All the other par ts a re relative and subordinate to t the e t e e e t ett n his, and n ir J w l is in fac a s i g r e t e e W e u t and a sh in for his sacr d obj ct . m s endeavou r to ascertain its intention and signi fica nce b u t e e tte ti t te et t , b for a mp ng his in rpr a ion e e o f a r we mu st consider th E nam l as a work t. Fo r t e e e e e e e e his v n rabl r lic, v n if r gard d only in its mate rial aspect as an ingenious 62 The A lfred jewel

e u t a s e e e m chanical prod c , and a sp cim n Of a onc u i a rt e u u to so flo rish ng , is rar and c rio s high a degree as to confer rank upon any Mu seu m (however Otherwise rich) that is so fortunate to e I as poss ss t . e the E e the t B hind nam l , in posi ion of a back

to tu e- e is e te board a pic r fram , a s para gold plate bearing a significant device which is cer ta inly intended as a counterpart to the Figure o f th e the e e obv erse . From r lation obs rvable between these two representations we may gather u t e e we e t ee a constr c iv infe r nce . Thu s hav hr subjec ts for o u r consideration in the present te it b e e e t to e to chap r , and will conv ni n giv e ach O f them a separa te section by itself. the t te be Accordingly, plan of his chap r will as — I follows . The E namel as an ar tistic produ ct ;

II . The inward signification o f the enamelled u e the E a t the o f it Fig r , and of ngraving back ;

t u e e e e . III . A Cons r ctiv Inf r nc I T H E E NAME L A S A N ART IST IC PROD UCT Of enamels we may sa y that they a re a sort of paintings o r embroideries ;— only no t made

64 The A lfred jewel

e u e u the is u t t proc ss is s cc ssf l, work s bs an ially e e e it me ou t the e achi v d wh n co s of ov n, and nothing remains to b e done b u t the dressing and ’ finishing o f the su rface . Of this cloisonnee type L a b a rte e u e t e . e e M , in n m ra ing nin xampl s , as e the e t e t t b ing chi f works of his kind now x an , to e he t e e ’ gives all of th m t itl Byzantin .

The chief ex ta nt M onuments in Byra ntine E na mel

’

Cloisonnee a ccordin to La ba tte. , g

The e e f 1 . e t o h e c l bra d crown gold, whic go s the e o f the n the e t by nam Iro Crown, is Old s I extant jewel that is enriched wi th enamel . t was given to the cathedral a t Monza by Theo 1 e the uee e d 6 2 d linda , Lombard q n , who di in 5

2 The e e the t St. e . nam ls in al ar of Ambros o f e e u te 8 u t e ee Milan, x c d in 3 5 , m s hav b n e e u te ee t t e e u e u x c d by Gr k ar is s, who w r n m ro s I o b e te t in Italy a t that time . t is t no d hat th e e a re e e e ue te fl sh tints r nd r d by Opaq whi . e m he e he o f 3 . The na els in t cross call d t Cross Lothaire in the treasu ry o f the cathedral a t Aix

- e e we to be t e . la Chap ll , which hold Byzan in work

1 is u e in the Dictiona r o hristia n A nti uities It fig r d y f C q , w o n. v . Cr Figure a nd E ngra ved Pla te 65

“ e e e e e the h e n 4 . A j w l pr s rv d in As mol a

u e a f I e 1 6 6 M s um t Ox ord . t was discov red in 9

sic e the e t e e ( ), n ar Abb y of A h ln y, in which Alfred the Great took re fuge when he was

. e defeated by the Danes in 8 7 8 . Mr Alb rt Way e e t it t e has giv n a d scrip ion of , wi h ngravings

t a nd e t The A rche o Of fron back, and in s c ion (

o ica o . he in ri l l urna l VO l. T sc g j , ii , p p tion A E L FR E D ME C H E H T G E VY R CAN (Alfred ordonna gue je fusse fa it) which s tands in the t e o f the e e t u t to e e hickn ss pi c , is ho gh l av small room for dou bt as to the origin which is e a ttribu ted to it . Th enamel of the obverse is executed by the process of cloisounage ; it represents a figure hard to characterize (il repro duit ure o t i e t d e de e une fig d n l s ijficil determin r le ca ra ctere The e t a re t ). fl sh por ions in whi ish enamel ; the colou rs employed in the drapery a re pale green and r uddy brown semi -transparent ; the gro und is blue . Th e j ewel termina tes in the e e ee t h ad of an animal , in gold n filigr , wi h all f h the characteristics o t e oriental style . Admitting that the inscription may apply to e the e t t e e u not t e Alfr d Gr a , his j w l wo ld by i s lf b e su flicient to prove that the a rt o f enamel 66 The A lf red jewel

ling was practised in E ngland in the ninth e centu ry . Th inscription might have been engraved after the king had pu rchased it (pos ” s b o f i ly) a merchant from the E ast . The e e e he 5 . nam ls which nviron t gold crown ’ h f a e i t e e u St . t e e e n t o e . pr s rv d r as ry Mark s, V nic W e see the re a bu st o f the E mperor L eo the Philosopher (8 86 who was probably the o f th t e wa s e donor is vo iv crown , which mad

to b e s uspended over an altar . e e o n e the e 6 . The nam ls a chalic in sam treasu ry ; it appears by the inscription to have e e e been exec uted for an mp ror who di d in 94 4 . o he e u The e e n t u . 7 . nam ls r liq ary of Limb rg e e e e e u e e e 6 This magnific nt pi c was x c t d b for 9 7 . e e e u e t e 8 . Th nam ls pon igh gold plat s which f t e e u a t u . e e o f w r o nd Nyi ra , in H ngary S v n t h eu a e e e e hem a re in t e Mus m t P sth . Th s ight te u te to one t pla s ni form a crown, in fron and d e e e o ne a t a n t e t e . E back, hr on i h r sid ach he has its enamelled pictu re . T front piece has a portrait Of Constantinus Monoma chus The pieces to right and left o f this represent the E mpresses Theodora and Z oe ; the next two on either side represen t actresses ; the third on

68 The A lfred jewel

e t eet e e u in Tham s S r , was discov r d a fib la which happily passed straightway into the hands of h e u . t e t e Mr Roach Smi h, and wro a m moir pon it b e ee the Archa olo ia 1 8 0 which may s n in g for 4 , accompanied wi th a spl endid ill ustration in u It t u t C colo r and gold . con ains a b s in loison e e te it o ur work nam l , and invi s comparison w h e e e t t e the e t J w l mor han any of hos in abov lis , e e t e e probably more than any oth r xtan sp cim n . It the t u eu t the is now in Bri ish M s m . Bo h figure and the filigree a re of superior workman to the e e e it e e te ship Alfr d J w l, as if w r a la r e e e u t o f the e and mor r fin d prod c sam school . e t it t e a nd it A Fr nch cri ic calls Byzan in , assigns he e 1 to t elev nth centu ry . So far abou t other extant Specimens of enamel

’ cloisonnee e e e e e e . This sp ci s of nam l ris s lik an island o u t o f the broad level o f the enamel

’ cha m leoee the te e e fo r p , in which pla was pr par d the vitreo us d eposit by scooping the pa ttern u it t et t pon . To his common m hod belong he older and more r udimentary enamels o f the

t e- e e t e e Phi Bri ish hors g ar, corr c ly d scrib d by

1 N oti e des E rn u é r c a x da M us e da L ouv e a r . de , , p M

a o e 1 8 . . L b rd , 5 7 , p 99 Figure a nd E ngra ved Pla te 69 lo stra tus be u te e t s , who will q o d b low. To hi e o the te e e u b long als la nam ls , for which d ring the t tee t entu e u hir n h c ry Limog s was famo s . The history o f the a rt of enamelling is very e e t the u t O f e ta t imp rf c ly known , and pa ci y x n specimens makes the investiga tion the more e difficu lt. The canvas upon which these pictur s were laid consisted of plates o f the preciou s et the s e e n u m als, mall r works b i g laid pon gold

o r e the e on e . tu silv r, larg r copp r As a na ral consequence it happened that as soon as they e e t u te e e t e tu t e w r an iq a d or had s rv d h ir rn, h y

e e l t t t the e t n - o t e w r igh ly cas in o m l i g p , sav where they were protected by some pecu liar e e i v n rat on . Hence it has come to pass tha t a favourite a rt o f the e e we Dark and Middl Ag s, which have reason to believe was for centu ries very prolific (until it was s uperseded by the increased

' vigou r o f painting and sculptu re in the fou r teenth e tu e e e te few c n ry), is now r pr s n d by a e e its t to sp cim ns only, and his ory is hard et e l e tte to u t r rac . I sha l mak no a mpt s pply his t e e e few te e t wan , and shall only r h ars a in r s ing facts which the present investiga tion has brought 7 0 The A lfred jewel

e e e to my knowledge. Origins I l av to sp cialists bu t t sa t t u e e e a s the his I may y, ha s ch vid nc present enqu iry has brought within the circle Of my observation seems to suggest a Keltic sou rce for the E namel in ou r Jewel . The earliest mention o f enamel to which we can confidently point is fo und in the book o f ’

Philostra tu s e t t e Pictures e E iuo . n i l d (Icon s, yee) This au thor was a Greek rhetorician and conno is

A rt e to e A D 2 0 0 the seu r . in , who cam Rom ( . )in e n o f e e u tt te the u t u r ig S v r s, a rac d by Co r ofJ lia the o f the Domna , who (in words Gibbon)was patroness o f every a rt and the friend o f every man of genius. In his [ cones he makes pictu res the e o f e e t e t xt his l gan and fashionabl discou rse . Whether his pictu res were real or imaginary is a ma tter of no consequence to o u r present e he tu e e a re e e pu rpos . T pic r in which w int rest d

- is one that repres ents a Meet for a Boar h u nt. The write r comments upon the well - equipped the e t e e the company, hors s and h ir rid rs , in

e u t e et- u the t spl ndo r of h ir g p for spor , drawing special attention to the curiosity and costliness

f - o t e e t . e t a re e h ir hors rappings Th ir bi s silv rn, and their head -stalls a re decorated with gold

7 2 The A fl red jewel

e e e e e the kinds which hav pr s rv d, in many cas s, enamel with which they we re decorated 1 The Romans o r Romanized popu lations con tinued the t e o f t a rt the prac ic his , and from evidence o f the finds tha t occu r from time to time it appears probable that some of the finest e e e e e e fl a sp cim ns w r mad in Britain . A larg t te e e e t t u pla , r pr s n ing an al ar, which was fo nd in the t u eu London and is now in Bri ish M s m, has h e e all t e app arance ofb ing unfinished . A cu riou s cu u a t u e t e p, which was fo nd R dg in Wil shir , has round it the names o f five of the towns o n the t e e e Roman Wall . And his sp cim n app ars, e u t e n to be ne by p c liari i s of workma ship, arly related to the bea u tifu l vase which wa s found tu u u on the t E e in a m l s Bar low Hills, in ss x, where it seems to have been deposited after the t e the im of Hadrian . And if Saxon invasions o f the ft t e tu e it fi h and six h c n ri s did, as is t u t te te t e t a rt the ho gh , obli ra all rac s of his in t e t o f the e t t u e o h r par s w s , his co ld only hav had the effect o f making the practice o f it peculiar

1 ’ u ustus . a n s t eous Art . 1 in A rt A g W Fr k , Vi r , p 4 Trea sures o the United K in dom a oo w c wa s ou t out f g , b k hi h br gh in onne n t n n c xio with he Ma chester E xhibitio o f 1 85 7 . F igure a nd E ngra ved Pla te 7 3 to Ireland ; and the Irish were no t a stay- a t- home e e t e t e e t e ft rac , n i h r did h y hid h ir gi s from other people . There is a Keltic aspect in the enamelled e e ed d signs which was r mark by Franks, and which may hav e accompanied the tradition o f this a rt even when it passed o u t o f Kel tic ha nds h

t the t t en In shor , all indica ions which his quiry has brought to my notice concerning the technical history of ou r E namel do seem to e it the e At te t e localiz in British Isl s . a la r s ag o f this chapter we shall b e met by e vidence o f ffe e he e e t te t t . a di r n kind, nding in sam dir c ion

TH E W A D F AT I O F T H E E IN R SIGNI IC ON FIGUR , AN D O F T H E E NGRAVING AT TH E BAC K O F IT

Abou t the signification o f this Figu re the e tu e e ee e e b ut t e e conj c r s hav b n div rs , h y hav

1 u E a ns ec n z es a e Mr . Arth r v r o g i K ltic physio gno my i n h h i un ula m e the es t e ey es of t e c c ; but for ey a re a s if th ey we e not e n so muc sun out of t e a ce t a t t ou r , b i g h k h ir pl , h hr gh n m t o s t a m una e o e i fir i y f igh I bl t v rify them . The A e e el 7 4. lfr d j w all agreed in recognizing the two sceptres as H ickes th e te tt ute . charac rizing a rib , in his t te et t t u t t t the icuncula firs in rpr a ion, ho gh ha represented the glorified Saviou r wi th a lily e t e e t e e t his t sc p r in i h r hand, d no ing wofold realm of heaven and earth : or else the pontiff o f Rome as his vicegerent wielding both the he t te t tu e . e mporal and spiri al pow r Af rwards,

e e e he e eu - u how v r, wh n had r dd in ps do Ing lph ’ C e the t St. ut e t e to e s ory of hb r s app aranc Alfr d, and had contempla ted in the L ichfield Book b no t e the u e St. u e ee u t fig r of L k (s mingly, r ally two - e te e he e to t t t the sc p r d), was mov d hink ha icuncula e e e te t e r pr s n d a sain , and was, p rhaps, 1 t t . u e mean for S C thb rt . I think H ickes wa s righ t in his first inter reta tio n e e the e e e p , and sp cially in s cond m mb r o f te t e e e h e e e e it to his al rna iv , wh r in r f rr d the t e u he t the pope . In nin h c nt ry t hough t o f Christ was ea sily blended wi th that o f his vicegerent upon earth : and it is plain that the Figure is arrayed in precisely those insignia which best represent the dominant thought o f the a t t e Th e two e t e papacy tha poch . sc p r s 1 Appendix B .

7 6 The A lfred jewel

8 6 6 t t t b e e t e in , ha no archbishop migh n hron d o r t e te the eu t u t h e migh cons cra charis , n il had receiv ed the pa llium from the Roman pontiff. There was mu ch in the conditions o f the time and in his own experience to cau se Alfred to view th ese things wholly on their favou rable e side . The enamelled h ad is probably no t meant t t o f L eo t u e for a por rai IV or any par ic lar pop , b u t we can hardly b e mistaken if we interpret it as a symbolical figure to represent the papal authority as the Vicar and vicegerent o f Christ. And if this be a tru e solution o f the pro blema tica l icuncula t e e et et n e , h r is y som hi g mor we t e w e tu which na u rally d sire to kno . W na rally u e ut the t o f the inq ir abo composi ion symbol , o f t e e ent it e u t wha l m s is mad p, and from wha sou rce did the s uggestion come ? the o f t e e u In Library Trini y Coll g , D blin, is e e e e u th e pr s rv d a v ry famo s book, known as

B oo o ells u e t e k f K , a mon m n of Irish l arning and a rt in tha t period wh en Ireland most j ustly e e he ’ arn d t gloriou s title of Insu la Sanctoru m .

O ne of the fu ll - page illu minations which adorn t t e e e t e e the e t t ha book r pr s n s a sc n of T mp a ion, in which Jesu s is on the pinnacle and Sa tan is

‘ ’ ILLUMINAT ION FR OM TH E BOO K O F K E LLS.

Tof a cep .

7 8 The A lfred jewel and looking o u t over his Chu rch as Lord of h eaven and earth 1 Though we know only o f a single extant copy t tu e we n e t u e t t of his pic r , may co fid n ly ass m ha among th e manifold activities of the monks and hermits and missionaries and pilgrims from i u t e e e It Ireland t was m l ipli d and diss mina t d . is (I think) impossible to compare o u r Figure the nt e tu t th t o f the e e t of ni h c n ry wi h a s v n h, withou t coming to the conclu sion that the o ne is t o f the e e ee no t be e a descendan oth r . W n d incr ’ du lous about the chance o f Alfred s being a c q u a inted with Irish iconography . The narrative 8 e in the Chronicle (A . 9 1 ) o f thre Irish exiles u t e to e e e t who fo nd h ir way king Alfr d, r fl c s a valu able light on his kindly relations wi th the l earned and piou s from the sis ter island . This n e e t e new tu e e co n xion was n i h r nor imma r . Wh n they found themselves ashore on the coast of Cornwall they set o ut ‘a t once —such is the S A__ f r e 2 eflect o f O N o king Alfr d . e e the tu e u e wel Mor ov r, Irish pic r f rnish s a

1 Appendix C . 2 A nd a comon mb vn niht to on e o n Cornwalum p hi y l d , e a nd fo ro n pa so na to E lfre de cyning . Figure a nd E ngra ved Pla te 7 9 come light upon an obscure detail of o ur e a e the namelled Figu re . How re th heads of sceptres to b e explained ? Some have taken t e t e e b ut the h m for palms , and o h rs for lili s ,

Irish drawing shows them rathe r as plumes . And ’ this finds support in a singu lar passage o f Bede s e of the E cclesia stica l H istory. Sp aking Oswald et e e e e e Br walda , B d d scrib s him as a princ who e u u e e t u car f lly ph ld his imp rial digni y, insom ch t t no t e he e t u e ha , only wh n rod hro gh his provinc s did t o e e b u t e e e his s andard g b for him , v n wh n he walked forth in the streets he was always pre e e a n t e the u c d d by appari or b aring T fa, which he he e u e u e ( adds)was in t v rnac lar call d Tu f. W learn from D u Cange that the T u fa wa s a wand t e o f u e t t we see wi h a h ad pl m s , and his is wha t e a in h scep tres of the Irish dr wing. Sir Francis Palgrav e divined that the Saxon Bretwaldadom had inherited this emblem o f authority from he f t provincial dignitaries o the empire . From these data the na tu ral conclu sion is that the Figu re in this Jewel was derived from no t e t an Irish , and from an Ori n al, nor from any t e t u e It t e m con in n al so rc . was ak n fro an Irish symbolical drawing o f Christ tri umphant and 80 The A lfred jewel

e e u it te r igning ov r his Ch rch, and was adap d by the king in a sense which his experience had made real and concrete and prac tical . As ’ u e wa s e tra nsla teu r we Cha c r call d grand , so may e e e e ee call Alfr d a grand adapt r . W ho v r has b n drawn in to study both Alfred and Dante may e e e t to the two t t hav obs rv d his in common , ha t t e t e tra nsfi ure t e t u wha h y borrow h y g , h ir o ch h imparts to it t e colou r of their mind . King Alfred in early youth was tied by every thread o f religiou s conviction and political interest and e e t e t to the See e he p rsonal s n im n of Rom , and meant this Jewel to enshrine the frontispiece o f his profession and the ensign of his creed

e e t t e . ccl sias ical, poli ical, and p rsonal A t the close of the former section I said that the conclusion there arrived a t wou ld b e confirmed by anothe r kind o f e vidence in the o t s equ el . Up t that point the argumen had run upon the technical aspects o f o u r enamelled u e t e e ee e to te the Fig r , and h s had s m d indica t e i e e Bri ish Isl s as ts native r gion . Since that stag o u r argument has tu rned upon the concep tion and pedigree o f the device ; and here again we find that an insular rather than a foreign

8 2 The A lfred jewel

A sword wi th its point planted in a h uman hear t may mean compu nction fo r sin and mo rtifica tio n o f the natu ral man ; it may also mean resignation in adversity to the ove rr u ling e e f u provid nc o God . S ch a disposition of mind u t e e u t t t prod c iv of flow rs and fr i , ha is, of n u t e ut u t e co d c which is b a if l and profi abl , and

(on great occasions) o f action which is heroic . This mode o f symbolical expression may b e h fi f ’ ee t e u o St u e St . s n in g re . L k in Chad s a L i hfi l he E e Book t c e d. T vang list holds in his t en the ea t e t righ hand a p , f h ry par of which e out t e u t to branch s in o flow rs and fr i , signify 1 u t the O u e the fr i fu l na tu re of writings f St. L k These a re the obviou s meanings of s uch a e e t e so it symbolical d vic , and his b ing , plainly resu l ts tha t the Figure and its back- plate a re f h en u nited by correlation o tho ught. T e a melled Figure is the symbol of religion in its e cclesiastical and political aspect ; the engraved plate represents the inward disposition o f the h f e e t t e t u t o e . h ar , roo and fo n p rsonal r ligion The forme r is o f the natu re of a public

1 ’ H er e I follow the Old copy of this drawing in H ickes s Thesa u us 0 a ii r ( 1 7 5 ) f ci ng p . v j. Figure a nd E ngra ved Pla te 8 3

e u e e to prof ssion, and as s ch is op nly display d V e the tte e e ed ou t o f t i w ; la r is r s rv , sigh , facing the wall .

A CONST RUCT I VE IN FE RE NCE

And this raises a consideration to which

te e u tte t . e e two tu e I invi car f l a n ion Th s pic r s, the one e e e the t e e e a re nam ll d, o h r ngrav d, complementary the one to the other ; they a re two t o f one e n a s u t e par s d sig , and s ch h y com bine to declare the unity o f thought which locks together th e composition and fabric o f t this Jewel into one constr uc ive whole . And t e t n e e e e a re his obs rva io , onc v rifi d and cl arly pp e e u t e e t e u e the t e h nd d, m s h nc for h xcl d h ory of Sir Francis Palgrave which explained this Jewel as being derived from two diverse sou rces in the following manner ’ ‘ e e e the e n Alfr d s J w l, in m cha ical workman o f the et t n ffe e ship m allic por io , o rs a clos e e e to the e e t r s mblanc Ic landic ornam n s, now e the e e the e mad in island, wh r mod has probably continued by u sage from the most remote

G 2. 84 The A lfred jewel

he e e t he t e d e . T on t p riods nam l wi hin, o h r han , resembles some ornaments of the Carlovingian e ra e t the t e t e now xis ing on con in n , which hav he been generally considered as Oriental . T head a t the extremity of the ornament is ex tremely like wha t is fo und in those architectu ral he e t u u e e . t ornam n s s ally call d Saxon, . g porch ’ f t t e t o e a . t e . St. Margar s York Whe h r St N o b e the personage represented in the enamel I ra ther doubt ; a nd I think it possible that the e e t e wa s u t the t e t nam l i s lf bro gh from con in n , a nd that the se tting only was made in E ngland . This would reconcile the two styles o f work manship ; the meta llic portion is u nquestionably

- the e e be u e to be Anglo Saxon, nam l may s ppos d e u B u t t et e it one from anoth r co ntry . al og h r is o f the most cu rious relics o f the kind ; and no o ne t n the t o f e e e t et e , aki g all poin s vid nc og h r , ca n rea son a bly dou b t b ut that it did belong ’ to king Alfred . e f the e t ue This is copi d rom Ashmol an Ca alog , 8 6 the P 1 . . u 3 (p work of Mr hilip D ncan, o r a t e e o f the two t e r h r p rhaps bro h rs, John and P u t e o f N ew e e hilip D ncan, bo h F llows Coll g , and s uccessively Keepers of the Ashmolean

86 The A lfred jewel qu aintness o f the Figu re as being probably t e or e t e in t t it Byzan in Ori n al ; s condly, ha lightened the bu rden o f credit demanded for o ur insu lar jewelle rs o f the ninth centu ry ; and t e u e it u e so e t the hirdly, b ca s sq ar d w ll wi h accredited fac t that Alfred did receive presents f e e e t e e u from or ign pot ntat s . On all h s gro nds the dual hypothesis o f Sir Francis Palgrave gave general satisfaction and seemed to be absolu tely final . Fo r myself,I adopted it as the pivot o f my te et t u u e it the t in rpr a ion , and as s ch I s d in las e tu e e on the u e t in l c r I gav s bj c , which was

1 Bu a en t the 8 . t t e May , 9 9 now l g h, by wid r a nd more searching investigation which has been e u e the e t t E e r q ir d in pr para ion of his ssay, I hav satisfied myself that all the parts o f this composi te work a re bound together by a u ni ty o f thought fe t th e eff t o f n e i which mani s s or a si gl m nd . All available testimony indicates that this e t e t the e was non o h r han mind of king Alfr d . In support of this broad assertion I will here bring forward a new illustration from the n f original writi gs o the king . When h e had translated the Pa stora l Ca re he fu rnished it with Figure a nd E ngra ved Pla te 87

ue e ue t e e a prolog and an pilog , bo h in v rs the ue e e the e o f prolog is giv n abov , in s cond t e e he e I h s chapters ; t epilogu is quoted here . t u t te e o f u e o ill s ra s his lov fig r and symb l , and his aptness for the development of a train o f allegorical thought

Dis is nu se w a terscip e This is now the wat ering

“ ’ S e u s w ereda G od which the world s Crea tor to fro fre geh é t for refreshm ent promised

fold u dum us who til the e . b en . l fi ld

’ H e cw aeS Beet h e w olde H e said it wa s his will

‘ Beet on w orulde foriS tha t in the world thencefo rtl of Ba rn innoiiu m out of the inwa rd soul a lib b endu w a tru fl eow en waters a ye enduring flow S” e w e] On h ine gelifden u nder of loya l beli ev ers und er h ea ven.

lyfte .

Is hit lytel tw eo There is littl e doubt

“ Sa t h a s w a terscip es that of thi s watering

w elsp rynge is the well- spring is on h efonrice ; in the h eavenly kingdom ” Sa t is H a li G a s for it is the H o ost. g t. ly Gh Dona n h ine h loda n From that founta in fetched it

h a l e a nd ecorene a t u men e ect g g , f i hf l l , 88 A lf red jewel

‘ ’ sitStSa n h ine gierdon a nd at length twa s guided Ba Be G ode h erdon by h e a rers of G o d Surh h a lga n b é c through ho ly books

‘ h ider o n e orSa n hither on e a rth

’ geond m a nna m ed men s minds to p ervade

i li in ma nne s e se. m ssen ce . r div r

’ S um e h ine w eria S on gew it Some wa rily k eep in me loca n wa rd

’ w isdom es strea m w elerum wisdom s strea m with geh aefta tS lips Ba t h e on unnyt so that it fruitl essly

’ fit ne to fl eow e S flows not awa y a c se w eel w u na h but the brookl et bideth

’ 6n w eres b re ostu m in the ma n s brea st Burh Dryhtnes giefe through divine gra ce

l e e a nd s . diop a nd sti le . d p till S um e h ine la ta ii So me let it a t l a rg e O fer la ndsca re over the la nd ’ in ets w e- unn n riSum torinna n. rill id r i g .

Nis E a t ra dlic Bin oo e e is it not g, G d r d gif sw a hlutor w a ter if water so lucid hlud a nd undiop run sha llow a nd loud

90 The A lf red jewel mu st labou r u nder the disadvantage of being in t the ene e e e e a form u nfamiliar o g ral r ad r . N v r theless t tt e tte t the e e t t , wi h a li l a n ion, ss n ial poin T e t will become plain . h royal ranslator had been refreshed and invigorated with the l u cid ’ t e o f e u e a t the m e t s r am Gr gory s disco rs , and om n o f parting with a beloved task he sought to relieve his fu ll - frau gh t sou l wi th a grate fu l f e O u the t t t bu rst o u logy . t of all opics ha were appropriate to the occasion he chose the perennial wa ter o f life promis ed a t the well o f u t e t e e he Samaria , and pon his nobl h m expatiated with a fertility o f invention which makes it the easier for us to a ttribu te to him f the rich symbolism o the Alfred Jewel .

And now to ga ther u p the results o f this e chapter . W e have found mor than one reason to t t a t ou r E e u hink h nam l was an ins lar , and no t t e t u t u a con in n al prod c . This concl sion was e e two ffe e t t t e we r ach d by di r n pa hs , firs wh n were tracing the technical history o f the fabri t a e we e e ee the ca ion , and gain wh n w r s king spiri tu al meaning o f the design ; by these two widely different lines of evidence we were led Figure a nd E ngra ved Fla re 91 severally and independently to infer a British 1 ra ther than a foreign origin for the Figu re . This inference was fu rther confirmed by a t e e t e o ut the hird vid n ial proc ss, arising of sympa thy o f meaning which a ppears to u nite the enamelled Figu re wi th the engraved device

i - e u o ue u pon ts back plate . This l d s t q stion the long- established doctrine o f du ality o f origi n which rested upon the a uthority of Sir Francis P e to e t t the e algrav , and inf r ha whol compo sition o f the Jewel had been projected and e e e d vis d by a singl mind . we u e to t t t Finally, fo nd r ason hink ha all th ese fea tu res harmonized well wi th the mind and characte r o f a person wi th whose name the Jewel is already connected by the E pigraph ; and if anything was yet wanting to complete the e t t o f t t e it ee to id n ifica ion ha p rson, s ms b e s upplied by certain traces of inward affinity between the symbolism of the Jewel and that of the epilogue to the translation of the Pa rtom l Ca re o ne o f the u e t u e t , s r s mon m n s of the F mind of king AL RE D .

1 e App ndix D . CH APTE R VIII

ALFRE D IN SOME RSE T BE YOND PE DR IDA

WH E N we have described the form and sym b olism o f the e e e e e e the Alfr d J w l , and r vi w d u te et t it e e vario s in rpr a ions which has vok d, and when we have moreover analyzed its design e e e h e e e tu e we e and consid r d ac s v ral f a r , hav not et e u te the tte o f ou r t e e as y xha s d ma r h m . An important part o f the problem remains to b e u e t t the e its dis disc ss d, and ha is plac of co ver the the o f its e t y, how and why d posi t e e the t o f t to b e e e h r , and possibili y ligh d riv d the t t the t from his orical associa ions of locali y . It u e the e o f t e e was fo nd n ar Isl A h ln y . This looks like a piece o f circu mstantial evidence tending to identify the Alfred named in the

z flf red in Somerset 9;

E to te the e e t the pigraph , and associa J w l wi h chief and central episode in the career o f o u r he t national hero . T momen o us crisis which is thu s reflec ted in the Jewel seems to open a wider V e to e e e e e t t i w, and d mand som nlarg m n of his E so to e e e o f t t ssay, as mbrac a glimps ha eventf ul s tory . t we no w te the e o f Of all his , af r laps a t u n e e men who the ho sa d y ars, sp ak as know e ue e u e we the e ue it s q l, and (b ca s do know s q l) is the harder for u s to apprecia te the intensi ty o e a re e e he e e f that crisis . W h lp d by t occu rr nc tu e e u t e o u r of an oppor n discov ry . J s wh n nation was beginning to b e ripe fo r historical reflection and capable of entering into the t u e o f o u r e te e t e t e e s r ggl s r mo for fa h rs , h r was ’ ‘du g up in the locali ty where Alfred took e u e the e 8 8 e e t r f g in y ar 7 , a p rsonal ornam n e i e e e It b aring h s name in impr ssiv charact rs . is to u s . no w as if the king himself had b ut recently passed tha t way under such stress of circ umstances as constrained him to hide his a we e t royal insigni , and as if som how by his chance were brought nearer to the bu rden of his lo t e e e e no t the , and w r mad shar rs only in T/Je d l red e 94. f jew l

u t t u but the t and fr i s of his ri mph, also in oil the jo y of his achievement.

>l< >l< >l<

By the s u dden su rprize with which the Danes had broken the peace and come upon him a t e the e o f te t e Chipp nham in d ad win r, h y had almost fulfilled their design and taken him t B t he fl d a n t e . u e d e e e cap iv had , h y had W ss x a t e e ee n to e will , and w r proc di g divid and

u the n . The t few occ py la d king, wi h a com e e t e t e e panions, had scap d in o S lwood , and h nc fen e u te e tu e by wood and by , lik h n d cr a r s , t e e u e u u t b ut e e ne e e u e u t h y l d d p rs i , w r v r s c r n il e i a they had passed b yond Pedr d . What were his reflec tions on finding hims elf u e u t t the te u t e s dd nly an o cas in win r, a f gi iv in the wild > H e had experienced hair- breadth e e b u t e e t ! H e t u te scap s, non lik his had r s d ’ G u thrum s t t u t e ne t oa h , had ho gh him in ar s this time ! And even now he was loth to charge t t erfid u ! t t wa s his las p y pon him . No his rick not it e f t e u nee in the his , cam rom hos b cca rs a he e ’ Severn Sea . Mad t t d feat o f las t summer s e e e t e e combin d sch m , which h y had com from ’ t to u t t e e G uthrum s far nor h s ppor , h y had forc d

96 The z fifred jewel

the e e Alhsta n t t In following y ar had di d , ha t t t the e vigilan pa rio , old warlik bishop of e e Sh rborn . [E thered and I were the two you ngest of the o u r e t n ee e u family, and r la io s had b n p c liarly e e e we e e u te u e clos . B for w r ni d by p blic car s, e e we had been par tners in o u r privat conc rns . O u r seve ral estates had been kept in o ne and e n u e ee t work d in commo , nd r agr d condi ions, e so that they had remained u ndivid d . O ur names had been coupled together by the common e e t voice of the nation . The style was v r h us : Y I D R S B o U p E R E D C N NG AN AE L F E D H I R p R . Oh what a fearful time it was for ANGE L ’ CY NN t t five e fE thered s e ! , ha y ars of r ign t u t t o ld e Nor h mbria , ha imp rial kingdom, was cru she d 5 Mercia redu ced to make a peace with the e t e the e t we u effe t h a h n, which was b s co ld c by marching in force to Nottingham to support B u r red ZE thelswith ! t g and And , wors of all, the E t e e e te a tt e the as Angl s d f a d in b l , good E u he u t e e king dm nd slain ( fo gh lik a h ro, and e e t the u e ed di d lik a mar yr)5 land conq r , pos e e tu e f t s ss d , and rn d rom an Anglian in o a Danish kingdom 1 1 lfred in Somerset 97

I o e t a e t e t was ur turn n x . All was t l ng h rip fo r the u u t o f e e o n t s bj ga ion W ss x , and his aim t e u t t e t en t to e e h y bro gh all h ir s r g h b ar . W made a gallant s tand a t Ashdown against over el n we e t e wh mi g odds ; sl w h ir kings and jarls , and made their practised braves fly before the

r ustic militia of E cgberht. E ight pi tched tt e t t e e de e t t ut ba l s in ha y ar , b si s small r figh s wi ho E e . the red e a t te t numb r B u t fE di d as r . Righ ly e the people reve re him as a saint. So I was l ft

- to continue the s truggle single handed . Since then they have established themselves the e t e e in poss ssion of London, and h y hav banished B u rgred and set up fo r king in Mercia a tool o f their o wn ; also Halfdan has abolished the kingdom o f Northumbria and partitioned

the . t t t e t u t land And amids all his , wha a d s r c ion e u u e e t et e of r ligio s ho s s , s a s of pi y and l arning and ed ucation e E l e e York, Ripon, Bardn y , y, Crowland, M d s

te t e . hams ad, and many o h rs They have destroyed the powers o f North umbria and Mercia ; b ut there they had a point t e in their favou r which is against hem her . The Welsh a t the back o f those nations were H ” 98 The z i t/ red 7 efwe/

e to co - e te t the e b ut always r ady op ra wi h invad r, e e the he that is no t so h r in west. T Cornish have never made common cause with the heathen e the tt e o f t sinc ba l Hings on Down, in which t t t u e E c b erht ha coali ion was q ash d by g . And we have a still better guarantee in the constant policy of Wessex ever since the days o f Ina d The te t e and Al helm . rri orial quarr l was then e e the e u ffe e e too The app as d, and r ligio s di r nc . e t e e e ue e b ut t e e e e e W s W lsh w r conq r d , h y w r n v r t um te e e te wan only h ilia d, no man was j c d from e e he e e t his o wn. Th y appreciat d t r sp c and e ven honou r tha t was shown to their favourite u o f t u e ef e e ch rch Glas onb ry . Th r or I hav good e the u t n o f e hop of s ppor of the me Som rset. ue we e to u t u the t t Tr , hav co n pon hos ili y o f the Welsh on the opposite shore o f the e er Sea e e the eet u S v n , wh r Danish fl s find harbo r e c u ten e t t t not and all fri ndly o n anc . S ill , ha is quite the same thing as having an active enemy behind you r back upon the same stretch of te e e t e t the e e rritory . H r in his w s country p opl ffe e ee o f e e e a re di r only in d gr s all gianc , non t e t e the e t the ac iv ly hos il . This is w ak poin in t he one tt e posi ion of the invaders . This is t li l

’ 1 00 The z i lfretl jewel

t t t e u t n t e e e e t dis rac h ir calc la io s , and s rik wh r l as expected . Wi th some su ch a strain o f thought as this (if I have followed him aright) no w rumina ted the u u te n t u t the nda n d ki g, in whom ho gh was o f t e e he e e t u spring ac ion . Mor ov r, r ason d h s ‘ t e : te t t e wi h hims lf So long as win r las s, h y cannot follow me with the host by the way that e e b ut t e e e e u t I hav com , if h y l arn my wh r abo s, they may easily find adventu re rs who wou ld o me e e e u t not unde rtake t kill . Wh r for I m s e e too ee n but ee mak mys lf fr ly know , proc d u t u e men e e ca io sly, and mak proof of b for I o e t u e trust myself t th m . To mos I m st app ar like some mou nted yeoman hunter who follows the high deer that abou nd in the forests abo ut

t e e . t e to t h s hills And as for his sacr d y, his e e t e e o f e e p rsonal nigma , his J w l c r mony, which e e e e e u t e many y s hav b h ld , I m s no long r carry it ut me e t e e tu e it e me abo , l s p radv n r mak known u it e t nawares . I will bu ry in some conveni n spot !’ >g<

The western boundary o f Wessex had fo r centuries been the Great Wood of which the A lfred in Som erset IO I ancient name still su rvives as a specific ele ment in the historic designation o f Frome e S lwood . e t w e W ea lwudu This gr a ood was also call d , e tu te e e u e it a v ry na ral and appropria nam , b ca s ha d long been the barrier between the Saxon the e u t e e e the t and W lsh pop la ions . H r li s mos tt e e fo r the D enewul the fi ing sc n story of f. In t e e the u t e he u im wh n king was a f gi iv , fo nd t ee ne the e t a nd he his man k ping swi in for s , discove red in him a great natu ral capacity and t e fo r te etu to e ap n ss good , and af r his r rn pow r he e u te D enewu lf e o f d ca d , and mad him bishop e e t e no t run Winch st r . This s ory do s on all u e a u e to the e t ut t e fo rs , b c s according b s a hori i s Denewulf e e o f e te 8 b cam bishop Winch s r in 7 9, he ee e 8 8 e and if was k ping swin in 7 , b ing e o f tu e a e it t e o f alr ady ma r g , smacks ra h r o t o f B ut it b e hagi logy han history . may that the ma rvel has been enhanced in trans mission ; o r if we choose the lowest es timate it e e t n t it t e and call m r fic io , s ill is wor h whil obs erving what manner of stories were invented

about king Alfred . Behind this barrier the Danes had never been The A e e el 1 0 7. lfr d j w

e to et t e e t abl g a foo ing . As if awar how gr a ly this was needed fo r the su ccess o f their designs u e e t e e e e tte t pon W ss x, h y had mad s v ral a mp s . Two great efforts which imply this aim we re e a t the end the e o f E c berht mad of r ign g . The force o f thir ty- five ships which that king e e e a t ut the t o f et r p ll d Charmo h, on coas Dors , seems to indicate something more than merely a plundering incu rsion .

8 e t e t mice! In 3 y, a gr a naval armam n (

' sozphere) came to the Cornish coast and were e the e t e t e t e e join d by W s W lsh , and h y ga h r d e a t t e e t e in forc Hings on Down, wh r h y prob ably intended to fo rtifir themselves 5 wh en E c b erht e e t e e g app ar d wi h an army, and disp rs d them . The next recorded attempt of the kind was in the e the e fE thelwulf e y ar in r ign of , wh n the W icen a s e te e the ut the P et g n r d mo h of arr , and were met by the posse comitatus of the two e e et et u e t e two Shir s, Som rs and Dors , nd r h ir e e Alhsta n the e o f aldorm n, and warlik bishop

Sherborne . Only in the ve ry last year (8 7 7 ) their land e erfidiou s u e e e E ete forc had, by a p s rpriz , s iz d x r,

1 The A l e e el 04. fr d j w

the u e t the e et e t in backgro nd, l s plac of his r r a should become known .

96 96 Gradually and by the spontaneous action of tu u e the e te e the na ral ca s s, w s rn barri r of Saxon was moved from the line o f Selwood to the fen P d e ee e e e land of e rida . This barri r was d p r b dd d the e to ha s e t in soil , was hard r pass , and l f The t behind it memories more indelible . firs explicit notice of this vir tu al transfer o f the western boundary meets us seventeen years later t the e t we a re e e han poch wi h which now ngag d, and it may b e worth while to go so far o u t of o ur way in order the be tter to realize the import f dri o Pe da .

’ the t de e o f e e e he In las cad Alfr d s r ign, wh n was i n the agony o f that supreme crisis which te te the ue his t tut n e t s d val of ins i io s, a gr a u te o f e e the e te t m s r forc was call d for, and x n of the con tribu ting area is sketched by the annalist as matter of amazement. There gathered lE thered a ldorma n and fE thelm aldor ’ iE thelno th a ldorman the man and , and king s Thanes who were then a t home in the fo rtifica t e e e t o f Pedrida ions, from v ry garrison as " A lfred in Somerset IO )

et e e t e e t e e (wh h r w s of S lwood or as ), lik wis also north o f Thames and west o fS evern — moreover some part o f the Welsh na tion Here we mark the startling novelty tha t the h a Welsh in 8 94 a re s een aiding t e Saxon gainst the Dane 5 and we can hardly forgo a passing cry o f wonder and pleas u re a t this signal token ’ u t o f the imperial su ccess o f Alfre d s policy . B o u r present concern is wi th the recogni tion of Pedrida as the westernmost limit of Wessex e n te e d the t prop r i s ad of S lwoo , and implica ion that the change was recent. W e see that Selwo o dshire (as the intervening district wa s pop ularly called) was by 8 94 qu i te assimila ted and inclu ded in the military administration o f e e b ut t t e Pedrida e t e u e W ss x, ha b yond som o h r r l e t e a t t t i e Such was op ra iv ha t m . a fact reflects u t t e t u the e 8 8 back an ill s ra iv ligh pon y ar 7 , and helps us to estimate the situa tio n of Alfred e he wa s e e e Pe a wh n in Som rs t b yond drid .

1 pa gega dero de p ered ea ldormo n a nd [E pelm ea ldo rma n a nd elno ea o ma n and a c n es e ua s e a act ham p p ld r , p i g yg p p aet aem eweorcum wacton of a lc re b ri be ea sta n Pedreda n p g , y g , ge be westa n Sea lwuda ge be c a sta u 5 ge ea c be morba n T emese a nd be westa n ae e n e ea c sum ae a s ortS , S f r , g d l p N

ea c nnes. Sa x . hrom A. 8 W l y C , 94 . 1 0 6 The A lfred jewel

The political division here indicated has left t e w t be e e t u rac s hich may s ill r cogniz d, par ic larly

the e t - e he e t in dial c and in folk lor . Of t dial c we e e e u e t E l hav a r markabl mon m n in Mr . ’ t The Dia lect o West Somerset wor hy s works, f , and his West Somerset Word- BooQ E specially to be te the u o f the e t u t no d is W s Co n ry, which ’ is ra dically o ne with the Welsh ‘u and with ’ the e ‘u e a t the e t e it Fr nch , whil sam im has e t t te t o n E e a v ry dis inc local charac r of i s w . v ry E nglishman who is conversant with the French language knows how hard it is to acquire the ’ u tte rance o f the French ‘u after the age o f n n e t e e e e en e i fa cy . A lik s rang n ss is xp ri c d by E e e e t o f Pedrida e t e nglish p opl born as , wh n h y ‘ ’ tte t to e u e the e te u . t a mp r prod c w s rn In fac , this vowel- sou nd is Keltic 5 it is a legacy from o u r t e e e Bri ish pr d c ssors . ’ N o t that this British ‘u is absolutely con fined to the western promontory : it may b e occasionally heard in other parts o f the country u t te e t ea r e by a c l iva d and obs rvan . Mr . Mayh w once told me that he had h eard i t i n the Corn e n t f e to Mark t a t Oxford . Bu t though o con in d the e t Pedrida it e u lands w s of , is in a p c liar

1 08 The A lfred jewel

If the vocabu lary of this dialect were minutely e ne ete t e e xami d by a comp n W lsh scholar, som e e e t e Bri tish words might b e d t ct d . Among hos which wou ld deserve early attention a re plum

t b ed ilm o r illzcm u t welt to e t (sof , as a ),p p (d s ), ( b a ,

thrash). Another local characteristic o f the West Welsh t t t t it the e u u t promon ory is his, ha is p c liar ha n o f a race of whimsical o r mischievou s Spri tes e P e o r P e ut e call d iski s ixi s . In So h D von and Cornwall any o ne whose condu c t is strange and — u naccou ntabl e is said to b e pisky led. This is a branch of the numerou s kindred o f that ver sa tile Pu e e e t e the ck, whos m mory is k p fr sh by ’ e - Midsumm r Night s Dream . In an Anglo Saxon e u t o o f n a t e t t we p ramb la i n la d W s on by Ba h, ’ 1 eet t Pu W l Pu e . The m wi h a can y , ck s W ll E nglish Dia lect Di cti ona ry preserves the name ’ ’ o f AwJ u ck for Will- o - the- Wisp o r zgrzis fa tzczcs u n t t t he , a compo d which impor s ha is h t f t e e t e mos dangerou s o h speci s . This name u ent o e te e b u t was c rr in W rc s rshir , is now ete 2 obsol . 1 em od x D i loma ti us l e e c vo . . c K bl , C p , iii , p Bir h, Cortulcz i m a x m r u S oni u N O . 8 1 c . , 4 2 The E n lish D ia lect D ictiona r E te ose g y. di d by J ph A lfred in Somerset 1 0 9

These a re the more obviou s extant traces of the long isolation of the trans- Pedrida n world : o thers there a re which have a ttracted u u e u u t e e t inq iry, s ch as p c liar c s oms, impl m n s ,

n - tu e tte e ee so gs and song n s, which la r hav b n

e the e . e t te u R v . inv s iga d by Dr . B ss ll and S

- u Baring Go ld .

96 96 The Somerset to which Alfred retired was e e t t wid ly unlike the Som rset of od ay . In his respec t three points may be taken : ( 1 )Differences in the distribu tion o f land and wate r 5 (z ) differences in the trees and woods and game 5 ( 5 ) differences in the poli tical aspect of the population.

1 e e et e te E . W st Som rs was s para d from ast Somerset by wide inland waters : the beds o f the ue P et e e e the te Br and arr w r lak s in win r , and only passable in s ummer to those who knew the u Pedrida e e tu gro nd . was r gard d as a na ral t e the sea t e f t it limi , lik i s l , dividing na ions 5 e o f e eo u we was spok n in lik phras logy . Th s read in 6 y8 ho w Cenwa lh warred against the

t . . Ph . D . e u o esso of om a a e Wrigh , M A , , D p ty Pr f r C p r tiv o o in the Un e s o f O o Phil l gy iv r ity xf rd . 1 1 0 The A lfred jewel

e e t e e e u t Pedrida 1 W lsh and drav h m v n n o 5 and ,

6 8 2 Centwine e the et- e e e in , how drav Br W lsh v n 2 unto the sea . The cau se o f that expanse of water and large area o f fenland happened far back beyond t we te his orical chronology, and can only da it by u sing the geological me thod o f reckoning

- time . Far back in the sub gla cial era a sub sidence o f the land took place which affected the t e e t t e P coas of Som rs and Nor h D von . roof o f this is found in a su bmarine fores t ex tending the u t t o f the e e Sea i along so h coas S v rn , wh ch ee n n ‘ h has long b n k ow . T at portion of it visible a t Porlock was described in 1 8 5 9 by e de e e a nd e e e t Sir H nry la B ch , mor r c n ly by Mr . Godwin Austen in an essay read before the G eological Society in 1 8 6 ;

u e ue t the R e . . S bs q n ly v H . H Winwood and Professor Boyd Dawkins verified the discovery

t u e t n o f the e t- b e by a horo gh xamina io for s d.

1 er en 65 8. H C walh gefea ht aet Peonnum wip Wa la s a nd hie efliemde o e g p P drida n. 2 682 O n iss m e en i . p u g a re C tw ne gefliemde Bret W ea la s

see . 3 Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeologica l a nd a u a H isto oc e vol N t r l ry S i ty , . xviii .

The A e e e 1 1 7. lfr d j w l which ha s made the Vale of Taunton Dean e he prov rbial as t Garden o f E ngland . ’ f e t e the e eete 2 . In Al r d s im ye was gr d by a variety o f trees which a re no t observable now . h T e elm predominates all over the plain . I asked the occupier of Athelney Farm about the t ee he t e e r s on his land, and said h r was t b u t elm t e n he hardly any hing . Of o h r ki ds had only two ash- trees and one b eech 5 b ut (he e we fn b o — the it add d) i d g oak in moors, and ’ e te- The e e e mak s good ga posts . lms hav driv n o ut t o a k te e t e t bo h and ash, and wha v r o h r sor s e u e e n e e e th y to ch d in th ir wrastli g progr ss . Th s sombre grenadiers dress up their lines so close e o ee e u as to l ave little room for ther tr s . Th y s ck the u t u e t t e t ee fr i f l soil mor han any o h r r , and they repay their cos tly nu rtu re with timber o f e e t u e the inf rior val u . In rod c d by Romans to serve as stakes and props in the cu ltu re of the e t e e e u the e the vin , h y hav ov rr n land lik te t e f r e impor d rabbi s in som o o u coloni s . In ’ A lfred s day these hu ngry ali ens had no t yet u u e the e t e e t fo r s rp d fi ld, and h r was s ill room the the et tu e— o a k display of rich vari y of na r , ee fir e ew e e ash, b ch , , mapl , y , sycamor , hornb am, A lfred in Som erset 1 1 3

e e e w - elm holly, poplar, asp n, ald r, haz l, ych , e e u e e e u t appl , ch rry, j nip r, ld r, willow, mo n ain

e- t ee u t t ash, spindl r , b ck horn, haw horn, wild

- u e e e t ee Scc . B u t the pl m , wild p ar, s rvic r , now, fair places o f the field a re enc umbered by the t u the ett e the t e e all co sins of n l , and mos div rsifi d o f E nglish counties is mu ffled with a monotonous u u ee t shro d of o tlandish and w dy grow h . the e e th e e o f In animal world, lik wis , laps t u t the a ho sand years has brough change . In tu e the t e ue t the pas r s mos fr q n animal is cow, e we V e the and only on rar occasions, as i w moors ’ f e e e te tu e we the e rom som l va d mp , hav chanc to see a little company o f antlered deer careering e the en e the e t ov r Op plain, cl aring rhin s wi h an

’ - u . e t e to o ee airy bo nd In Alfr d s im , cow k ping wa s t u t a nd we e the a s ock ind s ry, r ad of king as entertained incognito by one of his o wn cow h erds (ope d guendczm szczcm vczccczrizcm). B ut the proportion of wild to domesticated animals was fa r grea ter then than it is now . The whole stretch o f cou ntry from Pedrida to the end E t m e of xmoor, fif y il s long and t ent e e wa s t e t t u u w y mil s wid , h n almos a con in o s e t u th e o f b u t for s , abo nding wi gam all kinds , 1 T e A e 1 4. h lfred j wel e e w t red ee t t ue sp cially i h d r, which s ill con in s , though in diminished nu mbers . This noble creatu re is thus described by Bewick : ‘T H E STAG O R R E D DE E R This is the most e u f e e The e e e b au tif l animal o th d er kind . l ganc o f his the t e o f t the form, ligh n ss his mo ions, e t o f fl xibili y his limbs, his bold, branching a re nu e e e eu horns, which an ally r n w d, his grand r, t e t ft e e e e re s r ng h, and swi n ss, giv him a d cid d p eminence over every other inhabitant of the forest The red deer still lives and breeds along the u t e t o f the e e Sea t so h rn coas S v rn , and his is I believe the only part o f Great Bri tain in which this right royal animal still ranges a t e in the e e larg all freedom ofnatur . I am inform d e e t t e by my fri nd Mr . Townsh nd ha in Ir land they a re kept as an ornament in some gentle ’ e b u t t t ee t te tu e m n s parks, ha in a fr s a of na r e th y su rvive only in the mo untains o f Killarney .

1 A G n l H i to ua d u d Th Fi ur n e era s ry of Q r p e s. e g e : e ra v ed on W ood h Thoma s B ew ich 1 In g y , p . 3 5 . a unton a s e w c is the ome a nd m useum o f the T C tl , hi h h ome se s e c aeo o ca a nd atu a H sto oc e S r t hir Ar h l gi l N r l i ry S i ty, the fo rm a nd beauty of the red deer maybe contempl a ted in a fine s ec men w c is set u in the eat a l the e a p i hi h p gr h l , v ry h ll o the oo f Bl dy A ssiz e .

1 1 6 The A lfred jewel

Th er is a great Bridge on Thane a t Ba sford a Mil e lower t en T onetoa n h h . From this B rdge by A thelney I ro de by a low M a rsch d oun a 2 . es to Pe erta n Pa r Gr d Mil lc. H ere a t Pedertan the soyle Westwa rd a nd South West i h rys t a gayn a nd ys not fenny . e e s a eat um e o f e e lon in to t s a Th r y gr N br D r gg g hi P rk, yet ha th it a lm ost no other E nclo sure but Dikes to let the f Ca telle o the ommune to cum n C y . The Dere trippe o ver these Dikes a nd feede a l a bou t the Pennes a nd eso to the a a a n e e is a a t , r rt P rk g y . Th r pr y o d e mote n the L g d y P a rk e . e e cummith a a t ro e t o ou the a a nd Th r pr y B k h r gh P rk , a a e el h lf Mil b eneth the P a rk it goith y uto v . s oo e is ca ullid P eder a nd risith est out e st Thi Br k , W S h W n the H lles oute 2 es of st cummith y y a b a . Myl . Fir it by N ath Pedretan a a u la ndisch oun wher is a a e h , pr ty p T , f ir Chir , the e ona o M n hin hoe/a nd P rs ge whereof was impr pri ate to y c . en touchith o n South Pederton in the w ic a o c Th it , h h P r h

the a e sta ndith a nd so to the R ver of Iv el. P rk , y From the Lodge i n Pederton Pa rke to N o rthpedertun a

Mile .

o m N orth ederta n to Brid ew a ter 2 es. The wa o r Fr p g . Mil y I ca m ynto Bridgwa ter wa s ca used with Stone mo re then ha lf a le My .

Here we may obse rve that Leland appears to ’ o f e et to it ‘ e know no riv r Parr 5 him was Iv l . It would b e cu riou s to learn wh en and how a minor tribu tary gave its name of Parret to the A lf red in Somerset 1 1 7

e I b e u e lowe r waters of the Iv l . t may s rmis d t t Pedrida e e the e o f e b u t ha was n v r nam a riv r, e t u t t t it e e t of a b l of co n ry, and ha may hav m an ’ ’ the e o r o f the Pe e e passag ford d r, L land s ’ e The e ee to ta the praty brok . nam s ms con in it e e rh d . A t t e e t W lsh y , a ford firs may hav d no d the o f the Pe e t e tu e te ford d r, and h n by na ral x n sion it may have come to designate the whol e f e fenland o th lower Ivel . ff e e e e e ee e t . 5 . Racial di r nc s w r still s n and f l The e t e ee u e e e e W s W lsh had b n conq r d, and w r e e u u e t n now living in p ac f l s bj c io , and forming an ou tlying part o f the kingdom o f Wessex 5 e e e b ut still th y w re imp rfectly assimila ted . The old internecine quarrel between the races had in this western land been h ushed and calmed 5 and on no other border were the British living and mingling wi th their conqu erors o n such e te e e a e ff amicabl rms . Th r w s a v ry great di er ence between the disposition of the West Welsh towards the Saxon and that ofthe ‘North Welsh on the te t o f the e e Sea opposi coas S v rn . These pacific relations were no t o f recent date 5 they appear as a deliberate policy in the reign of Ina before the end of the s ev enth 1 1 8 The A lfred jewel

e tu e e e e t o f t c n ry, and v n arli r indica ions his tendency may be gleaned which carry us back two hundred years behind the reign of Alfred . e 1 o f e te Wh n in Wina , bishop Winch s r, h e t e te Cea dda St. cons cra d ( Chad), had wi h him two t t e e two Bri ish bishops as his assistan s . Th s

bishops m ust have belonged to the West Welsh . u t e t e e e to e e e t t Cea d F r h r, h r is r ason b li v ha t u e e e e walla, ho gh d sc nd d from C rdic, and king

o f e e t : the W ss x, was half a Bri on . Again ’ legendary tales abou t Ina s legislation which a re embodied in the so—called Laws o f E dward the e e e u t e Conf ssor, how v r nhis orical, hav possibly a traditional valu e as characterizing the attitu de o f Wessex towards her British su bjects in the e e t e t s v n h and eighth centuri s . In his apocryphal ’ text it is said that by Ina s enac tment ( the British were declared politically equal with the E n th t h e e set glish , and a as hims lf had the e e o f e e so he u xampl a W lsh marriag , wo ld that connubium between the two races should

1 The es a o n fo m of t s na me wa s ine but I W t S x r hi W , w te na a s a so a o the a n o m Ina in a ce ri it Wi , l I d pt L ti f r , pl of the enu ne Ine est the E n l s e a e s ou a ow it to g i , l g i h r d r h ld ll a ss ou h he p thr gh is mind in the sh ap e of a monosylla bl e . T n A gli a n forms of these na mes (in B ede) a re Ini a nd Wini .

1 1 0 The A lfred jewel

e e o f e e e e e ( to dioc s W ss x, Aldh lm b cam bishop ’ the e t the e e w s of wood, ov r a provinc which (as E thelwerd tells u s) was commonly called

d hi e e 0 u one Selwo o s re . Aldh lm di d in 7 9 pon e u e a t the e of his piscopal jo rn ys, villag of u t the e te o f e b e Do l ing on w s rn brow M ndip, e e e e ee twe n W lls and From . His m mory has b n l o cally revived in the present centu ry by the dis cove ry of a small Saxon chu rch in Bradford- on ee e t e ete t Avon, which has b n id n ifi d by comp n ju dges with the ecclesiola which William of Malmesbu ry says that Aldhelm bu ilt in that e due the e e plac . To him was probably pr s rva tion of the British monastery a t Glastonbu ry and

its endowment by king Ina . That spot was dear to the British patriot as the te u u o f t e e mys rio s sojo rn h ir h ro, who in due time was to retu rn and revive the ancient glory o f the Bri tish name The extant books in which this legend is recorded a re later than the t e e bu t the e t e im of Alfr d , romanc i s lf is o f the t e tu O u r e t E six h c n ry . old s nglish form

f it o f t A D 1 2 0 0 o u . is abo . . A lfred in Som erset II I

T H E PASSING OF ARTH UR

’ o m La amon s Bra t ne (Fr g , li

Ar thur wes forwunded Arthur wa s wounded wunderlich e swithe . v ery da ngerously .

e to him com a cna ue e e to him came a out Th r , Th r y h the wes of his cunne 5 who wa s of his kin 5 he wes Ca dores sune he was son of a o , C d r,

the eorles of Cornwa ile . th e of o nwa e a rl C r ll .

Consta ntin hehte the cnaue 5 Consta ntine hight the youth ,

he wes t a n n e eo e . h n h a s ea h ki g d r to t e ki g e w d r .

t u him lokede on t u oo e u on him Ar h r , Ar h r l k d p , t e he la i on o en w e e he la on the oun h r f ld , h r y gr d, a nd tha s wo sei e a nd t ese wo s sa rd d , h rd id , mid sorhfulle heorte with sorrowful heart

ons a nt n thu a rt wilcume onsta nt ne t ou a rtwe come C t i , C i h l ,

’ thu weore C a dores sune ; th ou wert Ca dor s son 5 ich the bita che e e e e co mm t to t ee h r , I h r i h , mine kineriche my kingdo m

-x x

And ichwulle uarento Aua lun And w a e to a on , I ill f r Av l , to ua irest a lre m a idene ; to the fairest o f a ll ma idens5

to a nte t e e ueme to a nte the ueen Arg h r q , Arg q , The A lfred jewel

a luen swithe sceone elf exceeding sheen 5 a nd heo sca l m ine wunden a nd she sh a ll my wounds

m a kien a ll e isunde 5 ma ke a ll sound 5

a i ha l me ma kien all w o e me ma e , h l k ,

h i dr n hen. w e n n s mid a lewe ge e c ith h a li g dri k . And seothe ich cumen wulle A nd sith return I will to mine kineriche to my kingdom

a nd wunien mid u ten a nd we w tons Br t , d ll ith Bri ,

h m e t w . mid muc elere wunne. ith uch d ligh

fE fne t a n wo en E en w th ese wo s h rd , v i th rd ,

t e com of se wen en lo ca me f om sea wen n h r d , r di g, t at wes a n seeo t ba t t ea t a t wa s a s o t oat sa n h r li h , h h r b ili g , sceouen mid vthen d riving with the wa ves

a nd twa w mmen therinne a nd two wo men e e n i , th r i , wunderli che idihte of wondrous a spect

a nd heo nomen u a na n a nd t e too t u a non Arth r , h y k Ar h r ,

a nd a neouste ne uereden a nd st a t him o e a wa hi , r igh b r y ,

a nd so te ne a un e en and so own him a f hi d l id , ftly d l id ,

a nd o t unnen n it a nd o t t him o e f r h g hi e l hen. f r h wi h t s a

t e a n to mo e a wa h y g v y .

Tha wes hit wu en en was it come to a ss i rth , Th p , th a t Merlin seide whilen wh a t Merlin said whilome t a weore unimete ca e t at t e e s ou be muc h t r , h h r h ld h curious ca re

1 2 4. The A lf red jewel a s tory which probably dates from Alfred ’s we e e e e e t t day, as hav r asonably good vid nc ha it he N o r was cu rrent in t tenth centu ry . may we omit his espial of the Danish camp in t e u e e en t u no t mins r l g is , a l g d which, ho gh u e a u t t e et e e fo nd in arly hori i s, y do s claim som e t the w it n te cr di from book in hich is arra d, namely the B ook of H yde— a book in which we might expec t to find some early tradi ’ t New te o ne o f e ions of Mins r, king Alfr d s u t fo nda ions . B ut while we desire to make the most of these te it u t be tte t t t e t tu te i ms, m s admi d ha h y cons i an inadequ ate fu rnitu re fo r eleven weeks of ’ Alfred s time in the most intense crisis of his ’ e A t t e t e ee the lif . any o h r poin in Alfr d s car r, silence of so many weeks might not provoke e b ut a t t e t it e e e r mark, his mom n mak s a s nsibl

. e e we t e e the void If, how v r, righ ly appr h nd tu t o f the fu t e e si a ion gi iv king, his hop s and e e u e we his f ars, his aims and his r so rc s, may (in the light of the grea t resu lt)indu lge a sober t t ut e e e imagina ion wi ho f ar of consid rable rror . Among the pieces of genuine tradition which ’ ee to eet the e e e Li e t e e s m gr xplor r in Ass r s f , h r A lfred in Som erset 1 2 ; is perhaps none on which we m ay m ore co n fidently lean than a cer tain fragm ent in the paragraph beginning Interea ta men rex The drift o f this context is tha t with all his e ue t te u t n l e u e wars and fr q n in rr p io s, A fr d r l d t e e e o f his kingdom, and prac is d v ry branch the craft o f v enery 5 directed his goldsmiths and all his a rtificers5 did moreover instruct the falconers and hawk- catchers and dog- trainers 5 and by his o wn novel engineering constru cted u e e t t te e b ildings b yond all form r won , s a li r and e t a e to mor cos ly 5 had S xon books r dd him, and commanded others to learn Saxon poems by ’ e t & c . h ar , In this passage I seem to recognize a tr ue historic no te 5 and I think that in thi s pictu re o f the e o f e the o f rang his pow rs, and roll his e t t t t e t t accomplishm n s, his vas ac ivi y and v rsa ili y, we h a ve s ome genu ine reminiscences of the e t o f e the e p rsonali y Alfr d . In mphasis here a o n u t we e n e the l id h n ing, may r cog iz king e e te e t e e t o f f who, som y ars la r, s n a pr s n wol u to the o f e u ho nds archbishop Rh ims, and s ch

1 In the e io n F. se 1 2 2 is o n 8 i dit by Wi ( 7 ) it p . 4 5 n M ona rnenta H istori a B i a nni a c r t c . , p 1 2 6 The A lfred jewel

too t t t e u t ee dogs , , ha h ir q ali y and br d was accentua ted by the receiver in his gratefu l a ckno wledgement l And when to this we add t t h e u e n u te ha co ld mak and sing a so g, co ld ll t e u e e o f men a good al , co ld mak choic and t e fi e e we ee tt e win h ir con d nc , n d li l aid from imagination to perceive how this mysteriou s visitor might captiva te the Bri tish hearts o f e et e o ne e set all Som rs lik man, and p rhaps them wondering wh ether it cou ld b e their own i ideal king Arthu r come back to them aga n . D uring nearly three months o f that eventfu l year his aim wa s to cu ltivate clos er relations w t the e e o f t t u t n te t i h p opl ha o lyi g rri ory, desi ri ng that they might become attached to him with s entiments o f loyalty and friendship . To devote himself to this u ndertaking was a t

e ut te e t e t. onc his d y, his in r s , and his d ligh For s uch an achiev ement as this he had a dva n t tages both natu ral and acqu ired . Apar from t e e is t e u t war, h r no hing lik h n ing for making e ma n e e u b e comrad s, if a hav a g nial so l and

1 s ette is n e in the e on of sse . se Thi l r pri t d diti A r by F Wi , 1 2 a nd the mos m o ta n a ts a re en in E n s p . 3 5 t i p r t p r giv gli h

. Con bea re A l red in the hroniclers . 2 1 8 . by Mr y , f C , p

1 2 8 The A lfred jewel

e E te e t e to b e Wh n as r cam , his ac ion b gan e t he e d e o u e t ov r 5 dropp p rs nal disg is , and s ood ‘ t a s fE LFR E D CY NING . W e E te e for h h n as r cam , e t e t u te king Alfr d, wi h a small forc , cons r c d t a t t e e o u t t t t a for A h ln y, and of ha for was t the t he the warring agains invading hos , and men o f e et t t t o f t e Som rs , ha por ion h m which was e t 1 ’ the t n e nigh s . This is ac io of a command r who e u e o f has mad s r his following, and is now e t the e H e b ginning his operations agains en my . fo rtifies h e the e t e the e ims lf on as sid of bridg , where a conical hill offe rs an opportune position 5 and from that basis he Opens a guerilla warfare H o with the invaders . e does n t show his hand h e ra ther wants to b e thought weak . This naturally draws away from h ead quarters more e o f the t le e t t t and mor hos i forc , who hink ha they shall presently d eal a last blow to the

Saxon resista nce . And so wi th a petty and e t u t e s o f t e he appar n ly f il di play mili ary forc , continues to am use and distract the enemy fo r the next six weeks .

1 A nd aes o n E a stron worhte ZE lfred c nin l t e werede p y g, i l , eweorc aet [E elin a ei e a nd of a n eweorce wa s g y g gg , yr g winnende wi one e e a nd Sumursaetna se ae se ose niehst p p h r , d l l r w s. ee Sa x . hron. A . 8 8 . C , 7 A lf red in Somerset 1 2 9

The impression made on the mind o f the people by these events is traceable in two

e : t e e e e e t fE thel nam s A h ln y, which now r pr s n s E i the es u inga g, island of princ 5 and Boro gh e h e the e a t the fo rtifica Bridg , w ich m ans bridg e m e 8 8 tion . The fort which Alfr d ad in 7 is e e e e the e t e h e t u w ll pr s rv d, n r nc m n s occ pying the summi t o f a coni cal hill near the east end o f the e the P et te its bridg which spans arr , af r u t he e j nc ion with t Ton . How the king had employed the unrecorded t e t the e u u te mon hs is manif s in r s lt. His m s r a t t D everil the con roll Brix on , in words of a te e et e ue t e the mporary, is bri f y loq n Th n in seventh week after E aster he rode to E cgb rihtes ta on the ea te e e to S n, s rn sid of S lwood, and meet him a t that place came the men of Somer set of t e the t e men o f , all h m, and Wil shir , and Hampshire the part that was o n the hither side ’ o f the sea 5 and of him fain they were. This passage of the Sa x on Chronicle s eems to render a sa tisfactory account o f the manner in which the king had employed his time from E piphany to E te he e as r in t y ar 8 7 8 . e t u e e eff t e e his Absorb d in his s pr m or , wh r all K 1 3 0 The A lf red jewel

a t t e he e e u no t e was s ak , may w ll hav fo nd im fo r e e u e e e he r cov ring his b ri d J w l, and may never have revisited the spot until his marks e e b te te w r all o li ra d . the e n Pedrida From land b yo d , which had hitherto counted to the crown of Wessex only as e e t te t u t t te u a r c n rri orial acq isi ion, now s ar d p around the fugitive king an army o f devoted e ute t e t e e t warriors, who r sol ly hr w h ir w igh t the e e ue the t t e in o scal , and r sc d dynas y of h ir ue conq rors . Such was the nature o f the force which Alfred now with a swelling heart perceived to b e e t e a t he u e to the n ir ly his disposal, and b ckl d t o f e ask employing them to the best advantag . From the entrenched hill by Boro ugh Bridge he e ute the t the e e pros c d war agains Dan s, whos a t e t he t ue basis was Chipp nham , and his con in d six ee he u t for w ks . This co ld do wi h a small e f he e t t e o t . forc , as had gr a advan ag s posi ion B etween him and the fo e lay the fenny channel o f the ue he e e e e Br , which and his p opl w r e e t it t e e xp r in crossing. So was compara iv ly asy for t o t him to harass them and re ire t his for . of e t ue six ee This kind warfar , con in d for w ks ,

1 3 2 The A lf red jewel

Well may we exclaim with Sir Walter Besant t e e ! Y ea e Wha follows is lik a dr am , v rily, like a dream in its s udden transformation o f the e f e e t o f t whol ac and prosp c hings, and equally u naccountable too 5 for no attempt to explain it by natu ral ca uses will ever match the u e It not e o e st p ndou s result. is in ord r t disp l an illu sion that we s eek to trace the plan and the e — he u n t b e e ed proc ss t ill sion can o disp ll . t e it e to e et te u t e No, ra h r is in ord r p n ra f r h r into the action of a life that has kindled ou r t t t e we e admira ion . Of ha lif hav a mirror in the enthusiasm with which his presence had e the e f e e edrida fir d W lsh o Som rset b yond P . It is su rely no mere accident that in the memo ra ndum o f that resol ute force which mu stered for e t t the t te u be his r s ora ion, firs i m sho ld SUM O R S/E T E A E LL . CH A PTE R I X

NE WTON PARK AND FAIRFIE LD HOUSE

f FROM the date o its discovery in 1 6 9 3 down to the e e t t e the e o f e t P pr s n im , nam N w on ark has been associated with the Alfred Jewel as designating the property on which it was

u . o u r e e t n e fo nd In day, how v r, his am is no e e n e the e u long r r cog iz d in n ighbo rhood, and a Fo indeed it is pt to b e misleading. r this title is now cu rrent in Somerset in another e e n e e t the e t E s ns , am ly, as d no ing s a of arl

e e a t e t St. L oe e t . t T mpl N w on , n ar Ba h S ill ’ the honorific e t o f ‘ e t fo r app lla ion N w on Park, the e t te o n the e e e e s a which J w l was discov r d, be f u to e t u t te e e t will o nd r s pon his oric an c d n s, a re u te e t no t e o f which f ll of in r s , and d void suggestiveness for the pu rpose o f o ur present investigation . 1 34. The A lf red jewel

The extant mention of this Newton carries u s back a good space behind the Norman ue t The o f lE lfric o f Conq s . Will , archbishop

te u e 1 0 0 6 ff e e e Can rb ry, who di d in , a ords vid nc It that he was a landowner in Newton . is not generally possible to identify a place by a n e e e so b u t the u am which b cam common, co pling ’ i ZE lfric t he e o f of t in Abp . s Will wi h t nam h t n e e u e t t . T e Fidding o , r mov s all nc r ain y passage in the Will (which is cast in the third ‘ person) runs thus : And the land in the West Country a t Fiddingt on and a t Newton he b e q uea thed to his sisters and their children the e t e u fte the In for s laws, which gr w p a r ue t we t t the u t o f the Conq s , find ha c s ody royal e t t Pet e t e e t for s of Nor h h r on was a s rj an y , which wa sattached to the Manor OfNewton and ca used it to be distinguished by the name of Newton e t For ster . When his Manor wa s granted by to de t it wa s King John William Wro ham, declared that he held it by the service o f being

' ’ 1 “ A nd Be la nd be westa n a t Fittingtti ne a nd at N iwa ntt me he becwaeh his sweostrum and eo a bea rnum. em e odex h r K bl , C l m D i o a ticns . 1 h Di loma ta rinm E o e . a e p , p 7 9 5 T rp , p , p rl , L a nd ha te s r r . 2 2 . C , p 3

1 3 6 The A lfred jewel then disafforested was more than a hundred times as great as that of the legal forest o f North P etherton . In the time of E dward III the Manor o f Newton wi th its rights and appurtenances b e e to e e t e e long d Rog r, arl of Mor im r, in whos descendants and in the duke s o f York it con tinued to the t e E e it e im Of dward IV , wh n cam to the t e the u te Crown, and h n Manor was q o d u as Newton Regis . D ring this period the e o f e te e e e e te e pow rs For s r w r d l ga d , and som interesting names occu r in the list o f deputies :

1 R i . . c a r Brettle a nd G effere a c uce es rs. 4 II Ri h d y Ch r, q , the a o ntment of the ea of by pp i rl M a rch .

2 1 R ic . . G effere a uce eno countess of II y Ch r, by Ali r,

Ma rch .

. H en. . oma s a uce E wa ea of a ch 4 V Th Ch r, by d rd , rl M r .

8 H en. a m ot e a nd oma s Atte more . VI . Willi Wr h Th

1 2 H en i a m ot e . . VI . Will Wr h

2 H en. . l a m on e a nd ch a ut e 9 VI Sir Wil i B vill Ri rd L tr ll , h f o by t e duke o Y rk . ’

1 . E dw . . es D Auben for e . 4 IV Sir Gil y, lif

2 H en. . o e t ot e for t t ea s. 3 VII R b r Wr h , hir y y r

Soon after the expiration of which term t e son e o f the t Sir Thomas Wro h , and h ir las e e t u e o f E the fee nam d Rob r , p rchas d dward VI N ewton Pa rk a nd Fa ir/feld 1 37 of Petherton Park and the Manor of Newton The ffi e O f e te ha d e Regis . o c For s r now fall n t e the e t e te in o d cay and anci n glory had d par d, and the transfer of this property appears to have been governed by the ordinary considera the ti e ee E et t e tions . In m of w n lizab h h descendants of Sir Thomas pulled down the park u e e the te to e e ho s , and carri d ma rials a lodg call d the e 1 1 Broad Lodg , which (said Collinson in 7 9 ) ‘the late Sir Thomas Wrothe improved to a e e The e ]l no w handsom dw lling . whol park is ’ e e t The e e f conv rt d in o farms . improv m nts o t e e e e t e e Sir Thomas Wro h , h r m n ion d, hav a e e probabl connexion with o u r s u bj ct. S uch is the remarkable history of the Manor which has been a t different times known as e t e te e t e e t e N w on For s r, N w on Plac y, N w on R gis, and Newton Wrothe 5 and this his tory ministers occasion for a surmise that the distinction which attended this Manor may have had its ro ots con sidera bl u t e u the e t t y f r h r back, inasm ch as x an records do not offer an adequ ate account o f that

1 ‘ In this pa rk wa s found the curious a mulet of king

f e ment one in vol. 1 . o inson H istor o Al r d, i d , p C ll , y f

Somerset vol. . 62 , iii, p . 1 38 The A lfred jewel peculiar prerogative which made it so famou s so e and dignifi d . I ventu re to suggest that the beginnings o f t e ee so e e t his plac , which has b n min n , and which is now known by the comparatively obscu re name o f t e t e ee n e te Nor h N w on, may hav b n co n c d t the et e t o f the to t e e t t wi h r r a king A h ln y, ha this may have been a spot o f his own selec I tion . t is reached from Athelney by simply the e o f the u it e following ris gro nd, is w ll e ee e e the et the plac d for k ping an y on Parr , side from which a surprize was most to be e e e it the to the appr h nd d , and was approach

fi - l f ne hunting fie ds o i a nto ck and E xmoor . Wha t more natural than that he shou ld take a liking to the place and j udge it con venient for a hu nting- lodge ? And I venture to e f throw o u t a surmis or consideration . May ‘ ’ it not b e tha t the prefix ‘New was set by the e e the e o f New king hims lf, who gav nam Minster to his foundation a t Winchester 1 ?

1 ’ In K emble s Codex Di loma tica s N o . 20 e e is a ate p , 3 , th r l a nd m ea gre a bstra ct of a gra nt of la nd by king Alfred in loco ’ ’ ui dicit r or niwt ne em e t n q u N 6 u . K bl puts his pl a ce i Wilt s e but wh ma it not be the o t ewton the ne hir , y y N r h N by A l y ?

The A lfred jewel

Fa irfield u e t e u . t S ok Co rcy In his parish is Ho s , a handsome E lizabethan mansion in which the Alfred Jewel was preserved for a qu arter o f e tu the t e its e a c n ry, from im of discov ry in

1 6 u t it e to the ni e t o f 9 3 , n il was giv n U v rsi y

1 1 Oxford in 7 1 8 . Abou t the time o f H enry II the lands of Ferfelle e e e e e t e H onib ere w r s v r d from hos of , e e te e t t and r c ted into a separa s a e .

B - - b the e t new y and y nam slid in o a form, he e e t conveying a new idea . T n w nam in o which it merged is one that has been freely te t a t e the e propaga d bo h hom and in coloni s, with pleasing associations o f soft and gently und ulating landscape suggestive Of homely e scenery and a shelte red situation . V ry dif

1 To be u te e a ct its o n for the fi s fi ve ea s i s q i x , l dgi g r t y r matter of infe rence from the fa ct th at in 1 698 it is d escribed a s e n a t Fairfield w t ou a n n cat o n of a c a n e of b i g , i h t y i di i h g owne s O ne t ans e owe e t e e must a e een. r hip . r f r h v r h r h v b The place of discovery m a de it the prop erty of Sir Thoma s ’ ot e a nd a s a t a n e a me wa s his mo e s ot e Wr h 5 N h i l P l r th r br h r , it i s ea s to un e s a n the of the ne ew to hi s unc e who y d r t d gift ph l , ma a e e n a m a n a nt a a n s es W e a n a so y h v b e of iqu ri ta t . c l u nd ersta nd the desire of Natha ni el P a lmer tha t this pr ecious e c s ou o to O o a s he w ma n ot e s of his r li h ld g xf rd , , ith y h r a m ha d een e uca e a t the Un e s t of w ch e f ily, b d t d iv r i y, hi Alfr d

wa s the e ute oun e en . r p d f d r . App dix G “ N ewton P a rk a nd Fa ir/feld ferent is the connotation of the name in its um e t ‘Ferfelle we see doc n ary form . In can ’ e ut n e te e u u only som o lyi g r mo r f ll , s ch as wo ld be t e e t e lit le visit d sav e for us s of summer pas u r . ’ Collinson s tu e the In pic r of mansion, which is

FA IR FIE L D H OUSE .

e e e u e h e the e u ee to h r r prod c d, w il for gro nd s ms u t the e e the j s ify mod rn nam , hills and hanging woods a t the back o f the hou se seem to bear ou t the more primitive signification of an ou tlying u e mo ntain f ll . And probably this was also the The A lfred jewel idea which originally gave name to the well known mountain in Westmoreland over Gras e e m r . After a su ccession o f owners o f various names

new e e e 1 E dw I t the e this stat cam ( 4 . )in o poss ssion o f de e e the e William V rnai , who had marri d sol u t e th e u da gh er and h iress o f e pr vio s proprietor . For nearly three hu ndred years there was always

e a a i fi l 1 2 E dw h t F r e d. t e a V rnai In . IV Ve rnai o f that day (the fou rth of the name of William) had a licence to build a wall and seven rou nd towers about his mansion - house a t Fa irfield to e e two u e e , and nclos h ndr d acr s o f u ‘The t e gro nd for a park . tomb in h Vernais isle in the fine old Priory chu rch o f t e u t e o f e S ok Co rcy, wi h an imag an arm d man t e e e to t e lying h r on, b longs his William V rnai n (Collinso ). Fa irfield had come into the family o f Vernai e e a t e t it e the by an h ir ss , and l ng h pass d in e e to the o f e u sam mann r family Palm r . H gh de e e t o ne u te she V rnai l f only da gh r, and was e E et ft e the e t uee call d lizab h, a r gr a q n, who was her t e the e o f her t e her godmo h r . On d ath fa h r te to P e wardship was gran d Sir Thomas alm r,

The A lfred jewel persons o f estate to reside and keep hospitality a t their country (houses . t e e e e u ee e His bro h r P r grin , who s cc d d him, e t u tee to the t te w n as a vol n r Pala ina wars , and was afterwards an officer in the Swedish army . As soon as the royal standard was set up h e e e to tt t u e e r pair d No ingham, and fai hf lly s rv d e the o f King Charl s in commissions major,

euten nt- e ne e e li a colon l, and colo l of hors , b ing e e t a t the tt e o f E e t pr s n ba l s dg hill, Mars on Moor, H e 8 e e e . e 1 6 Cropr dy Bridg , and Nas by di d in 4 , e e the u te o f t e having marri d Ann , da gh r Na hani l te e the u t u e te E s S v ns , in co n y of Glo c s r, q , and he was su cceeded in the es tate by his eldest u son t e e te s rviving , Na hani l , who is r por d in the Philosophica l Tra nsa ctions as the possessor 1 the e 1 6 8 o f the Alfred Jewel in y ar 9 . H e served in several parliaments for the boroughs e e i te the of Min h ad and Br dgwa r, and for o f e et he t e e e county Som rs . T firs r cord d poss ssor

the e e e e 1 1 H e wa s of Alfr d J w l di d in 7 7 . u ee e e e a t s cc d d by his son Thomas, who r sid d Fa irfield e e he e tu u e e t , wh r liv d a s dio s lif , inv s i f gating the antiqu ities o his country . His 1 Appendix A . ‘ N ewton Pa rle a nd F a irfi eld

u t e e e a t Fa irfield it man scrip is pr s rv d , and was u e u e o f f t to n a val abl so rc in orma ion Collinso , the t e I t his orian of Somers t. t is from his ’ u e we e t t the e e du u so rc l arn ha J w l was g p, an expression which seems to ju stify the inference t t it not e t t but u e ha was accid n ally los , p rpos ly 1 u e It he 1 1 8 e the e b ri d . was who, in 7 , gav Alfr d e e to the e t f J w l Univ rsi y of Ox ord . H e married a daughter o f Sir Thomas Wrothe et e t d e 1 2 1 e of P h r on Park, who i d in 7 , l aving

w e - Th e e e o f t e e t o daught rs co h eiresses . ld r h s e to u A u was marri d Sir H gh cland, of Col mb he u t o f e t a nd the t . John in co n y D von, Bar , P e e t u e to . yo ng r Mr Thomas alm r, who di d wi h ou t ue H e u ee e t e iss . was s cc d d by his bro h r Pe e e e e e te the e t o f r grin , who r pr s n d Univ rsi y e e e t e Oxford in s v ral parliam n s, and di d in

1 6 2 the t u e . 7 , las s rvivor Of his nam and family

H e eft e t te to A t u E s . l his s a r h r Acland, q , his - e t o f it e e e to n x kin, from whom has d sc nd d Sir e e et the e e t Al xand r Acland Hood, Baron , pr s n o f h Fa i d owner t e rfiel estate .

1 App endix G . CH APTE R X

GOLD RINGS CONTE MPORANE OUS

TH E earliest recorded do ubt a s to the identity o f the ZE L E R E D of the Jewe l with Alfred o f W essex was grounded upon the high artistic 1 It t e e e b e quality of the work . may h r for ill ustrative if we advert to some other specimens o f E nglish j ewellery b elonging to those early t e e u e ee e im s . O n s ch has alr ady b n quot d above 4 . e the e e e u e (p nam ly, nam ll d o ch of

. t the t Mr Roach Smi h, which is now in Bri ish e o f e e Mu seum . This is a piec gr at b a uty and high technical skill 5 and it has every appear e e to t e e t e bu t t e e anc of b longing h s im s, h r is n t n to its e e t e te . o hi g fix da mor d fini ly Happily, there a re specimens o f E nglish j ewellery o f the t e tu e u e t u e nin h c n ry which xcl d his do bt . W

1 See a o e . . b v , p 7

The A lfred jewel

e t t e e t e march d wi h an army in o Wal s, and r s or d the imperial authority of Mercia . This opera tion (which was part of the defence o f t e u t t the e the h co n ry agains Dan s, whom Welsh o f Cambria were prone to support)wou ld naturally have been conducted with the advice 1 he and u nder the management o f Alhsta n . T ‘ ’ name Llysfaen ( Stone Court )fitly describes the e u e the f u rocky nclos r in which ring was o nd, and in which we may suppose that the final e e e P e u t o f n gotiations w r conducted . r occ pa ion mind in momentou s bu siness makes it easy to imagine how the o ld war- chie f o f fE thelwu lf he e might have lost his ring. Among t s lfsame o f e e the t e e th e rocks Llysfa n, and n ar spo wh r Alhsta n e e t e ring was discov r d, ano h r ring was t te u t e te shor ly af rwards fo nd, con aining a gr a r e t of b ut t e u e w igh gold, of compara iv ly r d work

no t i e . manship, and nscrib d The Alhsta n ring now belongs to the Waterton e t e e e the ut Coll c ion, which is pr s rv d in So h

1 Alhstan ha d a cco mpa nied E cgberht on hi s fa mous ex editio n n o o nwa in 82 a nd we find him w the p i t C r ll 5 , ith fo rces of Somerset a nd D orset in to oppose the D a nes a t ’ the m ou f P ri mme no to Sa x . o e a Sec . s e th d d . Mr Plu r t hron . K . 82 C , 3 . Gold R ings contempora neous 1 4 9

e e I o f t e n K nsington Mus um . t is hat typ ( ot uncommon in Roman rings) which suggests e he e e n d rival from a string o f beads . T l tt ri g u e u u t e t occ pi s fo r circ lar compar m n s, which alternating with fou r lozenge- shaped compart e t tu te he the Pe e t t . m n s, cons i hoop of ring gg sa w the dragon o f Wessex in the grotesque ani mals which occupy th e lozenge-shaped com a rtm The te a re e u u p ents. charac rs b a tif l Roman

t o f - t e e e t the capi als Anglo Saxon yp , xc p N, which is represented by the Rune Besides the

Archieolo ia the fi u e Art Trea sures g , ring is g r d in ' the United in dom nu e t of K g , a mo m n al book which was published in connexion with the Manchester E t o f 1 8 xhibi ion y7 .

E D D I o r ZE TH E LWU LF INSCRIB GOL R NG , O F E E X 8 6— 8 KING W SS ( 3 yy).

O O O O O OOO O OCI JO OO OW

{4 E 1 1E LVVL E R

The second of the three rings is inscribed in ’ the e t the e e t e abov form wi h nam of Alfr d s fa h r , Iyo The A lfred jewel

n E thelwulf fo r it e e t ki g , whom was vid n ly ’ e It he . t t e mad is in form of a bishop s mi r , n one e with o ly p ak .

1 8 1 2 2 u t In 7 , March , Lord Radnor bro gh e I this find befor the Society o f Antiquaries . t had been found in the summer o f 1 7 8 0 in a field

in the e t e e u . parish of Lav rs ok , n ar Salisb ry ’ to the finder s t it u t According s ory, was bro gh

to the u e b the e u e t- ee s rfac y pr ss r Of a car wh l , it e e the e e the ru t and lay xpos d on dg of . H e e t u e the Mr . ow ll , a Silv rsmi h in Salisb ry, gav man thirty- fou r shillings for the value of the i f n u t t o . e gold, and Lord Rad or bo gh Mr How ll . It st the effe t of e u e e ill shows c hard pr ss r , b ing

A no o t ttene . It u e the rch l ia almos fla d was fig r d in g , 2 1 e e te e It e e ve vii . 4 , and r p a dly sinc . is pr s r d i n the British Museum .

1 7 2 The A lfred jewel is mani fest the ring had no considerable wear after it was done 1

fE thelswith was the daughter Of [E thelwulf te o f e t o f B u r red and sis r Alfr d, and consor g , e who e out the e king ofM rcia, was driv n by Dan s 8 et e to e e e h e e in 7 4 , and r ir d Rom , wh r di d . fE thelswith e 8 8 8 a t e t di d in Pavia, appar n ly on

e The nn e it u t u : pilgrimag . a al r cording r ns h s h e the o f he e t 8 8 8 . T is y ar alms t W s Saxons and o f king Alfred we re conducted to Rome ” “ eo i B cca e . uee ZE thelsw th by aldorman And q n , ’ wa s e te e who king Alfr d s sis r, di d, and was buried a t Pavia

1 But the edges of the ring show (a s Fra nk s pointed out) ‘ t a ces of on wea H e o es on to sa : T he en a n r l g r . g y gr vi g,

mo eo e sca ce oo s e the wo of a o sm t . wou r v r, r ly l k lik rk g ld i h I ld t e e o e su est t a t the een ha d o a offe e s h r f r gg , h w pr b bly r d thi n at some s ne a nd the ests connecte w t the s ne ri g hri , pri d i h hri had en a e her na me w t n the n to eco the o a gr v d i hi ri g, r rd r y l ’ o A nn nd e es o . 0 e . roc S c 2 v l giv r P . . a , S ri , vi, p . 3 7 . 2 r o a m est e n lm n 888 . H e laedde Be cc ea ldor an W S a a ae essa m s a nd fE lfredes c nin es to o e . E el wi cuen sio waes y g R 3 p , fE lfre es s o tor nin e for ferde “ e lic li aet Pa fia d we s c s n. y g , p , J hir p Gold R ings contempora neous 1 7 3

This fine nielloed ring was found near Aber

h or the e 1 8 0 e ut . ford in Yorks ir , in abo y ar 7 It was first observed by a ploughman a t the point hi u e H e u t it to te s . of plo ghshar bro gh his mas r , ’ t it tt e it to who, hinking brass , a ach d his dog s e e it un u t e one u e collar, wh r h g n il som ass r d him it e eu he e it to e was gold, wh r pon carri d a silv r i t a t e e t . smi h York, and xchang d for spoons From this dealer it was pu rchased by Canon ee e o f u it e t Gr nw ll D rham, from whom pass d in o th e e o f t u t poss ssion Sir Wollas on Franks, and l i mately by his beq uest came to the British u eu M s m .

When we consider how very small is the whole number o f extant gold rings (whether inscribed o r no t t t te the e it u t ) ha da from Saxon p riod, m s strike us as a very remarkable circumstance that we a re b e to u e t ee u e e a l prod c hr s ch xampl s, all ’ t the e o f e e two o f wi hin p riod Alfr d s lif , and The A e e e 1 7 4. lfr d j w l them belonging to such near relations that we may natu rally suppose they were familiar objects hi e to s ye .

t e e u t we t And h r is a fo r h ring, ofwhich canno e t t t it e to t e e e t u ass r ha b longs his v ry s l c gro p, but which certainly must b e assigned to the e e e e d t t sam g n ral p rio , and claims associa ion wi h he t ee It e o f t . hr is a simpl hoop gold, a good u te o f e its ute u e q ar r an inch wid , having o r s rfac cove red with the following engraved inscription nielloed 1

’ a. MSR E DCDE E A H E At R E D CDE L RX R O K

TE O' R E D ME C AH E ANR E D M E G AG R O F : t t is ha ,

i Sred me owns E nured me en ra ved , g .

B ickes described this ring in his Thesa urus ii i P e e . v a nd x i t u e ( r fac , pp j j) wi h a good fig r

1 o esso te ens of o en a en R unic M onuments Pr f r S ph C p h g , ,

a rt . ate a ou A . D. 0 0 but in s P II, p d d it b t 7 thi estimate h e ha s been guid ed (I think) not by a nythi ng in the a s c es n or e ecut on but s m the a e o ort on rti ti d ig x i , i ply by l rg pr p i of unes in the m e ette n a c te on of e ou fu ix d l ri g , ri ri v ry d bt l v 1 a Rue .

1 7 6 The A lfred jewel only enables u s to assert a degree o f probability e which very one mu st determine for himself. E verything in the appearance of these rings e e t e to b e the t t d clar s h m work of Saxon ar is s, and o n the ZE tSR E D ring the artist bears a good e u t te Saxon nam . S ch specimens mu s finally dissipa e e o f the e u e t t any ling ring r lics Old pr j dic , ha the work o f the Alfred Jewel is to o good to have been produced in the E ngland o f the e the ninth century . W e may r st assu red that excellence of the workmanship carries with it no presumption against its being E nglish work the t e f F of im o king AL RE D . CH APTE R XI

SOME CLOSING RE FLE CTIONS

AMONG the various criticisms which have been elicited by the Alfred Jewel du ring the two hundred and seven years which have elapsed

e its e the e 1 6 the Sinc discov ry in y ar 9 3 , opinion that the name it bears is tha t o f the king ha s not met wi th more than one definite and ' for m la ted e t it u t . e obj c ion This obj c ion, if had e e u e e u e the u t pr vail d, wo ld hav xcl d d prod c ion ’ o f u e t e t s ch a work in king Alfr d s im , as a hing Bu t the ue t t u impossible . q s ion h s raised has evoked evidence o f so overpowering a natu re no t to eu t e the e t bu t as only n raliz obj c ion, also to incr ease the balance of probability in favou r o f the opinion that the person named on the e A o f e Jew l is lfred Wess x . The e b ne t the t e nam , com i d wi h cos lin ss and 1 7 8 The A lfred jewel

the t e u t of the s rongly mark d individ ali y work, draws the mind natu rally to think of the most e e e e t t e but r markabl p rson who bor ha nam 5 , t we e to e t t it in addi ion, hav consid r ha was found in the neighbou rhood o f the very spot which is most closely associated with the career o he e e e n t e e b u f t s lfsam p rso . In h s o vio s prima e e e e t Of the e t e e u u faci l m n s cas , h r is an acc m la t t u u t e H ickes ion of probabili y, which f lly j s ifi d in saying that from his first sight o f the Jewel he had never dou bted its having been a personal ’ e k n e 1 poss ssion of i g Alfr d s . To this central and primary body of evidence other instances o f probability have been added the u e o f the e e t E The e t in co rs pr s n ssay . inv s i ga tion o f the E pigraph led u s to the conclu sion that the diction answere d well to the time of ’ f e e t t it e e king Al r d s lif , and also ha bor som resemblance to an analogous piece ofhis admitted e tIng. O u r examination o f theories concerning the design and use o f the Jewel resu lted in the con clusion that the suggestions hitherto advanced e e e t e ue t w r inadmissibl , and of no o h r val han 1 See a ove . 8 . b , p

1 60 The A lfred jewel

face o f what I counted a settled Opinion)that the enamelled Figure is a produ ct of these islands 5 and that it is not necessary for u s to look abroad t t um u t e e t t owards Byzan i , or f r h r as , for a sa is t u t O f it u t fac ory acco n . This ni y again is in u o f e t t n t e o f e e favo r id n ifica io wi h Alfr d W ss x, ’ whose conspicu ous interest in j ewellers work is

e te e - u t e t t ass r d by a w ll s s ain d radi ion .

The symbolism o f the Jewel appears to con tain an allegorical representation of the de ’ SI ner S t t e te e t g posi ion , bo h inh ri d and chos n, bo h t e n e u t na ional and p rso al . His r ligio s s anding is pictured in the Figu re and its back- plate 5 and the ancient religion of his nation in the ’ e e t u de t boar s h ad, onc dominan , now n r foo , e e t for the e o f the u forming a p d s al H ad Ch rch . to t the u e t t e And his I will add s rmis , ha p rhaps the scales o r waves o n the small triangular space in the reverse sign ify that his cou ntry is an the e island in oc an . I am no t without apprehension that these explanations may strike some readers as to o

u te too - et e t t b e min and far f ch d, and ha I may charged with bringing out o f the Jewel more Som e Closing R efl ections 1 61 t i t e e e e e o han is in t. I will h r for nd avou r t anticipa te this charge with a few apologetic i . t t t e to t te words And firs of all, I hink w ll S a that I did no t set ou t with any idea of dis e te t e in the e e e cov ring la n m anings J w l . Wh n t u e u it tente e firs I disco rs d pon , I con d mys lf t e t the e t t wi h xhibi ing drawings of obj c , narra ing the t o f the e e a the in s ory discov ry, xpl ining t e e the scrip ion, and r h arsing opinions which had been pu t forward concerning su ch a rema rk-e e u e te a to abl find . This f rnish d ma ri l fill an u to t u e e W te e ho r, and sa isfy an a di nc . ha v r I have added to the traditional exegesis has broken in upon me from time to time a t wide te u me o n u e in rvals, ca sing s ch occasions mor su rprize and pleasure than I can hope to impart e to my r aders . For those who would test the symbolism of the t e e t e e u e ue . J w l, h r is an obvio s pr liminary q s ion IS there any reason to think that Alfred had an aptitu de and a fondness for allegory ? This ques tion has been to me a valua ble gu ide in n Observations on the extant writings o f the ki g. It u b e e to e e wo ld asy Show, by xampl s drawn his t t a t he a ed e from wri ings , h had mark fondn ss M 1 62 The A lfred jewel

e e t t t o f for imag ry and parabl , ha his habi mind e u e u e inclin d to all fig r s of analogy and similit d . It was not a previou s knowledge o f these in the writings that led me to look for them in the e e b ut e e e no t e t t J w l , r v rs ly . I am awar ha any one ha d called attention to this characteristic in the writings : I do no t think I apprehended it o t e u e e fr m any o h r so rce than the Jew l its lf. In e to t t u e tu e the e e r gard his par ic lar f a r , J w l me t t o n the w t has (for ) hrown ligh ri ings, and th ese again have reflected illu stra tion back upon the e e e t e t e J w l . I hop his xplana ion may mak it easier for some to think that the imagery o f the Jewel is a s trong indication that Alfred of

Wessex wa s the designer . It t t a im t t n te vii I u te was wi h his ha ,i chap r , q o d ’ the et E ue to e Pa stora lis a nd po ical pilog Alfr d s , with the same aim I now proceed to quote a long e e the e te drawn simil in pros , which king ins r d ’ into his translation o f Boethiu s De Consola tione

P i o o ze I i he u t e e the h l s hi . t s t p in fo r h book, wh r 1 discussion is about Providence and Fate .

1 ’ The A nglo- S a xon text ma y be fo und i n C a rda l e s edition

8 n in th on M r. Sed efield . a d e ecent e t p 3 3 , r di i by g , p . 1 29.

A 1 64. The lfred jewel a nd w c be not All t s mo n a nd e o n c ea t o n hi h . hi vi g r v lvi g r i e o es u on G o d who is mmo a e unc a n ea e a nd r v lv p , i v bl , h g bl , o ne : a nd he wieldeth a ll creatures just a s he a t the first ha d

o a ne a nd s ot o a n. rd i d, till d h rd i ’ A s on a wa ggon s a xle the wheels revolve a nd the a xl e sta ndeth still a nd bea reth the whol e wa ggon a nd governs a ll the mot on w e the w ee tu ns a out a nd the na e ne t i 5 hil h l r b , v x to the a xle mov es mor e stea dily a nd more securely tha n the e es do : in suc a ma nne t at the a e is the est oo f lli h r h xl high g d, w c we ca G od a nd the a est men mo e n est to hi h ll , h ppi v igh G od e en a s the na e mo et n est to the a e a nd the , v v v h igh xl , middling so rt a re just like the spokes 5 fo ra smuch a s every spok e h a th o ne end fa st in the nave a nd the oth er end in the e So is w m en of the m n sort a t one t e f lly . it ith iddli g 5 im h e n s in his m n a out s ea thl e at a no e m e thi k i d b thi r y lif , th r ti a bout the hea venly 5 like a m a n loo king with o ne e ye to e t s a the s o s h a ven a nd with the o the r o ea rth . Ju t s p ke h a ve o ne end st c n in the e a nd th e ot e in the na e w e i ki g f lly h r v , hil the m e of the s o e is e ua nea to o e en so a re iddl p k q lly r b th, v th e m n m en i n the m e of the s o e a nd the et e iddli g iddl p k , b t r m en nea e to the na e a nd the m ea ne men nea e to the r r v , r r r e es e a re owe e in conne on w t the na e a nd f lli th y , h v r, xi i h v ,

the na e w t the a e . SO now the e es t ou t e a re v i h xl , f lli h gh h y a t a c e to the s o es et a re e a o e e o n u on t h d p k , y th y lt g th r r lli g p the ea rth , so a re the m ea nest connect ed with the middli ng a nd the m n w t the est a nd the est w t G o d iddli g i h b b i h . ou the m ea nest m en a ll rect t e o e to t s wo Th gh di h ir l v hi rld, et ca n e no t es e eon nor be of a n a ccoun un ess y th y r t th r , y t , l e be in some m ea su e a ssoc a te w t G od a n m o e th y r i d i h , y r ’ a n the w ee s e ies ca n be in o ess un ess e be th h l f ll pr gr , l th y a a c e the n h o es the e Th tt h d to spo ke s a d t e sp k to a xl . e Som e Closing R efl ections 1 67

fellies a re the fa rthest fro m the a xle , th erefore th ey m ove t m un The na e mo es ne t to the a e a nd he ost evenly . v v x xl n o the est th a t i s why it ha s the surest motio . So d h appi m en : a s t e set t e o e nea e to G od a nd mo e eso h y h ir l v r r , r r lute l con emn ese e a t n s SO a re t e mo e ee y t th r hly thi g , h y r fr o m ca e a nd ess e ec how a te ma c a nce to u n fr r , l th y r k F y h t r , m n n e m a nne the na e i s con nua or wh at it ay bri g . I lik r v ti lly so su e o the e es o n w a tso t e ma o a nd s r , j lt f lli h h y y j lt , thi h is h even though t e na ve somewhat apa rt from t e a xl e . By this figure thou m ay est understa nd th a t a s the wa ggon is much mo e u a soun the ess is a te f o m the a e so r d r bly d, l it p r d r xl , a re th ose m en the fr eest of a ll from ca re (wh eth er a bout a nxieties of this life o r of the next)who a re fa st in G od but in w a te e e ee e a re a sun e om G o d in the sa me h v r d gr th y d r fr ,

e ee a re t e wo e a nd a a sse both i n m n a nd in o . d gr h y rri d h r d , i d b dy This prose simile is unqu estioned as an ’ e e e u t original pi c of king Alfr d s a horship, and

SO the et e ue to Pa stora lis is also po ical pilog his , e which was qu ot d above in the Seventh chapter . Can any one dou bt that his mind was ex u b er a ntl e t e e t u t y f r il in all gorical ho gh , and Shall it b e j u dged a thing improbable that in his t e ut e e t e imagina iv yo h, having r c n ly pass d throu gh a very grand and ru de transition o f e e e e he u e t e the xp ri nc , sho ld hav s rain d plas ticity o f a favourite craft to body forth the symbolic expression of thoughts too d eep for common speech ? 1 66 The A lfred jewel

As the cours e o f investigation into the variety and u nity o f this composite Jewel brings it more e e to the e t e n o f e and mor hom cr a iv mi d Alfr d , the conviction rises th a t this work represents e t t no r the f no passing fr ak of ar is ic fancy, ond elaboration o f some fascinating idea (as in a sonnet), b u t ra the r that we have b efore u s the thoughtfu l record o f a pe riod o f life and a e o f e u t t e u re phas som d ra ion, con aining S rio s flections by one who had reached a higher stage o f e a t t e e obs rv ion, a s ag commanding a wid r k e the ou tloo . Of som su ch a crisis as this Alfred Jewel appears to b e the pictorial and u e t symbolic mon m n . t e u it u t to And if his impr ssion is so nd , o gh e u s to o e u e e u t h lp s m f rth r conclu sions . W o gh with this help to b e able to form some estimate f e e o the period in which this Jew l was design d . However we may lament the poverty o f detailed ent the e e we a re not t incid in lif ofAlfr d, ignoran And we a re no w of its main divisions . in a position to a sk— To which of these divisions does this carefu lly elaborated d esign most natu rally belong ? In seeking materials for the answer to this

1 68 The A lfred jewel he wou ld no t have designated himself as pla in lfred e he u n e JE . , wh n was king D ri g his r ign t t t e Z-E L FR E D CY N ING it his cons an s yl was , and wou ld have been qui te easy to have added the e tte to n e his t e e he l r R his am , as fa h r did wh n e o f Fo r e e ord red the fashion his ring. th s e n t e t the e e r asons (amo g o h rs), I hink J w l was e e e 8 mad b for 7 1 . W e t e e e t e te may S ill r c d ano h r long s p, and sa y that the date we s eek was probably before 8 6 6 t the e in e e . Tha is y ar which Alfr d b gan to Share the bu rden o f reigning withou t the t t e the e the d n e i l , y ar in which common a g r e te e u new e e n e n r d pon a and mor m naci g phas , as the heathen invasion began to b e more te t e e sys ma ically condu ct d. W ssex was not ee tt e u t the t t e e five e ind d a ack d n il las of h s y ars , b u t the whole period must have been passed in e e ten e appr h nsion and in s preparation . Accord in l t e o f e the g y, his proc ss r asoning back from year 8 7 8 by the light o f public events brings u s to the resu lt tha t the design and exec ution o f the Jewel is probably to be dated be fore 8 6 a i e to the A D . 6 t t to s t u t . , ha is y, m s b long e o f thelber t r ign king iE h . Some Closing R efl ections 1 69

no w to the e e we Coming s cond proc ss , have to consider a t what time it appears likely that Alfred might have been in the mood fo r u th u t e s ch a work as is, and also in circ ms anc s (a s to his immediate s u rroundings) favou rable a e e e for artistic and ll gorical m ditation . Wh n doe s it appear likely tha t he had leisu re for t o u t t e e e t e a t the e hinking h s d ails, whil sam time his mind was exercised with the themes represented in the Jewel ? It was cer tainly subsequent to his retu rn from Rome ,no t imme dia tel bu t te te e the t y, af r an in rval , wh n firs t t o f u e he agi a ion his mind had s bsid d, and had e e e e o lo t b com r concil d t his . For we cannot doubt tha t wh en h e returned f e to E t e e the t te rom Rom ngland, and wi n ss d s a ofhis country— the danger and the depression he mu st have experienced a great rev ulsion o f ee t ut u t e et the f ling, a s rong o b rs of r gr for long and happy time that he had been enjoying te e e abroad . His passiona y arning for Rom and his friends th ere must have amounted to some

e a t e - ne thing lik violent fi of hom sick ss . All this it was his duty to live down , and to do so he to the t the e had look fac s in fac , and 1 7 0 The A lfred jewel

t e t e e u e t e e a scer ak h ir m as r and h ir b aring, and t t e e t to t o f u t ain h ir r la ion his pa h d y, and interpre t his position by the light o f a religiou s e consci nce . Some earnest and ardent minds u e t e t t et wo ld find solac and S r ng h in wri ing po ry,

and perhaps Alfred did so . If this Jewel is not the equ ivalent of su ch a poem it is nearly akin to it t u t e a rt t e e e t . In cons r c iv h r c r ainly is a e o f e the e e e e solac a h aling kind , and J w l b for It us answers remarkably to the Situation . is in many particulars like the ou tcome o f su ch a u e to e mood . And if s ch a mood is lik ly hav followed the retu rn of the young prince to E it e u s to e ngland, conc rns form som opinion

abou t the probable date of that event. It is asserted in the bilingual Chronicle (F) tha t Alfred retu rned to E ngland on the occasion ’ o f t e ea t t e his fa h r s d h, which ook plac in u 8 8 b u t the t te e t e te Jan ary, 7 , s a m n is discr di d n P u e e by consideratio s which Mr . l mm r has giv n

te to the Sa x on Chronicle . . in his no s (vol ii , p

e l te 8 6 0 e e t t e Two y ars a r , in , his ld s bro h r, JE thelba ld e e e t e e t , king ofW ss x, di d , and his v n e The occasioned a definite call for his r turn . t ee t e lE thelba ld lE thered iE lfred hr bro h rs, , , and ,

1 7 2 The A lfred jewel wou ld contrast the learned cu ltu re o f Rome own e e e e wi th the ignorance Of his p opl . Th s appear to b e a pt conditions for exercising the mind of a seriou s prince with su ch thoughts as we find symbolized in the Alfred Jewel .

In collecting evidence for th e argument o f t E e ee t u to t t his ssay, I hav b n solici o s omi no hing t t ee e to e th e e t e e ha s m d mak for cr di of a J w l , concerning which I am persu aded in my o wn mind tha t it bears th e au th entic Signatu re of e o f e e e t t t Alfr d W ss x . I hop ha his aim has no t b etrayed m e into the u se o f any arguments ’ a re o f t e e which no validi y . And if any r ad r s n u b e t m e on t t opinio Sho ld agains his poin , I wou ld ask him to consider that in the region o f probabili ty all m en do no t j udge exactly alike : one may think a particu lar fact o r t t o f no u e t ti e u e w e radi ion arg m n a v val , hil t e e t te to e u e it e e ano h r may h si a xcl d . And v n if any such instance were disallowed and r uled to b e o f e t t it t te no w igh , S ill canno invalida e e th r st. it d e th e effe t o f the Morally, may amag c w e e u e it e u e the o f hol , b ca s may pr j dic mind Some Closing R eflections 1 7 3 the e e but it ea e the a r umen r ad r , logically, l v s g e e e it e e ta tive effect o f the r st wh r was b for . u e the e e e e t S ch b ing cas , I hav l an d oward com prehension as being the more usefu l cou rse ,a nd ’ if I have erred I hope I may claim the reader s u en e on the u o f e f t u to ind lg c , gro nd b ing ai hf l o f the e e me the view which I had task b for . t ent a e t e e a re e e In his sci ific g , h r mor p rsons who can appreciate a train o f exac t serial reason ing than o f those who can do justice to a co m t I not e e to bina tion of probabili ies . t is v ry rar find dispu tants capable of testing a m a thematical e t t n t e to e ne d mons ra io , who if h y had xami a probable argu ment might dismiss it with the e t t prov rbial maxim, which says ha no chain is t e t i t e e t s rong r han s w ak s link . e e a re u e t a re ke Th r arg m n s which li a chain, and to th em the maxim applies : one weak link t te e u a re he e vi ia s th conclu sion . S ch t d mon stra ion E u B u t the u e t t s in clid . arg m n which u t u t no t o f t t r ns hro gh his book is ha kind, t e it e e e u e to u th e ra h r r s mbl s a b ndl , and s ch e no t It n t be a fo r maxim do s apply . ca no s id , e e t t f t t e t its xampl , ha no aggo is s rong r han is the e weakest stick . And this simil which 1 7 4 The A lfred jewel applies to the evidence in probable reasoning.

It no t e b u t e . is link d, mass d When Gu lliver awoke on the shore of Lili

‘ put and found tha t he wa s fa stened to the u the t e u e e gro nd, hr ads which bo nd him w r e era t bu t the t t effe t e s v lly Sligh , o al c was irr u t e et wa s the e sistible . Analogo s h r o combin d effect o f ma ny par tial and inconcl usive argu e t on the o f P e m n s mind Sir Francis algrav , e he te t e t t ‘ one t i th e wh n s ifi d ha no , ak ng all t o f e e e t et e e poin s vid nc og h r, can r asonably doubt b u t that it did belong to king Alfred This conclu sion may now b e somewhat a m lified t u t we a re t to p . I r s now in a posi ion say t e e en e t t not wi h r asonabl confid c , ha only did t e e e to e o f e e his J w l b long Alfr d W ss x, having ee e e b ut u t e t t it b n mad by his ord r , f r h r, ha was h ee e te e his work, aving b n mad af r his d sign , u t e t t the e e e e to and f r h r again, ha d sign r f rr d , e u own t n a nd and was bas d pon, his posi io , , e e t t the e e u t mor ov r , ha J w l was a prod c ion of his u t o f the e te et yo h, p riod af r his r u rn from e e e h e u e e Rom , and b for ass m d a Shar in pu blic ff the e o f his t e thelred a airs by Sid bro h r iE . 1 See e 8 a o v . . b , p 4

A PPE N DI X A

FIRST PUBLISHE D NOTICE O F TH E ALFRE D JE WE L

(FF 2 s and 1 4 4)

The following is an Ar ticle in the sophica l Tra nsa ctions o f the Royal Society o f

n 2 e 1 Londo , vol . xx , No . 4 7 , pag 4 4

P M a e Fe ow o the a rt a L etter rom Dr. us r v ll of f g , f S o e D . a n Colle e Ph sicia ns a nd S. to r l g of y K , concerning a Piece of Antiquity la tely found in

Somersetshire .

e nc ose to ou the u e see . of a cu ous ece I l , y , Fig r ( Fig ri pi of n u t a e oun nea Ashelne in ome se s e A tiq i y, l t ly f d r y S r t hir , the a ce w e e in e u a s on a f ms a Pl h r K g Alfr d b ilt, Milt fir , o t ess But a cco n to a m of a ms u a ona s F r r rdi g Willi M l b ry , M ter in emo r a s so me a e t ou t o f his e e a nce y, M y ( h v h gh ) D liv r , o scu e e eat to at P a ce a nd oncea ment in om b r R tr th l , C l it, fr he a nes t D . 1 7 6 A ppendix A

h of o l of ir il The Substance is in t e P ossession C . P . Fa fe d in the sa me oun w ose e m ss o n ha d the t C ty , by h P r i i , I Sigh ’ f it i s o the s m e en t a n ea w t the u e o . T f a L g h d Br dth i h Fig r m the Work very fine , so a s to ma k e so e Men questio n its t ue A e : But in a ll o a t it di d e on to t a ea t r g pr b bili y , b l g h t gr n it i s so we e esente in the u e t at a s o t Ki g, ll r pr d Fig r , h h r e o n w ffi e D scripti ill su c .

The E e is t n a s fa r a s the ette s. The e te s a re dg hi , L r L t r on ne n o e w t n the nne a m a Pl a risi g bliqu ly . All i hi i r Pyr id a l

ne is on a a ne e u - st nt om the e e e he Li Pl q i di a fr R v rs . T R epresenta tion (in that upper Pla ne) seems to be of som e ’

e son in a a . It is in E na m e cover d o e w t P r Ch ir l, v r i h a Crysta l ; whi ch is secure d in its pl a ce by the little L ea ves com n o e its E es In the e e se a re owe s en a e i g v r dg . R v r Fl r gr v d . The w o e ece m a be of the e t of ee n h l pi y W igh Thr Gu i ea s. The sta a nd E na me e e te i ll r c s a of u e o . Ch y l l x p d, it p r G ld ’ s mu o s e a wa s a n et f n e s. Thi , p rh p , A l Ki g Alfr d

E X D ec. 1 0 1 6 8. ON, , 9

1 7 8 A ppendix B

the t e e n - e in w lfth c ntu ry by wro g head d zeal . few e e e A d tails will mak this cl ar . h T e oldest sou rce for the life o f St. Neot is an Anglo - Saxon homily of that well- known type which sprang o ut o f the monastic revival associated with the names o f Odo and E thel f u t . u u e e o wold and D ns an _ Conspic o s xampl s t a e h e S E t e r t e t. u his yp Liv s of dm nd, King f t t o St. u . and Mar yr, and Swi h n A t he e f t e t his epoch t r lics o S . N ot (by a traffi c too intricate for u s to u nravel) were removed from their natu ral resting- place a t St he e . e t e e t N o s in Cornwall, wh r man had liv d e to e new u t u t and di d, nrich a fo nda ion in H n in donshire e e n ue t e e e g , wh r i fl n ial p rsons w r t new te e e plan ing a monas ry, which b cam a

e St e t . W e ett e u e s cond . N o s may pr y saf ly ass m t t t e e t e e ut 8 e ha his v n , which happ n d abo 9 4 , gav e to the the e t ris biography, in which r la ions e o e the t n u o f St. N ot t Alfr d form dis i g ishing e u t t te e f at re . Of his wri ing only a la and som what interpolated copy has reached our times . The modern historian will not hesitate to say o t t e t to e a re f St. Cuthbert ha his r la ions Alfr d wholly ficti tious , b ut he cannot u ndertake to A ppendix B 1 7 9

f a the e o S e t. e e t e e t e s t. y sam N o N v r h l ss, h y a re equ ally out of the question so far as r egards h he t the t t e icunczcla . T idea hat Figure migh S i h be t. e t s e u e t e N o xcl d d by homily, which e t h e places the death o f St. N ot shor ly before t f e he e te e 8 t u e o t t . ro bl s Alfr d, and acc p d da is 7 7 According to the most probable chronology we e ee e to e out fo r the e e it hav b n abl mak J w l, te e 866 was fabrica d b fore .

The e e e o f St u t e t l g ndary conn xion . C hb r t e te the t e t e tu wi h Alfr d da s from w lf h c n ry, e t due to e the t and is appar n ly Sim on his orian, wa s o f the te u who a monk monas ry of D rham,

who e ut t t - five e o ld wit and , wh n abo hir y y ars , nessed the impressive ceremonial o f the trans t the e t t o f the t u t la ion of gr a sain Nor h Co n ry, t which ook place in 1 1 04 . When he compiled his narrative o f the reign o f f e he ed t o f t to king Al r d, sacrific fac s his ory the e o f the t tt e u e et fam sain . Omi ing g n in d ails he a t he u e te the t which had hand, s bj c d capi al ’ events of Alfred s life to the patronage o f 1 St. u e t u he e : the e 8 C thb r . Th s b gins In y ar 7 7 the nefarious host qui tted E xeter and came to

N 2. 1 80 A ppendix B

enh e e e e e Chipp am and wint r d th r . King Alfr d in those days endured great tribulations and e lived an u nsettled life . Being encou rag d with

e t e St. ut e t e an xplici oracl by C hb r , king Alfr d u t t the e a t the t e fo gh agains Dan s , im and in the e the t e te plac which sain had dir c d, and e the t t t t e gain d vic ory, and from ha im forward he e o i was t rrible and invincible t h s enemies . The manner in which he vanqu ished hi s foes ’ is e te e r la d as follow th . In such a manner was this figment introdu ced i t the e o f t e e it con n o pag his ory, wh r long tinued e u te H ickes SO u in good r p . was m ch e it t t he e u e t sway d by , ha r linq ish d his firs interpretation of the icnnczcla In favou r o f S t ut e t. . C hb r h f e If t e connexion o Alfred with St. N ot is it e b e t tu e e e (as may w ll )of a my hical na r , or v n e t o f the e he b u t u se an inv n ion biograph r, did the licence which was then accorded to the panegyrist 5 and it is very different from tha t ab use o f the au thori ty o f the historian which u e S u t e t he t e o f introd c d t. C hb r into t narra iv the ee o f e d ds Alfr d .

1 82 A ppendix C springing from va ses , tha t on the right ha nd being in a n unusua l position. T he stra ngely ema ci ated bla ck figure of the Tempter

est tute of ta but w t oo - e eet a nd the c ow of (d i il, i h h f lik f ), r d ea s at the s e a nd o tom of the es n a s a so the ust h d id b t d ig , l b w n a a me o n two osette- earn o s me t ithi fr h ldi g r b i g r d , ri pa rticul a r notice .

My interpretation o f the Irish Figure was e e tu o f the tu e t e mad sol ly from a s dy pic r i s lf, t u t u e u te wi ho s gg stion from any q ar r . I had great di fficu lty in making up my mind whether the meaning were a personage a t a window in the u o r et e it e e e b ilding, wh h r w r Simply a fram d the u picture ex hibi ted in front of b ilding. ’ I was not then aware o f Professor Westwood s It e t t e the tte V e . d scrip ion, which ak s la r i w is obvious that this view gives to the representation the natu re o f a reflection o r comment more pointedly than the view which I have taken the te t in x . I will here add another quotation from Pro fesso r e t he e e W s wood, in which d scrib s and characterizes the B ook of K ells : ( It is the most astonishing book of the Fou r Gospels which e t in the it t e e xis s world, and is in Trini y Coll g , A ppendix C 1 8 3

u e e it e t the D blin, wh r was plac d along wi h o f e te e t books Archbishop Ush r, af r his d a h

1 6 6 e e it e e e e e in 7 , wh r has Sinc r main d, and wh r t u t it e e e the o f I r s will v r r main, as glory T e he B oo o ells : a Lecture & c . . Ir land ( h f K , , p Fo r a partial ill ustration o f the contents Of

t e see the u t t . his App ndix, ill s ra ion facing p 7 7 . A PPE N DI X D

TH E BR ITISH ORIGIN OF TH E E NAME LLE D FIGURE

(P 9 1 )

e t e te to e . I AM gr a ly ind b d my fri nd Mr C . F . e the t t ee e o f the e B ll , Assis an K p r Ashmol an u eu fo r the e t u M s m , following obs rva ions pon ’ the technical characteristics of early cloisonnee e e e e t a re e e e enam ls . Th s Obs rva ions v ry g rman to ee e e t e the , and ind d w r par ly occasion d by, questions which su rround the E namel in the e e e Alfr d J w l .

ett n a s e the e ua a t o t e s w c it cou S i g id r liq ry P i i r , hi h, if ld rea lly justify its cla im to h a ving been a gift ofJustinia n II to R n r e St. a di u d wou be fa th o est ece of z a nt ne g , ld by ld pi By i ena me wo in e stence a s we a s a ll suc s ec m ens a s l rk xi , ll h p i ha ve no inscriptions or documenta ry evidence to indicate e a e t e e e st a a ent on two ena me e o ects th ir g , h r xi , pp r ly, ly ll d bj

1 86 A ppendix D

’ d t Indu ie éma a nc o a ue H istoire es A r s str ls iii . il bl p q ( , t ese ena me s the most st n a ea to be e t sma Of h l riki g pp r igh ll , circula r m eda llions upon the doo rs a t the ba ck of the a ta ese me a o ns do not o m a n nte a o t on l r . Th d lli f r i gr l p r i of the wo but a re a ffi e i n the manne of ewe s to rk, x d , r j l , the a mewo o f the s e - t ba s- e e s a nd m a in fr rk ilv r gil r li f , y fact be a mongst those very E nglish ena m els whose discovery upon the ea rly shrines in continenta l churches a nd museums ta e a ne e c s a ta lo ue o E uro ea n E na mels Mr . S rki G rd r pr di t (C g f p ex hihited a t the Burlin ton Fine A rts G luh 1 8 . E a c g , 97 , p ix). h e esents a a eme ea seen in u a ce a a m a nc r pr di d d h d f ll f , p l br h, or e a s a w n a ea n a o e ea c s ou e a a ns p rh p i g, pp ri g b v h h ld r g i t t n n een a oun In mo e the t us esent a ra sluce t gr b ckgr d . tiv y h pr a n extra ordinarily close pa r a llel to the Alfr ed Jewel (Du Sommera rd A rts a u M a an A e u m sé e anc es , y g , Alb , ri ix, pl h 1 8 a nd

The ea est ena me s of ncon esta z a nt ne o n rli l i t bly By i rigi , whi c ca n be a te w t a ccu a c ocumenta e ence h d d i h r y by d ry vid , seem to go no fiIrther ba ck th a n the beginning of the tenth nt annot owe e be sa at t ese wo s ce u . c ry It , h v r, id th h rk , w t t ose of c ose su se uen e o s a e the a ea i h h l ly b q t p ri d , h v pp r a nce of be ing the pro ductions of the school in its infa ncy a nd ea e e o m en e cons e a e tec n ca a eco m rly d v l p t . V ry id r bl h i l plishment is shown in the ma nipula tion of the extremely na ow o c o sons s ose for the m ost a t in st a t rr g ld l i , di p d p r r igh o r s t cu e nes a nd n e en the s a ces of the ligh ly rv d li , filli g v p dra p e ry with closely la id ch evrons or pa ra llel stripes , while the innumera bl e minute cells thus formed are filled with

om en s l n m n - me s m t ne o eou a t a ue ena . wa o h g , bril i , y h d l A r of n is n pi k i va ria bly used to r epresent fl esh . A n m ess e o ec ossess n ce ta n c a a cte st cs in i pr iv bj t , p i g r i h r ri i A ppendix D 1 87 co mmon with the Jewel a nd other supposed C eltic- S a xon ena me s is the ea e u a oun a t a nz a nd now in the l , gl fib l f d M i , m s m e n ett n of the ena me e ea e u eu there . The pr se t s i g ll d gl ha s een su ose to be a n s of the atte a t of the ten b pp d Fr ki h, l r p r th or ea e ea s of the e e ent centu a nd the e t sma rli r y r l v h ry, igh ll ena me e ewe s nse te in the o e con rm t s ew ll d j l i r d b rd r fi hi vi , a s th ey closely resem bl e the jewels incrusted upon the fr a m e of the uc fi on a ue in the e c e- a e e a t un c Cr i xi pl q R i h C p ll M i h , whi ch h a s usua lly been a ttributed to that a ge (Von H efner Alteneck Tra chten des christlichen M ittela lters chlum e e , S b rg r ,

Nice harus hoca s . The fi u e of the ea e esuma con p P ) g r gl , pr bly , s s e o na of five a ues one e esentin the ea i t d rigi lly pl q , r pr g h d , a not e the ta two ot e s the outs ea w n s a nd a h r il, h r pr d i g , fifth the o of the . s a st is m ss n its a ce a n b dy bird Thi l i i g, pl h vi g een su e a a ent a t the t me the sett n wa s m a e b ppli d, pp r ly i i g d , ‘ a a e f n o msta n e eems in by pl qu o e gra ved g ld . This circu c s fa vour of the idea that the enamel s a re of fo reign workman

s a nd ea e t a n the sett n . hip, rli r h i g The cloisons of neithe r the eagle nor the Roa ch Smith ouche a re a s na rrow a s those employ ed by the Byz a ntine ena me e s a ou t e a re a t mos on a the w ll r , lth gh h y t ly h lf idth h o n of of those m a de use of in the Alfred Jewel . T e d ubli g the c o sons nto oo s not common seen in z a nt ne l i i l p , ly By i wo but rema a e in the ewe is a so not cea e in the rk rk bl J l , l i bl e on h in the e re a gle . Am gst t e five colours employed ea gl a the a t a ns ucent een a nd the e ow cons e e d rk, r l gr , y ll , id r d by

- Mr. a ne a s c a a cte st c of e tic a on ena me s a nd G rd r h r ri i C l S x l , a lso the opa que white such a s is used for the fl esh tint in the ewe a nd the ouc e a nd a s La ba rte a rt cu a ema s J l h , , p i l rly r rk , in the closely a na logous hea ds upon the a lta r of S a int m o A br se. 1 88 A ppendix D

Of a ll th ese mo numents the ena mel of the Alfred Jewel o ce the o nd mos m t e in e ec on is at n c a rsest a t pri i iv x uti . H a n een otecte the oc - c sta a ne its su fa ce vi g b pr d by r k ry l p , r i s presum ably in much the sa me state a s when it left the ’ ma e s a n s. It wa s e ent when it ca me out of the k r h d , vid ly, u nace e t eme une en a nd ou and ha d to be su ecte f r , x r ly v r gh, bj d to a n n ocess t a ces o f w c a re st l a a ent. gri di g pr , r hi h il pp r The o c o sons a re u w t m nute sc a tc es a nd w e e g ld l i d ll i h i r h , h r two ra n c ose to et e t e a e ecome one con use l g h r h y h v b f d ,

a e ne . ot the ea e a nd the ouc e a t ou e o se r gg d li B h gl h , l h gh xp d for on e o s to the ect a ct on of the soi ese e a far l g p ri d dir i l , pr rv e e high er d gre of polish . Y et the ou wo ma ns tse ca nnot it must r gh rk hip by i lf , be emem e e be e to ec u e the z a nt ne o n r b r d, h ld pr l d By i rigi of t s ena m e s nce a s e e is not nown to e st hi l, i , th r k xi a single indisputa bly d a ted wo rk of the Byz a nti ne school in its m t e sta es is m oss e to a sse t at t s sc oo pri i iv g , it i p ibl r th hi h l wa s not u n the et me of n e o uc n wo , d ri g lif i ki g Alfr d , pr d i g rk s on h It ma be t su a a rude in executi a s t e Jewel . y h at ch S ec men w some da ma e its a ea a nce a nd ete m ne p i ill y k pp r , d r i the E t n o n of t ena me a nd a ll co na e wo a s er rigi his l g t rks. It is a lso possible tha t the discovery of a n undoubtedly Irish ex a mple m ay pla ce a bov e a ll dispute the co ntention th at it is of e t c- a on o n a nd na ust f the a so t on nto C l i S x rigi , fi lly j i y b rp i i the sa me c a ss of the ouc e the ea e the e ht m e a o ns l h , gl , ig d lli u o n the a ta of a nt m ose na e en of the c own p l r S i A br , y, v r of Theodolinda sel it f.

1 90 A ppendix E b ou rin u n s he t e g farm b ildi g . T spo is mark d u e t e e te by a mon m n al pillar, which was r c d

1 8 0 1 b the t e et the in y h n propri or of land, t t t n no t to o wi h an his orical inscrip io , which is inaccurate for the time in which it was com I posed . t runs thus

n fE lfred the eat in the ea of our o 8 Ki g Gr , y r L rd 7 9, a n een efea te the a nes fled for e u e to the h vi g b d d by D , r f g fo est of e ne w ere he la co ncea e om his enem es r Ath l y, h y l d fr i f r h w e ea H e soon a te e a ne o t e spa ce of a hol y r . f r r g i d possession of the throne , a nd in grateful remembra nce of the otect o n he ha d ece e un e the fa ou of H ea en pr i r iv d , d r v r v , he e ecte a mona ste on t s s ot a nd en owe w th r d ry hi p , d d it i ll the a n s conta ne in the s e of t e ne To er a l d i d I l A h l y . p petuate the memory of so rema rkabl e a n incid ent in the life o f a t ust ous nce t s e i ce wa s foun e o n th ill ri pri , hi d fi d d by J h s f M a nsel the o eto of t e ne n a e E . o u a d Sl d , q , , pr pri r A h l y ,

o of the ma no of o t et e ton A . D . 1 80 1 . l rd r N r h P h r ,

The present representative of this gentleman

e t- e t- ut e t e is his gr a gr a grandson, Sir C hb r Slad

o f M a unsel t. the t , Bar , lord of Manor Of Nor h et e P h rton . The Abbey o f Athehi ey never attained to any considerable wealth o r importance , but a u tu e u on the te sc lp r d boss, which was fo nd Si , A ppendix E 1 91

u e two e t te and which is here fig r d in asp c s, af r f e . e o e drawings by Mr . Alfr d A Clark W lls, seems to indicate some costly architectu re among the abbey buildings in the fou rteenth centu ry . A PPE N DI X E

NORTH NE WTON CH URCH

1 (P. 3 9)

TH E chu rch o f North Newton has featu res u e t e o f e t e e t b ut the te s gg s iv anci n c l bri y, da s a re t n do not unt SO which his orically know , mo e he e t e ee e te . T t high as migh hav b n xp c d ow r , the e t t to the which is old s par , and which high antiqu ity o f a thou sand years has been popu larly tt ute e its te tu e a rib d, sp aks by archi c r , which is e e e te The e e t te here r pr s n d . arli s known da ne te t the 1 2 2 e con c d wi h fabric is 9 , in which y ar the founda tion stone of the elder chapel was de Ba rfleu r e R laid by Richard , call d also ichard de Ple eto h ss . e t e t e This b ing a chan ry chap l , e e t t e 1 8 the ndowm n was ak n away in 7 4 , and e e th e t e o f e fabric d cay d . In im Charl s I, Sir Thomas Wrothe built a new chapel and provided

A ppendix F 1 93

he te t u e t e t t . a S ip nd for minis r, which s ill con in s The e the ee the Parabl Door , Oak Scr n , and Pu t a re e e t the e e lpi vid n ly of sam p riod, and e e e the e be e t w r probably giv n by sam n fac or . The e o f t e t villag Nor h N w on, originally a e e te the t e h chap lry, was s para d from mo h r paris o f t et e t e t ecclesi Nor h P h r on, and form d in o an a stica l on the t e t - t o f parish w n y hird day March ,

1 8 8 0 It u te two e t o f u t . is Sit a d mil s nor h D rs on t t e t e te u S a ion (Gr a W s rn Railway), fo r and a half

u t - e t O f e te e e t - e t so h w s Bridg wa r , and s v n nor h as o f a unton e e t a re t e T . Th s par iculars ak n from a li ttle book entitled The Church a nd Pa rish of ’ S P e s t. et o N ew o he R e N t t n v . r r h t . . , , by L H King, to e M . A . , Vicar , whom I am also p rsonally e te e te e t ind b d for som in r s ing local information . APPE NDIX G

TH E PRE SE NTATION O F TH E ALFRE D JE WE L TO TH E UNIVE RSITY O F OX FORD

1 0 (pp . 4 and

I H AVE been favou red by Sir Alexander Acland Hood with the following extract from the

u t . P e Man scrip of Mr Thomas alm r, which is preserved in Fa irfield Hou se

c NE W E NTO N E O R , N WTON, N P PE THE RTO ARK .

The Park and Manor of N ewentOn belonged to the a t the t e o f the e e u e King im g n ral s rv y, ‘and probably this is the Pethe rton whe re king ‘ The u e wa s on the John held his cou rt. Ho s ‘ t e o f the P e e t e e nor h sid ark , wh r h r is now a ‘ ’ e A t t e tenement called Parke r s Fi ld . his plac

1 96 A ppendix G

Th e most interesting pi ece I have found on ’ this point is in Co llinson s H istory of Somerset h . 8 e e e e o f vol . i , p 7 , wh r is sp aking Athelney Abbey : it is as follows

m al s o n to th s on of t Cuthbert a o e- ment one So e lu i e vi i S . b v i d is supposed to have been intende d by a littl e curious a mulet of ena me and o c o na mente t at wa s oun in l g ld , ri hly r d, h f d 1 6 in ewton a a t som e sta nce no t wa f om the 93 N P rk, di r h rd r o i e o a so n n a bbey . O n one side f it s a rud figure f per sitti g c owne a nd o n in ea c a n a sce t e su mounte r d, h ldi g h h d p r r d by

a w c . H ickes a nd o he a nt ua es a e ma ne lily, hi h Dr t r iq ri h v i gi d

r t ut e t. The ot e s e is fi e to be d esigned fo S . C hb r h r id ll d by a a e owe a nd oun the e e is the o ow n e en l rg fl r, r d dg f ll i g l g d AE LFR E D ME C H BIT G E VVR C AN a t is A red th , lf o dered me to he ma de ece of a nt uit is now in the r . This pi iq y museum a t fo a cco m a n e w the a ccounts of octo s Ox rd , p i d ith d r H ickes a nd us a e a nd the o ow n memo an um M gr v , f ll i g r d ir eld in o me se N ov 1 6 1 1 8 Tho . a me es of Fa fi t . , 7 , P l r, q S r m a e o e s e ut t s a nc en ctu e of . ut e hir , p hi i t pi r St C hb rt, d by rd r ” of n e n o m a n s to be e con e e to Bo dlea n ki g Alfr d , i t y h d v y d y

a i n O o w e e his a t e N at. P a me es a te Libr ry xf rd, h r f h r l r, q ,l ly

ea esi e it m t be a ce a nd ese e . d d , d r d igh pl d pr rv d

a . G eo . Cl rk