them to marry Sigtryg, the Danish King of Northumbria, who deceitfully professed that he would become a Christian. Athelstane too readily believed him; but in no long time Sigtryg put away his wife and again became an idolater.

It was after this event that the war in the north, in which Athelstane was so successful, occurred. Another sister of Athelstane was married to Hugh, one of the chief conspirators against the rightful King of France. Hugh came "to London offering rich gifts the sword of Constantine the Great and the lance of Charlemagne, by which, as it was believed, victory had always been ensured to the fabled Emperor of Chivalry;" and Hugh carried back with him his English wife.

Athelstane's was a reign of great vigour and ability, as the events which have been related show. He is said to have done a wicked deed a few years after he came to the throne. At the beginning of his reign he was conspired against by Alfred, a West

Saxon noble. Alfred, when taken, denied that he had any intention to seize the throne. According to the custom of those times, he was told that if he took a solemn oath declaring himself innocent, he should be acquitted. It was usual to take such an oath before a bishop of the Church, but Alfred was sent to Rome, that he might declare his innocence or confess his guilt before the Pope. In the Basilica of St. Peter, at Rome, he took an oath that he was innocent. As soon as he had spoken it he dropped senseless before the altar, and in three days after died.

Some years after this Athelstane's brother Edwin was accused of having taken part in the conspiracy. The king ordered that he should be pushed out to sea in a crazy boat, without sail, oar, or rudder. Edwin in despair threw himself into the water, and was drowned. His esquire or armour-bearer who was with him remained in the boat, which was drifted on shore before he had perished by famine.

seven years.

It was afterwards clearly proved to Athelstane that his brother was innocent. He is said to have mourned with anguish for this evil deed, and to have done penance for it With the exception of this act his public conduct was just and merciful, and he was greatly beloved throughout England. Statues were put up in many towns to his memory. He rebuilt monasteries and churches, and gave rich gifts to them. Wherever he possessed royal lands he made it the duty of his reeves or stewards to see that the poor employed on them were well treated. He commanded that each of them should redeem one slave every year, and "if they could find" a destitute Englishman on any of his royal manors, they should feed and clothe one every year.

CHAPTER XVIII.

RISING OF THE DANES.-LOSSES OF EDMUND.-CUMBRIANS: THEIR SUBJUGATION.-SKIDDAW.-HELVELLYN.-ANGLOSAXON FESTIVALS. VIOLENCE OF THE KING.

REVOLT OF THE DANES.-EDRED'S SEVERE MEASURES; BURNS THE MINSTER OF RIPON; HIS END.

ATHELSTANE had no children. He was succeeded by his brother Edmund, A. D. 941, who was but eighteen years old. Every new reign gave the Danes new hopes of getting the pre-eminence. They gathered an army from Northumbria and marched to Tamworth. The Archbishop of York favoured them. The Archbishop of Canterbury was on Edward's side. After Tamworth had been stormed and taken by the Danes, it was agreed on both sides that the two archbishops should meet, and make terms of peace. These were concluded greatly to the advantage of the Danes; for Odo, the Archbishop of Canterbury, though he took the

side of the Saxons, was himself a Dane by birth, and may have inwardly desired their success. By this treaty all that had been done since the reign of Alfred the Great was undone, and the Danelagh, "all Britain north of Watling Street," was given up by Edmund, and he even agreed that if the Danish chief survived him, he should he king of all England. The king was so very young, when this happened that he probably submitted entirely to the judgement of the two prelates. His conduct on the death of the Northumbrian chief, which took place a year after this treaty, was more like that of his ancestors. He regained the Danelagh, and took most decisive measures to secure it by turning the Danish colonists out of the frontier towns of Mercia, and peopling them with Saxons. These towns were Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Stamford, and Lincoln. The north eastern side of England, from the river Ribble in Lancashire, was peopled by the Ancient British or Welsh. This district bore the name of Cumbria, and