Let us see first of all whence he obtained his money. Alfred had very extensive possessions in all parts of his dominions, and the rents and services he derived from them were a source of wealth and power. Then he derived much revenue from customs in the sea-ports, and as he encouraged the trading with other lands, these customs would

KING AND COURT. About 9th or 10th Century.

gradually increase. Again, he was entitled to the fines levied for damage to person and property, and he received the lands of those who died without heirs.

This increasing income of Alfred was wisely and liberally used, and little of it was appropriated to his own personal use. "God loveth a cheerful giver,"

said Alfred, and he was also able to say as his riches increased, "The Lord restored to me tenfold." His revenue was divided into two parts, the one half being devoted to secular purposes, and the other half to moral and religious purposes.

One-sixth of his income was given to the military and civil services, that is for building ships and paying his officers and attendants at court. Another sixth was spent on public works, such as the re-building of London and its walls, and in paying workmen and craftsmen whom he brought from foreign lands. A similar sum was spent on the reception and entertainment of the strangers who thronged his court, and in paying for his ambassadors whom he sent to Rome, Ireland, Jerusalem, and even to India.

Of the second part of his revenue, he gave one portion for the relief of the poor, who ever had in Alfred a true friend. A second portion was devoted to the encouragement of learning, the purchase of books, and the building of schools. The remaining portion was allotted to the support of the king's monasteries at Winchester and Athelney, and to gifts to abbeys in Wales, Ireland, and Gaul.

Thus Alfred looked upon himself as a steward to dispense wisely the riches entrusted to him. He neither loved power nor money for their own sakes, but rather he used them for the good of his people. We can quite believe Alfred's sincerity when he exclaims, "Ah! wise one, thou knowest the greed and the possession of this earthly power never were pleasing to me, nor did I ever greatly desire this earthly kingdom-save that I desired tools and

materials to do the work that it was commanded me

to do. This was that I might guide and wield wisely the authority committed to me."

Not only do we possess Alfred's budget, but there is also in existence a copy of his will, and from this we can see that he was equally careful to arrange for the distribution of his property after his death. This will exists in an English form and also in a Latin form. It is preserved in the Register of New Minster, founded by Alfred at Winchester, but which was afterwards removed to Hyde. The will was copied into the Register early in the eleventh century.

First of all he leaves land and money to his family so that each member of it might live in a manner worthy of royal rank, and he is also careful to remember the claims of his servants and his faithful bishops and clergy. He also gave money for the observance of religious services. The will concludes with a most important grant, which was no less than the freeing of all slaves in his dominions. Here are the words: "I beseech in God's name and in the name of His saints that no one of my relations or heirs obstruct the freedom of those I have redeemed." Thus, at his death, he ordered that all his servants were to enjoy full liberty to go over to another master and to another estate at their own pleasure; and for this privilege no one was to extort any payment from them.

This remarkable will is well worthy of careful study, for we can trace throughout its thirty paragraphs a sincere wish to do the right thing, to give

wisely, and to restore where anything had been wrongly taken. In his own words he could thank the Lord for all that He had sent-for life, for the day's light, and for all the pleasures He had made for man. Say thou," said Alfred, "whatsoever becometh of thee, come what come will, God's will be welcome."

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE PASSING OF THE KING.

THE story of King Alfred's life comes to an end in the chronicles in the year 897, and during the next four years we hear practically nothing of importance relating to him. We may conclude from this silence that there was peace in the land, and that Alfred was doing his utmost to leave everything in order for his successor. Probably, too, the king, worn out with suffering and harassed by long warfare, was not equal to much exertion.

His work was really done, and he was able to live in quietness with his wife, the Lady Ethelswitha, and his five children.

We know that his home life was a happy one, for he had been fortunate in the choice of his wife. His eldest son Edward, famous in his encounters with the Danes, proved a worthy successor to his father. Ethelwerd, his other son, was not so prominent as his brother. Of Alfred's three daughters, Ethelfleda, better known as the Lady of the Mercians, was the wife of the brave Alderman Ethelred; Ethelgiva was