occupy the thoughts of the rustic people. Perhaps his name was chosen by his parents, who anticipated the future wisdom of their youngest son.

One of our great historians, writing of the early days of Alfred, says: "One hardly knows any other character in all history so perfect; there is so much that is good in so many different ways; and though no doubt Alfred had his faults like other people, yet he clearly had none, at any rate in the greater part of his life, which took away at all seriously from his general goodness." Such a character is then surely worthy of consideration at all times, but especially at the thousandth anniversary of his death.

CHAPTER II.

A LITTLE PILGRIM.

IN the year 853, Ethelwulf determined to send his youngest son over the sea to Rome. The king had long wished to make this journey himself, but hitherto he had been hindered by his constant warfare with the Danes; so now he resolved that his little son should go on this pilgrimage. Asser says that Alfred was sent with an honourable escort both of nobles and commoners; and we may be sure that the young prince, who had won his parents' hearts by his amiability and fine qualities, would be placed under the care of suitable guardians.

Now, what could induce Ethelwulf to send a child

only four or five years old on such a long and hazardous journey? Some have supposed that the king was anxious that his youngest son should be sent abroad for safety, while England was distracted by war. Others have thought that it was merely that his favourite son should early gain the benefits of travel in other lands, for travel is often the best means of educating and expanding the mind. But others have imagined, and with much reason, that as the king wanted Alfred to be his successor, he sent him to the Pope that he might receive the benediction of the Holy Father in token of his selection as King of England.

Whatever the reasons for the journey might be, we know that when Alfred arrived in Rome, the Pope, Leo IV., received him in a manner befitting his own rank and the high position of his father. Leo anointed him, and adopted him as his spiritual son. It does not appear that Alfred remained long in Rome; but, after the wish of his father had been fulfilled, he returned with his followers to his own land. But he was destined soon to repeat this toilsome journey, accompanied by his royal father.

The English Chronicle records that, in the year 855, Ethelwulf went to Rome in great state, and dwelt there twelve months, and then returned homewards. Asser notes that Alfred was taken by his father on this second journey, because he loved him more than his other sons. So we have this remarkable fact before us, that Alfred made two journeys to the Eternal City before he was seven years old. And we may be sure that, in a mind so

refined and impressionable, these visits to the capital of Christendom must have produced a lasting impression. Alfred knew that Christianity had been re-introduced in these islands by a mission from Rome; and he must have heard of the triumphs of the Cross in all parts of the Roman Empire. All this, no doubt, tended to rouse in his mind a desire to increase the spread of religion in his own land.

Thus, in the year 855, Ethelwulf set out from home, accompanied by his darling son and a magnificent retinue. We get a vivid picture of the times by reading of the preparations for this journey. The king summoned his wise men, and made over more than one tenth of his private income in favour of the Church, and for the salvation of his own soul and those of his ancestors.

The route taken was through the country of the friendly king of the Franks. Charles the Bald received his royal guests with all honour, treated them hospitably, and gave them an escort to the boundaries of his kingdom. The pilgrims then went over the Alps, through Lombardy, and so on to Rome, where they stayed a whole year. Alfred, who had been there so recently, and having grown older and increased in intelligence, must have been struck with astonishment at the sight of the magnificent capital of the world. As for his father, he seems to have given himself up to devotion, and to showing his loyalty to the Romish Church by his liberal offerings.

He remembered that two of his predecessors, Cadwalla and Ina had previously made pilgrimages

to Rome, where they died and were buried. So he determined to outshine them by leaving more costly tokens of his visit behind him. The gifts he bestowed on the Pope consisted of a gold crown of four pounds' weight, two dishes of the purest gold, a sword richly set in gold, two gold images, and silvergilt Saxon urns. He also gave stoles bordered with gold and purple stripes, white silk garments for use in celebrating the Mass, and many other costly articles of clothing required in the service of the Church.

On this second visit the Pope was Benedict, and he allowed Ethelwulf to give much money to the bishops, the clergy, and the dwellers in Rome. We are quite astonished at the magnificence displayed by the king of the West-Saxons in the ninth century; and we must also remember that Ethelwulf sent yearly to Rome, out of his private income, the sum of three hundred marks. From this annual present proceeded the tax called Peter's Pence or Rome-scot.

At Rome there were some Saxon schools for the education of children from England. These were rebuilt by Ethelwulf, and further endowed by his generosity. Another act which he did at Rome shows his patriotism, and entitles him to our remembrance. He saw that the exiles and penitents were bound with iron, and he induced the Pope to decree that no Englishman, out of his own country, should be put into bonds. Having thus made a memorable sojourn in Rome, the royal pilgrim remembered his own country, and at Easter, 856, he turned his face.