ALFRED.

127

attended his legislation, that every thing bore csuddenly a new face in England : Robberies andiniquities of all kinds were repressed by thepunishment or reformation of the criminals 81 :And so exact was the general police, that Alfred,it is said£fhung up, by way of bravado, goldenbracelets’"near the highways; and no man daredto touch them Yet amidst these rigours ofjustice, this great prince preserved the most sacredregard to the liberty of his people; and it is amemorable sentiment preserved in his will , thatit was just the English should for ever remain asfree as their own thoughts 8! .

As good morals and knowledge are almostinseparable, in every age, though not in everyindividual; the care of Alfred for the encourage-ment of learning among Ins subjects was anotheruseful branch of his legislation, and tended toreclaim the English from their former dissoluteand ferocious manners: But the King was guidedin this pursuit, less by political views, than byhis natural bent and propensity towards letters.When he came to the throne, he found thenation funk into the grossest ignorance andbarbarism, proceeding from. the continued dis-orders in the government, and from the ravagesof the Danes: The monasteries were destroyed,

" Ingulf, p. 27.

81 \e. Alalmes. lib. 2, cap. 4 .8i Assev. p. 24.

HAP

II.