ALFRED.

1 31

/iropagating industry among their fellow-citizens. c H AHe set apart a seventh portion of his own revenue 11.for maintaining a number of workmen , whomhe constantly employed in rebuilding the ruinedcities, castles, palaces, and monasteries”. Eventhe elegancies of life were brought to him fromthe Mediterranean and the Indiesand hissubjects, by seeing those productions of the peaceful arts, were taught to respect the virtues ofjustice and industry, from which alone they couldarise. Both living and dead, Alfred was regarded,by foreigners , no less than by his own subjectsas the greatest prince after Charlemagne that hadappeared in Europe during several ages, and asone of the wisest and best that had ever adornedthe annals of apy nation.

Alfred had , by his wife , Ethelswitha,daughter of a Mercian earl , three sons andthree daughters. The eldest son, Edmund, diedwithout issue, in his father’s lifetime. The third,Ethelsward , inherited his father’s passion forletters , and lived a private life. The second,Edward, succeeded to his power; and passesby the appellation of Edward the Elder, beingthe first of that name who fat on the Englishthrone.

EDWARD the Eider.

This prince, who equalled his father in mili-tary talents, though inferior to him in knowledge

** Asser, p. 22. W. Malm. lib. 3. cap. 4.

" Ibid. K 2