gn.

The most important production that we have to consider is the famous
Anglo-Saxon 'Chronicle.' It covers with more or less completeness the
period from 449 to 1154. This was supplemented by fanciful genealogies
leading back to Woden, or even to Adam. It is not known when the
practice of jotting down in the native speech notices of contemporary
events began, but probably in very early times. It is believed, however,
that no intelligent effort to collect and present them with order and
system was made until the middle of the ninth century. In the oldest of
the seven MSS. in which it has come down to us, we have the 'Chronicle'
to 891, as it was written down in Alfred's time and probably under his
supervision.

The meagreness of the earliest entries and the crudeness of the
language, together with occasional picturesque force, indicate that many
of them were drawn from current song or tradition. The style and
fullness of the entries differ greatly throughout, as might be expected,
since the 'Chronicle' is the work of so many hands. From mere bare
notices they vary to strong, full narrative and description. Indeed, the
'Chronicle' contains some of the most effective prose produced by the
Anglo-Saxons; and in one instance, under the date 937, the annalist
describes the battle of Brunanburh in a poem of considerable merit. But
we know the name of no single contributor.

This 'Chronicle' is the oldest and most important work of the kind
produced outside of the classical languages in Europe. It is meagre in
places, and its entire trustworthiness has been questioned. But it and
Bede's 'Ecclesiastical History,' supplemented by other Anglo-Saxon
writings, constitute the basis of early English history; and this fact
alone entitles it to the highest rank in importance among ancient
documents.

A large body of Anglo-Saxon prose, nearly all of it translation or
adaptation of Latin works, has come down to us under the name of King
Alfred. A peculiar interest attaches to these works. They belong to a
period when the history of England depended more than at any other time
upon the ability and devotion of one man; and that man, the most heroic
and the greatest of English kings, was himself the author of them.

When Alfred became king, in 871, his throne seemed tottering to its
fall. Practically all the rest of England was at the feet of the
ruthless Northmen, and soon Alfred himself was little better than a
fugitive. But by his