parents and which had run out, on condition that he
renders every year at the autumnal equinox three pounds as rent,
and church dues, and the work connected with church dues; and when
the need arises, his men shall be ready both for harvesting and
hunting; and after his death the property shall pass undisputed to
St. Peter's.

These are the signatures of the councilors and of the members of
the community who gave their consent, namely ..."

Alfred invented a graduated candle with spaces indicating one hour
of burning, which could be used as a clock. He used a ventilated
cow's horn to put around the top of the candle to prevent its
blowing out, and then devised a wooden lantern with a horn window.
He described the world as like a yolk in the middle of an egg
whose shell moves around it. This agreed with the position of
Ptolemy Claudius of Alexandria, who showed the curvature of the
earth from north to south by observing that the Polar Star was
higher in the north and lower in the south. That it was curved
from east to west followed from the observation that two clocks
placed one west and one east would record a different time for the
same eclipse of the moon.

Alfred wrote poems on the worthiness of wisdom and knowledge in
preference to material pleasures, pride, and fame, in dealing with
life's sorrow and strife. His observations on human nature and his
proverbs include:

1. As one sows, so will he mow.
2. Every man's doom [judgment] returns to his door.
3. He who will not learn while young, will repent of it when old.
4. Weal [prosperity] without wisdom is worthless.
5. Though a man had 70 acres sown with red gold, and the gold grew
like grass, yet he is not a whit the worthier unless he gain
friends for himself.
6. Gold is but a stone unless a wise man has it.
7. It's hard to row against the sea flood; so it is against
misfortune.
8. He who toils in his youth to win wealth, so that he may enjoy
ease in his old age, has well bestowed his toil.
9. Many a man loses his soul through silver.
10. Wealth may pass away, but wisdom will remain, and no man may
perish who has it for his comrade.
11. Don't choose a wife for her beauty nor for wealth, but study
her disposition.
12. Many an apple is bright without and bitter within.
13. Don't believe the man of many words.
14. With a few words a wise man can compass much.
15. Make friends at market, and at church, with poor and with