A Maid at King Alfred's Court: A Story for Girls

Under AEthelwulf, Alfred's father, Winchester had become the chief city of England; for while the other kingdoms went down before the Northern pirates, Wessex still stood its gr...

Away into the forest they went, the seid woman keeping fast hold of Egwina's hand, and speaking not. Once the maiden thought she heard the voice of Edward calling, "Egwina! Egwi...

Beautiful was the month of October in the year of our Lord 877. That part of merrie England called Wessex was covered, in this ancient time with a vast and extensive wood.

The knowledge that Egwina had gained of forest lore during her residence in the cottage of Denewulf, now stood her well in hand. With it she was enabled to thread her way throug...

Never to be forgotten was the day on which Alfred brought Egwina and Siegbert to his palace. Not a cloud marred the blue of the sky or dimmed the brightness of the sun. All natu...

Easter had passed, and the first faint breath of spring was in the air. Rapidly the numbers in Athelney increased. The whole people had by this time been apprised of the king's...

By the treaty of peace between Alfred and Athelstan drawn up by the witanagemot or the Saxon parliament which convened at Wedmore after the baptism of the Danes, the boundaries...

Instantly the wildest confusion prevailed. The Saxons, half-dazed by the suddenness of the attack, sprang for their arms which hung upon the walls of the hall. Such a thing as a...

The brother of Gunnehilde, Anlaf the black, had been one of the servitors of Guthrum. The king had parceled out among those of his retainers who had chosen to remain with him th...

The party of Saxons who had so opportunely come to the rescue of Egwina proved to be swineherds, returning from their day's work in the forest. Deep into the woodland did they g...

The great mead hall was crowded with Danes, feasting and drinking, and on the high seat sat Hakon the jarl. Merrily did they greet the skald and the maiden, but the seid woman t...

Wulfhere and Egwina journeyed slowly northward over Hampshire, into Berkshire, and thence into Wiltshire, so that it was not until the sixth day of the Wolf month that they arri...

When Egwina recovered consciousness, two priests were bending over her. The Danes were gone, and only the pitying faces of the presbyters were in sight. Half dazed, she stared a...

"The king!" The Saxons fell back, their swords still half-suspended, and looked at him incredulously. Denewulf stood aghast. Adiva sank on a bench near her, while Egwina's face...

A melancholy had settled upon the spirits of Egwina. Unable to content herself, she wandered from wood to house and back again to wood. Usually bright and cheerful, the girl fel...

It seemed to her that she had slept but a short time when something awakened her. She lay quite still trying to determine what it could be, and hearing only the soughing of the...

The effect on the people was electrical. A murmur went up that the maiden was innocent else she durst not appeal to the Supreme Judge. AElfric the juggler turned pale. The tende...

"'Tis nought," reassured the king. "A trifle like that can be replaced. And thou wouldst not, for thy life's sake, give it of thine own free will. Loyalty and honor hast thou sh...

For a short time after this the days of Egwina were peaceful. Adiva petted and coddled her as only good motherly women can do, and the maiden felt that at last she had found a h...

When Egwina awoke from her sleep, the sun was shining, and she did not know where she was. She was lying on a tick of straw which seemed to be moving under her. To her amazement...

Somersetshire was the only county that had remained true to Alfred. Throughout all Devonshire the news of the victory of the Saxons at the castle of Kynwith brought great rejoic...

"Wicca is Gunnehilde in truth," she said, "but pleasant spoken. Fair will be her greeting, and I wot that thou wilt like her." So calming her fears, Egwina fell in with the mood...

The time at last was ripe to strike the final blow. By his visit into Guthrum's camp, Alfred had learned the numbers, disposition and discipline of the Danes. After satisfying h...

To London, or, as it was then known, Lundenbrige, the old British name, the brother and sister went. London, with its narrow, winding streets and low dwellings. London, which ha...

Life in the cottage was simple in the extreme. Each morning Denewulf looked after his nets and traps, and then repaired to the forest where he tended the swine. The stranger exe...

Egwina's recovery was rapid. She saw that as she grew stronger, the impatience of Sweyn and Githa to have her gone increased. With her by, they feared to hunt for the treasure w...

Before the ealdorman of the shire, and the gerefa or reeve, was Egwina taken. It was the folk moot of the shire. The bishop should have been present, but he was attending the ki...

Egwina awaited the coming of the next day with impatience. She could not define the feeling that possessed her. She would not go to the forest lest Siegbert might come, and she...

"The maid is innocent," cried Denewulf the bishop. "By God's own judgment is she so pronounced. What then of her accusers? Those who have perjured themselves, and by testifying...