CHAPTER XI

SOME CLOSING REFLECTIONS 157–174

Fine workmanship no longer an objection 157 Early cumulation of evidence 158 Evidence added since _id._ Rejected theories 159 The Cynehelm theory _id._ The unity of the work makes for Alfred of Wessex 160 Outline of the Symbolism _id._ My surprize at the latent meanings 161 The fondness of king Alfred for imagery _id._ ff. The Simile of the Waggon 163 The Jewel illustrated by the Writings of king Alfred 165 The Jewel probably records a Crisis 166 At what Epoch designed? _id._ Double process of investigation 167 Date of Alfred’s return from Rome 170 f. The nature of Probable Evidence 172 ff. Conclusions from the above data 174

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A. The First published Notice of the Alfred Jewel (to pp. 25 and 144) 175

APPENDIX B. St. Neot and St. Cuthbert (to pp. 29 and 74) 177

APPENDIX C. The Two-sceptered Figure in the _Book of Kells_ (to p. 78) 181

APPENDIX D. The British Origin of the Enamelled Figure (to p. 91) 184

APPENDIX E. Athelney Abbey (to p. 115) 189

APPENDIX F. North Newton Church (to p. 139) 192

APPENDIX G. The Presentation of the Alfred Jewel to the University of Oxford (to pp. 140 and 145) 194

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE The Alfred Jewel in four aspects, with separate Figure of Enamel _Frontispiece_ The Inscription on the Jewel 1 The Minster Lovel Jewel _to face_ 47 Illumination from the _Book of Kells_ ” 77 The Isle of Athelney ” 92 Fairfield House 141 Inscription on the Ring of Æthelwulf 149 The Ring of Æthelwulf 150 The Ring of Queen Æthelswith, the bezil 151 Inscription within the Ring of Queen Æthelswith 152 The Ring of Queen Æthelswith showing niello 153 Inscription on Æðred’s Ring 154 The Jewel, Front and Back _to face_ 174 Sculptured Bosses found at Athelney Abbey 189, 191 Tower of North Newton Church _to face_ 192 Map of the Isle of Athelney _At end_

THE ALFRED JEWEL