in coinage, it is certain that they possessed considerable quantities of that metal; and their deeds and wills prove that it continually formed the medium of their purchases and gifts. Mr. Turner is of opinion that gold was used as a valuable representative, in an uncoined state; and is inclined to believe that silver, also, was sometimes negotiated in the same way. After a careful investigation of the subject, the same respectable writer "considers the two sorts of pennies as the only coins of the AngloSaxons, above their copper coinage; and is induced to regard all their other denominations of money, as weighed or settled quantities of uncoined metal." "'*

Whether the above conclusions be deemed satisfactory or not, it may be received as unquestionable that the existing AngloSaxon coins are confined to the Sceatta or Penny, and the Styca. Mr. Pinkerton, in his ingenious and useful Essay on Medals, forbears to enquire deeply concerning the intricate subject of the Anglo-Saxon coinage; but his section on their existing coins is calculated to convey much judicious information.

Previous to submitting any intelligence afforded by his work, it is necessary to observe that several ecclesiastical persons, as well as the king, and, also, certain towns, had the privilege of a mint. A statement of many of these privileged persons and places, chiefly collected from Wilkins,† and from the record of Domesday, is presented in the second volume of the history of the Anglo-Saxons.

In regard to the character of the silver Sceattas, or early Saxon pennies, as to the inscriptions and impresses which they bear, it is observed by Mr. Pinkerton that they latterly have legends, but at first only rude figures of serpents, &c. and sometimes one or two letters. "Skeattas were struck in Kent, and the other early heptarchic states, from the sixth to the eighth century, or from

about

Hist. of the Anglo-Saxons, Vol. II. p. 130.

Wilkins, Leg. Anglo Sax.

Vide, Turner's Anglo-Saxons, Vol. II. p. 137-8.

about the year 500, till 700. Most of the skeattas, as appears from their symbols, were struck in the Pagan times.”

Those larger pennies of silver, noticed in the laws of Alfred, have been frequently discovered. Mr. Pinkerton informs us, that "no heptarchic pennies occur till after the year 700. These pennies are, therefore, almost all of the eighth century, or from 700 till 832, when Egbert terminated the seven kingdoms," or rather, the octarchy. "The heptarchic pennies are of Edbert the Second; Cuthred, and Baldred of Kent; Edmund and Ethelstan of the East Angles; Eadwald, and Offa of Mercia and Quinred his queen; with Egbert, Kenwulf, Biornulf, Ludica, Bertwulf, Bughred, and Ceolwulf, all kings of Mercia: likewise Ethelweard, and Beorhtric of the West Saxons: besides the archbishops of Canterbury, Janbert, and Athileard.”

Mr. Pinkerton justly observes, that "it is a vulgar error to suppose Egbert, 832, either first king, or really king, of all England; yet he and his descendants were chief monarchs; though petty kingdoms existed till 959; and some of their coins are found, as of Sihtric and Anlaf of Northumbria.

"The coins of the chief monarchs, present almost a complete series, from Egbert 832, to Edgar 959; after whom there are only kings of all England. Ethelbald, 857, is the only chief monarch of whom there are no coins; and there are none of Edmund Ironside. Most of them bear rude portraits, and the reverses are sometimes curious and interesting. Some have views of cathedrals, and other buildings; particularly one of Edward the Elder, A. D. 900, has the cathedral of York, with three rows of windows, round arched. Coins of Anlaf, king of Northumbria, have the famous raven, the Danish ensign; and those of other princes have often curious reverses, and great variety. The inscriptions are, also, sometimes curious; as, on Egbert's U 2 coins

. It will be observed that two of the kingdoms of the Octarchy are not known to have possessed coins; those of the South Saxons and the East Saxons,

coins, Saxonum for Anglorum, and on Ethelwulf's Saxoniorum. Pennies of Athelstan bear Rex tot. brit. or Totius Britanniae; probably struck after his defeating Constantin, king of Scotland.

"Ecclesiastic coins appear of the archbishops of Canterbury, Wulfred, A. D. 804; Ceolnoth, 830; Plegmund, 889. Till Athelstan, 925, we have only names of moneyers, except on a few coins of his predecessors, Alfred and Edward the First; where we find the towns added; a practice general after Athelstan's time."*

It has been already observed that the Styca is a very small coin of billon (base metal) or of copper, known only in Northumbria. Specimens are engraved in the first plate of the second volume of Mr. Pinkerton's "Essay," and in Mr. Gough's edition of the Britannia.†

THE ANGLO-DANES.

In reviewing the history of Britain through its early ages, the patriotic and respectable vanity of the native is continually hurt by decisive proofs of the inhabitants wanting capacity, whatever their change of state, to defend themselves from foreign assault, and

• Pinkerton's Essay on Medals, Vol. II. p. 64-66.

+ Ten plates of Anglo-Saxon coins are engraved in Hickes, Vol. III. with brief illustrations by Sir Andrew Fountaine. Many of these are, however, duplicates; and it appears that Sir Andrew read the legends with little "truth or certainty." In Gibson's first edition of Camden's Britannia are four plates, and in his second edition five plates. But the coins in these tables "have been incorrectly copied, and irregularly classed; and several German and other coins have got in among the Saxon." In Gough's edition of Camden is engraved, "a series of such Saxon coins whose genuineness may be depended upon, in the order of succession, both of kings and prelates, in the several divisions of the Heptarchy, and after the Heptarchy to the Conquest, comprehending a period from A. D. 758, to A. D. 1096."

and to preserve the insular character of their government. Although subject, in retrospective view, to the severest censures attendant on unprovoked aggression, the Roman and the Saxon invaders of this country are still venerable in the esteem of the historian. But we seek in vain for a palliative of the severities inflicted by the encroachments of the DANES. Frigid in relation to the arts, zealous only when intent on bloodshed, this race of invaders would be regarded with unmitigated repugnance, even by the modern, dispassionate examiner of history, if the memory of one great Anglo-Danish king, CANUTE, did not interpose some transient gleams of intelligence and splendour.

In regard to the name by which these invaders are usually recognised, it is remarked by a modern writer, that, "although popular language, seldom accurate, has given the denomination of Danes to the invaders of England, they were composed of the nations who lived in the regions now known by the general appellations of Sweden and Norway, as well as of the inhabitants of Zealand and Jutland."

But the Danes, assuredly, were leaders in the most destructive of these invasions from the north; and that they were the most successful of the various bands of assailants is evident, as a new, though a short-lifed, dynasty in Britain was established in their line.

It has been observed, in a previous page, that the first visit of these piratical invaders occurred in the year 737. But they did not effect a settlement in Britain until the reign of the AngloSaxon King, Ethelred. Shortly after the commencement of this disastrous reign, and in the year 866, a confederacy of northern foes arrived on our shores, with intentions more seriously injurious than the casual ravages of a free-booting incursion. The political state of the country unhappily favoured their enterprize. Weakened by a division into four distinct governments, the natural resources of the island were still further enfeebled by party dissensions and individual struggles for power.

It was soon obvious that the Danish leaders fought for dominion as well as for plunder; and, in the year which succeeded the date of their invasion, they assumed, by right of conquest, the sceptre of Northumbria. Penetrating with sword and fire through several rich counties, and destroying the pious works of ages as they proceeded, the Danes conquered East-Anglia, and usurped its crown, in 870. Their efforts towards further conquests were vigorously opposed by the West-Saxons; but Mercia shortly submitted to their sway; and thus was England divided between two powers,-those of the King of Wessex and the government established by the Northmen.

We are now arrived at the memorable reign of Alfred; and the varied events of this era, relating to the wars between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes, are sufficiently detailed in the histories of the country at large. In the course of these conflicts, many of the principal cities and towns of England experienced calamitous visits from the sanguinary opponents; and, from this cause, the topographer is often led to a more attentive consideration of undecisive skirmishes, than is necessary towards a comprehension of such marked events as are of real interest, and of conspicuous weight, in the annals of the island.For a reference concerning these, I necessarily refer to the pages of regular historians, and to the "Beauties of England" for respective counties; but not without observing that, in numerous instances, the original authorities are so deficient, or indistinct, that many statements of the most judicious modern writers are unavoidably founded on ingenious calculation.-The result of these conflicts, as to the degree and extent of the Danish prevalence in Britain, is our immediate object.

After the mysterious seclusion of Alfred, in the year 878, it is well known that he obtained considerable advantages over the Danes; but so remote were these favourable operations from the entire discomfiture of the invaders, that even Alfred admitted the enemies of himself and of his native soil to a participation in the government of the island. The lines of demarkation between

these