Historic%20Yorkshire

ALFRED, KING OF NORTHUMBRIA. 7
prevent, a Danish warrior, fleeing as the ranks of the
invaders were broken, rushed up and inflicted a fearful
wound with a spear on the thigh of the prostrateKing.
He was conveyed in the darkness to a cave, and there
tended while the Danes should have left the neighbourhood,
which they didin a few days. Then the King was
conveyed to Deira-feld Castle, where in about a week's
time he died, in spite of all that could be done by his
physician,who came from York to attend him. On his
death, also from the same place was fetched a stone
coffin, in which he was buried in the church (of the
present Little Driffield), where there is now an inscription
as follows: —
Within this Chancel
Lies Interred the Body of
ALFRED,
King of Northumberland,
Who Departed this Life,
January igTH, a.d. 705,
Inthe 2oth Year of his Reign.
Statum Est Omnibus Semil Mori.
The character of Alfred of Northumbria bears a great
similarity to that of the great Alfred of English history,
with whom he has been frequently confounded. In his
patronageof the learned, his justice and moderation, he
will indeed bearcomparisonevenwith hismore illustrious
namesake.