But it must not be supposed that the only literature of the period was
in Latin. Alfred, the great King Alfred, skillful in learning as in war,
had translated into English (as we have mentioned earlier in our tale)
the _History of the World_, by Orosius, and other works, which formed a
part of the royal library in the palace of Edred. All these works were
known to his young namesake, Alfred, far better than they had been
either to Edwy or Elfric, in their idleness, and he was well informed
beyond the average scope of his time. But his imagination had long been
fired by the accounts he had received of Glastonbury and its sanctuary,
so that he eagerly besought his father to allow him to go thither.

But the poor old thane felt much like Jacob when he was begged to send
Benjamin into Egypt. Elfric was not, so far as home ties were concerned,
they had never heard of him since the coronation day, and now they would
take Alfred from him.

It may seem strange to our readers that Ella should regard a journey
from the Midlands to Glastonbury in so serious a light; but Wessex and
Mercia had long been independent states, communication infrequent, and
it would certainly be many weeks before Alfred could return; while
inexperience magnified the actual dangers of the way.

Coaches and carriages were not in use, neither would the state of the
roads have rendered such use practicable. All travellers were forced to
journey on horseback, and, like Elfric when he departed from home, to
carry all their baggage in a similar manner.

The navigation of the Avon, which would have opened the readiest road to
the southwest, was impeded by sandbanks and rapids; there were as yet no
locks, no canals.