land of the Franks, and it was there, doubtless, that Alfred
acquired that love of learning, and many of those ideas, far
in advance of his people, which distinguish him. His mother,
Osburgha, died before he and his father started on the
pilgrimage. The king was received with much honour by the
pope, to whom he presented a gold crown of four pounds
weight, ten dishes of the purest gold, a sword richly set in
gold, two gold images, some silver-gilt urns, stoles bordered
with gold and purple, white silken robes embroidered with
figures, and other costly articles of clothing for the
celebration of the service of the church, together with rich
presents in gold and silver to the churches, bishops, clergy,
and other dwellers in Rome. They say that the people of Rome
marvelled much at these magnificent gifts from a king of a
country which they had considered as barbarous. On his way
back he married Judith, daughter of the King of the Franks;
a foolish marriage, for the king was far advanced in years
and Judith was but a girl.

"Ethelbald, Ethelwulf's eldest son, had acted as regent
in his father's absence, and so angered was he at this marriage
that he raised his standard of revolt against his father.
At her marriage Judith had been crowned queen, and this
was contrary to the customs of the West Saxons, therefore
Ethelbald was supported by the people of that country; on
his father's return to England, however, father and son met,
and a division of the kingdom was agreed upon.

"Ethelbald received Wessex, the principal part of the
kingdom, and Ethelwulf took Kent, which he had already