Page:Will of King Alfred.djvu/11

Rh by the Abbot and Convent, to exemplify the Will of their great and munificent Founder, in the most correct manner.”

The Will itself might be made the text of a far from uninteresting dissertation on antiquarian points of considerable importance. The rights of succession, both regal and concerning private property - the modes of tenure - the gift and maintenance of personal privileges - the forms of bequest - with other circumstances relating to ancient habits and localities - may derive incidental elucidation from this valuable relic. Its disclosures manifest the jealousy with which the Anglo-Saxon Monarchs watched and secured the transmission of their private possessions to their families and friends; it illustrates the commencement of that complicated state of property on which the Norman genius for chicane afterwards impressed a still more vexatious character of intricacy; and it exhibits in a very striking light, the magnanimous forbearance of Alfred under the selfish evasions of his brother, and his anxiety to act justly when himself placed in similar circumstances. It may assist in giving a clearer view of the scope and bearing of this testamentary record, if we insert the former editor's “Introductory Remark.”