Page:Will of King Alfred.djvu/12

viii “It appears, by the Preface or Introduction to this Will, that King Ethelwolf left certain manors and other estates in land (besides what he had given them in his life-time) to his three sons, Ethelbald, Ethelred, and Alfred, and to the survivor of them.

“That, on Ethelbald's decease, Ethelred and Alfred made over their joint interest herein to King Ethelbert their then eldest brother, in trust, to release it to them again in the same condition in which he received it: with a Covenant to do the same by such estates also as he had obtained by their joint assistance, and such as he should have acquired himself.

“That, on Ethelbert's decease, and Ethelred's succeeding to the Crown, Alfred applied to him in Witena-gemot, to make partition of the estates, and to assign him his share: but that Ethelred refused; alledging in his excuse, that it was a mixed property, which he had entered upon at different times, and that he could not easily distinguish the lands one from another: - That, however he would make him his heir: - with which declaration Alfred was satisfied.

“That, shortly after, in a Witena-gemot at Swinburgh, it was agreed between Ethelred and