The hospital of St. Leonard's, near York, had received, from an ancient grant of King Athelstane, a right of levying a thrave of corn upon every ploughland in the county.

This town was the first Southampton, and there Athelstane is said to have established mints.

Even I may perchance aid thee, for thou surely knowest how the good Athelstane was saved by the little blind mole that digged a trench over which he that sought the king's life stumbled.

The first was Athelstane, whose niece Elfleda Malicious tongues reported I defiled: Next him came Edmond, then Edred, and Edwy.

The sound of the Ode on Athelstane's Victory and of Beowulf is in our ears as we read his intense, stirring lines.

AGINCOURT, aj' in kort, or ah zhaN koor' ATHELSTANE, ath' el stane AYTOUN, (Wai.

Bois-Guilbert, however, was soon joined by two more knights, the gigantic Front-de-Boeuf, and the ponderous Athelstane, who, though a Saxon, had enlisted under the Normanto Cedric's disgust.

The Black Knight then turned upon Athelstane, wrenched from the hand of the bulky Saxon the battle-axe which he wielded, and bestowed him such a blow on the crest that Athelstane also lay senseless on the field.

The Black Knight then turned upon Athelstane, wrenched from the hand of the bulky Saxon the battle-axe which he wielded, and bestowed him such a blow on the crest that Athelstane also lay senseless on the field.

III.The Burning of Torquilstone Cedric, Rowena, and Athelstane, returning home with their retinue from Ashby, were waylaid by Bois-Guilbert and his followers, and boldly carried off as prisoners to Torquilstone, Front-de-Boeuf's castle.

In those lawless times these Norman nobles trusted thus to obtain a good ransom for Cedric and Athelstane, and to win Rowena for a bride.

Athelstane who, on the flight of the guard, had made his way into the ante-room and thence into the court, snatched a mace from the pavement, and rushed on the Templar's band striking in quick succession to the right and left: he was soon within two yards of Bois-Guilbert, whom he defied in his loudest tone.

But Athelstane was without armour, and a silken bonnet keeps out no steel blade.

Taking advantage of the dismay which was spread by the fall of Athelstane, and calling aloud, "Those who would save themselves, follow me!"

But my heart is oppressed with sadness, for the noble Athelstane is no more.

" "It is granted ere named, noble Knight," said Cedric; "yet, at this sad moment" "Of that also," said the Knight, "I have bethought mebut my time is briefneither does it seem to me unfit that, in the grave of the noble Athelstane, we should deposit certain prejudices and hasty opinions.

The ghost of Athelstane himself would stand before us to forbid such dishonour to his memory were it otherwise.

" Scarce had Cedric spoken than the door flew open, and Athelstane, arrayed in the garments of the grave, stood before them, pale, haggard, and like something arisen from the dead!

Living or dead, noble Athelstane, speak to Cedric!"

" "My ward, Rowena," said Cedric"you do not intend to desert her?" "Father Cedric," said Athelstane, "be reasonable.

Ivanhoe and King Richard (who had followed Wilfred) hastened back to Coningsburgh, and Cedric, finding his project for the union of Rowena and Athelstane at an end by the mutual dissent of both parties, soon gave his consent to the marriage of his ward Rowena and his son Wilfred of Ivanhoe.

It had been the practice of the English Kings, from the time of Athelstane, to have great numbers of Danes in their pay, as guards, or household troops; and these, it is said, they quartered on their subjects, one on each house.

It has existed as an estate since the time of the early Saxon kings, and the record of the sale of Barn Elms in the time of King Athelstane is still extant.

Cedric lived with two great ends in view,the union of Athelstane and Rowena and to see a restored Saxon monarchy.

The next general assemblage of the craft, of which the records of Freemasonry inform us, was that convened in 926, at the city of York, in England, by Prince Edwin, the brother of King Athelstane, and the grandson of Alfred the Great.