Introduction
Alfred the Great ruled Wessex (roughly, southern and western England) from 871 to 899, but he had to reclaim it from Danish invaders first. The King had only a handful of loyal men to rely on, and was hiding out on a hill amid the Somerset levels, at that time a marshy lake.
EARLY in his reign, King Alfred was driven out of the Kingdom of Wessex by the invading Danes. With a handful of loyal men, he took refuge in a house in Athelney, which at that time was a hill completely surrounded by water.
One day, when King Alfred’s companions had all gone out fishing to re-stock their miserably bare pantry, Alfred found a road-weary traveller standing at the door. The King sent him away very happy, with half of the last remaining loaf of bread in the house, and even some wine.
Fortunately, Alfred’s companions came back staggering under the weight of more fish than they had caught in three years. Even better, when the butler went to his pantry, he found the last loaf still there, whole and uncut.
Alfred fell asleep wondering how an army was to be raised, how the bread had got back into the pantry, and how the traveller had got onto the island without a boat.
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