[82] Probably the same called just before the Malvarius, and now the Malul.
But the geographical description of Africa by Alfred, is so desultory
and unarranged as to defy criticism. - E.
[83] Alfred may possibly have heard of the Monselmines who inhabit the
north-western extremity of the Sahara, or great African desert, and
extend to the Atlantic. - E
[84] Faro.
[85] Lillibeum.
[86] The name of this sea is omitted in the MS. - Barr.
[87] These measures are incorrigibly erroneous, or must have been
transposed from some other place, having no possible reference to
Corsica. - E.
* * * * *
Note. - The subsequent sections of this chapter, although not of much
importance in themselves, and some of them possessing rather doubtful
authenticity, are inserted in this place on the authority of Hakluyt. In an
English general collection of voyages and travels, it would have been
improper to have omitted these early specimens, some of which are
considerably interesting and curious. In some measure these sections do not
strictly belong to the present chapter, as limited to the reign of Alfred,
and the ninth century; but as they contain isolated circumstances, which do
not otherwise properly arrange themselves into the order of our plan, they
may be considered as forming a kind of appendix to the era of Alfred. The
number of these might have been considerably increased from different
sources, chiefly from Hakluyt, who collected them from the ancient
historians; but as they contain hardly any information, except historical,
which does not enter into our plan, the selection here given has been
deemed quite sufficient for this work.
SECTION VII
The Travels of Andrew Leucander, or Whiteman, in the Eleventh Century[1].
Andrew Leucander, or Whiteman, as his Latinized name is explained by Leland
the antiquary, was an English monk, and third abbot of the monastery of
Ramsay, who was much addicted to the study of the liberal sciences,
devoting incredible exertions, both by day and night, to their cultivation,
in which he profited exceedingly. Having a most ardent desire to visit
those places where Christ our Saviour had perfected all the mysteries of
our redemption, of which he only knew the names in the course of studying
the Scriptures, he went from England to the holy city of Jerusalem, where
he visited all the places which had been illustrated by the miracles,
preaching, and passion of Christ; and on his return to the monastery he was
elected abbot. He flourished in the year of our redemption, 1020, under
Canute the Dane.
[1] Hakluyt, II. 39.
SECTION VIII.
The Voyage of Swanus to Jerusalem in 1052[1].
Swanus or Sweno, one of the sons of Earl Godwin, being of a perverse
disposition, and faithless to the king, often quarrelled with his father
and his brother Harold; and, becoming a pirate, he disgraced the virtues of
his ancestors, by his robberies on the seas.