The great mass of the population, therefore, who were engaged in the daily toil of cultivating the land, were necessarily left in ignorance; but Alfred made every effort in his power to awaken a love for learning and the arts among the higher classes.

He set them, in fact, an efficient example in his own case, by pressing forward diligently in his own studies, even in the busiest periods of his reign.

The spirit and manner in which he did this are well illustrated by the plan he pursued in studying Latin.

It was this: He had a friend in his court, a man of great literary attainments and great piety, whose name was Asser.

Asser was a bishop in Wales when Alfred first heard of his fame as a man of learning and abilities, and Alfred sent for him to come to his court and make him a visit.