Little by little they came to recognize in AElfred a ruler of higher and nobler stamp than the world had seen.

Never had it seen a King who lived solely for the good of his people.

Never had it seen a ruler who set aside every personal aim to devote himself solely to the welfare of those whom he ruled.

It was this grand self-mastery that gave him his power over the men about him.
Warrior and conqueror as he was, they saw him set aside at thirty the warrior's dream of conquest; and the self-renouncement of Wedmore struck the key-note of his reign.

But still more is it this height and singleness of purpose, this absolute concentration of the noblest faculties to the noblest aim, that lifts AElfred out of the narrow bounds of Wessex.