And she said to her children, "I will give this beautiful book to the one of you who shall first be able to read it." And Alfred said, "Mother, will you really give me the book when I have learned to read it?" And Osburh said, "Yes, my son." So Alfred went and found a master, and soon learned to read.

One wonders that such a man was never canonized as a Saint; most certainly many people have received that name who did not deserve it nearly so well as he did. His mother was Osburh daughter of Oslac the King's cup-bearer, who came of the royal house of the Jutes in Wight.