CHAP. XVII.

ALFRED PREPARES TO LEAVE ATHELNEY-AS A GLEE-MAN HE RECONNOITRES THE DANISH CAMP-SUMMONS HIS ARMY AT EGBERT'S STONE-MARCHES TO ETHANDUNE-DEFEATS THE DANES-TAKES THEIR CAMP-GUTHRUM BECOMES A CHRISTIAN.

WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY tells us, that King Alfred used often in later days to speak of the time which he spent in the wilds of Somersetshire, of the hardships which he daily suffered, and of the dangers which continually encompassed him. It was now about five months since his troops had been defeated by the enemy, and himself obliged to become a fugitive and an outcast. Yet I believe that the plan which King Alfred adopted was what afterwards mainly conduced to bring about his restoration, and the reestablishment of his country's freedom. Many indications of this appear in the narratives of the old chroniclers. It is probable that the Danes owed their success at Chippenham in a great measure to the suddenness of their attack, and the king now seems to have retaliated upon them by a similar mode of operations. That he kept up a communication with his faithful nobles throughout the three neighbouring counties, is evident; for by a hasty summons of a few days, a large army was speedily brought together. Before, however, his standard was again spread to the breezes, it was Alfred's policy to obtain all the information in his power concerning his enemies, to reconnoitre their position, their defences,

and to examine where they were the most exposed to attack from negligence, or the consciousness of security. The story which is told of Alfred has been credited by some, and rejected as fabulous by others. It certainly is not found in Asser's Biography, nor in the other five early chronicles; but it is told by Ingulf, who lived at the time of the Norman Conquest, and may have had access to other records which since have perished. It is also found in the History of the Kings of England by Malmesbury, who was not prone to listen to fables, unless they were such as rested on the authority of the Church. Neither does the anecdote seem to be at all improbable, when we consider the nature of the times, and the great simplicity of kings, who mixed with their subjects without that affectation of pomp and dignity, which at present are used as a substitute for departed power. It was the king's intention to assemble his troops and to surprise the enemy unprepared, as they had before surprised him at Chippenham. To strike a sure blow, it was necessary that he should be able to depend upon the accuracy of his information. If he failed at this crisis of his fate, a second chance would probably never present itself: he could not trust the eyes or ears of an ordinary spy, and he determined to go himself and inspect the motions of the enemy. Now it was that he derived a practical benefit from the subjects of his early education. The Saxon poems and ballads,

which he had drunk in with an attentive car in his youth, were still fresh in his mind, and the harp, which almost every person of decent condition in those days. could touch, was not silent in the king's hands. The profession of a minstrel was held in general estimation among the northern nations. Singing the deeds of

war, they were themselves exempt from its terrors: the sword and spear were lowered to greet the gleeman who chanced to enter the tent of the warrior, and many a time did the savage chieftain, melting at the plaintive melody of song, verify the words of the poet who sings, that

Music hath charms to sooth the savage breast!

To effect his purpose, Alfred adopted the costume of a Saxon minstrel, and set out for the Danish camp, which was still in the neighbourhood of Chippenham ; for so total seems to have been the defeat of the English, that the enemy imagined they were annihilated, and gave themselves up to security and enjoyment. The king was admitted without difficulty to their camp, and had an opportunity of seeing every thing which was passing within. He perhaps may have been brought into the presence of Guthrum himself, and witnessed the ease and confidence which reigned in that chieftain's tent. When he had satisfied himself on all the points which he wished to know, he returned to Athelney, a distance of thirty or forty miles".

Whitsuntide was now at hand; and the king prepared to leave the fortress at Athelney. Asser gives us the following account of the promptness of his movements. "In the seventh week after Easter, he rode to Egbert's Stone in the eastern part of Selwood", or the Great Wood, called in the old British language Coit-mawr. Here he was met by all the neighbouring

Ingulf; Will. Malmesb. Henrici de Silgrave Chronicon, ed. C. Hook, 8vo. London 1848, pag. 45.

b Seal, in Saxon, is a willow tree. This was, therefore, a wood of willows; and so the MS. Claud. names it, silvam salicis." TURNER, i. p. 566.

folk of Somersetshire, Wiltshire, and Hampshire, who had not for fear of the Pagans fled beyond the sea; and, when they saw the king alive after such great tribulation, they received him, as he deserved, with joy and acclamations, and all encamped there for the night. The next morning, the king struck his tents, and went to Ecglea, where they again encamped, and passed the night." At this place, the Annals of Asser, a tract which we have already noticed, relate that his relative St. Neot appeared to him in a dream, and comforted him with the assurance, that the next day would end all his calamities. "The next morning he marched to Ethandune, and there fought a fierce and well-contested battle against all the army of the

• The following passage, translated from Wallingford's account of Alfred's campaign in 878, [p. 537.] is worthy of notice: "The army which had fled out of the country, hearing that King Alfred had renewed the war against the enemy, recrossed the sea in haste, and joined his camp, by which means he became daily more and more powerful and threatening to the enemy. Alfred, also, sent ambassadors, and invited to his assistance Rollo, who had been occupied in continual wars against the Gauls, except the interruption which himself had caused to them. Rollo, remembering the benefit which he had received, as we have before mentioned, when he formerly touched on the English coast, consented to his demands, and breaking up the siege of Paris, crossed to England." As Turner justly observes, it is not probable that Alfred asked help of Rollo, and yet it is difficult to account for its invention, if false.

The mediation of this obscure Saint seems to have been as necessary an episode to the career of Alfred, as the Goddess Egeria was to King Numa Pompilius. He not only promised Alfred the victory in the dream, but was seen the next day in the battle as a standard-bearer, leading on one of the divisions of the army, and was pointed out by Alfred to the soldiers, who were marvellously encouraged by the sight. The same MS. which records this miracle, [Claud. A. 5. p. 159.] relates also, that Alfred addressed his soldiers before the battle, and gave them the assurance of a glorious victory.

Pagans, whom, with the Divine help, he defeated with great slaughter, and pursued them flying to their fortification. Immediately he slew all the men and carried off all the booty he could find outside the fortress, which he afterwards laid siege to with all his army. When fourteen days were expired, the Pagans, compelled by famine, cold, fear, and lastly by despair, asked for peace, on condition that they should give the king as many hostages as he pleased, but should receive none from him in return, in which form they had never before made a treaty with any one. The king shewed them mercy, and received such hostages as he chose, after which the Pagans swore also, that they would immediately leave the kingdom; and their king, Guthrum, promised to embrace Christianity, and receive baptism at King Alfred's hands. All of which articles he and his men fulfilled as they had promised. For, seven weeks afterwards, King Guthrum himself, with thirty chosen men of his army, came to Alfred at a place called Aller, near Athelney, and there King Alfred, receiving him as his son by adoption, raised him from the holy laver of Baptism on the eighth day, at the royal villa of Wedmore, where the holy ointment was poured upon him. After his baptism, he remained

"In the Saxon Annals 'tis said they were baptized at Alre, and that his crism-lising was at Wedmor, his chrism (or rather chrismal) was pulled off at Wedmor. This was a white linen cloth put upon their heads presently after they had been baptized and anointed, that the oil might stay on, and taken off 8 days after. In MS. Digby, n. 196, the place is called Westm., i. e. Westmer or Westminster, which one might conclude to be a mistake of the librarian for Wedm, i. e. Wedmer or Wedmor, if immediately after the author himself did not tell us that Guthrum and his company were entertained these 12 days at London." SPELMAN'S LIFE OF ALFRED, p. 66, note.